Latest news with #SimplyGo
Straits Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
American Express cards can be used on public transport from May 15
Commuters who use American Express cards on public transport are charged the same fares as those who use stored value travel cards. PHOTO: LTA American Express cards can be used on public transport from May 15 SINGAPORE - Commuters will be able to use American Express contactless cards to pay their public transport fares from May 15, expanding the current slate of accepted credit cards. Those using the card can also add it to their mobile wallets for easier access, the Land Transport Authority and American Express announced in a joint news release on May 13. They do not need to pre-register their cards to use them. 'This will eliminate the need to carry a separate travel card or top up stored-value travel cards before the journey,' the release said. Commuters who use American Express cards are charged the same fares as those who use stored value travel cards such as EZ-Link and Nets FlashPay cards, without additional fees involved. As with other credit cards, charges for public transport rides will be reflected in the user's credit, charge, debit or pre-paid credit card bills. Those with a SimplyGo app account can also view their travel expenses and history there. They can also opt to receive push notifications for fares incurred after each trip. 'Commuters who carry more than one contactless bank card or travel card are reminded to take out the card they wish to use before tapping at the fare reader, and to use the same card to tap in and out, to avoid charges to multiple cards,' the release said. Mr Marlin Brown, American Express country manager for Singapore, said the addition of the card to the slate brings greater convenience for users. 'It is important for us to provide our card members a seamless payment experience wherever they live, work and play and enabling them to use their cards on public transportation worldwide is essential,' he added. Credit cards were first accepted on public transport in late 2016, when a pilot programme was introduced to allow the use of Mastercard contactless cards to pay for bus and train rides. Mastercard contactless payments were among the features included when SimplyGo was rolled out in April 2019. In the same year, the system was expanded to include Visa cards in June and Nets cards in November. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Public Transport Commuters can use American Express Contactless Cards for Transit Payment from 15 May 2025
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 13 May 2025 - From 15 May 2025, commuters will be able to use their American Express[1] cards to make contactless payments for public transport fares. This will provide greater convenience and choice for public transport commuters. Mr Marlin Brown, American Express Country Manager for Singapore said: 'We are proud to partner with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to bring more contactless payment options to Singapore commuters as this form of payment becomes increasingly popular. For our local and overseas Card Members, including those of our third party partners, this brings greater convenience as they can now tap, pay and ride across the ever-expanding bus and train network in Singapore. It is important for us to provide our Card Members a seamless payment experience wherever they live, work and play and enabling them to use their cards on public transportation worldwide is essential.' Commuters can also add the cards to their mobile wallets and need not pre-register their cards for public transport rides. This will eliminate the need to carry a separate travel card or top up stored value travel cards before the journey. Commuters who use American Express cards are charged the same fares as those who use stored value travel cards (i.e. EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards), with no additional fees involved. Charges for public transport rides are reflected in the commuter's credit, charge, debit or prepaid card bills, similar to retail transactions. Commuters with a SimplyGo app account can also view their travel expenses and history on the SimplyGo mobile app, along with an option to receive push notifications for fares incurred after each trip. Commuters who carry more than one contactless bank card or travel card are reminded to take out the card they wish to use before tapping at the fare reader, and to use the same card to tap in and out, to avoid charges to multiple cards. [1] Eligible American Express cards include those issued by American Express and its third-party partners worldwide.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GE2025: A vote for WP is a vote for the future, say its candidates
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – A vote for the WP will not just determine the results of this election, but will also shape the future of Singapore, party candidates said on May 1 as they made a final plea to voters. 'Let us build on what we have achieved in Aljunied, Hougang and Sengkang and take the next step to send a clear message from Punggol, Tampines, East Coast, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat, that Singapore wants a Parliament that listens and a rational, responsible and credible opposition,' said WP's Aljunied GRC candidate Gerald Giam. Party chair Sylvia Lim, who is also on the Aljunied slate, said: 'You may only have one vote, but together, our votes can chart the future.' At the party's last rally at Anderson Serangoon Junior College, candidates spoke about the party's achievements in Parliament and at town councils. WP MPs have 'punched above (their) weight', asking more than 2,300 parliamentary questions and bringing up issues including leaked NRIC numbers on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's digital service portal and the Income-Allianz deal that was eventually aborted, said Mr Giam. The party's town councils are also directly managed and on solid financial footing, he added. Now, the party was ready to do more, he said, calling on voters to vote for the WP for a more balanced Parliament and to chart a better course for Singapore. Several candidates spoke about how the PAP has lost its way. Mr Michael Thng, a WP candidate for Tampines GRC, referred to the authorities spending $400,000 to consult an external agency to rebrand Marina Bay, only to end up reusing its original name. This was in 2004. He also cited the $40 million budget to support the continued use of older ez-link cards after the Land Transport Authority shelved its plans for SimplyGo. He likened the PAP to a multinational company that was once at the top of its game but has now 'stopped imagining boldly, and has started protecting what (it) has'. 'They are not able to deal with the challenges that lie ahead, or creative enough to find new ways to solve them. This is not the PAP of big, bold, forward-looking ideas,' he said. Aljunied GRC candidate Kenneth Tiong, meanwhile, criticised the Government's willingness to sell 'strategic national assets built over decades' to foreign players, pointing to this as a reason Singapore has not produced what he called domestic growth engines. This mentality was apparent in the sale of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing in 2009 and shipping company Neptune Orient Lines in 2016, and the attempted sale – later stopped by an Act of Parliament – of Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz in 2024. Associate Professor Jamus Lim, an incumbent WP MP for Sengkang GRC, said it was the WP's 'longstanding' ideas adopted by the Government that have made Singaporean lives better – among others, better financial support for unemployed workers, higher pay for national servicemen and better protection for scam victims. 'Without an opposition presence in Parliament, far fewer inconvenient questions would have been asked, and mistakes made by the Government would not have been held to account in the same way,' he said. The candidates also took the chance to address voters' concerns about voting for the opposition, with some like Tampines GRC candidate Faisal Manap arguing that voting for the WP would result in more parties serving residents. In Aljunied GRC, residents now have the WP serving them, in addition to the PAP continuing to labour in the wards to win back votes and the People's Association organising events during festivities. WP-held wards have already enjoyed this windfall, such as double celebrations on occasions like Christmas, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, Mr Faisal said. Mr Giam, who has contested four general elections, meanwhile assured voters that their vote is secret. He said he had followed the entire voting process until the incineration of the ballot papers, and guaranteed that safeguards are in place. His fellow Aljunied GRC candidate Fadli Fawzi added: 'Last election, almost one million Singaporeans courageously voted against the PAP in hopes of seeing genuine change. Do you think the Government can monitor everyone in times of global uncertainty?' Urging voters to give their vote to the WP on May 3, Ms Lim said: 'Let's make a promise that come Saturday, we will vote not out of fear but with conviction and hope for the future that we deserve, that years from now, we can proudly say that we stood up and worked for Singapore as we passed the baton to the next generation.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
The Star
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Singapore GE2025: A vote for WP is a vote for the future, say its candidates
SINGAPORE: A vote for the WP will not just determine the results of this election, but will also shape the future of Singapore, party candidates said on Thursday (May 1) as they made a final plea to voters. 'Let us build on what we have achieved in Aljunied, Hougang and Sengkang and take the next step to send a clear message from Punggol, Tampines, East Coast, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat, that Singapore wants a Parliament that listens and a rational, responsible and credible opposition,' said WP's Aljunied GRC candidate Gerald Giam. Party chair Sylvia Lim, who is also on the Aljunied slate, said: 'You may only have one vote, but together, our votes can chart the future.' At the party's last rally at Anderson Serangoon Junior College, candidates spoke about the party's achievements in Parliament and at town councils. WP MPs have 'punched above (their) weight', asking more than 2,300 parliamentary questions and bringing up issues including leaked NRIC numbers on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's digital service portal and the Income-Allianz deal that was eventually aborted, said Giam. The party's town councils are also directly managed and on solid financial footing, he added. Now, the party was ready to do more, he said, calling on voters to vote for the WP for a more balanced Parliament and to chart a better course for Singapore. Several candidates spoke about how the PAP has lost its way. Michael Thng, a WP candidate for Tampines GRC, referred to the authorities spendings S$400,000 to consult an external agency to rebrand Marina Bay, only to end up reusing its original name. This was in 2004. He also cited the $40 million budget to support the continued use of older ez-link cards after the Land Transport Authority shelved its plans for SimplyGo. He likened the PAP to a multinational company that was once at the top of its game but has now 'stopped imagining boldly, and has started protecting what (it) has'. 'They are not able to deal with the challenges that lie ahead, or creative enough to find new ways to solve them. This is not the PAP of big, bold, forward-looking ideas,' he said. Aljunied GRC candidate Kenneth Tiong, meanwhile, criticised the Government's willingness to sell 'strategic national assets built over decades' to foreign players, pointing to this as a reason Singapore has not produced what he called domestic growth engines. This mentality was apparent in the sale of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing in 2009 and shipping company Neptune Orient Lines in 2016, and the attempted sale – later stopped by an Act of Parliament – of Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz in 2024. Associate Professor Jamus Lim, an incumbent WP MP for Sengkang GRC, said it was the WP's 'longstanding' ideas adopted by the Government that have made Singaporean lives better – among others, better financial support for unemployed workers, higher pay for national servicemen and better protection for scam victims. 'Without an opposition presence in Parliament, far fewer inconvenient questions would have been asked, and mistakes made by the Government would not have been held to account in the same way,' he said. The candidates also took the chance to address voters' concerns about voting for the opposition, with some like Tampines GRC candidate Faisal Manap arguing that voting for the WP would result in more parties serving residents. In Aljunied GRC, residents now have the WP serving them, in addition to the PAP continuing to labour in the wards to win back votes and the People's Association organising events during festivities. WP-held wards have already enjoyed this windfall, such as double celebrations on occasions like Christmas, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, Faisal said. Giam, who has contested four general elections, meanwhile assured voters that their vote is secret. He said he had followed the entire voting process until the incineration of the ballot papers, and guaranteed that safeguards are in place. His fellow Aljunied GRC candidate Fadli Fawzi added: 'Last election, almost one million Singaporeans courageously voted against the PAP in hopes of seeing genuine change. Do you think the Government can monitor everyone in times of global uncertainty?' Urging voters to give their vote to the WP on May 3, Lim said: 'Let's make a promise that come Saturday, we will vote not out of fear but with conviction and hope for the future that we deserve, that years from now, we can proudly say that we stood up and worked for Singapore as we passed the baton to the next generation.' - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
A vote for WP is a vote for the future, say its candidates
WP candidates onstage at the party's last rally at Anderson Serangoon Junior College on May 1. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG A vote for WP is a vote for the future, say its candidates Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – A vote for the WP will not just determine the results of this election, but will also shape the future of Singapore, party candidates said on May 1, as they made a final plea to voters. 'Let us build on what we have achieved in Aljuned, Hougang and Sengkang and take the next step to send a clear message from Punggol, Tampines, East Coast, Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat, that Singapore wants a Parliament that listens and a rational, responsible and credible opposition,' said Aljunied GRC candidate Gerald Giam. 'You may only have one vote, but together, our votes can chart the future,' said party chair Sylvia Lim, who is also on the Aljunied slate. At the party's last rally at Anderson Serangoon Junior College, candidates spoke about the party's achievements in Parliament and at town councils. WP MPs have 'punched above (their) weight', asking more than 2,300 parliamentary questions in Parliament and bringing up issues including leaked NRIC numbers on the Acra website and the Income- Allianz deal that was eventually aborted, said Mr Giam. The party's town councils are also directly managed and on solid financial footing, he added. Now, the party was ready to do more, he said, calling on voters to vote the WP for a more balanced Parliament and to chart a better course for Singapore. Several candidates spoke about how the PAP has lost its way. Mr Michael Thng, the WP candidate for Tampines, referred to the authorities spending $400,000 to consult an external agency to rebrand Marina Bay only to end up reusing its original name. This was in 2004. He also cited the $40 million budget to support the continued use of older ez-link cards after the Land Transport Authority shelved its plans for SimplyGo. He likened the PAP to a multinational company that was once at the top of its game but has now 'stopped imagining boldly, and has started protecting what (it) has'. 'They are not able to deal with the challenges that lie ahead, or creative enough to find new ways to solve them. This is not the PAP of big, bold, forward-looking ideas,' he said. Aljunied GRC candidate Kenneth Tiong, meanwhile, criticised the Government's willingness to sell out 'strategic national assets built over decades' to foreign players, putting this down as a reason Singapore has not produced what he called domestic growth engines. This mentality was apparent in the sales of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing in 2009, shipping company Neptune Orient Lines in 2016, and the attempt – later stopped by an act of Parliament – of Income Allianz in 2024. WP incumbent MP for Sengkang GRC Jamus Lim said it was WP's 'longstanding' ideas adopted by the Government that have made Singaporean lives better: among others, better financial support for unemployed workers, higher pay for National Servicemen and better protection for scam victims. 'Without an opposition presence in Parliament, far fewer inconvenient questions would have been asked, and mistakes made by the Government would not have been held to account in the same way,' he said. The candidates also took the chance to address voters' concerns about voting for the opposition, with some like Tampines GRC candidate Faisal Manap arguing that voting for WP would result in more parties serving residents. In Aljunied, residents now have the WP serving them, in addition to the PAP continuing to labour in their wards to win back their votes and the People's Association organising events during festivities. WP-held wards have already enjoyed this windfall, such as double celebrations on occasions like Christmas, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, he said. Mr Giam, who has contested four general elections, meanwhile, assured voters that their vote is secret. He said he had followed the entire voting process until the incineration of the ballot papers and guaranteed that safeguards are in place. His fellow Aljunied GRC candidate Fadli Fawzi added: 'Last election, almost one million Singaporeans courageously voted against the PAP in hopes of seeing genuine change. Do you think the Government can monitor everyone in times of global uncertainty?' Urging voters to give their vote to the WP on Saturday, Ms Lim said: 'Let's make a promise that come Saturday, we will vote not out of fear but with conviction and hope for the future that we deserve, that years from now, we can proudly say, that we stood up and worked for Singapore as we passed the baton to the next generation.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
