RELIGIOUS/QUASI-RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS (Ban)

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon asked the Minister for Home Affairs how many religious or quasi-religious organisations have been banned in Singapore under the Societies Act or other legislation.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, three religious or quasi-religious organisations have been deregistered under the Societies Act.

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon: Sir, would the Senior Parliamentary Secretary please give details to the House? Which three, and why?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, the three organisations are, firstly, the Singapore Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (deregistered in January 1972), the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity or the Unification Church, whose followers are known as the "Moonies", (deregistered in April 1982) and its front organisation, the Moral Home Society (deregistered in July 1990), and the Christian Conference of Asia (deregistered in December 1987).

Sir, they were deregistered under section 24 of the Societies Act by a Ministerial order on the grounds that their activities were prejudicial to public welfare and good order.

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon: Sir, could the Senior Parliamentary Secretary give us further details? In what sense were their activities prejudicial to good order?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, in the case of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the group, for example, claims a neutral position in war time. Therefore, this led to a number of its believers in National Service refusing to perform any military duties; some, in fact, refused to wear uniform.

In the case of the Christian Conference of Asia, the group professed to be a religious organisation but was in actual fact an organisation involved in politics. It encouraged inter-faith dialogues for political ends and involvement of religious organisations in politics.

In the case of the Moonies, the group brainwashed families and broke them up, and members gave up their possessions to the Church.

These are examples which illustrate the basis for the ban on these organisations.

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon: Sir, would the Senior Parliamentary Secretary reconcile these bans with the constitutional protection on freedom of religion?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, certainly there is freedom of religion in Singapore. Article 15 of our Constitution provides for it. However, Article 15(4) says that, "This Article does not authorise any act contrary to any general law relating to public order, public health or morality". In so far as these organisations have been banned, that is the basis for not allowing them to propagate their beliefs in Singapore.

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon: Sir, is there any mechanism to review the bans, or are the bans perpetual?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: I am sure the Member would know that there have been certain groups, for example, the Jehovah's Witnesses, that have challenged the legality of the Ministerial orders in court, and the courts have upheld the legality of these orders.