Use new media wisely: Vivian

It can boost ties and understanding but also cause division and hatred
Kor Kian Beng, Straits Times 22 Feb 09;

The Young Sikh Association, which has hosted a website since its 2003 inception, has started a Facebook group. But this online presence is mainly to publicise its events.

So its president Hernaikh Singh, 45, has been wondering whether to launch a blog for more interaction among its 500-plus members, of whom over 30 per cent are non-Sikhs.

He knows the benefits. But the associate director at the Institute of South Asian Studies has one worry: the need to moderate the blog regularly so that no extremist or disparaging comments are posted against people of other faiths.

'As a responsible organisation, we do not want to end up creating issues that could have an impact on our mission and objectives,' he said.

Such concerns were highlighted by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, when he spoke yesterday at the inaugural Community Leaders' Conference.

The event was hosted by OnePeople.sg, a national body that champions racial harmony.

He told 200 community, religious and youth leaders at the Woodlands Regional Library how they can use new media to boost community relations, while being alert to possible perils.

'The new media is a very sharp tool. When used properly, it could lead to greater understanding, appreciation and confidence; but it could also cause division, suspicion, violence or hatred,' he said.

He cited the example of terrorism. While radicals and terrorists push their ideologies and draw recruits using the Internet, he said, the authorities also go on the Net to counter radicals and stop the spread of their networks.

He listed Singapore's efforts, like the Religious Rehabilitation Group website (www.rrg.sg) which counters radical ideologies in cyberspace.

The websites under the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) promote correct religious practices and help Internet surfers tell apart radical websites from legitimate ones.

He said: 'As community leaders, we need to be watchful and foster a vigilant online community.'

The message: Singapore will not tolerate those who incite disharmony.

That is why Singapore prosecuted three bloggers in 2007 under the Sedition Act, he said. 'Let me say categorically that we will not hesitate to do so again if need be.'

But new media also engages the youth. Young people actively contributed ideas for Singapore's successful bid to host the Youth Olympic Games next year, for instance. 'They have an interest in helping to shape Singapore,' he said.

Another plus of new media: spurring a civic-conscious Singapore by sharing ideas and sparking discussions online.

The OnePeople.sg portal launched at the event yesterday can help achieve that goal, he said. A joint enterprise with the National Library Board, it aims to be the first stop for students, researchers and the community seeking a range of expert resources on racial harmony.

He said the Government will continue to use a light touch and be pragmatic in e-engaging Singaporeans.

This can already be seen through recent measures, like relaxing the ban on party political films on the Internet and responding to online forum letters.

'The political landscape on the Net will evolve with the times. However, the true measure of involvement is the degree of participation and ownership of Singaporeans in nation building, problem solving and in shaping the future,' said Dr Balakrishnan.

The event ended with a dialogue chaired by Mr Felix Soh, Singapore Press Holdings' digital media editor.

He advocated a zero-tolerance approach to negative comments in sensitive areas like race, language and religion.

Questions centred on how community leaders should react to unreasonable online comments and how to encourage older Singaporeans to embrace new media.

Government says policies on new media will evolve as new challenges crop up
Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia 21 Feb 09;

SINGAPORE : The Singapore government has been embracing and even adopting new media for its work.

And while it is still some way from fully tapping the potential, the government said it will gradually evolve its policies with a light touch, as the Web2.0 revolution constantly throws up new challenges.

Singapore is the most wired city in the world. And according to a survey, young Singaporeans aged 15 to 24 spend an average of eight-and-a-half hours a day being connected.

And the government has been using new media outlets such as Facebook, YouTube and forums to hook up with citizens.

Another new media outlet is the OnePeople Portal.

The online resource on racial harmony was launched by the Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Saturday.

While the government is gradually liberalising its approach towards online engagement with its citizens, the minister added that one has to be responsible and careful when posting their thoughts online."

Dr Balakrishnan said: "Anonymity in cyberspace is an illusion. You will remember in 2007, we prosecuted three persons under the Sedition Act because of the blogs they put up which denigrated the religion of one of our communities in Singapore.

"The reason we did that was to send the message that your words have an impact; if need be, we can identify you, and if we have to, we will be prepared to prosecute you."

But there are some challenges in the government's use of new media to get public feedback.

Dr Milagros Rivera, member, Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (AIMS), said: "We expected people to give feedback. Nobody did. I think seven people posted comments on the AIMS website, and then the blogosphere went crazy with all kinds of comments and discussions about New Media.

"You can have a very nice welcoming website for the government to give feedback. If people are not comfortable they will just stay in their little forums and in their blogs and they will do their thing."

And there is no doubt more challenges will crop up as cyberspace continues to evolve and change the way people communicate with one another. - CNA/ms

Citizen journalism employed by Singaporeans with issues to raise
Nina E Varghese, Channel NewsAsia 21 Feb 09;

SINGAPORE : Citizen journalism is more evident these days, especially with several forums for Singaporeans to express their views.

One platform is Channel NewsAsia's "I Journalist" programme - now into its second season - which has received positive feedback from viewers.

They are issues you confront, trends you notice and questions you do not seem to get an answer to. Rather than complain to friends and family, citizen journalists get involved.

The latest episode of "I Journalist" discussed construction noise in residential areas - an issue many are all too familiar with - and something film-maker Tan Pin Pin tolerated as a condominium was being built opposite her home.

Her issue resonated with many people Channel NewsAsia spoke to after receiving feedback about it.

One person said: "That is a problem because most of the time, I will be working night shift. I sleep in the day so I can't get enough sleep..."

Another person commented: "I live in an HDB flat and there has been upgrading programmes for a while. It is pretty noisy when they drill and hack for the lift works. Currently I am on maternity leave, so it affects the baby as well."

"I Journalist" viewer Meng Yew Choong said: "I could sympathise with some of the sentiments expressed. But at the same time, my sympathy is tempered by the fact that construction noise is not something that is permanent.

"The way they talk is as if it will never end. We all live within earshot of each other so it cannot be helped, it cannot be avoided."

Pin Pin got residents in her block to sign a petition asking for a ban on construction on Sundays and public holidays.

Some polytechnic students featured in the programme's first episode did the same - as they rallied for lower public transport fares with a petition.

The students have achieved some success, at least with the recent announcement of fare cuts.

Tiffany Ang, producer, "I Journalist", MediaCorp News, said: "'I Journalist' stems from the idea of citizen journalism, where the ideas come from the citizens themselves. And we take these ideas that are from the people and delve a little bit more into it to find out what issues there are, and see it in the larger Singapore context."

One person said: "I suppose it is a good thing, because it brings up certain issues that you may not necessarily be focusing on but which affect people in general."

"I Journalist" airs every Monday at 8.30pm on Channel NewsAsia. - CNA/ms