CHC Member Sheds Light On Church Funding

While there have been scores of articles covering each and aspect of Kong Hee’s involvement in the Crossover Project, one group that doesn’t get as much coverage is the patrons of City Harvest Church (CHC).

That was the reason behind this Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) thread, where one CHC member decided to answer a few questions about the whole debacle from a member’s perspective.

He even provided “proof” of his membership by posting a picture of the anointing oil that was handed out to CHC members a few weeks ago. He might have very well bought it off Carousell, but let’s choose to have faith (hah, geddit) for a second.

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In the hugely popular post, redditor failed_man, with a help of a few other redditors claiming to be CHC members, unwittingly revealed a few disturbing facts about the inner fraudulence in CHC.

Their stories will make you scratch your head — how do people fall for this?

1. Members are monitored to ensure that they pay up

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Wow, this is scarily close to extortion. By “strongly encouraging” its members to contribute their hard-earned money to the church, and going to the extent of lecturing those who don’t pay up, CHC seems to be running a club, rather than a church.

We don’t understand why people don’t just walk away based on this point alone.

2. Members don’t really like their leaders

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If Kong Hee thinks that he has the CHC members on his side, he might be mistaken.

Apparently, some members only go to the church for the atmosphere, rather than the leaders.

3. They don’t listen to China Wine

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You would think that after the members forked out $50 million, they would at least listen to the product of their “investment” and discuss its effectiveness.

Well, evidently not. They didn’t even talk about China Wine during their church sessions, which is especially odd because there’s really a lot to talk about here: 

4. They have no say

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In any club, for example a country club, you would minimally get to vote on issues that involve the management of the facility.

Not in CHC though. The members were not given any say when the new management was elected. Guess democracy wasn’t one of their core beliefs.

5. CHC resembles an MLM

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With such an elaborate hierarchy chart, it looks awfully similar to a pyramid scheme. No wonder Kong Hee made so much money out of the church.

6. Tithing isn’t enough

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As if 10% of your income in the form of tithing was not enough, CHC also asks for weekly offerings from their members. They are even encouraged to donate each week by their mentors.

If you were wondering how they could accumulate $50 million, I guess that’s the answer.

Church or Business?

It is evident that there has been a lot of shady mishaps going on at CHC. It is rather interesting to find out what its patrons think, though.

We hope that the new management will start afresh and run an actual church from now on, and not some scary MLM-like business.

Featured image from Facebook

The post CHC Member Unwittingly Reveals How Kong Hee & Co Raised $50 Million From Regular Folks appeared first on Must Share News.

Tourist Whines About Marina Bay Sands’ Service

Its 9,500-strong workforce caters for a million guests a year – working in over 60 restaurants, exclusive boutiques (with personal shopping), 12 miles of car park, two theatres and one of Southeast Asia’s biggest casinos.

That’s what The Mirror once said about Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands (MBS), and we’ve probably heard much more on why the 5-star luxury hotel is so great and why its famous infinity pool is the place to go for visitors to Singapore.

However, one literally ang moh tourist doesn’t quite agree with these glowing endorsements, after a recent experience at the hotel that encapsulates all that’s wrong with Singapore’s customer service.

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The Wandering Redhead

42-year-old Cherene Saradar, who maintains travel blog the Wandering Redhead, posted last week about her experience in becoming an actual wandering redhead at MBS.

Just last week, she decided to treat herself to the luxurious hotel after having travelled through South-east Asia on a tight budget.

And of cource, like the social media influencer that she is, she couldn’t pass up the chance to snag a dramatic photo in the infinity pool.

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But she arrived at the hotel after 5pm due her flight to Changi landing late. So Cherene requested for a later check-out the next day to enjoy the pool to the fullest.

In short, her plan was to hang out at the pool, check out, then continue hanging out at the pool after that. To her delight, some guy at the check-in said she could do that.

So far, so good for her.

The Reality

The next morning, Cherene enjoyed a few hours at the pool, then left her valuables there, took the rest of her stuff from her room at 12pm and headed to reception to check out — wearing just a bathrobe, bathing suit and slipppers.

Things did not go as planned, as the lady at the desk said nope, she can’t use the pool after check out. Simply put, room checkout = pool checkout.

Erm, that wasn’t what she was told the night before, she said.

While Cherene said she kept her composure, we can imagine her looking like this inside:

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Considering she was actually spending money on cocktails and food, she probably thought the hotel could have just let her stay.

People want to spend money at the pool let them lah.

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Well, after a tense conversation between Cherene (who, by the way, was still in her bathrobe) and the hotel supervisor, her checkout timing was extended to 3pm. 

The Shower

After drowning her sorrows at the pool for a few more hours, Cherene left at her appointed time and headed to shower at the spa, like the check-in guy had said she could do the day before.

Alas, she was told to use the gym shower instead, in another instance of everyone in the hotel not getting the same memo she received the night before. Do they have separate staff on different days, or what? Oh wait — we guess they do.

Anyway, in her words, she had to “go up the way [she]came and back down a different elevator and then walk three times around the block, then swim across the moat with crocodiles” — becoming a true wandering redhead.

Treated Like Scum?

Needless to say, Cherene didn’t appreciate that MBS’ hospitality ended the minute she checked out of the hotel. As she phrased it:

It turns out, that the millisecond you check-out of Marina Bay Sands, you become pond scum to them.

After all, she was out of her room by 12pm, and was continuing to spend money in the hotel despite being pissed at them — she didn’t understand why they had to go so strictly by the book, and why what she was told the night before didn’t pan out that way the next day.

There are customers who are demanding and self-entitled, but there are also customers who are hoping that their hotel can be flexible enough to make her travels a little smoother. And that’s arguably what a hotel should be all about.

The System

Unfortunately, it seems that MBS is plagued by the same customer service lapses that plague many companies in Singapore.

While our front-end staff know in theory that they should be pleasing customers, they are also bound by rigid rules and not empowered to bend them to make their customers happy.

Singapore’s cultural obsession with following rules and hitting KPIs often results in lack of human empathy that translates into poor customer service, as good customer service is all about knowing what people want, understanding how people think and being able to give them what they want.

Instead, we turn people off, and we don’t even realise why. As Cherene again so eloquently phrased it:

The system is robotic and uncaring, just like those cyborgs at the front desk.

Other guests who have stayed at MBS have griped over how their room key cards automatically stop working at check out time — meaning the power goes off and they can’t even enter their room to get their luggage to check out.

Others have described how the computerised minibar at the hotel has sensors, so that guests get charged even when they lift an item off the rack to make space for other stuff, but don’t actually consume the item.

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All these high-tech advances may make it easier for the hotel to keep track of things, but they also make guests feel like they are staying a some oppressive and cold place of business, and not an inviting resort.

It’s typical Singaporean customer service — advanced in technology, but lacking in actual care for the customer.

One Less Customer

We wish we could say that what Cherene experienced is an isolated incident, but unfortunately it’s not limited to her and not limited to MBS.

That being said, there are stories of great customer service in Singapore too, but just one story like Cherene’s is one too many.

Unfortunately MBS has lost itself one customer. Let’s hope Singapore’s companies that provide front-end customer service will learn this lesson, as we can’t afford for Singapore to lose any more customers.

Featured image from the Wandering Redhead.

The post Ang Moh Blogger Complains About Being Refused Entry To MBS Infinity Pool After Checkout appeared first on Must Share News.

US War Ships Go To North Korea From Singapore

Events in North Korea may seen very distant to Singaporeans who are preoccupied with their own work, families and hobbies.

But Singapore’s playing a very direct role in the potential escalation of hostilities between North Korea and the United States, whether we like it or not.

And we may not have known that, if not for a video released on Facebook in which CNN reports that there was an armada of 4 US battleships at Changi Naval Base — and these ships are bound for North Korea in the latest bit of sabre-rattling between the countries.

Strike Group

According to CNN, the 4 ships, USS Carl Vinson, USS Wayne E.Meyer, USS Michael Murphy and USS Lake Champlain, are part of an aircraft carrier strike group.

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The ships are en route to the Korean Peninsula, cancelling a planned trip to Australia. A statement on April 9 posted on the US Navy website confirmed that the warships had set sail from Singapore on April 8, and will be stationed to operate in the western Pacific Ocean, a stone’s throw away from the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea-US Tensions

North Korea has never been the friendliest country to the West, but now things are getting pretty heated.

The reclusive state has carried out a number of nuclear and ballistic missile tests in the last few years, the most recent being a medium-range ballistic missile from its eastern port of Sinpo into the Sea of Japan on April 5, ahead of the first meeting of US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.

The tests carried out by North Korea are in violation of United Nations resolutions, and have rattled regional neighbours South Korea and Japan, as well as caused alarm worldwide.

It looks like the US has had enough after the latest nuclear test, and has sent the nuclear strike group to intimidate North Korea.

US officials have also indicated that Mr Trump was considering tougher sanctions against the recalcitrant state.

However, North Korea doesn’t seem fazed, as it said on Tuesday (April 11) that it “is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US”.

It also vowed to counter the US’ “reckless acts of aggression”.

As another apparent sign that North Korea is preparing for war, leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the evacuation of 600,000 people from North Korean capital Pyongyang, reported The Express.

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Day Of The Sun

Worse still, this Saturday (April 15) is an important day for North Korea — the Day Of The Sun, which commemorates the birthday of late North Korean founding leader Kim Il Sung.

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And what does North Korea do on such big days? Instead of fireworks, it turns to nuclear missiles instead.

In 2012, the isolated state attempted to launch a long-range rocket, but failed. In 2016, it tested an intermediate-range missile.

And there are fears that North Korea will do something big, in a nuclear way, to mark April 15 this time round.

The 38 North think-tank, which monitors North Korea’s activities, said on Wednesday (April 12) that the country was ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, according to satellite imagery.

And The Voice of America has also reported that North Korea “has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated on Saturday am Korea time”.

Trump Tweets

Mr Trump, in typical fashion, made several tweets earlier this week, warning North Korea of the possible repercussions if it were to detonate its nuclear device.

North Korea’s strongest ally so far has been China, but Mr Trump’s tweets indicate that even China’s patience seems to be wearing thin.

While China has called for a peaceful resolution, it doesn’t matter if like Mr Trump said, the US is prepared to act on its own to neutralise the threat — i.e. by carrying out an actual military strike on North Korea, which the USS Carl Vinson strike group will undoubtedly play a part in.

Singapore’s Helping The US

What a mess — and Singapore may be a small faraway island, but we’re in the thick of it.

By clearly having an alliance with the US, evident through our allowing US warships to be here and ready to head to the troubled regions in Asia like North Korea, we hope Singapore doesn’t get on the wrong side of North Korea.

But judging from recent events, it seems nearly everybody in the world is on the wrong side of North Korea. It’s even managed to quarrel with our neighbour Malaysia.

We also hope somebody manages to stop North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as we don’t want a nuclear apocalypse in East Asia — South Korea and Japan are very popular holiday destinations for Singaporeans.

Featured image from Facebook

The post 4 US Warships Are Headed For North Korea From Changi Naval Base appeared first on Must Share News.

Amos Yee Could Have Been Famous Instead Of Infamous 

Amos Yee is now persona non grata in Singapore after his myriad troubles with the law thanks to his infamous YouTube rant against founding father Lee Kuan Yew.

He’s now far from our shores after successfully bidding for asylum in the United States.

But it’s hard to believe that Amos Yee was once younger and cute, and had a budding acting, hosting and film-making career!

Flashback to just 5 years ago, when Amos Yee was 14 — doesn’t he look cute?

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Host

In the screenshot above, he was hosting an advertisement for a fast-food chain promoting its Pepper Nuggets:

Other familiar faces in the advert include fellow social media influencers like Steven Lim, Dee Kosh, Naomi Neo, Rachel Tan and Hirzi.

While at the time these minor celebs seemed glad to be in the company of a precocious 14-year-old, we’re thinking that these guys may be regretting appearing the same video as Amos Yee now that this video has been resurfaced on the Internet.

Actor

Back then, Amos Yee was also a talented actor, having appeared in an ever-popular Jack Neo film — surely the pinnacle of achievement for a young actor in Singapore.

Here he is on the far right of the movie poster:

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His role in We Not Naughty was a pivotal one; he plays the English-fluent younger brother of one of the lead characters played by Joshua Ang.

See him in action here, with his co-star, singer Daniel Chan:

Film-maker

Not content with acting and appearing in adverts, also dabbled in film-making and even won prizes from The New Paper for Best Short Film and Best Actor at the FiRST Film Festival.

He was the youngest film-maker to have taken part, according to AsiaOne.

Check out this video of him receiving his awards:

He won his awards for his 3-minute short film “Jan”, which he starred in, directed and scripted.

Though having taken a look at the film, it kinda looks like one boy talking to himself and no different from the countless other influencer videos on YouTube. Perhaps standards were different in 2011?

Check out the film to see if you agree:

What Happened To Being Cute?

Well Amos Yee may be widely reviled by many Singaporeans now, but it doesn’t hurt to look back and miss the more humorous young boy that Amos Yee once was and possibly still is behind his racial and religious slurs.

Now that he’s in America, we’re hoping people will remember the once-budding star that he was, instead of the enfant terrible he has become.

Though, in all honesty, a screenshot of Amos Yee eating nuggets is probably not enough to do the job.

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Featured image from YouTube

The post Amos Yee Used To Have A Budding Entertainment Career Before His Reputation Went Downhill appeared first on Must Share News.

Amoy St. Bloc Party Is Back Again!

After a hugely successful debut party back in November, the Spa Esprit Group returns with the Amoy St. Bloc Party this April.

Source: Bless Inc. Asia Private Limited

If you cannot resist good food and some hip-turning music, then this is the party to be at — just look at how fun the previous party was.

We haven’t even showed you what you can do there.

Food

If you are anything like me, then good food is a must have at any event. Luckily, the Bloc party will have tons of food.

Source: Bless Inc. Asia Private Limited

From gourmet burgers to exotic South-East Asian delicacies, Amoy St. will definitely have something to suit your palate.

Featuring many local establishments on Amoy Street like boCHINChe and Le Binchotan, this Bloc party is the place to be.

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Rockin’ Music

Source: Bless Inc. Asia Private Limited

Tired of the suffocating night-clubs and the same old music?

Fret not, the Bloc Party will feature fresh new DJs like Chris D and Zig Zach who are straight outta Singapore. The lineup even include international artists like Maribou State, performing for the first time in our small island.

Work it Out

Some of us can’t afford to take a day off the grid, i.e the fitness-junkie life.

It’s okay, you can channel your inner basic b*tch and try some yoga instead.

Yoga Movement and F45, two well-established fitness studios, are also coming down to give lessons on yoga.

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You could also get nostalgic by playing traditional ‘kampung’ style games, or break it down with dance sessions.

Chill

If the very sound of the word ‘exercise’ turns you off, fret not.

You could just go down for a beer and have a chill day in a hammock.

Source: Bless Inc. Asia Private Limited

Sign me up!

Amoy Street Bloc Party hits Amoy Street on April 23, 3pm to 10pm.

Be there!

Featured image from Bless Inc. Asia Private Limited

The post Amoy St. Bloc Party Returns For A Second Round With Free Yoga Lessons And Live Music appeared first on Must Share News.

The Hard Life Of A Social Media Influencer

By now, most of us would have come across the cringeworthy Faves Asia video that has been making waves across social media platforms.

The 3.5 minute-long video, which was widely criticised, was meant to promote the “influencers” that the agency has under its wing — but hilariously backfired, unintentionally portraying the influencers as fame-chasing hypocrites.

You can catch the mind-numbing video here:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/bTWobtjowh8

Notable names like mrBrown, Preetipls and clicknetwork.tv were quick to catch on, and released their own spoofs for shits and giggles.

In all honesty though, wouldn’t it be damn shiok to have a job that lavishes you with gifts and earns you fame simultaneously?

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Influencers

It appears as though anyone with a healthy amount of followers on their social media accounts like Instagram and Twitter can be an influencer. With many followers, one can easily inform and influence via their posts — thus becoming an influencer.

But wait, what exactly is an influencer?

According to Dictionary.com, the definition is:

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Sounds like an important job….?

Blogger Elizabeth Boon thought that Fave Asia’s video portrayed the job in the wrong light though, suggesting that “many have misconstrued the term much to the irritating efforts of some ‘influencers’ who have defiled it to mean: a person who mindlessly and shameless promotes for personal gain”.

Hardships Influencers Face

Maybe, just maybe we’ve all got it wrong and life as an influencer isn’t as rosy as we imagine.

The MustShareNews team got in touch with influencer Jessie Ng to shed light on some work-related difficulties she faces.

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Two self-proclaimed micro-influencers who played leading roles in the Faves Asia video, Kimberly Yong and Hilda Tan, also spoke out in an article on Popspoken to debunk the stereotype that influencers can kiao kah and rake in moolah and fame effortlessly.

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Here’s what they have to say.

1. Friends Envy Them

You might not know, but receiving stuff for free can be a chore too — in the form of envious friends that hound you. Kimberly is someone who struggles with this:

For someone who’s not a part of this social media industry, they tend to see “influencers” or rather, content creator as people who get a lot of free stuff. I personally have a lot of friends who make statements like: “Wah your life as an influencer damn shiok hor. You get so much stuff for free.”

But in reality, life isn’t so simple — after all, one can’t just live off gifts. #realtalk

I’m not going to deny that we get stuff for free. But here’s the thing, if you want to make this into a career, getting free stuff ain’t going to pay for your bills or support your family.

2. Judged To Be Materialistic

Many mistake influencers to be living the glitz and glamourous life while endlessly chasing material possessions, but Hilda explains this isn’t the case:

Netizens commented that influencers portray an unrealistic, full/of-glamour, materialistic lifestyle. We get to go for food-tasting sessions, attend events and basically get freebies and sponsorships for everything, from head to toe. But they failed to realise that work for us is 24/7. One picture does not show what a person is or what she/he does the entire day. When we attend events, we are portrayed to be enjoying ourselves but please also remember we are there to work.

Kimberly also nobly defended fellow influencers:

I understand that the video Faves Asia published might have given people the wrong impression of the industry or some the girls in our company. But, I can say that I know these girls personally and they’re not materialistic at all. Just like me, they have been working hard and I can see that they have a passion for what we’re doing.

3. High Expectations From Followers

Half-assed content just isn’t going to cut it — and influencers know that. They run the risk of losing followers if they produce poor-quality posts. Constantly striving to meet expectations on followers can be demanding, as Jessie says:

I think what followers expect can be a challenge as well – if your sponsored posts are too frequent, canned or insincere, it’s not going to make an impact on anyone. People like fresh ideas and concepts, which can be hard to come up with sometimes.

4. Meeting Expectations Of Clients

Apart from providing quality content for followers, influencers first have to ensure the content they produce are approved by their clients. And that in itself can be a headache.

Said Jessie of her difficulties with clients:

I wouldn’t be so dramatic as to call it a hardship, but I think one of the frustrations I face is balancing expectations. In terms of yourself and the client – sometimes you may end up with sub-par photos/content because of bad lighting/other conditions, but you can’t just call it a day since it’s work, after all. You still have to find a way to publish something decent enough to do the client justice.

Kimberly also detailed the pain behind the posts:

Sometimes, a post might have to go through many rounds of vetting or editing by a client before it can be published. And that in itself can take up to a couple of days. Not to mention that every client has different expectations and the fact that we’re working with so many clients at the same time.

5. Juggling Work And Real Life

According to Hilda, influencers work with more than one client at a time and for most micro-influencers, this is not their full time job. They have other work and school commitments to attend to.

One can only imagine how exhausting it must be to straddle studies and work, but that is exactly what Jessie, an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, is going through.

Negative Responses

However, it seems the Faves Asia video has already caused enough damage, with Wake Up, Singapore claiming influencers should delve into political issues. They probably haven’t heard of “lifestyle influencers”.

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Numerous netizens have also made snide remarks on what influencers do.

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Just Doing Their Jobs

Influencers are human too and are just striving to make a living.

On the surface, their lives might appear exciting and rewarding, and the effort they put in seems minimal.

On the other hand, there are always two sides to every story, and just like any other job, influencers face their fair share of hardship.

But are the hardships they say they face comparable to those faced by people in other jobs? That’s the question that really needs to be answered.

Featured image from Instagram, Instagram and Instagram

The post 5 Hardships Influencers Say They Face — They Want Us To Know That Their Lives Are Difficult Too appeared first on Must Share News.

Edmund Chen Makes Police Report Over Woman

The Star Awards is on tonight (April 16, Sunday), and veteran actress Xiang Yun, who won the All-Time Favourite Artiste Award in 2011, was included in an 8 Days poll that determined who Singapore’s “Most Favourite All-Time Favourite” was.

Not to be left out, her husband Edmund Chen, who is also a household name as an actor but hasn’t been appearing on TV for awhile, has also been making headlines — but unfortunately not for any award or anything good of that sort.

He has made a police report, saying that he had lost $11,000 to a female stranger who had abused his trust.

Here’s Edmund and Xiang Yun in a lovey-dovey photo on his Instagram profile. They still look great after decades in the entertainment industry:

Click on the link below as I share my secret of LOVE together with the woman of my life. 邀各位朋友来”分享”我们 幸福双人床的秘密：） English: htt://bit.ly/2eHcc8B Chinese: http://bit.ly/2e9IPLy #ToggleInBedWith #Toggle幸福双人床. Thank you so much!!

A post shared by Edmund Chen 陈之财 (@edmundchen.sg) on Oct 16, 2016 at 10:49pm PDT

Police Report

On his Facebook page on Saturday (April 15), the actor posted the Singapore Police Force logo, seeming to indicate that he had made a police report about a woman whom he called an “expert” and “repeat offender”.

Saying that there were other “victims” of this “expert” too, he said the “expert” will continue to be invisible and search for more victims when her victims give up pursuing their cases.

Edmund Chen also said the woman has read the “expert handbook” well, and even called her a “10-time Star Awards winner”, which we think is kinda ironic given that his wife is actually a 10-time winner of the top 10 Most Popular Female Artist award at the Star Awards, and has also won 4 Best Supporting Actress awards.

Formerly Trusted

He was undoubtedly referring to a woman he previously spoke about on April 10 in a lengthy Facebook post.

He said the woman got in touch with him via Facebook, wanting to collaborate on a project, but eventually winning the trust of him and his family.

Edmund Chen also told Today that he regretted being too friendly with the woman.

Who Is She?

According to Today, Mr Chen got to know the lady through Facebook — she sent him a message asking for a collaboration on an art project which did not take off.

He introduced her to his family and they developed a close relationship over a few months, even becoming Xiang Yun’s goddaughter.

The Straits Times also spoke to the local actor, who said:

Friends did tell me to be careful of her, but Xiang Yun (his wife) and I believe in giving people second chances.

Edmund Chen had comforted her when she allegedly broke up with her actor boyfriend, and as Edmund Chen was also aware of her financial difficulties, he said he gave her red packets worth approximately $11,000.

On top of that, he gave her part-time work by allowing her to handle the advertising, sales and marketing of his third illustrated book, Little Red Dot.

She was allowed to represent Mr Chen despite that, including the management of his social media accounts — despite not signing any legal contract with her.

Edmund Chen even told Lianhe Wanbao that the woman had invited him along to clubs, but he never went.

Cutting Ties

Edmund Chen said he fired the woman in February for not meeting sales targets, but she continued acting as his representative and even changed his Facebook password.

Today stated that in his Facebook post, Mr Chen labelled this incident as a “crossroads in life” and hopes to move on from here.

However, with his police report, which is the culmination of a series of Facebook posts on the saga where he even named the woman and posted her photos, it’s clear that he hasn’t moved on just yet.

The Woman’s Story

But Lianhe Wanbao contacted the woman, and she denied doing anything wrong, reported AsiaOne.

She rebuffed many of Edmund Chen’s allegations, including the one where he said she was Xiang Yun’s goddaughter, saying that she never recognised the actress as such.

She also said he never represented him after leaving his company in February.

She said she is seeking legal advice from lawyers, adding:

He attacked me on Facebook before I even had a chance to tell reporters anything. Why would he do this?

He Said, She Said

It’s clear that this whole mess is complicated. We will be watching just like everyone else as it plays out.

However, what’s certain is that this is the most exciting drama that Edmund Chen has been in in years, and it’s definitely more riveting than the largely predictable Star Awards.

Congrats to Edmund for his comeback!

Featured image from Facebook and Instagram

The post Edmund Chen Says Woman Who Allegedly Took $11,000 From Him Is A “10-Time Star Awards Winner” appeared first on Must Share News.

Nobody Wants To Buy Kong Hee’s Penthouse

City Harvest Church (CHC) pastor Kong Hee may be disappointed that he still has to serve 3.5 years’ jail after being convicted of misappropriating $50 million from his church, but besides the loss of freedom, we think there’s another reason for his disappointment: He has to swop his rather comfortable digs in Sentosa Cove for the slightly more spartan digs of Changi Prison.

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Yes, it has emerged that Kong Hee is still living in Sentosa Cove, where many rich and famous people live, as possibly Singapore’s richest and most famous convict and holder of a doctorate that was sooooo not bought from a degree mill.

He’s part owner of a penthouse at The Oceanfront, Sentosa Cove, which nobody has bought despite it being put up for sale for the lelong lelong (not) price of just $10 million.

What are homebuyers thinking? It boggles the mind why nobody is snatching up this rare purchase.

Perhaps it’s the knowledge that whoever buys the unit will be contributing to Kong Hee’s considerable legal fees?

Humble Abode

Kong Hee co-owns the 5,242sq ft apartment with Indonesian tycoon Wahju Hanafi. They bought the apartment for $9.33 million in 2007, and each paid monthly instalments of $17,000.

Yup, what they each paid every month for the unit amounts to the entry-level salary of about 7 journalists at The Straits Times.

The property boasts a view that is no less spectacular; you get to see yachts entering the marina, the city’s skyline and fireworks during festive periods. Its private rooftop infinity pool also overlooks One Degree 15 Marina Club — who needs the crowded and touristy infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands?

According to The Straits Times, the luxury apartment even has a private lift, four rooms and features giant crystal light fixtures and works of art at the living and dining areas.

Here are some photos of what a penthouse at The Oceanfront looks like from the inside:

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For Sale No More

Kong Hee and Mr Hanafi put the luxury apartment up for sale in 2015, The Straits Times reported.

But less than two years later, The Straits Times reported that it is now off the market, and latest records by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore also show that the property is still under the names of Kong Hee and Mr Hanafi.

We wonder why it’s not been sold after close to two years — is it because nobody can afford to fork out the cash, or they don’t want to let Kong Hee enjoy a profit of $670,000 on the initial buying price?

“Temporary” Home

When The Straits Times revealed that he was living in Sentosa Cove, Kong Hee responded in a Facebook post on July 3, 2015, saying the article was “misleading and exaggerated”.

The property that my family and I have been living in is co-owned with another family. We have been living at this property with the co-owner’s kind permission after we had to sell our properties in order to pay the legal expenses for the ongoing trial.

… we are under no illusion that this is only our temporary home, until the property is sold.

However, a video uploaded on the CHC YouTube channel on March 28 this year showed Kong Hee and his wife Sun Ho sitting in a balcony that looks remarkably like that of an apartment in Sentosa.

Note the awesome view of a marina behind them:

ST also reported that Kong Hee and his family are still living in the duplex penthouse.

We don’t know about you, but that’s the longest “temporary” stay we’ve ever seen.

Legal Fees

Kong Hee could rack up as much as $15 million in legal fees, as estimated by lawyers — especially since his lawyer who is also an MP probably isn’t paid peanuts.

Lianhe Wanbao also estimated that the legal fees of the Kong Hee and the 5 other CHC members convicted together with him may be more than $20 million.

So it’s not a stretch to postulate that if the penthouse is sold, the proceeds may go towards paying Kong Hee’s legal fees — something that may or may not be a cause of concern for potential buyers.

More Money

But that’s a moot point now, since the penthouse is off the market.

The loser? Not Kong Hee, but his church members, who have been urged to “support” him.

Any buyers out there who are willing to relieve the burden on poor CHC members, please e-mail the church at info@chc.org.sg.

Featured image from Oceanfrontsentosa and christianpost

The post Kong Hee’s Sentosa Cove Penthouse Remains Unsold Despite His Impending Move To Changi Prison appeared first on Must Share News.

Get Yourself Checked On The Cheap

If you’re aged 40 and above, congratulations — the Government has just confirmed that you’re old and may be woefully unaware of your ailments.

Those who have hit that golden age can get screened for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer for just $5, according to The New Paper, after the Government recently launched the Screen For Life programme in a bid to encourage more citizens to undergo health check-ups.

There are further discounts for Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) card holders, and the Pioneer Generation — the former would only have to fork out $2, while the latter group gets it for free.

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A similar screening could set you back by at least $100 without subsidies.

Different Tests For Different Folks

The Ministry of Health (MOH) also clarified that one need not undergo all the screenings — the test for colorectal cancer is reserved for citizens over the age of 50, while the pap smear for cervical cancer is obviously only for women, unless you’re a man with a cervix, in which case please e-mail us, as we would like to interview you.

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If the screening results are normal, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) will send out invitations when the next recommended screening is due, usually after three years. However, if a follow-up is required, the original $5 would only cover the consultation fee of one subsequent visit.

Singaporeans who are eligible will be issued an invitation letter starting from August later this year, allowing them to redeem the subsidised screenings at all CHAS general practice clinics islandwide. Senior citizens will be prioritised due to a higher risk of chronic medical conditions, and the rest should receive their letters by the end of this year.

There is no expiry date for the “offer”.

Help Us Take Care Of Ourselves

According to The Straits Times, The MOH is worried that we can’t take care of ourselves.

It says diabetics can suffer “kidney failure, blindness and amputations” if they fail to manage their condition.

Likewise, some Singaporeans with high cholesterol and blood pressure levels are blissfully unaware of their health — there are “no symptoms in the early stages” — resulting in stroke and heart problems down the road.

No Excuse Not To Go

With the cost of living in Singapore rapidly rising, we welcome this initiative in encouraging Singaporeans to get their health checked.

With this initiative, cost is now no longer an excuse for most of us to get screened, so everyone should go for their screenings when they receive their invitation letters.

With Singapore’s fast pace of life and pressure cooker environment, our existing health problems may be aggravated or even develop new complications.

So, even if you feel like you’re fine, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Featured image from National Healthcare Group

The post $5 Health Screening For All Singaporeans Aged 40 And Above Means There’s No Excuse Not To Get Checked appeared first on Must Share News.

Key Comrade Of LKY Dies At 92

Mr Othman Wok, one of Singapore’s founding fathers and a trusted Cabinet minister of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, died on Monday (April 17) at the age of 92.

The veteran politician was a member of Singapore’s very first Cabinet — formed at a very difficult time for the country as politics was fraught with racial tensions.

Through his 27-year political career that lasted for 27 years, he acted in the best interests of the Malay community, but received death threats and was called “a traitor”. But that didn’t stop the man from rooting for what he believed in.

Here’s a quote from him from AsiaOne that encapsulates his life:

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Facts About Othman Wok

Many Singaporeans don’t know much about Mr Othman, let alone his achievement’s or his sacrifices for our country, which is sad.

So here are a few facts about the former politician that every Singapore should know:

1. He Met Yusof Ishak And LKY As A Reporter

According to Channel NewsAsia, he initially joined Malay-language newspaper Utusan Melayu as a clerk, but was offered a reporter job by the paper’s editor and managing director Yusof Ishak, who happened to become Singapore’s first president.

Here’s Mr Othman with Mr Yusof in 1966, when Mr Yusof was already president and Mr Othman, a minister:

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Mr Othman then became involved in union activities and became the secretary of the Singapore Printing Employees Union.

It was in that role that he met Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who was the union’s legal adviser. Here are photos of them together:

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2. He Was Integral In Helping Malays

One of the significant things Mr Othman was known for was proposing all Malays be given free primary to tertiary education.

He then set up the Mosque Building Fund and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.

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According to AsiaOne, it was thanks to the fund that Toa Payoh got its first mosque; as of 2007, 22 mosques have been built using the fund.

3. He Lost His First Election

Mr Othman became a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP) in 1954, just a few days after it was formed.

But he lost his 1959 bid for election to the legislative assembly in Kampong Kembangan to the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), who branded him a “traitor” to the Malays and an “infidel” as he had joined the PAP, then regarded as a “Chinese party”.

Yes, this was the time his election posters were smeared with faeces.

Thankfully, he proceeded to win his electoral battle in Pasir Panjang in 1963, and entered parliament. Mr Lee made him minister for home affairs and social welfare in his first Cabinet.

Here’s him visiting Kembangan after being appointed minister:

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Mr Lee commended him for remaining loyal and steadfast despite the name-calling during the height of racial tensions in 1964, according to Channel NewsAsia:

I heard it, the crowds said it, bunches of them. They were designed to intimidate him and the other Malay leaders in PAP. Because of the courage and the leadership you showed, not one PAP Malay leader wavered and that made a difference to Singapore.

4. He Was Concerned About Terrorism

Despite being well into his 80s, he gave talks on National Education to civil servants, warning them on the dangers of disunity leading to terrorism.

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Channel NewsAsia quoted him as saying:

Even with this terrorism problem, some of these young people do not take it seriously because it has not happened in Singapore… The test will come when a bomb explodes in Singapore, people are killed … What happens, do we tighten our bonding, become a united front of faith or we disintegrate? This is the test that we have to face if the real thing happens. I hope not. Because today when there are disasters in other countries, Singapore came together to help. I am sure were this to happen in Singapore, we will get together, to face it and solve it. I have that confidence… Always be loyal to your country. You’re a Singaporean, you will always be a Singaporean.

His concern over terrorism stems from how he had witnessed first-hand what happens when the races aren’t unified, and boundaries are drawn along racial lines.

After Singapore and Malaysia’s merger, tensions between the Malay and Chinese communities were high, and boiled over.

During the 1964 procession to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, Mr Othman led a contingent of Malay MPs and PAP supporters, but it didn’t end well after riots broke out:

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He told Channel NewsAsia of what he saw that day:

When my contingent arrived at Kallang Bridge, there was this old Chinese man on a bicycle, on the left side. Some Malay youths came from the front, caught hold of him, beat him up with sticks and threw his bicycle into the drain. He was severely injured…

People were being beaten up, houses were being burnt, vehicles being burnt – all pictured in my mind at that time. I was involved in it, I saw it with my own eyes. It is just like a film being played again and again to me. I was very sad. This is racial riot between the communities, the Chinese and the Malays. And before that they were very friendly.

Despite the names people called him, he continued to serve the Malay community. He even distributed aid to families of the victims of the 1964 riots.

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5. He Signed Up To Make Singapore Independent

Mr Othman was one of 10 signatories on the Independence of Singapore Agreement, which was declared on Aug 9, 1965.

Faced with the crucial decision to split from Malaysia, Mr Othman backed the split, saying it was a relief to end 2 years of bickering between Singapore and Malaysia.

Here’s Mr Othman at the National Day parade in 2015, as a member of the “Old Guard” sitting next to a seat symbolically left for the late Mr Lee, in the first NDP after he died in March 2015.

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Rest In Peace

Mr Othman deserves the utmost respect of every countryman; he persevered and survived hardship during one of the most critical periods of Singapore’s history.

So much so that the Prime Minister’s Office released a sombre statement announcing his death, with details on the memorial service, burial and the honour of being borne on a ceremonial gun carriage.

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Mr Othman led a long, fruitful life that was devoted wholeheartedly to the country. May he rest in peace.

Featured image from YouTube

The post 5 Othman Wok Facts Every Singaporean Should Know About The Late Ex-Cabinet Minister appeared first on Must Share News.

Is Singapore Really The Most Expensive City?

Ever since Singapore was deemed the “most expensive city in the world” four years ago, it’s actually been given that “honour” for four consecutive years, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU’s) Worldwide Cost of Living report. But is it really that bad? The BBC says no.

First, take a look at the latest rankings. We’re way above 2nd-placed Hong Kong and 3rd-placed Zurich.

Could this be what former prime minister Goh Chok Tong meant when he said he wanted Singapore to have a “Swiss standard of living”? Oh wait, perhaps he actually meant Swiss cost of living.

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A Closer Look

The news has led to unsurprising rumbles among locals and foreigners alike over the high cost of living here, and how we attained this infamous title — everyone wants to find something (or someone) to blame for our expensive life.

But before we complain, we should put this ranking in context — things may not be as bad as it seems, at least for locals.

BBC News finally took it in their hands to take a closer look at the report. Writer Tim McDonald, in an article released on April 7, asked the question: Is Singapore Really The World’s Most Expensive City?

We’ll tell you his answer now: Not exactly, he says, and this is why:

1. The Report Focuses On Expats

To begin with, Mr McDonald says the purpose of the index is not to uncover the cost of living for the average citizen, but instead to help calculate allowances for expatriates.

The report itself states:

The survey itself is a purpose-built Internet tool designed to help human resources and finance managers calculate cost-of-living allowances and build compensation packages for expatriates and business travellers. The survey incorporates easy-to-understand comparative cost-of-living indices between cities.

In simpler terms, the index indicates the most expensive cities for expatriates to live in. Not the foreign domestic and construction workers that build our intricate buildings but those we normally see walking around the CBD in office wear. (Just to be clear, both groups of foreign workers deserve equal respect for their contributions.)

And the index is definitely not meant for locals, so those who have a pink IC, this index doesn’t measure your life.

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2. The Report May Not Take Into Account Currency Exchange Rates

In the EIU index, it states that the prices they chose “reflect costs for more than 160 items in each city” that come from a “range of stores: supermarkets, mid-priced stores and higher-priced speciality outlets”.

Subsequently, these prices are converted into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate.

A stronger Singapore dollar that keeps up with the US dollar, compared with other currencies like the Hong Kong dollar that fluctuates more, means that expatriates’ cost of living in Singapore would be relatively more expensive.

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3. The Report Measures Atas Items

As the report focuses on expats who likely have an expense account for living here, the actual items it measured the prices of also tend to be those that people who are spending their company’s money would buy.

According to the report’s methodology, the survey compares “more than 400 individual prices across 160 products and services. These include food, drink, clothing, household supplies and personal care items, home rents, transport, utility bills, private schools, domestic help and recreational costs”.

But upon closer inspection, you’d realise that “private schools” is one of the factors in the study, which we can safely say the majority of locals don’t send their children to. (No, tuition centres aren’t counted.) 

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Mr McDonald also cited Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who spoke on the index in 2014. He was reported by Channel NewsAsia as saying:

So for example, the EIU basket includes imported cheese, filet mignon, Burberry-type raincoats, four best seats in a theatre, three-course high-end dinners for four people… I don’t think they’re irrelevant to an expatriate cost of living basket but it’s quite different from cost of living basket for Singaporeans.

Even the report’s author Jon Copestake admits that people don’t have to buy and may not need to buy every item in the list. The BBC quoted him as saying:

You can find bargains in almost any city around the world, and you can live more frugally than the comparative cost of living which we apply.

4. The Report Ignores Public Transport

Said Mr Tharman in 2014:

“Transport is also part of the cost of living basket for these cost of living indexes but no public transport — it’s just cars and taxis. And our public transport as you know, is in fact significantly cheaper than most other cities (like) New York, London and Tokyo.”

Indeed, the BBC article also acknowledges that cars may be expensive in Singapore, but cars aren’t the only way to get around here. We have a relatively affordable public transport network that brings people almost everywhere on this tiny island, as such a car isn’t as much of a necessity in Singapore than it may be in other countries, even for expats.

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The article also quoted American Jeremy Mackie, a Singapore-based creative director at content agency Click2View, as saying he even saves money taking public transport in Singapore:

I spend about SGD250 ($178) a month on taxis and trains. I recently did a calculation and that’s about half of what I spent on car payments and insurance in the US.

5. The Report Ignores Hawker Food

The BBC article rightly noted that if filling your stomach is all you need to do, we have cheap hawker food available. If you want your cheap food to be tasty too, we have the cheapest Michelin-starred meal on earth.

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And if you want cheap alcohol, look no further than our hawker centres and kopi tiams too, where you can get Tiger beer for about $5.

This is compared with the No. 3-ranked city of Zurich, where cheap hawker food is non-existent.

6. The Report Ignores the HDB

Private condominiums aren’t cheap, but the majority of Singaporeans live in subsidised public housing, which isn’t that cheap nowadays either, but surely cheaper than private housing.

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A More Accurate Report

Mr McDonald went on to cite the National University of Singapore’s Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) index, created using some of EIU’s findings, as a better gauge.

It separates its findings into those for “ordinary residents” and expats, and uses yearly average exchange rates instead.

Any guesses where Singapore stands for both categories? Surprisingly, not first.

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This goes to show that the EIU index wasn’t off by that much, as Singapore ranks in the top 5 under cost of living for expatriates.

However, we ordinary residents are doing pretty alright, as our cost of living is ranked a mere 48th out of 103 cities.  

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Don’t Take Everything At Face Value

Also, note that these indexes focus on cities, not countries. Singapore, being one of the few city-states in the world, has all its needs compacted into one city, unlike cities in other bigger countries.

These indexes teach us to never take things simply at face value.

Sure, it feels like everything’s rising and we’re being choked by the increasing amounts of moolah we are forking out, but at least we know we’re not that bad. At least not yet.

Featured image from The Finder and anza.org.sg

The post Singapore’s Not Exactly The Most Expensive City In The World, Says The BBC appeared first on Must Share News.

Still Talking About Amos Yee’s Jailing

Amos Yee might have succeeded in his bid for asylum in the United States, but people still can’t stop talking about him, especially the foreign media.

Another article on the former budding child star was published by The Economist last month, discussing the reasons behind Amos Yee’s incarceration in Singapore.

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The article, which was titled “A haven for the crass” in the print edition of The Economist, argued that the underlying grounds for Amos Yee’s arrest was to “stifle political dissent”. Tell us something we haven’t heard ad nauseam. 

Targeted?

Anyway, the article referenced the Amos Yee video that started everything. You know, the one that was released days after the death of founding father Lee Kuan Yew and repulsed many Singaporeans.

In the video, Amos Yee spent the majority of the video bashing Mr Lee, and spent about 30 seconds mocking Christianity — a big mistake, the judge who granted Amos Yee asylum said.

Amos Yee was charged with making offensive remarks against Christians, despite the remarks taking up only a short part of the video.

Well, they may have taken up a short part of the video, but he did make the remarks, didn’t he?

Anyway, The Economist also called to attention immigration judge Samuel Cole’s 13-page statement that although Amos Yee was legally prosecuted, there was a “nefarious purpose” behind his arrest. He claimed that Amos Yee had been dealt with so harshly because of his politically divergent views.

The Economist also quoted him as saying:

this is the modus operandi for the Singapore regime—critics of the government are silenced by civil suit for defamation or criminal prosecutions.

Judge Cole’s obviously not a fan of the Singapore “regime”.

The Economist also noted that while other Singaporeans had also made racist slurs against Islam, the legal system had failed to prosecute them, in an apparent double standard.

Amos Yee also cited the same point in a recent video. He brought up the case of Jason Neo, who had posted racist comments online. Mr Neo, then a People’s Action Party youth member, had been reprimanded but not prosecuted.

Rebuttal

Nearly two weeks after the article was published (April 12), Singapore High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Foo Chi Hsia finally wrote a letter to The Economist in response, detailing a few choice nuggets of Amos Yee’s diatribes.

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In her letter, she said that Amos Yee had not only called Jesus “power hungry and malicious” but also “full of bull”, and had also insulted Islam.

In a separate video, Amos Yee had gone on a diatribe about Islam and all its “shortcomings”. He had said —

The Islamics seem to have lots of sand in their vaginas…But don’t mind them, they do after all follow a sky wizard and a paedophile prophet. What in the world is a ‘moderate Muslim’? A fucking hypocrite, that’s what!

Ms Foo explained that Singapore does not “countenance” hate speech, due to the fragility of our racial harmony. Amos Yee’s repeated racist remarks could therefore not be ignored, and action had to be taken against him. She assured The Economist that “several people have been prosecuted for engaging in such hate speech”.

She also took issue with The Economist’s other implications:

Contrary to the suggestion in your article, Singapore’s laws on contempt do not prevent fair criticisms of court judgments, as the article itself demonstrates. Singapore’s court judgments, including on Mr Yee’s case, are reasoned and published, and can stand scrutiny by anyone, including The Economist.

Her terse but spirited reply wasn’t anything ground-breaking, as it repeated Singapore’s well-known stance, but it was also clear that she also saying: “We’ll agree to disagree.”

Singapore’s Stand

Our government has long established that it is the US’ prerogative to accept people like Amos Yee. It reports that hate speech falls under the blanket of free speech in the US, the same cannot be said for Singapore.

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to running a nation. Singapore enjoys racial harmony only because people who engage in speech that is critical of other races and religions are severely dealt with.

While it is good to observe policies that other countries practice, one must understand that we have to tailor our own rules to ensure our prosperity.

Now, can we just leave Amos Yee alone once and for all?

Featured image from Facebook

The post The Economist Is Still Harping On Amos Yee, Saying That He Was Jailed To Stifle Political Dissent appeared first on Must Share News.

Taiwanese Protest Against The SAF

At the turn of the year, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) found itself in a sticky situation after Hong Kong impounded our Terrexes. The saga set alarm bells ringing islandwide as Singaporeans feared that China was “bullying” us due to its perceived unhappiness over our joint military training with Taiwan.

Turns out that it’s not only China that’s supposedly unhappy over the military training — their “enemies” Taiwan aren’t that happy with it either. Specifically, Taiwanese villagers who have been protesting against our SAF, and even throwing “missiles” at the Singapore flag.

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Strangely, The Straits Times didn’t mention anything about this protest. Perhaps it’s waiting patiently for the Singapore authorities to tell them what’s going on?

Forget about waiting. Catch the video of their protest here:

Training “Disruptive”

SAF troops have been flying to Taiwan for operational exercises since 1975, taking part in activities like live-firing and navigation.

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But it appears that SAF’s never-ending training operations have greatly disrupted the peaceful lives of the villagers of Hsinchu County, with local development of the area strictly restricted, reported Taiwan’s Liberty Times.

Apparently, the villagers were also not compensated for providing land to the SAF to use as an artillery range, in a dispute that dates back to 1985.

Fed Up 

One exercise in particular, Exercise Starlight (星光计划), a training operation that occurs several times a year in Taiwan, is loathed by the locals.

Their animosity culminated in a public demonstration in an attempt to get rid off the SAF. Villagers headed to ROC Army 6th Corps Hukou Camp on March 27 to air their grievances via a protest.

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They also proceeded to submit a letter to the Taiwanese military, who later claimed that these demonstrators were but a minority who did not have a valid case.

Still, that didn’t stop them from pulling off silly shenanigans — like tossing dummy missiles at a Singapore flag.

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The group carried on to the Singapore Representative Office at 85 Jen-Ai Road, Taipei to continue their protest.

Netizens Fire Back

Some netizens were quick to defend our SAF troops and counter the Taiwanese’s accusations.

One who appears to be a former serviceman recalled helping the locals when they were in a pinch, suggesting that Singapore doesn’t just leech off Taiwan.

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Another believed the SAF isn’t the main villain, and shouldn’t bear the brunt of the hostility.

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Netizens Empathise

But the bulk of netizens were able to symphatise with the Taiwanese villagers.

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No Effect?

We’re not too sure the protests would have any effect on Singapore’s decision to hold military operations in Taiwan though.

After all, if China can’t “persuade” Singapore to stop the military drills, why would a few Taiwanese villagers do the trick?

Featured Image from YouTube

The post Taiwan Villagers Protest Against SAF Training By Throwing “Missiles” At Singapore Flag appeared first on Must Share News.

She’s A Pageant Finalist Who Breastfeeds In The MRT

Even those blissfully unaware of the latest news may recall the recent cause célèbre over a lady openly breastfeeding in Singapore’s MRT.

It’s just been revealed that she’s also a beauty pageant finalist — but so what?

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Stomped

In March, stay-at-home mother Cheryl Lee’s photo was circulated on Stomp for breastfeeding her baby girl in public.

The netizens’ many reactions were divided into three categories: disgust, wholehearted support, and typically, indifference.

People that MustShareNews talked to were mostly supportive of her.

She bravely responded on Facebook, saying she’s not too bothered about the controversy:

Beauty Pageant Finalist

Still, after a month of online debate, The New Paper revealed on Monday (April 17) that the #proudbreastfeedingmama is also a beauty pageant finalist.

It turns out that Ms Lee, 25, is a contestant for the Mrs Singapore & Classic Mrs Singapore pageants, and juggles these while taking care of her two-year-old girl.

While it may be interesting to know more about how Ms Lee manages to look good amid the mental and physical stress of taking care of a young child, we’re not sure whether the people who click on this story would have that exact intention, based on the headline and this photo of Ms Lee in the pageant.

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We think that TNP’s headline for its online story (the headline in print was “Mum in breastfeeding saga stands by her cause”) may be a bit oversimplistic, and plays to those people who make snap judgements based on the little information they are given.

What judgements would these people make, apart from the fact that she’s an attractive woman?

Not A Publicity Stunt

In their article, TNP reported that Ms Lee was accused of trying to gain publicity for her pageant participation through the supposed “publicity stunt” of breastfeeding in public.

Yup, breastfeeding can actually be taken by people not to be a way of feeding one’s hungry child, but a publicity stunt. What next, going to the toilet as a publicity stunt?  

In fact, for Ms Lee it was the other way round — she says her pageant appearance is meant to “raise awareness” over breastfeeding in public.

TNP highlighted a point conveniently forgotten by her detractors: She says she has been breastfeeding in public ever since she had her first child, who is now seven — that’s even before she took part in pageants.

Ms Lee was also quoted by TNP as saying:

“If I win Mrs Singapore, I would love to use my title to promote breastfeeding in public (with or without covering). I feel that we need to normalise it.”

The Curse Of Beauty

However, Ms Lee’s participation in a beauty pageant, something that only attractive people would join, unfortunately ties in to an opinion that some have expressed that the only reason her breastfeeding on the MRT was considered inappropriate in the first place is because of Ms Lee’s attractiveness — in other words, there are creeps out there who would be turned on by the sight of her doing that.

Ergo, she knows she’s attractive, that’s why she joined a beauty pageant, just like she knows that people created a hoo-ha over her public breastfeeding because she’s attractive.

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But there’s nothing wrong with being beautiful and knowing it — just like there’s nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public.

Those who slam her for it may just be falling prey to jealousy.

Don’t Hate Her Because She’s Beautiful

This whole saga reminds us of the need to remain objective and stray from indulging in double standards.

After all, there are other women who breastfeed their babies in public. Just because a potential beauty queen does it, doesn’t mean it suddenly deserves attention.

We admire Ms Lee’s courage in being so open about the issue and her willingness to champion it against all dem haters.

Featured image from Facebook and One KM Mall

The post MRT Breastfeeding Mum Is A Beauty Pageant Finalist, But It Shouldn’t Matter appeared first on Must Share News.

Security Incident At Woodleigh MRT Over Baking Flour

It all started when the SBS Transit Twitter account tweeted on Tuesday (April 18) afternoon that Woodleigh MRT Station had been closed due to a “security incident”.

It did not elaborate on what the security incident was, so of course people assumed the worst.

NE11 Woodleigh Stn is closed due to a security incident. Free bus rides are available at bus stops btwn Serangoon & Potong Pasir Stns

— SBS Transit (@SBSTransit_Ltd) April 18, 2017

Trains skipped the station as the incident was ongoing.

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Even Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin went down to the scene to share in the fun:

“Live” Video

The folks at Shin Min Daily News were on the scene quickly and posted a “live” video. Check it out here:

Suspicious Substance

The Straits Times reported on their Twitter account that a “suspicious substance” was found at the MRT station.

JUST IN: A “suspicious substance” has been found at Woodleigh MRT station; police and SCDF officers are managing the incident

— The Straits Times (@STcom) April 18, 2017

Police Confirmation

The police also confirmed on Facebook that a suspicious substance was found at the station. They advised the public to avoid the area and not to speculate on the incident.

In a later post, they said that Hazmat officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were on the scene.

“Hazmat” refers to hazardous materials and items.

After awhile, the police posted an update, saying that the suspicious substance was actually baking flour.

The station reopened at 4.20pm.

Someone’s groceries must have sprang a leak, as Channel NewsAsia reported the assistant station manager as saying that the white powder was found at three to four places at the station’s concourse area.

Here’s a photo of the baking flour:

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Hougang Incident

Earlier this month, Hougang MRT Station was closed temporarily after an unattended bag was found there.

It was reopened again after about 1.5 hours without incident. The police arrested a 39-year-old man over the incident.

Well, thank goodness the Woodleigh station incident was a false alarm just like the Hougang incident.

Featured image from Facebook and Facebook

The post Woodleigh MRT Station’s “Suspicious Substance” Turns Out To Be Baking Flour appeared first on Must Share News.

Geylang: Singapore’s Skid Row?

When you think of drug busts, murders and any other sort of illegal activity, which place in Singapore comes to your mind? Does it start with “Y” and end with “N”?

Apparently, American TV shows like Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders haven’t heard of Yishun. To them, Geylang is actually the equivalent of Singapore’s skid row, a prime spot for anything shady or illegal. Watch the episode here:

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A recent episode, titled Cinderella and the Dragon, was set in Singapore. Although it is typically an action-packed crime drama, we found the way they portrayed Geylang rather humourous.

I guess there are a few things about Geylang that even we Singaporeans, never knew about. Let’s take a look at the side of Geylang that we’ve apparently been missing out on.

“Overcrowded Slum”

While we know Geylang for its amazing food and erm, interesting women, these American guys seem to think that it’s “an overcrowded slum with a thriving underworld”. At least that’s what the script called for a character to describe the area as.

Don’t believe us? Watch this and hear it for yourself.

We know that Geylang isn’t exactly a sterile, family friendly area unlike Orchard Road, but I guess we must have missed out on the slum.

The people who live in Geylang aren’t exactly poor — many of them actually make quite a lot from either selling food or selling their bodies.

And as for overcrowded, well, which part of Singapore isn’t overcrowded?

But I guess these Americans no longer need to go to countries like India to experience life in a slum, a trip to Geylang can quench that desire for them.

Gluttons Bay Geylang?

While sites like Eatbook help you discover hidden food treasures, some places just seem to slip by without anyone noticing.

Such is the case of Makansutra Gluttons Bay Geylang. The touristy outdoor food paradise that we thought was near the Esplanade must have moved to Geylang, because Criminal Minds clearly places it at Geylang — One of the scenes that took place in Geylang had footage of the popular food centre in it.

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They really need to change their signpost though (see top left area of photo), it’s not by the bay anymore, guys!

Drug Dealing

The show also revealed unprecedented “evidence” of shady activities in Geylang. Apparently, Geylang is infamous for all the drug busts that have happened there. Look at the concentration of yellow dots in Geylang that supposedly represent drug activity:

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Wait, hold up for a sec.

Any Singaporeans know that Yishun, not Geylang, is the epicentre of Singapore’s narcotics scene. Yishun even had its very own “drugs store” until it was raided recently, reported AsiaOne.

Netizens Tickled

Netizens seemed to share our sense of humour too, and found the depiction quite incredible.

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Jabs At Singapore’s Justice

Other than their unique experiences in Geylang, the show also took a few jabs at the Singaporean government.

The actors called the Ministry of Manpower an Orwellian concept, on top of numerous insinuations that the justice system was broken.

Best of all, they claimed that foreigners were dealt with harsher sentences as compared with locals — something that any Singaporean will find incredulous, judging from our story on rich and foreign criminals who got lenient sentences.

Moreover, they implied that the concept of “innocent till proven guilty” was non-existent here.

No Research

It’s quite evident that the writers behind the show every negligently or willfully did not do any sort of in-depth research on Singapore before scripting this episode.

Their episode set in Singapore seems like it was set in some more lawless and crime-ridden country than we locals know our country is — perhaps China, judging from the cheena music being played throughout the episode and the cringeworthy pseudo-Chinese saying they flashed at the beginning of the episode that implied that we have pirates? Do they think this is still the 18th century?

Translation: Where there’s ocean, there are pirates.

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Artistic Licence

However, if we consider that it’s a TV show, with fictional characters and stories, we can understand that the scriptwriters wanted to attract ignorant Western viewers who don’t know better by exoticising Singapore and thus making it more interesting by having our country fit into their idea of what Asia is like. It’s called artistic licence.

After all, we admit that if they portray Singapore as it really is, the episode would be kinda boring.

It’s not the only TV show to do this. A British TV show did the same thing when they realised that Singapore wasn’t as grungy as they had hoped, even referring to our “Englishtown”.

Which begs the question: Why did they choose to film in Singapore at all? I’m sure they would have had more fodder for their Asian mysticism fetish in China or even Malaysia.

That being said, when it comes to critiquing our justice system, it would be better if a foreign TV show doesn’t go overboard, thinking that people in Singapore won’t get wind of it. After all, we do understand English and what they are saying about us.

However, instead of getting outraged over the inaccuracies in the show, it’s better that we take this with a jolly spirit, and just attribute it to ignorance. After all, if were to angry over this, there will be no end to the things we’ll get angry over.

Featured image from CBS 

The post Geylang Is Portrayed In This American TV Show Like Nothing You’ve Ever Seen appeared first on Must Share News.

R.I.P Mr Othman Wok

With the death of former Cabinet minister Othman Wok on Monday (April 17) at the age of 92, Singapore has suffered a great loss. It even rained heavily on Tuesday (April 17), the day of his funeral, similar to how it rained during late founding father Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral.

But how have ordinary Singaporeans actually been affected by the sad news?

After all, not many youngsters may know much about Singapore’s founding fathers (and mothers), as their contributions towards the nation took place ages ago, before they were born. Even if we may have heard the stories about what these well-known figures have done, it’s not often that we find out first-hand how they are like.

So we compiled a list of tributes from Singaporeans who have actually had the pleasure of meeting Mr Othman, to get a sense of how he affected the lives of normal people:

1. Inspiring Stories

This netizen recounts how Mr Othman was so willing to share his stories at National Education semiars, despite being in his 80s.

2. A Reminder To Serve

This person recalled how Mr Othman reminded the ruling party that their job was to serve the people.

3. Fond Trip Memories

This guy actually managed to follow Mr Othman to Hawaii, and was the beneficiary of his kindness.

4. Tales Of Racial Riots

While this person had the benefit of hearing first-hand how Mr Othman dealt with the tumultuous racial riots in the 1960s.

It is obvious that these people look up and were significantly touched by Mr Othman’s contributions and even the little things he did that made their day.

5. Poetic Tribute

However, dedicated Facebook user Andrew Yip even wrote a poem to celebrate Mr Othman’s involvement in Singapore as one of its “Old Guard”.

Great Father

While Mr Othman was undoubtedly a great leader, he was also a good parent, according to his daughter Lily Othman in a video interview for Yahoo Singapore:

He was a very diplomatic, kind and loving man. Even though he had a very busy schedule, he always made time for us.

Respected Leader

And of course, those who spent the most time with the minister were other ministers, who didn’t hold back in sending their blessings his way.

Particularly, President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who paid tribute to the man over Facebook.

Keep Moving Forward

All in all, the passing of  Mr Othman may be saddening, but it also calls for a well-deserved celebration for his life and his contributions to Singapore.

Amid the racial riots and tensions, it’s leaders like Mr Othman who help push us in the right direction.

It’s time we return the favour.

Featured image from Facebook

The post 5 Othman Wok Tributes Shared By Normal Singaporeans That Will Give You The Feels appeared first on Must Share News.

“Fake News” In Singapore

There are stories that are circulating all over the Internet that are totally untrue, and it’s a global thing.

The phenomenon has been present for awhile now, but the term that describes it has only gained currency in the past year: Fake news.

Britain’s Brexit referendum was seemingly galvanised by misleading stories, whereas during the United States presidential election, real news was overshadowed by their fake counterparts on Facebook.

It’s so serious that Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam has addressed the issue of dealing with fake news that happen right here in Singapore.

While the definition of “fake news” needs to be refined, here are some recent hoaxes that people in Singapore have been hoodwinked by that people may deem as “fake news”:

1. Lee Kuan Yew Death Hoax

Singaporeans were stunned on March 18, 2015 afer a screenshot announcing the death of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, appearing to be sent from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), circulated online.

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Several credible news sources like Cable News Network (CNN) and China’s CGTN (formerly known as CCTV-NEWS) were also taken for a ride and disseminated the false information.

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The PMO notified the police and investigations revealed the culprit behind the fake screenshot was a teenage boy who was 16 years old at the time.

According to the Vulcan Post, the teenager was “annoyed at the rumours about Lee Kuan Yew’s passing and he wanted to demonstrate how easy it actually is for a hoax to be perpetuated”.

Well, he did prove his point on how effortless it is for inaccurate news to spread in this day and age.

Fortunately for him, he was let off with a stern warning in lieu of prosecution.

Mr Lee sadly died on March 23, 2015, aged 91, just days after.

2. Yishun Breast Checkup

In something that can perhaps only happen in Yishun, a dubious flyer that bemused residents made the rounds.

All Singapore Stuff alerted netizens of the suspicious brochure that was supposedly produced by the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS).

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According to the flyer, which wasn’t written in very good English, SCS would be conducting checks on women for breast cancer on the stipulated dates. It also said the women would be required to be bar-less for the check, then later went further in saying they would have to be fully naked.

Better still, the flyer said they would charge women between $50 and $100 for the “check”, depending on how lumpy their breasts were.

SCS chief executive Albert Ching told The Straits Times that the flyer “is in no way related to the cancer screening services” that the organization offers. The society also lodged a police report.

It’s unclear whether the flyer was a joke or the devious perverts behind it actually planned to carry out those “checks”. And we hope no residents fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book. 

3. Photograph Becomes Photoshop

In January 2016, Nikon Singapore received much flak during its monthly amateur photography competition on Facebook.

Singaporean photographer Chay Yu Wei was awarded with a $169 Nikon trolley bag in recognition of the phenomenal photo he had taken.

When quizzed on how long he had waited for the plane to pass overhead, Mr Chay lied “not too long, I was lucky” before inserting two smiling emojis, reported the BBC.

But I guess his smile didn’t last long, with numerous photographers flooding his Instagram to call him out for deceit.

What was the problem? The photo was photoshopped — and it seemed like Nikon was the only party who was out of the loop.

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Come on Nikon, it doesn’t take a genius to realize something’s fishy about this photograph:

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A helpful user tinkered with the image’s colour levels via Photoshop and it clearly showed the pixelated plane was edited in.

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Both Nikon Singapore and Mr Chay were left red-faced and apologized for their mistakes.

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You can read Mr Chay’s full apology here.

4. Fine For Leaving Used Tissue

It’s the natural order for Singaporeans to claim their territory at kopitiams by leaving a packet of tissue on the tables. Chope!

But are you aware that leaving behind used tissues after a meal could get you slapped with a $200 fine by the National Environment Agency (NEA)?

At least that’s if you believed this viral message that spread over What’sApp in March.

The NEA responded swiftly to quash this false claim, setting diner’s hearts at ease.

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One netizen in fact opined that the fake news caused Singaporeans to be more aware of the bad habit of leaving their used tissues behind.

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Maybe fake news can be beneficial in some situations?

5. Fake DJ At Zouk

Imagine partying at a nightclub and finding out that an internationally acclaimed DJ was in the house to spin a couple of tracks. Clubbers would go stark raving bonkers, and not because of the alcohol.

That was exactly what unfolded on Sept 10, 2016, when DJ Marshmello turned up uninvited to Zouk.

Or so it seemed.

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As it transpired, the “DJ Marshmello” that appeared was an impostor. But nobody seemed to be the wiser. Why, the fake DJ was even allowed to spin a few sets!

The whole situation was further exacerbated when one of Zouk’s own DJs, DJ Jade Rasif, slammed them for their lack of integrity.

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Irked by the whole saga, the real DJ Marshmello took to Twitter to shame one of the top nightclubs in the world. He even reserved special praise for DJ Jade Rasif.

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In a feeble attempt to clear their name, Zouk Singapore tried to clarify how the confusion came about, saying the impostor was actually a guest.

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Not everyone bought their story though.

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Well, it’s no biggie. We think a little bit of alcohol in conjunction with flashing strobe lights on the dance floor would have everyone forgetting this episode in a jiffy.

At least until the high from the liquor runs out.

6. “Abusive” Childcare Centre

A childcare centre in River Valley found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons earlier this year.

In February, they were accused of negligence and abuse of the kids placed in their care.

A nauseating photograph showed a child sleeping in his own faeces, with claims suggesting he ate it too.

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Another photograph depicted how the children were made to sleep on the floor without mattresses.

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Even the quality of the food served to the children came under scrutiny, as it was alleged that rotten fruits were part of their diet.

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In a statement to the media, Sam’s Early Learning Centre said the photos were taken out of context, and believed the photos were circulated by an unhappy former employee who has since returned to China, reported The Straits Times.

The centre said the toddler in the cot had the habit of pulling his diapers off while having a bowel movement during his nap time.

The children lying on the floor were doing stretching and breathing exercises, it added.

As for the rotten fruits, they were “uncut fruit not ready to be served to children”, it said.

Parents of children were unanimously supportive of the centre, with 35 of them signing a letter to support it.

Their trust and faith paid off, as investigations conducted by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) revealed nothing untoward occurred at Sam’s Early Learning Centre.

7. Enticing “FairPrice” Vouchers

A $100 discount coupon for spending $120 at FairPrice?! Such a mouthwatering proposition would have most aunties chionging to splurge at the nearest FairPrice outlet. But could it really be true?

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The first red flag was the obviously shady website link that users were redirected to, “Fairprices.com.xyz” — come on, really? Since when is there an “s” after FairPrice?

But oblivious netizens went ahead and spread the word over social media anyway.

Alas, NUTC FairPrice warned netizens that the voucher was bogus.

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A similar case occurred end March 2017. This time, $300 FairPrice gift vouchers were offered for spending $100 at FairPrice stores. But kudos to FairPrice for swiftly debunking the scam yet again.

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Lesson learnt: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Though as a goodwill gesture, we think FairPrice should note the popularity of these vouchers and just go ahead and release some real vouchers to appease netizens, no?

8. Paid Day Off

When the annual imported haze from Indonesia swamped our skies in Sept 2015, the Pollution Standard Index (PSI) hit hazardous levels.

But the dire pollution became an unexpected boon for primary and secondary students, who were given an extra long weekend on Sept 25 after their schools were closed, although polytechnic, junior college and university students still had to begrudgingly lug their lifeless souls to school.

On the night of Sept 24, however, some workers may have thought they were let off the hook too, after an apparent Ministry of Manpower (MOM) press release over social media informed them of a “voluntary non-work day” — i.e. employers were encouraged to give their staff a paid day off in light of the worsening haze.

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The post brought temporary joy to the working adults who might have failed to notice the rampant grammatical errors in the so-called MOM release.

Their hopes were crushed when MOM clarified that the “voluntary non-work day” was but a sham.

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9. “Tuas Fire” Video

A massive inferno at a waste management plant in Tuas, the second in 5 years, lighted up the Singapore skyline before engulfing it in dark plumes of smoke on Feb 23.

Videos of the Tuas fire showed apocalyptic scenes that one might mistake to be from a Hollywood movie.

One video in particular spread like wildfire over social media, and had people’s hearts in their mouths. Check out the dramatic explosion.

However, The Straits Times confirmed that the aforementioned video was not of the Tuas fire. Apparently, it was of an explosion at a gas plant in China, and was posted on YouTube in both 2016 and 2015.

10. “Video” Of $239,000 Meal

Over the recent Chinese New Year period, a group of 20 diners ate their way through a dinner that put your $88 yusheng to shame.

Their celebration at the Feng Shui Inn in Resorts World Sentosa cost a whopping $239,326.47 — enough to buy a BTO flat or 2 Toyota Corolla Altis cars.

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A video, courtesy of Facebook page Kuanyewism, was subsequently circulated that apparently gave viewers a peek into the extraordinary dinner.

Now, if you were observant, you would notice that the diners in the video were feasting on Taiwanese cuisine, whereas Feng Shui Inn serves Cantonese cuisine. So there’s something fishy here.

Upon further investigation, the video was revealed not to be of the $239,326.47 meal.

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Don’t Trust Everything On The Net

The influence of social media is unparalleled and information can literally be found with a few clicks of a button.

However, the ease at which one can acquire information also reflects how effortless it is for others to upload content online — be it authentic or false.

So we should be aware that fake news is alarmingly prevalent on the Internet. It pays to be sharp and questioning whenever you chance upon information that seems far-fetched.

Combating fake news isn’t straightforward, but you can start by verifying the authenticity of information before you “share” such content to others.

Featured images from Facebook, edmsauce.com, Facebook and 

The post 10 “Fake News” Hoaxes That Went Viral In Singapore appeared first on Must Share News.

Hashers Cause Havoc At Woodleigh MRT

UPDATED with apology from hashing group at 6.47pm.

By now everyone has probably heard how a “white substance” caused the whole Woodleigh MRT station to be shut down on Tuesday (April 18). But did you know that the substance, found to be just baking flour, was left behind by 3 uncles known as “hashers”? What exactly are hashers, anyway??

Well, they are people who apparently leave behind things like these at MRT stations:

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There were fears that the substance was made up of deadly anthrax spores, which can be used in terror attacks like the 2001 incident in the United States that killed 5 people.

But after it was found to be baking flour, one might think that it was the result of a tear in someone’s grocery bag — but why concentrated in just a few places?

Well, according to the police force, the bizarre situation was actually caused by 3 men, aged 69, 53 and 70, one of whom left the flour at the MRT station, and the other 2 were with him when he did it.

Uncle Terrorists?

No, the 3 are not terrorists, but “hashers” — members of a society known as the Hash House Harriers (H3), a group of non-competitive running social clubs.

So basically, they are social runners, who did something extremely ill-advised — they left the flour to mark a running trail that for some reason went through the MRT station.

In other words, their “hash-tag” was flagged as inappropriate.

Here’s some information about the group:

Hash House Harriers

H3 dates back to 1938 in none other than our neighbour Malaysia, where British officers came up with a creative way to run off their excess calories. It was based off a British game, “Hare and Hounds”, where one group (Hares) has to run off and hide to prevent being caught by the other group (Hounds).

In other words, the colonial version of “hide and seek”, which kids used to do to in their free time in the 90s and earlier, before they all became obsessed with mobile devices and the Internet.

A difference between “hide and seek” and Hare and Hounds would be that the hares will leave clues for the hounds — the trail for the hashing will also be marked out in advance runners with flour, chalk or toilet paper.

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The officers used the run as a way to “earn” the few beers they had after their exercise.

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Why “Hash House Harriers”? Because several of the original members lived in the Selangor Club Annex, which was also known as the “Hash House”.

Their runs ended up being called “hash runs”.

Singapore’s H3

It’s probable that this is the first time that you’re hearing of the H3, but it’s actually more popular in Singapore than you might think.

Given that H3 started with our friendly next-door neighbours, it’s actually not really surprising that there are numerous H3 groups in Singapore.

In fact, The Straits Times reported that our small island is home to the second-oldest hash movement in the world. Many of these groups organise frequent runs for its members.

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Some groups also are exclusively for men or women, while most groups are mixed.

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Seletar Hash House Harriers

MustShareNews did a bit of digging, and found out that the 3 uncles belong to the Seletar Hash House Harriers, a men-only group with about 100 members, which had a hash run yesterday (April 18).

According to its website, a hash run was scheduled at 5.30pm on Tuesday, April 18 — just hours after the baking flour was found at Woodleigh MRT station.

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And if you might think the run was cancelled after the security scare, you would be mistaken — the group (probably minus 3 members) went on the run anyway.

Here’s a video of them starting on the run:

The group may have started from Serangoon, but they managed to cover a impressive distance, and going all the way down south to the Rokeby Cafe in Jalan Riang.

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And to a road near Potong Pasir Avenue 1 and Bendeemer Road, too judging from the road sign in this photo. That’s quite near Woodleigh MRT station.

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Not Dampened

If the 3 uncles nabbed by the police are indeed from the Seletar H3, it’s evident that the whole baking flour snafu did not dampen the spirits of their friends (although the rain might have).

(Updated at 6.47pm) However, the Seletar H3 has apologised for their actions, according to The Straits Times.

In a press release, it said the 3 members were marking a trail for the Tuesday run, and chose to cross Upper Serangoon Road via Woodleigh MRT station as it’s the safest route.

“In retrospect, they should not have placed any markings in the station, and should have used directional signs instead outside of the station,” The Straits Times quoted the group as saying. “They are sorry that their actions caused public alarm and inconvenience.”

Fun-Loving

It’s evident that Seletar H3 are a rather fun-loving group, that organise regular runs that are well attended.

They even describe themselves as “A DRINKING club with a RUNNING problem”, as they typically go out for drinks and a meal after their runs.

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Be Wiser

From what we have seen, “hashing” sounds like a healthy activity that doesn’t hurt anyone and looks like fun.

So it doesn’t seem like the 3 uncles behind the “baking flour incident” had any ill intent. However, they probably should have been wiser in the placement of their “trail”.

In other words, uncle ah, you want to mark trail don’t use white powder lah, and for goodness’ sake don’t do it in an MRT station!

After all, that’s what the National Parks Board guidelines given to hashers are for — we hope for their sake that this incident won’t result in further restrictions being imposed.

Featured image from Facebook

The post Woodleigh MRT Uncles Who Left Baking Flour Were “Hashers” Marking A Trail — Here’s Who They Are appeared first on Must Share News.

Owner Told By HDB To Rehome Her Cats

The Housing Development Board (HDB) has just started Part 3294 of its war against cats, and it’s still as unjustified as ever.

Remember when the HDB sent this annoying letter to a resident about his cat late last year? This time, HDB is trying to exict 3 cats not because of anything that they actually did, but because of a complaint that their owner makes too much noise when she says “hi” to them.

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Still Not Allowed

The Cat Welfare Society on Wednesday (April 19) highlighted a report in the Chinese newspapers about Ms Serene Tong, 42, who was given one month by the HDB to rehome her 3 cats, as the animals are still not allowed in HDB flats.

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Of the 3 cats, 2 of them were raised by her for 12 years, while the other has been in her care for 6 years. One of them has liver failure and won’t live long more. The cats spend most of their home indoors and don’t bother anyone at all.

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Here’s the full post from the Cat Welfare Society:

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Strange Complaint

Worse still, this is all happening because of a complaint from her neighbour, who didn’t mention that the cats were meowing incessantly or leaving their waste along the communal corridors.

The neighbour’s complaint was that Ms Tong herself was noisy.

Basically this is what he said:

1. It’s noisy when Ms Tong greets her cats after getting home.
2. She talks to them loudly.
3. She sings to them.
4. She slams the door very loudly.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out all the complaints revolve around Ms Tong rather than the cats — even if the cats weren’t around, she can still talk, sing and slam doors just as noisily.

We can’t help but speculate that it seems like the neighbours don’t have a problem with the cats, but the owner instead.

However, they can’t get the HDB to evict Ms Tong, but they can get them to evict her cats.

Wrong Target

Facebook user Harry Chen summed it up perfectly. Why on earth is HDB going after the cats? Shouldn’t they be dealing with Ms Tong instead?

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Hate The Owner, Target The Cats?

In the article, the neighbours, known only as Mr and Mrs Wu, were even quoted as saying that they were on good terms with Ms Tong’s aunt but it all changed when Ms Tong moved in 3 years ago — an admission if there ever was one that it’s Ms Tong they just don’t like.

And Ms Tong has also claimed on Facebook that the neighbours have complained about “stupid and unreasonable things” for years”.

And why is the HDB helping to faciliate this apparent grudge match, instead of trying to mediate between the warring sides?

Condemation From Netizens

Ms Tong’s neighbours and the HDB were in for some harsh criticism as netizens roasted them.

Going by HDB’s logic, should children be removed too in the event that one’s neighbour speaks too loudly to their child?

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You know what’ll be a win-win situation? Relocating the intolerable neighbours instead.

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The HDB is a shared living space with hundreds of other residents, so it’s inevitable for disagreements to surface every now and then. Neighbours should be more accommodating so that everyone can live together harmoniously.

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Many wanted to help Ms Tong:

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How To Help

We aren’t sure whether it will help, but the Cat Welfare Society has asked people to share their Facebook post, and write in to Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also a member of parliament for Jurong GRC, at tharman_s@pmo.gov.sg

Please Reconsider, HDB

It’s true that the current rule is that cats are not allowed in HDB flats, and the HDB is just enforcing it. And the neighbour is also entitled to complain about the noise that Ms Tong makes, no matter how small.

But it is glaring that the cats are being punished despite not being the actual subject of the complaints, and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

No matter what beef that residents have with each other, the cats are innocent — It feels like the poor cats are just being used as pawns in a war, and the HDB is complicit in this. 

It’s probably just as bad as when the statutory board was accused of asking a single mother to leave her flat over $99.

Featured image from Facebook

The post HDB Wants To Kick Out 3 Cats Because Their “Noisy” Owner Says Hi To Them appeared first on Must Share News.