LAKOPINEWS.COM

  On January 21 2026, the Workers’ Party (WP) issued a formal response to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, declining his invitation to nominate a new Leader of the Opposition (LO). This decision follows the Prime Minister's move on January 15 to remove WP chief Pritam Singh from the position, a week after a parliamentary motion found Mr Singh unsuitable for the role due to his criminal convictions for lying to the Committee of Privileges. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Workers’ Party leadership stated that they were "unable to accept" the invitation to nominate another elected Member of Parliament to the post. The party emphasized that it has its own established processes for electing its internal leadership and expressed the view that the Leader of the Opposition should, by definition, be the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament. The WP noted that while the LO role in Singapore is currently a discretionary appointment made by the Prime Mini...

  On January 17 2026, an autonomous vehicle operated by ComfortDelGro was involved in a collision with a road divider in Punggol. The incident took place at approximately 3:10 PM along Edgedale Plains while the vehicle was engaged in routine mapping and familiarization exercises. This specific vehicle is part of a trial that began on December 15 2025, aimed at calibrating sensors to local Singaporean road conditions in preparation for a wider public rollout. According to a statement from ComfortDelGro, the autonomous vehicle’s sensors detected a small object on the roadway and initiated a programmed response. In accordance with safety protocols, the on-board safety operator intervened to take manual control of the steering. However, during this manual takeover process, the vehicle collided with the road divider. Fortunately, there were no passengers inside the shuttle at the time of the accident, and the safety operator did not sustain any injuries. The Land Transport Authority (LT...

  A 17-year-old male was apprehended by the authorities on the night of January 16 2026, following a high-speed pursuit that spanned multiple residential and commercial districts. The incident, which began as a routine traffic check, escalated into a dangerous chase involving multiple collisions and a desperate attempt by the suspect to evade arrest on foot. At approximately 10:50 PM on January 16 2026, Traffic Police officers were conducting a routine patrol along Paya Lebar Road, specifically heading towards Upper Paya Lebar Road near the slip road into the PIE. They signalled for a silver hatchback to pull over for inspection. However, the driver refused to comply and accelerated away from the scene. Officers immediately gave chase, initiating a pursuit that would be captured in various segments by dashcams and members of the public. During the high-speed pursuit, the 17-year-old driver exhibited reckless behaviour, including speeding through the Geylang area. Viral footage uplo...

  On 15 January 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Mr Pritam Singh’s designation as the Leader of the Opposition (LO) has ceased with immediate effect. This significant political development follows a parliamentary vote held on 14 January 2026, where the House expressed regret over Mr Singh’s conduct and concluded that his criminal convictions and behavior rendered him unsuitable to continue in the role. The decision stems from Mr Singh’s conviction by the District Court on two counts of lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP). These convictions confirmed the initial findings of the COP regarding his testimony during the investigation into former Member of Parliament Raeesah Khan. Although Mr Singh appealed the decision, his appeal to the High Court was dismissed, making the legal outcome final and conclusive. During the parliamentary debate on 14 January, Mr Singh reiterated that while he accepted the Court’s judgment, he disagreed with the findings and maintaine...

  On January 14, 2026, a 63-year-old Malaysian man who is a Singapore permanent resident was fined RM9,000 (approximately S$2,850) by a magistrate’s court in Kulai, Johor. The sentencing follows a viral incident in which the man, Long Sa Kow, was filmed using black tape to partially cover the registration plate of his Singapore-registered vehicle to illegally purchase subsidised RON95 petrol. Long was charged under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act for displaying a vehicle registration plate that did not belong to his vehicle. The charge falls under the broader category of furnishing false statements or registration. During the court proceedings before Magistrate R. Salini, Long pleaded guilty but initially raised objections regarding the specific wording of the charge. He argued that he had not "altered" or "changed" his physical plate. This led to a brief recess in the court session. When the proceedings resumed, the prosecution clarified that police inv...

  The Land Transport Authority announced on January 13, 2026, that 10 drivers were recently caught for providing illegal cross-border ride-hailing services. The arrests took place at land checkpoints and areas such as Bedok Reservoir, following enforcement efforts and tips from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and the National Taxi Association. All 10 vehicles involved were impounded as a result. Since July 2025, the Land Transport Authority has checked more than 3,000 vehicles to ensure passenger safety and protect the livelihoods of licensed taxi and private hire drivers. Drivers who operate illegal ride-hailing services can be fined up to $3,000 and sentenced to up to six months in jail. Additionally, their vehicles may be subject to forfeiture. The authority reiterated that unlicensed services lack proper regulatory oversight and insurance, urging the public to report any illegal ride-hailing activities through the official government portal to help keep Singapore...

  On January 13, 2026, the Singapore courts sentenced 27-year-old Cheong Wee Kiat to four months and eight weeks of imprisonment for his involvement in a distressing case of criminal intimidation and computer misuse. The case, which involves the exploitation of bank accounts and a subsequent act of "punishment" that the prosecution described as unnatural and deeply humiliating, began with a desire for easy cash and ended in a violent, degrading confrontation. The legal troubles for Cheong started in March 2022 when his friend, identified in court documents as A1, expressed a desire to earn extra money. Cheong was aware that another individual, known as Tan, was actively seeking bank accounts in exchange for cash payments. Cheong acted as a middleman, introducing A1 to Tan with the understanding that A1 would open a bank account and relinquish control of it to Tan. Cheong was further motivated by the promise of a commission from Tan if the account remained operational for a si...

  On January 12, 2026, a 34-year-old man named Mohd Taufik Hashim was sentenced to a lengthy prison term following a violent encounter with law enforcement officers that took place in late 2024. Taufik pleaded guilty to a range of charges, including drug possession, refusing to provide a urine sample, and voluntarily causing hurt to public servants. The court handed down a primary sentence of seven years and five months of imprisonment, accompanied by six strokes of the cane. Furthermore, because he committed these crimes while under a remission order from a previous conviction, he received an additional enhanced sentence of 199 days in jail. The legal history of the accused played a significant role in the severity of the sentencing. In June 2020, Taufik had been sentenced to jail and caning for drug consumption. He was eventually released from prison in July 2023 and placed under a remission order. This order stipulated a basic condition that he must remain out of trouble for the...

  A massive 10-car chain collision occurred on the Tampines Expressway on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at approximately 4:55pm. the accident happened near the Punggol Road exit in the direction of the Seletar Expressway. Video footage of the scene showed a cluster of seven cars in a bumper-to-bumper pile-up, with three additional vehicles situated slightly ahead. In a highly unusual coincidence, eight of the 10 cars involved were identified as Mitsubishi Lancer models, with only two vehicles being of other makes. The Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed that there were no injuries resulting from the multi-car crash. By the time Singapore Police Force officers arrived at the location, the involved vehicles had already departed the scene. Post-collision footage captured the drivers and passengers standing on the expressway as they managed the aftermath of the event. No further police action was required at the site once the expressway was cleared.

  On January 3, 2026, authorities at the Pasir Panjang Scanning Station seized 509kg of cannabis from a 20-foot inbound container. The operation was a success due to shared intelligence between Singapore Customs, the Central Narcotics Bureau, and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. The container was initially flagged by the ICA Integrated Targeting Centre for enhanced checks. During the scanning process, ICA Image Analysts noticed anomalies, leading to a physical search where officers found a brownish substance in a box. Further inspection by the CNB revealed a total of 902 packets of cannabis. Investigations indicate that the drugs were intended to transit through Singapore to another country.  Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, smuggling more than 500g of cannabis carries the death penalty. This massive bust highlights the effectiveness of Singapore's multi-agency approach and the use of advanced technology in securing the borders against international drug traffic...

  On the evening of January 9, 2026, a significant residential fire broke out in a Housing Board flat in Tampines, leading to a large-scale emergency response and the hospitalisation of a firefighter. The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted to the incident at Block 29 Tampines Street 86 at approximately 9:05pm. The fire originated within a unit located on the 15th floor of the block, creating a hazardous situation for residents and responders alike. Upon the arrival of the emergency teams, the fire was found to be concentrated in one of the bedrooms of the high-rise unit. At the time the blaze broke out, no one was inside the apartment, which meant that there were no civilian injuries reported within the affected home. However, because the unit was locked and heavily smoke-filled, the responding firefighters had to perform a forcible entry to gain access to the seat of the fire. Clad in full protective gear and breathing apparatus, the team entered the hazardous environment t...

  The Singapore legal system has signaled a significantly tougher stance on vaping-related offenses with the sentencing of Orison Toh Chun Kee on January 7 2026. The 29-year-old associate engineer was handed an eight-week jail term for the possession and offering for sale of 1,639 vape devices and pods. This sentence represents a massive departure from the one-week jail term and fine originally sought by the Health Sciences Authority. The prosecution revised its submission following a court directive in August 2025 to re-evaluate sentencing for all vape offenses, citing increased public interest and a shift in government policy. In the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that vaping would be treated as a drug issue, a stance reflected in this case. Toh was apprehended on September 3 2024 after HSA officers observed him collecting a large consignment of vapes. District Judge Terence Tay emphasized that delivery drivers act as critical interfaces in illicit operat...

  Nominated Member of Parliament-designate Dr Haresh Singaraju has addressed public concerns regarding his past political affiliations. Following his appointment announcement on January 2 2026, photos surfaced on online platforms like Reddit showing Dr Haresh wearing a People’s Action Party T-shirt during an activity in Tampines in September 2023. In a social media clarification on January 6 2026, Dr Haresh, who serves as a family physician at National University Polyclinics, confirmed that he is not currently a member of any political party. He explained that the images were from past volunteer work and that he had made his Instagram account public recently, leading him to archive certain photos to protect the privacy of others featured in them. While his LinkedIn profile indicated he has served as a grassroots leader since January 2023, Dr Haresh did not provide specific details on when his PAP membership ended. This incident has reignited a broader debate about the non-partisan ...

  A high-profile case of road rage and a staged accident at the entrance of Sentosa has concluded with 60-year-old Feng Tianxing pleading guilty to multiple charges on December 30 2025. The incident, which took place on January 28 2024 at approximately 9:30 AM, began on Telok Blangah Road as both vehicles were heading toward the Sentosa island entrance. According to court documents, Feng initiated the conflict by changing lanes without signaling, which forced a 63-year-old driver to halt abruptly. As they proceeded through the Sentosa gantry, Feng braked suddenly once more. Angered by these provocations, the other driver—who was transporting his family, including elderly relatives and children—overtook Feng and braked, resulting in a physical collision between the two cars. Following the impact, both men exited their vehicles to argue. When the other driver attempted to take photos for insurance purposes and leave the scene, Feng physically obstructed the vehicle’s path and repeate...

  On January 4 2026, a dramatic road accident on Adam Road resulted in a vehicle fire and significant damage to public utility equipment. At approximately 3:50 PM, a car driven by a 27-year-old woman was travelling towards Lornie Highway when it is believed to have self-skidded near the slip road to Arcadia Road. The vehicle crashed directly into gas equipment located on the side of the road, causing the equipment to become dislodged. The impact triggered a fire that quickly involved both the car and the gas infrastructure. The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted at 3:55 PM and deployed two water jets to extinguish the blaze. Due to the involvement of gas equipment, SP Group officers were called to the scene to safely isolate the gas supply. The driver and her 30-year-old female passenger remained conscious and were transported to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for medical attention. Police investigations into the cause of the accident and the subsequent fire are ongoing. Earlier the...

  On January 3 2026, the Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted to two separate fires in residential units within a few hours of each other. The first incident occurred at approximately 1:20 PM at Block 108 Bukit Purmei Road. Upon arrival, firefighters found a bedroom on the sixth floor engulfed in flames. They conducted a forcible entry into the smoke-filled unit and used two water jets to extinguish the fire. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire likely originated from the battery of a power-assisted bicycle located in the bedroom. About 20 residents from the block were evacuated as a precautionary measure, and no injuries were reported. Two hours later, at about 3:20 PM, another fire broke out at Block 816 Tampines Avenue 4. SCDF arrived to find black smoke emitting from a bedroom of a unit on the seventh floor. Firefighters again forced entry into the unit, as no one was home at the time, and successfully confined the fire to the bedroom using a single water jet. Appro...

  A high-speed police pursuit in Choa Chu Kang on New Year’s Day resulted in the arrest of a 34-year-old man and the hospitalization of a Traffic Police officer. The incident began at 5:20 PM on January 1 2026 when a white van failed to stop for a routine patrol check. During the ensuing chase, which was captured on viral social media footage, the van was seen weaving through traffic and driving through red lights while pedestrians were crossing. The pursuit ended at the junction of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 7 and Keat Hong Link after the van collided with a Traffic Police motorcycle and skidded into a flight of stairs. The 25-year-old police rider and the suspect were both conscious when conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a knife, a baton, and items suspected to be controlled drugs and drug-related paraphernalia. The driver faces multiple charges including reckless driving causing hurt, driving without a valid license, and possess...

  A surprising discovery in a brand-new residential estate has sparked a viral discussion online. A video posted recently captured the moment a contractor installing an air-conditioning unit in a Tengah Built-To-Order flat uncovered a discarded Red Bull beverage can lodged deep inside a concrete wall. The footage has led to a wave of criticism from the public regarding the quality control standards of construction and the oversight of concrete slab providers. Some netizens suggested that the homeowner should immediately file a formal complaint with the Housing and Development Board to backtrack the supply chain and identify the responsible parties. The Ministry of Transport has unveiled significant legislative changes aimed at improving path safety and reducing the misuse of Personal Mobility Aids. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng announced during a committee debate that new regulations are set to be implemented in the first quarter of 2026. Key changes in...

  On December 31 2025, the Singapore Tourism Board issued an immediate suspension to Sunshine Tours and Travel. The travel agency failed to provide its audited statement of accounts and annual business profile returns within the required six-month period following the end of its financial year. These documents are essential for the board to monitor industry health and licensee performance. The suspension began on the final day of the year and will last until the documents are submitted or for a maximum of six months. During this time, the company is prohibited from accepting new travel bookings, though it remains legally obligated to fulfill its existing commitments to current customers. In a significant criminal case, 63-year-old Tan Beng Kwee was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison on December 31 2025. Tan, who served as a spiritual medium at a home temple in Ang Mo Kio, was found guilty of sexual penetration of a minor, attempted sexual penetration, and procuring a...

  On December 30, 2025, the Ministry of Finance announced that more than 950,000 Singaporean households residing in Housing Board flats will receive significant financial support in January 2026. This assistance comes in the form of rebates for utility bills and service and conservancy charges, which are part of a broader government strategy to help citizens manage the rising cost of living. These disbursements are part of the permanent Goods and Services Tax Voucher scheme, specifically designed to provide relief to lower- and middle-income families during a period of increased goods and services tax and other economic pressures. According to the official statement, eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save rebates to help offset their utility costs. Additionally, these households will be granted up to half a month of rebates for their service and conservancy charges. The exact amount of the rebates for both categories will be determined by the specific flat type occup...