BUSINESS OF THE ASSEMBLY (Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister)
Legislative Assembly of Singapore · 19 March 1962 · 2nd Legislative Assembly
Official Report, 19 March 1962, Vol 17, Issue 4 · Open in the reader (summaries, search, filters)
Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, Sir, as the House is aware, we have four motions more on the Order Paper to deal with in this sitting of the Assembly and the House is also conscious that we have a number of Bills to be proceeded with next week. Now, it is necessary that the work and business of the Government must be proceeded with expeditiously and without delay and therefore it is our desire that these four motions on the Order Paper must be completed within this week.
However, as we have no desire to stop any Member from speaking on these motions, I therefore give notice to the House that it will be the intention of the Government to extend the sitting time of the Assembly to 12 midnight from tomorrow. I am just giving the Assembly due notice.
Mr Speaker: The statement is open to questions. There will be no debate, but questions.
Tun Lim Yew Hock (Cairnhill): Sir, if the Assembly could dispose of one or two more motions on the Order Paper would it not be better for the suspension to take place tonight instead of tomorrow?
Dr Toh Chin Chye: If the House so wishes, I will have no objection.
Dr Lee Siew Choh (Queenstown): On the contrary, Sir, since it is Government's intention to finish all business by the end of this week, I see no reason why we should rush like that.
Mr Speaker: The question being?
Dr Lee Siew Choh: The question then being: would it not be better for tile Government to suspend Standing Orders either on Wednesday or Thursday, if it should reach that stage?
Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, I do not think it would be possible, because I am giving the House due notice, and, as you know, some of the motions here are very controversial. I am making due allowance so that in four days' time, that is, from tomorrow to Friday, we should be able to finish these four motions if we were to extend the sitting to 12.00 midnight.
Dr Lee Siew Choh: Further to the explanation of the Leader of the House, today is only Monday. He wants to make sure that all the motions will be finished by the end of the week. If it comes to Wednesday or Thursday, and if the motions are still not finished, would it not be better then to extend the time to 12 o'clock?
Dr Toh Chin Chye: The Member for Queenstown suggests Wednesday. I suggest Tuesday.
Source: Singapore Parliament Official Report (Hansard) for 19 March 1962. Republished on SGParliament.