Suspension of Standing Orders
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This motion concerns the suspension of Standing Orders to facilitate a joint debate on the Constitution (Amendment No 3) Bill and the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill. Leader of the House Ms Indranee Rajah sought to remove speech time limits for Minister Masagos and Minister Shanmugam to ensure a comprehensive discussion. The motion further requested that Minister Shanmugam be permitted to speak more than once to address all clarifications and queries raised by Members. This procedural change was intended to enable the Minister to respond fully to issues arising from the Bills during the debate. With the consent of Mr Speaker and the general assent of the Members present, the motion was agreed upon and resolved.
Transcript
12.31 pm
The Leader of the House (Ms Indranee Rajah): Mr Speaker, I wish to move a Business Motion. May I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings under discussion be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order Nos 48(8) and (3) to remove the time limits in respect of the speeches of Minister Masagos and Minister Shanmugam, and to enable Minister Shanmugam to speak more than once?
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Social and Family Development will be moving the Second Reading of the Constitution (Amendment No 3) Bill. The Minister for Home Affairs will also be moving the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill after the Constitution (Amendment No 3) Bill.
However, the intent is to hold a joint debate on both Bills. As such, it is envisaged that there will be queries and clarifications on the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill or related issues which necessitate a response by the Minister for Home Affairs.
As such, I am moving to enable the Minister for Home Affairs to speak more than once during the debate to allow matters raised by Members to be answered fully. I seek your consent, Sir.
Mr Speaker: I give my consent. Does the Leader of the House have the general assent of hon Members present to so move?
Hon Members indicated assent.
With the consent of Mr Speaker and the general assent of Members present, question put, and agreed to.
Resolved, "That the proceedings under discussion be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order Nos 48(8) and (3) to remove the time limits in respect of the speeches of Minister Masagos and Minister Shanmugam and to enable Minister Shanmugam to speak more than once." – [Ms Indranee Rajah].