Shortly after giving birth to her first child in 2018, Mao Ting’s world collapsed. She was only 28 years old.

It began with a spinal injury one month after giving birth, which caused her back muscles to freeze. Mao believes it may have been triggered by the physical strain of caring for her newborn while her body was still recovering from childbirth.

She saw a doctor and gradually felt better. After a few weeks, she took two private pilates classes after explaining her condition to the instructor.

But after the classes, her condition worsened. Her muscles began to spasm and Mao could not even stand without pain.

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In the two years after giving birth, the Singaporean saw more than 20 doctors, physiotherapists, orthopaedic doctors and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. No one could help.

Frozen with pain, Mao could not sit down. She lay on a baby mat to play with her baby daughter and ate her meals standing up.

She could not walk for long. Even pouring water from a jug caused her pain. Once, when putting on her pants, her body froze. She was unable to turn and had to be sent to hospital in an emergency ambulance.

“I felt like I lost my life in a way. I cried every night for more than a year,” the 36-year-old recalled.

It was when she was least mobile that she designed a pair of shoes to support her recovery. These shoes grew into a company, which she named Sunnystep – “an uplifting name created during the darkest period of my life”, she said.

Today, the homegrown brand has 12 outlets in Singapore, three in Malaysia and two in Indonesia.

IF THE SHOE DOESN’T FIT

How did she even conceive of creating a shoe brand while struggling with excruciating pain and reduced mobility?

“After I got injured, I couldn’t move my body,” Mao said. “I was lying down most of the time. All I had was my mind. I had a lot of time to think and reflect on what I wanted to do and why. Thinking gave me something meaningful to focus on while going through recovery.”

Mao found her thoughts wandering to shoes. While researching musculoskeletal issues, the topic of what kind of shoes to wear for injuries frequently came up.

“I used to have a very comfortable pair of sneakers. But after my injury, it felt very heavy and was not comfortable anymore,” Mao recalled, explaining that the weight caused additional strain during her injury.

What she needed were lightweight, stable and supportive shoes. But none of the 20 to 30 pairs in her closet fit the bill.

She began searching for more suitable shoes. She tried running shoes that were bulky and had a forward propulsion not suited for everyday walking, and orthotic shoes that were equally bulky, heavy and did not appeal to her tastes, she said. Flip flops were not even secured to the feet, and out of the question, she added.

Prior to her injury, the former data scientist had left her job in 2017 and attended a fashion trade show in Japan with the idea of starting a consumer brand. Among the suppliers she met was a small shoe manufacturer from China. In 2019, she reached out to them to create a shoe that could carry her through recovery.

“Because it wasn’t a big factory, they didn’t have a minimum order. They were willing to experiment with me. I just had to pay for the samples,” Mao told CNA Women.

Over long WeChat conversations, and six months of sampling, Mao finally created a pair that eased her pain – a minimalist white shoe without laces or embellishments.

The shoes provided Mao with good support when she was walking, especially at the foot arch, and were lightweight enough to avoid additional strain on her back. Although she still could not sit down or walk for long at that point, they made it much easier for her to move around.

In May 2019, she ordered 20 to 30 samples for family and friends. An aunt’s friend saw it and requested to buy a pair. A week later, she ordered eight more – one for everyone in her family.

“That is literally how it started,” laughed Mao.

FROM ONE SHOE TO A REGIONAL BRAND

This vote of confidence from a stranger gave Mao the confidence to run her first pop-up atrium bazaar in Square 2 in July 2019. She only had two designs then and ordered a few hundred pairs in total. 

Mao, who still couldn’t sit, made the trip to the mall lying flat on the fully reclined front seat of her dad’s car. He helped her set up at a small corner table. And because she could not stand for long, she left the booth to a student part-timer.

On the first day, Sunnystep sold one pair of shoes. By the third day, they sold eight. By the end of the bazaar about a week later, they had customers on the wait list – they loved how comfortable the shoes were.

Mao ran a few more pop-ups across Singapore, and before the end of 2019, opened her first store at Square 2. About a month later, the pandemic hit.

Retail outlets closed during the circuit breaker, but as the nation worked from home, comfort dressing began trending. When Sunnystep re-opened, the demand for its shoes grew.

Customers said they loved its support and lightweight design that enabled them to walk longer, stand longer, and finish the day with less fatigue, Mao said. They also appreciated that it did not come with the “orthopaedic” look of some more supportive shoes, she added.

As orders grew, the brand shifted their stocks from Mao’s family backyard to a locker room, and finally into a warehouse.

At the same time, Mao also made great strides in her recovery journey. In 2021, she worked with a physiotherapist who suffered from slipped disc herself but was running marathons. Hearing about her physiotherapist’s recovery journey gave Mao hope and inspired her to push forward with her plans to have her second child.

When she was pregnant, the surge in pregnancy hormones helped to ease her back pain, said Mao. She started to take pilates classes with a specialty pregnancy pilates instructor, which helped her regain her mobility and strength.

Gradually, she grew her comfort shoe brand and expanded her business from Singapore to Malaysia and Indonesia.

SHOES AS SELF-CARE

For Mao, Sunnystep was never just about shoes. It was a deeply personal journey to reclaim her mobility and life.

“Shoes are not just a fashion item. All the joints in your body are connected. If you wear shoes without the right support, the stress on your feet can move up your body to your knees, spine and neck. 

“Shoes play a foundational role in supporting your joints, your whole body and your health,” she said.

Sunnystep has its own in-house researcher based in Europe who reviews clinical studies and consults professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston Children's Hospital, as well as podiatrists to understand how shoe design can minimise stress on the feet and body, said Mao.

Shoes should fit your foot shape, and not the other way round, she stressed.

“Our toes are naturally spread out. You can see this in babies’ toes. But many modern shoes have narrow toe boxes that can gradually alter our foot shape over time,” she said.

“This is especially true for high heels where most of the body weight is placed on the front of the feet. If you wear them every day, your feet may become distorted,” Mao added.

Sunnystep shoes feature a wider toe box for toes to spread and wriggle, and reduce the stress of walking, she said. The shoes also offer arch support, which can help to stabilise and support the foot, especially for people with flat feet, she added.

Mao continually experiments to find the sweet spot between lightweight, durable, supportive, anti-slip, blister-free and beautiful shoe designs.

“I am not just looking for comfort when I try on the shoe. I want my shoes to feel comfortable even after you have walked a whole day in them,” she said.

This incredible entrepreneurship journey also helped to give meaning and purpose to Mao during a very dark period of her life when she was in a negative spiral.

Now stronger and more aware of how to care for her body, Mao is finally able to mother the way she hopes to. She loves taking solo bonding trips with each of her daughters.

The injury has also given the entrepreneur a newfound appreciation for life.

“I realised that life is very short. You never know what will happen the next day. The fact I can move my body is a privilege. I don't want to waste my life, because I don't know what will happen tomorrow,” she said.

SINGAPORE: A gag order has been imposed in the fatal Chinatown car accident –and if you have been sharing videos or photos of the incident, you could be in breach, lawyers warn.

On Wednesday (Apr 8), a 38-year-old female driver was charged over the viral incident that killed a six-year-old girl on Feb 6, with the court imposing a gag order during the hearing.

The order was granted to protect the identity of the accused's six-year-old son, who could be called as a witness. Because he is the accused's child, the order extends to her as well, covering details such as her name, address, photograph and vehicle registration number, and any other information that could lead to her identification.

With videos and photos of the incident already circulating online, CNA examines whether the gag order applies to such material retrospectively.

When and how does the court impose gag orders?

Gag orders are issued by the court to protect the identities of minors involved in court proceedings, or victims of criminal offences – in particular, victims of sexual crimes.

A gag order is not imposed to protect the accused. The accused is covered only if identifying them could lead to the identification of the protected person.

In another recent case involving a drunk driver who fatally struck a pedestrian, a gag order was similarly imposed on the offender's identity to protect his two young children, who were in the car at the time of the crash.

Gag orders are typically issued when the accused is first charged in court and apply broadly, including to members of the public.

Lawyer Joyce Khoo, a senior associate with Quahe Woo & Palmer, said gag orders are imposed under specific provisions depending on the nature of the case.

In cases involving a child, for example, a court may issue a gag order under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA), which prohibits the publication of information relating to court proceedings that reveals the name, address, school or any particulars likely to lead to their identification.

A judge could also grant a gag order under the Criminal Procedure Code to prohibit the publication of information that identifies the complainant or alleged victim of a sexual offence or child abuse. Other laws, such as the Women's Charter, may also apply. 

Criminal defence lawyer Rohit Kumar Singh from Regal Law said the protection afforded to a child is independent of their status as a witness.

"So this can possibly include children who are present at the scene, affected by the incident ... or connected to the proceedings in any meaningful way," he said.

Managing director of Vaswani Law Chambers Sanjiv Vaswani pointed to online comments threatening harm to the accused's child and said "one can clearly see why the identity of the boy ought to be protected".

Does it apply to members of the public sharing videos and photos?

Those who continue to share pictures and videos containing identifying details will be in breach of the gag order and must stop immediately, lawyers said.

"The obligation to stop is not only limited to the original source of the content, it can extend to anyone who reposts, forwards, uploads or otherwise circulates material that identifies, or is likely to identify, the protected person," Mr Singh said.  

"In Singapore, the scope of liability is intentionally broad and can apply to any person involved in publishing or distributing such content, even if they were simply 'sharing' something that was already in circulation," he added.

Gag orders can also apply to platforms that facilitate online discussions attempting to identify a protected person. Platform or forum operators could be liable if they knowingly host such content and fail to take reasonable steps to remove it when notified, Mr Singh said.

Mr Vaswani said that while moderating all discussions may be difficult, the law still applies to forums, as it focuses on the act of publication rather than the platform or medium used.

Still, lawyers said enforcement would likely focus on individuals rather than platforms, partly due to expediency.

Senior lecturer in the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ Law Programmes Melvin Loh said it is important to intervene quickly when the gag order is breached, so as to minimise any harm.  

"Expediency in addressing any breaches would be key to protecting the accused's son in this case," said Mr Loh, who is also counsel at law firm Peter Low Chambers. 

Can a gag order apply retrospectively?

Lawyers said that while a gag order does not criminalise past behaviour, it applies to the continued publication or availability of identifying material.

Existing posts that identify a protected person may therefore contravene the order and must be removed. Leaving such content online after the order has been issued could be treated as a continuing breach, Mr Singh said.

Mr Vaswani added that any detail that leads to the identification of a protected person risks breaching the gag order. 

"There is no closed list stipulating what those particulars are," he said.

What are the penalties for flouting a gag order?

Those who breach a gag order may be prosecuted and found in contempt of court.

"A breach of a gag order can result in a fine and/or imprisonment, depending on the wording of the specific provision contravened," Ms Khoo said.

Punishment for contempt of court is provided under the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act, which also specifies the court which exercises the power.

The General Division of the High Court, when punishing contempt in relation to proceedings in a State Court, Family Court or Youth Court, could impose a fine of up to S$20,000 (US$15,700) or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

In 2022, a lawyer charged under Section 7(4) of the State Courts Act for breaching a gag order was fined S$4,000. Under that provision, he could have been fined up to S$5,000 or jailed up to 12 months, or both.

A person who shares information that leads to the identification of a child may be in breach of the CYPA, and could be fined up to S$5,000, with higher penalties for repeat offenders.

Media organisations could face corporate liability and regulatory consequences, while lawyers may be subject to disciplinary proceedings for professional misconduct, Mr Singh said.

A court may consider various factors in determining the penalty, such as the extent of harm that may be caused by the breach, Mr Loh said. A journalist who deliberately publishes restricted information may be treated more seriously than a layperson who attempts to identify the accused online.

SINGAPORE: Could you find a loved one if all he or she left you was a note saying, “Meet me there”?

Eight Singaporean pairs, from close friends to family members to long-time collaborators, recently had to do just that.

Among them: pioneering YouTubers Munah Bagharib and Hirzi Zulkiflie; architects Khoo Peng Beng and Belinda Huang, the husband-and-wife team behind the Pinnacle@Duxton; musicians Jack Ho and Rai Kannu; and Broadway Beng’s Selena Tan and Sebastian Tan.

Guided only by shared memories, one half of each pair had to locate the other, who was waiting for them somewhere in Singapore.

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Those are now memories shared with the rest of the country in Meet Me There, a series based on a Nippon TV format. “Through their points of view, we see different facets of Singapore,” said series producer Liu Ziqing.

With no clues as to their partner’s whereabouts, many participants — who had thought they would be giving an interview to CNA — were second-guessing not only their choices but their relationship.

Hirzi, 36, and Munah, 38, have been best friends for nearly 20 years.

But after retracing milestones in their history, from Temasek Polytechnic (their alma mater) to Hong Lim Park (where they had been Pink Dot ambassadors), Hirzi said in mock frustration: “I don’t know her any more. I’m going to unfollow her on Instagram.”

They eventually reunited at youth hub *Scape, which held the YouTube Fanfest 2015 where Munah said they had first found “a deeper meaning (in) why we do what we do” through their fans.

Elsewhere, Khoo found himself physically and emotionally taxed while searching for his wife.

“My knees are killing me, Belinda,” the 58-year-old said after not finding her at multiple locations, including their go-to cafe, church, first home and the Pinnacle@Duxton. “Emotional clues are very difficult to find.”

The uncertainty extended to the production team, who had to prepare for multiple scenarios behind the scenes.

While they had been given a list of possible search locations and had to secure access to those places in advance as far as possible, participants went to unexpected destinations — and more places than could appear on screen eventually.

There was also the possibility that some pairs might not reunite. But that helped to drive the format. Tension built around the uncertainties about how long the journey would take or what would be revealed along the way.

WATCH PART 1: How well do you know someone you love? A desperate search across Singapore (46:56)

Even so, the rules were strict. Producers gave no hints, only neutral prompts such as asking participants to think about significant places in their relationship.

Some profiles tried to read the crew’s reactions for clues, so the team had to learn to maintain a poker face, said Liu.

In the end, Meet Me There is not about whether pairs arrive at the same place but rather what those places reveal, and how shared memories may shape relationships but are not always remembered in the same way.

FROM FIRST KISS TO PARENTS’ DIVORCE

Those who penned the note often avoided the most obvious choice. That was why Selena Tan, 54, was surprised that co-collaborator Sebastian Tan, 52, managed to find her.

He had worked through the milestones in their careers — theatres, the Esplanade, past performance spaces — before arriving at a less obvious location: the house where they first rehearsed Broadway Beng.

“I find it completely amazing that he found it because I wouldn’t have found it,” said Selena Tan.

Parkour practitioner Gwendolyn Neo, 33, took a similar approach. Instead of Bishan Park — where her husband, Koh Chen Pin, had proposed to her — she chose Bedok Reservoir, a place they had gone to after she had bailed him out once.

He had been in trouble with the police after filming himself on the roof of a shopping centre.

“That was also the day we first held hands,” recalled Koh, 32, who is also a parkour practitioner. “Then (at) midnight we first kissed.”

Not all memories that were revisited were just as sweet, however.

For artist Eunice Hannah Lim, waiting for her mentee Foo Hui Wen at Tampines Changkat Community Club resurfaced memories of a somewhat fraught day when they were racing against the clock to complete a mural there before the next morning.

Lim, 34, remembered being “really furious” when Foo left midway through the project to meet some friends before returning hours later. “It was supposed to be her wall, and she needed to take responsibility and ownership,” Lim said.

For actor and content creator Dharmadasa D Dharamahsena, more commonly known as Das DD, his search took him to his childhood home in Teck Whye, where his parents got divorced.

“It doesn’t bring back really good memories,” the 36-year-old said. “But if I see my mother there, I feel maybe we could find closure in that space. Then we can remind each other that we’ve moved on.”

WATCH PART 2: Growing up with a single mother — Can memories lead Das back to her? (45:17)

But she was not there. And after nearly 10 hours of searching, he gave up. “This show should be Don’t Meet Me There, and I probably would’ve got it correct,” he quipped at one point.

“I felt I’d covered all my bases, so if I keep going to random places, then I think I won’t be honest with myself (about) what I truly think is a shared memory.”

Mother and son eventually reunited at Mediacorp, a place she said was important to them as his present and future were represented there.

A “QUITE SPECIAL” EXPERIENCE

While almost every participant took longer than anticipated to arrive “there”, many of them found the experience meaningful, according to Liu.

WATCH PART 3: After 30 years of friendship — Do our local actors really know each other? (44:32)

It was a rare opportunity for Neo to see her relationship with Koh from his perspective, she said, as they do not usually talk in depth about the memories and places they share.

“It’s really good to recall our journey,” Koh reflected. “This is a reminder also to form new memories.”

Even when participants failed repeatedly to find their partner, they did not miss the point of the search.

Rai retraced a friendship with Ho spanning almost a quarter-century — from Wala Wala, where they first performed together in 2002, to The Flying Squirrel, the restaurant they built, to G77+, where they kept making music via livestreams during the pandemic.

“This whole experience for me was quite special,” said Ho, 48, who watched the search unfold like a journey through time. “I think we forget a lot of things that we went through.”

Rai, 47, added: “You can really go through a lot with someone, … more than what we even mentioned on camera.”

For 23-year-old professional wrestling twins Nadiah and Nadirah Hirwandy, their reunion location, Crescent Girls’ School, was not only where memories were made, but also where their identity took shape as they navigated teenage challenges at home and in school.

“This was where we both concretely said we wanted to do wrestling,” Nadirah shared. “Back then, it was just a dream. Now we get to come back and say we’re wrestlers.”

The meaning of this place was foundational for them. And that is the point of the show’s format as Liu sees it.

He hopes the three-part series can prompt viewers to reflect on their own relationships and see how everyday spaces across Singapore can carry layers of memory and meaning, even when they are remembered differently.

Watch all three episodes of the series, Meet Me There: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

SINGAPORE: A California jury found Meta and Google liable for deliberately designing platforms to keep young users glued to their screens, at the expense of their well-being, and for failing to warn users of the risks.

The social media giants were ordered to pay US$6 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff, identified only as Kaley. The case was decided under the same legal doctrines used to hold car manufacturers and tobacco companies accountable for designing defective products. 

Kaley has a history of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and body dysmorphic disorder – severe distress over distorted perceptions of her body image. She convinced the jury that YouTube and Instagram, which she started using at ages 6 and 9, respectively, substantially contributed to her suffering. 

A few million dollars may not alter a tech giant’s conduct, but Kaley’s lawyers are coordinating legal action involving thousands of other plaintiffs. 

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If legal losses continue, platforms may change familiar features that led to liability in Kaley’s case. Those features are also a focus of European Union regulations, and Singapore is well-positioned to consider targeting them as well. 

PLATFORM FEATURES IN FOCUS

Kaley testified that she was drawn in by chasing likes and followers. She became preoccupied with comparing herself to similar users sharing everyday updates about outfits and birthday parties.

The genius of the legal strategy in Kaley's case was not arguing for liability based on content. For decades, potential claimants got nowhere in the US, where a 1996 law shields platforms from liability for harm stemming from users’ posts.

Kaley’s winning argument was based on specific features that platforms use to maximise engagement. Infinite scroll ensures there are always new posts to view, and video autoplay makes going down a rabbit hole effortless. Distressed by her social media use, Kaley was nonetheless unable to close the apps. 

Social media platforms have a strong business incentive to do whatever works to keep us scrolling so they can show us more ads, even when we want to stop. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in Kaley’s trial that it is not in a platform’s interest to upset users. But engagement metrics do not measure satisfaction – just time on the platform. 

In the EU, regulations at various stages of development focus on the features that digital platforms use to engage users, such as infinite scroll of autoplay videos and counters that encourage users to maintain streaks of consecutive daily use. The emerging approach may push platforms to disable these features by default for minors and to provide adults with the option to switch them off.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SINGAPORE

In the university courses I teach, the undergraduates are social media natives. Many have mentioned in class discussions their own struggles with self-regulating social media use. They tend to be open to considering changes to platform features but are uncertain about their impact. 

Singapore has increasingly focused on holding platforms responsible for hosting content, rather than just the individuals who posted it. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) recently issued letters of caution to X and TikTok after finding serious weaknesses in their detection and removal of harmful content. They could face fines in Singapore if they do not improve.

Singapore’s new Online Safety Commission, set to begin operating by mid-2026, will be empowered to issue takedown orders to platforms and force the disclosure of perpetrators' identities, enabling victims to pursue civil lawsuits.

Laws targeting offensive content are only part of the picture, though. To help users like my students, Singapore's next regulatory frontier can target the addictive architecture itself.

App stores have offered different versions of social media apps to comply with various legal requirements, including strict EU regulations. If platforms are forced to disable addictive features in the EU or the US, they are unlikely to roll those protections out globally by choice. Ultimately, whether Singaporeans get access to safer, less addictive social media may depend on local laws demanding it.

NEW TECHNOLOGY, FAMILIAR THREATS

Guardrails against digital media addiction may take on new urgency with the rise of artificial intelligence chatbots. The top use of generative AI in 2025 was not writing or coding, but therapy and companionship, according to research reported on in the Harvard Business Review. 

Eyeing an IPO later this year, OpenAI announced it will display ads on the free and lower-tier subscription levels of ChatGPT. 

Though OpenAI has stated it does not aim to maximise the time users spend on ChatGPT, the business incentive is clear. More time spent on a platform means more time to present ads. Chatbots appear poised to follow the social media business model of monetising user engagement. 

The lesson from social media is that engagement-driven business models lead to predictable harm to some users. AI companies are already facing lawsuits for harming users who developed emotional bonds with chatbots, including those from family members of users who died by suicide. Platforms have had little incentive to fix what is working as designed, to keep us engaged. 

Kaley’s verdict and the emerging EU approach raise possibilities that Singapore might consider. Your late-night doomscrolling or chats with AI aren’t just failures of your willpower. They are the result of platform design choices. 

The questions now are whether social media platforms and AI chatbots will help users make informed choices and how impactful new safety features will be.

Dr Mark Cenite is Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education) at Nanyang Technological University’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and teaches media law and artificial intelligence law at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

The UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology on Thursday (Apr 9) called for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened unconditionally, adding that access to the vital waterway was currently being “restricted, conditioned and controlled”.

“Iran has made clear - through both its statements and actions - that passage is subject to permission, conditions and political leverage. That is not freedom of navigation. That is coercion,” Dr Sultan Al Jaber said in a LinkedIn post.

Iran, the US and Israel reached a tentative, two-week ceasefire on Wednesday in the war that tore across the Middle East and disrupted the global energy market. The deal involves the US suspending attacks on Iran, with Tehran in turn temporarily reopening the strait.

However, an Iranian official said on Wednesday that the waterway - through which around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flowed before the US-Israeli war on Iran began nearly six weeks ago - could be reopened by Friday in a limited fashion under Iranian control.

Tehran had also indicated earlier this week that, under a permanent peace deal, it would seek to charge a fee for transiting ships. 

Dr Al Jaber, who is also managing director and group CEO of the UAE’s state oil giant ADNOC, said the strait was not built, engineered, financed or constructed by any state, and that no country had a legitimate right to determine who may pass and under what terms.

“It is a natural passage governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees transit as a matter of right; not a privilege to be granted, withheld or weaponised,” he wrote, stressing that it must be opened with “no strings attached”.

“The strait must be open - fully, unconditionally and without restriction. Energy security and global economic stability depend on it. The weaponisation of this vital waterway, in any form, cannot stand. This would set a dangerous precedent for the world – undermining the principle of freedom of navigation that underpins global trade and, ultimately, the stability of the global economy.”

The matter is “particularly urgent” for Asia, where 80 per cent of waiting cargoes are bound and half the world's population lives, he said. 

SINGAPORE'S POSITION

Dr Al Jaber’s remarks come after Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Tuesday that the country will not negotiate for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as doing so would undermine fundamental principles of international law.

Responding to a parliamentary question by Member of Parliament Fadli Fawzi (WP-Aljunied) on whether Singapore would engage Iran or consider paying a toll for its vessels, Dr Balakrishnan stressed that transit through such waterways is a right - not a privilege.

“There is a right of transit passage,” he said. “It is not a privilege to be granted by the bordering state, it’s not a licence to be supplicated for, it is not a toll to be paid.”

He emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz, like the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Singapore, is a waterway used for international navigation. This right is codified in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which Singapore is a signatory.

Dr Balakrishnan added that the principle applies even to states that have not ratified UNCLOS, stating that it is not a "get-out-of-jail-free card" for them.

MALAYSIA’S GOOD RELATIONS WITH IRAN

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday emphasised that the country’s good international relationships have helped it navigate the current Middle East situation.

"Malaysia is fortunate because our international relations are very close with all countries … whether it is myself, the foreign minister or other Cabinet members - to ensure we have a better understanding of the situation," he said.

Speaking during an address at the Transport Ministry, the prime minister cited Malaysia’s good relations with Iran and how it helped the country secure passage for its Petronas ships.

Malaysia’s foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that the first of seven Malaysia-owned commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz has transited the strait and is en route to its final destination.

The ministry said the ship’s passage followed high-level diplomatic engagement between both countries’ leaders and foreign ministers in March. 

The ministry’s statement came a day after the Iranian embassy in Malaysia's announcement. "We had said that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not forget its friends," the embassy posted on social media platform X.

SINGAPORE: The government will provide three months of support to transport operators serving school students, people with disabilities, some seniors and patients, to help the sector cope with rising fuel costs.

The support - equivalent to 13 per cent of transport fare revenues - will cover services provided from April to June.

"This move is to help these transport service providers continue operating without disruption in the near term," the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a joint media release on Thursday (Apr 9).

"With the support, operators should keep fares stable during this period."

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The announcement builds on Tuesday's ministerial statement in parliament, where Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said the government will temporarily co-fund cost increases for certain essential bus services to cushion the impact of the Middle East conflict on Singaporeans.

However, the ministries said fares may still have to rise if fuel prices remain elevated beyond the three-month support period.

"There are existing subsidies to support students, seniors, patients and persons with disabilities if they are not able to afford their transport," they noted.

SCHOOL BUSES, DISABILITY TRANSPORT

For the school bus sector, MOE will extend support to operators providing services for primary schools and special education (SPED) schools, covering periods when services are in operation.

"The support will also provide parents and caregivers with more reaction time to adjust their transport arrangements if needed, ahead of possible fare increases, should the fuel price situation not improve," the ministries said.

Students on the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will continue to receive subsidies covering 70 per cent of monthly school bus fares since January, up from 65 per cent previously. Those requiring additional help, or who do not qualify for FAS, can approach their schools.

SPED students eligible for MSF’s Enabling Transport Subsidy, administered by SG Enable, will continue to receive support. Those needing further assistance may also seek help from their schools.

In a notice to parents, MOE said bus fares may have to rise temporarily from Term 3 if fuel prices remain elevated. "MOE remains committed to ensure that school bus services can continue," it added.

MSF, on its part, will provide support to social service agencies delivering MSF-funded disability services and using the Enabling Transport Subsidy for transport to day activity centres and sheltered workshops.

The social service agencies must pass on the grants to their contracted transport operators.

From July 2026, the Enabling Transport Subsidy will be enhanced to extend support to more people with disabilities.

SUPPORT FOR SENIORS AND PATIENTS

The health ministry will provide similar support to long-term care and community dialysis service providers offering regular transport for seniors and patients. These include MOH-funded senior care centres, medical escort and transport operators, day hospices and dialysis centres.

"Seniors and patients can be assured that the cost of care will continue to remain affordable," the ministries said

"As announced at Budget 2025, subsidies for long-term care services, which include transport services, will be enhanced from July 2026."

MOH and the Agency for Integrated Care will provide more details to service providers by the end of April.

The surge in fuel prices due to the war in the Middle East has pushed up operating costs for various businesses.

Targeted support for platform workers, private-hire car drivers and taxi drivers, as well as cost-of-living support for households, was also announced on Tuesday.

SINGAPORE: Bloomberg's defence counsel on Thursday (Apr 9) took issue with a correction direction by the government regarding its news article, challenging Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam to point out where the false statements were.

In his cross-examination of Mr Shanmugam, Senior Counsel Sreenivasan Narayanan noted that almost none of the false statements pointed out by the government appeared verbatim in what was eventually published.

At one point, Mr Shanmugam said the Bloomberg article was "completely false", noting that the article left out details on Singapore’s strict system of checks to counter money laundering in property transactions.

"It's crazy that this kind of article can be put up," he said. "This article is very carefully crafted to make all the false points as maliciously as possible."

The December 2024 article about Good Class Bungalows (GCBs), which Mr Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng allege was defamatory, was subject to a Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) order that Bloomberg did not challenge at the time.

Dr Tan also took the stand for the first time on the third day of the defamation trial, in which he repeatedly said he did not know what Bloomberg meant when it referred to his property transaction as "off the radar".

DEFENCE TAKES SHANMUGAM THROUGH ARTICLE

Taking Mr Shanmugam through specific paragraphs, Mr Sreenivasan asked the minister to point out where exactly in the article could the "false statements" of fact be found.

The falsehoods, according to a Factually article that accompanied the POFMA order, include statements such as: There are no publicly available government records of GCB sale transactions if caveats are not lodged; that the government is not aware of the identity of the ultimate beneficial owner in such a transaction; and GCB property transactions can be carried out without any checks by the government on the owners' identities.

Mr Sreenivasan went through several paragraphs of Bloomberg's article to show that none of these "falsehoods" were actually written verbatim in the article. 

He also sought to find out if Mr Shanmugam had known about the POFMA order before it was issued, and also asked why the minister's letter of demand for his defamation suit to Bloomberg had a similar view to the Factually article.

To this, Mr Shanmugam said he had recused himself from any decision by the government about the POFMA order, and that it was a "very serious allegation" to suggest that the Cabinet would collude with him on a civil action.

On why his letter of demand had a similar view to the Factually article, Mr Shanmugam responded to his lawyer Senior Counsel Davinder Singh that a fair number of people reading the article would have come to that same view.

"When I read it, I immediately said this is defamatory," he said. "I have two tests before I start any action. One, as your honour knows, I know something of this area of the law. And it has to satisfy me that it's not a 50-50 case, or a 60-40 case.

"After that, I will go to my solicitors, and you Mr Singh, you will have to tell me that it's better than a 60-40 case, that it is quite clear. And there have been many occasions you said it is not. So it's got to satisfy both those tests."

On Mr Sreenivasan's point that the article did not contain the false statements verbatim, Mr Singh agreed with this, but said his client's case is that the article "communicated" certain falsehoods.

Among other things, Mr Shanmugam said the article suggested he was involved in a "shady deal" with possibilities of money laundering, using words like "the rich cloaking their purchases in secrecy".

DAMAGES

Bloomberg has not challenged its POFMA order, despite stating that it stood by its reporting. The article remains up, a fact Mr Shanmugam said was grounds for aggravated damages.

On this point, Mr Sreenivasan argued that the article did not actually damage Mr Shanmugam's standing. The article was published before the 2025 General Election in May that year.

After the election, Mr Shanmugam was "promoted" to coordinating minister for national security, and his ward saw an increase in the number of votes for his team, said Mr Sreenivasan.

The lawyer also pointed out that the article attracted more views after Mr Shanmugam made a Facebook post saying the article was defamatory.

After Mr Sreenivasan ended his cross-examination of Mr Shanmugam, Senior Counsel Chelva Retnam Rajah, who is acting for Mr Low, asked him a few questions briefly.

Mr Shanmugam agreed with Mr Chelva on a few points, that the first two versions of the article did not refer to him, and that one paragraph had made a reference to his property transaction.

However, he "wholly" disagreed with Mr Chelva's suggestion that the article itself did not allege any criminal, illegal or improper conduct on his part in relation to the property sale.

DR TAN TAKES THE STAND

During Dr Tan's testimony in the afternoon, the manpower minister stated from the outset that he was not a lawyer and this was his first time being cross-examined.

Mr Sreenivasan described him as a "very well-known and successful person in the field of medicine and healthcare", telling him he did not need to be modest.

Asked if it was correct to say that it was common knowledge that Dr Tan had reached the "top of the very top" of his career before he entered into politics, Dr Tan paused.

"I cannot say that. If you know our motto, for medicine. From my medical school that I graduated from, we've always been taught - not the pride of knowledge but the humility of wisdom. So I cannot say that," said Dr Tan.

Dr Tan later said he read the Bloomberg article the day it was published, possibly because his press team flagged it to him.

"I was quite disturbed by the article after reading it when it came out," he said. "I read it over and over again because I'm not a lawyer, I just felt that the way the article was drafted, put me in not a very good light."

He said he quickly consulted his lawyer, Mr Singh, and then decided to commence legal proceedings.

He recalled Mr Low sending an email to his press secretary in October 2023, saying he planned to report "a broader story" on the "off the radar" GCB transactions, and said Dr Tan was involved in non-caveated purchase in Brizay Park.

Dr Tan said his press secretary asked him if he wanted to comment.

"I didn't think too much about what is there to comment," he said, adding that the reporter already had all the facts about his purchase including the price, location and date of purchase.

Dr Tan also said he did not understand why the transaction was described as "off the radar" by the Bloomberg reporter, since it would appear in public records eventually. The difference between a caveated and a non-caveated deal was that it took some weeks before it showed up in public records, he said.

When asked by Mr Sreenivasan if it was a "sensitive issue" for locals that Singapore had granted citizenship to wealthy migrants who are paying large sums for private properties - a point raised in the article, Dr Tan said it had to be taken "in context".

Dr Tan said: "Well, I think that when you talk about sensitive issues for locals, it's really too all-encompassing a word ... for instance, if I may refer to myself - I grew up in a HDB setting, I would say, for the first half of my life. 

"I really wasn't bothered about wealthy migrants paying large sums for private properties such as GCBs because they were out of my reach to begin with. I was more concerned with getting the next BTO (Build-To-Order) flat."

However, he agreed that the issue of Singapore granting citizenship to wealthy migrants who pay large sums for private properties is a sensitive one for locals.

At one point, lawyers sparred over a line of questioning from Mr Sreenivasan, who said the claimants were "putting sinister twists to innocently published articles".

Mr Singh also tried to object when Mr Sreenivasan asked for the hearing to continue the next day, saying he thought the latter would have come prepared.

"Let's just be reasonable," said Justice Audrey Lim in response. "The same rules apply to you, when you are cross-examining the two witnesses for the defendants."

The trial continues on Friday.

SINGAPORE: A surge in global energy prices triggered by the Middle East conflict could translate into higher electricity bills in the months ahead.

With the government urging households and businesses to curb energy use, is it time to think about using the S$400 (US$313) climate vouchers as a way to save on utility expenses?

Under the enhanced Climate Friendly Households Programme (CFHP), the vouchers allow eligible households to purchase energy-efficient appliances - lowering overall power consumption.

Although the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday (Apr 7), damage to oil infrastructure is expected to constrain supply and keep energy prices elevated for months. 

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said the regulated electricity tariff, which most Singapore households pay, increased by 2.1 per cent to 27.27 cents/kWh for the second quarter of 2026, adding that this is “modest” relative to the spike in fuel prices.

However, he warned that households should expect a much sharper increase in the next tariff adjustment, which will fully reflect the higher fuel costs.

HOW MUCH CAN I SAVE WITH ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES? 

So, what does this mean for your wallet - and what can you do about it?

One way to manage rising bills is by choosing appliances with higher tick ratings. The more ticks they are awarded, the more energy-efficient they are.

An appliance that uses less electricity to do the same job is more efficient, and will also have a direct impact on your electricity bill.

While these energy-efficient models may cost more upfront, they can lower your electricity bills over time.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), switching to a five-tick air-conditioner could save you around S$303 per year compared to a two-tick model.

This is based on an electricity cost of 29.9 cents/kWh (before GST), and assuming that a multi-split 7.5kW cooling capacity air-conditioner is used eight hours daily.

Similarly, switching from a two-tick to a three-tick refrigerator can save about S$59 a year.

With higher tariffs expected in the quarters ahead, savings will likely go up. 

Professor Lee Poh Seng, executive director of the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore, said the savings can be significant - but it really depends on what appliance you’re replacing and how often you use it.

“The biggest bill savings usually come not from small plug loads, but from the major, long-running appliances, above all air-conditioners, followed by refrigerators and water heaters,” he said, adding that these make up about 80 per cent of electricity consumption in a typical household.

WHAT CAN I USE MY CLIMATE VOUCHERS ON?

As of Apr 1, there are 775 participating retail outlets where you can use your climate vouchers.

These vouchers can be used to buy: 

• Refrigerators: Three-tick and above

• Air-conditioners: Five-tick 

• Direct-current fans: Typically labelled as DC fan. Stand fans, ceiling fans, and table fans that use DC motors are eligible, while DC fans with non-LED lights are not eligible.

• LED lights: Two-tick and above are eligible, but those with the old round energy label are not eligible. Some examples of eligible LED lights without energy labels include downlights, spotlights, and circular tubelights.

• Water heaters: Five-tick

• Washing machines: Four-tick

• Water closets: Three-tick

• Sink, basin or water taps: Three-tick

• Shower fittings: Three-tick

From Apr 15, the programme will be expanded to include five-tick clothes dryers and induction stoves.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT APPLIANCE?

For air-conditioners, it is important to choose the right cooling capacity. If it is too big or too small for your space, it will not run efficiently - and that can drive up your bills.

Don’t just look at the upfront price - consider the “life cycle cost”. That means adding the purchase price to the estimated electricity cost over about seven years. 

For refrigerators, go for the smallest size that fits your needs. Extra features like ice makers or water dispensers may be convenient, but they also use more energy. 

Just like air-conditioners, you should look at the life cycle cost for refrigerators, which are typically used for about 10 years.

WHY FIX WHAT ISN'T BROKEN?

If your appliance is still working perfectly fine, should you replace it anyway?

Short answer: It depends. 

Prof Lee said the better question is not “Is it still working?” but “Is it still working efficiently enough to justify keeping it?" - a more useful test both economically and environmentally.

If you have an older, inefficient air-conditioner that runs for many hours a day, the economics of replacing it can be quite compelling, particularly with the CFHP offsetting part of the upfront cost, he said. 

From an environmental point of view, it may not be the best move to replace a relatively new, lightly used appliance that is already reasonably efficient.

However if you have an old, energy-hungry unit that will continue consuming excessive electricity for years, this can make good environmental sense, he said. 

Prof Lee added that the fastest savings often come from simply using your biggest appliances more efficiently - especially air-conditioning.

For instance, using a fan instead of air-conditioning could save about S$441 a year. Even using the air-conditioner briefly before switching to a fan could save around S$386 annually.

GETTING MORE FOR GOING GREEN 

Besides climate vouchers, there are existing schemes to encourage households to switch to energy and water efficient appliances.

For instance, the North West District has a scheme to invite residents to “green” their homes by meeting a set of criteria, such as using higher-rated appliances (for example, energy-efficient air-conditioners and refrigerators), and installing efficient water heaters.  

Households that meet these benchmarks can receive tiered cash rewards - ranging from about S$100 to S$500 - depending on how many criteria they fulfil. 

SINGAPORE: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make a three-day official visit to Singapore.

In a statement on Thursday (Apr 9), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Mr Albanese’s visit reaffirms the excellent state of bilateral relations between Singapore and Australia. 

The ministry added that this is underpinned by the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2.0, which was launched in October. 

Under the wide-ranging agreement, the two countries will embark on more ambitious, pathfinding bilateral initiatives to strengthen resilience, seize new opportunities and contribute to stability and growth in the region and beyond.

During his visit, Mr Albanese will be hosted to lunch by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. He will also visit the Singapore LNG Terminal and Singapore Refining Company on Jurong Island. 

He will be in Singapore until Saturday. 

CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS ON ENERGY SECURITY 

Mr Albanese’s visit comes after the two countries pledged to work together to strengthen energy supply chain resilience during a phone call in March. 

Both leaders had expressed "deep concern" over the situation in the Middle East, which has damaged energy infrastructure in Gulf states like Qatar, a key exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz - where about a fifth of global oil and LNG normally transits. 

The disruptions have led to concerns about their impact on global energy supplies.

Singapore and Australia previously said they would step up efforts to ensure the steady trade of key goods, including diesel and LNG. 

Australia is one of the world's top LNG producers, alongside Qatar, the US and Russia.

Singapore generates about 95 per cent of its electricity using imported natural gas, comprising LNG and pipeline gas from neighbouring countries. 

Last week, Mr Wong said the government is strengthening longer-term resilience by deepening energy partnerships including with Australia, which supplies more than one-third of Singapore’s LNG. 

He warned of "severe consequences" if Middle Eastern energy sources and supply routes remain constrained for an extended period. 

SINGAPORE: Singapore will need to pay particular attention to defence if the global order starts to fall apart, even as the country builds resilience across energy, food and other parts of the supply chain, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (Apr 9).

If global order moves in that direction, there will be a "vacuum" which leads to disorder, he said.

"It means messiness. It means unpredictability," said Mr Wong.

Asked by reporters during a visit to the 6th Singapore Division/Headquarters Sense and Strike (6 Div/HQ SS) at Mandai Hill Camp about the Iran war's impact on defence, the prime minister spoke about a world where countries may resort to the use of force and coercion to get what they want.

"Small countries like Singapore will come under pressure," he said, which is why Singapore has to go beyond equipping and transforming the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

"It is also thinking hard about technology and thinking hard about defence supply chains and how we can be more resilient as a country," Mr Wong said. 

He was joined by Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing at the visit. They observed how the SAF deployed drones on the battlefield, which Mr Wong said allowed him to learn how these capabilities are integrated with the rest of the military.

With recent conflicts in Ukraine and Iran showing that warfare is evolving through the use of unmanned systems, it has given Singapore "a lot of food for thought", said Mr Wong. 

It is not just about buying new platforms, he noted.

"What was of more importance is how to integrate these new capabilities well across different domains - between the operations and the technology team - and across different services in the SAF, so that we can have a more effective SAF, and we can also be a more effective deterrent against potential aggressors," he added. 

Singapore must be prepared for more conflicts and more fighting around the world in the years ahead, Mr Wong said.

"We wish it were not so, but this is the reality of the world we live in, and we must be prepared."

CHALLENGES OF DRONE WARFARE

With low-cost drones being used in Ukraine and Iran, Mr Wong noted that such a trend can pose challenges to countries with advanced defence technologies.

"You can have the most advanced interceptors, but when your aggressor is deploying cheap swarms of drones, it's very challenging for your interceptors to defend," he said, adding that it also takes time to replace the expensive assets.

This was an example of new threats Singapore will have to think about, which is why it is important for the country to build up its own capabilities, said Mr Wong. 

During the visit, the prime minister was briefed on the unit's transformation to integrate capabilities across the Singapore Army’s intelligence and artillery teams, as well as the cross-service integration between the army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS).

Mr Wong also interacted with soldiers undergoing the division's Advanced Competency Training to learn the new technologies and new concepts. It involves more than 1,200 national servicemen (NSmen), full-time NSmen and regulars.

Colonel Philip Khoo Kok Hong, chief of staff of the 6 Div/HQ SS, noted that operations today are no longer confined to just a single domain, but span across air, land, sea and even the digital space.

He highlighted four evolving challenges - urban complexity, data overload, faster and smarter threats, and multi-domain operations. 

Buildings and structures in the urban environment can make it difficult to pick up the targets present everywhere. More sensors are needed to cover as many blind spots as possible, said COL Khoo. 

A good command and control information system is also necessary to collate all incoming data and filter the information that matters, he added.

To combat fast-moving targets, the "kill chain" needs to be shortened - from the time a target is picked up and determined as a potential threat, to the time taken to assign a shooter to take it down.

Lastly, with warfare no longer confined to a single domain, the SAF will need to bring in expertise such as from the army, air force and the DIS into a cohesive system to become an effective fighting force, COL Khoo said.

LEARNING FROM CONFLICTS

When asked about the ongoing conflicts, COL Khoo said the SAF always conducts operational learning on existing or new fighting concepts and how these apply to Singapore's context.

This includes looking at how new technologies can be incorporated into SAF's own fighting system. At the technical level, the armed forces also look into cheaper ways of carrying out missions and providing asymmetric and innovative options.

COL Khoo also spoke about opportunities to trial technology during overseas training exercises, such as the "one-to-many" control for drones. This allows an operator to control conceptually up to 200 drones at a time, rather than having one operator for a single drone.

This reduces workload and manpower. Artificial intelligence is also used to allow the drones to self-synchronise, where the assets head to areas selected by the operator and automatically detect and classify targets. 

SAF's defence technology partners such as DSTA also closely monitor the conflicts, looking at various sources of information from online videos to determine technologies being used. 

They are also able to see the components involved and try to replicate and adapt these to solutions provided to the SAF, said Mr Alex Lee, DSTA's Director of Land Systems.

"In exercises, we actually give some of these ideas and new concepts that we are learning from the recent conflicts, putting it into the hands of the soldiers and allowing them to experiment," he said.

Third Sergeant S Himeshan, an NSF who learned to fly the Veloce 15 (V15) mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said it was initially challenging to operate the drone as there were many features and scenarios to memorise and prepare for.

A lot of practice and simulations go into ensuring the V15 flies smoothly, and operating it requires a strong ability to think on the ground and adapt under pressure, he added. 

He’s built his F&B name on local fare, from zi char to fish soup and even kopitiams, but Mediacorp actor-host Ben Yeo, 47, is now taking a detour into Thai cuisine.

His newest concept, Benkok13 (pun very much intended), is a no-frills standalone Thai eatery at the void deck of an HDB block in Taman Jurong. The joint, which opened on Apr 1, serves up popular Thai street foods such as tom yum soup, pad thai and basil pork rice. There is also a small selection of local breakfast items like kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and French toast, plus kopi and teh.

The “13” refers to its tightly curated menu of 13 mains, based on what his Thai business partner, who has years of experience running Thai eateries here, identified as Singaporeans’ favourites.

While the concept may seem like a departure from his usual fare, Yeo says Thai food wasn’t the original plan.

When he and his partners found this space, they initially toyed with the idea of serving local fare, including fish soup, a concept Yeo is well known for, but quickly ruled it out. 

“We already opened a few stalls in the past year, so it’s enough for now,” he said. “And this is a neighbourhood space, so we wanted something more friendly for everybody [rather than a single-dish offering].”

Thai food eventually emerged as the best fit – familiar, widely liked, and versatile enough for different diners.

The team partnered with a friend who has been running Thai F&B brand Hom Aroy Thai Food in Singapore for over a decade, with outlets at Coronation Shopping Plaza and Toa Payoh. The kitchen is helmed by two Thai chefs.

According to Yeo's partner, these 13 dishes make up about 80 per cent of orders at her eateries. Prices are from S$7.80 for fried mama noodles to S$15 for crab meat fried rice.

“Less is more,” said Yeo. “When the menu is too big, customers feel overwhelmed. And for us, we don’t want to waste food.”

The approach also reflects lessons from his earlier businesses, where larger menus often led to excess and inefficiencies.

Still, the menu isn’t fixed.

Finding Benkok13, however, is part of the experience.

Tucked within the void deck and not immediately visible from the car park or lift landing, the eatery, despite having two entrances, is easy to miss. It doesn’t help that the unit sits around a corner, requiring a few turns before it comes into view.

Yeo himself admits the location isn’t the most obvious. “When I first came, I also couldn’t find the unit,” he said with a laugh.

Still, that’s part of the charm, describing Benkok13 as a “hidden gem”.

“It’s a risk for sure,” Yeo acknowledged. “But our main aim is to serve the residents here. Those who come from afar, it’s a bonus.”

The void deck setting also holds personal meaning for Yeo.

Growing up in an HDB flat, he remembers spending time around the neighbourhood mama shop, a familiar hangout for residents, and he had long wanted to open one.

So when he found this void deck unit, he was immediately drawn to it. The partners spent about S$80,000 to set up the space.

The 60-seat air-conditioned eatery is kept simple, with kopitiam-style chairs and walls decorated with photos and paintings of Thai scenes.

With views of the surrounding greenery and playground, it has an easy, laid-back feel.

“Students can come and study here, HDB tai tais and elderly can sit and chat,” said Yeo.

That also explains the local touches on the menu, from kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs to drinks like barley, bandung, and kopi and teh priced at just 90 cents – intentionally kept affordable for residents.

“It’s one of the cheapest in Singapore. A coffee or tea will set you back S$1.30 at a hawker centre,” he said.

As a public figure and F&B business owner, Yeo is no stranger to scrutiny, especially when it comes to the number of outlets he has opened and closed over the years.

Online, naysayers have been quick to question how long his latest venture will last.

His response? He shrugs it off.

“I don’t really care. They are not doing business, they won’t understand,” he said.

For Yeo, it comes down to practicality. “You cannot be emotional. It’s about whether you can make money or not.”

In the past year, he has opened and shut several of his Tan Xiang Sliced Fish Soup stalls, sometimes within months, but he sees it as part of the process.

“You never know until you try,” he said. “You need time to build the business and awareness. We give ourselves about six months. If it doesn’t work, don’t waste time – cut losses.”

He currently has three sliced fish soup stalls, including in Orchard Towers and Waterloo Street, down from six half a year ago. He also runs three Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat Restaurant outlets and last month opened Chinatown Curry Fish Head stall, also at Waterloo Street.

He believes constantly refreshing concepts is necessary in today’s fast-moving F&B landscape.

“Consumers are spoilt for choice,” he said. “They won’t keep coming back to the same thing every day, this is why besides growing existing concepts, we also try new ones.”

BASIL PORK RICE (S$7.80)

Yeo's go-to Thai dish, this comforting plate hits all the right notes. Perfumed by Thai basil, the minced pork is richly savoury and aromatic, with a gentle kick from chilli padi and crunch from the chopped long beans. Paired with rice and a runny sunny-side-up egg, it’s simple and satisfying. Also available with chicken.

SEAFOOD PAD THAI (S$9.80)

Singapore: The government plans to release a site in the eastern part of Singapore for a new not-for-profit private acute hospital, which will fall under a fixed-price land tender approach, providing another lower-cost option for private healthcare.

It will be the first land release for private hospitals in almost two decades if the government proceeds with its plan, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Thursday (Apr 9).

The hospital can accommodate 300 to 400 beds, he added, during a speech marking the 65th anniversary of Mount Alvernia Hospital - Singapore's sole not-for-profit private acute hospital.

"Under such a model, bidders would then compete not based on how much they are prepared to pay for the land, but other qualitative factors, such as their care model, cost efficiency, approach to recruiting and developing manpower, and their commitment and policies towards affordable healthcare," Mr Ong said, of the fixed-price model.

Beyond that, the government will also implement restrictions on bill sizes, so that hospital bills are a "certain percentile of the market and cannot lead the market".

Back in 2024, Singapore announced plans to introduce a new not-for-profit private acute hospital model to better complement public healthcare and increase residents' options for lower-cost private healthcare.

MOH had invited private healthcare operators to participate in an industry consultation for the model.

Mr Ong said on Thursday that rising private hospital costs were driven in part by overly generous insurance riders over the years, which encouraged both patients and providers to overconsume healthcare. 

The strong insurance coverage also supported a private hospital operating model geared towards high-end care.

"The last time government tendered out land for private hospitals was some 20 years ago. The land was won with a high bid price and today we have a high-end private hospital occupying the land," he said. 

"In the process, public healthcare also lost many healthcare professionals to the private hospital, which was very painful for us. That experience has made the Ministry of Health very cautious about having more private hospitals, or for that matter, very cautious about private hospitals expanding."

ENCOURAGING RESPONSE

MOH has been consulting many stakeholders on the not-for-profit private hospital, Mr Ong said. 

"We have encouraging responses from potential operators and also enthusiastic donors and philanthropists. I believe we can make this a good project that will strengthen the healthcare ecosystem, and involve many stakeholders outside of public healthcare."

"There are still a few important issues we have to address, and I hope we are able to address them and arrive at a decision in the second half of the year, to launch the tender," he added.

The government has introduced measures in a bid to curb rising insurance premiums and private healthcare costs. 

This month, private health insurers rolled out a new suite of Integrated Shield Plan riders, with premium reductions ranging between 16 and 55 per cent, in line with MOH's new requirements for riders to be more affordable.

Last May, MOH and HDB launched a new tender approach for general practitioner clinics at Bartley Beacon. Under the new approach, quality of care will account for 70 per cent of the tender evaluation, and rental will make up 30 per cent.

It came after a healthcare company made a successful monthly rental bid of S$52,188 (US$40,500) in Tampines.