Latest from Online Citizen
Online Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Seah Kian Peng nominated for reelection as Speaker as Parliament reconvenes on 5 Sept
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has nominated Seah Kian Peng for reelection as Speaker of Parliament when the 15th Parliament reconvenes on 5 September 2025. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on 20 June. Seah, Member of Parliament for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, has served as Speaker since 2023. His nomination will be subject to formal election by Members of Parliament (MPs) when the House meets. In the same statement, the PMO confirmed the reappointment of Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah as Leader of the House. Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad will continue as Deputy Leader of the House. Prime Minister Wong conveyed his nominations in a letter to the Clerk of Parliament, the top official supporting parliamentary operations. In his communication, Wong stated the Government will propose Seah's reelection and reaffirmed the designations of Indranee and Zaqy to their respective roles. In a Facebook post on 20 June, Wong praised Seah's stewardship since 2023, noting his 'steady hand and thoughtful leadership.' He stated, 'He has presided over our debates with fairness and ensured that proceedings are conducted with dignity and decorum.' The roles of Speaker and Leader of the House, while nominated by the Prime Minister, differ in terms of formal appointment. The Speaker must be elected by Parliament, while the Leader is appointed directly. The Speaker presides over parliamentary sittings, maintains order, and ensures procedural adherence. The Speaker also determines who may speak and poses questions for debate and vote. Beyond Parliament, the Speaker represents the House in its external relations and during ceremonial events. The Leader of the House, meanwhile, manages Government business and legislative scheduling. This includes moving procedural motions and overseeing debates on national issues. The Leader may also respond to MPs' conduct and ensure debate proceedings are aligned with House protocol. Indranee has held the role of Leader of the House since 2020, taking over from Grace Fu. She is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development and MP for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC. Seah's initial election as Speaker followed the resignation of his predecessor Tan Chuan-Jin in 2023. Tan stepped down after revelations of an affair with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui were made public. The reconvening of Parliament on 5 September will mark the beginning of the 15th Parliament, following the general election held on 3 May 2025. The first order of business will be the formal election of the Speaker. MPs will then be sworn in, followed by an address by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The President's Address will outline the Government's legislative priorities and agenda for its five-year term, setting the tone for the new Parliament.
Online Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- Online Citizen
Flor Patisserie bids goodbye as more local F&B outlets announce closures
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Japanese-style cake shop Flor Patisserie announced it would be closing its Siglap Drive outlet, bringing a 15-year journey to an emotional end. The shop, cherished for its artisanal offerings and community feel, will serve its last slice on 11 July. The reason behind the closure, revealed last month, was a drastic rent hike imposed by the landlord—S$5,400 monthly rent increased by 57 per cent to S$8,500 upon lease renewal. In a farewell message posted on 17 June, Flor Patisserie's founder Heidi Tan reflected on the business's journey: 'If every year were a chapter, this story would end with 15 chapters. It is time to say goodbye—for good. FLOR Patisserie was never just about cakes. It was about connection, creativity, and community.' Tan described the challenges of running a small business in Singapore, highlighting that courage is required not just to build something—but to let it go. 'As I close this chapter, I do so with a heart full of gratitude… The love and support you've shown has meant more than words can express.' The big players simply do not care: Flor Patisserie refutes Ervin Yeo, questions rent model's sustainability The patisserie has also been vocal about what it sees as an increasingly unsustainable rental ecosystem in Singapore. In a 9 June Facebook post, it questioned the mindset of commercial landlords. 'To them, your craft, your perseverance in offering something fresh—something not churned out days in advance from a central kitchen—is nothing more than a datapoint on their rental yield curve. ' 'And if that number doesn't align with their projections, it's goodbye to you and hello to the next trendy concept,' the shop added. Tan lamented that rent, though just one of many operational pressures, often becomes the most crushing—especially when driven by what she called 'short-term profit chasing'. She added that landlords' expectations fail to account for the 'social cost of exchanging the hopes and dreams of young Singaporeans for greater profits'. Her remarks came in direct response to Ervin Yeo, Chief Strategy Officer of CapitaLand Group, who had defended existing market dynamics in a lengthy LinkedIn post. Yeo cautioned that rent controls could destabilise the F&B sector, comparing them to hawker centre models where low rents can lead to erratic operations and weakened customer trust. He argued that vacancy taxes would have limited impact, as landlords are already incentivised to lease due to mortgage obligations. Yeo further warned against protectionist policies that might disproportionately affect Chinese brands—praised for their operational efficiency—while Western entrants face less scrutiny. As a more balanced alternative to rent control, he suggested offering temporary Development Charge (DC) relief, Yeo argued. Calls grow for rental reform as SMEs struggle with rising costs Amid this broader discontent, advocacy group Singapore Tenants United For Fairness (SGTUFF) weighed in on 12 June. In a statement, the group urged for urgent structural reforms in rental agreements to help SMEs stay afloat. SGTUFF proposed a two-pronged approach: short-term relief measures and long-term policy recalibration. Among their suggestions were rental caps tied to inflation and a national rethink of urban planning and commercial land use priorities. A wave of closures shakes the F&B sector Flor Patisserie's impending closure is not an isolated case. In fact, it coincided with announcements from other long-running F&B players. On the same day—17 June—Burp Kitchen & Bar shared its decision to shut down its outlet at Bishan Park on 27 July. After 11 years of service, the owners said the 'current F&B scene has proven too challenging' despite their best efforts. 'What began as a 100-seater restaurant in a quiet corner of Bishan Park grew into a place that had welcomed thousands of guests,' their post said. The statement acknowledged the emotional impact on patrons, noting that the restaurant had become a familiar, comforting presence in the community. 'We all mourn the loss of our favourite restaurants… When they're gone, much of the soul of the neighbourhoods in which they resided will be gone as well.' This marks Burp Kitchen's second closure within a year—the Bedok Reservoir outlet was shut in July 2024 after nine years. Local media have also reported other notable closures. Four Leaves, a long-standing homegrown bakery chain, shuttered its Paya Lebar Square outlet on 20 May. A HardwareZone forum user noted that the space is slated to be taken over by Mr Noodles (粉面先生), a local noodle brand. Meanwhile, Tiong Bahru Bakery is set to close its Funan outlet on 22 June, after five years in operation. The company shared a video earlier in March hinting at the closure, and separately announced that its Eng Hoon Street flagship would pause operations in August for renovations. 'Our very first and most beloved home on Eng Hoon Street will be closing this August for a short pause… When we return, everything you've come to love [will be] refreshed and reimagined.' Tiong Bahru Bakery continues to operate nearly 20 outlets islandwide. Closure of over 3,000 F&B establishments in 2024 Although the Urban Redevelopment Authority reported a 0.5 per cent dip in retail rents in the first quarter of 2025, the ground reality paints a grimmer picture. An average of 450 retail outlets shuttered every month during this period. A Reuters report from April noted that closures averaged 307 per month from January to April 2025, up from 254 in 2024 and about 230 per month in both 2023 and 2022. Last year alone saw the closure of over 3,000 F&B establishments – the highest number since 2005.
Online Citizen
2 days ago
- Online Citizen
Woman allegedly loses life savings after joining fake FB hiking group, installing suspicious app
A Singaporean woman allegedly lost her life savings after joining a Facebook group for hikers and being instructed to install a suspicious app. The incident was shared in a 9 June 2025 Facebook post by user Raji Vry, who described the victim as a close friend. According to the post, the woman had joined a Facebook group named 'Happy Strides', which appeared to be a legitimate platform for hiking enthusiasts. The administrator of the group, identified as Jamie, allegedly initiated contact with the woman on 7 June. Jamie instructed her to install an app called Azure Club to create a profile for the hiking community. This guidance reportedly took place over a WhatsApp call. During the installation, the woman's phone began to lag. Jamie allegedly told her that such behaviour was normal and advised her to let the program run. The phone temporarily went blank but then returned to normal. However, the next morning, the woman's debit card was declined while attempting to pay for lunch. She visited a DBS ATM and discovered only around S$100 remaining in her account. 'She tried to withdraw money from DBS ATM, but there was only about S$100 left in her cash balance,' Vry wrote in her Facebook post. That was when the woman realised something was amiss. Large sums had reportedly been siphoned from her accounts, and her digital token had been used for 15 separate purchases to a YouTrip account. Her transfer limits had allegedly been modified to allow larger transactions, and notifications were muted, making it difficult for her to notice the activity. In addition, her emails were reportedly compromised. Both her DBS accounts were emptied. According to Vry, 'That's her life savings and she was planning to retire.' A police report has since been filed. Vry warned others on Facebook and Instagram, especially those involved in hiking communities, to remain vigilant. 'Stay alert if you receive any links in your messengers,' she cautioned. Other Facebook user reports near miss after refusing to share bank details with group admin Comments on Vry's post included another Facebook user claiming a similar experience. The user said the group admin asked her for payment details via a link. When she refused, the admin blocked her. Local media outlet Stomp also covered the incident, reporting that photos used by 'Happy Strides' were taken from other hiking groups. One image posted on 20 May had originally appeared on the Exploring Singapore Hiking Group page on 15 December 2024. Legitimate hiking group distances itself, warns members of photo misuse by scam page In response, the Exploring Singapore Hiking Group issued a clarification on 19 June 2025. Its administrator accused 'Happy Strides' of using their photos without consent. 'We are NOT associated with 'Happy Strides' in any way. This is a fraudulent group,' the group stated. They urged their members to be cautious and never to share personal or banking information without verification. As of 19 June, the 'Happy Strides' Facebook group was no longer accessible.
Online Citizen
2 days ago
- Online Citizen
Man shot during SAF live-firing exercise faces investigation for wilful trespass
A man who was shot while cycling in a restricted area during a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) live-firing drill is being investigated for wilful trespass, according to police on 18 June 2025. The 42-year-old was cycling with friends around 11.40am on 15 June 2025 when he was hit by a bullet in a forested area between Upper Seletar and Upper Peirce Reservoirs. This area falls within a gazetted zone for SAF live-firing activities. According to MINDEF, the live-firing was being conducted at SAF's Nee Soon 500m Range, approximately 2.3km from where the incident occurred. The cyclist's friends brought him to hospital, where doctors found and removed a bullet slug lodged in his left lower back. He was reported to be in stable condition following surgery. Under the Military Manoeuvres Act, unauthorised access to SAF gazetted areas is prohibited for safety. Wilful trespass involves knowingly entering government or protected areas without valid reason and carries a fine of up to S$1,000.
Online Citizen
2 days ago
- Online Citizen
Singaporean man arrested at Bangkok Airport for alleged human trafficking and money laundering
THAILAND: A Singaporean man was arrested by Thai immigration police at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on Wednesday (18 June). According to Thai media outlet Khaosod, the man, identified as Dexter, was wanted for his suspected involvement in international human trafficking, recruiting women for prostitution, and money laundering. Immigration police apprehended him upon his arrival from Singapore, following intelligence that a foreign national wanted on prostitution and money laundering charges would be entering Thailand through the airport. Footage of the arrest showed the suspect, dressed in black, walking through the airport before being stopped by a group of uniformed personnel. At least 10 officers were seen surrounding him, with two in vests restraining his arms on either side. A Thai police officer was also seen filming the arrest on a mobile phone. Preliminary investigations indicated that the man was allegedly involved in transnational human trafficking operations, specifically recruiting young women for prostitution and systematically channelling the financial proceeds through money laundering schemes. He faces multiple serious charges, including conspiracy to procure, entice, or transport persons for immoral purposes, and promoting and facilitating prostitution while receiving various forms of benefits. He is also accused of advertising or soliciting prostitution through documents and public media, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering with actual criminal acts. The suspect has since been handed over to Thailand's Technology Crime Suppression Division for further legal proceedings and to assist in expanding investigations into related criminal networks. Thailand's Immigration Bureau stressed that preventing and suppressing human trafficking and transnational crime remains one of its top priorities, with coordinated efforts planned among various agencies to ensure comprehensive enforcement action.
