Singapore eases rulings on Internet election advertising
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By Imelda Saad | Posted: 14 March 2011 1722 hrs
SINGAPORE: Political parties, candidates and their election agents will now be able to use a broader range of new media platforms to conduct election advertising on the Internet.
The changes follow amendments to the Constitution as well as the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act introduced last year.
Internet election advertising can now be conducted via the following: podcasts, videocasts, blogs, micro-blogs (like Twitter), MMS, photo-sharing platforms (like Flickr), social networking sites (like Facebook) and electronic media applications like those found on mobile phones.
Currently, this "positive list" only covers party websites, chat rooms, discussion forums emails, SMS and hyperlinks.
Apart from this, candidates may also include appeals to forward their Internet election advertising, for example, through chain emails.
Previously, they are prohibited from doing so.
Election campaign recordings can also be used, so long as the recordings are not "dramatised" and published "out of context".
For example, a video taken at an election rally can be uploaded onto the Web, without the need to go through the Board of Film Censors.
All other films, though, must still be submitted to the Board for approval.
Candidates must declare the new media content they intend to use within 12 hours after the start of the campaign period.
This is to ensure candidates are "transparent and accountable" to the public on the Internet and telecommunications platforms they use for election advertising.
Declarations can be made on prescribed forms or online via the Elections Department's websites.
Thereafter, any other new platforms have to be declared in advance before advertising can be published.
Individual Singaporeans can participate in Internet election advertising without declaring their particulars.
Activities at the Speaker's Corner - Singapore's version of London's Hyde Park - will be controlled during campaigning period.
The space was freed up in 2008, allowing Singaporeans to speak without a permit.
Authorities said "if permits are not required at the Speaker's Corner, this could become an alternative venue bypassing the election rally permit regime".
So permits will be required for all activities there during the campaigning period, regardless of whether or not the space is designated as an election site.
Other changes are:
an election agent must fill up two additional forms when consolidating the expenses of candidates within a Group Representation Constituency;
workers who are Singapore PRs or work pass holders can now carry out manual work such as putting up election posters and setting up physical facilities such as rally sites; and
items like soft toys, key chains, tissue packets and pins can now be distributed without political parties or candidates declaring their particulars to the Elections Department.
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will there be a televised open debate with the candidates of the various parties?
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
will there be a televised open debate with the candidates of the various parties?
That will be good if it legalised. -
Originally posted by Clivebenss:
will there be a televised open debate with the candidates of the various parties?
PAP scared to debate with opp party.Bo guts.
Even taiwan and USA got.
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Can they handle the ground dissatisfaction?
If they have facebook, people will be sending in all their complaints to them until they close the account.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Can they handle the ground dissatisfaction?
If they have facebook, people will be sending in all their complaints to them until they close the account.
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Lai leh lai leh, vote any other parties except pay and pay!
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Originally posted by afan:
Lai leh lai leh, vote any other parties except pay and pay!
PAP is a good government.There are no protests outside parlaiment.
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Originally posted by Singapore AFOL:
PAP is a good government.There are no protests outside parlaiment.
ya yayaya, who believe you, one moment this and one moment that, siao lang mentality -
Originally posted by charlize:
Can they handle the ground dissatisfaction?
If they have facebook, people will be sending in all their complaints to them until they close the account.
The ground is satisfied.No protests outside parliament.
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Originally posted by afan:
ya yayaya, who believe you, one moment this and one moment that, siao lang mentality
I am talking facts.Majority of my friends and family like PAP.
I do not support PAP because I support western democracy.
Free media and more political rights like freedom of speech and expression.
I do not support GRCs also.
I support direct proportionate system and not NCMP scheme.
I think PAP is doing well in terms of economic policies.
They only need to work more on political rights and media freedom.
But most of the singaporean still support PAP.
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Originally posted by Singapore AFOL:
The ground is satisfied.No protests outside parliament.
I agree.
I also like mee siam with hum.
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PAP is gonna win with a strong mandate again !!!
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Originally posted by Singapore AFOL:
PAP is gonna win with a strong mandate again !!!
I also agree.
Let's look forward to paying 15% GST, shall we ?
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Originally posted by charlize:
I also agree.
Let's look forward to paying 15% GST, shall we ?
GST is to help the poor. -
Originally posted by Singapore AFOL:
GST is to help the poor.Yes sir.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Yes sir.
Vote for me and I will rise the GST to 20 percent.Thank you.
It will greatly help the poor.
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Originally posted by charlize:
I agree.
I also like mee siam with hum.
Don eat CHILLI CRABS bcos not really into seafood........ mee siam buay pai leh...... but mai hum hor.......