Is press freedom in Singapore as poor as in... Somalia?
Reporters Without Borders show what's wrong with modern journalism.
Politics
108 Posts
Is Singapore facing a leadership crisis?
Some commentators seem to think so, but they surely must be unaware of how the world looks like.
Why is the size of Singapore’s reserves kept secret?
My foreign readers, unacquainted with Singaporean governance, may find it surprising to learn that the country has no debt (net), that the government does not borrow money to finance public spending and that all the surpluses it generates are directed to the nation's reserves upon completion of every
Two factors which decided the Singaporean GE: Jamus Lim & PAP's strategic mistake
Much has already been said about the Singaporean General Election of 2020 - and even more is coming in the days and weeks ahead of us. But I think for all the complexity involved - the Covid-19 situation, looming economic troubles, epidemic spreading in the dorms, a general shutdown of
Logic check: the insanity of accusations against Heng Swee Keat
I have to admit that one of the benefits of the internet is that it has become the stage for often ridiculous mental gymnastics of blind adherents of certain ideologies, who then have to reconcile them with factual reality. Amazing twists, turns, jumps, and contortions of this circus could put
Everybody is crying and celebrating in Singapore today: GE summary
Ahead of the Singaporean election, I penned a piece that summarized the coming vote as likely the most significant since the bitterly contested GE of 1963. And it was... ...sort of. As politicians and Singaporeans turn in for the (very late) night, it's not likely there are going
Lion at the crossroads: Singapore’s most significant General Election since 1963
As if the global pandemic wasn't enough, 2020 appears to be quite an important year in global politics. First, Taiwan voted on its president - giving pro-independence Tsai Ing-wen her second term. Then Israel finally managed to form a unity government after two failed attempts in 2019. In
Singaporeans should be proud of their country’s “gutter politics”
With the COVID-19 situation largely under control (hopefully no second waves around the corner) Singapore is heading to the polls on July 10. This post, however, is not going to be about the elections (only tangentially) but rather about the calm environment they are about to take place in. I
X-raying Kirsten Han
Singapore's favourite "oppressed" child, Kirsten Han, published a response to many allegations circulating about her and her buddies. In it, she paints herself as a victim of state bullying and that her and her companions' words were taken out of context and manipulated to paint
Corralling the Lion: Singapore’s biggest foreign threats lie close to home
Singapore's location, coupled with reasonable, friendly governance, has long attracted foreign business to the island. But, as it has grown in prosperity and importance, it has also brought lots of attention - not always welcome. And with increasingly tighter international interdependencies between countries around the globe, the pursuit
Why Singapore is correct on LGBT rights
This may be my most controversial article yet (at least to some) - but precisely because it may be considered controversial, I believe it is important to publish it. So, let's begin with a both baffling and bold statement: LGBT supporters and their opponents are both right. Impossible?
The Economist should learn from Singapore instead of attacking it
Condescension in reports about Asia is nothing new in the Western world. But one is forced to recognize things are getting out of hand if articles published in one of Britain's leading magazines on global affairs keep prompting frequent rebuttals from Singapore's High Commissioner in the