CONDOLATORY ADDRESS (DEATH OF YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG)

4.38 p.m.

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

That an Address be sent to His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara in the following terms:-

"This Assembly has learned with deep sorrow of the death of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya, and pray that Your Excellency will be pleased to convey to the Government of the Federation of Malaya this Assembly's deep sense of the loss which the whole country has sustained, and their profound sympathy with the Raja Permaisuri Agong and the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong's family and with the Government and people of the Federation of Malaya.".

Although the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong held office for only five months, nonetheless in that brief period he has enhanced the dignity of the position of the Constitutional Head of State and so in this way advanced the cause of parliamentary democracy.

To the people of the Federation in particular, the death of the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong has been a severe loss. In less than one year the Federation has lost two Rulers who were held in high esteem not only by the people of Negri Sembilan and Selangor, from where their Highnesses came, but also by the people throughout the Federation itself.

On behalf of the people of Singapore, I would like to extend the sympathy of this House to the Raja Permaisuri Agong and the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong's family and to the people of the Federation of Malaya over the loss of an esteemed and respectable Head of State.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

4.42 p.m.

Inche Mohamed Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, as a Member of the Opposition, it is my duty to offer my condolences over the recent loss of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya. We are fully aware that this is a great loss to the Raja Permaisuri Agong and her family in particular and the people throughout the Federation in general. His late Majesty held the post of Yang di-Pertuan Agong for only five months. Therefore, we, the people of Singapore, not only those of the Islamic faith but others too, feel a deep sense of sorrow over the loss of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who was held in high esteem by the people of the Federation of Malaya. It is hoped that the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong would be a shining example to the future generation.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That an Address be sent to His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara in the following terms:-

"This Assembly has learned with deep sorrow of the death of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the Federation of Malaya, and pray that Your Excellency will be pleased to convey to the Government of the Federation of Malaya this. Assembly's deep sense of the loss which the whole country has sustained, and their profound sympathy with the Raja Permaisuri Agong and the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong's family and with the Government and people of the Federation of Malaya.".

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I request you to declare whether the motion has been agreed to nemine contradicente?

Mr Speaker: I so declare.