HOME AFFAIRS

Police

The Government will consolidate its efforts to preserve peace, good order and security in the State.

The process of transforming the Police Force into a popular and friendly force to safeguard the interests of the people has made further progress and will continue. Efforts in bringing greater cooperation between police and the people through the media of holding Police! people meetings, visits of Assemblymen to police establishments, and the periodical joint discussion between Assemblymen and people's representatives and the divisional police have proved to be a step in the right direction. The people are now looking upon the Force as fellow citizens protecting them against evil doers. The Government is trying out new methods of organising the people to protect themselves in co-operation with the Police in kampong areas. The success of this experiment will bring the Police another step closer to the people.

The amendments made last session to the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance, 1958, have enabled the Police to carry on a more effective campaign against secret society gangsters. This must continue relentlessly until their evil influence is destroyed. At the same time the Government is conscious of the fact that mere detention of secret society members without any attempt to re-educate and rehabilitate them with the aim of returning them as less embittered, and better and more useful members of society is a negative and wasteful approach to the problem. Therefore, the Government has launched the Pulau Senang Settlement Scheme for the re-education and rehabilitation of secret society detainees. To date 82 detainees have been transferred to Pulau Senang from Changi Prison. The Scheme has got off to a good start and the Government will give it special attention. The Government also intends to carry out Prison Reform and to that end is awaiting the Report of the Prisons Inquiry Commission set up last year with a view to making recommendations in that direction.

Anti-corruption and anti-yellow culture

The Government is aware that bribery and corruption have yet to be completely eliminated. The shortage of officers and the inadequacy of the previous laws have made the task of fighting corruption more difficult than it should be. Now that the new Prevention of Corruption Ordinance has been brought into operation, steps have been taken to recruit more staff for the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. General Orders dealing with disciplinary procedures in respect of Government employees will be revised and adapted with a view to giving more effective assistance to the anti-corruption campaign, which will be intensified.

In keeping with its policy to promote the healthy growth of a new national consciousness and culture, the Government will continue to suppress and eliminate yellow culture.

Citizenship and Immigration

Parallel to its citizenship policy, the Government's immigration policy will be to protect the economic interests of its citizens and safeguard their employment opportunities. Close alignment and liaison with the Federation's immigration laws and policy is being maintained. Preventive action against the entry of illegal immigrants will be intensified.