BATTLE FOR MERGER (Purpose of photographs)

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Culture what was the purpose of incorporating in the Battle Jo, Merger pamphlet photographs of (i) the P.A.P. inaugural meeting in 1954; (ii) the persons addressing that meeting; (iii) the release of detainees on 4th June, 1959; (iv) Mr Lee Kuan Yew with Mr James Puthucheary in Changi Prison Camp grounds; (v) the P.A.P. rally at the Esplanade on their victory in the general election; (vi) Mr Lee Kuan Yew addressing an election rally at Clifford Pier; (vii) P.A.P. detainees at the St. John's Island detention camp; (viii) the Prime Minister addressing the 1961 May Day Rally at the Jalan Besar Stadium; and (ix) Mr Lee Kuan Yew and some union officials in Taiping Botanic Gardens.

Mr Rajaratnam: The photographs listed by the Member for Anson have been incorporated in the book for the same reasons as the other photographs in the book which the Member has not listed in his enquiries. The photographs either illustrate or amplify the text of the book. For example, on page 10 there is a photograph of the Member for Anson at the Baling Talks. He has quite rightly not questioned the propriety of its inclusion. Like the other photographs, it helps to illustrate or augment the main theme of the book, that is, the struggle between the non-Communist socialists on the one hand and the Communists and pro-Communists on the other to win the. hearts and minds of the people in Malaya. The Member for Anson will agree that all the photographs have been aptly chosen, including the one of himself.

Mr David Marshall: The Minister for Culture is less than frank. That photograph of myself at Baling is not of my-self but Tunku Abdul Rahman and the others. Though that might be appropriate in a book about Communists, how is it appropriate to have photographs of the P.A.P. inaugural meeting, the Prime Minister having a talk with his private clients? Would the Minister please indicate?

Mr Rajaratnam: Sir, as regards the photograph of the P.A.P. after winning the elections, in fact, I happened to look at the Annual Report which came after the Member for Anson had become the Chief Minister, and there is one there showing him having an informal luncheon in one of the big hotels here, which I think is appropriate since he was then the Chief Minister and his Party had come to power, and it is part of the history of the Island. So for the same `reason, the fact that these pictures relating to elections and so on are included in the book is that they form part of the history which led to the events and conflicts described in the book.

As regards "clients", Sir, I am not quite sure to whom the Member for Anson is referring.

Mr David Marshall: If it please you, Mr Speaker, Sir, at page 83:

`Mr Lee had gone up to Perak to defend...'.

Mr Speaker: Order. The Member for Anson must wait until he is called, to give the Chair a chance to consider the answer. Now, Mr Marshall.

Mr David Marshall: If it please you, Mr Speaker, Sir, I refer to the photograph opposite page 83 where the Prime Minister is alleged to have gone to Perak to defend members of a union at a trial in Bagan Serai which arose from a transport strike. Is this part of the history of Singapore? Are we going to have memorabilia of Mr Lee Kuan Yew?

Mr Rajaratnam: I have a feeling that the Member for Anson has only been looking at the pictures without reading the text of the book. If he had read through the text, he would have found that the gentleman referred to is mentioned in the text of the broadcast. And, therefore, it is necessary in a book of this kind not only to tell about the persons but readers would also like to know what they look like. That is the reason why that photograph is published.