Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will visit Singapore on Thursday (Dec 4) for the 12th Singapore-Malaysia annual leaders retreat, where the two countries are expected to sign several bilateral agreements. He will be hosted by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, according to a statement from Singapore's Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Wednesday (Dec 3). The annual leaders' retreat is a key platform for the two leaders to take stock of bilateral cooperation, explore new avenues of collaboration and provide guidance on how to take bilateral relations forward. On Thursday, Anwar will be hosted to lunch by Wong. Both countries will then hold a delegation meeting. The events will be held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore hotel in the Marina Bay area. [[nid:726108]]The two leaders will also witness the exchange of bilateral memorandums of understanding and agreements in areas including the fight against drugs and health. 

Customers of massage and foot reflexology chain Wan Yang have reported losses of over $904,000 in unused prepaid packages, said Melvin Yong, president of Consumers Association of Singapore (Case).In a statement to AsiaOne on Wednesday (Dec 3), Yong said that Case has received 439 complaints following Wan Yang's sudden closure on Nov 21.The current amount far exceeds the initial $29,000 previously announced by Yong on Nov 24.According to the Radin Mas MP, Wan Yang confirmed that all three of its entities — Wan Yang Holdings, Wan Yang Foot Reflexology Centre and Wan Yang Health Product & Foot Reflexology Centre — have ceased operations as of Nov 21, and are undergoing liquidation proceedings.«Wan Yang has proposed liquidators, care of RSM SG Corporate Advisory Pte Ltd, to oversee the liquidation administration,» said Yong, adding that they will be appointed following a creditors' meeting on Dec 10.

The police have arrested 13 men, aged between 21 and 39, for being suspected members of unlawful societies.The islandwide secret-society suppression operation on Nov 28 and 29 was led by the Secret Societies Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department and was supported by five police land divisions.About 40 public entertainment outlets, nightlife establishments, and food and beverage outlets, as well as close to 100 people, were checked.Police investigations on the 13 are ongoing. Anyone found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966 shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.From 2022 to 2024, more than 1,300 suspected members of unlawful societies were arrested.Figures from the Singapore Prison Service show that there has been a spike in the number of young people jailed for their involvement in secret society activities under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act.

SINGAPORE — On the night of Dec 2, some passengers travelling on the East-West Line (EWL) between Bugis and Bedok stations experienced a delay of at least 20 minutes.From around 8pm, posters and digital screen displays were put up at various stations indicating that a track fault had occurred, resulting in extra travelling time of 20 minutes between Bugis and Bedok stations — a stretch of eight stations.At Paya Lebar station, one of the affected stops, trains called at platforms opposite to their designated ones and station staff were also said to have been unclear about the trains' direction of travel.SMRT, which operates the EWL, did not announce the delay on its social media pages, irking some passengers.Responding to queries from The Straits Times on Dec 3, SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai said a track point failure took place near Aljunied station on the EWL at around 7.50pm on Dec 2.A track point failure refers to a malfunctioning railway switch that allows trains to change tracks.

Malaysia will not permit Singapore tour buses to operate express bus services in the country, its transport minister Anthony Loke said on Tuesday (Dec 2). He told Malaysia's Parliament that under a reciprocal arrangement, Singapore tour buses can bring tourists into Malaysia, just as Malaysia's tour buses are allowed into Singapore, reported The Star. Loke reportedly stated that the Republic had requested for its express buses to run in Malaysia, in return for Malaysian buses operating in Singapore. «However, Singapore does not have a legal category for express buses. Their system only recognises tour buses and scheduled buses,» he said. Adding that his ministry's position «remains firm», Loke said that «action will be taken» against illegal operators.Malaysian MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary raised his concern in a supplementary question that some Singaporean tour buses have operated in Malaysia for years without inspections or local safety standards. In response, Loke said that such bus operators «have taken advantage of the system». 

A car travelling along the Seletar Expressway (SLE) caught on fire and was engulfed by flames on Tuesday (Dec 2). The incident occurred at around 5.45pm along the SLE towards Tampines Expressway, before the Seletar West exit. Videos of the incident were posted to TikTok, with one showing thick grey smoke billowing from the white car.Another video captured the aftermath of the incident, where a section of the road was blocked off by police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers, and the car was charred.In response to queries from AsiaOne, SCDF said the fire was extinguished using a water jet, and that no injuries were reported.The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A total of 18 bus services will be temporarily diverted from their usual routes due to lane and road closures for the upcoming 12th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat on Thursday (Dec 4). In a public transport service announcement posted on its website, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that 18 bus services - 36, 70M, 97, 97e, 106, 111, 133, 502, 518, 666, 671, 672, 673, 675, 676, 677, 678, and 857 - will skip one bus stop along Temasek Avenue from 10pm on Dec 3 to 11.59pm on Dec 4. The bus stop with code 02171 is located opposite The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore hotel. 

A 41-year-old Indonesian man who turned himself in to the police after allegedly murdering his wife at a five-star hotel in Chinatown was escorted back to the crime scene on Wednesday (Dec 3). Salehuddin, who goes by one name, arrived at the basement car park of Capri by Fraser China Square hotel in an unmarked police van at about 9.15am. He exited the vehicle in wrist and ankle restrains, hunched over with his head bowed in front of media photographers. The suspect was led by investigators from the police's Criminal Investigation Department up to the seventh-floor room of the hotel, where the killing is suspected to have occurred. He was also accompanied by an interpreter and an independent volunteer under the Appropriate Adult Scheme, which renders support to suspects under the age of 18, or adults with intellectual disabilities or mental health issues. 

One person was taken to hospital after a trailer caught fire along Clementi Road on Tuesday (Dec 2). The incident occurred at around 2.55pm, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Photos circulating online show large plumes of smoke billowing from the white trailer. A passer-by who spoke to 8world said a loud explosion was heard and the air subsequently filled with a pungent odour. SCDF said the fire was extinguished with a hosereel. One person was conveyed to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is under investigation. [[nid:725258]]dana.leong@asiaone.com

A 29-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a series of e-commerce scams involving the sale of limited edition Pokémon trading cards. In a statement on Tuesday (Dec 2), the police said that the man was believed to be involved in at least 111 of such cases, with losses amounting to at least $80,000. The man had allegedly advertised the pre-order sales of limited edition Pokémon trading cards on Carousell. Victims would eventually realise that they have been scammed when they did not receive their cards after payment was made via bank transfers. The man would first claim that delivery of the said trading cards was delayed and later became unresponsive. He was arrested on Dec 1 through follow-up investigations by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department. The 29-year-old will be charged in court on Dec 3 with cheating. If found guilty, he may be fined and jailed for up to 10 years. Take precautions when making online purchasesThe police advised the public to be careful when making online purchases. 

Heavy rains caused a tree branch to snap and fall onto a car at Lavender Street on Tuesday (Dec 2).The incident occurred at 12pm, according to a post on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page, which included photos of the car.In the pictures, a white Toyota Sienta is seen sandwiched beneath a large tree branch, though it appears to be undamaged. Smaller branches are also seen littering the road around the car.The National Parks Board (NParks) confirmed the incident and said that the Angsana tree branch had snapped during a period of heavy rain and strong winds brought about by a Sumatra squall, in response to queries from the Straits Times.According to the Meteorological Service Singapore, a Sumatra squall is a line of thunderstorms that originate over Indonesia's Sumatra island that typically move towards Singapore and the surrounding region under the influence of southwesterly or westerly winds.NParks said that no injuries were reported and that the road obstruction was cleared at around 1pm.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also told Straits Times it did not receive a call for assistance over the incident.

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.1. 3 in 5 employers plan to freeze hiring in 2026: SNEF surveyAmid a more volatile business environment, close to three in five employers (58 per cent) plan to freeze hiring in 2026 - up from 50 per cent in 2025 - a survey by the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) showed... » READ MORE2. 'Could we award 2 winners?' Anita Yuen faces dilemma as jury at Singapore's inaugural Golden Singa Awards

The founder and former director of Agritrade International, Ng Say Peck, was arrested on Monday (Dec 1) after five years on the run and charged in court with 10 counts of cheating the next day.The 72-year-old Singaporean allegedly cheated digital financing platform Funding Societies after entering a credit facility arrangement in 2019, according to a statement by the police.At the time, Funding Societies was issued finance invoices assigned to Agritrade International.The platform made over 10 transactions between August and November 2019, and subsequently transferred a cumulative sum of $8 million to Agritrade International.According to the police, the invoices were only discovered to be fictitious after investigations.Investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department into Agritrade International for trade financing fraud commenced in January 2020 after the police received multiple reports lodged by various entities, including banks and finance companies that had extended credit facilities to Agritrade International for the purposes of trade financing.Ng fled the country shortly before the commencement of police investigations.

Amid a more volatile business environment, close to three in five employers (58 per cent) plan to freeze hiring in 2026 — up from 50 per cent in 2025 — a survey by the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) showed.The survey, conducted between June 25 and Aug 15, received responses from around 240 employers and found that over 70 per cent of them expect greater uncertainty in the coming year — a spike from 58 per cent in the previous survey.The proportion of employers planning to reduce headcount is similar to that in 2024, with large employers being more likely to do so.Additionally, close to half of the respondents (48 per cent) plan to implement wage moderation or wage freezes, up from 38 per cent in 2024.Firms planning to raise salaries will be giving lower increments than previous years, according to the survey.On the bright side, 96 per cent of respondents who employ lower wage workers have planned built-in wage increases for them next year.Employers, especially small and medium-sized firms, plan to be more cautious in the coming months.

A 37-year-old male tipper truck driver was taken conscious to hospital after an accident along Tuas Viaduct in the early hours of Tuesday (Dec 2). The accident involved two heavy vehicles — a tipper truck and a cement mixer. The police told AsiaOne that they were alerted to the accident along Tuas Viaduct, towards Tuas South Avenue 3, at about 3.35am. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said the driver was conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. A video of the aftermath of the accident posted on Facebook by SG Road Vigilante shows the tipper truck lying on its right side with what appears to be soil spilt onto the road. The truck's front bumper and the viaduct's railings also appear to be damaged. A short distance away, behind the truck, the cement mixer was stopped with some damage seen on the right side of its front bumper. The video also shows an excavator at the scene after sunrise, working in the rain to remove the soil and debris scattered on the road shoulder of the two-lane road. Police investigations are ongoing. 

A fire broke out in a bedroom of a 10th floor HDB flat in Sengkang on Monday (Dec 1) morning. The incident took place at about 2.55am at Block 415A Fernvale Link. In a Facebook post on the same day, Ang Mo Kio GRC member of parliament Victor Lye said the fire may have been caused by an electronic device being charged. «Woken up by the crackling fire, the resident tried putting out the fire with four fire extinguisher canisters that he had, but it was not enough,» added Lye, who represents the Buangkok-Fernvale South ward. He also thanked the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for their quick response, and the town council team which assisted to clean up the place before residents in the block left for work. Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the SCDF said the fire involved the contents of a bedroom in the unit and was extinguished using a hose reel. One person was assessed by an SCDF paramedic for minor injuries but the person declined to be sent to hospital, added the SCDF. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Singaporeans are invited to share their views for Budget 2026 over a six-week period from Tuesday (Dec 2) until Jan 12, announced the Ministry of Finance (MOF).Individuals, organisations and businesses can provide their views and suggestions under three themes: advancing our economy; securing good jobs; and uplifting Singaporeans to progress together.The 2026 budget is scheduled to be presented in February 2026.Advancing our economyIn its media release on Dec 2, MOF said that a vibrant and dynamic economy is essential for creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans.It added that Singapore will continue to invest in innovation and expand productive capacity to drive new areas of growth, but must carefully manage its limited land and resources, while addressing climate change-related threats.MOF listed the following themes and questions for the public's feedback and suggestions: 

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has expressed his deep sadness by the devastation caused by widespread flooding across South-east Asia. Over the past week, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have been battered by monsoons exacerbated by tropical storms, leading to some of the worst flooding in years across the three countries. As of Monday (Dec 1), nearly 800 people have died — 604 in Indonesia, three in Malaysia, and 176 in Thailand — with hundreds still missing, according to official figures.In a Facebook post on Dec 2, PM Lawrence Wong said he was «deeply saddened» by how communities across South-east Asia were devastated, calling the images of displacement and loss «heartbreaking». «To all those affected, and to the brave responders battling the waters to keep others safe, our thoughts and prayers are within you,» PM Wong added.

The government will release land for 4,575 private residential units in the first half of 2026 under its land sales programme, said the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Tuesday (Dec 2). This brings the overall number of new private homes in the pipeline to about 58,600 units, it added. “The supply will be from a good spread of sites across various locations, supporting the development of both conventional private residential units and long-stay serviced apartments to cater to both owner-occupation and rental housing demand,” said MND. The nine sites in the confirmed list earmarked for residential use are: Holland Plain: 280 unitsRiver Valley Green: 470 unitsPeck Hay Road: 315 unitsBerlayar Drive: 415 unitsCanberra Drive: 185 unitsNew Upper Changi Road: 1,040 unitsLorong Puntong: 140 unitsSembawang Drive: 450 unitsA site in Bayshore Drive, slated for commercial and residential use, is expected to yield 1,280 private homes and around 22,500 sqm of commercial space. 

SINGAPORE — Eight companies in Singapore have been blacklisted and barred from business dealings over their links to two fugitives who allegedly played key roles in the $3 billion money laundering case.In a reply to queries from The Straits Times, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) said regulatory or enforcement actions have been taken against companies owned by Su Binghai from September 2023, and those linked to Xu Haika from April 2024.«As these eight companies have been blacklisted, and their assets have been frozen since regulatory or enforcement actions commenced against them, it is not possible for them to have any more business dealings or financial transactions in Singapore,» said SPF and ACRA in a joint statement.Su and Xu Haika were among 17 suspects who evaded arrest during the police operation which saw 10 foreigners arrested on Aug 15, 2023, in the worst money laundering case in Singapore.Checks on the business registry show that Xu Haika is listed as the sole director of holding company Rong Hai Development, a role he has held since December 2020.

More than 800 Singaporeans affected by the Hat Yai floods in southern Thailand have reached Singapore safely, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.The 822 Singaporeans had e-registered with or reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).In a Facebook post on Monday (Dec 1), Dr Balakrishnan said that MFA's consular response teams have «worked tirelessly» on the ground to reach Singaporeans and help bring them home. He thanked the Thai government, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, non-governmental organisations and volunteers — acknowledging that their «swift support» had enabled MFA to assist Singaporeans effectively. Dr Balakrishnan also expressed gratitude to the Malaysian government, which helped to receive Singaporeans where possible and provided timely support during evacuation efforts.In an earlier update on Nov 28, MFA said that 893 Singaporeans had reached out to them. 

SINGAPORE — More than 52ha of forested land and streams near Nanyang Technological University is slated to be cleared for the expansion of an industrial district in Jurong.JTC Corporation said on Dec 1 that the clearance is for the development of the CleanTech Park and Bahar precincts of the 620ha Jurong Innovation District, a five-precinct advanced manufacturing hub that is being progressively built since 2019.The 116ha project site for the CleanTech Park, which will be Singapore's first eco-business park, and Bahar is located along Jalan Bahar, near the PIE intersection.Larger than Thomson Nature Park, the forested area comprises a mix of mature forest patches, vegetation that has recolonised abandoned kampungs and plantations, as well as forest streams, a rare habitat here that cannot be easily re-created.A total of 56 flora and fauna species significant for conservation are expected to be affected, including the heavily trafficked Sunda pangolin and the harlequin butterfly, a reddish brown insect adorned with silver spots on the brink of extinction in Singapore.

Six days after a section of the roof at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery along Bright Hill Road partially collapsed, initial investigations and checks have been completed and parts of the building allowed to reopen. In the aftermath of incident, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) had closed off two buildings from public access for safety reasons.  Kong Meng San Pork Kark See Monastery was then ordered to appoint a professional engineer to investigate the collapse, advise on the necessary precautionary measures, and recommend permanent rectification works. 

Singapore and Malaysia will hold their 12th annual leaders' retreat at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore hotel on Thursday (Dec 4).The Singapore-Malaysia leaders' retreat is a platform for the two prime ministers to set the overall direction for bilateral cooperation, and identify new ways to deliver tangible benefits to Singaporeans and Malaysians.During the last retreat held from Jan 6 to 7 in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed the progress of the Johor-Singapore Economic Zone and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link project. In a media statement on Monday (Dec 1), the police said that they will conduct security checks in the vicinity of the hotel.Members of the public are advised to comply strictly with the instructions of the police. Any non-compliance will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law, police added.

High-rise littering incidents have been back in the spotlight after recent incidents at a HDB estate in Choa Chu Kang, and now in MacPherson. In a Facebook post on Sunday (Nov 30), Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC member of parliament Tin Peiling shared about a recent incident involving a beer bottle thrown from height at a new BTO estate in MacPherson. Based on the photographs shown in Tin's post, the BTO estate is MacPherson Blossom which was completed in 2024. Calling the incident «abhorrent» and «unacceptable», Tin revealed that there is a childcare centre in the area. «Most recently, a beer bottle was thrown from a high floor, causing glass pieces to be shattered everywhere. This is dangerous and could cause very serious injuries. »Worse, there is a childcare centre nearby. Such callous and antisocial behaviour is abhorrent and unacceptable!", Tin said. A police report has been made and the relevant agencies such as the National Environment Agency (NEA) have been alerted. 

A wealthy Singaporean widow, who almost lost $40 million of her assets to her former tour guide nearly a decade ago, has died at the age of 98. Retired physiotherapist Chung Khin Chun died on Oct 25 and was cremated three days later, reported 8world. The woman’s niece confirmed to the Chinese news outlet on Monday (Dec 1) that Chung died peacefully without illness. Chung had been embroiled in a bitter dispute against former tour guide Yang Yin, who was later jailed for misappropriating $1.1 million from her. The pair met in 2008, when Yang acted as her private tour guide during a trip in China. A year later, Yang then 35, moved into Chung’s bungalow in Yio Chu Kang after her husband died and claimed she wanted him to be her “grandson”. Yang, who obtained Singapore permanent residency, also brought his wife and two young children into the country.The childless widow in 2010 made a will leaving Yang with all of her assets, estimated to be worth $40 million.

This article is part of a package produced by a group of final-year undergraduates from Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, for the programme Going Overseas For Advanced Reporting, or Gofar. They reported from a town called Mae Sot at the Myanmar-Thailand border in July and August 2025. There, they met migrants and refugees displaced by six decades of civil war in Myanmar and are rebuilding their lives in Thailand.MAE SOT, Thailand - During one of her earlier forays into global healthcare, Singaporean emergency medical doctor Tiah Ling found herself in a small district hospital in Ghana, face to face with a patient whose blood level had dropped to 4 grams per decilitre - far below the normal levels of 11 to 14 gdL.An urgent blood transfusion was needed, but the resource-strapped hospital had no blood bank. The patient had no money to pay for blood transfusions from family members or donors.With no other choice, Dr Tiah turned to oral iron supplements - a far cry from what was required.

Two Singaporean men were among 108 people recently deported from Malaysia upon completion of their detention. In a Facebook post on Monday (Dec 1), the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) in Johor said 108 people of various nationalities were deported from the Pekan Nanas Immigration Detention Centre to their countries of origin in the fourth week of November. «Among those deported are 52 Bangladeshis, 25 Indonesians, 11 Thais, nine Vietnamese, nine Pakistanis, and two Singaporeans,» JIM said. According to the department, the detention centre regularly carries out deportation to ensure there is no backlog of detainees who have completed their sentences and are still staying in the country. On Nov 18, two Singaporeans who were arrested for overstaying were also deported from Malaysia to Singapore. In response to AsiaOne's queries, Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirmed that the two Singaporeans were deported from Malaysia to Singapore. 

The governing council of the Council of Estate Agencies (CEA) and the Centre for Liveable Cities' (CLC) board will get new leaders in the new year.This was announced by the Ministry of National Development (MND) and CEA in a joint statement on Monday (Dec 1). Justice Vincent Hoong, who is currently a High Court judge and Presiding Judge of the State Courts, will replace current deputy president Cheng Hsing Yao on Jan 1, after his judiciary appointments end on Dec 31. Cheng, who is also the group chief executive officer of GuocoLand Limited, will be appointed as chairman of the CLC's board, also on Jan 1.Established in 2010 as a statutory board under MND, CEA was created following the passing of the Estate Agents Act, to regulate and develop the real estate agency industry.The CLC's role is to position Singapore as a hub for urban solutions through advisory, capability development, research and knowledge platforms such as the World Cities Summit.

In the first ten months of 2025, 23,742 travellers were caught at Singapore's air, land and sea checkpoints for failing to declare dutiable and taxable goods. The total composition sum imposed in lieu of prosecution amounted to $7,114,850, said Singapore Customs on Monday (Dec 1). In one case on Oct 17, a female traveller from Bangkok was directed for further checks after attempting to exit the arrival hall at Changi Airport via the Green Channel, which is for those without anything to declare. The checks found undeclared new luxury items, including a bag, a wallet and three pieces of jewellery. She was fined the maximum composition sum of $5,000. A total of 142 culprits have been issued the maximum penalty of $5,000 for making incorrect or incomplete declarations to Singapore Customs this year, compared with 46 such offenders in 2024 and 51 in 2023. 

Moderate to heavy thundery showers are expected over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on most days in the first fortnight of December, due to the onset of the northeast monsoon, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Monday (Dec 1).The showers may also extend into the evenings on some days.The total rain forecast is expected to be near average over most parts of the island — with daily maximum temperatures between 24 deg C and 33 deg C on most days, reaching around 34 deg C on a few days.The second half of November also saw mostly thundery showers.Temperatures were warmer, typical of the inter-monsoon conditions, with a high of 35.2 deg C recorded at Paya Lebar on Nov 29.On Nov 17, regional convergence of winds brought heavy thundery showers over many parts of Singapore in the afternoon, with a total rainfall of 70.4mm — the highest rainfall recorded for the second half of November — at Clementi. [[nid:725461]]editor@asiaone.com 

SINGAPORE — With climate change expected to cause more erratic rainfall patterns, Singapore's approach to dealing with flash floods has been expanded, said national water agency PUB chief executive Ong Tze-Ch'in.The Government will continue to invest in drainage infrastructure, but on top of that, PUB recognises the need to build up societal resilience against flash flooding, he added.«We have come to the realisation that we cannot possibly prevent every flooding event,» said Ong, 50, in an interview with The Straits Times on Nov 28, as the country enters the rainy north-east monsoon season — the wettest period of the year.According to Singapore's third national climate change study, the growing amount of planet-warming gases in the atmosphere is expected to bring heavier, more intense and frequent storms.In January, monsoon surges — weather events that happen during the wet phase of the north-east monsoon — dumped large amounts of rain over the country in a short period of time.

While returning from a friend's wedding in Johor Bahru, a Singaporean couple was stopped by Malaysian immigration officers at the checkpoint for a car inspection. Not knowing that their handbag, which contained documents, bank cards and $4,700 in cash had fallen out of the vehicle during the check, the couple continued their midnight drive home, reported The Star. Interior designer Tan Zheng Guang explained that he and his wife were worn out from the journey and only realised the bag was missing upon reaching home. The 36-year-old thought the item might have been left behind at the hotel in which they stayed from Nov 3 to 5, but it was not the case. Tan immediately cancelled his bank cards but held back from lodging a report «as I had a feeling that someone would find my bag», he told the Malaysian news outlet. Sure enough, he later received a call from the Singapore Consulate-General in JB, informing him that Malaysian immigration officers had found his bag. «Initially, I thought it was a scam call until the person sent me a picture of my identity card,» he recalled. 

Motorists who make payment for their composition fines for traffic offences within 14 days of receiving the notice of offence will get a discount of $30 from Jan 1, the Singapore Police Force said on Monday (Dec 1).In a statement on Dec 1 (Monday), the police said that significant resources have been used to deal with a «high and increasing volume» of composition fines and appeals. According to the police's statistics, the Traffic Police (TP) issued an average of about 6,000 notice of traffic offence to motorists and processed more than 1,000 appeals per month in 2024.«The vast majority of the appeals were rejected as TP only accedes to appeals in exceptional circumstances, such as if there was a medical emergency, and with supporting documentary proof,» the police said.The introduction of an early payment scheme (EPS) is intended to encourage motorists to pay their composition fines promptly and reduce meritless appeals, thereby saving TP significant resources and allowing these resources to be reallocated to more critical areas such as enforcement.

After a weekend of familiarisation for both passengers and service staff, the situation on the ground continued to be smooth on Monday (Dec 1) morning — the third day of the East-West Line (EWL) shutdown — and the first day of the work week.The service adjustments — from Nov 29 to Dec 8 — are to facilitate works to connect the existing EWL to the new East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID). This follows a similar stoppage of services between Tanah Merah and Tampines from Dec 7 to 9 in 2024. AsiaOne was on the ground at Bedok MRT station, as well as the shuttle bus stop outside Bedok station, from 6.30am on Dec 1 morning.