Devika Panicker, a survivor of sexual assault at 7 years old, discusses her life and journey as a survivor and advocate. She talks about the issues and challenges around sexual violence in Singapore, her career and advocacy, and her experience as an actress and Vasantham beauty pageant winner.
Author Archives: Thum Ping Tjin
Thum Ping Tjin (“PJ”) is Managing Director of New Naratif and founding director of Project Southeast Asia, an interdisciplinary research centre on Southeast Asia at the University of Oxford. A Rhodes Scholar, Commonwealth Scholar, Olympic athlete, and the only Singaporean to swim the English Channel, his work centres on Southeast Asian governance and politics. His most recent work is Living with Myths in Singapore (Ethos: 2017, co-edited with Loh Kah Seng and Jack Chia). He is creator of “The History of Singapore” podcast, available on iTunes. Reach him at pingtjin.thum@newnaratif.com.
Posted inPodcasts
Heckin’ Unicorn and the Business of Activism
Heckin’ Unicorn sells subtle & unique LGBTQIA+ merchandise, such as enamel pins, socks, and notebooks, that allow people to express their identity. Its founder, Teo Yu Sheng, talks to PJ and Sean Francis about its origins, his journey, and how he reconciles capitalism and activism.
Posted inPodcasts
The SDP’s Young and Women Democrats
Min Cheong and Jufri Salim of the Singapore Democratic Party talk about why they decided to join politics, the SDP and their values and vision for Singapore, and the evolving challenges of politics in the country.
Posted inPodcasts
Tabula Rasa/Tak Boleh Rasa, by Subhas Nair
Musician and activist Subhas Nair talks about his new album, Tabula Rasa/Tak Boleh Rasa, its complex commentary of politics and society, and his decision to only sell his music via Telegram.
Posted inPodcasts
“After the Inquiry”, With Author Jolene Tan
Jolene Tan, author of “After the Inquiry”, a new novel on censorship, propaganda, idealism, and everyday complicity in authoritarianism in Singapore, discusses with PJ Thum what her novel reveals about Singapore.
Posted inResearch
The Citizens’ Agenda: The Parties Respond
Nearly a year ago, we embarked on the Citizens’ Agenda: our quest to find out what our Singaporean community thinks are the most important issues facing Singapore, and then to write and commission articles on those subjects. Now, with Singapore’s General Election looming, we complete our journey by telling you how the political parties responded to the issues.
Posted inVideos
How Bad Laws Are Created and Abused in Singapore (A POFMA Case Study)
PJ uses POFMA as a case study to demonstrate how Singapore’s People’s Action Party government writes poorly worded laws that give themselves immense amounts of power, while misleading the Singaporean people by saying the laws will be used responsibly and for good purposes but then using the law chiefly to silence critics and suppress opposition.
Posted inVideos
How the Oxley Road Scandal shows the Weakness of Public Institutions in Singapore
PJ explains Singapore’s Oxley Road dispute between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings, Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang; how Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy is crucial to the PAP continuing to win elections and monopolising power; how this demonstrates the weakness of public institutions in Singapore; and how Singapore has the appearance of the form of public accountability and transparency but not the substance.
Posted inVideos
Singapore’s Dependence on Foreign Funding and our Economic Quandary
PJ explains how Singapore’s economy has evolved over time, how it is heavily dependent on foreign funding, and how the PAP tried to wean Singapore off foreign funding and failed miserably, leading to Singapore’s current economic quandary.
Posted inVideos
How the PAP Government Abuses “Rule of Law” to Control Singapore
PJ explains how the People’s Action Party in Singapore uses/abuses the concept of the “Rule of Law” to control all forms of political activity, by criminalising all behaviour but selectively investigating, harassing, and charging only its critics and opponents. Also, he tries to sell you some cologne.