SINGAPORE -- The Singapore dollar surged to a new high of 3.5086 against the Malaysian ringgit early on Tuesday morning.

The exchange rate first breached the 3.5 mark at 10.21pm on Monday, according to Bloomberg data. The rate then fluctuated but was largely floating above 3.5 overnight until 9.05am on Tuesday.

The spot price fell to 3.4987 at 9.06am before going above 3.5 again at 10.13am on Tuesday. As at 6pm, it was trading at 3.5023.

VS Money Changer director Tajdeen Vanchilabbai said: "The ringgit has been going down gradually over the past one to two weeks now, and our customers have been buying the currency regularly each time it drops, thinking it is the lowest it can go."

Although he did not expect a big spike in the number of customers at his shop on Tuesday, demand was high, and his supply sold out by about 3.30pm.

At least five other money changers in the same building, The Arcade in Raffles Place, ran out of ringgit at 5pm. Most of them were selling the Singdollar at a rate of RM3.47 to RM3.48.

The weaker ringgit is welcome news to Malaysians working in Singapore, especially those who are remitting money home, like sales executive Eugene Wong, 23.

Mr Wong, who is from Cameron Highlands and has been working in Singapore for two years, said: "The money I send back every two to three months can cover a larger portion of my sibling's school fees, some investments and household allowances for my parents."

Information technology manager Z.Y. Lim, 30, from Kuala Lumpur, feels "shiok" when his income in Singdollars can be exchanged for more ringgit, as he can afford to "add more dishes to his economy rice in Malaysia".

But he added that the new rate is a small perk and will not help reduce his family's cost of living, especially after subsidy cuts and tax increases are introduced in Malaysia in 2024.

Singaporean Aloysius Ho, 28, who has travelled to Johor Bahru six times since January, said if the ringgit continues to slide against the Singdollar, he might visit Malaysia more often.

Mr Kelvin Lam, the chief operating officer at YouTrip -- a popular currency exchange and payment app -- said he has seen a steady increase in users' spending in ringgit since the start of the year.

The Singdollar-ringgit currency pair was trading at 3.2743 at the beginning of 2023, according to Bloomberg data.

"We saw a 78 per cent increase in total Malaysian ringgit spending made by YouTrip users in the last quarter, compared with the first quarter of 2023," said Mr Lam.

He said YouTrip expects the transaction volume to continue rising, "with a projection to hit close to threefold of last year's by the end of 2023".

Ms Ashley Thomas, head of operations at fintech firm Revolut Singapore, said there has been an increase in remittances from Singapore to Malaysia, as well as Singaporeans spending in Malaysia, especially at the weekend.

Remittances to Malaysia increased by more than 20 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2023, she said, while payment volumes were up 30 per cent in the second quarter of 2023, compared with the first quarter.

She said: "With the upcoming year-end holidays approaching and the ringgit reaching a low against the Singdollar, we expect an even stronger demand for MYR."

Bank of Singapore currency strategist Sim Moh Siong said the rising US interest rate has been exerting pressure on the ringgit, and that has driven the ringgit lower. It did not help with Malaysia's sliding exports amid a global slowdown.

Mr Sim said: "The weakness of the ringgit is likely to benefit the exporters. But at the same time, when the exporters sell their goods and get their US dollar receipt, they are probably happy to keep the dollar at this point in time, given the high interest rate relative to high Malaysian interest rates."

Bank Negara Malaysia said in June that it would intervene in the foreign exchange markets to stabilise the ringgit.

Mr Sim said while direct intervention by the central bank is a possible policy option, "Malaysia's relatively low foreign reserves buffer is a constraint".

This means the ringgit could continue to weaken in the near term, he added.

https://old.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/uayvb0/apple_has_posted_a_short_video_called_poached

^{Source: https://kuanyewism.com/2023/10/atb-scold-nurse}

IO = investigation officer

Translation:

IO : Is it correct to say that you have scolded vulgarities at the nurse?

Lady: So what? She say I am not a Singaporean. She say that since I am not a Singaporean I do not have the rights to seek treatment here. Then-

IO : Are you talking nonsense? My question is have you-

Lady: Everything is said by her. You call the nurse here and question her on the spot.

IO: My question is, have you scolded vulgarities at the nurse?

Lady: I wait here for 3 hours and I have not been seen by a doctor yet.

IO: Don't try to change the topic, my question is: Have you scolded vulgarities at the nurse? Have you?

Lady: You ask the nurse.

IO: She said yes.

Lady: She say yes then yes!

IO: So did you? I ask you.

Lady: You guess.

IO: I don't need to guess, I am asking you.

Lady: You guess.

IO: Yes or no?

Lady: If you want to guess then you guess.

IO: Yes or no?

Lady: If you want to guess then you guess.

IO: So yes or no?

Lady: Can I go to the police station? My leg has been injured in a traffic accident. Waited for three house and still have not been seen by a doctor.

IO: So, you want to go to the police station to see police or the doctor?

Lady: Of course I want to see the police! And not staying here, talking to you, whose identity is still unknown, to anyhow say. Come, let's me record.

Lady: LET ME RECORD.

IO: Do not touch me.

Lady: Let me record. What's wrong? Aren't you from the police sta-.

IO : Do not touch me.

Lady: I want to expose you to the public. Which is correct. Why can't it be published to the public?

[Translator Note: I'm not exactly sure what did the Lady say. ]

[Look around]

Lady: Please indentify yourself.

IO: I do not need to identify myself. Now my question is: Have you scold vulgarities to the nurse? Yes or no?

Lady: What does that have to do with you?

IO: [Laughs]

IO: You asked what does this have to do with me?

Lady: What does that have to do with you?

IO: I am an IO, you ask me what do this have to do with me? Is your brain okay?

Lady: Then you, IO, indentify yourself.

IO: I do not need to follow your words. Okay? Now there is a police here.

[Camera pan to the police]

IO: He will know if I am an actual IO.

Lady: Then let's go to the police station.

IO: So you don't want to see the doctor?

Lady: I want to see the doctor!

IO: You want to see the doctor or go to the police station?

Lady: You know that my leg has been injured, you know that my leg is swollen.

IO: That's correct.

Lady: Can you see?

IO: Yes, that is correct,

Lady: Can you see it? Can you see it?

IO: That's correct, then you want-

Lady: My leg has been squashed by the car.

IO: So you want to go to the police station? I ask you, you want to see the doctor or go to the police station?

Lady: I want to see the doctor.

IO: So?

Lady: So, after 3 hours. You asked me is there anything happened in the hospital while I was waiting for 3 hours.

IO: Yes, that's correct. What is wrong with waiting for three hours?

Lady: [I don't understand what she is saying]

IO: Does that mean that it gives you the right to scold vulgarities at the nurse?

Lady: This is unrelated. You should be investigating about the car who caused the accident.

IO: We just now… Just now my co-workers has told you, that this traffic accident you can file a police report after you see the doctor. Okay?

Lady: But you have to find the culprit of the traffic accident, and not asking me.

IO: We have said the same thing to him.

Lady: I wish that you are like that, but first, I have already wait for 3 hours. My leg…

IO: You dont need to tell me about you waiting here for 3 hours, frankly, no matter how long you wait, I don't care. My question to you is: Have you scold vulgarities at the nurse? Okay? Over here, everyone is waiting to see the doctor.

Lady: You guess then.

IO: Don't think that waiting here for three hour is impressive.

Lady: You guess then.

IO: Is your injury life threatening?

Lady: Then you guess then. I, and the person who hit my car. The person who hit my car, how he treats me? You go see the CCTV on how he hit me? I suspect that he wants to kill me.

[Translator note: Assuming the person who hit her is a he.]

IO: [Laughs]

IO: Do you have any evidence?

Lady: Because I didn't die.

IO: Because you didn't die?

Lady: Because I didn't die, hence I do not have any evidence. If I die, then is that the evidence? How you do your job?

IO: [Talking on her phone]

Men: Put down your phone.

[Camera shift to the men]

Men: Put down your phone.

IO: You want to see the doctor?

Lady: I want.

IO: You want?

Lady: You said, is my leg spoil? What do you think?

IO: I am not a doctor, I am not a doctor. I am not required to answer your question.

IO: Now, I will record your statement. Okay? Did you scold vulgarities at the nurse?

Men: You want to give your statement?

Lady: She keep scolding me, can't I scold her back? You see the CCTV you will know.

IO: You don't answer me with all these nonsense, I ask you, did you scold vulgarities at the nurse?

Lady: I said, go look at the CCTV.

IO: So you choose not to answer?

Lady: Yes. Go look at the CCTV, CCTV. I want you to see all the CCTV, then you made your judgement on my answer. You go see the CCTV yourself. If it is not the truth, what you will do?

IO: Now we are recording your statement, you are not allow to record.

Lady: Please don't care what am I doing.

IO: No. This is police protocol, you are not allow to record when giving a statement.

Lady: Unless you let me see your police IC. Or else I will not cooperate.

IO: Put down your phone.

Lady: Let me see your police IC.

IO: I say, put down your phone. This is my second warning to you.

Lady: Let me see your police IC.

IO: Do you need me to give you a third warning? Then you will- Do you want me to give you a harsher punishment?

[Translator Note: IO said: 敬酒不吃,吃罚酒. Which roughly means: “To refuse a gentle offer in favour of a harsher alternative”. Since it is a Chinese idiom it is quite trickly to translate it properly without losing its intended meaning]

Lady: Are you sure?

[Video ends.]

She was hit and on the ground. It didn't seem that she was badly injured, or even injured at all. So she told the driver (a woman, this is important) that she was OK, it was fine. She felt bad and empathetic for the driver, as she was a woman and still driving/hustling at this hour, late at night. She told the driver, I won't hold it against you, you're fine. But then it seemed that a group of men had come in and given the driver attention -- and the driver spent all her time explaining to these men what happened, and telling them that the Chinese girl was fine. For 20 minutes, the Chinese girl was on the ground, and at no point did anyone pay any attention to her as the "accident victim", only to the female driver. The driver made no attempts to help her up from the ground. Meanwhile, the Chinese girl's friends were asking her if she were OK, and it seems (my interpretation) that this contrast between how she was treated by her friends and the person who had hit her set her off. She got mad. In retaliation to the driver's lack of empathy towards her, she told the driver, either you compensate me $5000 or take me to the hospital. This might be an attempt to extract some empathy or accountability from the driver. But when they got to the hospital, the driver again spent all her time trying to convince people that the victim was fine, and so she got madder.

LKY was a Japanese translator.

Staying alive is the most important in the end.

I think quite a number of singaporeans would jump at the chance of US/Aus/NZ/Can/UK/EU nationality even without the threat of death lol

This question really strange. Most Singaporeans won't even put up a fight in the first place so where the dropping arms part comes?

Whoever win = follow their lead. You think PAP special?

Looking at my NS battalion CO's general incompetence and how fricking inefficiently every ICT goes with my unit, I have no doubt at all that I will definitely be dying for Singapore.

Depends on what I'm sacrificing for tho, which currently is:

Chinese nationals laundering money to live in GCBs,

CECA people with fake certs holding top management positions,

Pinoy HR hiring their own villages,

Angmo expats who dominates the central region.

Everything increasing in prices so quickly we can barely make ends meet.

At this point I don't think I got much to lose by jumping ship in a war.

most loyal and patriotic chink but also

Nah.. let me family leave. I will take the fall. Grandad from Punjab came here to start a life. Singapore has blessed him and his future generations. She has given us what we may not have received if my grandad didn't take the plunge. Singapore has given me education, the friendship I have nurtured with other races, appreciating other cuisine apart from Indian food and the security, the resources I can turn to when I need help. She has blessed us with so many that I must admit, when I was younger, I took it all for granted. So if it's time to take a bullet, imma take it. After all, I am proud of Singapore.

I went to Singapore recently.

I had a ton of fun visiting friends and seeing places.

Sadly couldn't get into the floating apple store as it was too crowded.

One thing I noticed. Whenever I ask the Singaporeans about how they feel about the differences in beliefs of their cousins in China, they seem to shut down and avoid the question.

Why is that?

Most Singaporeans are obviously descended from Chinese ( Just look at their eyes ). Yet if you mention and push, they get angry and defensive .

They keep saying they are not Chinese, but they are obviously descended from Chinese people.

I am proud to be part European and like to talk about how my great-great grandfather was German, and how that makes me culturally German, but Singaporeans want nothing to do with their own ancestors.

Why are Singaporeans so ashamed of being Chinese?

Is there some historical context that I am missing or need to be more aware of?

Thank you for taking the time to educate me.

I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn't want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.

He said, “Oh, like you're doing now la?”

I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen packs of chewing gum in his hands without paying.

The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first la.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.

When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence la,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don't even think that's a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.

lmao I got a 1:3.4 currency exchange rate yesterday

Still no Indian leader can get on stage and glorify ‘Profits’ Lee Kuan Yew, the guy who built Singapore. pic.twitter.com/UGBtZhJ5IW

— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) September 16, 2023

Edited Article:

https://mothership.sg/2023/09/china-tourist-singapore-too-chinese

Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated that the newsmaker is a tourist and that is inaccurate. The content creator has been living in Singapore for eight years. We sincerely apologise for our error. The article has been amended accordingly, and we have included further clarification from her. We have also reached out to the content creator to apologise.

Orginal article:

https://web.archive.org/web/20230921124955/https://mothership.sg/2023/09/china-tourist-singapore-too-chinese

The original Mothership article seems to have also been re-posted (or re-reported) via Stomp and The New Paper e.g. here:

https://stomp.straitstimes.com/singapore-seen/tourist-from-china-feels-like-shes-still-at-home-after-seeing-so-many-chinese-brands

https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/woman-china-says-spore-feels-home-given-number-chinese-brands-here

Quote changed:

A woman from Dalian, China, who came to Singapore for holiday, remarked on social media platform Xiaohongshu that she felt like she was still in her home country, despite flying several thousand kilometres.

One interesting part tho:

https://old.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/16oy4me/comment/k1v8r3u?context=8

Having come acorss Mothership articles over the years, I have to point out that Belmont isn't just some intern who made a mistake. He's the chief editor and one of the three stakeholders in Mothership, which means he is the one dictating the editorial guidelines for his team. This is key because though this post he's showing his whole team that:

1. It's ok to fabricate news without proper research.

2. It's ok to stir xenophobic sentiments if it results in getting more views. (probably ground for defamation / inciting hate towards a group)

3. It's ok to hide the mistake which is what he did at first. Until the backlash came then he had no choice but to apologise. (Basically not sorry for the mistake but sorry he got caught)

He has had this same behavioural pattern over the years and he's always been escaping with no apology or consequences. TODAY called him out for plagiarising, he was POFMAed and he made out an neurodivergent boy to be spoilt in order to get more views.

https://theindependent.sg/today-calls-out-mothership-for-picking-up-their-story-without-attributing-source

https://mothership.sg/2020/05/boy-eat-mcdonalds-cry

https://old.reddit.com/r/singapore/comments/16oy4me/chinese_content_creator_accused_mothership_of

https://old.reddit.com/r/SingaporeRaw/comments/16oy9cu/chinese_content_creator_accused_mothership_of

https://old.reddit.com/r/singaporehappenings/comments/16p0dz4/chinese_content_creator_accused_mothership_of

A dog farted for 13 hours straight aboard a Singapore Airlines flight from Paris to Singapore. https://t.co/61pixdc7ma

— TMZ (@TMZ) September 23, 2023

SINGAPORE: A woman who had consensual s*x with two of her colleagues later lied to the police that she had been r*ped and sexually assaulted.

Siti Junaidah Azahar, 22, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Sep 20) to one count of giving false information to a public servant, with a second similar charge to be considered in sentencing.

The court heard that Siti worked at online grocer RedMart with the three implicated men, aged 20, 21 and 25, in August 2021.

At about 3.30am on Sep 6, 2021, Siti went to Jurong West Neighbourhood Police Centre and lodged a police report saying she had been r*ped by her colleagues.

She was interviewed by a police officer at the Serious Sexual Crime Branch that same morning.

In Siti's statement, she claimed that she had agreed to have drinks with a friend at a hotel on Sep 4, 2021.

She said that she went to a hotel room at about 11pm that day, where her friend and the three implicated men were.

Siti claimed that she felt tipsy after drinking whisky mixed with soft drinks and dozed off.

She then claimed that the three men took turns to sexually assault or r*pe her.

She said she eventually left the hotel room at about 1am on Sep 6, 2021, when her aunt booked a Grab ride for her.

After this, the police began investigating the case. They "processed" the hotel room and seized the leftover alcohol, mixer drinks and linen for investigations, said the prosecution.

The 20-year-old man who was accused of r*pe was arrested and interviewed, while a 21-year-old man accused of sexual assault was interviewed.

SHE ADMITS TO HER LIES

The police interviewed Siti again on Sep 8, 2021. This time, she admitted that she had consensual sexual intercourse with the 20-year-old man and the 21-year-old man.

She said she had lied as she wanted to leave the hotel room but did not have money with her. As she was unable to get home, she sent a text message to her cousin, lying that three men did something to her, so that her aunt would book her a Grab ride home.

After this, her aunt booked her the Grab ride, but also accompanied her to lodge a police report.

Siti was defended by a lawyer from the Public Defender's Office, who asked for a probation suitability report.

The judge called for a probation report and adjourned sentencing to November.

The penalty for giving false information to a public servant is a jail term of up to two years, a fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,660), or both.

Forgot this hole existed lmao, how is it still alive?

(btw, there's drama in the YouTube comments section of this video)

Leave Penny alone

Would this sign be racist where you're at??

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/authors/tharman-shanmugaratnam

JUST IN: Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be Singapore's 9th President, having won 70.4 per cent of the vote.

Ng Kok Song received 15.72 per cent of the votes, while Tan Kin Lian received 13.88 per cent.

PM Lee's statement

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called Mr Tharman to congratulate him on his election.

"Mr Tharman has a long and distinguished record of public service. I have every confidence that he will carry out his duties as President with distinction.," he said in a statement.

Mr Lee said he assured Mr Tharman of his government's full cooperation.

"Mr Tharman has also declared his intention to work closely with the government," Mr Lee added.

"As Head of State, the President has to be a unifying figure that all Singaporeans can look up to and identify with. He must exercise his custodial powers under the Constitution wisely, bringing to bear his experience and independent judgment. Internationally, representing Singapore, he must fly our flag high."

Mr Lee thanked the three candidates for putting themselves forward in this Presidential Election.

"I am happy that Singaporeans have been able to exercise the right to vote for our next President, and to focus on what the elected President is about. In this election, both voters and candidates have shown a greater understanding of the roles and duties of the President, which bodes well for Singapore," the Prime Minister said.

He also thanked the election officials for their hard work in ensuring a smooth election, as well as all voters here and abroad for doing their civic duty.

"Now that the election is over, let us come together again as Singaporeans, to tackle the challenges ahead and build a stronger and more united nation," Mr Lee said.

Sourcre: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/about-85-of-voters-have-voted-in-presidential-election-as-at-5pm-eld