TRANSFER OF POWERS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.52 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr Low Por Tuck): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, in most legislation by means of which Government departments perform their functions, there exist provisions for appointments of officers to administer and carry out the requirements of the law. In the following Ordinances of departments of my Ministry - the Entertainments Duty Ordinance; the Estate Duty Ordinance; the Income Tax Ordinance and the Stamp Duty Ordinance - similar provisions exist. The appointments I am referring to are those, among others, of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of Estate Duties; Senior Investigating Officer. Income Tax; Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of Stamps; and Administrator of German Enemy Property. Due to normal posting and promotion procedures, officers are often changed around in these posts so that it becomes necessary frequently to make and amend appointments. As the power to make these appointments is at present vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, it is necessary to refer constantly to His Excellency to approve these appointments. This is vexatious to His Excellency since the matter is really trifling. Besides, all these appointments are purely administrative in nature, and are merely made so as to enable the officers concerned to carry out the statutory functions and powers vested in the holders of these appointments; it is considered that the power to make such appointments should be transferred to the Minister for Finance.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Low Por Tuck].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.