Joint MHA-MFA statement on recent appeals for leniency for Malaysians who participated in Merlion Park protests

In response to media queries about appeals for leniency for the Malaysians arrested for participating in illegal protests in Singapore on 8 and 11 May 2013, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following statement:

Foreigners who break the law in Singapore should be prepared to face the consequences, including having their visas or work passes revoked. It is clear that some of the Malaysians who participated in the two illegal gatherings at Merlion Park deliberately ignored repeated warnings that the protests were illegal, and that foreigners should not import the differences that they may have over issues in their countries into Singapore. They broke Singapore laws, and have to be dealt with accordingly.

Some of the Malaysian offenders have since approached Malaysian Members of Parliament and their political parties to petition on their behalf against the measures imposed on them for breaking the law. Their actions to involve foreign parties are attempts to seek special treatment and to further politicise what is essentially a domestic law and order issue in Singapore. This is precisely why we have always taken a strong stand against the importation of foreign issues and politics into Singapore.

Singapore values our strong bilateral relations with our neighbours. These are based on mutual respect and the principle of non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs. Singapore does not interfere in the domestic matters of other countries. In turn, Singapore will not tolerate outside forces interfering in our internal affairs.

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