SINGAPORE SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS (Council representation)

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for Finance (a) whether he is aware of the unhappiness among members of the Singapore Society of Accountants about (i) the voting procedures for the election of members of the Council; and (ii) the disproportionate representation of public accountants vis-a-vis registered accountants on the Council; and (b) whether he will consider taking steps to remedy the situation.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Goh Chok Tong) (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering this question on behalf of the Minister for Finance.

The voting procedures for the election of members to the Council have been the subject of much discussion by members of the Society and the Council over the past few years. Resolutions were passed at the 1978 and 1979 Annual General Meetings of the Society calling for the abolition of the present system of voting by proxy. All these have culminated in a proposal submitted by the Council to the Ministry of Finance suggesting the replacement of proxy voting by a system of voting by postal ballot in addition to voting in person. The Minister for Finance has accepted this and the necessary amendments to the Rules will be gazetted shortly.

On the point raised by the Member of disproportionate representation on the Council by public accountants as against registered accountants, the Act provides adequate safeguards through equal representation to ensure that neither category of members can dominate the Council.

Mr Rohan bin Kamis (Telok Blangah): Mr Speaker, Sir, currently each group of accountants can vote in its own group only, i.e. public accountants vote in PAS candidates and registered accountants vote in RAS candidates. Would the Minister then consider removing the restriction on voting by group only, thereby allowing registered accountants to vote in both RAS candidates and PAS candidates, and public accountants to do likewise? This would ensure that the Council member has been voted in by the popular choice of the whole membership. The group representation on the Council could, however, be left as it is.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Sir, if there is a recommendation to this effect by the Society, the Ministry of Finance will consider it.