PASIR PANJANG POWER STATION FLATS (Reserved for occupation by Parliamentary Secretaries)

Mr A. P. Rajah asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that all the flats on the first two floors of the Pasir Panjang Power Station Flats belonging to the City Council, with the exception of two, have been reserved for occupation by Parliamentary Secretaries to the various Ministers, and whether he will state the terms of letting of these flats and the rents to be charged therefor.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: No flats in the Pasir Panjang Power Station Flats belonging to the City Council have been reserved for occupation by any Parliamentary Secretary. The question presupposes that the facts were true; they are not. The Member for Farrer Park could do well in not wasting the time of this House by first ensuring that the malicious questions he put are not based on false premises.

Mr Speaker: Order. I do not think the Prime Minister is in order in alleging that anything said by Members in this House is malicious. I ask the Prime Minister to withdraw that expression.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Very well, Mr Speaker, Sir. Perhaps the word "tendentious" may be less objectionable.

Mr Rajah: Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of what the Prime Minister had said in reply to a previous question of mine in this Assembly, I see nothing tendentious in this question.

Mr Speaker: Order. Honourable Members must understand that at Question time only supplementary questions after the main question can be permitted.