SINGAPORE: Many are anxious to see how rules on new media such as podcasting will be relaxed. They said it defeats the purpose if the committee studying this comes up with another level of restrictions.

During the National Day Rally speech on Sunday night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government should ease the ban on podcasts and political films, and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts will study how to amend the Films Act.

Filmmakers of a documentary on the plight of the homeless in Singapore produced it with a touch of caution as they felt the topic may be deemed politically sensitive.

Loke Shen Fai, one of the filmmakers, said: "The way I see it, homelessness is actually more of a social problem. But some people see it as a very political thing. Like why is the government not taking care of the homeless people? Hopefully, there'll be some clear guidelines on where the yardstick is and what do you actually define as political."

Loke said he will produce a documentary on opposition Member of Parliament, Chiam See Tong, once the revised rules become clearer.

On the amendment of the Films Act, the government said that "partisan materials and footages distorted to create a slanted impression will continue to be disallowed" and it will study how to make this clear.

It also plans to amend rules to allow individuals to produce podcasts and vodcasts during the election period.

Information, Communications and the Arts Minister Lee Boon Yang said: "Currently, individuals are not allowed to post election materials. We will amend the laws to allow individuals to do so. But there must be accountability and responsibility. This has to be carefully thought through."

Many said there is no running away from the pervasiveness of the new media like podcasting and vodcasting, so observers said the latest decision to open up the political space in Singapore shows that the government is listening to the criticisms of the people and taking action to better engage Singaporeans.

Dr Kenneth Paul Tan, assistant dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said: "All of this is in line with what he (PM Lee) said many years ago, when he came into office, that he wanted a Singapore society that was open and inclusive.

"I think many of us were wondering as to the authenticity of the claim at that time, but now we see more evidence that we are moving in this direction.

"There are economic reasons for it and there are social reasons for it. But also, I think as a nation, we mature by being more open to one another, more open to ourselves."

An advisory council studying the impact of new media will submit its report by the end of this month.


- CNA/so