Singaporeans For Free Speech & Transparency

TOC gives publicity to website that promotes prostitution

2010-11-27T12:30:00.001+08:00

The Online Citizen's Facebook page posted a very strange link from Sammyboy Forums. For those of you who haven't surfed the darker side of the Internet, Sammyboy [NSFW] has been linked to discussions of the sex trade and prostitution.

The very strange link is at the bottom of the screenshot. Beware, Sammyboy is NSFW and may attract attention of your employer, your net filter and even your wife if she checks your browser access logs. Practise safe surfing!

Looking at Temasek Review's Facebook, we can see that TR hasn't descended to the same gutter depths as TOC.

See, no Sammyboy link so far...

We knew all along that Temasek Review is more democratic and more transparent. Now we know that TR is also more classy than TOC -- after all, TOC has just given publicity to a website that (directly or indirectly) promotes prostitution.

We also know that Temasek Review has BALLS because TR stood up to Temasek Holdings. Wonder if Andrew Loh and TOC will have the same courage if a certain big shot comes after them for publishing the link. [Our legal advisors have told us not to link directly to that Sammyboy thread for obvious reasons.]

Is this why Andrew Loh is moving away from TOC? So that his good friend Joshua Chiang can take the heat when TOC gets into trouble?

So long, farewell, it's time for my buddy to take the rap!

TOC tells ordinary Singaporean: You shouldn't be here unless you like us

2010-11-23T21:14:00.001+08:00

Seen on TOC's Facebook page, in a discussion that was free-flowing on both sides until The Online Censor stepped in to tight-slap dissenting views.

TOC's elite uncaring message was: "You don't like us very much and thus perhaps you shouldn't be here." [scroll to the bottom to see the exchange, assuming TOC hasn't deleted it yet]

Screenshot taken Tue 23 Nov 2010, at 9.00 PM

Why is TOC only wanting to hear "the good stuff"? Surely they have the guts to defend their views, if they are campaigning for an open society?

Does TOC want a society with only YES-MEN? Will they be the next MIW if they ever come to power?

This is why we need true free press like Temasek Review.

Hacker Attack On Our Facebook Account? Is TOC involved?

2010-11-21T20:35:00.003+08:00

Within 24 hours of our latest proof of TOC being The Online Censor, we received a very strange email about our Facebook account.

Singaporeans For Free Speech & Transparency has never had trouble logging into our Facebook account. So why did we get this message?

Did somebody try to hack or disable our Facebook account? And if so, why?

Have our Free Speech & Transparency advocacies offended certain people? We saw how Dr Joseph Ong of Temasek Review had his name dragged through the mud in the MSM.

We exposed TOC as The Online Censor in 2009, and again as an enemy of free speech in 2010. Could they be behind what seems like a hacking attempt?

TOC The Online Censor Strikes Again, Pot Calling Kettle White?

2010-11-21T00:19:00.012+08:00

YPAP and TOC have much in common. YPAP recently reached across the (figurative) table and gave TOC one tight slap. TOC then KBKB about no free speech, say YPAP only want to hear the good stuff.

But is this "The Pot Calling The Kettle WHITE"?

Singaporeans For Free Speech & Transparency now brings you more revelations about TOC The Online Censor - and how they are CENSORING critics on their website. Unlike Temasek Review which isn't afraid to let it all hang out (and we're not referring to a certain video here).

CASE 1: MR JAMES TAY

BEFORE

One of our supporters, a very brave Mr James Tay, posted a link to our blog on the TOC thread:

AFTER

But a mere 24 hours later, James Tay's comment had been taken down. Luckily James had his own screenshots to show they had converted the comment back to "awaiting moderation".

What was wrong with James Tay publishing a link to our website?

CASE 2: TEMUJIN (who is this guy?)

Some poor guy Temujin also kena censored -- he posted just before James Tay, but the comment is now gone, along with many others critical of TOC. If you don't believe, go to the TOC page and search for the name.

BEFORE & AFTER

So why is TOC now so aggressive? Or have Choo Zheng Xi and Andrew Loh learned the art of repression from their YPAP opponents?

Shadrake's Legal Eagles - The TOC Link?

2010-11-19T15:11:00.002+08:00

The Wall Street Journal recently covered the trial of UK anti-death penalty campaigner Alan Shadrake. It features a photo of Shadrake, his lawyer M. Ravi, and another gentleman who bears a remarkable resemblance to Choo Zheng Xi, Editor-at-Large of The Online Citizen.

Photo Credit: Reuters / WSJ

We hate the death penalty as much as the next righteous convict, but why is it that TOC is giving so much more coverage to Shadrake than Temasek Review?

Is it because a key figure of TOC is involved with Shadrake's legal team?

Is there a conflict of interest for TOC, when they publish news on the Shadrake trial? Like here, here, here and here.

Why hasn't TOC publicly declared this conflict of interest, when they stand up for transparency on everything else?

David See Leong Kit speaks. The Online Citizen censors.

2010-07-01T02:49:00.003+08:00

Somebody claiming to be David See Leong Kit just claimed on Temasek Review that the article was sent to both TR and TOC.

If this were the simple truth, why is it that TOC still has not published our comment asking about possible plagiarism?

Surely TOC would be unafraid to print the truth, if the truth will set them free!

Ask yourself: If TOC can censor this, what else are they censoring?

Did The Online Citizen Plagiarise Temasek Review?

2010-06-30T14:09:00.007+08:00

On 29 June, our friends at Temasek Review published a letter from a reader which the government-linked MSM refused to publish. [screenshot shown above]

One day later, The Online Citizen published the same letter. [see more screenshot evidence above]

TOC showed NO RECOGNITION that Temasek Review published the letter first.

Is TOC stooping so low as to plagiarise Temasek Review now? Can Andrew Loh please tell us? Can Ng E-Jay, who uploaded the article to TOC, please explain? Or was it an HONEST MISTAKE???

Update: TOC has comment moderation enabled. They censored our attempts to highlight this problem.

TOC wayang, SEX & why Temasek Review the Apprentice is now the Master

2010-05-31T06:24:00.000+08:00

Less than 12 hours ago, Andrew Loh of The Online Citizen posted an update saying they were going on an "indefinite break". Co-incidentally, there is a banner asking for donations.

Money problems? Does this explain TOC's articles asking for donations of late? The hint of trouble was when TOC started doing lifestyle stories, including articles by a SEXologist on matters like vaginismus, vulvas and vaginas.[don't worry, these are safe for work]

Before you mistake me as being un-AWARE (the new old one, not the old new one), I can tell you that SEX is fine in the "fine" city of Singapore, unless you are doing it the wrong way according to the law. BTW, I always answer "Yes please" when filling up surveys.

For a political site like TOC, their deviation from previous behaviour suggests they needed eyeballs. And what better way to drive eyeballs than sex 'n' lifestyle.

Temasek Review on the other hand was smarter. They grabbed people by the eyeballs early on, and then moved into more serious political commentary. The Apprentice is now the Master.

So let's see what happens. Or is it all the inevitable progression of SEX, LIES and ROCK & ROLL!

TOC Flip Flop, Flop Flip

2009-11-10T20:37:00.008+08:00

A very strange thing has happened at The Online Citizen over the past one week.

First, founding editor Andrew Loh was reported as having quit and would "no longer be involved with the operations of The Online Citizen".

But one week later, Andrew Loh is now writing articles in full force. And he is now "Editor-at-large", enjoying the same rank and status as Choo Zheng Xi.

What is happening? Why the flip-flop by TOC? It seems more and more like TOC is going into the throes of internal political fighting.

Can you trust TOC when they flip-flop in the space of 7 days? At least Temasek Review only acts weird when they have a Denial of Service attack on them!

What is happening to the Singapore blogosphere? Can we trust anybody anymore?

TOC, give us a frank and full account of what happened!

Power Struggle in TOC? Transparency please!

2009-11-04T20:35:00.010+08:00

Of late there have been many strange rumblings within The Online Citizen.

Leong Sze Hian became Acting Managing Editor.

Alfian Sa'at, who we understand was credited as scriptwriter for the National Day Parade 2009, is a Columnist.

And now Andrew Loh, TOC Founder and Chief Editor, has left TOC!

Our undercover reporters have hypothesized that there is infighting and jockeying for position within TOC. For whoever controls TOC will have a very powerful online broadcast platform to play with.

So was Andrew Loh the first victim of infighting within TOC?

And did our exposé of TOC play a role in the change? We may never know. But we call upon TOC to give a full and transparent explanation of the reasons for Andrew Loh's departure. TOC supporters past and present deserve the facts.

The importance of Deep Throat in Singapore

2009-11-01T10:42:00.002+08:00

This is an article about something profound, which some people have difficulty swallowing. Some will spit it back in your faces. But we believe it is an important component of healthy free speech, of achieving the climax of human democracy. (No, this is not about Section 377.)

A couple of readers have asked us if it is possible to be credible without revealing our names.

The answer is YES.

Remember Watergate in the USA? It was reported by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post.

But the most important figure in Watergate did not reveal his name at the time. He was only known as DEEP THROAT.

Imagine what would have happened if the American people had written off Watergate only because DEEP THROAT did not reveal himself.

Ask yourself what the real agenda is, when people write off a commentator because of anonymity. To say the anonymous cannot be credible, is to say Watergate should not have succeeded. We might still be having a Nixon Regime in Washington today.

For Tomorrow - we have been Tomorrow'ed!

2009-10-31T00:44:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow.sg was one of the first BIG aggregators in the Singapore blogosphere.

We are pleased to announce that our website has been picked up by Tomorrow.sg.

Truth be told, we approached a few bloggers about highlighting our website. Some turned us down because they did not want to be dragged into a debate involving a major blog. Sounds a lot like lawyers who don't want to represent you because they are afraid of taking on the big guns in town!

We are thankful for this coverage and have been inspired to bring you more insightful analysis and investigative reporting.

Coming Soon: A strategic analysis of Temasek Review.

Why has Temasek Review gone down again?

2009-10-30T10:59:00.006+08:00

Temasek Review (formerly known as Wayang Party) is down again. Their website has been down for many hours now.

What is the basis for this? Could it be a massive distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack?

Those of us in the alternative media must beware of such cyberwarfare measures. You never know when somebody is going to try and take you down.

And it may not be the usual suspects who are responsible. Caveat freedom fightor!

TOC Andrew Loh - WP or not WP, that is the question

2009-10-29T19:45:00.005+08:00

Back in 2007, a big discussion erupted on the blog Mr Wang Says So, during a discussion about PAP's secret shadow brigade.

It took a strange turn when one deepthroat.sg (no relation to Annabel Chong), revealed that TheOnlineCitizen.com was registered by members of the Workers' Party. Deepthroat.sg asked if Andrew Loh was a member of the Workers' Party Youth Wing.

An important question as TOC claimed to be non-partisan.

What ensued was a denial on par with a certain famous individual saying he did not have sexual relations according to that definition.

The Online Citizen then claimed that Deepthroat.sg "made unsubstantiated claims such as Andrew being a member of the WP Youth Wing".

But TOC's own website admits that Andrew Loh quit the Workers' Party from April 2, 2008. So he was still a Workers' Party member in 2007.

So did they mean to say that Andrew Loh and TOC got off the hook, because he wasn't a member of the WP Youth Wing? Or is this a hair splitting denial that doesn't get to the spirit of the truth?

Is this the standard of truth and transparency that Singaporeans deserve?

We have the screenshots to prove it.

We bring you the facts. Because you deserve to know.

SCREENSHOT 1
TOC claims to be "non-partisan and not affiliated to any organisation - political or otherwise".
SCREENSHOT 2
Deepthroat.sg asks about TheOnlineCitizen.com being registered by Workers' Party members.
Also asks if Andrew Loh is a member of WP Youth Wing.
Poor Deepthroat. He/she spat too soon. The biting question wasn't firm enough and there was room for TOC to wriggle. (We will stop for now as this is a family friendly website and not the SammyBoy forums.)

SCREENSHOT 3
TOC says Andrew Loh is not a member of WP Youth Wing.
Notice how they don't say he is not a member of WP.

SCREENSHOT 4
But TOC's own website claims Andrew Loh resigned from WP in 2008. So he must have been a WP member in 2007, even if TOC said he wasn't part of WP Youth Wing!
So the FACTS are out. Maybe TOC didn't exactly lie to you. But they certainly didn't give you the truth.

P65 - Tip of the Iceberg?

2009-10-28T21:37:00.001+08:00

In August 2009, YPAP member Vikram Nair came out of the closet. He declared his YPAP status on the P65 blog. (screenshot archived below)

But was he the tip of the iceberg? Was he sacrificed by his masters so as to turn the hunting dogs off the scent? Are there other YPAP members hiding behind the cloak of p65.sg?

Singaporeans For Free Speech & Transparency is working hard behind the scenes to find out.

We bring you the FACTS that other websites don't want you to know.

TOC - The Online CENSOR

2009-10-27T09:14:00.009+08:00

There has recently been a mudslinging battle of epic proportions on The Online Citizen. It started bad and has gotten worse, with everybody whacking each other left right centre.

Singaporeans For Free Speech & Transparency (SGFree) is not particularly interested in the ongoing dogfight / catfight / shark fight.

What concerns us is that TOC has claimed to seek "honest and civil exchange of views". Yet TOC has been unwilling to apply their same standards of "honest" to themselves.

We decided to test TOC, by posting a valid question: Were they doing what some have accused certain media outlets of, i.e. interviewing partisans and passing it off as balanced reporting?

So we asked them a simple question: was the "Bernard Chen" year 1 history major who they interviewed also the same person who is an office holder in a Singapore political party youth wing?

Our question was CENSORED. Along with a post by someone else, who claimed the TOC debate was "rather shameful".

TOC, we can understand why some misguided souls may want to hide the facts. But suppressing views is one step further! Singaporeans deserve better.

We are attaching screenshots to prove the censorship occurred.

[Screen 1 below] Notice comment #116 of 4.38am, and our own comment #118 at 8.47am on 27 Oct 2009.

[Screen 2 below] Notice comment #116 has been censored. Our own comment #118 has also been censored. We are waiting to see if our latest comment (the new #116) at 9.10am has also been censored.

[Screen 3 below] UPDATE: Our latest comment was also censored. We have posted a "testing testing" message so that TOC's server provides a timestamp, to prove the censorship occurred.

We had called for TOC to be transparent about the investigation and action they were taking against the alleged "threats" that were going on. We also enquired about why they are censoring free speech.

We will test other websites. P65 has already been tested by some of our online Singaporeans, who forced an admission about PAP membership. Tune in again as we shine more light into the Singapore blogosphere!!!

It's time for Transparency

2009-10-02T03:00:00.001+08:00

There's not enough transparency online these days. Do you know who is sponsoring the blogs you read? Are people declaring conflicts of interest?

We at Singaporeans For Free Speech & Transparency are tired of the wayang that is going on.

People claiming to be "Fair and Balanced"...
... when they're anything but.

People claiming to be "Non-Partisan"...
... when their actions don't live up to their claims.

People claiming to stand for "Free Speech" and "Disclosure"...
... when they censor critics and refuse to give you the facts.

Do you have information that something is not what it seems? That our free speech is being manipulated by people behind the scenes? That transparency is anything other than transparent? You can email us at:

sgfreespeechtransparency [ at ] gmail.com.
(email obfuscated to defeat spambots)