PUBLICATION OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTION IMPLEMENTING PAPER COMMAND 33 OF 1961

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister (a) when it is anticipated that the proposed Constitution implementing Paper Command 33 of 1961 will be published: and (b) whether he will consider putting the issue of closer relations with the Federation to a referen dum after the publication of the proposed Constitution.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): Mr Speaker, Sir, the constitutional provisions to give effect to Paper Command 33 of 1961 will be published for implementation after the people have expressed their choice on the mode and manner of the inevitable reunification of Singapore with the Federation of Malaya. If the people's choice is for a merger with local autonomy for Singapore, particularly in respect of education and labour, then the implementation of Paper Command No. 33 of 1961 will be proceeded with.

Sir, the suggestion of the Member for Anson appears to be reversing the or dinary chronological order of events, for in the unlikely event of the majority of the people supporting the complete merger proposals like Penang or Malacca, US has been proposed by the Barisan Sosialis, or like Johore as has been pro posed by the United People's Party, or like one of the States in the present Federation in complete and unconditional merger as proposed by the Workers' Party, the task would then be a relatively easy one of Simply including Singapore in the present framework of the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya.

Mr David Marshall: Does the Prime Minister not consider that the publication of the draft Constitution spelling out the agreement would assist the people in understanding exactly what is intended and help them in making up their minds for the purpose of voting at the referendum poll?

The Prime Minister: With great respect, Mr Speaker, Sir, I would say that there is no surer way of adding confusion than to put in formal constitutional language the provision& which have been spelled out in ordinary simple language in the heads of agreement contained in Command Paper No 33 of 1961. I think the Member for Anson will remember that the constitutional arrangements that he arrived at in 1956 although uncompleted certainly made easier reading and easier understanding than the ultimate Order in Council which embodied nearly all the provisions to which he agreed in 1956 other than the articles or sections for the Internal Security Council.

Mr David Marshall: Would the Prime Minister not consider that in the light of experience and procedure in Australia and Switzerland among other countries, that the mode should be to call for a referendum after the proposals in precise form have had the approval of Parliament?

Mr Speaker: The Prime Minister has answered it.

The Prime Minister: I think it is necessary so far as I can that I should leave the Member for Anson under no misapprehension on this matter. I would say that it is the duty of any Government to ensure that things are presented simply and clearly to the people. As the Member for Anson himself knows, eminent legislators like the Member for Queenstown can make grave errors as to the meaning of merger like Penang and Malacca. The Member for Anson has had occasion to withdraw on behalf of the Member for Queenstown the proposals set out by the Member for Queenstown, all because he misconstrued the Federation Constitution to mean what he thought he could make it mean. I do not know about the comprehension range of the people of Australia or New Zealand on the English language, particularly for legal forms and precedents, but in our circumstances and in our clime, I suggest that we had better speak in simple, precise amid easy language - monosyllabic if possible - so that everybody can understand what is intended, and let the lawyers who are men trained for these jobs, legal draftsmen and parliamentary draftsmen to execute our intentions.