BANGLADESH
ADIL SAKHAWAT is a reporter with the Dhaka Tribune and writes regularly on migration, refugees and extremism in Bangladesh. His AJF research project is on the possible radicalisation of Rohingya refugees. While in Singapore he hopes to gain an understanding of the ASEAN perspective on the Rohingya crisis. Adil enjoys music, bike racing, and table tennis as well as mobile photography and travelling.
CHINA
LIU DONG is a senior reporter in the international section of The Paper, which is part of the Shanghai United Media Group and based in Shanghai. He is interested in Singapore’s leadership transition and hopes to learn about the ruling People’s Action Party’s fourth generation team and the process of identifying the country’s next prime minister. Dong, who was born and raised in Shanghai, likes reading, swimming and travelling.
JULIET ZHANG YUANYUAN is a journalist with the mass-circulation Nanjing Daily and based in Nanjing, in China’s Jiangsu province. She has won numerous awards for her reporting. She has reported on legal issues, including the need to improve the protection of children. She has also focused on environmental issues, particularly the conservation of wild birds. Juliet’s pastimes include watching movies and Lego. Her AJF research project is on fake news.
INDIA
DIVYA CHANDRABABU made her mark reporting on issues ranging from corruption to toxic garbage landfills and investigating child sexual abuse, winning awards while working as a full-time journalist based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Now a freelance writer, she wants to find out why Singapore remains a model for Chennai administrators, and her research project will focus on public transport and waste management. A former professional chess player, she indulges in dance and travel in her free time.
SACHIN DAVE is a senior assistant editor at The Economic Times, India’s best-read business daily. He is based in Mumbai and writes on taxation, corporate finance and business fraud. For his AJF research project, he will examine the long-term impact of changes to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Singapore and Mauritius.
INDONESIA
INDRIANI is an award-winning Jakarta-based reporter with Antara News Agency, and writes on education and village development. While in Singapore she wants to understand the education system and how Singapore’s 15-year-olds top the international PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) rankings in mathematics, reading and science. Indri enjoys reading.
MUHAMMAD IKHWAN is an editor with CNN Indonesia TV and a part-time lecturer in broadcast journalism at Budi Luhur University. Ikhwan will use his time in Singapore to examine the role journalists play in conflict reporting. He is concerned with the increase in tribal and religious intolerance in Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia and hopes to come up with a set of guidelines for journalists covering conflict. Ikhwan likes reading, football, travelling and writing.
MALAYSIA
LIEW TECK LAI is a reporter with the Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily News, covering education and digital science development. For his AJF research project, he wants to find out about Singapore’s efforts in digital technology education for a comparison with what is being done in Malaysia. Teck Lai likes reading, arts performances, photography and travelling. His friends call him “Lighter” (we’ll find out why in July).
MONGOLIA
ENKHTSETSEG BOLDBAATAR is an editor at Mongolian Economy Magazine, a bilingual business magazine, and has tracked Mongolia’s economic boom, decline and comeback. For her AJF research project Tsetse wants to understand state wealth and asset management in Singapore to draw possible lessons for her country. Tsetse enjoys travelling, reading, trekking and volleyball.
MYANMAR
KYAW MYO SITHU KYI is a senior reporter and assistant news editor with Myanmar International Television in Yangon. He has covered news events in Myanmar and abroad, and has a special interest in environmental issues. For his AJF research project Kyaw Myo will examine the impact of climate change and ways to raise awareness. He enjoys reading and travelling.
PAKISTAN
SANA JAMAL is a writer and assistant editor with Tele-Visual Infolink, an affiliate of the Pakistan Press Agency offering news and analyses. She has covered social and environmental issues, winning awards along the way. She wants to research Singapore’s efforts in managing and growing its water resources and hopes to draw lessons for Pakistan and other countries facing a shortage of water or access to it. Sana likes photography, reading, and watching movies and documentaries.
PHILIPPINES
BOMBO ROGER GENCIANEO is station manager of Bombo Radyo Philippines-Cebu, a top news and public affairs radio station in Cebu City and Cebu province. He has worked hard to connect with listeners and the issues that matter to them. For his AJF research project, he wants to examine how radio can play a role in raising and spreading awareness of ASEAN. Bombo Roger enjoys volunteering, reading and travelling.
RAUL DANCEL is the Philippine Correspondent for The Straits Times, Singapore’s main English-language newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings. He worked in the Philippines before joining The Straits Times in 2007. He covered the tragedy of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and the siege of the city of Marawi by Islamist militants in 2017. His research project is about Filipinas lured to Singapore by job offers and tricked into vice.
SRI LANKA
ZAHRAH IMTIAZ is a writer and News Features Editor of Daily News, a publication of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon group. She was a journalist in Kandy before moving to Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. Her AJF research project will focus on the role of the state in maintaining inter-racial and inter-religious harmony, hoping to draw insights that may be useful in multi-ethnic Sri Lanka. Zahrah enjoys reading, movies and travelling.
TAIWAN
JASON WANG CHIH CHIEH is chief editor, digital content, of Taiwan’s Business Weekly magazine. He grew his magazine’s website viewership from 700,000 unique viewers seven years ago to more than 8,000,000 today. He hopes to spend his time in Singapore working out strategies for small and medium-sized publications to transform themselves into data-driven publications that connect better with audiences and survive. Jason enjoys reading, tennis, movies, travelling and calligraphy.
THAILAND
THANCHANOK SRITHANEADHCHAI is a reporter and anchor with Nation TV, a subsidiary of Thailand’s Nation Multimedia Group. Thanchy is based in Bangkok and has covered social issues at home as well international news events. For her research project, she will look at Singapore’s investments in R&D and innovation, and find out how Singapore can do to promote innovation among its ASEAN neighbours. Thanchy enjoys going to the gym, yoga, cooking, baking and reading.
VIETNAM
KHANH VAN is a senior reporter with Viet Nam News, Vietnam’s main English-language newspaper and part of the official Vietnam News Agency. Van is now delivering breaking news for both online and the print, covering various aspects, including politics, social affairs and environment. Her research project is on environmental pollution and public health, and she hopes to draw some lessons from Singapore for her country. Van likes reading, travelling and listening to music.