SINGAPORE — The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said on Wednesday (Oct 9) that consent was sought from the parents of a child who fronted a one-minute video promoting the party’s website and outreach efforts. 

This comes after the video — which was put up on SDP’s Facebook page and Instagram account on Sept 19 — drew some criticism and concern over the use of a minor in a political advertisement. 

In a press statement, SDP said one of the child’s parents is a member of its Central Executive Committee. “Both she and her parents are happy with the production,” it said.

The opposition party added that it has “a proud tradition of involving our family members in our activities”. “This is because we stand for and champion values like compassion, courage, and diversity, values that we feel our children are better off learning at a young age,” SDP said. “A family that works together, stays together.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the video posted on Facebook had about 7,600 views and 120 comments, including some critical ones. 

Last week, The Straits Times (ST) published a letter from Mr Sean Lim Wei Xin who expressed concern over the video. “The child appears to be of primary school age and I doubt that she has the maturity to understand partisan party politics,” he wrote. He also asked if the Elections Department (ELD) has guidelines regarding the use of minors in political advertising.

On Sunday, ST carried a reply from Ms Tay Chai Luan, senior assistant director of ELD’s political donations and communications arm. 

Ms Tay said the Parliamentary Elections Act prohibits primary and secondary school students from taking part in election activities — including appearing in a video — to promote a political party during the period beginning with Nomination Day and ending with the start of Polling Day. 

“While this prohibition does not apply outside of this period, we agree with the writer that political parties should refrain from inappropriate use of young children who will not fully understand what they may be promoting or subjecting themselves to,” she added. 

In its media statement on Wednesday, SDP said it “cannot agree more” with Ms Tay. 

Along with its statement, it attached pictures which were put up on the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Facebook page showing PAP politicians with children during their walkabouts or visits to preschools.

Questioning if parental consent had been sought in those instances, SDP said: “In the PAP’s case, we’d like to know if any of the children appearing in the pictures posted on its Facebook understand ‘what they may be promoting or subjecting themselves to’.” 

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