Social Media in Singapore Politics: It’s Serious Business Folks!

By: Raymond Tham   Date: 24 May 2011

About The Author

Raymond Tham

Follow The Money

Raymond Tham, Writer

 

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It takes a brave person to write about politics in Singapore.

Social Media in Singapore Politics: It’s Serious Business Folks!

Singaporeans Find Their Voice
Credit: Stell Woll

Over the years, publications and journalists have been sued - and even jailed for criticising the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), who have been in power since 1963.

The older generation of Singaporeans believe criticising the government only means trouble. Even in private conversations, many older Singaporeans resist talking about the government in the fear “big brother” may be listening.

In past interviews, former Prime Minister and founder of the PAP, Lee Kuan Yew has made no attempt to mask the fact that his government has deliberately bred a culture of fear within the Singaporean society.

"I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader," Lee wrote in his autobiography published in 1997.

"Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I'm meaningless."

Yet surprisingly in the build-up and aftermath of the 2011 Singapore General Elections held on the 7th of May, Singaporeans were not afraid to criticise the PAP openly and in media. Instead, the biggest fear was publishing anything that could be construed to support the PAP.

The Social Media Revolution in Singapore

The 2011 Singapore General Elections was a water-shed event in Singapore’s political history. Not because for the first time ever, an opposition party (the Workers’ Party or WP) managed to secure a Group Representative Constituency (GRC) from the PAP. Nor was it because the PAP’s popular vote had fallen from 67 percent in 2007 to 60.1 percent.

Rather, it was a result of Singapore’s political landscape being dramatically altered with the advent of social media and the Internet.

The Internet and Social Media sparked a new way of thinking for Singapore, especially in the political arena. While older Singaporeans relied on state controlled media agencies for their news and information, the Internet opened up a source of independent information that could not be tightly regulated or controlled  as  traditional media platforms.

Singapore’s World Press Freedom Index ranking is a dismal 136th out of 178 countries (assessed by Reporters Without Borders) and 151st out of 196 countries according to the Freedom of the Press 2010 Global Rankings report.

As Singaporeans began to seek alternative viewpoints that were not expressed in the local media, websites like the Temasek Review and The Online Citizen cropped up. These sites gained popularity and support for publishing articles that were critical of the local government for the first time.

Soon, the Internet became a platform for Singaporeans to not only vent their frustrations at the PAP, but also share political opinion and connect with other like-minded individuals.


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