-
Politics
A spell of grim aura for Singapore’s ruling party
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Will the House of Lee stay unscathed after the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) was rocked by a series of political peccadilloes, including corruption charges against a minister? The political edifice that Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first Prime Minister,…
Read More » -
Politics
Shanmugaratnam elected Singapore President
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: The president-elect of Singapore is brimming with ideas and plans to ensure Singapore is “more than just another small nation”. I will strive to create a “future where we are taken seriously in the world, we are a partner of…
Read More » -
Politics
General election mode in Singapore’s presidential race
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: As Singaporeans go to the polls on Sept 1 to elect a new President, a non-partisan office, the electioneering is shaping into an opposition versus ruling party fray of sorts. As the nine-day campaign enters its final stretch, “maverick‘ candidate”…
Read More » -
Society
Octogenarian Phey preaches Gospel of Papaya to Singaporeans
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: “Trade-unionist-at-heart’’ Phey Yew Kok, 89, is embarking on a green project with missionary zeal. A renowned labour organiser at oner time, he is preaching the gospel of papaya, a.k.a. pawpaw, foraging gracefully. “All The Goodness of nature is wrapped up…
Read More » -
Education
Singapore set to repeal homosexual law
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: A contentious decades-old law that criminalises sex between men but not women will be axed as the Singapore authorities found it increasingly legally untenable in the face of challenges to its constitutionality. The repeal of Section 377A of the Penal…
Read More » -
Politics
Ire among some in Singapore over Sri Lankan Terminator’s stay
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: The unexpected arrival in Singapore of former Sri Lankan strongman Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, on July 1, has caused anger among some people in the Republic and raised inconvenient questions for the authorities here. Critics, overlooking the fact that he tendered…
Read More » -
Politics
Shinzo Abe’s murder raises troubling questions
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: The tragic untimely death of Shinzo Abe at the hands of an assassin has raised some troubling questions. One: Is there a shortcoming that in a robust democracy like Japan citizens still have to resort toviolence to resolve their grievances…
Read More » -
Culture
Flak and some praise for Singapore Press Club’s Hall of Fame
By Ivan Lim, Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: An initiative by the Singapore Press Club in setting up a Hall of Fame for media personalities has received some praise, but the flak it drew was unhesitating because of its noticeably exclusive approach in choosing candidates. Fifty people made…
Read More » -
Society
Singapore denies entry to ‘extremist’ Indonesian preacher
By Ivan Lim, Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: On May 16, an Indonesian preacher Abdul Somad Batubara travelled from neighbouring Batam island by boat and arrived at Tanah Merah Ferry Point in Singapore. The cleric, who had been known to the authorities for his extremist religious views, was “interviewed”…
Read More » -
Politics
Singapore has a Prime-Minister-in-waiting
By Ivan Lim, Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: He is Finance Minister Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai. A career civil servant-turned- politician, he has been designated as the new leader of the fourth generation (4G) cohort of the ruling People’s Action Party(PAP). It is a spectacular rise for the…
Read More »