OneKM Reading and Writing, a MindChamps franchisee in Tanjong Katong, had its licence revoked by MindChamps headquarters in early September this year due to the franchisee's failure to meet the HQ's quality checks.
In a statement yesterday, the company said that MindChamps HQ stepped in to service all OneKM Reading and Writing franchise centre's students.
For those parents who could not continue in other MindChamps Reading and Writing centres, their fees were refunded.
Although this OneKM centre carries the name of MindChamps, it is a franchise centre and it is ultimately owned by the franchisee, who is responsible for the running of the business and all associated costs.
Nonetheless, MindChamps made sure that OneKM Reading and Writing full-time employees were paid up to the end of August this year, while part-time independent contractors were advised to file their claims through the small claims court for any balance payment owed by the franchisee.
In the event that they do not succeed in their claims, they have been informed that MindChamps headquarters will step in to pay them out of goodwill, the company said yesterday.
In addition, MindChamps has also offered positions to affected employees at the HQ and other MindChamps centres.
The statement follows a TNP report on Oct 20 quoting some centre employees who had trouble claiming salaries owed by the franchisee.
Some of the trainers had a scheduled hearing at the Labour Court on Oct 20, but the two directors of the axed franchisee did not show up.
A new date has been fixed for November.
The centre that has been closed is one of two at OneKM. MindChamps Pre-School remains open.
As to the claim that the Reading & Writing Centre was closed without notice, MindChamps said all parents had been given advance notice.
The company said the MindChamps brand is known not only for its strong scientifically validated curriculum, but also for honouring its promise in delivering high quality standards to its students.
It currently has 33 MindChamps Pre-schools and seven MindChamps Reading & Writing centres islandwide.
AWARD
Its soon-to-be announced 2016 win as Influential Brand of the year for three consecutive years is a testament to its promise, added the company statement.
On their response to the situation, founder of MindChamps, Mr David Chiem said: "Honour is everything to us.
"Our number one priority is our children and we will do whatever it takes to keep our promise in providing them with the very best.
"In the case of the OneKM Reading and Writing franchise centre, revoking their franchise licence is about upholding our stringent quality standards and protecting our parents' and stakeholders' trust in us."
MindChamps franchise owners felt the same way, the statement added.
Mr David Lee, who owns five centres, said: "I started my first franchise centre with MindChamps Preschool in 2008, and am very grateful for all the support and training provided by MindChamps headquarters.
"Now with our fifth centre, I am delighted to be a part of a strong brand where stringent quality control and standards are not compromised in any way."
He added that the fact that MindChamps HQ had no qualms shutting down a franchise centre that did not deliver excellence, makes him even more confident be a part of the MindChamps brand.
This article was first published on Oct 23, 2016.
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Early on Friday morning, Australian-Vietnamese social entrepreneur Yen Siow and her family of five headed to Changi Airport's Terminal 2.
They were armed with placards, waiting to welcome a Norwegian man whom she had met only once, 36 years ago.
It was an encounter she would never forget.
When she was just four years old in October 1980, she was one of hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled in boats across the South China Sea after South Vietnam fell to the communists in 1975.
Adrift and on the verge of death while crowded with 81 others in a flimsy boat, a Norwegian oil tanker by the name of Berge Tasta came to their rescue.
The ship's crew of 29, which included 18-year-old Mr Bernhard Oyangen, fed and clothed them and eventually found a temporary refuge for them - the Hawkins Road Refugee Camp in Sembawang.
It was the first and only refugee camp here until 1996, when the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees decided to shut all its camps in the region.
Photo: The Straits Times
When 54-year-old Mr Oyangen entered the arrival hall, Ms Siow, 39, wrapped him in a long hug and introduced her three children, aged between five and 10.
"I said to him, 'Mr Bernhard, these are my children, and without your team and your captain, they wouldn't be around today'," recalled Ms Siow.
She resettled in Australia after her four-month stay in the refugee camp, and relocated here last year with her Singaporean husband.
In August, she decided to track down her Norwegian rescuers and contacted Mr Oyangen through Facebook.
They arranged to meet this month when he was due to pass through Singapore on a business trip to New Zealand.
Over breakfast at the airport, she found out other details of their 10-day journey at sea - why and how the crew had willingly taken in a group of refugees with an "indescribable" stench and given them the clothes off their back.
"It was wonderful to hear simple replies like, 'You're humans. We're people. We would save you no matter what'," said Ms Siow.
"The profound kindness of his actions really hit me when I met him and heard those words from him."
She has found four other crew members since August, and hopes to travel with her family to Norway to meet them in December.
Mr Oyangen, who owns a business in the shipping industry, was surprised when Ms Siow contacted him out of the blue.
The last time that he had met former refugees from the camp was about 15 years ago in Norway.
"Helping people at sea is a part of seamanship," he said. "I was happy to meet her and hear her story.
The Vietnamese people didn't talk much (about their history), but I know a lot more today after meeting her."
Mr Oyangen will be in Singapore until Tuesday, and has been spending time with Ms Siow and her family, visiting landmarks and having meals together.
Yesterday, they also met Norway's Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Tormod C. Endresen, at his residence.
Next Sunday, Mr Oyangen will visit Singapore on the way back to Norway, in time to celebrate Ms Siow's birthday on Oct 30, and mark the 36th anniversary of the arrival of the tanker in Singapore.
It brings a sense of closure for Ms Siow. "(It was very) important for me to put the story together so I can teach my children the importance of the kindness of strangers, the value of human life and how we treat each other... It affects people for the rest of their lives."
This article was first published on Oct 23, 2016.
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The Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) has not submitted its latest audited financial statements, the only town council among 16 yet to do so, said the Ministry of National Development (MND) in a statement yesterday.
AHTC had asked for an extension on Aug 12, citing "outstanding issues to resolve with its auditor", the ministry said.
The town council had appointed accounting firm KPMG to look into its books after the Auditor- General's Office found significant governance lapses in a special audit last year.
This is the fourth time the statements have been late since the Workers' Party won Aljunied GRC in May 2011. The town council submitted its statements for the 2014/2015 financial year on time.
MND said it is awaiting a reply from AHTC on when it planned to submit the documents.
AHTC chairman Pritam Singh then said in a statement that it "would not be helpful" to give a date as KPMG is finalising a draft report to determine if any of AHTC's past payments were improper, which could throw up new queries about the financial documents.
"We do not anticipate this to significantly affect the town council's audit of its financial statements for FY15/16. However, as a matter of prudence and professionalism, our auditor would inevitably have to peruse this report carefully before signing off (on them)," he said.
Mr Singh said AHTC wanted to submit its statements on time, as it had last year, but was delayed due to "significant resources" being devoted to KPMG's reviews of its financial processes and past payments.
It also had to finalise and submit the financial statements for Punggol East, and "continues to attend to queries" from the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council's (PRPTC) accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers, he said.
AHTC had also lost some time as its chosen auditor was only approved by MND in May, when such appointments are usually confirmed by March, he added.
The ministry had initially rejected AHTC's proposed auditor but later approved it after an appeal.
In a subsequent statement last night, MND said it initially rejected AHTC's auditor as the firm's proposed partner had failed the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's Practice Monitoring Programme (PMP), which ensures public accounting firms and accountants comply with standards and procedures.
In its appeal, AHTC assured MND and the Auditor-General's Office that concerns about weaknesses in the town council's accounting system would be addressed by KPMG.
MND said AHTC was given the green light in view of this, and because the PMP's findings against the proposed auditor "were not considered severe".
After MND's second statement, Mr Singh responded with a detailed timeline setting out the sequence of how its auditor was eventually appointed, and reiterated AHTC's commitment to submit its audited financial statements to MND "as soon as practicable".
The WP lost Punggol East to the People's Action Party in September last year, and the single-member constituency returned to the fold of PRPTC.
Both town councils are in an ongoing dispute over documents needed to review the accounts of Punggol East.
Mr Singh pointed out that AHTC's unaudited financial statements were submitted on time by June 30, but both KPMG and MND had highlighted transactions to look into.
In its second statement, MND said the unaudited statements "contained numerous errors, inconsistencies, and non-compliance with MND guidelines".
The ministry had earlier noted that AHTC's delay affected PRPTC, which received a qualification on its financial statements "solely because it was not able to confirm the accuracy of the amounts due from AHTC" for Punggol East.
AHTC said it had informed PRPTC in August of the delay.
In its own statement last night, PRPTC said it received the audited financial statements of Punggol East in late September and noted that these were qualified.
It added that it will continue to "pursue a proper handover and accounting" of the Punggol East accounts.
MND said the other 14 town councils submitted unqualified reports.
This article was first published on Oct 23, 2016.
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It took stallholders years, and in some cases decades, to build up their businesses from scratch at Block 493, Jurong West Street 41.
Some served delicious hawker fare while others provided residents with essential items.
But in the early hours of Oct 11, their lives took a drastic turn after flames engulfed the wet market and coffee shop, razing the building to the ground.
Now, only skeletal stall fronts and a collapsed roof remain.
The blaze also damaged an adjacent coffee shop at Block 494, with witnesses reporting as many as three explosions and a fire that rose up to two storeys high.
About 300 residents evacuated the neighbouring blocks in one of Singapore's worst fires in recent years.
A 41-year-old man was charged with committing mischief by fire on Oct 15.
Lim Ying Siang allegedly set fire to styrofoam boxes at the market at about 3am on Oct 11.
Demolition work on Block 493 started last Wednesday and it is expected to take about three weeks.
In the days following the incident, Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng and various agencies stepped in to help the 51 affected stallholders, such as by giving them an emergency relief fund of $500 each.
A temporary market will be ready before Chinese New Year, although rebuilding a new permanent market is expected to take more than a year.
Two weeks on, while some stallholders have started exploring options to restart their businesses, others have found it hard to move on due to their age or lack of savings.
Ng Huiwen speaks to three who have been affected.
Distraught family determined to reopen stall nearby
Mr Soh Chun Wee (right) is proud that his father, Mr Soh Chin Soon's (left) Western food stall has helped to put him and his younger brother through university.
Photo: The Straits Times
When he was a teenager, Mr Soh Chun Wee ate chicken chop almost every day for several weeks as his dad tried to perfect the recipe.
Twelve years ago, his father, Mr Soh Chin Soon, had just started running his halal Western food stall at the Block 493 coffee shop in Jurong West Street 41.
"If it was too salty, I would give my feedback and dad would keep trying again and again," recalled his son, now a 27-year-old traffic engineer.
"I remember being so sick of chicken chop after that."
His father's tenacity in whipping up the best dishes for his customers propelled his Western food business through the years.
Before the Oct 11 fire which ravaged the wet market and coffee shop, where Chicken Supremo Western Food was located, customers would flock from as far as Punggol to taste its signature chicken chop and coleslaw.
The stall has 3,819 followers on its Facebook page. Since the fire, several customers have visited the page to lament its loss.
However, it has not been easy.
Before he became a hawker in 1991, the elder Mr Soh, now 56, worked as a delivery driver.
After his second son was born, he decided to start his own business to better support the family.
The younger Mr Soh remembers his dad working 11-hour shifts each day, sometimes returning home after midnight.
One of the lowest points for the family was when his dad had to undergo a heart bypass operation about 20 years ago.
His mother ran the stall during the day and visited his dad in the hospital at night.
This went on for two months, with the younger Mr Soh tagging along with her.
He said: "Although it was tough for us, giving up was not an option."
Seeing his father's hard work pay off, with the customer base growing each year, has been a proud moment in his life.
"My family is what it is today because of my dad's stall. It has helped put me and my brother through university," he said.
He graduated from Nanyang Technological University last year, while his 25-year-old brother is in his final year at the Singapore Institute of Management.
Though they were distraught after the fire, the family plans to reopen the stall nearby.
"My dad is an optimistic guy and has never complained," he said. "The fire is definitely a setback for him, but I am sure he can bounce back."
Stall is gone but she visits site every day
Madam Haw Mui Eng, 47, who started 493 Fishball Noodles with her husband in 2006, is worried that her family's savings will be wiped out soon.
Photo: The Straits Times
Almost every day for the last decade, Madam Haw Mui Eng, has woken at about 5am to travel by bus to the coffee shop at Block 493, where she sold up to 500 bowls of fishball noodles until the afternoon.
When the 47-year-old started 493 Fishball Noodles with her husband in 2006, she wanted to make use of the skills she picked up as a hawker assistant to provide for her two sons, now aged 21 and 23.
But over the years, she forged close friendships with other stallholders at the building, where she worked for close to nine hours every day, except for two rest days a month.
Although her stall was destroyed in the fire, Madam Haw continues to wake up at the same hour to return to the site each day.
"I'm used to waking up early already. It's my habit," she said in Mandarin.
"I know the stall is now completely gone but I will go down to take a look at it, even if it's just to stand behind the hoardings. Everything was burned down in an instant. My heart is broken."
About 12 years ago, she began honing her cooking skills while working at a canteen stall at Choa Chu Kang camp for eight months.
As the menu varied each day, she learnt to cook a range of local fare, including laksa and fried beehoon.
Later, she decided to venture into her own business selling fishball noodles at a coffee shop near her home.
Business was slow, so she decided to cut her losses and shut down after six months. But soon after, she accepted an offer to run a stall at Block 493.
"This was the only trade that I knew, so I didn't have the courage to try other jobs," she said, adding that it took her about eight years to "perfect the skills of making a tasty bowl of noodles".
Now, she spends her time chatting with the shopkeepers or residents in the area, or running a few errands before heading home to care for her family.
Her 60-year-old husband used to serve customers at the stall, before taking a break about a month ago after a cataract operation.
Her older son is currently studying at the Institute of Technical Education College Central, while the younger one is studying at the Lasalle College of the Arts.
With the family living from hand to mouth, she is worried what little savings that they have will be wiped out soon.
"I still find it hard to sleep at night. I wonder: 'Will my kids have enough pocket money for school?"
After the blaze, she received $500 in immediate relief funds. She has also applied for government assistance for three months.
Last week, Lasalle offered to refund her son's semester fees of $2,700 to ease the family's financial burden.
The school has waived its fees for the next semester.
Though she is keen to start selling fishball noodles again, she is unsure if she can afford the $10,000 or more it will cost to do so in the near future.
Instead, she will look for suitable job options at an employment fair to be held on Thursday for affected stallholders.
Looking through the pictures of stallholders she had previously snapped with her mobile phone, she said: "We have become like family over the years and now we may have to go our separate paths.
I'm not sure I can let go yet. It's a pity."
Getting by on wages at supermarket
Madam Teo Ai Yoke was working the midnight shift at a supermarket at Block 491, Jurong West Street 41 when she heard a commotion outside.
Rushing out, the 65-year-old's heart sank upon seeing the coffee shop and wet market at Block 493 in flames.
Her husband had run a stall at the wet market for the last 20 years, first as a florist and then selling imitation jewellery, before selling bags and slippers in the last few years.
A year ago, she began tending to the stall on her own, from 8am to 2pm, after he fell ill with a pancreas infection.
For about six days a week, she also works nights as a store assistant at a Giant Express supermarket, earning about $6 per hour.
That day, as the fire raged on for hours, Madam Teo said she did not think of alerting her husband.
"I just couldn't believe my eyes," she said. "Besides, he was already in bed. What could he have done?"
She said her husband has been moody and quiet since he heard about the news the next day.
The couple have been married for about four decades and have three children, aged between 30 and 40.
Although the affected stallholders have been offered an option to move to a temporary market in the next few months, Madam Teo is uncertain if she should take it up.
"For now, I will try my best to cope with the income from my store assistant job."
This article was first published on Oct 23, 2016.
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Parents have higher expectations of teachers, and students today can be more challenging to handle, said educators.
A 48-year-old primary school teacher, who joined the service in 1995, said parents in the past used to have more trust in teachers.
"Now, they will check assignments from school, check if you marked their kids' work correctly, or even compare the number of assignments you give compared to other classes or schools."
Some unreasonable parents even write to principals to complain about teachers, she added.
A former primary school teacher who left the Ministry of Education in August said: "Parents these days are more concerned about what their children are doing and learning in school... These are valid concerns, but it can create more work for us."
The 51-year-old, who joined teaching 18 years ago, added: "Many pupils have tuition, and sometimes they come with their school assignments and challenge you with different methods from their tutors."
There are also greater demands over the safety of students, said a 40-year-old head of department in a secondary school.
He said: "The safety expectations today are far more cautious than when I first started teaching 15 years ago, especially for adventure activities.
This indirectly results in increased demands on teachers' time.
"For example, in the past, one teacher could take out a class of 40 students.
Today the ratio is about one teacher to 20, and if the activity is more intense, it is one to 10. But that is the current reality of parental and societal expectations, and we can't change that," he added.
This article was first published on Oct 23, 2016.
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Teaching is undoubtedly a demanding job, but there are ways to manage the increasing workload to prevent burnout, said educators.
The workload varies across schools as it depends largely on the school leaders' approach in managing staff and students, they added.
Teaching today is not the same as it was in the past - there are higher expectations and additional sources of stress, from taking on more roles outside the classroom to being "on call" after school hours, said current and former teachers.
But figures from the Ministry of Education (MOE) show that the attrition rate of teachers has "remained low at around 3 per cent" in the last five years.
Earlier this month, The Straits Times reported that about 5,000 teachers had quit over the last five years.
The top three reasons cited by MOE for these resignations were "for childcare, other family considerations and a desire for a change of job".
Yet, many educators stay in the job for a long time, and the size of the teaching force has remained stable at more than 33,000.
Mr David Leong, managing director of human resource firm People Worldwide Consulting, said the 3 per cent resignation rate of teachers is "low compared to other sectors". On average, a company could have a yearly attrition rate of 10 per cent, he added.
He also noted that the teaching profession is quite "stable". "Whatever happens, teachers are not affected by a slowing economy - that is a huge perk."
Still, over the last few weeks many concerned Singaporeans have come forward to say that more can be done to retain teachers.
More than 10 letters were published in The Straits Times' Forum page this month, calling for teachers to be given more rest and respect, and their administrative load and working hours to be reduced.
Madam Zann Lim, who has a daughter in Primary 5, felt that MOE should outsource programmes such as camps and co-curricular activities to people trained in these areas.
"Teachers are not trained primarily to plan these activities, and they shouldn't be too burdened by them," said the 40-year-old finance professional.
Mr Mike Thiruman, president of the Singapore Teachers' Union, said: "Teachers, like the rest of us, are only human.
That they play an often understated and unappreciated role cannot be an excuse to deprive them of the rest and respect that they deserve."
More can be done to strengthen the teaching profession, he added.
When contacted, MOE said that it values teachers' hard work and contributions. "We are committed to work with schools to help teachers better manage their workload."
A spokesman said that it has "enhanced manpower support to schools" over the years.
On average, each mainstream primary and secondary school had 14 more teachers last year compared with 2005.
Today, there are also more than 2,100 allied educators and education and career guidance counsellors across schools.
This group of people support teachers in counselling work or helping students with behavioural needs, for instance.
MOE introduced student welfare officers last year, to help students with tough family backgrounds, and plans to hire more allied educators to cater to those with special needs.
Teachers told The Sunday Times that school leadership plays an important role in shaping the work culture.
A secondary school teacher of about 10 years said: "Selection of school leaders is crucial as some have different priorities, and they change every four to five years. For my school, you must be able to teach well first, then they look at the other roles you play.
"Some other schools might focus on community work... The worst combination is having a demanding principal who breathes down the neck of heads of departments, and if these HODs don't communicate and split the jobs equally... you might end up being overloaded," said the 33-year-old.
Ms Wang Ai Pei, a Hougang Primary School teacher, said: "During term time, we do work extremely hard, and there are days we are tired because of the long hours.
"But there are also good days - simple things make my day, like a well-done two-page composition by a pupil who handed in one with just eight sentences before."
A 27-year-old secondary school teacher said having a senior teacher as a mentor helped in his first year.
"We met once a semester to talk about how I can improve my teaching and if I had any concerns."
He added that schools also allow teachers in their first year to take on three-quarters of the full load of teaching time - provided they are not short-handed.
Some teachers said they learnt to pace themselves with more experience, and take advantage of perks such as school holidays and marking assignments in their own time.
Said the 33-year-old teacher: "It's give and take - there are days when I can leave at 1.30pm if classes end earlier... It's not so bad all the time if you are clever enough to manage your time well and fortunate to be in a good environment."
Ultimately, educators said that teaching is more than a job - for some it is a calling.
Said Ms Wang, who has taught for about 19 years: "Our returns come in the relationships forged with students and watching them grow.
"I have ex-students in university now who come back to visit me. It's a rewarding process."
This article was first published on Oct 23, 2016.
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A government survey has found that two out of three Singaporeans felt proposed changes to the elected presidency were done in the best interest of Singapore.
The same proportion of citizens also agreed that the Government was sincere in reviewing the elected presidency scheme.
These figures were highlighted by government feedback unit Reach yesterday, a day after Law Minister K. Shanmugam cited some results of the survey at an Institute of Policy Studies forum on the elected presidency.
The survey, conducted last month, found that 66 per cent of 1,058 citizens polled agreed that the proposed changes to the scheme were in the nation's best interest. As for the rest, 23 per cent were neutral and 7 per cent disagreed, while 4 per cent were unsure.
The survey also found that 67 per cent of respondents agreed the Government is sincere in reviewing the scheme, while 22 per cent were neutral, 6 per cent disagreed, and 5 per cent were unsure.
A Constitutional Commission reviewing the elected presidency proposed, among other things, to raise the eligibility criteria for candidates and have reserved elections for certain racial groups if nobody from that group had been elected president for five terms.
The Government has accepted the proposals in a White Paper, and tabled a Constitutional amendment Bill that Parliament will debate on when it sits on Nov 7.
The Reach survey also found that 77 per cent agreed that ensuring racial representation for the elected president is important for Singapore's multiracial society. Nine per cent disagreed, while 12 per cent said they were neutral and 2 per cent were unsure.
Six in 10 agreed with the need to ensure minorities can be periodically elected as president. On this issue, 23 per cent were neutral, while 14 per cent disagreed. The remaining 3 per cent of respondents were unsure.
Last Friday, Mr Shanmugam noted that while Singapore has come a long way in racial harmony, race is still a factor in elections.
This article was first published on Oct 23, 2016.
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With less than three weeks to go before the Nov 8 United States presidential election, the race for the White House is heating up.
But halfway around the world, a tight-knit American community in the serene Woodgrove landed estate in Singapore has labelled this election cycle a "joke" - and the most embarrassing one in US history.
Several residents in the American expatriate enclave, made up of families whose children attend the nearby Singapore American School, are not planning to cast their votes at all.
Others are casting their votes for third-party candidates instead of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton or her Republican rival Donald Trump.
A few in the estate in Woodlands even labelled the slugfest between the candidates as a full-on circus act.
Housewife Monica Moritz, who has been living in Singapore since 2002, said: "It is a circus.
"Trump is like an actor performing on stage and Clinton acts like she is a victim who's scared of him when she should not be.
"I'm not sure what both parties are trying to accomplish here."
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Photo Gallery
Trump and Clinton face off in final US presidential debate
The 47-year-old said none of the candidates has addressed pressing concerns facing the country, such as the sluggish economy and national security threats.
But Mrs Moritz, who mailed in her vote last week, decided to go with Mrs Clinton, whom she says has the political experience.
Since the mid-1990s, the American expatriate community has flocked to Woodgrove from the longstanding American enclaves of Bukit Timah, Tanglin and Holland Road.
This is largely due to the Singapore American School setting up home at its present campus in Woodlands in 1996.
Woodgrove has a distinctly American flavour, with barbecue grilles and mountain bikes found in many houses, and basketball boards standing in the driveways of some homes.
Property agents estimate that more than 80 per cent of the estate's residents are expatriates, with Chinese, European and Indian residents.
For the upcoming US election, frustration seems to be the common denominator among the American residents there.
In regular coffee mornings and exercise group meet-ups, the election and its candidates - deemed subpar by many residents - are daily conversation topics.
Housewife Laura Zubrod, who has been living here for six years, said both Republican and Democratic nominees are mediocre.
"Everyone is frustrated over the really bad choices that we have," said the 45-year-old, adding that some of her friends in the estate will not be voting in this election.
Other Americans call it a vote for the "lesser of two evils".
Housewife Wendy Jorgensen said it is a difficult decision to make.
"We are worried because we do not like either candidate at all," the 40-year-old added.
"We feel it is a choice between two evils."
The mother of five, who moved to Singapore about two months ago, said the election usually comes up during casual conversations between neighbours.
"We can talk about it all day, but what can we do?" she said.
"Whoever ends up being elected, we hope that somehow God will intervene and help them."
Several residents who spoke to The Sunday Times are leaning towards Mr Trump.
A mother of two, who only wanted to be known as Kelly, said that while she was turned off by some of Mr Trump's demeaning comments about women, she said the businessman can bring change that the US desperately needs.
The 44-year-old, who has been in Singapore since 2012, added: "He is change. I bet he will bring to the table different ideas to be discussed. "He will rattle a bunch of cages, but I think that is what is needed."
Other residents, though, are turning to third-party candidates such as Libertarian Gary Johnson and former Central Intelligence Agency operative Evan McMullin.
Mrs Sarah Lifferth, 39, a stay-at-home mother of six, and her husband Darren Lifferth have both voted for Mr McMullin after months of deliberation. They sent in their ballots last week.
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Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in presidential debates
Consumers can look forward to shopping for electricity the way they choose a phone plan.
Electricity retailers are preparing a buffet of options for consumers, as the Energy Market Authority (EMA) plans to fully open up the electricity retail market to competition in the second half of 2018.
For the eco-conscious, there will be plans that guarantee a portion of energy consumed will be linked to renewable energy, such as solar power. And those who work in the day could sign up for options that allow them to take advantage of lower electricity tariffs at night.
Electricity is cheaper at night as there is lower demand for it.
Those who are home all day could in turn benefit from schemes that offer varying tariffs for different periods of the day, allowing them to choose to run home appliances when electricity prices are lower.
There will even be short-term trial packages to entice consumers who are resistant to change.
"In the initial stage, many consumers will be sceptical about switching for various reasons, like reliability, security and so on," said electricity retailer iSwitch.
"iSwitch is planning to roll out price plans, such as short-term trial packages, to increase their confidence in switching," it said.
These are just some of the customised price plans that small energy users, such as households and small businesses, could benefit from.
Currently, only 33,000 commercial and industrial consumers with an average monthly electricity consumption of at least 2MWh - which amounts to a monthly electricity bill of about $450 - are taking advantage of this flexibility. But the remaining 1.3 million consumers, mainly households, will get to benefit with the change, EMA said.
During this year's Singapore International Energy Week, which starts today, participants are expected to discuss issues such as green energy and the implications of low energy prices.
There were just seven electricity retailers in 2013. This has increased to 20, EMA told The Straits Times.
Industry players say market liberalisation will benefit consumers.
"Not only will it lead to better value and services (for customers), but it also gives them the opportunity to achieve their other objectives, such as environmental protection in purchasing green energy," said a spokesman for retailer PacificLight.
Customers may also enjoy lower tariffs.
Mr Vijay Sirse, chief executive of Red Dot Power, said: "It is expected that every household will potentially save anything from 10 per cent to 20 per cent of its monthly electricity bill."
Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami, from the Singapore Management University, noted that while it is difficult to say whether prices will definitely go down, customers could benefit in other ways.
For instance, retailers could try to differentiate themselves by offering bundled or value-added services - such as installing smart home systems or giving discounts on energy-saving appliances.
Housewife Mastzainah Jalil, 45, likes the idea of being able to time the use of her appliances to when electricity tariffs are the lowest.
Assistant manager Daniel Govindan, 28, prefers a price plan which incorporates renewable energy and a smart system that sends alerts when energy-intensive appliances are in use when electricity tariffs are high.
He said: "Renewable energy is the way to go. I think clean air is a public good. So less fossil fuels, more clean air."
audreyt@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
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Warming seas caused Singapore's underwater gardens to lose their colour earlier this year, but the good news is that some corals are starting to recover from what is the longest bleaching incident to hit the Republic so far.
Preliminary assessments by scientists here have shown that this year's event is more severe than two other major bleaching events in 1998 and 2010. This year, as with both the other years, is an El Nino year. This refers to the phenomenon linked to prolonged warmer weather.
Corals depend on symbiotic algae, called zooxanthellae, for food. Bleaching occurs when abnormally high sea temperatures cause corals to expel the zooxanthellae living in them, turning them white.
In 2010, the bleaching event started in June and ended in September, said Dr Karenne Tun, director of the coastal and marine division at the National Parks Board's (NParks) National Biodiversity Centre.
And in 1998, it lasted from June to August, said coral expert Chou Loke Ming, an adjunct research professor at the National University of Singapore's Tropical Marine Science Institute.
This year, however, water temperatures began exceeding the bleaching threshold of 31.14 deg C from end-April.
Water temperatures have since dropped to just below 30 deg C, which is still above the average temperature of 29.6 deg C expected at this time of the year.
"The sea surface temperatures dipped to just below the bleaching threshold from early June, but continued to remain above the maximum monthly mean till early October," said Dr Tun.
She added that scientists observed this month that recovery from bleaching is still ongoing. "But we are hopeful that the remaining bleached corals will recover within the next one to two months if the sea surface temperatures continue on their downward trend," she said.
A bleaching event is considered to have ended when sea surface temperatures go back to normal, said Prof Chou.
NParks has implemented measures to aid in the corals' recovery. For instance, it has closed the dive trails at the Sisters' Island Marine Park since June to minimise additional stress to the corals. The dive trails will remain closed until the end of this month.
Prof Chou said scientists are now following up on coral colonies affected to assess the survival rate. He added that while this year's bleaching event was the worst in terms of duration, it was too soon to compare the impact.
Mortality was about 20 per cent in 1998 and 12 per cent in 2010. But in both cases, he said, recovery was seen.
Coral bleaching is not just restricted to Singapore.
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is also affected. But contrary to a recent "obituary" for the world's largest coral reef system published in Outside Magazine, it has not died.
The coral reef system is too large to simply die off, said Prof Chou. He added that while some parts of the system may die, it is also possible to end up with reefs with a different composition of coral species, depending on which can thrive under the changed conditions.
He added: "Singapore reefs have recovered from both bleaching events... and I take heart in reef resilience."
audreyt@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
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For the second year in a row, Singapore was ranked ninth globally for the rule of law, the only Asian state in the top 10 out of 113 countries.
The Republic was No. 1 for order and security as well as regulatory enforcement in the 2016 Rule of Law Index compiled by the World Justice Project (WJP), an independent advocacy group based in the United States.
Order and security looks at factors including how effectively crime is controlled and whether there is political unrest, while regulatory enforcement measures the effectiveness of government regulations, among other things.
For absence of corruption, the Republic was ranked behind only Denmark.
The top three overall performers in the WJP index were Denmark, Norway and Finland, while the last three were Afghanistan, Cambodia and Venezuela.
The index measures how the rule of law is experienced by the public worldwide in everyday situations based on surveys of 1,000 respondents per country and interviews with local experts.
A country's performance is measured using 44 indicators across eight primary factors, each of which is scored and ranked globally and against regional and income peers.
These factors include constraints on government powers, open government, fundamental rights and civil criminal justice.
"The rule of law is notoriously difficult to define and measure. A simple way of approaching it is in terms of some of the outcomes that the rule of law brings to societies - such as accountability, respect for fundamental rights, or access to justice - each of which reflects one aspect of the complex concept of the rule," said the WJP, which released its latest report last week.
"Effective rule of law reduces corruption, combats poverty and disease, and protects people from injustices large and small," it added.
Singapore's Ministry of Law welcomed the index, noting that Singapore is the only Asian country that has made it to the top 10.
"We welcome the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index as a tool that measures a nation's adherence to the rule of law based on the perceptions of experts and the general public, which we will study as part of our commitment to a robust rule of law framework in Singapore," said the ministry.
Observers here welcome the findings and said the report could be a starting point to discuss what Singapore excels in and what requires more attention.
Singapore did less well in the categories of constraints on government powers, fundamental rights and open government - which measure, for instance, the right to information and civic participation.
National University of Singapore law don Cheah Wui Ling said: "Singapore's high ranking in certain WJP categories is positive, but we need to approach indicators and ranking systems with caution."
She said indicators and indexes are "simplifications of reality".
"In other words, the WJP index may not fully tell us how Singaporeans experience the rule of law as lived in reality," she said.
Even if Singapore ranks highly in an area of governance based on the index's indicators, it does not mean that "no improvements are needed to enhance the rule of law", she said.
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
Many stallholders had been operating at the centre since it opened in 1980. Four months after the fire, a temporary market and food centre was set up behind Yio Chu Kang Community Club.
After two years, the market was rebuilt at a cost of $9.35 million.
Fast forward nine years.
A blaze engulfs a wet market and two coffeeshops at blocks 493 and 494 in Jurong West Street 41 on Oct 11, leaving 51 stallholders without their business.
Block 493 is currently undergoing demolition works, and will take over a year to be rebuilt. A temporary market will be set up at the basketball court in front of Block 498, before Chinese New Year.
When interviewed, stallholders at the Ang Mo Kio Block 628 market and food centre who stuck it out through the ordeal believe there is reason to be optimistic.
They said business returned upon their return to the original location in 2010, and their fear of regular customers going elsewhere was unfounded.
Said vegetable seller Ngan Fook Thim, 59: "Back then, I was hesitant about moving to the temporary market, but I figured I didn't have a choice. If I didn't do business, then what would I do for two years?"
But regular customers continued supporting his business, even when it was at the temporary market.
The block's new design turned out to be more spacious.
A fishmonger, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, 67, said the building is now higher and wider, with fewer narrow spots, making it easier for people to get around.
Chicken rice seller Peter Chong, 48, said: "It is cooler and more spacious, so customers are more likely to sit and eat here."
Things might have looked bleak for the stallholders at first, but, as Mr Sia Eng Kuang, 60, a meat and poultry seller, put it: "We had no choice but to pick ourselves up and restart from scratch."
fabkoh@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
"It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer."
The ending to beloved children's book Charlotte's Web by E.B. White gives an apt rendering of the relationship between teacher Jeyaram Kadivan, 34, and his former student, Mr Caleb Tay, now 20.
Over the course of a year in 2009, Mr Jeyaram spent his weekends thumbing over a paperback edition of the novel, scanning each page into his laptop using a machine that converted the scanned images into words.
If a paragraph was followed by a photo, he would diligently paste it in.
He did it all for the sake of a special needs student at St Gabriel's Secondary School, where he works.
Mr Tay, who joined the school in 2009, had lost over 80 per cent of his sight by the time he reached Secondary 1.
When he was around five, he found out he had cone dystrophy, a degenerative eye condition. He could not see even nearby objects.
His eyes got tired and dry easily, and prolonged reading worsened his vision over the years.
Today, he estimates, he has only 10 per cent of his vision left.
He was the first and only visually impaired student at the school.
"Even though I am visually impaired, Mr Jeyaram supported me and gave me the opportunity to reach my potential," said Mr Tay, who is now studying business at Singapore Management University.
For his dedication in helping Mr Tay and other special needs children at the school, Mr Jeyaram, an allied educator for learning and behavioural support, was given the Leading Foundation Teacher Award (LFTA) this month.
The annual award honours passionate, dedicated teachers involved in early childhood and special needs education.
When Mr Jeyaram started working at the school in 2007, it had yet to set up a support system for those with special needs.
He eventually helped such students by teaching them skills outside the classroom.
"I would have supplementary sessions with them," he said. "Students with dyslexia need support in language, while students with autism learn social skills and behavioural management skills.
"When Caleb came, it was a shock as we had never had a student who was visually impaired," he recalled. "We had to start from scratch."
Determined to help the boy, Mr Jeyaram reached out to his own lecturer at the National Institute of Education (NIE) who is visually impaired.
Even though Mr Jeyaram does not have a family member with special needs, he has built up extensive knowledge.
He sat down with school counsellors and experts to find ways to help, making progress through trial and error.
While he did not directly teach Mr Tay a specific subject, he worked hand in hand with the subject teachers to make sure Mr Tay was not left behind.
Among the school equipment that he helped to modify for Mr Tay was a bunsen burner.
He taped the tip and base in striking yellow so Mr Tay would not get too close to the flame while doing experiments.
Many times, Mr Jeyaram had to enlarge text and graphs to reduce the strain on Mr Tay's eyes, but that meant having to reformat the pages.
He remembers running into a host of problems, for instance, with English papers, "references to particular lines would not match".
Mr Jeyaram insists that, even though he helped Mr Tay with learning tools, no student was given special privileges over another.
"Caleb performed duties at the library club. He wrote reviews and designed posters," he said.
With the school's guidance, Mr Tay scored seven distinctions at the O levels. Later, at Catholic Junior College, he aced his exams again and was able to enter university.
"I am so thankful that Mr Jeyaram believed in me," said Mr Tay.
Mr Jeyaram, who graduated with a Diploma in Special Education from NIE in 2007 before earning a degree in education, also has a Diploma in Autism Studies from the Autism Resource Centre.
Currently, he is doing a Master in Education (Special Education) offered by NIE.
Seeing his special needs students excel is reward in itself.
"I would have not been able to do that much for Caleb and all the students if the teachers and school had not been accommodating. The child might have the potential but, if the environment is not supportive, even a bright student might not get far."
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
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While they and their two children would still go out for family outings, the couple had been living separately for four years.
Tragedy struck on Saturday night when Mr Wang Chan Foo, also known as Ongko Widjojo, 46, fell to his death from his balcony parapet at the Novena Suites condominium on Moulmein Road.
His wife, Madam Ng Soo San, 44, was later found dead by the police in his 13th-storey condominium unit.
She is believed to have suffered multiple stab wounds to her torso.
Photo: Shin Min
The episode unfolded while their daughter, 13, and seven-year-old son were at a nearby tuition centre, reported Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao.
Ms Ng's brother, Mr Ng Jun Jie, 37, a tow-truck driver, told Shin Min Daily News that the two children had gone over to the condominium premises after their class and found out what happened to their father.
The girl, sobbing, then called her aunt - Mr Ng's older sister - for help.
"At that point, my niece said she was looking for her mother and could not find her," Mr Ng told Lianhe Wanbao.
Police said in a statement yesterday that they were alerted to the incident just before 7pm on Saturday.
It was only hours later that police found Madam Ng's body inside her husband's condominium unit, reported The Straits Times Online. Both Mr Wang and Madam Ng were pronounced dead at the scene, said the police.
A search on the Registry of Marriages website showed that the couple got married in 2003.
They owned a HDB flat at Toa Payoh Lorong 2, and rented a unit at the Novena Suites condominium.
But their relationship soured about four years ago, Mr Ng told Wanbao.
"My sister claimed her husband had hit her and so moved back to their Toa Payoh HDB flat with their children," he said.
Mr Wang, who came from a wealthy family in Indonesia, stayed at the rented condominium unit.
Mr Ng moved in with his sister and her children two years ago.
Despite living separately, Mr Wang and Madam Ng would still take their children along for family outings, he said.
They had even planned for a trip to China next month, Mr Ng told Shin Min.
He said he last saw his sister on Saturday morning as she was about to take her son for his swimming class.
The next time he heard news of her was from his older sister, who had received a call from their niece.
Mr Ng told reporters that everything happened so suddenly and that it left him hurt and shocked, adding he did not know why his sister had gone to the condominium.
The couple's children are currently being cared for by him and his older sister, he said.
No one answered the door when The New Paper visited the couple's Toa Payoh HDB flat yesterday evening.
Police are investigating the unnatural deaths.
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
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Commuters can look forward to hitching earlier train rides on Sundays starting from Nov 6, as SMRT train services resume regular service start times at a total of 13 stations.
They include stations from Joo Koon to Queenstown on the East-West Line (EWL), and from Bukit Gombak to Jurong East on the North-South Line (NSL).
Since June this year, train services at these stations have commenced up to an hour later than usual to allow SMRT's engineers more time to work on rail maintenance and renewal projects.
In a press release on Monday (Oct 24), SMRT said that the resumption of train services comes seven weeks ahead of schedule.
Over 2,300 sleeper trains and more than 3.2km of additional Third Rail have been replaced over the past 20 weeks, the transport operator said.
The paid parallel bus service plying the route between Joo Koon and Bukit Gombak stations before 7am on Sundays will also cease after this Sunday (Oct 30).
For the past 12 years, Mr Jason See Toh has worked seven days a week as a taxi driver after pulling down the shutters at his renovations company.
Mr See Toh, 54, made the switch because the flexibility of the job gave him more time to care for his younger son, Mr See Toh Sheng Jie, 20, who has autism.
Singaporeans would remember Sheng Jie as the famous "dino boy" who made headlines in August when a denim pouch with a dinosaur motif that he had drawn and designed went to the White House, thanks to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's wife Ho Ching.
Mrs Lee carried the pouch when she accompanied Mr Lee on an official visit to the US.
Mr See Toh admitted that his hectic schedule can be "tiring", but he keeps going to provide for his family and make time for Mr Sheng Jie.
He told The New Paper at his three-room HDB flat in Yishun: "He has autism so I need to accompany him wherever he goes.
"That was part of the reason for the job switch... In between shifts, I will spend some time to monitor his homework and so on."
His wife, Madam Wendy Chua, 53, is a residents' committee (RC) manager.
Photo: The New Paper
Every weekday, Mr See Toh sends Sheng Jie to Pathlight School in his Trans-Cab taxi by 8am before picking up passengers.
At 1.45pm, he will return to the school to have lunch with his younger son before taking him home.
He is off to work again at around 4pm before calling it a day at around midnight.
On Saturdays, he sets aside five hours in the afternoon to be with Sheng Jie when he goes for his art programme at the Enabling Village at Pathlight's The Art Faculty and he spends some time with him after that.
Then it is back to work.
On Sundays, he tries to spend time with Sheng Jie, his wife and older son Sheng Yang, a 21-year-old full-time national serviceman, before driving his cab at night.
Sheng Jie was diagnosed with autism when he was five years old.
INTEREST
His deep interest in dinosaurs began after watching his first Disney film Dinosaur (2000). Later, he would mould dinosaurs out of Blu-Tack.
Mr Toh holding up the dinosaurs and other animals that Sheng Jie sculpted. Photo: The New Paper
The family encouraged his artistic talent by providing him with materials like clay and sculpting tools, which he would use to sculpt multicoloured dinosaurs and animals with vivid details.
Hundreds are on display in a glass cabinet in the family's living room and stored in plastic containers.
Sheng Jie also draws dinosaurs in a sketch book he always carries around and is a walking dinosaur encyclopedia, rattling off names, traits and descriptions despite his inability to verbalise his thoughts well.
"(His talent) is a gift and we are very proud of him. I suppose, when something is taken away from you, you gain something else," said Mr See Toh.
He hopes the recent media attention on his son has further raised awareness of not just autism, but on other conditions as well.
"There are many children with great talents, not just in Singapore but all across the globe.
"I also hope that the public can be more empathetic towards special needs children," he said.
Boy who designed Mrs Lee's pouch loves dinosaurs
Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source:
The New Paper, Reuters
When asked about his hopes for Sheng Jie, Mr See Toh admitted that he worries about his son's future.
Next year will be Sheng Jie's last year in Pathlight.
"We want him to learn to be more independent and perhaps, earn a living for himself.
"When we can find a place that provides that, we can plan the rest. Now we cannot plan for anything yet," said the cabby, who said he might consider another job switch someday.
For Mr See Toh, the growing competition in the taxi trade and weakening economy means that the flexibility of his job comes at a financial trade-off.
He said: "I can safely say that there has been a decline of up to 40 per cent in passengers in recent years.
"Before this, in the renovation industry, my family can still cope, but times are getting tougher. I can't just make enough to cover rental and fuel, which is about $140 daily.
"Don't even talk about savings or retirement... It's hard enough trying to cope with the essentials."
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
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He gave up his five-figure salary as an aesthetic doctor to volunteer full time at an animal welfare group.
Another animal lover sold her property to get some money to look after her charges and create a shelter.
These are the people who work behind the scenes at the seven animal shelters at Pasir Ris Farmway 2.
But an uncertain future looms.
By the end of next year, the shelters will have to leave as the authorities want the land for industrial development, reported The Straits Times.
The dogs are likely to be moved to Sungei Tengah in Kranji, where the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is located.
The people behind the shelters told The New Paper that they have always had their leases renewed every year.
Last year, they were told that the leases would no longer be renewed and from June this year, the owners have been getting letters reminding them about it.
In a joint statement to The Straits Times, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said that details of the Sungei Tengah tender will be provided when ready.
Mr Derrick Tan, president of Voices For Animals, who also volunteers at Mdm Wong’s Shelter. Photo: The New Paper
Lack of details
But the lack of details is making the animal groups unsure how to move forward.
Dr Siew Tuck Wah, 37, president of Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD), quit his cushy job last September to work with the shelter.
"My parents were very worried and thought I was crazy," he said.
After quitting, he quickly realised that money ran out fast, he said.
"I had a bit of savings and I sold some shares in order to pay for all my bills," said the dog lover, who has been volunteering at SOSD since 2012.
"At first, I just had four dogs, and because there was no space to house the dogs, I bought a small kennel for $400 and placed the dogs at my home.
"But I realised that there was a lot to be done... I felt there was a lot of public education to be done about this issue."
He said he is seeing positive change.
"We see more people coming to our adoption drives...
"We also conduct talks at schools, hospitals and old folks' homes to reach out to the masses."
Today, SOSD has over 100 animals at its facility.
The group has to raise $40,000 to $60,000 each month to keep the shelter going. It expects that relocation will require some funds too.
Dr Siew admitted there is much uncertainty going forward.
He said: "The longer (the authorities) take to give us an answer, the shorter time we have to prepare for the relocation."
He has started his own aesthetic clinic to bring in some money so that he can continue working with SOSD.
Mrs Mary Soo, who put over a million dollars from the sale of her house into Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter. Photo: The New Paper
Expenses
Ms Mary Soo, 69, echoed Dr Siew's concerns.
A decade ago, she said she sold her house and pumped over a million dollars from the sale into Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter, which looks after 150 dogs.
Ms Soo, a former high-flying bank employee and vice-chairman for the SPCA, said: "When I saw how the dogs suffered, I thought, somebody must do something for them."
It costs about $10,000 a month to run the shelter, and while there are donations, about $5,000 a month still has to come from her own savings, said the retiree.
When asked about the relocation, she said: "Within a year, how are they supposed to get things done?
"We still have to set up a new facility. How are we going to build a new animal shelter in time?"
The Animal Lovers League's (ALL) shelter, which takes up the space of about half a football field, has close to 400 dogs and over 200 cats.
ALL co-founder Cathy Strong said: "We are already spending $60,000 a month, including medical bills.
Ms Cathy Strong, co-founder of Animal Lovers League. Photo: The New Paper
"With this impending move, we need to raise the funds needed for the construction of the new shelter.
"Even with the help of our supporters and volunteers, we can hardly make ends meet, let alone put aside money for the move."
Madam Chaya Koi Kim, 70, has been caring for animals since her 20s. Photo: The New Paper
She sells flat to house animals
She spent her life savings to care for over 200 cats and 75 dogs at Mdm Wong's Shelter. Now, owner Chaya Koi Kim, 70, is worried about her animals.
Madam Chaya said: "I only knew about the new relocation site from reading the newspapers, and I'm really worried about my animals."
On Oct 15, Mr Louis Ng, an MP for Nee Soon GRC, told volunteers that the Ministry of National Development (MND) will announce plans later for the seven animal welfare groups at Pasir Ris Farmway that have to move out.
However, Mdm Wong's Shelter is a private shelter and not one of the seven official groups.
But she will have to move as she rents a space about the size of a three-room flat from Ericsson Pet Farm, which will be relocated.
The former seamstress sold her five-room flat in 2001 and used most of the money from the sale to pay for the shelter's rent. She and her husband then moved in with her son in his four-room-flat.
She spends about $8,000 a month to upkeep the shelter. The money comes from donations or from her children, who give her between $2,000 and $3,000 a month.
Volunteers help care for dogs at animal shelters
Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source:
The New Paper
Volunteers
Helping her at the shelter are volunteers such as Mr Derrick Tan, 35, who is also president of Voices For Animals, one of the shelters affected by the changes.
He told The New Paper he would bring home stray cats, even as a child.
Madam Chaya, who started taking care of animals when she was in her 20s, said in Mandarin: "I always thought that the cats and dogs on the streets are very pitiful.
"I'm very frugal and have never once taken a plane before.
"All I do every day is complete my chores at home and go down to the shelter to take care of the animals.
"And I plan to do that until I die."
When asked if she had sought assistance, she replied that she had yet to.
When contacted, Mr Ng, who founded wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), told TNP that none of the animals will be left stranded.
Mr Ng said: "MND is looking through all the options, as well as the ones submitted by the animal welfare groups.
"We would like to assure the animal shelters - whether you are registered as an animal welfare group or a private shelter - will be treated fairly and provided with options for the animals under their care."
huienl@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
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Given his previous work experience, one might not expect Mr Darren Thng to end up working for a community hospital.
The 46-year-old, now a manager in the chief executive's office at Bright Vision Hospital, had been managing a German subsidiary in China that built musical fountains.
But he now puts his experience to good use in a different setting.
"I used to oversee the operations of the whole company, but now I assist the CEO and director in running the hospital," said Mr Thng, who came back to Singapore a year ago. "The managerial skills are almost the same, but the services we provide are different."
The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), which coordinates healthcare services for seniors here, helps mid-career professionals like Mr Thng with the transition to new jobs in the community care sector.
Through its Senior Management Associate Scheme started this year, the agency hopes to attract professionals, managers, executives and techniciansto join the sector.
Participants attend a training programme that provides an overview of the sector, as well as short-term attachment programmes with community care groups. For instance, they join volunteers in delivering meals to seniors who live alone and accompany patients on hospital visits.
The AIC then follows up on their progress. Seven people who joined the sector - including Mr Thng - have gone through the training.
Ms Teo Sio Hoon, chief of intermediate- and long-term care at the AIC's manpower development and resourcing division, said professionals with managerial and operational experience are in demand, given the growing community care sector, which includes community hospitals and senior care centres.
"The programme is meant to prepare and assimilate them into their new jobs," she said. "Coming from a corporate background, you may realise that you have all the work skills, but the setting in this sector is very different.
"In a corporation, the bottom line is the key thing, but in community care, while we are conscious of cost, the welfare of patients is more important in making decisions."
Last week, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said more healthcare workers will be needed with the expansion of primary and community care. To build a stronger local core in the healthcare sector, training and recruitment will be expanded to enable young job seekers and mid-career entrants, among others, to get work in healthcare.
Mr Soon Cheok Seng, 58, who previously worked as a senior business analyst for Motorola, said the training helped him to understand the nature and expectations of his current job.
Mr Soon, now IT manager at Ling Kwang Home for Senior Citizens, said: "The focus is different. If you want to work in this sector, you have to realise it's more about giving back to society. Pay becomes secondary."
Bright Vision Hospital CEO Chua Puay Hian said Mr Thng and Ms Doris Tan, 55, who both underwent the training and now work at the hospital, are doing well. "We are happy that both have had extensive work experiences across Singapore and Asia and are putting their work and life skills to good use here," he said.
New healthcare network launched
A new network made up of groups such as hospitals and universities was launched on Friday to tackle Singapore's healthcare challenges.
The new Centre for Healthcare Innovation Co-Learning Network will bring local and overseas institutions together to deal with challenges sparked by the country's ageing population and slowing labour force growth. A total of 21 partners have joined the network led by Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the National Healthcare Group.
The initiative will focus on training healthcare workers differently so they can support the move from hospital to community care, said Minister of State for Health and Communications and Information Chee Hong Tat, who announced the network on Friday.
The group, which will meet a few times a year, will also look at how robotics can be used so that healthcare workers can focus on more important tasks to meet the needs of patients.
Tsao Foundation, a non-profit family foundation focused on ageing issues, hopes to bring in a community perspective of the patient and caregiver so that hospitals and healthcare staff can learn how to better care for them.
Separately, the Centre of Healthcare Innovation that was announced in 2014 will be ready in 2018. The training and medical hub will feature living labs and training facilities, among others.
kcarolyn@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on October 24, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
A 13-year-old boy fell accidentally from height at an HDB block when he was having a "laughing gas" session with two classmates.
State Coroner Marvin Bay found the teen's death at Block 24 Bendemeer Road on May 25 this year to be a "tragic misadventure''.
The teen, who had been inhaling butane - which is used in gas canisters and lighter fluid - fell eight floors and was pronounced dead at 6.40pm.
Clad in his school uniform and blue socks without footwear, his body was found on the second-floor ledge of the block.
The three boys had their "laughing gas" session at an open space near a lift lobby on the 10th level.
In his findings yesterday, Coroner Bay said the teen's death is a sobering reminder of the harm that can result from butane abuse, which is a form of inhalant abuse.
"Master A's fall appears to have been precipitated by his risk-taking behaviour induced by his euphoric state from butane abuse," he added.
Butane gas inhalants enter through the pulmonary system, and immediately enter the blood supply and can produce intoxication within seconds.
Coroner Bay said both butane abuse and toluene abuse or glue sniffing can cause serious physical and psychological dependence.
The teen, described by his girlfriend as a "happy but playful person", had no suicidal thoughts, stressors from school work nor was he bullied in school.
Coroner Bay said there was no evidence to suspect foul play.
There was also nothing to support a claim by the teen's mother, who is in a drug centre, that her son had been assaulted on the day of his death.
Investigations showed that the teen and his classmates had stolen three canisters of Ronson Universal lighter refill from a sundry shop in Bendemeer Road for the "laughing gas" session.
This entailed repeatedly spraying the gaseous contents of the canister into a plastic bag or bundled shirt, and inhaling the contents of the canister from the opening of the plastic bag or shirt, through the mouth.
The teen had been jumping around and laughing to himself from inhaling the butane on his shirt, the court heard.
His classmate saw him sit on the ledge, facing outwards with his legs dangling.
Suddenly, his left hand slipped and he fell off his perch.
He lost his grip while holding on the outside wall and fell.
How much water, electricity and gas one uses - information which came only in your monthly bill - could soon be available in real time via a mobile application.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA), national water agency PUB and Singapore Power called for proposals yesterday to develop and trial technologies that will allow for water, electricity and gas meters to be read remotely in a reliable and cost-effective way.
If the smart metering system proves successful after the trial, it will be implemented across the island with dual benefits: help households cut unnecessary use of utilities and save on manpower.
Currently, meters are only read manually once every two months but the agencies hope the smart solutions proposed will allow consumers to see how much they are consuming every half an hour.
"This would allow consumers to make informed decisions on their consumption and conservation of utilities," said Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran yesterday, at the opening ceremony of the 9th Singapore International Energy Week held at Marina Bay Sands.
The trial will start in early 2018 and will last for six months, but it has not been decided which households or how many will be involved.
Singapore has had smart meters for electricity since 2013, but only for consumers who use at least 2,000 kilowatt hour of electricity a month and have switched to buy electricity from an electricity retailer or from the wholesale electricity market. Singapore households can buy electricity only from Singapore Power.
This is also the first time that an integrated system that will be able to read all utilities at once is being developed here.
It could involve the installation of new meters, or retrofitting existing meters with, for example, optical character recognition technology that will read the meter like how a person would and record the information down automatically.
"We think there will be economics of scale. Using the same platform to cover more meters will bring down the cost," said Soh Sai Bor, acting assistant chief executive at EMA's economic regulation division.
In the Intelligent Energy System Pilot conducted by the EMA in 2012 in Punggol, a small group of selected households were given a portable device that gives out real-time information about their electricity consumption.
These households lowered their usage by a few per cent.
"In terms of utility bills of households, it was relatively small, but when all these little efforts are put together, they would translate into something more impactful in terms of reducing our overall energy consumption," he said.
