MASS MEDIA (Establishment of another newspaper group and receiving foreign broadcasting stations)

Mr Chia Shi Teck asked the Minister for Information and the Arts, in view of the need for more regional and international news coverage in support of our regionalisation thrust and the huge increase in readership and viewership, whether it is timely now (i) to allow another pro-Singapore newspaper group to be established in Singapore; (ii) to allow some reputable foreign and regional broadcasting stations to be received in Singapore; and (iii) to direct the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation to network into the region to give better and more current reporting.

Dr Ker Sin Tze (for the Minister for Information and the Arts): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Information and the Arts.

I will answer the three points raised by Mr Chia as follows:

First, the Government does not determine the number of local newspapers or local newspaper companies in Singapore. We already have 11 newspapers in the four languages providing domestic, regional and international coverage. Whether there should be another pro-Singapore newspaper group is for the market to decide.

Second, foreign and regional broadcasting stations are already being received in Singapore. We receive all Malaysian radio and TV broadcasts and some from Indonesia. Currently, BBC World Service can be received 24 hours a day on FM radio, while Singapore Cable Vision's NewsVision channel carries CNN as well as news bulletins from International Television Network (one hour), NHK (half an hour), Australia Broadcasting Corporation (half an hour) and BBC (half an hour).

When cable TV is introduced in Singapore, we will have the channel capacity to accommodate more foreign broadcasting services in Singapore.

Third, SBC has been working hard to improve its regional coverage. It is a member of Asiavision, a regional news pool covering countries like Japan, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and others. Through Asiavision, SBC has continuous access to reports on the latest developments in these countries.

SBC also has bilateral arrangements with broadcasting stations of neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, China and Australia. Under these arrangements, SBC can directly lift any local story aired over their radio or TV channels.

SBC has found these links very useful. It is also working on other ways to improve regional coverage.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the Minister has said that Malaysian TV and radio broadcasts are received in Singapore. But I understand that Malaysian published newspapers are not allowed to be sold in Singapore. Can the Minister please enlighten us?

Dr Ker Sin Tze: Mr Speaker, Sir, Malaysian newspapers would be treated in the same way as any other newspaper. As long as they apply to the authorities and fulfil the conditions which we lay down, we would consider their circulation in Singapore.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, can I make a clarification on the answer given by the Minister of State? I am speaking as the Acting Minister for Information and the Arts.

For Malaysian newspapers, there was an agreement a long time ago between the two governments that our newspapers do not circulate mutually in each other's country. That position remains.

Mr Chiam See Tong: In view of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I would like to ask him whether there is any possibility to improve the relationship between the two countries to change that position.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: We have both agreed that this situation is in the best interest of our two countries. We are so close to each other and whatever happens in each other's country will have an effect on the other. In the best interest of both countries, we decide that this situation of not circulating our newspapers in each other's country is the best way of arranging it.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, may I put another supplementary question to the Minister? In view of the material change of circumstances among the countries in ASEAN and, I believe, ASEAN is now going into a new phase, is there a possibility of re-negotiating that agreement so that the newspapers could circulate in each other's country?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: As I have just said, the situation has not changed even though ASEAN as a whole has grown. ASEAN as a whole has improved its relations and we have shared many mutual interests together, and this is one area which we think we should continue with the status quo.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Will the Minister, in fact, look into this situation about the newspapers and explore the possibility of going into further negotiations?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: We will always bear this in mind but we will continue to take this position until a new situation demands that we should do a review.

Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon (Nominated Member): Sir, the Minister of State has laid open the possibility that we would have cable television and more access to these international news programmes, but he has not said how soon he expects this to happen. Could he give us some indication when this is going to happen?

Dr Ker Sin Tze: Mr Speaker, Sir, the competent authority is studying the feasibility of setting up a cable vision system in Singapore. We have a feasibility study done and it will probably take another five or six years for the cable vision to be implemented in Singapore.

Dr Toh Keng Kiat (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Acting Minister whether this mutual agreement to restrict circulation of newspapers extends to mutually agreed jamming of each other's radio and television broadcast?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know of any jamming of each other's television or radio broadcast.