MINOR OFFENCES (AMENDMENT NO. 2) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

6.12 p.m.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill which seeks to amend the Minor Offences Ordinance is largely devoted to strengthening the law relating to the use of dangerous weapons. Members are aware that in pursuing their campaign of terrorising innocent people, secret society members and gangsters will not stop short of vicious physical attacks utilising a variety of deadly weapons, many of which are devised from the ordinary implements of everyday use. It is our intention to deal very severely with all those who seek to inflict the terror of physical suffering on their unfortunate victims.

Coming to the details of the Bill, the main provisions relate (1) to amending the penalties for soliciting in public places for the purpose of prostitution or any other immoral purpose, and (2) to strengthening legislation relating to the possession, custody or control of any knife, offensive weapon, explosive or corrosive substance.

Clause 3 of the Bill increases the penalty for soliciting by prostitutes for immoral purposes from the present fine of $20 or 14 days' imprisonment for the first offence and a fine of $50 or three months' imprisonment for subsequent offences, to a fine of $100 for the first offence and a fine of up to $500 or six months' imprisonment for the second and subsequent offences. It is well known that the activities of secret society gangsters are frequently centred on the proceeds of prostitution. The so-called protection of these loose women is a fruitful source of revenue to gangsters, who do not hesitate to assault those persons who will not contribute to their own protection. It is with the object of not only driving prostitutes off the streets in our campaign against vice but also of depriving gangsters of this fruitful source of revenue that we now propose to inflict these heavier penalties upon those who indulge in soliciting for immoral purposes.

Section 4 of the Bill is designed to strengthen the existing legislation in respect of possession of corrosive or explosive substances and of offensive weapons which can be used to smash or to stab. The weakness of the present legislation is that the Police can only prosecute persons for possession of these offensive weapons when they are apprehended in a public place. The Police found it very difficult to prove ownership of caches of secret society offensive weapons when they are discovered in houses and other premises. Under the amending legislation, it will be an offence for a person to have acid or an offensive weapon on his person or in his possession or custody or control, unless that person can prove that the acid or weapon is intended for a legitimate purpose. Much ingenuity has been shown by gangsters in converting domestic or commercial implements of everyday usage into formidable weapons which can be used to maim or kill. The parang, bearing scraper, and the ordinary screwdriver have all been used in the past to inflict terrible injuries on those who dared to oppose the gangsters. Under this proposed legislation, the possession of these implements will be made an offence, unless the person having or possessing them can prove that they are for legitimate purposes. The law-abiding householder or artisan need have no fear that he will be prevented from having in his possession such implements for genuine domestic purposes or for purposes of his trade, but resolute action will be taken against thugs whose sole aim is to terrorise or to kill.

Section 5 of the Bill is a new provision designed to outlaw those particularly vicious weapons - the flick knives. These vicious implements can be easily carried and concealed, but with no more than a flick of the wrist they are converted into an instrument of death. The effect of this section of the Bill will be to make it illegal for these weapons to exist on this island. Members will see that penalties for having or possessing an offensive weapon, which I have just mentioned, includes a heavy fine or imprisonment for the first offence; and if the offence is repeated, a heavy prison sentence can be inflicted without option of the fine.

As I have said before, it is the intention of this Government to use all means in its power to smash the gangsters in our midst, and we will take all additional necessary measures to achieve this aim and to safeguard the law-abiding persons of the community.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

6.20 p.m.

Mr Thio Chan Bee: Sir, contrary to the previous statement expressed by the Minister for Labour and Law that Members of the Opposition know only how to criticise, I wish here to express my great pleasure in supporting this Bill and promise to support any other Bill brought forth by Government to clean up this country from bottom to top, or top to bottom.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Inside out!

Mr Thio Chan Bee: Sir, I believe we should go even further. What are the things which encourage our young people and others to resort to gangsterism and to other vices in order to have a living? I believe that crime comics and crime films play a very great part, and an insidious part, not only in this country but also in other countries. The problem of juvenile delinquency is found not only in Singapore but also in many other parts of the world. I think it is time for us here to give notice to producers of films, whether in Hollywood or in England, and those who publish crime comics, that we do not wish to receive such exports and if they want the goodwill of countries like ours, they should stop or discourage the production and export of such films and crime comics. I believe that action has already been taken in Singapore but unless the people who produce them know also of our new attitude, they will continue to produce them, and once they have invested money in such production, they will see that these things reach Singapore, which makes our problem more difficult.

Mr Speaker: Does the Minister wish to reply?

6.24 p.m.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to hear that Members of the Opposition have decided to give their support to this Bill, and I am sure that with the support of every member of the public, this problem of secret societies and thugs can be suppressed to a large extent. I am sure the Member for Tanglin is aware that film censorship has been tightened up and that we are now bringing periodicals such as comics, etc, under examination by the Publications Section of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Ong Pang Boon].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read the Third time and passed.