Two Singaporeans, a 43-year-old man and 33-year-old woman, were found dead at a homestay on Jalan Nadchatiram in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.  Cheras district police chief ACP Aidil Bolhassan said the police received an emergency call at 12.53pm on May 16 and the pair were found unconscious in a room by a staff member, reported Bernama. «When the door was opened with the help of the homestay's manager, they found that the air-conditioner, fan and TV were still turned on in the living room. »As one of the room doors in the homestay was stuck, they then looked through a window and found both bodies on the bed. They also noticed a foul smell from the room,« said Aidil, reported The Star.  The bodies, which were fully clothed, were already decomposing and emitting a foul odour then. Police inspections of the bodies found no external injuries and there were no signs of foul play, reported The Star. »Further checks at the scene found that the air-conditioner had been wrapped with blue garbage plastic pieces and the window sealed with plastic canvas," Aidil said.

Former Nee Soon GRC MP Carrie Tan is engaged. In a video posted to her Facebook page on Friday (May 16), she revealed that she had popped the question to her boyfriend of seven years, Kevin Teo, on April 26, and explained why she did so. «Watch the video of me breaking another gender barrier with this crazy (not so crazy) thing I did,» she captioned. Writing in Chinese, she noted that her partner, who's the Chief Technology Officer at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, had once suggested that she should be the one to propose «in this age of equality», and given her feminist leanings. The proposal took place during local music school The Singing Loft's recital event on April 26, which also happened to be the fourth day of campaigning for the General Election. «Skipped off on Day 4 of GE for another very serious business,» she wrote in the caption to her post, before apologising, tongue-in-cheek, to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. «Sorry PM Wong, I planned this before you announced the writ. Thankfully I wasn't gonna run for elections!» Tan joked.

Following complaints about the exterior of their HDB flats being painted purple, residents of 14 blocks in Tiong Bahru will have the chance to vote on a new colour scheme. In a Facebook post on May 18, newly minted Member of Parliament (MP) Foo Cexiang said more than 200 residents joined the townhall sessions held at the Block 4B and 10A Residents' Committees Centres on May 16 and 17.  He shared that the original design was inspired by the purple-blossomed bougainvillea that the community had planted years ago.  «Some of you told me that having learnt this, you can better appreciate the design,» said Foo, who oversees the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru division of Tanjong Pagar GRC.

SINGAPORE - In the space of less than a week, two community cats have died. One was found on the road near an estate in Yishun on May 9, disembowelled and with its eyes gouged out. Another was discovered to be severely injured in a carpark in Punggol on May 12. Cat rescuers took the feline to a vet, but it eventually died from its injuries. The National Parks Board said on May 17 that the cat had likely sustained its injuries due to a vehicular accident. Nonetheless, the two incidents sparked outrage among members of the public, with some going to the extent of hiring a private investigator to catch the perpetrator. In 2024, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) received 961 reports of animal cruelty and welfare concerns involving 2,190 animals – numbers which hit a 12-year-high. More than half of these were cats, with 1,330 cases. Given the spike in animal abuse cases, is it time to re-examine the law and implement harsher penalties?

Ng Chee Meng will not be taking any further action following the apology of Facebook user Rich Sng, the labour chief said in a statement on Friday (May 16). Separately, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat also issued a joint statement acknowledging Sng's apology. He had previously alleged in the post that Ng, Ong and Chee condoned the actions of convicted money launderer Su Haijin, with Ong and Chee responding with legal letters demanding a public apology. Sng, whose real name is Sng Eng Huat, published an apology online on Friday in which he admitted that the allegations in his Facebook posts were «baseless, false and completely without foundation», Ng said. «Sng has also undertaken not to make any allegations or publish any further posts containing any false allegations to the same or similar effect.» He also offered to perform 100 hours of community service for each public servant identified in his Facebook posts.  

A woman whose younger brother died a decade ago during the 2015 Sabah earthquake while scaling Mount Kinabalu recently completed the climb on his behalf. The official Facebook page of the mountain shared a «touching tribute» from Simran Jaryal to her brother Navdeep Singh Jaryal s/o Raj Kumar on Friday (May 16). «Reaching the summit of Mount Kinabalu was one of the most emotional experiences of my life,» she wrote. «It was a climb filled with physical challenge, deep reflection, and overwhelming love. Every step I took, I carried the memory of my brother, Navdeep — his laughter, his courage, and his unshakable spirit.» She added that Navdeep, whom she described as a «cheeky and funny boy» who lit up the room with his smiles and quick-witted comments, had been very proud to be selected on the expedition and had trained with «such dedication and determination». «This climb was not just for me — it was for Navdeep and his friends,» Simran continued.

Passers-by rushed to the aid of a motorcyclist who found himself stuck under his vehicle in the middle of a busy intersection following an accident. The motorcyclist had collided with a truck in Woodlands on Thursday (May 15), according to a video posted to Facebook group SG Road Vigilante on Friday. In the one minute, 57-second video, the motorcyclist can be seen taking a right turn at the junction of Woodlands Ave 12 and 5. But as he attempts to hang right, he fails to take the turn and drives into the lane on his left, colliding with the rear of a truck and losing control of his vehicle. The motorcyclist skids and tumbles to the ground, unable to get to his feet. The driver whose vehicle was right behind the motorcyclist during the accident, and who also shared the video on Facebook, stopped his vehicle immediately and rushed over to help him. Soon, a passer-by crossed the junction and joined in the effort. While the two extricated the motorcyclist from under his bike, three more people joined in to provide assistance.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Over 17,900 people caught for use and possession of vapes since January 2024 More than 17,900 people were caught for possession and use of e-vaporisers between January 2024 and March 2025, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint statement on Friday (May 16)... » READ MORE 2. 'His criticism has no effect on me': Quan Yi Fong responds to Addy Lee's accusations

At 17, he was a gang leader and lived a life of violence and drugs. For a decade, he went in and out of prison for a series of crimes including drug abuse and extortion. Now 46, Kim Whye Kee is an artist and volunteers in the community. He discovered an unexpected passion for pottery during the final months of his incarceration and pursued a degree in Fine Arts at LASALLE College of the Arts after his release in 2008. In 2016, Kim founded Qi Pottery, specialising in tea wares, and has amassed over 11,000 followers on his Instagram page. Today, he volunteers with the Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Limited, offering mentorship to individuals facing drug-related struggles. «I decided to change when I started to give back.»

More than 17,900 people were caught for possession and use of e-vaporisers between January 2024 and March 2025, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint statement on Friday (May 16). HSA seized more than $41 million worth of e-vaporisers and components and conducted 50 successful operations against large-scale e-vaporiser syndicates within the period. Sixty people aged between 17 and 43 were also prosecuted for selling e-vaporisers. Two persons who were part of an e-vaporiser syndicate involving over $5 million worth of e-vaporisers were also among the prosecuted, while another key figure in a $6.5 million case was arrested in October last year. The two, Ivan Sin Poh Meng and Toh Wee Leong, were sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of $16,000, and 10 months' imprisonment and a fine of $14,000 respectively, which are the highest sentences to date for the smuggling of vapes. Investigations on the third individual are ongoing. Twenty men and seven women aged between 20 and 46 failed to pay composition fines and were prosecuted.

The Blackbird SG, a live music bar and restaurant in Gillman Barracks, was fined $850 in court on Wednesday (May 14) for lapses in food safety and hygiene regulations, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said. This came after 40 cases of gastroenteritis were reported in December 2023 after patrons consumed food prepared by the establishment. None of them were hospitalised, SFA said. The Ministry of Health and SFA later conducted a joint investigation at the premises and found multiple food safety breaches, including a dirty chiller, which increases the risk of cross-contamination. In addition, ready-to-eat sandwiches that were collected as food samples for the investigation failed SFA's food safety tests. The agency reminded food operators to ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained to ensure proper food hygiene and safety requirements are met. It added it would not hesitate to take enforcement action against food operators found to violate the Environmental Public Health Act.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said that Asean economic ministers are committed to deepening their partnership and will soon conclude negotiations for an upgrade to Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).   At a media doorstop on Friday (May 16), DPM Gan, chairman of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (Sert), provided an update on the taskforce's focus areas, reiterating its three-pronged approach to help businesses and workers cope with the current uncertainty caused by sweeping tariffs imposed by the United States. He highlighted the importance of strengthening Singapore's partnership with key trading partners, particularly within Asean, to bolster the economy. While Singapore and its trading partners may face heightened tariffs from the US, it has stepped up collaboration with Asean and is close to completing negotiations for ATIGA by the end of this month, he said. ATIGA is a free trade agreement (FTA) started in 2009 between Asean members that aims to reduce trade barriers and deepen economic links between member states.

Punggol Town Council, NParks and animal welfare groups will work in tandem to raise awareness on treating animals with kindness, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said in a Facebook post on Thursday (May 15). In his post, DPM Gan, who is also an MP of Punggol GRC, stated that «a beloved community cat in Punggol» named Shere Khan was found severely injured, and residents have written in to share feedback on animal welfare. «NParks has assured us that they are looking into the matter,» DPM Gan said, adding that the Town Council will work with NParks and animal welfare groups to put up posters to raise awareness on animal welfare. «Let us be a gracious society, and show kindness and compassion to animals,» he added.

Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat said that Singapore must remain a «key node» in the global supply chain amid ongoing uncertainty. Speaking to media at PSA Pasir Panjang Terminal on Friday (May 16), Chee said that despite greater turbulence, uncertainty and shifts in the world, Singapore's container volumes have grown by 6.1 per cent during the first four months of 2025, compared to the same period last year. Singapore handled 14.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) – which is a measure of cargo capacity – from January to April this year. «Container (throughput) has remained strong despite what's happening,» he said, adding that this is something he hopes can continue. Chee added that companies have boosted trade activity in recent months due to the pause in higher tariff rates and this increase in activity has benefitted Singapore.  «There is actually a boost in terms of companies trying to do some front loading and catching up, trying to make full use of this window,» he said.

Punggol Town Council, NParks and animal welfare groups will work in tandem to raise awareness on treating animals with kindness, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said in a Facebook post on Thursday (May 15). In his post, DPM Gan, who is also an MP of Punggol GRC, stated that «a beloved community cat in Punggol» named Shere Khan was found severely injured, and residents have written in to share feedback on animal welfare. «NParks has assured us that they are looking into the matter,» DPM Gan said, adding that the Town Council will work with NParks and animal welfare groups to put up posters to raise awareness on animal welfare. «Let us be a gracious society, and show kindness and compassion to animals,» he added.

Promotions and opportunities for political newcomers are expected to be high on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's agenda as he forms the next Government. This comes after the People's Action Party (PAP) secured 65.57 per cent of the national vote following the May 3 General Election. Several political analysts told AsiaOne that major changes are on the cards, pointing to the big mandate that PM Wong secured in his first election as PAP leader. «Given the overwhelming support he has received from voters, he managed to retain most of his cadre members,» said independent political observer Felix Tan. «He now has the strong mandate to make tough decisions within his party and also will be able to put those that he deems fit into these positions.»

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is rewarding all eligible staff with a profit-sharing bonus of 7.45 months after posting a record-breaking profit of $2.78 billion for the financial year that ended on March 31.  Its net profit was up by 3.9 per cent year-on-year, from $2.68 billion recorded in the previous financial year. The boost in net profit was attributed to the one-off non-cash accounting gain of $1.1 billion from the Air India-Vistara merger completed in November 2024 that resulted in SIA having a 25.1 per cent stake in the enlarged Air India. Group revenue was also up 2.8 per cent year-on-year to a record-high of $19.5 billion, driven by resilient demand for air travel and cargo uplift that brought Scoot and SIA's passenger volume to a high of 39.4 million. But SIA's operating profit declined by 37.3 per cent year-on-year to $1.7 billion as a result of stronger competition. It also proposed a final dividend of 30 cents per share, resulting in a total divided of 40 cents per share for the financial year.

Retiring Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat hopes to spend the next six to 12 months “not doing any work”, before he figures out his next steps. “I have a very bad work habit, I work long hours. I don’t have much time for myself,” he said. “I hope to spend time travelling to all my favourite places, to read my favourite books and listen to my music, so that I can slow down. Then I’ll decide what else might be meaningful for me to do.” The 64-year-old also hopes to spend time with his children and extended family, and continue exercising and taking care of his health. Plans for his post-politics life have been on the cards for at least a year. In May 2024, he told Prime Minister Lawrence Wong just after his swearing-in ceremony that he wanted to retire “if the transition goes well for the rest of the year”. “I had decided on that before that, but I didn’t want to disturb him,” DPM Heng told The Straits Times on May 15. He does not intend to go back to public life, quipping: “Only if I am absolutely needed. Do you have something in mind?”

Move over, flowers. One Singapore Polytechnic graduate got a roasted duck and bitter gourd instead. A TikTok video of a woman receiving the unusual gift in lieu of a graduation bouquet has gone viral. Tricia, who wished to be known only by her first name, posted the video of herself holding a whole roasted duck and bitter gourd at her graduation on May 7. Captioned «best graduation bouquet», the 17-second video shows the Business Administration graduate laughing in disbelief with the items in her hands while her peers held flower bouquets. The video has garnered over 477,000 views as of Thursday (May 15).

Around 1,000 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats at the former Keppel Club golf course will be launched during the Housing Development Board's (HDB) BTO exercise in October this year, according to National Development Minister Desmond Lee. Lee announced the project in a Facebook post on Thursday (May 15), reiterating the government's goal to launch approximately 19,600 homes across multiple projects this year. The estate is part of the mature town of Bukit Merah and will feature «around 1,000 units ranging from 2-room Flexi to 4-room flats, as well as public rental flats», he stated.

A Singaporean driver involved in a fatal Second Link Expressway accident on May 9 was charged in a Malaysian court today (May 15). Muhammad Irsyad Abdul Hameed, 27, pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, reported Malaysian media outlet New Straits Times. The man is accused of causing the death of 32-year-old motorcyclist A. Vasanthraj at the expressway at about 6.40pm. Irsyad, who was driving a red Maserati, had allegedly made an illegal U-turn and crashed into the road divider, according to previous media reports. The victim collided with the debris and reportedly died at the scene from severe head injuries. Following the crash, several angry motorists surrounded and allegedly assaulted Irsyad before the police arrived, according to viral videos posted online. 

SINGAPORE — A 20-year-old man who molested a stewardess while on board a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight has been sentenced to three weeks' jail. On May 14, Indian national Rajat, who goes by only one name, pleaded guilty to one charge of using criminal force with the intent to outrage modesty. The offence took place on Feb 28, when Rajat, who was studying at a university in Australia, was flying from Perth to Singapore. At 11.20am, the stewardess was cleaning one of the restrooms and bent down to pick up a piece of toilet paper on the floor. «As she did so, (Rajat) approached her and placed both his hands on her hips, near her buttocks. He then pushed his way into the toilet, causing the victim to enter the toilet as well,» said Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Lau. A female passenger who saw what happened quickly pulled the stewardess out of the restroom and took her to the back of plane to recompose herself and to avoid Rajat. Despite what happened, Rajat requested to speak to her privately, said the prosecutor. He was arrested after the plane landed in Changi Airport.

Two grandstands at Turf City and the Singapore Badminton Hall along Guillemard Road have been proposed for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). They are among the «significant buildings» at five sites being put forth for conservation as part of the authority's Draft Master Plan 2025, said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee on Wednesday (May 14). The three other sites are the former Royal Malayan Navy administrative block in Woodlands North, Jurong Hill Tower and a cluster of six blocks in the Dakota Crescent estate. In a video posted to Facebook on Wednesday, Lee said these buildings and sites help to tell the story of Singapore’s progress in the past 60 years. «Each one means something to someone. So, one important way of anchoring our sense of place and identity as Singaporeans is to conserve buildings and sites that reflect our common history and experiences,» he said. «Beyond conserving the physical structures, we can continue to recall memories...through digital documentation, physical markers and walking trails.»

Two people were taken to hospital following a fire which broke out in a Toa Payoh HDB flat on Wednesday (May 14). Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire likely originated from a personal mobility device (PMD) battery in the living room, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in a Facebook post on Thursday (May 15).  SCDF said that they were alerted to the fire at about 10.50pm, which involved the living room of a 10th floor unit at Block 226, Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. Firefighters forced their way into the smoke-filled unit and extinguished the fire with a water jet. During the operation, firefighters discovered an individual inside one of the bedrooms. The person was rescued and assessed for smoke inhalation and burn injuries by paramedics. The person was then taken to the Singapore General Hospital. Some 30 residents from neighbouring units were also evacuated by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and SCDF. A person from the 14th unit who had experienced breathlessness during the incident was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

A domestic worker who was given life imprisonment in 2023 for murdering her employer’s mother-in-law had the charge reduced to culpable homicide on May 14 after her lawyers argued at her appeal that she had been provoked. Zin Mar Nwe, 24, had stabbed the victim 26 times on June 25, 2018, after the 70-year-old woman threatened to send her back to the agent. Lawyer Josephus Tan said the triggering statement amounted to grave and sudden provocation, which caused the Myanmar national, who was then 17 years old, to lose self-control. Mr Tan argued that to her mind, the statement represented a real possibility that she would be sent back to her home country because it was the third time within five months she had changed employers. He said the threat was made against a backdrop of “a period in which the deceased had scolded, hit and hurt the accused”.  Deputy Public Prosecutor Kumaresan Gohulabalan argued that there was no evidence to support a finding the maid had been physically abused, aside from her self-reported claims.

SINGAPORE — A cleaner was at work in a primary school when he molested a 10-year-old girl twice in a single day in May 2024. In one of the incidents, he brazenly outraged the child's modesty while her schoolmates were playing nearby. On May 14, the 67-year-old man, whose name has been redacted from court documents, was sentenced to 11 months and two weeks' jail after he pleaded guilty to two molestation charges. Deputy Public Prosecutor Xavier Tan told the court that the victim was standing near the school canteen during recess at around 11.15am on May 6, 2024, when the offender called out to her. He then walked up to the girl, hugged her from the front and moved his body in a lewd manner. The girl did not return the hug, and ran into the canteen when he released her. She was sitting at one of the tables when he approached her again, sat down, and placed his left arm around her back. When a boy approached the victim, the man left, the court heard. At around 11.30am, the girl was heading back to class when the man approached her yet again and tried to kiss her.

Singapore and Changi cannot afford to be complacent, and we must «continue to work hard», said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega Terminal 5 (T5)  on Wednesday (May 14). The terminal will also house Changi's first transport hub, with the potential for land, air and sea transportation options. Speaking at the event, PM Wong, who is also the Finance Minister said: «Like Singapore, this improbable nation we have, Changi, too, has defied the odds to thrive and succeed beyond all expectations. »We must make a connection to the world, and we must make sure our air hub stays competitive. That's why, today, we are making another bold move in Changi with this groundbreaking." He shared that an estimated 50 million passengers are expected to travel through T5 each year. With the completion of T5, Changi Airport will be able to handle 140 million passengers yearly, boosting its current capacity of 90 million by more than 55 per cent.  The current 170 city links that Changi has is expected to increase to more than 200 with the completion of the new terminal, PM Wong stated.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Singapore and Changi cannot be complacent, says PM Wong during groundbreaking ceremony of Terminal 5 Singapore and Changi cannot afford to be complacent, and we must «continue to work hard», said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega Terminal 5 (T5)  on Wednesday (May 14)... » READ MORE 2. Stray cat in Punggol dies from 'deliberate abuse'; NParks investigating

A man has been arrested for allegedly attacking a parent with a foldable metal chair after a Singapore Youth League (SYL) match on May 11. The police told AsiaOne that they received a call for assistance at 10 Compassvale Lane - which is Sengkang Secondary School - at about 7.15pm on that day. A 51-year-old man was conveyed to Sengkang General Hospital while conscious and a 46-year-old man was arrested for rash act causing hurt. Investigations are ongoing. According to a statement by Albirex Niigata, one of the clubs which played that night, the victim was «assaulted with a foldable metal chair», suffering severe bruising and cuts near his left eye socket as a result. The man, who is the parent of a youth footballer, was taken to hospital and discharged the same night. «We are in close contact with the parent. He is recovering and his vision is improving. The parent has also made a police report immediately after the assault,» said the club.