Will NLB respond with the real reason?


My follow-up email to the response of National Library Board (NLB) on the reasons for the non-inclusion of Vincent Cheng in the National University of Singapore's History Society (NUSHS) Seminar.

From: Ravi Philemon


Date: Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 1:13 PM


Subject: Re: Explanation from the National Library Board required please


To: Amy GAY

Cc: yeoh_chee_yan@moe.gov.sg, yee_ping_yi@psd.gov.sg, ad-hass-acad@ntu.edu.sg, annnee@cdl.com.sg, rosina_howe-teo@lta.gov.sg, assgkhoo@ntu.edu.sg, iscgkwa@ntu.edu.sg, suatjien@mediacorp.com.sg, liubill48@gmail.com, desmondlum@lioncapital.com.sg, dhiren_shantilal@kellyservices.com.sg, manogaran_suppiah@moe.gov.sg, martin@halogenfoundation.org, hctan@sp.edu.sg, tteo@sparrowgroup.com.sg, choy_peng_wu@nol.com.sg, zahidi@zarkitek.com.sg, liew_choon_boon@mica.gov.sg

Dear Amy

Thank you for your reply.

But I wonder if the reasons given by NLB for not giving your consent to include Mr Vincent Cheng in the panel of speakers (being that academics should form the line-up of speakers and that Mr Vincent Cheng was a last minute inclusion by NUSHS), was to draw attention away from the central issue.

The Terms and Conditions of Hire for the rental of premises at NLB (link: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/ShowBinary/BEA%20Repository/corporate/Useful%20Links/documents/T&C%20(legal)%20Apr09.pdf), states that, "activities deemed unsuitable include those with racial, religious, political and/or social-political sensitivities."

Was the real reason for NLB not to give the permission for the inclusion of Mr Cheng in the line-up of the panel of speakers, because NLB deemed that the topic of "Marxist Conspiracy" unsuitable because of socio-political sensitivities?

If so, NLB should just plainly say so for the sake of public interest, and for the sake of those that seek the sponsorship of NLB to organise events in the future.

I will look forward to your clarification and response.

Thank you very much.

----
Yours sincerely

Ravi Philemon
Mobile: 83537608
http://www.raviphilemon.net/
Will NLB respond again to my query?

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