The father of a three-month-old baby was so engrossed in a mobile phone game that he continued playing it while feeding his child from a milk bottle with one hand.

The child, Reyhana Qailah Mohamad Shiddiq, became unresponsive after a brief struggle - she had kicked her legs, moved her hands, pushed the bottle with her tongue, and cried.

Efforts to resuscitate the infant were unsuccessful and she died on Oct 12 last year, five weeks after she was discharged from hospital, where she had been admitted over a broken skull. Her father, Mohamed Shiddiq Sazali, 27, had accidentally dropped her in August.

Yesterday, State Coroner Marvin Bay found Reyhana's death to be "a truly tragic misadventure". He said: "I find it highly probable that Reyhana's demise is causally linked to Mr Shiddiq's utterly irresponsible and reckless manner of feeding her. His inattention to her struggles and resistance to drinking essentially amounted to forced bottle feeding of a very young baby."

Reyhana was born on June 28 last year. On Aug 26, her mother, Nurraishah Mahzan, 31, found Reyhana crying non-stop. At KK Women's and Children's Hospital, she learnt Reyhana had a fractured skull. The hospital told the police and the Ministry of Social and Family Development about the case. Reyhana returned home on Sept 9, after her parents signed a safety undertaking with the ministry.

On Oct 12, Ms Nurraishah left home at about 10.20am, having fed and burped her baby. She handed Reyhana to Mr Shiddiq and told him to burp her properly.

He later fed the infant, while seated with his legs crossed. But she did not want to drink and cried for about two minutes. After she became unresponsive, he put her on a bed and patted her back.

Ms Nurraishah's father, Mr Mahzan Ahmad, 57, returned home and found the baby not breathing but with a pulse. He started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Ms Nurraishah got a text message from Mr Shiddiq and took a taxi home, where she performed CPR until police and paramedics arrived.

After Reyhana's death, Mr Shiddiq admitted dropping the baby on Aug 26. He was carrying her at the void deck of a Housing Board block while playing with his mobile phone, when he saw her pacifier on the ground and tried to pick it up.

After her death, a forensic pathologist found that three of her ribs were also broken about one to two weeks before her death. The fractures remain unexplained.

Coroner Bay yesterday said he found no basis to suspect foul play. "Quite distinct from the manner that Mr Shiddiq's manner of feeding his child might be regarded as egregiously reckless or neglectful, the investigation has not uncovered evidence of any deliberate intent by him to harm Reyhana," he said.

amirh@sph.com.sg

Read also: Baby died while being fed by father who was playing with his phone

This article was first published on November 26, 2016.
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She and her mother used to go on long walks at Bedok Reservoir.

Now, seven-year-old Qatrina Yusri needs a walker and sometimes a wheelchair to move about.

She was diagnosed with a rare disease called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) in April. It is an inherited neurological condition that causes the patient's legs to become stiff and weak. 

In Qatrina's case, the disease has also made her incapable of controlling her bladder.

Her story first came to light when a video of her struggles with HSP was shared on Facebook by media company Screenbox earlier this month.

The video has more than 500,000 views and was shared more than 11,000 times.

Madam Herlina Salamat, 37, first noticed her daughter walking more slowly than her peers in her primary school at the start of the year.

Qatrina, the third of four children, would also walk with her feet turned in - known as intoeing.
 

Common

"We were once told by a doctor that intoeing is a common condition and it would disappear when she grows up," Madam Herlina, a personal assistant, told The New Paper at the family's flat in Tampines.

The diagnosis of HSP came about almost by chance. After a routine height and weight check-up in school in February, the 100cm-tall Qatrina was referred to the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to have her height re-measured and to see a doctor.

But the family postponed the appointment. By April, she was walking less and less because her leg muscles had become stiff. Her family had to push her around in a stroller.

"We thought she was just being lazy," said Madam Herlina. "At one point, we thought she was grieving for my mother, who died last year."

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Girl hit by rare neurological disorder that stops her from walking

Source:

The New Paper

Berita Harian

When the family went to HPB in April, Qatrina was referred to National University Hospital (NUH) for an MRI scan.

Madam Herlina said: "It was only after the scan that the doctors at NUH diagnosed her with HSP.

"We were shocked when we got the diagnosis. My heart just dropped.

"I wanted to cry, but because Qatrina was in the room, I had to be strong, so I held it in."

Their hopes for a treatment were dashed when they learned that there is no cure for HSP.

"We felt so helpless. It's not like cancer, where you know what steps can be taken," said Madam Herlina.

But it did not stop her from trying.

"We tried a lot of different things to help her, from buying walking aids to sending her for traditional massages," she said.

"We would try almost anything to get help for her."

Last month, Madam Herlina's husband, a civil servant, came across an AsiaOne story about two brothers in Singapore living with HSP.

Madam Herlina then reached out to the brothers on their Mountain Tortoise Facebook page.

"The brothers responded immediately and, a few days later, they came to our home to meet Qatrina," she said.

Mr Kenneth Tan, 28, and his brother Eugene, 26, were diagnosed with HSP in 2014.

Said Mr Tan: "Aside from my younger brother, Qatrina is the only other person in Singapore with HSP that we know of."

He felt it was his duty to share with Qatrina and her family how he and his brother fight back against the disease by walking long distances.

"We just wanted to show Qatrina that although there is currently no cure, it doesn't mean she should give up and not exercise," he said.
 

Godsend

For Madam Herlina, meeting the brothers was a godsend.

"Although walking is not a cure, it will keep her active and help to strengthen her legs," she said.

"I am really thankful that I was able to meet the brothers. They've really been so helpful to my family."

As for Qatrina, who sat quietly beside her mother throughout the interview playing with a mobile phone, the journey is just beginning.

When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she replied: "I want to be a policewoman."

"Hopefully," her mother said in support.

"I just want her to be happy and continue to fight on."

'Qatrina keeps us in check'

When they received a Facebook message from Madam Herlina Salamat about her seven-year-old daughter Qatrina Yusri, they replied immediately.

Mr Kenneth Tan, 28, and his brother Eugene, 26, were diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) - an extremely rare neurological condition characterised by progressive stiffness and weakness of legs - in 2014.

"We felt that we needed to provide support to Qatrina and her family immediately," Mr Kenneth Tan, a social media consultant, told The New Paper over the phone.

"Her parents were understandably very worried for her because information about the disease is not widespread."

Within days of that initial contact last month, the brothers met Qatrina and her family to share their experience of living with HSP.

"We were able to share with them what has worked for us so far and what has not," said Mr Kenneth Tan.

"Perhaps the most important thing was that they need to get her to constantly train by walking."

Walking long distances has helped the brothers regain some semblance of their lives before they were diagnosed with HSP.

Mr Kenneth Tan had signed on as a diving officer in the Navy while Mr Eugene Tan was a commando when he was doing his national service.

Before the diagnosis, both had led fairly active lives, running marathons and climbing mountains.

Around 2012, they noticed that they were no longer able to run as well as they could.

"I used to able to run 2.4km under 9mins, but suddenly, no matter how hard I tried, my running times just got worse," said Mr Kenneth Tan.

In late 2013, he sought medical help when he could not meet the passing time of 12min 40secs for his annual Individual Physical Performance Test's 2.4km run.

"While the medical officer suspected that it could be HSP, I was officially diagnosed only in 2014, after a CT and MRI scan," he said.

Mr Eugene Tan, who had trouble running, got himself checked and was diagnosed a few months later.

In an interview with AsiaOne in October, Mr Kenneth Tan admitted that he slipped into depression after he was diagnosed in 2014.

He told AsiaOne that "I put on quite a bit of weight" but his former Navy buddies helped him get out of it.

Mr Kenneth Tan and Mr Eugene Tan, who is now a sports therapist, have designed a training programme to help them keep active and slow down the effects of the disease.

They go on long treks around Singapore, traversing the Green Corridor and climbing Bukit Timah Hill.

Raise awareness

The Mountain Tortoise Facebook page was set up in September to document their training progress and to raise awareness about HSP.

Mr Kenneth Tan recently wrote on the page how his legs were responding better when he was hiking around Taiwan and South Korea while on a work trip.

With encouragement from the brothers, Qatrina exercises regularly to strengthen her legs.

The brothers and the family now share their exercise regimes as a way to motivate each other.

Mr Kenneth Tan said: "It also keeps us in check. If a child can fight on, we better not slack."
 

What is Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia?

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is a group of inherited neurological conditions that leads to the progressive stiffness and weakness of the legs.

Associate Professor Prakash Kumar said a person with HSP will have difficulty walking. The senior consultant at the Department of Neurology at National Neuroscience Institute said HSP symptoms can start appearing at any stage of life.

The disease is passed down in the family though an abnormal gene.

"The abnormal gene is either inherited or the result of mutation in the affected individual," he said.

The symptoms progress from a mild leg stiffness and walking difficulties, to the person eventually requiring a cane, walker or wheelchair to move.

Prof Prakash also said that in more complex cases, there can be additional symptoms such as impaired vision, hearing, cognition and bladder disturbances.

According to the US National Organisation for Rare Disorders, patients with HSP cannot move properly because the brain can no longer communicate effectively with the legs, causing the leg muscles to stiffen up and weaken.

It is so rare that it is not known how many people in Singapore suffer from HSP, said Prof Prakash.

"The degree of disability varies among patients. Most of those with uncomplicated HSP have a normal life expectancy."

Although there is no treatment to prevent, slow or cure HSP, muscle relaxants and physical therapy can help reduce muscle stiffness.

This article was first published on November 26, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - The nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) vehicles seized by Hong Kong Customs at a port on Wednesday have been moved to the Customs' depot at the River Trade Terminal, which is a secured access-controlled area.

In a statement on Saturday night (Nov 26), Singapore's Ministry of Defence (Mindef) added that the shipping containers which were opened for inspection have also been resealed by the Hong Kong Customs.

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SAF armoured vehicles seized in Hong Kong port

Source:

Factwire

The ministry said that an SAF team arrived in Hong Kong at 9pm on Friday and that earlier in the day, they met with representatives from Japanese-owned container shipping firm APL, which had transported the nine SAF vehicles.

Mindef said the SAF team met APL "to assess the situation and to ensure that the nine Terrex infantry carrier vehicles and associated equipment are sited in secure premises".

The vehicles were being shipped from Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan to Singapore but were intercepted during a routine inspection involving checks for explosives. It is not known why the ship had stopped by Hong Kong.

Read also: SAF deploys team to Hong Kong to secure seized armoured vehicles 

This article was first published on Nov 26, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Never mind that primary schools have just reported their best PSLE results yet.

Online, people are raving about one man's Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) score. After National University of Singapore (NUS) Associate Professor Syed Khairudin Aljunied posted his PSLE score on Facebook, it went viral.

The post has been shared more than 3,000 times and received close to 3,000 likes since it was up on Thursday night. It has also sparked a movement.

About 1,000 people have since posted their scores. They all have the same message - that life is not defined by the PSLE results.

Prof Khairudin, who is with NUS' Malay Studies Department, wrote that he had an average PSLE score of 221 but was now an associate professor at a university. He urged others to share their PSLE scores and what they are doing now.

This happened just after the release of the PSLE results last Thursday, which saw Singapore produce its best performance in history.

Of the 38,808 pupils who took the examination this year, about 98.4 per cent will be able to go on to a secondary school.

Prof Khairudin's post generated responses from people like third-year NUS student Yong Shan Xian, who had a PSLE score of 216 when he was a pupil at Fuchun Primary School.

Mr Yong said he was also moved to reveal his score after reading about KiasuParents.com co-founder Soon Lee Yong, who had expressed disappointment with her son's T-score of 229.

"I thought it was quite an early age to determine the success of the kid," said Mr Yong, 24.

He said that although he was a "borderline" student who just managed to squeeze into the Express stream at Woodlands Ring Secondary School, he never allowed the PSLE score to define him.

After studying IT at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, he went on to read computer science at NUS, where he made headlines for College Laundry, an app that he had created with two other students.

The app alerts subscribers to the availability of communal washing and dryer machines in campus halls, saving students time from having to physically check.

"There were other things that helped me to develop my interests," said Mr Yong, who liked working with computers and was involved in robotics at school.

Others heeded Prof Khairudin's call by displaying their PSLE score on their own Facebook page.

Mr Jerry Toh, 32, recalled that it was traumatic when he collected his results. He scored 211 in 1996.

The former Peixin Primary School pupil said: "Back then, I was sad and I think I cried, because my friends did much better than me, and it was made even worse by the parents comparing our grades."

Now he is the founder and swimming director of The Water Family Enrichment Centre, which provides swimming lessons and tuition for primary and secondary school students. The company even has a presence in Malaysia and Thailand.

Why tuition with swimming lessons?

"I realised Primary 5 and 6 (pupils) were dropping out of swimming classes as their parents wanted them to focus on the PSLE, which is sad because at that age they have a lot of potential yet to be unleashed."

He would rather students develop a passion and work hard to excel in it. "In life, no one will ask you how much you scored for PSLE, or even O and A levels."

Former St Stephen's School pupil Mahadhir Kaisan, 24, scored 144 for his PSLE. That set him on a journey which took him to Temasek Secondary School, the Institute of Technical Education and O levels as a private student before he ventured out into the working world. Now he is a Lasalle College of the Arts student because he zoomed in on his passion - music.

The Diploma in Music student, who has performed at venues such as Timbre+ and Esplanade, said: "You've got an expectation of someone based on his age, when actually you can learn things based on experience, and not just through academics."

In a society where parents are constantly comparing their children's academic performance, Mr Kenny Leck, 38, said he was one of the lucky ones. The founder of BooksActually and Math Paper Press said academic results were not a big thing with his family.

"My parents were liberal folks who were supportive, as long as you did your best and didn't screw up by not studying."

The alumnus of the now-defunct Heng A Khe Bong Primary School had scored 180 back in 1990.

Like Mr Mahadhir and Mr Toh, he focused on his passion. At 27, Mr Leck started BooksActually because he grew up surrounded by books, and always wanted to run a business.

"A portion of your life does not determine the rest of it. What defines you is not just your PSLE score but the sum of your life's experiences."

Prof Khairudin said he was surprised by the "overwhelming" response that his post generated.

"They have been very candid and encouraging... I feel so thankful that one fateful post has brought so many hearts together," said the former Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) student.

He said he remembers his time in primary school as a "memorable experience of fun and play".

But he feels that fun has been taken away from children in grades-obsessed Singapore.

"I feel for these students... The fear of failure has led some to end their lives in the most tragic of ways," Prof Khairudin told The Sunday Times.

Last month, a coroner's inquiry concluded that an 11-year-old had taken his own life after failing his exams for the first time.

Prof Khairudin said he hopes his post will teach others to "never live other people's lives" and "never compare yourself with other people".

"Live your own life, chart your own life route, and run the race at your own pace. You will be somebody some day."

Going beyond PSLE scores

KENNY LECK

Age: 38

Occupation: Founder of BooksActually and Math Paper Press

PSLE score: 180

"A portion of your life does not determine the rest of it. What defines you is not just your PSLE score, but the sum of your life's experiences."

MAHADHIR KAISAN

Age: 24

Occupation: First-year Diploma in Music student at Lasalle College of the Arts

PSLE Score: 144

"You've got an expectation of someone based on his age, when actually you can learn things based on experience and not just through academics."

YONG SHAN XIAN

Age: 24

Occupation: Third-year computer science student at the National University of Singapore

PSLE score: 216

"Grades have been historically an easy way to explore performance, but not everyone wants to compete to be the best. There were other things that helped me to develop my interests."

Read also: PSLE changes: A lesson in engagement

He wants to change 'cancerous' attitude to PSLE

yuensin@sph.com.sg

fabkoh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Nominated MP Chia Yong Yong made a heartfelt plea during a recent debate on the proposed constitutional amendments to the elected presidency.

She called on Singaporeans to talk about race and religion instead of politicising the issue, following the decision to reserve next year's polls for Malay candidates.

Minister of State Janil Puthucheary made a similar call in August after an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey showed that half of Singaporeans hold negative stereotypes of other races.

Dr Janil, who is chairman of OnePeople.sg, a national body that promotes racial and religious harmony, said people are hesitant and afraid to discuss race relations because they fear being seen as racist.

In fact, the conversation has already started, with schools and tertiary institutions introducing several initiatives to tackle issues of diversity, identity and inclusion.

For instance, Yale-NUS College started an inter-group dialogue programme last year and Singapore Management University (SMU) initiated a study this year to explore perceptions on these same issues.

"There is definitely a lot more talk (about diversity). We hear it in the classrooms, and students ask us where are the spaces on campus where they can feel safe (to discuss such issues)," said Mr Ho Jack Yong, assistant director of diversity and inclusion at SMU.

WHAT PROMPTED THE CONVERSATION?

Mr Ho said students have become more interested since global conversations about the dangers of Islamophobia, and locally, the debate over the elected presidency and also the difference in rewards for able-bodied and disabled athletes.

SMU's study aims to gather data on perceptions by students, staff and faculty on issues that include gender and disability. More than 500 people have been interviewed, and their responses are being analysed, said Mr Ho.

SMU said the study will be done regularly for the diversity and inclusion office to track the outcomes of their efforts, and allow them to identify where there may be stronger negative perceptions towards specific groups of people.

t is also considering bringing back the diversity leadership development programme next year. This uses workshops and real-world projects to groom students to be diversity champions on campus.

Ms Sara Pervaiz Amjad, intercultural engagement manager at Yale-NUS, said its intergroup dialogue programme has students discussing issues such as gender identity, ethnicity and nationality, spirituality and religion.

More than 20 faculty and staff members have been trained to facilitate these sessions, and close to 60 students have attended.

Held over eight weeks with an average of 12 students in each group, these sessions introduce the concept of "brave spaces", which let students go beyond "safe", or politically correct discussions of issues into areas such as intercultural dating.

Ms Amjad said there are rules, such as ensuring that participants voice their discomfort during the discussion, and use "I" statements that do not attempt to speak for anyone else or an entire group of people. Yale-NUS has about 150 to 200 students in each cohort, and the ratio of local to international students is about 6:4.

WHAT HAVE THE PARTICIPANTS LEARNT?

Fourth-year Yale-NUS student Kei Franklin, who is from the United States, said she realised the ability to conduct intercultural communication is not an inherent personality trait, but rather a set of skills that can be learnt.

"If you can create a common vocabulary for your class where everyone talks about consent in the same way, then presumably you can do that for a whole school and for a whole community, city, or country," said the 23-year-old.

This conversation is not just limited to tertiary institutions.

OnePeople.sg said it has increased engagement with schools and key agencies following the findings of the IPS survey.

The national body uses dramatised case studies of social issues and invites audiences to participate by coming up with solutions in a forum theatre programme.

OnePeople.sg has taken this theatre programme to more than 11,000 secondary and post-secondary students since it was first started in 2014. It plans to take the series to more institutes of higher learning next year.

While he lauded the initiatives, which he says can boost communication and understanding among students, Dr Yang Peidong, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University's sociology department, asked if they can reach "deep and wide" enough to solve the issue in a fundamental way.

Dr Yang, who has written about the alienation that students from China face at universities in Singapore, said students at the local public tertiary institutions prioritise good grades and securing a good job, adding: "The biggest obstacle to better interaction and communication between students of diverse identities and backgrounds is ultimately a lack of interest, compounded by the issues of academic competition and frictions arising from sharing resources and spaces."

Is racism a problem in Singapore?

Is Singapore a racist country?

That was the title of a blog post penned by Yale-NUS undergraduate Iwani Zoë Mawocha in April which gained much attention here on social media and online news sites.

In the post, the 21-year-old South African detailed her experiences of being subjected to racist remarks or behaviour after arriving in Singapore in 2014 as a foreign student.

This included people who "equated blackness (with) violence, theft, corruption and crude behaviour", and toddlers that stared at her when she took the MRT.

"For you to be terrified of a stranger, there has to have been the conditioning that dark is bad," said Ms Iwani.

She said people were surprised when they read the post.

After all, they said, she had grown up in South Africa, where the social policy of apartheid, a system in which black South Africans received fewer social and political rights than white South Africans , only ended in 1994.

Ms Iwani noted: "In South Africa, there was that solidarity and acknowledgement that the problem (of racism) is real." Singapore people do not recognise racism as easily, she added, because they grew up in a society where racial harmony is one of the central tenets.

Ms Iwani said the topic of racism should be seen as a starting point for discussions about why racist ideas are formed, and on how to understand other cultures better.

"People need to be aware that it doesn't make you a bad person to have these (prejudiced) thoughts," said Ms Iwani, who welcomes Yale-NUS' efforts to start such honest conversations on campus.

The arts and humanities major, who says she "adores" Singapore for its cultural accessibility, hopes that such intercultural discussions might extend beyond the school community.

"With fewer than a thousand students in Yale-NUS, if we keep our intercultural discussions to ourselves, we may quickly run out of insights to give and facts to exchange because we're all part of a like-minded community anyway."

yuensin@sph.com.sg

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Caught on camera: Old man hurls racist rant on train and assaults passenger

Source: Internet screengrabs, Facebook @rohaizatbai

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2016.
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Sam Willows frontman Benjamin Kheng shares personal tragedy and struggle with studies in moving Facebook post that went viral

His mother died two days before the first major examination in his life.

And even though years have passed, those dark days stay deep in the mind of Benjamin Kheng.

The frontman of local band The Sam Willows shared a moving Facebook post of his personal tragedy on Friday afternoon, a day after the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results were released.

Kheng, 26, wrote: "Principal shows up at the wake, gives me a hug, along with a trail of teachers who sit me in the corner of the room and give me supervised tuition. Dad tells them to pack up and go.

"A week later, I stare at my maths paper without picking up the pencil. I flunk way below expectations but miraculously still get picked up by ACS(I) through DSA, so I swim for them. I rank second last in my cohort academically, doing absolute crap in anything that isn't art or literature. Worst kid in the worst class."

He also detailed how he switched schools and spent his "next half a decade fighting to make sense of a system that I know would absolutely cripple a middle-aged, neurotic arts-centric me". Until one day, "a kind lady offers me a job to speak/write for radio".

By last night, Kheng's post amassed more than 9,000 likes on Facebook and was shared over 1,300 times.

He tells The New Paper on Sunday: "I wanted to help change the cancerous attitude towards PSLE results. Hopefully it helps some kid out there find peace in the fact that his path in life is so much more beautiful and fulfilling than numbers on a paper."

Kheng is pleased that the post has taken off and touched people.

"I am happy it is going round, and people are getting inspired and touched by it. Virality is a beautiful thing when there is good coming from it. Hopefully it stays that way," he says.

Kheng is not the only personality who took to social media to encourage students.

On Thursday night, criminal lawyer Josephus Tan uploaded a short video on Facebook encouraging pupils as "Uncle Joe".

In the video caption, Mr Tan said: "Go easy on yourself, and never give up cos' learning is a lifelong journey and education is truly about having a thirst for knowledge and not grades."

He posted a similar encouraging message last year, disclosing that his PSLE score was 183.

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin also weighed in on Friday.

In the comments' section of a Facebook post he had made on Thursday, he called for more focus on parenting efforts, rather than exam results.

Read also: The PSLE post that scored with netizens

NO PERFECT SYSTEM

He said: "I think we are on really shaky ground if PSLE is the main determinant of our children having a happy childhood.

"There are no perfect systems out there. PSLE is one point in a long journey. We as parents shape the experience by the way we approach it and the way we set and manage expectations."

Clinical psychologist Carol Balhetchet says the stress from exams can be good, provided it is a "practised" kind of pressure.

"The stress can be given incrementally and in small doses, like in small daily tests. A healthy kind of stress allows children to develop a fighting spirit," says Dr Balhetchet, senior director for youth services for Singapore Children's Society.

She points out how the pressure from PSLE can be harmful to the process of self-discovery in children.

She says: "These children are just discovering themselves and need an environment full of love. When love is given only when good results are achieved, the children stress themselves out."

She warns that the "humongous drama" over exam results can be detrimental.

"We want children to learn to accept failure and that it is not the end of the world. A lot of failure these days is related to being inadequate, which causes hate, anger and negativity," she says.

Kheng says: "The impression from PSLE results runs deep.

"It kind of feels like someone tattooing your results on your forehead - you're forever measured by it academically and even socially."

Kheng feels that if enough people address the "wall" built by PSLE expectations, the pressure put on students will not be so dire.

He adds: "Just a brick in the wall really, but if we keep telling our stories and changing perceptions, this wall will come down."

harizbah@sph.com.sg

Read also: PSLE changes: A lesson in engagement

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2016.
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Mr Mohd Esa, 64, lost his right leg in an accident 10 years ago.

But that did not stop the retiree from taking part in The New Paper Courts Big Walk for the first time.

"I decided to join the Big Walk because I wanted to see if I am fit enough to handle the event," he said.

The retiree, who used to work in the shipping industry, attended the Big Walk with his 40-year-old son-in-law, his 35-year-old daughter and seven-year-old granddaughter.

He followed on his crutches, as the rest of his family walked ahead of him.

He said: "Last year, I walked from Changi Village Bus Terminal to White Sands shopping mall in Pasir Ris and back, and I did this three times."

Mr Mohd Esa and his family were among the 5,000 at the Big Walk to enjoy some family time.

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TNP Big Walk at the Singapore Zoo

Source:

The New Paper

School canteen operators Terry and Pearly Lim were glad for some quality time together with their son Dominic, nine, who often plays Pokemon Go.

"It's so hard to have family time these days, so we think that we should take some time out here to look at the animals and have fun.

"I think that time together is very precious," said Mr Lim, 41.

Asked if they will be playing Pokemon Go during the walk, he said: "No, I really want him (Dominic) to appreciate the scenery and get some good exercise, rather than being glued to the phone. I think this is a habit that all of us should ditch."

Mr Neo Guo Yong, 33, an IT support specialist, came with his wife, Madam Ang Mei Ling, 33, a cardiac technologist, and their 17-month-old daughter and four-year-old son.

This is not the first time that they are attending the walk. They have been doing so since 2008, when they were dating.

REMINISCE

Mr Neo said: "It's been quite a while since I have been to the Singapore Zoo, and going for the Big Walk did let me reminisce of the old days with my wife. It's great that we are attending with our kids now."

Madam Ang added: "It's also fun that we get to experience the Night Safari in the day."

When it started raining, Mr David Tan, 44, and his wife Jane, 33, continued their stroll without an umbrella.

Mrs Tan, a hotelier, said: "The weather was very hot today, and with so many people, it was also humid.

"So when the rain came, we might as well just get wet, and it felt really nice."

She and her husband of two years, who is a chef, had made it point to participate in marathons and walks every one to three months.

"Attending the Big Walk was (a last-minute decision), but having this target helps keep us healthy," she said.

Ms Lim Hai Yen, 46, a theatre practitioner, was at the Big Walk to relax with her friend of 20 years, Ms Ong Chim Buan, 48, a teacher.

Ms Lim said: "We wanted to come here as it is not stressful compared to (other events), where you have to compete to see who finishes first.

"The branding for this is also more relaxed, and you can follow your own pace."

They too were glad when the skies opened up.

Said Ms Ong: "I think it's good to head back to nature, and we must get used to the wild side, (such as being) in the rain with no shelter."

Not every participant needed company to enjoy the walk.

Mr Pong Thian Wah, 66, a security guard, has been attending almost every Big Walk on his own.

He said: "I actually bought tickets for my family, but we live too far from the Singapore Zoo, so it's just me here. My wife is also a little old to walk long distance.

"Even though it's raining, I still enjoyed myself."

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2016.
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A NEW community and lifestyle hub in Tampines with some services operating round-the-clock was officially opened yesterday.

A key feature of the sprawling Our Tampines Hub - about the size of 23 football fields - is a first-of-its-kind Public Services Centre that houses services of six government agencies under one roof.

This means that residents can register for People's Association activities or pay Housing Board-related fees like mortgage payments or parking fines at a 24-hour e-lobby.

For more complicated tasks like job matching or disbursing financial assistance, several officers from these and other agencies - North East Community Development Council, Workforce Singapore, Ministry of Social and Family Development and ActiveSG - will be on duty up to 10pm.

Other 24/7 offerings at the hub include an 800-seater hawker centre, which has 42 stalls and an automated tray return station, to get diners to clean up after themselves.

The hub, which has been five years in the making, also houses a shopping mall, community health centre, the first HomeTeamNS clubhouse in the east and a community auditorium with 20 badminton courts.

It is located at the site of the former Tampines Stadium and Sports Hall, which was demolished to make way for the hub, which is expected to benefit some 200,000 residents in Tampines.

The hub will also put into practice sustainable lifestyle habits, like working towards generating zero waste.

The expected 1.4 tonnes of daily food waste it produces can be converted to fertiliser, liquid nutrients or non-potable water. The fertiliser will be distributed for free to residents who need it.

Yesterday, the National Environment Agency and North East CDC also launched "I Love My Food @ North East".

The campaign, among other things, will see all Tampines families get a guide book on reducing food wastage.

While more can be done to tackle the large amount of food Singaporeans throw away, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli, an MP for Tampines GRC, said the recycling system is one way to mitigate the problem.

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Photo Gallery

Tampines Hub opens with 24/7 offerings

Source:

The Straits Times

Berita Harian

He told residents: "Zero waste also means a significant reduction in pollution as well as manpower resources required to transfer waste from the Hub to landfills and incinerators on a daily basis."

Mr Masagos was guest of honour at the hub's opening, which marked the completion of the first of three phases.

The hub, which will also have six swimming pools and a five-storey library, is expected to be fully operational by August next year.

Residents welcome the opening.

Said retired secretary Patricia Ang, 62: "It is good to have more options in Tampines.

"More 24-hour food stalls means that my son has no excuse to skip dinner if he comes home late."

rachelay@sph.com.sg

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SINGAPORE - Water sport activities in Marina Reservoir have been suspended following sightings of a creature "resembling a crocodile" in the reservoir waters near the Singapore Sports Hub.

A spokesman for national water agency PUB said it received reports of the sightings on Saturday morning (Nov 26), and is investigating and patrolling the waters to search for the creature.

"We are in close contact with Sports Hub and requested them to alert us if it is spotted again," she said.

"We have also contacted researchers from the National University of Singapore to identify the creature. Preliminary findings indicate that it is likely to be a monitor lizard."

As a precaution, PUB has advised the National Sports Associations and water sports operators to suspend water sport activities in the reservoir area, which comprises the Kallang Basin, Marina Bay and the Marina Channel.

The reservoir is popular for water activities such as canoeing, kayaking and dragon boating.

The Singapore Dragon Boat Association, Water Sports Centre at the Singapore Sports Hub and People's Association will be suspending such activities this weekend.

The PUB spokesman added: "For those who decide to continue, they should exercise caution and not immerse in the waters. If they spot the creature, they should not go near it."

The PUB has urged the public to report any sightings of the creature with photos and videos as well as its location by calling PUB at 1800-2255-782.

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Photo Gallery

Fantastic views of Singapore's reservoirs

Source: The Straits Times, MCI, PUB, Wikimedia Commons, Simon Ong

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2016.
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A 36-year-old Singaporean businesswoman's recent death from a stroke while on a business trip in Hong Kong has shone the spotlight on a condition that strikes mostly older people.

The median age of stroke patients admitted to public hospitals in Singapore is 67 years old, according to statistics from the National Registry of Diseases Office.

Although being older is a risk factor for stroke, younger victims may have more unusual causes of stroke, says Dr Ho King Hee, a neurologist at Gleneagles Hospital Singapore.

These include congenital heart disease, tears in blood vessels, autoimmune diseases with inflammation of the blood vessels such as lupus or a congenital tendency for blood to clot more easily than normal.

For some women, pregnancy can increase the risk of stroke. They may experience blood coagulation changes or develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, which may predispose them to stroke, adds Dr Ho.

In certain specific circumstances, contraception may be a risk factor for stroke, says Dr N.V. Ramani, a neurologist at Raffles Neuroscience Centre, Raffles Hospital.

Younger women who smoke and have migraine with aura - which is a headache that strikes after or along with sensory disturbances including flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in one's hand or face - may get a stroke if they are taking some types of contraceptive pills, says Dr Ramani, an executive committee member of the Singapore National Stroke Association (SNSA), whose services for stroke survivors and their families include befriending activities and social integration programmes.

According to national figures from 2005 to 2014, males were generally affected more than females, with the incidence rate for stroke being 1.7 times higher in males.

For most strokes, a clot blocks blood supply to the brain. Patients often experience symptoms such as garbled speech, a drooping face and the inability to lift their arms. Possible long-term side effects of a stroke, especially when treatment is not prompt, include speech and memory problems, paralysis and some vision loss.

To reduce the risk of stroke, Dr Ramani advises regular medical check-ups for blood pressure and cholesterol, a healthy diet, regular exercise, moderate intake of alcohol and no smoking.

VOMITED AND FAINTED IN TAXI

In 2010, Ms Yvonne Lee had just returned to Singapore after completing her bachelor's degree in psychiatry at Australia's Curtin University.

A cheerful young woman, she wanted to help others by working as a psychiatrist.

While in a taxi one day, she started vomiting, then fainted. The taxi driver took her to National University Hospital. She had just suffered a stroke at the age of 24, robbing her of her speech, mobility and a promising future.

Today, Ms Lee, 30, has regained some mobility and cognitive function, but she cannot speak properly or walk unsupported.

She had received treatment in hospital for two years, before undergoing rehabilitation. Since April, she has been going at least twice a week to the charity, Able (Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations), which serves physically disabled people, for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. This is on top of the daily strengthening exercises she does at home.

She can feed herself, but requires help for daily tasks such as showering and putting on her shoes.

Her mother, Madam Ho Yan Yan, a single parent, looks after her with the family's domestic helper.

The 60-year-old businesswoman is stoic about her only child's condition. She says: "As parents, we constantly do our best for our children, but it is exhausting. Even going out can be difficult. We have to help her put on her shoes."

SUDDENLY COULD NOT TALK

Ms Jagdesh Kaur knew only after she suffered a full-blown stroke at age 46 that she had already experienced six mini-strokes before that.

Three years ago, Ms Kaur, 49, was at home when she had a headache and felt "hazy". Within half an hour, she could not talk, although she was aware of her surroundings.

She started "floating" in and out of consciousness and her husband, information technology manager Nigel Hall, 50, took her to the hospital. The couple have no children.

"Having a stroke was the last thing on my mind. You think it happens to an older person," recalls Ms Kaur, a former teacher at a private school who taught English as a foreign language.

After learning more about her condition, she realised in hindsight that she had had about six transient ischaemic attacks, known as TIA and often called mini-strokes, in the six months leading up to her stroke.

Lasting from a few minutes to an hour, these episodes were characterised by a loss in focus, numbness in the arm or needing help to walk. TIA symptoms are transient and stroke-like and a TIA is often a warning for an imminent stroke.

Ms Kaur did not pay much attention to these symptoms as she was not in pain.

For about a year after her stroke, she used a wheelchair. After going through physiotherapy, she usually walks with a walking stick now.

She used to have high blood pressure, a risk factor for stroke, which she has since brought under control by losing more than 10kg of her body weight.

Shortly after the stroke, she hired a domestic helper to care for her, but she can now perform the daily tasks she could not do initially, such as getting dressed or cooking a simple meal.

The stroke, which affected the right side of her body, has also caused her to stammer and stutter occasionally. Writing is difficult as she is right-handed. Her grip is unsteady - when she holds a full cup of coffee, she risks spillage.

"The biggest change has been my lifestyle, my loss of independence and having to depend on somebody else," she says.

Not only does she need her helper to help in icing cakes when she is baking, but she also does not go shopping alone because she cannot carry the bags.

She is trying to find work, perhaps in an administrative role. She turned down a telemarketing job offered by an agency that helps people with disabilities because of her speech issues.

"I know what I want to say, but it sometimes doesn't come out how I want it," she says, adding that she misses teaching.

Her social circle has shrunk.

"I don't connect with people as much. I have only a handful of friends. I don't feel comfortable around people who have all their faculties and I don't. I feel incomplete. I'm not my whole self," says Ms Kaur.

"Every morning, I get out of bed, I wish I could walk properly. I wake up wanting to feel normal."

Warning signs: How to detect a mini-stroke

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke can present these symptoms: weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty in speaking, drooping of half the face, loss of vision in one eye or double vision.

These symptoms last less than 24 hours. The significance of a TIA is that once it occurs, the risk of a full-blown stroke is high.

To prevent this, people who have experienced a TIA must see a doctor as soon as possible.

Their risk factors can then be addressed and treated to reduce the risk of further clots blocking blood vessels to the brain.

How to detect a stroke

The symptoms of stroke are sudden-onset numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side, difficulty in speaking, confusion in understanding what others are saying, unsteadiness in walking, and a severe headache or dizziness. If a person has any of these symptoms, he may be having a stroke.

Use the FAST acronym to look out for signs of stroke

F: Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A: Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downwards?

S: Speech: Ask the person to repeat a phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T: Time:

If you observe or experience any of these signs, call 995 and go to a hospital immediately.

• Sources: Dr Ho King Hee, a neurologist at Gleneagles Hospital Singapore; and Dr Carol Tham, consultant, Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute

Reducing the risk of stroke: What are the risk factors for stroke and how can they be minimised?

The most common risk factors that could lead to stroke are diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes; hypertension, also known as high blood pressure; hyperlipidaemia (high cholesterol); cigarette smoking; and atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heart rhythm.

Some stroke patients may also have predisposing underlying cardiac conditions such as abnormal heart valves or an abnormal communication between the left and right sides of their heart.

Younger stroke patients may also have antibodies in their blood that make their blood clot more easily.

People with a long family history of stroke, especially at a younger age, are at increased risk of having strokes younger.

There are also certain hereditary conditions, such as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, which are associated with brain aneurysms.

The risk of stroke can be reduced if a person quits smoking and controls risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia by taking medication and following a diet prescribed by doctors.

Some patients with disorders of blood clotting or certain heart conditions may also be prescribed blood-thinning medication by their doctors to help reduce their risk of ischaemic strokes.

If a person experiences any symptoms of stroke - such as slurred speech or a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side - he should seek treatment at a hospital emergency department immediately. Early treatment can help to reduce the disability caused by strokes.

• Source: Dr Carol Tham, consultant, Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Days after a pangolin was found in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Tuesday (Nov 22), another one showed up at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Saturday (Nov 26).

A video uploaded by student Ong Kah Jing on Facebook on Saturday night with the caption "Pangolin visiting NUS Utown" showed the critter gingerly finding its way down a flight of stairs at University Town in NUS.

Rescuers from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) turned up at NUS around 10.45pm as the pangolin was making its way towards a railing in the area.

By then, the nocturnal animal had gathered its own entourage - a small, very excited crowd had converged around it.

The animal was "calm and just kept walking", according to Acres wildlife group director Kalai Balakrishnan. It was given a quick visual check for injuries before being placed in a carrier and handed to the zoo for it to be microchipped and placed in a safe, suitable habitat.

It's not clear if the pangolin was a male or female, but Mr Kalai estimates that it is of sub-adult to adult age and larger than the one found at NTU.

Pangolins are not aggressive animals, said Mr Kalai.

"But if they feel threatened, they will protect themselves by rolling into a ball," he added.

Read also: This pangolin's break-in at NTU has surprise ending 

If you do see one, call the Acres wildlife rescue hotline at 9783-7782.

"Follow it to keep track of where it goes. Photos are good too - they provide clues on whether the animal is injured or whether Acres might need to prepare some rescue tools if they are stuck somewhere," said Mr Kalai.

In cases where they are in danger of getting run over by vehicles, get help to divert oncoming traffic away from the animal if it is possible and safe, while waiting for Acres to arrive, advised Mr Kalai.

While pangolins are safe from poaching in Singapore due to strict laws, it is endangered in many other places due to wildlife trafficking.

Pangolins are sought after in China and other parts of Asia for their meat, skin and scales. The skin and scales are used in traditional medicine.

"It is a good thing to know these animals are still surviving here, but they are critically endangered animals so we need to do more to protect them," said Mr Kalai, who estimates that there are about two to three pangolin cases a month which Acres handles.

The National Parks Board (NParks) estimates that there are more than 100 wild pangolins here.

The pangolin also stirred some excitement as it is examination season in NUS. Facebook user Raze Seah felt it boded good fortune to those who chanced upon it. "All A for exam", she wrote.

Another user, Michael Lim, joked that the pangolin was done with school: "The lecture was so boring, I'm going home now..."

wderek@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The mother who was in the news last week for her harsh reaction to her son's Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results has given her side of the story, saying that the original article was an invasion of privacy.

Madam Soon Lee Yong, the co-founder of website KiasuParents.com, was featured in an article by Today on Thursday (Nov 24). In response to his lower-than-expected T-score, she allegedly told her son: "You can forget about getting your Nintendo DS."

The article was widely shared on social media, with many netizens sympathising with Madam Soon's son and criticising her for her harsh-sounding words and parenting style. Some even said that they would buy the gaming device for the boy.

In an open letter published on KiasuParents, Madam Soon admitted that she had uttered the line: "You can forget about your Nintendo DS."

However, she denied that she had said it in response to a text message that her son had sent to her to ask if she was angry, clarifying that it was in fact part of a longer face-to-face conversation with him.

"I didn't expect our private conversation to be fodder for a newspaper article," Madam Soon wrote.

She explained that she had agreed to the reporter's request to be present for the release of her son's results, "but it led to an article that invaded my son's privacy and affected him - more than his results or my reaction did".

She added that she felt betrayed by the failure to honour her request not to reveal her son's score in the article.

Madam Soon also addressed those who had offered to buy a Nintendo DS for her son, saying that she had merely confiscated the set that he owned because he was spending too much time on it. She had hoped to use its return as an incentive for him to work harder.

She also rebuffed comments about her son's "joyless existence", revealing that the family had gone for a post-PSLE treat after the exams, and that they will be going for a family trip soon.

"It's not a reward for my son because I don't believe in tying such experiences to grades - we travel for enjoyment and exposure," she wrote.

Concluding her letter, Madam Soon expressed hope that her son knew that she loved him regardless of his academic performance.

"Results are never the end goal; they only provide a form of feedback as to whether your efforts are working, and they are not always accurate. What you must strive for is a good attitude and a willingness to reflect and consider your next course of action. Never wallow," she wrote.

She added that the entire experience would help her son understand "why you should never jump to conclusions based on a snapshot of information, and why you can't believe everything you see or read online".

seanyap@sph.com.sg

A man was left lying in a pool of blood after a slashing incident on the fourth floor of Orchard Plaza yesterday (Nov 27) at around 5am.

A 28-year-old man was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and a 23-year-old man was arrested in connection to the case.

The photos were posted by Best Viral Videos on Facebook, which Stomp contributor David alerted us to, and show the man lying in a large pool of blood, surrounded by police officers.

A Police spokesperson told Stomp:

"On 27 Nov 2016 at 5.49am, Police were alerted to a case of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means at 150 Orchard Road."

"A 28-year-old man was conveyed to TTSH and a 23-year-old man was arrested in relation to the case."

"Police investigations are ongoing."

Visit STOMP for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Men who are members of the Association of Women for Action and  Research (AWARE) have been granted limited voting rights.

The women's rights and gender equality advocacy group said in a statement today (Nov 28) that Associate Members who are men as well as non-binary people were given the right to vote in General Meetings at AWARE but subjected to a cap.

Their votes cannot count for more than 25 per cent of the votes on a resolution.

Previously, male Associate Members had no voting rights. Currently, men make up 7 per cent of AWARE's total membership.

In their statement, AWARE defined non-binary people as those who do not identify as men or women.

On Saturday (Nov 26), 71.8 per cent of the voting members present voted in favour of this change.

Over 60 members voted in an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held at the AWARE Centre on Saturday to amend and upated its Constitution.

Other amendments passed were the renaming and clarification of membership categories.

For the purpose of deciding membership rights, "women" include transgender women and "men" include transgender men.

Provisions were also made for non-binary people to join as Associate Members - they were previously unable to join because members had to specify if they were "male" or "female".

The amendments relating to membership were proposed following an extended period of consultation and research by a committee appointed by the Board in 2014, in response to queries from members at Annual General Meetings, said the statement.

The committee carried out focus group discussions, administered an online survey of members and conducted interviews by phone and email.

The findings were disseminated to all members and discussed at the April 2016 Annual General Meeting.

"AWARE's work is multifaceted," said Teh Hooi Ling, AWARE President. "We work to improve the lives of marginalised groups and the policies that affect them, as well as to improve policies and practices that affect everyone in society, regardless of gender."

"Our members have approved of our moves in recent years to engage with more men across all levels of our work. The new rules provide for men to stand up and be counted as key co-owners of the movement for gender equality. We also see this as a move toward building the capacity for men to better promote gender equality."

spanaech@sph.com.sg

When choosing a secondary school, Aasmiya Mohamed Tahriq, 12, is considering three key points: the school's cut-off point, proximity to her home, and whether it offers her mother tongue.

She said: "My family and I (listed) several schools around my Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) marks and chose those near my home at Farrer Park. Schools not offering Tamil language as mother tongue are also excluded from our list."

She attended Beatty Secondary School's open house with her sister last Friday.

The school will open its doors to prospective students and parents until tomorrow .

It is known for its achievements in the performing arts and uniformed groups.

Its principal, Mrs Marion Tan, said: "(Through this open house) we want to highlight the school's holistic education, which includes developing our students' critical and inventive thinking, as well as their information literacy skill.

"Such skills are honed through community or subject-based project work, hence making learning more meaningful and engaging for students."

Another visitor at the open house, customer service executive Chew Ching Huat, 51, explained how his family helped his daughter, Charlene Chew, 12, choose a secondary school.

Cut-off points

Knowing his daughter scored above 220 for PSLE, he zeroed in on schools where the cut-off point last year was between 210 and 230. 

They visited several schools to gauge how helpful the teachers were and how the students behaved.

"After this, we'll discuss which suits her most, which interests her, taking into account our own observation during the open house," Mr Chew said.

Ms Elleen Goh, 44, was starting a year early, taking her daughter, who is in Primary 5, to the open houses at four schools.

Ms Goh said: "I think it'll be helpful so she can see what the schools are like, know for herself what school she wants, and work hard for it.

"Her secondary school (options) depend on her marks and her own preference. 

"She will be the one doing the homework and shouldering the burden of schooling. So I think it's fair if she decides where to go."

School’s cut-off point, IP programme are deciding factors

The school's cut-off point and whether it offers the Integrated Programme (IP) are two deciding factors commonly cited by prospective secondary school students and parents interviewed by The New Paper at Cedar Girls' Secondary School's open house last Saturday.

It is a dual-track school, offering both the four-year O-level programme and the six-year Victoria-Cedar Alliance Integrated Programme (VCA IP), jointly offered with Victoria School and Victoria Junior College.

Started in 2012, the VCA IP allows students in the programme to proceed directly to Victoria Junior College after four years in Cedar Girls' Secondary.

Mr Vijay Khasnavis, who was at the open house with his twin daughters and his wife, Mrs Bindu Khasnavis, said: "We considered schools whose cut-off points are within the range of my daughters' PSLE score, and how well the cut-off point has (been) maintained throughout the past years.

"Also, my wife's priority is to choose a school offering Hindi as a mother tongue, as we don't want our children to attend extra mother tongue classes during the weekend."

His fraternal twin daughters, Nikhitha and Nishitha, both 12, had scored above last year's cut-off point for the school's IP and O-level programmes.

Mr Khasnavis said: "There are many key things to consider, like whether to choose the IP or the O-level track, the demeanour of the students, the dedication of the teachers, proximity to home, and CCAs.

"Such open houses give us a good insight so that all of us as a family can make a prudent choice for a suitable secondary school."

Another parent, Dr Sivanand Krishnan, 46, a senior scientist, considers the school's proximity to their home the most important factor.

He said: "We are also considering the IP due to its holistic approach and the chance to defer major exam stress until the A levels."

His daughter, Prina Sivanand, 12, scored well enough to qualify for a number of schools with IP programmes and was considering schools offering the IP such as Cedar Girls' Secondary and Singapore Chinese Girls' School.

When TNP asked who gets the last say, Dr Sivanand said: "Of course we discuss and take her feedback, but we have the final say as she may not have sufficient information."

Ms Cindy Seow, 40, and her Primary 5 daughter were checking out several schools' open house, such as Cedar Girls' Secondary and Temasek Junior College's IP, so that her daughter could have a target in mind after her PSLE next year.

The housewife said: "We are particularly looking for schools with (Direct School Admisison) programme through dance or choir as my daughter is into the performing arts.

"Schools offering IP would also be good as they can directly go to a junior college."

The principal of Cedar Girls' Secondary School, Ms Cheng Hwee Yeang, said that the biannual open house hopes to show the school's culture, programmes, and facilities to prospective students.

Ms Cheng said: "The highlight of this year's open house is our school's niche Social Innovation Programme, where students are given opportunities to develop their innovative thinking to create breakthrough solutions to real-problems."

Recently, a group of 20 Cedar Girls' students filmed a short video documenting Dakota Crescent residents' memories and feelings of the place, in partnership with Tung Ling Elder Care.

This article was first published on November 28, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has unveiled the 2017 Year of the Rooster Almanac Coins that will be issued on Jan 1 next year.

These coins are the inaugural issue of the Singapore Fourth Chinese Almanac Coin Series, and will be issued over a span of 12 years, from 2017 to 2028, said the statement today (Nov 28).

Each year's issue will depict a Chinese Zodiac animal in a park or natural landscape setting in Singapore.

The first coin in the series will feature the Rooster with Kampong Buangkok in the background.

The coins will be available in 10 different versions including a 1kg rectangular coin which will be minted on 999 fine silver.

Special premium sets consisting of various coin combinations will also be available to the public, added the statement.

The back of the coins bear the Singapore Coat of Arms with the year 2017.

The coins will be sold by The Singapore Mint.

For enquiries and orders, the public can contact The Singapore Mint at 6566 2626 / 6895 0288 / 6222 2486 / 6336 2878 or via the internet at www.singaporemint.com.

Orders must reach The Singapore Mint by Dec 16, 2016. The coins will be subjected to balloting if oversubscribed, said the statement.

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Photo Gallery

2017 Year of the Rooster Chinese Almanac Coins

Source:

Monetary Authority of Singapore

spanaech@sph.com.sg

CHINA has lodged representations with Singapore after Hong Kong customs seized Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) vehicles bound for the city state after a military exercise in Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said yesterday that China has asked Singapore to "strictly abide by the laws of Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR), and co-operate with the SAR government on all necessary follow-ups".

"The Chinese government has always firmly opposed countries that have diplomatic ties with China to have any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, including military exchanges and co-operation," he said at a regular media briefing.

"We ask that the Singapore government strictly abide by the One-China principle," he added.

The protest by China comes after Hong Kong's customs officials seized nine SAF armoured vehicles and related equipment on board a container ship belonging to shipping firm APL.

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Photo Gallery

SAF armoured vehicles seized in Hong Kong port

Source:

Factwire

The SAF conducts overseas training in a dozen or so territories and hires commercial shippers to transport military equipment to and from Singapore.

A report by Hong Kong's FactWire news agency on Saturday claimed that the APL container ship had docked in Xiamen in mainland China before transiting in Hong Kong.

The report claimed that the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department was tipped off by its mainland counterparts about the nine SAF armoured vehicles, leading to their seizure in Hong Kong last Wednesday.

Neither China nor Hong Kong has confirmed the report.

Citing customs sources, the report said the city's customs authority was told that the vessel did not have "approval notice" for the military vehicles.

It said the shipment was discovered to have contained "undeclared military materials" when it stopped over at Xiamen's Haitian Container Terminals after leaving Kaohsiung in south Taiwan.

Singapore's Ministry of Defence had said earlier that the cargo had "no ammunition or sensitive equipment on board".

It is not known why the Xiamen customs authorities did not seize the vehicles but chose to tip off their Hong Kong counterparts instead.

When asked by The Straits Times about the report at the media briefing on Monday, Mr Geng said he had no further information.

The Xiamen customs department told The Straits Times it was not allowed to speak to foreign media, when asked if the APL ship did not produce the necessary paperwork for the clearance of the nine military vehicles.

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Photo Gallery

SAF rolls out new customisable vehicle to replace 5-tonners

Source:

The Ministry of Defence

kohping@sph.com.sg

Read also: SAF vehicles seized by Hong Kong Customs moved to secured access-controlled area

SAF deploys team to Hong Kong to secure seized armoured vehicles

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THE largest launch of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats this year drew to a close just before midnight yesterday, with four-room flats in Kallang/Whampoa and Bidadari posting the highest demand.

As of 5pm yesterday, there were almost 11 applicants vying for each of the 158 four-roomers in the Kallang Residences project.

Over at new housing estate Bidadari, which comes under Toa Payoh town, there were just over six buyers going for the 587 four-roomers on offer in Woodleigh Glen and Woodleigh Village.

Four- and five-room units in Bedok were also popular, with more than three applicants gunning for each flat.

Application rates were generally the highest among second-timers - those applying for their second subsidised Housing Board flat.

For instance, there were close to 54 second-timer applicants trying for each four-roomer set aside for them in Kallang/Whampoa, and about 25 such applicants vying for each four- and five-room unit in Bedok as of 5pm yesterday.

Second-timers are generally allotted a smaller portion of the flat supply compared with first-timers, especially for bigger flats.

This portion varies depending on flat type and whether an estate is mature or non-mature.

Ismail Gafoor, chief executive of PropNex Realty, said these second-timers are primarily HDB upgraders who favour mature estates with four-room flats big enough to accommodate their families.

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BTO flats launched in Nov 2016 sales exercise

Source:

Facebook / HDB

A total of 5,110 BTO flats were launched last Tuesday, with more than half of them in the mature estates of Bedok, Bidadari and Kallang/Whampoa.

The remaining 2,194 units are in the non-mature estate of Punggol.

Two- and three-room flats in Punggol saw the stiffest competition as of 5pm yesterday, with more than two applicants for every unit.

Among them were temporary mover Ramlee Abdul Rahim, 43, and his partner Kamsina Hussin, 54. The couple, who currently live with Mr Ramlee's mother in Joo Chiat, are eyeing a two-room flat in Punggol.

"It's by the river and very nice.

"It may be far away but as long as we have our own flat, we don't mind," said Mr Ramlee.

Flight stewardess Joey Lim, 25, and her fiance, bank officer Jonathan Tan, 27, are among those applying for a four-room flat in Bidadari.

"We like its central location and the layout and artist's impression look good," she said.

Mature estates also proved the most popular in a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats exercise, which saw 5,008 balance flats up for grabs.

The five-room flats in Clementi, Queenstown and Ang Mo Kio saw more than 30 applicants trying for each flat.

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

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A 28-YEAR-OLD man was left blood-drenched at Orchard Plaza on Sunday morning after a slashing incident.

The Straits Times understands that the man was Yeo Zhen Jie who had slash marks on his neck.

A 23-year-old man was arrested for "voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means" in relation to the case, police said.

Graphic photos of the incident, which occurred on the fourth floor of Orchard Plaza outside Tha Siam Thai Kitchen and STARZ Singapore, were uploaded on Facebook page Best Viral Videos just past midnight yesterday. The photos have been shared widely, reaching more than 5,000 shares by noon yesterday.

In one of the photos, the victim clad in a T-shirt and jeans lies on the ground with a pool of blood around his legs. Another man wearing gloves is seen attending to his neck area with a stack of tissues at the side.

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Man found in pool of blood at Orchard Plaza

Source:

Best Viral Videos

In another photo, the injured man is on a stretcher while being attended to by at least three paramedics.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said an ambulance was despatched at around 5.50am on Sunday.

The man was taken semi-conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The management of Orchard Plaza declined to comment on the incident.

STARZ Singapore said in a Facebook post that the incident was not "linked to our club at all".

Ms Ang, owner of Flower Flowers, a florist on the fourth floor, said fights are common at night at the location.

She has been operating at Orchard Plaza for about nine years.

"I heard that they (the fights) are usually over girls.

"Most of them are young people, and some would start coming in from about 8pm," she added.

nghuiwen@sph.com.sg

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Come Thursday, Singaporeans will have a new newspaper to read.

From that day, My Paper will merge with The New Paper (TNP).

Copies of the new TNP, which will be managed by the TNP team, will be available at various places, including MRT stations and selected malls.

My Paper started as a free Chinese newspaper in 2006 and became bilingual in 2008.

TNP started in 1988.

The new newspaper's contents will only be in English and will cater to professionals, managers, executives and businessmen.

Eugene Wee, who will take over as TNP's editor on Thursday, said: "This will include news and analyses on the economy, jobs, property and personal finance."

But he added the newspaper will continue to have stories that inspire and touch readers.

The new TNP will be given out on Mondays to Saturdays and will also be available for free online at tnp.sg.

Readers can also get it delivered to their homes for a fee, depending on where they live.

In the new TNP, My Paper readers can expect a thicker newspaper with more content and a wider range of stories, which aim to interest, educate and entertain.

Dave Ang, TNP's news editor, said there will also be themes for different days, such as health, movies, food and fashion.

There will no longer be an M section, which was TNP's entertainment supplement.

Instead, entertainment stories will be spread throughout the week.

There will also be changes on the digital front.

TNP digital news editor Jonathan Roberts said: "Online, you get more - whether it's more pictures, more videos, interactive graphics or online exclusive content."

The new-look website will help direct readers to more related content.

Mr Roberts, who was also involved with the redesign of TNP, said a key point was to give more content, especially on the front page.

For example, instead of devoting its entire front page to pictures, TNP will offer a full story there.

Solomon Lim, chief sub-editor, said: "We want to be able to give all the news readers need, quickly and succinctly."

Still, Mr Lim added that TNP has always been about dramatic, visual storytelling and the Lifestyle and Sports pages will continue to reflect that.

The newsroom has been busy preparing for the first issue of the new TNP.

Dominic Nathan, the paper's current editor, said: "We are running the current TNP and also mock-ups of the new TNP to give us an idea of the changes needed. There is also the excitement of starting a new product."

He added that there has been much discussion with TNP stakeholders, including advertisers.

He said: "The editorial team is working closely with the marketing team to make the product a success. The signs are very promising, especially in the tough economic climate we are now experiencing."

Where to get the new, free TNP

From Thursday, The New Paper will be distributed for free at MRT stations, selected malls and other locations such as cafes, medical centres, country clubs, car service centres, premium buses, airline lounges and serviced apartments.

You can also get it delivered to your home for a fee, depending on where you live.

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