ELECTORAL CONSTITUENCIES (Number)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Prime Minister whether there are any plans to increase the number of electoral constituencies for elections to Parliament and if there are such plans whether a committee has been set up or will be set up to re-draw the boundaries of constituencies and whether political parties will be consulted or invited to serve on the committee.

The Prime Minister: As there have been population shifts away from the old centres of population into the new towns, my Office will appoint an Electoral Boundaries Delineation Committee consisting of civil servants. Their report will be presented to this House.

On previous occasions in 1967, 1971, 1976 and 1980, no political party served on the Committee. Until there is a credible Opposition party, this will continue to be the practice.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, does the Prime Minister not accept that what he may have done from 1962 to 1983 should not form the basis for any future conduct of elections? Now, since 1981, will the Prime Minister accept that there is a Member from an Opposition party in Parliament? And is it not time that political parties were consulted on the question of elections instead of keeping it as a preserve to himself, the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, make-belief is to a certain extent necessary. We treat the Member for Anson with the necessary courtesy -

Mr Jeyaretnam: Do you?

The Prime Minister: - and extend him the sense of importance which he, as the lone Opposition Member, feels he deserves. But if he wants us to take him seriously as a person who represents the Opposition, the alternative government, then he must comport himself as such. There must be element of credibility. I find it impossible to believe that any Committee can benefit in any way from having his counsel in its private deliberations. I think there is much more value in having the deliberations out in the open than in the same futile, utterly irrelevant series of questions which leads nowhere. And inevitably he knows because he has no destination, no particular objective when he sets out this question. So I will find it much more useful, and so will the other members of this Committee who have had long years of delineating constituencies (the Member for Anson has no idea how delineations take place) and I will find it much more useful to have his contributions in this Chamber, not in the committee room.

Mr Jeyaretnam: The Prime Minister speaks about credibility. Does he not accept that the credibility of a political party is to be judged by the electorate, by those who make the decision, and not by the Prime Minister?

The Prime Minister: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Workers' Party is heavily in debt and in danger of being wound up.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Just answer the question.

The Prime Minister: That he had won an election in October 1981 is B.C.; and that his very existence constitutionally as a Member is in doubt is a fact.

Mr Jeyaretnam: What are you referring to?

The Prime Minister: Sir, I am no more than pointing out to the Member that if a party is wound up because it does not pay its debts, then the representative of that party in this House ceases to be a Member. And if he wants us to take him seriously, he has to take himself and his party seriously.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Is he not in danger of bringing in court proceedings? Is there a law for himself and another law for others?

The Prime Minister: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not wish in any way to prolong the agony for the Member for Anson. But he has this irresistible urge to inflict damage upon himself. If he wishes us to accord to him the position of an alternate Prime Minister, then he must comport himself and his party in a way which leads us to assume that he is serious in his purposes. But when he conducts himself with utter disregard for rules of decency and honesty and truthfulness, then I think we have the right to have all our dealings with him out in the open, not in committee.

Mr Jeyaretnam: These are serious allegations of dishonesty against me.

The Prime Minister: They are.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would you put it on paper?

The Prime Minister: I have.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Put it on paper and send it to me.

The Prime Minister: I have indeed. That he is a continuous purveyor of untruth has been found so by the courts. He is under charge -

Mr Jeyaretnam: There you are, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. The Prime Minister asked that I comport myself. Is it not time that the Prime Minister comported himself? He keeps referring to court proceedings -

Mr Deputy Speaker: He is reminding -

Mr Jeyaretnam: Do we not have a Standing Order that says, "No mention or reference shall be made to any proceedings in courts?"

The Prime Minister: Yes. I am afraid I do not agree with him. It is many years since I practise the law. I am in no way prejudicing any court action against the Member. I am pointing out to him that when case after case in which he has been involved either personally as plaintiff or defendant or accused person or as advocate, his conduct has been less than exemplary, we have the right to treat him with a large question mark.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would you like to appoint a commission of inquiry?

The Prime Minister: An utter and absolute waste of time. We will conduct the inquiry each time he comports himself and brings his questions into this House.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Why do you not comport yourself?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Liew Kok Pun.