'Foreign entities should not fund Speakers' Corner events'
By Yuen Sin, The Straits Times, 8 Jun 2016
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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday said it will "take steps to make it clear that foreign entities should not fund, support or influence" events held at Speakers' Corner, like the annual Pink Dot event last Saturday.
By Yuen Sin, The Straits Times, 8 Jun 2016
This year's event - the eighth such - attracted 18 sponsors, twice as many as last year. The corporate sponsors included multinationals like Google as well as banks such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Visa and General Electric were first- time sponsors.
In its statement, MHA noted that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community expresses its views on issues of concern to it during Pink Dot.
"The Government's general position has always been that foreign entities should not interfere in our domestic issues, especially political issues or controversial social issues with political overtones. These are political, social or moral choices for Singaporeans to decide for ourselves. LGBT issues are one such example.
"This is why under the rules governing the use of the Speakers' Corner, for events like Pink Dot, foreigners are not allowed to organise or speak at the events, or participate in demonstrations."
It did not say what action it will take, and whether there will be legal penalties. It also did not say whether or not an MNC with a Singapore-registered arm is still defined as a foreign company.
MHA said the statement was in response to "media queries as to whether foreign companies can provide sponsorships for the Pink Dot event", but did not specify which media outlet posed the queries.
The ministry also said that, in the context of LGBT issues, this applies to events that advocate the LGBT cause, such as Pink Dot, as well as those that oppose the LGBT cause.
Pink Dot has received opposition from religious groups. In 2014, Muslim religious teacher Noor Deros started a Wear White campaign to signal opposition to homosexuality, while Faith Community Baptist Church senior pastor Lawrence Khong urged followers to dress in white on the Pink Dot weekend.
In response to the MHA statement, a Pink Dot spokesman noted that the event has seen support from Singaporeans from all walks of life, including "a significant portion of its corporate citizens".
The ministry also said that, in the context of LGBT issues, this applies to events that advocate the LGBT cause, such as Pink Dot, as well as those that oppose the LGBT cause.
Pink Dot has received opposition from religious groups. In 2014, Muslim religious teacher Noor Deros started a Wear White campaign to signal opposition to homosexuality, while Faith Community Baptist Church senior pastor Lawrence Khong urged followers to dress in white on the Pink Dot weekend.
In response to the MHA statement, a Pink Dot spokesman noted that the event has seen support from Singaporeans from all walks of life, including "a significant portion of its corporate citizens".
"Our corporate sponsors that have supported us over the years are all registered and incorporated in Singapore," said the spokesman.
In pushing for greater visibility for the LGBT community, "we have done all we can to ensure Pink Dot SG stays within the law", he said.
Attendance at Pink Dot rose from 2,500 in its first year in 2009 to 28,000 last year. This year's local sponsors include the restaurant PS.Cafe and Cavenagh Law.
Speakers' Corner: Exemption terms to be reviewed
By Yuen Sin and Tiffany Fumiko Tay, The Straits Times, 9 Jun 2016
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said yesterday that it will be reviewing the exemption conditions for Speakers' Corner "to make it clear that foreign entities should not fund, sponsor, support or influence such events" held there, among other "further steps" that will be taken.
By Yuen Sin and Tiffany Fumiko Tay, The Straits Times, 9 Jun 2016
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said yesterday that it will be reviewing the exemption conditions for Speakers' Corner "to make it clear that foreign entities should not fund, sponsor, support or influence such events" held there, among other "further steps" that will be taken.
However, no action will be taken against the foreign corporate sponsors and event organisers of this year's Pink Dot event in relation to foreign corporate sponsorships, the MHA said yesterday.
The ministry had earlier said it will "take steps to make it clear that foreign entities should not fund, support or influence" events held at Speakers' Corner, like the annual Pink Dot event last Saturday. When asked what constituted a foreign entity, it declined to comment.
Now into its eighth year, the annual Pink Dot rally calls for the freedom to love regardless of sexual orientation. This year's event attracted 18 sponsors, twice as many as last year's. They included multinational corporations such as Google, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Apple, Facebook, Bloomberg and BP.
The MHA reiterated yesterday that "the Speakers' Corner is meant for Singaporeans to speak and demonstrate without a permit, if certain exemption conditions are met".
"These include no participation by foreigners. As had been stated in our earlier statement, this restriction applies, for example, to both events which are organised to support the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) cause, as well as to events which are organised to oppose that cause."
Contacted about the MHA's earlier statement, Goldman Sachs said it is reviewing it.
A Pink Dot spokesman said on Tuesday that the event has seen support from Singaporeans from all walks of life, including "a significant portion of its corporate citizens".
"Our corporate sponsors that have supported us over the years are all registered and incorporated in Singapore," said the spokesman.
In pushing for greater visibility for the LGBT community, "we have done all we can to ensure Pink Dot SG stays within the law", he said.
Attendance at Pink Dot rose from 2,500 in its first year in 2009 to 28,000 last year.
Attendance at Pink Dot rose from 2,500 in its first year in 2009 to 28,000 last year.
MHA Statement on Foreign Sponsorships for Pink Dot 2016