HINDU ENDOWMENTS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.40 p.m.

Mr Speaker: Before I call upon the Minister for Social Affairs to deal with the Hindu Endowments Bill, I would like to draw the attention of hon. Members to a certain point. From the Order Paper, it will be seen that this Bill and three other Bills will be referred to Select Committee. I think it may be advantageous for me to draw the attention of Members of the House to Standing Order 68, the first paragraph of which reads:

'Any Committee to which a Bill is committed shall not discuss the principle of the Bill but only its details.'

Therefore, if hon. Members wish to express any views on the principle behind the four Bills that are going to Select Committee, the time and place to do it is here today and not in Select Committee. Inche Othman.

3.41 p.m.

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

This Bill has been under consideration for a long time and its provisions have been discussed with members of the Hindu Advisory Board and the Secretary of the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board. The advice of the Attorney-General has also been obtained on the detailed provisions of the Bill, and the present Bill incorporates such suggestions as are reasonable and in keeping with the scheme and purpose of the Bill.

The purpose of this Bill is as indicated in the explanatory statement, to set up a new Hindu Endowments Board to look after Hindu religious and charitable endowments and to take over such Hindu endowments as are at present administered by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board appointed under the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Ordinance. With the enactment of the Administration of Muslim Law Act, 1966, which will come into operation soon, the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board will cease to have any control over Muslim endowments.

The Bill, in the main, re-enacts the provisions of the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Ordinance but omits references to Muslim endowments. Certain new provisions, however, have been included. I will now touch on the more important of these provisions in the Bill.

Clause 5 of the Bill provides that no person shall be appointed a member of the Board unless he is a Hindu and a citizen of Singapore. This is in keeping with our new status as an independent and sovereign country. The same clause provides that members of the Board are to be appointed for a period of three years and will be eligible for re-appointment. But no member may be appointed for more than two consecutive terms. At present, a member appointed to the Board can continue to serve on the Board until he is removed by the Minister or resigns or dies. A limitation of appointment to a maximum of two consecutive terms will enable new members to be brought into the Board.

Clause 9 of the Bill stipulates the conditions under which the Minister may revoke the appointment of a member of the Board if his conduct is, in the opinion of the Minister, such as to bring, discredit upon the Board, or if he becomes unable to carry out his duties properly, or if the Minister considers it desirable in the public interest to revoke the appointment. No such conditions are provided for the removal of any member of the Board in the existing Ordinance.

Clause 18 of the Bill requires members of the committee of management, appointed by the Board with the' approval of the Minister to manage an endowment, to be citizens of Singapore. Such members shall be appointed for' two years and shall be eligible for re-appointment. But again no member shall be appointed for more than two consecutive terms.

Clause 19 of the Bill empowers the Board to raise funds by means of' voluntary subscriptions or contributions for the performance of its duties and the-discharge of its obligations. No such power exists in the existing Ordinance.

Clause 28 of the Bill makes it necessary for the Secretary of the Board to exhibit a copy of the annual report and accounts of the Board in each temple administered by the Board. Hitherto, such reports and accounts are required only to be published in the Gazette. As the Government Gazette may not be readily available to all Hindus attending their temples, the exhibition of the annual report and accounts at the temple premises will enable those Hindus who attend the temples to know the activities of the Board.

Clause 34 of the Bill expressly prohibits the Board or any committee of management from permitting any temple administered by the Board or property belonging to any endowment to be used for political purposes. This provision is to ensure that activities in temples administered by the Board will not give rise to political controversy.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

3.47 p.m.

Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, I strongly support the Bill.

Before the coming into being of this Bill, all property belonging to Hindu endowments was vested in the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board which was set up in the British colonial era. With the passage of time, we found discrepancies as a result of the changed conditions in the Republic. We naturally need some changes. I consider this Bill to be very desirable. The Hindu Endowments Board will be set up to administer Hindu religious and charitable endowments. The members of the Board must be Hindus as well as citizens of Singapore. No member, however, can dominate the Board's affairs for a prolonged period, unlike in the past when a certain group of members could dominate Hindu affairs with their autocratic policies.

With the passage of the Bill, every member is allowed to serve on the Board for not more than three years. This is more democratic.

I thank the Minister for Social Affairs for bringing this Bill into this House.

Mr Speaker: Inche Othman, I take it that you do not want to reply?

Inche Othman Bin Wok: No, Sir, except to thank the Member for Anson for his kind words.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Resolved, "That the Bill be committed to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and seven Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection." - [Inche Othman Bin Wok].