SINGAPORE'S first legal demonstration in two decades was held yesterday at the Speakers' Corner - and lasted for all of 10 minutes.

At 7pm, five members of a non-profit group, Hearer of Cries (HOC), gathered metres from the Clarke Quay MRT station exit at Hong Lim Park to stage a protest against employers who abuse their maids.

Against the darkening sky, they erected banners and played music, as a female member - complete with a neck brace - posed as an abused maid.

HOC founder Mike Goh, 46, gave a short message against abuse as others distributed leaflets to an audience of some 20 curious retirees, political activists and office workers on their way home.

By 7.10pm, it was over. There was no procession, shouting or burning of effigies. 'Is that it?' asked a disappointed Mr Steven Lee, 34, an engineer.

Retiree Edwin Anathan, 68, was even more crestfallen. Having read about the planned protest, he travelled from his home in Central Serangoon to catch it, arriving at 7.20pm.

'I'm supposed to do my exercise but didn't as I wanted to catch this,' he said. But he brightened up: 'I'll come again.'

Indeed, tomorrow will be another day for those who wish to demonstrate.

At the National Day Rally last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that rules will be relaxed to allow outdoor demonstrations at Speakers' Corner, which was set up eight years ago.

Prior to that, the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act meant that those wanting to demonstrate had to first apply for a permit.

The last permit granted for a demonstration was in 1988. Then, National Trades Union Congress protested against Washington's decision to remove Singapore from the General System of Preferences, which grants tariff exemptions to imports from developing nations. Workers marched round the Singapore Conference Hall and later shouted anti-US slogans outside the American embassy.

Of the new rule now, Mr Anathan opined: 'It's good to hear for ourselves first-hand about things such as politics.'

But yesterday, arguably a red-letter day in Singapore's political journey, was void of drama.

Though protests can now take place around the clock, the only noise heard before 7pm was the remonstrating whine of wood as workers drilled at the park's board listing the old rules, and hammered a new one into place.

There were other changes, as power over activities there passed from the Home Affairs Ministry to the National Parks Board.

At the nearby Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post, the notice board listing scheduled speakers was blank.

On the field, a newly-turfed mound eight-metres long and shaped like a giant peanut had been created for demonstrators to stand on.

But these received scant attention. It was a day like any other. Birds chirped undisturbed. Faint jazz music emanated from a nearby cafe.

Retiree S. C. Tan, 63, was lying on a bench reading the Lianhe Zaobao Chinese daily. 'Protest?' he said in Mandarin. 'Singaporeans are not lacking for food or for a roof over their head, so they won't come lah. I'd rather they hold singing performances here.'

Added administrative executive Shen Mei Lan, 26: 'This is a non-event. I don't think many Singaporeans would demonstrate anyway because they're afraid of getting into trouble.'

But there was one happy man - Mr Lau Su How, who opened his cafe at the community centre just six weeks ago.

'With more protests, there will probably be more people coming,' he anticipated with a grin.

He can count on HOC's Mr Goh. Said the technical analyst: 'We want to raise awareness that there are people suffering. This is a good platform and we intend to use it regularly.'

xueying@sph.com.sg

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WILL WELL-FED SINGAPOREANS CARE TO PROTEST?

'Maybe one day, if there are no longer any single-member constituencies in Singapore, I will protest. But can political issues engage Singaporeans' hearts and minds, when their stomachs are kept well-fed and the standard of living remains high?'
Singapore People's Party chairman Sin Kek Tong, who had been a regular speaker when speeches were first allowed at Speakers' Corner

PROTESTS NEED NOT MEAN CHAOS

'There's a difference between riots and demonstrations; what is crucial is whether people can demonstrate peacefully.'
British national and Singapore permanent resident Liz Baker, 37, a project manager, on whether allowing Singaporeans to demonstrate will affect the country's attractiveness to foreign investors.

TOO BUSY FOR MORE THAN A QUICK LOOK

'I'll walk past and take a quick look. But we all are rushing home from work. I'm not sure if it'd really work.'
Ms Georgina Wee, 34, a project manager at a bank