"SINGAPORE FREE PRESS" (Statement by the Chief Minister)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

The Chief Minister (Mr D. S. Marshall): May it please you, Mr Speaker, Sir, I consider it my duty to bring to your notice conduct which you may consider a breach of the liberties and privileges of this House. I produce, Sir, a copy of a newspaper called the Singapore Free Press of Friday, the 22nd of July.

I draw attention to the headline - "ROYAL MESSAGE ATTACKED"- and to the first paragraph wherein parts of my speech were so juxtaposed as to give a completely distorted picture of what was, in fact, said and intended.

We in this House are entitled to freedom from malicious distortion in any report of our proceedings. I would add, Sir, that this malicious report did, in fact, produce to some extent what may have been the intended result. I understand that certain jelly-fish on the Committee of the Straits Chinese British Association capable of reading headlines began quaking and emitting noxious substances as frightened jellyfish are wont to do.

Sir, if there had been anything said which reflected on Her Majesty, whether intentional or otherwise, I have not the slightest doubt - nor has any Member of this House - that you would promptly have named the Member responsible, be he the Chief Minister or any other person. But, even assuming that it is possible, Mr Speaker, that in the rapidity of debate you may not have noticed any slighting reference, however unintentional, I do ask, with respect, that you look at the Hansard, the Official Report of the Proceedings of this House, and that you take such steps to clarify the position, either towards me or towards the paper in question, as you may deem fit. And I think it only proper to add, Sir, that I personally resent very strongly the suggestion that I should be capable of discourtesy to Her Majesty.

Issue of the Singapore Free Press in question handed in.

Mr Speaker: I will look into the matter, Mr Chief Minister.