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http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110602-0000027/Clearing-the-air-on-awkward-comment
Clearing the air on 'awkward' comment
Letter from Inderjit Singh
Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC
04:46 AM Jun 02, 2011
I wish to highlight to you an article carried by your publication on May 28, "PAP MPs surprised Dr Tan might run for President".
I was quoted as saying: "For Presidential Elections, there's always been a candidate that the Government supports ... it's quite clear that we will be fully behind this person so it will be very awkward (to have Dr Tan in the contest)."
The text, provided in the parenthesis, which was added into my quote, did not accurately reflect my thoughts and sentiments nor were they something I had alluded to. By adding these words, the reporter has created an impression among readers that it would be awkward for Dr Tan to contest in the Presidential Elections. In actuality, this is not what I had meant or said.
The "we" I referred to in my quote were the PAP party members and, therefore, I clearly meant that we will be behind the government-backed candidate and therefore it would be awkward for us, the party members. This is because Dr Tan, himself a former party member and a former colleague, is well-known to most of us and a close-friend of many members of the party. Hence, it would be an awkward situation for a party member to be in that position to have to choose between at least two candidates who may be well-known to us.
However, by adding his own interpretation of my quote into the piece, without perhaps seeking a more thorough clarification, your reporter has helped to create several misleading perceptions of my statement and my thoughts on this topic. As a result, I now face an onslaught on the online and social media front, where netizens have used your article as a basis to question the motive behind my statement.
I have spent much time since Saturday having to deal with these online questions and comments about this article and I find that if it there is no clarification made on the actual interpretation of my statement, then it may serve to undermine my credibility and reputation as a political leader and a Member of Parliament.
I do feel that your reporter should have clarified his interpretation with me prior to adding it, in parenthesis, into my quote. I would have had no qualms in helping to uphold the high standards of responsible journalism that is prevalent in Singapore. However, I do sincerely hope that you will help in clarifying this position and I will appreciate your help in this regard as it will help in minimising the damage created by this situation.
Editor's note
The text, provided in the parenthesis, was necessary to make clear the subject of the question which had been posed to Mr Inderjit Singh by the reporter. With regards to the "we", which Mr Singh used in his quote, it is clear from reading the article (including its headline "PAP MPs surprised Dr Tan might run for President") that he was referring to PAP party members, as he has pointed out in his letter. It would be a stretch to suggest that Mr Singh's use of the word "we" would imply that he was speaking on behalf of any other group or even the entire country.
We note that Mr Singh has posted a similar clarification on his Facebook wall, in which he writes "the reporter must have tried to sensationalise what I said". We do not sensationalise our reports. Our track record speaks for itself. We thank Mr Singh for the opportunity to clarify this matter.
Clearing the air on 'awkward' comment
Letter from Inderjit Singh
Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC
04:46 AM Jun 02, 2011
I wish to highlight to you an article carried by your publication on May 28, "PAP MPs surprised Dr Tan might run for President".
I was quoted as saying: "For Presidential Elections, there's always been a candidate that the Government supports ... it's quite clear that we will be fully behind this person so it will be very awkward (to have Dr Tan in the contest)."
The text, provided in the parenthesis, which was added into my quote, did not accurately reflect my thoughts and sentiments nor were they something I had alluded to. By adding these words, the reporter has created an impression among readers that it would be awkward for Dr Tan to contest in the Presidential Elections. In actuality, this is not what I had meant or said.
The "we" I referred to in my quote were the PAP party members and, therefore, I clearly meant that we will be behind the government-backed candidate and therefore it would be awkward for us, the party members. This is because Dr Tan, himself a former party member and a former colleague, is well-known to most of us and a close-friend of many members of the party. Hence, it would be an awkward situation for a party member to be in that position to have to choose between at least two candidates who may be well-known to us.
However, by adding his own interpretation of my quote into the piece, without perhaps seeking a more thorough clarification, your reporter has helped to create several misleading perceptions of my statement and my thoughts on this topic. As a result, I now face an onslaught on the online and social media front, where netizens have used your article as a basis to question the motive behind my statement.
I have spent much time since Saturday having to deal with these online questions and comments about this article and I find that if it there is no clarification made on the actual interpretation of my statement, then it may serve to undermine my credibility and reputation as a political leader and a Member of Parliament.
I do feel that your reporter should have clarified his interpretation with me prior to adding it, in parenthesis, into my quote. I would have had no qualms in helping to uphold the high standards of responsible journalism that is prevalent in Singapore. However, I do sincerely hope that you will help in clarifying this position and I will appreciate your help in this regard as it will help in minimising the damage created by this situation.
Editor's note
The text, provided in the parenthesis, was necessary to make clear the subject of the question which had been posed to Mr Inderjit Singh by the reporter. With regards to the "we", which Mr Singh used in his quote, it is clear from reading the article (including its headline "PAP MPs surprised Dr Tan might run for President") that he was referring to PAP party members, as he has pointed out in his letter. It would be a stretch to suggest that Mr Singh's use of the word "we" would imply that he was speaking on behalf of any other group or even the entire country.
We note that Mr Singh has posted a similar clarification on his Facebook wall, in which he writes "the reporter must have tried to sensationalise what I said". We do not sensationalise our reports. Our track record speaks for itself. We thank Mr Singh for the opportunity to clarify this matter.
