ANSON BYE-ELECTION

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Prime Minister whether and when a Writ of Election in respect of the Anson Constituency will be issued; and, if not, what are the reasons for not holding a bye-election at Anson.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr S. Dhanabalan) (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. The Government has not decided on a bye-election in Anson. There is no obligation under the law to hold a bye-election within a specific time.

The Government will take a decision in the latter half of next year. We shall inform the Member for Potong Pasir.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the only reason I can say is that, according to the Minister, there is no necessity under the law to hold a bye-election. But I beg to differ with him. There is a necessity to hold a bye-election.

Mr Speaker: Mr Chiam, could you please ask your supplementary question? You are making a speech.

Mr Chiam See Tong: All right, I will ask my supplementary question. Although the law does not say within a time frame in which a bye-election should be held, does not the Minister interpret the law that it must be held within a reasonable time, say, three months from 10th November, 1986?

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, this is not the first time we have debated the question of whether there should be a bye-election. In 1983 when the late Mr Hon Sui Sen passed away and his seat in Havelock fell vacant we had a fairly lengthy debate in this House. There is nothing in the law that even requires a bye-election to be held. I am speaking on the basis of an Opinion from the Attorney-General. If the Member for Potong Pasir feels very strongly that the law requires that we hold a bye-election within a reasonable time, which he puts as "three months", I think he is aware of the legal recourses that he has to force the Government to have a bye-election.

Mr Chiam See Tong: This is typical of the Government - "Go to the Courts". We have heard that before. Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1983 at Havelock there were valid reasons. That constituency was to be taken away and the Prime Minister had said that the General Elections was going to be early. Now, let us have the reasons this time, Mr Minister. If there are no valid reasons then a bye-election should be held. Let us have the valid reasons, please, like in Havelock.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have made it very clear that we are under no obligation to have a bye-election. There is no requirement under the law. There never was a requirement. It is entirely up to the Government to choose the time that it feels is appropriate to have a bye-election, and we are not obliged to give any reasons.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I ask the Minister: Is he afraid of losing the bye-election? Let us have the truth. Are you afraid that Hong Lim 1961 will be repeated all over again?

An hon. Member: Are you afraid of being lonely in the House?

Mr Chiam See Tong: Don't be funny.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Potong Pasir must know that whatever happens in any bye -election in Anson will not in the slightest way affect the performance of this Government because we have such an overwhelming majority here. So that is certainly not the consideration. I take it, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the Member for Potong Pasir is so anxious to have a bye-election in Anson because his Party will contest the bye-election.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Mr Speaker, I am not anxious. We here are not concerned about me. We are concerned about the nation. We have been talking of nation building. We have been talking of democracy. We have been talking of the right of representation. Do not all these things mean anything to the Minister at all?

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have nothing more to add. The people of Anson elected Mr Jeyaretnam. He has been convicted of a criminal offence and fined and sent to jail. They have to learn to live with the consequences of their choice.