TR Emeritus editor Richard Wan announced that he will be stepping down, in a shocking website post on Friday (18 Sept).
He said it’s time to hand over management of the local socio-political website, though he will continue to contribute articles.
Formerly known as Temasek Review, TR Emeritus has been a staple source for Singaporeans seeking alternative news for the past 2 decades.
Mr Wan said he took up the position of editor 4 years ago because he felt that more media diversity was needed in Singapore.
“Indeed, society needs to have a diversity of views and ideas in order for it to progress and to grow. Without a free press and transparency, it’s hard for the people to make an informed choice or support the right decisions made by the country’s leaders.”
Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, he added:
“A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize; it is the most dangerous foe of tyranny… Under dictatorship the press is bound to languish… But where free institutions are indigenous to the soil and men have the habit of liberty, the press will continue to be the Fourth Estate, the vigilant guardian of the rights of the ordinary citizen”
In his parting shot to readers, Mr Wan said he hoped that one day Singapore’s Press Freedom Index will rise to the same level as other first world nations.
(Read: Passing it on by Richard Wan)
