Refreshed my knowledge of the Pulau Senang settlement as well.
In fact, after reading Josey's brief account again, it's hard not
to view its subsequent bombing-target fate as an "indirect"
whitewashing of the PAP Government's failed policies ~lol~
Here's what happened: Devan Nair renounced communism but retained
his socialist beliefs enough to, upon being released from jail,
push for prison reforms. [S'pore was well into the self-government
era by now, & the riot would occur around Merger time.] The
Government agreed, & created a committee which recommended a
4-step, progressively-paced rehabilitation programme for criminals:
jail for one year or so, then VOLUNTEER to go to Pulau Senang for 6
months to learn a trade, then return to join a regimented Work
Brigade for another 6 months, before being released back into
society.
The island Superintendent, Daniel Dutton, was a very-motivated
Robinson Crusoe type. The criminals had more or less complete
freedom, but otherwise rigorously put to work - road-paving,
house-building, animal-rearing, vegetable-farming, etc. [The book
has photos of then bare-chested & suntanned, wearing only khaki
pants; David Marshall accused the PAP of using them as "slave
labour"!]
Why not try to escape? Note: Even after the riot & murders,
none of the inmates attempted to flee - they stayed put instead,
rejoicing & singing songs until the police reinforcements
arrived! Josey suggested a number of rationales:
- Dutton (for all his well-meaning streak) controlled the inmates'
fate: he could withhold advancing them to the next stage of
rehabiliation or, worse yet, send them back to the overcrowding
jail at any time. The latter would represent eternal hell for those
who were gangsters imprisoned indefinately under the ISD Act.
- the criminals weren't sophisticated enough to think of absconding
to even Malaya. What stood out in the book weren't their individual
personalities but their common backgrounds (20something, unmarried,
curtailed or no education, menial jobs, parents died early,
poverty) which IMO turns the societal nature/nurture argument back
on its head.
- most insidously, the inference was that the inmates were hardcore
secret-society members & totally indoctrinated with its values.
They were prepared to "eat bitter", even face death, out of
perceived loyalty & brotherhood.
As stated, I'm curious to see if the TCS version interpret these
differently, if not add new insights (since the trailer says it's a
multi-part show).
