TRANSFER OF TERTIARY FEES TO MENDAKI (Survey amongst members of Malay community)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Education whether he will conduct a survey amongst members of the Malay community in regard to the decision of the Mendaki-Ministry of Education Joint Committee to transfer tertiary fees to Mendaki.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Encik Sidek bin Saniff) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am replying on behalf of my Minister.

The Mendaki-Ministry of Education Joint Committee (MMJC) was given the task of studying the issues raised by the Malay community on the proposal to change the system of administering the fee subsidy for Malay students studying in tertiary institutions. This entails the transfer to Mendaki of the annual Government subsidy providing Malay students free education at the local universities and polytechnics.

At the press conference on 20th September 1989 to introduce the MMJC officially, as its Chairman, I invited the public to make their submissions on the fee proposal issue. I gave the public six weeks to submit their comments, views and suggestions to the Committee. This was to survey and obtain feedback on the stand of Malay-Muslim individuals and organisations regarding the issue.

In studying the issue, MMJC took great care to address the concern expressed by Singaporeans in the press as well as in the submissions it received directly, which numbered eight representations from Malay-Muslim organisations and 13 individual submissions. Sufficient consideration, therefore, was given to the views, comments and suggestions of the Malay community.

The MMJC is of the view that the fee proposal has merit and is worthy of support. The MMJC's report on the fee proposal has been submitted to Mendaki for its consideration.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, I notice that the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has only received about 13 letters to its invitation for feedback on the proposal to transfer tertiary funds to Mendaki. But is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary still aware of the fact that there is widespread opposition by the Malay and Muslim community to transfer the tertiary institution funds to Mendaki which is really a private organisation?

Encik Sidek bin Saniff: Mr Speaker, Sir, besides the eight representations from the organisations and 13 individual submis- sions, we also studied all the letters in the press, one volume from Berita Harian and the other from the Straits Times. On the comments made that there are still people not very happy with this proposal, I would strongly suggest that Mr Chiam and those with the same view wait until Mendaki produces the report. Then having the report at hand and with all the arguments therein, maybe the reactions would be more sophisticated.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary aware that Mr Lee Kuan Yew himself has said that this Government would honour the Malay rights in regard to free education from primary level to university level. If you will allow me, Sir, I will read out the specific words spoken by the Prime Minister in ---

Mr Speaker: Order. Mr Chiam, you are not permitted to read the statement.

Mr Chiam See Tong: In that case, I would not read it then.

Encik Sidek bin Saniff: Sir, being a lawyer, Mr Chiam should know the difference between right, privilege and position. I am quite sure after Mr Chiam has read the report by the MMJC and meticulously study it, my Committee or Mendaki or both will answer any question on what we have recommended.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, if the Government decides to transfer the tertiary institution funds to a private organisation, would not the Government be, in fact, breaking a promise to the Malays in not honouring what it has said earlier, ie, to give free education to the Malays from primary to university level?

Encik Sidek bin Saniff: Sir, the question posed is entirely different from the question which Mr Chiam has asked. In fact, I have the answer here but I think his question should be just confined to whether we have done enough survey or not. But as far as the Government's decision which was made in 1960 is concerned, as I said just now, there is a difference between what he said and whether the Government honours it or not. I would suggest that he be very patient because I think the report will be out by the end of the month. He can then study it and come out with all the questions and I am quite sure Mendaki or MMJC will answer all his questions.