The Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) does not have a mandate over land use planning and zoning, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

Rather, it falls under the purview of the Ministry of National Development (MND), which oversees these decisions while balancing various demands and trade-offs across government, including biodiversity.

Fu explained the above in an Aug. 7 social media post, after the Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced plans to develop new housing at Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way (Maju Forest).

She acknowledged that the issues are considered as part of the broader climate agenda, but that "we are different agencies with different roles".

The planned development of both sites had sparked debate over whether it would come at the expense of natural spaces and wildlife habitats.

Gillman Barracks will be redeveloped into a residential estate comprising both public and private homes, while the Maju Forest site in Clementi will be developed for public housing.

"We are all different agencies with different roles"

In her post, Fu said Singapore's agencies work closely together to serve Singaporeans.

"On major national undertakings, such as climate mitigation and adaptation, we come together to formulate a coherent plan with our stakeholders and Singaporeans," she said.

For instance, with the Singapore Green Plan, MSE coordinated the initiative; but it was the result of numerous discussions at the working level, between agencies, and at Cabinet between all ministers.

There were also "many sessions" of public consultation, she added.

Fu also acknowledged the public concerns over the planned developments in Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest.

"I deeply appreciate how much Singaporeans care about our shared green spaces. I do too," she said.

However, she added that Singapore, as a small island nation, must balance competing priorities "to protect our environment, to house our people, build our infrastructure, and keep our economy growing".

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Decisions made in the interest of Singapore and Singaporeans

Earlier in Parliament on Aug. 4, the Workers’ Party’s Kenneth Tiong asked why MSE had "not been seen leading and advocating" for the green spaces in Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks, particularly after designating 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation.

"Many nature observers have expressed to me deep disappointment in what they perceive to be MSE's lack of leadership and ownership in the decisions on Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest," he said.

In response, Fu said it was not the way the government operates for MSE to "make a strong stance" and object to decisions made by MND, stressing that ministries work collectively on national policies.

Minister of State for National Development of Singapore Alvin Tan added that the government makes decisions across different ministries, including the MSE, but ultimately makes decisions "based on the best interest of Singapore and Singaporeans".

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A 22-year-old man was handed eight charges in court on Aug. 8 for driving a deregistered vehicle without a valid driving licence, and for causing the death of a petrol station attendant.

Ray Png AZ allegedly did so while under the influence of drugs, and subsequently fled the scene without stopping to help.

Man reversed abruptly, causing attendant to fall and hit his head

According to an Aug. 8 news release by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the incident took place at about 3:55am on Aug. 6.

Png had driven to a petrol station along Upper Changi Road North, where a 69-year-old male pump attendant had approached to refuel the man's car.

At that moment, Png got back into the vehicle and reversed abruptly.

The open driver's side car door struck the attendant, causing him to fall and hit his head.

The attendant was conveyed unconscious to the hospital. He subsequently passed away on Aug. 7.

Man and female passenger fled the scene

After the incident, Png allegedly abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene together with a female passenger.

Officers from the Traffic Police (TP) established the identities of the pair through ground enquiries, as well as images from police cameras and CCTVs.

Both were arrested on Aug. 6.

Png was arrested for driving without due care and attention causing death, driving under the influence of drugs, and suspected drug-related offences.

The 22-year-old female passenger was arrested on suspicion of consuming a controlled drug, and of abetting the driver in the traffic-related offences. Investigations against her are ongoing.

Preliminary investigations further revealed that the car was a deregistered vehicle, and that Png did not possess a valid driving licence.

The vehicle has since been seized by TP, and the suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

Police warn against deregistered vehicles

The man will be charged in court on Aug. 8 with the following offences:

• Driving without due care and attention causing death
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Driving a motor vehicle without a valid driving licence
• Using a vehicle without insurance coverage
• Using a deregistered vehicle
• Using a vehicle without a vehicle licence
• Failing to stop after an accident
• Failing to render assistance after an accident

In its release, the SPF said deregistered vehicles pose serious dangers to all road users, as they lack insurance coverage and may not meet safety standards.

It added that these risks are magnified considerably when such vehicles are operated by unlicensed or underaged drivers.

The Traffic Police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspected cases of deregistered vehicles or unlicensed drivers, adding that it takes a serious view of such irresponsible behaviour and will not hesitate to take action against those who endanger lives on the road.

Related story

Top image via SPF

Two Singaporean men have been charged in court on Aug. 8 for allegedly conspiring to make arrangements for Lim Tean to illegally depart Singapore for Malaysia.

The Singaporean lawyer and politician was supposed to surrender on Aug. 3 to serve jail time for practising law without a valid certificate.

He'd been sentenced to a jail term of three months and one week.

Police working to secure Lim Tean's return to S'pore

Lim was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in Johor Bahru on Aug. 6, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in an Aug. 8 statement.

The Singapore police is now working closely with the RMP to secure his return to Singapore.

According to a previous report by Shin Min, police tracked Lim down to a rented apartment in JB.

But he refused to open the door to the Malaysian police.

Lim was reportedly only arrested after the apartment's owner was called.

His hair was dishevelled and he appeared haggard.

He was also unable to produce his passport.

Mohammad Adam Abd Karim, 44, and Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus, 37, were each handed with one count of engaging in a conspiracy to do an act that has a tendency to defeat the course of justice.

The cases against Adam and Sulaiman will be heard again in court on Aug. 14.

If convicted, they could be imprisoned for up to seven years, or fined, or both.

Failed to surrender to court

An arrest warrant was issued for the 61-year-old lawyer after he failed to surrender to court to start his jail term on Aug. 3.

He was initially ordered to surrender to the State Courts on Jul. 20, but requested to defer his sentence to Aug. 3.

The request was granted.

However, he did not show up on the date.

Both his lawyer and bailor were reportedly unable to reach Lim.

According to a tip-off to Shin Min, Lim had arrived at the JB apartment on Aug. 4.

Another person had reportedly helped him to book the rental apartment, and had arrived a day earlier to collect the key.

Lim was apparently supposed to stay till Aug. 7 and check out, but got arrested a day before that could happen.

The source added that Lim only left the apartment twice a day to pick up meals ordered via takeout, but was still recognised as the area is frequented by Singaporeans.

Top images Mothership & Lim Tean/Facebook

A slipper, an umbrella, a nerf gun bullet, and an electronics charging case have been found disposed at the Return Right machines meant to collect drink bottles and cans for recycling.

Such "inappropriate items" can cause disruptions and inconvenience others who are waiting to recycle, said a spokesperson for BCRS Ltd on Aug. 7.

Other litter found and highlighted by the operator of the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) include plastic capsule balls, a plastic wrapper, plastic cup, and paper cup.

Under the scheme that launched in April, over 1,000 Return Right machines have been placed across Singapore.

They are designed to ensure the recovery of a clean stream of high-quality materials that can be recycled, the spokesperson said.

"To keep Return Right machines running smoothly for everyone, we encourage the public to use them only for their intended purpose."

The spokesperson also reminded the public that recycling is a shared responsibility, and caring for the machines helps keep them accessible and reliable for the community.

BCRS Ltd told The Straits Times that inappropriate items are removed during routine maintenance, and the operator does not keep an exact count of them.

Since the launch of the BCRS, the machines have made more than one million successful transactions, with 5.5 million beverage containers returned, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament on Aug. 5.

The government is also on track to increase the number of machines to around 2,000 by April 2027.

Related stories

A 38-year-old man died after the car he was driving hit a traffic light, mounted a divider and overturned along Hougang Avenue 6 in the early hours of Aug. 7.

The driver was left trapped and unconscious inside the vehicle.

He was freed and taken to hospital, where he later died.

The accident happened at around 4:20am, along the stretch of Hougang Avenue 6 towards Hougang Avenue 10, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Roof cut open to free driver

A member of the public, Long (transliterated), 29, was passing by when he came across the overturned car with the driver unconscious inside.

He said he believed the car had first hit a traffic light before crashing into the divider.

Long said around 10 SCDF officers had to saw open the roof of the car: “After the man was rescued, he was lifted onto a stretcher, and paramedics then began emergency treatment.”

Video footage he provided showed several fire engines and police cars at the scene, with paramedics performing CPR on the driver.

Residents heard a loud crash

Residents living nearby told Shin Min they heard a loud noise at the time of the accident.

Lim (transliterated), 60, a renovation contractor, said she went to check.

She told Shin Min: "There were a lot of onlookers at the time, and the driver was inside the car. I heard his head was bleeding. Someone tried to knock on the window, but he did not respond, so we could only wait for the SCDF to rescue him."

She said the car was only towed away at around 8am.

She added that the car only came to a stop after crashing through railings and hitting a tree.

Debris was scattered up to 100m away.

A traffic light about 150m from the crash site was snapped in two.

The accident caused a jam and motorists had to make a detour.

Police and SCDF respond

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said the car was believed to have self-skidded, and that the driver was conveyed unconscious to hospital, where he later died.

Investigations are ongoing.

SCDF said its officers found a person trapped in the car on arrival, and freed him using hydraulic rescue equipment before taking him to Sengkang General Hospital.

The National Parks Board (NParks) has investigated a case of suspected abuse involving a community cat in the Marsiling industrial estate, and found no evidence to suggest an act of cruelty.

Around Jul. 26, the 10-year-old white cat, nicknamed "Bai Bai" (Mandarin for "white"), was discovered by cat feeders in what they initially believed to be black oil.

The residue was inside its ears and on its eyes as well, preventing the cat from opening its eyes, the feeders told Shin Min Daily News.

They added that Bai Bai was crying and looked very afraid at the time.

Concerned that it might have been abused, they reported the incident to the authorities.

In a statement provided on Aug. 7, NParks' Group Director of Enforcement and Investigation Jessica Kwok described the cat to be found with "black residue" on its body.

A veterinarian who treated the cat observed that it was in a dirty condition, she said.

"The residue is unlikely to be oil as it washed off from the cat’s body with water during a shower at the clinic. The cat was otherwise found to be well.

We have looked into the matter and found no evidence to suggest an act of cruelty."

She added that as community cats live in the open and move about freely, their living conditions may not be optimal compared to pet cats.

The family of a 43-year-old car spray painter found dead and naked in a drain in Johor Bahru, Malaysia are disputing the police's preliminary findings that he fell in while drunk.

His older brother said he suspects that his sibling may have been killed.

Peng Qingfu (transliterated) was found at around 6pm on Jul. 28 in a back alley behind a busy hawker centre in Taman Johor Jaya, according to Sin Chew Daily.

Members of the public went to investigate a stench coming from the drain in the back alley and found his body wedged in the narrow drain opening, with only his head and hands visible.

Police estimated he had been dead for three to four days by the time he was found.

Why family is suspicious

Peng’s brother, 48, said he claimed the body on Aug. 1.

He then returned to the back alley with a religious practitioner to perform prayers at the site.

While there, he examined the drain opening and the clutter around it, comparing what he saw against photographs taken when the body was found.

He then concluded Peng’s death was not a simple case of falling into a drain while drunk, Sin Chew Daily reported.

He also checked CCTV footage from the back alleys of nearby factories himself, but the spot where the body was found was not covered by any camera.

The distance problem

Peng’s brother told China Press that the deceased had no fixed address and had spent the past two months mainly around the Jalan Dedap commercial area in Taman Johor Jaya.

Peng also had no means of transport, and the back alley where the body was found is at least a 30 to 40-minute walk from Jalan Dedap.

Peng’s brother told China Press:

"My brother had no means of transport, and the back alley where the body was found is far from the Dedap commercial area, at least a 30 to 40 minute walk. The family suspects his death was not simply a case of falling into a drain while drunk. There may be more to it.”

Appeal for witness

He also told China Press that a friend had seen Peng at around 7pm on Jul. 18, near a lok lok (fried snack) van outside a coffee shop along Jalan Dedap.

Peng’s brother said the back alley sits directly behind a busy food centre, and believes someone may have seen Peng in the area around Jul. 24.

He has appealed for nearby businesses and the hawker centre to provide any CCTV footage or leads to the police.

Who he was

According to Sin Chew Daily, Peng was divorced.

His two children are cared for by his ex-wife's family.

Peng had no fixed address and moved around depending on where he was working.

The brothers were not in frequent contact, but met a few times a year, last seeing each other in February.

The brother told China Press that he last spoke to Peng in March, and only learned of his death when police contacted the family.

The brother acknowledged to Sin Chew Daily that Peng liked to drink, and would cause trouble when drunk.

What the family could not fathom was why the body was found completely unclothed, he told China Press, adding that police had not offered an explanation.

What the family wants

According to Sin Chew Daily, the death certificate lists the cause of death as falling into a drain, without specifying what killed him.

The full autopsy report will take two to three months.

The brother has sought help from the Johor Jaya assemblyman, hoping police will investigate Peng’s death more thoroughly.

There are many reasons why I love visiting The Kallang.

Not just because it's conveniently located near my office, but because the precinct seems to be equipped with everything that suits my interests – sports facilities, a climbing gym, restaurants.

In a single visit, I can both satisfy my cravings and move my limbs.

But one thing I’ve learnt over the years is that keeping up with hobbies is generally an expensive affair, no matter how essential they are to one’s wellbeing.

Now that I'm in my first full-time job, I've become more mindful of my spending, so I've been on a mission to maximise my spending by rewardsmaxxing my life.

The Kallang App

The Kallang has recently launched The Kallang Kaki, a new loyalty programme that comes with a bunch of benefits, allowing users to earn loyalty points and access exclusive features at The Kallang.

Members like me, or "The Kallang Kaki", can register in-app for events at The Kallang and check-in online, as well as book facilities through the app.

I’ll admit that when I first heard of this programme, I was skeptical that the benefits it had to offer would keep me hooked for long.

But I would soon be proven wrong.

I discovered that with each event I joined, I earned a badge and leveled up on my membership.

This in turn meant better voucher benefits each time – like a gift that keeps giving.

For me, of course, the most eye-catching features were the savings I generated when I accumulated points through my purchases.

As a member, I could also access member-exclusive items like early bird discounts, ticket presales and merchandise drops.

Together with some friends, I set out on an experiment to test out these perks.

Dining

We headed to the mall for dinner on a casual Friday night.

The app’s built-in store directory and reservations function made choosing and booking a restaurant seamless.

We settled on Korean food.

Off to a good start.

Activities for the weekend

As we dined, I browsed through the app, keen to find something my friends and I could plan for the weekend.

The interface is simple enough to use, even for a digital noob like me.

The homepage highlights upcoming events at The Kallang, ranging from sports to entertainment, community and lifestyle.

There was even a tab dedicated to community stories from the precinct, like a handy guide to the Singapore Tennis Open and spotlights on local athletes.

As an athlete myself, these were heartwarming to read.

But what caught my eye were the active vouchers listed under the “My Rewards” tab, where I could invite a friend for free across a number of activities – basically half the cost for each of us.

There was The Kallang Gym, the OCBC Aquatic Centre, and my personal favourite, a two-hour kayak rental at the Water Sports Centre.

Perfect for groups like mine looking to have fun together.

We settled on the kayaking activity. All I had to do next was redeem the voucher on the day of the activity and verify it with a staff member within two minutes.

But because each Kallang Kaki could only bring one extra friend, I made sure at least three of us in my group of six were equipped with the app (and voucher) so that we could all snag the half-price discount.

After all, good deals are meant to be shared, right?

Even those who were initially apprehensive about the heat and fatigue couldn’t resist the steal.

I think these smiles say it all:

Something to look forward to

The excitement from the weekend got me looking for my next activity.

A major sporting event coming up in September is the Singapore Tennis Open, which will be held at the OCBC Arena at The Kallang.

On the spur of the moment, I decided to snap up early tickets for my brother and me, as my brother had recently gotten into tennis.

But if you’re familiar with premier sporting tournaments, you may know that such tickets can cost a bomb.

Thankfully, because of how early it was, The Kallang was offering a 10 per cent early bird discount on tickets for a limited time period.

Plus, there was an additional 10 per cent off for registered Kallang Kakis on The Kallang app, which meant a total of 20 per cent off for me.

Safe to say, I am now my brother’s favourite sister.

All that there’s left to do is wait for September to arrive.

More than the deals

The older I get, the more I’m finding it important to proactively keep at maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Plus, friendships and relationships are important to me – I consider spending time and money on those I love worth every penny.

But let’s be honest, having an active life can be painful to the wallet, so I’ll take any rewards I can snag along the way.

Now that I’m equipped with The Kallang App and the perks that come with it, a future goal I have in mind is to attend my very first concert.

At the ripe age of 26, I think it’s about time.

This branded article by The Kallang made this writer want to plan her next activity ASAP.

Edenstone, a Singapore-based studio developing scalable media intellectual property (IP), is set to release an AI-assisted short film that it acknowledges will likely polarise audiences.

Titled Bersama Majulah (translated as Together Onwards), the National Day-themed AI short film imagines a country similar to Singapore under siege by a lethal spore pathogen outbreak.

Edenstone said in a media release:

"The characters' struggle against an oncoming crisis in the form of a deadly pathogenic spore outbreak mirrors the qualities that have defined Singapore's 61 year journey—adaptability, collective strength, and the determination to overcome obstacles, united as one people; one Singapore."

The project is led by 2025 Golden Horse Award–winning producer Chan Gin Kai, who served as its Executive Producer, said the studio.

The film is adapted from the studio's flagship IP, Spore Fall, which it describes as Southeast Asia's "first human-written, AI-realised transmedia franchise".

The short film's release on sporefall.com will coincide with National Day on Aug. 9, The Straits Times reported.

The teaser trailer

The four-minute teaser trailer for Bersama Majulah opens with a fictional depiction of Singapore's 2026 National Day Parade.

The outbreak first takes hold there, turning people into what appears to be zombies.

"Some have asked why we would show a dystopian Singapore on National Day," said Joel Boh, creator and showrunner of Spore Fall.

He added:

"We believe this is the ultimate act of faith. We have faith that the Singapore identity is not fragile—it is strong enough to be reimagined and reinvented. In the face of existential threat, the singular Singapore narrative is about choosing unity over fear. This is our story.”

Expecting online discourse

The studio acknowledged that its "creative choices", such as transforming Singapore into the fictional city of "Lionara", were likely to polarise viewers.

They are also aware that the film’s teaser video has started to ignite public debate, viewing it "as a sign of cultural impact".

The studio said:

"This National Day, Singaporeans will see their skyline like never before—and the conversation may be just as striking as the visuals."

Conversations online

The Bersama Majulah trailer has sparked some conversation.

Some comments focused on the production process and use of AI.

Others drew negative comparisons between existing works like "The Last of Us".

The studio also shared that its production model aims to use AI to help, not govern:

"Human authorship governs the narrative while AI scales the imagination. Scripts, characters, emotional arcs, and world-building are conceived and written by human creators; AI tools are deployed under strict creative direction to accelerate visual asset production."

"Technology should serve the story, not the other way around," said Boh, adding, "We want audiences immersed in the narrative, not the technology."

A 40-year-old man was charged with allegedly physically abusing his eight-year-old daughter and telling his 10-year-old son to strip naked and go down to the foot of a block of flats.

The accused was charged with two counts of ill-treating children on Aug. 6, The Strait Times reported.

The man cannot be identified as a gag order was imposed to protect the victims.

On Sep. 8, 2025, at about 8:40am, the man was in a public housing flat located on the eighth floor.

He allegedly told his son to strip naked and take the lift to the ground floor.

It remains unclear whether the boy complied.

On Oct. 3, 2025, at Changi Airport Terminal 3 before 6pm, the man allegedly slapped, punched and pushed his daughter.

His daughter apparently sustained injuries to her face and neck.

The reasons for the man’s alleged actions were undisclosed.

His case was adjourned to Aug. 13.