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 Singapore has poured money into nurturing its arts and
creative industries in recent years, but it discourages dissent
while steering public opinion, mostly through state-linked
media, as furious debates on topics from immigration to gay
rights play out on social media.
Filmmaker Tan Pin Pin, director and producer of "To Singapore,
With Love", said she was very disappointed with the decision by
the regulator, the Media Development Authority (MDA).
"By doing this, MDA is taking away an opportunity for us
Singaporeans (to) see it and to have a conversation about it,
and our past, that this film could have started or contributed
to," Tan said in a posting on the film's Facebook page.
The 70-minute film features interviews with nine Singaporeans
who left the city-state between the 1960s and 1980s to escape
possible prosecution by British colonial authorities and later,
by the Singapore government, the film's website says. (www.tosingaporewithlove.com)
The film has been screened in several countries and has won
awards at a few film festivals.
The MDA described as "distorted and untruthful" the exiles'
accounts of how they left Singapore and have since stayed away.
It said some of those interviewed whitewashed their histories by
omitting criminal offences for which they are still liable to
face prosecution. (http://bit.ly/1AAGABg)
"The contents of the film undermine national security because
legitimate actions of the security agencies to protect the
national security and stability of Singapore are presented in a
distorted way as acts that victimised innocent individuals," the
agency said in a statement.
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Some Singaporeans have grown irritated by the government's approach
to policing the media.
"It's time MDA stops babysitting us," wrote Facebook user Julie Jam.
"Singapore may be 50 years old, but MDA still thinks we are
toddlers. Let us grow up and make our own choices."
A group of 39 members of the arts community signed a statement
urging the regulator to reconsider its ban, saying Tan's film
explored a rarely discussed aspect of Singapore's history.
"Many commentators have described it as essential viewing for all
Singaporeans," said the group, which includes Singapore film
director Anthony Chen, who won a Cannes award last year.
"Banning the film will only reinforce the view that our government
is trying to limit discussion around our very own history."
Last month, Singapore scrapped a proposal for a self-regulation
scheme for arts groups after objections from the groups, which
feared the plan would lead to self-censorship.
A plan to screen the film at the National University of Singapore
later this month has been cancelled. A screening will take place
next week in Johor Bahru, a Malaysian city that borders Singapore.
(Reporting by Rujun Shen and Anshuman Daga; Editing by Clarence
Fernandez)
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