INTERIM REPORT OF THE MALAYANISATION COMMISSION (Statement by the Chief Secretary)

The Chief Secretary (Mr W. A. C. Goode): Sir, the Interim Report of the Malayanisation Commission, which is confined to the Government service and consists of a majority and a minority report, has been submitted to His Excellency the Governor and is now published for general information.

Owing to the scope and complexity of the subject matter of the Report, it has not yet been possible for the Government to reach any decisions on the recommendations that have been made, and the two reports and their recommendations are being examined by Ministers in consultation with heads of departments. Pending such decisions, there will be no alteration in conditions of service and, in particular, promotions will for the present continue to be governed solely by considerations of experience, official qualifications and merit, in conformity with the assurances conveyed by the Chief Minister to this Assembly on the 24th of November, 1955, that there would be no question of holding back proper promotions at the proper time.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar): On a point of information, Sir, was that intended as a booster to the Malayan Civil Service?

There being no reply, Mr Lee Kuan Yew again rose-

Mr Speaker: Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Mr Speaker, Sir, could the Chief Secretary inform us when he expects his Government to reach some conclusions on the Report that has been presented to this House?

Mr Goode: Sir, as I have indicated, these two reports, which are in disagreement, cover in great detail the whole field of the public administration of this territory, and the decisions that we take on those recommendations will have the most far-reaching effects for the immediate future of Singapore. I would ask, Sir, that Members of this Assembly would appreciate the prime necessity for the Government to give careful and detailed consideration before reaching any decisions. I would also ask, Sir, that responsible Members of the Assembly would do their utmost to avoid making a difficult matter more difficult by giving vent to any mischievous statements.

In so far as when the Government will be able to reach final decisions, hon. Members are aware that the future of the public service is one of the matters to be discussed in the April talks in London. It follows from that that it is unlikely that the Government will be able to reach firm decisions on policy until after those talks have been held.

Mr R. Jumabhoy: Sir, there was a report of a similar nature, and the Chief Secretary should at least indicate some time limit as to the finalisation of decisions by the Ministers.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Do we understand from that statement of the Chief Secretary that this will be one of the bargaining counters in the April talks in London?

Mr Goode: Sir, as is well-known and as I have just stated, this is a matter which is on the agenda for the talks in April, and I hope hon. Members will appreciate that all the issues which are on that agenda will have to be considered as a whole and they will all form part of that whole. So quite naturally the issue of the future of the public service will be one of the issues which have to be tackled - I hope in a spirit of mutually trying to solve a problem rather than in a spirit of bargaining, but it will be one of the issues to be discussed and, I hope, agreed at those talks.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Does not the Chief Secretary agree that the Malayanisation of the civil service of Singapore is not a question of policy which can be affected by any other issue? We believe in Malayanisation, I am told, willy nilly.

There being no reply, Mr Lee Kuan Yew again rose -

Mr Speaker: Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Does the Chief Secretary appreciate the fact that the minority report, which he has referred to as another report, was, in fact, instigated, written and signed by a member of the Malayan Civil Service?

Mr Speaker: It is not a proper question. Mr Chew Swee Kee, I think you have a statement?