CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister for Law and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Our Constitution, as it now stands, allows a citizen of 21 years of age to stand for election to this House. Insofar as residence is concerned, all he has to show is that at the date of his nomination for election he is resident in Singapore. Accordingly, a citizen who has spent a greater part of his life abroad and who may have resided in Singapore for only a brief period in his youth can stand as a candidate for election to Parliament. This is not in the national interest. A person who has spent a greater part of his life outside Singapore is likely to have his interest and sympathies elsewhere. Such a person would not be capable of truly sharing and reflecting the feelings and desires of our people and having their interests at heart. Furthermore, he would not have acquired sufficient experience of local conditions and problems if he has not actually resided here for a considerable period. Accordingly, this Bill introduces a minimum residential qualification of 10 years for candidates for Parliamentary election.

I would like to point out to hon. Members that the Bill does not require the residential period of 10 years to be continuous. Further, the Bill does not require this residential period to be a period "immediately preceding" the date of nomination for Parliamentary election. All that the Bill requires is that a candidate must have been resident in Singapore for periods amounting, in the aggregate, to not less than 10 years before he can stand for election to Parliament.

It is hoped that with this requirement we would be more in a position to ensure that only those citizens with a genuine interest for and a sense of commitment to Singapore will stand for election to Parliament.

Sir, I beg to move.

Mr Speaker: As this Bill seeks to amend the Constitution of Singapore, in accordance with the provisions of clause (2) of Article 5 of the Constitution, it shall not be passed by Parliament unless it has been supported on Second and Third Readings by votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of Members of Parliament. The Bill must, therefore, receive the affirmative votes of not less than 46 Members on its Second and Third Readings.

To ensure that the aforesaid provisions of Article 5 of the Constitution are complied with, Divisions will be taken on the Questions on the Second and Third Readings of the Bill.

Question put, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Division taken: Ayes, 56; Noes, Nil; Abstentions, Nil: Absent, 12. AYES A. Rahim Ishak Ahmad Mattar Ang Kok Peng Ang Nam Piau Barker, E.W. Chai Chong Yii Chan Chee Seng Chen, Bernard Cheong Yuen Chee, Eric Chin Harn Tong Ch'ng Jit Koon Chor Yeok Eng Chua Sian Chin Dhanabalan, S. Fong Sip Chee Ho Cheng Choon Ho See Beng Hon Sui Sen Howe Yoon Chong Hwang Soo Jin Koh Lip Lin Lai Tha Chai Lau Teik Soon Lee Chiaw Meng Lee Khoon Choy Lim Chee Onn Lim Kim San Mansor Haji Sukaimi Nair, C.V. Devan Ng Kah Ting Ngeow Pack Hua Ong Leong Boon Ong Pang Boon Ong Teng Cheong Ow Chin Hock Phua Bah Lee Rahmat bin Kenap Rohan bin Kamis Seah Mui Kok Selvadurai, P. Sha'ari bin Tadin Sia Kah Hui Sia Khoon Seong Sidek bin Saniff Tan Cheng San Tan, Augustine H.H. Tan Keng Yam, Tony Tan Soo Khoon Tang See Chim Teh Cheang Wan AYES (contd) Teo Chong Tee Toh Chin Chye Yap Giau Cheng, Eugene Yeo Choo Kok Yeo Toon Chia Yeoh Ghim Seng NOES Nil ABSTENTIONS Nil ABSENT Chiang Hai Ding Conceicao, J.F. Goh Chok Tong Goh Keng Swee Ho Kah Leong Jek Yeun Thong Lee Kuan Yew Lee Yiok Seng Othman bin Wok Rajaratnam, S. Tan Eng Liang Ya'acob bin Mohamed

Mr Speaker: The Second Reading of the Bill has accordingly been agreed to in accordance with the provisions of clause (2) of Article 5 of the Constitution.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr E.W. Barker].

Bill considered in Committee: and reported without amendment.

Third Reading

Mr Speaker: Third Reading, what day?

Mr Barker: Now, Sir. I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

Question put "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

Division taken: Ayes, 56; Noes, Nil; Abstentions, Nil; Absent, 12. AYES A. Rahim Ishak Ahmad Mattar Ang Kok Peng Ang Nam Piau Barker, E.W. Chai Chong Yii Chan Chee Seng Chen, Bernard Cheong Yuen Chee, Eric Chin Harn Tong Ch'ng Jit Koon Chor Yeok Eng Chua Sian Chin Dhanabalan, S. Fong Sip Chee Ho Cheng Choon Ho See Beng Hon Sui Sen Howe Yoon Chong Hwang Soo Jin Koh Lip Lin Lai Tha Chai Lau Teik Soon Lee Chiaw Meng Lee Khoon Choy Lim Chee Onn Lim Kim San Mansor Haji Sukaimi Nair, C.V. Devan Ng Kah Ting Ngeow Pack Hua Ong Leong Boon Ong Pang Boon Ong Teng Cheong Ow Chin Hock Phua Bah Lee Rahmat bin Kenap Rohan bin Kamis Seah Mui Kok Selvadurai, P. Sha'ari bin Tadin Sia Kah Hui Sia Khoon Seong Sidek bin Saniff Tan Cheng San Tan, Augustine H.H. Tan Keng Yam, Tony Tan Soo Khoon Tang See Chim Teh Cheang Wan AYES (contd) Teo Chong Tee Toh Chin Chye Yap Giau Cheng, Eugene Yeo Choo Kok Yeo Toon Chia Yeoh Ghim Seng NOES Nil ABSTENTIONS Nil ABSENT Chiang Hai Ding Conceicao, J.F. Goh Chok Tong Goh Keng Swee Ho Kah Leong Jek Yeun Thong Lee Kuan Yew Lee Yiok Seng Othman bin Wok Rajaratnam, S. Tan Eng Liang Ya'acob bin Mohamed

Mr Speaker: The Third Reading of the Bill has accordingly been agreed to in accordance with the provisions of clause (2) of Article 5 of the Constitution.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.