EXEMPTED BUSINESS

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, Mr Chia has filed a motion* and before he seeks the general assent of the House to debate this motion, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the provisions of the Standing Orders be suspended to enable any Member, besides a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary, to speak for up to one hour to any question in Parliament under item 4 of the Order Paper today.

*The motion reads as follows:

That this House expresses its concern over the allegation by Dr Chee Soon Juan that his dismissal from NUS for alleged misuse of his research funds amounting to a sum of $226.00 was politically motivated, and seeks clarification from the Minister for Education of the actual facts that caused Dr Chee's dismissal.

Sir, the reason is this. Under the Standing Orders, only Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries, including the mover of the motion, can speak up to one hour. The other Members cannot. I know that there is a keen interest on the Opposition Bench to speak on this subject and they may take more than the half-an-hour allowed. So that is why I am asking the general assent of the House to lift the Standing Orders to allow them to speak up to one hour.

Mr Speaker: I give my consent. Does the Minister have the general assent of hon. Members present to move the motion?

Hon. Members indicated assent.

With the consent of Mr Speaker, and the general assent of Members present, Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 45(8)(a), in addition to a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary, any other Member shall be entitled to speak for up to one hour to any question in Parliament under item 4 on the Order Paper today. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng].