Statement by the Minister for Home Affairs

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, the statement by the Minister for Culture should be a reminder to us all of the delicate nature of the communal problem. For the Government, trying to solve the communal problem, is like walking on a knife's edge. In its efforts to develop a Malayan outlook and Malayan loyalty, it has to meet the subtle and underground propaganda of the Chinese chauvinist, the Indian communalist and the Malay racialist. If it tries to assist the Malays, the Chinese chauvinist depicts such action as pro-Malay and anti-Chinese. Any action to help the Chinese is presented by Malay racialists as pro-Chinese and so on.

But this Government is not pro-Chinese, pro-Malay or pro any particular race.

It is first and last pro-Malayan.

And a pro-Malayan policy, as it becomes more effective, will meet with the hostility of all communalists who have a political vested interest in racialism. In an effort to combat the growth of a Malayan outlook the communalists may, with increasing recklessness, try to fan the flames of racialism.

We are prepared to deal with such elements. We will deal with them firmly and vigorously as we did with the organisers of A.R.T.I.S. and with those who tried to perform a mischievous play at the Badminton Hall.

The A.R.T.I.S. plot was smashed and the people of Singapore were spared the terror of racial riots because of the vigilance and determination of our police force.

Our police have proved that they are ready to deal with any plot by any race to disturb racial harmony.

In dealing with the A.R.T.I.S. plotters, the police had an extremely difficult and delicate task to perform. Most of the plotting was in secret. To have taken action too soon would have resulted in our not knowing the extent and ramifications of the plot.

Secondly, the police had to take action without unduly alarming the non-Malay population who, for the most part, were unaware of what was going on.

As it turned out, the police carried out their operation smoothly and effectively.

In view of the tragedy communal conflict could bring to all races, let me state here, quite categorically, that the Government will not hesitate to act swiftly to detain and neutralise plotters out to create racial strife.