Concerns over journalistic impartiality have surfaced following revelations of political ties linked to Anwar Saleh, a political correspondent at Berita Harian (BH), a publication under SPH Media Trust.
Anwar’s reported affiliation with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), particularly his involvement with the PAP Policy Forum (PPF), has drawn scrutiny from members of the public and media observers.
The Online Citizen (TOC) reported receiving several tips questioning Anwar’s political neutrality, given his prominent role in covering political affairs for a mainstream media outlet.
These concerns led TOC to investigate further and seek clarification from SPH Media regarding Anwar’s political background.
According to publicly available information on the PAP’s official website, Anwar was listed as a council member of the PAP Policy Forum for the 2023–2024 term.
The PPF is described as a platform for engaging party leaders and advocating PAP policies, suggesting a level of active participation beyond mere membership.
When contacted by TOC, SPH Media stated that Anwar had resigned from the PAP in February 2023, prior to taking up his current role at Berita Harian.
However, archived records of the PAP Policy Forum council page showed that Anwar was still listed as a council member in October 2023.
This appears to contradict SPH Media’s assertion that he had resigned from the PAP months earlier.
Beyond the PPF listing, Anwar previously held roles at the People’s Association (PA), a statutory board closely linked to the PAP, and at EM Services, a town council management firm that originated as a spin-off from the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
Anwar’s career trajectory and political assignments have led to broader questions about potential conflicts of interest and the standards of editorial independence in Singapore’s media landscape.
Favourable Coverage of Government and PAP Activities?
A review of Anwar’s reporting portfolio reveals a consistent slant that appears favourable to the government and, at times, to the PAP itself.
His Malay-language articles in Berita Harian frequently centre on ministerial announcements and policy initiatives, often portraying them in a positive light while omitting alternative perspectives.
For instance, in an article he authored on the national budget, titled Belanjawan bantu S’pura harungi krisis, perkukuh asas masa depan lebih cerah, Anwar frames the financial plans as beneficial and forward-looking, without reference to opposing views or critical analysis.
Similarly, in his report SG60: Nilai kredit ActiveSG $100 bagi semua warga S’pura, he covers the government’s $100 ActiveSG credit giveaway during SG60 celebrations, focusing on Minister Edwin Tong’s announcement and closely echoing the government’s messaging on promoting active lifestyles.
Several of Anwar’s articles also highlight grassroots activities involving PAP Members of Parliament.
For example, he has written extensively about Minister Masagos Zulkifli and the PAP team in Tampines.
In Masagos: Pasukan PAP Tampines kekal fokus khidmat penduduk and Pelan 5 tahun Tampines dilancar, hab pengangkutan baru dirancang, Anwar presents local development efforts in glowing terms, using language that closely resembles promotional material.
Another piece titled Penduduk susah Tampines dijamu, terima habuan menjelang Ramadan covers PAP Tampines North’s distribution of food and vouchers to low-income residents ahead of Ramadan, again portraying the initiative in a wholly positive light.
His article Maliki alu-alukan kedatangan penduduk Marine Parade, sedih tak dapat khidmat lagi bagi kawasan Changi adopts a similarly sympathetic tone, reinforcing favourable narratives about PAP figures’ service and their departure from specific constituencies.
Even on politically sensitive matters—such as changes to electoral boundaries—Anwar’s reporting appears to reflect official messaging.
In GRC Punggol Pasir Ris-Changi dibentuk susulan pertumbuhan penduduk, he attributes constituency changes to population growth, without addressing widespread public scepticism or allegations of gerrymandering—issues that have been widely debated.
SPH Media responds, but fails to clarify timeline discrepancies
In response to queries from TOC, a spokesperson for SPH Media stated that Anwar Saleh had resigned from the PAP in February 2023, upon joining Berita Harian to pursue a journalism career.
“He has not participated in any of PAP’s activities since,” the spokesperson said.
SPH Media also claimed that the image of Anwar referenced by TOC was taken in October 2022, prior to his employment with Berita Harian.
The organisation reiterated its commitment to editorial integrity.
“At SPH Media, we take our role of providing trusted and quality journalism seriously,” the spokesperson said.
“Our journalists are required to comply with a code of ethics that includes conflict of interest declarations and processes to manage such situations.”
However, TOC’s independent review of the PAP website found that Anwar’s image remained publicly listed as a PAP Policy Forum council member as late as October 2023—eight months after the date of his alleged resignation.
Archived versions of the page indicate that his image was only removed sometime after July 2024.
TOC highlighted these inconsistencies in a follow-up query to SPH Media, seeking further clarification on the apparent mismatch between its stated timeline and publicly available records.
As of publication, SPH Media and Berita Harian have not responded to the follow-up query.
The lack of clarification has prompted further questions about the extent of Anwar’s involvement in the PAP Policy Forum during his tenure as a political correspondent, and whether Berita Harian’s editorial leadership was aware of his political affiliations when assigning him to cover political matters.
Public funding and questions over impartiality
These questions come against the backdrop of significant government funding for SPH Media Trust, which was allocated up to S$900 million over five years beginning in 2022.
According to the Ministry of Communications and Information, the funding aims to support digital transformation, newsroom capability building, and the long-term viability of vernacular media outlets.
However, in light of the concerns surrounding Anwar’s political affiliations and his editorial coverage, questions have been raised about whether taxpayer-funded resources are indirectly supporting content that promotes the ruling party.
If editorial staff with past or possibly ongoing links to the PAP are assigned to cover political matters—particularly in ways that favour government and party figures—it raises broader concerns about how public funds are being utilised within state-supported media structures.
Even if Anwar is no longer formally affiliated with the PAP, his prior roles within the party-linked Policy Forum, the People’s Association, and other government-adjacent entities highlight the potential for blurred lines between political loyalty and journalistic responsibility.
In this context, the question arises: when taxpayer money is used to sustain SPH Media’s operations, does it also risk enabling indirect party messaging—particularly when journalists with close ties to the PAP are covering the same party’s ministers and policies?
These concerns point to either a lapse in editorial vetting processes or a broader institutional tolerance for politically affiliated individuals within newsrooms.
This is especially pertinent given Berita Harian’s role as a key information source for Singapore’s Malay-Muslim community. Ensuring credibility, balance, and independence in its political reporting is critical for public trust.
As scrutiny continues, the matter underscores a broader call for transparency—not only in the hiring practices and internal safeguards within SPH Media, but also in how editorial independence is upheld in publicly funded newsrooms.
The post Questions raised over PAP-linked journalist at Berita Harian amid SPH Media funding appeared first on The Online Citizen.
