P10 - Press Freedom in Singapore

8/14/2019 P10 - Press Freedom in Singapore

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Press Freedom in Singapore

&

How it Affects Singapore as aCosmopolitan City

COMM 2285 Communication LawLeonard, Timothy, Verene, Renee, JenYin, Catrina


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VIDEO

PM Lee on Freedom of Speech (National Day Rally 2008)

We have a few restraints because we cant afford to takechances with race and religions. But by and largeSingaporeans are free to engage, to talk, to mobilise. to

influence one and other. To do nearly everything, especiallyindoors, where we lifted the limits a few years ago. There isone remaining restriction, and thats on outdoor demonstrations. We still dont allow this and our concern islaw and order and security. It comes back to race and religionagain because one incident could undermine our racial

harmony and confidence in Singapore. But again, like politicalvideos, valid concern but we have to move away from thistotal bang and find ways to allow people to let off steam, alittle bit more but safely.


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Any topic can be sensitive. Race, religion, sexuality or politics. It is the approach.

Topics on race can or rather, ought to be discussed for Singapore to progress as a cosmopolitan city.

Our Stand


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Prominent figure

The executive director of ARTICLE 19, the internationalhuman rights organisation defending freedom of expression and access to information globally.

Dr. Agnes Callamard


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Freedom of expression, in practice, can be limited in the name of prohibiting the incitement of hatred only if there is a close nexusbetween the expression in question and the risk of harm, and when the

risk is imminent. Intent must be shown and the anticipated danger should not be remote or conjectural and the expression concernedshould be intrinsically dangerous to the public interest.

The state should ensure that the restriction imposed is the leastrestrictive means possible for protecting the interest threatened. Inother words, international law calls for a careful balance to be struck

between protecting the right to freedom of expression on the one hand,and prohibiting advocacy for hatred on grounds of nationality, race andreligion on the other.

Dr. Agnes Stand


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Source:http://www.littlespeck.com/content/people/CTrendsPeople-051003.htm

Among the elites, racism sometimes raises itsugly head.

Years ago, when Choo Wee Khiang wasPeople's Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP), he made disparaging remarksabout Indians and "Little India.

Government may not necessary be the voice of the people.

The Wrong Approach

Insensitive.

Racism.

Serves no purpose.


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Source:

http://www.zaobao.com/bilingual/pages1/bilingual180801.html

A Young Malay Professional's View on MarginalisationLianhe Zaobao (2001-08-18)

Equal footing with educational opportunities that will improve their chances up the social ladder.

Every Malay child and student in Singapore to have a strongeducational base from the start.

Rare that a minority ethnic group is being taken care of so much bythe government. But points out that its actually the minority syndrome that

constantly keeps them harping that they are being marginalised. In actual fact, marginalisation happens all over the world. Therefore

urges all to stop harping on that and move on.


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Source:http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1156077833896&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout

Openly commented online about Singapore Muslims supporting Osman BinLaden, mastermind for September 11 attacks.

Commented that how the rights of Muslims went taken away when scarvesare not allowed to be worn by children a government girl school.

He said Singapore authorities practise hypocritical meritocracy.

Commented the Muslims were lead by Malay Member of Parliaments (MPs)and leaders of Singapore Malay Muslim Association (MUIS).

Both appointed by ruling party and under Scrutiny of Ministry of Muslim Affairs. Thus, not independent from government.

Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff Former CEO of Fateha.com. Founded Fateha.com with two other friends in 1999

Realising that they could not rely on the local mediato air their views on Muslim issues.


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Source:http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020214ft.htm

issue threatens to fray further relations between the city-state's ethnicChinese majority and ethnic Malay Islamic minority

The government views the matter differently. It believes state schoolsshould be used to promote racial harmony in multi- ethnic Singapore. Thewearing of tudongs would break its policy of standard school uniforms,

which are meant to emphasis similiarities, not differences Sikhs are allowed to wear turbans in public schools, and that the banning of

headscarves is arguably discriminatory Reported in the news. Would an explanation in the press before action

cause such an uproar?

Singapore Headscarves Ban Angers Muslims


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Source: (UN Refugee Agency)http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,463af2212,469f2f192,49749cb046,0.html

Source: (ST Forum Online)

http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?s=ebdb3193de719f62ba419b5c73691898&p=252120#post252120

Additional resentment that the Malay language is not as protected or promoted asis Mandarin, which benefits from a government-sponsored 'Speak MandarinCampaign'. This again is perceived by Malays in particular as leading torequirements of fluency in Mandarin which could be used to discriminate against

them Public stated that it was a political ploy for power and dominance

Speak Mandarin Campaign


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Categories of Perceived Problemsby Malays in Singapore

Economic disadvantage (comparison to Singapore's other ethnic groups). Relative lack of educational opportunities. Least likely to achieve higher education. Represented as urban laborers and low-level service workers . Lack of any major political influence and ethnic minority status in a

predominantly Chinese society Unease arises from the under-representation in many areas Restrictions on the practice of their religion and the celebration of group

holidays.


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Malay Dissatisfaction

Sources of Malay dissatisfaction are : economic. acceptance of general conditions of life in Singapore as overriding the

majority of the disadvantages of relatively depressed minority status. lack of special privileges for the Malay community (contrasted to

Malaysians Malays who possessed special rights a privileges becausethe were natives) is itself symptomatic of government thinking.

resentful feeling among many Malays as Singapore is a Malay island,but now dominated by non-Malays.

Despite past problems and occasions when racial harmony had brokendown, all communities in Singapore must operate within the same politicalframework.


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In the Act

Article 152 Minorities and Special Position of Malays

(1) It shall be the responsibility of the Government constantly to care for the interests of the racial and religious minorities in Singapore.

(2) The Government shall exercise its functions in such manner as torecognize the special position of the Malays, who are the indigenouspeople of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of theGovernment to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social and cultural interestsand the Malay language.

Article 153 Muslim Religion

The Legislature shall by law make provision for regulating Muslimreligious affairs and for constituting a Council to advise the President in

matters relating to the Muslim religion.


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Our Views

Should allow press freedom Raise the issue of racism Publics are matured, understands history, faced racial harmony breakdown

before

Allow publics and different race to speak their discomfort Singapore will not encounter riots or major hiccups


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Marxist Conflict Theory

Emphasizes a person's or group's ability to exercise influence andcontrol over others, thereby affecting social order.

Individuals and groups struggle to maximize their benefits, inevitablycontributing to social changes such as innovations in politics and outrightrevolutions.

Conflict theories approach the problem of social inequality from thestandpoint of the various individuals and subgroups within a society.Their needs and desires, rather than the needs of society as a whole.

People that are in the highest class, or the elite, tend to use exploitationof people that are lower in the system to gain more benefits and rewards.

Another basic conflict in conflict theory is that of race and ethnicity .Much like in the class system, groups in this system are ranked by their prestige and power. This means that if a certain race or ethnicity hasmore education, prestige, and power, it is considered the better race or ethnicity.


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Examples:

Recruitment articles from Straits Times.


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History of Singapore Riots

21 July and 2 September 1964 21 July Eve of Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Riots broke out when a

protest demonstration by Malays escalated from a verbal war of tauntsand insults with Chinese bystanders.

2 September - Racial tensions exploded when a Malay trishaw rider wasstabbed to death at night

19 July 1964

More than 1,000 Malay non-political leaders from 101 organisations metMr Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of Singapore and Encik OthmanWok, the Minister for Social Affairs to clarify the issue of the special rightsfor Malays.

Mr Lee promised that every effort would be made by the government totrain Malays for top positions in competition with non-Malays

the government would neither allow a quota system for jobs nor speciallicences and land reservations for Malays

All Singaporean citizens had equal rights, regardless of race.


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History of Singapore Riots

20 July 1964

In response to Mr Lee, the Action Committee was headed by UMNOState leader, Senator Ahmad Haji Taff who claimed that the meetingwas an insult to the Malays.

He defended his Action Committee against accusations of communalism by the Premier

Counter-charging that Mr Lee was trying to break the harmony and goodrelations between Malays and Chinese.

He emphasised, "Our campaign has been directed solely at Mr LeeKuan Yew and his Government for not implementing the special rightsclause in the Constitution - not campaign against the Chinese."


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Should there be no freedom of press, there will be unhappiness withinthe minority. It will cause tension and may cause riots.

Singapore needs to bridge the gap between the races if not there wouldbe a greater divide

A great disparity between different race would cause prejudice andbiasness. It would thus impede Singapores progress as a cosmopolitancity.

To conclude, with the right approach, topics on racial issues will notcause a public outcry but would help the community raise their concernsand work towards a better Singapore

Conclusion - WHY

P10 - Press Freedom in Singapore

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