Daily Leson from Life 14 April 2009

"SINGAPORE: A new Bill to manage public law and order has been passed in Parliament.

It rationalises current rules for public assemblies and processions by moving away from rulings based on the number of persons involved in these activities.

Instead the focus is on whether the activity may have a disruptive effect on the public.

Scenes of disruption like those at international meetings such as the G20 meeting in London and more recently, the failed ASEAN Summit in Thailand’s Pattaya, are common.


But that’s exactly what Singapore, which will later this year host the APEC meetings where many world leaders are expected to attend, wants to avoid.

That is why it is introducing new legislation at this time.


The new Public Order Act rationalises the existing two Bills — the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act (PEMA) and the Miscellaneous Offences Act (MOA).

At the heart of the Public Order Act is one key philosophy.


Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam, said: "The approach is to seek the optimal balance between the freedom to exercise political rights while not affecting public safety security and not affecting stability.

Under the new Bill, three types of activities will require permits: Those that demonstrate support for or against views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government; those that publicises a cause or campaign; and those that mark or commemorate any event.


The Act will also give police officers new powers to issue pre—emptive "move—on" orders, which will be in written form, ordering demonstrators not to congregate at the intended rally area, or give them a chance to leave without getting arrested.

And learning from the Mumbai terrorist incident, the police will have powers to stop the filming of ongoing security operations and seize such materials so that operations are not compromised.


Police could even take such a person, who is believed to have such a film or picture, into custody if he refuses to stop filming or surrender his materials. But this does not apply to routine police duties."

After what happened in Pattaya to the Asean and Asean+3 Asia Summit last week, it is not surprising that Singapore government introduced these changes. In tiny Singapore, we simply cannot afford to lose face and that means losing the 'Singapore Works' reputation. A reputation upon which Singapore brand is based primarily!

Lessons for me are:

1. freedom of speech is fine. But it must be uttered with responsibility of not inciting violence of any form;

2. it is important for the law enforcement officers to carry out their proper duty without too much restriction as long as the power exercised is not violent! Asking potential violators of the new laws to 'move on' before the laws applied is a good avenue to achieve peaceful resolution;

3. filming security forces in action against some terrorists' act obviously MUST be stopped as it is tantamount to providing live coverage for the terrorists in actions with mobile imaging technologies so readily available! It also shows that leaders have to keep up with technologies in order to do the right things!

There will always that fear that such power may be abused. So, the leaders who enacted these laws must be vigilant and provide check-and-balance to ensure such abuses will not take place, and if they did, they will be quickly flashed out and dealt with effectively.

We want peace and harmony so that prosperity and progress can be achieved by ALL races in Singapore!