Activists protest against media control outside SPH

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Saturday, 03 May 2008

Singapore Democrats

A group of Singaporean activists marked World Press Freedom Day by staging a protest outside the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) building at Toa Payoh today.

The SPH controls all the local newspapers except Today which is published by MediaCorp. The organisation is run by former deputy prime minister Dr Tony Tan.
Activists unfurl a protest banner outside the SPH building
The activists comprising of Mr Chong Kai Xiong, Mr Ho Choon Hiong, Mr Isrizal, Ms Noora Zul, Mr Seelan Palay and Mr Shafiie released the following statement:

Today is World Press Freedom Day, an opportunity to reflect upon the principles of press freedom. Press freedom must be championed and protected as it comprises the fundamental Freedom of Expression (Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights). UNESCO's 2008 themes for this day are Access to Information and Empowerment.

In resonance with this, we as independent activists marked World Press Freedom Day 2008 this morning, with a series of messages to share our thoughts on the state of press freedom in Singapore.

Censored news is no news

It's no big secret that Singapore, though proudly claiming to be a 'First-World' country, is ranked 141 out of 167 in 2007's World Press Freedom Index (Reporters Without Borders). 142 is Afghanistan. For the same year, Singapore is ranked 157 out of 195 countries in the Freedom of the Press World Ranking (Freedom House). 158 is Iraq.

Freedom House clearly establishes Singapore's status as "Not free". Not free. Shackled. Clipped. Censored? A common criterion to these indices is an evaluation of the level of censorship. Though news in Singapore may not be overtly censored, the problem is self-censorship.

Free press, free minds

A freer press empowers people as it gives them pluralism in sources of information as well as access to diverse points of view. All of us have the right to form and express our opinions and respect should be accorded to this right through freedom to access information.

Newspapers and Printing Presses Act = Repression

The Newspapers and Printing Presses Act was introduced in 1975. In effect, the Act enables the State to impose such restrictions as:

• Permits (to be renewed every year) granted on a discretionary basis for locally published newspapers. In addition, these permits may be granted with conditions such as the State's specification on the language in which the newspaper may be published.

• Permits required for the sale and distribution of foreign newspapers. In addition, individuals will need to comply with this permissibility for any papers brought in which may be for personal consumption. Complementary provision for powers of examination of packages and articles is included.

Other incidents of repressive media management include lawsuits against foreign newspapers such as the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), a publication currently banned in Singapore. Yet let us not forget one of the most glaring examples: persecution of journalists. Most notable was the 17-year detention under the Internal Security Act of Said Zahari, editor of then-locally published Utusan Melayu.

No to media monopoly

Today, the press in Singapore is monopolised by the Singapore Press Holdings. It publishes all but one of the dailies (the exception is Today published by Mediacorp) – a far cry from a lively press and publishing history in Singapore (pre-1975). There were several papers published in Malay, Indian and Chinese languages as compared to just these main non-English newspapers: Berita Harian, Tamil Murasu, Lianhe Zaobao (& Wanbao) and Shin Min Daily respectively.

Get alternatives, get online

Though press freedom in the professional arena should be safeguarded, individuals can overcome a restrictive and biased press through citizen journalism. Through the new medium of the Internet, citizen journalism, which increases participation in the exchange of news and information, is on the rise. Alternative sources are available on the internet on web portals and blogs that allow individuals to express themselves and engage with others in open discussion.

Open discussions and dialogue on all human issues are vital for us to engage with each other in an environment of respect and dignity. The role of a free and pluralistic press as such a forum enshrines the fundamental freedom of expression for everyone.

To continue this dialogue on press freedom and efforts to promote it in Singapore, email Noora at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to read more about it, and here to see more pictures

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Neutral party - Bullshit

Sat, 03 May 2008 9:13 am

What kind of bullshit is that? Freedom of press? So that press can anyhow write without any responsibilities? If you want to write something valid enough for a print, nobody is going to stop you but everyone is responsible for what you say or write. Wake up!!!

Sinister Minister -

Sat, 03 May 2008 9:41 am

Yes neutral party, anyone can write bullsh*t just as your opinion is... isn't that the beauty of it.

Freedom of press does not mean freedom of responsibility. How you twist the two in your twisted world is beyond me or any free thinking Singaporean.

Re-read what you wrote because you really made yourself look like an idiot. But then again, you are perfectly free to do that and publish yourself as one. That my friend, is but one example of what freedom of the press can do :)

Aidil Omar - Product of a state-controlled press

Sat, 03 May 2008 10:06 am

Neutral party is a good example of a product of the state-controlled press. The mainstream media have successfully indoctrinated the wrong values contrary to the Constitution as well as the principalities of what we recite in our 'democratic' pledge.

His mind has been totally brainwashed into perceiving that acts of exercising our constitutional rights to advocate matters of justice, fairness and freedom, is a complete waste of time and resources.

His concern along with many other transient citizens is the sole need to accumulate more wealth to sustain himself and family, albeit sacrificing his citizen's rights and turn into a docile imbecilic sheep that only begets a government of wolves.

I applaud these activists whom I have had the opportunity to acquaint with. I salute these brave citizens. God grant you strength.

Kaiser -

Sat, 03 May 2008 10:16 am

Yes. Neutral party.Please do not embarrass yourself.I feel bad for you.
Anyway,great work and its really nice to see activism.Thank you

Dr.Huang - Support for free press

Sat, 03 May 2008 10:28 am

Hi Guys,
Thanks for speaking out for the many Singaporeans who share your quest for a freer press.
Although we do not pretend that all Singapore's problems will be solved by a free press, it will be a step in the right direction.
A free press will better reflect the people's feelings of what is happening around them. We will be free to expressive our approval or disagreement to public policies.
Sure there will be teething problems at first when the press becomes finally free and a myriad of papers will spring forth and some of them will be downright lousy. With free competition and passage of time, credible newspapers will emerge to take its righful place as the Fourth Estate.

Keep up the good work!

G Chen -

Sat, 03 May 2008 2:22 pm

Wow neutral party, is your mind in deep sleep when you write your comments or perhaps your simplistic and skewed idea/equation that "freedom of press = irresponsible press" is the outcome of having been under years of controlled press. Wake Up then Grow Up please!!

MC - Bravo!

Sat, 03 May 2008 7:21 pm

All reporters and editors, if they have any journalist integrity, should be protesting.

In fact, all students/professors in the school of Journalism and all newspaper readers in Singapore should be protesting, too.

Aung -

Sat, 03 May 2008 7:45 pm

Great work!

We, democratic forces worldwide, support your action.

nick -

Sat, 03 May 2008 8:25 pm

stomp which is part of sph straits times is very much like govt. poor management. the whole place is a huge cock up. take s'pore seen for example. anyone can take yr pic. where's my privacy?

Anonymous -

Sat, 03 May 2008 9:03 pm

I think we should cut press freedom further.

Currently, on cureent affairs,
They always put something way positive than the actual situation. :dry:

The press is free to write whatever they deem as accountable, unfortunately they often write something which theoretically are rather different coverage on the real thing people are going.
through. :unsure:

Celebrities gossips & columns on the other hand, are exaggerated overly with hoards of scandals. :woohoo:

Nowadays news just spell "BULLCRAP & TRAPS" :woohoo: Beware.

Chew -

Sat, 03 May 2008 9:09 pm

Neutral Party,

Are you a neutral party by intend or by pretense? You don't appear all that neutral to me. I think a name change is in order.

If PAP is capable and indeed world class as they love to claim, why are they so scare and in denial mode of having a free press? They should be the one taking lead and give Singapore a world class free press to add to all their other "world class" achievements.

tencentsworth -

Sat, 03 May 2008 9:40 pm

Let's not be naive, name me one western media that is objective and neutral? You will not find the views of the conservatives in Washington Post / New York Times. In fact, both papers are seen as exemplars of "liberal media bias.

There's no such thing as free press. This is a myth put forth by the western media to thrust their own point of view into the throats of people who run contrary to their operating principles.

Ironically, the western press is dominated by a few individuals - ask Mr Murdoch. Yet, they are the one that talks the loudest about free press.

Jen - good job

Sat, 03 May 2008 9:42 pm

We really need more of these fellow singaporeans to stand up and fight for our rights and freedom. I definitely believe that we can overcome and the time has come closer and closer. Let's all stand together shall we??

and Neutral party, may i just know how old you are? Before you get others to wake up, you Grow up first.

CHUA CHUAN SEAH - My Thanks To The SDP

Sat, 03 May 2008 9:51 pm

I'm very grateful to the Singapore Democratic Party and its leaders for starting and constantly maintaining this crucial and much-needed website. It is designed to edify and to enlighten thinking Singaporeans by providing them with crucial and relevant news and information.
It also aims at eliciting their hopefully well-considered, well-informed and well-expressed written responses and contributions.
This SDP website has now become my indispensable daily diet of vital news, information and comments. (These are either not fully and fairly reported in the local mainstream media - or not at all! - or else reported with severe prejudice and insufficient comprehensiveness and balance.)
I also want to thank the SDP for allowing me to publicly express my own political opinions, criticisms and views in this website. These have been, in the past, dutifully denied publication in The Straits Times (for obvious but questionable political reasons) by the PAP Government-controlled editors (except when they suit their purpose).
Incidentally, do Singaporeans know how many former State security and intelligence officers, working for the PAP Government, have been masquerading as working "journalists" in the local press?
No wonder these well-paid impostors and running dogs care so little about press freedom and write so disparagingly about critics who disapprove of the PAP Government's tight control of the local media!
Lastly, I'd like to reveal that, as I am too poor to afford my own personal computer, I have been, all along, using the one at the public library to post these comments and to peruse this SDP website.
I wish the SDP all the best!

Joker -

Sat, 03 May 2008 10:17 pm

This is the first time I have seen this website and the last. The adolescent comments posted by people like Sinister Minister, Chew and Kaiser waste readers' time.

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