I hated it when I wrote to the Straits Times 20 years ago. Back then, I was always making fun of the simplistic interpretation of the “Asian Way” and our bilingual policy causing Singaporeans to be 东不成，西不就. My letters/articles were published, but there were often muddle-headed replies from people who tried to win arguments by putting words in my mouth. The right of reply it seemed, only went to the powers that be.
20 years ago, the likes of Raymond Chiam would have had the last say.
Welcome to the internet. We can now make comments on an article without the need to go through an editor. Even if the editor were held on a short leash, we can capture images and give our replies on our own blogs. I’m loving it.
© Chan Joon Yee
