POLICE PROTECTION FOR STUDENTS TAKING THEIR EXAMINATIONS

2.35 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Lee Khoon Choy): Mr Speaker, Sir, the motion which I intend to move, signed by myself, the Minister for Education, the Member for Bukit Timah and the Member for Bukit Merah, is as follows:

"That this House condemns the actions of the picketers in obstructing, intimidating or otherwise forcefully preventing students from taking their examinations, and in response to an appeal from parents of students who wish to take these examinations that they and their children should be afforded police protection, hereby resolves that this House supports any action by the police to protect students wishing to take their examinations to ensure that they are not intimidated or injured, and that the students and their parents who accompany them are given free passage and access into and out of all examination halls."

Mr Speaker: Will the Parliamentary Secretary resume his seat for a minute? The Hon. the Parliamentary Secretary seeks leave of the House under Standing Order 32 to move the following motion:

"That this House condemns the actions of the picketers in obstructing, intimidating or otherwise forcefully preventing students from taking their examinations, and in response to an appeal from parents of students who wish to take these examinations that they and their children should be afforded police protection, hereby resolves that this House supports any action by the police to protect students wishing to take their examinations to ensure that they are not intimidated or injured, and that the students and their parents who accompany them are given free passage and access into and out of all examination halls."

I might remind hon. Members of Standing Order 32, which reads:

'Notice shall not be dispensed with in the case of a motion or in respect of any other proceeding for which notice is required except with the consent of the Speaker and the general assent of Members present.'

I give my consent. Is it the pleasure of hon. Members that this motion be moved?

Some hon. Members: Aye.

Some hon. Members: No.

The Prime Minister: Division.

Mr Speaker: There can be no division. The motion cannot be moved. Is there any other point of order?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Sir, would it be in order for me to read out the petition sent by the parents?

Mr Speaker: Order. The way to do that is for it to be included in the ministerial statement. Perhaps Mr Yong would like to continue his ministerial statement. It is quite in order.

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Mr Speaker, Sir, the petition is written in Chinese.

Mr Speaker: Perhaps it could be read by the Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, this is a petition by the parents of students which they handed to me when they saw me.

'The preparatory Committee of the Parents-Students Committee appeal to the Legislative Assembly to take immediate steps to ensure freedom of Assemblymen to deal with this matter and to take immediate steps also to protect the freedom of the candidates taking part in the examination so that they can have free access to the examination centres, and that they will not be stopped or hindered by the picketers, just as the Assembly has done so in regard to its Assemblymen. On the 28th November we presented our opinion to the Minister for Education to ask for protection for those students who wish to take the Government common examination and to allow them to do so smoothly. The Minister for Education explained to them that because the Government wishes to avoid any conflict between the police and the students, it has, therefore, not asked the police to take any direct measure. During these few days the student strikers have resorted to force to stop the parents and students from entering the examination centres. For the safety of the students and the parents, we hone that the Legislative Assembly will also adopt measures, just as the Assembly has already approved a resolution to protect the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education. In the same way, it should also take steps to protect, or order the police to protect, the safety of students and free access to the examination centres.'

After this representation and the meeting with the Minister for Education, the student strikers immediately dispersed. We believe that the Assembly can also approve a motion permitting the police to protect the students and their parents and to ensure that the student strikers will be kept restricted so that the candidates can take their examinations freely and without hindrance.

Now, this petition has been signed by several parents of the candidates.

Mr Speaker: The procedure in this case is this. This is in the form of a notice of a motion. I do not know whether it is intended that this should be entered in the Order Paper for debate because the earliest date is Monday.

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Yes, Sir. I would like this motion to be debated at the earliest possible day.

Mr Speaker: The earliest possible day is Monday.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew) rose -

Mr Speaker: Mr Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister: On a point of order, Sir. Perhaps Members of the Opposition may not have understood the purpose of your asking for their assent just now. That is why I asked for division. You indicated that a division was not necessary. Sir, whoever denies this House assent to debate this motion is, in fact, saying that we should ignore this appeal which has been made by -

Mr Speaker: Order. I do not think any comment can be made on this matter. Our Standing Orders do not permit it. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day.