The Probe Before the Storm
Just recently, an article was published in the mainstream media
ST Feb 3, 2007
PAP moves to counter criticism of party, Govt in cyberspace
By Li Xueying
THE People's Action Party (PAP) is mounting a quiet counter-insurgency against its online critics.It has members going into Internet forums and blogs to rebut anti-establishment views and putting up postings anonymously.Sources told The Straits Times the initiative is driven by two sub-committees of the PAP's 'new media' committee chaired by Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen.
For the full article and a good analysis to it, go to
http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/2007/02/boxing-with-shadows.html
Regardless of whether you think this is a good move or a bad one (i personally tend to think its the latter), this move should start to ring alarm bells in the minds of Singaporean bloggers in cyberspace. This is similiar to the conduct of military operations throughout history. First they will send the scouts, then the vanguard and the main force will arrive.
In this instance, the anonymous posters are, in my honest opinion, not there to "counter" the views in light of the fact that the mainstream media has constantly shown its disdain for "anonymous" bloggers and so on so forth. Futhermore, the article seems to suggest that it was a leak from someone associated with this intiative. This is inferred from the line Sources told The Straits Times. However i find it rather unlikely that the PAP, being a party which always tries to cover its bases before embarking on a course of action. This "leak" could be intentional and a sign of more to come. Its like a warning to those bloggers that "Hey, we are on to you, we know what you are doing". This could deter the faint hearted from blogging or posting comments which are not supportive of the PAP. I see this move as a precursor to the next move, which may be related to the amendments in the Penal Code that could be used to move against bloggers; not all bloggers, but some unlucky enough to be the ones who are held as an example to cow the rest. In effect, these is merely the reconaissance before the hammer arrives. Through my observations regarding the PAP, their remaking has been purely cosmetic and underneath the skin nothing has changed; thus it would be wise to be cautious.
Such revelations in the media have always been a precursor to more things to come. One case in point is the issue about GST and the Income Gap. After Mr Lee Kuan Yew talked about how globalisation would result in the income gap becoming smaller due to those at the higher end getting their income slashed, the minister for health Mr khaw boon wan then announces their ministy's latest move to increase the number of doctors in singapore. I believe that such a move would entail more foreign doctors coming to our shores since there is no way for us to produce the number of doctors ready for the workforce. After the probe (LKY's comments on the income of the professionals being reduced) came the hammer (Khaw Boon Wan's announcement). Coincidence? Its up to us to decide.
Just recently, an article was published in the mainstream media
ST Feb 3, 2007
PAP moves to counter criticism of party, Govt in cyberspace
By Li Xueying
THE People's Action Party (PAP) is mounting a quiet counter-insurgency against its online critics.It has members going into Internet forums and blogs to rebut anti-establishment views and putting up postings anonymously.Sources told The Straits Times the initiative is driven by two sub-committees of the PAP's 'new media' committee chaired by Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen.
For the full article and a good analysis to it, go to
http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/2007/02/boxing-with-shadows.html
Regardless of whether you think this is a good move or a bad one (i personally tend to think its the latter), this move should start to ring alarm bells in the minds of Singaporean bloggers in cyberspace. This is similiar to the conduct of military operations throughout history. First they will send the scouts, then the vanguard and the main force will arrive.
In this instance, the anonymous posters are, in my honest opinion, not there to "counter" the views in light of the fact that the mainstream media has constantly shown its disdain for "anonymous" bloggers and so on so forth. Futhermore, the article seems to suggest that it was a leak from someone associated with this intiative. This is inferred from the line Sources told The Straits Times. However i find it rather unlikely that the PAP, being a party which always tries to cover its bases before embarking on a course of action. This "leak" could be intentional and a sign of more to come. Its like a warning to those bloggers that "Hey, we are on to you, we know what you are doing". This could deter the faint hearted from blogging or posting comments which are not supportive of the PAP. I see this move as a precursor to the next move, which may be related to the amendments in the Penal Code that could be used to move against bloggers; not all bloggers, but some unlucky enough to be the ones who are held as an example to cow the rest. In effect, these is merely the reconaissance before the hammer arrives. Through my observations regarding the PAP, their remaking has been purely cosmetic and underneath the skin nothing has changed; thus it would be wise to be cautious.
Such revelations in the media have always been a precursor to more things to come. One case in point is the issue about GST and the Income Gap. After Mr Lee Kuan Yew talked about how globalisation would result in the income gap becoming smaller due to those at the higher end getting their income slashed, the minister for health Mr khaw boon wan then announces their ministy's latest move to increase the number of doctors in singapore. I believe that such a move would entail more foreign doctors coming to our shores since there is no way for us to produce the number of doctors ready for the workforce. After the probe (LKY's comments on the income of the professionals being reduced) came the hammer (Khaw Boon Wan's announcement). Coincidence? Its up to us to decide.
2 Comments:
At 7:48 PM ,
Anonymous said...
actually its not true that singapore doesnt produce enough doctors. Its just that the government is facing a shortage in the public sector. The private sector are full of doctors which can't earn enough to feed their kids.
Go ask dr. huang. i think he knows.
At 12:50 AM ,
Ned Stark said...
Thanks for the correction there...yes i know that GPs are all over the place...as my dad always says," When i started out there were only 3 GPs in my area, now there are 9 clinics!" However increasing the number of docs in this manner is, in my honest opinion, merely a stop gap measure which could lead to more problems...
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