SINGAPORE: An Indian company has publicised what it calls “racism against Indians,” accusing a number of countries, including Singapore, of harbouring xenophobic sentiments against Indians.

The company, Nybula (pronounced “nebula”), positions itself as an “Indian technology company” and as a digital marketplace connecting individuals with work and study opportunities abroad. Nbyula says it aims to “enable and empower ‘Skillizens without Borders’“ and offers packages to prospective clients who wish to be mentored on the process of applying to jobs and academic programs around the globe.

Last month, Nybula published a controversial post on Instagram, decrying a petition that was signed by 40,000 Taiwanese people who want to keep Indians out of their country.

As Nybula characterised it, “Taiwan has a labour crisis. Their population is ageing fast, and birth rates have collapsed, leaving factories without enough workers to function. So in February 2024, Taiwan signed a deal with India to bring in just 1,000 Indian workers. A pilot programme to test the deal before scaling.

“Then, in April 2026, 40,000+ Taiwanese signed a petition demanding the government cancel the deal. The petition cited fears of sexual violence by Indian men, using selected Indian crime statistics to fearmonger.”

The company said, “Taiwan literally needs us. Their citizens still don’t want us.”

Claiming that Taiwan is not alone in harbouring this sentiment, the company added, “And this is not just Taiwan. In Singapore, BBC found over 140 rental listings that explicitly said ‘no Indians.’ The CECA trade deal turned into a slur.”

It also spoke about discrimination against Indians in Japan and South Korea, as well as hate crimes against Indians in the UK, US, and Canada. The company said, “The West has loud racism. When mobs riot, the PM goes on TV calling it ‘thuggery.’ The press covers every attack, and charges get filed against the rioters.

“The East has quiet racism. No riots, no headlines. Just a bouncer telling you ‘no Indians’ at a club in Busan or a landlord in Tokyo rejecting your application without giving a reason. There’s no anti-discrimination law to invoke and no press to escalate to.”

Positioning the West as a “safer” place to migrate to, Nybula asserted, “The loud version of racism gives you something to fight. The quiet version just wears you down.

“What you should actually ask about a country (is) not “is it safe?” Every country has crime stats, and they all look fine on paper. Ask, if I get rejected, can I do something about it?’ In the West, you usually can. There are laws that protect you and media that covers you when something goes wrong. In Asia, you mostly can’t.”

The company then promoted its services to help Indians get matched to destinations that are “safe.” It claimed, “…we’ll help you figure out which country fits your career goals and your budget, and which ones are safe enough that you won’t spend the next 10 years feeling like you don’t belong.

“A bad country choice will cost you 5 years of your life and a loan you can’t pay off. The right one will pay you back for the rest of your life.”

While some netizens agreed with the characterisations the company made of Eastern nations, others had mixed opinions. One commenter said, “If more than one culture is doing it, maybe you need to address the behaviour instead of saying it’s racism.”

Another commenter, referring to the point about Singapore, asked, “How many non-vegetarians, Dalits, Muslims have been denied a house for rent? The reasons are similar. First, have we been able to fix these issues in India?”

A number of individuals also questioned whether more can be done to stop these negative impressions from taking root in the first place. One commenter opined, “It’s actually shameful for us as Indians. In the past decades, if we look, several Indians visited countries but misbehaved and did not show any civic sense…as Indians, why not we behave properly when we visit any other country?

“When we visit our relatives’ home, we don’t misbehave or spread mess, so why we forget when we visit a foreign country? More importantly, we need to make our country better, cleaner & systematic,” they added.

This article (Indian company Nybula says CECA deal has ‘become a slur’ in Singapore as it decries ‘racism against Indians’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A recent survey conducted by Milieu Insight has shown that most Southeast Asians don’t know how much energy is used up by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

An April 2026 study from Milieu of respondents across Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand showed that 7 in 10 are unaware of the amount of energy AI really uses. The study also showed that less than a third (29%) correctly know that an AI chatbot uses 10 times more energy than a Google search, with 35% thinking they use about the same.

While a hyperscale data centre uses more than five Olympic swimming pools of water every single day, more than half of the respondents (51%) underestimated this. In Singapore, which had the highest number of participants who knew how much water data centres need, only 51% were aware of this.

Singapore also had the highest trust in government (19%) to act on sustainability, while in Malaysia and Thailand, 12% and 7% respectively say they are “very confident” on the issue.

A majority across the three countries (68%) say that individuals and companies must act to tackle environmental issues, and two in five say they want more accessible green choices for everyday choices, such as affordable eco-friendly products, better public transport, recycling and waste infrastructure that’s easy to use, sustainable food options that are widely available, and energy-efficient products and solutions.

Why is AI so energy-intensive?

A lot of energy goes into operating AI systems as it requires massive computational power to run, train, and maintain. Many systems demand thousands of specialised processors that run continuously in data centres, and generative AI tasks are particularly heavy.

In addition, carbon emissions from power generation, water use for cooling servers, hardware manufacturing and e-waste, and the rapid growth in demand should also be taken into account.

According to one Penn State study, 4.4% of US electricity was consumed by data centres in 2023. By 2028, this figure could triple. This should be a cause for concern, especially since the data centres primarily operate on fossil fuels. 

Many scientists have become increasingly concerned, especially climate scientists, sustainability researchers, and energy experts, and there have been calls for monitoring, regulation, transparency, and efficiency improvements.

What individuals can do

While most of the monitoring of AI usage will be done at the government level, individuals who are concerned about the toll AI takes on the planet could practice intentional usage, in the sense of not generating unnecessarily large images or long videos.

People can also urge companies and governments to disclose information about energy and water use, emissions, and the sourcing of electricity, which helps with transparency and accountability. /TISG

Read also: Concerns over Artificial Intelligence in recruitment grow among HR professionals in Singapore

This article (7 in 10 Southeast Asia unaware of how much energy AI uses) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: While Singapore is in the top expat destinations when it comes to quality of life, it is not in the overall top 15, ranking 32nd out of the 46 countries on InterNations’ Expat Insider 2025 report.

Moreover, while four Southeast Asian countries are on the top 10 friendliest list, Singapore is not. Indonesia took pole position for ease of finding friends, while the Philippines ranked fourth, Thailand, eighth, and Vietnam, 10th. Singapore was 34th on the list.

Singapore, however, ranked well in other categories, placing fourth in travel and transit, and 10th in security. It also ranked 14th in terms of salary and job security, seventh in language, and ninth in digital life. 

The city-state was low on the list for work and leisure (44th), personal finance (41st), and work culture and satisfaction (36th).

As can be guessed, the cost of living is the biggest reason why expats in Singapore are unhappy. The study’s participants rated countries based on three factors: general cost of living, satisfaction with their financial situation, and whether their disposable household income is enough to lead a comfortable life.

Vietnam has emerged as number one in this category for five years in a row. In 2025, 89% of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the general cost of living, and 87% said their disposable household income was enough or more than enough to live a comfortable life. In contrast, the global average is at 40% and 69%, respectively.

Singapore, meanwhile, has been in the bottom 10 for personal finance for the past three years and has also been in last place (46th) for cost of living for three years in a row.

Affordable housing, in particular, is a recurrent issue for expats in Singapore. 

Additionally, the report says that the share of expats in the city-state who have said it’s easy to get a visa for Singapore has decreased by 10 points over the past year, dropping from 59% in 2024 to 49% in 2025.

A quarter of expats in Singapore said they were sent by their employer to the city-state, while 22% said they had found a job there, and 17% said they had been recruited internationally.

When asked if they are planning on leaving, 38% said they did not know yet, while 21% said they would within the next five years, and 14% said they wanted to stay in Singapore forever. As for a breakdown by industry, 15% said they work in finance, 12% say they work in information technology, and 8% work in manufacturing and engineering. /TISG

Read also: ‘Great opportunities, but…’: French expat flags rent as biggest hurdle in Singapore

This article (4 Southeast Asian countries are friendliest to expats, but Singapore isn’t one of them) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Workers’ Party Member of Parliament (WP MP) He Ting Ru (Sengkang) shared in a recent Facebook post that she had attended the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank 2026 Spring Meetings in Washington DC, which took place from April 13 to 18.

Ms He spoke at a Global Parliamentary Forum, discussing the issues surrounding anti-corruption, good governance, and cross-border financial crime.

“Our panel covered the importance of strong laws and stringent enforcement in combating corruption and cross-border financial crimes in this rapidly moving issue area. Transnational scams are a key part of this landscape,” wrote Ms He, who is a lawyer by profession.

Also on the panel were Rody Senderowitsch, Practice Manager for Public Administration at the World Bank Group’s Governance Global Department, and Chady Adel El Khoury, Assistant General Counsel of the IMF’s Financial Integrity Group. It was moderated by Javier Maroto, the First Vice-President of the Spanish Senate.

Ms He wrote that she had shared her views on the challenges of fighting cross-border crime, especially with the speed with which technologies such as AI evolve, as well as how the authorities in different countries have to work together to expand information-sharing, as cross-border crime has gone beyond tracing funds. Today, authorities need to understand how criminals use such assets as cryptocurrency, real estate, precious metals, and luxury items. 

She added that Intermediaries, including lawyers, accountants, and realtors, should also be held accountable and given support in crime-fighting.

“For highly open economies with large financial and wealth management sectors, such as the UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Switzerland, the very structure of our economies makes us easily exploitable by criminals. Failure to address these issues effectively harms our people and can eventually lead to serious reputational damage,” wrote the MP.

Ms He also wrote that she had posed a question to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva about AI adoption and her views on the longer-term potential and risks associated with AI during a Town Hall session.

She specifically wanted to know how the technology can be used to boost productivity without diminishing entry-level jobs and widening inequality, specifically for vulnerable groups and women, as well as Dr Georgieva’s perspective on whether reskilling workers, updating labour regulations, or regulating AI deployment mattered more.

“Dr Georgieva pointed out that Singapore was ranked top in our holistic approach to AI and that we were a case study with much to offer. She, however, noted that the world has now reached the stage where it is ‘AI or die’; that the speed of transformation is unparalleled. Current projections understand the overall trajectory of AI on GDP and job growth as positive, but we must continue to look to ways in which AI can be harnessed safely and meaningfully,” wrote Ms He. /TISG

Read also: WP MP He Ting Ru shares what Sengkang is doing to cope with Singapore’s heat

This article (He Ting Ru: Open economies like Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland easily exploitable by criminals) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A TikTok video rant by a man about Singaporeans complaining and conforming to local social norms without much thought ignited hundreds of reactions, with many also arguing that resorting to criticism is partly why the country functions well.

The TikTok video calling Singapore “The land of the Karens” has fired up an online debate after the man claimed there is “such a huge culture of judging and complaining” in the country. The clip, posted on April 1 by TikTok creator @gavs.rana, has drawn nearly 25,000 views and over 200 comments on Reddit and TikTok combined, with discussions about whether Singaporeans are indeed overly critical, overly conformist, or simply practical.

In his own words, the man said, “I think Singapore is the land of the Karens. There is such a huge culture for judging and complaining, and you’re incentivised to be a bot, to be an NPC.” He then added that while saying this about Singaporeans, “It’s been so much more rewarding because I feel like an outlier just by doing this. It’s simple, just putting myself out there, and I feel rare. It’s crazy.”

The man’s remarks spread on the video platform and the Reddit forum, where commenters debated whether Singapore’s culture truly rewards conformity more than individuality.

What does “NPC” even mean?

The term “NPC” comes from video games; it stands for “non-playable character,” usually referring to background characters controlled by a game’s programming rather than independent decision-making. The term has evolved into slang for people seen as overly predictable, passive, or simply following social scripts without questioning them.

So when the TikTok video creator said Singaporeans are “incentivised to be a bot, to be an NPC,” he appeared to be referring to the way local society rewards people who closely follow accepted paths. This could mean studying hard, avoiding risk, staying within social norms, and prioritising stability over standing out.

The man’s comment also mirrors a common criticism usually aimed at high-pressure Asian cities: that efficiency and order can sometimes come at the cost of individuality. Still, some commenters pushed back against the idea that being “normal” or being conventional is somehow negative.

One commenter on Reddit argued that conformity exists partly because it works. “We complain because it works in Singapore. By complaining, things get fixed. It works. The government works, compared to other countries,” the commenter opined.

Another pointed out the irony of the original video itself. “So, this guy is complaining about other people complaining. Everything has come full circle,” while another added, “Everyone thinks they’re special.”

“It’s OK to be normal…”

One of the longer Reddit responses gained attention for defending what many online call “NPC behaviour,” or mindset.

The commenter wrote that there was “absolutely nothing wrong with being an NPC,” arguing that ordinary lifestyles provide the safest and most stable route for most people. Therefore, “It’s OK to be normal.”

The person added that middle-class stability, worker protections, work-life balance, and the five-day work week were built by large groups of ordinary people, not rebellious outliers.

The same commenter also argued that Singaporeans have gradually become more open-minded over the years despite the country’s reputation for conformity.

Seeking balance: People just want stability and a manageable life

Debates like this appear in Singapore from time to time because the country sits in a middle ground between structure and self-expression.

As Singapore rewards order, efficiency, and predictability, this system has helped create public safety, reliable infrastructure, and economic stability. At the same time, younger Singaporeans are increasingly exposed to global internet culture that celebrates individuality, personal branding, and unconventional lifestyles.

Complaining may be common among Singaporeans, even if not among all. Grumbling about transport, prices, queues, or policies may also be typical among locals, but they also believe public complaints help improve services and accountability when all else fails.

In that sense, the TikTok creator’s remarks may have resonated with many because they touched on something people, including Singaporeans, already recognise, even if others disagree with his conclusion: one side may want freedom from social expectations, while the other may see those expectations as part of why Singapore functions as smoothly as it does.

Being different may attract attention in tightly organised societies, but being ordinary is also not the insult the internet sometimes makes it out to be. Most people simply want stability, decent work, and a manageable life, as the earlier “It’s OK to be normal” commenter wrote, “I am an outlier [as well], and if there is one thing I would tell people, it is that you have to be comfortable being an outlier, otherwise conform,” and perhaps seeking that balance is the way to go without resorting to any form of absolutes.

This article (‘I think Singapore is the land of the Karens’ — Man says, ‘There’s such a huge culture of judging and complaining’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s cruise sector is holding up better than expected despite rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict, with operators adjusting routes and cutting costs while travel demand stays firm.

According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), international cruise arrivals into Singapore rose 10 per cent year-on-year in March 2026. The top source markets were Indonesia, China, and Malaysia, with passenger numbers from those countries also climbing.

While airlines are dealing with flight disruptions, higher fuel costs and route changes, cruise operators appear to have more room to adapt without heavily affecting travellers. Some companies are slowing sailing speeds to save fuel. Others are changing routes or scaling back promotions instead of sharply increasing prices.

For many Singapore-based travellers, cruises are also starting to look more predictable than overseas flights. Education consultant Kristabel Quek, 40, told Channel NewsAsia (CNA) she booked two cruises after the Middle East conflict began and didn’t notice major price jumps compared to earlier trips. She said flying now feels less certain due to fare increases and possible disruptions, while cruises remain easier for multi-generation family holidays.

That convenience matters in Singapore, where cruises have long appealed to retirees, families with children, and travellers looking for short regional getaways without the stress of airport transfers and packed itineraries.

Fuel costs are rising, but operators are absorbing part of the pressure

Cruise companies are still feeling the impact behind the scenes. Very low sulphur fuel oil, commonly used by cruise ships, reportedly jumped from around US$550 (S$697.84) per tonne in February to more than US$1,000 in March, according to fuel tracking platform Ship & Bunker. Prices remained elevated in May.

StarDream Cruises president Michael Goh said the company has introduced measures such as route optimisation, speed management and energy-saving efforts across its fleet. The company also imposed a S$15 fuel surcharge per passenger in March following the spike in fuel prices. Still, Mr Goh said the operator continues to offer promotions, including buy-one-get-one-free deals, to keep cruises attractive amid the current uncertainty.

Industry observers said cruise firms are handling the situation more quietly than airlines. Christopher Khoo, managing director of MasterConsult Services, said that fuel usually makes up 10% to 20% of cruise operating costs, lower than airlines, where fuel can account for up to 35%. That gives cruise operators more breathing room to manage volatility.

He added that operators often pass on costs indirectly through smaller promotions, fuel surcharges or pricier excursions instead of steep headline fare hikes.

Some cruise routes are changing

The conflict overseas has also forced some itinerary changes. Oceania Cruises said its Oceania Vista sailing from Singapore to Southampton will now avoid the Suez Canal and travel via Cape Town instead due to security concerns in the Gulf region.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises also changed one of its routes earlier this month, ending a sailing in Mumbai instead of Doha. For Singapore travellers, though, many Asia-focused cruises remain largely unaffected.

Mr Goh said StarDream Cruises continues to concentrate on Southeast Asia and East Asia routes, helping to reduce exposure to conflict-affected areas.

Asia could benefit from the disruption

Some tourism analysts believe the crisis may even shift more cruise business into Asia. Kevin Phun, director at the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore, said travellers may increasingly choose Asian cruise routes, seen as safer and more stable.

A Seatrade Cruise News industry poll found that 39% of travel agencies identified North and Southeast Asia as alternative cruise regions amid the ongoing conflict. The Singapore Tourism Board also said cruise lines are exploring more “Asia for Asia” deployments, in which ships remain stationed within the region rather than rotating globally.

That shift could benefit Singapore in the long run as the country already acts as a major regional cruise hub, backed by strong flight connections and steady demand from nearby markets. Cruise passenger numbers globally are projected to reach 42.1 million by 2029, up from 37.2 million in 2025, according to STB figures cited.

Frequent cruise passenger Mr Zheng, who booked a 2028 sailing earlier this year, said prices still felt reasonable despite the broader fuel situation. He described cruises as a simpler and more manageable option compared to traditional overseas holidays.

The bigger picture is that travellers are increasingly paying for certainty and convenience. When flights feel unpredictable and overseas costs keep shifting, many travellers appear willing to pay for something that feels organised, contained and easier to plan around.

Singapore’s cruise industry seems to understand that well, so instead of making dramatic changes, operators are making small adjustments while keeping the holiday experience mostly intact.

This article (Fuel prices soar, but Singapore’s cruise sector stays afloat with steady travel demand) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: An 18-year-old teenager was charged on Monday after allegedly assaulting Amos Yee during an anime convention at Suntec City over the weekend. The incident happened at about 2.10 pm on May 9 at the Suntec City Convention Centre.

Bosco Chun Ho Wang, a Chinese national and Singapore permanent resident, faces one charge of voluntarily causing hurt and another for public nuisance. Prosecutors alleged that he shouted, punched and kicked Yee during the confrontation, causing annoyance to members of the public nearby.

Videos of the incident spread online over the weekend, drawing strong reactions across social media. Some Singaporeans criticised the violence, while others pointed out that public anger toward Yee has remained intense for years due to his past controversies. Yee later uploaded a photo showing a bloodied lip after the incident.

The 27-year-old Yee returned to Singapore earlier this year after being deported from the United States. In March, he was charged over offences linked to National Service obligations. He is due back in court on May 22 for a pretrial conference regarding those charges.

The latest case also revived memories of a similar incident in 2015, when Yee was slapped outside the State Courts by another man. The attacker in that case, Neo Gim Huah, was jailed for three weeks after the court said vigilante-style behaviour couldn’t be accepted.

The Suntec City incident has once again drawn attention to how public confrontations can spiral out of control in crowded spaces, especially when polarising figures are involved. Anime and pop culture conventions are usually associated with cosplay, merchandise collection and fan meetups, not physical altercations.

Singapore courts have consistently taken a hard line against public violence, even when emotions run high. The legal signal has remained the same over the years: Personal anger doesn’t override the law.

Read related: Amos Yee gets attacked by teen at Suntec City anime convention

This article (Teen who allegedly attacked Amos Yee at Suntec City anime event faces public nuisance and causing hurt charges) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: It was announced on May 10 (Sunday) that Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will be one of the speakers to open AI Engineer Singapore later this week. AI Engineer SG’s Agrim Singh posted on X, “Where in the world can you find a senior government leader with a personal AI stack published on GitHub? How many would be willing to talk about it in a room full of builders?”

Dr Balakrishnan, a physician by training who served as Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative for several years, took many by surprise when he posted about a technical write-up of his personal AI system on Facebook.

He wrote that he had been tinkering with what he thought of “as a ‘second brain’ for a diplomat, using two open-source building blocks: NanoClaw by Gavriel Cohen and the LLM Wiki pattern by Andrej Karpathy.

NanoClaw, he explained, hosts Claude-based agents that connect to messaging channels. The LLM Wiki pattern, meanwhile, is a personal knowledge management system that builds and maintains a structured, interlinked wiki from notes, papers, and PDFs.

This “second brain,” the minister added, “answers every question, researches topics, provides daily updates, drafts speeches, and condenses information. It has become invaluable — I don’t dare switch it off! 

The diplomat who learns to work with AI will have a meaningful edge. I think that edge is now.”

Shortly afterwards, the founder of PundiXLabs noted that

 “Singapore’s AI obsession just hit Everest peak,” and jokingly warned Singapore’s developers that the Foreign Minister was coming for their jobs.

Mr Cohen also quickly took notice of the minister’s posting, marvelling that Dr Balakrishnan did not gatekeep the architecture of his “second brain,” but posted it on GitHub. Sharing the tech was the significance of the minister’s achievement, as the tech itself would grow obsolete in a matter of months, he added.

AI Engineer Singapore’s Sherry Jiang wrote that after Dr Balakrishnan’s post, “the global AI community noticed because it reflected something bigger: a willingness to engage with these systems directly, publicly, and practically.”

She added that the minister will share his experiences with working with open-source AI tools as well as reflections on how AI could change global dynamics, along with the way people “work, think, and manage information.”

“Singapore has become the place where that kind of engagement happens seriously,” she added.

“MY HOME COUNTRY’S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (equiv to Secretary of State) IS A HUGE NANOCLAW FAN (check  @VivianBala, that’s really him, not an intern) AND WILL BE KEYNOTING @AIDOTENGINEER SINGAPORE (with NanoClaw creator @Gavriel_Cohen right after) NEXT WEEK

Use cases like his are what I have been hoping to promote with the international AIE partnerships, and  @agrimsingh and @SherryYanJiang crushed it with this one,” read an enthusiastic X post. /TISG

Read also: S$7 billion investment reflects Microsoft’s confidence in Singapore as a global digital leader

This article (‘Singapore’s AI obsession just hit Everest’: Vivian Balakrishnan to headline AI Engineer SG after posting his personal AI system) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: Since the leak of a document stating that the party of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is going to face an uphill battle with devastating consequences in the next General Election, now a Member of Parliament (MP) in a stronghold says his seat is also at stake.

MP for Petaling Jaya Lee Chean Chung said, although his constituency – Petaling Jaya – is located in Selangor, very urban, and considered as strong and safe, in reality, it can no longer be considered guaranteed.

He also warned Anwar’s party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), could face a similar situation as in 2004 when it won only one seat in Penang.

“The situation is actually more serious. In 2004, we almost disappeared. In the current situation, I feel we are getting closer to 2004,” he said.

The member of the PKR Central Leadership Council said this in a Chinese‑language podcast by Malaysiakini broadcast on YouTube on Friday.

The document on PKR was presented to 900 party leaders and members in an internal program. Lee was also invited to the program on May 2, but he said he could not attend.

The PKR’s internal strategic analysis identified 66 parliamentary seats the party will contest in the upcoming general election.

Of that number, only seven seats were categorised in Tier 1 (safe) compared to 13 seats as strong, followed by 17 as marginal and competitive, and 29 as difficult. Anwar’s seat in the state of Perak is also said to be ‘marginal’.

However, Lee said the problems facing PKR were not being looked into by the leadership. He said the PKR supporters feel disappointed. He said many believe the government and PKR have begun to take their support for granted.

“Whether on the ground or based on the latest feedback, the Petaling Jaya seat is no longer safe for PKR.

“Petaling Jaya has the most progressive urban voters, many voters who can change, moderate and pragmatic, who want us to focus on national issues and policies

“They have high expectations and are very concerned about reform. In that situation, it is not appropriate to regard Petaling Jaya as a safe seat,” he said.

Lee said many Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PKR supporters, especially the urban middle class, remain dissatisfied with the controversy involving the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission (MACC) and its chief, Azam Baki.

He also said the investigation into former PKR Deputy President Rafizi Ramli and his aide James Chai was seen as having elements of political retaliation.

“This makes many voters and supporters feel uncomfortable. It is hard to believe. We never imagined things like this happening, even when we were the opposition.

“We were supposed to change and dismantle such a system, build a new system that is fairer and more professional. But now this is happening to our own friends,” he said.

To add insult to injury, a PKR’s student wing, Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia (MKM), issued a statement saying it lost confidence in the party under the leadership of Anwar Ibrahim.

Although the wing’s secretary-general, Aqeef Salih, issued a denial, the statement was published by local portals.

The MKM believes PKR has drifted further from its original reformist spirit.

“A party that once championed the spirit of reform, the courage to fight abuse of power, and the struggle to defend the people’s voice is now increasingly distant from its founding principles.

“It was once trusted by many youths and university students, but now we have lost confidence,” read the statement, which was also posted on MKM’s official Instagram account.

The damage is done, although the Secgen said the earlier media statement did not represent the wing’s official stance.

“The statement was never discussed, agreed upon, or decided through MKM’s official channels. It is merely the action of a few individuals within the central leadership who have their own agenda and are taking advantage of the MKM platform to create confusion and negative perceptions of the organisation.

“More embarrassingly, the statement did not include the name or position of the individuals responsible for issuing it. This clearly shows that it was made in an unprofessional, irresponsible manner and with ill intent,’ he said, adding, “Any party truly confident in its own position should come forward openly, rather than hiding behind the name of a student organisation.”.

This article (Stronghold in Petaling Jaya also at risk, says Malaysia PM party man) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: After the Ministry of Education announced new measures to address bullying in schools in April, including caning for older boys for severe cases, a number of Parliamentarians raised questions last week regarding the updated measures.

Among them was Workers’ Party Member of Parliament (WP MP) Jamus Lim (Sengkang), who asked questions about the standardised caning measures, whether the distinctions made between students’ gender and age had been based on established research and if MOE could share the basis for these distinctions.

In a Facebook post, Assoc Prof Lim talked about having been mischievous as a child, and receiving caning “frequently” as a consequence both at home and at school.

Although he acknowledged that these experiences had been formative, he said that he and his wife have chosen not to use corporal punishment on their daughter.

The Sengkang MP cited studies that send “a pretty clear message: while physical punishment yields short-term compliance, it does not translate into long-term improvements in discipline. It may even normalise violence in their developing minds. 

Put another way, beating kids makes them stop, but they don’t learn why they went wrong, and are likely to repeat their bad behaviour. It may even be counterproductive and lead to more bullying, since violence was legitimised.”

He also wrote that some studies suggest that spankings are more effective with younger, rather than older, children, and that both boys and girls are affected by physical punishment, though they react differently to it.

“We shouldn’t think that boys can take it better than girls when they’re caned, or that any psychological harm to boys is somehow less damaging than to girls,” he wrote.

He also posted some follow-up questions he had been unable to ask in Parliament, concerning what recourse parents had in cases of corporal punishment, if they hold beliefs that are different on the matter.

The links to the studies cited by Assoc Prof Lim may be found in his social media post here.

Education Minister Desmond Lee had underlined that caning would only be administered for egregious violations.

“This is aligned with the Education (Schools) Regulations, which only permits caning for male students. This takes reference from the Criminal Procedure Code, which states that women shall not be punished with caning,” he said.

Mr Lee added that girls who bully are not less capable and may receive various consequences such as detention or suspension and an adjustment of their conduct grade.

“Our teachers and schools adopt a tiered approach to discipline that ensures that all students face consequences corresponding to the severity of their actions,” he said.

Netizens commenting on Assoc Prof Lim’s post pushed back on some of his points, and appeared to be in favour of caning, repeating what the minister said about caning being only the last resort in disciplining students. 

“Singapore school caning is a tightly regulated last-resort disciplinary tool shaped by social context and legal norms,” one pointed out.

Others shared their stories.

“When I was young, our disciplinary teacher treated every student equally. No such thing as a girl can’t be caned. Boys were caned on the buttocks, and girls were caned on their palms. One cane will let you remember why you got it,” a woman wrote. 

“From my anecdotal observation as a school administrator (I wish I could find research on this), the use of caning and especially public caning is NOT for the benefit of the child being punished but to achieve the 杀鸡儆猴 effect (making an example of someone) to the rest of the school,” a Facebook user shared.

“People are different, as an ex-teacher, I can only say that some individuals really need canning to reform,” another wrote.

Others, however, agreed with the MP, with one writing, “I can’t fathom how we can legally allow PHYSICAL VIOLENCE on a CHILD.” /TISG

Read also: MOE: New anti-bullying steps in schools with more staff and reporting channels

This article (WP MP Jamus Lim says caning bullies may be counterproductive, but Singaporeans push back) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE/INDONESIA: Two Singaporean hikers killed during the eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia have been recovered after rescuers battled unstable volcanic terrain and thick ash deposits for three days, according to Indonesian authorities.

The victims, identified as Heng Wen Qiang Timothy, 30, and Shahin Muhrez Abdul Hamid, 27, were found near the crater area where rescue teams had earlier located backpacks believed to belong to them. Indonesian disaster agency Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB) said the bodies had been buried under deep layers of volcanic material, making recovery difficult and dangerous.

Their deaths bring the total number of fatalities from the Mount Dukono incident to three, including Indonesian national Angel Krishela Pradita, 28, whose body was found earlier on Saturday.

Seventeen others survived the eruption, including seven Singaporeans who were evacuated safely. According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the rescue operation officially ended after all victims were accounted for. Indonesian authorities said eruptive activity from the volcano continued during the operation, forcing teams to move carefully while managing the risk of further ash explosions and unstable ground.

Volcano remained active during the rescue operation

Mount Dukono, located in North Maluku province, erupted on Friday, sending ash clouds up to 10km into the air. The volcano has remained active at a lower level since then.

Nearly 100 personnel took part in the rescue effort, including members of Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, military units, police officers, disaster management officials and local volunteers.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said officers from the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta are working with Indonesian authorities in Tobelo to formally identify the bodies before arrangements are made for the families. MFA also thanked the Indonesian rescue teams for operating under “very difficult and hazardous conditions”.

Questions raised over climbing access despite closure

The incident has also raised uncomfortable questions about hiking safety around active volcanoes.

BNPB said Mount Dukono had already been closed to climbers since Apr 17, with local authorities banning operators and guides from issuing climbing permits. Authorities said monitoring will now be tightened, and violators could face penalties under Indonesian law.

North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu told CNA that several local guides are being investigated for possible negligence after allegedly bringing hikers within the restricted 4km danger zone near the crater. No arrests have been made so far.

A local guide also claimed the group may have used a faster but riskier route up the volcano, though authorities haven’t confirmed whether the path was unofficial.

The tragedy occurred at a time when volcano trekking and extreme hiking trips have become increasingly popular among regional travellers, including Singaporeans seeking adventure holidays nearby. Indonesia alone has more than 120 active volcanoes, many of which are tourist attractions despite their unpredictable volcanic activity.

However, the Mount Dukono incident also shows how fast adventure tourism can turn deadly when safety rules are ignored or poorly enforced.

Even experienced hikers can struggle against volcanic terrain as ash clouds reduce visibility, loose volcanic sand shifts underfoot, and eruptions can escalate within minutes if not seconds. Rescue itself becomes dangerous, especially when teams must enter active zones that have already been declared unsafe. The surviving Singaporeans were expected to return home on Sunday, according to MFA.

Adventure travel will always attract people looking for challenge and excitement, but this tragedy is a reminder that warning zones around volcanoes are not there for paperwork or tourism control. They exist because nature doesn’t forgive mistakes once conditions turn dangerous.

Read related: Two Singaporeans are reportedly dead after Mount Dukono volcano eruption in eastern Indonesia

This article (Bodies of two Singaporean hikers recovered after Mount Dukono eruption and three-day search) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s job market kept growing in 2025, but most of the new positions went to non-residents instead of locals.

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Labour Market Report for the fourth quarter of 2025, total employment rose by 55,500 last year, up from 44,500 in 2024. Out of those new jobs, 43,900 went to non-residents, while residents took up 11,600.

That means nearly 80% of the jobs created in 2025 were filled by foreign workers, a figure likely to reignite a familiar Singapore debate about jobs, wages, and whether locals are still benefiting enough from economic growth.

MOM said Singapore’s resident labour force participation rate for people aged 25 to 64 stands at 85.9%, among the highest globally. In simple terms, there are fewer untapped local workers left to enter the workforce.

Where did the jobs go?

Resident employment growth was mostly concentrated in higher-skilled industries such as financial services and health and social services.

Non-resident growth came largely from construction, where companies continued hiring Work Permit holders to support infrastructure and building projects.

Retail trade and administrative support services also saw hiring increases during the final quarter of 2025, partly linked to year-end events and holiday demand.

In 2023, residents accounted for less than 6% of total employment growth. While the resident share improved in 2025, foreign manpower still accounted for roughly four out of every five new jobs created over the year.

Ministry of Manpower/Vulcan Post

MOM: Total employment growth in Singapore

Businesses argue they still face manpower shortages

Employment numbers frequently become emotional territory in Singapore because they are closely tied to housing costs, career security, and long-term financial pressures.

Many Singaporeans accept that sectors like construction rely heavily on foreign workers, but the tension usually comes from white-collar jobs, where locals sometimes feel squeezed by competition or slower wage growth.

At the same time, businesses argue they still face manpower shortages, especially in physically demanding or less popular industries.

MOM acknowledged this balancing act in its report, noting that non-resident workers continue to fill roles that cannot be fully supported by the local labour pool alone.

The labour market remains fairly healthy overall, with unemployment staying low at 2% in December 2025, while job vacancies continue to outnumber unemployed people. Retrenchments also remained within normal non-recession levels.

MOM: “We expect the labour market to continue expanding in 2026…”

Looking ahead, MOM expects employment growth to continue this year, helped by a stronger economic outlook.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) upgraded Singapore’s 2026 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast to between 2% and 4% after stronger-than-expected global growth in late 2025.

Resident employment growth, however, is expected to stay similar or slightly slower than last year, while non-resident hiring is likely to remain strong in manpower-heavy sectors.

“We expect the labour market to continue expanding in 2026, given the more positive economic outlook, but the global economic environment remains uncertain and dynamic,” MOM stated, adding, “Whilst sentiment polls on hiring and wage expectations indicate improved business sentiments, employers may continue to take a more cautious approach to recruitment amidst uncertainties.”

As Singapore’s labour model has always depended on a mix of local and foreign workers, the challenge now is ensuring locals still feel they are moving forward alongside the economy, rather than watching it move ahead without them.

Read related: Tan See Leng: Job hiring slows, but Singapore firms are still not favouring foreigners over locals

This article (Singapore created 55,500 jobs in 2025, but nearly 80% went to foreign workers) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.