HSBC is set to hire more than 100 AI specialists and 100 wealth managers in Singapore, as the bank launches a new Global AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the country in the second half of 2026.

What the centre will focus on

According to HSBC's press release, the CoE will initially focus on three areas: personalising customer wealth management conversations, introducing agentic treasury solutions, and expanding AI-enabled digital payments.

HSBC said it will recruit talent across natural language processing, data science, AI governance and human-centred design, and plans to work with educational institutions and government bodies in Singapore.

The new hires will work alongside David Rice, HSBC's Chief AI Officer.

Also hiring 100 wealth managers

Beyond AI, HSBC is also looking to grow its local wealth management operation by adding 100 relationship managers, according to Reuters.

HSBC's Group CEO said in May that AI would both eliminate and create certain jobs in the financial industry, and that the bank was retraining its workforce to adapt, Reuters reported.

While Singapore must not change its Constitution on a whim, neither should it treat it as an immutable document forever cast in stone, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

"Just like other laws, the Constitution needs to be updated from time to time as society develops and the world changes," he added.

He highlighted several major Constitutional changes Singapore has enacted to "remedy significant vulnerabilities in our legal framework".

They include creating group representation constituencies (GRCs) to ensure multiracial representation in Parliament, and schemes to guarantee opposition voices and non-political civil society representation in Parliament.

SM Lee was speaking at the launch of the book series "25 Years of Legal Reform in Singapore: Innovations in Policy and Law (2000–2025)" by the Ministry of Law on Jul. 28.

The four-volume series chronicles Singapore's legal reform journey over the last 25 years.

Through perspectives from government policymakers, judges, legal practitioners, and more, the series sheds light on the policy thinking and societal considerations behind key legislative and legal reforms during this period.

A continuous undertaking

SM Lee pointed out that the challenges Singapore faces today are very different from those the pioneers faced when the country's modern legal system was introduced 200 years ago.

These changes include technological advances, evolving social norms, and different expectations over governance and rights.

Singapore's approach to governance is to ensure its legal system responds to changes.

"We have never treated law reform as an occasional, one-off exercise. It is a continuous undertaking," SM Lee said.

"Each generation must review the system it has inherited, decide what remains fit for purpose, update or repeal those parts which are outdated, and design and pass new laws to deal with new circumstances."

He went on to discuss how laws should serve society's needs: they must address national imperatives, respond to new challenges, respond quickly in times of crisis, and respond to social change.

Addressing national imperatives

Singapore has used the law to address enduring national imperatives, particularly social cohesion.

SM Lee detailed how the country implemented policies to foster social mixing, build common spaces, and forge a national identity in response to the communal riots of the 1950s and 1960s.

In 2025, Parliament passed the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act to counter new and emerging threats to social cohesion on the internet.

SM Lee highlighted that since the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act came into force in 1992, no restraining order has had to be issued.

"This is not because the law was not needed, but because its presence encouraged restraint, dialogue, and responsible conduct among religious groups," he said.

He noted that laws cannot compel people to trust one another or make friends across different groups — such work must be done by Singaporeans themselves, supported by initiatives.

"But laws can set boundaries, deter harmful conduct, and create the conditions for harmony," he said.

Responding to new challenges

Singapore has also had to develop new legal tools to respond to new challenges in the digital age.

SM Lee brought up the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA), and the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act as recent measures enacted to tackle misinformation, foreign interference, scams, online harassment, and other forms of digital harm.

As today’s threats have changed greatly, "our laws must be updated, in order to remain fit for purpose", he said.

Responding quickly in times of crisis

While legislation usually requires extensive and deliberate study, consultation and debate, "crises do not wait for this normal stately pace of legislation", SM Lee stressed.

"In such moments, governments must respond swiftly while remaining anchored in the rule of law," he said.

For example, during the Covid pandemic, the Singapore government worked quickly to put together and pass the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 to address urgent issues of the pandemic, and amended the Act eight times as new challenges emerged.

"What is noteworthy is not merely the speed of the response, but that all this was done through established constitutional and parliamentary processes," SM Lee highlighted.

Responding to social change

Apart from technological change and crises, SM Lee believes Singapore's laws must also react to changing societal values, identity, and norms.

Such reforms are often among the most challenging to implement, he noted, as they may involve deep personal convictions that may differ between groups.

"In these circumstances, the task of government is not simply to decide whether to change any laws," he said. "It must also manage changes in a way that respects differing viewpoints, maintains social cohesion, and preserves trust."

He used the 2022 repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code as an example of how the Singapore government responded to the growing acceptance among Singaporeans that "private consensual conduct between adults should not be criminalised".

It engaged different groups of society to understand concerns, identify common ground, and seek a path forward that Singaporeans could broadly accept.

Then, in addition to repealing Section 377A, the Constitution was also amended "to affirm Parliament’s authority to define, regulate, and support the institution of marriage".

SM Lee said that the response in this case exemplifies how the Singapore government did not treat dissent as something to be quelled, but "managed it constructively" and accommodated opposing concerns.

Adapting the law to new realities

SM Lee expressed confidence in Singapore's ability to meet new challenges of the future.

This confidence comes not because the government possesses all the solutions, but because Singapore has shown its ability to "adapt thoughtfully and pragmatically to changing circumstances", he said.

He believes the next chapter of Singapore’s legal story is not about preserving what the country has inherited, but about building upon the foundations to keep its laws relevant.

"Each generation must strengthen the legal system it inherits, and adapt it to new realities, and pass it on, updated and improved, to the next generation."

Ever since 38-year-old Rebecca Ng can remember, she has been teased and called names because of one part of her body — her breasts.

They were a constant source of frustration for her. Apart from the jokes, they got in the way of simple daily activities, like running or playing sports.

The discomfort only worsened after she became a mother. While breastfeeding, her breasts grew even larger, going from a D to an E-cup.

But undergoing breast reduction surgery granted her a "new lease of life", she said.

She tells Mothership how she decided to go ahead with the procedure — and how her "life changed completely."

The pains of having a bigger bust

Ng shared that her cup size increased rapidly from a B to a D in her mid-teens, when she was in secondary school.

"One unfortunate thing about having big breasts was the name-calling. They had nicknames for me in Hokkien, such as 'big-breasted girl'," she said.

"I quickly learned to laugh along with the jokes and not let the remarks get to me because I figured out that if I protested or resisted too much, the jokes would probably get worse."

Deep down, however, the comments affected her and made her wish she had smaller breasts.

Another challenge was that her larger bust made it difficult to participate in sports, particularly after giving birth.

"Simple things like running felt impossible, and I rarely felt comfortable doing high-impact activities because my breasts always seemed to be in the way," she said.

Rather than deal with the discomfort and frustration, Ng simply stopped taking part in such activities.

Chronic pain

When she started suffering from chronic pain in her neck, shoulders, and back, she did not realise that the weight of her breasts was the underlying cause.

The signs were there, however.

While breastfeeding, her bra size had increased to a 36E.

But she did not make the connection between her symptoms and her breasts, instead seeking pain relief from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners.

It was only after she began Googling her symptoms out of curiosity that she realised her breast size could be the cause of her pain.

Even then, she had no one to discuss her concerns with or refer her to a plastic surgeon.

The turning point

Despite diet and exercise, nothing resolved the pain or made her chest smaller.

In 2024, after her second child had finished breastfeeding, Ng noticed that the sagging and drooping of her breasts — known medically as breast ptosis — had become severe.

That was when she decided it was time for more drastic action.

Ng consulted Dr Lee Hanjing of Argent Plastic Surgery at Mount Alvernia Hospital.

She had met Lee once, when accompanying a friend to her clinic. After setting up a meeting for herself, they "hit it off straight away".

It was this chemistry that gave her the confidence to proceed with surgery, she added.

After assessing her condition, Lee confirmed that a substantial breast reduction would help alleviate the chronic neck and back pain that had been affecting her for so many years.

In the end, around 700g to 800g of breast tissue was removed — roughly 350g to 400g from each breast.

As the procedure was deemed medically necessary, insurance covered most of the cost, making the decision much easier.

Reservations about the surgery

When Ng's family found out about her plans, they were more nervous than she was.

The most supportive person was her husband, who had known about her wish to undergo breast reduction surgery for many years.

As for Ng, she said she felt calm throughout the process.

She said she knew it was the right decision for her.

Post-surgery

Ng underwent the surgery in December 2024, a little under two years ago.

The first two weeks of recovery, she recalls, were "uncomfortable".

"The dressings were sticky and awkward, and I had to wear a surgical undergarment that was really tight around my breasts. At around week three post-surgery, the scars got quite itchy, which made me briefly wonder why I was putting myself through it," she said.

Despite the discomfort, she said she noticed the physical benefits almost immediately.

"When I woke up from surgery, I was so relieved to find that the weight on my chest was no longer there," she shared.

By the one-month mark, the improvements became even more apparent.

She was finally able to wear pretty lingerie and clothes that fit her body well.

In fact, about three weeks after surgery, she went on a shopping spree in Guangzhou, China, and thoroughly enjoyed trying on clothes that complemented her figure.

Life changed completely

"My life has changed completely," Ng said.

"I feel amazing, like I got a new lease of life, and my body is finally where I have always wanted it to be."

Her bra size went from a 36E to a 34C, while the number of activities she could comfortably enjoy increased dramatically.

These include running, golfing, Pilates and taekwondo, to name a few.

Ng's newfound confidence was evident. She carried herself differently, and even started receiving invitations to speak at work.

"I have not regretted the decision for a single moment. If anything, my only regret is that I did not do it sooner," said Ng, who works in insurance.

Perceptions about breast reduction surgery

According to Ng's doctor, Lee, discussions surrounding breast health and physical discomfort can carry a "layer of private hesitation" in Singapore.

"Many women cope silently, trying to manage the physical strain through structural undergarments or lifestyle adjustments rather than seeking out a specialist medical evaluation," she said.

As many individuals do not formally step forward or recognise their pain as a clinical issue, local data on women facing such issues remains scarce, she added.

However, Lee said there has been a "steady flow" of patients seeking treatment, suggesting many women continue to live with the daily physical burden of larger-sized breasts.

Ng believes many women hesitate to undergo breast reduction surgery because of the stigma that it is a cosmetic or vanity procedure.

But for women who are considering breast reduction surgery, Ng has one piece of advice:

“Don’t overthink it. If this is the right surgery for you, just do it.”

The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) will be extending the validity periods for all property agency licences and property agent registrations from one year to three years.

To uphold industry professionalism under the extended registration period, a new Currency Requirement (CR) for property agents will be introduced, CEA said in a press release on Jul. 28, 2026.

Property agents must either complete at least three property transactions over their three-year registration period, or pass a Refresher Examination, to be eligible for registration renewal for another three years.

CEA shared that they have conducted an industry review together with the Ministry of National Development (MND) to guide the industry towards “greater efficiency and sustainability”.

They have since come up with three measures to be implemented in the near-term, with an additional eight being studied for longer-term implementation.

The council also plans to collect commission data from property agencies in the near term.

Senior Minister of State for National Development & Transport Sun Xueling announced the changes at the Singapore Estate Agents Conference, organised by the Singapore Institute of Estate Agents (SIEA), on Jul. 28, 2026.

Three in four consumers surveyed in CEA’s 2024 Public Perception Survey expected their property agents to complete at least one property transaction per year, Sun shared.

However, about 40 per cent of property agents do not meet this expectation today, she said, giving context on the need to raise industry standards.

Licence and registration validity periods extended

In consultation with the industry, the validity period for property agency licences and property agent registrations will be extended from one year to three years from Jan. 1, 2027.

This will reduce administrative workload in having to do yearly renewals as part of our pro-enterprise efforts, Sun said.

The upcoming licensing and registration renewal exercise for existing property agencies and property agents at the end of 2026 will kickstart the first three-year cycle, which will run from Jan. 1, 2027 to Dec. 31, 2029.

New property agencies and agents will be issued licences and registrations with a three-year validity period, commencing from the date they join the industry, and expiring on Dec. 31 of the third year.

CEA will continue to charge the licence and registration fees annually.

This means that property agencies and agents will not need to make a large lump sum payment at the point of renewal every three years.

Property agencies and agents will benefit from paying the application fee for renewal only once every three years, CEA said.

As at Jul. 1, 2026, there were 38,162 property agents and 1,018 property agencies in Singapore.

Currency requirement

A new Currency Requirement (CR) for property agents will also be introduced.

Under the new CR, property agents must either complete at least three property transactions over their three-year registration period, or pass a Refresher Examination, to be eligible for registration renewal for another three years.

The CR will ensure that consumers continue to receive “professional and up-to-date advice” when making important property decisions, Sun said.

With the new CR, all property agents who have not completed at least three transactions by the end of the three-year cycle are eligible to sit for the Refresher Examination and will be guaranteed a seat for the Refresher Examination.

The types of transactions recognised for the CR include: HDB resale and rental transactions, private residential sale, resale and rental transactions, commercial sale, resale and rental transactions, industrial sale, resale and rental transactions, foreign property sale transactions and en bloc transactions.

From 2023 to 2025, the median number of residential property transactions completed by each agent per year was two, a CEA spokesperson said, adding that they will begin collecting transaction records for other qualifying transaction types from Jan. 1, 2027.

The spokesperson also shared that the Refresher Examination will focus on practice-related knowledge essential for conducting estate agency work.

CEA will release more details of the Refresher Examination by the first half of 2029.

Complements annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirement

All existing annual requirements for property agents’ registration renewal will continue to apply even as the new measures are introduced.

Since Jan. 1, 2026, property agents have to complete 16 training hours per year under the annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirement to maintain their registrations.

The CR complements the CPD requirement, CEA stated.

Exemptions and waivers

There will, however, be exemptions and waivers for certain groups of agents.

New property agents who have just joined the industry will not be required to complete any transactions in their first year to allow them time to build up their skills and client base, CEA said.

They will only be required to meet the CR from their second year of registration.

This means that they will need to either complete at least two transactions over the remaining two years of their registration period, or pass the Refresher Examination, to be eligible for renewal.

Additionally, agents who are unable to meet the CR due to extenuating circumstances, such as serious medical issues or those handling complex property transactions which may take more time, may be considered for waivers on a case-by-case basis, CEA said.

A CEA spokesperson also clarified that those in management roles who do not intend to conduct estate agency work are not required to maintain their property agent registration and will hence not need to meet the CR.

Collecting commission data from property agencies

As a measure to make the industry more transparent for both consumers and property agents, Sun shared that CEA will begin collecting commission data from property agencies.

While the industry celebrates and recognises top performers today, they want prospective property agents to have a “realistic picture” of what a career in the real estate agency industry looks like, Sun said.

“We will look at the data and, in time, publish aggregated and anonymised industry-level information to help prospective property agents make better-informed career decisions,” she said.

She clarified that they are not looking to publish individual property agents’ commission figures.

A CEA spokesperson said they will collect commission data every month from property agencies starting Jan. 1, 2027.

However, CEA has not decided when to publish the data and will share more details in due course.

Further measures for transparency

Sun also shared that, to combat the prevalence of inaccurate, fake, duplicate, and unauthorised property listings, CEA has built on the work of the Alliance for Action on Accurate Property Listings and will launch a full-scale platform to verify the authenticity of online listings next year.

CEA will announce more details closer to implementation.

CEA is also studying whether to publish consumers’ ratings of their property agents on the CEA Public Register and to make it easier for consumers to access the register, Sun said.

Currently, the public can check whether a person is a registered salesperson or check whether a real estate agent is a licensed estate agent through the register.

Sun also said they are looking to require property agents and their clients to sign an Estate Agency Agreement and disclose who the agents are collecting commission from before commencing work.

“A signed agreement will give greater clarity to all parties and prevent downstream disputes,” she said.

In addition, CEA plans to conduct a survey of property agents on their property agencies to better understand how their property agencies support agents, Sun shared.

To empower consumers with more choice, Sun said they are looking into making HDB’s Resale Flat Listing the default listing platform for HDB resale flats as well as whether consumers can list their own properties directly on property portals.

Sun said they are actively studying the eight longer-term measures and will consult the industry soon.

There were 441 cases of suicides in Singapore in 2024, an increase of 1.6 per cent from 2023, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) said in a Jul. 28 press release.

While suicide deaths showed a general decline across all other age groups, suicides among adults aged 30 to 39 rose from 66 in the previous year to 99 in 2024, a 50 per cent increase.

Findings

Other key findings were also gleaned from the numbers.

The suicide death rate is 8.23 per 100,000 Singaporean residents, an increase of 0.04.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst adults aged 30 to 39.

In addition, for the seventh consecutive year, suicide is the leading cause of death amongst youths aged 10 to 29.

Among the 441 suicide deaths, 65.8 per cent are male, with 290 suicide deaths.

According to provisional data, Singapore reported a total of 256 suicide deaths in 2025.

However, the final actual number may vary substantially from the provisional number.

For 2024, the provisional figure was 314.

The final tally of 441 suicides was a 40.4 per cent increase from the provisional figure.

Complex pressures

Age and gender differences impact suicide attempts and suicide deaths.

SOS also observed through its 24-hour crisis helplines that adults aged 30 to 39 often face complex pressures and psychosocial stressors related to family, employment, and social isolation.

Meanwhile, youths aged 10 to 29 struggle with stressors related to family, education and interpersonal relationships.

For older persons aged 60 and above, key issues remain medical issues and social isolation, as they experience a decline in physical health, mobility and social connections.

While males account for the majority of suicide deaths in 2024, this trend was particularly pronounced among adults aged 60 and above, where there were three times the number of males lost to death by suicide than females.

Males more isolated, less likely to seek help

Existing research also suggests that males are more socially isolated, more reserved in seeking help when experiencing emotional distress, and are more likely to use highly lethal means in suicide attempts.

In contrast, females accounted for approximately one-third of suicide deaths.

Some 62.5 per cent of suicide-related calls and texts received by SOS in 2024 were from female service users.

This pointed to higher rates of women’s help-seeking behaviours related to pressures of differing societal roles and norms such as caregiving and gender-based violence.

“These should not just be numbers. Behind each one is a parent who still lies awake wondering what they missed, a friend who wishes they had called back," said Jared Ng, medical director, psychiatrist, and senior consultant at Connections MindHealth.

"The moments that matter most are rarely dramatic. They are small. Someone noticing a friend has gone quiet, and asking again, even when the answer was ‘I’m fine’," he explained.

Ng added that prevention happens "in the ordinary moments between people who care enough to ask twice".

Efforts

According to SOS, suicide is a complex mental health issue influenced by multiple factors.

Those factors include social determinants, such as unemployment, lower educational outcomes, income equality, housing insecurity, adverse childhood experiences, exposure to violence, physical and mental disabilities, and social isolation.

Every 13 hours, Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) de-escalates and prevents one person from risk of suicide through crisis intervention.

Over the past year, SOS responded to more than 55,000 calls and chats via its 24-hour hotline and CareText services.

Beyond its crisis helplines, SOS also provided in-person counselling services and support groups to more than 1,200 individuals experiencing emotional crisis.

SOS also seeks to strengthen early intervention through prevention efforts.

The Be A Samaritan (BAS) programme aims to equip more individuals to recognise distress early, start conversations, and guide those in need towards appropriate support.

In the past financial year, SOS has also trained over 2,000 individuals across workplaces, schools, and communities, with more than 90 per cent reporting increased literacy and confidence in responding to conversations around suicide.

SOS is also developing partnerships with several organisations to customise the BAS programme to specific needs and widen the safety nets in the community.

Recognising that suicide prevention is a shared responsibility, SOS will convene its flagship suicide prevention symposium, SONDER: Where Resilience Meets Collective Hope, on Sep. 10 in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day.

Local and international experts, practitioners, and community leaders will be brought together for the symposium.

Emerging trends, evidence-informed practices, and collaborative approaches to strengthen suicide prevention across Singapore and the region will be explored.

Helplines

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

• National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)
• National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)
• SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767
• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
• Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)
• Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)
• HOME (migrant worker): +65 6341 5535 (WhatsApp/ Viber/ SMS)

The Michelin Guide Singapore has released its 2026 Bib Gourmand Selection on Jul. 28.

Compared to Michelin Stars, which usually looks at fine dining restaurants and higher price points (with some hawker exceptions made), the Bib Gourmand category focuses on relaxed, informal settings, ranging from street stalls to casual eateries.

According to the Michelin Guide, the latter recognises establishments that offer "high-quality food at exceptional value".

This year's edition—the 10th—consists of 97 establishments.

This includes 10 new additions, and 17 that have managed to retain their Bib Gourmand distinction across all 10 editions.

The 2026 selection is also up from 89 establishments recognised in 2025.

"The steady growth of Singapore’s Bib Gourmand selection reflects our inspectors’ continued discovery of the city’s wealth of good food, from longstanding favourites to new establishments," said Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the Michelin Guide.

The list comes ahead of the full Michelin Guide Singapore announcement, including the Michelin Stars and Special Awards, set for Aug. 4, 2026.

10 new eateries

10 local eateries have made the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for the very first time in 2026:

• Boon Keng Road Fish Head Bee Hoon: Blk 416, Bedok North Avenue 2, #01-53, Singapore 460416

• Hup Kee Fried Oyster Omelette: Newton Food Centre, #01-73, Singapore 229495

• Jia Xiang: Redhill Market, 85 Redhill Lane, #01-35,  Singapore 150085

• King of Laksa: Stall S3, 118 Aljunied Avenue 2, #02-100, Singapore 380118

• Rajarani Thosai: Tampines Round Market & Food Centre, #01-33, Singapore 521137

• Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup: Kaki Bukit 511 Market & Food Centre, #01-31/32, Singapore 460511

• Tian Nan Xing Minced Pork Noodle: Kaki Bukit 511 Market & Food Centre, #01-10, Singapore 460511

• Xiangyee: 101 Killiney Rd, Singapore 239544

• Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu: Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, #02-87/88, Singapore 050335

• Yi Pin Wei Braised Duck Kway Chap: 137 Tampines St. 11, #01-40, Singapore 521137

The 97 eateries in total

Foodies, or anyone on the hunt for a good meal, can look forward to exploring the 97 Michelin-recognised establishments across Singapore:

It never dawned on Yun Hann and Benjamin that their baby could have a genetic disorder.

Baby Matthias is nine months old. He's the couple's third child; their two other children, aged four and six, are completely healthy.

But at seven months, Matthias' legs started to get increasingly "floppy" when they carried him in a standing position. At first, they dismissed it as an effect of his size and personality.

"I thought that maybe he's just a bit too chunky," Benjamin, 36, said. "You know, the gravitational pull is too strong."

Yun Hann, 34, added: "We always felt that maybe every child just develops differently. Maybe he's just a bit more chill...he wanted to be the baby in the family."

But the next month, he began to regress even further.

That was when they realised that something was not right.

The biggest red flag

At seven months, the couple noticed that their baby struggled to prop himself up on his elbows while lying on his stomach — a move he could do easily just a month before.

By the eighth month, he could not do it at all.

"That was the biggest red flag," Yun Hann said.

Then, the idea that her son could have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) popped up in the back of Yun Hann's mind.

A rare genetic disease, SMA destroys motor neurons and weakens muscles.

The couple had read Mothership's previous reports on babies Ginny and Faziq, both of whom were diagnosed with SMA. These two babies' symptoms matched what they were seeing in Matthias, they thought.

When they brought Matthias to get tested at a hospital on Jul. 13, their worst fears were confirmed. He was diagnosed with Type 2 SMA.

As soon as possible

As in the cases of Ginny and Faziq, the doctors told the couple that their son urgently needed Zolgensma.

It's a one-time gene therapy that replaces the faulty gene with a new, working copy, and has been shown to stop the disease progression with just one dose.

But it's priced at S$2.4 million, and it is unsubsidised by the government.

The doctors recommended that Matthias receive the treatment before he turns 12 months old.

The longer the delay, the greater the damage to their son's neurons — an effect that is likely irreversible.

"Every day that he doesn't have the gene therapy is a day of neurons lost," Yun Hann said.

Currently, Baby Matthias is on a regimen of physiotherapy and Risdiplam, a government-subsidised oral medication that helps slow the progression of the disease.

But it will not stop it entirely.

The hope, his parents said, is for their son to get Zolgensma as soon as possible so he can grow well and have a good future.

Hanging on

Both Yun Hann and Benjamin are long-time nurses — she in the National Centre for Infectious Disease, he in Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

But neither of them had ever had a patient with SMA before, and nothing prepared them for what it is like to care for their own baby with SMA.

Both were shaken to see their baby struggle with simple mobility skills that they had "taken for granted".

The tests at the hospital, and wearing a knee gaiter at physiotherapy, also caused him some discomfort and stress, his parents said.

But thankfully, Matthias has largely maintained his sunny personality throughout treatment so far.

He still finds joy in simple things like splashing water in the bathtub, where he has more mobility.

"He's still the most calm, the most placid, the most gentle and smiley baby," Yun Hann said.

"He's very sociable. He's charming people everywhere we go, whether it's the physiotherapists or the doctors and nurses that are taking care of him."

It takes a village

As for the toll on themselves, Benjamin confessed that it has been tiring and stressful.

But he quickly went on to highlight the support he and Yun Hann have been "very blessed" to receive.

Both of them have continued to work full-time, taking leave only on days they need to bring Matthias to the hospital for therapy.

Their parents help out with Matthias's physiotherapy in the daytime, and also help ferry them to medical appointments.

Yun Hann choked up as she talked about the compassion their bosses, friends, and family members have shown.

"Like the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child," Benjamin added.

The road ahead

"I think the road ahead is going to be really long," Yun Hann said.

The gene therapy is the first step; afterwards, there will still be longer-term physiotherapy and care to help Baby Matthias grow as well as he can.

They also have their other young children to think of.

"We both definitely will still need to work in order to support all the kids," she said.

While the hospital bills are still being finalised, the other costs are already piling up — his physiotherapy brace, his daily Risdiplam medication, and so on.

But most eye-watering figure, of course, is the S$2.4 million Zolgensma he needs.

Having donated to Ginny and Faziq's fundraisers previously, they knew the amount would be "astronomical".

"For average salary workers like us, I think it's almost impossible," Benjamin said. "Even if I sell our house, I don't eat, I don't pay any bills, I don't think I will be able to save S$2.4 million within the next five to eight years."

That's why they have started an online fundraiser, hoping to get donations from the public.

The fear of fatigue

Given the media attention on Ginny and Faziq's stories, the doctors warned them that there might be some fatigue about SMA babies, making it possibly tough to raise funds.

"Our doctors [tried to] manage our expectations because this will be the third baby with SMA this year," Yun Hann said.

"But we are extremely heartened by the outpouring of love and prayers and support and messages... We try to read every single one."

As of the time of writing, they have raised over S$904,000, reaching 37 per cent of their goal.

Fellow parents of SMA babies have also reached out to share their stories, giving them comfort to know how similar their journeys are.

"The community has really rallied [around] and supported us," she said. "It's a club that nobody wants to join, but unfortunately, we are in in this club."

If you'd like to donate and help Matthias, you can do so here.

Related story

Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Secretary General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Desmond Tan is now a grandfather.

Tan, who is also a Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, shared the good news in a Facebook post on Jul. 27, revealing that his grandson, Elijah, was born a day earlier on Jul. 26.

"Full circle fatherhood"

According to the 55-year-old, the arrival of his grandson marked a special family coincidence.

"28 years ago, I became a father, one year after our wedding. Yesterday, my son became a father too.

The same age. One year after his wedding. In the same month. And at the very same hospital."

He added that holding Elijah for the first time with his wife brought them back to the days when they held their own children in their arms.

"It was a moment filled with joy, gratitude and hope for the future," he recalled.

Tan congratulated his son and daughter-in-law, welcoming them to what he described as "the wonderful journey of parenthood".

"We love you both dearly, and are confident you guys are going to be amazing parents," he wrote.

"Welcome to the world, Elijah. You are loved beyond measure, and your story is already part of a beautiful family tradition."

The government has announced changes to the Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) regime to better support licensed housing developers taking on large-scale en bloc redevelopments, with effect from Jul. 29, 2026.

The changes were announced in a joint press release by the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of National Development on Jul. 28.

How the current system works

Licensed housing developers purchasing residential land are currently subject to 40 per cent ABSD.

Of this, 5 per cent is non-remittable, while the remaining 35 per cent can be remitted but only if developers meet three timelines: starting construction within two years, completing the development within five years, and selling all units within five years of acquiring the site.

What is changing

Under the revised framework, large en bloc sites are now split into two categories based on how many residential units they yield upon redevelopment.

Large sites, classified as Category 1A, cover projects yielding between 700 and 1,399 residential units. Their completion and sale timelines will be extended to six years, up from 5.5 years.

Mega sites, classified as Category 1B, cover projects yielding 1,400 units or more. These will get seven years to complete and sell, up from 5.5 years.

However, developers of mega sites must sell at least 50 per cent of residential units by the end of six years or face the full ABSD clawback on the 35 per cent remittable component with interest.

Both categories require the redevelopment to yield at least 1.5 times the number of residential units in the existing development.

The commencement timeline of 2.5 years remains unchanged for both categories.

Extra six months for complex projects

In Mar. 2025, the government introduced the ABSD Remission Timeline Extension Framework for Complex Projects, which allows qualifying developers to apply for a six-month extension to their ABSD remission timelines, or 12 months if they qualify under more than one category.

Under today's changes, projects that qualify under more than one category of the ABSD Remission Timeline Extension Framework for Complex Projects will receive an additional six-month extension on top of the ABSD remission timelines, bringing the total to 6.5 years completion and sale timeline for Large Sites, and 7.5 years for Mega Sites.

The commencement timeline for such sites would be three years.

Mega Sites under this additional extension must still sell at least 50 per cent of units by the end of year six.

Why the change

The government said the revisions are aimed at supporting housing developers in undertaking large-scale redevelopments, which can help rejuvenate older estates and increase housing supply to meet ongoing demand.

For more details, visit the IRAS website.

The restaurant which allegedly prepared and cooked marine life foraged by a group from the shores of Changi has received numerous one-star reviews on Google Maps after the issue gained attention online.

The incident has also drawn a response from Pasir Ris-Changi GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Valerie Lee, who characterised the incident as "deplorable".

Numerous one-star reviews

In the Facebook group Complaint Singapore, one user shared on Jul. 13 screenshots and a video of a group of individuals gathering and foraging in an intertidal area with pails in hand.

The user also included screenshots from the video showing the signage of the restaurant that was allegedly involved in preparing the foraged marine life for consumption.

The restaurant appears to be Havelock Palace, located at 2 Havelock Road, near Chinatown.

In the now-deleted video which was first posted to Chinese social media platform Douyin, a narrator could be heard suggesting that there was more beyond just foraging marine life from the intertidal area.

The second part involved bringing the harvests overnight to the restaurant for them to be prepared fresh.

The man behind the camera could then be heard discussing with a chef about how the numerous marine creatures laid out on the table, such as clams and crabs, could be prepared.

Checks on Google Maps showed that the first handful of one-star reviews started appearing around four days ago.

Most of the one-star reviewers expressed their disapproval at the restaurant's apparent involvement in the incident, with some pointing out the restaurant's alleged "unethical practices".

Pasir Ris-Changi GRC MP speaks out

Pasir Ris-Changi GRC MP Valerie Lee, who is in charge of the Changi division, wrote in a Facebook post that she was "extremely disappointed" after watching the video.

Characterising the behaviour as "deplorable", Lee commented that it was not about the legality of it, but about a lack of respect.

"It feels like a complete lack of respect — for the animals, for these fragile ecosystems, and even for the traditions of ancient foragers, who understood that you take only what you need so the shore can continue to provide," she wrote.

She also tagged the National Parks Board (NParks) in her post and expressed her hope that the agency would step up patrols at intertidal habitats.

"If you see people treating our intertidal life like it's a free buffet, don't be afraid to call it out respectfully. We all have a part to play in looking after these places."

Karenne Tun, Group Director at the NParks National Biodiversity Centre, previously said in response to Mothership's queries that NParks is aware of a social media post on intertidal foraging and "seeks the understanding of the public to protect our intertidal biodiversity".

According to Tun, NParks restricts the collection of animals from intertidal zones under its jurisdiction.

These zones include Sisters' Islands Marine Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Labrador Nature Reserve's rocky shore and Chek Jawa Wetlands.

For intertidal areas outside its jurisdiction, Tun says it focuses on public education on best practices and how visitors can interact responsibly with marine wildlife.

Restaurant allegedly threatened legal action

In a Jul. 26 video, local science content creator Biogirl MJ, who is the host of education platform Just Keep Thinking, commented on the incident, sharing that she had also left a review on the restaurant's Google Maps listing.

She noted that the restaurant had apparently responded to the reviews, claiming that the customer in the video had purportedly said the seafood featured was purchased and placed in the sea for filming.

The restaurant also threatened legal action.

According to Biogirl MJ, she responded by sharing a link to the video which she said showed that the marine life was indeed foraged from the coastal area.

She said that the legal threat "disappeared" after her response.

Biogirl MJ noted that the group of foragers were not "doing so out of genuine sustenance". Instead, "many of these viral gan hai participants are doing it purely for entertainment".

SFA advisory against eating wild-harvested shellfish

According to an advisory on the website of  Singapore Food Agency (SFA), bivalve molluscs readily accumulate bacteria, viruses and toxins in their bodies as they eat by taking in and filtering water.

While hazards such as bacteria, viruses and parasites can be removed via thorough cooking, others such as marine biotoxins and chemicals cannot.

As such, SFA advises against harvesting and consuming shellfish from the wild, which may contain biotoxins.

Mothership has reached out to SFA for comment.