Two S’poreans protesting at MOM arrested for criminal
trespass
Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, January
13
SINGAPORE: Two Singaporeans protesting at the Manpower
Ministry (MOM) were arrested on Monday for criminal trespass.
In a joint statement, MOM and the Ministry of Home Affairs said
Seelan Palay and Chong Kai Xiong entered the MOM building at about
noon to protest against MOM’s refusal to renew the work permits of
some Myanmar nationals.
They refused to leave the premises despite being repeatedly
ordered to do so by security personnel. Police were called in and
they have since released the two on bail pending
investigations.
In response to media queries about MOM’s decision not to renew
the work permits of a few Myanmar nationals, the ministries said
Myanmar nationals who work, study or reside in Singapore are free
to organise and express their political views so long as these are
pursued within the framework of the Republic’s laws.
They noted that a handful of Myanmar nationals had, however,
shown a wilful disregard and contempt for the law and the Singapore
authorities, even after benefiting from education subsidies and the
hospitality of Singaporeans.
Some, they added, had even demanded the right to stay in
Singapore as if it was a matter of personal entitlement and had
threatened to lobby political pressure through the media and
agitate foreign public opinion against the authorities so as to
compel them to concede to their demands.
Such persons, the ministries said, are not welcomed in Singapore
and should leave the country once their existing passes expire.
The statement said they were free to leave for any country of
their choice or any country which would have them.
— CNA/so
