LEGALISATION OF ABORTION (Representations by organisations)

Mrs Devan Nair asked the Minister for Health if he will sympathetically consider any representations made or to be made to him by religious and other organisations against the proposed legalisation of abortion.

Mr Lim Kim San (Acting Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am always very sympathetic to other views on any question. I would like to inform the House that representations from persons or organisations are now being received, and I can assure the House that the views of interested persons and organisations on the proposed legislation can be heard at the Select Committee stage after the principles of the Bill have been debated in Parliament at its Second Reading.

Mr Ho See Beng: If I understood the Minister correctly, the Government is going to proceed with legalised abortion. Can the Minister clarify?

Mr Speaker: I think it is obvious, Mr Ho, that the Minister went further than that. He even said that the Bill, if it passes the Second Reading, will be referred to a Select Committee.

Mr Tang See Chim (Choa Chu Kang): Mr Speaker, Sir, when will this Bill be introduced?

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am Acting Minister for Health and I cannot definitely tell the Member when. But if he has the patience to wait for the Minister for Health to come back, I am sure the date as to when the Bill will be tabled before this House will be made known to him.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Though the Minister concerned acts for the Minister for Health, he is still responsible for the whole Ministry.

An hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, my question is this. Will the Acting Minister for Health consider withdrawing the proposed Bill if all representations, either from religious bodies or otherwise, are in opposition to legalised abortion?

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to make it clear that I never for one deny responsibility for the Ministry of Health in any way.

As regards withdrawing the proposed Bill, I have not had a look at the representations nor are all representations in, and I cannot say that they are all in opposition. I am not as certain of it as the hon. Member for Punggol is.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, you see the trend against legal abortion in Singapore today is very clear. My question to the Minister is just to persuade the Government not to bring up this matter, because it might happen that when the Bill comes up and if the Government is defeated, it will put the Government in a very embarrassing position.

Some hon. Members: No.

Mr Ho See Beng: It is very likely.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, if Mr Ho is that persuasive, I suggest that he make his persuasion in Committee.