SINGAPORE BROADCASTING CORPORATION BILL

Order for Third Reading read. 3.11 p.m.

The Minister for Communications and Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Ong Teng Cheong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Bill was committed to the Select Committee after the Second Reading on 21st September, 1979. The Committee received three written representations. These are shown in Appendix II to the Committee's Report which was presented to the House on 28th November, 1979.

Arising out of consultations between the Auditor-General, the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Culture, the Select Committee considered and recommended amendments to the financial and auditing provisions contained in clauses 15, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the Bill. These amendments, incorporated in the Bill at Appendix I to the Report, will improve the accountability of the Corporation and will ensure that the Corporation complies with standard accounting and auditing procedures for statutory boards.

Of the three written representations received, two identical memoranda submitted by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents and the Singapore Advertisers Association proposed that their Chairman be appointed as members of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. It is inadvisable to specify in the Act who should sit on the Board. At present there is a good working relationship between the two advertising associations and the Commercial Section of RTS. I have no doubt that this relationship will continue when the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation has been established. However, should there be a need for the appointment of a member representing the advertisers, this could be considered in due course.

The third written representation was submitted by the Tamils Representative Council, which suggested amendments to the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Bill, seeking appointment of representatives of the three major racial groups as members of the Corporation, as well as to ensure that sufficient air time was given to the different language programmes. The Tamils Representative Council feared that when the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation was established as a commercial enterprise, and had to generate sufficient income to sustain itself through sale of air time, Indian programmes would suffer because they did not have a large enough viewership to make them commercially viable.

I understand the anxiety of the Indian community; but such anxiety is unfounded. It has always been the Government's policy to provide air time for different language programmes. This policy will not change after the establishment of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. As I had informed the House during the Second Reading of this Bill, the Government will retain control over the policy of the Corporation in the pub!ic interest. While there may be adjustments to improve the presentation and quality of programmes, I can assure the Indian and other minority communities that the quantum of air time they are having now on television will not be reduced.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.