TIS Weekly: Media analysis: Blame-slinging won’t solve Singapore’s haze problems
Photo Credit: Ulet Ifansasti via news.mongabay.com
TIS Weekly: Media analysis: Blame-slinging won’t solve Singapore’s haze problems
Main story: Media coverage of the haze issue in reveals interesting insights.
TIS Analysis: coverage by the English-language Indonesian press has been even-handed, as has the Singaporean English-language press. The Bahasa Indonesia press reveals a different view – and one international publication causes a stir.
TIS in brief: TIS rounds up some of the latest key developments in the haze story and provides insight into what they mean for the ongoing story.
TIS Insider: In keeping with the media theme, TIS takes a brief look at an interesting sideline that has developed next to the main story – and wonders what this says about the state of political communications in Singapore.
Main story: media coverage of haze issue reveals interesting insights
With thick, choking haze from fires in Riau province of Indonesia’s Sumatera island continuing to spread a pall over Singapore and Malaysia, increasing air pollution levels to record levels and causing health and environmental problems, TIS this week takes a look at the issue from a different angle.
TIS has covered the haze in some detail in a previous report and stands by its forecast that the physical problem – the haze itself – will continue to dominate headlines for a few more news cycles before dying out as rains and firefighting efforts douse the deep-burning, smoky peat fires.
Environmental and health issues related to the haze have received extensive coverage (a search for the keyword “haze” on Google News Singapore alone returns over 100,000 results), and the murky, opaque nature of the palm oil industry and its connections to the circles of power in all three neighbours mean that real solutions likely are a long way off.
At the present moment, a more interesting aspect to the story is the media coverage of the issue in Singapore and in Indonesia, both in English and Bahasa, as well as one particularly noteworthy foreign news article, for a more comprehensive state-of-play examination of current thinking on the haze issue.
TIS’s analysis of coverage by media – including traditional and social – reveals some highly interesting insights.
Indonesian media coverage
A survey of four of Indonesia’s biggest newspapers reveals a stark difference between local-language and English-language coverage of the issue.
The editorial pages Indonesian English-language media have been generally supportive of the country’s neighbours, while letters and opinion pages have been taken aim at the government’s response from a variety of standpoints.
Local-language media appear less concerned about the haze issue. Kompas.com, the online version of the respected Kompas daily, has focused recent Singapore coverage on lighter, tabloid-friendly topics and its scant haze-related coverage over the last week has been fairly straight down the line.
Kontan newspaper has mostly relied on content-sharing with The Jakarta Post for its haze coverage, with its only original, local-language article on the issue in the past week also a mild, down-the-line summary.
Singaporean coverage
In contrast, a search of Singapore’s StraitsTimes.com for haze-related articles returns almost 22,000 results, ranging from detailed on-the-ground coverage of shortages of face masks at pharmacies, government efforts to mitigate the haze problem at home, and ongoing Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) updates, as well as regionally focused geopolitical coverage.
Today Online tabloid, Singapore’s second-biggest paper by circulation, has an entire section devoted to haze coverage and despite some tabloid-ready headlines is mostly focused on straight news and nationalistic soundbytes, with some pro-government coverage of mitigation efforts and relatively even-handed examination of the root causes of the issue.
International coverage
While most international coverage of the haze issue has been relatively anodyne, relying on image-heavy interactive stories or on wire pieces, a Global Mail article has caused a stir in Singapore’s power circles (see TIS Insider section below), identifying apparent links between Foreign Affairs, Minister for Law, and MP for Nee Soon GRC K. Shanmugan with Golden Agri-Resources Ltd., the Singapore- listed parent company of PT Sinar Mas Agri Resources & Technology, or PT Smart, as well as another Indonesia-focused resources company.
TIS Analysis:
Coverage of the issue in the English-language Indonesian press has been fair-minded, taking the Indonesian government to task and focusing on the positive aspects of relations with the country’s regional neighbours, while taking a conciliatory tone on the gaffes by local officials.
The regionally-focused Jakarta Post and Jakarta Globe – which cater to higher-income Indonesians at home and abroad, expatriates in Indonesia, and regional readers – have done a relatively respectable job in keeping the tone of the debate fair and diplomatic.
The local-language Indonesian press coverage reveals a more deepseated problem – that the haze is simply not considered a high priority for attention by the average Indonesian on the street. Whether an outcome of political malaise with an election due next year to select Pres. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s replacement, rising fuel prices, inflation and interest rates, or a simple lack of knowledge or concern about regional neighbours, many Indonesians simply do not see the issue as being overly pressing – in stark contrast to the reality on the ground for those in Singapore, parts of Malaysia, and indeed Riau itself, most Indonesians are unaffected by the haze issue in any meaningful way. In the capital city of Jakarta, skies remain untouched by haze and aside from media coverage, there is no indication of the environmental carnage going on at the other end of the country.
A former Singapore- and Indonesia-based journalist with Singaporean and international media outlets tells TIS that in one previous year when the haze was particularly bad, Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials told reporters that they should be reporting things that would shame Indonesia into action, and supplied reporters with quotes by Indonesian officials that were apparently culled from Indonesian newspapers.
A Singapore-based journalist at an international media outlet who has reported on the haze issue recently tells TIS that he isn’t aware of any agenda to “attack” Indonesia, and says that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is more interested in solving the problem than in blame-slinging.
When asked whether the MFA attempts to direct the tone of media coverage, this person said only that “blasting Indonesians is an easy headline, and popular too.”
A third Singapore-based journalist, also at a foreign media outlet, expressed via social media the sentiment that the Singaporean authorities’ readiness to blame its neighbours for regional problems, despite the possibility that local Singaporean stakeholders could be involved in the cause of the issue, is unhelpful to neighbourly relations.
From TIS’s conversations with journalists, it doesn’t appear as if the Singaporean authorities are seeking to guide media coverage at this stage, although it’s conceivable they have done so in the past. Interestingly, a quote is still making the internet rounds which was originally attributed to an Indonesian minister in 2010 in a Straits Times article (details below) stating that Singapore shouldn’t fuss about haze for only a few weeks, as Indonesia supplies its neighbours with plenty of oxygen during the rest of the year – certainly, Singaporean media coverage of the issue appears to have lifted its tone significantly in the last several years.
PSI crosses 100; Govt urges Jakarta to act
Straits Times
Jeremy Au Yong
21 October 2010,
886 words,
English,
(c) 2010 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
—
“In comments likely to upset those affected by the haze, an Indonesian government spokesman told The Straits Times yesterday: ‘There are also hot spots in Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. So it is premature to say that the haze is always from Indonesia
‘It has been only a week of smoke but people are already making so much noise. What about all the oxygen that (Indonesia) supplies to them during the rest of the year?’”
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Some Singaporean bloggers have been highly critical of the country’s response, pointing out – whether relevant or not – that other countries have reacted to worse natural disasters more mildly.
The murky nature of the CPO industry – where scientists claim that wrongdoings including tax fraud, corruption and laundering of illegal timber are rampant – makes it exceptionally difficult to map stakeholders and track chains of accountability.
Reporting by outlets like the Global Mail on the connections between the industry and Singapore’s power elite are gutsy and much needed. As the newspaper notes, it does not imply that K. Shanmugan had any involvement in unethical or illegal activities, and the minister’s response to the article appears legitimate. Such transparency can only help Singapore’s international image, not harm it – the function of the fourth estate in its ideal form is to reveal information to the public that can be acted upon, or responded to, by all relevant stakeholders.
The Global Mail’s article is a bold move and while its commitment to transparency must be applauded, the potential repercussions for the newspaper also shouldn’t be underestimated.
The Singaporean authorities’ reactions to media coverage that they deem disfavourable can be swift and harsh.
The International Herald Tribune – the global edition of the New York Times, has felt the wrath of Singapore’s disfavour, as have several individual journalists.
British journalist and author Alan Shadrake was sentenced to six weeks in prison for “scandalizing the judiciary” following the publication of his investigative work Once a Jolly Hangman
Another British freelance journalist – now based in Jakarta with an international publication – had his application for a work visa renewal rejected and was refused press credentials to cover an event in the country, while a reporter for the Epoch Times, linked with the Falun Gong movement that has been declared illegal by the Chinese Communist Party, was detained and deported in 2006 while attempting to re-enter Singapore from Europe during a break in coverage of a trial of two Falun Gong activists who staged a protest at the Chinese embassy in Singapore.
TIS is aware of at least one other senior foreign journalist at an international media outlet whose documents were rejected for renewal and who eventually left Singapore for Europe, in a case related to financial journalism that has not been publicized.
On the other hand, Singapore allowed journalist Allan Nairn entry after he was deported from Indonesia in 1999 in connection with his reporting on human rights issues in East Timor.
TIS in brief:
Indonesia has made several arrests including that of a bank director in connection with the burning.
Pres. Yudhoyono has apologized for the haze problem, but appeared to scale back his statements somewhat with a second press conference, stating that neither Malaysia or Singapore has the right to tell Indonesia what it can and can’t do. “It is a weird question — no other country has the right to give orders to Indonesia and no one can instruct me as the President of a sovereign country,” Yudhoyono says.
Singapore’s attorney general has indicated that action will be taken against Singapore-domiciled companies if evidence is found implicating them in burning. While Indonesia shouldn’t be absolved of blame, direct action by the Singaporean authorities would leverage the country’s stronger rule-of-law and regulatory framework – if it is determined that Singapore-domiciled companies are at fault, TIS believes that a swift, meaningful round of sanctions, financial or otherwise, would be a highly effective countermeasure in the interim while Indonesian authorities consider policies and actions to put out the fires.
Indonesia’s government has agreed to bring forward the ASEAN Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution – a conciliatory gesture that should create goodwill, whether or not it results in meaningful policy action.
TIS insider
In Singapore, an interesting sideline has developed to the main haze story. K. Shanmugan, the Singaporean minister referred to in the Global Mail’s article, is reported by a local blogger, Kirsten Han, to have called another netizen in the middle of the night regarding the potential litigability of the Mail piece, leading the first blogger to express concern about sharing via social media.
The blogger contacted by Shanmugan is apparently Remy Choo Zheng Xi, described as an internet activist and co-founder of TheOnlineCitizen independent online media outlet, and a lawyer at the firm Peter Low LLC. Shanmugan and Choo have downplayed the significance of the phone call, indicating that it is an – apparently – regular consultation. In a social media-savvy move typical of many Singaporean politicians, Shanmugan took to Facebook to explain the phone call and his directorships in the resources industry. TIS does not provide analysis on the inner workings of Singapore’s political communications, but does find the following exchanges intriguing, and believes that our readers will too.
K. Shanmugan via his Facebook account on the midnight phone call:
I have been asked about Ms Kirsten Han’s post at spuddings.net. Unfortunately the picture Ms Han has painted is quite untrue. To give her the benefit of doubt, she was not part of the conversation and may not therefore have had the full picture.
I spoke with Remy Choo whom I know and whom I have engaged with. I discuss issues with Remy - I have met him in my office, have met him for dinner, and have had phone conversations with him on various topics. Yesterday, I spoke with Remy about an article that had appeared, and told him the facts. He told me that he himself had thought that the article was actionable and contained a lot of unverifiable allegations. I agreed and told him that the article was libellious - both of us as lawyers agreed on that point.
We then went on to discuss a possible meeting between some of his friends and myself. This was part of my exercise to reach out to people and discuss issues. Remy said he will try and arrange such a meeting.
Remy sent me an email today which pretty much confirms his views that the article is libellious, and saying that he would like to be an “honest and forthright dialogue partner” even if we disagree on issues where we disagree strongly.
My conversation with Remy was like all our usual conversations, where we shared views frankly with each other. I am surprised to see that conversation appearing in print, twisted to give quite an untrue picture.
K. Shanmugan via Facebook on his directorships at Golden Agri-Resources and Asia Food & Properties:
1. The media has asked me questions on my past directorships in Asia Food & Properties Ltd (“AFP”) and Golden Agri-Resources Ltd (“GAR”) (controlled by the Sinar Mas Group, “SMG”). These questions have been raised because one senior Indonesian official had said last week, that SMG, (which has some companies in Singapore), was among those who were burning in Indonesia, and causing the haze.
2. There are two aspects to consider:-
(1) are companies in Singapore involved in the burning in Indonesia?; and
(2) the facts relating to my past directorships in AFP and GAR.
I. Are companies in Singapore involved in the burning?
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3. Senior Indonesian officials have issued contradictory statements on this point. One senior official said last week that Singapore linked companies were involved in the burning. But two other senior Indonesian officials have contradicted him and said that there was no basis for saying this. Indonesia has acknowledged that its officials have been contradicting each other on this point, and that what is needed is a proper investigation. SMG, as well as other companies, have also denied the allegations. SMG has invited observers to visit its plantations to see for themselves the situation on the ground.
4. Singapore has formally asked Indonesia, through a Diplomatic Note, for evidence of any Singapore linked company involvement in the burning. If and when such evidence is received, it will be handed over to the Attorney General to consider what action can be taken.
II. My past directorships in AFP and GAR
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5. In June 1996, the SGX asked me and two others (Mr Wong Kok Siew and Mr Ho Tian Yee) to become independent directors, of a listed company called Amcol, because Amcol was in serious trouble. Most of Amcol’s then directors were told to step down. Amcol had over 11,000 shareholders, many of them Singaporeans who had invested using their CPF. The three of us were asked to go in and see how the investing public shareholders of Amcol could be helped. Price Waterhouse valued each Amcol share at 1 cent and Amcol went into Judicial Management (“JM”).
6. We handled the affairs of Amcol, together with the JMs. A white knight, SMG, was eventually found for Amcol. SMG took over Amcol in 1997, using AFP.
7. AFP was then listed, and I became a director of AFP. Based on the listing price, the original Amcol shareholders who had kept their shares got a substantial benefit – as opposed to Amcol going bankrupt and being wound up. I did not charge or receive any fees for this work – the work was done to help the public, who were Amcol shareholders.
8. GAR was listed in 1999 as a subsidiary of AFP and I was appointed a director of GAR.
9. When AFP was listed in 1997, I wanted to step down, as the work SGX had asked me to do, (to help Amcol shareholders), was completed. However, SMG asked me to stay on for a period, to give confidence to shareholders, given that the company had gone through difficult times. I agreed to SMG’s request.
10. In 2001, I stepped down from both the AFP and GAR Boards, as the transition was over and SMG had found new directors.
11. Throughout this period, I did not own any shares in Amcol, AFP or GAR. I did my duty on behalf of shareholders as requested by SGX. And I have never owned any shares in any of these companies. As director of AFP and GAR, I received director’s fees, similar to other directors.
12. I have also been asked about APP Ltd. APP was listed in the NYSE. I had no dealings whatsoever with APP.
Yesterday evening I received a call from Law Minister Mr K Shanmugam regarding an article written by Eric Ellis for The Global Mail, entitled “Out of the Haze, a Singapore Spring?”
The call came rather late at night, but I guess lawyers (and Law Ministers) are rather nocturnal. Minister shared his views about the article, noting that he thought it was libellous. Minister also noted that it had been re-published. I agreed that there were many unverifiable facts in the article and that it appeared to me that the article was libellous.
As the conversation concerned an article that was being re-published by my friends, I informed them of this conversation and the views of Minister. I had earlier in the day informed them of my opinion that the article was libellous under Singapore’s laws on defamation (and that as much as I disagreed with the scope of defamation laws, this was the law as I understood it).
I want to clarify that all my communications with Minister have been cordial, open and frank and that my phone call with him relating to the Ellis article felt anything but sinister to me.
