SINGAPORE: Police investigations into the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival are ongoing amid complaints made against the event organiser and calls for refunds from attendees who were left disappointed and angry.
The police confirmed on Thursday (Mar 7) that a report has been lodged and that investigations are ongoing.
Participants had been sold on the promise of a photogenic lantern light-up with burning candles at Sentosa's Palawan Green on Feb 21. The lanterns were meant to float in the sky while being tethered to the ground.
However, scores of attendees were let down when they arrived only to be told that "unforeseen circumstances" had changed these plans, with LED candles offered instead and the light-up scrapped.
Tickets cost S$50 each excluding booking fees. One of the event organisers, Ms Shiermie Bautista, said in a since-deleted Facebook post that about 2,500 people attended the festival and collected their lanterns.
In the immediate aftermath of the event, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) directed ticketholders to contact the event organiser - Asian Couture and Boutique - for refunds.
SDC also provided the contact details for Ms Bautista and fellow event organiser Mr Steven Lau.
However, the event organiser subsequently announced that ticket sales were final and non-refundable. Ms Bautista also said that those tickets would be valid for a rescheduled event around the first week of April.
"For those who can’t attend the next event, you can re-sell your tickets at TicketSwap. Thank you for your kind understanding."
The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) told CNA last week that it received 11 consumer complaints regarding the event.
"In general, consumers complained that the segment involving the release of sky lanterns was marketed as the highlight of the event and this was cancelled without prior notice," CASE president Melvin Yong said
CNA has contacted CASE for updates and if more complaints have since been lodged.
With the light-up scrapped, attendees of the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival at Sentosa's Palawan Green were given LED candles instead. (Photo: Facebook/Marcus Tang)
View of a sky lantern tied to a barricade at Sentosa's Palawan Green on Feb 21, 2024. (Image: TikTok/huynhthi0303)
In response to queries from CNA on Friday, Mr Lau drew attention to an online form that participants could fill in, with details such as their ticket order number, fees paid per ticket as well as mobile and PayNow number.
One section required ticketholders to declare if they collected a lantern, pen and LED candle during the event.
When indicating their refund request, participants were also asked if they were unable to attend the festival or were present on that day.
The form required individuals to acknowledge the "possibility of a partial refund ranging up to 25 per cent of the ticket price minus the fees charged by Eventbrite".
A screengrab showing the request form provided by the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival event organiser, Asian Couture and Boutique.
It also offered ticketholders the opportunity to attend the upcoming event "at a price that will be offset 100 per cent by the amount spent on the event on Feb 21", valid for one year.
Subsequent options on the form included:
In response to CNA request for clarification, Mr Lau said all attendees are required to fill in the form but stopped short of confirming if refund requests would indeed be fulfilled.
CNA has contacted both Mr Lau and Ms Bautista for more information.
Additional reporting by Lee Chong Ming.
Screengrab showing a section of the refund request form by the organisers of the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival.
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The police confirmed on Thursday (Mar 7) that a report has been lodged and that investigations are ongoing.
Participants had been sold on the promise of a photogenic lantern light-up with burning candles at Sentosa's Palawan Green on Feb 21. The lanterns were meant to float in the sky while being tethered to the ground.
However, scores of attendees were let down when they arrived only to be told that "unforeseen circumstances" had changed these plans, with LED candles offered instead and the light-up scrapped.
Tickets cost S$50 each excluding booking fees. One of the event organisers, Ms Shiermie Bautista, said in a since-deleted Facebook post that about 2,500 people attended the festival and collected their lanterns.
In the immediate aftermath of the event, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) directed ticketholders to contact the event organiser - Asian Couture and Boutique - for refunds.
SDC also provided the contact details for Ms Bautista and fellow event organiser Mr Steven Lau.
However, the event organiser subsequently announced that ticket sales were final and non-refundable. Ms Bautista also said that those tickets would be valid for a rescheduled event around the first week of April.
"For those who can’t attend the next event, you can re-sell your tickets at TicketSwap. Thank you for your kind understanding."
The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) told CNA last week that it received 11 consumer complaints regarding the event.
"In general, consumers complained that the segment involving the release of sky lanterns was marketed as the highlight of the event and this was cancelled without prior notice," CASE president Melvin Yong said
CNA has contacted CASE for updates and if more complaints have since been lodged.
With the light-up scrapped, attendees of the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival at Sentosa's Palawan Green were given LED candles instead. (Photo: Facebook/Marcus Tang)
View of a sky lantern tied to a barricade at Sentosa's Palawan Green on Feb 21, 2024. (Image: TikTok/huynhthi0303)
ONLINE FORM
In response to queries from CNA on Friday, Mr Lau drew attention to an online form that participants could fill in, with details such as their ticket order number, fees paid per ticket as well as mobile and PayNow number.
One section required ticketholders to declare if they collected a lantern, pen and LED candle during the event.
When indicating their refund request, participants were also asked if they were unable to attend the festival or were present on that day.
The form required individuals to acknowledge the "possibility of a partial refund ranging up to 25 per cent of the ticket price minus the fees charged by Eventbrite".
A screengrab showing the request form provided by the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival event organiser, Asian Couture and Boutique.
It also offered ticketholders the opportunity to attend the upcoming event "at a price that will be offset 100 per cent by the amount spent on the event on Feb 21", valid for one year.
Subsequent options on the form included:
- "I am happy on the Feb 21 event and would like to request two more sky lanterns with candle for free of charge."
- "If I could join a private sky lantern group on an island and receive three free sky lanterns each and (realise) my wishes with my partner, I would be extremely happy."
- "In addition, I'd like to find out if I can become a Stateholder in the near future."
In response to CNA request for clarification, Mr Lau said all attendees are required to fill in the form but stopped short of confirming if refund requests would indeed be fulfilled.
CNA has contacted both Mr Lau and Ms Bautista for more information.
Additional reporting by Lee Chong Ming.
Screengrab showing a section of the refund request form by the organisers of the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival.
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