Newspaper and Printing Presses (Amendment) Bill introduced

The Newspaper and Printing Presses (Amendment) Bill was introduced in parliament on 5 May 1986. The proposed bill was intended to allow the government to restrict the sale or distribution of foreign publications deemed to have steered away from professional journalism and into the realm of local politics.^[1] The bill required any foreign publication containing news on Singapore that was intended to be circulated to the local audience be gazetted before it could be sold or distributed. The sale or distribution of the gazetted foreign publication in Singapore would be restricted to a specified number of copies. Any person caught and found with more than five unauthorised copies would be deemed to have possessed them for illegal sale or distribution. To ensure that the restriction on the number of copies was enforced, subscription to foreign publications could only be done through authorised distributors.^[2]

The proposed law came at a time when Singapore was witnessing a significant increase in the local circulation of foreign newspapers and news magazines reporting on developments in Singapore.^[3] In light of this development, the government felt that there was a need to amend the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act of 1974 so that it could be empowered to enforce controls to curb the circulation, sales and import of foreign publications that failed to report fairly and objectively on Singapore, or attempted to indulge in campaigns to influence or distort local public opinion.^[4]

The proposed legislation drew criticism from some foreign presses with one stating that the country was veering towards authoritarianism.^[5] In response, the government explained that the amended law was to prevent foreign presses from making economic benefits through slanted reporting at Singapore’s expense. The government also stressed that it had to curb such reporting that might potentially destabilise the society as well as damage the country’s image.^[6] In addition, the government stated that the proposed law was designed to only limit the sale of foreign publications that misinform the public. These publications would still be able to enjoy unrestricted circulation.^[7] The Newspaper and Printing Presses (Amendment) Bill was passed by parliament on 1 August 1986 ^[8] and the act came into effect one month later on 1 September.^[9]

References
1.Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary debates: Official report. (1986, July 31). Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill (Vol. 48, col. 369). Singapore: Govt. Printer. Call no.: RSING 328.5957 SIN.
2. Parliamentary debates: Official report, 31 Jul 1986, Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill (Vol. 48, col. 369).
3. Parliamentary debates: Official report, 31 Jul 1986, Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill (Vol. 48, col. 369).
4. Parliamentary debates: Official report, 31 Jul 1986, Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill (Vol. 48, cols. 370–374).
5. Journal criticises plan to alter press laws. (1986, January 25). The Straits Times, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Strong motive for foreign press to boost circulation. (1986, August 1). The Straits Times, p. 13. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Curbs proposed on publications which ‘interfere’. (1986, January 11). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Aim is not to cut people off from the world. (1986, August 2). The Straits Times, p. 12. Retrieved from NewspaperSG
9. Printing Presses Act in force. (1986, September 2). The Straits Times, p. 12. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.