MALAYANISATION OF ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S POST

Mr Lee Kuan Yew asked the Chief Minister when the Government intends to Malayanise the post of Attorney-General.

The Chief Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, the post of Attorney-General together with the posts of Chief Secretary and Financial Secretary will disappear under the new constitution when it is introduced next year. If, in the meantime, the post should fall vacant, as happened recently, then it will be filled in accordance with the ordinary service principles of qualifications, experience and merit. This is in accordance with the Government's policy on Malayanisation as set out in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 65 of 1956 on page 9 of which it was stated that Malayanisation of the post of Attorney-General was dependent on future constitutional changes.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Is the Chief Minister aware that under the new constitutional proposals, the Attorney-General becomes the Advocate-General? Can we not just say the Permanent Secretary to the Minister for Law?

The Chief Minister: I said, Sir, that the post of Attorney-General will be abolished under the new constitution.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: If the Chief Minister does not refute what I said, is he not aware that by promoting an expatriate to that post for the temporary period between now and the next general elections, he is in fact enhancing the amount of compensation to be paid to this expatriate officer who will be abolished under the new constitution?

The Chief Minister: Sir, it has been explained that the filling of the vacancy created by the retirement of the previous Attorney-General was filled in accordance with the Malayanisation policy as set out in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 65 of 1956.