GIFT FROM HOUSE OF COMMONS

3.41 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I beg to move,

That this House expresses its warm appreciation of the generous gift of a bookcase and books which it received on the 16th of November, 1966, from a delegation of the Commons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a token of friendship and goodwill on the part of the House of Commons and people of the United Kingdom towards the Parliament and people of Singapore to commemorate the attainment by Singapore of independence within the Commonwealth.

Mr Speaker, Members of the House will recollect that last month a delegation representing both sides of the House of Commons paid us a visit and at the same time presented us with a bookcase with some books on Parliament and Constitutional Law to the C.P.A. in commemoration of Singapore's attaining independence. We had the opportunity to discuss many matters with them on that occasion, and I have no doubt that as a result of our discussions, they left Singapore with the conviction that this Government is determined to carry on the practice of parliamentary democracy, notwithstanding the fact that today we see Members of the People's Action Party alone occupying seats on both sides of this Chamber. This is not our fault; neither is it our intention to destroy the Opposition, but I must certainly say that the Opposition in its madness has destroyed itself. There is no clause in the Constitution of Singapore which forbids or prohibits the formation of other political Parties. Neither is there any law which prevents representatives of political Parties, or Independents for that matter, from contesting the General Elections or, as the case may be in the recent bye-elections.

If today the House sees only a one-Party representation, it has been at the behest of the people. It is ultimately the electorate, the people of Singapore, who decide whether they wish to maintain political stability, whether they wish that there should be an efficient, honest and stable government, to run the affairs of State and, therefore, determine the future of our two million population.

With these words, Mr Speaker, I will only reiterate that the hopes and wishes of all those who wish parliamentary democracy to be upheld will not be in vain, and it is our intention to continue a custom which we have had for the last decade. You yourself, Mr Speaker, have expressed on behalf of the House your appreciation of the gift and the goodwill visit which was paid by Members of the House of Commons, and I do not wish to add further to what you already have said.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House expresses its warm appreciation of the generous gift of a bookcase and books which it received on the 16th of November, 1966, from a delegation of the Commons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a token of friendship and goodwill on the part of the House of Commons and people of the United Kingdom towards the Parliament and people of Singapore to commemorate the attainment by Singapore of independence within the Commonwealth.

3.45 p.m.