Debated in Parliament on 5 Nov 2019.
Debate resumed.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The integrity of Workers' Party Members, the integrity of Members of Parliament, has been called into question and not addressed.
In any reputable organisation, as I have said earlier, individuals who have fallen short would themselves feel a sense of shame and regret, and would themselves do the right thing, unbidden, failing which other town councillors who have done the duty and acted to cleanse their own house, failing which the political party which controls the Town Council would step in to put things right.
In the case of AHTC and the Workers' Party, all these multiple levels of personal and Party responsibilities have failed. So, my question is a very simple on. What is the right thing to do? What is the right thing to do for Members of the Workers' Party? I think Members of this House know the answer. Members of the Workers' Party know in their hearts the answers. So, I urge the Workers' Party Members that, despite your recalcitrant stand today, after this debate, the Workers' Party and AHTC will reflect very carefully on what has happened in the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council and what the House have been discussing. I hope that you will conclude that you should carry out your duty and do what the Motion recommends.
I urge Members of this House to take a stand on this Motion in the interest of preserving clean politics in Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.
*Question put.*
Mr Pritam Singh?
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to call for a Division, please.
Will hon Members who support the Division please rise in their places?
More than five hon Members rose.
Clerk, ring the Division bells.
After two minutes –
Serjeant-at-Arms, lock the doors. The Question is, "That this Parliament:
(i) affirms the vital importance of Members of Parliament maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability;
(ii) notes the Judgment in Aljunied-Hougang Town Council & anor v Lim Swee Lian Sylvia and ors and anor suit [2019] SGHC 241, where, amongst other things, the Court held that:
(a) Ms Sylvia Lim ("Ms Lim") and Mr Low Thia Khiang ("Mr Low") had acted dishonestly and in breach of their fiduciary duties, and their conduct lacked integrity and candour; and
(b) Ms Lim and Mr Low were fully aware that their conduct was of questionable legality;
(iii) notes that Ms Lim remains Vice-Chairman of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, and Mr Low remains an elected member of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council; and
(iv) calls on Aljunied-Hougang Town Council to discharge their responsibilities to their residents by requiring Ms Lim and Mr Low to recuse themselves from all matters relating to, and oversight over, financial matters."
Mr Pritam Singh, you have claimed a Division, would you like to proceed with the Division?
Yes, Sir.
Clerk, proceed with the Division. Members are reminded 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. Members may now begin to vote.
Members are advised to check that their names are registered according to their vote indication when the voting results are shown on the display screen.
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 screen? No.
I will proceed to declare the voting results now. There are 52 "Ayes", 9 "Noes", and two "Abstentions". The "Ayes" have it. Order.
Resolved, That this Parliament:
*(i) affirms the vital importance of Members of Parliament maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability; (proc text)]
(ii) notes the Judgment in Aljunied-Hougang Town Council & anor v Lim Swee Lian Sylvia and ors and anor suit [2019] SGHC 241, where, amongst other things, the Court held that:
(a) Ms Sylvia Lim ("Ms Lim") and Mr Low Thia Khiang ("Mr Low") had acted dishonestly and in breach of their fiduciary duties, and their conduct lacked integrity and candour; and
*(b) Ms Lim and Mr Low were fully aware that their conduct was of questionable legality; (proc text)]
(iii) notes that Ms Lim remains Vice-Chairman of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, and Mr Low remains an elected member of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council; and
(iv) calls on Aljunied-Hougang Town Council to discharge their responsibilities to their residents by requiring Ms Lim and Mr Low to recuse themselves from all matters relating to, and oversight over, financial matters."
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