Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong orders a Committee of Inquiry (COI) to look into the Little India riot

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has ordered a Committee of Inquiry (COI) to look into the Little India riot, a rare outbreak following a fatal accident.

“The COI will review the factors that led to the incident, how the incident was handled and how we manage areas where foreign workers congregate,” he posted on his Facebook, Monday evening.

Lee said the riot was an isolated incident caused by an unruly mob and that the vast majority of foreign workers in Singapore obey the country’s laws.

“We must not let this bad incident tarnish our views of foreigner workers here. Nor should we condone hateful or xenophobic comments, especially online,” he advised.

Lee had also called on all to remain calm and continue with their daily lives.

“Support our Home Team officers on the front line, and share with them any leads you may have. We must unite to deal with this unfortunate incident, to keep Singapore orderly and safe,” he added.

In the early hours of Dec 9, Lee had on his Facebook page, condemned the Sunday riot and added that the government “will spare no effort to identify the culprits and deal with them with the full force of the law”.

He had said that no matter what had sparked the event, “there was no excuse for such violent, destructive and criminal behaviour”.

Meanwhile, The Workers’ Party urged the government to look into the underlying causes of the riot, to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

President Tony Tan Keng had also voiced his deep concern over the riot, on his Facebook.

“People were injured, including those who acted in the line of duty. They and all the other members of our Home Team put themselves at risk to uphold the law and order that we often take for granted,” he posted.

He also called on all not to let a single incident like the riot to undermine confidence in the society.

“Instead, let us redouble our commitment to keeping Singapore safe, peaceful and strong,” he added.

According to the police, at 9.23pm on Sunday, a fatal traffic accident occurred between a private bus and a 33-year old Indian national at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road.

Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 people who damaged five police vehicles and an ambulance. Several other private vehicles were also damaged

In a separate statement, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to a road accident and upon arrival, they found a man trapped under a bus.

An SCDF paramedic pronounced the man dead and SCDF rescuers had to use a hydraulic rescue equipment to remove the body.

Projectiles were thrown at the SCDF rescuers while they were extricating the body.

A total of 18 people, including four of its personnel, were sent to hospital and nine SCDF vehicles were damaged as a result.

The Indian national man who died has been identified as 33-year-old Sakthivel Kumaravelu, who was working as a construction worker.