Singapore NGO cancels event after application to use Padang rejected

Padang, Singapore

PADANG: A public space which was used as the venue for the Republic's first National Day parade.

A pro-family event organised by a voluntary welfare organisation, which is supposed to be held the same day as a yearly event in support of the LGBT community at the end of June, has been cancelled as the organiser did not get the approval from the authorities to use the Padang.

Padang is a historical space which was used during the republic's Independence day parade in 1966. It is located near the Parliament building and court, and is the same as Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority rejected the application made my Touch Family Services to organise the event called 'Red Dot Family Movement' last month and announced on Tuesday that it will not find a new location.

If the proposed event has been given the green light by the authorities, it would have been held on the same day of 'Pink Dot', an annual event held in support of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community where participants wear pink.

As reported by Today newspaper, Touch Family Services rejected suggestions that its proposed event was pitted against Pink Dot.

Touch Family Services general manager Edmund Wong said, the date was chosen as it is the last Saturday of the June school holidays and also the weekend the annual National Family Celebrations culminate.

"As we believe that families are the basic building block of society, the event was organised as an SG50 celebration of the family's contribution to nation-building," he said.

Touch Family Services is an affiliate of Touch Community Services and is founded by Faith Community Baptist Church.

Meanwhile, the newspaper reported that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said the event was not suitable for the Padang and proposed alternative sites. But Touch Family Services declined.

At the same time, a police spokesman said they received an application for a permit for the event, but it was withdrawn by the organiser on Monday.

Wong said the Padang was selected because of its accessibility to public transport and crowd-friendly amenities provided by the surrounding shopping malls.

He explained the red colour theme was inspired by Singapore's national colour and the republic's 50th National Day tagline "Celebrating The Little Red Dot". SG50 celebration was launched on Jan 24.

This event is different from the Family Festival annual event, which consists of a series of family talks and seminars held in the Central Business District.