Please Support Lee Hsien Loong

last SG · 2004-08-13T23:52:09+00:00

that depends on whether they're deserving first

CX SG

i would venture to suggest that u are quite correct in your second point... SPH journalists are not very good journalists and SPH is a very narrow and rigid gov't mouth-piece.

in order to write in an objective and unbiased manner, u first need to have a variety of sources from different perspectives, the investigative and analysis zeal to pick them apart and re-assemble them to write your story and last but not least, the moral courage to write it and stand by it...

of course, that's just WRITING it... to publish it, u need a free press unhampered by OB markers, ultra-sensitive pro-gov't editors and a public that appreciates and consumes good investigative journalism.

in Sg, u have NONE of the above. sources comes in the form of ministry press releases that are taken wholesale without any editorial opinion or intepretation. journalists write about trivial, mundane and sensational local news that draws the common reader... traffic accidents, crime, sex scandals...

for international news, just cut and paste Reuters, AFP and BBC cables...

i don't know every single journalist in SPH, but i read 4 - 5 online newspapers every day and i frankly think that the print edition of the ST is rubbish.

tspg SG

Letters from the public who has raised concern and opposition to certain policies have been published before. The articles written by ex-civil servant Ngiam were not exactly pro-govt either. The opposition wards decision not to raise S & C charges was also reported in the papers.

Changes takes time. I do feel that there has been an increase in the diversity in views and sources. It takes two hand to clap. The public must dare to voice their views if they want to be heard. When you see reporters looking for people to interview, ppl always siam. Then in private they complain no freedom of speak.

There are policies changes due to public feedback also, such as Chek Jawa. The public need to play its part and give good feedback too. Lets just hope that this happen more often in future.

Btw a lot of what is posted on online newspapers are rubbish too. Wink

CX SG

Originally posted by tspg:

Letters from the public who has raised concern and opposition to certain policies have been published before. The articles written by ex-civil servant Ngiam were not exactly pro-govt either. The opposition wards decision not to raise S & C charges was also reported in the papers.

yes yes yes... and were we not talking about independent investigative journalism? a few complaints and opinion pieces in the forum page does not make a free press.

also, one might add that SPH reserves the rights to edit before publishing anything contributed by the public. how much of what is published is really unadulterated freedom ?

Changes takes time. I do feel that there has been an increase in the diversity in views and sources. It takes two hand to clap. The public must dare to voice their views if they want to be heard. When you see reporters looking for people to interview, ppl always siam. Then in private they complain no freedom of speak.

what is the point of entertaining a press they do not trust and respect? time? how long are u willing to wait? till hell freezes over?

There are policies changes due to public feedback also, such as Chek Jawa. The public need to play its part and give good feedback too. Lets just hope that this happen more often in future.

how cool... we have issues of terrorism, political transparency, structural unemployment, and many, many other issues worth talking about...

and we get to talk about a mud pit...

Btw a lot of what is posted on online newspapers are rubbish too.

have u read the NY Times? or the London Times? or BBC Online?

Qitai SG

How about someone here create an online news for Singapore? Can always register in U.S. but in reality report exclusively on News that interest Singaporean. Surely, in that case, there is nothing this Singapore Government can do about it.

Just a suggestion for those who complain about lack of freedom of press. Here is something you can do. Better do something then to just complain right? Wink

cooleo SG

It's another breeding place for Sammy fellas who will anyhow whack and hurl wild accusations cos they know they are safe...but then maybe not. The arms of the law will catch up with those smart alecks who think they can hide behind their monitors and whack PAP.

Qitai SG

I never said the purpose of that is to whack PAP. The contend will have to be determine by it"s creator. Ideally, of course, we like to see objective reports about things in Singapore not reported by the current existing few newspapers.

It could even be a watchdog on various government policies and ministries' activities? Things like looking through HDB, LTA, MOH, MOM accounts and would be of great interest value.

Anyway, I was expecting opposition parties to look into these and have reports on any possible inadequancies. But it looks like they are not doing this too.

CX SG

they can block the URL...

furthermore, its not easy to set up a news site... u need writers, access to information and credibility...

if u don't have any of those, u'll just end up like the thousands of complain sites out there.

2004Lancer SG

i always have coffee with Low Thia Kiang at Hougang Ave 7 and sometimes i have rally-race with Chiam See Tong's decade's old Volkswagon and Low Thia Kiang's blue MPV......

they r very nice people...they asked me no need to vote for them.......

oldbreadstinks SG

seems that way to me, ever since someone told me about that i've been reading the newspapers and watching the news on tv carefully because i really don't don't what to believe anymore
after watching out for a while, i've noticed that the news really is crap, it almost makes you believe that you're in heaven
so i've stop reading straits times regularly, as for watching news on tv, i'm even more disappointed with the reporting,

FOR GOD'S SAKE, HOW THE HELL DID AN ESCAPED LOBSTER MADE IT INTO THE NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IS THERE REALLY NOTHING TO REPORT AT ALL!!!
IS IT SO BAD THAT A GOD DAMN LOBSTER MANAGED TO GET REPORTED JUST BECAUSE IT APPEARED IN A HDB ESTATE??? Mad Mad Mad

if this the type of news we're getting , i think it is they who are insulting our intelligence and not us who are insulting

and btw i recalled that some govt guy said that the media should be the "mouthpiece" of the govt and should not report news that's against the govt
since that can cause instabliity and that is not good
and the media has a responsibility to ensure social order

I don't like pap but i think even the sammyboy people are too much, most of what they're doing is just senseless bashing

tspg SG

For those who are familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdom....

One day Cao Cao was leading his army on an expedition. The soldiers were tired and thirstyand moving at a very slow speed putting them in a vulnerable position. Cao Cao told them, there are plum trees ahead I see sweet juicy plums growing on them. Motivated, the soldiers move fast and out of the area. Of course there were no plum trees, it was a white lie told by Cao Cao.

Whenever I go on BN exercise, my PC would tell me we are still two click from the objective I would think : " Damn it that was what you said three hours ago." When I ask again he would say almost reaching. I would be skeptical but I also want to believe at the same time.

A few years ago when GCT said the economy was recovering I didnt believe him either. Our fundalmentals and external demand were still weak. The recovery was weak and will be brief. But I believe he said so to motivated, and not to misled Singaporeans.

A important element required in a recovery is confidence. A lot of times businessman makes decision based on sentiments. If he feels that business is not going to pick up, he cuts down on investment and hiring. The consumer will also spend less resulting in factories producing less and less workers being hired and more being retrenched. The recesson will be prolonged.

If the media and govt were to paint an overly bleak picture, thats whats going to happen. If I were a retrench worker would I still have the confidence to look for a new job if I see in the media everyday that there are many more unemployed and that there are hardly any jobs around ? Or would I be more motivated after seeing sucess stories of ppl who are re-employed after retraining ? Its the same for business sucess stories.

There are only a few bright sparks. But if we were to concentreated on the gloom instead of the bight sparks, we would have been enveloped by the darkness.

My last post for the thread.

Thank You for reading such a long post. Neutral

Atobe SG

There is a difference between 'white lies' to motivate and energise the people to higher goals, and the 'white lies' to mislead and redirect people's attention to the errors made or government policies that are controversial.

When news reporters only spy on the Citizens - reporting on a family preference of walking naked within their HDB flats, or where teenage groups hang out to smoke and drink beer, or where illegal activities takes place - but neglect on reporting the failings and shortfalls of government policies, can there still be any objectivity left in news reporting ?

News reporters will put local opposition politicians in a microscope and loudly announce any mishaps, but will hardly subject politicians from the Ruling Party to the same treatment.

When any failings from an Opposition Politician is reported, the same news will be in the headlines for the following weeks, months and rehashed a few years later when deemed suitable to the Ruling Party.

Any failings from any politician from the Ruling Party will get short term publicity, and will never be brought up again.

Can we ever find quality investigative type reporting to the effects of any Government Policies ?

Will there be any honest publication of editorials on the present unemployment situation that is attributed to an abstract term - "STRUCTUAL UNEMPLOYMENT" ?

What is the consequences of the current employment policy that is being promoted by NTUC, in which employment is based on term contract, and with wages and/or bonuses paid out in two stages subject to the performance of the Employer ?

Will there be any honest reporting of the necessity and effects to the various families in the lower, middle and higher income groups, from the increase of GST rate (from THREE PERCENT to FIVE PERCENT) ?

There are many issues that demand independent and critical investigative work that an independent Newspaper Group can perform, so as to inform the Singapore Public that is growing skeptical to the upbeat talk of the economy improving but the unemployment rate remains at 4.5% for the last six months.

tspg SG

If you fail to see the light, you will continue to live in the darkness.

Atobe SG

Originally posted by tspg:
If you fail to see the light, you will continue to live in the darkness.

Exactly, but seeing the light from the bottom of a well, is no better than being in the dark too.

tspg SG

Even if I were in the deepest well I still see a glimmer of light and a piece of the sky. It is better than someone who is blinded by hatred and refuse to see the truth.

Atobe SG

Originally posted by tspg:
Even if I were in the deepest well I still see a glimmer of light and a piece of the sky. It is better than someone who is blinded by hatred and refuse to see the truth.

If you are in the deepest well, and can only see a glimmer of light from a clear blue sky, you are certainly myopic.

At least, you should see a bright blue sky, even though it is limited by the opening of the well, and not just a "glimmer of light".

Why be so negatively emotive with your expressions towards someone who bear no malice, but only try to show you right from wrong.

Truth ? What is the Truth ?

LKY once said " A lie repeated often enough, will slowly be taken as the truth - especially when said by someone with authority".

This is a frightening statement coming from someone with authority.

The truth remains clear in published accounts of the various Directors in Government Linked Companies that are related to the First Family and their Extended Family.

Are the published account lies written by anyone without Authority ?

Do you not see what was posted, or prefer only to see what you want to see, and meanwhile sweep the rest under the carpet ?

Typical attitude of Politicians who cannnot help on issues that they are impotent to.

tspg SG

You are just blind by hatred. Continue to live in the dark if you want to. I cant help you.

Atobe SG

Originally posted by tspg:
You are just blind by hatred. Continue to live in the dark if you want to. I cant help you.

Unfortunately, you only prefer to see what you want to see.

If you see only hatred in what has been posted by me, then no one can help you resolve what your eyes see, and how your brain react to what your eyes have seen.

Sadly, I hope you know where you are heading with your seemingly self-delusionary place in the Opposition Party - NSP.

tspg SG

Ok whatever go take your medicine and have a good rest.

Depression is a frightening ailment.

I will try not to be so harsh in future.

Atobe SG

Originally posted by tspg:
Ok whatever go take your medicine and have a good rest.

Depression is a frightening ailment.

I will try not to be so harsh in future.

Are you deluding yourself as being a qualified medical practitioner now, besides being an effective member of an Opposition Party ?

It is interesting how one can swing from one role to another, and seem to be seemingly qualified to make prognosis of the situation.

There have been quite a few Opposition Members going into self-denial mode, and entering in a self-deluding world, after suffering setbacks after setbacks, and with their world crumbling from the truth being exposed.

tspg SG

ok ok ok whatever you say. Rolling Eyes

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