DBS chief executive Tan Su Shan has ruled out entering politics, while calling for more talent from both the public and private sectors to raise the quality of policy debate in Singapore.

Tan, 57, made the comment when asked if she would consider standing in the next General Election, during a fireside chat organised by the Singapore Press Club on Sep. 11, as reported by Lianhe Zaobao.

Asked about her political ambitions, Tan responded with a laugh: "I'm too old".

NMP from 2012 to 2014

Tan was previously a member of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), and resigned from the party before being appointed a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) from 2012 to 2014.

She said her time as an NMP gave her a deeper understanding of Singapore's policy-making process, and showed her how parliamentary debate could help drive policy change.

According to Zaobao, Tan recalled that during her NMP term, no one ever asked her to hold back a question or stop pursuing an issue. She said: "If you disagree with something, raise it. If you're wrong, we'll push back. If you're right, we'll listen. But raise it anyway."

Tan's remarks followed a recent parliamentary debate on ministerial salaries, in which Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he wanted to attract more private sector candidates into government, reported The Business Times.

PM Wong had cited leaders of major Singapore-listed companies in sectors like banking, telecommunications, aviation and engineering as examples of the talent pool the government is competing with.

He said Singapore "cannot pretend that the opportunity cost does not exist", though he emphasised that the government is not trying to match private sector pay, given that such professionals' pay already exceeds that of starting-grade ministers.

Tan, who became DBS CEO last year, received total compensation of S$9.64 million for 2025, covering her first nine months as CEO and her earlier period as deputy CEO, Business Times reported.

Call for more diverse talent in policy debate

Tan said Singapore needs to keep improving the quality of debate, which requires bringing in the right people with relevant industry experience from both the public and private sectors, according to Zaobao.

"I would like to see healthy debate that's not personal but more around policy, around judgement, around lending, and if that means attracting the best talent in Singapore to get in, why not?" she said, as reported by Business Times.

She added that private sector professionals may approach decisions on business and growth differently from those in the public sector, which she said is important for keeping Singapore relevant.

"We need to fail to learn and move on"

According to BT, she added that staying ahead also means being willing to take risks and accept failure. "God forbid Singapore fail at anything, right? We're always the best student," she said. "But heck, in this world, we need to fail to learn and move on."

Zaobao reported that Tan cited her own push, while serving as an NMP, for a policy to allow women to freeze their eggs, as an example of how individual lawmakers can effect change. The policy was not passed at the time but was eventually approved in 2023.

"So I think if everyone can play their small part in pushing policy in a direction that benefits Singapore, Parliament can function more effectively," she said.

A 46-year-old man outraged the modesty of a 73-year-old female colleague under the guise of giving her a massage.

Singapore Chinese-language media Lianhe Zaobao (Zaobao) reported that the man, a security guard at the time of the incident, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment on Sep. 11.

According to Zaobao, the incident took place in July 2025, when the two were on the same morning shift.

Around 11am, the man decided to commit the act.

When the victim was seated, the man approached her and began to massage her back, moving down to her lower body.

The victim was terrified and outraged, and was too stunned to act.

The man then began to grope her chest on the left side and hug her, even as she tried to push his hands away.

He stopped when a vehicle arrived at the gate, requiring him to leave the guardhouse.

The woman made a police report about two weeks later. The incident was captured on CCTV footage.

The prosecution pointed out that he had premeditated the act, using the guise of a massage.

For that reason, it asked for 10 to 12 months' jail.

He pleaded guilty to one of two charges of assault and outrage of modesty. The other charge was considered by the judge during sentencing.

A 60-year-old Singaporean woman was among the victims who fell prey to a suspected pyramid scheme in China, which has seen 52 Singaporeans arrested to date.

The woman, known only by her surname Wu, said she lost S$140,000 after making an investment in an apartment complex in Fangchenggang, another city in Guangxi.

According to Shin Min Daily News, she also invested S$50,000 when she was first roped into the scheme due to her confidence in the city.

The total amount she lost is now unable to be recovered, she said.

How she became involved

Wu, a secretary, first came across what she knew as the "Nanning Project" after being told about it by a colleague.

She said the operators of the scheme created the illusion of a "secret project" with great potential.

They would interview those interested in joining, but ask them to keep a low profile.

Participants were also asked about their profession and family background, as well as whether they had friends who were keen to join.

Each person was instructed not to tell anyone about the project.

In 2019, Wu was invited to the Chinese city for an "inspection tour", where she attended classes and visited ongoing project sites.

As Nanning's cleanliness, high-end quality and portrayal as a "garden city" interested her, she decided to make a S$50,000 investment in the project.

"I initially went with the mindset of 'just checking it out',' but later I thought it looked good and it wouldn't hurt to invest," she told Shin Min.

According to her, she was given the option of investing S$30,000 or S$50,000, but went with the latter as it allowed her to buy property there.

During a visit to a real estate project site, she paid about S$140,000 in full to purchase an apartment unit.

Considering that the price was lower than that of a HDB flat in Singapore, and that Nanning was not far from home, she thought of buying the unit for short stays after she retires.

Roped others in

Wu added that as she firmly believed in the project's high returns, she became an "upline" participant, or a participant on the higher tier of the pyramid scheme.

She was responsible for the food and lodging of "downline" participants and would receive a commission if she was able to recruit others.

Wu successfully roped a friend into the scheme, believing that it would help her situation as the latter did not have a high income.

"I never expected it to be a scam, and I really regret it!" she said.

Those above her in the pyramid, or "higher upline", would organise groups to Nanning every month and could sign up to bring "potential downlines" along.

There was a proper operating procedure, Wu said.

Participants on these trips would hand their passports to those in charge, who would then help to open local bank accounts and obtain local phone numbers.

Realised something was wrong

Wu had initially planned to visit Nanning again in 2020 to inspect the progress of the project, but was prevented by the pandemic.

In the meantime, she was unable to contact the real estate agent that she had worked with.

She soon realised something was amiss and stopped recruiting people.

Later, she found out that the project had changed developers and came to believe that her money was gone.

Another victim borrowed S$30,000 from relatives

Another victim told Shin Min that she borrowed S$30,000 from overseas relatives to invest in the scheme.

The 48-year-old said she came across the project while travelling to Nanning with friends in 2019, and saw that it was promoted under the government's name.

As a friend had already purchased property there, she was tempted and thought that the city had high development potential for her to run a small business.

However, the friend told her that she would need to join the project before being able to do business in the city.

"I really believed it at the time. After returning to Singapore, I couldn’t sleep at night and kept thinking about the Nanning project," the woman said.

As she only had S$8,000 in her bank, she borrowed the remaining sum from relatives abroad without telling her family.

She eventually raised S$30,000 and remitted the money to China.

Later, she travelled to Nanning with a friend and a "higher upline" to look at properties, but grew suspicious when the latter acted dubiously during an unexpected police investigation.

Upon her return to Singapore, the victim cut off contact with friends and other individuals involved in the scheme and changed her number.

She has not dared to tell her family about the incident to date out of guilt.

"Eating and drinking while being brainwashed"

Singaporean life coach Xie Mingyao, 50, said he was invited to give a lecture in Nanning in 2017, but realised it was a scam after arriving.

He had been invited by a friend whom he met through his business, he told Shin Min, and brought a team of eight with him.

In the Chinese city, he saw apartments, restaurants and entertainment venues run by Singaporeans.

"The process involved eating and drinking while being brainwashed," Xie said.

He grew suspicious after listening to a series of sharing sessions about investments, and asked a friend about the details of the lecture, but was informed that no lectures were being held.

According to Xie, a few people were attracted by the project, but others saw through the scam.

The group eventually did not follow through with the itinerary, and spent the rest of their trip doing actual sight-seeing.

Ng Lye Poh, the mother of the founders of Sheng Siong, passed away on Sep. 5 at the age of 91.

Lim Hock Leng, one of her sons and the managing director of Sheng Siong, was seen in a 7-minute TikTok on Sep. 8 showing the number of flower wreaths received in the funeral hall.

In the video, Lim expressed his gratitude for those who sent their condolences, saying, "My mother's karmic rewards are too great... she is Singapore's national treasure."

@paibupai47 属于她的花海#花海 ♬ 原声 - 木馨在新加坡

Shocked by sheer number of wreaths

In video, Lim was seen going through all the flower wreaths at the funeral hall.

He remarked: "Who else could have had such a great sea of flowers?"

He repeated himself several times through the course of the video.

He added that he was truly "shocked".

Ng was also referred to as the "Sheng Siong Ah Ma".

Her obituary indicated that she leaves behind nearly 100 family members, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Requested not to have wreaths sent to wake

Lim also thanked the staff for arranging the wreaths beautifully, and quipped that they would not be able to finish filming every wreath in the hall.

When asked how many wreaths there were in the hall, Lim said an assistant had informed him that they had received more than 960 of them.

He emphasised that they had already requested in the obituary for flower wreaths to not be sent to the wake, and estimated that if they had not done so, they could have ended up with more than 2,000 wreaths.

A large bouquet of white and pink flowers stood in front of Ng's casket, arranged in the shape of a heart.

According to Lim, they received wreaths from various well-wishers.

These included Members of Parliament (MPs), ministers, Mediacorp, various religious temples and organisations, and Qihua Primary School, the school that the Lim brothers attended.

The Lim brothers have shared how their mother was a huge influence on them and their business.

Veteran Hong Kong actor Simon Lui has died aged 62, Hong Kong media reported.

Lui was recognised for his roles in horror movies since the 1990s.

His wife, Chinese streaming host Ma Li, confirmed the news of his passing.

Media reports indicated he had passed away on Sep. 7, as a result of a cancer relapse following treatment.

He was in Guangzhou, China at the time.

Tributes and condolences have poured in.

He was known as the “King of Ghosts” through his work in the "Troublesome Night" ("陰陽路") series, a comedy horror anthology film series that spanned up to 20 low-budget movies released mainly between 1997 and 2003.

He starred in 13 of them.

He had also contributed as a screenwriter on select projects.

Lui kept a low profile in recent years and was based in Guangzhou.

He is survived by his wife, who is 21 years his junior, and son.

]]> 1171041 https://mothership.sg/2026/09/kinex-staycay-vouchers-shop/ 2026-09-11T18:00:49 https://mothership.sg/2026/09/kinex-staycay-vouchers-shop/

If you are looking to get more bang out of your buck while doing your weekend shopping and errands, here’s some good news.

From Sep. 7 to Nov. 8, 2026, when you hit the qualifying spend of S$60 in a single same-day receipt, you can get a S$10 Sheng Siong voucher, and even a chance to win a 3D2N staycation worth up to S$2,300.

How do I earn these rewards?

Before you begin your shopping, make sure you collect the following physical game card sporting the mall’s mascot, Kinny.

Game cards can be collected at the level two customer service counter at KINEX.

For each qualifying S$60 spend at any stores (except the supermarket), you'll get to redeem a S$10 Sheng Siong voucher and earn one stamp on a game card.

Collect four stamps, and you’ll stand a chance to win a 3D2N staycation at Dorsett Changi City Singapore hotel, worth up to S$2,300.

The S$10 Sheng Siong vouchers are limited to 1,500 redemptions and are on a first-come, first-served basis. They are limited to one redemption per shopper per day.

And while you shop your way towards a potential staycation, here are some more promotions to keep an eye out for to stretch your dollar even further.

Yugoslavia Bakery and Cafe

Looking for a unique snack to munch before or while waiting for your next activity at KINEX?

Yugoslavia Bakery and Cafe brings the authentic flavours of the Balkans right to the heart of Paya Lebar.

They are known for their unique handmade breads and traditional Balkan pies, including their signature Burek, Kifla and fragrant Pogacha.

They also offer a wholesome selection of sourdough breads, sugar-free homemade yogurt, and a variety of delicious vegan spreads.

Between Sep. 7 and Nov. 8, 2026, you’ll also get to enjoy a free Mini Assorted Yugoslavian Cookie when you purchase any coffee while dining in at the bakery, while stocks last.

Sing My Song Family Karaoke

Sing My Song Family Karaoke provides 25 rooms and a hall space for any occasion, from company team-bonding, family gatherings to a night out with friends.

The KINEX outlet is open until 2am from Sunday to Thursday and 3am on Friday, Saturday and public holiday eve, making it a great late-night hangout spot.

Plus, if you book a room for at least two hours anytime from Sep. 7 to Nov. 8, 2026, between Monday and Thursday (except public holidays and public holidays eve), you can enjoy 50 per cent off for extending the room by an hour.

BFT Paya Lebar

Tucked away in the basement of KINEX is BFT Paya Lebar, where you can go to clock your fitness goals.

At BFT Paya Lebar, you’ll find a welcoming community where you can clock your workout and work towards your fitness goals with structured training, such as conditioning classes, and dedicated coaches by your side.

Every class can be adapted to your fitness level — whether you are completely new to training or looking to challenge yourself further.

BFT Paya Lebar is currently running a promotion where four weeks of unlimited training is going for half the price at S$158 for new members, or S$39.50 per week, down from the original price of S$79 per week.

This training package includes an Evolt body composition scan and a Personal Goal Setting Session with a Coach.

Kskin

Take some time for self-care at Kskin, where its Korean skin technology will leave you feeling fresh.

For customers at Kskin’s KINEX outlet, they can enjoy an outlet-exclusive free relaxing eye treatment worth S$10 with every combo facial purchased.

The promotion is available on weekdays only, excluding public holidays.

Distinct Creative Arts

If you’ve been wanting to learn street dance, there’s no better time to start.

At Distinct Creative Arts, students can explore Hip Hop, K-Pop Dance and Open Classes that offer genres such as Popping and Litefeet.

The studio empowers dancers of all ages to build not just technical skills, but also confidence and individuality.

Sign up for a free trial and see where it takes you.

Tree Art

Find happiness through creative expression at Tree Art, which employs a tailored curriculum to teach art to children aged two to 18.

Sign up for any Tree Art course package and receive one customised Kikomanyi apparel item and a S$20 website voucher.

Free one-hour parking at KINEX

Spend S$30 in a single same-day receipt at participating stores and you’ll also be able to redeem a one-hour parking coupon, valid for weekdays and weekends.

This is limited to 600 redemptions and is similarly on a first-come, first-served basis.

With enrichment centres, fitness gyms and unique cafes housed under one roof, KINEX saves you the time and trouble of having to travel between multiple places just to check off your to-do list.

So if you’re curious about the time-limited promotions at KINEX, or potentially winning a 3D2N staycation at Dorsett Changi City Singapore, head down to KINEX anytime from now to Nov. 8.

To find out more about the ongoing promotions, you can visit the KINEX website for more details.

This branded article by Elegant Group made the writer crave burek.

U.S. chipmaker Micron will be paying its direct labour employees in Taiwan bonuses equivalent to 35 to 68 months for the fiscal year of 2026 after what it described to be an extraordinary year, Reuters reported.

The minimum cash compensation will be about NT$1.7 million (~S$68,000).

Employees that will receive the payout include operators, technicians, and shift engineers.

Entry-level engineers are slated to receive rewards averaging NT$3.4 million (~S$136,200), which includes an average of NT$2.9 million (~S$116,170) in cash compensation.

The remainder will be in equity at grant value.

The bonuses and rewards will benefit more than 60,000 employees globally.

The announcement comes after unions in Taiwan, representing about two-thirds of the local Micron workforce, signalled support among members for a strike.

According to Reuters, Micron employs about 15,000 people in Taiwan.

Thai police arrested a man who allegedly climbed into a pond and sexually abused koi fish in Bangkok.

Authorities tracked down the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Suchitchai, also known as Tong.

According to Khasod English, the incident occurred outside a home at Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 66 on Sep. 7 at around 8pm local time.

The owner of the pond identified himself as Bobby and was interviewed by Thai media.

Bobby claimed that the suspect had thrown a sex toy near the pond on the afternoon of Sep. 7.

Therefore, he adjusted his CCTV camera, making sure the pond was within range. Later that evening, the camera managed to catch the suspect in action.

Stripped naked, caught koi fish

According to Khaosod English, Suchitchai cycled to the scene and parked beside the fish pond.

He walked around the pond before he allegedly exposed his genitals and attempted to catch a fish.

At around 8:38pm, he purportedly stripped naked, climbed into the pond, and grabbed a fish.

Khaosod English reported that he used the fish to masturbate before returning it to the pond.

Bobby and his housekeeper noticed the suspect masturbating beside the pond through CCTV footage.

Suchitchai fled on his bicycle.

Bobby chased him but fell and was injured.

A police report was filed at a police station shortly after.

Sexually aroused after seeing koi swimming, did act twice

Police officers saw Suchitchai a few days later in the Siang Kong Lak Si area nearby. He attempted to flee but they gave chase, and eventually arrested him.

Suchitchai told the authorities that he had originally gone to the area with the purpose of bathing, but after seeing the koi in the pond, he became sexually aroused, Khaosod English reported.

He allegedly masturbated with the koi fish twice.

According to Suchitchai, he had committed similar acts with other fish, adding that he avoided sucker fish because of their spines; koi fish did not cause as much pain.

He also admitted to sexually abusing a female dog with puppies, years prior.

Thai police also said the suspect admitted to drug use; Suchitchai claimed he only used drugs he had found, as he did not have money to purchase them.

Owner found koi with bent bodies

Bobby said the suspect roamed the area frequently and was often seen walking past the house, occasionally pausing to bathe.

However, he started finding dead koi fish with their bodies bent unnaturally, which he initially attributed to the fish fighting among themselves or ramming into the pond.

Investigations are ongoing, and Thai authorities are reportedly weighing charges such as animal cruelty, property damage, committing an indecent act and nighttime trespassing.

Former employees of True Fitness and True Yoga expressed shock and disappointment at a staff meeting on Sep. 11 following the announcement that the company has ceased operations across their outlets.

Around 10pm on Sep. 10, staff received an email from the human resources (HR) department informing them that True Fitness and True Yoga had been placed into provisional liquidation and all outlets would be closed immediately.

They were asked to report to the company's headquarters at 8 Claymore Hill the next afternoon where the provisional liquidators would explain the next steps.

Mothership estimated around 100 people turned up at the meeting, including fitness instructors, sales, and other staff.

Some appeared resigned to the news. "When a company closes, there's nothing much we can do," one said.

However, many were still processing the sudden loss of their jobs.

"Everyone's shocked trying to absorb whatever happened," Arivinthan Rajanthran, a 33-year-old project executive, told Mothership.

He recalled that prior to the announcement, he might have heard about one or two outlets closing, but did not expect a company liquidation.

No promises for compensation

According to former employees at the meeting, the liquidators said they would try to recover as much funds as they can to pay the staff's salaries and refund members who bought packages.

Following the sudden closure, members of the fitness and yoga club reported losses of more than S$63,000 in unutilised memberships, packages, and services as of Sep. 11, according to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

As for the staff, Arivinthan said he believes he is owed salary for the 10 days he has worked so far in September, and possibly a salary in lieu of notice.

He has yet to receive any compensation or promise of one, he added. A few others shared the same.

Another former employee of True Yoga shared with Mothership the employment termination notice he received, dated Sep. 11.

It states that his employment was terminated with immediate effect.

It also advised him to submit any claims against the company, including arrears of salary, unutilised leave and notice pay online.

"On behalf of the company, we thank you for your service and wish you the best for your future endeavours," the letter read.

Disappointed

Adrian Pratab, 43, had a lot of questions he wanted to ask the HR department.

But no one from HR was apparently there, leaving him disappointed.

"There was no representative from our side of the company," he said. "It was just the side of the liquidation company."

Formerly the team leader at True Fitness' Millennia Walk outlet, he had been with the company since 2016.

"Unfortunately, the way they informed us is not very nice. Very last minute," he went on.

"We were a bit disappointed that actually they were about to close, but they didn't tell us upfront. I would have made plans earlier, and would have done things in a much better way."

He described the management's handling of the situation as "very unprofessional" and "very incompetent".

According to him, during a management meeting about a month ago, his manager asked the company directors whether there were any plans to close.

The directors allegedly replied no.

'Everything is going to be affected'

Pratab, who is Malaysian, said that his work pass in Singapore will be deactivated and made invalid soon.

Fortunately, his wife is a permanent resident (PR) here, so he believes he has the chance to get a long-term visit pass in the meantime to stay with his family.

Arivinthan was upset about the news as he believes that his life and lifestyle will have to change.

"Everything is going to be affected... So [I'm] just looking to see what's options out there to carry on working," he said.

Concerned for clients

Mani Jr., a 28-year-old former instructor at True Fitness' Funan outlet, expressed concern for "all other 200 trainers" who have been left jobless.

But to him, his greater concern was for his clients, the members at the club.

"When I woke up in the morning today, I woke up to about 50 texts [from] my clients," he shared. "They're asking, 'What happened? Are you okay?'"

He pointed out how the members trusted the trainers and the company to buy fitness sessions, and that some of them cost "really a lot".

The staff have been left to answer the clients' questions about refunds, but no one at the management has told them any information either, Mani said.

When he asked the liquidators about compensating the members, he understood from their response that the members will be "the last priority".

"There's not really a 100 per cent evidence that they might be getting it. It's more likely they would not get it," he added.

"I really feel sorry for my clients. I feel sorry for my colleagues that are jobless as well."

A lorry driver was sentenced to jail after a collision with a taxi that left the cabbie permanently disabled.

The taxi driver, Lim Boon Hu, 56, passed away two years later, though there was no indication that his death was caused by injuries related to the accident.

Irwan Bin Mohamed Ibrahim, 51, pleaded guilty on Sep. 8, 2026, to one charge of dangerous driving causing grievous hurt and one charge of violating the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act 1960.

Another charge for driving the lorry without the consent of the lorry’s owner was taken into consideration during sentencing.

He was sentenced to 23 months' jail and is also disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for eight years starting from the date of his release.

Ran red light

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Irwan was driving the lorry on Nicoll Avenue toward Esplanade Drive on May 2, 2023.

Even though the traffic light ahead had been red for about 50 seconds before he reached it, Irwan failed to conform to it and proceeded straight through the junction.

This resulted in a collision with the victim’s taxi.

Permanent disability to victim

The victim was conveyed from the accident site to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for treatment.

Based on the victim’s medical report dated Apr. 23, 2024, the victim was permanently disabled and incapacitated due to the multiple injuries sustained from the accident.

The injuries included bleeding in the brain and multiple fractures.

Court documents listed 11 different types of injuries in total.

The victim was given hospitalisation leave for 137 days from May 2 to Sep. 15, 2023.

He was later discharged to a long-term care facility.

A medical report dated Sep. 15, 2023, stated that the victim "never fully regained sufficient consciousness to meaningfully interact with his surrounding environment or people".

He was "fully bedbound and totally dependent on others" for completing his daily activities, court documents stated.

The taxi driver later died on Jun. 14, 2025, but there was no indication that his death was caused by accident-related injuries.