A bar manager in Thailand was filmed shaving a female customer's head after she allegedly failed to pay a bill amounting to 60,000 baht (about S$2,306).

What happened

According to local media outlet Bangkok Post, the case was brought to light by Chalida Phalamat of the Pen Nueng Foundation.

In footage uploaded by Chalida on Aug. 27, the bar manager can be seen shaving the woman's head before taking her to a police station, where he accused her of running up a bill without paying.

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The bar alleged that the woman had used a fake identity card to enter the venue on Aug. 25 and did not have the money to settle her bill.

She was also accused of having previously avoided paying bills at other establishments.

The manager reportedly subsequently made the woman sign an agreement to sell her hair, which was to be cut from root to tip, for 3,000 baht (about S$115).

"Excessive and unlawful"

Chalida acknowledged that the bar had suffered financial losses and said she understood that the manager had a responsibility towards his employees, Bangkok Post reported.

However, she described shaving the woman's head as excessive and unlawful.

She further questioned why the bar had taken matters into its own hands instead of filing a police report.

Chalida also questioned whether the woman's agreement to have her hair cut could be considered genuine consent given the circumstances.

She further cast doubt on the bar's explanation that the woman's hair had been shaved for donation, noting that it had already been cut short before the shaving took place.

According to Chalida, the bar manager told her he will contact the woman's family to apologise and provide compensation.

She also urged Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to check on the woman's welfare, saying there were questions over whether she was under 20 and whether she was a minor.

Chalida also said it was unclear whether the woman had any underlying mental health conditions.

The woman's mother has since disputed the bar's account of the incident.

She claimed she had offered to pay the bill in instalments, but was rejected.

The mother also alleged that her daughter had suffered physical injuries, including bruising.

She said she planned to take her daughter to file a police report at Bang Yai Khan police station on Aug. 28.

One Singaporean woman missing in the Nepal floods had discussed plans to meet up with a Nepali friend just one day before the disaster struck.

She is remembered as being kind-hearted and for helping at a children's home in Nepal.

Nine Singaporeans remain missing after floodwaters abruptly rushed through valleys near the Nepal-Tibet border on Aug. 26, sweeping away villages.

Search and rescue efforts are now in their fifth day as a total of more than 2,400 continue to be missing, while at least 675 have died, the BBC reported.

Discussed plans to meet up with Nepali friend

The Singaporean woman, Estee Loeh, had spoken to a Nepali friend on the phone on Aug. 25, Shin Min Daily News reported.

This was one day prior to the disaster.

The Nepali friend, Dawa (transliteration), said, "She called and said that she was at the Nepal-China border. The last time we met was last year. We discussed plans to meet up. Who knew the floods would happen the next day."

Loeh told Dawa over the phone that she was not travelling with a tour agency and was travelling alone.

She also said that she had met her friends from China.

It is believed that Loeh had registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"She has been to Nepal a number of times and is considerably familiar with the area," Dawa told Shin Min.

After the flood, Dawa recalled that Loeh was travelling alone in the affected area.

He immediately alerted the local and Singaporean authorities.

"She still hasn't been found. Many local and Singaporean friends have been seeking information on her whereabouts. Everyone's worried and hope she will be found," Dawa said.

Made visits to Nepal to help local communities

Another of Loeh's friends, founder of travel agency Bhutan Advantage Travel Partnership, shared that he was extremely upset after learning that Loeh had gone missing.

The founder told Shin Min that he and Loeh had visited an orphanage together when Loeh travelled to Nepal and Bhutan in 2018.

He remembers Loeh as someone whose love knows no boundaries and as a kind-hearted individual.

Loeh not only worked with local social services, but she also helped provide essential services to underprivileged children.

According to Shin Min, the founder had also made a Facebook post thanking Loeh for her many visits to Kopila Children Home in Nepal, during which she helped with the distribution of food and drink and donated US$500 (S$637).

Eight other Singaporeans missing

Apart from Loeh, eight other Singaporeans are also missing after the flood, including 53-year-old Sumit Rawla and his 49-year-old wife Shubakshi Rawla.

They were travelling with a tour group operated by Himalayan Glacier when the floods struck.

Four other Singaporeans who travelled with Leaf Holiday also remain missing.

They were on a pilgrimage when the disaster struck.

Their photos, along with those of others who are missing, were publicly shared by the tour agency as it requested information on their whereabouts.

40-year-old Shalinny Deavy and 66-year-old S. Maniam are part of the four.

Some Singaporeans in Nepal to help with disaster relief

Following the floods, one 63-year-old Singaporean and his wife had travelled to Nepal to help out with the rescue and disaster relief efforts, Shin Min reported.

The 63-year-old, Qiu Jian Yi (transliteration), has been volunteering with Tzu Chi Singapore for close to 30 years.

He told Shin Min that he has volunteered in Nepal for about three to four years.

"As soon as I could get to Nepal, I headed over. Every second matters, I'll help where I can," Qiu told Shin Min.

At the moment, Qiu is in Chitwan,  about 100km to 200km from the disaster-stricken area.

He is travelling alongside three Nepali volunteers, one Singaporean and one Malaysian.

His wife is also helping with disaster relief efforts elsewhere in Nepal.

Two other Singaporeans are helping out with administrative matters, Shin Min reported.

According to Qiu, the weather in the disaster area is bad, and local authorities have warned of landslides.

As such, the volunteers are cautious about sending in large amounts of aid into the area.

Qiu told Shin Min that the biggest need at the moment is likely medical supplies and food.

"If the future belongs to all of us, then all of us should have a hand in shaping it," said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad on Aug. 30.

Zaqy was speaking at the launch of the M³+ Directory, a new initiative which brings together programmes, services, and opportunities available across the M³+ network in one place, making them easier for residents to discover and access.

A new Community WhatsApp channel will also be introduced to bring information and resources closer to the community.

M³+ is an expanded community collaboration framework in Singapore that brings together key Malay-Muslim institutions, government agencies, grassroots groups, and volunteers to support and uplift the Malay-Muslim community.

"Our challenge is not simply to create more programmes," said Zaqy. "It is to become better at bringing the right strengths together, at the right time, around the individual and the family."

Vision anchored in four values

In his speech, Zaqy also outlined his vision for a confident, resilient, and united Malay-Muslim community, anchored in four values:

1. Iman, or being grounded in faith and values;
2. Ilmu, or continually learning and progressing;
3. Ihsan, or caring for others and contributing to society; and
4. Identiti, or being confident in one's identity.

On Iman, Zaqy highlighted the development of Singapore's religious institutions over the years, as well as the upcoming Singapore College of Islamic Studies.

"It will be another important milestone in the progress of our Muslim community," he said. "A Singapore institution developing future generations of religious leaders who understand our faith, our society and the world we live in."

On Ilmu, Zaqy said the focus must be on preparing young people to seize new opportunities while helping workers adapt, learn new skills, and remain relevant throughout their careers, particularly amid rapid advances in technology and artificial intelligence.

He cited Langkah Digital, an initiative launched earlier to equip individuals with essential digital and AI skills.

M3+@Bedok and PPIS are building on these efforts through the "AI For You & Your Family" workshop, he added.

Zaqy said Ihsan serves as a reminder that a community’s progress should not be measured only by the achievements of those who rise to the top, but also by how many others are helped along the way.

Lastly, Identiti is about having the confidence to know who one is amid rapid changes in Singapore and the world, he said.

He pointed to investments in the revamp of the Malay Heritage Centre and cultural placemaking efforts in Kampong Gelam as examples of efforts to strengthen the community’s sense of identity.

"When we feel secure in who we are, we have the confidence to engage the world."

Taken together, Iman, Ilmu, Ihsan and Identiti reflect both the progress made by the community and the aspirations for its future, Zaqy said.

"They describe the progress our community has made and the community that we want to continue building together as one here in Singapore. A community that is grounded, capable, compassionate and confident. A community that does well, and a community that does good."

New initiatives introduced

However, Zaqy acknowledged that a vision would only matter if the community was prepared to turn it into action.

One way of doing so is through CiptaSama@M³+, a collaborative approach that brings together the community, government, Muslim organisations and other partners to co-create solutions.

This was first introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic under the Singapore Together Emerging Stronger Conversations.

Through the approach, it brought members of the Malay-Muslim community together to reflect on the pandemic, envision a post-pandemic Singapore and explore how collective action could help society emerge stronger.

Zaqy said he wanted to strengthen this approach and make it an increasingly important part of how the government, community organisations and residents work together.

The M³+ Directory, led by AMP Singapore and PPIS, is one such initiative.

With this, residents would be able to find programmes, services and opportunities available across the M³+ network more easily.

More initiatives will be announced in the coming months, he added, to provide further opportunities for members of the community to participate and contribute.

Zaqy also looked ahead to the next generation, saying that the world young Singaporeans enter may look very different from the one their parents know.

"Today, it is our turn. And one day, it will be our children’s turn. The world they step into will be different. Their journeys (may) take them further. Let them go far. Let them pursue their ambitions. Let them explore the world with confidence."

With the foundations of Iman, Ilmu, Ihsan and Identiti, he said, young people can move forward knowing where they come from, who they are, and that they have a community standing behind them.

Bloomberg has not filed to appeal the High Court's judgement that the news outlet and its journalist defamed Senior Minister K Shanmugam and Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng, SM Shanmugam said.

The deadline for appeal passed two days ago, he noted in a Facebook post on Aug. 29.

Decision not to appeal

After the verdict was delivered on Jul. 14, awarding both ministers S$230,000 in damages each, Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait said that they were "very disappointed" by the ruling but will "of course respect it".

They described the reporting behind the article in question, titled "Singapore Mansion Deals Are Increasingly Shrouded in Secrecy", was accurate and a "solid story".

They added that they would continue to stand by their journalists.

The article, which mentioned private properties purchased by Shanmugam and Tan, claimed there was a lack of public transparency regarding Good Class Bungalow (GCB) transactions.

SM Shanmugam pointed out that despite defending their reporting, Bloomberg decided not to appeal the judgement.

"Bloomberg’s decision not to appeal the High Court’s decision reveals its true assessment of the legal merits," he wrote in his Facebook post.

"It has chosen to leave the court’s findings of malice, falsehoods and wrongful conduct unchallenged, on the record."

He also highlighted that Bloomberg did not apply to dismiss the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) correction order it was issued in December 2024.

The order stated that the Bloomberg article communicated false statements of fact about GCB transactions.

"Bloomberg did not apply to set aside the order, as it had the right to do," SM Shanmugam said. "Again, this shows that Bloomberg knew that the article was full of falsehoods."

Speaking more broadly, he went on to say that some media organisations "adopt a superior attitude, believing themselves entitled to maliciously malign public leaders in non-Western societies and purvey falsehoods with impunity".

"They use their money and size to get away with this. They can’t do that in Singapore."

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has said its enforcement officers could have exercised greater sensitivity, after a video of an elderly woman cyclist kneeling before two of its officers on an overhead bridge circulated online.

Woman kneeling before two LTA officers

The incident took place on Aug. 27 on an overhead bridge near Block 95 Aljunied Crescent, the Straits Times reported.

The clip, posted on Reddit, shows a woman in a yellow shirt kneeling before two men who have since been identified as LTA enforcement officers. She can also be seen gesturing towards a bicycle parked nearby.

Cycling across overhead bridges without dismounting is an offence, as such bridges are primarily meant for pedestrians and have limited space.

In February, LTA posted on Facebook that they detected 391 offences and 57 non-compliant devices at active mobility hotspots, including Pedestrian Overhead Bridges.

Officers involved could have managed situation more sensitively, LTA says

"Our officers carried out their enforcement duties, in line with the rules in place to keep pedestrians safe," the spokesperson told ST.

The LTA spokesperson said the authority empathises with the distress experienced by the elderly cyclist.

The spokesperson acknowledged that enforcement encounters can sometimes be "difficult", particularly when members of the public are distressed, and that the officers involved could have managed the situation more sensitively.

According to the spokesperson, the officers involved have since reflected on the incident and recognise that they could have handled it with greater empathy.

"Enforcement is a difficult job, and our officers have to manage a range of situations while balancing the need to be firm in upholding safety rules with empathy in their interactions with the public," the spokesperson said.

LTA added that it will continue to strengthen its officers' training so that they are better equipped to manage such situations sensitively, while ensuring safety rules are applied fairly and consistently to all users of its public paths.

Mixed reactions

The video of the cyclist and enforcement officers garnered mixed reactions online.

Most Redditors agreed that "the law is the law", and one user, who claimed to live near the bridge, said cyclists crossing it instead of dismounting was a "constant sight".

A few expressed sympathy, calling for more compassion for others. Others empathised with the enforcement officers, saying that they would be at a loss for what to do.

With effect from Jul. 1, 2025, first-time offenders convicted of riding bicycles as well as motorised and non-motorised PMDs on a pedestrian-only path can be fined up to S$2,000 or jailed up to three months, or both.

Top image via Reddit

The wife of a British man who died after severe turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight in May 2024 is seeking damages to help her access specialist support for a spinal injury she suffered in the incident.

Linda Kitchen, 74, has initiated proceedings at Britain's High Court, according to the BBC. Her late husband Geoffrey Kitchen reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack when flight SQ321 from London to Singapore suddenly plunged while flying over Myanmar on May 21, 2024.

Severe turbulence on SQ321 flight

Flight SQ321 experienced drastic changes in altitude within 4.6 seconds while flying over Myanmar.

Kitchen said there had been some turbulence earlier over Europe, but the aircraft was around 10 hours into the flight when it hit the main patch of severe turbulence.

"It was so severe; it felt like the aircraft was dropping," she told the BBC.

As the plane dropped, her husband fell on top of her, crushing her into the armrest of her seat. Other passengers helped move him, and a doctor on board began CPR.

The flight, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was diverted to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok for an emergency landing.

Kitchen was taken to hospital, while her husband remained on the plane. She was told two days later that he had died, she told The Independent.

"When I got separated from Geoff, I knew he was in a bad way, but nothing prepared me for hearing he had died. It was absolutely devastating," she said.

Kitchen spent 10 days in hospital before being airlifted back to Bristol, and needed significant assistance at home after being discharged from a further week in a UK hospital, according to the BBC.

She and her husband, married for 52 years, had been starting a six-week holiday to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia when the incident occurred.

Two separate claims filed

Anthe Korelidou, Kitchen's lawyer specialising in aviation cases, said that Kitchen's late husband being fatally injured and her suffering severe injuries "vividly highlights the severity of what happened".

Korelidou added that more than two years on, Kitchen and her family still have questions about what happened and whether more could have been done to prevent their injuries, and that she wants the most thorough investigations conducted.

"The issuing of High Court proceedings is a major milestone in being able to provide Geoff's loved ones with the answers they deserve," Korelidou said.

According to the Independent, court papers reflect two separate claims from the Kitchen family, one filed on behalf of Linda Kitchen and another in her name on behalf of Geoffrey Kitchen's estate.

British court records also reportedly show that six other individuals have separately launched legal action against SIA.

Offered compensation to passengers in 2024

Responding to queries from the Straits Times on Aug. 29, SIA said it was unable to comment on matters before the courts.

SIA had offered compensation to passengers on the flight in 2024, including US$10,000 (S$13,500) for those with minor injuries, and an advance payment of US$25,000 (S$31,800) for those with serious injuries requiring long-term medical care who requested financial help.

The airline also said it would fully refund the airfare of all passengers on the flight, and apologised for the incident.

"Singapore Airlines deeply apologises to all passengers for the traumatic experience on board flight SQ321 on 20 May 2024. We are committed to providing our full support and assistance during this time," the airline wrote in its Facebook post on Jun. 11, 2024.

What were the investigation findings?

TSIB's investigation report, published in May 2026, had also found that the actions taken by the flight crew in response to the sudden turbulence were "understandable and appropriate" for the situation.

It also found that it cannot rule out the possibility that a malfunction of the onboard weather radar prevented the crew from detecting the presence of storm clouds along the plane's flight path.

A zi char shop in Kovan initially thought it had received a fake S$10 note after noticing that the portrait of Singapore's first president, Yusof Ishak, looked different from usual.

It turned out the note was genuine, but had been defaced.

The portrait's moustache had been scratched off and its eyelids marked, giving the late president a somewhat startled look.

Initially thought the S$10 note was fake

Speaking to Mothership, one of the cooks at 21 Seafood, Zhang Xiao Hai, said that the shop was too busy at the time so they couldn't remember who gave them this note.

The incident took place around lunchtime on Aug. 2.

Zhang added that the note felt no different from a regular one in texture.

They noticed the note looked different on the same day when they were looking for change for another customer.

They kept it and later went to check with the banks, who confirmed the note to be real but was deliberately tampered with.

The bank tellers told the owner of the shop that the note had been damaged on the surface by a sharp object, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

The owner said he plans to keep the note as a memento. He believes this is an act of mischief.

The owner told Mothership that OCBC offered to exchange the note with him but he declined.

An employee at the stall later posted about the incident on Xiaohongshu, which drew much discussion online. Many users expressed surprise that such an unusual-looking note was genuine, with some commenting that they would be willing to pay a premium to buy it.

Defacing notes is an offence

Deliberately damaging or defacing a currency note is an offence in Singapore, and if found guilty, could result in a conviction to a fine not exceeding S$2,000.

According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) website, damaged notes lose their face value, and businesses are entitled to refuse them.

Top image courtesy of Zhang Xiao Hai

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will be strengthening mosque safety by introducing a common framework of safeguarding practices across mosques.

For example, staff will enhance monitoring of informal gatherings involving minors, and intervene where there are concerns of unauthorised teaching or inappropriate boundary crossings.

These and more new initiatives come in light of the case where a 37-year-old "religious influencer" sexually abused two young boys at mosque premises between 2022 and 2023.

Though the man had conducted religious classes at a mosque, Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad previously said he was not an accredited religious teacher under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS), nor was he conducting a formal religious class organised or approved by the mosque.

Mosques 'must remain open and welcoming'

Zaqy further addressed the case in his speech at an aLIVE (Learning Islamic Values Everyday) Service Learning event on Aug. 29. aLIVE is a programme that provides students with opportunities to practise Islamic values by serving the community while developing qualities such as empathy and leadership.

Zaqy noted that the case has understandably caused concern, especially among parents.

When the sexual abuse case made headlines, MUIS announced measures to strengthen security, including patrols and CCTV monitoring.

At the time, Zaqy said he called for MUIS to go further, especially when it comes to informal activities and gatherings involving children and youths.

Speaking on Aug. 29, he reiterated this need to build on existing safety measures, but added that measures and processes alone are not enough.

Zaqy committed that MUIS will work closely with families, asatizah, and young people to help the youths understand appropriate boundaries, recognise when something may not be right, and know where to seek help.

"Our mosques must remain open and welcoming places, and all of us have a part to play in keeping them safe."

Common safeguarding framework across mosques

MUIS will be rolling out the common safeguarding framework across mosques progressively.

It aims to set out safeguarding principles, the responsibilities of mosque personnel, and clear reporting and escalation protocols when concerns arise.

The initiatives include safeguarding awareness training for mosque staff and volunteers so that they can better recognise signs of abuse or neglect, respond appropriately to disclosures, maintain professional boundaries, and understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

There will also be clearer reporting and escalation protocols to standardise the documentation, reporting, and timely escalation of safeguarding concerns.

As for the tighter monitoring of informal gatherings involving minors, staff will be tasked to identify recurring mentoring or teaching activities.

Where necessary, they need to conduct appropriate checks and intervene to protect the youths.

Additionally, periodic audits and spot checks will be conducted with district offices to review physical safety measures such as visibility, lighting, CCTV coverage, and signage.

Safeguarding education

Another new initiatives is to strengthen education for children and youth to protect themselves against unsafe or inappropriate behaviours.

MUIS has already introduced Protective Behaviour learning inserts for aLIVE students to help them recognise such behaviours, and know how to respond and report concerns to a trusted adult.

Age-appropriate infographics will also be shared with the students to reinforce these messages.

MUIS will engage parents and mosque teachers as well to support youths.

They will provide parents with resources to recognise warning signs, speak openly with their children about personal safety, navigate online risks, and know where to report concerns or seek support.

Teachers will be similarly trained to recognise safeguarding concerns, respond appropriately to disclosures or incidents, and follow the relevant reporting and escalation procedures.

Outside of mosque environments, other Islamic Education Centres and Providers will also be encouraged to adopt these resources and practices within their programmes.

A 59-year-old Singaporean man and a 52-year-old woman, a Chinese national, were arrested following early morning raids by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Aug. 27.

The duo are suspected of making false declarations in applications for immigration facilities and committing marriage of convenience offences.

ICA officers went to a rental apartment in Chinatown to look for the woman, and to a public flat in Fernvale in Sengkang to look for the man.

The enforcement operations were conducted simultaneously.

What ICA was looking for

ICA said it began investigating the case following internal screenings.

Preliminary investigations found that the pair had solemnised their marriage in January 2025 but were not living together.

The man had allegedly sponsored the woman's applications for a long-term visit pass, in which she declared she was staying at his residence.

Both work as janitors, but for separate companies.

Before the raid, ICA officers conducted a pre-operation briefing at about 4:10am covering the case background, the identities of the two and the two locations involved.

ICA officers then moved off to both locations at about 4:35am.

Chinatown

Officers began observing the woman's rental apartment at 4:45am.

They entered the residence at about 6:54am and questioned the woman on her marriage and living arrangements.

The ICA officers asked how long she had been staying at the residence, who else lived there, and when she got married.

Officers also questioned the other tenants living in the apartment.

Eight other occupants of the apartment had their details taken down, as they may be called on to assist with investigations later.

Officers also searched her personal belongings, and she was seen producing documents from her luggage and her closet.

Inside the unit, a makeshift bamboo pole had been strung across the middle of the living area to hang clothes.

The room where she was staying contained several beds, with towels hung between them for some semblance of privacy.

A smell of urine emanated from one of the rooms.

The woman was arrested at about 7:35am for suspected false declarations made in applications for immigration facilities.

Fernvale

Officers began observing the man's flat at 4:50am.

They entered the residence at about 5:20am and interviewed the man about his marriage and living arrangements.

He was asked about the whereabouts of his spouse, how the two had met, and whether she lived with him.

His nephew, mother and domestic helper, who were also present, were interviewed as well.

He was arrested at about 7am.

Both were taken back to the ICA for further investigation.

Post raid

After their arrests, both individuals were questioned.

11 arrested in 2 weeks

Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Tan Hwee Wang Mitchell, officer-in-charge of ICA's Intelligence Division, said 11 people had been arrested over the past two weeks for suspected false declarations in applications for immigration facilities, and would be investigated for possible MOC offences.

He said: "ICA will continue to conduct rigorous and regular inland enforcement operations to keep Singapore safe and secure. We also urge the public to report suspected cases of MOC and other immigration-related offences to ICA."

What happens next

Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Justino Guo, deputy officer-in-charge of ICA's Enforcement Division, said investigators work to establish the facts once a case is referred.

He said: "This can include interviewing suspects and witnesses, as well as gathering and examining evidence including physical documents and digital records, such as phone calls, emails, or CCTV footage."

He said cases are then submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) for prosecutorial assessment.

The courts then decide on sentencing if someone is prosecuted and convicted.

He added: "For foreigners convicted of immigration-related offences, ICA may take further action such as deportation and being barred from re-entering Singapore, where appropriate."

The penalties

The marriage of convenience (MOC) offence carries a fine of up to S$10,000, up to 10 years' jail, or both.

Making false statements to obtain immigration facilities carries a fine of up to S$8,000, up to 12 months' jail, or both.

MOC arrests fell sharply last year

According to ICA's annual statistics, 15 people were arrested for MOC-related offences in 2025, down 63.4 per cent from 41 in 2024.

If you live in Punggol, you may have seen Firdaus Daud around.

In fact, he is often spotted alongside Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Moving forward, Kembangan residents may meet him more often instead.

Help serve Kembangan ward with the rest of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights MPs

Firdaus has since been deployed to help serve the residents in Kembangan, the former ward of former Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

He will serve as the second grassroots adviser in the ward from Sep. 1, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng said in a Facebook post on Aug. 29.

He will be second grassroots adviser in both Punggol and Kembangan at the start but will relinquish his duties in Punggol to focus on Kembangan.

Seah, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, told The Straits Times that Firdaus will also play a key role in matters concerning the Malay/Muslim community in Kembangan.

Seah believes that this addition will "certainly strengthen the team" in serving residents in Kembangan together.

He also assured that he and the other MPs -- Tin Pei Ling, Goh Pei Ming and Diana Pang -- will continue to serve the Kembangan ward.

This announcement comes about a month after Faishal resigned from politics.

Who is Firdaus Daud?

Here are some key details about Firdaus:

• 42-year-old father of two
• Has been a member of the PAP since 2016
• Served in PAP's Chong Pang branch before becoming the vice-chair at PAP's Punggol branch
• Was a GE2025 reserve candidate for PAP
• Became the second adviser in Punggol GRC after GE2025
• A technology lawyer, with over 15 years of legal experience across Asia
• Serves as a fractional general counsel to small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and growth-stage companies under ARLC Legal
• Sits on the board of Pro Bono SG, the charity arm of the Law Society of Singapore, since January 2026
• Serves on the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA), and has worked with many youth at risk previously as a volunteer
• One of the four PAP activists who gave speeches at the 2025 PAP party convention on how the party can respond to global uncertainties and ensure Singaporeans do not get left behind

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