Little India Riot: COI to submit findings within 6 months

SINGAPORE — A Committee of Inquiry (COI) has been appointed to investigate what caused the Little India riot on Dec 8, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement today.

Former Judge of the Supreme Court G Pannir Selvam has been appointed as Chairman of the COI. The other members are former Commissioner of Police Tee Tua Ba, former President of the Singapore National Trades Union Congress John De Pavya and Chairman of West Coast Citizens’ Consultative Committee Andrew Chua Thiam Chwee.

The COI is expected to submit a report of its proceedings, findings and recommendations to the Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean within six months.

The full MHA statement is as follows:

The Minister for Home Affairs has appointed a committee of Inquiry under Section 9 of the Inquiry Act (Chapter 139A) to inquire onto the cause(s) of the Little India riot on 8 December 2013.

Former Judge of the Supreme Court G Pannir Selvam, has been appointed as Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry. The other members of the Committee are former Commissioner of Police Tee Tua Ba, former President of the Sinfapore National Trades Union Congress John De Pavya and Chairman of West Coast Citizens’ Consultative Committee Andrew Chua Thiam Chwee.

The terms of reference of the COI are as follows:

- Establish the factors and circumstances that led to the riot in Little India on 8 December.

- Establish how the riot unfolded and how the response forces managed the incident.

- Consider whether current measures to manage such incidents in areas where foreign workers congregate such as Little India are adequate, and recommend any further measures to improve their management and reduce the risk of such incidents.

- Conduct itself in accordance with the proivisions of the Inquiries Act.

- Make and submit a report of its proceedings, findings and recommendations to the Minister for Home Affairs within six months.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean said: “I have appointed members to the Committee who are experienced with the law, understand security requirements, and are familiar with workers issues as well as managing relations between the community and workers. This will allow the Committee to study the issue thoroughly, come to a fair and objective assessment, and submit their recommendations thereafter.”

All interested parties who wish to be represented at the hearing and all persons who wish to give evidence at the Inquiry are invited to contact the Committee’s Secretary, Chow Chee Kin or the co-Secretary Ong-Chew Peck Wan at:

Ministry of Home Affairs

New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329560

Email: COI_secretariat [at] mha.gov.sg