The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has issued a statement on Friday with regards to reports that some election candidates and their supporters had distributed campaign material to passing motorists in the middle of the road.
“In response to media queries on election candidates and their volunteers distributing campaign flyers on roads to passing motorists, the Police advise that such activities are not to be carried out as they pose a risk to road safety,” the SPF said in a post on its Facebook page.
“The Police are looking into the matter,” it added.
The Police did not name the candidates or the volunteers involved.
On Thursday, 3 September, website Redwire reported that People’s Action Party candidate for East Coast GRC, Maliki Osman, was seen distributing his campaign materials to passing motorists in the middle of the road in Flora Drive, when the cars come to a stop at traffic lights.
The website reported that reaction to Mr Maliki’s actions were “swift and cutting”.
On the SPF Facebook page, comments were also critical of Mr Maliki’s actions.
“If that party politician who distributes flyer right in the middle of the road only receives verbal warning bySingapore Police Force, don’t penalise and charge other local citizens to court with jail or fine in the future,” Nur Azzahar said.
“We as Singapore Citizens including rest of the world are now looking at your integrity as the law enforcement authority very closely. We can’t hide from it as its being shared over the social media. No ones is above the law. Don’t forget what the Police pledge means. Hope the IO/AIO/SIO never take sides. Law is law and its not meant to be broken nor to be closed one eye just because they are politians of whichever parties.”
Mr Maliki was also a Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the last Parliament. His constituency is facing of the keenest contest where his team is facing a challenge from the Workers’ Party team which consists of Non-constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Gerald Giam, and Associate Professor and sociologist, Daniel Goh.
Source: www.theonlinecitizen.com
