Singapore’s parliament passed a contempt of court bill.
The bill’s contempt of court definition of includes publishing material that interferes with ongoing proceedings or alleges bias on the part of judges. Offenders could be fined up to S$100,000 and jailed up to three years.
Critics say the bill’s vaguely worded provisions and the harsh punishments proposed could further impede freedom of speech by leading to self-censorship.
The government says the bill will not change or expand current contempt of court practices and only aims to clarify them. Minister of Law said in parliament the law was aimed at protecting ordinary citizens.
Britain abolished a similar act called “Scandalising the Judiciary” in 2013 on the grounds it was “incompatible with freedom of speech”.
The group Human Rights Watch said the bill was “overly broad” and penalties were “disproportionate”.
Reporters Without Borders ranks Singapore 154th out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index, behind Venezuela.