While the government continues to insist that the new licensing scheme is being put in place to create more "consistency" in the regulation of print, broadcast and online media, the potential for these licences to be used as political tools is obvious.
The mainstream media can usually be counted on to stay fairly close to the government line, but the accessibility of online media has given citizens an opportunity to express themselves. This has led to more criticism of the state, and the political awakening of many "apathetic" Singaporeans.
Alternative views have been shared freely online, on blogs and social media, which very likely led to an increase in support for alternative political parties. Opposition politicians, previously painted as social pariahs, are now seen in a different light, and the fear of being identified as an opposition supporter has been significantly reduced. In fact, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) had never performed as badly as it did in the last general election in 2011, where it received 60 percent of the vote.
This is why the latest media regulation has been interpreted as a government attempt to cling on to power by any means necessary. By introducing a new licensing regime that could effectively shut down socio-political blogs - many of which tend to be critical of the incumbent party - the PAP is seen as censoring the internet and silencing the opposition. Full story
