Lets Get Angry!

Who are you calling a liar, Liar?!

Published Wednesday, May 17, 2006 by Singapore Election |

From Yawning Bread - Flat-footed and worse

There were several websites that our reporter, Farah Abdul Rahim, filmed the pictures she used in her news report.

www.singaporeelection.blogspot.com was one of them.

But on no account did she doctor the pictures.

On the two days she filmed the websites, 9 and 10 May, the headlines ‘Lee Hsien Loong’s Territory Up for Grabs’ and ‘Shady Company #1’ were not the headings over the two pictures. In fact, when we last checked on 16 May, the picture of Mr Lee and the PAP logo is not on the webpage.

As to your reference to the picture of Mr Gomez, the report used a quick zoom out shot. This is a preference of camera technique, with no other agenda intended.

The entry in www.singaporeelection.blogspot.com implied that our reporter deliberately removed segments of the pictures when she did not. - Ms. Nancy Ang (CNA)

Impressive, isn't it? Not only did the folks at CNA use Singapore Election Watch as a subject of their news broadcast without our permission, they had manipulated our content and used it in accordance to their political agenda! Perhaps they thought that by putting us on the idiot box, we would have been too floored to care about such silliness as 'misrepresentation'! Instead, we've illustrated that they're just a bunch of conniving fools riding on the PAP bandwagon. Mediacorp could have ended this by simply apologizing to us for their misdoings, but they've chosen, instead, to imply that we're the one deceiving. How very appropriate of their 140th spot! First you manipulate the sources without their permission, then, you try to discredit and vilify them. Bravo.

Well, Singapore Election Watch isn't the one to bend over. We've been pushed around on numerous occasions including our ideas being stolen, being misrepresented and now, being discreditted. As such, we take these claims seriously, and we're going to continue making our case until both Ms. Farah Abdul Rahim and Ms. Nancy Ang formally apologize to us.

1. Those of you who subscribe to our RSS Feeds at Bloglines will note the publishing dates and times are stamped. Note that the entry entitled, "Lee Hsien Loong's Territory up for Grabs" was first published on May 4th, 2006 at 2.42pm, and last updated on May 4th, 2006 at 3.16pm. Clearly, whatever changes we've made to this specific entry had taken place prior to the filming dates of May 9th and May 10th!

2. Also, note that the entry entitled, "Shady Company #1: GIC" had been first published on May 10th, 2006 at 12.09pm and last updated on May 10th, 2006 at 12.34pm. This entry had been at the top on this day. While changes could have been underway during the filming dates of May 9th and May 10th, they remained unaltered after the news broadcast was made, which was on May 12th at 3.57pm.

3. In addition to the missing headlines, dates during which the entries had been published are also missing in the news broadcast. This further indicates that the screenshots had been tempered with since all entries are posted with their publishing dates at the top left hand corner.

Actual screenshot:

What you saw on CNA:

4. Indeed, the site's template had been recently updated (between May 15th and May 16th), but please note that any changes to the entries would be indicated in the dates and times stamped on the RSS Feeds. We've already shown that this had not been the case. Also note that we did not face any technical difficulties or the need to change the template prior to May 15th. When we revisit the CNA video, as Ms. Rahim scrolls down the site, the subsequent entries appears to have a heading. This is very unlikely if there is indeed a faulty script as far as Blogger is concerned. A faulty heading script will cause the all the entries to have a missing heading.

Heading: "Election campaign heats up"

Indeed, Ms. Ang's statements about these two entries being altered after the news broadcast are ludicrous! These entries continue to exist on the website as they were during and after the filming dates, contary to what Mediacorp claims. Ms. Rahim has indeed, manipulated and misrepresented Singapore Election Watch for which she should apologize whole-heartedly instead of attempting to discredit us. While we are aware of Mediacorp's lack of understanding of what it means to be a news outlet, we're still deeply disappointed by their lack of initiative in contacting us and extending their apologies. This should be shameful for any media outlet regardless of their ranking.

Update:
We've been made aware of a problem accessing this site using Internet Explorer. Thank you all for raising this with us. We have noticed headings appear and disappear as you scroll up and down using Internet Explorer 6. Therefore, we can safely assume that Ms. Rahim was well-aware of the headings prior to filming the site. As such, we're wondering why she would still decide to film the site under a faulty script knowing full-well that this would fail to represent the content and sentiments of Singapore Election Watch. We're requesting that Ms. Rahim or CNA clarify the situation so as to put the case to rest.

78 Responses to “Who are you calling a liar, Liar?!”

a.k.tan on 5:23 PM SGT

It would look like the issue is not going to be airbrushed or Photoshopped away or forgotten soon so why not have the debate over who the liar is 'fixed' by going to organisations doing the work of those as medialens.org, fair.org...?

Exposing the mystery to an international 'court' would help solve the mystery and maybe even show off some talent in Stalinist editing worthy of Turd World despots.
Anonymous on 5:26 PM SGT

Ms. Nancy Ang's response is ridiculous. Please get the facts and details right before committing yourself to such a silly retort. It makes everyone, including yourself, look like complete idiots. Singapore Election Watch has a decent enough readership to warrant you to handle this respectably.
Anonymous on 5:31 PM SGT

"...we're going to continue making our case until both Ms. Farah Abdul Rahim and Ms. Nancy Ang formally apologize to us."

Sorry also must explain. ^^)
Singapore Election on 6:08 PM SGT

They can come here and post their most sincere apology in the comment box.
Anonymous on 6:56 PM SGT

Disgusting... I know for a fact that the various entries had headings all along because I read them not after they were posted. Has Nancy Ang or Farah Abdul Rahim got any journalistic integrity at all? I guess not..
Anonymous on 6:58 PM SGT

Sorry..I meant to say "not *long after they were posted" Gosh..this just makes my blood boil. It's fine enough if you don't want to apologize, but to deny it this way? Gross..
john on 10:10 PM SGT

Wouldn't it be great if you could sue them for implying you're a liar, and thus defaming you? But really, you should have come to expect that from CNA - Channel News Asses.
nick on 10:19 PM SGT

Want to read global news go to Google news or BBC. Want to keep in touch with local news, read blogs better, there are some really good blogs out there. You're not missing out much if you don't bother to read our local newspapers or tune in to our media. Most of them are full of useless shit-info anyway, like extolling the PAP for another job well done. And another. And another. All that 'fellating' of the ruling class just makes me sick. People like Nancy Ang and Farah Abdul Rahim must have gotten their hands full of cum.
Anonymous on 10:32 PM SGT

Keep reading the Straits Times and CNA. We need to know what the rest of Singapore is listening to.
Anonymous on 4:46 AM SGT

MY word to the Govt owned Press

SAY SORRY AND ESPRAIN!
Stop intimidating Singaporeelection.blogspot.com
Anonymous on 6:49 AM SGT

Unfortunately, CNA and ST have extremely wide circulation, and the average Singaporean is going to read their version of the "truth".

Although this is the Internet era, people who read blogs are in the order of thousands, compared the circulation of "mass media" which is in the order of millions. Its going to be a David vs Goliath showdown.

To counter the mis-information and propaganda, someone need to mobalized lots of blogs. We must use "blog-power" (just like Philiphines activated "people-power"). Singapore Election Watch can start the ball rolling for the rest of Singapore... to free ourselves of the control of the 140th...
Anonymous on 9:55 AM SGT

we'll do our bit and circulate their unethical acts and ridiculous denials. utterly disgusting.
abao on 10:16 AM SGT

owners of the journal, you can use google's cache to prove your innocence!!

quickly screenshot google's cache and use as proof!
Anonymous on 10:59 AM SGT

what is "google cache" and how do we use it as proof? please explain to the not-so-technical-minded-guy here. thnaks.
Singapore Election on 12:57 PM SGT

We've already proofed to you that the publishing dates and times are stamped and everything is logged. However if they are still not satisfied, we can still ask Blogger (owned by Google) to release our publishing data.
Praveen on 1:05 PM SGT

how does one send emails to and contact the good people at singaporeelection watch?
Anonymous on 1:32 PM SGT

By the logic of our MM, if they do not sue you, then they are liars and dishonest!!!
Anonymous on 1:36 PM SGT

write in to the ST fourm
Anonymous on 3:16 PM SGT

Let's all do a boycott on SPH materials, go forth and spread the message. Let the ST sales take a nice nose dive. Tackle them where it hurts most, i.e. their sales figure and volume.

my 2 cents worth
Anonymous on 6:42 PM SGT

I have already stopped reading ST even though my GP teacher asked me to. The only time i read them is the sports page.
jOlYnNN on 6:48 PM SGT

they have certainly missed out quite alot of things. I wonder if they've missed out receiving their monthly pay.

I've boycotted ST long ago.. All along, I've only been reading news from the net It's kinda useless to read censored news. Our creativity gets censored too. Singapore is really like a big well. lots of frogs.. y? thanks to the well's infrastructure. who build the well? some kinda soon-to-be ancestor. GRANDPAPPY!! keke
Anonymity Pielessty on 6:50 PM SGT

Have you asked yourself a question lately?

"Do you want to get fix-ed?"
chris on 7:32 PM SGT

I seriously thought about cancelling my ST subscription after GE, but then again, we need to know what they are spewing out in order to present alternative views.
samuel on 8:17 PM SGT

Is there any way that we can email the journalists themselves to express our displeasure? It is highly likely that CNA is going to brush this off and ignore Singapore Election Watch.
Anonymous on 8:19 PM SGT

I keep reading the ST Home section, it is the best comical magazine in Singapore
Anonymous on 9:42 PM SGT

Hi all,

Please visit the cached version from google below :

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:ww1R23qu-7gJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/05/lee-hsien-loongs-territory-up-for.html+lee+hsien+loong%27s+territory+up+for+grabs&hl=en&gl=sg&ct=clnk&cd=1

See if the title appears at your browser. It didn't in my IE 5.5 until I scroll down and up again. I think the template has refresh problem for the title in some browser versions and CNA happen to use it.
Anonymous on 9:44 PM SGT

correction, mine was IE6... din realised I have upgraded :P
Anonymous on 11:17 PM SGT

It's not just the title that's missing. The words from the entry, "Get out and rule in numbers" is also missing from the news broadcast. How can that be?
Anonymous on 11:33 PM SGT

To the anonymous who posted at 9.42PM SGT:

please refer to the following URL
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:evGqEj-61zwJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/+&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

this thread shows the cached version for the #1 shady company, which CNA allegedly showed the screenshot without the heading.

and the following URL shows the cached text of the posting on May 4th.

make no mistakes, the headings are clearly still there, and CNA did not show the heading in their footage. Do you still believe the rubbish CNA is dishing out?

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:ww1R23qu-7gJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/05/lee-hsien-loongs-territory-up-for.html+lee+hsien+loong+territory&hl=en&lr=&strip=1

don't trust mediacorpse, they only provide you with crap. Ms. Farah Abdul Rahim and Ms. Nancy Ang, please give us a decent explanation. Why do you have to provide "tailored-information" to the public? Why give crap excuses?

boycott all SPH material! stop all SPH subscriptions!
Anonymous on 11:51 PM SGT

Not trying to be enemy, just trying to be objective. I saw the title for your first link too. For the link I posted, the timestamp did appear for a while before disappearing, but the title never appear. However, if I select the text, I still can see it. Hence I think my browser rendering has some problem with the layout.

Other issues on reliability of the media aside, for me, I think they are really innocent on this particular case and if we, driven by our anger, choose to ignore this proof (which I believe some other readers are able to reproduce in their browsers), and bombard them with ugly names and strong accusations using this case, then I think we are no different from somebody.
Beng on 11:57 PM SGT

Remember the last guy who tried to sue SPH? Remember how he's doing now?

Remember how SPH and the government is related?

Well, the world is cruel.
samuel on 12:26 AM SGT

I am not a tech expert but 2 points or questions that I'd like to ask:

1) Google's cached page only appears when the original page is not available, am I right? Thus for the "title-disappearing" act to occur, CNA must have accessed the page when it was somehow unavailable.

2) But even if it were true, why didn't the footage in CNA's report show the Google cache heading that comes with all their cached pages?
samuel on 12:29 AM SGT

Just to add to 2) above, the Blogger toolbar is shown in the screen capture as well, so its not the case where CNA scrolled down to hide the Google cache header.

Again, I am not a tech expert, just giving my view based on how Google defines their cached pages.
Anonymous on 12:32 AM SGT

It could be ...

1) the original page was changed after CNA accessed it. After which, it was changed and hence available in Google cached page.

2) because they accessed the page when it is still available.

make sense?
Anonymous on 12:38 AM SGT

To further clarify, they access the page from the original site before the layout was changed. They did not access it from Google's cached page hence the google's toolbar was not there.
Anonymous on 12:53 AM SGT

to the anonymous who posted at 11.51PM SGT:

i've been visiting singaporeelection.blogspot.com since 1st May 2006, very religiously, checking for the updates in comments or new postings.

i've seen the headlines there, since it's initial posting, i testify that the headings has been there all the while without any alterations made.

trace my ip-address if need be, i'm sure my ip-address at work and at home will churn out enough hits to prove that my statement above is true.

CNA's act of censoring the headlines in the screen-shot is simply pathetic, and totally devoid of any professionalism.
Anonymous on 1:42 AM SGT

to the anonymous who posted at 12.32AM SGT:

dude, the original page (re: lee hsien loong's territory up for grabs) was loaded up on 4th May and no further edits were done.

what you've suggested totally don't make sense.

kindly check your details before you make any further suggestions. be responsible for your posts.
Anonymous on 2:33 AM SGT

Hold off any accusation first.

Can someone else verify that IE6 has problems rendering the headers and timestamps properly? I don't use Windows nor IE so I can't verify it myself. From the video, it does look like the CNA cameraman filmed the pages viewed through IE.
Anonymous on 2:42 AM SGT

Either the original page was recently modified when CNA accessed it, or the cached page was problematic and CNA accessed it unfortunately because of congestion etc.

The former is not possible or logical unless Singapore Election Watch lied on purpose and did indeed modified the page and that somehow, the modified template erased the date/title of only that specific entry and not the rest. Yeah, right.

The latter is highly unlikely as well, since the cached pages for the entries before and after the "problematic" entry had no such problems at all (in IE6).

Thursday, May 04, 2006
Can you really, really trust your PAP MP?
posted @ 9:31 PM

http://72.14.203.104/search?sourceid=navclient-menuext&ie=UTF-8&q=cache:http%3A%2F%2Fsingaporeelection.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F05%2Fcan-you-really-really-trust-your-pap.html

Thursday, May 04, 2006
Lee Hsien Loong's Territory up for Grabs
posted @ 1:08 PM

Thursday, May 04, 2006
Election campaign heats up
posted @ 12:02 PM

http://72.14.203.104/search?sourceid=navclient-menuext&ie=UTF-8&q=cache:http%3A%2F%2Fsingaporeelection.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F05%2Felection-campaign-heats-up.html
Anonymous on 9:05 AM SGT

WAIT!!! Lets not be hasty.
I have always been pissed of by running dogs, and 140 reporters, and have never liked ST and CNA at all.

However, the problem with the "disappearing header" may be due to IE actually. Here's what I have checked out.

I link to http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:ww1R23qu-7gJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/05/lee-hsien-loongs-territory-up-for.html+lee+hsien+loong%27s+territory+up+for+grabs&hl=en&gl=sg&ct=clnk&cd=1 using both IE (version 6.0.2900 SP2) and Mozilla Firefox (version 1.5.0.3). Mozilla does display the header. However, my version of IE 6.0 does not display the header initially. However, if I scroll all the way down, and then scroll up, the header appears. Can anyone with IE 6.0.2900 confirm this observation?
Anonymous on 9:11 AM SGT

To Anonymous on 1:42 AM SGT,

Does your "kindly check your details before you make any further suggestions. be responsible for your posts." implies that I am trying to cover up the truth with illogical reasons.

I just reported what I see on Google cache and suggested possible explanations to Samuel. Are you suggesting that if I am not 100% sure of what is happening I should not post at all? Then I guess no one should post here at all, as no one can be 100% sure what has happened. If the truth turns out that the original page has glitch on some browsers, will you put the same words to the people including yourself?

Perhaps the webmaster should restore the original layout and we see if some browsers really cannot display it properly. Google cached page might have some conflict with the original page to produce the glitch, but at the same time, it might be the original page already have the glitch on some browsers already.

If a reader always see the title, perhaps his browser is not affected?

Personally, I still believe CNA did not doctor the page, because it can't be so coincidental that the missing part is exactly the same as google's cached page.

As mentioned, I am not here to be flamed, but I think regardless whether one like a person or company or not, if he/she find that there might be a possibility that he/she wronged the other party, at least he/she should stop accusations and investigate more thoroughly first.

A more irresponsible person would be someone who throw a strong accusation even though he learnt of the possibility that there might be a misunderstanding.
Anonymous on 10:31 AM SGT

Perhaps you folks might want look at the incident from another perspective..... As an official media (ST, CNA etc.), it is their responsiblity and ethic as reporter and editor to ensure that the information are accurate. The fact is, the information reported is not accurate and the party failure to "ENSURE" they got all the right information and report accordingly has in fact failed us (Singaporean)... And based on many past observation on the type of information they report about Alternative media and the opposition, they (CNA, ST) have failed us many times.
To concentrate explaining the potential problem on IE... Isn't it the same as pappies tactic during the election - using James Gomez issue to divert attention from the main topics of livelihood of Singaporean for the next 5 years.
I just read a report from the mainstream news... Bus fare and MRT fare going to increase soon. Did pappies tell us before the election. Ans: No. It is the WP that warned us. Now the papers are hinting there might be.. It is the usual tactic by pappies to inform us in advance so that we won't be surprise. (to soften the ground and minimize the negative impact). Isn't this a more worthwhile topic to discuss that glitches on IE. To sum up... CNA, ST and SPH related companies have repeated failed us in reporting the correct and fair content to do justice to the opposition. Let's face it.. media control happens everywhere, even in america. But how SPH have done it, too obvious. Any person that is not stupid can tell.
Anonymous on 10:34 AM SGT

By the way.. whether doctored or not doctored it dosen't matter. Cos' the editor and cheif editor failed to do their job. To ensure the information gotten is correct. Do they just relied on one computer to check the information is correct or not... I don't think so. They are thousands of computer to access the website from. Well, you think about it.
Joe on 10:36 AM SGT

I had the same problem as the earlier guys. The titles didn't appear unless I selected them and scrolled up and down.

I'm using IE Ver 6.0.2900.2180 etc etc

Noooo.. I'm not a govt lackey. I'm not even in Singapore.

Chill out guys.
Anonymous on 10:37 AM SGT

since this page is about the missing title, hence we all discussing it here, but the disagreements caused the lengthy discussion.

anyway, think the owner switched to the original layout, which at that page :
http://singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/05/lee-hsien-loongs-territory-up-for.html

I cannot see the title also. Anyone else cannot see?
Anonymous on 10:43 AM SGT

To the anonymous from 10:34 AM SGT,

I think its justifiable that the reporter did not check with other computers to make sure there is a header there. She might have thought there is nothing there all the while, just like the trust we have in our own browsers and other software applications. Just like when we are doing research online, we don't go to different computers visiting the same site to make sure our research is accurate, right? Perhaps they don't even realise it's missing anyway, not to mention they might be time contrained in rushing out news..

btw, i am not pro CNA as well. just trying to put things in a fairer perspective.
Anonymous on 10:43 AM SGT

And... (Imagine you are a reporter)... If you access a website that does not have header throughout... And you are going to report this and write a story about it.. Will you just sit question youself.. How come this website doesn't have header.. Come on, they are people that are well trained in English language.. An article whether in newspaper, website will have a subject heading or header. If you don't see one... Either you will question.. What a lousy website (don't even have header).. or you will try using another PC to check if there is any problem with website.
Anything reported is being audited again and again... It is just amazing to be missed out by so many "intelligent" people. fyi, to get into School of Communication Studies in NTU. You go to score in A levels... at least Two As and One B. GP at least must be B3 and you must be interviewed before they grant you a place. "Intelligent" people like reporter making such mistake, just amazing.

Think again for all perspective please. Not just hitting on one spot (using IE) and hope to divert attention.
Anonymous on 10:49 AM SGT

No.. It is not justifiable. Reporters have the legal responsibility to ensure that information are check and correct prior to press printing. Just imagine again if you are a reporter, if this story contains story that potentially is sensitive and might even be sued because of wrong reporting. Will you check again and again. And you will ensure that your editor check for you too.
Anonymous on 10:55 AM SGT

The fact that they are reporter and they earn their salary to report. This makes them different from us. This makes them to have the legal responsibility. This makes them to have the need to be impartial in their reporting. Else, why not pay us bloggers too. We can then justify by saying this (Just like when we are doing research online, we don't go to different computers visiting the same site to make sure our research is accurate, right?).. A blogger have the right to make such statement but a reporter does not have this right. Because of all the because I have stated earlier.
Anonymous on 10:55 AM SGT

There's no diverting of attention, the whole page is about why CNA did not show the title? And the possibility is as simple as, IE did not render the page properly.

But if you are talking about what this page is suppose to lead to, the integrity of CNA, maybe the whole discussion seems to concentrate on too trivial a defence.

I think pulling in things like pinpointing the intelligence of the reporter should have detected the missing header is like die die must find fault with someone, at least this is what it seems to me.
Joe on 10:57 AM SGT

I'm sorry. I missed the issue here. Is it about purposefully misleading the public (like murder is premeditated ?) or is it about the lack of a HTML Browser recognition course at NTU ?

So the words went missing. Was the information incorrect ? As it is, the fact that the website was shown already shows progress, that the media is willing to cover non-PAP aligned channels.

Seriously though. If these are the kinds of things we get riled up about, we're never going to get to the issues that matter. Things like government transparency, open political debate...
Anonymous on 10:59 AM SGT

Just compare this example with that of the mistake the reporter makes (benefit of doubt)...It is like saying.. An accountant make a mistake and omits a zero from the balance sheet. The auditor failed to check. They can be excuse because "potentially" the computer they use might have problem. This is not right. They are paid to ensure the integrity of the balance sheet. It is their basic responsibity to do whatever that is necessary to ensure the numbers is correct.
This is called PROFESSIONALISM.
Anonymous on 11:05 AM SGT

"...Seriously though. If these are the kinds of things we get riled up about, we're never going to get to the issues that matter."

A respectable media is one of these "issues" as well.
Anonymous on 11:07 AM SGT

The key issue here is... The question on their "PROFESSIONALISM". The basic story in this blog is about questioning their "PROFESSIONALISM". This includes checking and ensuring the information is correct. If wrong, then fine, get CNA to come out and clarify what due to IE problem (benefit of doubt), the reporting wasn't clear and as accurate as they can be. Then perhaps, like James Gomez, they can issue an apology for the problem they have with their computer and their failure to check using other sources (this includes using other computers).
Anonymous on 11:12 AM SGT

Get real... The whole issue here is known as PROFESSIONALISM. Which we don't see from the local media. Not getting riled up with small matter like this. You mean PROFESSIONALISM of a reporter is a small matter? Even MPs, we expect them to be have that basic PROFESSIONALISM as a MP. Even opposition, we expect them to be decent opposition and not go around ranting at other people or staving himself to get his point thru. We expect he/she to be PROFESSIONAL just like Mr Low Thia Kiang and Mr Chiam See Tong
Anonymous on 11:14 AM SGT

Yah.. How to have a respectable media if there are question about their professionalism? Until that changes, and they exhibits professionalism required of a reporter. Many will continue to question that key word called "PROFESSIONALISM".
Anonymous on 11:15 AM SGT

Your point is its their fault not to realise the missing rendering.

My point is the missing title is not doctored, but is due to IE problem.

Think we are arguing from different objectives. Why not we stop here?
Anonymous on 11:22 AM SGT

Yes. I agree with you that we got to give them the benefit of doubt that they did not doctored it intentionally.. and if you read carefully the blog posted - it never insist that "CNA have doctored it". There are benefit of doubt in every issue and discussion - same like the JG issue. Perhaps you might want to tell "Big Bullee" that it is not right to call JG a liar as his case also deserve the benefit of doubts.
All these points to their professionalism as a whole - based not on this story alone but in general, how they report stories to the general public.
Anonymous on 11:23 AM SGT

No it's not about professionalism. The whole point of this post is that:

"they had manipulated our content and used it in accordance to their political agenda"

No they didn't.

Yes. A respectable media is worth having. Agreed. Yes. Singapore media is not respectable. Agreed.

Be sure to visit NTU's school of communication and let them know instead of complaining like a bunch of drunk ah-peks at a kopitiam.
Anonymous on 11:27 AM SGT

Lastly, we are in fact on the same angle in terms of giving CNA that benefit of doubt.
However, try looking at CNA, ST and SPH from more angles (from reading what they report and how they report - in a more merticulous and conscious way). Then one day, you might find that all of us are questioning their "PROFESSIONALISM".
Let's stop here. Thanks and I enjoyed this discussion. Cheers and have a good day.
Anonymous on 11:33 AM SGT

Sorry. Just in response to your final comment. Yah, we read the blog, we don't have to agree with it. That's why our posts and exchange are good. Cos' it dis-agree with what basically was reported in the content of the post and they should adopt a softer stand in terms of this particular story unless they have concert proof and there isn't any potential "benefit of doubt". Then perhaps this alternative media will get better and better to earn the respect of most Singapore in the near future. So, it is up to them to see our comments and listen to what both of us said.
Lastly, questioning the official and perhaps also the unofficial media's "PROFESSIONALISM" are things we as reader must also do and be critical of. Thks. Let's stop her.
Anonymous on 11:34 AM SGT

Yeah, its Friday, let's be happy!

Cheers!
Anonymous on 11:35 AM SGT

That problematic cached page is what Blogger calls a Post Page - that means, each post has its own unique web page. What CNA showed on TV was NOT the same Post Page as it included other entries as well. They will be totally different cached URLs to begin with and should not be associated together in the first place.

However, I agree that we should move on as we have spent a lot of time on this and CNA is probably not going to give a hoot.
Anonymous on 11:38 AM SGT

Perhaps Singapore Election Watch can be gracious enough to close the case so that we can all stop debating and agree to disagree on who is right or wrong?
Anonymous on 11:40 AM SGT

Yah. You are right, they don't give a f too. But hopefully, the alternative media hears what we have to say and also put some action into enhancing some professionalism. Don't write story that potentially might give "benefit of doubt" - it will discredit them. I am sure pappies supporter and other "unsure" voters visit this site. What must be done is to ensure this site earn their respect too with "PROFESSIONAL" reporting. Only by doing this, will there be hope to improve the political culture in Singapore.
Anonymous on 11:53 AM SGT

to the anonymous who posted at 09.11AM SGT:

1. There was no alteration done to the posting on "Lee Hsien Loong's territory up for grabs" since its initial posting on 4th May.

2. CNA's screen-shot was from the original site before the layout was changed. They did not access it from Google's cached page, why? the blogger's toolbar is there and the google's cached toolbar was not there.

What IE rendering glitches are you talking about? In response to what you have posted at 12:32 AM SGT:
i quote:"
It could be ...

1) the original page was changed after CNA accessed it. After which, it was changed and hence available in Google cached page.

2) because they accessed the page when it is still available.

make sense?
"
to your first point: the posting was loaded up and no further alterations on text/heading were made. hence your suggestion of what might have happened, DID NOT happen.

to your second point:as there is no alteration done to the text/headings in the URL, and CNA access the original site (shown on the screen-shot), and not the Google's cached site. The headings can be seen in the original site previously. The Google's cached site for the text cache showed the headings as well. But CNA's screen-shot did not have the headings only for that particular post, while other previous posts HAVE the headings displayed. So what glitches are you talking about? can you kindly enlighten me?
Anonymous on 11:54 AM SGT

>> Be sure to visit NTU's school of communication and let them know instead of complaining like a bunch of drunk ah-peks at a kopitiam.

We can agree to disagree but sarcasm is really uncalled for
Anonymous on 12:00 PM SGT

To the anonymous who posted at 11.15AM SGT:
i quote:
"
My point is the missing title is not doctored, but is due to IE problem.
"
There is no IE rendering problem here, the screen-shot showed not only 1 post, it showed several posts, scrolled up and down, and only the "Lee Hsien Loong's territory up for grabs" post had this missing header.

you still believe the crap CNA is dishing out? i reiterate my point:" CNA's act of censoring the headlines in the screen-shot is simply pathetic, and totally devoid of any professionalism.
"
Anonymous on 1:49 PM SGT

To the anonymous who posted on 11:53 AM SGT:

The change I've mentioned is not in the content, but in the CSS (or rather layout in layman's term), which IE did not render properly. The content is there, just that it is not being displayed. Hence you can see it in the cached text version (which did not contain the CSS).

It so happened that at the initial rendering of the page, the title is not rendered. But when you scroll down, the other titles are rendered as they could be part of different programming logic in IE's rendering. Hence when you scroll back up, the missing title is displayed again.

If you still don't understand, I guess its too technical for me to explain further.

To the anonymous who posted on 12:00pm:

Have you try to find an Internet Explorer to look at the cached page? Did you saw the title before you dismiss everything as crap? The other titles appear might not mean the first one will appear. In programming, normally there is a logic to load the initial display. After which, whenever scrolling or whatever actions occur, there is a refresh or touchup on changed area. It is possible that they are affected by two different parts of codes which caused the initial display problem.
Anonymous on 1:59 PM SGT

Yes, I agree with the poster above. The contents are there, but the this is an IE-specific rendering issue. The header did not render in IE originally, but it will be rendered if you scroll down and then up. The header is rendered in other browsers like Firefox though. Not sure if Netscape Navigator render it correctly.

We should just close this issue graciously. I've never like CNA and SPH at all, and would love to pin this to them.... but it really is not their fault this time... and we have to let them off the hook.

BTW, CNA and SPH (in case you are lurking and reading)... you "biased" reporting assume that your reading audience have low IQ and are unable to verify the veracity of your news... we are not as dumb as you think we are!!!
Anonymous on 2:12 PM SGT

All of you are using the IE problem highlighted in the cached Post Page to prove CNA's innocence:

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:ww1R23qu-7gJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/05/lee-hsien-loongs-territory-up-for.html+lee+hsien+loong%27s+territory+up+for+grabs&hl=en&gl=sg&ct=clnk&cd=1

But this was NOT the page CNA accessed because we saw other entries as well. Thus it would not have an effect on what CNA saw because the cached pages are NOT the same.

Just as an illustration:

"Shady Company #1" non-Post Page cache
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:evGqEj-61zwJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/+&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1

You can see the title and date.

"Shady Company #1" Post Page cache
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:QqDnP8Cn-NUJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/05/shady-company-1-gic.html+shady+company+no+1&hl=en&gl=sg&ct=clnk&cd=1

You cannot see the title and date.
Thus it is NOT conclusive to say that CNA is not at fault.
Anonymous on 3:32 PM SGT

to the anonymous who posted at 01.49AM SGT:

the changes in the layout of the site was done around 15th or 16th of May.

filming of the screen-shots, according to CNA, was around 9th and 10th of May.

I quote:
"
The change I've mentioned is not in the content, but in the CSS (or rather layout in layman's term), which IE did not render properly. The content is there, just that it is not being displayed. Hence you can see it in the cached text version (which did not contain the CSS).
"
And what IE rendering glitches are we talking about here? CNA apparently has done something to the screen-shots. I await for your post.
Anonymous on 3:36 PM SGT

to the above post, its not to the person who posted at 01.49AM SGT: should be 01.49PM SGT.

cheers.
Anonymous on 9:43 PM SGT

To Anonymous on 3:32 PM SGT:

The change of layout is from the one that IE did not render properlym to the one that IE render properly. Hence CNA on the 9/10 got the faulty one, but we now saw the 15/16 May version which is the ok one. Understand?

I think I saw this website changing back to the old template for a brief moment this afternoon, and after that they post a update (read the update from the above blog entry) explaining the effect they saw too.

So now I think the IE glitch is evident. The problem now only lies with whether CNA is at fault for now taking the effort to check if the headlines appear or not.

And.. I think most of us don't wish to continue this unproductive debate anymore. Please check with your web developer friends if you still do not understand how possibly this could happen.

This will be my last post here.
Anonymous on 10:14 PM SGT

Read this for other perspective on PROFESSIONALISM of EDITORS and MGMT of SPH.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006
A Message from a Media Insider

I've been in contact with someone from inside the media industry and I requested that he/she write a short piece for my blog to tell anyone who visits what it's like to be inside the organisation which has failed us in so many ways during this General Election, and before, and after. There have been many calls for journalists, reporters, cameramen etc. to step up and tell the world what really goes on there, but it's always easier to stand outside a glass house and throw rocks at it, rather than stand beneath its roof and do the same. I can't reveal the name of this person, nor any of his/her particulars, but nevertheless the truth of the message is far more important than the identity behind it. Suffice it to say that the person has had experience in the coverage of the general elections these past few weeks.

I had no illusions about the independence of the local media when I first started my job as a [------] in Singapore. I knew that my work would be edited, and possibly censored for political safety, and I was mostly fine with that - no media channel anywhere in the world is entirely free from some form of editorial trimming, after all.

What I didn't bargain for was individual self-censorship, unspoken policies and rules, and the stoutness with which people swallowed their journalistic dignity and integrity (because it does exist, even strongly, in some places) to toe the party line. Incredible as it seems, reporters in Singapore do have the same fierce pride in their work as reporters anywhere else; I think this is especially evident in sections of the media that don't touch on politics.

But when it comes to political news, particularly something as sensitive as the elections, many of us leave our brains and consciences at home and resign ourselves to doing what we're told and writing what's being dictated. To some extent I appreciate the rationale of this - there really is a very close watch being kept on the media and when we're kept in line it's largely for our own safety.

However, as someone still young and naive and idealistic, it's hard for me to swallow the indignation I feel whenever I see the local media doggedly ignoring its otherwise sharply-honed news sense. Articles and TV programmes are edited to balance out pro-opposition views; awesome camera opportunities - like the opposition rallies - are studiously left out of media coverage; banal and unfair quotes and tactics are highlighted and headlined simply because they are tools of the ruling party.

There are many things journalists see that the eyes of the public are not privy to, and that we would like to report on but can't. Please remember that when you read an article or watch a broadcast that seems particularly, emetically subjective. And help spread the word that a lot of us in the media are sorry that we can't do the job we want to. It may not mean a lot to you, but it sucks for us that for every day that we covered the elections, people's opinions of us plummeted - despite the fact that we worked our asses off in 14-hour days with no breaks on weekends or public holidays to bring you our version of the news.

And for those who think it's as easy as quitting your jobs and following your conscience - grow up. This is a job. It puts food on our tables. We can all up and leave, but it's ridiculously easy to replace us with more party-line-spouting drones. With educated and politically aware journalists in the local media, at least civil society in Singapore stands a fighting chance. So despise and condemn us all you like, but whatever you believe in, it's highly likely we believe in it too. And it's also likely that we're doing something about it, in our own little ways, even if it's as small as writing about and expressing our dissatisfaction with the system from the inside.

Don't give up on us. We haven't given up on our ideals.
The message speaks poignantly for itself, but let's also have some understanding as to its context. From what I have been gathering from people who send me correspondences as well as those I know face to face, SPH and its affiliated organisations are filled with people who are educated, articulate and passionate -- just like the one above -- yet disillusioned by the system. Many in fact, have packed up and left. The problem with the system is who's at the top. We all know that ex-Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan is the chairman of Singapore Press Holdings. Perhaps less widely known is what is alleged here, by Pranay Gupte, a foreign journalist who has worked with the Straits Times. He claims that 'the paper is run by editors with virtually no background in journalism' and that his direct editor, Chua Lee Hoong, 'was an intelligence officer'. He also says that '[o]ther key editors are drawn from Singapore's bureaucracies and state security services. They all retain connections to the state's intelligence services, which track everyone and everything'.

Eric Ellis, an Australian journalist, also reports here, where he says that 'Chua Lee Hoong, the ST's most prominent political columnist..work[ed] with the secret police for nine years. There's Irene Ho on the foreign desk. She was also an "analyst" with Singapore's intelligence services. So, says Cheong [editor-in-chief for the Straits Times], was Susan Sim, his Jakarta correspondent'.

Ellis also talks about 'Cheong's boss, Tjong Yik Min. From 1986 to 1993, Tjong was Singapore's most senior secret policeman, running the much feared Internal Security Department, a relic of colonial Britain's insecurities about communism in its Asian empire. Now Tjong is a media mogul, the executive president of SPH, Singapore's virtual print media giant, which controls all but one of the country's newspapers'.

It is worthwhile to note that Tjong has since left, in June 2002, but was replaced by Alan Chan, former Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary and previously Principal Private Secretary to Senior Minister, who is currently the CEO of Singapore Press Holdings.

You can read the press release about his appointment here, on the SPH website, which states without shame whatsoever that 'Mr Chan is currently Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport. He is also a Director of Singapore Power (since 1 June 2001) and of PowerGas Ltd (since 15 January 2002). Mr Chan was previously Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Info Technology (1999-2001), Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997-1999), Principal Private Secretary to Senior Minister (1994-1997) and Director Manpower, MINDEF (1990-1994). He was also a Director of DBS Group Holding Ltd from April 1996 to September 2001, and a Director of PSA Corporation Ltd from September 1999 to September 2001.'

Clearly the pressure coming from the head is overwhelming, and it is no surprise whatsoever that that pressure should translate down the chain, so that the executives chastise the editors, the editors chastise the journalists, and so on, if anyone steps out of line, and that perpetuates self-censorship because 'you might as well mutilate your own article before they get to it, and in any case there's no point in drawing attention to yourself'.

So of course things are tough, and will take time to change. You've read the message from someone who actually works inside that system, and now you understand too what that person faces as a daily reality in the workplace. Do feel free to leave comments which will, one way or another, get back to him/her.

Posted at 03:16 pm by gaylegoh
Spoken (42)

http://i-speak.blogdrive.com/archive/cm-5_cy-2006_m-5_d-19_y-2006_o-10.html
Anonymous on 10:48 PM SGT

to the anonymous who posted at 09.43PM SGT:

what i've observed:
1. the template/layout of the site was changed from the orange to white bacground.

2. the content of the allegedly doctored postings were not edited since it's initial posting.

3. the posting on "LHL's territory up for grabs" was posted on 4th May, and no further edition was made.

4. the posting on the "GIC #1 shady company" was posted on 10th May, and no further edition was made.

5. this site was mentioned on 13th May on CNA, CNA's clip showed the site being scrolled up and down.

6. when this site was featured, all the postings have the header shown, except for the heading for the posting on "LHL's territory up for grabs", while the scroll-bar was moved up and down to show the contents found in this site.

7. supposing there was a glitch, like the one you've indicated, all other headings in the subsequent posts would also be "deleted" out in any case of a script error.

8. the other headings for the subsequent posts are clearly seen.

9. singapore election watch slammed CNA with the posting on "Bloggers persists as Mediacorp bullshits".

10. The first mention of any glitch was not found on the original site, but the glitch was found on the google cached site.

i quote:
"
Hi all,

Please visit the cached version from google below :

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:ww1R23qu-7gJ:singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/05/lee-hsien-loongs-territory-up-for.html+lee+hsien+loong%27s+territory+up+for+grabs&hl=en&gl=sg&ct=clnk&cd=1

See if the title appears at your browser. It didn't in my IE 5.5 until I scroll down and up again. I think the template has refresh problem for the title in some browser versions and CNA happen to use it.

9:42 PM SGT

"

11. indeed, there are glitches in the IE rendering, and the glitches we've seen so far is found only in the google cached site.

12. CNA's screen-shot is not taken off google's cached site, as the site had its template changed between 15th May and 16th May, hence i'm convinced that there should be no glitches found on CNA's screen-shot.

13. i personally testify that i saw the headings on the allegedly "doctored" postings found in this site since its initial posting, and there were no changes made to those allegedly "doctored" postings.

14. i'll gladly provide my ip addresses, both at work and at home, to prove my daily visits to this site. i'm sure the ISP have logs of the sites i've visited.

15. It appears to me, that CNA blatantly removed the heading, for what ever reasons they have, instead of the glitches that you've persistently mentioned.

16. like it or not, readers of this site who have watched CNA's reporting on this site (13th May) will have the answers clearly in their hearts.

17. if you have been reading up on this site since 1st May 2006, i'm sure you'll be totally convinced there was no glitches whatsoever.

18. lastly, i reiterate my point:" CNA's act of censoring the headlines in the screen-shot is simply pathetic, and totally devoid of any professionalism."
Anonymous on 9:27 AM SGT

An additional perspective other than the evidence presented which might have "benefit of doubts".

"Repression, Sir is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love-it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack. All you have to do is to dissolve organizations and societies and banish and detain the key political workers in these societies. Then miraculously everything is tranquil on the surface. Then an intimidated press and the government-controlled radio together can regularly sing your praises, and slowly and steadily the people are made to forget the evil things that have already been done, or if these things are referred to again they're conveniently distorted and distorted with impunity, because there will be no opposition to contradict." [Emphases mine]

- Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition PAP member speaking to David Marshall, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Debates, 4 October, 1956
abao on 9:55 AM SGT

haiz...looks like my post led to some huge commotion...

anyways, lets all switch to FireFox. Then no more glitches will happen.

www.getfirefox.com

Singapore Election Watch

Who are you calling a liar, Liar?!

78 Responses to “Who are you calling a liar, Liar?!”

[Uncensored] Search

Team Bloggers

Say NO to Pay Hike for Singapore Ministers

Say No to GST Hike

Contact Us/Submit Articles

Singapore Freedom Index

Election Watch Poll

Previous posts

Archives

Manifestos

Links

Online Petitions

RSS Feed

Endorsement

Empower Singaporeans