There were two events at Hong Lim Park on Saturday 27 September - the YMCA event involving special needs children and the Return Our CPF protests.
Some people asked the question - why did N Parks allowed the two events to be held at the same venue? N Parks said that they were assigned separate lawns.
Nobody asked a bigger question. Why did YMCA have to hold their event at Hong Lim Park? They must have their own premises to hold the event. If they have to hire a bigger venue, they should be able to pay for the hire of the venue, or get sponsors to foot the bill.
Hong Lim Park was created to be a place for people to exercise their freedom of speech and to hold protest. There are no other space available for this purpose, as any protest or gathering held outside Hong Lim Park, without a police permit, is illegal and can send the organizers to jail.
And why did YMCA decide to hold their event at the same time as the Return Our CPF protests? This event had already been announced earlier than their application to use the space.
There is clearly politicking behind the YMCA event for special needs children. The people responsible for it must be quite ashamed that they need to stoop so low.
Note: I was on holiday in Desaru, Johore over the weekend, so I had to miss the Return Our CPF protests. My trip was arranged one month earlier.
Tan Kin Lian