Posted by theonlinecitizen on January
11, 2011
The Prime Minister of Singapore has revealed his intentions to
declare The Online Citizen as a political association.
According to an email sent to TOC at 5pm yesterday evening by
the Prime Minister’s office, the Prime Minister ”intends
to declare the owners, editorial team, and administrators of The
Online Citizen, by order in the Gazette, to be a political
association for the purposes of the Political Donations Act. The
owners, editorial team, and administrators of The Online Citizen
have been determined to be an organization whose objects or
activities relate wholly or mainly to politics in Singapore.”
This means that TOC is barred from receiving funds from foreign
donors, letting foreigners take part in its events, operating as a
political party and being affiliated to any local or foreign
political party.
It is also not allowed to use its funds, premises and new media
platforms in any election here, including the sponsoring of any
candidate or member.
TOC has 14 days to reveal the identities of its owners,
editorial team and administrators. TOC is also required to
designate a President, Treasurer and Secretary of the association,
and they will be responsible for the preparation and accuracy of
the donations reports for The Online Citizen.
The last group to be gazetted is human rights advocacy
NGO Maruah in November last year. Maruah is the fourth group
-after the Open Singapore Centre, the Think Centre and Singaporeans
For Democracy – to be gazetted as a political association.
If TOC complies, it will be the fifth. It will also be the first
time bloggers are considered a political association.
