As proof that you really can't permanently censor anything on the internet, a former editor of The Real Singapore (TRS) has launched a new socio-political site called the Straits Times Review following the Media Development Authority's (MDA) order to shut down TRS last week.
Describing itself as an independent news site based in Australia, the website was registered back in Apr 18 and is run by blogger and systems engineer Alex Tan, TRS' founder and former editor.
Both TRS editors — 26-year-old Singaporean student Yang Kaiheng and his 22-year-old Australian fiancee Ai Takagi — had been ordered to cease posting on their website and clear out all content as well as take down their social media pages on May 3. They have also been banned from resuming operations under any other name.
With the launch of Straits Times Review, suspicions about their involvement are only natural, and MDA are reportedly looking into the matter. Yang and Takagi's lawyer have confirmed that they have nothing to do with the new website, TODAY reports.
Both editors are currently charged with seven counts of sedition and one count each under the Penal Code for failing to produce documents related to TRS to a police officer.
It's a smart move for Straits Times Review to base themselves in Australia too, as the website will be out of MDA's jurisdiction and nothing can be done about it. The same however cannot be said about local socio-political sites such as All Singapore Stuff or Redwire Times who have stepped up to the plate to take over the position TRS once held as alternative (and sometimes provocative) news outlets.
The FreeMyInternet coalition of bloggers have already publicly voiced out their displeasure over MDA's decision to shut down TRS — especially since it was done on World Press Freedom Day — and have already called for the authority to revoke the suspension.
Photo: Straits Times Review screengrab
As proof that you really can't permanently censor anything on the internet, a former editor of The Real Singapore (TRS) has launched a new socio-political site called the Straits Times Review following the Media Development Authority's (MDA) order to shut down TRS last week.
Describing itself as an independent news site based in Australia, the website was registered back in Apr 18 and is run by blogger and systems engineer Alex Tan, TRS' founder and former editor.
Both TRS editors — 26-year-old Singaporean student Yang Kaiheng and his 22-year-old Australian fiancee Ai Takagi — had been ordered to cease posting on their website and clear out all content as well as take down their social media pages on May 3. They have also been banned from resuming operations under any other name.
With the launch of Straits Times Review, suspicions about their involvement are only natural, and MDA are reportedly looking into the matter. Yang and Takagi's lawyer have confirmed that they have nothing to do with the new website, TODAY reports.
Both editors are currently charged with seven counts of sedition and one count each under the Penal Code for failing to produce documents related to TRS to a police officer.
It's a smart move for Straits Times Review to base themselves in Australia too, as the website will be out of MDA's jurisdiction and nothing can be done about it. The same however cannot be said about local socio-political sites such as All Singapore Stuff or Redwire Times who have stepped up to the plate to take over the position TRS once held as alternative (and sometimes provocative) news outlets.
The FreeMyInternet coalition of bloggers have already publicly voiced out their displeasure over MDA's decision to shut down TRS — especially since it was done on World Press Freedom Day — and have already called for the authority to revoke the suspension.
Photo: Straits Times Review screengrab