How Singapore’s Open-Concept Prison On Pulau Senang Ended In Tragedy

Did you know that Singapore once had an open-concept ‘prison island’? In 1960, a penal settlement was set up on Pulau Senang, an island about 13km from the mainland. There were no bars nor fences and detainees were free to roam the island, with guards going unarmed.
Secret society members arrested under the 1955 Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) were sent there to rehabilitate through hard work and education. Then, it was hailed as a visionary concept for its low re-offending rate, until tragedy struck.
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Part 1: • Secrets Behind Singapo...
Part 2: • Why Did Singapore's Fi...
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[@natep6729]

When you realise it was the power crazed, incompetent wardens who caused this mess. If only the detainees were given the water when asked and were allowed rest days like they were supposed to, this project would've continued until today nad we will have a better rehabilitation programmes for offenders similar to the scandinavian model

[@anonymousman9824]

well a guard not giving water isn’t an excuse to literally kill the guard, and if they kill guards over such a small matter maybe the open prison system doesn’t work

[@jebbur439]

@@anonymousman9824 ah yes water is a small matter. would love to see you digging shellscrape under the hot summer sun without water for hours on end and demand you to finish by a certain time frame or else you will be put back to hell

[@anonymousman9824]

@@jebbur439 im not saying they don’t deserve water, im saying it doesn’t give the right to murder people

[@archingelus]

@@anonymousman9824 i would highly argue that refusing water to prisoners a mere small matters, dehydration is a serious matter and if your goal is to rehabilitate, giving them water is actually the small matter the guards should abide if they were to treat the prisoners with good intention

[@ethantay4630]

id argue the prison system was a success, the one thing that actually failed were corrupt police marshals. they tred to bend the system to their ownn benefir

[@theuglykwan]

Also not being armed and easy access to tools.

[@ethantay4630]

@@theuglykwan the tools were not the problem, the peopel were The prisoners has the power to revolt any time they choose, but they didn’t It’s only when the prison wardens acted in corruption that the prisoners felt it was needed to protest

[@theuglykwan]

@@ethantay4630 The tools enabled the prisoners to revolt and be so deadly. So access to the tools contributed to the problem. Prisoners should not be able to revolt like that. You're assuming prisoner revolts are always justified and as long as they are not treated in a corrupt fashion it won't happen.

[@SShiJie]

we need more documentaries like this, suddenly history is soo interesting

[@ZX235w3]

history IS interesting. You just havent read enough of it. The events we've seen in our own lifetimes (21st century) is absolutely nothing compared to the tons of crazy stuff that happened in the past millenia (1000 years).

[@niggblehlm5818]

@Flare Aiya your Singaporean girls thirsty for angmoh la. Everytime go Clarke Quay Marina can see alot liao. In the end kena angmo pamp and damp. Then marry a local beytah. Gene pass on. Suisui life.

[@barsaf9989]

There's a million documentaries out there. Always remember history.

[@reixie]

@FutaCatto doesnt matter what race they are la, if they are unable to show respect to others they will get what they deserve

[@crypto66]

Seems more appropriate to say that Dutton proved both redemption and murderous rage are possible if you drive someone hard enough. Should've just given them water and stuck to the agreed terms, man.

[@TinaMcCall.]

When you deny another's humanity, yours can be forfeit. If the prison guards had given water when asked... Had Dutton not behaved like a colonial tyrant...

[@jessicaregina1956]

Obviously there wasnt any budget for water

[@daeseongkim93]

@@jessicaregina1956 wut

[@TheAwesomeFace]

@@jessicaregina1956 don't be daft for fuck's sake. dutton just didn't see them as human beings.

[@grapefruitsyrup8185]

Dutton obviously is a racist, look at him laughing and saying 1 punch from a white man can make Chinese end in hospital, we all know the historical context back then. Dutton deserved everything that was done to him.

[@fadlya.rahman4113]

@@daeseongkim93 Possibly because It's a small island and has limited amount of fresh water. So they ration it. This is also why Dutton probably insisted that the jetty be finish quickly so that they can use bigger boat to bring in supplies such as food and water more efficiently.

[@wsant2872]

The issue wasn't the open concept prison. The issue was Dutton.

[@theuglykwan]

It was both. In a normal prison they could not have so easily pulled this off.

[@char1194]

We'll never know for sure, but from how they surrendered and did not attempt to resist subsequent capture, it seems to me unlikely that the rioters thought they would escape the death penalty. This suggests that the rioters were fully prepared to die in exchange for killing those four. It makes me wonder what really happened to push them this far.

[@wasupiknowyou]

Yeah it makes me wonder of there is more going on?

[@peternehemiah1606]

The Japanese were far worse but at least British had some band-aid

[@tkyap2524]

The intention was laudable but poorly handled. Trouble was brewing but ignored. Remedial actions could have been taken.

[@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG]

No, these people may be prisoners or hard noses but they are NOT SLAVES. The treatment they received from the wardens during work definitely played a HUGH role in the horrific outcome of this prison experiment. The police side back then should also be held responsible for the incident!

[@dac997]

@Johnny NotEnglish we live in a society

[@gyap3171]

Nope. Hardened criminals only need a second’s moment to turn violent. Also, so-called gang values perpetuate extreme reactions to even the most minor comment or action (like insulting one’s mother) 😅

[@xijinpig7978]

ever since singapore defeated the British in WW2, life here has improved tremendously

[@dac997]

@@xijinpig7978 didnt know we fought the British in ww2

[@kagenlim5271]

@@xijinpig7978 defeated dafuq

[@tigerexo6577]

IMO, both sides were wrong at some point. The authorities shouldn’t treat the detainees as slaves and ignored their basic needs as a human. The detainees shouldn’t act like a barbaric monster that commit such gruesome act. They should at least talk it out with the authorities. But still, its easy for us to sit here so comfortably typing these opinions of ours, we can never know what they were thinking that time. I think the open concept is good intention, but its the people who made it bad. The detainees built so many infrastructure, they learnt skills from that too, its a good thing. Rest in peace to all those who passed away in this incident. Hope the history wont repeat again.

[@vaisravana2092]

Was just about to type a long paragraph, but I see you basically did sum up my thoughts on the matter. Whatever the reasons for the incident, it is such a HUGE shame, as we know nowadays that such systems can work very efficiently, albeit the introduction of them might not be viable in many places due to public opinion and political reasons. But Singapore was so far ahead of times with this project, extremely sad. Such a great idea, so many lives lost, so much wasted potential, it pains me.

[@gintobitim1611]

You must have not lived during those times. Even SG men who served NS during those times were ignored "basic needs" temporary as human as part of training to toughen themselves and learnt hard life, so why should criminals in a prison should live a better life than the normal people in the past? Did you watch, those criminals even got a cinema lol. This incident is 100% criminals fault + self-pwn. Those prison guards are just like your NS encik who give NSF a hard time (tekan) as part of training. That kind of prison was the most rehabilative approach in that era, but the criminals self-pwn by destroying it lol. Good, now prisons will go for more punishment approach than rehabilation.

[@climaxyawei3915]

There’s no right or wrong. Who’re you to judge?

[@demonicguard9539]

@@gintobitim1611 would personally disagree with your opinion, it seems to me that they already set standards like when rest days are and such things for the prisoners, when the guards abided by it, everything went smoothly, when they started to force prisoners to work overtime or give unreasonable orders obviously it would cause unrest and these are gangsters you are talking about, not some petty thieves

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

@@gintobitim1611 So you're justifying slave-labour?

[@ceasium98]

Well, Dutton found out real quick that even prisoners have basic human rights to water and a rest day.

[@sweetsuccess7580]

It is plain obvious that a arrogant man of a leader with a penchant to break promises, abuses his power to exert control, will test the limit of a saint, let alone a man. The documentary tries to downplay his wrong doings so that when Singaporeans encounter Caucasians with the same attitude, will not emphasis/remember this dark history, with a vengeance. Call spade-A spade, there is no shame that the main protagonist got his dues, and finally, this man's karma have been audited with clarity.

[@trext888]

I guessing so too. The fours mentioned who died might have angered the prisoners so much that they were seeked for revenge.

[@sweetsuccess7580]

@@trext888-When a human life is discarded callously without any regard especially from the perpetrator, it will break any man's sanity who watch the situation unfold in front of them. The situation comes to a stage If they had to go down to hell, they will bring the one responsible, with them.

[@Kimtesfaye]

misconstructed abit yeah , we never knew what happened on the ground , to say they were hard nosed is pretty arrogant. i see some biasness here in this documentary

[@amina-pr8xt]

Beautiful comment

[@sweetsuccess7580]

@@climaxyawei3915-It is not as satisfying as one can hope because the prisoners still have the heart to tell where they buried the evil person. It will even be more pleasurable not to tell but give credit where credit is due-these so call hard-core people are gentlemen who are collecteral damage to one man's evil ways.😭

[@TERRYEE88]

When you stop treating humans like humans. They become something else. Something worst.

[@pervertt]

The irony of the name. "Senang" means happy or easy going in Bahasa.

[@gemmameidia8438]

Senang in Indonesian means happy, and "pulau senang" means "happy island" , its kinda tragic that the island was stained with blood

[@jessiejames7492]

pulau senang always had this unhappy, dangerous place to me as a child growing up. heard stories my parents told

[@theneet9528]

@@jessiejames7492 In Malaysia it's mean Easy.

[@pt20829]

An interesting part of SG history and very valuable lessons to be learnt from that experiment. Thank you, CNA.

[@JazePhua]

Nice people who suggested great ideas came to waste on people who refused to change. Thanks for this great documentary! Great history lesson!

[@melerdon8854]

Honestly it was technically working out, things could have been better managed. If the main concept was to rehabilitate the people, proper rest and welfare should be given and moderated. No doubt violence was an incorrect choice by the people but these people were already at the end of their ropes, a little push comes a shove and would then spiral into something worse.

[@Cloud7050]

Pretty cool seeing one of my Profs featured. She teaches a module about pirates.

[@jessiejames7492]

the british always treated the locals like their slaves everywhere they conquered. same in spore too. no different. thats why mr lee kuan yew wanted them out asap when he took over. he said' its not that they were superior to us. they were but it that they think theyre superior to us!' (theres a difference). when you think youre better than others you tend to treat others in an inferior manner

[@balasubramaniam2436]

Very interesting history of singapore prisons. I had learn something new today and hope this channel will upload more such unknown true stories

[@ramadhanramlan]

I dont know. I find this docu oddly satisfying 😐 Great docu CNA!

[@amberx4444]

They were prisoners, not slaves. Dutton treated them with zero dignity and respect. We know that gangsters back then regarded face and loyalty highly, so I can see why they snapped and butchered him.

[@nkristianschmidt]

seemed a little more planned than a snap; Dutton was actually giving them quite a bit of freedom and trust as long as they did not demand, he obey them. Unfortunately, gangsters demand loyalty and respect as well as submission, they do not deserve, and so, there is only one way to deal with them.

[@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG]

@@nkristianschmidt I beg to differ, I believe it’s a difference in beliefs and social cultural norms.

[@Coz131]

@@nkristianschmidt Freedom isn't actually true when you treat them like slaves.

[@peternehemiah1606]

@@nkristianschmidt at least they build the trust between Dutton first And kick the man while he's down

[@nkristianschmidt]

@@peternehemiah1606 that's life; even family is like that

[@boraislove8598]

Why do the prisoners get weapons but the police don’t? I think that was the real issue

[@arugono]

Construction tools used as weapons are definitely more effective than batons and canes.

[@Mushyloni]

They probably had no way to actually prevent the overwhelming amount of prisoners from getting their hands on proper weapons if they wanted to. But yeah, in the medieval times a lot of gardening tools were used as proper weapons when uprisings happened.

[@darkmatterstudiosasia]

With great power comes great responsibility- u dont treat another human like a dog just because they are prisoners. As u can see they are ready to change only arrogance make them lead another way. Please dont call them hard nose. RIP to all who perished.

[@weekim2165]

After the attack they put down the weapons. Most likely the prisoners are mistreated till what happen

[@everhirstseyt2667]

Wah powerful and moving documentary. Can still visit pulau senang nowadays?

[@buizelmeme6288]

I would like to know too! But is it now become the rubbish island that we used to know already? ;)

[@altoncoolthings]

It's now a training island for the RSAF to throw artillery at.

[@patquek6211]

Chew Thiam Huat, may your spirit rest in peace for the arrogance and downplay of the British colonialism and its servant That was then when their lies been whitewashed

[@gawd_jihyo]

Oh my God.....

[@ArttillaZ]

Awesome

[@k80sg]

This could be made into a movie.

[@agape.ahimsa]

The most tragic death is a death of humanity.

[@raeannseah1381]

Why they don't want to give water

[@chenqin415]

Ah, detention without trial. Definitely will not be abused! Even now, the government can detain you for the max allowed period, let you out, and detain you again, for unlimited amount of times. Also fun fact, since that this is a video about a prison island, do you know that Chia Thye Poh (谢太宝) was detained without trial of the island of Sentosa for 23 years? One of the longest serving political prisoner. Go Singapore!

[@pervertt]

The Brits left behind some handy bits of legislation including the Internal Security Act of 1960. I only found out about Chia Thye Poh relatively recently, and was shocked that someone could be detained in modern Singapore, without trial, for 23 years. You get less than that for murder in most countries. Time to repeal this outdated piece of legislation. If Singapore can get rid of similar colonial laws against buggery, it should do the same with the ISA.

[@chenqin415]

@@pervertt Power is like a drug, it is incredibly hard to let go of once addicted. I am not hopeful that the government will ever relinquish such a powerful tool willingly. But we shall see.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

@@pervertt Murder if done in.the Philippines gets you 40 years with no parole or anmesty there...

[@arugono]

@chenqin415 they will relinquish it 1 day. When that happens, someone will abuse the new freedom, and the power will be taken back. This is what happened on Semang. The purpose of ISA is to deal with those who want to cause harm but have yet to do so or worse have done so and hid behind fear. In a perfect world, we will be always able to stop terrorism and organised crime within days or weeks. In this world, you have to hope the government will be less cruel than the terrorists and gangsters. Would like to ask how you intend to deal with organised crime and terrorism? Let it happen and hope you can suppress it before your country is consumed by it? Its easy to judge when you grew up in a safe nation that had low crime and nearly 0 terrorism.

[@chenqin415]

@@arugono You are making a erroneous assumption that the only reason crime decreased in Singapore was because of the ISA. We can look a a few countries that are also small island nations, such as Iceland, and New Zealand. They do not need a draconian law like ISA and have no problem with crime too. (neither did they have a problem with terrorism, if you REALLY want to use that as a flimsy excuse to justify ISA) I would like to ask you a question too. What can ISA accomplish that normal, efficient policing cannot?

[@helloeveryone0123]

An eye for an eye. Keep your eye before you lose them. Justice is served in every way possible. At least all the bad is punished. Especially those that deserve them.

[@singaporeahma5965]

Good exposure of the true Dutton.

[@Hijratpak]

Very informatic video

[@AC-iz7eh]

I dunno lah, it seems like it was a success until some higher ups made it from Pulau Senang to Pulau Susah. Asking for water while working under the hot sun is not an unreasonable demand right? And the inmates was supposed to get off days from working too, so why cari pasal with them

[@ryokolynn6948]

This is call self-defense when people bully you.

[@imdeexpert5828]

1960 is not even called Singapore yet, so technically they didn't had an open prison. its still under Britain's rule

[@ryanfzl01]

Its the name of the land, not the ownership

[@ZX235w3]

LOL are you for real or just ignorant? Singapore was already known as Singapore. Wtf are you on? It was only a change in governance to local rule that is counted as independece. The name of the country has always been called Singapore since the 13th century You never hear of Sang Nila Utama?

[@ZX235w3]

Also FYI, the colonialism under the British was hardly a prison at all. Peope all lived without oppression. Locals could even work with the British in the government if they could speak good English If you want to see 'colonialism' in a harsh lockdown manner, look no further than the Japanese occupation.

[@Channe1F2k]

hmmm i wonder what it was called from 1819-1964 then

[@mysticcove3392]

My mother was born in 1931. Her birth certificate. Nationality: British Subject. Place of Birth: Singapore. Race: Javanese. (1912, my grandparent's migrated to Singapura from Java.) That said anyone's borne in 1960, Place of Birth is : Singapore. Singapura is rendered Singapore in English by the British. The named "Singapura" is Sanskrit a sacred language of Hinduism.

[@tehMightyNgan]

It is definitely a much better way to reform. All the authorities fault that cause things to change.

[@TheRoadrunn]

It all happened because the officer refused to give the prisoner a basic need which is a water

[@amina-pr8xt]

I didn't even know that Singapur has islands

[@enriquesjoccen2012]

Prison system is just another who has and who doesn't have, to be equipped with a reformed theology it should be an opening for an open prison system once again.

[@jerrywongjh]

Why Dutton so harsh to the inmates?

[@krollpeter]

He believed that hard work and strict discipline would reform these men.

[@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG]

@Jerry Wong Because he was White and in a position of high privilege. Good life and even easily got a local Asian wife at his beck and call. (Not unlike what is still happening today’s society) 😅. Why would he not think that he could abused his powers and authority on these people whom he thinks are Low lives??! 🤔

[@AC-iz7eh]

White privilege mah 🤣

[@chickensoup9869]

Dehumanization of asians is a centuries-old practice.

[@waiminglau8960]

The blood stained shirt with Dutton's blood was raised as a flag not as a mast as said.

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

genial !! dutton mutton included

[@theuglykwan]

There's a hong kong movie called jail of no return which seems to have been inspired by this. It's on youtube. Kind of felt bad for the prisoners although they were still wrong.

[@bauhiniafolia9673]

The name "Pulau Senang" could be translated into "Happy island"

[@MrJasonjace]

Water and rest VS ego

[@Shinichiakiyamaaa]

Obviously Button was too upset ok working on a Saturday and kick a tantrum out of it. It will work in Singapore if we were to try it now, with selected prisoner’s profile. Why not?

[@mudcrabsea3654]

well done to the prisoners...

[@malibumondsg74]

RIP Mr Tan Sah Bee

[@psycatlogist]

why's this not in SS lol we need to look at both our successes and failures, not just successes

[@dennistani1986]

Yes, the prison superintendent got what he deserved, end of story. As we say in California in the USA, "good night, good bye and merry christmas"!! In other words, all of this could have been prevented.

[@dennistani1986]

@Johnny NotEnglish Ockham's razor

[@peternehemiah1606]

And how's that working out in commiefornia?

[@ericchionh9766]

Dutton became mutton

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

angmo very yummy la!!! very genius guy!!

[@mastervain1583]

Today pulau tekong has taken over

[@oncoded]

Putler Putin and co should learn from History. Just because you are privilege to hold a position of power and authority does not give you any single right to Abuse those around or below you.

[@juch3]

Lmao they really put a jail on "happy" island

[@ona2779]

This "documentary' appears very biased against the detainees. Dutton must have done something terrible to the detainees that triggered such a reaction. What did Dutton do? Hmmm....

[@MHMusic-Hub]

A bit like that movie… ‘Maze runner’

[@wks2291]

These are criminals. What did they expect? 5 star hotel treatment? They thought the worst outcome of the riot was to be sent back to Changi Prison to continue their original sentence. Well wrong! some got their asses kicked to hell. They wont be missed

[@samuelwtw1]

Clearly this Superintendent Daniel Stanley Dutton is not a smart guy

[@xlben10]

Singapore own Stanford Prison

[@MogiMogiMonster]

bij shudve given water, and saturday break.

[@kospencer1]

4:53 I’m pretty sure “tai” means kill😂😂

[@sunright20475]

lol "Pulau Senang", it means Happy Island xD

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

vacation island for prison slave labor! all without any weapons for the guards! wow, what a marvelous genius idea

[@dragonmasterpro123]

Next time just give them water, then no riot will happen😂😂😂😂

[@lfyrussell]

A thirsty man is an angry man 😢

[@tilelate9718]

Master morality triumphs over slave morality

[@suychua2047]

I knew what is happening in the Pulau Senang, my nephew was one of them kill by the officer. The prisoners were treated worst then slave, often got beaten by their prison officer with iron rod. Beside that they have to plant their own foods, otherwise they will starve to death Relative were not allow to visit their love one.

[@MrEpozer]

rancang bijak kan dah mendapat

[@dksharron]

The difference, or at least the most notable difference between Singapore and China, is the weather.

[@tintan1235]

Bad idea

[@flyingdonkey5488]

Pulau tekong?

[@asiaoharasbutterflies9425]

0:41 sounds like Am3r1ca 👀

[@muhammadangga6508]

Not so senang anymore dont they

[@andymill1953]

Or free slavery??

[@OrgKgTV]

British arrogance..classic...simple words treat others the way u wanna be treated ...there arent animals or slaves...mate...innit...so whose fault pushing it to the edges...anyway sad ending ..cldve been bet er ...

[@Mushroomlau]

You can thank them for no open prison like in sweden. You commit crime you go to Jail Jail. Not some resort

[@firedup692]

There are no such thing as a "senang" solution, pun intended 😉

[@rajenderupadhyay1920]

Can't have gangsters running free.

[@nartdarym4237]

Rest in pieces

[@gegam2246]

But can't help on whatsapp 😕 Only u can report

[@ganboonmeng5370]

Maybe..he deserve..it..???

[@hierarchy667]

Dutton reap what he sow.

[@MattKucia]

Not far from what caused the defeat from Japanese. "What a small Asian man can do to me?" type of mentality. British ignorance at the finest.

[@first-last]

Dutton deserved worse than what he got🤣🤣

[@gjbbbnbbb667]

Hii

[@Andrew-df1dr]

That act was barbaric

[@ustbot7047]

org ditindas bro.

[@cherubimcherubim9515]

More like a resort lol

[@franklinsim639]

lmao british colonizer

[@jejewa2763]

The problem was still a colonial mentality of the time and the inferiority perceived by the white master... I think such an occurrence would not happen again by Singaporean being the master. The island if still exist should be used again with the same experiment....

[@kianmetarudesu9572]

I'm bemused by the racist anti-ang moh comments some are making. Ok fine, maybe he was an arrogant angmoh. But we don't really know that. But the criminals on the island were definitely causing way more problems to society than arrogant ang mohs ever will. Its sad to see the lack of critical thinking, obscured by prejudice. Very interesting bit of history I didn't know previously though. Nice work. 👍

[@pupplemupple]

power was abused. wasted potential

[@rimahamburger3896]

"18 prisoners were sentenced to death" as they should.

[@fraumoller2914]

Once again L british

[@teckGaReTy]

Anyone else happy to see the chao ang moh get what he deserved