Singapore's feisty online community reacted angrily Wednesday to an announcement that news websites including one operated by Yahoo! will have to obtain licences subjecting them to rules governing traditional media.
"It is obvious that the new rules are to set and control the tone of discourse online, a concern which the government has had for a while now," said Andrew Loh, the editor of socio-political website Publichouse.sg.
"The rise of social media, as an increasing number of Singaporeans get their news online, has now prompted the government to let go of its promised 'light touch' on the Internet," he wrote on the site.
Singapore is one of Asia's wealthiest and most wired nations but also one of the most regimented.
Its traditional media are widely seen to be pro-government, giving rise to alternative sources of news online amid growing discontent with the ruling party and its policies.
The popular news site of Yahoo! Singapore was included Tuesday on a list of 10 websites that will have to obtain annual licences starting Saturday -- all the nine others are sites run by mainstream Singapore media groups.
The Media Development Authority (MDA), the official media watchdog, said websites that have at least 50,000 unique visitors from Singapore every month and publish at least one local news article a week fall under the new rules.
Websites granted a licence will have to remove "prohibited content" such as articles that undermine racial or religious harmony" within 24 hours of being notified by the MDA.
International media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontieres ranked Singapore 149th globally in press freedom this year, down 14 places from 2012 and below neighbours such as Malaysia and Indonesia.
Yahoo! Singapore, which has a team of reporters doing independent coverage, has become a magnet for anti-government comments posted by readers in reaction to local news stories.
Executives at Yahoo! Singapore told AFP they would not comment until they see details of the licensing rules.
"It certainly looks like there's political motivation behind this new licensing framework, and the motivation seems to be to rein in Yahoo! Singapore," wrote prominent blogger Ravi Philemon.
Others questioned what they called the arbitrary nature of the MDA's decision to require Yahoo! to obtain a licence under the new regulatory regime while leaving untouched volunteer-run blogs also popular among Singaporeans.
"MDA's failure to explain how its new policy is to be applied at present suggest that the manner in which it is being introduced is opaque and arbitrary," wrote the editors of socio-political website The Online Citizen.
There was no immediate reaction from the MDA to the criticism.
In its announcement Tuesday, it said it expected "no change in content standards" since websites already must comply with content restrictions, citing in particular the need to curb "content that underlines racial or religious harmony" in the multi-ethnic society.
Traditional media outlets, owned by Singapore Press Holdings and state-linked broadcasting group Mediacorp, are subject to licences that can be revoked at any time by the authorities.
The People's Action Party, in power for more than 50 years, suffered its worst ever electoral performance in May 2011, getting an all-time low of 60 percent of the popular vote after the opposition and its supporters relied heavily on social media for campaigning.
AFP
Thu May 30 2013
![Singaporean online community angered by new media rule Singaporean online community angered by new media rule](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/61369840213_295x200.jpg)
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Tiada bukti kukuh sokong dakwaan air berkarbonat boleh diuji positif COVID-19 - MDA Tiada bukti kukuh sokong dakwaan air berkarbonat boleh diuji positif COVID-19 - MDA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/81703224169_airberkarbonat.jpg)
Tiada bukti kukuh sokong dakwaan air berkarbonat boleh diuji positif COVID-19 - MDA
Katanya, cecair selain sampel yang disebutkan dalam arahan penggunaan kit ujian mempunyai sifat kimia yang boleh menyebabkan tindak balas.
![COVID-19: MDA batal kelulusan bersyarat dua kit ujian kendiri COVID-19: MDA batal kelulusan bersyarat dua kit ujian kendiri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-04/81649679037_TBMEDICALDEVICELOGO.jpg)
COVID-19: MDA batal kelulusan bersyarat dua kit ujian kendiri
MDA membatalkan kelulusan bersyarat bagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 daripada Innovac Technology Sdn Bhd dan Conan Medical Technology Berhad.
![MDA diarah nilai aduan kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 MDA diarah nilai aduan kit ujian kendiri COVID-19](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/51645110023_TBANTIGEN.jpg)
MDA diarah nilai aduan kit ujian kendiri COVID-19
Khairy berkata ia susulan aduan mengenai penggunaan kit ujian berkenaan yang menunjukkan keputusan COVID-19 meragukan.
![MDA serbu kilang peranti perubatan tidak berdaftar, barangan lebih RM1 juta dirampas MDA serbu kilang peranti perubatan tidak berdaftar, barangan lebih RM1 juta dirampas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/51633529878_rampasmdaperanti.jpg)
MDA serbu kilang peranti perubatan tidak berdaftar, barangan lebih RM1 juta dirampas
Rampasan itu dibuat ketika satu operasi serbuan dibuat oleh 18 pegawai penguatkuasa pada Rabu.
![Tujuh lagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 dilulus MDA, 19 keseluruhan di pasaran Tujuh lagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 dilulus MDA, 19 keseluruhan di pasaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-09/51632272400_TBANTIGEN.jpg)
Tujuh lagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 dilulus MDA, 19 keseluruhan di pasaran
Ini menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 yang diluluskan adalah sebanyak 19 jenis.
![Orang ramai dinasihat semak dengan MDA sebelum beli kit ujian kendiri dalam talian Orang ramai dinasihat semak dengan MDA sebelum beli kit ujian kendiri dalam talian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-09/51631526784_TBANTIGEN.jpg)
Orang ramai dinasihat semak dengan MDA sebelum beli kit ujian kendiri dalam talian
Ini adalah untuk mengelak pengguna daripada ditipu dengan produk palsu yang boleh membahayakan keselamatan dan kesihatan mereka.
![Pengguna disaran beli kit ujian COVID-19 yang hanya diluluskan MDA Pengguna disaran beli kit ujian COVID-19 yang hanya diluluskan MDA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/71627973642_TBANTIGEN.jpg)
Pengguna disaran beli kit ujian COVID-19 yang hanya diluluskan MDA
KPDNHEP akan mengemukakan dapatan siasatan ini kepada pihak yang bertanggungjawab iaitu MDA untuk tindakan selanjutnya.
![COVID-19: Dua lagi kit ujian kendiri dapat kelulusan KKM COVID-19: Dua lagi kit ujian kendiri dapat kelulusan KKM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/51627095133_Saringanujianair.jpg)
COVID-19: Dua lagi kit ujian kendiri dapat kelulusan KKM
Ini menjadikan lima jenis kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 mendapat kelulusan bersyarat daripada MDA pada ketika ini.
![Satu lagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 diberi kelulusan bersyarat - Dr Noor Hisham Satu lagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 diberi kelulusan bersyarat - Dr Noor Hisham](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61625627156_ujiansaringan.jpg)
Satu lagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 diberi kelulusan bersyarat - Dr Noor Hisham
Satu lagi kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 diberi kelulusan bersyarat oleh Kementerian Kesihatan (KKM) menerusi Pihak Berkuasa Peranti Perubatan (MDA) untuk dijual bagi kegunaan orang awam.
![Dua kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 dapat kelulusan bersyarat - KKM Dua kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 dapat kelulusan bersyarat - KKM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61625627156_ujiansaringan.jpg)
Dua kit ujian kendiri COVID-19 dapat kelulusan bersyarat - KKM
Menerusi infografik dikongsikan dalam Facebook KKM, kit ujian itu boleh dijual di farmasi komuniti berdaftar atau fasiliti kesihatan.