Regulations that Prohibit Breastfeeding in Public

2 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether there are any regulations that prohibit mothers from breastfeeding their children in public.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Ms Sun Xueling) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, there is no law that strictly prohibits mothers to breastfeed their children in public in Singapore.

Indecent exposure and appearing nude in public are criminal offences. Mothers who are genuinely breastfeeding their children, in public are generally unlikely to fall under these categories. It is not possible to be more specific than that. To determine if any offences might be made out, Police would need to ascertain the specific facts of each case and the circumstances.

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply but I am a bit confused. She said they are generally not going to be prosecuted, if I am right to say that. So, could I just ask specifically, whether a mother who is breastfeeding her baby in the public without a cover – would that be liable to prosecution?

Ms Sun Xueling: Breastfeeding in public places is not against the law. The Police will not intervene unless there are law and order concerns.