HUMAN ORGAN TRANSPLANT (AMENDMENT) BILL

12.53 pm

Mr Speaker: The motion standing in the name of Mr Imram bin Mohamed is subject to signification of support by at least one Member present. Does the motion have the support of any hon. Member?

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon (Nominated Member): Yes, Sir.

Mr Speaker: All right. Mr Imram.

Mr Imram bin Mohamed (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That leave be given to introduce a Bill to amend the Human Organ Transplant Act (Chapter 131A of the 1988 Revised Edition).

Sir, Muslims are excluded from the Human Organ Transplant Act. Muslims who wish to pledge their kidneys for donation after their death do so under the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act. The Amendment Bill that I propose to introduce will, in essence, allow Muslims to enjoy the enhanced legal protection and safeguards which the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) provides whilst still maintaining the present voluntary method of making the pledges to donate their kidneys. However, there is one problem.

I have discussed the Bill with the Minister for Health and he is of the opinion that there is insufficient time for the Bill to go through. As kidney transplant has been a sensitive issue with Muslims, he would like the Bill to go through a Select Committee stage to allow the public to comment and give feedback. A similar view was expressed by the Mufti of Singapore and other officials of the Muslim Religious Council in my meeting with them. Though they think the proposed Bill is beneficial for Muslims, the Muslim public ought to be given time to adequately understand the purpose of the Bill. And time there is not enough. Parliament will have to be dissolved on 5th January 1997 latest or earlier if an election is called earlier. The Bill will not be able to get through the Select Committee stage to a final reading before that date. As such, Sir, I would like to beg leave now to withdraw the motion.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.