<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
    <rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#">

        <channel>
            <title>Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world</title>
            <atom:link href="https://mothership.sg/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
            <link>https://mothership.sg</link>
            <description>Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world</description>
            <lastBuildDate>2026-08-01T06:12:31+00:00</lastBuildDate>
            <language>en-US</language>
            <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
            <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
            <generator>StaticEngine</generator>
            <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">60045542</site>

                <item>
                    <title>Law Society seeking to get Pritam Singh struck off the rolls at Aug. 13 disciplinary hearing</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/law-society-seeks-to-strike-pritam-singh-off-the-rolls/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T23:36:17</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Khine Zin Htet ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/law-society-seeks-to-strike-pritam-singh-off-the-rolls/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ For lying under oath to the Committee of Privileges. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/pritam-singh-1.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>The Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) will be asking for Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh to be struck off the rolls of advocates and solicitors during his disciplinary case hearing on Aug. 13.</p><p>This follows his conviction on two charges of "wilfully making false answers to questions material to the subject of inquiry put during examination before the Committee of Privileges", according to a summary of upcoming court fixtures.</p>
<p>Singh, who is a lawyer by profession, was previously convicted in February 2025 on two counts of lying under oath to the Committee of Privileges in the Raeesah Khan case.</p><p>Singh later lost his appeal in December 2025 and eventually paid a S$14,000 fine.</p><p><h2>Court of Three Judges</h2></p><p>According to the court fixtures, the case will be presided over by the Court of Three Judges comprising Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, alongside Justice Kannan Ramesh and Justice See Kee Oon.</p><p>The Court of Three Judges is the legal profession's highest disciplinary tribunal. It has the power to suspend lawyers from practice or have them struck off the rolls of advocates and solicitors.</p><p>LawSoc is represented by lawyers from Drew &amp; Napier, including its chief executive officer, Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull.</p><p>Singh is represented by lawyers from Peter Low Chambers, including Peter Cuthbert Low and Senior Counsel Chelva Retnam Rajah as the instructed counsel.</p><p><h2>What the law says</h2></p><p>LawSoc said in March 2026 that it initiated disciplinary proceedings against Singh as required under the Legal Profession Act, following his court conviction, <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/law-society-initiate-disciplinary-proceedings-pritam-singh-5989366" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNA</em></a> reported.</p><p>It said it had done so based on information received from the Attorney-General's Chambers that Singh had been convicted of offences involving "fraud or dishonesty", according to <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/law-society-says-it-was-required-by-law-to-initiate-disciplinary-proceedings-against-pritam-singh" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Straits Times</em></a>.</p><p>Section 94A of the Legal Profession Act stipulates that LawSoc must, without further direction, initiate disciplinary proceedings where a regulated legal practitioner has been convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty.</p><p>The legal practitioner may be struck off the rolls.</p><p>They may also be suspended from practice for up to five years, fined up to S$100,000 or be censured.</p><p>A lawyer in Singapore was <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/07/drink-driving-lawyer-lie-struck-off/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recently</a> struck off the rolls on Jul. 9, 2026, for lying to the police after a drink-driving accident in 2024.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Law Society seeking to get Pritam Singh struck off the rolls at Aug. 13 disciplinary hearing' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/07/drink-driving-lawyer-lie-struck-off/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><iframe class='post-embed title='Law Society seeking to get Pritam Singh struck off the rolls at Aug. 13 disciplinary hearing' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/07/lawsoc-pritam-singh-hearing/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162829</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>S'pore NYP student said she was going to school, vanished, family found Cambodia flight ticket in email</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/spore-woman-flight-ticket-cambodia/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T18:57:59</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Gracia Yap ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/spore-woman-flight-ticket-cambodia/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Berita Mediacorp reported that the police confirmed she had already left Singapore via a flight. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/girl-missing-in-cambodia-cover-pic.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>The 20-year-old woman from Singapore who apparently went missing in Cambodia had reportedly informed her mother that she was going to school at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) as usual at around 11am on Jul. 28.</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbc32CykfmZ/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Berita Mediacorp</em></a> reported that this was according to the teenager's eldest brother, Syafiq Siregar.</p>
<p><h2>Reportedly left on flight</h2></p><p><em>BM</em> added that while on their way to NYP to fetch Aishah from school at about 5pm, the family found out that her phone number was no longer contactable and her WhatsApp account was no longer active.</p><p>They also found that Aishah's passport was not at home. The police confirmed that Aishah had already left Singapore via a flight.</p><p>When they tried to log into her email, they reportedly found a flight ticket booking to Cambodia and believed that she had flown off to Phnom Penh.</p><p><h2>Appeal</h2></p><p>An earlier <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/07/singapore-woman-missing-cambodia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report</a> mentioned that an appeal to look for her was put up on Facebook by the woman's father, who was appealing to the authorities in Singapore and Cambodia to find her.</p><p>She is believed to be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, her father Sahat Siregar wrote in his Jul. 30 post, which also called on the authorities and public to "bring Aishah back home".</p><p>He also asked the authorities to "please help us find my daughter as soon as possible".</p><p><iframe width="500" height="689" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsahat.kaknita%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0XK7PYBBo9p6Fa3aarHSgkKGgSiRefcj61uKe7mw2d5nAAX3X98omXqrcjPEHkjmwl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p><p><h2>Made police report</h2></p><p>The family made a police report in Singapore and are working closely with the authorities, the post noted.</p><p>It also thanked everyone who has helped the family so far.</p><p>"We are afraid that every hour we lose could make it harder to bring her home safely," the post added.</p><p>"As a father, I am begging for your help. I just want my daughter to come home safe," the post also said.</p><p>The father also asked those who read the post to help the family by sharing it as "someone may have seen something or know something that could help".</p><p>"If you have any information, no matter how small, please contact me or the Singapore police immediately," he wrote. "Please keep my daughter in your prayers. Please help bring my daughter home safely."</p><iframe class='post-embed title='S'pore NYP student said she was going to school, vanished, family found Cambodia flight ticket in email' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/07/singapore-woman-missing-cambodia/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p><iframe width="500" height="678" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsahat.kaknita%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02b8UkSzmuNA3TMcNE7n1Fs4H3Vf7B9z7Z3LpRwbfrCdNiGa8wkk76JVZCkBnNu5UHl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162818</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>S’porean ex-lawyer, 29, gets 4 weeks’ jail for taking upskirt video at Woodleigh MRT station</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/lawyer-jail-upskirt-videos-mrt/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T18:32:16</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Rafael See Toh ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/lawyer-jail-upskirt-videos-mrt/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ He would arrive at Raffles Place MRT station and repeat the same process of taking upskirt videos. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/cover-photo-mothership-36.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A 29-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to four weeks’ jail after modifying a bag with a hole at the bottom and using it to film upskirt videos.</p><p>Ye Yixu Samuel pleaded guilty to one charge of voyeurism and was sentenced on Jul. 23.</p>
<p>According to <em><a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lawyer-stress-upskirt-videos-voyeur-jail-6280096" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNA</a></em>, Ye was a former lawyer.</p><p><h2>Woodleigh</h2></p><p>In court documents seen by <em>Mothership</em>, in April 2024 at Woodleigh MRT station, Ye set his mobile phone to enable video recording and placed it at the bottom of a black bag he obtained from a wine store.</p><p>The bag had a hole at its base.</p><p>He positioned the phone such that its camera faced outwards.</p><p>Ye kept a lookout for women with knee-length or short skirts so he could take upskirt videos of them.</p><p>He then spotted an unknown woman wearing a short skirt and tailed her while he was holding the bag with the phone in it.</p><p>When she stepped onto an escalator travelling upwards, Ye followed suit and stood behind her.</p><p>Ye held the bag in a way that allowed him to capture an upskirt video of the woman.</p><p>When both of them reached the upper floor, he stopped the video recording.</p><p>Ye then viewed the footage before deleting it.</p><p><h2>Modus operandi</h2></p><p>From April 2024 to early May 2024, Ye adopted a similar modus operandi in taking upskirt videos of multiple women at the MRT station at least once a week.</p><p>He would purchase wine from a wine store to obtain the black bag.</p><p>Ye would then puncture a hole in the bag to conceal his phone and facilitate his actions.</p><p>He would then keep a lookout for women wearing short skirts passing by the area before following them if he deemed them suitable targets.</p><p>The phone would be in video-recording mode beforehand and placed in the bag with its camera facing upwards.</p><p>Ye would then follow the unknown females up the escalator while taking upskirt videos of them.</p><p>After taking a sufficiently long recording, he would stop the recording and return to the same area to wait for his next victim.</p><p>After being satisfied that there were no further potential victims, Ye would leave for work.</p><p>Occasionally, when Ye arrived at Raffles Place MRT station for work, he would repeat the same process of identifying, tailing and taking upskirt videos of unknown victims while standing behind them on the ascending escalator, before heading to the office.</p><p>After viewing the upskirt videos, Ye would then delete them.</p><p>He would also dispose of the black bag he used.</p><p><h2>Arrest</h2></p><p>On Jun. 7, 2024, the police received an anonymous i-Witness report that Ye used his phone to take upskirt videos at an MRT station in April 2024.</p><p>Ye was subsequently arrested on Jun. 14 and was remanded.</p><p>He was released on bail on Jun. 15.</p><p><h2>Disorder</h2></p><p>The prosecution sought a two to three months’ jail sentence for Ye.</p><p>They argued that “there was some degree of premeditation to his offending” and he “was clearly goal-oriented” in targeting his victims.</p><p>The prosecution cited his modus operandi and alleged he was “plainly lingering around for no conceivable reason other than finding victims”.</p><p>The prosecution also said he had taken upskirt videos on multiple occasions and “had a predilection for committing acts of voyeurism”.</p><p>Ye’s lawyers reportedly called the prosecution's sentence “harsh”, and they sought a short detention order with a community service order, or two weeks' jail in the alternative.</p><p>They said Ye was remorseful and apparently suffered from mixed depressive and anxiety disorder, as well as voyeuristic disorder, at the time of the offence, inhibiting his ability to exercise self-control.</p><p>Ye's lawyers claimed he voluntarily sought treatment in August 2023 and regularly attended psychotherapy sessions.</p><p>He apparently felt disgusted and ashamed of himself.</p><p>They also cited Ye’s break-up with his girlfriend in April 2024, which resulted in a "spree of voyeuristic behaviour".</p><p>In December 2025, Ye was assessed as presenting with paraphilic disorder and excessive pornography consumption.</p><p>His lawyers said Ye admitted to his offences when he was arrested and has not relapsed since August 2024.</p><p>For voyeurism, he could have faced a jail term of up to two years, a fine, caning, or any combination of such punishments.</p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162783</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>'Thank you for believing in our little boy': SMA fundraiser for baby Matthias closes with S$1.78 million raised</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/fundraiser-baby-matthias-spinal-muscular-atrophy-reaches-goal/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T18:27:47</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Gracia Yap ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/fundraiser-baby-matthias-spinal-muscular-atrophy-reaches-goal/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Baby Matthias is the third child to nurse couple Yun Hann and Benjamin.
 ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/baby-matthias-fundraiser-hit-goal.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>The fundraiser that was launched to help nine-month-old baby Matthias with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) receive urgent gene therapy has closed after reaching its goal.</p><p>Checks by <em>Mothership</em> on Jul. 31 showed that the campaign, which started on Jul. 24, was 100 per cent completed.</p>
<p>A campaign update stated that thanks to the community’s generous support through the crowdfunding campaign, together with the funds secured by the family, the full amount needed for Matthias to receive gene therapy Zolgensma has been met.</p><p>A rare genetic disease, SMA destroys motor neurons and weakens muscles.</p><p>"We have therefore stopped accepting any further donations, and the campaign closed at S$1,780,569.02 instead of the original goal of S$2,440,451.40," it read.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 2422px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.43.49 PM.png" alt="" width="2422" height="940" class="size-full wp-image-1162773" /> <em>Photo via rayofhope</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 2440px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-3.34.47 PM.png" alt="" width="2440" height="1274" class="size-full wp-image-1162765" /> <em>Photo via <a href="https://rayofhope.sg/campaign/walkwithmatthias/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rayofhope</a></em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 534px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.30.51 PM.png" alt="" width="534" height="562" class="size-full wp-image-1162766" /> <em>Photo from Matthias' parents</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>Baby Matthias is the third child of nurses Yun Hann, 34, and Benjamin, 36, who never thought their baby could have a genetic disorder.</p><p>Their two other children aged four and six are completely healthy.</p><p>As of Jul. 28, they raised over S$904,000.</p><p>Having previously donated to Ginny and Faziq's fundraisers previously, they knew the amount would be "astronomical".</p><iframe class='post-embed title=''Thank you for believing in our little boy': SMA fundraiser for baby Matthias closes with S$1.78 million raised' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/03/baby-ginny-spinal-muscular-atrophy/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><iframe class='post-embed title=''Thank you for believing in our little boy': SMA fundraiser for baby Matthias closes with S$1.78 million raised' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/03/baby-faziq-cure-disease/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p><h2>Whole new meaning of community: Couple</h2></p><p>Expressing their gratitude in a Jul. 31 Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbcYz8qxL9a/?igsh=MTIxbG9mcjJ6NWUxeA%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">post</a>, the couple said the past three weeks had opened their eyes to a whole new meaning of community.</p><p>It's hard to find the words, the post read.</p><p>"All we know is this: without every prayer, every dollar, every share, every encouraging message, every act of kindness, and every cheerful comment, we truly don't know how we would have made it to today," it added.</p><p>The couple said: "With hearts full of gratitude, we want to share that, together, we have raised the remaining funds needed for Matthias' gene therapy."</p><p>They added that they are deeply humbled by the love that has surrounded the family.</p><p>"From friends and family, to colleagues, classmates and teachers, strangers who became friends, and even little children who gave from their pocket money—you have carried us through the hardest season of our lives," the post read.</p><p>It added: "Thank you for believing in our little boy, for carrying us when we didn’t have the strength to carry ourselves, and for standing with our family every step of the way."</p><p>"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We will never forget your kindness."</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1556px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.25.35 PM.png" alt="" width="1556" height="1180" class="size-full wp-image-1162759" /> <em>Photo via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbcYz8qxL9a/?igsh=MTIxbG9mcjJ6NWUxeA%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">walkwithmatthias</a>/Instagram</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><h2>Type 2 SMA</h2></p><p>Speaking to <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/07/baby-matthias-spinal-muscular-atrophy-fundraiser/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Mothership</em></a>, the couple previously said that at seven months, Matthias' legs started to get increasingly "floppy" when they carried him in a standing position.</p><p>At first, they dismissed it as an effect of his size and personality.</p><p>Yun Hann is a nurse in the National Centre for Infectious Disease and Benjamin works in Tan Tock Seng Hospital.</p><p>However, they realised something was not right when he began to regress even further the next month.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1040px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.27.08 PM.png" alt="" width="1040" height="1182" class="size-full wp-image-1162762" /> <em>Photo from Matthias' parents</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1008px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.28.25 PM.png" alt="" width="1008" height="1266" class="size-full wp-image-1162763" /> <em>Photo from Matthias' parents</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>At seven months, Matthias struggled to prop himself up on his elbows while lying on his stomach — a move he could do easily just a month before.</p><p>By the eighth month, he could not do it at all.</p><p>"That was the biggest red flag," Yun Hann said.</p><p><h2>Needs treatment quickly</h2></p><p>After reading <em>Mothership's</em> previous reports on babies Ginny and Faziq, both of whom were diagnosed with SMA, they thought these two babies' symptoms matched what they were seeing in Matthias.</p><p>When they brought Matthias to get tested at a hospital on Jul. 13, their worst fears were confirmed. He was diagnosed with Type 2 SMA.</p><p>As in the cases of Ginny and Faziq, the doctors told the couple that their son urgently needed Zolgensma.</p><p>The one-time gene therapy that replaces the faulty gene with a new, working copy, has been shown to stop the disease progression with just one dose.</p><p>However, it is priced at S$2.4 million and is unsubsidised by the government.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.29.00 PM.png" alt="" width="1034" height="1152" class="size-full wp-image-1162764" /> <em>Photo from Matthias' parents</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>The doctors recommended that Matthias receive the treatment before he turns 12 months old.</p><p>The longer the delay, the greater the damage to their son's neurons — an effect that is likely irreversible.</p><p>Their hope is for Matthias to get Zolgensma as soon as possible so he can grow well and have a good future.</p><p><h2>'Takes a village to raise a child'</h2></p><p>Benjamin also highlighted to <em>Mothership</em> the support he and Yun Hann have been "very blessed" to receive.</p><p>Both of them have continued to work full-time, taking leave only on days they need to bring Matthias to the hospital for therapy.</p><p>Their parents help out with Matthias's physiotherapy in the daytime, and also help ferry them to medical appointments.</p><p>Yun Hann choked up when she previously talked about the compassion their bosses, friends, and family members have shown.</p><p>"Like the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child," Benjamin added.</p><p><iframe width="500" height="736" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMothershipSG%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02adyW6s9dDtwvjnKm6WVQ4VenFGqd7U81sQdNd2bXmsQcCZaeK6Scdi7uSjioz7jLl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162753</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>S'porean man, 55, who retired at 35, rents out room in fully-paid S$87,000 flat to recoup costs, helps underprivileged overseas</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/singaporean-retire-35/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T18:19:22</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Belmont Lay ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/singaporean-retire-35/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Extreme but doable. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/colin-lau-retire-at-35.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A video about the simple lifestyle of a 55-year-old man in Singapore, who retired at age 35, has blown up online.</p><p>Colin Lau shared about his life and his unorthodox approach to his finances in a Jul. 24, 2026 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g45D-ulsY00" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">video</a> by <em>CNA Insider</em>.</p>
<p><iframe id="ytplayer" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g45D-ulsY00" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p><p>The video has been viewed 1.7 million times in under a week.</p><p><h2>His story</h2></p><p>Lau said he was traumatised as a child after seeing his aunt cry about being retrenched.</p><p>His aunt informed him then that it was normal for people to get retrenched at around age 45.</p><p>He then pledged to save as much money as he humanly could to avoid the same fate.</p><p>Lo and behold, he got retrenched at 35 instead of 45.</p><p>The language learning centre he worked for shut down after the building was demolished.</p><p>It was a massive blow.</p><p>He "cried and cried", he wrote on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/free.ukay/posts/pfbid0NsxSnFXjnkexECnv14ehQJ7nsx52JNAsXTwyQZftGuqEayPkeUxd4DKk5PJMEHDyl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p><p><h2>Buying a house to generate cash flow</h2></p><p>However, he learned from a property agent about a way to generate cash flow.</p><p>As a single man who had hit 35 years old, he was able to buy the cheapest flat he could afford to pay in full and rent out a room.</p><p>He ended up purchasing a S$87,000 three-room flat in 2007 that had about 64 years left on its lease.</p><p>He did not take a loan as you "lose a lot of money by paying mortgages", he wrote.</p><p>The flat was built in 1971, the year Lau was born — he could live there till he turns 99.</p><p><h2>Renting out room paid for flat</h2></p><p>He also revealed that he recouped the cost of his flat after renting out a room for eight years.</p><p>This works out to about S$900 a month in rent that he still collects to this day from a tenant.</p><p>He explained his financial thinking: "I bought a cheap flat. Eight years later, the cheap flat is free of charge for me. And then the price of the flat went up."</p><p><h2>Gets S$2,500 cash flow per month</h2></p><p>Besides asset appreciation, Lau's life, as shared, revolved around saving aggressively, spending very little, and setting the rest of his money aside to be invested or used for another day.</p><p>He said of his approach: "Everybody was spending money like water, I was spending like a test tube."</p><p>He also estimated that he saved the bulk of what he earned: "I don't know, maybe, 80 per cent? I think it's pretty high, right? Sometimes it was 90 per cent."</p><p>These days, he receives payouts from insurance plans that he purchased when he was younger.</p><p>His cash flow is about S$2,500 a month, inclusive of the money he makes as a landlord.</p><p>He said he spends less than S$150 a month these days.</p><p>He continues to save the remainder of this S$2,500 monthly payout for the day he needs a helper to take care of him or check into a nursing home when he grows old as a bachelor.</p><p>He urged people not to save on the small things, but focus on the big ticket items, such as housing: "The real saving is when you save on the expensive stuff."</p><p>He admitted that he does not eat much as he wants to manage his blood glucose level.</p><p>He wrote that he was fat before and he is now thin and he chooses to be thin so that he would not have gut issues.</p><p><h2>What he has been doing with his life</h2></p><p>Lau writes in a self-deprecating tone.</p><p>This is evident from his Facebook post where he called himself "an extreme cheapskate".</p><p>He also revealed in his interview that he enjoys music, reading, and listening to podcasts — activities that are free and stimulate him mentally.</p><p><h2>Trade-offs</h2></p><p>But some of the trade-offs he has had to make included not being able to buy a bigger home or have children of his own.</p><p>He keeps a dog though.</p><p>Health issues have also cropped up.</p><p>In June 2025, his feet became swollen and he fainted.</p><p>He was found by his neighbours.</p><p>He underwent 15 surgeries and had a 62-day hospital stay.</p><p>His hospital bill came up to S$146,000.</p><p>But he paid nothing out of pocket as he chose the lowest ward class and had insurance coverage.</p><p><h2>Helping the underprivileged in the Philippines</h2></p><p>With all his free time on hand, Lau spends it helping others too.</p><p>He wrote that he has a "weird" hobby: Dumpster diving.</p><p>He will find items that are too good to be thrown away and have them shipped to Manila in the Philippines.</p><p>He was able to liaise with a cargo ship boss who would pack the cargo ship with loose items to make use of any free space on board.</p><p>Lau wrote: "Yes, very poor people in Manila slums will fight for the stuff that people in Singapore throw away in perfect condition."</p><p>"I never get upset with my Singapore people for throwing away stuff that look brand new."</p><p>Lau runs a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/free.ukay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> that collects usable items from people in Singapore.</p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162748</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>It’s official: Marmite delisted from S’pore & M'sia</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/official-marmite-delisted-singapore-malaysia/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T18:10:39</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Khine Zin Htet ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/official-marmite-delisted-singapore-malaysia/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Still available in the UK. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Article-Cover-Pic-2000-x-1050-2026-07-31T175924.405.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>It's official: Marmite — the dark, sticky and savoury British yeast extract spread — has been delisted by its distributor, Unilever International, in Singapore.</p><p>A Marmite spokesperson confirmed the move to <em>Mothership</em>, saying the company understands that consumers may be disappointed when their favourite products are no longer available.</p>
<p>"Marmite has a loyal following of lovers (and haters!) around the world and we understand that consumers are disappointed when their favourite products are delisted," the spokesperson said.</p><p>They added that the company continually reviews product availability across different markets and will continue working with its partners to ensure that as many Marmite lovers in Singapore as possible can continue to enjoy the iconic British condiment.</p><p><h2>Delisted in Singapore and Malaysia</h2></p><p><em>Mothership</em> understands the Marmite brand has been delisted both in Singapore and Malaysia.</p><p>Marmite continues to be manufactured in Burton upon Trent in the United Kingdom (UK) and is available across UK retailers and other export markets.</p><p>Meanwhile, supermarkets in Singapore said they are looking for alternative stocks of Marmite amid its disappearance from local shelves.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='It’s official: Marmite delisted from S’pore & M'sia' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/07/singapore-marmite-alternatives-unilever-supermarket/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p><h2>About Marmite</h2></p><p>First created by the Marmite Food Company in 1902, Marmite is produced from a by-product of beer brewing.</p><p>It is a vegan source of B vitamins and is traditionally spread thinly on buttered toast.</p><p>Marmite is now manufactured by the British company Unilever.</p><p>It was distributed to Singapore via Unilever Singapore.</p><p><em>Reuters</em> reported that between late 2025 and early 2026, Unilever considered selling Marmite and Bovril, as well as other British brands to trim the portfolio of the company.</p><p>Bovril is a beef extract paste similar to Marmite.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='It’s official: Marmite delisted from S’pore & M'sia' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/07/marmite-singapore/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162801</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>3 women, aged 32 to 38, seen fighting at Paya Lebar, arrested for affray & given warnings by police</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/women-fight-paya-lebar-arrested-warning-affray/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T17:56:42</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Khine Zin Htet ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/women-fight-paya-lebar-arrested-warning-affray/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ They were first arrested for affray.  ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Article-Cover-Pic-2000-x-1050-2026-07-31T172540.191.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>Three women, aged between 32 and 38, were arrested for affray on Jul. 26 and given warnings on Jul. 27.</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbSxiaCEztu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Videos</a> of the fight that took place at Paya Lebar circulated online, with many speculating that the women were foreign domestic workers.</p>
<p>The police confirmed with <em>Mothership</em> that they were alerted to a fight at 10 Paya Lebar Road at about 11:45am on Jul. 26.</p><p>The three women sustained minor injuries but refused conveyance to the hospital, police said.</p><p><h2>Given warnings</h2></p><p>The police said that they administered warnings to the three women on Jul. 27 for the offence of affray under Section 267B of the Penal Code 1871.</p><p>This was in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), upon completion of investigations and after careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, they said.</p><p><h2>What happened</h2></p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 716px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter-17.gif" alt="" width="716" height="1274" class="size-full wp-image-1162793" /> Gif via kettyketty203/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>Videos of the altercation showed a woman in a black shirt pulling the hair of a woman in red.</p><p>Several other women attempted to intervene, but were unable to stop the fight.</p><p>The women appeared to have been having picnics on a grassy patch by the roadside before the incident.</p><p>At one point, the woman in black was seen on top of the woman in red, pressing down on her head.</p><p>The struggle continued until the woman in black was pulled away by others.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 716px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter-18.gif" alt="" width="716" height="1274" class="size-full wp-image-1162796" /> Gif via kettyketty203/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>The woman in red then got to her feet and confronted a woman in brown standing beside the woman in black, who had walked away by that point.</p><p>The two women exchanged heated words before grabbing at each other.</p><p>A cyclist then attempted to break up the fight, saying that she would call the police.</p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162782</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>S'pore exploring new Bus Rapid Transit System for better connectivity in Tuas South: LTA</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/spore-bus-rapid-transit-system-connectivity-tuas-south-lta/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T17:37:17</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Constance Tan ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/spore-bus-rapid-transit-system-connectivity-tuas-south-lta/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Cities like Shanghai, Istanbul and Seoul have implemented this system. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-31T162458.528.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is studying the possibility of introducing a new form of public transport, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System in Tuas South, in a bid to improve the area's connectivity.</p><p>With a medium capacity that is higher than a regular bus and greater flexibility than the MRT or LRT, the BRT will be used to provide workers with faster connections to and from existing and future MRT stations.</p>
<p><h2>Improving connectivity</h2></p><p>The plan was announced by Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow at the launch of Phase Three of the Cross Island Line's (CRL) construction on Jul. 31.</p><p>The connectivity of the Tuas area currently depends mainly on the existing East-West Line, he said.</p><p>While the situation has been improved with the extension of the EWL, as well as the upcoming CRL and Jurong Region Line, Siow said that it is not uncommon for candidates applying for jobs in Tuas Port to miss their job interviews out of inconvenience of getting there.</p><p><blockquote><p>"As technology improves, I think more options will open up."</p></blockquote></p><p><h2>What's the BRT System?</h2></p><p>The BRT System, currently already implemented in a number of cities like Shanghai, Seoul and Istanbul, is a cost-effective option being explored to solve this problem.</p><p>They can be articulated high-capacity buses or track-less trams that travel on dedicated lanes with priority at traffic junctions.</p><p>BRT stations are optimised for quick boarding and alighting through off-board fare collection at stations and platform-level boarding.</p><p>Traditionally, systems in this capacity require dedicated infrastructure involving rails, power and signalling, though many major cities are now able to do without them, Siow pointed out.</p><p>Conventional BRTs, such as those in Shanghai and Seoul, utilise buses of varying lengths.</p><p>These can be single, or two or three-sectioned.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 896px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.50.57-PM.png" alt="" width="896" height="636" class="size-full wp-image-1162776" /> <em>Conventional BRT in Türkiye. Image via LTA</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>Tram-like BRTs, on the other hand, are an evolved concept that use longer, tram-like vehicles with driver's cabins at both ends.</p><p>They also use auto-assisted driving via virtual guidance and have wider, multiple doors to enable faster boarding and alighting than a conventional articulated bus design.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 656px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-4.54.46-PM.png" alt="" width="656" height="466" class="size-full wp-image-1162779" /> <em>Tram-like BRT in Yibin (China). Image via LTA</em>
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>LTA is evaluating the range of BRT options for Tuas South, the statutory board said.</p><p><div class="page" title="Page 2"></p><p><div class="layoutArea"></p><p><div class="column"></p><p><span>It will study benefits and costs, and assess whether the BRT would be suitable for long-term implementation.</span></p><p>An update will likely be provided by 2027, said Siow.</p><p></div></p><p></div></p><p></div></p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162758</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>Govt takes possession of 38 Oxley Road site</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/govt-takes-possession-38-oxley-road/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T16:39:26</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Sulaiman Daud ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/govt-takes-possession-38-oxley-road/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Done. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/oxley-rd.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>The government has taken possession of the site at 38 Oxley Road, the location of the former home of ex-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.</p><p>The site was previously gazetted for acquisition on Jan. 29.</p>
<iframe class='post-embed title='Govt takes possession of 38 Oxley Road site' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/01/nhb-gazettes-38-oxley-road-acquisition/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p>In a joint statement on Jul. 31, 2026, the National Heritage Board (NHB) and the Singapore Land Authority added that in the meantime, there will be no public access to the site while NHB studies options for future development into a public space.</p><p>You can read the full statement below:</p><p><blockquote><p>"The Government has completed the acquisition process and took possession of the site at 38 Oxley Road (the “Site”) today, to preserve it in keeping with its historic significance and national importance.</p><p>The acquisition follows from the Site’s gazette as a National Monument on 12 December 2025, and its subsequent gazette for acquisition on 29 January 2026.</p><p>The National Heritage Board (NHB) will undertake a detailed study of the Site and the options for how it can be developed into a public space in a manner that respects Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes for privacy.</p><p>In the interim, necessary maintenance works will be carried out as required, and there will be no public access to the Site."</p></blockquote></p><p><h2>Lee Hsien Yang's response</h2></p><p>Earlier in the day, Lee Hsien Yang, son of former PM Lee Kuan Yew and brother of former PM and current Senior Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, posted on Facebook about the issue.</p><p>Titled "Look On My Works", a reference to Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/ozymandias" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ozymandias</a>, Hsien Yang railed against the decision, referring again to his father's "crystal clear" wish to demolish the home.</p><p><iframe width="500" height="460" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLeeHsienYangSGP%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0WFQaFfm8dGLWe9QCH35Fs5TwXCryTjE5ASmW6rRXYEr8Z71yEsh2brvx7qkw6Jesl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p><p>NHB previously stated that the government “has committed to respecting Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes to protect his family’s privacy”.</p><p>This would be done by removing “all traces of their private living spaces" from the interior of the house.</p><p><blockquote><p>“Under no circumstances will the interior of the house, as Mr Lee knew, be displayed, recorded, remodelled or duplicated elsewhere.”</p></blockquote></p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1162754</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>No point in being a victim: Annette Lee, 34, on dealing with S'porean cynicism towards local films & influencers</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/07/annette-lee-dream-stall/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-07-31T15:22:22</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Ilyda Chua ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/07/annette-lee-dream-stall/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ In a HardwareZone forum, one user told her to "go fly kite lah".  ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/IC-GE2025-COVER-2026-07-31T135359.127.png"/> <p>These days, Annette Lee's life has taken an almost dreamlike slant.</p><p>Her Instagram feed is a whirlwind of glitzy red carpets and glitzier magazine covers. Even her famous self-starred skits have taken on a more cinematic edge.</p><p>Her bio says "actor-filmmaker" and there's really little reason to doubt it. Lee's debut movie, "Dream Stall", was received with an almost startling warmth by an ordinarily frigid Singaporean audience, from <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/06/dream-stall-movie-debut/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">media outlets</a> to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BaeyYamKeng/posts/i-had-a-lovely-sunday-afternoon-watching-the-latest-local-movie-dream-stall-%E6%A2%A6%E6%83%B3%E5%B0%8F%E5%BA%97/1535052657978079/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MPs</a>.</p><p>It's possibly the most artistic success a local filmmaker has seen since Anthony Chen's "Ilo Ilo" in 2013.</p>
<p>A few months ago though, she was just another Singaporean influencer being slammed on an Internet forum. Told to stay in her own lane, don't waste money, exactly who does she think she is?</p><p><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-22-at-2.39.34-PM.png" alt="" width="714" height="162" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1160553" /></p><p><h2>Who she is</h2></p><p>The 34-year-old actually does have roots in film.</p><p>In university, Lee majored in digital filmmaking. She only switched to acting (and, thereafter, social media) after joining SGAG in 2016.</p><p>"Back then, there were no videos [in SGAG], so I started the video team... That's how I ended up on screen," she says.</p><p><blockquote><p>"I had to be a one-man show. I'd shoot everything, write everything... I'd direct, produce, and edit it.</p><p>Then I'd show up on camera also, because no budget for cast."</p></blockquote></p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1638px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-11.16.37-AM.png" alt="" width="1638" height="908" class="size-full wp-image-1162643" /> Lee acting as Sue-Ann, one of her first-ever characters. Photo from SGAG/Youtube
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>"Dream Stall" is, in a way, that journey come full circle. Lee conceptualised and directed the film. She wrote the script (although she later brought in a co-writer to split the load).</p><p>She stars in it as main character Enya. She even sings on the soundtrack.</p><p>Part of it is for budget reasons. "Obviously, I saved a lot of money doing everything myself," she says candidly.</p><p>But the biggest difference is that while she's still involved in every part of the product, she's no longer a one-man show.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1178px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/IMG_4165.jpg" alt="" width="1178" height="1423" class="size-full wp-image-1162644" /> Photo from dreamstallmovie/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><h2>Against the odds</h2></p><p>The idea for "Dream Stall" came a few years ago, when Chen encouraged her to consider making a feature-length film.</p><p>"He spoke to me just after I had given birth, so I had a lot of free time during confinement," she quips.</p><p>At that point, she'd gone far past the creative limits of an ordinary social media creator. She'd produced her own web series, released songs, even did a live show (Annette Lee: All in One, 2022).</p><p>She considered her position. She had a story: a love letter to the Singaporean identity, analogised through a<em> bak kut teh</em> stall. She had the skills, she had a goal.</p><p>You know what, she decided. Why not?</p><p>When she broke the news to her husband, he was "actually very worried".</p><p>"He was like, why do you want to do this? It's such a big risk, a big project. We likely won't make money," she recalls.</p><p><blockquote><p>"But it was a story that I wanted to tell. I wanted to challenge myself to create something that could last a very long time, because social media is so... like, ephemeral."</p></blockquote></p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 2072px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-11.21.41-AM.png" alt="" width="2072" height="1150" class="size-full wp-image-1162645" /> Photo from Golden Village/Youtube
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><h2>Funding a film</h2></p><p>And then she had a film to make.</p><p>In Singapore, there is a template to success in filmmaking. (Hint, it rhymes with <em>"badvertisements"</em>).</p><p>But Lee was adamant on not selling to her audiences.</p><p>She did take on sponsors, but only those whose presence she felt would be a natural fit in her script.</p><p>Like the Singapore Oceanarium, which was the setting for a plot-pivotal date between protagonist Enya and her love interest, Preston.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1178px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/IMG_4167.jpg" alt="" width="1178" height="1779" class="size-full wp-image-1162650" /> Screenshot from Annette Lee/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>The rest of the film was funded by a mixture of investors and her own money.</p><p>"I just work like dog for the last few years, I tell you," she quips.</p><p>"Maybe there are some people who think that I got free money that I just threw in there. But no, I didn't take from my family, I didn't take from anyone."</p><p><blockquote><p>"I worked for every single cent that I put in. But at the end of the day, it was a passion project — I was like, if I make I make, if I don't I don't.</p><p>...This was not a money-making venture. It's just something I felt I had to do."</p></blockquote></p><p><h2>Dealing with stereotypes</h2></p><p>Making a good film was, in a way, just the prologue to the story.</p><p>The next chapter was to convince Singaporeans to actually <em>watch</em> it.</p><p>The sentiment towards local art, she acknowledges, tends to be "default negative". Coming into the scene as a young, female director, and an influencer no less, meant the barriers were even higher.</p><p>On a HardwareZone forum, <a href="https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/annette-lee-if-youre-a-singaporean-my-debut-movie-needs-you.7131893/page-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">u</a><a href="https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/annette-lee-if-youre-a-singaporean-my-debut-movie-needs-you.7131893/page-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sers</a> criticised her acting, the local film scene, and her social media roots. "Not everyone is Jack Neo," one person commented.</p><p>Another said, more succinctly: "Go fly kite<em> lah.</em>"</p><p><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-22-at-2.40.13-PM.png" alt="" width="1106" height="448" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1160547" /></p><p>When I ask Lee how she feels about this, she's quick to correct me. "People have been so nice," she insists.</p><p>The disillusionment does exist — it's a sentiment that she both empathises with and resents. Some people are just not going to watch her film, some people are not going to take her seriously.</p><p>Mindsets don't change overnight. But these are the minority, and she's made her peace with that.</p><p>Ultimately, many people have given her, and her art, a chance. For that, she is grateful.</p><p><blockquote><p>"There could be a bit of misogyny, like [some people who] think I don't know anything, right? But I try not to focus on that.</p><p>I think if every day you wake up and you remind yourself that you're a victim, you'll never get anything done."</p></blockquote></p><p><h2>Work in progress</h2></p><p>Lee, somewhat self-deprecatingly, describes herself as a "recovering perfectionist".</p><p>She is her own harshest critic, her own creative process. But this means she also knows in her heart that she did her best, without any shortcuts or cheats.</p><p>"Boldness thrives in an atmosphere of a clean conscience," she says quite sagely.</p><p>Even in the wake of her success, she doesn't have big ambitions of becoming the next Jack Neo, nor of kickstarting a revival in local cinema.</p><p>"I'm just a random person," she tells me, at one point in the interview.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1177px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/IMG_4177.jpg" alt="" width="1177" height="1452" class="size-full wp-image-1162742" /> Photo from Annette Lee/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>It's a statement that comes across as quite astonishing to me: that after subverting every expectation of Singaporean-influencer-turned-filmmaker, she still takes life at her own pace.</p><p>Won't be written into a story or a stereotype, even by hopes and adulation.</p><p>In the immediate term, Lee plans to take a break from directing, go into acting a little. She has a project or two lined up for now.</p><p>But maybe she'll come back to filmmaking, once she has another story to tell.</p><p>"I'm not overly trying to plan my course," she explains. "I just wanna see how things go."</p><p>It's fully unlike her movie, which ends so neatly with its protagonist's success. This season of Lee's life concludes instead with a pause — on a propitious note, but with a kind of to-be-continued.</p><p>As for me, I can't wait to see what comes next.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 987px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/07/IMG_4169.jpg" alt="" width="987" height="1496" class="size-full wp-image-1162651" /> Photo from Annette Lee/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><em>You can watch Lee's film, "Dream Stall", for free at <a href="https://ma.to/event/nightflix-dream-stall-1-aug-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nightflix Somerset</a> on Aug. 1. </em></p><p><h2>Related story</h2></p><iframe class='post-embed title='No point in being a victim: Annette Lee, 34, on dealing with S'porean cynicism towards local films & influencers' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/06/dream-stall-movie-debut/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><iframe class='post-embed title='No point in being a victim: Annette Lee, 34, on dealing with S'porean cynicism towards local films & influencers' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/05/annette-lee-dream-stall-movie-refund/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1160488</post-id>
                </item>

        </channel>
    </rss>
