[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: In a press release on Saturday (February 27), police said they were informed of “a cause-based event to be conducted by Dr. Chee Soon Juan” on the empty deck of Block 192 Bukit Batok West Avenue 6 at 2 pm.
“Dr. Chee’s event is based on a cause and therefore requires a permit,” police said.
On Thursday, Dr. Chee posted on Facebook that he was helping a group of Bukit Batok residents, who want to see a sidewalk built in their neighborhood, collect signatures to deliver to the Jurong-Clementi City Council (JRTC).
Dr. Chee followed up with another Facebook post on Friday, saying that he had been to Block 299 Bukit Batok Street 22 Thursday night to collect more signatures and send them to the JRTC to build a pavement from Block 194 to 187.
This was so residents didn’t have to walk “down the road with passing vehicles,” Dr. Chee wrote.
“The response was enthusiastic and overwhelming, as many have used the route and agree that it is not safe for residents to walk on the road,” he said.
Dr. Chee added that he would be on the empty deck of Block 192 Bukit Batok West Ave 6 on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“Come join your fellow residents in supporting the initiative by signing the petition, right? We will send it to the TC after the session, ”Dr. Chee said.
A MORE STRICT APPROACH IS BEING TAKEN ON ORGANIZED CROWD MEETINGS DUE TO COVID-19: POLICE
In their press release, the police warned on Saturday that organizing a public assembly without permission was illegal.
“Organizing or participating in a public assembly without a police permit is illegal and constitutes a crime under the Public Order Law,” police said.
“Given the prevailing COVID-19 situation, an even stricter approach is being taken on organized crowd gatherings.”
Police added: “Even in Phase 3 of our reopening, Singapore continues to take a calibrated, cautious and safe approach towards resuming community events and activities.
“As COVID-19 continues to pose significant health risks in the community, we urge Singaporeans to observe safe management measures and avoid staging events that may lead to large concentrations of crowds, which can put at risk to the community”.
In a Facebook post on February 25, JRTC said they had received a letter signed by residents that said “some people are walking their blocks asking for signatures for a petition to build a walkway.”
In a letter to residents attached to the Facebook post, JRTC general manager Jeffrey Wong said he would “study the feasibility of building the walkway.”
“We will inform you in due course,” he added.
