Dear Reader-citizen,

You may have been aware of the events of 20 November 2018. That morning five police officers came to my residence, where I live with my parents. The police came to investigate a complaint by the IMDA (Infocomm and Media Development Authority) of an alleged act of “criminal defamation” by The Online Citizen (TOC). 

This was TOC publishing a letter by one of our readers in early September 2018. On 18 September, the IMDA wrote to TOC to remove this offending letter and we had compiled the same day. 

Now, two months later the police came with a court order which permitted them to seize all my computers, my hard drives, and my phones, and this they did. 

I was asked to go to the Cantonment Police Station and there for eight hours. I respectfully assisted the police in their investigation of this matter. 



The confiscation of my equipment did cause a temporary suspension in the work and running of the TOC for a week. I do not know when my equipment and devices will be returned, it may take several months or more than a year. So with the help of some friends and supporters, I procured new equipment to get TOC up and running again on 26 November, three days ago.

Not to be deterred by this setback, and looking ahead, The Online Citizen (TOC) is initiating a fundraising campaign for its operation, in light of the recent happenings in Singapore, the soon-to-be passed "fake news" law and also the impending General Election in 2019.

Through various happenings in the past years, Singaporeans are getting more aware of the effects that bad policies have on their life but still find it hard to get to terms with the reality because of the conflicting information presented by the mainstream media and the government.

Currently, we just skim the surface of the issues, but this is what we can manage with the resources on hand while still trying to be sustainable. Moving forward in this coming year, TOC is seeking to push for in-depth coverage on things that matters to citizens, such as employment issues, healthcare cost, education, opposition parties and Singapore's little but yet growing civil society. And truth to be told, TOC is the only independent, non-govt affiliate site which goes down to the ground to report on issues and speak with the people.

In order for the site to be prepared for GE coverage, preparation - such as staffing and training - has to be made earlier beforehand. Furthermore, TOC is looking to expand our Chinese website, to build a Malay website and other languages if demand exists.

While TOC is not backed by any political party and has no angel investor which dumps money with no apparent commercial interest, it has always been supported by citizens, citizens who wish for an alternative voice for the population on issues that matter.  

TOC spends around $9k on staffing and hosting expenses a month with its monthly revenue breaking even on average. We are expecting the new laws on "fake news" to restrict advertising revenue on websites that propagate "falsehoods". 

Furthermore, our advertising revenue has been recently hit due to a hack on one of our advertisers and also another pulling out due to the allegations by the government.

So there is an urgent need to secure funding to ensure the website's operation continues till the next election.



Other than ensuring we have sufficient funds to last till next election, TOC needs to ensure operations can still continue, in the event the government throws me into jail for whatever reasons that they can think of.


To support us, you can either pledge to the campaign or donate to us using the following means:

Make your donation to the bank account via:

• Online Bank transfer to The Online Citizen Pte Ltd, Maybank Singapore Limited, account number 04011108619;
• or Cheque, made payable to “The Online Citizen Pte Ltd” (Many cheques to TOC have bounced because people did not write "Pte Ltd" or put "TOC Pte Ltd", please take note). Mail to: 20 Maxwell Road #09-17 Maxwell House Singapore 069113

Important note for supporters:

If you are concerned about anonymity from the government, cash donation can be made by dropping your gift at the above address (cash receipts will be given for amount collected) or meet up with TOC representatives (write to us using the contact form).

Opening hours for the office - Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00 am to 5:00 pm  and Tues/Thurs 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Donors via this online campaign platform based in Australia will not be listed to IMDA unless your contribution is more than 5% of the total sum raised, which is more than $5000.

We cannot take donations from foreigners due to regulations put in place by the Infocomm and Media Development Authority. Any amount from foreigners will have to be rejected or refunded so as to not fall foul of the law. This is different from the situation in Malaysia where Malaysiakini started off with a donation of USD$100k from a foreign foundation.

为2019大选新闻报导工作募捐 亲爱的《网络公民》

读者， 相信大家都知悉，在本月20日的早上，五名警员突然来到我与父母的住处，根据资讯通信媒体发展局（IMDA）的投报，进行有关“刑事诽谤”的调查。 被指含有诽谤内容的文章，乃是来自一名读者在九月上旬的投稿。

资媒局原本已在9月18日致函本社，要求我们移除该文。 然而，两个月后，警方仍携带庭令，来到我住处搜查，也充公了我的电脑、手机等用于工作的电子设备。 我被要求前往中央警署广东民大厦，在那里录供长达8小时，协助警方调查。 器材被没收，导致本社工作短暂中断一周。

我不清楚我的器材何时能领回，也许是几个月后，甚至超过一年。在友人和支持者帮助下，我购置了新的电脑设备，《网络公民》得以在11月26日重新运作。 决定发动众筹募集运营资金 考量到近期时局变化，当权者可能通过“假新闻法”，一些征兆也显示选举可能在明年举行，为了长远发展和避免在被类似事件打击，《网络公民》决定发动众筹募集运营资金。 

近年来发生的事件，已然让国人醒觉，不良政策对他们生活造成的影响，但碍于主流媒体和政府提供不对称的信息，国人仍冀望探求事实的真相。 在有限的资源下，我们仍能对各种课题旁敲侧击，但与此同时，我们仍期望此媒体平台能持续发展壮大。在未来一年，《网络公民》计划针对与国人切身的议题，如就业、医疗保健、教育、反对党、正萌芽的公民社会发展，进行更深入的报导。截至目前为止，《网络公民》仍是国内为数不多、唯一独立、非政府的新闻网站，为群众利益发声。 

为了能做好来届选举的报导，我们也需提前招募人才和培训。我们正拓展中文网页。如有需求，也计划架设马来语和其他语言网页。 长期仰赖民间支持 《网络公民》没有任何政党资助，也没有所谓天使投资人无私的赞助，长期以来，仰赖各位希望能有替代发声管道的公民和支持者。 本社每月约略需9千元，来应付网站运作和员工等开销，勉强达到收支平衡。但我们预期，《假新闻法》的落实可能以打击假新闻平台为由，限制网站的广告收入。 

此外，近期我们一名广告客户遭黑客攻击，另一家也碍于近期的政府指控，撤销了广告，致使我们的广告收入遭打击。 故此，我们目前急需资金，确保网站能一直维持运作至来届选举。即便我可能陷入牢狱，也要确保网站新闻报导能如常进行。 

您可以透过以下方式支持我们： 

•    线上银行转账至The Online Citizen Pte Ltd, Maybank Singapore Limited，户口号码 04011108619 

•    支票支付，支付于“The Online Citizen Pte Ltd“（注意：需注明Pte Ltd），邮寄至 20 Maxwell Road #09-17 Maxwell House Singapore 069113. 

捐赠人注意事项： 若您不愿透露姓名，可邮寄金额到上述地址，我们将依据捐赠金额开收据。您也可透过联系表格联络我们，安排与本社代表见面。 

这个网络众筹平台位于澳洲，但不会被列入IMDA，除非您的捐赠数额超过总捐款目标的5巴仙即5千元。 

基于资讯通信发展管理局（Infocomm）和IMDA的规定，我们无法接受来自国外的献金。为避免抵触法律任何来自国外的捐款都会被寄回。邻国网络媒体《当今大马》一开始就能得到外国10万美元的基金，我国网络媒体面对的情况肯定有别于此。

We are seeking to raise a sum of at least $100k to ensure that the site remains operational. With more support and a target sum of $400k, we would like to significantly expand the TOC scope of coverage in the year to come.

The increase in funding and expansion of operations will ensure that there will be a bigger chance of countering the propaganda put forth by the powers that be in the upcoming General Election.

One of our readers sent this note of support to me:  

“For its readership, TOC remains the most daring and open bastions of the online free media.

It would not be a stretch to say it finds itself in the position of being the vital foundation of any semblance of an independent, critical media in Singapore.

As such it currently remains a key organization in an institution that is fast being muzzled and extinguished by an oversensitive government.

As an independent source of accurate reporting of local affairs and as a vital check to the accountability of our public organizations and policy, TOC plays a key role and has a critical function.

It thus greatly needs our support as concerned citizens if it is just to survive.  If it dies, so too prospects for any form of critical truly independent media could die along with it.

This would indeed be a great loss for Singapore.“

I am humbled to have received such an endorsement and expression of support.

I am also most grateful for your support of TOC, and for me and my team to continue and expand the work we do to keep fellow-citizens and you informed of news that matter to our lives in Singapore.
 
Terry Xu
Chief Editor

P.S: In the event, we do not meet $100,000 of our target, Pozible will refund all the amount collected via the platform back to the donors.

预算概览： 我们当前的目标是筹集10万新元，以维持网站运作。若有更多支持和达到40万元资金，则本社有能力再进一步扩大编采报导范围。 

增加资金和扩大经营，意味着我们有更足够的底气，来反击当权者来来届大选中铺天盖地的宣传伎俩。 

另一方面，我收到了一名支持者给我的信息： 

“对于读者群来说，《网络公民》仍是网路上最敢于发言和自由媒体堡垒。她作为新加坡一个独立、批判性媒体的重要本位，不足为奇。 当然，也是过度敏感的当权政府在公民社会里，一直想熄灭的一盏明灯。 作为准确报导本土议题的独立新闻来源，《网络公民》对于监督和检视公共机构和政策发挥着关键作用。他极度需要民众的支持来维系生存。若她倒下，可能导致真正独立媒体的前景也随之消亡。这对新加坡来说，绝对是重大的损失。” 

我很感激、也谦卑地接受各界的支持，我和我的团队将不懈努力，继续追踪报导与国人群众利益相关的议题。 

许渊臣 《网络公民》

总编   敬启 

备注：在未达到众筹目标10万新元的情况下，Pozible会将在此平台募集的所有金额，悉数退还给捐赠者。