Section 7

to procure and receive all such evidence, written or oral, and to examine all such persons as witnesses as the commissioners may think it necessary or desirable to procure or examine and to determine the order in which those witnesses shall be examined;

to require the evidence (whether written or oral) of any witness to be made on oath or affirmation (such oath or affirmation to be that which could be required of the witness if he were giving evidence in the High Court) or by statutory declaration;

to summon any person in Singapore to attend any meeting of the commissioners to give evidence or produce any document or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a witness or require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession;

to issue a warrant of arrest to compel the attendance of any person who, after having been summoned to attend, fails to do so, and does not excuse such failure to the satisfaction of the commissioners, and to order him to pay all costs which may have been occasioned in compelling his attendance or by reason of his refusal to obey the summons, and also to fine that person a sum not exceeding $100;

notwithstanding any of the provisions of the Evidence Act [Cap. 97], to admit any evidence, whether written or oral, which might be inadmissible in civil or criminal proceedings; (f)subject to any direction contained in the commission —

to admit or exclude the public from the inquiry or any part thereof;

to admit or exclude the press from the inquiry or any part thereof; and

to award any person who has attended any meeting of the commissioners, including any interpreter appointed under section 8, such sums as in the opinion of the commissioners may have been reasonably incurred by him by reason of his attendance.