SINGAPORE: Last Sunday, Filipino domestic worker Glory Ann Balista spent her day off pretending to be a Singaporean – in a manner of speaking.

Together with a handful of her fellow migrant workers from Indonesia and Bangladesh, the 33-year-old was at literary non-profit organisation Sing Lit Station’s premises at Jalan Kubor rehearsing for a play they had created from scratch.

In the 20-minute no-frills production titled Other Side, Balista takes on the role of a Singaporean who discovers the creative sides of various different migrant workers, from playing in bands, doing photography and painting murals.

The work, which was done with some mentorship from Singaporean playwright Haresh Sharma, will be staged at this year’s Migrant Worker Poetry Competition, which will be held on Sunday afternoon (Dec 3) at the National Gallery Singapore.

And first-time actor Balista is feeling the jitters. “I’m a bit nervous but I’m doing this for other migrants like myself so I’ll do my best,” she said. “When I’m with others who are interested in the same thing, it makes me think that I can do this and stand in front of other people to perform.”

From exhibitions and books to documentaries and now this one-off performance, the creative efforts of Singapore’s migrant workers are slowly going mainstream. And crucial to this has been the annual poetry contest. Since its inception in 2014, it has become a regular event to catch migrant workers flexing their literary chops.

Its fourth edition will be showcasing works in eight different languages from 19 poets coming from seven different countries. These were chosen from an impressive 107 submissions. At the event, the anthology Songs From A Distance will also be launched, featuring 31 poems from previous editions. Also for sale will be a similar anthology from Malaysian counterparts, who also hold its own Migrant & Refugee Poetry Competition.

While the event is more low-key and arguably has less tangible results compared to other migrant worker-related efforts done by other organisations, one of the organisers said it has been encouraging – in terms of response from audiences and the growing sense of ownership among the migrant workers themselves.

“The migrant poets and artists have delivered some of the most powerful oral performances in every show and that has been one of the main reasons we have packed audiences time after time,” said author and management consultant Shivaji Das.

He reckoned that when the contest first started “it came as a shock that people they would see toiling with brooms, drillers and earthmovers could have such creative power and depth of intellect.”

The folks behind Other Side certainly hold their own creativity-wise.

Balista herself writes poems, which have been published, including in the upcoming Songs From A Distance. She was also featured in the documentary Poets On Permits, and belongs to an informal group called the Power Of Ten, comprising Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers who write poetry collectively.

Fellow actor Almas Uddin, a 42-year-old Bangladeshi supervisor at an electrical company, signs for Migrants Band Singapore (which performed at last year’s event). He has also acted in similar mini-plays performed at various events in Singapore – and even at the Bangladesh embassy.

Meanwhile, Other Side co-playwright Wiwik Triwinarsih regularly writes short stories and poems. She was shortlisted at last year’s poetry contest and her poem is also part of the new anthology being launched. The 33-year-old Indonesian domestic worker has also been published in four anthologies in Indonesia.

Wiwik’s literary pursuits has been a way of empowering herself. “I don’t want to spend my off days just shopping or sitting here or there. And when I’m writing I feel I have power,” she laughed.

“Writing is playing with imagination and a way to release stress. It’s a hobby I love and enjoy. If you’re writing, you can be a powerful and very beautiful person. You can imagine yourself as someone with a superpower.”

SINGAPORE: In the near future, our urban mobility landscape will include shared, autonomous transport. Just last week, the Singapore Government announced that self-driving buses and shuttles will be deployed in three towns from 2022.

Shared driverless vehicles have the potential to reshape our city. Analysts predict that driverless vehicles may account for half of all road travel by 2040.

They could decrease private vehicle ownership, congestion and air pollution while increasing safety, access and mobility. They may also reduce the need for parking spaces in prime real estate where jobs and residents tend to be, since parking no longer needs to be co-located with them.

Where road networks make up 12 per cent of Singapore’s land area, they also bring with them the potential to free up road space – spaces that can be redesigned for other uses – not just housing or commerce but also walkways, bicycle lanes and more green spaces.

ROBO-TAXIS THE MOST RELEVANT USE CASE

In cities all around the world, there is growing movement and interest in autonomous shuttle buses, driverless pods, or robo-taxis, which supplement conventional bus or rapid transit train transport. These self-driving vehicles can provide passenger mobility on-demand, similar to those provided through an e-hailing service app.

Cities are paying particular attention to first- or last-mile connectivity, since a commuter’s options right outside his or her doorstep form critical parts of their public transport experience.

Robo-taxis appear to be the most relevant use case for self-driving vehicles in urban areas to serve this need.

The vision is for these driverless vehicles to eventually provide commuters a convenient and comfortable way to connect from any doorstep to the nearest public transport node, such as a bus depot or train station, and vice versa, even though initial trials are geofenced and limited to fixed routes within smaller neighbourhoods.

In Singapore, urban and transport planners are expanding the rail network, aiming for 8 out of 10 households to be within a 10-minute walk of a MRT station by 2030. For those living outside this range, or do not have the desire or means to walk, cycle or scoot, robo-taxis can provide the missing link.

For a commuter, a ride in an air-conditioned pod can be more comfortable than walking. The price of a robo-taxi ride is also expected to be lower than a conventional taxi ride, with labour costs removed.

For car owners who make this switch, the overall cost of transportation will be lower compared to car ownership, which includes the cost of parking and vehicle maintenance. There is also no longer a need to search or cruise for parking at one’s destination.

Robo-taxis offer one more travel option that can be integrated into a seamless multi-modal journey, bringing us closer towards the possibility of Mobility-as-a-Service where subscribers pay for their mobility needs on a single platform that unites multiple transport service providers, including a combination of bike share, train and robo-taxis.

For robo-taxis to make a difference to commuters, they must cover areas under-served by existing public transport modes, promoting transport equity. As this nimbler transport mode fills the gaps in places not as well connected to the primary transport network, transport access is enhanced.

When configured to be accessible by the elderly, children or disabled, who cannot drive, they can be a transport mode for all.

HOW WILL PEOPLE REACT TO DRIVERLESS VEHICLES?

Much attention is being rightfully paid to overcome technical, regulatory and legal barriers to introducing this technology. One area of uncertainty concerns a softer side of the story – human elements.

The first concerns market acceptance. Will people ride in autonomous vehicles? Where a recent MRT collision has brought to the fore the challenges of managing transport technology, will people trust the technology?

Ridership and utilisation will partly depend on whether robo-taxis demonstrate smooth and safe operations over a range of different situational contexts.

The transition pathway will see a mix of autonomous vehicles alongside conventional vehicles sharing the roads. While robo-taxis are supposed to minimise the number of traffic accidents caused by human error, how will other road users react to these robots?

Since autonomous vehicles behave more conservatively than regular drivers, traffic accidents can result from this different and unexpected behaviour. Field testing of these vehicles in contained environments will be helpful. These robots will need some social adjustments before we trust them fully on our roads.

ADOPTION DEPENDS ON CONVENIENCE

Convenience is another key consideration in adoption – will a multi-modal journey including a ride on a robo-taxi be more attractive than a conventional taxi ride from door-to-door?

And for car owners, many of whom have families to ferry around, will it be easy enough to hail a robo-taxi, such that they give up their cars?

If cities do not achieve the targeted shifts to public transport use, despite the introduction of this new travel mode, the postulated benefits may not be fully realised.

Much work remains in the planning of operational details.

Travel demand modelling approaches can help in estimating demand, and the number of autonomous shuttle buses or smaller pods needed to fulfil peak-hour demand within a neighbourhood.

The service also needs to be designed with various commuters in mind, considering different user requirements. From planning a journey, booking a ride, taking the ride and transferring to subsequent transport modes, understanding user journeys and user-centric design thinking will help design ideal experiences and promote user acceptance.

Finally, some consideration needs to be made about the displacement of various jobs as a result of automation in transportation. Drivers are an obvious group that will be affected, and the shift away from car ownership can also affect car dealers, financiers, insurance providers, and auto workshops. Active discussion to address retraining and supporting of workers during this transition will come to bear.

REMAIN TECHNOLOGY-AGNOSTIC

As we evaluate the pros and cons of robo-taxis, one should remain agnostic about the technology, and be mindful that deploying autonomous vehicles is not the policy objective in itself.

While autonomous vehicles can potentially bring about many benefits, the primary goal in congested cities is to reduce reliance on private vehicles, and encourage the use of public transport.

Transit offerings must remain attractive and reliable, as we consider enhancements with the introduction of self-driving vehicles. Despite recent complaints about rail reliability, Singaporeans care about public transport and will continue to use it if transit options are convenient, cost-effective and reliable.

Different solutions and technologies, like autonomous vehicles, can be used to promote transit use. Investigating how commuters and stakeholders will take to new technologies will be key, since this is a critical element for successful implementation, and brings us closer towards the desired outcome of more sustainable urban mobility.

Lynette Cheah is assistant professor of engineering systems at the Singapore University of Technology and Design and an affiliate with the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities. She leads a research group on Sustainable Urban Mobility, which develops data-driven solutions to reduce the environmental impacts of passenger and urban freight transport.

SINGAPORE: Sweaty armpits. Wobbly knees. Chewed fingernails. Harrowing wails.

For most Singaporeans, the trauma of waiting in a PSLE results queue ought to have been enough to put generations off waiting in line.

But no. Hell no. We’re made of sterner stuff. Proper alloy metal kind of stuff.

Instead, we have turned that memory on its head to make queuing into a daft art.

Sure, while we much prefer an every-man-woman-and-child-for-themselves melee when boarding buses, when it comes to anything snazzy, sugary, kawaii or free we will fall in shipshape to line up for hours on end.

2017 has seen its fair share of A-list, queue-worthy extravaganzas – chief among them, the debut of iPhone X.

Oh my word.

As the heaving mass of humanity in the video below shows, there was more chill on the rooftop of the US Embassy in Saigon when the city fell on Apr 30, 1975 than along Orchard Road last month.

Anyway, here are five other silly things we’ve queued up for in recent times:

GAGA OVER GONG CHA 

Chewy balls of starch. Four words that have no business appearing consecutively in any language. But hey, there it is. In all its glory.

Flavoured milk tea has been around for as long as humans, cows and tea leaves lived in close proximity. So basically, 2,000-plus years.

Nothing new there.

But sucking up pearls of tapioca through girthy straws is a novelty that has yet to wear off nearly 20 years after the first bubble tea beverage burst onto the scene.

Fans of Gong Cha queued overnight in celebration of its return to sun-dappled Singapore following a short-lived departure.

Some were even told they’d have to wait up to 14 hours to get their fix. To which they replied, while whipping out an air pillow: “Yup, that’s fine. Anything else?”

Fourteen hours, maybe 15, for a cuppa! Did I miss a memo? It’s all very Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

TARTS AND DONUTS

OK, it may sound like a kinky S&M skin flick. But it is far worse. In the midst of this war against diabetes, it’s unconscionable to be openly enthusiastic about confectionery.

And nothing spells gung-ho better than lining up (laying down, even) in your jammies for a box of Krispy Kreme. When the donut chain opened in 2013 at Tangs Orchard Basement, people began queuing a full day before the store opened.

The rewards, when they arrived, were sweet alright. The first person in line took home a one-year supply of the Original Glazed Doughnuts — a dozen donuts every week for an entire year. (And two vials of insulin.)

We are also positively gaga over Japanese tarts. There were snaking columns of wide-eyed fans when chain outlets Pablo and Hokkaido’s Bake Cheese Tarts opened here.

And it was worth it for them, as the only egg left on their faces came in a literal form as they all gave the die die must try! seal of approval.

IN A TIZZY OVER TIM HO WAN

This was the one that stumped us all. Mong Kok’s 20-seater Tim Ho Wan already had a cachet long before some fat bloke turned up and tossed a star in its direction.

When it turned up in Singapore in 2013 with its freshly minted Michelin glow, people here somehow lost the plot. It was a feeding frenzy like no other, as it sold 3,000 char siew buns on its first day.

Wait, what? Would Eskimos queue around the block for ice slushies?

Let’s be clear: Tim Ho Wan is pretty damn good. But it’s rather silly to drop everything and try it when we have had fine dim sum places like Hua Ting, East Ocean, Swee Choon and Red Star Restaurant, among a slew of others, for years.

Oh ya, we’re kiasu. I forgot. 

BONKERS OVER BALMAIN X H&M

As if the pandemonium of its grand opening on Grange Road in 2011 wasn’t wild enough, H&M’s seemingly fashion forward zealots plumbed the silly season to new depths when they turned up for the Balmain x H&M collection’s launch in 2015.

Channel NewsAsia covered the event back then, and here’s a sample of what shoppers said, post-sale: “I was so tired just now, but now I’m very alert – and very confused.”

“People inside are crazy.”

“It was intense, everybody was crazy.”

“I just want to go home and eat something.”

Oh, colour me surprised.

HELLO KITTY HELL

For those who remember, it was known as the Hello Kitty Riot. It remains to this day the barmiest episode of queue-fever in this country.

In January 2000, tens of thousands jostled to get their hands on Hello Kitty toys as part of McDonald’s toy promotion. The inauspicious start to the new year began on Jan 1 itself, when a doctor and a lorry driver came to blows over the dolls.

I’ll give you a couple of seconds to reread that sentence.

Done? OK, let’s continue our walk down this unedifying chapter in history.

A few days later, seven people were injured after a crowd queuing outside a McDonald’s outlet in Boon Keng got overly frantic and shattered a glass door. Three people were taken to hospital.

Throughout the promotion, SCDF was inundated with phone calls from the public about people fainting and fighting in queues. 

SINGAPORE: People in Jurong now have a new place to get their vending machine fix, with the opening of a new self-service “vending machine cluster” at #PlayatJCube The Corner in JCube shopping mall. 

Customers at the new “lifestyle zone” – which launched on Friday (Dec 1) – can buy food, knick-knacks and clothes or even sing karaoke – all from a vending machine.

In addition, Thai food fans will also be able to try out dishes created by Thai chef Jeeraphon Ritthep, who has previously cooked for the Thai royal family.

His signature dishes – such as stir-fried basil chicken with green curry fried rice and green curry prawn with rice – will be available from seven Chef-in-Box hot food vending machines.

Though it has launched vending machine cafes in places such as Anchorvale Drive, this is the first shopping mall the brand has operated in. 

Its vending machines will provide JCube customers with halal-certified meals priced from S$3.50 to S$7 per item.

Chef-in-Box also announced the launch of three new Christmas dishes – pumpkin soup, roast beefballs with pumpkin and potato and turkey stew with chestnut and brussels sprouts.

These will be available at all VendCafe outlets and its website from Dec 6 until the end of the month.

Speaking at Friday’s launch, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Sim Ann said the launch comes at a time when the food and retail industry needs to find new ways to engage customers.

“Today’s launch of the vending machine cluster is timely, as it combines both productive technology and an innovative retail concept to overcome space and manpower constraints,” she said.

Those looking for entertainment can also try out local company U-Star Singapore’s M-Bar karaoke-in-a-box, added Ms Sim, where they can enjoy quick singing sessions in their own booths.

These performances are automatically recorded and can then be shared on social media.

SINGAPORE: Police are looking into videos circulating online that may have been taken from within a protected area at Changi Airport.

Photography and filming are not allowed within such protected areas at the airport unless authorised, the police said on Friday (Dec 1) in response to queries from Channel NewsAsia.

On Wednesday, photos and videos of a Singapore Airlines plane on the tarmac in Changi Airport began circulating on social media. The front of the Boeing 777-200 passenger plane was covered in black soot after a tow tug caught fire as it was pulling the plane to a departure gate at around 4am that day.

Earlier in November, an otter family was filmed on the tarmac.

The police said they are aware of these videos. 

“The police are aware of videos circulating online that may have been taken from within the apron of the airport, and are looking into the matter,” a police spokesperson said.

The protected area where photography and filming are prohibited, called the “apron” by the International Civil Aviation Organization, refers to a defined area intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, baggage, fuelling, parking or maintenance. It also covers the baggage sorting area.

“There are warning signs which can be found before the entrance to the apron, informing all persons on this prohibition,” the police spokesperson added.

Channel NewsAsia had earlier reached out to Changi Airport Group (CAG) for comment on the videos and to find out if they were taken in a secure area. CAG was also asked if it has any policies on the dissemination of such videos.

Under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act, anyone found guilty of “Failure to Comply with Directions to Regulate Conduct in a Protected Place” may face a fine of up to S$1,000, a maximum jail term of two years, or both.

SINGAPORE: It is a nondescript unit in a nondescript block of flats in Woodlands.

At the void deck, bicycles are parked neatly in the designated parking area, sharing space with the laundry racks residents have placed there. Shouts of excitement come from a nearby court, where teenagers are enjoying an informal game of football.

There is no indication that more than two years ago, this was the place where a 26-year-old intellectually disabled woman was abused – physically and mentally – by people she regarded as her family. Waitress Annie Ee Yu Lian was found dead in her bed on Apr 13, 2015. She had 12 fractured ribs, seven fractured vertebrae, a ruptured stomach and a body crowded with blisters and bruises.

Ms Ee’s longtime friend, Tan Hui Zhen, and Tan’s husband, Pua Hak Chuan, pleaded guilty on Monday (Nov 27) to four and three charges, respectively, of abusing her over eight months. Tan was sentenced on Friday to 16-and-a-half years’ jail, while Pua received a sentence of 14 years’ jail and 14 strokes of the cane.

Besides slapping and punching her with their bare hands, the couple’s weapons included a pair of bedroom slippers, a red plastic belt, a bamboo stick, a plastic dustbin and a large, heavy roll of shrink wrap. Ms Ee was also forced to hand over her entire paycheck of S$1,200 to Tan, who gave her a weekly allowance of S$50, which she later reduced to S$30.

One resident, who wished to be known only as Mr Lee, remembers them all, and not without a tinge of regret.

“I knew Annie, but she didn’t talk much to us,” he said. “She talked to my wife a few times, and sometimes, they used to meet and go to work together.

“I also knew the couple, but they kept to themselves,” he added. “If they passed by our flat and saw us, they would greet us. But the girl (Annie) never did.”

Mr Lee also spoke of times when he had seen Ms Ee with visible injuries on her face and body. “Sometimes, she had swollen eyes, or a swollen face,” he said. “I saw the bruises, and suspected it was because of the couple, but I didn’t want to ask too much about it.

“Because the couple … they had so many tattoos and were like gangsters,” he added. “But we had no evidence, and even their direct neighbour did not notice anything wrong.”  

Sounds of the abuse may not have been evident to neighbours, as according to court documents, Ms Ee did not scream or shout during the assaults, but would instead control or muffle her pain. When she could not control her pain and shouted, she would be scolded by Tan.

But when asked if he regretted not speaking up or probing further on the basis of his suspicions, Mr Lee nodded sombrely.

“I’m quite sad now that I know all this happened to her,” he said. “She was just a young girl.

“And if I had approached her then and asked about it, maybe we could have done something to help.” 

NEW TENANT SAYS IT DOES NOT BOTHER HER

Today, the corridor unit where the abuse took place is brightly lit and filled with the sounds of young children. There is no sign that beatings and assaults once took place here on an almost daily basis.

It is now home to a new tenant – who wished to be known only as Madam Lakshmi – and her young children. Speaking to Channel NewsAsia, she said she moved into the four-room flat slightly over a month ago.

“When we rented the house, we were informed that the owners of this place are in jail,” she said. “We just know that an incident happened here, and saw it online.”

When asked if it bothered her knowing that Ms Ee had died in the house, she shook her head, smiling. “It happened a long time ago,” she said.

Indeed, it appears that while most neighbours approached by Channel NewsAsia generally knew what had happened, the overwhelming sense was that they have taken it in their stride.

“It was significant to us back then because it happened here, but I think after a while, the memories have faded,” said Ms Hazira, who lives in a ground-floor unit. “And the case was handled professionally, so I don’t really think it matters to us anymore.”

Another resident, Mr Abu Bakar, who lives in a unit a floor above, says he remembers seeing the police cars and CID officers at the foot of his block the day Ms Ee was found.

“I know which unit it was, and that it was two years back, but I can’t recall much anymore,” he said. “Anyway, I’ve lived here so long, and it’s okay. I know nothing about what happened, and I don’t really want to know.”

SINGAPORE: A total of 361 new cases of HIV infection were reported among Singapore citizens and permanent residents in the first 10 months of this year, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday (Dec 1). 

Of these, MOH analysed 194 cases reported between January and June, and found that 96 per cent of those infected are male. Nearly half (46 per cent) were between the ages of 20 and 39. 

The ministry also noted that about 42 per cent of the cases had late-stage HIV infection when they were diagnosed, a slight increase from the 38 per cent for the same period last year. 

Sexual intercourse remains the main mode of transmission, said MOH, accounting for 97 per cent of the 194 cases. It added that 53 per cent of the cases were from homosexual transmission, 34 per cent from heterosexual transmission and 10 per cent from bisexual transmission. 

AT-RISK GROUPS URGED TO GO FOR REGULAR SCREENING

Of the newly reported 361 cases, MOH said 43 per cent were detected by HIV tests in the course of medical care while 28 per cent were detected during routine HIV screening programmes. 

Voluntary HIV screening detected another 25 per cent of the cases. 

The rest were detected through other types of screening, such as during medical checks for employment or insurance, said MOH. 

It is urging at-risk groups to go for regular HIV testing as early diagnosis leads to early treatment and care. It also allows those infected to protect their partners from infection.

“With early and effective treatment, persons living with HIV can delay the onset of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and continue to lead an active and productive life,” said MOH.

The ministry also reiterated that the most effective way to prevent an HIV infection is to remain faithful to one’s spouse or partner, and to avoid sex with sex workers. 

The number of new HIV infections yearly has been falling. In 2016, there were 408 new cases reported among Singapore citizens and permanent residents. The figure was 455 in 2015.

Still, many people with HIV face stigma and discrimination in various aspects of their lives, noted Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor.

“Many are diagnosed when they are in their prime working age, and most feel that they are likely to be discriminated against or lose their jobs if their employers were to find out about their HIV diagnosis,” she said. 

To ensure equal access to employment opportunities, Dr Khor said the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), Health Promotion Board and Tan Tock Seng Hospital will be launching a guide on workplace HIV practices. 

“I urge all employers to work with us on this. A supportive environment is crucial to help us successfully address any stigmatisation and discrimination at the workplace,” said Dr Khor.

SINGAPORE: It’s looking to be a banner year for Singapore at the 2017 Asian Television Awards (ATA).

With 100 nominations in the bag, Singapore leads in a competition that sees 19 Asian countries vying for 42 awards.

During the first night of the awards (Nov 30) also known as the Technical Awards ceremony, Singapore picked up nine trophies, including Best Preschool Programme, Best General Entertainment Programme and Best 2D Animated Programme.

Mediacorp is the most nominated broadcaster with 45 nominations across 24 categories.

With two wins already in its pocket ( Best Digital Fiction and Non-Fiction Programme/Series award and  Best Direction (Non-Fiction), Mediacorp enters ATA’s second night of festivities vying for awards in 13 categories such as Best Drama Series.

Broadcasting live from Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on Friday night (Dec 1), the glittery event will see some of the biggest TV stars in Asia to grace the red carpet including Best Actor in a Leading Role nominee Hasnul Rahmat as well as Quan Yi Fong, Allan Wu, Yvette King and Niti Chaichitatorn who are all vying for the title of Best Entertainment Presenter/ Host.

Also making an appearance on the carpet will be Mediacorp’s very own “Ah Jie” and veteran actress Zoe Tay alongside fellow local actress Felicia Chin and Taiwan’s Chantel Liu – all nominees for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

The award is one of the night’s most highly anticipated categories as Tay, fresh from her recent triumph at the 2017 Star Awards 2017, will be duking it out with Chin, Liu, Ko Chia-Yen and Hong Kong veteran Kara Wai Ying Hung for the coveted honours.

Other big names from Singapore dominate in another hotly contested award category – Best Comedy Performance by an Actor/ Actress, with Mediacorp accounting for seven out of eight nominations in the category.

Contesting for the sought-after award are Chua En Lai and Alaric Tay for The Noose 9, Oon Shu An and R. Chandran for Meet the MP, J. Jai Kishan for Yes Mdm, Nurul Aini for Kathy Gerenti Siti Khalijah for Sekuriti and Hong Kong’s veteran comedy actor Bobby Au-Yeung for House of Spirits.

Making her way from Malaysia will be the youngest ever nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Puteri Balqis. Joining her on the red carpet will be Mediacorp’s Krissy Jesudason (nominated for Channel 5’s Tanglin) and Aleeyah Nabilah (nominated for Suria’s 7 Hari).

Rising Thai stars Krissanapoom (fondly known as JJ among fans) and Oabnithi who are both in the running for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award, will also be attending the event.

Catch the livestream on-the-go from 8pm onwards on toggle.sg and relive highlights on delayed telecast on Mediacorp Channel 5.