Singaporeans For Free Speech & Transparency said:

The hint of trouble was when TOC started doing lifestyle stories, including articles by a SEXologist... Temasek Review on the other hand was smarter. They grabbed people by the eyeballs early on, and then moved into more serious political commentary. The Apprentice is now the Master.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "A slightly weird analysis of two big political blogs The Online Citizen and Temasek Review. Looks at how sex sells, and how sex gives insight into these blogs."

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National Geographic Magazine said:

To lead a society, the MM says in his precise Victorian English, "one must understand human nature. I have always thought that humanity was animal-like. The Confucian theory was man could be improved, but I'm not sure he can be. He can be trained, he can be disciplined."

Recommended by tinkertailor: "Article on Singapore culture, politics, and LKY."

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Reuters said:

Singapore-bashing is a sure-fire way to win political capital in many regional countries.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Very frank. I like!"

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Yaevlejunce said:

Remember how LKY said he will send in the army if there ever is a "freak election" and the PAP is voted out of Parliament? In every other country, when the people vote out the ruling party, it is called a mandate. It is only in Singapore that such a vote is called a "freak election". Also, whose Army is it anyway? Is it the Army of the people of Singapore - who have just voted out the PAP? Or is it the Army of the PAP?

I list here ten out of the many other reasons why I am unable to vote for the PAP:

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Author lists 10 reasons why he cannot vote for the PAP. A worthy read."

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Hri Kumar said:

My suggestion in Parliament last week to allow the PM to appoint Ministers from outside the pool of MPs has attracted support, criticism and speculation.

Some people speculated I was putting forward the suggestion on someone else's instructions. That is not how things work. No one tells me what to say or vets my speeches. The first time the leaders knew of my speech was when they heard me in Parliament.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "PAP MP puts forward case for unelected cabinet ministers."

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Singapore enquirer said:

The Singapore government’s relationship with an increasingly critical blogosphere is tenuous at best if not outright antagonistic. For a long time, it is contented to leave internet chatter on its own believing that it will have little influence at the national level as long it is restricted to cyberspace.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "No need to use REACH liao."

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Ganga said:

The most critical change of all is Section 2-3(a) which changes from 'reporting of current events' to '...reporting of news by a broadcasting service licenced under any written law'.

This in itself places anyone filming an 'illegal event' who does not have a press pass in the cross hairs of the authorities (which include the Police) who, under Section 34 of this act, can search and seize any film and equipment used.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Proposed Amendment to the Films Act: sad, sad day for a 'first world' society - when using your camera-phone to capture video in a public place can automatically become an offence..."

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Yawning Bread said:

This story started with an abusive employer, but what got me interested was the role played by the government departments. From this, you can see that they were not at all interested in helping workers. Mediation became story-telling in the hope of discouraging the workers from pressing their claims. No mention is made of the company being prosecuted for violating our Employment Act. The police held people for overstaying without a shred of evidence that they were overstayers. The ICA held people in an armlock, getting them to fund their own flight home, with or without being paid their wages. They all just want to get rid of the problem, with no regard for justice, law or rights.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "The building of Singapore's Integrated Resorts (IR) is reported to be wrecked by economic uncertainties, but little do we know about the foreign workers who are denied wages, and the governmental inaction when it comes to helping them."

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The Online Citizen said:

After months of consultation with various sectors of society and organizations, the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (AIMs), finally presented its report on Internet regulations this morning.

“If the Government warmly embrace what we are suggesting…it will lead to more diversity, more choices, more space for political discussion,” AIMs chairman, Mr Cheong Yip Seng, said at the press conference which was held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel at Kim Seng Road.

The report, titled “Engaging New Media, Challenging Old Assumptions”, is a 224-page document, neatly packaged and given out to the media. It comes after consultation with groups such as the Law Society, Government Parliamentary Committees, businesses, bloggers and individuals.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "This may change the landscape of the internet for Singaporeans."

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groundnotes said:

ST’s headline was factual. The airport was occupied, thousands were stranded, flights were cancelled and chaos reigned. But it’s not in the business to only report the facts; its here to support the government construct a nation in its own image. This entails emphasizing and de-emphasizing meanings which enable the state to look good.

But the real question is not how Singaporeans recognize false dilemmas and reject them. The real question is, do Singaporeans want freedom from false dilemmas? I don’t really think so. Here are some reasons why...

Recommended by mr.udders: "A very cogent and coherent argument which shows a depth of critical thinking and wide reading. If only we had more socio-political writers like her/him and fewer pretenders to the throne!"

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President Nathan said:

You fought a long battle for your ideals. You were destined not to see it through.

Recommended by meanie: "So kind."

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mrbrown said:

While this government has finally recognized that its rules are "way, way out of date", I feel that this government still hasn't "got it" when it comes to the New Media, or Web.

Recommended by reeneho: "Fantastic article written by this Singaporean, but rejected by mainstream papers. "

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The Online Citizen said:

“We decided to do the poll because no one was doing it – getting the opinion of the people most involved or affected by the way their constituency is run, the people of Jurong GRC,” said Andrew Loh, Deputy Editor of The Online Citizen. “Although it was a simple poll of 2 questions, it gives a reasonable feel of what the people of Jurong GRC think about the issue of having a by-election there, in the wake of the passing of one of its MPs, Dr Ong Chit Chung. 478 Singaporeans is a decent number to poll, considering our very limited resources.”

Recommended by mr.udders: "Nice to see The Online Citizen taking a refreshing approach towards discussing a matter close to our hearts."

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Simon Tay said:

Obviously he did not calculate the ERP charges that taxed taxi riders that are currently charged ERP fees! The middle class can now OWN cars with huge installment to pay and they will choose not to drive to "save on cost".

PM Lee mentioned that people should Remove the food tray after your meal in food court and I will add to that that we should even clean the table with our own wet tissue.

We don't return our plates it's because FREEDOM allows us to do that and there is NO LAW that indicate that we must return our plates. If the law says it's ILLEGAL to leave the plates on the table after a meal then WE ARE LITERALLY IN PRISON.

PM Says that there will be more help, schemes for women to encourage babies. What about reducing stressful working lifestyles and reducing number of working hours to increase work - life balance.

Recommended by simontay78: "It's the truth and sincere counter claims on what the PM is trying to convince the locals on political issues."

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The Zimbabwe Times said:

President Robert Mugabe on Friday quietly left the country destined for Singapore where he was set to receive medical attention for an undisclosed ailment. ... “He normally seeks treatment in Singapore,” said a source. “That is where he has gone to. He is coming back on Sunday morning.”

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "Welcome to tyrants and despots here! Money good can liao! "

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Singapore Politics said:

SGPolitics.com is a memetracker which finds and keeps track of Singapore’s Socio-Political Blogosphere.

Recommended by Anonymous Coward: "A recently launched memetracker to allow Singaporeans to easily keep up with Singapore political issues."

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The Guardian, UK said:

Why is it that a growing number of highly educated and well-travelled people are willing to hand over several of their freedoms in return for prosperity or security? This question has been exercising me for months as I work on a book about what I call the "pact".

The model for this is Singapore, where repression is highly selective. It is confined to those who take a conscious decision openly to challenge the authorities. If you do not, you enjoy freedom to travel, to live more or less as you wish, and – perhaps most important – to make money.

Recommended by Selfrevolution: "John Kampfner reflects on a growing trend of a new form of calibrated authoritarianism, combined with the tenets of capitalism, which is slowly taking root around the world in the post 9/11 era. And Singapore's model is a learning tool for that purpose.."

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CNA reports that Gopalan Nair, who blogs at Singapore Dissident, has been arrested.

Police have arrested a former Singaporean for the offence of "threatening, abusing or insulting a public servant".

In response to media queries, police confirmed that Gopalan Pallichadath Nair, who is now a US citizen, was arrested at Broadway Hotel along Serangoon Road on Saturday.

A warrant of arrest without bail was granted by the courts for the arrest.

Nair is alleged to have sent an email to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General which contained statements amounting to the offence of insulting a public servant.

The statements were directed against Justice Belinda Ang, a Supreme Court judge. The statements were also posted on Nair's blog.

Nair is presently in police custody. He will be charged in court on Monday.

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New York Times said:

Mr. Jeyaretnam rose quickly in the legal establishment, serving as a magistrate, district judge, prosecuting counsel, registrar of the Supreme Court and chief of the Subordinate Judiciary, a position of status and influence.

He resigned in 1963 at the age of 37 and went into private practice because, he said, “I was disillusioned, completely.” In 1971, he made the first of his many unsuccessful runs for Parliament.

At the news conference he was asked the question that lies at the heart of people’s fascination with him: why he continues after all these years of what seems like futility.

“I am concerned with reform and with people’s thinking about the real values in life,” he said. “Why are we here? What is the purpose of our being?”

Recommended by at82: "JBJ, our veteran opposition politician in New York Times."

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SGpolitics said:

In Singapore nobody is taught from young to covet the job. The political climate here does not allow anyone to covet the job. Politics is not a profession that parents encourage their children to pursue. Therefore, a child in school will write about his or her ambition to become a doctor, lawyer, accountant, an engineer, an artist, a teacher or a writer but none will write about becoming a Prime Minister.

Recommended by DOM the Clown: "My kachang puteh stall is also facing the same problem leh! I can't find a successor even when I'm willing to pay PEANUTS to whoever succeeding me!"

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