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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Of kaya toast and cai fan: Who owns the rights to local food merch, art and design?
An unfinished painting of Hawker Food by home-grown art and lifestyle brand Singlapa. PHOTO: SINGLAPA SINGAPORE – A few years ago, the ang ku kueh cushion was a staple in almost every Singapore millennial household. It was created in 2015 for SG50 by home-grown souvenirs brand Red Republic (now called which also originated paraphernalia such as the iced gem biscuit plushie and Kopibag Mug. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Paper
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
Parliamentary pursuits: Retiree's 'secret' autograph book holds over 90 MP signatures
Madam Soh Siew Geok, 72, is perhaps Singapore's most avid attendee of Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS). The Yishun resident has ventured as far as Jurong and Marine Parade to meet various Members of Parliament - but not exactly to seek out help on municipal or personal issues. Instead, the affable retiree takes a bus to MPS across the island to collect the autographs of the country's political representatives as a hobby. Since 2015, she has acquired more than 90 signatures from the likes of active stalwarts DPM Gan Kim Yong and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, to retired politicians like Mr Lim Swee Say. "It all started in 2015, when I bought the SG50 commemorative notes in Tampines and bumped into some MPs after my purchase. I thought it would be a good idea to get their signatures," she tells The Straits Times in Mandarin, though admitting that she has forgotten which MPs these were. "And, since I'd already got a few signatures, I thought that I should just try to collect everyone else's," adds the former newspaper distributor and toy factory worker. That idea has blossomed into a spirited quest to obtain the signature of every MP, no matter their party colours. With the nine-day campaigning period of GE2025, Madam Soh no longer has to limit herself to MPS and has started walking the ground too. On April 25, she was spotted at Mayflower Market & Food Centre requesting the autograph of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The leader of the PAP slate in Ang Mo Kio GRC was on a walkabout in Kebun Baru SMC. This was not her first time collecting his signature but it was special. This time, SM Lee signed her autograph book in Chinese, having previously penned his name in English. SM Lee did not recognise her, she says with a laugh, but she never expected him to. Her encounters with MPs are typically fleeting. It took eight visits to his constituency before she finally met him and got his autograph for the first time. One of her friendliest interactions was with Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung, who took the time to ask her about her plans for the book, which he said "must be worth a lot". "I might give this to my son if he wants it - or I might donate this to a museum," responded Madam Soh, who has a 32-year-old son. Her husband, who is 68, prefers to keep a low profile, and she declined to reveal what either of them does for a living. Madam Soh Siew Geok's book is a patchwork of politicians' faces and signatures. ST PHOTO: HAZEL TANG Not every encounter is warm and some MPs have been less than friendly, she lets on. Declining to reveal names, she says: "You don't have to sign in my book, I'll just leave an empty space beside your face." Her book is a patchwork of faces snipped from residents' committee brochures. Her cut-out of SM Lee's face was from a brochure given to her by her brother, who lives in Ang Mo Kio GRC. She taps friends living across the island to send her brochures and MPS timings. The book is kept in her cabinet and her husband and son are not aware of its existence, she says. "I do it secretly and I don't need anyone's permission," she says. "Of course, I'm very happy about the signatures I've collected - I often take it out from the cabinet and admire my booklet." A few friends have questioned her about collecting the signatures of candidates who have yet to be elected. But Madam Soh tells them it is her book and she makes the rules. She times her outings for golden hour - just before the evening Meet-the-People Sessions begin. A decade of travelling around Singapore has rewarded this retiree, who might otherwise be cooped up at home, with something special: "Because of this hobby, I've realised how beautiful Singapore can look at night. The most beautiful place in this country is the east coast because of the sunsets."
AsiaOne
26-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Parliamentary pursuits: Retiree's 'secret' autograph book holds over 90 MP signatures, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Soh Siew Geok, 72, is perhaps Singapore's most avid attendee of Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS). The Yishun resident has ventured as far as Jurong and Marine Parade to meet various Members of Parliament — but not exactly to seek out help on municipal or personal issues. Instead, the affable retiree takes a bus to MPS across the island to collect the autographs of the country's political representatives as a hobby. Since 2015, she has acquired more than 90 signatures from the likes of active stalwarts DPM Gan Kim Yong and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, to retired politicians like Lim Swee Say. 'It all started in 2015, when I bought the SG50 commemorative notes in Tampines and bumped into some MPs after my purchase. I thought it would be a good idea to get their signatures,' she tells The Straits Times in Mandarin, though admitting that she has forgotten which MPs these were. 'And, since I'd already got a few signatures, I thought that I should just try to collect everyone else's,' adds the former newspaper distributor and toy factory worker. That idea has blossomed into a spirited quest to obtain the signature of every MP, no matter their party colours. With the nine-day campaigning period of GE2025, Soh no longer has to limit herself to MPS and has started walking the ground too. On April 25, she was spotted at Mayflower Market & Food Centre requesting the autograph of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The leader of the PAP slate in Ang Mo Kio GRC was on a walkabout in Kebun Baru SMC. This was not her first time collecting his signature but it was special. This time, SM Lee signed her autograph book in Chinese, having previously penned his name in English. SM Lee did not recognise her, she says with a laugh, but she never expected him to. Her encounters with MPs are typically fleeting. It took eight visits to his constituency before she finally met him and got his autograph for the first time. One of her friendliest interactions was with Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung, who took the time to ask her about her plans for the book, which he said 'must be worth a lot'. 'I might give this to my son if he wants it — or I might donate this to a museum,' responded Soh, who has a 32-year-old son. Her husband, who is 68, prefers to keep a low profile, and she declined to reveal what either of them does for a living. Soh Siew Geok's book is a patchwork of politicians' faces and signatures. PHOTO: The Straits Times Not every encounter is warm and some MPs have been less than friendly, she lets on. Declining to reveal names, she says: 'You don't have to sign in my book, I'll just leave an empty space beside your face.' Her book is a patchwork of faces snipped from residents' committee brochures. Her cut-out of SM Lee's face was from a brochure given to her by her brother, who lives in Ang Mo Kio GRC. She taps friends living across the island to send her brochures and MPS timings. The book is kept in her cabinet and her husband and son are not aware of its existence, she says. 'I do it secretly and I don't need anyone's permission,' she says. 'Of course, I'm very happy about the signatures I've collected — I often take it out from the cabinet and admire my booklet.' A few friends have questioned her about collecting the signatures of candidates who have yet to be elected. But Soh tells them it is her book and she makes the rules. She times her outings for golden hour — just before the evening Meet-the-People Sessions begin. A decade of travelling around Singapore has rewarded this retiree, who might otherwise be cooped up at home, with something special: 'Because of this hobby, I've realised how beautiful Singapore can look at night. The most beautiful place in this country is the east coast because of the sunsets.' ALSO READ: 'Pasir Ris-Changi GRC residents think we have a good chance of winning', says SDA's Chia Yun Kai This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Parliamentary pursuits: Meet the retiree whose secret autograph book holds over 90 MP signatures
Mdm Soh Siew Geok (far right) seen here with her "secret" autograph book alongside PAP candidate for Kebun Baru SMC Mr Henry Kwek and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. ST PHOTO: HAZEL TANG Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Madam Soh Siew Geok, 72, is perhaps Singapore's most avid attendee of Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS). The Yishun resident has ventured as far as Jurong and Marine Parade to meet various Members of Parliament – but not exactly to seek out help on municipal or personal issues. Instead, the affable retiree takes a bus to MPS across the island to collect the signatures of the country's political representatives as a hobby. Since 2015, she has acquired more than 90 signatures from the likes of active stalwarts like DPM Gan Kim Yong and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh to retired politicians like Mr Lim Swee Say. 'It all started in 2015, when I bought the SG50 commemorative notes in Tampines and bumped into some MPs after my purchase. I thought it would be a good idea to get their signatures,' she tells The Straits Times in Mandarin, admitting that she has forgotten which MPs these were. 'And, since I've already got a few signatures, I thought that I should just try to collect everyone else's,' adds the former newspaper distributor and toy factory worker. That idea has blossomed into a spirited quest to obtain the signature of every MP, no matter their party colours. With the nine-day campaigning period of GE2025, Mdm Soh no longer has to limit herself to MPS and has started walking the ground too. On April 25, she was spotted at Mayflower Market & Food Centre requesting the signature of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The leader of the PAP slate in Ang Mo Kio GRC, he was on a walkabout in Kebun Baru SMC. This was not her first time collecting his signature but it was special. It was the first time SM Lee signed her autograph book in Mandarin, having previously penned his name in English. SM Lee did not recognise her, she says with a laugh, but she never expected him to. Her encounters with MPs are typically fleeting. It took eight visits to his constituency before she finally met him and got his signature for the first time. One of her friendliest interactions was with Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung, who took the time to ask her about her plans for this book which he said 'must be worth a lot'. 'I might give this to my son if he wants it – or I might donate this to a museum,' responded Mdm Soh who has a 32-year-old son. Her husband, who is 68, prefers to keep a low profile, and she politely declines to reveal what either of them does for a living. Mdm Soh Siew Geok, 72, travels to MPS across the island to obtain the signatures of the country's political representatives as a hobby. ST PHOTO: HAZEL TANG Not every encounter is warm and some MPs have been less than friendly, she lets on. Declining to reveal names, she says: 'You don't have to sign in my book, I'll just leave an empty space beside your face.' Her book is a patchwork of faces snipped from Residents' Committee brochures. Her cut-out of SM Lee's face was from a brochure given to her by her brother, who lives in Ang Mo Kio GRC. She taps on friends living across the island to send her brochures and MPS timings. The book is kept in her cabinet and her husband and son are not aware of its existence, she says. 'I do it secretly and I don't need anyone's permission,' she says. 'Of course I'm very happy about the signatures I've collected – I often take it out from the cabinet and admire my booklet.' A few friends have questioned her about collecting the signatures of candidates who have yet to be elected. But she tells them it is her book and she makes the rules. She times her outings for golden hour - just before the evening's Meet-the-People Sessions begin. A decade of travelling around Singapore has rewarded this retiree, who might otherwise be cooped up at home, with something special: 'Because of this hobby, I've realised how beautiful Singapore can look at night. The most beautiful place in this country is the east coast because of the sunsets.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
GE2025: WP's Pritam Singh leads team with two new faces Fadli Fawzi, Kenneth Tiong against PAP in Aljunied GRC
[SINGAPORE] Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh will lead a team comprising two new faces, without incumbent Faisal Manap, to defend Aljunied GRC against the ruling People's Action Party at the May 3 general election. Faisal, who made his political debut in 2011, will be leading WP's team of of four first-timers in Tampines GRC The WP team for Aljunied GRC comprises Singh, who is Leader of the Opposition, two incumbents – party chair Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam, as well as Fadli Fawzi and Kenneth Tiong. Fadli, a lawyer, first contested as part of the WP's Marine Parade GRC team, whereas Kenneth Tiong, a first-timer, is an AI startup founder. Ahead of Nomination Day, there had been speculation that one of WP's senior party leaders may strike out elsewhere, with Aljunied GRC now come to be seen as one of WP's stronghold. Faisal's move mirrors that of former WP chief Low Thia Kiang, who ventured out of Hougang SMC after 20 years to contest in Aljunied GRC in GE2011. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The PAP's team led by Chan Hui Yuh, who contested in the previous election, consists of four first-timers: company director Adrian Ang, managing director of an urban planning consultancy Daniel Liu, dental surgeon Faisal Abdul Aziz and unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo. Meanwhile, WP's Dennis Tan, the incumbent at Hougang SMC, will defend his ward against PAP new face and lawyer Marshall Lim. Both parties arrived at Poi Ching School, one of the nine Nomination Centres across Singapore, at shortly before 11am on Wednesday (Apr 23), flanked by supporters. Both parties' candidacies were confirmed at 12.30pm, with no objections raised by any of the candidates. Aljunied GRC became the first GRC to be won by the opposition in GE2011, when WP's historic victory unseated three political heavyweights in one fell swoop, including then-foreign affairs minister George Yeo. The GRC has come to be seen as one of WP's two crown jewels, alongside Hougang SMC, which the party has held since 1991. The PAP has not been able to reclaim the GRC despite coming very close in 2015, when WP scraped a victory with a much smaller margin – securing just 50.96 per cent of the votes. That year, all wards saw a big swing towards the ruling party as Singaporeans celebrated SG50 and mourned the death of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. However, WP bounced back by GE2020, held in the middle of a global pandemic, when they took a decisive 59.95 per cent of the votes. The party also won its second GRC — Sengkang GRC — the same year. If elected, Tiong will replace former MP Leon Perera, who resigned in 2023 after his extramarital affair with fellow party member Nicole Seah was exposed.
