
More arts groups transforming into Institutions of Public Character to encourage more donations
More arts groups are turning into not-for-profit organisations - specifically, Institutions of Public Character. From before the COVID pandemic to 2023, there has been a nearly 20% (17.3%) rise in arts groups getting this status. Doing so gives tax benefits to their donors, which could encourage more donations and provide more funding for their programmes and performances.
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Independent Singapore
41 minutes ago
- Independent Singapore
‘Retailers, hawkers and restaurants need to survive' — KF Seetoh says Urban Hawker NYC costs less to run than Orchard Road, MBS food halls
SINGAPORE: Operations and rents in Urban Hawker in New York are way cheaper than in prime Orchard Road and Marina Bay Sands (MBS) food halls, says Makansutra founder KF Seetoh in a Facebook post on Monday night (June 2), explaining that he knows this because Makansutra was their setup consultant. Mr Seetoh said he needed to 'exhale some facts and realities' after seeing the news of how a group of retail and food and beverage (F&B) players were banding up to raise concerns over the 'sky is the limit' rents, operating costs, and manpower woes in Singapore. Pointing out that manpower is not a major issue in New York City, and people there pay market prices for food even in the Times Square and Rockefeller Centre area, where Urban Hawker is located, he said, 'Sure, taxes may be higher but it works out way better than paying ridiculous 5 figure stall rents plus a profit percentage.' ' In Singapore, selling S$8 platters. It's US$17 for fried hokkien mee in Urban Hawker and there's no entitled customers about prices there… ,' he added. Mr Seetoh said, 'Retailers, hawkers and restaurants need to survive. They pay full price for other living and business costs here, too. Who's gonna take up your shops and stalls if you happy keep cranking up that rent and operation cost machine?' warning that the current setup will only push hawkers and small operators out. 'Rethink this whole business infrastructure. Put on your crystal ball and binos and look ahead, it's bleak. Don't even talk about affordable food for the masses in the future, for a start,' he added. One commenter blamed 'insatiable landlords' who keep raising rent and making it difficult for small hawkers and retailers to survive. Another pointed out that, unlike Singapore, which charges customers for takeaway containers , 'Urban Hawker portions are American-sized, and if you need to dabao your leftovers, the containers are free.' See also Will Singapore's missing recession delay next GE? The concerns raised by Mr Seetoh echo what many in the F&B sector are going through. In February, a hawker with a vegetarian stall at Serangoon Road , who had operated for over 10 years, moved out after learning that his rent would rise to S$3,000 from just S$930 due to a new operator. He said the rent was too much, as he was only earning enough to survive. In October 2024, Singapore's monthly F&B business closures surpassed even pandemic levels , with government data showing that over 3,000 F&B outlets had closed by the end of last year . More recent figures don't offer much relief. The Department of Statistics reported a 2.8% drop in F&B sales in March this year compared to the previous year. This followed a sharper 5.7% year-on-year (YoY) drop in February. In April, government data revealed that an average of 307 F&B businesses had closed each month in 2025 due to high costs and fewer diners, up from 254 in 2024. See also Just how many 'preneurs' does Singapore need? Mr Seetoh said, 'There are more harsh realities I know about doing business in Singapore than what I tell you here. I will tell more soon.' In the comments, he added, 'Looks like we need to go back to Rent Control Act days.' /TISG Read also: Singapore bars serve non-alcoholic drinks and unique experiences to win over Gen Z amid falling alcohol consumption


CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
PM Wong to visit Philippines from Jun 4 to 5; Shanmugam to be acting prime minister
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will make a two-day introductory visit to the Philippines on Wednesday (Jun 4) at the invitation of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced on Tuesday. In his absence, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam will be the acting prime minister. While Singapore usually designates a deputy prime minister to act in the prime minister's stead during temporary absences, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong is in Paris until Wednesday for various official events, including a ministerial council meeting by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Mr Wong, who is also the finance minister, will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Rizal Monument - a memorial for Filipino nationalist Jose Rizal - and receive a ceremonial welcome at Malacanang Palace, the president's official residence, said the PMO. Mr Wong will also have a delegation meeting with President Marcos Jr, who will host an official dinner in his honour. "The visit reaffirms Singapore's commitment to strengthening our excellent partnership with the Philippines and provides an opportunity for the Leaders to exchange views on deepening bilateral ties, as well as regional and global developments," said the PMO. Joining Mr Wong on the trip are his wife, Ms Loo Tze Lui, Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs Sim Ann, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the PMO. This will be Mr Wong's first bilateral trip since his reappointment as prime minister after the People's Action Party won the May 3 general election. The Philippines' Presidential Communications Office said in a release on Monday that the two leaders will "discuss the strengthening of Philippines-Singapore relations and explore opportunities for deeper cooperation across various sectors" during bilateral talks on Wednesday. These will include sectors such as health, climate change mitigation and civil service cooperation. "President Marcos and Prime Minister Wong are also expected to exchange views on key political and economic developments in the region, reaffirming their shared commitment to regional stability and prosperity," said the office. It also noted that Mr Wong's visit also marks the first by a Singaporean prime minister since 2017, "underscoring the significance of this renewed high-level engagement".


Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Singapore's women's 4×100-m relay team breaks national record at Asian Championships
SOUTH KOREA: As the baton crossed the finish line at the Gumi Sports Complex, the Singapore women's 4×100-m relay team looked up at the scoreboard. The time read 44.66 seconds, a new national record. It wasn't enough for a medal at the Asian Athletics Championships, but it was enough to rewrite history. The team of Shannon Tan, Elizabeth-Ann Tan, Shanti Pereira, and Laavinia Jaiganth finished fifth overall, behind Asia's sprint powerhouses, but in the context of Singapore athletics, it marked a major breakthrough. The previous record of 44.96 seconds, set at the 2017 SEA Games, had stood for nearly eight years. That timing had only just been matched a month earlier at the Singapore Open, on home soil and with a different lead-off runner. This time, the first athlete out of the blocks was Shannon Tan, a Secondary 4 student from Cedar Girls' School. Making her debut for the national team at just 16, she became the youngest sprinter in recent memory to front a senior relay squad at a continental meet. She passed the baton cleanly to Elizabeth-Ann Tan, one of Singapore's two fastest female sprinters. Shanti Pereira, the other, ran the curve on the third leg. Having just returned from overseas competitions, she delivered one of the race's strongest splits, powering through the second bend to position the team well going into the final changeover. Laavinia Jaiganth, the national U20 400-m record holder, anchored the team. She held her ground in a stacked field to bring Singapore home in record time. Also travelling with the relay squad were Kerstin Ong and Sarah Poh, who had been part of the pool preparing for the event. Behind the scenes, the effort was supported by relay coaches Hamkah Afik, Khairyll Amri, Melvin Tan, and Remy Gan. Their respective personal coaches also train each of the four runners: Margaret Oh (Shannon), Hamkah and Khairyll (Elizabeth-Ann), Luis Cunha (Shanti), and Fabian William (Laavinia). The new national time of 44.66 s would have won medals at 30 out of 31 SEA Games editions where the women's 4×100 m relay was contested. Still, more than just the numbers, the race reflected a shift: the blend of experience and emerging talent, and a baton literally and figuratively being passed from one generation to the next. As the athletes left the track in Gumi, the message was clear — the standard has been raised.