Temasek Review
Encyclopedia
The Temasek Review Emeritus (TRE, formerly Temasek Review) was a socio-political blog
and one of the alternative media that emerged in Singapore in the 2000s. Though it declared itself to be neither "pro-Opposition" or "pro-Government", the Malaysian newspaper The Star
recognised it to have Opposition sympathies. According to SPH
-owned The New Paper
, "News website Temasek Review has earned a reputation for its sharply critical views of the Government," and the Jakarta Globe
described the Temasek Review as "one of Singapore’s few independent web sites".
It was founded in 2004 as Wayang Party and renamed Temasek Review in 2009. In late 2010, it was involved in a dispute with government-linked
corporation Temasek Holdings
over its name. Temasek Holdings argued that Temasek Review had been used as the name of the company's annual report since 2004 and that the Javanese
word Temasek
was "indisputably associated with Temasek" and that the website "was just trying to capitalise on the goodwill and reputation" linked to it. The website was renamed Temasek Review Emeritus on 25 May 2011.
Facing restrictions in both income and contributors, and unable to upgrade hardware to cope with increasing demand, the site's editor Amanda Tan announced on 7 April 2011 that it would close in July. She acknowledged the existence of pressure from the Government, but said that its effects were minimal and there had been no direct official request to close. Ang Peng Hwa, professor of journalism at Nanyang Technological University
, described the closure as "definitely a loss for the blogsphere and also for critical discourse in Singapore".
In late April 2011, Temasek Review survived a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack during the height of the 2011 general elections campaign coverage. The Temasek Review had previously suffered other DDOS attacks, as part of a pattern of attacks against "two of Singapore’s most popular and outspoken websites" (the other being the The Online Citizen
). These attacks were, according to The Star, suspected by some to be "possibly by the ruling party
's youth wing". Nevertheless, Temasek Review was recorded by Experian Hitwise
as receiving a significant proportion of internet traffic from search engines during the campaign.
In August 2011, Tan announced that the website had gained additional financial support and that the team behind it intended to keep it running for at least five years. Recognising that the site had been accused of being anti-PAP
, she also pledged "to improve and try to balance the articles on our site to cater to readers from all camps," aiming to be "by Singaporeans for Singaporeans".
However, Temasek Review Emeritus was taken offline without explanation on 5 September 2011. it remains offline.
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
and one of the alternative media that emerged in Singapore in the 2000s. Though it declared itself to be neither "pro-Opposition" or "pro-Government", the Malaysian newspaper The Star
The Star (Malaysia)
The Star is an English-language, tabloid-format newspaper in Malaysia. It is the largest in terms of circulation in Malaysia, according to the . It has a daily circulation of between 290,000 to 300,000...
recognised it to have Opposition sympathies. According to SPH
Singapore Press Holdings
Singapore Press Holdings Limited is a media organisation in Singapore with businesses in print, Internet and new media, television and radio, outdoor media, and property. SPH has over 4,000 employees, including a team of approximately 1,000 journalists, including correspondents operating around...
-owned The New Paper
The New Paper
The New Paper is Singapore's second-highest circulating paid English-language newspaper, first launched on July 26, 1988, by Singapore Press Holdings . According to SPH, its average daily circulation for August 2010 was 101600....
, "News website Temasek Review has earned a reputation for its sharply critical views of the Government," and the Jakarta Globe
Jakarta Globe
The Jakarta Globe is a daily English language newspaper in Indonesia, launched on November 12, 2008.The paper averages 48 pages a day, and publishes Monday to Saturday...
described the Temasek Review as "one of Singapore’s few independent web sites".
It was founded in 2004 as Wayang Party and renamed Temasek Review in 2009. In late 2010, it was involved in a dispute with government-linked
Government-owned corporation
A government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
corporation Temasek Holdings
Temasek Holdings
Temasek Holdings is an investment company owned by the government of Singapore. With an international staff of 380 people, it manages a portfolio of about S$193 billion at end of March 2011, focused primarily in Asia...
over its name. Temasek Holdings argued that Temasek Review had been used as the name of the company's annual report since 2004 and that the Javanese
Javanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
word Temasek
Temasek
Temasek was the name of an early city on the site of modern Singapore. From the 14th century, the island has also been known as Singapura, which is derived from Sanskrit and means "Lion City"...
was "indisputably associated with Temasek" and that the website "was just trying to capitalise on the goodwill and reputation" linked to it. The website was renamed Temasek Review Emeritus on 25 May 2011.
Facing restrictions in both income and contributors, and unable to upgrade hardware to cope with increasing demand, the site's editor Amanda Tan announced on 7 April 2011 that it would close in July. She acknowledged the existence of pressure from the Government, but said that its effects were minimal and there had been no direct official request to close. Ang Peng Hwa, professor of journalism at Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University is one of the two largest public universities in Singapore with the biggest campus in Singapore and the world's largest engineering college. Its lush 200-hectare Yunnan Garden campus was the Youth Olympic Village of the world's first 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in...
, described the closure as "definitely a loss for the blogsphere and also for critical discourse in Singapore".
In late April 2011, Temasek Review survived a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack during the height of the 2011 general elections campaign coverage. The Temasek Review had previously suffered other DDOS attacks, as part of a pattern of attacks against "two of Singapore’s most popular and outspoken websites" (the other being the The Online Citizen
The Online Citizen
The Online Citizen , a community blog of Singaporeans, has been said to be one of the most important socio-economic blogs in Singapore and at the forefront of political activism in the city-state. It was gazetted as a political association in February 2011...
). These attacks were, according to The Star, suspected by some to be "possibly by the ruling party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
's youth wing". Nevertheless, Temasek Review was recorded by Experian Hitwise
Hitwise
Experian Hitwise is a global online competitive intelligence service which collects data directly from ISP networks to aid website managers in analysing trends in visitor behavior and to measure website market share. The Hitwise product is a commercial platform whereby customers pay Hitwise a...
as receiving a significant proportion of internet traffic from search engines during the campaign.
In August 2011, Tan announced that the website had gained additional financial support and that the team behind it intended to keep it running for at least five years. Recognising that the site had been accused of being anti-PAP
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
, she also pledged "to improve and try to balance the articles on our site to cater to readers from all camps," aiming to be "by Singaporeans for Singaporeans".
However, Temasek Review Emeritus was taken offline without explanation on 5 September 2011. it remains offline.
External links
- http://www.temasekreview.com - official site
- http://www.temasekreview.net - official site