SINGAPORE: Two Singaporeans protesting at the Manpower Ministry (MOM) were arrested on Monday for criminal trespass.

In a joint statement, MOM and the Ministry of Home Affairs said Seelan Palay and Chong Kai Xiong entered the MOM building at about noon to protest against MOM's refusal to renew the work permits of some Myanmar nationals.

They refused to leave the premises despite being repeatedly ordered to do so by security personnel. Police were called in and they have since released the two on bail pending investigations.

In response to media queries about MOM's decision not to renew the work permits of a few Myanmar nationals, the ministries said Myanmar nationals who work, study or reside in Singapore are free to organise and express their political views so long as these are pursued within the framework of the Republic's laws.

They noted that a handful of Myanmar nationals had, however, shown a wilful disregard and contempt for the law and the Singapore authorities, even after benefiting from education subsidies and the hospitality of Singaporeans.

Some, they added, had even demanded the right to stay in Singapore as if it was a matter of personal entitlement and had threatened to lobby political pressure through the media and agitate foreign public opinion against the authorities so as to compel them to concede to their demands.

Such persons, the ministries said, are not welcomed in Singapore and should leave the country once their existing passes expire.

The statement said they were free to leave for any country of their choice or any country which would have them.


- CNA/so