National Kidney Foundation (NKF) chief executive Edmund Kwok was sacked due to a personal indiscretion involving a male employee, NKF said yesterday.
The employee complained to his supervisor on Monday last week, and the matter was brought up to the human-resources department.
A meeting with the NKF board was held last Friday night and it was decided that Mr Kwok would be sacked, said NKF chairman Koh Poh Tiong at a press conference held hours after the foundation issued a statement announcing the sacking.
A police report was made on Tuesday. Responding to media queries, the police confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.
"We acted immediately. We agreed that there will be no cover-up," said Mr Koh.
Nov 7: The male staff involved complained to his immediate supervisor.
Nov 9: Human resources met with Mr Koh.
Nov 11: A board meeting was fixed.
Nov 13: A hearing was held with Mr Kwok, and he admitted to the indiscretion.
Nov 14: Mr Kwok was sacked.
The search for a new CEO has started and a few candidates have been identified.
In the interim, a three-member executive committee (Exco) appointed by the board, chaired by Mr Koh and supported by board members Bennett Neo and Johnny Heng, will assume all CEO duties and responsibilities until the middle of December.
Eunice Tay, former CEO of NKF, will then take over the responsibilities of the CEO from the Exco until a new CEO is found.
In a statement earlier in the day, NKF said its services to its 4,000 patients were not affected.
"Our operations are not affected by this matter and our services to patients and beneficiaries continue as per normal."
Mr Kwok, 58, took up the reins of the NKF in 2013, after serving as chief operating officer under then CEO Mrs Tay.
He was formerly vice-president of oncology at Parkway Healthcare and held positions at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health.
The NKF was embroiled in a scandal in 2005 when it was revealed that then chief executive T. T. Durai lived a lavish lifestyle using funds raised by the charity.
The foundation pulled the plug on large-scale public fund-raising events after that.
But the NKF has since restructured after the scandal, with better corporate governance.
This article by The Straits Times was published in MyPaper, a free, bilingual newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.
Another taxi-booking app has bitten the dust in Singapore.
After two years in the market, the London-based Hailo stopped operations here on Tuesday, The Straits Times has learnt.
The app was introduced in Singapore in October 2014, under a joint partnership between Hailo and SMRT Roads, pitting itself against rivals such as Uber and Grab, which made their debut earlier.
In a joint statement shared with The Straits Times, SMRT and Hailo confirmed that taxi bookings via the app ceased on Tuesday.
The firms said Hailo had recently completed a merger with another taxi app, My Taxi, and the new joint venture will focus on expanding its presence in Europe.
My Taxi is owned by auto giant Daimler, which purchased a 60 per cent share in Hailo, it was announced in July. My Taxi itself was acquired by Daimler two years ago.
In Singapore, Hailo faced stiff competition from apps such as Grab, Uber and the now-defunct Easy Taxi, when it entered the market two years ago.
But the company said then that it was confident of making its mark. Besides offering cashless payments, the company also touted its app's "allocation algorithm".
In Singapore, there are three taxi apps left in the market: Grab, Uber and MoobiTaxi.
A beauty salon in Jurong East has closed down, leaving its customers with at least $20,000 worth of unused prepaid services.
Bioapex International sent a text message to its customers on Monday saying that it is in financial difficulty and has to "shut down the operation immediately" at its premises on the second floor of Block 135, Jurong Gateway.
Its landlord terminated its tenancy agreement, it added.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) had received 18 complaints yesterday.
However, unlike in similar previous cases of beauty salons closing down, Bioapex - which had been operating for 15 years - did not leave its customers high and dry.
It has made arrangements for them to continue their packages at another salon, The Best Beauty Centre, without any additional payment.
Case said consumers had unused sessions and estimated them to be worth a total of more than $20,000.
A notice on the doors of the salon to inform customers of the salon's closing down. Photo: The Straits Times
The consumer watchdog receives more than 1,000 inquiries and complaints about the beauty industry every year.
For the past five years, it has ranked among the top five sectors in terms of complaints.
Cynthia Tee, chief executive of The Best Beauty Centre, said Bioapex International approached her on Tuesday to ask if she could help.
"I agreed to help because I didn't want the beauty industry to suffer a bad reputation," she added.
Bioapex had about 1,000 customers, half of whom were active, she noted.
Consumers who buy prepaid packages should be aware of the risks, advised Case executive director Seah Seng Choon.
"Even if they get a judgment against the business, there is no guarantee that their monies can be recovered as the business may not necessarily have the funds to pay," he said.
A new method of land reclamation will be adopted at the north-western tip of Pulau Tekong, adding new land the size of two Toa Payoh towns for military training purposes, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said yesterday.
The empoldering method involves building a dike around the area to be reclaimed and draining water from it, creating a low-lying tract of land below sea level, called a polder.
The polder is buffered from the sea by a dike, and water levels in the polder are controlled by drains and pumps.
The dike will measure 10km long, up to 15m wide at its crest and stand about 6m above sea level.
Compared to the traditional method of infilling with sand, this will reduce the amount of sand needed for reclamation and save on upfront construction costs, said the Housing Board.
It is the agent appointed by the Ministry of National Development to carry out land reclamation works on behalf of the Government.
To ensure that the project is cost-effective, safe and environmentally sensitive, HDB said it is working closely with Kees d'Angremond from the Netherlands - an authority on polder development and longtime adviser to Singapore on reclamation.
While polders may be new to Singapore, Professor d'Angremond said they have been built in the Netherlands for the past 2,000 years.
These polders were primitive ones built by farmers who wanted to protect their land against flooding.
Safety of the polders is ensured through methods such as the building of strong dikes, determining the height of the dike in relation to expected sea levels and wave action, as well as having a grass cover on the inner dike slope to ensure it does not erode, Professor d'Angremond said.
HDB will call for a tender by the end of this year and construction will commence at the end of 2017. The reclamation project is slated for completion in 2022.
Mindef will maintain the 810ha polder land upon its completion.
The drainage system, dike, water pumping stations and canals will be maintained by national water agency PUB.
The reclaimed area on the island will also have 21km of roads - the combined length of East Coast Parkway - and 29km of drains. HDB said an environmental study has been carried out to ensure that there will not be any significant impact on the surrounding marine environment and marine life.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has shed about 12 per cent of its pilots in the last five years, amid a prolonged business slowdown.
The pool has shrunk from 2,331 pilots in March 2011 to 2,056 at the end of March this year. Some left voluntarily while others were asked to go.
Despite the attrition, SIA still has more captains than it needs, spokesman Nicholas Ionides said, without divulging actual numbers.
This is partly due to first officers being promoted as part of their career development, he told The Straits Times.
The Singapore carrier has moved to reduce its pilot numbers through various initiatives in recent years, after stiff competition from rivals in the long-haul premium sector stunted its growth and expansion.
Its measures included offering voluntary no-pay leave and voluntary movements to subsidiaries such as Scoot and SIA Cargo.
The airline released its pilots who were on expatriate terms which included allowances for housing.
Captains who retire at 62 can be re-employed for just one more year, and provided they take unpaid leave for six months during the period.
Previously, captains could fly until 65.
SIA also froze cadet pilot recruitment for three years from early 2012.
A pilot who declined to be named said: "I think it's fair to say there has been some unhappiness, which has prompted some pilots who don't see things getting better any time soon to leave for other airlines.
"And there is no shortage of airlines luring our pilots, especially captains."
Hainan Airlines, for example, has held several recruitment drives in Singapore, among other markets.
The Straits Times understands that during the latest one held here a few months ago, more than 20 SIA pilots accepted offers from the Chinese airline.
The perks it offered included flexible leave and a monthly pay of about US$25,000 (S$35,500) for captains. In a good month, an SIA captain makes $18,000 to $20,000.
Rail operator SMRT is upgrading a fleet of 20-year-old trains used for the North-South and East-West lines.
The overhaul of the 19 six-car trains will include replacing their traction motors, air conditioning systems and train doors.
When the upgraded trains hit the tracks progressively from the second quarter of next year, commuters will also enjoy a graphical route map information system on board.
The company revealed details of the train upgrading project during a site visit to the Bishan depot yesterday.
The German-made C651 trains are manufactured by Siemens and have been in service since 1996.
With the upgrades, their lifespan will be extended by 15 to 20 years.
"The improvements will reduce the incidence of train faults common to the Siemens C651 fleet, such as its propulsion system and door system faults," SMRT said yesterday.
The train upgrading project, which is led by Singapore Rail Engineering, a subsidiary of SMRT Corp, is expected to be completed in 2018.
SINGAPORE - The police are investigating the use of Singapore and Malaysian flags by participants of an event at Hong Lim Park on Sunday (Nov 13) that was held in support of the upcoming Bersih 5 rally in Malaysia.
During the Yellow Sit-In event, the 15 or so participants laid a Singapore flag and a Malaysian flag on mats. They also held the flags up and took photos with them.
The police said on Wednesday (Nov 16) that several people are assisting in investigations "into offences under laws regarding the display of Singapore's and Malaysia's state flags".
Advertisement Bersih, a Malaysian group seeking electoral reforms, will hold its fifth rally this weekend to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak over his alleged involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad saga.
The organiser of the Singapore event, civil society activist Jolovan Wham, told The Straits Times he was stopped by the police after the event.
He said he was taken to the Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post for questioning and saw several other event participants there.
The police wanted to know the the participants' nationalities, why the event took place, and if the foreigners were mere observers, said Mr Wham. He was also questioned on the use of the flags.
Under the National Emblems (Control of Display) Act, the public display of the national emblem of any country, including flags, is prohibited except by certain people, such as diplomats, and when a an order is published in the Government Gazette to allow it.
Offenders can be fined up to $500 and jailed up to six months.
This article was first published on Nov 16, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - Former BSI banker Yeo Jiawei told lies and half-truths to the police to hide his use of a second phone line to communicate with his former boss Kevin Swampillai and associate Samuel Goh after they were pulled up for interrogation by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), prosecutors say.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, in his cross-examination of Yeo on Wednesday morning (Nov 16), said that Yeo, despite being warned by the CAD to not talk to the witnesses, communicated and arranged to meet the two men using a second line because he knew CAD was investigating him for "illicit transactions".
Yeo continued to maintain his innocence on day 10 of the trial against him for the role he played in a massive money laundering operation linked to scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fund. Advertisement
His former superior, Yak Yew Chee, a former BSI private banker to elusive Malaysian tycoon Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, last Friday became the first person convicted in the 1MDB probe. Yak pleaded guilty to four of seven charges, including forging documents and failing to flag suspicious transactions allegedly related to Low.
On Wednesday, Yeo, who is facing four counts of obstruction of justice, admitted on the stand to lying to the CAD about not using a second phone line, but maintained that he did so on instructions by Mr Swampillai because of the possibility that his primary line might be tracked by the government.
BSI Bank caught in 1MDB scandal
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Yeo said he was afraid he would get charged if he told the truth about using a second line.
"So you would rather lie to the CAD? ... And you're not afraid of committing another offence by lying to the CAD?" DPP Tan asked.
"Yes I was very confused. I didn't say the truth because I was afraid I would get charged for using a second line. And I wasn't allowed access to my lawyer," Yeo said.
But DPP Tan pointed out that even when Yeo had the opportunity to get legal advice, Yeo didn't mention that he had bought the second line to communicate with Mr Swampillai.
"Only when you were confronted with the call tracing records in court, and the testimony of Swampillai and Sam Goh, that's when you realised the game is up," DPP Tan said.
Yeo disagreed. He continued to maintain that Mr Swampillai and Mr Goh were lying in their testimony to "save their own skin".
In response to DPP Tan's suggestion that Yeo met both men because he knew the CAD was investigating him for illicit transactions, Yeo said he disagreed.
"None of my transactions are illicit," he added.
This article was first published on November 16, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - Former River Valley High School (RVHS) principal Koh Yong Chiah, 61, who lied about an extramarital affair with a vendor to whom he awarded millions of dollars in school contracts, started serving his four-week jail term on Friday (Nov 18) after losing his appeal against sentence.
A High Court panel of three judges found that the case justifies a custodial term as "appreciable harm" was caused by Koh's offence even though there is no finding of actual corruption or misuse of public funds.
"By concealing his affair with Ivy, a school vendor, and passively maintaining the falsehood, the appellant was allowed to undermine the integrity of the procurement process and confidence in the public service, especially since the conflict of interest went undetected for a long period of time,"Judge of Appeal Chao Hick Tin said, delivering the judgment.
The court, which also comprised Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Judicial Commissioner See Kee Oon, noted that Koh did not retract his false statement, in effect continuously asserting the falsehood.
Koh had admitted giving false information to Ms Chia Ban Tin, an officer from the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Nov 24, 2005, that he was not having an affair with the vendor, Ms Ivy Loke Wai Lin.
Koh was then principal of Jurong Junior College (JJC). He later became head of RVHS in 2009.
Ex-River Valley High principal admits to giving false info to MOE
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The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao
Koh and Ms Loke, now 55, met in 2000 while he was the principal of Chinese High School (CHS). Their first sexual encounter was during a CHS community service trip to Lijiang, China, in 2001. Both were married.
Between May and November 2005, in his capacity as the final approving authority for contracts at JJC, Koh awarded six contracts worth $162,491 to Ms Loke's firm, Education Architects 21 (EA 21).
He did not disclose the nature of his relationship with Ms Loke to the quotation approval panel.
Between 2005 and 2012, he approved $3.4 million worth of contracts to EA 21 and EI, another of Ms Loke's firms.
When he was queried by Ms Chia about an anonymous complaint of misconduct, Koh denied the affair.
Koh was dismissed from the public service with effect from Sept 14.
This article was first published on Nov 18, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - A lorry driver lost control of the vehicle, which then skidded across four lanes before tipping over in an accident on the Tampines Expressway (TPE) on Thursday (Nov 17) morning.
Police said that the accident involved a lorry and a minibus. The 24-year-old lorry driver was arrested.
The harrowing accident happened on the TPE towards the Pan-Island Expressway at about 8.20am.
Footage taken on an in-car camera was shared on the Singapore Taxi Driver Facebook group on Thursday night.
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2016-11-19 09:43:35
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TPE accident: Lorry swerves across 4 lanes before tipping over
It was a close shave for the vehicle the video was taken from, as the lorry swerved wildly and appeared to bump it on the right before veering off to the next lane.
It tipped on its side, and slid for some distance at the expressway exit, before coming to a stop.
It is understood that the driver was driving a company vehicle without permission.
A group of Singaporean tourists in Iceland saved a driver who was trapped in her car after an accident, in a dramatic rescue filmed and uploaded on Facebook.
The video, posted by Mr Muhammad Syahidin, shows a red Toyota that had overturned on an icy road.
He and three friends had just reached Iceland at midnight on Nov 15. Half a day later, as they were driving out from capital Reykjavik to visit the Gullfoss waterfall, they saw the red car hit a curb and flip over several times.
They immediately stopped to help.
Friend Muhammad Nasir filmed the rescue, and Mr Muhammad Syahidin later posted the 1 min 34 sec clip on his Facebook profile, where he is known as Denda Maradona.
The video shows Mr Muhammad Syahidin, 27, running towards the car, and as he draws close, a woman's screams are heard.
He tries to open her door, but it is stuck. He opens the rear car door and tries to reach her from the back passenger seat instead.
"Get your seatbelt!" Mr Muhammad Nasir, also 27, can be heard saying urgently in the video.
"Need to switch off the engine," he is also heard saying later, as he gives his friends instructions in a mixture of English and Malay.
They are seen circling the car and trying all the doors to find a way to get her out.
Mr Salihin Idderos, 27, unbuckled her seatbelt. Another friend, Mr Muhammad Faishal helped to direct traffic.
Soon, others, apparently Icelanders, also stopped to help.
They eventually got the driver's car door open after a few tries and Mr Muhammad Syahidin pulled her out, he said.
The video ends with the reassuring scene of the rescuers carrying the woman, who was already out of the car.
She was very traumatised, "not really aware of her surroundings" he said.
The four Singaporeans left after making sure she was safe and the Icelanders called the police.
On Facebook, the video of the incident was watched about 4,000 times. A friend also sent the clip to Stomp, and it was uploaded on YouTube, where the video got more than 29,000 views.
An Icelandic website, Stundin, also picked up the video and interviewed the victim, Ms Audur Gisladottir. Ms Gisladottir, who is recovering in hospital, was alerted to the video of the rescue by the reporter from Stundin.
She posted a thank you message on her Facebook in Icelandic late on Tuesday, and said she could not remember what happened as she had lost consciousness.
The four Singaporeans are still in Iceland, hoping to catch the northern lights on their 11-day trip.
This article was first published on Nov 18, 2016.
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The historic cluster of five houses on the fringe of the Botanic Gardens could soon be home to a research and education hub for the Unesco World Heritage site when the leases for academic, dining and entertainment facilities there expire next year.
The National University of Singapore Society's (NUSS) Bukit Timah Guild House, whose lease expires in March, is among those affected.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Singapore Botanic Gardens' director Nigel Taylor said the Gardens will take over the Cluny Road buildings in phases, and use them for "research and educational outreach purposes".
Heritage experts said this could mean a new avenue for the public to learn more about the 156-year-old Gardens, which is home to more than 10,000 plant species.
In pictures: 25,000 gather to enjoy festivities at Botanic Gardens
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The Gardens was inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage site last year, joining a league of more than 1,000 global treasures.
The National Parks Board (NParks) will not be renewing the leases of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), restaurant Blue Bali, and the Bukit Timah Guild House. NParks took over management of the houses, which fall under the Gardens' 49ha Unesco boundary, in 2005.
The Gardens' Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology presently occupies Houses 1 and 3. Restaurant Blue Bali is in House 4, and the Guild House in House 2.
IPS has been renting House 5 and an annexe building in 1C Cluny Road since 2008, following its merger with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy nearby in 469C Bukit Timah Road.
An IPS spokesman said the institution has not made any plans to move.
Managing director Robin Greatbatch of Blue Bali, which has been at the cluster for five years, said:
"We expected that NParks would re-tender the house to us, and haven't heard anything officially.
"We spent $2 million putting the place together and building an extensive outdoor restaurant with greenery. We're seeking dialogue as we feel we can contribute educationally while providing a unique outdoor dining space."
NParks said Blue Bali's tenancy will expire towards the end of next year. "We will therefore be contacting them early next year on their lease matters," added Dr Taylor.
Some older members of NUSS had lamented the loss of the Bukit Timah location where they had studied at the then University of Singapore.
Responding to queries, the Guild House said it set up a task force in July to explore other options.
The Cluny Road cluster was built in the 1920s to house academics of Raffles College, Singapore's first tertiary college. It then housed the Economics Department of the University of Malaya, later renamed the University of Singapore, and then NUS.
Dr Kevin Tan, president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, said the Gardens' move towards developing a research-focused cluster is strategic, and "makes sense" since it is sited within an education and research hub.
Dr Taylor said plans for the cluster are in line with the Gardens' responsibility as a Unesco World Heritage site "to be a leader in botanical research, and to inform and educate the general public in respect of its rich historical, cultural and scientific significance and outstanding universal values". He added that more details will be shared when ready.
The Gardens currently houses a heritage museum at Holttum Hall in the Tanglin Core of the Gardens, and by 2018 will also have a new forest conservation interpretive centre and natural art history gallery at two restored bungalows in Gallop Road.
This article was first published on Nov 19, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
<p>The historic cluster of five houses on the fringe of the Botanic Gardens could soon be home to a research and education hub for the Unesco World Heritage site when the leases for academic, dining and entertainment facilities there expire next year.</p>
Her father, Mr Alan Koh, 74, had earlier told Shin Min that his eldest daughter had a history of hypertension but had seen a doctor and was taking medication.
The family is now waiting for the full findings of the report to be out, which may take months or up to a year.
Speaking to The New Paper yesterday at Woodlands Street 11, Block 169, where the three-day wake is held, Ms Koh's mother, Madam Ng Ah Moi, said: "The little ones still can't believe she is gone. I don't know if they fully understand what is happening."
"Every time I talk about my daughter, my heart breaks.
"We're all so tired," she added, before declining to comment further.
Ms Koh's wake spanned three void decks and the corridors were lined with numerous wreaths and blankets from her friends, family and work associates.
Her paternal uncle, Mr Henry Koh, 69, said: "It's a testament to how well-loved she was.
"She was a good daughter, mother, and businesswoman.
"Her parents expect many friends and business associates to turn up."
He added, teary-eyed: "She will always be remembered fondly. She was too young to die."
Shin Min reported that Ms Koh had flown to Hong Kong last Wednesday for work and was due to return home on Saturday night.
However, that morning, she was found unconscious in her hotel room after having breakfast with friends.
Her ex-husband Louis Ang, 38, an architect, was at the wake, but declined to speak to media.
Exhausted
His childhood friend, Ms Irenea Khoo, 38, said he was exhausted after having spent the past few days settling funeral affairs.
"The family is in a vulnerable place right now. Her (Ms Koh's) mother collapsed this morning, and he (Mr Ang) is very emotional," she said.
Ms Khoo, a sales executive at food supplier Angliss, also said Ms Koh was respected and well-known in the food and beverage industry as she always went the extra mile to serve customers, clients and colleagues.
"She was a wonderful woman, very sincere and hands-on. The industry has lost a wonderful person," she said.
Ms Khoo also said Mr Ang will take over the responsibility of caring for the two children with the help of Ms Koh's parents.
This article was first published on Nov 19, 2016.
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Joseph Schooling's second homecoming after winning Singapore's historic first Olympic gold was a quiet affair yesterday morning - a private arrival greeted only by his personal entourage, away from his adoring fans and autograph seekers.
It was a far cry from the swim star's first trip home in August, days after winning the 100m butterfly gold in Rio de Janeiro. Then, more than 500 fans welcomed him at Changi Airport in a rousing reception.
Not that the 21-year-old is complaining. The University of Texas student, who brought his good friend and swim teammate Tripp Cooper along, said: "It is a nice change, especially after a long flight. I love to meet new people, but this (low-key arrival) gives me time with my loved ones."
Schooling is in town until next Friday for a series of public appearances, chiefly a Singapore Swimming Association golf fund-raiser at Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) on Tuesday.
While his arrival was inconspicuous, he was unsurprisingly the centre of attention at various stopovers with his entourage - which included his parents, Colin and May - at TMCC, Ngee Ann City and Millenia Walk yesterday, being approached by a constant stream of wefie-hunters and well-wishers.
Cooper said: "I saw his photos from his August homecoming, so I had a good idea what to expect.
"Back in the States, the attention (on Joseph) has gone down a bit, but it is still quite amazing and nice to see so many people approach him, especially the children, who looked really excited."
Schooling now has a dedicated four-man security team accompanying him everywhere - even during toilet breaks.
Crowds gather to catch glimpse of Joseph Schooling on victory parade
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His day ended with dinner with his extended family at Roland Restaurant.
Singaporeans who missed the Olympic champion during his victory parade in August will have more chances to catch him in the flesh over the next few days.
His series of public appearances will start today at Ngee Ann City, where he will headline an event organised by Make-A-Wish Foundation and Watsons.
That is followed by a trip to the Istana, where President Tony Tan Keng Yam will host a tea reception for Team Singapore's 2016 Olympians and Paralympians.
Schooling will also hold public book-signing sessions, including one at the Singapore Press Holdings News Centre on Monday, where he will sign two books published by Straits Times Press for the first 50 buyers in queue.
Hundreds give Joseph Schooling triumphant homecoming at Changi Airport
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The two volumes, titled Schooling Joseph and From Kid To King, are written by current and former Straits Times sports journalists.
Another highlight will be the Singapore National Olympic Council's Multimillion-dollar Awards Programme awards presentation and appreciation dinner on Thursday, where Schooling is set to receive a $1 million cheque for his Olympic gold.
Public appearances
1.Today, 2pm: Make-A-Wish foundation event at Ngee Ann City with Watsons.
2. Tomorrow, 2pm: Book- signing at Kinokuniya, Ngee Ann City
3. Monday, 1pm: Book-signing at Singapore Press Holdings News Centre
4. Wednesday, 3.30pm: Singapore Swimming Association Legacy Council Exhibition at National Museum
5. Thursday, 4pm: Make-A-Wish foundation event at Kallang Wave Mall
This article was first published on Nov 19, 2016.
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<p>Joseph Schooling's second homecoming after winning Singapore's historic first Olympic gold was a quiet affair yesterday morning - a private arrival greeted only by his personal entourage, away from his adoring fans and autograph seekers.</p>
He saw an e-biker being hit by a truck, then dragged along the street.
Mr Lek, 56, a courier, who was on Cecil Street, told The New Paper the shocking sight made him stop in his tracks.
But he was not prepared for what awaited him when he went forward to investigate after the truck had come to a stop several metres down the road.
He said: "I was shocked to see that the victim was my friend. From his badly injured body, I knew he didn't survive the accident. I can't believe he is gone."
Mr Lek said the man was a courier like him and was known as Lao Chek (old uncle in Hokkien) among fellow workers. He does not know the man's real name.
The duo often saw each other around Raffles Place when they delivered packages for their clients.
Officers have arrested the 54-year-old driver for causing the death by performing a negligent act. Investigations are ongoing.
Photo: TNP
The Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedics pronounced the 62-year-old dead at the scene.
Mr Lek told TNP that he has known Lao Chek for six years. Heaving a sigh, he said: "Even though we were not from the same company, we always chatted whenever we met.
"He was a friendly guy. I last saw him in the area at 9.15am and he seemed fine. It is sad that he died about an hour later."
Mr Lek said his friend worked for Courier Circle Asia.
TNP called the company and a man confirmed that the victim was one of its employees.
However, he declined to comment about the incident.
Mr Lek said: "As couriers, we know that we have to ride carefully all the time. I am sad that Lao Chek is no longer with us. I will definitely miss him."
When TNP arrived at the scene at 12.45pm, a large crowd had gathered on both sides of the road.
Many office workers were seen craning their necks to get a better view of the aftermath of the accident.
Police officers were observed conducting their investigations within a cordoned-off area, and they set up a blue tent over the body.
The crash on the extreme left side of Cecil Street near Republic Plaza caused a traffic jam.
An unidentified bespectacled man arrived at the scene at around 1pm and he broke down when officers showed him the body.
Photo: TNP
He left the scene in a green car 20 minutes later after the body was taken away in a black van.
An onlooker, who wanted to be known only as Miss Lee, 32, said she often sees e-bikes on the road in the area and fears for their safety.
She said: "Cecil Street is a busy road, I feel sorry for the victim in this tragedy. I read the news and many ebikers have already lost their lives on the road.
"I hope the authorities will do something to help both e-bikers and other motorists."
Another onlooker, Mr Muhammad, shared the same sentiment.
He said: "I think e-bikers need to be trained first before they are allowed on the road. There have already been several accidents involving them recently."
An Icelandic woman was saved by four Singaporeans after her car turned turtle in an accident in icy road conditions.
But she could not remember anything about the Singaporeans or the dramatic rescue on a road about 40km east of the capital Reykjavik on Tuesday. The rescue was caught on video.
When she finally saw the video, shot by one of the four Singaporeans who helped, she said she cried.
Miss Audur Gisladottir, 21, who works in a nail salon, was on her way to meet a friend in Hverageroi, a town in the south of Iceland when the accident happened.
She can remember listening to US band Korn as she drove in her red 2008 Toyota Yaris behind a big truck that day.
Miss Gisladottir told TNP: "I was driving at 90kmh when I suddenly lost control of the car and hit a sign.
"I think the car rolled three times and I broke the window with my head."
In the video, Mr Muhammad Nasir can be heard urgently instructing his friends in a mix of English and Malay. Facebook: Auour Gisladottir
The car landed on its roof at the road side, with Miss Gisladottir hanging upside down from her seat, held up by her seat belt.
She said: "I got a big wound on my head, a lot of broken glass went inside of my body and I sprained my back and neck."
She was admitted to the hospital for nine hours and did not suffer any long-term injuries.
The Singaporeans saw her car overturn and rushed to help, as she screamed.
She said: "I kind of remember everything except after the car stopped. I do not remember screaming and crying like in the video."
She said thank you in Icelandic to the people who rescued her and the hospital staff.
Mr Muhammad Syahidin and his friends had arrived in Iceland on Nov 15, for an 11-day trip to catch the Northern Lights.
One of the friends, Mr Salihin Idderos, reposted Ms Gisladottir's post on Facebook, saying: "Glad she's OK."
They pull her out of overturned car
Mr Muhammad Syahidin, 27, and his three friends were on the way to Gullfoss waterfall when they saw a car lose control on an icy road, hit a sign and flip thrice before landing onto its roof.
They stopped their car immediately to help the driver, Miss Audur Gisladottir, 21.
Mr Muhammad Syahidin's friend, Mr Muhammad Nasir, 27, started recording as all four of them rushed towards the overturned car.
Miss Gisladottir, who was hanging upside down in the car, could be heard screaming frantically as Mr Muhammad Nasir got closer.
While Mr Muhammad Syahidin tried to open the front door of the car, Mr Muhammad Nasir can be heard urgently instructing his friends in a mix of English and Malay.
He said: "Get the seat belt. Try to unbuckle."
At that point, the video shows Icelandic passers-by also stopping to help.
Another friend, Mr Salihin Idderos, 27, managed to unbuckle the woman's seat belt, while Mr Muhammad Faishal, is seen helping direct traffic.
The video ends with the men freeing Miss Gisladottir, who is seen lying next to the car door, unconscious.
This article was first published on Nov 19, 2016.
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For more than 10 years, the e-mails that Roman Catholic church volunteer Philip Wong received were mostly about his parish church's activities, like planning funfairs and feastdays, or about announcements by the archdiocese.
But on Thursday, the 66-year-old was surprised to receive an e-mail on how to prepare for a terrorist attack.
The PowerPoint presentation slides were from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, the governing authority of the Roman Catholic church in Singapore.
It has an initiative to form an Archdiocesan Emergency Preparedness Taskforce to train and equip members with basic emergency skills and to improve standard operating procedures for emergencies.
In recent years, terrorists have been attacking places of worship.
Mr Wong, who has been a volunteer for more than 10 years at St Anne's Church, told The New Paper: "Times have changed. Because of the threat of terrorism, we have to be more aware."
St Andrew's Cathedral also has closed-circuit television cameras. Photo: Kenneth Lee
VOLUNTEERS
Other Roman Catholic churches, including the Church of St Teresa at Kampong Bahru Road and The Church of the Risen Christ in Toa Payoh Central, were also calling for volunteers with experience in fire-fighting and emergency first aid.
And the churches are not the only religious organisation to be ramping up security.
Mosques, which are fitted with closed-circuit television cameras, are secured and locked after midnight, said the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
Last month, the Hindu Endowments Board told The Straits Timesthat its temples have security measures to ensure the safety of their devotees.
These measures are in line with SGSecure, a national movement launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in September to increase the public's preparedness in emergency situations such as a terrorist attack.
SBF's chief executive Kua Soon Khe told TNP that it has been working with the temples and sharing information about SGSecure with them.
"We are helping to disseminate and translate information on safety protocols to the temples, from emergency evacuation plans to theft prevention measures," he said.
He added that security is now a national and global challenge and requires the awareness and involvement of every citizen.
"With the collapse of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Middle East and many ISIS fighters returning to South-east Asia, we have to heighten our awareness for threats in the region," said Mr Kua.
"The threat is very real. It's not a matter of 'if' but 'when'."
"The Government has been sending messages about the threat of terrorism," he said.
"Accordingly, we tell our members that they should be building networks within their own communities.
"The question is how we communicate if something happens. We hope there won't be any attack, but if there is, we should stand together - that is the most important thing."
Some places of worship said they already had security in place.
RESPONSE PLANS
Director of mosques at Muis, Mr Mohd Helmy Isa, said mosques were plugged into their neighbourhood and grassroots organisations, and have crisis response plans for emergencies.
"We view threats as real and serious as the safety of our congregants and children is our upmost priority," he said.
"Threats do not affect only the Muslim community but the nation at large.
"We will remain vigilant and united with all Singaporeans and continue to strive, stay resilient and strong."
St Andrew's Cathedral's general manager Kenneth Ng said it has had additional cameras and guards in place since the 9/11 attack in the US. It has also engaged a third-party firm to do a security review this year.
These measures have increased the cathedral's security budget, said Mr Ng, but "it's necessary".
'Security crucial to religious harmony'
Singaporeans The New Paper spoke to had mixed reactions to the increased security at places of worship.
Madam Chen Yi Fang, 50, who goes to Ubin Thai Buddhist Temple, told TNP that the close-circuit television cameras, coupled with alert temple employees, gave her a sense of security.
She said: "People think temples are supposed to be safe places, but that is quite wrong. Those praying are responsible for their own safety."
Others who welcome the increased security felt that a terrorist attack could be harmful to the racial and religious harmony in Singapore.
Mr Bryan James Francisco, 20, a civil servant and parishioner at St Anne's Church, said: "With Singapore taking pride in its racial and religious harmony, security is important to ensure that it remains that way."
Mr Muhammad Faiz, 19, who goes to Masjid Al-Iman Mosque, said he is not worried because Singapore has a cohesive society and the various religious groups are not alone in combatting terrorism.
"I feel as though when I pray in a mosque, people outside it would help keep a lookout," he said.
Three regulars at the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple on Waterloo Street said they did not feel threatened by terrorism.
One of them, who wanted to be known only as Madam Tan and who is in her 50s, said she trusted the authorities to keep the country safe.
Mr Kenneth Sum, 19, a parishioner at St Anne's Church, however, felt conflicted about the increased security at churches.
While he admitted security is crucial, the Nanyang Polytechnic student said he would not feel at peace if he saw armed police at church.
Attacks on places of worship
NOVEMBER 2016
Four children were hurt after a church in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, was attacked on Nov 13. A two-year-old later died of her injuries.
Police said they had arrested a man wearing a T-shirt with the words "jihad" on it and are looking for his accomplice who fled.
Samarinda police chief Setyobudi Dwiputro said the suspects were on a motorcycle when they threw what was believed to be a low-grade Molotov cocktail or homemade bomb.
SEPTEMBER 2016
A suicide bomber killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens of others as they attended Friday prayers at a mosque in Pakistan on Sept 16.
The bombing took place in the village of Butmaina in the Mohmand tribal district bordering Afghanistan, where the army had been fighting against Taleban militants.
AUGUST 2015
A small but powerful bomb packed with ball bearings killed 20 people, including a 34-year-old Singaporean woman, and wounded more than 100 others when it ripped through the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok on Aug 17.
The Hindu shrine is popular among ethnic Chinese visitors, who made up a majority of the dead, with five from Malaysia, five from China and two from Hong Kong.
It was the worst attack on Thai soil.
Two members of China's Muslim minority Uighur population, Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammed, were arrested and are facing 10 charges, including premeditated murder and illegal possession of weapons.
This article was first published on Nov 19, 2016.
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SINGAPORE- What is it like to travel around Punggol blind?
More than 60 participants got a taste of it, as they went around the town blindfolded on Saturday.
Organised by the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind and non-profit Social Innovation Park, the event aimed to help people gain a better understanding of the difficulties faced by the visually-impaired in their daily commute. This includes knowing when to alight from buses and figuring out train directions.
A total of 66 participants from government agencies, Punggol grassroots and various organisations such as public transport operator SMRT, took trains and buses via designated routes around Punggol.
The activity involved participants setting off in groups of four. Each group would have two participants blind folded, a facilitator and one visually impaired ambassador.
The idea for this event was mooted by two visually-impaired Singaporeans Melissa Yeo and Dr Yeo Sze Ling.
Ms Yeo, who lost her sight eight years ago, said she hopes this exercise will help Singaporeans to step in the shoes of those who are visually handicapped and better understand their difficulties when taking public transport.
Building an inclusive society is more than just having the visually handicapped around, said the 43-year-old, but it's to lead independent lives.
Mr Ng Chee Meng, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Minister for Education (schools) and Second Minister of Transport also took part in the activity. As part of his commute, he took a bus from Punggol East to Punggol LRT blindfolded.
Participants will also share their experience after the event so that their feedback can be taken into consideration in future town planning and policy making.
This article was first published on Nov 19, 2016.
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Mrs Jasmine Shoo has been waiting seven months for the safe return of her 50-year-old husband Shoo Chiau Huat - the boat captain arrested in Tanjung Berakit waters, just off Bintan island, on April 16.
The seven Singaporeans and six Malaysians on board his Singapore-flagged Selin, all mainly recreational anglers, were deported about a week later, but Shoo was charged with a trespassing offence.
He was acquitted in July but later accused of entering Indonesia illegally. He remains in custody pending his court hearing, and is expected to be sentenced late next month, said Mrs Shoo.
"He used to go out to sea two to four times a month, usually during the weekends. It was not his first time to the area," said the 50-year-old, who does administrative work in an insurance company. She is now caring for their four children.
She had turned to Punggol East MP Charles Chong for help. Every Monday, she rushed to his meet-the-people sessions after work. She said: "Sometimes, I would wait till 11pm to see him. I went there so often that even his staff recognised me."
Mr Chong told The Sunday Times that upon hearing of her situation, he wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and met the Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, to discuss the matter.
The MFA sent a diplomatic note to the Indonesian authorities against Shoo's extended detention.
Mr Chong said: "We told (Mrs Shoo) that if she needs provisions and did not qualify for help, we would find some way to assist her."
Mrs Shoo visited her husband in May with a lawyer in Indonesia but has not seen him since. They talk on the phone once or twice a week and Mrs Shoo is having to scrimp and save to get by.
But she said: "I don't need help. I just need my husband back.
"It's better than when we had no contact. His clothes were stolen back then, and he didn't eat well. He told me he was also beaten by others.
"Every Tuesday, he appears in court. We're expecting to know the outcome in late December.
"It's strange he was acquitted and they did not let him come back. If he was entering illegally, wouldn't it have been the same for his passengers? I'm starting to think there is no hope for him."
This article was first published on November 20, 2016.
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Last week, Oxford Dictionaries named its Word of the Year 2016 and it's "Chinese helicopter".
No, that's a lie because "Chinese helicopter" is two words.
Actually, it's not a lie. It's "post-truth".
And "post-truth" is Oxford's true Word of the Year.
But isn't "post-truth" also two words?
No, the hyphen joins the two words to make it a compound word, which is counted as one word.
But ironically, in a post-truth world which we live in now, "post-truth" feels like two words.
What does it mean anyway?
You want the meaning of "post-truth"? You can't handle the meaning of "post-truth"!
Oxford defines it as an adjective "relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief".
I told you that you couldn't handle it.
To cut all that verbiage, Oxford could've just used a picture of US president-elect Donald Trump.
"Post-truth" was chosen because "Oxford Dictionaries has seen a spike in frequency this year in the context of the EU (European Union) referendum in the United Kingdom and the presidential election in the United States".
But can "post-truth" apply to Singapore too?
Take, for example, this online Straits Times headline that appeared on Friday: "North-South, East-West MRT lines show best performance in 29-year history."
I don't know about you, but I take everything I read from The Straits Times as an objective fact.
However, in a post-truth world, this online headline went against my personal belief.
It's right up there with other dubious public transport-related headlines like "Bus fares will be affordable if raised" and "Rise in major breakdowns but MRT gets more reliable".
And I wasn't the only one who felt that way, judging by the reactions on social media like "You're kidding??!!!" and "Hahahahaahaa".
On The Straits Times' Facebook page, the report was greeted with some incredulity. Someone commented: "Joke of the day. I laughed till I almost hit the car in front!"
Another: "I smell breakdowns coming... they always have a way to jinx the MRT."
The latter comment was prescient as later that day, SMRT tweeted: "Due to a track fault, pls add 10 mins travel time from Tanah Merah to Bugis towards Joo Koon."
S'poreans turn to humour to express frustration at MRT breakdown
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YouTube screengrabs, Video screengrabs, Internet screengrabs, Twitter, Facebook screengrabs
AWARDS
This sort of thing has happened before, of course.
In February last year, SMRT received the award for Delivering Value Through Risk Management in London.
Almost immediately after that, the MRT train delays started with four incidents over five days, including a fire that shut down the entire Bukit Panjang LRT system.
Five months later at the SMRT annual general meeting, CEO Desmond Kuek announced winning another award for Best Public Sector Campaign given by the Singapore Institute of Public Relations.
Hours later, both the North-South Line and East-West Line were shut down during evening rush hour.
The breakdown was so epic, songs were written about it.
A month later, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew quit.
So did it happen again last week?
As it turned out, the online Straits Times headline was wrong.
What the online report actually said was: "The North-South and East-West MRT lines achieved 144,000 train-km before breakdown in the first 10 months of this year, the best recorded performance for the two lines in recent years."
And "The North-South and East-West lines started operating 29 years ago."
The headline on The Straits Times website has since been corrected to read: "North-South, East-West MRT lines show best performance for first 10 months of 2016."
Unfortunately, the error is preserved in the web page's URL itself, www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/north-south-east-west-mrt-lines....
And I have the screengrab.
As they say, the Internet is forever.
And that's the post-truth and nothing but the post-truth.
Meanwhile, to avoid getting stuck in a train breakdown in the near future, I recommend you take a Chinese helicopter instead.
But remember to add a hyphen.
As Spandau Ballet sang, I know this much is post-true.
This article was first published on November 20, 2016.
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