We don’t have a dark side

The Singapore government is banning a documentary on a former political detainee, citing its “distorted and misleading” portrayal as possibly undermining confidence in the government.

Said Zahari was arrested in 1963 and held without trial for 17 years under the Internal Security Act. The Singapore government says all copies of the documentary, filmed by Martyn See (no relation, although I have communicated with him via e-mail in the past), are to be handed in by Wednesday.

According to the government, the documentary seeks to clear him of “his involvement in activities against Singapore”:

“The Government will not allow people who had posed a security threat to the country in the past, to exploit the use of films to purvey a false and distorted portrayal of their past actions and detention by the Government. This could undermine public confidence in the Government.”

We’ve always been at war with Eastasia.

I continue to be puzzled at why the government is so incredibly insecure that only THEIR view can be published. If there hasn’t been any sort of organic development of a credible opposition (because of a lack of fertiliser, or perhaps fertiliser is being reserved only for pro-PAP views — aren’t you loving the gardening puns), surely confidence in government could stand an airing of history that deviates somewhat from the official line?

Said Zahari has always denied the accusations. Surely a 78-year old should be given the chance to present his side of the story? Are Singaporeans not able to weigh differing opinions and come to their own conclusions? Are we not supposed to?

Or are we to deny that in getting to our current stage of development, Singapore has endured some rather dark periods — and not only the ones the government uses to justify the ISA. We’re not a fucking theme park (with tax breaks, hubs, and -polises for investment).

This is what disappoints me when I think of all the positive things about Singapore and why it’s a good place to live. Why can differences of opinion not be tolerated and openly debated? Is our social order so fragile that an alternative view of a historical event* cannot be broadcast?

The government likes to trumpet its record in creating social, racial, and religious harmony. If something this minor could destabilise order, the real record must be kind of shite.

See Said Zahari’s 17 Years trailer on YouTube.

Note: zero results (as of 11/4) when searching for Said Zahari on both the Media Development Authority and Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts sites.

* It’s intensely personal as well — it’s not as though Pak Said and Martyn See are denying the Holocaust.

• 10 Apr 2007