Chief of new political party ‘People’s Voice’, Lim Tean, took to social media earlier today to call out The Straits Times on one of their new advertisements, which touts them as ‘The best antibiotic against fake news’.
The opposition party chief titled his Facebook post as “Worst Ad Ever Conceived”.
He wrote, “his advert by SPH which plasters its vending machines for the Straits Times, could win the award for the worst advert ever conceived!”
Lim Tean continued, “You can’t pull the wool over the peoples’ eyes all the time you know! You can’t be the antidote to “Fake News” when you are ranked 154 in the world!”
According to the latest ranking of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 2018 World Press Freedom Index, Singapore is ranked 151 out of 180 countries.
The website’s rationale for this: “Despite the “Switzerland of the East” label often used in Singapore government propaganda, the city-state does not fall far short of China when it comes to suppressing media freedom”.
They add, “The Media Development Authority has the power to censor all forms of journalistic content. Defamation suits are common and may sometimes be accompanied by a charge of sedition, which is punishable by up to 21 years in prison”.
“As a result of judicial and financial pressure from the authorities, self-censorship is widespread, including within the alternative independent media”, RSF explains.
https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesVoiceSingapore/photos/a.2078282232439972/2254814324786761/?type=3&__tn__=H-R
Many of those who commented on Lim Tean’s post agreed and had a field day with their opinions.
/TISG