Addy Lee gives up Singapore PR, withdraws CPF to retire; ERP rates at 5 locations to increase by $1 from 1 Sept: Singapore live news

Malaysian-born celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee has given up his Singapore permanent resident (PR) status and cashed out his Central Provident Fund (CPF) funds as he looks forward to retirement. The 54-year-old became a PR around 30 years ago and plans to retire in Malaysia and Thailand, where he started a rabbit breeding business.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has said that The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates at five locations will increase by $1 from 1 September. The move comes after they had monitored traffic conditions in July, and found traffic congested at various stretches on expressways.

Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.

• Thu, 28 August 2025 at 12:39 am GMT-4

  Marcus Chhan

  

  Former celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee gave up his Singapore permanent resident (PR) status a week ago. (Photo: Addy Lee/FB)

  Former celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee has revealed to local media that he has given up his Singapore permanent resident (PR) status – and plans to retire with his Central Provident Fund (CPF) funds.

  The 54-year-old, who was born in Malaysia, became a PR around 30 years ago but last week decided to withdraw his status so that he could empty his CPF account and start enjoying retirement.

  "I sold my house in Singapore and all my businesses there too, now I'm just a free man. When I renounced my PR status and got my CPF, I felt quite sad," Lee was quoted by 8days.sg as saying.

  When asked by Mothership how much money he had accumulated in his CPF, he replied: "I can live 30 more years and it would likely still be enough."

  

  Addy Lee started a rabbit breeding business in Thailand. (Photo: Addy Lee/FB)

  Both media outlets report that Lee plans to spend retirement in Malaysia and Thailand with the latter the location of a rabbit breeding business he has started.

  Lee also wished former friend Quan Yifeng and her daughter Eleanor Lee all the best, ensuring he steered clear from adding further controversy to his public feud with the duo.

  In a Facebook post, Lee thanked Singapore and everyone who supported him, including local media and celebrities.

• Wed, 27 August 2025 at 9:33 pm GMT-4

  Marcus Chhan

  

  ERP rates will go up are along the AYE, CTE and PIE. (Photo: Getty)

  The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates at five locations will increase by $1 from 1 September, announced the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on 27 August.

  You can see the new prices below. If a location has multiple gantries, motorist will only need to pay at one of them.

  • AYE After Jurong Town Hall towards city (3 gantries): Motorists will pay $4 between 7.30am and 8am.

  • AYE After North Buona Vista towards Tuas: Motorists will pay $3 between 5.30pm and 6pm, and $2 between 6.30pm and 7pm.

  • Southbound CTE before Braddell Road: Motorists will pay $3 between 8am and 8.30am.

  • Northbound CTE after PIE (2 gantries): Motorists will pay $4 between 6.30pm and 7pm, and $3 between 7pm and 7.30pm.

  • PIE (Kallang Bahru and slip road into Bendemeer, 2 gantries): Motorists will pay $3 between 8.30am and 9am.

  LTA said it had monitored traffic conditions in July and decided to increase ERP rates at selected locations to "manage congestion".

  There are no changes to prices of other gantries.

  LTA said it will continue to monitor traffic speeds and congestion levels closely and assess if ERP rates need to be further adjusted in future. "In particular, LTA is closely monitoring traffic conditions along Northbound CTE and Southbound KPE as speeds have persistently been lower than optimal."