SGs need to decide in the next GE if the kind of future they want for themselves and future generations - one with more of the same from the FAP or CHANGE!
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/05/03/mda-to-stop-trs-from-operating-in-singapore/
[h=2]MDA to stop TRS from operating in Singapore[/h]
May 3rd, 2015 |
Author: Editorial
Yang and Takagi with their lawyers (Photo:
ST)
MDA released a statement today (3 May) announcing that it has
suspended the statutory class licence for Ai Takagi and Yang Kaiheng to operate
The Real Singapore (TRS) website and other related services such as the TRS
Facebook Page, Twitter Page and mobile applications.
“The MDA is satisfied that Takagi and Yang have contravened the Internet Code
of Practice (ICOP). They have published prohibited material as defined by the
Code to be objectionable on the grounds of public interest, public order and
national harmony,” it said.
“The MDA has noted that TRS has deliberately fabricated articles and falsely
attributed them to innocent parties.”
MDA said that TRS has inserted falsehoods in articles that were either
plagiarised from local news sources or sent in by contributors so as to make the
articles more inflammatory.
At least 2 out of TRS’s 3 known editors are believed to be foreigners –
Takagi is Australian, while another editor Melanie Tan is believed to be
Malaysian.
“The foreign editors were responsible for several articles that sought to
incite anti-foreigner sentiments in Singapore,” MDA noted.
MDA believes that the TRS editorial strategy of deceiving readers and
doctoring articles was an attempt to increase traffic to TRS, and thus boost
advertising revenue.
“In so doing, TRS, including its two foreign editors, were seeking to make
profit at the expense of Singapore’s public interest and national harmony,” MDA
explained.
Previously, Takagi and Yang were out of the jurisdiction of the Broadcasting
Act as they were running their operations from outside Singapore. However, since
December, the 2 of them have been running their operations from Singapore,
bringing them within the jurisdiction of the Broadcasting Act.
The TRS pair have been charged with 7 counts of publishing seditious articles
on TRS and the TRS Facebook page. In one of the charges, the pair have been
accused of embellishing an article posted by a supposed witness of the recent
Thaipusam fracas. In the article, TRS had claimed that arrests made on 3
February 2015 were sparked off when a Filipino family complained against urumi
players after their child cried. The Filipino family then told the police to
stop the urumi players playing music which frightened their child. However,
there was no Filipino family involved, according to the contributor of the
article during a police interview.
They have also been charged with refusing to comply with written orders to
produce documents considered by the police investigator to be necessary for the
investigation. They have refused to disclose how much advertising revenue they
have been collecting. Furthermore, TRS has continued to publish material that
contravenes the ICOP even after Takagi and Yang were charged.
MDA has told Takagi and Yang to stop posting any more articles on TRS and
related services immediately; and within 6 hours to disable access to their
website and related computer on-line services.
“Thereafter, they are not to resume operations under any other name. They
have also been given seven days to provide information relating to TRS’s
operations and to make representations as to why their class licence should not
be cancelled,” MDA said.
If their licence is cancelled, Yang and Takagi will not be allowed to operate
the website. MDA will also be able to take other actions including blocking
access to the site and working with social media channels to block access to
TRS’ social media pages.
Flouting the Broadcasting Act can result in a fine of up to $200,000, a jail
term of up to 3 years, or both.
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/05/03/mda-to-stop-trs-from-operating-in-singapore/
[h=2]MDA to stop TRS from operating in Singapore[/h]
May 3rd, 2015 |
Author: Editorial
Yang and Takagi with their lawyers (Photo:
ST)
MDA released a statement today (3 May) announcing that it has
suspended the statutory class licence for Ai Takagi and Yang Kaiheng to operate
The Real Singapore (TRS) website and other related services such as the TRS
Facebook Page, Twitter Page and mobile applications.
“The MDA is satisfied that Takagi and Yang have contravened the Internet Code
of Practice (ICOP). They have published prohibited material as defined by the
Code to be objectionable on the grounds of public interest, public order and
national harmony,” it said.
“The MDA has noted that TRS has deliberately fabricated articles and falsely
attributed them to innocent parties.”
MDA said that TRS has inserted falsehoods in articles that were either
plagiarised from local news sources or sent in by contributors so as to make the
articles more inflammatory.
At least 2 out of TRS’s 3 known editors are believed to be foreigners –
Takagi is Australian, while another editor Melanie Tan is believed to be
Malaysian.
“The foreign editors were responsible for several articles that sought to
incite anti-foreigner sentiments in Singapore,” MDA noted.
MDA believes that the TRS editorial strategy of deceiving readers and
doctoring articles was an attempt to increase traffic to TRS, and thus boost
advertising revenue.
“In so doing, TRS, including its two foreign editors, were seeking to make
profit at the expense of Singapore’s public interest and national harmony,” MDA
explained.
Previously, Takagi and Yang were out of the jurisdiction of the Broadcasting
Act as they were running their operations from outside Singapore. However, since
December, the 2 of them have been running their operations from Singapore,
bringing them within the jurisdiction of the Broadcasting Act.
The TRS pair have been charged with 7 counts of publishing seditious articles
on TRS and the TRS Facebook page. In one of the charges, the pair have been
accused of embellishing an article posted by a supposed witness of the recent
Thaipusam fracas. In the article, TRS had claimed that arrests made on 3
February 2015 were sparked off when a Filipino family complained against urumi
players after their child cried. The Filipino family then told the police to
stop the urumi players playing music which frightened their child. However,
there was no Filipino family involved, according to the contributor of the
article during a police interview.
They have also been charged with refusing to comply with written orders to
produce documents considered by the police investigator to be necessary for the
investigation. They have refused to disclose how much advertising revenue they
have been collecting. Furthermore, TRS has continued to publish material that
contravenes the ICOP even after Takagi and Yang were charged.
MDA has told Takagi and Yang to stop posting any more articles on TRS and
related services immediately; and within 6 hours to disable access to their
website and related computer on-line services.
“Thereafter, they are not to resume operations under any other name. They
have also been given seven days to provide information relating to TRS’s
operations and to make representations as to why their class licence should not
be cancelled,” MDA said.
If their licence is cancelled, Yang and Takagi will not be allowed to operate
the website. MDA will also be able to take other actions including blocking
access to the site and working with social media channels to block access to
TRS’ social media pages.
Flouting the Broadcasting Act can result in a fine of up to $200,000, a jail
term of up to 3 years, or both.
