Mr Speaker: Order. In a letter dated 16 February 2012, the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party informed me that Mr Yaw Shin Leong, Member of Parliament for Hougang, has been expelled from the Party with effect from 14 February 2012.

Article 46(2)(b) of the Constitution states that the seat of a Member of Parliament shall become vacant if he ceases to be a member of, or is expelled or resigns from, the political party for which he stood in the election.

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Article 48(a) of the Constitution states that any question as to whether a Member of Parliament has vacated his seat "shall be determined by Parliament whose decision shall be final". Article 48 also contains a proviso which permits the practice of Parliament postponing its decision "in order to allow for the taking or determination of any proceedings that may affect the decision".

It is presently unknown whether Mr Yaw is appealing against the Workers' Party decision or is otherwise challenging his expulsion.

Therefore, on the morning of 17 February 2012, that is, this morning, the Clerk of Parliament wrote a letter to Mr Yaw asking him to inform her in writing by Friday, 24 February 2012, if he intends to appeal against or challenge the expulsion. This was the practice adopted by Parliament in 1993 in the case involving Mr Chiam See Tong.

The decision on the vacancy of Mr Yaw's seat in this House will be taken when his reply is received or after the expiry of the deadline given to him to reply.

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