S'pore opposition turns to podcast

S'pore opposition turns to podcast

SINGAPORE: A Singapore opposition party has launched a
"podcast" on its website in an attempt to bypass state-controlled
media and reach out to citizens.

The Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) secretary-general, Chee
Soon Juan, in a nine-minute audio recording posted on its website
(www.singaporedemocrat.org), rapped the government over issues
such as high ministerial salaries and the lack of transparency
and accountability.

"Podcast is a way for the party to bypass the state-controlled
media in Singapore," said Chee on the website.

Podcasting is an increasingly popular medium through which
audio files are made available on the Internet, allowing
websurfers to download files for listening at their convenience.

The SDP said it would also feature call-in programs on its
website in future.

The government bans non-commercial private ownership of
satellite dishes, publications need permits to circulate and
newspapers are published by the government-linked Singapore Press
Holdings.

In January, Chee, a free-speech activist, lost a legal battle
against defamation charges brought by Singapore's founding prime
minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and his successor Goh Chok Tong for
questioning their use of public funds during the 2001 poll. Chee
was ordered to pay S$500,000 (US$302,100) in damages. -- Reuters