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.

The Singapore Government will consider additional restrictions on social media platforms if existing safeguards remain inadequate, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Aug. 23.

Children and teenagers particularly vulnerable

Speaking at the 2026 National Day Rally, PM Wong noted that while social media has its benefits, including creating opportunities and helping people stay connected with family and friends, it is not without its downsides.

Today, one in six young people aged 10 to 24 in Singapore shows signs of problematic social media use, he said.

Some can spend six to seven hours a day on social media, sometimes staying up until the early hours of the morning, he added.

According to PM Wong, children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable as their brains are still developing.

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

Government to consider additional restrictions

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.

"And we know this is not working well," PM Wong stated. "When I visit primary schools, I am struck by how many children are already active on social media."

"Self-declaration is just not good enough. They will have to put in place robust and reliable checks so that the minimum age is properly set and enforced, and our children are genuinely protected."

For teenagers aged 13 and above, social media can also have negative effects.

"For them, our immediate priority is to make social media safer by design," said PM Wong.

Many social media platforms use features designed to keep users scrolling, clicking, and returning to the platforms.

Such features can be difficult for adults to resist, with the risks potentially greater for teenagers, he said.

Stronger safeguards will therefore have to be built in for younger users.

"If a platform wants to serve young users in Singapore, it must meet these requirements," PM Wong said.

If its safeguards remain inadequate, the government will consider additional restrictions, including raising the minimum age for accessing the platform beyond 13.

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) will be easing restrictions for the use of Chinese dialects in pay television and movies.

More flexibility for dialect content from September

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.

Preserving dialects

The changes come as the government acknowledged that dialects are cultural heritage worth preserving, said MDDI.

It also comes in the wake of extensive online chatter over MDDI's decision to dub Teochew Chinese film "Dear You" in Mandarin in Singapore.

In his National Day Rally speech on Aug. 23, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that more room can be made for the presence of dialects in Singapore.

The government will support efforts made by clan associations in promoting this through classes and cultural activities, he said.

"I hope they will give Singaporeans more opportunities to learn about dialects, find out more about their cultural roots and strengthen our local Chinese culture."

A new challenge

However, PM Wong emphasised that the hard-won gains of the Speak Mandarin Campaign must be protected.

He elaborated that the policy enabled Mandarin instead of dialects to become the common language among Chinese Singaporeans, and laid a strong foundation for Singapore's bilingual policy.

It also connected Chinese Singaporeans with Chinese communities worldwide, he said.

Despite this, he acknowledged that the challenge today differs from before.

While the Speak Mandarin Campaign was initially used to urge Chinese Singaporeans to "Speak more Mandarin and less dialects", the challenge today is to encourage those who know Mandarin but use English more often, to speak more Mandarin.

"The more we use Mandarin, the better we will get at it. Speak more Mandarin - yes I can, so can you!"

A person has allegedly been splashing faeces and urine at the lift lobbies of a block of flats in Hougang over the past year.

A resident of Block 552 Hougang Street 51 has allegedly even had urine thrown on her.

The town council and the National Environment Agency have launched an investigation and installed surveillance cameras on the affected floors, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Incident highlighted on Xiahongshu

The accusation that a foreign domestic worker had urine splashed on her was first put up on Xiaohongshu.

A police report was lodged.

Police officers subsequently attended to the matter, it was reported.

Smelled bad

A Shin Min reporter visited the block and observed that the lift lobbies of fifth floor, and those below it, had a strong stench.

On some weeks, the smell would be present five out of seven days, a resident said.

To keep the odour out, she would have to keep the windows and door to her unit closed.

Another resident said the situation has been ongoing for about a year.

The resident further claimed that there were brown stains that resembled faeces on the walls previously.

A plastic bag was found to have been left behind and it was believed to have been used to hold the waste.

The resident added: "I wonder if that person put the filth in the bag and brought it here to dump."

Authorities alerted

Residents said they have reported the incident to the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Ang Mo Kio Town Council, but the bio-vandalism apparently did not stop.

A town council spokesperson told Shin Min that the town council is aware of the feedback and has posted educational posters at the lift lobbies to remind residents not to engage in inconsiderate and unhygienic behaviour.

NEA said it had installed surveillance cameras on the fifth floor between May 28 and Jun. 2.

The town council and NEA also conducted a joint inspection on Jun. 3 and have since advised the residents suspected of being involved.

Resident identified

According to Shin Min, a resident was identified as the person responsible.

However, the family and the person, who has been accused, has denied involvement.

An 82-year-old man told the Chinese daily that the police and others have showed up at his door and asked if his son was the culprit.

He said: “A couple of days ago, the police came to our door in the morning, which made me wonder if they were targeting our family. But the police just said it was a routine inquiry, so I told them what I knew.”

He added that he had asked his son about it, but his son got very angry and denied any involvement.

The elderly man added: "He's under a lot of pressure and has to take care of the two of us elderly people. If we really have evidence, we will ask him again."

Two men were seen fighting at a food court in Yew Tee on Aug. 22, with a 75-year-old man later taken to hospital.

Video circulating online

According to Shin Min Daily News, the incident took place at around 10pm at a Kopitiam food court at Yew Tee Point.

A video of the incident was subsequently uploaded onto Reddit.

In the video, the younger man wearing a brown shirt could be seen approaching the older man.

"Don’t threaten me," the older man was heard saying in dialect.

"You want to call for backup? Go ahead," he added.

The two men continued to argue, with the younger man saying: "This man is looking to die soon."

He then appeared to walk away.

The older man then cursed at him, prompting the younger man to pick up a chair and move towards him.

The younger man appeared to raise the chair as if to strike the older man, but eventually put it down.

At this point, the person filming the incident could be heard telling the two men not to fight.

The younger man then apparently grabbed the older man by the neck and shoved him, causing both men to fall to the ground.

A passer-by could be seen attending to the older man.

@mothershipsgThe altercation took place on Aug. 22 night at Yew Tee Point’s food court, Shin Min Daily News reported. 2 men were seen getting into a heated argument, which resulted in the older man getting shoved to the ground with a chair. While many commented on the potential seriousness of his injuries, others found humour in the commentary provided by the person filming. A 75-year-old man was conveyed conscious to the hospital, while a 50-year-old man is assisting with investigations, the Singapore Police Force said. #mothershipnews♬ original sound - Mothership

Investigations ongoing

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed receiving a call for assistance at 21 Choa Chua Kang North at around 9:55pm that day.

A 75-year-old man was conveyed conscious to the hospital, and a 50-year-old man is assisting with investigations.

Police investigations are ongoing.

When Shin Min visited the scene on Aug. 23 afternoon, a female employee at a nearby stall said she had heard people arguing at the time.

She later saw paramedics and several police officers arrive at the scene.

The employee declined to comment on the identities of the two men, or whether they were regular customers.

Employees at other stalls also declined to provide further information when approached.