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Category: Interviews

Interview with Ivlynn Yap (Executive Chairman: Citrine One Group)

Editor024 mins

Can you share your career journey and what led you to your current role as Group Executive Chairman at CITRINE? My career journey started as an intern journalist at The Star, one of Malaysia’s leading English publications. After earning my Honours Degree in Mass Communication, I became a writer for a female magazine, Women At Work. The pursuit for bigger stories took me to Singapore, where I reported on telecommunications and tech news in Southeast Asia for Asia Business Press Group’s regional publications Asia Pacific Telecommunication (APT) and Asia Computer Weekly (ACW). My role expanded to Hong Kong, where I reported on IT news across HK, Taiwan, China, and globally. Notably, my articles made the front page of ACW for 36 out of 52 weeks. I interviewed many tech founders, senior management levels, and CEOs in the tech industry including tech giants like Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Larry Ellison (Oracle) which became a highlight in my career. As I was noticed in the industry, it led me to the role to as Regional Marketing Communication Manager at AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) based in Singapore. Here, I managed markets across India, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand with marketing communication responsibilities, accountable for branding, marketing and promotional initiatives, reseller and stakeholder management, event management, and public and media relations in these markets. The dot-com boom opened up new opportunities, and I was recruited to be the Editor for CNET, one of the top IT web portals in the world – based in my home country, Malaysia. I quickly advanced to Business Development Manager and later Producer. When the dot-com bust led to the closure of CNET’s Malaysia office, I founded my own PR agency, Citrine One, initially serving tech clients. As it grew, I later expanded to other industries by hiring subject matter comm experts in F&B, Retail, Fashion, Government, Property, Construction, Utilities, Agricultural etc. At the same time, I continued to learn from top leaders and management as I worked alongside their CEOs and Executive Directors and in managing crises. My biggest achievement was being recruited to provide consultancy and advisory to manage stakeholders and media relations for the LRT3 (Light Rail Transit) project from Oct 2017 to June 2018 and a 360-degree comms plan and reputation management strategy for a property and construction Group of companies in from March to October 2016. Another significant achievement was when I was offered to be the Head of Communications for a government statutory body in the financial industry working alongside senior-level management from Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank of Malaysia) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) from April 2021 to March 2024. At the government statutory body, I provided advisory and consultancy to them on crisis communication preparedness and grooming the Communication Department team. It is also during my tenure here that I learned about risk management, compliance, policy-making, and corporate integrity. I was intrigued when this government statutory’s brand (name and logo) were used by scammers for investment scams although it does not provide protection for financial investment products. This curiosity about economic crimes led me to pursue a Master’s in Economic Crime Management at HELP University. After my 3-year stint with them ended, I returned to Citrine One as Group Executive Chairman (by virtue of being the biggest cumulative shareholder). I now lead 3 entities (Citrine One Malaysia, Citrine One Global, and Citrine One Borneo) focusing on growth, digital transformation, and innovative services. With over 30 years of experience in various fields, how has your leadership style evolved, and what core principles guide you in managing your teams? My leadership style has evolved through different stages of the company’s growth and also about adapting to the needs of my team and the situation. Can you discuss some of the most impactful PR campaigns you have crafted, and what made them successful? One standout campaign was for Putrajaya Perdana Berhad (PPB) Group which has subsidiaries in the property and construction sector. We developed a comprehensive communication plan, including brand asset creation such as sales and marketing tool kits, promo materials, outdoor advertising on the building they construct, crisis management roadshows to their branch offices to train their teams on crisis communication policies and procedures as well as media relations activities such as the launch of their new housing developments and their corporate social responsibility initiatives. This campaign resulted in a RM680 million construction deal for one of the subsidiaries and Citrine One won 3rd place for the SEA PR Award for Crisis Management category for this successful campaign. Another successful campaign was for the University of Southampton, a British University opening its branch campus in Malaysia which is renowned globally for its Mechanical and Engineering Faculty. Our brand awareness and familiarity campaign highlighted real-life applications of mechanical and engineering studies, interviews with the Dean of faculty of new techniques and scientific innovations created by their students and academicians as well as the achievements of alumni such as Andrian Newey, car designer of Formula 1 Red Bull to inspire and excite students in Malaysia and SEA region. The campaign resulted in an over-application of intake for their Mechanical and Engineering Faculty. Last but not least, the most recent impactful campaign is the one I did with my communication team while I was in PIDM (www.pidm.gov.my) from April 2021 to March 2024. We used financial literacy and resilience as the hook using the animated Borneo Sun Bear as a financial management icon. We built up this character for 3 years and achieved over 80% public awareness for three consecutive years.  In the years prior, the awareness level was hovering below 75%. This integrated communication approach involved social media content management, media interviews, byline articles, collaborations with KOLs and other government agencies who are members of the Financial Education Network (FEN), corporate and resolution messages on LinkedIn, production of videos, as well as hybrid – online and on-ground initiatives. The 3-year campaign also resulted in enhanced brand familiarity, advocacy, and ultimately trust and confidence in…

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Interview with Abduweli Ayup (Project Manager at Uyghur Hjelp)

Editor010 mins

Can you tell us about the founding and mission of Uyghur Hjelp? What inspired its creation? I organized 7 Uyghur volunteers in September 2016 to preserve and protect the Uyghur language and culture, document human rights violations in the Uyghur homeland, advocate transnational repression, investigate mass internment, and provide humanitarian aid. The mass arrests, forced assimilation in the Uyghur homeland and students lost their schools in Turkey because of family separation. There were more than 300 hundred students in Turkey who lost contact with their parents and faced losing their studies. We provide humanitarian aid to those students.  We also assist camp victims, their kids, and camp survivors.    How does Uyghur Hjelp document human rights violations against Uyghurs, and what challenges do you face in this process? We interview people and collect their stories. They told us what happened to them and their family members since the mass arrests started. We also collect evidence from Chinese social media content and verify those through interviews with the people who are living in the diaspora. We collect the evidence that is leaked to us and sent to us from China. The challenges were, that Chinese local police tried to silence people using their family members as hostages in China. The Chinese embassy using their staff tries to convince people to come to them, instead of talking to us. We can’t promise people that they can save their family members from the camps by talking to us, they always ask what can change, can they save their family members from the Chinese prisons if they talk to us and talk to the journalists? They keep asking what happened to their family members, but we can’t tell and answer their questions, what we can do is just send those documents to the United States, and related Human Rights Organizations, but they can’t do anything specific. What are the most pressing human rights issues currently facing the Uyghur community, both in China and in the diaspora? Could you provide more details on the specific projects Uyghur Hjelp undertakes, such as documenting the Uyghur genocide and preserving Uyghur culture in the diaspora? In September 2016, I founded Uyghur Hjelp, a non-profit activist organization involved in documenting the Uyghur genocide and supporting educational and humanitarian efforts for the benefit of Uyghurs in the diaspora. My team published 15 books to preserve the Uyghur language. https://www.uyghurkitap.com/publisher.php?id=71 Uyghur Hjelp documented imprisoned Uyghur mother language teachers, and publishers. Uyghur Hjelp assisted Uyghurs in mother language education in Istanbul Turkey Refererences : https://www.rfa.org/uyghur/xewerler/maarip/oqush-yardem-12142017173847.html Uyghur Hjelp supported Uyghur students in mother language classes in Istanbul Turkey. Uyghur Hjelp produced audio and videos for Uyghur kids Uyghur Hjelp on preserving Uyghur culture Uyghur Hjelp held the Uyghur Culture Festival separately in November 2019 and Mart 2022 for the Uyghur Culture Festival and Uyghur Poetry Festival held in Bergen. (Reference) Documentation and investigation From September 2022 Uyghur Hjelp continued its investigation, documentation, advocating, and hamartian aid. We kept conducting interviews with camp survivors, victims, and witnesses. In September 2022, we documented two new camp survivors’ stories, collected five victims’ experiences, and collected some witnesses’ testimonies. Their story was introduced to the media and researchers, they were published by the Economist, BBC, and other media recently.  Uyghur textbooks and cultural activities Uyghur Hjelp Published other 4 volumes of the Uyghur Textbook which was published in 2 volumes last year, their audio version was prepared and shared on YouTube. We are going to publish other volumes and their audio versions gradually. Mather Language handbook: (Reference) Uyghur History Camp for Uyghur Teens: (Reference) Uyghur Hjelp continued its support to students studying in Turkish universities. We have granted 3 PhD and one master’s student so far, the grant will continue this semester as well. With our support 2 PhD and one master’s students graduated in January 2023. Uyghur Hjelp organized a media workshop with the World Uyghur Congress in Istanbul in February 2024. We trained 17 participants from Turkey and other Central Asian republics. They have started their work against Chinese propaganda in Central Asia. With those activists, we started the Ortlaland project to raise awareness in Russia and Central Asia. The project has already started. (Reference) Uyghur Hjelp held a spring camp for Uyghur teens from European countries in April 2024. We took them to the Humboldt Museum and introduced Uyghur history. There are 30 students from 10 countries participated in the event. https://thechinaproject.com/author/aviackermann Uyghur Hjelp continued documenting imprisoned Uyghur intellectuals, investigating hard strake policy against Uyghurs and new trends of detentions in different cities. It started to collect and classify social media information, such as videos,  texts, and government files. Uyghur Hjlep completed the report about Uyghur Intellectuals, Imams, and female spiritual leaders. Abduweli Ayup and Dr. Racheal Harris finished writing the report, which is going to be released soon. Another project about Uyghur children in the boarding school is ongoing. Uyghur Hjelp has prepared, edited, and translated biographies for Uyghur intellectuals who were imprisoned in China. We are planning to publish their works in English in the future. (Reference) Connect with Abduweli Ayup to support his cause : Click Here About the Organization : Uyghur Hjelp (also known as Uyghuryar), a non-profit Uyghur human rights advocacy, documentation, and humanitarian aid organization that aims to research human rights violations, document Uyghur detainees, collect information about Uyghur plight, and also support Uyghurs in the diaspora who are encountering with various challenges and the difficulties. This organization is not affiliated with any organizations. All participants of Uyghur Hjelp are passionate, dedicated, and sincere individuals who support this organization by making financial donations and/or by contributing their time and professional skills to help Uyghurs.

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Judy Lin

Interview with Judy Lin (Journalist and International Business Researcher)

Editor013 mins

1. Your work emphasizes writing tech stories with a human touch. Can you share what inspired you to take this approach and how it shapes your storytelling? Technology reports used to cater exclusively to engineers, who were intensely focused on product specifications, features, and cost-performance ratios. These reports were often dry and superficial. However, the evolution of technology narratives has shown that innovation can stem from a human touch. Take, for instance, Nintendo’s introduction of the Wii. This launch piqued my interest in the brilliant minds behind the innovative device. What inspired them to create a gaming system that transcended age barriers, allowing both children and adults to play together seamlessly? These are the narratives that have the power to motivate young individuals to pursue engineering careers, crafting innovative solutions that reshape the way we interact with technology. As I resumed my role at ‘DIGITIMES‘ international news desk in 2015, reporting on global technology trends and analyzing technological advancements, I found myself drawn to stories that showcase this human element in tech innovation 2. Having coached young business news translators and reporters at Reuters and Digitimes, what key advice do you offer to aspiring journalists? Stay curious and observant – news springs up all around you. My mentors at Reuters instilled in me the values of honesty and kindness towards everyone. Only when you win the trust of people, will they start to provide you with valuable sources and information. Nevertheless, I now refrain from offering unsolicited advice, as not everyone welcomes it. 3. Your research spans various areas, including risk/crisis communication management and political economy. How do you integrate your research into your journalism work? I specialized in risk/crisis communication and policy/regulation analysis during my studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. This knowledge proves valuable when news events such as earthquakes affecting semiconductor fabs or pandemics cause panic to occur. As a voracious reader with interests spanning history, economics, popular science, and social sciences, I believe that journalism revolves around covering news events. However, possessing knowledge and a network of experts allows for a deeper exploration or interpretation of impacts from a different perspective. In a recent project titled “Why does China require US$47.5 billion for Phase 3 of the Big Fund despite concerns of chip oversupply?” I leveraged my understanding of China’s banking system and PBOC data to inform readers about the rationale behind state banks participating in Big Fund Phase 3. This shed light on how the fund’s magnitude may not directly translate into breakthroughs in semiconductor technology. Political economy serves as a valuable tool in unraveling the repercussions of industries amidst power struggles. Additionally, insights from political science and theories on power interdependencies play a pivotal role in understanding these dynamics. 4. Can you discuss some of the emerging trends in MNE and social enterprise internationalization strategies that you’ve observed? Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are increasingly focusing on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices and achieving carbon neutrality due to pressure from their investors. Consequently, Apple has mandated its supply chain partners to adopt environmentally friendly energy practices and subjected them to sustainability audits. Similarly, banks such as DBS are actively supporting social enterprises as part of their ESG initiatives. An illustrative example of social enterprise internationalization is Japan’s Mother House. To learn more about their work, you can visit their website: here 5. You’ve covered a range of topics, from M&A and technology to AI, blockchain, and fintech. Which of these areas do you find most exciting currently, and why? Certainly, AI remains a widely debated topic, with numerous perspectives shared by various individuals. While some tend to vilify or venerate this technology, it’s important to recognize that technologies, including AI, undergo lifecycles of their own. Personally, I prefer observing technology from a distance to discern its evolution and impact. In terms of M&A narratives, one of the most intriguing stories I covered delved into the analysis of how Chinese internet giants were acquiring or investing in Southeast Asian startups, using them as springboards to enhance their influence in the region. This particular article was penned in 2016. M&A data proves invaluable in supporting insights into the strategies implemented by these companies – illuminating their domestic competition dynamics and their approaches to seizing opportunities for growth on a global scale. 6. How do you approach covering complex macroeconomic issues in China to make them accessible and engaging for your readers? I often request tech experts to simplify their explanations of complex technologies for me in everyday language. Subsequently, I offer explanations in simple terms, utilizing numerous analogies and examples to enhance comprehension. Nonetheless, the policy rationale of a planned economy, as seen in countries like China, fundamentally diverges from that of a capitalist nation. In this context, journalists serve as vital bridges, offering essential background context and articulating information in a manner that resonates with Western readers. 7. Can you share a particularly memorable story or project that you worked on and its impact? In 2014, I conducted an annual earnings analysis on Taiwanese insurance companies and uncovered some suspicious findings. Several companies exhibited exponential revenue growth, yet their losses were rapidly escalating at the same time. Seeking clarity, I reached out to industry experts for insights on the circumstances driving this anomaly and its underlying causes. Moreover, I obtained permission to interview a company’s CEO, who appeared to function as a mere figurehead under the chairman’s directives. The findings led me to conclude that insurance policyholders are likely to lose their financial protection if the company fails to correct its management style. Subsequently, the Financial Supervisory Commission initiated investigations into this company, and another one flagged by industry professionals. The inquiry revealed that these companies were diverting funds from policyholders’ insurance premiums to bolster their investments. Consequently, the government intervened, prompting the closure of these entities and facilitating their acquisition by financially stable corporations. This decisive action safeguarded the interests of the affected insurance customers. This investigative report was conducted…

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Dolkun Isa

Interview with Dolkun Isa (President of World Uyghur Congress)

Editor017 mins

Overview → The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is an international organization that represents the collective interest of the Uyghur people both in East Turkistan and abroad. The main objective of WUC is to promote the right of the Uyghur people to use peaceful, nonviolent, and democratic means to determine the political future of East Turkistan. → The Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim peoples are currently facing genocide. Over the past few years, the Chinese government’s repression of the Uyghurs and other Turkic people living in East Turkistan has increased significantly. An estimated 3 million Uyghur Muslims are arbitrarily detained in a mass network of concentration camps and subjected to indoctrination, mental and physical torture, rape, forced sterilization, and other forms of inhumane treatment to erode their religion, ethnicity, and culture. These widespread and systemic violations are supported by a pervasive, technology-enabled system of surveillance that includes collecting extensive biometric data of large groups of Uyghur residents. In addition, millions of Uyghurs are subjected to state-sponsored forced labor schemes, tainting global supply chains.  Human Rights Violations → The Chinese government is actively committing crimes against humanity and genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim peoples. → There is various evidence and documentation on the human rights abuses committed by the CCP. These include first-hand witness accounts by camp survivors, who have testified in front of national parliaments, and governments on the torture, sexual abuse, and forced labor that Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic Muslim people are subjected to inside China’s concentration camps. Countless expert reports on human rights abuses are also widely available, these reports focus on various issues, such as forced labor, transnational repression, and the use of biometric mass surveillance of Uyghurs. The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) furthermore documents and reports on various issues related to the Uyghur genocide and the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) regularly issues submissions to the UN human rights mechanisms (ex. CERD, CEDAW, Universal Periodic Review). Furthermore, the independent Uyghur Tribunal, an independent people’s tribunal that was launched on 3 September 2020 at the request of WUC President Dolkun Isa to investigate the CCP’s heinous crimes against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim peoples has heard and documented countless witness reports and expert testimonies. A final judgment was delivered on the 9th of December 2021, ruling that China is committing genocide against Uyghurs. The report of The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) offers the most definitive assessment of the issues faced by Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples from the world’s leading human rights body. The report finds that the abuses committed by the Chinese government “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.” International Response →  The OHCHR report was an important step towards recognizing the Uyghur genocide, as was the recognition of crimes against humanity and/or genocide from 11 national parliaments, including the European Parliament. Nevertheless, concrete actions are limited if not missing. For example in October 2022 the UN Human Rights Council voted not to discuss allegations of abuses against Uyghurs. An example of positive action is the US Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) to combat forced labor products coming into the US. This is a concrete step on how Uyghur forced labor can be tackled. It is on international community to work together on finding joint resolutions to end the genocide against Uyghurs.  A global answer is needed. → There are various things governments can do to address the situation effectively, below listed are some recommendations:1. Governments and organizations must hold China accountable for crimes against humanity and genocide and openly denounce the human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Turkic people.2. Human rights should be prioritized in all policy areas instead of the economic partnerships countries engage in with China.3. Governments should support the creation of a U.N. Special Rapporteur on China to report on and investigate the human rights situation in the country and urge the Chinese government to allow independent country visits composed of UN Working Groups and Special Rapporteurs to East Turkistan.4. Countries and international organizations must impose targeted sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, on Chinese officials and institutions complicit in the genocide of the Uyghur and Turkic people.5. Risks related to Chinese foreign interference should be investigated and mitigated.6. Diplomatic pressure should be applied on states who are deporting Uyghurs to China, in violation of the principle of non-refoulment, and to protect Uyghur refugees and asylum seekers. Furthermore, countries should repeal existing extradition treaties with China. Advocacy and Awareness → The WUC conducts advocacy on the national level with different national parliaments and on the international level, through regular engagement with the United Nations system to raise human rights violations against the Uyghur people. Engaging with the UN bodies and mechanisms gives the WUC the opportunity to raise these issues before representatives from national governments and international human rights experts. This includes engagement at the Human Rights Council, meetings with permanent missions in Geneva, engagement at the UN Minority Forum, and submitting various reports to UN Treaty Bodies. Furthermore, the WUC engages with various EU institutions, including the European Parliament, the European External Action Service, and the European Commission. This work ranges from working together with MEPs and briefing European Officials, to addressing committees and subcommittees. Our advocacy efforts and good relationships with MEPs have helped to put Uyghur-related issues on the agenda for resolutions inside the European Parliament, such as the genocide resolution of 2022. → The WUC is exploring different justice and accountability mechanisms to support the Uyghur community and hold the CCP accountable. One of these avenues is a criminal complaint in Buenos Aires, Argentina under the universal jurisdiction provisions as set out in the Argentinian Constitution. If a case is opened against the individuals most responsible for the crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghurs, the judge can summons witnesses to attend court to give their evidence on oath. This would mark a historic opportunity for the Uyghur people and the…

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Investigative Journalism Reportika © March 2022 by Ij-Reportika is licensed under CC BY 4.0