SECRET SOCIETIES (Areas of activity)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many secret societies are still active in Singapore and in which areas they are most active; and (b) whether he has received any report or information about their infiltration into youth groups or organisations.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 37 active secret societies comprising 110 gangs operating in various parts of Singapore. They are more active in certain areas in Jalan Besar and Geylang, and in rural areas such as Jurong and Sembawang. Some are found in Housing Board estates. The Police are keeping these areas under close surveillance.

There is no evidence of secret society elements infiltrating youth groups or organisations.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, since there are still so many secret societies and so many gangs in so many constituencies, even in Housing Board estates, what steps does the Hon. Minister for Home Affairs propose to take to eliminate them?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, as I have said, the Police are maintaining very close surveillance on areas where they are still active. When there are cases of secret society incidents, they are investigated and we make use of the powers of detention under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act. But over the years we have less and less incidents of secret society activity in Singapore.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, in this respect would the Hon. Minister for Home Affairs enlighten this House as to the type and structure of these secret societies or gangs, and whether their modus operandi is the same as the secret society of yesterday?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, they are still the triad type of secret societies. They have their initiation ceremonies and so on. Their common types of activity are extortion, crimes, and so on. They still have their traditional methods of operation. At the same time they also have modernised. Of course, they also take into consideration the lie of the land when they commit these activities. We also counter these new techniques and methods.

Dr Ong Leong Boon (Kim Seng): Sir, can I ask the Minister if he will enlighten this House on the reasons why gangsterism is so predominant in the areas he highlighted?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I feel that the Member for Kim Seng is asking me a rhetorical question. I think he knows why they are still active in certain areas like Jalan Besar and Geylang. The straight answer is that in Jalan Besar and Geylang there are still some red light areas.

Dr Ong Leong Boon: Sir, can I ask the Minister another question? Is it because there is a need to preserve these red light areas that he is not able to flush out all the gangsters?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, that again is another rhetorical question. The answer is that there is no such need to preserve such areas.