Malaysian Parliament Dissolved

Published on Apr 5, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has finally ended the speculation and dissolved parliament ahead of an election that should be held within a matter of weeks. Given the nature of politics within a nation divided by ethnicity and religion, the outcome of this poll is far from certain. Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat. .

Online Spying in Singapore?

Published on Apr 4, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — It was an alarming headline taken from an article by Yahoo!SG: “S’pore among 25 govts using spy software: researchers.” The article, revolving around a report published by Citizen Lab, a think-tank at the University of Toronto, about a form of intrusion and surveillance software called FinSpy, made by UK-based Gamma Group International, suggested that the Singaporean government has been using software that allows them to “grab images off computer screens, record Skype chats, turn on cameras and microphones and log keystrokes.” A frightening thought…if it were true. Read more from Kirsten Han in The Diplomat. .

Burma Goes to Press

Published on Apr 3, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Burmese leaders have fulfilled one promise and further removed the shackles from its state-run newspaper industry, with four of a possible 16 independent daily papers hitting the stands. Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat. .

A Kennedy Touted as US Ambassador to Japan

Published on Apr 3, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Several news outlets are reporting that President Barack Obama will name top donor and campaign supporter, Caroline Kennedy, as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan. Kennedy’s name was first flouted as a possible candidate to be the next ambassador to Japan soon after Obama’s inauguration in January of this year. Other reports suggested she would be tapped as ambassador to Canada. Read more from Zachary Keck in The Diplomat. .

A Singapore Fairy Tale

Published on Apr 2, 2013 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Once upon a time in a land far, far away in the middle of Asia, the young people were too busy working and making money to have babies. So their government started telling the Singaporeans fairy tales to encourage them to marry and start families before it was too late. Singapore is one of the world’s richest countries, but it faces a population crisis. Read more from Terry Friel in The National.     .