SINGAPORE — There is no evidence to suggest that the foreign workers involved in the Little India riot were unhappy with their employers or the government, said Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam today (Dec 10).

He was responding to various comments made which implied that such unhappiness was a cause for the riot.

Mr Shanmugam said: “Looking at what the majority of Singaporeans want, they will want us to treat the foreign workers in a humane way."

“You know, the majority, they recognise that many of them are needed. They recognise that many of them are good people, they are here to earn a living. But we must make sure the minority don’t create trouble.”

Mr Shanmugam said there was no excuse for the violence, and swift and decisive action will be taken against those who break the law, where the full force of justice has to be meted out.

He acknowledged that violence cannot be completely eliminated, even among Singaporeans, but rules are there to reduce it to a minimum for a peaceful and orderly society.

Mr Shanmugam said Singaporeans accept the norms of societal behaviour, and foreigners working in the country should do the same.

He said it was premature to say if any laws need to be tweaked as a result of the riot. CHANNEL NEWSASIA