BOUNDARIES DELINEATION COMMITTEE (Report)

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Prime Minister when will the Boundaries Delineation Committee's Report be published.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng) (for the Prime Minister): Sir, the general elections need not be held until August next year. The Prime Minister has not formed the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee yet.

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam (Non-Constituency Member): May I ask the Minister, why does he say that the elections need not be held until August next year? What does he consider the life of Parliament to be, and when does it begin?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, the life of Parliament is five years.

Mr Jeyaretnam: When does it commence?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: I think Mr Jeyaretnam was here. He should remember.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Is he aware that Parliament came into being on 2nd January 1997, Members were elected to Parliament on 2nd January, and Ministers were appointed soon after that, and they should have been Members of Parliament before they were appointed Ministers? So was Parliament not already in existence from 2nd January?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, Mr Jeyaretnam knows his law better than I do. We had elections on 2nd January 1997. We did not have Parliament sitting until May 1997.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I ask the Minister whether he has taken any advice or consultation with the UK Parliament as to when the term of Parliament commences, whether it commences from the election of Members or from the time of its sitting?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, I am not sure the UK experience is totally relevant to us. As far as we are concerned, our laws are such that Parliament was convened in May 1997 and the life of Parliament is five years.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, the Minister says the work has not started yet. When will the Committee start its work?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, the Committee would only start its work when it is appointed.

Mr Chiam See Tong: When will the Committee be appointed?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, I do not know. The Prime Minister has not decided.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, how many members will be in the Committee?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, as the Committee has not been decided and when it will be formed has also not been decided, I really cannot tell him how many members will be in the Committee.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the Minister does not seem to know all the three questions I asked. I do not know whether it is worthwhile continuing.

Mr S. Iswaran (West Coast): Question No. 2, Sir.

Mr Jeyaretnam: I just have one final question.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I think we have exhausted Question No. 1, Mr Jeyaretnam.