NANYANG UNIVERSITY BILL (Select Committee's Report)

11.25 a.m

The Assistant Minister for Education (Inche Mohamed Sidik Bin Haji Abdul Hamid): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the Report of the Select Committee on the Nanyang University Bill, as contained in Sessional Paper No. L.A. 3 of 1959, be adopted.

Sir, in moving that the Report of the Select Committee on the Nanyang University be adopted, I wish to say that the Government is grateful to you, Sir, as Chairman of the Select Committee, for going through the Bill and the representations made by interested parties so expeditiously that we are able to do what the sponsors of the Nanyang University wish done.

There is urgency in the minds of those connected with Nanyang University, particularly the sponsors, that the time has come for the constitution of Nanyang University to be put on a proper basis. This Bill is drafted by the legal advisers of Nanyang University which is essentially a private organisation. But the Government has seen fit to handle this matter because the provision of higher education in Chinese is of public concern. Very few substantial changes have been made in the Bill as the result of the deliberations of the Select Committee, because it is not the intention to make material changes to the proposals submitted by the sponsors of this private institution. I will deal with these changes which we have introduced into the Bill at a later stage.

I need only say at this stage that there is the Nanyang University Commission consisting of five eminent scholars who are extremely interested in the future of Nanyang University. They are making a special study of the constitution of Nanyang University. Members of the House can therefore expect that when the Commission has completed its findings, there might be further changes to be introduced to the University. Of course, those changes will be considered jointly by the Government and the University Authority when they are submitted, because the Commission was jointly appointed by the Government and the University. But the matter of immediate importance now is to have Nanyang University incorporated by law so that the administration of Nanyang University can be put on a better footing.

I will now deal with the changes which the Select Committee have introduced into the Bill. I have mentioned that the changes are few and not substantial. I refer in particular, Sir, to the addition of a new clause 26 in the Bill for the purpose of establishing the Nanyang University Students' Union, the constitution of which should be approved by the Council of the University or by such authority as may be authorised for that purpose by statute. The clause also gives power to the Council to delegate to the Union, on such conditions as it may think fit to enforce, the management of any building or common room assigned for the use of students. The House will remember that at one of the previous sittings of this House, when the Minister moved the Second Reading of this Bill, he stated that he would see that provision would be made in the Bill to give the Nanyang University Students' Union a status, and that is what has been done.

There is also the addition of a new sub-paragraph (3) to paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule to provide that notice of every meeting of the members of the University, stating the business to be considered at the meeting, should be sent by post to each member of the University at least seven days before such meeting, unless special circumstances require shorter notice. But the proceedings of any meeting should not be invalidated by any irregularity in respect of such notice. This amendment is mainly to make sure that proper procedure is followed. Apart from those two amendments, all other amendments are factual and need no further mention.

I would like to say at this stage that those who have made representations to the Select Committee have made some useful suggestions. We are grateful that with the help of those suggestions we are able today to have this Bill before the House for the Third Reading.

The future of Nanyang University must depend on a proper constitution and proper administration, and I am glad that the sponsors of the University have seen fit to approach the Government to approve this Bill so that the foundation for the administration of Nanyang University will properly be laid, and there is the Nanyang University Commission now sitting and considering certain problems connected with the University. They are deeply interested in this Bill, and I have no doubt that they will submit their views to the Government and the University in due course. Whether further changes should be made to the constitution and administration of Nanyang University must depend on that Report and the decision of the Government and the University Authority, but before that, there is a proposal to put Nanyang University on a better footing, and this is what this Bill aims to do.

Sir, I beg to move.

The Minister for Communications and Works (Mr M. P. D. Nair): Sir, I rise to second the motion.

Question proposed.

11.31 a.m.

Mr R. Jumabhoy (Telok Ayer): Sir, I have only a few words to say. I congratulate the pioneers of Nanyang University who have sacrificed not only their time but also their money. With their influence, they have established a very important centre of culture in this part of the world.

11.32 a.m.

Mr R. C. H. Lim (Nominated): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am very glad to note that clause 26 of this Bill gives the Students' Union of Nanyang University a legal status. Education in any university, Sir, falls mainly into two parts. One part is the academic side and the other part is the social side, and that social side, Sir, is certainly as important as the academic side. It will be in the Students' Union building, where there is association between one student with another, that the students of Nanyang University will be able to form friendships that will last for life. In time to come, they will be able to remember some of the good things and even some of the naughty things they have done in the Union building. Those of us who have had the privilege of being resident in any university hostel, often look back with pride at even some of the naughty things we did.

Sir, Government has for the first time made a grant to Nanyang University. Now that the administration is being put on a better footing, I feel confident that further Government support will be forthcoming.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the Report of the Select Committee on the Nanyang University Bill, as contained in Sessional Paper No. L.A. 3 of 1959, be adopted.

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed.