on 15 february 2002, while at speakers' corner, singapore democratic party chief chee soon juan attacked the government's decision to suspend four muslim girls for wearing the "tudung" (islamic headscarf) to public schools. contrary to police advice, he chose not to apply for a public entertainment licence, arguing he did not need one. chee's speech sparked heated exchanges involving the sikh practice of wearing turbans. in july, chee was convicted and fined s$3,000 for speaking without the required licence. in his judgment, district judge kow keng siong emphasized the twin considerations of public order and national security in multi-racial and multi-religious singapore, finding that chee's speech had bred social unrest. under the constitution of singapore, a person who has been fined at least $2,000 cannot stand for election to parliament for five years. as a result of the incident, chee was barred from contesting the 2006 general elections.