Oatly to close Singapore plant, 34 employees affected; FAS to offer free bus ride to KL for Singapore-Malaysia match on Friday: Singapore live news

Celebrity power couple Fann Wong and Christopher Lee are at the top of their game – leading a fancy life, with a successful career to boot.

However, both of them didn't go to university, Lee shared on the Call Us Daddy podcast with host-actor Allan Wu.

So what if, their 10-year-old son Zed chooses to follow in his parents' footsteps?

Well, Lee, 53, said, "I would open up this issue for discussion. I want to know what he intends to pursue, what his achievements are in school, and whether his behaviour is good. If he has other aspirations, I might consider it, but I will put in all my effort to convince him to complete his studies."

Lee shared that he has regrets over not completing his studies and hopes that his son will not have to experience something similar.

"You might not have thought about it further. You might not feel it now but I had this feeling," he added.

Despite his wish that Zed will pursue higher education, Lee acknowledged that it might not be a straightforward issue if, hypothetically speaking, Zed has "faced many setbacks" academically to the point where it has "affected him mentally".

If that happens, Lee won't force him.

"You can contemplate and decide. I will let him decide on this matter," Lee said.

One big exception to this, though, is if Zed is abandoning higher education to be an actor – like his parents.

Lee said firmly, "Definitely not. He must complete his university studies." The veteran actor believes that what skills you lack will affect your career path in showbiz, citing his previous lack of proficiency in Mandarin as an example.

"Education affects every industry, including ours. Your education and language proficiency affects your confidence. It forms your base. Your base is important for performing."

An elderly woman had some harsh words for a man who was supposedly asking people for money on the MRT train.

In a TikTok video shared by Adorablyxevil, the woman can be seen and heard reprimanding a man in a dark blue polo tee. The exchange is hard to make out due to the background noise, but the woman can be heard saying "This is not the way" and "Start earning your own money".

The man apparently told her not to "be kaypoh (busybody in Hokkien)" as she replied, "I don't care about kaypoh or not." She then pointed to the train doors and added, "If you're not happy, you can get out!"

TikTok user Adorablyxevil shared more context in her video caption, explaining that the man was walking around the train cabins asking people for cash. One woman gave him $10 but he continued to ask other people, and didj't take no for an answer.

Her story was seemingly corroborated by the woman in video who called the man out for his actions. She pointed at the previous train cabin and said he was asking people for money over there as well.

The incident occurred on the Thomson-East Coast Line as, according to the video, the train was approaching Napier station.

Adorablyxevil confirmed to AsiaOne that the man alighted at the station following the confrontation.

She said, "I was initially okay with him asking (for money) as it could have been an emergency. But I noticed that even after the person said no, he'd continue to ask for a while before moving on to the next person."

She was also scared because "I don't know how to say no".

On the auntie who confronted the man, Adorablyxevil praised her bravery as she could have been hurt if the man "decided to get physical".

Malaysian Resources Corp. is no longer part of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) consortium, according to Berjaya Group.

They've decided to withdraw “to pursue other strategic opportunities,” Berjaya said in a statement.

The consortium includes Berjaya Rail Sdn, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd., IJM Corp. and technical partners such as Deutsche Bahn AG, Hitachi Rail and Hyundai Rotem Co., according to Berjaya.

Despite Malaysian Resources' departure, Vincent Tan, Berjaya Corp.’s founder and advisor, reiterated their commitment to "deliver a world-class HSR system".

Tan said the HSR "will transform regional connectivity and economic development for Malaysia".

The rail line seeks to cut travel time between both cities from four hours (by car) to 90 minutes. Plans were first approved in 2013 before being scrapped seven years later over disagreements.

For more on the HSR, read here.

The new Mandai Rainforest Resort will open in April 2025, according to announcement by the Mandai Wildlife Group on Wednesday (18 Dec).

The resort, operated by luxury hotel chain Banyan Tree, is located within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve and aims to blend architecture with nature.

It's an eco-friendly resort with 338 rooms, and is designed around mature trees on its 4.6ha site. The entrance is flanked by a 12m-tall rain tree with a sprawling canopy and Indian beech tree, both retained in their original locations.

The Mandai Rainforest Resort will have 24 hovering tree houses with private patios, and 314 guest rooms and suites housed in a five-storey building.

Each resort room will have windows that fully open to allow for natural ventilation. Ambient room temperatures will be regulated to mirror the cool atmospheric temperatures of tropical rainforests.

Mandai Rainforest Resort is Singapore’s first resort to achieve the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy status.

Guests will also have direct access to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and the upcoming Rainforest Wild (set to open in March).

Things aren't looking so well for Sony's 'Spider-Man Universe' as Kraven The Hunter bombed at the box office with an US$11 million opening weekend.

This is the lowest ever opening for a Sony/Marvel film, performing even worse than the critically panned Madame Web which spawned many social media memes just upon the release of its trailer. (Remember the infamous line "He was in the Amazon with my mum, when she was researching spiders right before she died"?)

According to insiders and industry experts, Kraven's failed hunt at the box office marks the end of Sony's attempts to mine Spidey's rogues gallery for a franchise spin-off. Incidentally, the box office results for Venom – the most successful spin-off from their Spider-Man universe – showed declining audience interest across the trilogy.

The reviews might be harsh, but if you'd like to get a taste before you judge, Sony also released the first eight minutes of the film on YouTube about two weeks before it premiered. It seemed to have flown under the radar – unless you were dedicatedly following updates on the film.

Despite Sony's attempts to drum up hype prior the film's release, perhaps, the lukewarm reception to a free extended look at the film was an indication that Kraven's hunt was doomed before it began.

For more on why Kraven The Hunter failed at the box office, read here.

Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) scheme is not fully enforced on foreign motorists for now, so Singapore drivers who have yet to install their VEP tags will continue to receive warning notices instead of being fined.

Loke was responding to a CNA query on Wednesday (18 Dec) about whether Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) will take action against Singapore motorists with unpaid traffic fines from 1 Jan, 2025, as previously announced.

The JPJ announced in August that Singapore drivers with unpaid fines may be denied entry into Malaysia, or in extreme cases, have their vehicles impounded by the authorities.

The minister told CNA, "Any further enforcement will be communicated and will be announced. So nothing to worry for the drivers."

While Singapore drivers will continue to receive warning notices if they've yet to install their VEP tags, Loke noted that this is just a temporary arrangement and urged drivers to complete their VEP registration.

However, he did not confirm if drivers with outstanding fines will face action from 1 Jan.

Oatly is closing its Singapore plant in Senoko after three years in operation. The S$30 million plant opened in October 2021.

The company made the announcement on Thursday (18 Dec) and explained that it was part of a cost-reduction strategy to ensure profitability of the business.

According to CNA, Oatly was in a partnership with Singapore food and beverage company Yeo's to produce its oat milk. An Oatly spokesperson also told the digital media outlet that 34 employees in Singapore will be affected by the plant closure.

"We are committed to supporting all impacted employees and ensuring they are treated with respect and care in line with the company’s values; this includes offering outplacement assistance and training," they added.

For more on Oatly's plant closure in Singapore, read here.

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is offering a free bus ride to Kuala Lumpur for Friday's (Dec 20) ASEAN football championship match between Singapore and Malaysia.

The Lions will play against Malaysia's team at Bukit Jalil Stadium following a 4-2 defeat to Thailand on Tuesday.

The free transport will be a round trip from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, with the pick-up point at Jalan Besar Stadium at 11am. The estimated time of arrival at the venue will be 6pm, three hours before the game.

The bus will depart at 11.30pm from the stadium and is estimated to arrive in Singapore at 6am on 21 Dec.

Fans who are interested need to register on this Google Form by Thursday (19 Dec), 3pm. Proof of ticket purchase for the match is required.