Hello.
One of the great fears of air travellers became reality late last week: The side panel of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines blew off in mid-air, leaving a gaping hole through which items were sucked out of the aircraft.
Boeing’s safety and reliability is being called into question again, years after the MAX was implicated in two fatal crashes that prompted a global grounding. Columnists say this points to pervasive flaws in the American company, which could be an opportunity for European rival Airbus or China’s COMAC.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has been gripped by political drama. Accusations and denials of a “Dubai Move” plot to topple Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government have been flying. There are also reports former prime minister Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence for 1MDB-related corruption charges, might soon have his application for a royal pardon considered. If granted, it could rock Malaysia politics, says Asian Studies professor James Chin.
For football lovers, the Asian Cup kicks off in Qatar today. Singapore’s national team did not qualify for the tournament. Former football journalist Edwin Yeo questions how Singapore can cultivate football talent if children have fewer public spaces to play freely, amid anger over the temporary closure of a football court in Bedok North over noise complaints.
All eyes though will likely be on the Red Sea, which is becoming a flashpoint in the Israel-Hamas war. On Thursday, the US and UK launched first strikes against Yemen’s Houthi militants who have been attacking international shipping for months, which could trigger retaliatory action and widen the crisis in the Gulf. RSIS military security experts Geoffrey Till and Jane Chan consider Singapore’s participation in separate efforts to keep the Red Sea open and safe.
Taiwan’s presidential election will be held on Saturday, with cross-strait relations unsurprisingly in sharp focus for voters and observers alike. Stay connected for timely updates and comprehensive analysis.
We hope you enjoy our selection of commentaries this week.
Charlene Tan
Senior Editor, Commentary
