Hansard, 1959-12-29

The following Members have, under the provisions of subsection (2) (g) of section 42 of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council, 1958, obtained from the Speaker, permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of the Assembly: Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed (Bukit Timah), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development - 29th December, 1959. Madam Sahorah Binte Ahmat (Siglap) - from 23rd December, 1959, to 31st January, 1960.

I have received a message from His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara dated the 21st December, 1959, informing me that, in accordance with the provisions of section 55 (1) of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council, 1958, His Excellency had that day assented to the Merchant Shipping (Amendment No. 2) Bill.

asked the Prime Minister what is the estimated maximum and safe capacity, in millions of gallons per day, of the following sources of water supply to Singapore:-

Mr Speaker, for impounding reservoirs the maximum and safe daily capacity is the average quantity of water that can be drawn off daily. One must allow for the available storage capacity of the reservoirs, dry weather conditions, and the capacity of our treatment plants to supply good quality water. The maximum safe capacity of a reservoir is therefore its safe yield which takes into account these considerations. The estimated safe yields of our reservoirs are as follows: MacRitchie 8 million gallons daily Peirce and Seletar 12 million gallons daily Gunong Pulai and Pontian 18 million gallons daily Tebrau River 30 million gallons daily during wet weather or 15 million gallons daily during dry weather We therefore draw an estimated total of 38 million gallons daily from our reservoirs. But our estimated average daily consumption is 62.5 million gallons. The remaining 30 million gallons during good climatic conditions is drawn daily from the Tebrau River which goes direct to the consumer after treatment.

asked the Prime Minister whether the dry-weather flow in the Tebrau River is capable of supplying the additional quantity of water required for 1960.

Mr Speaker, the Tebrau River, because of the absence of storage facilities, can give a safe yield of 15 million gallons a day during dry weather. It is therefore not capable of supplying the additional quantity of water estimated to be required for next year. But our water supply does not depend on Tebrau during dry weather. The general water supply scheme is to draw off all the available water from Tebrau during the wet months and to conserve as much water as possible in the impounding reservoirs against dry spells. The storage capacity of our reservoirs allows for a maximum water bank of a total of 5,900 million gallons. The break-down storage figures are as follows:- MacRitchie 1,038 million gallons Peirce and Seletar 1,073 million gallons Gunong Pulai and Pontian 3,789 million gallons As mentioned earlier, we draw a total of 38 million gallons daily from these reservoirs which are replenished by rain-falls. The margin of safety will be further increased when the Tebrau water-works output is stepped up and the Johore River scheme is completed.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister give any indication as to when the Johore River scheme will be completed?

I require notice of that question.

asked the Minister for National Development what is the total area of land on Singapore Island owned and/or occupied by Her Majesty's Navy, Army and Air Force.

Mr Speaker, the total area of land owned and occupied on Singapore Island by the British Armed Forces is about 22.6 square miles out of a total of 209.5 square miles.

Inche Mohd. Ali. Inche Baharuddin Bin Mohamed Ariff rose -

If the Member wishes to pursue the subject, he has to ask a supplementary question.

On the question put forward by the Member for Kampong Kembangan, I would like to add something to the statement made by the Minister for National Development.

That is not possible. If the Minister for National Development has not given a complete answer, that is his own lookout.

In that case. I will not pursue the subject.

asked the Minister for Finance whether the personnel of the Guard and Escort Unit of the Singapore Police Force are on the permanent establishment.

Mr Speaker, the answer is `Yes'.

(In Malay): If the answer is `Yes', therefore, are they on equal status with the others?

Mr Speaker, I do not understand the question put forward by the Member for Kampong Kembangan.

Perhaps the Member for Kampong Kembangan would like to repeat his supplementary question.

Mr Speaker, can I repeat the question in English?

Yes.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer to my question was `Yes'. Since the answer was `Yes', I would like to know whether the same treatment is given to the Guard and Escort Unit as to other members of the Police Force.

Further notice of that question is required.

The Parliamentary Secretary requires notice of that question. I have no doubt that the Member will give the requisite notice in due course.

asked the Minister for Finance what is the policy of the Government with regard to persons with Malay Standard VII who seek entry into the Singapore Police Force and Customs, Immigration and Postal Departments.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the policy is to treat persons with Malay Standard VII qualifications in the same way as any other person with equivalent qualifications. No distinction is made between those who seek entry into the Police, Customs, Immigration and Postal Departments.

asked the Minister for Culture whether the Government will seek representation on the "Romanised Spelling Committee" formed by the Governments of the Federation of Malaya and the Republic of Indonesia.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government will seek representation on the Romanised Spelling Committee when it is opportune to do so. At the moment, there are two Malay members of Radio Singapore sitting on the Committee but as nominees of the Federation Government. If the Member is interested in their names, one is Che Buyong Bin Hadil (Head of the Malay Schools Section) and the other is Che Ramli Bin Abdul Hadi. This, to some extent, provides the necessary link between Singapore and the Federation Government and Indonesia in this matter. The Singapore Government could not have sought representation in the Committee itself because the Committee was set up as a result of a treaty of friendship which was signed between the Federation of Malaya and the Republic of Indonesia and, therefore, it was not possible for Singapore to ask to be represented in this particular Committee. But I understand that this Committee will soon be dissolved - perhaps within the next one or two months - and that a new Committee might be set up in which case we shall certainly endeavour to get representation in this new Committee.

asked the Minister for Home Affairs to state how many aliens became citizens of Singapore between 1st January and 15th December, 1959, and how many citizens of Singapore voluntarily renounced their Singapore citizenship during the same period.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it is assumed that by "aliens", the hon. Member is referring to non-Commonwealth citizens. 9,608 persons were registered or naturalized as Singapore citizens under sections 8, 9 and 15 of the Singapore Citizenship Ordinance during the period in question. It is regretted, however, that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not readily available as the registers of citizens do not distinguish between aliens and the other categories of persons eligible for registration. With regard to the second part of the question, 335 persons voluntarily renounced their Singapore citizenship during the period in question.

"to make temporary amendments to the Control of Rent Ordinance (Chapter 242 of the Revised Edition) and to restrict proceedings thereunder", presented by the Minister for National Development (Mr Ong Eng Guan); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to provide for the appointment, powers and duties of notaries public, and for other matters connected therewith", presented by the Minister for Labour and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to amend the Moneylenders Ordinance, 1959 (No. 58 of 1959)", presented by the Minister for Labour and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to consolidate and amend the law relating to libel and slander and other malicious falsehoods", presented by the Minister for Labour and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to enhance the punishments prescribed by law for offences relating to vehicles and vehicle parts", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to amend the Second-hand Dealers Ordinance (Chapter 200 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to give power to restrict the use of, stop and search road vehicles and to provide for the seizure and forfeiture of road vehicles and articles found therein in certain circumstances and matters incidental thereto", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to amend the Printing Presses Ordinance (Chapter 226 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed.

"to amend the Societies Ordinance (Chapter 228 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 13th January, 1960, and to be printed. 2.50 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, the second and third readings of both the Supplementary Appropriation Bill and the Appropriation Bill be taken today.

I second it.

Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, the second and third readings of both the Supplementary Appropriation Bill and the Appropriation Bill be taken today.

Order for Second and Third Readings read. 2.51 p.m. The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I have the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation that this Bill be proceeded with.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, this Bill is intended to give legislative sanction for the expenditure of additional sums of money voted on by the Assembly during the course of this year. The Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1959 were approved by the last Assembly in 1958. It is obvious that some unforeseen or new expenditure like that on the National Loyalty Week or the expenditure on the creation of the two new Ministries of Culture and National Development would require to be incurred in addition to the estimates since it is not possible to budget for all eventualities. Therefore, during the course of the year, the Government had occasion to submit supplementary estimates for the approval of the Assembly to meet unforeseen expenditure. In addition, it was also necessary for supplementary estimates to provide for certain financial requirements laid down in the Constitution. For instance, in Cmd. (New Series) No. 14 of 1959, $4 million was provided to establish a Contingencies Fund. Then in Cmd. (New Series) No. 34 of 1959, $42.5 million was voted to create Advance Accounts. In all, therefore, a total of $58,039,072 was voted by the Assembly as Supplementary Estimates in the Ordinary Budget and $3,808,590 as Supplementary Estimates in the Development Budget. Now, under section 97 (2) of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council, 1958, a Supplementary Appropriation Bill containing under appropriate heads of expenditure, the sums of money which have been approved by the Assembly in the Supplementary Estimates for 1959 shall be introduced into the Assembly. The Bill lays out all the amounts approved by the Assembly and arranged under the heads of expenditure shown in the 1959 Estimates as amended. These sums have already been paid out of the Consolidated Fund and the Supplementary Appropriation Bill merely legalises the position.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary proceed with the Third Reading?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed.

Order for Second and Third Readings read. 2.53 p.m. The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I have the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation that this Bill be proceeded with.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move. "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, the Main Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for public services during the year 1960 have been considered and approved by the Assembly at its last sitting as Sessional Paper Cmd. No. 32 of 1959. It is now necessary to give legislative approval to the expenditure of the sums shown in these Estimates and the annual Appropriation Bill now before Members is intended to so provide. Under section 97 (1) of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council, 1958, an Appropriation Bill containing under appropriate heads of expenditure, the sums of money which are required for the several services of Government shall be introduced into the Assembly. The Appropriation Bill lays out all the amounts approved by the Assembly in the Estimates of Expenditure and arranged under the Heads of Expenditure shown on page 31 of Cmd. No. 32 of 1959. These sums shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund and once the Appropriation Bill has been approved, the Minister for Finance will be empowered to issue warrants authorising expenditure up to the amount under each Head in the Appropriation Bill to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary proceed with the Third Reading?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."

Before I put the Question, perhaps I may draw the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary to page 1, line 12 of the Bill. It appears to me that the word "thereto" should read "hereto". If the Parliamentary Secretary agrees, then the alteration could be made as a typographical emendation.

I agree, Sir.

The correction will be made.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed.

2.56 p.m. The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, That this Assembly resolves that, with effect from 1st January, 1960, the present Standing Orders of this Assembly be revoked and the Standing Orders contained in Appendix II to the Third and Final Report of the Standing Orders Committee as contained in Paper L.A. (New Series) 10 of 1959 be made. Mr Speaker, as Members of the House would have already been aware of, the Standing Orders Committee have made two Reports and amendments which have already been accepted by the Assembly during the past seven months. The Report that is presented today is the third and final Report of the Standing Orders Committee. In the space of seven months, a complete revision has been made of the Standing Orders according to the light of our experience and here at this point, Mr Speaker, I must pay tribute to you yourself and your staff for the intensive perusal of the Standing Orders. The Standing Orders Committee certainly must acknowledge the considerable assistance and guidance you have given to the Committee in making these revisions. Standing Orders in any Parliament or Assembly are essential. In Singapore, for that matter in Malaya, the concept of parliamentary democracy is a new one and we are at the beginnings of nation building where we try to introduce the idea that where you have disagreements or disputes let them be solved by negotiation and talk by the representatives of the people in the Legislature. It is important for us therefore to nurture not only the concept of parliamentary democracy but also to see to it that the forms of parliamentary democracy are observed, otherwise the concept will become sour and the idea of parliamentary democracy will be nothing but a mockery. Standing Orders are a guide for Members of the House. They are only a guide. Much more important, there must be also a desire and a willingness among Members to observe Standing Orders, otherwise they become pieces of paper and are ineffective. Sir, it is not everywhere that Parliaments or Assemblies are as orderly as ours. We can take pride that no ink-bottles, paper-weights or other missiles have yet been hurled in this House and we are happy. Sir, that you, Mr Speaker, yourself have maintained the dignity of the Chair. In other countries, the role of the Speaker is not only arduous but I would say it is also a dangerous occupation. Speakers and Deputy Speakers have been known to be mauled and manhandled by parliamentarians, very much like a referee in a football match. We give you our assurance, Mr Speaker, that we in this House extend our co-operation to you to maintain the decorum, dignity and order befitting the Legislature of the people and at some future date some of us who would have then retired from the precincts of this House will still in their memories remember that Mr Speaker's "Order, order" means "Please sit down."

Mr Speaker, Sir, in rising to second the motion so ably presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, this side of the House would like to associate in everything he has said with regard to the fine manner in which you have conducted this Assembly and the previous Assembly.

Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Assembly resolves that, with effect from 1st January, 1960, the present Standing Orders of this Assembly be revoked and the Standing Orders contained in Appendix II to the Third and Final Report of the Standing Orders Committee as contained in Paper L.A. (New Series) 10 of 1959 be made.

Resolved, "That this Assembly do now adjourn."-[The Deputy Prime Minister.] Adjourned accordingly at five minutes past Three o'clock p.m. to Wednesday, 13th January, 1960.