Politics: Choose your voters

The release of this week’s report by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) sets the stage for Singapore’s next general election (GE), which must be held by November. The number of electoral districts has risen from 31 to 33, with a corresponding increase in parliamentary seats from 93 to 97. As many analysts expected, the EBRC has significantly redrawn the boundaries of districts that the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) almost lost at the last election, notably the West Coast group representation constituency (GRC) and the East Coast GRC. Similarly, the Bukit Batok single member constituency (SMC), keenly contested by Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) at GE2020, has vanished from the map, as has Yuhua SMC, both absorbed into adjacent GRCs. A video of Pritam Singh, leader of the Workers’ Party (WP), describing in Parliament the regularity with which closely fought SMCs have been dissolved throughout history, went viral this week. 

Other notable developments include the fact that Jurong GRC, helmed by Tharman Shanmugaratnam before he successfully ran for president in 2023, has been completely sliced up. Skeptical voters might conclude that the loss of the PAP’s talisman is the only reason for doing this to a 24-year-old district. Meanwhile, after years of hearing voters complain about the outrageous expansion of Marine Parade GRC from its beachside roots to the central heartlands, the EBRC has decided to simply expand its name: Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. So ludicrous are these new electoral shapes and names that they rival the satirical ones dreamt up by Alfian Sa’at in his play, “Geng Rebut Cabinet (GRC)”.

Opposition parties, including the SDP, WP and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), which almost won the West Coast GRC at GE2020, have expressed varying levels of disgruntlement with all this. But they can’t be that surprised. Unlike in many democracies, the Elections Department here is not an independent body, but one that reports to the prime minister’s office. This latest bout of gerrymandering is depressing for many reasons, something we explore this week in a commentary, “How did I get here? Gerrymandering in Singapore”.

Society: Just keep them alive 

Should the nutritional value of food our migrant workers eat matter? Apparently not. It’s “not a licensing consideration [for caterers] and the Singapore Food Agency has no plans to incorporate such requirements,” was the bland written response from Grace Fu, minister of sustainability and environment, to a question in Parliament. The primary criteria, said Fu, is safety; a likely shorthand for “edible”.

When Louis Ng, the inquirer and PAP MP, posted the exchange on his Facebook page, it elicited a flurry of responses from many workers themselves. “The quality of these foods is very poor. We are forced to eat to survive,” wrote Robin Aziz. “My request to the Singapore government and the MOM [Ministry of Manpower] is to be careful about our health,” pleaded Md Mojahid Islam. This is not a recent issue. In a National University of Singapore study conducted more than a decade ago, 94 percent of the 500 workers surveyed said that the food they were served was unhygienic. Safe to assume it wasn’t nutritional. Neither do Ng’s two Facebook interlocutors belong to a handful of malcontents. Anecdotal evidence suggests that dreadful food may be the norm rather than the exception; clinical evidence suggests workers may be suffering from “hidden hunger” and micro-nutrient deficiencies.

Props to Ng for asking the question—it’s not the first time he’s given the issue a public airing. But the rot runs deep. Migrants on measly wages can only afford to shell out S$130-S$200 a month, perhaps up to a quarter of their salaries, for catered meals. Considering three meals a day for five days a week, the lower end of that scale translates to S$1.82 per meal. At such pitiful prices, which caterers in their right mind would care about nutritional value? Hell, some employed delivery contractors were found dumping food packets in places where wild animals got to them before humans did. The practice ended (or supposedly did) when a report from The Straits Times (ST) provoked a MOM crackdown.

We aren’t lacking alternatives. NGOs and activists have proposed mess halls where workers can get freshly cooked food; and better cooking facilities and fridges in dorms, so that those inclined to cook can do so on their off days and consume the food through the week. Fundamentally though, the problem is the city’s addiction to cheap labour with such laughable protections that there is little incentive to pay them better. And on we go: the dazzling lights of our Michelin stars blinding us to the plight of our most vulnerable.

Society: Putting the brakes on PMA misuse

A medical certification might be what’s needed—not for time off sick, but a means for those with mobility issues to travel, legally. Authorities are clamping down on the use of personal mobility aids (PMAs). Only individuals whose doctors have certified them as having relevant medical needs or walking difficulties will be allowed to use mobility scooters. The new requirement, which comes into effect in the first quarter of 2026, won’t apply to “genuine users”—persons with disabilities and seniors—who’ve already been prescribed government-subsidised mobility scooters. Users of manual and motorised wheelchairs are also exempt, as misuse among able-bodied users is largely linked to motorised scooters. Besides tackling misuse, this and other tightened regulations on PMAs—like size restrictions and reducing the speed limit from 10kph to 6kph—are an attempt to improve safety on public paths. 

Healthcare professionals have called for greater clarity as to how users may be assessed as being in genuine need of a PMA. One general practitioner (GP) told CNA that it was currently a doctor’s discretion to decide who’s eligible to receive a subsidised mobility scooter. But this process becomes tricky if GPs aren’t “privy to sensitive medical information” because the client isn’t a regular patient. A set of guidelines to streamline and standardise the process would help, and the Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists appears to be leading the charge in creating one. 

PMAs have taken off here in recent years, enhancing mobility and access for those with problems getting around. On the flip side, it’s also led to a rise in offences linked to the misuse of PMA lookalikes last year. Pedestrians, short of pavement rage, have expressed annoyance and concerns about the increased risk of off-road accidents. An occupational therapist warned against the premature use of PMAs, which can result in physical deconditioning due to inactivity. With more options for personal transport, it seems our pavements will only become more congested. Tighter PMA regulations will go some way to maintain everyone’s safety and freedom of movement. But urban liveability and the equity of transportation will ultimately depend on infrastructure that’s reliable, sustainable and affordable.

History weekly by Faris Joraimi

The latest world war two commemorative event is happening later this month at the Battlebox in Sentosa. “PORTALS” is an immersive visual art exhibition combining Singapore’s wartime history with “creative technology” including computer vision, projection mapping, and audio frequencies. On March 28th, there will be a one-night-only performance event called “PORTALS: After Dark”, featuring dancers who will address themes of violence, resistance, and the body as a site of trauma. This may be a great use of your S$100 SG Culture Pass, as tickets cost S$32.54 each. Interestingly, however, these happenings are organised by cmd.exe—pronounced “command prompt”—a platform which “explores the convergence of heritage and creative technology”. These keywords always give me pause. It sounds like so many other engagements with the humanities these days that have to be dressed up in “technology” to be interesting or important. That unless we have sleek, Disneyland 4D-philharmagic audio-animatronic experiences communicating the past, history is just too demanding or boring to engage with. I’m not saying everyone has to read a dreary academic history book, but I’m also suspicious of futurist fantasies of “technology” replacing critical reflection, curiosity and imagination. For crying out loud, please go to a museum. 

But another dimension of this issue is that war memory has been staged for decades in Singapore through various media (or “creative technology”) for dramatic effect. War memory is publicly consumed as a national education tool, teaching school children and full-time national servicemen the need to defend our sovereignty. For this purpose, we’ve had attractions recounting the Japanese Occupation, ranging from the bizarre Surrender Chamber at Fort Siloso with its freaky waxworks, to the melodramatic narration of the Battle of Pasir Panjang at Reflections@Bukit Chandu complete with gunfire sound effects. Granted, these technological effects probably just haven’t aged well. But there are also ethical questions about staging such a violent and traumatic past as immersive experiences for the post-war citizen. The narrative, meanings and takeaway of these events are usually pre-determined, leaving little room for multiple interpretations or contradicting emotions—either from us or the historical figures who lived through these events. Finally, it’s hard to shake off the repulsive sense that a bit of the payoff is supposed to be entertainment. Perhaps PORTALS may be different, even subverting some norms of this genre? 

Arts: Musical May-hem

“How bad, bad do you want me?” Lady Gaga purrs on her latest album, “Mayhem”. Pretty bad, as it turns out. In an “abracadabra” move, Singapore has managed to score the “perfect celebrity” for her only stop in not just South-east Asia, but all of Asia. This trumps the regional exclusive we had on Taylor Swift for her six-concert spree on The Eras Tour last March (she also made a pitstop in Tokyo). And it looks like we have Edwin Tong, minister for culture, community and youth, to thank yet again. “Since the Government took back control of the Sports Hub,” he practically flaunted on Instagram, “the team has been forward-looking, proactive and hustling hard to bring some of the world’s best lifestyle and sporting events to Singapore.” A commenter responded, “This guy minister or concert promoter sia”, alongside other requests for Adele, Katy Perry, and the resurrection of Michael Jackson. Kallang Alive Sport Management estimates that over 200,000 fans, local and foreign, will descend on the National Stadium for the “Mayhem Singapura” tour. Over in Indonesia, frustrated fans are blaming religious hardliners for pushing the platinum popstar into Singapore’s embrace. The last time Gaga did the South-east Asia circuit, in 2012, she cancelled her Jakarta concert after fierce pushback from conservative groups who claimed she’d corrupt the country’s youth. Filipino fans are speculating that she’s now skipping Manila for similar reasons. But this just might be the money talking. Former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed that Singapore had apparently offered Swift subsidies of up to US$3m (S$4m) a show as part of the exclusive. While Singapore will certainly see a tourism boom from the deal we’ve wrangled—sans government grants this time—we’ll also have to suffer the wrath of die-hard Little Monsters from both Singapore and the region who are gearing up for a “bloodbath” once tickets launch next week—where it’s almost certain that resellers, scalpers and scammers will return like a “disease”. Swift’s sales were plagued by similar strains, with almost 1,000 Swifties losing some S$538,000 in concert ticket scams. It looks like the culture minister can’t “die with a smile” just yet.

Arts: Festival May-hem

If you’re passing on those Lady Gaga tickets next week, or can’t get your paws on them, here’s another bit of May madness for you: the Singapore International Festival of Arts, which will run from May 16th till June 1st. It’s Natalie Hennedige’s final outing as festival director, before the genre-busting performance-maker hands the reins to her sometime colleague and peer, Chong Tze Chien, best known for his intricately structured plays and his work with puppet theatre group The Finger Players. Hennedige’s swansong is themed “More Than Ever”, a call to action for the importance of the arts “as a vital space in society that explores differences in opinions, accepts otherness...engendering new narratives on a supple timeline”. She’s marshalled a whopping 15 local works, across six broad curatorial strands featuring a range of performances and installations. “More Than Ever: We Are Doing It Our Way,” goes the strand for local artists reinventing the classics; “More Than Ever: We’re Determining Our Future” for the SG60-inflected strand reimagining Singapore’s histories, and where those might lead. 

And Hennedige will go big before she goes home. The festival will occupy both conventional arts spaces such as the Victoria Theatre but also, for the first time in its 48-year history, a 50m by 30m pavilion in Bedok Town Square. Bedok’s coastal heritage will wash onto heartland shores in the multidisciplinary opening act, “The Sea and the Neighbourhood”, featuring a coral-inspired stage by visual artist Wang Ruobing, and dozens of performers from the Singapore Ballet and Orchestra of Music Makers. The pavilion is an anchor for the three-week festival period: kinetic art installation on weekdays, performance space on weekends. The socially engaged theatre group Drama Box, no stranger to interactive public performances and pop-ups in public housing estates, will also present “hello, is this working?” at the Bedok pavilion, where they’ll invite visitors to reflect on the future of work. Those craving the classics will get their share, with new local adaptations of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and William Shakespeare’s “King Lear”. And if you’re keen on a different view of Singaporean history, there’s “Umbilical”, which deploys movement, music, projections and AI in an immersive performance about Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965; and “A Thousand Stitches” where, through painting, performance and cinema, an art student restoring a vandalised portrait of a Japanese woman is transported back to wartime Singapore. Now, more than ever, it seems, is a good time to support local art.

Tech: Chocolate Finance melts under influencer heat

Walter de Oude, who founded Singlife, established Chocolate Finance in July 2024. The company offered savings account yields of 3.3 percent per annum by investing customer deposits in short-term money market funds, which are typically highly liquid and can be sold off quickly. Within eight months, Chocolate Finance had 60,000 users and nearly S$1bn in assets under management. 

In February, it launched a debit card with travel miles company HeyMax that would allow users to earn two miles per dollar, even on items that are typically excluded by other credit cards, such as bill payments. The company had underestimated Singaporeans’ love for a good deal. Such was the surge in users making bill payments at AXS machines via the card that to manage its liquidity, Chocolate Finance had to suspend the facility in less than a month. This led to a public backlash, and even concerns about a potential bank run, especially after withdrawal processing delays of three to ten days. The inability to cancel withdrawal requests further fueled customer anxiety. However, both Chocolate Finance and its custodian partner, Allfunds, reassured investors of the security of their funds, emphasising that all funds are held in segregated accounts, in compliance with Singapore’s stringent financial regulations. Qin En Looi of Saison Capital, an early investor, said that the situation did not equate to a bank run or a liquidity issue but rather reflected management of increased transaction volume. Yet, such has been the storm that MAS has also put out a statement confirming that it has been engaging the company to ensure it has complied with regulatory requirements. This saga shows the tightrope that consumer facing start-ups have to walk as they pursue high growth tactics that may inadvertently erode consumer trust and impede sustainable expansion.

Tech: AI force for Singapore Airlines

Salesforce, which makes the customer relationship management software used by large enterprises, including Singapore Airlines, Grab and Fairprice Group, will invest US$1bn (S$1.33bn) in Singapore. The money will be used to boost adoption of its Agentforce platform, through which AI “agents” autonomously perform tasks in sales, customer service, and marketing. This shift could significantly boost productivity by enabling businesses to scale effectively without being constrained by workforce limitations. Salesforce’s gargantuan investment is a testament to Singapore’s strategy of attracting MNCs that attract more MNCs, in a seemingly virtuous cycle.

Salesforce and Singapore Airlines also announced a deal to deploy Agentforce alongside Data Cloud, which consolidates customer info from multiple sources, and Einstein for Service Cloud, which helps agents answer customer queries faster and better. Hopefully this means less frustration the next time you are trying to get your SQ flight changed or making an inquiry about your meal. Eventually, Singapore Airlines will hope it can provide high quality customer service at scale without as much human labour. Before long, one robot might fly your plane, and another might serve your meal.

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