CONDITIONS OF DETENTION OF SINGAPORE DETAINEES IN FEDERATION OF MALAYA AND SINGAPORE (Request for statement)

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will consider ascertaining the conditions of detention in the Federation of Malaya of persons detained by the Singapore Government and transferred to the custody of the Federation of Malaya Government, and whether he will make a statement as to the treatment of detainees in the Federation and in Singapore.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, my answer will be given when we come to Question No. 22*.

*Question 22 reads as follows:

Mr David Marshall: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs, whether he will make a statement as to the policy, and the reasons therefor, governing the conditions of detention in Singapore of persons detained since 1st February, 1963.

Mr Speaker: Order. If the answer to Question 19 is included in the answer to Question 22, the Minister for Home Affairs can make his statement now, and inform the House that he is answering Questions 19 and 22 at the same time, if he chooses to do that now.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall answer Questions 19 and 22 together.

The Government will certainly consider ascertaining the conditions of detention in the Federation of Malaya of persons detained by the Singapore Government and transferred to the custody of the Federation of Malaya Government.

The conditions of detention in Singapore are no different from those for detainees in previous years. The Member for Anson cannot be unaware that one of his clients gave unsolicited testimony to the kindness of his gaolers. In the circumstances, there is no cause for making a statement as requested by the Member for Anson.

Mr David Marshall: Sir, what is this? I have no clients amongst the detainees.

Mr Speaker: Order. If the Member for Anson is rising on a point of order or on a point of elucidation, he can do so.

Mr David Marshall: If I might, Mr Speaker, Sir.

Mr Speaker: On elucidation?

Mr David Marshall: Yes, Sir. Who is this client he is referring to? I have no client amongst the detainees in Singapore; and the Minister knows it.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, although he might not have any client in Singapore, that does not mean that he has no client in the Federation or that he has had no client in previous arrests.

Mr Speaker: Order. I have asked Ministers, when they answer questions, to stick to them very strictly and answer them with pure statements of fact, and not bring in extraneous matters which might excite a debate, interjections, and so on. I ask Ministers to bear that in mind when answering the questions now on the Order Paper and all future Questions.

Mr David Marshall: May I ask a supplementary question arising ---

Mr Speaker: Order. That has been answered, perhaps unsatisfactorily. The Member for Anson can pursue his question in some other way.

Mr David Marshall: If it please you. Would the Minister indicate whether, in fact, at any previous time - whether under the Imperial Government or any previous Government any detainee has been in solitary confinement without access to newspapers and writing materials and without access to lavatories for more than 50 days?

Mr Speaker: Order. That topic, I think, is going to be touched upon under item 12 on the Order Paper - the motion standing in the names of the Members for Queenstown and Havelock. All those details will be touched upon then. I do not think they ought to be touched upon now during Question Time.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, on a point of order. He did say that the conditions are the same as under the previous Government in answer to my Question 22. I am asking whether, in fact, he has any information that those conditions prevailed under previous Governments?

Mr Speaker: Those are details, as I say, which must be substantiated somehow and they do not arise during Question Time. Those details will come out when we debate item 12 on the Order Paper. All those details can be alleged, denied or admitted, just as the Minister deems fit. During Question Time, those details will excite a debate, and we can-riot have debates during Question Time.

Question 20, Mr David Marshall.

Mr David Marshall: Question 22, Sir,I thought Question 20 was incorporated now in Question 22.

Mr Speaker: No. We are now on Questions 19 and 22.

Mr David Marshall: Therein I asked the reasons for the policy governing the conditions of detainees. Could we have a reply to that part of the Question?

Mr Speaker: If the Minister has a reply.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have mentioned just now that the conditions of detention in Singapore are no different from those of detention in previous years, and therefore there is no cause to make a statement.