The MAJU Bulletin

[Policy Explainer] Keeping Singapore’s Heritage Alive: Can Heritage Businesses Survive? By Luei En Le and Suhayl Saifudin Bookstores. Traditional retailers. Family-run shops. 📚 These heritage businesses are more than places to shop, they are living pieces of Singapore’s history and culture. However, rising rents, higher operating costs and dwindling patronage are putting them under pressure. From the Heritage Businesses Scheme to greater marketing and public recognition, the Govt is stepping in to keep these businesses going. Can the Scheme strike the right balance between preserving our heritage and helping businesses stay commercially viable? 📊 Find out more with our newest Policy Explainer! #MAJUSG #PublicPolicy #Heritage #Singapore @theMAJUBulletin

[Policy Explainer] The SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme — One Year On By Afiqah Binte Mohamad Imran and Wah Tee Liat  Lose your job through no fault of your own? The JS Scheme now offers up to $6,000 in support — a milestone Singapore spent years debating. 💼 But here's the rub, only 4 in 10 applicants made the cut and benefited. The $5,000 income ceiling, rigid documentation, and a blind spot for gig workers mean the scheme is still missing a significant category of people it was built to support. 🤔 It's a bold beginning. Now comes the hard part, getting the details right. Read our Policy Explainer to find more about the JS Scheme. #MAJUSG #PublicPolicy #Employment #Singapore @theMAJUBulletin

[Op-Ed] Why Should I become a Parent? By Chuang Zhe Quan ➡️ Read the full Op-Ed here!

[Policy Explainer] Land from Sand: Breaking Down Singapore’s Land Reclamation Policy By Tan Ding Rui and Luei En Le Since independence, land reclamation has expanded Singapore's landmass by approximately 20% - with Changi Airport, Jurong Island, and Tuas Port all built on what was once open sea. 🏝 However, that growth came at a cost, including sand export bans from neighbouring countries, and the loss of over 45% of Singapore's original seagrass cover. Is engineering innovation such as new methods of reclamation enough to keep land reclamation sustainable, or is Singapore simply running out of room to grow without cost?⚖️ Find out more with our Policy Explainer. #MAJUSG #PublicPolicy #InfrastructureandDevelopment @theMAJUBulletin

🌳🛠️ THIS WEEK ‼️ The Government reasoned that Maju Forest needs development as alternative sites are unsuitable. As Singapore's land needs grow, how should we decide what to build over? ➡️ For more, read the full Policy Explainer here!

HACKATHON PSA 📢‼️ The policy workshop will now be held in person @ *SCAPE Studio 5! 📌 And no worries, the original option of Zoom will remain available 👍 Sign ups close on 23 Aug, apply now!

[Policy Explainer] Cars for Cash: Exploring Changes to the PARF Rebate By Charmaine Khor, Finna Ng and Harry Lee Scrap your car before it turns 10, and Singapore hands you a little something in return. That's PARF in a nutshell — the Government's version of a loyalty discount for giving up your car early. 🚗💸 Budget 2026 slashed the PARF rebate by 45 percentage points and halved the cap from $60,000 to $30,000, quietly making EVs relatively more attractive without touching EV incentives directly. 🔋 Is this a clever nudge toward cleaner cars, or just a stealth tax on ICE car owners who already paid a hefty ARF upfront? ⚖️ Find out more with our newest policy explainer! #MAJUSG #PublicPolicy #Transport @theMAJUBulletin

[Policy Explainer] The Next Public Offering: Singapore Invests Billions on Reviving the SGX By Rushil Srinath Sea. Grab. PropertyGuru. What do these Singaporean giants have in common? They all chose to list overseas... not on the SGX. 📉 Fewer new listings, more delistings, and a market many call “unexciting” — can we truly call ourselves a "global financial hub"? 🤔 From the Equity Market Development Programme to the Anchor Fund, the Govt is pumping billions to support the SGX💰 But can public money really spark a self-sustaining market, or does it risk crowding out the very private activity it hopes to grow? ⚖️ Find out more with our newest policy explainer! #MAJUSG #PublicPolicy #Economy @theMAJUBulletin

MAJU Hackathon 2026 🧠🔥 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Virtual Policy Workshop 🗓 5 September 2026 (Sat) 🕐 7pm - 9pm 📍 Zoom In-Person Hackathon 🗓 12 September 2026 (Sat) 🕐 8am - 6pm 📍 MOE, 1 North Buona Vista Drive Sign up here by 23 August! 👋

🗣💬 THIS WEEK ‼️ The Government's decision to limit the release of Teochew film Dear You has reignited public discussion about the Speak Mandarin Campaign. As attitudes towards language and cultural heritage evolve, Singaporeans may increasingly find themselves asking: what is lost when a language fades away? ➡️ For more, read the full Policy Explainer here!

[Policy Explainer] Presumed Consent in Practice: Understanding Singapore’s Organ Donation System By Rushil Srinath, Heidi Goh If a deceased Singaporean has organs suitable for transplantation, who makes the call? 🧐  In 1987, the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) was passed. This marked a shift from an “opt-in” to an “opt-out” system — in other words, presumed consent. 👌 But is it right to just assume on such matters? While this move may have saved many lives, what is the balance with individual agency? ⚖️ Find out more with our newest policy explainer! @theMAJUBulletin #MAJUSG #PublicPolicy #Health

MAJU Hackathon 2026 🔥 📆 5 and 12 September 2026 🎒 Theme: Education Sign-ups open on 26 July More details then 👀