APPOINTMENT OF MINISTER WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider amending the Constitution to provide for the appointment of a Minister who is not a Member of Parliament with the provision that the appointment will be made as the need arises and that the Minister must become a Member of the House within a stipulated period.

BG Lee Hsien Loong (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not see the need for the suggested amendment.

During the Third Reading of the Constitutional amendment on Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) on 29th March 1990, this House decided against having an express provision prohibiting an NMP from being appointed a Minister. This House agreed with the Select Committee's view that future governments should have the flexibility of appointing some NMPs as office holders should the need arise. However, the Prime Minister does not have any intention or need to appoint any office-holders who are not elected MPs.

Mr Shriniwas Rai (Nominated Member): Sir, even if there is no NMP available from this House but the exigency of Government requires a Minister to be urgently appointed, is the Deputy Prime Minister happy with the situation or is he prepared to reconsider the position he has just stated to this House?

BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, we have not had problems getting Ministers elected and the Prime Minister has said that he has no intention of appointing non-elected Members as Ministers. I think that is the position we can stay with for some time.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Ayer Rajah): Mr Speaker, Sir, can I direct the question to the person who asked the Question? Can I ask the Member to have a close look at our frontbench? Is he aware that they were all elected?

Mr Speaker: Dr Tan, please direct your question to the Minister?

Dr Tan Cheng Bock: I want to seek his views.

Mr Shriniwas Rai: Under the Standing Orders, I do not think I can answer.

Mr Speaker: Dr Tan, the question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock: Then can I seek a clarification?

Mr Speaker: You should ask questions of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock: No. I want to ask the Member through the Minister.

Mr Speaker: Dr Tan, please resume your seat.

Mr Shriniwas Rai: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would be very happy to answer him in private. But I thought under the Standing Orders -

Dr Tan Cheng Bock: It is in public. There is no question that it is private.

Mr Speaker: Order, order. Dr Tan, can you resume your seat?

Dr Tan Cheng Bock resumed his seat.

Mr Speaker: Mr Rai, do you have any question?

Mr Shriniwas Rai: No, Sir.