Singapore-based authors are winning more national literary awards since this year, when the government introduced a new prize called SGP Readers’ Choice award which seeks to encourage writing in Singapore and further reading habit among its residents. Consumer voting will determine four shortlisted authors, who will each receive cash awards of $1,000 Singapore dollars as well as book purchase vouchers worth $50 from consumers.

The prize will be presented annually, beginning with its inaugural presentation in 2023. To qualify, authors must be Singapore citizens or permanent residents and have published within five years a book translated into English that is available at bookstores within Singapore; whether fiction, non-fiction or memoir this book must address themes ranging from arts to social issues including health and family matters.

At this year’s event, in addition to the main prizes there will be two special commendations awards given out. One will honor work that contributes towards revitalizing Qixi festival and another will recognize an industry book published within Singapore.

Lee Hsien Loong will serve as one of the judges at this year’s Singapore Literature Prize ceremony and select a winner in each language category – Tamil, Chinese and Malay – before unveiling him or herself at an award ceremony scheduled for late August or early September.

Last week, Britain’s Prince William made his first trip back to Singapore since 2012 with his wife Princess Catherine. He arrived to help launch his Royal Foundation charity’s Earthshot Prize project that seeks to accelerate solutions and technologies needed to combat climate change. At MediaCorp’s awards ceremony celebrating Accion Andina, GRST, WildAid Marine Program, S4S Technologies and Boomitra as 2023 winners/finalists respectively (he walked down the “green carpet”) wearing his 10-year-old Alexander McQueen suit (Mbatha and Yen donned eco-friendly gowns while Hannah Waddingham (Britain) as well as Australian singer Bebe Rexha provided performances before the crowds.

Professor John Miksic’s Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300-1800 book was this year’s winner of the Singapore History Prize. It provided archaeological evidence confirming that Singapore began over 700 years ago – providing a much-needed reinterpretation of Singapore history.

Singapore Literature Prize comprises twelve categories across four languages — Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English. Although Singapore’s laws regulate gambling activities generally, prize promotions and contests specifically fall outside this legislation; however, tax implications may still exist for participating participants.