You’re not alone: Ng holding a placard supporting local food businesses at the Yishun Park Hawker Centre in Singapore. — Reuters
THE police are investigating whether a parliamentarian broke a strict public order law after he held a placard that called for support for local food businesses, local media reported.
Lawmaker Louis Ng posted four pictures on Facebook last June of himself with hawkers at a food centre, holding a piece of paper that read “support them” followed by a smiley face.
Organising or taking part in a public assembly without a police permit in Singapore is illegal, even if a demonstration is by only one person. Breaking the law can lead to a fine of up to S$5,000 (RM15,000).
“We are looking into a possible offence of public assembly without permit by Member of Parliament Louis Ng. We have already interviewed him, ” police said in a statement.
However, Ng, a member of the ruling People’s Action Party, referred to the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday and said he had provided a statement to the police.
“I wanted to urge our residents to support our hawkers and held a sign indicating this and took photos together with the hawkers, ” he said on Facebook. — Reuters
