CNA938 Rewind - Are more keeping their old cars rather than scrapping them?
Nearly 2,840 cars have had their COEs renewed in the first three months of 2025, over double the number for the same period last year. It's the highest figure for the quarter since 2020 as well. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Desmond Chan, Editor, Sgcarmart.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
11 minutes ago
- CNA
Deep Dive - What does BlueSG's pause mean for car-sharing in Singapore?
BlueSG's abrupt decision to suspend its car-sharing service has surprised both customers and industry experts. What does this mean for Singapore's car-lite ambitions? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards speak with GetGo co-founder Toh Ting Feng and Dr Samuel Chng from the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
The realities of running a business in a flat in Singapore, and how some people make it work
SINGAPORE: The aroma of grilled meat wafts through the air as diners troop in to Ng Tiong Jin's home. And for a few hours each time, his Ang Mo Kio four-room flat transforms into a restaurant, filled with chatter and the clinking of cutlery. Wagyu tomahawk steak is often the main draw of his private dining experience, TJBBQ. He can host more than eight sessions a month. But with two school-going children and a spouse who runs her own home-based accountancy business, scheduling dining slots beyond Fridays and Saturdays is one of the hardest parts of the job. 'Can you try to take fewer sessions on weekdays?' his wife, Serene Loy, asked him as they lunched together one day. 'You can open lunch slots when the children are still at school but try not to take night slots since they need to rest and do their homework.' Her work is not spared either. Weekday lunches can clash with her appointments, which means she would have to head out instead to meet her clients. 'Definitely, we're working with restrictions because we're sharing the same space,' said Ng, 49. 'It's not just (about) me, … everyone needs to be happy.' Every booking — with a target revenue of S$1,500 per session — is weighed against family rhythms. And he is not alone in facing this sort of dilemma. Across Singapore, there are home-based entrepreneurs turning guest rooms into stockrooms, living rooms into cafes and bedrooms into salons. For some people, what may have begun as a stopgap or passion project has grown into a long-term pursuit as they seek flexible ways to earn income. The draw is clear: greater autonomy, lower overheads and a chance to offer a cosier, more personalised service at home. Yet, behind those doors lie stories of blurred boundaries, limited space, hazy rules and constant compromise. What happens when passion collides with practicality and regulation, or when family needs and responsibilities must be balanced against work demands? Can home enterprises thrive without scaling up? And can Ng smoke his meats without smoking out his neighbours? These are among the issues explored in the On The Red Dot series, Hustle In My HDB, which uncovers the hidden obstacles, creative solutions and sometimes unexpected support that Singapore's home-based go-getters find along the way. FROM MANAGING LOVED ONES TO SUPPLIERS For many of these small-scale entrepreneurs, the challenge of juggling family life with client appointments is part of the challenge of keeping things professional. Nareeza Abdul Rahim, 38, can spend eight hours of the day operating her facial salon, The Face Canvas Beauty and Spa, in a room in her Punggol four-room flat. But it gets more difficult when it is the school holidays. Her son, now seven, will peek from behind the door and ask: 'Are you done? When are you going to be done?' She added: 'Sometimes he'd walk around and see what we're doing.' During the recent June holidays, she would squeeze in some revision with him before her first appointment — and before he was left to his own devices. 'He knows that I'm busy inside. So he just watches television (and) all the things that I tell him not to watch,' said Nareeza, who worried that she had less control over him when she was working. To make up for that, she blocked out her the last week of the holidays to spend quality time with him, even though it meant losing out on extra income. 'Throughout my years of working, sometimes I can feel … a bit detached (from) my family,' she said. 'The one week … is very important. It's for us to reconnect.' WATCH: How I run my home facial salon as a mum (13:00) Even when entrepreneurs like her can achieve their juggling act, there are other hurdles to overcome. For example, some beauty product suppliers dismiss home businesses as too small to matter. Nareeza recalled one seller ignoring her texts. 'But when my friend who has a shop emailed them and messaged them, (there was) a reply,' she said. 'They might think that we don't have buying power. Because if they sell to salons, it'd be (profits) on a bigger scale.' Edward Kim, 45, a hairdresser who operates The Gangnam Salon in his Telok Blangah four-room flat, echoed this sentiment. 'If they've never come here before — to a home-based salon — maybe they think (it's) not clean, not professional,' he said. 'Once they come here, … they'd think (differently).' LIMITED SPACE AND MANPOWER ISSUES Still, working within the confines of their flats is a big challenge. Bedrooms may double as storage areas, spare corners fill up with equipment, and surfaces are stacked with supplies. Kim said he may not be able to keep The Gangnam Salon going when his two children are older. 'They're (of) different genders,' he said. 'So, in the future, (when) they say, 'Daddy, I want my own room', then I must give up this salon, or we move (to a) bigger house.' Nareeza faces similar constraints. She dreams of expanding her services but rues the lack of space for more equipment. Then there is the issue of manpower. She wishes to hire therapists, but the current rules prohibit her from employing non-residents of her flat. To generate income in other ways, she has held mentoring sessions at home and runs skincare workshops outside. 'Within the four walls of (a flat), there's only so much we can do to expand the business,' she said. Without the ability to hire external help, some owners must shoulder every task — or depend on friends and family. Chia Jin Fang, who left a Michelin-starred restaurant to start The Noob Coffee in her Boon Lay four-room flat, feels this acutely. She is a 'one-man show' who brews, mixes, serves, cleans and takes orders. 'On some days when it's really hectic, it can be very overwhelming,' she said. Although her friends and family pitch in at weekends, she knows this is not sustainable. 'They aren't paid at all, they're just helping me out of goodwill,' said the 30-year-old, who considers herself 'very lucky'. 'In the long run, if there's nobody who's going to help me, I think I'll … stop walk-ins and only go (on an) appointment basis. … After all, there's just one pair of hands and one coffee machine.' But even when exhausted, she relishes the 'sense of fulfilment' in running her home cafe, having wanted to 'try something different' from cooking while being able to watch over her grandmother, who is 86 and has dementia. And she plans to keep The Noob Coffee going for as long as her grandmother is around. For home-based business owner Pannipa Mitrach, 43, who goes by the name of Ann, cooking her Thai noodles is possible only when her husband, Ron Koh, is around to handle customers and deliveries. Without him, she cannot cope. They run Anngel Thai Noodles in their Balestier five-room flat. 'I have to see (if) my husband (is) free (at) the same time (as) me,' she said. As he has a full-time job, she can work only five or six days a month. During exceptional periods, this can go up to 11 days in a month. 'The work schedule (revolves) around me to make sure that I have time and I have the energy … to help her,' he said. 'But it's her passion.' Although she feels tired after cooking, she finds joy in contributing to the household income after many years as a housewife. 'I'm happy to spend this money for myself and for my kids,' she said. NAVIGATING THE RULES As with other businesses under Singapore's Home-Based Business Scheme, food and beverage sellers do not require approval or any Singapore Food Agency (SFA) licence to operate. But they remain bound by food safety standards. The guidelines in place, however, can leave some of them feeling uncertain, for example when home cafe owner and micro-roaster Chen Delun, 40, considered upgrading to a larger machine to double his output. A small cafe had approached him to supply it with roasted beans weekly, which he estimated could add around S$1,500 to his monthly revenue from running Spilled Roaster & Brews in his Tampines five-room flat. While the SFA prohibits home-based sellers from supplying businesses, Housing and Development Board (HDB) guidelines also ban heavy equipment as that would not be for domestic use. 'But what's considered a commercial machine?' Chen began to wonder. 'Is it the size? Is it the exhaust output? The noise?' Asking the HDB for clarification did not provide a clear answer. He has since turned to e-commerce, posting his beans in small batches directly to customers across the island. 'I can expand my market range,' he said. 'And mailing is very cheap.' Another limitation under current rules for residential premises is that shopfront signage, which could attract walk-in customers, is forbidden — much to Chia's consternation. During her opening week, she was advised by CNA's producers to bring her signage indoors. 'I wanted people to sometimes walk past … and realise there's coffee and matcha here. I'll just keep my doors open,' said the barista. 'But I also hope that for home-based businesses, (the authorities) won't be so strict (with) us.' BEING MINDFUL OF NEIGHBOURS As the authorities do not actively monitor home-based businesses, enforcement typically begins with neighbours' complaints. Ng, the private dining chef, learnt this early when his neighbours objected to him barbecuing meat in the common corridor. Town council officers stepped in, and he had to adapt. Today, he cooks in his utility room, using a makeshift vent to redirect smoke and adjusting the barbecue process too. 'Hot and fast barbecuing will create a lot of fire and smoke, so I designed … a low and slow approach, which requires a longer time,' he said. His pork ribs, for instance, take four hours to cook. As for Chen, being mindful of the neighbours is part of the business strategy. He usually roasts his coffee beans on Monday mornings, when most residents are at work. And he only accepts customers by appointment. 'I don't allow walk-ins because it's a bit hard for me to manage the crowd, and I don't want people to be crowding outside,' he said. Without physical visibility, social media and word of mouth have become lifelines for these micro-businesses hoping to be discovered by new customers. Kim recalled how his hairdressing salon barely had patrons when he was not active online. Today, he posts on Instagram and TikTok regularly. He has also collaborated with other entrepreneurs nearby to provide referrals. 'Next time I'll bring my wife,' he told a neighbour running a home-based eyelash extension service. 'Then if you come to my salon, I'll give you a special discount.' As a business owner also seeking to build such connections, Chen sees a 'digital kampung' coming to the fore. 'Sometimes we gather, we share information, we barter,' he said. 'You give me cake; I give you coffee. It's very fun.'
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Complaint Singapore Facebook group up for sale, raising questions over user data and monetary value
SINGAPORE: A Facebook group known for hosting Singaporeans' daily grievances is up for sale, and its move to monetise a public complaint forum has raised eyebrows among legal and social media experts. Complaint Singapore, which has over 240,000 members, is selling its administrative rights, alongside its affiliated YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and Xiaohongshu accounts. Also part of the sale are its website and Gmail account. The group was started in 2017 and has grown into a popular platform for everyday users to post about issues ranging from overpriced items and antisocial behaviour to transport delays and scam warnings. In a post dated Aug 6, the administrators said they were looking for a new owner as the founding members were "pursuing other personal interests". Interested parties can submit proposals via email, and these must include details on how the page will be run and the monetary offer in Singapore dollars. In response to queries from CNA, an administrator who did not provide a name said the group is currently managed by 10 to 15 moderators aged from their early 30s to late 40s. Besides pursuing personal interests, the admin added that the moderators are "getting old" and have decided to hand over the reins to someone who can "take over the legacy" of the group. "Quite a few" queries and offers have come in, the admin said, but declined to share details, citing confidentiality. The group, the admin added, offers a community service, providing 'an online platform to allow legitimate complaints and getting resolutions from involving parties and agencies'. WHAT IS THE MONETARY VALUE OF A FACEBOOK GROUP? Several social media experts questioned why the group – a community platform – is being sold at all. 'This being a community site, (its purpose) is to serve, not really in trying to make money,' said tech observer and media consultant Oo Gin Lee. 'The fact they're offering it for sale raises questions.' He said the admins should explain whether the group generates income through ads or whether users' data may be involved. He added that transparency over the sale price is important. 'If they are selling it for value, the community deserves to know how much they are selling this for and what's the value to this,' he said. 'If it's to cover the cost (of operation), then that's okay, but if it's a million dollars, then it's a red flag.' In response, the Complaint Singapore admin said that buyers can have "substantial monetary gains via advertisements, website and various social media monetisation programs". Asked if the platform is already monetised, the admin declined to provide specifics, citing confidentiality. However, a September 2023 post mentions an 'advertising package' across the group's platforms, with quotes given on request. WORRIES OVER CONTENT AND TRUST Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser from the National University of Singapore's Department of Sociology questioned whether the platform could be repurposed in ways that harm users. 'Could the new owner change the objectives of the platform to be replaced by materials that could prove harmful to both subscribers or members and to Singapore?" he asked. He also warned of the risk of content shifting towards radicalisation or polarisation, depending on the new owner's intent and capabilities. Mr Lars Voedisch, a communications expert with over two decades of experience, agreed that trust could be eroded. 'The minute a group like this changes hands, trust is on the line. People signed up for a community, not to be someone's asset flip,' he said. 'In the wrong hands, it could easily turn into a propaganda machine, a scam funnel or just a spammy mess. Poor moderation might also lead to legal troubles for the new owner or group members, he added. The admin said the group receives 30 to 100 post submissions a day, with moderators screening out sensitive topics such as politics, race and gender. The main concern, the admin emphasised, is not the monetary offer but 'suitability' of the buyer. 'Our priority is definitely about suitability – someone, company or organisation that is serious about the operations and can bring Complaint Singapore to greater heights in the future,' said the admin. Assoc Prof Tan also questioned whether group members would be assured that their names or personal details would not be used without consent. In response, the Complaint Singapore admin said the social media platforms they operate on have built-in mechanisms to guard against scam and data breaches. 'In the event where a social media page is found to have violated any terms and conditions, the said page will be suspended and eventually be removed permanently,' the admin said. LEGAL AND CONTRACTUAL ISSUES In addition to the ethical issues, Meta's terms prohibit the sale, license or purchase of Facebook or Instagram accounts, including data obtained from them. Meta can suspend, disable or delete accounts found to be in breach of these terms, said Mr Fong Wei Li, managing director at Forward Legal. 'If someone sells an account and Meta later disables or deletes it for breaching the terms, the buyer may have paid a sum of money for an account they can no longer access,' said Mr Fong, whose expertise is in technology and communications law. 'In the worst case, the account could be wiped out entirely, leaving the buyer with nothing.' However, Mr Fong added that there are no Singapore laws explicitly prohibiting the sale of social media accounts. The Complaint Singapore admin argued that the sale is akin to transferring business ownership. 'There are many sales of businesses in Singapore and the rest of the world, where new buyers take over the business they bought and all its related assets, including their social media presence,' the admin said. Mr Lester Lin, a partner specialising in intellectual property, digital assets and technology at RHTLaw Asia, noted that while Meta's terms are clear, platforms may veer from these terms. This includes instances where admin rights are moved as part of a legitimate business sale or acquisition. 'In such contexts, platforms like Facebook and Instagram are frequently pragmatic, and there have been numerous instances in which no enforcement action was taken notwithstanding a transfer of admin control as part of the wider deal,' said Mr Lin.
