Singapore arrests 21 members of South Korean religious sect
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Singapore has arrested a local group of 21 people linked to the secretive Shincheongji Church of Jesus (SCJ in South Korea, seeking to nip in the bud threats to public order and safety. In a sweep on Monday, police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department […]
An electric car uniquely yours made in Singapore
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Not just any car, but an electric one made in Singapore itself that you can order over your mobile phone with features to suit your personal taste is coming your way. The exciting experience will be provided by Hyundai’s use of smart technology at its […]
‘Poison’ drip at centre of Singapore PM’s court battle
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has testified in court in a libel suit against blogger-turned-politician Leong Sze Hian to clear his name from what he affirmed were unfounded allegations of involvement in the Malaysian state fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (MDB), corruption scandal. In a push […]
New tech aids Singapore leap to launch Covid-19 vaccine
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Singapore, which clocked a low of 42 new daily infections on Wednesday, has joined in the fast-tracked global race to find a Covid-19 vaccine, starting early tests with a newer type of technology. About 100 volunteers, aged between 21 and 55, have been recruited […]
End of era of sledge-hammer politics in post-GE 2020 Singapore
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Is the era of hardball politics coming to an end in Singapore? For decades the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has been delivering blow after blow, as if with an unabashed sledge hammer, at the microscopic opposition in Parliament. Will the watershed July 10 general […]
Malaysia, Singapore agree on gradual re-opening of causeway border
JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysia and Singapore have finalised arrangements for long-term pass holders and travellers on essential or official business to cross the border. The foreign ministers of the two countries fine-tuned the details as they met at the midway point of the Johor Causeway and agreed to resume on August 17 cross-border travel that had […]
Leeway to Opposition but Singaporeans play it safe in polls
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Descendants of migrants from China, India and the Malay Archipelago, Singaporeans are said to have a keen sense of survival. This natural instinct could be seen in the way they voted on July 10 in the General Election held amidst the crisis of a generation […]
Singapore General Election: PAP Super-Win or Opposition Super-Wave?
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: A sweeping PAP victory or the Opposition hacking away the ruling monolith’s super-majority? On the eve of polling day, political pundits are busy sketching out both the outcomes in Singapore’s General Election (GE) on July 10. Those who foresee signs of continuity: the long-standing PAP […]
Singapore opposition sees ‘Wipe-Out’ threat by PAP
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Temporarily side-tracked by a 10 million population debate, the ruling PAP has refocused its campaign on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its S$100 billion budgets to help Singaporeans cope with business and employment problems. Party leaders from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, downwards […]
Mid-point of Singapore general election throws up a ‘10 million hot potato’
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Midway through the seemingly tepid Covid-19 electioneering, the political scene unexpectedly flared up as parties clashed over whether there was any plan for the city-state to host a population of 10 million. Lighting the fuse of the cracker, the feisty Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief, […]