I am very disappointed when I read your post criticizing TOC in such an ungentlemanly and underhand manner. It shows that you are seriously lacking in good judgment, and are politically naive.
So what if TOC has pro-establishment personalities in its editorial board, or if some of them are members of political parties such as the PAP? So what if TOC has secured the help of people affiliated with the government? It just goes to show that the PAP government (may the PAP progress!) has a lot of good talent in its fold. If the PAP did not have good brains in its ranks, would TOC have approached PAP members to sit on its editorial team?
Your blatant condemnation of TOC based on the composition of its editorial board is short-sighted and naive. In fact, by scouting for talent in the PAP fold, TOC has shown that it recognizes that the PAP has a plethora of good men and women who can make a positive contribution. This shows TOC's foresight and wisdom. You have absolutely no right to condemn TOC on this score.
Mr Choo Zheng Xi, for example, is an outstanding young man who has served the community diligently and passionately, and has made significant contributions at the PAP grassroots level. He is the perfect man to be chief editor of TOC. Are you telling me you can find someone even better than he? If so, please state your choice, or else accept that your allegations that he is unsuitable for the job is nothing but outrightly malicious and cruel, as well as blatantly partisan.
As an independent commentator on current affairs, TOC has every right to decide what news to report, and what to neglect. With limited resources, they do not have the time or energy to report on everything. If they chose to neglect the political parties you mentioned, perhaps you should reflect on why that is so. Are the parties you mentioned credible parties that are willing to engage the government in a legal and non-confrontational manner, work strictly within the rules and framework set by the ruling party, and collaborate with the government humbly on the issues of the day? If not, then why should TOC waste time on them?
Unlike you, I see a bright future for TOC. The mainstream publications like the Straits Times achieved their outstanding rankings and large readership by being objective, precise, fair, and all-rounded. That is precisely the kind of credibility that TOC can, and should, aim for.
Cyberspace is already replete with blogs and forums that criticize the PAP. In this regard, TOC to me is like a breath of fresh air.
Thus, I hope you would re-consider the myopic stand that you have and retract your malicious allegations on TOC.
Goh Bock Seng
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All along I have believed TOC is a non-partisan platform that aims to provide commentary in a neutral setting. However recent event have made me change my mind. First is the revelation that many TOC members are affiliated to PAP grassroots and WP. The chief editor of TOC, Choo Zheng Xi, even used to draw an honorarium of $500 per month last time doing work for a PAP MP. Ephraim Loy, provisional co-editor of TOC, is a member of the Young PAP. He is an active grassroots leader in the Bedok Reservoir-Punggol Constituency. Andrew Loh, co-editor of TOC, used to be a WP member, but quit under mysterious circumstances after being slammed for using TOC as a mouthpiece for the WP. Yeo Toon Joo, a co-editor of TOC, was an ex Straits Times assistant editor. Gerald Giam is active in a community development council as well as a government media advisory committee. Finally TOC recent got ex NTUC chief Tan kin lian on board! As you all know Tan kin lian is very pro establishment. Why did they get him on board? I think all of you can guess why ... Even with such outrageous revelation, I continue to visit TOC web site daily as I was impress with the quality of the articles. Recently however, my impression has dropped drastically. I found that TOC concentrate mainly on PAP and WP propaganda, and is used as a mouthpiece for the WP-PAP-establishment. They report on PAP and WP news extensively, but pay lip service to news from other parties. The last straw for me was the Labour day. All major political parties made their mark by issuing press release and activity. However TOC paid more attention to PAP and WP. In fact, it was NSP and SDP that organize activity on Labour day. NSP gave out goodie bag to resident to help resident relive the burden. Did TOC report on this? No they did not. SDP organize a hawker stall to sell their book and give flyer to resident. Did TOC report? No they did not. They only put up a small link at their sidebar to SDP web site. How come if TOC claim to be neutral, non-partisan, it only pay attention to PAP and WP event, neglect all the other parties? You mean NSP and SDP are not worthy party to report on? NSP and WP are the only party organize Labour day activity for all resident. How come their news is blank out? Why? I am disgusted with TOC bias and lop side reporting. They only want to highlight and analyse the mainstream media news and WP event. As you all know by now, WP is nothing but a DAMN WAYANG PARTY that is not interest in opposing PAP! Why does TOC only focus on WP and leave out other party? Their intent is obvious. |
