EXPENDITURE ON ACCOUNT OF MALAYSIA SOLIDARITY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE CONFERENCE AND MEETINGS HELD IN SINGAPORE

Mr Tee Kim Leng asked the Minister for Culture what was the total expenditure incurred on account of the conference and meetings of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee held in Singapore in February, 1962.

Mr S. Rajaratnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, the total cost for Malaysia Week, including the cost of the exhibition, the cost of "Malam Malaysia", posters, decorations, bunting, flags, and so on, was approximately $115,000.

Mr Speaker: Order. We are on Question No. 14. Is the Minister electing to answer Question No. 15 as well?

Mr Rajaratnam: No, if the hon. Member is referring to meetings of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee held in Singapore, then the expenditure in connection with the Singapore meetings was $21,384.66.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to what we know, the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee has a Secretariat. What I want to ask is this: are the expenses incurred by the Secretariat to be paid by the Government of Singapore?

Mr Rajaratnam: No. The expenses of the Secretariat are made the responsibility of the respective Governments concerned.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): In that case then, how much has the Singapore Government got to pay?

Mr Rajaratnam: So far, I think our expenses were about 12 tapes that we have sent to Sarawak. At the cost of $6 a tape, they amount to $72.

Mr Low Por Tuck (Havelock): Mr Speaker, Sir, regarding the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee meetings, I would like to know whether that is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association or of the Government.

Mr Rajaratnam: No, Sir. There were in all three Consultative Committee meetings, including the one in Singapore. Two of these meetings were attended by Members of the Barisan Sosialis. These were paid for by the C.P.A. and the rest by the Government.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to what the Minister for Culture has said regarding the expenditure of $21,384, can he enlighten this House on whether the passage expenses of the Sarawak representatives were met by the Singapore Government?

Mr Rajaratnam: All the delegates from outside Singapore paid their own passages.