P10 - Press Freedom In Singapore

Press Freedom in Singapore & How it Affects Singapore as a Cosmopolitan City

COMM 2285 Communication Law Leonard, Timothy, Verene, Renee, JenYin, Catrina

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

We have a few restraints because we can’t afford to take chances with race and religions. But by and large Singaporeans are free to engage, to talk, to mobilise. to influence one and other. To do nearly everything, especially VIDEO indoors, where we lifted the limits a few years ago. There is one remaining restriction, and that’s on outdoor demonstrations. We still don’t allow this and our concern is law and order and security. It comes back to race and religion again because one incident could undermine our racial harmony and confidence in Singapore. But again, like political videos, valid concern but we have to move away from this total bang and find ways to allow people to let off steam, a little bit more but safely.

Our Stand

• 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.

Prominent figure

Dr. Agnes Callamard The executive director of ARTICLE 19, the international human rights organisation defending freedom of expression and access to information globally.

Dr. Agnes Stand • Freedom of expression, in practice, can be limited in the name of prohibiting the incitement of hatred only if there is a close nexus between 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 concerned should be intrinsically dangerous to the public interest. • The state should ensure that the restriction imposed is the least restrictive means possible for protecting the interest threatened. In other 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 and religion on the other.

The Wrong Approach • Insensitive. • Racism. • Serves no purpose. • Among the elites, racism sometimes raises its ugly head. • Years ago, when Choo Wee Khiang was People's Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP), he made disparaging remarks about Indians and "Little India”. • Government may not necessary be the voice of the people.

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

A Young Malay Professional's View on Marginalisation Lianhe 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 strong educational base from the start. Rare that a minority ethnic group is being taken care of so much by the 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.

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

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 media to air their views on Muslim issues. • Openly commented online about Singapore Muslims supporting Osman Bin Laden, mastermind for September 11 attacks. • Commented that how the rights of Muslims went taken away when scarves are 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 (MP’s) 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. Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1156077833896&pagename=Zone-EnglishMuslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout

Singapore Headscarves Ban Angers Muslims •

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

•

• •

The government views the matter differently. It believes state schools should be used to promote racial harmony in multi- ethnic Singapore. The wearing 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?

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

Speak Mandarin Campaign • Additional resentment that the Malay language is not as protected or promoted as is Mandarin, which benefits from a government-sponsored 'Speak Mandarin Campaign'. This again is perceived by Malays in particular as leading to requirements of fluency in Mandarin which could be used to discriminate against them • Public stated that it was a political ploy for power and dominance

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

Categories of Perceived Problems by 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.

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 because the 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 broken down, all communities in Singapore must operate within the same political framework.

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 to recognize the special position of the Malays, who are the indigenous people of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of the Government to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social and cultural interests and the Malay language.

•

Article 153 Muslim Religion – The Legislature shall by law make provision for regulating Muslim religious affairs and for constituting a Council to advise the President in matters relating to the Muslim religion.

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

Marxist Conflict Theory • Emphasizes a person's or group's ability to exercise influence and control over others, thereby affecting social order. • Individuals and groups struggle to maximize their benefits, inevitably contributing to social changes such as innovations in politics and outright revolutions. • Conflict theories approach the problem of social inequality from the standpoint 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 exploitation of 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 has more education, prestige, and power, it is considered the better race or ethnicity.

Examples:

Recruitment articles from Straits Times.

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 taunts and insults with Chinese bystanders. – 2 September - Racial tensions exploded when a Malay trishaw rider was stabbed to death at night

•

19 July 1964 – More than 1,000 Malay non-political leaders from 101 organisations met Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of Singapore and Encik Othman Wok, the Minister for Social Affairs to clarify the issue of the special rights for Malays. – Mr Lee promised that every effort would be made by the government to train Malays for top positions in competition with non-Malays – the government would neither allow a quota system for jobs nor special licences and land reservations for Malays – All Singaporean citizens had equal rights, regardless of race.

History of Singapore Riots •

20 July 1964 – In response to Mr Lee, the Action Committee was headed by UMNO State leader, Senator Ahmad Haji Taff who claimed that the meeting was 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 good relations between Malays and Chinese. – He emphasised, "Our campaign has been directed solely at Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his Government for not implementing the special rights clause in the Constitution - not campaign against the Chinese."

Conclusion - WHY • Should there be no freedom of press, there will be unhappiness within the minority. It will cause tension and may cause riots. •Singapore needs to bridge the gap between the races if not there would be a greater divide • A great disparity between different race would cause prejudice and biasness. It would thus impede Singapore’s progress as a cosmopolitan city. • To conclude, with the right approach, topics on racial issues will not cause a public outcry but would help the community raise their concerns and work towards a better Singapore