MALAYAN ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.21 p.m.

The Acting Chief Secretary (Mr S. T. Stewart): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have His Excellency's recommendation and consent to proceed with this Bill. Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill is similar in nature to the Singapore Military Forces (Amendment) Ordinance, 1957, which has just been passed by the Assembly. It also makes enabling provision for members of the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve to be called out to assist in internal security duties. Like their brothers in the Singapore Military Forces, members of the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who are composed entirely of volunteers, are also desirous to play their part in times of civil disorders.

At present, however, the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Ordinance (Cap. 78 of the Revised Edition) provides for only two types of service, namely, service when attached to or otherwise acting as part of or with the Royal Navy, and actual service (which means mobilised service), neither of which covers the eventuality in mind. It is not practicable nor desirable to order a general mobilisation of this force following the proclamation of a state of emergency merely in order to employ members on internal security duties. Clause 2 of the Bill therefore amends section 10 of the principal Ordinance to provide for their being called out during civil disorders by an order of the Flag Officer, Malayan Area, under whom the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve operates, and when so called out, will be subject to the Naval Discipline Act.

Sir, like in the previous Ordinance just passed, this Bill also provides for the pay of members employed on internal security measures, and the intention is that they be paid according to the rates of pay they now receive on continuous training. In the case of death or injury, this Bill also provides for payment of compensation at the same rates as for actual services.

Sir, the remarks I made on the previous Bill about the maintenance of law and order and the need to utilise our own resources equally apply here, and therefore there is no need for me to repeat them. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.