Singapore charity raises $200k in donations for victims of Myanmar quake
The funds will go towards Singapore Red Cross relief efforts, which include distributing essentials to quake victims.
SINGAPORE - Singaporeans raised $200,000 in humanitarian aid for the victims of the
March earthquake that struck Myanmar , with tremors that were felt in neighbouring Thailand.
In a statement on July 12, Singapore charity Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) said the amount was raised between April 2 and April 30 in a tie up with the Singapore Red Cross (SRC).
The funds will go towards SRC relief efforts, which include distributing essentials such as food, water, and blankets, to quake victims.
RLAF handed over the donations to SRC on July 12, and Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim attended the ceremony.
Associate Professor Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, said: 'This campaign is a testament to the power of collaboration, compassion, and shared responsibility.'
He added that he was heartened by how Singaporeans came together to chip in for a common cause.
He said: 'RLAF and SRC's partnership reflects our national ethos of being a caring and outward-looking society - one that responds not only to local needs but also steps up for its neighbours in need.'
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement
Singapore More NSFs may be recruited to tackle scams: Police
Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative
Singapore 40% more sign-ups to programmes for adult learners at institutes of higher learning in last 5 years
Singapore Wegovy, injectable drug used to treat obesity, now available via prescription in Singapore
Business NTT DC Reit's Singapore public offer 9.8 times oversubscribed
Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity
Singapore Over 20 motorists caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay
On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the Sagaing region of Myanmar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
6 hours ago
- CNA
Commentary: What does it matter if Singaporeans spend their CDC or SG60 vouchers on ‘frivolous' items?
SINGAPORE: From this month, Singaporeans can start claiming their SG60 vouchers. Each adult citizen will receive S$600 in vouchers, while those aged 60 and above can claim S$800. This comes on top of S$800 in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers which were given to each household earlier this year. Retailers have lost no time in offering discounts and promotions to entice Singaporeans to spend their vouchers on their products and services. However, a newspaper article published in May suggesting fun ways to make use of CDC vouchers – such as on dance apparel and craft workshops - prompted a flurry of online responses from netizens who felt that spending the vouchers on 'frivolous' items went against the stated intent of the vouchers, namely to help Singaporeans with the cost of living. IS THE ANGST JUSTIFIED? The truth is that while the vouchers are a lifeline for some households and individuals struggling with high living costs, they are for others no more than extra pocket money or even spare change. So is the angst over how the vouchers are spent justified? There are those who feel that SG60 vouchers should be distinguished from CDC vouchers in that the former are a celebratory gift while the latter are aimed at easing hardship. Others are not bothered about how vouchers – whether CDC or SG60 – are used. Their view is that once public money passes into private hands, people should be free to do whatever they want with it. After all, whether the vouchers are used to buy bread or a fancy meal, the spending will ultimately benefit businesses and boost the economy. Some have asked: Could the government have ringfenced the use of the vouchers to daily necessities? It is hard to draw a clear line between essential and discretionary expenditure. Moreover, money is fungible – saving on any kind of purchase frees up financial resources for spending on other items. There is a strong consensus among economists that giving assistance in cash or near-cash does more to improve consumer welfare than support that comes with conditions or restrictions because it offers recipients greater freedom of choice. DIFFERING SOCIAL BENEFIT PARADIGMS The crux of the issue may lie in differing concepts of what is prudent use of government money. On the one hand, there are Singaporeans who prefer not to receive cash handouts or vouchers as they feel that such support ought to be chanelled to the lower-income. This group is more likely to take umbrage at the use of vouchers for non-essential purchases. Targeting government support at those who need it most is still the approach adopted for most forms of social support in Singapore. These include means-tested housing and healthcare subsidies, as well as permanent social transfers such as the Workfare Income Supplement, Silver Support and the Goods and Services Tax Voucher. This paradigm of social support contrasts with models of universal welfare where social support is seen as a citizenship right. The latter, however, necessitates high taxes to enable extensive redistribution. In Singapore, the government's priority is to keep taxes on the middle class low in order to encourage work and enterprise. Under what is known as a 'progressive' system of taxes and benefits, the rich bear a larger burden of taxes, while those with lower income receive more in social transfers or benefits. Consistent with this approach, the Ministry of Finance estimates that the bottom 20 per cent of households by income receives around S$4 in benefits for every dollar of tax paid, while the top 20 per cent receive just S$0.30 for every tax dollar. On the other hand, there are Singaporean who feel that all citizens who contribute to the state's coffers should be entitled to a range of benefits, and not just limited to public goods such as national security or infrastructure. Some may feel aggrieved if they are excluded from certain benefits on account of their income or wealth, particularly if they are contributing a significant amount in taxes. Like wealthy donors at a charity dinner who take pleasure in good food and a door gift, these high-income earners derive satisfaction from receiving vouchers and other Budget goodies, even if these offset only a small fraction of what they pay in taxes. AN INJECTION OF UNIVERSALISM Singapore's approach towards social benefits is in fact evolving. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic saw the government disburse a 'solidarity payment' of S$600 to all adult Singaporeans in recognition of the broad impact of the pandemic on the population, with additional support given to seniors and families with children. Rebates on utilities and service and conservancy charges, however, were tiered according to Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat type. Those who lost jobs or saw a significant fall in income could apply for further financial help through the COVID-19 Support Grant or COVID-19 Recovery Grant. Taken together, Singapore's COVID-19 support can be seen as a form of 'progressive universalism' – where everyone receives some benefits, but those with greater needs receive more. Following the pandemic, supply chain disruptions saw inflation shoot up across the world, including in Singapore. The government responded with a series of payouts to all Singaporeans in the form of CDC vouchers – the vouchers having the dual aim of providing cost of living support while giving heartland merchants a leg-up. Notwithstanding these examples of universal benefits, most social support is still means-tested or tiered according to income or home value. There are advantages to having a mix of benefits – some universal and others means-tested with differing qualifying income thresholds. This approach avoids a 'cliff effect' where benefits drop off suddenly when one's income crosses a particular threshold, which could discourage career and income advancement. Some elements of universality also make for greater inclusivity and sense of solidarity among citizens. A MIDDLE WAY? As inflation has receded from the post-pandemic highs, we may see fewer CDC vouchers disbursed in future. But for this year at least, vouchers are very much a part of the conversation. Singaporeans who have no need for this support can easily donate unused vouchers to their preferred Institutions of Public Character via the CDC voucher website; they will even qualify for a 250 per cent tax deduction. For those who are still in two minds on how government vouchers ought to be spent, perhaps a good strategy would be to set aside a portion of the vouchers to give away, and then spend the rest on whatever you wish with a clear conscience.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘The Straits Times is a timeless brand, relevant across generations'
SPH Media's deputy CEO Kuek Yu Chuang says The Straits Times' brand equity and trust built up over the years are really valuable. Kuek Yu Chuang, 46 Profile Mr Kuek Yu Chuang, who joined SPH Media in July 2024 as deputy chief executive, brings over 20 years of diverse experience across both government and private sectors. He studied international relations at Peking University under a government scholarship and later pursued postgraduate studies in East Asian Studies at Harvard. He also completed a mid-career Executive MBA at Insead. His bicultural and global outlook has remained central to his career. After completing his studies, he served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including a posting in Washington. His government career included work at the Ministry of Law on intellectual property issues. In the private sector, he held varied roles at companies such as iQiyi, Netflix, Yahoo and Icann, focusing on areas such as corporate management, digital innovation, public policy, audience growth and platform engagement. At SPH Media, Mr Kuek, 46, heads the strategy and operations division along with commercial functions like marketing, subscriptions and media solutions. He also oversees SPH's radio operations, out-of-home screens and Studio+65, a multimedia production facility created to enhance digital media capabilities. He is a strong advocate of strengthening brand equity, particularly for The Straits Times. Recollections 'In my various family chat groups, multiple links are shared daily. A common comment that often follows is, 'ST got report or not? If not, maybe it's fake news.' To me, that says a lot. It shows that Singaporeans turn to The Straits Times to fact-check information, and the important role we play in this area. The brand equity and trust we've built up over the years are incredibly valuable. Coming from the tech industry where brands are much younger and often struggle to build that kind of trust, I find what The Straits Times has achieved truly enviable. Amid global uncertainty, more readers are turning to us for accurate, reliable information. I see news and information as an evergreen business. It's not just about current affairs. People, including my own children, need trusted sources to help them understand the world around them, from practical matters like how to use CDC vouchers to broader issues such as global geopolitical shifts. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat The world has always been uncertain, but with recent developments, I feel even more so. Singapore has always celebrated free trade and entering a world of tariffs and reciprocal tariffs is a bit of a shock to the system. It is a new world order. In such times, the need to 'sense-make' is even more crucial, and this is where The Straits Times plays a key role. The Straits Times is a timeless brand, relevant across generations. With SPH Media's broader portfolio, including lifestyle media, out-of-home solutions and radio, we now reach 73 per cent of Singapore's population weekly, or around 3.2 million people. This reach makes us not just relevant, but also valuable to our clients. But we're not standing still. We've made strong strides in our digital transformation, moving beyond traditional display advertising to offer integrated branded content, native storytelling, data-driven targeting and first-party audience solutions. Our e-paper, podcasts, social media presence and growing video footprint offer brands more meaningful ways to engage audiences. Our focus is on outcome-based solutions, aligned with client KPIs, whether that's reach, engagement or conversions, with clear metrics for success. Looking ahead, there's room for further growth. The digital space knows no borders. We have an opportunity to project Singapore's voice regionally and internationally. On the technology front, we want to use artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity and develop innovative consumer-facing products. Collaborating with partners on AI optimisation in an equitable fashion ensures that our content is not just cited and discovered but becomes part of the generative AI ecosystem. We want to embrace technology with an open, experimental mindset. Whether it's innovation or disruption, we'd much rather be a participant than a bystander.'
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
ST180: 180 years of covering Japan, from isolationism to Westernisation to war and peace
Since 1982, correspondents have shed light on a country Singaporeans admire but also share a painful wartime past with. The Straits Times has chronicled Japan's transformation over the years. By the 1910s, features introduced readers to its rich traditions, including sumo wrestling (above). Today, the country remains a compelling, evolving story, says the writer. – When I joined The Straits Times in June 2012 as a rookie journalist, I had no aspirations or illusions of becoming a foreign correspondent, let alone in a country I barely knew or felt any special connection to. I grew up with Sega arcade games, Tamagotchi digital pets, Nintendo Game Boys and Sony Walkman players, and have fond memories of the now-defunct Sogo department store near my childhood home in Tampines. But I did not understand the Japanese language or fully appreciate the country's deep cultural influence. Japan seemed like a nation past its prime, its economy overtaken by China, its pop culture eclipsed by South Korea. Then six months into my job, I visited Japan on a holiday for the first time. I went to Tokyo, where I was enamoured of the sights, sounds and buzz of the world's most populous region. I signed up for weekly language classes and, four years later, when I was offered a posting as The Straits Times' Japan correspondent, I didn't hesitate. More than three decades earlier, in May 1982, the paper had launched its Tokyo bureau. Announcing this on Page 1, it described Japan as 'the world's most efficient industrial power'. It was opening an office there to monitor the nation's growing economic influence and to cover 'the controversial question of whether Japan will play a greater role in maintaining the security of Asia'. This purpose remains relevant today. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Since taking up the role, I've reported from disaster zones and diplomatic summits, and interviewed people across the length of the Japanese archipelago, from Shiretoko Peninsula in the north-east of Hokkaido to Yonaguni in the south-west of Okinawa. The Japanese frame time by imperial eras, and I witnessed the dawn of the Reiwa era in 2019 when Emperor Akihito abdicated the Chrysanthemum Throne and was succeeded by his son Naruhito. The new era has been marked by a more confident Japan on the global stage, eager to champion a rules-based international order. Domestically, Japan is slowly shaking off the deflationary mindset of the Heisei era (1989 to 2019). Social issues like overwork and sexual harassment are now seen as relics of the past, and vices like smoking and binge-drinking are on the decline as the Japanese become more health conscious. Japan has also become a top global travel destination, hitting a record 36.87 million visitors in 2024. The population continues to age, beset by one of the lowest birth rates in the world, even as immigration rises. All this has sparked difficult but necessary conversations in a society that still sees itself as largely homogeneous. Meanwhile, Japan's entertainment industry is enjoying a renaissance as its dramas, anime and music captivate global audiences via streaming platforms. Amid all this change, history remains a constant, and I am vividly struck by how my work covering this rich and complex country adds to the living historical record of the world that is The Straits Times. Foreign correspondence 'For Sale. A few boxes of fresh Japan rice.' 'Japan-ware.' The first issue of The Straits Times on Tuesday, July 15, 1845, saw two mentions of the country in advertisements on the front page. It is a quaint glimpse into a time when Japan, still under the sakoku isolationist policy of the shogunate, remained a distant and exotic marketplace to much of the world. Yet even then, the paper recognised the West's growing commercial interest in Japan. An article in 1846 predicted that it 'cannot long be left out of the commercial union of civilised countries'. The paper's colonial attitudes were also evident, with reports – either taken from wire dispatches or written by nomadic contributors – describing Japan as a 'ruined nation through pride and obstinacy'. Japan correspondent Walter Sim at Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi prefecture, in November 2020, with Mount Fuji in the background. PHOTO: COURTESY OF WALTER SIM As the country began to open up, the paper chronicled Japan's rapid transformation during the Meiji Restoration of 1868 as it embraced industrialisation and adopted Western ideas. The Emperor traded his royal regalia for a suit and tie. Baseball was introduced, and remains Japan's national sport. Japan quickly adopted Western technology and industrialised practices to build its first railway in 1872, connecting Tokyo's Shimbashi business district to the port city of Yokohama. 'The Japanese are an active impressionable people, and contact with the outer world, the introduction of railways, and the spread of Western science have worked great changes during the last two decades,' a report said in 1890. The curiosity extended beyond politics, and column inches were devoted to travel features. A first-person account of a hike up Mount Fuji in 1892 recounted the fatigue but also beauty – 'Below were white clouds drifting in a blue sea bathed in golden light'. Interest grew in all things Japanese. The deaths of leading kabuki actors Onoe Kikugoro V and Ichikawa Danjuro IX in 1903 were recorded in obituaries. By the 1910s, features introduced readers to the thriving, rich traditions of sumo wrestling and ama free-divers. Incidentally, I have written about these topics , although in the context of the challenges they face in an age of depopulation and dwindling interest. Many topics about pre-war Japan still resonate today. Take a 1900 report about the abuse of authority (now dubbed 'power harassment') that led to the suicide of a soldier. Or a 1906 story that cited tourism mismanagement (now dubbed 'overtourism'), or a 1907 piece that blamed a crime wave on rising costs of living (now manifesting in shady part-time jobs, or yamibaito). And a 1918 piece about the rice riots, an event that I referenced in a June 2025 opinion piece on Japan's soaring rice prices today. Another 1906 report that contemplated the role of women in politics is anachronistic today – 'the association of women with politics, it is felt, will tend to cultivate unwomanly habits' – but belies the hard truths that Japan continues to struggle with regarding gender equality both in politics and corporate boardrooms. Japanese resilience, too, is a timeless trait, evident in a 1923 story after the Great Kanto earthquake, which levelled Tokyo and killed more than 100,000 people. The author says: 'They will raise again the cities that have fallen, and they will not do it as if they feared tomorrow but in the spirit of hope and of courage.' Male ama free-diver Yushi Ikeda on his boat in 2022. Traditionally women, ama divers go into the water without oxygen tanks – relying on a single breath as they harvest abalone, turban shells and seaweed from the seabed. ST PHOTO: WALTER SIM War and peace On Feb 15, 1942, Singapore fell to Japanese forces during World War II after a week of fierce fighting. This marked one of the most significant defeats for the British Empire, even as that same morning, before the surrender, the paper's Page 1 headline struck a note of defiance: 'Singapore must stand; it SHALL stand'. The Straits Times was shut, but resumed publication on Feb 20, 1942, under a new name: The Syonan Times, later renamed The Syonan Shimbun, reflecting Singapore's new name under occupation – Syonan-to, or 'Brilliant Southern Island'. The newspaper became a mouthpiece for Japanese propaganda, with content strictly censored and controlled by the Japanese military administration. The Syonan Shimbun printed its last issue on Sept 4, 1945, two days after Japan signed surrender documents aboard an American battleship. The Straits Times resumed publication under its original name on Sept 7, 1945, with the triumphant front-page headline: 'Singapore is British again!'. In the aftermath of World War II, stories in The Straits Times reflected Singapore's complex sentiments towards Japan. There was deep resentment over wartime atrocities, like those recounted by survivors of the Changi massacre, but also a degree of sympathy for the immense suffering Japan endured in the atomic bombings. A 1946 report said the devastation in Hiroshima was 'something out of an Edgar Allan Poe horror story. Except that Poe's imagination could never have conceived anything like Hiroshima'. Another editorial described the atomic bomb as 'the greatest triumph, or the greatest atrocity, or perhaps both at the same time, of WWII', but said that Singapore should not be quick to pass judgment as 'most of us owe our lives' to a weapon that forced Japan's surrender. As Japan shifted from wartime aggressor to a nation focused on rebuilding, the paper documented its post-war recovery. It reported on Japan's settlement of war reparations, the roll-out of foreign aid through development programmes, and efforts to re-establish goodwill through cultural and humanitarian exchanges. Despite growing diplomatic ties, wartime memories endured. In 1967, during a visit by Japan's then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, Singapore's then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said that the war was a 'chapter closed but not forgotten'. He added: 'It has left Asians with no illusions as to the nature of hegemony. The nearness of colour and affinity of ethnic origins do not make hegemony any the better.' The paper chronicled post-war Japan's economic and diplomatic rise, but also highlighted regional discomfort as Japan sought access to South-east Asia's raw materials and markets. This perception of exploitation led to boycotts and protests across cities like Bangkok and Jakarta. It also reported Mr Lee's advice to Japan to proactively export skills and machines to South-east Asia, which should be treated 'more as a partner and less as a hewer of wood and drawer of water'. As Japan's influence expanded, so did unease over its military potential. A 1979 report described the country's Self-Defence Forces as a 'euphemism', warning of its capacity to become a formidable force in Asia. While modern Japan now views South-east Asia as equal partners, its evolving security role continues to invite close regional scrutiny. Today, as The Straits Times' fourth Japan correspondent, I have had the honour of following in the footsteps of my distinguished predecessors. The first was Peter Hazelhurst, a veteran of The Times of London who joined the newspaper in 1982 and left a lasting legacy in Tokyo. The impact of his journalistic career was so profound that upon his death in 2021 at the age of 84 – having relocated to South Africa after his retirement in 1989 – the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan devoted five pages to remembering him in its in-house magazine. He was succeeded in 1989 by Kwan Weng Kin, a former Singapore diplomat who reported from Japan for 26 years until his retirement in 2015, and who was a respected voice on Japan in the paper. Hau Boon Lai did two stints in the bureau, from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2013 to 2014, and continues to serve as a copy-editor in the newsroom. Today, the digital era has expanded The Straits Times' reach beyond Singapore, allowing its unique geopolitical insights to resonate globally. Japan remains a compelling, evolving story, and I'm privileged to help tell it as the next chapter unfolds.
