Details on Proposed Collaboration Between SPH Media and Chinese State-owned News Organisations

Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether the Ministry, as a major financial backer of SPH Media Trust, is aware of the details of the proposed collaboration between SPH Media and several Chinese state-owned news organisations; and (b) if so, whether any assessment of potential foreign interference has been conducted.

It is not clear which proposed collaboration the Member is referring to. SPH Media, as a news agency that covers international developments, should be plugged into the international media network and have many collaborations with foreign partners and industry players, including Chinese news organisations, to share content as well as insights on latest developments in the media landscape.

Nonetheless, the Member can be assured that there are regulations in place to guard against foreign interference of our local media. Under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act and the Broadcasting Act, the Government has provisions to guard against foreign interference of editorial content and decision-making in local newspapers and broadcast media. Funds from foreign sources for non-commercial purposes are prohibited for such newspaper and broadcasting companies. These safeguards apply regardless of whether the newspaper is receiving Government funding and we will take swift action should we detect any signs of foreign interference in our local media.