Ng Lye Poh, the mother of the founders of Sheng Siong, passed away on Sep. 5 at the age of 91.

Lim Hock Leng, one of her sons and the managing director of Sheng Siong, was seen in a 7-minute TikTok on Sep. 8 showing the number of flower wreaths received in the funeral hall.

In the video, Lim expressed his gratitude for those who sent their condolences, saying, "My mother's karmic rewards are too great... she is Singapore's national treasure."

@paibupai47 属于她的花海#花海 ♬ 原声 - 木馨在新加坡

Shocked by sheer number of wreaths

In video, Lim was seen going through all the flower wreaths at the funeral hall.

He remarked: "Who else could have had such a great sea of flowers?"

He repeated himself several times through the course of the video.

He added that he was truly "shocked".

Ng was also referred to as the "Sheng Siong Ah Ma".

Her obituary indicated that she leaves behind nearly 100 family members, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Requested not to have wreaths sent to wake

Lim also thanked the staff for arranging the wreaths beautifully, and quipped that they would not be able to finish filming every wreath in the hall.

When asked how many wreaths there were in the hall, Lim said an assistant had informed him that they had received more than 960 of them.

He emphasised that they had already requested in the obituary for flower wreaths to not be sent to the wake, and estimated that if they had not done so, they could have ended up with more than 2,000 wreaths.

A large bouquet of white and pink flowers stood in front of Ng's casket, arranged in the shape of a heart.

According to Lim, they received wreaths from various well-wishers.

These included Members of Parliament (MPs), ministers, Mediacorp, various religious temples and organisations, and Qihua Primary School, the school that the Lim brothers attended.

The Lim brothers have shared how their mother was a huge influence on them and their business.

Veteran Hong Kong actor Simon Lui has died aged 62, Hong Kong media reported.

Lui was recognised for his roles in horror movies since the 1990s.

His wife, Chinese streaming host Ma Li, confirmed the news of his passing.

Media reports indicated he had passed away on Sep. 7, as a result of a cancer relapse following treatment.

He was in Guangzhou, China at the time.

Tributes and condolences have poured in.

He was known as the “King of Ghosts” through his work in the "Troublesome Night" ("陰陽路") series, a comedy horror anthology film series that spanned up to 20 low-budget movies released mainly between 1997 and 2003.

He starred in 13 of them.

He had also contributed as a screenwriter on select projects.

Lui kept a low profile in recent years and was based in Guangzhou.

He is survived by his wife, who is 21 years his junior, and son.

]]> 1171041 https://mothership.sg/2026/09/kinex-staycay-vouchers-shop/ 2026-09-11T18:00:49 https://mothership.sg/2026/09/kinex-staycay-vouchers-shop/

If you are looking to get more bang out of your buck while doing your weekend shopping and errands, here’s some good news.

From Sep. 7 to Nov. 8, 2026, when you hit the qualifying spend of S$60 in a single same-day receipt, you can get a S$10 Sheng Siong voucher, and even a chance to win a 3D2N staycation worth up to S$2,300.

How do I earn these rewards?

Before you begin your shopping, make sure you collect the following physical game card sporting the mall’s mascot, Kinny.

Game cards can be collected at the level two customer service counter at KINEX.

For each qualifying S$60 spend at any stores (except the supermarket), you'll get to redeem a S$10 Sheng Siong voucher and earn one stamp on a game card.

Collect four stamps, and you’ll stand a chance to win a 3D2N staycation at Dorsett Changi City Singapore hotel, worth up to S$2,300.

The S$10 Sheng Siong vouchers are limited to 1,500 redemptions and are on a first-come, first-served basis. They are limited to one redemption per shopper per day.

And while you shop your way towards a potential staycation, here are some more promotions to keep an eye out for to stretch your dollar even further.

Yugoslavia Bakery and Cafe

Looking for a unique snack to munch before or while waiting for your next activity at KINEX?

Yugoslavia Bakery and Cafe brings the authentic flavours of the Balkans right to the heart of Paya Lebar.

They are known for their unique handmade breads and traditional Balkan pies, including their signature Burek, Kifla and fragrant Pogacha.

They also offer a wholesome selection of sourdough breads, sugar-free homemade yogurt, and a variety of delicious vegan spreads.

Between Sep. 7 and Nov. 8, 2026, you’ll also get to enjoy a free Mini Assorted Yugoslavian Cookie when you purchase any coffee while dining in at the bakery, while stocks last.

Sing My Song Family Karaoke

Sing My Song Family Karaoke provides 25 rooms and a hall space for any occasion, from company team-bonding, family gatherings to a night out with friends.

The KINEX outlet is open until 2am from Sunday to Thursday and 3am on Friday, Saturday and public holiday eve, making it a great late-night hangout spot.

Plus, if you book a room for at least two hours anytime from Sep. 7 to Nov. 8, 2026, between Monday and Thursday (except public holidays and public holidays eve), you can enjoy 50 per cent off for extending the room by an hour.

BFT Paya Lebar

Tucked away in the basement of KINEX is BFT Paya Lebar, where you can go to clock your fitness goals.

At BFT Paya Lebar, you’ll find a welcoming community where you can clock your workout and work towards your fitness goals with structured training, such as conditioning classes, and dedicated coaches by your side.

Every class can be adapted to your fitness level — whether you are completely new to training or looking to challenge yourself further.

BFT Paya Lebar is currently running a promotion where four weeks of unlimited training is going for half the price at S$158 for new members, or S$39.50 per week, down from the original price of S$79 per week.

This training package includes an Evolt body composition scan and a Personal Goal Setting Session with a Coach.

Kskin

Take some time for self-care at Kskin, where its Korean skin technology will leave you feeling fresh.

For customers at Kskin’s KINEX outlet, they can enjoy an outlet-exclusive free relaxing eye treatment worth S$10 with every combo facial purchased.

The promotion is available on weekdays only, excluding public holidays.

Distinct Creative Arts

If you’ve been wanting to learn street dance, there’s no better time to start.

At Distinct Creative Arts, students can explore Hip Hop, K-Pop Dance and Open Classes that offer genres such as Popping and Litefeet.

The studio empowers dancers of all ages to build not just technical skills, but also confidence and individuality.

Sign up for a free trial and see where it takes you.

Tree Art

Find happiness through creative expression at Tree Art, which employs a tailored curriculum to teach art to children aged two to 18.

Sign up for any Tree Art course package and receive one customised Kikomanyi apparel item and a S$20 website voucher.

Free one-hour parking at KINEX

Spend S$30 in a single same-day receipt at participating stores and you’ll also be able to redeem a one-hour parking coupon, valid for weekdays and weekends.

This is limited to 600 redemptions and is similarly on a first-come, first-served basis.

With enrichment centres, fitness gyms and unique cafes housed under one roof, KINEX saves you the time and trouble of having to travel between multiple places just to check off your to-do list.

So if you’re curious about the time-limited promotions at KINEX, or potentially winning a 3D2N staycation at Dorsett Changi City Singapore, head down to KINEX anytime from now to Nov. 8.

To find out more about the ongoing promotions, you can visit the KINEX website for more details.

This branded article by Elegant Group made the writer crave burek.

U.S. chipmaker Micron will be paying its direct labour employees in Taiwan bonuses equivalent to 35 to 68 months for the fiscal year of 2026 after what it described to be an extraordinary year, Reuters reported.

The minimum cash compensation will be about NT$1.7 million (~S$68,000).

Employees that will receive the payout include operators, technicians, and shift engineers.

Entry-level engineers are slated to receive rewards averaging NT$3.4 million (~S$136,200), which includes an average of NT$2.9 million (~S$116,170) in cash compensation.

The remainder will be in equity at grant value.

The bonuses and rewards will benefit more than 60,000 employees globally.

The announcement comes after unions in Taiwan, representing about two-thirds of the local Micron workforce, signalled support among members for a strike.

According to Reuters, Micron employs about 15,000 people in Taiwan.

Thai police arrested a man who allegedly climbed into a pond and sexually abused koi fish in Bangkok.

Authorities tracked down the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Suchitchai, also known as Tong.

According to Khasod English, the incident occurred outside a home at Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 66 on Sep. 7 at around 8pm local time.

The owner of the pond identified himself as Bobby and was interviewed by Thai media.

Bobby claimed that the suspect had thrown a sex toy near the pond on the afternoon of Sep. 7.

Therefore, he adjusted his CCTV camera, making sure the pond was within range. Later that evening, the camera managed to catch the suspect in action.

Stripped naked, caught koi fish

According to Khaosod English, Suchitchai cycled to the scene and parked beside the fish pond.

He walked around the pond before he allegedly exposed his genitals and attempted to catch a fish.

At around 8:38pm, he purportedly stripped naked, climbed into the pond, and grabbed a fish.

Khaosod English reported that he used the fish to masturbate before returning it to the pond.

Bobby and his housekeeper noticed the suspect masturbating beside the pond through CCTV footage.

Suchitchai fled on his bicycle.

Bobby chased him but fell and was injured.

A police report was filed at a police station shortly after.

Sexually aroused after seeing koi swimming, did act twice

Police officers saw Suchitchai a few days later in the Siang Kong Lak Si area nearby. He attempted to flee but they gave chase, and eventually arrested him.

Suchitchai told the authorities that he had originally gone to the area with the purpose of bathing, but after seeing the koi in the pond, he became sexually aroused, Khaosod English reported.

He allegedly masturbated with the koi fish twice.

According to Suchitchai, he had committed similar acts with other fish, adding that he avoided sucker fish because of their spines; koi fish did not cause as much pain.

He also admitted to sexually abusing a female dog with puppies, years prior.

Thai police also said the suspect admitted to drug use; Suchitchai claimed he only used drugs he had found, as he did not have money to purchase them.

Owner found koi with bent bodies

Bobby said the suspect roamed the area frequently and was often seen walking past the house, occasionally pausing to bathe.

However, he started finding dead koi fish with their bodies bent unnaturally, which he initially attributed to the fish fighting among themselves or ramming into the pond.

Investigations are ongoing, and Thai authorities are reportedly weighing charges such as animal cruelty, property damage, committing an indecent act and nighttime trespassing.

Former employees of True Fitness and True Yoga expressed shock and disappointment at a staff meeting on Sep. 11 following the announcement that the company has ceased operations across their outlets.

Around 10pm on Sep. 10, staff received an email from the human resources (HR) department informing them that True Fitness and True Yoga had been placed into provisional liquidation and all outlets would be closed immediately.

They were asked to report to the company's headquarters at 8 Claymore Hill the next afternoon where the provisional liquidators would explain the next steps.

Mothership estimated around 100 people turned up at the meeting, including fitness instructors, sales, and other staff.

Some appeared resigned to the news. "When a company closes, there's nothing much we can do," one said.

However, many were still processing the sudden loss of their jobs.

"Everyone's shocked trying to absorb whatever happened," Arivinthan Rajanthran, a 33-year-old project executive, told Mothership.

He recalled that prior to the announcement, he might have heard about one or two outlets closing, but did not expect a company liquidation.

No promises for compensation

According to former employees at the meeting, the liquidators said they would try to recover as much funds as they can to pay the staff's salaries and refund members who bought packages.

Following the sudden closure, members of the fitness and yoga club reported losses of more than S$63,000 in unutilised memberships, packages, and services as of Sep. 11, according to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

As for the staff, Arivinthan said he believes he is owed salary for the 10 days he has worked so far in September, and possibly a salary in lieu of notice.

He has yet to receive any compensation or promise of one, he added. A few others shared the same.

Another former employee of True Yoga shared with Mothership the employment termination notice he received, dated Sep. 11.

It states that his employment was terminated with immediate effect.

It also advised him to submit any claims against the company, including arrears of salary, unutilised leave and notice pay online.

"On behalf of the company, we thank you for your service and wish you the best for your future endeavours," the letter read.

Disappointed

Adrian Pratab, 43, had a lot of questions he wanted to ask the HR department.

But no one from HR was apparently there, leaving him disappointed.

"There was no representative from our side of the company," he said. "It was just the side of the liquidation company."

Formerly the team leader at True Fitness' Millennia Walk outlet, he had been with the company since 2016.

"Unfortunately, the way they informed us is not very nice. Very last minute," he went on.

"We were a bit disappointed that actually they were about to close, but they didn't tell us upfront. I would have made plans earlier, and would have done things in a much better way."

He described the management's handling of the situation as "very unprofessional" and "very incompetent".

According to him, during a management meeting about a month ago, his manager asked the company directors whether there were any plans to close.

The directors allegedly replied no.

'Everything is going to be affected'

Pratab, who is Malaysian, said that his work pass in Singapore will be deactivated and made invalid soon.

Fortunately, his wife is a permanent resident (PR) here, so he believes he has the chance to get a long-term visit pass in the meantime to stay with his family.

Arivinthan was upset about the news as he believes that his life and lifestyle will have to change.

"Everything is going to be affected... So [I'm] just looking to see what's options out there to carry on working," he said.

Concerned for clients

Mani Jr., a 28-year-old former instructor at True Fitness' Funan outlet, expressed concern for "all other 200 trainers" who have been left jobless.

But to him, his greater concern was for his clients, the members at the club.

"When I woke up in the morning today, I woke up to about 50 texts [from] my clients," he shared. "They're asking, 'What happened? Are you okay?'"

He pointed out how the members trusted the trainers and the company to buy fitness sessions, and that some of them cost "really a lot".

The staff have been left to answer the clients' questions about refunds, but no one at the management has told them any information either, Mani said.

When he asked the liquidators about compensating the members, he understood from their response that the members will be "the last priority".

"There's not really a 100 per cent evidence that they might be getting it. It's more likely they would not get it," he added.

"I really feel sorry for my clients. I feel sorry for my colleagues that are jobless as well."

A lorry driver was sentenced to jail after a collision with a taxi that left the cabbie permanently disabled.

The taxi driver, Lim Boon Hu, 56, passed away two years later, though there was no indication that his death was caused by injuries related to the accident.

Irwan Bin Mohamed Ibrahim, 51, pleaded guilty on Sep. 8, 2026, to one charge of dangerous driving causing grievous hurt and one charge of violating the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act 1960.

Another charge for driving the lorry without the consent of the lorry’s owner was taken into consideration during sentencing.

He was sentenced to 23 months' jail and is also disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for eight years starting from the date of his release.

Ran red light

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Irwan was driving the lorry on Nicoll Avenue toward Esplanade Drive on May 2, 2023.

Even though the traffic light ahead had been red for about 50 seconds before he reached it, Irwan failed to conform to it and proceeded straight through the junction.

This resulted in a collision with the victim’s taxi.

Permanent disability to victim

The victim was conveyed from the accident site to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for treatment.

Based on the victim’s medical report dated Apr. 23, 2024, the victim was permanently disabled and incapacitated due to the multiple injuries sustained from the accident.

The injuries included bleeding in the brain and multiple fractures.

Court documents listed 11 different types of injuries in total.

The victim was given hospitalisation leave for 137 days from May 2 to Sep. 15, 2023.

He was later discharged to a long-term care facility.

A medical report dated Sep. 15, 2023, stated that the victim "never fully regained sufficient consciousness to meaningfully interact with his surrounding environment or people".

He was "fully bedbound and totally dependent on others" for completing his daily activities, court documents stated.

The taxi driver later died on Jun. 14, 2025, but there was no indication that his death was caused by accident-related injuries.

Ken Lim Chih Chiang, the former "Singapore Idol" judge who was found guilty of molesting a woman in 2021, appealed against his conviction and 13-month jail term in the High Court on Sep. 11, CNA reported.

The 62-year-old was sentenced to jail for molesting a 25-year-old woman at his Hype Records office.

The State Court district judge convicted Lim on one count of molest on Sep. 26, 2025.

He was sentenced on Nov. 18, 2025.

The judge found Lim "untruthful".

Lim was represented by a senior counsel.

The appeal argued that the victim made up accounts and that the court should scrutinise her statements.

Justice Hoo Sheau Peng reserved her judgment on the appeal.

She will give her decision at a later date.

Lim was previously acquitted on Dec. 11, 2024 of making sexual comments to a woman in 2012.

A district judge had found the woman not to be a credible witness as she did not have a clear recollection of the meeting's material aspects.

Focus of appeal

During trial, the court heard that the victim met Lim for three interviews in 2021.

It was at the third meeting at Lim's Hype Records office that she was molested.

Lim's lawyer said the victim had given inconsistent accounts of the second meeting on Nov. 18, 2021, where allegedly obscene topics were discussed.

The victim was not consistent with what she understood "F for change" meant, Lim's lawyers argued.

The victim had apparently interpreted the phrase to mean the complexity of the characters she had to play, and then taking it as a literal proposition for sex from Lim.

Lim's lawyer argued that the trial judge had not addressed these discrepancies sufficiently and the meanings were hard to reconcile.

The victim subsequently told others close to her that Lim was "relaxed" and "chilled out", as well as describe him as a "father figure", Lim's lawyer said.

The lawyer added that it was impossible for her to have this impression after they had a discussion on obscene topics.

How Lim allegedly molested the woman

The molestation apparently took place on Nov. 23, 2021 at the third meeting.

The woman said Lim asked her to kiss him as a test and she did, but reacted with a disgusted face.

She said Lim asked her to kiss him again, passionately, and that she should not make that face.

She said Lim groped her breast inside her clothing for a few seconds when they kissed, before removing his hand, the court heard.

Lim's lawyer said these actions were difficult to carry out in a few seconds.

"We have tried this many times in our office and we found it was impossible for the act to be done," the lawyer said, according to CNA.

The victim had admitted the act was awkward, but added that a person intending to molest would find a way.

Nothing amiss post-molest

Lim's lawyer also highlighted that the woman chatted with Lim for 10 minutes after the alleged molestation and walked together, which was captured in CCTV footage.

She also offered him a hug before she left.

According to the victim, she was not thinking clearly and only gave hugs to people she was close to, but later said she gave hugs to friends.

Lim's lawyer questioned the consistency of the victim's statements and said the accused cannot defend himself if all her discrepancies are dismissed.

Prosecution: Witness "highly consistent"

The prosecution argued that the victim had been "highly consistent" and that Lim's lawyer was trying to raise as many inconsistencies as possible.

The prosecution added that the victim went ahead with the third meeting as there was nothing so alarming about the second meeting.

Moreover, she was looking to break into the industry and was seeking a mentor.

The prosecution also argued that there was no evidence to show that the act of molestation was impossible, even though it could have been awkward, in response to the defence's argument that the act was not possible to carry out in a few seconds.

The prosecution added that the victim was in shock and on autopilot, and her hug was more like placing an arm on Lim's back, which was what she did to act normal.

The prosecution said the woman subsequently met her boyfriend but did not join him at the venue.

She remained quiet and appeared bothered, he had testified in court.

She only let him know what had happened the next day in an emotional manner, the court heard.

The prosecution added that the district court judge got it right and the woman had nothing to gain from lying about Lim.

Malaysia police have arrested eight people suspected to have been involved in 17 car break-ins and thefts across the state of Johor.

Four of the cases involve Singapore vehicles at popular coastal resort destination Desaru, The Star reported.

Four Malaysian men, two Indonesian men, and two Indonesian women, aged 26 to 60 were arrested in two raids on Sep. 7 and 8.

The suspects targeted vehicles parked in open areas and along quiet roads.

They allegedly smashed car windows and stole valuables that they either kept or sold for money.

The Singapore cars that were broken into were parked at various resorts in the Desaru area on Sep. 6, the Johor police chief said.

Vehicle owners are advised not to leave valuables inside vehicles and to park in well-lit areas.

First raid

Three Malaysian men were arrested in the first raid in the Masai and Majidee areas of Johor Bahru.

A vehicle, three phones, and three iPads were seized.

A spanner, vehicle keys, and a remote control were also found.

Urine tests found that all three tested positive for methamphetamine, the police said, adding that the suspects had previous criminal and drug-related records.

Police were also on the lookout for at least four others still at large from the first gang, which is responsible for at least seven car break-ins involving vehicles parked in three different resorts in Desaru on Sep. 6 alone.

Second raid

The second raid saw the 60-year-old Malaysian man, two Indonesian men, and two Indonesian women arrested in the Kulai district and Muar.

Items seized included two vehicles, three ATM cards, eight mobile phones, RM10,105 (S$3,117) in cash, an Indonesian passport, a watch and a ring.

Those arrested in the second raid did not have criminal records.

The Indonesian nationals were found to have valid passports used to enter Malaysia.

Amid reports about Singaporeans getting lured into a suspected pyramid scheme in China, content creator and personal trainer Tyen Rasif took to social media to share her personal experience where she "almost got scammed" into joining it.

In a video posted on Sep. 10, Rasif said that she was invited on a trip to Nanning, the capital of China's Guangxi region, by a friend in 2018.

When she got there, she was brought to homes and cafes where "people in the community" explained to her the "business opportunity" of investing in Nanning's development.

These people were all Singaporeans, she told Mothership.

Rasif, who is 31 now, was only 23 at the time.

On Sep. 4, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced that 52 Singaporeans were arrested and detained in Guangxi for suspected pyramid scheme activities and related offences.

Similar to Rasif, several other Singaporeans invited to Nanning previously told the media they were introduced to an investment opportunity linked to the city's development.

They later suspected it was a pyramid scheme, but not before some had already invested thousands.

Out of curiosity

The friend who invited Rasif to Nanning knew she had "zero interest" in investing in China, she said in her video.

Rasif told Mothership that this friend was not part of the programme, and she had also heard about it from a few other people at the time.

She decided to go on the trip because she was curious.

She was sceptical about the programme, but she wanted to document the "initiation process" and meet other Singaporeans who decided to move to China.

Plus, the trip was free — all expenses apart from her flight were covered by the programme organisers.

How the scheme works

Rasif said her experience on the trip "blew her mind".

The people behind the programme described Nanning as "the new Shenzhen" and "the city worth investing in", and showed her "propaganda videos" highlighting its supposed success.

To join the programme, she would have to buy shares at about S$18,000.

She would then have to recruit two new people into the programme, and they would then each bring in more recruits.

"And then you would earn commission off the people underneath you," she said.

Rasif then raised the possibility of starting a business in China without joining this community.

The organisers' response was that it would be difficult to do so without the right connections.

"They can be very convincing, but my intuition told me otherwise," she said.

She told Mothership she was suspicious from the beginning and did not invest any money.

She found it questionable that she needed to put down a deposit to secure a membership spot.

In her video, Rasif described visiting a big luxury shopping mall that was empty, like a "ghost town", which also appeared to have raised her suspicions.

Not only the gullible and vulnerable

The programme organisers eventually realised Rasif was not intending to invest, and gave up on trying to persuade her.

But she knew that many people lost money from the scheme.

"They are very convincing," she told Mothership. "I can see why people would be swayed to joining because it’s not just an investment opportunity, it’s an exciting chance to join a network outside Singapore."

It did not attract her, however.

"Because what was I buying? A membership? A network? Didn’t make sense to me then."

Through this experience, she observed that such schemes do not necessarily only target the gullible and vulnerable.

"A lot of these people are educated professionals who genuinely believe that they were building a better future in a different city," she said in her video.

She told Mothership she decided to share her story now to warn others against buying into similar "scam schemes".

She was surprised when the alleged Nanning pyramid scheme made the news.

"I'm surprised they are still running it and it’s bigger than ever," she said. "I thought [it] would have ended during the Covid-19 pandemic."

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