A standoff between Dr Chee and the police then continued as Dr Chee insisted on an explanation for why he had not been given a permit to march. Officer Hassan did not know.

'Surely a government as sophisticated as this one, which claims to be a 'first-world' government, can give a reason why something cannot be done,' Dr Chee said before hanging his head, folding his arms and standing in silence in front of the policeman.

Dr Chee had hoped to march peacefully to the site of the IMF and World Bank meetings to protest at poverty in the city state.

Under Singapore law, any public protest of at least five people without a police permit is deemed illegal. Dr Chee's applications for a march were rejected.

He is one of a few in Singapore who has spoken against the People's Action Party which has ruled since 1959.

Since independence in 1965, Singapore has grown from a third-world country to an Asian economic powerhouse. But critics say this has come at a price, in the form of restrictions on freedom of speech and political activity.

'As citizens we have rights. Only slaves don't have rights. Only slaves are afraid of the government,' Dr Chee said during his speech at the approved Speakers' Corner area. About 100 people watched, but many of those were plain-clothes security men.

'All of you here will be part of this historic event to claim our right to freedom of speech,' Dr Chee said before attempting the march.