GLORIFICATION OF TERRORISM (Legislation)

GLORIFICATION OF TERRORISM:

(Legislation): 1.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government will introduce legislation making the glorification of terrorism a crime.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are already existing laws to deal with those who incite violence by glorifying violence. For instance, section 153 of the Penal Code makes it an offence for any person to provoke rioting. The Sedition Act makes it an offence to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore, and section 8(1)(a) of the Internal Security Act provides for detention in order to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of Singapore or to the maintenance of public order. These laws have proven adequate over the years to deal not only with those who encourage terrorism but also any others who threaten our racial and religious harmony through their inflammatory actions or words.

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In any case, MHA will continue to monitor legal developments in other countries addressing the evolving threat of terrorism, and make appropriate amendments to our laws if the need arises.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Sir, would the Minister agree that since the Singapore law is primarily based on the common law and since the UK Parliament has found it necessary to legislate that glorification of terrorism is a crime, would he agree that there might be a gap in our laws that our current law would not cover where the current UK law would now cover?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Even though Singapore laws are based on the common law, in many areas we have evolved our own ways, including our laws on terrorism and also our Penal Code is based on the Indian Penal Code because England has no written Penal Code. Also, in terms of what happened in England, particularly post-July 7th, I think they found it necessary to plug the gap. But I want to assure the Member that we have found no gap so far and, of course, we will continue to monitor if the need arises. If necessary, we will plug any gap because we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we have adequate laws to take care of this scourge.

Mr Speaker: Dr Wang, last question.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen: Thank you, Sir. The Minister indicated that he would monitor and would plug the hole when the need arises. Would he want to follow the UK example that they would only pass such a law after a terrorist attack in the tube? If a similar event happens in Singapore, would it be a bit too late to plug the gap?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, from our experience, the main thrust of my answer is that we have detected no gap.

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That is the main point. We have adequate laws to deal with these acts that Dr Wang has mentioned.