DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBER FOR ANSON (Announcement by Mr Speaker)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Speaker: I have to inform the House that I received a letter from J.B. Jeyaretnam & Co. dated the 27th November 1986 written on behalf of Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam in which they had expressed his intention to attend the sitting of Parliament on the 9th December 1986 and had requested me to make arrangements to enable him to do so.

I have sought the advice of the Attorney-General on the matter and he has given me an Opinion which reads as follows:-

'I have been asked by Mr Speaker for my opinion on the effect of the dismissal of Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam's appeal against his conviction and sentence particularly in respect of the said appeal as regards his status as a Member of Parliament.

Having previously heard arguments in respect of the said appeal from both the appellant's lawyers and the Deputy Public Prosecutor, the High Court on 10th November 1986 made the following orders:-

(a) the appeal against conviction be dismissed;

(b) the sentence imposed by the Senior District Judge be varied to:-

(i) an imprisonment for a term of one month; and

(ii) a fine of $5,000 in default of which the appellant will have to serve a further term of one month's imprisonment; and

(c) bail extended till 11th November 1986 pending the hearing of the Criminal Motion No. 59 of 1986.

On 11th November 1986 Criminal Motion No. 59 of 1986 was heard and dismissed by the High Court.

In view of the fine of $5,000 imposed on him by the High Court on 10th November 1986, Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam became subject to disqualification from membership of Parliament (vide Article 45(1)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore). As the Order of Court refers to this imposition of fine being made on the 10th day of November 1986, and as the Order was also dated the 10th day of November 1986, his disqualification took effect from that date.'

I have to therefore inform hon. Members that Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam ceased to be a Member of Parliament with effect from the 10th November 1986.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I just make a comment on what you have just read?

Mr Speaker: No. It is not usual for Members to make comments on my Statement. You ask your first Question for Oral Answer, Mr Chiam.