TR EMERITUS

Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has lashed out at Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV and "irresponsible websites" for spreading "falsehoods" online. Al-Jazeera aired a programme titled "Homeless In Singapore: Government Policies Force Some Onto Streets" a month ago on a homeless couple in Singapore living in a tent by a beach. It alleged that they were forced onto the streets by ill-thought government policies. The divorced couple lost their homes in divorce proceedings and were ineligible to rent new homes. The news was covered extensively by some socio-political blogs in Singapore. Dr Vivian accused Al-Jazeera for not bothering to check the facts which tell a very different story. He explained that the couple shown in the video clip were offered a place in a shelter, but they rejected it along with other offers from his ministry. The woman still receives financial aid from thet South West Community Development Council. The combative Dr Vivian then challenged bloggers to set their facts right: 'This is a clear example where a foreign media has failed to ascertain the facts. Even worse, some irresponsible websites have gone on to fuel these falsehoods by circulating these widely on the Internet. Now that the facts are out, let's see whether these people who've been propagating falsehoods have the courage and honesty to set the facts right," he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. Al-Jazeera TV was unexpectedly dropped from SingTel's mio TV a few days after the clip was screened, prompting some to speculate that the government may have exerted pressure on it to do so. The Straits Times reported that another telco M1 has signed an agreement with Al-Jazeera to screen its programmes which was subsequently proven to be untrue.   Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans. This page is maintained independently by a TR reader.  Read More →

Socio-political websites and blogs will be allowed to report on election news in the next general election if they are done on a non-commercial basis, according to Law Minister K Shanmugam. He was replying to a question from NMP Viswa Sadasivan. "The (Parliamentary Elections) Act does not prevent sources other than licensed newspapers, television or radio broadcasts from engaging in election advertising,' said Mr Shanmugam. Election advertising' as used in the Act refers to any 'poster, banner, notice, circular, handbill, illustration, article, advertisement or other material that can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or procure' a candidate's electoral success or to enhance his standing," he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. Mr Shanmugam also noted that non-party political websites are no longer required to register as political websites and they will be allowed to take part in election advertising. Political websites are supposed to register with the Media Development Authority of Singapore, but only a handful have done so. Unlike the Malaysian New Media, the Singapore New Media is relatively weak and has a much lower readership compared to the mainstream media. Though its readership among the younger generation of has increased in recent years, it remains to be seen if it will make any genuine impact on the next general election.  Read More →

OPINION Despite rising disgruntlement on the ground against the ruling PAP, it is not in the danger of being booted out of office yet. The scattered voices of dissent heard in neighborhood kopitiams and internet chatrooms are hardly concerns for the PAP and pose no threats to its political hegemony. The PAP's greatest fear lies not in a rejuvenated opposition, but in a politically aware, active and potentially adversarial citizenry transversing racial, religious and cultural boundaries. PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew once described Singaporeans as "champion grumblers". Complaining without taking any organized action together will never get Singaporeans anywhere. Having 3,000 Singaporeans on a Facebook to vote out the PAP is quite different from getting 3,000 Singaporeans to Hong Lim Park to protest against the PAP policies which will have a far greater impact. When more and more Singaporeans step forward, there will less fear within a large group. We need the numbers without which we will forever be a marginalized voice, or worse be dismissed as "astroturfers". For far too long, Singaporeans have been contented to leave the running of Singapore to a small group of elitists and scholars within the PAP who claim to have "peerless wisdom" over the rest of us. While we are carrying on our mundane pursuits in daily life, the PAP has been busy trying to strengthen its position and to perpetuate its political hegemony by bringing in large numbers of new citizens and passing draconian laws to further curtail the civil liberties of Singaporeans. It is time for Singaporeans to realize that they have certain rights as citizens of Singapore and without first reclaiming their political rights, there can be no economic rights. Every Singaporean yearns to be materially self-sufficient, to live a relatively happy and carefree life and to have a secure future. These are our common aspirations. What we fail to realize is that every aspect of our life is linked to politics in one way or another whether we like it or not. From the latest fashion fads to the hassles of raising a family, every single thing in our lives is controlled and determined by government policies. Singaporeans have been complaining lately of the increasing number of foreigners, rising HDB flat prices and stagnant wages. These important bread-and-butter issues are intricately linked to politics. How can we ever change these policies in our interests if we do not get lawmakers into Parliament to do so? The PAP claims that it will listen to the feedback of Singaporeans, but how much of it will translate into real concrete action at the end of the day? Right now, Singaporeans have very little say in the running of the country. The PAP can force its unpopular policies down our throats as "bitter medicines" anytime it wishes to. We are at the complete mercy of a small clique of leaders who may not understand the situation on the ground fully to appreciate our worries, concerns and angst about the future. How can we move ahead as a nation when the leadership and the people are moving out of sync with each other? We seriously need a rethink of the future direction of our nation. Can we continue growing by importing cheap foreign workers? How can we be more innovative without first liberalizing the political landscape? Are we becoming more a nation or a hotel? To put it bluntly, it is no longer sufficient to whine, complain and grumble. Nobody will ever take us seriously. We have to mobilize, organize and galvanize ourselves into action in order to make ourselves heard. Typing behind the screen as anonymous "cyber-warriors" is simply not enough anymore.  Read More →