ANSON PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY (Delay in registration)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there is any reason why the Registrar of Societies should delay the registration of the proposed Anson People's Assembly.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

Sir, it is not the Registrar of Societies who has delayed the registration of the proposed Anson People's Assembly. As the Registrar informed the Member for Anson on 11th September, 1986, the delay in registration is, and here I quote, Sir:

"caused by repeated non-compliance of requirements and incomplete submission of details and information on your part."

When the Member for Anson first applied on 9th October, 1985, for registration of the society, the Registrar of Societies found its constitution incomplete and contrary to the standard requirements of a non-political society. Among other things, it did not include the standard prohibition clauses against indulging in political activities and allowing its funds or premises to be used for political purposes. Details such as the procedure for election of office bearers were omitted. As the main objective of the proposed society was to promote the welfare of the residents and membership was restricted to residents of the Anson Constituency, the Member for Anson was also requested to appoint a resident of Anson as the Secretary of the society.

In his reply in July 1986, the Member for Anson did agree to appoint a resident of Anson as Secretary, but he failed to name the Secretary. Moreover, his revised constitution still did not include the prohibition clauses on political activities for a non-political society.

Sir, in his latest reply of 6th October 1986, the Member for Anson has now said that some of the society's, and here I quote "activities may be considered political." As such, he has refused to include the prohibition clauses on political activities. So long as the Memberfor Anson persists in not complying with the requirements of the Registrar of Societies, it will not be possible for the application to be approved.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Supplementary questions for the Minister of State. Does the Minister appreciate that the Registrar took more than two months to reply to my letter of the 8th July 1986? And does he also appreciate that this has been the pattern of the Registrar's letters replying to our letters even before that --- that he has taken two to three months to give answers to questions posed by us?

Secondly, will the Minister state whether the proposed Assembly has declared its intention to have any premises? So does he accept that the requirement that the premises be not used for any political purposes is a non sequitur because there are no premises for this Assembly? Will the Minister state why is the Registrar making a fuss about premises when there is no intention to have any premises?

Thirdly, will the Minister of State read the whole of my letter of the 6th October in regard to the Registrar's query whether any of the activities may be political? Does he not think it is only fair that he should read the whole of my letter?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson takes objection to the two-month interval between his letter to the Registrar of Societies and the reply. He should know that the Registrar of Societies deals with thousands of societies in Singapore and it is the Registrar's duty to deal with every query expeditiously. Queries bearing sufficient information will certainly be dealt with in a much shorter time. But the Member for Anson has persistently refused to submit the required information. Therefore, it is just not possible to reply to him as expeditiously as in replying to the others.

With regard to this delay, he said that the Registrar took two months to reply to him. Does he not know that it took him a much longer time to reply to a simple query from the Registrar of Societies? Sir, the Member for Anson was informed on 29th January 1986 that he must nominate a resident as a secretary of the proposed Assembly or society, since the membership of the association is limited to Anson residents. He was reminded to do so in a letter dated 22nd May 1986. How long did it take the Member for Anson to submit just this one name for a secretary of the proposed association? Sir, it took him eight months, from 29th January 1986 to 6th October 1986, before he was able to inform the Registrar of Societies that he has found an Anson resident who is prepared now to be the secretary of his proposed association. These eight months' delay cannot be attributed to the Registrar of Societies. The Member for Anson has only himself to blame if he cannot supply essential information on time.

Sir, on his other question about premises of his proposed society, he says that there is no premises. Mr Speaker, Sir, this is quite contrary to section 11, subsection 1(a), of the Societies Act which requires a society to obtain the Registrar's prior approval, in writing, before it changes its place of business. In other words, every society must have a place of business. How could you have a society with no abode, a homeless society? Where does the society propose to conduct its business? A mail box? Hold its meeting in a mail box in the post office?

Mr Chiam See Tong: That is not funny.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: It is not intended to be funny.

Mr Chiam See Tong: How can you hold a meeting in a mail box?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, how can you have a society with no place of business?

Mr Chiam See Tong: You are the one who said ---

Mr Speaker: Let's have some order in the House.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, the Member for Anson's letter of the 6th October is quite clear.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Read the letter.

An hon. Member: Don't waste time!

Dr Lee Boon Yang: The Member for Anson can distribute the letter if he chooses to.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Why do you not read it?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: He has said very clearly in his letter of the 6th October that his association will be involved in activities (and here I quote) "which may be considered political. It may wish to voice its opposition to any proposed scheme or measure."

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would the Minister of State say whether he is aware that it is unconstitutional for the Registrar to refuse registration? And it is equally unconstitutional for him to drag his feet in acceding registration to anyone who wishes to form a society under the Societies Act? Is the Minister of State aware of that?

Secondly, the Minister would appear to have overlooked that there was a reply to the Registrar's letter of the 29th January 1986 by my letter of the 6th March 1986? And it was in reply to that letter that the Registrar wrote on the 22nd May 1986, another full two months, which was replied on the 8th July 1986, and he took another two months before he replied on the 11th September 1986.

Finally, I see that the Minister refused to read my letter. Does he admit that in that letter I was pointing out that the proposed society may take it upon itself to make representations to the Government to oppose any introduction of any plan or scheme for the constituency or to advocate introduction of something which they think is desirable? And I said, "to that extent it may be political." Is that not what I said, Mr Minister?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have answered already, the Registrar of Societies is not dragging his feet in delaying the registration of the proposed society. It is the duty of the Registrar of Societies to ensure that societies are registered with proper constitutions and rules and regulations which will allow for proper management and control of these societies. If the Member for Anson refuses to comply with such proper rules and regulations, then obviously his society cannot be registered.

The Member for Anson referred to his letter of the 6th March. He failed to inform the House that in the letter he merely agreed to the principle that since his proposed society was limiting its membership to residents of Anson he therefore accepts the requirement that its secretary should be a resident of Anson.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Exactly.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: But in the same letter he did not forward a name. And what the Registrar of Societies requires in order to complete the application procedure is to have a name, Sir.

On his third point relating to his letter of the 6th October, again it was very clearly stated in the letter that he wished to arrogate for the society that he is proposing to register the powers to voice its opposition to any proposed scheme or measure. And that, in itself, is suggestive of political activity, political agitation. And precisely, because of such statements of intention, the Government must require the proposed Anson People's Assembly to come clean and state its intention. Is it the desire of the Anson People's Assembly to operate as a political party? If that is so, then declare yourself to be a political party and it will be registered accordingly. But if it is the desire of the Assembly to operate just as a society to look after the welfare and the social recreational needs of the residents of Anson, then incorporate the prohibition clauses on political activities and it will, again, be registered expeditiously without any further delays.

Mr Jeyaretnam rose ---

Mr Speaker: I think that is enough.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng (Jalan Kayu): Question 7, Sir.

Mr Jeyaretnam: But I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker, Sir.

Mr Speaker: I am sorry. The next Question has been called. We cannot spend the whole morning on your questions alone.