The days of shadowy figures owning or controlling companies will be numbered under new provisions proposed yesterday to improve transparency in the corporate sector.

Money laundering is one of the main targets but the proposals will extend into many corners of corporate life here.

The changes will be wide-ranging, affecting non-listed and non-financial institution companies, as well as foreign companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) registered here.

Listed companies are exempted because they are already subjected to the Securities and Futures Act, while the Monetary Authority of Singapore has oversight on financial institutions.

The amendments tackle major impediments to transparency by requiring these entities to maintain registers of their beneficial owners or controllers.

This will be a step-up from the current regime, which has no statutory requirements for maintaining registers of information on beneficial ownership.

It means that these entities must keep a clear and updated record of who controls the business, directly or indirectly, giving the authorities a clearer visibility on their ownership.

The proposed changes were among the amendments to the Companies Act and the Limited Liability Partnerships Act tabled yesterday by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) for a public consultation.

The aim is "to ensure Singapore's transparency levels are in line with international standards", MOF and Acra said.

The Financial Action Task Force had noted in a September report that Singapore's current measures are not sufficient to ensure the timely availability of accurate and updated information on beneficial owners.

Gibson Dunn partner Robson Lee said: "(Foreign companies and LLPs) controlled by unknown owners could be a means for illicit funds to flow into and be warehoused in or through Singapore.

"For example, they could funnel the illicit funds into these companies in Singapore for office and industrial property purchases, or even to set up an investment holding company to acquire other businesses - all for money laundering."

There might be additional compliance costs for companies, however.

TSMP Law joint managing director Stefanie Yuen Thio noted that while these new provisions will see Singapore adopt the best global practices against money laundering and terrorism financing, they may also create "thick reams of paperwork".

For full story, read here.

whwong@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Dec 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The mobile phone beeps and the text message is from somebody offering an unsolicited loan or an invitation to gamble online.

Perhaps, like youth worker Bobby Zhang, 44, you just delete them, "hoping they will go away" and dismiss the messages as a nuisance.

But the sender may be abetting illegal activities, and the sheer number of such messages reaching subscribers has the authorities worried as people may be lured by the promise of low interest rates and quick gains.

From January to September this year, the public filed 8,800 complaints about unsolicited messages offering loans and online gambling, according to the latest figures from Singapore's privacy watchdog, the Personal Data Protection Commission.

The messages account for 80 per cent of all complaints received by the commission, including those related to personal data breaches.

Although this is a 20 per cent drop from the 10,700 complaints filed in the same period last year, the commission and police are urging the public to file a police report when they receive an SMS or call related to loans, financial assistance or online gambling from an unknown source.

They could also call the National Crime Prevention Council's "X Ah Long" Hotline on 1800-924-5664 (1800-X-AH-LONG).

The Straits Times understands many more people could have been bombarded by messages or calls offering loans or online gambling services, but most did not report the messages to the authorities.

Sales manager Aaron Koh, 40, said he received five unsolicited messages offering loans this year.

"I didn't complain to the authorities as the messages came from an overseas number," he said.

PERSONAL DATA BREACHES

From January to September, the public also filed 2,200 complaints related to personal data breaches and unsolicited calls from private tutors and real estate agents, among others.

This is about 20 per cent lower than the 2,700 complaints received in the same period last year.

Under Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act, which came into effect in July 2014, organisations that fail to protect personal data can be fined up to $1 million per breach.

Firms must check against the numbers listed on the Do-Not-Call Registry before sending out marketing messages or making telemarketing calls.

Launched on Jan 2, 2014, the registry now contains more than 920,000 phone numbers of consumers who do not want to receive marketing offers by phone, SMS or fax.

The commission has taken action against more than 20 organisations and individuals under the Act so far.

The largest fine of $50,000 was levied on karaoke chain K Box for a data breach involving 317,000 customers in 2014.

itham@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on December 28, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

KUALA LUMPUR - Land acquisition for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed rail (HSR) project will most likely take place by the third quarter of next year, following public display of the alignment plan by the middle of the year, said MyHSR.

MyHSR is the agency tasked with overseeing the bilateral project that aims to bridge Kuala Lumpur (at Bandar Malaysia) with Singapore's Jurong East via a pair of rail tracks across 350km, with 335km of the tracks within Malaysian territory.

The corporation is now combing through swathes of land measuring 50m wide to be used as the final alignment from Bandar Malaysia, which will be built once the Sungai Besi airfield is vacated, all the way to Iskandar Puteri in Johor.

Read Also: Singapore-KL High Speed Rail: What you need to know

MyHSR chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal said the 50m-wide band will house the tracks as well as a buffer zone for safety purposes, given that the trains are capable of hitting up to 350kmh at full tilt.

"A mix of private and state land will be acquired, though a lot of them run through plantations," he said.

The first quarter of 2017 will see two milestones for the project.

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Photo Gallery

Singapore-Malaysia ink landmark High Speed Rail MOU

Source: The Straits Times, The Star/ANN, AFP

One will be the announcement of the results of the tender jointly called with Singapore to appoint a Joint Development Partner (JDP) for the project that will have stops at Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar and Batu Pahat.

Malaysia and Singapore will jointly award the tender for the JDP, which will provide advice on operational, technical and procurement matters, especially in relation to the systems aspect of the project.

EVALUATING

In parallel to the tender for the JDP, MyHSR is also evaluating the bids following the closure of a tender for the services of reference design consultants (RDC) for the Malaysian stretch, which was parcelled out in six packages.

"The RDCs will look at the respective stations and alignments to optimise them all, though it will be more from the civil engineering perspective.

Read Also: 2026 start for S'pore-KL high-speed rail 'realistic but not easy'

"The decision will likely be made by the first quarter of next year," said Mr Mohd Nur.

On the future HSR stations, he added these would be built at new areas that must not be too far from existing business and population centres.

"They cannot be too far from population centres, or else the time savings from HSR will be negated by the longer travel time for the last mile.

"The stations also need to be big enough to cater to the expected and future ridership, and have ample space for development around them.

Read Also: Malaysia, Singapore ink high-speed rail deal

"We have to balance between these factors."

On calls by some parties to set up a HSR stop within Selangor, Mr Mohd Nur said the Putrajaya station was located at the edge of the Selangor border, and development arising from it would definitely spill into the state.

The final alignment must allow a non-stop journey from Bandar Malaysia to Jurong East to be complete within 90 minutes.

The domestic service that stops at every station is expected to cover the same distance in slightly more than two hours.

It had been a long wait but in July this year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced significant changes to the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scoring system.

Under the new PSLE system, pupils will no longer be graded on how they perform relative to their peers.

The new system, which will come into effect in 2021, is aimed at encouraging pupils to focus on their own learning, instead of the competition.

The current T-score system will be replaced by eight scoring bands called Achievement Levels (AL) and the PSLE score for the Secondary 1 posting will be the sum of ALs of four subjects.

The hope is that with the new system, parents will stop pushing their children to chase that last mark and instead of sending them for tuition, encourage them to pursue sports or the arts, nurturing creativity and people skills that will arm them with the skills needed to thrive in a volatile, uncertain future.

But even as it announced the PSLE revamp, MOE said it was reviewing another key policy, the Direct School Admission scheme, which was also aimed at encouraging pupils to go beyond book smarts.

The changes are expected to be announced next year and the new scheme implemented over the next few years.

The DSA was introduced in 2004 to let secondary schools broaden their admission criteria beyond PSLE scores.

For example, schools can admit students strong in sports or the arts, even before the PSLE results are out.

Last year, 126 schools admitted 2,700 students through the scheme.

MOE said through the review, it intends to expand the DSA opportunities in more schools for students with specific strengths, and also "sharpen the focus of the DSA" to better recognise talents and achievements in specific domains rather than general academic ability reflected by the PSLE.

CRITICISED

Over the years, the scheme has been criticised for being a channel to secure places in the most sought-after Integrated Programme schools whose students bypass the O levels.

There have also been complaints about top schools using it to reserve the best academic talent, including pupils from the Gifted Education Programme.

So clearly, the DSA scheme has become another way for academically bright pupils to secure places in the premier schools early, ahead of the PSLE.

This contradicts the core objective of the DSA scheme, which is meant to give those with other talents a chance to shine.

The change to the DSA scheme hopefully goes far enough, as like the PSLE, the scheme is seen to be key to shift Singaporeans' focus away from the academics.

But the PSLE and DSA revamp are just two parts of a larger shift away from academics towards broadening opportunities for children to discover their interests and talents.

Over the last few years, several changes have been made at every level - from primary schools to tertiary institutions.

Results for national exams, such as the PSLE, have been released without the top scorers being highlighted any more.

While schools do still recognise their best performers - as a group - they also celebrate the achievements of those who show improvement and overcome challenges such as a disability or illness.

More schools have developed programmes to nurture interests in areas such as drama and dance.

MOE is placing more emphasis on outdoor education.

Under a physical education syllabus introduced in 2014, 10 per cent to 20 per cent of curriculum time in primary and secondary schools is set aside for it.

As part of a new National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan, from 2020, all students will also take part in three cohort camps.

This shift is also happening in higher education.

EXPANDING

The polytechnics and universities are expanding their aptitude-based admissions, allowing students who do not make the grade but show passion and interest to get into the course of their choice.

This ties in with the broader SkillsFuture initiative, which advocates mastery of skills over just collecting qualifications.

But even if MOE shows the political will to slaughter more sacred cows in education, the shift to a more holistic education will not happen unless parents play their part.

I am reminded of the MOE's announcement a few years ago to replace exams for children in lower primary with bite-sized forms of assessment.

Some parents went into panic mode, fearing their children would not study as hard, and began buying up the soon-to-be-defunct exam papers of top primary schools.

Singapore's No 1 position in international benchmarking tests will be meaningless if we continue on this path.

As the previous Education Minister Heng Swee Keat had warned, this narrow focus on grades and examinations could lead the country into "a spiralling paper chase" and we would churn out students who excel in exams, but are ill-equipped to take on jobs of the future.

Hopefully this one-step-forward, two-steps-back dance will not continue in the new year.

The bold transformation of the education system will need the collective will and action of employers, teachers, parents and students.

Parents, instead of being focused on grades, will need to recognise their children's unique strengths and build on them; employers will need to look beyond degrees and hire based on skills; and teachers should emphasise all-round development of their students.

And MOE must continue to adjust and even do away with policies that stand in the way.

sandra@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on December 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) will investigate an alleged dog-biting incident involving a passenger who used the GrabHitch service in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 25).

University student Rushdan Eilyaas, 24, in a Facebook post on Monday, claimed that the driver's chihuahua bit him on the right arm at the end of his ride from VivoCity to Bukit Batok.

The lengthy post - which also outlined several other grievances he had with the male driver, including how the latter was rude and had shown up in a different car from what was indicated in Mr Rushdan's GrabHitch booking - went viral, chalking up over 3,000 shares.

It also garnered more than 700 comments, with several users sharing similar negative experiences they had with the driver and his dog.

Mr Rushdan, who uploaded photos of the dog bite on Facebook, said he had incurred $117.40 in medical bills, including charges for a tetanus shot and antibiotics.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Rushdan said he had decided to write about his experience on social media so as to warn other people of the driver's behaviour, which he described as "appalling".

GrabHitch, unlike GrabCar or GrabTaxi, is not a commercial platform for drivers to pick up passengers. The carpooling service matches a passenger with a private car owner going the same way at the same time.

Passengers pay the drivers a basic fare that cover their petrol costs for the ride.

A Grab spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it will be reimbursing Mr Rushdan his trip fare and medical bills as a "gesture of goodwill". It has also suspended the driver in question for violation of its code of conduct, as he had used a car that was not registered on the Grab platform.

"The GrabHitch team takes a very strong stand on user experience and believes in building a community of drivers and passengers who believe in our community guidelines," the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that Grab does not restrict GrabHitch drivers from bringing their certified pets on board their own vehicles, although it "strongly" encourages them to inform their passengers beforehand.

"Likewise, passengers who plan to travel with their pets should also inform their GrabHitch drivers ahead of time. Both GrabHitch drivers and passengers have full rights to decline a ride should they feel uncomfortable with it... we hope that all Grab drivers and passengers treat each other with mutual respect - and are sensitive to various preferences - so that everyone enjoys the best ride experience."

In response to queries, AVA said it had received feedback from Mr Rushdan and would be investigating the incident.

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

It had been a long wait but in July, the Ministry of Education (MOE) finally announced significant changes to the PSLE scoring system.

Pupils will no longer be graded on how they perform relative to their peers.

Instead, the new system, which will come into effect in 2021, is aimed at encouraging pupils to focus on their own learning, instead of the competition.

The current T-score system will be replaced by eight scoring bands called Achievement Levels (AL), and the Primary School Leaving Examination score for Secondary 1 posting will be the sum of the ALs of four subjects.

The hope is that with the new system, parents will stop pushing their children to chase that last mark and, instead of sending them for tuition, encourage them to pursue sports or the arts, and nurture in them the creativity and people skills needed to thrive in a volatile, uncertain future.

But even as it announced the revamp, MOE said it was reviewing another key policy, the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme, which was also aimed at encouraging pupils to go beyond book smarts.

The changes are expected to be announced next year and the new scheme implemented over the next few years.

The DSA was introduced in 2004 to let secondary schools broaden their admission criteria beyond PSLE scores.

For example, schools can admit students strong in sports or the arts even before the PSLE results are out. Last year, 126 schools admitted 2,700 students through this scheme.

MOE said it intends to expand the DSA opportunities in more schools for students with specific strengths, and also "sharpen the focus of the DSA" to better recognise talents and achievements in specific domains rather than general academic ability reflected by the PSLE.

Over the years, the scheme has been criticised for turning into a channel to secure places in the most sought-after Integrated Programme schools, whose students bypass the O levels.

There have also been complaints about top schools using it to reserve the best academic talent.

So clearly, the DSA scheme has become another way for the exam-smart, academically bright pupils to secure places in the premier schools early, ahead of the PSLE.

This contradicts the core objective of the DSA scheme, which is meant to give those with other talents a chance to shine.

Hopefully, the changes will go far enough.

But the PSLE and DSA revamps are just two parts of a larger shift towards broadening opportunities for children to discover their interests and talents.

Over the last few years, several deliberate changes have been made at every level - from primary schools to tertiary institutions.

Results for national exams, such as the PSLE, have been released without the top scorers being highlighted any more.

More schools have developed programmes to nurture interests in areas such as drama and dance.

And the MOE is placing more emphasis on outdoor education. Under a physical education syllabus introduced in 2014, 10 per cent to 20 per cent of curriculum time in primary and secondary schools is set aside for it.

As part of a new National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan, from 2020, all students will take part in three cohort camps.

This shift is also happening in higher education.

The polytechnics and universities are expanding their aptitude-based admissions, allowing students who do not quite make the grade, but show passion and interest, to get into the courses of their choice.

This ties in with the broader SkillsFuture initiative, which advocates mastery of skills over just collecting qualifications.

But even if the ministry shows the political will to slaughter more sacred cows in education, the shift to a more holistic education will not happen unless parents play their part.

I am reminded of the MOE's announcement a few years ago to replace exams for children in lower primary with bite-sized forms of assessment.

Some parents went into panic mode and began buying up the soon-to-be-defunct exam papers of top primary schools.

Singapore's No. 1 position in international benchmarking tests will be meaningless if we continue on this path.

As former education minister Heng Swee Keat had warned, this narrow focus on grades and examinations could lead the country into "a spiralling paper chase", and we would churn out students who excel in exams but are ill-equipped to take on jobs of the future.

The bold transformation of the education system will need the collective will and action of employers, teachers, parents and students.

Parents, instead of focusing on grades, will need to recognise their children's unique strengths and build on them; employers will need to look beyond degrees and hire based on skills; and teachers should emphasise all-round development of their students.

And MOE must continue to adjust and even do away with policies that stand in the way.

sandra@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on December 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

New coffee table book features Kranji countryside's charm, history, farms and people

Visitors to Singapore's countryside are often charmed by its farms and nature areas, but not many may know that the Kranji area is also home to an old fire-breathing dragon.

The brick dragon kiln in the Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle - one of the enterprises under the Kranji Countryside Association (KCA) - dates back to the 1940s. But it is still used today by potters who favour the disappearing art of using wood-firing kilns instead of contemporary methods of heating with gas or electricity.

Ceramics made in such kilns usually look unique as they are engulfed in fire and the ashes react with the glaze to produce unpredictable colours and textures during the wood- firing process.

Thow Kwang Industry offers hands-on sessions and tours of the historical kiln, but it is now possible to learn more about it in a new book, The Kranji Countryside - Soul Of Singapore.

The coffee table book, featuring photographs taken by French photographer Bertrand Chauvel, was written by marketing communications professional Carolyn Ortega, who is in her 40s.

The book highlights various aspects of the Kranji countryside - its history and wilderness, the farms, and the people hoping this slice of rustic life can be preserved.

Farmland takes up about 1 per cent of Singapore's land. Close to 600ha has been allocated to over 200 farms - many of which are in Kranji - for the production of food and non-food items.

But the agricultural sector, though small, plays a strategic role in the nation's food security, supplying some 10 per cent of its food.

Said Ms Ortega, who wrote the book on her own time: "We wanted to show Singaporeans and tourists the many facets of Kranji. Singapore is small, yet it has its own farms; we hope that the gem of our countryside can be preserved."

Earlier this year, 62 farms in the Lim Chu Kang and Kranji areas were told by the Government that they would have to move out by the end of 2019, to make way for the Defence Ministry's new training grounds.

The deadline had initially been June next year, but the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) pushed it back 2½ years to give farms more transit time.

Affected farmers will be able to bid for new farmland early next year, but exact details of the locations and new plot sizes have yet to be announced. The first tranche of land sales will be launched next year, AVA said last month.

KCA president Kenny Eng said the book is a photographic journey through Kranji, past and present, with its rich heritage and diversity. "The countryside is a unique ecosystem of mostly family-run farms... existing alongside natural conservation areas, poignant cemeteries and our defence forces. There is nowhere in the world a countryside is so small yet so rich. This book will be the only consolidated testament we have if it is removed."

The Kranji Countryside - Soul Of Singapore is priced at $30 and can be bought at Bollywood Veggies, Jurong Frog Farm, Hay Dairies, Nyee Phoe Gardenasia and at Uncle William's shop at Farmart.@sph.com.sg>

This article was first published on Dec 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

From Pakistan to Korea and Singapore, the Internet aided the discovery of serveral showstoppers this year.

If you still recall, the 'yan dao' cop, whose real name is Ryan Koh, featured on anti-theft standees outside retail malls in Singapore took himself off the market by getting married in April. But not to worry, ooglers have now shifted their focus to a young auxiliary police officer at Changi Airport. Our pick for eye candy of the year, Lee Minwei, stunned local netizens when a photo of him was posted on social media.

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2015-02-16 16:02:22

Photo Gallery

'Yan dao' cop of anti-crime standee gets married

Source: Facebook video screengrabs

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Photo Gallery

'Handsome' Changi Airport officer is a single 22-year-old Corporal

Source:

screengrabs

/SGAG

Facebook / SGAG

But these were not the only good-lookers who took the Internet by storm in 2016. An 18-year-old Pakistani tea seller is now a model after his blue eyes, dark hair and defined jaw caught the attention of a photographer who then uploaded his picture online. And while you might like to forget the Descendants of the Sun craze which swept across Asia earlier this year, you can't deny the charm of its star Song Joong-ki. The heart-throb not only melted hearts with his portrayal of a suave captain in South Korea's elite special forces, he also won hearts when he donated 20 million won (S$24,600) to a group dedicated to helping World War II sex slave victims in October.

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Photo Gallery

Blue-eyed Pakistani tea seller on the way to stardom

Source:

Reuters

AFP

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2016-04-06 11:27:09

Photo Gallery

Descendants Of The Sun heart-throb caused NG takes: Song Hye Kyo

Source: Viu, KBS World

stephluo@sph.com.sg

The surprise discovery of a rare and mysterious trilobite beetle in Singapore in November became big news in November when a Facebook video of it garnered millions of views.

Yet another testimony to the rich biodiversity hidden within the crevices of our modern concrete jungle, the "ancient-looking insect has kept scientists baffled for nearly two centuries", said the National Geographic Society.

The intriguing strange-looking beetle is so rare that researchers succeeded in observing its mating only twice, in 1924 and 1993.

If you think the spiders at Pulau Ubin are so scarily big, then it could be a more hair-raising experience if one is trapped in Charlotte's web.

Reportedly the world's biggest Huntsman spider ever to be photographed, Charlotte is an eight-legged whopper from Queensland, Australia, which became a Facebook sensation of sorts after her photos went viral in recent months.
 

A cousin of Charlotte also managed to spin headlines in Australia around the same time with its amazing feat.

Huntsman spider named Hermie (cover photo) aroused the interest of many after they saw it displaying 'Herculean' might as it dragged a poor mouse up a fridge in a video that went viral.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210975514450975&set=a.10207332555059267.1073741826.1447415403&type=3&theater

It would certainly be nightmarish if one were to be chased by a spiky predator.

But your heart might soften if Nelson the hedgehog snorts his way to you. You see, he has no spikes, and there's no way he can protect himself from meaner creatures.

Being taken care of at a rescue centre in Norfolk in the United Kingdom, Nelson gets a pampering oil massage thrice a day for he had lost his fur too.

The heartwarming story is another favourite among readers fascinated by news on the animal kingdom this year.

chenj@sph.com.sg

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Photo Gallery

Meet Nelson, the hedgehog with no spikes

Source:

Ruptly

Two men, one Malaysian and the other Singaporean, were charged on Wednesday (Dec 28) for illegally importing puppies and animal cruelty, said the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) in a statement.

Malaysian Yeun Jian Iun, 21, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for smuggling and four months imprisonment for animal cruelty.

His sentences will run concurrently.

Singaporean Cheow Yon Siong, 51, informed the court that he intends to appeal. His case will be mentioned again on Jan 18 next year.

On Oct 28, Police Coast Guard (PCG) officers had approached a Singapore-registered yacht for routine inspection while patrolling at the sea off Changi General Purposes Anchorage.

They discovered 23 live puppies on board the yacht belonging to Cheow. The men did not have an AVA import permit or health certificate for the puppies.

The 23 puppies, which include nine poodles, five shih tzus, four pomeranians, three French bulldogs, and two golden retrievers were kept in cramped conditions in six pet carriers that were concealed under bath towels.

Along with the puppies, the men were referred to AVA for further investigation.

AVA investigations revealed that no food and water were provided during the illegal transportation. Some of the puppies showed clinical signs of lethargy, inappetence and diarrhoea.

While the case was under investigation, the 12 surviving puppies were cared for and quarantined at AVA's Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS).

They were observed for signs of infectious or contagious diseases, especially rabies, a disease which is fatal to animals and humans.

The AVA reminds travellers to not bring in live animals, birds and insects into Singapore without a proper permit. The importation of animals without an AVA permit is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 and, or imprisonment of up to one year.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - A woman who travelled by coach from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore allegedly suffered dozens of bedbug bites that left her itching all over her body.

Administrative executive Natalie Yap, 29, wrote on Facebook detailing her unpleasant experience onboard Starmart Express'"first class massage coach" on Monday (Dec 26), and demanded that the company provide a full refund for her trip and medical expenses.

The Singapore permanent resident, who was in the Malaysian capital for the Christmas holidays, also uploaded photos of her bites and the bedbugs in the Facebook post, which went viral with close to 9,000 shares.

Mr Ravindran, an assistant manager at Starmart Express' Singapore office, told The Straits Times over the phone that the company was investigating.

He added that the bus in question has since been taken off service.

"I would like to state my utter disappointment on this unpleasant journey that caused me to be mentally and physically exhausted after enduring the long hours of bugs biting," Ms Yap wrote.

Speaking to The Straits Times on Wednesday (Dec 28), Ms Yap said she and 26 other passengers had boarded the bus near Kuala Lumpur's Berjaya Times Square at around 4pm on Monday.

She fell asleep almost immediately, but woke up an hour later as her whole body was itching. To her horror, she discovered bedbugs on her seat and clothes.

Ms Yap then approached the bus driver to request to change buses, but was told there were no available ones due to the hectic festive schedule.

"He refused to admit there were bedbugs on the bus and implied that it was because my clothes were dirty. He also told me that if there were really any bedbugs, why was I the only one complaining while the rest of the passengers kept quiet," said Ms Yap, who paid about $70 ticket for a return ticket.

She said that she subsequently moved to a seat near the front of the bus that had no seatbelt, and was forced to endure an uncomfortable ride for the next four hours until the bus reached a rest stop.

It was there when she discovered that almost all the other passengers were also suffering from bedbug bites.

Mr Ravindran told The Straits Times that the company has so far received four complaints about the incident.

He also stressed that customer complaints about bedbugs were uncommon.

"We are investigating and will decide if we should give refunds to the affected passengers who filed complaints with us," said Mr Ravindran. "The problem could have arisen because of a passenger's belongings."

The bus arrived in Singapore at about 1am on Tuesday. Ms Yap estimated that she suffered more than 30 bites on her arms, legs and upper body. She paid $64 to see a doctor, who gave her anti-itch medicine and cream.

Ms Yap, who travels to Malaysia about once a month, said it was the last time she would be taking Starmart Express after her second bad experience with the company.

Last year, a Starmart Express bus she was on broke down several times, delaying her journey for hours.

She added: "I initially posted the bedbugs complaint on Starmart's Facebook page, but they took it down. So I put it up on my page to warn my friends; I didn't expect it to spread so fast.

"After it went viral, other Starmart passengers also told me of their experiences with bedbugs on their buses."

According to its website, Starmart Express specialises in long distance express bus services between Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

This article was first published on Dec 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will begin collecting iris images from Singapore citizens and permanent residents as another identifier, in addition to photographs and fingerprints.

This comes as part of the amendments to the National Registration Act (NRA), which were passed in Parliament on Nov 10, and will take effect from Jan 1.

The NRA was enacted in 1965 for the registration of people in Singapore for the issue of identity cards and related purposes.

These amendments will strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of ICA operations, said the release from the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday.

The collection of iris images will be done as part of the IC registration and re-registration process as well as the passport application and renewal process.

This article was first published on Dec 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

A number of fixed-rate mortgage plans have been pulled from the shelves lately as banks grapple with the uncertainty over the pace of interest rate hikes.

Market watchers noted some banks are trying to ensure their margins are not squeezed by cheaply priced fixed packages.

Ms Grace Cheng, co-founder of personal finance website Get.com, told The Straits Times: "For example, Maybank removed its two-year 1.60 per cent fixed-rate package in mid-November.

"Bank of China removed its two-year fixed-rate packages from 1.40 per cent earlier this week, and DBS removed its five-year 1.99 per cent fixed-rate package earlier this week."

Bank of China and Maybank did not respond to queries in time while a DBS Bank spokesman said the five-year offer was ended because it was only a temporary "promotion".

DBS has a three-year 1.88 per cent fixed-rate loan, while OCBC Bank is offering a two-year 2.48 per cent loan for Housing Board properties.

United Overseas Bank (UOB) has one of the best fixed-rate offers in town - a two-year 1.8 per cent loan - but apparently not for long. This deal has a last submission date by Jan 1, said MoneySmart.sg chief executive Vinod Nair.

Such plan withdrawals are normal reactions to market forces, Mr Nair said.

"Analysts in these banks are likely forecasting the interest rate uptrend to continue and hence have increased rates to protect their margins," he added.

Unlike floating- or variable-rate packages, fixed-rate loans are locked, and they provide borrowers with certainty.

Low interest rates had allowed banks some competitive pricing, but this may prove hard to swallow in times to come.

How fast interest rates will rise next year has become something of a concern since earlier this month when the US Federal Reserve forecast up to three hikes in 2017.

The Singapore interbank offered rates (Sibor) have been gaining in tandem, with the three-month Sibor sitting at around 0.966 per cent this week - the highest since late June.

The three-month Sibor - one of the key benchmarks banks use to price home loans - could hit 1.35 per cent in the second quarter next year and 1.6 per cent in the fourth quarter, according to Nomura's forecasts.

Ms Cheng said: "We expect to see further home loan interest rate changes in the upcoming weeks as the Chinese New Year period draws near, which is typically a time when banks update their rates."

Against this backdrop, those looking to buy new homes or refinance mortgages with good fixed-rate offers may have to act fast.

Consultant Pamela Ng, 35, who is looking to sell her home to buy a new one, is unsure whether she is missing the window for a good deal.

"I have a lower risk profile and prefer fixed rates for its certainty. My concern now is whether I will still be able to lock down a fixed-rate home loan next year, when we have sorted out our plans for the new apartment."

A UOB spokesman said mortgage rates are reviewed according to market conditions and urged home buyers to set aside sufficient funds to manage potential rising rates.

whwong@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Dec 29, 2016.
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Transformation of the economy was the keystone of Budget 2016.

But many local businesses are not taking steps to change, the latest National Business Survey released by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) yesterday showed.

About six in 10 of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) surveyed have yet to make significant adjustments to adapt to the slowing economic growth and technological change and disruption.

The study, which drew more than 1,100 responses from companies across all major industries, also noted that business sentiment is gloomy.

Nearly two-thirds of businesses say that the economic climate in Singapore has worsened this year, and nearly half of the businesses expect the situation to deteriorate next year.

At the Budget in March, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that a $4.5 billion Industry Transformation Programme would be rolled out to help firms and industries create new value and drive growth.

One initiative aimed at transforming firms was a new automation support package, worth more than $400 million over the next three years.

Despite the new measures, only about 60 per cent of businesses agreed that they have to transform to adapt to slowing growth and technological change.

Only 28 per cent of businesses expressed satisfaction with the current policies.

This is lower among SMEs - 27 per cent was satisfied, compared to 39 per cent among large companies.

Lack of resources in terms of knowledge, finances and manpower are some of the challenges that local firms face when it comes to transforming their businesses, said Associate Professor Boh Wai Fong from the Nanyang Business School.

Prof Boh, who lectures in Nanyang Technological University, is currently conducting a training and research programme for local SMEs and start-ups on innovation, capabilities and decision-making preferences.

"As local companies try to innovate, they often face challenges in working through technical and feasibility difficulties.

"Environmental unpredictability is also a challenge.

"This includes changes in customers' tastes, changes in markets and regulations," added Prof Boh.

TRANSFORM

Mr Ho Meng Kit, CEO of SBF, urged the Government to consider measures that will help businesses overcome the near-term economic headwinds in the upcoming Budget 2017, even as it considers the longer-term strategies for the Singapore economy.

He said: "Having said so, Singapore companies can, and must, transform to find new ways of doing things and offer innovative new products and services.

"At the same time, we encourage our companies to expand to overseas markets.

"The current technological disruption that we are witnessing has lowered the barriers for companies to do all these."

Manpower issues biggest obstacle for local firms

Manpower issues remain the biggest challenge for local firms here, according to a Singapore Business Federation survey released yesterday.

Rising labour cost is the toughest challenge for about eight in 10 companies.

Rules and regulations as well as retention of younger workers are also high-priority areas.

A survey respondent said: "It is difficult to get Singaporeans for lower skilled, more hard labour kind of jobs and these jobs cannot be automated (marine crew for example).

"However, quotas are being cut and the levy is increasing. It is also difficult to retain Singaporeans."

Nearly half of the businesses expressed that they were neutral with current Government policies for businesses.

The high neutral scores mask a sense of disappointment with recent Government efforts, noted the survey.

More than 40 per cent of the companies identified rising compliance costs and bureaucratic hurdles as areas that they were dissatisfied with.

Associate Professor Boh Wai Fong from the Nanyang Business School pointed out that many firms feel the cost of doing business in Singapore is too high and there is a lack of financial support from banks.

"Many SMEs point out that while grants are available by Government, they involve too much paperwork."

Streamlining the application process will definitely help the SMEs.

"They would also prefer help on cash-flow financing. Many government schemes are on reimbursement basis, but many SMEs are unwilling to pay for the upfront costs," he said.

"Many schemes also provide payment to third parties - for example, consulting firms to do the work for SMEs.

"Maybe tying the schemes to capability development will be useful - teaching them to fish, rather than to fish for them."

- LINETTE HENG

linheng@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Dec 29, 2016.
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On Christmas Eve, an express coach crashed into a ravine near Muar, Johor, killing 14 people, including three Singaporeans and a Singapore permanent resident. The New Paper looks back at other serious road accidents this year:

JAN 24

Madam Yep Lay Choo, 51, and her daughter, Kimberly Poon Hui Yin, 22, died after their Mercedes E250 plunged into the Alexandra Canal as they drove out of the Valley Point Shopping Centre at about 9pm.

State Coroner Marvin Bay later said in an inquiry that the case underscored the need for motorists to navigate less familiar carparks at a cautious speed.

Read also: 2 bodies retrieved from Alexandra Canal after car plunges into it

FEB 20

An elderly couple were picking cardboard at Collyer Quay at about 6.50am when a BMW ploughed into their lorry.

Madam Tan Powi Kim, 61, was killed while her husband, Mr Cheng Kiat Yan, 68, suffered a fractured knee after he fell off the lorry.

In the first half of this year, there were 122 accidents - 12 fatal - involving elderly victims, up from 104 in the same period last year with 10 fatalities.

Read also: Elderly woman killed in Collyer Quay accident

MAY 21

Factory supervisor Lau Lee Kiau, 46, was on her way to work on her boyfriend's motorcycle when they got involved in an accident with a car and a taxi at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 and Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2.

She died and police arrested a 17-year-old underage driver for allegedly causing death by a rash act.

The age for getting a driving licence here is 18.

On Tuesday, a police spokesman said they were still investigating the case.

There were 853 people caught driving without a licence between January and September this year, up from 748 detected in the same period last year.

Read also: 'We never got to say goodbye'

AUG 31

A tour bus carrying 12 Singaporean passengers overturned on the Karak highway in Malaysia on its way back from Genting Highlands.

Accountant Lim Sia Thian, 62, suffered traumatic brain injuries and died.

The bus driver, a Malaysian, and eight other Singaporeans were injured, some seriously.

Read also: 9 Singaporeans hurt after tour bus overturns in Malaysia

OCT 27

Three e-bikers were riding their bikes near the junction of Pandan Crescent along West Coast Highway at 11.55pm when they collided with a trailer. Mr Ong Zi Quan, 18, and Mr Ang Yee Fong, 25., died while Marcus Loke Teck Soon, 17, escaped with an injured leg and several scratches.

The 34-year-old trailer driver was arrested by the police for negligently causing death.

Read also: 2 killed, 1 injured after collision between e-bikers and truck at West Coast Highway

NOV 3

Two foreign workers died after they were run over by a reversing tipper truck at the Thomson-East Coast Line Mandai Depot construction site at about 1.15pm.

The Bangladeshi nationals had been napping on the ground.

The accident prompted safety experts and migrant rights' groups to call for proper rest areas for workers, reported The Straits Times.

Read also: 2 workers taking a nap run over by truck at Mandai worksite; driver arrested

DEC 19

At about 8am, a Mercedes-Benz car travelling against the flow of traffic at high speed on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) rammed head-on into another car, killing its driver, Mr Jackie Liong Kuo Hwa, 37.

The Mercedes-Benz also collided into a motorcycle, sending its rider and pillion rider flying in the air.

Businessman Lim Chai Heng, 53, was later charged with allegedly causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

Read also: 1 dead, 3 injured after car goes against flow of traffic on AYE

rloh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Dec 29, 2016.
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The choking haze that enveloped Singapore and Malaysia last year is unlikely to be repeated next year, an Indonesian official said yesterday, as the weather in Sumatra and Kalimantan is forecast to return to the pattern of past years, thus reducing the threat of forest and land fires.

The number of hot spots last year - triggered by fires covering forests and the dry land on the two Indonesian islands - were recorded at a staggering 78,164, spawning the haze that sent air pollution indices in Singapore and Malaysia to very unhealthy levels.

This year, 14,490 hot spots were recorded, with no major haze.

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2016-08-26 11:20:23

Photo Gallery

Haze returns to Singapore in 2016

Source: The Straits Times, Stomp, facebook, Twitter

Dr Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of Indonesia's disaster management agency BNPB, said at a year-end briefing in Jakarta: "There won't likely be any strengthening of either El Nino or La Nina.

"That means there won't be a dry season that is too dry. Likewise with the wet season."

El Nino is a weather phenomenon which leads to prolonged hot and dry weather in the region like it did last year, while La Nina gives an opposite effect.

Indonesia will still have forest and land fires next year, he said, but the hot spot counts and their coverage would be small compared to last year.

DIFFICULT

"Why can't we put the hot spot count to zero? It is difficult because this is about a custom and people earning a living. Villagers clear their farm by burning," he said.

Dr Sutopo said the decline in hot spots was not only due to better weather but also harsher law enforcement on errant corporations and individuals, and better fire prevention measures by the government and private sector.

Read also: NEA writes to Indonesia over haze concerns

wahyudis@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Dec 30, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Another business that sold pre-paid services to customers has shut down, leaving many out of pocket, some with thousands of dollars left in unused treatments.

Hair salon Exchange Hair Plus, also known as Artist De Exchange, was still taking appointments days before it closed abruptly at shopping mall Plaza Singapura on Orchard Road.

Plaza Singapura's centre manager said a few customers approached the mall after they went to the salon only to find a new business coming up in its place.

Ms June Ang said: "We tried to get in touch with the owner on their behalf, but to no avail."

She said the salon had operated from July last year until last month.

Ms Christina Phua, 32, a banking executive, had bought packages at Artist De Exchange worth more than $10,000 over a period of three years.

They included services like hair hydration and scalp treatment. She said she found out the shop was gone only when she went there herself on Dec 15, after her calls went unanswered.

What she saw was another hair salon taking over the unit and having renovations done.

"I did not manage to finish any of my packages, because three to four sessions into each package, they would sell me something else, saying it's better," she said.

Ms Lim Lay Hong, who is listed as the director of Artist De Exchange Group in Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) records, could not be reached for a response.

She is also listed as the director of Rebornz Hair@Work, a salon in Boon Keng which closed in March.

A client of that salon, Ms Karen Foong, 30, had spent almost $7,000 on packages, and is due about $3,000 worth of services.

The customer service executive was told she could go to Artist De Exchange at Plaza Singapura branch to use her prepaid services. She went to Plaza Singapura once in July, and was even given an appointment for Dec 17, when the branch had already closed.

"I'm upset, I wanted to do my hair for Chinese New Year. Now I'll have to go somewhere else, and spend more money, but it's a lesson learnt," she said.

Though it has no connection to the previous salon at Plaza Singapura, the one taking its place, Capella de Art, has offered its assistance to affected customers.

The general manager, who wanted to be known only as Yin, said she would absorb the remaining cost of a package or give 20 per cent to 50 per cent discounts to affected customers, on a case-by-case basis if they become Capella's customers- out of goodwill.

She said many clients of the previous salon have come to her with outstanding amounts on their packages ranging from $100 to $20,000.

This is not the first time businesses have closed down abruptly after collecting prepayment. In November, a beauty salon in Jurong East closed down, leaving its customers with at least $20,000 worth of unused pre-paid services.

In August last year, The Scissorhands (Shizahanzu) hair salon chain closed its seven outlets, leading over 100 affected consumers to complain to the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case).

Case's executive director Seah Seng Choon said there were 27 complaints about Exchange Hair Plus this month alone. He said that prepayment protection for consumers is a cause for concern.

"Having seen an increase in the number of companies collecting prepayment and closing down abruptly in recent years, it is clear that there is a problem that needs to be addressed and we hope that the authorities will look into this matter," he said.

Meanwhile, consumers should minimise their risk by negotiating as low a deposit as possible if prepayment is required. They can also look out for businesses that offer prepayment protection.

This article was first published on Dec 29, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - On weekdays, the open field next to Kallang MRT station lies idle under the sun.

But on Sundays, the open space hosts hundreds of volleyball enthusiasts who make the grass field their stomping ground.

Sporting colourful team jerseys while spiking balls on makeshift courts demarcated with cotton thread, the players transform the field into a recreation area.

"My team plays here, because if we were to play elsewhere, we need to book a court and we have no money. It's free here," says domestic helper Marilyn Babas.

The 39-year-old is the captain of Braveheart, a volleyball team made up of Filipino domestic helpers.

Many of those who play at Kallang on Sundays are part of a league called Sports@Sg, an all-women volleyball league that encourages domestic helpers to exercise on their days off. Today, there are more than 800 members in the league, and more than half are Filipinas.

"We do play in HDB areas, but we are very noisy. Some people complained, say we cannot play there. But here in Kallang, nobody complains," said Ms Babas.

In this episode of Living City, which explores Singapore's overlooked spaces and places, the Straits Times Video team spends a Sunday afternoon with Team Braveheart.

This article was first published on Dec 27, 2016.
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The general manager and secretary of Ang Mo Kio Town Council has been removed from his duties and is under investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

Mr Victor Wong, who works for CPG Facilities Management, the managing agent of the town council, was asked to go on leave by his company after the town council received a complaint about him in September, town council chairman Ang Hin Kee told The Straits Times yesterday.

He added that the case had been referred to the CPIB and Mr Wong was removed from his positions at the town council last month.

An acting general manager, Mr Lim Kian Chiong, has been appointed to replace him, according to a notice published last month in the Government Gazette.

Mr Lim is also an employee of CPG Facilities Management, which is contracted to manage the estate.

Mr Ang, who is an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, said the town council received a complaint in September about Mr Wong concerning "the way he handles contracts and dealings in the town council".

He added that the complaint "arose out of his dealings which relates to probable behaviour needing investigation done by CPIB".

"Needless to say, the town council ourselves will render all the assistance needed to ensure zero tolerance for corruption," said Mr Ang.

"There's responsibility on the part of our contractors to do the job properly. If they do it inappropriately, then we will take follow-up actions with regard to getting them replaced (and) sending the case for investigation, making sure the necessary steps are taken."

Mr Ang declined to reveal details about the case, citing ongoing investigations, but said that the town council constantly reminded its staff to declare any interests concerning tenders that the council was awarding.

Staff from the managing agent were also reminded that "if there are declarations to be made, if there are interests to declare, the people involved (must) make those declarations", he said.

He added that the MPs of the GRC had made it a point to personally check on projects performed by its contractors, "so not 100 per cent is done by the managing agent with no oversight".

AMK Town Council is responsible for the housing estates in Ang Mo Kio GRC, which is helmed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Mr Ang said that activities on the ground in the town council were unaffected by the development.

"We have made sure that people on the ground - the staff and officers - continue to do their work properly supervised," he said.

Mr Wong could not be reached for comment yesterday evening.

This article was first published on Dec 30, 2016.
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Households will pay a higher electricity charge of 5.6 per cent for the first quarter of next year.

The electricity tariff for January to March will be 20.20 cents per kwh, up from 19.13 cents now, SP Services announced today.

With the increase, the average monthly electricity bill for families living in a four-room Housing Board flat is expected to rise by $4.30, from $76.88 to $81.18.

On average, those living in single-room flats will pay $1.54 more a month, while families living in private apartments will pay $6.31 more.

The electricity charge of 20.20 cents per kwh for households is the highest in more than a year. This year, prices ranged from 17.68 cents to 19.50 cents per kwh.

"The tariff increase is due to the higher cost of natural gas for electricity generation, which increased by 10.6 per cent, compared with the previous quarter," said SP Services.

SP Services said that on average, electricity tariffs will rise by 5.7 per cent across the board.

Tariffs are reviewed on a quarterly basis by SP Services, based on guidelines set by the Energy Market Authority.

This article was first published on Dec 30, 2016.
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