MR HO JUAN THAI

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will give a categorical assurance that Mr Ho Juan Thai will not be detained under the Internal Security Act if and when he returns to Singapore.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, Mr J B Jeyaretnam's request is ridiculous. Mr Ho is not above the law. The Government cannot give an assurance to Mr Ho that amounts to perpetual immunity over the laws of the land which include the Internal Security Act.

If Mr Ho is genuinely interested to return to Singapore, he should take up the Government's offer of a one-way Document of Identity to return. As mentioned to the House previously, Mr Ho will be questioned by the relevant authorities for possible offences under the Immigration Act and the Enlistment Act as well as over his racially inflammatory speeches at election rallies during the December 1976 General Election.

If Mr Ho is guilty of any wrong-doing that warrants his arrest or detention under any law, Mr Ho must be dealt with accordingly.

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam (Non-Constituency Member): May I tell the Minister of State that my question is directed particularly at detention under the Internal Security Act. Is the Minister aware that for altering the passport he could be prosecuted under the Penal Code or the Passports Act, similarly, for evading National Service under the National Enlistment Act? What is the offence for which the ISD wish to question him under the Internal Security Act?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I think the answer makes it very clear. The ISD would like to question him over his inflammatory remarks made in 1976 during the general election.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would the Minister tell us what were these inflammatory speeches? Were they not what the present Government is advocating, ie, he was calling for greater use of Mandarin and, particularly, for students at Nanyang University to take their examinations in Mandarin, and not in English?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I think Mr Jeyaretnam is being very simplistic. In fact, in an exchange with Mr Chua Sian Chin, then Minister for Home Affairs in 1983, and also in a written reply in 1982, they set out what Mr Ho Juan Thai had said. He had said that Government was out to exterminate, kill, wipe out, Chinese culture, language and education and asked for the Chinese people to stand up. These were very inflammatory remarks made during the general election to a big crowd of people on four occasions.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would the Minister please answer my question? Was he or was he not advocating the use of Mandarin, particularly for students to take their examinations in Mandarin?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I have already told this House the words that he had used, not advocating the use of Mandarin, but he accused the Government of exterminating, wiping out, killing Chinese language, culture and education.