Remember all these the next time you vote

[True Believer]

Cars are so prohibitively expensive that 90% of residents rely on public transport, which accounts for the "sardine cane" situation during rush hour.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Two floods during monsoon surge caused by lack of proper drainage: PUB​

Flooding near Marina Bay MRT Station on March 21.PHOTO: STOMP

Christie Chiu
Mar 24, 2025

SINGAPORE - Two incidents of flooding during the recent monsoon surge have been attributed to choked and the absence of drains, said national water agency PUB.

In a Facebook post on March 24, PUB said a flood occurred on March 21 along Central Lane 3 near the Marina Bay MRT station.

A report of this incident by Stomp on March 23 was accompanied by a video of a person walking in knee-high water towards a stationary taxi, with half its wheels submerged in the water.

The flooded area is a paved road built to facilitate access to an adjacent worksite, PUB said, adding its checks showed there was no proper drainage there to channel storm water.

The other flood happened on March 23 at the ground-floor lift lobby of 129 Bedok Reservoir Road, and the internal drains nearby were found choked with debris.

An article by Stomp on this incident was accompanied by a video that shows a corridor and lift lobby of a Housing Board block being covered with water.

PUB said both incidents could have been prevented with proper drainage measures and timely maintenance of the internal drainage system.


It added that it is working closely with the relevant authorities to address the issues.

The National Environment Agency had earlier warned of heavy downpours during a monsoon surge from March 19 to March 21, with short thundery showers expected in the afternoon on most days in the following week.

The highest rainfall across March 19 and March 20 was recorded at 318mm in Jurong West, while the highest amount recorded in eastern Singapore was 298.4mm.

These two numbers exceed Singapore’s average monthly rainfall of 209.7mm in March.

Other than the two incidents highlighted, a 15m stretch along the intersection of Mountbatten Road and Jalan Seaview experienced flooding for about two hours at around 2pm on March 20, PUB said in a Facebook post that day.

This was due to a combination of heavy rainfall and high tide that temporarily overwhelmed the adjacent canal and surrounding roadside drains.

The public can provide feedback on flooding incidents through the One Service app or contact PUB directly at 1800-CALL PUB (1800-225-5782).

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Make it easier for overseas Singaporeans to vote​

Apr 01, 2025

To qualify to vote, overseas Singaporeans would need to have resided in Singapore for an aggregate of at least 30 days within a three-year period before the day they register to be an overseas voter (GE2025: Singaporeans can check names from March 28 in voter rolls based on new electoral boundaries, March 27).

Why is this so? Many Singaporean citizens live overseas, promoting the Singaporean brand by making their mark in overseas markets and society. They are no lesser citizens than those who live all or most of their lives in Singapore.

Isn’t it a simple matter of proving their citizenship through their NRIC or passport, their electoral district through a registered local contact address, and their overseas resident status through a copy of their local resident visa?

The Elections Department needs to treat overseas citizens the same as resident citizens, and not create extra and unnecessary hurdles for them to vote.

Rahul Patwardhan

​

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Let Singaporeans vote in the elections, no matter where they are​

Apr 01, 2025

I am writing to express a concern regarding the voting rights of Singapore citizens who are required to travel abroad for work or other commitments during a general election.

Every citizen has the right to vote for the party he believes should lead the country. However, many of us face challenges in exercising this right due to travel obligations.

Currently, Singaporeans who reside abroad can vote at 10 Singapore overseas missions that also serve as overseas registration centres. While this is helpful, it does not address the situation for citizens who do not live overseas but happen to be abroad on Polling Day. As a result, they cannot cast their votes, leading to disenfranchisement.

In the light of this, I propose that the authorities explore more voting methods to ensure that all Singaporeans, regardless of their location, can participate in the democratic process.

One possible solution could be to enable overseas voting through the Singpass application or another secure digital platform. This would allow travelling citizens to vote remotely while maintaining the integrity and security of the election process.

I believe that implementing such a system is feasible with today’s technological advancements.

I hope the authorities can explore practical solutions that uphold the voting rights of all Singaporeans, no matter where they are.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: No success for single applying for HDB flat after 10 tries​

Apr 01, 2025

For the past three years, I have been diligently applying for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat under the singles scheme. I have submitted at least 10 applications, yet each attempt has ended in disappointment.

While I understand that demand for public housing is high and families are prioritised, the current balloting system appears to put singles at a distinct disadvantage.

Up till recently, singles could apply for only two-room flexi flats in non-mature estates. Even with the changes made to allow singles to apply for two-room flexi flats across all types of BTO projects, the odds of securing a flat are still low, with thousands of applicants competing for these units.

To make the BTO application process more equitable for singles, the Housing Board could consider the following improvements:

- Increase the supply of two-room flexi flats

With the growing number of singles in Singapore, it is time to allocate more units to meet the demand.

- Introduce a priority scheme for repeat applicants

Just as families with young children receive additional ballot chances, singles who have applied unsuccessfully multiple times should be given some form of priority.

- Greater transparency in the balloting process

Applicants should have clearer insights into whether certain factors influence the outcome. Providing a clearer breakdown of application statistics would help manage expectations.

- Consider allowing singles to apply for three-room flats

While families will always take precedence, permitting singles to ballot for three-room flats in selected estates could provide additional pathways for home ownership.

Home ownership is a fundamental aspiration for many Singaporeans, regardless of their marital status. If the Government’s commitment to making public housing affordable and accessible includes all citizens, then the system must evolve to reflect the changing demographics and needs of our society.

Tuan Ming Lee

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Bus driver continued journey even though air-conditioning was not working​

Apr 09, 2025

I had the misfortune of boarding SBS service 121 on April 3 around 7.20pm.

It was only after it had left the bus stop that I realised there was no air-conditioning and no opening for ventilation.

When the bus driver confirmed that the air-conditioning was not working and that the service was continuing, I asked if he could open the doors for ventilation.

He said the doors could be opened only at bus stops.

I decided to endure the ride till it reached my destination at Tiong Bahru MRT station, given the heavy downpour and my lack of familiarity with the bus route in the dark.

With my history of asthma, I did my best and pulled out a fan to circulate the air around me.

But the lack of air circulation got to me and I had to get off at some remote stop.

No satisfactory response came from SBS Transit following my report of the incident.

The bus driver should have stopped as soon as possible and not allowed any boarding once the air-conditioning broke down.

SBS should take steps to prevent something like this from happening again and not just apologise for any distress or inconvenience caused.

Molly Lim

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: No success for single applying for HDB flat after 10 tries​

Apr 01, 2025

For the past three years, I have been diligently applying for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat under the singles scheme. I have submitted at least 10 applications, yet each attempt has ended in disappointment.

While I understand that demand for public housing is high and families are prioritised, the current balloting system appears to put singles at a distinct disadvantage.

Up till recently, singles could apply for only two-room flexi flats in non-mature estates. Even with the changes made to allow singles to apply for two-room flexi flats across all types of BTO projects, the odds of securing a flat are still low, with thousands of applicants competing for these units.

To make the BTO application process more equitable for singles, the Housing Board could consider the following improvements:

- Increase the supply of two-room flexi flats

With the growing number of singles in Singapore, it is time to allocate more units to meet the demand.

- Introduce a priority scheme for repeat applicants

Just as families with young children receive additional ballot chances, singles who have applied unsuccessfully multiple times should be given some form of priority.

- Greater transparency in the balloting process

Applicants should have clearer insights into whether certain factors influence the outcome. Providing a clearer breakdown of application statistics would help manage expectations.

- Consider allowing singles to apply for three-room flats

While families will always take precedence, permitting singles to ballot for three-room flats in selected estates could provide additional pathways for home ownership.

Home ownership is a fundamental aspiration for many Singaporeans, regardless of their marital status. If the Government’s commitment to making public housing affordable and accessible includes all citizens, then the system must evolve to reflect the changing demographics and needs of our society.

Tuan Ming Lee

Apr 09, 2025

I thank the Housing Board for its reply “More 2-room HDB flexi flats to meet demand from first-timer singles” (April 7) to my letter “No success for single applying for HDB flat after 10 tries” (April 1).

However, I would like to address two of the suggestions it offered – namely, to apply for projects with lower application rates and to consider the resale market with grants.

First, the recommendation to choose Build-To-Order (BTO) projects in areas with lower application rates, such as Jurong West or Queenstown, may sound practical, but it does not consider the constraints that many singles face.

For some of us, our livelihoods, caregiving responsibilities or access to essential services are closely tied to specific regions.

Moving to a location simply because the application rate is lower may disrupt our lives.

Furthermore, even within those developments, the number of two-room flexi units for singles is small, and the odds remain slim.

Second, the resale market is not a feasible alternative for many singles. While HDB points out that grants of up to $115,000 are available, the reality is that resale flats – especially in mature estates – are often priced two or three times more than a comparable BTO unit.


In my case, I am eligible for only one of the three grants, making the cost gap even wider.

Even with maximum subsidies, resale flats remain out of reach for singles who earn modest incomes and do not have the benefit of dual-income households.

I hope HDB can better recognise the real-life challenges that many single applicants face – financial constraints, limited options and repeated balloting disappointments – and consider refining the system. Making the process more equitable, such as by introducing priority schemes for long-time unsuccessful applicants, would be a good start.

Tuan Ming Lee