To Whom It May Concern,
Yesterday (29th June 2020), my husband Andrew and I were having dinner at a coffee shop in Marine Terrace at 8:40pm. Suddenly, Yee Jenn Jong from The Workers' Party came up and interrupted our meal with his photographer who took photos of us eating while we took hold of the pamphlet they gave us.
While the photo portrayed a rather friendly interaction, the “conversation” was more that of an eligibility test for the photo — that we were first and foremost citizens and if we were of age to vote. No interest in any talk about the community or what we think can be improved.
It was completely unexpected, and to our chagrin we saw ourselves on the front page of The Straits Times 30th June 2020. There was no conversational preamble and no consent given whatsoever, and Yee Jenn Jong and his photographer were in and out within seconds.
This is unacceptable, as it is a violation of our privacy and rights as Singaporeans and Singapore residents. It was a compromising photo and we were not given any warning, nor did they have the courtesy to ask for our consent for the photo to be taken, let alone used and published on the front page of the most widely read and circulated newspaper. We ask for your attention to this matter, and your coorperation in compensating us for this unacceptable violation of our privacy.
We would’ve preferred to connect less publicly but you don’t make it easy for citizens to reach out to you.
Sincerely,
Melyssa Goh & Andrew Chen
Yesterday (29th June 2020), my husband Andrew and I were having dinner at a coffee shop in Marine Terrace at 8:40pm. Suddenly, Yee Jenn Jong from The Workers' Party came up and interrupted our meal with his photographer who took photos of us eating while we took hold of the pamphlet they gave us.
While the photo portrayed a rather friendly interaction, the “conversation” was more that of an eligibility test for the photo — that we were first and foremost citizens and if we were of age to vote. No interest in any talk about the community or what we think can be improved.
It was completely unexpected, and to our chagrin we saw ourselves on the front page of The Straits Times 30th June 2020. There was no conversational preamble and no consent given whatsoever, and Yee Jenn Jong and his photographer were in and out within seconds.
This is unacceptable, as it is a violation of our privacy and rights as Singaporeans and Singapore residents. It was a compromising photo and we were not given any warning, nor did they have the courtesy to ask for our consent for the photo to be taken, let alone used and published on the front page of the most widely read and circulated newspaper. We ask for your attention to this matter, and your coorperation in compensating us for this unacceptable violation of our privacy.
We would’ve preferred to connect less publicly but you don’t make it easy for citizens to reach out to you.
Sincerely,
Melyssa Goh & Andrew Chen
