MEMBERS' PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

MEMBERS' PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I move the motion to adjourn Parliament, I wish to make a statement regarding Members' privileges and responsibilities when they speak in this House.

Sir, during the debate on Wednesday, 27th May, on the Address of Thanks, one Member made certain criticisms against the press, which he stated were based on an email from a person that he did not know and which contained allegations that he had not verified. I recognise that Members are entitled to be forthright and forceful in their comments in their speeches. The law accords the privilege of freedom of speech upon Members of this House and grants them immunity from civil or criminal proceedings in respect of statements which they make in Parliament. This is so that debate in Parliament can be free and uninhibited and the House can perform its functions without fear or favour. However, I wish to remind Members that such a privilege should be exercised responsibly in the public interest. Members have a duty not to criticise any person or body unless they

Column: 781

are satisfied that these criticisms have a basis. If Members wish to rely on third-person reports or hearsay, they should first take steps to verify the identity of the authors and the accuracy of the statements. Members should not rely on such statements if they have not verified them, not even if they so inform the House. Members are, of course, entitled to express their own views and criticisms of persons or bodies based purely on public facts without relying on the opinions of anyone else. These personal views and criticisms, too, should naturally be well-founded.

I, therefore, call on Members to be mindful of the high standards expected of them when they discharge their responsibility to the House. They should exercise due care and diligence when using unverified third-person remarks, reports or hearsay. Members should refrain from relying on unestablished facts

Column: 782

or repeating unsubstantiated allegations in their speeches. I remind Members that they remain accountable to the House for their statements made in Parliament and that it is their individual and collective responsibility to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House. This is important to keep public trust in our Parliamentary system. Hence, when the Member concerned made a clarification yesterday and apologised for falling short of the high standards demanded by this House, he did the right and gracious thing.