The PAP using the tried and trusted pork barrel politics again

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SIA offers special flight rates, bonus miles to mark SG60 celebrations​

Fare deals on SIA for 77 destinations are available from April 11 to April 24 for travel between April 12 and Nov 19.PHOTO: ST FILE
Calista Wong
Apr 08, 2025

SINGAPORE – Avid travellers can look forward to special rates on selected flights on Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, as part of the SIA Group’s initiative to celebrate the nation’s 60th birthday.

Fare deals for 77 destinations are available from April 11 to April 24 for travel between April 12 and Nov 19, 2025.

Bookings can be made through SIA’s website, mobile app and appointed travel agents, the national carrier said in a media statement on April 8.

Those who make bookings during this period can also win prizes such as a pair of SIA business class round-trip tickets with hotel accommodation to Seoul, South Korea, and $600 worth of Pelago vouchers through a lucky draw.

Separately, Scoot will offer fare deals for 60 destinations for travel from April 14 to Oct 25, 2025. The deal will be available from April 8 to April 17.

Customers can book these flights through Scoot’s website, mobile app and appointed travel agents.

Travellers can also enjoy additional discounts and miles accrual when they book SIA flights between noon on Aug 15 and 11.59am on Aug 17 for travel between Sept 1 and Sept 30, 2025.

KrisFlyer members will also receive 60 per cent more bonus miles when booking Scoot flights during this period.

Vouchers for selected dining, retail partners and attractions will also be offered on the Kris+ application and on Pelago.

KrisShop will launch The Heritage Collection – a limited-edition series featuring items inspired by iconic Singapore cultural elements such as the dragon-shaped public playground and decorative wall tiles from heritage shophouses.

“As we celebrate Singapore’s 60-year nation-building journey, the SIA Group is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our customers and the Singapore public,” said chief executive Goh Choon Phong.

“Our story is intertwined with Singapore’s growth and progress as a country, and the Celebrating with Singapore campaign is our way of expressing gratitude, giving back to the community, and marking SG60 meaningfully.”

Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence in 2025, and discounts and deals at 23 local tourist attractions have already been rolled out, while 140 coffee shops across the island offer cheaper food and drinks to celebrate the millestone.

 

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Expanded tax scheme to benefit more construction facilities from Jan 1, 2026​

National Development Minister Desmond Lee delivers the opening address at the 47th IFAWPCA Convention on April 9.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Isabelle Liew
Apr 09, 2025

SINGAPORE – A scheme that gives tax allowances to owners of construction facilities for capital spending on land-efficient buildings – such as prefabrication hubs – will be expanded to cover more types of developments.

The enhanced Land Intensification Allowance scheme will come into effect from Jan 1, 2026, and will include multi-storey design for manufacturing and assembly facilities to further optimise land use, National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced on April 9.

Design for manufacturing and assembly is a way of prefabricating structures in an off-site facility before assembling them on-site, saving time and manpower.

Such facilities can be those performing fit-out works, storing precast components or producing other parts, such as mass-engineered timber and prefabricated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, Mr Lee said.

The prefabrication method is used in the construction of HDB flats, allowing buildings to be made in a Lego-like manner, with building modules fabricated offsite before being transported and assembled on-site.

Currently, only integrated construction and prefabrication hubs are eligible for the scheme.

Under the scheme, firms will receive an initial tax allowance of 25 per cent of qualifying capital expenditure during the construction stage.

Subsequently, they will receive annual tax allowances of 5 per cent of the qualifying capital expenditure, until the total allowance received reaches 100 per cent.

The expanded scheme will run till Dec 31, 2030, in an effort to drive greater adoption of design for manufacturing and assembly, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said on April 9.

Companies developing such new facilities and applying for planning permission on or after Jan 1, 2026, can apply for the expanded scheme.

To qualify, new multi-storey design for manufacturing and assembly facilities must meet conditions such as a minimum gross plot ratio of 1.03, and at least 80 per cent of the gross floor area of the facility must be used by the building owner or its related users.

The expanded scheme was announced at the 47th International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Association Convention at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Speaking at the event, Mr Lee said Singapore faces tight resource constraints as it is a small island city-state, with no natural resources to rely on.

“For the construction industry, this means that we need to make the most of our limited resources to meet the construction needs of a growing nation,” he said.

This is done by shifting towards advanced construction methods and facilities, such as adopting design for manufacturing and assembly, robotics and automation, and transforming construction facilities.

For instance, Jurong Port launched Singapore’s first integrated construction park in 2024, which houses key construction facilities such as storage areas and concrete batching plants. Such integrated facilities are land-efficient, help save transportation time, and reduce the carbon footprint from truck trips across the island, Mr Lee said.

The Government will continue to encourage the development of construction facilities that use land efficiently, such as through the Land Intensification Allowance scheme, he added.

Mr Lee stressed the necessity of sustainability in construction, given Singapore’s land and resource constraints, as well as climate change and rising sea levels.

To that end, one of the goals in the Singapore Green Building Masterplan 2030 is to ensure that 80 per cent of new developments are Super Low Energy buildings from 2030, he said.

Such buildings achieve at least 60 per cent improvement in energy efficiency relative to 2005 levels.

For older buildings, the Mandatory Energy Improvement regime will kick in from the third quarter of 2025, he noted. It will require owners of energy-intensive buildings to carry out an energy audit and take action to reduce the energy consumption of their buildings.

Mr Lee said construction firms can tap the Energy Efficiency Grant, which provides eligible Singapore companies with financial support for up to 70 per cent of the cost of approved energy-efficient construction equipment.

To support firms in building long-term capabilities, the Built Environment Technology and Capability Grant provides firms with up to 70 per cent funding to develop new enterprise and manpower capabilities and adopt advanced technologies.

 

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The PAP through a male under the bus because the PAP sees an opportunity to win the feminists' votes.

Ex-Law Society V-P says he’ll reflect, change after inappropriate post on rape survivor: Shanmugam​

Mr Chia Boon Teck, the co-managing director at Chia Wong Chambers, met Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam on April 10.PHOTOS: CHIA WONG CHAMBERS, LIANHE ZAOBAO

Samuel Devaraj
Apr 10, 2025

SINGAPORE – The former vice-president of the Law Society of Singapore who made comments about a rape survivor that received strong backlash has said he will “reflect and change”.

Mr Chia Boon Teck said this to Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam, whom he met on April 10.

In a Facebook post the same day, Mr Shanmugam said Mr Chia had asked for the meeting in the wake of the lawyer’s comments, which the minister had described as “quite inappropriate”.

“When we met today, I told Mr Chia that he needed to reflect on his comments, and his approach. I suggested that he consider a journey of deeper reflection and understanding, appreciate that his remarks were quite wrong,” Mr Shanmugam added.

“Mr Chia has said that he will reflect, change, and find ways of contributing to society.”

Mr Chia, the co-managing director at Chia Wong Chambers, had posted on his LinkedIn page on March 22 about a High Court case in which Lev Panfilov was convicted of raping a woman he met on dating app Tinder. The LinkedIn page has since been disabled.

Among other things, Mr Chia said in the post that “Tinder ain’t no LinkedIn”, in reference to how the victim and the perpetrator first met.


In the same post, he described the victim, who is 30 years old, as “not exactly a babe in the woods” and commented, “Wow. Was she awake during this marathon?”, in reference to the sexual assault she was subjected to.

In an earlier post, Mr Shanmugam said that he was worried about the impact Mr Chia’s comments might have on other victims.

“Philosophically, I take a different view from those expressed by Mr Chia. And that has been expressed in changes we have directed, both to the laws we have in Singapore, and the way (the) police conduct their investigations,” the minister said.

This includes the 2012 repeal of a provision in the Evidence Act that allowed defence lawyers to question an alleged victim of rape, to try and show that she was of generally immoral character.

Among others who had spoken up against Mr Chia’s original comments was Ms Sugidha Nithiananthan, director of advocacy and research at gender advocacy group Aware.

She said the law has made great strides forward in dealing with such cases, with both Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Justice Vincent Hoong, judicial commissioner of the Supreme Court, having highlighted the importance of not perpetuating rape myths or victim-blaming.

​

 

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The PAP afraid of losing the Malay/Muslim votes if the PAP does not speak up.

Masagos says remarks by former NMP Calvin Cheng were hurtful to Malay/Muslims, threaten social harmony​

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli in a Berita Harian podcast interview on April 9.PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

Hariz Baharudin
Apr 10, 2025

SINGAPORE - Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli has said that remarks by former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng that he would pay to send certain individuals from Singapore to Gaza if they do not return are unacceptable and deeply hurtful.

Left unaddressed, such statements can divide society and lead to a loss of trust among Singaporeans, Mr Masagos said on April 9.

During a Berita Harian podcast interview, the minister said Mr Cheng’s criticism of two social activists was hurtful to Malay/Muslims here, given that the community holds respect and good manners in high regard.

The way the former NMP had framed his comments had crossed a line, said Mr Masagos, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development.

Mr Cheng made the comments in a March 13 Facebook post about activists from a group called Monday of Palestine Solidarity, which had asked people concerned about the issue of Palestine to raise the matter with their MPs. On March 12, some activists from the group disrupted the Meet-the-People session of Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.

In his post, Mr Cheng offered to pay to relocate the activists, so long as they do not return to Singapore. Among other things, he asked the activists to “take a slow hike” to Gaza.

Mr Masagos said many people, especially within the Malay/Muslim community, felt angry and dismissed by the comments, and he understood why.

“It’s not just about disagreement, it’s about the message it sends, that some Singaporeans somehow do not belong if they speak up,” he said in a Facebook post after the podcast recording, which Berita Harian reported on. “That is not something we can accept.”

Singapore values and protects its social harmony dearly, given the decades of effort taken to build it up, said the minister.

“That trust can be easily shaken by careless words,” he added. “We must all be mindful of the negative impact we may cause to our social cohesion, especially when we are in a position of influence.”

No one has the right to suggest that another Singaporean should leave the country because of a different view, added Mr Masagos.

“We all have a stake here. No one – Malay, Chinese, Indian, regardless of background – is a ‘pendatang’,” he said. “This is home for all of us.”

The Malay word pendatang refers to an outsider or foreigner, and has been used to suggest someone does not belong in Singapore.

Mr Cheng’s Facebook post drew a rebuke from many, including ministers such as Mr Masagos and Mr Shanmugam.

On April 6, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) issued a statement that called Mr Cheng’s comments “deeply troubling”, as they ridiculed and alienated fellow Singaporeans, many of whom had expressed empathy and solidarity in response to humanitarian suffering.

In response, Mr Cheng said in a Facebook post on April 7 that his earlier comments were directed at a group of people which included non-Muslims, and reiterated that those comments mentioned neither race nor religion.

Mr Masagos said during the podcast interview that the frustrations felt by many in the community are valid, but urged Malay/Muslims here to respond with the values of adab, or graciousness, which are a sign of strength and wisdom, and not weakness.

“Our traditions teach us that respect and kindness are the foundation of a strong, united community. Let’s hold on to that – responding with strength and grace, not division,” he said.

 

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The PAP "pressured" Calvin Cheng to meet the Malay/Muslim leaders to grovel and apologise.

Calvin Cheng ‘deeply remorseful’ for remarks on activists, says he should have been more sensitive​

(From left) Mr Calvin Cheng said he had met Ustaz Pasuni Maulan and Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Hassan at Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands on the afternoon of April 9. PHOTO: CALVIN CHENG/FACEBOOK

David Sun
Apr 10, 2025

SINGAPORE - Former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng has said he is deeply remorseful for his remarks suggesting that a group of activists relocate to Gaza, acknowledging that they caused “hurt and anger”, especially within the Muslim community.

In a Facebook post on April 10, he said he had met Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Hassan and Ustaz Pasuni Maulan at Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands on the afternoon of April 9.

Ustaz Hasbi is chairman of the Council of Elders at the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas), and Ustaz Pasuni is a member of the elders’ council.

Both elders are also on the council of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.

During their meeting, they discussed the remarks, with Mr Cheng telling the senior leaders that he did not intend to attack any community or faith.

He also told the two elders that he had spoken to members of the Malay/Muslim community over the past week.

He wrote: “I realise that I should have been more sensitive with my remarks. I should not have said – even in jest – that people should go to a conflict zone.


“I told the (two) ustaz that I am deeply remorseful about my remarks suggesting that our people go to a conflict zone. They advised me to be more sensitive in future in what I say.”

Mr Cheng had made the remarks about the activists in a Facebook post on March 13, proposing to send a group of them to Gaza, as long as they never returned. Among other things, he asked the activists to “take a slow hike” to Gaza.

This was after the activists from the Monday of Palestine Solidarity group turned up and caused a scene at Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam’s Meet-the-People Session in Chong Pang on March 12.

The activist group has been going around to several Meet-the-People Sessions to talk about the war in Gaza.

Mr Cheng said his remarks were directed at the activist group, which included Chinese and Indians, and had a mix of religions.

“I was specifically upset with their disruptive activism,” he said. “My remarks were not targeted at the Muslim community.”

He also said some people had wrongly attributed to him some other statements that he did not make, and he has thus had to take legal action as the untrue statements were very damaging to him.

The parties he is taking action against include Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam and former Singapore Democratic Party chairman Mohamed Jufrie Mahmood.

Mr Mohamed Jufrie said in a Facebook post on April 10 that his lawyer is handling the case. “Actually I have a lot to say, but I abide by the law and reserve my comments,” he wrote.

Mr Cheng added that he was deeply grateful to Ustaz Pasuni and Ustaz Hasbi for meeting and listening to him.

“I am grateful for the understanding, patience and compassion of the two elders,” he said.

Hamas attacked Israeli communities on Oct 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people. Israel responded by launching a campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 50,000 people so far.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli and Mr Shanmugam had come out to say they disagreed with Mr Cheng’s views.

On April 6, Pergas issued a statement calling the comments “deeply troubling”.

It said the remarks ridiculed and alienated fellow Singaporeans, many of whom had expressed empathy and solidarity in response to humanitarian suffering.

Mr Cheng responded on April 7, saying his earlier comments were directed at a group of people that included non-Muslims, and reiterated that those comments mentioned neither race nor religion.

In a podcast interview with Malay-language news outlet Berita Harian on April 9, Mr Masagos said the way Mr Cheng had framed his comments crossed a line, was hurtful to Malay/Muslims here and threatened social harmony.

​

 

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The PAP trying not to lose the Malay/Muslim votes because of a pro-PAP former Nominated Member of Parliament

Former NMP Calvin Cheng’s remarks on activists ‘completely insensitive, unacceptable’: PM Wong​

PM Lawrence Wong wrote that the racial and religious cohesion in Singapore today is the result of generations of patient effort and hard work.PHOTO: ST FILE

Kok Yufeng
Apr 10, 2025

SINGAPORE - Remarks made by former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng suggesting that a group of Singapore activists relocate to Gaza were “completely insensitive and unacceptable”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

In a Facebook post on April 10, PM Wong said he shared his perspective on Mr Cheng’s comments with Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Hassan and Ustaz Pasuni Maulan, whom he met during a visit to Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah in Victoria Lane earlier in the day.

Ustaz Hasbi is chairman of the Council of Elders at the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas), and Ustaz Pasuni is a member of the elders’ council.

Both elders are also on the council of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.

PM Wong wrote in his post that the racial and religious cohesion in Singapore society today, which is diverse yet harmonious, is the result of generations of patient effort and hard work.

“We must treasure it, protect it, and nurture it,” he said. “In today’s uncertain environment, where there are many external forces that can pull our society apart, this work is even more important.”

PM Wong recounted how, when Singapore was a part of Malaysia, some segments of the Malaysian community had called the local Chinese “pendatang” - a Malay word that refers to an outsider or foreigner.

“It angered many Chinese, who felt that they were second-class citizens. So when Singapore became independent, we resolved never to treat our minorities like that.”

PM Wong said he thanked Ustaz Hasbi and Ustaz Pasuni for their role in fostering inter-faith harmony.

“Together, let’s build on what we have, and ensure that our little red dot remains an oasis of stability and harmony,” he said.


Mr Cheng had earlier met Ustaz Hasbi and Ustaz Pasuni on April 9 at Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands, where he expressed deep remorse for his remarks on March 13 suggesting that Singaporean activists from a group called Monday of Palestine Solidarity “take a hike” to Gaza.

This was after activists from the group turned up and caused a scene at Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam’s Meet-the-People Session in Chong Pang on March 12.

In a Facebook post on April 10, Mr Cheng acknowledged that his comments had caused “hurt and anger”, especially within the Muslim community.

Mr Calvin Cheng had earlier met Ustaz Hasbi and Ustaz Pasuni on April 9 at Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands.PHOTO: CALVIN CHENG/FACEBOOK
His post came after Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli and Mr Shanmugam came out to say that they disagreed with Mr Cheng’s views.

On April 6, Pergas issued a statement calling the comments “deeply troubling”.

The association said the remarks ridiculed and alienated fellow Singaporeans, many of whom had expressed empathy and solidarity in response to humanitarian suffering.

Mr Cheng responded on April 7, saying that his earlier comments were directed at a group of people that included non-Muslims and those comments mentioned neither race nor religion.

 

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Up to 2,400 households in MacPherson to get $45 worth of hawker centre meal vouchers​

The MacPherson Jiak Ba Buay programme will have participating stalls from Geylang East Market and Food Centre, and other hawker centres.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Esther Loi
Apr 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – Residents in MacPherson can get subsidised meals at hawker centres as part of a new $216,000 food support initiative launched on April 12.

The programme, MacPherson Jiak Ba Buay (Hokkien for “have you eaten”), will benefit up to 2,400 households and boost local hawker businesses.

The scheme was launched by MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling on the morning of April 12 at Geylang East Market and Food Centre.

To qualify for this initiative, residents need to be Singapore citizens who hold a valid blue or orange Chas card, or have a monthly household per capita income of $2,300 or less. They can register at the MacPherson Community Club to get these vouchers.

Each eligible household will receive a bundle of 15 $3 vouchers. These vouchers, which can be used to offset the cost of meals, will be valid for use until March 2026.

There will be about 137 participating hawker stalls from Geylang East Market and Food Centre, as well as the hawker centres at 79/79A, 80 and 89 Circuit Road. Participating stalls will display a MacPherson Jiak Ba Buay decal.

This programme was a move to address residents’ concerns over rising costs of living, said Ms Tin.


While there are other schemes such as the MacPherson Marketplace which offers cheaper groceries, Ms Tin noted that residents told her that they hope to “consume more confidently” at hawker centres, which was why her team came up with this food support initiative.

She hopes that the vouchers will allow residents to buy food that they want and keep themselves full, in addition to providing support for local hawkers.

Ms Tin added that over the past one to two weeks, 1,140 applicants had registered for the programme prior to its launch.

On whether the initiative will be expanded, Ms Tin said her team will continue raising funds to run this scheme until 2026, adding that this is just one of the many tools extended to low-income residents in MacPherson.

Residents interviewed by The Straits Times welcomed the voucher programme, including Mr William Tan, 71, who is looking forward to using the vouchers whenever he eats at nearby hawker centres.

The part-time coffee shop attendant is satisfied with the quantity of vouchers being distributed, and does not mind forking out some cash if his meal costs more than $3.

Hawkers who spoke to ST hope that the vouchers will attract more customers to their stalls.

Among them is Ms Lim Yen Huan, 63, who runs a kway chap stall at Geylang East Market and Food Centre. She hopes that business will improve with these vouchers, noting that around 10 customers have bought food from her using these vouchers within the first 1½ hours of the launch event – where the vouchers were first distributed.

Even though MacPherson SMC will be absorbed by the newly renamed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC in the upcoming election, Ms Tin said the programmes that have already been introduced in MacPherson will proceed as normal.

She added that her team will continue raising funds to support these initiatives, in addition to getting feedback from residents on the usefulness of these programmes.

“Then, at the GRC level, obviously as a team, we’ll always be constantly communicating with each other,” said Ms Tin.

Citing the recently launched Caregiver Support Fund as an example of addressing common needs on a larger scale, she said that it is a two-pronged approach, where programmes are designed at the local level to address unique needs.

But if there are common problems faced across the GRC, she said these local programmes can be introduced across the entire GRC.

​

 

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Joo Chiat private estate to be upgraded with new community spaces, senior-friendly features​

Manpower Minister and Marine Parade GRC MP Tan See Leng shared the plans with residents at a community brunch event at Koon Seng Park on April 12.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Shermaine Ang
Apr 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – Residents of private housing in Joo Chiat Neighbourhood 2 can look forward to new or improved facilities over the next three to five years, including new recreational spaces, estate markets and senior-friendly walkways, as well as improved lighting and connectivity.

Manpower Minister and Marine Parade GRC MP Tan See Leng shared these plans with residents at a community brunch event at Koon Seng Park on April 12.

The estate, bounded by Joo Chiat Road, Still Road, Changi Road and Marine Parade Road, is part of the Marine Parade ward.

The upgrading works, which will come under the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP), were announced by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee in February.

Dr Tan said residents were happy about the news, as they had felt left out of many estate upgrading programmes that do not involve private estates.

He said residents have requested a larger dog run, shelter for a community space where Zumba classes are held, better lighting for safety at night, and improved drainage and walkways across drains.

Dr Tan said residents can join an EUP committee to provide their ideas on how to improve the estate, which the Marine Parade Citizens’ Consultative Committee will then convey to the Ministry of National Development.


“I hope that certainly this EUP will go some way in making these spaces... very, very resident-friendly,” he said.

The EUP was started in 2000 to develop and upgrade infrastructure in ageing private estates, which do not have access to town council or Housing Board grants. Residents do not have to pay for the upgrading works.

Of the 32 private estates that will be upgraded over the next five years, 25 estates with more than 16,600 households – Joo Chiat Neighbourhood 2 included – will undergo upgrades costing $124 million in all.

Seven estates with a higher concentration of seniors will come under the EUP’s new silver estate scheme, getting upgrades worth $11 million that will benefit more than 3,700 households.

Residents in a zumba session during a community brunch event at Koon Seng Park on April 12.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Since the EUP was launched in 2000, about $216 million has been spent on upgrading 74 private estates over 10 batches of the project.

More than 54,000 households have benefited from the EUP, including those in Serangoon Garden, Mount Sinai and Braddell Heights.

Dr Tan on April 12 urged residents to give their ideas on how to improve the estate, adding that he hopes to make the estate a welcoming gathering space for residents of all ages.

 

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Property market should start to ease with larger housing supply in pipeline, says Desmond Lee​

In 2025, HDB will roll out about 19,600 flats.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Michelle Ng and Ng Wei Kai
Apr 15, 2025

SINGAPORE – The public and private housing markets have started to stabilise, and the property market should start to ease when housing supply increases, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee on April 15.

This is due to more public and private housing supply coming on board, along with an increased number of Housing Board flats that are eligible to be resold after their mandatory five-year minimum occupation period (MOP) from 2026, he said.

In the first quarter of 2025, HDB and Urban Redevelopment Authority statistics showed that prices of HDB flats grew by an estimated 1.5 per cent while those of private homes grew by an estimated 0.6 per cent – both at slower paces compared with the previous quarter.

At a press conference announcing the refreshed PAP slate in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where he is the anchor minister, Mr Lee said that housing, the cost of living, jobs and the economy are issues that voters will be concerned about ahead of the coming polls. Parliament was dissolved on April 15, and Nomination Day will be on April 23.

These are not new issues, he noted.

Mr Lee, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, said: “In almost every GE, these are hot-button issues because they affect so many people, particularly during this period in the aftermath of the pandemic, where there have been a lot of challenges, both locally and globally.”

Addressing shocks to the housing market caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is something the Government has been working on, he added.

He said: “Ever since the supply-demand imbalance created by Covid-19, we have worked hard to stabilise the construction sector because that is critical to ensuring that both public and private projects can get off the ground.”

“We’ve done that and significantly ramped up supply in order to meet the needs of Singaporeans on housing,” he added.

Mr Lee had previously said that more than 50,000 Build-To-Order flats will be launched from 2025 to 2027, including 12,000 flats with shorter waiting times of less than three years.

In 2025, HDB will roll out about 19,600 flats.

On the private property front, housing supply from the Government Land Sales programme will be raised to 8,505 units in the first half of 2025, up from 8,140 units in the second half of 2024.

During the press conference, Mr Lee said HDB had worked hard to deliver all 75,800 flats – across 92 housing projects – that were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the last project delivered in January 2025.

He thanked residents who had patiently waited for their flats.

Beyond tackling supply-demand challenges, the Standard, Plus and Prime housing categories, which took effect in October 2024, were meant to “position ourselves for the future” by ensuring affordable and inclusive housing across Singapore and for all Singaporeans.

Prime and Plus flats, which are located closer to amenities such as MRT stations, come with stricter resale conditions such as a 10-year MOP and a subsidy clawback.

Standard flats come with a five-year MOP and do not have a subsidy clawback clause.

Mr Lee added that while some would “wish the property market cycle follows political cycles”, that “should not be the way”.

He said: “As stewards of resources – as government – we need to make sure that we address supply and demand sensibly.”

​

 

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Multi-generational park in MacPherson among projects in Marine Parade Town Council’s 5-year plan​

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (fourth from right) with (from left) Ms Gho Sze Kee, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman and Ms Diana Pang at the launch of the Marine Parade Town Council five-year master plan on April 19.ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Ng Keng Gene
Apr 20, 2025

SINGAPORE – A new multi-generational park in MacPherson and a water play park in Marine Terrace are among the highlights of a masterplan by the Marine Parade Town Council (MPTC) for 2025 to 2030.

The five-year masterplan was launched on April 19 by the PAP incumbents from Marine Parade GRC and the Mountbatten and MacPherson SMCs at the Marine Parade Town Carnival, held at an open space next to 50A Marine Terrace Market and Hawker Centre.

The plan comprises more than 140 projects – developed by the town council with partner agencies – and will cost over $324 million, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng in a speech to residents at the carnival.

Dr Tan is the anchor minister for the PAP team in Marine Parade GRC, which will be renamed the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC at the general election.

The projects include those that will be undertaken by the town council, such as the construction of sheltered linkways and drop-off porches for Housing Board blocks. There is also a slew of projects that were announced earlier, such as the upcoming Serangoon Polyclinic by the Ministry of Health and an HDB integrated development in Kembangan.

MPTC manages and maintains common property in the current Marine Parade GRC as well as Mountbatten and MacPherson SMCs. The five wards of Marine Parade GRC are Marine Parade, Kembangan-Chai Chee, Geylang Serai, Braddell Heights and Joo Chiat.

Dr Tan, who oversaw the Marine Parade ward until Parliament was dissolved on April 15 ahead of the May 3 polls, said work on the plans began five years ago, and they represent the needs of the “current generation of residents, as well as those that are rapidly ageing”.


Hence, the plans cover not just what is needed now, but in the next 15 years, he added.

“In the next five years, if we are here, over 140 new projects will be rolled out across all five divisions within the Marine Parade cluster,” said Dr Tan, adding that some will also be undertaken in Mountbatten.


Mountbatten incumbent Lim Biow Chuan, who was the chairman of MPTC until Parliament was dissolved on April 15, said the plans are what the town council team has put forth, adding that “ultimately, if the voters decide otherwise, then these plans will not come to fruition, because these are our plans”.

Town councils, which were first formed in 1989, allow elected MPs and residents to work together in the management of their estates. The councils’ work is primarily funded by the service and conservancy charges collected from residents and commercial operators, as well as government grants.

In a statement, MPTC said the planned multi-generational park in MacPherson, to be located near Block 108 Aljunied Crescent, will be “designed as a vibrant space for residents of all ages to connect, play and unwind together”.

The park is estimated to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2028.

Incumbent MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling said the park, currently located between Blocks 108 and 109, is “basic” and “minimal” with greenery and benches.

The plan is to tap town council funds to transform the space into a park suitable for people of all ages, for seniors to exercise, for children to play, or for adults to relax, she told The Straits Times before making house visits at 33 Balam Road on April 19.

“We want to have that space where different residents and families across different generations are able to come together, connect and build bonds.”

Ms Tin added that she hopes to make the park an “iconic” one that caters to the profiles and needs of residents.

Dr Tan said the water play park in Marine Terrace – to be built near Block 57 Marine Terrace – will have play features such as a “flying fox” zip line and splash zones. It is estimated to be ready by the third quarter of 2027.

A fitness and event hub next to the Marine Terrace hawker centre, with new exercise equipment, swings and a pavilion, is set to be ready by that time too.

Also to be built are sporting facilities at Pine Close in Mountbatten and in Eunos Crescent.

Other major projects in the works include the new Marine Parade Community Building, which will be home to the town’s public library and could play host to social enterprises. Mountbatten Community Club is also being redeveloped and will be integrated with the Dakota One Build-To-Order project.

Dr Tan said that over the past five years, MPTC has completed more than 130 improvement projects.

These include lift enhancements and replacements, repairs and redecoration works to HDB blocks and upgrades to recreation amenities.

Attending the carnival with Dr Tan and Mr Lim on April 19 were Marine Parade GRC incumbents Seah Kian Peng (Braddell Heights) and Mohd Fahmi Aliman (Geylang Serai), as well as Ms Tin.

At the upcoming election, the MacPherson single seat will move into Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, and HDB estates in Chai Chee, as well as the Joo Chiat ward, will be carved out and absorbed into East Coast GRC.

Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, who will helm the Kembangan area of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC for the PAP at the polls, also attended the carnival.

Joining them were PAP new faces Diana Pang and Gho Sze Kee, who has been photographed alongside four-term MP, Mr Lim, from Mountbatten, since August 2024.

Posts on Ms Pang’s Facebook page, created on April 1, show that she has been walking the ground and attending events with Mr Fahmi in the Geylang Serai area.

Mr Alan Low, a Mountbatten resident of three years, said he looks forward to taking his two children, aged three and 1½, to the new water park in Marine Terrace. He said it will give his family more recreational options, in addition to East Coast Park.

Mr Low, a 38-year-old engineer, said he hopes there will be more childcare centres in the area, as it is difficult for parents to find childcare spots for their children.

Marine Parade resident and retiree Henry Goh, 84, said existing and upcoming sheltered walkways are most useful to him among the upgrades, as he can run errands at the Marine Terrace market without having to carry an umbrella.

The Marine Parade resident of five decades said that while elder-friendly exercise equipment is available near his home, he prefers to exercise at East Coast Park.

 

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New Marine Parade Community Building that will house town’s library to be ready by Q1 2026​

An artist’s impression of the new Marine Parade Community Building, which is set to re-open by the first quarter of 2026.PHOTOS: DP ARCHITECTS

Shermaine Ang
Apr 21, 2025

SINGAPORE - The Marine Parade Community Building, which will house eateries and the town’s library, is set to be completed by the first quarter of 2026 after a slight delay.

Manpower Minister and incumbent MP for Marine Parade GRC Tan See Leng provided this update on April 20 at an event held at the Block 66 Marine Drive pavilion, where residents were given details about the upcoming development.

The building will house the Marine Parade Public Library, a rooftop running track, a gym and badminton courts, as well as food and beverage outlets.

It will also feature a 24-hour self-help lounge where residents can register for courses and events, music rooms, dance studios and a culinary studio.

The community building’s redevelopment was announced in April 2022, and was initially expected to be ready by 2025.

The building will house the Marine Parade Public Library, a rooftop running track, a gym and badminton courts, as well as food and beverage outlets.PHOTO: DP ARCHITECTS
The original building, home to a community centre, public library and theatre company The Necessary Stage, was demolished in 2023.

In the interim, the National Library Board set up a 24-hour book dispenser outside FairPrice Finest supermarket at 6 Marine Parade Central, where patrons can browse and borrow physical books, and collect reserved items.

Dr Tan told reporters the delay in the new building’s completion was due in part to the Covid-19 pandemic, and various parties such as the Land Transport Authority, People’s Association and the contractor wanting to ensure safety requirements were met.

The “alignment” of technical drawings and extra checks before demolition works began also contributed to the delay, he said.

Dr Tan noted that the redevelopment was a “complex” endeavour, being done on top of the Thomson-East Coast MRT line (TEL).

“We just wanted to make sure that there’s no compromise whatsoever to the integrity of the line... We cannot afford to, in any way, have any misses, because this is a project that we’re going to have for the next foreseeable 50, hopefully, 100 years.”

Dr Tan said the Marine Parade station on the TEL, which opened in June 2024, will connect directly to the Marine Parade Community Building via an underground linkway, 10,000 sq m of which will be used for a community hub.

He hopes to have social enterprises and organisations occupy the space. These include senior activity centres and cafes hiring employees with disabilities.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng checking on the graphing progress of various projects in Marine Parade on April 20.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
The building will also be linked directly to Tao Nan School across the road via an extension to the current pedestrian overhead bridge.

Mr Joseph Yap, 51, a Marine Drive resident, said he was excited about the opening of the community building.

The corporate finance professional said he looks forward to using the gym and badminton courts, and spending time with his wife and 15-year-old daughter at the eateries and library there.

On the delayed opening, he said: “There are always challenges in construction – same for our MRT project in the past, but now we enjoy the benefits of TEL. It’s more important to have good and quality facilities, rather than rushing into it.”

In an interview with the media after the event, Dr Tan was asked how much international geopolitical challenges mattered to residents in this general election, aside from municipal developments such as the community building.

Dr Tan said Singapore will always have to deal with externalities beyond its control, including epidemics and pandemics.

“We are an open country, open economy.”

Dr Tan added that he is part of the new Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce set up by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on April 8 to help Singapore businesses and workers navigate uncertainties sparked by the sweeping tariffs imposed by the US.

The task force will, for instance, foster regular three-way communication between the Government, businesses and workers to give updates on developments, explain how schemes and measures can support them, and assess their impact.

Dr Tan said the task force is working out plans.

“With the fact that now the tariffs have been imposed and so many countries are being affected all at one go, we have every reason to carefully plan, to deliberate, to calibrate, and to also proactively and preemptively decide on how we’re going to move.”

He added: “What we need to do is get through this election.

“Of course, we all hope that the stronger the support we have from the people... when we negotiate at all these global platforms, we can negotiate with a very clear mandate entrusted upon us.”

 

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FairPrice rolls out 50-cent coffee at Kopitiam outlets, 50% discounts for members​

To enjoy the discounts, customers must show their physical Link Rewards or NTUC Union card at checkout, or pay via FairPrice Group’s app.PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP

Eileen Ng
Apr 24, 2025

SINGAPORE – NTUC Union members and Link members are set to enjoy savings across FairPrice Group’s supermarkets from April 24 to May 18, and selected Kopitiam outlets from May 1 to 31.

The move is to mark the upcoming May Day celebrations and Singapore’s 60th year of independence (SG60), as well as to honour all workers in the country, the group said in a statement on April 24. May Day falls on May 1.

FairPrice Group said it has committed to more than $5 million in savings for members in 2025, adding that it is the largest amount committed by the group for its annual May Day campaign.

Throughout the campaign period, Singaporeans will be able to stretch their dollar with 50 per cent discounts on daily essentials and deals on staple beverages at selected Kopitiam outlets.

“Customers can further enhance their savings by combining May Day discounts with FairPrice Group’s regular weekly discounts for seniors, Merdeka or Pioneer Generation individuals, and Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) Blue or Orange card holders,” the group said.

From April 24 to May 18, NTUC Union and Link members can get a 50 per cent discount on a new essential item every Thursday for four weeks, both in-store and online.

The first week’s deal, available from April 24 to 27, will be on the popular Milo Ready To Drink tetra pack drink (24 x 200ml), at a special price of $7.80, compared with its normal price of $15.60.

However, it will be limited to two units per item for each member, per day.

To enjoy the discounts, customers must show their physical Link Rewards or NTUC Union card at checkout, or pay via FairPrice Group’s app.

“Subsequent May Day deals will be announced on May 1, May 8 and May 15,” the group said.

Meanwhile, FairPrice Foundation is partnering Kopitiam to bring back the chain’s popular 50-cent hot kopi or teh deal at 70 Kopitiam outlets islandwide from May 1 to 31.

To enjoy the deal, customers must present their physical NTUC Union silver card or use the e-voucher and make payment via the FairPrice Group’s app at checkout.

FairPrice Group chief executive Vipul Chawla said the group remained dedicated to its mission of keeping daily essentials within reach for all.

“This May Day, we want to especially recognise the hard work of Singapore’s workers and front-liners. Our discounts are a way of giving back, ensuring that all in Singapore can access daily essentials and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives,” he said.

National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general and May Day committee chairwoman Caryn Lim encouraged members to take full advantage of the discounts as they will help to ease their daily expenses.

Since the beginning of 2025, FairPrice Group has launched a series of SG60 initiatives designed to help Singaporeans stretch their dollar.

The initiatives include discounts on popular FairPrice house-brand products, doubling discounts for Chas Blue and Orange card holders for the first 60 days of the year, freezing prices on popular produce during the Chinese New Year season, and introducing FairPrice return vouchers to supplement the Government’s CDC Vouchers Scheme.