We the undersigned are gravely concerned by the ongoing police investigations into alleged breaches by Roy Ngerng and Teo Soh Lung of the Cooling Off Day rules.

We are disquieted by the seizure of their property from their homes, in particular without warrant, and the wholesale and indiscriminate archiving of broad swathes of their personal data. These excessive and intimidating measures are completely disproportionate to any harm alleged to have been caused by the actions of Ngerng and Teo.

To openly express a political view – including and especially views on party politics – is the fundamental right of every member of society. If we are to achieve a democratic society where legislators and the government are truly representative of the values and wishes of citizens, every individual must be free to fearlessly express their views of politicians, parties and electoral processes.

For an individual seeking to understand the Cooling Off Day regulations, the application of the prohibitions on individual conduct is not clear. Someone relying on the wording on the Elections Department website, which indicates an exemption for “the transmission of personal political views by individuals to other individuals, on a non-commercial basis, using the Internet, telephone or electronic means”, might reasonably conclude that their posts were exempt.

Given this ambiguity and the great importance of freedom of expression for individual citizens, it is wholly inappropriate for police investigations of such an intimidating and intrusive nature to take place. The main effect of this police action is to intensify a climate of fear that deters the frank discussion of political issues by all individuals – a discussion that our society both needs and deserves.

We note that there have been previous allegations of breaches of the Cooling Off Day rules by electoral candidates. Such conduct is far more likely to cause the harm to the electoral process which Cooling Off Day is designed to avert. Yet we are not aware of such draconian investigations made in those circumstances. A society which values the free exchange of political ideas must not apply more restrictive standards to ordinary citizens than to electoral candidates.

We call upon the state to ensure the immediate return of all confiscated property to Ngerng and Teo, the removal of any data obtained from them from state and police possession, and an immediate and total cessation of the investigative process.

Signed by:

1. Abdul Salim Harun
2. Adrian Heok
3. Alex Sng
4. Alexander Luciano Roberto
5. Alfian Sa’at
6. Alvina Khoo
7. Ana Abdullah
8. Ananth Tambyah
9. Andre Goh
10. Ang Chong Leong
11. Annie Jael Kwan
12. Ariffin Sha
13. Ashukumar Veerapan
14. Ashura Chia
15. Azmi Monday
16. Benjamin Matchap
17. Benjamin Seet
18. Bhavan Jaipragas
19. Brendan Goh
20. Brenton Wong
21. Brian Yang
22. Bryan Choong
23. Cecilia Joven Ong
24. Celine Lim
25. Chang May Lian
26. Chan Wai Han
27. Chew Keng Chuan
28. Chng Nai Rui
29. Christine Sng Mechtler
30. Chui Yong Jian
31. Dan Koh
32. Dana Lam
33. Darius Zee
34. Daryl Yang
35. David Lee
36. Dinah Sim
37. Dolly Peh
38. Edmund Wee
39. Edward Eng
40. Edwina Shaddick
41. Elisa Kang
42. Emily Lim
43. Erica Chung
44. Esther Kong
45. Fadli Bin Fawzi
46. Fadly Razali
47. Farhan C. Idris
48. Fenwick Melville
49. Fong Hoe Fang
50. Gina Lim
51. Godwin Koay
52. Goh Chok Chai Ricky
53. Ho Choon Hiong
54. Hong Weizhong
55. Irene Oh
56. Ivan Heng
57. Jackie Heng Lim
58. Jamal Ismail
59. James Weng Hong Lam
60. Jason Soo
61. Jeremy Tiang
62. Jocelyn Teo
63. Johannes Hadi
64. Jolene Tan
65. Jolovan Wham
66. Jony Ling
67. Joo Hymn Tan
68. Joshua Chiang
69. Keith Tan
70. Kenneth Lin
71. Kokila Annamalai
72. Kuan Wee
73. Lee Yi Ting
74. Li Xie
75. Lim Jialiang
76. Lim Kay Siu
77. Lim Xiuhui
78. Linda Ong
79. Lionel Deng
80. Lisa Li
81. Lita Patricio
82. Loo Zihan
83. Low Yit Leng
84. Lucas Ho
85. Lukas Godfrey
86. Lynn Lee
87. Mansura Sajahan
88. Mark Wong De Yi
89. Matilda Gabrielpillai
90. Megan Boey Sean Ching
91. Melvin Wong
92. Merv Tan
93. Miak Siew
94. Morgan Awyong
95. M Ravi
96. Muhammad Faliqh Rahman
97. Muhd Firdaus
98. Nathanael Tan
99. Neo Swee Lin
100. Ng Guohui Nigel
101. Ng Yi-Sheng
102. Niki Ng
103. Nina Chabra
104. Ong Sooi Eng
105. Pak Geok Choo
106. Rachel Zeng
107. Robyn Yzelman
108. Roy Tan
109. Sam Lim
110. Sam Ong
111. Sathiya Moorthy
112. Sean Francis Han
113. Semangeline Teo
114. Sha Jumani Basari
115. Shelley Thio
116. Shimin Wong
117. Shirleen Chong
118. Siauw Chong
119. Siew Kum Hong
120. Smith Adrian Jude
121. Sonny Liew
122. Stephanie Chok
123. Stephen Baldy Ho
124. Tan Elice
125. Tan Pin Pin
126. Tan Tee Seng
127. Tan Zong Xuan
128. Tay Kheng Soon
129. Teng Qianxi
130. Teng Yong Ping Daryl
131. Terry Xu
132. Thum Ping Tjin
133. Timothy Todd
134. Trevor Chan
135. Valence Sim
136. Vanessa Ho
137. Vivian Wang
138. Wendy Chan
139. Wong Souk Yee
140. Yap Ching Wi
141. Yap Hon Ngian
142. Yee Kai
143. Zee Wong
144. Zulkarnain Hassan