What's happening around you
-
24 Festive Drums draws 14,399 students from 352 schools
At the Educity Sports Complex in Iskandar Puteri, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said 14,399 students from 352 schools have taken part in 24 Festive Drums as of 2025, with 68,781 participants since the art form began in Johor Bahru in 1988. The national-level Elite Competition 2026 featured 46 teams and 1,220 drummers, and an application for UNESCO recognition was submitted in March.
-
Toa Payoh coffee shop chef accused of stealing S$4,300, flees after confessing
A coffee shop stall owner in Toa Payoh went to look for his missing chef on Aug 27 and found bags used to store stall revenue at the man's home. The chef, surnamed Chen, admitted taking about S$4,300 and begged for forgiveness, but fled the next day; the owner has made a police report and believes Chen may have gone to Vietnam.
-
Hougang United hold champions Lion City Sailors to 2-2 draw in SPL opener
Hougang United drew 2-2 with defending champions Lion City Sailors in their Singapore Premier League opener at Bishan Stadium on 12 September. Hougang led 2-0 through Ayman Kassimi and Oakley Cannonier before Sailors fought back with goals from Antonio Mance and Bobby Adekenye.
-
Zaqy: Islamic groups should pool strengths for wider community benefit
At D'Marquee, Downtown East on 12 September, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad said Islamic organisations such as MUIS, Mendaki, SKML and Sinda must work across communities for the common good. He spoke after the SKML 85th anniversary celebration, attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The event also launched the $250,000 SKML Ascend Education Fund.
- You saw it first Something happening near you? Post it. Road closed, night market moved, burst pipe, lost pet — share it nearby. Post something nearby →
-
Police arrest man suspected of robbing, injuring two Rohingya in Taman Perling
A local man was arrested for allegedly robbing and injuring two Rohingya men in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru. The suspect pretended to check documents before seizing UNHCR cards and a grass-cutting machine. Police seized evidence and remanded the suspect until next Friday.
-
Ex-Tanjong Pagar United player among 219 cadet officers commissioned at Safti
A total of 219 cadet officers were commissioned at the 142/25 Officer Cadet Course parade at Safti Military Institute on 12 September. Among them was Second Lieutenant Saiful Azhar Saifuddin, 22, a former Tanjong Pagar United midfielder who said football and the Jungle Confidence Course shaped him as a leader and team player.
-
171 Sungai Kim Kim victims win suit; factory and two Singaporean directors liable
The Civil High Court in Johor Bahru found a used tyre processing factory, its two Singaporean directors and a lorry driver liable for the 2019 Sungai Kim Kim toxic waste dumping in Pasir Gudang. The 171 plaintiffs won RM100,000 in costs but failed against eight other defendants including the Johor state government; damages will be assessed later.
-
Burst underground pipe in Bukit Batok disrupts water supply to 3 blocks
A burst underground pipe in Bukit Batok early on Sept 12 temporarily cut water supply to three blocks, including a home and 11 shophouse units. The town council isolated the pipe, restored supply to the home, and installed a temporary surface pipe for commercial units. Repairs are expected to take two to three days.
-
17 doctors and dentists receive Eminent Academician title in Singapore
Seventeen pioneering doctors and dentists received the Eminent Academician title from the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, on Sept 12. The honour went to figures including emergency medicine professor Venkataraman Anantharaman and paediatrician Phua Kong Boo, who led rotavirus vaccine trials. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the title recognises a lifetime of contributions to Singapore's healthcare system.
-
SAF pioneer who cleared WWII sea mines to speak on 1978 Bangladesh bomb mission
Winston Wong, 79, was a pioneer of the Singapore Armed Forces' bomb disposal and naval diving units, clearing World War II sea mines and explosives from Singapore waters and leading a 1978 mission to defuse a 272kg bomb in Joydebpur, Bangladesh. He will speak about that mission at the Military Hobby Fest at SAFRA Toa Payoh on Sept 13.
-
Johor Immigration detains 47 undocumented migrants in Senai raid
Johor Immigration officers raided residential areas around Senai in Kulai at 12.30am and detained 47 undocumented migrants aged 20 to 48. The group comprised Myanmar, Bangladeshi and Indonesian nationals without valid travel documents or who had overstayed. They are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and held at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot.
-
Kampong Gelam Festival held for the first time on 12-13 September
The Kampong Gelam Festival (KGF) was held for the first time on 12 and 13 September in Singapore's Kampong Gelam district, organised by the Malay Heritage Centre with local stakeholders. Themed 'Through the Eras', the two-day festival featured traditional Malay percussion performances, Nusantara heritage booths, workshops and traditional games for children.
-
LTA: North-South Corridor works hit hard rock and water seepage at Novena, Thomson
Singapore's Land Transport Authority said tunnelling for the North-South Corridor has run into unexpected ground conditions at Novena and Thomson, including hard rock and underground water seepage. At Novena crews are digging the northbound tunnel section by section just 1m below the operating North-South MRT line, while in Thomson harder rock was found about 10m closer to the surface than expected. LTA said it is monitoring progress and will update the completion timeline later; the corridor was previously slated to open in phases from 2027.
-
All PCF Sparkletots preschools to offer three mother tongues from 2027
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong announced that all PCF Sparkletots preschools will offer Chinese, Malay and Tamil from 2027, expanding mother-tongue learning across 350 centres nationwide. He said nearly 40,000 children will benefit, speaking at an event at One Punggol.
-
Two men held after 50km chase; syabu found in car near Kota Tinggi
Two men aged 33 and 44 were arrested after their Proton Wira was intercepted at Kilometre 31.5 of the Johor Bahru-Mersing road in Kota Tinggi early this morning. They had fled a police stop at Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, leading to a 50km chase that ended near the Taman Sri Saujana traffic lights. A search found syabu and both tested positive for methamphetamine; both have prior narcotics records and are remanded until 15 September.
-
Young Lions blend youth with experience as Izwan Mahbud returns
Young Lions open their Singapore Premier League season against FC Jurong at Jalan Besar Stadium on 13 September. Coach Firdaus Kassim said the side is mixing young players with experienced additions, including goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, who returns to the national development squad.
-
4,646 domestic violence cases recorded January-July, Johor logs 823
A total of 4,646 domestic violence cases were recorded nationwide from January to July this year, with Johor logging 823 cases against 518 in the same period of 2025. Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying said prevention and access to help must be strengthened, citing the PRISMAnita referral service and the 24-hour Talian Kasih hotline 15999. She spoke at the launch of the Aku Wanita @ Domestic Violence well-being advocacy programme and the 2026 Johor PRISMAnita Open Day in Seri Alam.
-
Deputy minister urges men to help curb domestic violence
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying said men must be part of efforts to tackle violence against women, especially domestic violence. She spoke at the Aku Wanita@KRT advocacy programme and PRISMANITA Johor 2026 open day in Johor Bahru. She stressed that efforts to end violence cannot be seasonal.
-
RTS Link expected to lift Johor Bahru food trade but may raise prices for locals
Retail food markets in Johor Bahru are preparing for more business when the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link starts in January 2027, with Singaporean grocery shoppers expected to increase footfall. A consumer association leader warns the demand could push up prices for local shoppers, while an academic says the impact should be manageable.
-
Negri Sembilan coach: JDT are on a different level after 3-0 loss
Johor Darul Ta'zim beat Negri Sembilan 3-0 in a Super League match at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Baru on Friday. Negri coach Daniel Gimenez said his side could not match JDT, who he described as an Asian Champions League Elite-level team, while his squad only plays domestically. JDT remain unbeaten at the top with 15 points from five matches, while Negri are seventh with four points.
-
Gimenez admits big gap between JDT and NSFC after 0-3 defeat
Negeri Sembilan FC coach Daniel Gimenez admitted there is a big gap between his team and Johor Darul Ta'zim after losing 0-3 in the Super League at Stadium Sultan Ibrahim, Iskandar Puteri. He said JDT players are at a different level because they have Asian stage experience, while NSFC players only play in the domestic league. Gimenez is determined to use the nearly one-month break to improve before facing Sabah in Paroi on October 17.
-
Hong Kong principal sues school over sacking after Jurong guard row
A Hong Kong secondary school principal who was filmed shouting at security guards in Jurong on May 22 is suing his former school for wrongful termination. Lee Cheuk-hing, formerly of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School in Tuen Mun, is seeking about HK$902,867 after the school dismissed him with immediate effect instead of accepting his resignation. The case is due to go on trial in December.
-
Munoz tells JDT players not to get complacent before Buriram clash
Johor Darul Ta'zim coach Xisco Munoz has warned his players against complacency after five straight league wins, ahead of Tuesday's AFC Champions League Elite match against Thailand's Buriram United. He said the Asian stage demands far greater focus and discipline, and that JDT have analysed the Thai side's patterns.
-
Police hunt driver who fled after car skidded into drain on Marsiling Road
A driver abandoned his car after it skidded into a drain along Marsiling Road towards Marsiling Drive early on Sep 11. Police were alerted at about 3:15am and are still trying to trace him. A witness said the driver appeared drunk, asked people not to report the crash, and ran off before officers arrived.