The Minister for Home Affairs, through his press secretary, asks me to bring up the issue of detention without trial at the next General Election. (ST 12 Dec) This is old hat. What Mr. Wong should say is whether, if the PAP loses in the constituency where I bring up the issue, his government will immediately repeal all the provisions in the law permitting this violence on our people. Will the government now give this assurance? Then at least his call to me to raise it at the general election becomes meaningful. Otherwise it is all just blather.
I spoke against detention without trial in the by-election in 1981 when I won and in 1984 general election when I won again. Did the government repeal the provisions?
Mr. Wong, please answer. And please don't ask your press secretary to answer. The Prime Minister and, failing him, you as a Minister in the government and speaking for the government should answer.
It is time Cabinet Ministers took upon themselves the responsibility to answer the people and not hide behind press secretaries and even junior ministers.
JB Jeyaretnam 13 December 2000
