<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>NMP candidates attacked online
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Three, including lawyer Siew, accused of pushing gay agenda </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sue-Ann Chia
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Lawyer Siew Kum Hong, 34, has borne the brunt of the online attacks.
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->LAWYER Siew Kum Hong is at the centre of an online storm over his application to be a Nominated MP for a second term.
Two opposing groups are slugging it out over his suitability for the position, mainly on the online portal of Reach, the Government's feedback platform.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Reach's Amy Khor:
Strong interest sparks discussion
'Sometimes, when a particular issue is reported extensively in the mainstream media, such as in this instance, it will translate to discussion and feedback on the Reach website. Hence, for netizens to post their comments and feedback on this issue is not entirely surprising.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>When contacted, Mr Siew, 34, said he was 'upset' by the attacks: 'There's a lot of misrepresentation and falsehood.'
Opponents of his bid have attacked him on two fronts.
The first is his involvement in the recent leadership tussle at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).
The second is his petition to Parliament in 2007 to repeal the Penal Code's Section 377A, which makes it illegal for men to have sex with men.
In the case of Aware, Mr Siew had backed the long-time members who were ousted in March.
At Aware's extraordinary general meeting on May 2, which ended with the long-time members wresting back power, he was described as their 'legal adviser'.
Many of his detractors are accusing him of taking sides when they said he should have stayed neutral. Some, pointing to his Section 377A petition, also felt he was promoting a homosexual lifestyle.
But the attacks, which began on May 8, have in the past two days prompted a wave of counter-attacks by netizens voicing support for Mr Siew.
The furore has drawn about 340 comments since May 1, when Reach sought views from the public on what they desire in the new line-up of NMPs.
NMPs were introduced in 1991 to provide for alternative views in Parliament. A maximum of nine candidates can be nominated by the public and invited groups.
The NMPs serve for up to 21/2 years and the new term starts in July.
Applications closed on Monday.
Mr Siew said he began reading the comments only on Wednesday night, although he had seen postings on other online forums.
'It is regrettable that it has gotten to this. I did not anticipate it,' he said.
Most of his online attackers did so anonymously. They charged that his 'pro-gay' stance and his taking sides in the Aware dispute polarised society, signalling that he was not in touch with the majority of Singaporeans who are 'conservative'.
In rebutting them, Mr Siew said he participated in Aware in his personal capacity and not as an NMP.
He stressed that he neither supports nor condemns homosexuals: 'I'm against discrimination of homosexuals.'
He also said to reduce his re-nomination to just the point that he is pro-homosexual is a misrepresentation of facts.
'Engage me on the substance of my speeches and the many issues I've raised,' he said.
Most of his netizen supporters say he has proven to be 'impartial' and 'articulate', and 'his views reflect secular society'.
They also praised him for raising 'uncomfortable' issues.
While Mr Siew is bearing the brunt of the online attacks, two other NMP hopefuls from the arts scene are also being discredited by netizens.
They are theatre director Beatrice Chia-Richmond, 34, and artistic director Loretta Chen, 32.
Both are said to be pushing the homosexual agenda with their plays, and Ms Chen was also said to be openly a lesbian.
However, the deluge of anti-Mr Siew comments has led some netizens to speculate that it was an organised attempt to try and make the online views appear as being representative of the majority.
In online jargon, this is known as 'astroturfing' - creation of a fake grassroots movement.
Some have also alluded that certain groups were behind the move, given the references to Aware and homosexuality.
Internet specialist Tan Tarn How from the Institute of Policy Studies believes the conservative cyber critics are not just out to attack Mr Siew. It is more an attempt to 'get their voice heard' on issues like homosexuality, he said.
Their voices are likely to grow louder, he added. [email protected]
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Three, including lawyer Siew, accused of pushing gay agenda </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sue-Ann Chia
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Lawyer Siew Kum Hong, 34, has borne the brunt of the online attacks.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->LAWYER Siew Kum Hong is at the centre of an online storm over his application to be a Nominated MP for a second term.
Two opposing groups are slugging it out over his suitability for the position, mainly on the online portal of Reach, the Government's feedback platform.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Reach's Amy Khor:
Strong interest sparks discussion
'Sometimes, when a particular issue is reported extensively in the mainstream media, such as in this instance, it will translate to discussion and feedback on the Reach website. Hence, for netizens to post their comments and feedback on this issue is not entirely surprising.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>When contacted, Mr Siew, 34, said he was 'upset' by the attacks: 'There's a lot of misrepresentation and falsehood.'
Opponents of his bid have attacked him on two fronts.
The first is his involvement in the recent leadership tussle at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).
The second is his petition to Parliament in 2007 to repeal the Penal Code's Section 377A, which makes it illegal for men to have sex with men.
In the case of Aware, Mr Siew had backed the long-time members who were ousted in March.
At Aware's extraordinary general meeting on May 2, which ended with the long-time members wresting back power, he was described as their 'legal adviser'.
Many of his detractors are accusing him of taking sides when they said he should have stayed neutral. Some, pointing to his Section 377A petition, also felt he was promoting a homosexual lifestyle.
But the attacks, which began on May 8, have in the past two days prompted a wave of counter-attacks by netizens voicing support for Mr Siew.
The furore has drawn about 340 comments since May 1, when Reach sought views from the public on what they desire in the new line-up of NMPs.
NMPs were introduced in 1991 to provide for alternative views in Parliament. A maximum of nine candidates can be nominated by the public and invited groups.
The NMPs serve for up to 21/2 years and the new term starts in July.
Applications closed on Monday.
Mr Siew said he began reading the comments only on Wednesday night, although he had seen postings on other online forums.
'It is regrettable that it has gotten to this. I did not anticipate it,' he said.
Most of his online attackers did so anonymously. They charged that his 'pro-gay' stance and his taking sides in the Aware dispute polarised society, signalling that he was not in touch with the majority of Singaporeans who are 'conservative'.
In rebutting them, Mr Siew said he participated in Aware in his personal capacity and not as an NMP.
He stressed that he neither supports nor condemns homosexuals: 'I'm against discrimination of homosexuals.'
He also said to reduce his re-nomination to just the point that he is pro-homosexual is a misrepresentation of facts.
'Engage me on the substance of my speeches and the many issues I've raised,' he said.
Most of his netizen supporters say he has proven to be 'impartial' and 'articulate', and 'his views reflect secular society'.
They also praised him for raising 'uncomfortable' issues.
While Mr Siew is bearing the brunt of the online attacks, two other NMP hopefuls from the arts scene are also being discredited by netizens.
They are theatre director Beatrice Chia-Richmond, 34, and artistic director Loretta Chen, 32.
Both are said to be pushing the homosexual agenda with their plays, and Ms Chen was also said to be openly a lesbian.
However, the deluge of anti-Mr Siew comments has led some netizens to speculate that it was an organised attempt to try and make the online views appear as being representative of the majority.
In online jargon, this is known as 'astroturfing' - creation of a fake grassroots movement.
Some have also alluded that certain groups were behind the move, given the references to Aware and homosexuality.
Internet specialist Tan Tarn How from the Institute of Policy Studies believes the conservative cyber critics are not just out to attack Mr Siew. It is more an attempt to 'get their voice heard' on issues like homosexuality, he said.
Their voices are likely to grow louder, he added. [email protected]
