Video gone??

hahahahaha     FT 1 : SG historic value 0

A 54-year-old man has been convicted of one count of carrying out unauthorised works to a conserved shophouse located at 32 Desker Road. Manickam Nagarajan, a Singapore permanent resident, was fined S$250,000, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in a press release.   The shophouse owner, Layan Management Pte. Ltd was convicted of one count of permitting Nagarajan to carry out the unauthorised works. An additional charge for failing to appoint a qualified person to supervise works on-site was taken into consideration by the court in the sentencing of Layan. Layan was fined S$150,000 and also required to reinstate and restore the building at its own cost.   Loss of heritage value   Nagarajan and Layan’s actions have led to the irreversible loss of heritage value of the historic shophouse, which had stood for more than a century, URA said. Conserved buildings are important physical markers of Singapore’s shared history and identity and are therefore subject to strict conservation controls, the authority explained.   Owners are required to ensure that any proposed works to their buildings comply with URA’s Conservation Guidelines and obtain conservation permission from URA and relevant technical agencies prior to any commencement of works. Unauthorised works, particularly demolition, cause irreversible damage and result in the permanent loss of Singapore’s historic fabric, URA added. As structural integrity may be compromised, carrying out building works without prior approval from the relevant authorities and supervision by a qualified person may also pose safety risks to both building occupants and those in surrounding buildings.   What happened   In October 2022, Nagarajan purchased the shophouse in the Little India conservation area, with the purchase done through Layan. At the time of purchase, the shophouse was in its original form with key architectural features intact.   The shophouse’s original first storey façade was particularly significant as a rare surviving example of a typical residential front of shophouses built around 1913 to 1914, URA said. "Characterised by a double-leafed timber door flanked on both sides by timber-framed casement windows with vertical iron security bars, these features were characteristic of residential typology at the time," URA added. Despite knowing that the shophouse was a conserved building requiring URA’s conservation permission for any renovation works, Nagarajan proceeded to engage Layan’s workers directly to carry out renovation works to convert the shophouse into a co-living development without first seeking the necessary approvals from URA. URA received feedback on this and later conducted an inspection of the shophouse and discovered the unauthorised works on Jan. 6, 2023. A written notice was issued to Layan informing the company of the breach and requiring that work cease.   URA subsequently followed up with inspections to ensure compliance.   Demolition of several architectural features   Nagarajan and Layan’s "blatant disregard" for the law resulted in the demolition of several architectural features of the conserved shophouse, URA said. These included the first-storey residential front, the rear facade with timber casement windows and green glazed ceramic vents, and the entire rear service block. Kelvin Ang, director of URA’s conservation management department, said, “Conserving built heritage is an integral part of Singapore’s development. These buildings are enduring touchstones of our shared history, culture and identity, providing continuity amid change. Safeguarding them ensures that future generations remain connected to our past, even as the city evolves.”     Members of the public can report suspected cases via URA’s website. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential, URA said.     If found guilty under the Planning Act 1998, offenders may be liable to a fine of up to S$500,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.

Yishun resident says cluttered void deck area remains uncleared despite reports to town council A resident of Block 718 Yishun Street 71 has raised concerns over what he described as the prolonged misuse of a void deck, alleging that the common space has gradually been taken over by personal and commercial items. Mr Azmin, 29, a chef de partie, told MS News that the situation has “reached a point of significant concern” after months of little to no action. Residents have had to navigate around tables, chairs, and even a refrigerator placed within the shared void deck space on a daily basis. Area allegedly filled with commercial and household items According to Mr Azmin, the void deck now contains a mix of items, including stainless steel preparation tables, industrial refrigerators, fish tanks, plastic crates, styrofoam boxes, jerrycans, and cleaning supplies. Image courtesy of Mr Azmin “What began as a few items has evolved into a full-scale encampment that obstructs public space, creates potential fire hazards, and compromises the cleanliness of the estate,” he said. Image courtesy of Mr Azmin He added that the situation has been worsening since Sept 2024. Fridge allegedly plugged into common power supply Mr Azmin also alleged that a refrigerator in the void deck is plugged into a common power supply and used to store alcoholic beverages. Image courtesy of Mr Azmin “These items belong to a group of nearby residents who use the area as a late-night gathering spot,” he claimed. “They regularly engage in playing cards, smoking, and consuming alcohol, often lasting until midnight or 1am.” He added that the space has effectively been turned into a “private lounge”.     Hygiene and fire safety concerns raised Mr Azmin said residents have also flagged cleanliness issues, including overflowing bins, food waste, and lingering odours in the area. “As seen from the current state, improper disposal of food waste is creating a breeding ground for cockroaches and rodents,” he said. Image courtesy of Mr Azmin He also highlighted potential fire hazards, noting the presence of flammable materials like styrofoam and cardboard stored near electrical appliances. “This poses a severe fire risk, and in an emergency, these obstructions could hinder evacuation or access for responders,” he added. Reports allegedly raised but issue persists Mr Azmin told MS News that despite reports being made to the relevant authorities, including the town council, residents claim the situation remains largely unresolved. “Under the Town Council’s by-laws, the storage of items in common areas is strictly prohibited to ensure the safety and comfort of all residents,” he said. He added that another resident, who declined to be named, had described the situation as “a lawless zone”. Image courtesy of Mr Azmin “We pay our service and conservancy charges, but we can’t even use our own void deck,” the resident allegedly said. According to Mr Azmin, residents of the block are calling for stronger action, including the removal of the items, the enforcement of common property rules, and more regular monitoring to prevent recurrence. “It is time for the authorities to step in and reclaim [the void deck] for its residents.” MS News reached out to Nee Soon Town Council for more information.

A TikToker was unexpectedly charged $4,801.50 after tapping her phone at a payWave device to pay for a hot dog bun that cost $1.50. The user, who goes by @heyyymsmelissa on TikTok, shared about the bizarre experience in a post on April 21. In her video, the early childhood educator says she had picked up a hot dog bun priced at $1.50 at an undisclosed bakery, and brought it to the counter.   “The aunty keyed in on the machine, and naturally I brought out my phone to tap. But then she suddenly screamed and said, ‘Wrong amount!’ in Mandarin,” the TikToker recalls. She initially thought the stall owner had added an extra “0” to the amount. “But guess what? She charged me $4801.50 for that bun,” she says.   The stall owner proceeded to go through what the TikToker describes as “five stages of meltdown”, leaning against the wall and holding her head in a dramatic reenactment of the incident. “Aunty? Your money or my money?” she asks, adding that the stall owner blamed her for tapping quickly without checking the amount and having a high credit card limit. Attempts to contact the credit card company proved futile, as the refund could only be processed by the merchant. “Tell me this has happened to some of you and I’m not alone,” she adds in the caption. ‘Mistakes happen’: TikToker advises others to double-check In a follow-up video posted on the same day, the TikToker said that the transaction would take about a day to show up in the system.   Describing herself as an “overthinker”, she asks: “What if they can only refund me in credits? Then is it I have to eat hot dog bun for the rest of my life?” She ends the video by jokingly asking if she should do a “hot dog bun giveaway”. “At the end of the day it’s a mistake and mistakes happen,” the TikToker told Stomp, advising others to double-check before paying. She added that she had no intention of blaming the staff member involved: “I don’t want to put the blame on the aunty involved as she was also in shock when it happened.” A similar incident occurred at a Westgate porridge stall, which charged a customer $540 for a $5.40 meal in June 2025. ‘Imagine if you need that money’: Netizens alarmed The post garnered over 228,400 views and 13,500 likes, with one netizen even describing the incident as their “worst nightmare”. Several netizens suggested setting lower limits for card payments, or checking the amount before tapping. “The problem is also that even when the merchant voids the transaction, it will take several days before the money is deposited to your account. Imagine if you need to use that money,” one user pointed out. Others found humour in the situation, saying that they would keep their account balance at $4,801.40, or that the transaction “wouldn’t go through”. “Wow thank you for my daily dose of anxiety… hopefully you got it all sorted already and aunty so stressed also bless her heart,” another netizen commented.