Society of Saint Maur Incorporation (Amendment) Bill

Order for Second Reading read.

Mr Speaker: Ms Joan Pereira.

4.15 pm

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, “That the Bill be now read a Second time.”

Sir, the Bill seeks to amend the Society of Saint Maur Incorporation Ordinance 1923. The Ordinance was enacted in 1923 to incorporate The Lady Superior in Penang of the Society of Saint Maur and her successors as a corporation sole, to allow for perpetual succession under the name, “The Lady Superior of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus in Penang”. The Society of Saint Maur is more commonly known as the Infant Jesus Sisters, or IJ Sisters, in Singapore.

The order arose in response to the dire need in those days to provide young girls, especially those from disadvantaged families, with a good education. Arising from this mission, the IJ Sisters arrived in Singapore in 1854 and went on to found 11 Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools for girls in Singapore as well as an orphanage, home and children’s centre. They also provide after-school care for children. Over 169 years of history in Singapore, scores of girls have had their lives transformed through the work of the IJ Sisters.

As a former IJ girl, it is my privilege to move this Bill. The IJ Sisters approached me to represent them. And we have worked closely to ensure that the Ordinance will be current and relevant to their needs.

The Bill updates the name references in the Ordinance, given historical developments and current conventions. Following Singapore’s Independence in 1965, and the eventual reorganisation of the IJ Sisters, the IJ Sisters now have a Lady Superior in Singapore and a Lady Superior in Malaysia. The amendment gives recognition to this independence and allows the IJ Sisters in Singapore to grow with its own distinct identity.

The reference to “Penang” in the corporation’s name will thus be removed. The Bill also makes further amendments so that the references to the “Lady Superior in Penang of the Society of Saint Maur” in the Ordinance refer to the Lady Superior who is appointed for Singapore and not any other successor of the Lady Superior.

The Bill also removes the Schedules as they are spent; they contain listings of properties that were vested in the corporation by sections 6 and 7 of the Ordinance in 1923. The properties in Malaysia listed under the First and Third Schedules are not under the Society of Saint Maur in Singapore, and the property in Singapore listed under the Second Schedule is no longer owned by the corporation.

The corporation continues to own other properties in Singapore and the Bill also includes the necessary saving provision to ensure that existing property rights and any other rights and obligations will not be affected by the name change. Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Mr Speaker: As the Bill is a Private Bill, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 87(3), the Bill will be referred to a Select Committee. Ms Joan Pereira.

Ms Joan Pereira: Mr Speaker, as the Bill will be referred to a Select Committee, I beg to move, "That the Select Committee on the Society of Saint Maur Incorporation (Amendment) Bill consists of Speaker as Chairman and the following Members:

(1) Ms He Ting Ru,

(2) Mr Murali Pillai,

(3) Ms Joan Pereira,

(4) Ms Rahayu Mahzam,

(5) Mr Alvin Tan,

(6) Ms Jessica Tan,

(7) Mr Raj Joshua Thomas."

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, "That the Select Committee on the Society of Saint Maur Incorporation (Amendment) Bill consists of Speaker as Chairman and the following Members:

(1) Ms He Ting Ru,

(2) Mr Murali Pillai,

(3) Ms Joan Pereira,

(4) Ms Rahayu Mahzam,

(5) Mr Alvin Tan,

(6) Ms Jessica Tan,

(7) Mr Raj Joshua Thomas." – [Ms Joan Pereira]

Order for Third Reading read.

2.14 pm

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

Sir, at the Second Reading in September last year, the House referred The Society of Saint Maur Incorporation (Amendment) Bill to a Select Committee.

The Select Committee received a letter, explaining the amendments to be made by the Bill. The Select Committee requested further details and received a statutory declaration from Sister Lau Wai Leng Maria, which also provided supporting documents.

The Select Committee has considered the Bill and has only made minor textual alterations to the Bill to reflect the change in citation year from 2023 to 2024. The Committee’s Report was presented to Parliament on 17 January 2024. I would like to thank the Members involved in the Select Committee, namely, Chairman of the Committee Mr Speaker Seah Kian Peng, Ms He Ting Ru, Mr Murali Pillai, Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Mr Alvin Tan, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Raj Joshua Thomas.

The passing of the Bill, with its update of name references in the Ordinance, will give recognition to the distinct identity of the Lady Superior, and IJ Sisters, in Singapore. This will support them to continue in their mission to provide education and care for children and young ladies.

I would also like to personally thank Sister Maria Lau, the IJ Sisters and their legal team, for their work and support on this Bill. Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.