ORGANISATION OF OUTDOOR EVENTS BY POLITICAL PARTIES

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ORGANISATION OF OUTDOOR EVENTS BY POLITICAL PARTIES:

(Governing rules): 13.

Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether there has been any change in the rules and considerations governing the organisation of outdoor events by political parties and organisations affiliated with political parties.

* 14. *Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what is the basis upon which a permit was given to enable the Prime Minister to participate in a cycling activity in West Coast Park on 31st August 2008.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, may I take Question Nos. 13 and 14 together, please?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, the issue of political parties organising outdoor activities has been raised several times before in this House. The position remains unchanged. Police will not grant permits for outdoor political events.

The Police's position on outdoor political events is due to the assessed potential for public disorder which politically-driven events can lead to, even when this is not intended by the organiser. We have seen ample evidence of this in countries where peaceful gatherings and marches have led to street fights and even riots.

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Apart from this restriction, political events can be freely held indoors. Indeed, since 2004, there is no need to apply for a Police permit for indoor political speeches if the event involves only Singaporeans. In addition, as all of us know, with effect from 1st September this year, political parties may now organise outdoor political events and demonstrations at the Speakers' Corner without a permit. Citizens, too, may organise demonstrations, including political ones at the Speakers' Corner without having to obtain a Police permit.

Ms Sylvia Lim asks for the basis for Police to grant a permit that enabled the Prime Minister to participate in a cycling event in West Coast Park on 31st August 2008. Sir, let me first clarify that it was not a cycling event but a Family Day Carnival. The only cycling was when the Prime Minister and the other special guests made their entrance by cycling a short distance from where the Prime Minister had alighted from his car to the stage. Secondly, it was not organised by a political party but by a registered charity.

The Carnival was organised by the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) for the children and families of PCF kindergartens and childcare centres. The PCF is a registered charity with a social mission. While it is affiliated to the PAP, the PCF has remained completely non-political since its setup in 1986, running kindergartens, child care, student care and aged care centres, charging very reasonable fees. It also offers community health screening with other providers, and raises funds for charitable causes. Indeed, I understand that at the PCF Carnival, a sum of $664,000 was distributed to 17 welfare organisations by PM.

Sir, in short, the authorities considered the family day setting and community service focus of the event as well as the status of PCF as a registered charity and

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did not object to the event as the policy of disallowing outdoor political events did not apply in this situation.

Ms Eunice Elizabeth Olsen: Sir, I have two supplementary questions on behalf of Mr Siew.

Last August, the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs told this House that people may stop politicians or may want to debate with politicians and then attract a crowd which will result in problems. So, other events by political parties are not allowed because of law and order concerns. Do such risks also not apply to outdoor events organised by the PCF, which is a charity that explicitly declares on its website, that it is an arm of the PAP and that it is well attended by PAP Members?

Secondly, the PCF logo incorporates the PAP's logo which all Singaporeans will be familiar with. In fact, many Singaporeans will probably not be able to make that distinction. So, if we are concerned about Singaporeans causing a scene and confronting politicians, then, is it not artificial to draw that distinction between the PAP and the PCF?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, it is quite different for a political party under its own banner to organise an event where it espouses a political cause, talking about issues that are close to the heart. Some Singaporeans would agree or disagree. And indeed, as we have seen in other countries, when you do this, as we have said in this House many times, politics can create emotive feelings, passion, and you may not intend it to be such, but there may be bystanders who may stir up the situation. I think that is very clear.

But for the PCF event, as I have explained, not just in terms of the status

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of the organiser, which is PCF – its track record shows very clearly that it does not engage in politics and it does not discuss political issues; it is on the ground running kindergartens and doing good for senior citizens and other Singaporeans who are less fortunate – but the event itself was really like any other family day event that voluntary welfare organisations organise. A day in the sun; in fact, monies were given out to 17 charitable causes; there were music and performances. I think in that setting, the likelihood of public disorder arising is definitely not of the same order as, for example, the earlier event by the Workers' Party cycling in the East Coast.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Sir, the Senior Minister of State mentioned repeatedly that the PCF is a registered charitable organisation and he just mentioned that the track record shows that the PCF does not engage in politics. Can he recall that the PCF, after the election of Opposition Members in 1991, threatened to withdraw and close down kindergartens in opposition wards? Is that not political? Is PCF really non-political in nature and what is the track record that he is talking about?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, there is no denying that, in terms of affiliation, the PCF is affiliated to the PAP. But in terms of the focus of its activities, it is non-political. When a ward goes to the opposition, I think it is quite natural, therefore, that in terms of services offered to the people of Hougang who had made a decision, there was withdrawal of the services. But the services themselves, surely Mr Low cannot say are political in nature.