Police making enquiries on reports of GE2015 candidates at 7th Month Festival events

SINGAPORE – Police are making enquiries on reports of election candidates’ activities at Chinese Seventh Month Festival events, including interviews with several of these organisers.

Last month, before the Writ of Election was issued, the police had cautioned that election campaigning activities are prohibited at such events. Speeches intended to canvass support for election candidates and/or political parties also cannot be made at these venues.

The seventh month of the lunar calendar, during which the Seventh Month Festival (also called the Hungry Ghost Festival) takes place, will end on Sept 12 this year. Getai performances, including singing, are commonly held across Singapore during the festival.

Over the past few days, questions were raised after several candidates were spotted attending separate Seventh Month Festival events.

In a statement responding to media queries today (Sept 7), police said it has reminded such event organisers that there should be no election campaigning activities at their venues. 

“Action will be taken against event organisers found to have breached these conditions,” the police added.