PERSONS ARRESTED UNDER P.P.S.O. ON 2-2-63 (Access to lawyers)

Legislative Assembly of Singapore · 5 April 1963 · 2nd Legislative Assembly

Official Report, 5 April 1963, Vol 20, Issue 2 · Open in the reader (summaries, search, filters)

David MarshallOng Pang Boon
18

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will indicate when persons arrested on 2nd February, 1963 under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance were first allowed access to their lawyers in Singapore, and whether he has information in regard to similar access in the Federation of Malaya.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, lawyers were allowed access to detainees immediately after the Statement of Grounds for the detention were served on them. To the best of my knowledge, a similar position obtains in the Federation. In any case after 31st August, 1963, all these matters will be under the charge of the Ministry of Interior, and all regulations and orders will be the same throughout Malaysia.

Mr David Marshall: Quite apart from passing the buck after merger, if we can take the responsibility for our duties now, is the Minister not aware that in fact the-detainees were not given access to their counsel for more than a month, and would he explain why? And is he not aware of the fact that in the Federation they were given access immediately on request?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as Singapore is concerned, I have already answered just now that lawyers were allowed access to detainees immediately after the Statement of Grounds for the detention were served on them. And if he looks up the P.P.S.O., that works out to about a month.

Mr David Marshall: Would the Minister indicate whether, in fact, the period of more than a month before allowing the detainees access to their lawyers was a radical departure from previous traditions when detainees were allowed immediate access to their lawyers? And whether it is not true that in the Federation they are given immediate access to their lawyers without waiting for grounds.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: I am not aware.

Mr David Marshall: Know nothing? Say nothing?

Mr Speaker: Order. I have allowed the Member for Anson to interject, but interjections of that nature during Question Time should not be made.

Source: Singapore Parliament Official Report (Hansard) for 5 April 1963. Republished on SGParliament.