KUALA LUMPUR: A leadership vacuum has opened within Perikatan Nasional following Muhyiddin Yassin’s upcoming resignation as its chairperson, leaving Malaysia’s opposition coalition to grapple with the question of his successor.

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) promptly signalled its readiness to lead the coalition, with party leaders saying that they will nominate a candidate to replace Muhyiddin.

However, political observers question whether any potential replacement from PAS possesses the necessary “bridge-building” credentials to lead the bloc into the country’s 16th general election (GE16) that must be held by February 2028.

The Islamist party, while popular in the Malay heartlands, has often been criticised for failing to appeal to the non-Malay population or address non-Muslim fears of an Islamic theocracy, in part due to its leaders’ comments on race and religion.

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Muhyiddin, who was Malaysia’s eighth prime minister and held office from March 2020 to August 2021, said on Tuesday (Dec 30) that he will resign as PN ​chairman, ‌effective ​Jan 1.

Hours later, former international trade and industry minister Mohamed Azmin Ali also announced his resignation as the coalition’s secretary-general as well as from his post as the chairman of the Selangor State PN Liaison Committee.

This was followed by the resignation of several other state leaders from Bersatu such as Faizal Azumu as Perak PN chairman, Sahruddin Jamal as Johor PN chairman and Hanifah Abu Baker as Negeri Sembilan PN chairman.

Political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya (UM) told CNA that Muhyiddin's exit raised critical questions over who will inherit a position that serves as the coalition’s de facto prime minister candidate for GE16.

Awang Azman questioned who would be acceptable to both parties, especially as some PAS leaders have said that the party should take the position.

“In a multi-racial society like Malaysia, the optics of a PAS prime minister (candidate) would not help the coalition gain more votes in constituencies where there are many non-Malay voters,” said Awang Azman.  

“There is a very big question mark now. This is a situation that can spark a long conflict and result in the collapse of PN.”

PN was formed in February 2020 and is currently made up of four component parties: Bersatu, PAS, Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party. The latter two are largely considered to be minor players in the coalition.

Muhyiddin, 78, is the president of Bersatu while Azmin is its party secretary-general.

Bersatu supreme council member Saifuddin Abdullah, who has been critical of Muhyiddin, however told CNA that he did not see any issue with PAS taking over the chairman position given its role in PN.  

“PAS heads PN in many states, including Pahang where I come from. Current Bersatu MPs and assemblymen from Kelantan and Terengganu ran for the last elections under the PAS logo. So? PAS has more MPs than Bersatu,” he said when asked if a PN chairperson would be acceptable to him.

Muhyiddin’s resignation follows a political crisis in the northeastern state of Perlis, whose state assembly is controlled by PN.

The upheaval saw PAS’ Sanglang assemblyman Mohd Shukri Ramli resigning as chief minister and Bersatu’s Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah replacing him in the post. 

Shukri’s resignation came after eight statutory declarations were signed by state assemblymen – three from PAS and five from Bersatu – retracting their support for him.

The three PAS assemblymen have since been sacked by the Islamist party.

There are 15 seats in Perlis’ state assembly. PAS holds six of the remaining seats, Bersatu holds five, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) holds one.

Some PAS members have criticised Bersatu’s move against Mohd Shukri as a “backstabbing” betrayal, and gone as far as to call on the party’s leadership to sever all ties with Bersatu at every level.

Perlis ruler Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail on Sunday called on all parties to end speculation and allegations “for the good of the state”.

IS BERSATU DEPUTY PRESIDENT HAMZAH A LIKELY REPLACEMENT?

While PAS has signalled its intention to lead PN, most observers however opined that PN deputy chairman and current leader of the opposition Hamzah Zainudin is the most natural candidate to take over Muhyiddin.  

Hamzah, 68, is also deputy president of Bersatu.

Political scientist Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said that Hamzah - who was formerly Home Minister - is the most likely candidate from Bersatu as he has the support of PAS leaders.

“PAS may say they want their own leader which is fair but if PAS truly does that then PN is really PAS-dominated and PAS-led. So is PAS ready for that perception?” she told CNA, adding that Bersatu acts as PN’s bridge to moderate and non-Malay voters.

ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s visiting fellow Amrita Malhi wrote in a commentary in April that PAS’ “exclusionary narratives” and its leaders’ consistently “chauvinistic statements” have alienated non-Muslims. 

“Its leaders’ statements cast these minorities as threats to Malay and Muslim power, arguing for their rights and freedoms to be stripped on the one hand; while, on the other, seeking to reassure them that they would be safe under PAS rule,” she wrote. 

This fails to reassure the minorities, leaving many Malaysians concerned that PAS is seeking co-option into an “Islamic unity” government, she added.

James Chin, a professor of Asian studies from the University of Tasmania, said that whether PAS leads the coalition is an open question. 

“There are several people in PAS who want the position but the problem is if PAS takes over PN, this is not good for them because the Chinese community has totally rejected PAS. This means it will be much harder for them to win the next general election,” he told CNA. 

However some analysts believe that the PAS grassroots would prefer that the party lead the coalition, rather than Bersatu.  

Political analyst Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research said that although PAS leaders are comfortable with Hamzah as a choice for chairman, its members would not be particularly happy with this.   

“The main reason Muhyiddin stepped down was due to pressure from PAS and the Perlis fiasco. If Hamzah is agreed upon by PAS and Bersatu, it would show that PAS has no capable leaders to take over PN and PAS doesn’t want to portray that. Most likely, PAS will take over,” he said. 

Awang Azman of UM concurred and said: “I don’t think the PAS grassroots will want anyone from Bersatu as there will be questions (over) how the minority can rule the majority.” 

PN enjoyed surprise success in the 2022 general election that was characterised by the "Green Wave" featuring significant electoral gains largely propelled by PAS. 

PN won 74 seats in the 222-seat parliament, establishing itself as the second-largest bloc behind Pakatan Harapan (PH), which won 82 seats.

PAS was the driving force behind PN's success, securing 43 parliamentary seats — a substantial gain of 25 seats — while Bersatu secured 31 seats, representing a gain of 17 seats. 

PN's success came largely at the expense of Barisan Nasional, which won just 30 seats, and is now part of Anwar’s unity government.

However, Bersatu’s share of seats has since dropped to 25, after six members of parliament unhappy with Muhyiddin’s leadership switched allegiance to Anwar’s government in 2023.

Bersatu has been divided into at least two main camps: One that is with Muhyiddin, and another with Hamzah. 

News reports also point to a Bersatu faction loyal to secretary-general Azmin that is aligned with Muhyiddin.

WHO FROM PAS CAN TAKE THE TOP POSITION?

The youth wing of PAS has been vocal about the party leading PN.

PAS youth chief Afnan Hamimi Azamudden said on Monday after the swearing in of the new Perlis chief minister that it should take over the chairmanship of PN. 

"An ally unable to keep their own men in line is a weak ally. But an ally who stabs a friend in the back is a traitor. After what has transpired in Perlis, PAS is more than justified in taking over the helm of Perikatan Nasional," he said in a Facebook post. 

A few of the names that have been bandied about by observers include its deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, its secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, Terengganu chief minister Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Kedah chief minister Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

Its president Hadi Awang, 78, is however unlikely to be in the mix for the position because of his poor health. 

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said in a statement on Tuesday that the party would nominate a candidate from the party to be the chairman of the coalition. 

“It does not necessarily have to be the party president, but an individual who is believed to be able to galvanise the collective strength of the component parties under PN," he said. 

Tuan Ibrahim has said that the matter of who would replace Muhyiddin would be brought to the coalition’s supreme council for deliberation by the presidents of its component parties.

“What is important is that everybody works together to strengthen PN,” he was quoted as saying by news outlet FMT. 

Azmi Hassan believed that Tuan Ibrahim, 65, is most likely to be PAS’ candidate because of his seniority. While Syaza agreed with this assessment, she was not sure if he had the support from all parties.      

“Some within PAS want their own leader but I’m not sure if PAS has any good candidate, including Tuan Ibrahim. He may not have broad support, especially from Bersatu,” she said. 

While Azmi Hassan regarded Ahmad Samsuri as the most “intellectual” candidate from PAS, Syaza was skeptical, questioning whether he possesses the necessary stature for national leadership.

Fifty-four-year-old Ahmad Samsuri - a popular technocrat and an incumbent PAS vice-president - is the only member in the party's top five positions not seen as part of the powerful ulama (religious scholar) faction.

As for Sanusi, Syaza believed that there are those within Bersatu who are not that happy with him. 

“They don’t see him as a stabilising factor and a good leader. But that’s a while back. Sanusi has been relatively quiet now. It would make sense since he is part of the leadership circle,” she said. 

Sanusi, 51, had previously made headlines for his controversial remarks on the royalty and opposing politicians. 

MUHYIDDIN ‘MAGNANIMOUS’, SAYS BERSATU MEMBER

Meanwhile, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz claimed that Muhyiddin’s resignation as PN chair showed that he was someone who did not pursue positions. 

Tun Faisal Ismail said that after the 15th general election, Muhyiddin had offered the posts of PN chairman and opposition leader to PAS, but the party declined. 

However, the Perlis political upheaval has led to disharmony, exacerbated by the overly forceful stance of PAS leaders, said Tun Faisal Ismail.

“As a magnanimous leader, Muhyiddin chose to relinquish his position to make way for PAS and other component parties within PN. His intention was to restore harmony in Perlis as well as at the federal level,” he told CNA. 

But Muhyiddin has long faced pressure to step down, said observers. 

In 2023, Muhyiddin had caused a stir when he backpedalled on his decision not to defend his presidency at Bersatu’s internal polls that year.

He had said then that what his wife had told him had made him reconsider his earlier decision.

In September this year, the Bersatu annual general meeting was rocked by a public display of dissent against Muhyiddin, with some delegates heckling him to step down as president. 

Speaking earlier at the meeting, Muhyiddin had criticised plans to "topple the president" via the collection of statutory declarations from party members, saying that this was against Bersatu's constitution.

Still, the meeting unanimously endorsed him as the party’s prime minister candidate ahead of the next general election.

Analysts had said that the tensions between warring factions in Bersatu could undermine such a pick by the party, adding the internal unrest could also be exploited by PAS to assert more control in PN. 

Muhyiddin is facing charges of abuse of power and soliciting bribes amounting to RM232.5 million (US$57.4 million) during his 17-month premiership.

Earlier in November, a Malaysian High Court declared that his corruption trial would begin in early March 2026. 

Chin believed that the Perlis fiasco was tied to the larger plot to push Muhyiddin out of PN, adding that it was quite clear that he had lost support in the coalition.  

“There has been a lot of pressure on him in the past year to step down,” he said. 

SINGAPORE: China is requiring chipmakers to use at least 50 per cent domestically made equipment for adding new capacity, three people familiar with the ⁠matter said, as Beijing pushes to build a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain.

The rule is not publicly documented, but chipmakers seeking state approval to build or expand their plants have been told by authorities in recent months that they must prove through procurement tenders that at least half their equipment will be Chinese-made, the people told Reuters. 

The mandate is one of the most significant measures Beijing has introduced to wean itself off reliance on foreign technology, a push that gathered pace after the United States tightened technology export restrictions in 2023, banning sales of advanced AI chips and semiconductor equipment to China.

While those US export restrictions blocked the sale of some of the most advanced tools, the 50 per cent rule is leading Chinese manufacturers to choose ‍domestic suppliers even in areas where foreign equipment from the ⁠US, ‍Japan, South Korea and Europe remain available.

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Applications failing the threshold are typically rejected, though authorities grant flexibility depending on supply constraints, the people said. The requirements are relaxed for advanced chip production lines, where domestically developed equipment is not yet fully available.

"Authorities prefer if it is much higher than 50 per cent," one source told Reuters. "Eventually, they are aiming for ⁠the plants to use 100 per cent domestic equipment."

China's industry ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The sources did not wish to be identified as the measure is not public.

"WHOLE NATION" APPROACH

China's President Xi Jinping has been ‍calling for a "whole nation" effort to build a fully self-sufficient domestic semiconductor supply chain that involves thousands of engineers and scientists at companies and research centers nationwide. 

The effort is being made across the wide supply-chain spectrum. Reuters reported earlier this month that Chinese scientists are working on a prototype of a machine capable of producing cutting-edge chips, an outcome that Washington has spent years trying to prevent.

"Before, domestic fabs like SMIC would prefer US equipment and would not really give Chinese firms a chance," a former employee at local equipment maker Naura Technology said, referring to the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation.

"But that changed starting with the 2023 US export restrictions, when Chinese fabs had no choice but to work with domestic suppliers."

State-affiliated entities placed a record 421 orders for domestic lithography machines and parts this year worth around 850 million yuan, according to publicly available procurement data, signalling a surge in ‌demand for locally developed technologies. 

To support the local chip supply chain, Beijing has also poured hundreds of billions of yuan into its semiconductor sector through the "Big Fund", which established a third phase in 2024 with 344 billion yuan (US$49 billion) in capital.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

The policy is already yielding results, including in areas such ‍as etching, ‌a critical chip manufacturing step that involves removing materials from silicon wafers to carve out intricate transistor patterns, sources said.

China's largest chip equipment group, Naura, is testing its etching tools on a cutting-edge 7nm (nanometre) production line of SMIC, two sources said. The early-stage milestone, which comes after Naura recently deployed etching tools on 14nm successfully, demonstrates how quickly domestic suppliers are advancing.

"Naura's etching results have been accelerated by the government requiring fabs to use at least 50 per cent domestic equipment," one of the people told Reuters, adding that it was forcing the company to rapidly improve.

Advanced etching tools had been predominantly supplied in China by foreign firms such as Lam Research and Tokyo Electron, but are now being partially replaced by Naura and smaller rival Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC), sources say.

Naura has ‌also proven a key partner for Chinese memory chipmakers, supplying etching tools for advanced chips with more than 300 layers. It developed electrostatic chucks - devices that hold wafers during processing - to replace worn parts in Lam Research equipment that the company could no longer service after the 2023 restrictions, sources said.

Naura, AMEC, YTMC, SMIC, Lam Research, and Tokyo Electron did not respond to requests for comment.

China's progress is being viewed with concern by global competitors, as foreign suppliers are squeezed out of the China market.

Naura filed a record 779 patents in 2025, more than double what it filed in 2020 and 2021, while AMEC filed 259, according to Anaqua's AcclaimIP database, and verified by Reuters.

That's also translating into strong financial results. Naura's revenue for the first half of 2025 jumped 30 per cent to 16 billion yuan. AMEC reported a 44 per cent jump in first-half revenue to 5 billion yuan. 

Analysts estimate that China has now reached roughly 50 per cent self-sufficiency in photoresist-removal and cleaning equipment, a market previously dominated by Japanese firms, but now locally led by Naura.

"The domestic equipment market will be dominated by two to three ‌major manufacturers, and Naura is definitely one of them," said a separate ‌source.

SINGAPORE: The JN.1 Novavax/Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine will be offered at selected general practitioner (GP) clinics under the national vaccination programme from Friday (Jan 2) to May 31, 2026.

The JN.1 Novavax vaccine is an alternative to the LP.8.1 Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that were rolled out in October 2025.

“Both vaccine strains are expected to confer additional protection against severe disease,” the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said in a press release on Tuesday.

The vaccine was previously available at some GP clinics until Apr 30, after the Health Sciences Authority approved its use in Singapore for individuals aged 12 years and above.

People who have not received an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccination in the past 12 months may take the JN.1 Novavax vaccine as immunity to the virus may decrease over time, and an additional dose in 2025 or 2026 can increase protection against severe disease, said CDA.

This includes those who have received either of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax JN.1 vaccines in 2024 or 2025. 

People receiving the vaccine as an additional dose should do so around one year, and at least five months, from the last vaccine dose. 

Individuals can book an appointment for vaccination from Friday.

Those who want to get the vaccine should do so by May 31, 2026, as the JN.1 vaccine formulation will no longer be supplied by the manufacturer once the current stocks expire, CDA said. The JN.1 Novavax vaccine will not be available under the national vaccination programme afterwards.

The LP.8.1 Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines will continue to be offered. 

Under Singapore's national vaccination programme, COVID-19 vaccination is free for all eligible individuals.

“COVID-19 waves will continue to occur from time to time and can cause severe disease among those who are older or medically vulnerable,” CDA said.

“To increase their protection against severe disease, we encourage everyone, especially those aged 60 years and above, medically vulnerable individuals or residents of aged care facilities to remain updated with their vaccination based on the prevailing recommendations, much like vaccination against influenza.”

People who wish to take a COVID-19 vaccine jab can visit this website to find the nearest vaccination sites and the vaccine types offered.

SINGAPORE: More Singapore firms are exploring foreign hires from non-traditional source (NTS) countries, after the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) expanded its list of eligible occupations and nationalities in recent months.

Since September 2023, companies in the manufacturing and services sectors have been allowed to hire work permit holders from countries including Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka for a restricted set of jobs.

These range from sheet metal workers to hotel housekeepers and porters.

Interest in the initiative has grown, though industry players say uptake remains cautious.

Mr Jim Wee, director of employment agency Nala Employment, said his firm has seen a 30 per cent increase in enquiries this year compared with last year, following the expansion of both source countries and approved occupations.

In June this year, Bhutan, Cambodia and Laos were added to the list of approved NTS countries.

Additional roles, such as heavy vehicle drivers and manufacturing operator positions, were included from September. 

Mr Wee said that his agency has placed about 80 NTS workers across various firms since the scheme was introduced.

SMALL SHARE OF OVERALL WORKFORCE

According to MOM data, there were about 17,000 NTS work permit holders as of June this year. That makes up less than 2 per cent of Singapore’s total work permit population of about 1.18 million. 

Companies typically turn to NTS hiring when they struggle to fill specific roles locally, particularly those involving shift work or physically demanding duties, Mr Wee said.

However, most employers still prioritise hiring locals and permanent residents, he added, with NTS serving as a supplementary workforce.

“There’s (been) an increase in interest over the past one to two years after the announcement of NTS occupation list …  (but) the interest has been measured and cautious, rather than a sudden surge,” he added.

Employers also tend to take time to familiarise themselves with workers’ skill sets, language abilities and cultural backgrounds, particularly those from newly added source countries, Mr Wee noted.

Hiring under the NTS scheme is subject to strict conditions.

For example, NTS work permit holders are capped at 8 per cent of a company’s total workforce.

Employers must also pay a fixed minimum salary of S$2,000 (US$1,560). This is to safeguard local wages and ensure that higher-skilled or more experienced workers are considered, MOM previously said.  

“With the salary range of S$2,000, maybe for the hotel industry, they might (even) be able to hire local staff,” Mr Wee added.

SMALL FIRMS WELCOME EXPANSION BUT SEEK BROADER SUPPORT

Business groups say the expanded list has provided some relief for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in labour-intensive sectors such as food and beverage and logistics.

However, they stress that there are deeper structural issues facing SMEs beyond hiring woes.

“SMEs feel that their margins have been squeezed with limited pricing power. This is due to the rise in rentals, utilities, logistics and operational costs,” said Ms Jayanthi Manian, board director at the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She added that while many SMEs have already adopted basic digital tools, productivity gains from such tools remain elusive.

Ms Manian said the chamber’s wish list for Budget 2026 includes more targeted cost relief, as well as grants that go beyond basic digitalisation to include areas such as responsible artificial intelligence deployment.

Such measures, she said, would better position SMEs to navigate an increasingly uncertain global environment.

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit China from Sunday (Jan 4) to meet counterpart Xi Jinping and deepen cooperation, Seoul and Beijing said.

Lee and Xi last met in November on the sidelines of the APEC summit in the South Korean city of Gyeongju.

Lee's visit will be the first by a South Korean leader to China since 2019.

The South Korean leader will take part in a summit and a state dinner with Xi in the Chinese capital Beijing from Sunday to Tuesday, his office said.

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The two leaders will work to "solidify the full restoration of the strategic cooperative partnership", a spokesperson added.

They will also seek to deepen cooperation in "supply chains, investment, the digital economy, combating transnational crime and the environment".

Lee will then head to economic powerhouse Shanghai for two days.

The South Korean leader has sought a reset in relations with China after years of fraught ties under his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol.

Seoul has for decades trodden a fine line between top trading partner China and the United States, its chief defence guarantor.

Relations with China nosedived in 2016 after Seoul agreed to deploy the US-made THAAD missile defence system.

Beijing hit back with sweeping economic retaliation, restricting South Korean businesses and banning group tours.

Cultural spats - including China's claims over the origins of the Korean staple dish kimchi - have also soured public opinion against Beijing.

In 2022, polling showed for the first time that South Koreans distrusted China more than they did former colonial ruler Japan - a trend that has continued in recent years.

Also clouding relations are Beijing's close ties with North Korea, which remains technically at war with the South.

Last month, Lee pitched the Chinese leader as a partner in Seoul's efforts to rekindle frayed ties with the North.

Pyongyang remains the "key issue" in relations, Lee Jae-mook, political science professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, told AFP.

"On that front, there is still an expectation that China could help open a channel for dialogue with Pyongyang," he said.

And the South Korean leader has appeared keen to avoid weighing in on touchy topics that might anger Beijing.

Asked this month whether he would side with Japan in an escalating row with China, Lee told journalists "taking sides only worsens tensions".

BANGKOK: A renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia over border clashes passed the 72-hour mark on Tuesday (Dec 30), an initial goal the countries set to ⁠secure a more lasting peace, but Bangkok said it had delayed the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers due to alleged breaches of the deal.

The Southeast Asian neighbours agreed on a ceasefire that took effect at noon on Saturday, halting 20 days of fighting that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million on both sides, ⁠and included fighter-jet sorties, exchanges of rocket fire and artillery barrages.

The border clashes reignited early this month, following the breakdown in a ceasefire deal that ⁠US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim helped broker to halt a previous round of conflict in July.

Under the agreement signed by the defence ministers of both countries on Saturday, Thailand said it would release the 18 Cambodian soldiers after the ceasefire held for 72 hours.

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On Tuesday, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said the military had detected many drones from Cambodia on Sunday night, which it saw as a breach of the deal, and so had reconsidered the timing of ‌the handover of the soldiers.

"The consideration of date and time of the release depends on the security side," he said at a press conference, adding that the handover ‍could "happen soon". 

Cambodian ‌authorities have strongly rejected the accusation of using drones, and issued an order prohibiting the use of drones across the country late on Monday. 

"There has been no reaction yet, it is being monitored," said Pen Bona, a spokesperon for the Cambodian government, when asked about the delay to the soldiers' release.

The Thai Foreign Ministry also sent a formal protest to Cambodia after a Thai soldier lost a limb on Monday in a landmine blast at a border area.

Landmine incidents were a catalyst for the renewed clashes. China's Foreign Minister hosted two days of talks with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, reaching an agreement on Monday that the two countries would work to ‌rebuild mutual trust and gradually consolidate ‌the ceasefire.

Earlier on Tuesday, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the ceasefire was fragile and needed both sides to ensure that it was sustained and that bilateral relations were gradually repaired.

"The ceasefire has only just been agreed so there is fragility," Sihasak told reporters. "We should avoid instigation or ‌things that could diminish the ceasefire," ‌he said

SINGAPORE: More teenagers in Singapore are taking on part-time work, especially during the year-end holiday period, as they look to earn extra income and gain workplace experience.

One job portal said applications from those under 20 years old rose by nearly 40 per cent compared with the same period last year, driven largely by demand in retail, food and beverage and logistics roles.

Seventeen-year-old Rico Ng is among those balancing school and work.

He has spent the past two years taking on part-time jobs to help support his family and now juggles a business management diploma with shifts at tea chain Chagee.

Rico works about 52 hours a month, often after school, and says the experience has helped him develop his interpersonal skills.

“I'm working with a lot of people every shift, especially people my age or older or even younger sometimes. It's mostly teamwork and having clear communication with each other,” he said.

“During peak hours, it's really busy. So those skills kick in and it really helps improve my communication … like talking to customers, being respectful and professional with them.” 

Such soft skills are what Chagee hopes to cultivate among its workforce.

The company refers to both full- and part-time staff as “partners”, signalling that they are more than just extra pairs of hands behind the counter.

Giving teenagers real responsibilities helps them grow with the brand, said Mr Jeremy Ma, head of operations at Chagee Singapore.

"We noticed that the jobseekers that are under 20 right now, (are) a bit more intentional. They want to earn income, but they also want an early start to workplace experience and exposure,” he said.

GIG JOBS IN DEMAND

This desire for work experience is also evident on online job platforms.

According to job portal FastCo, applications from candidates aged under 20 jumped by about 40 per cent in November compared with the same month last year.

Its app, FastGig, allows students to mix and match short-term roles during the holidays.

Mr Julian Tan, FastCo’s founder and CEO, said younger workers increasingly prefer gig jobs for the variety they offer.

"Previously, they may for their holiday just take one part-time role … but now we've been seeing the younger jobseekers, especially, looking at a variety of roles to get a more varied work experience."

Employers, he added, often raise hourly wages during peak periods and may offer perks such as meals or transport, particularly for late-night shifts.

On-demand platforms have also made it easier for companies to scale up their headcount quickly, while giving jobseekers access to a wider range of opportunities.  

Students now make up almost half of FastGig’s weekly pool of about 1,000 workers.

Beyond earning extra pocket money, these short stints may give young workers like Rico a head start in their careers.

As school projects pile up during exam periods, Rico said he often has to juggle group discussions with his work shifts, adding: “It helps me train up my time management (skills).”

SINGAPORE: The task force that was formed to improve the reliability of train services has submitted its recommendations, suggesting full-day closures to speed up renewal works, among other proposals. 

The task force, chaired by Land Transport Authority (LTA) chief executive Ng Lang, was formed in September after a string of service disruptions. It included representatives from transport operators SMRT and SBS Transit, who were supported by experts from around the region. 

"The train service disruptions from July to September 2025 occurred across different MRT and LRT lines, and involved different systems such as signalling, power and rolling stock," LTA, SMRT and SBS Transit said in a joint media release on Tuesday (Dec 30).

"The task force found that while the underlying causes of the incidents were unrelated, there were several areas for improvement.” 

The task force recommended prioritising the renewal of the rail network’s three core systems - trains, signalling and power - and to shorten the time taken to upgrade these systems. 

"To achieve this, more engineering hours should be set aside, including through full day service closures, to carry out such works expeditiously, efficiently and safely," said LTA, SMRT and SBS Transit. 

Other suggestions include:

• Introducing additional backup or bypass systems and procedures to allow train operations to continue or resume more quickly after a minor fault

• Leveraging technology and data to implement more comprehensive and standardised condition monitoring across the network. This is to allow for more timely interventions on pre-emptive maintenance and replacement of critical components

• Deploying robotics and automation more extensively to augment the rail workforce in carrying out maintenance tasks more efficiently

• Improving alternative travel options for commuters, as well as adopting a more "commuter-centric mindset" to guide affected commuters. This includes providing more precise, tailored and real-time information on system status and alternative travel routes.

• Developing more tools to provide real-time, journey-specific information to help commuters plan what to do when a disruption occurs

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Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said on Tuesday that he had received the task force's recommendations.

"The Ministry of Transport will now review the task force’s report and provide a full response to its recommendations by the first quarter of next year," he said in a Facebook post. 

DEEPENING WORKFORCE CAPABILITIES 

The task force also highlighted that the rail sector needed to continually upgrade its workforce, sustaining a pipeline of engineering talent to operate and manage an ageing and expanding network.

It recommended that LTA and rail operators work together to strengthen the role of the Singapore Rail Academy in harmonising and raising standards across the board to prepare the rail workforce for future challenges.

"This would include enhancing the professional certification framework for rail engineers and technicians by expanding certification coverage to more rail systems and workers," said LTA, SBS Transit and SMRT.

There could also be more structured and frequent staff rotations between LTA and the rail operators to build common perspectives and capabilities, they added.

However, the transport authority and train operators pointed out that maintaining a high level of rail reliability does not eliminate delays and disruptions. 

The task force has therefore recommended measures to enhance standard operating procedures to manage service disruptions on the ground, they noted.

"The challenge of operating and maintaining the rail system will only increase as its size and complexity grow," said LTA's Mr Ng. "These recommendations will help guide the next steps to be taken to continue strengthening the reliability of our rail network."

THE TASK FORCE

SMRT Group CEO Ngien Hoon Ping, SBS Transit Group CEO Jeffrey Sim, as well as technical specialists across the rail sector, were part of the task force.

The group’s work included a review of rail operations and maintenance, looking specifically at asset management, workforce capabilities, as well as rail service recovery and commuter management.

The review started with joint technical audits of systems related to the rail incidents from July to September.

It also involved technical workshops, site visits, direct ground observations and interviews with operational and technical staff on the ground, said LTA, SBS Transit and SMRT.

A five-member independent advisory panel with experts from around the world was appointed to provide strategic advice and technical expertise to the group.

The panel visited Singapore last month, where they reviewed the task force’s preliminary findings and assessed the practices, capabilities and incident response strategies of the country’s rail operators.

In his Facebook post, Mr Siow thanked the task force for their work over the past few months. 

"I also express my gratitude to the independent advisory panel members for advising the task force," he added. 

For many Singaporeans, Jack Neo’s films are more than box-office successes – they are cultural memory. From the biting wit of Money No Enough to the tender coming-of-age lessons in I Not Stupid, Neo’s work has captured the quirks, frustrations and heart of Singapore life for five decades. 

Now, the Singapore Film Society (SFS) is honouring the filmmaker with its Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala celebration on Jan 2, 2026.

Titled “Ah Boy To Director Liang”, a playful nod to one of his most successful film franchises and to Neo’s longstanding moniker, the event will take place at Golden Village VivoCity, GV Max, followed by a special screening of his 2003 film Homerun. SFS is also giving away 100 tickets to fans who want to attend the celebration in person.

Neo’s entertainment journey began in the 1970s, when he first made a name for himself as one of Channel 8’s most memorable comedic talents. Long before social media and streaming platforms, he developed a reputation for holding up a light to everyday Singaporeans through characters that mixed humour with pointed social commentary. 

One of them is Liang Po Po, who is so iconic that Neo is even bringing her back for a new movie titled Liang Po Po: The Comeback, slated for a Chinese New Year release. 

His transition to filmmaking reshaped the local movie landscape. Neo went on to write, produce and direct some of the country’s highest-grossing and most talked-about films, including the Ah Boys To Men franchise and I Not Stupid. Through these works, he chronicled the anxieties and aspirations of heartland families, national service recruits, schoolchildren and blue-collar workers – often with an unmistakable mix of slapstick, sentimentality and satire.

“Jack Neo is more than a filmmaker; he is a national storyteller,” said SFS chairperson Kenneth Tan. 

“For five decades, he has held up a mirror to our society, making us laugh at our foibles, reflect on our challenges, and cherish our shared memories. His films… are not just movies; they are communal touchstones that have shaped generations. It is our honour to recognise his unparalleled role in building and championing Singapore cinema.”

The Jan 2 gala will see Neo reunited with cast members and collaborators from across his filmography, including actors from Money No Enough and Ah Boys To Men. The evening will culminate in the award presentation and an on-stage dialogue, offering audiences a look back at his creative evolution – from TV sketches to filmmaking milestones.

Fans will also revisit one of Neo’s most acclaimed works, Homerun, a remake of the Iranian film Children of Heaven. Set in 1965, the story follows two kampung siblings searching for a lost pair of shoes, using the simple premise to explore themes of friendship, family and the social fault lines between Singapore’s rich and poor in the early post-independence years.

For SFS, which has championed film appreciation since 1958, the celebration is both a tribute to Neo’s influence and a chance to bring long-time fans together for a uniquely Singaporean cinematic milestone.

To score a ticket, email info [at] singaporefilmsociety.com by Dec 31 with your name, mobile number and a message for Jack Neo. The first 50 qualifying entries will receive a pair of tickets. Winners will be notified by Jan 1.