Comparisons between the MSM and Social Media of Singapore have shown a vast and deep disconnect. In general, the news coverage can be divided into 2 broad categories. You have the usual subjective complaints and discussions of Singapore and its woes, and then you have the rather objective discussions on black and white matters of right and wrong, most of which substantiated either by legal, factual, documented precedents, moral or / and human decency norms, all of which are meticulously referenced in the social media correspondences.
Lately, the reports from the latter are increasing in alarming numbers. The likes of the PAP Supporting / Silence on anti-Singapore actions from Anton Casey, Yang Yin and Ello, slamming of Aljunied TC trade fairs and conservancy arrears, Bukit Batok rats, Fernvale Columbarium saga, $2 AimGate, flip-flopping of CPF position, GIC and Temasek transparency reporting, political affiliations of civil servant in Sengkang, MP of Sengkang going against interests of his constituent, MP Alvin for overcharging, MP Intan’s matters of integrity, Desmond, Victor, Calvins’ moronic behavior in shouting over petty and irrelevant topics, and the list goes on and on.
For each of the reports, predictably, the PR Machine of PAP, comprising the rest of the party, MSM and IB, goes into frenzied overdrive, and with blatant audacity, justify the PAP positions with twisted logic, using examples or benchmarks tainted with contradictions, lacking in facts, legality, morality and just plain common sense.
The Fernvale Columbarium ‘NIMBY’, Aljunied TC Trade Fairs, Conservancy Arrears, Bukit Batok rats are seriously good solid examples of the mind-boggling absurdity of the PAP PR apparatus, and is laughingly insulting to common human intelligence. It is despicably transparent on the motivation behind the reporting and the complete and convenient ignorance of research and facts.
Silence is notably becoming a key strategy when the PAP is overwhelmed by the inscrutability of evidence of its shortcomings. MP Sengkang dialogue session shows him siding with HDB, URA and contractor against own constituent, MP Alvin, MP Intan, Desmond, Victor, and even Calvin, the loudmouth TCSS character, have frequently resorted to silence as a form of response? Perhaps the escape through self-denial and ignorance is their articulation of the one-off exception (which lately has become too many) and therefore legitimately falls outside the party’s paradigm of self-righteousness.
When I watched the MSM coverage of the recent NIMBY, HK and France Freedom of Speech events, and read the IB Sengkang and Bukit Batok retorts on the net, I cringed with revulsion, contradictions, hypocrisy, irony and pity. It is truly revolting to see how the MSM has made a mockery of journalistic and social altruism.
I wonder if the leadership realize the following 3 truths.
Singaporeans are educated, discerning and tech savvy, the speed of public media is close to instantaneous, and control of such media is near impossible.
Keeping in mind contrary to the lack of depth, facts, research and the sheer ludicrous discourse from MSM, the reports from the social media have very strong informational credentials in terms of transparency, legitimacy and facts. With convenient embedded web links to relevant international organization websites, scanned printed media, and even local government websites, the quality of supporting evidence from the social media is astounding impressive and credible. This can only lead the discerning citizen to conclude the condescending disposition of MSM against the social media and citizenry is that its sole mission is to misinform, mislead, prejudice and sway public opinion.
The follow on consequences of this continued absurdity is the complete and absolute demolition of the CHARACTER and CREDIBILITY of PAP and along with it, its PR machine. Compounded by the party’s incestuous policy of renewing its incompetence and credibility, this is what I would call Self-Genocide.
Sad State of Affairs