Upcoming news website to register under Broadcasting Class license Act

SINGAPORE — The Media Development Authority (MDA) has notified the owners of a new current affairs and news website, Theindependent.sg, that it is required to register under the Broadcasting (Class license) Act, in what it called a bid to ‘guard against’ foreign influence on Singapore politics. The authority said the Government has received “specific information which gives it cause for concern over foreign interest to fund The Independent”, a website slated to launch on Aug 9. Its editorial team includes former veteran journalist PN Balji, as well as former chief editor of The Online Citizen, Kumaran Pillai. Registered under a company called Protegesoft, its aim is to bring in-depth perspective and analysis on current affairs, economics and politics in Singapore. As part of the registration, the website is required to undertake not to receive foreign funding for its management or operations, which MDA said it has agreed to. Noting the need to prevent foreign interests from influencing local politics through Singaporean media, MDA said that during the upcoming review of the Broadcasting Act, it will “look into incorporating more comprehensive safeguards in the Act to prevent this from happening”. It added in a statement: “The registration and undertaking will not in any way affect what The Independent can publish on its website. However it will prevent The Independent from being controlled by, or coming under the influence of, foreign entities or funding, and ensure that Singapore politics remain a matter for Singaporeans alone.” “It is a firmly established principle that foreign entities may not engage in Singapore politics. Foreign interests are not allowed to control or worse, to manipulate our local media platforms, which are prime vehicles for political influence,” said the statement, adding that the need to prevent foreign interests from influencing the media, remains the same be it in print, broadcast or online.