People's Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tampines GRC, Charlene Chen, dug through a Bloobin recycling bin and found a half-eaten sandwich, fried rice, and cigarette butts.

She was taking a closer look at the Bloobin to uncover common recycling mistakes and create awareness to prevent contamination of recyclables.

In a Facebook post on May 26, captioned "What’s really inside our Bloobins?", Chen noted that "While many have the right intention to recycle, recycling right makes all the difference". 

In the video, Chen, who is also the Vice-Chairman of Tampines Town Council, said, "Sometimes, people put things in that shouldn't be in there."

"If there's food waste in there, the cockroach will have a feast in there. We don't want the cockroaches to have a feast in there."

Food waste attracts pests

In the video, Chen could be seen sorting through recyclables from plastic milk containers to cardboard boxes.

She found multiple food items that should not be in the Bloobin, as it would attract pests such as rodents.

Chen also found nonrecyclable trash, which should be put into the green bins for general waste disposal.

In her caption, she said, "one contaminated item can render the entire batch unrecyclable".

Cigarette butts may cause recyclables to catch fire

While sorting through cardboard boxes, Chen found a cigarette butt.

Besides being unrecyclable in regular Bloobins, cigarettes with sparks may cause the bins' recyclables to catch fire.

Other items that cannot be recycled include toilet paper, paper towels, tissue paper, and styrofoam.

These items should be kept out of the Bloobin so that it will not overflow.

Items that can be recycled, such as cardboard, egg cartons, and certain plastics, should be kept clean, dry, and contamination-free.

In her caption, Chen added that cardboard boxes should also be flattened before disposal.

If one spots an overflowing Bloobin, feedback can be sent via the myENV App, linked here.

For more information on recycling right, check out the Clean and Green Singapore website.

A Malaysian woman took to social media to share her experience after her three-year-old child doodled on her passport while she was packing for a work trip.

In a Threads post, the woman revealed what happened on Jun. 6 night.

Packing for trip

The woman was apparently packing her luggage for a work trip when her child managed to get a hold of her passport.

He then proceeded to doodle over it using a blue ballpoint pen.

"My heart wants to cry," she wrote.

In the post, her child could be seen smiling as he held up the damaged passport.

The child also appeared to have doodled what appeared to be a dinosaur on one of the pages of her passport.

The caption in a subsequent post read: “I hate dinosaur!”

Damaged

The woman then visited the immigration department office in Putrajaya for help.

An immigration officer deemed her passport damaged and could no longer be used for travel.

As the incident occurred on a Saturday, she was apparently unable to obtain a replacement passport and would have to wait until Monday, Jun. 8.

The woman was unable to board her flight as planned.

As a result, she made an arrangement with Qatar Airways and rescheduled her flight to Monday evening, resulting in additional charges amounting to RM620 (S$204) for flight changes.

Reflections

The woman reflected on her predicament and joked that her child just wanted to hug her for a few more days, adding that she was not upset with him as he was still young.

She mentioned that her child was still smiling after the incident.

The woman also expressed her gratitude to the immigration officer who helped her.

A six-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pet monkey that his grandfather kept in Sichon district in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.

The incident occurred on the morning of Jun. 6 in a home located in a village in the Thepharat subdistrict, Bangkok Post and Khaosod reported.

Bitten

The boy, identified as Nathan Ekkarat Srichan, walked past the monkey and was attacked.

The monkey purportedly grabbed Ekkarat and bit him in the chest and leg.

Its fangs also apparently penetrated the boy's lungs.

Relatives rushed the boy to a local hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

He eventually succumbed to his injuries.

According to local media, he was reportedly a first-grade student.

Tethered

The monkey, a macaque, was reportedly tethered at the time of the incident.

It was attached to a rope strung between two trees beside the house, with a wooden beam allowing it to climb and move around.

The monkey was kept beside a village grocery store owned by his grandfather, Jaroon.

Jaroon apparently kept the monkey for companionship since it was an infant.

It is believed that Ekkarat did not sense any danger when he wandered too close to the monkey.

Local police also said the monkey remained tethered at the same location as the investigation was carried out.

The man who allegedly crashed his car into a rubbish chute at Yishun Street 11 was charged with driving while under the influence of methamphetamine and four other traffic offences on Jun. 8.

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, the accused, Sivakandesh, who goes by one name, was previously disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving license for a period of 48 months from Jul. 23, 2024, to Jul. 22, 2026.

Court documents did not state the reason for his disqualification.

On Jun. 6 at around 5:58pm, the 32-year-old drove within the open space carpark of 150 Yishun Street 11, stated court documents.

He allegedly drove without due care and attention, failing to maintain proper control.

Struck 2 concrete bollards, parked car and rubbish chute

Sivakandesh allegedly collided with two concrete bollards, a parked car and a Housing Development Board (HDB) rubbish chute before stopping.

According to charge sheets, the Singapore-registered car allegedly did not have any insurance policy or such a security in respect of third-party risks and was not compliant with motor vehicle laws.

Sivakandesh was accused of leaving the scene and also allegedly failed to take reasonable steps to inform the owners of the parked car and structures of the accident.

It was previously reported that he allegedly fled the scene before the police arrived and locked himself in a residential unit.

Stun device and suspected drug paraphernalia found in vehicle

In previous reports, the police said a stun device and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle.

Sivakandesh was remanded from Jun. 8; his bail was set at S$25,000.

His case will be mentioned again on Jul. 20.

A first-time offender can face up to a year of jail, a fine of S$10,000 or both for driving while under the influence of an intoxicating substance.

Repeat offenders face up to two years' jail and a fine of up to S$20,000.

A 43-year-old Myanmar national was sentenced to 16 weeks’ jail and three strokes of the cane after he overstayed in Singapore and paid S$3,000 to be smuggled out of the country in the boot of a car.

The accused, Min Aung Ngwe Paing, pleaded guilty to two of four charges on Jun. 5, Shin Min Daily News reported.

The other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Overstayed

In charge sheets seen by Mothership, Min entered Singapore on Sep. 23, 2013, and was issued a 30-day visit pass that expired on Oct. 23 of the same year.

He remained in Singapore illegally for 137 days after the expiry of his visit pass.

Min reportedly overstayed to look for work.

Smuggled out

According to Shin Min, he feared getting arrested.

He was then introduced to an unidentified man who agreed to help him leave Singapore illegally in exchange for S$3,000.

At about 11pm on Mar. 9, 2014, the pair met at a car park near Woodlands.

The man then instructed Min to hide in the boot of the car, saying he would drive him through Woodlands Checkpoint into Malaysia.

Min agreed and paid the man.

About 40 minutes later, he arrived in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

He then travelled to Thailand by bus before eventually making his way back to Myanmar.

Returned to Singapore

After spending about nine years outside of Singapore, Min decided to return to the country on Nov. 14, 2024.

He reportedly returned to look for work due to the civil unrest in Myanmar.

Min paid approximately S$610 to an agent to obtain a passport with particulars that did not match his identity.

Arrested

On May 12, Min was arrested.

At the time of his arrest, he had overstayed in Singapore for about one year, five months and 28 days.

Min pleaded for leniency, saying that his parents were old and he hoped to return to Myanmar as soon as possible.

Operations have resumed at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove after a fire involving a superyacht berthed there on Jun. 7.

In a statement released on the private club's website and social media on Jun. 8, ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove confirmed that the fire on Eagle Wings III has been extinguished.

There were no reported injuries, and marina operations have resumed after clearance by the authorities.

The affected berth has remained closed as a precaution, "with appropriate safety and environmental barriers in place", ONE°15 Marina said in its post.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the management is working closely with the relevant authorities.

In the meantime, the clubhouse remains fully operational.

What happened

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the fire at about 8:10am on Jun. 7.

SCDF land-based resources arrived at the scene within seven minutes and deployed a water jet from the pontoon to fight the fire, which fully engulfed the yacht.

During the firefighting effort, the yacht began drifting away from the pontoon, prompting the activation of an SCDF Marine Vessel for support.

The yacht was revealed to be owned by chairman and founder of EagleWings Yacht Charters, Julian Theng.

"It was tough seeing Eagle Wings III go up in flames. So sudden and unexpected that a piece of my heart sank with it," Theng said.

A married couple were found dead in a hotel at Hua Hin, Thailand, on Jun. 7.

According to Khaosod English, the 43-year-old man and his 29-year-old wife had checked into the hotel one day before the incident.

Surveillance footage reviewed by authorities showed that at around 2:45am, the couple left their room and retrieved a chair from the 15th floor before making their way up to the 16th floor, local newspaper Siam Rath reported.

The footage captured the duo holding hands and embracing before stepping onto the chair and jumping over the balcony.

They fell to the third floor and died instantly.

A handwritten note was later recovered from their room, in which the pair apologised to family members.

The note said they had "fought as hard as possible" and were exhausted, and included expressions of love for the man's mother and their daughter.

Investigators found no evidence of foul play or any irregularities at the scene.

Family members later told police that the couple had been under considerable financial pressure due to mounting debts.

Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the deaths.

Thai authorities are encouraging anyone in emotional distress or facing serious personal difficulties to seek help from loved ones, a medical professional, or the Mental Health Hotline 1323, which operates around the clock.

Helplines

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

National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)

National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)

Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)

HOME: 1800 797 7977 or +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS)

The Singapore police have arrested 13 men, aged between 21 and 39, for being suspected members of unlawful societies during an island-wide secret societies suppression operation conducted on May 22 and 23.

The operation was led by the Secret Societies Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department and supported by Ang Mo Kio, Tanglin, Jurong and Woodlands Police Divisions, the police said in a Jun. 4 release.

About 35 public entertainment outlets, nightlife establishments and food and beverage outlets, as well as close to 100 persons were checked during the island-wide operation.

Police investigations against all 13 men are ongoing.

Penalties

Anyone found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society under the Societies Act 1966 shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$10,000, a jail term not exceeding three years, or both.

The police said they have zero tolerance towards any secret society and unlawful activities that threaten the public safety, peace, and good order of the community.

"We will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders to conduct regular enforcement operations at the various public entertainment and nightlife establishments and popular congregation hotspots," the police added.

The police also said firm action will be taken against anyone who is associated with the secret societies and choose to flout the law.

The police also advised the public to steer clear of secret society activities and to report those engaging in such unlawful activities to the police immediately.

Six people died following a collision between a car and a lorry in Malaysia on Jun. 7.

More details about the victims have been revealed.

The driver, 29, his wife, 29, his mother-in-law, 55, his son, seven, and a six-month-old baby died at the scene.

The driver's brother, 21, also died.

The only survivor was the driver's three-year-old daughter.

The driver's age was variously reported as 27 by Malay Mail, The Star, and Free Malaysia Today.

It was also reported that the driver, who was a police officer, was driving his brother's new Proton car that they received just that morning.

They were on their way to the gravesite of their deceased father when the accident happened, Sin Chew Daily reported.

They were travelling to Merbok from Kepala Batas, Penang.

The lorry driver was uninjured.

New car

According to Sin Chew Daily, the Proton X50 involved in the accident belonged to the younger brother, who had just received the new car that morning.

However, it was being driven by his brother at the time of the accident.

Photos of the family posing with the new car circulated on social media after the accident.

Stop speculation: Malaysia police says

Local police reminded the public not to speculate about the incident, noting that many rumours were being circulated.

Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah requested that the public give space to the police to conduct a full investigation to determine the actual cause of the incident, the New Straits Times reported.

He also commented on speculation about the races of the driver, saying that both the lorry driver and the family in the car were Malays.

While the lorry driver's urine screening turned out negative, he has a record of seven prior summons and will be remanded for further investigations, Adzli said.

An ephemeral artwork created on a pavement outside Mountbatten MRT station was removed following a complaint from a member of the public.

The incident subsequently drew wider public attention.

The art piece was created by Marcus Pang, 24, a local power-washing artist, who uses pressurised water to produce images on concrete surfaces.

Mountbatten Member of Parliament Gho Sze Kee has since taken to Facebook to address the incident.

What happened

Pang said in an Instagram post on Jun. 5 that he had been working on a heart-shaped artwork on the walkway outside Mountbatten MRT station on the afternoon of May 31, when he was approached by station staff.

According to Pang, the staff member said a member of the public had raised concerns about "chemicals" being used near a grass patch.

He clarified that the artwork was created using only rainwater on concrete, and that any smell was likely gasoline from his power washer.

He was asked to produce a permit, and when he said one was not required, the staff member replied: "This is Singapore, bro."

Police were subsequently called, but found that no offence had been committed.

When Pang returned the next day to complete the piece, he found it had been cleaned off entirely.

"This incident stirs up larger questions for our society": Gho

In a Facebook post on Jun. 7, Gho said she had been aware of Pang's work in the neighbourhood for some time and had personally found it a welcome addition, though she had chosen not to publicise it.

"I never posted about this because I did not feel it right to opportunistically latch onto his social media eyeballs. And I believe in quiet deeds, and not performative action."

She also clarified that the area around the station falls under SMRT's jurisdiction, not the town council's, and that it was SMRT staff who had removed the artwork.

She added that she had already asked her grassroots leader, the chairman of the constituency's arts interest group, to reach out to Pang.

"This incident stirs up larger questions for our society. There will always be tension between artistic creativity, free expression and the rules that hold our shared spaces together," Gho wrote.

She also posed a broader question to residents: "How much room do we make for spontaneous beauty? How should we weigh between those who are delighted against those who are not?"

She added:

"I think the best way for now, is to work with us. Collaborate with us, let us manage the space for you."

Gho invited artists to work with the constituency directly, saying: "If you too have an idea for art in our neighbourhood, please do feel free to reach out to me."

Other MPs show support

Pang's post attracted responses from other MPs as well.

Sengkang MP Jamus Lim of the Workers' Party commented: "I love it! Come do it in Sengkang!"

Whampoa-Boon Keng MP Shawn Loh similarly offered to his support, writing: "Please come and give us a recce!"

Pang previously told Mothership he plans to gain endorsements from interested MPs before proceeding with future projects.

"I'll try to warm the cockles of the heart of the residents at Sengkang first," he said.

SMRT also commented on Pang's post, expressing openness to collaboration and noting it was a supporter of the arts.

The transport operator said it would welcome a conversation about working together on something more permanent.

"We're flattered you chose the pavement outside our station as your latest canvas — clearly the power washer was feeling particularly inspired that day.

As enthusiastic supporters of the arts, we'd love to chat about collaborating on something with a longer run. We champion non-disappearing art. 🎨😉"

Pang also said he has put any plans for Mountbatten on hold for now.