Latest news with #DesmondTan
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Independent Singapore
Woman gets injured after PMD hit-and-run; has a message for the rider
FB screengrab/ COMPLAINT SINGAPORE SINGAPORE: A woman wrote in a popular local Facebook group that she was hit by a PMD (Personal Mobility Device) on Sunday morning (Jul 13) while walking down the 'slope from a bridge at Pasir Ris Block 124.' The incident occurred at around 7:15 a.m. After she got hit, the rider made a run for it and quickly disappeared. She posted photos of the bright red skin abrasions she sustained on her right knee, the lower part of the palm of her right hand, and the area near the elbow of her left arm. Screenshot Despite her injuries, she had a message for the person on the PMD. 'If the rider comes forward and apologises and compensates my bills (with receipt), I won't pursue further,' she wrote. Many people have shared her post. Some of the commenters on her post have urged her to report to the authorities. 'Hit and run, sure cannot find the PMD on your own. Lodge a police report ASAP,' one wrote. See also Inter-agency task force aims to reduce PMD fire risks 'Make a police report. What if he hits children instead?' another agreed. 'Just lodge a report. Usually, there's a camera on the bridge. Leaving you injured is already unacceptable,' a Facebook user chimed in. 'Just make a police report, and let the police do the job. Irresponsible behaviour from the PMD,' wrote another. A commenter urged her to reach out to the Pasir Ris Member of Parliament to ask for assistance. At present, the MPs from Pasir Ris–Changi GRC are In dranee Rajah , Desmond Tan, Sharael Taha, and Valerie Lee, all from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP). One commenter said she should report the incident to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as well, although they admitted that this would be a bit of a challenge, since the PMD driver left the scene. Another seemed to agree, appealing to the LTA to 'Please wake up before more innocent will get hurt, maybe next time it might be kids or someone elderly.' One admitted that they were afraid of such an incident, writing, ' This is the worst thing I am worried about every day, that one day I might also be caught in such a situation.' Another appealed to the rider: 'Come out, PMD rider… Don't be a coward… just apologise… and settle.' The post author wrote in a comment that she has already lodged a police report. The Independent Singapore has reached out to her for further comments or updates. /TISG Read also: Netizens call out passenger for taking video of woman on PMD whom she said is just pretending to be disabled () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
CNA
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Benjamin Kheng and Shazza dazzle attendees, 12-year-old singer draws crowd on second day of SG60 It's Giving Fest
It's Giving Fest, a youth-driven initiative organised by as part of SG60 celebrations, wrapped up its second and final day at *SCAPE on Sunday (Jul 13) with a bang – saving some of its biggest highlights for last. The night wrapped up with Mediacorp's Cloud 9 music festival, featuring performances from Benjamin Kheng and Shazza, among others. On the first day of the event, attendees were treated to performances by Lullaboy, Tasha Low and even a surprise song from Tyler Ten. It's Giving Fest was organised to spotlight the voices, dreams and aspirations of Singapore's youth while empowering them to take action in social and community initiatives. Sunday's festivities started strong with the daytime activities, which included the celebrity telematch, a ticketed event featuring local celebs Desmond Tan, Annette Lee, Sonia Chew, Richie Koh, Zhang Ze Tong, Das, among others, dressed in school uniforms for the 'Back to School: Class Clash Showdown', where they competed in a series of five games. Once the telematch was over, fans spotted the 'students' snapping a picture outside the Marquee, the concert tent, and rushed to grab pictures and videos. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JERNELLE OH 胡煜诗 (@ohyushi) Later, some members of Desmond Tan's fan club even queued to snag a picture with the actor, who was a Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes winner at the recent Star Awards. In the tent, similar to the first day, the local talent show featured eight original short films and five songs around the theme "Building Our Singapore Together". These works were created by youths under the SG60 Flex Your Passion Mentorship Programme, where they were guided by industry mentors. One of the short films featured, titled Egg Fried Rice, was made by 20-year-old students Moneda Venetia Eirielle Macalintal, Janelle Leong, Alphaeus Chew and Adrien Kareem Wong. The story follows Eggman, a reclusive old man whose life unexpectedly changes when Shelly, the new neighbour next door, opens up his world both metaphorically and literally. Macalintal told CNA Lifestyle that the group had pitched this idea for their Final Year Projects at school, but it did not make the cut. When their lecturers reached out to their director, Chew, for a chance to pitch the idea for the showcase, they jumped at it. Another film group Roar, made up of Temasek Polytechnic students Darren Chow, 20; Danial Umar, 19; Aqiel Samsir, 19; Ryan Ang, 19; and Rowena Eber, 19, said this was their 'first real industry experience', one with a client and a bigger budget. Their film follows a young boy who inspires his grandfather and his old teammates to join a community futsal tournament. As they train to face younger rivals, they rediscover friendship, resilience, and the joy of football. 'It was a very eye-opening experience and we learnt a lot from the mentorship programme, which had directors and executive producers helping us all the way from pre-production to post-production,' Eber told CNA Lifestyle. 'They taught us how to get things done properly and the industry standards our submissions should be at." Tucked in a room on the second level of the event space, was an array of booths for local businesses to sell items ranging from accessories to home goods. Owner of jewellery brand Make Make, Amanda, 31, who declined to state her last name, said: 'Small businesses don't get much exposure I feel, so even though there are a lot of creative people here, sometimes there isn't enough of a market for us to showcase our work.' 'This platform gives us a physical space to get our craft out there,' she added. 'People who typically may not come look at small businesses may find stuff that they may not have thought of buying before.' Owner of lifestyle brand Mochi Buddies, Jean Kuah, 31, shared that the art community in Singapore is very big and there has not been as many events to showcase local artists' works. 'So it's a good opportunity where artists can come together to share ideas – not only just meeting new customers,' she added. From youths to families and pet owners, most concert-goers wanted to explore the local music scene. 'We didn't come here with anyone in mind actually,' said Benjamin Low, 20, who came to the event with his friends. They added that they were instead curious about local music since more local artistes were gaining more traction. 'It's quite refreshing to see new musicians in our country,' Low added. Some however, came as fans, wishing to see their favourite artiste live. 'I wanted to get to know more songs from local artistes,' said 17-year-old Tricia Sit. When asked which artiste they were most excited to see, Sit and her friend Avril Yap, 17, squealed in unison: "Benjamin Kheng!' The pair also happened to be fans of Desmond Tan. 'Desmond Tan waved at me from above, I was up there and he was going to leave and then he looked up,' Sit said excitedly. Eighteen-year-old students Shalisa Binte Shafudin, Tang Xin Yu and Raye Kosasih, also said they were most pumped to see dance group D'Kingsman, as well as artistes Lovalie and Fariz Jabba. While talking to concert-goers, a youthful voice echoed from the mini outdoor stage – 12-year-old Lyla Ng, who was one of the buskers, singing a mix of Chinese and English top hits like Apt by Bruno Mars and Rose. Ng said that she started playing the piano at the age of five, drums and singing at the age of six, song-writing, the electric and acoustic guitar at seven, and finally, playing the bass at ten years old. 'I'm very grateful to be performing in front of this audience. They are very nice and I'm very happy,' she chirped. Her passion for music started when her father was on tour with Hong Kong singer-songwriter Emil Wakin Chau when she was two years old. 'At night me and my mum would watch videos of my dad performing on stage. He looks so happy so I felt inspired,' she said. Ng has even performed on stage at the Indoor Stadium with Chau before. 'I know that not everybody gets to do this, so I'm very grateful. I like that everybody is always very encouraging and I like to make people happy through music,' she said, adding that she will be taking her Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) at the end of the year. Back in the concert tent, the evening events kicked off. Starting with Culture SG's electrifying remix of pop songs which saw a group of youths hyped and jumping, as well as local DJ Koflow who delivered a bass thumping set coupled with a live orchestra band. Dance group D'Kingsman's lively performance saw the five boys dancing to songs like Baby by Justin Bieber as well as 21 Savage and JID's Surround Sound with screams echoing from the audience. Local artiste Lovlaine serenaded us with her melodic voice and treated the audience to a preview of her unreleased track, Limbo – even getting us to sing along. Singer Shazza also delivered a standout set with her powerful vocals and magnetic stage presence that included her songs Perfume, All You Really Need (Is Love), a soulful cover of Bruno Major's Nothing, and the vocally demanding Medieval. Meanwhile, Fariz Jabba delivered a hyped, explosive performance with songs Masa and an unreleased song Day Onez, along with the announcement of his new upcoming album. Closing the night with flair, Benjamin Kheng brought the energy with his set, including a punchy cover of Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles, an upbeat take on Laufey's From The Start, and finally, in true National Day spirit, the National Day Parade 2024 anthem Not Alone. Kheng even took a moment to film a TikTok with the crowd, sending fans into a frenzy of cheers and screams.
CNA
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Backstage at Star Awards 2025: Zhang Zetong was worried about his breath, Pierre Png made us blush with his outfit
At the Star Awards 2025 last Sunday night (Jul 6), you saw actor Christopher Lee go home as the night's biggest winner, witnessed actress Jessica Hsuan make history as the first overseas star to win an acting award, and probably experienced serious FOMO seeing the stars snap selfies with guest presenter Chow Yun Fat. But of course there's more to the show than what you saw on stage. was right there in the thick of things, watching the stars get all dolled up, secretly memorising their acceptance speeches and snacking on guava, all just to get some exclusive backstage gossip for our readers. YVONNE LIM'S RED CARPET DRESS BELONGED TO SOMEONE SPECIAL The 48-year-old actress, who received her All-Time Favourite Artiste award on Sunday night, revealed that her black and white polka-dotted dress belonged to her godmother. "Back in 2014, she told me to wear it if i ever became an All-Time Fave. And at that time, I didn't think it was possible," Lim said with tears in her eyes. DESMOND TAN'S DINNER WAS... SAD Desmond Tan was finishing up his protein bar when we approached him. "One of my friends gave it to me because she knows I'm on a diet for a new show. I'll have to go shirtless for it. That's probably my dinner 'cos I still need some energy for the day," said Tan with a smile. Guess we will be seeing thirst-traps from him again. PIERRE PNG MADE US BLUSH WITH HIS SHORTS The actor drew many glances when he arrived wearing really short shorts. He later told us he had actually come from a Hyrox team lunch, though that doesn't actually explain why his shorts had to be that short. Sadly, he didn't allow us to snap a pic of him in the shorts, but he seemed to really like wearing them and even paired them with the black button-up shirt he would wear on the red carpet. When we told him that he should just strut out in those shorts, he chuckled: 'If I really went out looking like that, the missus (Andrea De Cruz) would ask me not to go home tonight!" JERNELLE OH WAS PUT IN A NAUGHTY CORNER... KIND OF While other celebs milled about the hair and make-up area, Jernelle Oh appeared to be stuck in the corner. The 31-year-old actress, who was already all glammed up by the time arrived at 1pm, said she was told to just wait there for the final touches to be made to her outfit. But the poor girl ended up being cemented to the spot because her dress was too long and hence "cannot move". ZHAI SIMING WAS THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL Mirror, mirror on the wall... Every single time the team looked in Zhai Siming's direction, he was staring into a mirror. When we asked if he had to look at his own reflection whenever he had the chance, he said: "I've lost count [of the number of mirrors I've looked at], but I need to make sure I look good!" ZHANG ZETONG WAS WORRIED ABOUT HIS BREATH We guess The Most Popular Rising Star winner's best pal that evening was a Fisherman's Friend... you know, the mint. "I had Subway for lunch and I did not know there were raw onions in it," he laughed. CARRIE WONG IS LITERALLY TALL GIRL We caught sight of the 1.75m-tall actress, who was probably 1.8m in her heels, towering over everyone who was interviewing her. We overheard someone comment: "Wah look at the height difference between Carrie and [the interviewer]." Wong heard the quip and immediately responded with: "It's okay. Confidence does not come from height." Well, guess that's easy for her to say, right? WE CAUGHT JEREMY CHAN DOING SOMETHING SNEAKY After going around greeting fellow celebs like the social butterfly he is, we espied Jeremy Chan quietly snacking on guava while huddled in the corner of the make-up area. We later found out he was eating secretly because he was told that no food was allowed. Hmm, we could've sworn we saw many people snacking. Joanne Peh was even tucking into her lunch box while getting made up! HUANG SHINAN WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE Is the former Mediacorp actor into vlogging now? That was our first thought when we saw Huang Shinan walking around with his phone in hand, speaking to the camera and occasionally getting a celeb pal to join him for a two-shot. When we caught up with him, Huang said: "I really treasure this moment. It's my first time being involved in this ceremony, and I want to keep [these videos] for the memories." It was 1pm then, and Huang, who was already in his red carpet outfit, told us his call time was supposed to be at 1.30pm. He said he showed up earlier so he could fully immerse himself in the vibe and catch up with old friends. He also said he would find a day to edit the videos, so guess we'll have to stay tuned for the finished product?
The Star
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Govt urged to intervene as new US tariff brings jitters for businesses
JOHOR BARU: The 25% tariff imposed by the United States on Malaysia has sent jitters through the manufacturing sector, with many warning of cancelled orders and a potential wave of business closures. The furniture industry, for one, fears losing business to Vietnam, which faces a 20% tariff, while some other industries are even thinking of relocating. Malaysian Furniture Council president Desmond Tan said Vietnam, Malaysia's closest competitor in the global furniture market, produced a similar range of products and targets the same export destinations – especially the United States. The tariff for Vietnam was reduced to 20% from the original 46%. 'Since the announcement was only made yesterday (Tuesday), it is still too early to gauge the full extent of its impact on order volumes but the council will continue to monitor developments closely,' he said. Tan said the industry was also being squeezed by rising costs on the domestic front. 'These include the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST), which now imposes a 5% tax on raw materials and directly drives up production costs. We also face higher labour expenses with the new minimum wage,' he added. The new Employees Provident Fund contributions for foreign workers would add further strain while fuel and electricity prices had also gone up, he said. The council is now urging Putrajaya to commence urgent talks with the United States to negotiate a reduction of the tariff. He also appealed for a rethink on the new taxes and price hikes to lower production costs, and for export incentives to protect jobs. The United States accounts for 60% of the country's total furniture exports, totalling RM2.039bil in just the first four months of the year. Malaysia also exports furniture to Singapore, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom, among others. Muar Furniture Association president Steve Ong said the new tariff was a major blow, as Muar supplied more than RM4bil worth of furniture to the United States in 2024. It made up 67% of Malaysia's total furniture exports there, he said. 'The 25% tariff will likely lead to clients cancelling orders and local manufacturers scrambling to stay afloat. This is an urgent crisis,' Ong said. Another industry player urged the government to act swiftly. 'If nothing is done, a globally competitive industry like ours could shrink or even collapse,' said Goh Song Huang. 'At a time like this, we need clear, steady policies and a government that understands and responds to the real pressures we face.' In Penang, local industries are bracing for reduced demand with some considering relocation. 'Companies in Malaysia may be forced to shift parts of their production to countries with lower tariffs,' said Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, adding that higher prices driven by import tariffs tend to suppress global demand. 'When the cost of imported goods rises, demand naturally falls. In the end, everyone along the supply chain, especially buyers of raw materials, will be affected,' he said. Earlier, it was reported that semiconductor exports would be exempt from the tariffs but it is unclear whether exemptions will remain under the new tariff regime. 'Vietnam's tariff is at 20%, which gives them a pricing advantage. US buyers may look for cheaper alternatives, putting Malaysian exporters at a disadvantage,' he said. Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) Penang chapter chairman Datuk Seri Lee Teong Li said the 25% tariff would significantly impact exporters to the US. 'It's a substantial amount. For local manufacturers shipping to the US, it will reduce profit margins. Costs will rise, and customers may start sourcing from other suppliers. 'Even when the 24% tariff was announced in April, it was already a heavy blow. We had hoped for a reduction, not an increase,' he said. He noted that for now, the strategy was to ship out as much as possible before the Aug 1 deadline. Meanwhile, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) is urging the government to temporarily lower the expanded SST to 4% to ease the financial burden on businesses and preserve Malaysia's competitive edge. Its president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng said the government should reduce the expanded SST rate from the current 6%-8% for the first two years of implementation. He said businesses, already grappling with higher operational costs driven by multiple government-imposed measures, would now have to face the the tariff headwinds and global uncertainties as well.
CNA
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Mediacorp music festival Cloud 9 returns at It's Giving Fest with performances from Benjamin Kheng, Shazza and more
In the mood for some local music this weekend? Mediacorp's Cloud 9 concert is back as part of It's Giving Fest, a free two-day festival from 11am at *SCAPE to celebrate Singapore's 60th birthday. The concert will take place on the evenings of Jul 12 and 13 from 7pm to 9.30pm and will feature performances from over 10 homegrown artistes, such as Benjamin Kheng, Alyph, Fariz Jabba, Shazza, Shye and Culture SG. Admission is free, with entry granted to the first 1,000 attendees each evening on a first-come, first-served basis. Cloud 9's inaugural edition, held on Feb 15, was staged as a music festival and drew a crowd of over 4,000 fans. In addition to live performances, It's Giving Fest will also showcase original creative works, including eight short films and five song compositions produced by students from institutes of higher learning. The works will reflect their aspirations and hope for Singapore. Other highlights include it's Giving Fest participants teaming up with local artistes such as Desmond Tan, Annette Lee, Zhang Ze Tong, Das and more in a Back to School: Class Clash Showdown. This segment features five high-energy games, with exclusive prizes to be won. Pre-registration is required for this activity, along with a S$5 donation to SGSHARE – the national regular giving programme. Beyond these, attendees can also look forward to a diverse range of activities including a celebrity charity auction, youth talent showcase, interactive SG60 digital tapestry, arcade games, flea markets and food trucks.
