MONTHLY PAID TEMPORARY OFFICERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND CITY COUNCIL (Number dismissed since 21st July, 1961 and reasons)

Mr Low Por Tuck asked the Minister for Finance how many monthly paid temporary officers in the Government service, including the City Council, have been dismissed since 21st July, 1961, and what were the reasons for these dismissals.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr S. Ramaswamy) (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Minister to reply. The number of monthly paid temporary officers in the Government service, including the City Council, dismissed since 21st July, 1961, are three; and the reasons for their dismissal are : one for misconduct, one for unsatisfactory work, and one for negligence.

Mr Low Por Tuck: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance know that those people who were sacked were once P.A.P. members?

Mr Ramaswamy: None of these people were P.A.P. members. For the hon. Member's information, I would like to give their names and he can check them up:

Ministry of Finance:

Customs Department - Mr Ratnasamy Ramdas, relief clerk in charge of toddy shops - Misconduct.

Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Ng Leng Choon, temporary police constable - Work unsatisfactory.

Ministry of National Development:

Chief Building Surveyor's Department - Mr Devadas Xavier, temporary building overseer - Negligence.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi (Kampong Kembangan): Mr Speaker, Sir, could the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House, since the three dismissed employees were not P.A.P. members, whether they were Barisan Sosialis members? [Laughter.]

Mr Speaker: Order.

Mr Ramaswamy: I do not know.

Mr Low Por Tuck: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to the names supplied by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, it seems that these names are not correct. As far as I know, there is, for example, one in the Ministry of Finance whose name is Chan Chow How who has been sacked -

Mr Speaker: Order. Perhaps the question is: will the Parliamentary Sec retary confirm that the following were dismissed? Is that the question?

Mr Low Por Tuck indicated assent.

Mr Speaker: Will the Member put it in that form, please?

Mr Low Por Tuck: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance know that those who were sacked are as follows:

Ministry of Finance - Mr Tan Kia How

Ministry of Home Affairs - Chen Kwang Chin

Ministry of Culture - Chen Nan Chin

Ministry of Culture - Tzeto Tse Kwang

Ministry of Education - Chen Chin Ken

Prime Minister's Office - Khoo Cher Min

Deputy Prime Minister's Office - Toh Chi Kwan.

Mr Ramaswamy: These people were not dismissed.

Mr Lin You Eng (Moulmein): (In Mandarin): Just now the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance gave us only three names, but I have got more names here. As far as I know, those who were sacked were Committee members of the P.A.P. They were asked to declare their support for the Party, and if they did not, they would be -

Mr Speaker: Order. The Parliamentary Secretary has given an answer to the question on the Order Paper to the best of his knowledge, I suppose. I do not think we can pursue it further. If other names occur to any Members as having been left out, I think they ought to write in to the Parliamentary Secretary and ask for an explanation, and if the explanation is not satisfactory, then, of course, it can come back to the Assembly.