The Singaporean press is more cautious than the other press in many other countries, reserving the right to publish certain government announcements pending vetting. The Singapore latest news straits times, for instance, does not send any articles for government vetting. But a broader reassessment is needed. The country's media establishment is prone to monopoly, which should be avoided at all costs.
While there is no direct control over the publication, there are a number of government restrictions imposed on what it can and cannot say. While the STR is not directly controlled by the government, it is licensed to publish information online and in print. In fact, the Singapore government has made several attempts to control the news, as the publication has been critical of the administration. The media sector has been affected by the government's attempt to curtail freedom of speech, notably in the form of press regulation.
The censorship of the media does more harm than good. It hurts citizens, and it hurts the government's political instincts. A free press would be able to question the government over the Heng Swee Keat dialogue. But it would also help the SDP milk these doubts to its advantage. Furthermore, the censorship of the media could affect the 2020 General Election, where PAP claimed that the opposition Singapore Democratic Party was misleading the public.
Is the New Straits Times controlled by the government? This is a key question that must be answered in Singapore. The media, including newspapers, is a vital part of the nation's society, and censorship can hamper its independence. The Straits Time, for example, is part of the Media Prima Group, a media company, which is owned by the Singaporean government. As such, censorship of the news outlet is detrimental to our freedom of speech.
In Singapore, a newspaper is an institution that provides information to the public, and the government controls the media. However, the government has its own interests. Its primary goal is to control the media, but the newspaper has its own editorial independence. This is a good thing for the country's democracy. As a result, the media is independent. It is not a threat, but it's a free press.
As a journalist, I've always believed that the government was not involved in the operation of a newspaper. Its editorial independence varies depending on the ownership of the media. In fact, a Singaporean paper may not be owned by the government. As long as the media is independent, it is free to criticize the government. Even though it has the right to express itself, the Singaporean media is free and independent.
