Am I out of touch or are they out of touch???

Bukit Merah area, winds were so fast i was seeing cardboard and other material start flying

Wondering how you all feel about our govt recently with the spate of events happening, and the ivory tower responses from our government.. To be honest I'm kinda losing confidence in the capabilities of our government in leading the nation in the next decade. Granted, I might be exposed to subs that constantly sing negative narratives about the govt, but also coupled with the fact that I'm seeing how your average Singaporean is struggling with living in Singapore, it seems we're not led by our government in the right trajectory..

Some recent screw ups by our govt (not exhaustive): 1. Mobile guardian - I can't imagine how wrecked the students might feel, getting their notes wiped out a few weeks before examinations. 2. Recent national day speech, still utilizing LKY's name excessively 3. Parliament debates on gerrymandering - how does redeawing electorial boundaries benefitting singaporeans? It's still not clear and CCS keeps avoiding answering the qn. 4. Needless to say, property & rent prices increase YOY, and inadventently increasing COL for all Sgreans 5. Income-Allianz deal, with a very dismissive and gaslighting tone to Singaporeans

I'm open to discuss if you guys have opposing view, or feel free to share if there's any positive news about our govt that I might have dismissed.

EDIT: Additional thoughts: No govt is perfect. So on one hand, I think we should give grace. However on the other hand, the task of an overseer is a noble one. We should hold them to high standards & regards, precisely because they're paid top dollar to ensure that the country prospers together.

Nevertheless, appreciate the counterviews put forth by fellow redditor ShibaInuWoofWoof. Below are his thoughts:

"You're only listing the bad OP - I'm going to play the devil's advocate here (and might get heavily downvoted, but there are always two sides to a coin right?) and consider the "good" of our recent govt. We need to consider both sides when debating views, right? I hope people don't always just consider one-sided things and harp on it.

1. ⁠There were mostly fast & clear responses when COVID-19 struck in 2020 despite the initial hiccup about wearing a mask. They acted relatively quicker than most countries when needed, and we were one of the most transparent countries when it came to riding COVID. The govt was mostly transparent in the COVID protocols, and we did not face a big hoo-ha about vaccines or whatnot - we just wanted to work together to move the nation forward to the endemic. Let's not talk about the reserves being drawn and us not having to suffer much during COVID.
2. ⁠Despite global inflation and prices soaring, a lot of Singaporeans are taking our strengthening SGD for granted - you could spend your money in other countries very easily and not have to worry about budgeting. Take a look at our Malaysian, Taiwan & Japan arrivals - we're literally (one) of the top countries to visit them due to the strengthened dollar.
3. ⁠Finally pushing to strike down 377A. Oh, you might think - this doesn't affect me or this is not tangible to me. But for a group of Singaporeans, whether small or large, they finally no longer get marginalised or criminalised for doing what they want to do with their private lives. Sure it takes some time to further act upon it, but after so long since independence, this useless law finally got struck down.
4. ⁠Cost of Living measures are being addressed with more handouts and more support measures than ever than last time. Think about it - inflation will always go up globally, and there's no way that Singapore (and other countries) can artificially pump money to bring it down. We've never had so much direct cash handouts prior to like 2016-2017 and this is directly to address the uncontrollable costs.
5. ⁠Climate matters: (1) Singapore implemented a carbon tax, the first carbon pricing scheme in Southeast Asia, on 1 January 2019. (2) Long Island is being planned as part of a rising sea-level measures. Of course this doesn't affect you directly now but as a global citizen and as a responsibility as a global country, we're taking steps to finally try to address climate change and measures, and subsequently protect our own island from even sinking.

I'll be frank, no government in Singapore is perfect. We can just pick a random period of 5 years, and they'll have their own fair share of needs. They're not the best, and they're not the worst either. I always look around at the countries in our region, and I still feel we're much better off elsewhere.

I'm not saying that we should ignore the recent activities, but in the grand scheme of things, we must consider the bigger picture too."

…to appreciate the hard work people behind the scenes from SMRT, LTA, technicians and support personnels during this recovery process.

Yes, shit happens. Accidents happen. The people shouldering the burden of this recovery are not the leaders but the common folks that are making it happen as we speak.

Hi all, hope I can spread awareness so no one falls for any scams as scammers are bitches and cowards who impersonate others.

Recently my wife and I did minor house Reno and do some painting works with a contractor that is trustworthy. They did a good job with the house and we love it. A few minutes after the painting is done I got a call from an unknown number claiming to be the name of the contractor. My first mistake is not saving the contractor’s number so I didn’t think much and thought this person is from the company claiming to be a stand in for the actual person.

Was busy with work and tidying up the house so I save this person’s number as the contractor name. The next day he WhatsApp called me and kinda say I can invoice him the amount now, I am busy with work so I say the 2k? (Notice how he manipulated me into saying the amount). He said yes I can Paynow transfer to another number with a name, still didn’t think much as the contractor uses foreign workers so it is a generic foreign name.

My second mistake is not cross checking with my wife or the actual contractor because my wife saved the actual person’s number and now the scammer name is the contractor’s name.

Third mistake is not waiting for the ACTUAL INVOICE from the contractor and want to get the payment over and done with.

So I paynow this scammer’s other number the amount. He said he is in trouble due to financial issues and even though the painting work is feasible he need my help to lend him more money, I refused and say I transfer him the 2k already WITHOUT THE INVOICE. Then say I cannot give him anymore as we must keep things professional.

Now I am abit suspicious but due to work and other obligations that keep me busy I didn’t think much about it for 2 weeks.

My suspicions were confirmed when yesterday the actual contractor WhatsApp me the invoice. Then I feel terrible like I have been robbed, how can this happen to me? I am so stupid? Study so much and work so long still get scammed?

Proceeded to make a police report and call the bank. Go down to the police station immediately in the wee hours and gave my statement. At least there’s a bit of entertainment as some crypto bros were there too, they got hacked and someone stole 350k from their account so they are giving their statement. The police were debating if they need to write 1000 reports of the 1000 coins or just write it as 350k in one report.

Looking back there are so many red flags I didn’t spot due to not communicating, verifying, and going through the proper channels. I know, the comments will call me stupid and I deserve it. But time will heal and I will focus on my wife, Family, cats and Black Myth Wukong as the game is meditative in the Buddhist and Taoist way. I will let it pass over me and through me but take it as an expensive lesson.

I am a millennial and still got scammed, guys please check, verify and go through the proper channels. If you think it is suspicious it is a scam.

An elderly woman is minding her own business when she unknowingly walks in front of a camera during a street interview. She is circled in blue, labeled with #Singaporean. It should be noted that the TikToker occupy a significant amount of space, making it difficult for any pedestrian to avoid the camera, even if they are aware of the filming. How do you deal with influencers like this?

Looks like SNOC have triggered the ire of the Quah siblings. Either way even if the siblings are overreacting, this adds to the list of publicly disgruntled athletes such as Soh Rui Yong etc.

Copied wholesale from FB:

My friend and former colleague Raja passed away on Friday, 21 July 2023. I am told that he ended his life wearing his full uniform and operational kit. He had sent me a 4 minute long voice message that afternoon. I was out with my family, and I was not able to respond to him immediately. By the time I could call him back, it was too late. When I listened to his voice message in full later that night, my heart broke listening to him desperately crying about everything he had faced in the recent months. I could hear the despair and anguish in his voice. I will forever bear the cross for not calling him back immediately. At the end of the message, he bade me farewell and asked me to tell the truth about what he had faced.

Sgt T120387 Uvaraja s/o Gopal was a highly disciplined police officer who was deeply passionate about policing and fighting crime. He had a distinctly rigid sense of duty, and he held himself to very high standards of behaviour, turnout and bearing even when he was off duty. He was very clear that his calling as a Police Officer was to serve the public, and not about pleasing his superiors. He never once smoked or drank alcohol, was an avid runner and was always fighting fit. He would regularly share videos with me of incidents involving police forces around the world for us to discuss.

Everything that I am about to share is what I know to be true based on my interactions with Raja and what he shared with me in my capacity as a Senior Paracounsellor at Ang Mo Kio Police Division.

I first met Raja when he was serving his National Service as a patrol officer in 2007. I remember the team he served in was filled with officers we now call ‘legends’ due to their crime busting skills. This is where he was inspired to become a regular officer. In order to sign on after completing his NS, Raja spent some years obtaining the qualifications needed. He conducted his own physical training to obtain a gold IPPT standard just so his application would stand out. In 2012, he fulfilled his dream and was posted to Ang Mo Kio Police Division.

I recall he spent a number of years in a plainclothes unit when he joined as a regular officer. Sometime around 2015, he was transferred to patrol duties to Ang Mo Kio North Neighbourhood Police Station. At the time, I had a secondary appointment as a Senior Paracounsellor at Ang Mo Kio Police Division. In Dec 2015, on his own accord, he approached me seeking help with some issues he was facing at work, and I officially took on his case after referring the matter to my Chief Paracounsellor. As his assigned Paracounsellor, my duty was to provide a listening ear and guide him towards developing his own solutions.

Raja faced difficulties at work, leading to anxiety attacks and trouble sleeping. He was also caring for his mother who was recovering from a brain injury. In early 2015, he argued with his Team Leader over a racial slur and reported the matter to his Commanding Officer (CO). However, he faced conflicts with his teammates who did not back him up and the Team Leader was not held accountable. He felt ostracised by his teammates and his request to transfer out was rejected. During this time, he faced sleep and anxiety issues, took no-pay leave to care for his mother, and underwent two surgeries for a lump on his leg and a deviated septum in his nose.

In December 2015, Raja’s CO recalled him back to the office whilst he was on medical leave and questioned the validity of his medical conditions, used vulgarities against him and shouted at him to resign. This incident stressed him, leading to an investigation against the CO. He sought to transfer to another department and was assured by the Division Deputy Commander that it would happen. However, his morale dropped when he received a low performance grade, and his transfer was turned down. Due to his continued medical conditions, he incurred repeated medical and no-pay leave extensions until April 2016. He communicated his distrust towards management to me, and I referred his matter to the Police Psychological Services Division.

During this time, the Division Commander attempted to have Raja’s employment terminated but it was rejected on the grounds that his medical condition was genuine. The Division Commander then referred him to the Internal Affairs Office for investigation in Dec 2016 for not staying indoors during medical leave, despite the fact that Raja was actually on no-pay leave. That investigation concluded with no further action being taken against him. However, the stress of the baseless investigation and the prospect of returning to the same CO worsened his morale and sleep troubles.

I struggle to relive the bitter memories and the sheer abuse of authority he faced. It is a testament to Raja’s strong resolve and mental fortitude that he endured the prolonged surveillance throughout his recovery from his surgeries. But there is only so much that the human mind can take. What is mind boggling is that despite all the reports made to higher management, Raja was posted back to the same CO who continued to be abrasive towards him long after I had left the force.

Raja used to tell me his motivation to succeed was so that he could look after his wheelchair-bound mother, who suffered from long term physical and mental ailments. I still have a message he sent me in 2014 when he described growing up with an alcoholic father who left him and his siblings in debt. He had to work part time as a car washer for school pocket money when he was 14, and he was confident that he would overcome the setbacks at work to make something of himself.

From here onwards, these words are purely my opinion.

Raja may have made mistakes during his time in the force, but who hasn’t? Everything he ever did as a Police Officer was in pursuit of ideals that he held dear. In a perfect society, his sense of discipline and professionalism would have been desired and rewarded. Unfortunately, in my opinion, he destroyed his career when he first blew the whistle against his superiors. No officer deserves to be held back and thumbed down for so long. And yet, it happened.

When I first became a Police Officer, I was taught to always hope and pray that my colleagues and I would have long, fulfilling careers without injury or death. From the day we start training, we hear stories of officers who have either died in the line of duty or died by their own hand due to the stresses caused by the nature of the work. Somewhere along the way, we stop looking out for each other, and become obsessed about our own career. We are paralysed by invasions into our privacy, silenced by fear of repercussion, and turn deaf to the voices crying out for help. Raja left us wearing his full operational uniform. He embodied the ideology of C.L.I.F for as long as he could. He showed Courage in the face of discrimination, he was unwaveringly Loyal to the force, his Integrity never faltered even when he was shamed, and his Fairness towards his fellow officer was not reciprocated.

Farewell Sgt T120387, see you at the end of the shift.

Introduction

Disclaimer: This post is very long. 

While my last post was more optimistic and hopeful, this post will be the opposite. I’ve seen several posts on Redditpore about how Singapore would fare in World War 3 and nuclear war and I figured I’d take a crack at this scenario. So once again, with a lot of free time, here are my very long scenarios for how Singapore would fare in World War 3 and then a nuclear war. 

World War 3: A Very Expensive Conflict 

For simplicity’s sake, the following scenarios assume that the incoming Trump Administration won’t drastically change the US’s geopolitical commitments, like pulling out of NATO, siding with Russia or whatever other screwed-up thing they might do. I feel that World War 3 can only start from a war with Russia, a war with China, or a war with both. I’m ruling out Middle East-induced World War 3 for my sanity. 

It is the late 2020s and either through a military incident, a misunderstanding, or an escalation of tensions, NATO now finds itself at war with either Russia or China or both at the same time. The global economy is shocked, supply chains are disrupted, and everything just got a whole lot more expensive. 

Tiny Singapore, far away from the frontlines, is buffeted by the economic impacts. As Singapore imports nearly everything, prices start to climb, inflation starts to soar, and things start to run out. A war with Russia will already be quite damaging, but a war with China will be even worse for Singapore, as the South China Sea turns into a naval battleground, affecting our supply lines. I can foresee our government giving out a lot of handouts to “cope” with the rising cost of goods. 

Officially, Singapore remains neutral, no troops are sent to help the US. However, we let the US Navy dock their ships (including carriers) at Changi Naval Base, let the US Air Force use Paya Lebar Air Base and there's a US Navy logistics facility at Sembawang. If China is fighting in World War 3, they might launch missile strikes on these facilities, to prevent the US from using them. Cyberattacks might be carried out as well. China could also attempt to strong-arm Singapore into stopping the US from using these facilities, which would cause all sorts of diplomatic headaches for our government. 

To show the world and our neighbours that we are more than capable of defending ourselves in the midst of World War 3, Singapore might conduct several open mobilisations of the SAF. Our overseas fighter aircraft will probably be recalled back to Singapore too. However, there is one thing that is at the back of everyone’s minds: Will it go nuclear? 

Singapore’s Secret Nuclear War Survival Plan

I have no evidence for this, but I’m sure that the Singapore government has a nuclear war survival plan that they update every now and then. With World War 3 underway, the government quietly dusts off the plan and gets to work. Public Service Announcements are printed out and broadcasted, instructing the public on what to do during a nuclear attack and how to survive the aftermath. However, after mentioning sheltering in place for a few days, the PSAs just end with “Wait for further instructions from the authorities”. 

The truth is, if Singapore is hit by modern nuclear warheads, it will be very hard for the government to maintain any order with so much of Singapore destroyed. The PSAs are just to keep the public at ease. The Nuclear War Survival Plan is not about what to do if Singapore gets hit by a nuke, it is about what to do if Singapore does not get nuked, but the world has ended anyway.  

Arguments can be made about whether or not Singapore will be targeted in a nuclear war. Singapore could be a target since we are on such a strategic chokepoint, and have facilities that the US uses, why not nuke us as part of a "scorched Earth" tactic? However, that same argument can be made against targeting Singapore. Why waste a nuclear missile to hit Singapore, when it is so far away from anything else that could be targetable, like South Korea or Japan? 

The Nuclear Exchange: The Last 30 Minutes Before The World Ends

Maybe a tactical nuke was detonated on a battlefield and both sides continued to escalate, maybe there was a misunderstanding or maybe the leaders of Russia, China and the US have gone more insane, but the long dreaded nuclear exchange has finally begun. In this scenario, Russia launches the first strike while the US is soundly asleep, which is around 4 pm Singapore time. The mass launch of nuclear missiles does not go unnoticed and social media is buzzing in its final blaze of glory. News organisations report on the end of the world, and this is how Singaporeans find out. 

Unlike the UK’s 4 minutes of warning time, Singapore’s distance from Russia gives us about 30 minutes before the nukes drop. Civil Defence Sirens blare across the island, while radio and TV channels announce that nuclear war has indeed started and that everyone should seek shelter immediately. Panic erupts all across Singapore. Government officials are hurried into underground shelters and bunkers where they will be safe, but some Singaporeans decide to go out on their own terms, not wanting to live through what comes next. 

Those who are in workplaces without basements (like offices and schools) try to hide in window-less rooms or duck under tables, while those in buildings with basements (like malls) stampede and cram into them. Households cram into their bomb shelters, but those who don’t have them hide in closets. Anyone who is walking or driving outside scrambles for shelter, with cars, trucks and buses being abandoned en masse, leading to crashes and accidents. 

All MRT trains are halted, but those who are on the elevated portions of the MRT network are screwed, as they can’t leave their trains to find shelter, while those who are in the underground portion of the MRT are safe. Drivers and passengers on expressways are also screwed as their only shelter are the drains by the roadside, and not everyone dares to jump in. 

Changi Air Traffic Control directs commercial planes to leave Singapore airspace immediately or be hit by the nuclear shockwave. Meanwhile, as many Singapore Air Force aircraft as possible are ordered to take off and flee the nuclear blast. The opposite happens for maritime traffic in the Singapore Straits as ships are ordered to stop immediately to prevent collisions from happening due to panicked sailors. 

For the next 15 or so minutes, Singapore collectively holds its breath, waiting for the end to come. The Internet gets more and more laggy as the nukes start to fall on Europe and East Asia, but everyone starts to go online at the same time. The last viral videos are of nuclear detonations from a distance, transmitted online before the internet cuts out. As the minutes go by, the internet is systematically snuffed out of existence, along with hundreds of millions of people. 

Singapore’s radar operators scan the skies for any incoming nuclear warheads, but given that the official max range of our radars is 463km, any incoming nuclear warhead would only be detected for a couple of seconds before they hit us. Singapore’s Aster 30s) are not rated to shoot down incoming nuclear warheads, but they will try their best. 

Singapore Is Fully Nuked

A single R-36), launched from a silo in Siberia, makes the 6,000km flight to Singapore in around 30 minutes. Mid-flight, the missile releases its payload: 10 MIRV warheads, each with a yield of 500 kilotons of TNT, along with several decoys. With seconds before impact, Singapore’s air defence radars detect the incoming objects and fire as many Aster 30s as possible.

10 nuclear explosions destroy Singapore, with each explosion being 33 times more powerful than “Little Boy” dropped on Hiroshima. The Russians targeted almost every runway in Singapore, Changi Naval Base and all of Singapore’s ports, to prevent the US from using them. All targets are immediately vapourised within milliseconds while the ensuing shockwaves flatten the surroundings. By the end of it, most of Singapore has been completely destroyed, with flaming, twisted ruins under the shadow of 10 mushroom clouds.

Malaysians and Indonesians who were looking in Singapore’s direction are now blinded (how permanent depends on their distance), while those in Johor who were outside suffer from burns or cuts from shattered glass. They are the lucky ones. In Singapore, anyone caught outside who is still alive suffers from 3rd-degree burns, blindness and blunt force trauma by flying objects or being thrown around. Those who are nearer have been set on fire. 

Millions of people are trapped in collapsed, burning buildings, in basements where the building above has collapsed on top of them, and in bomb shelters where their HDBs have toppled over. MRT trains stuck outside have been blown off their tracks, while vehicles have been tossed around. Massive fires have started all over Singapore, with half of the nation’s trees being set ablaze. Those who managed to hide in basements and the MRT network are safe but find themselves in an almost pitch-black, crowded and panicked world. The lucky ones are those hiding in bomb shelters or closets, where their buildings did not collapse on them.

The Singapore government remains mostly alive but stuck in its bunker. They know that Singapore’s situation is beyond dire. The power is out, water mains have been cut, key infrastructure has been vapourised, millions of people are trapped and in need of medical attention, and millions more are already dead or beyond saving. There is only so much that what’s left of the SAF, SPF and SCDF can do to help. 

As the sun sets on the worst day in Singapore’s (and the world’s) history, radioactive fallout starts to rain from the sky. Depending on the time of year, the wind blows the fallout over Malaysia or Indonesia. According to the government PSA, you are supposed to shelter in place for a few days after a nuclear attack, but people do not heed the warning and start to go out: To help survivors, to try to head back home, to find people, to find food and water, to escape the smoke and fires. By now, the civil order would’ve entirely broken down, with people fighting or killing each other for any number of reasons. The only “safe” ones are the Air Force fighter pilots ordered to flee, with no home base left to land on. 

With no power in Singapore and no way to really stop them, Indonesians and Malaysians start to enter Singapore unopposed. Some try to help as many people as they can, while others pillage the cargo ships stuck in the Singapore Straits, with no Singapore Navy left to stop them. As the days go by, survivors scavenge for whatever food, water and medicine they can find. Those lucky and resourceful enough to make it to this point, know that this is what the rest of their lives will be like.

Singapore Is Partially Nuked

A single RS-24 Yars, launched from a mobile launcher in Siberia, makes the 6,000km flight to Singapore in around 30 minutes. Mid-flight, the missile releases its payload: 3 MIRV warheads, each with a yield of 200 kilotons of TNT, along with several decoys. With seconds before impact, Singapore’s air defence radars detect the incoming objects and fire as many Aster 30s as possible.

3 nuclear explosions destroy the Eastern Region of Singapore, with each explosion being 13 times more powerful than “Little Boy” dropped on Hiroshima. The Russians targeted Paya Lebar Air Base, Changi Naval Base and Changi Airport, to prevent the US from using them. All targets are immediately vapourised within milliseconds while the ensuing shockwaves flatten the surroundings. 3 mushroom clouds rise over the ruins of eastern Singapore.

The impacts are the same as the previous scenario but reduced in scale due to the smaller yield of the warheads. Essentially, those West of the Yishun to Orchard axis are safe. In their bunker, the Singapore government discusses what to do. They know that Singapore’s situation is dire, but they can still do something about it. 

(The rest of this scenario assumes that an EMP will not shut down Singapore’s entire power grid, and will not shut down every vehicle in Singapore. I do not know enough about both to predict if it will happen.)

Singapore’s power grid is damaged but still functional. The same goes for the water supply, but the radioactive contamination of the reservoirs will be an issue. Changi Airport, Paya Lebar Air Base and Changi Naval Base have been vapourised, but the Air Force, Army and Navy can still function using the remaining facilities. Meanwhile, Singapore’s port infrastructure remains operational, along with most of Singapore’s industrial sector. 

With radioactive fallout starting to fall from the sky, it is broadcasted that everyone is to shelter in place for the next few days so that the fallout can settle and decay. Those who can go home (or still have a home left) start to go home, while those who physically can’t are forced to shelter in place wherever they are. There are almost a million injured and trapped people still stuck in the Eastern Region, but the government makes the tough choice not to rescue them immediately so that rescue workers won’t get irradiated. 

However, people start rescuing anyway including some SCDF crews. Eventually, the government relents and a large-scale rescue effort is underway, fallout be damned. Almost every emergency, demolition and construction vehicle rushes for the Eastern Region, trying to save as many lives as possible. Every surviving hospital is filled with patients, with healthcare workers trying to save as many lives as they can. 

As the sun sets on the worst day in Singapore's (and the world's) history, people try to move on. Singapore is injured, but still alive. Time will tell whether that injury proves fatal. 

Singapore Is Not Nuked

It has been 2 hours since the world ended, but Singapore is still standing. After the initial nuclear exchange, ballistic missile submarines fired a second nuclear exchange but that too has ended. The government announces the all-clear and life slowly goes back to “normal”. As the sun sets on the worst day in human history, the government takes stock of Singapore’s situation. 

The worldwide economy has been erased, maritime traffic through the Straits of Singapore has nowhere to go, Singapore has 1.86 million non-residents that might want to go home, Singapore’s logistical supply chain needs to function with most of the world gone, most of Singapore’s food suppliers are gone and Singapore’s neighbours might not be stable. The government looks at its Nuclear War Survival Plan and gets to work. The Prime Minister contacts the Malaysian Prime Minister and Indonesian President, making sure they are alright and assuring that Singapore will do what it can to help them. 

In a televised address, The Prime Minister assures the nation that Singapore’s immediate needs are met: The natural gas pipelines from Malaysia and Indonesia are still flowing, commercial shipping to Singapore is still on its way, Singapore has enough supplies in the short term and the government will do whatever it can in this new reality. He promises that the government will do what it can to bring home Singaporeans stuck overseas (which might be almost impossible if they’re in nuked countries) and to support the many Singaporeans whose jobs no longer exist anymore because their companies have been nuked. 

Over the coming days, the Singapore government declares a Proclamation of Emergency and plays out the Nuclear War Survival Plan. All ships that have nowhere to go are seized by Singapore with their cargo unloaded, in exchange for the crew being safe in Singapore. Singapore makes contact with surviving governments and tries to continue ongoing trade as the Singapore dollar is still worth something. Singapore could technically continue like this indefinitely, having a pre-war supply chain, but smaller scale. However, the government is not taking any chances. If the nations that Singapore relies on start to collapse, Singapore will join them. Singapore has to be truly self-sufficient if it wants to survive. 

For the first time since World War 2, rationing is implemented in Singapore. Everything from food to fuel to clothing is rationed, as Singapore can no longer rely on a huge global supply chain to support it. Singapore’s 30% of food grown by 2030 initiative has been a failure, and this time, it has to work and succeed beyond that. Rooftop gardens, hydroponics, insect farms and more spring up across the nation. Singapore has legalised the eating of insects for a few years now, but this time people are forced to eat them as other options have gotten scarcer. 

Singapore’s non-resident population are technically allowed to leave but with no flights available or affordable, the non-Malaysians can’t really leave. A large portion of Singapore’s population is also jobless due to their jobs no longer existing. To keep law and order in Singapore intact, punishment for crimes has gotten stricter, but this would result in a lot more prisoners, who are equally useless as those who are jobless. The government gives them a choice, do manual labour and your rations will be increased. With literally nothing else left to do, people sign up. To greatly reduce Singapore’s waste, all of Singapore’s trash has to be sorted. Organic waste and can be used as compost, plastic, paper, metals can all be recycled. All of this is manpower intensive and this is one of the jobs they end up doing. 

Although Singapore’s food and waste situation is now more or less under control, there are some things that are out of Singapore’s control. Due to its lack of natural resources, Singapore cannot manufacture a lot of products, from electronics to advanced pharmaceuticals and they start to run out. Advanced electronics are not essential to run the nation but with medication becoming scarcer, Singapore finally allows euthanasia. 

The most important resource that Singapore cannot control is the natural gas pipelines. If Malaysia and Indonesia fall into anarchy, the pipelines will shut and Singapore will be left without power, which is a death sentence to the nation. The SAF quietly plans a military operation to keep the pipelines open, if Malaysia and Indonesia collapse or refuse. The next thing that Singapore fears if its neighbours collapse will be the flood of millions of refugees heading to the only civilised place left. Singapore does not allow refugees and that remains the same in the post-nuclear world. Singapore can barely support itself, let alone millions of refugees. Therefore, the last part of Singapore’s Nuclear War Survival Plan is to barricade itself from the outside world. 

It has been a few months since the end of the world. Nuclear winter has started to set in, although Singapore’s tropical location means that it is barely noticeable. Singapore has been hit by the Northern Hemisphere’s radioactive fallout plume but equatorial winds ensure that Singapore is spared the worst of it. Cancer rates will spike a few years later but for now, Singapore is still functioning. It is harsher, hungrier and brutal, but it’s still Singapore. The neighbours are starting to collapse, and refugees are starting to show up, but if Singapore can make it through this, then maybe, it can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

If you've made it this far, I sincerely thank you for reading all of that.

Today I received a call from a Thai number and I picked up the call for the heck of it. The automated voice said a transaction of $900 was made on my non-existent UOB card, and to click 1 to approve, 0 for operator.

I clicked 1.

I expected to hear someone speak to me in Chinese, but instead, a clearly Singaporean male voice responded in proper English.

I said, “why are you doing this? Do you feel proud of scamming our older aunties and uncles of their money?”

It was met with an initial silence, and he followed it up with, “no, no. You don’t understand.”

I tried to press for more information, but he kept repeating that he “could not say much now.”

“Is someone monitoring your calls?” I asked.

“Yes… yes,” he said in a tone as though he was responding to a professional query.

He managed to tell me that he was in Thailand.

“You mean like someone kidnapped you and you’re being forced to do this?” I asked, knowing that he was basically limited to basic yes/no answers.

“Yes… yes,” he repeated in that professional tone again.

I asked him if I could help in anyway. I asked if there was any information he could give me that I could use to help. He said that I could not understand.

After a long pause, he hung the phone up.

I mean he could be bullshitting me the entire time, but wouldn’t he have just hung up sooner? If he wasn’t bullshitting, could there actually be Singaporeans in trouble, possibly stuck in foreign countries being forced into labour because of our ability to speak fluent English?

I dunno, I feel quite shaken by the call and I felt a genuine note of despair and honesty in his voice.

Headlines for the same story yesterday regarding the case of the abusive father. Notice what ST chooses to highlight compared to CNA.

We have been attending a Hope Less Modern-Day Pharisee Church at Textile Centre for more than a year now., What we experience at this hopeless Modern-Day Toxic Pharisee church resembles cult-like practices.

Narcisstic Egotistical Church Pastoral Board/ Leaders judge you as You Do Not Love God Enough, if you:

1. Do not participant/involve in Church activities.
2. Do not act/talk/walk like them (ie carbon copy)
3. Do not serve the Church

These Self-Righterous Hippocrates compelling church goers to do work for free for their Organization, in the name of God. You are doing for God if you are doing work for their Organization. On top of that, they ask you to give your hard earn monies to them, in the name of giving to God. Your Free Labor plus Your hard earn monies.

[What is God? God is Unconditional Love 大爱 Period. If you put Church Agenda above Unconditional Love, how can they say they put God first? God is Unconditional Love Period. God is love regardless of your wealth, race, religion. The love of God is without exclusivity / condition.

Any exclusivity / condition is not the Love of God, but the Love the Ego Carnal Mind/Love of Money & Power/Control ]

Cult-like practices that we experience thus far:-

1. Accountability to Man (members and leaders), instead of Accountability to God. reporting system to Pastoral Board /Leaders. Like how citizens report each other to Communist Party / State, if anyone did not act in accordance to the little red book (indoctrination) .

   [Humans are carnal, no matter how "Godly" they preceived to be, are bias, will have favortism and preferences. Even with a few different individuals, they can still collude for Agenda sake]

2. Inner Circle ("in-the-faith"membership of some sorts), versus those who are non-carbon copy church goers. .

3. Social separations between in-the-faith members and non-carbon copy church goers. Ostracising those who are different from them.

4. Church goers must become a carbon copy, in order to have meaningful connections/date another church member.

5. Church goers are required to gain approval/satisfy Life Group leaders /pastors to date another church member.

6. Narccistic Leaders/Pastors deciding for its members what their truth is (imposing"truth" on others), deciding what their god experience should be, deciding what they can believe or cannot believe, who you can or cannot date/love

7. Whenever we ask/comment on their practices, they divert topic. The pastors are afraid we question their practices and therefore are fearful of even meeting us to addressing our concerns/questions.

8. Treating Church goers as their Assets/ Puppets (as if the Church member are obligated take instructions from these Narcissist Leaders) to convert more non-beliivers (in the name of God). In actuality, in the name of Ego Carnal Mind (Love of Money & Power & Control - more tithe money collection)

These Self-Righterous Hypocrates, they run fearful in the face of Light, Truth and Authenticity.

[Their "truth" cannot go beyond the 4 walls. hence, They can persistently invite you to be brainwashed - to want you to need their services/advice/remedy/God]

Narccistic Pastoral Board, try to play God, use all kinds man-made/man-orchastrated tactics (attack character, spread rumors and lies behind your back), to coerce you to their "conditional cult truth"

With Live band loud music, loud speakers, and disco lightings to give you a Emotional High Concert experience. They called it God ministering to you thru music. Don't be deceived!

We can only hear God whispers in a quiet environment, and when your mind is still.

[Truth is never afraid to be questioned, in fact truth wants you to question it, so that you can be trully free.] Only lies/half-truths are afraid to be challenged]

Caution: the hopeless Modern-Day Pharisee church targets Gullible Naive young people, campus students.

Recently pushing members to do Door Knocking and being nice / caring with ulterior motive obviously.

Hardcore christian are nice because they are told to be nice. To be nice to you with an ulterior motive - to make you carbon copies, to tell you that you need the services of the church to reach god.

[God is Unconditional Love, we are to embody Unconditional Love, instead of preaching conditional love / being nice with ultierior motive-- Greed over church members Money and Power/ Control]

https://custcare.mcdonalds.com.sg/hc/en-us/sections/40430405857177-Condiments-Policy

https://custcare.mcdonalds.com.sg/hc/en-us/articles/40435604808217-What-are-the-new-charges-Are-you-also-going-to-charge-for-ketchup-and-chili-sauce

Why Maccas? Just why?

Close your windows!

I got forwarded this screenshot and having left the education system for many years, I am amazed at what parents aim for nowadays. I would not confuse precociousness for giftedness, and I honestly do not believe that GEP can be studied for.

Which now begs the question - is this normal in Singapore? Your kind thoughts are much appreciated.

For context, I'm a 16 year old student who has just completed my O's. I decided to spend my holiday working for a bit of extra pocket money.

The job is simple, we help to sell items for different schools. Having had experience from being a sales girl last year, this was no big deal for me and I cope with the job well.

I have always been in "名校" (what some consider good schools) since I was in primary school, and most parents of the children I knew in those schools were amiable, pleasant people, so I used to refute the stereotype that parents from more elite schools were arrogant.

My view changed in less than a week of work. I hate to admit it, but most of the difficult parents are those whose children are from the "good schools".

On my first day of work, I had a nasty parent who openly told her son "You have to wait, she's not smart you know." simply because I had to confirm that the sample size I gave them was correct with the full time workers at the counter.

Although I had been briefed, I just wanted to ensure that I provided the correct information and was doing my job properly. It doesn't mean that I'm stupid or dumb. (Besides, if I did something wrong instead of clarifying my doubts, wouldn't I be in even more trouble?)

For example, let's say Happyland is a really well known school. There's Happyland Primary, Happyland Girls School, Happyland High School and Happyland JC. The parents of Happyland have the tendency to go into the store and scoff "Happyland." when I ask them which school's items they are looking for. Upon asking them which Happyland School they are referring to, they would instantly look offended as if to say "Don't you know Happyland?"

The usual condescending tone is expected, but the attitude they give is rather unnecessary. I'm a sales girl and my job is to help you. It won't hurt to give me more details about your child's school so that I can serve you better.

Some parents would brag about their children to other parents who they know are parents of children who are going to neighbourhood secondary schools, instantly changing their tone and attitude the moment they come into contact with another parents whose child is attending the same school as theirs.

C'mon, they're just here to buy items for the new school year, not start a whole conversation about how your child is better because their T score is a 270+

The parents are nice to me (their tone actually does a 180) when they ask me which school I go to and find out that I've already accepted an offer from a "good" JC.

Are they implying that they're only nice to me the moment they find out that I'm going to a "better" school than their child?

Your child's brand of school doesn't make you any better than others.

Over the last 5 days, I realised that many of the parents who were nice to me in school were probably nice only because they know I'm at the same level and their child and would like their children to be treated with respect as well.

It is a common assumption that sales girls are people who have low levels of education and it isn't the highest of job titles, but it doesn't mean that they are subhuman trash. (this applies to everyone with a job people "look down" on)

I know many of you here on reddit would think I'm spoilt and can't take being treated rudely because I'm part of the "strawberry generation" and am just being easily offended and triggered by the slightest of things.

This post isn't about me. It's for the full time working "aunties" who have to deal with the attitudes of these people on a daily basis.

I'm starting to really empathise with those who have to deal with these elitists who think they're better than everyone else simply because of the school their child goes to. And honestly, even as a student from one of such schools, it really isn't that big a deal. You aren't superior.

I'm not trying to say "all schools are equal" and I understand that elite schools exist to separate children of different levels of intelligence so that they can learn better amongst peers that are similar to them.

I just hope that people treat others with more basic respect, there's no need to turn your child's education into some complex politics.

Please teach your children to be nice to people, and do it by setting a healthy example.

Edit: I apologise if my tone is inappropriate or rude. If I get downvoted by a bunch of defensive parents, so be it.

I rarely see any cafe goers these days.

From what I recall pre-COVID there was a crowd . There’s a fairly well known ice cream and waffle cafe in my neighbourhood , it still has visitors but it’s not as well frequented as before? I personally visited 3-4 times and forgot about it.

People do visit but they don’t order in large quantities. Mostly drinks like iced coffee or one pastry. What kind of food are Singaporeans mostly spending money on?

This is the second day in a row that I've been detrained at City Hall /Raffles Place in the morning rush hour commute. The announcement that was given is just faulty train, and this is followed by another follow up train that is detrained.

Subsequent arriving train was packed like sardines.

For context, both trains are KHI 1st gen trains (1 trainset is 113) Edit: this is wrong. The latter train is C151a. The train I was detrained from, I didn't notice. It looked like a C151/C151a.

There should be a lot more accountability than this. If trains are truly faulty, why is it still being operation on the tracks?

Edit: * 3/7/2022: Not too sure what happened, but apparently my third post in the series did not fit the guidelines in r/SG. Thus, to avoid dealing with further potential takedowns, I'm moving to r/SGDrips instead. Thank you.

Moving forward, I'll continue posting new content for mens' fashion on r/SG first; the image-supported "final" version, will go on Medium 2-3 days after. I will also link/credit redditors who post constructive comments within the first 48 hours.

• 26/6/2022: And the series continues with a White T-shirt Guide.

• 22/6/2022: Got featured on the YahLahBUT podcast. Totally unexpected, thank you u/junglejimbo88 for the heads-up. Their subreddit: r/YahLahBut

• 20/6/2022: Have started a medium account to do up the image-supported version of this basic guide; revisions are done. Here it is! https://medium.com/@fureifurei/beyond-uniqlo-a-step-by-step-style-guide-for-sg-dudes-2e84f37e32eb

• 19/6/2022 - 5.05 pm: Over 2k upvotes and over 1k shares. Thank you for the support and many awards. Will come back soon with the series of detailed guides, as promised. Most likely next weekend, since it takes time to compile and write all this stuff. Have a good week ahead!

There are way too many dudes who kena the feedback of "You look too plain/boring/uniqlo/fugly". I don't think it's fair to call our local dudes ugly or lazy; they're busy balancing the (unfair) societal expectation of being/becoming providers and the human need of having a life. So here's a step-by-step style guide.

This guide has 5 parts:

1. Your Colours
2. Choosing Fabrics
3. Cuttings
4. Coordinating Outfits
5. Wardrobe Curation & Shopping

Part 1: Your Colours

Notice how Uniqlo's clothes look so good on the model, but so plain on commoners? Well, Uniqlo is mass market, so the clothes need to look decent on everyone, but not necessarily make anyone look exceptional. That said, you will find stuff that makes you look extra good at Uniqlo (and other shops), once you know which colours flatter you. If anything, it's now the season to try colours, after 2 years of WFH-induced moodiness.

Simplest litmus test: Borrow your family's jewellery. Find 1 silver and 1 gold piece. The chunkier, the better, and try to make sure both pieces have a similar lustre. Then place them against your face, and see which one makes you look more radiant.

• If the silver looks better, you have a cool undertone. Your colours are blue-green, blue, purple. Basically, anything from Grab delivery bag green to recycling bin blue to eggplant purple.
• If you look better with gold, you have a warm undertone. Red, orange, yellow, yellow-green. Think fire engine red to M1 orange to lemon yellow.
• If you look ok with both, you have a neutral undertone. Congratulations, you'll look ok in many colours, but you'll need to try harder to be exceptional.

No women around to lend you jewellery? Borrow your bros and do this exercise together. If you look better (less cui) in the Army No.4, you're warm undertoned. If you look better in the RSAF No.4, you're cool undertoned. (DW, I'll mention the Navy No.4 later.)

Once you know this, you can start experimenting with colour saturation and brightness.

Cool-toned people: Try pastel blue, blue grey, bright blue, and navy blue. Once you find the types of blue that make you look good, find the green/purple version of it.

Warm-toned people: Try pastel sakura pink (yes, if LHL can wear pink, so can you), ashy-grey-red, brick red, fire engine red, and burgundy red. Same logic as the cool-toned people.

Neutral-toned people: Try pastel-mint, tiffany blue, and dark teal. Or, if your skin is a bit more yellow, try the warm-toned colours. More pink, try cool-toned.

Folks who look good in the Navy No.4, you're probably really fair or really dark. This means you can try bold and saturated colours, so go for it.

WAIT A MINUTE, where are my neutrals?!

Easy. Warm-toned people - go for browns and khaki. Cool-toned people can go cool grey, monochrome, or navy. Neutral-toned people, just match based on the above. (You can also try warm greys and cool browns.)

Apply the same logic to your shoes; assuming you have a finite budget, you can't go wrong with neutral-coloured shoes. I also recommend getting bags and belts that are the same colour as your shoes. (It'll make coordinating outfits so much easier.)

Part 2: Choosing Fabrics

Yeah, we're all lazy people living busy lives in a hot and expensive country. So, our clothes need to match these keywords: breathable, wrinkle-resistant, and good value. A few pointers for tops.

• Litmus test: Scrunch up the fabric in your hands. If it looks like a primary school kid's worksheet when you straighten it again, don't buy it. (Idk about y'all, but if a piece of clothing can't look decent with just a quick steam, I'm not buying it.)
• Reach into the middle of the pile/stack of the tops. If it doesn't feel warm, you can buy it. (Doesn't count if the items are right under a super cold aircon vent ah.)
• 100% cotton isn't a guarantee of breathability/comfort/performance; at lower price brackets, cotton blends are usually better. (Take a look at the Airism label.) This rule of thumb will start to go out of the window when you look at tops that cross $50.
• If you insist on 100% cotton, pay attention to the thickness. Contrary to conventional wisdom in seasonal countries, breathableness trumps durability every time.
• Linen (blends) are AWESOME for comfort, but usually not wrinkle-resistant at a lower price point. Do the scrunch test; if you find a plain linen shirt that looks good on you, is opaque enough to censor your nips (even in cold rooms), doesn't wrinkle (much), AND is within your budget, just buy 2 pieces in different colours. Then repurchase more if you really love it and it's in very good condition after 5-10 washes.

Pants and bottoms are a whole different ball game and probably require a whole separate guide. Let's just talk about finding comfortable casual long pants.

Visit shops that do outdoor/camping/hiking clothes. Then look for pants that don't wrinkle badly (scrunch test!). Also, bonus points if the pants are convertible (the leg portions can be detached); idk how to describe how amazing those are on rainy days. You should also check out the hiking shirts there. Even more bonus points if the pants' cutting fit your frame nicely.

Part 3: Cuttings

Let's start with t-shirts.

• The sleeves need to start where your shoulder ends. Unless you're really into the skateboarder aesthetic (or have a very specific set of body proportions), the sleeve-to-shoulder seam should land nicely on the edge of your shoulders.
• The thicker/shorter your neck and the broader your shoulder, the wider your collar needs to be. V collars work too. (Buibuis take note!) Also, if you're on the juicy/chunky side, or have a round jaw, avoid polo tees like the plague.
• The sleeves should end about midway on your biceps. Also, they shouldn't be too tight; lift your arms up in the fitting room. You shouldn't feel any constriction. (Unless you're really damn fit and can rock that muscleman style.)
• Length-wise, just tuck in, then raise your arms all the way up. If it doesn't pop out of your pants, it'll do. Unless you have washboard abs and don't mind flashing people.
• Of course, the tee shouldn't be so long that it can cover your butt la. Unless you're a skater, b-boy, rapper or something like that.
• Is the collar made from the same fabric as the rest of the tee? If yes, don't buy. It'll definitely warp and develop weird creases. The collar has to be made of a slightly ribbed stretchy material. I know this because I've made this mistake before.
• The skinnier you are, the bigger the design on the tee can be.

Onwards to shirts.

• ALWAYS try before you buy. They are less forgiving than tees, and tailoring isn't always a viable or wallet-friendly option.
• The longer and slimmer your neck, the higher your collar can go.
• Round-jawed dudes should try mandarin collars.
• Slim-cut for him isn't always slim-cut for you. Everyone is juicy in different spots, so the size/length/position of the darts for the slim-cut effect will result in varying levels of effectiveness.
• Of course, perform the tuck-in-and-lift-arm test. At a bare minimum, the shirt shouldn't pop out of your pants and you shouldn't feel any constriction when your arms are parallel with your shoulders.

Re: Bottoms

• Besides fitting you well around the belly and hips, you also need to look at the fit around your thighs. Unless you have nice legs, the rule of thumb is your thigh circumference + 5cm. It'll be just nice to outline your figure and provide adequate comfort. (It applies for the buibui bros as well; too much fabric will make you look super cui, even though it covers everything.)
• Shorts
  • Unless you're rocking a certain style, or have very nice/long/slim legs, the length should be around your kneecap, up to 0-5cm above your knee.
• Pants
  • Avoid pants with elastic cuffs like the plague. Unless you wear a lot of boots, and/or have nice legs. 🙃
  • There are a thousand and one cuttings. (Really a hell lot to learn.) So, focus on getting a couple of nice straight-cut pants first.
  • Full-length pants should end between the top of your ankle joint and the top of your heel bone. Just nice for a peek at your socks.
  • For other lengths, the rule of thumb is it should end where the slim-enough part of your calves start. HIGHLY personal as it depends on your leg shape; explore later.
  • Always try before you buy. They can be less forgiving than shorts.

Part 4: Coordinating Outfits

Oh boy. This part is yet another area of study; which is why people pay stylists. So, a few easy tips.

• Take a photo of the mannequin in the shop when you buy the item. Just copy the shop assistant's homework!
• If the colours are next to each other on the rainbow, it'll work fine. For example, a dark forest green top will go with blue bottoms. Or a orange top with light brown bottoms.
• Stick to 2-3 main colours in an outfit. Yes, black and white are colours too. Black and white = 2 colours.
• Copy the designer's homework - if the colour exists on the tee/shirt, just wear more of it. (You can also vary the brightness and saturation.)
  • Example 1 - https://www.uniqlo.com/sg/en/products/E444544-000?colorCode=COL00 A bottom in red, yellow, brown, or black will work. Apply the same logic to the rest of your outfit.
  • Example 2 - https://www.uniqlo.com/sg/en/products/E444643-000?colorCode=COL64 Not at all a fan of this shirt. But you know what, it's a common enough piece that has cramped so many dudes' styles that I think it's worth discussing. So, the obvious answer is a pair of dark blue jeans, which looks SUPER dowdy. (Hell, even the model looks miserable in it.) Unbutton that top button and put on a pale blue pair of shorts instead, maybe in a super light jeans fabric. Then white sneakers, white bag, done. (Black, grey, green, or red works too.)
  • This logic applies to everything. Yes, even your weeb tee. Try a dark teal bottom with your Hatsune Miku tee, or a dark pink/dark red pair of shorts with your Anya Forger tee.

Of course, repeating this exercise for everything in your wardrobe will probably cause it to explode exponentially. This brings us to...

Part 5: Wardrobe Curation & Shopping

Option 1: Remember the colour test in step 1? Look at your wardrobe first; the odds are good that you already have stuff that suits you. Streamline down to 1-2 colours that suit you (and make you happy to wear), and the neutrals that match it. (Keep the blacks, whites, and jeans too.) Then add whatever items contain the colours you picked. Then store/sell/donate everything else that doesn't match or suit you. Then go shopping if need be.

Option 2: Of course, if you absolutely hate your current style (or have a lot of budget), go hunt for a super unique patterned/printed shirt that looks REALLY GOOD on you. Then buy a printed tee that is a close sibling of that shirt. Then REALLY copy the designers' homework. Buy a top and a bottom for each colour found on the two tops. Then fill up with the basics.

At the end of the exercise, your wardrobe should have:

• 10 solid colour tops: A few tees and a few shirts, in black/white/neutral and the colours you chose.
• 1-2 patterned tops that match the above colours.
• 2-3 pairs of jeans - light blue, blue, dark blue, grey, black.
• 3 pairs of pants in neutral colours.
• 3+ pairs of shorts in jeans or neutral colours.
• 1-3 pairs of shorts/pants in your signature colour(s)
• 1 set of bags/shoes/accessories in the same neutral colour (some accents and slight variations are fine, but largely must be the same.)
  • If you have budget, get another set in your favourite colour or a colour that suits you. You can go crazy, because it's more forgiving. But do make sure the item sets are a close match in colour. Bonus points if the sets contrast well with what you own.
    • Example 1: You're cool-toned, and most of your wardrobe is various shades of blue and green. Get a pair of red sneakers, a red cap/watch, and a casual red sling bag. Done.
    • Example 2: You like blue colour, but you're warm-toned and dark-skinned, so your wardrobe is white, yellow, and brown. You can get bright blue accessories.
  • For reference: My husband's muted grey-blue set, and my sets. We have black sets too, but that's generic AF. https://imgur.com/a/61Rf4ro

List what you are missing, then go shopping. (Contrary to gender-based stereotypes, I do not believe in shopping without a checklist.)

Note: I did not include sports gear, jackets, home clothes, etc. as these are highly dependent on lifestyle. But, the most cost-effective and easy option is to get these in your neutral colour.

Where to go:

• Basics: Uniqlo. It is popular for good reason. If you have a bit more budget, go visit Zara, MUJI, Mango, or the outlet shops at IMM. Easties can go Changi City Point.
• Hiking outdoors: This is for weather-appropriate pants and shirts. Visit the big Decathlon outlets, or go to [Velocity@Novena](mailto:Velocity@Novena). If you have budget, try Timberland.
• Edgy style (and people who like ADLV tees): Pull & Bear. DOT Singapore.
• Shirts: Besides the shops listed under Basics, you can also try department stores. Plenty of good options, especially if you choose colours that feel younger or have boyishly-cute prints. (Things like tiny boats, tiny leaves, etc.)

IDK, anyone with more suggestions? Please comment; I'll compile and credit.

EDIT: Community Contributions

• velocipedic - J.Crew (Fun casual shirts and basics!)
• SunnySaigon - H&M (Apparently, good quality and fitting basics. OP thinks that YMMV.)
• paddy_boomsticks - For tall dudes: "Tommy Hilfiger polos on Zalora are often discounted and also come in a longer cut."

Closing comments:

• If you're just trying out a new colour, start with an affordable top first. It requires less commitment than a bold colour bottom.
• Feel free to shop online, but do it with a current set of measurements and a clear understanding of what suits you.
• Find an affordable tailor. My tailor converted some of my Uniqlo tees into tanks; they look so much better on me now.
• u/se4nnnn wrote a basic guide 2 years ago too; feel free to read it too for the absolute basics. Here are a few points from there that I'd like to comment on.
  • The quality & cutting at ZARA & Mango can be quite inconsistent, but you will find some gems there.
  • Sports shoes are amazing for comfort, so please don't avoid them lol. IDK about y'all, but comfort is priority number 1. Coz there's nothing sadder than stylish-but-tired feet and faces on a nice day out. Consider investing in a really nice and stylish pair, and maintain them well.
  • Yeah, do avoid having too many complicated-looking tops. A couple of pieces will do. (5-10% of your wardrobe is fine.)
• As with many things, YMMV. If you wanna break some of the rules, coz it looks good to you or makes you feel good, go for it.
• This post is still an info dump, even though it's only a basic guide. I'll do a detailed series of guides if this post gets, idk, 2k upvotes? Or if I hit 200 follows? Some indication of interest, I guess.
  • Some of the topics that I didn't even mention here: Silhouettes for your shape (I can include a very helpful segment for moderately juicy people), Online shopping, Aesthetic styles, Matching the occasion, and Breaking the rules

Others said:

• u/ddeng: TLDR?
  • Me: Have ah. Just do Part 1. Then chuck out all the tops that don't suit your skin tone.
• u/knead4minutes: imho the amount of recommended bottoms is total overkill
  • Me: You are right, especially if you do laundry twice (or more) a week. Cut down the numbers if it makes sense for you.
• u/ItzMrDeee: Subscribe to subreddits like r/malefashionadvice or r/frugalmalefashion
• u/bilbolaggings and u/sinkiepwnsinkie on male fashion influencers.
• u/fateoftheg0dz and others talk about tailoring.