Local News

A group of journalists have written a letter to Minister of Communications and Information, S Iswaran, to request him to withdraw the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill. 

They were alarmed by the legislation which they claim will not effectively combat fake news. "Attempts to deal with misinformation and disinformation should not result in draconian laws that encourage self-censorship and undermine press freedom, which is already in peril in Singapore."

Singapore is already ranked 151 for press freedom. Like the government wants it to go even lower.

In the letter, the journalists state that the Bill is too vaguely worded and does not protect individuals or organisations. Furthermore, it allows ministers to be the arbiters of truth in deciding what is fake from what is not. 

It is not like there is a clear distinction between statements of fact vs opinion. With so much power, how will the incumbent or future governments be sure that they do not abuse it? 

"Most news organisations are already struggling in an increasingly difficult environment. Few will have the resources or stomach needed to launch a legal challenge."

In order to protect everyone, they are calling for the Bill to be withdrawn. Otherwise, Singaporeans will suffer if it get into the wrong hands and it will be too late to regret.

It is the trend to start petitions. Petitions for anything, anytime. 

Just a couple of days ago, a "Gary Yeow" started a change.org petition to defend the public shaming of Nicholas Lim. Singaporeans from all walks of life will know him as the man who filmed a student while she was showering in the NUS campus. He was let off with a warning and told to write an apology letter. Yes. Simple, lenient, easy. 

It is no surprise that Singaporeans were quick to shame him for his misconduct and demand for the school to take tougher actions.

Seeing that the matter has been blown up, "Gary Yeow" started a petition calling for people to defend NUS' stance, or lack thereof. He said that it is "manifestly unjust" for people to single out Nicholas Lim now or think that those who are more vocal are right. 

He believes that NUS did not mishandle the issue as it was simply carrying out what it has been doing all along. He supports NUS in giving students a second chance before expelling them for good. 

18 people have signed the petition. 

While some may feel that Lim deserves more pity, they cannot deny that what he did was wrong. And when someone does something this wrong, he needs to be given the appropriate punishment and face the consequences of his actions. Starting a petition to defend him will not help at all.

Once Lim is done facing his "consequences", which by the way, should not just be a warning and apology, perhaps he can talk about moving on or having more chances. How about that?

The NUS peeping tom parents has allowed the Singapore police force to reveal the nature of their jobs. The father is a driver in the public transport sector and the mother is a housewife. This comes after many of the netizens thinking that his parents are huge influential figures, which was why he got such a low sentence

Singapore Police Force revealed in their statement on 23 April 2019. The statement also included reasons for his low sentence which includes the accused having a high likelihood of rehabilitation and was remorseful. There was also an absence in obscene materials on his personal devices.

Do you agree with their reasoning for his low sentence? Do you think he should get a higher sentence?

The PMO released a statement on 23 April 2019, Tuesday. The statement is as follows:

The Prime Minister will make the following changes to his Cabinet with effect from 1 May 2019.

Mr Heng Swee Keat will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister. He will remain as Minister for Finance, and continue chairing the Future Economy Council and National Research Foundation. He will be appointed Acting Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s absence.

Mr Teo Chee Hean and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam will relinquish their appointments as Deputy Prime Ministers. They will be appointed Senior Ministers and remain in Cabinet. Mr Teo will continue as Coordinating Minister for National Security. Mr Tharman will be re-designated as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies. He will continue to advise the Prime Minister on economic policies.

Heng also voiced that he was honoured for PM Lee's trust and will do his very best for Singaporeans in his Facebook Post.

Crowd favorite Tharman Shanmugaratnam has relinquished his appointment as a Deputy Prime Minister. What would this spell for Singaporeans in the coming years? Are you ready for this change?

https://www.facebook.com/hengsweekeat/posts/2242838945754618

Scoot have been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, and this time was no different as once again, their passengers faced inconvenience and uncertainty over their Scoot flight from the south Indian city of Bengalaru to Singapore. 

The 173 passengers were stranded in the airport overnight on Tuesday, as their plane was hit with a false security threat. The flight, which was supposed to take off at 1:20am on Tuesday night, was rescheduled to depart only at 3:30pm later that day, a difference of 14 hours. Passengers, including young families with kids and those who had to catch a connecting flight in Singapore, were left frustrated as they were left with little information about their own flight. 

According to an eye witness aboard the plane, it was on the runway ready for take off when the flight was abruptly canceled. Apparently a passenger had reported a "gun-like structure" on one of the cabin bags. The passengers were made to wait more than three hours in the plane, before being told to disembark and go through the security and immigration clearance again. 

In response, Scoot said that a passenger was removed from the flight due to a verbal security threat, but no suspicious items were found on the plane. Scoot also said that passengers were given refreshments during the long delay.

NUS is proof of why some academically-inclined people do not know their priorities. 

Monica Baey, a NUS undergraduate, recently voiced her displeasure with NUS' leniency against her sexual perpetrator, Nicholas Lim. Lim had taken a video of her showering in her Hall toilet. Instead of taking tough actions against him, NUS allowed him to get away with a lenient warning and an apology letter. 

The perpetrator gets a second chance except that he cannot attend classes for a period of time. Like he cares.

How in the world did they think the punishment will suffice? Does it mean that anyone can go around campus taking videos of naked female students and get away scot free? If Monica had not been daring enough to voice out, how long will she have to suffer the injustice? 

If everyone can see that there is a problem with their disciplinary action, how did a reputable institution like NUS think that it was ok?

Now that the school is under fire, it has announced that it will be convening a committee and a Town Hall to address the issue. Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung has also said that he has spoken with the NUS President and Board Chairman in telling them to take tougher actions. 

Other schools will also be asked to review their disciplinary measures in order to ensure students' safety. 

https://www.facebook.com/ongyekung/posts/2603813529633233

Lim, who was a financial representative at Great Eastern Singapore, has also resigned. 

https://www.facebook.com/greateasternsingapore/posts/2774941739242794

Many have condemned NUS' lack of action against Lim and have lost faith in its promise to protect its students. While many Singaporeans believe that having a committee or Town Hall is bullshit, the school had better prove people wrong by coming up with sound solutions and good measures. 

NUS has to realise that not everyone deserves second chances. Especially sexual perpetrators. 

It also has to realise that if it continues to be so incompetent, it will be Singaporeans turn to deny them of second chances.