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SINGAPORE — As the period of campaigning by political parties for the July 10 General Election (GE) has not started, the rules relating to the display of posters and banners under the Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations do not apply at this time.
For now, the display of posters and banners is governed by other legislation such as the Town Councils Act.
This was what the Elections Department Singapore (ELD) told TODAY on Saturday (June 27), after the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) pointed out that flags from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) are put up in Marine Parade.
In a Facebook post published on Saturday, SDP said that it had sent an email to the ELD “to clarify the legal status of displaying party's flags in public places”.
The email, which was signed by the party's vice-chairman John Tan, asked ELD to confirm if it is “against election rules or laws” to display a party's flags in public places before Nomination Day, which will be on June 30.
Mr Tan also asked ELD to “let him know” what would be done if PAP was found to be in violation of rules in displaying its flags.
“If there is no violation, please let me know, too, as my party is planning to do likewise,” he wrote.
In its reply to TODAY’s queries, ELD said that the Parliamentary Elections Act governs the display of posters and banners during the campaign period, which is defined as the period beginning with the close of the nomination proceedings and ending with the start of the eve of polling day.
“Once the campaign period starts, the display of posters and banners must be subject to a permit that is issued by the Returning Officer,” a spokesperson from ELD said.
A volunteer at the Marine Parade PAP branch office, who declined to be named, told TODAY that the flags put up are “within the branch perimeters”.
“Every year, for the past 20 to 30 years, the flags are put up as part of National Day celebrations. Normally we keep these flags up for a month but since this year, National Day celebrations are extended, we might keep them up longer,” the volunteer said, adding that there are plans to add to the 11 flags that are now displayed.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced on April 25 that all organisations and households will be allowed to display the national flag until Sept 30 “to rally Singaporeans”. The country celebrates its National Day on Aug 9 yearly.
Every year before Covid-19 crisis struck, people were allowed to display the national flag only from July 1 to Sept 30 during the usual period of celebrations.
The rules for displaying the national flag were amended due to the pandemic, after MCCY received requests from members of the public who wanted to display the flag as a demonstration of unity and solidarity with others in society.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...so-laws-display-party-flags-ge-dont-apply-eld
