Getai singer who shouted gang slogan at Hungry Ghost Festival show in Yishun fined $1,000

SINGAPORE — A Getai singer who shouted a gang-related slogan during a performance in Yishun last year was fined $1,000 on Wednesday (24 April).

Malaysian Goh Wee Chong, 39, pleaded guilty to one charge of using threatening words that were likely to cause alarm under the Protection from Harassment Act.

Asked to shout gang chant

On 7 September last year, Goh sang at the Lunar Seventh Month or Hungry Ghost Festival at the carpark of Block 101 Yishun Avenue 5. More than 100 tables were set up, with 10 guests seated at each table.

At about 10.30pm, during his performance, Goh got off stage and continued singing amongst the audience. An audience member then went up to him and asked him to shout the words “Ang Soon Tong”.

Goh was aware that it is the name of a triad society in Singapore and declined to do so. But he passed the microphone to the audience member who then shouted “Ang Soon Tong” before returning the microphone back to Goh.

Goh then continued singing, but a while later, shouted “Ang Soon Tong eh tio” in Hokkien, which means “Ang Soon Tong’s territory”.

“The said phrase was threatening in nature, as it implied that the event was held on the territory of a triad society in Singapore. The accused’s words were heard by attendees of the event, who were alarmed by the phrase,” said the prosecutor.

The event ended soon after.

A video of Goh’s actions recorded by a member of the audience was circulated on social media.

Three days after the event, a member of the public submitted an anonymous tip-off about a group of gang members shouting gang slogans at a Seven Month dinner to the SGSecure app, which allows the public to submit information to the authorities.

For his offence under the under the Protection from Harassment Act, Goh could have been fined a maximum of $5,000.

More Singapore stories:

Duo who ran defunct school admit to failing to refund students more than $174,000

NSL, EWL re-signalling project complete, new train testing centre to open by 2022: Khaw

Former mosque chairman and community ‘hero’ jailed for embezzling $371,000 in donations

British man caught on video punching Roxy Square security guard charged