<br><br><div align="center"><i>MERGER DOMINATES THIS THIRD SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY</i></div>
As the Third Session of this Legislative Assembly opens, merger between Singapore and the Federation of Malaya dominates every other issue. Soon before June 1963, she will be united with the mainland of the Federation of Malaya. This is a decisive moment in the history of the people of Malaya, indeed in the history of the people of Malaysia, for it is proposed that the three territories of Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo should join us. This will help us strengthen each other. This will enlarge our economic base for development, for progress and prosperity within Malaysia, and for our standing internationally in the comity of nations. When the first Session of this Legislative Assembly opened on 1st July, 1959, the people of Singapore were aware that although the present constitution was a big step forward in their struggle for freedom, it was not the ultimate step in the struggle from colonial domination to freedom in unity with the Federation of Malaya. When the Second Session opened on 20th July, 1960, we were all reminded of the problems of Singapore's economic development by the slow progress that was being made in the talks for a common market between Singapore and the Federation. Without economic cooperation and a common market between Singapore and the Federation, there can be little hope of a rapid economic expansion and industrialisation that will bring more factories and more jobs for the thousands of our young people leaving our schools and seeking employment. We must have political stability and economic expansion before the talent and the skills of our younger people can find scope and expression in an expanding economy. This Third Session begins with a promise that by June 1963 we shall have established the basic conditions necessary not just for our peace and prosperity, but literally for our survival. We are at the crossroads. The main highway leads to a united, peaceful and prosperous Malaya, and with the Borneo territories joining us, to an even more prosperous Malaysia. The other is a side-path that leads to a dead-end, to chaos and economic ruination. But this dead-end is favoured by some, because they are afraid to leave security in the hands of a strong Central Government of the new and larger Federation. Dramatic Developments of Last Five Months Very few people could have anticipated the tremendous drama with which the progress towards merger and independence in a new and larger Federation took place in the last five months. On Saturday, 27th of May, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya opened this new phase in our political struggle in a speech in Singapore in which he stated, for the first time, that there should be closer economic and political association between the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, and Brunei and the Borneo territories. A week later on National Day, 3rd of June, the Prime Minister of Singapore responded by saying that if merger and independence would come sooner and easier through the Borneo sister territories coming in together with us into political intergration with the Federation of Malaya, then we supported it, for it would also mean that we would have a larger and more powerful economic base for our new nation. On 9th June, Dr Toh Chin Chye declared that the P.A.P. Government would in the June 1963 constitutional talks seek independence through merger under conditions which would give Singapore autonomy in education and labour. On 23rd August, the first meeting between the Prime Ministers of the Federation and Singapore on merger was held. A joint statement was issued. It was announced that agreement had been reached in principle on proposals for merger between Singapore and the Federation under which responsibility for external affairs, defence and security would be in the Central Federation Government, while the Singapore State Government would retain autonomy on education and labour. It was also agreed that "a Working Party should be set up to go into the overall financial and other implications arising out of arrangements whereby local autonomy was retained by Singapore on agreed matters, and to consider the financial contribution Singapore would be required to make to the National Government". On 14th September, after talks over three days in Kuala Lumpur between the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya and the Prime Minister and the Minister for Culture of Singapore, a joint statement announced that agreement had been reached that a Working Party should "work out details of merger with a view to bringing about the integration of the two territories and its people in or before June 1963". It was also announced that "the two Prime Ministers were satisfied that all legitimate local and special interests of the people in the two territories could and would be safeguarded with the merger of Singapore as a State within the Federation". Now a time-table has been set for the details of the merger to be worked out, and the joint statement announced that "it was decided that the two Prime Ministers will meet from time to time to review the work and decide on the recommendations of the Working Party". On 30th September, after meetings lasting over two days, a joint statement by the Prime Ministers of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore announced the official members of the Federation and Singapore Working Party. Work has begun. The officials have got down to the many administrative and financial problems that have to be resolved. According to the words of the joint statement of the Prime Ministers, "all legitimate local and special interests of the people in the two territories can and will be safeguarded". This work is still proceeding. On 23rd October, the Working Party met in Kuala Lumpur to discuss many administrative problems on the judicial, legal and financial implications of merger. There are many complex problems of integration. For example, after merger it is obviously desirable that there should be a uniform judiciary system and a uniform judiciary. But the separation of the last 16 years since 1945 has created special problems and interests which may be better resolved if there is no outright absorption of the Singapore side of the judiciary into the judiciary of the new Federation. Similarly with the legal service. It will take time, patience and goodwill on both sides to resolve all these judicial, legal and administrative difficulties. But a firm application of the basic principle of a strong and efficient Central Government, with the largest measure of domestic latitude possible, will provide a solution which is fair and just. Members of the Civil Service in Singapore will be happy to know that these problems of administrative integration are to be resolved wherever possible on the principle that all serving officers in the Civil Service can remain under their present terms and conditions of service in Singapore. Naturally, in several spheres of the Central Government service, there would be greater opportunities for more varied work, greater responsibilities and more avenues for higher promotion. All officers who are prepared to serve in all territories of the new Federation can opt for Central Government service in those Ministries which come under the jurisdiction of the Central Government. In the case of Ministries which do not come under the Central Government, there will be opportunities for secondment for outstanding officers who are needed by the Central Government and who are prepared to serve in the Central Government. Meanwhile, on 16th October, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya moved a motion in Parliament which sought the agreement in principle on a Federation of Malaysia comprising the 11 States of the Federation, the States of Singapore and Brunei, and the territories of North Borneo and Sarawak. En his speech in support of the motion, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya summed up the proposals for merger between Singapore and the Federation of Malaya by reference t' Northern Ireland as a working example of a Federation in which "Singapore is joined in partnership on a footing something like that which exists between the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland". He said, "An association of such a nature would recognise the Federation of Malaysia with Singapore as partners in one identity." He explained that like Northern Ireland, Singapore will enjoy a measure of local self-government and will have a legislature of its own with powers to deal with local affairs. He stressed that the essential feature of a constitution like that of Northern Ireland is that Singapore will form an integral part of the new Federation. He went on to say that in the case of Northern Ireland, 12 members are elected by Northern Ireland direct to the Central Parliament of the United Kingdom, whilst a large range of legislative and administrative functions is delegated to the Government of Northern Ireland. In the same way, Singapore will be voting for members direct to the Central Parliament of the new Federation, and a large range of legislative and administrative functions will be delegated to the Singapore State Government. The Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya also stated that the terms of reference of the Working Party include the examination of the question of separate citizenship for the Federation of Malaya and Singapore with a single nationality with a view to "ensuring that such an arrangement does not render one citizenship inferior to the other". At the conclusion of the debate on 18th October, the Prime Minister received the support that he had asked for from an overwhelming majority of the House. No one challenged the motion to a division. According to news reports, the only dissentient voices were those of the Pan-Malayan Islamic Party and the People's Progressive Party. Even the Socialist Front leaders on the Opposition side said that they supported in principle this plan put forward by the Federation Prime Minister. With the passing of this resolution, a new phase has opened. The representatives of the people of the Federation of Malaya have now stated clearly they are prepared to accept Singapore as an integral part of the new Federation with Singapore joined in partnership as partners in one identity. Those who do not want merger because merger means that security will be in the hands of a strong Central Government will try to confuse the issue by making loud demands for complete merger in which education and labour will be controlled by the Central Federation Government. It is clear that the majority of the people in Singapore do not want this because of the misunderstandings and unhappiness that have arisen over the conditions for grants-in-aid to Chinese secondary schools in the Federation. There are various other sectional interests to be protected on merger. The civil servants want a merger under conditions that do not mean that the 4 : 1 ratio between the Malays and non-Malays will apply in Singapore. Chinese parents who want their children to go to Chinese schools want a merger under conditions in which the present policy of equal treatment for all streams of education and after graduation equal opportunities for employment will go on in Singapore. Workers want a merger under conditions that will ensure that the pro-labour policy and legislation they have enjoyed will continue. Businessmen, contractors and bus companies want a merger under conditions in which priority for tenders and licences will be as before, with no priorities or special rights for anybody. Merchants want a merger under conditions under which our free port status and our free trade with all countries will continue, and under which our trading links with the whole world will remain as they have been free and easy. Over 350,000 Singapore citizens who were not born in Singapore want a merger under conditions which will allow them to keep the citizenship rights they have without any need for further registration as citizens. The most important interest that will be protected in a merger based on the principle of partnership is that Singapore citizens, whether born here or born elsewhere, will keep all their present citizenship rights and, in addition, acquire national rights as nationals of the new Federation. Nobody will lose any rights. On the other hand, every citizen will gain new national status as a member of an independent and larger political unit. Merger will also provide new economic advantages and employment opportunities for the people of Singapore. As part of the Federation, Singapore's prospects for industrial expansion are immeasurably enhanced. All these interests can be protected in a merger based on the principle of partnership like the Northern Ireland working model. The people will see how these interests can be fairly and justly safeguarded in the constitutional arrangements of the new and larger Federation. When the terms and conditions for merger have been determined, they will be presented to the people. The people must know that these interests cannot be protected in a complete merger as a 12th State like one of the other 11 States of the present Federation, for then automatically all these matters will be controlled by the Central Government and must follow the pattern of what happened in the 11 States of the present Federation of Malaya. We do not recommend complete merger because one of the most important consequences of complete merger is the application of the more stringent citizenship laws of the Federation under which over 350,000 Singapore citizens who were not born here will be disenfranchised and will have to re-apply for registration as citizens. The Government would also welcome all constructive proposals from all political Parties in the Legislative Assembly. All other interested organisations who wish to put forward their views to ensure that all legitimate interests are safeguarded are also invited to put forward constructive proposals for fair and just arrangements. These proposals can be considered by the Working Party. Whilst it is inevitable that public attention is on the major issue of merger, the other issues of sound finance and economic progress, of roads, standpipes, street-lamps, housing, clinics and the other day-to-day needs of the people must continue to receive proper attention for planning and fulfilment. FINANCE The economic and financial policies of the Government as outlined in the previous two Addresses were based on certain assumptions as to the political future of Singapore. Et was not then foreseen that merger with the Federation of Malaya was an imminent possibility. The prospect in 1959/60 was that Singapore had, perhaps for some considerable time, to manage her own affairs as a unit separate from the Federation. The problems facing us were immense, the resources at hand few. In order to accumulate the resources needed for economic expansion to absorb our growing population, it was necessary to introduce stringent measures to enable us to meet the challenge alone. There were increases in various spheres of taxation. An economy drive to accumulate revenue surpluses necessitated the reduction of pay for civil servants, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. With merger now in prospect, the assumptions on which the original economic policies of the Government were based must he reviewed. As part of a greater entity, Singapore can stand up better to its economic difficulties than by tackling them in isolation. Hence it was possible to relax many of the measures adopted. For the immediate future, the task of the Government is to proceed with the work already initiated. The Economic Development Board has been established and has been paid a contribution of $40 million. An industrial Research Unit is in the course of establishment with the generous assistance of the New Zealand Government. It will provide technical advisory services to local industries. Discussions with the Federation Government on the setting up of a common market made a significant advance with an agreement to seek the assistance of the United Nations in the appointment of experts to examine the problem and recommend to both Governments measures for economic co-operation between the two territories for their mutual advantage. Before, however, any significant improvement in the economic and industrial expansion can take place, there must be brought about a situation of political certainty and stability, within which it will be possible for long-term investment of capital to be planned with confidence. Merger with the Federation will provide the element of certainty. Meanwhile, work must proceed afoot to carry out "The Four-year Development Plan" which was published in the middle of this year. COMMUNICATIONS Civil Aviation To maintain the growth of Singapore as a premier communications centre in South-East Asia, work is in progress to extend the runway at Paya Lebar Airport from 8,000 to 9,000 feet. This project will he completed by the end of this year. Detailed design work is now proceeding on a New Passenger Terminal Building. Construction will begin next year, and when completed in approximately 18 months' time will furnish our Airport with a building of a high standard suitable as one of the main gateways into South-East Asia. Marine Singapore continues to maintain its position as the fifth largest port in the world, and the largest seaport in Asia. If the shipping figures continue to increase at the present rate, it is predicted that 1962 will show an all-time record with something like 70,000,000 tons of shipping entered and cleared during the year. This averages over 100 ships entering and clearing the port every day. Estimated revenue from shipping in the form of port dues for the year is $2¼ million. Administration of the harbour will be improved with the formation of the Port Authority. Legislation for the new Port Authority will be introduced in this Session. Telecommunications In April last year, the Government decided to merge the external telecommunications services of the Singapore Telecommunications Department with Cable and Wireless Limited to form a statutory board. Discussions on the proposed amalgamation which started almost immediately between representatives of Government and the Company are now in an advanced stage. During the present Session, a Bill will be introduced to provide for the establishment of the Singapore Overseas Telecommunications Board which will acquire the assets of the present Telecommunications Department and of the Cable and Wireless Limited Singapore Branch. The regulatory and control functions at present exercised by the Telecommunications Department will be retained by Government and will be exercised through a small regulatory bureau. Special attention will he paid to the provision of more public telephone call offices in the rural and kampong areas. Construction of the Nee Soon Exchange is well advanced and when this exchange is completed in 1962, it will serve Nee Soon Village, Sembawang Village, Chong Pang Village and Sembawang Hills Estate. Plans are also afoot to provide an exchange in the proposed industrial area at Jurong and it is hoped that this exchange will be in service by 1963. PUBLIC UTILITIES The Government is going ahead with plans for increasing electricity, gas and water supplies to meet our present and future needs. A consultant firm of engineers has already been appointed to study plans for the construction of a new power station. The first stage of the power station will have a capacity of 60 mega watts. This expansion scheme will not only cater for the needs of our increasing population, but will also take care of the needs of industrial expansion. Concerning water supplies, the Tebrau Waterworks in Johore has been recently extended to give an increased supply of 15 million gallons per day. Furthermore, an agreement to extract water from the Scudai River in Johore was recently signed and the construction of the Scudai Waterworks will commence at the end of this year. The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete. The first phase of the Scudai Scheme will produce a further 15 million gallons per day. The Tebrau extension should meet our ordinary needs until the Scudai Scheme is completed. At the moment, we are experiencing an unprecedented drought both in Singapore and Johore resulting in the need to impose water rationing. Water rationing will be lifted when the rainy season breaks and the reservoirs are filled. Gas supplies are also being extended to new areas and to public and private housing estates and to other consumers. This policy follows from pilot schemes which have proved successful and which will appreciably bring down the cost of supply to the consumer. Plans for the integration of water, gas and electricity departments into a Public Utilities Board are virtually completed and a Public Utilities Bill together with the Local Government Integration Bill will be introduced in this Session. LANDS AND PLANNING The Agricultural Leases Bill and the Control of Rent (Amendment) Bill which were considered by a Select Committee at the last Session of the Legislative Assembly, and lapsed with prorogation. are being amended and will be re-introduced during this Session. Proposals for the interim revision of the Master Plan are in hand. These proposals are intended to deal with the present problems of maintaining a high building rate to accommodate the rapidly increasing population, and of facilitating industrial development which is essential to provide employment for the population. Details of these proposals will be made public. Due consideration will be given to representations from interested persons whose lands are affected before the Master Plan is formally amended. The planning of the Jurong Industrial Estate has been given top priority by the Government in its industrialisation programme. This industrial estate will be largely self-contained and may eventually have a population in the region of 300,000. Acquisition of land in respect of the first phase has been completed, and a total area of 1,380 acres is being purchased by Government at an estimated cost of approximately $2.4 million. Construction of the approach road from the east has begun and preliminary earthworks and surveys in connection with the resettlement of families affected have commenced. ROADS AND FLOOD PREVENTION Five important link roads are now under construction, and are expected to be completed next year. They are Commonwealth Avenue, Outer Ring Road, West Coast to Jurong Road. Jurong Road to Chua Chu Kang Road, and the Serangoon Garden Estate to Braddell Road. Another important road project which will be started soon is the construction of a new West Coast Trunk Road to provide a direct link between the Jurong Industrial Area and the City. Damage by floods is being constantly kept under control. Several minor flood alleviation schemes are being carried out in the rural areas to prevent damage to crops and loss of livestock. A pilot project is in progress at Sungei Poyan on the West Coast to reclaim swamp land for agricultural use or as fish and prawn ponds. If this project is successful, a big programme to reclaim about 4,000 acres of swamp land will be planned. The Ulu Pandan Drainage Scheme has been designed to relieve flooding in Queenstown, Alexandra and Tiong Bahru areas; work on it is progressing satisfactorily. To assist the development of the Tanglin Industrial Area, it is proposed to accelerate the completion of this scheme. Next year, the final phase of the Geylang/Paya Lebar Scheme involving the construction of two major canals in the low-lying area of Geylang Serai will be put in hand, and when completed, drainage will be provided for this heavily populated area to alleviate further flooding. HOUSING The Housing and Development Board has made rapid progress in the provision of public housing for the lower income groups. In the 20 months of its existence, the Board has completed 5,594 homes. In the first 9 months of this year, 3,912 homes have been put up. This exceeds the highest annual total of 3,841 homes achieved by the S.I.T. in 1958. A further 10,750 homes are under construction, of which 3,070 will be completed before the year is out, bringing the total figure of completed homes for 1961 to around 7,000. Progress towards the successful achievement of the Four-Year Plan for housing is extremely satisfactory. Most of these houses will be in the Queenstown, MacPherson Road, Kampong Tiong Bahru, Alexandra Road, St. Michael's Road, Kallang and Bukit Ho Swee areas. In addition to the provision of low-cost public housing, the Board has been responsible for the preparation of industrial sites and allocations of suitable factory sites to industrialists. Schemes at Redhill, Tanglin Halt and Bendemeer are progressing satisfactorily, and new Industrial Estates are being planned to meet the increasing demand. Mention should also be made of the vital role that the Board played in rehousing fire victims of the Bukit Ho Swee Fire in low-cost houses soon after the outbreak of the fire on 25th May, 1961. Quite apart from participating in relief work, the Board has undertaken to switch part of its Building Programme for this year to Bukit Ho Swee and has planned the redevelopment of the fire site with such speed that new blocks of impressive flats are already rising out of the ruins. The first flats will be ready for occupation early in 1962. HOUSING SUBSIDY The question of subsidy to the Housing and Development Board is under review. Subsidy either in an open or concealed form is practised by nearly all public housing authorities the world over. The former S.I.T. received concealed subsidy in the form of lands made by the Government at terms much more favourable than what the Government itself had to pay to borrow money. It also enjoyed the improvement rate plus a direct Government subsidy equivalent to this rate. The Housing Board has a case for subsidy because it performs an important social service in providing housing for working class families. Furthermore, should development take place in inner city areas, the high cost of land may well make rents prohibitive in the absence of a subsidy from the Government. Subsidy to the Housing Board is necessary if rents are to be kept within what poor families can pay. It is important that this subsidy should be entered as a separate item of the Budget so that the taxpayers will know what they are contributing to the public housing programme. At the same time, tenants of the Board's houses will understand that what they pay to the Board is less than what they would have to pay if economic considerations of profit and loss were to be the sole criterion in determining rents. The reduction of development charges for water, gas and electricity services has created a building boom in the private sector as well. The extensive building programme undertaken by the Board and by private housing estates has rejuvenated the entire building industry, raised the levels of employment with steady wages among building construction workers and those connected with the supply of all types of building materials. RURAL WELFARE AND SOUTHERN ISLANDS Work on the improvement of rural kampongs continues. Many standpipes are being installed in areas where pipe water is still not available. Larger mains are being extended throughout the rural areas to improve water pressure and water supply. The policy of providing electricity under a Government aided scheme to kampongs such as Chai Chee, Changi Road 6¼ m.s., and the Chua Chu Kang area is being implemented satisfactorily. More kampong street lights are being installed in various crowded villages in the Bukit Timah, Sembawang, Geylang Serai and Kampong Kembangan areas. The network of agricultural roads is being extended and maintained and some 21 new roads have been added this year. Many roads in the Geylang Serai and Malay farm areas have been improved while others in the Serangoon, Ponggol, Bukit Panjang, Changi and Chua Chu Kang areas had been made up to agricultural road standards. Many small bridges serving kampongs have also been constructed. The self-help idea whereby the residents from the kampongs voluntarily worked on Sundays to make up their roads with materials and equipment supplied by the Government, is being encouraged. This is a good example of cooperation between the people and the Government. Assistance in various forms is being provided to farmers and residents in the rural areas. A few films will be made and shown to farmers in order to teach them the scientific method of Animal Husbandry. The veterinary services now rendered to the fanning community in the rural areas are being extended, and the Government will build four more veterinary extension centres in the rural areas. Two of them, one in Changi and the other in Yio Chu Kang, are scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. An intensified programme of kampong sanitation is being carried out in the neighbouring islands by the Health Section. Wells are being sunk and drains constructed. Cleansing labourers will assist in keeping the islands clean. The Sembawang Settlement, which is developed by the Work Brigade, is progressing satisfactorily. The Work Brigade has also helped in the Government scheme to assist farmers and fishermen in the Southern Islands. In order to help to diversify and stabilise the economy of the fishermen in the Southern Islands, a Goat Distribution Scheme is being implemented after it has been found that grass could be grown successfully in the Islands. The Work Brigade is continuing to clear land and plant grass to assist in the implementation of this scheme. A Work Brigade camp will be set up in the Southern Islands in order to further assist in the development of these Islands. HEALTH Tuberculosis Vigorous action is continuing as part of Government's policy to eradicate tuberculosis in the State. The mass X-Ray Case Finding Programme will be intensified to ensure that as large a segment of the population as possible will be X-Rayed within the next five years. To this end, a static X-Ray Unit will be established in the City and a full mobile X-Ray Unit will operate in the rural areas. B.C.G. vaccination of new-born infants and primary school children will be continued. Legislation for compulsory B.C.G. vaccination for all new-born infants and all primary school children will be introduced to ensure total immunisation among these age-groups. The bed capacity of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital will be increased to absorb tuberculosis patients newly discovered by the Mass X-Ray surveys. Hospital Services An 80-bed maternity hospital at Maxwell Road will be completed next year and will provide hospital facilities, further increasing those now available in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital, reckoned to be the largest in the world. A Chronic Hospital of 160 beds will be opened in the Woodbridge Hospital early in the new year. At the General Hospital a Third Medical Unit will he established to provide a further 150 beds for medical cases. At the Thomson Road Hospital a new two-storeyed surgical block will be completed. Five polyclinics at Still Road. Queenstown. Pasir Panjang, Chia Keng and Jurong providing general out-patient services and Maternal and Child Health Services will be built in 1962. In addition, four standard Out-patient Clinics at Sembawang. Siglap, Bukit Timah and Thomson Road will be built. Four Main Maternal and Child Health Clinics at Kallang, Paya Lebar, Tiong Bahru and Kranji will be completed during the next year. Four rural midwife centres at Chai Chee, Tampines, Thong Hoe and Jurong 15 m.s. will also be completed. EDUCATION The expansion in school building continues. By the end of this year a total of 6 primary and 2 secondary new schools will be functioning. The 4-year Development Plan envisages the annual building of 19 schools of which 7 would be primary, 7 secondary vocational, 2 Secondary technical and 3 Secondary academic schools. In view of the shortage of suitable sites, the majority of future school buildings will be on a much larger scale to accommodate a bigger school population, and the number of schools reduced somewhat. The integrating of two language streams under the same roof and under one Principal has proved so successful that by the end of this year there will be no fewer than 8 primary and 2 secondary integrated schools. It is expected that many of the new schools to be opened in the future will also be integrated schools. Malay Education Considerable progress has been made in the hitherto neglected Malay stream of education. In January this year there were no fewer than 1,550 pupils temporarily accommodated in various English secondary schools. With the opening of the Sekolah Menengah Sang Nila Utama in Aljunied Road on 14th October, 1961, the first Malay secondary school has come into existence. National Language Government is forging ahead with plans to intensify the study of the National Language. Classes in the National Language will continue to be conducted by the Teachers' Training College for teachers and by the Lembaga Gerakan Pelajaran Dewasa for members of the public. Up to August this year, 7,000 candidates have sat for the National Language Public Examinations and 4,500 have obtained Standard I, II and III Certificates. Technical Education The report of the Commission of Inquiry into Vocational and Technical Education already presented to the Legislative Assembly will form the basis for plans to modify the educational system from the present academic to a vocational and technical bias, so as to provide the State with trained personnel for industry. A White Paper setting out Government's views will be presented to the Legislative Assembly. University of Singapore Consequent upon the attainment of independent status of the two divisions of the University of Malaya, a new Bill will be introduced at this session of the Legislative Assembly for the University of Singapore to come into existence by 1962. Nanyang University The Government is as anxious as the founders of Nanyang University that the University should be reorganised. Towards this end, a liaison committee comprising representatives of the Government and the University held several meetings last year to discuss ways and means of implementing the recommendations made by the Nanyang University Review Committee. Although no agreement has been reached by the liaison committee, nonetheless the Government is always ready to negotiate and discuss this matter. There are hopes that this problem will be solved in the coming year. LABOUR The Industrial Relations Ordinance, which came into operation on 15th September, 1960, and under which the Industrial Arbitration Court was set up. has introduced some measure of law and order in the sphere of industrial relations in Singapore. In the twelve months of its existence, the Industrial Arbitration Court not only arbitrated in seven cases and certified seventy-five agreements between employers and employees, but also successfully encouraged parties to a dispute to return to collective bargaining. Of the seven cases arbitrated and seventy-two agreements certified only one award and six agreements have not as yet been implemented. As a result of the awards and agreements which have been implemented, over 10,534 workers have received increases in wages and salaries amounting to nearly $3 million per annum, besides fringe benefits such as extra leave, maternal benefits, overtime pay. etc. The single arbitration award together with the six certified agreements which have not been implemented as yet cover some 10,327 workers. The implementation of the award and the agreements has been delayed pending certain clarifications from the Industrial Arbitration Court, and in three cases because the employers have closed down. The Industrial Arbitration Court will continue to play an important part in fulfilling its role that there should be industrial peace with justice. A new Employment Ordinance which will consolidate the three existing Ordinances pertaining to labourers, clerks and shop assistants will be introduced in the coming year. The Ordinance will also cover other categories of workers. The problem that is always uppermost in the deliberations of the Government is that of unemployment. This problem has been partially alleviated by the present boom in the building industry and the gradual materialisation of plans for industrialisation. The Government will continue to take positive steps to seek new outlets for employment. Shipping lines have been encouraged to recruit seamen from Singapore. The Seamen's Registry Board had during the one year from 1st October, 1960 to 30th September, 1961, been able to find 1,006 new jobs for our seamen. Of these new jobs, some 566 new entrants without any sea service had been found employment during this period. Furthermore, training courses for ship stewards have been conducted. The courses which started on 4th May, 1961, have been responsible iii training 141 ship stewards to date, of whom 99 have been found employment. The training of officer cadets, marine engineers, and wireless operators at the Polytechnic will further encourage our youths to look to the sea for employment. In addition, the Government Employment Exchange found jobs for over 1,400 persons during the last twelve months. CRIME Because of continued pressure against secret society gangsters, the incidence arising out of secret society activities had been kept at a reasonably low level. Only three cases of kidnapping for ransom were reported so far this year compared with thirteen last year. One of these cases occurred after the Punishment of Kidnapping Ordinance was brought into operation and the perpetrators have been arrested and charged in court. It remains to be seen what the long-term deterrent effect of this Ordinance will be. Efforts in bringing greater co-operation between the Police and the people are being sustained. A number of vigilante corps has already been formed or is in the course of formation in the rural areas. A start has also been made with the establishment of Police Cadet Corps in schools and this will be another new step in bringing better understanding between and in improving relations between the police and the public. Prisons The Report of the Prisons Inquiry Commission on Prisons Reforms has already been published and a White Paper setting forth the Government's views on the recommendations of the commission has also been presented to the Legislative Assembly. TELEVISION A major enterprise undertaken this year is television. This medium will prove to be a valuable ally not only for popular education but also for hastening the development of a Malayan culture and consciousness. National Theatre The National Theatre is expected to be completed by the end of 1962. When completed, it will give a positive and creative impulse to Malayan drama, music and dancing. The public contribution towards the theatre is nearly $750,000. The National Theatre Trust, under whose care the Theatre is placed, is planning a South-East Asian Cultural Festival to mark the opening of the theatre early in 1963. CONCLUSION The question of Federation-Singapore merger and the question of forming a united Malaysia no doubt are problems which are now uppermost in our minds. They are major questions which will determine the destiny of 10 million people spread over nearly 130,000 square miles of territory. It may be that the scope and importance of these political questions overshadow mundane matters like the development plans projected for next year and which I have just outlined. But in the end, to what purpose are great political decisions taken if it is not ultimately for the welfare of the people? Therefore, while these great political questions are of current interest, we must at the same time maintain our sense of balance and not lose sight of the day-to-day problems concerning the livelihood of the people. Our city will shrivel without water; our industries will come to a halt without electrical power; the wheels of trade and industry that turn to make our island State a flourishing economic centre must be continuously looked after so that they will not be slowed down by political friction and administrative neglect. 11.34 a.m. At the conclusion of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's Speech, Mr Speaker, preceded by the Serjeant at Arms, the Clerk, the Clerk-Assistant and the Second Clerk-Assistant, escorted His Excellency (accompanied by two A.D.Cs.) out of the Chamber, and the Assembly adjourned without question put, pursuant to the Standing Order. Adjourned accordingly at 11.35 a.m.