Debated in Parliament on 14 Jul 2015.
Order for Second Reading read.
Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time.".
The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) (Amendment) Bill seeks primarily to effect the renaming of ISEAS as the "ISEAS−Yusof Ishak Institute", as announced by the Prime Minister at the 2014 National Day Rally.
ISEAS was established by the Government in 1968, to fill a vital need for a deeper understanding of the region. At that time, decolonisation was just ending. The newly independent countries of Southeast Asia knew that regional integration was critical for survival and, on our part, Singapore had to find a place in a region that was beginning to find its way forward, away from colonial rule.
Since then, ISEAS has grown to be a reputable research centre and think-tank dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment. ISEAS continues to play an important regional role in nurturing scholarship and capacity-building, providing insights on key issues and events. ISEAS' efforts in developing a network of relationships help deepen understanding among policymakers and scholars within the region and beyond.
We are proud to have ISEAS bear Encik Yusof Ishak's name. Encik Yusof was one of Singapore's pioneering leaders as the Yang di-Pertuan Negara and the first President of Singapore. His contributions, along with those of early Malay Pioneers, such as Mr Othman Wok, were critical to the success of our then-fledgling nation-state and continue to be a source of pride for our Malay community and our nation today. His convictions and life's work resonate strongly with ISEAS' foundational tenets and it is befitting that his name will be borne by ISEAS.
Mdm Speaker, here I would like to share a few words from Encik Yusof, in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Racial unity is very important for us. The future of our Republic depends on the solidarity and cooperation among all races − sharing the same aspirations and objectives to make Singapore a successful and prosperous country.
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(In English): These words reflect Encik Yusof's firm belief that racial unity is a crucial tenet to Singapore's success and encapsulate Encik Yusof's key message to Singaporeans during our early years of Independence. Singapore did not always enjoy the peace and prosperity that we do now. Our Independence came suddenly. Our early years were fraught with bouts of unrest, driven by both internal and external forces. Encik Yusof, as our first President, played a key role to help restore trust and confidence amongst Singaporeans during this time that saw events that shook the nation, such as the 1964 racial riots.
One of the foundational principles is that our people are our greatest strength. We must understand, respect and value each person, regardless of race or religion. Encik Yusof lived out this principle throughout his tenure as President. His tireless visits to each constituency and his countless outreaches to various racial and religious groups to share his vision and message are testament to this. In his obituary speech to Encik Yusof Ishak, our Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew described Encik Yusof as "a deeply religious man, but who did not allow his religion to hinder his relationship with non-Muslims, whether they were Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Confucians or atheists". Mr Lee described Encik Yusof as a man who stood for our multiracial policies and believed in policies to modernise our society.
We are very fortunate that Encik Yusof was Singapore's Head of State at our founding moment. That he embodied our sovereignty assured our Pioneer Generation of Malays that they have a place in Singapore – he assured all races that this would be home for all. This would not be a Chinese nation or a Malay nation or an Indian nation; this would be a Singaporean Singapore, as our Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew had declared. President Yusof was the living personification of that promise. And he dedicated himself to fulfilling that promise, to the benefit of us all today. Because our Pioneer Generation of Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians decided to make common cause with one another, we were able to remain a multiracial nation.
Encik Yusof was a steadfast guide for Singapore throughout our early years. Our early leaders had to navigate numerous pressing issues, such as labour unrest, communal discord and the urgent need to grow our economy and create jobs. They were keenly aware that solutions to these needed to be buttressed by knowledge of regional developments. ISEAS, established a mere three years after our Independence, has helped to deepen our understanding of our politically-volatile region. It has also strengthened ties amongst regional scholars and built up a body of knowledge on developments in Southeast Asia.
Our success today has been built by pioneering leaders, such as Encik Yusof, and institutions, such as ISEAS, that have helped to inform our leaders' policy decisions. The foundation for a strong nation is as true today as in the past − peace and stability based on mutual understanding, within Singapore and beyond. Today, regional and geo-political realities are even more complex. The strategic framework in Asia is evolving and Southeast
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Asian countries are accelerating and deepening their integration. Understanding Singapore's place in the economic, cultural and political context of the region remains crucial to our continued relevance. As we celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday and honour the outstanding men and women who have shaped our nation and wrought our successes, it is fitting and timely to pay tribute to Encik Yusof through the renaming of ISEAS in his honour.
The ISEAS (Amendment) Bill provides for this renaming. It also provides for amendments to update the ISEAS Act.
Let me now highlight the key clauses in this Bill.
Clauses 2 to 5 and clauses 12 to 14 effect the renaming of the Institute as the "ISEAS−Yusof Ishak Institute", by amending the ISEAS Act and other legislation to reflect the new name. These clauses will come into effect on 12 August 2015, the 105th anniversary of Encik Yusof's birth.
Clauses 6 to 11 seek to update the ISEAS Act and will come into effect on 1 November 2015.
Clause 6 streamlines the composition of the ISEAS Board from 22 to 15 members and updates appointment authorities for the Board. Clause 7 accordingly reduces the quorum for the Board to five members, in line with the smaller size of the Board.
Clause 8 removes section 7 relating to the Secretary of the Board, as it is no longer relevant.
Clauses 9 to 11 update financial provisions.
Clause 11 also inserts new sections to protect relevant ISEAS personnel from harassment and personal liability in the performance of their duties.
In closing, I would like to share Encik Yusof's exhortation to a young Singapore during our national celebrations, 50 years ago. Mdm Speaker, in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] "It is our intention to establish a more just and equal society. In it, all loyal citizens regardless of race, culture and religion are assured of a place. With equal opportunities in every sphere of life, they can develop their personalities to the fullest, which also means that they can give their best to society. I am confident that all our citizens from all walks of life will on this day reaffirm and rededicate
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themselves to build a free, strong and united multiracial society."
(In English): Let me share this in English: "It is our intention to establish a more just and equal society. In it, all loyal citizens regardless of race, culture and religion are assured of a place. With equal opportunities in every sphere of life, they can develop their personalities to the fullest, which also means that they can give of their best to society. I am confident that all our citizens from all walks of life will on this day re-affirm and re-dedicate themselves to the building of a free, strong, united and multiracial society." With Encik Yusof's words, Mdm Speaker, I beg to move.
Question proposed.
Mdm Speaker, this Bill is not simply about a change of name in a statutory body called the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS). This is about this Government's efforts to acknowledge and recognise a leader of the Malay community, an outstanding Pioneer Generation member, our first Head of State and the first President of the Republic of Singapore, Encik Yusof Ishak. Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong spoke about this at the 2014 National Day Rally. I support the move to acknowledge and honour our first President.
According to the biography stated on the Istana website, Encik Yusof Ishak was an outstanding sportsman during his school days at Raffles Institution. He played hockey, cricket and many other sports. He served as a prefect and was co-editor of The Rafflesian. He was also the first student to have been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of the Singapore School Cadet Corps. He initially worked for Warta Malaya but because he wanted to have a newspaper that was owned by, run by and dedicated to the Malay community, hence, he founded and became the first Managing Director of Utusan Melayu.
In 1959, when the PAP won the election and formed the Government, they chose Yusof Ishak as the Head of State because he was a man of integrity, dignity, honesty and had high moral principles. On 3 December 1959, he took up the appointment as Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore. On 9 August 1965, when Singapore ceased to be a state in the Federation of Malaysia and became an independent and sovereign state, Encik Yusof became the first President of the Republic of Singapore.
Unfortunately, many Singaporeans do not know much about him other than that he was the first President of Singapore. For myself, my main association with the name of Mr Yusof Ishak was when I studied at the Yusof Ishak House in NUS during my days as an
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undergraduate.
As a nation, we have made much progress since our Independence in 1965. However, as we mature as a society and become a more developed country, it is important for Singaporeans as a people to remember our history and to acknowledge people who had played important roles in the nation's development.
Encik Yusof Ishak is one such person whom we should acknowledge. He was a distinguished Malay and was a champion of racial harmony. After he was appointed, he worked very hard to meet people of different races and helped bring trust and confidence in the new Republic. He led Singapore through its most difficult early years, including the racial riots. According to an article in The Straits Times, when he passed away, "people came out in their thousands" to bid farewell to their President. "For Encik Yusof Bin Ishak had always been a man of the people who throughout his public life and despite long periods of ill health had always put people above self." Thousands of people "stood in homage in neat disciplined lines, often six deep, quiet and solemn faces to pay their respect and watch the funeral procession. They did not move away even when it began to rain mid-way through the 90-minute foot procession." That, Mdm Speaker, is a mark of the people's respect for our first President.
Whenever I speak to members of the Malay community, many of them are extremely proud of the fact that someone from their minority race had served with such distinction in the highest post of the nation, the President of the Republic of Singapore.
Mdm Speaker, in many other countries, important state leaders are honoured in different ways. In the USA, the estate of the first President, George Washington, was converted into a museum in his honour – Mount Vernon. In England, there is the Churchill Centre to look into preserving the historical legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. In France, the Government named the airport after their President Charles de Gaulle and also turned his home into a museum. In China, there is a Deng Xiaoping Memorial Hall named after Deng Xiao Ping. And, in Taiwan, there is the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, named after Chiang Kai Shek.
Turning to the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), it was set up in 1968 with the aim of being a leading research centre and think-tank dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geo-strategic and economic environment. It also aims to stimulate research and debate within scholarly circles, enhance public awareness of the region and facilitate the search for viable solutions to the varied problems confronting the region and also to serve as a centre for international, regional and local scholars and other researchers to do research on the region and to publish and publicise their findings. It is thus an important institute carrying
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out important roles for the country, especially in relation to the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. It is thus befitting the stature of Mr Yusof Ishak that such an important organisation is named after him.
Mdm Speaker, our Government must continue to find appropriate ways to honour leaders of the country who had made Singapore what it is today. Hopefully, this will allow Singaporeans to remember their roots and struggles which our forefathers had to overcome in our journey to become the Singapore that we see today. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill.
Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on this Bill which serves to honour one of Singapore's Pioneer leaders.
It is heart-warming that the Government has sought to rename the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) to the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute as it honours Singapore's first President, Encik Yusof Ishak. This was announced by the Prime Minister at the 2014 National Day Rally.
The renaming will take effect on 12 August 2015, the 105th anniversary of Encik Yusof Ishak's birth. This is timely for more reasons, as it is also our 50th year of Independence. So, we should do our best to honour our Pioneer leaders – the very leaders who laid the foundations for Singapore to grow and come this far. Encik Yusof's role in nation-building reflects the values of respecting elders that are embedded in our society and the Government's efforts to recognise our Pioneer Generation. It is a gesture that Singaporeans can be proud of, to honour Singaporeans who have been instrumental in our progress and development over the last 50 years − a reminder for generations of how we came to be this bright red dot on the world map.
Encik Yusof is a role model for younger Singaporeans as his exemplary life continues to be relevant even today. As our society continues to develop, race and religion are potential pressure points, as they have always been in our history. Encik Yusof showed, through his life, that, as a Singaporean, he rose above sectarian interests and looked towards larger national interests. It is an important lesson for generations of Singaporeans to take note of and emulate him.
Encik Yusof stood for meritocracy, multiculturalism and modernisation, enduring values that are essential for Singapore's success. His many other values and attributes also mirror the very qualities that ISEAS has come to be known for, making it a perfect institution to
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reflect his values.
Encik Yusof excelled in many things he did, even before he came into public service. As Member Lim Biow Chuan mentioned, in school, he participated in all forms of sports. At Raffles Institution, he played hockey and cricket and took part in swimming, weight lifting, water-polo and boxing. In 1933, he became Singapore's lightweight champion in boxing. I never knew that! As the most outstanding cadet of the School Cadet Corps, he became the first student ever in Singapore to have been commissioned by the then Governor as a Second Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps. He was a school prefect and was co-editor of The Rafflesian. As a leading research centre and think-tank, ISEAS is at the forefront of research in the region, excelling on many fronts and in diverse fields – just like multitalented Encik Yusof
Encik Yusof was also a leading public intellectual during Singapore's pre-Independence and early Independence history. In 1932, he joined the staff Warta Malaya, the leading Malay newspaper of that time. His journalistic ability took him rapidly from the ranks to the top posts of Assistant Manager and Acting Editor within a short time. In 1938, he resigned from Warta Malaya and, with a few close friends, established the Utusan Melayu Press Ltd. In May 1939, the well-known Utusan Melayu came into being with Encik Yusof at the helm as its first Managing Director. He was subsequently elected President of the Press Club of Malaya. Encik Yusof was also appointed Chairman of the Public Service Commission in Singapore in 1959 and, in 1965, he became the Chancellor of the University of Singapore. The renaming of ISEAS is thus a fitting tribute to his contributions to advance the public intellect in Singapore and Malaysia.
It was not just in Singapore and Malaya that Encik Yusof was recognised. He was one of the first "sons" of Singapore who received accolades and recognition within Southeast Asia. Encik Yusof took up appointment as Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore on 3 December 1959. He was conferred the First Class Order of the Darjah Kerabat (The Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Brunei) by the Sultan of Brunei in 1960 and the Darjah Kebesaran Sri Maharajah Mangku Negara (SMN) by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia in 1963. As one of the early Singaporean leaders to receive widespread recognition and honour in the region, it is fitting that one of Southeast Asia's premier think-tanks be named after him.
As a member of the Malay community here in Singapore, this is also a proud moment to reflect on the achievements of one of our pioneers, a leader who excelled on all fronts and who furthered the cause of the community through his work with Utusan Melayu and, subsequently, President of Singapore and in being one of our early pioneers to lead post-Independence Singapore facing an uncertain future then.
In this respect, I would like to propose to the Ministry that ISEAS consider reciprocating this honour by leading a research project on Encik Yusof and highlighting his achievements
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and contributions to our young nation as well as the community at large. That would be a fitting honour for Encik Yusof and ISEAS. Mdm Speaker, can I continue in Malay, please.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) is an eminent research centre and think-tank in this region, playing an important role that includes researching several important trends within this region. Since its establishment as a statutory body in 1968, ISEAS has emerged as an impressive centre within this region and has cultivated a community of scholars who care deeply about the situation in this region.
Encik Yusof Ishak's name is forever remembered fondly by all Singaporeans as a respected leader and as our first President. He is an exceptional Pioneer leader and his contributions are greatly significant not only to the Malay community, but at the national level as well. He is a great icon and exemplary Malay who was able to stand tall with the other races and, in fact, achieved much more by making a major contribution to the country. He embodied the Singaporean Muslim identity − someone who was pious but also close to and warm towards the non-Muslim communities.
He is an inspiration and a role model for our younger generation. He showed how we can step out from the cocoon of self-interest and the interest of our own communities, to fight for and contribute towards the nation's interests and progress. The values that he held dear are something that is treasured and had helped to further strengthen the prosperity, well-being and harmony of the community and the nation. He strongly supported the policies of a multiracial Singapore and meritocracy.
His heart was with the Malay community at all times and he wanted them to progress together with the other races, based on those principles.
Fifty years have passed since Singapore's Independence and we are now witnessing the outcome for ourselves – that the Malay community has attained many achievements that we can be proud of, based on the principles and values advocated by Encik Yusof Ishak and other Pioneer leaders.
In this special year, as our people celebrate SG50, it will be very symbolic and fitting for us to pay tribute to and honour the huge contributions of our statesman, Encik Yusof Ishak, towards nation-building.
The re-naming of the eminent institution ISEAS into the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, is one of several meaningful ways for the next generations to continue to remember his contributions and the values that he held dear.
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To be sure, everything that he fought for was not meant to achieve fame and he also definitely had never asked for such a thing. Nonetheless, this effort of ours is a simple gesture of appreciation towards a significant contribution and effort and is consistent with our values of showing respect to our elders and our past leaders.
As a way to honour the services and contributions of Encik Yusof Ishak, I would like to suggest that ISEAS can also consider the possibility of spearheading a research project on this Pioneer leader of ours, with the aim of highlighting his achievements and contributions to our young nation. This is a suitable and appropriate tribute to him and also to ISEAS. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the amendment to the ISEAS Bill.
Mdm Speaker, I support the renaming of ISEAS as the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute to honour our first Head of State. It is most appropriate to name a leading research centre and think-tank dedicated to the study of Southeast Asian societies in honour of an illustrious President. As the Minister mentioned in his Second Reading speech, President Yusof Ishak guided us through turbulent times and into Independence. It is, indeed, fitting to honour him in this year of our golden jubilee.
However, this Bill brings more than just a name change for ISEAS. It also seeks to change the structure of its Board of Trustees in a very fundamental way. Instead of the current structure that provides for the President and various organisations to nominate representatives to the Board, clause 6 of the Bill proposes that the Minister be the sole person to nominate all the Board members. the Minister said that clause 6 was just "an update", but is that all that it is? On the face of it, the amendment will change the character of ISEAS – it appears to be a regression from its original statutory structure that guarantees representation of a diversity of interests, to one whose direction will be set by a Board consisting solely of a Cabinet Minister's appointees.
The current Board consists of a Chairman and Deputy Chairman to be appointed by the President and 19 other members who are appointed by various bodies to reflect the diverse stakeholders in the work done by ISEAS. The President appoints seven of the 19 members, three of whom are from professional bodies and organisations. The four chambers of commerce each appoint a member to reflect the international and multi-ethnic business ties Singapore has with the region. The Lee Foundation and Shaw Foundation each appoints a member, reflecting charitable organisations. The National University of Singapore appoints six members from academia.
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The amendment Bill removes or reduces this diversity in the composition of the Board by cutting down the Board from 21 members to 14 members and giving the Minister sole power to appoint the entire Board. I find it very ironic that this Bill will rename ISEAS to honour the first President, but will remove the office of President, henceforth, from its historical association with ISEAS altogether.
It is useful to turn to the original purpose for which ISEAS was set up. During the parliamentary debate in 1968 when the ISEAS Bill came up for Second Reading, then-Minister for Education Mr Ong Pang Boon told the House that it was intended that the research activities of ISEAS would increase Singapore's understanding of its neighbours and help us to play a more effective role in the region. He further emphasised that the Board was to represent a wide spectrum of interests – academic, professional, commercial, charitable and governmental. There thus appeared to be a conscious decision that ISEAS should not be seen by our neighbours as an arm of Government but as a research institute where the Government was but one of many stakeholders.
One critical point to note is that under the Act, the Board of ISEAS is vested with the power to approve its budget and research programme. The composition of the Board will thus send a signal to the world about the direction of ISEAS.
Even if the Minister were to say that he would appoint persons from a wide spectrum of interests, the fundamental question remains: why not continue to let the organisations under section 4 of the Act continue to make their own nominations? Why must the Board members now be Government-approved? Were there major problems arising from the way the Board of Trustees was diversely appointed? If the method has worked to produce excellent outcomes, why is the Government changing the method of composing the Board now?
The diversity of the Board and the autonomy of ISEAS are two sides of the same coin. The diverse way of composing the Board has allowed ISEAS to function as an autonomous think-tank. The diverse way of composing the Board balances three ways in which the Minister for Education already has influence on the running of the Institute, as the authoriser of payment of grants and aid to the Institute, as Appointer of three members to the 10-member Executive Committee and as Possessor of powers to make rules for ISEAS, including the powers and functions of the Board.
Can ISEAS maintain its autonomy and independence with all the powers concentrated in the Minister with this amendment Bill? More worryingly, is the concentration of powers to appoint the Board in the Minister a sign of things to come? Are there plans to turn ISEAS
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into a body that simply churns out knowledge for the Government bureaucracy?
Mdm Speaker, the Workers' Party is supportive of renaming ISEAS as "ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute". However, we are of the view that failure to preserve the diversity and autonomy of the Board will undermine ISEAS' reputation as an independent research centre and think-tank. Further, removing the office of President, our Head of State, from his role in ISEAS and replacing him with a Minister will adversely affect ISEAS' prestige and standing in the region and, indeed, beyond. Therefore, the Workers' Party objects to clause 6 of the Bill to make the Minister the sole appointer of all the Board members, replacing the President and other organisations.
Madam, in the spirit of supporting the renaming of ISEAS as "ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute", I urge the Government to rethink the amendment Bill, to preserve the diversity, autonomy and presidential association of ISEAS. If the Government fails to do so, we will have to vote against the Bill to register our objection to clause 6.
Mdm Speaker, I would like to declare that I am a member of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies' Board of Trustees.
The late Encik Yusof Bin Ishak was Singapore's first President. Most Singaporeans know this, but not many would remember that he was both a scholar and an accomplished sportsman. He was in the Queen's Scholarship class at Raffles Institution and was, as we just found out, Singapore's lightweight boxing champion in 1933.
In 1959, when Singapore gained self-government, Encik Yusof Ishak was appointed Chairman of the Public Service Commission. Later that year, on 3 December, he was appointed Head of State, Yang di-Pertuan Negara. And when we gained Independence on 9 August, Encik Yusof Ishak became the first President of the Republic of Singapore. At that point, he embodied our sovereignty and became the symbol of all the hopes, dreams and ambition of a young nation.
As President of a newly and suddenly-independent Singapore, he toured the island to reassure citizens, many of whom were deeply troubled by separation from Malaysia and the uncertainties that lay ahead for Singapore.
At that moment of vulnerability, Encik Yusof's fierce loyalty to Singapore gave Singaporeans heart, courage and hope. His ardent belief in and support for a modern nation to be built on multiculturalism, reflecting the sentiments of many Singaporeans at the time,
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helped Singapore grow into a unique, multiracial and multireligious society that we see today.
ISEAS was born just three years after Singapore itself. It is a research institute dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider environment.
Planned before the founding of ASEAN and founded a year after ASEAN came into being, ISEAS has, over the last 47 years, contributed in important ways – though not always obvious to the general public – to the development of Southeast Asian Studies as a discipline of academic study and, more profoundly, to the ontology of this region we today recognise and take for granted as "Southeast Asia".
Today, the Institute houses several study centres, a well-appointed library and a publishing unit. Its multidisciplinary research in the three core areas of economic studies, social and cultural studies and strategic and political studies is a boon for Singapore and the region. Its field research complements the theoretical work undertaken in Universities and ISEAS employs a multidisciplinary approach embracing social, cultural and anthropological studies, to explain changes in Southeast Asian countries and societies.
ISEAS' most apparent contribution over the years is, of course, the more than 2,500 academic books that it has published so far. The Institute has become a highly reputable publisher of research findings on Southeast Asia today.
ISEAS is also the home of three worthy academic journals, each produced by its different programmes: "Contemporary Southeast Asia", dealing with political and strategic matters; "Sojourn", dealing with social, cultural issues in the region; and the "Journal of Southeast Asian Economies", dealing with economic issues.
The ISEAS Library is considered among the best Southeast Asian libraries in the world. Over the last 10 years, its collection of private papers has increased impressively and now includes collections on prominent leaders from Singapore and Malaysia, including S Rajaratnam, Tan Cheng Lock, Lim Kim San, David Marshall and Tun Dr Ismail, among others.
ISEAS' greatest comparative advantage lies in the fact that it is located in Southeast Asia and that most of its researchers are from the region itself. ISEAS has, for almost five decades, been acting as the point of contact for researchers from all over the world wishing to meet up with their peers in the region. It has now a veritable network of Southeast Asian scholars who are based at various locations throughout the world. Cornell University in the United States, for example, is directly involved in the editorial work of its journal, "Sojourn". Chulalongkorn University works with the Institute to conduct surveys on Thailand. ISEAS has
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also recently facilitated meetings of Myanmar economists on the economic development of the country.
The Institute has remained independent where its research interests are concerned. In balancing academic interests with policy-making, ISEAS has facilitated the use of social sciences with practical outcomes. It is a major contributor to the regionalisation of Southeast Asian research: the study of the region, by the region and for the region.
As a historian, I am interested not just in things past, but why people value this. There is, of course, the pragmatic utilitarian view. But then there is a view that the past is valuable in itself, that it is an essential part of Singapore's identity. Without a rich sense of history, we have a shallower sense of self.
At 50, the Singaporean identity, more than ever, demands a knowledge, appreciation and valuing of its past. And our past is rooted in the region. It was an early desire to understand the region in which we are rooted that ISEAS was first conceived. The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Bill was first tabled in May 1968 by then-Minister for Education Mr Ong Pang Boon. He was responding to Member of Parliament Mr S Rajoo's call for the Government to consider setting up a "South East Asian Study and Research Centre".
Dr Goh Keng Swee, a prime mover behind the establishment of the Institute, had explained why he thought it was necessary and what he envisioned for ISEAS. He wrote: "It is necessary to say why we need such an Institute. In a sense, it may be said that the need is obvious, for our ignorance of Indonesia and her people is at once vast, comprehensive and frightening. We know more about Melbourne than Medan, more about the English Channel than the Sunda Straits. We know that General Nasution and Adam Malik are Bataks but we do not know what a Batak is, how many there are of them, where they live and how is it that they produce two of the top leaders in Indonesia… the list of questions is interminable."
Dr Goh thought we needed to understand Indonesia and the region of Southeast Asia better. As a small nation, Singapore needed to have some foresight of world and regional events so as to be able to deal with difficulties or gain advantage. ISEAS was to help us do this.
Today, the list of questions remains interminable. Indeed, even more so, as the world is seeing an unprecedented level of globalisation and flux. The region remains as puzzling – I suspect, even to ISEAS, even after nearly 50 years of study.
In 2014, Prime Minister Lee announced the plans to rename ISEAS as the Yusof Ishak Institute, as one of the three ways to pay tribute to Encik Yusof Ishak, the other two being
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the naming of a new mosque in Woodlands and a Yusof Ishak Professorship in Social Sciences at NUS.
The renaming of the Institute recognises his contributions to Singapore as its first President. It also brings to the fore Singapore's deep roots in the region, in Southeast Asia. There is no question that Singapore's identity and heritage are rooted in the Southeast Asian archipelago, in the world known as "Nusantara". Because of these connections, a large part of our Singapore identity has to be connected to the region's indigenous traditions. It is, therefore, fitting that ISEAS be named after Encik Yusof Ishak.
Encik Yusof was born the oldest of nine children of a civil servant, Ishak Ahmad and descendant of the prominent Sumatran Malay Datuk Jannatun, who migrated to Penang in 1759. He received his Primary education at Victoria Bridge School and, later, at Raffles Institution, where he was one of 13 students in the Queen's Scholarship class.
Soon after he left school, he joined the leading Malay newspaper of the time, Warta Malaya, and, within a few years, had risen to become its acting editor.
Encik Yusof had wanted a truly Malay newspaper that was by the Malays and for the Malays. In early 1938, together with some Malay leaders in Singapore, Encik Yusof established the Utusan Melayu Press Ltd, a newspaper dedicated to Malay issues, advocating for the community to modernise and focus on education. In 1957, Encik Yusof moved from Singapore to live in Kuala Lumpur and resigned from the newspaper in 1959. He moved back to Singapore the same year.
He became Singapore's President not long after. However, in 1968, Encik Yusof's health started to deteriorate and he was hospitalised for heart problems and other illnesses. While still in office, he died of heart failure on 23 November 1970 and was buried at the Kranji State Cemetery.
President Yusof Ishak was truly an outstanding man. It is not only his contributions as Singapore's first President that deserve respect; his dreams and vision for the Malay community and for Singapore society at large, his own work as one of Singapore's best and brightest sons, is deserving of our respect and appreciation. Madam, I support the Bill.
Thank you, Mdm Speaker, for this opportunity to speak on the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Amendment) Bill. I wholeheartedly welcome this amendment to rename the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies as the "ISEAS-
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Yusof Ishak Institute". This change will bring the ISEAS Act into closer alignment with the legislation for other Statutory Boards under the purview of MOE.
In our golden jubilee year, it is apt and timely to give this recognition to our first President, the late Encik Yusof Ishak.
The late President Yusof Ishak was an exemplary leader. Although he was a stout champion of Malay issues and interests, he was equally a strong advocate of multiracialism and racial harmony. In his 1968 New Year message to Singaporeans, he said:
"No man need feel that to belong to a particular religion puts him at a disadvantage or gives him an advantage.This is how things are in Singapore and this is how things must always be in our country. Only in this way can a multiracial society like Singapore live in peace and prosperity."
Right after the 1964 racial riots, he went to great lengths to interact with people of all races to help restore trust and confidence among the different ethnic communities.
The late Encik Yusof Ishak's commitment to multiracialism and racial harmony reminds us Singaporeans that while we are encouraged to further the progress of our own ethnic communities, we must rise above sectarian thinking, stand united as one people and look to further our broader national interests together.
At this juncture, Mdm Speaker, please allow me to continue in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The late President Yusof Ishak is a great role model for our youths. As an athlete in school and then a journalist and, subsequently, as the Head of State, he consistently showed the highest level of discipline and an unparalled dedication towards self-improvement.
Regardless of age or period of time, he had always given his best when performing his obligations – whether in education, career or family.
His eldest son, Dr Imran Yusof, previously shared that Encik Yusof Ishak gave his full focus and energy towards fulfilling his duties and obligations as the Head of State, yet, at the same time, he never neglected his responsibilities towards his family.
His identity – as a defender of the community and also as a champion of a strong multiracial society – is something that we should emulate. Just like him, as we continue to
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build and develop the Malay community, we should also champion the development and cohesiveness of a plural society in Singapore.
I hope that with the renaming of the Institute as the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, we can continue his legacy – which is our commitment to achieve excellence for self and community, racial harmony and cohesion and also the development of the nation.
As the saying goes: a tiger dies and leaves behind its skin, a man departs and leaves behind his reputation. And may the name Yusof Ishak continue to inspire us, especially our youths.
For me, the move to change the name of this regional educational institute to the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute bears an implicit reminder that we should not ignore. This move reminds us to never forget the struggles, deeds and contributions of the Pioneer Generation and those who are older and more experienced than us, in building this society and nation.
Although everything comes and goes, let us not forget the values and identity of those who gave us a society and a nation that is strong and one that we can be proud of.
We have inherited something really special, that is, this country that we love. Let us continue this effort and carry out our responsibility to build and develop this nation, with an indomitable spirit that can never be extinguished. As the saying goes – we must always uphold the traditions in the place where we live. I support the Bill.
Thank you, Mdm Speaker, I rise to support the Bill.
The Bill primarily seeks to honour our late President, Encik Yusof bin Ishak, by effecting the renaming of ISEAS as the "ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute". Both ISEAS and Encik Yusof have played important roles in our development as a nation.
ISEAS was established as an autonomous research institute in 1968 – one of the first of its kind in the region. It aimed to contribute to a growing body of knowledge on issues related to Southeast Asia. Since then, with the many economic and political changes in the region, ISEAS has steadily extended its scope of study and grown in repute.
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Its research activities are wide-ranging. ISEAS publishes numerous reputable journals which are well-recognised in the international academic community and is also known for its in-depth analysis of issues through the books that it regularly publishes. With a wide collection of books and publications on Southeast Asia, its library serves as a valuable resource centre for scholars.
ISEAS also contributes to the promotion of Southeast Asian scholarship by promoting and hosting various fellowships and programmes that bring together both experienced, eminent researchers, as well as young scholars, to contribute to the body of research on the region.
Its outreach is not confined only to the scholarly community in the region, but also to the layman. ISEAS facilitates analysis and debate on key regional issues with those from the public and private sectors to explore possible solutions for these issues and inform policy-making. It also reaches out to the public through public lectures and forums.
In the 1968 parliamentary debate on ISEAS' establishment, Members of Parliament had agreed on the importance of a higher level of understanding and cooperation between Southeast Asian countries, given that Singapore's survival would be closely linked to the state of affairs in the region. It was envisioned that ISEAS could be a centre for knowledge generation, building a community that would come together to cast light on issues in the region and thus move towards finding solutions for these.
In an increasingly complex global environment, ISEAS' role continues to be important. Its efforts thus far have helped to establish a strong regional understanding; a foundation we can build on, as we continue to work to anticipate and preempt the issues facing our nation. ISEAS has made no small contribution to Singapore and we are proud for it to bear Encik Yusof Ishak's name.
Mdm Speaker, allow me now to continue my speech in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In a speech delivered in Parliament in 1965, Encik Yusof shared his confidence in Singapore's potential. He said, "What we lack in land size and population, we more than make up for it through our strategic location and the quality of our people. With our dedication and determination, there is little to stop us from setting the pace of social transformation and economic development in the region."
Encik Yusof also believed in Singapore as a multiracial and multi-religious society. His belief, however, was not limited to Singapore solely. During our National Day celebrations over 50 years ago, he shared the nation's hope that: "We in Singapore can make a
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contribution to political civilisation by proving that a multiracial society can work. We can show, through our actions, how people of different races, languages and religions can work together to defeat the real enemies of the people – that is, poverty, ignorance, disease and the degradation of man by man. We can show how a rich variety of cultures, languages and religions can, in fact, enrich the life of a nation and yet unite the people… Singapore can be a role model and a source of inspiration to countries caught in the quagmire of racial intolerance and religious bigotry."
This is a Malay pantun or short poem that reflects his spirit. The pantun states that "one must go through difficulties and hardship in order to have a country that is visionary".
Encik Yusof envisioned that, in our struggle to find stability in diversity, Singapore could one day be a beacon to other nations. Encik Yusof did not just have intellectual wisdom, but was also well-attuned to the needs of the people of Singapore.
When he was selected to be the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, then-Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew said that Encik Yusof Ishak was "one amongst us whose deep understanding of the hopes and fears of our people and whose natural dignity ensure that the duties of his high office will be discharged honourably and well".
Some eight years later, after Encik Yusof Ishak became President, many placed their confidence in his capacity to continue to represent Singapore as the Head of State. Members of Parliament spoke of the way in which he embodied the Singaporean spirit and character, the devotion and dignity in which he discharged his duties and his ability to win the respect and confidence of the people.
This is another Malay pantun that shows Singaporeans acknowledging his contributions. It states that "it is written in history; about a pre-eminent leader who was held in high regard by everyone."
In short, throughout his time as the Head of State, Encik Yusof Ishak truly became the Head of the nation as a whole, not just in terms of the job title, but also by embodying the spirit of the job.
I sum up the tribute to him in this pantun. It states that "Yusof Ishak is an illustrious man. His deeds are never forgotten, his name will never fade away."
Looking at his contributions to our nation and his confidence about Singapore's future, and how we can preserve his services and contributions through the renaming of ISEAS, I
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feel that I should comment on what was said by Ms Sylvia Lim.
I think that it is not the right time, while we are giving the highest honour to a pre-eminent Singaporean − based on his contributions in the past − that we politicise this issue by questioning whether ISEAS will become a body that obeys the directions of the Government.
What the Government has done – by contributing and giving support to ISEAS – has created outcomes that are acknowledged internationally and this will remain so even if the number of ISEAS members will be reduced, even if the organisations represented in ISEAS will no longer be represented by the same number of people as in the past.
I do not see this as the Government interfering in ISEAS' role as an eminent body that studies the issues and developments in Southeast Asia to understand this region as best as possible, so that we can formulate policies that are strong and good as a nation and as a member of the ASEAN community.
Hence, I feel quite hurt to hear Ms Sylvia Lim's comments which, in my view, politicises a Motion to put on record the name of our pre-eminent Singaporean when we rename ISEAS.
Mdm Speaker, allow me to conclude now in English.
(In English): Mdm Speaker, allow me now to conclude in English. Indeed, Encik Yusof was a pre-eminent leader who played a crucial role in Singapore's difficult early years. He was a man with great foresight. When Encik Yusof first took on the role of Yang di-Pertuan Negara, the position carried with it little ready-made standing. As the Head of State of a young Singapore with little resources at its disposal and still uncertain of its place in the region, Encik Yusof had to imbue in the position the dignity and honour he believed was due to Singapore.
This could not have been done by someone who did not firmly believe in Singapore and all that she could be. But Encik Yusof was someone with a vision to look beyond Singapore in her then prevailing state and be certain of what she could achieve, despite the limitations. He believed that there was little to stop Singapore from setting the pace of social change and economic development in the region. He envisioned that Singapore's struggle to find stability in diversity could one day be a beacon to other nations – evidence that a multi-racial society works and a source of inspiration to countries fighting against racial intolerance and religious bigotry.
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We are proud of our early forefathers for their belief in Singapore – their belief that if we band together, if we learn together and strive forward together, we will succeed despite the odds. And we did, thanks to them.
Men, such as Encik Yusof Ishak, and institutions, such as ISEAS, have given Singapore the critical capital needed to succeed. We are proud to honour both today in having ISEAS bear Encik Yusof Ishak's name.
Ms Sylvia Lim.
Thank you, Madam. I would like to make a clarification. I am not sure why Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi is hurt. If he has listened to what I have said, I said that we fully support the renaming of ISEAS as the "ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute". We have no issue with that at all. Our only issue is with clause 6 that changes the structure of the Board of Trustees.
Mdm Speaker, I did not dispute her support to this Bill. But I disputed her intent in politicising this matter.
Minister Heng Swee Keat.
Mdm Speaker, I thank Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Prof Tan Tai Yong, Dr Intan Mokhtar and Mr Hawazi Daipi for their very sincere and full-hearted support of the Bill. Their support stands testament to the significance of Encik Yusof's role in Singapore's success story.
Let me address the issues raised by Ms Sylvia Lim. Ms Lim was concerned about one clause about the appointment of the Board. Now, let me take you back in history. ISEAS, as the first research institute of its kind established in Singapore back in 1968, had various appointment authorities so that there was adequate representation from a range of interest groups and a range of people who could contribute.
Almost 50 years have passed, Ms Lim, and much has changed in those 50 years. For one, ISEAS, as I have said in my speech, established its network of relationships, established its scholarship and has a very wide network of people, experts, professionals, policymakers, of key decision-makers, both in Singapore and the region. So, ISEAS is now in a very different position than when it was first set up way back in 1968. And this was not by chance. This was by very conscious effort and hard work over these many years. And I hope that Ms Lim gives
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recognition to the effort that generations of researchers in ISEAS have given.
Second, Board size matters. Too big a Board does not function effectively. In fact, perhaps, I should indicate that when I was in MOE, as well as MTI and in MAS, I had, on various occasions, served on the Board of ISEAS, the East Asian Institute and the Institute of South Asian Studies. At the MAS, I was overseeing a major piece of work on the review of corporate governance of our companies and banks. I can assure you that if you are diligent in looking at how corporate governance works, there is almost a global consensus that Boards that are too big do not function effectively because the responsibilities get diluted and you may not necessarily get the right decision-makers.
So, I find it curious that Ms Lim would focus on this particular clause when there are also some other important clauses. Clauses 9 to 11 put in financial provisions on ISEAS. The financial provisions relate to the appointment of auditors and to the submission of financial statements. I hope that Ms Lim would agree with me that the proper audit of accounts and the timely submission of audited information are important. They are important aspects of accountability.
In fact, ISEAS has been very diligent over the years, that despite the fact that these provisions were not there, they had been very diligent in observing these practices. I think it is a good thing for us to institute them into the Act.
Let me also inform Ms Lim that in our Statutory Boards – in fact, in most of our Statutory Boards in general – Members of the Boards are appointed by the Minister, partly for this very important reason that Statutory Boards draw resources from the Government and it is important that there be proper accountability. I do not think that Ms Lim will disagree with me on that accountability, I hope.
In MOE, in fact, members of the Boards of our Statutory Boards, including our Polytechnics, ITE and so on, are appointed by the Minister. Has this in any way detracted from their ability to do good work? Not at all. On the contrary, we take great care – we take great care – in selecting the right people for the Board. We take corporate governance seriously, Ms Lim.
If you look at it in totality, this is a very important provision to improve corporate governance and to update the changes that have taken place over the years. And it is to take us forward, it is to make sure that ISEAS can take the next leap forward as we associate Encik Yusof's name with this important institute. I hope that Ms Lim does not see shadows when there are none.
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And I hope that Ms Lim is not throwing out a red herring. It would not be very sincere to, on the one hand, say the Workers' Party supports this Bill but also that the Workers' Party will vote against it if you have this clause. I fully understand Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi's feeling that this is not the time for politicking. This is a very important piece of change to honour President Encik Yusof. So, let me continue.
Mdm Speaker, as we celebrate SG50 and remember Singapore's achievements and progress over the past 50 years, we commemorate those who have led the way. We must honour our early Pioneers, their spirit, ruggedness and unwavering commitment to forging a future for Singapore. More importantly, we must endeavour to stay on the good path that they have set as we journey forward together.
Unfortunate episodes of strife and unrest are rife around the world – it is all the more important for Singapore to navigate our way forward with care. We need to hold on to the spirit of togetherness forged by our forefathers and the conviction that each of us plays a part in nation-building.
Let us continue to build bridges with our neighbours, at the personal and national levels. In Encik Yusof's words: "We in Singapore should not fall into the tragic error of viewing the variety of language, religion, culture and race as a stumbling block to progress and prosperity. On the contrary, if we approach these differences with goodwill, tolerance and healthy curiosity, this rich variety will ultimately turn out to be our salvation. It is this tolerance for variety, among other things, which today makes Singapore the dynamic and progressive city it is."
Naming a highly-regarded institution like ISEAS after Encik Yusof Ishak, is our way of thanking and honouring Encik Yusof for his service to Singapore, of committing ourselves anew to the principles of harmony and unity that he held dear and of presenting to the world that we are proud of the legacy he had left us. To have had Encik Yusof as our Yang di-Pertuan Negara and the first President of Singapore is a cause of gratitude, pride and inspiration. We hope that Singapore and ISEAS will continue to take Encik Yusof's convictions forward. May his name continue to call to remembrance his life's work and his vision for Singapore.
It is my honour to bring this Bill before the House. I invite all Members not only to support this Bill, but to support it sincerely and to commit to living up to the principles and values of Encik Yusof Ishak.
Ms Sylvia Lim.
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Thank you, Madam. Madam, I have five clarifications for the Minister. First clarification is, does the Minister not agree that clause 6 is not just an update but it is actually a change, fundamental change, in the way members are nominated to the Board? That is the first clarification.
The second clarification is that earlier, Prof Tan Tai Yong, as a member of the Board of ISEAS, mentioned how well things are going in ISEAS. So, does the Minister disagree? Does he think that there is something wrong with the way ISEAS is currently being run?
Third, the Minister mentioned about Board size. Quite apart from Board size, is there a need for the clause to make the Minister the sole appointer of the entire Board? I think those are two different issues really.
The fourth clarification is, does the Minister not agree that ISEAS is not just any Statutory Board? Looking at the origin of ISEAS as a multi-stakeholder institution, is he saying that that has changed?
And last of all, Mdm Speaker, just to clarify, if the Government removes clause 6, we will support the Bill.
Mdm Speaker, let me take each of these questions in turn. First, as an update. As I have said earlier on, I hope Ms Lim has heard me carefully. I said that much has changed in the last 50 years. And I think in whatever we do, we need to update provisions in the law to keep up with the changes. I explained at length how, over the years, ISEAS had built up a very wide and deep network of relationships. What was done in the past where we needed various segments to support ISEAS' work, we now have many, many institutions and many, many groups who are in support of ISEAS' work.
Second, she mentioned that Prof Tan Tai Yong had mentioned how well ISEAS has been doing. And, indeed, I fully agree with Prof Tan Tai Yong that ISEAS has been doing well. But I hope that Ms Lim believes in this principle that having done something well, we can always do it better. We can always do it better. And what we are trying to do is to streamline the Board so that the Board can be more effective in discharging its duty. Does Ms Lim not agree that we should always look for improvements in everything we do, whether we are running Town Councils or whether we are running the Government?
Third, in terms of the sole appointment authority, she asked about why it then becomes a sole appointer. In fact, as I have said, MOE takes appointments of our Statutory Boards' Board members seriously. If not for that, we would not have so many people serving on our Board and contributing in so many different ways. And not just in MOE. In many of our
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Statutory Boards, as I have said, the Minister appoints the members of the Boards to the Statutory Boards. And great care is exercised in appointing members to the Board so that we have broad and appropriate representation.
Ms Lim says that ISEAS is not just any Statutory Board, it is a multi-stakeholder institute. I think, perhaps, Ms Lim underestimates the amount of work that many Statutory Boards undertake to engage their stakeholders. Every Ministry, every Statutory Board, has multiple stakeholders. Every institute in our Universities, every Polytechnic, ITE and so on, also has multiple stakeholders. Therefore, in that regard, ISEAS is no different from all the other Statutory Boards. Does the Institute of South Asian Studies not have multiple stakeholders? Does the East Asian Institute not have multiple stakeholders? Does the Institute of Strategic Studies not have multiple stakeholders? They all do. So, I hope that Ms Lim would not throw up a red herring.
And, finally, Ms Lim mentioned that if clause 6 is removed, she will support it. I really, really hope that she supports the renaming sincerely, wholeheartedly, like all the other Members who have spoken, that she does not throw up a red herring as a way of not supporting the Bill. It is Ms Lim's decision. It is the decision of her party, but please do not throw up a red herring. Be sincere, be wholehearted in honouring Encik Yusof Ishak. That is all I ask of Ms Lim.
Mr Low Thia Khiang.
Madam, clarification. We were wondering whether the Government is sincere in honouring Encik Yusof Ishak. Is it in disguise in honouring Encik Yusof Ishak by changing the name for controlling ISEAS by changing the appointment power of the Board? Because this makes me think of how eventually the Nanyang University was closed. The Board subsequently changed and closed.
Mr Low, I am so surprised and disappointed with what you have just said, given your many years in politics. I spent so much time in my speech talking about why ISEAS has been an important institute in Singapore over the years, why it will continue to play a major role in the years forward, that our understanding within Singapore as well as with our partners in the region is critical to our success in the future. Do we want ISEAS to succeed? Absolutely! So, why would I, as a Minister, make an amendment to the change in order to make ISEAS less effective? I hope that Mr Low does not start imagining things when there is none and that is not good for governance.
Mr Faisal Manap.
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Thank you, Madam, in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, I would like to say again that the Workers' Party supports and fully agrees to the renaming of ISEAS to ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute because it is a noble effort to accord the highest honour to the spirit of Encik Yusof Ishak, that is very much treasured. But, Madam, I would like to get a clarification from the Minister. I would like to ask the Minister, as a matter of principle, is it not a contradiction when the effort to rename it to Encik Yusof Ishak Institute – even though this is a good effort to honour a President – but at the same time, an effort is also made to change the powers of appointment from the President to the Minister?
I hope, again, that Mr Muhamad Faisal Manap has listened carefully to what I have said for the last hour or so. I tried to explain as carefully as I can why these changes are important. In fact, I started by saying that the primary aim of this amendment is to rename the Institute in honour of Encik Yusof Ishak. At the same time, we really need to also update provisions. Updating of provisions in legislation is an ongoing effort and I believe that every Member of this House will recognise that we always have to keep up with changes and to make sure that even when things are running well, we continue to improve and do better. Would the Member not agree that we should continue to do better?
I have also explained that I have gone through the Boards. I have served on the Boards of these various institutes. One personal experience I can tell you is what constitutes a good Board. Perhaps, Members of the Workers' Party would like to share their experience on some of these Boards and if they can convince me that a big Board works effectively. Our experience has been that it needs a certain optimal size. Given the nature of the operations of ISEAS, we need an optimal Board size and we need to recognise that ISEAS has, over the many years, built up its relationship with many think-tanks, research centres, stakeholders in Singapore and so on and so forth. So, do not throw a red herring and then talk about this. What we are trying to do is also to improve governance so that we can take ISEAS even further.
Mr Low.
Madam, I would like to seek the Minister's clarification. Would he agree we relook at clause 7? I think it is a question of not so much of whether the Board is big or small, but a question of why you need the Minister to be the sole appointer. Can the Minister assure us that it is going to be as diversified as what it used to be? And why is there
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a need to have a sole appointer? I think it fundamentally changes the character and the appointment of the Board. So, would he agree? If he agrees to relook at the provision, the Workers' Party will support that.
Mr Low, I hope that in this House we conduct our debates frankly, openly and honourably, that if the Workers' Party is sincere about supporting this Bill, then support it. Please do not throw a red herring. I have explained at great length why all the other Statutory Boards − in fact, most of the other Statutory Boards − have Board members who are appointed by the Minister. I have explained that all the Statutory Boards under MOE, the members are appointed by the Minister. Has it detracted them from their performance? Has it changed their character? Not at all. In fact, it has made them effective.
Would Mr Low say that our institutions, under the Ministry, are not effective because our Boards did not have 25-30 members? I do not think you will come to such a conclusion, would you, Mr Low? So, I do really, really hope that Mr Low does not try and push this away.
I have also announced earlier on that it is the intention of the Government that the clauses come into effect on 12 August 2015, a month from now, on the 105th anniversary of Encik Yusof Ishak's birth and in this very special SG50 year. I think it will be the honourable thing to do and a very fitting way to honour Encik Yusof Ishak.
I am confident that many Singaporeans and, indeed, many Members of this House would endorse such a decision, and I hope that the Workers' Party acts honourably and sincerely and supports this wholeheartedly and not throw up red herrings. It will be very disappointing, Mr Low.
Mr Low Thia Khiang.
We have explained again and again that we are in support of the change of name to honour Encik Yusof Ishak. Our problem is that we cannot understand why there is a need to use this name change at the same time to change the appointment of the Board members. How does it square with honouring the President and at the same time removing the President's power originally in the Act to appoint the chairman and vice-chairman of the Board? We cannot square with that.
So, yes, while we wholeheartedly support the change of name to honour President Yusof Ishak but, at the same time, we cannot square with the change that is being "tumpang" in Malay, with the name change, that it is something which is not in accordance with the spirit of you wanting to change the name to honour the President.
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Mdm Speaker, I object to Mr Low saying that we are using the name change in order to change the composition of the Board. That is not our intention. Let me state categorically that that is not our intention. I have also drawn Members' attention to the fact that there are also some other very important changes like, for example, financial provisions and why we included clauses on financial provisions. We think that Statutory Boards that receive public funds should be held accountable, should appoint auditors, should submit audit information on time. So, those are part and parcel of the changes to update the governance of the Board and it is important that, in this governance, we continue to improve.
The fact that the Board of ISEAS is appointed by the President was something that was set up back in 1968 and, as I have said, if you look at most of the other Statutory Boards, for the vast majority of them, the appointment is made by the Minister.
And as I have said – this must be my third, fourth or fifth time of saying that to your Members – that in MOE, all the Statutory Boards under the Ministry are appointed by the Minister. So, there is nothing untoward about it. There is nothing whatsoever that is untoward about it.
The more you speak, the more I feel that the Workers' Party has not been very sincere in its objection and you have not been very sincere in saying that you support the Bill. You cannot say that on the one hand, I support this to honour Encik Yusof Ishak and, on the other hand, you say, "Oh, I take objection to this." I tried very hard to explain what this is all about.
Mr Low Thia Khiang.
Does the Minister not agree that corporate governance has nothing to do with whether the Board member is appointed by the Minister? I think corporate governance is something that is expected. I mean, for the Town Council, the members are not appointed by the Minister but I think we debated here on corporate governance. So, I do not understand. We are not objecting to the part about corporate governance. We are only objecting to the part of appointment power that is given solely to the Minister. So, how does appointment power and corporate governance have to link in that way?
Mdm Speaker, I hope that Mr Low Thia Khiang has not contradicted himself – corporate governance has nothing to do with whether they are appointed by the Minister. I hope I did not get you wrong, that corporate governance does not depend on whether the members are appointed by the Minister. Now, if that is the case, then, surely it does not matter whether they are appointed by the President, by the same
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logic.
Well, Members, I think this clarification session has gone on long enough. And we are going around in circles. I will now put the question.
Question put, and agreed to.
Madam, the Workers' Party would like its objection put on record.
Yes, I take note of your objection and it will be placed on record.
Due to clause 6.
I will take note of your objection to clause 6. I assume all Members of the Workers' Party want their objection to be recorded? [Hon Members indicated agreement.] Yes, it will be recorded. Can the Clerk now please read the title of the Bill?
Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.
The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Heng Swee Keat].
*Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment. (proc text)]
Madam, the Workers' Party would like its objection to the Bill due to clause 6 recorded.
I take note of your objection. It will be recorded. Clerk, please proceed.
A point of Order, Mdm Speaker. Is there such a thing as an objection on that basis and to have this kind of objection recorded in a vote? Either you vote for or you vote against the Bill. Which Standing Order, Madam, may I ask?
The Standing Order allows for Members to record specific disagreement with specific clauses of the Bill. It does. So, it will be recorded that they have an objection to clause 6 and that will be recorded in the proceedings. Clerk, can you please proceed to read
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the title of the Bill?
*Bill read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]
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PAPERCUTS