On the Elite and misunderstanding them

 Life is hard for the elite! Often surrounded by 'ordinary' people, always feeling ambushed by them.

Wonderful initiative - Walk walk don't run

 A big thank you to Grey Projects for organising Walk Walk, Don't Run, an island-wide open studio walk-about-exploration! (@jason wee aki hassan)

Wished I had more time to visit these studios (with Renew Earth Sweat Shop) but as reported by friends, lots of people walked about! Timely project in the midst of the pandemic. As usual, cherish the moment of meeting friends and strangers.

We will be participating in the West side this Saturday. If you been to the studio, it is full of things - from our projects and relics collective endeavours. Our mess is not so well curated because we rely on volunteers to do the archives and we have been busy  (tien does move our treasures constantly, though). Our friend, Johnny Wong will be sharing his paintings and the show room show is still on - be lucky if you caught it. 

Lastly, visit our friends in the same building - and other westies!

Peace and love can fill the world.

An island-wide open studio walk happening over four Saturdays in October and November 2021, 10.30am to 6pm. Walk Walk Don’t Run involves over 35 artists, design studios, artist-run and craft spaces across Singapore that will open their doors for public visits to share their work in progress, ongoing concerns and ideas. Walk Walk Don’t Run encourages informality, conversation, and spontaneity, and a different speed to the circulation of our words and ideas within the art scene.

https://www.greyprojects.org/walk-walk-dont-run

Thinking of petitions & public

Why am I here? How come? Woof Woof. 

Been a day or two thinking about this issue on collecting signatures and public order act and came across this interesting article on the ST papers.

Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin in Parliament, said that those who wish to hold such events outside the Speakers' Corner will have to apply for a police permit, and that a police permit is not required for public assemblies at the Speakers' Corner which meet the conditions set out in the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2016. Such conditions include not involving foreigners or discussing race and religion.

Parliament Sidelights: 'When is it fine to get signatures in public for petition?' Amrin Amin asked

PUBLISHED | FEB 5, 2018, 2:16 PM SGT UPDATED FEB 5, 2018, 5:56 PM

SINGAPORE - When is it all right to gather signatures in public for a petition and when does it cross the line?

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC)'s attempts to get answers on this issue on Monday (Feb 5) were sidestepped by Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin in Parliament, who asked him to file a separate Parliamentary question to get a comprehensive response.

Mr Singh noted that the police did not intervene when signatures for a petition for an alternative location for the historic Sungei Road flea market were gathered in public without a permit at the market last year. But other instances of such public petition signings drew a different response.

Mr Singh's question comes after sociopolitical website The Online Citizen (TOC) cancelled a move to gather signatures in public at various MRT stations last month, for a petition seeking the live telecast and full screening of Parliament sittings.

The cancellation came after the police informed the website that having the signings at MRT stations without a permit would violate the Public Order Act.

In an earlier Parliamentary question, Mr Singh asked if the police would favourably consider an application to collect signatures for the purposes of a parliamentary petition on any given matter in a public place. He also asked how, and at which public venues other than Speakers' Corner, could citizens legally make arrangements to sign a parliamentary petition.

In response, Mr Amrin said that those who wish to hold such events outside the Speakers' Corner will have to apply for a police permit, and that a police permit is not required for public assemblies at the Speakers' Corner which meet the conditions set out in the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2016. Such conditions include not involving foreigners or discussing race and religion.

Mr Singh then further probed Mr Amrin on whether he can share details about how the police exercises its discretion on how the Public Order Act is applied when it comes to the issue of how signatures for petitions are collected in public, making reference to signings for the Sungei Road petition.

Mr Amrin said that instances on when a permit is required and when a permit is not required is clearly set out in the provisions under the Public Order Act. "The police will generally act on information received and conduct investigations before deciding on what action to take," he added.

- Parliament Sidelights is an occasional blog on what goes on in the House.

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-sidelights-amrin-amin-remains-coy-on-issue-of-public-petition-signings

On POFMA - April 2019 Sketch notes

April 2019 Notes:

Singaporean government’s response, in the form of the Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill that was presented to parliament on 1 April, is completely inappropriate.

The bill combines loose wording with catch-all formulations that extend the range of applicability of the penalties to absolutely all content circulating online.

the bill grants every government minister the right to issue a directive censoring, correcting or blocking access to online content that threatens what the minister considers to be “in the public interest” without satisfactorily explaining this concept (article 4). Similarly articles 4, 7, 8 and 9 allow ministers to take measures against any entity in order to “prevent a diminution of public confidence in [...] the government [or] an organ of state.”

RSF has long been concerned about the possibility that governments could adopt laws that use combatting fake news as a pretext for imposing censorship. In response, RSF launched an innovative self-regulatory initiative a year ago called the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), which aims to promote trustworthy journalism by giving concrete advantages to media outlets that adhere to journalistic standards.

'Loose wording, ministers' discretionary powers, disproportionate penalties, biased legislative process... Everything, in #Singapore #FakeNews Bill, is a horrifying censorship tool'

The Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill was presented in parliament on 1 April. A RED FLAG is obviously raised here!

This is a major threat to our freedom of expression.

Why is Singapore’s anti-fake news bill so terrible? Reporters Without Borders explains here!

https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-explains-why-singapores-anti-fake-news-bill-terrible?fbclid=IwAR2BRZAcbX-CfqdjX_Vt3tTPYpZFiPhkngeMc8h8EUKLlL3YWLsDSha8nYY   

Xinyao docu

The songs we sang... a documentary on Xin yao music by Eva Tang. A music movement in Singapore.

I always thought of xinyao as a folk music moment and a creative response to culture that is top down (government-led).

Some new additional knowledge i gained from the documentary. Xinyao movement was a result of the displaced generation of students due to the reformed education policies which removed chinese education. This created a whole gen of frustrated students who felt lost and marginalised. The other factor was the rise and popularity of Taiwan folk music movement.

Overall, great documentary by Eva. It is a very moving to watch this and see the people and their passion.

I started to wonder about the Malay and Tamil medium schools and how a generation of them would also be displaced because of the education policy. What is their story. 

7 things non-art lovers can appreciate about the new National Gallery Singapore

Rather misleading title. I am writing an article for TOC newish cultural section. Anyone has any comments or quotes about the New National Gallery?

I archive this article here:

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/7-things-non-art-lovers-can-appreciate-about-new-national-gallery-singapore

7 things non-art lovers can appreciate about the new National Gallery Singapore

Nov 24, 2015 7:10pm
BY JENNIFER DHANARAJ

Much has been said about the opening of the brand new National Gallery, which was created from two historical landmarks - the former Supreme Court and City Hall.

The $532-million museum, which has been 10 years in the making, is larger than the renowned Tate Modern in London and New York's Museum of Modern Art.

The National Gallery is being positioned to be an arts hub in the region as well as a global arts powerhouse in the world. And that feat looks possible as the gallery is the first time Singapore and Southeast Asian art are housed in one venue.

Additionally, it is particularly crucial for Singapore and its identity that the Singapore art at the gallery spans from the 19th century to the present.

On Monday evening (Nov 23), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: "Up till now, we have not had a dedicated visual arts museum of this scale... a museum that we can point to and say: 'This is truly a National Gallery.' So today, we open our very own National Gallery Singapore in two historic buildings."

In a Facebook post earlier today about the opening of the gallery, Mr Lee also said: "The exhibitions and activities at the Gallery will help us to appreciate where we come from and inspire a new generation to paint and create new canvasses. I hope that in time Singaporeans will grow to love the Gallery and that it will become the pride of Singapore."

Whether it will become the pride of Singapore has yet to be seen.

But one question we can answer is: "Will people who are not art enthusiasts enjoy the museum?"

The New Paper visited the National Gallery on opening day, and the answer is a resounding yes.

Retiree Eng Jee Keow (below, left), 67, visited the National Gallery with his friends earlier today and greatly enjoyed their visit despite not being art enthusiasts.

"The building itself is beautiful, and it has been interesting learning about Singapore's art history. It's been a very fun experience especially with some of the more interactive elements," said Mr Eng.

Below are some of the reasons why non-art lovers may enjoy the museum.

1. The jail experience

The former Supreme Court forms part of the gallery and the history of the building has been incorporated into the gallery.

Visitors are able to go into what was formerly the holding cells for suspects just before their trials.

They were also able to see some of the court chambers - like the impressive chief justice's chambers.

2. Art can be fun?

The National Gallery proves to be very accessible, providing different elements that make art fun for the average visitor.

The gallery has a "social table", an interactive element that was popular with visitors on the gallery's opening day.

Its touch screen platform allows curious visitors to know more about famous artists and their art works. It even has a map to chart the connection between these artists.

Visitors can also create their own poster of their favourite art works and then e-mail it to themselves after.

There were other 'interactive' art works too.

One was a deconstructed chair at the DBS Singapore Gallery. By standing at a certain point, the chair seemed to be whole again.

There were also many multimedia pieces from more contemporary artists - especially ones responding to the government when it stopped the funding for performance arts for a period of time in the 1980s.

At the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, there is also a stereoscope station that gave visitors a look into 3-D images of history.

3. Instagrammable spots

Even if you aren't keen on the art exhibits available, the beautifully restored building is a marvel to behold.

And let's just say it's perfect for those artsy Instagram shots.

Some of the more unique places to snap a quick photo would be the futuristic-looking Rotunda (below) as well as the court chambers.

Remember to look up as well! Some of the ceilings are gorgeous.

4. Singapore's art history

Even for non-art lovers, the galleries are enriching because of the way it presents a cohesive narrative of Singapore's art history, which many may choose to neglect.

This narrative can be seen with the 400 Singapore masterpieces at the DBS Singapore Gallery.

The long-term, Siapa Nama Kamu ('What's your name' in Malay) exhibition will examine "Singapore's identity and links to Southeast Asia and the rest of the world by reflecting how artists in Singapore grappled with diverse values, ideas and tensions since the 20th century".

And the gallery divides Singapore's art history into different, easy-to-follow time periods.

These categories are: Tropical Tapestry (1890s – 1930s) (below), Nanyang Reverie (1930s – 1970s), Real Concerns (1950s – 1970s), New Languages (1960s – 1980s), Tradition Unfettered (1940s – 1980s), Shifting Grounds (1980s – Present).

The different themes have a clear write-up that explains the different time periods such as the formation of art groups resulting from anti-colonial sentiments in the 1950s.

5. The National Gallery Explorer App

If you're not an art enthusiast but willing to learn more about Singaporean and Southeast Asian art history, the National Gallery Explorer app is a great guide.

It has a pretty good navigator guide so you never get lost and it also lets you know the different artworks nearby.

But more importantly, the app has three tours: Building History highlights, DBS Singapore Gallery highlights and UOB Southeast Asia Gallery highlights.

It has audio commentary, which you can also follow along with the English transcript in the app.

It explains in detail some of the more important artworks in the exhibits and their influence and impact on the art world.

Some artworks also have related material like newspaper articles that give more context to the artist or the art piece.

It even has tours curated by the community. But as the Gallery is new, we haven't seen many of that but I hope to see art lovers share their passion with visitors who may be interested.

6. Food & Drinks

Proving that the National Gallery is the place to be, it also has a few reputable eateries.

Many of the restaurants like Saha Signature Restaurant and Bar and Altimate Gastrobar have yet to open.

But rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors is - and offers a fantastic, undisturbed view of the beautiful, famous Singapore skyline.

7. Exit through the gift shop

It's a beautiful retail space by Gallery & Co but be warned that the items here are pricey.

An umbrella, albeit a nice one, cost $55.90.

And a stuffed dinosaur, which was admittedly cute, cost $109.

Role of Arts and Culture in Singapore: Message from 1966

Danger Museum at Reflection Show at The German School (2002)

‘Days of the art for art’s sake are over. Artists should play an integral part in our effort to build a multiracial, multi-lingual, and multi-religious society where every citizen has a place under the sun.’ - Lee Khoon Choy, Minister of State for culture. 1966

Found in 

Chong, T. (2014). Bureaucratic Imaginations in the Global City: Arts and Culture in Singapore. In H.-K. Lee & L. Lim (Eds.), Cultural Policies in East Asia: Dynamics between the State, Arts and Creative Industries. (pp. 17-34). UK: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Going Places Singapore - A walk among the tombstones

Yup. Heard a lot about the Japanese Cemetery. Not seen it myself.

Archive 
http://www.goingplacessingapore.sg/heritage/2015/JapaneseCemetary.aspx

A walk among the tombstones

The largest and best-kept Japanese cemetery outside of Japan is right along Yio Chu Kang Road. Who knew?

By Wei Lien Chin     |     12 Mar 2015

There are few countries in the world more deserving of being called a “melting pot” than Singapore. Since its founding, the city-state has attracted people from all over the world to do business and make a living. Evidently, things have worked out pretty well for us.

But here is where it gets tricky. With immigrants come different customs, and with different customs come the need for different burial grounds when they pass away. Fortunately, finding a delicate balance between different burial grounds in the land-scarce Singapore is a juggling trick that city planners here have pulled off with skill. There are cemeteries for Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, war heroes, and even one tucked away in Choa Chu Kang specifically for Jews. Little do Singaporeans know that Japanese immigrants to Singapore in the 19th century also had a cemetery to call their own.

Never heard of the Japanese Cemetery Park in Singapore? You aren’t alone. Unless you live nearby or are a member of the Japanese Association, the Japanese Cemetery Park is little known to anyone outside of Chuan Hoe Avenue off Yio Chu Kang Road.

To learn more about this place, we paid a visit one quiet Friday morning and spoke with the sole caretaker, who’s been there for the last half a century.

Grave history
The Japanese Cemetery Park is one of the oldest existing cemeteries in Singapore. Like most burial grounds, this one has an interesting story to tell.

Between 1870 and 1920, the majority of the Japanese immigrants to Singapore were not businessmen, tradesmen and professionals, but prostitutes, orkarayuki-san, which translates to “Miss Going-Overseas”. During the Meiji era, many Japanese girls from Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki Prefecture and Amakusa Islands in Kumamoto Prefecture were sold to work in Southeast Asia. And because the trade was generally frowned upon, those who passed away in Singapore had nowhere to go – not even back home.

As such, three brothel keepers, Futaki Takajiro, Shibuya Ginji and Nakagawa Kikuzo, decided to do something about it. After obtaining government approval, a 30,000 sq m land was set aside for these women. In fact, even today, about one-third of all 910 graves in the Japanese Cemetery Park belong to karayuki-san who worked and died in Singapore.

By the time the Second World War came to a close, many Japanese merchants and traders were interred at the cemetery, even the ashes of Japanese soldiers. That’s because, when the Japanese surrendered in 1945, soldiers based here were either repatriated, trialed and executed, or jailed in internment camps. Some jailed soldiers either died from natural causes or committed suicide. Their bodies were in turn brought over here for cremation and burial. Over the years, many memorials were erected in memory of these soldiers who fought in the Second World War, and some prisoners-of-war even took it upon themselves to build three memorials in the western corner of the cemetery, and buried the ashes of approximately 10,000 nameless soldiers collected from the destroyed Bukit Batok Memorial.

Today, the park remains one of the biggest and best-kept Japanese cemeteries outside of mainland Japan. There is even a prayer hall that was fully restored in 1986 by the authorities, complete with Buddha statues, paper cranes (which signifies peace), a prayer box out front for donations and clean, spotless floors, just like the shrines in Japan.

But time has caught up with some parts of the cemetery, including the broken tombstone of a Japanese soldier. Even though it has been mended, the gaping wound looked like it was damaged with deliberate brute force. We ventured deeper into the cemetery to find out more from the caretaker.

Keeper of the dead
All burial services at the Japanese Cemetery Park ceased in 1973. But a caretaker continues to maintain the premises, 24/7.

Lim Keok Kee, 77, has been sole caretaker of the Japanese Cemetery Park for the last 55 years. His father before him worked on the little-known burial ground as an employee of the Japanese Association in the 1930s. According to Keok Kee, his father took on the job back then because “he couldn’t find work when he first arrived in Singapore from China”. When asked if unemployment was the same reason why he also chose to become a caretaker, he replied, “In 1960, my father fell ill, so he wanted me to take over the job. Also because I grew up here.”

“Here?” I asked, astounded.

“Yes, here, in the cemetery,” Keok Kee said, and he wasn’t kidding. Keok Kee literally grew up on the cemetery grounds as a child, and the family even has a small shed at the back of the premises that looks like a kampung. Keok Kee has since expanded the size of the shed, but back in the day, the family home doubled as a cremation facility for the deceased. That's because the entire family was part of the caretaking business here. Keok Kee himself helped his father cremate the dead when the deceased were brought in. “Of course, last time there weren’t that many houses around here,” he recalled. “There were a lot of trees because of the plantations. Nowadays, people live here like it is nothing.” And he’s not wrong. In fact, a resident could look out of her second floor window and see the grave of Terauchi Hisaichi, the Supreme Commander of Southern Command of the Japanese Imperial Army.

These days, however, Keok Kee’s responsibilities are fewer. Now that cremation has been off his to-do list for the last 42 years, he mostly busies himself with fallen leaves, the occasional piece of rubbish, and memorabilia left behind by visitors at tombstones – and there are a lot of those.

According to him, tour buses come by every once in a while, packed with Japanese tourists, and many of them leave offerings. From incense and flowers to paper cranes and oranges, he has seen (and collected) it all. On the day of our visit, someone even left a sponge cake from Fukusaya, a historic cake shop in Japan. “[Some of] these things have to be cleared after some time,” he said. “Or else the animals will get to them, and it gets messy.”

And what about the broken tombstone of the Japanese soldier?
“Did you fix it?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he said, and he spoke no more.

Closing time
Every evening at seven o’clock, Keok Kee’s last task is to usher the last visitors out and close the gates to the cemetery. And since the streetlights go only as far as the front door, the entire cemetery is drowned in darkness when the night falls.

People naturally tend to stay away, save for the occasional cyclists and dog-walkers. Yet that doesn’t mean caretaking is a job for the lonely, at least not to Keok Kee. With his trusty dog (which couldn’t stop barking at the photographer), the few occasional helpers and the residents nearby, it is difficult to feel lonely these days.

“Besides, I have a lot of work to keep me busy,” he said as he pointed in the general direction of the 910 graves he oversees, including the grave of his father. That grave is located at the back and separated from the rest. It is not difficult to spot, since it is the only Chinese grave on the premises. He, however, declined to talk much about his father, preferring instead to go on with the day’s activities.

And with that, we left him to his work.

Notable graves

Yamamoto Otokichi
Yamamoto, also known as John Matthew Ottoson, was the first Japanese resident in Singapore when he migrated here in 1862. Noted for his bravery, he was once a deckhand onboard Hojun-maru when the ship drifted out to sea at Toba in a storm. It took one year and two months for the shift to drift to America. Miraculously, Yamamoto, then just 14 years old, survived.

Ueyama Kantaro
Ueyama is the son of Ueyama Eiichiro, the inventor of mosquito coils. He died when his plane crashed in Sembawang airport in 1942.

Terauchi Hisaichi
Field Marshal Count Hisaichi, the Supreme Commander for the Southeast Asian troop during the Pacific War, died of illness in Johor Bahru after the war and is buried here.

Weng Ya Zhang
Former caretaker and Keok Kee’s father, who received special permission to be buried here in 1960.

12 Brands That Control Nearly Everything You Read, Eat, And Buy In Singapore - MustShareNews.com

12 brands that is in everyone's life surely. I archive this article below. 

From http://mustsharenews.com/2015/01/12/12-brands-owning-singapore/

12 Brands That Control Nearly Everything You Read, Eat, And Buy In Singapore

 0

BY MELISSA YEO ON JANUARY 12, 2015

These brands own (almost) everything in Singapore

A new shopping mall opens and you see the exact same stores in each one. It’s like someone just did a copy/paste and re-arranged the outlets slightly. Is it just a random occurrence? Or do these brands own so much of Singapore that all the other businesses are squeezed out with no chance to enter the market?

Chances are, you interact with these following brands every single day of your life without even thinking about it. But you probably never knew these shops and malls were all owned by the same conglomerate. And this is not always a bad thing. For the smaller home-grown companies like BreadTalk and Thai Express, their success stories are truly inspirational.

For government other companies, well I guess it helps to get your money from taxpayers elsewhere before siphoning it into an empire you can call your own. Okay we’re only kidding, please don’t sue us.

Here are 12 brands that own nearly everything in Singapore:

Brands That Own Everything You Eat

1. BreadTalk Group

Founded by George Quek, humble beginnings precede the founding of BreadTalk. An aspiring artist, George had to resort to selling dragon beard candy to make ends meet while studying in Taiwan. It was then he discovered his entrepreneurial spirit and he eventually returned to Singapore and founded BreadTalk in July 2000.

What they own: 

• BreadTalk
• Toast Box
• Food Republic
• Ramen Play
• Din Tai Fung
• The Icing Room

2. Minor Food Group

Thai Express Founders, Ivan Lee and Dellen Soh, noted the lack of Thai casual eateries in Singapore despite the popularity of Thai cuisine among Singaporeans. This observation resulted in the birth of the first Thai Express outlet in 2002, in Holland Village. Development over the years saw the duo expand into other international cuisines.

What they own:

• Thai Express
• Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe
• New York New York
• Buffet Town
• Kiseki
• Poulet
• Shokudo
• Basil
• Pinle
• Penang Street

3. Tung Lok Group

With numerous accolades from the F&B industry, one is guaranteed the gastronomic feast with choices ranging from seafood at Dancing Crab and Tung Lok seafood, Northern Chinese fare at Lao Beijing and Noodle Stories, vegetarian gourmet cuisine at LingZhi Vegetarian, to English-styled pancakes at Slappy Cakes.

What they own:

• Dancing Crab
• Lao Beijing
• LingZhi Vegetarian
• Noodle Stories
• Ruyi – Chinese Fast Food
• Shin Yeh
• Shin Yeh Bistro
• Slappy Cakes
• Tong Le Private Dining
• Tung Lok Heen
• Tung Lok Seafood
• TungLok Signatures
• TungLok Teahouse
• TungLok Xihe Peking Duck

4. Dairy Farm International Holdings

A leading pan-Asian retailer, Dairy Farm is a subsidiary of Jardine Matheson Group. Dairy Farm concentrates on selling stuff that you need everyday — stuff known as groceries. These guys will never go out of business will they?

What they own:

• Cold Storage
• Giant
• Guardian
• Jason’s Marketplace
• 7-Eleven

Brands That Own Where You Sleep & Shop

5. Far East Organisation

With a better-known reputation in dabbling in real estate, who would have known that Far East Organisation is the parent company of Yeo Hiap Seng Limited? Otherwise recognised as Yeo’s, its popular drinks include H-TWO-O, Justea, and Pink Dolphin. Its subsidiary, Far East Orchard Limited, controls medical suites, while Far East Hospitality Trust’s portfolio encompasses renowned hotels. Its food businesses, under Kitchen Language Pte Ltd, are some of today’s popular joints like Cold Stone Creamery, Quiznos Sub, and Dean & DeLuca.

What they own:

Yeo Hiap Seng Limited

Beverages: An entire lineup of Asian drinks, from chrysanthemum tea to sugar cane juice. Also a bunch other assorted drinks usually found in kopitiams and supermarkets.
Food: Another lineup of Asian culinary shortcuts, including pre-made sauces, canned foods, condiments, and spreads.
Properties: Tivoli Gardens, a 59-unit landed estate in District 19, The Sterling, Jardin, Gardenvista and landed properties namely Tai Keng Villas, Parry Green, Chuan Villas, and Princeton Vale.

Far East Orchard Limited

Properties: euHabitat, RiverTrees Residences, The Floridian,Kew Residencia, The Nexus, Regent Grove, Glendale Park, Seasons View, Kew Green, and The Manor Houses.
Medical suites: Novena Medical Center and Novena Specialist Center

Far East Hospitality Trust

Hotels: The Quincy Hotel, Oasia Hotel Singapore, Rendezvous Hotel Singapore, Village Hotel Albert Court, Village Hotel Bugis, Village Hotel Changi, Orchard Parade Hotel, The Elizabeth Hotel.
Serviced residences: Regency House, Village Residence Clarke Quay, Village Residence Robertson Quay, Village Residence Hougang

Kitchen Language Pte Ltd

Cold Stone Creamery, Quiznos Sub, Dean & DeLuca, SALTA Argentine Parrilla, Ju Chun Yuan, BWB | burger VS wings + bar, The Pelican, Oriole, Fat Cow, Quiznos Sub, Kinki, Straits Cafe Rendezvous

6. CapitaLand

CapitaLand, one of Asia’s largest real estate companies, is listed and headquartered in Singapore. Its portfolio includes serviced residences, homes, offices, integrated developments and shopping malls – ION Orchard and Plaza Singapura which are located in Singapore’s prime shopping district, Orchard Road – as well as an assortment of neighbourhood malls.

What they own: 

• Westgate
• Plaza Singapura
• ION Orchard
• Raffles City
• Clarke Quay
• Bedok Mall
• Bedok Residence
• ION Orchard
• The Orchard Residences

7. Frasers Centrepoint Malls

Frasers Centrepoint Malls boast a total of 13 malls located islandwide. With malls in the east like Eastpoint Mall to the north like Northpoint Mall, in addition to malls in the Northeast like Compass Point and Central like The Centepoint, Robertson Walk and China Square Central, you’ll be sure to be squandering your monies in these malls.

What they own:

• Anchorpoint
• Bedok Point
• Causeway Point
• Changi City Point
• China Square Central
• Compass Point
• Eastpoint Mall
• Northpoint
• Robertson Walk
• The Centrepoint
• Valley Point
• Waterway Point
• Yew Tee Point

8. National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)

Perhaps best known for its supermarket chain, NTUC owns so much more than a typical trade union perhaps should. The Cheers chain, Vanda Terrace, Wang Cafe and Foodfare foodcourts are among others owned by NTUC. They are also behind Rice Garden, a social outreach programme initiative, where affordable and nutritious meals starting from $1.99 can be found. NTUC are also dabbling in the early childhood education with the NTUC First Campus offshoot.

What they own:

• Supermarket: NTUC FairPrice
• Convenience Store: Cheers
• Eateries: Foodfare, Wang Cafe, Vanda Terrace, Rice Garden
• NTUC First Campus: The Caterpillar’s Cove, The Little Skool-House International, My First Skool.

9. Wing Tai Group

Most consumers should be familiar with these prestigious international brands Ben Sherman, Dorothy Perkins, Karen Millen, Miss Selfridge, Adidas, Uniqlo, Topshop and Topman. In addition to these retail shops, Wing Tai also owns Park Mall.

And oh, Winsland House I and II are both under Wing Tai’s wings too.

What they own:

• Retail: Adidas, Adolfo Domingeuz, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Ben Sherman, Dorothy Perkins, Etam, Fox, G2000, i.t, Karen Millen, Miss Selfridge, Pumpkin Patch, Topshop, Topman, Uniqlo, Warehouse
• Food: Yoshinoya
• Malls: Park Mall, Burlington Square
• Hospitality: Lanson Place Winsland Serviced Residences
• Commercial Property: Winsland House I, Winsland House II

Brands That Own What You Read, Watch And Hear

10. Mediacorp

A monopoly, Mediacorp controls almost everything you see, hear and read, from television channels, radio stations to print media. Well, maybe not entirely yet – not when SPH is around. And so far in the digital realm, SPH is completely crushing what Singaporeans nickname – mediacorpse.

What they own:

• Channel 5
• Channel 8
• Channel U
• Channel News Asia
• Okto
• Suria
• Vasantham
• 8 Days
• FHM
• I-weekly
• ELLE
• Manja
• Mother & Baby
• Style:
• Style: Men
• TODAY
• VizPro
• Toggle
• ooh! Media
• Symphony 92.4FM
• 95.8FM
• Oli
• Warna
• Ria 89.7FM
• LOVE 97.2FM
• 98.7FM
• 93.8 Live
• Gold 90FM
• Lush 99.5FM
• YES 93.3FM

11. Singapore Press Holdings (SPH)

The print equivalent of Mediacorpse, SPH owns mainstream media like The Straits Times, The Business Times, Shin Min, Zao Bao and more. They also own Singapore’s most popular forum – Hardwarezone. However, did you know that the more trashy news sites like Stomp and Lollipop are also owned by SPH?

What they own:

• The Straits Times
• The Sunday Times
• The Business Times
• The New Paper
• Lianhe
• Shin Min
• My Paper
• Comma
• Thumbs Up
• Berita Harian
• Berita Minggu
• Tamil Murasu
• Tabla!
• Digital Life
• Mind Your Body
• Urban
• Sutra
• U-Weekly
• Wellness No. 1
• Health No. 1
• Kiss 92 FM
• UFM 100.3FM
• Hot FM 91.3
• ST 701
• Stomp
• Asia One
• Lollipop SG
• Hardwarezone
• Paragon
• The Clementi Mall
• The Seletar Mall
• Sky@Eleven

The Brand That Owns Singapore’s Most Important Assets

12. Temasek Holdings

A government-owned investment company since 1974, Temasek Holdings is run by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife, Ho Ching. Temasek Holdings possesses some of Singapore’s most reputable brands, including Singapore’s leading consumer bank, DBS Bank. Tourist attractions such as Jurong Bird Park and The Singapore Zoo are also under Temasek Holdings’ wing. Temasek Holdings are also in the airline industry with SilkAir, Scoot, and their parent company, Singapore Airlines.

Let’s also not forget about the large stakes they have in Mediacorp, Singtel, Standard Chartered, Bank Of China, AIA, CapitaLand and so on.

What they own:

• DBS Bank
• The Singapore Zoo
• Jurong Bird Park
• Sembcorp Industries
• Sembawang Holdings
• Keppel Shipyard
• Neptune Orient Lines
• Primary Industries Enterprises
• Singapore Airlines
• Jurong Holdings
• Jurong Shipbuilders
• Jurong Shipyard

Yes, we know we’ve missed many small brands, but it is also shocking to see how much of Singapore is owned by just these 12 brands.

It makes you wonder, how much control do they have over your life? It’s scary just to think about it.