Keramats (or sacred shrines) occupy a peculiar space in Singapore. Against modern skyscrapers and sites of gentrification, these grave-shrines stand out with their old tombstones adorned with yellow pieces of cloth. Certain keramats can be clearly seen in areas such as Fort Canning Park, Outram Park, and even in the Central Business District. However, their numbers have declined steadily over the years, making them a more common sight in the past.
Read More >Wan Nur Syafiqa Syed Yusoff
Budget 2023: A Missed Opportunity
On 14 February 2023, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the 2023 Budget Statement in Parliament. Dubbing it a “Valentine’s Day present to all”[1], it was likely that Singaporeans would have been most interested in cash payouts, which could be seen as ‘gifts’ from the government. The initiatives outlined in the Budget were meant to address pressing bread-and-butter issues faced by every Singaporean, such as the recent GST hike which started on 1 January 2023, as well as global inflation.
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