PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC SECURITY ORDINANCE (Release of detainees)

Mr Seah Peng Chuan asked the Chief Minister whether he will make a statement as to the purpose of requiring persons detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance, 1955, and their families to appear before him before the detainees are released.

The Chief Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, although the Government has been responsible for ordering the detention of certain persons, its attitude to the relatives of the detainees has always been one of sympathy. In some cases, relatives have approached me immediately following the arrest of a member of their family.

While I cannot interfere with the course of action which Government has taken after very serious and careful consideration for the general good of the people of Singapore, I consider it my duty, as the head of an elected Government, on the conditional release of these detainees to advise parents, particularly on a personal basis, that they should discharge their duties as parents by looking after the welfare of their sons, and enjoining both parties that they would do well to examine the company they keep in the future.

This I consider to be my duty, just as I consider it my duty that a detainee should not be detained one minute longer than is necessary if a single doubt exists in my mind of the need for detaining him.