RESIGNATION OF MEMBER

2.37 p.m.

Mr Speaker: It is my painful duty to make this announcement to this House. Ten minutes before I came into this Chamber, the Member for Hong Lim came into my Chambers and tendered his resignation to me effective as from today. Under the Constitution and under the Standing Orders, my duty as Speaker is clear; I accepted his resignation. But while discussing the matter of his resignation, the Member for Hong Lim suggested to me that I read out the letter of resignation which he has sent to me. It is a fairly lengthy document and it contains a number of matters which do not concern me as Speaker of this Assembly. I told this to Mr Ong Eng Guan. I told him that it was no part of my function as Speaker of this House to read out or to acquaint the House of the reasons for his resignation. He has other courses open to him which, no doubt, he will avail himself of .

I understand from the Clerk that under the previous Constitution, it was necessary for the Speaker to report the vacancy to His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, but the present Constitution is silent on this. So no doubt the proper authorities will take the proper procedure at the proper time.