Debated in Parliament on 20 Jan 2014.
The following question stood in the name of Mr Christopher de Souza –
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what did the present investigations reveal as the cause of the 8 December 2013 riot and when will the Commission of Inquiry be likely to issue its findings and conclusions.
Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs beyond the specific factors that contributed to the 8 December 2013 riot (a) what are the key and larger lessons learnt from public reaction to the eruption of violence and the likely causes, in particular the responses of Singaporeans, including comments in cyberspace, reaction by non-government organisations, and coverage by both local and international media; and (b) what are the challenges the Ministry faced in putting out accurate, comprehensive and timely information on the riot to the public and the media, and correcting factual errors and distortions.
Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs when will the findings and recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into the Little India riot be completed and made public, and in the interim, what measures will be taken to prevent a recurrence yet without over-reacting to the incident.
Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs regarding the Committee of Inquiry set up to inquire into the Little India riot on 8 December 2013 (a) when will it commence its formal hearings; (b) who will lead evidence in the inquiry; and (c) whether the proceedings will be conducted wholly in public or otherwise.
Mr Alex Yam asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the current personal safety and security measures provided for Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) rescuers against violence; (b) whether these measures are adequate; and (c) whether his Ministry will consider
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improving the security provisions for such SCDF officers in light of the recent riot.
Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs following the riot in Little India (a) whether law enforcement agencies have reviewed and adjusted their procedures and protocols to better deal with similar threats to public order in the future; and (b) if so, what are these adjustments.
Mr Seng Han Thong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the considerations that prompted the Police to activate troops from the Special Operations Command (SOC) in the Little India riot; (b) what are the standard operating procedures to activate troops from SOC; and (c) whether the current strength of the SOC is adequate to cope with any emergency.
Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what evidence was relied upon to issue workers involved in the 8 December 2013 riot with (i) police advisories and (ii) repatriation orders.
Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the light of the fatal accident along Race Course Road that triggered the riot on 8 December 2013, whether the Ministry is considering additional measures to mitigate the risks posed by jay walkers, especially along roads where jay walking is a common sight.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the criteria used to choose the four members of the Committee of Inquiry (COI) on the Little India riot; and (b) whether any member of the COI is familiar with migrant worker issues to be able to ask appropriate questions and assess the information collected, particularly with regard to grievances of migrant workers in Singapore.
Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs with regard to the policing arrangements for Little India (a) what was the division of work among state police, auxiliary police and private security prior to the riot of 8 December 2013; and (b) pending the Committee of Inquiry's findings and recommendations, whether any interim changes have been or will be made to the arrangements.
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Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether he will consider developing and implementing a full slew of measures beyond the proposed restrictions on alcohol sale and consumption in areas with high potential risk of disamenities and public disorder by the consumers.
Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs when exactly will the rules on no-alcohol zones in public and residential areas be effected and how will enforcement and surveillance be carried out.
Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) when will the finalisation and announcement of Government policies on alcohol consumption in public places throughout Singapore take place; and (b) what are the lessons drawn from the riot in Little India that can be applied to the treatment of problems arising from alcohol intoxication by any group and the maintenance of order in public places.
Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the number and types of liquor licence holders affected by the series of Public Order (Preservation) (Little India) Proclamations; (b) what are the guidelines and considerations regulating the types and numbers of liquor licences issued by the Liquors Licensing Board; (c) whether the number of liquor licences in Little India is inordinately high given the longstanding record of disamenities in the area due to the excessive consumption of alcohol; and (d) what lessons can be learnt and what sustainable remedial measures can be put in place with regard to the issuance of liquor licences given their impact on public order.
Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in each of the years from 2009 to 2012, how many public and beer house licences and "takeaway" alcohol licences have been issued in the recently proclaimed demarcated zone in Little India.
Mr Laurence Lien asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry will tighten the liquors licensing process to ensure the accountability and responsibility of each licensee to prevent crime, disorder and public nuisance and to protect children from harm.
Mr R Dhinakaran asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) since the restrictions on alcohol sales and consumption have
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been imposed in Little India, how many violations of these regulations have been recorded; (b) what is the breakdown of these violations in terms of whether they are businesses or consumers, types of violations and actions that have been taken against them; and (c) whether the violators are locals or foreign nationals.
Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether Singapore's core value of multiracialism continues to remain strong and that the 8 December 2013 riot has not dented this.
Mr Laurence Lien asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry will consider putting in place a more transparent and objective process in deeming immigrants undesirable and cancelling their entry permit.
Mr R Dhinakaran asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether there are plans to curb alcohol sales in other areas frequented by foreign workers.
Question No 1.
Mdm Speaker, I believe you said you were going to start with Question No 37.
Yes, as a matter of procedure, we have to mention the questions before that.
Mdm Speaker, I will be making a Ministerial Statement following Question Time. May I have your permission to address the issues that Members have raised in Question Nos 1 to 21 during my Ministerial Statement?
Yes, please, Deputy Prime Minister. Next, Ms Denise Phua, Question No 22?
Yes.
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