Edwin Tong Says S’pore Govt Was Prepared to Initiate Legal Action Over “Count On Me” Ownership Claims

It seems like the dust has settled after the scandalous “Count on Me, Singapore” saga, but had things taken a turn for the worse, the government would have been ready to sue over the rival claims of ownership, according to Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth Edwin Tong. 

Edwin Tong Says S’pore Govt Was Prepared to Initiate Legal Action Over “Count On Me” Ownership Claims

As TODAYonline reports, his ministry “pressed Mr Mendoza to substantiate his claims” or “withdraw them”, and added that Singapore was “prepared to initiate legal proceedings, if necessary, to protect our position”.

Ouch. Dodged a bullet there.

The Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth (MCCY) also engaged in “extensive fact-checking” to ensure Mr Mendoza’s claims could be soundly rejected, and indeed found substantial evidence the song was composed by Hugh Harrison as Singapore’s national day song. Obviously.

Mr Mendoza subsequently surrendered his claims to the song and urged the removal of “We Can Achieve”, the Indian version of the song, by his associates and their networks. 

Mr Tong commented that his ministry “did not believe that there was any ill will or malice intended”, since the song was not “disrespectfully treated” in the Indian doppelganger. 

The MCCY therefore accepted the apology, and chose not to pursue the matter further. Explaining the Government’s decision not to pursue legal action in the end, Mr Tong added that “it was far more efficient, quicker, and a lot more effective… for his claims to be withdrawn by himself”.

The Disrespectful Use of Symbols, However…

Mr Tong did caution, however, that the “MCCY takes any challenge to our proprietary rights and interests in our national songs and symbols very seriously”. 

In Singapore, national songs and symbols, like the National Anthem and the Singapore Flag, are protected by the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem (SAFNA) Act, which prohibits their treatment with disrespect and indignity.

This includes causing the flag to touch the ground, flying it at night without proper illumination, or displaying it outside homes except within a stipulated period each year.

The last provision drew public attention last year, though the MCCY neither has nor plans to enforce the penalty of a S$1000 fine on those who break the rule without disrespectful intentions, according to The Straits Times.

As Mr Tong says, “there’s no reason to punish those who treat [the flag] with respect and dignity, and are proud to showcase the Singapore spirit.”

A Citizen’s Workgroup was also convened late last year, with an invitation extended to all Singaporeans aged 15 and above to apply and join. 

The Workgroup is meant to discuss how “our national symbols should be used”, as The Straits Times reports, and is part of a review launched by the MCCY of the SAFNA Act. 

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