PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE (Executive powers)

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Prime Minister whether a decision has been reached on his proposal announced in the House to give the President certain executive powers.

The Prime Minister: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Cabinet has decided to proceed with an amendment of the Constitution to require the President's consent before any government is able to use up reserves accumulated by previous governments.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would the Prime Minister say whether he has considered referring this matter to the electorate on a referendum which he said he might consider, when speaking on this in the last Parliament?

The Prime Minister: In the last Parliament, I made my position clear: we proceed step by step. The first step is to have proposals for such a two-key safeguard drafted, commented upon, clarified, refined. Draft proposals for such a two-key safeguard have been sent by the Attorney-General to the Accountant-General, the Auditor-General, Permanent Secretaries and other senior officers concerned with the management of reserves. Their views will be considered in refining the arrangements. This will take two years before it is refined and published in a White Paper, which will then be a subject of debate.

Mr Jeyaretnam: My question to the Prime Minister is this: will he consider referring this to the electorate, not just the Accountant-General, the Attorney-General, and the other ministries, for their views? The question is: does the Prime Minister contemplate referring this to the electorate on a referendum?

The Prime Minister: The constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of this House. If the Member for Anson and the other Opposition Member are both convinced that the White Paper is an outrage and that it merits a reference to a referendum, the matter will be considered. But let me remind the Member for Anson that it costs, as in the case of a general election, something around $70 to $loo million each time to mount such an exercise.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would the Prime Minister not think that on an important issue like this, where we are now going to take a departure from the style of government we have pursued since 1959, the Cabinet style of government, that this change requires consultation of the electorate, particularly, Mr Prime Minister, considering that the Government does not have a two-thirds majority of the electorate?

The Prime Minister: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Opposition Member is anxious for another bruising trial of influence, strength, and oratory.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Why not?

The Prime Minister: Let's have the White Paper, let's hear him, let's see whether the electorate wants to hear him. If so, despite the costs, there may well be a bruising experience for some of us.

Mr Jeyaretnam: I ask the Prime Minister for his views. Would he try and answer that question? Does he not think that, in view of the fact that the percentage of voters at the last election was below 66%, it is necessary and an act of wise statesmanship to refer a matter like this to the electorate?

The Prime Minister: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, first, it does not require a 66% mandate of votes cast before any constitutional amendments are made. The Member contested the last elections on the platform that the Government should not be given a two-thirds majority of Members of this House or else it could carry out constitutional amendments. But the electorate chose to give this Government that authority.

Coming to percentages of the House, I would ask the Member to be extremely careful about making wide-sweeping statements. Over 30% of the seats were not contested and they were the safer ones. Had they been contested, the percentages, even of the electorate, might have been different.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Does not the Prime Minister think that is pure speculation at the moment?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Jeyaretnam, are you not proceeding with the next question?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Question No. 2, Sir.