~by: Ravi Philemon~
Yesterday we linked this The New Paper (TNP) article on our Facebook (see HERE) with the following comment:
1. Quote one person saying, “I find TOC a dependable source of news, which is why I found the report disturbing.”
2. Quote the Law and Foreign Affairs Minister saying, “A significant part of what has been attributed to Mr Seng is false”.
3. Quote Cherian George saying, “Omitting to mention that the speaker you’re quoting is quoting someone else can be a little misleading”.
4. Mention that TOC has nothing else to say at this time.
5. Quote Eugene Tan saying, “…but one hopes this issue has not subjected the social fabrics here to strain”.
6. To ask the question, “Online Journalists fair and accurate?” (TNP)
Within 12 hours, we had garnered over 120 comments most of them supportive of TOC. We list here some of the supportive comments from our Facebook:
Jon Zephanius: This is good–it means TOC has become a force to be reckoned with. And also, as much as they are trying to kill you, in order to do so, they have broken an unspoken rule not to mention TOC’s name in the news. The more they try to kill TOC, the more they publicise its name. Let them come and try.
Shalenny Radzali: to be fair, TOC headlines are the same as those in magazines/newspaper/TNP. their main objective are the same for all & that is to entice readers to proceed reading the article/watching e video. whatever readers think of the article is entirely up to them & i think TOC is in no way trying to manipulate ppl’s mind. so thank you TOC for giving us an avenue to read fair & accurate news. :)
Faizal Basir: TOC…where truth be told…no cover ups, no lies…Job well done!
Abner Koh: why are people bashing TOC? TOC has gone a long way since its beginning days with Zhengxi and Andrew… even if they make a mistake, i think they will learn from it and come out more respectable.
Andi Mohamad: I looked at TOC’s headline…then watched the video..and made my own judgement. In anycase, TOC did not mislead anyone…in fact..I thank TOC for bringing forward the issue. I’m sure that those who watched the video made their own conclusion with no influence from anyone/any source. Once again, thank you TOC.
David Chan: Actually being critical does not equals being anti-establishment. Also, maybe one of the reason why singapore’s MSM is ranked so low is this: if a similar incident were to happened in any other developed country, the media would have been critical about the incident. Over here, the language are very ‘cushioned’. The BlogTV episode is available for all to see and the SMRT press statement as quoted had been clarified. Yet MSM continue to not mention that. Yes, the question of ‘fair and accurate’ needs to be ask.
Zahara Amed Han: Let’s just say, if TOC had not reported the racists remarks SHT mentioned on CNA, would be so far out to think that we won’t see the video elsewhere?? I bet if the video came from another source, almost all of us would have come to the same conclusion. It is absurd to have them deny that what he said was not racist. If anything, their defence of him would have me think it is all right to have your party members spew out racist comments. But then again this is not the first this has happen. Anyway most us are used to the tactics that MSM adopts in this situation. We at the very least not DAFT.
Dahiyaht Sven Gagarin: Sorry TOC. You are the scapegoat.
Qi Jin: Please don’t get slayed. It’s hard to find a local independent & netural news source. TOC has always quoted the gist of the news followed by links to the actual source. Believe that we are mature enough to make own judgements based on the source rather than looking at peoples’ quotes. According to smrt’s reply, it seems that mr Seng has also done a misquote..so..bottom line is regardless the PR’s comment, does he agree with it, enough to be re-paraphrased into his public interviews? Is he aware what he is doing at the point of comment? Consider the timing of this saga, it seems too coincidental for us to forget about the train lapses, but not for the ones who have stuck in them and people who commutes regularly using it. lolx
Melvin Wong: I think the government should concentrate on getting SMRT back in shape instead of wading into a issue that suggest they are trying to win the pr war by muddying and spinning the truth through the main local media. The more they try to put TOC on trial by the media , the more it looks like they circling their wagon to defend their own.
Adrian Tan: Juz remember this. SMRT denies any of its staff made the comment that Han attributed to SMRT staff. So the headline was correct. The statement was Han’s and Han’s alone. To misquote Shamugam, “A significant part of what has been attributed to SMRT is false, to be quite blunt about it.” Move on, those who rant and criticise TOC. Wrong example. TOC has the luck of the devil. According to Milton’s mythology, the devil is on the side of freedom fighters.
Zaffar Ali: I will vouch for TOC no matter what!!!
Ching Man Liu: TOC, would like to you all to know that some of us are really grateful to have you around. You represent hope for local media by asking important questions main stream media never bothered asking! If some people find it uncomfortable answering these questions, it shouldn’t be your fault. Please stay strong and stay true to your cause!
Kwan Yue Keng: I did not find anything remotely “racist” about TOC’s report on SHT’s remarks. IMHO,it is the PAP Indian MPs (Inderjit Singh, Shanmugan and Hri Kumar) who are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill – all their arguments are merely self-serving when the man himself had apologised and said his own remarks are a “regrettable mistake”. How come PAP Malay MPs have criticised SHT’s remarks and “distanced themselves” from it but Indian MPs are defending it?
Shai Sudirman: Anyway TOC, please don’t go anywhere. You are like the Al Jazeera of Singapore. I need a news source of such calibre. =))
Teo Chin Tat: Thomas Slaying or not, lets put our money where our mouth is – donate to TOC.
TOC would like to thank all our readers, well-wishers and supporters for their kind words, as well as criticisms. Both will only make us stronger.
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
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they will always defend the indefensible, that is why no one in their right frame of mind bothers with either them or their sidekick st.
Now I know why TR is back, best government covert website in town.
Wait till Darkness hammers them again. it will be starting very soon from what I see from the amount of preparations in the virtual.
As for cherian, he has no standing in the internet community. None whatsoever.
As Darkness once said,
“you can never keep a good man down. All you can really do is delay him. As sooner or later, his voice will find you wherever you are, it matters not whether it is one week, one month, one year or even one decade. One day, it will all come around. The circle will never be broken.”
Keep blogging TOC
Breaking my resolve not to post comments on TOC anymore, just for this.
TOC did not add any salt and pepper to what Seng said on CNA programme.
PAP Govt trying to deviate and take commuters’ mind off the lousy breakdowns of the mass transit system and the unprepared chaos in the aftermath.
So, could you imagine the scenario of a terrorist attack on SMRT trains.
It’s the political damage PM Lee is most concerned now, not some racist remarks by the Transport Minister.
Someone said TOC is the scapegoat, spot on.
I appreciate what you do, TOC, but do try to boost your credibility by showing both sides of the story. But anyhow, always better than MSM.
We know we have more balanced reports on TOC. Who needs the propaganda from miw-controlled ST?! Miw feeling the heat? Trying to discredit TOC, Again?!
When you see people like Eugene Tan (SMU), Gillioan Koh (IPS) or Cherian George (NTU)making political comments, take it with a large grain of salt. These people own their jobs to the establishment. Thus, they are unlikely to make comments that will adversely affect the PAP dominated government.
Sorry, corrections here.
“not some racist remarks by MP Seng.”
This man just dun know how to speak and react with the public. Must take public speaking lessons, else not suitable to be the people’s MP.
Thank you TOC for giving us a forum to voice our opinions on issues that affect us. We are matured enough to discern the various views posted here. Keep up the good job TOC :-)
Come of it. SPH is world famous for its disgraceful ranking of 136 out of 190 countries by Reporters Without Borders. They have been involved in thousands of cover-ups since its inception. For that matter, they did not report that the Chairman of the Investigation team was also a candidate of Aljunied team that lost in this year’s election.
So to SPH and supporters of the ruling party, please check and clean your backside before commenting that other backsides are dirty.
Question : Why do we need 3 commission of inquiries for ’1′ major MRT incident?
Answer : Because the one who dropped the ball big time is Temasek/Ho Ching.
Need 3 COI to create lots of smoke screen.
You guys must be the only blog in Singy to have done this. It’s weird. Surely you aren’t that spooked are you? Smells a bit desperate to me. You’re just gonna get laughed at by everyone…who isnt dumping their anti-govt angst on you of coz…
amused I am amused. To think that TOC will not be spoofed. SHT even if he made any kind of comment he is safe under the PAP umbrella. TOC on the other hand is not safe. We have a very vindictive government who has a history of clamping down on dissent. If it was you, will you not be spooked?
face it, T0C was correct in pointing out SHT was racist (selective hearing). T0C, however, was NOT correct in trying to represent what SHT said.
SHT said (race) bad english, NOT a problem.
T0C say SHT said (race) bad English IS a problem.
When pointed out by Cherian George, T0C shifted focus to the (race) portion, and forgot about the NOT/IS issue.
When someone else (from PAP) also made the same mistake, T0C uses it as justification for their stance. *facepalm*
These ‘action’ remind me of PAP themselves…
Pap is “losing” more & more credibility as the day goes by .
Thank you, Shamu vellu !
My working place beside SPH at Toa Payoh North.Most of the time I noticed their journalist’s & editor’s regardless race & religion which I recognised talking to their own self.They going insane due to cursing from many SG I guess as decades for telling lies & still tell & printing lies.
Tremeritus.com gave Cherian George a good piece of “contextual” reality – exactly what he championed for.
http://www.tremeritus.com/2011/12/26/of-race-politics-and-crisis-management/
Really nice one I thought.
IMHO, they are under the spell of sublimation. Soon vanishing into the thin air, as distrust swells on the ground.
TOC should condemn the drugs traffickers that found guilty the same why as TOC condemning MP Seng, guilty without trial.
SHT please be humble and accept that you have made a fiasco aka blunder or some call it a boo boo to your political career.
Very unnecessary, you know?
what a shame!
Dun take revenge on others.
You made the mistake.
TOC did not forced you to make a mistake.
You created it.
Without doubt, the vast majority of Singaporeans trust TOC more than they do our main stream media.
Without TOC and TRE and other leading blogs, daft shall be the people under foxy papaganda and kangaric courtesy.
Dear TOC,
Don’t take their comments to heart. After all, there was no flooding in Orchard Road, only “ponding”. And we Singaporeans should be grateful to have an MRT system at all, even if it doesn’t work. So let it rest, and don’t waste time on it.
Focus on the upcoming Ministerial salary review. I suspect that they will try to shorten the debate by delaying the release so that it is as close to the budget debate as possible. That they can change the focus of the news to the “goodies” that they will hand out in preparation for the coming recession.
“And I laughed too when some retard went on TV and blamed the non-Chinese SMRT staff for breakdowns. Where on earth did we go to find cretins like that to be part of our government?”
http://lohandbehold.com/2011/12/27/fish-rots-from-the-head/
After SHT confession and apology, it must be really desperate,lonely and near extinction of those still supporting his fouled-up.
Too obvious not to be noticed.
This worthless propaganda from The New Paper (TNP) has a big picture of SH*T. It is a testimonial that only the PAP govt is entitled to “fair and accurate” reporting from the state media.
@ lobo76
quote u: “SHT said (race) bad english, NOT a problem.”
Mr Seng repeated(wrongly) what(he thought) a SMRT staff had said and he follow with the following verse:
“i think we accept broken English”
this was his opinion of what he thought the SMRT staff has said.
this verse is ambiguous.
1) one can agree that XX race speaks poor english and conclude that (despite of poor english) broken english is accepted and can be understood.
OR
2) one can also be expressing disagreement that XX race speaks poor english, but broken english is accepted.
after Mr Seng has made the apology and clarification, although i think the verse: “i think we accept broken English” is a rather feeble expression of disagreement, i am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.
but i disagree with your view which is based on 20-20 hindsight.
prior to the clarification, there was no way for anyone including TOC to conclusively figure out what Mr Seng was trying to say.
lets also note that even after the clarification there were people who were unconvinced that his clarified version was what he really meant.
@ lobo76
you are accepting Mr Seng clarified version and paraphrasing it to suit your argument, lets be reminded that Mr Seng NEVER said “(race) bad english, NOT a problem” or anything to that effect on TV.
we have to examine the facts, ad verbatim.
he said: “i think we accept broken English”
well, lets examine the following examples:
1) lobo76 speaks bad english, but i think we accept broken english.
2) lobo76 does not speak bad english, but i think we accept broken english.
which sentence makes more sense?
to me 1) makes more sense and
2) is incoherent, when lobo76 does not speak bad english, the line following it not make any sense.
the roof was not damaged by the typhoon, but i think we can fix it.
u get my point?
We will always support TOC. This SPH/CNA & Singapore Other News Media gives Inacurate /Misleading And AlWAYS Distorted News.The ELITES AIWAYS SUPPORT EACH OTHER ,That shows the 40% have WOKE-UP and to the 60% they are still SNORING.
The reason why people read alternative news is because it’s hard to find independent news sources.
The mainstream news is perceived as under the influence. direct and indirect, of the state, and hence the distrust among the local citizenry.
Although it has, of late, opened up more, its news presentation is still seen as largely one-sided in favour of the ruling party.
We will continue to read TR, TOC, SNA, etc so that we will not be hoodwimked ever again.
Classic example of “If you can’t convince, then confuse”. I thought the SMRT spokesman was quite clear on the radio commentry that it’s for “any race”.
Quote from SMRT official
“And that’s because our staff of different races, it could be Malay, Chinese, or Indians or any other race, they sometimes find it difficult to speak in English”
It’s amazing that MP Seng can even misinteprete/misled/misheard the report.
It is good to know that Singaporeans have become mature over the years. What we read in TOC or minstream media, it should always be done with an open mind ie to decipher good from wrong. We should never become extremists n it is very dangerous. The Islamic world is a good example. Do what is right within your reasonable judgement!!
TOC supporters support TOC not becos of tour bus free transport, free feeding with kee chiu chicken rice, not bcos they are cooperatives members, not bcos they are working for their masters or their income depends on it.
We support without duress.
We come from N, S, E ,W. Its based on free will .
At least we are honest.
Purpose of this article is to seek comfort & support? We just know if you just another TR which create hate,give untrue fact,matter of time u be disappear. You know the rule well,Singaporean don’t like untrue sources too
Long Live TOC!
@ TOC SHiT
Are you MP SHT? Sound like it…hmmm….
@Ajohor
Are you the law minister dey?
The S’pore mainstream media and our ministers are attacking TOC because they are afraid of the truth being revealed to the public.
I often wonder why a reporter of any iota of journalistic integrity would work for ST. To me, it is hazardous to a reporter’s CV to be associated with ST.
Well said, iworkhardsometimes………. Thank you for refuting pappies lies.
Lobo76 was paid, you know.
@ I’m a piece of SHIT
I STRONGLY DISAGREE with your moniker. You supplied oxygen of thoughts here.
Besides being downright honest, your compass is in PERFECT WORKING ORDER. LOL
Thank you for reminding us of some of the HARD TRUTHS otherwise well concealed.
TOC and TRE are solidly gold and they come FOC as well.
TOC should apologize to MP Seng Han Tong. Now!
NSS, TOC. Of course they are going to be supportive. Your supporters are as tolerant of dissenting views as those of the other side.
@LWF: But the supporters of the other side have a history of doing unspeakable things to those of dissenting views. At least the supporters of TOC stop at speaking. And that is a very BIG difference.
@ funny
You missed one more point. The other side “gazetted” TOC, and they have a licence to f^^k around with whatever political sex they like in the controlled media.
TOC and TRE give us a sights and visions that is blindfolded of us for 47 years – and critically dissecting too of those deceptive propaganda.
The mafia crowd can’t rebut cyberspace of their exposed shamelessness. So their only last option? Censorship and harassment of socio-political publishing. Even “Singapore Sucks” frayed nerves.
Soon we might have only cartoon comics to read as long as it is not political of content.
Yes, it sucks as bad as North Korea and Cuba. Even China now tolerates political parody of its leaders on national television.
TOC has done public service to expose hypocrites
@iworkhardsometimes
Yes. (1) does make more sense and this is exactly what SHT said. I am glad we agree. It its fact what that george guy said too.
Problem is what do you think T0C said? From THEIR headline, they are the ones saying SHT said bad english IS a problem, because they totally ignored “I think we accept broken english” part. THAT is what george (and me) is trying to say all along…
lobo76, did you read Siew Kum Hong’s latest piece? He has answered you there. Sometimes we cannot defend the indefensible. Cheers!
While TOC did not really mislead anyone, I think it was being a little harsh to Mr Seng. He merely failed to filter out a sensitive and inappropriate comment. Everyone makes mistakes like these. Mr Seng should not be branded as a racist for that. There are more racist remarks that go unchallenged.
http://www.newagedentists.com/kaypoh-news/broken-engrish/
Okay the subject here is SHT.. We do not expect Shan, C George AND ALL the likes to defend TOC, lets face the SIMPLE truth of the matter.
But phucking strange, the defenders of SHTong did not touch on the persons who utter those comments that this SHTong issue IS ALL about.
Come on officaldom C George, and Shan, come, come, GO ON and ALSO look at the source of the SHTong issue which is how and why it ALL began.. Dont play tai chi AND take on TOC – BIG shame on these phucking ministers and high-perched jourtnalists, my foot and blahdy kock.
toc may not be perfect as some have attempted to split hair here, but it’s certainly much more credible than the msm multiple folds.
keep it up. you have my support!
those at TNP are well-known and reputed to be the ruffians & disgrace of responsible, objective, honest journalism. TNP is fodder gossip – it’s sole purpose is to distort facts and spread gossips n wild rumors. TNP, being part of the PAP media machinery, is the ‘ah-bengs’ employed by those hypocritical miw to mislead people, mess & play on public’s sentiments to their selfish advantage.
@ lobo76
i hope your idol is not Squealer from Animal Farm.
I am glad we agree that my dog is a cat.