The AWARE Saga: Civil Society and Public Morality in Singapore

Chapter 6 The Role of the Media: Investigative Journalism in Singapore

96 Loh Chee Kong 96 C H A P T E R 6 C H A P T E R 6 The Role of the Media: Investigative Journalism in Singapore Loh Chee Kong Introduction Introduction Once in a while, a great story comes along and for the journalists in Singapore, the AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research) saga, even in its initial stages, had all the right ingredients — the controversial issues of homosexuality and religion, a covert plot, a bitter power struggle and a cast of relatively well-known figures — to become a blockbuster. Apart from the reams of newspapers devoted to the saga, it also took on a life of its own on the Internet, spawning numerous online discussions and commentaries by amateur journalists. But perhaps more than anything else, the AWARE episode was a poignant reminder of the media’s ability to mobilise public opinion, a salient trait often warned against in politically-sterile Singapore. How else could one account for a turn-out of more than 3,000 Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans alike at the AWARE extraordinary meeting (EGM) on 3 May 2009, a number of whom had previously scant idea of its work as an NGO? How else could one explain the strong views held by those in attendance, with many taking sides as the war of words between the two factions was played out in both the mainstream media and the Internet? The EGM was, in every sense, extraordinary. It was a throwback to the heady pre-independence years, when newspapers were regularly Investigative Journalism in Singapore 97 used to not just shape public opinion but also get people out of their houses and act on it. In a country where it is constantly made clear to media practitioners that they do not set the political agenda, the Singapore government naturally frowned upon the rare demonstration of investigative journalism that brought the AWARE saga to light, which, to some observers, even bordered on “crusading journalism”. Apart from examining the tone and tenor of the media coverage, this chapter would also explore the circumstances leading to the rare demonstration of investigative journalism, at least in the Singapore context, in civil society in 2009. And in contrast to previous examples of investigative journalism — most notably with the National Kidney Foundation saga in 2005, when investigative journalism was lauded for unearthing unethical practices — why did the government voice its disapproval on more than one occasion of the media coverage, apart from the fact that it had involved the sensitive topic of religion? Any attempt to understand the role that the mainstream media played in the AWARE saga should be framed by the political expectations of the media. In what was a defining speech on the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) stance on the role of the Singapore media, then Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in 2004 that the media was expected to play a “constructive role in nation building”. Adding that the Singapore media model must be distinct from its American counterpart, “which uses its powerful position to set the national agenda, champion policies and pass judgment on the country’s leaders”, Lee reiterated that the Singapore media should “adopt a national perspective on issues” and “avoid crusading journalism, slanting news coverage to campaign for personal agendas” (The Straits Times 7 Jan. 2004). As the dust settled on the AWARE saga, the media, in particular, The Straits Times, were roundly criticised publicly in Parliament by a couple of Members of Parliament (MPs), taking the cue from Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng who, in response to media queries, described the coverage as “excessive and not sufficiently balance”; and also “extensive and even breathless” (The Straits Times; TODAY 15 May 2009). At the National Day Rally some three months after the saga, PM Lee brought up the episode again (TODAY 17 Aug. 2009), and was critical of the media coverage which not only set the stage for a fierce public debate but also invariably stoked the flames of what Lee described as “a sensitive matter where views are deeply divided”. The manner in which the saga unfolded also risked spilling over into relations between the different religions, Lee noted. 98 Loh Chee Kong But while government voices were unanimous in criticising the media coverage, the views on the ground were mixed: with those sympathetic to the so-called “old guard” of...