REASONS FOR RESIGNATION OF FORMER REGISTRAR OF VEHICLES

Inche Rahamat Bin Kenap asked the Minister of State (Prime Minister's Department) whether he is aware of the reasons for the resignation of the former Registrar of Vehicles after having held the post for only 5½ months.

Tuan Haji Yaacob Bin Mohamed: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, Mr Leembruggen, a Superscale Grade `G' officer in the Administrative Service, who has just left the Singapore Civil Service, had previously resigned on two occasions. First, in 1961 when he was persuaded to stay in the service, and, second, in 1962 when he changed his mind after tendering his resignation.

In November 1966, he was invited to appear before the Public Service Commission for promotion. He was, however, then holidaying in the United Kingdom and did not attend the interview. Special arrangements were made subsequently to interview him on his return from the United Kingdom. The Commission found Mr Leembruggen suitable for promotion from Superscale Grade G' to Permanent Secretary, Superscale Grade C' -a double promotion. However, he was willing to accept this promotion on condition he was placed senior to certain other Permanent Secretaries who had been promoted before him. This was an unacceptable condition as there was no provision in Establishment rules to allow officers to upset seniority in pursuit of personal feuds and rivalries with fellow officers. As a result, Mr Leembruggen turned down the offer of promotion and asked to be removed from his acting Permanent Secretaryship. He was therefore transferred as Registrar of Vehicles, a Grade `G' post. He has now resigned.