QUEEN STREET AND SILAT ROAD SIKH GURDAWARAS BILL (changed to Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Bill)

Order for Third Reading read.

6.04 p.m.

Mr John Mammen (Telok Blangah): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

Mr Speaker, Sir, you will remember that when this Bill was first introduced in this Assembly it was a small Bill and was committed to a Select Committee. But the Select Committee spent a considerable amount of time on it. There were altogether 12 sittings. The Committee unanimously agreed to this revised Bill.

First, we made certain important amendments in the Bill as a whole. One is the changing of the name of the Bill. During the session of the Committee, many witnesses came forward. The majority of them were of the opinion that, since the Bill was to help in the unification of the Sikh temples in Singapore, it was the proper time to change the name of the Bill from the Queen Street and Silat Road Sikh Gurdawaras Bill to that of the present title.

The other major change in the Bill concerns the constitution of the Board of Trustees. In the past, the two main Sikh temples were dominated by three societies of Sikhs. In other words, they monopolised Sikh affairs in Singapore. During Committee sessions, various Sikh organisations and individuals came forward and put forward the view that it was high time that this monopoly should be stopped and proper representation in the Board should be given. After hearing evidence, the Committee unanimously decided to give representation not only to the three societies already mentioned, but also to two other organisations (two representatives from each organisation), and 15 elective members from the Central Sikh Temple. For election purposes, we made certain amendments in the Bill for the compiling of an electoral register.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not going to deal with the Bill in detail, but before I conclude, I would like to put on record, on behalf of the Committee, that the Bill in its present form was brought about with your able assistance and guidance.

I beg to move, Mr Speaker, Sir.

Question proposed.

Mr Rajah: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have great pleasure in suggesting to the House that this is a Bill worthy of support.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the main point in this Bill as it has emerged from the Select Committee lies, I think, in the constitution of the Board. We had a number of meetings, I think it was 12, as the Member for Telok Blangah has said, from which evidence was recorded. And it emerged in that evidence that by and large it was the general desire of the Sikh community that some form of democratisation should take place in the management of these two Gurdwaras.

The historical background against which the Gurdwaras were developed was not the spirit which was advocated by the witnesses before the Committee. Because of the things that had happened previously, the management of their Committees was left in the hands of associations, and the circumstances which necessitated that state of affairs no longer exist today. Therefore, the Select Committee has sought to keep a balance between the requirements of a modern age and, shall we say, the management of a past era, and we have tried to bring the two together in the earnest hope that they too will join hands together and work this Bill for the general benefit of the Sikh community at large. I think the Committee appreciates that it does not have a hundred per cent support of all the people who came before the Committee, but I think I can safely say that at least 90 to 95 per cent of those who came before the Committee entirely approved of clause 3 as it now stands.

So, Mr Speaker, Sir, may I appeal to certain older members of the Sikh community to work this Bill in the spirit which the Select Committee hope they will work it? We feel sure that if there is this harmony between these five societies and the elected representatives of the Gurdwaras, it will be in the best interests of that community. And I think it is fair to express at this stage that the Committee felt that the time should soon come when the entire management of the Sikh temples in Singapore would be left to the congregations of the Gurdwaras rather than to any associations.

Lastly, Mr Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the Member for Telok Blangah in what he said with regard to the Chairman of the Select Committee. Sir, a lot of evidence was taken and a lot of marshalling and channelling of that evidence in a proper direction was needed. The Committee are very grateful to you, Mr Speaker, Sir, for having done that and for having pinpointed the more important bits of evidence that came out before the Select Committee.

Mr Speaker: Mr Mammen, in reply?

Mr Mammen indicated dissent

Mr Speaker: It would be completely out of order if the Speaker takes part in this debate now!

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.