A woman involved in the fight at the People's Park Complex's Beijing Royal Massage Parlor claimed the altercation occurred because she demanded an explanation from a male masseur after realising she had apparently become pregnant with his child.

According to an earlier report, two people were taken to the Singapore General Hospital after a brawl between a man and two women at the massage parlour.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed with Mothership that they received a call for assistance at 1 Park Road on Jul. 2 at about 2:30pm.

The police also confirmed that a report was lodged.

Woman involved explains

A video showed a woman in a pink top and a woman in a black cardigan locked in a struggle with a man.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News a day after the news broke about the fight, the woman in black, Wang (transliterated pseudonym), said she had reportedly been in a romantic relationship with the man, Ah Feng (transliterated).

Wang said: "I first visited this massage parlour in early May and thought the service was pretty good."

"When I went there again, [Ah Feng] provided the massage service," she added.

She said: "Later, every time I went back, I would specifically ask him for the massage. Over time, we hit it off and started dating in mid-May."

Pregnant, break-up

Wang told Shin Min that she and the man reportedly had sex several times.

She added that she apparently spent S$400 to go on a date with the man and she would take him out twice a week.

"We would go out to eat and book a hotel room," she added.

Wang later suspected she was pregnant after experiencing physical symptoms.

After visiting the doctor, her pregnancy was reportedly confirmed on Jul. 1.

A doctor's referral letter seen by Shin Min stated: "Preliminary diagnosis indicates pregnancy, prenatal examination required".

She claimed, however, that after telling Ah Feng about her pregnancy, he allegedly broke up with her on the spot and said: "Don't threaten me with the child."

Fight

Shin Min reported that she then visited the massage parlour on Jul. 2 to ask Ah Feng to return her personal belongings and for an explanation.

She said: "Since we were breaking up, I wanted to get my house key and skincare products back, but he said he had lost them all."

"We started arguing about it, and the police came to mediate. He said he would go home to look for them, and then I left," she added.

Since Wang still found it necessary to discuss the child's situation, she returned to the massage parlour with her friend at about 1pm on Jul. 2, but Ah Feng reportedly avoided her.

"He refused to come out to see me," she said.

"I thought since I was already here, I might as well get a massage at the shop," she added, but she was allegedly chased away.

"We pushed and shoved each other and then we started fighting."

Reportedly suffered miscarriage

Wang claimed that Ah Feng allegedly struck her head and abdomen repeatedly during the fight and also threw her to the ground.

This was said to have ultimately caused her to miscarry, she added.

Wang said: "He hit my stomach, choked my neck, and pinned me to the ground. I fainted for a moment, and when I woke up I called the police. I was taken to the hospital and unfortunately miscarried."

Shin Min reported that the doctor asked her to stay in the hospital for observation, but Wang insisted on being discharged before returning for a follow-up appointment next week.

Expenses

Wang noted that she apparently had to pay for all expenses during their relationship.

She added that in the span of two months, she spent S$10,000, as it included the costs for them to be intimate.

Wang supposedly paid about S$1,000 each time they went on a date, as he reportedly asked her for S$520 each time they had sexual intercourse.

She had viewed him as a partner, Shin Min reported, adding that he reportedly only viewed her as a customer.

Friend injured

The fight also saw Wang's friend, Chen (transliterated), getting hit.

She told Shin Min that she had accompanied Wang to the parlour, but did not expect a fight to break out.

Upon seeing her friend get hit, Chen kept shouting that Wang was pregnant and got injured after getting involved in the fight.

Have you ever slept on a hotel bed and wondered where they bought their mattresses from because it was unbelievably comfortable? Chances are, you might find the same one at Four Star.

This award-winning home brand supplies mattresses to hotels and holiday resorts, and will be having a sale with discounts of up to 90 per cent on their mattresses, sofas and other furniture from Jul. 8 to Jul. 12.

These are what you should prepare your wallets for.

Mattresses designed to meet different sleep needs

If you find yourself waking up feeling warm and sweaty, the DETENSE ArcticSilk CU+ mattress range is designed to help with that.

The DETENSE ArcticSilk is crafted for you to stay cool throughout the night. It also combines copper-infused (CU+) technology that is both anti-bacterial and anti-odour making sleep cooler, cleaner, and more restorative.

Can’t wait to bid goodbye to your morning body stiffness? Check out their Chiro+ Back Care mattress which combines chiropedic technology with pocket springs, memory foam and latex.

Don’t worry about your old mattresses as you can trade in to get up to S$580 cashback and opt for a free one-for-one mattress disposal.

For a hotel-like feel, you can dress your bed in Four Star’s signature pintuck bedsheet set that comes in a variety of colours and sizes. The quality fabric offers comfort and durability, plus its design makes it fit into almost any bedroom aesthetic.

Free up space with storage beds

Storage beds are one of the easiest ways to free up space in your bedroom.

With the hydraulic lift system, you don’t have to worry about hurting your back while trying to access your things you’ve kept away.

You can choose between electric and manual, front or side-lift mechanisms and customise your bed with optional drawers to suit your storage needs and room layout.

You can also create a bed that's uniquely yours by matching headboards, colours and upholstery like pet-friendly, easy-to-clean fabric or leather.

3-seater sofas from S$599 and L-shaped sofas at S$799

If you spend your time unwinding and doomscrolling in your living rooms, why not do so with customisable, smooth glider recliners and electric incliners that operate almost without a sound. Your neck, shoulders and back will thank you later.

If you just want a cosy couch just for one, you can get their 1-seater sofa from S$299, while their 3-seater starts from S$599 and L-shaped from S$799.

Support doesn’t end at point of purchase

From purchase to delivery and beyond, it will be as fuss-free as possible.

The mattresses and furniture come with free delivery, GST-inclusive prices, warranties of up to 15 years, zero per cent instalment plans and even free taxi claims back home.

Snag the best deals

Location: Four Star Kallang Flagship Store Level 1, 44 Kallang Place, Four Star Building Singapore 339172

Date: Jul. 8 to Jul. 12, 2026

Time: 10am to 9pm daily

Nearest MRT station: Kallang (700 metres away)

Nearest bus stop: Opposite Kallang Place (bus stop 60051) with buses 21, 26, 31, 853, 853M, 961, 961M, 985, six minute walking distance

This branded article by Four Star made this writer want to buy a new mattress for her ageing parents.

On Jun. 20, Gisele Woon was walking to One Punggol with her daughter when she spotted a little boy who had fallen onto the road while chasing a ball.

What shocked her most was that the toddler, who looked to be aged one or two, was completely alone.

Although several people had apparently seen him before she did, no one stopped to help, until she stepped up.

She asks: "Shouldn't it still take a village to raise a child?"

By Gisele Woon, as told to Chloe Loh

Alarm bells went off in my head

My daughter and I were on our way to One Punggol when I first spotted the boy.

He looked to be aged one or two years old, and was even smaller than my already petite daughter.

He was barefoot, holding a ball, and completely alone.

My first thought was: Why is there a toddler on the road by himself?

Suddenly, he tossed his ball into the air, tried to catch it, and stumbled onto the road.

The moment I saw that, alarm bells went off in my head. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

Before I could fully process what had happened, he got up and started running further down the road.

Looking back, I think my instincts as a mother simply took over.

Though I was pushing my daughter's stroller, I immediately rushed over and managed to catch him before anything happened.

The boy had no idea how close he came to danger

After I caught him, I tried talking to him, but he simply looked at me blankly. He didn’t cry, nor did he seem frightened.

That’s when I realised that he had no idea how dangerous the situation had been.

To him, it was just another game with his ball.

Although he couldn't answer any of my questions, he was willing to follow me and I decided to help him look for his parents.

People noticed him, but nobody stopped

The incident took place along the stretch of road between One Punggol and Waterway Point, and for those unfamiliar with the area, the two aren't exactly next door to each other — there's a fair bit of distance between them.

As I walked around with the boy, I asked nearby passersby if they had seen him before.

To my surprise, several of them told me they had seen him walking from the direction of One Punggol.

If they knew where he had come from, didn’t it mean they had noticed a tiny barefoot toddler wandering around alone?

Yet, none of them had stopped to check if he was okay.

Shouldn't it still take a village to raise a child?

To my relief, I later managed to reunite the boy with his family.

But even after everything was over, the experience stayed with me.

Being a gracious society

We often talk about being a gracious society, about being family-friendly, and about looking out for one another.

But when a tiny barefoot toddler can wander onto a road without anyone stopping to help, I can't help but wonder how close we really are to those ideals.

Maybe people are worried about overstepping, or maybe they're afraid of what others might think.

Or maybe we've become so used to minding our own business that we assume someone else will step in.

But someone else doesn't always.

Sometimes, helping is as simple as asking a question like, "Do you need help?"

Or, in this case, "Where are your parents?"

If everything is fine, you've only spent a few seconds of your time.

If it isn't, those few seconds could make all the difference.

What if it had been my daughter?

As a mother, I couldn't shake the thought that it could have easily been my own daughter in that situation.

And if she ever were, I would hope that someone, anyone, would stop and help her.

To this day, I still wonder why more people don't or won't.

And I'm not saying this out of anger, but just genuine confusion and sadness.

I decided to share my experience online, and my post on Instagram reached more than a million views in just three days.

But what really surprised me were the responses.

Many people shared similar stories of children getting lost in crowded places or wandering off unnoticed, and in almost every story, it came down to one stranger who decided to stop and help.

One mother told me she had briefly lost sight of her child in public, but nobody offered to help.

Others shared that they had been the only ones to step in when they spotted a vulnerable child, sometimes while looking after their own children at the same time.

Reading those stories made me realise this wasn't an isolated incident.

I know how difficult parenting can be, and how quickly a child can wander off. This could happen to any parent, and that's exactly my point.

I hope this experience can start a bigger conversation, one about what it really means to be a community, and how we show up for the most vulnerable among us: our children.

That little boy came frighteningly close to being seriously hurt, but what changed the outcome that day wasn't anything extraordinary.

Someone simply stopped.

I hope that the next time any of us sees a child who looks lost, alone or in danger, we'll choose to do the same.

Sometimes, all it takes is one person willing to stop, ask a simple question, and help.

Those with green fingers have another reason to visit the Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) in 2026.

The SGF 2026 MarketPlace has returned to Bayfront Green at Gardens by the Bay, bringing together 90 vendors selling plants, gardening essentials, home decor, and botanical-themed collectables.

Organised in partnership with Planter's Market, the open-air marketplace is part of the 10th edition of the Singapore Garden Festival, which runs from Jul. 4 to 12.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mothership (@mothershipsg)

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Singapore Garden Festival (@sggardenfest)

Held over two segments

The market place is split into two segments.

The opening segment runs from now till Jul. 7, while the finale segment takes place from Jul. 8 to Jul. 12.

Visitors can browse a wide selection of indoor and outdoor plants, gardening wares, pots, planters, trinkets, and other home gardening essentials.

The market place is located at Bayfront Green, next to Bayfront MRT Station Exit B, and is open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Admission is free.

Part of Singapore Garden Festival's 10th edition

Beyond the market place, visitors can also explore the Singapore Garden Festival's floral displays, themed gardens and international horticultural showcases.

This year's festival marks SGF's 10th edition and features attractions.

Beyond the MarketPlace, visitors can also explore SGF 2026’s floral displays, themed gardens and international horticultural showcases.

Highlights include the Show Gardens: All-Stars Edition, the Indonesian-themed Orchid Extravaganza featuring more than 7,000 orchids at the Flower Dome, and an 8m-tall Floral Roller Coaster installation.

For more information, visit its website here.

The new Singapore Cruise Centre is set to open on Jul. 7 after moving from HarbourFront Centre to the new HarbourFront passenger terminal.

An earlier report mentioned that Batam Fast Ferry will be the first to commence operations from the new terminal on Jul. 7.

The remaining ferry operators — Horizon Fast Ferry, Majestic Fast Ferry, Sindo Ferry and Indo Falcon Shipping & Travel — as well as cruise operations, will follow from Jul. 15.

Location

Located just 70m away from the existing terminal, the new terminal is in a red terracotta building at 5 HarbourFront Avenue, Singapore 099549.

It is directly across the entrance of Reef at King's Dock condominium and behind HarbourFront Tower 2, facing the sea.

Passengers can reach the terminal via HarbourFront MRT Station Exit B or other public transport options in the area, with sheltered walkways linking the new terminal to the MRT station and VivoCity.

No changes to ferry routes, scheduling

In addition, it will continue serving an average of 73 daily ferry departures to destinations including Batam Centre, Harbour Bay, Sekupang, Bengkong (Gold Coast), Nirup Island and Tanjung Balai (Karimun).

Singapore Cruise Centre said in a press release that there are no changes to ferry routes, destinations served or scheduling as a result of the move.

Ferry and cruise berth locations also remain unchanged.

The new passenger terminal features upgraded infrastructure and "technology-enabled services".

Check-in, baggage drop

CNA reported that boarding passes and baggage tags can be printed at one of 25 self-service check-in kiosks before dropping off luggage at any of the six self-service baggage drop counters, a la airport check-in.

Prior to this, passengers who bought ferry tickets online still had to collect boarding passes at the ferry operator's counter.

Each operator will continue to have a service counter for passengers requiring manual check-in or assistance, CNA reported, adding that passengers with odd-sized items like bicycles will be directed to a separate area for processing and handling.

Food, other amenities

Passengers who have completed check-in and baggage drop will then proceed to the second floor to clear immigration before departure.

Both floors of the terminal have food and beverage options, including an Old Chang Kee cafe, 7-Eleven and Subway.

There are also nursing rooms, prayer rooms, wheelchair lifts and electric vehicle charging points.

Clearing immigration

With 14 automated clearance lanes, including eight special assistance lanes for families with young children, seniors, wheelchair users and pregnant passengers, some lanes in the departure hall will be dedicated to Singapore passport holders.

Singapore citizens and permanent residents may clear immigration here without presenting a passport using the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's automated border clearance system, which verifies travellers through facial biometrics.

CNA reported that there is also a passenger waiting area about 50 per cent larger than before, including a new VIP lounge that can accommodate up to 70 passengers and six automated boarding gates to facilitate quicker boarding.

Upon arriving, passengers will find a more modern and spacious hall compared, with 32 automated clearance lanes for immigration.

There will be eight special assistance lanes, as well as dedicated lanes for citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders.

Passengers may collect their luggage including odd-sized items, from a designated area, after clearing immigration and before leaving the terminal.

A 47-year-old male truck driver and his two male passengers, aged 47 and 60, were sent to the hospital after a rubbish truck apparently self-skidded on Jul. 5, 2026.

The incident, which occurred at the junction of Yishun Avenue 7 and Sembawang Road, was posted on Facebook.

Accident video

According to footage, the large vehicle could be seen on its side post-accident.

An ambulance could be seen in front of the vehicle, and behind it was a police motorcycle, with an officer standing nearby.

3 sent to hospital

Responding to Mothership's queries, the police said they were alerted at about 11:20am on Jul. 5 to an accident involving a truck, which was believed to have self-skidded at the junction of Yishun Avenue 7 and Sembawang Road.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted at the same time to the accident.

SCDF conveyed three people conscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

The truck driver is assisting with investigations and police investigations are ongoing.

Former TVB actor Lawrence Ng has embraced AI.

The 62-year-old revealed that he licensed the rights to his likeness to a production company, which recreated a younger 20-year-old version of him using artificial intelligence for a feature film.

The actor said he did not have to step onto the set at all.

Speaking at a promotional event for his new crime drama "Deadly Sins", Ng said he has already seen the completed AI-generated film.

"They used what I looked like at 20 to make a movie. I didn't have to film anything," he said.

"I've seen the finished product and I'm very satisfied with it."

Ng added that the project also allowed him to "relive what it feels like to be the male lead again".

Not worried about AI replacing actors

While some actors have voiced concerns about AI replacing performers, Ng said he sees it as an opportunity instead.

He revealed that the agreement is backed by a comprehensive contract, which gives him confidence that his likeness will not be misused.

He also admitted that "the payout is quite good".

When asked if AI could take work away from actors, Ng said it instead opens up another career path.

Joking about the possibilities, he said, "In the future, I can just sit there without filming anything and still get the job done. Even if I break my legs, I won't have to worry."

Ng also believes AI-generated performances and traditional acting can coexist, saying having another way for actors to work could ultimately benefit the industry.

A man, who tried to rape his former flatmate, got his jail sentence increased by more than a year after the Court of Appeal in Singapore found that his conduct during the appeal process amounted to an abuse of the court's process.

On Jul. 3, the Court of Appeal increased 32-year-old Gao Xiong's sentence from six years, six months, and six weeks' jail to seven years, seven months, and six weeks' jail.

He will also receive three strokes of the cane.

Appealed guilty plea

Gao, a Chinese national who was a PhD student at the time of the offences, had pleaded guilty in 2025 to one count of attempted rape and three counts of criminal trespass.

At an appeal hearing in May, where he represented himself, Gao claimed he had been "confused" when he pleaded guilty and was not given an opportunity to address the court.

He also attempted to blame the victim for what happened, and claimed that another flatmate who intervened had prevented him from apologising to her.

Judges rejected his arguments

The Court of Appeal, comprising Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justice Tay Yong Kwang and Justice Hri Kumar Nair, rejected his arguments.

The judges found that Gao had made baseless allegations that sought to undermine the integrity of the earlier court proceedings.

They noted that Gao had been represented by a lawyer, assisted by an interpreter and had been given ample opportunity to understand the charges before pleading guilty.

When Gao appeared uncertain during the hearing, the trial judge even paused proceedings to allow him to consult his lawyer.

The court added that Gao had "utterly lacked any insight into or remorse for his offending behaviour".

Forced his way into victim's room

The offences took place in October 2023.

Gao and the victim, a 22-year-old Chinese national studying in Singapore at the time, had previously rented separate rooms in the same condominium unit.

After Gao moved out, he began repeatedly asking his former flatmate out over text.

Despite being rejected and told to stop contacting her, he continued to pester her.

On Oct. 8, 2023, Gao returned to the condominium to look for her, prompting the victim to call the police.

Although he left when officers arrived, he stayed overnight at a nearby bus stop and continued messaging her.

The following night, Gao returned to the unit after another tenant let him in.

He knocked on the victim's bedroom door and claimed he had left his bank card behind, while also apologising for his earlier messages.

When the victim tried to close the door and said she would call the police, Gao forced his way into the room.

He pushed her to the floor, pulled at her dress, and exposed himself.

Another tenant who heard the victim screaming intervened and dragged Gao out of the room before the assault could escalate further.

Committed more offences while on bail

After being charged with attempted rape in October 2023, Gao was released on bail in May 2024.

While on bail, he committed further trespass offences.

He returned to the condominium twice in an attempt to persuade the victim to withdraw her allegations or obtain her contact details.

In a separate incident at the State Courts, he ignored a "no entry" sign and entered a judge's chambers while insisting on speaking to the judge.

He was remanded again after his bailor withdrew support.

Court sets new sentencing framework

In its written judgment, the Court of Appeal also laid down a new three-stage framework for sentencing criminal attempt offences.

Judges should first determine a starting sentence based on how far the offender progressed in committing the offence.

They should then assess whether a sentencing discount is appropriate depending on whether the offender voluntarily stopped or was prevented by external circumstances.

Finally, judges should adjust the sentence based on aggravating and mitigating factors specific to the offender.

The case is the first before Singapore's apex court involving a criminal attempt offence after changes to the Penal Code removed the previous rule that generally capped sentences for attempted offences at half the maximum punishment for the completed offence.

The People's Action Party (PAP) can continue to govern Singapore well with "good people who are willing to serve", and have different views and ideas, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Jul. 4.

Speaking at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the PAP’s youth wing, PM Wong noted that PAP does not want everyone within it to think the same way.

He added that the party seeks people with different experiences, perspectives and ideas to help it tackle the challenges ahead.

Different ideas

PM Wong, who is also the party's secretary-general, addressed over 1,200 youth activists and participants at the Young PAP YP40 festival at Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

"This diversity is essential for the PAP to keep renewing itself and to continue governing well for the longer term," he said.

Calling for them to "widen the circle", he added: "You do not have to agree with us on every single issue."

"In fact, it’s the opposite."

Some naturally drawn to 'underdog': PM Wong

He added that while some young people are naturally drawn to the "underdog" as opposed to an established political party, the "real competition we face is not within Singapore", but with the rest of the world.

"We are competing against countries with much larger populations, bigger markets, and far greater resources," he said.

He added: "In that arena, Singapore has been, and will always be, the underdog."

PM Wong noted that PAP's past achievements do not guarantee future success.

"Every generation must bring with them their fresh ideas, new energy, and a renewed sense of responsibility to take our country forward," he said.

"The PAP can continue to govern Singapore well only if every generation renews our party with good people who are willing to serve."

Changed world

Pointing out that "we are entering a very different world, a changed world" that is full of geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, PM Wong said politics in many places was no longer about helping societies solve problems.

He added that politicians turned to amplifying outrage to win support, engaging in "performative politics and points scoring over solving serious problems".

Though Singapore has seen some of these tendencies in its own political discourse, PM Wong said the party's answer was to "roll up our sleeves, bridge our divides, and solve problems through our actions", and not to "stoke anger, to deepen divides, or to give in to cynicism".

“So, if you care deeply about Singapore and about our future, if you have ideas about how we can make our country better, then come and join the PAP,” he said at the event.

New initiatives

CNA reported that the event also saw the party's youth wing launching two initiatives — the Young PAP Academy and the YP 40 Under 40 Action Fellowship, which serve as a "launchpad" for the party's next generation of leaders.

The party’s new logo for the youth wing was also unveiled at the event.

The YP40 Festival celebrates the Young PAP's 40 years of advocacy and action for Singapore with the launch of the Young PAP Academy and the YP 40 Under 40 Action Fellowship.

Young PAP activists are supported by the YP 40 Under 40 Action Fellowship through workshops where they can turn their ideas into action, with 40 selected Young PAP activists to be given a S$5,000 project seed grant to realise their plans by mid-2027.

Refused to give in to cynicism

Acknowledging that there will be people who say politics is not worth it, and that nothing will change, PM Wong noted that Singapore was built by young men and women who refused to give in to cynicism.

"They did not feel fully ready, but they stepped forward anyway, and because they did, generations of Singaporeans have enjoyed opportunities that once seemed impossible," he said.

"So I say to everyone, all young Singaporeans, do not lose heart, do not lose faith, do not stand on the sidelines, choose to lead, and choose to take action."

Sembawang residents took the longest time to commute to work in 2025, according to the General Household Survey 2025.

The survey was released by the Department of Statistics (SingStat) on Jun. 30, 2026.

It noted that residents in Sembawang had the highest median travelling time among Singapore towns at 50 minutes.

This was followed by a median travelling time of 45 minutes for residents who stayed in Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong West, Punggol, Sengkang, Tengah, Woodlands and Yishun.

The Straits Times reported that according to the General Household Survey 2015, residents who lived in seven of those 10 towns also had the longest median commute of 45 minutes.

Bukit Batok, Jurong West and Tengah were not included in the previous list.

Personal experiences

A Bukit Panjang resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mothership that when she commutes via shuttle bus, it takes one-and-a-half to two hours travel time to get to work in the east.

On days that she takes public transport, she takes a bus to Geylang Bahru before taking a train to Tampines East.

She then takes another bus to work, which makes her travel time more than two hours including waiting time.

A Punggol resident, who takes public transport every day, told Mothership that her 50 to 55-minute travel time includes a five minute walk from her house to the bus stop followed by a 10 minute bus to Punggol MRT.

She then takes the train from Punggol to Serangoon MRT before transferring to Caldecott MRT.

She then walks for 10 minutes to her office.

Urban transport researcher Paul Barter, who is based in Singapore, told ST that most workplaces are located in the downtown core, central region and other areas, including Tuas and Pasir Panjang.

With SingStat noting that almost half of employed Singapore residents worked in the central region, Barter said those living farther from these job centres would naturally take longer to travel to work.

Sembawang

Sembawang West Member of Parliament (MP) Poh Li San said she has not received complaints from residents about long travelling times, she told ST.

She added that this is due to NSL's Admiralty station being within walking distance of many estates.

Residents are also able to reach Woodlands station on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) by bus.

Poh also said most of her residents working in the central area can take the NSL or TEL, where they can often get a seat when they board during the morning peak.

She noted that others may work nearer home, including at Woodlands Industrial Park or in Ang Mo Kio.

Bukit Panjang

According to Bukit Panjang MP Liang Eng Hwa, residents who live farther from Bukit Panjang MRT station, including Fajar and Segar, may find commuting within the town just to reach the MRT station inconvenient and time-consuming, especially during peak hours.

Liang added that the Downtown Line’s indirect loop through the city centre  from Bugis to Bencoolen stations could lengthen some journeys further.

He added that, however, city-bound bus services including 972 and 972M, use the expressways, offering faster connections, and complementing rail services.

Shorter commute times

The Land Transport Authority told ST that since the S$900 million Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme was launched in July 2024, about 244,000 commuters, which include those from Sembawang and Bukit Batok, benefitted daily from 35 new or extended services and over 60 improved ones.

According to the survey, residents of Tanglin had the shortest work commutes in 2025, with the median duration being 25 minutes.

Those who lived in Bukit Merah, Bukit Timah, Clementi, Geylang, Kallang, Marine Parade, Novena, Outram, Queenstown and Toa Payoh were next with 30-minute median commutes.

ST reported that those who lived in these 11 areas were also among those with the shortest commutes in 2015.

Then, Bedok, Bishan and Serangoon residents also had 30-minute work commutes.

Mode of transport and length of time

A larger proportion of high-income households reside in areas including Tanglin, Bukit Timah and Novena, Barter told ST.

This could mean work trips by cars, taxis or ride-hailing vehicles that tend to be faster than public transport.

Samuel Chng, a research assistant professor heading the Urban Psychology Lab at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, said travel time is often less important than whether the trip is reliable, comfortable and predictable when it comes to quality of commute.

The survey noted that in 2025, 60.1 per cent used public transport, an increase from 57.7 per cent in 2020.

The share of employed residents who combined rail and bus services increased to 30.3 per cent in 2025, from 26.4 per cent in 2020.

There was a drop in the proportion that relied solely on public buses, from 15 per cent to 12.9 per cent in the same period.

Those relying solely on buses had the shortest median travelling time of 35 minutes among all modes of public transport.

Commuters who took only rail services had a longer median commute of 45 minutes, while those who used both buses and the MRT or LRT had the longest median travelling time at 56 minutes.