BAN ON LOCAL OR FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS

Mr Harun A. Ghani asked the Minister for Information and the Arts (a) how many local or foreign publications were banned from 1994 to 1996 and what were the reasons and (b) how many new local and foreign publications were approved for distribution during the same period.

Encik Yatiman Yusof (for the Minister for Information and the Arts): Between 1994 and 1996, the Ministry banned only the publications belonging to the International Bible Students Association. The reason is that the Association was part of the Jehovah Witnesses Group which is unlawful in Singapore. There were seven publications belonging to this Association that were banned. No other local or foreign publications were banned.

During the same period too, a total of 2,628 new local publications and 157 new foreign publications were granted a licence to publish and circulate in Singapore.