"HELL-DRIVERS" (Measures against)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education what measures he intends to take against "hell-drivers" who despite convictions in court seem to continue to defy the law with their daredevil speeding acts thereby posing a grave danger to the life and limb of other road-users.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the recurrence of "hell-driving", despite conviction in court, indicates that punishment provided in existing legislation is insufficient to deter hell-drivers from their dangerous and irresponsible acts. Present legislation provides for a maximum fine of $1,000 or six months' imprisonment or both. However, imprisonment is not mandatory. Upon conviction, the offender is also liable to be disqualified from driving.

Between 30th October and 28th November, 1977 the Police conducted five operations against hell-riders. Altogether 20 persons were arrested and charged in court for rash driving and 34 were summoned for dangerous and inconsiderate driving. The first case of rash driving was decided in court on 23rd November, 1977. The rider was fined $1,000 and disqualified from riding for three years. This case, although widely publicised in the press, did not seem to have a deterrent effect on hell-riders because the Police arrested 10 persons for rash, dangerous and inconsiderate driving in their operation on 28th November, 1977.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is taking steps to amend the existing legislation to provide for enhanced punishment against hell-drivers. The salient features of the proposed provisions are as follows:-

(a) a minimum fine of at least $1,000 for first offenders and imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months;

(b) a minimum fine of $2,000 in the case of second or subsequent conviction as well as imprisonment not exceeding one year: and

(c) disqualification of driving for a period of at least one year from the date of conviction.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in the five operations the Police seized 64 motor-cycles and 12 cars which were used in hell-riding and hell-driving. All these vehicles had to be returned to the hell-riders and hell-drivers after their cases were dealt with. It may, therefore, be necessary as a further deterrent to make provisions in the law for the confiscation of vehicles used in hell-driving and hell-riding, but this matter requires further consideration.

Besides amending the existing legislation to provide for enhanced punishment against hell-drivers, the Traffic Police is also stepping up enforcement against such persons with a view to bringing to book the residual pool of such drivers and to prevent others from joining them.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, whilst I am sure hon. Members of this House have no sympathy for hell-drivers or hell-riders, would not the Hon. Minister consider mandatory imprisonment for the first offence rather harsh?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think so. I have already indicated in my answer that in spite of four operations having been carried out, resulting in a number of hell-drivers being arrested and charged in court - the first case of rash driving was decided in court on 23rd November in which the rider was fined $1,000 and disqualified from driving for three years - yet on 28th November they went on a rampage again and we had to arrest 10 of them.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think, therefore, that mandatory imprisonment is too harsh. But may I say that although the proposal is to provide a minimum fine of $1,000 for the first offence and imprisonment up to a period not exceeding six months, the Magistrate has the discretion to impose imprisonment from one day to six months.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister confiscate the motor-cycle or vehicle without taking into consideration whether or not it belongs to the rider or driver?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said in my reply, this matter is still under consideration.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, what will happen if such a vehicle is on hire-purchase? If it is on hire purchase, will it not be unfair to the hire-purchase company who may not know that the vehicle has been used for hell-driving?

An hon. Member: An interested party!

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I must point out, Sir, unlike what the Member from the Backbench has said, I have no interest in this matter. My question is, would the Minister consider returning the vehicle to the owner?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, my answer is the same: the matter is still under consideration. These factors will be considered. But, may I say that under the hire-purchase law, even if a vehicle has been seized the hire-purchaser is still liable to continue to pay his instalments to the dealer or the hire-purchase firm. It does not, therefore, seem to be that bad as far as hire purchase firms are concerned.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Minister consider giving the Magistrate the discretion, especially if a motor vehicle is on hire-purchase?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have said that the matter is still under consideration.

Dr Augustine Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Hon. Minister define what he means by "hell-driver" and "hell-rider", and how can one distinguish them from earthly riders and drivers who merely exceed the speed limits.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, they will obviously be distinguished by their manner of driving or riding along our streets and not "as in hell". But this will clearly be defined in the proposed law which is now being drafted. It may be something like this. When we talk of hell-drivers or hell-riders, we envisage a group of irresponsible people getting together for a race among themselves along public streets for prize money, with total disregard for the safety of other road users. They are not bothered whether their rash acts endanger the life and limb of other road users. They are only interested in competing among themselves for- prize money.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, considering the great interest in hell-driving or hell-riding, would not the Minister let the adventurous youths exhaust their energies in a dirt track built for them?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, it is not within my powers to build dirt tracks for these youths. I certainly do not oppose or try to discourage sporting activities among youths. But if they hell-drive or hell-ride on public roads endangering the safety of other road users and risking their lives and limbs, I do not think that is a sporting activity. It is a criminal activity. 3.30 p.m.

Mr Speaker: Order. It is now 3.30 p.m. and it is the end of Question Time. I take it that those Members, in whose names the remaining Questions stand, wish to bring their Questions forward to the next sitting of Parliament?

Some hon. Members: Yes.

Pursuant to Standing Order 21(2), the following Questions on the Order Paper accordingly stood over to the next available sitting of Parliament:

Encik Sidek bin Saniff: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs and Education if he will consider the emplacement of those stagnated teachers, who have done ten years' continuous service in the teaching profession, in the salary scale for Education Officer, Group III.

Mr Ang Nam Piau: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs and Education whether he is aware that library facilities in primary and secondary schools and junior colleges are inadequate and if he will take steps to improve them.

Mr Sia Khoon Seong: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs and Education whether his Ministry will review its present policy of requiring teachers seeking confirmation of service to pass Malay Standard 1, and whether equivalent qualification in Chinese, Tamil or English will also be deemed acceptable so that a teacher, seeking confirmation, can offer in addition to his first language qualification one of the remaining three languages as the additional language requirement.

Mr Sia Khoon Seong: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs and Education (a) how many teachers were transferred in the last three months; (b) how many of those transferred had not asked for transfer themselves and what was the basis of selection of such teachers for transfer; (c) how many of those who had asked for transfer were not transferred; and (d) how many were transferred to schools more than 10 kilometres from their homes.

Mr Ho See Beng: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs and Education (a) how many clerical employees of some aided Chinese schools in the rural area have become unemployed following the closure of the schools recently; (b) why the Ministry of Education cannot employ them in some of the schools which have newly been opened; and (c) whether an assurance can be given to similar employees of schools which are still functioning that they will not suffer the same fate if their schools are closed, as they have been feeling insecure and demoralised since the retrenchments.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: To ask the Minister for Finance, in view of the consolidation of 1973-77 National Wages Council allowances into salary scales for civil servants, if he will consider revising the existing fixed leave allowances under the 1973 Leave Scheme.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: To ask the Minister for Finance whether a decision has now been taken on the formation of the proposed Trade Development Council and, if not, why not.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing amending legislation to exempt non-working retired persons from income tax as this will enable the Government indirectly to look after their welfare during retirement.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: To ask the Minister for Finance what the Economic Activation Committee has contributed towards the economy of the Republic since the formation of the Committee and to what extent it has assisted industries.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: To ask the Minister for Finance (a) whether the short-lived Concorde service to London by Singapore Airlines has caused undue embarrassment and loss of prestige to SIA; (b) why SIA did not obtain clearance for flying the Concorde over foreign air space before entering into an agreement with British Airways to operate the Concorde; (c) how much money was spent by SIA in Singapore and abroad to publicise its Concorde service to London; and (d) what other financial repercussions are anticipated for SIA as a result of the cancellation of the service.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will ascertain from the Jurong Town Corporation what measures are being taken to minimise the discolouration of potable water supplied to Jurong residents and when those measures will be effected.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will request the Jurong Town Corporation to ensure that the supply of effluent water to Jurong residents for flushing purposes is regular and free from stink.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will ascertain from the Jurong Town Corporation, in the past five years, (a) how many families in Tuas Village were resettled and how many acres of land were acquired from them; (b) how many of them were classified as bona fide farmers and how many of those farmers opted for free JTC flats; and (c) how many acres of land in Lim Chu Kang were allocated to those affected farming families.

Mr Lim Chee Onn: To ask the Minister for Finance (a) whether his Ministry has examined the cost-effectiveness of increasing the number of trade or commercial offices located overseas and/or upgrading those already in existence, in order to promote our exports; and (b) what other plans his Ministry has to assist our manufacturers in further diversifying their exports to new markets and in responding quickly to overseas demand for new products.

Haji Sha'ari bin Tadin: To ask the Minister for Social Affairs to explain the recent action taken by the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura in fixing sound attenuators to amplifiers used in mosques.

Mr Teo Chong Tee: To ask the Minister for Social Affairs (a) how many written complaints of discourtesy and unhelpfulness against civil servants were received by the Central Complaints Bureau from the general public in 1975, 1976 and 1977; (b) whether the complaints have been thoroughly investigated and what disciplinary action has been taken against the guilty ones; (c) What measures have been taken to improve the situation; and (d) how many letters complimenting civil servants were received from the public in those three years.

Mr Teo Chong Tee: To ask the Minister for Social Affairs (a) whether the rates of public assistance can be increased to meet the present escalating cost of living, as many of the recipients consider the amount granted inadequate; (b) what was the number of recipients of public assistance as at 31st December, 1977; (c) how many of them were (i) below 40 years; (ii) between 40 and 60 years; and (iii) above 60 years of age; and (d) whether regular reviews are made to determine the continued eligibility of the recipients of such assistance.