The PAP using the tried and trusted pork barrel politics again

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FairPrice Group doubles discounts for lower-income families for two months​

The discounts are valid for up to $200 per transaction per day.PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP
Chin Soo Fang
Dec 30, 2024

SINGAPORE – FairPrice Group (FPG) is kicking off SG60 celebrations with more discounts for Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) blue and orange card holders for the first 60 days of 2025.

From Jan 1 to March 1, it will double its 3 per cent discount for Chas blue and orange card holders every Thursday and Friday, respectively, to 6 per cent at all FairPrice supermarkets and Unity outlets.

Households with a monthly income per person of $1,500 and below can apply for the blue card, while those with a monthly income per person ranging from $1,501 to $2,300 are eligible for the orange card.

The discounts, funded by FairPrice Foundation, are valid for up to $200 per transaction per day.

Earlier in December, the group announced the renewal of its daily discount schemes for seniors, Pioneer and Merdeka generation individuals, and Chas blue and orange card holders till end-2025.

To benefit from these discount schemes, eligible customers need to present either their physical or digital (through the Singpass app) membership cards to cashiers upon checking out their purchases.

At self-checkout counters, customers must select the relevant discount option to apply it to their purchases.


Group chief executive officer Vipul Chawla said the launch of the 6 per cent discount initiative for Chas blue and orange card holders is just the start of year-long celebrations that the group has planned to mark Singapore’s diamond jubilee.

The deeper discounts are part of FPG’s way of showing appreciation for Singaporeans’ support of a food-donation drive it had held from October to November 2024, he added.

The donation drive, A Full Plate, raised more than $1.6 million for 600,000 beneficiaries of 10 charity partners, such as The Food Bank Singapore, Food from the Heart and Jamiyah Singapore, to provide them with nutritious groceries and meals.

FPG said the campaign had rallied Singaporeans to donate by selecting curated grocery bundles or meals at participating outlets at 570 touchpoints, from FairPrice stores, Unity pharmacies, and Cheers and Kopitiam outlets to its app and FairPrice Online.

Its success is a testament to the compassion that Singaporeans have for their neighbours in need, even in the midst of inflation and a challenging economic backdrop, said Mr Chawla.

“With food and grocery expenditure accounting for more than 20 per cent of the average Singaporean household monthly budget, FPG believes that more can be done for lower-income groups who are probably spending an even higher percentage,” he said.

NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said that as Singapore celebrates SG60, NTUC remains committed to its social mission in caring for workers and ensuring that no worker is left behind.

NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng (left) with FairPrice Group CEO Vipul Chawla.PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP
“FairPrice Group’s enhanced discount scheme for Chas card holders demonstrates our continued efforts to care for and help Singaporeans cope with rising costs,” he said.

“Together with our enterprise businesses like FairPrice Group, we will continue to strengthen our social compact and build an inclusive and caring Singapore,” he added.

Other initiatives that FPG introduced in 2024 to help Singaporeans with their grocery spending included price freezes on some items ahead of Chinese New Year, $4.5 million worth of NTUC Union and Link member deals for May Day, and vouchers worth $2,000 for consumers to buy selected essential products at discounted prices from June to September.

 

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Price freeze on some seafood, pork, vegetables at FairPrice from Jan 9 through CNY period​

Items at FairPrice outlets that have their prices locked during the Chinese New Year period include seafood like Chinese pomfret, grey prawns and red snapper.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Anjali Raguraman
Jan 09, 2025

SINGAPORE – The prices of 15 popular seafood, pork and vegetable items sold at FairPrice outlets islandwide will be frozen, starting from Jan 9 through the Chinese New Year period.

This will keep such items affordable during the festive period, said FairPrice Group (FPG) on Jan 9. It had done the same in previous years.

Items that will have their prices locked include seafood like Chinese pomfret, grey prawns and red snapper, while the vegetables include enoki and shiitake mushrooms, as well as napa cabbage.

Spare ribs and minced pork have been added to the list in 2025 as they have proved popular, said Mr Andy Chang, director of fresh and frozen products at FPG.

The group noted that prices of popular fresh produce at wet markets typically increase during this season.

Surveys it conducted from Jan 2 to 7 showed that prices of items such as Chinese pomfret and red grouper had gone up and were around 20 per cent to 30 per cent higher at four wet markets – in Chinatown Complex, Bedok, Tiong Bahru and Ghim Moh – compared with prices at FairPrice.

For example, an extra-large Chinese pomfret weighing around 600g to 800g cost an average of $57.33 per kg at wet markets, compared with $39.80 at FairPrice.

At the peak of price hikes at wet markets in 2024, the prices of higher-end seafood had nearly doubled.

“High demand for festive produce inevitably drives prices up, and so this price freeze is our way of making every day of the season a little better for our customers by keeping these popular festive essentials within reach,” said Mr Vipul Chawla, group chief executive officer of FPG.

This year’s promotion will run until Feb 12, the last day of Chinese New Year.

Mr Chang said FPG maintains the flow of produce throughout the festive period via prior commitments with suppliers, so that items do not fall short when Chinese New Year begins.

At FairPrice Xtra at AMK Hub, the seafood items on offer proved to be particularly popular, despite Jan 9 being the first day of the promotion.

The items are marked with a “Price Freeze” label.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Customers like Mrs Dorothy Koh, 64, were snapping up prawns, stocking up well in advance for reunion dinners.

“Basically, Singaporeans are kiasu (Hokkien for “fear of losing out”) and I am one of them, so I think nobody is going to wait until the last minute to get (their produce),” said Mrs Koh, who will have her reunion dinner at her brother’s house.

She added that she has a freezer that is “able to hold (food) for months”.

The housewife, who prefers to shop at supermarkets instead of wet markets because of the convenience and ease of finding items, is hoping for more steamboat ingredients to be added to the price freeze list.

Spare ribs and minced pork have been added to the price freeze list in 2025 as they have proved popular.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Mr Chang said FPG “will continue to monitor customers’ demand” and keep the list of goods relevant to their needs.

The price freeze comes after FPG announced in December 2024 that those who hold blue and orange Community Health Assist Scheme – or Chas – cards will enjoy 6 per cent discounts at all FairPrice supermarkets and Unity outlets on Thursdays and Fridays from Jan 1 to March 1.

Earlier in January, some major supermarket chains, such as FairPrice and Giant, also announced that they will be giving out $6 return vouchers for shoppers who spend at least $60 worth of their CDC vouchers.

 

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Singaporean households can now claim $300 CDC vouchers, half for use at supermarkets​

A total of 1.33 million households will benefit from this sixth tranche of CDC vouchers.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Chin Soo Fang
Jan 04, 2025

SINGAPORE – Every Singaporean household can now claim $300 worth of CDC vouchers to help them alleviate daily expenses.

Half of the vouchers can be used at supermarkets, and half at participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants.

They are valid until Dec 31.

A total of 1.33 million households will benefit from this sixth tranche of CDC vouchers, which can be used at 23,000 heartland merchants’ stores and hawker stalls; and eight supermarket chains, with about 400 outlets involved.

The latest tranche of vouchers is part of enhancements to the Assurance Package to help cushion the impact of cost-of-living increases. The first half – $300 in CDC vouchers – was disbursed in June 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong attended the launch of the vouchers at Marine Parade Town Centre on Jan 3, along with Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, who is an MP for Marine Parade GRC.

The event was hosted by the five mayors – Ms Low Yen Ling, Ms Denise Phua, Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman.

In his speech, Mr Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, said the launch is one of the first events in 2025 by the Community Development Councils (CDCs) to kick off Singapore’s diamond jubilee, or SG60, celebrations.

The CDC vouchers are one of the key initiatives in the Government’s efforts to help households manage cost-of-living challenges, he said.

The scheme was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to show appreciation to Singaporeans for their solidarity during those difficult times, and to support businesses.

It was continued post-pandemic to help Singaporeans cushion the impact of rising prices.

In 2024, each Singaporean household received $800 worth of vouchers, with a tranche of $500 in January and $300 in June.

As at Dec 31, 2024, about 97 per cent of Singaporean households have claimed the CDC vouchers for the year.

Of these claimed vouchers, more than $1 billion, or 97.5 per cent, has been spent at participating hawkers, heartland merchants and supermarkets.

Overall, around $1.6 billion has been spent since the launch of the digital CDC vouchers scheme in December 2021 – $907 million at participating hawkers and heartland merchants, and $689 million at participating supermarkets.

“Thankfully, inflation has cooled in recent months... and barring any unforeseen circumstances, core inflation is expected to ease further to 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent this year,” said Mr Gan.

“Even though prices may not be rising as fast, we understand that Singaporeans remain concerned about cost of living,” he added.

“We have taken several measures to address these concerns, and we stand ready to do more to support Singaporeans if necessary.”

He added: “Our strong Singapore dollar enables us to mitigate increases in the costs of imported goods and services. We work with businesses too to drive productivity and innovation, so that Singaporeans can continue to have good jobs with better wages.”

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong paying for Chinese New Year goodies at Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre on Jan 3.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Speaking to the media after the launch, Ms Low, who is Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth, said a total of $1.008 billion of the 2024 vouchers has been spent.

Of this figure, $500 million was spent at heartland merchants, while $508 million was used at supermarkets.

About two-thirds of the amount spent at heartland merchants and hawkers, or $331 million, was spent on food and beverages, including at coffee shops, cafes and hawker stalls.

Another $72 million was spent at heartland minimarts, and the remaining $95 million went to other trades such as salons and stationery shops, said Ms Low, who is also chairwoman of the Mayors’ Committee and Mayor of South West District.

Mr Gan said various measures to cushion the pace of price increases for individuals and households have been rolled out too.

For example, as part of the Assurance Package, all adult Singaporeans received up to $600 in cash in December 2024.

In January, eligible households will get additional U-Save rebates to help with their utility bills, and rebates for their service and conservancy charges.

Mr Gan said the community and the private sector – including merchant and heartland associations, schools and volunteers – have come forward to support efforts such as the CDC vouchers scheme.

Coffee shop operators have been included as participating merchants in the scheme, he added.

To date, there are about 600 coffee shop stalls that provide budget meal options and accept CDC vouchers.

“The positive impact of the CDC vouchers scheme is a good showcase of what we can achieve by having the public and private sectors working together,” Mr Gan said.

As the nation celebrates SG60, the Government, community and businesses can continue to find ways to work together to take Singapore forward, he added.

To mark SG60, some participating supermarkets, heartland merchants and hawkers are offering promotions for the use of the vouchers.

For example, some heartland merchants and hawkers will provide additional discounts or gifts for customers who use CDC vouchers at their stores to help Singaporeans stretch their dollar.

Supermarkets such as Cold Storage, Giant, FairPrice and Prime Supermarket will also be running in-house promotions for customers using CDC vouchers.

Human resources professional Victoria Ng, 36, said $300 is a “considerable sum” and will help families with rising costs of groceries and food.

“It’s good that more places are accepting CDC vouchers, including hawker centres, hair salons and neighbourhood stores,” she said.

“More people will also be inclined to spend at neighbourhood stores, which is a win-win situation for both customers and merchants.”

How to claim your vouchers​

Singaporean households will receive a notification letter by mail with instructions on how to claim and spend their CDC vouchers.

Similar to previous tranches, only one household member needs to visit go.gov.sg/cdcv and log in with his or her Singpass to claim the digital vouchers on behalf of the household.

Once the vouchers are claimed, the claimant will receive an SMS with a unique voucher link sent from “gov.sg” to the person’s registered mobile number.

This link, which is different from those of previous tranches, can be conveniently shared with other household members.

Those who face difficulties with the digital process can seek help at community centres or clubs (CCs) and SG Digital Community Hubs. There will be priority queues at CCs for seniors and people with disabilities.

Help will be provided for residents without smartphones or those who need help setting up Singpass accounts or resetting passwords.

Over the first two weeks of the launch, close to 450 youth and student volunteers from institutions, such as ITE College Central, Republic Polytechnic and St Joseph’s Institution, will assist residents at selected CCs alongside CDC ambassadors.

SG Digital Office’s digital ambassadors and Silver Infocomm wellness ambassadors will be stationed at CCs to help residents claim their digital vouchers from Jan 3 to 16.

Residents are reminded to guard against scams.

Claiming the CDC vouchers does not require any involvement with bank applications or transactions.

Those who encounter any suspicious messages relating to gov.sg or CDC vouchers can contact the People’s Association on 6225-5322, or submit the information online at police.gov.sg/i-witness or call 1800-255-0000 to make a police report.

More details on January’s CDC vouchers scheme can be found at vouchers.cdc.gov.sg

​

 

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Buangkok residents enjoy better connectivity, more convenience with new bus interchange​

Buangkok Bus Interchange, which is integrated with Sengkang Grand Mall and Buangkok MRT station, has been operating with three services since Dec 1. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Lee Li Ying
Jan 11, 2025

SINGAPORE – Buangkok residents now have more convenient transfers and improved connectivity to Sengkang town, as well as areas like Changi Airport, Bishan and Bukit Timah with the opening of a bus interchange.

Buangkok Bus Interchange, which is integrated with Sengkang Grand Mall and Buangkok MRT station, has been operating with three services since Dec 1, 2024. The interchange, which is operated by SBS Transit (SBST), will be able to progressively accommodate seven services.

Its official opening at 8.30am on Jan 11 was attended by Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai.

The launch marks the 12th integrated transport hub built by the Land Transport Authority. Such hubs link bus interchanges to MRT stations and nearby developments like malls for commuter convenience.

In a Facebook post after the event, Mr Pillai said he was heartened to hear from residents about how the Buangkok interchange has significantly boosted connectivity and convenience.

The services operating from the interchange are 110, 114 and 156.

Service 110, which goes to Changi Airport, was relocated from the Compassvale Bus Interchange, and no longer serves two stops in Compassvale Road.


As at Dec 1, 2024, service 114, which used to operate from Buangkok MRT station, has been rolled out from the new interchange at 5.55am, with stops along Buangkok Crescent and Sengkang Central.

Service 156, which used to operate from Sengkang Bus Interchange, now serves two additional stops along Sengkang East Avenue. It is skipping seven stops in Sengkang East Road, Sengkang East Way and Compassvale Road, with its route traversing Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah and Ulu Pandan.

Residents whom The Straits Times spoke to are most excited about service 110, which can slash the travelling time to Changi Airport.

Residents whom The Straits Times spoke to are most excited about service 110 – which can slash the travelling time to Changi Airport. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
Mr Johnson Setoh, 48, who works in the healthcare sector, said he enjoys taking his family to the airport. He usually takes a train from his home near Sengkang MRT station, taking a little over an hour to reach the airport.

But by taking the train to Buangkok station, and transferring to service 110, the journey is faster. “I tried the bus once, and it didn’t take me too long. It took about 50 minutes to get to Terminal 3,” said Mr Setoh.

Dr Frederick Yeo, 35, a doctor who has a four-month-old daughter and a three-year-old son, said his family usually takes a taxi to get to the airport, which would cost up to $30. They live in Sengkang East Drive.

He will now consider tapping service 110 to save cost. “My son also enjoys taking bus rides, so we might take a bus to Changi Airport for his entertainment,” added Dr Yeo.

Mrs Ang Ziya, who works in a financial institution, said that in the past, service 114 terminated at a stop outside Sengkang Grand Mall.

“It was sometimes quite inconvenient if we wanted to go to the shopping mall, because we had to take the underpass via the MRT station. If I’m with my children and I have a stroller, I have to wait for the lift, which will take me five to 10 minutes (to get to the mall),” the 32-year-old added.

Speaking at the official launch, Mr Jeffrey Sim, group chief executive of SBST, said the Buangkok interchange focuses on inclusivity, catering to families with young children, the elderly and those with mobility challenges.


There is barrier-free access at the entrances while the boarding berths have priority queue zones with seats. Facilities include a wheelchair accessible toilet, a baby care room and a commuter care room which provides a quiet space.

SBST has signed a memorandum of understanding with private healthcare provider HMI Medical for an initial period of two years.

HMI Singapore’s CEO, Dr Walter Lim, said the three key areas of focus under the agreement would be to equip the public and SBST employees with first responder skills, raising awareness of preventative healthcare and spreading the word about common medical issues like bone and joint health.

“We want to provide options to Singaporeans to access quality wellness and healthcare in the community. Healthcare is not just restricted to clinics,” he added.

 

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New bus service in Woodlands starts operations; latest under $900m enhancement scheme​

The new service 967 is the latest in a series of bus routes launched under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Kok Yufeng
Jan 12, 2025

SINGAPORE – A trip from his home in Champions Way to Woodlands Polyclinic, where he has a medical appointment every three months, would have required Mr Jefri Mohamed to take two different bus services, transferring at Woodlands interchange.

But the new trunk service 967, which began operations on Jan 12, provides a more direct bus route for the 50-year-old, who has permanent disabilities owing to heart failure and a bout of cancer.

Other residents in the area told The Straits Times that the new bus service helps reduce their travel time and offers them another option when using public transport.

Operated by SMRT, the new bus service starts at Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange and plies Woodlands Avenue 3 and Woodlands Avenue 1, making a loop at Woodlands Drive 17.

It runs at intervals of 12 to 15 minutes, with the first bus leaving the interchange at 5.30am and the last bus at 12.30am. Six buses and 11 drivers have been deployed on the route for a start.

The new service is the latest in a series of bus routes launched under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme. The initiative, announced in July 2024, aims to improve the bus network to better serve new housing developments and meet shifting travel patterns.

Up to $900 million will be spent over eight years to buy more buses, hire additional staff and build new infrastructure so these planned improvements can be made.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has said more bus routes are in the pipeline for both new and old towns.

Ms Nur Eliyana, who lives near Marsiling MRT station, decided to try service 967 as it stops in Woodlands Street 41, where her in-laws live.

Before the launch of the new service, the 40-year-old, who works as a purchaser at a shipping company, would typically take 15 minutes to walk to her in-laws’ home.

She said she will consider taking the bus in future.

“This route also goes directly to the Woodlands Health Campus, so it will be useful for me,” she said.

To mark the start of the bus service, a launch event was held on Jan 12 at Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange. Certificates and memorabilia were given out to more than 100 attendees, including throngs of bus enthusiasts.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MPs Zaqy Mohamad and Hany Soh said the new route will especially benefit those living in Woodgrove, where there is limited public transport connectivity.

“Many residents have been requesting this service for some time,” said Mr Zaqy, who is also Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower.

Woodgrove is a division of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, bounded by Woodlands Avenue 3, Woodlands Avenue 4, Woodlands Avenue 7, Mandai Road and the Bukit Timah Expressway.

For residents of Marsiling ward, which Mr Zaqy represents, service 967 will provide greater accessibility to medical care, as it stops near Woodlands Polyclinic and the Woodlands Health Campus, which opened in July 2024.

“That’s one of the major factors why this service is very useful,” he said.

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Ms Soh, who represents Woodgrove ward, said some of her residents have elderly parents living in Marsiling and Admiralty.

Previously, they had to transfer between two bus services, even though Woodlands Avenue 1 offers a straight route between these places.

Before Jan 12, the Woodgrove estate near Woodlands Avenue 1 was primarily served by services 912, 912B and 913M. Service 912M, which plied Woodlands Avenue 1 during weekday peak periods, was discontinued on Jan 10 in tandem with the launch of service 967.

Ms Soh said service 967 will improve public transport connections to several schools in her ward, bringing greater convenience for families with young children. The new service also stops at amenities such as the Woodgrove Community Centre and Marsiling Mall.

When asked if other parts of the constituency’s public bus network could be improved, Mr Zaqy said one area he is looking at is how traffic jams near Woodlands Checkpoint have impacted some of the feeder bus services.

Ms Soh pointed to previous questions she had filed in Parliament, including one on Jan 7 about whether LTA would consider starting a new dedicated feeder service between the checkpoint and Woodlands interchange.

In response, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said there is still sufficient capacity on the six bus services that currently operate between the checkpoint and the Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub.

With more housing projects coming up in Marsiling and Woodgrove, Mr Zaqy said he expects the demographics in the two estates to change, which means bus service requirements will change too.

Upcoming Build-To-Order projects there include the 1,540-unit Woodgrove Ascent and the 1,127-unit Woodgrove Edge.

 

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Eligible lower-income households can apply for public transport vouchers from Jan 14​

Public transport vouchers can be used to top up fare cards or buy monthly passes.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Sheo Chiong Teng
Jan 13, 2025

SINGAPORE – From Jan 14 to Oct 31, households with a monthly income per person of not more than $1,800 who did not receive public transport vouchers (PTVs) in 2024 can apply for vouchers worth $60 online or at their local community clubs, to help defray the public transport fare increase.

During this period, households that require more help - including those who did not qualify based on the household income eligibility criterion - can submit an appeal online or at their local community clubs, the Ministry of Transport and People’s Association said in a statement on Jan 13.

Households who have received a PTV notification letter can follow the instructions in the letter to redeem the voucher via the SimplyGo app, or at any SimplyGo kiosk, top-up kiosk, assisted service kiosk, SimplyGo ticket office or SimplyGo ticketing service centre. Residents may also approach their local community club if they have questions.

Each eligible household will receive one PTV, and these vouchers can be used to top up fare cards or buy monthly passes. The vouchers are valid until March 31, 2026.

This follows the first stage of the exercise, which was completed in December 2024, where about 270,000 households that received the voucher during the 2023 exercise and continue to meet the household income eligibility criterion received physical or digital notification letters, or both.

Vouchers handed out as part of the latest exercise are worth $60, higher than the $50 vouchers made available in the 2023 exercise. This is expected to benefit 60,000 more households.

From Dec 28, 2024, adult passengers began paying 10 cents more for each train and bus ride, as part of a 6 per cent public transport fare hike.

Meanwhile, seniors, students, people with disabilities and low-wage workers enjoying concessionary fares started paying four cents more for each journey. These increases apply if passengers pay by debit, credit or fare cards.

 

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10 areas in towns across Singapore to be made more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly by 2026​

Holland Village is one of the towns that are part of the LTA initiative to make areas around key neighbourhood amenities more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly.PHOTO: LTA

Vanessa Paige Chelvan
Jan 14, 2025

SINGAPORE – About 2km of roads in Holland Village, including Holland Avenue and Holland Drive, will soon be made safer for pedestrians, with the introduction of road humps and a lower speed limit on certain stretches of road.

Holland Village is one of 10 towns that are part of a Land Transport Authority (LTA) initiative to make areas around key neighbourhood amenities more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly, by modifying some roads connected to places such as markets, MRT stations and schools.

Dubbed Friendly Streets, the initiative will also go to Bedok, Buangkok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East, Pek Kio, Punggol, Sembawang and Tiong Bahru.

Works on the Friendly Streets in the 10 neighbourhoods will progressively start in the first half of 2025 and are expected to be completed in 2026, Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor said at their launch event at One Holland Village on Jan 14.

By 2030, every town in Singapore will have at least one Friendly Street, she added.

Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua (left) and Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor at the launch event for Friendly Streets in 10 towns at One Holland Village on Jan 14.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
LTA said on Jan 14 that the locations and features of the Friendly Streets in these neighbourhoods were selected in consultation with residents and stakeholders.

Some features that will be added are more barrier-free crossings, longer green-man signals, and road humps and green road markings, which are meant to encourage drivers to slow down ahead of pedestrian-friendly zones. New road signs will also tell motorists that they are entering a Friendly Street.

Holland Avenue will see a new signalised pedestrian crossing for residents heading to Holland Village and Holland Avenue Hill Park, while another signalised pedestrian crossing in Holland Drive will be relocated to better serve those heading to the Holland Drive Market and Food Centre.

New road humps and wider centre dividers will also be installed in Holland Avenue and Holland Drive to slow down traffic and make it safer for pedestrians, particularly the elderly, to get to the markets, Buona Vista Community Club, and the Holland Village and Buona Vista MRT stations, LTA said.

Mr William Tang and Mrs Lee Tang, who have lived in the neighbourhood for more than 40 years, said it is high time streets in the area were made safer for pedestrians. At the moment, the roads “cater more for cars than pedestrians”, Mrs Tang told The Straits Times.

The couple, who live in Holland Drive, said there is a “speed issue” on that road, and called for more road humps on the stretch between Buona Vista Community Club and Block 18, which houses a multi-storey carpark.

Mrs Tang said road humps would be more helpful than lowering the speed limit, as humps force drivers to slow down, whereas not all will abide by the speed limit.

In Bukit Panjang, the signalised pedestrian crossing between Bukit Panjang Community Club and Pending LRT station will have pedestrian priority, which means a longer green-man signal and shorter waiting times.

These enhancements will complement the nearby Silver Zone in Bukit Panjang Ring Road and make it more convenient for residents to reach Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre and Market, Bangkit LRT station and Zhenghua Nature Park, LTA said.


Over in Pek Kio, a raised, signalised pedestrian crossing will be built on Owen Road to help pedestrians get to Pek Kio Market and Food Centre more safely. The area will also get raised zebra crossings, kerbless crossings and centre dividers, LTA said, without elaborating.

This will benefit existing residents as well as future residents of the upcoming public housing flats in Owen Road, it noted.


The unveiling of the 10 new Friendly Streets locations on Jan 14 follows four successful pilots in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok West, Toa Payoh and West Coast from 2023.

Nine in 10 residents of these neighbourhoods have agreed that their walking and cycling experiences have improved, LTA said.

A fifth pilot, in Tampines, will be completed by March.

 

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About 850,000 older Singaporeans to receive cash under Assurance Package Seniors’ Bonus​

The money will go to seniors living in Singapore who do not own more than one property.PHOTO: ST FILE
Chin Soo Fang
Jan 15, 2025

SINGAPORE - About 850,000 lower-income Singaporeans aged 55 and above will get $200 to $300 from the Assurance Package Seniors’ Bonus in February 2025.

The money will go to seniors living in Singapore who do not own more than one property.

They must also be living in properties with an annual value of up to $31,000, and with an assessable income not exceeding $34,000, said the Ministry of Finance on Jan 15.

Eligible seniors can get their payouts from 5 February 2025 via PayNow-NRIC. To do so, they would need to link their NRIC to PayNow through their banks.

They can also provide their bank account information at the govbenefits website (govbenefits.gov.sg) by Jan 27, and get the cash benefits via Giro from Feb 13.

Those without PayNow-NRIC or valid bank accounts will otherwise receive their cash benefits later via GovCash.

Every Singaporean aged 20 years and below, or 55 years and above, will also get an Assurance Package MediSave top-up of $150 in their CPF accounts.

About 2 million Singaporeans living here will benefit, regardless of the annual value of their homes or their assessable incomes. These payments will go into their CPF accounts from Feb 11.

These benefits were first announced in Budget 2022. Under the Assurance Package, eligible Singaporean seniors will get a Seniors’ Bonus totalling $600 to $900 over three years.

All Singaporeans aged 20 years and below, and 55 years and above, will also receive AP MediSave top-ups totalling $450 over three years. The disbursements are made annually, from 2023 to 2025.

At Budget 2024, a $1.9 billion enhancement to the Assurance Package was announced to help alleviate cost-of-living pressures for Singaporean households and provide more support for lower- to middle-income families.

Eligible recipients will get an SMS after the benefits have been credited in February. Those without a Singpass-registered mobile number or who do not get an SMS will get a letter, sent to their address on their NRICs.

All AP MediSave recipients aged 16 and below will get a letter addressed to their parents or guardians, informing them of the top-up to their child’s CPF account.

To safeguard against scams, the SMS notification sent from “gov.sg” will only inform citizens of their benefit. Citizens will not be asked to reply to the SMS, click any links, or provide any information to the sender. No messages regarding the payments will be sent through WhatsApp or other mobile messaging platforms.

Citizens can check their eligibility on the govbenefits website by logging in with their Singpass. They can also contact 1800-2222-888 or go.gov.sg/apcontactus for more information.

From Jan 3, every Singaporean household can also claim $300 worth of CDC vouchers to help them with daily expenses. A total of 1.33 million households will benefit from this sixth tranche of CDC vouchers, which can be used at 23,000 heartland merchants’ stores and hawker stalls; and eight supermarket chains, with about 400 outlets involved.