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Synopsis :

This is the broadcast version of the First Parliament sitting on 14 December 1965.  It contains excerpts of a speech made by the Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.  He is moving the Motion of Thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara for his opening speech at the First Session of the First Parliament on 8 December 1965.

PM Lee expresses his hopes for a new working relationship between Singapore and Malaysia.  He is reasonably confident that eventually both countries can reach a rational relationship - "not one in which the bigger assumes automatically that he must get the greater benefit, but ... a relationship based on a quid pro quo."

Mr Lee refers to the difficulties brought about by the decision of the opposition to boycott Parliament and affirms his government’s intention to put everything fairly before the House.  He reminds the House why the Barisan Sosialis has decided to boycott Parliament, quoting a special edition of its party publication. In it, the opposition gave three reasons for the convening of Parliament by the ruling party.  PM Lee says Barisan concluded, among other things, that it "must resolutely expose the PAP and the falseness of their parliamentary democracy." He goes on to quote from a series of recent Barisan Sosialis and other publications.  

The Prime Minister then informs the House that certain interim measures have to be taken, such as re-registration and re-issue of identity cards and work permits for non-Singapore citizens.  He emphasises that they are not aimed at excluding Malaysians, but at taking stock of the country’s liabilities so that the government can cater to the needs of its people.

Mr Lee also touches on the multi-racial character of the population of Singapore and Malaysia and the calamity that may arise as a result of polarisation in policies and attitudes.  He talks about the need to maintain a balance between the people of migrant stock and the people of indigenous stock.  He then cites a publication called Third China by P.C. Fitzgerald, Professor of Far Eastern History, Institute of Advanced Studies at the Australian National University.  This is to underline the major themes of multi-racialism, tolerance and forbearance of other people’s customs and susceptibilities.

The Prime Minister concludes his speech by recalling a lesson learnt from the two years that Singapore had spent in Malaysia. He says that unforgettable lesson resulted in his government’s intention to build safeguards into the Constitution to protect minority groups in the country. He reaffirms that Singapore has a vested interest in multi-racialism and a secular State.