Breaking News: Woman who was hospitalized for severe food poisoning after eating at a Geylang Serai rojak stall has died in hospital.
Andrew Loh
If discussions on issues of importance are to progress, both parties have to accept that perhaps it is time to stop staying on their respective sides of the fence.
We have come some ways from the anonymous and sinister-sounding “counter-insurgents” which the government was reported to be sending into cyberspace to counter its online critics in January 2007.
Now, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is adopting a different approach. Its “embrace of the diversity of views”, mentioned by its newly-appointed president of its Youth Wing, Mr Teo Ser Luck, includes those in cyberspace. It wants to engage netizens upfront, it seems. And it has delegated the task to its youth branch, the Young PAP (YP). Mr Teo has made this his priority, apparently. “When I took over YP, I wanted to make sure there’s an embrace of diversity of views. So, you will see more diversity and more participation,” Mr Teo is reported to have told the Today newspaper.
While there will be cynics who will pooh-pooh this cyber outreach by the PAP, the move is to be applauded, nevertheless. Political parties in Singapore have, all this while, seemed unsure and hesitant about engaging netizens, including those from the opposition parties. So far, such engagements do not include what I would call “close quarter contacts”. Parties would put up articles or postings on their sites – and that’s about it. There are no replies from party elders to the comments from readers.
However, this seems to have changed in recent times, especially with the PAP. On Facebook, for example, Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo has been more willing to explain his position on certain issues. This writer had an exchange with the minister over the recent Thein Sein orchid-naming controversy. It was cordial and civil. However, Mr Yeo has yet to emerge from his own corner in Facebook or blog to respond to postings on other people’s sites. But he did, to the surprise of quite a few people, invite his Facebook friends to join him for a morning jog recently.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak, PAP MP for Sembawang GRC, has also been posting comments on other people’s Facebook accounts – commenting on Abdul Salim Harun’s Facebook, for example. Mr Salim, up till recently, was a Workers’ Party member. Dr Lim too had an exchange with this writer over the issue of foreign workers on this writer’s Facebook page. Most of the so-called P65 MPs have Facebook accounts.
The YP set up its Youngpap blog some time back but the postings there have been roundly castigated by netizens each time they appear. The blog was more for defending its parent party, at times rather illogically, and not for a true and sincere exchange of views with readers. Its YoungPAP Facebook is more lively, and has more than 600 friends. Its Facebook looks to be more engaging too. Its latest posting, titled “Opposition redundant?” has had a decent discussion, with most disagreeing with the suggestion, including YP members.
A blog, which seems to have been created by either pro-PAP or pro-government supporters, was set up in 2008 to specifically counter the SDP’s views. Called Not My SDP, a reference to the SDP’s website which is named “http://yoursdp.org”, it is unknown who the people behind the blog are, though some suspect that it may have been set up by PAP grassroots members. Notmysdp perhaps is the clearest manifestation of the so-called “counter-insurgents” from the government. (TOC has written to the blog and is awaiting a reply.)
What about the opposition?
The Workers’ Party secretary general, Mr Low Thia Khiang, does not have a presence in cyberspace beyond his own party’s official website – save for a fan page created by supporters. The same for its chairman, Ms Sylvia Lim. On its official website, the postings consist mainly of Parliamentary speeches and press releases. The WP, however, has members and supporters who are quite active in blogs and in social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter but there has been very limited engagement on current affairs. On the blogs, members do share their views on some current and national issues from time to time, most notably its Organising Secretary, Mr Yaw Shin Leong and former CEC member and GE2006 candidate, Mr Tan Kian Hwee.
The WP’s youth wing has an official website which is best described as a ghost town, really, and thoroughly uninteresting. Its latest posting is an entry about the then newly-elected Youth Wing Executive Council – in August 2008. Party supporters previously set up The Hammersphere blog, but it has since also become inactive. The party’s youth wing got into the Facebook bandwagon recently. Besides the party’s official websites, the party has given no official endorsements to the other sites or blogs.
The Singapore Democratic Party is perhaps the most active on the Internet with its daily website updates. However, on closer look, its party leaders too are not as actively engaged as perhaps its supporters and members, in terms of close-quarter contacts.
Party leaders write articles and post them on their official website. Dr Chee Soon Juan and assistant secretary general, Mr John Tan, would then highlight such postings on their Facebooks. Close-quarter dialogues between the leaders and readers are not very frequent. The SDP had, however, engaged forummers in 2007 on a forum for a one-week period, with party leaders discussing various issues with forummers. The party made a slight revamp to its website on April 6 to make it “more user friendly and easy on the eye.”
The Young Democrats, the SDP’s youth branch, has a Facebook “closed group” account. One has to request to join or be invited to join before one can have access.
[Update: Thanks to Jaslyn Goh for informing the writer that a "Friends of SDP" Facebook group has also been set up.]
The relatively new Reform Party’s chairman, Mr Ng Teck Siong, recently set up a Facebook account and has been noticed posting an occasional note on others’ pages.
The SPP’s Youth Impact too seems to be dormant on the Internet. The NSP and the RP have no youth wings.
It can thus be seen that there is much room for improvement for the political parties, if they want to engage the Internet generation. Engagement would and should go beyond the postings of reports or articles or pictures. The key is dialogue – and sadly, not many politicians are doing this.
The fear, perhaps, is that getting into discussions opens one up to attacks and turns such dialogues into a rowdy and meaningless farce. While there is always a possibility of this happening, there are ways to minimize these. One way is to require commenters to register, as the SDP website does, before any person is allowed to post replies. Another way is to moderate comments, as many sites do. Those who are serious about engaging the issues will find this acceptable, while those who are bent on attacking the other parties may not find it so appealing. But at the end of the day, everyone should respect and accept that it is the site owners who set the rules for their sites – and that they have the right to.
Internet engagement by politicians is a new phenomena in Singapore – and parties on both sides of the fence are adopting tentative stances towards it. The politicians do not want to get into something they are not familiar with; while netizens are wary of politicians usurping Net space for their political agenda.
But if discussions on issues of importance are to progress, both parties have to accept that perhaps it is time to stop staying on their respective sides of the fence.
As of now no party leader has a presence on the Internet whose presence is of any consequence. Most seem to prefer to stay in their comfort zones. However, with a virtually 100 per cent broadband penetration rate in Singapore (as reported recently by the Straits Times), politicians cannot afford to ignore cyberspace much longer – and sooner or later, the fence will have to come down.
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What’s the use, engage or not engage netizens?
As long as there is 50% walkovers, 66% mandate and 98% seats for PAP at elections, all other things no use. At best, like masturbation, release steam only.
Insightful article, with some links to websites I’ve never visited.
The key is dialogue – and sadly, not many politicians are doing this
Well, I guess it’s not worth their time. As the writer mentions, “getting into discussions opens one up to attacks and turns such dialogues into a rowdy and meaningless farce”, which is simply a waste of their time – and ours too.
Furthermore, though S’pore has a “100 per cent broadband penetration rate”, we’re not very sure on the exact proportion of S’poreans who spend some time online – and out of this proportion, we also don’t know the percentage who are actually interested in socio-political-economic issues.
But still this is a timely invitation. The blogosphere always has some surprises.
In addition to Low Thia Kiang’s and Sylvia Lim’s, what’s left out of Andrew Loh’s report on opposition politician’s facebook fan page :
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chee-Soon-Juan/79314173848
Great analogy, #1!
Might it to be possible to imagine critical Singaporean discourses on the Internet WITHOUT ‘engagement’ from the government? A scenario, perhaps, where there are no easy answers, and no possible answers, so there is no potential for co-optation? ‘Engagement’, after all, also posits that there will be the RIGHT answers, in turn implying the government, ultimately will always have the upper hand.
What can these engaging do?
engage to 1 side or the other?
engage in terms of what?
Talk is really cheap, coming from the incumbents.
It is all about sincerity if one is serious about engaging citizens.
Frankly can anyone see sincerity in the incumbents ? by their actions ?
No transparency, no accountability, inability to speakup on issues, self-serving
policies, low empathy, double standards in application of laws, obscenely skewed election system, pathetic leadership, etc are real indicators for citizens
to dismiss it as more BS.
Engagement with netizens is a step forward but not a vast step. Ultimately the master is the one making the decision and who is also the one not in touch with the ground. How effective will YPAP be trying to influence their master in decision making? Today they may appear to listen and engage with netizens (probably election is around the corner) but after election, they may return to their roots and support wholeheartedly their master’s policies whether they are favourable to Singaporean. I have been wondering, how many YPAP are actually a wayang and have supported GST hike, fare hike, ministers salaries hike and ERP in the past? I am still quite sceptical about Ypap engagement if they are not puppies send by the master to entertainment the netizens.
The political parties’ internet outreach has plateaued. They are keeping cards close to their chest until the GE comes. By that time, the blogs have already made their choices known. That said, the extent of the unofficial and anonymous political parties’ internet outreach is a big guess.
I feel the govt’s recent move to engage netizens through online blogging and Facebook is too late. The govt has really “lost touch” with Singaporeans at least on the ground level. If the govt really has the sincerity to engage Singaporeans, they should try taking more public transport and eating more at kopitiams and hawker centres.
The writer Andrew Loh has missed out the FS (Friends of SDP) group which some of the TOC teams are a member of. (Rachel Chung, Rachel Zeng, Mervin Lee, Donaldson Tan etc)
This FS group is prominently display on the front page of SDP’s website. – //www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36465958407
We have at present 255 FS members in FS group. FS is also a open group where anyone and everyone are welcome to join or invite others to join.
The FS group, spearhead by me, periodically invite FS members for events organized by the SDP / FS. Events like our monthly Pow Wow where FS members come up close and personal with SDP, engage them on a personal level and talk about everything under the sun and not just politics.
FS members are also kept updated on news and forums organized by SDP.
Even with limited resources, SDP has always been actively engaging netizens and is by far one of the first political party in SG to do so.
I hope the writer can reflect this misinformation in his article to include the FS group.
Thank you.
Dear Jaslyn,
Thank you for the mention of the FS group. My apologies for the ommission. However, I do not see how this is “misinformation”, as you stated. It was an oversight on my part.
Hi Andrew..
thanks for your prompt reply..
pardon my wrong choice of words..
yes..it should be oversight not misinformation..
please accept my sincere apology..
Hi Jaslyn,
No problem. I should have seen the advert on the SDP website. Maybe too much information overload in my head. Haha… it was a sincere oversight. Next time I’ll do better… :)
Hi Andrew..
no worries..I believe that was not a intended oversight on your part..
and I would like to add..this was a well written article :-)
Join us in FS group to get to know us better…
Thanks Jaslyn… indeed I will and I have. I am member number 257… :)
thank you Andrew..
for giving us a chance to get to know you better too..
will keep you posted on our next Pow Wow event..and hopefully have you join us..
Sure, Jaslyn… I would be honoured… :)
Very informative article. Thank you Mr Loh.
Interesting to note that the reporter who reported on the counter insurgents is the same reporter who reported on the recent Fatimah Lateef episode. Interesting.
Its better not to engage ruling politicians, you may end up in trouble for issuing threats and itimidation just like recent rags and bone man’s court case if you use strong and angry words.
I agree with KongSongLanPaSong.
Talk is cheap!
We always know when someone does a “Chui Kong Lumpar Song” aka “Open mouth to soothe testicles” spin!
Those in the know knows that goodie bags and lucky draws are used to win support and attendance to PAP organised functions.
As they have to try “every which way but lose”, do not be surprise when opening up and engagement means closing and shutting down.
Let’s hope that it’s not another enticement of luring bloggers into complacency and hit them with another ‘AG special’ like those poor folks who wore the wrong T-Shirts to court!
If only we know how to laugh at ourselves, those poor blokes would not have gone to jail!
No Sir, there are no kangaroos in Singapore Court and there are no Judges in Singapore Zoo!
Instead of just making money and protecting their own turf, conscience, sincerity, honesty and duty to nation is what most decent Singaporeans look for in leadership.
Isn’t it funny that after talking till the cows come home against any motion in parliament, PAP MPs still vote for the motion. This shows the quality of the ruling politicians we have in Singapore!
Is being a – ‘ yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full’ covering you own ‘higher mortal’ backside – hypocrite the only quality of a ruling politician in Singapore?
NMPs like Eunice Olsen and Siew Kum Hong have brought a breath of fresh air to the Singapore Parliament. Opposition members like Chiam See Tong, Low Thia Kiang and Sylvia have done their part. And if credit is due, it’s good to note that if not for the Whip, PAP MPs like Lily Neo and Denise Phua, with their hearts in the right places, may have been loved more for standing up against the pay joke and the 3 meals joke !
feedmetothefish
There is no other choice. Though those who post may be few but those read many. More and more bloggers cells will be formed ie like-minded bloggers will gang up to spread their views and viewers can be brainwashed. So action needed by Gov and MSM to see how to engage..i think.
How come only 2 comments? I thought there were more?
I might be posting a response to this article later.
Hi Andrew;
I subscribe for follow up comments and been receiving updates on the latest comments for this articles..
but what puzzle me is when I click on the link to come to this page..I can only see the 1st 2 comments..
website problems or my firefox problems?
Jaslyn,
Yes, we’re having some tech problems. My guys are working on it. But Google Chrome seems to be ok. There’re now 25 comments (including this one).
My apologies. We hope to resolve the problems soon…
Seems like the old comment problems is back again. The PAP Internet Brigade must be behind it. Just look at how their compatriots attempted to discredit TOC by posting interesting comments on this page.
22) mrthinktalk on April 7th, 2009 8.42 pm
“More and more bloggers cells will be formed ie like-minded bloggers will gang up to spread their views and viewers can be brainwashed. So action needed by Gov and MSM to see how to engage..i think.”
Oh no. I thought that bloggers are ganging up to spread the views on how not be brainwashed by msm. well, perhaps you are right, bloggers are so late into this brainwashing game and have to do it now.
If I were to be the Ruling Party’s Internet Brigade, I would create an alternative media that is not only a sensationalist, but also promote malicious remarks on all organisations for and against the Ruling Party.
All MICA and MHA would need is one black sheep to conveniently brand all alternative media groups as an unhealthy manifestation in society and put up draconian laws to persecute such groups.
If the Brother-hood is not part of the Internet Brigade, it should stop its partnership with this particular black sheep.
To TOC,
If the Brother-hood has to use threat to force you guys to remove certain comments, they can’t be really good people in the first place. They are most probably backed by some unscrupulous people in government too.
theonlinecitizen #25,
I also see 2 comments on the Firefox browser running on the Mac OS X platform.
If there is any free seminar or talks on the new media, blogging, etc please extend an invitation to me at mrthinktalk@gmail.com Thank you.