Zat Astha, Author at RICE

I never knew I wanted to be a writer until I became a writer. Yes, sure, videos and TikTok are very 2021, but literature published online stays online forever. The evergreen-ness of that both fascinates and scares me.

29 Articles

Beyond Four Walls, Imprisonment Was Not an Excuse for Jason

Beyond Four Walls, Imprisonment Was Not an Excuse for Jason

Drug abuse, fake money, business failures, and deaths of loved ones haunt Jason.

by Zat Astha

May 4, 2023

Liquidation Lethargy: The Local Filmmakers HOOQ Abandoned In Debt

Liquidation Lethargy: The Local Filmmakers HOOQ Abandoned In Debt

When big media ventures collapse, it’s the creatives that get the short end of the stick.

by Zat Astha

March 28, 2023

Jobs & Economy

Amongst Us

The Impact of AI on Singaporean Journalists: Voices from the Frontlines

The Impact of AI on Singaporean Journalists: Voices from the Frontlines

As AI continues to advance, many jobs are at risk of being automated. In Singapore, journalists and writers are facing the threat of AI taking over their jobs. But will AI lead to mass unemployment, or will it bring new opportunities for those willing to adapt?

by Zat Astha

December 9, 2022

Arts & Entertainment

Binge

TSL’s ‘One Week Love’ Is a Glorious Watch That Needs Better Accountability

TSL’s ‘One Week Love’ Is a Glorious Watch That Needs Better Accountability

Reality TV, meet the reality of airing secondary school-era bullying.

by Zat Astha

December 7, 2022

From Menteng With Love — Jakarta, My iPhone 14 Pro, and I

From Menteng With Love — Jakarta, My iPhone 14 Pro, and I

iPhone 14 Pro in hand, our Editor, Zat, goes on his inaugural trip to Jakarta. There he found sate, coffee, and, well, an entire street engulfed in a thrilling darkness.

by Zat Astha

October 17, 2022

A Malaysian and a Singaporean Discuss Rosmah Mansor, Tiaras, and Caramel Macchiato

A Malaysian and a Singaporean Discuss Rosmah Mansor, Tiaras, and Caramel Macchiato

Two news editors speak candidly on the fall of Rosmah and Najib, the husband-and-wife criminal duo whose crimes sound too heinous and absurd to be true.

by Zat Astha

September 7, 2022

Could We Have Helped Joseph Schooling Better Cope With His Circumstances?

Could We Have Helped Joseph Schooling Better Cope With His Circumstances?

On the back of a string of personal setbacks and a change in environment, perhaps Joseph Schooling’s misstep is not a consequence but a cry for help.

by Zat Astha

August 31, 2022

Government & Politics

Section 377A No More — a New Reality and Recovery Begins

Section 377A No More — a New Reality and Recovery Begins

Out with the old, in with the inclusive.

by Zat Astha

August 21, 2022

Sex & Gender

For These OG Attendees, Pink Dot Will Always Be Special — and Relevant

For These OG Attendees, Pink Dot Will Always Be Special — and Relevant

Three Singaporeans who were there at the first Pink Dot in 2009, walks us down memory lane and shares what the event means to them today, 13 years on.

by Zat Astha

June 17, 2022

Districts

11 Years of Noise Terror: How One Man Holds a Hougang Block Hostage

11 Years of Noise Terror: How One Man Holds a Hougang Block Hostage

This is the story of how Shi-jie gets away with inflicting daily noise on his neighbours for 11 years without so much of a slap on the wrist.

by Zat Astha

May 23, 2022

Amongst Us

In Pictures: What Singapore Muslims Eat For ‘Sahur’ During Ramadhan

In Pictures: What Singapore Muslims Eat For ‘Sahur’ During Ramadhan

Have a look at what some Muslims in Singapore eat during Sahur, an important pre-dawn meal that gives sustenance for a full day of fasting.

by Zat Astha

April 23, 2022

April Note From the Editor: What’s Gender Diversity Without Good HR Practices?

April Note From the Editor: What’s Gender Diversity Without Good HR Practices?

Of course, companies that don't believe in the simplest, most basic tenets of care at work would find gender-diverse hiring too ‘progressive’.

by Zat Astha

April 4, 2022