A five-room HDB flat at 9A Boon Tiong Road was recently sold for $1.649 million ($1,368 psf), setting a new record high for such flats in Bukit Merah. Located on the 25th to 27th storeys, the 1,206-sq ft flat has a long remaining lease of around 89 years, which could have contributed to its eye-watering price. The previous high of $1.58 million ($1,311 psf) was set in September 2025 by another five-room flat from the same block. Similar to the subject flat, this flat also measures 1,206 sq ft and has a lease that started in 2016. Apart from their long remaining leases, both flats’ close proximity to a wide variety of amenities could have contributed to their high prices. The flats are located a short walk from Tiong Bahru MRT Station, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Beo Crescent Market, Havelock Road Cooked Food Centre, Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre, as well as Tiong Bahru Park (see Map 1). The flats are also a short drive from Orchard Road and the CBD.     Schools within a 1km radius include Alexandra Primary School, Zhangde Primary School, and Gan Eng Seng School.         Source: EdgeProp LandLens Based on data from HDB, 40 five-room flats in Bukit Merah have been sold so far this year, at prices ranging from $690,000 to $1.649 million. At the time of writing, only two five-room flats in Bukit Merah have fetched more than $1.5 million. Apart from the subject flat, the second five-room flat in Bukit Merah to have fetched more than $1.5 million this year is located at 96A Henderson Road, which was sold in January for $1.53 million ($1,258 psf). Located on the 34th to 36th storeys, this flat measures 1,216 sq ft and has a remaining lease of approximately 92 years. The flat along Henderson Road is near Delta Sports Centre and Swimming Complex, Tiong Bahru Park, Redhill Market and Food Centre, Bukit Merah View Market and Hawker Centre, Alexandra Primary School, and Gan Eng Seng School. The flat is also located between Tiong Bahru and Redhill MRT stations (see Map 2).         Source: EdgeProp LandLens In comparison, 167 five-room flats in Bukit Merah changed hands last year, with prices ranging from $685,000 to $1.58 million. Of the 167 flats, three fetched more than $1.5 million. Notably, all three are located at 9A Boon Tiong Road (see Table 1).     Table 1: Top transactions for five-room flats in Bukit Merah (2025) Project Name Date Room Type Storey Area (sqft) PSF Price 9A Boon Tiong Road Sep 2025 5-Room 31 to 33 1,205 $1,311 $1,580,000 9A Boon Tiong Road Jul 2025 5-Room 19 to 21 1,205 $1,301 $1,568,000 9A Boon Tiong Road Aug 2025 5-Room 25 to 27 1,205 $1,268 $1,528,000 Source: EdgeProp Buddy (as at 24 March 2026)

this kind penalty should be cut off his hand or finger so cannot itchy hand and do bad anymore

A youth in Singapore filmed himself removing a straw from an iJooz kiosk, licking it, and placing it back into the straw dispenser. The incident came to public attention after he posted the video on his Instagram story on Mar. 12. His account has since been made private. The exact location of the kiosk remains unknown.   Video from the youth's Instagram.   Internal investigations ongoing: iJooz In response to Mothership's queries, iJooz said it takes a serious view of the alleged incident and has initiated an internal investigation. The incident "concerns the hygiene and safety standards that we are fully committed to upholding," the company said, adding that it has escalated the matter to the relevant authorities and filed a police report. iJooz also stated that it is accelerating the rollout of upgraded machines across Singapore to enhance hygiene safeguards. "Some of our newer machines are already equipped with enclosed systems, where straws are not exposed prior to dispensing under normal operation," it said. The company added that it intends to expand these features islandwide to reduce the risk of similar incidents.