Latest news with #Bugis
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Telepuk gold leaf textile art makes comeback
KUALA LUMPUR: Once reserved solely for Malay royalty, the intricate art of Telepuk, one of Malaysia's oldest textile crafts where artisans apply gold leaf onto fabric with care and precision, is making a quiet yet determined comeback. Though nearly forgotten for decades, a growing number of artisans and cultural advocates are breathing new life into this fragile heritage. Mohd Azwarin Ahmed, 44, is one of the Telepuk crafters from Kuala Terengganu who holds a degree in textile studies from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). According to Azwarin, Telepuk garments such as the tanjak and samping are traditionally used for ceremonial attire by royal families and were worn during weddings, coronations and sometimes for newborns. "Telepuk was never meant for the masses; it was exclusively for palace rituals - uxurious, sacred and highly delicate," he said. Telepuk's use sharply declined after World War II and was largely abandoned by the late 20th century. The last notable figure to preserve the craft before its recent resurgence was Mak Ngku Azhar Aziz, wife of Royal Professor Ungku Aziz. Azwarin, a Kuala Terengganu native, explained that crafting Telepuk requires precision and sensitivity. Gold leaf - which contains genuine gold - must be handled with care. "The process is deeply dependent on mood, climate and body temperature. Even our breath can damage the gold leaf. "You can't even switch on a fan during the process as it is very sensitive and crumbles easily. Once it crumbles, the gold leaf can't be used anymore," he said. Meanwhile, the glue is tested on the skin, usually the arm, to ensure it has the right consistency before being applied to the fabric. Production is costly due to its materials and labour-intensive nature. "Some clients start with an RM200 budget, but when they see the mock-up, they often choose to upgrade. I base my design on what they can afford," he said. Azwarin said that he once made a set of tanjak and samping that cost RM15,000. The gold leaf is mostly imported from Thailand or Vietnam, as it is unavailable in Malaysia. In Buddhist cultures, it is commonly used for temple offerings and spiritual rituals, which makes it more accessible abroad. Telepuk is fragile, high-cost and slow in production, major reasons it was overtaken by songket, which is more robust and quicker to produce. "It is not durable, not washable and fades with friction. Because of that, songket became the preferred ceremonial wear," he added. The craft is traditionally applied to batik, Bugis weave or imported textiles - never on songket, which already contains gold threads. "We've never found any historical Telepuk on songket. Songket is made with gold threads, so it is pointless to put gold on top of gold," he said. Certain motifs such as teluk berantai (locking chains) are markers of royal lineage. "Only royalty could afford such patterns, which use large amounts of gold leaf. It's a signature of the palace," he said. Azwarin only discovered Telepuk through a 2017 workshop led by the late National Craft icon Norhaiza Noordin. "After that, I never looked back. Even without orders, I kept practising to refine my skills," he said. While there is potential for modernisation, Azwarin insists on preserving traditional methods first. "We're still in the introduction phase. Awareness must come before mass production; most people still do not know what Telepuk is. "People have proposed using easier methods such as UV glue and rollers, but for now, we stay conventional," he said. He believes Telepuk should remain a handcrafted art form, as its authenticity comes from the human touch and slight imperfections that machines cannot replicate. Recent documentation efforts by Azwarin and his partners include the publication of one of Malaysia's few comprehensive books on the craft, which is available in Bahasa Melayu and English to spark interest locally and internationally. "This book compiles our research, images and processes. It was used as a reference by the Textile Museum for its three-month Telepuk exhibition last year," he said. Artefacts from museums in Kedah, Johor, Selangor and Terengganu were displayed, including royal garments and rare motifs, confirming Telepuk's noble heritage. Azwarin continues to train others, both in-person and online, often supported by royal patrons. While he does not come from a lineage of artisans, his mentor's legacy lives on through him. "Never say Telepuk is extinct again. It lives, as long as we pass it on, stay true to its spirit, and keep its story alive," he said.
CNA
29-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Husband of deceased bakery owner to close her hawker stall but continue her cafe at Bugis
Michelle Goh, aged 35, founder of 2112 Bakery at OG Bugis and a food court stall in Yew Tee, passed away on June 17, 2025. Besides bakes like Nutella cookies and pistachio roll cakes, she was also known for participating in Mediacorp baking show Creme De La Creme. There was an outpouring of condolences from her customers and netizens after broke the news. We caught up with her husband, Ken Yap, 36, over the phone after her funeral last weekend. 'THE KIDS HAVEN'T BEEN EXPRESSING [THEIR EMOTIONS] MUCH' Yap told 'My family and I are coping with her passing. It has already happened and we can only focus on the kids at the moment.' The couple have a son, 12 and daughter, 10. He declined to share the details of his wife's death on record. He added with a sigh: 'The kids haven't been expressing [their emotions] much.' Yap said he will shut down Goh's food court stall at Yew Tee Square's Kopitiam at the end of June but will continue running her fancier 2112 bakery-cafe at OG Bugis. A 'JOYFUL, HELPFUL PERSON' WHO HAD FLUCTUATING MOODS DUE TO DEPRESSION 'She was a joyful person, very helpful, and always trying to put [others before herself],' Yap said. Yet, behind the friendly, bubbly demeanor that her customers saw (and shared about on social media), in private, her spirits often fluctuated due to depression. 'Sometimes her mood can be good, then all of a sudden without any reason, it can be extremely low,' he said. Goh had battled depression since 2018 and had been open about her mental health challenges on social media. Coping with the pressures of running a business exacerbated the situation. In an interview with last August, Goh had said: 'I got very depressed [due to the poor business at her now-defunct bakery in Toa Payoh], so my husband asked me whether I wanted to just shut it down, but I didn't want to waste my efforts. I know I can do it, I just need time.' She added back then that struggling to keep her business afloat affected her mental health. 'I am taking medication that controls my anxiety and depression. So when things get bad, I'll just 'hide' and bake. There are times that I'll shut down [the shop] to think of what's the next step I should take to preserve this business'. The millennial's love for baking was first sparked 'when she was admitted to IMH (Institute of Mental Health) a few years ago', Yap said. 'We bought Nutella cookies for her. On the way back home from the hospital, she was really enjoying them. [Eating them] made her feel better. So instead of having to keep on buying them, she decided to bake her own Nutella cookies.' He added that his late wife's baking journey started as a home-based business with her mother in 2019, eventually growing into a bakery-cafe – first in the now defunct branch at Toa Payoh, then a fancier joint at OG Bugis, plus a rojak-cum-popiah stall in a Yew Tee food court that also sells some of her bakes. '[Running] a business where you have something to worry about plays a part with whatever you're battling with at that moment,' Yap reflected. 'MENTAL WELLNESS IN SINGAPORE IS UNDERRATED' Yap told that he met Goh 14 years ago while working together in admin at a small firm. They got married in 2013. 'Since day one, she has been trying to work her way out [of her depression]. From our experience, the [Singapore] system doesn't have proper support to cater to this group of people,' he said. 'Mental wellness in Singapore is very underrated. There's very little assistance provided and it's very costly to seek treatment. For example, a 45-minute session for a private psychology therapy session costs about S$200. [If you want something cheaper], government hospitals require advance bookings many months ahead,' he said. SHE HAD A FEVER THAT LASTED FOR WEEKS AFTER HER HOLIDAY In the weeks leading up to her passing, Goh had shared photos of her recent holiday in Japan on social media. Yap told us that she developed a fever after the trip, which persisted for weeks. Despite being hospitalised and making numerous visits to clinics over two weeks, doctors were unable to determine the cause of her fever. During this time, Michelle took a break from work. 'It was not a life-threatening fever. Constantly throughout the day, it would subside for a while and come back again,' Yap said. 'She was, of course, feeling especially down during this period.' WHAT'S NEXT FOR 2112 BAKERY? Yap said that Goh's mum, who co-founded the 2112 brand with her, co-owns the business. He said she has been helping with baking on and off, while also working at her own hawker stall in Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre selling other snacks. Yap is not a shareholder and had no role in the business before his wife's death, other than occasionally helping her to clear tables at the cafe. He works full-time in the car trading industry and said his hours are flexible. He said that he plans to keep the bakery-cafe at OG Bugis running. 'Money has been invested into it and at the end of the day, it's something Michelle left behind. I'll try to see what I can do. Closing [the entire business] is the last thing I want.' That being said, Yap has decided to shut down the 2112 food court stall at Yew Tee. He said it has been operating for over a year but has yet to turn a profit. 'It's so I can focus more on the bakery at OG Bugis and cut our losses at the rojak stall,' he added. He is unsure of the exact amount of the losses. HE PLANS TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS FROM NOW ON Before her passing, Yap said his wife managed every aspect of the business – from baking to operations. She also hired bakers, who will continue preparing her recipes, including the bakery's signature items like the Nutella cookies, roll cakes and puffs. '[Michelle and her mum] started this business together, so her mum will ensure the recipes are followed properly moving forward,' he said. Yap plans to take over the management of the bakery-cafe: 'Baking is not my forte, but I will very likely be taking over the business operations, marketing and sales – with some help along the way. 'I've spoken to some of our close friends who have worked in the baking scene for over 30 years, to see if anyone is interested to assist us or take over the bakery. 'Anything is possible, nothing is final for now.' 'MICHELLE'S MUM IS COPING WELL' While the mother and daughter initially started out together, both women later branched out into their own physical stores in 2020, catering to different demographics. Michelle opened 2112 Bakery under an HDB block in Toa Payoh (now-defunct) selling bakes like roll cakes and cookies, while her mum runs a hawker stall called 2112 Snack Delights at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre, serving local favourites like you tiao, prawn fritters and curry puffs. 2112 is a nod to Goh's mother's birth date. '[Her mum] is coping well. I'll try not to disturb her as much as possible as the working hours at a hawker centre are longer than at the bakery,' said Yap. INVESTED $120K INTO NEW BUGIS LOCATION Goh told in August 2024 that her first bakery in Toa Payoh suffered a S$19K loss due to low footfall and high rent. In December that year, she decided to relocate from Toa Payoh to a spot with more dine-in space at OG in Bugis, investing S$120K to open her bakery-cafe there. Before the move, Yap said he had advised her to shut the business down instead of continuing to operate it. 'My view was if you're making a loss, might as well just keep it to that [amount] and close it.' He was also concerned about her mental well-being: 'I had my objections, I thought it would be better if she could rest well without doing anything – at least for the time being.' '[But ultimately], it was her decision [to continue with the biz]. I had to give her my full support, regardless of whether I agreed [with her decision] or not,' he said. Yap said that the OG Bugis bakery-cafe business is faring better than it did at the original Toa Payoh outlet – 'by a few thousand dollars in revenue' monthly. While the six-month-old bakery-cafe has yet to break even, it has been profitable. CREME DE LA CREME HOST DENNIS CHEW ATTENDED HER WAKE Michelle participated in season two of Mediacorp baking show Creme De La Creme in August 2023, to gain more exposure for her bakery. She placed sixth out of eight contestants. Yap said that the show's host, deejay and actor Dennis Chew, and guest judge pastry chef Then Chui Foong, along with several contestants, attended Goh's wake, though he didn't get a chance to speak with them. Some 2112 Bakery customers, including those from the previous Toa Payoh outlet, also attended the funeral, said Yap. 'I hope people will remember Michelle through her bakes, knowing that she was the one behind [treats like these] Nutella tarts,' he added. When asked for his fondest memory of her, Yap said: 'Every memory [of her] is dear to me and the kids.' 2112 Bakery (cafe in OG Bugis) is at #02-02 OG Albert, 60 Albert St. 2112 Bakery (with rojak & popiah) is at #02-222/224 Yew Tee Square Kopitiam, 624 Choa Chu Kang St 62. Its last day of operations is on June 30, 2025 (Monday). This story was originally published in 8Days. For more 8Days stories, visit
New Straits Times
28-06-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Armed forces calls for greater ethnic diversity in military ranks
KUALA LUMPUR: The Armed Forces is calling for greater ethnic diversity within its ranks, as part of ongoing efforts to elevate the professionalism and inclusivity of the nation's defence sector. Armed Forces chief, General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, said that while the majority of newly commissioned officer cadets were Malay, the military remains firmly open to recruits from all backgrounds, describing the career as both demanding and highly respected. "Of the 509 officer cadets commissioned today, 466 are Malays, while 14 are Indians, eight Chinese, four Bugis, and the rest comprise various ethnicities, including Rungus, Suluk, Sikh, and Bumiputera from Sabah and Sarawak, totalling around 20. "I urge everyone, especially those from non-Malay communities, to consider the MAF as a viable career path—one that offers opportunities equal to other professional fields," he said. He made these remarks during a press conference following the 2025 MAF Royal Commissioning Parade for Officer Cadets at the Army Chief's Parade Ground in Kem Perdana Sungai Besi here today. He added that all officer cadets commissioned today not only received their commissions but also graduated with degrees in various fields that will contribute to the MAF's future development. A total of 509 officer cadets were commissioned at the ceremony, comprising those who completed training at the Armed Forces Training Academy (AFTA), the Army Training Academy (ATA), the Royal Malaysian Navy's KD Sultan Idris I (KDSI I), and the Royal Malaysian Air Force College – Officer Training School (RMAF – OTS). The ceremony also saw Second Lieutenant Muhamad Amir Akhtar Saiful Azmi named best overall cadet officer. Other top honours went to - Lt Adam Daniel Suhaily (Best Army Cadet – Afta), Lt Azrul Naiem Shah Amer (Best Navy Cadet – Afta), Lt Fazril Azim Shaharuddin (Best Air Force Cadet – Afta), Lt Mohamad Syahmezan Amat (Best Army Cadet – Ata), Lt Ayman Saharuddin (Best Navy Cadet – KDSI I), Lt Muhamad Shahrul Amran (Best Air Force Cadet – RMAF – OTS). Nation Jan 31, 2025 @ 7:17am New armed forces chief vows to boost military's credibility Nation Feb 4, 2025 @ 1:39am Nizam plans to manage public perception of armed forces Nation Feb 4, 2025 @ 4:25am End factionalism, embrace integrity, says armed forces chief Nation Feb 4, 2025 @ 1:17am Strong human capital key to military resilience, says new armed forces chief
Malay Mail
25-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Gambler jailed 12 months for stealing nearly S$50,000 in red packets at Singapore wedding
SINGAPORE, June 25 — A wedding lunch at the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach turned into a nightmare for a newlywed couple when nearly S$50,000 (RM165,658) in red packets was stolen from their reception by a former banquet server. The Straits Times reported that Lee Yi Wei, 36, was sentenced to 12 months' jail yesterday after pleading guilty to one count of theft and one count of gambling with an unlicensed service provider. The court also ordered him to repay the stolen amount, or face an additional 100 days in jail. Lee, a habitual gambler, made off with two money boxes containing S$48,939 during the wedding event on April 5. According to State Prosecuting Officer Segathesan Kannapan, he had previously worked at the hotel and was familiar with its ballroom layout and reception arrangements. Knowing that red packet collections were typically placed on a registration table in the foyer, Lee struck when the area was momentarily unattended at about 12.50pm. The theft was discovered shortly after, and the wedding organiser contacted police around 1pm after reviewing CCTV footage showing Lee's actions. Investigations revealed that Lee hid the money in a locker at the National Library in Bugis. He used S$348 of the stolen cash to buy new clothes at Bugis Junction, changed into them, then retrieved the rest of the money before spending another S$60 on clothes at Raffles City Shopping Centre. That same day, he deposited S$36,331 of the stolen cash into a bank account via multiple ATMs, converting the sum into online gambling credits. Over the next two days, he placed 195 bets on an unlicensed gambling website and used another S$12,200 to gamble at a Singapore Pools outlet in Middle Road. When Lee was arrested on April 7, police recovered S$3,000 in cash from him. Appearing in court without a lawyer, Lee said in mitigation: 'I should have thought of the consequences... (It was because) of my own gambling addiction, and I acted out of desperation.' In response, District Judge Christopher Goh questioned his motives: 'So this is the kind of thing that you do to a person on the day of their wedding?' Lee was unable to respond. The judge stressed that the theft was premeditated, not a crime of impulse. The court also heard that Lee had a previous conviction for criminal breach of trust, for which he had served a 10-week sentence. Lee has been in remand since May and has begun serving his sentence.
Independent Singapore
21-06-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
"Why no English?" — Are foreign businesses in Singapore leaving locals behind?
SINGAPORE: A viral Reddit post has reignited the conversation on language accessibility and integration, after a Singaporean user shared their frustrations about the lack of English signage in a growing number of Mainland Chinese eateries across the island. The post, which quickly surged past 2,200 upvotes on r/singapore, was written by a self-described Indian Muslim Singaporean who expressed interest in Chinese cuisine and cultural exchange, but felt alienated by the linguistic exclusivity of some retail outlets. 'I would love to try more Northern Chinese cuisines if there are halal options,' he shared. 'But I don't mind the vast majority of them not being halal. This isn't meant to be political, but rather a personal concern.' The user clarified that their frustration wasn't with major brands like Haidilao, Luckin Coffee, or Chagee but with the smaller PRC eateries popping up in areas like Bugis and Clementi, where menus, promotions, and even staff communication are often almost entirely in Chinese . 'Having only the Chinese language means you are excluding non-Chinese people and even some Chinese Singaporeans who struggle with their Mother Tongue… English is a common language here, and the lack of it makes it seem they do not really want to expand their business' clientele outside the PRC immigrant population,' the post continued. Even when English was present, it was often an afterthought: tiny fonts, poor translations, or only partial information provided — a situation the user found both unwelcoming and unnecessary. Many Singaporeans feel the same way What stood out in the comments was not just support from minority communities, but from Chinese Singaporeans themselves , who echoed concerns about social cohesion and national identity . 'As a bilingual Chinese, I feel you,' one user wrote, garnering over 1000 upvotes . 'To me, English is the language that's supposed to bridge the social divide between races… when businesses do not care to use English, it feels like we're taking a step backwards in social integration.' Another popular comment went further, suggesting deeper implications: 'The proliferation of such food stalls is part of a self-reinforcing loop that feeds a burgeoning PRC expat bubble…The key difference is the minimal use of English in storefronts, menus, signages, apps, and customer communications. Locals patronising such stores are bonus revenue . What if you, the local, were never their target audience to begin with?' This comment, too, wasn't alone in highlighting broader geopolitical concerns, suggesting that some PRC businesses may be setting up shop in Singapore not solely for profit , but due to external economic pressures in China or as vehicles for capital outflow. What about inclusion and citizenship? One particularly pointed comment asked why new citizens aren't required to meet a basic English language threshold , noting how the lack of shared language undermines efforts toward social harmony: 'I really wish there is an English test for new citizens to at least make the non-Chinese Singaporeans feel more included.' A call for common ground At its core, this thread was not a rant, but a collective call for accessibility, mutual respect, and cultural integration . While Singapore has always been a multiracial society with a rich linguistic heritage, English has long served as the default bridge between communities, and in a landscape where PRC eateries are becoming a daily fixture, many Singaporeans are asking for a baseline level of linguistic accessibility in shared public spaces. Because inclusion is not just about race or religion, it starts with language and the ability to read the menu. A general ruling to mandate that signs, menus, and storefronts carry both English and the preferred language of the business, many suggested, would go a long way in ensuring every Singaporean feels at home, not just the ones who speak the language.
