Artists can express humanitarian concerns, but not undermine public order and security: Tan Kiat How

Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How cited several performances dealing with social and humanitarian issues that had been allowed to proceed in Singapore.

Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall from Massive Attack stand with a Palestinian flag onstage at the end of their performance in Singapore, July 29, 2026, in this screengrab from video obtained from social media. Simran Panaech/via REUTERS

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SINGAPORE: Artists can express humanitarian concerns about international conflicts, but such expression should not undermine public order, security or stability in Singapore, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said on Thursday (Sep 10).

“Singapore should not be used by foreigners as a platform to further political causes, including those relating to conflicts or political issues overseas,” he said.

Artists, whether Singaporean or foreign, are expected to abide by Singapore's laws and the conditions of the arts entertainment licence when performing here, he added.

Mr Tan was responding in parliament to MP Hazlina Abdul Halim (PAP-East Coast), who asked how authorities distinguish prohibited political advocacy from expressions of humanitarian concern.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less She also asked how an artist’s intent and the context of an expression are taken into account, and whether licensing conditions would be reviewed to exclude peaceful expressions of support for humanitarian causes. Mr Tan said that besides an artist’s intention, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) considers the likely impact of a performance when assessing whether it meets licensing conditions. Under IMDA’s Arts Entertainment Classification Code, content should not undermine public order, national security or stability. The code, which sets out the framework for assessing and classifying live or public arts entertainment, also states that content should be “sensitive to the concerns of different racial or religious groups and the prevailing community expectations of what is necessary to safeguard racial harmony and religious harmony”. In July, members of British band Massive Attack were issued stern warnings and barred from re-entering Singapore after flying a Palestinian flag during a concert, with one of the members shouting “Free Palestine”.

She also asked how an artist’s intent and the context of an expression are taken into account, and whether licensing conditions would be reviewed to exclude peaceful expressions of support for humanitarian causes.

Mr Tan said that besides an artist’s intention, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) considers the likely impact of a performance when assessing whether it meets licensing conditions.

Under IMDA’s Arts Entertainment Classification Code, content should not undermine public order, national security or stability.

The code, which sets out the framework for assessing and classifying live or public arts entertainment, also states that content should be “sensitive to the concerns of different racial or religious groups and the prevailing community expectations of what is necessary to safeguard racial harmony and religious harmony”.

In July, members of British band Massive Attack were issued stern warnings and barred from re-entering Singapore after flying a Palestinian flag during a concert, with one of the members shouting “Free Palestine”.

The government recognises the humanitarian impact of international conflicts and artistes may wish to express concern for those affected. Such expressions are not prohibited but should not undermine public order, national security or stability. In Singapore, this condition is made clear in the Arts Entertainment Classification Code issued by the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How highlighted this approach in reply to an MP’s questions in parliament on Thursday (Sep 10). He stressed that Singapore should not be used by foreigners as a platform to further political causes, including those relating to conflicts or political issues.

Ms Hazlina asked Mr Tan for examples of performances involving social causes that had been allowed to take place.

He cited To The Unforgotten, an event held in May this year that featured a song, poem and multimedia artwork about the Israel-Gaza conflict. It was classified R18.

Another example was 6 Microlectures on Genocides. Also classified R18, the play comprised short works that explore themes of genocide, war crimes and contemporary conflicts, Mr Tan said.

He also pointed to the 2024 stand-up comedy show Namaste, which was classified Advisory 16 and included a segment in which comedians spoke about the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“So having material and content on causes itself is not prohibited, and the licensing framework is designed to, of course, protect young people from unwanted content, but also allow people to make decisions on what they can watch,” said Mr Tan.

“But at the same time, having some boundaries on the kind of content that may stir up public disorder or national security considerations.”

Mr Tan said assessments were “very contextual” and encouraged applicants for Arts Entertainment Licences to engage IMDA early.

“The earlier the applicants engage IMDA, the earlier conversations can start, and earlier we can give clarity and guidance on the kind of content that may be approved and the kind of content that we have some concerns over, so clarity and guidance can be provided,” he said.

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新加坡高级政务部长陈杰豪列举了多场在新加坡获准举行的、涉及社会和人道主义问题的演出。

这张截图来自社交媒体上的视频，显示2026年7月29日，在新加坡的演出结束后，Massive Attack乐队的Robert Del Naja和Grant Marshall在舞台上手持巴勒斯坦国旗。图片来源：Simran Panaech/路透社

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：新加坡数码发展及新闻部高级政务部长陈杰豪周四（9月10日）表示，艺术家可以表达对国际冲突的人道主义关切，但这种表达不应破坏新加坡的公共秩序、安全或稳定。

他说：“新加坡不应被外国人用作推进政治事业的平台，包括那些与海外冲突或政治问题有关的事业。”

他补充说，无论是新加坡艺术家还是外国艺术家，在新加坡演出时都必须遵守新加坡的法律和艺术娱乐许可证的条款。

陈先生在国会回应议员哈兹丽娜·阿卜杜勒·哈利姆（人民行动党东海岸选区）的提问时，哈兹丽娜询问当局如何区分被禁止的政治宣传和人道主义关切的表达。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 她还询问，如何考虑艺术家的意图和表达的背景，以及是否会审查许可条件，以排除对人道主义事业的和平支持表达。陈先生表示，除了艺术家的意图外，新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局（IMDA）在评估表演是否符合许可条件时，还会考虑其可能产生的影响。根据IMDA的《艺术娱乐分级守则》，内容不得破坏公共秩序、国家安全或稳定。该守则规定了评估和分级现场或公共艺术娱乐的框架，其中还指出，内容应“顾及不同种族或宗教团体的关切，以及维护种族和谐与宗教和谐的普遍社会期望”。 7 月，英国乐队 Massive Attack 的成员在新加坡举行演唱会时挥舞巴勒斯坦国旗，其中一名成员高喊“解放巴勒斯坦”，之后他们受到了严厉警告，并被禁止再次入境新加坡。

她还询问如何考虑艺术家的意图和表达的背景，以及是否会审查许可条件以排除对人道主义事业的和平支持表达。

陈先生表示，除了艺术家的意图之外，新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局（IMDA）在评估演出是否符合许可条件时，还会考虑演出可能产生的影响。

根据韩国资讯通信媒体发展局（IMDA）的艺术娱乐分类准则，内容不得危害公共秩序、国家安全或稳定。

该准则规定了评估和分类现场或公共艺术娱乐的框架，并指出内容应“顾及不同种族或宗教团体的关切，以及维护种族和谐与宗教和谐所必需的社会普遍期望”。

7 月，英国乐队 Massive Attack 的成员在新加坡举行演唱会时挥舞巴勒斯坦国旗，其中一名成员高喊“解放巴勒斯坦”，之后他们受到了严厉警告，并被禁止再次入境新加坡。

政府认识到国际冲突造成的人道主义影响，艺人或许希望表达对受影响者的关切。此类表达并不被禁止，但不应破坏公共秩序、国家安全或稳定。在新加坡，资讯通信媒体发展局发布的《艺术娱乐分级守则》对此有明确规定。数字发展及新闻部高级政务部长陈杰豪周四（9月10日）在国会回答议员提问时强调了这一点。他强调，不应让外国人利用新加坡作为平台来推进政治活动，包括与冲突或政治议题相关的活动。

哈兹丽娜女士请陈先生举例说明有哪些涉及社会公益事业的演出被允许举行。

他提到了今年五月举办的名为“致不被遗忘者”（To The Unforgotten）的活动，该活动以歌曲、诗歌和多媒体艺术作品的形式展现了以色列与加沙的冲突。该活动被评为R18级。

另一个例子是《关于种族灭绝的六部微型讲座》。陈先生说，这部同样被评为R18级的作品由一系列短篇故事组成，探讨了种族灭绝、战争罪行和当代冲突等主题。

他还提到了 2024 年的单口喜剧表演《Namaste》，该表演被列为第 16 号咨询节目，其中包含一个喜剧演员谈论以色列-加沙冲突的环节。

“因此，拥有有关公益事业的素材和内容本身并不被禁止，许可框架的设计目的当然是为了保护年轻人免受不良内容的侵害，但也允许人们决定自己可以观看什么，”谭先生说。

“但与此同时，也应该对可能引发公共骚乱或危及国家安全的内容设定一些界限。”

陈先生表示，评估“非常注重具体情况”，并鼓励艺术娱乐许可证申请人尽早与新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 联系。

他说：“申请人越早与IMDA接洽，我们就能越早开始对话，也能越早就哪些内容可能获得批准以及哪些内容我们有所顾虑提供明确的指导，从而提供清晰的说明。”

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