LOCAL NEWSPAPERS NOT WHOLLY PRINTED IN SINGAPORE

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Culture whether he is aware that certain newspapers which are, in Singapore, regarded as local newspapers are not wholly printed in Singapore and if he will take steps to ensure that all such newspapers are wholly printed in Singapore.

Mr Fong Sip Chee (for the Minister for Culture): Mr Speaker, Sir, most of the major newspapers, whose history could be traced back several decades, originally based their headquarters in Singapore and operated from Singapore. This happy business arrangement continued well after the formation of Malaysia. Then the Malaysian Government imposed a law requiring newspapers in the Federation to be printed in the country of origin. That was the origin of "split" newspapers whereby, for reasons of survival, the major newspapers printed two versions - one for Malaysian readers and one for Singapore readers. Part of the plants had to be shifted to Malaysia and separate staff set up.

Although it may be that no Singapore printed newspapers are permitted to circulate in Malaysia, it would be senseless to adopt tit-for-tat measures. This is essentially because we believe in and encourage the free flow of ideas not only from our neighbours but also from other countries. This is the meaning of an open society. Suppression of ideas and viewpoints not in accord with our own is not in our interest.

An hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): Sir, how many newspapers are not wholly printed in Singapore?

Mr Speaker: Mr Fong, are you prepared to answer that without notice?

Mr Fong Sip Chee: Sir, I presume the hon. Member is referring to newspapers circulating in Singapore but not printed in Singapore. There are 14 of them with their headquarters based in the Federation of Malaysia.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary say how many workers are unemployed because of this?

Mr Fong Sip Chee: Sir, I am sorry to take the role of the Minister for Labour, but I do have some statistics here. Perhaps they might satisfy the hon. Member.

As to the major newspapers which have already shifted their operations earlier, I do not have the statistics at the moment.

I presume that the hon. Member is interested in the staff involved in the three Tamil newspapers. The Tamil Murasu has a total of 30 employees. Eighteen of them are citizens of Malaysia and they are given employment in Kuala Lumpur. The 12 who are Singapore citizens are now left unemployed.

The Tamil Malar shifted its operations to Kuala Lumpur in February this year. I do not know how many of the staff have been transferred there and how many are left unemployed in Singapore. But there are still 15 employees who are still with the Tamil Malar in Singapore.

As to the Malaysia Malayalee, it would seem that this particular newspaper will continue to operate in Singapore as its circulation is mainly in Singapore. As such, there is no effect on the employment of their employees in Singapore.