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Minister Edwin Tong hospitalized: Angioplasty performed due to severe arterial blockage.

Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, Edwin Tong, recently underwent angioplasty following the discovery of a critically blocked artery during a routine health check.

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SINGAPORE: Edwin Tong, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, underwent angioplasty to address a severely blocked coronary artery discovered during a recent routine health check.

The surgery took place on Tuesday (8 Aug), after which a stent was successfully inserted to restore blood flow.

Detailing his health journey on Facebook, the 53-year-old politician revealed that he was found to have a blockage in the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery, a critical vessel responsible for supplying blood to the heart.

The discovery surprised him, given his active lifestyle, non-smoker status, and satisfactory cholesterol levels.

Earlier today, an angiogram clarified the diagnosis, followed by the angioplasty procedure. “Very grateful to my doctors and the nursing team – they are looking after me brilliantly,” he expressed in his post.

As he recuperates, Mr Tong will reduce his usual hectic schedule, working primarily from home and minimizing events and meetings per medical advice. He apologized for any inconvenience caused due to his absence from several events.

Mr Tong used this opportunity to emphasize the importance of regular health checks, recounting how he didn’t experience notable symptoms and assumed increased fatigue was due to his demanding schedule. “This episode is another reminder for us all to not take our health for granted – and to go for our regular health checks!” he wrote.

Given his health condition, Mr Tong will observe this year’s National Day from the hospital, supporting the National Day Parade through television.

Edwin Tong has been a notable figure in Singaporean politics since 2011, representing Moulmein-Kallang GRC under the People’s Action Party (PAP).

In subsequent years, he represented Marine Parade GRC and assumed his current ministerial role in July 2020. Before his political tenure, he was a lawyer at Allen and Gledhill, a major Singaporean law practice.

Mr Tong also gained attention for representing City Harvest pastor Kong Hee, who faced charges related to misusing church funds.

Notably, a recent vacancy has emerged in Mr Tong’s GRC due to the resignation of Mr Tan Chuan Jin following revelations of an extramarital affair with a fellow PAP MP.

In a concerning trend, several other MPs have recently reported health issues.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Baey Yam Keng, 52, was diagnosed with stage one nose cancer in January last year. After undergoing treatment, he received an all-clear in April 2022. However, come this August, Mr Baey found three benign polyps during a routine colonoscopy.

On 26 July, the Member of Parliament for Bukit Panjang, Liang Eng Hwa, 59, shared that he had been diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer. This diagnosis came after he had been experiencing muffled hearing in his left ear for several months.

Mr Liang mentioned plans to undergo daily radiotherapy treatments for the next seven weeks. As a result, he may reduce his involvement in community activities and duties for the upcoming months.

In a separate incident, Workers’ Party MP Muhamad Faisal Manap, 48, was hospitalized on 24 July due to a “cardiac condition.” After a four-day stay, he was discharged and is presently on medical leave, recuperating at home.

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Crime

Singaporean fugitive deported from Thailand, to be charged with drug trafficking

A Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand, was deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024 and faces drug trafficking charges. Authorities expect him to face the death penalty under Singapore’s tough drug laws for running a smuggling operation between Thailand, Australia, and Singapore.

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11 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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A 31-year-old Singaporean man, wanted for drug trafficking offences, was arrested in Thailand and deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024.

The fugitive, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was apprehended by Thai police at his residence near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and will face charges in court on 20 September.

Kee, described as a high-level trafficker, ran a smuggling operation that trafficked crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and Ecstasy to Australia and Singapore using Thailand as a transit hub, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Cross-Border Investigation and Arrest

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore had issued an arrest warrant for Kee following investigations into two drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022.

He had been on the run since 11 April 2016, prompting CNB to collaborate with its international counterparts, including the ONCB. Thai authorities were tipped off by CNB on 12 August 2024, and after weeks of investigation, Kee was apprehended on 17 September.

Thai immigration officials revealed that Kee had entered Thailand earlier in 2024 using a Vanuatu passport.

Following his arrest, Kee’s Thai visa was cancelled, and assets worth 15 million baht (S$585,000), including luxury watches, gold pieces, and a luxury car, were seized during a raid on his residence in Samut Prakan.

Lt Gen Panurat confirmed that the fugitive had been living an affluent lifestyle in Thailand despite lacking legitimate employment.

Links to Broader Drug Network

Kee is believed to be linked to other Singaporean traffickers involved in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand.

In March 2021, Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (AITF) intercepted packages containing Ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore, as well as crystal methamphetamine bound for Australia.

Two other Singaporean men, aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrests, were later sentenced to imprisonment and caning in Singapore for their involvement in these operations, which were connected to Kee’s trafficking network.

Death Penalty Under Singaporean Law

Kee’s deportation to Singapore brings him under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s severe drug laws, which prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking substantial amounts of controlled substances.

Singaporean authorities have indicated that he could face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug trafficking laws. Pol Lt Gen Panurat indicated that Singaporean authorities are expected to seek the maximum penalty for Kee’s alleged offences.

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Arts & Culture

Epigram Books to close SAM bookshop amid low sales and footfall

Epigram Books will shut down its bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum on 26 January 2025, citing low sales and foot traffic. The independent bookstore, known for supporting local authors, will continue to operate its online store, but its future in brick-and-mortar retail is uncertain.

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11 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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Epigram Books, a major supporter of Singaporean literature, will close its Epigram Coffee Bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) on 26 January 2025.

The decision comes after years of struggling with low sales and foot traffic at the Tanjong Pagar Distripark location, marking the end of the bookstore’s three-year lease.

The announcement on 19 September follows Times Bookstores’ closure of its final outlet in Holland Road, highlighting the growing challenges faced by brick-and-mortar bookstores in Singapore.

Edmund Wee, publisher at Epigram Books, expressed disappointment, stating: “We tried everything to make this work. Over the past three years, we’ve often asked ourselves, how many people even knew our bookstore existed here, let alone visited?”

Despite efforts to boost traffic, including operating shuttles to increase accessibility, the bookstore struggled to attract visitors consistently.

Epigram Coffee Bookshop, previously located at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Centre on Maxwell Road and later in a pop-up at Beach Road, relocated to SAM in May 2022 in partnership with Balestier Market Collective.

The 20-seater store featured towering shelves showcasing local and Southeast Asian titles, including books from other independent publishers like Ethos Books and Math Paper Press.

However, the location’s industrial setting, which only saw spikes in visitors during major exhibitions like Olafur Eliasson’s, limited consistent footfall.

The closure coincides with the end of Eliasson’s exhibit on 22 September 2024. Although the exhibition provided a temporary boost to the bookshop’s sales, Epigram noted that the increased traffic was short-lived.

Epigram’s future in physical retail remains uncertain. Mr Wee indicated that high rental costs make reopening a physical store unlikely: “Unless rent prices relent, it’s unlikely we’ll move into another space.”

Epigram Books has been a significant presence in Singapore’s independent book scene, promoting local authors and holding literary events.

The bookshop was also a community hub for the literary arts, hosting numerous book launches and events supporting local writers. “These spaces are special to our literary arts community. They’re where book lovers gather, where literary events and book launches happen in support of our writers,” said Mr Wee.

Despite the closure of the SAM store, Epigram will continue to operate its online store. The publisher emphasized the need for continued support from readers: “We’ve come this far with everyone’s support, and we look forward to continued support from our readers as we transition to focus on online sales.”

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