in response to these free speech concerns, speakers' corner was created as local adaptation of the speakers' corner in hyde park, london, in 2000. in a 1999 interview with "new york times" columnist william safire, the prime minister goh chok tong said the idea had first been suggested by the senior minister lee kuan yew, but goh felt that it was not yet the right time to set it up. the following year, the government decided to go ahead despite its fear of potential public disorder, as the idea enjoyed widespread support from the public and civil society groups. during a parliamentary debate on the issue on 25 april 2000, opposition member of parliament joshua benjamin jeyaretnam asked the minister for home affairs wong kan seng whether this was a "mere show" or whether the government was serious about promoting free speech in singapore. if the latter, he asked if the minister would agree to an open debate with the workers' party of singapore outside parliament. in response, wong said there was nothing to prevent jeyaretnam from making a speech at speakers' corner, but that the public forum for a proper policy debate was in parliament: