Singapore Democrats

Home News Singapore Police question activists over kangaroo T-shirts
Police question activists over kangaroo T-shirts Print Email
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Singapore Democrats

Events emanating from the defamation suit hearing before High Court Judge Belinda Ang in May 08 continue to reverberate within Government circles.

Three human rights defenders have been called up for questioning by the police for contempt of court. Mr John Tan, Mr Isrizal and Mr Shafi'ee have been queried about a photograph showing them wearing T-shirts with a picture of a kangaroo in a robe holding a gavel.

The police are specifically looking into:

  1. Contempt of court under section 7 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act.
  2. Participating in an assembly without a permit under section 5(4)(b) of the Misc Offences (public order and nuisance) Act read with para 2 of the Misc Offences (public order and nuisance) prohibition of assemblies and procession--parliament and supreme court.
  3. Intentional harassment, alarm or distress to any person in a public place under Sect 13 A or sect 13 of the Misc Offences (public order and nuisance) Act.
The judiciary have recently come under the spotlight with the International Bar Association criticising the system here in a report entitled Prosperity versus Individual Rights. This has resulted in a spate of reports about the judicial system in Singapore.
Share this article:
Facebook Technorati Stumble It! Newsvine Reddit Del.icio.us Digg This!
Comments (35)
  • elitocracy
    lol .. Before this, maybe 5% of Singapore population knows what is a kangaroo court. Now, maybe 50% will get to hear it.

    What do u with a mozzie that has landed at your balls? Do u let it suck blood from your balls or do u smash your balls to kill the mozzie?

    Tough questions for $3M ministers to think about.
  • AnnA - What Harassment?
    I laughed looking at the picture. I don't think it looks like harassment.. Why are the law getting sensitive over t-shirts lately? Hmm.. weird, the police are so free to make this simple, a case. They are supposed to catch real criminals at Geylang etc.

    These are not harassment... these are plain CHEEKY. LoL
  • AnnA - Poke Them
    I suggest that the next time the groups should wear a Singapore Flag logo on their T-Shirt. Piss them off. They cannot stop you for sure. Why not let them try..? ;)
  • blah
    Lolz... This is interesting..
    Whats wrong with wearing a kangaroo shirt?
    Unless the court admits that they are really kangaroo court? lolz
  • David
    Bravo !
    I though Kangaroo exists in zoo but in Singapore, the Kangaroo exists in high court and parliament dressing and earning like nobody business doing the dirty work of LCY.

    Australia government will want to learn how come kangaroo is so hated in Singapore. All they need to do is to ask LCY and his coffers.
  • SDP hotline number - For Public to get in touch with
    Dear Moderator SDP

    Is there some hotline number that we can call should the public need to get in touch for some urgent need or to relay some message etc etc??

    Your kind advise pls?

    Thanks
  • MaxChew - Kangaroo conservation reserve in High St?
    Isn't there a kangaroo conservation reserve located right smack in High St? If so, what's wrong with wearing kangaroo T-shirts at High St? Many pple just love to wear T-shirts with pics of where they have been and experienced.
    As b4, our humorless thin-skinned Govt is being super-sensitive and over-reactive.
    First-world developed nation? Only where money and materialism are concerned. Cold and soul-less and with very little humanity. Sad , very sad.
  • Tan Tai Wei
    Those smart boys aren't that smart! Know nothing about "psychological warfare" at politicking.

    Their act only shows the ploy of wearing those T-shirts has had its intended effect! The state is taking their message seriously enough to spend police and court time (count the cost!)in response to it!

    I would just be wise and smile in response, and people will just dismiss that as child play.
  • Underdogs - Awareness
    What the authority is doing is counter productive. If they start arresting and nit picking every small thing on the citizen does. This will have snowball effect. Which will create and make many singaporean to excercise their legal rights. Thank you Hahahaha you spinless coward mental mentor Li kayu.You can hide but don't forget the cause of effect of retribution on your next generation. who will suffer as history has proven right all illgoten gains by illegal means will come to end and be exposed.
    Just look at all the dictator suharto. marcos,thaksin,and mugabe.
  • Mike - Don't wear silly clothes
    People wear branded T shirts

    OK

    People wear normal T shirts

    OK

    People wear Bikini on the beach and swimming pools

    Welcome!

    you wear these T Shirts on your skin

    Now you are in trouble..!

    Who wants to help you?
  • tewniaseng
    Looks like whatever PM Lee said in 2004 when he took over is all bullshit, and cowdung.An open soceity,nia mah!!worse than the time of peanut Goh.Next time when the pariah-ment having meeting,can the activists put some kangaroo in front of the building? I read the papers today,wong can't sing is in charge of population growth,I LOL,this sub standard minister can't even catch a terrorist??? Nia mah!!And peanut Goh, bullshit again, want to take back Hougang.
  • dirty tactics, - So much to fear about
    [color=red][b]If you are not guilty you have nothing to fear!

    If you are not guilty you have nothing to hide!

    Anyone can wear anything so what!

    Worst than Communistic Dictator!No other Governments indulge in such dirty tactics, not even the Communists ![/b][/color]
  • Chloe the blogger - Give me a thumbs down, I don't care.
    This is the latest example of over reaction from PAP.

    Hey PAP... How about banning all blogs that has dissent?

    Your draconian laws such as Films act don't work in this age man...

    I watched "Singapore Rebel" on Google video.
    I watched "One Nation Under Lee" on YouTube.
    I listen to Mr Brown political satires podcast.
    I read blogs of Yawning Bread.

    Can anyone even find a blog by a Singaporean who is supportive of PAP?
    Please let me know. Because I can't find one!
  • Free Willy - Hopeless
    This island is hopeless !!!!
    We can be charge in court over a kangaroo picture printed on our T-SHIRT ??
  • Michael
    [quote]Those smart boys aren't that smart! Know nothing about "psychological warfare" at politicking.[/quote]

    Yes, and they claim they are masters in the five tenets of Total Defence, one being "Psychological Defence". Enough is enough! GET LOST WITH TD!!
  • Michael - PAP BloG?
    [quote]Can anyone even find a blog by a Singaporean who is supportive of PAP?
    Please let me know. Because I can't find one![/quote]

    LOL. even www.youngpap.org.sg IS ALL ABOUT COMPLAINTS!
  • Brendan
    [quote]People wear branded T shirts

    OK

    People wear normal T shirts

    OK

    People wear Bikini on the beach and swimming pools

    Welcome!

    you wear these T Shirts on your skin

    Now you are in trouble..!

    Who wants to help you?[/quote]

    Why don't you or ask your gf (if you have one) to wear tank tops, or G string to court to witness our hearing? We've tried our stunt. Now it's your turn. Only come here to NATO!
  • tunkudon
    u really make pp hate you more.
  • Dick - Where to buy?
    Like to wear those T shirts, you guys should sell them, don't have to print any words.
  • Anonymous
    pap must be smoking something (as usual) if they wanna jail em'.. lol.
    truth be told, most people know its a kanga court. but they know theres nothing they can do about it so they dont. at least they know... o well its a start. seig heil PAP! sieg heil! seig heil! lolx
  • VICTOR - NOT SIMPLE KANGAROO THAT ONE FIND IN THE ZOO
    SINGAPOREAN AT LARGE ARE NOT STUPID, AND IN FACT, QUITE KNOWLEGEABLE! THESE ARE NOT KANGAROOS THAT YOU FIND IN ZOO, THESE ARE TROUBLE MAKERS OUT TO CREATE A SCENE. THESE CLOWNS NEED TO WAKE UP THEIR IDEAS, THAT SINGAPORE POLITICS ARE NOT SUITED FOR THEM. BOYCOTT, PROTEST, TRYING TO WIN SYMPATHY ARE NOT OUR WAYS OF LIFE.
  • Anonymous - re:
    [quote=Brendan]
    Why don't you or ask your gf (if you have one) to wear tank tops, or G string to court to witness our hearing? We've tried our stunt. Now it's your turn. Only come here to NATO![/quote]

    Silly answer..

    You are talking nonsense.

    You can support them by wearing nothing and get caught too.

    People who don't make trouble get no trouble.

    Come on, don't break the law..

    If you break the law..
    It's only a tactless move to make you sweat..
  • Chew - Nit picking
    [quote]The police are specifically looking into:

    1. Contempt of court under section 7 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act.
    2. Participating in an assembly without a permit under section 5(4)(b) of the Misc Offences (public order and nuisance) Act read with para 2 of the Misc Offences (public order and nuisance) prohibition of assemblies and procession--parliament and supreme court.
    3. Intentional harassment, alarm or distress to any person in a public place under Sect 13 A or sect 13 of the Misc Offences (public order and nuisance) Act.[/quote]

    The police appeared to be under order to attempt linking these people who simple loves Australia more than Singapore just to criminalize them.

    Looks to me like they are pulling another PAP vs Gopalan Nair - throwing a bunch of darts hoping that one of them will hit the bull eye. Yeah, and our court is the dartboard, every time they miss, they just move the dartboard closer to them.

    Talk about not nitpicking about Lee Kuan Yew's inaccuracy about IBA's letter and then nitpicking about some people's choice of clothing. Where is their sense of proportion?

    Is there no decent police in SPF anymore?
  • AnnA - Anonymous
    "Silly answer..

    You are talking nonsense.

    You can support them by wearing nothing and get caught too.

    People who don't make trouble get no trouble.

    Come on, don't break the law..

    If you break the law..
    It's only a tactless move to make you sweat.."


    Wear T-Shirt to court must have law meh? No money to buy suit...
    First time I hear wearing T-shirt breaks the law...
    Now I know that kangaroo t-shirt cannot be worn in kangaroo court - sensitive LoL

    Next time must wear "Stand Up For Singapore!" :D
  • Sylvester Lim - Taboo T-Shirts
    On the 18th July, the police officers at the Subordinate Court stopped an activist who came to observe from wearing a TBT T-shirt into court. He was asked to remove the T-Shirt or wear a shirt over it. Yes, even wearing T-Shirts is bad for a country and society at large. Our civil servants have very frail nerves and must be protected.
  • Simon
    LKY call all your pap minister and MP to sit behind the lorry and go round singapore and look carefully how many singaporean puting up flag for the national day, LKY your ruling system is such a great failure and is a very great nation shame.
  • Anonymous
    All i know that is just some promotional t-shirt for a new album by a rock band. What's wrong with that?
  • Anonymous
    We're talking about a goverment that launched a police investigation over some drawings of "white elephants". Stop wasting the tax payers money! We didn't pay our tax to be wasted in such "investigation"!
  • Eeeediot - T-shirts....
    Next time, I think wear shirt with 'Mee Siam Mai Hum' caption they also will catch.

    I wonder how they will react if people wear shirts with:

    1. Selamat Wanted posters
    2. '$600,000 peanut for sale'
    3. 'Ho Jinx+Temasek=Disaster'
    4. 'I hate pappy(sic) dogs'
    5. 'Toilet+Window+SpoiltCCTV=Freedom'
    6. 'Million-dollar Monkeys'
    7. '101 ways to "fix" your opponent'
    8. Picture of old monkey with a hatchet

    etc etc...

    Anyway who says wearing a shirt of a kangaroo is illegal? The kangaroo also never say is referring to that B Ang... So 'kun cheong' means surely guilty conscience???
  • A.Chia - How Weak are these Govt Officials
    we are paying these governmental officials so much money every month and yet at the slightest sight of three persons wearing similar tee shirts got upset and felt harrassed? so this is how weak these governmental officals are. So weak that they can't even withstand having people wearing the same kind of tee shirts standing before their eyes. Wow... i wonder if our juveniles can fair better than them. To me this is outright wasting taxpayers money...better change to having better trained and more resilient people in the governmental service.
  • Hippo - Change The Design
    I think a hippo would be better!
    Hippos for hypocrisy!!

    I'm no smart and brainy government official, but as a child I've faced worse insults and abuse than this. And guess what?? I'm still alive and kicking it.

    Why can't these guys do the same?
    Critisism is a part of life buddy, grow up and learn how to handle it. You'll be consumed by darkness and a world of delusions if you don't learn this most vital skill in life.

    You guys might have more power and money than I'll ever have, but I KNOW I have more integrity and faith in my fellow humanbeings than you guys have.

    So, there.
    Take it and believe it hippos.

    Just wanted to let that one out.
  • Anonymous - re: NOT SIMPLE KANGAROO THAT ONE FIND IN THE ZOO
    [quote=VICTOR]SINGAPOREAN AT LARGE ARE NOT STUPID, AND IN FACT, QUITE KNOWLEGEABLE! THESE ARE NOT KANGAROOS THAT YOU FIND IN ZOO, THESE ARE TROUBLE MAKERS OUT TO CREATE A SCENE. THESE CLOWNS NEED TO WAKE UP THEIR IDEAS, THAT SINGAPORE POLITICS ARE NOT SUITED FOR THEM. BOYCOTT, PROTEST, TRYING TO WIN SYMPATHY ARE NOT OUR WAYS OF LIFE.[/quote]

    What is the way of life then?
    Swallow and swallow, and then swallow some more?

    Aren't these people trying to level things a bit for the common person.

    I would love to know how you define the way of life in Singapore.
    Please do so for the benefit of the people who are trying to make sense of "Life in Singapore".
  • David
    It is obvious that SDP is in the wrong ? Did these people wearing the t-shirt knows that the Kangaroo brand symbolize the ruling party ? That is Kangaroo = PAP. If so, why are these SDP wearing the Kangaroo brand without paying for copyright ? They are infringing the copyright of PAP, therefore it is right that the police ask them to take down the shirt because it tarnish the honour and integrity of the Kangaroo party. Kangaroo is a strong brand for PAP and it is reflected in their action, law, policies and their court, therefore SDP has no right to wear a Kangaroo unless they are member of kangaroo party. Don't tarnish the Kangaroo brand.
  • Lee - re: Give me a thumbs down, I don't care.
    [quote=Chloe the blogger]This is the latest example of over reaction from PAP.

    Hey PAP... How about banning all blogs that has dissent?

    Your draconian laws such as Films act don't work in this age man...

    I watched "Singapore Rebel" on Google video.
    I watched "One Nation Under Lee" on YouTube.
    I listen to Mr Brown political satires podcast.
    I read blogs of Yawning Bread.

    Can anyone even find a blog by a Singaporean who is supportive of PAP?
    Please let me know. Because I can't find one![/quote]


    They dont have internet.
  • LSE
    What a fitting description of the judicial system in a 3rd country like sinkipore!
Please login or register to post your comments.
 

Act Now

Support Democracy!
Please Donate
Read:The party that stands up for you
More options to donate
 

SDP Publictaions

Magazine Support SDP , buy our 30th Anniversary Magazine here

minsal
pdf
link

 

Danny the Democracy Bear

Now available online here!

 
Singapore Democrats on Facebook
Banner
Banner

Awesome Words

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.

Aldous Huxley
Banner

News feeds

Singapore Democrat News
Joomla Templates by JoomlaShack