HOLIDAYS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.11 p.m.

The Minister for Culture and Social Affairs (Inche Othman Bin Wok): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The purpose of this Bill is a simple one, namely, to re-enact with suitable changes the former Holidays Ordinance which had been in force in Singapore prior to the establishment of Malaysia.

As hon. Members are aware, when Singapore became part of Malaysia, the Malaysian Government by an Order extended the Malaysia Holidays Ordinance, 1951, to Singapore, with the result that the Singapore Holidays Ordinance ceased to have effect in Singapore. Now that Singapore has left Malaysia and has become a sovereign and independent Republic, it is obviously desirable to have our own holidays legislation.

This Bill, in the main, repeats the provisions of the former Holidays Ordinance, but makes one important change. There is no provision to allow Bank Holidays to be observed, as used to be the practice in the past when 1st July and 31st December were observed as Bank Holidays to enable the banks to close the mid-year and end-of-year accounts. Subsequently, as a result of consultations with the Singapore banks, it has been agreed that, by reorganising their work, the banks can dispense with Bank Holidays in future, and thus provide a more convenient service for the public. I should mention that the banks in Malaysia have also been managing without Bank Holidays.

The Schedule to the Bill, which may be modified from time to time, lists a total of 16 public holidays for the year which are currently being observed in Singapore.

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 House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -. [Inche Othman Wok].

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