RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Speaker: Order. I have to inform hon. Members that at 10.30 a.m. on the 18th of October, 1966, I received to hand a letter dated the 4th October, 1966, under the hand of Dr Fong Kim Heng, who was elected to this House as Member for Joo Chiat, resigning his seat in Parliament. Members will recall that Dr Fong has been ill and has had to apply for periods of leave. In view of his continued ill-health Dr Fong states that he feels it his duty to resign his seat. Dr Fong's letter was received in my office on the 4th of October, 1966.

I further have to inform hon. Members that at 10.30 a.m. on the 18th of October, 1966, I received to hand a letter dated the 8th of October, 1966, signed by Mr Chia Thye Poh who was elected to this House as Member for Jurong. This letter was delivered to my office on the 8th of October, 1966. The material part of this letter reads as follows:-

"...the Party" (i.e, the Barisan Sosialis) "has decided that all Barisan 'MPs' will resign their 'Parliamentary' seats as from today.

The 9 Barisan MPs are:-

1. Chia Thye Poh (Jurong)

2. Koo Young (Thomson)

3. Ong Lian Teng (Bukit Panjang)

4. Poh Ber Liak (Tampines)

5. Tan Cheng Tong (Jalan Kayu)

6. Miss Loh Miaw Gong (Havelock)

7. Chan Sun Wing (Nee Soon)

8. Lee Tee Tong (Bukit Timah)

9. Wong Soon Fong (Toa Payoh)". I had to consider the effect of this letter in the light of the Constitution, in particular, of Article 30 (2) (c) which provides that -

'The seat of a Member of Parliament shall become vacant, if, by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker, he resigns his seat in Parliament;'.

In view of another letter I have received from Mr Lee Tee Tong, who was elected to this House as Member for Bukit Timah, what I say hereafter on Mr Chia's letter has no reference to Mr Lee Tee Tong.

I have given Mr Chia Thye Poh's letter considerable thought in view of the particular circumstances affecting certain of the Members named in the letter. To my mind, the provisions of Article 30 (2) (c) are clear and preclude resignation by an agent. Any resignation to be effective must, amongst other requirements, be by writing under the hand of the Member concerned and of no one else. I have, therefore, come to the conclusion that the letter signed by Mr Chia Thye Poh is ineffective for its expressed purpose in so far as the following 7 persons are concerned:-

(1) Mr Koo Young - Member for Thomson

(2) Mr Ong Lian Teng - Member for Bukit Panjang

(3) Mr Poh Ber Liak - Member for Tampines

(4) Mr Tan Cheng Tong - Member for Jalan Kayu

(5) Miss Loh Miaw Gong - Member for Havelock

(6) Mr Chan Sun Wing - Member for Nee Soon

(7) Mr Wong Soon Fong - Member for Toa Payoh.

Mr Chia Thye Poh's own position caused me further difficulty in that, although the letter was under his hand and was addressed to me, he did not, in so many words, "resign his seat". However, after studying the matter and giving it considerable thought, I have come to the clear conclusion that Mr Chia Thye Poh's personal intention was to resign his seat and that he has adequately given effect to that intention by signing that letter addressed to me in the terms in which it was written and by causing that letter to be delivered to me.

I also have to inform hon. Members that at 10.30 a.m. on the 18th of October, 1966, I received to hand a letter dated the 4th of October, 1966, under the hand of Mr Lee Tee Tong, who was elected to this House as Member for Bukit Timah, resigning his seat in Parliament. This letter was received in my office on the 14th of October, 1966.

Under the provisions of Article 91(4) , the resignations of Dr Fong Kim Heng, Mr Chia Thye Poh and Mr Lee Tee Tong have effect from 10.30 a.m, on the 18th of October, 1966.

Accordingly, I report to the House that the seats of the Members for Joo Chiat, Jurong and Bukit Timah are vacant.