Petition: Cease all investigations against Teo Soh Lung and Roy Ngerng

Statement signed by 140 individuals to call upon the authorities to ensure the immediate return of all confiscated property to Teo Soh Lung and Roy Ngerng  who are currently being investigated for alleged violation of the Parliamentary Election Act, as it is wholly inappropriate for police investigations of such an intimidating and intrusive nature to take place.

The statement also calls for the removal of any data obtained from the two individuals from state and police possession; the immediate and total cessation of the investigative process on the two individuals.

The full statement as below

We, the undersigned are gravely concerned by the ongoing police investigations into alleged breaches by Roy Ngerng and Teo Soh Lung of the Cooling Off Day rules.

We are disquieted by the seizure of their property from their homes, in particular without warrant, and the wholesale and indiscriminate archiving of broad swathes of their personal data.  These excessive and intimidating measures are completely disproportionate to any harm alleged to have been caused by the actions of Ngerng and Teo.

To openly express a political view – including and especially views on party politics – is the fundamental right of every member of society.  If we are to achieve a democratic society where legislators and the government are truly representative of the values and wishes of citizens, every individual must be free to fearlessly express their views of politicians, parties and electoral processes.

For an individual seeking to understand the Cooling Off Day regulations, the application of the prohibitions on individual conduct is not clear.  Someone relying on the wording on the Elections Department website, which indicates an exemption for “the transmission of personal political views by individuals to other individuals, on a non-commercial basis, using the Internet, telephone or electronic means”, might reasonably conclude that their posts were exempt.

Given this ambiguity and the great importance of freedom of expression for individual citizens, it is wholly inappropriate for police investigations of such an intimidating and intrusive nature to take place.  The main effect of this police action is to intensify a climate of fear that deters the frank discussion of political issues by all individuals – a discussion that our society both needs and deserves.

We note that there have been previous allegations of breaches of the Cooling Off Day rules by electoral candidates.  Such conduct is far more likely to cause the harm to the electoral process which Cooling Off Day is designed to avert.  Yet we are not aware of such draconian investigations made in those circumstances.  A society which values the free exchange of political ideas must not apply more restrictive standards to ordinary citizens than to electoral candidates.

We call upon the state to ensure the immediate return of all confiscated property to Ngerng and Teo, the removal of any data obtained from them from state and police possession, and an immediate and total cessation of the investigative process.

Signed by: (141 and beyond are added after the statement was published)

1. Abdul Salim Harun
2. Adrian Heok
3. Alex Sng
4. Alexander Luciano Roberto
5. Alfian Sa’at
6. Alvina Khoo
7. Ana Abdullah
8. Ananth Tambyah
9. Andre Goh
10. Ang Chong Leong
11. Annie Jael Kwan
12. Ariffin Sha
13. Ashukumar Veerapan
14. Ashura Chia
15. Azmi Monday
16. Benjamin Matchap
17. Benjamin Seet
18. Bhavan Jaipragas
19. Brendan Goh
20. Brenton Wong
21. Brian Yang
22. Bryan Choong
23. Cecilia Joven Ong
24. Celine Lim
25. Chang May Lian
26. Chan Wai Han
27. Chew Keng Chuan
28. Chng Nai Rui
29. Christine Sng Mechtler
30. Chui Yong Jian
31. Dan Koh
32. Dana Lam
33. Darius Zee
34. Daryl Yang
35. David Lee
36. Dinah Sim
37. Dolly Peh
38. Edmund Wee
39. Edward Eng
40. Edwina Shaddick
41. Elisa Kang
42. Emily Lim
43. Erica Chung
44. Esther Kong
45. Fadli Bin Fawzi
46. Fadly Razali
47. Farhan C. Idris
48. Fenwick Melville
49. Fong Hoe Fang
50. Gina Lim
51. Godwin Koay
52. Goh Chok Chai Ricky
53. Ho Choon Hiong
54. Hong Weizhong
55. Irene Oh
56. Ivan Heng
57. Jackie Heng Lim
58. Jamal Ismail
59. James Weng Hong Lam
60. Jason Soo
61. Jeremy Tiang
62. Jocelyn Teo
63. Johannes Hadi
64. Jolene Tan
65. Jolovan Wham
66. Jony Ling
67. Joo Hymn Tan
68. Joshua Chiang
69. Keith Tan
70. Kenneth Lin
71. Kokila Annamalai
72. Kuan Wee
73. Lee Yi Ting
74. Li Xie
75. Lim Jialiang
76. Lim Kay Siu
77. Lim Xiuhui
78. Linda Ong
79. Lionel Deng
80. Lisa Li
81. Lita Patricio
82. Loo Zihan
83. Low Yit Leng
84. Lucas Ho
85. Lynn Lee
86. Mansura Sajahan
87. Mark Wong De Yi
88. Matilda Gabrielpillai
89. Megan Boey Sean Ching
90. Melvin Wong
91. Merv Tan
92. Miak Siew
93. Morgan Awyong
94. M Ravi
95. Muhammad Faliqh Rahman
96. Muhd Firdaus
97. Nathanael Tan
98. Neo Swee Lin
99. Ng Guohui Nigel
100. Ng Yi-Sheng
101. Niki Ng
102. Nina Chabra
103. Ong Sooi Eng
104. Pak Geok Choo
105. Robyn Yzelman
106. Roy Tan
107. Sam Lim
108. Sam Ong
109. Sathiya Moorthy
110. Sean Francis Han
111. Semangeline Teo
112. Sha Jumani Basari
113. Shelley Thio
114. Shimin Wong
115. Shirleen Chong
116. Siauw Chong
117. Siew Kum Hong
118. Smith Adrian Jude
119. Sonny Liew
120. Stephanie Chok
121. Stephen Baldy Ho
122. Tan Elice
123. Tan Tee Seng
124. Tan Zong Xuan
125. Tay Kheng Soon
126. Teng Yong Ping Daryl
127. Terry Xu
128. Thum Ping Tjin
129. Timothy Todd
130. Trevor Chan
131. Valence Sim
132. Vanessa Ho
133. Vivian Wang
134. Wendy Chan
135. Wong Souk Yee
136. Yap Ching Wi
137. Yap Hon Ngian
138. Yee Kai
139. Zee Wong
140. Zulkarnain Hassan
141. Gip Ernest
142. Janet Tan
143. Low Sk
144. Adrian Koh
145. Bernard Riio
146. Richard Tan P.H.
147. Muhd Ali
148. Nicholas Chia Choon Choy
149. Alexander Margaret
150. Rachel Zeng
151. Chee Wah Yong
152. Neo Ann Gee