MR PHEY YEW KOK (Efforts to locate)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether any further progress has been made by the Police to locate the former President of the National Trades Union Congress and People's Action Party Member of Parliament Mr Phey Yew Kok and what steps, if any, have been taken since his last reply in this House.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, he was last known to be in a nearby country without extradition arrangements with Singapore. There has been no further development. There is an alert for the apprehension of the fugitive issued by Interpol HQ. It will remain in force until he is apprehended.

His options are to fester in exile, away from his family and friends in Singapore, or face the charges against him.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Hon. Minister states that he was last known to be in a neighbouring country with which we have no extradition treaty or arrangements. What is the date of this last known knowledge of the Police, and would he inform us of this country with which we have no arrangements? The other question is this. I understand the family is here. Are the Police aware whether the family is in touch with this man or not?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think it is prudent on my part to reveal in public the name of the nearby country in which he was last heard of. However, if the Member for Anson is curious about it, he can write to me and I shall give him the information in strict confidence, just to satisfy his curiosity. It is not prudent for me to mention it in public, because it may hamper the efforts of Interpol and the Police to apprehend him. As far as the date is concerned, it was quite some time ago. I do not think I should also reveal the time when he was last heard of.

With regard to the second question, i.e. whether the Police have got information as to whether he has been in touch with his family, the answer is no. We have no such information. If we have, we would have followed it up.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not asking questions out of idle curiosity. I think these questions are of public interest. Honestly, I cannot understand what objections there can be to the Minister informing this House of the country where he was last known to have been and the date. Secondly, I would like to know why the Police, with all the competence that they are known to possess in Singapore, have been unable to find out from the family whether they are in correspondence with the man or not.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Member for Anson: is there any objection in my giving that information to him in confidence? Does he object to that?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I said this is a matter of public interest. This House is entitled to know. It is not me who should be told this in confidence, that I can keep it to myself. It is a question of public interest. This House should know and the public in Singapore should know.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: But in my opinion I do not think it is in the public interest to make it known. To satisfy his curiosity or any imputation of smear he is making, I am prepared to give it to him in strict confidence.

Mr Jeyaretnam: I do not want it in strict confidence.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: To what purpose?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the public are entitled to know what efforts are being made to bring this man back to Singapore. I think that will be evident.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, that is quite different from what efforts have been made to bring him back to Singapore. In fact, I have answered the question on the efforts that have been made to bring him to book. We have contacted the Interpol Police and they have put out an alert. If they find him, he will be apprehended. What are the other things necessary to make public?

As far as the other question is concerned, he has twisted it again. At first he asked: is there any information which the Police has come into its possession as to whether he has been in contact with his family? The answer is no. If we have such information, we would have followed it up. That is quite different from his second allegation that no effort has been made on the part of the Police to find out from his family whether he has been in contact with members of his family. If the Member had put it that way, i.e. has any effort been made to find out from his family whether they have been in contact, the answer is yes. We do try now and again to find out, but the answer, as far as the family is concerned, is that he has not been in contact.

However, if the Member for Anson has any information whether he has been in contact with his family or he has contacted any lawyer or himself in a professional capacity, if he would tell me in strict confidence I will keep that confidence and act upon it.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister may rest assured that I shall not only inform him but I shall also make it known if I know where the man is. I shall make it known to the public.

With due respect, all we have heard is a lot of euphemism from the Minister. Would the Minister state categorically what are the objections to it being made public in this House? He talks about hampering the efforts of Interpol. How will it hamper? I would like to know for one.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is pretty obvious. If you are trying to apprehend a person and if you have information of his whereabouts, you do not reveal it in public. Otherwise he will make arrangements to avoid apprehension.