CPF protesters accused of disrupting YMCA event

A group of people protesting against Singapore's Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme have been accused of disrupting an event held by the YMCA for families, the elderly and the disabled after both events were scheduled at Hong Lim Park on the same day.

The park, also knows as Speaker's Corner, is a designated area for public speaking, but police said the incidents on the weekend saw the CPF protest - led by bloggers Han Hui Hui and Roy Ngerng - encroach on the space allocated to the YMCA's event, which "disrupted performances and frightened participants, including special needs children who were performing at the charity event".

According to a joint statement from the National Parks Board and the police, the protesters were holding placards and shouting slogans during performances.

It said the application to use the Park was first received from YMCA and approval was given on September 9. Meanwhile the application from Han was received on September 22 and was approved on the same day.

The joint statement in full reads:

"Speaker’s Corner in Hong Lim Park is designated by the Government as an area for public speaking and gatherings. Application to use the park was first received from YMCA and approval to use the park was given to YMCA on Sep 9. Ms Han’s application was received on Sep 22 and approval was granted to Ms Han on the same day.

In anticipation of the crowd this afternoon, NParks demarcated and allocated space for both events. There are two lawns at Hong Lim Park, and each event was allocated a lawn. NParks and SPF approached Ms Han to request her cooperation to speak at the allocated space.

We regret to note that Ms Han did not heed our advice and continued to hold her event at the same lawn as YMCA. Ms Han’s group encroached into the YMCA event area, holding placards and shouting slogans, disrupted performances and frightened participants, including special needs children who were performing at the charity event. The police will be conducting investigations into this incident."

In a blog post, Ngerng said he did not "heckle" the children involved in the YMCA event, and "felt bad" about protesting at the same time as another event was taking place.

"At the protest, when I saw the children came out onto the stage, I remembered how I felt – I felt so bad, I felt so bad that we had to protest even as they had to perform. As someone who had performed in the past, I understood the amount of effort it takes into practicing and rehearsing for an event," he wrote. 

He added there were "things we could have done better" such as move out of the way of the children faster.

"Beforehand, I had thought to myself that there would be older Singaporeans and the disabled who would be attending, and so we have to also be watchful and be careful with what we did. But to be honest, I did not expect them to bring out the children just as soon as they saw us near the stage. But I do apologise for the stress that was caused to the children."

In a statement, the YMCA did not mention anything about the disturbances, but thanked all "volunteers, performers, beneficiaries, partnering VWOs and corporations for their active participation and support."

Image: YouTube