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-English-
Muslim_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