SPECIAL CONSTABULARY

6.29 p.m.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi (Kampong Kembangan): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, in connection with the Special Constabulary in Singapore, I would like to say that, as we all know, the Special Constabulary Unit was formed in September 1945, and in the 14 years up to today the youths who served in the Special Constabulary have rendered a great service. We know that on 30th April, 1959, six Inspectors and about 180 members of the Special Constabulary took part in a parade held at the Police Training School and among them about eight were awarded Service Medals. Therefore, it is clear that the Special Constabulary, since its formation, has played an important role in the Island of Singapore. We know also that there are some amongst them who have lost their lives in the performance of their duties. We cannot deny this. Mr Speaker, it is a matter of regret to us that the Government had terminated the services of about 250 members of the Special Constabulary. This constitutes a big problem because the Government which is responsible for this has stated that these people had no qualifications. On this point, it is a big question mark today. We do not know whether this matter has a communal bearing or not. It is up to the Assembly to decide. In fact, on this matter the people of Singapore should decide. I do not say that it is a communal affair. But it is strange to say that although our Government today has declared that Malay is the national language, and although the Special Constables can be said to be qualified in the Malay language, yet their services had been terminated on the ground that they had no qualification. Mr Speaker, we can say that these constables are fluent in the Malay language. We know that the majority of them whose services had been terminated are Malays.

Therefore, with regard to this matter why were they not given an opportunity to continue their services? There is a proverb which, in effect, means that it is ingratitude to discard something after your purpose has been served. But I do not think this Government will adopt this attitude, for this is a Government which has declared that it has been elected by the people and will therefore look after the interest of the people. I am sure it will not follow the saying: "After you have crossed the bridge, you throw away the walking stick." I know that the present Government is not like a hen which lays just an egg each time, but rather like a turtle which lays many eggs at a time. This is an example which has been given by the Member for Bukit Timah some time back in this Assembly. He has stated so and told it to me.

On the question of making Malay the national language, the Member said this: "To do this is wrong, and to do that also is wrong." I hope therefore to receive some clarification from the Government on this point.

Moreover, what is going to happen to the Malays who cannot afford to have further education, apart from receiving an education in Malay schools? Although the Special Constables know the Malay language, their services were terminated for want of qualifications. Ultimately, those who only know the Malay language will die an untimely death. This is the fate of the blind who need guidance and like those who depend on the fence to protect the padi seedlings, they find later that it is the fence itself that collapses and destroys them.

We have been told of the policy concerning citizenship. In order to obtain citizenship today, there are certain qualifications laid down which must be complied with. For instance, there is the specific period of residence necessary to enable a person to become a citizen of Singapore. Compare this with Malay as the national language, the language of those members of the Special Constabulary whose services were terminated.

Therefore, Mr Speaker, why is it then that the services of these people were terminated? Why were they not given an opportunity to stay on and continue to serve as they have served for a number of years? Why cannot we help our young men who have served the State and have proved their worth? Where is justice and fair play then? An elected government of the people in a self-governing State must render all assistance to those who were ignored by the past government. We have proclaimed democracy. But step-sons have always been ignored.

Mr Speaker, to continue this matter further, there are some points to which should like to draw the attention of the Government so that they will receive due attention. I refer especially to the Special Constables who comprise all the races of Singapore, whether the services have been terminated or whether they are still in the Force. According to the annual report of the Singapore Police Force for the year 1958, there is a shortage of personnel and yet those who had served in the Special Constabulary have not been given the opportunity to fill these vacant posts.

I sincerely hope that this Government will not ignore the fate of these constables and their families who are in need of the bare necessities of life. Mr Speaker, it is strange that these people, who have been considered as having no qualification, had received their training from the Police Training School in Singapore. It means that the training that they had received was of no use at all. On the other hand, we all know that the majority of the members of the Special Constabulary whose services were terminated are Malays. If this is the state of affairs, if this is the treatment meted out to the Malays, who are considered to be the indigenous people of Singapore and who are in need of help in many aspects of life, as stated in the Constitution of Singapore, then it means that the special position of the Malays is being ignored. That is what it simply means when these special constables are dismissed from their jobs, and not given alternative employment. I hope that this Government will not be one-sided, and that it will give an assurance to treat them-

Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I want to ask whether the hon. Member is reading his speech.

Mr Speaker: Order. The point has been raised whether the hon. Member is reading his speech. I did notice that the hon. Member was referring to his notes a bit too much. Perhaps the hon. Member will not read so obviously.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, thank you for correcting me. Mr Speaker, as I have said just now with regard to the position of the Special Constabulary, what is the policy of the Government towards the special position of the Malays in Singapore? If the Malay language is not suitable as a qualification - for, as has been explained in the newspapers, the services of the special constables were terminated because they were not qualified - where then is the special position of the Malays? Where then are the special rights of the Malays as mentioned in a special clause in the Constitution?

I do not wish to criticise the Government or to cause annoyance to the Government, but I only want some clarification. It may be that without such clarification the position might be misconstrued by the Malays in Singapore. The Malays are today wholeheartedly supporting the Government in its declared policy in making Malay the national language. Therefore, Mr Speaker, I hope this Government will in turn consider why the services of these special constables were terminated. Today there exists a force called the Volunteer Special Constabulary. They are not in fact volunteers. They receive an allowance and some other benefits. Such people who volunteer their services are already employed. Why is it that such people are still required? On the other hand, those who have rendered their services to the State, who know a little about administrative matters in the Police Force, have had their services terminated on the ground that they are not qualified, although Malay has been made the national language of Singapore. That is all, Mr Speaker.

Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I am taking this opportunity to speak at the end of this sitting in order to clarify some misunderstanding which was expressed by the Member for Kampong Kembangan in his adjournment speech. If someone is fluent in the Malay language, it cannot be said that he has the necessary qualification and should be accepted as a police officer. Otherwise, those who are maimed can also claim that they too are fit to be police officers. We know that the existence of the Special Constabulary was because of the Emergency which first broke out in Malaya and then spread to Singapore. In order to safeguard the peace and security of both these territories, the Special Constabulary was formed in Malaya and in Singapore, too. They were required to help safeguard Singapore and its waters, and also to guard it from undesirable elements.

The problem of dismissed special constables did not only exist in Singapore but also in the Federation when the Emergency conditions improved. Members of the Home Guard and the Special Constabulary in the Federation too had their services terminated, or those units had their strength reduced when the Emergency situation improved.

From what I know, the former Singapore Government had already made a decision to terminate the services of the Special Constabulary. But they did not have the guts to terminate their services then because they had to face the general elections in May. For that reason, the "buck" was unfortunately passed on to us. Those who used the services of the Special Constabulary are not the present Government but the previous Government. Thus, the analogy of the fence destroying the crops could appropriately be applied to the previous Government.

We know that the representatives of the Special Constabulary had seen the Minister for Labour and Law, and that the Minister had given them an assurance that every possible assistance would be given to them. He had assured them that if commercial firms required the services of watchmen or some similar jobs, the Minister for Labour and Law would give top priority to these special constables whose services had been terminated. Thus, although they had rendered services to the previous Government, the P.A.P. Government still has a high regard for their services.

6.45 p.m.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, it was necessary to disband the temporary Special Constables since the Emergency and temporary duties for which they had been recruited had come to an end. The majority of those discharged were employed on searchlight duty in the Johore Straits control scheme, which operated until the end of last year, to assist the Federation during the Emergency. In anticipation of their redundancy, the Police have since last year absorbed a good number or these temporary Special Constables into the regular Police Force. I am sure that those Special Constables who the Member for Kampong Kembangan mentioned have received awards for meritorious services, would have been absorbed into the regular Police Force.

Furthermore, a Guard and Escort Unit was recently set up and a further 825 temporary Special Constables were absorbed into the Unit. The balance of 250 Special Constables were considered by the police to have lacked the necessary qualifications. And by qualifications, I do not mean language alone. If language is considered the only criterion for selection, then, as my colleague, the Member for Bukit Timah has said, those who are lame, or maimed, or blind, can also be accepted. For those 250 Special Constables, a phased programme to discharge them early this year was not accepted and implemented by the S.P.A. Government (of which Dato Abdul Hamid bin Haji Jumat was the Deputy Chief Minister), because of the impending general elections, although they knew that these temporary Special Constables had to be discharged because the purpose for which they had been recruited had come to an end. There is no question of their posts being filled by Chinese, because all the posts of the Special Constabulary have been abolished. It is also not true to say that the discharged temporary Special Constables were all Malays or that we have discriminated against the Malays. First and foremost, these 250 temporary Special Constables were selected for discharge during the time of the last Government, and if there had been any discrimination, then the Dato, the Member for Kampong Kembangan's Party chairman, had condoned it. But, nevertheless, for his information, I would like to mention that of those discharged there were eight Chinese, six Indians, two Filipinos and two Eurasians. The Malays were the largest in number because most of the temporary Special Constables were Malays. As my colleague, the Member for Bukit Timah, has pointed out, the Minister for Labour and Law had tried his best to help those Special Constables who had been discharged. He had asked the banks and firms in Singapore to employ them. For many of those who had come from the Federation, he had offered to secure for them free warrants to go back to the Federation by train.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly do now adjourn.

Adjourned accordingly at Nine minutes to Seven o'clock p.m. to Wednesday, 11th November, 1959.