CIVIL SERVANTS (Voluntary service on Sundays)

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi asked the Prime Minister, with reference to the call by the Minister for National Development for voluntary service on Sundays by civil servants and employees of Local Government Authorities, whether any one is compelled, directly or indirectly, to volunteer; whether the terms of service of those who do not volunteer will be adversely affected; and whether disciplinary action will be taken against such persons.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, no one was compelled to volunteer either directly or indirectly. The terms of service of those who did not volunteer cannot and will not be adversely affected. The question of disciplinary action does not arise.

Perhaps if the Member would ask any of the thousands who did volunteer he would discover how willingly they volunteered and how satisfying they found the day's outing at Changi beach.

On behalf of the Government, I would like to express our warm appreciation of the excellent response to our call for voluntary labour on public projects.

I should be glad if the Member for Kampong Kembangan could bring out here in the House any instance where direct or indirect pressure was brought to bear on civil servants to volunteer for Sunday work, so that the offender could be suitably dealt with. But if the Member knows of no such instance, I can only say that his question is vexatious anti scandalous.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not my intention to be vexatious and scandalous but merely to explain the matter to the public.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I hope the Member for Kampong Kembangan will prove his allegations to the Members of the Assembly here.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi rose -

Mr Speaker: A supplementary question?

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): We will co-operate with the Government, Mr Speaker. If we know of any instance, we will bring it to the notice of this Assembly.

Mr Speaker: It would appear that that was meant to be an indirect supplementary question!