On 27 June, officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) gave verbal warnings to members of the opposition National Solidarity Party (NSP) to stop the sale of their party newspaper, The North Star. The NSP had been doing what opposition parties have been doing for years – reaching out to residents in HDB estates and going about selling their party newspapers. This time however it seems the authorities are going by the book. The NSP members were told that what they were doing was “illegal hawking”.
After that incident, which took place in Bendemeer, the party sought clarification from the Chief Executive of the NEA. Besides wanting to know if selling its party newspaper by going about hawker centres, markets, shops and coffeeshops, was illegal, the party also asked, if it was indeed illegal, where the party could apply for the relevant permit. It also asked NEA if any political party had been issued with such a licence or permit in the past.
“An officer called me up and told me that there is only licence for individuals who are from the low income group to do mobile hawking,” NSP secretary-general, Mr Goh Meng Seng, told The Online Citizen. “Apparently there isn’t any license for political party like ours to conduct our political outreach. However, our activity is deemed as ‘illegal hawking’. I told him to write to me officially to state his stand. I have not received his official letter so far.”
On Sunday 4 July, while going about the sale of its newspaper at Tampines, the NSP’s vice-president, Mr Christopher Neo, was issued with a summon for S$300 by NEA officers. The reason? “Illegal hawking”.
“Sebastian and Steve offered to be summoned as well but [the NEA officers] did not want to act on that. Sebastian also wanted them to summon each and every one of us, but they declined also,” Mr Goh explained. Mr Sebastian Teo is the party’s president while Mr Steve Chia is a former Non-constituency Member of Parliament and the party’s treasurer.
“Apparently, this is just an exercise of intimidation,” Mr Goh says. “If our activity is really “illegal hawking”, they will have to either summon all of us or arrest all of us if we refuse to be summoned. They did neither of these.”
Mr Goh asks if this means that all opposition parties are legally banned from carrying out their weekly political outreach by selling their newspapers.
TOC understands that a first-time offender can be fined up to S$1,000 for illegal hawking. Repeat offenders can be fined up to S$4,000 plus jail terms.
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Singapore government always use the law indiscriminately and have never consider the spirit of the law.
Those in law society is very shameful if they don’t want to stand up to clarify on the matter.
its election time..PAP is using whatever it can to shut the opposition down.
Might as well proclaim singapore as a monarch .Saves all the BS of election and parliament debates
Geez, how insecure can the PAP get? I hope the rest of the world hears about this. What a piece of BS. Seriously. Airing political thoughts is a crime? Gimme a break!
Aiyo, just give away free lah. Why must sell? Giving out newspaper not illegal right?
Mathematically, it is logical to give away the papers FREE OF CHARGE to whoever is at the coffeeshop. The printing could be about $300 to $1000 this is the same as the Fines which they have to pay for illegal hawking.
Assume however that there is not another law to fine people from giving away free printed matter?
zero
the nea board of directors:
http://app2.nea.gov.sg/board_directors.aspx
the ceo of smrt is there, as well as a young correspondent from zaobao. she is pro-pap, from her articles in the political desk.
maybe opp parties should steer clear from all mrt stations too.
Then how about Petir?
This incident reminds me of the ‘Family Day’ fiasco when the PAP did not allow the WP to hold their family day but PAP could.
Hi everyone
Being anti PAP is against the law don’t you guys know.
TOC has first hand experience of this
My 2 cents worth
This is abuse of power. Interpreting the law to suite their purposes.
So if the papers are given out free – is it ok then ?
What excuses and law will they be bashing out then ?
Is this an act of Bullying?
Surely this is an act of suppression ,without doubt.
They are selling to also raise funds. Not cheap to keep a political party going. If you want to put your money where your mouth is, you can buy to support them…
The entire govt machinery is geared to help PAP!! Disgusting.
There are plenty of illegal hawking of “koyok” (medicine) even basking by foreigners near shopping complexes and MRT, why are NEA blind not to be engaged in oppression as well? Is that ALL that the incumbent politics has to show to preserve its turf? How more deprave of substance in the manner the political dogs preferred to relate politically to its own citizenry?
Is this an indication that the GE is around the corner?
Don’t they want voters to know the existence of alternative parties?
What kind of a GE will it be if voters
think that only the Pro-Alien Party is
taking part?
As someone said, why not do away with
GE and call this a monarchy? Too right!
lees have told before. he will spend most of his time to fix the opposition and buy in his own votes. what else can you say.
straits times been selling their newspaper daily for years. now opposition selling theirs. the problem here is familees and his pap doesn’t want singaporeans to read anything else then his strait times with all his good news. coz by reading the opposition papers will make familees holes even bigger and hard to hide it. so what he did is simple. blocking games till the election.
so people don’t know much about what opposition wanted to say and express themselves to say what is right for singaporeans to know and decided.
what kind of government is this?? if they are doing all right and taking care of our citizen then why the fear of being compete by opposition? why the fear that lead them to arrest,fines,block,defamation suit(most popular in demand) and more to hide everything under their carpet?
This is how bad the PAP infiltrated into GOV network. Don’t let this continue to happen. To Singaporean, vote PAP out to give the PAP and network serious warning to stop this. They might in anytime destroy you and your future if you don’t obey him and let your future son and daughter to live like dog if your give them another round to rule you. Stop give wrong signal to the PAP
Goh Meng Seng, I confess that I do not know much about you or your party (NSP).
But I guess you must be doing something right for the Pro Alien Party to be paying you and NSP special attention.
JIAYU JIAYU JIAYU!!!
What about their RCs doing door-to-door canvassing of tickets sales to residents for Christmas party – is that NOT illegal hawking too? Is there two laws on “illegal hawking” – one permissible of violation for them and the other impermissible” even if non-violation for opposition parties?
What an embarrassing move by the NEA in issuing a summon to the National Solidarity Party for so-called “illegal hawking” of its political newsletter.
Any Singaporean would know that opposition parties are usually seen selling their newsletters during the weekends at various constituency wards.This is a practice or rather an avenue for politicians to meet up with their voters and share their concerns
as much as the incumbent PAP’s new candidates making their presence with their grassroot leaders.
If the NEA deems such political newsletters sales are “illegal” in any sense,then it must apply to the relevant authority to impose such a ban in law.
Meanwhile the PAP government must state its stance on this matter.
We oppositionists have already been deprived of a level playing field in local politics, any further unfair act to silence us would be most undemocratic.
I believe the PAP government surely would not wish to be seen condoning NEA’s partisan move.
watch this video below. this is the truth that been told out by this man against lee kuan yew with he has the prove to cheating of election.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQCab3QZbBk
oh come on, PAP… be REAL MEN & stop using such tactics to suppress oppositions…
It’s not something new, is it?
There was this opposition party that has been charged before. Instead of being sympathetic, the others lambasted the party in question as an attention whore. They claimed selling newspapers is the wrong method, that the party in question should go door to door to connect with the people.
Has there been a change of stance?
The point is if the opposition had solved this issue in Parliament years ago, it won’t be in such a dicey situation now, especially when time is running out as elections is looming.
Want to shit then find jamban?
Has anyone from NEA taken Mediacorp to task for littering at some of our doorsteps each morning?
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Every morning from Monday to Saturday, the moment I open my front door, there it is, the TODAY’s newspaper lying on the floor in front of my doorstep.
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I did not subscribe to the papers and neither did I asked for it.
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Each day, I have to do my national duty to pick up the litter and throw it away into the waste bin.
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I think I better write to NEA about this.
This is a really evil but smart move by the PAP.
Why a relatively unknow guy was issued the summon? why not GMS or Steve Chia or Sebastian Teo or the whole group of them being issued?
If the whole group were given summons, it will be “SDP” all over again where they will be charged in court en mass, if the fine were not compounded. All of them might not even pay the fine sentenced by the court and go to jail together to prove a point.
Now, only a smallfly is involved, even if he goes to jail, it would not be big news. And if he compounds the fine, it will be an admission of guilt.
i have had RC members knocking on the doors to sell Singapore flags around national day period. Sometimes i have seen them knock on the door to sell tickets for their events.
if what NSP did is illegal hawking then what RCs do is clearly illegal hawking also. what action is NEA going to take?
Can TOC set up an microsite to monitor this? each time someone spot any sale of anything by anyone who is not low income, call police & NEA and also write on TOC. also write on TOC if NEA follows up
enough of pap repression…
join PA, pay membership fees to be part of our organisation. we are not mobile so it is not considered mobile hawking, but we still welcome your money and membership. and it is just a coincidence our name rhymes with PAP.
Another tactic to suppress the Opposition parties. In the first place we shld’nt let this shit party keep holding onto power, then who to blame? the selfish people who voted for their own interest.
Were they fined?
Article talks of “verbal warning”?
Bad QC?
aiyoh yoh smellee pap kiasu kiasee
just wonderin 2 nite ago..the whole pap gang includin dr balekampond holed up 1 of the CC to watch the fifa soccer match lived..did they hav a polis permit in the 1st place? next the mp for that district was asleep with his eyes closed
unless you all wanna says he reaLLEE got small chinaman eyes…
worst of all he can even COMMAND singtel to televise OUTSIDE open space so as to entice more ^voters^
what will happenned if chiamseetong/lowthiakeng did the same thinggie? will they be arrested and ^SHOT^ on site for illeagle broadcastin?
only Petir is allowed in National libraries.
I suggest NSP ask the ppl to subscribe or place order instead of selling outright.
kill 2 birds with 1 stone
1) avoid running afoul of “stupid” law.
2) obtain a list of supporters
also suggest NSP put online some of their older newsletters like what WP do
When the PAP candidate sold abalone porride at one of the constituencies, did it ever apply for a hawker licence ?
Again the PAP leaders are abusing the whole system to its advantage. It seems PAP is pissing more and more people off !
PAP is even worst than the pariah party across the causeway !
In the forth coming election, the opposition should not be afraid to sell their newspaper to the people. If any environment officer dare to harass you just let us know.
We will invite them to drink coffee at our headquarter and teach them what is a good and responsible citizen.
It is a fact that in Singapore, there are two sets of rules and laws. One for the pigs and one for the rest.
I really admire Singaporeans for their ability to tolerate such rubbish for so long. No wonder lky called you Singaporeans daft.
singapore organisations always like to say “must stay out of politics”. thats the mantra singaporeans also say.
why is it then that NEA is joining in the game of politics?
it also shows Singaporeans will not hesitate to standby and watch the strong bully the weak… they even will lend a hand if asked to by the strong… if the weak asks for help, they will blame the weak…
With BILLIONS of dollars at stake, does anyone not think the bloody PAP will pull out all stops to “fix” the opposition? Come on… they will do everything in their power including, liberal use of every letter of the law to fix opposition candidates.
It doesn’t matter what the opposition stands for, just vote against the PAP. Encourage your family and friends to vote against the PAP. This is our only chance to take back this country!!
NEA should be concentrating on the flood and hygience of singapore not disturbing innocent people of singapore who are helping singaporeans
Gerrad wrote: Might as well proclaim singapore as a monarch .Saves all the BS of election and parliament debates.
Reminds me of one King Tut cartoon where the king said that in a kingdom, he needs to lie only once but in a democracy, he needs to lie every four years!
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anonymous: There are plenty of illegal hawking of “koyok” (medicine) even basking by foreigners near shopping complexes and MRT…
Have any of these koyok sellers and kitchen gadget peddlers ever been charged with illegal hawking? They even talk with microphones. Have any been charged with “making speeches to the public without a licence”?
Of late there have also been buskers (usually crippled) going around hawker centres and singing with mics and loudspeakers. Bet you they don’t have public entertainment licence either.
@ Richard
GCT spoke of welcoming Singaporean’s “constructive criticism” in Shanghai, China, at the Singapore Pavilion of Shanghai World Expo, two days ago and in Singapore NEA engaged in political apatheid. The ICON of perversity is hardly loss on the dullest mundane mind. Where is the metaphorical poisonous snakes in the grass someone is looking for?
Today, Newpaper and ST. These are just a few pap paper that are not very objective in reportings. I see no reason why other parties credible newspapers cannot be distributed unless PAP is afraid too people will know the truth.
Relax people,
NEA CEO needs his salary..how then to go for Cordon Bleu cooking classes.
Soon foriegners will start laughing at us as well.
Dear Singaporeans, I believe you all have been gaged for the past 50 years by the one and only political party who governed Singapore in a democratic gown but using an authoritarian fists through the control of media, manipulating the tentacles of CCs,CCCs,RCs with the falsehood intentions of helping and bonding the communities that cast a psychological net over you to make you subconsciouly aware that they are watching you, so you become retarded in expressing yourself and defending your rights. You can’t stop them from increasing cost of living day in day out and you can’t even critize them when they make horrendous mistakes to the country of Singapore.
Its time for you to break away from these psychological clutches, its better to live happily with some economic difficulties rather living miserably under this spiritual and mental suppression. So this coming GE, its the time to change this mono-government to a multi-faceted government when all Singaporeans can be heard and all of us together can work for a truly happy and prosperous future.
petir is distributed freely and in the branches therefore no illegal hawking, maybe GMS can distribute, and why sell? He oreadi sold his flat to raise 200k? for his party wad.. flushed with cash!
singaporean 6 July 2010
petir is distributed freely and in the branches therefore no illegal hawking, maybe GMS can distribute, and why sell? He oreadi sold his flat to raise 200k? for his party wad.. flushed with cash!
…………….
why is GohMenSeng $200,000++ got to do with pap publications? when you mentioned petril is not illegalled @ all?
gohmengseng is illegal for sellin his asset to raise funds for himself and his party..
why you pap’s dogs behaved liked a hyena?
you hav NO balls to raise your owned pap funds..you needs to hold hands with 6 other blokes to run a GRC…
and you date to call yourself a singaporean?
Singaporeans have too much time in their hands…just take your monthly pay and enjoy life till the grave calls for you laa..haiyah.
There are illegal hawkers near MRT stations, markets, hawker centres, etc, operating with impunity. NEA should go after these foreigners instead of summoning the local opposition party members for killing 2 birds with one stone in selling the party newspapers during the walkabouts. Come on, exercise commonsense and not enforcing the law blindly!
@ Prettyplace
I believe that Cordon Bleu guy got transferred out liao! Does anybody know?
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@ Devagi
NEA is certainly not enforcing the law “blindly”. It does so with a particularly sharp eye that is able to look for devious ways to penalise opposition party members.
Of late too, many people from India subcontinent, well dressed selling socks, belts, nusiance, I’d buy from the locals anytime. Now who’s taking care of the Singaporeans ??
NSP do not pay NEA as it is not a mistake as you need to used for fighting elections