MPs to raise DCA, UNSW closure, extra caning incident in ParliamentBy S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 July 2007 1711 hrs
SINGAPORE: Three issues which have made headlines in Singapore over the past few weeks will feature prominently when Parliament sits on Monday.
MPs have tabled questions on the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with Indonesia, the closure of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Asia campus and the extra caning given to a prisoner.
The Defence Minister has been asked about the rejection of the DCA by the Indonesian Parliamentary Commission on International Affairs and the implication that this has on the extradition treaty and the defence cooperation agreement.
Nine questions have been tabled on the closure of the UNSW campus and its impact on Singapore's vision to be an education hub.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Law Minister has been asked to explain the recent incident where a prisoner was given three extra strokes of the cane and what is being done to prevent a recurrence.
The Environment Minister has also been asked for an update on the current dengue outbreak and the efforts to contain it.
Seven pieces of legislation will come up for second reading and debate during the sitting, among them changes to the Passports Bill and the Optometrists and Opticians Bill. - CNA/ir