RADM Lui (left) noted there were some comments sympathetic to Mr Seng. But the vast majority were unhelpful. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
WHEN Yio Chu Kang MP Seng Han Thong was set on fire by a resident last month, a significant number of netizens posted unkind comments.
These included a list of 10 things he 'must be thankful for' as well as remarks that he deserved what happened.
On Wednesday, Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew said he did not think the Internet community did enough to rebut some of these comments.
'It is a squandered opportunity for a higher degree of self-regulation,' he told Parliament.
He made the remark with a tinge of disappointment as just a month ago, the Government had largely accepted a report by a government-appointed committee that said it was a good thing for the Internet community to exercise greater self-regulation.
The Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society, or Aims, issued its report last December.
Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui's remark was in his reply to Ms Penny Low, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, who asked for his views on netizens' response to the attack on Mr Seng. She noted that they had voted quite unjustly in an online poll.
The poll asked who deserved more sympathy: Mr Seng or his attacker Ong Kah Chua. The ex-cabby received 200 votes and Mr Seng, 56.
RADM Lui noted there were some comments sympathetic to Mr Seng. But the vast majority were "unhelpful, a significant number were unkind, a small number were downright outrageous."
"It was disappointing, and my impression is that I do not think the community itself have done enough to rebut some of these unhelpful comments delivered by fellow netizens," he added.
Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
