COMMITTEE OF SELECTION

Legislative Assembly of Singapore · 16 July 1959 · 2nd Legislative Assembly

Official Report, 16 July 1959, Vol 11, Issue 3 · Open in the reader (summaries, search, filters)

4.43 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move,

That this Assembly, in accordance with paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 61, appoints the following as Members of the Committee of Selection:-

Dr Toh Chin Chye (Member for Rochore)

Mr Ong Eng Guan (Member for Hong Lim)

Mr Lee Khoon Choy (Member for Bukit Panjang)

Tun Lim Yew Hock (Member for Cairnhill)

Inche Mohamed Ali Bin Alwi (Member for Kampong Kembangan).

Sir, in moving this motion, I would like to refute the charges which were made yesterday by the Opposition benchers that we tend to be dictatorial and that, because we have 43 Members on our side and the Opposition have only eight, we would be in a position to swallow the Members from the opposite benches.

This proposal which I am putting forward shows that the P.A.P. Government, can be generous and can be liberal. According to Standing Orders, the Committee of Selection should be formed from Members of the Government and also to include a Member from the Opposition, so that, in proportion really, we should have four Members on the Government bench and one from the Opposition side. But I would like to say, in all earnestness and seriousness, Mr Speaker, that we do not wish to take advantage of the strong position which we are in. We do believe that the essence of a democratic government is that Bills and laws are moved in this Legislature and that not only Members on the Government side, but Members from the Opposition side, have also a say in the passage of Bills and other motions. That being so, Mr Speaker, we have today included in this motion that there be three Members from the Government side and two Members from the Opposition side who will form this Committee of Selection.

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: I second the motion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,