(April 13, 2007/ Singapore) The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) announced on its website plans to hold a public forum tonight on the ministerial pay issue but the Government yesterday stepped in to say no.
The police have rejected its application for a permit for the forum while the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has denied professional visit passes to foreign speakers the SDP had invited.
The applications were rejected “on the ground of public interest”, said a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) statement last evening. The party website said secretary-general Chee Soon Juan would speak at the forum to “debunk” recent remarks by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew defending the pay increase for ministers.
Members of a delegation of legislators from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats were also expected to speak at the forum, which was meant to be on the development of democracy in Europe and Asia as well.
They include Ms Lydie Polfer, former deputy prime minister of Luxembourg.
The MHA statement said: “Singapore’s politics are reserved for Singaporeans. As visitors to our country, for foreigners should not abuse their privilege by interfering in our domestic politics.”
The ministry noted that this is not the first time the SDP has involved foreigners in Singapore’s domestic politics.
In 2003, the party organised a conference with foreign funding, but failed to declare it as required under the Political Donations Act. Dr. Chee, SDP chairman Ling How Doong and treasurer Abdul Rasheed were subsequently warned by the police.
In 2005, the SDP brought in foreign political activists Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan to conduct a workshop on civil disobedience. The activist has since been banned from entering Singapore.
Yesterday, the ministry statement said: “Foreigners who abuse the privileges that Singapore accords to guests and visitors, and meddle in Singapore’s domestic politics, are not welcome here.”
It added: “Like all other political parties, the SDP is free to express its views and organise political activities in Singapore within the law.
“Indeed, the SDP has organised public meetings to enable Chee Soon Juan to expound his political views, including criticism of the Singapore Government.
“The SDP can continue to organize such activities provided they do so lawfully.”
It is not known if the SDP will proceed without permits.
But the MHA statement said: “It is an offence to organise a public forum with foreign speakers without a permit. It is also an offence for foreigners without professional visit passes to be speakers at the forum.”
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