• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

The Merlion Protests – The rights of foreigners and the relevancy of our protest laws

by Terry Xu
16/05/2013
in Commentaries
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

By Ghui

A foreign workforce makes up much of Singapore’s labour market. This has, as we are all aware by now, led to a surge of resentment from Singaporeans who have come to see these “foreign talents” as competitors for housing, jobs and space in our crowded public transportation services. People wiser than me have said that it is not so much the influx of foreigners that has caused the backlash of anger but rather, the lack of provision made by the government to ensure that our country was equipped to deal with the sudden population increase that has led to the maelstrom of discontent.

The most basic starting point of handling a population explosion is to make sure that the country’s infrastructure is able to support the increased numbers of people without bursting at its seams. From the various transportation meltdowns and sky rocketing property prices, this was not adequately dealt with. However, rafts of reforms have now been introduced and these issues will hopefully dissipate in time. There is however a secondary issue that bears more in depth thought – What place do foreigners have in Singapore beyond the role of worker bee? And more specifically, in the scenario, I am about to highlight – what rights does a foreigner have?

Most Singaporeans would by now be aware of the two Merlion Park rallies that were held to protest against the recent Malaysian elections. These peaceful demonstrations have been deemed by the Singapore police as “illegal”. Technically, the police are correct. Public gatherings of any kind are only permitted in Speakers’ Corner at Hong Lim Park if a permit is applied for and granted prior to the event. This would apply to foreigner and non-foreigner alike so while I disagree with the law per se, this is not a foreigner versus non-foreigner issue.

Some Singaporeans have however, queried whether non Singaporeans should be permitted to participate in protests in Singapore (link). This then begs the question of why not?

To unmuddy the waters, let’s take out of the equation whether or not we should have a large foreign workforce in Singapore. That is a topic for another discussion and indeed one that has been discussed to death – so, let’s not flog a dead horse. The fact is, we have a sizable foreign population in Singapore and they are here to stay. Given that they live and work amongst us, shouldn’t they have a right to enjoy the same social and political rights that we are beginning to hold dear?

Malaysia is our closest neighbouring country and there are many Malaysians who live and contribute meaningfully alongside us. Many Malaysians I know consider Singapore to be their home while at the same time, having great affinity to Malaysia as the country of their birth. Despite living in Singapore, they will still take great interest in the developments in Malaysia. Is that wrong?

Our world is getting more globalised and most developed countries in the world permit dual citizenship. They recognise that it is possible for a citizen to feel loyalty to more than one country. This is not only an economic reality but an unavoidable effect of globalisation, a process that Singapore is most certainly a part of. Many of our countrymen work overseas and are permanent residents of other countries but still considering themselves to be Singaporean. So, why all the hoo-hah vis-à-vis the Merlion Park protests?

Singapore has many foreigners living in our midst. Whether we like it or not, we have to accept this reality and be more forward thinking. If there are a large grouping of a particular nationality and an issue arises that concerns that particular nationality, then by sheer numbers, we have a large proportion of people resident in Singapore who are concerned about that given issue even if they might not be Singaporean citizens. So, if a large number of people currently resident in Singapore are concerned about a given issue, shouldn’t they be permitted to air their concerns in Singapore (where they live) in a peaceful manner?

From all that I have read, the Merlion Park rallies were peaceful. From that standpoint, I see no difference between a Singaporean protest and a non-Singaporean one.

As for the “illegality” point, my views are clear. It is a hallmark of democracy for peaceful protests to be permitted. The law in this area will have to be revisited soon. Singaporeans are getting rightfully more vocal. Laws are never static and should be reassessed to meet the changing needs of Singaporeans. The existence of our “protest” laws has now created a international relations incident with Malaysia. Malaysia’s Democratic Action Party has requested a meeting with the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the fate of 21 Malaysians arrested for staging an “illegal” protest at Merlion Park (link).

Indeed, the arrests of the 21 Malaysians in Singapore has made the press on a global scale and brought international scrutiny on democracy (or allegedly lack thereof) in our city state.

I am aware that I have raised many points in this article which I had meant to be concise but what I really want to say is this: This whole Merlion Park Saga highlights not only the issue of the social and political rights of foreigners but also questions the relevancy of our current protest laws.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth
Singapore

Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth

07/02/2023
国会内庆妇女节 女议员获赠鲜花
Labour

15 companies barred from hiring new foreign employees after serious safety lapse found at worksite

07/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?
AFP

India’s Adani Enterprises shares rocket 20%, trading suspended

07/02/2023
China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot
AFP

China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot

07/02/2023
Thai rescuers dig to free baby trapped down well
AFP

Thai rescuers dig to free baby trapped down well

07/02/2023
Desmond Lee says 70% of BTO flats affordable for median household with income of S$8,400 but what about the 10th to 40th percentile?
Housing

Desmond Lee says 70% of BTO flats affordable for median household with income of S$8,400 but what about the 10th to 40th percentile?

07/02/2023

Latest posts

Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth

Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth

07/02/2023
国会内庆妇女节 女议员获赠鲜花

15 companies barred from hiring new foreign employees after serious safety lapse found at worksite

07/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

India’s Adani Enterprises shares rocket 20%, trading suspended

07/02/2023
China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot

China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot

07/02/2023
Thai rescuers dig to free baby trapped down well

Thai rescuers dig to free baby trapped down well

07/02/2023
Desmond Lee says 70% of BTO flats affordable for median household with income of S$8,400 but what about the 10th to 40th percentile?

Desmond Lee says 70% of BTO flats affordable for median household with income of S$8,400 but what about the 10th to 40th percentile?

07/02/2023
Returning Officer to issue corrective directions, overseas Singaporeans allowed to vote by post, among changes to laws tabled to Parliament

Returning Officer to issue corrective directions, overseas Singaporeans allowed to vote by post, among changes to laws tabled to Parliament

07/02/2023
Can Malaysia review its current practices on foreign worker management?

Can Malaysia review its current practices on foreign worker management?

07/02/2023

Trending posts

Cognizant India transfers staff to work in Singapore as recently as this year

Local IT grads can’t find jobs while engineers constantly transferred from India to work in SG under CECA

by Correspondent
05/02/2023
105

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
47

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
26

...

No response from Josephine Teo on whether Mediacorp has been instructed to stop coverage of SMT circulation scandal

No response from Josephine Teo over alleged blackout of coverage by Mediacorp over SMT circulation scandal

by Terry Xu
06/02/2023
12

...

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Japanese-Canadian junior high school girl breaks national record with 3km in 9:02 mins

“I want my normal life back,” Sherry Drury withdraws from National Junior High School Tournament due to overheated public attention

by Yee Loon
06/02/2023
3

...

May 2013
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Apr   Jun »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia