SINGAPORE - Pang Gek Teng, who grew Surrey Hills Grocer from one to five outlets, is no longer chief executive officer (CEO) of Surrey Hills Holdings after it terminated her employment on March 26. In a media statement on March 28, it said she has admitted to «certain wrongdoings and fraud» committed against the company. It will be carrying out investigations to ascertain the extent of losses suffered. In the interim, the CEO duties will be assumed by Koh Chew Chee, director of the board of Surrey Hills Holdings. It added that daily operations and its businesses will continue without disruption. Pang told The Straits Times via WhatsApp on March 28: «While I am deeply disappointed with the current situation, I am immensely proud of what [my colleagues and I] have accomplished together.»  «From a single vision from Joo Koon (where she opened her first outlet in 2021), we cultivated a thriving business that has resonated with so many, and I am grateful for the unwavering support from our customers, partners and employees who believed in this journey.» 

The extended leave that parents will soon get will foster deep connections with their newborn, said an analyst on Friday (March 28).  With the first phase of a new scheme to begin on April 1, eligible working parents will have six weeks of shared parental leave. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said on Thursday (March 27) that this will apply to those with Singaporean children born on or after April 1. Under the shared parental leave scheme, eligible fathers will also be entitled to four weeks of mandatory government-paid paternity leave. Dr Mathew Mathews, head of the Social Lab and principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, told AsiaOne that the two weeks of paid paternity leave that fathers currently get «resembles a short vacation from work».  «A month off allows fathers— and businesses—to fully disconnect from work,» he said, adding that it is a genuine opportunity for them to immerse into caregiving.  «This extended leave not only fosters deeper connections with their newborn but also reinforces their vital role in parenting.» 

More than 950,000 Singaporean HDB households will receive rebates on their utility and conservancy bills in April. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced the latest tranche of rebates in a statement on Friday (March 28), and said that eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save rebates and up to one month of Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates, both being dependent on their type of units. For example, those living in a one- or two-room flat will receive $95 in both GST voucher (GSTV)  and Cost-of-Living U-Save rebates. The same household will also receive one month of S&CC rebates. In total, eligible Singaporean HDB households will receive up to $760 of U-Save rebates, as well as up to 3.5 months of S&CC rebates for the financial year. The rebates in April will be the first quarterly disbursement for financial year 2025. They are part of the government's permanent GSTV and enhanced Assurance Package schemes that are meant to help lower- to middle-income households with the rising cost of living.

Electricity and gas tariffs for households will be unchanged until June.  On Friday (March 28), SP Group said electricity tariffs will remain at 28.12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while City Energy said gas tariffs will remain at 22.72 cents per kWh.  Both prices do not include the Goods and Services Tax.  SP Group said it reviews the electricity tariffs every quarter based on guidelines set by the electricity industry regulator, Energy Market Authority. Due to volatile global fuel prices, electricity tariffs may fluctuate between each quarter. The electricity tariff consists of energy costs paid to generation companies and network costs to SP Group for transporting electricity through the power grid. It also includes a market support services fee and costs of operating the electricity wholesale market and power system. From October to December 2024, the electricity tariffs were 29.10 cents per kWh.

SINGAPORE — After evading paying goods and services tax at Changi Airport for luxury items she bought in Europe, a woman went on social media to teach others how to do the same. On March 27, Cloey Tan Wan Qi, 27, was fined $18,000 after pleading guilty to a charge under the Customs Act. In sentencing, District Judge Eddy Tham said Tan not only evaded the law, but also had the audacity to publicise what she did and teach others how to circumvent the law. The court heard that in May 2024, Tan went to the Netherlands and Belgium with her family and boyfriend and purchased multiple luxury items there for her personal use. These included five bags from luxury brands Christian Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, two luxury wallets, one pair of shoes from Michael Kors and an engagement ring from jeweller House of Gassan. The total value of the luxury items she purchased was more than $23,000, and Tan knew she was supposed to pay GST on these items when she returned to Singapore. However, when she landed in Singapore on May 10, she cleared immigration and collected her luggage at Changi Airport without declaring the goods she brought home.

The remains of Seetoh Kwok Meng, brother of renowned Singaporean food critic, KF Seetoh, will be repatriated to Singapore, three months after a fatal gas explosion took place at his home in Italy last December. Seetoh, 63, provided the update in a Facebook post on Thursday (March 27) after reaching Lucca, Italy, where he will collect his brother's remains. «Investigations on the cause is still ongoing but we need some closure for now,» said Seetoh. His brother, 68, and his wife, Chang Kai En, died after a suspected gas explosion on Dec 21, 2024 at their home in the Italian town of Molazzana.

Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam will not be filing a police report against the two sisters who disrupted the meet-the-people's session in Chong Pang on March 12.  Shanmugam, who is also Nee Soon GRC MP, was responding to queries from the media regarding this incident at a doorstop interview during a visit to the Darul Makmur Mosque's temporary prayer site in Northview Primary School on Thursday (March 27).  He said: «Based on my knowledge, (what they did was) potentially a criminal offence. But I haven't filed a police report, and I'm not filing a police report.» He added that to his understanding, the two sisters were under investigation for other offences even prior to the incident in Chong Pang. Minister Shanmugam declined to elaborate what these offences are. He further stated: «They're both young. I (might be) in their parents' generation, and really I hope that they (the sisters) will have the space to learn and grow from this incident.» Shanmugam also urged people to move on from this incident, focusing instead on building «a stronger community together».

A 51-year-old man has been charged on Thursday (March 27) for allegedly inviting two Bangladeshi nationals for a religious public assembly at Lantana Lodge, a migrant worker dormitory near Tuas South Avenue 4. In a joint statement on March 27, the Singapore Police Force and the Ministry of Manpower said that Abdus Sattar invited Hamza Md Amir @ Amir Hamza and Ullah Mohammed Neamat to the assembly on Aug 9, 2024. At the gathering, Amir had allegedly preached to the migrant workers present, while Ullah had allegedly performed songs to the crowd. Both acts were done without the necessary permits and licences required, resulting in Sattar being charged under the Public Order Act 2009 (POA) and the Public Entertainments Act 1958 (PEA). Amir is a preacher known for his «extremist and segregationist» views and alleged connection to a pro-al-Qaeda organisation in Bangladesh, according to an earlier statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Aug 21, 2024. Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam had said then that Amir had managed to enter Singapore undetected by using a passport registered under a different name.

More than 50 million travellers have cleared immigration using QR codes at Singapore's land checkpoints since March 19 last year, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced on Thursday (March 27). The Authority also announced that the full implementation of QR code clearance at local land checkpoints began in January this year. The QR code clearance system was launched in March 2024 for cars and was then gradually extended to the bus, motorcycle, and cargo zones. At present, the QR code clearance gantries have served over 50.3 million travellers at Singapore's land checkpoints. Comparing the March school holidays in 2024 and 2025, ICA said about 2,000 more travellers were cleared per hour with the QR code clearance initiative. For those driving, over 30 million travellers — or 70 per cent of total car travellers between March 2024 and 2025 — have cleared immigration using the QR code. To utilise the QR code clearance system, travellers must create a profile and generate an individual or group QR code using the MyICA mobile app prior to reaching the checkpoint.

SINGAPORE — A man was driving a car after consuming alcoholic drinks when it struck a power-assisted bicycle (PAB) and the rider later died in hospital. Teo Kok Meng, 38, then contacted Jacky Tan Kah Kiat, 35, who decided to take the rap for the accident that took place at around 10pm on Sept 27, 2022, court documents stated. Tan finally told the truth to the police when his statement was recorded at around 2.45pm the next day. On March 26, he was sentenced to three weeks' jail after pleading guilty to performing an act that could obstruct the course of justice. Teo's case is pending. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen told the court that at around 8pm on Sept 27, 2022, the two men met at a Bukit Batok coffee shop, where they drank some alcoholic beverages. They later left the coffee shop and Teo drove Tan home to Teck Whye Avenue. The DPP said that after Tan alighted, Teo was driving along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 at around 10pm when the PAB emerged from the slip road of Teck Whye Avenue. The car collided with the PAB and the rider, Samuel Seet, 28, was flung onto the road.

Thai police are searching for a Singaporean man after his girlfriend was found dead in downtown Bangkok on Wednesday (March 26), reported local media. The body of the 30-year-old Thai woman was discovered by two of her friends in the bathroom of a condo apartment on the 22nd floor. They had gone looking for her after losing contact on March 24, according to Thai PBS. Bangkok Post reported that the victim was naked from the waist up and covered by a blanket and a blood-stained bedsheet, with blood-stained cloth wrapped around her head. The victim's friends said the door to the room was unlocked and the air conditioner was turned on. They also claimed that the deceased and boyfriend, a 32-year-old Singaporean, frequently argued and that the man would allegedly turn violent. CCTV footage from the condo showed the couple together on March 23. The man was seen taking an elevator to the woman's room at 12.12am on March 24 and leaving with his luggage at 3.15pm the next day, according to Bangkok Post. He left the building in a black Mercedes-Benz, which Bangkok police reportedly said is registered to a deceased Thai man.

Political parties have always tapped into the vast pool of public service officers while looking for new faces to contest the general election. With election round the corner, there has been a spate of resignations by high-ranking officials recently, prompting speculation that they could be fielded as candidates in the coming General Election. On Tuesday (March 25), the Public Service Division announced that Shawn Loh, the 2024 and 2025 Budget director, and Goh Hanyan, who oversaw Singapore's Smart Nation and artificial intelligence policies, have stepped down. In the past two weeks, other high-ranking senior civil servants have also left, including Deputy Secretary Jasmin Lau from the Ministry of Health and Foo Cexiang, a director at the Ministry of Transport. Resignations apart, two permanent secretaries, Jeffrey Siow from the Ministries of Manpower and Trade and Industry, and Tan Ching Yee from the Ministry of Finance will soon retire after decades of service, probably paving their entry into politics.

HANOI – The upcoming general election is not just about the PAP needing a strong mandate, but Singaporeans recognising that much is at stake for the country in this new environment, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on March 26.  “In order to survive, in order to thrive, in order for us to navigate a very challenging global environment, we will need a strong and united Singapore,” he said. “So there is much at stake in the elections.” “And when the elections come, I will present my case for the PAP, for me and my team, and I hope Singaporeans will give me the chance to serve them and to serve Singapore,” he added. PM Wong was speaking to Singapore reporters in Hanoi before flying home after a two-day visit to Vietnam, his first to the country since taking over as prime minister in May 2024. He said his introductory visits to the various Asean countries – he has been to Brunei, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia and Thailand – have allowed him to strengthen his relationship with his counterparts, affirm Singapore’s partnership with these key neighbours, and identify new areas in which to strengthen cooperation.

SINGAPORE — Hazy conditions in Singapore on the morning of March 26 were likely due to the accumulation of particulate matter under light wind conditions over Singapore, said the weatherman. «The situation is expected to improve in the afternoon as winds strengthen,» added a spokesman from the National Environment Agency (NEA) in response to queries from The Straits Times. Singapore is currently in its north-east monsoon season, with winds blowing mainly from the north-west or north-east. However, while there has been an escalation in the hot spot and smoke haze situation in the Mekong sub-region, NEA said satellite observation showed no clear indication of smoke plumes drifting from countries there to Singapore. The Mekong sub-region includes a number of countries located to the north of Singapore, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. NEA said it is closely monitoring the situation and will issue updates if required.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will ease measures to make housing more accessible for young couples who are either working or have just started working. National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced during an engagement session about public housing at the National University of Singapore on Wednesday (March 26), that starting from the next Build-to-Order (BTO) launch in July this year, young couples in which either one party is studying or serving National Service will be eligible for the Deferred Income Assessment (DIA). For example, a couple, where one person is earning $3,500 a month while the other is still studying, could only afford to purchase a three-room BTO flat in Yishun previously. But under the expanded rules, the couple can now apply for their BTO flat and have their HDB housing loan and Enhanced Central Provident Fund Housing Grant assessment deferred for about three years, until the collection of keys. «At that point, both parties would have started work. With a combined income of say $7,500, they will qualify for a sufficient loan to buy their dream four or five-room BTO flat,» the minister said.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has named Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai as its secretary-general. He will lead the party into the upcoming general election and will take over the secretary-general position from Hazel Poa, who will be the vice chairman of the party, announced the opposition party on Wednesday (March 26). Speaking to the media at the party's headquarters in Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, PSP founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock said there was no contest for the position and Poa had wanted to «pass the baton» back to Leong. Leong had been elected as PSP's secretary-general in April 2023 but stepped down as leader in February 2024 to take responsibility for a Pofma correction direction he received for a social media post. Poa then succeeded Leong as secretary-general. Addressing Leong's past Pofma order, Dr Tan said the former had «owned up» to it.

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng has begun visiting homes in Fernvale, raising speculation that he is set to contest in Jalan Kayu SMC, Lianhe Zaobao reported on Monday (March 24). Fernvale is part of the new Jalan Kayu SMC, carved out from Ang Mo Kio GRC. Ng and more than 10 volunteers visited two HDB blocks in Jalan Kayu on last Sunday (March 23), according to Zaobao. A resident also told the Chinese newspaper that they received a doorknob sign informing them that Ng had visited their home but was unable to meet them. The sign, furnished with pictures of Ng along with links to his socials, reads: «I hope to meet you the next time when I conduct house visits in your area.» Among the Fernvale residents that AsiaOne spoke to on Tuesday (March 25), most were not aware of the boundary changes or Ng's recent presence in the region. Speaking with AsiaOne, a Fernvale Link resident, who only identified himself as Tan, said that he didn't know about Ng's visit on Sunday.

Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh has urged Singaporeans to work towards creating «a more balanced political system» in the upcoming General Election, in response to the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, which he said outlined «one of the most radical redrawing of boundaries Singapore has seen in recent memory».  In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday (March 25), Singh questioned the fairness of the EBRC report, noting that there has been «significant public commentary, especially by young Singaporeans» regarding the redrawing of political boundaries. Singh labelled the EBRC an «opaque» institution and highlighted the incredulity surrounding «population growth» being cited as one of the reasons behind the redrawing of boundaries. «Boundaries are important, and the reasons that justify their changes, matters. A lot,» he added. Only five GRCs and four SMCs were left unchanged from the last election.

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) has drawn attention to a recent case of animal cruelty after fish in a condominium pond were allegedly left to suffocate and die in a pond that was drained for cleaning. A video of the incident posted on Facebook by Acres on Tuesday (Mar 25) showed workers cleaning the pond after it had been emptied of water.  In the video, which was provided by a member of the public, fish can be seen struggling and flopping around in the enclosure. Towards the end of the video, a worker was also seen tossing a dying fish onto the walkway. According to Acres, the pond, which has existed for 25 years, was drained and the fish discarded alive under the building management's instructions. In the post, the non-profit organisation dedicated to animal welfare, rescue and conservation noted that while the condominium had made efforts to rehome the red-eared sliders, no provisions were made for the welfare of the fish. Among the fish were tilapias, plecos and also stingrays.

SINGAPORE — No adverse effects related to the consumption of slush ice drinks containing glycerol have been reported here, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). But it will continue to monitor the situation and international developments on the use of glycerol in such drinks, the agency said in response to queries from The Straits Times about the safety of the additive, which is typically used to create the slush texture in such beverages. This comes after a group of researchers in UK and Ireland warned in a study that children under the age of eight should not be drinking slushies due to potential health risks, following a spate of hospitalisations in the two countries. The researchers found that some slush ice drinks contain glycerol, which can lead to glycerol intoxication in young children when consumed in high levels. Symptoms of this condition include headaches, nausea and a dangerous drop in blood sugar level, which can result in drowsiness or even loss of consciousness.

Chia Boon Teck, vice-president of the Law Society of Singapore, has resigned following inappropriate remarks he made about a rape survivor.  This came shortly after the Law Society released a statement on Tuesday (March 25) calling for his resignation.  In the statement, president Lisa Sam stated that Chia's views and comments were «unacceptable» and «damaging».  «Such comments and views are also inimical for a person in a position of leadership to espouse,» Sam added.  «The victim's morality should not have been questioned in this manner.»  The Law Society confirmed Chia's resignation on its Linkedin page around noon on the same day.  «We thank Mr Chia for his service and contributions during his time on the council and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,» it said in a brief statement, adding that the resignation would take effect immediately.  Checks on the society's website revealed that Chia is no longer listed as vice-president or council member.

A male employee at a Bugis capsule hotel was taken to court on Monday (March 24) for allegedly molesting a female tourist at the accommodation. The 41-year-old Bangladeshi national is accused of outraging the modesty of a 45-year-old woman at The Room @ Bugis on Saturday afternoon. The man had hugged the victim tightly and stopped her from leaving so as to commit the acts, stated court documents obtained by AsiaOne. A gag order was issued to protect the victim's identity. In a now-deleted post on social media platform Threads, the tourist claimed the employee had pushed her on a bed and attempted to sexually assault her, reported Lianhe Zaobao. The victim told Zaobao in a subsequent interview that she was travelling solo in Singapore and had booked her trip from March 16 to 25. According to her, guests at the capsule hotel were mainly backpackers, and there was only one worker in the hotel. The beds were covered only by a translucent curtain, she said.

SINGAPORE — After downing two glasses of champagne, a business class passenger on board a Singapore Airlines plane decided to expose himself to an air stewardess. Brilliant Angjaya, 23, an Indonesian, also used his phone to record the air stewardess' reaction to his indecent act. On March 24, Angjaya was sentenced to three weeks' jail after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exposure. In sentencing, District Judge Paul Quan said Angjaya's actions were «inexplicable» and «inexcusable». The incident happened on board a Singapore Airlines flight from China to Singapore on Jan 23. Further details about the flight and air stewardess cannot be revealed due to a gag order to protect the victim's identity. The court heard that during the flight, Angjaya had an in-flight meal and two glasses of champagne before he went to sleep.

A fatal car accident in Johor Baru took the life of a seven-year-old Singaporean boy while leaving his father and domestic helper severely injured. Noah, the young boy, was an avid football fan and had intended to enrol in Soaring Dreams FA, a football academy, before the accident. The football academy is now planning to hold a fundraising event in honour of Noah to help support his family with funeral costs and medical bills. News of the fundraising efforts were announced through the school's Xiaohongshu page. Soaring Dreams FA's founder, surnamed Wang (transliteration), wrote that Noah had two cousins who were previously enrolled in the academy. «Though the two students have already left the academy, they will always be part of our 'Soaring Dreams' family,» said Wang. In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, he expressed his desire to use his platform to support the family. According to Wang, Noah's father and domestic helper are still in hospital and the costs incurred are likely to be high since the accident occurred overseas.

A 38-year-old man will be charged on Tuesday (March 25) for his suspected involvement in causing hurt to a police officer while arresting him. In a media release on Monday, the police said they were alerted to a dispute at Block 569A Champions Way at 4.10am on the same day. When officers from Woodlands Police Division were attending to the dispute, the man charged towards an officer and was arrested. During the arrest, the man headbutted the officer, who suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. The man will be charged with the offence of voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from the discharge of his duty, and faces a jail term of up to seven years, and a fine, or caning. Investigations are ongoing.