LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION FOR DRIVING LICENCES

Mr Lee Choon Eng asked the Minister for Communications and Works whether any language qualification is necessary in order to obtain a driving licence.

Mr Francis Thomas: Yes, Sir, under Rule 6 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Rules, 1948, one of the matters on which an applicant for a licence must satisfy the person conducting the test is that he has a competent knowledge of English or colloquial Malay.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister tell us why it is that only English and Malay are required for the purpose of this test?

Mr Francis Thomas: I certainly can, MrSpeaker, Sir, but I understand the hon. Member is going to raise this on the adjournment tomorrow and I think it might be more convenient if he could give me a little time then so that I could give him a very full statement of what we propose to do in the matter.