SM Investments (SMI), the Singapore unit of Hyflux’s debt consortium Salim-Medco and the water treatment firm’s former white knight, has announced its intention to sue the company for terminating their bailout agreement. The Straits Times reported SMI as saying on Fri (19 Apr) that it did not accept Hyflux’s “purported termination” of the rescue deal on 4 Apr. Instead, it …

Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, at least in its current form, is “vague” and “inconsistent” with international legal standards, said the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). In an open letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Law Minister K. Shanmugam, and Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin on 12 Apr, ICJ’s …

Indonesians across the archipelago took to the polls on Wed (17 Apr) amid heightened Islamic religious conservatism and the proliferation of “fake news” surrounding the Joko Widodo-Ma’ruf Amin and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno presidential candidate pairings prior to this election. This year’s election – which currently sees incumbent President Joko Widodo being re-elected, as he and his running mate lead the …

Singapore maintains its ranking in Reporters Without Borders’ (Reporters Sans Frontières – RSF) World Press Freedom Index as the Republic takes the 151st spot again this year. An increase of 0.46 points from 51.41 points last year, however, was also noted. An increase in points indicates a decrease in press freedom, according to the Index. RSF, in its analysis on …

The National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) are investigating an incident involving five students from the Prince George’s Park House student residence, who had developed symptoms of gastroenteritis last Fri (12 Apr). A spokesperson from the University told The Straits Times yesterday (17 Apr) that NUS has carried out preliminary checks after being informed of …

Singapore’s national water agency, Public Utilities Board (PUB) has decided to terminate its Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) with debt-ridden water treatment firm Hyflux and to subsequently take over the company’s Tuaspring desalination plant. The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources statutory board indicated in a statement on Wed (17 Apr) that it intends to do so “[t]o safeguard Singapore’s …

Three of Singapore’s regulatory bodies have announced a review of Hyflux’s practices to investigate any possible breaches on the part of the water treatment firm on Tue (16 Apr). Responding jointly to CNA‘s queries, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and the Singapore Exchange Regulation said that they are “currently reviewing Hyflux-related disclosure issues”. The …

Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, which was introduced in Parliament for its First Reading earlier this month, is expected to come into effect within the second half of 2019, according to Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Monday (15 Apr), Mr Iswaran said: “We expect to have a Second …

Debt-ridden local water treatment firm and genco Hyflux is commencing civil proceedings against Indonesian consortium Salim-Medco Group over a “repudiation of the restructuring agreement” inked last Oct. Nikkei Asian Review reported on Mon (15 Apr) that according to Hyflux, it has filed a writ of summons to the High Court regarding the matter. Salim declined to make any comments in …

Financial advisor and veteran blogger Leong Sze Hian’s appeal against the High Court’s decision to strike out his counterclaim against Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s alleged abuse of judicial process will be heard later this year in September. In a Facebook post on Mon (15 Apr), Mr Leong posted copies of the documents informing him of the hearing. According to …