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Bhavan Jaipragas
Hong Kong
Bhavan Jaipragas was a correspondent and editor on the Asia desk from 2016 to 2023.
The 16-month ‘Forward Singapore’ feedback gathering exercise found Singaporeans were concerned about ‘fulfilment, meaning, purpose’, amid rising costs of living.
In his final column, the Post’s outgoing Asia editor meditates on regrets, Hong Kong’s rocky race relations – and what casual racism means for the city’s pivot to Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
The Gaza hospital blast underscores the challenges of reporting from the frontline where facts compete with online speculations for attention.
In this issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we take a look at the latest tensions and disputes in the South China Sea.
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Hashim Djojohadikusumo says that compared to Prabowo’s rivals in the presidential race, his brother has vast experience and an extensive network.
Hong Kong tycoons Li Ka-shing and Lee Shau-kee are among those who have extended warm wishes to Malaysia’s richest man on his centenary.
Tharman took the presidential affirmation before an audience of some 200 people in the republic’s colonial-era presidential palace, the Istana.
In this issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at the result of the recent Singapore presidential elections that followed a series of political scandals for the ruling People’s Action Party.
The former ruling party stalwart’s massive 70.4 per cent share of the vote showed that voters prioritised a candidate’s ability more than other factors, analysts noted.
Former Singapore ruling party stalwart won 70.4 per cent of vote in a three-way race, foiling expectations he would be hurt by public dissatisfaction with ruling PAP.
Friday’s vote is the first presidential poll since 2011, with the incumbent Halimah Yacob having come to power in a walkover contest in 2017. 85 per cent of 2.7 million voters have cast their votes as at 5pm.
In this issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at recent elections in the likes of Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia following a busy time for politics in Southeast Asia in recent weeks
All 10 of the individuals in the alleged money-laundering ring were found in possession of foreign passports ‘believed to be issued’ by China.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called for prudence in managing the country’s financial reserves as the scale of future crises is unknown.
Singapore’s No 2 leader Lawrence Wong said the city state was concerned about the ‘extreme competition’ between China and the US.
Chan Heng Chee, Singapore’s ambassador-at-large, said the city state’s government is constantly vigilant against agents of influence of all countries.
The debate over flexible work arrangements is intensifying as companies go back on their pledges to establish work-from-home as a right.
Opposition chief Pritam Singh claims the government was slow to release information on events that put the ruling party in a bad light.
PM Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged in parliament he should have acted earlier after learning about the affair between ex-speaker Tan Chuan-jin and MP Cheng Li Hui in 2020.
PM Lee’s brother, currently in self-exile overseas, had made comments on Facebook about a saga surrounding the rental of colonia-era bungalows by the ministers.
Lawrence Wong also said the ruling party had distinct policies regarding criminal wrongdoing – which is unacceptable – and other forms of misconduct.
Prime Minister Lee’s brother, Lee Hsien Yang, says trust in the ruling party ‘has been shattered’ over various political scandals involving PAP ministers in recent weeks.
Aside from memes, social media discussions and commentaries in the national media delved into the implications of the political dramas for the country.
Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui had continued having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ even after being told to stop.
The Malaysian tycoon has been entrenched for decades in the Singapore establishment, and is known to have a colourful persona and aggressive dealmaking skills.
Singapore’s anti-graft agency directed the billionaire, who partly owns the city state’s F1 race, to provide more information on his interactions with Iswaran.
Transport Minister S. Iswaran has been ordered to take a leave of absence by PM Lee Hsien Loong while Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau investigates.
Ticket scalping, though distasteful, cannot be entirely eliminated but there is a place for legislation to bring greater order to the resale process.
PM Lee says he is fully satisfied with the findings showing ministers Vivian Balakrishnan and K. Shanmugam had done nothing wrong in leasing the two state-owned bungalows.
Simultaneous probes by Singapore’s powerful anti-graft agency and PM Lee’s top political lieutenant Teo Chee Hean found no misconduct by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam.
