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Independent Singapore
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Actress Juin Teh moves back to Johor to save on rent, commutes daily for work in Singapore
MALAYSIA: In a move that underscores the growing pressures of Singapore's high cost of living, Mediacorp actress Juin Teh has opted to relocate back to her family home in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, despite still working full-time in Lion City. The 34-year-old surprised fans earlier this month when she posted a video of herself moving out of her Singapore apartment. The video, which has since garnered over 10,000 likes and more than 250 comments, initially sparked speculation that she was leaving Mediacorp altogether, but the star of Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story quickly clarified her situation. 'Rent went up, so I thought it might be good to move back home to Johor Bahru. My mother's getting older too, so I want to spend more time with her,' she explained, as reported by The Sun. A tough commute and simple comforts The savings come with a considerable trade-off: Her daily commute can take up to two hours each way, sometimes as long as three on weekends. 'When a job ends late but I have other work to attend to early the next morning, I'll stay over with a friend or a relative here,' she shared, as reported by The Sun. Without a car, due to restrictions on Malaysian-registered vehicles for Singapore permanent residents and the prohibitive cost of owning a car locally, she relies entirely on public transport. More importantly, she now enjoys something she missed while living alone: 'a warm, home-cooked meal from my mother,' she stated. From Star Search to personal sacrifice According to The Sun, Juin first rose to fame during Star Search 2019, quickly building a reputation as a promising talent on local television. In addition to acting, she co-hosts the online lifestyle show #JustSwipeLah , where she recently gave viewers a tour of her newly renovated home in Johor. Her decision to go back to Johor reflects not just personal devotion but also a broader trend among young professionals, even celebrities, reassessing their living arrangements in response to Singapore's rising living costs. Netizens react to actress' decision The decision has drawn strong responses online, especially on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. 'But won't you be tired of going back and forth from Singapore to Malaysia?' one user asked, reflecting concern over the gruelling commute. 'No matter your plans, I will always support you!' another wrote, offering encouragement and support for the actress. Another user made fun of the situation. 'Maybe I will see you at the checkpoint,' they joked in a comment. Other users, however, pointed to the broader issue: 'Singapore has gotten unbelievably expensive.' A sign of the times Juin Teh's move is emblematic of a quiet yet growing migration of workers who choose to live in Malaysia while working in Singapore. This pattern was once limited to lower-income earners but is now extending to middle-class professionals and public figures. Her story reflects how more people are becoming practical about their finances. At the same time, it shows the strength of a new generation facing the real challenges of adult life. With the rising cost of living, even those who are doing well are changing how they live. For Juin, it's not just about cutting costs; it's also about reconnecting with her roots and putting family first. Read also: Johor ramps up cross-border tourism ties with Singapore ahead of VJY 2026
The Sun
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Actress moves back to JB, commutes 2 hours daily to S'pore
AMIDST rising rental costs, Mediacorp actress Juin Teh makes a major life change — moving back to her family home in Johor Bahru after her Singapore apartment lease expired on April 1. The 34-year-old star shocked fans in early April when she posted a video of herself moving out of her Singapore apartment, leading many to think she might be leaving Mediacorp. But Juin quickly set the record straight — she's still a full-time artiste with the broadcaster. ALSO READ: Actor relocates family from SG to JB, says life in Malaysia is 30 percent cheaper 'Rent went up, so I thought it might be good to move back home to Johor Bahru. My mother's getting older too, so I want to spend more time with her,' she mentioned. According to The Straits Times, by moving back home, Juin is saving about $1,000 a month. But it comes with a major sacrifice — she now commutes up to two hours each way across the Causeway for work, with the journey sometimes stretching to three hours on weekends. 'When a job ends late but I have other work to attend to early the next morning, I'll stay over with a friend or a relative here,' she shared. With no car — since permanent residents aren't allowed to drive Malaysia-registered vehicles in Singapore and buying a local car is too expensive — she depends fully on public transport. 'Sometimes, I do get recognised. People will yell 'Juin!', and some netizens leave comments on social media saying they hope to bump into me at Customs,' she said. Despite the tough commute, she says it's all worth it when she returns home to a warm, home-cooked meal from her mother. She first captured public attention during Star Search 2019 and is currently acting in Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story on Channel 8. She also hosts the online show #JustSwipeLah, where she gave fans a tour of her Johor Bahru home — a home she personally renovated over 10 months to make it more elderly-friendly for her parents.
The Sun
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mediacorp actress moves back to JB, commutes 2 hours daily to S'pore for work — all to save on rent
AMIDST rising rental costs, Mediacorp actress Juin Teh makes a major life change — moving back to her family home in Johor Bahru after her Singapore apartment lease expired on April 1. The 34-year-old star shocked fans in early April when she posted a video of herself moving out of her Singapore apartment, leading many to think she might be leaving Mediacorp. But Juin quickly set the record straight — she's still a full-time artiste with the broadcaster. 'Rent went up, so I thought it might be good to move back home to Johor Bahru. My mother's getting older too, so I want to spend more time with her,' she mentioned. According to The Straits Times, by moving back home, Juin is saving about $1,000 a month. But it comes with a major sacrifice — she now commutes up to two hours each way across the Causeway for work, with the journey sometimes stretching to three hours on weekends. 'When a job ends late but I have other work to attend to early the next morning, I'll stay over with a friend or a relative here,' she shared. With no car — since permanent residents aren't allowed to drive Malaysia-registered vehicles in Singapore and buying a local car is too expensive — she depends fully on public transport. 'Sometimes, I do get recognised. People will yell 'Juin!', and some netizens leave comments on social media saying they hope to bump into me at Customs,' she said. Despite the tough commute, she says it's all worth it when she returns home to a warm, home-cooked meal from her mother. She first captured public attention during Star Search 2019 and is currently acting in Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story on Channel 8. She also hosts the online show #JustSwipeLah, where she gave fans a tour of her Johor Bahru home — a home she personally renovated over 10 months to make it more elderly-friendly for her parents.
AsiaOne
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'My acting wasn't going anywhere': Zhang Zetong was close to leaving showbiz before winning Star Award, Entertainment News
Winning Best Supporting Actor within five years of making your acting debut is no small feat. Malaysian actor Zhang Zetong won the accolade at Star Awards 2024 for his performance in the Mediacorp drama All That Glitters, but has now revealed that he was about to throw in the towel on his acting career even before getting the role. In a video uploaded to fellow actor Glenn Yong's YouTube channel on April 25, the 32-year-old said that he put a lot of pressure on himself to perform. Zetong entered showbiz after winning the talent show Star Search 2019, and despite never feeling that the company and production teams' expectations of him were higher, had "distracting thoughts" in his own mind. He said: "These thoughts — whether I'm enough or performing to the standards — were self-inflicted. These were the stresses I'd given myself and it really took a very long time for me to put down these thoughts." It was only after landing his All That Glitters role and taking acting classes that he could "retract [himself] from Zetong" and stay in the character for a long time. However, he treated it as his final role, and said he was "really this close" to leaving showbiz. "I was thinking of nothing but just of this show and how I was going to perform," Zetong said. "At that point of time, I really told myself, 'My acting is not going anywhere, it's looking a lot to me like a guy who can study might not be a guy who can act'. "So I'm thinking, 'This is the last good role that I'm getting, so I'll just do my best then it's goodbye'." When asked by Glenn, 28, why he was so harsh on himself, Zetong compared himself to an aspiring Olympian swimmer who knew that no matter how hard they tried, they were never going to "clock that time trial". "I felt that, as long as I put in my best effort but I can't clock it, that's fine. I've tried my best, so I can say goodbye to this, it's fine. I can take a step back," he added. "I'll leave the industry altogether." Glenn added that that "thankfully" All That Glitters turned out well for Zetong, who agreed. [embed] Despite his initial hesitations, Zetong admitted that his rapid growth and winning an acting award so soon after his debut, has been nothing short of "phenomenal". When asked by Glenn if his career has panned out how he expected since the award, Zetong said: "No way, man. "In terms of the growth... the recognition I'm getting, it's happening a lot faster than I imagined." [embed] [[nid:717226]] drimac@
