Press freedom in S'pore

last SG · 2005-03-15T17:54:36+00:00

hmm...sorry..I don't quite get your point.In which aspect?

chikopek SG

The press freedom in Singapore should be one of the lowest in Asia only above PRC. Hong Kong have the most press freedom?

Why can't we improve our press freedom? However as for speech freedom I believes that it is improving in S'pore as many of us here critised the government here w/o ending up in trouble.

SnowFlag SG

where is the report? Rolling Eyes

vito_corleone SG

i would say that taiwan has the most press freedom, so free until they can do all kinds of crazy sh|t like report politicians engaging in parliament house wrestles and sex scandals. hong kong is limited because prc keeps an eye on them. singapore, china, vietnam, myanmar, cambodia are the worst.

chikopek SG

In the latest issue of 'Ya Zhou Zhou Kan'

SnowFlag SG

I m too poor to buy it Mr. Green

crazy monkey SG

Taiwan got sell playboy in 7-eleven. Mr. Green

drawer SG

That is why i love Taiwan!!!......You know last time Taiwan government was more strict than Singapore government,if u say anything that "wrong" on TV,u can get jailed for it!Now their government is more lenient n their press have more freedom than Singapore,what a change!!!.....Well,this world is round. Very Happy

drawer SG

That is another reason why i love Taiwan. Mr. Green

LazerLordz SG

Change is the only constant.It cannot be resisted and no brick wall has ever managed to stop an irresistable force.Only thing is, how long will it take?

caramon SG

SINGAPORE has slipped down the latest world press freedom ranking, according to international association Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF). The Republic is now ranked 147th out of 167 countries, three rungs lower than last year, making it the lowest ranked developed country when it comes to press freedom. Malaysia is ranked 122nd while Indonesia is 117th.

RSF described The Straits Times as practising "systematic self-censorship in its domestic reporting" while noting that Today and Streats published independent commentaries on the domestic situation more often. RSF said that the rankings are not indicators of the press quality.

chikopek SG

So is it appropriate for me to say that the government controls the press and media very tightly? Why the government doesn’t want to loosen the control to the media? Is it because the government is too scared to receives critisms from the press?

vito_corleone SG

and thats why i hate taiwan Laughing churning out endless retards who claim to be "musicians".

robertteh SG

Can there be progress or competitiveness without information or effective two-way communications ? Will there be coordination to produce results or practical knowledge application to boost the economy?

What does the ministry of communication know about the role of information in a knowledge-based world of tomorrow or today versus one-sided views, look-good presentations or media justifications to persist in past bureaucracy Laughing

Danacafe SG

hMmMm....more press freedom in singapore? Well, i suppose one should not blame our government too much..u see..we singaporeans DO complain a lot=p
There was a time where channel U news broadcasted how a truck ramped into a group of school students in i think mexico?Not sure where=/
Trival, in my opinion,as thats just reality,but yet they received complains and censorship board HAVE to intervene.
Furthermore,Singapore is a really small island..we need good governance..sometimes its just plain difficult to juggle between freedom,sensitivity and control of the nation...give our government some time..too much freedom of press may not be a good thing if Singaporeans lack the ability to make mature uninfluenced decisions or opinions anyway...of course some are matured enough..but some are simply too narrow minded,isnt that so?=/

robertteh SG

Self-checks and self-corrections will ensure there is no fear of instability. When less mature people have no causes for demonstrations or rallies, they will go home to watch TVs. Cap information for more years, problems locked up will grow larger. That is where the fear of spillover to street demonstration will arise. Leaders must have a clear mind to see the cause-effect relationship between 2-way communication and press control. PM Lee wants to build an all-inclusive society, he should understand this point and not hold back horse at mid-field. Laughing

SnowFlag SG

When they wanted to build casino, they say singaporean are mature enough.
When they restrict press freedom, they say singaporean isn't mature enough.

Everything in singapore is they say you listen.
If you oppose, they lock u up. They can call u anything like MCP, drunkard, communist.
If you are their loyalist, even if you commit a crime/fault, u will receive a discount for the punishment. (Remember the case of the road rage taxi boss, that ex-embassador who masturbated infront of a female doctor, the NTUC CEO who embezzled millions, the guy who is sued by Oei for deframation but got away).

The Strait Times should be called PAP Times. I don't need a report to tell me that the press freedom in Singapore is so lousy.

Blueray SG

I would like Singapore to have more press freedom. As for Taiwan, even though they have one of the most liberal press in asia, the ironic thing is that in recent years many Taiwanese have decided that china is a better place and are emigrating there in large numbers. In fact China is already the 4th hottest destination for emigrating Taiwanese.

fudgester SG

I want Singapore to have more press freedom. As it is, even comic strip writers face censorship. Colin Goh is one fine example. In the 'Legends of Tumasix' series in his 'Concrete Jungle' strips in the New Paper, he was forced to make all manner of last minute changes for supposedly being 'politically incorrect' in his jokes. For example, he was forced to call a tithe collector 'Moneyix' instead of his proposed 'Geeastix'.

Come on.... even jokes about GST are not allowed?

At the same time, I think that some Singaporeans are simply too squemish and narrow-minded to allow for further media liberalisation. For example, the radio DJ Sheikh Haikel was sacked after a radio listener complained him making a lewd joke about girls' underwear. While the joke was in bad taste, surely it doesn't necessarily merit a sacking? That was nothing compared to the American radio 'shock jock' Howard Stern, who would do all sorts of risque things like interview guests in the buff and so on.

SBS9611D SG

In Singapore, everything is propaganda. I've grown used to it and simply brush aside what the local papers say.

The Perfect 10 incident was unfortunate. But we must also bear in mind that children could be listening as they travel to school in their parents' cars. The prudes could be right for once.

Has anyone read staronline? There are some things it published that even we ourselves did not know about.

lwflee SG

It wasn't THAT lewd. Nothing the station's target audience haven't heard b4.

Talking about jokes, possibly the lamest joke i have ever heard was told by Goh Chok Tong.

It went something like SARs means School Are Really Shut... But that wasn't really the meat of the joke. That came right after when the whole of parliament applauded him -> apparently for hit razor sharp wit....

Smile