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.

An elderly couple was walking their dog in Toa Payoh when a man allegedly approached them and kicked the pet twice, including once in the abdomen.

What happened

Speaking to Mothership, the dog's owner, Nina Tan, said the incident took place at around 6:45pm on Aug. 20.

Tan said her 78-year-old father and 72-year-old mother were walking Truffle, their seven-year-old Cavapoo, along a grassy pathway between Block 10B and Block 14 Toa Payoh Lorong 7 when they encountered a man walking in their direction.

According to Tan, she was acquainted with the man, who has two large dogs, and said he was aware that Truffle would bark whenever he saw him or his dogs.

She said the man was walking one of his dogs at the time, which she understood to be reactive.

"Normally, when I see this man and his dogs approaching from a distance, I would immediately move away to avoid any potential interaction, as I am aware of the dogs' temperaments and the possibility of them reacting to each other," she said.

Her father, however, was not familiar with the man and was unaware that they would normally keep their distance from him and his dogs, Tan said.

According to Tan, the man gestured for her father to move aside after spotting him and Truffle.

Her father did not notice the gesture and remained where he was, while her mother was nearby picking up Truffle's faeces from the grass.

Tan said there was ample space around them and that her father was not deliberately blocking the man's path or preventing him from passing.

She claimed that the man continued walking towards her father and Truffle, despite knowing that Truffle did not like him and that there was a possibility the dogs could react to each other.

As the man approached, Truffle began reacting to him.

Tan alleged that the man then kicked Truffle twice.

The first kick missed its body, but struck the dog's tail, while the second kick landed in the abdomen.

Seeing what was happening, Tan's mother immediately ran towards them and shouted at the man to stop.

Neighbours from nearby blocks also asked him to stop, Tan said.

She said the man subsequently justified his actions by saying that her father was "in his way" and that he had already signalled for him to move, but her father had not done so.

Tan said she believed the situation could have been avoided if the man had given her father and Truffle more space, particularly as he was aware of how her dog would react and the temperament of both dogs involved.

She has made a police report.

Truffle receiving medical treatment

Tan said her parents have been worried and shaken since the incident, and were particularly frightened by what she described as the man's "aggressive manner".

"My parents are now concerned about their own safety," she said. "They worry that the man may confront them again in the neighbourhood or potentially retaliate because the incident has been reported."

"While we cannot know what his intentions are, the incident has made them feel vulnerable and afraid of encountering him again."

Tan added that Truffle was injured and has been unwell since the incident, but is currently receiving medical treatment.

"I want justice for Truffle, but I also believe it is important to report the incident so that there is awareness of what happened and to help ensure that everyone — including elderly residents and other dog owners — can feel safe in our neighbourhood."

A 35-year-old Malaysian man was sentenced to 12 weeks’ jail in Singapore for repeatedly punching a 52-year-old Singaporean man.

He was also ordered to pay S$872.65 in compensation.

Mok Siaw Yong pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt and was sentenced on Aug. 20.

Fishmonger

In court documents seen by Mothership, Mok worked as a fishmonger at a wet market at Limbang Shopping Centre in Choa Chu Kang.

On Jan. 17, 2025, at about 1:17pm, Mok was packing fish at his stall at the wet market.

The 52-year-old victim, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), ambled over next to Mok at his stall and spoke to some of his co-workers.

Mok was irritated by the man and felt he was being a nuisance and an obstruction to him packing fish.

He asked the victim to leave, but he refused to comply and remained at the stall.

Mok proceeded to punch the victim's face without warning while the man was still talking to Mok’s co-workers.

The victim attempted to defend himself, but failed.

Mok punched the victim at least six times in the left eye and landed another punch on his head while dragging him backwards.

The victim did not retaliate.

He wrapped his arms around Mok to stop his assault.

Mok eventually stopped when some vendors intervened.

Surveillance footage captured the ordeal.

Wife

Later that afternoon, the victim's wife went to the wet market in search of her husband and found him covered with bruises on the left side of his face.

He could barely recall the details of the incident.

Later that night, his wife lodged a police report.

Fracture

The victim was medically examined on Jan. 18, 2025.

He was found to have sustained a fracture around his left eye.

He was given 14 days of hospitalisation leave from Jan. 18, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2025.

He also incurred at least S$372.65 in out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Mok was subsequently arrested on Jun. 24, 2026 and was charged on Jun. 29, 2026.

Vulnerable

The prosecution sought 12 to 14 weeks’ jail and a compensation order of S$372.65 as Mok did not make restitution.

They argued that Mok’s punches landed on the victim's eye, which “is an especially vulnerable part of the face, and an orbital fracture carries the attendant risk of vision impairment”.

The punches were "all dealt" to the victim's face, eye, and head, all of which are vulnerable parts of the body, the prosecution said.

They also stated that Mok’s actions were “wholly unprovoked” and the victim did not retaliate when he was assaulted.

For voluntarily causing hurt, Mok could have been jailed up to five years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.

Residents at a block of flats in Chinatown have been dealing with a rat problem for nearly a year.

Having had enough, one resident took matters into her own hands by using her own recipe to make baits to trap the rodents.

She successfully trapped 20 rats in three weeks.

Ongoing rat infestation

According to Shin Min Daily News, residents of Block 32 New Market Road said a rat infestation had been ongoing since the end of 2025, causing concern over hygiene and safety.

A 76-year-old female resident, surnamed Xie (transliteration), told the Chinese-language newspaper that she has lived in the block for decades and rarely encountered rats despite a food centre being located downstairs.

However, rats began appearing along the corridors and gnawing on objects last year, she said.

According to her, she often sees rats running around when she leaves her home at about 4am or 5am.

Her home security camera also previously captured rats running along the gates, she added.

Homemade traps

To deal with the problem, Xie told Shin Min she bought glue traps and used fried anchovies (ikan bilis) and duck bones as bait, adding oyster sauce to attract the rats.

She said she usually sets up two or three traps at a time.

"After catching a rat, I wait for it to die before throwing it away," she said.

"I don't set out the traps every day, but I still catch quite a few. A few days ago, I set them out at 2am and caught two when I got up at 5am," she said.

She also attributed the rat problem to food being brought to the fourth-floor common area for gatherings on weekends and public holidays.

According to Xie, people have frequently been eating there over the past year and leaving rubbish behind, which she believes may have attracted the rats.

Another resident, who declined to be named, said rats have crawled into his home and he had to chase them out.

"There was no rat problem before. It only started recently, and I suspect it is related to people eating downstairs," he said.

He added that he now keeps his doors and windows tightly shut whenever he leaves home to prevent the rats from getting inside.

"If rats chew through electrical wires and cause a fire, the consequences would be unimaginable," he said.

Recreational area on the fourth floor

Shin Min found that part of the fourth floor had been converted into a recreational area, with exercise equipment installed there.

The area directly below the public hosing block is an open space, with notices placed on pillars reminding people not to urinate there or make excessive noise.

Rats also spotted at shops

Shop owners on the second floor said they have also frequently spotted signs of rats and have taken measures to prevent them from entering their premises.

One shop owner told Shin Min that he covered the gaps beneath several metal racks in his store months ago to prevent rats from using the hiding place to breed.

Another business owner said there used to be a restaurant on the second floor that had a serious rat problem.

The restaurant closed after undergoing renovations several years ago, and the rat situation subsequently improved, he said.

"There are still rats around. They usually come out at night and aren't very afraid of people. If someone gets close, they run quickly into the ditch," he said.

Pest control work conducted weekly

In response to queries from Shin Min, a spokesperson for the Jalan Besar Town Council said pest control work is carried out in the area every week.

The town council has also put up notices discouraging people from gathering in the open area on the fourth floor, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the matter has also been referred to the Singapore Police Force to address any possible illegal assembly or gatherings.

Police will increase patrols in the area.

The town council thanked residents for their feedback, adding that it would continue to monitor the situation:

"We will continue to closely monitor the situation and work closely with relevant departments to improve the living environment for residents."

A bus driver was praised for getting off the bus to scold car drivers using the dedicated bus lane near the Johor Bahru customs and making it unpassable.

A video of the incident was shared on Instagram by @jon_tri_fast on Aug. 20.

It was viewed 367,000 times by Aug. 23.

Approached Singapore car

The bus driver, with a neck pillow on, was seen standing in the rain and approaching the cars that were in the bus lane.

He knocked on a driver's window.

The car he approached bore a Singapore licence plate.

"Good, good, good. Look at our driver," the person filming said in a mix of dialect and Mandarin.

"This is a bus lane, but you look at the cars blocking the way. But look at our driver. He went down to scold the car drivers," the voice added.

Another passenger on the bus said: "Traffic police man this one."

The person filming replied: "Mai siao siao. Steady."

The passengers on board the bus broke out in applause when the bus driver returned.

Police approached car

The video then cut to a scene showing a Malaysia police officer approaching a car that was believed to have used the dedicated bus lane.

According to the person filming, the car driver was seen handing over a passport and instructed to move along.

In Singapore, errant motorists will be turned away and made to re-queue if they are caught attempting to cut the queue, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

A tree fell onto several cars along Loewen Road in the Dempsey area at about 10am on Aug. 22, damaging at least two vehicles.

Crushed the roof of a Nissan MPV

A video provided to Mothership by a reader showed that a tree had fallen onto a white Nissan multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), crushing the roof above the middle row of seats.

A separate photo showed a parked blue BMW that was also damaged, with parts of the tree on its bonnet.

According to the reader, she was waiting in her car for her daughter to finish her dance class when she heard a loud cracking sound.

Looking behind, she said she saw the base of the tree split in two before it slowly toppled.

Her first thought was to pray that the tree would not fall on her as her car was parked directly in front of it, she said.

After the tree fell, she got out of her car and saw two young children trapped underneath it.

Thankfully, the children were freed with minor scratches and their father took them away, she said.

The reader then heard people shouting from the other side of the fallen tree and saw that a driver was trapped in his car, prompting her to call 999 for help.

Speaking to The Straits Times (ST), the 60-year-old driver of the Nissan said he was turning out of the Museum of Ice Cream in Loewen Road when he heard a loud crackling sound.

Upon looking up, he saw the tree, which was on the left side of his vehicle, slowly toppling in front of him.

The driver said he tried to reverse, but part of the tree had already fallen onto the passenger side of the vehicle, crushing the roof.

Unable to open the door from within, he was subsequently trapped inside the car.

Fortunately, employees from a nearby spa later went out and helped to free him from the driver's seat.

The driver was not injured.

No major injuries reported

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that no ambulance assistance was required.

In a media statement, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said it was aware of the fallen tree along Loewen Road and had responded to the incident with relevant stakeholders and agencies.

"The immediate priority is to ensure public safety, secure the affected area and facilitate the safe removal of the fallen tree to minimise disruption," SLA said.

No major injuries were reported from the incident, it added.

SLA said it and the relevant stakeholders and agencies will assess the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine any necessary follow-up measures, including checks on surrounding trees where appropriate.

All other locations in Dempsey remain accessible, SLA said.

It thanked the public for their patience and cooperation while the necessary works are carried out.