It's only a blunder when one lives under a totalitarian regime with no free press to speak of.

This is all no thanks to the PAP, because Pinky had already once said he will always hold CECA dearly in his heart.

Not chio. NEXT!

Public transport fare hike: Adult card fares to increase by 9 to 10 cents per ride from Dec 27

SINGAPORE: Adults will pay 9 to 10 cents more per journey for card fares on public buses and trains from Dec 27, the Public Transport Council (PTC) announced on Tuesday (Oct 14).

Overall, public transport fares will be hiked by 5 per cent overall, which is lower than last year’s 6 per cent increase.

For concession card journeys beyond 3.2km, fares will increase by 3 to 4 cents — also lower than last year’s increase of 4 cents per journey. 

More than a third – about 450,000 – of such journeys are currently 3.2km or shorter, commuting to school, work or nearby amenities, said the council in a press release.

Cash fares will also increase by 5 cents for students, 10 cents for seniors and those with disabilities, and 20 cents for adults and other commuters. 

This reflects the higher operating costs of handling cash, the PTC said, adding that less than 1 per cent of all public transport journeys were paid in cash and that such fares were last adjusted in 2023.

In a press conference on Tuesday, PTC chairperson Janet Ang said that while the council seeks to keep fares affordable in a system which sees an average ridership of over seven million daily, there are other considerations at play.

These include the wages of public transport workers, the increasing cost of operations and maintenance of the public transport network, and having sufficient resources to expand and improve the accessibility of the network, she said.

“The council recognises that any fair adjustments can be challenging for commuters in an economic climate of uncertainty. Hence, in the past few years, as you know, the council has not granted the maximum allowable fare quantum,” said Ms Ang.

PTC also announced that it will change the time period it looks at to calculate annual fare increases – the council previously looked at economic data from January to December in the previous year.

From the next fare review exercise onwards, the council will change its 12-month reference to the period spanning from the previous year’s July to June of the current year instead. 

This is so as to reduce the gap between the cost changes for operators and the adjustment of fares by six months, the PTC said. 

Fare changes are usually implemented in December after the annual fare review exercise, which meant that PTC’s decision would be based on data from at least a year ago.

To facilitate this shift, this year’s review will take in the 18-month stretch from January 2024 to June this year.

PTC chief executive Leow Yew Chin said during a press conference that the council had identified the time lag issue three years back.

“We could have done it earlier, but we were still studying the issues then. So I think this is a better time for us to do it, now after looking at the data available,” he said in response to a question from CNA.

OTHER FARE CHANGES

For the first time, the surcharge for express bus services will be raised. These services provide commuters with faster journeys from the heartlands to city areas and key employment centres.

Due to the higher costs of running such services and to improve financial sustainability, the PTC said it will increase their fare difference over basic adult bus and train fares by S$0.40 for adults and S$0.20 for concession groups, for card payments. For cash payments on these services, fares will be increased by S$0.60.

The difference in fares between express and basic services has not been adjusted since 2010.

It cost operators about 1.5 times more to operate express services, said Mr Leow.

“Hopefully, in doing so, the LTA will also have more room to introduce even more City Direct Services to benefit commuters," he said.

A lot more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/public-transport-fare-increase-rail-trains-buses-smrt-sbs-5400781

The poor pussy probably already got kidnapped by some sick ah tiong, dismembered and then eaten.

The Great CPF Cash-Out: How One Malaysian Hairstylist Gamed Singapore’s System For 30 Years

Addy Lee just pulled off what might be Singapore’s most expensive haircut – and it cost the system millions.

The former celebrity hairstylist, who spent three decades styling the locks of Singapore’s elite, has officially said “sayonara” to his permanent resident status.

His parting gift? A complete Central Provident Fund (CPF) withdrawal that he claims will keep him living it up in Thailand for the next 30 years without lifting a finger.

“I can live 30 more years – eat, drink, play, not work, lie there – and it would likely still be enough,” the 54-year-old Malaysian told Singapore media.

The Perfect Malaysian Exit Strategy

Lee’s exit strategy reads like a masterclass in cross-border system optimisation.

• Arrived from Malaysia as a young entrepreneur in the 1990s.

• Build a hair salon empire with Monsoon Hair House.

• Ride Singapore’s property boom while contributing to CPF.

• Sell everything – house, businesses, the works.

Then, when it’s time to retire, renounce PR status, cash out the entire CPF piggy bank, and relocate to Thailand, where the Singapore dollars stretch like a good hair elastic.

It’s the ultimate “thanks for the memories” move, complete with a Facebook farewell tour that reads like a love letter to his adopted country.

In his latest Facebook post, Lee gets refreshingly honest about his retirement math, explaining that his plan at 50 was to retire and relax after selling his assets, giving him more time to spend with his mother and sister while being able to travel home to Malaysia or bring his mother to stay with him in Bangkok.

Translation: CPF withdrawal plus property gains equals early retirement across three countries – Malaysia, Thailand, and occasional visits to Singapore.

Passport Privilege in Action

The timing couldn’t be more perfect – or infuriating, depending on your passport colour.

While Singaporean sons are still fulfilling their NS obligations and watching their CPF accounts like locked treasure chests until they turn 65, Lee’s generation of Malaysian PRs got to play by different rules.

They contributed during Singapore’s economic golden years, benefited from property appreciation that turned modest investments into gold mines, and now get to peace out with their retirement funds intact.

Lee’s story isn’t just about one Malaysian’s retirement plan – it’s a mirror reflecting Singapore’s immigration policies and their unintended consequences.

For every success story like his, there’s a Singaporean wondering why their CPF feels more like a government IOU than actual savings, while their Malaysian neighbours get to cash out and cruise.

Lee sold Monsoon to Mary Chia Holdings in 2020 and briefly co-founded e-commerce company Mdada before health issues forced his exit in 2023.

Now, apparently healthy enough to plan three decades of leisure split between Thailand and Malaysia, he’s living proof that sometimes the best business strategy is knowing when – and where – to fold.

The Malaysian Dream, Singapore-Funded

As Singapore grapples with rising costs, housing affordability, and an ageing population, Lee’s great escape raises uncomfortable questions about fairness, citizenship, and who really benefits from the Singapore dream.

His story represents thousands of Malaysian PRs who built wealth in Singapore’s boom years, only to take their winnings back across the causeway when the music stopped.

For now, he’s just another Malaysian retiree planning to split his time between Thailand and home – except that his retirement fund comes with a Singapore government guarantee and 30 years of compound interest.

Not bad for a guy who started out just cutting hair and ended up cutting the ultimate deal.

The moral of the story? In Singapore’s system, timing isn’t everything – it’s the only thing that matters.

And for this Malaysian hairstylist, the timing was absolutely perfect. “Thank you Singapore Made me a someone,” indeed – someone with enough money to retire in style across Southeast Asia.

https://www.therakyatpost.com/news/malaysia/2025/08/29/the-great-cpf-cash-out-how-one-malaysian-hairstylist-gamed-singapores-system-for-30-years/

She should pivot to selling mangoes - everyone loves them, even cardboard Tan Chuan Jin😄

How much is she charging for 2 shots/90min?