Hansard, 1987-03-20

PERMISSION TO MEMBER TO BE ABSENT Under the provisions of clause 2(d) of Article 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the following Member has been granted permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which he has been appointed) for the period stated:- Mr S. Dhanabalan (Kallang), Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for National Development - from 31st March to 13th April, 1987. YEOH GHIM SENG Speaker Parliament of Singapore

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - HOUGANG BUS SHELTERS asked the Minister for National Development what are the reasons for the delay in constructing bus shelters along Hougang Avenues 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 5 and 7.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - HOUGANG BUS SHELTERS Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Sir, the bus shelters for Hougang Avenues 2, 4, 8, 10, 5 and 7 are currently under construction and are expected to be completed by June 1987. Hougang Avenue 6 is still under construction and is expected to be completed by mid-87. Bus shelters will be provided once the bus route for the road has been confirmed.

SALE OF HDB SHOPHOUSES TO TENANTS asked the Minister for National Development whether, in the longer term, the Housing and Development Board plans to sell shophouses to sitting tenants; if so, when this is expected; and, if not, why.

SALE OF HDB SHOPHOUSES TO TENANTS Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB is currently looking into the feasibility of selling its shops, including new, vacant and tenanted premises. Such a scheme will affect a large number of HDB shop tenants. HDB is therefore considering selling new shops and vacant shops first before considering sale to sitting tenants. A policy decision will be announced as soon as the present study is completed.

SUBSIDY FOR STUDENTS - (Particulars) asked the Minister for Education, based on recurrent expenditure, what is the average subsidy per student per year for students in (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools, (iii) junior colleges and Pre-University centres, (iv) the Vocational and Industrial Traning Board and (v) the Polytechnics.

SUBSIDY FOR STUDENTS - (Particulars) Mr Speaker, Sir, I am replying on behalf of my Minister. Based on the FY 86 estimated recurrent expenditure, the average subsidy per student per year for primary schools is $1,535; in the case of secondary schools, it is $2,132; and for junior colleges (inclusive of pre-university centres), the cost is $2,608. For the Vocational and Industrial Training Board and for the polytechnics, the subsidies are $4,094 and $4,836 respectively.

SUBSIDY FOR STUDENTS - (Particulars) Sir, may I find out from the Minister of State whether the subsidy for the Poly students refers to full-time students or both full-time and part-time students?

SUBSIDY FOR STUDENTS - (Particulars) Sir, the subsidy for the polytechnic students refer to the full-time students.

SUBSIDY FOR STUDENTS IN NUS AND NTI - (Particulars) asked the Minister for Education, based on recurrent expenditure and the current revised tuition fees, what will be the average subsidy per student per year in the different faculties of the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological Institute.

SUBSIDY FOR STUDENTS IN NUS AND NTI - (Particulars) Sir, based on the estimated recurrent expenditure for FY 87, the average subsidy per student per year in the non-laboratory based courses (namely, Accountancy, Business Administration, Arts and Social Sciences and Law) is $10,900. For laboratory based faculties (namely, Architecture and Building, Engineering and Science), the average subsidy per student per year is $13,300. For the Medical and Dental Faculties, the average subsidy per student per year is $37,900.

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS ACCREDITED TO SINGAPORE asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) how many foreign journalists are accredited to Singapore; (b) whether they have the high standards of integrity and professionalism expected of journalists covering a foreign beat; (c) what steps the Government can take against unscrupulous foreign journalists who write biased and unbalanced reports about us; and (d) whether the Government, in future, will consider allowing only journalists with demonstrable professionalism and moral qualities to work in Singapore.

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS ACCREDITED TO SINGAPORE Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 96 accredited journalists, including photographers and cameramen, working for some 60 foreign news-gathering organizations in Singapore. It is not for Government to comment on the standards of integrity and professionalism of foreign journalists. The Government does not have trouble with the vast majority of foreign journalists. Most of them report objectively on Singapore. Often they are critical of us and of the way we do things. We accept this. This is understandable. They have different values, different backgrounds and different loyalties. Indeed, we may even benefit from their different perspectives. But when a foreign correspondent publishes reports about Singapore which are slanted and distorted or when he makes baseless and scurrilous allegations about us and our institutions, then these reports and allegations will be rebutted and refuted. The public can then make up their own judgment of the professionalism and integrity of the journalist concerned. Sir, the Government has no intention of changing its present liberal policy of allowing foreign correspondents to work in Singapore. Singapore is an open society. We will continue to open our doors to bona fide news-gathering organizations and foreign journalists. However, it must be pointed out that the opportunity for foreign correspondents to work in Singapore is a privilege extended to them by courtesy of the Government, not a right. In the case of the few delinquent journalists, this privilege can be withdrawn.

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS ACCREDITED TO SINGAPORE Does the Minister intend to withdraw the privilege of a foreign correspondent who has consistently been writing unbalanced reports about us?

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS ACCREDITED TO SINGAPORE Sir, it is not necessary to withdraw the foreign correspondent's privilege because we believe that it is preferable to rebut and to refute the allegations rather than to take the easy way out of terminating his stay in Singapore.

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS ACCREDITED TO SINGAPORE Will he renew the permit of such a foreign correspondent?

FOREIGN JOURNALISTS ACCREDITED TO SINGAPORE Sir, we will take it on a case-by-case basis.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) whether the Government has received complaints, direct or indirect, from financial or business circles that their operations are hampered by the Government's restriction on the Asian Wall Street Journal; (b) if so, how badly these operations are hampered and what steps have been taken by the Government to resolve the problem; (c) whether the Government's action against the AWSJ has marred Singapore's image internationally; and (d) whether Singapore's restriction on the circulation of TIME and the AWSJ will affect our status as an international printing and publishing centre; and (e) whether the dispute over the restriction on the AWSJ is having any repercussions on Singapore's relations with the United States Government.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has not received any complaints from financial or business circles in Singapore that their operations have been hampered by the Government's restriction of the Asian Wall Street Journal. Over the past month, I have on different occasions met many business executives, including foreign bankers. None mentioned any difficulty resulting from the Asian Wall Street Journal restriction. Nevertheless, the Asian Wall Street Journal has repeatedly claimed that it continues to hear from leading businesses in Singapore that they are greatly inconvenienced by the lack of access to the Journal. The Government has therefore decided to allow the Journal unlimited circulation in Singapore, provided all the advertising spaces are left blank and the newspaper is distributed free of charge. The offer is still open, although the Journal has turned it down. That the Journal refused, even when the Government offered to help pay for the incremental costs of producing an advertisement-free edition, clearly demonstrates their interest in advertising revenue and not in the free flow of information. Sir, the Government's action to insist on our right to reply to correct snide and malicious misreporting, far from marring our international reputation, has established our reputation for firmness in dealing with the foreign press. It has proved our willingness to engage them in public debate when they make spurious attacks on our integrity. It demonstrates the hypocrisy of their pose as high-minded champions of the freedom of expression. The restriction on circulation of the Journal has no effect whatsoever on our position as a printing and publishing centre. The same factors which make Singapore attractive to other foreign investors, such as efficient telecommunications, comprehensive sea and air transport services, competitive costs and a good business environment, help attract hard-headed printers and publishers to Singapore. I am informed that the industry grew by 6% last year, while the domestic exports of publications grew by a phenomenal 37% last year, as reported by Business Times on 24th February. Sir, the Journal continues to be printed in Singapore, notwithstanding its own solemn warnings to "any business that wants to risk locating in Singapore". This fact speaks for itself. Sir, the final part of the Question concerns matters under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I shall ask the Minister to reply.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, on 11th February 1987, a US State Department spokesman expressed regret over Singapore's restriction of the Asian Wall Street Journal. Singapore protested at this unprecedented interference in its internal affairs. The State Department responded that it did not take sides in the particulars of the case. The exchange of notes has been reported in the press. In view of the State Department reply on 21st February 1987, the Singapore Government delivered a further note to the United States requesting the State Department to explain how such impartiality is consistent with the regret expressed by its spokesman and on what basis it has concluded that the Singapore Government action is regrettable. The US Government replied on 10th March 1987. It stated that its stand on this matter is consistent with its "commitment to the principles of a free and unrestricted press in American usage", meaning that "the press is free to publish or not publish what it chooses, however irresponsible or biased its actions may be". The Singapore Government does not consider this a satisfactory explanation. Singapore is not the United States and is not bound by the US ideals of press freedom. In Singapore, when reporting has been left to the marketplace of ideas, it has from time to time led to civil commotion, riots and mayhem. We have inherited the British colonial system and have always had the right of reply. Just as we do not presume to pass judgment on US government press relations, neither do they have the right to comment publicly on Singapore Government press policies. The Singapore Government values our strong and mature relationship with the US. That is why we are making it quite clear that we do not accept that the American usage can be imposed on Singapore. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has therefore delivered a third note to the State Department to place our position beyond doubt. I am circulating all the exchange of notes (Cols. 779 - 786) between the MFA and the US, including the MFA note of 21st February, the State Department reply of 10th March, and MFA's further rejoinder for the information of Members. notes - AIDE MEMOIRE (Cols. 779 - 786)

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Sir, this question is for the Minister for Communications and Information. Has the Time magazine apologized to the people and the Government of Singapore? Have they appealed against the continued restriction on its circulation? And the second question is: what is the present position or the latest development of the AWSJ affair?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, TIME magazine has published the letter in full, the letter which led to the restriction in the first instance. They have also written to the Ministry in December to ask for a review of the decision to restrict the circulation. This matter will be considered at the appropriate time. As for the Asian Wall Street Journal, there is no reason or necessity to review the matter at the moment.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, could I ask a supplementary question which either Minister can reply? Is the Minister surprised that the Voice of America, an organ created by the US government to counter Communist propaganda world wide, has been used to cast critical views on a non-Communist government such as the Singapore Government which is, in fact, an ally of the US in the free world?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, we were surprised. We were aggrieved. And we have registered our views on the matter with the Voice of America. We were surprised that the Voice of America had the same major reaction to the issue, that they were not concerned with the particulars of the issue. As I said, we have registered our concern. We have given them the details and I hope that they are wiser now.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Sir, a supplementary question for the Minister for Communications and Information. How will the Minister rate the extent of the coverage of the Government's response and the Government's position in the international as well as the US press? Was the coverage good or was it poor?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, it must be obvious that when the reporting is made in other countries, the same sort of coverage that we have seen in Singapore cannot be expected, simply because the journalists in Western countries have developed their own standards of what is considered as freedom of the press. My view is that the reporting in other countries has been extremely biased. But we have ensured that we put our points of view across in the same papers that have published the biased reports.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Sir, has the Minister considered taking advertising space in the major US papers like the Wall Street Journal, for example, to explain our position?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, in some of the cases, replies from the Singapore Govenrment have already been published.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Sir, a supplementary question for the Minister for Communications and Information. In view of the fact that a publication like the Asian Wall Street Journal no doubt enjoys the controversy that has been created, and I am of the opinion that they believe that the ensuing publicity would benefit their circulation when the problem is finally resolved and when restrictions are removed, would the Minister consider a suggestion that if and when the problem is resolved and when he decides to lift the present restrictions, would he confine its circulation to a figure not greater than what it was when the restrictions were first imposed?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, at the moment, there is no intention whatsoever to review the decision.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Sir, I have two supplementary questions. The amendment to the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act was to prevent foreign papers from meddling in our politics. As I had noted, the article published in the Asian Wall Street Journal was in relation to Sesdaq. How does the Minister say that this is meddling in the internal politics of Singapore? The other question I want to ask is something which I really do not understand. The whole purpose of the amendment to the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act is to prevent the circulation of articles which may be prejudicial to Singapore and yet the Minister says that the Wall Street Journal can continue to circulate.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Chiam, I thought you said you had two questions to ask.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Yes.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) I am hearing nothing but a speech.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) All right, Sir. How does the Minister reconcile this? On the one hand, the Act is to prevent a newspaper from circulating matters which are purported to be meddling in the affairs of the politics of Singapore and, on the other hand, he allows this newspaper to be circulated if it were to be given away free of charge. I think I have got a third question.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) You said two questions. Will you please sit down and let the Minister answer first?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, I find it difficult to understand the Member for Potong Pasir. When an article by an international newspaper undermines one of our key institutions and makes serious allegations about the Government and its integrity, I find it difficult to understand the Member when he says that it is not meddling in the politics of Singapore. Secondly, the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act was amended not to prevent articles from being made available in Singapore but to permit the Government to impose restriction as and when it is necessary.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) The Minister says that the article undermines the integrity of the Government.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Chiam, do ask your supplementary question.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) All right, I will come to the question.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Or I have to give you a lesson on how to ask supplementary questions.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Does the Minister agree that that article was a report or a reflection of opinions that that reporter obtained from business circles in Singapore?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, the article can report anybody's views. What is important, what is at issue, is that the Journal refused to publish the Singapore Government's point of view. The Member for Potong Pasir may not have read the papers. If he had, he would have remembered that three letters from three major financial institutions in Singapore, namely, the Stock Exchange of Singapore, the Association of Banks of Singapore and the Association of Merchant Bankers in Singapore, wrote to the Asian Wall Street Journal disclaiming that the article was reflecting concerns of these three organizations. The Asian Wall Street Journal chose to suppress those letters by not publishing them.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Does the Minister accept that a newspaper's internal policy is to choose which article to publish and which article not to publish? Does he accept that as an acceptable practice in the business of printing newspapers?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer was given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his earlier answer. But let me reiterate it. No, they can practise whatever policies they like outside of Singapore. If they choose to take up the privilege that we have extended to them to make money in Singapore, to circulate in Singapore, then we uphold our right to reply. And even the Foreign Correspondents' Association in Singapore accepts that fundamental right to reply and they have upheld that right of reply.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Does this practice apply to local papers? If individual citizens in Singapore insist on a right of reply in respect of certain articles written which they feel is unfair, can individual citizens of Singapore, for example, insist on a right of reply from the Straits Times or the Lianhe Zaobao?

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, these are two separate issues altogether. We are talking about the Government's dealing with the newspaper. And if any foreign papers wish to take up that privilege that is extended to them by the Government, these are the rules by which they have to play. If the Member for Potong Pasir wants to extend any privilege to any newspaper, he can have his own rules with the newspaper. Mr Ng Kah Ting rose -

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Last question. I think I have a right to ---

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) No. Mr Ng stood up first.

RESTRICTION ON CIRCULATION OF TIME AND - ASIAN WALL STREET JOURNAL - (Effects) Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you very much. There has got to be an end. And I ask for Question No. 7 to be answered.

HOUGANG NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE POST asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether and when a Neighbourhood Police Post will be constructed in the vicinity of Hougang Avenues 2 and 10.

HOUGANG NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE POST Sir, Punggol Constituency is currently being served by a neighbourhood police post (NPP) located at the void deck of Block 357, Hougang Avenue 7. That NPP has been in operation since 1st December 1985. Subject to the availability of manpower and confirmation of the site, another NPP will be set up in the constituency by the end of 1988 or early 1989. It will be along Hougang Avenue 8.

CONSTRUCTION BRIGADE PROGRAMME - (Success) asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will report on how successful the Construction Brigade Programme has been in achieving its objectives.

CONSTRUCTION BRIGADE PROGRAMME - (Success) Sir, the Construction Brigade Scheme was introduced in 1981 with the objective of building up a pool of national servicemen in the Singapore Civil Defence Force capable of carrying out repairs and reconstruction work in an emergency. Under this scheme, a total of 6,500 national servicemen have received training in various construction skills. 2,700 of them are now in reserve. With the quarterly intake of 300 national servicemen into this scheme, there will be a growing pool of national servicemen and reservists with construction skills. They will enable the Singapore Civil Defence Force to carry out repair and reconstruction work in an emergency. This was proved in the Hotel New World disaster. Sir, since this scheme provides construction training for the national servicemen, it has also contributed towards our national effort to build up a core of skilled local construction workers. Of the present 2,700 construction brigade reservists, 700 of them are employed in the construction industry.

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS - (Measures to reduce) asked the Minister for Labour what at the measures taken by his Ministry to further reduce industrial accidents in the construction industry; (b) what is the basis for carrying out inspection of construction work-sites by inspectors from his Ministry; and (c) how often are the inspections made.

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS - (Measures to reduce) Mr Speaker, Sir, the measures taken by my Ministry to reduce industrial accidents in the construction industry include, firstly, the enforcement of safety and health provisions at worksites and, secondly, the training of construction workers, supervisors and members of safety committees. In both enforcement and training, my Ministry pays special attention to the provision and use of safe working platforms, overhead shelters and barricades at worksites. This is to prevent the two major types of accidents, namely, those of workers falling from heights and being struck by falling objects. In addition, we are promoting self-regulation at worksites by safety supervisors and safety committees. These measures have helped to reduce the number of worksite accidents from 1,427 in 1985 to 1,090 in 1986. As a result, the accident frequency rate dropped from 5.5 accidents per million man-hours worked in 1985 to 5.0 in 1986. The number of fatal accidents fell from 42 in 1985 to 26 in 1986. Worksites are inspected by my Ministry's inspectors on the basis that the more hazardous ones are inspected more frequently. For example, high-rise buildings under construction are inspected as frequently as once a fortnight, while MRT tunnels under construction are inspected more frequently, about twice a week. Frequent inspections are also made on worksites of recalcitrant contractors with unsatisfactory safety records. The following question stood on the Order Paper: 10. Mr Chew Heng Ching: To ask the Minister for Community Development if he is satisfied with the work performed by the Feedback Unit.

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS - (Measures to reduce) Question 10 has been postponed to 24th March. Dr Koh, Question 11.

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS - (Measures to reduce) Sir, in asking Question 11, I declare my pecuniary interest.

MEDISAVE - (Abuse) asked the Acting Minister for Health whether there is any evidence of abuse or misuse of the Medisave scheme in both public and private hospitals.

MEDISAVE - (Abuse) Sir, there has been no evidence of general abuse and misuse of the Scheme since its implementation on 1st April 1984. My Ministry will continue to monitor the use of Medisave in both public and private hospitals and safeguards will be implemented if found necessary.

VACANT SITE BESIDE KAMPONG UBI COMMUNITY CENTRE - (Conversion into playground) asked the Minister for National Development if he will consider converting the vacant site beside Kampong Ubi Community Centre into a children's playground.

VACANT SITE BESIDE KAMPONG UBI COMMUNITY CENTRE - (Conversion into playground) Sir, a playground between Block 832 and 834 has been provided for the residents of the 500 dwelling units in this vicinity. Therefore there is no pressing need to convert the vacant site into another playground. The vacant land is reserved for future development. However, the HDB is still discussing with grassroots organization and if a need is established, the HDB is prepared to turf a part of the vacant area for temporary use as a playground. 11.32 am

MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE - FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1987 TO 31ST MARCH, 1988 Order read for consideration in the Committee of Supply [4th Allotted Day].

MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE - FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1987 TO 31ST MARCH, 1988 Head L (cont.) - Resumption of Debate on Question [19th March, 1987], "That the sum to be allocated for Head L be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead LC-01-1210 of the Main Estimates." - [Dr Tan Cheng Bock.] Question again proposed.

MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE - FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1987 TO 31ST MARCH, 1988 Mr Chairman, Sir, at yesterday's rising of the House the Member for Chong Boon raised an important question which I would like to respond to this morning. The question he raised was this: is it the policy of the Ministry of Education to allow schools to group their students into separate classes on the basis of the second language that they are doing? The implication of that question is that students would then be grouped along racial lines. Let me say, Sir, that it is not the policy of the Ministry of Education that schools should be allowed to group students on the basis of second language. In fact, our policy is that schools, if they have to group children, may do so according to academic performance but they should not do so on a second language basis. It is undesirable that they be allowed to do so because it will lead to segregation. It has come to the notice of the Ministry that some schools have done this for reasons of administrative convenience and we have looked into this matter. We will continue to do so and to instruct principals that this should not be done in their schools.

MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE - FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1987 TO 31ST MARCH, 1988 Mr Chairman, may I join the debate at this stage. Sir, one of the four areas of concern mentioned by the Hon. Minister yesterday was for us to work towards a more effective teaching environment. In fact, the other goals that we hope to achieve, the single-session school and the reduction in the student/teacher ratio, are measures to help to achieve a more effective teaching environment. So far the Hon. Minister or the Hon. Minister of State has not enlightened us on what he meant by "a more effective teaching environment." I am interested to know whether there will be a radical change in the present methodology of teaching or will we continue with the present pressurized exam-orientated system of teaching. Sir, I would also like to find out from the Minister how he would define excellence in education? I know he would not say that it means to have higher standard of academic achievement because, if that is excellence in education, I think there is no necessity for us to change the present system which is well geared for that. However, if we mean more than that, if excellence in education means an all-round education to our children so that they would develop into confident, matured, cultivated and responsible citizens of tomorrow, then I believe that our teaching methodology has to change. And for a start, our teachers must move away from the rigid force-feeding method which some people say are producing intellectual robots. Sir, if the aim of the present exercise in education is to develop a more rounded and cultivated Singaporean, which is part of our vision for 1999, then I would like to ask the Minister why he thinks that the Western model of education is the better one? Why follow the British or the American? We are Singaporeans. We are proud to be Singaporeans and we want to preserve the Singaporean identity. In my view, the British are more individualistic and forceful people, whereas we Singaporeans are more gentle. What about the educational systems in the East? I understand that the Minister had visited Japan to study the educational system in Japan. Surely, a successful society like the Japanese must have something to offer us. Sir, I would like the Minister to comment on what I have said. Finally, I would like to make a suggestion to the Minister. Since the matter of independent school is of great concern for all parents in Singapore, can I suggest that the Report by the school principals be translated into the other three languages?

MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE - FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1987 TO 31ST MARCH, 1988 I have one point which I would like to clear up which I brought up yesterday. I say that democracy as a subject should be taught in schools. The Minister just brushed me off and said, "Go, look up the civics book." Well, I have gone to try to look up. But I was informed that Ethics and Civics are no longer taught in our schools. Moral education has taken its place. Can perhaps the Minister clear up this point? If, in fact, moral education has taken the place of civics, then I do not know whether we have been misled.