An illegal U-turn attempt at Hougang Street 91 resulted in a major accident involving a Renault and Mercedes.
Despite the double white lines and the two single-lane roads, the Renault still tried making a U-turn, which ended in a costly accident.
Photos of the incident were posted on Facebook page ROADS.sg by netizen Kenneth Wong, on Wednesday (June 29).
Photo: FB screengrab/ROADS.sg
From one side, the Renault’s right tyre was completely dislodged. The collision also caused the vehicle’s airbags to activate.
Photo: FB screengrab/ROADS.sg
“Wow! How it managed to crush until this state? Almost like right to right head on!” commented Facebook user Aik Peng.
Another photo showed the Mercedes’ airbags had also been deployed due to the collision.
Photo: FB screengrab/ROADS.sg
A Singapore Civil Defence Force ambulance and a stretcher were spotted at the scene.
Photo: FB screengrab/ROADS.sg
Members from the online community noted this was quite an aggressive U-turn attempt for the Renault’s front tyre to have dislodged.
“Big impact. Mercedes maybe travelling quite fast didn’t anticipate the antics of the Renault driver,” added Facebook user Outback.
Meanwhile, Facebook user Gwen Ng highlighted that there was a designated U-turn slot about 300 metres up ahead; hence the incident could have been averted.
“Sometimes I don’t even understand what’s going on with their pathetic mind… causing inconvenience to the public, own wallet bleeds,” said Facebook user Kenichiro Chan in a comment that others might also be thinking.
Road users are advised to follow traffic rules and practise extra caution to avoid such accidents. /TISG
The Singapore Savings Bond (SSB) is a bond fully backed by the Singapore Government. No capital loss will be incurred and you can always get your investment amounts back. The SSB is a long-term bond offering step-up interest, meaning that the longer one invests in it, the higher the interest income. It is also flexible, and one can exit the SSB at any time without any penalties.
The SSB has a step-up interest rate system, where the interest rate gets progressively higher for each year of funds staying invested in the bond. This means that the longer you remain invested in the SSB, the higher interest rates and average yearly returns you will enjoy. For a better understanding of step-up interest, head over to Dr Wealth for a comprehensive explanation of SSB’s interest system.
Features of the SSB
1. Very Minimal Risk
The Singapore Government’s credit rating by Moody’s, S&P, Fitch and R&I are Aaa, AAA, AAA and AAA respectively, which means that the Singapore Government’s investment offerings of SGS bonds, T-bills and Savings Bonds are some of the safest investments to hold, with a very low risk of default, and high creditworthiness.
With near-zero risks of losing your money, the SSB can be a good way for Singaporean investors to diversify their investment portfolios to manage overall risk. It is also a good investment to hold for more conservative investors with its provision of relatively good returns considering its low risk.
2. High Liquidity and Flexibility
Investors may wonder what the difference between SSB and fixed deposits is since both are low in risk. Well, here is where the shining point of the SSB comes through – investors can exit the SSB without any penalty for early redemption!
Unlike fixed deposits where a penalty fee is usually charged for premature withdrawal, the SSB allows investors to extract their funds anytime, with a waiting period of 1 month. At the initial stage of investing, there is also no need for you to decide on the intended period and duration you wish to invest for. This gives you an opportunity to use the SSB investments as a sort of rainy-day fund, as the money invested can always be taken out anytime should unforeseen circumstances occur.
3. Ease of Investing in SSB
The SSB is also one of the easiest and most accessible investment bonds to invest in. Unlike many other bonds or investment instruments which require you to sign up for accounts on specific trading platforms in order to gain access to certain markets, the application process for SSB is much simpler.
Any individual above the age of 18 is eligible to apply for the SSB. All you need is a local bank account (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB) and a CDP (Central Depository) account that is linked to the local bank account. Investors can also invest in the SSB via either cash or SRS.
Simply scroll down for a step-by-step guide on how to start investing in SSB!
4. Low Minimum Amount
The investment amounts for SSB range from a minimum of S$500 to S$200,000, and the investment sum should be in multiples of S$500. With such a low entry point of S$500, the SSB does make for a readily accessible investment opportunity, especially for beginners and conservative investors.
5. Non-Transferrable
SSB is non-transferrable and cannot be traded in the open market, traded on the Singapore Exchange or pledged as collateral.
Only in certain situations, such as the death of the bondholder, can the SSB be transferred to the rightful beneficiaries under the bondholder’s will or under the intestacy law.
6. Relatively Low Interest Rates
At an average yearly return of 2.53% for a tenure of 10 years, the SSB may not have the highest interest rates and returns for an investor looking for high capital gains. However, the return rates have been steadily increasing over the past few years as the economy is bouncing back. An average yearly return of 2.53% is close to the peak in 2018-2019.
Additionally, coupled with its very minimal risk, the SSB’s rate of return could already be seen as rather ideal.
Illustration of SSB July 2022 Interest Rates
This month’s bond, SBJUL22 GX22070T, which has an Issue Date of 01 Jul 2022 and a Maturity Date of 01 Jul 2032, will have an interest rate of 3.00% and an average yearly return of 2.71% if an investor holds the bond for 10 years.
This is the highest return in the past few years, surpassing even the rates of pre-covid 2019, which signals to investors a healthy recovery of the Singaporean economy.
The below table illustrates the interest % for investors who are invested in the SSB for the specified number of years.
For example, if you have invested a certain amount, say S$1,000, into SSB and redeemed it after 1 year, the interest on the S$1,000 would be 1.69%, and your average return that year would also be 1.69%, meaning that the amount you can get back would be approximately S$1,016.90. This table applies to the SSB with the issue date being 01 July 2022, SBJUL22 GX22070T.
If you are interested in investing in the SSB, and wondering how much returns you can get for your desired investment amount, feel free to navigate to this nifty calculator for easy visualization of your future yearly earnings.
Simply select the month of bond issuance, then input the amount you would like to invest. The calculator returns the yearly payouts depending on the cases where you hold to maturity or make a decision to redeem early.
Alternatives to SSB
How does the SSB compare to other alternatives? Here we have a chart to illustrate some of the key differences between the SSB for July 2022, a Fixed Deposit Account offering one of the highest interest rates and returns, as well as the Singapore Government Securities (SGS).
From the above, we can see that the SSB offers both higher interest rates at 2.71% and a much lower minimum deposit amount, at S$500, than the Fixed Deposit Account which has an interest rate of 1.33% and a minimum deposit amount of S$20,000. However, the tenure for the SSB is also much longer, at 10 years, as compared to the tenure for the Fixed Deposit Account which is 15 months.
SGS, similar to SSB, is also a type of government-issued bond issued by the Singapore Government. There are various categories of the SGS, each with different tenures, interest rates and coupon rates. Some key differences between SGS and SSB are as follows:
1) SGS can be funded by Cash, Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) funds or CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS) funds, unlike the SSB which does not support funding by CPFIS funds.
2) SGS is transferable and can be traded on the secondary market – at DBS, OCBC, or UOB branches; or on SGX through securities brokers.
3) No early redemption of SGS is allowed unless SGS is sold on the secondary market.
The fixed income investment vehicles as above are all viable options for any investor. Depending on your risk appetite, desired tenure and preference for liquidity, any of the alternatives could be a good addition to your investment portfolio.
Step-By-Step Guide on Investing in SSB
Decided to invest in the SSB but not sure how? We have all the steps and what you need laid out below so that you can invest in SSB easily and on the go!
Any individual can apply for the SSB. However, you need to be 18 and above in order to have a Central Depository (CDP) account, which is required for the application.
A new SSB is issued on the 1st business day of each month. The minimum amount to invest is S$500 and the maximum is S$200,000.
There are 2 simple ways to apply – either via Cash (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB ATMs or Internet Banking and OCBC’s mobile banking application) or via Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) by the internet banking portal of your SRS operator.
By Cash
1. You Will Need:
a) A bank account with DBS/POSB, OCBC or UOB.
b) An individual CDP Securities account with Direct Crediting Service (DCS) activated.
2. Apply either via ATMs or Internet Banking Portals.
a) Log in to your respective bank’s internet banking, ATM, or OCBC’s mobile banking application. Do remember to have your CDP account number with you.
b) Once you apply, the amount invested will be deducted from the bank account tied to your ATM card or internet banking account.
c) A $2 transaction fee applies for each SSB application request.
Do note that making the SSB application request does not equate to having a guaranteed allotment of the SSB.
3. SSB Allotment Results
a) MAS will allot the latest SSB to the applicants on the 3rd last business day of each month (Allotment Day). You may check the application results on MAS’ website at 3pm on the Allotment Day.
b) The SSB will then be issued on the 1st business day of the following month.
c) CDP will notify you by mail, of the amount of SSB that has been allotted to you. You may also choose to check your allotment and holdings through the CDP internet service or by calling 6535-7511.
4. Refunds for Partially or Non-Filled Applications
a) You may not be allotted the full amount you applied for, as there is a possibility that in a particular month, the total SSB application amount exceeds the total SSB amount on offer.
b) The excess cash will be refunded by the end of the 2nd last business day of that month.
c) Take note that the $2 transaction fee charged by the bank is non-refundable.
5. Interest Payments
a) Interest will be paid into the bank account linked to your CDP account.
b) It will be paid out every 6 months, on the 1st business day of each month.
c) The cash payments will be reflected in your CDP statement.
By SRS
1. You Will Need
a) An SRS account (you can open an SRS account by visiting one of the three SRS operators (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB).
2. Apply via Internet Banking Portals
a) Apply for SSB via the internet banking portal of your SRS operator.
b) The SRS funds will be locked or earmarked when you apply.
c) There will be a $2 transaction fee charged for each application request.
Take note that application requests cannot be amended and cancelled. SSB also cannot be applied for at the bank counters.
3. SSB Allotment Results
a) MAS will allot the latest SSB to the applicants on the 3rd last business day of each month (Allotment Day). You may check the application results on MAS’ website at 3pm on the Allotment Day.
b) The SSB will then be issued on the 1st business day of the following month.
c) Your SRS operator will notify you by mail, of the amount of SSB that has been allotted to you. You may also choose to check your allotment and holdings with your SRS operator.
b) It will be paid out every 6 months, on the 1st business day of each month.
c) The cash payments will be reflected in your SRS statements.
If you are planning to buy in the SSB this month, be sure to take note of the below application and redemption timelines. The closing date for the July 2022 SSB will be at 9pm on 27 June 2022.
How to Redeem
If you already have holdings of SSB and are wondering what the process is like for redemption, feel free to refer to the below steps, whether you want to redeem your SSB or hold it till maturity.
Hold To Maturity
When you have held your SSB for the full term of 10 years, the principal amount and the last interest payment will be credited into your bank account (cash applications) or your SRS account (SRS applications).
No action is needed and there will not be any $2 bank transaction fee charged.
Early Redemption
You can redeem your Savings Bonds in any given month before the bond matures, with no penalty for exiting your investment early.
Early redemption of SSB before its maturity will not result in any penalty being imposed.
1) If you have made a cash application for your SSB, simply login to DBS/POSB, OCBC, or UOB internet banking or ATMs, or OCBC’s mobile banking application.
2) If you have made an SRS application, log in to the internet service provided by your SRS operator.
3) Submit the early redemption request by the closing date. You can redeem in multiples of S$500, up to the principal amount. You can redeem more than 1 bond every month.
The Redemption Timeline is as follows, with the important dates highlighted for your attention, should you wish to make an early redemption of your SSB.
Who Should Invest in the SSB?
Anyone can invest in the SSB, as it undoubtedly offers many benefits for different groups of investors.
1. Peace of Mind with Low Risk of Losing Money
You may be an investor desiring high flexibility and liquidity, especially if you are a retiree. The SSB being an investment bond having nearly no risk would be a great choice for you, lending you peace of mind as it secures your capital and maintains its value.
2. Ability to Access Funds Anytime
Deciding where to park your money is never easy. With the SSB offering the option to redeem and access your funds within a month without any penalty, it makes for an ideal rainy day fund for the more conservative investors.
3. Acts as a Source of Risk-Diversification
For active investors, allocating some funds to SSB could help you hedge against the volatility and risks associated with stocks and other investment classes.
Kick-Start Your Investment Journey
Now that we have a fuller understanding of SSB, you might want to continue the lookout for more investment instruments and alternatives! Visit our investments page for tips and beginner-friendly guides for you to kick-start your investment journey! We offer guidance on all things investment-related, such as stocks, bonds, options, forex and a whole lot more!
Videos of a fight between two men in a coffee shop have gone viral online; one used nearby plastic chairs to defend himself, while another attacked with a knife.
“Bukit Merah!” wrote Facebook user Patrick Tan on Wednesday (June 29), referring to the location of a fight between two men.
Mr Tan’s post included a video of a man in a black shirt charging toward another man with an object presumed to be a knife in his hand.
Meanwhile, the other man tried throwing a plastic chair in the attacker’s direction before holding another one up as a shield.
Photo: FB screengrab/Patrick Tan
The footage becomes difficult to follow, but it appears that the man in a black shirt falls to the ground.
Bystanders then guided the man in white to a nearby seat, while others contained the attacker under plastic chairs.
At one point, the man in white touched his head and discovered blood.
Photo: FB screengrab/Patrick Tan
In another video, police in riot gear were spotted apprehending the man in black still under the chair.
The police have confirmed that a 50-year-old man was arrested for voluntarily causing hurt. Another 75-year-old man was conveyed to a hospital, where he received stitches for his injuries.
The fight is reported to have happened at a coffee shop near the market at Block 112 Bukit Merah.
Fights breaking out in public are on the increase, with at least two incidents reported this month.
A verbal quarrel between a cleaner and a stallholder at a hawker centre turned into a fight as the latter brandished a table knife and chased the cleaner.
In line with coffee shops, at least 15 uncles were spotted pushing, chasing, jumping on, and yelling at one another in a coffee shop in Hougang. One man was sent to the hospital following the fight. /TISG
A concerned member of the public took to social media to warn shoppers that expensive or imported goods don’t automatically mean they’re safe to eat.
A Facebook page Complaint Singapore member purchased Kellogg’s Krave cereal from a Sheng Siong supermarket only to discover that it was expired.
“This is to warn everyone not to assume anything sold expensive, imported or off the shelves of a big supermarket chain is safe,” the netizen wrote in a post on Thursday (June 30).
He purchased the box about two weeks ago, on June 12, intending to eat the cereal as a late-night snack.
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
However, the best by date printed on the box reads June 1, 2022.
Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore
“Thanks, Sheng Siong Supermarket, no receipt now except my bank card bill to prove I had a transaction,” the original poster added.
Shoppers are advised to always check expiration dates, as stores can sometimes forget to clear out old items off the shelves.
The topic of eating food past its “best by” date is often discussed by consumers and experts.
For cereals, specifically, those with more fat content are prone to rancidity, according to Sharon Palmer, RDN, of The Plant-Powered Dietitian.
Nuts and oils can make a cereal spoil faster and are subject to oxidization when exposed to heat, light and air.
At the same time, most cereals will still be ok to eat days, weeks, or months past the ‘best by’ date on the packaging, said Jennifer Kaplan, Food Systems instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, to Today.
“You can tell if the nuts in your cereal have become rancid if they have a grassy or paint-like odor … or if they have a dark or oily appearance,” said Kaplan.
“That said, if you eat cereal with rancid nuts or oils, you’re at very little risk. The most common side effect will be an unpleasant taste.”
The Independent Singapore has reached out to Sheng Siong for a statement and will update the article accordingly. /TISG
Two guests who stayed in a hotel in Jalan Besar were “petrified and traumatised” after getting bitten by bedbugs.
They ended up going through “much hassles”, such as ensuring their belongings were thoroughly washed to avoid bringing any bugs home.
“Never! I repeat, never stay in this hotel,” wrote Facebook user Phia Boo in a post on June 18, warning the public of their stay at ST Signature in Jalan Besar.
The guest noted he couldn’t sleep and kept scratching throughout the first night of their stay.
The next morning, they found two bedbugs filled with blood.
Photo: FB screengrab/Phia Boo
They were transferred to another room for the second night, only to find another bed bug on the bed.
“Although the staff were friendly and helpful, and offered us to wash our clothes; sadly, they didn’t offer medical or refund to us.”
The guests immediately washed their clothes and belongings after checking out to ensure the bugs were dead. “We don’t want to bring home the bugs.”
“We go through so much hassles and wasted our time and money. I wonder how they get the ‘SG Clean Certified’ from the government. Ridiculous!” added the Mr Boo.
He attached photos of the rashes on their necks and other body parts. “My friend’s condition is the worst. Rashes keep popping out every minute on our skin,” said Mr Boo, noting this was a first for them after travelling to many countries and booking multiple hotels or motels.
Photo: FB screengrab/Phia Boo
According to MustShare News, the hotel was aware of the incident and expressed regret over the unpleasant stay.
The hotel noted it took swift action in changing the guests’ room and giving them a complimentary upgrade. The hotel also offered them complimentary laundry services.
It was reported that pest control services were activated for the first room. Meanwhile, no eggs were found in the second room.
The hotel noted it had weekly pest control services in place and that the particular incident was isolated. It has not detected similar issues within the area.
Furthermore, the pest control vendor concluded it was likely that the bugs were “brought in with luggage in the days prior to the incident,” as it detected only a few adult bugs in the affected rooms.
ST Signature has since given the affected guests a full refund, hoping it could “provide some comfort in these challenging times.” /TISG
A man received an unusual visit past one o’clock in the morning recently, as two male individuals rang his doorbell and claimed they were raising money for charity. The man believes they may have been scammers and warned the public about their actions.
A video submitted to crowdsourced news site Stomp first shows the two men standing and smoking outside the unit, located at Hougang Street 51. They then leave, taking the stairs down from the man’s floor, but additional CCTV camera footage shows them standing in front of the unit again for some seconds after ringing the doorbell. A woman opens the door.
One of the youth then tells her in Mandarin that they are raising money as they are student volunteers.
The woman does not donate to their cause, and the two walk away.
The video was submitted to Stomp by a man who designated himself simply as “B”.
“B” said that the visit from the two youths made his family uncomfortable and suspicious.
”These two men, in their late 20s or early 30s, were spotted smoking and prowling along the corridors of my block since 1.15am,” “B” is quoted by Stomp as saying.
“B” also said that he was unconvinced by the youth’s story about being student volunteers raising money for charity.
He has since filed a police report, which the police confirmed to Stomp.
“B” added that he had never seen the two men in his neighbourhood, and it was the first time he experienced “charity” groups visiting after midnight.
He appealed to Stomp to “Please help to share with the public community so that they will be aware and alert and not fall victim to scammers.”
Netizens agreed that the two youths are likely to be who they claimed to be.
Others pointed out that they may be reported for smoking in the corridor as well.
Tay Wei Ming, Team Singapore’s number 1 national para shuttler, has always wanted to compete in the Paralympic Games, but he needs the public’s help to make his dream true.
The 34-year-old has reached out to The Independent Singapore, extending his request for the financial assistance given the challenges he faces as an independent athlete.
“I have been competing for the nation since 2008, and my proudest achievement would be (being) crowned as a 2017 Doubles World Champion,” he said.
Still, he’s always dreamed of qualifying for the Paralympics since he was young.
“However, just like how we face different challenges in our lives, reaching that goal has been made tougher ever since the pandemic hit,” he noted.
“I am still fighting to keep that dream alive,” said Tay, referring to the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Despite being born with Erb’s Palsy, a condition of muscle weakness in the arm or shoulder, Tay has been pushing through with his competitive spirit.
He explained that to be as best prepared as possible to secure that spot, he needs to push up and maintain his world ranking in the next two years.
“As such, this can only be achieved by participating in as many international competitions whenever possible in order to accumulate a substantial amount of ranking points.”
Tay, along with the Singapore Disability Sports Council, has started a crowdfunding campaign to help him travel to those international competitions.
They aim to reach S$64,000, with around S$9,100 already raised.
According to the campaign details, donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar under the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF).
Members of the public interested in supporting Tay can do so here. /TISG
For the Parliamentary sitting on July 5, Louis Chua of the Workers’ Party plans to ask the Manpower Minister questions on the CPF Basic Retirement Sum (BRS).
On Wednesday (Jun 29) the party shared the Parliamentary Questions filed for the sittings on July 4 and July 5.
One of the oral questions by WP MP (Sengkang) Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis was “To ask the Minister for Manpower how is the 3.5% annual increase in the CPF Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) for each cohort turning aged 55 years from 2023 to 2027 determined”.
Mr Chua also filed that he will be asking “what are the factors that have contributed to the raised annual increase from 3% to 3.5%, and (c) what are the long-term inflation assumptions used in the BRS annual increments”.
Along with the topic of CPF, the party also aimed to pose questions to the Ministry for Home Affairs.
In the form of written questions, Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs in view of the spike in the number of Singaporeans applying for new passports in the past few months, what efforts are being made by ICA to speed up the current processing of passport applications.
Also, Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in the last 10 years, what is the number of applicants who have renounced and subsequently reapplied for Singapore citizenship; (b) of these applicants, what is the proportion of those who are successful; and (c) what are the primary reasons for the unsuccessful applications.
We know that “crazy” is a word that shouldn’t be used lightly as it’s been weaponized against women, but in one man’s particular case, it may accurately describe how irrationally his wife reacts when she’s angry.
The man, who says their relationship is “very happy” when his wife is “calm and normal,” asked for advice on the SGWhispers Facebook page asking if he should stick it out while they get counselling. “Or I am being stubborn trying the impossible?” he wondered.
The man described how his wife behaves when she’s angry.
“She can throw furniture, punch, kick me, throw a Xmas tree down the house, throw my HP, throw food on the floor, etc etc etc. Block my HP, block IG and FB, remain u contactable until she is happy. It’s always my fault when there is a quarrel, she tends to jump to conclusions without finding out more details. She will be angry over the slightest issue, very low tolerance for me. I have to be careful with my words, anything against her thoughts may trigger her.”
The man, a divorcé with one son, says he’s thankful that she accepted him but also said it’s one of the reasons “she feels more superior” to him.
And while he admitted that “We can be very happy and have alot of fun when she is calm and normal,” he added that “There are too many incidents to bring up that I feel is very unreasonable and scary.”
He then went on to write about the latest incident of her anger, when she asked him to bring her lunch at 2:30. He told her he’d arrive between 3 of 4 o’clock and brought roasted chicken, her favourite.
“When I was home at 3.40pm, she was angry that she had to wait more than an hour and shd have told her to get grab.
In the end, she was so pissed she threw the rice on the floor, everything was scattered. I caused this issue, I was responsible so I had to clean up the oily mess.”
He went on to say that they are in counselling, but the wife does not make it a priority.
“I even went for a family violence counseling to learn how to not trigger her. She refuses to go as she feels that I am the reason for her behavior. As long as I don’t trigger her, she won’t react this way.
Shd I just be patient and wait for her to visit the counselor and then wait for the couple session?
Or I am being stubborn trying the impossible?” he asked.
Many netizens told him that his wife needs to take responsibility for her own actions and expressed concerns over the welfare of his child. Some netizens also said that the man’s son should not grow up in such an environment.
“Your wife only thinks about herself,” one commenter said.
“She is responsible for her actions,” wrote another.
One cautioned, “She needs to get help if she still wants to be with you.”
A recent survey is showing that Singaporeans rank high costs of living and climate change among their top five concerns.
Additionally, while Prime Minister-in-waiting Lawrence Wong appears to enjoy the support of many, respondents did not quite extend this to the rest of the ruling People’s Action Party’s 4G, or Fourth Generation, of leadership.
The poll, Emerging from the Pandemic – The New Mood in Singapore, was conducted by Blackbox Research and explores how the attitudes, behaviours, and expectations of people in Singapore are changing in these times.
Blackbox notes that this is the “first major post-pandemic public poll covering current issues,” and added that “there is a big reset going on with major challenges at hand for the Singapore Government.”
The study revealed that only 44 per cent of the 750 adult Singaporeans are optimistic that this year will be a better year for them economically.
However, a far greater number, 84 per cent, still believed that the country is generally headed in the right direction. This number is highest among Singaporeans aged 20-34 who were polled, with 91 per cent saying so.
As for the country’s next leader, a solid 63 per cent of those polled said they were positive about Lawrence Wong being the chosen one. However, a higher number said they believe the county’s “political future is still uncertain as the 4G leadership takes on more responsibility.”
Screengrab: Blackbox Research
This may be reflective of the respondents’ views on how the government is handling cost of living and inflation issues, as more than 55 per cent don’t believe it is doing enough.
Respondents were none too happy about how housing is being handled, with 48 per cent saying they think the government is doing a poor job when it comes to housing affordability.
But what many respondents worry the most about are the cost of living and rising inflation, with 91 per cent saying inflation has had an impact on their lives—specifically when it comes to fuel prices, utility prices, supermarket prices, costs at food courts, or hawker centres and taxis or PHVs.
Thirty-per cent of those polled said that inflation isn’t just affecting Singapore, but believe it is the number one threat in the world today, ranking it higher than climate change (16 per cent), the potential of the Russia-Ukraine conflict spreading (13 per cent), the emergence of new COVID strains (12 per cent), and global food shortages (7 per cent).
Two additional key takeaways from the study are the following:
When it comes to career choices, 59 per cent of respondents said that employees have better prospects when beginning their careers in start-ups instead of more established organisations.
Also, some behaviours that began during the pandemic appear to be carried over, such as online shopping, food delivery, digital and payment channels.
Screengrab: Blackbox Research
“As Singapore continues to remodel itself into a cosmopolitan global city with a population carrying much higher aspirations, new tensions are inevitable. Singaporeans are already having to adjust to the new reality of rising living costs, escalating home prices, ongoing economic/business transformation, and a seemingly endless quest to meet the challenges of the future. How we go about successfully transitioning into this new era is going to be a big test for the Government and the broader Singapore community,” said David Black, the founder and CEO of Blackbox Research.
“Your wife only thinks about herself,” one commenter said.
