Singapore's Miscellaneous Offences Act

Below is the email I sent to the Attorney General's Chambers for clarifications regarding the Miscellaneous Offences Act. On 6 Jul 08, it was reported in Singapore's flagship English daily The Straits Times that employers who call their maids (or domestic helps) "idiots" risk being charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act, which states that "a person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour may be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $5,000 'should it cause another person harassment, alarm or distress'."

Using my own life example, I occasionally encounter groups of men who yell derogatory terms such as "bapok", "pondan", "ah qua" or "lady boy" when I pass them on the street, thus causing me no small amount of alarm and distress.

Today, I decided to clarify with the Attorney General's Chambers if these constitute chargeable offences under the Act.

The intention is to raise awareness that transgender women in Singapore are particularly vulnerable to verbal abuse, yet not many are aware that laws exist to protect them.

Leona

Dear Sir/Mdm

Under the Miscellaneous Offences Act, a person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour may be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $5,000 "should it cause another person harassment, alarm or distress".

I would like to clarify if, as a woman who has undergone sexual reassignment surgery (medical definition: post-operative transsexual woman), I reserve the right to file a defamation suit against an individual who uses abusive, derogatory terms such as "bapok", "pondan", "ah qua" and "ladyboy" to publicly humiliate me, thus causing me "harassment, alarm or distress"? In short, are the expressions "bapok", "pondan", "ah qua" and "ladyboy" considered "threatening, abusive or insulting" as defined by the Act?

I would appreciate your clarification on the matter.

Best Regards
Leona Lo
Author, From Leonard to Leona, A Singapore Transsexual's Journey to Womanhood