On the eve of the 2001 general election, Straits Times journalist Irene Ng announced the formation of a support group for singles called Singles Connect and its website, www.singlesconnect.org.
At the same time, it was rumored that she would be contesting the election as a candidate for the People's Action Party.
This led me to write to the Straits Times Forum page, asking whether the Singles Connect website should be classified as a "political website".
Is Singles Connect A Political Site ?
Straits Times, October 24, 2001I refer to recent reports on the launch of the Singles Connect website by former Straits Times journalist Irene Ng, and news that she will be contesting the coming election under the banner of the People's Action Party.
The website includes a discussion forum which is open to the public, and articles written by Miss Ng calling for changes in the Government's housing and social policies concerning single Singaporeans.
This year, the Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) determined that the Sintercom and Think Centre websites were political sites as they provided programmes 'for the propagation, promotion or discussion of political issues relating to Singapore'.
In light of those decisions, the question arises as to whether Singles Connect should also be required to register as a 'political website'.
Now that Miss Ng is contesting, another question is whether the references to her on the website constitute election advertising as defined under the new rules governing Internet campaigning.
Could the SBA and the Elections Department clear the air for the benefit of other website operators, and to assure the public that election rules are applied fairly and uniformly to all parties.
Ngiam Shih Tung
Note that the internet campaign rules apply to third-party websites only if the site is classified as a "political website".
The SBA determines whether a site is a "political website", and the Elections Department decides whether a website contains "election advertising".
Legally speaking, the Elections Department only gets jurisdiction after the SBA decides that a site is a "political website".
Singles Connect Not A Political Site
Straits Times, October 26, 2001I refer to Mr Ngiam Shih Tung's letter, 'Is Singles Connect a political site?' (ST, Oct 24).
The website presently operated by Singles Connect is not a political website and its contents do not infringe the Parliamentary Elections (Election Advertising) Regulations 2001.
The rules governing election advertising are available on our website at www.elections.gov.sg
Lee Seng Lup
Deputy Head (Elections Department)
for Returning Officer
Singapore
Even if Singles Connect did contain "election advertising", it would not contravene Elections Regulations because the SBA has not declared it to be a political website.
Regrettably, the SBA has declined to shed any light on the question of what makes a website a "political website".
I leave it to Ms. Ng (now MP for Tampines GRC) to have the last word. This is the conclusion of an article she wrote for the Straits Times before entering politics.
Defining Borders In Open Country Of Web Politics
Straits Times, August 25, 2001
by Irene Ng"...That said, it is important that the rules must not only be non-partisan; they must also be seen as non-partisan. For that, they must be ruthlessly transparent.
One way to guarantee that is for the Government to keep a broad and non-partisan consultative process going on such matters.
A good way to start is to set up an independent body, where the regulated Internet community can give feedback on the new rules, seek guidance on them, and make appeals.
This will be especially reassuring for non-party political websites, where the rules seem less than straightforward.
Their concerns and the body's responses should be posted online, uncensored, so that everybody can judge the merits of the arguments put up, and is aware of the difficult issues that arise.
The amended Parliamentary Elections Bill has already been passed, but it is not too late to put in place such an open and independent mechanism."
Ngiam Shih Tung
shihtung@ngiam.net
http://www.ngiam.net
November 2001