Comments on: Filming an illegal event is… illegal?

By: nonsense

nonsense — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:18:38 +0000

What goes up MUST come down.
Be patient, the evil regime WILL fall in time.
It’s Cosmic Law.
Dun pray pray.

By: creducator

creducator — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:52:51 +0000

Hi (63) Loyola,
“So, the best solution for us, the ordinary citizens, is to get out of this “elite uncaring society”. Make plans and preparation to get your future generations out of this condemned place, the soonest the better.”

There is a difference between society and gov. The society is made up by those who live in the same place/country, whereas the gov is elected by the society. So I don’t think our society is “uncaring” but what I have read here and in other uncensored sites make me feel that the gov is becoming “uncaring”.

I love Singapore, but I may not love the gov if they don’t care about our society. I am feeling more and like living in prison with all these new regulations/laws. Not as if these regulations/laws are going to affect me directly, but it will affect my fellow citizens who have something to share with me. I wish I can still say, “This is home truly, where I know I must be”.

By: Garuda.

Garuda. — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:43:51 +0000

Frankly, I am afraid to think of what will happen to our children’s life in 50 or 100 years’ time.

1. This place is becoming too expensive – food, rent, housing, transportation, entertainment, etc.

2. This place is becoming too restrictive – too many laws, rules, regulations, etc. and penalties and punishment are becoming more and more heavy and harsh.

3. Jobs are becoming too competitive, due to foreign talons taking away most of the jobs available.

4. Wages are becoming less and less, due to deliberate policies.

5. Space is becoming more congested as population density grows.

6. Public transports and facilities are being utilised by more and more foreigners.

7. Playgrounds, public areas, entertainment joints, etc are becoming more congested.

8. People are becoming less caring and more money-minded.

So, the best solution for us, the ordinary citizens, is to get out of this “elite uncaring society”. Make plans and preparation to get your future generations out of this condemned place, the soonest the better.

Garuda.

By: Snitch

Snitch — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:31:25 +0000

Hahaha so if the politicians are taking bribes or getting discounts, film evidence would land the filmmaker in prison…

By: Loyola

Loyola — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:31:42 +0000

It is impossible to divorce politics from life. Everything we do is an act of politicisation.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:27:37 +0000

Hi “Confused Citizen”
The filming is illegal only if the film has a political connotation. So, the filming of a rape case is not illegal unless the rape involves a politician or an MP. For example the filming of the ex-Malaysian Health Minister Chua Soi Lek of his sexual sojourn, if it had been a Singapore case, would be illegal.

By: Confused Citizen.

Confused Citizen. — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:55:30 +0000

Does it mean that the new law (proposed by WKS) would make sure that nobody (unless authorised by the govt) can make a film of any event that is illegal according to the law, e.g. a corrupted officials taking bribe, policemen committing an illegal action, crimes taking place in the open/public, or a rape taking place in a private/hotel room, etc.?

By: Snitch

Snitch — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:42:38 +0000

I really feel sorry for them. At first I did not think that Chee and gang could not create much of an impact but now I have to admit that Chee has succeeded to some extent. Chee might be behaving like a monkey but others are begining to look like idiots. His expose has made them look bad and attempts to rebutt him have made them look desparate and clueless at times. So now we have a bunch of what someone called the Chee “laws” which really makes them look even more pathetic and desparate. I do feel sorry for them.

By: Blindman

Blindman — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:58:25 +0000

is suicide and escaping from a facilitly considered an offence in Singapore ? I think it is, does this mean that we need to remove our cams in those areas … example someone jumping off to be hit by a moving train and someone climbing out of the toilet window and down a pipe……

By: Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:30:03 +0000

My point exactly, Daniel. I believe the Gahmen knows that these laws will not deter the Chees and Seelan Pillays from doing what they’ve always been doing. But because in recent years there have been signs of people slowly joining Chee’s ranks (eg the twelve Tak Boleh Taheners), or becoming more vocal, (TOC btw, is rumored to be ‘blacklisted’ by the MSM, meaning the MSM will no longer quote or even mention TOC anymore because the negative publicity for TOC is still publicity)… the intention behind the ‘stupid’ law isn’t really to stop anything except create a climate of fear. They know it’s stupid and ridiculous, but it’s really them saying ‘nia nia nia nia nia!’ to us. The last thing we should do is get discouraged.

By: chaofan

chaofan — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:24:56 +0000

There’s a difference between Pro Government and Pro Pap.

By: Freedom

Freedom — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:11:41 +0000

Hey, this law was already in place but now then they are releasing to us.
It was already in place during mas selamat escape lah…his escape from detention center was an illegal activity..that’s why they didnt film / record it…hah, ha,
By the way this is another of govt’s ‘mother’ of all cunning laws..

By: teo soh lung

teo soh lung — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:14:30 +0000

I once read something about an old chinese emperor. He did not trust his people and made many laws. The people didn’t trust the emperor and thought of ways and means of avoiding the laws. The emperor made even more laws and the people became even more clever in avoiding the laws. So it goes on and on and on … what will happen? Will we be smarter than whoever makes the laws? Can we avoid becoming a nation of prisoners? Or are we already prisoners?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:53:21 +0000

Loyola,
it is possible that people will still will upload anyway. What the gov want to do is to create the fear to discourage people from posting. On the whole, the majority of singaporean is still the obedient and fearful lot, unwilling to tread against the law.
Just imagine in education system, the teacher warn and threaten the student not to post any political video online (other than one that praise and glorify the hegemony since they know that for sure acceptable to the regime) due to such confusing law, such practice will further entrench the fear culture in the cyberspace.

By: Loyola

Loyola — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:43:14 +0000

Daniel,

it is entirely possible that there will be people who will not give two hoots about that law and simply upload anyway.

After all, it is daft, and really makes our nation look damn sia suay.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:19:17 +0000

“Chin up guys! So far only the SDP is likely to conduct ‘illegal’ activities anyways. So it doesn’t affect the rest of the parties.”

Unfortunately it means that anyone who post political firm in Youtube is liable. It is because the SDP push the boundary of the law that we get to see how the law can be twisted and turn to the kangaroo’s liking. This law does affect the other opp parties in just the matter of time, probably when election becomes near that you will see Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt perpetuated by the hegemony, when ambiguousity and confusion about what citizen can and cannot do that will deter many from posting political footage, legal or “illegal” on the safe side of thing. Remember you don’t ‘t need to catch all but just arrest one or two to serve as a warning.

All they need to do now to pretend the liberalization and downplay the impact and repercussion of the law to prevent backslash and public scrutiny but enact the law at the “most critical moment” with LKY providing the firepower and threat, and once election over, it will be the same cycle again. They using the same pattern over and over again. Though it might be less effective as LKY’s days are numbered.

By: Ganga

Ganga — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:24:06 +0000

Yes, but the problem is that relatively harmless protests like what happened outside MOM (report) would fall under the category of 'illegal events of a political nature' according to the Films Act. Whilst I agree that the antics of CSJ and gang are of no consequence to anyone but themselves, I feel that others like in the case of the above mentioned incident are worth the man-in-the-street coverage.

By: Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:41:27 +0000

Chin up guys! So far only the SDP is likely to conduct ‘illegal’ activities anyways. So it doesn’t affect the rest of the parties. Besides, I believe the ‘illegal’ contents will still find it’s way onto the internet one. I’m not saying this because I agree with the law, in fact, I strongly disagree. If anything, it is one of those Chee Soon Juan laws again… and at any rate, whether you agree with SDP’s politics or not, they are a tenacious bunch and will not be deterred. The gahmen also knows it cannot push the boundaries too far if they are to avoid any comparisons to Burma junta.

By: Ganga

Ganga — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:00:13 +0000

The change is quite apalling and effectively makes the filming of almost anything that is not pro-government illegal. But if you read the actual Bill, the most important change that impacts the public is not explained and is instead glossed over using a generalisation. I have attempted to dissect the proposed bill by comparing the existing provisions of the Films Act and the proposed changes as spelt out in the Bill in the following article for those interested: My Dear Government, Why Do You Treat me So?

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:22:36 +0000

This is really a very smart move by the gehmen. On paper they are telling the whole world that they are relaxing on political films, and this legalising of the film distribution will be officially recorded in the history of Singapore. However, in reality they are actually tightening the noose further by illegalising the very act of filming of any activity they deem illegal. No opposition political activity will ever get the police permit and so they will forever be illegal and hence cannot be filmed or published. Clever, very clever indeed.