SINGAPORE: A Singaporean Threads user who tried to call out two national servicemen on the MRT has instead found himself at the centre of online criticism, after his post struck a nerve with many who felt the men were unfairly singled out.

In a post published on Tuesday (March 28), the user, who goes by the handle “chefphotodan,” shared a photo taken inside a crowded train carriage. The image showed commuters packed closely together, some seated and others standing, with many absorbed in their phones during the ride.

Among them were two national servicemen in uniform, standing and holding the handrails while looking at their devices. The user took issue with this, suggesting that they should have been more alert instead of using their phones.

“Everybody is on their phone, but don’t you think our boys in uniform should be on the lookout… especially in current times? Topsis?” he wrote, tagging MINDEF, Home Affairs, and several security-related hashtags.

There was no indication that the servicemen were on duty at the time, and the scene appeared no different from a typical rush-hour commute.

“Cut our boys some slack, please”

The post quickly went viral, amassing more than 142,000 views and over 370 comments. As it spread, many netizens pushed back against the user’s views.

One individual said, “Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world precisely because of the systems these guys uphold during their shift. Expecting NSFs to be on ‘high alert’ during their personal commute or break time is unrealistic. They are human, not robots. After a gruelling week in camp, they deserve to wind down like anyone else. Let’s support our boys instead of nitpicking how they spend their well-earned rest.”

Another quipped, “Ah, yes, because standing in an MRT carriage automatically turns them into 24/7 surveillance drones. Didn’t know scrolling a phone cancels out their entire training. Maybe next time they should stare intensely at every passenger just to meet your expectations.”

A third remarked, “NS men are not slaves; when it’s off duty, they are off-duty.”

A fourth joked, “Especially in current times? Is your home near the Strait of Hormus?”

The post was also shared on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit, where several users said that national servicemen today seem to be criticised no matter what they do.

One said, “Sit also kena stomp, stand also kena stomp, use phone also kena stomp. Soon the requirement will be for NSF and NS men to march in and out from their camps to their house.”

Another commented, “Aiyoo, our NS boys are not the country’s slaves. They are only getting a small allowance, but yet when they are out, some people take out their magnifying glass to scrutinise them on everything they do. Cut our boys some slack, please. They are off duty!” 

In other news, a commuter in her 20s has vented online after an elderly woman allegedly confronted her for sitting in a reserved seat and repeatedly insisted it was “for seniors only.”

Posting on the r/SMRTRabak forum on Friday (April 24), the commuter said she had just finished a shift that left her “physically and mentally” drained.

Read more: ‘This seat is for seniors only’: Woman says she was confronted over reserved seat in MRT

This article (Man criticised online after calling out NSFs for using phones on MRT: ‘Cut our boys some slack, please’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A family’s living room turned into a disaster zone when a built-in wardrobe suddenly collapsed, raising safety concerns. On Facebook, a user named Jaye Yeo shared their unfortunate experience, stating: “This wasn’t just furniture falling. It was a heavy structure installed inside a living space where our child plays every day. We were extremely lucky no one was injured.” 

As seen in the photos posted, household items, including their child’s toys and several clothes, were scattered in the living room, and with this incident, the family realised that it is really important to properly check if house installations are really completed to avoid injury in the future.

“If you are a homeowner or parent, please take 2 minutes to check this in your home: Are your wardrobes and wall units properly anchored? Do they feel stable when lightly tested? Did anyone ever show you proper installation checks? We never thought something already “installed and completed” could become a safety risk — until this happened,” they post encouraged.  

With this, netizens shared their thoughts and opinions in the comments section. One netizen observed: “Looks like the cabinets were not bolted properly to the wall….. didn’t see a proper mounting bracket either!” 

“This is a pole system. Not built-in wardrobes. cheap and flimsy. In every trade, workmanship and safety is top priority, price should be secondary, not primary concern,” another netizen remarked. 

Some believe that the cause of this is the humidity in Singapore, while others blame the workers, stating, “Now most of the jobs are done by low common sense workers. Best daily go check during renovation.” 

However, one netizen confirmed that what has been shared was not to blame the contractors of the house and emphasised that the furniture was installed by the family themselves. 

“This post is a self-reflection and a lesson learnt for those that are planning to do the same. Just learn from their mistakes,” the post declared. 

This article (No warning: Family’s heavy wardrobe suddenly fell in a HDB home) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: An unfortunate event happened in the streets of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 when a car decided to run a red light and struck a boy riding a bicycle, crossing the road. The incident occurred last April 29, 2026, at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon. 

In a video posted on Facebook, it was clearly seen how a young boy wished to cross the street when he was struck by a black vehicle. The car hit the boy’s bicycle, which led to the young man flying in the air and losing control. 

As reported by Lianhe Zaobao, a woman cycling behind the boy witnessed the accident and tried to help him up. However, due to the impact, the boy struggled to get on his feet. Furthermore, at the time of the accident, a construction worker wearing a helmet and a reflective vest was crossing the road, and when he saw the boy, he carried him to the side while waiting for rescue. 

When contacted, the Singapore Civil Defence Force remarked that after receiving the report, the authorities immediately went to the scene for rescue. 

With this, netizens expressed their thoughts and opinions on what happened. One comment declared: “The traffic light is clearly on red for the driver, yet he still drives across. What is he thinking?? As for those who help the cyclist, they meant well by trying to move him to a safer location, but using force to lift up the cyclist may cause more harm if he has sustained bone or internal injury.” 

Another netizen said that there should be a mandatory jail term for the driver, and there should be an additional charge for failure to provide assistance to the boy. Some claimed that the driver was distracted and thought that the driver was looking at or talking on the phone. 

“There are things called brakes in a car to use,” one more concluded. 

However, there were comments where people thought that the child should be more careful next time around. One said: “His mother should educate him to stop at traffic lights to make sure every vehicle stops before riding through the crossing, even if it’s your right of way.” 

Other related news 

In other news related to Singapore accidents, there was a recent report where a customer claimed that a beautician scratched her face with a blade while doing an eyebrow touch-up and failed to apologise. 

“I felt very disappointed with the attitude shown. Accidents can happen, but it is important to take responsibility and apologise to the customer,” the customer claimed. 

Read more about the news story here. 

This article (Netizens enraged when a car ran a red light and hit a boy riding a bicycle, say there are brakes for a reason) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

As a mom of seven and wellness advocate, I’ve had plenty of experience with pregnancy exercise. And while every pregnancy is a little different, staying fit during pregnancy is a good way to have an easier pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Here’s what I’ve done for my births and what the experts have to say.  Pregnancy […]

Continue reading Pregnancy Exercises For a Fit Pregnancy...

SINGAPORE: A near-miss incident at Westgate has sparked debate online after a taxi was seen driving towards a security officer on duty.

In a video shared on Facebook, a TransCab vehicle appeared to move forward suddenly while the officer was directing traffic at the entrance. The officer managed to react quickly and avoid being hit.

The officer was seen talking to the driver before everything happened, so it was uncertain if this was done intentionally. 

With this, netizens expressed their thoughts and opinions in the comments section, stating their sides on who was at fault in the first place. 

Some criticised the driver, saying the situation could have easily led to serious injury.

“The security officer is in a good mood today, man… Or else things would have been different! Anyway, it was great to see his fast reflexes! That cab could’ve broken some bones!” 

Another comment remarked: “Purposely one very obvious.”

However, for other people, the officer is also at fault. Others questioned why he was standing in the way of the vehicle, and that the driver just wanted to follow the lane. 

“Don’t blame the driver. I have met many road marshallers who wave you to proceed, but they stand in your way. If you try to avoid him, you will hit another car on your right. I never trust these so-called road marshals,” one netizen said. 

Other related news 

In a separate case, a 40-year-old passenger complained that his whole ride felt like he was flying, especially when the driver was caught speeding at 5 a.m. 

“If there were elderly passengers in the car, they would definitely get carsick or feel unwell… If there were motorcyclists or pedestrians on the road at the time, the driver would not have been able to brake in time, and an accident would have definitely occurred,” the passenger claimed. 

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Taxi nearly hits security officer at Westgate, netizens split over blame) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A rat infestation in parts of Tampines has raised concern among residents, with the town council removing 146 rats from Sections 7 and 8 in Tampines East as of April 23.

On Facebook, the Tampines Town Council shared updates about their control measures, and assured that they have heard the complaints of people and are taking the appropriate actions to take care of the problem. 

Tampines Town Council Facebook Page

Part of the process is the Town Council’s mitigating measures, which involve inspection to detect early signs of infestation, burrow treatment with rodenticide, culling near bins, and deployment of rodent traps. 

The town council is also working on improving housekeeping. Measures include washing bins to remove food waste, ensuring bin lids are properly closed, and offering free bulky item removal to reduce clutter that could attract pests.

An upcoming food waste digester in N2 is also expected to help by reducing food odours and limiting accessible food sources for rodents.

Residents are being encouraged to do their part by disposing of waste properly and keeping bins clean and closed.

“Keeping rodents at bay requires everyone’s effort, and residents play an important role, too…Please dispose of waste properly and recycle food waste where possible. Every small action makes a difference in keeping our estate clean and liveable,” the Town Council declared in their post.

Aside from rats, birds are also causing stress to some local residents. In a recent report, crows nesting near Chinatown Complex have been attacking passersby, with more than 10 people affected in the past week.

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Residents raise concerns as 146 rats cleared from Tampines estates) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I’ve gotten several requests for gift ideas for Mom. Sometimes regular chocolate doesn’t cut it anymore! I’ve compiled a list of some things I’d want to get myself or gift my own mom. These are items I’ve personally tried and love using. Feel free to add your favorites in the comments! […]

Continue reading 2026 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas For Mom (She Will Use and Love!)...

SINGAPORE: Last weekend, acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim took the train because of a traffic jam, and posted about his experience on social media.

The comments on his post have been mixed, with some Facebook users commending him, while others asked why he needed to take photos and post them at all.

“Roads were jammed, but thankfully our train system runs smoother than my morning kopi. I was from an event in the city when we got stuck in a very bad jam. Made a quick switch to the train and arrived just in time for the Malay Heritage Centre launch. Grateful to reach on time and enjoy such a wonderful event with the community,” wrote Assoc Prof Faishal, who is also the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs.

The photos show him in a fairly packed MRT cabin, as well as walking to or from the train.

His foray into public transport came in the wake of other political leaders doing the same. In an April 10 Instagram post, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong posted a video of himself, together with Senior Ministers of State Janil Puthucheary and Sun Xueling, and Member of Parliament Yeo Wan Ling, taking the Punggol East LRT loop.

This came a few days after he had urged Singaporeans to take public transport and use fans amid the energy crisis brought about by the war in the Middle East.

Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has also made the news for taking the MRT, and Sengkang MP Jamus Lim also said recently that he took the shuttle amid the Sengkang West LRT loop disruption.

What netizens are saying

Some of the commenters on Assoc Prof Faishal’s post commended him, as well as Singapore’s public transport system, which one described as “world-class.”

“I was there yesterday afternoon. Yes, it was jam-packed due to a big event there. I can vouch for it. Good thing there were other alternative transport to bring visitors there. It is easy to criticise, but put yourself on the front line and you will know it is not an easy job,” one wrote.

“Switching to the train not only saved time, but also shows confidence in our public transport system when it matters most. Arriving on time for the launch at the Malay Heritage Centre and being present with the community speaks volumes,” added another.

Others, however, questioned why the experience needed to be publicised at all.

“Lol, you make taking a train such a big deal that you have to ask someone to take photos of yourself on a train and post it,” a Facebook user commented.

“Sorry, Sir. Do you always take Public Transport to work? Me too, but I don’t take a photo for it,” wrote another.

Some netizens had questions.

“Would we be seeing you & your colleagues taking the public transport on a daily basis moving forward?” one asked.

“How often will you see ministers take public transport?” another wondered. /TISG

Read also: Jamus Lim tests shuttle as Sengkang West LRT loop faces 6-month disruption

This article (Faishal Ibrahim taking MRT to escape traffic jam leads to commenters’ questions) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Garbage is supposed to be thrown in the right bin, but in the case of a beautician homeowner, her flowerpot became the garbage bin instead. 

A 46-year-old beautician living in Yishun Street reported to Shin Min Daily News that people have been leaving garbage in the flowerpot outside her home, and some people even poured an entire bag of brown sugar in it. The homeowner admitted that when she first moved in about six months ago, there was no issue until February of this year, when garbage started appearing. 

She shared that the flowerpot contained a money tree, which was not blocking other people’s way, and she had kept it tidy. She revealed that the first trash that she had found in the pot was a tissue paper, followed by torn advertising flyers. 

“Someone dumped a bag of finely chopped flyers into the flowerpot, which I couldn’t clean up,” the homeowner declared. 

When she checked her surveillance camera, she found that it was done by an older woman, wearing shorts and a sleeveless top, carrying a plastic bag containing shards. She then scattered the shards into a flowerpot and left. 

In order to prevent such things from happening again, the homeowner printed out the CCTV footage and left a notice with a note stating that there is a camera and that littering should not be done. However, despite the notice, the incident happened once more. 

The homeowner remarked, “It only stopped for a few days. Yesterday, I found that someone had poured a whole bag of brown sugar into the flowerpot again, attracting a large number of ants. I suspect it was the same person who did it.”  The money tree, which cost the homeowner more than $100, was now an anthill, and she needed to replant it. 

With this, she immediately reported the incident to the police. Police confirmed that they had received a report and that the case is under investigation.

Other related news 

In other news related to Singapore complaints, a resident of a Yishun HDB flat recently raised safety concerns after concrete blocks began falling from the ceiling of his unit, causing cracks in parts of the ceiling and walls. 

The building is said to be 42 years old, and many residents, unfortunately, reported similar problems. 

Read more about the story here.

This article (Angry beautician reports flowerpot turning to trash cans to the police) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Is tipping in coins now considered rude? That is the question one FoodPanda customer raised online after an unexpected reaction from their delivery rider left them second-guessing their gesture.

On Wednesday (Apr 22), the customer posted on the r/askSingapore forum, sharing that they had a hectic day packed with back-to-back meetings and were “absolutely starving”, so they decided to order food through the app instead of stepping out.

“I just could not step away from my desk,” they recalled, adding that the pick-up point was “two buildings down.”

When the food arrived quickly, the customer said they wanted to show appreciation to the rider. Since they had some spare S$1 coins, they decided to hand over S$4 in coins as a small tip.

However, the situation took an awkward turn when the rider allegedly returned the coins and told them he “wasn’t a beggar.”

The customer noted that the rider was not “outright rude“ but was clearly “offended“ by the gesture.

Confused by the reaction, they asked the online community, “Was I rude to give my Foodpanda rider coins? Was I in the wrong or unknowingly being offensive?”

“Coins struck his ego.”

In the comments, most Singaporean Redditors were quick to reassure the customer that they had done nothing wrong and that tipping in coins, especially S$1 coins, is generally not considered rude.

One commenter described the rider as “a weird chap,” adding, “If you gave him like 10, 20, or 50 cents, then I can understand, but a S$1 coin is ok. It can come in useful.”

Another chimed in, saying they would have gladly accepted the tip without hesitation if they were in the rider’s position.

A third pointed out that turning down S$4 seemed excessive. “Rejecting S$4 is crazy, I’ve given riders S$1 tips or a packet drink, and they were always grateful.”

Others felt the issue had less to do with etiquette and more to do with personal pride.

One user shared, “Bro, I did Panda before, and even if I got a 1-dollar tip, I’d thank the person and could go buy a drink at 7/11. This person has an ego problem, sia.”

Another wrote, “Coins struck his ego, where he perceived coins were for beggars only. Ideally, he can choose not to receive, but he chose to defend his fragile ego. So, don’t take this to your heart; it’s kind of common, actually.”

A third explained, “It depends on some people, I suppose. I’ve worked with someone who visibly will get upset if they get small change back. When I asked why, they say coins are like for old people and vending machines, which is weird.”

Meanwhile, several users encouraged the customer not to dwell too much on the incident and to continue showing appreciation to delivery riders in whatever way they can.

One individual quipped, “Very sorry, that rider is of higher status than all of us. Please, I would gladly and humbly accept the 4x S$1 coin.”

In other news, a Singaporean woman recently shared online that her boyfriend often gets “annoyed” whenever she asks him to help with small things.

In her post, she explained that her boyfriend gets “irritated” whenever she asks to return their plates or collect their food in hawker centres because he thinks people “should be independent in returning these themselves,” or that he feels there should at least be a “fair exchange” between both parties.

Read more: ‘My BF wants ‘fair exchange’ for every small act of help’ — Woman asks, ‘Is this mindset normal for SG men?’

This article (‘Is tipping S$4 in coins rude?’ Customer’s post about Foodpanda delivery sparks discussion) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A commuter in her 20s has vented online after an elderly woman allegedly confronted her for sitting in a reserved seat and repeatedly insisted it was “for seniors only.”

Posting on the r/SMRTRabak forum on Friday (April 24), the commuter said she had just finished a shift that left her “physically and mentally” drained. She added that she had gone more than eight hours without food, water, or even a bathroom break, and shared that she has a “heart condition” that makes long days especially difficult.

According to her account, she boarded the train at Botanic Gardens station and took an empty reserved seat, hoping to rest and catch a short nap. However, she said an elderly woman approached her almost immediately.

“She swooped in, tapped my shoulder, and repeatedly said, ‘This seat is for seniors only.’ She kept pointing at the sticker even after she sat down and kept talking as if her mother bought her birthright to the seat,” the commuter said.

Too drained to argue, she stayed silent and gave up the seat, adding that she did not mention her medical condition, as she did not want to “attract attention.”

“I was tired and I just wanted to zone out. This seat is not only for seniors,” she said.

“I wish you had continued sitting for your health’s sake.”

In the comments, one Singaporean Redditor argued that the commuter was at fault for not informing the elderly woman about her condition. They said that she should not have gotten up if she was going to complain afterwards.

“You got up, and now you’re complaining. And took a photo and ranted. You could’ve chosen not to get up at all.”

Another user wrote that it was “possible” the elderly woman was just as exhausted as she was.

“How about the possibility that maybe this woman also woke up at 5 a.m. and is as exhausted as you are? Have you ruled out the possibility that she, too, has an invisible disability?” they said. “Chill, just chill. If that woman is very entitled, it’s on her. If she really is unwell, then it’s her having a struggle as much as yours. You already gave her the seat; try not to let yourself stew and stress over it.”

A third commented, “Am I to understand that your younger self does not understand that an elder version of you has had your day many more times over? If you’re tired at 20, imagine 60 or more.”

A fourth added, “Unpopular opinion: all the seats are reserved for the elderly. Whether the old person is rude, entitled, or curses you out doesn’t negate the fact that younger people should be offering their seat up.”

Others, however, sided with the commuter, saying that some elderly people are becoming too entitled nowadays.

One user remarked, “A lot of the older generation is like that; they don’t see people with invisible disabilities. Most of them are entitled, thinking the reserved seats are for them and them only.”

Another said, “The moment someone tells you, ‘This seat is for seniors only,’ the correct course of action is to simply ignore that person.”

A third commented, “You paid the fare equally like anyone else. You’re entitled to seats on the train. I wish you had continued sitting for your health’s sake. If it makes you feel better, good karma will find you; give it some time.”

In other news, an early childhood educator took to Reddit to share their frustration over a strict new workplace rule that requires staff to surrender their personal devices during working hours.

In a post on the r/singaporejobs forum, the educator said they have been in the field for about five to six years and have never encountered a policy this restrictive before.

Read more: ‘We have to surrender our phones at work’: Early childhood educator shocked by strict new policy

This article (‘This seat is for seniors only’: Woman says she was confronted over reserved seat in MRT) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.