Government’s concessions show growing acceptance of new realities

by

GERALD GIAM

August 22nd, 2008

In his National Day Rally speech on August 17th, Mr Lee Hsien Loong announced a slight relaxation of regulations governing political films, podcasts and political advertising on the Internet. He acknowledged that the new media will change the way Singapore conducts its politics. While these changes would hardly be considered dramatic liberalisations in and of themselves, they indicate a positive shift in the government’s attitude towards online media. From their previous stance of discrediting almost all views generated on the Internet, there is now a growing acceptance that there is no option but to engage citizens online.

Read Gerald Giam’s full commentary at OpinionAsia.org.

Other commentaries:

Alex Au, Yawning Bread.