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Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
New Mandai North Crematorium, ash-scattering garden to open on Aug 15
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE – The new Mandai North Crematorium and an ash-scattering garden will open on Aug 15, built in anticipation of more annual deaths with Singapore's ageing population. The crematorium will be the country's fourth such facility, and the second to be overseen by the Government. Bookings for available cremation slots will be released from Aug 9. The current sole government-operated crematorium, Mandai Crematorium, handles more than 90 per cent of all cremations in Singapore. The rest are done in two private crematoriums. There were 26,442 deaths in Singapore in 2024, and this is projected to rise to about 40,000 by 2040, according to the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. The new Garden of Serenity is Singapore's second inland ash-scattering facility, following the opening of the first in Choa Chu Kang Cemetery in 2021. The new garden is approximately 750 sq m in size. The demand for inland ash scattering has risen, with such requests almost tripling from 900 in 2021 to more than 2,300 in 2024 , the National Environment Agency (NEA) told The Straits Times in May. The new crematorium and garden will enable the Government to continue serving the nation's needs in the years ahead, NEA said in a statement on July 28. The cost to scatter the ashes at either garden is $320. The garden is open from 9am to 5.30pm daily. The Garden of Serenity is located right beside the new crematorium to give easy access to those who wish to scatter their loved one's ashes immediately. A nearby carpark ensures the garden is accessible to those who bring the ashes from home. At the garden, there are four lanes lined with pebbles for families to scatter the ashes. Trees and hedges are planted in between the lanes to provide privacy for families . Similar to the Garden of Peace in Choa Chu Kang, religious ceremonies or rites such as the burning of joss sticks, food offerings or playing of music are not allowed within the garden, to maintain a clean and serene environment. Families and visitors can use a prayer facility beside the garden to conduct simple rites. A section of the Garden of Serenity, where ash can be scattered on the stretch of pebbles provided. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Users can apply for ash scattering on NEA's ePortal, The Mandai North Crematorium has been in the works since 2017, but was completed only in 2024 due to issues with construction. The new facilities span approximately 2.4ha. The crematorium houses six service halls and 18 cremators. Currently, three service halls are equipped with nine cremators, and the remaining halls will be filled out at a later date. The new cremation facility has fitted automated guided vehicles to transport coffins from the hearse to the service hall. At the existing crematorium, this is usually done via a trolley that is pushed manually. A self-help system is in place at the ash collection centre to enable family members to collect their loved one's ashes with ease. The Government is studying two sites in Tanah Merah and Mandai for the potential development of a new funeral services and columbarium complex, to meet an expected increase in demand for after-death facilities. 'NEA will continue to plan ahead to ensure sufficient government after-death facilities and services, and to provide these services in a way that allows bereaved families to come together to send off their loved ones with dignity and respect,' the agency said.
New Paper
18-07-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Third Kinokuniya branch opens in Raffles City, weeks before planned date
Kinokuniya, the Republic's only remaining books-focused mega-chain, opened its third outlet in shopping mall Raffles City on the morning of July 18. The celebratory occasion bucked prevailing trends of bookshop closures amid laments of declining book-buying habits. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the "hidden literary haven", designed by award-winning architect Tan Kay Ngee, took place weeks before its initial scheduled date of August and immediately welcomed about 30 patrons. Kinokuniya vice-president of domestic and overseas business Keijiro Mori said Singapore may be more digitalised than other countries, but trends away from screens in Britain and the United States offer hope. "I'm confident this will come to Singapore," he added. "Meanwhile, we have to try to include more non-book items. But we will try to keep these book-related. We don't want to become a general miscellaneous store." Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had, up till April, been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. It may be a far cry from Kinokuniya's Ngee Ann City flagship - at about 10 times the size - but news of its opening, announced three months ago, still came as a salve to bibliophiles after worrying scenes of bookshelves in Ngee Ann City being emptied. Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had, up till April, been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM In February, The Straits Times reported that the 38,000 sq ft store was being downsized after rental negotiations with landlord Toshin Development arrived at the conclusion that the front portion of the bookstore would be taken over by a cafe. Kinokuniya has since assured the public that its range of titles remained intact. Its Raffles City branch is similar in size to the Bugis Junction store, which opened in 2013. Kinokuniya Raffles City was "designed not to shout, but to invite", which architect Tan has attempted with a long central axis leading to a blue-hued Reading Room, an alcove that reuses some of Kinokuniya's signature shelves from Ngee Ann City. The bookstore at Raffles City is divided into the Reading Room (left) and main area (right). ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Exclusive stationery is being touted as a key feature, such as cat-themed products from Japanese designer Matsuo Miyuki and the anthropomorphic Pickles the Frog. "We put the honey in front," said Kinokuniya consultant Kenny Chan. Exclusive merchandise such as Pickles the Frog in Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM There are other subtle differentiations from other branches, for instance, a greater focus on English-language and business-related books to cater to the Central Business District crowd. Mr Ervin Yeo, chief executive of commercial management at CapitaLand Investment, said customer satisfaction surveys have long indicated a demand for Raffles City to have a bookstore again, which would allow browsing between appointments while also supplying nearby Fairmont Hotel and Swissotel The Stamford guests with holiday reads. Raffles City is managed by CapitaLand. There could be "cross-activations", he added, suggesting collaborations with brands like Chinese milk tea chain Chagee, wine concierge Grand Cru and cafe Alice Boulangerie. "With the right trade mix, we hope that sales for all tenants will improve." According to a National Library Board 2024 study, 28 per cent of adults read books and e-books more than once a week. Among these, 75 per cent still prefer physical books, and more people buy physical books from bookstores (54 per cent) than borrow from libraries (51 per cent). After the outpouring of grief over Kinokuniya's reduction at Ngee Ann City, Mr Yeo urged the public to put their money where their mouth is. "Rather than bellyaching over their closures and lamenting their disappearance, the best thing we can all do to support bookstores is to visit bookstores and buy books."
Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Exhibition marking The Straits Times' 180th anniversary opens on July 12 at Jewel Changi
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The exhibition is equipped with interactive features that allow visitors to flip through thousands of front pages and participate in a Reporter-In-Training quest. SINGAPORE – An avid reader of the news, Mrs Wendy Yap took a bus on Saturday to Jewel Changi Airport, to be among the first at The Straits Times' 180th anniversary exhibition. The 57-year-old primary school mathematics teacher said she has the ST app, but still prefers the physical copy. 'It is my routine to read ST every morning. Once, the newspaper wasn't delivered to my home and I felt like something was off that day,' said Mrs Yap, who added that she feels a sense of pride when the newspaper is distributed to passengers on all Singapore-bound SIA flights. She especially likes the human-interest reports and enjoys trying food recommendations published in ST's Life! section. Mrs Yap highlighted two stories in particular: Mr Ricqo Rafiezuwan , who used to be a stateless unemployed youth, and is now a permanent resident and Mr Hsu Hu-Chin, who found his mother – a former SIA stewardess - after his story appeared in ST . 'I wanted to be at the exhibition to see more of the stories ST has covered over the years - different events in history and how the stories actually unfolded. 'I'm glad ST's articles has had an impact on people's lives,' she said, adding that she looks forward to reading profile features every weekend. The exhibition takes visitors through eras the nation has experienced. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Like Mrs Yap, several other visitors at the roving exhibition at South Gateway Garden at Jewel Changi Airport, said they were intrigued by the range of stories the publication has covered over the years. Ms Cheong Yin Ping , a r etired bank worker in her 60s , liked the interactive features, which she felt would do well in keeping the younger visitors engaged. Her favourite part was when she created her own front page. 'In this age, people usually need instantaneous response, since their attention spans are shorter,' said Mrs Cheong. Others like Mr Albert La i liked the interactive display comparing photographs of places in Singapore then and now, including landmarks like Clarke Quay, Bukit Batok Hill and the Padang. 'Because we forget the past sometimes, and now (this display) helps us to remember and see the changes,' added the 52-year-old sales executive . For J arred Loo , 17 , his favourite part of the exhibition was the comic-book style panels that showed how the newsroom transformed from producing print-only papers to multi-media news formats. The secondary school student said he has often reads ST, to expand his knowledge of current affairs. Visitors at an interactive section of the exhibition. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Adult visitors were treated to a complimentary tote bag and notebook upon completing activities at three checkpoints, while children were presented with a specially designed sticker set. Titled Heartbeats and Headlines: 180 Years of Telling The Singapore Story , the roving exhibition organised by ST is equipped with interactive features that allow visitors to flip through thousands of front pages and participate in a Reporter-In-Training quest. Adult visitors were treated to a complimentary tote bag and notebook upon completing activities at three checkpoints, while children were presented with a specially designed sticker set. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The exhibition takes visitors through eras the nation has experienced: war and occupation in 1942 , the beginning of Housing Board flats in 1960 , the nation's dramatic exit from Malaysia in 1965 , the very first MRT trains starting service in 1987 , as well as national football team Singapore's Lions' victory in the Malaysia Cup in 1994, which sparked the rise of the 'kallang roar'. It also showcases headlines that ST delivered when the world ushered in the millennium, ranging from the Singapore Airlines SQ006 crash in Taiwan in 2000 , the nation's largest manhunt for Mas Selamat Kastari who broke out of detention in 2008 , Singapore's first Olympic gold medal won by national swimmer Joseph Schooling in 2016 , the pandemic Covid-19 that brought the world to a standstill from 2020 to 2022 , to the present. The exhibition is held at Jewel Changi Airport from July 12 to 20, and will shift to Westgate from July 25 to Aug 3, before settling at Raffles City Shopping Centre from Aug 8 to 17. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The exhibition also chronicles the evolution of ST from a newspaper of record to a multi-platform media outlet in today's digital age. One section displays readers' fondest memories of ST, and the lives of those transformed after being featured in its pages. The exhibition is held at Jewel Changi Airport from July 12 to 20 , and will shift to Westgate from July 25 to Aug 3 , before settling at Raffles City Shopping Centre from Aug 8 to 17 .
Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Straits Times
Cyclists face fines, jail for riding on pedestrian-only paths as enforcement begins on July 1
LTA's active mobility enforcement officers advising pedestrians and cyclists to keep to their respective lanes on a newly converted 200m-long pedestrian-only path in Tampines on July 1. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Cyclists face fines, jail for riding on pedestrian-only paths as enforcement begins on July 1 SINGAPORE – From July 1, cyclists and users of non-motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs) such as kick scooters can be penalised for riding on designated pedestrian-only footpaths located in towns across Singapore. Only pedestrians and users of personal mobility aids (PMAs), such as electric wheelchairs, are allowed on pedestrian-only paths, which have the words 'pedestrian only' and a logo of a pedestrian painted on them. PMAs must observe a speed limit of 6kmh by the first quarter of 2026, down from 10kmh . Bicycles and non-motorised PMDs remain permitted on other footpaths. More than 200km of footpaths next to cycling lanes have been turned into pedestrian-only paths since the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced this initiative in August 2024. These paths are found in towns including Tampines, Punggol, Sengkang, Yishun and Clementi. Toa Payoh was the first town to get these paths in January 2025. LTA said then that it would enforce the proper use of pedestrian-only and cycling paths from July 1, 2025, to give people time to adjust to the move, which it introduced 'for the safety of more vulnerable pedestrians such as seniors and children'. Bicycles, electric bicycles, motorised and non-motorised PMDs, as well as PMAs will continue to be allowed on cycling paths. First-time offenders convicted of riding on a pedestrian-only path could be fined up to $2,000 or jailed for three months, or both. LTA said its active mobility enforcement officers (AMEOs) will adopt 'a measured and considered approach' when determining whether an offence has been committed. 'There remains zero tolerance towards those who speed or ride in a rash and reckless manner on paths,' it added. Pedestrians who stray into cycling paths will not face these penalties, though they should keep to the pedestrian-only path for their own safety, LTA said. Those moving at a higher speed on cycling paths should also look out for pedestrians and more vulnerable users, it added. LTA said pedestrian-only paths will be implemented 'where space allows', but where there are space constraints, the 'gracious sharing of spaces will continue to be important'. AMEOs have been educating cyclists and non-motorised PMD users on using the correct path since August 2024, while LTA has also worked with schools to educate students on the new rules. The authority said path accidents have been on a 'general decline' since 2019, though 'more can be done to ensure safety for all path users, especially our seniors and young children'. There were 104 path accidents in 2024, down from 303 incidents in 2019. Vanessa Paige Chelvan is a correspondent at The Straits Times. She writes about all things transport and pens the occasional commentary. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
First of 8 Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link trains unveiled; system works 56% done
A dynamic route map display showing the next station in the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The control panel, when not concealed, in the front cab of the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The 76 metre-long train of four cars, each with three doors on either side, seen at the commemorative event held by Ministry of Transport on June 30. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Each of the eight RTS Link trains has an optimal capacity of 607 passengers, or a maximum of 1,087. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM SINGAPORE - The first of eight driverless trains that will serve the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link has been delivered to Singapore , and will be put through its paces at an $800 million testing centre in Tuas from July. The delivery marks the latest milestone for the highly anticipated cross-border rail link, which observers say will be a significant driver of Singapore-Malaysia connectivity and economic growth when it starts passenger service by the end of 2026. The arrival of the new 76.5m-long, four-car train was commemorated at an event at the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC) on June 30, attended by Singapore's Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow, Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi. 'The RTS Link is more than a transportation system and it is more than an engineering milestone,' said Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad, chairman of RTS Operations (RTSO), a joint venture between Singapore transport operator SMRT and Malaysian public transport firm Prasarana that was appointed to run the rail line. 'It is actually a powerful symbol of our partnership that will deepen bilateral relations between both Malaysia and Singapore,' he added. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow (centre), with his Malaysian counterpart Anthony Loke (right) and Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi (left) at the commemorative event on June 30. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Overall, works to install the RTS Link's systems are now at 56 per cent completion, RTSO said on June 30. This includes track installation, which is expected to be completed by the end of July, as well as the installation of the traction power system, which supplies the electricity that powers the trains. Each of the eight RTS Link trains, made by Chinese manufacturer CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, has an optimal capacity of 607 passengers, or a maximum of 1,087. Each train car has 32 seats, including four that can be folded to make space for a wheelchair, pram or luggage. Each train car has 32 seats, including four that can be folded to make space for a wheelchair, pram or luggage. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The trains come with other accessibility features, including a hearing induction loop system that uses a magnetic field to transmit public announcements directly to the hearing aids of passengers who use such devices. It is the first time such a system is being rolled out on a train in Singapore and Malaysia, so that broadcasts can be heard clearly by the hearing-impaired without background noise and distortion. The hearing loop that transmits announcements to hearing aids of the hearing impaired on the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM In the event of an emergency, passengers can use a call button to speak to the operations control centre. They can also evacuate by opening one of several red hatches that contains a lever to open the train doors. Opening the hatch will send an alarm to the operations control centre, and the lever can be used only when the train comes to a standstill. Passengers can evacuate by opening one of several red hatches that contains a lever to open the train doors. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Only the doors that face an emergency walkway along the RTS Link's viaducts and tunnels can be opened. There are also smoke and fire detectors on the train, and hopper windows that can be opened to allow fresh air into the cabin. The first RTS Link train, which arrived in Singapore in April, is expected to undergo tests that ensure it works well with other rail systems, such as signalling and platform screen doors. These tests are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. 'Carrying out an initial round of off-site testing at SRTC allows RTSO to identify and resolve potential integration issues early before commencing testing of the trains on the RTS Link tracks,' said Singapore and Malaysia's transport ministries in a joint statement. The first RTS Link train, which arrived in Singapore in April, is expected to undergo tests that ensure it works well with other rail systems. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM After testing at SRTC, the first train will be moved to the RTS Link tracks between Singapore's Woodlands North station and Johor's Bukit Chagar station for more extensive trials that simulate actual service. This will last until the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, the next four trains that are due to be delivered are now being assembled at CRRC's facility in Batu Gajah, a town in Perak, Malaysia. The remaining three trains will also be assembled there. Display panels showing the next station in the train. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Once completed, these seven trains will be sent directly to Wadi Hana depot in Johor Bahru for further testing before the 4km rail link opens. The final train is expected to be delivered by December. When operational, the RTS Link trains will travel at a maximum speed of 80kmh, carrying up to 10,000 people an hour in each direction. When operational, the RTS Link trains will travel at a maximum speed of 80kmh, carrying up to 10,000 people an hour in each direction. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Trains will run from 6am to midnight daily, with a peak-hour frequency of 3.6 minutes. The journey will take about five minutes. The contract to manufacture the RTS Link trains was awarded to CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive in 2021. The original plan was for the cross-border link to connect to Singapore's Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), adopting the same systems and trains, and using the same depot as the TEL to reap economies of scale. But the bilateral project was suspended in 2019 at the request of Malaysia, which proposed to use a light rail system instead to lower costs. The project officially resumed in July 2020 on revised terms. When completed, the RTS Link is expected to ease congestion on the Causeway. More than 300,000 people cross the land bridge daily. Kok Yufeng is a transport correspondent at The Straits Times. 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