SINGAPORE - Not raising your voice in anger and intentionally spending quality time together are key to a lasting marriage, said a couple who have been together for almost seven decades.

Mr Peter Chua, 91, and Madam Molly Foong, 86, were married in 1956, and just celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary in February.

“I always make sure that we have breakfast, lunch and dinner together,” Madam Foong said. “When I go out for my exercise, I make sure that I come back on time so we can eat together.”

They were one of 202 couples present at the Golden Jubilee Wedding Celebrations on Feb 16, an event to honour couples who have been together for more than 50 years. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi, were also present at the celebration.

At the event, organised by the Families for Life Council, the Registry of Marriages and the Registry of Muslim Marriages, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli announced more support for couples looking to tie the knot.

From July 1, all Singaporean and permanent resident couples who complete marriage preparation programmes will get a higher rebate of $170, with full subsidies provided for lower-income couples, Mr Masagos said.

This is up from the current rebate amounts of $70 for an evidence-informed programme – one that blends research, best practices and community input – and $140 for an evidence-based programme – a rigorously tested, proven practice.

These rebates are valid for programmes done with Ministry for Social and Family Development (MSF)-approved operators.

Full subsidies will be provided for lower-income couples, Mr Masagos said, adding that marriage preparation programmes “equip couples with the skills and knowledge to navigate their relationships and form important foundations for the couple’s journey together”.

Aside from higher rebates, more online learning modules with information on strengthening relationships will also be made available to all couples later in 2025, he said. MSF said more details will be announced later.

There will be 17 complimentary online modules made available to all couples, which are now available only for Muslim couples.

These include topics on preparing for marriage and family life, setting expectations, financial management, communication, conflict resolution, and relationships with in-laws, said MSF in response to queries from The Straits Times.

“Nurturing a life-long marria...