Trapper's Swamp

Ever since the AWARE EGM in May, I, among others, have been expecting the "New Guard" to come out with a "new media plan" in an effort to wage a more subtle campaign, under the guise of secularism, in order to further their agenda. While I support the right of any group to establish an online presence, doing so while hiding religious motivations as "mainstream family values" is disingenuous, misrepresentation and disgusting.

That brings me to this piece of news:

[...]New Media Breakfast organized by ATRIA and held at the Kum Yam Methodist Church. I was pleasantly surprised when a generous breakfast of McDonald’s muffins and coffee was indeed served to the mostly Christian crowd which numbered 45-50.  They had gathered there to listen to former NMP Prof Thio Li-ann speak on, “Debating Values in the Public Square”, and the soft-launch of Singapore’s latest news hub, Singanews, by its CEO, Mathew Yap. It was publicized as a decidedly Christian affair, held at in a church and presenting the Christian point of view with regards to public space.

[...]former ST journalist Mathew Yap, who took the stage to introduce a new online news portal called Singanews. Yap began by stating that Singanews was secular and not just for Christians as it included editors of other religions.  Yap also stated that the idea was not borne out of the AWARE saga as they had already been toying with the idea since mid-90s but they did not have the financial capability then. Yap shared that a group of well-wishers have provided them the seed money but he stopped short of revealing who they were.

Terming it as a social enterprise, Yap said that Singanews would not be able to compete with the mainstream media but rather Singanews could add clarity to the national debate by offering alternative viewpoints and fill in the gaps left by mainstream media which sometimes fails to cover a story due to one reason or another.

Now doesn't that sound familiar?

So our Christian friends have learnt that the online space is a very effective weapon in the court of public opinion. To that end, a lot of money have been thrown into Singanews. $90,000 is not an insignificant sum, and a very generous amount to be raised for a "social enterprise". Launching it at Kum Yam Methodist Church puts it firmly in religious territory, especially when the event featured our favourite Christian invited by NYU but who turned it down because she felt victimised.

Founder Matthew Yap also stated that Singanews will feature stories in perspectives that will appeal to "generational, natural family[s] which focuses on procreation", and clarified this as

a man, his wife, with a view to procreation

Subtle like a sledgehammer, this bunch. Yap's claim that Singanews is secular because its editors practice different religions is not even a clever smokescreen, as Temasek Review has uncovered that

All its four known directors are Christians including Mr Yap. One director Victor Ho,  a director of Bright Arrows, an investment company owed 40 per cent by the Church of Our Savior.

So much for being secular.

Dr Gwee Li Sui was not amused by the whole affair:

I’m appalled that Kum Yam Methodist Church, as a place of worship, would let itself play host to such an event that clearly forced its audience to take politicised views. Is it being responsible to its worshippers, and is it willing to be held accountable for whatever further divisiveness and misunderstanding resulting from such one-sided provocative talks? I am a Christian, not a secular militant or a non-believer, and there are many more like me. Why do Thio & Co. keep pretending that we do not exist and that all oppositions arise from non-Christians?

There is a reason why we protect the secular space in Singapore: the potential for disaster when religions cross into political territory is a volatile mix too dangerous to ignore, especially when there are insensitive idiots whose capacity to think are reduced to buzzwords and catchphrases, and they don't even know what the catchphrases mean.

When we start looking at every social issue, legislation or policy from the point of religion, we inadvertently draw divisive battle lines and, at best, distract us from actually solving the problem, and at worst stops us from any progress in solving any issue. By allowing such politicised events to be held at its premises, Kum Yam Methodist Church is enabling such behaviour, and that is lamentable.

Every time an inconsiderate Christian seeks to intrude on that secular space, they hurt other reasonable Christians. People like Prof Gwee and my friends like Kevin and Shawn, among others. And yet the attacks do not stop, but instead it escalates, as Thio Li-ann exemplifies at the same event:

Thio asserted her right as Christian to speak on public issues. She argued that as a Christian, it is part of one’s religious call to articulate their views in public especially on contentious such as casinos, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and stem-cell research.  She warned that if Christians do not speak up, others who may hold conflicting views will speak up and forcefully occupy the secular public space, which in fact is what they have already done vociferously.

Portraying Christianity as a religion that has been targeted and assassinated by secular militants, Thio warned that Christians might face obstacles when participating in public debate as the philosophies of the world is contrary to Christian values but they shall, Thio quoted a Bible passage, “not be held captive to hollow and deceptive philosophies which depend on human traditions and the basic principles of the world rather than our Christ.”

Towards the end, Thio was somewhat emotional and questioned the Christians why are they not angry when Christian views are being attacked publicly. If Christians continue to remain silent then their freedom will be lost eventually. She ended by debunking neutrality in politics and urged Christians to take up a position and speak up for the common good.

Michele Bachmann has a twin in Singapore, and her name is Thio Li-ann. She misleadingly portrays secularists as mililtants forcing Christians out of the secular space, when the secular space is a common one shared by all, Christians or not. We do not wilfully ignore the merits of an argument just because it was raised by a Christian, and the only freedoms being lost are ones you decided to infringe upon when you think that Christianity should be a protected view that others with or without religion should be forced to take. Even your fellow Christians are uncomfortable and are pushing back.

We are ready for you, Singanews, and ready for anything you can throw at us. We will not be moved, and this secularity of this society will be guarded against your violations by every sane and reasonable Singaporean. Yes, even by your fellow Christians.

Update on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 2:43PM by Callan Tham

The skepticism-laced pushback has begun. MarrickG on teh SammyBoy forums managed to dig up the religions of Singanews journos:

“These are what I managed to find about some of the reporters…see any links?

PN Balji – Oh..he is a Hindu? He was the one that interviewed Josie Lau on the AWARE. He is pro-Thio throughout the whole saga. That is why someone commented any he was so diplomatic during the interview.http://akikonomu.blogspot.com/2009/0…ty-primer.html
http://temasekreview.com/?p=8033

Jeffrey Tsang – He is also a writer for The Saviour Times which is a magazine by COOS. The same church where Thio Su-Mein is in.
http://www.coos.org.sg/saviourtimes/…2005JulSep.pdf (See page 6)

Samuel Wong – Not sure if this is the same Samuel Wong but if it is, he is from the Pastor from Cornerstone Church in charge of Mandarin Affairs.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Samuel-Wong/529597383”

Read the collated response on Temasek Review here. Thanks to Gwee Li Sui for the link and your continued stand for reason as a Christian.