Culture Minister Edwin Tong this morning allayed patriotic Singaporeans’ fears they could be fined for hanging the flag.
In response to concerns expressed in recent days, Tong said that despite the fact nobody has ever been penalized for displaying a Singaporean flag during the months it is allowed, the ministry is looking at ways to relax the rule.
“There’s no reason to ‘punish’ those who treat it with respect and dignity, and are proud to showcase the Singapore spirit. Patriotism is not just a right, it’s simply right,” Tong wrote. “But in cases of deliberate disrespect against the flag in any way, we will of course take action.”
[Flying our National Flag 🇸🇬]
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Posted by Edwin Tong on Tuesday, 29 September 2020
Each year, Singaporeans are legally allowed to hang the national flag outside of their homes for three months from July in conjunction with Independence Day celebrations in August. The last day to do so is today, and the law says those who continue to display the flag face a S$1,000 fine.
That legally stipulated period got an earlier start this year in April as a national-unity measure when pandemic lockdown measures were rolled out. But after the government warned the public Sunday about fines it could impose, Singaporeans began complaining that they could no longer fly their flags.
Singaporean law strictly dictates “proper” use and display of the national flag. Rules preventing general public display have been relaxed in the past during tough times to provoke patriotism.
Under the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem Act, it is a crime to display a damaged or dirty flag. It is also considered disrespectful if the flag touches the ground. Any person violating the act can be fined up to S$1,000.
“Let me assure you: as far as I know, no one has ever been fined for this, nor do we plan to do so,” Tong wrote online.
His comments seemed aimed at those who had voiced concern about the rules, such as Facebookers Joseph Lim and Chris Chen.
“If we are proud of being a Singaporean and hang the Singapore flag outside our house, we are fine[d] for it? Strange logic. I don’t see that happened in the European countries, the US, Canada and even Thailand that I have visited,” Lim said.
“Never did understand the logic. If I love my country, is it wrong to display my country’s flag in a dignified manner? Pfft,” Chen wrote.
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