 Since free speech may be exercised during assemblies and gatherings , Article 14 ( 1 ) ( b ) of the Constitution , which guarantees freedom of assembly , is relevant . Prior to October 2009 , the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act ( " PEMA " ) required a licence to be obtained from the Public Entertainments Licensing Unit ( PELU ) of the Singapore Police Force before talks , discussions or similar events open to the public were held . Holding an event without a licence would result in a fine or imprisonment . Members of opposition parties claimed that PELU acted inconsistently in issuing licences , and that they had been denied licences without reason . The Workers ' Party was fined $ 800 after a dinner event in 1986 , at which the Party 's Secretary @-@ General J.B. Jeyaretnam had given a speech . PELU decreed that since the publicly delivered speech had been unrelated to the festivities , a separate licence from the dinner itself was needed . In addition , the Act exempted public entertainments provided by or under the auspices of the Government , thus allowing MPs from the ruling PAP to speak without a licence in their capacity as grassroots advisors . 
