SINGAPORE: Point-to-point car-sharing operator BlueSG has officially relaunched as Flexar, marking a significant shift in business strategy as the company moves away from its original fully electric, fully owned fleet model.

The rebrand was unveiled on Monday (4 May) and follows what the company described as a “strategic pause” of BlueSG’s earlier operations. In its new form, Flexar is adopting an asset-light approach, relying on third-party fleet management providers to supply vehicles instead of owning them outright in order to reduce capital expenditure while enabling faster expansion.

In a notable departure from BlueSG’s identity as an all-electric car-sharing service, Flexar’s fleet will now include both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric cars. The company said this hybrid approach is intended to improve operational flexibility, particularly in light of limitations posed by Singapore’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

At launch, Flexar’s network comprises around 200 vehicles distributed across 100 stations. While the current footprint remains relatively small, the company said it is working towards building a comprehensive islandwide presence.

Early interest in the service appears strong, with the platform recording close to 10,000 user sign-ups during a two-week beta phase. To attract users, Flexar has removed membership fees and security deposits, opting instead to onboard customers through Singpass.

At the same time, the company is taking steps to manage cost pressures. Fuel expenses will be passed directly to users through a temporary surcharge, which will be adjusted weekly in response to global oil price movements.

This article (BlueSG relaunches car-sharing company under new name) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A growing number of Singaporeans online are pushing back against takeaway charges imposed by some hawkers, arguing that such fees are increasingly being used to boost profits rather than simply cover costs.

The issue has gained traction in recent weeks after diners reported being charged up to 30 cents for takeaway packaging. In one case highlighted by Stomp, a customer who visited a coffeeshop in Bidadari said he was billed close to $1 for three takeaway bags.

“I had expected plastic containers, even though 30 cents is on the high side, as it’s usually 20 cents—unless it’s for bigger containers that cost 40 to 50 cents, which I understand,” he said.

“I was shocked when they gave me my food in plastic bags. When I queried it, the stall pointed to a notice stating takeaway costs 30 cents. I replied that such charges are typically for containers—this was the first time I’d encountered this.”

He added that while he did not mind paying for proper packaging, a flat fee for minimal wrapping felt unreasonable. “It doesn’t make sense to charge 30 cents when the food is simply packed in plastic bags,” he said.

The stallholders defended the practice, telling Stomp that packaging charges are now commonplace, regardless of whether bags or containers are used.

When Stomp canvassed opinions on the street, responses were mixed. Some diners felt the charges were justified, while others said such costs should be absorbed by stallholders.

Online, however, sentiment skewed more critical. One commenter argued that even small increases were unjustified given economies of scale, saying, “From a cost accounting perspective, I think even a 10-cent increase is too much to pass to the consumer. You are buying in bulk; your costs for dabao only go up a fraction of a cent per packet. This is just price gouging.”

Another commenter pointed out, “Stalls are now not only profiting from their products, they are now profiting from their containers. Don’t tell me it’s reasonable, as they need to pay for it because it’s not.

“Which stall owner pays 30 cents for a container? They probably buy in bulk from some China online shop at say 5 cents each (could be less) and mark up. If each container earns them 25 cents, it becomes a profit centre. e.g.100 containers a month sold 25 cents profit x 100 daily x 30 days/month = extra SGD750 profit/month from containers.”

Others said they immediately boycott hawkers who try to impose hefty takeaway charges. One netizen said, “The worst is actually stalls who charge the extra fee even when you bring your own container & yes, before you say anything, I do vote with my wallet and boycott these stalls once they hit me with this rubbish.”

“NO. No reason to charge consumer for takeaway box, plastic box, etc. It should be part of their costs,” another commenter said emphatically, “Can use wrapper, plastic bag or styrofoam box , they don’t use than they use plastic box to charge $0.30-0.50, it’s really wastage of plastic box, eat already the plastic box, throw away. Now even box also want make money.”

Hawkers, however, maintain that rising costs leave them little choice. One stallholder noted that, without bulk purchasing, packaging expenses can add up, averaging about 15 cents for styrofoam boxes with cutlery and bags, and up to 25 cents for plastic containers.

Even so, he added that he personally does not believe customers should be charged for simpler packaging, such as food bags or styrofoam boxes.

This article (‘This is price gouging,’ diners say as hawkers defend takeaway charge) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Images circulating online of destroyed Mahan Air aircraft amid the ongoing conflict in Iran have drawn attention from observers in Singapore, after it emerged that several of the planes were once operated by Singapore Airlines (SIA) before being covertly transferred to Iran.

The aircraft in question are five Boeing 777-200ERs that were first delivered to SIA between 2001 and 2003. They remained part of the airline’s fleet until being retired in 2018 and 2019, after which they were passed on to NokScoot, a Thai low-cost carrier that has since ceased operations.

Following NokScoot’s closure, the jets were left in storage for several years. Their status remained unchanged until May 2025, when they were reactivated under circumstances that now appear to point to an illicit transfer.

Records show that all five aircraft were parked at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in Cambodia between July 4 and July 15. Data from flight tracking service Flightradar24 indicates that one of the jets, registered 5R-HER, departed on July 15 and was later stored at Mashhad International Airport in Iran.

During that journey, the aircraft’s ADS-B transponder was switched off while flying over Afghanistan, effectively masking the remainder of its route. This method has been observed in previous transfers involving aircraft entering Iran, where planes disappear from tracking systems before resurfacing in Iranian airspace.

Recent images believed to be from within Iran suggest that these aircraft may have since been destroyed. One photograph shows a Mahan Air plane with its upper fuselage torn away as thick smoke rises from the wreckage, while another depicts a separate aircraft split into two sections.

The incident comes against the backdrop of longstanding United States sanctions on Iran, which restrict the country’s ability to procure commercial aircraft. The measures bar the sale of planes containing more than 10 per cent US-made components, effectively preventing Iran from acquiring Boeing jets and most Airbus models.

As a result, Iran’s aviation sector has faced significant constraints. Much of its fleet is considered outdated, with limited access to spare parts and certified maintenance. Estimates from last year suggested that fewer than 200 of the country’s approximately 330 registered aircraft were operational.

To work around these restrictions, Iran has relied on indirect and often opaque methods to obtain aircraft. In recent years, this has included reactivating grounded planes and using complex ownership changes and flight routes designed to avoid detection.

In April, two Airbus A330-200 aircraft previously operated by Hong Kong Airlines were flown from Oman to Tehran without interference. A similar pattern was seen in May 2023, when two Airbus A340-200s formerly used by the French Air and Space Force were transferred after a period of storage in Indonesia. Those aircraft were re-registered in Mali and disappeared from radar near India before eventually arriving at Chabahar.

Reports have also pointed to other cases, including two Airbus A340s linked to a Gambian leasing company that departed Lithuania in 2024. Originally bound for the Philippines, the planes diverted mid-journey, ceased transmitting tracking data, and later surfaced in Iran, landing in Tehran and Chabahar, respectively.

This article (Ex-SIA planes that were smuggled into Iran destroyed in war) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A 32-year-old healthcare worker earning up to S$8.5k a month says the brutal hours and constant stress of her job eventually destroyed her health, leaving her with “stage 3 cancer, chest pains, gastritis, burnout, depression, and anxiety.”

In a Reddit post on Monday (May 4), the woman shared that she spent seven years in the healthcare sector, often surviving on just three hours of sleep while juggling full-day shifts and 24/7 on-call duties for an entire week.

She added that even meal breaks were extremely short. “My lunchtime daily was 30-45 mins, sometimes less.”

While the salary looked attractive on paper, she said the trade-off was devastating.

“My physical health was seriously compromised with me getting stage 3 cancer and chest pains due to high stress as well as gastritis,” she shared. “Throughout my career journey, I also had burnout, depression, and anxiety due to long working hours.”

Hoping to recover, she later moved to a smaller centre with regular hours and accepted a much lower salary, but she claimed the pressure never really stopped, as she was still expected to lead, train, and manage staff despite those responsibilities allegedly never being mentioned during the hiring process.

Feeling exhausted and “a bit cheated,” she has since decided to leave the role completely and is now looking into a career switch for the sake of her well-being.

“I want to switch careers for the sake of my well-being. [I’ve] done all necessary treatments, and I’m in remission now,” she said. “I would really appreciate any suggestions and don’t mind going back to school to be retrained.”

“Health over paycheck”

Many Singaporean Redditors responded with messages of encouragement and support.

One commenter wrote, “All the best. Sadly, I can’t offer much advice as I’m in a similar situation as you, but health really comes first before work (something I have to keep telling myself as well).”

Another said, “I don’t have any suggestions but would like to assure you that health comes first; you made the right move. Wish you all the best for recovery.”

A third added, “Health over paycheck always sia, no point grinding till your body crashes. Career can restart, but you only got one you for real.”

Some Redditors also shared suggestions for alternative careers that could offer her a less stressful and more balanced lifestyle.

One user commented, “Maybe you can look at being an adjunct lecturer relating to healthcare? I believe that your experience and mentorship are highly rewarded, especially in polytechnics.”

Another suggested, “Go private sector medical/pharma ops or compliance; better hours, decent pay, less chaos.”

A third wrote, “Maybe administrative/remote work at home? Sorry, can’t really suggest as much, but you should rest more, and I’m glad to hear you are in remission. Don’t take any high-stress jobs anymore.”

In other news, an Indonesian worker who’s currently earning S$6,000 a month took to Reddit to ask locals if “working from 9 am to 11 pm almost every day is actually normal in Singapore.”

“I keep telling myself it’s just ‘startup life’ or ‘SG hustle culture,’ but I honestly can’t tell anymore if I’m getting a normal experience or getting cooked.”

Read more: ‘14 hours is crazy’: Worker earning S$6K questions long work hours in Singapore

This article (Healthcare worker earning S$8.5k says years of stress and long hours left her with cancer, chest pains, gastritis, and mental health struggles) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is in Singapore to witness the signing of a landmark comprehensive partnership pact. The agreement involves the continuous flow between the two countries of essentials such as food and fuel during times of crisis.

This comes in the wake of an agreement signed between Singapore and Australia a few weeks ago.

Mr Luxon sounded exultant in a video he posted on social media on Monday (May 4) after the agreement was signed. He filmed the clip in front of an oil refinery, saying that the fuel from the refinery would be going straight to New Zealand.

Essentials would flow between the two countries “even when the world gets disrupted.” He said that around one-third of New Zealand’s fuel is refined in Singapore, adding, “So what happens in Singapore affects our fuel supply at home. It’s this fuel that keeps trucks moving, farms running, and food on the table for everyone.”

Mr Luxon underlined that Singapore also gets some of its food supply from New Zealand, so the pact is mutually beneficial.

“This deal basically locks in that relationship,” he added, telling New Zealanders that it’s all about keeping the country moving “no matter what happens.”

On Sunday evening, PM Wong had posted a photo of himself and Mr Luxon in black shirts, writing, “we’re already in sync, down to our matching outfits.”

Landmark pact

The Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) is the first legally binding bilateral supply chain resilience agreement in the world. Singapore and New Zealand have committed not to impose unnecessary export restrictions on agreed essential supplies. Aside from food and fuel, these include healthcare and chemical supplies, as well as construction products. 

It was signed by Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Energy, Science and Technology, Tan See Leng, and New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay. The signing was witnessed by Mr Luxon and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Other countries

According to a report in the New Zealand Herald, Mr Luxon said that he and PM Wong discussed bringing other countries in to sign the deal as well, with the two leaders talking about whether there were “other countries that we might be able to bring into it”.

“There’s potentially a group of countries that might be interested in that,” Mr Luxon told members of the media on Monday afternoon.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand will call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, as well as meet with Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, on Tuesday (May 5). /TISG

Read also: Australia inks agreement with Singapore for fuel supply as pumps run dry

This article (Lawrence Wong says he & New Zealand Prime Minister are ‘already in sync’; landmark food, fuel pact signed) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: As the demand for safe havens ramps up amid global instability, there has been an uptick in investment from companies in mainland China, as well as high-net-worth individuals, into Singapore’s real estate market.

The transparency of regulations in Singapore, in addition to its reputation as a financial haven, is drawing more Chinese developers. The Singapore Economic Development Board recently said that investors from mainland China made up around 21% of total fixed-asset investment in 2025. In comparison, this figure had only been at 2.5% the year before.

China has already overtaken the United States as a leading investor in Singapore, marking a significant change in global capital flows.

What has also helped is a growing familiarity. “Chinese developers who have had experience in Singapore are now familiar with the rules, regulations and market behaviour and are expected to continue bidding to replenish their landbanks,” a report in the South China Morning Post quoted Alan Cheong, the executive director for research and consultancy at Savills Singapore, as saying.

The report cited recent acquisitions, such as a Dover Drive lot spanning almost 145,500 sq ft, purchased by CNQC Realty (Prime), Forsea Residence, and Jianan Realty Investments for S$951 million. The property is expected to be the site for 625 residential units.

The China-based developer Kingsford Group bought a 147,350 sq ft plot on Telok Blangah Road for S$918.3 million and a 222,161 sq ft plot called Lentor Gardens for S$429.23 million. SingHaiyi Group and Haiyi Holdings acquired a parcel on Bayshore Road and bought a 112,992 sq ft property for S$658.9 million that is likely to accommodate 515 units.

The focus on Singapore’s residential sector shows how the developers are putting investments into projects that are expected to move relatively quickly.

Reuters has also highlighted how, over recent years, Singapore has seen “massive inflows of mainland Chinese wealth,” in large part due to political stability and tax advantages, as well as economic uncertainty in China. This has meant an even greater demand for high-end real estate and family offices specifically for managing Chinese capital.

Aside from residential projects, firms from China are also showing interest in commercial real estate, although this is happening at a slower pace. Reuters reported last August that a consortium that involves the property arm of JD.com, one of the biggest comprehensive e-commerce companies in China, looked into launching a Singapore-based real estate investment trust worth US$1 billion. /TISG

Read related: Singapore’s luxury goods sales slide as wealthy Chinese turn to ‘low-key’ spending on art, wine, and private clubs amid growing scrutiny from authorities

This article (Wealth flows into Singapore as Chinese invest in property) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: On the Hanke’s Annual Misery Index for 2025, which measures the health of the 178 economies, Singapore took the number two spot, just behind Taiwan.

The index is published each year by Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at The Johns Hopkins University, who is also known as the “money doctor” for his expertise in using economic data from the Economist Intelligence Unit, International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook, and other sources, to take the “temperature” of economies to see how “miserable” or “healthy” each one is.

Prof Hanke’s index is based on the sum of an economy’s unemployment rate at the end of the year (multiplied by two), plus inflation and bank-lending rates. From this figure, the annual percentage change in real GDP per capita is deducted.

Taiwan, which clinched first place for the second year in a row, scored 2.1159, with unemployment as the major contributing factor for its score. Singapore followed with a score of 2.5939, and the lending rate was listed as the city-state’s major contributing factor.

Another Asian economy, Thailand, came in third (3.1417), followed by Ireland (5.3470) and Côte d’Ivoire (6.2886).

Taiwan continues to flourish, and its real GDP growth per capita of 9.2% is what is behind its health. This is driven by the high demand for Taiwan’s semiconductors and artificial intelligence hardware. Meanwhile, it has low unemployment and inflation at 3.3% and 1.3% respectively, with a bank-lending rate at 3.3%.

As for the runner-up, “Singapore is a perennial contender at the happiest end of the HAMI, and 2025 is no exception. With a score of 2.6, Singapore’s performance reflects near-full employment at 2.0% unemployment, well-anchored inflation at 1.2%, and solid GDP growth of 4.3% per capita,” Prof Hanke wrote.

World’s most miserable

At the bottom three, the most miserable economies are Turkey (100.9610), Sudan (225.3674), and Venezuela (556.4916).

Prof Hanke noted that Venezuela’s score is among the highest ever recorded on the index, and is largely due to “an accelerating collapse” brought about by the 2024 elections, which saw Nicolás Maduro’s return to power, sanctions that cut off oil revenues, and the free fall of its currencies. 

Prices in Venezuela rose by a staggering 475.3% in 2025, while unemployment increased to 35.1%.

However, with the forced removal of Mr Maduro on Jan 3, it remains to be seen how Venezuela’s fortunes will change. /TISG

Read also: Rising tensions and energy risks could push global economy towards recession: IMF 

This article (Singapore ranked 2nd happiest economy in 2025, with Taiwan taking top spot) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Tan Kiat How took to Instagram over the weekend to clarify a particular health issue at Bedok and encouraged the public to visit 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market, saying that there are no tuberculosis (TB) cases among the market staff, Heartbeat@Bedok, and at the Singapore Pools Bedok.

Mr Tan, an East Coast Member of Parliament (MP) since 2020, is a Senior Minister of State for Health as well as for Digital Development and Information.

Many people may be wary of visiting the area after the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) announced on Thursday (April 30) that mandatory tuberculosis screening will be carried out for tenants and workers of the three locations. Investigations showed that there have been 13 genetically similar cases across three clusters between January 2023 and February 2026.

The MP said in his May 4 (Sunday) video that he had just brought food for his family at 216 Market, which they would have for dinner that night.

“It’s very sad because many hawkers told me that they had prepared the whole day, but because nobody came, they have to throw all the food away, so I want to support them,” he said.

Mr Tan underlined that the 13 recently reported cases had not sprang up overnight but had been detected over the last three years. Additionally, the people who had gotten infected with TB are residents living around the area, some of whom don’t even live in Bedok but in other parts of Singapore.

“But they came to Bedok, they came to Heartbeat Centre, to the hawker centre,” and because they had come to a common area, “we wanted to have a precaution to test all our employees and hawkers,” he added.

He also cleared up the misconception that a person can contract TB by sharing a meal or having a conversation with someone.

“Actually, you require prolonged contact to get TB. Coming here for a meal like me, having a conversation with friends and hawkers, you won’t get TB,” he added, telling people not to worry and to come and support the hawkers at 216 Market.

“They hope to get your support,” Mr Tan said, waving his armful of plastic bags containing food from different stalls in the area.

Misunderstanding over the situation caused some hawkers to have fewer customers over the past few days, he wrote in the caption, adding, “For most of us, daily routines like having a meal can continue as usual. If you’re nearby, do drop by. Your usual kopi and meals are still here.” /TISG

Read also: TB Cases Climb in Malaysia — Here’s Why It Matters

This article (Tan Kiat How urges public to visit Bedok hawker centre, says no TB among staff) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man who lied to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) concerning the status of the woman from Vietnam he intended to marry has been given a jail sentence of four months and six weeks.

As it turns out, he knew that the woman was still married when he married her in October 2013 in Singapore but submitted false information to the ICA in 2014 and 2015 when he applied for the woman’s permanent residency and long-term visit pass.

The truth came out only late last year, when the woman’s previous husband applied for a student pass for their son, according to a report in Lianhe Zaobao. The application led to the discovery that the woman was still married when she and the Singaporean man wed in 2013.

It added that the woman, who only got divorced from her former husband in 2021, actually became a citizen of Singapore in 2023.

After investigations were carried out, the Singaporean man, now 37, was charged with five counts, which include inciting another person to commit bigamy, providing false information to the ICA under immigration laws, providing false information to facilitate marriage under the Women’s Charter, and providing false information to assist another person in applying for citizenship.

The man pleaded guilty to three of the five charges, and the judge considered the remaining charges for his sentencing.

Neither the man nor the woman has been publicly named.

The couple has two children, aged 7 and 9. The judge on the case pointed out that these children will bear the label “illegitimate children” because of their parents’ actions, which will end up causing the children inconveniences.

The State Courts judge also underlined the seriousness of this particular case due to potential wider impacts, as the ICA may need to impose more stringent standards for those who wish to apply for Singapore citizenship in the future.

Even if the woman had obtained a divorce from her ex-husband in 2021, this fact did not mitigate how serious the offence is.

While the consequences the Singaporean man has received for his crime, the woman’s outcome has not been made known. /TISG

Read also: SG man & Vietnamese wife each fined S$3,500 for lying to ICA about living together; man charged woman S$1K monthly marriage fee

This article (Singapore man who married already-wedded Vietnamese woman to get 4 months, 6 weeks’ jail) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: On Saturday, Malaysia woke up to a horrible crime after a girl was found after midnight in a pool of blood and with 61 stab wounds.

The story became more dramatic after it was revealed that she was not killed in a car accident, and later her body was placed on the road in Kampung Simah, Ketereh, in the state of Kelantan, the most conservative state in Malaysia.

However, the authorities moved swiftly, arresting four people: an elderly couple and two young men. The elderly couple, the boyfriend’s parents—a 66-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman—have been released on bail, but the two young men are still in custody.

Now, we are being told that it is a story of rage and jealousy that led to the gruesome murder of this young woman, a college student of 19.

Kelantan police chief Mohd Yusoff Mamat said investigators suspect the victim was stabbed to death by her 19-year-old boyfriend, who allegedly believed she was having an affair, the New Straits Times reported.

“Initial investigations showed that an argument broke out between the victim and the suspect, which led to her death. She is believed to have been stabbed while inside the suspect’s car,” the senior policeman was quoted as saying.

The boyfriend, identified as the main suspect, was arrested on Saturday alongside another youth believed to be a friend of the victim.

The victim, who hails from Perak, had gone out for a meal with the two suspects.

Sources said the victim, who lived in a condominium, first went out during the day with one suspect in a Honda City before being sent back home.

“Later that night, she reportedly went out again with the second suspect, believed to be the main perpetrator and also a student at a Vocational College, in a Perodua Bezza,” the source to the Malay-language daily Berita Harian.

Local media had earlier identified the victim as Nurfisya Zulkifly, who had just returned to her Ketereh college campus to start a new semester a week ago.

It is said she managed to post a WhatsApp story at 11 pm. She posted a photo of food before she was killed.

This article (Malaysia: 61 stabs wounds and a relationship that ends with murder) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament (MP) from the Workers’ Party (WP) will be raising questions this week in Parliament about the effectiveness of tackling bullying in schools, in light of the new measures addressing the issue announced by the Ministry of Education last month. 

On April 15, the Ministry of Education (MOE) published nine key recommendations from its Comprehensive Action Review Against Bullying, which had been carried out to strengthen the efforts to better address hurtful behaviour and bullying in schools. The recommendations, which are set for implementation next year, include detention, suspension, and caning for older boys.

There have been a number of concerning incidents of bullying in recent years, such as the incident at Sengkang Green Primary School, where a nine-year-old student and her mother were threatened by the girl’s classmate.

Ministry of Education (MOE)

Annex A – Key Recommendations from MOE Comprehensive Action Review against Bullying

MOE said that schools will receive additional needs-based funding to hire roles such as youth workers, pastoral care officers, and parent liaison officers. These staff members will help manage student issues and reduce the load on teachers. At the same time, schools will receive better guidelines on managing bullying cases. This includes how quickly to inform parents, how to ensure student safety, and how to apply discipline and counselling consistently.

Questions from WP MPs

During the sessions from May 5 to 7, several WP MPs will be raising questions about the MOE’s recommendations, including those that ask for clarity concerning how MOE will make sure the recommended measures would not conflict with creating a school culture that is “restorative,” as well as the particular safeguards to be put in place for protecting students who have mental health vulnerabilities.

Sengkang MPs He Ting Ru, Louis Chua, Jamus Lim, and Abdul Muhaimin, as well as Non-constituency MP Eileen Chong, will be asking the following:

• Whether the standardisation of caning is based on established research, and if the Ministry has evaluated its effectiveness in reducing repeated bullying behaviour

• If there are specific safeguards in place to ensure disciplinary measures are student-centred, and how a student’s special educational needs (SEN) or mental health are weighed

• How does caning for first-time offenders align with the stated goal of a restorative school culture, and what is the data on bullying recidivism rates

• What recourse do students and parents have if they disagree with a school’s findings, and what specific methodology will be used to track the effectiveness of these new measures

The WP MPs last asked questions in Parliament concerning bullying in September, the month after the Sengkang Green Primary incident came to light. /TISG

Read also: WP to raise questions  in Parliament about jobs for new grads, public transport, bullying

This article (WP MPs to ask in Parliament about impact of stricter penalties on school bullies) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: Rafizi Ramli, a former economy minister, once very close to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, made the most explosive remarks about the crisis that has hit the state of Negeri Sembilan, saying it is part of a plan by one of Anwar’s allies in the Madani government to press for fresh general elections in Malaysia.

Ramli, who arrived at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya this morning to face graft-busters on the government’s collaboration with UK-based chip design company Arm Holdings, did not mince his words against United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) or Barisan Nasional (BN) in a podcast.

The outspoken Member of the House of Representatives who resigned as economy minister last year was seen entering the anti-graft agency’s compound at about 9:45 a.m., ahead of his scheduled 10 a.m. appearance. Ramli might be charged for his role in the ARM Holdings deal soon.

Recently, Ramli made several accusations of corruption and share manipulation of some companies against Anwar and people close to the Malaysian regime.

On the Negeri Sembilan crisis, he said: “The controversy in Negeri Sembilan is UMNO’s grand strategy to build a wave of support similar to what happened in the previous Malacca and Johor state elections.”

“The aim is to force Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to dissolve Parliament and hold a general election,” he speculated in the latest episode of his podcast “Yang Berhenti Menteri.”

BN chalked up significant victories in the Malacca and Johor state polls that took place in 2021 and 2022. While Anwar’s party, PKR, is an ally in the Negeri Sembilan state government, it did not join the Malacca state government, which is dominated by the UMNO-BN.

To back his theory that UMNO is pushing for fresh elections, Ramli said it is using the same strategy it used in the 2021 and 2022 state polls in the hope that they can build a big wave in their favour.

“Using the same strategy now, (they want to) build a big wave. That will force Anwar to hold an early general election, and UMNO will mop up seats all over Malaysia,” he said, adding, “The plan involves holding the election in October together with polls in Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, and Johor.”

Bloomberg has also reported that Anwar is allegedly in the early stages of considering holding a general election in the third quarter of this year.

Anwar has denied that he is calling for snap polls this year, saying there is still time for an election.

Last week, 14 UMNO state assemblypersons pulled their support for the PKR head of the state government. Reports had it that the Umno politicians would join with the opposition Perikatan Nasional to form a new state government in Negeri Sembilan.

However, with Anwar’s and UMNO leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s intervention, plans to remove the chief minister from power by the 14 assemblypersons have been foiled.

This article (Crisis in small state near KL is UMNO’s way to seek early General Election) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.