Thai workers urged to keep cool over loss

The Straits Times, February 3, 2007


Thai envoy in S'pore denies Bangkok media reports about protests by workers.

THAILAND'S Labour Ministry has called on Thai workers in Singapore not to vent their unhappiness over the Republic's controversial 2-1 win over Thailand in the first leg of the Asean Championship football final. It said that doing so would not be sporting, might cause disturbances, and break Singapore laws.

Thailand's ambassador in Singapore, Mr Chalermpol Thanchitt, has also countered suggestions that Thai workers were skipping work in protest.

'I had checked with our informants and nobody has done so,' he said. 'We know we are working here and we don't want to cause any disturbance.'

There was concern about the reaction of Thai workers in Singapore after reports in Bangkok said some workers in the Republic were protesting against Singapore's win in the first leg of the final at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

The match ended in controversy after the entire Thai team left the pitch in the 82nd minute, with the score tied at 1-1, over the Malaysian referee's decision to award Singapore a penalty.
The game had to be suspended for 15 minutes. When the players returned, Singapore's Mustafic Fahrudin converted the penalty to score a 2-1 win for the Republic.

There were reports of fights between Singapore and Thai supporters, which were swiftly broken up by the police. It is believed that of the 53,000 Thais working in Singapore, about 1,000 were watching the match at the stadium.

Mr Chalermpol said the Thai Labour Ministry had issued a statement to Thai workers, urging them not to display their dissatisfaction 'in the form of protest or demonstration as that might cause a disturbance'.

He was at the stadium with Thai Minister of Sports and Tourism Suvit Yodmani, as well as President SR Nathan and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean.

He added that at the end of the match, about 20 Thais were told by police to wait for the Singapore fans to leave first, to prevent clashes.

'They had no problem with that,' he said.



By Arlina Arshad