Comments for journalism.sg

Comment on Seng Han Thong, alternative media and choosing sides by Edmund

Edmund — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:11:43 +0000

I guess the TNP article headline about the TOC is just as misleading eh? And they've used you to do so in the process. Two wrongs don't make a right. I understand where you're coming from, but I guess things tend to get muddled when journalism standards on both sides are not up to scratch.

Comment on Seng Han Thong, alternative media and choosing sides by Cynical Investor

Cynical Investor — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:09:07 +0000

Move on. 2011 is ending, 2012 is round the corner. This was a bad example to use to try to illustrate yr point on new media responsibility. It is now very clear that no SMRT spokesperson said the words attributed to him or her.

So the remarks were Han's alone.

So TOC was spot-on.

Han is now trying to make the point that he was defending SMRT staff. Well again, the remarks do not indicate that SMRT was blaming the staff.

So move on. If it makes you happy, juz attribute TOC being right to the luck of the devil. Remember in Milton's Paradise Lost, the devil is on the side of those who want freedom and liberty.

Gd New Year.

Comment on Seng Han Thong, alternative media and choosing sides by play politics

play politics — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:08:11 +0000

It's clear that some people and sites are playing politics and sensationalist tricks rather than upholding the true spirits of democracy and rights. Even the mentality and spirit of the so called "champions" of democracy and rights are just not mature enough for democracy and rights. It's all just a game.

Comment on Seng Han Thong, alternative media and choosing sides by Anon

Anon — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:55:03 +0000

I respect your stand. If what you said in this blog represents your honest views, and genuine principles and philosophy than you have just won back a reader who has been tracking your blog and has come close to, if not already concluded that you are just one more of those plants arduously inserted by the ruling party to muddy the opposition's position.

Not withstanding this, in the present case, if this is how you want to be, IMHO, you should have held your peace. IMO, TOC is not wrong to quote what SHT had said on TV during the programme for these were the exact words of SHT who attributed what he told those present and the rest of the country that they were the words of the SMRT PR. That's a fact. It appears to be also a fact that the SMRT PR DIDN'T say those words -they had in fact already come out to deny it!

The Law Minister is the latest to have waded into the controversy by defending SHT saying that his intention was to defend rather than malign the SMRT staff. I have only to refer him to the law that he now as the minister in charge 'watches' over -namely, the Sedition Law.

It is quiet clear from the relevant extract below that SHT's true (?) intention is irrelevant. What is that he did utter those words!

" (3) For the purpose of proving the commission of any offense under this Act, the intention of the person charged at the time he did or attempted to do or made any preparation to do or conspired with any person to do any act or uttered any seditious words or printed, published, sold, offered for sale, distributed, reproduced or imported any publication or did any other thing shall be deemed to be irrelevant if in fact such act had, or would, if done, have had, or such words, publication or thing had a seditious tendency. "

Comment on There's enough real racism in Singapore – TOC needn't cry wolf by Strider

Strider — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:40:52 +0000

Untrue. By stating that quote without clarifying that it was a racist statement, he had bought into the argument and was trying to convince more viewers with it. This is how racial stereotypes are born.

To draw an extreme parallel, if there was a health and safety scare in a food source, and the PR mentioned that the reason is due to a certain race is dirty and full of diseases. Should a MP then announce such misguided information and then claim that it's because we have accepted a lack of proper hygiene in our practices?

A racist statement will remain racist if one does nothing to address it, let alone build your argument on it.

Comment on We need anti-racism watchdogs, but they should protect their credibility by Rina Ng

Rina Ng — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:32:51 +0000

Absolutely concur with you Dr George.

Thank You for your write ups re TOC's report on Mr Seng Han Thong.

Really glad that someone of your calibre and stature speaks up.

Thank You & Happy Holidays!

Comment on There's enough real racism in Singapore – TOC needn't cry wolf by Raziff Hamid

Raziff Hamid — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:05:09 +0000

May TOC accepts the criticism in good spirit and continue to improve to be the people's media. However I disagree about Mr Seng's naivety for I believe his words came from the underlying impressions he has towards the Indians and Malays. Like how the title shouts "There's enough real racism in Singapore " period.

Comment on We need anti-racism watchdogs, but they should protect their credibility by Tango

Tango — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:09:21 +0000

Pango not very honest. TOC linked an old article dated May 2011 because somebody asked how they can donate. I donated so I know.

Comment on There's enough real racism in Singapore – TOC needn't cry wolf by Tindrums

Tindrums — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:52:25 +0000

Ever since the elections, and time before that, the mainstream media has chosen to give negative slants and angles to the opposition teams. We had only a few other voices to turn to, for what Dr G perceives as "balanced reporting". And TOC gave that to us. True honest bold explanations of the main issues. And how many countless times have the mainstream media also jumped at petty issues against the opposition, because of their political naivete (maybe), or language barriers? I don't see journalists running and slamming these media. So why a TOC bashing now?

All they did, is spell out what all Singaporeans felt aghast at: that a politician could say such racist remarks in a public forum. Did ST make a mistake? Maybe. But if an opposition figure did the same, consider the amount of bashing he/she will get from mainstream media.

Comment on There's enough real racism in Singapore – TOC needn't cry wolf by what's new

what's new — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:17:25 +0000

TOC is just gunning for more eyeballs. If not, they'll be swatting flies. Trust me, TOC will do anything for eyeballs. Think "News of the World". It's the same trick. Understandably,it's for their survival.