Academics back historian grilled by ‘fake news’ panel in Singapore

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean historian attacked for challenging the official narrative of the city-state’s history during parliamentary hearings on “fake news” has won backing from over 130 academics from universities around the world.

In an open letter, they accused the panel conducting the hearings of seeking to discredit Thum Ping Tjin, who has questioned claims by Singapore’s long-ruling party about communist activity in the 1960s.

Thum, an Oxford University research associate, was quizzed last month by the 10-member parliamentary committee, which is examining possible steps to tackle what it describes as online falsehoods in the tightly controlled city-state.

The government says steps are needed as fake news can threaten national security but some observers have raised fears the committee is laying the ground for new laws which could be used to stifle free expression. The letter was signed by 133 academics from countries including Britain, the United States and Australia.

“Your committee’s conduct suggests that the government of Singapore is more interested in restricting civil liberties than defending them against so-called ‘fake news’,” read the letter addressed to the panel’s chairman.

“The clear objective was not to establish the extent of the threat from ‘fake news’, but to attack and discredit a prominent critic of the historical narratives used by Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party.” — AFP