本身无执照却为国外开发商办讲座招揽投资者，造成300多名投资者损失逾1600万元，女房屋经纪日前被判坐牢，随后网上发“道歉文”。看过贴文的苦主申诉，越看越气，指对方道歉没有诚意。    https://zb.sg/xf5S   This article from *Lianhe Zaobao* (reporting from a *Shin Min Daily News* investigation) details public outrage over an online apology posted by an unlicensed property agent, **Kuo Xiang Ling** (郭湘玲)   She was recently sentenced to jail for hosting illegal investment seminars that caused over 300 victims to collectively lose more than **S$16 million**.   ### 🚨 The Core Offense & Jail Sentence    * **The Illegality:** Kuo operated as a real estate agent without a valid license.    * **The Scheme:**    She organized seminars on behalf of a foreign (Australian) property developer, aggressively recruiting local investors to purchase real estate overseas. The primary project involved pre-selling condominium units in the Philippines.    * **The Devastating Fallout:**    Ten years after the investments were made, the Philippine condo project was never built. Over 300 victims lost both their deposits and the promised investment returns, totaling over S$16 million.    * **The Legal Judgment:**    For acting as an estate agent without a license, Kuo was recently sentenced to **3 months in jail**.   ### 📝 The Viral "Apology Post" Following her sentencing, Kuo posted a lengthy statement on Facebook, which quickly went viral. In her post, she stated:    * She had deeply reflected on her past actions and was requesting forgiveness from those affected.    * She claimed she hoped to rebuild public trust through concrete future actions.    * She thanked her close friends and supporters, writing: *   "Thank you for always staying by my side and tolerating my shortcomings."*    * She concluded by saying: *"   This experience has changed me. I hope that through this, I can become a wiser and more profound person."*   ### 🤬 Outraged Victims: "Zero Sincerity"   The apology has backfired entirely. Victims who spoke to reporters expressed intense anger and frustration, pointing out multiple reasons why they feel her words are empty and insulting:    * **Self-Centric Tone:**    Victims noted that the post reads more like a self-improvement journey and a message of gratitude to her own inner circle rather than a genuine, remorseful apology to the hundreds of families whose life savings she destroyed.    * **Vague About the Damage:**    She glossed over the S$16 million financial devastation, framing it lightly as her personal "shortcomings" and an "experience" meant to help her grow.    * **No Practical Redress:**    The victims stressed that after a decade, their money is completely gone, and a 3-month jail sentence combined with a Facebook post does absolutely nothing to compensate for their massive financial ruin.   The sentiment among the victims is that her online post was merely a public relations move to salvage her personal reputation rather than an act of true repentance.  

uru need these strikers   https://www.instagram.com/p/DaDhqHQHEP8/?hl=en

Old age parent had a fall at home, warded in hospital. Been running to & fro hospital 

From passion to pawnshop: Singaporeans are cashing out their collectables just to get by: From Pokémon cards to vintage comics, more Singaporeans are cashing in their collectibles to cover rising living costs. Retailers, however, say demand remains strong and the market is far from dead.     🔗 Read more: https://theindependent.sg/from-passion-to-pawnshop-singaporeans-are-cashing-out-their-collectables-just-to   Based on the article published by *The Independent Singapore* (which draws from an in-depth Channel NewsAsia report), here are the full details of how Singaporeans are increasingly turning their personal hobbies into financial lifelines to cope with the rising cost of living.   ### 📈 The Numbers Tell the Story   Collectibles shops in Singapore have reported a massive surge in individuals looking to offload their private collections:    * **Sugoi Collection** (toys and general collectibles) reports a **50% increase** in sellers compared to four years ago.    * **Shane Collectibles and Consignment** and **SC Collection** (both specializing in trading card games like Pokémon) have seen a **30% spike** in collectors trying to sell.    * **Comic Book Hobbyists** have noted an estimated **45% increase** in people liquidating prized vintage graphic novels over the past two years alone.   ### 💰 Why Are People Cashing Out?   While some hobbyists are simply timing the market to cash out at peak values, retailers note that a substantial portion of sellers are younger couples, working adults, students, and national servicemen (NSFs) who are facing immediate financial pressures.   The cash unlocked from these sales is heavily being used to fund:    * Housing down payments and home renovation costs.    * Wedding expenses and newborn-related costs.    * Immediate business cash flow needs.    * A financial buffer to tide over periods of unemployment between jobs.   ### 🃏 Key Perspectives from Retailers    * **Temporary Capital Reallocation:** Malcolm Wong, owner of Shane Collectibles, pointed out that many collectors are emotionally attached to their items. They aren't leaving the hobby permanently; rather, they are treating their collections as liquid assets—selling now to clear cash flow hurdles with the explicit intention to buy them back later when their finances improve.    * **The Scale of Value:**    The price range remains vast. At card shops, items being moved range from single cards worth S1 up to high-end grail items worth S15,000.   ### 🗣️ Netizen & Public Reaction The article highlighted a deep divide in how locals view this trend:    * **The Affordability Crisis:** Many netizens expressed sadness, noting that having to sell off hard-earned sentimental items "just to survive" points to a harsh economic reality, blaming structural issues like soaring rent prices.    * **The Market Skeptics:** Others argued that this isn't purely out of desperation. Because values for modern collectibles (like *Pokémon*, *One Piece*, *Disney*, and *League of Legends*) have skyrocketed to highly inflated levels, many smart sellers are simply capitalizing on a "hype bubble" to make a calculated profit.   ### 🔮 The Long-Term Market Outlook   Despite the massive influx of people selling, **retailers insist the market is far from dead.** Demand remains incredibly robust. Because major intellectual properties continue to pull in new fans, there are still plenty of buyers waiting to pick up the pieces that others are forced to leave behind, keeping the secondary collectibles ecosystem very active.