Organisers have to consult police on security as part of changes in response to terror threat
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2017
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Organisers of large-scale public events are required to inform the police at least 28 days before they are held, under a new law passed by Parliament yesterday.
The organisers also have to put in place stringent security measures the police deem necessary.
The event can be cancelled, postponed or moved to other venues if the security is severely inadequate or a terror threat is imminent.
These are among the wide-ranging powers accorded to the police by the amended Public Order Act, in a move to better protect Singaporeans at a time when the terror threat is at its highest in the region and terror groups are going for soft targets such as concerts and football matches.
Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, in launching the two-hour debate on the changes, noted that the police now work with event organisers on a voluntary basis on such security measures.
While most organisers are cooperative, "the time has come to give the police the powers to require such measures", he said.
Hence, it is mandatory for organisers to consult the police on security needs for public events that draw crowds of more than 5,000, and private events where the crowd size is projected to exceed 10,000.
The police will make an assessment, following which the commissioner of police can declare the event a "special event" if there is a risk of a terror attack or public order incident. The organisers will then be directed to put in place security measures, said Mr Shanmugam.
The measures include placing anti-vehicle barricades, engaging armed auxiliary police officers and carrying out bag checks on those attending.
Organisers that fail to notify the police if they expect large crowds can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to a year, or given both punishments.
Noting how terrorists are focusing more on "soft targets", such as in the Nice truck attack during the French national day celebrations last July, Mr Shanmugam said: "When there is a risk of a potential terrorist attack at an event... it's really in the public interest that the Government does something about it, that the necessary security measures are taken. Otherwise, we are putting lives at risk."
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2017
The organisers also have to put in place stringent security measures the police deem necessary.
The event can be cancelled, postponed or moved to other venues if the security is severely inadequate or a terror threat is imminent.
These are among the wide-ranging powers accorded to the police by the amended Public Order Act, in a move to better protect Singaporeans at a time when the terror threat is at its highest in the region and terror groups are going for soft targets such as concerts and football matches.
Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, in launching the two-hour debate on the changes, noted that the police now work with event organisers on a voluntary basis on such security measures.
While most organisers are cooperative, "the time has come to give the police the powers to require such measures", he said.
Hence, it is mandatory for organisers to consult the police on security needs for public events that draw crowds of more than 5,000, and private events where the crowd size is projected to exceed 10,000.
The police will make an assessment, following which the commissioner of police can declare the event a "special event" if there is a risk of a terror attack or public order incident. The organisers will then be directed to put in place security measures, said Mr Shanmugam.
The measures include placing anti-vehicle barricades, engaging armed auxiliary police officers and carrying out bag checks on those attending.
Organisers that fail to notify the police if they expect large crowds can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to a year, or given both punishments.
Noting how terrorists are focusing more on "soft targets", such as in the Nice truck attack during the French national day celebrations last July, Mr Shanmugam said: "When there is a risk of a potential terrorist attack at an event... it's really in the public interest that the Government does something about it, that the necessary security measures are taken. Otherwise, we are putting lives at risk."
About 200 public events attracting crowds of 5,000 or more are held in Singapore each year, with many of these security measures in place, he said. The changes will raise costs for event organisers. But it is a cost that terrorists have imposed on the whole of society, and which the Government and taxpayers are already paying, he added.
The changes to the Act also give the police commissioner the power to reject applications for public assemblies and processions involving foreigners with a political agenda.
Nominated MP Kok Heng Leun argued that the change could stifle political discourse as public forums with foreign experts could fall within its ambit.
The changes to the Act also give the police commissioner the power to reject applications for public assemblies and processions involving foreigners with a political agenda.
Nominated MP Kok Heng Leun argued that the change could stifle political discourse as public forums with foreign experts could fall within its ambit.
Mr Shanmugam said events will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
"The Government's position has always been that foreigners and foreign entities should not import their politics into Singapore nor should they interfere in our domestic politics, especially on issues of a political or controversial nature," he said.
Singaporeans can fight a cause without foreign aid: Shanmugam
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2017
Have faith in Singaporeans' ability to fight a cause without foreign help, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said with a smile yesterday, when a member of the House took issue with a change in the Public Order Act.
Nominated MP Kok Heng Leun protested against giving the police commissioner the power to reject applications for public assemblies and processions involving foreigners with a political agenda.
He said this would include a broad swathe of civil society events, ranging from public panel discussions involving foreign experts on animal abuse to a public lecture on health policy by a foreign expert.
He asked if the changes to the law could be made clear to ensure such events, which do not have public order or safety concerns, are free from "unnecessary scrutiny".
Otherwise, he suggested, the amendment would curtail "active citizenry" or participation in Singaporean civil society.
Mr Shanmugam responded with a smile: "I wonder if we are moving like ships in the dark (at) sea - the Bill says one thing and Mr Kok's speech pretty much has nothing to do with the Bill."
The minister said Singapore civil society groups should not "just hope for foreign involvement in organising events".
"Why don't we have confidence that our people can organise and take part in civic activities?"
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He cited the example of Pink Dot, the annual rally held at Speakers' Corner to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2017
Have faith in Singaporeans' ability to fight a cause without foreign help, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said with a smile yesterday, when a member of the House took issue with a change in the Public Order Act.
Nominated MP Kok Heng Leun protested against giving the police commissioner the power to reject applications for public assemblies and processions involving foreigners with a political agenda.
He said this would include a broad swathe of civil society events, ranging from public panel discussions involving foreign experts on animal abuse to a public lecture on health policy by a foreign expert.
He asked if the changes to the law could be made clear to ensure such events, which do not have public order or safety concerns, are free from "unnecessary scrutiny".
Otherwise, he suggested, the amendment would curtail "active citizenry" or participation in Singaporean civil society.
Mr Shanmugam responded with a smile: "I wonder if we are moving like ships in the dark (at) sea - the Bill says one thing and Mr Kok's speech pretty much has nothing to do with the Bill."
The minister said Singapore civil society groups should not "just hope for foreign involvement in organising events".
"Why don't we have confidence that our people can organise and take part in civic activities?"
Pink Dot organisers have reportedly already raised for the July event about 70per cent of what was collected last year. And the money came entirely from local companies.
In the past, foreign companies formed the majority of its sponsors, but last October, the Home Affairs Ministry said only local entities can sponsor, promote or get their employees to participate in events at Speakers' Corner.
Pointing out that the Government took no position on LGBT issues, Mr Shanmugam said the matter was one for "Singaporeans, Singapore companies and Singapore entities to discuss without involvement of foreign culture wars".
The amendments to the Act were not relevant to encouraging the local political discourse that Mr Kok spoke about, he added.
The Government, however, needed to ensure that foreigners did not take Singapore's public space for granted to advocate political causes.
Mr Kok and Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) also asked whether the police commissioner would have the institutional competence to decide if an event served a "political end", and whether the police's political neutrality would be compromised in making these decisions.
Mr Shanmugam said any attempt to define whether an event was political or not would run into "shades of complexity".
"All you will end up doing is creating alleyways and byways in which your definition will be made useless and you will be made a laughing stock," he said.
To drive home his point, he described four hypothetical events and wondered aloud: Do you think we should agree to such events?
• Malaysians financing and encouraging Singaporeans to take part in an event calling for syariah law to be imposed
• Foreign Christian groups organising an event with locals, calling for an anti-LGBT rally
• Myanmar Buddhists organising an event here with local Buddhists to protest against the Rohingya issue in Myanmar
• Hindus from India financing an animal welfare event in Singapore protesting against the sale of beef here.
Said Mr Shanmugam: "Singaporeans organising protests is one thing; foreign-financed, foreign-participated protests are a completely different ball game. We have been successful by being very firm about that, let's not change the rules."
• Foreign Christian groups organising an event with locals, calling for an anti-LGBT rally
• Myanmar Buddhists organising an event here with local Buddhists to protest against the Rohingya issue in Myanmar
• Hindus from India financing an animal welfare event in Singapore protesting against the sale of beef here.
Said Mr Shanmugam: "Singaporeans organising protests is one thing; foreign-financed, foreign-participated protests are a completely different ball game. We have been successful by being very firm about that, let's not change the rules."
Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2017
Transcript of Second Reading Speech of Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2017 by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs & Minister for Law
