Serious Many Sinkies LeeTrenched in 2025!

Cathay Cineplexes faces $3.4m rent demand from Jem landlord​

Cathay Cineplexes faces a $3.4 million statutory demand over unpaid rent at its shuttered Jem outlet, deepening its financial woes amid industry headwinds. (Photo: Getty Images)

Cathay Cineplexes faces a $3.4 million statutory demand over unpaid rent at its shuttered Jem outlet, deepening its financial woes amid industry headwinds. (Photo: Getty Images) (seng chye teo via Getty Images)More
Cathay Cineplexes has received a statutory demand for $3.4 million in unpaid rent, tied to its shuttered Jem outlet in Jurong East. The cinema chain, owned by mm2 Asia, has until 22 July to settle the debt or risk being deemed insolvent.

The demand comes with a 1 per cent monthly interest rate, compounding daily until payment is made. mm2 Asia disclosed the notice in a Singapore Exchange filing and said both boards are seeking legal advice.

The Jem outlet closed on 27 March, following a lease termination by landlord Lendlease Global Commercial REIT. At the time, Cathay reportedly owed $4.3 million in rent.

The cinema chain earlier closed its outlets at West Mall outlet in February, Ang Mo Kio in June 2024and Parkway Parade in August 2023.

This isn’t an isolated case. Cathay has also received letters of demand for $2.7 million in arrears at Century Square and Causeway Point. In total, it owes over $10 million to landlords, with $3 million backed by corporate guarantees.
 

Johor-Singapore cooperation: Boom, bane or both?​

The economic benefits of the collaboration will take time to be felt; and in the near term, individuals and businesses will be economically discomfited

Stefanie Yuen Thio

Stefanie Yuen Thio

Published Wed, Jul 2, 2025 · 07:00 AM

Johor-Singapore SEZ



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  • The closer linkage between Johor and Singapore may offer opportunities, but it also presents formidable competition to the city-state – at least in the short term. PHOTO: BT FILE

CORPORATE Singapore has long moaned about high real estate costs and the lack of affordable labour – problems that the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is expected to tackle.

On Jan 6, Singapore and Malaysia inked a formal agreement to establish the JS-SEZ to attract businesses in every thing ranging from manufacturing, to health and to digital. With a land area four times that of our tiny island-state, the JS-SEZ opens up the possibility for Singapore companies to set up in Johor Bahru.

In May, a convenient light rail transit system connecting Singapore and JB was announced. Slated for launch end-2026, the JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will be able to serve up to 10,000 commuters during peak periods for every hour and in each direction, with a journey time of about five minutes. This should significantly reduce congestion along the Causeway and reduce travel times between JB and Singapore.

While lowering costs and increasing efficiency should be golden words to corporate leaders’ ears, every conversation I have had with business owners or CEOs have so far started with a grimace and ended with a groan.

Clearly, the JB-Singapore story is more than cost reduction and transport efficiency.

Competition with Singapore​

The closer linkage may offer opportunities, but it also presents formidable competition to Singapore – at least in the short term.

RM1 is currently worth 30 Singapore cents. For Singaporeans, the favourable exchange rate means that prices are lower in Malaysia. Already, many are making day trips to JB to stock up on diapers, enjoy cheap meals and get pampered in a spa.

And they are there not just for basic necessities. They are also going to Malaysia for health check-ups and simple medical treatments. Pharmaceuticals, too, are cheaper across the Causeway.

Business owners in Singapore are worried that this will hollow out local demand in supermarkets, food and beverage (F&B) outlets and other specialised services.
 
hopefully the property market will go into correction. ai, ceca, jiuhukia, and jb put many sinkies out of work.

look at the whole situation from day one. numerous angles. job market, retail market, property market. ukraine, 12day war, Trump tariffs. AI etc..


job market since 1997, LKY brought the foreign talent subject up during the AFC 1997 and GE1997 cheng san GRC.
up to today...nothing but CECA CECA CECA and outsourcing to Yeendia , pinoy , PRCs and msians.


retail market. all the big names closed down. orchard road, Robinson, JL, and now cathay inside the ICU and heading for the morgue and crematorium very very soon agree??? and the next wave. JB RTS. they just need to flood the entire JB region with scores of supermarkets, dept stores and wet markets. sinkies will flood into jb with market trolleys. RTS direct to MRT.


property market still soooo resilient?? untouchable?? million dollar BTOs and condos, you lost your job, house mortgage no need to pay??
like those prop agents say... "crash?? will not happen, PRICE CORRECTION..MAYBE. then after that...prices will go up again. its the DEMAND."

if property market meltdown (and I hoping for endless multiple waves of meltdown), those very comfy in the Civil service with huge housing loans will inevitablly also will kena drag down by crashing /burning prices. margin calls, loan top ups.
remeber Hong Lim Park-minibond and recently the Income Allianz saga.

already I am seeing middle age sinkies females doing grab food delivery, online parcel delivery, and now door to door yakult sales.

just wait. wait for the 5Ds to kena all those 70% 60% 61% 65% sinkies.
Debts, Divorce, Depression, Destitution, Death (suicide),
 
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It is not news worthy until we see at least 1 million foreigners leave Sinkapore and property price is lowered by at least 30 percent.
 
Lol voters wan these,some even hope their pigeon holes can sell at high price really kum gong,sell high buy high theory also Don know,unless stay under a bridge or in a drain,then can consider earned,lol
 
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