Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

Order for Second Reading read.

2.13 pm

The Senior Minister of State for Law (Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai) (for the Minister for Law): Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Law, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill amends the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to create the Appellate Division of the High Court, renames the existing High Court as the General Division of the High Court and creates a new class of judges who will be designated as "Judges of the Appellate Division".

This Bill is linked to the Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, which we had debated earlier. In that debate, I have already explained the amendments proposed in both Bills. Members have raised their questions and expressed their views on both Bills during the earlier debate, although they are still welcome to do so now if there are any other. Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr Speaker: Would anyone like to contribute at this stage? If not, the Question is, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Constitution, a vote is 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 Elected and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament, which is 61 Members. Clerk, ring the division bells.

After two minutes –

Mr Speaker: Serjeant‐at‐Arms, lock the doors.

Before I proceed to start the electronic voting, may I remind Members that they are to be seated at their designated seats and should only start to vote when the voting buttons on their armrests start to blink.

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

Mr Speaker: Take a vote. You may now begin to vote. May I remind Members to depress their vote button firmly so that you can register your vote in the system.

Members are advised to check that their names are registered according to their vote indication when the voting results are shown on the display screens.

Mr Speaker: Before I proceed to declare the results of the vote, are there any Members who wish to claim that his or her vote has not been displayed or displayed incorrectly on the screens? No.

I will proceed to declare the voting results now. There are 72 "Ayes"; 0 "Noes"; 0 "Abstentions". The Second Reading of the Bill has been carried by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of Elected and Non-constituency Members of Parliament. Serjeant-at-Arms, unlock the doors.

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. – [Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment.

Third Reading

Mr Speaker: Third Reading, what day?

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: 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." Pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Constitution, a vote is 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 elected and non-constituency Members of Parliament, which is 61 Members. Clerk, ring the division bells.

After one minute –

Mr Speaker: Serjeant-at-Arms, lock the doors.

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

Mr Speaker: Take a vote. You may now begin to vote. As before, do press your vote button firmly in order to register your vote in the system.

Mr Speaker: Before I proceed to declare the results of the vote, are there any Members who wish to claim that his or her vote has not been displayed or displayed incorrectly on the screens? No.

I will proceed to declare the voting results now. There are 72 "Ayes"; 0 "Noes"; 0 "Abstentions". The third Reading of the Bill has been carried by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of Elected and Non-constituency Members of Parliament.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.