The blockbuster movie of 2006. Coming soon to a cinema near you.
The Ministry of the Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA) attacks Mr Brown for his column on the TODAY newspaper. From Mr Brown:
mr brown's views on all these issues distort the truth. They are polemics dressed up as analysis, blaming the Government for all that he is unhappy with. He offers no alternatives or solutions. His piece is calculated to encourage cynicism and despondency, which can only make things worse, not better, for those he professes to sympathise with.Wow. That's some serious allegations there. MICA is saying that Mr Brown distorts the truth and labels him as a partisan player in politics. Give me a break. So what is the truth then? That the increase cost of living has nothing to do with the government? And that the government has done all it can to help Singaporeans to cope with this? Don't give me the shit about the Progress Package's main purpose is to help lower income Singaporeans cope with higher costs of living. We all know and the world knows what it is really meant for.
mr brown is entitled to his views. But opinions which are widely circulated in a regular column in a serious newspaper should meet higher standards. Instead of a diatribe mr brown should offer constructive criticism and alternatives. And he should come out from behind his pseudonym to defend his views openly.
It is not the role of journalists or newspapers in Singapore to champion issues, or campaign for or against the Government. If a columnist presents himself as a non-political observer, while exploiting his access to the mass media to undermine the Government's standing with the electorate, then he is no longer a constructive critic, but a partisan player in politics.
And yes we all know that price increases in electricity tariffs and taxi fares are the inevitable result of higher oil prices but that's more of an excuse to up the price. Take for example the recent news that Comfort, CityCab and Yellow-Top cabs will be increasing their fare. One of the fare adjustments is the raising of the peak hour surcharge from $1 to $2. $2!!! ComfortDelGro which owns the above mentioned fleet of taxis says that the fare adjustments have been made to help their taxi drivers supplement their incomes and that they remain committed to the welfare of their 32,000 drivers. Welfare my ass! If they want to talk about welfare, how about making it easier for the taxi drivers by reducing the taxi rental instead of forcing the consumers to pay more.
Mr Brown, like all Singaporeans should be worried and unhappy about the rising cost of living in Singapore. And as a columnist for a local paper, Mr Brown made use of his column to voice out that unhappiness. Is that wrong? When is voicing your unhappiness about the increase cost of living in a country suddenly makes one a partisan player in politics. Give me a break. So tell me who is really distorting the truth now?
Update: Mr Brown's column is suspended
21 comments:
Wah increase to $2!!! Kanasai!
Gahmen tactic.
Reveal all price increase after elections.
Funny how his column gets approved by the TODAY editors.
Heads will roll. Heads will roll.
Love it! Hahaha!
The Enemy of the State poster is hilarious.
mica sux.
Welcome to Singapore's version of freedom and democracy.
u shld put the mica person's face on the movie poster leh.
The next thing you know the government will start clamping down on bloggers.
The Blogging Registeration Act may just be around the corner.
It is not the role of journalists or newspapers in Singapore to champion issues, or campaign for or against the Government. If a columnist presents himself as a non-political observer, while exploiting his access to the mass media to undermine the Government's standing with the electorate, then he is no longer a constructive critic, but a partisan player in politics.
--- What the FUCK?
we singaporeans cannot speak out or even voice anything that may be against the government.
if we do, we will be known as a partisan player in politics.
lol!!!!!!!!!!
today will sack brown and its editor.
it is true.... the gahmen is afraid of bloggers.
Who is distorting the truth?
Definitely not Mr Brown.
He is writing what the man on the street feels.
So if the government thinks that he is distorting the truth, that means that a million or so singaporeans are also distorting the truth.
The Straits Times has always been championing for the government.
The TODAY editor must have looked through brown's work like he did with his other past works and think that it is harmless.
There is no freedom of speech in Singapore. Another example of the government controlling the press.
majority of singaporeans sympathise with brown because we also feel what he feels.
"When is voicing your unhappiness about the increase cost of living in a country suddenly makes one a partisan player in politics..."
When you're in a country called Singapore. Ah, I love this place.
I wld like to have a Transport Aid Package pls. Another 800 bucks wld be nice.
so we express our frustrations in blogs. what will all these lead to? prices will still rise, some people will still be 'marked', ruling party will still rule and win the next GE. They are not bothered by the frustrations and cries from us. they are excercising their right of lordship.
Post a Comment