S’pore Flags Must Be Taken Down By 30 Sep, Or Risk Getting $1,000 Fine!

[Hypocrite-The]

No plans to fine those displaying Singapore flag after Sep 30: Edwin Tong
The Singapore flag displayed outside of HDB flats
The Singapore flag displayed outside HDB flats. (Photo: Facebook/Edwin Tong)
30 Sep 2020 11:22AM
(Updated: 30 Sep 2020 11:40AM)
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SINGAPORE: Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong on Wednesday (Sep 30) said there was no intention of penalising people who display the Singapore flag after Sep 30.

In a Facebook post, Mr Tong said some concerns were raised after it was reported that people who continued to fly the Singapore flag after Sep 30 would be fined.

"Let me assure you: As far as I know, no one has ever been fined for this, nor do we plan to do so," said Mr Tong.

According to several reports, residents risked being fined up to S$1,000 under the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem (SAFNA) Act if they displayed the Singapore flag after Sep 30.

However, Mr Tong said action would be taken in cases of deliberate disrespect against the Singapore flag in any way, adding that the rules were meant to "safeguard the dignity" of the flag.

"There’s no reason to 'punish' those who treat it with respect and dignity, and are proud to showcase the Singapore spirit. Patriotism is not just a right, it’s simply right," he said.

The SAFNA Act, which governs the use of the national flag, has been in place since 1959, said Mr Tong.

The legislation was amended in 2007 to allow people to display the flags from their homes from Jul 1 to Sep 30.

 

[laksaboy]

No plans to fine those displaying Singapore flag after Sep 30: Edwin Tong
The Singapore flag displayed outside of HDB flats
The Singapore flag displayed outside HDB flats. (Photo: Facebook/Edwin Tong)
30 Sep 2020 11:22AM
(Updated: 30 Sep 2020 11:40AM)
Bookmark
SINGAPORE: Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong on Wednesday (Sep 30) said there was no intention of penalising people who display the Singapore flag after Sep 30.

In a Facebook post, Mr Tong said some concerns were raised after it was reported that people who continued to fly the Singapore flag after Sep 30 would be fined.

"Let me assure you: As far as I know, no one has ever been fined for this, nor do we plan to do so," said Mr Tong.

According to several reports, residents risked being fined up to S$1,000 under the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem (SAFNA) Act if they displayed the Singapore flag after Sep 30.

However, Mr Tong said action would be taken in cases of deliberate disrespect against the Singapore flag in any way, adding that the rules were meant to "safeguard the dignity" of the flag.

"There’s no reason to 'punish' those who treat it with respect and dignity, and are proud to showcase the Singapore spirit. Patriotism is not just a right, it’s simply right," he said.

The SAFNA Act, which governs the use of the national flag, has been in place since 1959, said Mr Tong.

The legislation was amended in 2007 to allow people to display the flags from their homes from Jul 1 to Sep 30.

LOL, backtracking and doing damage control now.

By the way, who determines what 'dignity' is when it comes to dealing with the Sinkie flag? You PAP technocrats?

 

[laksaboy]

This should be the correct way to fly the flag.....

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The crescent aligned with their banana. The designer definitely put in effort!

 

[steffychun]

This should be the correct way to fly the flag.....

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Remember the CECA who tore our flag online

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Are the regulations in relation to the flag a means to control the public as opposed to protecting the flag just like how POFMA could be a way to silence critics rather than protect the public from falsehoods? - The Online Citizen
Ghui
HDB flats (Photo - Terry Xu)

Singapore has very strict regulations in relation to how and when you can display the flag. For example, this year, regulations were issued to state that Singaporeans could only display their flags from 25 April to 30 September. Looking at the list of what you can and cannot do, it is no wonder that some might be discouraged from ever putting up a flag, just not to run afoul of the regulations!

The laws surrounding how and when you can display the Singapore flag have always been seemingly at odds with the whole point behind why someone would display a flag in the first place. The flag signifies Singapore and Singaporeans would display it as a sign of their pride in their country. To be told how and when you can display your flag (barring incidences of disrespect which is a separate issue) goes against the grain of spontaneous pride and patriotic expression.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong has taken to his Facebook page on Wednesday (30 Sep) to assure the general public that “no one has ever been fined” for continue displaying the national flag after 30 September, adding that the Government is not planning to do so. This was perhaps in direct response to concerns among the public that they could be prosecuted for accidentally breaching the rules.

“There’s been some concern raised after certain media reported that those who continue to fly the flags after Sep 30 will be fined. Let me assure you: as far as I know, no one has ever been fined for this, nor do we plan to do so,”

This begs the question – what is the point of having something in law when a minister is publicly stating that it will never be used? Doesn’t this mean that the law is superfluous in the first place?

Is the Government keeping the law in its back pocket in case it ever needs it? And if so, why?

This is certainly not the only example of Singapore having potentially unnecessary laws. The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) is an example of this.

While the Government has only used the correction direction of POFMA till date, it has yet to issue takedown direction under the act and most important, it has also yet to charge anyone under section 7 which carries a penalty of a fine of not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both for the case of an individual. One could say that penalty is not practice as with that in relation of the National Flag but the choice of whether to charge someone with the offence still remains in the hand of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Furthermore, there are so many laws in place which can be used to counter the threat of online falsehoods. Yet, the Government pushes ahead with POFMA which many have criticised as a potential move to silent critics with Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon even calling it a “blunt tool“.

 

[nayr69sg]

Hang PAP flag.

 

[mojito]

Paint the crescent and stars red so it becomes and Indonesian flag.

And if I want to hang an Indonesian flag outside my home, that's my goddamn business. If you have a problem go talk to the Indonesian embassy.

Hdb not your home bro. You only tenant. Lessee. You must seek permission from owner OK?

 

[STUCK_HERE]

In order not to be irritated, don't ever display the flag.

 

[laksaboy]

Hdb not your home bro. You only tenant. Lessee. You must seek permission from owner OK?

Many FTs living in HDB flats these days. You even have CECAs lining the corridor balcony with mini oil lamps on Diwali... I mean Deepavali.

 

[mojito]

Many FTs living in HDB flats these days. You even have CECAs lining the corridor balcony with mini oil lamps on Diwali... I mean Deepavali.

The joys of sub leasing. Can pretend not know! Free pass! Middle man main lessee kenna!

 

[dredd]

Uniquely Sinkeepoo... the only place in the world where people are fined for showing patriotism.