SINGAPORE: The “golden window” for finding survivors in quake-hit Myanmar may have closed, but Singapore’s Operation Lionheart contingent will carry on as long as there is even a “minute chance of survival”.

This was stressed by Colonel Tay Zhi Wei, the team leader of the contingent, who on Tuesday (Apr 1) spoke to the media about the conditions they were operating under.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) deployed the 80-member team to Myanmar to assist in disaster rescue efforts a day after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the country on Friday.

The death toll from the earthquake has so far exceeded 2,700 and is expected to top 3,000, Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised address on Tuesday. He added that more than 4,500 people were injured, and over 440 were missing.

“As rescuers, the first 72 hours are extremely crucial,” said the 42-year-old Col Tay, speaking via a video call from Naypyidaw. This “golden window” is the period during which there is the highest chance of finding survivors after a disaster.

“But even after that, there will be chances of survival, and as long as there’s a slim chance of survival, a minute chance of survival, we will be here to lend our hand if they need us.” 

The fire and rescue officer with SCDF added that just this morning, the local fire service rescued a 60-year-old lady trapped under rubble.

CHALLENGES

As they race against time, rescuers in Myanmar are also operating under tough conditions.

One of the challenges the team faced was the hot weather. “It is 41 degrees (Celsius), so we had to institute a certain work-rest cycle in order to keep ourselves going for the prolonged ops and we also need to hydrate ourselves very frequently,” said Col Tay.

The contingent was also one of the first teams on the ground and was requested to start work immediately, so it had little time to set up and establish communication with its base camp, he said.

However, the morale of the officers are “extremely high”, said Col Tay. The welfare of the personnel was also taken care of as it was eventually able to set up its base camp near a hotel, enabling the team to use facilities such as the function room and car park.

“In general, the mood is very focused on our mission at hand.”

In response to a CNA query on how this operation differs from past ones, Col Tay noted that the team was escorted by the local fire service wherever it went.

"That works for us because ... they would have a good appreciation of the situation on the ground and they will bring us to focused areas where they think there are lives to be saved."

For the contingent's 48 Muslim officers, there were also efforts to keep morale high over Hari Raya Puasa - which fell on Monday.

"It was an extremely busy day and (rescue operations) took us all the way until nightfall before we returned back to base," said Col Tay.

The team, however, was able to conclude their day with a few Hari Raya messages for Muslim teammates, which gave them a "boost", he added. 

SAVING A LIFE

Sharing their experience on rescuing a man from under a collapsed building on Sunday after an eight-hour operation, Col Tay said it happened at just the second site the team went to.

Before that, what they saw had worried them.

“The first site that we visited, there were residential buildings and what we observed was that the second floor came down to the first, and the first floor completely gave way,” he said.

“We were thinking, if all the buildings were like this, it would be a significant challenge for us to conduct any search and rescue ops.”

When they arrived at the second site, to their surprise, the man was able to respond despite him being in a “precarious position”. 

“We needed to skirt on the side of the building, and then in between two buildings, there was a small void, and we had to enter through the small void in order to reach a concrete slab,” he said as he detailed the operation.

Through a small hole in the concrete slab, they could hear the man’s voice. However, expanding that hole would affect the integrity of the rubble in the area, he explained.

So the team used their tools to create a second hole. After eight hours, they were able to reach the man and bring him out. He sustained only minor injuries, mostly bruises on his leg.

The local fire service then took over the medical treatment and sent him to a hospital.

“I think that really gave us a boost, because after the first site, we were thinking it would be a very, very difficult search-and-rescue operation.

“(This incident) gave us hope that there are more lives that we can save.”

Thus far, the contingent had completed 13 sites in total and rescued one person, while also locating numerous bodies. 

When asked when the team would transit from search-and-rescue operations to begin focusing on recovering bodies, Col Tay said that the call would have to be made by Myanmar’s National Disaster Management Agency.

At this point, he reiterated the team's determination to save lives.

“I think we can still go on for several days, and as long as there is a minute chance, we will carry on.”

SINGAPORE: Believing that his company was raising funds for a "genuine" nickel trading scheme, an executive director said he invested more than S$20 million in the scheme. 

On Tuesday (Apr 1), Mr Lau Lee Sheng, who joined Envy Asset Management in 2016, told prosecutors that of the S$200 million (US$149 million) to S$210 million he was managing as of February 2021, S$26 million was his own. 

The company’s managing director, Ng Yu Zhi, is at the centre of an alleged billion-dollar nickel investment fraud case and is accused of duping 947 investors of almost S$1.5 billion, of which more than S$481 million was channelled to his personal bank accounts and used to finance his lavish lifestyle. 

CNA previously reported that he faces a total of 108 charges, of which 105 are before the High Court and three are before the State Courts.

For his trial at the High Court, which opened in November last year, prosecutors are proceeding on 42 charges. These are for 15 counts of forgery, 14 counts of handling benefits from criminal conduct, 10 counts of cheating, two counts of fraudulent trading and one count of criminal breach of trust.

The prosecution’s case is that Ng deceived investors that he was buying nickel at a discount and selling it for a sizeable profit through his companies, Envy Global Trading and Envy Asset Management.

The nickel investment scheme was initially offered through Envy Asset Management from February 2016 to March 2020, and thereafter through Envy Global Trading from April 2020 to March 2021. 

The prosecution said previously that it will lead evidence from 58 witnesses to make its case over more than 50 days of trial that have been scheduled.

“I TRUSTED NG AS A PERSON” 

On Tuesday, Mr Lau took the stand for the first time, with the prosecution asking him about how he came to know Ng and how he eventually joined the company.

The court heard that Mr Lau and Ng were former secondary school classmates who lost contact until late 2015, when they met up through a mutual friend.

Following Ng's advice, Mr Lau said he later invested S$50,000 in offshore drilling company Seadrill sometime in 2016, which did “very well”, going up by five to six times.

In February 2016, he learnt about nickel trading from Ng, who shared that the metal would be procured from a supplier and that Ng was doing crowdfunding to do the trade. 

Encouraged by the performance of his previous investments, Mr Lau decided to invest S$100,000 in the nickel scheme with his father. 

"I trusted Ng as a person, trusted his investment acumen. He seemed very successful at the time," he said. 

When the contract matured three months later, in May 2016, Mr Lau said he withdrew the money. 

Hoping to learn more about how the company operated, he joined the firm sometime in 2016, taking up a role in sales.

The court heard that Mr Lau's primary responsibility was to raise funds for the company.

As of February 2021 – when the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) commenced its investigations into Envy Global Trading – Mr Lau was managing about 30 investors, with at least half being his family members. 

During Tuesday's examination-in-chief, the prosecution presented key evidence relating to the alleged purchase of nickel. This included “distributorship agreements” between Ng’s companies and Poseidon Nickel Limited, as well as statements claiming to show transactions between Envy Asset Management and BNP Paribas. 

Sometime in the second half of 2018, Mr Lau began questioning Ng about the scheme as he had received critical questions from prospective investors, which he could not answer.

He also voiced concerns he had about the fund with Ng, saying there were “quite a few red flags”.

This included questions about the signatures on agreements, which appeared to be printed rather than freshly signed. 

“My investors are my immediate family, my friends, my close ones, so I’m always doing my utmost best to protect their interest and monies …so when these questions with regard to (the company’s) came up and I couldn’t answer them … it made me feel concerned to a very large extent because I had been raising a lot of funds for the company,” he said. 

However, Mr Lau said he often felt reassured by Ng’s explanations, and at times even felt like he was overstepping by asking these questions. 

Ng was arrested in February 2021 and charged with cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, fraudulent trading and money laundering.

On Tuesday, Mr Lau testified that Ng organised an “all-hands-on-deck” meeting shortly after being released on bail. This was attended by the senior management of all the company’s subsidiaries.

When Mr Lau asked Ng if the monies were in Singapore, Ng allegedly told him that approximately US$300 million was parked in an offshore Citibank UK account under the name of Envy Asset Management Trading. Separately, another US$60 million was said to be with a Hong Kong company called PPG Asia. 

Later, at a meeting with investors, Ng replied “very confidently” that there was more than enough to pay off the next tranche of returns to investors, said Mr Lau. 

“THE WORLD CAME CRASHING DOWN”

Towards the end of the examination-in-chief, which spanned nearly five hours, Mr Lau grew emotional as he described the financial toll the case has taken on him. 

He told the court that liquidators have commenced legal proceedings against the company’s ex-employees - including Mr Lau - seeking the return of commission they had earned. 

“If liquidators are successful, I will be bankrupt,” he said, adding that they are demanding he repay over S$17 million based on their accounting methodology.  

Mr Lau also said the case has affected his career: “Investors … don’t trust me. I lost their trust.” 

“I find it very hard to believe in documents these days, (it’s) so easy to use Photoshop to forge documents.” 

“Revisiting all this - all the lies and fraudulent documents - is traumatic,” he said, as tears welled up in his eyes.  

He shared that his father had invested about S$15 million to S$16 million, while his mother had put in a significant portion of her life savings - approximately S$500,000 - in the scheme.

“Two months after the investigation, (my mother) felt a lump in her chest. During that period, Mr Ng got arrested for forgery. That was when we realised everything was a fraud,” he said. 

“It was like the world came crashing down on me and my family.”

Mr Lau said his mother was later diagnosed with stage four cancer. 

Sitting in the dock, Ng appeared emotionless as he flipped through a stack of documents.

“Every year (between 2016 and 2021), Envy has always held annual meetings with investors. My family would always be there, thanking (Ng) for the profit he generated … I just find it very hard to believe,” he said.  

The trial continues on Wednesday, with the defence expected to cross-examine Lau. 

SINGAPORE: United Overseas Bank (UOB) will be cutting the interest rates for its flagship savings account from May 1 to “align with long-term interest rate environment expectations”.

The move comes hot on the heels of a similar move announced by OCBC last week.

Flagship savings accounts offered by banks typically provide tiered interest rates that go up as customers grow their account balance, spend a minimum on select cards and conduct other transactions with the bank such as taking up a housing loan.

In late 2022, the banks made aggressive hikes to the interest rates offered to savers in the midst of a rising rate environment.

However, that changed as expectations built up for central banks to start cutting rates, with UOB making the first move to trim interest rates last May.

With the latest move, the tiered interest rates for UOB One account holders with balances of up to S$150,000, credit their salary to the bank and meet a minimum spend of S$500 a month on an eligible bank card will range from 2.3 per cent to 5.3 per cent.

This translates to a maximum effective interest rate of 3.3 per cent, based on a notice posted on its website on Tuesday (Apr 1).

These rates are down from the current range of 3 per cent to 6 per cent, and a maximum effective interest rate of 4 per cent for the same qualifying conditions.

A downward revision in interest rates is also in store for OCBC’s 360 account holders from May 1.

In an email to customers on Mar 24, OCBC noted that “interest rates have been lower this past year” so it is making the changes to be “in line with prevailing market conditions”.

The change means that customers will earn a maximum effective interest rate of 6.3 per cent a year on the first S$100,000 in their account when they credit their salary, save, spend, as well as take up investment and insurance products with the bank.

This is down from the current 7.65 per cent.

For now, other banks have not announced any changes to their flagship savings accounts.

In response to CNA’s queries, DBS would only say that the bank “remains steadfast in (its) commitment to helping customers build and manage their wealth effectively”.

Currently, its Multiplier account offers a maximum interest rate of up to 4.1 per cent a year for the first S$100,000 in deposits, if customers credit their salary to the bank and transact in three categories with a total volume of S$30,000 or more a month.

However, one observer said that it might not be long before other banks follow suit, especially as the United States Federal Reserve is set to remain on a rate-cut trajectory.

Phillip Securities’ senior financial services manager Elijah Lee said: “I would expect most banks to be in line with each other as the market for customer deposits is quite competitive, that is why UOB made its own move to cut after OCBC's announcement.

“All it takes is one bank to make a major move and there's a strong chance that others will follow.”

With that, customers thinking of switching savings accounts should think twice.

“The rates could be cut further within a short time and account holders will have to go through the whole exercise of evaluating the best option again,” Mr Lee added.

The US Fed cut interest rates three times last year and is expected to do so again this year, especially as US President Donald Trump’s tariffs policies fuel the risk of a recession in the world’s largest economy.

The uncertainty of further tariffs that could be imposed on more countries have already jolted markets and hammered equities across the board this week.

Mr Lee also said: “Trump’s tariff plans definitely have kept the market on edge and with plans for him to announce more tariffs, depending on the scale and severity of the tariffs, the pace of the rate cuts may be sped up if markets react negatively.”

Goldman Sachs' analysts have raised their 12-month recession probability for the US economy from 20 per cent to 35 per cent. They also see the Fed cutting rates in July, September and November, as opposed to earlier bets on two cuts this year and one in 2026.

Swiss private bank Julius Baer’s chief economist David Kohl said: “Higher tariffs have a tax-like effect on incomes and hence on US (economic) growth. And tighter financial conditions due to market jitters add another headwind to growth.”

Julius Baer has lowered its 2025 growth forecast for the US to 2 per cent, alongside a slight increase in the country’s unemployment rate to 4.4 per cent by the end of the year.

Mr Kohl added that tariffs will likely push up inflation to 3.5 per cent this year, but the Fed is set to “ignore the temporary increase” and cut rates in response to a cooling labour market.

SINGAPORE: Some vehicle rental firms are seeing about 30 per cent more business this Hari Raya, compared to last year.

Big families are also renting more SUVs and small buses to make their visits together, amid higher Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices and private transportation costs.

Ms Nuraini Kamilah, for instance, has rented a 23-seater bus as her extended family will be making 12 different stops amid the festivities.

"When we have different cars driving together, sometimes we will arrive faster than the rest, sometimes later than the rest, and then we need to coordinate," she said.

“This year we just want to have everybody in one bus. It's very convenient."

SAVING TIME AND MONEY

Mr Jitesh Dhillon, director and owner of bus rental firm Singapore Bus Charter, said the number of rentals has gone up about 30 per cent. His whole fleet was fully booked over Hari Raya, and demand remains high for weekends for the rest of April.

“This year, demand is quite high, (compared) to last year… all of them want to be together in one place, and they want to travel together. Hence, I think this would be a more viable option for them," he said.

Some car rental firms told CNA that they had to activate their standby cars for the holiday. 

Car rental agency Ride Now said that their rentals have become more popular amid rising COE prices.

"So usually, we have the bookings two months in advance, but this year, we are seeing the bookings come in earlier, like three to four months. They were already inquiring for Hari Raya (months ahead)," said the firm's sales manager Travis Seah.

Families told CNA that high costs for fuel, parking and maintenance have driven them from car ownership towards renting on an ad-hoc basis.

Larger SUVs are the most popular rental choice during the Hari Raya holiday, followed by regular sedans.

"I think the cost of transportation right now definitely is higher, and it's a public holiday, so definitely the cost is higher if we (use public transport)," said car renter Huda Ibrahim.

"And we have to go to different places…so it will (also) ease the time factor for us," she said.

ORDERING FESTIVE FEASTS

Meanwhile, festive catering orders during the Hari Raya period have jumped by as much as 35 per cent compared to last year as more people - especially young families - chose to skip the hassle of cooking.

Nazreen Catering, for instance, has served up to 7,000 people daily, about 30 to 35 per cent more than last year. 

The catering service, which specialises in Biryani Dum, expects the higher demand to last for the next three weeks.

Despite the higher workload, the company has kept to the usual 10 workers daily, its operations manager Mohammad Jameel K Jamaludeen said.

The increase in demand comes as more families prefer to order festive feasts instead of sweating it out in the kitchen.

Some seniors who in the past insisted on cooking for the family said they are now happy to outsource it.

"It's just too tiring and taxing for them to be doing the cooking on their own for 30 or 40 over people. It's quite difficult for them at their age," said customer Shafik Yusope, adding he is willing to spend on reliable and familiar caterers.

Another F&B business Aspirasi Food Galore and Catering, which has been serving its signature chicken rice for over 20 years, said that its delivery sales have doubled this period. 

Customers have even been willing to self-collect at its physical outlets when it reaches maximum capacity for deliveries, the establishment added.

However, it noted that fewer people are dining out at its stalls and overall sales have fallen about 20 per cent, compared to last year.

Still, demand for deliveries remains high and the firm expects the trend to last for the entire month, especially on weekends.

"In previous years, mostly people would come out and bring their family, but now (they) seldom (do that)," said owner Zainuddin Sajat, who hopes to add festive lighting and even buskers to attract more foot traffic to his stalls in the future.

“This year, I can see that (they mostly pack to go).”

SINGAPORE: Over the Hari Raya weekend, more fresh faces with potential political aspirations were seen engaging with residents across Singapore – a sign that preparations for the upcoming General Election are gaining pace. 

The Elections Department announced last Thursday (Mar 27) that the election expense limit has been raised from S$4 to S$5 per voter. It also confirmed the designation of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) where candidates from Malay, Indian or other minority communities are required.

In this fifth instalment of CNA's ongoing series on potential candidates, we spotlight several individuals who were seen engaging with voters across the island.

Dinesh Vasu Dash (PAP)

Just days after stepping down as CEO of the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash was seen at a mosque visit on Monday (Mar 31) with People's Action Party (PAP) ministers and MPs.

He joined Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong at Al-Ansar Mosque in Chai Chee, according to the Straits Times.

AIC said that during his tenure, Mr Dinesh drove major initiatives such as the Healthier SG and Age Well SG programmes, and oversaw the integration of the Council for Third Age into AIC.

Prior to that, he was a group director at the Ministry of Health (MOH). The 50-year-old former civil servant received the Public Service Star (COVID-19) for leading Singapore's vaccination push during the pandemic.

Before joining MOH, Mr Dinesh was in the Singapore Armed Forces for more than 20 years.

Syed Harun Alhabsyi (PAP)

Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, a psychiatrist and former Nominated Member of Parliament, has been increasingly visible in Nee Soon GRC, often appearing alongside Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam.

He was present with Nee Soon MPs when Mr Shanmugam gave media interviews last Thursday and on Monday. The minister told reporters that Dr Harun has been "walking the ground very actively".

Dr Harun said: “In recent weeks, I have been at Nee Soon to be able to see some of the challenges, as well as learn from minister, (Minister of State) Faishal as well as the other MPs on some of the issues in the community."

The 39-year-old is the medical director of The Starfish Clinic of Psychiatry & Mental Wellness. He stepped down from his NMP role in February, amid speculation about his candidacy under the PAP banner.

Elmie Nekmat (PAP)

Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, 42, was out and about in Sengkang GRC on Sunday to distribute teddy bears to residents at Rivervale Shores.

The branch chair for Sengkang Central is an associate professor of communications and new media in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore.

He has been a PAP activist since 2016 and sits on a number of boards and councils, including the Singapore Sports Council, the National Library and the Media Literacy Council.

He is also an adviser to the Young PAP and assistant secretary in the PAP's Malay Affairs Bureau.

Dr Elmie and his Sengkang teammates have been walking the ground in the ward since 2022, and are seeking to regain the GRC from the Workers' Party.

Hazlina Abdul Halim (PAP)

Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, 40, was recently seen in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC with Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and other MPs. She was also spotted on Monday with PAP ministers and MPs during a mosque visit in Chai Chee.

She has been helping out MP Tin Pei Ling in MacPherson SMC, a ward which has been subsumed into Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC after recent electoral boundary changes.

Mdm Hazlina, who spent 15 years in media and journalism, was a radio and TV presenter and news editor at Mediacorp. 

The former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore was also the president of Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS) or Singapore Muslim Women's Association from 2020 to 2024.

Jimmy Tan (WP)

Mr Tan is currently the legislative assistant of WP chief Pritam Singh. 

He previously supported former WP candidates Nathaniel Koh and Fadli Fawzi in their outreach activities in Marine Parade GRC. Both Mr Koh and Mr Fadli were part of WP’s slate contesting the GRC at the last General Election.

The 53-year-old has been seen at several of the party’s walkabouts over the past year. 

He has been spotted at WP's Hammer newsletter outreach activities in Tampines, alongside potential new faces such as Andre Low, amid speculation that the party will contest the constituency this election. 

Based on his LinkedIn profile, Mr Tan is a sales manager at industrial equipment provider Immanuel Engineering.

Lawrence Pek (PSP)

Mr Pek, a business executive and former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, has been actively engaging with residents under the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) banner.

On Mar 23, he was seen walking with PSP founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock at 505 Jurong West Market and Food Centre – an area now part of the new West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

He was also photographed handing out flyers at Plantation Plaza in Tengah, which is part of Choa Chu Kang GRC, on Mar 29. Mr Pek has said on his social media account that PSP has maintained a steady ground presence in Tengah for over a year.

On LinkedIn, he is listed as the CEO of Shenzhen Guard Technology, which produces radar sensors and Internet of Things routers, and the general manager of camera technology firm Bolin Technology.

The Department of History at the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) announced on Tuesday (Apr 1) that it will increase the prize money for the upcoming edition of its NUS Singapore History Prize, amongst other changes.

The award, announced every three years, honours works that delve into the history of Singapore, and is financed by an anonymous donor.

The winner of the next iteration of the NUS Singapore History Prize in 2027 will be awarded S$100,000.

This is a S$50,000 increase from the 2024 NUS Singapore History Prize which was awarded to educator Khir Johari for his book The Food Of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through The Archipelago.

The 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize will, for the first time, recognise a non-print media work that dives into Singapore’s history. These include films, documentaries, theatre and more.

Future editions of the NUS Singapore History Prize will then alternate between books and non-print media works every three years.

In a statement, Associate Professor Joey Long, head of the FASS Department of History, said: “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 jury panel for the award will be chaired by veteran diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute, Kishore Mahbubani.

“Thanks to our donor who has doubled the prize money and encouraged the creation of a new category, Singaporeans will be able to engage more deeply with their rich history,” said Mahbubani.

“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.”

Nominations are open for works delivered in English, including those that were translated into the language. These works should address Singaporean history, with the goal of providing new insights or new ways of exciting the imagination of Singaporeans.

There will be no limitations on the date of production of these works.

Interested applicants can submit a maximum of three works by May 31, 2027.

Dinosaurs will soon roam the misty landscapes of Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay when Jurassic World: The Experience opens on May 29. 

Iconic moments from the Jurassic World film franchise will be brought to life through interactive exhibitions and life-sized animatronic and sculpted dinosaurs amidst the lush foliage.

Be greeted by an 8.5m tall Brachiosaurus (that's almost three storeys high) as you enter the Cloud Forest. Then prepare yourself for an encounter with a Tyrannosaurus rex and some face-to-face interaction with baby dinosaurs in the Petting Zoo area.

Venture back to a time before the age of dinosaurs at Evolution Walk, an experience exclusive to Singapore, featuring reconstructions of ancient plants that have become extinct, in an eye-opening showcase of how plants have evolved. Here, visitors can learn about ancient plant species that existed long before the emergence of those that bear flowers. 

Housing more than 72,000 plants, the Cloud Forest has more than 50 species with lineages that can be traced back to the Jurassic period, such as ferns, cycads and conifers, which once thrived alongside dinosaurs and even served as food for them, Gardens by the Bay said in a press release on Tuesday (May 1). 

Visitors can also learn more about how these plants continue to thrive today and understand the intricate connections between past and present ecosystems.

Chief executive officer of Gardens by the Bay, Felix Loh, said: “Following the highly successful Avatar: The Experience in 2023, Cloud Forest will once again play host to another immersive blockbuster show as part of Gardens by the Bay’s SG60 offerings.

“Besides life-sized dinosaurs roaming the mist-shrouded landscape, which will captivate visitors of all ages, what sets Gardens by the Bay’s edition apart is a world-first educational showcase. Here, visitors will learn how prehistoric ecosystems once shaped our planet within the setting of a Cloud Forest, and the fascinating way plants have evolved through millions of years from the Jurassic period.” 

Visit JurassicWorldExperience.sg for more information.