wow, we are beginning to see the practise of communism here in singapore now, so hear only the good stuff, its illegal to report the ugly ones cos many singaporeans dare not see the truth because many are still weak hearted and the ugly truth may caused them to faint.

Foreign journalists are not allowed to comment on Singapore politics. Those with a critical view, are especially frowned upon. That’s probably why Bland has been shown the door. It could be said that when a guest misbehaves, the host has the right to ask him to leave and not invite him again.
But who knows? Journalists could, in a more tolerant future Singapore, be allowed to freely express their point of view. A critical eye can sometimes expose flaws in the system, leading to improvement.
At worst, I feel journalists should be treated like the court jester. He is allowed to make fun of the King since members of the King’s court are too polite, or afraid, to shed light on the King’s failings.

“its illegal to report the ugly ones cos many singaporeans dare not see the truth because many are still weak hearted and the ugly truth may caused them to faint. “

1) tiredsingaporean on November 20th, 2009 9.35 am , it is not that singaporeans have a weak heart when it comes to listening to ugly news. We singaporeans are a tough bunch. We been living the bad news for may decades. It is not us that the press is worried about.
It is the old man with the pace maker they are more worried for. Cos if the old man’s pace maker were to stop working due to reading bad news from the press (print or otherwise), the people in-charge of the press dare not bear the responsibility!

But our MM and PM always comment on other countries’ politics. How come huh? Will they be barred from entering China or Taiwan?

Do you remember how they revoke PRs and passes from Mynamar students and workers who demonstrated for Aung Sung Syui cause?

This is Singapore my friend, not happy… but what you want to do or can do?

Singapore is a tyranny state disguised by nice buildings. Only true blue Singaporeans are aware, freedom lies n our hands and our votes every 5 years, once you miss the chance to vote out pap you miss your rights of lives.

[...] Discourse – My Thoughts..: NTUC: Union or Members’ Club? [Thanks Ganga] – TOC: Singapore refuses to renew foreign journalist’s visa – Singapore Short Stories: Singapore Nomads – Jacob 69er: {Video} SDP’s Let’s Talk with Dr Wong [...]

Woa….*sniff sniff* why does it smell like what some junta/good friend will do?

“When the reporter inquired why the government refused, the ministry’s senior assistant director, Yeo Kim Huat, told him on October 15 that, after internal discussions, officials decided that they could not disclose their reasons for the rejection.”

Got Transparency or not?
Ranked very high hor?

I hope these kinds of news donche get circulated in the international community.
Not very nice to tell the world that no reason was given.

The S’pore government or for that matter PAP is defeated again in this episode.
It shows the intolerance of foreign journalist who reports the ugly truth and yet
being blackmarked by renewing Bland’s licence.

A step backward for press freedom.

#11 correction: by not renewing Bland’s licence.

I don’t support western journalists. They are usually up to no good. Out they go. Especially foreign journalists who have agendas to Sinkapoor. Come on. Are we really that stupid in thise 21st century to think these white folks are so benevolent, charitable, etc. My FOOT!

I mean sink us poor kind. Plenty.

Yes. They won’t report any unfavourable things on their soil but always something unfavourable on others’ soil not for their audience but YOURS. To creat mayhem and unrest. That’s their ultimate.

Gone are the days of gunboast diplomacy.

Now using the mass media. Even the Islamic world doesn’t give 2 hoots to them. Even those reports on Iran. Just watch FOX or even the BBC on tv and you (if you’re smart) will eventually see skewed and biased reporting.

Countries like China & the Islamic world have grown wiser. They have theirs to counter like Alzera.

Pleople have grown wiser in this economicallly competitive world where every nation is a rival to another (if you didn’t know). There are no FRIENDS but SELF-INTERESTS. Oh . . they must be very kind to want to seee us live in abundance & prosperity whilst they linger in deep shit (recession). The West is still stuck there today.

See how they try to stir up another Tiaanmmen before the Olympics with their cut and paste job. It failed badly. The Chinese netizens today went after them like hell. China has indeed matured. They know the foreigners who have no stakes have diabolical motives. There will always be running dogs & lackeys (if you had watch Bruce LI’s movies where he punched them flat as traitors) in this world. Money does drive devil carts.

Yes . . we’ll destablise. One competitor less. Simple, Dr Watson!!

Oh, good. One more nugget to factor into RSF’s ranking exercise next year.

[...] To The Fish: A Few Good Men – My Thoughts..: NTUC: Union or Members’ Club? [Thanks Ganga] – TOC: Singapore refuses to renew foreign journalist’s visa – Singapore Short Stories: Singapore Nomads – Jacob 69er: {Video} SDP’s Let’s Talk with Dr Wong [...]

Sherlork Homes and others – I’m not a critic of Singapore, merely a journalist trying to report on the facts.

I had no agenda other than to cover stories of interest to Singaporeans and other people around the world.

Some of my work about Singapore may have been perceived as critical but much of it was positive in tone.

In any case, to report on rising crime, healthcare issues and business links with Burma (as I did) is not to criticise but to show Singapore in light of the genuine challenges that it faces.

It seems that what really worries your government is not press criticism per se but the threat of the truth being unveiled.

Yes, the truth always hurts. And in Singapore’s context, where ‘water-face’ (reputation) is very important, the truth can even hurt more and deeper. That is why you see that many local politicians who cast random accusations and allegations have been put to task and had to either suffer bankruptcy or imprisoned. Western liberal press and magazines, like FEER (recently) have also been sued and had to pay damages.

Moreover, it is a well known fact that some ‘journalists’ and ‘reporters’ are actually spies in disguise (undercovers so to speak). The Authorities may have been alerted of such spying activities but cannot openly reveal them, either to protect the source or have not enough evidence to prove.) But caution is always prudence.

If journalists’ and reporters’ activities are perceived as snooping around in a suspicious way, then they have only themselves to blame.

Elementary, my friend Sherlock Holmes!

An Excerpt from Ben Bland’s blog:
Oct. 21 2009 – 12:00 am

“I’ve just found out that the Singapore government has refused to renew my work visa.

The Ministry of Manpower has refused to give me any reason for this decision.

I’d like to thank all my readers and assure you that I will be back blogging with a vengeance once my involuntary departure is complete.

I’ll also have more to say on my predicament at a later date.

At least I’ve now got some time to re-read the novels of Franz Kafka and George Orwell.”

The current political leaders behave like vilage villians…..I am ashamed of our leaders….who still had the gall to call Singapore a Democracy….

The papies have a phobia of being cast in an unfavorable light. But we have often heard them say that when something is said about the govt, the govt has a right of reply.

To papies: so why are you afraid of letting others talk about you? And what sort of transparency have you been spouting? You are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites!

Singapore has a long way to go in terms transparency. Meanwhile, we can only rely on foreign news sources to learn the truth abt our politicians and their deeds – which is rather ironic.

As the saying goes, if one has nothing to hide – one would not be afraid even when someone comes knocking on your door at midnight. Guess that is not the case for Singapore??

The only few ways they know how to deal with unfavourable press:
1) Sue them
2) Ban them

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