CIVIL SERVANTS (Dismissal for indebtedness)

Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Finance if civil servants are dismissed from the Service for indebtedness as a rule; and whether he will consider applying a rule to give a civil servant, who is indebted, a second chance to prove his worth in the Service if his case deserves it.

Mr Tang See Chim (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, under civil service regulations, an officer may be dismissed from the service on account of indebtedness. This extreme punishment, however, is meted out only in bad cases. Thus, out of 123 cases of indebtedness which came before the Public Service Commission for the period 1st January, 1966, to 30th June, 1968, 53 cases resulted in dismissal and nine in compulsory retirement.

A first offender is normally given a warning only, if the amount of debt is small and his work and conduct are satisfactory. Cases of dismissal usually involve officers who are habitual borrowers with a long history of unsettled debts. Such officers are generally found to be of questionable integrity and are unfit for retention in the service.

The Government is anxious to retain the better and more efficient officers in the service and would be prepared to give an officer who is indebted a second chance in deserving cases.