Chua Sian Chin
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak on this Bill as a person who had been in Government for many years and before that in legal practice for more than eight years and now back in legal practice. While I was in Government, I had cognizance of the shortcomings of the legal profession.”
“It is 62 members out of a total of 1,335 practising lawyers. This has brought about a situation which no responsible government can let it pass in the public interest. The Government has good reasons to deal with this situation firmly. In fact, the present amendments have only made a small inroad in self-regulation.”
“At the same time, a minority group of activists has also chosen to take on the Government by calling an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Law Society to pass fierce resolutions against the Government. This group comprised only 62 members.”
“Though he has only limited Constitutional powers and acts on the advice of the Cabinet, he is the symbol of the unity, loyalty and aspirations of the people of Singapore.”
“- to hold classes for children of his constituents. What right has he got? The PAP MPs equally have no such rights. It is the right of the Government, if they think so, to have such classes. In fact, through the People's Association, they have been holding kindergarten classes in the community centres.”
“It is the Government who says that, and the Government has the right to say it because they are responsible for the Government of Singapore. And it is not what I say or what you say. Let me turn to the Member for Potong Pasir. He also produced some exhibits which are equally bogus.”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have never stated that we are not getting cooperation. I stated that we have to depend on their cooperation. And even if the authorities of the countries want to cooperate, it is not easy to apprehend a fugitive from justice.”
“I cannot say how strong it is. But what I can say is that there is a possibility because my reply states that we have information that he is taking refuge in a neighbouring country. So any intelligent or not-so-intelligent fugitive will take note of it and make himself scarce.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as a lawyer, the Member for Anson should know that if a wanted man is in one of the countries outside Singapore, the Singapore Police has no jurisdiction to go to that country and make the arrest, they have to depend on the cooperation of the police force of that country. I have stated quite clearly in my answer that the way to go about it, ie, to get the cooperation and help of the police force of other countries to apprehend a wanted criminal, is to contact Interpol and Interpol can get the countries which are affiliated to Interpol to help in the apprehension of the wanted criminal. What more does the Member for Anson expect us to do? I have stated in my reply that we are in constant contact with the police authorities of the affiliated countries where we think he might be taking refuge.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said in my reply, we have no information of his present whereabouts - the word is "present" whereabouts. As for the question which I was asked last year, I think it was exactly 12 months ago, the answer is that he has disappeared from that country. Perhaps, as a result of the debate in Parliament, he might have taken note of it and made himself scarce.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform the Member for Anson that the warrant of arrest against Phey Yew Kok is still very much in force. Phey Yew Kok remains on the wanted list of all Interpol affiliated countries, and the alert for his arrest on sight is still on. The Police and CPIB are in constant contact with the Interpol authorities in an effort to locate Phey Yew Kok. To-date they have not received any information on his present whereabouts.”
“Dr Lee Chiaw Meng asked the Minister for Health (1) the number of patients undergoing dialysis treatment at Government hospitals; (2) the number of patients on the waiting list for such treatment at (a) Government hospitals, and (b) private hospitals; and (3) if his Ministry has any plan to expand the facilities for dialysis treatment at Government hospitals and the estimated capital and recurrent cost for each unit.”
“However the Team recommended that Singapore should keep abreast of developments in the advanced countries, with the ultimate objective of producing a statute covering the criminal aspects of computer abuse. The Team also recommended that the Commercial Crime Division be restructured with the formation of operational teams, each to operate as a self-contained, cohesive unit to handle cases. The establishment of the Division is to be reviewed annually so as to cope with the increasing workload. The Team's report is now under consideration by the Ministry. Annex A PLANS TO COMBAT COMPUTER CRIME The only case reported to the Commercial Crime Division took place sometime in 1979. A female bankteller from the DBS intentionally prevented the printing of 2 non-financial transactions by slipping a piece of paper into a printer through the gap of the transparent window in front of a journal roll. The transactions were for the transformation of entry information of 2 account holders into the computer via the teller's terminal. Subsequently, the teller withdrew cash on two separate occasions from the two accounts using passbooks which she had misappropriated. She was prosecuted for 2 counts of Forgery for the Purpose of Cheating under Section 468 of the Penal Code, Chapter 103 and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment in respect of each charge, the sentences to run concurrently. DIALYSIS TREATMENT 5.”
“Six officers have attended various training courses in the investigation of computer-related crimes conducted at the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia, USA, the Australian Police College at Manly, Australia and the Mitchell's College, Australia. The Police Force will continue to step up its training programme for officers to ensure that they are well equipped to investigate computer crimes. I am also glad to inform the Member of Parliament for Telok Blangah that a British Study Team was recently in Singapore to, among other things, make an overall study of the Commercial Crime Division. The Team's views and recommendations on computer-related crimes were as follows:- a In the investigation of computer-related crime, it is unrealistic to expect that the personnel of any law enforcement agency can keep abreast of every technical advance in a rapidly developing industry. With suitable training, they are, however, able to become relatively expert on basic computer technology and the more common forms of computer-related crime. b A close relationship should be maintained with the National Computer Board and arrangements made for it to provide technical assistance when required. c The Commercial Crime Division is to be re-structured with one team of investigators assigned the responsibility of dealing with all computer-related crimes. The Inspector in charge of the Team should be sent for computer-related courses overseas. On the question of legislation pertaining to computer-related crimes, the Team advised that this is still the subject of considerable international debate, and no all embracing legislation has yet been adopted in UK and USA. There is no immediate need in Singapore for new legislation.”
“There has been only one known case of computer crime reported o the Commercial Crime Division. It was reported in 1979. (For details of the case, please see Annex A, cols. 99 -100). Such crimes do not as yet pose a problem. However, with the widespread use of computers there may be more computer-related crimes in the future. Computer-related crimes can be divided into two broad categories. In the first category, the offender tampers with the input or output forms and peripheral equipment of a computer system for wrongful gain. Experience in the West has shown that most computer-related crimes fall under this category. Police officers do not need to have a thorough knowledge of computers to handle this category of computer-related crimes as they can be investigated just like any other case of cheating, CBT, forgery, theft, etc. However some basic knowledge of the computer would be useful to investigate such cases. The second category of computer-related crimes are those which involve tampering with the internal processes of the computer. Officers investigating this category of crimes need to have a thorough understanding of the computer system in order to gather the necessary evidence. Police officers investigating this category of computer-related crimes will require the assistance of competent computer professionals. Such competent professionals can be found in the Computer Systems Division of the Police Force, our National Computer Board and private companies. Since 1981, Police officers have been sent for seminars and courses conducted locally as well as overseas to equip them with sufficient knowledge to handle computer-related crimes.”
“There again, I think the Member for Anson is either hard of hearing or he refuses to understand what I have stated. I said that as far as the Singapore People's Liberation Organization's instance is concerned, they have been exonerated. But as far as Ho Juan Thai is concerned, we are still waiting for him to come back,to be interrogated. I still stand on my statement that they may again have provided cover for subversives like Mr Ho Juan Thai. I hope that is clear enough.”
“Why should we waste public funds because the Workers' Party's antics are so obvious to the public? Besides, as far as Ho Juan Thai is concerned, why should we hold a public inquiry to clear him? He is a fugitive from Singapore. What we are asking him to do is to come back and be interrogated and face the law of this land. To hold an inquiry into Ho Juan Thai is a waste of time and public funds. It is something so ridiculous that I do not think I need to say anything further. Why should we have an inquiry into Ho Juan Thai? Who is he? He is a fugitive who has escaped arrest after having made certain statements accusing the Government of killing Chinese culture and arousing the emotions of the people. In fact, the Member for Anson should be very grateful that the Government statement on the SPLO has exonerated his party because our Internal Security Department came to the conclusion that if ever they had given cover to the SPLO it was more out of foolishness and ignorance.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as the Workers' Party is concerned, I do not think we need to incur a waste of public funds to hold an inquiry. Even their accounts, I believe, have been looked into by the Official Receiver. I think that is also a waste of public funds. If we would want to hold an inquiry into the Workers' Party itself, although the end of it may not be good for the Member for Anson I think -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I refer to the question which is posed by the Member for Anson. He asks: '... if he is not prepared to withdraw his allegations, will he order a public inquiry into this serious allegation against this political party [i.e. the Workers' Party]. Can he clarify this? Is he asking for an inquiry to clear Mr Ho Juan Thai or an inquiry into the Workers' Party? We say that an inquiry into the Workers' Party is a waste of time.”
“Of course, I am going to answer your question. We will be abdicating our responsibility if we give such an undertaking. Our point is that before we move, either under ISA or to charge him in court, we want him here so that he can be questioned. We cannot give any undertaking of immunity from the laws of this land which have been passed by Parliament. If the Member for Anson is a good supporter or Ho Juan Thai is a good supporter of him, why does he not persuade Mr Ho Juan Thai to come back here and face the music, i.e. face the law of this land which has been passed by Parliament? He is a lawyer and he should know better.”
“But the law of Singapore passed by this Parliament. It is not my rule of law. It is the law passed by this Parliament and the ISA is part of the law. Are you challenging the authority of Parliament? Is the Member for Anson saying that the ISA is not part of the law of Singapore which has been passed in Parliament? No answer. How can we give such an undertaking? To do so, it will be abdicating -”
“Well, I am going to answer your question. As far as the Government is concerned, we are not hiding behind the privilege of this House. It is quite clear that - from my answer which has been set out - there is no necessity of a public inquiry because it is obvious that it is a waste of public funds and time. As I have stated, we have put all the facts before this House. We have got a statement of Mr Tan Chay Wa which indicates that he knew Mr Ho Juan Thai because he had given details of how he escaped; and that was a statement given immediately after he was arrested in 1977. Then we had this case of Ho Juan Thai coming up, I think it was sometime last year. There had been refutations of what we had stated about Ho Juan Thai who had fled from Singapore because he refused to submit himself to interrogation by the Police for what he had done during the election time, i.e. trying to raise communal emotions and accusing the Government of killing Chinese culture, education and language. We say that we have a prima facie case against Mr Ho Juan Thai. But the Member for Anson says, "Why cannot you give him immunity from the law?" By law, I mean not the rule of law which the Member for Anson has in mind.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think that is a very childish answer.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, he accuses me of not answering the question. When I have asked the question, he does not answer. How did you come in possession of that document?”
“It also made good sense to him to use his last breath to protect and defend Mr Ho his ardent supporter. By doing this, he would also be advancing his communist cause. According to the communist ideology, it is justifiable for any of its followers to use any means including telling a lie and even committing murder to advance the communist cause. A staunch communist terrorist does not believe in afterlife but only in the existence of this world. The facts I have stated clearly substantiate my conclusion set out in my written reply of 3rd December 1982 to the Member for Anson, and I quote: "As in other cases like the SPLO, the Workers' Party may have provided Mr Ho with the cover for things less innocent than providing constitutional opposition". However, no action was taken against the Workers' Party in the case of the SPLO because our Internal Security Department came to the conclusion that the Party (meaning the Workers' Party) had provided the cover more out of ignorance and foolishness rather than deliberate subversive intent. So the Workers' Party was given the benefit of the doubt. There is no necessity to hold a public inquiry as suggested by the Member for Anson for it would be a sheer waste of time and public funds.”
“The Malaysian authorities had informed us in 1979 that when Mr Tan was arrested by the Malaysian Special Branch, he gave the following statement on Mr Ho Juan Thai and I quote: 'Since 1976, a Nanyang University graduate named Ho Juan Thai stayed at Nanyang Avenue area in Singapore. He stayed near our house and used to borrow telephone. In 1977 (sic), Ho Juan Thai stood in general election on a Workers' Party ticket. As he gave a prejudicial speech during public rally, the police came to arrest him at his rented place. Ho escaped and hid in bush, and was wet because of heavy rain. Subsequently, he sought refuge in our house for two days. Before departed our house he mentioned that he was going to look for his friend (details not known) in West Malaysia. If he was not arrested he would telephone by hitting at the telephone 3 times which meant he had safely escaped police arrest. Later, Ho Juan Thai did make such call.' Why should Mr Tan Chay Wa discuss Mr Ho Juan Thai at all in his statement to the Malaysian Special Branch if he did not know Ho as he claimed? From his statement Mr Tan Chay Wa clearly had intimate knowledge of Mr Ho Juan Thai, how he had avoided police arrest, was harboured in his house for two days and escaped safely to West Malaysia. Mr Tan Chay Wa was an important cadre of the CPM underground organization. He remained steadfast to his communist ideology even up to his execution. It was therefore natural for Mr Tan, a communist, to do a good turn for Mr Ho Juan Thai by disclaiming any underground organizational links with him. Mr Tan had good reasons to do this out of gratitude to Mr Ho who had, through FUEMSSO, tried very hard to save him from the gallows.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson has over-reacted to my written reply to him on 3rd December, 1982 on Ho Juan Thai. To refresh his memory, I would like to recapitulate what I had conveyed to him earlier in my written reply. I had stated that there was prima facie evidence to justify Mr Ho Juan Thai's possible detention under the Internal Security Act and that Mr Ho's championing of Mr Tan Chay Wa's cause was an indication of Mr Ho's political sympathies and, possibly, also his affiliations. I had also stated that this and the fact that Mr Ho sought refuge in Mr Tan Chay Wa's house for two days to escape arrest "require clarification through the interrogation of Mr Ho. His agitation for the release of Mr Tan Chay Wa is not purely out of gratitude for harbouring him and aiding his escape. It is another matter to be clarified by interrogation of Mr Ho. As in other cases like the SPLO (Singapore People's Liberation Organisation), the Worker's Party may have provided Mr Ho with the cover for things less innocent than providing constitutional opposition." The Member for Anson has now produced a statement by Mr Tan Chay Wa which Mr Tan gave on 16th January 1983 before his execution. The Member for Anson had not, however, disclosed how he came into possession of this new statement of Mr Tan Chay Wa. In the statement, Mr Tan claimed that Mr Ho did not have 'the slightest organisational relationship' with him and that he "absolutely did not know Ho Juan Thai and had never seen him". On the contrary we have evidence that casts very grave doubts on Mr Tan Chay Wa's claim.”
“In fact, the Traffic Police have already been instructed to pay more attention to heavy vehicles because the heavy vehicle drivers can cause serious accidents resulting in death, particularly road users who are in small vehicles. The drivers of these heavy vehicles, being high up in a cabin, and the lorries being big, they sometimes get off without injuries in an accident.”
“As for cheques with forged signatures, only nine cases were reported to the Commercial Crime Division last year. The culprits in most of these cases were identified. Generally they were employees of persons closely associated with the drawer of the cheques. Now, the commercial sector can protect itself by exercising caution when accepting cheques from customers and keep the cheque books properly secured against theft. The police can only protect the commercial sector against cheque frauds by the prompt investigation of such cases and the prosecution of offenders. The police must be notified by them quickly. With regard to upgrading the skills of the officers dealing with investigations of such cases, we send officers on special courses at both the Police Academy and overseas. The courses are a two-week international commercial crime course at the Australian Police College with attachments to various Fraud units of the Australian police and, secondly, a commercial crime course at the London Metropolitan Police, Company Fraud Department, and the Interpol Police Headquarters in Paris. Both these courses also deal with cheque frauds. For the information of the House, a British study team consisting of officers from the Fraud Squad in London as well as from their Ministry of Trade is now in Singapore to examine the setup of our Commercial Crime Division and to make recommendations for changes to cope with the increasing sophistication of white-collar crimes which the Member for Ang Mo Kio has mentioned. Among other things, they will also examine the problem of cheque frauds.”
“Sir, may I say that the Member for Ang Mo Kio is not very clear in his mind with regard to cases which are criminal and cases which are of a civil nature. In cases which are of a criminal nature, the police will prosecute them. But in cases of a civil nature, there is no law by which the police can prosecute. That will depend on the circumstances. That is the law of the land, We have to abide by the law of the land. Let me just explain in more detail. Cheques used dishonestly are those for payment of purchases made or services rendered. If a cheque is issued from an account which is already closed, it is classified as cheating, in which case, it is a criminal offence and the police will prosecute. In cases where a current dated cheque is used to pay for purchases with insufficient funds in the account of the drawer, they are classified as cheating and the drawer is normally prosecuted for the offence. That is the second type of offence. However, if a post-dated cheque is issued for purchases made or services rendered with insufficient funds in the account, it is treated by the police as a case of fraudulent debtor. This is because the element of cheating is legally absent in such cases unless the same drawer issues such dishonoured cheques to a number of persons within a short period of time in similar circumstances as to reveal his dishonest intent. In that case it is a civil case. That is the law. In 1981 and 1982 the Commercial Crime Division handled 127 cases of dishonoured cheques and 18 cases of forged signatures. They prosecuted 118 cases, of which 92 were convicted and 26 are still pending. As for counterfeit cheques, not a single case has been reported over the last two years.”
“Sir, I accept that if they are new officers, that suggestion is a good one. But I think if they have been there for two years and they still have to be chaperoned, we are not giving them enough trust and confidence.”
“Far from being a disadvantage, I think it is an advantage. But the point made by the Member for Serangoon Gardens is that the police officers in the koban may be swamped to such an extent that they may not be able to do any work, put in reports, and so on. There again, it is a matter of human relationship. I do not think it will develop into a coffee shop where they expect coffee to be served. There must be easy social exchange and at the same time the residents will have the propriety and common sense not to disturb the police officers who are at work. But surely there can be exchange of pleasantries and so on in the police posts.”
“New officers will also understudy the experienced officers for a period before the experienced officers leave or the new officers take charge. With regard to integrity, that is a very valid point and we have considered it very carefully. We are aware of the fact that the integrity of the officer might be compromised as a result of staying too long in the Neighbourhood Police Post. But, on the other hand, there is always a way in which we can supervise and check the police officer and see to it that his conduct is always proper. Proper conduct will always be emphasized in the daily briefing as well as during the training period. Should an officer be found to have conducted himself improperly, he would immediately be posted out. Here again, we have to be more flexible and we cannot have too hard and fast rules on that. On the point which the Member made with regard to easy access of the post to residents, that is being encouraged and, in fact, that is the essence of the Japanese system. The Japanese encourage residents to visit the kobans not just for official business but also for social calls. The Japanese not only encourage adults but also housewives and children to visit the kobans. I cannot see how they can develop better relationship unless there is easy interaction. On one of my visits to one of the kobans in Japan, I was told that housewives and children sometimes go to the koban and bring flowers in appreciation of the job that they are doing. In return, some koban officers even build a fish aquarium to encourage children to go to the koban to keep the fish. I am told that as a result of this friendly relationship, whenever housewives lose their children in a crowd, they usually find their children waiting for them at the koban.”
“With regard to the period of attachment of the Neighbourhood Police officers at the police posts, let me explain. In the Japanese koban system, officers are attached to the koban for a period of three years. That is their experience. The Japanese experts who were here in Singapore to advise us felt that it would take at least two years for the Neighbourhood Police to get to know the residents well. They therefore recommend, and we accept their recommendation, that three years be set as the minimum period for attachment to a Neighbourhood Police Post. The Police Force will, however, exercise flexibility on the length of attachment at the post, each case being considered on its own merits. Some officers are best rotated after a three-year stint while others who are able to bring their valuable experience to bear if they have a more prolonged stay then they will get a stint of more than three years. But I would like to assure Members that officers will not be attached to the police post for an overly long period of, say, six to seven years. Apart from the disadvantages pointed out by the Member, he must also think of the career development of the police officers. If they remain too long at the Neighbourhood Police Post, then their career prospects are being jeopardized. He did mention about continuity when the time comes for new police officers to replace the ones who are already there. The replacement of NPP officers will be done progressively so that new officers can be exposed to the guidance of more experienced officers. There will not be a sudden change. The change will be done gradually. The experience and knowledge of the neighbourhood gained over the years will also be documented so as to facilitate a smooth transition.”
“It is not just a matter of mutual trust between the police officers and the residents but the public in general must trust the police officers; not only trust in their integrity but also have confidence in their ability. I have said yesterday that we have specially selected them and trained them for this task. Therefore, I do not think that they need protection from advances from bookies or offer of drinks in the form of liquor. I think there are sufficient rules even at the moment that policemen cannot drink liquor while on duty. On his suggestion that when they go visiting homes they should always be accompanied by RC and CCC members, I do not think we can make a hard and fast rule, as far as this is concerned. We have to play by ear. But, as I said, initially they should be accompanied by the CCC and RC members. But, of course, if they have to be accompanied for 10 years, I think it is something not very feasible. If they cannot stand up on their own to cultivate personal relationship with the residents and need to be accompanied or chaperoned by CCC and RC members all the time, then I think the whole system will fail. But in the first year, or maybe first few months they need to be chaperoned, but we cannot make hard and fast rules as far as this is concerned. The only factor is that if it achieves the objective of creating a better relationship, then we will adopt this method. But we must in the end have confidence in the Neighbourhood Police officers, confidence in their integrity and confidence in their ability. Of course, there may be one or two black sheep but we have to supervise them properly, and if there are black sheep then we have to remove the black sheep.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I say that we are very keenly aware of the points which the Member for Serangoon Gardens has brought up. They are very valid points and, in fact, we have taken that into account when we prepare the plan for the Neighbourhood Police Post System. We have been very meticulous in our planning. The Member mentions about police presence, and says that the residents will be seeing a lot of policemen walking around. I do not think so because the numbers that will be deployed in the police posts will be about six or seven. I do not think that with such a large area as a constituency to cover, they will be around, too visibly. But the police presence is not just physical presence. I have to make this very clear. Their presence is more than a physical presence. "Presence" means that the police is working together with the community. That is what I mean by police presence, and this is the essence of the koban system. It is not the physical presence. Police presence means that if you want help, you will know how to get it and you will get it in the nick of time. There will not be patrols in the way that has been practised before, in other words, walking along corridors and so on. The policemen will want to cultivate a relationship, getting to know the residents, so that if the residents are in trouble they will know how to get in touch with the Police and perhaps the Neighbourhood Police may be the first to be on the scene or may not be the first, depending on the circumstances of the case; but there will be help when an emergency arises. That is meant by Police presence. Another point I would like to stress is that we have to trust the police officers.”
“Sir, they do not discriminate when they make arrests during enforcement. I cannot tell the Member off-hand whether any school girl has been arrested. If the Member for Whampoa would put in a Question or to write to me, I will give him an answer. It seems that the Member for Whampoa has got a very deep knowledge of it.”
“Has he apprehended any Singapore girl, especially school girls, in the Orchard Road area?”
“Three of these raids were combined operations participated by the Anti-Vice Unit, Secret Society Investigation Branch of the CID, Traffic Police, and the Tanglin Police Division. During these raids, a total of 203 Thai prostitutes were arrested. Also, during these raids, two persons were detained for managing and for assisting in the management of a place of assignation, together with their cars (even their cars were seized). One of them was charged in Court this morning, the other case is pending. In 1982 a total of 28 other raids on premises were conducted in the Orchard Road area resulting in 46 pimps and 200 prostitutes being arrested. However, Sir, I would like to remind the House that prostitution is considered one of the oldest professions in the world. For centuries governments have been trying to eradicate it, but without success. I believe it dates as far back in time as when humans were living in caves. It first started when a cave woman of easy virtue wanted an extra piece of meat. To get it, she sold her virtue and, I suppose, when cave women of easy virtue practised their profession, there must be cave men acting as pimps to get their cut of the extra meat! I believe prostitution has also been referred to in the Bible, both in the New and Old Testaments. I am sure the Member for Whampoa can tell you more about it. Thus, as far as the Police Anti-Vice Unit is concerned, they will do what is possible to control the situation, particularly those involving soliciting which is an affront to public morals, by continuing their enforcement. Dr Augustine Tan: Sir, first, may I remind hon. Members of this House that frivolity in matters of morality is also a sin. Secondly, Sir, the Hon. Minister seems to concentrate exclusively on arresting Thai prostitutes.”
“It was not just a briefing but it was followed by questions and answers by the community leaders in that Division. As a follow-up to it, the Police is offering the community leaders in each of the Constituencies in the Toa Payoh Police Division further briefings followed by question and answer sessions, this time for the residents if the community leaders would organize such sessions. If need be, we shall do the briefing not only on the basis of Constituency but on the basis of each RC zone. That is the offer that will be made to the various community leaders. But may I say that priority will be given to those Constituencies in the Toa Payoh Police Division because we are implementing the system in that Division in June this year. Let me now answer the Member for Whampoa. The Member for Whampoa has asked for Police action against prostitution, pimping and soliciting which, he said, is flourishing in Orchard Road. According to him, the pimps include trishaw riders and taxi drivers, and he had called upon the Anti-Vice Unit to take action after having congratulated them for their enforcement action against prostitution in the Collyer Quay area, outside the Red Lantern Nightclub. In answer to this call, I would like to inform the House that the Anti-Vice Unit has not been idle either in the Orchard Road area. Perhaps the Member for Whampoa is not aware of this since it was not as widely publicized as the case of the Red Lantern/Collyer Quay area where, I believe, the press gave very wide publicity. 3.30 p.m. Between October 1982 and March this year, 30 raids were conducted in the Orchard Road area.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I was replying to the Member for Kampong Kembangan and the Member for Boon Teck when the House adjourned at 8 p.m. yesterday. I just have a few more points to make with regard to the NPP system in reply to the two hon. Members. I was saying last night that, as a general rule, the Police do not investigate into reports which disclose a non-seizable offence. The NPP officers will, as a result of the implementation of the system, come in close contact with the residents. They will be approached by the residents for advice and they will have to help in solving non-seizable offences, such as noise pollution, family disputes, using abusive language and so on. Although the rules still remain, there will be flexibility in applying those rules in the interest of fostering good relationship with the residents. The Member for Kampong Kembangan also suggested that, in order to put across the message and to publicize the NPP system to the young, we should do so through the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) who will, in turn, pass it on to their parents. We have also thought of it, that this is a good avenue to put across the message and therefore we have planned to get our police officers to brief our NPCC units in the schools what the NPP system would be when it is implemented. With regard to the point about giving greater publicity to the NPP system, in particular, to those Constituencies under the Toa Payoh Police Division, we have also made plans. As hon. Members would have known, we have already briefed the community leaders in the Toa Payoh Police Division on the system about three weeks ago. That session was conducted in the Kim Keat Community Centre.”
“Computerization To enhance the effectiveness of the Force in crime control, the Police is also implementing large scale computerization and mechanization of police operations. Command and control of patrol resources will be computerized by 1985. This computerized system will optimize the deployment of patrols and the allocation of resources in response to calls for Police assistance. Case management will be computerized by 1986 to ensure quicker processing and closer monitoring of crime cases. Besides these, the Police is also exploring other ways and means of mechanization and computerization such as in the lifting and matching of fingerprints and the collation of criminal intelligence. These will further help to improve the effectiveness of criminal investigations. EXPATRIATES (Procedures for employment) 3. Dr Wan Soon Bee asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the procedures for the approval of the applications by the expatriates to enter Singapore to take up employment; (b) how does the Immigration authority ascertain that the skills or expertise possessed by the applicants are required in Singapore; and (c) how does the Immigration authority prevent possible abuses by the applicants and/or sponsors.”
“An important feature of the NPP System is the home visit by NPP officers every six months to get to know the residents, listen to their views and suggestions and to offer their services. With the establishment of trust in the police officers, we can expect the vast majority of the residents to come forward to freely confide in the police officers and to volunteer information on the presence of criminals and strangers behaving suspiciously in the neighbourhood. Crime Prevention The Police, however, is not relying solely on the NPP System to achieve the aim of total involvement with the community and its grassroots organizations. In the last two years, the first steps towards this objective have been taken with the introduction of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (NWS), the establishment of the National Crime Prevention Council and the formation of Boys' Clubs. The Crime Prevention Department has also made surveys of commercial premises with a view to advising the management and occupiers to get together to form crime prevention committees and implement crime prevention measures. Upgrading of Skills The Police is also upgrading the professional skills of police officers in criminal investigation and other crime control activities. A team of British experts was asked to look into ways and means of improving the training facilities and the standard of instruction at the Police Academy. Many of their recommendations are now in the process of being implemented. Currently, the Police Academy runs many in-house courses on criminal investigation. Our crime investigators are also sent overseas for specialized training and attachments to learn new skills, particularly those relating to the investigation of commercial crime.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the overall clearance rate for criminal cases in Singapore is as follows: 1980 28%; 1981 33%; 1982 29%. Our overall clearance rate for criminal cases is comparable to that of other highly developed countries in the world. For example, the overall clearance rate in Australia is 28.5%, Denmark is 23.2%, and the United States of America is 19.5%. However, among the developed countries Japan has achieved the highest overall clearance rate of 63.8%. This has been attributed to their koban system of policing. The koban police is responsible for more than 60% of the total number of criminal cases cleared in Japan. The Japanese koban police has been able to do this because of the excellent relationship they have with the residents in the neighbourhood, which is based on complete confidence and trust. As a result, the Japanese police has no difficulty in getting information on the presence of criminals, of crimes committed and getting the residents to be witnesses. Therefore, to improve the effectiveness of crime investigation and control, and thus the clearance rate of cases, it is not only necessary to upgrade the professional skills of police officers in crime investigation but, what is even more important, to forge a relationship of mutual trust and confidence between the police and the public so that members of the public will not hesitate to help the police in their investigations. NPP System The most important measure that my Ministry will take to achieve this objective is the introduction of the Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) System. The NPP System is modelled after the Japanese koban system. It will ensure that police officers will always be close to all the residents and continually interact with them.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Main and Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1983 to 31st March, 1984, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“The Member for Kampong Kembangan raised a point which is a valid one - that under the present practice, the police will only investigate and make arrests on seizable offences. But as far as non-seizable offences like quarrels, assaults, minor assaults, minor mischief and so on are concerned, the police will not take action. That is the law. The Member's point is that with the Neighbourhood Police Post system, will such a situation still continue because when there is close rapport with the residents, inevitably when there are quarrels between neighbours or in the case of assault and so on, they will approach the police. The answer to this is quite simple. 8.00 p.m.”
“As Members will know, although it is not on a Constituency basis but it is only on a police divisional basis, police officers attend most CCC and RC meetings, In fact, the link is always there or has been built up. As a result of this link, there has been close liaison. When we launched the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme some two years ago, we had no difficulty in getting RCs to get together to launch the scheme in their respective zones and Constituencies. In fact, it is gratifying to note that to date in 69 Constituencies where we have RCs, the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme has been launched in all the 69 Constituencies, and we are now in the second stage of expanding the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme to cover the rest of the blocks which have still not formed neighbourhood watch groups. One interesting point made by both the Members is that because of the unthinking practice of some mothers, when they chide their child, they always threaten to call the police and arrest the child if he continues to misbehave. That has been in-grained in quite a number of the members of the public and, as a result, the policeman is regarded as someone who is out to arrest you and not someone who is of service to the public. For our new generation, we decided that we should correct such an image of the police. So we thought of a scheme of boys' clubs, and we have to date formed four boys' clubs in four Constituencies, not only to serve that particular Constituency but also to serve a wider neighbourhood. From the experience of the boys' clubs, we found that the boys between the ages of 12 and 18 no longer regard the policeman as a person who arrests people but as a friend. As I have announced, we will be forming four more boys' clubs.”
“In order words, before they go on a visit, they will fully publicize that they are going to visit the particular block on what day and for what purpose. If that is done, I do not see any misconceptions will arise. Of course, they must display tact and, at the same time, be very discreet in handling whatever information they are given by the residents. They have to make it quite clear that when they ask for information such as the place of work, they must explain why. They should not ask for information just for the sake of asking. One important information why it is necessary for them to have and to ask when they do these house visits is where can the head of the household be contacted? For example, in the event of an emergency, such as there has been a fire in the flat, this information becomes a necessary piece of information. But whatever information that is given to them will be purely voluntary. In other words, the residents are not obliged to give any information. But whatever information is given will be for the mutual advantage of both the residents and the police officer in the discharge of his duty. And whatever information that is given will be held in strict confidence. There is one point that was brought up both by the Members for Boon Teck and Kampong Kembangan. The point they made is that before we start this system, the police officers must have been familiar with the relationship of the Police with that of the grassroots organizations. In other words, that they are in a position to liaise with grassroots leaders without difficulty. In fact, this has already been launched years ago.”
“Particularly, they have been taught how to approach residents, how to address them, how not to appear as a busybody. And when they knock at the door and if they are met with a certain situation, they should know how to handle it. They are not to force their way in. We have also taken care that in order to smoothen the introduction of these Neighbourhood police officers, we have been in contact with the various grassroots organizations and leaders in the Constituencies in the Toa Payoh Police Division where we are going to launch this scheme. We have obtained their consent to help us. So the proposal made by the Member for Boon Teck that they should be introduced particularly by members of the Residents' Committees, has already been thought of and will be implemented. In fact, they will not go by themselves. It stands to reason that when they are accompanied by members of the Residents' Committees who will know when to make the visits, and to which block, I am quite sure that the exercise will be a smooth one. The other very important point is this. It is important that when they approach the residents, they should not do it in such a way as to cause misunderstanding or mis- conception, as it has been put that whenever a policeman knocks at a home, it could either mean a tragedy for example, one of the members of the family could have been knocked down in a car accident; or it could be to make an arrest. So in order to avoid such a misconception, we have made sure that when they visit the residents, they will not do so in an isolated way. If they do a block visit, that means the whole block will be visited and not just selected flats. If the whole block is visited, I do not think it can cause any misconception. We have also made sure that there will be full publicity.”
“With this type of interaction, it is inevitable that not only a relationship between friends will develop but there will also be a relationship of trust and confidence. It is also right for the Member for Boon Teck and the Member for Kampong Kembangan to say that this can only be done if the police officers who are deployed at the various Neighbourhood Police Posts must be people who have the aptitude to build up this rapport and good relationship. In fact, that was a point which we considered long before we announced the launching of this system. In fact, late last year when we had already planned to launch the system at the Toa Payoh Police Division, we not only specially selected officers with this aptitude but trained them on how to go about cultivating this relationship with the residents. These officers who will be deployed in the Toa Payoh Police Division, that is, in the eight constituencies within that Division, have already started their training since the beginning of this year. Their training is not just to listen to lectures. It is not a theoretical approach. It is an approach of role-playing. In other words, we simulate real life situations and these trainees take part in simulated role-playing. This is the type of training which the Japanese used when they trained their police officers for their koban system. We have with us two Japanese police experts to guide the instructors in the Police Academy as to how this should be done. 7.45 p.m. Therefore, Members can rest assured that this has been done quite meticulously to prepare the police officers who will be deployed, because we know that any ill-trained officer who is deployed can cause a setback to what we propose to do.”
“Sir, I wish to thank both the Member for Boon Teck and the Member for KamponSS Kembangan for their kind words with regard to the introduction of the Neighbourhood Police Post system which we propose to launch in June this year at the Toa Payoh Police Division. I am also obliged to them for their comments and remarks as to the importance of how the police should go about introducing this new system to ensure success. I have taken note of their comments and perhaps I can give them the assurance that many of their comments have already been considered by the police very carefully and not only will measures be taken to ensure the success of the implementation, but measures have already been taken in advance. As the Member for Boon Teck has stated, the introduction of the Neighbourhood Police Post system or, in short, the NPP system, is, in fact, a radical change in the doctrine and system of policing. One of the special features of this new NPP system is the home visits. Why are the home visits necessary, as they do in Japan? It is not possible to cultivate deep and abiding friendly relationship with the residents unless you visit every resident within the neighbourhood and, not only visit them just as a matter of courtesy but to visit them with a view to getting to know them, and, not only just to get to know them but to listen to their problems so that they will have a better view of what are the problems in the neighbourhood. It is not only to get a better view of the problems of the neighbourhood but also to get a good feedback of what the police have been doing, whether the measures that they have been taking are going down well with the residents or they are not, whether they are beneficial or they are not.”
“Sir, I must have some time to reply. Can I reply now?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is pretty obvious. If you are trying to apprehend a person and if you have information of his whereabouts, you do not reveal it in public. Otherwise he will make arrangements to avoid apprehension. PUNGGOL RURAL CENTRE (Development of adjacent vacant land) 7. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development whether he is aware that the residents of Punggol Rural Centre are without shopping and marketing facilities, and, since the adjacent land is vacant, if he will consider building there several blocks of housing units to include shops and a market and, if so, when they will be completed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, that is quite different from what efforts have been made to bring him back to Singapore. In fact, I have answered the question on the efforts that have been made to bring him to book. We have contacted the Interpol Police and they have put out an alert. If they find him, he will be apprehended. What are the other things necessary to make public? As far as the other question is concerned, he has twisted it again. At first he asked: is there any information which the Police has come into its possession as to whether he has been in contact with his family? The answer is no. If we have such information, we would have followed it up. That is quite different from his second allegation that no effort has been made on the part of the Police to find out from his family whether he has been in contact with members of his family. If the Member had put it that way, i.e. has any effort been made to find out from his family whether they have been in contact, the answer is yes. We do try now and again to find out, but the answer, as far as the family is concerned, is that he has not been in contact. However, if the Member for Anson has any information whether he has been in contact with his family or he has contacted any lawyer or himself in a professional capacity, if he would tell me in strict confidence I will keep that confidence and act upon it.”
“But in my opinion I do not think it is in the public interest to make it known. To satisfy his curiosity or any imputation of smear he is making, I am prepared to give it to him in strict confidence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Member for Anson: is there any objection in my giving that information to him in confidence? Does he object to that?”