Ng Ling Ling on Societies (Amendment) Bill

Social groups play a critical role in fostering social cohesion in Singapore. However, a balance must be struck between enabling their formation while ensuring that they do not pose risks to national security or public order. MP Ng Ling Ling made these points in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 4). She asked how comprehensive the vetting process will be, to ensure that societies with potential risks are effectively identified, and what specific criteria must be met to ensure compliance for registration. For societies which are not approved, she said the appeals process ensures they get a fair hearing. She asked how many appeals have been reviewed over the years and on what grounds approvals were granted by the Home Affairs Minister. Ms Ng also wanted to know what mechanisms will be in place to ensure that societies are not infiltrated by foreign influence.