Mon, 09 Nov 2009 9:00a.m.
So it seems Singapore isn’t really that evil when it comes to freedom of speech. No, they would just really like the right to reply back. And that was the crux of their insistent reply to the Reporters Without Borders’ Freedom Press Index 2009
This year, we can celebrate because Singapore’s in the 133rd spot out of 175 (much better than last year’s 144th)! Just missed by the skin of our teeth to fall under Thailand, Malaysia, and Chad. Strangely enough, the Philippines – which Committee to Protect Journalists also ranks as the most dangerous place to be a journalist - is ranked higher at 122nd. But hey, Singapore’s still ranked above Zimbabwe, Iraq and China. Whoopee.
But the Law Minister, K. Shanmugam, thinks that this is inaccurate. He – or I guess, the government – thinks that the perception of Singapore’s press freedom is “quite absurd and divorced from reality”. Singaporeans are smart, educated and independent to make their own judgments and voice their thoughts.
It made me think of this, the Singapore Complaints Choir.
Borne out of a concept in Helsinki, the Complaints Choir project has travelled the globe, and arrived in Singapore in 2008, thanks to the local Fringe Festival and arts organization The Necessary Stage. Participants gathered in a workshop, lyrics were formed, music was composed, and they were ready to make it public. But one day before their premiere performance, local authorities decided that it was a no go.
It wasn’t just banned from the outset though, the reasons were specific and very interesting. The Complaints Choir website explains that The Media Development Authority (MDA) had approved the lyrics and granted permission for the performances. But apparently the last minute change was direct from the Ministry of Information, Communications and Arts (MICA) that it would not issue a license for the performance unless it was done without the foreigners in the choir – six in total, including the conductor/composer, a Malaysian citizen living here. Their rationale? It’s not that you can’t complain about Singapore… it’s just that only Singapore citizens are allowed to complain about Singapore.
Well. I guess that’s not so bad then. In the end, the festival ran a ‘private’ screening for ‘friends’ of the Complaints Choir, performed in the government’s own Old Parliament House.
144th, 133rd… Baby steps.