https://www.scmp.com/rss/513732/feed Kolette Lim joined the Post’s Asia desk as a reporter in 2025, and writes about a wide range of topics concerning Singapore and the region. She graduated from Nanyang Technological University with a degree in Communication Studies and a second major in Business. She previously wrote for The Straits Times, where she covered breaking news. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A 38-year-old woman has been charged over her involvement in an accident which killed a six-year-old Indonesian girl and severely injured her mother at a popular tourist district in Singapore. The woman, who cannot be named due to a gag order, was handed two charges on Wednesday. One was for driving without due care and attention causing death, and the other for driving without due care and attention causing grievous hurt. If found guilty of the first charge, she could be jailed up to three... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349318/woman-charged-over-singapore-crash-killed-indonesian-girl-chinatown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3349318/woman-charged-over-singapore-crash-killed-indonesian-girl-chinatown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:48:55 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Singapore’s economy will inevitably be hit by the global energy crunch even though it is in a better position to deal with the crisis compared with its neighbours, according to analysts, as the city state unveiled a raft of measures to help households and businesses. The conflict in the Middle East has roiled supply chains and sent fuel prices soaring in Southeast Asia, with governments scrambling to enforce measures such as fuel caps and work-from-home mandates. Singapore ministers in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349276/singapore-set-be-hit-global-energy-crisis-it-unveils-countermeasures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349276/singapore-set-be-hit-global-energy-crisis-it-unveils-countermeasures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:20:15 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Most Southeast Asians would choose China as a strategic partner over the US if forced to pick, as analysts attribute the findings of an annual survey to recent geopolitical and trade uncertainties driven by Washington’s policies. But analysts warn against interpreting the respondents’ sentiment in the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute survey as a zero-sum game between the superpowers, saying that Asean is looking to diversify partners in a multipolar world. When asked which superpower the region... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349247/most-asean-prefer-china-over-us-partner-poll-trump-cited-biggest-concern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349247/most-asean-prefer-china-over-us-partner-poll-trump-cited-biggest-concern?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:05:32 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Southeast Asian countries are racing to assert control over their data flows, driven by a potent mix of nationalist sentiment and security anxieties. But analysts warn that while certain measures may deliver domestic economic benefits, the broader push risks undermining innovation, deterring foreign investment and even cutting the region off from the global digital economy. On March 1, Vietnam became the first Southeast Asian nation to have in force a comprehensive law on artificial... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348187/vietnam-leads-ai-rules-southeast-asia-risks-economic-own-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348187/vietnam-leads-ai-rules-southeast-asia-risks-economic-own-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim In recent weeks, Singaporean Cindy has been troubled by an odour lingering in the air during her evening walks to the gym. “It’s the same situation every year, but I would say that the fogginess and burning smell have been getting stronger for the last year or so,” said the 33-year-old resident who lives in the southern estate of Telok Blangah. “I have a baby, so it concerns me a lot, and I know many other families feel the same,” she said. “I always keep our windows closed, which is not very... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348070/haze-returns-singapore-crisis-quietly-accepted-asean-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348070/haze-returns-singapore-crisis-quietly-accepted-asean-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Steps to narrow the gender gap in Malaysia and Indonesia appear to be falling short, after a major global study found that most people surveyed in both nations remain tethered to traditional views on the roles of women. The study by research firm Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London found that 66 and 60 per cent of respondents from Indonesia and Malaysia, respectively, agreed with the statement that “a wife should always obey her husband”, the highest... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347409/malaysia-indonesia-top-global-poll-obedient-wives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347409/malaysia-indonesia-top-global-poll-obedient-wives?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim The clack of mahjong tiles, the soft rattle of exercise bikes and the slow thrum of sewing machines are the soundtrack to Monday afternoons at the Yong-en Active Hub: a senior centre with the vibe of a social club, where new skills and friendships are the antidote to old age. At the Bukit Merah estate in central Singapore, Agnes Chen, 74, strolls through the swinging doors, declines entreaties to join a game of Rummikub – a tile-based hybrid of mahjong and rummy – and fixes herself a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347359/super-aged-singapores-secret-growing-old-well-stay-busy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347359/super-aged-singapores-secret-growing-old-well-stay-busy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Aidan Jones,Kolette Lim Aidan Jones,Kolette Lim Death is the family business for Viroj Suriyasenee, a second-generation Thai funeral director. His bespoke coffins range from plain wooden boxes to ornate creations trimmed in gold with plush red velvet interiors, priced anywhere from US$30 to US$30,000 – each one representing a story of loss, grief and a life concluded. They also speak to the sheer scale of Asia’s ever-growing, multibillion-dollar death economy. All the coffins Viroj makes are destined for the cremation furnace, yet the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347355/ageing-southeast-asia-fights-fears-death-brave-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347355/ageing-southeast-asia-fights-fears-death-brave-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has kicked off his visit to Japan, where he is expected to address strategies with counterpart Sanae Takaichi on enhancing cooperation against a backdrop of economic uncertainty brought on by the Iran war. Both leaders are likely to tread cautiously in discussions to avoid antagonising any superpower, analysts say. The three-day trip, which began on Tuesday, marks Wong’s first official visit to Japan since he became Singapore’s prime minister in May... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346929/singapores-lawrence-wong-seeks-stronger-ties-japan-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346929/singapores-lawrence-wong-seeks-stronger-ties-japan-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:15:44 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore is preparing to build its tallest public housing project yet with some blocks rising above 60 storeys in the historic Chinatown area, in a sign of the city state pushing for higher density in prime areas to meet demand. Such super-tall developments are unlikely to become the norm, according to analysts, who cite higher construction costs, site constraints and tighter regulations aimed at preventing centrally located flats from becoming speculative investments. Singapore would build the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3346379/some-singapore-flats-above-60-storeys-horizon-will-owners-face-tighter-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3346379/some-singapore-flats-above-60-storeys-horizon-will-owners-face-tighter-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:41:54 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore pizza shop owner Roy Chan has ridden out more than one business shock – from the Covid-19 pandemic to US tariff pressures – but he now sees another looming threat. Suppliers for ingredients used at his Goldenroy Sourdough Pizza restaurant had warned prices could soon rise by up to 30 per cent following a surge in oil prices due to the escalating Iran war, Chan said. “Delivery providers have not increased prices yet, but it may come in the next few weeks or months,” he added. Like Chan,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3346282/why-southeast-asias-small-firms-could-bear-brunt-latest-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3346282/why-southeast-asias-small-firms-could-bear-brunt-latest-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore is moving to ban caged lorries used to transport migrant workers in a bid to reduce safety risks in emergencies, but activists say the change does not address the wider dangers of ferrying workers in such vehicles. Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said that caged lorry decks posed “additional safety risks” to passengers sitting in the rear. “For example, if a lorry with a caged door that is locked or latched from the outside is involved in an accident or a fire,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3345815/singapores-ban-caged-lorries-revives-debate-over-migrant-worker-transport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3345815/singapores-ban-caged-lorries-revives-debate-over-migrant-worker-transport?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s real estate giants are taking hits as China’s property downturn drags into another year, with declining rents, emptier buildings and falling values weighing on their results. But analysts say Beijing’s huge market and recent policy support mean most investors are unlikely to pull back entirely, instead becoming far more selective about where they invest. Recent earnings from several Singapore firms show the pressure building across their China portfolios, even as investors watch for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3345777/singapore-developers-feel-heat-chinas-property-woes-continue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3345777/singapore-developers-feel-heat-chinas-property-woes-continue?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim In Singapore’s famous Takashimaya shopping centre, those looking for a quick caffeine fix are spoiled for choice. There is, of course, the ubiquitous Starbucks, as well as an outlet of China’s rapidly expanding Luckin Coffee franchise. But it’s a third option, Kenangan Coffee – an upstart brand from Indonesia that opened its first branch in Singapore in 2023 – that most appeals to 27-year-old shopper Sarah Shah. “I really like Kenangan’s range of drinks, especially how they balance classic... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345469/how-southeast-asias-coffee-chains-are-brewing-cross-border-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345469/how-southeast-asias-coffee-chains-are-brewing-cross-border-success?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim For her New Year’s resolution, Cheryl Tan decided that she would drink less alcohol on nights out. The 26-year-old Singaporean finance professional said she was starting to find it increasingly difficult to shed the effects of hangovers, rendering her immobile long into the next day. “It seemed like recovery after a night out was taking too long, and I started to scale back so I would be more productive,” she said. Cutting back has also saved her money. A cocktail at a bar in Singapore could... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344930/asias-gen-z-go-sober-alcohol-producers-and-bars-revamp-business-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344930/asias-gen-z-go-sober-alcohol-producers-and-bars-revamp-business-model?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Malaysian tour guide Syazni Nabilah Che Kamarudin and her family have immersed themselves in this year’s Lunar New Year festivities, handing out red packets and dressing up in traditional Chinese attire. “This year is especially meaningful for me because it is my first time giving hongbao to my Chinese friends after getting married. I’m happy to follow this beautiful custom,” the Kuala Lumpur resident said of the long-standing Chinese tradition. “As Malay-Muslims, we enjoy the cultural... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344396/why-southeast-asias-non-chinese-embrace-lunar-new-year-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344396/why-southeast-asias-non-chinese-embrace-lunar-new-year-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:40:17 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Attracted by the element of surprise, Faye Jimeno is a regular buyer of blind boxes – toys or merchandise sold in sealed packaging, with consumers unaware of their design until after a purchase. The 33-year-old creative executive from Singapore said her passion for blind boxes began in 2021, and their attractiveness and mystique had led her to buy them weekly, mainly in shops located in shopping centres. “They are compact, relatively affordable and easy to purchase on a whim… Beyond that,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344018/singapores-plan-regulate-blind-boxes-paternalistic-or-harm-reduction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3344018/singapores-plan-regulate-blind-boxes-paternalistic-or-harm-reduction?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:10:42 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore expects a surplus of S$15.1 billion (US$12 billion) or 1.9 per cent of gross domestic product for the 2025 financial year, more than double an initial projection of S$6.8 billion, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said as he unveiled an aggressive bid to pursue AI ambitions in his annual budget speech. The higher revenues came from corporate income tax and asset-related revenue collections, including stamp duty and vehicle quota premiums, Wong said on Thursday. For the 2026 financial... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343310/singapore-budget-lawrence-wong-unveils-ai-ambitions-uncertain-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343310/singapore-budget-lawrence-wong-unveils-ai-ambitions-uncertain-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:30:30 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Economic cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is set to deepen despite bloc members advancing trade deals with the United States, Beijing’s ambassador to Asean has said. At a forum in Indonesia’s Jakarta on Tuesday, Wang Qing urged both sides to remain committed to shared economic success and to oppose external interference, underscoring the importance of ties amid growing protectionism and unilateralism. Wang delivered a speech at the South China Morning... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343107/envoy-urges-shared-prosperity-china-asean-ties-amid-growing-protectionism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343107/envoy-urges-shared-prosperity-china-asean-ties-amid-growing-protectionism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:22:05 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Indonesia is on track for 10 per cent economic growth by 2029, beyond the 8 per cent target set by President Prabowo Subianto, his climate and energy envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo has insisted. Hailing multiple projects in the works such as social housing and the development of boarding schools for low-income families, Hashim told a forum in Jakarta on Tuesday that his elder brother Prabowo had to go up against “a quagmire of bureaucratic inertia and resistance” after winning the top job in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343102/indonesia-track-10-growth-2029-energy-envoy-hashim-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343102/indonesia-track-10-growth-2029-energy-envoy-hashim-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:37:35 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Indonesia’s economy stands to gain from its partnership with mainland China and Hong Kong through increased investments and lessons learned from improving capital markets, industry insiders and observers have said. Shinta Kamdani, coordinating vice-chairwoman for human development, culture and sustainable development at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), on Tuesday pointed to financial hub Hong Kong as being able to provide Indonesia access to the sprawling mainland Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343092/indonesias-economy-tipped-gain-deeper-mainland-china-hong-kong-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343092/indonesias-economy-tipped-gain-deeper-mainland-china-hong-kong-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:00:25 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim As sovereign wealth funds are increasingly deployed as geopolitical tools, Indonesia’s new state-backed vehicle is setting itself apart by operating with transparency and professional discipline, according to one of its top executives. Pandu Sjahrir, chief investment officer of Danantara Indonesia, said the sovereign wealth fund was being run for profit rather than politics, even as governments around the world tapped heavily into such stashes to pursue strategic goals. “In the new geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343078/danantara-indonesia-chief-vows-keep-politics-out-trillion-dollar-fund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343078/danantara-indonesia-chief-vows-keep-politics-out-trillion-dollar-fund?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:40:20 +0000 Zuraidah Ibrahim,Kolette Lim Zuraidah Ibrahim,Kolette Lim Hashim Djojohadikusumo is smiling almost beatifically, but the trademark feistiness is unmistakable. We are sitting down for a chat amid the turmoil gripping Indonesia’s capital markets and he says emphatically that “it’s good, it’s good” that it happened. This unvarnished answer is one of several he gives as we talk about his country, nearly two years after his elder brother, Prabowo Subianto, won the presidential election by a wide margin, securing 58.6 per cent of the votes on his third... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3342707/inside-indonesias-inner-circle-hashim-djojohadikusumo-his-brother-prabowos-vision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3342707/inside-indonesias-inner-circle-hashim-djojohadikusumo-his-brother-prabowos-vision?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Indonesia will press on with reforms of its capital markets and go after market manipulators with the full force of the law well ahead of a May deadline set by leading index MSCI, the country’s top economic minister, Airlangga Hartarto, has vowed. A massive sell-off last Wednesday prompted the government to act, as investors exited after MSCI said it would stop making adjustments to Indonesian stocks, citing a lack of transparency in shareholding structures and concerns over coordinated trading... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342275/indonesias-top-economic-minister-vows-capital-market-reforms-not-merely-because-msci?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342275/indonesias-top-economic-minister-vows-capital-market-reforms-not-merely-because-msci?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:01:44 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A Singaporean woman has been charged with public nuisance after a video showing her spitting water towards fellow commuters on a train went viral, igniting a debate over what is seen as bystander culture in the city state. The footage prompted criticism not only of the woman’s actions but also of other passengers who appeared to avoid intervening, reviving questions about how Singaporeans respond when disorderly behaviour unfolds in public. Sabrina Han, 37, was charged with one count of public... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341562/will-you-intervene-singapore-train-spitting-case-puts-bystander-culture-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3341562/will-you-intervene-singapore-train-spitting-case-puts-bystander-culture-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:35:21 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim At Seah Im Food Centre in southern Singapore, Nur’Ain Zainuddin is constantly on the lookout. Other than serving customers, the owner of hawker chain Aspirasi Chicken Rice has to make sure no uninvited visitors enter the stall. “The birds like to pick up leftovers on tables and at the tray returning station, and even enter our stall sometimes. It’s concerning because we don’t know if they carry any viruses,” Nur’Ain said. This concern is not hers alone. Singapore received more than 24,000... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3341305/singapore-aims-be-city-nature-can-residents-and-wildlife-coexist-harmony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3341305/singapore-aims-be-city-nature-can-residents-and-wildlife-coexist-harmony?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:30:12 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Competition between the United States and China could help drive global progress, but only if both powers exercise restraint in sensitive areas such as nuclear technology and artificial intelligence, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has said. Speaking at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, Tharman stressed that broad innovation benefits could come from rivalry between the two superpowers. He added that innovations born of competition could lead to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340733/davos-singapores-tharman-calls-us-china-rivalry-benefit-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340733/davos-singapores-tharman-calls-us-china-rivalry-benefit-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:09:25 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday accepted the Workers’ Party’s (WP) rejection of his invitation to nominate a replacement for the Leader of the Opposition (LO) role, saying that it would be left vacant. In a statement hours after the WP turned down the offer, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said: “The office of the LO will therefore remain vacant until such time that the WP is ready to nominate someone to take on this responsibility.” The PMO agreed that the leader of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340689/singapores-workers-party-rejects-leader-opposition-position?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340689/singapores-workers-party-rejects-leader-opposition-position?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:02:15 +0000 Kolette Lim,Aidan Jones Kolette Lim,Aidan Jones Southeast Asian countries invited to join Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” should think carefully before entering what looks like a “more exclusive version” of the United Nations Security Council with the US president in ultimate control, analysts caution. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are among about 60 countries that have reportedly received invitations, alongside South Korea and India. The initiative, presented by Trump as a new international body to promote global... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340651/why-southeast-asia-wary-trumps-pay-play-global-peace-board?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340651/why-southeast-asia-wary-trumps-pay-play-global-peace-board?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:30:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim When Singapore’s trade minister Gan Kim Yong revealed that locals owned nearly 90 per cent of registered retail businesses in the city state while Chinese nationals came in second at a distant 3 per cent, the figures drew mixed reactions from the public and analysts. The discourse online centred on what the statistics implied – critics felt that though the proportion of foreign-owned entities, especially from China, might be minuscule, most could actually be big brands with multiple outlets,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340470/singapores-retail-ownership-data-sparks-debate-about-foreign-chains-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340470/singapores-retail-ownership-data-sparks-debate-about-foreign-chains-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has stripped the Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh of his role as the city state’s first Leader of the Opposition following Singh’s conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. Singh assumed the official role in 2020 following the general election where his party secured a record 10 elected seats in parliament. Then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during a press conference that Singh would be provided with staff and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340003/singapores-pm-lawrence-wong-removes-pritam-singh-leader-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340003/singapores-pm-lawrence-wong-removes-pritam-singh-leader-opposition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:04:17 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore has begun reviewing early findings from the investigation into Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po high-rise blaze, with ministers signalling that lessons from the tragedy could feed into tighter rules on construction and maintenance works in the city state. Lawmakers said in parliament on Monday that observations made by Hong Kong authorities about the fire at Wang Fuk Court would be studied and, where relevant, incorporated into Singapore’s legislation and policy framework. The blaze, which... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3339628/singapore-takes-stock-lessons-hong-kongs-tai-po-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3339628/singapore-takes-stock-lessons-hong-kongs-tai-po-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:12:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim For businesses in Singapore, such as skincare chain Kskin, the global trade environment has become more challenging in recent years as a result of hurdles ranging from rising costs and US tariffs to fast-changing regulations. Kskin began venturing overseas in 2023 and has opened outlets in Malaysia, the Philippines and the US. Due to the tariffs, the costs of Kskin’s equipment and products have risen in recent months. Brian Ng, the firm’s director, told This Week in Asia: “Our margins [at... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339397/singapore-businesses-list-rising-costs-and-tariffs-their-biggest-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339397/singapore-businesses-list-rising-costs-and-tariffs-their-biggest-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 06:30:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Foreign money is flowing back into Southeast Asia, and analysts expect the region to remain a draw for global investors even as geopolitical tensions and domestic political risks cloud the outlook. Emerging Southeast Asian markets recorded US$337 million of equity inflow in December last year, the highest monthly figure since September 2024, according to a Bloomberg report. These economies include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Analysts say the rebound points to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339114/why-investors-are-looking-southeast-asias-economies-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339114/why-investors-are-looking-southeast-asias-economies-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:30:48 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A Singapore-based event organiser has come under criticism after Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lau warned fellow performers against using the venue where he appeared, following complaints from concertgoers that their views were blocked by pillars. Lau made the remarks during his set at the Singland Festival at the Marina Bay Sands convention centre on Saturday, saying he was speaking out “for the sake of future artistes” after struggling to connect with fans in the audience. “There’s a big... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338962/singer-henry-lau-calls-out-singapore-concert-venue-over-blocked-views?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338962/singer-henry-lau-calls-out-singapore-concert-venue-over-blocked-views?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:51:22 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A decade ago, Samantha Ong would go to the cinemas in Singapore twice a week. She now goes about once a month, opting instead to watch films on Netflix at home. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel worth it to spend three hours on a movie, so it’s better to watch it at home where there is an option to fast-forward,” said Ong, 26. “I have to juggle working out and meeting up with friends in my free time, so I’ll go [to the cinema] only if I really want the full experience.” Such shifts in viewing habits... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338560/why-singapore-betting-international-partnerships-help-its-film-industry-scale?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338560/why-singapore-betting-international-partnerships-help-its-film-industry-scale?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim At the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Singapore, it was yet another busy Monday as volunteers cleaned cages and leashed dogs for walks around the shelter. Squinty, a seven-year-old male crossbreed, stretched his hind legs – which were covered in partially healed burn wounds – in anticipation. The canine’s energetic jaunt belied his kidney disease, which required him to take daily fluids and supplements. The docile pooch is among many animals housed by the SPCA,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338563/singapores-animal-shelters-struggle-costs-falling-adoption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338563/singapores-animal-shelters-struggle-costs-falling-adoption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 03:00:44 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A viral video has reignited a debate on elite schools in Singapore, with users sharing their own childhood experiences and views on whether such an educational environment may lead to insular views of society and indifference to those less better off. In an online clip, user Erica Lee recounts her time in an elite primary school and how her classmates’ families travelled several times a year for the holidays, had chauffeurs to ferry them to and from school, and threw extravagant birthday parties... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338332/debate-singapores-elite-schools-flares-ex-student-recalls-privileged-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338332/debate-singapores-elite-schools-flares-ex-student-recalls-privileged-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:00:15 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore saw plenty of drama unfold this year, from pickleball courts to the Supreme Court. The city state was gripped by election fever in May, when the People’s Action Party maintained its dominance at the polls. On the trade front, Washington’s imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on Singapore elicited a strong reaction from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The jury is still out on whether US President Donald Trump would introduce levies on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, which could deliver... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337732/singapore-2025-election-fever-courtroom-drama-pickleball-mania?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337732/singapore-2025-election-fever-courtroom-drama-pickleball-mania?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim From political gaffes and diplomatic stumbles to courtroom fury and security breaches, many of Singapore’s viral moments in 2025 showed how quickly everyday incidents in the city state could turn into national focal points. Passionate online discussions have revealed deep concerns about power, accountability and how the country sees itself – and is seen by others. Locker-room rage Singapore’s acting sports minister came under fire after he was caught calling the Hong Kong men’s football team... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337666/singapores-viral-moments-2025-politician-slip-ups-sinkhole-heroes-and-new-us-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3337666/singapores-viral-moments-2025-politician-slip-ups-sinkhole-heroes-and-new-us-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 03:30:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A statement by the secretary general of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) that athletics had to “come to the party” for the city state to attain better SEA Games results has elicited a heated response from the local athletics community and others in the sporting fraternity. The saga also sparked discussion on whether Singapore’s athletes were receiving sufficient monetary rewards for achievements and rigorous development pathways. SNOC chief Mark Chay made the comments on Saturday... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337601/do-singapores-athletes-need-more-funding-officials-come-party-review-spurs-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337601/do-singapores-athletes-need-more-funding-officials-come-party-review-spurs-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:17:47 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim After finishing his postgraduate studies in May, Tan Kwan Ann expected the job hunt to be difficult, but not so disheartening. The 33-year-old, who specialised in structural biology at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), sent out more than 600 applications while waiting for the formal conferment of his doctorate, but heard back from almost none of them. “It seemed like I was excluded from society and made me feel very lousy. It made me question if it was my fault that I chose to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3337546/singapores-young-graduates-feel-heat-draining-job-hunt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3337546/singapores-young-graduates-feel-heat-draining-job-hunt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:00:14 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s approach to curbing foreign interference and cybercrime is being tested by the sheer speed and borderless nature of online threats, according to analysts who say the city state’s legal powers provide important safeguards but are unlikely to fully keep pace with a rapidly evolving digital landscape. They note that while swift takedown orders and targeted legislation have strengthened Singapore’s defences against misinformation and coordinated online harms, long-term resilience would... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335660/can-singapores-cyber-laws-keep-pace-speed-borderless-online-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3335660/can-singapores-cyber-laws-keep-pace-speed-borderless-online-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 02:30:08 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Vijay Andrews arrived in Singapore determined to compete again. The 32-year-old Indian fitness coach had spent months recovering from an injury that kept him out of New Delhi’s July Hyrox fitness competition. So when he learned there would be another edition in Singapore in November, he seized the opportunity. “Singapore was geographically the closest country where a Hyrox was soon happening,” Andrews said. “I love travelling and I love fitness, so it worked out very well for me.” He was one of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3335405/race-tourists-singapore-pumps-appeal-push-fitness-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3335405/race-tourists-singapore-pumps-appeal-push-fitness-events?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:30:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A widely shared image on social media depicting colour sketches of men from different regions in China has stirred debate on the physical appearance of Singaporean Chinese based on their ancestry, with online users concluding they are the least attractive of the gene pool. But psychotherapists say perceptions of beauty might be warped by media and celebrity culture, warning against the normalisation of conversations centred on physical appearance. The discussion was prompted by drawings of male... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3335263/are-singaporean-chinese-least-attractive-viral-image-stirs-beauty-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3335263/are-singaporean-chinese-least-attractive-viral-image-stirs-beauty-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:15:07 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s sweeping effort to modernise Saudi Arabia’s economy draws direct inspiration from the Singapore model pioneered by Lee Kuan Yew, a senior Saudi political adviser has said. Mohammed Khalid Alyahya, an adviser to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, described the late Singaporean leader’s pragmatic and results-driven governance as a template for Riyadh’s ambitions. “We have studied [Singapore] for 50 years – the way the country has invested in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3334946/saudi-adviser-lauds-parallels-singapore-lee-kuan-yew-modernisation-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3334946/saudi-adviser-lauds-parallels-singapore-lee-kuan-yew-modernisation-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:16:26 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Alex Lee, a Singaporean parent-blogger who has spent years documenting his children’s lives online, recently posted a video of his 12-year-old son opening the results of his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) – a high-stakes test that shapes most pupils’ secondary school paths. In the clip, which has now drawn more than 3 million views, it cuts from his son, Daken, looking at his scores to him in his father’s arms as Lee asks, “Not as good as you expected?” Daken agrees as his father... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3334514/children-content-singaporean-sharenting-videos-stir-privacy-mental-health-worries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3334514/children-content-singaporean-sharenting-videos-stir-privacy-mental-health-worries?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:57:45 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim As countries and economies around the world scramble for a slice of the growing artificial intelligence pie, Southeast Asia is also aiming to usher in a new dawn of higher productivity, fuelled by more investment and research opportunities in the technology. But tech experts warn that a deepening economic and tech divide is looming as nations in the region adopt AI at a different pace. On Wednesday, Google DeepMind announced the opening of a research lab in Singapore, focused on researching and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3333690/why-aseans-ai-ambition-may-lead-widening-economic-and-tech-divide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3333690/why-aseans-ai-ambition-may-lead-widening-economic-and-tech-divide?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:15:29 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has voiced hope that China and Japan can de-escalate tensions, following a row sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on the Taiwan Strait. At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Wednesday, Wong said Singapore and fellow Southeast Asian states supported Tokyo stepping into a bigger role in the region, including on the security front, for greater stability. Takaichi earlier this month said Japan could deploy its military in the event... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333451/singapore-pm-hopes-china-japan-find-ways-resolve-taiwan-strait-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333451/singapore-pm-hopes-china-japan-find-ways-resolve-taiwan-strait-row?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:45:32 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s jailing of an Australian man who rushed at singer-actress Ariana Grande at a film premiere has earned near-unanimous applause from locals, reflecting deep frustration with behaviour seen as attention-seeking and disruptive to the city state’s hard-won image for safety. The nine-day term – which the judge increased from an initial proposal of seven days – was also the first time serial stage invader Johnson Wen has faced custodial consequences, after similar antics across Australia... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3333298/singapore-jailed-australian-man-who-grabbed-ariana-grande-now-its-winning-plaudits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3333298/singapore-jailed-australian-man-who-grabbed-ariana-grande-now-its-winning-plaudits?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:52:55 +0000