Singapore is coming under mounting pressure to ease political restrictions after neighbouring Malaysia unveiled steps to abolish tough security laws and ease media and protest regulations.
Human rights and opposition groups say Singapore needs to keep up with the times and abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for detention without trial and is seen by critics as an instrument to stifle dissent.
In a surprise move, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said last week his government would scrap the ISA and ease other laws perceived as curbs on civil liberties, including protest rules and annual newspaper licensing. Full story
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