IHLS AND SCHOOLS May SET UP Discussions TO FIGHT Propaganda
Members of the House discussed how schools can help individuals better understand the conflict, which would be essential to combating misinformation and assisting Singaporeans in comprehending beliefs that are different from their own.
Mr. Yam stated in his speech that” website traffic and propaganda targeting Singapore have been on the surge” since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
He continued,” We must engage in an open and honest conversation about the situation given the risk Singapore faces as a country. & nbsp,
” Irresponsible beliefs and twisted narratives can exacerbate tensions and cause divisions within our society.” To guarantee that Singaporeans have access to trustworthy sources of information and are equipped to distinguish fact from fiction, we may step up our work.
Given the nature of today’s modern welfare being” globally televised ,” MP Joan Pereira( PAP – Tanjong Pagar ) & nbsp noted that social media plays a” crucial role” in influencing how the world perceives the conflict.
Therefore, she said,” Our psychological defense is the most crucial.”
” In this issue, we must learn how to avoid being influenced and indiscriminately led along by social media, just as we are all learning to deal with scammers.” We must avoid taking advantage of them and refrain from allowing ourselves to be essentially drawn into the issue.
MP Saktiandi Supaat( PAP-Bishan-Toa Payoh ) & nbsp informed parliament that youths had also expressed concern about the influence of media, both traditional and social media. He did this by recounting anecdotal feedback from locals.
I am aware that various media outlets appear to record various facets of the conflict, occasionally with a personal spin, he said.
Beyond the fight, he continued, the government may be interested in how various social groups are informed and educated on the distinction between objective and subjective viewpoints.
NCMP Leong Mun Wai ( PSP) urged the government to improve education on the subject so that Singaporeans had have” more accurate and complete info” about the fight, taking into account the difficulty and lengthy story of the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
This would lessen the possibility of distorted, inaccurate, or one-sided emotional discourse influencing Singaporeans, Mr. Leong continued.
Political debates, whether they take place in parliament, in the classroom, or at the Speakers’ Corner, according to MP Gerald Giam( WP-Aljunied ), could give Singaporeans a” safe avenue” to express their opinions and participate in discussions about global conflicts.
According to Mr. Giam, such discussions would also give people a” crucial pressure release valve for discontent ,” which could help prevent people from succumbing to overt effect from extreme rhetoric from international sources.
Mr. Giam suggested that schools and higher education institutions even actively encourage school debate on the subject in order to combat this.
This may give young people a platform to voice their opinions and convey their concerns with the status quo, he said, and it will also inspire them to respect other people’s points of view.
” The conversations may be kept healthy and may avoid becoming overly contested with educators or mediators guiding these discussions.”
The phenomenon of” doom scrolling,” in which people continuously scroll through depressing news on social media, has grown, according to MP Wan Rizal Wn Zakariah( PAP – Jalan Besar ). & nbsp,
This highlights the mental health issues that such catastrophes and their electric representation can cause in addition to reflecting our interconnectedness on a global scale, he said.
Therefore, it is essential that we act quickly to reduce the negative effects on mental health by promoting healthy media consumption, accelerating online literacy, and offering support for the condition through safe spaces for discussion.
NMP Syed Harun Alhabsyi & nbsp expressed his displeasure with the authorities’ decision to prevent the conflict from being discussed more openly at the Speakers’ Corner or as part of events or public assemblies.
I do hope that the government will evaluate this position in good time, and I would suggest that this be allowed sooner rather than later, he said.” I may appreciate the primary concerns about public order, the sensitivity of the topic, as well as the volatility of this situation elsewhere.
” There should be a way for Singaporeans to talk about and express their opinions about like delicate issues in safety, as well as increase their own awareness of the destruction and horrors taking place all over the world.”
Dr. Syed suggested that engagements may be held sparingly or with safety limitations.
In response, Associate Professor Faishal stated that only seven of the more than 400 requests to use the Speakers’ Corner for recent events had been turned down by the National Parks Board( NParks ).
Five of these seven failures were requests to host events connected to the Israel-Hamas fight in October.
Dissent on the ground may result from such events. They might even cause us Singaporeans to become divided. ” Said & nbsp, Assoc Prof Faishal. Once we allow one event, we will have to allow others.
He continued by saying that as long as there is a threat to public safety and security, NParks will continue to deny requests to use the Speakers’ Corner for similar activities.