MOTION FOR SUSPENSION OF MEMBER

7.47 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, as Leader of the House it is part of my duties and, in fact, it is my responsibility to assist you in maintaining the decorum of the Chamber. We have seen over the past few sittings -

Mr Speaker: Order. I think the Hon. the Leader of the House should first satisfy me that this motion can be taken now. I would like to know the terms of the motion to start off with.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, as you are aware, under Standing Order No. 30, there is no necessity for notice of motion to be given in order to move a motion for the suspension of a Member. The terms of my motion are-

That this House condemns the Member for Hong Lim for his dishonourable conduct unbecoming of an elected representative of the people, in that he repeatedly used his privilege in this Assembly as a cloak for spreading malicious falsehoods to unjustly injure innocent persons both inside and outside this Assembly.

That he be suspended from the service of this Assembly until such time as:

(1) he apologises to this Assembly for his dishonourable conduct;

(2) he unreservedly withdraws his unfounded allegations against the Prime Minister and the Minister for Labour and Law; and

(3) he assures the Assembly that he will not persist in abusing his privilege in this Assembly for uttering malicious falsehoods; or

(4) be prepared when challenged to repeat outside the Assembly the charges he makes inside the Assembly.

Mr Speaker: May I have a copy?

Copy of the Motion handed in.

Mr Speaker: I think there are two points on which I must be satisfied. Firstly, whether or not this motion can be taken on a day allotted for the business of Supply. That is the first point that I am not quite certain about. I would like to refer the Leader of the House and honourable Members to the relevant Standing Order No. 85, paragraph (2), which reads -

`On a day allotted to the business of Supply, the business of Supply shall stand as the first order, and so long as the business of Supply has not been completed, no business other than the business of Supply shall be taken after 3 p.m. or before 8 p.m.,'

the other part of the paragraph is not relevant. Secondly, it appears to me that this motion, which is purported to be moved without notice under Standing Order No. 30, paragraph (e), is a motion which goes beyond merely a motion for the suspension of a Member. Under Standing Order 30:

`Unless Standing Orders otherwise direct, notice shall be given of any motion which it is proposed to move with the exception of the following:-

(e) A motion for the suspension of a Member.'

It appears to me that in reading the Standing Orders, one must read the Standing Orders as a whole. The Standing Orders are really aimed at giving fair notice to Members of any motion, especially one of grave import. It appears to me, at first glance, that Standing Order 30 (e) should be related to Standing Order 56 (1). There is a motion there which could be moved to suspend a Member from the service of the Assembly on the initiative of the Speaker when there is grave disorder, abuse of the rules of the Assembly, and so on. I would like to consider this point. There is little time left to carry on, unless, of course, the Leader gets the assent of the House to carry on with this business after 8 p.m. But I would suggest that I give a considered ruling tomorrow at half-past two.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: So be it, Sir.

Mr Speaker: We are now nearing 8 p.m. and if the Minister for Finance would agree, we could adjourn. I do not think it necessary to report progress because we have an order of the Assembly already that the Development Estimates anyway will start tomorrow. So perhaps Mr Leader will move the adjournment simpliciter.