Singapore



'It's a matter of time': DPM Wong says no decision yet on when he'll become prime minister

TOKYO — There is no decision yet on when exactly he will take over from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, but it is «a matter of time», Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday (May 25). This could happen «before or after»

'She lost control of her emotions': Woman turns up at TCM clinic and slaps her ex-employee, stunning all

A woman was caught on camera slapping an employee at a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic, with police having to be called in. Stomp contributor ZZ, who owns Zeng Zeng TCM at Block 85 Marine Parade Central, shared CCTV footage of the incident that occ
Singapore

'She lost control of her emotions': Woman turns up at TCM clinic and slaps her ex-employee, stunning all

A woman was caught on camera slapping an employee at a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic, with police having to be called in. Stomp contributor ZZ, who owns Zeng Zeng TCM at Block 85 Marine Parade Central, shared CCTV footage of the incident that occurred in his clinic on May 24, at 10.47am. In the video, a woman can be seen walking up to a female employee in the clinic and slapping her. The pair then engage in a physical tussle. Other employees at the clinic appear drawn to the commotion and one of them is seen trying to break up the altercation. Stomp contributor ZZ identified the attacker as the owner of a beauty salon and said the victim used to work for her, between the period of March 15 and April 11. The victim started working at Zeng Zeng on April 15. ZZ, who was not captured in the video, told Stomp: «The woman came with a guy to look for my employee. »Being a nice person, my employee saw her and thought the woman wanted to exchange greetings. "However, when the woman saw my employee, she raised her hand and hit my employee without a word.

Outbreaks of gastroenteritis at 3 MindChamps pre-schools affect 89 people

SINGAPORE - Six people have been hospitalised following outbreaks of gastroenteritis at MindChamps pre-schools in Changi Airport, Tanglin and Bishan. A total of 89 people – 79 children and 10 staff – reported having gastroenteritis symptoms after eating
Singapore

Outbreaks of gastroenteritis at 3 MindChamps pre-schools affect 89 people

SINGAPORE - Six people have been hospitalised following outbreaks of gastroenteritis at MindChamps pre-schools in Changi Airport, Tanglin and Bishan. A total of 89 people – 79 children and 10 staff – reported having gastroenteritis symptoms after eating food prepared by Nosh Cuisine between May 17 and 29, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of Health, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Early Childhood Development Agency on Tuesday evening. Those hospitalised are in stable condition, while the rest of those affected have sought outpatient treatment, self-medicated, or recovered without treatment, the authorities added. The outbreak at the Tanglin pre-school affected 45 children and five teachers, while at the MindChamps pre-school in Changi Airport Terminal 3, 28 children and five staff fell ill. Six children at the MindChamps pre-school in Bishan were affected.

Dessert stall at Marine Parade charges $2.60 for empty bowl, diner finds it unreasonable

To keep up with inflation, some hawkers in Singapore are charging extra for items such as additional chilli sauce, and even iced water, perplexing diners.  Yet another customer has been left baffled by these charges.   Last Saturday (May 27), a custome
Singapore

Dessert stall at Marine Parade charges $2.60 for empty bowl, diner finds it unreasonable

To keep up with inflation, some hawkers in Singapore are charging extra for items such as additional chilli sauce, and even iced water, perplexing diners.  Yet another customer has been left baffled by these charges.   Last Saturday (May 27), a customer wrote in to Lianhe Zaobao, sharing his unusual experience at Marine Parade Food Centre. The man and his friends were having dessert there and wanted to share some cheng tng dessert with an elderly diner, so he asked the stall holder for an empty bowl.  To his surprise, he was told he had to pay $2.60 for it.  «That was the first time I'd encountered something like this. I'd understand if [the extra charge] was for takeaways, but for an empty bowl, it's unreasonable,» he wrote.

Haze may hit Singapore in June? Prepare N95 masks, air purifiers, says Meteorological Service Singapore

SINGAPORE — Members of the public are advised to ensure that they have sufficient N95 face masks and air purifiers in good working condition as there is a higher risk of transboundary haze hitting Singapore from June due to drier and warmer weather conditi
Singapore

Haze may hit Singapore in June? Prepare N95 masks, air purifiers, says Meteorological Service Singapore

SINGAPORE — Members of the public are advised to ensure that they have sufficient N95 face masks and air purifiers in good working condition as there is a higher risk of transboundary haze hitting Singapore from June due to drier and warmer weather conditions. The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said in a press release on Tuesday (May 30) that in anticipation of the onset of drier weather, the government inter-agency haze task force has been coordinating action plans for possible haze. Singapore's 24-hour PSI as at 3pm on Tuesday ranged from 25 in the north, to 51 in the east. A reading of 0 to 50 is considered good air quality, while a reading between 51 and 100 is considered moderate. The one-hour PM2.5 concentration reading, an indication of the current air quality, ranged between 6 in the north and 17 in the west at 3pm. A reading of 0 to 55 is considered normal.

Daily roundup: Teenager sexually assaulted his younger sister twice, tried to rape her when she was 8 years old - and other top stories today

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Teenager sexually assaulted his younger sister twice, tried to rape her when she was 8 years old A father of three had to report his own teenage son to the police after learning that he had tried t
Singapore

Daily roundup: Teenager sexually assaulted his younger sister twice, tried to rape her when she was 8 years old - and other top stories today

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Teenager sexually assaulted his younger sister twice, tried to rape her when she was 8 years old A father of three had to report his own teenage son to the police after learning that he had tried to rape his own sister, who was only eight when he first sexually assaulted her in 2020. It later emerged that the boy, now 17, had attacked her a second time in 2022... » READ MORE 2. Too little meat in 'cai fan'? Angry customer leaves Bedok hawker bleeding after slamming his head against wall

'Even BreadTalk nicer': Passenger unhappy with 'bread wrapped in plastic' in SIA in-flight meal

While flying to Dubai on Singapore Airlines (SIA), a woman was sorely disappointed by her breakfast. The passenger aired her grievances in a TikTok video last Sunday (May 28), sharing a photo of her meal, which consisted of two buns and a cup of yogurt
Singapore

'Even BreadTalk nicer': Passenger unhappy with 'bread wrapped in plastic' in SIA in-flight meal

While flying to Dubai on Singapore Airlines (SIA), a woman was sorely disappointed by her breakfast. The passenger aired her grievances in a TikTok video last Sunday (May 28), sharing a photo of her meal, which consisted of two buns and a cup of yogurt.  «See what they served on the SQ flight,» the woman wrote, adding that she did not bother to wake up for the meal.  «I think even BreadTalk nicer [sic]... This is so terrible? Just a bread wrapped in plastic,» she said. The passenger then suggested a link between in-flight meals and the airlines' recent record profit, asking: «Is this how they can afford to give [their staff] eight months bonus?»  https://www.tiktok.com/@justfloatingskx/video/7238091289529421057 Seeing the picture of her breakfast, some netizens said that they were disappointed by the drop in the airline's standards.  Conversely, others felt that the passenger was being nitpicky, and pointed out that SIA serves one full meal and a «simpler» meal on such flights.

$100k in alleged losses: Minimart boss checks CCTV footage, catches 2 staff stealing from cash register

While conducting a routine check of CCTV footage, the owner of an Ang Mo Kio minimart unwittingly caught a part-time staff member in the act, stealing from the cash register. He was further taken aback to discover another long-time employee doing the sa
Singapore

$100k in alleged losses: Minimart boss checks CCTV footage, catches 2 staff stealing from cash register

While conducting a routine check of CCTV footage, the owner of an Ang Mo Kio minimart unwittingly caught a part-time staff member in the act, stealing from the cash register. He was further taken aback to discover another long-time employee doing the same on multiple occasions, to the tune of an estimated $100,000 in losses. Two separate posts on Angel Supermart's Facebook page on May 28 had stated that the two female employees were arrested for allegedly taking money from the cash register.  The branch of the minimart chain is located at Block 631, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Tan shared that the first person arrested, a 53-year-old part-time cashier, had collected about $80 from the customer without scanning the items purchased. Tan soon discovered that another cashier, a 46-year-old senior employee, was «guilty of the same offence».

Teenager sexually assaulted his younger sister twice, tried to rape her when she was 8 years old

SINGAPORE — A father of three had to report his own teenage son to the police after learning that he had tried to rape his own sister, who was only eight when he first sexually assaulted her in 2020. It later emerged that the boy, now 17, had attacked he
Singapore

Teenager sexually assaulted his younger sister twice, tried to rape her when she was 8 years old

SINGAPORE — A father of three had to report his own teenage son to the police after learning that he had tried to rape his own sister, who was only eight when he first sexually assaulted her in 2020. It later emerged that the boy, now 17, had attacked her a second time in 2022. On Monday (May 29), the teenager pleaded guilty to one count each of attempted rape and attempted sexual penetration. He cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the victim's identity. The siblings were living with their brother, parents and paternal grandmother in the same flat when the attacks took place. Deputy Public Prosecutor Adelle Tai said that in June 2020, the teenager was playing a game in the victim's bedroom, while she was watching videos on her mobile phone, when he tried to rape her. She was confused, and did not put up any resistance. After the incident, he took photos of her body parts. Although he deleted them, he told a friend about the images two months after the incident. The teenager also told his friend that he wanted to have sex with his younger sister.

Too little meat in 'cai fan'? Angry customer leaves Bedok hawker bleeding after slamming his head against wall

Allegedly upset over the portion of meat served at an economy rice stall, one customer subsequently assaulted the stall owner from behind while in the toilet, slamming his head against the wall and punching him in the face. The incident happened at the Bed
Singapore

Too little meat in 'cai fan'? Angry customer leaves Bedok hawker bleeding after slamming his head against wall

Allegedly upset over the portion of meat served at an economy rice stall, one customer subsequently assaulted the stall owner from behind while in the toilet, slamming his head against the wall and punching him in the face. The incident happened at the Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre on Sunday (May 28) at around 7pm, reported Shin Min Daily News. The stall owner, surnamed Cai, told Shin Min reporters later that evening that the patrons were a couple who ordered curry chicken, among other dishes, at his stall. However, they were unhappy over the portion that was served and went to confront Cai. Both parties got into an argument. «[The male patron] asked if I thought he couldn't afford it,» said Cai. The 55-year-old hawker claimed that he had told them nicely that he could give them more meat, but it would come at an extra charge. They ordered the extra meat and left thereafter, he said. However, Cai shared that when he was in the toilet some time later, he felt someone grab his head from behind and he was bashed against the wall, twice.

Man catches neighbour sabotaging his plants along HDB flat corridor but she claims 'they're wilting because of poor soil quality'

Frustrated that his corridor plants were constantly being destroyed, a Geylang resident installed cameras outside his flat and eventually caught his neighbour in the act. His neighbour, an elderly woman, has denied the accusations and instead accused the ma
Singapore

Man catches neighbour sabotaging his plants along HDB flat corridor but she claims 'they're wilting because of poor soil quality'

Frustrated that his corridor plants were constantly being destroyed, a Geylang resident installed cameras outside his flat and eventually caught his neighbour in the act. His neighbour, an elderly woman, has denied the accusations and instead accused the man of using poor-quality soil for his plants. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Lin, 50, who lives at Block 68 Geylang Bahru, said the plants he grows along the corridor had been getting damaged on a regular basis. Some of them were uprooted, others had their branches broken, and Lin also said that salt water had been poured into the pots, causing the plants to wither and die. Lin added that he once found residue in the form of crystal grains in one of his flower pots. «I have been growing a carambola tree for five years. It used to bear a lot of fruits, but has since withered due to the salt water,» Lin said. At first, Lin thought it was a prank, but after some 20 plants had been «sabotaged», he decided to install CCTV cameras to nab the culprit.

Drugged by Vietnamese herbal tea? Man claims masseuse at Ang Mo Kio massage parlour made him gift her non-stop

A 67-year-old man claimed that he was given tea by a masseuse which left him displaying unusual behaviour such as showering her with money and presents. Mr Li, a security guard, told Shin Min Daily News that he visited a massage parlour near his home in Ang
Singapore

Drugged by Vietnamese herbal tea? Man claims masseuse at Ang Mo Kio massage parlour made him gift her non-stop

A 67-year-old man claimed that he was given tea by a masseuse which left him displaying unusual behaviour such as showering her with money and presents. Mr Li, a security guard, told Shin Min Daily News that he visited a massage parlour near his home in Ang Mo Kio for back problems in March this year. There, he met a 40-year-old masseuse who had left Vietnam in October 2022 to work in Singapore. Mr Li felt pity for the woman, who had to leave her hometown to make a living and especially after she claimed that her child was sick. He often exchanged text messages with the woman, adding: «Due to a language barrier, she only understands a little Chinese, so we used translation software to communicate.» Mr Li said he patronised the massage parlour almost every day from March till end-April, during which the masseuse would give him a type of Vietnamese herbal tea. He claimed that he felt disoriented each time after drinking the tea, to the point that he would listen to everything the masseuse said and kept giving her presents.

More than just Singapore's first female president: A glance at President Halimah Yacob's 6-year term

SINGAPORE - President Halimah Yacob announced on Monday that she will not stand for re-election in the upcoming presidential election. In her six years in office, she has championed social causes and spoken up for vulnerable groups such as those with disabili
Singapore

More than just Singapore's first female president: A glance at President Halimah Yacob's 6-year term

SINGAPORE - President Halimah Yacob announced on Monday that she will not stand for re-election in the upcoming presidential election. In her six years in office, she has championed social causes and spoken up for vulnerable groups such as those with disabilities or older workers. Here are five points to note about her presidency: 1. A president of ‘firsts’ As the nation’s eighth and first female president, Madam Halimah has been vocal about gender equality, as seen, for example, when she spoke out in support of the White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development released by the Government in 2022. She has also spoken at various forums such as the Women’s Forum Global Meeting. Madam Halimah is also the first Malay president since Mr Yusof Ishak, who held the post from 1965 to 1970, and the first head of state to live in public housing while in office.

'Business run by a clown': Patron blasts Hougang Western food stall for rejecting his request for utensils

Upset at the thought of having to eat his piping hot meal without utensils, one diner took to Facebook on Sunday (May 28) to complain about his experience.  In his post on Complaint Singapore Facebook page, diner Andy Ang said he ordered a meal of fries
Singapore

'Business run by a clown': Patron blasts Hougang Western food stall for rejecting his request for utensils

Upset at the thought of having to eat his piping hot meal without utensils, one diner took to Facebook on Sunday (May 28) to complain about his experience.  In his post on Complaint Singapore Facebook page, diner Andy Ang said he ordered a meal of fries and chicken wings, and was refused utensils by the staff over at Heng Heng Western Food located in an Hougang coffee shop.   Ang posted that the staff told him that they «cannot allow customers to use utensils» if they only purchase fries and chicken wings. Instead, they are provided paper towels or told to use their hands instead, he said.  «They mentioned in the past when they use paper plates, customer threw their utensils away. But now even when they manage to switch to ceramic plates, they are somehow still worried about that,» he posted. Ang said he even offered to wash the utensils after use, and assured the staff that he «won't be so stupid to throw it away». However, his request was denied, he claimed. In the comments thread, he said that he was stunned when his request was rejected, adding that this «business [is] run by a clown».

Daily roundup: Jacky Wu to host livestream with Wang Lei at Bedok on May 29 - and other top stories today

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Jacky Wu to host livestream with Wang Lei at Bedok on May 29 Wang Lei will be hosting a livestream at Bedok tonight (May 29), and he has a special guest in tow. The local getai singer-actor share
Singapore

Daily roundup: Jacky Wu to host livestream with Wang Lei at Bedok on May 29 - and other top stories today

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Jacky Wu to host livestream with Wang Lei at Bedok on May 29 Wang Lei will be hosting a livestream at Bedok tonight (May 29), and he has a special guest in tow. The local getai singer-actor shared in a Facebook post earlier today: "Welcome king of variety shows Jacky Wu to Singapore! ...  » READ MORE 2. 'Don't ruin my life': Influencer refutes Thai eatery's accusations he ghosted them on promised collab after free meal

'I put back': Woman pleads for forgiveness after caught stealing toilet paper rolls, then leaves in car

A TikTok video of a woman caught stealing toilet paper rolls has gone viral. The video, posted by user Jimmyho94 on Sunday (May 28), shows a masked woman getting confronted for stealing toilet paper rolls at Toyota Leng Kee Service Centre. In the vide
Singapore

'I put back': Woman pleads for forgiveness after caught stealing toilet paper rolls, then leaves in car

A TikTok video of a woman caught stealing toilet paper rolls has gone viral. The video, posted by user Jimmyho94 on Sunday (May 28), shows a masked woman getting confronted for stealing toilet paper rolls at Toyota Leng Kee Service Centre. In the video, the OP can be heard asking the woman, who was carrying a tote bag, multiple times: «What did you steal?» Seemingly wanting to escape the situation, the woman opened her tote bag, which contained the stolen toilet paper rolls, and answered: «Toilet paper only. I will put back.» The OP mentioned in the video that this was not his first time seeing her steal toilet paper rolls from the car service centre.  He added that previously when it happened, he decided not to pursue the matter out of goodwill and he let her off the hook then. But after realising that the woman had been seen at least five times visiting the centre, he wanted to escalate the issue to the authorities.  Aware that she was in trouble, the woman started pleading for forgiveness: «Please give me a chance.» She then said that she would put the toilet paper rolls back where she took them. 

'Give me back': Woman stunned after cockatoo nicked her pearl at Bird Paradise; not bird’s first heist

It seems some birds at the newly opened Bird Paradise have been getting up to mischief with the public.  TikTok user Fnzhxx took to the social media app last Saturday (May 27), describing how she was 'robbed' by a cockatoo during a visit at Mandai Wildl
Singapore

'Give me back': Woman stunned after cockatoo nicked her pearl at Bird Paradise; not bird’s first heist

It seems some birds at the newly opened Bird Paradise have been getting up to mischief with the public.  TikTok user Fnzhxx took to the social media app last Saturday (May 27), describing how she was 'robbed' by a cockatoo during a visit at Mandai Wildlife Reserve's latest attraction.  Stunned by what had happened, Fnzhxx showed her earring, which had a vacant spot where the pearl used to be, after realising that the cockatoo had snatched it.  She wrote in her video that this took place when she was taking a photo with the cockatoo in one of the park’s aviaries, where the birds can fly freely. She shared that she had kept her distance from the cockatoo, but the next thing she knew, «the bird flew to my shoulder and tried to grab my necklace». Fnzhxx added that as she held on to her necklace tightly, the bird went for the pearl attached to her earring instead.  Fearing that the pearl from her other earring might also get stolen, Fnzhxx took it out from her ear. 

'Don't ruin my life': Influencer refutes Thai eatery's accusations he ghosted them on promised collab after free meal

Free food in exchange for social media exposure - that was the deal. But an eatery was left high and dry when a social media influencer 'ghosted' them after promising a «collaboration». Taking to Facebook last Saturday (May 27), Chiang Mai Thai
Singapore

'Don't ruin my life': Influencer refutes Thai eatery's accusations he ghosted them on promised collab after free meal

Free food in exchange for social media exposure - that was the deal. But an eatery was left high and dry when a social media influencer 'ghosted' them after promising a «collaboration». Taking to Facebook last Saturday (May 27), Chiang Mai Thai Kitchen shared that Marcus Lo – with over a million likes on TikTok – first reached out to them on April 2. In a message to the Ang Mo Kio eatery, the 20-year-old social media influencer promised to post a TikTok video and up to three Instagram Stories after the free meal. «I've 23,000 followers on TikTok and [over] 2,300 on Instagram,» he told Chiang Mai Thai Kitchen, while the eatery responded by giving him $100 worth of credits to use for dinner. «Remember to help us take nice photos,» the restaurant quipped. In the Facebook post, it showed that Lo did not reply to Chiang Mai Thai Kitchen's messages after he went for dinner there on April 29. «The market is bad now. $100 [worth] of food we might as well give to those who really need it,» the eatery lamented. «We are sorry. We thought we could gain some exposure through him.»

Woman finds cockroach midway through army stew meal at Clementi Mall, says staff was indifferent

She thought she found a strand of hair in her army stew, but it turned out to be something much much worse.  The shocked diner surnamed Lee told Shin Min Daily News she visited Ha-Jun Korean on the fourth floor of Clementi Mall last Friday (May 26) at abou
Singapore

Woman finds cockroach midway through army stew meal at Clementi Mall, says staff was indifferent

She thought she found a strand of hair in her army stew, but it turned out to be something much much worse.  The shocked diner surnamed Lee told Shin Min Daily News she visited Ha-Jun Korean on the fourth floor of Clementi Mall last Friday (May 26) at about 3pm.  Lee ordered a portion of army stew and was midway through her meal when she bit into something foreign. When she spat the offending item out, she discovered that there had been a cockroach lodged in between the beef slices.  «I almost swallowed it. After realising it was a cockroach, my mood was ruined and I felt so disgusted,» recounted the 30-year-old graduate student.  «After I complained to the staff, they said they would refund me $10.»  Describing her interaction with the eatery's staff, Lee said they appeared indifferent and did not apologise for their mistake. She also spoke to the manager, who told her that they would bear her medical expenses if she was unwell after eating the tainted food. 

All NSmen to get $125 to $200 more in monthly allowance starting July

SINGAPORE — All national servicemen will see their monthly allowance increase by $125 to $200 from July 1, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday (May 29). The increase will depend on their rank and vocation
Singapore

All NSmen to get $125 to $200 more in monthly allowance starting July

SINGAPORE — All national servicemen will see their monthly allowance increase by $125 to $200 from July 1, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday (May 29). The increase will depend on their rank and vocation, and applies to servicemen in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).  This means that a full-time national servicemen (NSF) holding the rank of recruit or trainee will receive a monthly allowance of $755, up from the current $630. An SAF NSF naval diver or SPF NSF police tactical trooper or SCDF NSF firefighter holding the rank of corporal will receive a monthly allowance of $1,250, up from the current $1,050.  With this adjustment, national servicemen will see their NS allowances increase by between 10.9 per cent and 21.7 per cent. The ministries added that NSFs receive a five per cent increment for every 12 months they serve in that rank, while NSmen receive a five per cent to 10 per cent increment if they satisfactorily complete an NS activity in the preceding work year.

'I really wouldn't mind them being culled at this point': Complaints of wild chickens around HDB blocks on the rise

SINGAPORE — They crow at ungodly hours, leave their droppings everywhere and are getting on the nerves of residents here — wild chickens are becoming an increasingly common sight in many neighbourhoods across the island. The National Parks Board (NPark
Singapore

'I really wouldn't mind them being culled at this point': Complaints of wild chickens around HDB blocks on the rise

SINGAPORE — They crow at ungodly hours, leave their droppings everywhere and are getting on the nerves of residents here — wild chickens are becoming an increasingly common sight in many neighbourhoods across the island. The National Parks Board (NParks) has been receiving an increasing number of complaints over the years, with 600 instances so far in 2023. It received 950 complaints in 2021, up from 350 in 2017. Figures for 2022 are not available. Free-ranging chickens have for years been reported in areas such as Pasir Ris and Kembangan, but residents say the birds have started popping up in 2023 in areas such as Jalan Bukit Merah, where they were once a rare sight. Residents say they are concerned about the noise from crowing roosters, unhygienic droppings and how the birds clog up the road.

'Didn't you read the terms?' Woman who booked hotel room before reading 'bad reviews' refused refunds by Bangkok hotel, Agoda

There is a lesson to be learnt here. A woman booked a four-star Bangkok hotel and was horrified to then read bad reviews about it. Stomp contributor Jocelyn now wants to cancel the booking but baulks at the 34 per cent cancellation fee. She booked the Arno
Singapore

'Didn't you read the terms?' Woman who booked hotel room before reading 'bad reviews' refused refunds by Bangkok hotel, Agoda

There is a lesson to be learnt here. A woman booked a four-star Bangkok hotel and was horrified to then read bad reviews about it. Stomp contributor Jocelyn now wants to cancel the booking but baulks at the 34 per cent cancellation fee. She booked the Arnoma Grand Bangkok hotel on Agoda on May 9. «We saw the price was good and went ahead,» recounted the Stomp contributor. «We booked the deluxe room with breakfast for about $100 a night. After payment, we did more research and discovered nightmares.»

Up to 30 minutes' wait: Residents frustrated by congestion at Woodleigh Residences and Mall carpark entrance

SINGAPORE — The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be taking steps to alleviate traffic congestion at the newly opened The Woodleigh Mall after residents at The Woodleigh Residences in the same mixed-use development voiced their frustration over long wait
Singapore

Up to 30 minutes' wait: Residents frustrated by congestion at Woodleigh Residences and Mall carpark entrance

SINGAPORE — The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be taking steps to alleviate traffic congestion at the newly opened The Woodleigh Mall after residents at The Woodleigh Residences in the same mixed-use development voiced their frustration over long waits to enter the carpark during peak periods. Residents said that on Friday (May 26) evenings and weekends, it can take up to 30 minutes to get to their carpark, which shares the same single-lane main entrance as the mall carpark. The long queue of cars in Bidadari Park Drive, which is a two-lane road on the side of the mall, forks towards the complex and residential carparks. The frustrating wait has led some residents, who collected the keys to their new apartments three weeks ago, to cut the queue from the adjacent lane to get home quicker — much to the consternation of other drivers. A resident in her 40s, Ms Felicia Tan, said she had to wait in line for 15 to 20 minutes to get into the carpark last weekend.

Uncle in wheelchair 'fights' with Ang Mo Kio coffee shop staff over blocked toilet entrance

When you gotta go, you gotta go. It appears that one elderly patron in a wheelchair could not take no for an answer, as he was captured on camera attempting to barge into a coffee shop toilet. The incident happened on Wednesday (May 24) afternoon at an S-1
Singapore

Uncle in wheelchair 'fights' with Ang Mo Kio coffee shop staff over blocked toilet entrance

When you gotta go, you gotta go. It appears that one elderly patron in a wheelchair could not take no for an answer, as he was captured on camera attempting to barge into a coffee shop toilet. The incident happened on Wednesday (May 24) afternoon at an S-11 coffee shop at Blk 51, Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, Shin Min Daily News reported. A 35-second video clip showed the man in a motorised wheelchair knocking aside a dustbin as well as a trolley and two oil cans, as he sought a path to the toilet. A female staff who was holding a broom went up to try to stop the man as he appeared to bend over to pick up another broom blocking the toilet entrance. A tussle ensued. According to Shin Min, the elderly man was hit by the broom in the fracas. In the clip, the woman could be heard chiding the man in Mandarin while they were both engaged in a tug of war: «Go away, you might fall down. She added: »Ask your wife to come.« Speaking in Mandarin, the man retorted: »No need, I can do it by myself."

'I can treat you like a dog': China Southern Airlines counter staff at Changi Airport insults passenger, airline apologises

A clip of a conversation between a traveller and China Southern Airlines' ground staff at Changi Airport has gone viral, after the employee at the check-in counter was filmed insulting the passenger, calling the latter «a dog». According to Chi
Singapore

'I can treat you like a dog': China Southern Airlines counter staff at Changi Airport insults passenger, airline apologises

A clip of a conversation between a traveller and China Southern Airlines' ground staff at Changi Airport has gone viral, after the employee at the check-in counter was filmed insulting the passenger, calling the latter «a dog». According to Chinese media reports, the passenger, identified by his surname Yuan, was checking in for his flight CZ546 from Singapore to Chongqing on Tuesday (May 23). The Paper reported that Yuan had wanted to confirm if there was an extra charge for seats near the emergency exit. He then asked the counter staff if there was anyone there who could speak Mandarin. Despite overhearing staff members speaking amongst themselves in Mandarin, Yuan claimed that the male counter staff who served him pretended not to understand what he was saying and ignored his query. According to Chinese media, Yuan felt discriminated against for speaking in Mandarin and proceeded to use his mobile phone to take down the staff's particulars.

'Shri's in the mountains, where he felt most at home': Rescue team unable to find missing Singaporean Everest climber, says wife

SINGAPORE – The search and rescue team was unable to locate the missing Singaporean climber who reached Mount Everest’s summit, despite their best efforts, the climber’s wife said in an Instagram post on Saturday (May 27). Interspersing her message bet
Singapore

'Shri's in the mountains, where he felt most at home': Rescue team unable to find missing Singaporean Everest climber, says wife

SINGAPORE – The search and rescue team was unable to locate the missing Singaporean climber who reached Mount Everest’s summit, despite their best efforts, the climber’s wife said in an Instagram post on Saturday (May 27). Interspersing her message between pictures of her husband Shrinivas Sainis Dattatraya on various mountain peaks, Madam Sushma Soma, a 36-year-old musician, said: “He was 39, and in his glorious and rich life, he lived fearlessly and to the fullest. He explored the depth of the sea and scaled the greatest heights of the Earth. “And now, Shri is in the mountains, where he felt most at home.” Mr Shrinivas summited Mount Everest on May 19 but told his wife he had come down with high-altitude cerebral oedema and was unlikely to make it down the mountain. Groups of three Sherpas each had been searching for the Singaporean, Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition – one of the companies that co-organised Mr Shrinivas’ expedition – had told The Straits Times earlier.

Progress Singapore Party founder Tan Cheng Bock ready to 'fight' in next general election

SINGAPORE — The founder and chairman of the opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP), Dr Tan Cheng Bock, said at a press conference on Saturday (May 27) that he is ready to run in the next general election. «I always say, as long as I am relevant,
Singapore

Progress Singapore Party founder Tan Cheng Bock ready to 'fight' in next general election

SINGAPORE — The founder and chairman of the opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP), Dr Tan Cheng Bock, said at a press conference on Saturday (May 27) that he is ready to run in the next general election. «I always say, as long as I am relevant, I'll be there. I never run away from a fight, and 2025 is a very challenging (fight). I am so far still very, very prepared for 2025,» said the 83-year-old, referring to the next general election (GE) due to be held by November 2025.  Dr Tan has rarely appeared in public since he stepped down as PSP chief in 2021. In 2020, he contested in West Coast GRC and lost to the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) team there with 48.32 per cent of the vote. Saturday's press conference, which set out PSP's directions for the next GE, came after the PSP voted in its new central executive committee (CEC) in March. Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai, 64, was subsequently named the party's new secretary-general, taking over from Mr Francis Yuen.

'I would do the same unless anyone wants to sit': Tourists take up nearly entire MRT train row with bags, netizens oddly sympathetic

From a man vaping in plain sight to a woman peeing with complete disregard — shenanigans on MRT trains filmed by hawk-eyed netizens are nothing out of the ordinary. Sometimes a post seems to miss the mark, however, and ends up garnering sympathy instead
Singapore

'I would do the same unless anyone wants to sit': Tourists take up nearly entire MRT train row with bags, netizens oddly sympathetic

From a man vaping in plain sight to a woman peeing with complete disregard — shenanigans on MRT trains filmed by hawk-eyed netizens are nothing out of the ordinary. Sometimes a post seems to miss the mark, however, and ends up garnering sympathy instead of shame. An Instagram post uploaded on Friday (May 26) by Singapore Incidents, credited to a netizen named Esther, was intended to call out an incident on an MRT train but fell short of unanimous derision by netizens. «I guess MRT [train] seats [are] now meant for bags,» the caption read. The accompanying photo shows two tourists taking up nearly an entire row of seats on the train — only one other person is seated — while three large backpacks, a polka-dot bag and a brown paper bag take up four entire seats. One person is seen standing next to the door. Many in the comment section did not see an issue with the hogging of seats.

3 eateries in Clarke Quay's Central Mall suspended for 2 weeks

SINGAPORE - Three eateries at the Central Mall in Clarke Quay have been suspended for two weeks over food hygiene issues. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on its website that the licence of Central Mall Coffeehouse and Oyster Co the Food Shop is suspende
Singapore

3 eateries in Clarke Quay's Central Mall suspended for 2 weeks

SINGAPORE - Three eateries at the Central Mall in Clarke Quay have been suspended for two weeks over food hygiene issues. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on its website that the licence of Central Mall Coffeehouse and Oyster Co the Food Shop is suspended from Thursday (May 25) till June 7. In the notice, the two eateries are listed as occupying five units - #01-01, #01-03, #01-04, #01-06, #01-07 - in the mall. Checks on SFA's website show that three eateries - Central Perk Cafe, Oyster and Sushi - are run by licensee Skydance at these addresses. SFA confirmed that Sushi would also be suspended. In the notice, SFA said that the licensee had accumulated 12 demerit points within the last 12 months, from two instances where Skydance had failed to keep «the licensed premises free of infestation». SFA did not elaborate on when or which of the three outlets had committed the offences, which carry six demerit points each. On top of the suspension, the licensee was fined a total of $800.

'No aircon, no hot water, cannot build anything': Black-and-white house renter seeks to debunk rumours in wake of Ridout Rd review announcement

The Ridout Road bungalows rented by Cabinet Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan have been under much scrutiny lately, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asking Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean to lead an independent review into the rentals. One man o
Singapore

'No aircon, no hot water, cannot build anything': Black-and-white house renter seeks to debunk rumours in wake of Ridout Rd review announcement

The Ridout Road bungalows rented by Cabinet Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan have been under much scrutiny lately, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asking Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean to lead an independent review into the rentals. One man on Facebook who claims to rent such a property has thrown his hat into the ring, attempting to clear up inaccuracies surrounding black-and-white houses on Ridout Road. The man, going by Yishen Kuik, wrote in a lengthy Facebook post on Friday (May 26) that has since been shared over 200 times: «Much of what has been written on Ridout and the black-and-white houses is incorrect — and understandably so as very few members of the public live in one.»

Man reportedly seen in covered drain in Hillview still not found; case referred to Singapore Customs

SINGAPORE - The police are trying to establish the identity of the person reportedly seen inside a covered drain along a footpath in Hume Avenue on Thursday morning (May 25). According to a report by Chinese-language daily Shin Min Daily News, a resident liv
Singapore

Man reportedly seen in covered drain in Hillview still not found; case referred to Singapore Customs

SINGAPORE - The police are trying to establish the identity of the person reportedly seen inside a covered drain along a footpath in Hume Avenue on Thursday morning (May 25). According to a report by Chinese-language daily Shin Min Daily News, a resident living nearby called the police after he saw a man in the drain with a torchlight and dressed only in his underwear. Photos of the incident show more than 10 police cars, around 30 police officers and a number of Gurkhas deployed to search for the man. Shin Min said the search efforts took more than five hours. On Friday, the police said they were alerted to the incident at 51 Hume Avenue at 6.39am on Thursday. With the help of national water agency PUB, police officers found discarded items such as a luggage bag, clothing, fashion accessories, kitchenware and 20 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the drain.

'Reimagining traditional notions of filial piety': Paid companionship for the lonely elderly no longer taboo?

SINGAPORE - Walks in the park, grocery shopping, simple exercises and massages, and playing mind-stimulating games like jigsaw puzzles - Ms Esther Joy Mark has done all of these and more with her elderly clients, to keep them active and engaged. The 28-year-
Singapore

'Reimagining traditional notions of filial piety': Paid companionship for the lonely elderly no longer taboo?

SINGAPORE - Walks in the park, grocery shopping, simple exercises and massages, and playing mind-stimulating games like jigsaw puzzles - Ms Esther Joy Mark has done all of these and more with her elderly clients, to keep them active and engaged. The 28-year-old, from care services provider Homage, has more than three years' experience in providing companionship to the elderly. She is also a full-time supply operations associate with the company. Ms Mark, a former legal secretary, said she has always connected well with the elderly. She has also forged friendships with some regular clients, including an elderly cancer patient who died a few months after they '«clicked». «I was on my way to keep her company when the husband called to say she had just passed away, but I went to her home to pay my last respects to her anyway,» she recalled. She gets eight to 10 assignments monthly. Some also require her to help with the activities of daily living like going to the toilet and feeding, on top of the usual companionship. Others get her to perform housekeeping chores like moping and vacuuming while she chit-chats with them.

Saluting frog mascots are amusing people in Singapore but China is cracking down on them

Over the past week, videos of an enthusiastic green frog mascot going around Singapore selling inflatable frog toys (or its 'babies'), interacting with and saluting members of the public have gone viral.  Some have also spotted this adorable amphibian
Singapore

Saluting frog mascots are amusing people in Singapore but China is cracking down on them

Over the past week, videos of an enthusiastic green frog mascot going around Singapore selling inflatable frog toys (or its 'babies'), interacting with and saluting members of the public have gone viral.  Some have also spotted this adorable amphibian engaging in dance battles with strangers, and even chasing the equally viral and emo Mixue snowman mascot.  Videos of the two mascots horsing around outside Paya Lebar Square have been making its rounds on TikTok.  In one of the videos, the two characters are seen running around and jumping on each other, to the amusement of the crowd gathered outside the mall.  https://www.tiktok.com/@fifibunnie/video/7237108298313403650 Netizens also loved the interaction between the two, with one saying that the interaction made their day. 

Lost his pants? Police carry out 5-hour manhunt for underwear-clad man spotted in Hillview drain

The police conducted a five-hour search for a man who was spotted rummaging through a piece of luggage in a drain at Hillview on Thursday (May 25) morning.  Victor Ilano, 50, told Today that he was out for his morning walk at about 6.30am when he spotted a
Singapore

Lost his pants? Police carry out 5-hour manhunt for underwear-clad man spotted in Hillview drain

The police conducted a five-hour search for a man who was spotted rummaging through a piece of luggage in a drain at Hillview on Thursday (May 25) morning.  Victor Ilano, 50, told Today that he was out for his morning walk at about 6.30am when he spotted a light shining out of a hole in one of the drain hole covers.  The Hume Avenue resident said: «That was when I realised there was a man inside, shining what seems to be his phone at a luggage.» Although he took a video of the man, he did not think to call the police at first as he assumed the latter was a repairman. However, he later noticed that the man was only wearing his underwear.  Ilano also approached another jogger to confirm if he had also spotted the strange man in the drain.  The jogger then urged Ilano to call the police.  «Two police officers then came by around 6.50am or 7am, and they seemed surprised that there really was a man in the drain. They then asked people to stay away before calling for back-up.»

'Someone needs to step up': Lawyer chooses hawker life, sells $2.50 dishes to help poor elderly

While many hawkers have been increasing food prices to keep up with inflation, Hani Isnin said she doesn't intend to do so.  Most of the dishes — such as mee rebus, lontong and nasi lemak — at her humble Jalan Kukoh Food Centre stall over at Chin Sw
Singapore

'Someone needs to step up': Lawyer chooses hawker life, sells $2.50 dishes to help poor elderly

While many hawkers have been increasing food prices to keep up with inflation, Hani Isnin said she doesn't intend to do so.  Most of the dishes — such as mee rebus, lontong and nasi lemak — at her humble Jalan Kukoh Food Centre stall over at Chin Swee, have and will continue to be priced at just $2.50, she maintained.  In fact, the stall, which she runs with her parents, has even been renamed The $2.50 Shop. Previously, it was called Traditional Malay Muslim Cuisine. While some may find the move puzzling — especially in this economy — there's a very wholesome reason behind it.  In an interview with AsiaOne, Hani, who started working with her parents at the stall last July, shared that she wants to keep prices low for the sake of the elderly and poor living in the nearby rental flats. «Someone needs to step up. Everybody is feeling the pinch of inflation, even me,» the 40-year-old hawker said.  What started the whole initiative was one elderly man who sat in front of her stall and stared at the storefront for around 40 minutes. 

'Giving megachurch vibes': New NDP theme song Shine Your Light leaves netizens confused

Music has the ability to unite people. And in this case, the new National Day Parade (NDP) 2023 theme song Shine Your Light has brought netizens together on grounds of a singular criticism - that the theme song is oddly reminiscent of a «worship song&r
Singapore

'Giving megachurch vibes': New NDP theme song Shine Your Light leaves netizens confused

Music has the ability to unite people. And in this case, the new National Day Parade (NDP) 2023 theme song Shine Your Light has brought netizens together on grounds of a singular criticism - that the theme song is oddly reminiscent of a «worship song». Released yesterday evening (May 25), Shine Your Light is composed by award-winning producer, singer, and songwriter Don Richmond, who was also the NDP music director in 2022 and 2016. Joined by co-writer and performer Shigga Shay, the song also features local acts such as 53A, The Island Voices, Olivia Ong, lewloh, Iman Fandi, and Lineath.

Get more results via ClueGoal