REARRANGEMENT OF ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Chief Minister (Mr Lim Yew Hock): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, under Standing Order 9 (2),

That the proceedings on items 1 and 3 on the Order Paper be taken after item 5.

The reason for this is that, as a result of the debate on the Clerks Employment Bill, various points were raised and it was decided to adjourn the sitting to today in order to enable hon. Members to have an indication of the amendments to be proposed. Hon. Members are not aware of the amendments to be proposed and I require a little bit more time for my Ministry to go into detail into the points raised by the Member for Cairnhill.

The Assistant Minister for Labour and Welfare (Mr Mak Pak Shee): Sir, I second it.

Question proposed.

Mr Marshall: If it please you, Mr Speaker, Sir, though I have not got a Ministry at my disposal, nor various Ministers, nor the Attorney-General's Department, I have prepared and presented to this House my notice of amendments and every Member will find on his seat a copy thereof. I did indicate yesterday - and it was yesterday morning at 11.30 - the exact nature of my amendments, reading them out. I cannot understand why there should be a postponement. I have no objection to a postponement to later today, if it is a question of today; but if the Merdeka motion, which has been sandwiched, perhaps symbolically and appropriately, between a lot of other items, postponed from day to day like a dirty football in a corner, is not completed today, when are we going to have a discussion on items 1 and 3 - the Clerks Employment Bill and the Shop Assistants Employment Bill - which have waited a long time? If the Minister intends to proceed with it tomorrow, if he intends to proceed with it on Monday, I will accept it, but if he intends to postpone consideration beyond Monday, no, Sir, I would rather sit till midnight.

The Chief Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, "evil is he who evil thinks." There is no intention whatsoever to delay the passing of these two Bills. The Member for Cairnhill has discussed the amendments which he has in mind with the Attorney-General. As far as this side of the House is concerned, we are prepared to discuss them. There are certain amendments which we are prepared to accept. My concern is for the other Members of the Assembly who, I feel, would like to study the amendments proposed. That is why I asked for these two items to be taken out of the Order Paper. It is not intended that discussion on these two motions will be postponed to an indefinite time. In fact, during the afternoon session, if it is felt by hon. Members that the business set down for today could be completed by a reasonably late hour, I would ask for leave to suspend Standing Orders. Otherwise the sitting will be adjourned to tomorrow.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the proceedings on items 1 and 3 on the Order Paper be taken after item 5.