COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO INFILTRATION OF TRADE UNION MOVEMENT BY POLITICAL PARTIES

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider setting up a Commission of Inquiry into the trade union movement with specific reference to infiltration thereof by political parties, whether registered or unregistered.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): Mr Speaker, Sir, I will certainly consider setting up a Commission of Inquiry. I think most Members will agree that the Member for Thomson rendered the country a great service by accidentally proposing a Commission of Inquiry for the Chinese Schools Examination Boycott, as a result of which Communists ---

An hon. Member: The Member for Anson and not the Member for Thomson.

The Prime Minister: The Member for Anson - I beg your pardon. The Member for Anson is still standing on the same side of the line.

Sir, as a result of that Commission of Inquiry, a certain number of Communists and Communist united front operators working in the guise of educationists and protectors of culture and language were exposed and discomfited. I agree with the Member that a similarly useful role can be played by a Commission of Inquiry in respect of Communist activities in the trade unions.

There is, at the moment, another Commission pending at the request of the Singapore National Union of Journalists. It is to inquire into the improper manner in which the Singapore National Union of Journalists was exploited by certain Communist united front operators and into the manner in which their funds were misused for Communist front ends.

I think the general investigation can be joined with this specific investigation which has been asked for. The question is to find when a High Court Judge will be free to undertake what will undoubtedly become a long, protracted and sometimes perhaps acrimonious proceedings. The Member will remember that the former Chief Justice retired in January this year and we are at the moment one Puisne Judge short. However, the Chief Justice has assured me that he will make a Judge available as soon as the Court's list makes it possible.

Mr David Marshall (Anson): A supplementary question, Mr Speaker, Sir. The Prime Minister, in indicating that he accepts the suggestion for the appointment of this Commission, left it limited to the question of Communist subversion. I ask whether the Prime Minister did that by accident or whether it is intended in the spirit of the question to appoint a Commission to inquire into all political activities and all political infiltration of trade unions, whether registered political Parties or not - the "not", of course, being the Communists.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, the distinction between Communist operators and non-Communist infiltrators does not lie in their belonging to a registered or an unregistered society. Many of the Communist operators belong to a registered society, and one of the political Parties is adequately represented in this Chamber. That is in the nature of things in Singapore. I take it that the point the Member for Anson wanted to make was - have I, in framing this reply, taken into consideration his other point, to investigate the activities of non-Communist political leaders in the trade unions. But hypothesi, if they are non-Communists, therefore it cannot he for subversive ends.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, Sir, the question is "setting up a Commission of Inquiry with specific reference to infiltration", and the aim is to free the working-class movement from its thraldom to political Parties. That would be the aim of such a Commission. My enquiry is: does the Prime Minister accept the position that the trade union movement should be free from slavery to any political Party, and that a Commission would help immensely in clarifying the position and in probably paving the way for legislation for their protection?

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, that opens up an entirely new aspect of the case. As I understand it, the Member for Anson is now thinking in terms of legislation to free the trade union movement from thraldom - is it thraldom? I have not got the Oxford Dictionary with me here, but I assume, by that, that the Member for Anson means that one is held enthralled by the other. If that is so and if the purpose is then to make recommendations for legislation so that no trade union can either subscribe to, belong to or pay subscriptions to a political Party, I am quite happy to consider that. But infiltration by non-Communists into trade unions and trade union committees is just like some businessmen infiltrating into direct directorships of companies. It goes on regularly. The same man, for instance, turns up in 20 different companies-Fraser & Neave, Malayan Breweries, Red Lion, etc. By sheer persistence and great skill in the management of committees, the same person appears over and over again in the directorship lists of many companies, thereby no doubt invoking a great deal of confidence amongst the public and the consumers of the various commodities. So too with trade unionists. One becomes an adviser, a general affairs officer, and so on.

I think the objection to these persons is not that they work in trade unions but that they should work for the purposes of the Communist Party in trade unions. [Interruption] No, Mr Speaker, Sir. Any other political beliefs by all means. I sympathise with the Member for Anson. Twice he has lost his Party whilst he is still in this Chamber. I can quite sympathise with his point of view that one should not work for any political Party at all. I think there is reason and logic behind that point of view after one has had the bitter experiences that he has had. Twice the painful business of bringing a political Party to fruition; both came into life; one assumed power and one looked like coming to power and ---

Mr Speaker: Order. I think the Prime Minister is now wandering and inciting a debate. I do not think we should allow that at Question Time. Perhaps he will cut his answer short.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I see no harm whatsoever in Members opposite working in trade unions provided they are not doing it for Communist ends. I see no reason at all why no Members on this side of the House should not slave for trade unions if they feel so inclined.