Documentary on S’pore a ‘one-sided portrayal’

SINGAPORE — Describing To Singapore, With Love as a “one-sided portrayal” that allowed former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) members and their sympathisers to “whitewash” what they did in the past, Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday detailed in Parliament aspects of the film that the authorities took issue with.

Responding to questions tabled by three Members of Parliament — Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad and Nominated MP Kuik Shiao-Yin — Dr Yaacob said that certain individuals featured in the film, which has been barred by the Media Development Authority (MDA) from being exhibited or distributed here, had deflected questions or omitted mention of their past actions. He cited Mr He Jin, a former CPM member, who sidestepped questions about the communists committing violent acts in Singapore and instead spoke of the CPM’s involvement in fighting the Japanese during the World War II.

“Two more (former) CPM members featured in the film — Tan Hee Kim and his wife Yap Wan Ping — claimed that they had only joined the CPM after they decided to leave Singapore. In reality, they were already active CPM members before they left,” Dr Yaacob pointed out. Another two individuals failed to mention criminal offences for which they remain liable, including Mr Ho Juan Thai who had amended the expiry date of his Singapore passport and also committed exit permit offences when he left Singapore illegally. Although the Government has offered him a document of identity on at least three occasions to return to the country, Mr Ho chose not to do so, said Dr Yaacob.

The other person, Mr Tan Wah Piow, also left Singapore illegally to evade National Service enlistment and travelled to the United Kingdom on his expired passport with a forged extension endorsement. “Both Ho and Tan can return to Singapore, although they cannot expect to be granted immunity if they are found to have flouted the law,” said Dr Yaacob.

Last month, MDA classified the film as Not Allowed for All Ratings (NAR) because it undermined national security. The film’s maker, Ms Tan Pin Pin, is appealing the decision.

Last week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described the film as a “self-serving personal account, conveniently inaccurate in places, glossing over inconvenient facts and others” that would sully the honour and reputation of the people who fought against the communists here.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Dr Yaacob reiterated that many former CPM members — including some superiors of the individuals featured in the film — had returned to Singapore, having acknowledged and accounted for their past actions. It is possible for former CPM members to return if they sincerely wish to do so, he said.

Mr Baey asked if MDA thought it was necessary to engage Ms Tan to explain its decision, to which Dr Yaacob replied that it was the filmmaker’s prerogative to consult MDA about the classification. “We receive 10,000 titles every year. It is not possible for the MDA to consult everyone of (the filmmakers),” he said. Still, the MDA has met Ms Tan at her request and explained the reasons behind the classification.

The MDA does not tell filmmakers how to edit their work to meet the classification guidelines, but it will point out the issues it has with the films.

Reiterating that the NAR classification does not prohibit private screenings, Dr Yaacob added: “To allow public screening of a film that obfuscates and whitewashes an armed insurrection by an illegal organisation, and violent and subversive acts directed at Singaporeans, would effectively mean condoning the use of violence and subversion in Singapore and thus, harm our national security.”