PARTY POLITICAL BROADCAST AND THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar): ir, when I sought the right to speak on this adjournment motion, I thought it would not really be necessary to argue the case for radio time to be given to political Parties to put over their programmes for the City Council elections. It seemed so eminently reasonable, and so eminently correct, that I did not put it down in the form of a motion. However, I was wrong. I understand that the Government is not very keen on having political Parties speaking over the radio. I have therefore today tabled a motion on which a vote will be taken.

I do not see any reason why we should be afraid to use this very powerful weapon of disseminating information in a very peaceful and orderly manner, and why this channel should not be open to political Parties. I have been brought up to believe that the theory of the democratic system is that competing political Parties put over their views and their programmes to the electorate, and every member of that electorate is given an opportunity - by secret ballot to indicate his choice.

There are many ways of putting over one's programme and one's political philosophy-newspapers owned by big combines or wealthy proprietors, mass meetings-

Mr Speaker: Order. I just want to clarify a point which the hon. Member mentioned. Did I hear him correctly when he said he had tabled a motion on which he expects a vote?

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Sir, I have taken steps to see that if the rejoinder of the Government to my proposal of political Party broadcasts for City Council elections is adverse, then a motion will be tabled for debate. If my suggestion is favourably received, then I see no reason why we should waste the time of the House by further debate.

Mr Speaker: No notice has been given?

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: No, Sir. Sir, there are many ways of putting over one's political points of view. We depend upon the courtesy of the newspapers, and some of them are not very courteous. They go of their way not to tell the public that you are holding an election meeting because they do not happen to like your political Party. They black out one party's meeting, they boost up another's. When one party has a big crowd they say it has a small gathering. If the Parties they favour have a small crowd they do not show a picture of the crowd. There are many other ways of manipulating propaganda.

But there is one medium which cannot be manipulated. If you allocate to each Party, according to the number of candidates contesting the elections a certain period of radio time, there can be no distortion, there can be no danger of rioting. It is the most reasonable form of putting forward one's point of view. There can be no danger of being booed either. So I do not see any reason why anybody should be afraid to go before the microphone to put his party's point of view across.

Now, Sir, as I have said, it is so eminently just that I see no purpose being served by my bringing up argument after argument, and I would like to know from the Government what are its reasons against giving political Parties the opportunity to use this medium which is owned by the Government. It could be done fairly. There are certain rules of the game which we observed in the last general elections. I remember in the old days when elections were not very popular, because they were not based on a wide franchise, every piddling little City Council election was allowed radio time. And now, at the most important election for the City of Singapore, for the administration of the City Council for 4 years, we are to be denied radio time.

4.00 p.m.

It being four o'clock, the Motion for the Adjournment of the Assembly lapsed without Question put.

The Chief Minister: Sir, I beg to move,

That this Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Sir, I second it.

Question proposed.