Malaysia's first professional violin maker carves out a rare craft
The 45-year-old is Malaysia's first professional violin luthier, or maker of string instruments like violins, cellos and guitars. Over the past decade, he has earned international accolades. Now he mentors a new generation of makers in a field still little-known in Southeast Asia.
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NDP 2025: A four-act show that celebrates diversity and Singapore's diamond jubilee
SINGAPORE – Tradition dictated that an audience of 27,000 men, women and children came not just to watch the show segment of the National Day Parade (NDP), but also be a part of it, with everyone contributing to the visual spectacle through LED wristbands that emitted lights in sync with the performances. On the various stages, the spirit of collaboration was in the air as some of Singapore's top singers, musicians, dancers and performers gathered for a show that celebrated the nation's diversity. From duets to joint performances, the line-up featured 39 artistes from different genres and generations as well as more than 3,000 performers of all ages and abilities. This was the first show segment to feature synchronised performances between the main venue, the Padang, and the stage in Marina Bay. Inspired by the words of the National Anthem, the show comprised four acts celebrating the population's shared journey and aspirations, and its unity as a nation. Act One – Our People, Our Diversity – opened with singer-songwriter Charlie Lim and Mandopop star Kit Chan singing Here We Are, the 2025 NDP theme song, on a 360-degree, three-tiered moving stage, the largest mobile stage in NDP history. In some of the evening's cross-generational performances, veteran singer Ramli Sarip sang with rising rapper Shazuan Shiraj, better known by his stage name Abangsapau, while seasoned musician Mohamed Raffee performed with newcomer Pallavi. The multilingual segment also showcased the diverse sounds of the home-grown music scene, from hip-hop acts such as Yung Raja and Tosh Zhang, and classical musicians such as pianist Churen Li and violinist Lynnette Seah, to indie artistes Electrico and Shye. The tempo of the music slowed in Act Two – Our Future, Our Aspirations – with a soulful performance of the original composition I Will Walk With You by singer-songwriter Linying. Her set was followed by budding singer Heema Izzati's rendition of Charlie Lim's 2020 tune Room At The Table, which included a segment from the 2018 NDP theme song We Are Singapore. As the two were performing, large-scale floats glided across Marina Bay and around the Padang, each of them a display of artwork by artists with disabilities. The act concluded with light projections of SG60-themed artworks on the facades of buildings in the area, including UOB Plaza 1. A helium balloon ferrying a sole passenger, singer Dick Lee, signalled the opening of Act Three – Our Resilience, Our Spirit. He performed We Will Get There, the Republic's 2002 NDP song, from the basket of the balloon as it glided across the Padang. Meanwhile, the audience cheered as huge purple, orange, red and yellow beach balls bounced among them. Next to take the stage was singer-songwriter Benjamin Kheng in Marina Bay and pop veteran Rahimah Rahim at the Padang, performing a duet of Not Alone, Singapore's 2024 NDP song. On the stage, performers from the People's Association and Singapore Armed Forces' Music and Drama Company hoisted flowing multicoloured fabric, representing the threads of Singapore's communities. Wearing red and purple, the dancers moved the fabric into formations, to pay tribute to the resilience and spirit carrying the Republic forward. The show's fourth and final act – Our Unity, Our Strength – saw youth worker and musician Aldrich Jai Kishen taking to the drums to lead a pop punk rendition of The Road Ahead, Singapore's 2021 NDP song. He was joined by musicians including Dave Tan from local rock trio Electrico, and the Singapore Management University Samba Masala, a samba percussion band. At the bay, drummers from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds) and Extraordinary People, two charities working with people with special needs, joined the mix. They were accompanied by dancers from the Institute of Technical Education and local dance crew STNY, who moved seamlessly across the stage. Finally, local favourite Kit Chan sang Home, the nation's best-loved NDP song. She was joined by hundreds of student performers from three secondary schools and a junior college, who performed a choreographed accompaniment to the song, holding aloft placards inscribed with hopes and dreams for themselves and the nation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Straits Times (@straits_times) As the NDP show segment drew to a close, performers from the earlier acts returned to the Padang's stage, and performed a medley of classic NDP favourites: Stand Up For Singapore; One People, One Nation, One Singapore; Where I Belong; We Are Singapore; and Count On Me, Singapore. During the Majulah Moment, when Singaporeans were invited to recite the pledge and sing the National Anthem, live streams of citizens living overseas – who joined in from countries including the US, Australia and Japan – flashed across the screen. Then fireworks illuminated the night sky above the Padang and Marina Bay as pyrotechnic-powered lights in the waters of the bay formed the number '60'. Various fireworks in the shades of red, orange and yellow were set off synchronously at the two locations – filling the sky with sparks. The audience stood enraptured by the six-minute display – a picture-perfect finish to the night's festivities. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
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a day ago
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Police's NDP 2025 reel with Tamil hit from Rajinikanth film Coolie goes viral
SINGAPORE – An Instagram reel posted by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Aug 8 has taken social media by storm, racking up more than 4.3 million views in just over 20 hours. The reel shows police officers from various units, including uniformed officers, Traffic Police, Public Transport Security Command and an armour unit, filmed from the back. The clip is captioned 'Reporting for NDP 2025 duties' and ends with an officer in uniform and vest standing against a backdrop of fireworks. As at 2pm on Aug 9, the clip, shared on SPF's official account, has racked up more than 390,000 likes, 4,106 reposts, and has been sent via direct message over 138,000 times. It is the most viewed reel on the SPF's account since a May 16 post. The reel features a catchy Tamil track titled Powerhouse, composed by music director Anirudh Ravichander from India's Tamil film industry, popularly known as Kollywood. The song is part of the soundtrack for the upcoming movie Coolie, with lyrics penned by Indian rapper and lyricist Arivu. While the lyrics are in Tamil, the part of the song selected for the reel translates to a relatable message: 'Let the arena vibrate, let the whistles and cheers come in, let us totally take over this moment, our clout will never diminish.' The police told The Straits Times that the song's opening line 'evokes the Padang roaring with joy' and that its title reflects how SPF units work as 'one powerhouse' to keep celebrations safe and smooth. Coolie stars legendary superstar Rajinikanth, an icon in Indian cinema known for his charismatic screen presence and devoted fanbase. The action thriller film is expected to hit Singapore cinemas soon. The reel has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Tamil-speaking community here, with many users flooding the comments section with the fire emoji, a common symbol of power and coolness. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Singapore Police Force (@singaporepoliceforce) Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
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a day ago
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We tried Singapore's best-rated Penang cuisine
In my first instalment of the best-rated series, I covered the highest-rated Ipoh hor fun in Singapore. And just a 2-hour drive up north from Ipoh lies another Malaysian foodie spot that I absolutely adore — Penang! Naturally, I wanted to see what our little red dot had to offer, which led me to Mama's Kent Secret Recipe at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, boasting a 4.8/5 star rating with 114 reviews (at the time of writing). The stall is run by Kent Cheong, who learned how to cook from his Penang-born mother. He named the stall Mama's Kent in her honour, and has since dedicated himself to serving good, honest Penang fare. While waiting in line, we struck up a chat with a friendly auntie after she noticed how closely we were scrutinising the menu. Turns out, she's been a loyal customer since they were at their previous location in NUS. When I asked what was good, she didn't hesitate: 'Everything is nice!' On a cold, rainy morning, that simple exchange warmed me right up. What I tried at Mama's Kent Secret Recipe When I asked the cashier for her recommendations, she echoed the same sentiment as the auntie in the queue: Everything is nice. Confidence or good salesmanship? Either way, I took a leap of faith and ordered whatever my heart desired. When you think of Penang cuisine, what comes to mind? For me, it's easily assam laksa and Penang char kway teow. Since the latter wasn't on the menu, I kicked things off with the Penang (S$7.50 for Small). Unlike the lemak, coconut-heavy version of laksa we're used to in Singapore, this Penang-style rendition, the assam laksa, features a uniquely sour, tamarind-based broth with a more nuanced profile. Instead of being greeted by a sharp, acidic punch, what I got was a mellow, rounded sweetness that surprised me in the best way. The broth was still unmistakably fish-forward, thanks to the hearty dose of sardine, but the flavours were well-balanced — savoury, slightly sweet, and just tangy enough to perk up my palate. Now, I always thought I was a mee pok girlie but I might have wavered a little here. Thick, slightly chewy, and satisfyingly bouncy, these round rice noodles had the best texture. Every slurp was an absolute joy. The bowl also came topped with shredded cucumber, pineapple, onions and mint, which added pops of crunch and freshness to every bite. Island Cafe: Golden turmeric nasi lemak with pork belly & Penang white curry mee at no-GST retro eatery Next up was Mama's Chilli Prawn (S$10) — hands down the most gorgeously coloured plate that came with 6 plump, curried (deveined!) prawns, a side of fluffy white rice, some crunchy veggies, and a very important S$1 add-on: a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg. The prawns were coated in a deep orange-red thick chilli paste that leaned more curry than sambal — aromatic and rich with spices. Each one was tender, juicy, and soaked in all that savoury zhup, making it one of those dishes that's just so easy to love in all its warm, spicy, and deeply comforting goodness. Then came the sambal with ikan bilis (apparently the owner's recipe) that complemented the dish perfectly. It was punchy and addictive, with a balanced sweetness that crept in just after the heat. For a split second, I was transported to my ah ma's kitchen. Did she steal his recipe, or vice versa? Shoutout to the auntie in the queue for recommending this sunny-side-up add-on, because not to be dramatic, but it kind of changed my life. The yolk was golden and runny, with deliciously charred edges that were pure magic when broken over the rice and drizzled with a little kecap manis. Mixing everything together — the chilli prawns, rice, sambal, and that perfectly runny egg was the MOVE. That runny yolk mellowed out the spice and tied the whole dish together like a creamy, savoury glue. Worth every cent of my S$1. The veggies were simple (think lettuce, tomato and cucumber), but they added a nice bit of crunch and helped to cut through the richness of the meal. My colleague had tried their Vinegar Pork Trotters (S$11) at the previous NUS location. According to her, the sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy vinegar glaze did absolute wonders to the soft, tender meat, which gave it a rich and deeply satisfying flavour. Her only gripe was that some of the pieces were mostly fat, and while that gelatinous, melt-in-your-mouth texture is a plus for some, it could get jelak for others. Final Thoughts I can confidently say that Mama's Kent Secret Recipe deserves its title as the best-rated Penang cuisine in Singapore. Throughout the meal, I found myself telling my friendl, 'This is sooo good' on repeat like a broken record. And while the prices aren't the cheapest, the generous portions and high-quality ingredients make it well worth it. Based on the 2 dishes I tried, I'm inclined to believe the aunties were right — maybe everything really is nice on this menu. Expected damage: S$7.50 – S$11 per pax 18 best street foods in Penang to uncover [Jan 2025 update] The post We tried Singapore's best-rated Penang cuisine appeared first on
