QotW8: Adopt a local politician

Blog’s Title: nofearSingapore
Blog’s URL: http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/
Blogger’s Name: Huang Shoou Chyuan
Blogger’s Occupation: Citizen blogger,Doctor
Blog’s Date of Birth: May 2006
Technorati rank:


Dr Huang Soou Chyuan who is the proud owner of this blog should be praise and applauded for the way he delivers his views on political isssues. His blog sounded formal, professional, rational, respectful with no holds barred targeted at anyone. He is also an avid contributor to the Singapore Straits Times forums.

Do blogs allow for greater democracy?

Habermas develops the normative notion of the public sphere as a part of social life where citizens can exchange views on matters of importance to the common good, so that public opinion can be formed. This public sphere comes into being when people gather to discuss issues of political concern. (Thornton, 2002)

However, Minister of Communication and Arts, Balaji Sadasiva, announced that blogs and podcasts would be shut down if they ran overt political content in the runup to the May 6 election.(Giam)
So does greater democracy in blogs prevails in Singapore?

I chance upon this blog whose owner is Mark Glaser, a journalist, critic and new media expert. He had an interview with government minister Lee Boon Yang to get more insight into the new rules for blogs and podcasts. Here is what the QnA was about:

Why is streaming of explicit political content through podcasts or videocasts not allow? What is the worry?

The Internet has its own unique characteristics which require special attention. The Internet is, fast and anonymous. Once a false story or rumour is started on the Internet, it is almost impossible to put it right. Despite its usefulness, the Internet is chaotic and disorganised, with many half-truths and untruths masquerading as facts.

To help bring some order to this chaotic environment, we have made it a requirement for political parties and individuals who use websites to propagate or promote political issues to register with the Media Development Authority (MDA). This promotes accountability and also ensures personal responsibility for comments made on the Internet.

What I can conclude here is that blogs do allow for greater democracy if the bloggers are rationale and responsible towards their comments. Bloggers should engage in an intelligent discussion rather than engaging in deliberately provocative comments if they want a better taste of democracy. Like what Dr Huang Soou Chyuan says: This is our only Home. We want to engage society actively and constructively. Only by asking the right questions can we arrive at the correct answers. There is no need for fear as we are only doing what we must.

Citations:

Glaser, M. (February 2007). Singapore tries to squelch Political Blogs, Podcast. Retrieved March 23, 2007, from http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/04/digging_deepersingapore_tries_to_squelch_political_blogs_podcasts.html

Thornton, A. (2002). Does internet create democracy? Retrieved March 23, 2007, http://www.zip.com.au/%7Eathornto/thesis_200

Giam, Gerald (2006). "Review- The politics of Singapore's new media in 2006." Retrieved March 24, 2007, from http://theonlinecitizen.com/2006/12/31/review-the-politics-of-singapores-new-media-in-2006/