ELECTION OF DEPUTY SPEAKER

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

The Leader of the House (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I propose that Mr Hwang Soo Jin, the hon. Member for Jalan Kayu, be elected Deputy Speaker of this House.

Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I second the proposal.

Mr Speaker: There being only one proposal, I declare Mr Hwang Soo Jin to have been duly elected as Deputy Speaker of this Parliament. [Applause]

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the House, I extend my congratulations to the hon. Member on his election. He was first elected to this House in 1968 and has since taken an active part from the Backbench. Now that he has been elevated to this high position, I hope he will continue to be as active, never mind what hat he is wearing!

Sir, I would like to place on record also our appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Tang See Chim, the previous Deputy Speaker, who served us so well during the last nine years. He has performed your functions and duties whilst you were away from this House or absent from your seat, perhaps because you were tired of our deliberations.