SECRET SOCIETY MOVEMENT IN SINGAPORE

Mr Chew Heng Ching asked the Minister for Home Affairs what steps are being taken by the Singapore Police Force to check the revival of the secret society movement in Singapore.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no revival of any secret society movement in Singapore. Police has successfully broken up the hardcore secret societies of the 50s and 60s, which were responsible for violent gang fights, protection and extortion rackets, through our tough laws and enforcement.

The current gang situation in Singapore has taken on a different form, dominated by loosely organised street gangs with a fluid membership. The majority of their members are male Chinese youths aged between 13 and 19. Although they are not as vicious as the traditional secret society gangsters, they do pose law and order problems by rioting and assembling unlawfully. Some street gang fights have resulted in serious injuries and even deaths.

Police recognises this problem and has taken steps to address it. In 1998, Police conducted 906 anti-gang operations covering entertainment outlets, shopping centres and known `hot-spots'. Tough action will continue this year. Police is also taking proactive measures to nip the problem in the bud. Police reaches out to the youths directly. For example, it conducts preventive education programmes, such as school talks and visits to the prisons, to educate youths on the evils and adverse consequences of joining gangs. In 1998, such Police programmes reached over 9,000 youths. This twin approach of tough enforcement and preventive education has been successful in lowering the number of street gang related rioting from 39 cases in 1996 to 16 in 1998.

Mr Chew Heng Ching (East Coast): Sir, to what extent are these gang fights influenced by the presence of foreigners and also due to the current economic recession?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, Police has been very careful in keeping out foreign triads. They will continue to do this.

Mr Chew Heng Ching: To what extent are gang fights as a consequence of the current economic conditions?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, gang fights take place not purely because of economic conditions. Like I said, the majority of these are street gang type members. So they can fight out of staring incidents, sometimes keeping to turf, and sometimes because of disagreements over certain matters. So it is not essentially linked to the economic situation.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Is the Minister of State aware that there are still instances of extortion of protection money by members of either secret societies or what he terms "street gangs"? Is he aware that when such instances were brought to the attention of the Police, the Police has asked the victim to come out and identify those gang members? As a result, I am sure he is aware that most of these instances were not reported to the police.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Yes, Sir, police is aware of this. As I have said, about 70% are street gang types, and the 30%, which are the more traditional type of secret societies, have extortion activities. In fact, a few gangs were broken up in the Woodlands area just last year. That is why we have the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act to act against people who are operating such activities where it is difficult to get people to testify.