The changing media environment in Singapore

Title of another Radio programme on ABC National Radio based in Australia
attracted my attention. “The changing media environment in Singapore”
Really, is there a change in our media environment?

As far as I know the Straits Times still is a government publication, and all the media stations in Singapore are just as good as that. Let me quote an example of things that makes me boil.

Recently the Land Transport Authority decided to change the bus services island-wide. As part of this smart move, they decided to terminate some “important” bus services which I have been using. Reason given, The New MRT system provides the alternative route. “It gives commuters' a more predictable waiting time” claimed one of the ministers. Did we ask for a more predictable waiting time? I don’t remember anyone complaining about the waiting time.

On the radio there was an interview with a women who is affected by this change. What did she have to say about this? Listen. ‘Oh yes the buses are no longer here and I have to walk 20 minutes to catch the LRT/MRT, but I consider that a good thing as it’s a type of exercise for my body” . Can you believe that?

Going back to the ABC Radio script, they interviewed Mr. Samydorai from Think Centre in Singapore. Have you guys heard of the Think centre?
The interview talked about the lack of democracy in Singapore media and how Singaporeans are accustomed to self-censorships the day they are born in this fine city.

The interesting issue raised was the freedom of press for foreign reporters coming here. Mr. Samydorai stated that these foreign journalists are allowed to write about Singapore outside of this country but are not allowed to interfere with the political agenda of the local press. If young Singaporeans like you and me want to get a balanced perspective of what’s happening locally should we restrict ourselves to local publication anymore?

Thank god for the internet and blogging system, I get access to segments such as this.

The final issue sounds promising to me. The country after the reign of LKY! Though Mr. Samydorai stated that the change will not be immediate after LKY days, he said we can expect changes in the governing policy and media freedom in the years to come.

I am looking forward for the day where all of us are allowed to grow as human beings and not conditioned as robots.

The day when a Singaporean is more concerned about the world and less about the materials he can gather will be the day that Singapore can be proudly accepted as a developed nation.

Media report transcripts