Tun Razak Asked About Students “Clamp-down”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 14

Tun Razak Asked About Students “Clamp-down”

The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia (Tun Abdul Razak) last evening told 250 students from Malaysia and Singapore that he had heard nothing about his Goverr meat's clamping down on student activities at home. He was replying to questions from the students after attending a welcome dinner in the Students’ Union building at Ham. A girl student had said she had heard that the activities of students’ committees in Malaysia were being clamped

down on by the Government. She said she had heard that the Government regarded the committees as subversive. “I don’t know where you heard that,” said Tun Razak. The student: I think I read it in the newspapers. Tun Razak: You can’t rely on the newspapers completely. A student told Tun Razak that schemes had been put up that would be detrimental to both Malaysia and Singapore. One of these was the development of Port Swettenham, in spite of the excellent facilities available at Singapore.

“Also, we are tying a noose around Singapore,” said the student.

Tun Razak replied that Malaysia and Singapore were two political entities, and that Malaysia had to develop its own ports. Also, because the countries were separate, different currencies were needed, said Tun Razak. So long as the currencies were interchangeable, no harm would be done, he said.

Tun Razak appealed to the students to return home when they had finished their studies, as their talents and efforts were needed by the peoples of Malaysia. He also wanted them on their return, to go out among the people. A speech of welcome was given by Mr Lam Thoo Sang.