RULE OF DEBATE (Suspension of Standing Orders)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

The Deputy Leader of the House (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Dr Ng Eng Hen and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan be allowed to address this House from the Public Hearing Room in Parliament House and that Dr Tan Cheng Bock be allowed to address this House from his home, via video.

Sir, the SARS crisis that we are facing is the most serious crisis since independence. Yesterday, in this House, we heard from DPM and various Ministers about the situation so far and what the Government is doing to combat the crisis. Today, we have before us in the House a Bill to amend the Infectious Diseases Act to give the Minister for Health additional weapons to fight this battle.

Sir, several Members are unable to be present in this Chamber today. Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Dr Balaji, Dr Ng Eng Hen and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan are members of the Ministerial Combat Team helping the hospitals. They have indicated their desire to speak in the debate on this Bill to share their personal experience on the ground. Dr Tan Cheng Bock has voluntarily placed himself under home quarantine, as he had treated a SARS patient. He has also expressed his wish to participate in the debate.

Sir, these are extraordinary times for us which call for extraordinary measures. With modern technology, these Members can participate in the debate even though they are not able to be physically present in this Chamber. I now wish to seek Parliament's consent to allow them to do so. Their personal experiences and views will help us to better understand and better fight this battle together.

Mr Speaker: I give my consent. Is it the pleasure of the House that the Minister be given leave to move the motion?

Hon. Members indicated assent.

Resolved,

That, notwithstanding Standing Order 45(1) which requires a Member to speak only from the seat allocated to him, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Dr Ng Eng Hen and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan be allowed to address this House from the Public Hearing Room in Parliament House and that Dr Tan Cheng Bock be allowed to address this House from his home, via video, in respect of the business standing on the Order Paper for today. - [Mr Mah Bow Tan].