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Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Where's Michael Thng? Commenters ask after WP announces CEC update
SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party's (WP) announcement of updates to its top decision-making body was generally met with positive responses in online spaces, although a number of commenters had one question in common: 'Where's Michael Thng?' Mr Thng, who was fielded by the WP as part of its slate at Tampines GRC in last month's General Election, appears to have made quite a good impression with many in Singapore, to the point that some expected him to take a more visible place within the party. On Wednesday (June 18), the WP announced that its four new Members of Parliament— Sengkang MP Abdul Muhaimin, Aljunied MP Kenneth Tiong, and Non-Constituency MPs Eileen Chong and Andre Low—had been co-opted into its Central Executive Committee (CEC). The party also said that Ms Chong was its new Youth Wing head, taking over from Sengkang MP Jamus Lim. Many of the commenters online praised the WP for its leadership renewal, especially since party chair Sylvia Lim turned 60 earlier this year, and speculation has spread that she may only contest in one more GE. See also Pritam Singh: PAP's One-dimensional perspective A lot of netizens expressed approval of Ms Chong's new role in the party, saying that the 33-year-old is in the right place to represent the youth and begin to get ready for even bigger leadership roles. However, across different social media platforms, and even on the WP's Facebook account, netizens have been looking for Mr Thng, 37, who had made a splash during the campaign period when he said at a rally, 'We don't want to be told that the sky is white when we see it is blue.' He had also performed well during a televised debate prior to the May 3 polls. 'What about Michael Thng?' a commenter asked. 'Why didn't (the WP) include Michael Thng into the CEC,' another wanted to know, opining that Mr Thng is 'brilliant in talking.' 'I think Michael Thng should be with Eileen Choong to promote more youth to join the WP,' wrote a Facebook user. On Reddit, one asked, 'Michael Thng no more?' A commenter answered that 'Historically, the WP has voted their sitting parliamentarians into their CEC,' but added, 'have to follow their socials to see if Michael is still on the ground, I hope he is. The ground game for GE2030 has already started.' When one wondered if he had gone back to the United States, another replied that Mr Thng had just helped out at the Meet the People Session of Sengkang MP He Ting Ru the night before. Mr Thng, the chief operating officer of a tech start-up, has been volunteering with the WP for at least 15 years. 'I was always struck by his passion for Singapore, for our democratic processes, and how despite spending much time in the US, he would always fly back to be involved in election campaigns,' wrote Ms He in a social media post in April , adding that Mr Thng had gone with her when she contested at Marine Parade for GE2015 and then again at Sengkang for GE2020./TISG Read also: WP's Michael Thng: 'We don't want to be told that the sky is white when we see it is blue'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
YAHOO POLL: Should F&B outlets serve free tap water?
A petition calling on the Government to mandate free tap water at food and beverage (F&B) outlets that already impose a 10 per cent service charge has gained traction, with over 2,000 signatures as of 20 June. Launched on by Dr Yee Yucai, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital's Internal Medicine department, the petition argues that water is a basic necessity. Dr Yee told AsiaOne that the petition came about he observed how food and beverage outlets seem to be "encouraging" diners to buy drinks to "boost profit margins". Other polls YAHOO POLL: Zika cases detected in Woodlands – are you concerned? YAHOO POLL: Are you happy with the civil servants mid-year bonus? YAHOO POLL: Did you manage to rebook your affected Jetstar Asia flight? This is not the first time the issue has surfaced, though. Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle, have previously urged the Government to explore making free table water standard practice. In 2021, Christopher de Souza questioned "whether table water can be mandatorily made free-of-charge at F&B establishments" since Singapore's tap water is safe to drink. During the Budget debate in March, Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam urged the ministry to work with eateries, coffee shops and shopping malls to provide free or low-cost drinking water as a best practice. However, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has pushed back, stating that while Singapore's tap water is safe, providing it still incurs costs, and thus cannot be mandated under the Environmental Public Health Act. So, we want to hear from you – should F&B outlets serve free tap water? Related: Singapore water price to increase by 50 cents per cubic m over next 2 years How Singapore forged a world-class food scene over 60 years – from hawker markets to Michelin stars Home-based food businesses stir debate among restaurant owners
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Should tap water be free in Singapore restaurants? F&B operators weigh in
The debate about whether tap water should be complimentary in Singapore's dine-in food establishments is back in the spotlight, thanks to a Facebook post on Jun 12 by Workers' Party Member of Parliament Gerald Giam, who also highlighted a public petition on the issue. 'Some eateries charge as much for water as they do for sugary drinks. This unintentionally nudges consumers toward less healthy options, increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes,' he said in his post. 'In March 2025, I called for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) to encourage F&B outlets, coffeeshops and malls to offer low-cost drinking water as best practice.' Mr Giam added: 'While I acknowledge that F&B establishments incur some cost to provide plain water, these can be recovered by offering plain water at cost. Importantly, it should be priced lower than sugary beverages to support healthier choices and sustainability goals. I continue to urge MSE to promote this as best practice across dine-in establishments.' The petition he cited, which was posted on in late May, urged the Singapore government to 'mandate that dine-in F&B establishments provide free-flow tap water to all customers at no additional cost.' 'In a country where tap water is clean, safe, and abundantly available, it is unjustified to restrict access to tap water, especially in establishments that already impose a 10% service charge,' the petition read. THE PRICE OF FREE TAP WATER Several restaurateurs CNA Lifestyle spoke to said that while they used to charge for tap water, they stopped long before the petition, mainly due to customer complaints. Among them is nasi lemak restaurant The Coconut Club. Chef-owner Daniel Sia said: 'It's more important that customers are happy.' Similarly, chain restaurants such as Swensen's and French bakery-cafe Paul said they've offered free tap water since opening. 'We believe in offering a welcoming and thoughtful experience, and providing complimentary drinking water is part of that,' said Paul's chief executive officer, Asia Pacific, David Yang. A spokesperson for Swensen's, a pioneer partner of the Health Promotion Board's Healthier Dining Programme, said: 'Serving tap water aligns with our ongoing commitment to support healthier choices for our guests." Still, while tap water is abundantly available in Singapore, it does come at a cost to restaurants. 'Utilities cost money and (when you offer free tap water), it often translates to reduced beverage sales, so it's an opportunity cost at the end of the day,' Sia explained. Yang pointed out that 'the cost, though not insignificant, is relatively minimal compared to the goodwill it generates'. While that may be the case for larger chain establishments like Paul and Swensen's, it is a harder pill to swallow for smaller, independent restaurants. 'On a good month, eateries like ours make about 10 to 20 per cent profit,' said the sole owner of a neighbourhood cafe who declined to be named. 'More often than not, we make a lot less, especially in this current economic climate. So we charge 50 cents for free-flow of tap water because every cent counts.' The cost, though not insignificant, is relatively minimal compared to the goodwill it generates. FILTERING THE COST Other restaurant owners who charge for tap water also requested anonymity for fear of public backlash. 'Business is already so bad, we don't want people to take this against us,' said the owner of a Korean restaurant. 'The restaurant business is tough. Our profit margin is small. In what other industry would making 10 to 20 per cent profit on a good month count as good business? But that's the norm for restaurants. Bigger restaurant groups may be able to absorb the cost, but utilities are just one of many overheads for small businesses like ours.' Another restaurateur pointed out that almost no establishments price tap water on par with soft drinks. 'No one in the right mind goes into business to antagonise the customer. Everyone knows the cost of tap water, so who's going to sell tap water in their restaurant for S$3 to S$4, which is the price of a soft drink in many restaurants?' Upscale restaurants that charge for water typically serve water pumped from a filtration system at S$3 per person, free-flow. For them, the concern is more about flavour than cost. Operations manager of Angie's Oyster Bar & Grill said: 'We understand some diners prefer water with their meal instead of wine or beer. However, tap water can negatively alter the delicate taste of live oysters. To ensure a pleasant dining experience, we serve unlimited premium Nordaq water. However, we do not want to profit from water sales. We decided that with water sales, 80 per cent of the proceeds will go towards The Helping Hand charity, supporting a good cause.' Ronald Kamiyama, managing partner and sommelier of The Cicheti Group, echoed similar sentiments. 'At our restaurants, we serve filtered water that uses a charcoal system that's not only sustainable, but part of what we pay also supports jobs for women in Sumatra who plant trees in the region.' Water filtration systems cost anywhere from S$1,000 to S$3,000 a month. 'When you factor in wear and tear, which at restaurants oscillate around S$50 to S$200 a month, plus human hours, plus a series of minor costs that aren't accounted for… it works out to a good amount of money,' said the chef-owner of a fine dining restaurant that does not charge for water. 'We absorb the cost in our menu pricing.'
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
WP announces changes to CEC; new NCMP Eileen Chong to lead Youth Wing
SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party (WP) issued an update concerning its Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Wednesday (June 18), announcing that its new Members of Parliament have been co-opted into the party's top decision-making body. The WP also said that its Youth Wing will now be led by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Eileen Chong, who is taking over the role from Sengkang MP Jamus Lim. The last time Singapore's largest opposition party issued a statement regarding its CEC was in July, when Fadli Fawzi, now an MP for Aljunied, had been co-opted as an additional member. It also announced at that point that Assoc Prof Lim was the party's Youth Wing President. New WP CEC members The new CEC members and their roles are as follows: Sengkang MP Abdul Muhaimin Bin Abdul Malik, Deputy Organising Secretary NCMP Andre Low, Deputy Head, Media Team NCMP Eileen Chong, Youth Wing President Aljunied MP Kenneth Tiong, Deputy Treasurer See also Nicole Seah elected Workers' Party Youth Wing president 'We wish to extend our appreciation to Dr Jamus Lim for his contributions to the development of our Youth Wing, who will be handing over the leadership of the Youth Wing to Ms Eileen Chong,' the party said. It added that there are no other changes to the roles of the other CEC members, who had been elected at the WP's Cadre Members' Conference on June 30, 2024. 'The Workers' Party is confident that our new CEC members will play a vital role, as we continue to serve Singaporeans and [work] for Singapore,' it added. About Eileen Chong The party's new Youth Wing head caused quite a stir when speculation began to spread that the WP would field her as a candidate in this year's General Election. Ms Chong, 33, joined the WP in the latter part of 2024, participating in house visits in Bedok Reservoir and Kovan. She had been a volunteer caseworker at Meet-the-People Sessions in Aljunied with Aljunied MP Gerald Giam. She works in the social impact sector at the Asia Philanthropy Circle. Her years at the MFA include a stint at the Singapore Embassy in Beijing from 2020 to 2023. While with the ministry, she covered Singapore's bilateral ties with China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Laos. On May 19, the WP announced that Ms Chong and Mr Low had been appointed as NCMPs for the 15th Parliament of Singapore. 'The Elections Department has also declared that in accordance with Section 52 of the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954, Mr Low and Ms Chong have been elected as NCMPs,' said the WP at the time , adding that it 'remains steadfast in our mission of working for Singapore, and all WP Members of Parliament (MPs) will carry forward the Workers' Party's longstanding mission to represent the interests of all Singaporeans, hold the Government to account, and advance reasoned, principled debate in Parliament.' Ms Chong wrote in a social media post that she was 'honoured to serve as NCMP' with Mr Low and thanked the WP team at Tampines, the party's volunteers, and the residents 'for making this possible.' She also wrote that she would 'serve with conviction and integrity, and work hard to earn your trust,' and she looks 'forward to being your voice in Parliament while journeying alongside you to build a fairer, more compassionate and inclusive Singapore.' /TISG Read also: Better support system needed for Serangoon seniors for accessing public services, says WP MP Kenneth Tiong
CNA
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Workers' Party co-opts new MPs into its Central Executive Committee
SINGAPORE: Four of the Workers' Party's new parliamentarians, including two Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP), were co-opted into the party's top decision-making body, following a meeting on Tuesday (Jun 17). WP on Wednesday announced its new Central Executive Committee (CEC) members - Members of Parliament (MP) Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik and Kenneth Tiong, as well as NCMPs Andre Low and Eileen Chong. Mr Abdul Muhaimin has been appointed as its deputy organising secretary and Mr Tiong as its deputy treasurer, the opposition party said. Mr Low has been appointed deputy head of its media team, while Ms Chong has been named youth wing president, the party added. They will take up the two NCMP seats in Singapore's 15th parliament, when the first session commences on Sep 5. Ms Chong will take over the position of youth wing president from Associate Professor and MP Jamus Lim, who will continue be the party's deputy head of policy research. 'We wish to extend our appreciation to Dr Jamus Lim for his contributions to the development of our youth wing, who will be handing over the leadership of the youth wing to Ms Eileen Chong,' said WP. The party's fifth new parliamentarian, Mr Fadli Fawzi, was already part of the CEC as deputy organising secretary. There are no other changes to the appointments held by other CEC members, the party said, adding that it will continue to be led by secretary-general Pritam Singh and chairperson Sylvia Lim. They retained their leadership posts at a party conference in June last year. 'The Workers' Party is confident that our new CEC members will play a vital role, as we continue to serve Singaporeans and working for Singapore.' WP won 10 seats in total at the recent General Election. Mr Abdul Muhaimin and Mr Tiong were fielded as new candidates in Sengkang GRC and Aljunied GRC respectively, with the party retaining both constituencies. Mr Low contested in Jalan Kayu SMC, which saw the closest fight in the election, and received the highest percentage of votes among the unelected opposition candidates. Ms Chong contested in Tampines GRC as part of the WP's five-member team, which received the second-highest percentage of votes among the unelected opposition candidates.
