CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE (AMENDMENT) BILL (As reported from Select Committee)

Order for Third Reading read.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

This Bill to amend the Constitution, like the Bill to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act, seeks to enact new provisions to ensure the representation of the Malay and Indian and other minority communities in Parliament.

This House has just passed the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill. The points made in the debate on the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill apply to this Bill. The amendments made by the Select Committee to this Bill are similar to those made to the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill. I suggest, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we consider the Third Reading of this Bill without repeating the debate.

Sir, I beg to move.

Mr Deputy Speaker: The Question is, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

A Division will be taken to ascertain that the Third Reading of the Bill is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of Members of Parliament, which is 53 Members, pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Constitution. Ring the Division Bells.

Question put, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

Division taken: Ayes, 67; Noes, Nil; Abstentions, Nil. Ayes Ayes (cont.) Abbas Abu Amin Othman bin Haron Eusofe Abdullah Tarmugi Ow Chin Hock Ahmad Mattar Phua Bah Lee Ang Kok Peng Sia Khoon Seong Barker, E.W. Sidek bin Saniff Beng Kian Lam, Arthur Tan Cheng Bock Chai Chong Yii Tan, Dixie Chandra Das, S. Tan, Augustine H.H. Chen, Bernard Tan Keng Yam, Tony Cheong Yuen Chee, Eric Tan Soo Khoon Chew Heng Ching Tan Tee Yong, Philip Chin Harn Tong Tang Guan Seng Chng Hee Kok Tang See Chim Ch'ng Jit Koon Tay Eng Soon Dhanabalan, S. Teo Chong Tee Goh Chee Wee Vasoo, S. Goh Chok Tong Wan Hussin bin Hj Zoohri Goh Choon Kang Wan Soon Bee Heng Chiang Meng Wang Kai Yuen Ho Kah Leong Wong, Aline K. Ho Tat Kin Wong Kan Seng Hu Tsu Tau, Richard Wong Kwei Cheong Ibrahim Othman Yap Giau Cheng, Eugene Jayakumar, S. Yatiman Yusof Jek Yeun Thong Yeo Choo Kok Koh Lam Son Yeo Ning Hong Koh Lip Lin Yeo Toon Chia Lai Tha Chai Yu-Foo Yee Shoon Lau Teik Soon Zulkifli bin Mohammed Lee Boon Yang Lee Hsien Loong No Lee Yiok Seng Lee Yock Suan Nil Lim Boon Heng Lim Chee Onn Abstention Ng Kah Ting Ong Pang Boon Nil Ong Teng Cheong

Mr Deputy Speaker: The Third Reading of the Bill has been carried by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of Members of Parliament.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.