COMMITTEE OF SELECTION

4.25 pm

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Community Development (Mr S. Dhanabalan): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name as it appears in the Order Paper.

*The motion reads as follows:--

That this Parliament in accordance with paragraph (1) of Standing Order 95, appoints the following as members of the Committee of Selection:--

Mr Chua Sian Chin

Mr S. Dhanabalan

Mr Lee Yiok Seng

Mr Lim Boon Heng

Encik Sidek bin Saniff

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam

Dr Tay Eng Soon.

Sir, the motion is self-explanatory.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a motion for the appointment of the Committee of Selection under Standing Order 95 of the Standing Orders of this House. This Committee will then proceed to nominate Members to the other committees.

Sir, I am aware of the provisions of the Standing Orders relating to committees of Parliament and that committees should reflect as far as possible the balance of Members in this House. I have raised before, the non-appointment of the only Opposition Member in the last Parliament to any of the committees of the House, I am aware that it may be interpreted in another way. But I maintain that under that clause, the committees of the House should, if it is at all possible, reflect the composition of the House. This House is no longer composed of just Members of one Party. This House is now composed of Members of three Parties. I am not saying that there should be a Member from each Party on each of the Committees. But I do say that the committees of this House should include at least one Member from the Opposition Bench. That would be a fair way of interpreting that Standing Order and implementing this Government's now stated intention not to try and obstruct the Opposition but to allow the Opposition to work together in trying to find solutions for our people.

I would propose, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, that one Member from the Opposition should be included on the Committee of Selection.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are aware that we now have two Members of the Opposition in this House. They form about 2,2% of the House. The Committee of Selection has seven members, apart from the Speaker. I think 21/2% of seven makes not even one-quarter. However, Sir, we are intending to take into account, the points made by the Member for Anson. If you take all the parliamentary committees to be appointed, the number of Members will come to around 50 and we can justify one Member of the Opposition on one of the committees. It is our intention to have either one or perhaps even both in one or two committees of Parliament.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with paragraph (1) of Standing Order 95, appoints the following as members of the Committee of Selection:-

Mr Chua Sian Chin

Mr S. Dhanabalan

Mr Lee Yiok Seng

Mr Lim Boon Heng

Encik Sidek bin Saniff

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam

Dr Tay Eng Soon.