Singapore contempt of court bill seen suppressing freedom of speech
A proposed law in Singapore spelling out contempt of court and setting out tough penalties has drawn criticism from rights groups and raised questions among foreign diplomats over the implications for freedom of speech in the wealthy city-state.
Singapore has for years taken a tough stand to protect what it sees as appropriate morality and social harmony on the multi-ethnic island and international press groups have often decried constraints on free speech and the media.
The government says the bill, due to come up for a second reading in parliament on Monday, would not change or expand current contempt of court practices and only aims to clarify them.
It could have a chilling effect on free speech because the bill contains severe sanctions for being convicted
The new bill is “a crystallisation of the law”, said K. Shanmugam, the minister of home affairs and law.
Under the law, offenders could be fined up to S$100,000 (HK$575,800) and jailed up to three years. Currently, no penalties are set down and contempt of court rulings are based on precedents.
Critics say the bill’s vaguely worded provisions and the harsh punishments proposed could further impede freedom of speech as it would likely lead to self-censorship.
“It could have a chilling effect on free speech because the bill contains severe sanctions for being convicted – the moment there is a threat of a jail term and a substantial fine, I think most people would err on the side of caution”, said lawyer Sui Yi Siong from Harry Elias Partnership LLP said.