BY: ESTHER AU YONG

THE Government is taking steps to loosen up when it comes to regulating expression of political views on the Internet and on film.

With Internet usage becoming more prevalent, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his English National Day Rally speech on Sunday: "Our rules governing politics also must keep up-to-date."

One big change will be the "rules for political material which can be put onto the Internet during elections".

He said: "The rules we now have were settled before the last General Election (GE), so, for example, they are very restrictive. No podcast, no videocast and most people can't post materials during the election period.

"By the next GE, five years would have passed. Now, cyber years are like dog years. One year in cyberspace equals to seven years in real life...

"That's the pace at which things change."

He added: "We have to change to new rules, liberalise, to allow people to participate more actively and flexibly. So, you must allow podcast, videocast, must allow others to post election materials also." But he stressed that accountability and responsibility must still be maintained.

PM Lee also said that political films and videos - he pointed out that some things like factual footage and documentaries are "obviously all right" - will be allowed "but with some safeguards". He also announced new measures to help Singaporeans through inflation and tough times.

PM Lee also touched on Singapore's low birth rate and, to that end, unveiled a slew of measures - totalling at least
$700 million yearly - to encourage couples to have more children.

For more my paper stories click here.