CRIMINAL LAW (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL

3.28 p.m.

First Reading

The Minister for the Environment (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Act to amend the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (Chapter 112 of the Revised Edition)".

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

Mr Lim Kim San: Now, Sir.

Certificate of Urgency signed by the President in respect of the Bill, laid upon the Table by the Minister.

Typed copies of the Bill distributed to Members.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, formerly known as the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance, was brought into force on 21st October, 1955, and has been extended from time to time. The Act will lapse on 20th October, 1974, unless further extended.

This Act provides primarily for the maintenance of public safety, peace and good order, prevention of strikes and lock-outs in essential services, and detention and supervision of persons associated with activities of a criminal nature. Since its introduction, this Act has been very effective in the maintenance of public peace and order in curbing the activities of persons associated with secret societies.

An indication of the effective use of the provisions for detention under the Act is established by the fact that for the past 10 years the average number of persons arrested per year under section 43 was 1,090. As on 31st July, 1974, the total number of persons detained under section 30 was 1,074 and the number of persons ordered to be placed under Police supervision was 832. These are known criminals who would otherwise be free without the powers provided by this Act.

The current situation with regard to secret societies in the Republic is under control. For the past 10 years there has been an average of about six secret society incidents per month. However, without exercising the provisions in the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act it would not be possible to maintain this control. There is, therefore, a need to extend the operation of the Act. It is essential that the suppression of secret societies in the Republic should go on relentlessly and also in view of their possible involvement in racial disturbances.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Lim Kim San].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.