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‘We will do everything we can to help you’: PM Wong to young parents during Sengkang visit​

PM Lawrence Wong (centre, in white) posing for photos with residents at the Sengkang West Sports and Family Fiesta on March 16.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Kok Yufeng
Mar 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – The Government wants to do everything it can to ensure that Singapore is a society “made for families”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“For all the young parents out there, please have the assurance that we are here with you to support you,” he said on March 16 during a visit to Sengkang – his first since taking over the country’s top job.

After being sworn in in May 2024, the Prime Minister has embarked on a series of visits to different constituencies across the island, to meet as many Singaporeans as he can.

He was joined by advisers to the Sengkang GRC grassroots organisations – Dr Lam Pin Min, Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat and Ms Theodora Lai – at a community event in Anchorvale targeted at young families.

PM Wong pointed to the support measures for parents with young children that were announced as part of Budget 2025.

“We know that cost pressures are a concern. That’s why we have given out more CDC vouchers. And even for the SG60 package, we have provided some vouchers for every adult Singaporean to help,” he said in a short speech at the community plaza in Anchorvale Village shopping centre.

Families with young children will get greater support via a one-off disbursement of $500 in LifeSG credits for Singaporean children aged 12 and below.

Larger families with three or more children will get even more aid, added PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister.

Measures introduced under a new Large Families Scheme include a higher $10,000 grant to cover pre-school and healthcare expenses for baby number three, four or more, as well as $1,000 in LifeSG credits each year for the third and subsequent child during the years that the child turns one to six.

“I know it’s not easy to be young parents. I know it’s not easy to have kids in Singapore. You have so many things to worry about. But we want to make this journey as convenient, seamless (and) fuss-free as possible,” PM Wong said.

“So whether it’s pre-school, whether it’s cost pressures, whether it’s education, whether it’s housing, we will do everything we can to help you along the way.”

The Prime Minister’s visit to Sengkang began at about 10am at Anchorvale Community Club, where Sengkang West residents participated in a variety of sporting activities and games. PM Wong tried his hand at pickleball and a brief game of futsal, before interacting with event attendees there.

At Anchorvale Village, PM Wong visited various booths with activities aimed at bringing families closer together. He also spent an hour greeting and taking photos with diners and stallholders at Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre.

PM Lawrence Wong joining residents for a game of pickleball at the Sengkang West Sports and Family Fiesta at Anchorvale Community Club.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
In his remarks on March 16, PM Wong said 2025 is a special year as it is the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s independence, and it marks a new phase of nation-building.

But he warned of the profound changes that are happening around the globe.

While the world has always been a dangerous place, PM Wong noted, it is only going to get more troubled and turbulent.

“Every day, we see something more and more worrying.”

“All the things we see around us simply remind us of one simple fact – no one is going to come to our rescue,” he stressed.

“If something goes wrong, we can only count on ourselves, Singaporeans, to defend Singapore, to advance our interests and make sure this little red dot continues to survive and thrive.

“So I hope we can all proceed forward in our next phase in the same spirit of solidarity and unity, come together as team Singapore to chart our new way forward in a very uncertain environment, and make sure we continue to have a better future for ourselves and for the next generation of Singaporeans.”

Sengkang resident Vincent Zye, 35, was among those who interacted with PM Wong at the hawker centre on March 16. He said he is happy with the measures in the 2025 Budget, especially those aimed at young families like his.

The engineer, who has two children, aged five and two, highlighted the reduction in pre-school fees as one initiative that will be of real benefit.

Long-time Compassvale resident Alvin Khong was surprised to see PM Wong in his constituency.

“I think it is important he has a closer relationship with residents,” said the 63-year-old, who works in the semiconductor industry.

Sengkang GRC, formed in 2020, was won by the opposition Workers’ Party at the last election.

It is one of nine constituencies that will not have their boundaries redrawn for the 2025 polls, which is widely expected by mid-year.

Sengkang GRC MP Jamus Lim, who looks after the Anchorvale ward, was seen at Anchorvale Village speaking to residents on March 16 as PM Wong was taking his leave.

Associate Professor Lim stayed to observe the official opening of the mall, officiated by Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann. However, he declined to comment when approached.

Also seen at the March 16 events in Anchorvale was Mrs Bernadette Giam, 38, a director at local food and beverage enterprise Creative Eateries, who was appointed chairwoman of the People’s Action Party’s Sengkang East branch in January.

 

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Safra offers members 12 months of free insurance for SG60​

Underwritten by Singlife, the 12-month personal accident insurance plan will provide $50,000 in coverage for Safra members, their spouses and children. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Shermaine Ang
Mar 16, 2025, 05:45 PM

SINGAPORE - Free insurance for a year is among the slew of SG60 goodies for national servicemen and their families, as the nation celebrates its 60th year.

Underwritten by Singlife, the 12-month personal accident insurance plan will provide $50,000 in coverage for Safra members, their spouses and children.

This was announced by Senior Minister of State for Defence and Safra president Zaqy Mohamad on March 16 at the Safra Family Day Out held at Rainforest Wild Asia. The event drew more than 1,500 Safra members and their families, who visited the newly opened attraction at a discounted rate.

“For over 60 years… NSmen have been a very important pillar of Singapore’s Total Defence,” Mr Zaqy said.

“This is one way Safra looks to enhance their offerings to recognise our NSmen for their efforts, and certainly to their families, for supporting their efforts on the ground as they serve the country.”

Named Safra Family Care, the free 12-month insurance plan is a collaboration between Safra and Professional Investment Advisory Services, a subsidiary of Singlife.

Under the plan, Safra members, their spouses and children are entitled to a lump sum payout of $50,000 each upon accidental death or accidental total and permanent disability.

They will also have coverage of up to $200 for medical reimbursement due to accidents, and up to $1,000 coverage for a simple fracture, ambulance fee and other medical expenses.

Safra members can register their interest for the plan at https://www.safra.sg/our-services/safra-insurance/safra-family-care by the end of 2026.

The Safra Family Day Out event kicked off Safra’s series of SG60 celebratory activities.

Safra‘s SG60 Food Galore from June to August will feature food tasting and cooking, while the Safra Fitness Festival from July to October will feature a team relay competition, where groups of five will compete in swimming, running, climbing, laser shooting and strength challenges.

As part of Safra’s renewed partnership with Mandai Wildlife Group, Safra members can enjoy quarterly special promotions, as well as 30 per cent off admission tickets when they visit Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, River Wonders and Night Safari, from Mondays to Thursdays, throughout the year.

Safra members can also look forward to special discounts on admission tickets to Rainforest Wild Asia later in the year.

Among the promotions are also $60 discounts for some Royal Caribbean cruise trips and National Service Resort and Country Club stays, as well as special deals at food and beverage joints such as Sushiro and KFC.

Safra members, who comprise more than 420,000 Singapore Armed Forces servicemen and their families, will benefit from the SG60 perks.

This was announced by Senior Minister of State for Defence and president of Safra Zaqy Mohamad (left) on March 16 at the Safra Family Day Out held at Rainforest Wild Asia.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
One of them is project manager Avier Ling, who attended Safra Family Day Out with his wife Joreen Koh and their three-year-old daughter Annette Ling.

“We saw the promotion on the website, and decided to come because my daughter always wants to see animals. She’s very excited and looking forward to taking more pictures – she brought her camera along.”

The family paid a promotional rate of $60 to enter Rainforest Wild Asia, which has a usual entry fee of $117.

Mr Ling has made use of Safra membership discounts to buy his prescription glasses, and to take Annette to the water playground at Safra Punggol near their home.

Mr Zaqy – an MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, along with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, North West District Mayor Alex Yam and Ms Hany Soh – was asked by media about the next general election, which must take place by Nov 23.

(From left) Ms Jean Choi, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Sales and Experience Development, Mandai Wildlife Reserves; Senior Minister of State for Defence and president of Safra Zaqy Mohamad, and Ms Kris Ho, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SAFRA, at the Safra Family Day Out held at Rainforest Wild Asia.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Asked if he will continue running in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the election, Mr Zaqy said: “That’s something for the Prime Minister to decide. We will wait for Nomination Day and find out more. But our work plans are coming up, something that we look forward to upgrading with our residents for the next five-year town masterplan, so look out for that.”

On whether he feels pressure running alongside PM Wong, he said: “As always, with anyone with such a stellar track record and credentials, I think there’s certainly a lot to learn from. The benefit of being on the sidelines with PM is that we can see how to manage the ground better.

“We look forward to collaborating and working and supporting him as we make Marsiling-Yew Tee a great place to stay, and one that we can always just look forward to.”

 

[True Believer]

PM Wong said: "We (the PAP) will do everything we can to make sure that you (Sengkang residents) pay your dues (taxes) for the next 5 years."

 

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New task force to help S’poreans, businesses seize opportunities from JB-Singapore RTS Link​

Residents can claim vouchers that allow them to buy daily staples for $1.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
Mar 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – A task force has been set up to help Singaporeans and local businesses seize opportunities and reap benefits from the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

The announcement was made by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on March 16 at the launch of an initiative at Woodlands North Plaza, where residents can claim vouchers that allow them to buy daily staples for $1.

Mr Ong said he had approached Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong for help in forming a task force to “look into how we can seize the opportunities of RTS... (and) at the same time find ways to cushion the impact for those who are affected”.

Mr Ong said he takes a “very special interest” in watching the developments because Woodlands North station, the terminus of the rail link, is in Sembawang GRC.

While the RTS Link may nudge Singaporeans across the Causeway for shopping, there is an opportunity for Singapore to rejuvenate many of its retail areas and heartland centres to “offer something different that Malaysian shoppers will find coming to Singapore also quite interesting”, said Mr Ong, who is an MP for Sembawang GRC.

He said, however, that there are also those who will be affected.

“If you run shops or you sell things or sell food that directly compete with Johor Bahru’s vendors, I think you can be affected.”

The task force aims to study how Singapore can tap the potential and benefits from the RTS Link to rejuvenate the country’s heartland. It will also consider opportunities for Singapore businesses with the increased connectivity and ease of travel offered by the rail link, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said on March 16.

It will consult heartland enterprises and local businesses, and aim to put out its findings and recommendations in 2026, the ministry added.

When ready by the end of 2026, the RTS Link can carry up to 10,000 people an hour in each direction between Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru and Woodlands North in Singapore.

Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and chairman of the task force, said preliminary work such as meetings with MTI staff, grassroots leaders, the Housing Board, trade agency Enterprise Singapore and merchants’ associations were done in November 2024.

“We are going to take our time to make sure that we listen to all of you, listen to the merchant association... so that we can put together a plan to make sure all of us can reap the benefits of this RTS Link,” said Mr Tan in a speech at the same event in Woodlands.

The task force is made up of members from MTI, the National Development, Manpower and Health ministries, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Enterprise Singapore, HDB and Woodlands Health.

Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung (second from left), MP for Sembawang GRC Mariam Jaafar (left), and Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan launching the Merchant Dollar Deal at Woodlands North Plaza on March 16.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Sembawang GRC MP Mariam Jaafar and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Hany Soh will work with the task force to engage Singapore businesses, heartland shops and merchants’ associations on ideas to rejuvenate Singapore’s heartland and make them more vibrant, said MTI.

On March 16, about 1,000 residents from Sembawang GRC attended the launch of the MerchantDollarDeal$@Woodlands (MDD@Woodlands) initiative, which allows Woodlands residents in Sembawang GRC to collect vouchers from various points in the town between March 16 and 22.

More than 5,000 $1 deals will be made available monthly, including those for essentials such as cooking oil, canned drinks, bread and eggs. These can be redeemed at participating merchants, such as supermarkets and stalls in Woodlands North Plaza.

Ms Mariam said the initiative not only helps residents manage concerns over the cost of living, but it is also about the community.

“I hope that MDD@Woodlands will encourage more footfall to heartland shops, and build a strong connection between local businesses and the community.”

Others also came to claim their $50 SG60 BAM (Belanja-A-Meal)@Woodlands card, which can be used to buy meals at participating hawker stalls and coffee shops in Woodlands.

Both initiatives are among programmes to mark Singapore’s 60th birthday.

Customer service manager Francis Quek from Mr Bean said his company will offer 200 to 300 cups of soya milk a month to registered residents, from March to August, for $1 under MDD@Woodlands.

Another participating shop, New Odense(s) Confectionery & Bakery, will be offering 500 buns and drinks a month in the same period.

Said Mr Danny Koh, 49, who runs the family business that has been in Woodlands North Plaza for the last 28 years: “We’re an SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) and we try to give back a bit. Although the business is not great, we have to help the residents.”

Addressing the media during a speech at the event on March 16, Mr Ong told reporters who were hoping to spot new candidates at Sembawang GRC that he has “no new candidates to introduce”.

“I promise you, the moment I have, I will introduce (them) to you.”

Nevertheless, Mr Ong had said in February that he expects at least one new member to be added to the People’s Action Party team in the GRC at the upcoming election. This is part of the party’s renewal process every election cycle, he said.

The election must be held by November, but is widely expected to take place by mid-2025.

​

 

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From East Coast Park to Jurong Lake Gardens: NParks opens more than 350 plots for gardening​

Allotment Gardening Scheme lots are available in sites such as East Coast Park, Jurong Central Park, and Punggol Park.PHOTO: NPARKS

Angelica Ang
Mar 18, 2025

SINGAPORE – More than 350 plots across 15 gardens and parks in Singapore are now open for application from people who aspire to grow edible plants.

The National Parks Board (NParks) said on March 18 that applications can be submitted from 10am on March 19 till 11.59pm on April 1.

The move is an expansion of the Allotment Gardening Scheme, which was launched in 2016 to allow individuals to rent a space to grow edible plants in the parks and gardens.

This time around, lots are available in sites such as East Coast Park and Jurong Central Park, with the most number at Jurong Lake Gardens, Punggol Park and Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West.

Each plot costs $62.13 a year, and contains a raised planter bed – 2.5m x 1m in size – with soil and a mini storage area for tools, and can be held for three years.

Applications via AXS channels, such as e-Stations, m-Stations and kiosks, will be subjected to computerised balloting.

To date, more than 2,400 allotment gardening plots have taken root in 28 parks and gardens across Singapore, NParks said.

Since 2021, it has also worked with agencies, town councils and grassroot organisations to make the initiative even more accessible, with plots nearer to people’s homes.

The next application cycle will fall in the fourth quarter of 2025.

 

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Over $200,000 raised for full-ride scholarship for Palestinian students​

(From left) PM Lawrence Wong with former NMP Anthea Ong and former Cabinet minister Yaacob Ibrahim, who are co-chairs of the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative's administration committee, at a briefing and iftar (breaking fast) on March 18.PHOTO: LAWRENCE WONG/FACEBOOK

Anjali Raguraman
Mar 19, 2025

SINGAPORE - A ground-up effort to sponsor Palestinian students to complete further studies in Singapore has raised half of its $400,000 goal so far.

Called the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative, the full-ride scholarship will sponsor two Palestinian students to pursue tertiary education at universities here, covering tuition, lodging, and living expenses. The first students are expected to commence their studies in the 2025 academic year.

Fundraising that began in October 2024 has garnered over 900 individual donations, averaging over $200 as at March 11.

Donations have ranged from $3 to $20,000, said the organisers - a group of Singaporeans - in a media release.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong joined partners of the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative at a briefing and iftar (breaking fast) at Pu3 restaurant on March 18. It included students from participating universities, charity platform Ray of Hope, Arab Network of Singapore and volunteers.

“This initiative will provide opportunities for Palestinian students to pursue university education in Singapore, empowering them to uplift their families and communities,” said PM Wong in a Facebook post.

The scholarship’s administration committee is co-chaired by former Nominated MP and social entrepreneur Anthea Ong, and former Cabinet minister Yaacob Ibrahim.

It also includes co-founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians, Dr Ang Swee Chai; founder of education initiative Opening Universities for Refugees, Dr Gul Inanc; and British-Palestinian surgeon and Honorary Associate Professor at University College London, Dr Khaled Dawas.

“Palestinian Scholarship Initiative believes that supporting young Palestinians to study in Singapore not only provides them with access to world-class education at our universities, but also enriches our society by fostering diversity, empathy and global understanding,” said the organisers.

Added Ms Ong: “The Palestinian scholars’ unique perspectives can inspire innovation and collaboration, benefitting both our universities and the broader Singapore community.”

Over 150 applications from young Palestinians​

There has been keen interest from young Palestinians since the call went out, with over 150 applications, said theorganisers.

The majority are under 25 years old, and more than half are from Gaza, which has seen its universities razed in the conflict.

According to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which cited Gaza’s education ministry, 51 university buildings have been destroyed in Gaza as of January 2025, and another 57 damaged.

The young Palestinians have applied to the National University of Singapore, which has seen the most interest so far with 15 applicants; Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore Institute of Technology and Singapore Institute of Management.

They have applied for courses such as pharmaceutical science, business management, AI and innovation, software engineering, and computer science.

“By learning in Singapore, I hope to gain exposure to cutting-edge design practices, collaborate with diverse talents, and deepen my understanding of sustainable development strategies,” wrote one scholarship applicant, a 32-year-old woman from the West Bank who applied for an entrepreneurship and innovation programme.

“This experience will enable me to apply global insights to local contexts, particularly in Palestine, and contribute to global conversations on design and sustainability.”


Applications are ongoing, said the organisers, adding that the scholarship will be assessed and awarded only to students who are successful in their application to the participating universities based on current admissions requirements.

All local university applications will close by March 19, 2025.

The scholarship builds on Singapore’s commitment to providing more scholarships for Palestinian students. In December 2024 while in Egypt, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Education Maliki Osman had said Singapore will increase the number of scholarships from three to 10.

In his Facebook post, PM Wong noted that “Singapore has been steadfast in supporting the urgent needs of Gaza”, including providing humanitarian aid.

He said ground-up efforts like the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative complement the Government’s efforts to help the Palestinian Authority build capacity. This is in fields like administration and reconstruction, through the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package (Etap).

Under Singapore’s Etap - first introduced in 2013 with $5 million, and subsequently doubled in 2016 to $10 million - Palestinian Authority officials are provided sponsorship to participate in study visits to Singapore and capacity-building courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

It also offers scholarships for the officials to pursue postgraduate studies at Singapore universities.

Singapore has since trained more than 750 officials in areas like diplomacy, water management, economic development and urban planning.

The Republic has also repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment towards helping the Palestinian people achieve eventual statehood.

As a nation, Singapore has contributed more than $19 million to Gaza since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023. In February, the Republic of Singapore Air Force delivered Singapore’s seventh tranche of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

 

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Cooling spaces, suspension of outdoor activities, among measures in S’pore’s new heat response plan​

Periods of high heat stress can occur even without a heatwave. PHOTO: ST FILE
Chin Hui Shan and Shabana Begum
Mar 19, 2025

SINGAPORE - Cooling spaces will be open to the public to seek respite from the soaring temperatures when a heatwave is forecasted, as part of a national plan to help Singaporeans tackle rising temperatures.

These spaces - some of which will be air-conditioned - will be set up islandwide. These stations could be at community centres, residents’ committees and indoor sports halls with air-conditioning. Details of how many of them there will be are not yet available.

These cooling stations are part of a suite of heat response measures formulated by a new group comprising over 30 government agencies and ministries, called the Mercury Taskforce, that were revealed to the media on March 19. They include the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

There are already existing measures in place to protect vulnerable groups, such as construction workers, from heat-related illnesses, during periods of high heat stress, as defined by various parameters including air temperature and humidity.

For example, during periods of high heat stress, workers involved in heavy physical labour, such as shovelling and manual sawing, should be given at least 10 minutes to rest under shade every hour.

But the new plan sets out a national approach to how various sectors should respond when a heatwave is expected to hit. It also outlines additional measures that vulnerable groups should take to protect themselves from rising temperatures.

There is no universally accepted definition of a heatwave, but it is declared in Singapore when the highest daily temperature over three consecutive days is at least 35 deg C, with the mean temperature each day being at least 29 deg C.

Periods of high heat stress can occur even without a heatwave.

When the weather forecast by the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) indicates a high likelihood of a heatwave in Singapore, a joint media advisory warning of impending high temperatures will be issued, said the taskforce.

The advisory – which details additional heat response measures for specific sectors, such as for preschools and hospitals – will be in place until MSS forecasts that the high temperatures will subside.

When the heat response plan is activated, Singaporeans should minimise outdoor physical activities between 11am and 4pm due to higher heat stress levels in this period.

For vulnerable groups, more precautions are to be taken.

For example, preschools are not to conduct outdoor activities between 11am and 4pm – usually periods of high heat stress – as the children enrolled are younger.

All schools should also implement dress down attire and minimise outdoor activities during the same time period. Outdoor activities should also be modified or suspended according to the heat stress level.

Some schools around Singapore have already made efforts to reduce the impact of soaring temperatures on staff and students as classrooms in most primary and secondary schools are not equipped with air-conditioners.

For example, Beatty Secondary School had a second uniform for students comprising a polo tee made of a dri-fit material with moisture-wicking properties to help keep students cooler as the material is more breathable, ST reported in June 2024.

The taskforce also revealed some measures those at home can take to cool down when the mercury rises.

For instance, beside taking cool showers and soaking their feet with cool water, dwellers can cool down their body heat by spraying cold water mist or covering their head or shoulders with wet cool towels.

To create a cool space, residents should also set aside an area away from direct sunlight and with adequate air flow while avoiding using heat-emitting appliances in the cool space.

This whole-of-government heat response plan was released ahead of the hottest period of the year in Singapore, which usually falls between March and May.

For example, Singapore’s highest temperature of 37 deg C was recorded in May 13, 2023, in Ang Mo Kio.

In 2024 – which is Singapore’s hottest year on record, tying with 2019 and 2016 – Singapore experienced 21 days of high heat stress. Most of these days occurred in March, April and May.

Singapore has experienced six heatwave episodes historically, with the last one in 2016.

This year, however, the taskforce said a heatwave is unlikely to happen during the hotter months, as global climate drivers are not conducive for it.

For example, Singapore is currently experiencing La Nina conditions. Such conditions typically bring cooler and wetter weather in Singapore and the region.

All six heatwaves in the past had occurred in the tail end of an El Nino event. El Nino events bring drier and hotter weather to Singapore.

To measure heat stress, Singapore uses the wet bulb globe temperature (WGBT) – which accounts for not just air temperature, but also humidity, wind speed and solar radiation.

Under a heat stress advisory launched by Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) in 2023, periods of high heat stress are indicated by WGBT levels of 33 deg C or higher, and people are advised to minimise outdoor activities under such conditions.

To better measure heat stress, eight more WGBT stations, in locations like Jurong Island and Punggol Waterway, will be rolled out beyond stadiums by mid-2025. Currently, there are nine of such stations islandwide - with the majority of them in sports stadiums.

 

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Over 570,000 S’porean seniors to get $400 to $1,000 in Earn and Save bonus in March​

The bonus will be credited automatically to the CPF accounts of eligible recipients, said the Manpower Ministry.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Sarah Koh
Mar 20, 2025

SINGAPORE - More than 570,000 Singaporeans will receive $400 to $1,000 in March as part of the Earn and Save Bonus.

This will be the first payment of the annual bonus that was initially announced at the National Day Rally in 2023 as part of the $9 billion Majulah Package.

In a statement on March 20, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the bonus will provide an additional boost in retirement savings for working seniors.

Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive the bonus if they meet these requirements:

• Working and have an average monthly income of $500 to $6,000 in the previous year of assessment
• Live in a property with an annual value of $31,000 and below
• Own not more than one property

A higher bonus amount will be given to those with lower monthly incomes.

Those earning $500 to $2,500 in average monthly income will receive $1,000, while those earning above $2,500 to $3,500 will get $700.

Seniors who earn above $3,500 to $6,000 will receive $400.

The three-part Majulah Package is targeted at Singaporeans in their 50s and early 60s, a group that has been referred to as “young seniors”.

The group also covers those younger than the Merdeka Generation who were born between 1950 and 1959, and the Pioneer Generation who were born in 1949 or earlier.

About 1.6 million eligible Singaporeans received the MediSave Bonus in December 2024, and about 800,000 from the same age group received a one-time Retirement Savings Bonus in their CPF accounts.

The Earn and Save Bonus will be credited automatically to the CPF accounts of eligible recipients, said MOM. They will be notified via SMS in April after the bonus has been credited.

Recipients without a Singpass-registered mobile number will be notified through a letter sent to their addresses.

In its statement, MOM also reminded the public to guard against scams.

The ministry said that the SMS notification sent from “gov.sg” will give citizens information about their benefits. They will not be asked to reply to the SMS, click on any links or provide any details to the sender.

Messages about the bonus payment will not be sent through WhatsApp or other mobile messaging platforms.

Citizens can check their eligibility for the bonus on the govbenefits website, by logging in to Singpass.

 

[True Believer]

You know elections are coming when.....

 

[True Believer]

You know elections are coming when....

 

[True Believer]

You know elections are coming when....

 

[True Believer]

You know elections are coming when....

 

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First childminding service for babies at a community space started in Tampines​

EduNanny by Butler is part of a pilot government project to give parents more options for infant care.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Theresa Tan
Mar 21, 2025

SINGAPORE – The first significantly subsidised nanny service in a community space opened its doors on March 3, and now has two babies enrolled.

EduNanny by Butler, which occupies a 500 sq ft room at Tampines East Community Club (CC), is part of a pilot government project to give parents more options for infant care.

A spokesperson for the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said it aims to get a second such set-up at Nee Soon East CC ready in the first half of 2025.

It is also assessing other community spaces to offer such services, particularly in locations where demand for infant care is higher.

Having childminding services in such spaces offers parents this option in convenient locations, and allows childminders to offer their services even if their homes are not suitable, the ECDA spokesperson said.

On Dec 1, 2024, ECDA launched a childminding pilot for infants aged two to 18 months.

Under the scheme, nannies either look after the babies in the nannies’ homes, or at a communal space such as a CC.

Childminding services are provided in five- or 10-hour blocks between 7am and 7pm from Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays.

Services offered during these time periods are subsidised, costing $16.50 for a five-hour block. Parents pay $719.40 a month if they use the service full time, or 10 hours a day for five days a week for four weeks, including goods and services tax.

Under the pilot, three operators have been appointed and are responsible for hiring the nannies, or childminders, as ECDA calls them. They are EduNanny by Butler, Kidibliss and NannyPro Care.

EduNanny chief executive Poon Da Qian said it has six childminders who are currently working, with over 30 waiting for ECDA’s screening clearance to start work.

On ECDA’s website, the agency says it conducts background checks on the nannies, including if they have any criminal history.

If the baby is cared for in the nanny’s home, these background checks are also done on the nanny’s family members and others who visit the house regularly.

Before they are deployed, the childminders also have to undergo mandatory training on infant care, among other things.

EduNanny’s childminders include retirees, as well as mothers in their 20s and 30s who want to care for their own children and earn an income at the same time by caring for other babies.

At EduNanny, parents have access to a live CCTV feed for their baby to put their minds at ease. This is especially important given the news of abuse committed by some childcare teachers in the past, Mr Poon said.

He added: “Parents want the live CCTV feed. They want more transparency in how operators run their operations.”

The ECDA spokesperson said childminding services offer more personalised care and greater flexibility for parents, compared with infant care services offered at childcare centres.

For example, parents can decide to use the childminding service for half a day, or on selected days, depending on their needs.

Parents can also use the Child Development Account (CDA), a special savings account for children that can be used to pay pre-school and other fees, to further defray the cost of the service.

The ECDA spokesperson said: “The pilot aims to grow childminding services to be an affordable, safe and reliable infant caregiving option for parents.”

When announcing the pilot in 2024, Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling said childminding fees would be similar to what a median-income family pays, after subsidies, for infant care at childcare centres run by anchor operators.

Anchor operators receive government grants that help offset costs, such as staff salaries, in return for meeting fee caps and quality criteria.

Meanwhile, private childminding services cost around $1,200 to $2,800 a month, and this varies according to the type of arrangement, the Ministry of Social and Family Development has previously said.

The pilot childminding scheme, which will run for three years, aims to serve 500 infants in the first year.

According to ECDA’s guidelines, each childminder is allowed to care for up to three infants at any one time under the childminding pilot. This is compared with one staff member for up to five babies under the infant care programmes run by childcare centres.

EduNanny is allowed to care for up to nine babies at its Tampines East CC set-up, but it plans for a maximum of six so that there is more space for each child, Mr Poon said.

He said: “We realise the first choice (for parents) is still centre-based care. They feel that there are more childminders at the centre, so it is safer.”

EduNanny chief executive Poon Da Qian said the firm has six childminders who are currently working, with over 30 waiting for ECDA’s screening clearance to start work. Its childminders include retirees and mothers in their 20s and 30s.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
The firm will also start placing babies in nannies’ homes from next week, for parents who choose that option. It has about 200 parents on the wait list now.

Ms Hartini Sumari, a 49-year-old mother of three teenagers, switched from housekeeping to working as a nanny at the EduNanny set-up at Tampines East CC as she loves children.

The Singapore permanent resident, who has secondary school education, said: “When the baby smiles at me or recognises me, it makes me happy.

“I also feel happy to see them grow.”

Over at Kidibliss, which is another operator under the pilot project, there are six babies currently being cared for by nannies at the nannies’ homes, said its business manager Jess Soh.

Kidibliss has a wait list of 60 to 70 parents now. It has about 20 nannies who have been screened by ECDA so far, and hopes to increase that number to 100, Ms Soh said.

Research coordinator Azyan Syazwani, 29, placed her daughter, who is now five months old, in infant care at a childcare centre, but pulled her out after less than a week. One reason was that she felt her baby did not get as much attention from the staff as she would like.

As she personally knows a childminder working for Kidibliss, Ms Azyan feels comfortable sending her daughter to that particular childminder’s house. Her daughter is the only baby her nanny cares for currently.

“We know her and her family dynamics personally,” she said. “If we don’t know her personally, I fear a lack of accountability.”

Like Ms Azyan, Madam H.C. Tan, who declined to give her full name, is also worried about the possibility of abuse if she sends her baby to the house of a nanny who is a stranger.

At a centre setting, both mothers feel there are other adults to help look out for and support one another and report any abuse, and there are also CCTVs installed.

Madam Tan, a 44-year-old operations professional, sends her eight-month-old daughter to the Tampines East CC set-up by EduNanny.

She likes the childminding service for the flexibility it offers, as she does not send her daughter there on days when her parents or in-laws are able to help look after her baby.

She said: “I am not comfortable placing my kid in a stranger’s house. I don’t know who goes to the house, and I don’t feel safe.”

 

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Singapore setting aside funds to help future generations tackle climate change, says Grace Fu​

Find out how Singapore is pushing ahead with climate action on the latest episode of The Usual Place.

Chin Hui Shan
Mar 21, 2025

SINGAPORE – Protecting Singaporeans from the impacts of climate change is a long-term endeavour, and the country is starting to put aside funds now so future generations will not have to bear all the costs, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

“Many aspects of the Budget are about getting ourselves ready for the long term,” she said, referring to Singapore’s spending plan for the year ahead.

“In the area of sustainability, the coastal protection fund (top-up) of $5 billion is a very clear sign that when we have resources, when we have a surplus, we are going to put that aside so that this generation will start to pay for the future generation and not load all the costs on them,” she added.

Ms Fu was speaking about how Singapore is tackling climate change on The Straits Times’ current affairs podcast, The Usual Place.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had announced in his Budget speech on Feb 18 that another $5 billion will be injected into the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund, which was set up in 2020 to protect Singapore against rising sea levels and enhance flood resilience.

As coastal protection is a long-term effort, the use of the fund is expected to ramp up towards the end of the decade to fund the design and construction of coastal protection measures, ST reported.

Despite the current geopolitical situation not being conducive for climate initiatives, with the United States scaling back on its climate plans, Ms Fu said Singapore is pressing on with climate action.

“We are a very small emitter in the overall scheme of things... whether we reduce our emissions or not, it’s not going to really move the needle,” she said. “But we always think that Singapore likes to do what’s right. We know that that’s our responsibility as a citizen, as an individual, as a corporate citizen, as a global citizen.”

On how the Republic is cutting emissions, Ms Fu cited various initiatives, including efforts to tap more renewable energy and import clean-generated electricity from elsewhere.

(From left) Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu speaking to ST assistant news editor Audrey Tan and podcast host Natasha Ann Zachariah on March 20 about how Singapore is tackling climate change.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
By importing renewable energy sources such as hydropower and solar power from other countries, Singapore will be able to have a more resilient grid, said Ms Fu, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.

In South-east Asia, renewable resources are unevenly distributed, so having a connected grid could allow countries to trade electricity freely to meet rising demand. Such a grid would hedge against the intermittencies of renewables by distributing energy more efficiently.

Ms Fu said improving energy efficiency will also help the country to cut its emissions.

“We can swop fossil fuels for renewable energy. But if we can reduce the amount of energy that is needed, we can actually need to swop less,” she said.

Her ministry is also helping households contribute to energy-efficiency efforts, she said, pointing to the expansion of the Climate Friendly Households Programme.

The expansion, also announced during the Budget, will see all Singaporean families living in private property receiving $400 worth of vouchers to purchase more efficient household appliances, including certain types of air-conditioners.

All Housing Board households will also receive an additional $100 worth of vouchers. This means that HDB households that have not spent the first tranche of vouchers will now have $400 worth of vouchers to spend.

For households, although swopping older electrical appliances to more energy-efficient ones can be more costly, she said Singaporeans can tap the climate vouchers to offset some of the costs incurred.

She added that in the long run, utility bills could be lower as a result of being more energy-efficient.

But aside from cutting emissions, Ms Fu said that Singapore must also move to protect its people from climate impacts. Such adaptation strategies are also a key part of climate action.

The ever-thickening layer of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is like a person being cloaked in a growing number of blankets, she said.

“Imagine somebody putting on layers and layers of blankets on you... now you have something like 50 layers of blankets on you and you’re starting to sweat profusely. That’s exactly what’s happening to planet earth,” she said.

The move by the US to scale back on its climate plans will add on to these “layers”, she said.

Given this, Singapore also needs to protect itself from the impacts of climate change.

“It’s going to take a long while for us to remove those layers and we need to adapt,” she said.

“We have to really be serious with our adaptation. Whether it’s on heat, whether it’s on coastal protection, whether it’s on water security or food security, we need to keep our eyes on our plans and keep at it,” said Ms Fu.

To tackle sea-level rise, Singapore is conducting eight islandwide site-specific studies of its coastlines to determine the most suitable coastal protection solutions for each segment.

During the debate on her ministry’s budget on March 4, Ms Fu announced that two site-specific studies on Sentosa island and the nation’s south-west coast will begin by 2026.

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Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy lives on in every corner of Singapore and in its people: Indranee Rajah​

(From left) Radin Mas MP Melvin Yong; Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs Joan Pereira, Chan Chun Sing and Indranee Rajah; West Coast GRC MP Rachel Ong and former Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Koo Tsai Kee at a ceremony held at Duxton Plain Park to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Judith Tan
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – The legacy of Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew can be found in every corner of Tanjong Pagar, where he stood for election throughout his political career, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah on March 22, the eve of his 10th death anniversary.

“In our green spaces that provide respite from urban living; in our modern housing that provides dignity and comfort, and most of all, a home in our community; in initiatives that bring people together and bond us; and most importantly, in the spirit of our people – resilient, forward-looking and committed to making Tanjong Pagar better with each passing year,” said Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development and an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

“What he did for Tanjong Pagar, he also did at scale for the whole country. He oversaw this extraordinary transformation of Singapore in its journey from Third World to First.”

Ms Indranee was speaking during a ceremony at Duxton Plain Park to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Mr Lee’s death.

Mr Lee died on March 23, 2015 at the age of 91. He was Tanjong Pagar’s first MP, after being elected in 1955 when it was a single-member constituency. He remained as MP of the constituency for almost 60 years. Tanjong Pagar is now a five-member group representation constituency.

Also at the ceremony were two other MPs of the GRC – Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and Ms Joan Pereira. Absent from the event were Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth as well as Social and Family Development Eric Chua; and Minister of State for Trade and Industry as well as Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan.

Other attendees included Mr Koo Tsai Kee, former MP of the Tiong Bahru division under Tanjong Pagar GRC from 1991 to 2011; and Ms Rachel Ong, an MP for West Coast GRC.

Ms Ong attended as a “special guest”, since her division was ceded to Tanjong Pagar GRC after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee dropped its report on March 11.

Mr Koo and Ms Ong joined the three Tanjong Pagar MPs in placing bouquets of yellow and white chrysanthemums at the foot of the Lee Kuan Yew Memorial Tree.

The tree was planted at Duxton Plain Park a month after Mr Lee’s death, witnessed by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with some 500 residents from the constituency.

Among his many accolades, the founding father of the Republic was affectionately known as Singapore’s Chief Gardener.

Tree Planting Day, which began in 1963, became a tradition on the first Sunday of November before the start of the year-end monsoon.

“That is very much like everything else he did – with thought and purpose, and always with a view to helping something to grow, to be stronger and better,” Ms Indranee said.

Mr Koo said: “The late (US president) Richard Nixon called Mr Lee a big man on a small stage. Big was not referring to his size, but his stature on the world stage... His legacy is not just the physical infrastructure – the buildings, the roads, the airport, the port – but the institutions he left behind.

“Ten years have passed since Mr Lee died, yet the institutions that he built – honesty, efficiency, integrity – remain strong and thriving.”

Residents and members of the public gathering at the Lee Kuan Yew Memorial Tree at Duxton Plain Park on March 22.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Speaking to residents and members of the public gathered at the Lee Kuan Yew Memorial Tree, Mr Chan said Mr Lee left behind an ethos of meritocracy, multiracialism and incorruptibility.

“Our greatest tribute to Mr Lee is to keep Singapore going. When the job gets done while we are still around, we are not impressed. When the job still gets done even when we are no longer around, then we can be impressed,” he said.

A minute of silence was observed during the ceremony as a remembrance of Mr Lee and his contributions to Singapore.

Mr Ho Nai Chuen, a grassroots volunteer who had served with Mr Lee since 2003, said to most people, Mr Lee was stern and strict, but “when you got to know him, he was actually very caring and pragmatic”.

Mr Ho Nai Chuen (left) said to most people, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was stern and strict, but “when you got to know him, he was actually very caring and pragmatic”.PHOTO: COURTESY OF HO NAI CHUEN
“Some would even call him frugal. He was not an advocate for air-conditioning, and the large halls at the CC had only fans until recently,” Mr Ho said.

The most memorable event etched in his mind was in 2013, when Mr Lee, who was then frail, attended the National Day dinner.

“We had taken the rostrum from the stage down to the hall, but he insisted, despite his frailty, that it be returned to the stage as he wanted to address everyone, even those at the tables at the back of the hall,” Mr Ho recalled, wiping a tear from his eye.

A two-day art exhibition was also launched at Tanjong Pagar Community Club showcasing paintings and artefacts of Mr Lee, as well as a 67m-long painting named Singapore On Canvas by artist Ng Peng Sing.

It depicts Singapore’s transformation from a fishing village to the city it is today.

 

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Faster immigration clearance at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal after $20m upgrade​

The newly upgraded Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on March 22.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Elisha Tushara
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE - On average, it used to take 20 minutes for ferry passengers to get to the departure gate at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

Now, it takes about only five minutes, after a $20 million revamp that saw eight more immigration clearance lanes added for departing travellers.

Unveiled on March 22 by Minister of State for Transport and Law Murali Pillai, the one-year overhaul boosts efficiency with self-check-in kiosks, automated bag drops, and passport-less immigration lanes.

The Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC), which manages the terminal, expects up to 70 per cent of ferry passengers to perform self-check-ins at 15 new kiosks, which will be fully deployed by end-2025.

While passengers can still buy tickets, collect boarding passes and check in at revamped ferry operator counters, those who pre-book can skip the queues.

Similar to airport procedures, travellers can scan their passports at the kiosks and print both boarding passes and luggage tags.

They can then drop their bags at six bag drop counters, up from four before the renovation. Checked-in bags are put through x-ray scanners via a conveyor belt, before baggage porters transfer them into cages and load them onto the ferries.

The newly upgraded bag drop system at the drop-off area in Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on March 22.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
A future phase will allow ticket purchases at kiosks.

Arriving and departing Singapore residents, and all departing foreign travellers, can clear immigration using facial and iris biometrics without presenting their passports.

This speeds up clearance by 60 per cent, cutting processing time to about 10 seconds. However, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said travellers still need to carry their passports for verification.

ICA has also expanded the terminal’s immigration clearance capacity by 50 per cent, increasing the number of arrival lanes from 12 to 26 and departure lanes from 12 to 20.

Immigration clearance is now faster with 26 lanes in the arrival area in the upgraded Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
The terminal’s capacity has expanded by 25 per cent, accommodating more than three million passengers annually, up from 2.4 million.

The redesigned departure hall, now 70 per cent larger, can hold 200 more passengers.

Mr Murali described the upgrade as a key milestone in strengthening connectivity between Singapore, Johor and the Riau Islands.

Singapore Cruise Centre chairman Lok Lik Peng and Minister of State for Transport and Law Murali Pillai at the grand opening of the upgraded Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on March 22.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
“I am happy that more passengers can now enjoy the upgraded facilities when they pass through the terminal. These improvements will enhance the travel experience at the terminal and support more regional economic collaboration in the years to come,” said Mr Murali.

The terminal has added more dining options, such as Subway, Luckin Coffee, Lepak Corner and Woon’s by Killiney, its first halal-certified outlet.

More dining options are now available at the upgraded Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
An outlet in the departure area has yet to be awarded.

A previously unused field outside the departure area has been converted into an outdoor play space for families, featuring slides, shaded seating and benches for parents.

A newly added playground at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on March 22.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Mr Ian Han, 41, an engineer, said it took him, his wife and two children under six years old about five minutes from arrival to get to the departure gate.

He said: “It’s definitely much faster compared with the old terminal, plus the playground is a great addition. My kids can play and run around instead of being constrained in the waiting area before boarding the ferry.”

Business-class travellers can access two lounges, instead of one, in the departure area.

To enhance comfort, the terminal features hybrid cooling systems that combine fan ventilation with air-conditioning, alongside high-volume, low-speed fans to circulate cool air efficiently.

Solar panels continue to supply a third of the terminal’s daytime energy needs.

The toilets in the main concourse, departure and arrival halls have been revamped with features such as new cubicles, wash basins and tiling.

The terminal serves four ferry operators – Batam Fast, Bintan Resort Ferries, Majestic Fast Ferry and Sindo Ferry – connecting Singapore to Batam, Bintan and Desaru.

It is one of three terminals managed by SCC, alongside HarbourFront Centre and Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal.

SCC chief executive Jacqueline Tan said the new amenities offer ferry passengers elevated user experiences.

Said Ms Tan: “This enhances our role as a regional gateway from Singapore to Riau Islands and Malaysia, as economic growth generates higher passenger volumes in the coming years.”

In 2024, the terminal handled about one million passengers.

The revamp aligns with ICA’s New Clearance Concept, announced in 2019 to enhance speed and security at immigration checkpoints.

ICA has fully automated clearance for all foreign visitors, and introduced passport-less clearance – including QR code options – for eligible travellers.

According to ICA’s 2024 Annual Statistics Report, as at Jan 31, around 47 million travellers have cleared immigration without presenting a passport.

And more than 230 million travellers passed through the Republic’s checkpoints in 2024, about 38 million more than in 2023.

Since September 2024, all four terminals at Changi Airport have implemented passport-less clearance, allowing Singapore residents to use facial and iris biometrics instead of passports.

Foreign visitors also benefit from passport-less clearance when departing Singapore, reducing average clearance time from 25 seconds to about 10 seconds.

The system was extended to Marina Bay Cruise Centre in December 2024, and will roll out at Seletar Airport from 2025.

QR code clearance is also available at land checkpoints, with 70 per cent of cars at Woodlands and Tuas now using it.

Since August 2024, it has been extended to motorcyclists and bus passengers, including those requiring special assistance.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Up to $1m set aside for community innovation projects at CCs over next 3 years​

(From left) Free Wheelchair Repair @ Geylang West volunteers Jaslyn Li and Daron Hoon taking a look at Madam Kwek Eng Noy's wheelchair at Geylang West Community Club on March 22.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Wong Pei Ting
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – Aged 92, Madam Kwek Eng Noy uses her motorised wheelchair to go to the active ageing centre for karaoke sessions, or to navigate around her home to get chores done.

But like her frail body, the $1,500 mobility device has its limits.

After eight years, one of its levers came loose and would switch from automatic to manual mode on its own, requiring her to get help to adjust the lever.

However, thanks to a free wheelchair repair initiative at Geylang West Community Club (CC), located near her four-room flat at Kallang Heights, Madam Kwek is now mobile again.

On March 22, the CC became the first of 10 CCs to launch a dedicated collaborative space for residents, volunteers and partners to curate projects that address the community’s needs.

Such spaces are called “Sparks”.

The other nine CCs are: Pek Kio CC, Buangkok CC, Pasir Ris East CC, Nee Soon South CC, Zhenghua CC, Mountbatten CC, Kampong Chai Chee CC, Boon Lay CC, and Tengah CC.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who is Deputy Chairman of the People’s Association (PA), on March 22 announced that the PA will support up to 50 initiatives under the Sparks umbrella over the next three years.

Speaking at the official opening of Sparks at Geylang West CC, he said each project will receive funding of up to $20,000, which means up to $1 million will be set aside in total.

Addressing the audience, Mr Tong said: “This is about helping you seed the initiative to allow you that little bit of support to make sure that that dollar goes further through the work and effort of all our volunteers.”

Each of the Sparks spaces will be staffed by a community innovation taskforce comprising three to eight grassroots leaders and partners who will formulate the activities at each CC’s innovation space.

On the need for such taskforces, Mr Tong said: “A space without soul, without leadership, without people, is only a space. This space is only viable if we can have a team that comes together, thinks about and brainstorms what it is that our community needs.”

The rolling out of such spaces at CCs was first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the PA Community Club Management Committees (CCMCs) 60th anniversary on Nov 4, 2024.

He had said CCMCs must support the refreshed PA mission, which includes expanding ground-up community participation, and CCs have to go beyond just renting out rooms and hosting classes.

Speaking at the event where certificates of appointment were presented to the 10 CCs’ community innovation taskforces on March 22, Mr Tong noted Singapore’s population has changed.

He said: “At PA, it is important for us to match our population. We cannot be in one direction, and our population grows in a different direction.”

Geylang West Community Club (CC) is the first of 10 CCs to launch Sparks.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Citing the wheelchair repair initiative, Mr Tong said volunteers feel a sense of achievement, pride and giving back when they get involved.

Madam Kwek had her wheelchair fixed for free. The volunteers picked it up in the evening, and returned it to her the next morning, in working order.

The wheelchair repair programme came about as the Upper Boon Keng estate near Geylang West CC has a significantly elderly population, with 45 per cent of its residents aged 50 and above, with many requiring mobility assistance.

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who is the MP for Jalan Besar GRC where Geylang West CC is located, said wheelchairs are not easy to repair.

While they can be replaced, they can cost up to $2,000 if they are motorised, or $300 for non-motorised ones, she noted.

She said with the initiative, not only do the seniors feel they have got back the use of their wheelchairs, they feel a greater sense of dignity because they can move around on their own.

She added: “Working together with other partners, we hope to continue to make this programme available to even more of our residents, perhaps even those extending beyond Upper Boon Keng, to the whole of the GRC.”

Mr Wan Kwong Weng, who chairs the Geylang West Community Innovation Taskforce, said volunteers helping with the wheelchair repair include employees of Micron Semiconductor Asia Operations, which has a facility at Bendeemer Road nearby.

He said most of them are educated in the principles of engineering, which are transferable skills.

Said Mr Wan: “If a rivet or screw is loose, we tighten it. So, I don’t think it is rocket science. But at the end of the day, I think this is a very well suited service when we are faced with an ageing population.”

 

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Honour Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy not just in remembrance, but in action: PM Wong​

Residents, grassroots leaders and members of the public gathering to lay flowers at the Lee Kuan Yew memorial tree in Duxton Plain Park on March 22.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Andrew Wong
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – On the 10th anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called on Singaporeans to honour the legacy of Singapore’s founding father through their actions.

Modern Singapore stands as a testament to Mr Lee’s vision for the nation, having become a clean and green city-state that is “admired and respected around the world”.

“Together with his pioneering team, Mr Lee defied the odds to build a nation anchored in meritocracy, strengthened by economic resilience, and held together by a deep commitment to harmony,” said PM Wong in a Facebook post on March 23.

He added: “The Singapore story is still being written. Together, let’s forge a brighter future worthy of the foundation he laid.”

Mr Lee became Singapore’s prime minister in 1959, serving in that office until he stepped down in 1990. He remained in politics as a senior minister and minister mentor until his retirement in May 2011. He was then appointed as senior adviser to the GIC sovereign wealth fund.

Mr Lee died on March 23, 2015, at 91.

“Ten years on, the recent rains remind us of that solemn day in March 2015, when Singapore stood united under heavy skies to bid farewell to our founding prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew,” said PM Wong.


Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was Mr Lee’s eldest child, also marked the 10th anniversary of his father’s death with a Facebook post.

“Singaporeans remember him for all he did for the nation. To me and my family, he was our father or grandfather, and meant the world to us. May we live up to his hopes and expectations, and always do him proud,” said SM Lee.


President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid tribute to Singapore’s growth under Mr Lee’s charge, saying the nation would have looked very different if not for him.

“We survived as a small nation, became a multiracial society, and kept climbing up in the world because of him, the team he led, and his insistence that every generation should have its own leaders – and its own ideals and aspirations for the future,” said Mr Tharman on Facebook.

He added that Singaporeans can live up to Mr Lee’s legacy by constantly imagining a better future, working to make it possible, and to become a nation that uplifts every citizen.

On March 22, a ceremony was held at Duxton Plain Park in Tanjong Pagar GRC to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Mr Lee’s death.

Mr Lee was Tanjong Pagar’s first MP, after being elected in 1955 when it was a single-member constituency. He remained an MP of the constituency for almost 60 years.

The ceremony was attended by three out of five Tanjong Pagar MPs: Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, and Ms Joan Pereira.

Mr Koo Tsai Kee, former MP of the Tiong Bahru division under Tanjong Pagar GRC from 1991 to 2011; and Ms Rachel Ong, an MP for West Coast GRC, were also in attendance. Under the latest changes to the electoral boundaries, parts of Ms Ong’s Telok Blangah ward in West Coast GRC have been ceded to Tanjong Pagar GRC.

All five placed bouquets of yellow and white chrysanthemums at the foot of the Lee Kuan Yew memorial tree to mark Mr Lee’s death anniversary.

(Front row, from left) West Coast GRC MP Rachel Ong, Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs Indranee Rajah and Chan Chun Sing, Radin Mas MP Melvin Yong, Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira and former Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Koo Tsai Kee observing a minute of silence at a ceremony at Duxton Plain Park, on March 22, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
The memorial tree was planted at Duxton Plain Park a month after Mr Lee’s death. Its planting was witnessed by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with some 500 residents from the constituency. Among his many accolades, the founding father of the Republic was known as Singapore’s Chief Gardener.

Said Ms Indranee on March 22: “What he did for Tanjong Pagar, he also did at scale for the whole country. He oversaw this extraordinary transformation of Singapore in its journey from Third World to First.”

 

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Around 1,000 attend mass break-fast meal at Kampong Glam​

This is the third year the communal break-fast meal has been held in the area.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Lee Nian Tjoe
Mar 22, 2025

SINGAPORE – A stretch of Arab Street between North Bridge Road and Beach Road was closed off on March 22, as around 1,000 attendees gathered for a mass iftar, or communal break-fast meal.

It was part of the Gemilang Kampong Gelam 2025 Ramadan Bazaar, and guests included beneficiaries from non-profit organisations and Jalan Besar GRC.

This is the third year the communal break-fast meal has been held in the area.

In 2024, over 1,500 people attended the event.

Addressing attendees, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was the guest of honour, said it was not common for people from different backgrounds, religions and races to celebrate the meaning of Ramadan and break fast together in this way.

He said: “In fact, it is very unique, and it’s something we should always cherish and protect here in Singapore, and always be that oasis of peace, stability and harmony, regardless of race, language or religion.”

PM Wong also distributed goodie bags to the beneficiaries.


Each bag included refreshments, a green packet and a voucher.

Mrs Josephine Teo, who is the Minister for Digital Development and Information and who helms the People’s Action Party team in Jalan Besar GRC, was present.

Her fellow MPs in the GRC – Mr Heng Chee How, Ms Denise Phua and Dr Wan Rizal – also attended.

Minister of State for National Development and Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim was also at the event.

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. Iftar is the evening meal that marks the end of the fasting day during this period.

Mr Zaki Ma’arof, chairman of One Kampong Gelam, an association that aims to enliven and establish Kampong Glam as a vibrant cultural district, said: “Ramadan is a time of reflection, generosity and togetherness. Through this mass iftar, our aim is to foster a spirit of inclusivity and bring people from all walks of life together in a meaningful way.”

Safety officer Abdillah Hashim, 43, his wife, Madam Nur Raisah, 39, a homemaker, and four of their five children, were invited by the Muslim Handicap Society of Singapore to the event. The family was surprised by the scale of the mass iftar.

The communal iftar is part of the Ramadan festivities in the Kampong Glam heritage precinct that run till March 25. Among the activities is a food bazaar that features 80 food and beverage operators.

Since it opened on Feb 19, the bazaar has seen 900,000 visitors. It is open from 2pm till 11pm, other than Sunday, when it closes at 11.30pm.

 

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New preschools, primary school and sheltered linkway to Sembawang MRT in the works: Ong Ye Kung​

Health Minister and Sembawang GRC MP Ong Ye Kung at the launch of ActiveSG’s new outdoor obstacle course and water play area at the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub on March 23.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – Residents in Sembawang GRC can expect new developments such as more pre-schools, a high sheltered linkway to Sembawang MRT station and a new primary school in East Canberra by 2029.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced these upcoming initiatives on March 23 at the opening of two new facilities in the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub.

Forest Gym, an outdoor obstacle course, is dubbed the largest outdoor ActiveSG gym in Singapore. The other facility, Canberra Cove, is a water play area for children.

In a speech at the opening, Mr Ong - who is the anchor minister for Sembawang GRC - said the Ministry of Education is supportive of his proposal to build another primary school in East Canberra.

He added that he is hopeful of getting good news from the ministry in the near future, and said residents will have another primary school by 2029 if “all goes well”.

Turning to pre-schools, he said there will be new centres at two Build-to-Order (BTO) projects - Canberra Vista and Sun Sails. Each will have 300 places.

A larger pre-school with 400 places will be built in East Canberra, he added.

“So therefore, in the coming two years, we will add 1,000 pre-school places in Sembawang town,” Mr Ong said.

He also told residents that a high linkway will be built across Sembawang Way - a road with two lanes in each direction - to provide a sheltered path to Sembawang MRT station.

Work will start soon and the structure is slated to be ready by the end of 2026, he added.

Sembawang GRC MPs Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Ms Mariam Jaafar and Ms Poh Li San attended the opening of the two facilities at the 12-ha Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub.

The MPs tried their hand at clearing the obstacles - which include a traverse wall and vertical rope climb - at the Forest Gym during a tour of the facilities.

Sembawang resident Dennis Lim, 50, was showing his son, Jayden, 8, how to clear the log jump.

“This obstacle reminds me of my time in the army during national service (NS),” said Mr Lim, a shipping executive. “These obstacles will be great for my son to prepare for NS.”

Forest Gym, an outdoor obstacle course, is dubbed the largest outdoor ActiveSG gym in Singapore.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
A short distance from the obstacles, the Canberra Cove was popular with children and adults.

There are two water play areas – one is a big, shallow wading pool while the other consists of areas with water fountains.

Mr Ong said more facilities at Bukit Canberra will open soon, including a dog run park, a new public library at the former Admiralty House as well as community and thematic gardens.

When Sembawang Shipyard moves out to Tuas next year, it will open up a big waterfront area for development, he noted.

Some 8,000 BTO flats and 2,000 private homes will be built at the upcoming 53ha Sembawang North estate.

Sembawang’s heritage area, known for its old black and white bungalows, may also see some development as 20 of the more than 100 bungalows have recently been tendered for commercial use that includes restaurants, chalets and retail.

Mr Ong brought up Sembawang’s charms such as being close to the sea, having a kampung mosque, a hot spring, forested areas and being close to Johor Bahru.

“We’ve got so many kampung folks still living here,” he said.

“So the vibe here is different. They are different from many towns in Singapore. And so we develop the town, but take care of a special characteristic.”