"Police advise Gilbert Goh against asking public to deface PM Lee poster - AsiaOne Apr 30, 2014
SINGAPORE - The police said they have contacted Gilbert Goh, founder and president of Transitioning - Unemployment Support Services, regarding his Facebook post that called on members of the public to deface a poster of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during a demonstration planned for May 1.
Mr Goh was advised against carrying out such activities during the demonstration as they may constitute offences under the Penal Code and the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, said the police in a statement.
He was also asked to remove any online posting that called for activities which could be deemed illegal.
The police added that Mr Goh is free to hold his planned demonstration at the Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park, but it is his responsibility to ensure that activities conducted during the demonstration do not contravene the law.
He had suggested in a Facebook post on April 19 that a "huge poster" of PM Lee be put up at the demonstration, for protesters to "vent their anger".
He also invited people to spit, throw eggs and splash dog excrement at the poster."
I admired the doggedness of Mr Gilbert Goh to organizing events to allow Singaporeans who want to join those events to air their views or concerns or, like he suggested here, to 'vent their angers'.
At the same time, this particular act he is suggesting is not something I can agree to.
Lessons for me are:
1. it is good to have differing views from Singaporeans who cared enough about Singapore to voice their opinions publicly. So that their views are heard and other Singaporeans can make a judgement for themselves IF they agree with them or not;
2. it is equally important to maintain a sense of civility and respect towards, if you like, your 'opponents' or 'the other sides'. We want a robust and candid exchange of views that inspire many Singaporeans to THINK deeper about national issues. There is a need for MORE Singaporeans to get involved in THINKING if the policies of the government are the right ones or those advocating by dissenters have some valid points that the government should include and refine the initial policies. The SILENT majority CANNOT just let the VOCAL minority seized control of such discussion. And the minority here include the elected government! Yes. The elected government is elected by the majority of the voters, and 'should' be the majority voices. However, in reality, when the winning votes are slim, there are still a significant minority's voices the government does not represent. This we need to recognise though the elected government must be allowed to do it job as it thinks beneficial to the country overall;
3. Singapore MUST NOT goes the Thailand way. We can disagree with the government. We can voice our concerns, displeasure, or even hurts at the government when we feel that the government did not fully consider our 'legitimate' fears or demands. Yet, it will be UNBECOMING of a civil society when we resort to thuggish behaviours like defacing the elected PM's poster with whatever. We must not go there. Singapore CAN be different in establishing our unique way of engaging with the government when some of us disagree with the government. There is NO NEED to advocate provocative behaviours.
May the diverse voices continued to be heard, and allowed to be aired. May such diverse voices will stir and entice MORE Singaporeans to pay heed to national issues that may have 'alignment' challenges.
Mr Goh was advised against carrying out such activities during the demonstration as they may constitute offences under the Penal Code and the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, said the police in a statement.
He was also asked to remove any online posting that called for activities which could be deemed illegal.
The police added that Mr Goh is free to hold his planned demonstration at the Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park, but it is his responsibility to ensure that activities conducted during the demonstration do not contravene the law.
He had suggested in a Facebook post on April 19 that a "huge poster" of PM Lee be put up at the demonstration, for protesters to "vent their anger".
He also invited people to spit, throw eggs and splash dog excrement at the poster."
I admired the doggedness of Mr Gilbert Goh to organizing events to allow Singaporeans who want to join those events to air their views or concerns or, like he suggested here, to 'vent their angers'.
At the same time, this particular act he is suggesting is not something I can agree to.
Lessons for me are:
1. it is good to have differing views from Singaporeans who cared enough about Singapore to voice their opinions publicly. So that their views are heard and other Singaporeans can make a judgement for themselves IF they agree with them or not;
2. it is equally important to maintain a sense of civility and respect towards, if you like, your 'opponents' or 'the other sides'. We want a robust and candid exchange of views that inspire many Singaporeans to THINK deeper about national issues. There is a need for MORE Singaporeans to get involved in THINKING if the policies of the government are the right ones or those advocating by dissenters have some valid points that the government should include and refine the initial policies. The SILENT majority CANNOT just let the VOCAL minority seized control of such discussion. And the minority here include the elected government! Yes. The elected government is elected by the majority of the voters, and 'should' be the majority voices. However, in reality, when the winning votes are slim, there are still a significant minority's voices the government does not represent. This we need to recognise though the elected government must be allowed to do it job as it thinks beneficial to the country overall;
3. Singapore MUST NOT goes the Thailand way. We can disagree with the government. We can voice our concerns, displeasure, or even hurts at the government when we feel that the government did not fully consider our 'legitimate' fears or demands. Yet, it will be UNBECOMING of a civil society when we resort to thuggish behaviours like defacing the elected PM's poster with whatever. We must not go there. Singapore CAN be different in establishing our unique way of engaging with the government when some of us disagree with the government. There is NO NEED to advocate provocative behaviours.
May the diverse voices continued to be heard, and allowed to be aired. May such diverse voices will stir and entice MORE Singaporeans to pay heed to national issues that may have 'alignment' challenges.
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