NATIONAL COMPUTER BOARD BILL

Order for Second Reading reed. 4.51 p.m.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

A Committee on National Computerization was formed in March 1980 to examine ways to develop Singapore into a regional centre for computer services. One of the recommendations of the Committee accepted by Government is a proposal to establish a National Computer Board.

This Bill seeks to establish and incorporate the National Computer Board. The main responsibilities of the Board will be to guide the growth of the computer services industry in Singapore and to serve as the central agency in developing, implementing and coordinating computer-based management information systems in Government Departments and Ministries.

The Bill also provides for the establishment of a Professional Examinations Syndicate which will organize and conduct professional examinations for computer systems personnel in Singapore. The Syndicate will have a broad representation of members from the computer services industry, the Education Ministry, the National University of Singapore and overseas professional examination bodies connected with the computer industry. This will ensure the international accredition and acceptance of Singapore-trained manpower. The Board will also organize courses and award diplomas and certificates of proficiency.

Provision has been made in the Bill for the preservation of secrecy of information obtained by a member, officer, employee or agent of the Board in the performance of his duties or in the exercise of his functions. It is intended to make it an offence for any person to knowingly falsify any record of, or to knowingly provide false information to be included in, any computer system maintained by the Board.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr Rohan bin Kamis: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, a key pillar of growth to achieve our economic restructuring programme in the Eighties as presented by the Government has been identified as the brain services. The computer services industry is an integral part of the brain services and is desirable for Singapore because it is knowledge-intensive and non-polluting and requires less manpower and energy. Computers can also raise the technology and productivity of other sectors. Therefore, the establishment and incorporation of the National Computer Board is the Government's positive step towards the promotion of the computer services industry as a key industry of the future, For this reason, I fully support the National Computer Board Bill.

Furthermore, this is in line with what I have said in the House during the debate on the Budget last year when I spoke on computers and reviewed the position of our control loop and its operation. Here, I wish to quote selectively from Hansard, Volume 39, dated 14th March 1980, column 931: 'Need for centrally co-ordinating the requirements of computer services.

To ensure that the taxpayer's money is put to good use, a more effective body to exercise such control would be desirable and urgently required. However, sufficient flexibility must also be exercised by this body so as not to stifle healthy growth and creativity. In short, we should have a central body to control all mechanisation, automation and computerisation for the Government Ministries and statutory institutions but tempered with a fair measure of flexibility.'

Sir, I am cheered to note that the Government has reacted quickly and, more importantly, positively.

Note of Caution

Whilst the coming years will be a period of excitement, rapid growth, and learning, for the computer services industry, I would be failing in my duty if I do not voice a note of caution on this Bill because of its wide impact on our economy and population, particularly when the amount of public funds that will be spent is in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars. Looking at the explanatory notes on the Bill under the heading "Expenditure of Public Money", it is alarming to note the standard statement that "This Bill will involve the Government in extra financial expenditure, the exact amount of which cannot at present be ascertained". Business Times, on Tuesday, 21st April, 1981, carried the headline "Civil Service Programme: Computerization will cost $100m". Business Times have made an educated guess. But I feel this is an under-estimation because computerization is like the thin end of the wedge and, if not carefully controlled, will keep on consuming vast amounts of money and yet not fully achieving its objectives. In short, what you think is a workhorse may turn out to be a dinosaur.

Furthermore, often we see a computer project started and implemented with all the pre-requisites of a well-planned and successfully-executed one. However, once implemented, no reviews were done and the com- puter installation is allowed to grow out of proportion and control, much to the delight of the computer vendors. In this case, the workhorse has grown into a dinosaur.

I would not mind so much if, in such a case, the people involved in decision- making are used to feed these dinosaurs instead of using public funds.

Open Check

The formation of the National Computer Board should not be taken to mean that we are giving an "open check" to the civil service and statutory boards to computerize at all costs. I am of the fond opinion that sufficient practicing professionals would be consulted to keep an eye on the situation and to apply restraint, where necessary, on this project. It is not uncommon to note that computerization projects have failed, and failed miserably, like the infamous "Swansea project" in the UK. I trust that, before each project is embarked upon, proper cost-benefit analysis is done and the scope, terms of reference and objectives clearly defined.

This note of caution is also based on the many Public Accounts Committee's reports which cautioned that several computerization projects embarked upon in the last five or six years could have been better managed. Hence, we get situations of computer installations being under-utilized. I am sure that with the National Computer Board controlling the situation, the scenario would be different and better, Of course, this is on the assumption that the National Computer Board would be properly managed.

Mass Production

Our experience has shown that to rush into mass production of skilled personnel may not be the best thing. I trust that the National Computer Board would keep this experience in mind in its fervour to mass-produce computer professionals. It would be worthwhile to ensure that quality would not be sacrificed for the sake of quantity because mass production has the tendency of producing sub-standard goods. It would not be to Singapore's advantage and it would be very disappointing if, say, 10, 15 years later, the Prime Minister has to send Dr Goh and his Task Force team to clear a mess which could have been avoided with careful planning. Of course, in the situation of 10, 15 years hence, the task force will most probably be led by a Dr Goh Mk II.

In conclusion, I have confidence in the Government on its choice of personnel for the National Computer Board and the close monitoring of its policy implementation. The Government's computerization programme as proposed to be implemented by the National Computer Board will succeed, because it has to succeed. This is because we cannot afford any expensive mistakes such as a badly implemented national computerization programme.

For this reason, I am sure that I am not alone in this House in being keen to monitor the National Computer Board's development since public funds by the millions will be involved.

Sir, I support the Bill. 5.00 p.m.

Mr Lim Boon Heng (Kebun Baru): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill standing in the name of the Minister for Finance.

The setting up of the proposed National Computer Board is most timely and necessary. In recent years the computer services industry has flourished. It is now experiencing a boom condition. There is an acute shortage of trained, professional manpower. The situation is such that anyone who has some technical qualification in computer programming, systems analysis or electronic data processing can command an attractive salary well beyond what his worth would be in a normal situation.

Consequently there exists a high demand for computer courses. There are many enterprising entrepreneurs who are ready to meet this demand through private commercial institutions. At present each institution is individually drawing up its own syllabus. Some have tailored their courses to suit examinations conducted by foreign professional institutions, Others rely on the professionalism of their own staff. The disparity in professional standards is undesirable. There should be a co-ordination of these private commercial courses to ensure that they meet professional standards. Otherwise we run the risk of some students finding that they have overpaid for enrolment in mere introductory or appreciation courses. They may find that they have paid the price of a banquet for a mere wine-tasting course.

Some enterprises which have taken the plunge to computerize immediately found that they have done inadequate planning both in manpower as well as in the acquisition of hardware. Without adequate knowledge, they have allowed themselves to computerize without clearly defining their requirements. Some blamed the vendors for not presenting them with a full picture. However, the fact remains that they were not able to ask the right questions in the first instance. These enterprises, therefore, found themselves landed with computer hardware and software inadequate for their needs. They have to undertake the expensive exercise of replacing their complete systems under the guise of upgrading.

The proposed National Computer Board, therefore, will serve a serious need in the industry. Its most urgent task will be to establish the specific requirements of trained manpower for both private enterprise and the public sector. It should play a key role in the establishment of structured courses of different levels to meet the needs of industry. Together with this, it should be instrumental in bringing about a standardization of course syllabi to upgrade the level of private commercial courses. This would provide invaluable guidance to those institutions that wish to provide serious courses of adequate professional standard to the public.

As one of its functions will be to provide consultancy and advisory services concerning computer data processing, the National Computer Board will be able to provide the professional expert advice required by enterprises seeking to computerize. While the Board cannot be in a position to meet the expected demand in professional consultancy, it can, by setting high standards as a pace-setter, uplift the consultancy and advisory services offered by the private sector.

The proposed National Computer Board will, therefore, play a key role in nurturing the nascent computer industry to maturity at the desired pace, with the minimum of wastage.

Sir, I support the Bill. 5.04 p.m.

Dr Augustine Tan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill represents an important step forward to accelerate the use of computers in Singapore, especially in the public sector.

I would like to raise a question in relation to clauses 26 and 27 of the Bill. Clause 26 attempts to protect the secrecy of information collated by public computers. Clause 27 is a safeguard against falsification of information. However, the penalties provided by the Bill for violations of secrecy and for falsification of information are very lenient. There is provision only for imprisonment of a term not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to both such imprisonment and fine. I would urge the Hon. Minister to increase the penalties substantially, especially for violation of secrecy.

There is also a serious omission in the Bill, Sir. There are no safeguards against errors of information about individuals being recorded to the detriment of such persons. I would recommend that a review or appeal committee be provided for in the Bill to protect persons from wrongful information being recorded against them. There is no mechanism at all for individuals to review the information recorded about them in Government computers.

This Bill should be committed to a Select Committee before consideration by this House. There are tremendous implications for the rights of individuals in an age when the Government already exercises so much control over our lives.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Perhaps I should just remind hon. Members that under Standing Orders, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries should be referred to by their designations and not by their personal names. During the course of his speech, the Member for Telok Blangah referred to the First Deputy Prime Minister by name. That should not be the case. 5.07 p.m.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, I think there is a misconception of what this Bill intends to do. As far as the Bill is concerned, it is merely to set up a National Computer Board, and I think the safeguards against confidential information or against errors of records of individuals should really come under some other Act rather than that for the setting up of a National Computer Board. Obviously the National Computer Board cannot safeguard entries in computers owned by someone else.

The position is that we want to set up the Board as soon as possible and I would not be able to accept the Member for Whampoa's suggestion that it be referred to a Select Committee.

On the next point he has made, perhaps the National Computer Board, when formed, can take into account all the possibilities of errors and then suggest to the Government a Bill which can safeguard individuals against any errors which might affect their present standing.

On the suggestion that clauses 26 and 27 provide for very lenient penalties, I suggest that one year's imprisonment is severe enough. If this penalty proves insufficient as a deterrent, then we can always come back to Parliament for heavier penalties.

In the case of the Member for Kebun Baru, he was concerned about the courses being merely appreciation courses and that the National Computer Board would not conduct examinations which were professional in character. In my statement I have said that the Bill provides for the establishment of a Professional Examinations Syndicate. The provision should be adequate to ensure that the Syndicate would organize or the Board would organize professional examinations for computer systems personnel which would be recognized by the profession in Singapore.

In the case of the Member for Telok Blangah, I think his general attitude was one of support. But there were some words of caution regarding the control of expenditure which may perhaps be wasted and also about skilled personnel not being mass-produced. These are words of wisdom which I will pass on to the National Computer Board. I think there should be no question that we want the National Computer Board established as soon as possible in order that our brain services can be developed rapidly.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Hon Sui Sen].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.