PULAU SENANG INCIDENT (Request for statement)

Mr Ong Chang Sam asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will make a statement on the incident of the detainees assaulting the prison officers in Pulau Senang in April 1963.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the appointment and the terms of reference of the three-man Commission of Inquiry headed by Mr Justice Ambrose, it is not proposed to make a statement on the incident of the detainees assaulting the prison officers in Pulau Senang in April 1963.

Mr David Marshall: Would the Minister indicate whether any interim measures are being taken pending receipt of the commission's report?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: I wonder if the Member for Anson could clarify his question. What measures is he thinking of?

Mr Speaker: Order. I do not think we can allow a thing like that. The question was, what interim measures? The answer is, the Minister knows of no interim measures. The Member for Choa Chu Kang wishes to ask a supplementary question?

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): According to my knowledge, the Government has established a Commission of Inquiry into the incident that occurred in Pulau Senang in April this year. At the time of the debate on the Budget, the Minister for Home Affairs gave me an undertaking to investigate into this matter. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Commission appointed by him has already given him any report.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, if I understand him correctly, the Member for Choa Chu Kang was referring to the Commission appointed by Government in April 1963. There is no such Commission of Inquiry appointed in April. It is in July.

Mr Speaker: May I just be quite certain that the Commission which has now been appointed will be looking into the incident in Pulau Senang in April1963?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Commission has just been appointed. It will look into the incident that took place on 12th July, and I would imagine that it will also look into this incident, because it may have some bearing on the incident in July.

Mr Speaker: I asked that question because if this incident will come within the province of the Commission of Inquiry, then, of course, it is completely out of order to ask any question in regard to that incident.