Freedom of Press, or lack there-of

When recently, Rapporteurs Sans Frontieres published their 2004 Press Freedom Index, Singapore ranked #147 out of 167 countries. Well, that is hardly surprising.

What is surprising is the "defence" that our ministers made.

When questioned by opposition MP Steve Chia, our dear minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Lee Boon Yang mentioned :

[Straits Times, Nov 18, 2004]

Singapore was ranked the second most global country in the 2004 A.T. Kearney Globalisation Index, which ranks countries on economic integration, technological connectivity, personal contact and political engagement.
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Singapore also emerged as the best governed city in another survey of 33 major cities, by Jones Lang LaSalle, based on aspects of governance such as integrity, stability and efficiency, he added.

'These two surveys reflect high international regard for Singapore as a cosmopolitan city on the global stage,' Dr Lee said.

So, in effect, Press freedom doesn't matter, because we rank high in other surveys. But somewhere at the end of the article, I read this :

'Our media has a tremendously important role in this national effort by rallying Singaporeans to do the things which matter most to Singapore.

This is certainly more important than... to gain the favours of international ranking associations.'

Erm, so ? If rankings given by others are not important, why use them as defence in the first place ? Isn't that hypocritical ?

Also, the mention that our press operates in a different model :

Singapore's media model was different, he said.

'Our model is that of a free and responsible press whose role is to report news accurately and objectively to Singaporeans.'

The media here also served as a platform for diverse views and to reflect the debate on national issues.

Ermm.. You mean press in other countries, specifically those in countries that rank higher than us, are operating in a different model ? One that is aimed at inaccuracy and non-objectivity ?

Also, other countries do not have racial, terrorism, disease and morality issues ??? :

The model had evolved out of Singapore's special circumstances, he said.

It had enabled the media here to strengthen the resilience of Singaporeans in the face of intense economic competition, terrorism threats, infectious diseases and social ills.

What a whole load of rubbish. We are the only country in the world that has different races ? We are the only country in the world that faces terrorism ? Only Singaporeans ahve infectious diseases ? On, and only Singaporeans are immoral. Only Singaporeans are affected by Casinos and gambling. Only Singaporeans are affected by AIDS, or homosexuality, and pornography.

Then today, in Today, an article that says we are ranked higher than Malaysia in another press freedom survey, this time by a think-tank in Washington :

S’pore above M’sia in media ranking

Singapore's media is "somewhat freer" than it was before, according to Freedom House, a Washington-based independent think-tank.

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The city-state was ranked 135 out of 193 countries in the annual global Press Freedom Index. "Singapore's press is somewhat freer than in past years … Although editorials and news coverage generally reflect Government policies, newspapers are increasingly carrying letters, columns and editorials critical of Government policies," said the survey, without indicating Singapore's ranking the year before.

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Singapore ranked above Malaysia (154), Laos and Vietnam (both 179), and Myanmar (190). The Philippines led the South-east Asian nations at 75th place, followed by Thailand (88), Indonesia (117) and Cambodia (127).

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North Korea was deemed to have the world's worst press freedom.

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The Freedom House survey comes in the wake of a similar index by Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres, which placed Singapore at 147th out of 167 countries.

Why this highlight ? Because we were ranked behind Malaysia in the RSF report ? And we cannot lose out to our neighbour, Malaysia. And we are not concerned about rankings ?

That is the most ironic thing to say. We are most concern with rankings, from food to children's results, from cleanest toilets to best value-added schools.

Hmm.. we are slaves, we have no brains on our own. Everything that our holy leaders say is gospel. They must be true.