LAND ACQUISITION (AMENDMENT) BILL

3.27 p.m.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Land Acquisition Ordinance (Chapter 248 of the Revised Edition)."

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

The Prime Minister: Now, Mr Speaker, Sir, I lay upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency signed by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara in respect of the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill.

Certificate of Urgency handed in.

Mr Speaker: The Certificate is in order. Are copies of the Bill available for the use of Members?

The Prime Minister: They have already been handed in earlier.

Copies of the Bill distributed to hon. Members.

The Prime Minister: Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, I shall be introducing immediately after this the Land Acquisition (Amendment No. 2) Bill which will make major alterations in the law regarding acquisition of private land for public purposes. Some basic principles are involved and I propose to refer the Bill to a Select Committee in order that landowners and others concerned with the process of land acquisition can make their representations to the Select Committee of this Assembly. Pending the consideration of this next Bill by the Select Committee and passage in this House, there are certain interim provisions to be looked after, namely, the position of certain appeals which have already proceeded under the existing Ordinance and which, unless stayed, may proceed to a conclusion whilst the amending Bill is under consideration of this Assembly.

Sir, clause 2 of this Bill suspends the provisions of section 19 of the Land Acquisition Ordinance which provides that whenever any person whose land has been acquired for public purpose is dissatisfied with the Collector of Land Revenue's award of compensation on specified grounds, he may within a specified time require the Collector to refer the matter to Court.

Clause 3 stays all cases which have already been referred to Court but in which proceedings or hearings have not commenced. This Bill will hold all proceedings until the House has had time to deliberate on the Land Acquisition (Amendment No. 2) Bill.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [The Prime Minister].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.