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PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT Under the provisions of clause 2 (d) of Article 30 of the Constitution of Singapore, I have granted permission to the following Members to he or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the period stated:- Mr Lim Soo Peng (Havelock) - from 11th to 24th April, 1967. Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol) - from 20th to 26th April, 1967. Mr Sim Boon Woo (Changi) - from 20th to 30th April, 1967. Mr Tang See Chim (Choa Chu Kang) - from 17th April to 30th June, 1967. Mr Chor Yeok Eng (Bukit Timah), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health - from 3rd May to 30th June, 1967. Mr Ng Yeow Chong (Mountbatten) - from 27th April to 30th May, 1967. Mr R. A. Gonzales (Serangoon Gardens) - from 28th April to 19th May, 1967. Mr Yeoh Ghim Seng (Joo Chiat) - from 28th April to 25th May, 1967. Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong) - from 1st June to 31st July, 1967. Mr Ho Cheng Choon (Geylang East), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development - from 24th May to 24th June, 1967. Mrs Devan Nair (Moulmein) - on 24th May, 1967. (P. COOMARASWAMY) Speaker, Parliament of Singapore
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - MEMBERS FOR TOA PAYOH AND NEE SOON - (Absence in Parliament) asked the Deputy Prime Minister if he is aware that the electors in two constituencies, Toa Payoh and Nee Soon, remain unrepresented in this House as a result of the failure till today of the two Members elected for those constituencies to take their oaths and their seats; and whether he considers any amendment of the law necessary to remedy the situation.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - MEMBERS FOR TOA PAYOH AND NEE SOON - (Absence in Parliament) (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Deputy Prime Minister to give the answer. The fact that the two constituencies of Toa Payoh and Nee Soon have not seen their representatives since 1963 is, of course, a lesson that the public must be careful about in electing those who hang up a sheep's head but sell dog's flesh. The two constituencies have, however, not been neglected by The Government and many projects have been completed in both since the last elections and the disappearance of the two elected representatives. So long as they do not resign from Parliament, no by-elections can be held in those constituencies until the next elections. This is a constitutional matter and will be considered when the new constitution is drawn up.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - MEMBERS FOR TOA PAYOH AND NEE SOON - (Absence in Parliament) (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask a supplementary question, and that is whether these two M.P.s have been receiving their allowances? If not, can we put the allowances to better use, say, provide better services for the two constituencies concerned?
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - MEMBERS FOR TOA PAYOH AND NEE SOON - (Absence in Parliament) That question does not come within the responsibility of any Minister of the Government and accordingly, under Standing Orders, is not permissible.
TOUTS AROUND GOVERNMENT OFFICES - (Action to curb their activities) asked the Minister of Defence whether action will be taken to curb the activities of touts around Government offices who charge illiterate people, seeking assistance from Government departments, unnecessary fees for helping such illiterate people write letters to the departments.
TOUTS AROUND GOVERNMENT OFFICES - (Action to curb their activities) Mr Speaker, Sir, there is provision in the law to deal with persons who tout around Government departments. In fact, action has already been taken against such touts. Members of the public may wish to note that approved petition writers are available at the Registry of Births and Deaths, the General Post Office and the Immigration Department, to assist them in filling Government application forms as well as writing letters. Unlike the touts, these approved petition writers charge a reasonable sum, i.e., 20 to 30 cents per form filled up. With regard to legal matters, however, it must be stressed that touts as well as approved petition writers are in no position to offer any advice. Where the legal matter is of a civil nature, indigent members of the public, who cannot afford the services of a lawyer, may have recourse to the Legal Aid Bureau.
YIO CHU KANG ROAD/JALAN KAYU JUNCTION - (Road accidents) asked the Minister of Defence how many road accidents occurred at the junction of Yio Chu Kang Road and Jalan Kayu in 1966 and in the first three months of 1967, and how many of them were fatal.
YIO CHU KANG ROAD/JALAN KAYU JUNCTION - (Road accidents) Mr Speaker, Sir, there were two accidents at this junction in 1966 of which one was fatal. During the first three months in 1967 two accidents have occurred, both not fatal.
YIO CHU KANG ROAD/JALAN KAYU JUNCTION - (Road accidents) (In Mandarin): May I ask a supplementary question? Because there are no traffic lights at the junction of Yio Chu Kang Road and Jalan Kayu, many drivers do not abide by the traffic regulations. When they approach this junction, the speed normally is quite high. So I would like to ask the Minister whether he has any intention to set up traffic lights at this junction?
YIO CHU KANG ROAD/JALAN KAYU JUNCTION - (Road accidents) Mr Speaker, Sir, a traffic census has been taken and it has been discovered that traffic is heavy at this junction only between 7.00 a.m. and 8.15 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., and is negligible during the rest of the day. Also, the difficulty and congestion is the result of traffic making right turns at this junction. To solve this problem, a traffic points man is on duty at the junction during peak hours. The road has been widened a little with a view to minimising long queues of vehicles. Also a left turning slipway has been provided which will reduce congestion at the junction. The question of the installation of traffic lights at the junction is being studied. Drivers of vehicles traversing this junction should be more careful when approaching it if they wish to avoid accidents. The National Safety First Council has been conducting campaigns on safety on the roads and expects members of the public to be more receptive to ideas of safety.
NATIONAL SERVICEMEN - (Provision for civilian employment after military service) asked the Minister of Defence whether provision for the employment by Statutory Boards and private firms of full-time National Servicemen discharged at the end of their military service will be made in the proposed legislation for the emplacement of such National Servicemen in civilian occupations.
NATIONAL SERVICEMEN - (Provision for civilian employment after military service) Mr Speaker, Sir, as will he recalled, the Minister has stated in this House when moving the Second Reading of the National Service (Amendment) Bill, 1967, that all those youths called up for full-time service in the army would be placed in civilian occupations appropriate to their ability and qualifications on completion of their full-time military service. The Minister also stated then that sufficient numbers of such posts in Government service, the statutory boards and large private firms would be reserved for discharged national servicemen and that legislation on this would be presented to Parliament. A survey of the employment opportunities available is being conducted by officers of the Ministry, and the indications so far are that the employment opportunities that will be available should be more than sufficient to absorb all national servicemen discharged after completion of their full-time service. Since the first national servicemen to serve full-time will not be called up before July this year, legislation for the direction of employment of such persons on discharge need be implemented only by July 1969. In the meantime, a careful study of the results of the employment survey is being undertaken to decide on the extent and scope of the proposed legislation. This is to ensure that restrictions placed on employers by the proposed legislation are sufficient to achieve the desired end without being overly restrictive.
ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE AND JUNIOR COLLEGES - (Building progress and completion dates) asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made in the building of (i) the Adult Education Centre, and (ii) the Junior Colleges, and the estimated dates for their completion.
ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE AND JUNIOR COLLEGES - (Building progress and completion dates) Mr Speaker, Sir, the Adult Education Centre project was first submitted to the Economic Planning Unit for inclusion in the Second Five-Year Plan in August 1964. A revised project was put up by the Board in March 1965. This was supported by the Ministry and forwarded to the Economic Planning Unit. The Working Party of Permanent Secretaries, which was set up to examine all development projects for the Second Plan, approved the provision of $1.5 million for the Adult Education Centre in July 1965. The Board prepared a new submission for inclusion of the project in the 1966 Development Estimates in March 1966. In July 1966, the Economic Planning Unit requested for additional data to evaluate the project. This was submitted on 1st September, 1966. A token vote was provided in the 1967 Development Estimates for the Adult Education Centre project. This is an indication of the low priority accorded to the project, and it does not appear likely that it will be cleared this year. As for the Junior Colleges, piling work on the site for the first Junior College at Linden Drive has almost been completed, and the construction of this building is scheduled to commence in September. It is estimated that the College will be completed by the end of 1968. The building of two more Junior Colleges under the 1967 school building programme is under consideration. If these two projects are cleared early, it may be possible for the buildings to be completed in 1969.
GOVERNMENT-AIDED SCHOOL TEACHERS - (Retirement age and long-service gratuity) asked the Minister for Education if he will consider (a) terminating the services of teachers in Government-Aided Schools when they have reached the age of 60 years and recruiting younger teachers to fill their places; and (b) the payment to retiring teachers in such schools of a long-service gratuity equivalent to one year's difference between the last-drawn salary of the retiring teacher and the salary of a new recruit.
GOVERNMENT-AIDED SCHOOL TEACHERS - (Retirement age and long-service gratuity) Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not the intention that the services of teachers in Government-aided schools on reaching the age of 60 will be terminated in all cases, as in the interest of education, the experience and expertise of the consistently good ones should be retained, if necessary even in promotion posts, to help build up the character of schools and education generally. The suggestion of a long-service gratuity scheme will be submitted to the Treasury for consideration.
CITY CLEANSING - (Educational campaigns and legislation against litter-throwing) asked the Minister for Health if he will consider conducting campaigns to educate the people to keep their City clean, and if he will introduce legislation to punish the indiscriminate throwing of litter.
CITY CLEANSING - (Educational campaigns and legislation against litter-throwing) Mr Speaker, Sir, now that re-organisation of the Public Cleansing service has been in operation for more than three months, with a total work force of 3,500 working on a two-shift basis and the racket of high absenteeism during weekdays a thing of the past, we are ready to embark on the second stage of re-organisation, namely, that of educating the public that they also have a duty to keep the Republic clean. Steps are being taken to bring various pieces of legislation up to date so as to implement effectively such policy, namely: Firstly, any householder or shopkeeper who fails to provide a dustbin after due notice has been served on him, will be provided with an appropriate dustbin by the Public Cleansing Department, and the cost will be charged to his monthly Public Utilities Account for settlement. It is estimated that about one-half of the householders in Singapore are without dustbins at present. Secondly, as those responsible for litter on public streets, drains and vacant sites do not seem to be deterred by the present lenient penalties of a maximum fine of $100 and a further fine not exceeding $25 for every day during which it is continued after conviction under the Municipal Ordinance (Chapter 133) Conservancy Bylaws, 1941, we are amending the By-laws to introduce more punitive penalties, like $150 for the first offence, $500 for the second offence, and $1,000 for the third offence. Thirdly, we have also in mind replacing the present Destruction of Mosquito Ordinance (Chapter 139), passed nearly 50 years ago to control malaria, for something more comprehensive and up-to-date legislation to be known as the Destruction of Disease-bearing Insects Act, in the near future. Lastly, at the same time, we intend to carry Out an intensive education campaign through Radio and T.V. with the co-operation of the Ministry of Culture, and also include Health Education as part of the proposed Civics syllabus for schools which is now being drawn up by the Ministry of Education.
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on current trends in the wholesale and retail prices of rice and sugar in Singapore and on the adequacy of stocks of these staple foods for the needs of the Republic.
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) Mr Speaker, Sir, Members are no doubt aware that there is a growing rice shortage in the world. This is becoming clearer when we read of reports that rice-growing countries in Asia themselves have to import rice to meet consumption requirements. The growing general shortage was highlighted when Thailand, one of the largest rice-growing countries in the world, had to impose restrictions on exports of rice from Thailand. These restrictions had an immediate effect on the trend of rice prices. Therefore, at the end of December 1966, the retail price of Siam polished rice 100 per cent was 40 cents per katty compared with 34 cents at the end of 1965. In recent months, the retail price has increased gradually to about 45 cents or 46 cents per katty at the end of April. However, since the lifting of the export restrictions on rice by Thailand in January, the wholesale price of rice has shown a slight decrease. At the end of April, the wholesale price of Siam polished rice 100 per cent was $40 per pikul compared with $40.25 per pikul at the end of March. From a position of surplus with low prices paid for raw sugar, in recent months the trend has been reversed. The price of raw sugar has been rising. Consequent on this, it is therefore not surprising that the price of refined sugar should also increase. Hence in January, the wholesale price of refined sugar per pikul was $24.25, which rose to $27.60 by the end of April. The retail price of sugar accordingly rose from 28 cents per katty in January to 30 cents per katty the following month, and it has remained at this level since. Though Singapore does not grow its own rice and will only refine granulated sugar from raw sugar, the increases in the price of rice as well as sugar have not been as severe as in other countries of this region. This is due largely to the fact that Singapore is a large trading centre with an efficient distribution system. Members of the House and the public will no doubt be pleased to know that there is sufficient stock, both commercial and Government, of rice and sugar adequate to meet consumption requirements for four months.
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Parliamentary Secretary himself has admitted that the price of rice has gone up, is his Ministry not trying to increase the allowance of workers to overcome this problem?
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) The Government will consider this matter when the productivity is increased.
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) Mr Speaker, Sir, we all know that rice and sugar are very important commodities in the livelihood of the people of Singapore. In that respect, will the Government consider ways and means of preserving stable prices for rice and sugar so that the people will not suffer from any reflection upwards or downwards by way of prices?
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think that it is within the powers of the Government to control the prices of sugar and rice since we do not grow these commodities ourselves. Any form of control would lead to evasion, and the moment you start controlling, there would be a black-market in these commodities. Moreover, to keep the prices stable - to follow the suggestion of the Member for Punggol - would mean that we would have to subsidise either the price of rice or sugar. I think the Member need not go very far to find out what has happened to the country that has been subsidising the price of rice.
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) Do the Government or the people outside fix the prices of rice and sugar?
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) Mr Speaker, Sir, we are known as a country which allows free enterprise and free play of prices of supply and demand. The prices of rice and sugar are not fixed by the Government. They are the results of supply and demand.
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) Mr Speaker, Sir, suppose the private sector increases the prices, what will the Government do? Will the Government put a stop to or approve the increase in the prices?
RICE AND SUGAR - (Current trends in prices and adequacy of stocks) I have said that our economy is one of free enterprise, and if shopkeeper A raises the prices too high, shopkeeper B will undersell him. So the prices will be the result of the interplay of supply and demand.
CHINA-MADE AND SINGAPORE-MADE GOODS - (Value of imports and exports) asked the Minister for Finance the total value of China-made goods imported into Singapore and of Singapore-made goods exported to China in 1966.
CHINA-MADE AND SINGAPORE-MADE GOODS - (Value of imports and exports) Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1966, Singapore imported a total of $271.1 million worth of goods from China. For the same year, Singapore's exports to China included $0.2 million worth of Singapore processed rattans and canes and $18.9 million worth of re-exports. There was no export of locally-manufactured goods to China during the year.
PROHIBITION OF SPEEDING AND UNDESIRABLE DRIVING - ADVERTISEMENTS OVER T.V. SINGAPURA asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs if he will consider prohibiting advertisements over T.V. Singapura in which speeding and undesirable types of driving are used to boost the sales of motor vehicles, as they run contrary to the campaigns of the National Safety First Council
PROHIBITION OF SPEEDING AND UNDESIRABLE DRIVING - ADVERTISEMENTS OVER T.V. SINGAPURA Mr Speaker, Sir, the Department of Broadcasting is always vigilant in not allowing any type of undesirable advertisement to appear on television and all advertisement copies are strictly vetted to comply with our programme code. It cannot be accepted that just to show a speeding car by itself is undesirable, as this depends upon what context the car is speeding. Perhaps the hon. Member has in mind the advertisement sequence which shows cars taking part in a motor race. If this be the case, it will not be possible to prohibit advertisements in which speeding is part of the scene, as in a motor race only speeding cars have a place and not slow moving or stationary cars. If speeding and undesirable types of driving run contrary to the campaigns of the National Safety First Council, then the Singapore Grand Prix and advertisements connected therewith should also be prohibited. This is clearly not desirable.
PROMOTION OF POPULAR - SPORTS OVER T.V. SINGAPURA asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether he is aware that, though it is the policy to promote sports consciousness in Singapore, T.V. Singapura seldom shows popular sports like basketball, volleyball and table tennis on the Sports Parade programme, and if he will instruct the Broadcasting Division to include more coverage of such games in the programme.
PROMOTION OF POPULAR - SPORTS OVER T.V. SINGAPURA Mr Speaker, Sir, T.V. Singapura over the past few years have definitely increased their sports coverage. Apart from the weekly Sports Parade programme, there is coverage of sports in the newsreels and also full-length programmes on sports whenever they have been available, especially those on popular sports such as badminton and football. Between July 1966 and March 1967, there were two programmes on basketball with an interview in Chinese about local basketball, and for a similar number of occasions, table tennis was shown. In volley-ball, the finals of the Singapore Combined Schools' Inter-District Volley Ball Tournament was shown with three matches, the first between Nan Hwa Girls' School and River Valley Girls' School, the second, Nanyang Girls' School versus Whampoa Girls' School, and the third, Yock Eng School versus A.C.S. There can be more coverage if T.V. Singapura get advance information from the organisers of these sports. T.V. Singapura have no full-time sports reporters, and unless the organisers of the sports concerned give advance information, it is very difficult to cover such events. It must be appreciated that there are over 30 types of sports with different degrees of popularity in Singapore and something has to be shown of all these sports.
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs how many priests are employed in each of the Hindu Temples administered by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board and whether their numbers are sufficient; and if he is in a position to give details of their initial salaries, periodic increments and present salaries.
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member has tabled a number of questions touching on the Hindu religion, and before I answer them, I should like to make it quite clear that Singapore is a secular State with no established church or national religion. In fact, all religions are equal, and the Government's policy has always been, and will always be, to leave each religious community to run its own affairs without interference from the State. This is religious freedom. I shall, therefore, be most happy to answer the hon. Member's question, in so far as the seeking of information is concerned, but I shall be in no position to deal with any matters impinging upon any power or right of administration, which is strictly a matter for the religious authority concerned. And now to come to the hon. Member's question. I have obtained the information from the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board, which is responsible for the administration of four Hindu Temples, namely: (i) The Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road, (ii) The Sivan Temple at Orchard Road, (iii) The Kaliamman Temple at Somerset Road, and (iv) The Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road. The Mariamman Temple has one Head Priest who is paid a salary of $100 per month, and three Pandarams who are paid $65 per month, $63 per month and $60 per month respectively. The Sivan Temple employs one Priest at $80 per month and one Pandaram at $60 per month. The Kaliamman Temple has only one Pandaram at $90 per month. The Perumal Temple employs one Priest at $150 per month and one Assistant Priest at $130 per month. It will be seen that each Temple employs priests and pays salaries according to its means. I understand that there are no fixed salary scales with regular increments. I am told, however, that these employees receive other emoluments over and above their salaries, e.g., commissions on fees paid to the Temples by devotees for prayer ceremonies conducted by the priests; they are also provided with free housing, water and electricity.
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) I understand from the Minister that the priests in various temples are paid various sums of money. For instance, in the Mariamman Temple, the priest is paid $100 per month, and in the Sivan Temple the priest is paid $80 per month, and in the Perumal Temple one priest is paid $150 per month and his assistant is paid $130 per month. Does the Minister know why such different payments are maintained in different temples? Is he aware that the management of the Sivan Temple at Orchard Road is run on a contract basis and that only one priest is given full control over all matters, and that there are not even any records of -
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) I am afraid I must stop the hon. Member. I have just had a look at the Ordinance setting up the Board and it gives no power to the Minister to issue directions to the Board. In any event where there is a statutory board, the Minister is not answerable for matters of detail day-to-day administration. So, if the hon. Member wants to ask a question on a matter of principle, he may do so. He will have to restrict his supplementary to matters of principle and not go to details.
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) My point is: if the Ministry devotes its responsibilities to the appointment of certain members of the Board and does not look into the matter of how the Board is run, there may be so many anomalies arising. So in future could the Minister, when he appoints members to the Board or when he does something, take into consideration what is happening? Otherwise, there will be a lot of inconvenience and dissatisfaction in the community. Just in one instance, I want to say that -
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) Mr Rajoo, you are going much further than a supplementary question. You are making a speech. Do you have a question?
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) The question is: will the Minister regulate such matters or give directions to the Board on how the management is to be run? I mean, at least in future when he is introducing a Bill, will he look into this matter?
PRIESTS IN HINDU TEMPLES - (Terms of employment) Sir, I think you have answered the question - that the Minister has no jurisdiction over the administration of the temples from day to day.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEMPLE - MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether he is aware of any complaints made to Temple Management Committees or the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board against the Temple Management Committees by devotees of Temples administered by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board, and if he will ensure that such complaints are dealt with satisfactorily and speedily.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEMPLE - MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES Mr Speaker, Sir, I should like to repeat here the remarks which I made in connection with the previous question asked by the hon. Member, namely, that, although I make appointments to the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board, I am not responsible for the administration of the Hindu Temples which have their own management sub-committees which are responsible to the Committee of Management appointed by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board. I understand that the Hindu community who frequent the Temples are divided into a number of factions, each with its own ideas of how the Temples should be run. This being so, it is quite natural that there should be many complaints arising. The Committee of Management appointed by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board consists of 15 persons who have been giving up a good deal of their leisure time in order to help in the running of these Temples, and have always been at pains to investigate thoroughly into any complaints. I would suggest to the hon. Member that, if he is aware of any serious complaint concerning the running of the Temples, he write to the Secretary of the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board, giving the full particulars and the matter will receive the due consideration of the Board.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEMPLE - MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES A supplementary, Sir, I am not criticising the administration of the Temple Management Committees, but what I understand is that certain letters written to the Temple Management Committee in November 1966 have not even been acknowledged; and if I am not mistaken, even up to date. If this is the system that exists in the Management Committees and the Minister is still trying to divert his responsibility ---
COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEMPLE - MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES Mr Rajoo, I am afraid you are compelling me to address the remarks that I addressed to you earlier. Perhaps you take up the matter on an Adjournment debate on an early occasion. You can then range far wider than is permissible at Question Time.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST TEMPLE - MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES Yes, Sir.
LEGISLATION FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HINDU RELIGIOUS - AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether and when he will introduce legislation for the specific administration of Hindu religious and charitable endowments.
LEGISLATION FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HINDU RELIGIOUS - AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS Mr Speaker, Sir, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board, appointed under the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Ordinance, is responsible for the administration of both Muslim and Hindu religious and charitable endowments. With the recent passing of the Administration of Muslim Law Act, 1966, the administration of Muslim endowments will be taken over by the Majlis Ugama Islam, which will be set up under that Act. A separate Bill to set up a Board to look after Hindu endowments has been prepared, and it is hoped, after consulting the various Hindu interests in the State, to introduce the Bill soon in Parliament.
CRECHES FOR CHILDREN OF FAMILIES IN - HIGHER INCOME BRACKET asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether he will consider establishing creches for the children of families in the higher income bracket with charges relatively higher than those at the present creches which cater mainly for the children of those families whose total monthly family incomes do not exceed $400.
CRECHES FOR CHILDREN OF FAMILIES IN - HIGHER INCOME BRACKET Mr Speaker, the Social Welfare Department at the moment runs 10 creches. Any child below the age of 6, whose mother is working or whose father is a widower with no relatives to look after the child while he is away at work, may be admitted to a creche, provided the total monthly income of the family does not exceed $400. I should like to point Out that, in order to extend the benefits to a larger number of families, the age limit was recently raised from 5 to 6 years and the income limit from $300 p.m. to $400 p.m. The purpose of these creches is to provide a special service for those in the lower income group who cannot afford to pay the higher charges of the many kindergartens which are being run in Singapore, and in considering the extension of this service, it is important to bear this purpose in mind. I shall ask the Social Welfare Department to look into the desirability of extending further the benefits of this special service, which has been meeting a real need in our community.
REPAIR OF DAMAGE TO JALAN PERWIRA asked the Minister for Law and National Development what progress has been made under section 22A of the Local Government Integration Ordinance, 1963, for the repair of the damage to Jalan Perwira, and when that road will be repaired.
REPAIR OF DAMAGE TO JALAN PERWIRA Mr Speaker, Sir, action was taken in March 1966 to establish the identities of the owners of heavy vehicles who frequently used Jalan Perwira and to serve them with notices under section 22A of the Local Government Integration Ordinance, 1963, requiring them to contribute towards the repair of the road. However, these persons through their lawyers disputed liability, asserting that the road was not used solely by their lorries. The road has now been repaired at a cost of $5,510 paid from Government funds. Action will be taken to recover all or part of this sum from the owners of vehicles who caused damage to the road.
RURAL PROJECTS IN KAMPONG KEMBANGAN - (Supplementary vote for 1967) asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider supplementing the vote for 1967 rural projects in Kampong Kembangan.