Following the recent Thaipusam procession skirmish, many have started to raise the issues of rights for Hindus, demanding for the day to be considered an official public holiday.
Prominent activist Gilbert Goh had hoped to take the campaign further with a planned event at Speaker's Corner tomorrow meant to rally people behind the call to make Thaipusam a public holiday, and also protest against the ban on musical instruments during the ritual procession — the prohibition that sparked off the brawl in the first place.
However, noting the potentially incendiary circumstances that might burst forth during the planned rally, the police had denied Goh a permit to carry out the event, Channel NewsAsia reports.
In response to media queries, the police have rejected his application on grounds that the event might breach the sensitive matters of race and religion, and could run a significant risk of public disorder and feelings of hostility.
They affirmed that Singaporeans are more than welcome to speak about any issue in public at The Speaker's Corner, so long as the speech does not touch on matters related to religion or may potentially cause feelings of ill-will between different racial and religious groups in Singapore.
Of course, Goh's rally could have also raised the ire of the Attorney General's Chambers, who've blatantly reminded that folks better shut their traps about the ongoing Thaipusam case unless they'd like to face serious judicial action.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Following the recent Thaipusam procession skirmish, many have started to raise the issues of rights for Hindus, demanding for the day to be considered an official public holiday.
Prominent activist Gilbert Goh had hoped to take the campaign further with a planned event at Speaker's Corner tomorrow meant to rally people behind the call to make Thaipusam a public holiday, and also protest against the ban on musical instruments during the ritual procession — the prohibition that sparked off the brawl in the first place.
However, noting the potentially incendiary circumstances that might burst forth during the planned rally, the police had denied Goh a permit to carry out the event, Channel NewsAsia reports.
In response to media queries, the police have rejected his application on grounds that the event might breach the sensitive matters of race and religion, and could run a significant risk of public disorder and feelings of hostility.
They affirmed that Singaporeans are more than welcome to speak about any issue in public at The Speaker's Corner, so long as the speech does not touch on matters related to religion or may potentially cause feelings of ill-will between different racial and religious groups in Singapore.
Of course, Goh's rally could have also raised the ire of the Attorney General's Chambers, who've blatantly reminded that folks better shut their traps about the ongoing Thaipusam case unless they'd like to face serious judicial action.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons