SINGAPORE: A 17-year-old teenager has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of armed robbery, police said on Friday evening (Dec 19).

At about 10.35pm on Thursday, the police were alerted to a case of armed robbery along Jurong West Street 93.

The teenager had allegedly swung a karambit towards the victim and demanded that he hand over his mobile phone and gold ring.

He was arrested within 10 hours, said police, adding that the stolen items and the weapon used were recovered and seized as case exhibits.

The teenager will be charged in court on Saturday with armed robbery. If found guilty, he faces a jail term of between five and 20 years, and at least 12 strokes of the cane.

"The police will not tolerate such brazen acts of crime and will spare no effort to apprehend such offenders and deal with them in accordance with the law."

SINGAPORE: A 36-year-old woman was jailed for 12 weeks on Friday (Dec 19) after pleading guilty to bigamy, which is illegal in Singapore.

Vietnamese national Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy also lied to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that she did not have children. This charge was taken into consideration for sentencing.

In 2008, when Nguyen was 19, she married a 54-year-old Singaporean man who was 35 years her senior. Their marriage was registered in Singapore.

Sometime around 2012, Nguyen returned to Vietnam for medical treatment.

While there, she met and started a romantic relationship with a Vietnamese man three years older than her.

Nguyen largely stayed in Vietnam during this time.

She and the Vietnamese man knew that they would not be able to register a marriage in Singapore as Nguyen had a husband there.

But as Nguyen was already pregnant with the man's child, they went ahead and registered their marriage in Vietnam on Jul 28, 2015.

After that, Nguyen continued to stay in Vietnam and would only come to Singapore to renew her long-term visit pass application.

In 2016, she came to Singapore to initiate a divorce with the Singaporean man. Their marriage was dissolved on Nov 3, 2017.

Her second marriage was dissolved in Vietnam on Mar 9, 2018.

Court documents did not contain details on how the bigamous marriage was discovered by authorities.

The prosecution sought three months' jail for Nguyen.

Nguyen, who did not have a lawyer, cried as she spoke to the court through an interpreter.

She said she was now a single mother of a 10-year-old boy who needed her around to care for him.

She also said her family faced difficulties as her father suffers from partial paralysis and her mother is elderly.

"I'm the pillar of strength in the family, (to) take care of my family financially and emotionally," she said.

"So I hope for leniency not only to take care of my son but to take care of my parents as well."

The judge said he would give Nguyen a slightly lighter sentence than what the prosecution had asked for.

Bigamy carries a punishment of up to seven years in jail and a fine.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man suspected of being involved in money laundering offences linked to Cambodia's Prince Holding Group was arrested on Dec 11.

In response to CNA's queries, the police said on Friday (Dec 19) that Nigel Tang Wan Bao Nabil was arrested on his return to Singapore and that he is suspected to be involved in money laundering offences linked to Chen Zhi, the founder and chairman of Prince Group, and the companies associated with him.

"Police investigations are ongoing."

Tang, 32, was the captain of a superyacht owned by Chen, the Business Times reported.

Chen is a British-Cambodian tycoon accused of running forced labour camps in Cambodia used as multi-billion dollar scam centres. He has been indicted in the United States.

Washington has said that Prince Group served as a front for "one of Asia's largest transnational criminal organisations".

The multinational conglomerate boasts over US$2 billion worth of projects in Cambodia, including a large shopping mall, Prince Plaza, in the capital Phnom Penh.

Prince Group has denied the allegations.

Tang was one of three Singaporeans sanctioned in October by the US Treasury Department for their ties to Chen.

In late October, Singapore police said they had seized more than US$115 million in assets tied to Chen following raids on multiple locations in the city-state.

Chen allegedly directed operations of forced labour compounds across Cambodia, where hundreds of trafficked workers were held in prison-like facilities surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, according to US prosecutors.

Under threat of violence, they were forced to execute so-called "pig butchering" scams - cryptocurrency investment schemes that build trust with victims over time before stealing their funds, according to the US Department of Justice. 

Since around 2015, Prince Group has operated across more than 30 countries under the guise of legitimate real estate, financial services and consumer businesses, the prosecutors said.

Proceeds were laundered in part through the Prince Group's own gambling and cryptocurrency mining operations.

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong will be on leave from Dec 20 to Dec 31, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Friday (Dec 19).

During this period, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will be Acting Prime Minister.

SINGAPORE: The K-pop dance performances that transformed Marina Bay Sands' outdoor fountain area into a weekend spectacle have come to an end, leaving dancers searching for new places to practise their craft.

The integrated resort introduced restrictions in August requiring prior approval for all choreographed performances and filming on its premises, following a surge in requests from dance groups, a spokesperson said in response to CNA queries.

The bowl-shaped fountain near the promenade had become an unofficial performance venue where K-pop dance cover crews would gather on weekends.

The iconic backdrop made it particularly attractive for dancers creating content in the "K-pop in Public" style – a global trend where performers recreate official music video choreography in public spaces.

“We thought it was already becoming something like street busking, like a tourist attraction,” said Ms Jasmine Ng, 26, a member of Z-Axis Dance Crew, one of Singapore's most prominent K-pop cover groups with over 300,000 YouTube subscribers.

THE NEW RULES

Marina Bay Sands now evaluates performance requests based on several criteria: whether groups require extensive setups with professional lighting and equipment, potential disruption to tenants and visitors, obstruction of walkways and access points, and the likelihood of drawing large crowds.

All performances also require an arts entertainment licence.

“While we appreciate the growing interest and participation within the local community, we remain mindful that these are shared public spaces intended for the enjoyment of all,” a spokesperson said.

Members of the dance community first learnt about the changes several months ago when a fan who was filming performances was told by security to leave. Word quickly spread among videographers who work with the dance crews. 

Ms Ng said she was "a bit disheartened" by the new rules.

"Even the online comments ... they are also asking us to go back to our previous filming location. I think the audience really liked what we were doing when we were filming there," she said.

Ms Renee Han, a 25-year-old dance instructor also with Z-Axis, expressed disappointment but acknowledged it was Marina Bay Sands' prerogative. "They are within their rights to do that. They own the place," she said.

Many Z-Axis dancers have been performing in public spaces for a long time and are accustomed to "getting chased out", she added. "We take it in stride. We’re appreciative that they let us use it for so long.

"For me, I just enjoy dancing with my friends, and whether or not the location draws a huge crowd it’s just a plus for me."

At its peak, four to five different crews would perform at the fountain. Dancers said they understood the new rules were partly to address crowd control concerns in the busy area.

Ms Chong Yuki, 24, of Roxo Crew acknowledged the practical challenges that came with the fountain's popularity, as dance groups' lighting equipment and the crowds they attracted could obstruct tourists visiting the fountain and light show. 

“There are a lot of people who want to walk around, and because we place all the lights there, it can block people’s way. When I saw that there’s too many groups, I would feel a bit paiseh,” she said, using the Singlish term expressing embarrassment.

THE SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES

Finding replacement venues has proven challenging. Most locations require permits or licences that take time to secure, and some spaces are only available for rent at rates hobbyist dancers cannot afford.

"It’s very troublesome for us to find other places because everywhere in Singapore, you’ll need to apply for a permit or licence to film," said Ms Pearly Wong, 28, also from Roxo Crew. "It was only MBS that allowed us to film without worrying so far."

The displacement has created new tensions among the groups. Ms Chong said the Marina Bay Sands area had felt like a gathering spot for a "wholesome, very happy" community. The dance crews would sometimes collaborate and cheer each other on, she said.

“Now ... everyone has to snatch the spots. Sometimes, it’s difficult to avoid some drama,” she said, noting that disagreements have arisen over sharing videographers or why some groups received approval to use some spaces while others did not.

Some groups have found success with alternative locations. Roxo Crew has received approval from the Urban Redevelopment Authority to film at a nearby outdoor spot near Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beers, while Z-Axis now has a permit to perform at Bugis Junction near the mall's fountain. 

Ms Han noted that crowds watching Z-Axis performances have grown significantly since the crew's early days – it used to be fewer than 10 people, including dancers, a videographer and a few friends.

Now, the group can draw crowds exceeding 100 people during festive periods, Ms Ng said.

TOURISM OPPORTUNITY?

Despite the complications, dancers believe public K-pop performances could benefit Singapore's tourism industry. They point to how international dance crews film at iconic landmarks – the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Times Square in New York – as a way to showcase their home cities.

“I thought MBS could be the Singapore one, it's like, a good way to recognise where each group is from,” Ms Han said. She suggested that allowing crews to rotate weekend performance slots could be a compromise.

Ms Jesslyn Khoo, 28, who filmed a video of herself and 24 other dancers covering Blackpink member Jennie’s hit Like Jennie at the Marina Bay Sands fountain earlier this year, said the content provides valuable publicity for Singapore.

The government should do away with having to apply for permits because dance crews help attract tourists to Singapore, since public K-pop performances are gaining traction internationally, she added.

“People will always know this is the place where you can watch K-pop group covers. Now you ask, where’s the next place? I have no idea.” 

SINGAPORE: Three former members of a preschool's senior management admitted on Friday (Dec 19) to covering up the offences of a cook who molested toddlers at the preschool where they all worked.

The cook, 61-year-old Teo Guan Huat, had molested three toddlers during naptime over seven months in 2023. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than nine years' jail last month.

The three members of senior management were the 59-year-old executive director, 61-year-old principal and 49-year-old vice-principal of the preschool.

All three failed to report Teo's acts and conspired to reformat a closed-circuit television camera that contained incriminating footage. The executive director and vice-principal also conspired to delete video evidence of the acts.

Their names and the name of the preschool where they worked cannot be published due to a gag order protecting the identities of the victims, who were between one and two years old at the time of the offences.

The executive director and vice-principal each pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiring to obstruct justice. Two other charges for obstructing justice and failing to report Teo's offences will be considered in sentencing.

The principal pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to report Teo's offences. Another charge of conspiring to obstruct justice will be taken into consideration.

Sentencing was adjourned to Jan 19, 2026.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Claire Poh and Quek Lu Yi are seeking at least three months' jail for the executive director, at least two months' jail for the vice-principal and a fine of at least S$8,000 (US$6,200) for the principal.

Defence lawyers are asking for 10 to 12 weeks' jail for the executive director, six to eight weeks' jail for the vice-principal and an S$8,000 fine for the principal.

Teo had deliberately targeted young children because they could not speak out about his actions, Ms Poh noted.

"As adults who had access to the CCTV footage, the accused persons were the only ones in a position to speak out for these voiceless victims by reporting to the police," she told the court.

The offences were inadvertently discovered by the vice-principal on Nov 16, 2023 when she was reviewing CCTV footage for an unrelated matter.

She saw Teo inserting his hand under the diaper of a two-year-old girl on Nov 9, 2023.

Teo had worked for the school for about a year at the time.

Apart from his duties as a cook, he escorted the children to another teacher for showers and helped take care of them at naptime. He would help lay out mattresses in the nap room and pat the children to sleep.

DECISION TO COVER UP

At the time the footage was discovered, the executive director and principal were overseas attending a course on protecting children from abuse.

The vice-principal sent the executive director the footage over WhatsApp, and she viewed it together with the principal. The trio then had a video call to discuss what to do.

The vice-principal and executive director then conspired to delete the footage from their phones.

The vice-principal was supposed to join them overseas for the course on Nov 17, 2023. She was instructed to delay her flight to later that day so that she could instruct Teo not to go near any children and monitor him while he worked.

The trio returned from the course a day early to deal with the matter. When they met back in Singapore on Nov 21, 2023, they decided to raise the matter to the chairwoman of the school's management committee.

This meeting took place on Nov 22, 2023 and lasted about an hour. During the meeting, the chairwoman was informed of Teo's acts for the first time.

The vice-principal used her phone to show the CCTV footage, and the executive director sought the chairwoman's decision on whether to report the matter to the police.

The executive director said there would be implications on the preschool if a police report was made: parents and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) would have to be informed, and the police would interview the staff about how long the acts had been going on.

The executive director further said that the victim was asleep and may not have suffered any impact from Teo's acts as the girl was not aware of them.

She suggested settling the matter quietly by asking Teo to resign, instead of reporting it to the police.

When the chairwoman asked if the victim's parents needed to be informed, the executive director said if they were, then the school would have to manage their reaction as well as the reaction of other parents.

She said that the good name of the preschool would be tarnished and that it was likely many parents would withdraw their children from the preschool.

She added that the school may have to close down if the matter got out of control, and again said that the victim was not really affected by the acts.

The chairwoman asked if there was no impact on the victim.

She also questioned whether they would want to cover up the issue as Teo, a Malaysian, was a Singapore permanent resident, and terminating his employment did not prevent him from continuing to work in Singapore and committing similar offences in the future.

The vice-principal said that the impact on the victims and parents would be worse if the matter was reported to the police than if it was settled quietly.

The chairwoman said Teo's acts could still be registered in the victim's memory and if there were adverse effects, it was best for there to be early intervention.

The vice-principal then said that if she were the mother of the girl, she would rather not know what Teo had done to her.

The principal, who had broken down in tears, said that she did not want the children to be withdrawn from school and acknowledged a lapse on the preschool's part.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to monitor Teo as the chairwoman needed time to make a decision.

The next day, Nov 23, 2023, the chairwoman told them she had decided not to make a police report and to dismiss Teo. She would then consider the case closed.

The executive director, principal, vice-principal and a fourth staff member present all agreed with this decision. The vice-principal also asked if a non-disclosure agreement was needed, but the chairwoman showed some reluctance.

Later that day, the executive director spoke to Teo and gave him a choice of resigning or being fired. He chose to resign.

The trio considered the matter closed, with the executive director sending a message to their chat group reading: "Hopefully and prayerfully the issue is closed and we learn from this."

Safeguarding policies of the preschool made it clear that individual staff members should inform the police if there was abuse by a staff member, and that they could report the matter directly to the police without the approval of management, if required by the law.

REFORMATTING OF CCTV SYSTEM

Following this, the chairwoman of the school's management committee had another discussion with leaders and changed her mind – she decided the matter had to be reported to the police.

She informed the executive director of this in a text message on the evening of Nov 24, 2023, and the message was passed to the principal and vice-principal.

The trio agreed to tender their resignations, as they had earlier discussed, because they did not feel they would be able to cope with the fallout of the revelations.

The executive director and vice-principal also raised the possibility that the chairwoman might change her mind about reporting if they all resigned together.

In a discussion that did not involve the principal, the executive director and vice-principal also discussed whether the CCTV footage could be overwritten. The executive director sent links to YouTube videos for how to do this.

On the morning of Nov 26, 2023, the trio met in the office and printed their resignation letters.

There, the executive director pressured the principal to agree to overwrite or delete the incriminating CCTV footage.

The vice-principal then reformatted the hard discs of the CCTV system on the executive director's instruction.

They then went to their meeting with the chairwoman, who confirmed her intention to report the matter to the police. The meeting ended when the principal started crying and hyperventilating, and an ambulance had to be called for her.

The police report was made on Dec 2, 2023, and Teo was arrested on Dec 4, 2023.

When police raided the preschool and checked the CCTV system, all three of its hard discs had been reformatted. The police forensic team managed to recover the footage, including the video of Teo's acts on Nov 9, 2023.

ECDA fined the preschool S$26,200, restricted new enrolments and shortened its licence tenure from 36 months to six months.

ECDA also took action against four members of the preschool's management, and had barred three of them from working in the preschool sector since April 2024.

All four staff members have been removed from their posts by the preschool's operator, the authority previously said.

"This case is illustrative of the many reasons why an early childhood educator may shun away from reporting sexual abuse cases involving their charges under their care," the prosecutors said in written submissions to the court.

"Amongst them are the inability to account for the management's lapses (in this case, failing to ensure that a male cook does not come into contact with female children) and the stress that will ensue from the fallout of such a report being made.

"From these reasons emerges a strong tendency to justify one's failure to report. However, none of these reasons are valid excuses."

SINGAPORE: Residential electricity consumers on automatic contract renewals will get better protection from Jun 19, 2026, including a longer fee waiver period for early termination and stricter notification requirements for retailers, said the Energy Market Authority (EMA) on Friday (Dec 19).

Currently, electricity retailers can offer electricity contracts that will be automatically renewed when they expire, with predetermined terms similar to those under existing contracts and without requiring a new application.

Under existing rules, EMA requires these retailers to:

• Notify the consumers about the upcoming auto-renewal of their electricity contracts at least 10 business days before contract expiry
• Set the rate of the auto-renewed contract at no higher than the current regulated tariff for consumers buying electricity from public utility company SP Group
• Waive any early termination fee within the first 30 days of the auto-renewal

However, EMA said it received feedback from residential consumers that they had missed the retailers' notifications informing them of upcoming automatic contract renewals.

When they realised the auto-renewal had been done, it was after the 30-day window. This meant that they had to pay early termination fees if they wanted to end the renewed contracts.

In 2024, about 45,000 residential electricity contracts were auto-renewed – about 15 per cent of residential annual renewals.

After consultations with electricity retailers, EMA will introduce the following new requirements for retailers from Jun 19, 2026:

• Notify residential consumers twice, instead of once, about the upcoming auto-renewal of their contracts. The first notification must be sent at least 10 business days before contract expiry and the second must be sent within three days before or on the day of the auto-renewal
• The notifications must be sent via mail communication (email or postal mail) and mobile communication (such as SMS, WhatsApp or via the retailer’s mobile application)
• Waive any early termination fee for residential consumers within the first 60 days of the auto-renewal, instead of 30 days

These new requirements will not apply to consumers buying electricity at the regulated tariff from SP Group, said EMA.

"These enhancements are aimed at ensuring residential consumers have clear and timely information before their electricity contracts are auto-renewed," said EMA CEO Puah Kok Keong.

"This will empower them to better assess their electricity purchase options and choose their preferred electricity plans."  

EMA said it will continue to monitor and review its regulatory requirements to protect consumer interests while promoting transparency and fair competition in the electricity market.

SINGAPORE: Scammers, as well as recruiters and members of scam syndicates, will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes under amendments to Singapore's criminal law set to take effect on Dec 30.

The additional punishment, aimed at increasing deterrence against such crimes, has a maximum penalty of 24 strokes of the cane, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday (Dec 19). 

"Fighting scams is a top national priority. The number of scam cases and scam losses remain concerning," MHA said.

Scam mules who enable scammers by laundering scam proceeds, providing SIM cards or giving up their Singpass credentials will face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes. 

The discretionary caning will apply if the offender knew or intended for their actions to be used to commit or facilitate scams. 

It will also apply if the enabler was used in a scam, the offender knew or had reason to believe that it would be used for a crime and they did not take reasonable steps to ensure that it would not be used to commit or facilitate the commission of a scam. 

Offenders under section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating cases that are not scams will also be liable for discretionary caning of up to 24 strokes, said MHA. 

"This recognises that there are egregious traditional cheating cases that could also warrant caning as a sentencing option."

The new penalties are part of amendments introduced under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025, which was passed by parliament last month.

The amendments "ensure that our criminal laws remain effective, fair, and responsive to emerging challenges", MHA said on Friday.

During the Bill’s second reading on Nov 4, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann referred to scams as "the most prevalent crime type" in Singapore today.

About 190,000 scam cases were reported between 2020 and the first half of 2025, with losses amounting to about S$3.7 billion (US$2.8 billion).

Scams constitute 60 per cent of all reported crimes, said Ms Sim, likening the amount lost to more than three-and-a-half times the cost of building Woodlands Health Campus.

The government will continue monitoring the situation and further increase penalties if necessary, she said during the reading.

OLDER YOUTH OFFENDERS 

Cases involving youth offenders aged 16 to under 18 will soon be heard in the youth courts, MHA added.

This comes after amendments to the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) in 2019. They will be operationalised by the Ministry of Social and Family Development from Dec 30.

“Further amendments to the CYPA and amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 introduced by the Act will also come into effect on Dec 30,” said MHA. 

“Together, these amendments will allow cases involving older youths who are repeat offenders or who commit certain serious crimes, such as serious sexual offences, unlicensed moneylending and drug trafficking, to be transmitted to the State Courts or High Court, where they can receive adequately deterrent sentences, such as imprisonment, reformative training, and caning, where appropriate" 

MHA said the amendments “strike a balance” between expanding rehabilitation options for youth offenders and ensuring adequate penalties for older youth offenders who are repeat offenders or who commit certain serious crimes. 

SINGAPORE: A silent line of healthcare staff forms along a hospital corridor as a patient who has been certified brain-dead is wheeled towards the operating theatre.

There, their organs will be retrieved to give others a new lease of life.

This solemn procession, known as an honour walk, offers a final tribute to organ donors – and support for their grieving loved ones.

Such gestures highlight the deep respect afforded to donors, said Ms Sally Kong, deputy director of the National Organ Transplant Unit (NOTU). 

“I think the families have reacted very positively to this, because they can see how much (the) donation is being valued and (they) are being cared for at the time when they are hurting the most,” she added. 

Singapore faces a persistent shortage of organs for transplant.

More than 500 patients are currently on the waiting list for vital organs, with kidney patients facing the most acute shortage.

Only 10 per cent of those on the transplant waiting list received a transplant last year. As of end-2024, the average wait has stretched to nine years. This was due to the small pool of eventual deceased organ donors, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

While a single donor can save up to seven lives, the annual number of deceased donors remains in the low double digits, according to data from the ministry.

Each donation requires fast, tightly coordinated work across multiple hospital units – all while ensuring the donor’s and family’s wishes are respected.

HOW ORGAN DONATION WORKS

Organ donation in Singapore is governed by two legal frameworks.

The Human Organ Transplant Act covers the kidneys, heart, liver and corneas. It applies to all Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 21 and above who are not mentally disordered, unless they have opted out.

Those who opt out will have a lower priority on waiting lists if they need an organ transplant in the future. Opt-out rates have stayed stable at 3 per cent annually.

The second framework is the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act. It allows all nationalities aged 18 and above to pledge additional organs, tissues or even their whole body for transplant, education or research.

On average, about 800 people have made such pledges every year for the past five years.

However, organ donation may not work out for various reasons, including unsuitable conditions or the absence of consent from a donor’s next-of-kin under the Medical Act, said MOH.

Last year, 16 patients with end-stage kidney failure did not receive a transplant because organ donation could not proceed.

“This underscores the importance of having timely conversations and making one’s organ donation preferences known, so that our loved ones are able to make informed decisions with clarity and confidence,” added an MOH spokesperson.

Ms Kong said having such a conversation is “indeed very sensitive and very challenging”, both for family members and the healthcare team.

She recounted a situation where a donor’s son was doubtful about whether his mother truly understood the laws and willingly consented to donating her organs.

The team acknowledged that it was a very difficult time for the family and supported him along the process, she added.

For families suddenly confronted with loss, such support can make the difference between clarity and uncertainty.

“At the end of it, he found comfort that his mother's action could impact so many lives, because it was not just the recipients but also the family's lives that the mother had saved in a way,” Ms Kong added.

“After the donation, he expressed gratitude to the team for being there for him, caring for the family and also caring for their mother, and he invited the team to the wake (where) he proudly shared with the attendees how (his) mother's gift left a lasting legacy.”

Healthcare workers now undergo regular training on how to navigate such conversations as part of end-of-life care. 

MOH also runs the Live On campaign to foster broader discussions and awareness about organ donation in Singapore. 

Those interested in making their wishes known can log in to the Organ Donor Registry with Singpass to update their donor status. 

BRAIN DONATIONS

As for brain donations, they are are currently managed by both NOTU and Brain Bank Singapore – the first tissue bank in Southeast Asia dedicated to the repository of human brain tissue to study various neurological disorders. 

Some questions have been raised about the separate registries, but MOH said there are no plans for a single national registry consolidating organ, body and brain donations.

This came after Dr Choo Pei Ling, a neuroscientist and Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC, filed a parliamentary question last month calling for such a registry.

MOH cited established processes and coordination between existing registries.

In response, Dr Choo told CNA she raised the question after residents told her the system feels complex, and that she appreciates MOH’s safeguards.

She also acknowledged that the differing organs require distinct expertise and protocols.

“There is an information and knowledge asymmetry between the public and the Ministry. Addressing it can foster better understanding and encourage more Singaporeans to pledge the gift of life,” she added.

Most of us know Zermatt Neo as one of Singapore’s top competitive eaters and a familiar face on YouTube. But did you know that before becoming a full-time content creator, he was a personal trainer and dietitian? Oh, the irony.

The 38-year-old first stumbled into competitive eating after a dare from a gym buddy.

A lover of hawker and street food, Neo now creates content centred on supersized eating challenges and travel food adventures.

Over the years, he’s taken on mind-boggling portions, from 7.89kg of fried rice in 30 minutes to 21 bowls of beef noodles in 15 minutes. To keep to his lean 67kg frame, he works out six to seven days a week and follows 18- to 24-hour intermittent fasts.

Neo recently hopped onto Reddit for an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on r/SingaporeEats, where he answered netizens’ burning questions on everything from his food challenges to his workout routines, and even his, um, post-challenge toilet situation.

For Zermatt Neo, the toughest challenges aren’t always the biggest ones. Protein-heavy or processed foods like pizzas, hamburgers and steak are his real kryptonite.

He can polish off 8kg to 9kg for rice and noodles, but for extremely meaty items, 6kg to 7kg is his limit.

Was there ever a time he ate until he felt like dying?

“All the time,” he replied. “For shoots that I push myself, I tend to be suffering towards the end.”

When one netizen asked if he’d ever had a dangerous or unexpected physical reaction, Neo revealed a story that made us wince.

Many years ago, he attempted a burger way beyond his comfortable limit, and his “stomach got distended it crushed [his] pancreas.”

He ended up in the ER, was warded for three days, and spent two weeks recovering from pancreatitis.

His own summary: “Insane.”

The most upvoted question of the night? Whether he gets stomach issues like acid reflux from eating too much.

Surprisingly, no. Just cramps, if he goes “beyond a certain threshold."

As for the TMI question about what happens in the bathroom after challenges, Neo says it’s pretty “average”.  

“I typically go up to three to four times a day after a food challenge,” he shared.

And when a netizen prepping for a Christmas buffet asked for tips to maximise their food haul, Neo offered this gem: “Aim for the proteins (like your fave type) and keep going at it. I doubt you can beat the buffet but if you strategise properly, I think you can break even.”

This story was originally published in 8Days.

For more 8Days stories, visit https://www.8days.sg/

SINGAPORE: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) on Friday (Dec 19) issued warning letters to Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and Mediacorp for contempt of court over comments he made in a CNA interview.

“Having considered all the circumstances of the case, including the apologies, the Attorney-General has decided to issue Mr Singh and Mediacorp with warnings,” AGC said in a statement.

It noted that both the Workers’ Party chief and Mediacorp had published an apology on Dec 13. 

Mediacorp, the parent company of CNA, had also taken down the interview from its platforms on Dec 12.

Mr Singh made the comments on CNA's programme The Assembly, where he responded to a question on how he felt about being called a liar.

The episode was recorded in July. It aired on Nov 5, a day after the High Court heard Mr Singh’s appeal against his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee, with judgment reserved. 

Mr Singh also posted about the Interview on Facebook on Nov 6 and Nov 8.

The court dismissed his appeal on Dec 4.

The AGC had written to Mr Singh and Mediacorp on Nov 28, informing them that the statements and publication of the interview are in contempt of court.

Mediacorp subsequently apologised to the court, saying: "We accept that the publication of the interview, which contained the statements by Mr Singh regarding the case relating to Ms Raeesah Khan, is in contempt of court. 

“We wholly and unreservedly apologise to the court. We have taken down the interview from our platforms and channels and will avoid publishing matters that are in contempt of court in future." 

In a Facebook post on Dec 13, Mr Singh said: "I accept that my statements may be construed to be in contempt of court, including to impugn the integrity, propriety or impartiality of the court.

"Given that, I wholly and unreservedly apologise to the court and will avoid making comments to the same or similar effect in future."

The Ministry of Law said on Dec 13 that Mr Singh's comments during the interview with The Assembly are "very wrong" and "have no place in a system founded on the rule of law".

“Contempt of court impedes the proper administration of justice in Singapore,” the AGC added on Friday.

“Left unchecked, such conduct can erode respect for our judicial institutions and their decisions. AGC takes a serious view of any conduct that amounts to contempt of court and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who engage in such conduct.”

SINGAPORE: Japanese retail chain Don Don Donki has removed helium canisters marketed as “voice changers” from its Singapore stores after CNA raised questions about the product's health risks and safety certification.

The bright yellow canisters, which sold for S$19.90 (US$15.40) each, claimed to make users' voices higher-pitched when inhaled.

Each contained 11.6 litres of gas – 80 per cent helium and 20 per cent oxygen – and came with Japanese instructions directing users to take a deep breath and exhale, before pinching their noses and inhaling from the canister.

Medical experts interviewed by CNA expressed serious concerns about the product's safety, and highlighted the risks of recreational helium inhalation, even when mixed with oxygen.

CNA first contacted Don Don Donki and the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) on Dec 10 regarding the safety of the product. 

The consumer watchdog responded on Thursday (Dec 18), noting that such products fall under the purview of the Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO).

“CPSO is in touch with Don Don Donki Singapore operations,” said CCS. “They have temporarily removed the product from its shelves while they review the product’s compliance with applicable safety standards.”

Don Don Donki has not responded to CNA's queries.

CCS clarified that while pre-market approval is not required for general consumer goods in Singapore, suppliers must ensure products meet at least one applicable safety standard from organisations including the International Organisation for Standardization, International Electro-Technical Commission, European Committee for Standardisation or ASTM International.

“Suppliers must ensure their products carry sufficient warnings about potential hazards as required in applicable safety standards,” added CCS. “Consumers are strongly advised to read and strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety warnings on the packaging.”

It also urged consumers to use products only as intended by manufacturers. If they encounter a product they suspect is unsafe or lacks clear warnings, they can report it to the CPSO.

MULTIPLE HAZARDS

The made-in-Japan canisters included English-language warnings recommending use only for those over 16 and to keep the product out of children's reach. 

The labels cautioned against use near flames, during illness or pregnancy, or after heavy physical activity. They also warned users not to inhale the gas rapidly, and that misuse could lead to serious injury, asphyxiation or death.

Despite these warnings, the product's advertising positioned it as entertainment, suggesting customers use it when apologising "for guaranteed laughter" and promoting its popularity among repeat buyers.

Healthcare professionals identified multiple hazards associated with the helium canisters.

Dr Adrian Chan, a respiratory expert from the O2 Lung Centre, said that while helium-oxygen mixtures – known as heliox – have legitimate therapeutic applications, they are typically used under strict medical supervision for specific conditions.

“The risks in inhaling helium are also present for helium-oxygen mixtures,” he warned. “If inhaled repeatedly or in large amounts, it might lead to oxygen deprivation in the lungs and then vital organs.” 

Airway or lung injuries are also possible from the pressurised jet created during inhalation, he said.

Veteran nurse and healthcare content strategist Penny Pratt noted that while the oxygen content reduces immediate asphyxiation risk compared to pure helium, there remains no safe threshold for recreational use.

Even a brief inhalation can deprive the brain of oxygen and cause serious harm, she said.

She warned that the compressed gas, when released, becomes extremely cold and can cause frostbite or cryogenic burns on contact with skin. Eyes are particularly vulnerable and may suffer permanent damage.

Dr Phoon Chee Wee, a senior lecturer in applied chemistry at Nanyang Polytechnic, highlighted an additional danger: helium's odourless, tasteless nature means users cannot detect how much they have inhaled.

“Excessive inhalation of helium can potentially cause difficulty in breathing, dizziness, nausea or asphyxiation which could lead to loss of consciousness and even death,” he said.

Dr Chan said that while social media and celebrity videos have normalised helium voice-changing as harmless fun, ordinary users may unknowingly consume dangerous amounts. 

"The worry is that ordinary users might unknowingly consume large amounts and potentially endanger their health," he said. "There is unfortunately no safe limit as helium is not a gas that our bodies can utilise."

SINGAPORE: A former national canoeing athlete was on Friday (Dec 19) charged with pocketing fees meant for overseas training camps.

Jessica Gwee Shou-Fung, 44, was handed four counts of criminal breach of trust. She allegedly misappropriated a total of S$5,080 (US$3,930) from four people between February and March this year.

Gwee appears on the Singapore Canoe Federation's roster of all its national athletes past and present. Her disciplines were wildwater canoeing and canoe slalom.

According to charge sheets, the funds were transferred to Gwee for an "SEA Camp" to be held from Feb 15 to Mar 2, and a "TIP Camp" to be held from Mar 7 to Mar 12.

In a press release on Thursday, the police said they received a report on Jul 4 alleging that she had collected funds from participants for overseas training camps without proper authorisation.

Preliminary investigations showed that the money was not used for its intended purpose and that it had instead been misappropriated by Gwee for personal use.

Criminal breach of trust is punishable with a jail term of up to seven years, a fine or both penalties.

The festive season is not just for humans. Over at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, animals are getting in on the fun too, as the parks celebrate Christmas with themed activities that transform the precinct into a Festive Wild-erland – not just for visitors but for many of its animal residents, too.

At Mandai’s newest park, Rainforest Wild Asia, which opened earlier this year, keepers have prepared festive-themed enrichments such as wrapped holiday treats, Christmas trees decorated with carrot “baubles”, and wreaths for animals including Malayan sun bears, axis deer, tortoises and Malayan tigers.

“Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends and planning fun activities together. Here with the animals, we want them to feel the same way,” said junior keeper Nur Sarah Ahman, who also shares insights about the bears with visitors at the exhibit.

“For the bears, we create enrichment inspired by Christmas icons like snowmen, and we wrap treats up like Christmas presents. Our younger bear is the messiest when it comes to opening the presents, because she’s like a teenager. The older bear is gentler.”

While the enrichments may be festive in theme, keepers ensure they remain appropriate for the animals’ natural behaviours, while keeping them mentally and physically stimulated.

For the tigers, one of the special festive enrichments includes a Christmas wreath made from water grass and Napier grass, with chunks of meat tucked into it and hung within the exhibit.

“This kind of enrichment engages our tigers in a more stimulating way, and also encourages them to use different muscle groups, including their hind and fore legs,” said keeper Julette Tay.

For the zookeepers, spending the festive season with the animals is especially meaningful.

“They’re also part of our family because we’ve cared for them for such a long time. It feels like spending time with family, enjoying the festive season together, and sharing that joy with our visitors as well,” Tay added.

Visitors can catch the animals enjoying their “Christmas gifts” during keeper sharing sessions from Dec 24 to 28. Tiger sessions take place from 10.30am to 11am, while Malayan sun bear sessions run from 4pm to 4.15pm, with additional sessions on Dec 24 and 25 for both animals.

Guests can also look forward to special light shows at the Cavern that mimic aurora and snowfall effects. Santa’s Adventure Quest invites visitors to hunt for hidden Christmas tokens along the Forest Treks, with prizes worth up to S$70,000 up for grabs.

At the Singapore Zoo, families can take part in a special mission called Join the Wild Patrol!, inspired by Disney’s Zootopia 2, where young visitors help Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde solve a mystery to find a new friend, Gary De’Snake. Guests can additionally enjoy keeper sharing sessions featuring playful fennec foxes at the Animal Behaviour and Enrichment Centre, as well as observe reptile feeding at RepTopia.

Over at Bird Paradise, visitors can snap photos of penguin residents surrounded by snowflake projections as they dive into the lower level of Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove, or take part in the Penguin Christmas Hunt to locate festive tokens and redeem a special prize. The Wings of the World presentation is also getting a festive twist this season, with birds delivering Santa’s mail and gifts during the show.

For more information on Festive Wild-erland, visit Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s website.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the acclaimed American composer Alan Menken has raised a whole generation across the world.

In fact, it might even be an understatement, for his award-winning repertoire transcends arbitrary yardsticks like age and geography, as I realised while doing my research for our online chat on Wednesday (Dec 17).

The soundtrack to my childhood was entirely Menken-made – an enormous privilege, in hindsight, of having limited sources of entertainment pre-social media.

Before the turn of the millennium, he had already scored for the Disney Renaissance – the studio’s golden era from 1989 to 1999 that produced commercially and/or critically successful films – including The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty And The Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996) and Hercules (1997).

While I first experienced his work as family-friendly films, they tend to reveal a deeper, different resonance when revisited as an adult. 

When the familiar emotional pull of a Disney animated classic meets the life you’ve since lived, you begin to truly understand the meaning of timelessness.

ON NOT "WRITING DOWN" FOR CHILDREN

All this to say, there is nothing childish about children’s movies – a philosophy that Menken embodies too, having said in past interviews that he doesn’t write specifically for children.

Even though he may remove references that aren't quite child-appropriate, “there is a tendency to think that when one writes for children that you’re writing down to their understanding”, the 76-year-old explained over Zoom from the United States.

“But it’s really a matter of getting to the emotional truth in the story; getting to the stylistic way of telling the story that brings in from our musical culture (and which) it just enriches (as a result).” 

Take Beauty And The Beast, whose musical production is currently showing at the Sands Theatre of Marina Bay Sands – its only stop in Asia – until Jan 25, 2026.

This reimagined staging of the beloved 1991 animation and its subsequent Broadway debut in 1994 is the first Disney-produced Beauty And The Beast in over 25 years. It includes new sets, costume designs and state-of-the-art technology, while retaining its nostalgic and spellbinding tunes, such as Be Our Guest and the title song Beauty And The Beast.

Importantly, children love the story – even though, as Menken put it, they have “no idea who Maurice Chevalier is” or know about "the stylistic precedence to Gaston (the film’s chauvinistic main antagonist) and how we presented him in almost like a Sigmund Romberg kind of opera".

The late Chevalier was, in fact, an iconic French entertainer who directly inspired the suave candelabra Lumiere. Voice actor Jerry Orbach mimicked Chevalier's style to capture the quintessential French flair.

Romberg, on the other hand, was a Hungarian-born American composer best known for his musicals and operettas in the 1920s.

But such context is unnecessary for children to appreciate the film. They “pick up on the nuances”, Menken said. “They’re smart. They’re sophisticated. They are the future.”

To illustrate his point, he recalled how his niece would tell him about a young boy in her school who’d gush about The Little Mermaid, which Menken had scored to lyrics by his much-loved collaborator, the late Howard Ashman. 

This young boy was named Lin-Manuel Miranda, and he grew up to create, among others, the award-winning Broadway musical and pop culture phenomenon Hamilton.

“But that passion in what we created was essential to the wonderful artist that (Miranda) has become. And that is universal in the work, whether it’s written for children or adults,” Menken believes. 

“Just write for the characters, write for the story and write for the medium.”

A FORMULA TO HIS HALLMARK HEARTFELT SCORES?

No doubt, it is sound advice, coming from a “Disney Legend” himself. The official title is given to individuals who’ve made a significant impact on the Disney legacy.

He is also, unsurprisingly, a member of the small group of EGOT winners. These are Hollywood’s creme de la creme who have bagged Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

His talent has been recognised time and again, with eight Academy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, 11 Grammy Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award and a Tony Award, among numerous other accolades, to his name.

Yet, even the most coveted trophies can't fully represent Menken’s eminence, as anyone who’s been swept up by his emotionally resonant scores can attest.

Both he and Ashman are often credited for creating the “I Want” or “I Wish” song genre. The term describes a series of songs from Disney Renaissance films in which the main character expresses a yearning for something greater than their current situation. 

One such song is the opening number in Beauty And The Beast. The song Belle, named after the headstrong heroine, introduces her non-conformist desire to escape the provincial village life she’s being forced to live.

What’s key to the perfect “I Want” or “I Wish” song, at least as a listener, is an unmistakable, authentic sincerity that’s both universal and timeless. 

Ironically, “you don’t want to be led by the emotion, in terms of setting the structure”, said Menken. Doing so would almost pigeonhole the song into achieving a fixed outcome.

Instead, he starts by asking himself: How are we going to tell the story? What world is this story in? What is our attitude about the characters? What is the audience we want to reach?

“Then when you reach a moment that is emotional, you open up that portal and go: What is the emotion that the character feels and what is the emotion you want to convey to an audience?”

But if there were a formula to consistently drawing out such heartfelt sentiment, it might just be inborn to an extent. 

Menken pointed to his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tendencies since he was young.

“It’s just that (those with ADHD) are not (usually) run by narrative details and remembering facts. We want to see the greater arc, the bigger emotional landscape, the larger themes, and then the narrative comes in and serves that, as opposed to the other way around,” he said. 

“For me, one of the things that obviously draws me to music is the emotional gestalt of music, whether it’s in love, regret, tension, anger, (or) something spiritual. Whatever it is, music is the perfect medium for reaching those places.”

And musicals, which Disney classics essentially are, ultimately centre on love, he added. “Even when it’s dark music, it could be about the lack of love or the wounding of somebody who wanted love. You can’t escape it. It’s there.”

STICKING WITH HIS HEART

Perhaps it’s easier for Menken to find the same core in every song when he’s anchored by a straightforward commitment to doing right by himself, beyond the technicalities of music. 

It’s a lesson best illustrated by the reception to his work on Disney’s 1992 American historical musical drama film Newsies, which was initially a box office flop yet eventually found unexpected success as a Broadway hit.

The film won him a Razzie Award for Worst Original Song that year for the song High Times, Hard Times – one of his favourite achievements, he said in complete earnestness. The parody award show honours the worst of cinematic failures.

Then in 2012, the film won him a Tony Award for Best Original Score, which he said taught him an important life lesson. 

“There is always a (bigger) evolution and shifting of thoughts and values, but you just (have to) stay in it. Don’t let anything ever just defeat you. Just stick with what’s in your heart," he said.

"Remaining true to your core, knowing that is what you feel deeply, is a measure of the journey you’re meant to be on. And you have to treat that with respect and treasure it."

At Menken’s own core is an indefatigable curiosity and sense of wonder about his work, that much is clear. 

His ability to retain a childlike passion for what he loves doing may be especially crucial when he has to revisit older Disney films for a stage or new on-screen adaptation, since he admits it’s always a “challenge” to enter a project knowing he needs to add something new even when the original work already feels “complete”.

Getting involved with new collaborators, from directors to actors, is what keeps each process feeling fresh for him.

“I love writing new musicals, and finding the discovery of the musical DNA, of how I want to tell this story. But coming back to (something), you know that you’re returning to the organic DNA (and) a new being will be born in this new adaptation,” he added.

“I’m juggling being the keeper of the flame, where this is what we originally intended, and being an active and enthusiastic part of a new exploration of those characters in that story.”

Even after five decades, he appears to still be astonished by his illustrious career. Which is perhaps why, given the chance to meet his younger self on the cusp of life-changing fame, he would offer just one piece of advice.

“Don’t ever fall in love with your own work,” he quipped. 

“The saddest thing I’ve seen is people who are hanging on to something they wrote. Just write another one and another one and another one. Let other people fall in love with what you do. It’s not your job to fall in love with your own work.”

Those of us who grew up with Menken’s songs might not have known how to name the feeling they gave us, though we recognised it all the same. And figuring out how he gets it right every time can feel equally hard to pin down. 

But after just 30 minutes of speaking with the man whose simple demeanour belies his staggering legacy, it starts to make sense where that deeply human touch comes from. 

Like many successes, it’s a mix of luck, skill and talent. But maybe most importantly, it comes from a quality that fame usually erodes with time. 

He is, at heart, still the person he’s always been: “This guy who likes to write songs and make music.”

Disney’s Beauty And The Beast musical is now showing at the Sands Theatre in Marina Bay Sands until Jan 25, 2026. Tickets can be purchased here.
 

DHAKA: Violence broke out in Bangladesh's capital early on Friday (Dec 19) after a youth leader of the country's 2024 pro-democracy uprising who was injured in an assassination attempt died in a hospital in Singapore.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was announced, to demand that his killers be arrested.

Several buildings in the capital, including those housing the country's two leading newspapers, were set on fire, according to authorities, with staff trapped inside.

Hadi was a key figure in last year's uprising that ended the autocratic rule of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and sent her fleeing to India. He was running for a parliament seat in the February 2026 national election.

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On Dec 12, Hadi was shot by masked assailants as he was leaving a mosque in Dhaka. He was airlifted to a hospital in Singapore for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.

At least three cases of arson were reported in Dhaka after the news of his death spread, a spokesperson for the Fire Brigade and Civil Defence force told AFP, including a fire at the Daily Star building and another at a building housing the Prothom Alo newspaper.

The two papers are the largest in the South Asian country, but protesters accused them of being aligned with neighbouring India, where Hasina has taken refuge.

Zyma Islam, a reporter for the Daily Star said she was trapped inside the burning building.

"I can't breathe anymore. There's too much smoke. I am inside. You are killing me," she wrote on her Facebook page.

The fire at the Daily Star building was brought under control at 1.40am (3.40am, Singapore time), firefighting officials said.

However, 27 employees were still inside.

"We took refuge at the rear of the building and could hear them chanting slogans," Ahmed Deepto, a Star reporter, told AFP, referring to protesters.

The house of India's deputy ambassador to Bangladesh was also surrounded by hundreds of people who were trying to demonstrate in a sit-in, but police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, according to local news reports.

In addition, protesters blocked a key highway connecting the capital with the central city of Mymensingh and attacked the residence of a former minister in Chittagong in the country's southeast, according to footage shown on local television.

Protesters also attacked Chhayanaut, a centre in Dhaka devoted to Bengali culture.

"AN IRREPARABLE LOSS TO THE NATION"

Earlier on Friday, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced that Hadi had died in hospital in the country.

"Mr Sharif Osman Hadi was evacuated by air from Bangladesh to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit on Dec 15, 2025, to receive emergency medical treatment," MFA said.

"Despite the best efforts of the doctors from SGH and the National Neuroscience Institute, Mr Hadi succumbed to his injuries on Dec 18, 2025.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assisting the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore with the arrangements to repatriate the late Mr Hadi to Bangladesh."

In Dhaka, the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus confirmed Hadi's death.

"His demise is an irreparable loss for the nation," Yunus said in a televised speech.

"The country's march toward democracy cannot be halted through fear, terror, or bloodshed."

The government also announced special prayers at mosques on Friday and a half-day of mourning on Saturday.

Hadi, a senior leader of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha, was an outspoken critic of India, where Hasina remains in self-imposed exile.

MANHUNT FOR GUNMAN

Bangladeshi police, meanwhile, have launched a manhunt for Hadi's shooters, releasing photographs of two key suspects and offering a reward of 5 million taka (about US$42,000) for information leading to their arrest.

Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner leading Bangladesh until the Feb 12 vote, has called the shooting a premeditated attack carried out by a powerful network aimed at derailing the election.

Muslim-majority Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million people, will directly vote for 300 lawmakers for its parliament, with another 50 selected on a women's list.

The last elections, held in January 2024, gave Hasina a fourth straight term and her Awami League 222 seats, but were decried by opposition parties as a sham.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by three-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is widely tipped to win the upcoming vote.

Zia is in intensive care in Dhaka, and her son and political heir, Tarique Rahman, is set to return from exile in Britain after 17 years on Dec 25.