SEMBAWANG BY-ELECTION (Further Statement)

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether he has any further statement to make as to when it is proposed to hold a by-election for the Electoral Division of Sembawang.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Statistics Department is working at full capacity to complete the election registers by the end of this month, or the beginning of next. As I said at the last sitting, the Sembawang by-election will be held soon thereafter.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, Sir, if I remember right, we were assured at the last sitting that the by-election would take place within two months. May I ask the Prime Minister whether we can expect that by-election next month?

The Prime Minister: First, I challenge the statement that the Member for Anson has attributed to me. You will notice that even when my Secretary writes to Amnesty International, he writes in very circumspect language.

Mr David Marshall: Dictated by you.

The Prime Minister: I hope he has in his association with me learned how to deal with difficult gentlemen who ask difficult questions. I would assure the Member for Anson that however insidious he can be, he would never find me committed in writing in this Assembly or outside to a categorical statement that it would take place within two months. He has not found it so even in this statement. What I have said is that it is hoped - and it is working at full capacity to the knowledge of all members of the civil service and the people outside. In fact, I have moved two machines from the City Council to help them. What machines are they?

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): High-speed sorting machines.

The Prime Minister: We have loaned from the City Council two high-speed sorting machines to the Statistics Department to discharge these functions more efficaciously. And my answer stands.