Ah Boys To Men star Maxi Lim’s wedding reception, which took place on Sunday (20 December), is currently being investigated by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for possible breaches of COVID-19 safety measures.
This investigation was initiated after a member of the public complained to STB about the breaches after witnessing videos and photos of the wedding reception online, The New Paper (TNP) reported.
It appeared that guests at the event that took place at One Degree 15 Marina in Sentosa Cove were seen mingling and not adorning their masks during the march-in.
Mr Lim’s co-stars Charlie Goh, Joshua Tan and Noah Yap, emcee Justin Misson and others, including influencer Nicole Choo and comedians Fakkah Fuzz and Jai Kishan were seen performing and playing games onstage without wearing masks or face shields.
Mr Lim, who wed influencer Lizy Teo, had postponed their wedding reception when the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in March.
He wrote on Instagram that pushing back his wedding was “the most socially responsible thing to do.”
The complainant, who declined to be named, told TNP on Tuesday (22 December) that he made an alert to STB after seeing the posts online.
“I held my wedding recently and I am aware how the guidelines may put a damper on the joyous occasion. However, just like other couples who got married during this period, we know the importance of these guidelines and many of us, with constant reminders from the venue provider followed (them) despite all the inconvenience,” he explained.
Mr Lim continued, “To see a public figure ignoring such guidelines blatantly is disheartening. It is also ironic to see public figures breaking the rules when they had been advocating the public to observe safe management measures.”
Commenting on this incident, STB director of hotel and sector manpower Tan Yen Nee told TNP in a statement that the Board is aware of the allegations is currently investigating.
She added, “STB takes a serious view of any breach in safe management measures within hotel premises … Strict enforcement action will be taken against errant businesses or individuals, which may include fines, temporary closure and prosecution to the full extent of the law.”
As per the current rules, wedding receptions cannot exceed 100 people split across multiple zones of up to 50 people each.
Receptions with more than 20 guests must be split into a designated core wedding party of up to 20 people, including the bride and groom, and groups of up to five people for the remaining attendees.
As for Mr Lim’s reception, it is not clear which of the guests were in the core wedding party.
Additionally, a minimum distance of 1 metre must be maintained between groups and the wedding party at all times, including during photo-taking. Live performances are also not allowed, and emcees and people giving speeches on stage are required to wear face shields or masks when speaking.
Acting general manager of One Degree 15 Marina, Jonathan Sit, explained that prior to any wedding, its operation team will brief the couple and wedding coordinators on the safety measures, and look through the programme to make sure there are no games, singing or shouting.
“Should there be breaches during the wedding, our staff and managers will immediately tell the guests and even the wedding couple to stay in their seats,” he said in a report by TNP.
However, he did not mention if the club had done this during Mr Lim’s wedding reception and did not directly answer the alleged breaches.
Mr Sit continued, “As a venue operator, we share the same challenges that government-appointed social distancing officers across the island face every day in doing their jobs, but we will continue to carry out all these measures that we have already put in place.”
On Monday, The Straits Times reported that One Degree 15 Marina was one of the 10 hotels and hostels in the country which have been fined by the authorities for breaching safe management measures.
