Questions that ATL Maintenance should answer
Written by Ng E-Jay
14 June 2013
ATL Maintenance Pte. Ltd., the cleaning contractor hired by AHPETC, should answer for its actions with regards to the cleaning for the Block 538 hawker centre at Bedok North, which was originally scheduled from 04 March to 08 March this year.
First and foremost, ATL Maintenance provided a full quotation for major spring cleaning, including provision of scaffolding for cleaning of high areas, to Mr Ng Kok Khim, PAP member and patron of the Block 538 Market Association. Mr Ng denied asking for such a quotation, and his statement was apparently corroborated by fellow PAP member Mr Tan Gin Xiong, who is the current chairman of Blk 538 Market Association.
Vivian Balakrishnan and NEA versus Aljunied Town Council: Storm in a Teacup
(EDITORIAL POLICY: This article may NOT be reproduced on any blog or website, but link-backs or SNIPPETS with FULL attribution to this site are welcome and appreciated.)
Written by Ng E-Jay
14 June 2013
Before I begin my article proper, I hereby request that Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and the National Environment Agency (NEA) stop politicizing the issue about AHPETC’s cleaning of Hawker Centres and escalating it out of proportion. The urgent issues at hand are to tackle the Dengue outbreak effectively and ensure that the Singapore environment is kept clean, hygienic and healthy. Stop this silly political exercise at once, if you wish to preserve whatever credibility you have left. If you really put Singaporeans first and the welfare of citizens above partisan bickering, then cease this foolish political game, which has fallen to a level that is beneath contempt.
Campaign by #FreeMyInternet against MDA scheme at Hong Lim Park
Written by Ng E-Jay
09 June 2013
A crowd of two thousand descended at Hong Lim Park on Saturday 08 June to campaign against a new licensing regime enacted by MDA that would require certain news sites to post a S$50,000 “performance bond” and take down what MDA deems as objectionable content within 24 hours of notice. The MDA has absolute discretion and authority to determine what constitutes objectionable content. The MDA is not answerable to the electorate or to the internet community on any take-down orders it may give. Indeed, the MDA can order a take-down of anything it pleases.
Some members of the crowd displayed placards calling on the government not to “tell me what to read”, while another said “our silence is not for sale.”
#FreeMyInternet Media statement — A successful campaign, and moving ahead
#FreeMyInternet Media Release
08 June 2013
#FreeMyInternet is encouraged by the success of our first campaign against the new MDA Licensing Regime, which many media commentators see as the turning point in Singapore’s media regulatory landscape in Singapore.
More than 4,000 signed our online petition (and still counting), more than 150 blogs participated in our online blackout, and an estimated total of 2500 participated this afternoon in Singapore’s largest blogger-led protest.
Bloggers showed solidarity in the Thursday blackout protest
(EDITORIAL POLICY: This article may NOT be reproduced on any blog or website, but link-backs or SNIPPETS with FULL attribution to this site are welcome and appreciated.)
Written by Ng E-Jay
07 June 2013
On Thursday 06 June, well over a hundred socio-political blogs, as well as blogs of all genres ranging from food to entertainment, blacked out their sites as a mark of solidarity and protest against the new MDA regulations.
MDA seeks to impose a S$50,000 performance bond on popular news sites that report on Singapore current affairs. and subject these sites to a licensing regime that many have come to see as oppressive.
This site will be blacked out on Thursday 6 June. Let us oppose the new MDA rulings!
Written by Ng E-Jay
05 June 2013
This website will be blacked out on 6 June (Thursday) as a mark of protest against the new MDA licensing regulations which were pushed through without consulting the public.
Earlier this week, Minister Yaacob Ibrahim tried to assure the internet community that “government news or commentary will not be targeted under the new licensing regime for Singapore news sites, as long as they are factual and not misleading”. He also tried to emphasize that the government has not shifted away from “light touch regulation”.
#FreeMyInternet response to Dr Yaacob Ibrahim’s statements of 4 June 2013
By #FreeMyInternet
04 June 2013
As Published by TOC
We refer to Dr Yaacob Ibrahim’s statement today as reported in Today online, which attempted to downplay the effect of the new online Licensing Regime.
Dr Yaacob has unfortunately chosen to characterize the genuine concerns raised by ordinary Singaporeans as “farfetched” claims.
Dr Yaacob also fails to make any apology or provide any explanation for why his Ministry chose to bypass Parliament and the public in introducing the sweeping Licensing Regime.
Is the PAP government going back to its old ways?
By Dr Wong Wee Nam
03 June 2013
On the 12th of August 2004, a young man confidently declared that “We will continue to expand the spaces which Singaporeans have to live, to laugh, to grow and to be ourselves. Our people should feel free to express diverse views, pursue unconventional ideas, or simply be different. We should have the confidence to engage in robust debate, so as to understand our problems, conceive fresh solutions, and open up new spaces.”
With these words, he was sworn in as Singapore’s third Prime Minister. At that time, this speech did not immediately raise the hopes of those Singaporeans who were looking forward to living in a less stifling political atmosphere. Nevertheless these Singaporeans did not dismiss the declaration outright and preferred to wait and see.
#FreeMyInternet — Movement against new licensing requirements for online media
MEDIA STATEMENT – 1 JUNE 2013
The blogging community — collectively called Free My Internet, will be organising a protest and online blackout next week against the new licensing requirements imposed by the Media Development Authority, which requires “online news sites” to put up a “performance bond” of $50,000 and “comply within 24 hours to MDA’s directions to remove content that is found to be in breach of content standards”.
We encourage all Singaporeans who are concerned about our future and our ability to participate in everyday online activities and discussions, and to seek out alternative news and analysis, to take a strong stand against the licensing regime which can impede on your independence.
Major Online Websites in Singapore to Protest Against Licensing Requirement
The Media Development Authority had, on Tuesday, introduced a “licensing framework” that would require “online news sites” to put up a “performance bond” of $50,000 and “comply within 24 hours to MDA’s directions to remove content that is found to be in breach of content standards”.
As part of the community of websites in Singapore that provide sociopolitical news and analysis to Singaporeans, we are concerned about the impact of the newly-introduced requirement on fellow Singaporeans’ ability to receive diverse news information.
Featured Blog Aggregator
SiteMeter