SINGAPORE — Following advice from the police, the National Parks Board (NParks) has cancelled the approvals granted to blogger Han Hui Hui to speak and demonstrate at the Speakers’ Corner this Saturday (Oct 25) — the first time it has terminated approvals to use the venue.

Ms Han and other individuals are being investigated by the police for the Return Our CPF event on Sept 27. Ms Han led the rally, which saw ugly scenes break out when protesters encroached on an area in the park where a YMCA carnival was also being held.

In a joint statement by NParks and the police, NParks said it will also cancel any existing approvals or not approve any further applications made by individuals under investigation for the incident, until their cases are concluded.

Under NParks’ online registration system — which has been in place since 2008 following liberalisation of the use of the venue — immediate approval is given to applications to use the Speakers’ Corner if terms and conditions are met.

The statement said Ms Han had made two applications to use the Speakers’ Corner this Saturday. The first application to speak there was made on Sept 28 — a day after the Return Our CPF protest — and the second application to demonstrate at the venue was made on Sunday.

The Sept 27 incident was the first time a disorderly incident had happened at Hong Lim Park since the Speakers’ Corner was set up there in 2000. Video recordings uploaded on YouTube showed the protesters, at one point, stopping at a stage, waving Singapore flags and chanting slogans as a group of special needs children was about to perform a dance item.

Earlier this month, the police confirmed that several people have been asked to assist in police investigations in relation to the incident.

It was understood that Ms Han was among those called up by the police.