BUSINESS OF THE ASSEMBLY (Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister)

3.25 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Members of the House will be aware that there is a motion in the name of the Prime Minister on the Malaysia Agreement and that this motion has been set down as item 10 on the Order Paper. Several documents are at the moment being prepared by the Government Printer, and they include the Malaysia Agreement itself with annexes embodying the Malaysia Bill, the Constitution of Singapore, the Financial Agreements arrived at, the exchange of letters and memoranda between the Inter-Governmental Committees. Unfortunately, these documents will not be ready for distribution until Friday. The intention of the Government then would be to permit Members of this House time and opportunity to study them during the weekend, and we hope that the debate on this motion could be taken on Monday, the 29th of July. I believe it will also be convenient, Mr Speaker, if all other motions which have been submitted and which have relationship with the Malaysia Agreement can also be taken on Monday the 29th. This will give us four days' debate on the motion relating to the Malaysia Agreement - from Monday, 29th July, to Thursday, 1st August -before the sitting ends for the August holidays. If Members of the House think that the time for debate on this motion is not adequate, then, and if the House agrees, I am quite willing to lift Standing Orders to extend the sittings to 12 o'clock midnight if necessary. However, I would like to give due notice that it is my intention sometime next week to introduce a motion to terminate the debate at 12 o'clock midnight on Thursday. 1st August, if necessary.

Mr David Marshall: I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the intention is that the present matters on the Order Paper will be proceeded with today, tomorrow and Friday, falling on normal times, and if completed before then, adjourn till Monday at 2.30 p.m.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, it is our intention to proceed with items 1 to 9, as they stand on the Order Paper, until 8 o'clock. Should these items be disposed of earlier than Friday, then it is my intention to adjourn this Assembly to Monday, the 29th.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: All right.

Mr Low Por Tuck: On a point of clarification, Sir. The Leader of the House has said just now that he will try his best to dispose of all items up to item No. 9. What about the motion standing in the names of the Member for Thomson and the Member for Upper Serangoon, i.e., item No. 11?

Dr Toh Chin Chye: I am sorry, Mr Speaker. It is our intention to proceed with that motion this week.