GEYLANG WEST (By-election)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Speaker: Question 1, addressed to the Prime Minister, will be taken at 2.30 pm. Question 2, Mr Chiam.

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Prime Minister when a by-election will be held at the Geylang West Constituency.

The First Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Goh Chok Tong) (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering this question on behalf of the Prime Minister. As in the case of Anson, the Government will decide on a by-election for Geylang West Constituency in the latter half of this year. There is no obligation under the Constitution to hold a by-election within a specific time.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, the last time, I believe the answer was that there was going to be some kind of an announcement. May I ask the First Deputy Prime Minister whether this announcement has got something to do with the elected President that has been proposed?

Mr Speaker: Is that relevant to this Question?

Mr Chiam See Tong: It is, Sir. It has something to do with the delay in the holding of the by-election.

Mr Speaker: No. The elected President has got nothing to do with this particular question, Mr Chiam. Please ask your supplementary question on this Question.

Mr Chiam See Tong: I would ask the First Deputy Prime Minister the reason for the delay in holding the by-election. Is it because the ground is against the Government at the moment?

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no delay. As I have explained just now, under the Constitution there is no requirement to hold a by-election within a specific time and the Government will so decide in the latter half of this year.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the question of whether or not there is a legal need to hold a by-election is certainly a moot point. If no time frame is given, then it must be held within a reasonable time. And as I have already stated, "within reasonable time" would be three months when it was first vacated on December 14th.

Mr Speaker: Let us have your supplementary question, Mr Chiam.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Yes. I am asking the First Deputy Prime Minister whether he believes in democracy. And if he does, whether or not it is in line with the democratic process where the people have a right to choose a representative in Parliament, of their own choice and not an appointed one in the case of Geylang West.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, we believe in democracy and we hold elections regularly. We will decide when to hold the by-election in accordance with the Constitution. It is not a moot point. It is in the Constitution as to when the Government can decide to hold a by-election. If I may repeat, we will come to that decision in the latter half of this year.

Mr Speaker: Let us have your next question.

Mr Chiam See Tong: One last supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Is the delay a strategic retreat on the part of the PAP?

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, we shall see when we hold a by-election whether the Member for Potong Pasir will be there, especially in Anson.