Singapore Presidential Election 2023: Tharman, Ng Kok Song, Tan Kin Lian qualify as presidential candidates

SINGAPORE: Singapore is set to go to the polls on Sept 1 after the Elections Committee announced that it had issued a Certificate of Eligibility to the following:

(a) Mr Ng Kok Song;
(b) Mr Shanmugaratnam Tharman;
c) Mr Tan Kin Lian.

UPDATE: Singapore goes to the polls: Tharman, Ng Kok Song, Tan Kin Lian qualify as presidential candidates

OPINION | Why I endorse Ng Kok Song to be the next Elected President of Singapore

After Covid-19: Nearly 9 in 10 people in Singapore have reassessed their lives, and many say they’re more resilient & open to change

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August 18, 2023

SINGAPORE: A new report shows that almost 9 out of 10, or 88 per cent of people in Singapore, said that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused them to reevaluate their lives. In comparison, the global average is 79 per cent.

Moreover, younger generations have tended to do so—specifically for those aged 45 and below, says the report from Cigna Healthcare Singapore, published earlier this month.

A positive observation from the report is that resilience and openness to change appear to be on the increase, with 42 per cent of respondents saying they feel that they’re more prepared to embrace change after the pandemic and 36 per cent saying they’ve become more resilient.

Cigna Healthcare’s 360 Global Well-Being Survey: Singapore Insights Report, which talked to 1,100 participants, shows that the “Singaporean Dream” of 5Cs—car, cash, condominium, credit card, and country club membership—may no longer be the only main priorities of people.

Among the respondents who say they’ve reevaluated their lives, over half (52 per cent) said they want to spend more time with family and friends, a preference shared by respondents around the globe.

More Singaporeans also appear to prioritize physical and emotional health now, with nearly one-third (31 per cent) of respondents saying they would consider more natural approaches to diet and health, and a full quarter saying they’re learning to “be okay” with how they feel.

Careers are also undergoing a reevaluation, with 23 per cent saying they would like a new and more fulfilling job and 21 per cent expressing a desire for early retirement.

The demographics vary somewhat, as more of the respondents in Singapore from ages 25 to 34 prioritize finding a fulfilling job, and respondents aged 45 to 65 look to early retirement.

“Our research shows that the people of Singapore have become more resilient and adaptable to change after the pandemic. At the same time, our priorities and aspirations have evolved, with many now valuing family and emotional well-being more, which we see as a silver lining from the crisis,” says Raymond Ng, the CEO & Country Manager of Cigna Healthcare Singapore & Australia. /TISG

New survey shows almost half of Singaporeans worry about losing their job

AirAsia flight attendant on Singapore-bound flight sings ‘How am I supposed to live without you?’ for Michael Bolton and all onboard

By

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August 18, 2023

Screenshot 2023-08-17 at 2.26.53 PM — Photos: TikTok screengrab/arielfesol Instagram screengrab/ vctrwong

SINGAPORE: US singers Michael Bolton, Peabo Bryson, Loren Allred, and Katharine McPhee were in the region earlier this month for the Hitman David Foster and Friends tour, together with Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza.

As they flew from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on Aug 8, Air Asia passengers got a lovely and unexpected treat when the singers gave them an unexpected concert.

The fun, however, did not stop there. An AirAsia flight attendant serenaded them and the rest of the passengers right back, singing Mr Bolton’s smash hit, “How am I supposed to live without you?” The best thing is, thanks to the technology and social media of our day and age, it was all caught on camera.

@arielfesol

Pengalaman yang mungkin hanya sekali Seumur hidup syukur Allah bagi rezeki #davidfosterandfriends #davidfoster #michealbolton #foryou #airasiacabincrew #airasia #howamisupposedtolivewithoutyou

♬ original sound – Ariel – Ariel

Over on Instagram, flight attendant Victor Wong posted a video where he said he “Had the pleasure to lead my amazing colleagues to welcome” the performers, who were their special guests, on board the flight.

The clip shows composer David Foster greeting everyone on board, and then one by one, each performer sings a line or two to loud applause from the passengers. And when Mr Bolton sings the iconic line, “When a man loves a woman,” people join in.

After that, Mr Foster retakes the mic and thanks Air Asia and the passengers, saying, “We love Air Asia; keep flying Air Asia.”

The composer must have seen some people waving to him from the back of the plane because he goes over to say hello to them, earning praise from Mr Wong.

But then, the video cuts to someone off-camera singing, “How am I supposed to live without you?” Mr Wong wrote, “Cabin Crew Ariel dedicated a song to Michael Bolton. His mom is such a huge fan.

The plane breaks out into a round of applause for Ariel Fesol, who appeared on Idola Kecil (Little Idol) in 2009 at the age of 11. Mr Fesol also posted a TikTok of his performance on the flight, which has since been viewed over 730,000 times.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Victor Wong (@vctrwong)

/TISG

Candid photos of pretty stewardess give Air Asia an unexpected boost

Condo owner cries after students trash her rented-out property

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August 18, 2023

Screenshot 2023-08-17 at 3.04.46 PM — Photos; TikTok screengrab/Ben's Social Club

SINGAPORE: A new condo owner was shocked to see her new property looking like a “garbage home” after some Chinese students trashed it.

In a video shared on the TikTok and YouTube pages of Ben’s Social Club, a condo unit was shown looking completely trashed. The videos were originally taken from social media sites used by the Chinese in Singapore.

The condo owner Amanda bought the unit from another person who had not lived there but had rented it out. When she first saw the unit, it was rented by some Chinese workers and was in good condition. But when she saw the unit again, however, its condition was bad enough to make her cry.

@bens_social_club

Chinese students tenants turning condo unit into ‘garbage home’😱 #chinesestudents #badtenant #messyhome #viral #fypシ #fyp #singapore #benssocialclub #tiktoksg

♬ original sound – Ben’s Social Club – Ben’s Social Club

The kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and bathroom were in a complete mess, with trash everywhere, including the floor. The former tenants did not bother throwing away their food containers and drink cups; waste bins were overflowing.

Somehow, even the marble counter in the bathroom was cracked.

There are old clothes, empty boxes, tissue papers, and trash strewn carelessly on every surface of the condo unit, including the beds.

However, after the transaction, it appeared that the former owner did not tell the new one that the tenants had used the deposit as the last month’s rent, so there was none left for the new owner to pay for a cleaning service.

What makes matters worse is that the students who rented the place had unpaid utility bills, and a third student, who has not been part of the contract, joined the other two in the condo unit. The new owner had to shoulder them herself.

Her comments can be seen in another TikTok.

@bens_social_club

Landlord file police report! Chinese students make a big mess in her condo and never pay utilities bills😱 #chinesestudents #messyhome #tenantproblems #viral #fypシ #fyp #benssocialclub #tiktoksg

♬ 恐龙扛狼 – DJ版 – 追梦先森

She has since been said to have filed a police report and is carrying out a full unit renovation. Watch the situation being explained in the video below.

/TISG

Landlord’s friend appeals for help in finding tenant who trashed flat and left behind ‘inflatable’ girlfriend; shares his photo & video of the mess he made

New study ranks Singapore’s public transport costs 4th cheapest in the world

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August 18, 2023

46495490_1938290479813804_5199554169509249024_n — Facebook screengrab/ SBS Transit Ltd.

SINGAPORE: Public transport in Singapore’s system is in the top five in terms of cost, and the Little Red Dot is tied with Madrid, Spain’s capital, as the tenth-best city for public transport options, says a study carried out by conducted by insurance provider William Russell.

According to William Russell’s Global Transport Index, published in June, Buenos Aires, Argentina, tops the list, with public transport costing around an average of S$.21, followed by Tehran, Iran (S$0.64), and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (S$1.22).

In fourth-place Singapore, the average cost of public transport is S$1.97.

“The public transport network in Buenos Aires is efficient, and the buses, known as ‘colectivos’ are often on schedule. The subway, known locally as ‘the subte’ (short for ‘subterraneo’), is often used by commuting locals as it is quick, affordable and easy to navigate with maps,” the Index says.

Another Asian city, Hong Kong, where the average public transport cost is S$2.10, ranks fifth.

Interestingly, Stockholm, Sweden ranked highest, where the average public transport cost is S$5.23.

As for the list of Top 15 cities with the best public transport options in the world, Singapore and Madrid, ranked tenth, received a score of 4.12 based on transport costs, number of stops of public transport, size of the public transport fleet, metro routes, shared bikes, e-scooter schemes, and electric vehicles.

Paris, France, which took pole position on the list, received a perfect score of 10. The City of Light is followed by Stockholm, Sweden, which has a Public Transport Score of 9.41; Hong Kong, China, 8.82; New York City, United States, 8.24. Rounding out the top 5 is Oslo, Norway, 7.65.

The Index shows that Singapore has 87 public transport stops per 100,000 people, 1,248 public transport vehicles per one million people, nine metro routes, and three e-scooter schemes. /TISG

“Do you guys think Singapore’s public transport deserves the praises that it is receiving?” Netizen sounds out Singaporeans

Morning Digest, Aug 18

By

Nick Karean

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August 18, 2023

TISG - Morning Digest - LANDSCAPE — Photo: Pexels/Nataliya Vaitkevich (for illustration purposes only)

Maid goes home for her father’s funeral; employer initially agrees but cancels her Work Permit after she leaves

Indonesian domestic housemaid Murseh (only one name given), who claims her Malaysian domestic employer did not pay her wages for ten months, watches an Indonesian soap opera on television at a communal area at a shelter for migrant workers inside the premises of the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur, 25 June 2007. Over 1,000 Indonesian workers seek refuge at their embassy in Malaysia every year because they have not been paid by their employers or have been abused, a top embassy official said 25 June. AFP PHOTO/TENGKU BAHAR (Photo by TENGKU BAHAR / AFP)

SINGAPORE: A 31-year-old maid took to social media after she went back home for her father’s funeral but found out that her employer had cancelled her Work Permit (WP) despite agreeing not to.

In a post to a Facebook support group for domestic helpers and employers alike, the maid wrote that she was from the Philippines and had been working in Singapore for almost 11 months. She wrote that her father suddenly passed away and she asked her employer for three weeks of leave, after which she will come back. Her employers agreed and so she left all of her belongings in their house.

‘Rents in Singapore have tumbled. They’ve literally fallen off a cliff’ says UK real-estate firm owner

SINGAPORE: In an interview with YouTube Max Chernov, Ms Juliet Standard, a Director at CitiProp Property Management, said that rental rates in Singapore have decreased, reversing skyrocketing prices in 2021 and especially 2022.

Ms Stannard, who had lived in Singapore for 30 years, said rental rates had fallen sharply. “They’ve literally fallen off a cliff. Just all of a sudden there’s been a correction with the supply of new properties.”

WP MP Louis Chua on Singapore’s public housing dilemma: Homes are expected to be both affordable and an investment

Photo: YouTube screengrab/The Workers’ Party

SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party launched a series of videos on public housing on Wednesday (Aug 16), with Sengkang GRC Member of Parliament Louis Chua getting the ball rolling by putting his finger on the crux of the matter: that people want their homes to be affordable, and yet expect them to be an ever-increasing asset.

With over 80 per cent of Singaporeans living in HDB flats, public housing is surely part of the country’s success story. In the first instalment of the WP’s mini-series, The Property Slide, Mr Chua noted that public housing costs have increased by over 30 per cent in the past few years.

Indian restaurants in Singapore will be able to hire cooks from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka from Sept 1

Photo: Freepik (for illustration purposes only).

SINGAPORE: On Tuesday (Aug 15), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released the application details for cooks in Indian restaurants, which will be able to hire cooks from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

In the past, Singapore employers in services and manufacturing industries have hired work permit holders from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Taiwan. The list has since expanded to workers from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, or the Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) with work permits.

‘Kids’ meal?’ — Netizens ask why Sausage McMuffins have gotten so small

Photo: FB screengrab/COMPLAINT SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE: “The size had reduced significantly…,” wrote a netizen who posted a photo of a Sausage McMuffin in his hand on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page on Tuesday (Aug 15).

The famed breakfast sandwich fit into the cupped palm of Mr Al Asaraf Omar Chulia’s hand, giving many the impression that it was significantly smaller than it used to be.

Police seize cars, watches, Louis Vuitton bags, wine, and millions in cash as 10 foreigners arrested for money laundering

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August 17, 2023

Screenshot 2023-08-17 at 10.28.10 AM — Photos: police.gov.sg

SINGAPORE: The Police announced on Tuesday night that ten people between the ages of 31 and 44 were arrested for suspected involvement in offences of forgery, money laundering, and resistance to lawful apprehension.

The individuals rounded up are from Cyprus, Turkey, China, and Cambodia. Eight other people are wanted by the police, while 12 others assist with investigations. Everyone identified in one of Singapore’s largest anti-money laundering operations so far is believed to be connected. None of them is a Permanent Resident or a citizen of Singapore.

Over 400 police officers carried out raids on Aug 15 (Tuesday at multiple locations on), including at Good Class Bungalows (GCB) and condominiums, which resulted in the arrest of 10 persons.

“Prohibition of disposal orders were issued against 94 properties and 50 vehicles, with a total estimated value of more than S$815 million, as well as multiple ornaments and bottles of liquor and wine.

The Police also seized more than 35 related bank accounts with a total estimated balance of more than S$110 million for investigations and to prevent dissipation of suspected criminal proceeds,” the police said.

Over 250 luxury bags and watches, more than 120 electronic devices including mobile phones and computers, over 270 pieces of jewellery, two gold bars, and 11 documents with information on virtual assets, plus cash in various currencies amounting to more than S$23 million are now in the possession of the Police.

They were charged in court on Wednesday (Aug 16), and details concerning the cases may be found in the announcement from the Singapore Police Force.

“We take the most serious stance against criminals laundering their criminal proceeds through our financial system. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and Financial Intelligence Units to detect, deter, and prevent Singapore from hosting such criminal elements. We have zero tolerance for the use of Singapore as a safe haven for criminals or their families, nor for the abuse of our banking facilities. Our message to these criminals is simple – if we catch you, we will arrest you. If we find your ill-gotten gains, we will seize them. We will deal with you to the fullest extent of our laws,” Mr David Chew, the Director of the Commercial Affairs Department, said.

Police officers from various departments, including those from the Criminal Investigation Department, Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), Special Operations Command or riot police, and Police Intelligence Department, took part in the operations in several areas, including Tanglin, Bukit Timah, Orchard Road, Sentosa, and River Valley. /TISG

Foreigner who screamed at staff at Russian restaurant claims to ‘own’ China & Singapore Police Force

Celebrity couples Nick Teo & Hong Ling and Edwin Goh & Rachel Wan double dating in Australia

By

Aiah Bathan

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August 17, 2023

Hong Ling, Nick Teo, Rachel Wan, Edwin Goh — Photo: IG screengrab/Hong Ling

SYDNEY: Singaporean celebrity couple Nick Teo and Hong Ling recently had a double date with another local celebrity couple, Edwin Goh and Rachel Wan, in Australia.

In an Instagram post, Hong Ling shared: “Double date be like….We all wake up at around 3-4am SG time today for an “easy” hike. Did we even wake up so early in Singapore?!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hong Ling (@honglingg_)

Nick, Edwin, and Rachel commented on the post using their IG accounts.

Nick Teo declared: “It’s so fun!”

Edwin Gog admitted: “I usually sleep around 3-4am in SG 😂”

Rachel Wan said: “My legs are dead 😂”

Goh and Wan began their relationship in March, and they moved to Sydney last July to venture out, try new experiences, and have a slower pace in life. The couple shared their reason for moving, tips on living in Sydney, Australia, and snippets of their new life on their YouTube account.

More so, Teo is celebrating the birthday of Ling as they travel to a foreign country. In another Instagram post, he stated: “Happy birthday to the very important woman in my life… I want to thank you for being in my life. You was there at my lowest, seen the worst of me but you stayed by my side throughout.”

Nick Teo proposed to Hong Ling last August 2022, during her birthday.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 张奕恺 Nick (@nickk_teo)

He added: “No special celebration this year because you insisted you do not want one. I hope you enjoy this trip. Posting slightly ealier cause we are in Australia right now.”

Netizens expressed their thoughts in the comments.

One IG user stated: “Sweet couple 😍”

Another IG user remarked: “She’s a very lucky woman!”

Felicia Chin takes no-pay leave for 3 months to film her new Mediacorp drama

Singapore’s talented Thai kickboxers keen on dominating the rings at Muay Thai Festival

By

Khalis Rifhan

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August 17, 2023