🇸🇬 How three women ended up facing court for a stroll down Orchard Rd

Hello friends!

The Philippines has my head spinning, I think I need a solid five hours of sitting down and reading before we can revisit the words ‘Alice Guo.’ Expect a special this weekend, though it may make my nose bleed. 

Even without our Filipino friends, this is a bumper week for maritime Southeast Asia so let’s crack in. 

We’re joined by a huge influx of new readers this week. I can see a whole bunch have swung by from very good friend of the letter, Campuccino, so thank you Darathey! To celebrate, today’s look at the maritime would usually be paywalled but today everyone can have a peek and maybe consider upgrading:

Erin Cook

🇸🇬 Charges and POFMAs in Singapore

Three women activists in Singapore have been charged for their role in a small-scale rally back in February in which participants were encouraged to join a letter-writing campaign calling on the government to end relations with Israel. Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori and Mossammad Sobikun Nahar led a small entourage along Orchard Road to the presidential compound, BBC reports here, where they delivered the letters. 

Singapore hates a protest and the Israel-Palestine issue is particularly volatile, with the government repeatedly encouraging muted ‘dialogues’ over the shows of support in the streets we’ve seen in neighbouring countries. ‘All public demonstrations in Singapore require permits from the police, who have said they would not grant any for public assemblies advocating causes of other countries or foreign entities,’ BBC reports. 

The trio face SGD$10,000 in fines or jail for up to six months. 

The left-leaning Singapore Democratic Party has been slapped with a POFMA order for posts it made regarding the case. The party — which has not held seats for a hot minute yet — wrote that the three women were charged for their support of the Palestinian cause, a view the Ministry of Home Affairs rejects. “The decision to charge the three women was not in response to the views they had expressed, nor depended on whether these views concorded or did not concord with the government’s views. The charges concern the organising of the unauthorised procession, in and of itself,” the ministry said in a statement, as per Channel News Asia. 

Hard at work for the WP

No big shifts in the Workers Party leadership ranks after the party conference over the weekend. In the last conference before the election (probably) the island’s ascendant — but occasionally troubled — opposition is staying the course with Pritam Singh as secretary-general and Sylvia Lim in the chair. Today Online has the whole Central Executive Committee list here. 

To be pro-Pink Dot or to stay quiet?

That is the question for MPs each June as Singapore’s annual celebration of the LGBT community/day of activism and advocacy takes to Hong Lim Park. Two MPs from the governing People's Action Party attended, despite, as Today Online notes, a growing trend in ‘family values’ scorecards circulating. “I believe in staying true to the mission. My mission is to serve the people and the people in today's terms in Singapore is a very pluralistic one. We need to look at different sectors that need to be engaged and continue the communications with each of the sectors,” Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, said. 

Darryl David, PAP MP for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC), isn’t too worried about these scorecards being issued by Protect Singapore. “To rank MPs on their stances on anything? I mean, when you start doing that, then I guess ultimately, what is the aim? What are you trying to show?” he says. Should we expect a culture wars election ahead? 

Turning green into houses

Nothing can stop the drive (hah!) for development in Singapore, not even a golf course. Golf fans took to the Marina Bay Golf Course for the last time over the weekend with the grounds set for housing development. It’s more interesting than it sounds! Bloomberg reports that golf courses lease the land from the government so the threat of closure always looms. Bummer for players, I bet, but who cares! We need houses, says the government. 

🇮🇩 Petitioners demand minister resign after data hack

Will Communications and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi survive? The Minister overseeing last month’s disastrous data hack is holding on for dear life as calls mount for him to resign, including a petition launched by digital rights-advocacy group Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network pushing 25,000 signatures. But he’s not going down easily. He’s the head of ProJo, an enormous supporter group of President Jokowi, and isn’t commenting on the demands, the Jakarta Post reports.

But what a prime opportunity to blame political opponents! “From the monitoring carried out by the team, the figures (behind the petition) are those who were politically opposed in the context of the 2024 presidential election,” Projo Secretary General Handoko said, as reported by Kumparan via Channel News Asia.  

What of the data itself? I’m a bit head-spun between what’s real and what’s WhatsApp. Just 44 of the 282 agency systems affected are ready to get back online, with most not having any backed-up data. Hadi Tjahjanto, the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs, told media on Monday that he anticipated everything to be back online by the end of the month, Nikkei Asia reports. 

Happy birthday, Kaesang

Elsewhere, as anticipated the General Election Commission (KPU) has ruled in line with the Supreme Court that the minimum age of gubernatorial candidates is 30 at inauguration NOT at the election itself. Great news for Kaesang Pangarep, Jokowi’s youngest son, who turns 30 this Christmas Day — that is, after the regional elections but before inaugurations begin. Now, where to run? 

Big, big KPU story building as I write this but I’m already 12 hours late so we’ll wait and see.

Tariffs, get ya tariffs

Imported textiles, footwear and ceramics will soon be slapped with tariffs of up to 200% in an effort to safeguard local industries. “If we are flooded with (imported goods), our micro, small and medium enterprises could collapse,” Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan told reporters, as per Reuters. He added that the average tariff would be around 100%. 

Taiwanese alleged scam workers to get the boot from Bali

Immigration flagged the deportation of 103 Taiwanese nationals last week suspected of running a scam operation out of Bali. Interestingly, Al Jazeera reports, they could not be charged for the scams themselves as Indonesia does not hold jurisdiction. Instead, Indonesian authorities are “closely working together” with counterparts elsewhere including, specifically, Malaysia. Bali is an odd place to be hearing about one of these, no? A very different fish to Kokang or Sihanoukville! Would love to know more. 

Two legs to stand on

President Jokowi visited President-elect Prabowo Subianto at Jakarta’s Soedirman National Defense Central Hospital, where he had undergone major surgery on his leg. “I had two parachuting accidents when I was in the military back in the 1980s. I injured my left leg, and I could still feel the pain,” Prabowo wrote in a post online and reported by Jakarta Globe. “I’m aware that these medical procedures were risky and life-threatening. But I told myself that this was all for the sake of this country and nation.” 

🇲🇾 Is Anwar charming frenemies, giving friends the cold shoulder?

How tough is the going for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim? Tough enough that he’s turning towards Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS). Over at the Straits Times, Azril Annuar points to the unloved fuel policy, a stressful by-election this month and the potential loss of the government’s majority. Shoring up the support of PAS — and their enormous voter base — could be the key to Anwar holding on, but at what cost? 

The latest round of political intrigue kicked off June 22 after government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said there were “a lot of discussions” with PAS to join the coalition. Whoa, pump the brakes, says PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan. There are just “normal negotiations related to the administration of states and the federal government,” he said. Democratic Action Party, a close and crucial ally in Pakatan Harapan, secretary-general Anthony Loke isn’t too hot on the idea either. 

Bridget Welsh has the final word: “PAS joining the unity government would be a red line for DAP, and could erode non-Malay support that has been mobilised to support the unity government in opposition to PAS.” 

It’s a long road to Putrajaya

What can’t Muar MP Syed Saddiq do? He jogged 200 km from his electorate to Parliament over the weekend. (I’m sore reading about it!) His run was ‘to call for government allocations for constituencies held by opposition MPs,’ Malaysiakini reported. He was met at the finishing line by supporters and members of the Muda party. 

Monets and Warhols among Jho Low settlement

The US is set to wrap up the 1MDB asset forfeiture campaign ‘through a confidential agreement with individuals close to fugitive financier’ Jho Low, Malaysiakini reports via Channel News Asia. Jeeze. The move will “forever (resolve) United States’ civil, criminal, and administrative asset forfeiture actions or proceeding relating to the disposition of assets tied to 1MDB,” it noted. 

He’ll hand over “$100 million including a luxury Paris apartment and works by Claude Monet and Andy Warhol,” Reuters reports. That’s all in addition to the nearly $1 billion in assets, including that danged superyacht, already forfeited. 

Good, but where is he?! We’ve been following this for years, I want to see this fella once and for all.