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CNA
07-07-2025
- CNA
Over 160 offence notices issued since anti-nuisance signs put up on public transport
SINGAPORE: More than 160 notifications of offence have been issued since new signage was introduced on public transport to curb nuisance behaviour, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The signs, progressively rolled out from December 2024, remind commuters to keep noise levels down, avoid sitting on the floor and occupy only one seat. Signage related to noise appears on both MRT trains and buses, while the others are limited to the MRT network. Between December 2024 and May 2025, the number of offences recorded was four times higher than in the preceding six months from June to November 2024. Commuters caught flouting these rules may receive a notification of offence, carrying fines of up to S$500 (US$390) per violation. More serious infractions – such as soiling any part of the railway premises – may result in penalties of up to S$5,000, with transport operators empowered to remove commuters or notify the police. QUIETER JOURNEYS FOR SOME, NO CHANGE FOR OTHERS Despite increased enforcement, commuter feedback on the effectiveness of the signage remains mixed. Of the six commuters CNA interviewed, only one recalled noticing the new signs. However, several said their journeys had become noticeably quieter. Retiree Kamaria K, 64, described a stark difference in noise levels compared to when she was working full-time as a shipping executive about two years ago. It used to be noisy during her trips from Yew Tee to her workplace in Paya Lebar, she said. "But now, it's very quiet," said Madam Kamaria, who takes the train about two to three times a week to attend religious classes. Administrative executive Jenny Yeo, 66, also said she has not encountered loud phone conversations during her daily commute on the MRT or the bus. However, she acknowledged this could be because her journey is short. Other commuters were less positive. A marketing specialist who wanted to be known only as Casey S said she comes across disruptive behaviour "almost 90 per cent of the time" during her 30-minute MRT commute between her home and workplace. "Either they're on their speakers or even watching dramas on the train without using their headphones," she said. Madam Noraizah Ashiraff, 44, who commutes by both train and bus, said noise levels tend to be higher during off-peak periods, mostly because of elderly commuters using their devices loudly. The new signs are not "tremendously" effective, said the 44-year-old administrative executive. "To change Singaporeans' mindset in one shot, I don't think it's so useful. It will take a while to educate." None of the commuters recalled seeing passengers occupy more than one seat. However, several said students often sit on the floor of trains – but many were sympathetic to this, saying that the students may have been tired from long commutes. SIGNS UP ON ALMOST ALL TRAINS, BUSES The signs are now installed on all SMRT trains, except the newer R151 models on the North-South and East-West Lines, which will be progressively fitted. SBS Transit has also put up the signs on all trains on the North-East and Downtown Lines. Bus operator Tower Transit has installed 19 "conditions of carriage" signs on information panels across all six of its bus interchanges. These conditions outline expected standards of commuter behaviour on buses, including "orderly and decent" conduct and maintaining public health and cleanliness. Bus drivers are empowered to ask non-compliant passengers to disembark or, in serious cases, alert the police. In response to CNA's queries, Tower Transit's communications and customer experience director Glenn Lim said the company conducts about 1,800 ticket checks per month as part of its routine operations. "To date, we have not had to issue any warnings, fines, or notifications of offence," he said.
Malay Mail
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Malay Mail
What Singapore should expect from July's humid nights and storms.
SINGAPORE, July 2 — Singaporeans will likely face warm and humid nights along with brief but intense afternoon thunderstorms in the first half of July. The Meteorological Service Singapore has forecast localised thundery showers for most days, especially in the late mornings and afternoons. Sumatra squalls could cause widespread rain and gusty winds during the pre-dawn hours on a few occasions. Night-time temperatures may remain above 28°C, making for several warm and humid nights ahead. Daytime highs are expected to hover between 33°C and 34°C, with some days slightly hotter. Despite the thundery showers, overall rainfall for the fortnight is expected to be near the monthly average. Weather patterns in late June showed a similar trend, with below-average rainfall and isolated storms, including a heavy downpour in Woodlands on June 28. The hottest day in the second half of June was recorded at Paya Lebar, which hit 35.3°C on June 22.
CNA
30-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Who could replace Jerome Powell as Fed chairman?
Plans to develop Bishan into a new business hub could see the introduction of around 200,000 sqm of new office space to the area. This will match the scale of that in Paya Lebar Central. Are we going to see more towns adopt the live-work-play model? Daniel Martin and Justine Moss discuss with Provost's Chair Professor at the Department of Real Estate, NUS Business School, Sing Tien Foo.
CNA
27-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - A new business hub for Bishan: will more towns follow this LIVE-WORK-PLAY model?
CNA938 Rewind Plans to develop Bishan into a new business hub could see the introduction of around 200,000 sqm of new office space to the area. This will match the scale of that in Paya Lebar Central. Are we going to see more towns adopt the live-work-play model? Daniel Martin and Justine Moss discuss with Provost's Chair Professor at the Department of Real Estate, NUS Business School, Sing Tien Foo.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 in 4 consumers want property agents to stay updated by closing at least one deal a year: Survey
SINGAPORE - Three in four consumers expect property agents to facilitate at least one transaction per year so that they stay familiar with the latest rules and guidelines. A public perception survey of the real estate agency industry also showed a record high of 92 per cent consumer satisfaction with property agent services. While consumers were satisfied with the services, the survey found that they hoped property agents would improve in several areas, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Sun Xueling on June 18. One such area was conducting checks to ensure that property transactions are carried out in line with the laws and regulations, according to the survey by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). Ms Sun was speaking to property agents at the Singapore Estate Agents Conference held at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar. The conference is organised by the Singapore Estate Agents Association (SEAA). The survey found that 74 per cent of respondents expected property agents to close at least one deal each year. Ms Sun said consumers also wanted agents to improve their understanding of client needs and offer relevant professional advice, as well as negotiate better prices and terms for their clients. CEA said in December 2024 that it was assessing whether property agents should be required to facilitate a minimum number of transactions in order to renew their licence, following concerns raised during industry engagement sessions. When asked about the status of the review, a CEA spokesman referred The Straits Times to its December statement. More than 1,500 respondents participated in the CEA survey from October to November 2024. Of these, 1,004 respondents had engaged property agents in the year before the survey, and the remaining 505 respondents were considering to do so within two years. Consumer satisfaction was at a record high of 92 per cent, compared with 77 per cent in 2021 and 85 per cent in 2018. The survey is conducted every three years. Ms Sun said: 'This is the highest since the survey was first conducted in 2012, and is a testament to the industry's sustained efforts in uplifting professional standards and strengthening consumer trust.' Singapore must remain committed to combatting money laundering and terrorism financing in order to remain a clean and trusted financial centre for business and property transactions, she said. Property agencies and agents are crucial gatekeepers in protecting the real estate sector from illicit activities, which is why the Ministry of National Development in April passed a Bill to strengthen penalty frameworks, she added. The Anti-Money Laundering and Other Matters (Estate Agents and Developers) Bill was passed to impose the maximum penalties on a per-breach basis rather than a per-case basis. Property agencies and agents will also be required to conduct due diligence measures on unrepresented counterparts. Ms Sun also lauded efforts by property agents to use artificial intelligence apps and tools developed by their agencies to generate information for their clients, such as property trends and financial calculations. Agencies should also continue to digitalise and streamline the property transaction process to provide better and faster customer service, she said. At the conference, SEAA president Adam Wang announced that SEAA and the Institute of Estate Agents have merged to form a new industry body – the Singapore Institute of Estate Agents. With over 15,000 property agents and agency leaders as members, the body will represent their interests as well as work with the Government to advance professionalism and long-term industry sustainability, he added. SEAA said in a statement that the proposed name is currently pending approval from the Registry of Societies. There were a total of 36,058 registered property agents and 1,046 property agencies at the start of 2025, according to CEA's website. On June 18, a new platform to facilitate co-broking among the members of SEAA was launched. Co-broking refers to a situation where two or more salespersons, representing different parties in a transaction, work together to complete the deal. Mr Wang said the platform, which was developed by property portal EdgeProp, allows its members to post and collaborate on property listings in a secure space. 'It helps address rising operational costs for agents and reinforces SEAA's commitment to equipping our members with innovative, effective tools,' he said. The launch comes amid rising costs of agent packages over the years, with PropertyGuru's packages costing $1,400 to more than $20,000 in 2025. The platform by SEAA and EdgeProp will be free for members until the end of 2025. Thereafter, they will have to pay a subscription fee – at an affordable rate, said SEAA. Isabelle Liew is a journalist at The Straits Times. She covers housing issues in Singapore, with a focus on public housing. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
