S'pore media editorials watched

S'pore media editorials watched

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore newspapers have been warned against publishing "rash" editorials on the domestic policies of neighboring countries, the Straits Times reported on Friday.

It quoted Minister for Information and the Arts (Mita) Lee Yock Suan as saying in parliament that newspapers "must be circumspect when commenting on the domestic politics of our ASEAN neighbors."

Asked whether newspapers had to restrict their editorials to conform with government policy, Lee said: "Mita does not control the editorial line of newspapers, which are independent private enterprises.

"However, editorial independence does not mean complete freedom to write as they desire." Mita is responsible for issuing licenses for any publication in Singapore.