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Independent Singapore
an hour ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Bidding wars at the void deck: Are we pricing out the heart of our heartlands?
SINGAPORE: The void deck, once the cornerstone of neighbourhood life, is fast becoming a site of fierce corporate competition. A recent round of public rental tender results has brought attention to an emerging trend: rising rental bids for commercial spaces in heartland areas, and the growing disconnect between what the community needs and who can afford to serve it. In Telok Blangah, Normanton Healthcare Pte. Ltd. secured a unit at Block 88A for S$16,800 a month. In Tengah Garden Walk, a clinic space was snapped up for an eye-watering S$40,088 monthly — a bid that outpaced established players like HMI Onecare, Normanton itself, and Qualitas Healthcare. Over in Tampines, Lum Sian Wei Shaun, a medical practitioner, put in the highest winning offer yet: S$52,188 for a single unit. These are not isolated cases. At Woodlands Street 82 and Circuit Road, successful bids ranged from S$4,200 to S$5,000 — a relatively modest but still competitive range. Some sites saw up to a dozen bids. The pattern is clear: demand for heartland space is rising sharply, and with it, the price to participate. Medicine, meals, and margin pressures Medical providers made a strong showing among successful bidders. Companies like Caring Medical Clinic Pte. Ltd., Kindred Medical Holdings, and My Family Clinic (TH) Pte. Ltd. featured prominently, with Caring securing two units — one in Tampines at S$25,388 and another at Champions Way for S$25,900. Retail and vending businesses weren't far behind. Juicy Fresh Pte. Ltd. won three Sengkang locations at S$1,560 per month, while other bids for smaller kiosks ranged between S$120 and S$2,000, depending on size and zoning. While the tender process has always been competitive, the scale and consistency of high-value bids suggest a deeper shift, one that residents in the form of price increases could soon feel. A general practitioner renting a unit at S$40,000 per month has few options but to revise consultation fees, especially when labour and equipment costs are also climbing. The same logic applies to retail and F&B outlets: groceries, beverages, and essentials may become incrementally more expensive as businesses seek to recover their margins. The cost of entry — and who gets left behind However, the most worrying outcome may be what doesn't get built. High rental thresholds are increasingly squeezing out sole proprietors, social enterprises, and community-minded cooperatives. Anecdotally, smaller bidders often enter the tender process knowing they will likely lose out, not because their concepts are poor, but because the cost of securing a foothold is too high. A potential long-term consequence? A slow and quiet shift in the character of heartland commerce — from vibrant, eclectic neighbourhood spaces to chain-dominated clusters. The kind where the tenant could just as easily be in a mall. Balancing books and the social contract The Ministry of National Development maintains that tender awards are not determined by rent alone. Bids are assessed on multiple criteria, including business concept, relevance to community needs, track record, and operational sustainability. Rental amount is just one piece of the puzzle. In theory, this hybrid model is designed to balance financial prudence with social value; however, critics argue that in practice, it favours applicants with more resources and experience who tick the most boxes. High rental bids still tend to align with final awards, particularly in tenders involving clinical or retail giants. While there's no formal preference for large companies, the competitive nature of the process often crowds out smaller players who might bring new ideas, local knowledge, or a deeper connection to the community, but not the capital. As public interest in this issue grows, questions are being raised about whether policy tweaks are needed to preserve accessibility in heartland commercial spaces. Can financial viability coexist with social diversity? Or will economic logic — unchecked — homogenise the void deck economy? The crossroads ahead Singapore's heartlands have never just been about proximity. They're about personality. The vendors who anchor a neighbourhood, who adapt to residents, and who reflect the rhythms of daily life. However, as rents climb and bids become a battleground for corporates, the heartlands risk becoming more like any high-rent district. Whether future policy will restore space for community-led commerce or continue to support current trends remains to be seen. For now, the ground beneath our feet may still be familiar, but the shops we walk past are changing.
CNA
2 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Yishun, Punggol cat deaths likely caused by vehicle accidents; no evidence of deliberate cruelty: NParks
SINGAPORE: Two community cat deaths in Yishun and Punggol were likely caused by vehicle accidents, and there is no evidence to suggest either was a deliberate act of animal cruelty, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Tuesday (Jun 3). In making its conclusions, NParks took into account its investigation findings, a postmortem examination for the Yishun case and a report from the veterinary clinic in the Punggol case. It also considered the initial locations where both cats were found, said Ms Jessica Kwok, NParks' group director of enforcement and investigation. She also gave updates on two other cats that were found dead in the past week – a second cat in Yishun and another in Tampines. FIRST CAT IN YISHUN A cat was found dead at Yishun Street 51 and NParks was alerted to a case of suspected animal abuse by the police on May 9. During its investigations, NParks interviewed the person who reported the case, located potential witnesses and reviewed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the area. "Through our investigation, we confirmed that the cat carcass was initially found on the road by a passer-by, who moved it to a nearby void deck," said Ms Kwok. A postmortem examination was carried out on the cat carcass by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS). The overall findings were "compatible" with external blunt force trauma, which resulted in injuries, such as fractures of the bones of the pelvis and sternum. There were also multiple areas of bleeding, and its right eye had fallen partially out of place. There was no evidence of penetrating or sharp force injuries or wounds, said Ms Kwok. "When the injuries are considered as a whole, a vehicular impact is the most likely cause of the blunt force traumatic injuries." CAT FOUND DEAD IN PUNGGOL In its statement on Wednesday, NParks also gave further updates on its investigation into the feline that was found injured at the loading and unloading bay near Block 326B Sumang Walk in Punggol. NParks retrieved the injured cat after being notified on the morning of May 12 and sent it to a private veterinary clinic. After the cat's microchip was traced, NParks informed the community cat's caregiver to contact the clinic. At this point, the case was classified as animal rescue as there was no evidence at the initial stages that the cat was abused, NParks' director for enforcement and investigation Joshua Teoh told reporters on Tuesday. He added that an animal welfare group representative had decided to put down the cat on welfare grounds, and it was not sent for a postmortem examination. The cat's body was subsequently collected by another community cat caregiver and cremated. The report from the private veterinary clinic that treated the injured cat noted the cat's condition and injuries "in detail", which included proptosis - abnormal protrusion of one or both eyes - and lesions on the head. The report included the private vet's professional assessment that the lesions and findings are "usually suggestive of blunt trauma" to the head, with a "possible common cause" being a road traffic accident, said Ms Kwok. NParks began investigating the case on May 13 after receiving feedback that the cat may have been abused. It interviewed the person who first found the injured cat and other potential witnesses. Officers also visited the scene and retrieved CCTV footage from multiple cameras in the area, but the CCTV cameras did not capture any footage of how the cat sustained its injuries. "Based on the investigation findings, including taking into account the initial location where the cat was found, NParks assessed that it is likely that the cat had sustained its injuries due to a vehicular accident, and there was no evidence to suggest a deliberate act of animal cruelty," said Ms Kwok. She added: "NParks understands the concerns on cases of alleged animal cruelty, and we would like to assure the public that we take all feedback received from the public on alleged animal cruelty seriously and will investigate them thoroughly, including looking at any new evidence presented." TWO MORE CASES Ms Kwok also gave updates on two other cats that were found dead in the past week, including a second one at Yishun Street 51 with its legs splayed. She said there were no visible external injuries found, based on the preliminary physical examination, and a postmortem examination is being carried out. In another incident, a feline was found dead at a void deck at Tampines Street 81 on May 24. NParks established that Traffic Police officers had attended to a traffic incident involving a car and a community cat earlier that day. "The (Traffic Police) officers moved the cat's body to the void deck as it was likely to pose a safety hazard to other road users and to prevent other vehicles from running over the cat's body," said Ms Kwok. A member of the public later came across the cat's body and reported the case to NParks. No further action will be taken as the car driver had reported the accident to the police within 24 hours. ABUSE CASES REACH 12-YEAR HIGH Speaking to reporters, Mr Teoh said that NParks has seen a "fairly consistent trend" in cases designated as animal abuse or cruelty over the years. Of these, no more than 6 per cent had evidence pointing to animal cruelty. Among the rest, the majority were public disputes or disamenities caused by pet or community animals, and some of these may not be related to cruelty, Mr Teoh added. Some animals may have underlying conditions and could have died due to natural causes. In 2024, the number of cases involving animal cruelty and welfare in Singapore rose to a 12-year high of 961, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). A total of 2,190 animals were involved in the cases, with cats forming the majority (1,330). The Animals and Birds Act is currently being reviewed to increase penalties – such as fines, jail terms an disqualification orders – to ensure "effective deterrence" against animal welfare offences.
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singaporeans shocked by S$52K/month rental for Tampines clinic
SINGAPORE: On Sunday (Jun 1), a doctor shared on LinkedIn that a rental clinic in Tampines is going for a monthly rental rate of more than S$52,000 per month. Dr. Hisham Badaruddin posted a screenshot of the final result for the bid of S$52,188 for Block 954C, Tampines Street 96, indicating that Lum Sian Wei Shaun was the successful tenderer. Its closing date was Jan 14, 2025. 'This is obscene … S$52K per month rental for a clinic in a HDB area? Madness…,' wrote Dr Hisham, whose LinkedIn bio says he is a Longevity Medicine Physician, in the caption to his post, adding that he believes the Ministry of Health might say that rentals in the private sector are out of their purview. Screenshot His post has since garnered many reactions and shares, with some commenters expressing concern that the high rental rate could be passed on to patients, who might find themselves saddled with higher consultation fees. In response to a question about the clinic's size, Dr Hisham guessed that it's likely to be less than 1,000 square meters. 'That's crazy! Can't believe this is a HDB tender!!' a commenter wrote. 'Rent in Singapore is abhorrently high, especially when it comes to businesses, and let's not talk about renewal of leases once you have invested your hard-earned money in renovation. The landlord knows you are stuck between a rock and a hard place!' wrote another LinkedIn user. Over on Reddit, where the post was shared, the top comment pointed out that 'Caring Pte Ltd, who was second in this bid, won two other bids with a S$25K/mo rent. In the same doc, there are two clinics in the North that went for S$4.2K and S$5K each. If the outlets were listed at these rates, Hisham might have a point, but in a closed bidding system, if he's literally bidding twice the amount as the next person, then either he's spoiling the market, or there's something special about that location that guarantees crazy good business.' See also Has the Wage Gap in Singapore Really Been Closing? Another agreed saying, 'There will always be these opportunistic people who'll try to ruin the playing field for market share & supposedly future gains.' 'Location is at a new BTO estate that recently TOP-ed, winning bid is essentially paying over the top to get a first mover advantage by trying to lock their patients in,' a commenter pointed out. A Reddit user wrote, 'S$52k is absolutely insane. It is double or triple the current market rate to rent in a populated HDB area. How do they even sustain? It doesn't seem right unless they are open for long hours or 24/7.' Some commenters on LinkedIn and Facebook, however, wrote that the renter may be planning an aesthetic clinic instead of a GP clinic, a practice that can be very lucrative indeed. /TISG Read also: Resident tells Jamus Lim her industry is being killed by high rental costs
New Paper
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Lion City Sailors retain Singapore Cup to cement domestic dominance
Lion City Sailors completed a clean sweep of domestic titles with a fiercely contested 1-0 victory over BG Tampines Rovers in the Singapore Cup final at Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31. Adding the cup to their Community Shield and Singapore Premier League (SPL) triumphs, Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic described the club's first domestic treble as an "unbelievable achievement". "To win everything domestically and to play in the Asian Champions League Two final - winning it would have been a dream. But even without that, I think it's one of the best seasons in Singapore football," the Football Association of Singapore Coach of the Year nominee said. Fielding an unchanged side from their semi-final, second leg against Brunei DPMM, Rankovic opted for stability in what was his side's 58th match, including the 2-0 Community Shield win over Albirex Niigata last May. "I wanted stability in our play, and not to change a lot. We were much better in the first half and, if there was somebody who would score then, it would have been us... But credit to Tampines, they are a very good team, and they had a great season," the Serb said. Tampines coach Gavin Lee, also nominated for the SPL Coach of the Year gong, which will be presented at the SPL Awards Night at Orchard Hotel on June 1, conceded that his side were slow to settle in the game as they struggled to create chances early on. "In the first half, both sides were more cautious. It's something you see a lot in finals. We were overly protective in the first half. And in the second half, it was just reminding everybody that we're a very good team, we have good players. We trusted ourselves a little bit more," Lee said. With some Tampines players left in tears after the final whistle, he added that "we cannot allow one game to define our whole season". "Nights like this will hurt us, it stings us very badly. But the moment we have caught our breath, we get a few nights' sleep and get calmer, we will probably realise that this season we've done a lot of good stuff," Lee said, after leading his side to a runners-up finish in the SPL. Despite kick-off being delayed by 15 minutes due to the activation of the lightning warning system, the 2,766 fans were raring to go, drumming up a din. On the pitch, it was a more cagey affair, with neither side producing any clear-cut chances. The Sailors spent much of the first period camped in the opposition's half as Belgian winger Maxime Lestienne found joy on the right flank, linking up well with wingback Hami Syahin to craft a handful of left-footed efforts. However, those were easy pickings for the Stags' goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari, who was rarely troubled. At the other end, the Stags failed to create any openings, finishing the first half without a single attempt on goal as the teams went into the break deadlocked at 0-0. The Sailors drew first blood in the 49th minute when midfielder Song Ui-young pounced on a defensive error by fullback Milos Zlatkovic and played the ball out wide to Lestienne, who drove a low cross to the feet of attacking midfielder Bart Ramselaar. With his back to goal, the 28-year-old Dutchman swivelled and drilled his shot into the roof of the net for his sixth goal of the tournament, making him the joint-top scorer in the competition with Geylang International striker Tomoyuki Doi and Balestier Khalsa forward Kodai Tanaka. Toasting the goal, Ramselaar said: "It's quite special because I'm not a real striker, and to be in this list with a striker like Doi, it's really nice. But, in the end, it's about winning the trophy, and that was our goal. We made it happen, so we're happy with it." Tampines thought they had equalised in the 57th minute when forward Itsuki Enomoto tapped in a cross from playmaker Seia Kunori, but his effort was struck off for offside. A long ball in the 81st minute sent Ramselaar through on goal, but a heavy touch allowed Syazwan to rush out and smother the danger. With two minutes remaining, Tampines had another chance when a loose ball fell to Kunori, but his effort cannoned off the crossbar, leaving the Japanese to pound the ground in exasperation. "Really unlucky. I should have applied less power. Overall, it was a really tough game. A very short break since the semi-finals, but all of us gave our best," said the 24-year-old, who is in the running for the Young Player of the Year award on June 1. Tempers flared in stoppage time as a foul on Shah Shahiran by Ramselaar resulted in the Tampines midfielder headbutting the Dutchman in a fit of anger. The pair received warnings for their troubles but, after a video assistant referee check, Shah was given his marching orders, to end any hopes of a Stags comeback.
Independent Singapore
27-05-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Mixed reactions emerge after tech store urges customers to buy PS5 with CDC vouchers
SINGAPORE: Mixed reactions have emerged online after a tech retailer published a video urging customers to use their Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers to purchase PlayStation 5 sets. The Gadget Mobile outlet in Tampines uploaded the promotional video on TikTok on 20 May. The video features a staff member showcasing the popular gaming console with text suggesting that customers can use their Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers to pay for it. The post quickly gained attention. Some viewers were thrilled by the offer, with a few calling it a creative way to spend their vouchers. Others, however, weren't impressed. Detractors argued that the scheme was launched to support Singaporeans with essential daily expenses and to help sustain heartland merchants and hawkers, not promote luxury gadgets. Some asserted that the vouchers are meant to ease the cost of living, not to splurge on luxury items, while others called for some control in how CDC vouchers should be spent. A few even called on the authorities to step in, saying the spirit of the scheme was being diluted. Under the current guidelines, CDC vouchers are intended to 'help with daily expenses' and can be used at participating hawkers and heartland shops. The initiative also aims to support small, local businesses providing everyday goods and services. Eligible vendors display a CDC decal at their premises. Residents can also locate participating hawkers, heartland shops, and supermarkets through
