finally some action that we can TAKE...

Take up the petition... Potong Pasir and Hougang DO NOT deserve less, they are SINGAPOREAN, and they pay TAXES...

http://www.petitiononline.com/merlion1/petition.html

what space? what engagement?

Many also expressed concern that it will curtail space and opportunities for political discourse.

They were reacting to Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts Balaji Sadasivan, who clarified Internet rules on election advertising in Parliament on Monday.

He commented specifically on blogs, as well as podcasts and videocasts, or vodcasts, which are online audio and video clips that can be downloaded into a multimedia player to be listened to or viewed later.

He said such streaming of 'explicit political content' by political parties or individuals is banned under election advertising rules set in 2001.

Bloggers can discuss politics but have to register their site if they 'persistently propagate, promote or circulate political issues relating to Singapore'.

Once they are required to register, they will have to remove from their site any material deemed by the law to be election advertising during the campaign period.

This period is from the time the writ of election is issued until the close of the last polling station on Polling Day.

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), the first political party to use podcasts on its website since last August, said the latest move 'deals a crushing blow to the SDP's strategy'.

'The party will consult IT experts to see what can be done to salvage its plans,' said SDP chief Chee Soon Juan in a statement.

Workers' Party (WP) chairman Sylvia Lim also said the party now has to scrap plans for podcasting to promote the party during the polls.

'It is limiting but we will work within the law. This just shows the PAP does not trust Singaporeans to make informed choices,' she said.

Mr Tan Tarn How of the Institute of Policy Studies said: 'Such rules should not be there in the first place. In a democracy, you want the people and political parties to have access to as many tools as possible for a free flow of information.'

Commentators also noted that the ban on podcasting and videocasting means rally speeches and events cannot be put online and hence will have limited reach.

The Straits Time, Home Section; 5th of April 2006

cast your pod?

On Monday, Senior Minister of State Balaji Sadasivan clarified that podcasting and videocasting cannot be used to spread political content during elections. Bloggers can discuss politics, but will be required to register their site if they consistently espouse a political line.

Here is a list of commonly asked questions The Straits Times posed to lawyers on the Internet and elections:

# Can individuals put up podcasts or videocasts of political rallies on their blog or website?

No.

# What about pictures of political rallies?

Not allowed either.

# Can bloggers talk about political parties and their candidates?

Yes, but they must avoid consistently supporting or criticising political parties and their candidates. Dr Balaji said bloggers can give their own personal views about a candidate or political party. But if they use their blog to promote political ideals in a consistent fashion or show support for one political party, they are considered to be party political and must register.

# Can bloggers link their site to political parties' websites?

Yes.

# Can individuals send out SMS or e-mail containing political content during the campaign period?

Yes, but they need to obey the laws of land, including libel laws. Mass SMS and e-mail by individuals may run foul of the law.

# Can political parties send out SMS or e-mail?

Yes. But they must indicate who is sending the messages and on whose behalf. Such messages must not include a 'chain-letter' appeal, asking recipients to send them on. They must also stop sending to people who ask them to.

From The Straits Time, Home section; 5th of April 2005

"I do not want the two constituencies to be left behind, especially Potong Pasir, an old estate. Five years down the road, assuming Chiam does win, there will be no upgrading," Goh was quoted as saying on state broadcaster Channel NewsAsia's Web

huh???