New Naratif
{{Short description|Independent media outlet}}
{{Not to be confused with|New Narrative}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = New Naratif
| type = Online newspaper
| founder = Thum Ping Tjin, Kirsten Han, Sonny Liew
| foundation = 2017
| headquarters = Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| language = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = https://newnaratif.com/
}}
New Naratif (Malay for New Narrative) is a Malaysian–based online journalism platform and self-described independent media outlet that publishes content on Southeast Asian current affairs.{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Media Start-up: New Naratif in Malaysia {{!}} DW {{!}} 20.05.2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/media-start-up-newnaratifin-malaysia/a-53517928|access-date=2021-03-01|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=CoconutsSingapore|date=2020-09-21|title=New Naratif founder says police have seized his laptop, phone {{!}} Coconuts Singapore|url=https://coconuts.co/singapore/news/new-naratif-founder-says-police-have-seized-his-laptop-phone/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Coconuts|language=en-US}}
Founded in 2017, it is managed by Singaporean historian and former athlete Thum Ping Tjin and freelance journalist Kirsten Han.{{Cite web|last=Toh|first=Elgin|date=2018-04-12|title=New Naratif rejects accusations that it is used by foreigners to pursue politics in Singapore|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/new-naratif-rejects-accusations-that-it-is-used-by-foreigners-to-pursue-politics-here|access-date=2021-02-25|website=The Straits Times}}{{Cite web|last=Welle|first=Deutsche|date=2020-09-26|title=Why Is Singapore Falling Behind in Press Freedom?|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/141122|access-date=2021-02-25|website=The News Lens International Edition|language=en}} The outlet publishes investigative reporting, academic research, comics, explainers, videos and podcasts in English, Malay and other languages of Southeast Asia.{{Cite web|title=Transnationally Asian|url=https://www.cjr.org/special_report/transnationally_asian.php/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Columbia Journalism Review|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Kwai|first=Isabella|date=2020-07-28|title=Migrant Workers, Poland, TikTok: Your Tuesday Briefing|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/briefing/migrant-workers-poland-tiktok.html|access-date=2021-02-25|issn=0362-4331}}
It describes itself as promoting "democracy, freedom of information and freedom of expression in Southeast Asia".{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://newnaratif.com/about/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=New Naratif|language=en-GB}} It is funded by membership fees, philanthropic grants and undisclosed donations.{{Cite web|title=Transnationally Asian|url=https://www.cjr.org/special_report/transnationally_asian.php/|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Columbia Journalism Review|language=en}} The outlet is registered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Disputes with Singaporean authorities
{{Further|Thum Ping Tjin}}
The site has been involved in a number of disputes with Singaporean authorities, with the website often posting about Singaporean politics. Singaporean authorities have accused New Naratif of being a vessel of foreign interference – the website is based in Malaysia and relies heavily on undisclosed donations – an accusation that the outlet has denied.
During the 2020 Singaporean general election, New Naratif was investigated by Singaporean police for allegedly publishing paid advertisements on Facebook, which according to the Elections Department amounted to illegal conduct.{{Cite web|last=Kurohi|first=Rei|date=2020-09-18|title=Police investigating New Naratif for allegedly publishing illegal paid election ads on Facebook|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/police-investigating-new-naratif-for-allegedly-publishing-illegal-paid-election|access-date=2021-02-25|website=The Straits Times}} Thum was subsequently questioned by police and his phone and laptop were seized. The post was taken down by Facebook after the Infocomm Media Development Authority issued a notice to the social media site for "unauthorised paid Internet election advertising" as the post was still available after June 30 (Nomination Day) and not sanctioned by any candidate or election agent.{{Cite web|title=GE2020: Unauthorised advertisement by New Naratif on Facebook removed|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ge2020-new-naratif-facebook-advertisement-elections-department-12898852|access-date=2021-03-01|website=CNA|language=en}}
New Naratif responded by asking authorities to stop their "long-standing campaign of harassment".{{Cite web|title=Police seize Thum Ping Tjin’s mobile devices, probe New Naratif over alleged paid ads published during GE2020|url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/police-investigating-new-naratif-for-allegedly-publishing-paid-ads-on-its-site-during-ge-2020-133229644.html|access-date=2021-03-01|website=uk.finance.yahoo.com|language=en-GB}} A number of civil society groups led by South Africa's Civicus along with Article 19, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International requested authorities to drop charges against the site.{{Cite web|last=Gaebee|first=Kgalalelo|title=Singapore: Drop police report against independent media outlet New Naratif|url=https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/news/4669-singapore-drop-police-report-against-independent-media-outlet-new-naratif|access-date=2021-03-01|website=www.civicus.org|language=en-gb}}
Reception
New York City–based Columbia Journalism Review highlighted New Naratif as an example of a number of emerging independent outlets from Asian countries, where freedom of the press is rare, as an "alternative" to the media dominated by primarily Western and Chinese outlets.