MASS RAPID TRANSIT CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 3.40 pm

The Minister for Communications and Information (Dr Yeo Ning Hong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, this Bill seeks to bring the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Act in line with Acts governing other similar statutory boards in three respects.

Firstly, the Bill will provide protection from personal liability for employees, officers, and board members for acts done in good faith in the course of their operations under the instruction of the Corporation.

Secondly, the Bill will provide a wider choice for the source of fund from which the Corporation can borrow money.

Thirdly, the Bill will require the MRTC to submit an annual report to be presented to Parliament.

Sir, these amendments follow the current practices of other statutory boards with functions similar to the MRTC, such as the Public Utilities Board, Port of Singapore Authority, Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Economic Development Board.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon (Alexandra): Mr Speaker, Sir, whilst supporting the Bill in general, I rise to express my concern over clause 2 of the Bill which is to prevent any form of legal proceedings being taken against anyone who works for the MRTC. I know that this is to bring it in line with the rules concerning other statutory boards. But I am wondering whether, in fact, this is the right thing to do.

Sir, in effect, such a clause gives a blanket insurance to people who work for the MRTC or for our statutory boards. It actually means that should a mishap occur a victim cannot seek recourse against the erring person except against the Corporation. Sir, let me give an example. If an accident involving a train should occur, the victim or the family of the victim can only sue the Corporation and cannot sue the train driver for negligence because this clause would bar the victim or the family of the victim from seeking such a wide course of action. I am afraid such a clause might give a false sense of security to the people who work for the MRTC, and it might make them less conscious of the regulations governing safety which is of particular concern especially at a time when we are trying to inculcate safety consciousness.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for Alexandra for his concern on the subject of safety. Safety is something that we emphasize again and again in all activities where the Corporation comes close to or has contact with the public. Let me assure him and clarify the Bill by saying that an employee of the Corporation is not free from liability if he is guilty of criminal negligence. It is when the employee is operating under instructions in good faith that he is free from liability.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.- [Dr Yeo Ning Hong].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Clause 1 -

The Chairman: The citation year will be altered from "1985" to "1986".

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 2 to 4 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.