Singapore Democrats

Don't blame the likes of Valerie Tan.
It has been like this all along. You strive to do an honest, professional job of your calling in life. But you have to submit it for approval. And the higher up your "supervisors" are, the more "kiasu" they seem to be. By press time, nothing "untoward" remains, especially taboo references, such as SDP.

Same everywhere else, like TV interviews, which are never "life". You watch the telecast and realize you've wasted your time. Nothing important you have said remains!

The PAP Govt has been hit so hard by the SDP in recent times that they chose now to be in total denial of the SDP's existence.......Stop mentioning SDP and Dr Chee Soon Juan in all its controlled MSM and hopefully they will cease to exist in the real world (except when they go to jail or maybe even not that).
But they ignore the virtual world at their peril. The virtual world is now taking the world by storm by spreading exponentially.
Beware the Ides of March, all PAPists!

TTW
I agree.
Nothing is important but conformity.

"Are we complaining? No. We take this as the PAP badly wanting to get rid of us and a signal that we must work even harder to deny them the pleasure."

By the fact that you are writing an article to remind all that "there's no mention of the Singapore Democrats anywhere!" contradicts the statement that SDP is not "complaining".

Of course, this article is not a complaint in the literal sense. Maybe it's more a sign of schizophrenia.

As to whether the SDP is "not only alive and well, but leading the way on the Internet", I hope the leadership is appropriately directed.

Let me be the devil's advocate to suggest that perhaps mentioning the SDP and it's erstwhile leader might drive down the readership of the ShucksTimes.

As to your hypothesis that the "virtual world is now taking the world by storm by spreading exponentially", I'd can only commend you for your idealism.

SDP website is the most outstanding,WP, you can't get any information from there.Pap,better don't read,you will get more angry.

When I first saw this article headlines over at yahoo, I was expecting SDP to be mentioned in it. However, after clicking on it and realizes that the news originated from CNA, I lowered my expectation to that of "hoping" that SDP is going to be mentioned. But after reading the article, I am once again disappointed and sadden by state of affair of our media in not being able to even provide informative reporting. By leaving SDP out of this particular reporting is clearly inexcusable especially when most ppl who reads political websites or follows alternative news reporting, would know that SDP is the most cyber-active opposition party. Keep it up SDP, you have done well and all of you deserve to stand proud..shame on you CNA.

G_Chen -
I agree.Very disappointed and saddened,no respect for informative reporting. Cyber-activity is needed to educate and inform the citizentry.WP and PAP obviously don't want to do so!

I think best not try to compare with WP's website, since it's not much of a benchmark. I agree, SDP wins! Congrats, for all it's worth.

First, my empathies for you having to "lower [your] expectation to that of hoping that SDP is going to be mentioned".

I would have thought that this boisterous website needs no affirmation from the MSM. Or perhaps it's some inferior complex peeking through.

All media use facts and information to sell their points, and omit inconvenient truths if warranted. And by media, I'm referring to both MSM and opposition/oppoortionist media and websites. Pretty much pot and kettle, won't you agree?

Why do you keep referring to PAP propaganda tool as media. What we have is not media but, as what Singapore's first chief minister David Marshall had labeled."the running dog and poor prostitute" of the PAP.

The so-called media is headed by Tony Tan, a former deputy prime minister and staffed mainly by ISD operatives. Over and above, the PAP has its Newspaper and Printing Presses Act that allows it to, among other things, appoint editors and other top management staff.

Don't call it media and insult our intelligence.

BryanT,

PAP propaganda tool, The Straits Times is masquerading as MSM.

All political parties, both the ruling and the opposition, have their own publications and websites.

For example, the PAP has its print version Petir and its own website.
Similarly, SDP, WP, NSP, SPP, etc have their own periodicals and websites. All these outfits are aimed at spreading their party programmes and objectives to the readers. In other words, they are into propagating their views to Singaporeans. And they are partisan.

But others calling themselves national newspapers or MSM are different. Since these "newspapers" in Singapore want to wear the mantle of MSM they should not be equated to partisan publications.

The reality is what was once Singapore's MSM has long been turned into a bootlicking propaganda tool of the autocratic PAP.

okok, we will not call the MSM a form of media. But then for the opposition media, isn't it a case of pot and kettle as well?

Your are right, you will know how devoid of intelligence the MSM is, especially when u knock on them. Usually empty pots and kettles make a lot of noise.

BryanT,

It's not the question of calling "the MSM a form of media". How could there be MSM when there is none in the first place? The Straits Times is a mouthpiece of the PAP. Period.

Of course, we had a free and pluralistic media before the PAP came to power in 1959. All that has disappeared under the jackboot of LKY.

The opposition parties have their own publications and so is the PAP with its Petir. Whether these are "a case of pot and kettle" depends on one's level of knowledge and understanding.

To BryanT, strange that you should empathize me when your response shows a lack of understanding towards what I was referring to.

In the first place this is not about SDP in need of affirmation but rather a matter of once expectation towards our media in providing credible and informative news reporting. The fact that the heading of that article is about "political parties go online to extend their reach" would make anyone familiar with local political party websites to assume that SDP would be included. The subsequent lowering of my expectation upon knowing that it originated from CNA, only goes to show my lack of trust towards receiving unbiased news reporting by local media albeit still bearing some hope that it may turn contrary to my expectation. However the fact that eventually there was indeed nothing mentioned about SDP leads to my disappointment that our media continues to unabashedly exclude certain facts from their news. To "omit inconvenient truth" are in fact expected for political or alternative views websites, just as one would not blame PAP website for singing self praises, neither would one censure an opposition websites for selective reporting towards their agenda. Even children are told of the need to filter what they read on the internet. But on the other hand, to "omit inconvenience truth" by a MSM should not be taken sitting down as it would be considered as being irresponsible as many would regard them as a source for credible information and any omission is therefore a disservice to all Singaporean. This is especially so in this instance where the omission is so blatant to the extent that it would lead any critical thinking person to question the reason behind it. Which is probably why SDP decided to write about it too, which I believe is not because they want to complain but rather a normal critical thinking reaction. MSM and websites ethics are NOT apple to apple comparison, NEITHER are they pot and kettle ones.

Don't bother about Straits Times not mentioning the party's name. Just continue with your agenda and strive to make it better.

Thanks for the interesting conversation.

Let's move on from the semantics of whether ShucksTimes and its lackeys are media or otherwise, and whether they are mainstream enough. But frankly, I don't recall they themselves proclaiming these titles.

I can concede that ShucksTimes (and its lackeys) are pseudo mouthpieces of the ruling government. Most of us trawl the internet for news and information, but I hope we can at least agree that beyond the pro-government spiel, SPH and Mediacorps do provide a good source of material that meets the locals' information needs to carry out their lives here (miserable or otherwise). The readership and advertising dollars speak for themselves, even for tabloids such as TNP.

I can also concede that the Newspaper and Printing Act is a bureaucratic tool to limit alternatives. It represents the undue schizophrenic tendencies of the ruling party. I certainly think SPH's and Mediacorp's duopoly should be broken even if it's just a matter of principle. Somebody should give this a try, but I'd recommend we don't hold our breath waiting for that.

Meanwhile, all of us (and even the ruling party) know that the citizens can access alternative avenues of information and news via the internet. The problem with this is not availability or access, but the apathy of the people.

It's the same with the opposition parties' websites. Perhaps for a start, SDP would like to publish data on the number of unique visitors to this website so that we can collectively analyse it to gauge the interest level of the citizens. We can also try to link the peoples mentality to how they are drawn or connect with political websites.

Frankly, I'd think that the same level of apathy exists towards the ruling party's websites. Maybe we can then discuss also the ruling government's techniques in inadvertantly or covertly inducing political apathy in its people.

That, to me, is the first obstacle, not the duopoly or the Newspaper and Printing Act.

[quote=BryanT]Frankly, I'd think that the same level of apathy exists towards the ruling party's websites. Maybe we can then discuss also the ruling government's techniques in inadvertantly or covertly inducing political apathy in its people.

That, to me, is the first obstacle, not the duopoly of the Newspaper and Printing Act.[/quote]

Hi BryanT, the high level of apathy in Singapore is because there is no alternative and independent media (especially Newspapers) here. The last bastions of free press in Singapore were shut down by 1990.

The duopoly of the Newspaper and Printing Act is definitely a very big obstacle to overcome, because it is a prime tactic of the "ruling government's techniques in inadvertantly or covertly inducing political apathy in its people."

Hints of other techniques can be found in this quote by Lee Kuan Yew:

"“Repression, Sir is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love-it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack. All you have to do is to dissolve organizations and societies and banish and detain the key political workers in these societies. Then miraculously everything is tranquil on the surface. Then an intimidated press and the government-controlled radio together can regularly sing your praises, and slowly and steadily the people are made to forget the evil things that have already been done, or if these things are referred to again they’re conveniently distorted and distorted with impunity, because there will be no opposition to contradict.”

-Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition PAP member speaking to David Marshall, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Debates, 4 October, 1956

Very nice quote, Mr Palay, how it strings together political apathy to repression to love-making.

Which naturally bring up the salacious question - which stage of pseudo love-making process are we?

Surely we are currently beyond the second try. So let me pose some options based on this analogy to figure out where we stand today (did I say "stand"?).

Option 1 - Some interest in the game has been lost and the parties doing the exerting (ie. repressing) have come to a lighter-touch steady state arrangement since the people are wiser and can observe what going on (heaven forbid!).

Option 2 - The exertions are beyond their heydays and the ruling party is a bit more accommodating, or try to be seen to be more accommodating, and even offer a dildo once in a while to make everyone happy (artificially).

Option 3 - Or perhaps menopause has already set in for some of the opposition parties while others are depending on Power-1 Walnuts and the like to keep up?

Option 4 - Last but not least, some of the parties have giving up enjoy sex here in Singapore, and would rather play up to foreign parties for something more exotic and exhilarating.

Feel free to add to other possible scenarios, ok?

Our fellow Opposition - Reform Party SG - Kenneath Jeyaretnam posted this on my Facebook :

Kenneth Jeyaretnam
Actually it's probably more a case of, "Sshh! Don't say 'RP'."
You cite several initiatives of the SDP claiming that the MSM are deliberately cutting you out of the news. However, for each example brought in to support the claim, The RP has greater coverage.
For websites, I haven't seen the numbers, but the articles on 'www.thereformparty.net' certainly garner a much larger number of comments than articles appearing on the sdp website, suggesting that RP is more widely read.
On FB again the RP has substantially higher numbers than the equivalent pages for the WP, SDP and other opposition parties. The Reform Party FB page has over 430 members.
re Youth Wings. The RP is the only party to have 2 open house sessions each week, one specifically for our Youth Wing. ... Read More
And amongst leaders of Opposition the only one to have spoken at the FCA is the RP.
Arguing a plot against the SDP on these grounds doesn't stack up. In reality only (N)MP 's are quoted excluding us both .

this is Kai Xiong's reply:

Dear Kenneth,

You're missing the forest for the trees. If this were an isolated incident and did not fit an overall trend, you would have a point. As facts stand, SDP is the most targeted opposition party. RP is relatively new to the scene and has yet to bear the brunt of PAP's anti-democratic machinery.

One point about that bit about website popularity. The correlation between comment count and readership is misleading. In terms of page view ranking (according to Alexa and Hitwise), SDP has been the leader. It would be a glaring ommission on the part of ST to neglect this fact, conspiracy or none.... Read More

A victim mentality is unhelpful if you wallow in self-pity. SDP does nothing of the sort and actively urges its supporters to raise and meet the challenges the ruling party repeatedly puts before them. I personally enjoy reading such accounts because it exposes the underhanded tactics PAP employs. In my opinion, it would be most unhelpful if we pretend these manoeuvres didn't exist.

Seelan Palay (Singapore) wrote4 hours ago

I'm sorry Kenneth but having more comments on your site now should not delude you at this point.

The RP website allows posting comments without registration. When the SDP website allowed that, the number of comments on its site was at similar numbers as the RP website now and more.

Also, because of this, certain individuals can use multiple nicknames (or "sock puppets", as the net jargon goes) to actually have discussions with themselves to make it seem like there is actual discussion going.

I'm pretty sure I know who the sock puppeteer on your site is, because he's done the same at TOC's and SDP's sites, but of course he is acting on his own instruction.

I'm sorry BryanT, I don't have the time to come up with love-making scenarios.

But I will let you know that I will not allow the people to be "made to forget the evil things that have already been done".

What is this?!...a cat-fight developing over open-house sessions, page views, membership numbers, comments with or without registration, multiple nicks....

The meowing is keeping the neighbours awake, or having a good laugh.

But I must be fair, as a neutral party - the KJ's cyber-hijack with "Sshh! Don't say 'RP'" make him look very petty. RP can make noise too, but to hijack someone elses message is highly unethical, if ethics is relevant here.

Come on KJ, show some respect to the seniors. RP has its open-houses, SDP has it's TBT campaign. If we measure success by the attention from the police and the ruling party, then SDP wins hands-down.

I've just popped over the RP website. This is my second visit there, the first being after KJ posted his FCA speech there. The reason for the large time gap is simply because it was virtually dead-town there. I didn't even bother to RSS the website. That was then...

What do I see there now? A posting every 2-3 weeks. And how can KJ say the articles garner much comments when there are the only a few articles worth commenting. The rest were lots of photos on BBQs and open houses.

In contrast, SDP's ability to sustain interest and discussion is more commendable, even if sometimes a bit warped. And that's coming from someone who is probably known not to be too diplomatic in this website.

The winner is ..... (drum roll)... SDP.

Our objective in publishing this piece is to highlight the agenda of the PAP's media. It is not to compare ourselves with other opposition parties.

We hope that our readers will not lose sight of this.

We depend on the creativity and diligence of our members in order to move ahead and expand as a party. We don't do this by talking down the achievements of other opposition parties. We have no desire to do this nor is there any necessity for it.

In fact, we congratulate Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam and the Reform Party for what they have done thus far and encourage them to continue their work.

Our intent is not to compare ourselves with our fellow opposition parties. But where we need to set the record straight, we will.

We continue to wish our fellow opposition parties well and call on everyone to focus our fight on the ruling party.

Singapore Democrats

as the title says...

Re: [color=red]"And that's coming from someone who is probably known not to be too diplomatic in this website."[/color]

Your lack of diplomacy is the least of your problems.

I would do something about that cockiness, and the patronizing attitudes that you exude so well.

It doesn't go with the way you wear your hair.

Thanks for reminding me. Yes, I've been thinking of getting rid of my uncontrollable einteinian frizz. Unfortunately, it comes with the age.

As for the "patronising attitude", I'll try to control that too. But then again, perhaps it comes with the age too.... and ignorance.

Hmm.. was it not William Safire who said, "Is sloppiness in speech caused by ignorance or apathy? I don't know and I don't care." Well, my middle name is not William.

Cheers and have a good day.

[quote=Seelan Palay]I'm sorry BryanT, I don't have the time to come up with love-making scenarios.

But I will let you know that I will not allow the people to be "made to forget the evil things that have already been done".[/quote]

Seelan, that is what happens when you feed Pee dogs.

Dogs are very bad at being faithful. That's sexual morality at it's worst.

Thy will hijack the current topic and divert it to somthing irrelevant like eg. love-making.

Resorting to some name-calling, Brendan?

Anyway, it seems like Seelan is busy with his exhibition so he might not reply. So I'll do so on his behalf.

I'd be very adverse to calling it a hijack. If you did not realise, I was just picking up from the very good quote he used, "I am told it is like making love-it is always easier the second time!"

I thought it was very relevant to figure where we stand in the process of media control ... reinforcement, re-energisation, relaxation, exhaustion, etc. I'm sure the ruling party's strategy has changed over the years, especially since those days when it was in the opposition, as what Seelan was trying to point out.

This means that there is a very high chance that SDP will win the next election.

I can't see the connection.

Please explain why SDP will win the election when the MSM ignores it in its article. If that is the case, PKMS will win too.