IN THE MATTER OF TOMMY KOH THONG BEE (Personal explanation by Mr Marshall)

Mr Speaker: The Member for Anson has obtained leave to make a personal explanation. I have acquainted the Minister of what the personal explanation is about. I take it the Minister has received my letter?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin indicated dissent.

Mr Speaker: No? Has the Minister for Education received a letter which I addressed to him personally?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: I am afraid not.

Mr Speaker: I will give him a copy.

The Clerk handed a copy of Mr Speaker's letter to Mr Yong Nyuk Lin.

Mr David Marshall: If it please you, Mr Speaker, I have been in telephonic communication with Mr Tommy Koh Thong Bee, who is working in my office and is now at the Eastern Hotel, Tanah Ratah, with reference to the statement made yesterday by the Minister for Education in the context of the alleged plot of Communists to subvert Chinese students in order to bring about violence and disruption of the merger talks, that yesterday, Monday, 27th of November, at 9 a.m., Tommy Koh Thong Bee of the University of Malaya Socialist Club, which supports the Barisan Sosialis, visited the examination centre at Whampoa Chinese School in St. George's Road. He was accompanied by three friends.

Mr Tommy Koh asks that, in fairness, I should inform the House that he left Singapore on Sunday morning, slept in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night, and at 9 a.m. on Monday morning, he was travelling between Kuala Lumpur and Tapah with two other persons, more than 300 miles away from the Whampoa Chinese school where the Minister for Education said he was. He has not been near Whampoa Chinese School for months. Mr Tommy Koh is prepared to substantiate these facts on oath before a Commission of Inquiry.

Some hon. Members: Apologise! [Interruption]

Mr Speaker: Order. Any Minister who wishes to make a statement, and only a statement, on that may do so. There is no debate.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I reply to the Member for Anson, since it was indicated that I had received your note, which I have not, perhaps an inquiry can be made -

Mr Speaker: Inquiry?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: - probably it is on its way, so that the matter can be put right. As I was coming into the Assembly, I was told that there was a telegram waiting for me, and I tore it open but I did not look at its contents until I referred to this letter, which mentioned that there was some telegram. So I am reading the telegram for the first time.

Mr S. T. Bani (Thomson): Liar!

Mr Speaker: Order. The Member for Thomson will now apologise to the House. Only an apology will be accepted and nothing less.

Mr Bani: I apologise, Sir.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: With reference, Mr Speaker. Sir, to the Member for Anson's statement. I can only say that I shall refer his statement to the source of intelligence that I have received, and after the matter has been clarified, I shall make a suitable statement.

The Prime Minister: On a point of information. Mr Speaker, Sir, can I ask you whether you have received any other telegrams?

Mr Speaker: No.

The Prime Minister: None from Mr Fong Swee Suan, Sir?

Mr Speaker: Order. That is completely out of the ambit of the personal explanation.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, the telegram that seems to be referred to, is it material to the statement?

Mr Speaker: The telegram is a telegram which I, as Speaker, received from Tommy Koh, and which I thought the Minister ought to see. I am not permitted to disclose the contents of any such document that comes to my hand except, of course, through an Assemblyman.

2.46 p.m.