The Online Citizen Asia

Despite Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's past pledges to foster a new generation of leaders since his swearing-in-ceremony in 2004, uncertainty looms over the power transition to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Questions about PM Lee's willingness to cede power are fueled by his reduced parliamentary activity and a seeming emphasis on maintaining the status quo. As Singapore grapples with challenges like escalating living costs, a defined leadership transition timeline could provide much-needed stability.

In a historical debate from 1990, now-Ministers Balakrishnan and Shanmugam clashed over the government's questioning of Singaporean loyalty. While Balakrishnan challenged the government's approach, Shanmugam defended it as an attempt to face hard realities. Despite this contentious past, both men later found common ground in the People’s Action Party and even neighbours now.

Opinion piece: As the presidential election looms, we confront a system that sets the bar high for candidacy, perhaps compromising our democracy. Despite a largely ceremonial role, the President's authority in key areas renders this election critical. Should we continue to accept 'walkover' elections and seemingly hand-picked candidates, we risk degrading our 'elected presidency' to a mere 'nominated presidency,' a shift that threatens to undermine the fundamental principles of our society.

Moonlighting in Singapore's civil service unveils a stark inequality - low-level officers face penalties for minor income supplements while high-ranking officials can hold lucrative side jobs. This double standard, undermining transparency and fairness, not only exacerbates income disparity, but also damages morale within the civil service. To rectify this, clearer guidelines should be established for all civil servants, regardless of rank, on what constitutes a conflict of interest.

Lucien Wong's reappointment to a third term as Singapore's Attorney General in January this year sparked controversy over political cronyism, potential conflicts of interest, and age-related issues. Despite never having argued a case in court, Wong will be 72 at the end of his term - well beyond the traditional retirement age. His prior relationship with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, particularly during the contentious 38 Oxley Road property dispute, is further fuelling debates on transparency, impartiality, and the independence of public institutions.

Former Singapore Democratic Party candidate, Damanhuri Bin Abas, abruptly exited his Director position at Muhammadiyah Islamic College (MIC) two months post his rejoining, following retirement from active politics. In his Facebook posts, Damanhur lauds his colleagues, maintaining political roles alongside professional positions, without conflict. His own recent MIC departure, amid speculations of political interference, ironically raises questions about the practice of political neutrality in Singapore's professional landscape.

Red Dot United (RDU) has called for transparency over the controversy surrounding the rental and residency of two People's Action Party ministers in Ridout Road. It expressed concerns over the lack of accountability, potential conflicts of interest, and the disparity between the ministers' lifestyles and everyday Singaporeans amidst challenging economic times.

Artistic expressions commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown have dwindled in Hong Kong since the implementation of the national security law in 2020. Public events and performances that once marked the anniversary have been suppressed, and artists face uncertainty and repercussions. Some artists have relocated their works to Taiwan, where they continue to foster a connection to the memory of Tiananmen and advocate for freedom and democracy. However, concerns persist over erasure and censorship in both Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has stated his willingness to collaborate with National Alliance Chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to fight for the welfare of Malays, despite their past political conflicts. His statement follows a three-year fallout post the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government. In response, Muhyiddin welcomed Mahathir's statement, affirming his readiness to collaborate with Malay and Islamic leaders. Both leaders emphasize the need for unity and to reject corruption for the betterment of Malays.

Associate Professor Daniel Goh, formerly of the Workers' Party, the largest opposition party in Singapore, announced his expulsion from the party via Facebook. The expulsion follows disputes over his posts on the party's handling of the Raeesah Khan saga. Goh defended his actions, emphasizing the importance of public accountability. The Workers' Party has yet to respond to his expulsion announcement.

Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng, famously known as "Uncle Roger," faces a ban on Chinese social media platforms following satirical comments about China's government. Ng humorously addressed potential surveillance and mockingly praised President Xi in a video. Following jokes about surveillance and the One-China policy, several of his accounts were suspended.

Malaysia's Home Ministry has withdrawn its appeal against a High Court ruling that overturned the ban on using the word "Allah" in Christian publications. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail cited 'contradictions' between an administrative order and a 1986 Cabinet decision. Despite this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that restrictions remain for non-Muslims in other states, a claim contested by Sarawak state assemblyman Baru Bian

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim received a visit from Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, the first Malaysian actress to win the Best Actress trophy at the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars). On Thursday (20 Apr) morning, the meeting was shared on Anwar’s official Instagram story. In the post, Anwar also expressed his gratitude to the Hollywood actress, born in Ipoh, Perak, for bringing the trophy she won through the film Everything Everywhere All At Once back to Malaysia.

Singaporean busker, Jonathan Goh, has criticised the National Arts Council (NAC) for the difficulties he faced in renewing his busking permit. Previously, experienced buskers were granted a two-year permit, but the NAC changed it to a one-year validity for everyone after lifting busking restrictions last year. Despite being a seasoned performer, Mr Goh is required to undergo a physical audition for five minutes in front of a panel of judges to assess his street performance skills, which he believes is outdated. The NAC defended the physical auditions to provide "fair and open opportunities for everyone".

Mediacorp's TV drama "Silent Walls" has received criticism from some members of the LGBTQ community for perpetuating harmful gay stereotypes. The criticism was primarily driven by an article from online LGBTQ+ publication Dear Straight People, which called out the relationship between two characters, citing their "problematic" large age gap as well as reinforcing the harmful stereotype that gay men are predators and groomers. The storyline was also criticized for implying that gay men are all diseased and promiscuous, suggesting that gay couples will always meet a tragic fate.