Joseph Masilamany

In his National Day speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recalled the city-state's difficult origins, which saw it rise “from Third World to First World” thanks to determination and cohesion. Faced with increasingly complex global challenges, he urged citizens to move quickly, innovate and renew the social contract, promising support for vulnerable families and more opportunities for all Singaporeans.

The aim is to correct misrepresentations or distortions regarding sexuality or HIV status. The story of a meeting promoted by doctors and professionals in the field that was mistaken for a “gay party,” with the police making twenty arrests. Pro-rights groups warn that this risks fueling stigma, discouraging treatment, and endangering vulnerable communities.

The Malaysian prime minister has launched a 15 billion ringgit package of measures to support low-income families in response to growing discontent over the high cost of living. A reduction in fuel prices is also planned. But for the opposition and part of civil society, these are ‘populist gestures’ just days before a mass protest is due to take place in Kuala Lumpur.

The Health Minister warns about vaporisers illegally loaded with etomidate, found in a third of the devices seized in a raid: ‘It has already caused road accidents and unnatural deaths.’ The government is preparing to include the substance on the list of narcotics subject to strict local anti-drug legislation.

The G25 and legal expert Jerald Joseph call for reforms to protect the judiciary from political influence. The positions of the next president of the Court of Appeal and the president of the Supreme Court are hanging in the balance. Urgent reform of the 2009 Judicial Appointments Commission Act is also called for.

At least 36 men between the ages of 25 and 35 have been arrested in a series of operations against the terrorist network launched in April in the country. The militants recruited new recruits via WhatsApp, with rituals and oaths.

The ‘new generation’ prime minister of the city-state chose the People's Republic of China for his first trip outside Southeast Asia. In his meeting with Xi Jinping, he praised ‘multilateralism and the rules-based global order’. The ambitions of the former marginal colony that has become a major financial hub between East and West. On Taiwan, support for the ‘one China’ policy.

Timor-Leste’s president spoke at the Global Leadership & Dialogue Initiative in Kuala Lumpur. In his address, he cited the huge human toll his country paid towards full international recognition. Next October, the country will become the 11th ASEAN member state.

Appellate panel upholds High Court’s earlier ruling rejecting application. The identity law allows for a name change, but not a return to the original name due to public order concerns. The change had caused the man problems with immigration (upon his return to India) and property rights.

The declaration adopted at the ASEAN summit, proposed by current chair Anwar Ibrahim, outlines a series of goals for 2045 aimed at strengthening the role of the regional organisation. A renewed appeal was made to Myanmar to extend the ceasefire and open up space for genuine dialogue. A meeting has been requested with Donald Trump over tariffs. At the same time, trilateral cooperation with China and the Gulf countries is gaining momentum.

The Court of Appeal upheld an earlier decision by the High Court. For the judges, the case is procedural, not about personal faith. The woman was never Muslim since the change in religion results from a unilateral act by her mother when she was a child without the consent of her Hindu father.

The Tenaganita, an advocacy association, has criticised the Malaysian government for its decision to restart recruiting migrants from Bangladesh after thousands of foreign workers already present in the country were left without work, housing and legal protection, trapped in a corrupt system of exploitation, this according to the NGO’s director, Glorene A Das.