REPLACEMENT OF NTUC SECRETARY-GENERAL

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons for his dismissal of the former Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress and his replacement by another Minister.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have not dismissed the former Secretary-General of the NTUC. Members of the Central Committee of the NTUC had written to me expressing their concern at their diminished sense of participation in decision-making. Later, at a meeting with me, members of the Central Committee stated their preference for Mr Ong Teng Cheong as Secretary-General.

Subsequent developments have been set out in two exchanges of letters between Mr Lim Chee Onn and me.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question for the Prime Minister. The Constitution of the NTUC provides for the Central Council to remove its Secretary-General. Why was it not possible for the Central Council to act within the Constitution rather than resort to you?

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know if the Member for Anson is the legal adviser to the NTUC. But no doubt he ought to proffer his gratuitous advice to them. They did not ask him to interpret their Constitution for them. They came to see me because they felt that they would meet with someone who had an understanding of their problems, with someone who, apart from the constitutional relationships, would have their wider interests at stake and who, regardless of the constitutional position, would strive to bring about a situation in which the higher interests of the NTUC were advanced.

I have not the slightest doubt that the Constitution would have provided them with all the legal means to get rid of a Secretary-General they did not wish. But that would not have provided them with a Secretary-General that they would wish, if it was Mr Ong Teng Cheong.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know why it would not have provided them with a Secretary-General that they wished. They could have taken the necessary steps to have him elected.

Mr Speaker: Can I have your supplementary question, Mr Jeyaretnam?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, the question is: Did the Prime Minister draw their attention to the Constitution and tell them that they were masters in their own house, that they should act within the powers given to them and not have the Prime Minister intervene in the affairs of the trade union movement?

The Prime Minister: I think the Member for Anson is envious of the rather friendly and fraternal relationships which I happen to enjoy with the Central Committee of the NTUC. It goes back many years. I do not have to tell them what they need do or need not do, and if they wish to seek my help I proffer it. If they act on their own, so be it. The reason why things have worked out well in Singapore is that both they and I have the good sense to know, first, what is the legal position; second, what is the ideal position.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Another supplementary question for the Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, Sir. What does the Prime Minister think about one of his Ministers heading a Ministry and at the same time assuming the post of unofficial adviser or leader of a trade union for workers of a statutory board under that very Ministry of which he is the head? Does he not think there is a conflict of loyalties there?

The Prime Minister: I am a little confused. I thought we were talking about the Secretary-General of the NTUC. We now seem to have wandered into some by-way.

Mr Speaker: I think you are going out of that question of yours, Mr Jeyaretnam. Can you ask a supplementary question based on your question, please?

The Prime Minister: I do not want to prevent any discussion. I just want to obey Standing Orders.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I ask the question that I want to ask, Mr Speaker, Sir? Is he not aware of the announcement that the former Minister for Communications and Labour was apparently also the adviser to the Port Workers Union, and led the workers in making representations to the Port of Singapore Authority?

The Prime Minister: I am not aware of such a situation.

Mr Jeyaretnam: It is in the papers.

The Prime Minister: I do not take cognizance of the same items as the Member for Anson does. Therefore, I seek the relevance of this to the subject matter which is the basis of his question. I will meet the point.