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SINGAPORE – The New Naratif website has responded to a recent police report filed against it by the Elections Department’s (ELD) Return Warrant Officer, calling it a case of harassment against critics of the government and an abuse of the law.
In a statement on Saturday (September 19), New Naratif said that the police report is “a continuation of the PAP government’s attempts to intimidate independent media, and is an abuse of the Parliamentary Elections Act designed to instill fear. in the hearts of government critics. ” and citizenship “.
The ELD had said on Friday that it released the police report after New Naratif ran five advertisements during the July general election campaign period, which the ELD said violated the law.
One of the allegedly illegal ads featured a satirical video in the style of a perfume advertisement that accused Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of targeting his critics under the guise of the rule of law, among other things.
Under the law, only electoral advertising made by or on behalf of a candidate is allowed. The ELD said New Naratif was not acting on behalf of any candidate when it posted the ads on Facebook.
In its response, New Naratif reiterated its position that Singapore’s laws are drafted too broadly and thus make legitimate political activity illegal without a permit. She added that the use of the law by ELD against her proves it.
The website also accused the government of mounting an ongoing harassment campaign against it, describing itself as an independent media organization that has been critical of the PAP government.
It cited instances of such “attacks”, including the denial by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of its attempt to register in Singapore; The questioning of the Minister of Law and Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam, on the motives and financing of New Naratif in a speech on the need for a law that protects against foreign interference in Singapore; and two correction instructions issued against New Naratif under the fake news law.
New Naratif added that there were also “numerous attacks” against its managing director, historian Thum Ping Tjin, and its other founders and staff.
The website was founded in 2017 by three Singaporeans: Dr. Thum, freelance journalist Kirsten Han, and comic book artist Sonny Liew.
Ms. Han resigned as editor-in-chief of the website in April this year.
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