A Non-Citizen’s Constitutional (Non-)Right to Freedom of Speech in Singapore

Let’s talk about the rights to freedom of speech, expression and assembly in Singapore, with regard to non-citizens.

The inspiration behind this is a series of recent incidents involving foreigners attempting to weigh in on local civic discourse, or to express themselves artistically… and curtly rebuffed by the authorities. These include:

Douglas Sanders
A Professor Emeritus from Chulalongkorn University who had wanted to speak on “Sexual orientation in international law: the case of Asia”, but denied a PEMA licence. See Yawning Bread, “Bark and Crumble”.

Human Rights Torch Relay
The Relay, which spanned across 37 countries, arrived in Singapore, only for local police to seize two of the Torches, and question the event participants. See Singabloodypore, “Singapore Police Size Human Rights Torch ‘For Investigation’”.

Complaints Choir
The Choir, having had its lyrics approved by the MDA, sought a PEMA licence to perform publicly. The police said they would grant a licence only if the foreigners stepped out. The Choir then decided to perform only privately. See theonlinecitizen, “TOC Report: Bureacratic muddle leads to canning of International Fringe Festival event”.

Before I go on, let me (rather belatedly) say two things about the Complaints Choir incident.

First, we should note that the complaints in the lyrics were compiled so as to give voice to the grouses of average Singaporeans. The content wasn’t some highly toxic ‘Western’ idea that is anathema to our conservative society; it came from our society.

Even if there were foreigners in the choir, they were merely repeating (call it ‘performing’ if you wish) the habitual complaints of most Singaporeans. It is a dangerous precedent, I think, if merely echoing someone else’s opinion can be censored, even though the opinion itself is unobjectionable (the lyrics, indeed, had gotten the MDA green-light) and notorious.

Second, the police, in stating that they would allow public performances only if the foreign members refrained from singing, offered what was in fact a poisoned olive-branch. Is it reasonable to expect a choir, having practised so laboriously, to then perform without some of its members, and potentially, its conductor?

Anyway, back to what I want to discuss. Feel free to skip this, because it is rather dry. The discussion, though, is so far quite sketchy, and is purely descriptive.