Hello.
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran was charged in court on Thursday (Jan 18) for multiple offences, including corruption, in a case that has garnered much public interest in Singapore.
Iswaran was handed 27 charges, mostly for receiving valuable items such as musical tickets and a private jet flight from tycoon Ong Beng Seng. The former minister pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges.
Corruption cases involving ministers are rare in Singapore, which prides itself on the integrity of its elected leaders. The case is a blow to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), but the action taken so far underscores Singapore’s zero tolerance for corruption, says SMU associate professor of law Eugene Tan.
Last Saturday, William Lai Ching-te clinched Taiwan’s presidency, securing an unprecedented third term for the Democratic Progressive Party. Given DPP’s pro-independence stance, analysts expect China to maintain its economic and military pressure on Taiwan.
But the fact that Taiwanese voters chose to preserve the status quo shows that they are less concerned about China, and more so about rising costs of living, says NUS political scientist Chong Ja Ian.
We hope you enjoy our selection of commentaries this week.
Erin Low
Deputy Editor, Commentary
