A 47-year-old woman died after being struck by a metal frame knocked down by a car that had crashed into a food court in Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia.

She has been identified as Xiao Shixiang, according to Sin Chew Daily.

The crash happened at around 1:13am on Aug. 22 at a food court in Bandar Mahkota Cheras. A 35-year-old man drove his car into the dining area, then attempted to flee.

Xiao is believed to have tried to stop the car from leaving, and was struck by the metal frame it had knocked over.

She suffered severe head injuries and later died.

"She had already got into the car"

A friend posted a tribute on Facebook, along with several photos of the two of them and a copy of the obituary.

Xiao was described as kind and fiercely loyal to her friends, and that she had already got into a car and was ready to leave when the crash happened, but got out again to check on others.

According to China Press, the friend said she had seen Xiao just half an hour before the crash. Xiao had urged her to head home, and the two said goodbye to each other.

She wrote that she could not understand how a simple goodbye had turned out to be their last, and that she never imagined Xiao would be gone 30 minutes later.

The trip they had planned

The two had arranged to go to Thailand together. They were also supposed to watch a movie together.

She wrote: "My sister, we said we would go to Thailand together, said we would watch a movie together today, said that in 50 years we would travel together with walking sticks. How could you not wait?"

She added: “May you rest in peace. I will always remember you, you are so lovely and kind and so good to me."

A Bangladeshi model and actress was found dead at her home in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 15, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Allegedly argued with her boyfriend

Bhatara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mazharul Islam told local news outlet The Daily Star that police recovered the body of 26-year-old Ridhika Ridhi hanging from a ceiling fan around 6am that day.

According to the case statement, Ridhika was at her flat with two of her friends on the night of Aug. 14, The Business Standard reported.

At about 11pm, she had an argument over the phone with her boyfriend, Hasibur Rahman.

She subsequently asked her friends to sleep in the drawing room.

At about 5:30am, Hasibur arrived at the flat and knocked on the door.

After her friends opened it, he allegedly told them that Ridhi had hanged herself following their argument.

Her friends then entered the room and found her hanging from the ceiling fan with a scarf around her neck.

They took her to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.

Accused of abetting suicide

According to The Business Standard, investigators found evidence on her mobile phone indicating that she had been on a video call with Hasibur shortly before her death, according to police.

Her body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Later on Aug. 15, Ridhi’s mother filed a case at Vatara Police Station, accusing Hasibur of abetting her daughter’s suicide.

Police subsequently arrested him from the Bashundhara Residential Area at about 9:30pm that day.

The investigating officer produced Hasibur before a court on Aug. 16 and sought an order for him to be remanded in jail.

The court granted the order.

In its petition, the police alleged that Hasibur had caused Ridhika mental distress through their mobile phone conversations and had provoked her to take her own life.

The petition further alleged that Ridhika, unable to tolerate the alleged abuse and provocation, died by hanging.

Police also said Hasibur confessed during preliminary questioning and admitted his involvement in the incident.

Ridhika's family alleged that she had been in a long-term relationship with Hasibur, and that he had subjected her to physical and mental abuse during their relationship.

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)
• HOME (domestic worker): +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / SMS / Call)
• SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001 01 4616 | WhatsApp: 8985 5528 (For targets of online harms)
• National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH): 1800-777-0000

A 43-year-old pet transporter in Singapore hopes to abolish the stigma that Muslims cannot touch or handle dogs.

Eiman Abd spoke about his experience starting a pet transport business in an Aug. 10 Instagram video by "petpriorityservices".

No conflict between faith and work

He told Lianhe Zaobao that as a Muslim, he balances his five daily prayers with his pet pick-up and drop-off trips.

Before and after contact with the animals, Eiman also strictly follows religious hygiene procedures.

To him, there is no conflict between faith and work as both carry responsibility.

"My faith teaches me to be patient, clean, honest, and compassionate," he said.

He added: "These are precisely the values ​​I strive to bring into my work every day. I will never let these cleaning procedures affect my dedication to animals."

"I always treat them with the utmost care, patience, and professionalism."

Professional, reliable transportation service

Eiman, who was a delivery driver before founding Pet Priority Services, saw that pet owners were too busy with work to take their pets to the vet or get groomed.

He then decided to switch careers and provide a professional and reliable transportation service, Zaobao reported.

"Logistics experience is very helpful for me in terms of route planning and security, but I can leave packages at the door, but not pets," Eiman said.

"They are living beings with their own personalities and emotions."

His passengers range from cats and dogs to rabbits and turtles, Zaobao reported.

While transporting turtles may sound funny, Eiman pointed out that it is important to make sure the temperature and environment inside the car are safe though "they won't cause trouble in the car".

Observe body language, respect safety boundaries

He noted, however, that he was not naturally good at interacting with dogs from a young age.

As such, he went through a learning phase at the beginning of his career.

Spending each day with dogs taught him to carefully observe body language, respect safety boundaries, and never force interaction, Eiman added.

Before going into the business, Eiman did his own research and went for a dog handling course.

He was told that dogs are playful and not aggressive.

"If they are aggressive, they will show it to you," he said in the Instagram video.

He recalled that a dog he once brought to a groomer was very anxious and would not move forward at the door.

Eiman told Zaobao that he did not force the dog, but soothed it in a gentle tone.

"A few weeks later, it would wag its tail excitedly and run to me as soon as it saw me. At that moment, I truly felt that animals can understand as long as you are patient."

'Be loving towards all animals'

In response to his work, Eiman said his friends and family have reacted positively, noting that he is not afraid of dogs.

He added that there are quite a few Malay Muslims in the Singapore Police Force whom he knows personally that are K9 dog trainers.

"There are actually quite a lot of people from the Malay Muslim community who [handle] dogs for their careers," Eiman said.

"It's 2026, I just want to abolish the stigma of 'Muslims cannot handle dogs'..." he added.

Eiman also urged everyone to keep an open mind and be loving towards all animals.

"Whether it's cats, dogs, or any creature out there. If you can't love them, at the very least, just don't abuse them."

A fire broke out at York Hotel along Orchard Road at around 4am on Aug. 24, with guests evacuated from the premises.

In a video posted on social media platform Xiaohongshu, several people believed to be hotel guests could be seen gathered outside the hotel entrance.

Families with children were among those seen in the video. One woman was also seen carrying a baby.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) fire engine and a Red Rhino vehicle were also spotted at the scene.

In response to Mothership's queries, SCDF said it was alerted to a fire at 21 Mount Elizabeth at around 4am.

The fire involved the contents of a kitchen on the second floor, SCDF said.

The fire was extinguished using a fire extinguisher.

One person was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, SCDF added.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the National Day Rally at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central on Aug. 23.

Speaking in Malay, Mandarin and English, he acknowledged that the world around Singapore has and continues to change fast, with traditional rules and norms being overturned.

From the Covid-19 Pandemic to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Middle East conflict, a change in the world's balance of power have been reflected in various examples over the years, he said.

In Singapore, this has resulted in rising costs of living and disruptions to households and businesses.

But the government will continue to support Singaporeans through these difficulties, PM Wong affirmed.

"A burden shared is a burden halved. We will overcome challenges together!" he said in his Malay speech.

Here's how the government plans to help:

Marriage and parenthood

A key highlight of this year's National Day Rally was more support for Singaporeans in raising families.

The changes were born out of the work done so far by the government's Interagency Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah.

The group had previously found that childcare costs and time with family were among the main challenges faced by Singaporean couples, Indranee announced on Aug. 15.

Some measures to tackle these issues are as follows:

SG Child Support package

For one, the current Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme will be replaced by a new SG Child Support Package, which will provide up to S$62,000 to every Singapore Citizen child over their growing years until age 17.

Each eligible child will receive the same level of support, regardless of birth order.

This S$62,000 will come in the form of cash, credits, grants, and top-ups.

Here's what each child will receive under the new support package:

• A S$10,000 Baby Gift will be given to each child before they turn one, disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of their birth. [Revised from Baby Bonus Cash Gift]
• A total of S$32,000 Child Credits will be given per child from age one to 16. S$2,000 in cash will be disbursed per year. [New]
• S$5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant, with up to S$5,000 in government co-matching until the end of the child's 16th year. [Revised]
• S$10,000 Post-Secondary Education Account top-up when the child turns 17. [New]

After including prevailing MediSave grants and Edusave top-ups, each Singaporean Citizen child will receive almost S$70,000 in support.

Changes to support for large families with three or more

The current Large Families Support scheme, which provides an additional S$16,000 of support to families with three or more kids through CDA grants, a S$5,000 MediSave grant and annual LifeSG credits, will be discontinued.

Large families with three or more children can continue to receive the S$5,000 MediSave grant.

Additionally, they will receive support for transport and housing. More information will be provided by the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of National Development at a later date.

The new package will be rolled out on Apr. 1, 2027.

Those born before Apr. 1, 2027, who are still receiving the Baby Bonus Cash Gift will continue to do so until Mar. 31, 2027.

Thereafter, they will receive a top-up by Apr. 30, 2027, to bring the amount of support received to S$10,000, matching the new S$10,000 Baby Gift amount.

As for the Child Credits, children turning one to 16 in 2026 will receive their 2026 Child Credits by Apr. 30, 2027.

Housing support

Further, from the February 2027 sales exercise, first-timer families with or expecting children will receive one additional ballot chance for each Singapore citizen child aged 18 and below.

This will apply to BTO or sale-of-balance flat applications.

There will also be an increase in the income ceiling for the purchase of new subsidised HDB flats, resale HDB flats on the open market the CPF Housing Grants, and when obtaining HDB housing loans for the purchase of new or resale HDB flats.

This number will increase from S$14,000 to S$16,000 for eligible families who apply for an HFE letter from Aug. 24.

Increased childcare leave provisions per working parent

Childcare leave provisions will also go up under the new measures, with the number of leaves tiered based on the number of children parents have instead of the age of their youngest child.

Here's the number of leaves each eligible working parent will receive based on the number of children they have aged 12 and below, under the new scheme:

• One child aged 12 and below: 8 days per working parent
• Two children aged 12 and below: 10 days per working parent
• Three or more children aged 12 and below: 12 days per working parent

Under the current childcare leave and extended childcare leave schemes, each working parent receives either six or two days of childcare leave, depending on the age of their youngest child.

The government will also cover the cost for all child-related leaves, including the government-paid maternity leave scheme, moving forward.

Currently, the government only covers part of such leave schemes.

More details on when the new childcare leave provisions will kick in will be announced at a later date.

Lower fees for government-supported pre-schools

Full-day childcare and infant care fees will be progressively reduced from 2028 to S$150 and S$300, respectively, by 2030.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister's Office, these fees will be "less than half" of today's fees.

Preschool subsidies will also be extended to families with Singapore citizen children regardless of the main applicant's working status.

Preserving culture

PM Wong also announced that the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) will be easing restrictions for the use of Chinese dialects in pay television and movies.

From September 2026, films with full or majority dialect content will be allowed for screening in cinemas, with no limits to the number of screenings.

This will be allowed so as long as Mandarin subtitles are shown, and a Mandarin-dubbed version of the same film is made available.

At the same time, existing restrictions for dialect content on subscription television services will be removed.

Such restrictions include allowing only one dialect art-house movie per week, and restrictions on a percentage of dialect songs on a music channel.

Mandarin will continue to be the mainstay language for free-to-air Chinese TV and radio.

Social media restrictions

The Singapore Government will also consider additional restrictions on social media platforms if existing safeguards remain inadequate, PM Wong said.

Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable as their brains are still developing, he said.

They are also more susceptible to social pressures and can be more easily hooked by features designed to keep users constantly engaged.

Currently, users generally have to be at least 13 years old to create an account on a social media platform.

However, PM Wong noted that enforcement is largely left to the platforms, which mostly rely on users to declare their own ages.

Growing bigger

The government is looking at merging several of the islands south of Jurong Island, including Semakau, Bukom, Sudong and “a few other smaller islands” into one mega Western Island.

PM Wong reflected on the history of land reclamation along Singapore’s outer islands, citing Jurong Island as an example.

“Today, Jurong Island is a global energy and chemicals hub. That investment has delivered lasting benefits for Singapore,” he explained.

The new merged island will support a “new generation of industries” and can accommodate “new power generation infrastructure”, he said.

Space will be made for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), which currently has an airstrip on Pulau Sudong.

He also reiterated plans to combine Sentosa and neighbouring Pulau Brani into “one integrated destination” as well as plans for Long Island along the East Coast.

PM Wong also announced that the government is studying the feasibility of building undersea tunnels to connect Tekong and the mainland in Singapore.

While the other outer islands, like Sentosa and the upcoming Long Island, may already enjoy seamless connection to the mainland, Tekong is “different”, he said.

PM Wong went on to note the past and present modes of transport for SAF recruits to Tekong, with recruits travelling with Ramp Powered Launches (RPLs) in the past and ferries currently.

“It will be a major undertaking. But if we can do it, it will bring our outer islands much closer to the rest of Singapore,” PM Wong commented.

“And one day, our recruits may have an even easier journey to Tekong”, he quipped.

As expected, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's 2026 National Day Rally (NDR) announced a bunch of measures aimed at tackling the fertility crisis.

You don't need to be a longtime political observer to have predicted this, after Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong dropped the bombshell during the Budget Debate that Singapore recorded its lowest-ever Total Fertility Rating (TFR) in 2025, at just 0.87.

"This is an existential challenge," said Gan, adding that "Singapore cannot afford to give up."

PM Wong announced that "every Singaporean child will receive almost $70k in direct financial support as they grow up", noting that "every child receives the same support".

The SG Child Support Package, which includes new announcements of S$62,000 in financial support for every Singaporean child, comprise Child Credits worth S$32,000 in cash, with S$2,000 disbursed annually over 16 years from the year the child turns 1 to the year the child turns 16.

There is also a gift of S$10,000 disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of a child’s birth, intended to provide more substantial support upfront with higher expenses incurred at birth and in the child’s first year.

Not just money

Now it may be tempting to play the cynic and dismiss this measure as just another example of "throwing money at the problem."

After all, financial support for children, in the form of the Baby Bonus, isn't new.

And with Singapore recording a record low number of resident births in 2025 (just 27,500), would more money really solve the problem?

But something struck me about this latest scheme, beyond the numbers, and what it represents for Singaporean children moving forward.

S$62,000 in additional direct financial support is by no means a small sum.

But what's more significant is the fact that this support is not tied to the marital status of that child's parents.

Step in the right direction

Unlike the cash component of the Baby Bonus, which is strictly off-limits to single unwed mothers, the SG Child Support Package does exactly what it says on the tin - it supports the child.

Going forward, every Singaporean child can expect that sum of money to help tide them through their early to teen years, regardless of their family circumstances.

This is a fundamental shift in how the government is supporting families.

To my mind, this is only right and proper.

After all, a child cannot control the marital status of their parents.

Importantly, the government is now providing more sustained support for parents throughout the journey of raising their children, rather than the support being concentrated around the early years.

It represents a welcome step that the government is making to be more inclusive and more sustained in its support.

Could go further

However, other aspects of the Child Support Package still appear to be reserved for the traditional legally-married couple and their children.

For example, childcare and infant care fees at government-supported centres will be reduced, but there is no confirmation on whether a divorced parent would benefit from this.

Similarly, the improved housing support announced by PM Wong is meant for families.

What about single-parent households, or blended families (a divorced parent marrying someone else with their own children), or couples who have not yet gotten married, or who are unable to do so in Singapore?

A looming crossroads

I understand that the government is committed to promoting the right type of family, but the fertility dilemma may soon force our hand.

Can we really afford to overlook these other kinds of families, if we are truly facing an "existential" crisis?

"The traditional family unit remains the prevailing social norm in Singapore. The government’s longstanding position has been to support parenthood within marriage. This continues to be the case, and there is no shift in thinking on this," said a spokesperson from the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in response to a question from Mothership.

"However, we recognise the importance of supporting every Singapore Citizen (SC) child in their growth and development," it added.

Being child-centric

The SG Child Support Package is "child-centric" in nature, similar to existing education and healthcare subsidies.

As the benefits are intended to support the growth and development of children, they will be extended to all Singaporean children, "regardless of birth order, family circumstances, or their parents’ marital status", the spokesperson from NPTD, PMO noted.

The principle of "every child matters" is a hallmark of Singaporean policy, with then-Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng citing it when deciding to extend compulsory education to children with special needs in 2016.

Former PAP Member of Parliament Louis Ng also advocated for this cause, presenting a petition in 2017 calling for housing policies to be more inclusive for divorcees and unmarried parents.

The child support measures in PM Wong's NDR, to me, represents the government backing its rhetoric with action, no matter how incremental.

Before we reach the fertility cliff, or the point of no return, our very Singaporean pragmatism may yet save the day.

The government is studying the feasibility of building undersea tunnels to connect Singapore's outer islands, such as to Pulau Tekong.

It may also consider possible civilian land use on Tekong in the future.

Civilian use on Tekong in the future

During his 2026 National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that Tekong is Singapore's "largest outlying island".

Tekong was originally two islands, but those were merged into one through land reclamation.

More reclamation plans are in place for the southern part of the island.

"All that means more training space for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)," PM Wong said.

However, even after meeting the SAF's needs, there will still be around 500 hectares available for future civilian uses.

"That's about the size of Toa Payoh town. We have not decided what to use this land for. And we don't have to decide now," PM Wong said.

Undersea tunnel between Singapore and Tekong

While the other outer islands, like Sentosa and the upcoming Long Island, may already enjoy seamless connection to the mainland, Tekong is "different".

On this, PM Wong went on to note the past and present modes of transport for SAF recruits to Tekong.

To connect Tekong to the mainland, PM Wong said that the government will study the feasibility of building undersea tunnels.

"It will be a major engineering undertaking. But if we can do it, it will bring our outer islands much closer to the rest of Singapore," PM Wong commented.

"And one day, our recruits may have an even easier journey to Tekong", he quipped.

PM Wong also reiterated plans to combine Sentosa and neghbouring Pulau Brani into "one integrated destination" as well as plans for Long Island along the East Coast.

He also announced that Semakau, Sudong and Bukom, among other islands, could be merged into a larger island for industry and power infrastructure.

Concluding on such future plans, PM Wong said, "All of these projects will take decades to complete. They will require resources, planning, and investment over many terms of government."

The government intends to merge several of the Western islands, including Semakau, Bukom and Sudong, into a larger island to potentially support new industries and power generation infrastructure.

This was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his 2026 National Day Rally speech, delivered on Aug. 23.

Merging Semakau, Bukom and Sudong

Reflecting on the history of land reclamation along Singapore's outer islands, PM Wong cited Jurong Island as an example.

"Today, Jurong Island is a global energy and chemicals hub. That investment has delivered lasting benefits for Singapore," he explained.

The government intends to do something similar with some of Singapore's Western islands.

"Now, it's our turn to think boldly, and build for the next generation," PM Wong said.

He then turned to Semakau, Bukom, Sudong and "a few other smaller islands", which are located south of Jurong Island.

Semakau houses Singapore's landfill, while Singapore's first refinery still sits on Bukom.

"Over the coming decades, we intend to merge several of these islands into one larger island — just as we did to create Jurong Island," PM Wong said.

The new merged island will support a "new generation of industries" and can accommodate "new power generation infrastructure".

Space will be made for the SAF, which currently has an airstrip on Pulau Sudong.

"This new Western island can help shape Singapore for the next 50 years and beyond," PM Wong commented.

He also said that these are long-term plans, and that the government are studying them carefully.

The current Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme will be replaced by a new SG Child Support Package, which will provide up to S$62,000 to every Singapore citizen child over their growing years until age 17.

Under the new package, each eligible child will receive the same level of support, regardless of birth order.

This new support package was part of a suite of marriage and parenthood support measures announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 2026 National Day Rally.

The other measures include increased childcare leave provisions, additional public housing ballot chances per child 18 or below, and lowered fees at government-supported preschools.

610,000 children across 380,000 households are expected to benefit from the measures, according to the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in response to media queries.

More time, more support, more confidence: PM Wong

Commenting on the new marriage and parenthood measures, PM Wong noted that much of today's support is concentrated around the birth of child.

"Instead, we want to support parents more consistently throughout the journey of raising their children," he continued.

This means giving parents more time with their children, more support as their children grow and greater confidence to plan for the future.

The announced measures are born out of the work done so far by the government's Interagency Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah.

The Workgroup will release a fuller set of recommendations in early 2027.

S$62,000 SG Child Support Package

On financial support, PM Wong said that the current schemes "have become quite complex", and that many parents find it "hard to understand".

Under the current Baby Bonus Cash Gift component of the Baby Bonus Scheme, parents receive different amounts of cash, depending on the child's birth order.

The first and second child gets S$11,000, while the third and fourth child gets S$13,000.

It is also disbursed only to parents who are legally married spouses.

The new SG Child Support Package will provide up to S$62,000 in support for each Singapore citizen child up to the age of 17.

This S$62,000 will come in the form of cash, credits, grants, and top-ups.

It will be regardless of birth order.

"Each child will receive the same level of support," PM Wong said.

Here's what each child will receive under the new support package:

• A S$10,000 Baby Gift will be given to each child before they turn one, disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of their birth. [Revised from Baby Bonus Cash Gift]
• A total of S$32,000 Child Credits will be given per child from age one to 16. S$2,000 in credits will be disbursed per year. [New]
• S$5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant, with up to S$5,000 in government co-matching until the end of the child's 16th year. [Revised]
• S$10,000 Post-Secondary Education Account top-up when the child turns 17. [New]

After including prevailing MediSave grants and Edusave top-ups, each child will receive almost S$70,000 in support.

"We will provide more support — not just at birth but throughout the years, as children grow up." PM Wong said.

Changes to support for large families with three or more

Part of the current family support policy is also the Large Families Support scheme, which provides an additional S$16,000 of support to families with three or more kids in the form of more CDA grants, a S$5,000 MediSave grant and annual LifeSG credits.

This scheme will be discontinued.

Under the new support package, large families with three or more children will continue to receive the S$5,000 MediSave grant.

Additionally, they will receive support for transport and housing. More information will be provided by the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of National Development down the line.

New support package to be implemented from Apr. 1, 2027

The new support package will be implemented from Apr. 1, 2027.

Those born before Apr. 1, 2027, who are still receiving the Baby Bonus Cash Gift will continue to do so until Mar. 31, 2027.

Thereafter, they will receive a top-up by Apr. 30, 2027, to bring the amount of support received to S$10,000, matching the new S$10,000 Baby Gift amount.

As for the Child Credits, children turning one to 16 in 2026 will receive their 2026 Child Credits by Apr. 30, 2027.

Additional BTO or Sale-of-Balance ballot per child 18 and under

From the February 2027 sales exercise, first-timer families with or expecting children will receive one additional ballot chance for each Singapore citizen child aged 18 and below.

This will apply to BTO or sale-of-balance flat applications.

Increased childcare leave provisions per working parent

Childcare leave provisions will also go up under the new measures, with the number of leaves tiered based on the number of children parents have instead of the age of their youngest child.

Here's the number of leaves each eligible working parent will receive based on the number of children they have aged 12 and below, under the new scheme:

• One child aged 12 and below: 8 days per working parent
• Two children aged 12 and below: 10 days per working parent
• Three or more children aged 12 and below: 12 days per working parent

Under the current childcare leave and extended childcare leave schemes, each working parent receives either six or two days of childcare leave, depending on the age of their youngest child.

The government will also cover the cost for all child-related leaves, including the government-paid maternity leave scheme, moving forward.

Currently, the government only covers part of such leave schemes.

More details on when the new childcare leave provisions will kick in will be announced at a later date.

"One of the greatest gift we can give parents is more time with their children," PM Wong commented. He went on to call on employers to support parents as they navigate raising a family.

Lower fees for government-supported pre-schools

Full-day childcare and infant care fees will be progressively reduced from 2028 to S$150 and S$300, respectively, by 2030.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister's Office, these fees will be "less than half" of today's fees.

Preschool subsidies will also be extended to families with Singapore citizen children regardless of the main applicant's working status.

Currently, subsidies are only available to families where the main subsidy applicant is working.

With these changes, the government will absorb more childcare and preschool costs, with PM Wong calling this "one of the best investments we can make".

Fuller recommendations to come in early 2027

Minister Indranee Rajah, Chair of the government's Interagency Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, said in a press release, "These enhancements reflect the government's response to the first set of recommendations from the [workgroup], and our work continues."

"While no individual measure can address every concern, these enhancements taken together represent a significant shift in how the Government supports families," Indranee continued.

The workgroup will release a fuller set of recommendations in early 2027.

Indranee previously said in Parliament that the government is expected to spend close to S$7 billion on marriage and parenthood initiatives.

According to data from the Singapore Department of Statistics, there were 526,062 Singapore citizens aged zero to 14 years old in 2025.

While there is no specific data on the number of citizens aged 15 to 16, there were 189,135 citizens aged 15 to 19 in 2025.

PM Wong touched on a variety of issues during the National Day Rally.

One of which was the issue of Singapore's Total Fertility Rate (TFR).

PM Wong said that the government is aiming for more than incremental improvements or changes to individual schemes, they want to make a fundamental shift in how they support families.

For BTO flats, it will go up from $14,000 to $16,000. For Executive Condos (ECs), it will go from S$16,000 to S$18,000.

According to HDB, the income ceiling for home buyers purchasing subsidised HDB flats is set at $14,000 for families, and $7,000 for singles.

This is to ensure that the new subsidised HDB flats are prioritised for lower to upper-middle income families.

For new Executive Condos (ECs), the current ceiling is at $16,000.

The income ceilings were last adjusted in 2019.

The monthly household income ceiling will be raised from $14,000 to S$16,000 for eligible families who apply for an HFE letter from Aug. 24, 2026, to:

a) Buy a new subsidised HDB flat from HDB;

b) Buy a resale HDB flat on the open market with the CPF Housing Grant; or

c) Obtain an HDB housing loan for the purchase of a new or resale HDB flat.

The monthly household income ceiling for eligible singles aged 35 and above purchasing a subsidised HDB flat or obtaining an HDB housing loan will be raised as well.

The monthly household income ceiling for households looking to buy a new EC unit will also be raised from $16,000 to $18,000.

The revised income ceiling will apply to new units in ECs with land sale tender closing dates on or after 24 August 2026.

The revised income ceiling will not apply to balance units in existing ECs, or new units in ECs with land sale tenders awarded before Aug. 24,  2026.

PM Wong said that over the years, Singapore has steadily increased housing supply, and now success rates for booking BTO flats are higher, and waiting times are shorter.

He also noted that the resale market had stabilised. These improvements, Wong said, gave them the confidence to do more.

PM Wong also pointed out that Singaporeans were marrying later, and that by the time they settle down, the couples were further along in their careers and earning more.

Which meant they would cross the current income ceilings.

Secure flat sooner

PM Wong said they will also do more to help first-timer families with children secure a flat sooner.

While Singapore is already giving priority to couples who are engaged as well as married couples, PM Wong said that those with children should receive even greater priority.

PM Wong said first-timer families applying for a new flat will get one additional ballot chance – for every child they have or are expecting.

He says this will significantly improve their chances of getting a flat.

"So the more children you have, the more ballot chances you will receive – because we want to help growing families secure a home sooner."

From the Feb. 2027 sales exercise, first-timer families with or expecting children will receive one additional ballot chance for each Singapore Citizen child aged 18 and below. This will apply to all BTO and SBF flat applications.

According to a statement issued by HDB and MND, to give potential flat buyers sufficient time to review their housing plans and apply for an HFE letter under the revised income ceilings, the next BTO sales exercise will be held in Nov. 2026, instead of Oct. 2026.

They encouraged flat buyers who wish to participate in the BTO sales exercise to apply for an HFE letter early and submit all required documents by Sep. 25, 2026.

About 7,960 flats in Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengah, Toa Payoh and Yishun will be launched in the upcoming November BTO sales exercise.

Large families

PM Wong noted that under this new approach, larger families will automatically receive more financial support.

But he acknowledged that some needs grow more sharply as families get bigger.

Here are the areas he focused on to help these larger families..

1. An additional MediSave top-up, to help with your healthcare expenses.

2. More help with transport needs.

3. Bigger homes for larger families.

PM Wong says he has asked Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat to consider additional housing support for larger families.