Govt will not hesitate to act

CLOSE to 200 people involved in secret societies are currently detained under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, and the Government is prepared to use it on even more perpetrators if necessary.

Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said on Friday that the State would not hesitate to hold people under the Act as it moves to stamp out gang activity in Singapore.

Speaking to reporters at a press briefing on Friday, he said: 'Where we can, we will charge them (gang members) in court for the serious offences, and they will face very serious consequences, as you can see from the actions we've taken.

'Where those who need to be put under CL (Criminal Law) detention, we will do so, we will not hesitate. No one can doubt our resolve in that.'

The Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act was introduced in 1955 and empowers the authorities to detain people suspected of criminal activities without trial. Historically, it has been deployed to control secret society activity.

The Act is a temporary law that requires renewal every five years. It was renewed, for the 12th time, last year.
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