YANG DI-PERTUAN NEGARA'S SPEECH AT CEREMONIAL OPENING OF ASSEMBLY (Statement by the Prime Minister)

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to explain briefly why it has not been possible to have the ceremonial opening of the Assembly with a speech from His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara at the first meeting following upon the general elections. On the 23rd July this year in the last Assembly, all the Opposition Parties - the Barisan Sosialis, the Alliance, and the United People's Party - and two Independents blocked a Bill for general election of 15 Members to the Central Parliament.

Members are aware that the Speaker of Parliament has asked us for the names of the 15 representatives from Singapore. These Members will take their places as Members of the House of Representatives on 2nd November, in just over a week's time. It is not possible before the 2nd of November to have a speech by His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, thereafter seven clear days' adjournment, followed by a debate on the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and then a Bill for the election of 15 seats - all this to be completed before 2nd November. We have, therefore, had to make an adjustment and have, in today's business session, the swearing in of new Members and the passage of this Bill for 15 Members to the Central Parliament.

After we have ascertained when the business sittings of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur will be in November and December, the date for the ceremonial opening of this Assembly will be fixed when His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara will give his speech setting out the programme and policy of the Government for the next year.

Mr Ong Eng Guan: Mr Speaker, the reasons given by the Prime Minister for today's proceedings do not convince us in the Opposition. This Government was elected on the 21st of September, and if they had wanted they could have had the ceremonial opening sometime towards the end of September.

Mr Speaker: A debate on a ministerial statement is not regular. Members, however, can ask questions arising from the contents of the statement provided that these questions are phrased in the form of questions and are relevant to the subject matter of the statement. Would the Member for Hong Lim please phrase his question?

Mr Ong Eng Guan: Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Prime Minister whether it was possible to have a Government formed by the 23rd or 25th of September and the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's speech made towards the end of September and the beginning of October. If that could have been done, we could have this Bill to send 15 representatives to Parliament even earlier than today, which is the 22nd of October.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would not wish to quarrel with what the Member for Hong Lim were to do if he were the Government and he were the Prime Minister. That is the prerogative which I would accord him if he were in fact the leader of the majority Party. However, he should accord us at least the courtesy of allowing us to conduct the affairs of Singapore in a manner which befits the solemnity of the business of State which we have to dispose of. Ministers are not appointed at random. Matters of State are not disposed of in order to suit the newspapers or, for that matter, in order to suit the opening of the Federal Parliament. There are certain matters which have to be considered in their respective priorities, and we consider that the first policy statement of this Government which shall he contained in the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's speech is one which deserves careful consideration before its delivery.

Mr Speaker: Any other Member who would like to put questions? There are no further questions. I proceed to the next item.