Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 10/1981

Read the first time on 16th March 1981.
An Act to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore.
Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows: —
Short title
1.  This Act may be cited as the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act, 1981.
Amendment of Article 105
2.  Article 105 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (referred to in this Act as the Constitution) is amended —
(a)by deleting the word “nine” in clause (1) and substituting the word “eleven”;
(b)by deleting clause (3) and substituting the following clauses: —
(3)  The President may, from time to time, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint one or more Deputy Chairmen from among the members of the Public Service Commission.
(3A)  Before tendering his advice as to the appointment under clause (3) of a Deputy Chairman, the Prime Minister shall consult the Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
(3B)  Every Deputy Chairman appointed under clause (3) shall hold office for such period as may be specified in the terms of his appointment and shall cease to be Deputy Chairman if he ceases to be a member of the Public Service Commission.”; and
(c)by deleting the words “the Deputy Chairman” in clause (5) and substituting the words “one of the Deputy Chairmen”.
Amendment of Article 106
3.  Article 106 of the Constitution is amended by renumbering the Article as clause (1), and by inserting immediately thereafter the following clause: —
(2)  Paragraph (b) of clause (1) shall not apply to any person who is a member of the teaching staff of the National University of Singapore.”.
Amendment of Article 107
4.  Article 107 of the Constitution is amended by deleting the full-stop at the end of clause (1) and substituting a colon, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following proviso: —
Provided that a member, other than the Chairman, may be appointed to hold office for any shorter period of not less than three years.”.
Amendment of Article 123
5.  Article 123 of the Constitution is amended by deleting the words “the national language” in paragraph (e) of clause (1) and substituting the words “one of the following languages, namely, Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil”.