Gag on alternative voices shows up Singapore's insecurity
Toh Han Shih says the government must rethink its intolerance of interpretations of history that differ from its own, as well as its harsh treatment of some of those who speak up
The Singapore government is playing up a celebratory remembrance of Singapore history, prompted by the upcoming 50th anniversary of the founding of the Southeast Asian state on August 9 and the death of the country's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, on March 23. In this version of history, Singapore overcame threats like communism to rise from a third world slum to a first world financial hub.
But the withdrawal of state funding for a comic book on Singapore history and the banning of a Singapore movie on dissidents show its leaders are insecure about allowing competing interpretations of history.
In May, the Singapore National Arts Council withdrew its S$8,000 (HK$46,000) grant for a graphic novel on Singapore history, titled , by illustrator Sonny Liew. Explaining the decision, the council's senior director of literary arts, Khor Kok Wah, said: "The retelling of Singapore's history in the work potentially undermines the authority or legitimacy of the government … and thus breaches our funding guidelines."
Last year, the Singapore authorities banned the local distribution of a documentary film, , by filmmaker Tan Pin Pin. The documentary focuses on political exiles who had been involved with student activism or communism. The movie won Tan at least two international awards.
However, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, said, "Why should we allow them, through a movie, to present an account of themselves not of documentary history objectively presented, but that is a self-serving personal account, conveniently inaccurate in places … which will sully the honour and reputation of the … brave men and women who fought the Communists to create today's Singapore?"
Multiple interpretations of history are unavoidable. Competing accounts of the same event should be allowed to coexist.
