MR LIM GUAN HOO, MEMBER FOR BUKIT MERAH (Gratuity for dependants)

Mr E.W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is with sorrow and regret that we listened to your announcement about one of our Members. Mr Lim Guan Hoo was first elected to Bukit Merah on the 18th January, 1966. He has been a Member of this House for more than 11 years, but is only 38 years old. He will not qualify for a pension until he attains the age of 45 years, which he is unlikely to do.

When I moved the Second Reading of the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 1977, I explained that the amendment will also provide for the payment of a commuted pension gratuity to the dependants of an MP who has had 9 years of reckonable service but dies before attaining the age of 45 years. Mr Lim's dependants will unfortunately not benefit from this amendment as he would have ceased to be a Member of this House before the Bill can receive the assent of the President. His dependants will also not be entitled to receive the death gratuity of a year's emoluments payable to dependants of deceased MPs because he will soon no longer be a Member of this House.

Government has considered his long years of loyal service and his present unfortunate circumstances, and decided that it would be just and proper to pay to his dependants a gratuity of a year's emoluments upon his death, as if he were a Member of this House and Parliamentary Secretary at the time of his death. He is married and will leave behind his wife and two young children, both boys, one now aged six and the other three years. Honourable Members join me, Sir, in extending our sympathies to his family.