BAN ON RELIGIOUS MUSIC DURING THAIPUSAM

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs why the police forbid the playing of religious music and singing of religious songs at temples and by those accompanying the persons carrying kavadi along the route during the observance of Thaipusam.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Police did not forbid the playing of religious music and singing of religious songs at the temples during Thaipusam. Religious music was played and religious songs were sung at the temples. Also, the singing of religious Kavadi songs and hymns by those accompanying the Kavadi carriers was not prohibited.

Sir, the Police have disallowed the playing of music to accompany all religious processions on public roads since 1973. The experience of the Police was that the playing of music en route slowed down the pace of the procession and caused serious traffic congestion. Moreover, there have been complaints by devotees that some persons accompanying Kavadi carriers were making a mockery of this solemn religious occasion by playing bonggos, cymbals, drums and even dustbin covers, plastic pails and metal containers.

Dr Koh Lam Son (Telok Blangah): Sir, I have heard of complaints from some devotees that there was a certain political party who sent its members ---

Mr Speaker: Please let me have your supplementary question, Dr Koh?

Dr Koh Lam Son: I will come to that quickly, Sir.

Mr Speaker: You are making a speech out of it.

Dr Koh Lam Son: Some members of the political party went to the recent Thaipusam procession to distribute its political materials. Is the Minister aware of this? And will the Minister please inform this House whether such practice is to be condoned?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, I too received several complaints from outraged devotees that the leader of a political party, not the PAP, and his followers were at strategic points in the morning and in the evening of Thaipusam, along the route of the procession, to sell their political pamphlets or newspapers to members of the procession, including those accompanying the Kavadi carriers. The Member for Telok Blangah asked me what is my view of this. Well, it is certainly both irresponsible and despicable because it shows scant regard for what is a solemn religious occasion. It also has the potential for mischief, misunderstanding and disorder when a political party distributes or sells political broadsheets and pamphlets during a solemn religious occasion in a public place.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, responding to this question from the Member for Telok Blangah, may I ask the Minister how many complaints he had received from these devotees? Would he disclose the number of the complaints that have been received? Secondly, was he aware that the sale was to those who were standing along the sides, not to the devotees? Thirdly, is he aware or has he been told that there was a tremendous sale of the paper? Does he know that?

Coming to my question, would the Minister appreciate that the question is directed to the playing of religious music, not to pop music or to any other music, but to the playing of religious music? And may I know what is the objection to religious music being played along the route accompany the Kavadi carriers? Secondly, have there been complaints from anybody about the playing of religious music along the route?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, the guilty party has risen to make the confession. The Member for Anson has failed to note the most important point. It is not how many copies of the publication were sold.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Answer the question.

Prof. Jayakumar: The point is that the political party does not consider it improper or irresponsible to indulge in political propaganda and in the selling of political publications on what is a solemn religious occasion, thus ignoring the sensitivities of those involved in the procession.

Mr Chiam See Tong: You are not answering the question on religious songs.

Prof. Jayakumar: I think the Member for Potong Pasir had better listen instead of interjecting, so that he will know what is going on.

The Member for Anson asked me if I had received complaints. I have told him that not only the Member for Telok Blangah has received complaints, but I also have received complaints. And it does not matter whether there were 10, 20 or 30 complaints. The point is that the Member for Anson has totally disregarded of the religious sensitivities of those involved.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May we see the complaints?

Prof. Jayakumar: "May we see the complaints"?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Yes.

Prof. Jayakumar: He has failed to be responsible and he has forgotten that events in other countries have shown when dangerous and mischievious activities ---

Mr Jeyaretnam: May we see the complaints?

Prof. Jayakumar: --- of this nature occur, they have the potential for creating strife. They have the potential for creating discord. We have seen on our television this happening in other countries. We can be proud of the stability, the racial harmony that we have achieved all these years. I think ---

Mr Jeyaretnam: We do not want a speech.

Prof. Jayakumar: I think it is very, very irresponsible for any political party to try and abuse and misuse solemn religious occasions for purposes of distributing or selling their political propaganda.

As to the other question, Mr Speaker, Sir, I have already answered. The first part of his question was: why did the police forbid the playing of religious music and singing of religious songs at temples? I have told him categorically that there is no truth in this.

Mr Jeyaretnam: That is not my question. My question was about the routes.

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, let me repeat his question: "To ask the Minister for Home Affairs why the police forbid ---"

Mr Jeyaretnam: On a point of clarification.

Prof. Jayakumar remained standing.

Mr Speaker: Are you giving way, Mr Minister?

Mr Jeyaretnam: On a point of clarification because the Minister is just repeating. He does not seem to be able to answer. He thinks he can repeat everything.

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is necessary for us to remind ourselves of the question asked by the Member for Anson. It shows that he has not got his facts correct. What was his question? His question was: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs why the police forbid the playing of religious music and singing of religious songs at temples. That is the first part of his question. There is no basis to this. The second part of his question concerns "those accompanying the persons carrying kavadi along the route during the observance of Thaipusam." I have answered the question, and I think I have answered the question adequately.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, supplementary questions. First of all, about the sale. I repeat my question to the Minister, would he let us have the complaints received by him? Does he also know that, far from anyone protesting about our selling, they were milling round us trying to get the publication from us?

Coming to this question that I have tabled, I accept the Minister's answer about the temples. But my question is about religious music along the route. How many complaints has he received and from whom, about the playing of religious music accompanying the kavadi carriers along the route? And what is the objection to the playing of religious music, not pop music or anything else?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have already stated that the singing of religious kavadi songs and hymns by those accompanying the kavadi carriers is not prohibited.

Mr Jeyaretnam: I said religious music.

Prof. Jayakumar: Religious music and musical instruments were not allowed for more than 10 years, from 1973.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Why?

Prof. Jayakumar: For the reasons that I have stated, namely, that the experience was that the playing of music en route did slow down the pace of the procession and caused serious traffic congestion.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson and all Members here must realize that there must be a balance between, on the one hand, accommodating the religious objectives and sentiments and, on the other hand, maintaining a smooth flow of traffic, commerce and pedestrian movements during the whole day that the Thaipusam celebrations are going on. Indeed the Police presence has been appreciated by the devotees as well as the authorities of the temples. They have shown much tolerance, much care, in exercising their powers. And this measure concerning music and musical instruments is, in fact, to facilitate as far as possible the rapid flow of both kavadi carriers and normal traffic.

Mr Speaker: Let us come to your next Question, Mr Jeyaretnam.

Mr Jeyaretnam: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker, Sir.

Mr Speaker: You are not asking your Question 8?

Mr Jeyaretnam: I am. But I have got a supplementary question on this.

Mr Speaker: There seems to be no end to your supplementary questions.

Mr Jeyaretnam: If you think I should not ask, I will accept your ruling. But I have a supplementary question.

Mr Speaker: Let us go to your next Question.

Mr Jeyaretnam: All right, Sir. Question No. 8.