PENSION TO MR C V DEVAN NAIR

The Minister for Law (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper.

*The Motion reads as follows:

THIS PARLIAMENT:

Noting the letter of resignation dated 27 March 1985 from Mr C V Devan Nair addressed to the Speaker tendering his resignation as President of the Republic of Singapore;

Recalling the statement of the Prime Minister made in Parliament on 28 March 1985;

RESOLVES that,

pursuant to Section 8 of the Civil List and Pension Act (Cap 52), there be paid to the former President Mr C V Devan Nair, a pension of $5,000 p.m. with effect from 1st April 1985

provided that the former President continues to receive, and abide by, such medical advice and treatment as may be prescribed for him by the panel of doctors who have been treating him or who will be appointed to treat him.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Civil List and Pension Act (Cap 52) reads:

'Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who ceases to be President (hereafter in this Act referred to as former President) shall be granted a pension of such amount and on such terms as Parliament may by resolution determine.'

Sir, in March this year, Mr Devan Nair resigned as Head of State. Apart from the shock administered to a largely unbelieving public, was the personal tragedy that had befallen a man who had helped transform our trade union movement from a plaything of communist and opportunist politicians into a powerful and responsible movement which has undoubtedly bettered the lives of workers as very few have been in Asia.

Sir, there were then some people who felt that the resignation of Mr Nair should have been brought about quietly and discreetly without disclosing the real reasons for quitting office. Such a course, even if it would have temporarily spared Mr Nair embarrassment, would not have averted the tragedy which eventually would have overwhelmed him. What was uppermost in the mind of Government was not sparing Mr Nair embarrassment but curing him of a medical problem which, if left untreated, must eventually destroy him. Initially, both Mr Nair and his family understandably, but not wisely, were reluctant to have him undergo rehabilitation in a clinic for alcoholics because of the attendant publicity and embarrassment it would attract. Treatment in a clinic of this kind cannot be kept secret for long, and attempts to conceal it could only give rise to totally misleading and more unpleasant and widespread untruthful rumours.

Before he agreed to leave for New York in April last, Mr Nair required considerable and sustained persuasion by his colleagues, including the Prime Minister. Fortunately, he finally agreed to undergo thorough and expert treatment for his ailment in the United States.

I met Mr Nair a few weeks ago soon after his return from America. He told me that he was glad that the Prime Minister had been tenacious in his insistence that Mr Nair should undergo treatment for his alcoholism. Later when the Senior Minister, Mr S. Rajaratnam, and I had dinner with him a few weeks ago, I was pleasantly aware that the Devan Nair who was before us was a different man from the one who left for New York in March. According to the reports submitted by his consultant, Dr Stanley Gitlow, who treated Mr Nair in New York, the latter had responded exceptionally well to treatment and that prospects of a long-term recovery are excellent. Mr Nair described to us both the details of his therapy, the whys and wherefores of his alcoholism. He explained that what lay at the root of his alcoholism was his brain chemistry already predisposed from birth towards alcoholism. All that was needed to set a person like him on the path of alcoholism was sustained social drinking. Thanks to his therapy in New York, Mr Nair has now a clear knowledge of the nature of his ailment that for him alcohol means self-destruction.

Sir, self-knowledge is the first and necessary step to wisdom and to the cure of an affliction. This, Mr Nair undoubtedly has. According to Dr Gitlow, Mr Nair had manifested more than the average strength of will and character in wanting to get the better of his alcoholism. His total abstention from alcohol, including his nightly dependence on valium as well since the beginning of his treatment in April this year, and despite the inevitable trials of sudden deprivation, is a measure of Mr Nair's will to overcome the powerful urgings of his brain chemistry.

All of us, I am sure, admire and congratulate him on the fortitude, grit and determination he had shown in overcoming an affliction where danger of recidivism is statistically high. Despite Mr Nair having got the better of his alcoholism, he has been advised by Dr Gitiow and our own doctors to return to the United States for continued, even if less intense, therapy for anything up to two years. Any time within this period the nature of the affliction is such that it can re-assert itself unexpectedly in an unguarded moment.

Mr Nair told me and the Senior Minister, Mr Rajaratnam, that in his view the danger of recidivism will always be with him for the rest of his life. He was told of instances where patients, even after ten years of abstinence, had unexpectedly and tragically succumbed to the always dormant urge to take another drink. Mr Nair is well aware that should he ever in an unguarded moment or under great strain take just one drop, he would be back to square one. He would then be signing his death warrant.

Sir, the motion which I am moving for the approval of this House is designed to help the man. He has served Singapore so well and long, long before be became President. In the trade unions, Mr Nair took a courageous stand against the Communists and thus helped to establish constructive management-labour relations, which is one of the foundation stones of Singapore's economic transformation. Sir, the pension by itself is no magic cure. Ultimately, it is the inner resolve of Mr Nair and his readiness to face unflinchingly and without guilt the society, of which he is a part, which will decide his future. He has told us that once he has successfully completed his treatment in the United States, his intention is to return to Singapore where his roots are and create a new life and new purpose to provide him once again with a zest for living. In this regard, his friends and relatives can through sympathy and understanding help Mr Nair to help himself. The proposed pension is a gesture by this House to help a former Member of this House and Head of State to find himself.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, l have nothing against paying Mr Devan Nair a pension or any sum that will help him. But listening to the Minister's statement this morning, I am left in doubt as to what this pension is intended for. Mr Devan Nair served as our President for less than four years, and it is proposed to pay him $5,000 a month. Is this intended as a pension for his services as President for that short period of time? Or is it intended for his services, as the Minister has put it, to the trade union movement?

Mr Speaker, Sir, yesterday I had occasion to remark about the contribution made by the Straits Times - whether they were serving Singapore or whether they were serving the Government. May I say it is also a very moot point whether Mr Devan Nair has served the workers of Singapore.

So I would like some clarification as to whether this pension is intended as a compensation for his office as President, for the services he gave as President, or for his services as a trade union leader. If it is intended as a compensation or payment for his services as a trade union leader, I am sure the NTUC is not lacking in funds to see that its leader is adequately cared for. I thought there was some report about that in the papers a little while ago.

Secondly, there is the question about his medical treatment. Are we to understand that all the medical treatment so far has been borne out of public funds? And are we to understand that all future medical treatment will also be borne out of public funds?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, I started off by reading the relevant section of the relevant Act. I shall read it again for the Member for Anson. It says:

'Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who ceases to be President shall be granted pension of such amount and on such terms as Parliament may by resolution determine.'

It is obvious from this section and from the terms of my motion that the pension that we are discussing this morning is purely a Presidential pension.

As for his trade union service, for which I express great admiration, the Member for Anson may have different views. Whether the trade union movement proposes to pay a pension to Mr Nair is not my concern. That is entirely up to them.

As for his medical expenses, the Government bore his medical expenses in New York. Whether we continue to pay his expenses is a matter for consideration. Under the Pensions Act, you can pay the medical expenses of a pensioner.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

THIS PARLIAMENT:

Noting the letter of resignation dated 27 March 1985 from Mr C V Devan Nair addressed to the Speaker tendering his resignation as President of the Republic of Singapore;

Recalling the statement of the Prime Minister made

in Parliament on 28 March 1985;

RESOLVES that,

pursuant to Section 8 of the Civil List and Pension Act (Cap 52), there be paid to the former President Mr C V Devan Nair, a pension of $5,000 p.m. with effect from 1st April 1985

provided that the former President continues to receive, and abide by, such medical advice and treatment as may be prescribed for him by the panel of doctors who have been treating him or who will be appointed to treat him.