SINGAPORE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

10.45 a.m.

The Chief Secretary (Mr W. A. C. Goode): Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, section 15 of the main Ordinance requires that the electoral register for each electoral division be revised each year not later than the 15th September or such later date as the Governor may decide. The purpose of this Bill is to dispense with that revision in respect of the present year.

The reason for seeking this dispensation is that it is not possible to complete the preparation of the electoral rolls for City Council elections to be held in December this year, if a revision of the Legislative Assembly rolls also has to be completed by 15th September. I am sure, Sir, that all members of this House will agree that it is of over-riding importance that elections to the City Council should not be further delayed; whereas the statutory revision of the Legislative Assembly electoral rolls must become of less importance the nearer we get to the time when the whole basis of the Legislative Assembly franchise will be changed.

As I have already said, Sir, we hope to introduce at an early date a Citizenship Bill which will make provision for a new form of citizenship. That will mean a complete recasting of the Legislative Assembly electoral rolls, and since it is our intention that the next general elections to this Assembly shall be held on the basis of the new franchise, then revision of the present electoral rolls does seem to be of secondary value. It will, however, require a very great deal of work. It is estimated that there would be as many as 150,000 changes to be made as compared with the roll certified in September last year and those changes would occupy the tabulating machines and staff of the Statistics Department for at least 30 days. Thereafter the roll has to be printed and published; we have to give time to hear claims and objections, and recheck and reprint; and all that time work on preparing the City Council electoral rolls would be delayed.

As I have said, Sir, if the City Council elections are to be held in December, then we must enable those concerned with preparing those rolls to give every effort to that task alone, and I therefore ask that they be relieved of the statutory obligation to revise the Legislative Assembly electoral rolls this year.

Question proposed.

10.49 a.m.

Mr R. Jumabhoy (Telok Ayer): Mr Speaker, Sir, we on this side of the House are willing, in principle, to support this Bill so that the City Council elections can be held not later than at the end of this year. Everyone in Singapore is anxious that this state of affairs should not continue any longer. Everyone is dissatisfied. I am glad that the Hon. the Chief Secretary has given the assurance that the City Council elections will be held at the end of this year.

Sir, as far as the Legislative Assembly electoral rolls are concerned, we are very much worried. We do agree that the next general elections to the Legislative Assembly should be held on the basis of the new franchise and when the new electoral rolls come into force. We want the citizens of Singapore to get themselves registered so that they can take part in the elections. This is our stand.

Sir, the present Coalition Government is composed of seven elected Members from the Labour Front (six from the Labour Front and one Independent joining them, making seven in all) and three Alliance Members, giving a total of ten elected Members on the Government side out of a total of 25 elected Members. Their ex-Chief Minister (Mr David Marshall) wanted elections in August this year, but because of the delay in holding them, he became disgusted and resigned. Now, Sir, may I ask this question: Is this minority Government of ten-

Mr Speaker: Order. I do not see how those remarks of the hon. Member have any relation to the Bill before the House, which is simply a provision to suspend the operation of a section of the Legislative Assembly Elections Ordinance.

Mr R. Jumabhoy: What I am pointing out is that we are being asked to give our assent to something which does not state definitely when this new register will be completed and when the elections will be held, and the present Government, with the aid of its ex-officio and nominated Members, can continue in office. That is the point I am making, Sir. If you are satisfied, I will continue, Sir.

Mr Speaker: I am certainly not satisfied at all. The hon. Member can, of course, raise that point in another way, either by filing a motion or speaking on the adjournment. But at the moment we are considering a Bill which merely asks for the suspension of a certain provision in the Legislative Assembly Elections Ordinance, a question of whether or not the electoral rolls should be revised this year.

Mr R. Jumabhoy: Sir, I bow to the Chair when it points out that I can make all the points which I have made in a separate motion or in an adjournment speech. That being so, I will take the opportunity of doing so and show to the people of Singapore that what is continuing is an undemocratic government and a colonial government.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.