SAF always seeking solutions to deal with future challenges: Chan Chun Sing
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CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Commentary: Prabowo's Indonesia draws opposition via cartoon pirates
CANBERRA: The lead up to Indonesia's Independence Day on Aug 17 is a colourful affair. Red and white blankets every surface and pole in the country ahead of celebrations. This year will mark an 80-year milestone – one the government isn't keen on sharing with a popular long-running anime TV series. One Piece is a classic for a reason, a tale of good people versus a draconian regime that rules with an iron fist and ostentatious decadence. The story follows Monkey D Luffy and fellow Straw Hat Pirates in a quest for treasure that would allow the gang to overthrow the evils of World Government. But in Indonesia, for anime fans of a particular political persuasion, the parallels with the increasingly centralised government led by President Prabowo Subianto are attractive. THE CLASH OF BANNERS And so, with Aug 17 looming, the flag under which Monkey and friends strive – a cartoon jolly roger wearing Monkey's straw hat – has become a symbol of dissent in Prabowo's Indonesia. It began slowly, with the cartoon flag appearing on the back of trucks and spreading widely online. Now, with the ubiquity of the Indonesian flag across the country this month, the appearance of the jolly roger displayed underneath the red and white has erupted into a culture war. 'The Indonesian flag is not a choice. It is a necessity. The Indonesian flag cannot be replaced,' Hasan Nasbi, head of the president's communications office, told local media on Monday. Protesters say that's not quite what is happening. The South China Morning Post published comments from one anonymous user who claimed 'The red-and-white flag is too sacred for us to raise right now, at a time when many people are still colonised by those in power.' The flag is 'the spirit of resistance against injustice'. It's a sentiment widely echoed online. POP CULTURE IN POLITICAL DISSENT Fandom of the mega-popular anime is not a prerequisite. Savvy internet users have become accustomed to pop culture references replacing explicit naming and shaming. Euphemisms for the country's government and leading political figures are a common feature of online dissent. China has seen Winnie-the-Pooh equated with Xi Jinping, for example. And in Indonesia, too, through the Joko Widodo period, 'Wakanda', the fictional country in which Marvel's 2018 hit Black Panther is based, became the name of choice for Indonesia in online discussions to critique moves that were strikingly similar to those made by the then president. As with all regulation, what 'counts' as violations and who gets to decide is slanted to favour those with power. It often reveals authorities to be deeply fearful of dissent. During Jokowi's consecutive terms, the controversial Information and Electronic Transactions Law was increasingly deployed against individuals the government accused of defamation and hate speech or displays of 'immorality'. A pandemic-era discussion about revising those laws ultimately fizzled, but by then the fear had set in anyway. Such deliberate online obfuscation has continued into the Prabowo era, suggesting it is simply now a feature of public discourse in Indonesia as long as dissent remains curtailed. PRABOWO'S STRUGGLES That pairs with another feature of the Prabowo era – the inability to ever let anything go. Prabowo's desire to be seen as a great unifier has been very successful in the parliament, with all parties now kissing the ring. This leaves the people as the sole source of opposition, and, despite a sizable win over his presidential challengers, Prabowo has found bringing the country to heel is much more difficult. Countrywide protests earlier this year clearly rattled the President. The protests, dubbed Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia), focused on reforms to the military law, but soon spilled over to broader social issues including police violence and corruption. They were large, dramatic and, at times, violent. But they were also short-lived. For Prabowo, the threat lingers. He accused foreign interlopers and corruptors of bankrolling the movement during a speech at the Solidarity Party of Indonesia's conference last month. This was despite there being no large-scale demonstrations against his government for months. Which brings us back to One Piece and the cartoon jolly roger in the vicinity of Indonesia's national flag. Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Prabowo's right hand man and the closest we often get to what the president himself thinks, is scathing of the display. 'There is a coordinated attempt to divide the nation,' he told media on Friday. Police have warned communities across the country of crackdowns and white paint is at the ready if anyone thinks that cartoon murals are a better move than flags.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Forum: Thank you, Singapore, for having been home, truly
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox This year marks 60 years of Singapore's independence – and 75 years since the birth of the European project. We believe in multilateralism, the rules-based international order and its global institutions. We uphold fair trade as the basis for shared prosperity. We continue to stand at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Yet, the world around us is changing rapidly. When I arrived in September 2021, the pandemic was still a reality. One of my first major tasks was to facilitate the mutual recognition of Covid-19 certificates. This allowed travel to resume in both directions. In February 2022, when Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Singapore and the European Union (EU) stood shoulder to shoulder in condemning this violation of international law and the principles we uphold, wherever they were put at risk. Both of us are adapting to the new political realities – by strengthening our capacity to defend ourselves and by broadening and deepening our network of partners. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better' Singapore ST Explains: What is a track point fault and why does it cause lengthy train disruptions? Singapore Three people taken to hospital after fire in Punggol executive condominium Singapore Elderly man found dead in SingPost Centre stairwell could have been in confused state: Coroner Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration Singapore S'pore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities: Chan Chun Sing Singapore Two workers died after being hit by flying gas cylinders in separate incidents in 2025 Sport Young Lions and distance runner Soh Rui Yong left out of SEA Games contingent Our ties have grown stronger. Singapore is our largest trade and investment partner in South-east Asia, with over €130 billion (S$194 billion) in goods and services exchanged in 2023. Our free trade agreement , in force for five years, continues to open up new opportunities to deepen and diversify our relationship further. More than 12,000 EU companies have a presence here, serving Singapore and the wider region. In May, we reached another milestone: the signing of the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement. During my tenure, we welcomed 15 visits by European commissioners . Most recently, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas underlined the interconnectedness of the security challenges Europe and Asia face, and presented the EU's offer of reliable partnerships on trade, innovation, green transition and security. My team and I have also worked to promote European culture in creative, fresh and innovative ways connecting Singapore and Asean with Europe through the arts. I have had the privilege of witnessing key moments: the inauguration of a new prime minister, the election of a new president, a general election, the ongoing SG60 celebrations, and even a visit by the late Pope Francis. My family and I enjoyed learning about Singapore's fascinating culture and discovering its nature. Above all, we have treasured the warmth, the strength of character, and the professionalism of our Singaporean colleagues and friends, who have made our life and work a joy and a privilege. Allow me, therefore, to say my thanks to colleagues across Singapore's ministries and public service, to the business community, the academics, journalists, artists and innovators – and so many inspiring women leaders, to Team Europe, our member states, businesses and chambers of commerce, to my friends in the wider diplomatic community, and to my team at the EU Delegation. Above all: Thank you, Singapore, for having been home, truly. Iwona Piorko Outgoing European Union Ambassador to Singapore
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
S'pore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities: Chan Chun Sing
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Singapore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities in West Kalimantan, Baturaja and the Siabu Air Weapons Range, which will give both militaries more opportunities to learn from each other, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing. Besides a possible project in Baturaja in South Sumatra for army training and another in Pekanbaru in Riau for air force training, Singapore's special forces will carry out inaugural training in West Kalimantan in the coming months 'to try out the facilities in the area', he said on Aug 6. The two countries' air forces will also be commencing joint fighter air patrols soon, Mr Chan said in a Facebook post on Aug 5, following his meeting in Jakarta with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin . Mr Chan was in Indonesia for a two-day introductory visit that ended on Aug 6. At his meeting with Mr Sjafrie, the two ministers reaffirmed the strong and longstanding bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Indonesia. On Aug 5, Mr Chan also delivered a lecture to 250 future Indonesian leaders at Indonesia's National Resilience Institu te . He noted that Singapore and Indonesia have many things in common, including a shared interest in upholding the international rule of law and in building their respective national identities on their multiracial, multi-religious backgrounds. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better' Singapore ST Explains: What is a track point fault and why does it cause lengthy train disruptions? Singapore Three people taken to hospital after fire in Punggol executive condominium Singapore Elderly man found dead in SingPost Centre stairwell could have been in confused state: Coroner Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration Singapore Two workers died after being hit by flying gas cylinders in separate incidents in 2025 Sport Young Lions and distance runner Soh Rui Yong out of SEA Games contingent Beyond strong economic ties – Singapore is Indonesia's largest investor, and Indonesia is also one of the Republic's top trading partners – he noted the long history of security cooperation between the two countries, with their first bilateral exercise, Exercise Eagle Indopura, conducted in 1974. There are now regular exercises between the armies, navies, air forces and special forces of both sides, as well as joint naval and air patrols such as the Malacca Straits Patrol launched in 2004, the Coordinated Patrol Singapore-Indonesi a launched in 2023 between the navies, and the upcoming Singapore-Indonesia Coordinated Patr ol between the two air forces, he noted. The latest Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) is yet another example of both sides constantly looking for new opportunities to work together, added Mr Chan. The DCA, which was signed in 2007 and took effect in 2024, clarifies arrangements for the Singapore Armed Force s' training in Indonesian waters and airspace, while respecting Indonesia's sovereignty over its territory and preserving Singapore's rights. The DCA and its implementation arrangement between both countries' armed forces will remain in force for 25 years. At the lecture, Mr Chan urged the two countries to continue to nurture mutual trust and cooperation between peoples from both sides , so that Singapore and Indonesia can continue to build on their strengths and complement each other for mutual growth. 'Singapore stands ready to partner Indonesia in the next bound of growth,' said Mr Chan, who was a military attache in Indonesia more than 20 years ago. 'We are constantly looking for opportunities to strengthen our relationship with Indonesia, to look for win-win projects that we can work with you on.' On Aug 6, Mr Chan met Indonesia's Vice-Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus, and the pair exchanged views on how both countries can further cooperation in the security sector. They also discussed ways to deepen mutual understanding and readiness through professional and people-to-people exchanges, said Mindef in a statement. Mr Chan said at the end of his trip that his conversations with his Indonesian counterparts made clear that many challenges faced by both Singapore and Indonesia are similar, and that the two countries are exploring collaboration in cyber security and the protection of critical infrastructure. 'Many of them are common challenges that we need to overcome together, especially in a world that is much more uncertain at this point in time,' he said.
