SDP secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan has condemned the Lifelong Learning Institute for reneging on its agreement to host the launch of his new book, Never on Bended Knees.
The LLI cancelled the event despite rent being paid in full, and according to Dr Chee, knowing full well what the event was about.
Commenting on the cancellation, Dr Chee said:
“When I made enquiries with the LLI in November 2018 about renting one of its rooms, the Institute replied:
‘Before we can advise you on the availability, we would like to find out more about the event that you intend to hold on campus. Please send us more relevant details on your event.’
I did.
The Institute then responded: ‘Your event is allowed here at LLI Premise.’
I made the necessary application for the room and paid the rental in full.
For the next two months, everything was quiet until I announced the launch this past Saturday. Four days later, its manager, Mr Dan Soh, informed me of the cancellation.
The reason, he says, is that the event and the book ‘do not appear’ to be ‘related to training, skills upgrading and lifelong learning for the workforce.’”
Dr Chee said he was informed of the cancellation in an email yesterday – 9 days before the book launch.
“Such arbitrary decisions and last-minute cancellations by government bodies are troubling, to say the least. It does not speak well of the future of our country. I will keep my options open on how to deal with the matter.”
The venue for the book launch has been changed to the SDP’s office at 3 Ang Mo Kio Street 62, #02-30, Link@AMK.
The date and time remain unchanged: 26 January 2019, Saturday, 2-4 pm.
