CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister for Finance (Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore consequential to the Pension Fund being established.

Article 114 of the Constitution provides that pensions, gratuities and other like allowances granted for public service shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund. Article 114 is to be repealed and re-enacted with amendments to provide that pensions, gratuities and other like allowances granted for public service shall be first charged on and paid out of the Pension Fund and, if that Fund is deficient, the Consolidated Fund.

Sir, I beg to move.

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

A Division will be taken to ascertain that the Second 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 54 Members, pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Constitution. The Clerk will ring the Division Bells.

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

Division taken: Ayes, 72; No, Nil; Abstention, Nil. Ayes Ayes (cont.) Abdullah Tarmugi Loh Meng See Beng Kian Lam, Arthur Low Seow Chay Chandra Das, S Low Thia Khiang Chay Wai Chuen Mah Bow Tan Chen, Bernard Mohamad Maidin B P M Chen Koon Lap, Kenneth Ong Chit Chung Chen Seow Phun, John Othman bin Haron Cheo Chai Chen Eusofe Chew Heng Ching Ow Chin Hock Chin Harn Tong Peh Chin Hua Chng Hee Kok Sidek bin Saniff Ch'ng Jit Koon Sinnakaruppan, R Chong, Charles Sung, Peter Choo Wee Khiang Tan Cheng Bock Davinder Singh Tan Keng Yam, Tony Dhanabalan, S Tan Soo Khoon Goh Chok Tong Teo Chee Hean Goh Choon Kang Teo Chong Tee Harun bin A Ghani Vasoo, S Heng Chiang Meng Wan Soon Bee Ho Kah Leong Wang Kai Yuen Ho Peng Kee Wong, Aline K Ho Tat Kin Wong Kan Seng Hu Tsu Tau, Richard Wong Kwei Cheong Ibrahim bin Othman Yao Chih, Matthias Jayakumar, S Yap Giau Cheng, Eugene Ker Sin Tze Yatiman Yusof Koh Lip Lin Yeo Cheow Tong Koo Tsai Kee Yeo Ning Hong Lau Ping Sum Yeo Toon Chia Lee Boon Yang Yeo Yong-Boon, George Lee Hsien Loong Yu-Foo Yee Shoon Lee Kuan Yew Zulkifli bin Mohammed Lee Yiok Seng Lee Yock Suan No Lew Syn Pau Lim Boon Heng Nil Lim Chun Leng, Michael Lim Hng Kiang Abstention Ling How Doong Nil

Mr Speaker: The Second 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 Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment.

Third Reading

Mr Speaker: Third Reading, what day?

Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau: Now, Sir. I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

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

A Division will now 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 54 Members, pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Constitution. The Clerk will ring the Division Bells.

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

Division taken: Ayes, 72; No, Nil; Abstention, Nil. Ayes Ayes (cont.) Abdullah Tarmugi Loh Meng See Beng Kian Lam, Arthur Low Seow Chay Chandra Das, S Low Thia Khiang Chay Wai Chuen Mah Bow Tan Chen, Bernard Mohamad Maidin B P M Chen Koon Lap, Kenneth Ong Chit Chung Chen Seow Phun, John Othman bin Haron Cheo Chai Chen Eusofe Chew Heng Ching Ow Chin Hock Chin Harn Tong Peh Chin Hua Chng Hee Kok Sidek bin Saniff Ch'ng Jit Koon Sinnakaruppan, R Chong, Charles Sung, Peter Choo Wee Khiang Tan Cheng Bock Davinder Singh Tan Keng Yam, Tony Dhanabalan, S Tan Soo Khoon Goh Chok Tong Teo Chee Hean Goh Choon Kang Teo Chong Tee Harun bin A Ghani Vasoo, S Heng Chiang Meng Wan Soon Bee Ho Kah Leong Wang Kai Yuen Ho Peng Kee Wong, Aline K Ho Tat Kin Wong Kan Seng Hu Tsu Tau, Richard Wong Kwei Cheong Ibrahim bin Othman Yao Chih, Matthias Jayakumar, S Yap Giau Cheng, Eugene Ker Sin Tze Yatiman Yusof Koh Lip Lin Yeo Cheow Tong Koo Tsai Kee Yeo Ning Hong Lau Ping Sum Yeo Toon Chia Lee Boon Yang Yeo Yong-Boon, George Lee Hsien Loong Yu-Foo Yee Shoon Lee Kuan Yew Zulkifli bin Mohammed Lee Yiok Seng Lee Yock Suan Lew Syn Pau No Lim Boon Heng Nil Lim Chun Leng, Michael Lim Hng Kiang Abstention Ling How Doong Nil

Mr 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.