SMRT said in an announcement on nFacebook that they will be extending the operating hours of their MRT and bus services on the eve of Hari Raya Haji (9 July).

They posted a photo of their extending MRT timings for the North-South Line, the East-West Line, the Circle Line and the Thomson-East Coast Line.

Their bus services will also be extended for buses departing from Bukit Panjang Interchange, Choa Chu Kang Interchange and Woodlands Interchange.

SBS Transit also announced their extended timings as well.

SBS Transit’s statement

SBS Transit will be extending the operational hours of its train and selected bus services on the eve of Hari Raya Haji, 9 July 2022.

Train services on the North East and Downtown Lines as well as the Sengkang-Punggol LRT systems will be extended by about 30 minutes. 

In addition, 22 bus services – 60A, 63M, 114A, 181, 222, 225G, 228, 229, 232, 238, 240, 241, 243G, 291, 292, 293, 315, 325, 410W, 804, 812 and 974A – will also run later at their respective bus interchanges and bus stops. 

Please refer to the posters for details.

Tower Transit Singapore also issued a statement about their extension of bus service operating hours.

Tower Transit’s statement

Attention all passengers!⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
Please take note that the following bus services will extend their operating hours for the Eve of Hari Raya Haji on 9 July.⁣
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Please refer to the image for more information, thank you.

The Hungry Ghost Month this year is set to take place from 29 July to 26 August, however, it appears that even the hungry ghosts are not immune to the costs of inflation.

According to Shin Min Daily News, they reported that the costs of joss papers will be increased by 10 to 20% in Singapore.

Religious goods shop Ban Kah Hiang Trading, spoke to the Chinese paper and said that shipping costs have increased two-fold, and the additional prices will be passed on to customers.

Also, due to the recent increase in oil prices as a result of overseas conflicts, candle and lamp oil prices have also increased by about 15% to 20%.

However, demand for joss paper is expected to be strong, due to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, with customers saying that they want to make up for the lack of proper worship over the last 2 years due to the pandemic.

Another shop selling joss paper estimated that the increase in demand will be about 30 to 40%.

Minister of Home Affairs K Shanmugam shed light on the planning and design of prisons in Singapore following the release of CNA’s documentary on Changi Prison earlier this year.

He said on 7 July that the prison environment and regime are carefully planned and designed to reduce hygiene and safety concerns and issues as much as possible, according to CNA.

Shanmugam was speaking in parliament on 4 July, addressing concerns about the lack of fans and mattresses for inmates inside their prison cells.

Potential weapons

He said that due to hygiene issues, it is not ideal to have mattresses inside the cell. As for the lack of fans, if the fans were installed inside the cells, they could be taken apart by the prisoners, with the parts potentially capable of being used as weapons or “potential anchor points” for harming themselves.

As such, a combination of natural and mechanical ventilation is implemented in the cells, with the straw mats that are provided to the inmates, helping to minimise security threats, as the prisoners will not be able to hide contraband items.

Officers run the prisons, not gangs

As for the inmates who require extra care, Shanmugam highlighted that they will be provided with beds at medical wards and correctional united that are catered for assisted living.

Comparing the Singapore prison system to other countries, Shanmugam said that in Singapore, “our prisons officers run out prisons, not gangs.”