TEMPORARY ASSISTANT MARKETS AND HAWKERS INSPECTORS EMPLOYED BY CITY COUNCIL

Inche Mohd Ali Bin Alwi asked the Prime Minister how many Temporary Assistant Markets and Hawkers Inspectors were employed by the City Council as at 31st August, 1960; how many of them were appointed from among former serving officers of the City Council, and how many passed (a) English Standard Eight, (b) Chinese Junior Middle, (c) Malay Standard Seven, and (d) an equivalent standard in Tamil.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Mr Chan Sun Wing) (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker. I have been asked by the Prime Minister to reply to this question.

There were 25 Temporary Assistant Markets and Hawkers Inspectors employed by the City Council as at 31st August, 1960. None of these were from among former serving officers. Seven have passed English Standard VIII. Four have passed Chinese Junior Middle, and one has passed Malay Standard VII. None has passed the equivalent standard in Tamil. In addition to the above, three possess the Cambridge School Certificate, and nine possess the Chinese Senior Middle Certificate - these being higher qualifications than those referred to by the Member for the Southern Islands.

Inche Ahmad Jabri Bin Mohammad Akib: I am the Member for the Southern Islands!

Mr Speaker: It is the Member for Kampong Kembangan.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to the information supplied by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, does it mean that the serving officers in the City Council have no qualifications to enable them to carry out these duties?

Mr Chan Sun Wing: I do not understand the question.

Mr Speaker: Will the Member for Kampong Kembangan repeat the question slowly?

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, is it true that the officers serving in these posts in the City Council were not eligible?

Mr Chan Sun Wing: No. None were selected although many of them applied.

Inche Mohd. Ali: (In Malay): Is it because those serving officers in the City Council who applied did not possess the qualifications?

Mr Chan Sun Wing: Mr Speaker, Sir, further notice of that question is required.