The Straits Times Censors F Word & PAP

Image Source: newnation.sg.

The Straits Times, the media gatekeeper of the island state, censored out the F word and PAP from a photo to ensure Singaporeans and those living in the country read the right things.

According to Wikipedia, the justification given for censorship in Singapore is that "The Government of Singapore argues that censorship of political, racial and religious issues to a certain extent is necessary to avoid upsetting the delicate balance of Singapore's multi-racial society."

As such, readers of the Straits Times should be thankful for decision to censor out the F word and PAP from the photo so as to avoid upsetting the delicate balance of Singapore's muti-racial society.

The original photo of the graffiti was spread over Facebook and Twitter, it would be extremely hard for the over 3.22 million and 2.56 million users respectively to not see uncensored version of the graffiti. That almost equates to half of the Singapore population would have been exposed to this atrocity.

Image Source: http://therealsingapore.com

Given how online media have been described the wild west, it is definitely irresponsible for online social media to spread the F word and PAP to its readers. Those sharing the photo barring the F word and PAP online will most likely be ostracised as being irresponsible.

As such, netizens should play a part in nation building by only sharing and liking the photo which censors the F word and PAP. Doing otherwise would upset delicate balance of Singapore's multi-racial society.