Mr Chen Hwai Liang
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Singapore
Dear Sir,
We are writing to you to correct some factual inaccuracies
inherent in your letter to Financial Times titled
“Singaporeans understand the perils of an open
economy” published on 25 February 2009 in which you quoted
a blog
You wrote “Unfortunately, the online poll he cited was
from a website devoted to anti-government invective.” to
describe our blog from which the poll was taken. Nothing can be
further from the truth.
(On 12 January 2009, we conducted an online
poll asking who deserves more sympathy - MP Seng Han Thong or his
assailant Ong Kah Chua, 76% of 277 polled voted for the latter. The
poll was quoted by Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew in
Parliament and subsequently reported in the Financial Times on 12
February 2009 by John Burton though no reference were made to
us. You can still vote in the
alleged poll
here)
We invite you to visit us at http://www.wayangparty.com to
read our articles. The Wayang Party Club is a socio-political blog
dedicated to open and honest discussion of current affairs of the
day.
While we admit we have been critical of the certain government
policies, it is
misleading to claim that our website is devoted solely to
anti-government invective and nothing else.
We welcome views from both ends of the political spectrum,
including pro-government ones. As you can see for yourself, we do
publish occasional articles written by our guest writers which are
adopt a neutral stance and sometimes even in favor of the
government.
Mr Chen is most welcome to post his rebuttal to our contents
here. Unlike some
other blog which practises censorship religiously, we will respect
your right of reply. Comments posted on this site
in defence of the government are allowed with no moderation or
censorship.
Perhaps the
government should ask itself the real reason
behind the pervasive anti-government sentiment in Singapore’s
blogosphere which is reflected in threads even on forums owned
by the state media such as Hardwarezone and
Channelnewsasia.
Has the government done enough to communicate with its citizens
? Is the government aware of the undercurrent of discontent and
disgruntlement against the way it governs the nation ? Does it
really understand our concerns and grouses ?
Though the poll was conducted by a purportedly “anti-government”
website, the question asked is fair and relevant. Each participant
is allowed to vote only once which ensures that the result obtained
is fairly accurate.
The poll result is not surprising judging from the outpouring of
sympathies and support for the MP Seng’s assailant Ong Kah Chua in
the internet chatrooms. While we do not condone the attack, we
implore the government to ponder upon this question: are netizens against the MP
or the party to which he belong ?
With all the
major newspapers and broadcasting stations under its control, the
state media has ceased to represent the voices of the common folks
on the ground. Instead, it has become a propaganda mouthpiece of
the government to manipulate and contort public opinion to its own
partisan interest.
The lack of
official channels to register their genuine displeasure,
frustration and anger have led to citizens turning to the internet
to let off steam. The chasm between the government
and the citizenry will only grow wider if the state media continue
to be nonchalant about online rumblings which have the potential to
trigger a political tsunami in time to come.
There is still time for the government to acknowledge its own
shortcomings and mend the bridges with the online community before
it is too late.
Yours sincerely,
Eugene Yeo and Fang Zhi Yuan
Wayang Party Club
http://wayangparty.com/?p=5564