Latest news with #BukitPanjang
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Singapore reckons with animal cruelty as abuse cases surge: ‘we can do better'
They don't yell or protest. They don't hold signs or march. But in Singapore , a chorus of concern is rising on their behalf. From living rooms to parliament, the country is facing hard questions about the way animals are seen, protected and valued. Advertisement In February, a 32-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to 14 months in jail for abusing five community cats – a spree of violence that culminated in the horrific act of throwing two of them from high-rise public housing blocks in Ang Mo Kio. Just three months later, in May, a 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a neighbour's cat in Bukit Panjang, an act captured on surveillance cameras. These disturbing events, along with other recent high-profile cases, have triggered widespread public outrage and prompted a national reckoning over animal welfare. Campaigners warn that not only are abuse cases becoming more extreme, but they are also exposing gaps in Singapore's animal protection laws – and underlining the need for a cultural shift in how animals are treated. Animal cruelty reports reached a 12-year high last year, according to figures released in January by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The surge has galvanised Singaporeans, with some signing petitions and others submitting proposals to parliamentary representatives, demanding reforms and tougher enforcement. Advertisement Authorities have acknowledged the public concern. A legislative review is now under way, examining the penalties for animal cruelty and the extent of current animal welfare laws. Under current legislation, those convicted of animal cruelty in Singapore can face up to 18 months in jail, a fine of up to S$15,000 (US$11,700), or both. Repeat offenders risk three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to S$30,000.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Man jailed in Singapore for punching taxi driver, fined for separate food court scuffle
SINGAPORE, June 6 — A 41-year-old man who punched a taxi driver in a fit of road rage and later shoved a man at a food court was sentenced to five days' jail and fined S$2,500 (RM8,220) yesterday. According to Channel News Asia (CNA), Silas Yu Ming'En lashed out at the 66-year-old cabbie after the latter overtook him at a traffic junction in Choa Chu Kang. He then assaulted a second victim months later in a separate incident at Bukit Panjang Plaza. Yu pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt, while an additional charge of using threatening behaviour was taken into consideration for sentencing. According to the facts of the case, on April 9, 2024, Yu was driving along Choa Chu Kang North 5 when a taxi driver came to a stop behind him at a red light. After the light turned green, the taxi overtook Yu, having found him to be driving slowly. When both vehicles stopped again at the junction of Choa Chu Kang North 5 and Choa Chu Kang Street 53, Yu got out of his car to confront the driver. The cabbie rolled down his window after Yu knocked on it, prompting a heated exchange. Yu demanded that the driver step out of the vehicle. When he refused, Yu reached through the open window in an attempt to unbuckle his seatbelt and tried to force the door open. He then punched the driver, causing a superficial abrasion on the man's right arm. The injury was later assessed at a polyclinic. CNA also reported that on December 29, 2024, Yu was involved in another altercation — this time at a food court in Bukit Panjang Plaza. While walking past a 30-year-old man, Yu said 'excuse me' in a manner the other man found rude. The man tapped Yu on the shoulder and said, 'Can you don't be so rude?' before walking off. But Yu followed him, pushing him twice in the chest and causing him to hit his lower back against a pillar. Although the man attempted to walk away, Yu continued pursuing him until members of the public stepped in. The man suffered a bruise on his lower back. Yu has since paid the food court victim S$160 in compensation. The taxi driver, however, could not provide a figure for his medical expenses. In court, Yu, who was unrepresented, read a letter expressing remorse. 'I deeply regret any harm caused,' he said. 'I take full responsibility ... I will learn from this experience and not repeat such behaviour.' For each count of voluntarily causing hurt, Yu could have been jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$5,000, or both.
CNA
19-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Nail Palace director fails to get jail term replaced with fine after breaching consumer protection orders
SINGAPORE: The director of a nail salon chain that did not take court-ordered steps to protect consumers will serve three months in jail for contempt of court after his appeal to the High Court fell through on Monday (May 19). Mr Kaiden Cheng, the managing director of two outlets under Nail Palace, had attempted to have his four-month jail term replaced with a S$10,000 (US$7,700) fine or reduced to five days' imprisonment. He argued that his businesses had since complied with court orders by publishing notices in four major newspapers to inform the public of their unfair trade practices, and implementing a new consumer notification form in January. However, Justice Audrey Lim found that a jail term was warranted as Nail Palace's breach of the court orders had substantial and irremediable effects. As a result, many existing and new customers who bought services from the salons would have been deprived of the knowledge that they had engaged in unfair trade practices, she said. Justice Lim further found that Nail Palace's breaches were ongoing, because its new consumer notification form and processes did not satisfy the court order. In February and March, two Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) officers made four undercover visits to the two salons in Bukit Panjang and Simei to conduct spot checks. They reported that they did not sign the consumer notification form until after the salons had started providing manicure or pedicure services to them. At that point, services such as feet-washing, nail clipping and buffing, and application of basecoats to their nails had already been performed. The claim that these were preparatory acts and common practice among nail salons as a prelude to the actual services was unbelievable, said Justice Lim. Nail Palace's non-compliance with the consumer notification order was therefore "continuing, egregious and persistent". She also noted that Nail Palace had a history of disregarding court orders, and that the salons' conduct showed they were not serious about making sure they were not in contempt of court. There was public interest in ensuring prompt compliance with such court orders and bringing unfair business practices to the attention of consumers at large, said Justice Lim. She reduced Mr Cheng's jail term by a quarter after taking into account that Nail Palace's January notices in the newspapers did comply with the court order, although they came more than 17 months after the initial deadline. The two Nail Palace businesses were also ordered to pay costs and disbursements to CCCS. As Mr Cheng's jail term was read out by the judge, a cry arose from the public gallery where he was seated with supporters. His sentence was deferred to May 26 to allow him to attend his sister's wedding. Nail Palace (BPP) and Nail Palace (SM) were originally taken to task for unfair trade practices over the sale of anti-fungal treatment packages. This included misleading a consumer over the need for anti-fungal treatment, and failing to inform a consumer that certain lip products were not free but included in the price of an anti-fungal treatment package. In August and September 2022, CCCS obtained injunctions to stop both businesses from these unfair practices. A district court ordered both businesses to publish a notice of the declarations and injunctions against them in four major Singapore newspapers by Aug 18, 2023. For a period of two years, the businesses were also supposed to inform customers that they had engaged in the unfair practices and obtain customers' written acknowledgement of this before entering into contracts with them. However, the businesses failed to comply with these requirements. In a first, CCCS took them to court for breach of the orders, and they were found guilty of contempt of court in September 2024.
Independent Singapore
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
After Chee Soon Juan received more votes than Poh Li San overseas, S'poreans cheer him on for next GE
SINGAPORE: The Elections Department (ELD) has published the results from registered voters overseas, which were counted on Thursday (May 15). Nothing changed concerning the final outcome, although the percentage of votes each party or candidate received shifted slightly. The overseas voter results were the most interesting in the two Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) where the Secretary-General and the Chair of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) had contested. At the newly created Sembawang West SMC, SDP chief Chee Soon Juan had stood head to head against the People's Action Party's Poh Li San and had narrowly lost. Meanwhile, at Bukit Panjang SMC, party chair Paul Tambyah contested, and lost, for the second time against Liang Eng Hwa, the incumbent from the PAP. Read also: A dream deferred: Dr Chee Soon Juan falls short in Sembawang West SMC However, more overseas voters chose Dr Chee rather than Ms Poh, with 23 casting their votes for the SDP chief, for Ms Poh's 21. For overseas Bukit Panjang voters, it was a tie, with Dr Tambyah and Mr Liang receiving 36 votes each. The results of this year's GE were a blow to both SDP leaders, perhaps especially to Dr Chee, 62. It was the fourth time for him to contest, and the closest he has gotten to a win. With him garnering 46.82 per cent of votes, it had even looked as though he might have clinched a seat as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP). However, this seat will go to the Workers' Party's candidates at Tampines GRC, who had won 47.37 per cent of the vote. Nevertheless, the results of the votes overseas appeared to be enough for supporters to encourage Dr Chee and cheer him on. 'Well done, Dr CSJ. Looking forward to your next GE,' wrote one. 'To garner so many votes in a new SMC within a short period of time speaks volumes about him,' observed another. A commenter wrote that Dr Chee 'deserved the NCMP' seat, reflecting the opinion of many that the inclusion of the fiery SDP head in the next Parliament would have made it more interesting. Nevertheless, a commenter wrote that nothing has changed in the final tallies: ' That representative democracy for the better or worse still lies in the final result. A win is a win, even by a razor-thin margin or by just 1 vote. Everyone is entitled to a choice for change,e whether you like the incumbent or you want a stronger substitute. We can't change anything but respect the decision and mandate of the people.' /TISG Read also: 'Singaporeans have known him for longer than they've known you' – Poh Li San slammed for repeated attacks against Chee Soon Juan
CNA
16-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
JB's famous Hiap Joo banana cake now sold in Singapore via vending machine at Bukit Panjang
Johor Bahru's well-loved Hiap Joo Bakery banana cake is now available in Singapore at the touch of a button. Snag a box or two from the first and only Hiap Joo cake vending machine at Senja Hawker Centre in Bukit Panjang. It's located near the bus stop along Senja Road. Launched by Singaporean company HYPHA Vending Retail, also behind the cute Shio Pan 'ATM' by Butter Town and Uncle Lee Confectionery Cake Machine, this cake vending machine brings the highly sought-after bakes to Singapore's heartlands. Each box of 10 slices of the old-school fluffy banana cake is priced at S$8.60 (it costs RM13, about S$3.93, in JB). Two more Hiap Joo Bakery vending machines will be available in Singapore in the second half of 2025, but locations have yet to be confirmed. Only cashless payments such as PayWave, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted. NO NEED TO DRIVE ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY Hiap Joo's banana cake is known for its easy-to-eat, airy-squishy mouthfeel and nostalgic flavour. It's made with Malaysian berangan bananas and baked in a 100-year-old oven fuelled by wood from rubber or bakau trees. Hiap Joo Bakery opened in 1919 and is located a kilometre from the customs checkpoint via the Woodlands-Johor Causeway. Before the introduction of this vending machine in Singapore, the only way you could get your hands on the JB cake was via ad hoc group buys or on e-commerce platforms like Shopee. GROUP BUY INITIATIVE INSPIRED VENDING MACHINE BUSINESS Serene Ong, 41, founder of HYPHA Vending Retail, told 'Hiap Joo Banana cakes contain no added preservatives. To maintain its freshness, they are transported chilled and stored in our refrigerated vending machines. We recommend warming them up for one to two minutes in the microwave oven before enjoying.' Ong started HYPHA after organising group buys in her neighbourhood. She shared: 'I hosted Groupbuys during the pandemic with brands like Rich & Good, Uncle Lee Confectionery, Kiroi Cheesecake, Hougang Otah, Poh Cheu and many more. For overseas brands, I brought in kueh, banana cake and handmade pau from Malaysia and Thailand'. STOCKS REPLENISHED TWICE DAILY 'I have been bringing in Hiap Joo's banana cake to Singapore since COVID days. The response was very good, and orders kept increasing,' she added. She still does group buys now, but on a smaller scale. HYPHA liases directly with suppliers from Malaysia to bring in fresh stocks of Hiap Joo banana cakes daily. While the vending machine is limited to 48 boxes, restocks are done twice a day at 11.30am and 4.30pm. SKIP THE QUEUES IN JB While the bakery in JB still attracts many tourists, Hiap Joo Bakery's owner Lim Toh Shian told CNA recently: "This year, I think business has slowed down by about 30 per cent'. He added: 'I don't know why, maybe the market is slow and ingredient prices are going up', which may have prompted the brand to venture beyond Johor to our shores. Rental hikes have been plaguing Malaysian businesses near the Bukit Chagar RTS Station as 'many shop lots in that area have been purchased by property investment conglomerates', Lim continued. Businesses have also been hit by higher prices of raw materials and labour costs, leading to an increase in prices of Hiap Joo's banana cakes and buns by RM1 each after Chinese New Year in February, added the article. BOX OF 10 SLICES FOR S$8.60 (S$6.50 PROMO PRICE ON MAY 17 AND 18) For the launch of Hiap Joo Bakery's first vending machine in Singapore this weekend, each box of banana cake will go for S$6.50 on May 17 and 18, from 11.30am, while stocks last. Ong told that HYPHA will be bringing in more nostalgic and trendy food brands from overseas. She hopes to place its vending machines in malls, other hawker centres and transportation hubs, beginning in the east. website.
