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In the second reading of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendments) Bill, Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Viswa Sadasivan raised the issue of amendment to Section 61 of the Act where the words in the original Act, “the transmission by an individual to another individual, on a non-commercial basis on what is commonly known as internet, of his own political views (is allowed)” is deleted and substituted with “telephonic or electronic transmission by an individual to another individual ”. In asking the Minister to clarify if electronic transmission also includes online publications, Mr Sadasivan said:
He stressed that any perception of restriction of communicating ideas and views through the electronic means from the people’s point of view, will be deemed as unjustifiable and as an erosion of basic rights, especially since Singapore continues to project itself as an open, progressive society.
He said that besides being unjustifiable, such an amendment to the Act would not be too difficult to circumvent or defy and would in all likelihood bring increased traffic to such websites.
In response to Mr Sadasivan’s queries the Minister for Law K Shanmugam clarified that the term ‘electronic’ replaced the term ‘internet’ as the amendment purposed to include other new mediums besides the internet, which now becomes allowable.
The Minister further clarified that the amendment also lifted the restriction of communicating ‘individual to individual’.
The amendment to the Act however legislates that on the “cooling-off” day and “polling day”, only the mainstream media will be allowed to provide election coverage.
Despite criticisms, the Parliamentary Elections (Amendments) Bill was passed, which paves the way for the next General Elections, due by February 2012.
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Links: NMP Viswa Sadasivan’s Speech, Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill
“What this means is that online publications – which include popular bulletins such as “theonlinecitizen.com”, “Yawning Bread” and “Temasek Review”, as well as some very popular blogs – which, by their very nature, are not officially licensed, will now not be permitted to publish election news. If this interpretation of the Bill is correct, it is disappointing.”
Mr Sadasivan then went on to say that restricting non-mainstream perspectives only serves to deprive the voters of having the benefit of a wide spectrum of views, interpretations and perspectives to make considered, informed and balanced choices at the Poll.
He stressed that any perception of restriction of communicating ideas and views through the electronic means from the people’s point of view, will be deemed as unjustifiable and as an erosion of basic rights, especially since Singapore continues to project itself as an open, progressive society.
He said that besides being unjustifiable, such an amendment to the Act would not be too difficult to circumvent or defy and would in all likelihood bring increased traffic to such websites.
In response to Mr Sadasivan’s queries the Minister for Law K Shanmugam clarified that the term ‘electronic’ replaced the term ‘internet’ as the amendment purposed to include other new mediums besides the internet, which now becomes allowable.
The Minister further clarified that the amendment also lifted the restriction of communicating ‘individual to individual’.
The amendment to the Act however legislates that on the “cooling-off” day and “polling day”, only the mainstream media will be allowed to provide election coverage.
Despite criticisms, the Parliamentary Elections (Amendments) Bill was passed, which paves the way for the next General Elections, due by February 2012.
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Links: NMP Viswa Sadasivan’s Speech, Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill
