Police investigate deputy Louis Ng for possible crime of public assembly without permission



[ad_1]

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Police (SPF) said on Wednesday (March 3) that it is investigating a possible crime of public gathering without permission from MP Louis Ng (PAP-Nee Soon).

Police said they have already interviewed Mr. Ng and investigations are ongoing.

Ng made a Facebook post in June of last year about his trip to the Yishun Park Hawker Center.

The post included four photos, in which Mr. Ng could be seen holding a sheet of paper with the words “Support them” and a smiling face in front of various street vendors.

Louis Ng poses with street vendors (1)

Rep. Louis Ng poses with street vendors at the Yishun Park Hawker Center in a photo posted to Facebook on June 20, 2020 (Photo: Facebook / Louis Ng Kok Kwang).

On Wednesday, Ng said on his Facebook page that the police had asked him to provide a statement on the matter, and he did.

He said he was on his regular walk at the Yishun Park Hawker Center in June of last year, and he wanted to urge residents to support the street vendors.

“This was an especially important ride since we had just exited the circuit breaker. I was there to make sure our street vendors were okay. As we all know, they suffered a lot during the circuit breaker, ”said Ng.

“I also wanted to urge our residents to support our street vendors and I held up a sign indicating this and took photos together with the street vendors,” he said.

Ng added that, separately, he had also raised a poster in January for a video featuring the first parliamentary motion on climate change.

“To clarify, that sign was an empty piece of cardboard. The words were superimposed on the video I posted, ”Ng said.

Louis Ng poses with street vendors (2)

Rep. Louis Ng poses with a street vendor at the Yishun Park Hawker Center in a photo posted to Facebook on June 20, 2020 (Photo: Facebook / Louis Ng Kok Kwang).

Organizing or participating in a public assembly without a police permit is illegal in Singapore.

Under the Public Order Law, an assembly means a meeting or gathering for the following purposes: To demonstrate support or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group, or government; to publicize a cause or campaign; or to mark or commemorate any event. The law also applies to demonstrations made by a single person.

[ad_2]