Hansard, 1961-04-26

It was with profound shock and deep sorrow that I, and, I am sure, Honourable Members heard the news of the death of the Honourable Member for Anson, Inche Baharuddin bin Mohamed Ariff, on Thursday, 20th April, 1961. In accordance with the Law, I have duly acquainted His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara of the resultant vacancy in this Assembly. I desire, on behalf of the House, to record with regret an expression of our sense of the loss we have sustained and our deep sympathy for the family of the Member.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, no one can speak of sorrow unless he has felt the anguish of sorrow. No one can write of pain unless he has suffered the pangs of pain. And if those in sorrow and pain ask us for the answer to the eternal question of life and death, who can blame us if we can give no answer? We can only give consolation. And if an epitaph were to be written, I can find no better phrase than this simple verse from the Rubaiyat: `Then said another, "Surely not in vain My substance from the common earth was taken That he who subtly wrought me into shape Should send me back to common earth again."' Sir, if we lived in an age of despair, then little else could be said. But today we live in an age of faith and hope, faith in ourselves and hope for the future of the Malayan nation and our country. And it is with faith and hope that the late Member for Anson, Inche Baharuddin, came forward to take part in the leadership of the country. He sacrificed security in his old position as a journalist in the Utusan Melayu to face insecurity as a leader of the people. Inche Baharuddin had served the people in the City Council and in the Legislative Assembly. He was rare as a leader. He was broadminded and tolerant in accordance with the tenets of his Islamic faith. He was loyal to the people whom he represented, and on the very evening of his death he was with them in Anson listening to their complaints and trying to find an answer to their questions. Sir, I speak not as a partisan, not because Inche Baharuddin was a member of the P.A.P., but I speak in respect of his virtues and qualities as a leader among the people, as a representative of the people who had sat among us in this Chamber. There was so much to hope in a man so young, and can you blame us if we are bitter that that hope is knocked out without any warning? The people today have a great need for leaders who are prepared to be self-sacrificing. If we hope to build our budding nation, if we hope to succeed in our quest for building our united Malayan nation, then it is absolutely necessary that leaders from all communities must work together to achieve this purpose. Inche Baharuddin, young as he was, had the faith that a Malayan nation could be built. He had the hope, although he did not live to see his faith and hope fulfilled, that the time will come when we will all be marching from strength to strength in our task of nation-building. Mr Speaker, you have been in this Chamber for the last six years. You have witnessed stormy scenes. You have heard words flung across the Floor of this Chamber in anger, in bitterness, in acrimony. But, Sir, all anger, all bitterness, all pain, are finally dissolved in death.

Mr Speaker, Sir, those whom the gods love die young. And so we lost a very good friend, Inche Baharuddin, who was taken away much too young. He had many years of service before him, and therefore his death is indeed a loss to all of us and to the country. I would like to associate myself with all the words of sorrow expressed by the Leader of the House. But I would just like to add one little bit - to say that the loss which has been suffered by his family and by the country is also a personal loss to me, because he has been a very good and personal friend of mine.

As a mark of respect to the late Member, I propose to suspend this sitting. I shall take this Chair again at ten minutes to three. Sitting accordingly suspended at 2.41 p.m. until 2.50 p.m. Sitting resumed at 2.50 p.m.

asked the Deputy Prime Minister what was the total expenditure out of Government funds on the recent International Air Show at the Singapore Airport and what was the total Government revenue derived from the Show.

Mr Speaker, the final checking of all bills and the calculation of revenue have not yet been completed. On present calculations, it appears that the total Government expenditure on the Air Show will approximate $55,000, and that the total revenue derived will approximate $60,000. Other expenses of a minor nature may have to be met. But it is anticipated that the Air Show will have been held with little or no cost to the Singapore Government.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister responsible say when the full statement of accounts can be made known to this Assembly?

I expect the accounts to be fully rendered and audited within a month, Mr Speaker. When they are fully accounted for, if the Member for Kampong Kembangan wishes to see them, I will be only too happy to show them.

asked the Minister for Finance whether the Government has any plans for giving economic assistance to the Malay citizens of Singapore.

Mr Speaker, Sir, before I go into the details of what the Government is now doing and what it intends to do to assist Singapore Malays, I wish to outline some of the principal features of the economic position of the Malays in Singapore. Any plan for economic assistance must be based on a correct appraisal of the present situation and present needs. The 1957 census gives us some indications. Unfortunately, the census figures do not distinguish between Malays and Indonesians in the statistics on occupation. But this is only a minor disadvantage as the broad picture is clear enough. In 1957 there were 57,300 Malays and Indonesians working. There were 3,800 stated to be unemployed. Of the 57,300 persons working, a great majority worked as employees. The number of employees amounted to 51,400. These are the people who work for a wage or a salary. There were also, in addition, some 5,900 who were self-employed, and most of these are fishermen, hawkers and such like. The first feature about the economic status of the Malays in Singapore is that a great majority of them are paid employees. In this regard, the Malays in Singapore differ fundamentally from the Malays in the Federation where a great majority are not employees but are farmers and fishermen - people who work on their own account. Further, of the 51,400 employees, no less than 26,900 are employed by the Government, statutory corporations, the City Council and the British Defence Departments. Some 11,300 work for the Government and the City Council, and some 11,800 work for the British Defence Departments. From this fact, it therefore follows that employment opportunities in the public service are matters of great importance to the Malay citizens in Singapore. More detailed and up-to-date figures in respect of Central Government monthly-rated employees are available. On 31st December, 1959, of 22,966 employees in the Central Government, no less than 6,908 are Malays. As regards the general standard of living of the Malay population, not much by way of a scientific study has been made, although this does not prevent people from hazarding all kinds of loose generalisations. When I was a civil servant, I carried out a study of incomes in Singapore among the urban working-class population. In 1953/54, I conducted an extensive social survey in the City of Singapore to find out the conditions of those families depending on earners whose incomes do not exceed $400 per month each. Some 83 per cent of Singapore families living in the city fall within this income bracket. Within the survey group which, by and large, represents what we may loosely term the working class, the average income of a Malay family compares well with the others. Malay families earn an average of $160 per month as against $148 of the general average. Within this selected group, that is to say, among working-class families, it can be said that the notion that Malays are worse off than others does not hold true. But this proposition cannot be generalised over the whole strata of society. If we include all persons - rich, the well-to-do, and the poor together - we find that the proportion of Malays whose incomes are high enough to exclude them from the survey is a small one. Only 6 per cent of Malay families have earners receiving an income of $400 a month or more as against the general average of 17 per cent. This means that in the urban Malay society the number of middle-class persons with professional occupations is much smaller than the general average of all communities. It is likely that if the people in the rural areas are included, the picture will not be much different. It is against this background that we have to consider what action can be taken to maintain and improve the economic welfare of the Malays. The first must be that employment opportunities for Malays in the Government service and in statutory authorities generally should be maintained, and this is vital since more than half of the Malay population are depending on their livelihood on this occupation-

Order. It is 3 p.m. It is time for the business of Supply to be entered upon.

Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted day].

3.01 p.m.

Will the Minister signify the recommendation of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara before the Committee proceeds with the consideration of these Supplementary Estimates?

I so signify.

First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 (Paper Cmd. 13 of 1961). The summary is at page 6. There is an amendment on Head 36, Inland Revenue, at page 2, standing in the name of the Member for Kampong Kembangan in relation to the New sub-head - Temporary Staff. Inche Mohd. Ali.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 36 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new sub-head (Temporary Staff). Mr Speaker, in my opinion, the amount of $66,000 allocated for Temporary Staff should not be limited to that sum alone. What has become a question mark to me is why that amount is voted for Temporary Staff in order to take charge of a new department in the interests of the State of Singapore. Would it not be better if permanent staff were recruited, and not initially temporary? If permanent staff were recruited, it would be made through the Public Service Commission and then there would be no doubt in the minds of the Opposition Members. If, on the other hand, temporary staff were to be engaged - I do not know whether the Minister concerned could enlighten us as to the reason why - would the temporary staff be drawn from members of the Work Brigade or from such members as were favourably considered by the Government?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the underlying note of the two remarks of the Member for Kampong Kembangan is that somebody is going to do a fiddle over temporary staff. He thought that a far better arrangement would be to get this new department staffed by permanent officers so that their appointments could be decided by the Public Service Commission, thereby giving no room for any possibility of fiddling appointments. Now, the Member is under a misapprehension. It is not true that only permanent appointments are decided by the Public Service Commission. Any appointment, temporary or otherwise, for a period of two months or more must be approved by the Public Service Commission. The Public Service Commission Ordinance is explicit on that score and, in fact, this is the practice which the Government is observing. I can assure the Member that the reason why we are recruiting temporary staff is not that we have any intention to fiddle appointments - that is not the way the P.A.P. Government conducts its business - but there is a more simple explanation and it is this. The operation of registering businesses will probably begin sometime about the middle of the year. The Bill introducing the Business Registration Tax will be passed in the Assembly before long, but until that Bill is passed, no work can start. Therefore, in the first year of operation, this new department will have about six months or less to do a whole year's work. It is therefore necessary to engage people temporarily to tide over this rush. That is the reason why we have decided to ask the Assembly for this vote to enable us to engage more staff on a temporary basis than would be required on a long-term basis by this department.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I understood the Minister to say that this staff would be required to register businesses in order to extract tax. As I appreciate the situation, there is already an organisation whereby all persons carrying on businesses in Singapore are required to register under the Business Registration Ordinance. If that is so, what then is the need to employ all this temporary staff to effect that registration, because the registration should already have been effected?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the present Business Registration Ordinance provides for a once and for all registration. Once you register, that is the end. That department has no more work to do as far as relations with that firm are concerned. But in this case, it is a different matter. You have to keep in touch with them year by year. Every year, you have to inform the Registry that they are in existence and that they should pay their tax. Therefore, the volume of work will be much larger than the work handled by the present Registry of Business Names.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as there are thousands of unemployed, I am sure a good many would be disappointed and frustrated unless they know in advance on what basis the selection for this temporary staff will be made. Could we be enlightened, Sir?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of staff we intend to engage is as follows: Clerks ... 20 Typists ... 8 Office Boy ... 1 I do not think that that is going to raise much hope in the thousands and thousands of unemployed.

Perhaps, Sir, we are now involved in the mechanics of tax collection. Now, as I understand it, there is a Business Names Ordinance - this Ordinance has been in force since 1940 - under which anyone who carries on a business in Singapore must register. Having registered, he must also notify the Registrar of Business Names of the change in partners and that sort of thing. So there is in existence now a skeleton staff anyway which knows who are the persons carrying on a business, what are the businesses registered, and where they are situated. Having reached that point, the next point I take it will be to extract tax from these businesses every year. Now, I do not know what the new Ordinance is going to say, Mr Speaker, Sir, but it seems to me that possibly a lot of money could be saved if extensive powers were given to the Registrar of Business Names to collect the tax every year, rather than give it to some specially created revenue collecting department.

Yes, Sir, that is exactly what we intend to do. The present Registry will be the nucleus of this new department. It was formerly in the Ministry of Labour and Law, and when we contemplated introducing this tax, it has since been removed to my Ministry.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, to revert to the answer given by the Minister for Finance, I appreciate the explanation given that there will be no fiddling with the appointments, but what still remains a question mark to me is whether it is true or otherwise. I know that in the Work Brigade there are members who have passed the School Certificate examination with Grade II or Grade III. Will there be the possibility that those who are not members of the Work Brigade but who have higher qualifications can be absorbed into this temporary staff? I would like to know what are the qualifications required of applicants for these temporary staff posts. Are the qualifications required on the same basis as that who are unemployed now?

Sir, I think the doubt in the mind of the Member for Kampong Kembangan arises from a statement made by the Minister for Labour and Law some time ago to this Assembly, when he said that instructions had been given by his Ministry that, in so far as the filling of any future Government appointments was concerned, the first choice should be given to members of the Work Brigade. I believe that is what is at the back of the mind of the Member for Kampong Kembangan.

Let me dispose of the statement about recruitment from the Work Brigade. The present position is that for certain types of jobs in the Government service - they are jobs in the daily-rated services, Division IV appointments, which are not promotion posts - recruitment for these appointments are made from members of the Work Brigade. We have also come to an arrangement with several statutory authorities, including the Singapore Harbour Board, whereby they will recruit from the Work Brigade for similar posts. We have also had requests for assistance in recruiting workers from firms, manufacturers and others who want good workers. We have made use of Work Brigade members, suitably qualified and trained, for recommendation to such posts. Now the temporary posts relevant to this exercise are not the posts for which we make special arrangements to select from the Work Brigade. Clerical officers are in Division III. Typists are in Division IV. They are regarded as promotion posts for more junior staff. We may recruit the office boy, but that is only one. 3.15 p.m. As regards the qualifications for temporary staff, the qualifications laid down will not have any relation to how the unemployed are qualified, but they must be related to the work and responsibilities which these people have to perform. For instance, for clerical officers, the minimum educational qualification will be the Senior Cambridge or the equivalent academic standard. For typists, it will be somewhat lower, and for the office boy, it will be still lower. The qualifications laid down will be the same in comparable jobs in the Government service.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have another question to ask. Will this opportunity be only limited to citizens of Singapore in view of the fact that they are temporary posts? Or will it be open to all and sundry?

The posts in Divisions III and IV will be limited to Singapore citizens.

I think a further point arises in the selection of Divisions III and IV posts. In view of the circular that has been issued by the Minister for Labour and Law, is it going to be an advantage to be a member of the Work Brigade in order to get an appointment in this department if the posts are in Divisions III and IV? I understand that Division III is outside it. What this House wants to know is this. Insofar as Division IV appointments are concerned, covered by this temporary staff, would it be an advantage to be a member of the Work Brigade? Or is it compulsory that he should be a member of the Work Brigade? Or is it open to all?

So far, as the office boy is concerned, he will be recruited from the Work Brigade.

Question on the amendment put, and negatived. The sum of $152,890 for Head 36 ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961. Head 47 -

There are four notices of amendments standing in the name of the Member for Kampong Kembangan. The first is in relation to "New item - Assistant Head ... $7,700" on page 2.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new item (Assistant Head). Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to receive clarification from the Minister for Culture on more or less the same question as I have asked the Minister for Finance. Will the prospective Assistant Head carry out the policies already formulated by the Head of the Department who has been made available to us from Indonesia? According to my interpretation, the appointment of an Assistant Head will mean that the Ministry will be short of staff, and that it will only begin to operate. If the contrary is the case - plans might have been formulated but there is no staff - could the Minister for Culture explain to me the position?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not quite clear about the question. I gather the question is whether the Assistant Head would carry out the policies laid down by the present Head of the Dewan. Of course, the Assistant Head's function would be to assist the Head in administering the Dewan. To that extent, he would have to carry out the broad policies laid down by the Head of the Dewan who, in turn, discusses with the Minister the general policy of the Dewan.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like further enlightenment from the Minister for Culture. The staff is for the Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan. Will the Assistant Head be a Malay? If that is so, will he be selected from among persons with diplomas, such as a B.A. from the University of Malaya? Or will the Government engage au Assistant Head from among persons with qualifications and experience and who are now employed in the Malay section of Radio Singapore?

Mr Speaker, Sir, this Government does not make appointments in terms of whether a person is a Malay, a Chinese or an Indian. We advertise in terms of particular skills and abilities required for a post, and the person most suited would naturally be selected by the Public Service Commission. In this case, this post has already been advertised - I think it was on Monday - and the qualifications and experience necessary are an Honours degree of a recognised University plus experience in writing and post-graduate research, preferably academic research, in an institution of higher learning, administrative ability and leadership. So it will be left to the P.S.C. to decide from among the applicants the person who would be most suited to fill the post.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker. Sir, I am aware of the explanation given by the Minister for Culture. As he is from a Socialist Party - subject to correction - it may be that the P.A.P. is always right in implementing its policies. But could the P.S.C. engage only a Malay? It is not our responsibility but it is the responsibility of the P.S.C. But if the Government could so direct, I believe the opportunity could be given to the Malays because only one man is required. The responsibilities of this post, to carry out the functions and operations of the Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan, are great. If, however, the Assistant Head is a non-Malay - I am not suggesting the Government policy cannot be implemented - I think it is proper that the Government should look to the Federation. I am not going to teach the Government, but the staff of the Dewan Bahasa should comprise more Malays who will be the pioneers to implement the Government policy. This is my opinion, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the functions of the Dewan are well known to Members of the Assembly. There are two functions. One is to foster the development and the popularisation of the national language, which is Malay; and the second is to undertake research in connection with the primary aim of integrating the various cultures and of spreading a knowledge of those cultures. So it is inevitable that whoever is the Head of the Dewan shoud be one who is most capable of discharging these functions. It will therefore depend on who can best discharge those functions. He may be a Malay or anybody else, so long as we choose the right person who can discharge these two essential functions - one, to spread knowledge of the national language (Malay), and to help in the research and development of the language; and two, to carry out sociological duties in connection with cultural work. The staff has been chosen with the view that, apart from the Malay language, the other three languages and the four cultures are involved. It is impossible to find one man who can carry out this work and therefore the staff must be balanced in such a way that they can complement one another's work. 3.30 p.m.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, in any case that is the Government's responsibility. I have duly conveyed my views. Another point, Mr Speaker. Can I be informed whether administrative correspondence in this Dewan will be in Malay, the national language? I ask because I know that the status of the national language has not yet been made official, and I would like to know whether the national language will be used in the daily administration of the Dewan.

Mr Speaker, the use of the national language in this Dewan will depend on the extent to which use would be made of the national language in the whole administration. But here again, in view of the present transitional phase of our development, it would obviously be impractical to send, say, a letter in Malay to a Chinese cultural organisation which might have individuals who do not understand the national language. So the use of the particular language will depend on to whom correspondence is being sent. It is no use sending a letter in English to somebody who knows only Malay, and it is no use sending a letter in Malay to somebody who knows only Chinese. It is hoped that as we go on and as the national language is extensively used throughout the administration, the Dewan too will make better use of the national language.

Question on the amendment put, and negatived. The following amendment stood in the name of Inche Mohamed Ali Bin Alwi: That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new item (Editors).

I am not moving, Sir.

The next item on the Order Paper Supplement is "New item- Research Officers, three". Inche Mohd. Ali.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, I move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new item (Research Officers). Mr Speaker, first, I would like an explanation from the Minister for Culture as to the definition of "Research Officers". I do not know what these officers will do. So could the Minister first explain what are the functions of these Research Officers?

These Research Officers are people who carry out research. But if the Member would like to know their duties, it was advertised last week and it says: `To do research in various aspects of local cultures, customs, languages and literature. In addition, research officers may be called upon to organise various scientific and educational bodies to standardise and define words in Malay and be responsible for the publication of terminological works.'

Question on the amendment put, and negatived.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, I move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new sub-head (Promotion of Art and Culture). Mr Speaker, the subject of culture has been discussed at previous sittings of the Assembly. We are in the dark as to which culture we should adopt - whether it is Government culture, or culture as understood by Members of the Opposition. In short, there may be one, two, three, or four cultures. I hope the Minister for Culture will explain to us what is culture, so that we could consider his views and remarks.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am delighted at the capacity for punishment that Members of the Opposition show in not only being prepared to listen to a lecture on culture, but also inviting the Minister for Culture at this late juncture to deliver a long lecture on culture which I am always prepared to do. In view of the fact that we are going to spend a large sum of money in establishing a Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan, I hope the Member for Kampong Kembangan will be able to satisfy his curiosity about culture in general by not only attending the lectures and activities which are organised by the Dewan but also by perusing the excellent publications which will be produced by the Research Officers of whose functions he was not quite well aware.

Sir, the Opposition is not curious. The Opposition wants to know, on behalf of the people of Singapore, why it is that the Government wants $2,500 on the Promotion of Art and Culture when it has already put in the Budget quite a large sum for culture itself. We would like to hear from the Minister the kind of culture that the P.A.P. is introducing in Singapore, and we have the patience to hear him if only he will tell us.

Sir, as the vote stands, it comes from "Other Charges - Annually Recurrent" which continues on to the next page: Promotion of Art and Culture, $2,500. If I am reading this correctly, Mr Speaker, Sir, the suggestion is that this Promotion of Art and Culture ($2,500) is an annually recurrent expenditure. We would like to know what he is going to, spend the money on annually.

I was only answering the question by the Member for Kampong Kembangan. If he had asked me in the way that the Member for Cairnhill did, I would have explained what the $2,500 was going to be used for. It is true that we have a Culture vote, but in this particular case the item "Promotion of Art and Culture" is in connection with a specific type of activity that the Dewan would undertake, things like organising congresses, meetings, special meetings, lectures by well-known authorities on some particular aspect of art or culture. So this amount would be used to finance a special type of cultural activity which is not undertaken by my Ministry under the vote "Cultural matters".

Question on the amendment put, and negatived. The sum of $164,210 for Head 47 ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961.

Heads of expenditure undisposed of. They appear in the Summary at page 6 other than Heads 36 and 47. I propose to take those heads of expenditure* *Following are the heads of expenditure:- Head Title $ 28 Ministry of Finance 149,424 29 Charge on Account of the Public Debt 10,691,420 50 Defence Services 8,403,850

Question, "That the sums stated in the Summary of Totals contained in Paper Cmd. 13 of 1961 for Heads 28, 29 and 50, stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961", put, and agreed to. Question, "That the sum $19,561,794 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 contained in Paper Cmd. 13 of 1961", put, and agreed to. Resolution to be reported.

Second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 (Paper Cmd. 14 of 1961). No notice of amendment has been received. The Summary is at page 3. There are two Heads of Expenditure: Head D.55, Prisons and Head D.58, Colonial Development and Welfare Schemes. I propose to take those Heads of Expenditure together.

Question, "That the sums stated in the Summary of Totals contained in Paper Cmd. 14 of 1961 for Heads D.55 and D.58, stand part of the Second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961", put, and agreed to. Question, "That the sum of $109,141 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 contained in Paper Cmd. 14 of 1961", put, and agreed to. Resolution to be reported. Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of Committee and took the Chair of the Assembly.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply have come to certain resolutions. Resolutions read.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the Assembly doth agree with the Committee on the said resolutions.

Question put, and agreed to. Resolutions accordingly agreed to.

Back to questions. Dr Goh replying to Question No. 2*. *See col. 1406.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I was giving an explanation of the ways in which the Malays of Singapore earn their livelihood. I said it should be against this background that the Government should consider what action could be taken to improve their economic welfare. I ended, before the interruption, with the remark that the first thing to do is to make sure that there are sufficient opportunities for the employment of Malays in the public service and statutory authorities, because such a large number of them depend on these sources for a living. The second conclusion from my analysis is that we should make every effort to expand the Malay professional class which today is so small. There is also a third objective which did not emerge from the analysis of occupations which I had given previously. It is this. We have large numbers of Malays still engaged in fishing. A number of fishing villages along the coasts of Singapore and in the Southern Islands are in a depressed state because of the dependence of so many people in them on this precarious source of livelihood. We shall, therefore, have to take special measures in regard to this group of Malays. I now come to the policy of the Government in regard to the economic welfare of the Malay citizens of the State. To achieve the second of the objectives which I have outlined above. Namely, the expansion of the Malay professional class, it is necessary that every Malay child should be given education up to the highest level possible. To this end, Members will already know that it is the policy and practice of the P.A.P. Government to give free education to Malay children in Singapore from primary school level right up to the University. They do not have to pay school fees either in primary or secondary schools. In the University of Malaya and in the Polytechnic, special bursaries have been established for which only Malays can compete. At present, we can say that a Malay student who has the qualification to enter either the Polytechnic or the University of Malaya will receive a bursary to enable him to get his higher qualification. As regards employment in Government service, the largest number of posts are, as everybody knows, in Division IV and the daily-rated services. Recruitment into these grades is confined to members of the Work Brigade. In recruitment into the Work Brigade, and hence ultimately into the Government service as well as the services of various public authorities, they have agreed to accept Government's policy in this respect. In recruitment into the Work Brigade, special attention is paid to the recruitment of sufficient numbers of Malays. The Brigade now stands at 1,778. Of this number, no less than 637, or more than one-third, are Malays. The ratio of Malays to non-Malays in the Work Brigade is higher than that in the Government establishments or in the establishments of statutory authorities. This means that opportunities open to Malays of working-class origin for work in public authorities and in the Government service will be maintained and even expanded in the years to come. As regards the strengthening of the professional or technical classes, the relevant policy here is that in regard to higher appointments to the Civil Service, it is the policy of the P.A.P. Government to maximise the opportunities for the promotion of suitable Malay officers to the highest grades for which they are fitted. Members will have read in this morning's papers that four Malay officers have been promoted to the Singapore Administrative Service. In the past two years many Malays, who started their careers in the Government service as clerks, have been promoted to the grades of Executive Officers and Higher Executive Officers. I now turn to the special problem of distressed occupations such as fishing. My Ministry is not directly concerned in these matters. But speaking from the general angle of economic development, I would say that the solution to the problem lies in two directions. The first is to induce these persons to work in better paid and more secure occupations. This change can be left to the normal operations of the free market. The second solution is for those who remain is this depressed industry to increase their earning power by improving their production methods and know-how. What the Government is doing through the Ministry of National Development in this matter can be briefly stated as follows. Fishing schools are being established to teach Malay youths who want to be fishermen the latest technique in fishing. A school has recently been opened at Pasir Panjang, and more schools will be established in other parts of the island. Next, to improve the catch of Malay fishermen, the Ministry of National Development intends to purchase a number of diesel outboard motors which can be rented to Malay fishermen at reasonable charges. This scheme has been approved by the Development Planning Committee recently, and some five diesel outboard engines will be purchased soon. One great need of villagers who are depending on fishing for their income is to diversify their sources of incomes. For this purpose, a plan has been approved by the Development Planning Committee to introduce goats in Malay fishing villages. These goats will be purchased from the Federation of Malaya and its introduction in the fishing villages will help to strengthen the economy of these people. One point I have not dealt with, and that is Malay participation in trade and industry. I have held discussions with the Trade Advisory Council on how a special effort can be made to get more Malays into trade and industry. So far we have only discussed ways and means whereby the big commercial and banking firms can engage Malays on their staff and train them for more responsible posts. The firms I approached told me that their difficulty is to get sufficient numbers of qualified Malays to take up jobs in their businesses. Because of the comparatively small numbers of Malay students passing out with School Certificates, the more promising of these would have little difficulty in getting good and more secure jobs elsewhere. But in an entrepot economy such as ours, there are limits to Government control and direction over business.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, the reply is very lengthy. One fact emerges, Mr Speaker. I would like to know from the Minister for Finance about the promotion of the four Malay officers which was announced in the papers. Is it based on merit, or is it based on the special Malay rights?

Mr Speaker, Sir, it is based on both.

asked the Minister for Labour and Law to state the total number of seamen who have registered with the Seamen's Registry Board for employment from the date of its establishment to 31st March, 1961, and the total number of such seamen for whom the Board has found employment during the same period.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the total number of seamen registered by the Board up to 31st March, 1961, is 7,435. During the same period, 455 have been removed from the Seamen's Register by reasons of death, over-age or other causes, leaving a total of 6,980 active seamen on the Register as at 31st March, 1961. During the same period 11,123 vacancies have been filled by the Board. The total number of vacancies filled far exceeds the number of registered seamen, because some seamen may serve for a number of short periods during the year, particularly those serving in the home and local trade. It is, therefore, possible for seamen to obtain employment through the Board two or three times or even more during one year.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, could the Minister for Labour and Law enlighten me whether the Seamen's Registry Board register merely seamen who are citizens of Singapore or is registration open to all?

Mr Speaker, Sir, all those who have been to sea become registered seamen. In addition to that, Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a waiting list which is kept. This waiting list is related to the number of jobs that are available, so that when there are opportunities of increased employment, additions are made to this waiting list. The whole object of the exercise is to strike a proper balance between the demand for seamen and the number which is available for employment. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would also like to point out to the Assembly that we have sounded the opinions of employers of seamen in Singapore, and we have been informed that, in addition to the figures that I have given just now, there are approximately 8,000 of our seamen who are serving on ships throughout the world and who are not registered in our Registry.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, the reason for my asking the question is that I would like to emphasize that there are citizens of Singapore working in Indonesian boats who have been dismissed by the Indonesian authorities because they are Singapore citizens. It is proper that this Board should assist our own citizens and that only citizens of Singapore should be registered.

That does not sound like a question to me but would the Minister like to treat it as a question?

Yes, Mr Speaker, Sir. There are lots of ships that operate from Singapore which are not registered in Singapore. There are ships which habitually sail from Singapore which are either of Panamanian registry or of Indonesian registry. Many Chinese ship-owners register their ships under the registry facilities of Indonesia. Now, it works both ways. These ships which are registered in Indonesia employ Indonesian nationals as well as Singapore citizens, and we, Mr Speaker, Sir, make no distinction between seamen who are Indonesians and seamen who are citizens of Singapore. In fact, there are many seamen from Indonesia who are our registered seamen and who have been working as seamen through Singapore. So if we were to start discriminating in this way, Mr Speaker, Sir, by making it a condition that only citizens of Singapore are to be employed as sailors on Singapore registered ships, then it would be an inducement and a temptation to ships which are registered in Indonesia to dispense with our crews. And it would be to the disadvantage of Singapore if we ever operated it on that basis.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, in future, will the Government make it a policy to give priority to citizens of Singapore because the Seamen's Registry Board is established on public funds?

Mr Speaker, Sir, we have a practically complete registry now, and there are opportunities of further employment open to people who take to the sea for the first time. And it will be our duty in that case to restrict further opportunities of employment as seamen to our citizens. That is being actively done now.

"to provide for the punishment of the offences of abduction, wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement for ransom and other related offences and for 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, 24th May, 1961, and to be printed.

"to amend the Penal Code (Chapter 119 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Labour and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 24th May, 1961, and to be printed.

"to provide for the establishment of the Police Cadet Corps", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 24th May, 1961, and to be printed.

"to establish the Economic Development Board and to repeal the Singapore Industrial Promotion Board Ordinance, 1957 (No. 4 of 1957)", presented by the Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Wednesday, 24th May, 1961, and to be printed.

4.08 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion standing in the name of the Prime Minister, namely, That this Assembly, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and seabed containing an area of approximately 132,925 square feet adjoining Lots 569-1, 423-3, 421-1, 421-2 and 552, Mukim XXV, being land at Tanjong Rhu Road, as delineated on plans which are deposited at the Land Office, Singapore. This motion is the result of an application by Messrs. Standard-Vacuum Oil Company for permission to reclaim part of the foreshore and sea-bed adjacent to the oil storage terminal at Tanjong Rhu. The Company propose to use the land or the storage and distribution of petroleum and for purposes connected therewith. Under section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance, no reclamation can be made without the sanction of this Assembly. The object of this motion is to give the requisite authority. The Company will act as agents for the Government in making the reclamation and the usual indemnity by deed will be taken. When the reclamation is complete, the land will become State land and a lease will be issued to the Company. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to. Resolved. That this Assembly, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and sea-bed containing an area of approximately 132,925, 421-1, 421-2 and 522, Mukim XXV, being land at Tanjong Rhu Road, as delineated on plans which are deposited at the Land Office, Singapore.

Order for Second Reading read. 4.11 p.m.

Sir, I beg to move, " That the Bill be now read a Second time." The offences relating to the Vehicles Ordinance, 1960, which came into operation on 15th February, 1960, expired on the 14th February, 1961, as Members are aware, the purpose of this Ordinance was to enhance the punishment in respect of offences concerning thefts of motor vehicles, bicycles and parts thereof, and was to act as a deterrent in a situation where such thefts and dishonest retention or disposal of such property were rampant. It was also provided that this Ordinance could be extended by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara from time to time as he thought fit. The Government considers that under present circumstances it would be more desirable for the Ordinance to be given a more definite period of life. During the period of one year since the operation of this Ordinance, 564 motor vehicles and 2,400 bicycles in 1959, it would appear, therefore, that from the figures quoted, the Ordinance does not have as yet the right impact on criminals committing this type of offence. But against this it is considered that the period of one year was too short for the effectiveness of this Ordinance to be felt. It must be remembered also that time is required to bring about a definite change in the abnormal circumstances which necessitated the enactment of the Ordinance. The fact that the number of bicycle thefts has increased should be weighed against the fact that there is a large increase in the number of bicycles in Singapore and that, on the ether hand, there has been a small drop in thefts of motor vehicles despite the fact that the number of motor vehicles has also increased in Singapore. Even if the crime figures in respect of thefts of vehicles remain static during the currency of this Ordinance, that in itself is a good indication that the Ordinance has achieved something good in preventing the theft figures from rising appreciably. The fact, therefore, that this Ordinance would be in operation for another four years should act as a deterrent on the nefarious inclinations of criminals towards this type of offence. Sir, for the purposes of continuity, this Amendment Bill has been given retrospective effect from the date of expiry of the principal Ordinance. But until this Bill becomes law, thefts of motor vehicles and bicycles are being dealt with under the Penal Code. It is hoped that during this further four-year period this legislation will have a salutary effect until the situation becomes more normal. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 4.15 p.m.

Sir, a question of principle is involved in the manner in which the Government is seeking to bring about this legislation. Ordinance No. 9 of 1960 was an Ordinance which was passed in this Assembly and it came into operation on 15th February, 1960. Section 1 (2) of the Ordinance reads: `This Ordinance shall continue in operation for a period of one year from the date of commencement: Provided that the Yang di-Pertuan Negara may by notification in the Gazette extend such period from time to time as he shall think fit.' As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs has not indicated that the Yang di-Pertuan Negara has acted under the proviso to the section, I am taking it that this Ordinance has now lapsed. If this Ordinance has now lapsed, then I am suggesting to the Government that this is a highly improper way of extending the life of the Ordinance. By the amendment to amend section 1 (2), it is sought to delete the word "one" and substitute therefor the word "five", thereby giving it continuity with retrospective effect. To begin with, Mr Speaker, Sir, this is highly undesirable, particularly in a criminal Ordinance which affects the rights and liberties of subjects. If this amending Bill is passed into law, then the position in law is that what are not offences today become offences merely by retrospective effect. That is a principle which no self-respecting Legislature can accede to. The Parliamentary Secretary says that the Government is not going to make use of this Ordinance in respect of offences that have been committed since 15th February, 1960, until such time as this Bill, if it becomes law, is brought into operation. With respect to the Government, I suggest that the proper way to do it, as the previous Ordinance has now lapsed, would be to bring in an entirely new Ordinance which would not have - on the statute book anyway - provisions which would enable the Government to take retrospective action in respect of criminal offences. It is highly undesirable. As there is the Penal Code under which the offence of theft can be punished, and as the laws of the country provide for the dealing of these offences, I suggest to the Government that they should withdraw this Bill and reintroduce it in another form. 4.20 p.m.

Sir, it would help the Opposition if the Minister for Labour and Law could tell us whether it is right to extend the life of a law which has already lapsed. It is no longer on the statute book. If it has lapsed, therefore it cannot be extended.

It may be convenient perhaps to break for tea until five o'clock. Perhaps it is the wish of Members? Hon. Members indicated assent.

I suspend this sitting, and shall take the Chair again at five p.m. Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.22 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.00 p.m.

Resumption of debate on Question, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Question again proposed.

Mr Speaker, Sir, under Standing Order No. 24 (1) I move, That this debate be now adjourned. Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Member for Farrer Park An hon. Member: Hear, hear!

- that this Bill appears to be defective on its face, as it purports to continue in force an Ordinance which has already lapsed and would thereby render persons liable to punishment for acts which were not offences after 15th February, 1961. Mr Speaker, Sir, there are powers for the Government to deal with such offences under the Penal Code until such time as other provisions are made for dealing with these particular offences.

Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this debate be now adjourned.

Resumption of debate, what day?

24th May, 1961.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.02 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, the Bill seeks to repeal Part III of the Education Ordinance, 1957, and section 16 of the Planning Ordinance, 1959, which provide respectively for the levy of an Education Rate and an Improvement Rate on the annual values of properties by the local authorities. In view of the integration of the City Council with the Government, the Education and Improvement Rates have been incorporated in the Property Tax levied under the Property Tax Ordinance, 1960. It is the intention of the Government to abolish the Education and Improvement Rates once the Property Tax Ordinance, 1960, is fully operative. The Property Tax Ordinance, 1960, came into force on 1st January, 1961, and it is now necessary to repeal the relevant sections of the Education Ordinance, 1957, and the Planning Ordinance, 1959, under which the local rates are levied. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly. Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.- [Mr Low Por Tuck]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.06 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Post Office Savings Bank Ordinance was drawn up and passed at a time when Singapore was completely under colonial domination. Although the Ordinance was meant to encourage the people to save, as far as the use of the savings was concerned, we had no say in the matter. In fact, the Ordinance was so drawn up that our savings would benefit the people of Britain and not the people of Singapore. Subsection (1) of section 11 of the Ordinance stated that the money in the savings bank could be to a small extent used to invest in Malayan Government securities. To be exact, we were not allowed to invest more than one-third of the money in the Post Office Savings Bank in local securities. The rest of the money was to be kept invested outside Malaya, which usually meant Britain. This meant that only a small proportion of the money in the savings bank, which is the money of our people, could be used for the benefit of the people of Singapore. In 1947 we tried to ask the British Government to allow us to invest at least half of the money in the savings bank in local securities. But we were told that the British Government would not agree to such a proposal. The Federation of Malaya Government also tried at that time to do the same thing but was unsuccessful. But later in 1953, the Federation Government did succeed not merely in using half the money but even all the money in the Savings Bank to invest in their own securities. In other words, they removed the condition in the Post Office Savings Bank Ordinance which limited the amount of money of the Post Office Savings Bank that could be used to buy local securities. Although we in Singapore do not have independence, we do have a measure of internal self-government and we must make sure that the savings and money of the people of Singapore are used for the benefit and well-being of the people themselves. We cannot allow our money to be used for the people of other countries when we need the money so badly. In the last Assembly sitting, we presented and passed the motion about our Four-Year Development Plan. We were told that as far as possible this Plan must be financed from our own money. Thus we need every cent that is saved for our own Development Plan. For these reasons, we think that it is about time that this section in the Post Office Savings Bank Ordinance, which prevents us from using the money in the Bank for our own purposes, should be removed and that we should be allowed to use the money in the Savings Bank in the way that we think is best. The Post Office Savings Bank (Amendment) Bill seeks to remove this condition in the original Ordinance. I must emphasise that this does not mean that the Government will now use the money in any way such that people who put the money in the Post Office Savings Bank will stand to lose it. We have an honest Government and this money will be used honestly and to the best purpose. Again, I must emphasise that it does not mean that the Government will just take the money and use it for its own purpose. If the Government needs the money for the Development Plan, it will borrow from the Post Office Savings Bank by selling to the Post Office Savings Bank bonds or other Government securities and the Government would pay interest on these bonds. Thus, when we say that the Government can use the money, we mean that the Government can borrow the money and use it and not that the Government can take and use it as it likes. This right to borrow freely from the Post Office Savings Bank was formerly denied to us. When this Bill is passed, we will have the right to borrow any proportion of the money in the Post Office Savings Bank. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 5.12 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, while welcoming the Parliamentary Secretary's statement on the eventual use of these monies invested by the small people of Singapore, and his statement that these monies will not be used by the Government without providing them with an adequate return, he has not told the House whether these monies which the Government will use will be at the rates of interest which the Government would have to pay in the money market. Could the Minister tell us whether the rates which the depositors will be paid will be the same as those paid to the investors on the money market?

Mr Speaker, Sir, what used to be adequate as a rate of interest before the War is no longer adequate these days. In view of the high rate of interest which the Government is going to give when it borrows money from the Savings Bank fund, could it not consider the question of paying a more enhanced rate of interest to those who save money in the Post Office Savings Bank?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the rate of interest will be paid according to what Government is paying on other securities or bonds.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly. Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Low Por Tuck]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.16 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill introduces a number of necessary and desirable amendments to the present Police Force Ordinance. In the first place, our re-dedicated and reorientated Polis Negara Singapura now goes down in the statute book by that name. This Bill introduces a new Part VIIIA to the principal Ordinance which places the Guard and Escort Unit which, as Members are aware, has been in existence since 1st January, 1959, on a proper status, defines their duties and makes them police officers for purposes of the Pensions Ordinance. Another provision of importance is a new Part VIIIB which provides for the creation of Auxiliary Police Forces within the State. These Auxiliary Police Forces will take the place of small Police Forces, like the Singapore Harbour Board Police, the Shell Company Pulau Bukom Security Police and the Singapore Airport Police, as it is considered that it would be better to have all the Police Forces in Singapore under the unified command of the Commissioner of Police, by virtue of the Police Force Ordinance, than to have small Police Forces operating under the authority of separate Ordinances. This new Part VIIIB makes the personnel of such separate Police Forces Auxiliary Police Officers subject to the authority of the Commissioner of Police for the maintenance of law and order, preservation of public peace and the prevention and detection of crime, but provides that the pay, pensions, conditions of service of every Auxiliary Police Officer and his day-to-day duties shall be entirely within the jurisdiction of the Government if he is employed by the Government, or of the Company, Statutory Body or any other organisations employing him. These Auxiliary Police Forces will operate within the area under the jurisdiction and control of the employing authority and the Auxiliary Police Officers will have similar status to regular Police Officers within their own areas and to such extent outside the limits of such areas as the Commissioner may decide. Like regular Police Officers, they also cannot join trade unions, but could have their own Police associations to make representations on their behalf. The Minister is also empowered to make regulations to provide for schemes of training, appointments and promotions, discipline and punishment, uniform and equipment, arms and ammunitions to be carried. These regulations will naturally be made in consultation with the Commissioner of Police and the employing authority. Under this Bill, provision is also made in clause 13 for the employment of police officers for private purposes, such as guarding persons or property or for any other reasons acceptable to the Commissioner of Police, as it is considered more appropriate that provision for the hire of police personnel should be made in the Ordinance itself and not in Police General Orders. Clause 3 of the, Bill introduces an amendment to section 20 of the Ordinance to provide that the Commissioner of Police could discharge a Probationary Inspector or Cadet Inspector only with the consent of the Minister. The discharge of such an Inspector is excluded from the purview of the Public Service Commission under the provisions of section 82 (2) of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council. This clause also introduces an amendment which regularises the eligibility with regard to the payment of gratuities in respect of subordinate officers discharged with less than 10 years' service. The Bill also provides by virtue of clause 4 that there shall be no exception to the provision in the Ordinance which prohibits police officers from being members of trade unions or of bodies or associations with political objects. Formerly it was provided in the principal Ordinance that where a police officer was a member of a trade union before joining the Police Force, he may, with the consent of the Minister, continue to be a member of that trade union during the time of his service in the Police Force. However, the provision in the principal Ordinance permitting the establishment of associations operated and administered in accordance with Police Regulations for the purpose of enabling police officers to consider and bring to the notice of Government matters affecting their welfare and efficiency remains unchanged. Clause 5 makes certain amendments to section 27 of the principal Ordinance with regard to punishment of subordinate police officers and, inter alia, provides that the police officer authorised by a Commanding Officer to conduct disciplinary proceedings may impose on a subordinate officer any of the punishments which the Commanding Officer may impose, except that of dismissal or retirement from the Force. Clause 7 of the Bill provides that a member of the Special Constabulary (or Special Police Officer) may be prosecuted in court for certain specified disciplinary offences as in the case of a regular Inspector and subordinate officer of the Police Force. This clause arose out of a court case in which it was held that there was no provision for members of the Volunteer Special Constabulary to be prosecuted in court for such offences, and this clause now removes any doubt in the matter. This Bill also makes another provision with regard to the Special Constabulary in that clause 11 provides that the Commissioner of Police shall not, without the permission of the Minister, accept as a member of the Special Constabulary any person who is not a citizen of Singapore. Clause 14 introduces a new form of oath or affirmation for persons appointed to the Special Constabulary or to any Auxiliary Police Force. Clause 15 repeals the provision of the Ports Ordinance which relates to the Port Police Force, as it is now proposed by virtue of this Bill that the Auxiliary Police Force shall perform the functions of the present Port Police Force. Lastly, the opportunity has been taken in the other clauses not mentioned above to make a number of phraseological amendments to the principal Ordinance. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 5.25 p.m.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, in general, I fully support this Bill to amend the Police Force Ordinance. But there are a, few things which should be explained by the Parliamentary Secretary. In view of the fact that we are a self-governing State and in view of the fact that not long after this Bill is passed it will be named the Polis Negara Singapura, I would like to know whether there is a plan to change the sign and emblem worn by the police force of Singapore, because I find these are the properties and rewards which have been left by the colonial Government and which should be abolished. There is another thing, Mr Speaker, in regard to the Guard and Escort Unit. I imagine that perhaps in the future, additional expenditure for 1961 will be proposed before this House in regard to members of the Guard and Escort Unit. We know that it was debated in December last year in this Assembly that their salary scale was not at all just, having regard to the expenditure for 1961. So the matter of the salary scales and the increase in pay should receive the serious attention of the Government. There is another thing. There are posts in the Guard and Escort Unit which have been frozen. Will these vacancies be filled sometime this year when the Ordinance has come into existence? I would therefore like a clear explanation from the responsible quarter.

The hon. Member for Kampong Kembangan must realise that we are now debating the principle of this Bill and not the details which he has sought to raise. The Parliamentary Secretary, if he is in a position to answer in regard to the details, may do so. But, strictly, they are completely irrelevant to what we are discussing, which is the Second Reading of the Bill.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as regards the first question, there is a plan at the present moment to change the emblem of the Polis Negara Singapura. As regards the readjustment of expenditure, I think the Minister for Finance will be in a position to answer that, if at any time the Member wishes to raise that question again. Similarly as regards the frozen posts, because that is the function of the Establishment Department.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly. Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill [Dr Lee Siew Choh]. Bill considered in Committee.

5.30 p.m. Clauses 1 to 6 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 7 -

Sir, I beg to move, In page 3, line 26, at end, to insert- `(a) by deleting the words "which may extend to" appearing in the sixth and seventh lines of subsection (1) thereof and substituting therefor the words "not exceeding".'. In page 3-

Will the Parliamentary Secretary deal with one amendment at a time? Deal with the first amendment first. Does the Parliamentary Secretary wish to enlarge on that?

Sir, the first and second amendments are the same.

The speech, if any, could be made to cover also the second amendment.

Yes.

I take it there is no speech?

There is no speech required in this. Amendment agreed to.

The consequential amendments. Relettering of the subsequent paragraphs will be made. Will the Parliamentary Secretary move amendment (ii)*? Further Amendment made: *In page 3, lines 37 and 38, to leave out "which may extend to" and insert "not exceeding". -[Dr Lee Siew Choh]. Clause 7, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 8 to 11 inclusive ordered 10 stand part of the Bill. Clause 12 - Amendment made: In page 4, line 25, to leave out "members" and insert "numbers". -[Dr Lee Siew Choh]. Question proposed, "That clause 12, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to inform this House whether the bodyguards provided for Ministers are drawn from this Guard and Escort Unit?

No, they are not. They are taken from the security Unit.

Question put, and agreed to. Clause 12, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 13 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 14 -

There is a typographical error - in page 8, line 39, "(2)" should read "(3)". The alteration will be made. Clause 14 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 15 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Bill reported with amendments; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.37 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, a number of Commissioners who have sat on Inquiry Commissions constituted under the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance have commented on the fact that the powers of the Commissioners to require persons to give evidence before them are inadequate. Under section 7 (e) of the present Ordinance, Mr Speaker, Sir, any person who is required by the Commissioners to give evidence on oath or affirmation or to produce a document or other thing and refuses to do so is only liable to a fine not exceeding $100. And his failure to do so, Mr Speaker, does not constitute in law a contempt of the authority of the Commission. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is therefore proposed to provide that a person who refuses to give evidence on oath or affirmation or to produce a document or other thing required to be produced before the Commission will be guilty of contempt under the amendment which we have proposed. It is also proposed to increase the punishment for contempt, which is at present a fine not exceeding $200 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. This amendment, Sir, will bring the punishment for contempt in line with that for obstruction and threats to witnesses under section 11 of the Ordinance, which is imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. It is also proposed, Sir, to give the Commissioners power to determine the order in which witnesses are to be examined and to give them the powers of a Judge of the Supreme Court for the purpose of recovering costs or fines, or to give effect to a warrant of arrest or an order of imprisonment. The power of the Commissioners to require evidence to be taken is related in section 7 of the Ordinance to that of the High Court, and it is felt that the position should be placed beyond doubt by giving the Commissioners the powers of a Judge of the Supreme Court. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 5.40 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak on some aspects of this Bill not in so far as they relate to an Inquiry Commission or to the Commissioners as set out in the Bill, but particularly with regard to the effect that these amendments have on the Legislative Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, No. 33 of 1955. Under the existing Inquiry Commissions Ordinance, Mr Speaker, the question of contempt of the Commissioner or Commissioners relates itself to the items set out in clause 3 (a) and clause 3 (b). There has been a new paragraph (c) inserted which says: "[If any person] being required by the Commissioners to give evidence on oath or affirmation or to produce a document or other thing, refuses to do so, shall be guilty of contempt.". So that once the Commissioner has subpoenaed a person to appear before him and if that person refuses to give evidence on oath or affirmation or to produce a document, he shall be guilty of contempt and he may be punished under the relevant section. Let us examine that section in relation to the Legislative Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance. The first section I would draw your particular attention to, Mr Speaker, in the Legislative Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance is section 3. Section 3 relates to freedom of speech in this Assembly, and it says: `No civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against any person while a member of the Assembly-

Mr Byrne, in reply?

In reply, Sir. The Member for Farrer Park doubtless knows that civil and criminal proceedings cannot be instituted against persons for words spoken before this Legislative Assembly. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Farrer Park will remember that in the time of the former Government, a Commission of Inquiry was appointed to look into the Mayor's handling of the affairs of the City Council. He will also remember that the leaders of the P.A.P. moved the High Court for a writ of prohibition in an effort to get the High Court to stop the proceedings before the Commission of Inquiry which was then appointed. The hon. Member will remember that the High Court held that a writ of prohibition does not lie, for the simple reason that the Commission is not a Court within the legal definition of the meaning of a Court. Mr Speaker, Sir, as you know, the Government is giving consideration to the introduction of a new Ordinance setting out the powers and privileges of this Legislative Assembly. A Committee of Privileges has already been set up by this House. The points that the Member for Farrer Park has raised in this Assembly are matters which are at present actively receiving the attention of the Government. In due course, we will be introducing a Bill which will help to resolve these difficulties.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly. Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.- [Mr Byrne]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.54 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, the object of this Bill is to transfer the power to levy a surcharge on rubber estates under the Rubber Estates (Surcharge on Assessment) Ordinance from the Rural Board to the Minister. The Bill also seeks to increase the maximum rate of the surcharge leviable on large rubber holdings from one-half of one cent per pound of dry rubber to one cent per pound of dry rubber. Sir, the Rubber Estates (Surcharge on Assessment) Ordinance (Cap. 169) provides for the levy by the Rural Board of a surcharge on rates assessed on rubber estates under the Rubber Estates Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 168) and for such surcharge to be credited to the Malayan Rubber Fund. In view of the integration of the Rural Board with the Central Government, it is now proposed to transfer the powers conferred on the Board under the Rubber Estates (Surcharge on Assessment) Ordinance to the Minister. At present, the Ordinance provides that the rate of surcharge on rubber holdings shall not exceed one-half of one cent per pound of dry rubber. It is proposed to raise this maximum rate of the surcharge to one cent per pound of dry rubber to allow for greater flexibility. In this connection, I wish to point out that the present research cess imposed by the Federation is 0.75 cents per pound of dry rubber which is higher than the maximum rate of surcharge at present leviable under the Singapore Ordinance. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly. Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Low Por Tuck]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.59 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The amendments which are proposed to the Public Trustee Ordinance were drafted at the request of the Public Trustee Board which is constituted under section 13 of the Ordinance. The first proposed amendment, which is to section 6 of the Public Trustee Ordinance, is to enable monies of the General Estates Fund to be placed in fixed deposit for terms of three to six months, thereby earning interest at about four per cent on the daily balances. Money which is held by the Public Trustee on trust for a long period of time is invested in the Common Fund, so that the interest can be credited to the individual estates up to the time of distribution. Other monies such as funds held by an estate which are to be paid out within a few months, or small amounts which are held for minors and are being reduced by monthly payments of maintenance, are held in the Public Trustee General Estates Bank Account. Under the existing law, such monies are held in a general banking account and earn interest at the rate of two per cent on the daily balance which is paid into the Consolidated Fund under the provisions of section 6 (7) of the Public Trustee Ordinance. The proposed amendment will enable such monies to be placed on fixed deposit, thereby earning interest at about four per cent. The amount in the General Estates Bank Account is now about half a million dollars and represents monies due to about 300 estates varying in value from $100 to $20,000. It is difficult, from an accounting point of view, to pay out interest earned on small estates to the various beneficiaries, as this will involve a tremendous amount of work; and as the average amount held in such estates is small, the interest earned for each estate will be negligible. It is therefore proposed, as in the past, to pay out interest earned into the Consolidated Fund. The second amendment proposed is to section 14 of the Public Trustee Ordinance. Under the existing law the Public Trustee Investment Board is required to meet in the month of February each year, and to give directions to the Public Trustee as regards the disposal of the balance standing to the credit of the Income Account of the Common Fund at the end of the preceding year, after interest payable to the beneficiaries and other lawful charges have been duly debited to the said Account. In order to give such directions, it will be necessary for the Board to have the audited accounts of the Public Trustee for the preceding year, but it is not always possible for such accounts to be ready by February in the year. It is therefore proposed that the directions of the Board may be given in April or such later month in the year as the Minister may appoint. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly. Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Byrne]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Third Reading read. 6.04 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time." Mr Speaker, Sir, you will remember that when this Bill was first introduced in this Assembly it was a small Bill and was committed to a Select Committee. But the Select Committee spent a considerable amount of time on it. There were altogether 12 sittings. The Committee unanimously agreed to this revised Bill. First, we made certain important amendments in the Bill as a whole. One is the changing of the name of the Bill. During the session of the Committee, many witnesses came forward. The majority of them were of the opinion that, since the Bill was to help in the unification of the Sikh temples in Singapore, it was the proper time to change the name of the Bill from the Queen Street and Silat Road Sikh Gurdawaras Bill to that of the present title. The other major change in the Bill concerns the constitution of the Board of Trustees. In the past, the two main Sikh temples were dominated by three societies of Sikhs. In other words, they monopolised Sikh affairs in Singapore. During Committee sessions, various Sikh organisations and individuals came forward and put forward the view that it was high time that this monopoly should be stopped and proper representation in the Board should be given. After hearing evidence, the Committee unanimously decided to give representation not only to the three societies already mentioned, but also to two other organisations (two representatives from each organisation), and 15 elective members from the Central Sikh Temple. For election purposes, we made certain amendments in the Bill for the compiling of an electoral register. Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not going to deal with the Bill in detail, but before I conclude, I would like to put on record, on behalf of the Committee, that the Bill in its present form was brought about with your able assistance and guidance. I beg to move, Mr Speaker, Sir. Question proposed.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I have great pleasure in suggesting to the House that this is a Bill worthy of support. Mr Speaker, Sir, the main point in this Bill as it has emerged from the Select Committee lies, I think, in the constitution of the Board. We had a number of meetings, I think it was 12, as the Member for Telok Blangah has said, from which evidence was recorded. And it emerged in that evidence that by and large it was the general desire of the Sikh community that some form of democratisation should take place in the management of these two Gurdwaras. The historical background against which the Gurdwaras were developed was not the spirit which was advocated by the witnesses before the Committee. Because of the things that had happened previously, the management of their Committees was left in the hands of associations, and the circumstances which necessitated that state of affairs no longer exist today. Therefore, the Select Committee has sought to keep a balance between the requirements of a modern age and, shall we say, the management of a past era, and we have tried to bring the two together in the earnest hope that they too will join hands together and work this Bill for the general benefit of the Sikh community at large. I think the Committee appreciates that it does not have a hundred per cent support of all the people who came before the Committee, but I think I can safely say that at least 90 to 95 per cent of those who came before the Committee entirely approved of clause 3 as it now stands. So, Mr Speaker, Sir, may I appeal to certain older members of the Sikh community to work this Bill in the spirit which the Select Committee hope they will work it? We feel sure that if there is this harmony between these five societies and the elected representatives of the Gurdwaras, it will be in the best interests of that community. And I think it is fair to express at this stage that the Committee felt that the time should soon come when the entire management of the Sikh temples in Singapore would be left to the congregations of the Gurdwaras rather than to any associations. Lastly, Mr Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the Member for Telok Blangah in what he said with regard to the Chairman of the Select Committee. Sir, a lot of evidence was taken and a lot of marshalling and channelling of that evidence in a proper direction was needed. The Committee are very grateful to you, Mr Speaker, Sir, for having done that and for having pinpionted the more important bits of evidence that came out before the Select Committee.

Mr Mammen, in reply? Mr Mammen indicated dissent

It would be completely out of order if the Speaker takes part in this debate now!

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

Resolved, "That this Assembly do now adjourn to Wednesday, 24th May, 1961." -[Mr Rajaratnam]. Adjourned accordingly at 6.12 p.m. to Wednesday, 24th May, 1961.