I have said many times before that Singapore's media is.... errr.... not.... restricted.
It is free and fair! Really lah.
Few believe me. Very few :-)
Many more run to the loo to snigger loudly.
Others die laughing in my face.
Kesian aku.
Now we have it from the Law Minister himself.
Singapore, you know lah, always use the law to restrict the press, they say.
No, this is not said by me, but by Law Minister K. Shanmugam (a highly respected private lawyer before being inducted into politics).
So he explains his way out - he tried his best anyway.
Read it and judge for yourself.
See extracts of Shanmugam's speech here - journalism.sg, a website about journalism, journalists and government in that Little Red Dot.
Former premier Goh Chok Tong also talked about Singapore and media freedom some years back, here.
One of those who had run-ins with MM Lee Kuan Yew over media freedom was the late columnist, William Safire.
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These are the main points if you want to write about Singapore.
1) The government allows to write anything. But if it sees you straying into rumours and syiok sendiri political stories, it will not stand still.
It will be very vigorous in trying to get its response across.
Don't lose in court, baby. Don't.
If, to take a Malaysian example, you put out a story about the government being corrupt, or PM Najib Razak being involved with some murder (as some websites and blogs did), then expect a strong response. Unless you have court prove-able proof.
(And don't run and hide away like a royal coward after making scurrilous allegations about murder against the PM! Unless of course, they don't have any proof in the first place, just syiok sendiri writings).
The reason for staying true is simple: Singapore does not want some untrue stuff, or some things presented as 'facts' which it thinks are unfairly inaccurate, to be spread in the public domain forever and ever.
It will sue if necessary.
Be prepared to defend yourself vigorously.
As Minister Shanmugam says:
"Our approach on press reporting is simple: The press can criticise us, our policies. We do not seek to proscribe that.
"But we demand the right of response, to be published in the journal that published the original article. We do not accept that they can decide whether to publish our response. That irks the press no end."
In Malaysia, taking the example further, if a politician were to sue over some nonsense article, then a rumour will be accepted as fact, instead of the opposite.
When Anwar Ibrahim sued the writer of the book '50 Dalil' (50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Become PM), people actually started to say: 'There you are, the book contains truths, so he wants to shut up the publisher and writer. Otherwise, why sue?'
If PM Najib or Dr Mahathir Mohamad were to sue some website or newspaper over something, people will cry about 'media freedom being restricted'.
'They are scared of the truth lah! Vote them out!'
Lim Kit Siang will ask for a commission of inquiry.
The same thing with anyone, over most things, in Kay-El.
So the rumour mill becomes the truth mill.
In Singapore, politicians sue to keep their integrity in the eyes of the public.
As Minister Shanmugam says:
"We have no problems with tough debate, criticism of policies. But we believe that such debate should avoid untrue and scurrilous personal attacks.
"Personal reputation is no less valuable than personal property. Public discourse does not have to descend into the gutter."
At the same time, Singapore, Singaporeans and its officials do know that the reputation of its media is somewhere, well, in the gutter.
People scoff at The Straits Times (suratkhabar aku) etc.
Well, no one will stop you doing that.
After all we all know that Singapore's media ranking is BELOW that of Ethiopia, Sudan, Kazahkstan, Venezuela, Guinea, Haiti.
Kahkahkah.
But you know what? Singapore's officials are saying, so what?
Shanmugam says:
"The people of Singapore also know better. Sixty-five per cent voted for the Government at the last General Elections.
"And the investors who put in billions every year know better as well. They do not have to come here. We do not have any natural resources.
"Our main selling point is that there will be good value added when they invest here, their investments will be protected, and that we are a stable democracy."
See his very last word. Democracy.
Some people prefer the Malaysian type of democracy and media freedom. You make personal attacks with no basis, you can get away with it. You become a folk hero.
Others prefer the China, or Indonesia, or American model.
Singapore would like to say it has its own brand of demo-kerasi.
Hey, remgold, you mention, above, about points to note, but how come there is only Point 1) and nothing else.
My answer: Fool, there is only one rule needed.
So you won't forget it: You can write what you want. Stray and you die.
Now, go run to the loo if you must.
I am staying right here.
You guys go visit Ethiopia, Sudan and Haiti and tell me about freedom.
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The problem for Singapore's media handlers, it seems, is this: People visit Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, America, United Kingdom, etc too, and they say - "We want some of that media freedom. Never mind if it comes with corruption and scurrilous attacks and some mayhem."
Or else, they just plug into the Internet right from home.
That is something for the Singapore government to work out - how to calibrate the open borders, because the Internet shows you the world from Ang Mo Kio, Bedok , Jurong West and Punggol.
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