HC Deb 28 May 1952 vol 501 c1347
22. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many arrests were made on the basis of information received in response to the questionnaire distributed to the people of Tanjong Malin; and how many of those arrested are still detained.

Mr. Hopkinson

Thirty-two people were arrested. Three are still detained.

Mr. Driberg

Does not that very small result of this considerable operation show that it was futile as well as barbarous?

Mr. Hopkinson

It would be quite wrong to assume that the only purpose of this particular operation was to obtain answers to these questionnaires. As my right hon. Friend made perfectly clear, among the other objects a very important one was to reduce the rice supplies available to the terrorists and generally to discourage communication between the town and the terrorists.