INCIDENTS AT KALLANG MASS RALLY (Statement)

Mr John Ede asked the Chief Secretary whether he will make a statement on the result of the investigations into the causes of the incidents which took place at the Kallang Mass Rally.

Mr Goode: Yes, Sir,Investigations into the causes of the disorder at the Kallang Mass Rally have not yet been completed, but so far there is no evidence of any premeditated plan for interference with the rally or to create disorder.

The causes of the incidents appear to be four. First, the collapse of the platform and the consequent disorganisation of the arrangements. Second, the angry frustration of a section of the crowd who were thus denied the speeches they had come to hear. Thirdly, a heavy shower of rain which caused part of the crowd to break into the terminal building; and, fourthly, the potential hostility to the police of a certain section of the crowd. The police had been apprehensive before the rally that any incident might set off serious disorders. The collapse of the platform before the speeches started disorganised the arrangements and disrupted the loudspeaker system, and the rally then divided into two groups - one group round the platform and one group in front of the terminal building. Around the platform there was a state of disorder. There were shouts to beat up the police on duty and some of the crowd began to pick up missiles to throw at the police. Political leaders there tried to quieten the crowd and songs, such as "Unity is strength", were sung. After about half an hour the crowd round the platform moved over to the terminal building to hear the speeches, but owing to the breakdown of the loudspeakers, they could not do so. At four minutes past six the Parliamentary delegation and most of the political leaders left. A large section of the crowd did not realise that the meeting was over and continued to shout and make a lot of noise. About this time it began to rain and most of the crowd started to move off; but about 3,000 remained, singing and shouting. There was also some dancing. A section of this crowd sought shelter from the rain in the terminal building, breaking through the doors. As they were disorderly and were doing damage, the police ejected them from the building and a police cordon was posted outside the building. The; singing and dancing continued and it became clear that this crowd of about 3,000 was excited and dissatisfied and demanding to hear their leaders speak.

The police on duty were jeered and taunted by youths in the crowd and three spaces were cleared for dancing. At about 6.40 p.m. the chanting became more excited and a number of youths were seen working up their companions, lobbing pieces of wood, poles and banners at the police who remained steady at their posts. Suddenly a section of this crowd picked up stones from a heap of rubble and threw them at the police and at the building. The stone-throwers were mainly youths and the stoning was started by a small group whose numbers quickly increased to about 300 or more. The police then moved forward with batons, using their raincoats as shields against the stones, and for about 15 minutes the crowd alternately fell back before the police and advanced again throwing stones, until finally they were dispersed.

Another group of several hundred attacked the police field post and the St. John Ambulance post with bottles and stones. They also were dispersed by the police and the whole area was finally cleared at five minutes past seven.

20 police officers suffered minor injuries and 15 members of the public were treated for injuries, all of them minor except one, who was admitted to the hospital with cut in the head. One police van, some police radio equipment and a St. John ambulance were damaged and most of the windows in the terminal building were smashed. Eight persons have been arrested and charged with rioting.

The police had been apprehensive of disorder because of slighting references made to the police at several P.A.P. meetings and because of the campaign in the Press by a large group of so-called Chinese cultural associations and students during the previous two weeks protesting against police refusals to issue licences for the performance of songs and dances of Communist meaning. These organisations held a further protest meeting at the Badminton Hall immediately prior to the mass rally. After it, at about 4 p.m., some 4,000 to 5,000 youths from that meeting marched in an orderly and disciplined manner to the rally. They carried a large banner depicting the Communist dove of peace. When they encountered police officers on duty, there was organised shouting of Merdeka. Their attitude was one of contempt for the police and very markedly different from the friendly and cheerful mood of the vast majority of the crowd.

I cannot emphasise too strongly, Sir, the danger to law and order in Singapore of deliberately fostering ill-will and ridicule of the police who have to maintain and restore order. Should the authority of the police be undermined, then any incident can lead to serious riots. On this occasion we were fortunate that the vast majority of the crowd were good tempered and orderly and behaved like decent citizens, and the disorderly few never got out of hand.

I should like to commend the restraint and discipline of the police on duty at Kallang and the services rendered by the St. John Ambulance men on duty amidst the disorders; and I wish to acknowledge fully, Sir the efforts made by several political leaders, including Members of this House, to calm down the crowd and get them to disperse.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Chief Secretary aware, from his police information, that at several P.A.P. rallies, far from making slighting references to the police we had, in fact, on one particular occasion especially, indicated that with Merdeka they ought to get more wages?

Mr Goode: Sir, my information was slightly different. 'My' information was that at several P.A.P. meetings a number of speakers made derisive remarks about the police, including the Member for Tanjong Pagar, who raised a hoot of laughter from the crowd by his reference to putting up the pay of the police "when we get into power".

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Chief Secretary saying that anything was said at any of these rallies which was unlawful?

Mr Goode: I am not prejudicing, Sir, the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what was said. What I am saying is that the speeches were derisory of the police.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Chief Secretary saying that any peech made by any political leader which does not praise the police is derisive?

Mr Speaker: It is a matter of opinion.

Mr Goode: Certainly not.