I generally love SQ so I normally ignore the subtle micro aggressions but my flight yesterday felt like I was being pranked.

Flew from Sydney to Singapore and despite the extremely busy airport, the ground crew was amazing. I chose the aisle seat next and had a lovely Caucasian lady and her pre-teen daughter next to me. I started noticing immediately that the crew would initially ask questions only to the lady and move on (“Any drinks for you Ma'am?”) and I had to call them back for water.

The strange thing happened during the first meal time. They bought out the daughter's meal first and then the lady's standard chicken meal. I thought it makes sense because of special dietary requirements and family and all. Two hours passes and they're cleaning up and I politely remind the crew lady in my area that I never received a meal. She looked surprise and provides a hasty apology and says she'll look into it after clean up. Nothing happens. I'm starving and realised they forgot about me again when they start serving the refreshments (more than 6 hours into the flight). The lady notices and complains on my behalf as my stomach is actually growling now. A senior male crew member joins then and apologises profusely, mostly to her but also somewhat to me? Turned out that they ran out of most of the food option and asked if I was ok with a vegetarian meal. I said yes as I'm that hungry then. I never got the refreshment meal or an offer of that in the end.

While the missed meal part was the worst, throughout the whole flight, I think I never had more of a challenge to get service. I used the call button 4 times for water and got ignored. The lady had to order 3 water every time to make sure I actually stayed hydrated.

I fly with SQ about thrice a year and this was the first time the service was ever this bad. The funny thing is, all the crew members on this flight looked South Asian and I am of Indian descent so I'm not even sure if this is a whole “we can ignore her, she's one of us” thing. Either way, very unpleasant experience and not sure what to do with it.

internalised racism

Pinkerton Syndrome is a term for the perceived tendency of some Asians to regard Whites as superior or more desirable, especially for marriage or relationships.

The singaporean court and the media misgenders her by using he/him pronouns in court documents and in their reporting.

/r/singapore theead: https://old.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/18dfon9/man_charged_for_being_public_nuisance_after_he

Served coffee or tea = local slang for getting interviewed by the feds

• Singapore contributed around 15%, or US$2.7 billion, to the quarterly revenue of Nvidia, as revealed in the chipmaker's SEC filing for the quarter ending in October.

• In the third quarter, revenue from Singapore surged by 404.1%, exceeding Nvidia's overall revenue growth of 205.5% from the same period last year.

• Experts reckon it is likely due to the city state's volume of data centers and cloud service providers.

Over the last two decades, Singapore has made significant strides in solidifying its global data center hub position, capitalizing on its strategic location, robust fiber broadband connectivity, cloud services availability, and pro-business policies. Today, the city-state has formed a formidable digital infrastructure featuring 100 data centers, 1,195 cloud service providers, and 22 network fabrics. So it's unsurprising that Nvidia Corp. saw 15% of its revenue come from Singapore in the recently concluded third quarter.

According to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Singapore played a significant role in the US chip giant's recent financial success, contributing US$2.7 billion of its US$18 billion revenue for the quarter ending October. The amount was a remarkable increase of 404.1% from the US$562 million recorded in the same quarter the previous year, surpassing Nvidia's overall revenue growth of 205.5% from a year ago.

The growth puts Singapore ahead of every country except the US (35%), Taiwan (24%), and China, including Hong Kong (22%), based on CNBC's observation. In the third quarter, 80% of Nvidia's sales, as disclosed in the SEC filing, originated from the data center segment. The remaining portion was attributed to gaming, professional visualization, automotive, and other sectors.

"Cloud service providers drove roughly half of data center revenue, while consumer internet companies and enterprises comprised approximately the other half," said Nvidia in the filing. That said, Singapore had its advantages, considering it is a global data center hub, hosting significant players including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, IBM Softlayer, and Google Cloud.

What's more, due to a robust network supported by 24 submarine cables, the country is also the landing site for a dense network of undersea cables, connecting it to other parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the US. A quick check on the Speedtest Global Index by Ookla shows Singapore has the world's highest median fixed broadband speed.

Even Citi analysts acknowledged in a November 27 report that "Singapore is also a growing area of specialized CSPs standing up data centers in the region. The contrast becomes more pronounced when accounting for Singapore's size. On a per capita basis, Singapore spent US$600 on Nvidia chips in the quarter, whereas the US spent only US$60 and China spent approximately US$3 per capita.

"That's the billing location of the customer and not necessarily the point of consumption," said Srikanth Chandrashekhar on LinkedIn, responding to a post by former Temasek director Sang Shin. Sang Shin had suggested the chips might be bound for data centers in Singapore, which seems a reasonable idea, since most Nvidia chips are headed for data centers, and Singapore has many such facilities.

What's next for Singapore's data center sector?

According to an article by ASEAN Briefing, 7% of total electricity consumption in Singapore goes to data centers, and it is projected to reach 12% by 2030. In short, the city-state will likely attract more players in the market, especially after lifting a moratorium on data centers in January 2022. Initially enacted in 2019, this moratorium responded to the considerable energy consumption associated with data centers.

Singapore has rapidly emerged as a prime destination for this pivotal industry due to its technological prowess, regulatory strength, and enticing incentives.

Firstly, the Pioneer Certificate Incentive (PC) program encourages companies, including those in the data center sector, to enhance their capabilities and undertake new or expanded activities in Singapore.

The incentive is aimed at companies involved in global or regional headquarters (HQ) activities, managing, coordinating, and controlling business operations for a group of companies. Designed to drive substantial investment contributions and foster advancements in leading industries, the PC aligns with the characteristics and potential of the data center sector.

The incentive is a win-win situation for both companies and the city-state as to qualify; businesses must introduce advanced technology, skill sets, or know-how, surpassing prevailing standards in Singapore. Additionally, they should engage in pioneering activities that substantially contribute to the economy.

Another allure of incentives includes GST waivers on importing data center equipment and covering servers, networking gear, and cooling systems. Then there's Singapore's dedication to sustainability, that stands out through initiatives such as the SS 564 Green Data Centers Standard and the Data Center Carbon Footprint Assessment (DC-CFA) program.

The nation's commitment to data security and privacy is also reflected in its regulatory framework, notably the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the Cybersecurity Act, fostering a trustworthy environment for data center operations.

SINGAPORE - Fifteen-year-olds here have emerged top performers in an international benchmarking study to measure how well students use their knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems.

Based on the performance of 6,606 students from 149 secondary schools and 15 private schools, including international schools and madrasahs, Singapore was ranked No. 1 for mathematics, science and reading in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) 2022.

The study, which is done every three years by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), was delayed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the last Pisa study in 2018, Singapore was ranked second after China, which did not participate in the latest study because its schools were closed when the study was being conducted.

Compared with 2018, Singapore students who took part in Pisa 2022 maintained their performance in mathematics and improved substantially in science, but their performance declined slightly in reading.

The Education Ministry said the decline in reading for Singapore students is similar to that of their peers in many other countries and may reflect the impact of a global change in reading habits.

The latest Pisa cycle also showed that Singapore continued to have high proportions of students who did well.

In reading, for instance, 23 per cent of students in Singapore were top performers. For mathematics and science, the figures were 41 per cent and 24 per cent respectively. Top performers achieve proficiency of level five and six.

Similarly, Singapore had fewer students who were low performers in reading at 11 per cent and in mathematics and science at 8 per cent. Such students achieve proficiency below level two.

MOE said in a press release that the Pisa 2022 results, taken together with the results of another international benchmarking study, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls), affirm the resilience of Singapore's education system.

In the Pirls study released in May, Primary 4 pupils in Singapore emerged as the top readers in the world.

MOE paid tribute to teachers here and said the results reflect the dedicated efforts of schools and teachers in supporting the learning and well-being of students throughout the pandemic.

Noting that Pisa tests students' ability to apply what they have learnt to unfamiliar settings and real-world contexts, MOE said: "Singapore students have shown that they are good in mathematical reasoning, can distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information, and use computational thinking (for example, pattern recognition, defining algorithms) as they solve complex problems in a variety of modern contexts."

These are critical skills that will prepare students well for global changes like digitalisation, the emergence of new technologies and the advent of new professions.

MOE also said “Singapore students continue strong performance despite Covid-19 disruptions, including those from lower socio-economic status homes”, based on figures that showed students from disadvantaged homes did better than the OECD average in all three domains tested.

The Pisa 2022 survey highlighted a few problem spots for Singapore students.

One was their perception of a lack of support from their parents, and another was the lack of physical activity among them, with 29 per cent reporting that they do not exercise at all after school.

Commenting on the results, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said on his Instagram page: "Great job to our students for persevering with their learning despite disruptions caused by the pandemic.

"My deepest gratitude to our educators too, who adapted quickly when learning pivoted online, and came up with many innovative teaching methods to ensure that learning continued."

He added: "We will not rest on our laurels and continue to work closely with schools, parents and partners to support our students in their education journey.

"Let us always strive to surpass ourselves, rather than focusing on outperforming others."

Dr Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills and special adviser on education policy to OECD's secretary-general, praised Singapore for continuing to lead the global league tables in Pisa.

"It has been one of the few countries that saw no negative effects on learning outcomes during the pandemic," he said, adding that there are many factors at play, including the consistent and high expectations on students and an instructional system that provides rigour in terms of cognitive demand and focus.

He said another factor is the push to teach fewer things in greater depth, and coherence -- in terms of modelling learning progressions carefully, for example, in Singapore mathematics.

Noting some areas of concern, he said: "Social disparities in learning outcomes remain clearly visible in Singapore. Also, in terms of students' sense of belonging, Singapore is more an average rather than a high performer.

"Not least, we have seen a decline in parental support and engagement in Singapore, an area in which Singapore used to be strong."

Are you as smart as Singapore's 15-year-olds?

Try answering these four maths questions. Tap the image to enlarge.

Singapore???

15% of $NVDA Rev came from there??? suspect... pic.twitter.com/Up67xPPkOM

— Bluechip (@blue_chip1) November 21, 2023

Hug every one you see today :D

Nice try, JIDF

This comes right after CZ pleads guilty to US money laundering violations, leading to Binance paying a US$4.3bn settlement - one of the largest in US history.

Whatever it is, nice to see another Singaporean at the helm of a global company.

Announcement: https://shorturl.at/crsCP

https://old.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/s7bs6q/singapore_the_most_militarized_country_in_the

SINGAPORE: Online personality Kurt Tay has been charged with distributing sexual content on Telegram.

Tay, whose real name is Tay Foo Wei, returned to court on Thursday (Nov 16. to face a charge of distributing an intimate photo and video without a woman's consent.

The 41-year-old Singaporean, who was first charged on Nov 1, is accused of sending a video of a woman performing a s*x act to a Telegram chat group on Oct 27.

This was done without the woman's consent, and with Tay knowing that it was likely to cause her humiliation, alarm and distress, the charge sheet said.

A gag order is in place to protect the identity of the victim and the order extends to the name of the chat group.

On Thursday, Tay arrived in court with his father. People lined the public gallery, giving each other updates on the court mention via a Telegram chat group separate from the one in the charge sheet.

The police prosecutor said more time was needed to complete the directions the Attorney-General's Chambers had given to the investigating officer and asked for four weeks' adjournment.

Tay told an interpreter that he intended to apply to the Public Defender's Office (PDO). The judge said the PDO application was to be made within a week and an update was to be provided.

She asked Tay to have his bailor present at the next hearing for any fresh charges to be tendered. He might be given additional similar charges as well as a charge under the Protection from Harassment Act.

Tay will return to court on Dec 11.

Tay first came to the public eye when he auditioned for Singapore Idol in 2006. He later became known for his behaviour such as carrying a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) belt, getting breast implants and accepting a challenge for a street fight.

He refers to himself online as Superstar Celebrity Kurt Tay and updates his followers on his life.

If convicted of distributing intimate material without a woman's consent, he could be jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or given any combination of these punishments.

11/11 is ww1 armistice day but somehow OP feels that we need to commemorate that in singapore? 11/11 is more like cyber monday in singapore. i guess the op is trying to feel superior by making the post.

OP

11.11 is a day of remembrance for people who fought and died for the place. It started as the armistice day of WW1 but it has expanded to the wars of the latter years. In singapore, perhaps the most important conflict is WW2. Lim bo seng, adnan saidi, liz choy and many more who sacrificed for their land, regardless of which flag is on these lands.

https://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/history/memorials/kranji-war-memorial

“lest we forget” is usually associated with remembrance day.

**We do actually commemorate 11.11 at Kranji War Memorial as a matter of fact every year on the closest Sunday. There is low awareness of it which brings my point, its not JUST some European thing. Click on the link above to read more.....

comments

of course some /r/sg redditors won't miss this opportunity to dunk on the average redditor

OP is trying to make a serious point, but the comments are like....

: It's what happens when the average citizen doesn't bother about history after finishing school. This enables the government to demolish historical buildings left and right since it'll be met with relative apathy, which makes local history even staler, thus reducing the amount of shits given. Voila, we've got ourselves a vicious cycle

: nah, humans, as a species, is doomed to be stuck in a loop... we cannot break free from our own "programming".

we survive, we build, we innovate, then we will destroy, and loop repeats.

: Cuz the average Singaporean redditor is uneducated about history

: OP is making a stupid point by tying the Armistice Day which is the end of World War 1 with World War 2. World War 1 has nothing to do with us and he/she knows it so he tries to make the tenuous connection about "expanded to WW2". Purlease. There is infinite amounts of ways to say we should commemorate XXX day in history because it has something something to do with something today. […]

: Yes yes, please stay low and (try) to get rich, you without ideals or stake in this society.

Facebook post from the boother below:

Good afternoon everyone, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, I would like to clarify that I have nothing to do with the Japanese S*x Toy Giant, Tenga. I draw butts only, I don't sell Tenga.

The The Straits Times have refused to do a public/written apology and a clarification for using my totally unrelated booth photo to cover the news of Tenga boothing at AFASG, so I will do it myself instead.

I am actually very angry at the way all my years of hard work and image is treated by The Straits Times, but I have a reputation to salvage, so this is a heavily edited PR post masking all my lovely intent to send them a crate of Scott's Emulsion, which is said to really stimulate brain cell development.

Please do not attack the journ*list and editor, that would be too much and unwarranted for.

Here, I rest my case. I apologize for interrupting everyone's lunch break with such an unpalatable exposure to this incident. Thank you for reading this far.

Censored in photo is my booth helper, not me ya, who also does NOT sell Tenga

Singaporean Amos Yee has been taken into custody in the United States again, a month after he was released on parole halfway through his jail term.

According to a message from the victim notification network on Wednesday (Nov 8. Singapore time, Yee, 25, was admitted under the custody and control of the Illinois Department of Corrections on Tuesday.

The message said he was held at the Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum security prison in Crest Hill, Illinois.

CNA has contacted the Illinois Department of Corrections for more information, including why Yee was taken into custody.

Yee was released on parole on Oct 7 about halfway through his six-year jail term for grooming a teenage girl online and asking her for naked pictures of herself.

The Illinois Department of Corrections did not reveal the conditions of his parole, but he was registered as a s*x offender.

He was sentenced on Dec 3, 2021 after pleading guilty to charges of grooming and possessing child pornography. Sixteen other charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal that Yee agreed to. The jail term was backdated to his arrest in October 2020.

The court heard previously that Yee had befriended the victim, a 14-year-old girl, in February 2019. Yee was 20 then. The court heard he used WhatsApp to “seduce, solicit and lure” the victim, then distributed photographs of her online.

Yee was arrested by US marshals in October 2020 at his apartment in Chicago's Norwood Park East neighbourhood. He pleaded guilty to the charges after a plea deal was agreed.

In response to CNA's queries about Yee's asylum status and if he will be deported to Singapore , US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said on Oct 13 that it was unable to comment at this time "due to privacy concerns".

It has been more than six years since Yee was granted asylum by a US immigration court, despite opposition from the Department of Homeland Security.

In 2015, Yee was jailed in Singapore for wounding religious feelings by making remarks about Christians. About a year later, Yee was jailed again and fined on a similar charge, this time for making remarks about Christians and Muslims.

https://old.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/17qd6aj/singaporean_amos_yee_back_in_custody_in_the_us_a

Let me share this gem he wrote in his blog AFTER his first release. Basically he think he's the victim.

“But in summary: I believe there's enough real-life and scientific evidence showing that most sexual relationships between children and adults have been consensual and beneficial to both sides. You should definitely imprison adults who sexually force themselves onto children, but if the act isn't forceful, there's nothing wrong. You shouldn't say a relationship was an act of manipulation or r*pe just because a child was involved, you need actual evidence of force and harm for the act to be immoral. So yeah, imprisoning me for my relationship with this 14-year-old who I never manipulated, who willingly masturbated to those nude pictures and encouraged me to continue sending, and also the fact that I just spent 3 years in Prison and my supposed 14-year-old ‘victim' was literally gloating online about how she got me sent to prison, I think people should reconsider who the real ‘victim' is.

Fortunately though I'm not like most people, and frankly if I develop another close relationship with someone underage that I'm sexually attracted to, I'd break the law again, and do something sexual with that kid. I'm not just saying this, you know from my history in Singapore deliberately speaking out against the Government and getting arrested, that I consider it an honor to break unjust laws. Literally months before I was released from prison, I was interviewed and told every police and parole officer that I don't think I should have been arrested, that I defend libertarians, that I support NAMBLA, yet they still let me out of prison, which they should have because I should be innocent, but in terms of enforcing the law and ‘keeping children safe', it kind of doesn't make sense.”

>I was interviewed and told every police and parole officer that I don't think I should have been arrested, that I defend libertarians, that I support NAMBLA, yet they still let me out of prison

Both countries have much in common, as they are both small and surrounded by hostile nations. At that time, Israel was in great need of friends as it was being boycotted by many countries around the world, mainly Muslim countries and countries with strong diplomatic and economic ties with them. Much like what Taiwan is going through today with China. Providing assistance to Singapore in the development of their armed forces was a win-win situation for both countries, not only has Israel made a new friend, but it has also opened up a new market for Israeli businesses. It is by no coincidence that both countries have become two of the world's wealthiest, technologically and militarily advanced nations today.

We didn't choose Israel. We asked several countries for help; only Israel responded.

Increase in anti-Singapore rhetoric and online extremist threats since start of Israel-Hamas war

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Nov 5. that he will hand over leadership to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong before the next General Election, which has to be called by November 2025.

Shedding more light on the ruling People's Action Party's (PAP) transition plans, Mr Lee -- who is the party's secretary-general -- added that "if all goes well", he will do so by the PAP's 70th birthday on Nov 21 next year.

Mr Lee was addressing more than 1,000 party members at the biennial PAP awards and convention held at the Singapore Expo, following speeches by Mr Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and several new PAP faces.

Mr Wong was endorsed as the leader of the party's fourth-generation, or 4G, team last year after the 62-year-old Mr Heng stepped aside so that a younger leader with a "longer runway" could take over.

Mr Lee previously said he hoped to step down before his 70th birthday, which was in February 2022. However, the plan was disrupted by the pandemic.

During this year's National Day Rally, he said his succession plans are back on track with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that recent controversies involving ministers and Members of Parliament will not delay the timetable for political renewal. He did not give a timeline then.

On Sunday, Mr Lee reiterated to PAP members that the next GE will coincide with the party's leadership transition to the 4G team.

He noted that with Mr Wong's endorsement as leader of the 4G team, there remains only one major decision to make: Should the handover take place before or after the next GE?

"Either I can continue to lead the party in the next GE, which would be my fifth as PM, and then hand over soon afterwards to Lawrence; or I can hand over to Lawrence before the GE, then he leads the party into the campaign, wins his own mandate, and takes the country forward with the full backing of the nation," added Mr Lee.

He stressed that leadership transition for any country "is always tricky" and "many things can go awry", with Singaporeans and people outside Singapore watching this development closely.

"Everything depends on the success of this third transition in our history," Mr Lee said.

"I have thought this over carefully, discussed it thoroughly with Lawrence and the ministers, both 3G and 4G.

"Lawrence and the 4G team have been serving for many years now. They have taken on greater responsibilities, and they are preparing well to take the helm. They earned their spurs during COVID-19 and increasingly, they are setting the national agenda."

Mr Lee also made reference to the Forward SG exercise, led by Mr Wong and other 4G political leaders, which culminated in a report released last week laying out a roadmap for a new way forward for the nation.

Mr Lee added that Mr Wong and the 4G team have "committed themselves to much hard work and many major initiatives", while actively bringing in people to further strengthen the team.

"Lawrence has told me that he is ready, and this morning you have heard him telling you that he is ready for his next assignment. I have full confidence in Lawrence and his team and there is no reason to delay the political transition.

"Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next GE," said Mr Lee.

"After that, I will be at the new PM's disposal. I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful. I will do my best to help him fight and win the next GE.

"I want to help him fulfil his responsibilities, leading the country so that Singapore can continue to succeed beyond me and my 3G minister colleagues for many, many more years to come."

Mr Lee noted that he turned 71 this year and did not manage to pass on the baton by his 70th birthday as he hoped to do.

"So if all goes well, I will hand over by the PAP's 70th birthday next year -- it's not my birthday, but I will borrow it for this purpose."

PAP MUST PREPARE WELL TO FIGHT, WIN ELECTIONS

Mr Lee also spoke about the importance of preparing well to fight and win elections, aside from governing well and keeping the party clean and incorrupt.

He noted that while PAP's policies may be working, conviction, support and votes are harder to win. Party members have to engage Singaporeans widely and help them understand how they and their families benefit from these policies, said Mr Lee.

"We have to show them what is at stake, and inspire them to fight hard for us, together with us for a better future," he added.

"We also need to counter opposition moves to undermine the government, show them up when they are less than upfront, and defeat their tactics to create doubt and sow confusion.

"On the ground, MPs and branch chairmen and activists, you have to work with voters day after day, so that they form close personal bonds with you and identify with you and warm to you and are loyal to you."

Mr Lee touched on PAP's history of winning 14 GEs in a row since 1959, noting that the party was "not born dominant" after a hard fight during the first two elections in 1959 and 1963.

"Over the years we have lost some seats, but even till now the PAP has maintained a dominant position. But with each successive election, the PAP's task has become tougher," he cautioned.

Singaporeans' expectations have evolved and they expect much more from the government, with "quite a few" hoping to see more alternative voices in parliament - even though "the majority overwhelmingly agree" that PAP should continue to govern the country, Mr Lee said.

"In fact, even the opposition parties think so," he added.

"I think it is fair to say that the PAP faces a political quandary which is unique in the world -- an overwhelming majority of voters want us to form the government. In fact, they expect the PAP to form the government.

"But among those who want us to form the government, quite a significant number also want our opponents to do better."

"MORE OPPOSITION WILL NOT MAKE FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT"

As more opposition MPs enter the fray, parliament now spends more time debating issues, Mr Lee noted.

He added that while constructive and responsible political debate is good and necessary, "not infrequently it becomes a political brawl" with the opposition trying to score political points.

"The government does its best to explain its considerations and constraints, and why the opposition's proposals may not work. And so it goes, in a repeated cycle," he said.

Mr Lee noted that some of this is to be expected due to the way parliamentary democracies are meant to work, but if it "goes too far and we will expend more energies debating one another, manoeuvring for political advantage, rather than tackling national issues, then the problem will go unsolved".

"Society may well become divided, Singapore and Singaporeans will suffer. And therefore I say, having more opposition MPs doesn't necessarily make for better government."

Mr Lee cited countries with "mature democracies" like the US where politics have grown increasingly polarised, warning that it could happen to Singapore as well. This means that the PAP must work harder and smarter to explain to Singaporeans what is at stake, he added.

"I have been in government for 40 years now almost, and let me tell you straight: There's no way the government could have taken the long view, could have planned for the long term, adopted tough but necessary policies, if we constantly had to worry whether we would still be there after the next elections," Mr Lee said.

"Today's Singapore could not have been built by a weak government hanging on to power by a slim majority, or with the governing party and policies chopping and changing after each election."

He said that the possibility of the PAP being challenged for the position of the ruling party is always there, but the political dynamic will change if a significant fraction of Singaporeans want the PAP to be checked by the opposition and more opposition MPs are voted into parliament.

Opposition parties have told voters they do not aim to form the next government, among other things, Mr Lee further noted.

"But with lives and futures at stake, voters must worry," Mr Lee said, urging voters to cast their ballots for the party they trust to "keep us together" and "build a Singapore fit for your kids and that will be there for their kids".

In concluding his speech, Mr Lee grew visibly emotional as he told party members that it has been his "great fortune and honour" to serve the country throughout his adult life.

During his tenure as PM for almost two decades, he said Singapore and PAP "have been thoroughly transformed, shaped by our many trials and tribulations".

"But some things never change. We still wear whites; we still formally address each other as comrades. We remain dedicated to Singapore and we still feel the calling to serve the people, we still have the duty to future generations to keep this island safe and secure," Mr Lee added.

"These things have not changed under my watch, and they will not change under the 4G team.

"I ask each of you to give Lawrence and his team your full support. Help them win a strong mandate and work with them to take Singapore to greater heights."

SINGAPORE: A repeat offender on remission for refusing to pay s*x workers after obtaining their services struck again, this time targeting an Australian woman who was in Singapore for a holiday.

The woman charged S$700 (US$512) per hour, but Abdul Rahman A Karim offered her only S$2 after the deed.

The 40-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to three years' jail and another 71 days' jail for breaching his remission order on Tuesday (Oct 31).

Abdul Rahman pleaded guilty to one charge of dishonestly obtaining services for himself when he never intended to pay the victim S$700 per hour for her sexual services.

The court heard that Abdul Rahman had previously been sentenced to 32 months' jail for the same charge with a similar modus operandi of inducing a s*x worker to provide him her services and then refusing to pay her.

While he was out on remission in November 2022 for this jail term, Abdul Rahman contacted his new victim, a 35-year-old Australian s*x worker.

The woman usually worked in Melbourne, and advertised her services and rates on a website. She charged S$700 an hour for her services, and S$750 an hour for "outcall situations", the court heard.

On Nov 14 last year, the victim entered Singapore alone for a holiday. She was due to return to Australia 10 days later, and stated on her website that she was "currently touring in Singapore".

At about 10am on Nov 23 last year, Abdul Rahman contacted the victim on WhatsApp, asking to engage her services.

The victim agreed and told him her rates. Abdul Rahman did not respond directly to the messages about her fees, but continued discussing the logistics of the meet-up.

They agreed for Abdul Rahman to head over to the room where the victim was staying.

After engaging in sexual activity, the victim sought payment of the S$700.

Abdul Rahman claimed they had not agreed on the rates and refused to pay her. Instead, he gave her a S$2 note.

The victim insisted on the full sum, but Abdul Rahman ignored her and left despite the victim's efforts to stop him.

The victim contacted the Australian High Commission and Project X -  a non-profit organisation for s*x workers - before making a police report.

Abdul Rahman deleted the victim's messages about her rates from his phone, giving the impression that they had never agreed on them.

However, the full conversation was retained in the victim's phone.

The prosecutor sought 38 to 40 months' jail for Abdul Rahman, pointing to the similarity to his previous conviction.

In both cases, the offender had not neglected to make payment in good faith, said the prosecutor.

"Rather, he had intentionally induced the provision of such sexual services without intending to pay the (s*x workers) at all," he said.

He said this shows Abdul Rahman's propensity for reoffending and asked for an increase from his previous sentence.