~ By Ng Yi Shu ~

21st May 2012 marked the 25th anniversary of Operation Spectrum, where an alleged Marxist plot sent waves of shock and awe through the Singaporean socio-political scene. This scene has developed and gone a long way since then, but we are still trapped within the dictated OB markers set up by the government through various litigation threats and ISA arrests. Being born after 1987, I did not experience as much fear as the older generations did at that time. Still, I was given the ‘say anything wrong, police catch you’ mentality – which stuck even as I became an intern at TOC. I remember my parents reiterating that I should not say or write any allegation without absolute proof that it was true. Sure, there was definitely wisdom in that belief, but it was rather clear that it stemmed from a simple fear – that of arrest and the ISA.

Even then, it has been 25 years since Operation Spectrum.

It has been 25 years.

We all know it – that things have changed since. Your ability to read this article today on this socio-political blog – which survived a gazette to become a political organization and litigation threats (remember Vikram Nair?) – is proof that change has occurred. We do not deny it too – headlines often talk about a new political climate; a new future. Opposition parties talk about hope of diversity in representation. Changes in legislation increased freedom of media – freedom in political film and in social media campaigning catalysed the General Elections of 2011 and continues today with the Hougang by-election. We have witnessed the change hailed as a new political era.

We have come to a point where oppression will only result in revolution; where citizens have become more critical; where censorship and cover-ups will only lead to the ugly revelation of the truth. We desire dignity, opportunity and justice and there is nothing the ISA can do to stop us.

So what is?

I’d suggest that there is nothing to stop us to act – and we are already acting. The sheer number of voices we hear on the Internet is proof that we enjoy a larger degree of freedom of speech than before. Interest groups are springing up to protect people’s rights and the rights of the voiceless. Civil society is growing, however small it may seem.

Thus today, people have begun to act.

Yes, the ISA has been a constant bind on our freedom of speech. Yes, the ISA has provided grounds for political activists to be arrested. Yes, the ISA must be removed. Even then, people have begun to set themselves free from the out-of-bounds markers that caged our political conversation. Alternative media and social media have allowed for increased political awareness and activism and this in turn has allowed Singaporeans to begin to grow civil and civic society.

Therefore, are we truly free? I genuinely believe so.

With this freedom, however, comes responsibility. Not that we should not bar ourselves from saying some things (especially some things about the ruling government), but that we must be responsible as Singaporeans in working for our vision for our nation – to bring hope, dignity, justice and equality for future generations.

You May Also Like

Olympics: S’pore women’s table tennis team bow out after defeat to China in quarter-finals

Though they put up a spirited effort, Singapore’s women’s table tennis team…

公交车资明调涨七巴仙

早在今年10月8日,公共交通理事会(PTC)宣布,地铁和公共巴士车资将在今年12月28日起,整体调涨7巴仙,这是自1998年来最高涨幅。 其中成人车资卡每趟行程约调涨9分;以现金付费的成人巴士车资及地铁单程车资,则调涨0.20元。 年长者、学生、获津贴低收入员工和残障者优惠车资,涨幅则被限定在每趟行程4分。优惠车资受惠范围也扩大至理工学院和其他专业文凭学生,估计受惠学生超过八万人。此前,他们必须支付成人车资。 此前,该理事会称今年调涨上限为七巴仙,并解释影响新一轮车资调涨顶限的最大因素,是能源价格出现双位数增长。2017年,能源价格上涨26.2巴仙,去年则达到32.3巴仙。 本地两家地铁经营者SMRT和新捷运,是在上月23日向公交理事会提交车资调整申请。新捷运对媒体称,由于维修与保养成本提高,地铁营运成本一直增加。“虽然乘客量攀升,但新捷运地铁业务仍持续亏损。”

想玩PS4游戏机? 马国男童自己卖芒果汁赚钱!

马来西亚一名10岁男童想玩PS4(家用电子游戏机),尽管要求父母购买而遭拒,但却也无法磨灭他对PS4的渴望,打算自己卖芒果汁赚钱购买,殊不知因为姐姐帮他宣传的推文却引发,竟然还打动了球星沙法威,打算直接送他一部! 据马媒报道,男童是来自蒲种的丹尼斯(Danish Izzudin),在请求父母购买PS4不遂后,决定卖“芒果汁”,将攒下来的钱购买自己心爱的游戏机。 而姐姐沙丽(Sally Nur Dinie)也助他一臂之力,在推特上发文帮忙宣传, “我十岁的弟弟为了要买PS4,现在正在售卖纯芒果汁赚钱。我帮他找了一位客户跟他买了六支,你看他脸上的笑容多灿烂!” 姐姐指出,每支纯芒果汁仅售价三令吉(约新币一块钱!),而且可以在雪州蒲种区内免费送货。帖文一出引发诸多网友的关注,截至目前,已获得逾1万次转发。 姐姐随后接受采访时表示,丹尼斯在无法达到母亲的条件,没得买PS4后,他就更想要了。 没达到考好成绩目标 “他从去年开始就要求妈妈买PS4,不过妈妈开出条件,必须考好成绩才同意,可惜他无法达到指定目标。爸爸建议他制作和售卖芒果汁,因为妈妈也是在做着腌芒果的生意。” 据马国媒体星洲《百格》报道,姐姐也说,弟弟自去年与母亲有了约定,但考试成绩始终没有达到预期目标,因此比以往更有坚定的决心要实现买PS4游戏机的目标。…