OFFENCES RELATING TO VEHICLES BILL

3.16 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Dr Lee Siew Choh) (on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to enhance the punishments prescribed by law for offences relating to vehicles and vehicle parts."

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

Dr Lee Siew Choh: Now, Sir.

Mr Speaker: So be it. Can I have the Certificate of Urgency?

Dr Lee Siew Choh: Mr Speaker, Sir, I lay upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency signed by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara in respect of the Offences relating to Vehicles (Amendment) Bill.

Certificate of Urgency handed in.

Mr Speaker: It is, in fact, relative to the Offences relating to Vehicles Bill and not the Offences relating to Vehicles (Amendment) Bill. I think I did hear the Parliamentary Secretary say that he was laying upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency in respect of the Offences relating to Vehicles (Amendment) Bill. I have examined the Certificate. It is, in fact, in connection with the Offences relating to Vehicles Bill. If that is so, then the Certificate is in order. Is that correct?

Dr Lee Siew Choh: That is so.

Mr Speaker: The Certificate then is in order. May I have typed copies of the Bill for distribution to Members?

Dr Lee Siew Choh: Yes.

Typed copies of the Bill handed in to the Clerk and distributed to hon. Members.

Dr Lee Siew Choh: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill is similar to the Offences relating to Vehicles Ordinance, 1960, which had expired and which the Offences relating to Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 1961, sought to continue in operation for a further period of four years.

This Offences relating to Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 1961, was given its Second Reading at the Assembly sitting on 26th April, 1961, but, as the House will remember, further debate was adjourned owing to criticism of the method of extending the principal Ordinance. This amending Bill has now been withdrawn and in its place is this new Bill.

During the debate on the Offences relating to Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 1961, I gave the reasons why it was necessary to extend the principal Ordinance for a further period of four years. I do not propose, therefore, to say much about the Offences relating to Vehicles Bill, 1961, except to say that it is also to be in operation for a period of four years, that its provisions are similar to the 1960 Ordinance of the same name, and that its becoming law is a matter of urgency, since it is to replace the Offences relating to Vehicles Ordinance. 1960, which would have already continued to be in operation for another four years, if the Offences relating to Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 1961, had been passed by the Assembly.

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. -[Dr Lee Siew Choh].

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