PAP and WP: Who is checking who?

Augustine Low argues that the Workers’ Party (WP) in Singapore, known for its role in checking the People’s Action Party (PAP), now finds itself under scrutiny. Following the 2020 general election, the PAP has shifted the focus onto the WP’s proposals and ideas, painting them as inconsistent, opportunistic, and lacking concrete alternatives. Low suggests that the WP must risk more and be more confrontational, potentially losing battles but ultimately winning the war for the support of Singaporeans.

DBS CEO, previously embarrassed by disruptions in March, apologises for May outage

DBS and POSB Bank customers in Singapore experienced service disruptions on 5 May, marking the second major outage in two months. Many were unable to access online and mobile banking services, and numerous ATMs were non-operational. DBS CEO Piyush Gupta apologized and assured that a Special Board Committee is overseeing a full review of the bank’s IT resiliency to prevent future disruptions. He had previously said he felt embarrassed during the bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), two days after the March’s disruption. The Monetary Authority of Singapore called the incidents “unacceptable” and imposed an additional capital requirement on DBS Bank.

Price of 4-room HDB flats in new town sold at $27,000 and not $40,000 in 1980

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed public housing concerns at the May Day Rally 2023, claiming that new HDB flats are more affordable now than in 1980. However, historical data reveals a different story, suggesting that new flats were more affordable in the past. The Workers’ Party argues that the focus should be on first-time buyers’ median income, rather than national median income.

Workers’ Party May Day Message: Greater protections and preparation for workers needed to weather the storms ahead

In his May Day message, Pritam Singh, Leader of the Opposition and Secretary General of the Workers’ Party, emphasized the need for enhanced support and preparation for Singaporean workers facing economic challenges and AI advancements. Mr Singh urged the government to implement a redundancy insurance scheme and highlighted the importance of leveraging AI innovations to boost worker productivity and pay, ensuring a brighter future for Singapore’s workforce.

Impending S&CC hike for HDB residents, Govt to provide temporary relief

A recent report by the Straits Times highlighted comments from Lim Biow Chuan, coordinating chairman for PAP town councils, suggesting that Housing Board residents can anticipate a rise in Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) in the near future. S&CC, which covers expenses such as estate cleaning, landscaping, refuse collection, pest control, and maintenance of mechanical and electrical fixtures like lifts and lights, last saw a rise between $1 and $17 per month, phased over two years, in 2017. Mr Lim noted that town councils are grappling with increased cost pressures due to rising energy prices, maintenance costs, and manpower costs. Energy prices have surged by 23% between 2018 and 2023, while lift maintenance costs have risen because of higher labour and material costs. The implementation of the Progressive Wage Model to uplift low-wage workers has further contributed to increased operational costs for town councils.

Execution of Singaporean Tamil condemned by UN Experts: Call for moratorium on death penalty

United Nations experts strongly condemn Singapore’s recent execution of Tangaraju s/o Suppiah, calling for an immediate moratorium on capital punishment. They express concerns over inadequate interpretation during police interrogations in his conviction and the high rate of execution notices for drug-related offenses. The experts criticize Singapore’s mandatory sentencing law, discriminatory treatment of minorities, and the suspension of the death penalty moratorium. They urge Singapore to review the death penalty’s scope, limit it to cases involving intentional killing, and abolish it to protect the right to life. Tangaraju represented himself in court as no lawyers in Singapore were willing to take up his case. Human rights lawyer Mr Ravi highlighted the fear of cost orders and disciplinary actions faced by lawyers who take up such cases.

Saudi National Bank chair resigns after Credit Suisse buyout: statement

The chairman of Saudi National Bank, Ammar AlKhudairy, has resigned due to personal reasons, according to a statement. The bank was the main shareholder of Credit Suisse before its recent buyout, and AlKhudairy’s comments about not raising the bank’s stake caused the latter’s shares to plummet.

21-year-old Indonesian woman dies after accidentally hanging herself while creating social media content via video call

A 21-year-old woman in Indonesia died by hanging while creating content via video call with her friends. She expressed her desire to pretend to hang herself, went live on social media, and lost her balance while wrapped in a piece of cloth around her neck. Her friends found her already passed away in her rented residence, and an investigation confirmed it as a suicide.

Straits Times spins story about LHY into one that he is never returning to Singapore

The Straits Times article on Lee Hsien Yang’s recent Facebook post is focused on the ongoing police investigation into him and his wife. The article also mentioned Lee Hsien Yang’s guilty verdict for lying under oath and his intention to run for the upcoming presidential election. However, the article did not include LHY’s accusations against the government and PM LHL, alleging attacks on him and his family for standing up for his father’s promise to ensure that their family house at 38 Oxley Road is demolished after his death.

Teo Chee Hean names Lee family members being investigated, criticizes e-book on LKY’s Last Will, and urges participation in ongoing investigations

Singaporean Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee…