Government has been trying to tell the international media that
Singapore is unique being vulnerable due to its size so it cannot
afford to grant citizens' freedoms of speech or expressions and
must practise harsh laws called rule of law (govt can have its own
set of law on salaries and life pensions etc) to create a more
stable environment.
So criticizing of government is not yet accepted as a culture in
little red dot.
If there is some relaxation it is only for show to the outside
world to get foreigners to invest in Singapore. It is found that
many intellectuals or cartoon strips or films are being allowed as
if there are now greater freedoms.
Let us examine the fact whether there is now greater freedoms
granted by the government. Is the Straits Times publishing critical
letters asking for example Temasek to disclose the wrong doings
behind the losses in Shin Corp or other critical letters asking for
accountability in the recent fire incidents in Hougang. Why was
there no commission of inquiry?
I am sure many of us have sent letters to the Straits Times which
were rejected because they were too sensitive to the government
with the pro-government editors knowing what to do to avoid getting
in hot soup with the government.
A number of citizens' critical letters as tested here in this forum
concerning rising costs of living and profiteering or wrong
policies of government were rejected from publication in its forum
page.
Lately the government even tries to take over theonelinecitizen
website to serve as its propaganda machine as some of our forumers
have found out.
Is this kind of controlled or selective publishing of only mild
criticisms as seen being conducted by Straits Times or
theonlinecitizens contributing to nation building or is it merely
an excuse to hide potential problems and wrong doings through
misuse of political power which at the end will be creating bigger
instability to hide wrongful acts or wrong policies which serve
only the private interests of a few leaders. Will not such control
of the media lead to violent reactions of the people another day
when problems being locked up become even bigger malpractices as
already seen in outrage and widespread anger over the wrongs in NKF
or last-year outcry over another increase in ministers' pays