You know elections are coming when...

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More than 13,400 families to receive healthy grocery packs during Ramadan​

(From left) Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam, Second Advisor to Jurong GRC Grassroots Organisations Dr Hamid Razak and West Coast GRC MP Foo Mee Har chatting with beneficiaries at Gek Poh Ville Community Club on March 23.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Chin Hui Shan
Mar 23, 2025

SINGAPORE – More than 13,400 Malay/Muslim families will receive grocery packs containing items with whole grains or less sugar by end-March under a programme that encourages families to eat healthier.

This is part of an initiative, which started on Feb 22, to encourage families to adopt healthier eating habits during the fasting month of Ramadan and beyond the festive season. Hari Raya Puasa falls on March 31.

Over 12,900 Malay/Muslim families, including lower-income households, have received the packs across 70 locations across Singapore by March 23.

The distribution in 2025 is an increase of about 3,000 from 2024, said Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam, who distributed 200 packs at Gek Poh Ville Community Club on March 23.

Items in the packs in 2025 all carry the Healthier Choice symbol and include products such as lower-sodium salt and whole grain brown rice.

“Year on year, we are hoping to provide more meaningful programmes for the residents as we use the Ramadan period to give out goodies to residents,” said Ms Rahayu, who is also an MP for Jurong GRC.

“I think it’s an opportunity for us to also educate and to share knowledge about how to keep a healthier lifestyle.”

The initiative is part of a collaboration between 68 community partners under the Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah (Look After Your Health, Look After Your Community) network and the Health Promotion Board (HPB), aiming to encourage healthier eating habits.

These efforts support the adoption of healthy lifestyles, which is part of the fifth focus area on community health under M³ – a collaboration by self-help group Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committee.

Families can also take part in various activities aimed at healthy living organised by partners during such grocery distribution drives. For example, residents can attend a talk by HPB on how to prepare healthier and affordable meals at home.

HPB said its partners – including Caregivers Alliance Limited and Stroke Services Improvement – have engaged more than 3,100 families to share about adopting healthier lifestyles and the importance of health screening, among others.

Families with young children aged three to 12 can also sign up for HPB’s health coaching programme, where a health coach will work with each family to review their current lifestyle habits, develop a plan and give tips.

Items in the packs in 2025 all carry the Healthier Choice symbol and include products such as lower-sodium salt and whole-grain brown rice.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Ms Suhaidah Sabarudin, 45, who received one of the 200 packs of healthier groceries on March 23, said it gave her an opportunity to try products such as a healthier cooking oil, instead of normal cooking oil.

The homemaker said she has been trying to switch to healthier products as she has diabetes, among other conditions.

“Some of the things (in the pack)... are what I have been considering buying, but stepped back because of the pricing,” said Ms Sabarudin.

When Ms Rahayu was asked about her thoughts on the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report released on March 11, she said: “I think the only thing I would say is that it is really business as usual for most of us. This is a good period to reach out to our residents, provide support and actually use it as an opportunity to check in on our residents.”

 

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FairPrice to give out $1m in fresh eggs to 46,000 beneficiaries by 2030​

Mr Vipul Chawla (right), group chief executive of FairPrice Group, handing out eggs to beneficiaries.PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP

Ian Cheng
Mar 25, 2025

SINGAPORE – Some 46,000 beneficiaries, such as low-income families, are set to receive regular egg deliveries as part of a new initiative to keep daily essentials within the reach of those in need, said FairPrice Group on March 25.

The group, along with its charity arm, FairPrice Foundation, announced its commitment to distribute $1 million worth of fresh protein in the form of fresh eggs to vulnerable communities, which include seniors and migrant workers, across Singapore by 2030.

Over the next five years, FairPrice Foundation will collaborate with charity and community partners across Singapore to “ensure that distributions reach the beneficiaries who need them most”, it said in its statement.

The move was a response to FairPrice Group’s findings in its study on the changing food habits, preferences and challenges of Singaporeans today, called A Full Plate: A Look At The Nutritional State Of The Nation.

Mr Vipul Chawla, group chief executive of FairPrice Group, distributing care packs to senior residents.PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP
Citing its report, FairPrice Group said low-income respondents indicated a preference for receiving protein over processed or canned foods, which are more commonly distributed through food donation programmes.

To date, 18 of FairPrice Foundation’s charity and community partners, including the Lions Befrienders, Children’s Aid Society, Migrant Workers’ Centre and M3, have opted in to the Protein Pledge for 2025.

Organisations serving vulnerable communities can visit go.fpg.sg/protein-pledge to learn more about the Protein Pledge and apply to participate in the programme.

Senior residents from Marine Terrace engaging in games about nutrition.PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP
“Through the Protein Pledge, we want to help bridge the food and nutrition gap for those in need by improving their access to fresh protein, a critical part of any healthy diet,” said Mr Vipul Chawla, group chief executive of FairPrice Group and board member of FairPrice Foundation.

“Our focus at FairPrice Foundation is on finding relevant ways to make every day a little better for the underprivileged, by providing them with the essentials they need to lead more fulfilling lives.”

 

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HDB eases income assessment rules to allow young couples to buy more expensive BTO units​

The expansion of the scheme would help couples settle down earlier and buy a larger flat, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee.PHOTO: ST FILE
Isabelle Liew
Mar 26, 2025

SINGAPORE - The Housing Board will relax the way it assesses the income of young couples when they buy a Build-To-Order flat, making it easier for those who are still studying or just started working to buy more expensive units.

From the next BTO exercise in July, couples can choose to delay their income assessment for a housing loan until just before they collect the keys to their flat, as long as one party is a full-time student or national serviceman.

This would effectively mean that couples would be able to qualify for a higher loan amount as they would have been working for some time by then.

National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced this on March 26 at an engagement session about public housing at the National University of Singapore.

He also said 12,000 BTO flats with shorter waiting times of below three years will be launched from 2025 to 2027 - more than what HDB put out over the last five years. They will be among the over 50,000 flats the authorities will roll out in that period.

On relaxing the deferred income assessment criteria, Mr Lee said this would help couples settle down earlier and buy a four- or five-room flat if they plan to have children.

To qualify for deferred income assessment before this change, both parties would have to be either full-time students or national servicemen, or have completed their studies or national service in the 12 months before they applied for an HDB flat eligibility letter.

At least one of them must also be aged 30 or below.

“Each young couple’s life journey is different. Regardless of which path you take, if you are looking to settle down early... we hope to support you in achieving your housing aspirations,” Mr Lee told NUS students.

To illustrate how the deferred income assemment would help applicants buy larger flats, Mr Lee raised the example of a couple - where one person is studying and the other has worked for about a year - with a household income of $3,500 a month.

Previously, their budget would allow them to buy a three-room BTO flat in Yishun.

“However, the three-room flat might be small if they plan to have many children,” he said.

Under the expanded scheme, the couple can apply for a BTO flat first, and their HDB housing loan and assessment for the Enhanced Central Provident Fund (CPF) Housing Grant will be deferred for about three years, nearer to key collection.

“At that point, both parties would have started working. With a combined income of say $7,500, they will qualify for a sufficient loan to buy a four- or five-room BTO flat,” Mr Lee said.

He added that the scheme would also help couples who think a three-room flat is sufficient, but prefer to purchase a home closer to the city centre and amenities, which tend to be more expensive.

The initial downpayment they would have to fork out would be 2.5 per cent of the flat price.

Mr Lee said the expansion of the scheme will benefit a wide range of young couples, such as university, polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education graduates.

In his speech, Mr Lee also addressed concerns about the stock of BTO flats and waiting times.

The authorities are on track to exceed its initial commitment to launch 100,000 new flats from 2021 to 2025, he said.

The median waiting time for BTO flats has been shorted to less than four years, comparable with pre-pandemic waiting times, he added.

Mr Lee also acknowledged the calls to lower the minimum age for singles to buy BTO and resale flats, currently set at 35.

This is something that the authorities are reviewing even though they are “not quite ready to do so”, he said.

He noted that singles were able to apply for two-room flexi flats in all locations from last October. From mid-2025, singles will also get priority access when they buy a home near or with their parents under the Family Care Scheme.

Turning to housing affordability, Mr Lee acknowledged the anxiety felt by students after hearing about resale flats selling for more than $1 million.

“I want to assure you that there is a wide range of affordable housing for different housing budgets,” he said.

The new flat classification system, which sorts BTO projects into Standard, Plus and Prime categories based on their proximity to the city centre, transport connectivity and amenities, is meant to limit the “lottery effect” of owning flats in prime and central locations, Mr Lee said.

Plus and Prime flats will come with stricter resale conditions such as a 10-year minimum occupation period and a subsidy clawback.

They also have extra subsidies on top of existing BTO subsidies, to keep them affordable for first-timers, Mr Lee added.

 

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Singapore Red Cross pledges additional $400,000 to support communities in war-torn Gaza​

Palestinians in Rafah fleeing their homes on March 18 after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for a number of neighbourhoods. PHOTO: REUTERS
Calista Wong
Mar 27, 2025

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is committing an additional $400,000 to humanitarian efforts in Gaza in response to the escalation in hostilities that began on March 18.

In a statement on March 27, it said that the funds will be used for emergency health services, primary healthcare, mental health support and relief efforts. The money will also support the operations of a 60-bed field hospital that delivers life-saving trauma care and essential medical care to 200 people daily in Rafah, Gaza Strip.

An operations coordinator, Mr DS Vickram, will be deployed to Cairo for two weeks, starting from April 13, to facilitate humanitarian aid movement from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, and oversee on-the-ground functions.

Mr Benjamin William, secretary-general and chief executive officer of the Singapore Red Cross, said that the deployment “enables SRC to provide more targeted and responsive interventions, ensuring that humanitarian aid is timely, relevant and impactful for the most vulnerable”.

Israel resumed strikes on Gaza on March 18, effectively ending the two-month-old ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Over 830 people have been killed in the enclave since hostilities resumed between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

SRC previously committed $300,000 worth of relief supplies, including food parcels, hygiene kits and medical supplies, in response to the Jan 19 ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

SRC’s current fund-raising appeal will run until April 30, and members of the public can donate online at https://redcross.sg/donate-gazacrisis. Donations through cheque or PayNow can be done at http://redcross.sg/gazacrisis.

The SRC said that to date, it has disbursed close to $1.5 million worth of humanitarian aid, such as medical supplies, hygiene kits, food provisions, water filtration systems and food parcels, through its partnership with the Egyptian Red Crescent Society.

 

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The PAP has won close to 63,000 votes?

63,000 public healthcare staff to get salary jumps of up to 7%​

The Health Ministry said that healthcare staff will continue to receive annual salary increments, which aim to keep salaries in pace with inflation.PHOTO: ST FILE

Lee Li Ying
Mar 27, 2025

SINGAPORE - Some 63,000 healthcare professionals in the public sector will get an increase of up to 7 per cent to their monthly base salaries from July 1, 2025.

Specifically, 37,000 allied healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and administrative, ancillary and support staff will get the maximum salary increase of up to 7 per cent. The last salary increase for this group healthcare professionals was in 2021.

Another group of 26,000 public healthcare nurses will also have their monthly base salaries bumped up, but the cap is at 4 per cent. The adjustments are on top of the Award for Nurses’ Grace, Excellence and Loyalty (Angel) scheme in launched in September 2024 to attract and encourage nurses to build a lifelong career in nursing.

“With these salary increases, which are over and above the annual increments, we will enable the public healthcare sector to better attract and retain staff,” said the Ministry of Health in a statement on March 27.

The ministry said that healthcare staff will continue to receive annual salary increments, which aim to keep salaries in pace with inflation. It added that healthcare workers are the driving force behind good care, and salary reviews are conducted regularly to ensure it remains competitive.

“Beyond remuneration, we will continue to review our manpower development initiatives and improve opportunities for our healthcare workers through job redesign and career development,” said MOH.

Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung had in January announced the pay increase for the 37,000 allied healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and administrative, ancillary and support staff.

In a statement, President of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU) K Thanaletchimi thanked the three public healthcare clusters for their close collaboration to improve the wages of our public healthcare workers.

Besides salary increases, other outcomes like increases in salary ranges, as well as improved medical, dental and hospitalisation benefits were also achieved.

“Our healthcare workers are dedicated in their care for us. By recognising their dedication with wages and benefits that are both fair and competitive, we are reinforcing our commitment to their well-being. These enhancements will enable Singapore to continue attracting and retaining top talent, while strengthening our public healthcare system for the future,” said Ms Thanaletchimi.

 

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Parents to get 6 weeks of shared leave for babies born on or after April 1​

The six weeks of shared parental leave will apply to those with Singaporean children born on or after April 1, 2025.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Ian Cheng
Mar 27, 2025

SINGAPORE – Parents-to-be can soon look forward to spending more time with their babies born on or after April 1, when the new shared parental leave scheme kicks in.

As part of the scheme’s first phase, eligible working parents can get six weeks of shared leave on top of their current leave entitlement, said the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on March 27.

This will apply to those with Singaporean children born on or after April 1.

Fathers of Singaporean children will also be entitled to a total of four weeks of mandatory government-paid paternity leave, up from the two currently.

The second phase of the scheme, which will be rolled out from April 1, 2026, will increase shared leave to 10 weeks for parents with Singaporean children born on or after that date. This will grant parents 50 per cent more parental leave days than they now have.

The scheme follows amendments made to the Child Development Co-Savings Act in November 2024.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong first announced these parental leave enhancements at his National Day Rally speech in August 2024.


MSF said: “The new shared parental leave scheme underscores the Government’s commitment to provide stronger caregiving support to parents during their child’s infancy stage, where their care needs are the greatest.”

In total, these enhancements will provide couples with 30 weeks of paid parental leave in their child’s first year, including 16 weeks of government-paid maternity leave.

How can parents apply for shared parental leave?​

Parents have the flexibility to decide how the shared leave entitlement is distributed, said MSF.

The default distribution stands at three weeks each for the first phase, and five weeks each for the second.

Those who wish to adjust this can do so when they are registering their child’s birth on the LifeSG website. They can make further changes up to four weeks after their child’s birth.

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Parents who would like to make further changes after this four-week period must reach a mutual agreement with their employers and submit supporting documents on the LifeSG website.

As for employers, they should verify their employees’ leave sharing arrangement via the government-paid leave portal after the four-week period.

Employers and self-employed parents can submit their reimbursement claims no later than three months after the last day of their shared parental leave via the same portal.

MSF said that the shared parental leave should be taken within 12 months of the child’s birth, and after parents have fully utilised their government-paid maternity or paternity leave.

“Parents should inform their employers of their planned shared parental leave arrangements as soon as possible when they are expecting a child,” added the ministry. “This will provide sufficient time for both parties to discuss and mutually agree on leave plans and make the necessary covering arrangements.”

If parents are unable to mutually agree on their leave plans, they may take their shared parental leave in a continuous block within the first 26 weeks of the child’s birth, after providing a minimum notice of four weeks, MSF said.

Parents can refer to this guide for more information, while employers can visit this link.

 

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Over 950,000 Singaporean households to get U-Save, S&CC rebates in April​

Eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save for their utility bills and up to a month of rebates for their service and conservancy charges.PHOTO: ST FILE

Sarah Koh
Mar 28, 2025

SINGAPORE - Close to a million Singaporean HDB households will receive rebates to their utility and conservancy bills in April.

In a statement on March 28, the Ministry of Finance said eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save for their utility bills and up to a month of rebates for their service and conservancy charges (S&CC). Both would vary depending on the household’s flat type.

In total, each eligible household can expect to receive up to $760 of U-Save and 3.5 months of S&CC rebates for the financial year from April 2025 to March 2026.

People living in a four-room flat will get $150 and one month respectively in rebates for their U-Save and S&CC in April, while those in one- and two-room flats will get $190 and a month respectively.

The rebates offset utility expenses and S&CC for lower- to middle-income households, as part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme and the enhanced Assurance Package, the finance ministry said.

To be eligible for the U-Save rebate, there must be at least one Singaporean owner or occupier in the household if the flat is partially rented or not rented out.

Also, there must be at least one Singaporean tenant if the entire HDB flat is rented out.

Households with people who own more than one property are not eligible for U-Save rebates, said the ministry.

The following types of households are not eligible for the S&CC rebate:

• Those without any Singaporean owner or occupier
• Owners or essential occupiers owning or having any interest in a private property
• Those who have rented out the entire flat

To check your eligibility for S&CC rebates, you may log in to the My HDBPage via Singpass.

The utility and S&CC rebates will be automatically credited to the eligible household’s accounts with grid operator SP Services and the town councils respectively.

Government officials will not ask the public to transfer money or disclose banking details over a call, said the ministry, adding that one should call the ScamShield helpline at 1799 if in doubt.

The U-Save and S&CC rebates are disbursed every three months - in April, July, October and January - each year.

​

 

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$3m boost for Pro Bono SG and Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to support free legal help service​

Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong at the Pro Bono SG Awards 2025 on March 28. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Andrew Wong
Mar 28, 2025

SINGAPORE – Registered charity Pro Bono Sg will receive $3 million over the next two years to support its programmes, which include providing free legal assistance for those charged with certain non-capital offences.

Announcing this on March 28, Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong said the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) is committing the sum in support of Pro Bono Sg’s key initiatives, including the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.

The scheme, which was set up as a ground-up initiative 40 years ago when it was privately funded by the Law Society of Singapore and goodwill donations, gives the needy in Singapore access to criminal legal assistance.

“We want to do our part to continue to institutionalise access to justice in a very firm way in Singapore, so that this remains a bedrock for our legal system,” Mr Tong said of the financial support.

Speaking at the Pro Bono Sg Awards 2025 dinner at the Fairmont Singapore, Minister Tong said pro bono work is essential to the proper functioning of Singapore’s legal system.

“It reinforces the fundamental values of justice and fairness, and it ensures that legal protections are accessible to everyone, and not just by a select few or privileged ones,” he said.

“By ensuring this access to justice and making sure it is a cornerstone pillar of our legal system, we will continue to be able to maintain and foster trust in this system,” said Mr Tong at the event attended by more than 350 volunteers, partners and donors.


Pro Bono Sg started as a department within the Law Society of Singapore and later became Law Society Pro Bono Services.

The charity raised close to $7 million in donations between April 2024 and February 2025, with more than half coming from government support and grants.

In his speech, Mr Tong noted that over the past year, Pro Bono Sg helped more than 15,000 individuals and social impact organisations.

These organisations include the Community Law Centres at Tian De Temple in Hougang, and Realm of Tranquility at Woodlands, which collectively provided legal support to around 1,500 people in 2024.

The other social impact organisations include the Transnational Family Care Centre at South Central Community Family Service Centre.

Pro Bono SG chairmen Dinesh Dhillon (left) and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong at the Pro Bono SG Awards 2025 on March 28. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Pro Bono SG will also support the Migrant Workers’ Law Centre in Little India.

The centre is slated to open by the second quarter of 2025, said Mr Dinesh Dhillon, chairman of the charity.

Besides fund-raising activities, Pro Bono Sg over the past year also rallied and recruited 660 active volunteer lawyers, more than 230 law school undergraduates and 200 non-legal volunteers, including social service professionals.

These volunteers ensure that the help provided goes beyond legal assistance, said Mr Tong, who is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

“Many individuals and families who encounter legal problems, they might not start as a legal problem. Often we find ourselves going beyond providing legal aid and assistance,” the minister said, adding that support can include counselling and mental health interventions.

“Sometimes, help seekers who come to us require financial assistance. Very often, they require a stronger social support network,” said Mr Tong.

Apart from those in the legal services, volunteers from non-legal professions, including those who can help in areas such as interpretation, translation, training, client support and programme design, are also needed at Pro Bono SG.

A total of 140 awards were presented to supporters and volunteers at the event.

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Lawyer Muslim Albakri received the top volunteer award for his work with the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, where he is a committee member, and also for his work on the scheme’s training programme.

Aside from taking on pro bono cases, Mr Muslim also conducts merits testing for legal aid applicants.

“It really takes a village to achieve what we have done, and I am grateful for the network of lawyers and volunteers who are so committed to the cause,” said Mr Muslim. He added that Pro Bono SG’s work helps to bridge the inequality gap by providing access to legal services to the less-privileged in society.

Lawyer Imran Rahim was awarded the special recognition volunteer award for his work as chairman of Peguam, a Muslim-led organisation that provides pro bono legal services.

Through Peguam’s partnership with Pro Bono SG, Mr Imran and his team offer their expertise and mentorship to lawyers handling cases under the Muslim law.

“There are many, many people who need help but are not able to afford legal representation. A lot of these folk are facing serious and potentially life-changing challenges,” said Mr Imran.

“If we are able to offer some help during such dark times, then we should. It is something that we all would want if we were in their place.”

 

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$1 Marketplace in Hougang draws residents eager to bag over $12 of groceries​

Residents collecting fruits and vegetables at the $1 Marketplace event in Ci Yuan Community Club in Hougang on March 29.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Chin Soo Fang
Mar 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – The start time for a $1 Marketplace in Hougang was 10am on March 29 but by 8am, a queue of about 300 people had already formed at Ci Yuan Community Club.

These early birds were among 1,000 residents who had pre-purchased a $1 ticket to be part of the event, entitling them to bag groceries worth about $12 to $13, with items such as cabbage, lettuce, oranges and lemons.

The produce was provided by the Hougang Village Merchants’ Association in support of the marketplace hosted by the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Ci Yuan CC management committee.

Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Darryl David, who turned up at about 9.30am and saw the long but orderly queues of mostly senior citizens, decided to start the event earlier.

“Don’t worry, don’t rush, take your time. And after you have taken everything, there are many other activities for you to check out here,” he told the participants who came with bags and supermarket trolleys.

Homemaker Koh Chai Hong, 70, who was among the earliest to queue, said: “I didn’t suffer any loss, it’s worth it. This is fun and I came early to mingle with the people in the queue since I’m bored at home.”

Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Darryl David (right) distributing fruits and vegetables to residents on March 29.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Ms Laxie Mary Sequeira, a 76-year-old retired insurance professional, said she was glad that, for $1, she could get something “fresh and substantial” as “every bit helps” to cope with the cost of living.

She took part to connect with fellow residents too. “Maybe I can get to know 50 people at this event today,” she quipped.

Retired insurance professional Laxie Mary Sequeira said she was glad she could get something “fresh and substantial” as “every bit helps” to cope with the cost of living.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
The $1 Marketplace is the first of three similar events, organised as part of SG60 activities to mark Singapore’s diamond jubilee in the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang area, to foster stronger connections, care and active contribution within the community.

Mr David said: “It’s not like you come and then we give you a pack and then you go off. We want to build that sense of community where people come down and participate and have something to look forward to.”

He added: “It’s an opportunity to unite the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang community, bringing together heartland merchants and residents to celebrate our collective strength and solidarity.”

On March 29, the marketplace also had an SG60 message board where one could leave messages of gratitude and support for heartland merchants.

The organisers also launched a stamp card initiative to encourage participation at monthly SG60 events, including Racial Harmony Day and National Day carnivals. Ang Mo Kio-Hougang residents who attend at least two events will receive a $60 NTUC voucher per household.

There is a stamp card initiative to encourage participation at monthly SG60 events, including Racial Harmony Day and National Day carnivals.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Mr Francis Swee, president of Hougang Village Merchants’ Association, said the marketplace is one way to give back to regular customers of its more than 100 members.

“The items we have picked align with the ‘Heng Ong Huat’ prosperity slogan that we have in this area,” he added. “So we included ‘prosperous’ items like oranges, pineapple and cabbage.”

The association, which will organise a trade fair in Hougang Village with about 30 stalls for 19 days starting on April 26, is also planning to give about 1,000 vouchers to residents to spend at participating outlets in May.

The $1 Marketplace is the first of three similar events to foster stronger connections, care and active contribution within the community.ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
The next two $1 Marketplace sessions will take place on April 27 and June 22 at the same venue, with $1 vouchers on sale at the Ci Yuan CC.

On the upcoming $1 marketplaces, Mr David said the organisers are still engaging the partners on what to provide for the residents.

“In a way, it’s something the residents can look forward to with a sense of anticipation,” he added. “One certainty is that for $1, whatever you get will be much more than $1. The items must also have a practical use for the residents.”

 

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Tanjong Pagar ‘where it all began’ for Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore: Indranee Rajah​

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah said "there would be no Singapore as we know it" without Tanjong Pagar.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Vanessa Paige Chelvan
Mar 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – Tanjong Pagar is “where it all began” for Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah on March 29.

“Without Tanjong Pagar, there would be no Singapore as we know it,” she said.

“If Tanjong Pagar had not given Mr Lee that original mandate, he would not have become the MP for the area, and he would not have become our founding prime minister.”

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 MP for the constituency for almost 60 years. Tanjong Pagar is now a five-member group representation constituency.

And people who live in Tanjong Pagar remember this, said Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development and an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC. She was speaking to reporters at the launch of Ramadan Festive Care 2025 at Tiong Bahru Community Centre.

“The journey started here, and I think Mr Lee and all successive MPs in this area have done their very best to build on that legacy and continue to take Singapore forward,” she added.

On whether there would be any movements in the GRC ahead of the upcoming general election, Ms Indranee said it is up to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to decide. The election is widely expected to be held by the first half of the year.

“He’s the man with the answers,” she said.

When asked what issues are on residents’ minds, Ms Indranee said the cost of living is “clearly” what people are worried about. For the 2025 Budget, the Government “has put in a lot of support”, she said.

Some 1.3 million Singaporean households will each get $800 in CDC vouchers and Housing Board households will get up to $760 in U-Save rebates in the 2025 financial year to help them cope with their utility bills. Families with children will also receive further support to defray expenses, as will lower-income families and individuals.

“So long as it’s needed, we will make sure that there is support for people,” Ms Indranee said.

“The key thing is for us to be sure that we continue to take care of residents, (their) concerns, their needs.”

Ramadan Festive Care 2025 is an annual initiative to help under-resourced families, and it has raised more than $21,000 this year, up from about $16,700 in 2024.

About 500 packages filled with essential food items were distributed to beneficiaries. The packages contained staples such as rice, dried and canned foods, as well as basic essentials like sugar and salt, and Milo, mee siam and honey.

The initiative, now into its fourth year, was started by real estate firm OrangeTee, in partnership with non-profit organisations Ray of Hope and Roses of Peace.

About 500 packages filled with essential food items were distributed to beneficiaries at Ramadan Festive Care 2025.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Mr Justin Quek, chief executive of OrangeTee, said the initiative aims to “ensure everyone has a chance to celebrate with the essentials needed”. He thanked Roses of Peace and Ray of Hope for helping to “amplify our efforts and bring more joy to families during this Ramadan”.

Ms Indranee helped to put together one of the packages and flagged off a group of volunteers who set off from the community centre at about 12.30pm to distribute the packages to beneficiaries in the area.

“The Government does many things but, at the same time, the community plays a really important role as well,” she said. For the less fortunate, having (businesses) like OrangeTee come forward during Ramadan is a signal that the community cares about them, she added.

“Kampung spirit is an indefinable thing, but it’s very real. It is that feeling that the people around you, the community that you live in, care about you, and I think that that is extremely important.”

 

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OCBC pumps $2 million into programme to help over 180k seniors​

Residents playing a memory game during the launch of an OCBC programme at Bukit Canberra in Sembawang on March 29.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Syarafana Shafeeq
Mar 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – A $2 million programme by OCBC Bank aims to help more than 180,000 seniors in Singapore over the next three years.

The programme was launched at Bukit Canberra in Sembawang on March 29, with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in attendance.

Among the initiatives that OCBC SeniorCare will support is home-based counselling for seniors from underprivileged backgrounds.

In collaboration with Care Corner Singapore, OCBC will fund these sessions to ensure vulnerable seniors will have convenient access to eldercare-trained counsellors to navigate personal, social and psychological challenges.

More details like how seniors can sign up for the programme will be provided soon.

OCBC group chief executive Helen Wong, who spoke at the launch, hopes the programme will yield a big impact as the initiatives are focused on meeting practical needs based on data and first-hand experiences from the bank’s front-line staff.

Raffles Medical Group and Q&M Dental Group, for instance, will provide senior OCBC customers with member rates on selected services, with other initiatives progressively announced over the duration of the programme.


OCBC also created dialect-speaking roles at some branches to help seniors who may not speak English or Mandarin. These staff are fluent in at least two dialects including Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka.

Seniors make up a majority of the footfall at its branches, with staff noting that family members sometimes tag along to help overcome language barriers, the bank said on March 29.

Ten OCBC Care Ambassadors have been hired so far and are stationed at branches popular with seniors, like Ang Mo Kio Central, Jurong Point and Toa Payoh Central. Other initiatives include better time-deposit rates for seniors plus senior deals from merchants.

All OCBC senior customers can get a voucher booklet from five branches – Ang Mo Kio Central, Jurong Point, Nex, Tampines and Toa Payoh Central – from April 3.

The vouchers can be used at participating merchants such as Eu Yan Sang, Sheng Siong, Soup Restaurant, Swensen’s and Watsons.

On March 29, more than 1,000 seniors attended the launch that had a Zumba workout, with Mr Ong and two new likely People’s Action Party candidates for Sembawang GRC in the upcoming general election – Mr Gabriel Lam and Mr Ng Shi Xuan – taking part.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung (centre) and two new likely PAP candidates for Sembawang GRC in the upcoming general election – Mr Ng Shi Xuan (left) and Mr Gabriel Lam – speaking to residents in Bukit Canberra on March 29.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
The seniors also learnt more about digital banking and scams at booths.

Mr Ong said he encourages people in the community to rethink what turning 65 means.

“Who says 65 is old? While the Government may call it ‘super-aged’, the people must say ‘no’. If your mind is not old and your body is fit, 65 is young.”

The Republic is on track to attain super-aged status in 2026. This means that by that year, more than one in five in Singapore’s population are expected to be 65 or older.

On the importance of companies working with the community to create impact, Mr Ong noted that OCBC requires its staff to clock certain hours of volunteer work. “I think whatever we do, everyone can devote that little bit of time to contribute to the community.”

 

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DBS Foundation launches $7.3m initiative to support vulnerable seniors​

Residents at DBS Foundation's Community Pop-up Market event in Khatib on March 29.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Deepanraj Ganesan
Mar 29, 2025

SINGAPORE – A $7.3 million programme to enhance vulnerable seniors’ physical and social well-being will be rolled out by DBS Foundation from June, the bank announced on March 29.

The initiative, which aims to address nutritional and social isolation gaps, will see a twice-weekly distribution of nutritious meals to 6,000 lower-income individuals aged 60 and above over two years, across 12 towns such as Ang Mo Kio, Bedok and Queenstown.

Volunteers from the bank’s 14,000-strong workforce will also befriend the seniors via monthly bonding and enrichment activities. In addition, there will be quarterly grocery shopping trips to stock up with $60 worth of items.

DBS Foundation said it will work with community partners as well to facilitate regular social engagement among the seniors.

The new programme, one of the bank’s ways to commemorate Singapore’s 60th birthday, was announced at the foundation’s Community Pop-up Market event in Khatib on March 29. Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and his fellow Nee Soon GRC MPs Louis Ng and Carrie Tan were also in attendance.

Speaking at the event, the head of DBS Foundation and DBS group strategic marketing and communications, Ms Karen Ngui, said that apart from household and nutritional needs, isolation and loneliness are key concerns that the bank wants to address.

Of the new initiative, she added: “We hope that this will further strengthen the Singapore social compact. One of the things that the DBS Foundation is actually wanting to catalyse is mindset shifts around ageing.

“All walks of society will either be seniors of today, if not seniors of tomorrow. We want to work together to create that paradigm shift, to enable all of us to live with purpose, dignity, and to age well and strong. Together we can make Singapore a healthy, strong and vibrant aged society.”

The event in Khatib is the final instalment of a series of 38 pop-up markets that DBS Foundation has held over the past seven months.

The foundation said it has contributed $3.8 million and deployed 2,000 volunteers for the endeavour which has benefited more than 30,000 households.

Those from lower-income households can select around $100 worth of groceries and essentials for free, on top of picking up financial planning and nutrition tips.

Ms Karen Wee Siew Lin, executive director at Lions Befrienders Service Association, one of the foundation’s community partners, said the pop-up market has been “a vital platform for connecting vulnerable seniors with essential resources and social support”.

“We look forward to the DBS Foundation’s new SG60 programme, which will further strengthen these efforts, empowering communities with greater access to care and meaningful engagement,” she added.

 

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Close to $1m raised for Gaza during Ramadan: Masagos​

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli thanked the Malay/Muslim community for contributing generously towards the campaign.PHOTO: MDDI

Joyce Teo
Mar 30, 2025

SINGAPORE – Close to $1 million has been collected in an ongoing fund-raising campaign for humanitarian relief in Gaza, as contributions flowed in from the Malay/Muslim community and other Singaporeans throughout the month of Ramadan, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli.

In his Hari Raya Aidilfitri message on March 30, he thanked the contributors for their generosity towards the campaign conducted by local charity Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF).

The donations will help provide food, medical supplies and essential goods to the people of Gaza.

RLAF’s campaign, Aid For Gaza, started on Feb 24, and will run till April 6.

Israel launched its invasion of Gaza in response to the Oct 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas. Singapore’s humanitarian aid to Gaza has amounted to more than $19 million since then.

Mr Masagos’ Hari Raya message was delivered in Malay on TV channel Suria’s 8pm news on March 30.

In it, he also highlighted the Malay/Muslim community’s strong unity in supporting those in need through various charitable initiatives organised by mosques and community networks. Ramadan is the month for the community to reflect, worship and increase their good deeds, he said.

“I am glad to see the strong spirit of unity within our community. We come together in acts of worship, strengthen ties and help those in need,” said Mr Masagos.

“Throughout Ramadan, our mosques warmly welcome congregants for porridge distributions, breaking of fast, tarawih prayers and religious lessons, amongst many other activities.”

One such effort by a mosque is an initiative called Our Community Pantry at Masjid Al-Iman in Bukit Panjang.

The mosque works with community partners to provide food supplies to underprivileged families regardless of race or religion, underscoring the community’s core values of collaboration and helping one another, said Mr Masagos.

In 2025, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, also known as Hari Raya Puasa, falls on March 31. It marks the first day of Syawal – the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.

“This Syawal, let us preserve and build upon the noble values of compassion, concern and generosity that we embraced during Ramadan,” Mr Masagos said.

“Together, we can make positive change and leave a legacy that future generations can be proud of – one that embodies our vision of ‘Masyarakat Gemilang, Masa Depan Cemerlang’, or ‘Community of Success, Thriving Future’.”

 

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Singaporeans can enjoy more free performances, workshops from April under expanded arts scheme​

A performance by Brahmastra Ensemble during the launch of an expanded line-up of programmes under ArtsEverywhere@CDC on March 30.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Wong Yang
Mar 31, 2025

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans will soon get to enjoy more free public performances like hip-hop dancing and traditional Chinese puppetry shows, and activities like Malay dance workshops – closer to where they live, work and play.

There will be more than 200 shows and activities by over 80 artistes and arts groups in 2025, when the ArtsEverywhere@CDC initiative ramps up its offerings, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on March 30.

The number of artistes involved will also nearly triple, with the programme beefed up in 2025, compared with 2024, he added.

ArtsEverywhere@CDC is a two-year initiative launched in July 2024 by the National Arts Council (NAC), People’s Association (PA) and the five community development councils (CDCs), and is part of efforts to mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence.

The initiative seeks to make the arts more accessible to Singaporeans through arts performances and workshops across the island.

Mr Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, said more than 40,000 residents have so far enjoyed arts performances across the five CDCs at venues like Heartbeat@Bedok, the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh and Kampung Admiralty since the launch of ArtsEverywhere@CDC.

He said: “Many Singaporeans with previously little or no exposure to the arts have been able to enjoy the performances. Along the way, they have gained an appreciation for local arts and culture.”


He added that artistes have also been able to reach new audiences through the initiative and gain new fans of all ages, some of whom have become “serial attendees” who follow their favourite artistes across Singapore.

The expanded ArtsEverywhere@CDC line-up means audiences can enjoy a wider range of art forms in more locations, said Mr Gan.

New offerings include performances by The Purple Symphony, an orchestra that features musicians with and without special needs, and shows by the Teng Company, a local non-profit Chinese fusion music ensemble.

NAC, PA and the CDCs, in a joint statement, said there will be two large-scale arts performances a month in each district from April 2025 to March 2026 – double the number of such monthly performances since ArtsEverywhere@CDC was launched.

Each monthly large-scale performance will also be accompanied by hands-on activities for all ages, such as workshops for Singaporeans to experience traditional Malay dance forms conducted by Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts.

Community spaces such as parks, town squares, community clubs and community centres will be used as venues, on top of the neighbourhood malls mostly used now.

There will also be more smaller-scale shows by street performers in places like hawker centres and outside MRT stations, the statement added.

DPM Gan Kim Yong, flanked by South West District Mayor Low Yen Ling (in orange) and North East CDC vice-chairman Yeo Wan Ling, watching a flamenco performance at Safra Choa Chu Kang on March 30. Seated behind them are (from left) PAP new faces Chua Wei-Shan and Choo Pei Ling.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
On March 30, Mr Gan was joined at Safra Choa Chu Kang by South West District Mayor Low Yen Ling, who also chairs the mayors’ committee, and North East CDC vice-chairman Yeo Wan Ling.

Two potential PAP candidates for the upcoming general election – entrepreneur Chua Wei-Shan and Dr Choo Pei Ling, an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology’s health and social sciences cluster – were also at the event, which was held in Chua Chu Kang GRC, where Mr Gan is an MP.

Ms Chua, who was appointed acting branch chairman in former transport minister S. Iswaran’s West Coast ward after he resigned in 2024, has recently been seen at events in Chua Chu Kang GRC, while Dr Choo is second adviser to grassroots organisations in Kembangan-Chai Chee.

When approached by the media, both Ms Chua and Dr Choo said they were there as grassroots members.

To make it easier for Singaporeans to find ArtsEverywhere@CDC programmes near them, the CDCs have launched a new ArtsEverywhere@CDC GoWhere platform in a tie-up with the Government Technology Agency.

At the Safra event, Mohammad Said Rahim, 51, a full-time secondary school teacher who busks in his free time, performed covers of contemporary pop songs and classic tunes from the 1980s on his guitar.

He said performing under the ArtsEverywhere@CDC banner has helped him to share his art with more people, and he hopes to inspire others to perform too.

Mr Said, who has been busking for 11 years, said the initiative also helps to promote local arts talent by “giving them a first step” and helping them to build their confidence through public street performances.

 

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NUS Singapore History Prize doubles to $100,000, now open to arts and multimedia​

Khir Johari won the 2024 NUS Singapore History Prize for his book, The Food Of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through The Archipelago.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

Ong Sor Fern
Apr 01, 2025,

SINGAPORE – The NUS Singapore History Prize, the richest of its kind in the country, has doubled from $50,000 to $100,000. The prize will also now be open to the arts and multimedia.

The Department of History at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Fass), National University of Singapore (NUS), announced the changes in a statement on April 1.

The prize is financed by an anonymous donor, who has doubled the endowment for the award, which is given out every three years. Awardees have included inaugural winner Professor John Miksic’s Singapore And The Silk Road Of The Sea, 1300-1800 (2013) and, most recently, Khir Johari’s The Food Of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through The Archipelago (2021).

The new arts and multimedia category will encompass other disciplines ranging from theatre to film. The award will now alternate between books and the other art forms for every edition.

The prize recognises both fiction and non-fiction works that deal deeply with Singapore’s history.

Associate Professor Joey Long, head of the history department, said in a statement: “We firmly support our donor’s belief that Singaporeans can learn a lot more about Singapore’s rich history from different mediums.

“These include documentaries, films, visual arts, performing arts, installation art, podcasts and videos (excluding audiobooks, books in printed form and e-books). As such, we are glad that the prize has now been expanded to recognise works beyond books, which also reflects NUS’ commitment to foster a comprehensive appreciation of Singapore’s past through accessible and modern platforms.”

The 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize for Arts And Multimedia is open for submissions for works in the English language or works translated into English. There is no limit to the date of production, but the work must address Singaporean history. The deadline is May 31, 2027.

The panel of judges will be chaired by Mr Kishore Mahbubani, former diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute. He helped found the prize in 2014.

He said in a statement: “There is no doubt that for the next phase of Singapore’s national development, the Singaporean sense of national identity must be deepened and strengthened. The best way to do this is to develop a deep and common understanding of Singapore’s history.

“Hence, in addition to its academic and scholarly contributions, the NUS Singapore History Prize is also supporting a strong national imperative.”

 

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3,000 balance flats to be rolled out in July; 2nd such HDB sales exercise in 2025​

The Housing Board advised home seekers to apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility letter by May 15 so that they can take part in the upcoming sales exercise.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Isabelle Liew
Apr 01, 2025

SINGAPORE – About 3,000 balance flats will be put up for sale in July by the Housing Board, the second such sales exercise in 2025.

About 5,400 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will also be launched in Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Clementi, Sembawang, Tampines, Toa Payoh and Woodlands.

The second Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise will take the combined supply for such flats in 2025 to about 8,500 units, the largest since 2017, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said in a Facebook post on April 1.

In February, 5,590 SBF units in varying stages of completion were rolled out. They were oversubscribed, with more than 22,000 applicants for the flats.

SBF exercises were held twice yearly up till 2024, when it was reduced to once a year.

HDB advised home seekers to apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility letter by May 15 so that they can take part in the upcoming sales exercise.

Mr Lee said on Facebook that the authorities are seeing early signs of moderation in price growth across both public and private housing markets.


Prices of HDB resale flats rose 1.5 per cent in the first three months of 2025, according to flash estimates. This was down from the 2.6 per cent price growth in the last quarter of 2024.

To further stabilise the property market, Mr Lee said, more than 50,000 BTO flats will be launched from 2025 to 2027, including about 12,000 flats with shorter waiting times of less than three years. In 2025, HDB will roll out about 19,600 flats.

Mr Lee said that supply tightness in the HDB resale market could be attributed to fewer flats reaching their minimum occupation period (MOP), in part due to construction delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

About 13,500 flats will reach their MOP in 2026, up from 8,000 in 2025, he said. In 2028, this will rise to 19,500 flats.

“This means that more resale flats are entering the market soon and the supply tightness will ease,” he added.