HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Refusal to entertain MP's representations on behalf of other constituents)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development for the reasons behind the refusal of the Housing and Development Board to entertain letters from a Member of Parliament on behalf of persons who may not be resident in the constituency represented by the said Member of Parliament but who had approached that Member to make representations on their behalf.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Teh Cheang Wan): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is the HDB's rule that any constituent who wishes to appeal through a Member of Parliament should do so through the MP of his constituency.

On receipt of the representation made by the appropriate Member of Parliament, the HDB will look into the matter and give a reply to the MP to enable him to explain the issue to his constituent.

If this procedure is not adopted, a situation may arise where a person will go from one MP to another requesting similar representations to be made on his behalf. The answer which the HDB gives will invariably be the same on each occasion. Appealing through a number of MPs therefore does not help the appellant. On the other hand, the numerous representations made on the same subject not only lead to confusion but also generate unnecessary work for HDB staff. The time and effort spent by HDB staff in dealing with repetitive representations could be more productively utilized to serve other HDB residents.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, as I understand the Minister, the refusal is to prevent any constituent, after having applied through his own MP, moving on to another constituency. I can well understand that. But what about the case where the man does not go to his own MP but goes to some other MP and that MP makes representation, for the first time, on behalf of this man? What is the objection to that? That is one question. May I ask all my questions now, Sir?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Secondly, I would like to know when was this practice brought into effect. Thirdly, was it because of a directive from the Minister, or was it taken upon by the HDB themselves?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, this rule of the constituent seeing only his own MP was implemented in 1973 and not just recently. It was not because of the Anson by-election when we have an opposition Member that we adopted this policy. This policy was adopted in 1973.

As for the other question, I have already given the answer. The disadvantage of constituents going from MP to MP is that it will create a lot of unnecessary work. To answer the Member's question, if instead of going to his own MP, the person sees other MPs, they may not know what it is all about concerning that person. We expect the constituent to go to his own MP first.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, with respect, I do not think the Hon. Minister has answered my first question. Why is the Minister assuming that the MP to whom the man goes will not know all about his history? It is for the man to tell the MP all about his history. What if the man does not want to go to his own MP but he nevertheless wants a representation to be made on his behalf? What is so very wrong about it?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, I think the Member of Parliament has been elected to serve his constituents and if the Member of Parliament is not prepared to serve a particular constituent, then it becomes a separate case. But if a person, say, from another constituency, goes to see the hon. Member for Anson, I think the Member for Anson will ask for the reason why he does not see his own MP. This is the first question he will ask. And if he gives a rational explanation as to why he does not see his own MP, then if the rational explanation is given to the Housing Board, then I think the Housing Board will consider his case.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know whether the Minister should answer this, but is there a ruling that MPs only represent constituents in their own constituencies? Who has made this ruling?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not talking about this ruling. What I am talking about is the HDB, the matters presented to the HDB. The hon. Member has asked the question: "Why does the HDB deal with matters concerning a constituent only if they are raised through his own MP?" We are dealing with this aspect, not the whole issue. Most probably the hon. Member wants to bring in constitutional issues and so on. I am only talking about the HDB. This is the ruling which the Ministry of National Development gave to the HDB in 1973 - that the HDB will only deal with cases which are brought to HDB's attention by the MP representing the constituency in which the appellant lives.

Mr Jeyaretnam: There is no ruling?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: It is the Ministry's ruling.