IN THE MATTER OF TOMMY KOH THONG BEE (APOLOGY BY MR YONG NYUK LIN)

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin rose -

Mr Speaker: Is the Minister seeking leave to make a statement.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker. Sir, may I seek your permission and that of the House to make a clarification of the point raised by the Member for Anson regarding Tommy Koh?

Mr Speaker: The Minister has asked leave of this Assembly to make a statement in respect of Tommy Koh. Is it the pleasure of hon. Members that the statement be made now?

Hon. Members: Aye.

Mr Speaker: No dissentient voice. Mr Yong.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, since the telegram from Tommy Koh Thong Bee came to my knowledge at 2.45 p.m. today, when you handed it to me, I have asked for a check on the intelligence report regarding Tommy Koh.

The facts are that at 8.50 a.m. yesterday, car SU 4444 went into St. George's Road and proceeded to the Whampoa Secondary School examination centre. SU 4444 is a car belonging to Tommy Koh's father and often used by him. A young Chinese sitting in the front seat beside the driver was identified by an intelligence observer as Tommy Koh Thong Bee. Since receiving this telegram, further investigation have been made for corroboration. It would now appear that the young man next to the driver of the car SU 4444 is a member of the family for whom he was mistaken.

I tender full and ample apology for having misinformed this House because of the mistaken identity. I also tender full and ample apology to Tommy Koh Thong Bee for any pain and suffering the wrong identification caused him.

6.51 p.m.