Mainstream Media called out for unfair coverage of PAP ward compared to opposition ward

Mainstream media has been criticised over its coverage of an illegal bazaar that operated in Fengshan SMC from 1-3 July 2017 without a license, compared to its coverage of a Chinese New Year fair that also failed to procure a license in a Workers’ Party ward a few years ago.

Conspicuous in mainstream media’s report of the illegal bazaar in Bedok, was any mention of who the ward is held by – PAP MP Cheryl Chan.

This is a sharp contrast to mainstream media coverage of a Chinese New Year festive fair in Hougang. The media heavily publicised that the ward is under the purview Workers’ Party MPs running the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC).

The National Environment Agency (NEA) fined the AHPETC $800 instead of just applying for a summons against the bazaar operator in the Fengshan case.

In fact, ‘Fengshan SMC’ was not even mentioned in a report on the matter by The New Paper. The daily only reported that the bazaar operated in Bedok.

Netizens questioning mainstream media coverage and NEA’s response asked: “So why the silence now on the Fengshan SMC case? Are we supposed to believe that a major bazaar can take place right in the heart of the estate without the PAP town council and its MP knowing about it?”