In recent times, Singapore’s food and beverage (F&B) brand Yeo’s found itself at the center of controversy due to its usage of the late former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s image on their drink packets.

However, Alvin Tan, the Minister of State for Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY) defended the usage, deeming Yeo’s use of Lee’s likeness as ‘respectful.’

The Backstory: Yeo’s and the Lee Kuan Yew Drink Packets

This year marked Lee’s 100th birth anniversary, and among the commemoration efforts was the introduction of legal tender $10 coins minted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) that bore his likeness.

Amidst these celebrations, Yeo’s, a popular local F&B brand, made headlines by unveiling a drink packet adorned with Mr. Lee’s face.

Departing from their usual brand colors, they adopted a green theme and featured the words “Garden City, Vision to Reality” on the packaging.

However, this move was met with a significant backlash, with netizens decrying it as an attempt to exploit Mr. Lee’s image for commercial gain.

Yeo’s response to backlash

Thanks for your interest in Yeo’s. Just to clarify, this is not a commercial initiative as the special chrysanthemum brew was given away for free to celebrate Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s visionary role in transforming Singapore into a city in a garden that fuses nature with the urban landscape.

Many young Singaporeans may not be aware of this and we wanted this to be an educational campaign on the occasion of the 100th year of his birth.

We had deliberately chosen not to use our normal brand colours etc as we wanted to drive home the green message rather than sell products.

MCCY’s Ruling: ‘Respectful’

The controversy didn’t stop at public opinion; it even caught the attention of parliament and was brought up in the Parliament session on October 3rd.

Sembawang MP Poh Li San questioned whether the use of Mr. Lee’s likeness on the drinks had breached any guidelines on the use of his image.

In response, Minister Alvin Tan confirmed that Yeo’s had consulted MCCY regarding the usage of Mr. Lee’s image on their drink and the MCCY deemed the use of Lee’s image as being “respectful” as it was to honour his contribution to Singapore’s evolution into a Garden City.

He also added that Yeo’s was not selling the packet drinks commercially and were distributing them free of charge.

One concern raised during the parliamentary session was the potential for disrespect when disposing of the drink packets featuring Mr. Lee’s image. Ms. Poh highlighted the possibility of these packets ending up in rubbish bins or discarded as litter, which Tan then responded by advising people to throw away the drinks packets respectfully and responsibly.

A 30-year-old woman from Malaysia was in Singapore on her 1st day of work here when she suffered a brain aneurysm and collapsed.

A Sudden Turn of Events

Celestine’s story began with hope and excitement. She had recently received a job offer in Singapore, a golden opportunity for her career. She was due to start her first day of work as a salesperson at a gold store on 16 August morning. However, what was meant to be a day filled with anticipation turned into a nightmare.

Nobody noticed anything amiss until her employer and sisters failed to contact her. It was then that her sister, Yvonne, made a shocking discovery. She found Celestine unconscious in her rented Sembawang flat, with signs of distress all around. By that time, Celestine had been unconscious for approximately half a day.

At Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, doctors were quick to identify the gravity of Celestine’s condition. She had suffered a life-threatening rupture on the left side of her brain. The situation was dire, and immediate action was necessary to save her life.

Doctors performed an emergency surgery, a delicate and intricate procedure. Following the surgery, Celestine’s road to recovery was anything but easy. She spent nearly two weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU), battling to regain control of her life.

In the ICU, Celestine was faced with the harsh reality of her situation. She couldn’t communicate and had to rely on ventilators to breathe. Her right eye remained closed, refusing to obey her commands.

Mounting hospital bills

As the days passed, her condition gradually improved, and she was transferred to a general ward. However, her medical bills continued to mount, casting a dark shadow over her recovery.

In these trying times, Yvonne took to Give.Asia to appeal for support. The goal was ambitious but necessary—raising over S$100,000 in funds to cover her sister’s staggering medical bills. The generosity of friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers would make all the difference in Celestine’s battle for recovery.

Appeal for donations on Give.Asia

Dear compassionate individuals,

I stand before you today with a plea that comes from the depths of my heart. My sister, Celestine, 30 years old, is battling a devastating illness that has left our family in despair. We are from a happy Malaysian family. My sister was happy to receive a job offer in Singapore. Yet, tragedy struck. She was found unconscious in her room in Sembawang before going to her first day of work.

It was soon discovered that her condition was life-threatening. She has a rupture of aneurysm of the left side of her brain. Urgent surgery was performed, but her journey to recovery has been tough.

For weeks, she has been confined to the ICU, unable to fully communicate or even breathe without the aid of ventilators. At first, she couldn’t even open her right eye. Right now, one side of her body is not movable and is still relying on tracheostomy to breathe. It will be a long way for her rehabilitation and recovery.

Since she didn’t go to work on the first day, the employer cancelled her IPA letter and insurance.
This results in her being treated as a foreign visitor in Singapore and leads to rapid accumulation of medical expenses, placing an overwhelming burden on our family. We have reached a breaking point as we struggle to cope with these mounting costs.

In this time of desperation, I humbly reach out to you for assistance. Your support, no matter how small, can make a tremendous difference in my sister’s fight for recovery. It’s heartbreaking to see her so sick and all the family members cannot afford the hospital bill anymore.

We will need SGD $107,149 to cover her medical bills in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. By contributing to her medical care, you will provide our family with a glimmer of hope and a chance to reclaim our beloved girl back.

Please, open your hearts and stand with us in this difficult time. Your kindness and generosity will be appreciated. Thank you.

Regards,
Yvonne

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, 25-year-old Mr. Fauzan Mazri’s dreams of a December engagement were tragically shattered when he received the devastating news of his girlfriend’s, 23-year-old Ms. Nur Afiah Hisham, untimely demise, according to The Straits Times.

A Love Blossoming at Al-Muttaqin Mosque

Fauzan met his girlfriend when their paths crossed as youth volunteers at the Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Ang Mo Kio. They shared a common bond in their dedication to community service and their faith.

The Al-Muttaqin Mosque served as the backdrop for their blossoming love story. As volunteers, they spent countless hours together, working on various community projects, and deepening their connection.

The couple had plans to take their relationship to the next level with an engagement ceremony scheduled for December. They both cherished the idea of a small and intimate celebration, where their families could share in their joy.

Just days before the tragic accident, Mr. Fauzan and Ms. Afiah had a heartfelt discussion about their impending engagement.

It was a conversation filled with hope and dreams, as they contemplated a future together. Little did they know that it would be their last moment of shared anticipation.

A Promising Life Cut Short

Tragedy struck on a fateful Sunday morning, October 1st, in Jurong East Central. Ms. Afiah’s life was tragically cut short in a devastating accident. She had just met Mr. Fauzan the night before, blissfully unaware of the impending tragedy.

Ms. Afiah, the second of six children and the only daughter in her family, had her own dreams and ambitions. In 2020, she obtained her motorcycle license, signifying her determination and independence. On that fateful morning, she was on her way to work at Marina Bay Sands.

News of Ms. Afiah’s tragic accident began circulating online after a post on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page. Her story touched the hearts of many, and social media became a platform for friends and well-wishers to express their condolences and share their cherished memories of her.

Recap

On Sunday morning, tragedy struck in Jurong, Singapore when a young, 23-year-old female motorcyclist lost her life in a devastating traffic accident that occurred at approximately 10:05 am along Jurong Gateway Road.

Shortly after the incident, images of the accident’s aftermath surfaced on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook group.

The grim post was captioned, “Fatal accident in front of Block 131, Rider passed on.” The pictures depicted a motorcycle lying on its side near a bus stop, with a helmet and fragments of the bike scattered around. The gravity of the situation was evident.

First Responders on the Scene

The Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed the accident and also verified the tragic loss of life, with an SCDF paramedic pronouncing the victim dead at the scene.

Upon receiving the distress call, both the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) swiftly arrived at the accident scene.

To maintain order and investigate the incident thoroughly, they cordoned off the area, diverting traffic to ensure everyone’s safety.

The Tragic Accident

According to reports by Lianhe Zaobao, the initial assessment by the police suggested that the motorcyclist had lost control of her bike, resulting in a tragic skid that led to a collision with another vehicle. The impact of the accident was catastrophic, claiming the young woman’s life instantly as she was reportedly killed on the spot.

In the wake of this tragedy, investigations are currently underway to determine the precise sequence of events that unfolded on that Sunday morning.

TikTok user Heather Chan shared in a video about why she moved to Singapore from San Francisco, shedding light on the burgeoning crime rate in The Golden City which led to her moving to the Lion City for safety.

Chan originally hailed from Cupertino, California, before moving to San Francisco back in 2013 to pursue a career in architecture.

The Decline of San Francisco

It all began in 2014 when Proposition 47 was passed in San Francisco. This new law reclassified all property crimes, including robbery, as misdemeanors if the value of stolen items amounted to less than US$950 (S$1305.95).

The intent was to reduce the prison population, but the unintended consequence was a surge in theft, as perpetrators no longer faced felony charges.

Heather Chan, who lived in San Francisco during this period, recalls a growing sense of lawlessness in the city.

In her first year of owning a car back in 2021, Heather experienced three burglaries where the thieves smashed her car. This rise in property crimes left residents like her feeling vulnerable and frustrated.

Safety and Security in Singapore: A Breath of Fresh Air

In contrast to her experiences in San Francisco, Heather, who has been living in Singapore for the past six months, shares that safety is almost guaranteed here.

She explains that she deosn’t have to worry about her belongings and there is safety and security everywhere. To highlight the difference, she shared that back in San Francisco, when she got assaulted in broad daylight while returning home from a dental appointment, nobody came forward to help her.

In Singapore, the situation is remarkably different. Heather states that she can wear her earphones and even go for a run in the middle of the night and nothing bad will happen to her.

A Drastic Change of Lifestyle: From Fear to Freedom

One particularly harrowing incident stands out in Heather’s memory. She revealed that one week prior to her departure to Singapore, she was walking her dog along Rincon Hill in San Francisco, which is touted as one of the safest neighbourhoods in the city; when she saw a man running about 3 metres away from her with a gun in his hand.

She said that at that moment she saw her whole life flash before her eyes.

Whereas in Singapore, life is markedly different. Heather and her husband enjoy leisurely walks while playing Pokemon Go, with their only concerns being cars and motorized scooters.

The disparity in safety is further evident in the precautions taken by residents. In San Francisco, Heather mentions that her husband had to walk behind her, keeping a lookout for suspicious characters when she walked her dog.

Women in the city are encouraged to carry tasers or pepper spray for protection. However, for Heather, these measures seemed futile as she often froze up in stressful situations.

@unicornheatt Why I left San Francisco…and moved to Singapore Still love san francisco and left my heart there 🤍but i think san francisco in 2023 is just too dangerous and not worth the risk. #leavingsanfrancisco #sgexpat #movedabroad #sanfranciscocrime #leavingcalifornia ♬ original sound – unicornheatt

@unicornheatt Replying to @i_dunno_how_to_tiktok pt 2 for why I left San Francisco and picked Singapore! #sgtiktok #sgfyp #leavingusa ♬ original sound – unicornheatt

62-year-old Tan Phuay Khoo, a former SBS Transit driver, was sentenced to seven months in jail following an accident in 2021 when a bus he was driving struck a pedestrian, resulting in the amputation of part of her left leg.

In light of the evidence presented during the trial, Tan Phuay Khoo was sentenced on 3 October to seven months’ imprisonment, according to The Straits Times.

Additionally, he was disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licenses for five years from his date of release. Despite the verdict, Tan intends to appeal against his conviction and sentence and was offered bail of $15,000.

The Incident

On January 19, 2021, Tan Phuay Khoo was operating a bus in the afternoon noon when he approached the junction of Pasir Ris Drive 1 and Pasir Ris Drive 2.

Meanwhile, a woman pedestrian was crossing Pasir Ris Drive 1, with the traffic light in her favor. Despite waiting for a van to pass, Tan proceeded to make a discretionary right turn, which led to a collision with the woman.

The consequences of this collision were severe. The victim sustained injuries that included the skin on her left leg being ripped off.

As a result of these injuries, the woman had to undergo the amputation of part of her left leg.

Legal Proceedings

During the trial, Tan Phuay Khoo was convicted of causing grievous hurt to the woman by driving in an inconsiderate manner.

The prosecution argued that he should have been more cautious, especially considering that the pedestrian had the right of way.

Deputy Public Prosecutor R. Arvindren emphasized that the victim was walking at a normal pace, and the turn occurred within a residential zone.

It was pointed out that Tan, operating a heavy vehicle, proceeded with the turn despite the pedestrian green light being in her favor.

Tan’s defense maintained that he did not notice the pedestrian before the collision. However, the prosecution contended that he should have stopped and checked if obstructions hindered his visibility.

Doctor’s testimony

The trial started on 4 April with the doctor who was in charge of the victim’s rehabilitation being called to the stand by the prosecution.

The doctor, who works at Changi General Hospital as a senior consultant, testified in court that the woman was seriously injured in the accident and suffered lacerations to her forehead and left foot and fractures to her spine and legs.

They tried to save her right thigh by amputating her leg below her left knee but later discovered that there was insufficient blood supply to the left thigh, and subsequently removed her left thigh in a second surgery.

The victim currently requires a prosthetic leg and is also suffering from mental trauma aside from her permanent disability.

Victim’s testimony in court

Bai testified that on the day of the horror accident, she was on her way to the supermarket to buy some groceries.

She said that she had started crossing the road at the time when the green man on the traffic light was flashing before she heard a bang. She said that the next moment, she found herself on a hospital bed.

On her serious leg injuries, she said that her left was amputated from her thigh down after the accident, and her right leg was also fractured and had to be surgically reconstructed.

As such, she is no longer able to walk up or down stairs; or run, jump and squat without assistance.

She also said that she is not willing to go out anymore because she felt that she had become a different person now.

The victim also broke down while testifying in court, revealing that she has a 10-year-old daughter and sharing that she is worried about going out with her daughter after the accident.

She said that she is afraid of the weird looks that she gets from the public and fears it would be too much for her daughter, adding that she is worried about her daughter’s future.

The victim’s mother who was sitting in the public gallery of the courtroom, also broke down after seeing her daughter crying on the stand.