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