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PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT Under the provisions of clause 2(d) of Article 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the following Members have been granted permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the periods stated:- Dr Beng Kian Lam, Arthur - on 2nd September and from 18th to 22nd October, 1993. Mr Chay Wai Chuen - from 5th to 9th September, from 13th to 16th September, from 19th to 26th September and from 28th September to 7th October, 1993. Dr Ong Chit Chung - from 7th to 10th September and from 17th to 23rd October, 1993. Mr Tan Soo Khoon - from 7th to 11th September, from 19th to 23rd September, from 14th to 23rd October and from 26th October to 3rd November, 1993. Dr Wong Kwei Cheong - from 8th to 11th September, 1993. Mr Chia Shi Teck - from 9th to 10th September, from 20th to 21st September and from 7th to 9th October, 1993. Mr K. Shanmugam - from 9th to 11th September and from 12th to 14th October, 1993. Encik Sidek bin Saniff - from 10th to 12th September, 1993. Encik Mohamad Maidin B P M - from 10th to 22nd September, 1993. Dr Kanwaljit Soin - from 10th to 20th September, 1993. Mr Teo Chong Tee - from 11th to 26th September,1993. Mr Yeo Cheow Tong - from 12th to 20th September, 1993. Mr Wong Kan Seng - from 13th to 17th September, from 25th September to 9th October and from 13th to 16th October, 1993. Mr Loh Meng See - from 16th to 20th September and from 6th to 9th October, 1993. Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon - from 19th to 26th September, 1993. Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng - from 19th to 26th September, 1993. Mr Chiam See Tong - from 19th to 26th September, 1993. Mr Lee Yiok Seng - from 19th to 28th September, 1993. Mr Chin Harn Tong - from 19th to 26th September, 1993. Dr Lim Chun Leng, Michael - from 19th to 26th September, from 14th to 18th October, from 29th November to 10th December, 1993 and from 24th to 28th January, 1994. Mr Chng Hee Kok - from 19th to 26th September, 1993. Encik Ibrahim bin Othman - from 19th to 26th September, 1993. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee - from 20th to 26th September, from 20th to 27th October and from 25th November to 1st December, 1993. Mr Charles Chong - from 20th to 26th September and from 10th to 15th October, 1993. Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon - from 21st September to 14th October, 1993. Dr Yeo Ning Hong - from 21st to 24th September, 1993. Dr Hu Tsu Tau, Richard - from 21st September to 3rd October, 1993. Dr Lee Boon Yang - from 21st to 22nd September, 1993. Mr Peter Sung - from 23rd to 29th September, from 1st to 3rd October and from 18th to 30th October, 1993. Mr Tong Kok Yeo - from 24th September to 3rd October, 1993. Mr Zulkifli bin Mohammed - from 24th September to 5th October, 1993. Dr Aline K. Wong - from 25th September to 2nd October, 1993. Dr Wan Soon Bee - from 29th September to 5th October and from 10th to 19th October, 1993. Mr Lew Syn Pau - from 29th September to 2nd October and from 10th to 19th October, 1993. Mr Peh Chin Hua - from 30th September to 9th October, 1993. Mr Heng Chiang Meng - from 30th September to 9th October, 1993. Mr Kenneth Chen Koon Lap - from 30th September to 9th October, 1993. Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe - from 1st to 3rd October and from 9th to 11th October, 1993. Mr Ling How Doong - from 1st to 15th October, 1993. BG George Yong-Boon Yeo - from 1st to 3rd October and from 11th to 13th October, 1993. Mr Leong Horn Kee - from 4th to 8th October and from 13th to 29th October, 1993. Mr Lee Yock Suan - from 9th to 17th October, 1993. Mr Matthias Yao Chih - from 9th to 10th October, 1993. Dr Wang Kai Yuen - on 10th to 19th October, 1993. Mr Lee Kuan Yew - from 11th to 13th October, 1993. Cdre (Res) Teo Chee Hean - from 11th to 13th October and from 13th to 21st December,1993. Mr Davinder Singh - from 13th to 14th October, 1993. Mr R. Sinnakaruppan - from 13th to 14th October, 1993. Encik Yatiman Yusof - from 14th to 22nd October, 1993. Mr Chew Heng Ching - from 14th to 19th October, 1993. Mr Chua Teck Chew, Robert - from 15th to 19th October, 1993. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon - from 20th October to 3rd November, 1993. Mr Mah Bow Tan - from 24th to 29th October, from 27th November to 4th December and from 8th to 26th December, 1993. Mr S. Dhanabalan - from 28th October to 5th November, 1993. Mr Lim Hng Kiang - from 13th November to 2nd December, 1993. TAN SOO KHOON Speaker Parliament of Singapore
ASSENTS TO BILLS PASSED The following Bills were assented to by the President of the Republic of Singapore on the dates stated: 3rd September, 1993 (i) Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 1993. 27th September, 1993 (i)Land Titles Bill [Bill No. 36/92 (Amended)]; (ii) Banking (Amendment) Bill 1993; (iii)Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill 1993; and (iv) Arms Offences (Amendment) Bill 1993. TAN SOO KHOON Speaker Parliament of Singapore
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - RESERVIST TRAINING - (For Singaporeans pursuing further studies or on business abroad) The following Question stood in the name of Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon --- 1. To ask the Minister for Defence whether there will be more flexibility in reservist training arrangements for Singaporeans pursuing further studies or on business abroad.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - RESERVIST TRAINING - (For Singaporeans pursuing further studies or on business abroad) Question No. 1, Sir.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - RESERVIST TRAINING - (For Singaporeans pursuing further studies or on business abroad) Sir, MINDEF supports the Government's call to Singaporeans to venture overseas. MINDEF also appreciates the contributions of our reservists. Hence, MINDEF will continue to be helpful and make it easy for reservists to travel overseas for work or studies. The current policies which facilitate this are: 1 Reservists on overseas studies are not called up for training for the full duration of their courses; 2 Those who are employed overseas for six months or longer are disrupted while they are overseas for up to three years at a time. The disruption can be extended; 3 The SAF also gives notice of in-camp training at least six months in advance so that reservists can plan their business trips and engagements to avoid a clash with their training. Where there are exceptional reasons, the SAF will consider applications for deferment on a case by case basis; 4 To make it easier for reservists to travel overseas, the validity of their passports has been lengthened from two years to 10 years since November last year; 5 In April this year, MINDEF further relaxed the exit permit requirement. Reservists holding exit permits who are in Singapore on transit are no longer required to surrender their exit permits on landing in Singapore and retrieving it before they leave again if the period of transit is shorter than one month. In drawing up policies and guidelines on allowing reservists to be absent from training, MINDEF has to take into account the operational considerations. To be an effective fighting force, reservists must always train together in their own units throughout their reservist training cycle. When a reservist is absent from a particular training programme, the effectiveness of his unit is reduced. The reservist frequently has to join another unit later in the year for make-up training. As a result, cohesion for both units is degraded and operational readiness suffers. MINDEF therefore has two objectives to meet: one, of ensuring the operational readiness of our reservist units, and the other, of being helpful to individual reservists who have to go overseas. MINDEF will continue to fine-tune its policies to achieve both objectives.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - RESERVIST TRAINING - (For Singaporeans pursuing further studies or on business abroad) Sir, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary, where an exemption has been given for a reservist to be absent, will he have to make up for lost time upon his return?
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - RESERVIST TRAINING - (For Singaporeans pursuing further studies or on business abroad) Yes. There are two types of absence from training. One is deferment during the year where he postpones his training for that year. Being absent from his scheduled training, he comes back during the year for make-up training. Where a person is disrupted for a period of time, say, three years, to complete his study, then he will have to do a 13-year cycle after he has finished his study.
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS - (Review of subletting policy) asked the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry will review the subletting policy for Housing and Development Board flats.
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS - (Review of subletting policy) Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB flat owners can sublet rooms in their HDB flats. However, they need to seek prior approval from HDB if they wish to sublet their entire flat. HDB allows subletting of the entire flat only under special circumstances, such as when flat owners have to study or work overseas for extended periods, or when they reside in quarters provided by their employers. HDB's restrictions on the subletting of HDB flats are necessary to ensure that subsidised public housing is used for owner-occupation, and not as an investment for rental income. My Ministry reviews the subletting policy from time to time. Where justifiable, and without compromising the owner-occupation policy, subletting rules have been relaxed. I am pleased to inform the House that HDB will be relaxing its rules to allow three new categories to sublet their flats. First, HDB will allow flat lessees who are owners or tenants of HDB sold shops with dwellings to sublet their whole flats, as long as they stay in their shops to look after their business. This relaxation will bring our policy for such lessees in line with that for tenants of HDB rented shops, who are currently allowed to sublet their whole flats. HDB will extend this relaxation to lessees of HDB flats who are also owners or tenants of private commercial properties with dwellings, and have to stay in their shops to look after their business. Second, HDB will allow the subletting of the whole flat if a lessee has to go overseas for work or study, leaving behind household members, like children or aged parents, who cannot take care of themselves. Currently, the whole household has to be overseas to be eligible for subletting the whole flat. Third, HDB will allow sick or physically unfit single lessees to sublet their entire flat, if they move in with their children or relatives. Lessees of HDB flats who wish to sublet their entire flats are still required to seek approval from HDB, giving grounds for the application.
MANDATORY CANING FOR MOLESTERS - (Legislation) asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he proposes to introduce legislation to provide mandatory caning for molesters.
MANDATORY CANING FOR MOLESTERS - (Legislation) Sir, under existing laws, a person convicted of outrage of modesty can be jailed, fined or caned. The law therefore already enables the courts to impose caning if they deem it fit. The law provides for mandatory caning where outraging of modesty is committed in aggravated circumstances, for example, when the offender voluntarily causes or attempts to cause death, hurt or wrongful restraint to his victim. Mandatory caning also applies when the offence is committed in a lift or where the victim is under the age of 14. Further legislation is unnecessary at this stage because the law, as it stands, gives adequate powers to the courts to mete out appropriate and deterrent punishments including caning.
MANDATORY CANING FOR MOLESTERS - (Legislation) Sir, as there was some disquiet over the caning sentence on a young molester who was thought to be educationally subnormal, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the Government would consider alternative punishment such as chemical castration for molest by persons who are feeble-minded or mentally incapable? There are several reasons for this.
MANDATORY CANING FOR MOLESTERS - (Legislation) Dr Toh, no speeches. You have asked your question.
MANDATORY CANING FOR MOLESTERS - (Legislation) Sir, what the Member asked is something that is not related to caning. The Ministry of Home Affairs is always prepared to examine and study practical measures to see how we can further bring down the crime rate. Therefore, I will ask the officers in the Ministry to carefully study this suggestion and, particularly, we will look at the experiences of other countries where this has been done to see whether it has the intended impact of curbing any rise in the number of molestation cases.
MANDATORY CANING FOR MOLESTERS - (Legislation) Sir, will caning also apply to a SIA passenger who has his own notion about what a great way to fly is?
MANDATORY CANING FOR MOLESTERS - (Legislation) Sir, a person who is subject to Singapore law, and that would include a person who is flying SIA, must surely be subject to caning if it is meted out by a court of proper jurisdiction within the framework of the law.
WATER PRESSURE OF FIRE HYDRANTS asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in view of a recent warehouse fire at Penjuru Road and the difficulty in fighting the fire due to low water pressure, if he will assure the House that all fire hydrants, especially those in the Jurong Industrial Estate, will have adequate water pressure for effective fire fighting.
WATER PRESSURE OF FIRE HYDRANTS Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conducts regular checks on all fire hydrants. The SCDF would liaise with the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to rectify faulty hydrants. In the situation mentioned by the hon. Member, the difficulty in fighting the fire was not due to low water pressure. In any case, should there be any problems with water pressure in fighting a fire, the Civil Defence can overcome it. Water supply from other sources will be channelled to fight the fire when necessary, eg, from relay pumping from distant hydrants or from pumping from open water sources, such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. For major fires, officers from PUB's Water Department are also present to ensure that the water supply and water pressure are adequate.
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) asked the Minister for Finance whether he will cut down Government-approved gambling activities comprising two draws per week for Toto and 4-D, race days on Saturdays and Sundays and the monthly Big Sweep.
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) Mr Speaker, Sir, in any society, there will always be people with the propensity to gamble. Ordinarily, most of the money will end up in the pockets of illegal gambling operators. Legal gaming facilities provide an alternative to these illegal operators, and serve to control illegal gambling in Singapore. The proceeds from legal gambling can be channelled towards educational, social and other charitable causes. The number of draws for Toto, 4-D and Big Sweep has not increased since their inception in the 1960s. Horse racing has also been conducted on Saturdays and Sundays since the mid-1960s. I believe the present level of these forms of gaming is not excessive. For instance, instances of cheating have not occurred. Any reduction in the frequency of these activities will only drive punters back to the illegal operators. If the hon. Member will give cogent reasons why these forms of gambling should be scaled down, I shall be glad to give him a hearing.
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) Sir, I believe the Government is against gambling. We have got heavy fines imposed on gamblers. Seventeen times a month is more than 50% of the days in a month where gambling activities are condoned or approved by the Government. The first question is: Does the Government not think that this number is in fact too large? Second, as a form of curbing gambling, will the Government carry out a campaign to tell the people that we should not make Singapore a gambling society and perhaps find ways and means to curb gambling?
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) I have said earlier that we do not think the number of gambling occasions is too large. As to the second question, I think it is well known that we are against gambling, but since we accept the fact that human beings are likely to gamble, providing a form of legal gambling at least ensures that the bulk of the proceeds of gambling will be drawn back into the Government system through betting duties which then go to the Consolidated Fund as part of Government revenue together with contributions to charities. I think the education programme is something which we can consider but I do not think it is realistic to expect any campaign to wipe out gambling altogether, certainly not amongst the Eastern people.
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) Of course, I do not agree with the Minister that 17 times of gambling a month approved by the Government is not excessive. To me, it is excessive. On top of these 17 days, in fact, people are also gambling in the stock market.
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) Order. Mr Chiam, could you ask your questions?
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) Sir, my question has not really been answered. Is the Government making any attempts at all to cut the number of days of gambling?
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES - (Cutting down) I said that we do not think it is excessive. So that should be the answer. It is a matter of opinion and judgment.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) asked the Prime Minister if he will say why there was a seven-and-a-half hour delay before the result of the Presidential Election was announced.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) Mr Speaker, Sir, in the recent Presidential Election (PE), the Elections Department estimated the result to be announced at about 1.00 am. But it could not do so until 3.30 am. The delay was 2(r) hours, not 7(r) hours. 1.66 million votes were cast in the Presidential Election. For comparison, in the 1991 General Elections (GE), only 800,000 votes, or about half the number, were cast. Members may remember that in the 1991 GE, the final result was announced at 3.15 am, only 15 minutes earlier than the announcement of the Presidential Election result. Recognising the scale of the PE and the desirability of announcing the result early, the Elections Department decentralised the counting of ballot papers. Instead of counting all the ballot papers in one central counting centre, ballot papers were divided into 369 counting stations and counted as such. Decentralised counting did speed up considerably the counting process. The largest counting station took only three hours to count. With the benefit of hindsight, the Elections Department identified two shortcomings: its procedure for progressive reporting of results to the Returning Officer for tallying was overly cautious and cumbersome and, secondly, its not providing enough fax machines. These caused the delay in the announcement of the result. The Presidential Election counting organisation had three tiers. At the top was the Returning Officer (RO). He was assisted by 12 Group Assistant Returning Officers (GAROs). Under the GAROs, there were 163 Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) who directly supervised the polling and counting of the ballot papers. Each ARO looked after up to six counting stations. The RO, GAROs and AROs were located in different places. They communicated through fax machines and telephones. The Elections Department adopted the 3-tier structure to provide supervision and control. This was the same structure used for the General Elections, except that this time, the RO, GAROs and AROs were dispersed over more counting centres. The procedure for AROs to report results progressively to the RO was as follows. When each counting station completed its counting, the ARO would fax the result on a "Record of Counting" form to his Group Assistant Returning Officer. The GARO would re-fax it to the RO for double checking. After satisfying himself of its accuracy, the RO would give his approval by phone for the GARO to print out the "Record of Counting". The GARO would then fax the printed Form to the ARO, to be signed by the ARO and the candidates' Counting Agents. The ARO then faxed the signed Form to the GARO, who in turn would fax it to the RO. This completed the paperwork for the counting station. Hence, for each counting station, the GARO had to handle five fax transactions. He received two faxes from an ARO and sent out three faxes - two to the RO and one to the ARO. The busiest GARO with 48 counting stations had to deal with 240 fax transactions. Each fax transaction took almost a minute. Each GARO was equipped with only one fax machine. This was grossly inadequate. It caused a bottleneck which delayed the transmission of the "Record of Counting" form. As the AROs were instructed to complete all the faxing for one counting station, before counting the ballot papers of the next counting station, those AROs who supervised more than three counting stations were especially held up by the faxing bottleneck. The basic problem, however, was that the reporting procedure, requiring five faxes per GARO, was too cumbersome. It was designed to maximise control and prevent errors, but was unduly cautious. The Elections Department will revise it to reduce the number of fax transmissions without sacrificing control and accountability. It will ensure that in future elections, the votes will be counted and the results available as early as possible.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) Sir, could the Prime Minister say what was the time the last counting station completed the counting of votes? When did all the returns from the group counting centres come in at the Conference Hall Counting Centre?
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) Mr Speaker, Sir, I may not be able to answer the question exactly. But the time taken to complete the activities in terms of progressive count, 2% of the counting stations were able to transmit the faxes to the RO only after 3.00 am. By 1.00 am, some 59% were able to transmit the results to the RO. So 2% of the counting places held up the total results.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) At what time did all the returns come in?
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) That was after 3.00 am. The last 2% of the counting centres held up the total result. It was given to me in percentage terms. There were 369 counting stations. So 2% of these counting stations made their results known only after 3.00 am.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) Sir, were the returns from all the group counting centres shown to the two candidates concerned at the Conference Hall Counting Centre?
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) The candidates were not shown all the results of the counting centres. But the Counting Agents at each counting centre would know the results, because the Counting Agents were there.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) Sir, the Prime Minister, in his reply, mentioned about insufficient number of fax machines and the reporting procedure. Was there any simulation exercise conducted prior to the counting to ensure that the procedure set out by the Elections Department and provision of fax machines are adequate?
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) There was no simulation exercise. Had there been one, the shortcomings would have been identified.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) Sir, could the Prime Minister say whether there was a recount in some of the counting stations?
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT - (Delay in announcement) There was no recount.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) asked the Minister for Education if he will provide an update on the policy of non-Chinese students opting for Mandarin as a second language in primary schools.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Mr Speaker, Sir, generally, the Ministry's policy on the mother tongue language is that pupils offer the mother tongue language of their parents. Non-Tamil Indian pupils are allowed to offer Chinese, Malay, Tamil or one of the minority Indian languages such as Bengali, Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. In the case of inter-marriages between local communities, the child can offer the mother tongue of either parents, ie, Chinese, Malay, Tamil or one of the five minority Indian languages.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Sir, would the Minister agree that the learning of Mandarin could be of economic advantage to a non-Chinese? So would the Ministry of Education allow non-Chinese pupils to take up Mandarin as a second language if the parents so wish?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) We do recognise the benefit of learning Chinese by non-Chinese pupils. But at the same time, we would like all pupils to know their mother tongue because that is the cornerstone of our bilingual policy. We do make exceptions when the parents insist or there are some other good reasons. In fact, in 1993, we have six Malay students and 58 Indian students who are taking Chinese.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Sir, would the Minister agree that cultural identification is not a simple function of learning your mother tongue? Considering that, would the Minister allow more latitude in non-Chinese pupils to take up Mandarin as a second language?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) We will certainly allow greater flexibility if there is good reason to do so.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Would the Minister then outline what the good reasons are and what are the criteria when Mandarin can be taken as a second language by non-Chinese pupils?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) There are a variety of reasons. One is what the Member has suggested earlier that if the pupil or his parents feel that learning Chinese would be very helpful to him in his future studies or career, we will consider his request.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Sir, with the push to go regional to China, I think there have been many forums outlining the economic advantages of learning Mandarin. In view of that, could the Minister then take that as a reason for studying Mandarin for non-Chinese pupils?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) We do consider some of the benefits but, at the same time, we should emphasise on our bilingual policy, ie, pupils should know their mother tongue to retain their own cultures.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Sir, the pupils could be learning their mother tongue at home. What I am still not quite clear is under what circumstances would the Minister allow non-Chinese pupils to take up Mandarin?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) One of the reasons is mixed parentage. Pupils of a mixed parentage can also request to study Chinese. Even for the Indian minorities who are not Tamils, they can opt for one of the five minority languages or Chinese, Malay or Tamil. Pupils in that category can ask to study Chinese.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Sir, does the Minister agree that other mother tongues like Malay and Tamil also have economic value in view of the fact that the majority of our neighbours are speaking Malay and we may have business with India also?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Yes, we apply the same reason and the same consideration.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Sir, when the Minister is considering the review, will the Minister consider the sensitivities of the minority races, lest it be mistaken to be a push for minorities to take up the Chinese language?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) We do consider all factors which affect the choice of language but the main thing is that if there is a mother tongue available for the students to choose, then they are required to take their mother tongue. If there are some other reasons that warrant consideration, we will consider them.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Would the Minister consider the sensitivities of the minorities if they are prevented from taking Mandarin? Does the Minister realise that in the private sector knowing Mandarin is a great advantage and it makes the difference between getting a job and not getting a job?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) I thought the sensitivity is the other way round. If we allow too many students to take Chinese, it could create some sensitivity problem.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) If the parents request for it, and it is the parents' choice, I do not see how the sensitivity question can arise unless the Ministry forces it. What I am asking is for those parents who would like their children to take up Mandarin. I would like to know why the Ministry is very reluctant to do so.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) We would urge the parents to consider again the usefulness of their mother tongue. Upon presentation of very good evidence that they do need to learn Chinese in their future study or career development, the Ministry does make exceptions. That is why we have 64 non-Chinese students taking Chinese.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) What percentage of the total number of students does that constitute?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) The percentage is 64 divided by a total number of 32,000 students. Anyone with a calculator can calculate it. (The percentage is 0.2%).
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) Is not that figure too small even to merit mention because obviously the policy is not flexible enough to allow more parents to exert their choice if they wish to?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) This may not be true. I do not have with me here the number of parents who have requested for their children to study Chinese. But I will certainly ask the Ministry officials to give the Member the number. It will show that the number of parents who have requested for their children to study Chinese is not too large.
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) What discourages parents is that they have heard stories from other pupils who are refused. So could I request the Minister of State to make the criteria better known and to relax the criteria so that the parents know that they can apply if they so wish?
NON-CHINESE STUDENTS OPTING FOR CHINESE AS A - SECOND LANGUAGE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS - (Update on policy) I will ask the Ministry officials to clarify the points when parents raise the question.
BILLS INTRODUCED - ECONOMIC EXPANSION INCENTIVES (RELIEF FROM INCOME TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act (Chapter 86 of the 1992 Revised Edition)", recommendation of President signified; presented by the Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr S. Dhanabalan); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.
IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Immigration Act (Chapter 133 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.
MISUSE OF DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act (Chapter 185 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", presented by Prof. S. Jayakumar; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.
LEGAL PROFESSION (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Legal Profession Act (Chapter 161 of the 1990 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.
FIRE SAFETY BILL "to make provisions for fire safety and for matters connected therewith and to repeal the Fire Service Act (Chapter 110 of the 1985 Revised Edition) and certain sections of the Petroleum Act (Chapter 229 of the 1985 Revised Edition) and to make consequential amendments to the Civil Defence Act (Chapter 42 of the 1985 Revised Edition), the Consular Conventions Act (Chapter 52 of the 1985 Revised Edition) and the Diplomatic Privileges (Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland) Act (Chapter 83 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", presented by Prof. S. Jayakumar; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX BILL - (As reported from Select Committee) Order for Third Reading read. 1.07 pm