YAH LIN YAH KER (Permission to stage play)

Mr Ong Chang Sam asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he is aware that permission to stage the play Yah Lin Yah Ker was refused, and whether he will give the reasons for the refusal.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, permission to stage the play Yah Lin Yah Ker or Serenade in the Coconut Plantation was refused on the grounds that the play encourages students to become involved in labour strikes, and in the present industrial situation its performance will be contrary to the interests of the State and of the students who should be concentrating on their studies.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as I know, application for this play to be staged was made on 5th September last year to the Minister for Home Affairs. It was only on 13th December that the application was refused, and no reason was given for such refusal.

From what the Minister has said just now, this play, as a matter of fact, is not the type that is described by the Minister.

Mr Speaker: Order. What the Member can do is to give certain facts leading up to a supplementary question. Let us have a supplementary question; there can be no debate.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister for Home Affairs this: does he mean that when students and workers are together, they are involved in industrial action?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: The answer is no.