The heatwave in the region has led to more costly Malaysian greens at wet markets here.

Prices of cucumbers, long beans, bittergourds and brinjals have risen by 10 per cent to 20 per cent since last week, while French beans and tomatoes now cost 30 per cent to 40 per cent more, according to Mr Jerry Tan, assistant secretary of the Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association.

At a wet market stall in Yishun, the price of Malaysian-grown chye sim has gone up from $2.80 per kg two weeks ago to $3.50 this week. Kangkung was selling at $3.30 per kg, up from $2.50.

While Malaysia has been suffering from a dry spell for the past month - with the heatwave causing schools to be closed for two days - farms there were initially able to cope by using water from reservoirs to grow their crops, according to the association.

However, the prolonged drought has dried up reservoirs, causing production of vegetables to fall.

The growth rate of vegetables slows significantly when the temperature rises above 35 deg C, according to Mr Tai Seng Yee, executive director of Zenxin Agri-Organic Food, which has farms in Johor and Cameron Highlands.

His farms now produce around four tonnes of vegetables a day, about a 20 per cent drop from before the heatwave. However, he has yet to raise the price of his produce which is sold at Cold Storage and Giant supermarkets here.

"We continue to maintain our prices since organic vegetables are already priced at a premium," he said.

Supermarket chains, which tend to have more bargaining power because they buy in bulk, have yet to be affected. FairPrice, Sheng Siong and Cold Storage said prices and supply of their Malaysian greens remain stable for now.

Meanwhile, prices of kai lan and chye sim from China have almost doubled from a year ago, with importers blaming the cold snap that hit the country earlier this year.

The cold can freeze crops, while rain can cause plants to rot and wither faster than usual.

Prices of China-grown garlic have gone up by about 30 per cent to 50 per cent at supermarkets here, The Straits Times reported last week.

Despite the weather woes, consumers do not have to worry that there will not be enough vegetables to go round as importers can get supplies from other countries, said Mr Tan.

"Once our stock drops below a 'safe' level, we will activate supply from other countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia and India," he said.

Prices of these vegetables, however, will be higher than those of Malaysian vegetables as it costs more to transport them to Singapore.

Housewife Tee You Na, 64, said: "If I like the vegetables, I will still buy, never mind if it is more expensive."

mellinjm@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

A Singapore High Court judgment, involving a Muslim couple who divorced in a Johor Syariah Court, has pointed out a gap in the law here.

In the case, the 52-year-old man divorced the woman, 37, in 2012 - allegedly without telling her.

They are Singaporeans who have two young children and were living in Johor at the time, although they have a Housing Board flat in Singapore. Following the split, the woman applied to the courts here to divide their assets.

But she hit a snag: Both the Syariah Court and the High Court here ruled that they had no power under current laws to deal with the case.

"This case demonstrates an area deserving of a review for possible law reform," said Judicial Commissioner Debbie Ong in judgment grounds released on Tuesday .

At issue is the division of the couple's assets upon divorcing. Under the Women's Charter, which was amended in 2011, litigants who divorce abroad can seek financial relief here. However, certain parts of the current charter are not applicable to those married under Muslim law, such as the division of matrimonial assets .

The judge said: "Parliament did not appear to have addressed its mind to a situation in which parties to a Muslim marriage could fall outside the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court and the Civil Court, leaving them with no recourse ."

The housewife in the case had applied initially to the Singapore Syariah Court to divide the assets, but it declined as it was not the court which dissolved the marriage.

The woman did not go to the Johor court as its division of their HDB flat would not have been enforceable in Singapore. This is based on a 2014 Singapore High Court decision. Her lawyer Mohamed Ibrahim Yakub from Achievers LLC applied to the Family Court for the division based on the foreign divorce provision in the Women's Charter.

But District Judge Geraldine Kang ruled the court had no power and rejected the case last June.

The woman then appealed to the High Court. This is when the judicial commissioner pointed out that those married under Muslim law are specifically excluded from the key provision in the Women's Charter that would have enabled the division of assets. The law has to be changed to include Muslim marriages in relation to the division of matrimonial assets.

The judicial commissioner said the present case showed up a "lacuna", or gap, that arose from the separation of powers between the Syariah Court and the civil courts. "Whether the current lacuna in which the (ex-wife) is unable to obtain a division order in both courts ought to be plugged - and if so, ought to be addressed as a provision in the Administration of Muslim Law Act or the SCJA - is a matter for Parliament to decide," she said.

In dismissing the appeal, she concluded: "I sympathise with the (ex-wife) who appears to have fallen into the lacuna described above."

The woman's lawyer said his client is considering further options to pursue the case.

vijayan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Several issues of serious journalistic concern arose from recent allegations by Dr Lee Wei Ling, a former columnist of The Sunday Times, after she blogged about events last month to commemorate the death of her father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

In a Facebook post on April 1, Dr Lee wrote: "i will no longer write for SPH as the editors there do not allow me freedom of speech. in fact, that was the reason why i posted the article on LKY would not want to be hero-worshipped."

I had been editing Dr Lee's columns since last November. So it pained me when she also alleged that those who edited her columns had been "commanded to edit certain issues out, and they are to (sic) timid to disobey, and too embarrassed by their timidness to tell me the truth".

In another posting, Dr Lee alleged that her article, which had earlier been sent to me for publication in The Sunday Times, was rejected because I had deemed certain parts as "irrelevant", while she thought them crucial.

I need to set the record straight on this. I did not say they were "irrelevant", although I did have serious concerns about her latest draft, which I shall come to shortly.

I should first clarify an issue of wider interest to readers, namely, how commentaries are edited when submitted for publication.

In reviewing opinion pieces, an editor strives to stay true to the thrust and tone of the commentator, while bearing in mind professional standards relating to accuracy, fairness, the use of language, coherence, relevance, brevity, the law, and judgment on matters such as race and religion, among other things.

In the case of Dr Lee's contributions, her ideas had to be honed and language tightened.

This editing process is necessarily a two-way affair, as with all commentaries in general.

Dr Lee sent me her article on what she considered "hero-worshipping" of her father on March 21. Over the course of that week, there were some 40 e-mails about the column, as we worked to get it ready for publication.

I sent her my edited version for her review on March 23, with the intended date of publication being Sunday, March 27.

She replied on March 23 (the day of Mr Lee's death anniversary), saying: "Reads well. But I want to wait until the day unfolds completely."

So all seemed well up to then. On March 25, I received another version of the column with substantial additions that I found distracting at first reading because of repeated references to China (Mao Zedong's China had already been mentioned higher up in her piece).

But there was another issue as well. Upon checking the accuracy of a quote she cited from British Prime Minister David Cameron, and other further checks, I found that almost three quarters of the additions had been plagiarised.

I had learnt from experience with Dr Lee's columns that her sources needed to be double-checked.

The additional paragraphs are shown below, with the plagiarised parts in italics: "Firstly when Chairman Mao died on 9 September 1976, the country was in shock. This was partly the result of the keenly felt loss of a semi-divine leader, but also caused by the enormous uncertainty about what the future held in stock for China and its people. The power struggle between Jiang Qing and the Gang of Four on the one hand, and Mao's designated successor Hua Guofeng on the other, which had been smoldering for some time caused grave anxiety for many people in China. However, on 6 October 1976, within a month after Mao's death, Hua had the Gang of Four arrested.

"Two days after the arrest of the Gang, the highest organs of the party and the state decided that a Memorial Hall would be built as a permanent tribute to the founder of the People's Republic. On 24 November 1976, the foundation stone for the gigantic building, located to the south of the Monument to the People's Heroes on Tiananmen Square was put in place. The construction went on day and night, and the building was finished on 29 August 1977. On that same day, Mao's body, which had been embalmed and placed in a crystal sarcophagus, was moved to the Hall. On 9 September 1977, a ceremony was held to commemorate the anniversary of Mao's death and the completion of the Hall.

Series of events held as tribute to Lee Kuan Yew

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, AsiaOne

"The anniversary of the funeral of Winston Churchill took place 50 years after the actual funeral on 30 January 1965, which brought the capital to a standstill and took place a week after his death aged 90 on 24 January, is being marked by scores of events, including a service and wreath laying at the Houses of Parliament, a memorial service at Westminster Abbey, and the rebroadcast by BBC Parliament of the original live coverage. In a tribute to his most famous predecessor, the prime minister, David Cameron, said: 'Half a century after his death, Winston Churchill's legacy continues to inspire not only the nation whose liberty he saved, but the entire world. His words and his actions reverberate through our national life today.'

"Compare the actual time from death to the first commemoration, and the different activities involved in the commemoration in the two leaders above. Which one would Papa wish commemoration to resemble. Also bear in mind, that unlike almost all leaders, Papa was dead set against a personality cult. If he was forced to choose one form of commemoration, Papa would have objected the least if the commemoration resembled that held for Winston Churchill. Do note that Churchill unlike Papa cherished glory and a place in the history of his county. Compare what Churchill's commemoration which was conducted 50 years after his death with the activities that have been taking place in Singapore that lasted a week. I think Papa would have objected if he were able to convey his view."

The first paragraph was from an obscure website (http://chineseposters.net/ themes/mao-after.php):

When Mao Zedong died on 9 September 1976, the country was in shock. This was partly the result of the keenly felt loss of a semi-divine leader, but also caused by the enormous uncertainty about what the future held in stock for China and its people.

The power struggle between Jiang Qing and the Gang of Four on the one hand, and Mao's designated successor Hua Guofeng on the other, which had been smoldering for some time, was about to be fought out in public.

However, on 6 October 1976, within a month after Mao's death, Hua had the Gang of Four arrested.

Two days after the arrest of the Gang, the highest organs of the party and the state decided that a Memorial Hall would be built as a permanent tribute to the founder of the People's Republic.

On 24 November 1976, the foundation stone for the gigantic building, located to the south of the Monument to the People's Heroes on Tiananmen Square, was put in place...

The construction went on day and night, and the building was finished on 29 August 1977. On that same day, Mao's body, which had been embalmed and placed in a crystal sarcophagus, was moved to the Hall.

On 9 September 1977, a ceremony was held to commemorate the anniversary of Mao's death and the completion of the Hall.

The second paragraph was from London's The Guardian newspaper (http://www.theguardian.com/ uk-news/2015/jan/30/winston- churchill-50th-anniversary-of- funeral-commemorated):

The anniversary of the funeral on 30 January 1965, which brought the capital to a standstill and took place a week after his death aged 90 on 24 January, is being marked by scores of events, including a service and wreath laying at the Houses of Parliament, a memorial service at Westminster Abbey, and the rebroadcast by BBC Parliament of the original live coverage.

In a tribute to his most famous predecessor, the prime minister, David Cameron, said: "Half a century after his death, Winston Churchill's legacy continues to inspire not only the nation whose liberty he saved, but the entire world. His words and his actions reverberate through our national life today."

In Dr Lee's e-mail on March 25, she said she was adamant that The Sunday Times run the latest version of her article unedited.

She added: "I am going to blog this version or a similar version of this. If there are copyright issues, then I won't sell my copy right to SPH. I thought long and hard about it. I want the version I decide on. I hv my reason for my decision. It does not matter to me whether u agree with me or otherwise."

Later that day, without any notice, she went ahead to post that version of the article online, thereby bringing an end to any further discussion on the editing of the column.

Given the plagiarism it contained, there was no question of our publishing her version of the article.

Further, as a matter of policy, we do not run a version of a column in our papers when another version of it has been published online.

The relationship between contributors, editors and publishers is one that is based on trust.

That is broken when ultimatums are issued; no newspaper editor would accept columns on that basis, however illustrious the writers.

But what matters more, of course, is the relationship between publications and their readers. For the sake of that, I have no choice but to make these disclosures about the pains taken to uphold professional standards.

ivanf@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Singapore has three more Golden Jubilee babies, after three girls, who were stateless previously, were granted citizenship last month.

Madam Ning Lei, 35 - a Chinese national whose Singaporean husband ran away - could not register the triplets' births at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital when they were born last July.

Their father's identity card was needed for registration.

However, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) granted them citizenship last month.

Responding to queries about the development, ICA said it was "unable to comment on individual cases for reasons of confidentiality".

Madam Ning had just finished feeding her daughters the day the ICA called to tell her that the girls' birth papers were ready.

"My mind was a blank," she said in Mandarin, adding that she has been busy changing, feeding and bathing her daughters since they were born.

Her mother is in Singapore to help take care of the girls.

S'pore-born woman who has lived all her life here can't get citizenship

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

Madam Ning said: "I am very grateful for all the help that ICA, the lawyers, the church and other charitable organisations have given me."

Lawyer Dinesh Dhillon, a partner at Allen & Gledhill, made a case for the three girls to receive their Singaporean citizenship to ICA. He said: "The case caught my attention because I also have triplets."

He remembered how his wife, helper and in-laws helped to raise his children. "We had a whole group of people helping... I was wondering how Madam Ning was coping."

She qualified for help under the Law Society's Pro Bono Services Office, so he offered his help and wrote a letter, arguing her case, to ICA late last year.

"We sent follow-ups and reminders... Four months later, the good news came," he said.

For the next step, Madam Ning hopes to have her long-term visit pass approved, which will allow her to work in Singapore. She is now on month-long short stay passes.

"I would like to work in children's art education," she said, adding that she used to teach and choreograph dances for children in China.

Hopefully, a long-term visit pass will mean that she can seek help for housing, she added.

She is now living in a room in a condominium, owned by an acquaintance, for free.

"It is not a long-term solution," she said.

Previously, the family was at a women's shelter. "It was too noisy," she said, adding that her family shared a room with two teenagers from China.

Madam Ning said that the last time she was in touch with her husband was on social messaging app WeChat, on the eve of Chinese New Year, when he transferred 5,000 yuan ($1,040) to her.

Her husband - Mr Gng Cher Kang, 35 - whom she believes is in China, also asked for the girls' photos and videos.

Commenting on the granting of citizenship for her daughters, Madam Ning said she is glad that she no longer has to pay higher fees for her daughters and they can qualify for subsidies given to Singaporeans.

"The savings can help a lot, especially when they are so young and need immunisation jabs and regular check-ups," she said.

awcw@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Two cars overturned in two separate accidents yesterday.

In the first, a black car turned turtle near Fort Road on the East Coast Parkway (ECP) in the direction of Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE).

Two persons were injured, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). It dispatched an ambulance to the scene at around 9.30am.

Traffic was slow near the crash site.

Some motorists stopped to render aid to the injured persons and helped to guide traffic.

The pair were later taken to Raffles Hospital. In the second accident, a car flipped and eventually came to a stop against a lamp post on Seletar West Link (above) at about 4pm.

Madam Sulizah Sulaiman, who took a photograph of the scene while on her drive home from work, said several motorists stopped near the wrecked car.

The driver, a 34-year-old man, suffered minor injuries and refused to be taken to hospital, an SCDF spokesman told The New Paper.

zaihan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
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Singaporean Yang Kaiheng founded socio-political website The Real Singapore (TRS) with his wife and a "good friend", yet he told the police he did not know of his friend's involvement.

Yesterday, he explained why he lied, saying he did not want to implicate his fellow undergraduate Damien Koh, a Web developer.

"I was sure he had nothing to do with sedition in the TRS site," he told a district court.

Deputy Public Prosecutor G. Kannan told him he had no reason to fear implicating Mr Koh if he knew Mr Koh did not write or upload any articles for TRS.

Yang, 27, who is facing sedition charges, replied: "I didn't want him to be called by the police and be implicated in the sedition case."

Last year, Yang had told the police he had "no idea" if Mr Koh was connected to TRS.

But in the last three days, he had testified that Mr Koh was one of the website's founders and handled its technical aspects.

The Real Singapore duo arrested for sedition

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, The Straits Times

DPP Kannan said he would address Yang's inconsistent remarks when he makes his submissions to the judge at the end of the trial.

Both sides, however, were in agreement on one thing yesterday, and that is the person behind the Skype account "able_tree" must have owned and maintained TRS.

The Skype user had discussed TRS matters with Mr Koh from March 2013 to January 2014, indicating that the person who used the account was not doing it on an "ad hoc" basis, said DPP Kannan.

Yang had told the court earlier that he was involved in TRS for only one to two months after it went live in June 2012, and that any other help he gave his wife subsequently was "ad hoc".

But who is behind the account has yet to be established.

The defence is arguing that only Ai Takagi, 23, who married Yang last October, used the account to discuss TRS matters. Yang had also testified that he used the account out of convenience and only for personal chats with friends.

Takagi had earlier pleaded guilty to sedition and was sentenced to 10 months' jail.

But the prosecution said it will show later in the trial that Yang was, in fact, the person behind the discussions on the Skype account. The trial, which entered its ninth day yesterday, has been adjourned to June 22.

rachelay@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
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Mr Ishak Heng, 32, was taking a nap when his sister woke him and alerted him to a fire.

Just then, he heard the second of three explosions. So he ran out of his flat with his fire extinguisher and joined a ragtag team of about six residents trying to put out the fire.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the blaze at Block 18, Eunos Crescent, at about 8.30am on Thursday and sent a fire engine, two Red Rhinos, two fire bikes and a support vehicle.

But the residents managed to put out the fire with buckets of water before the firefighters arrived.

An SCDF spokesman said the fire involved discarded items outside a unit on the seventh storey and about 10 residents evacuated themselves. No injuries were reported.

Mr Heng, a security officer, told The New Paper yesterday: "I didn't feel scared. The only thing on my mind was that I had to at least contain the fire."

Mr Heng, who had civil defence training during his national service, said he was worried the fire would spread.

The fire started outside the flat of his retiree neighbour, Mr Abdul Aziz Amat, 68, near the lift lobby.

Mr Aziz said he was sleeping when he was awoken by a commotion outside his flat. Although he was terrified, he half-filled a pail with water to help fight the fire. Among the items destroyed were Mr Aziz's bicycle and a trolley that had been in the common corridor.

He said he was grateful for his neighbours' help, adding that they were "very good" to him.

Explosions heard in Eunos Crescent flat fire

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Lianhe Wanbao, Internet screengrabs

Retiree Chng Kiok Lai, 65, who lives a few units away, said she looked out of her window when she heard a loud boom.

A second blast produced black smoke. After a third explosion, flames started spreading upwards near the lift lobby.

She said in Mandarin: "I was so afraid, my entire body went weak. Even later in the evening, I could still feel my heart beating very quickly."

Despite her fear, Madam Chng chipped in by filling up buckets of water and passing them to her husband, Mr Tan Boon Shou, 75, who carried them to Mr Heng.

Another neighbour, a 33-year-old network engineer who wanted to be known only as Mr Leong, said he called the SCDF for help.

He was told not to try to put out the fire because SCDF was worried it might have been an oil or electrical fire.

Fortunately, it was not and the neighbours' efforts paid off when they extinguished the fire in less than 10 minutes.

Mr Heng said: "I am very proud of my neighbours because you don't really see neighbours interacting like this any more. It's a bit like kampung-style spirit."

The police have classified the case as mischief by fire and investigations are ongoing.

danchim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
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LET'S be realistic. If there's a route for parents to guarantee their kids a spot in the school of their choice, that route will be gamed.

Changing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) grading system to broad bands rather than precise number scores and tweaking the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme may create a generation of incredibly proficient individuals, but it will neither reduce the amount of pressure that parents place on their young children nor guarantee that our education system produces youth that are both technically and emotionally well-rounded.

What those tweaks do not address is the bigger problem that lies at the heart of the education issue: Can a Singaporean reasonably expect success in life by pursuing his or her passion, even if that passion is not mainstream?

I will admit that when I first heard about plans to change the way in which primary school pupils will be allocated places in secondary schools, as Acting Education Minister Ng Chee Meng (Schools) announced in Parliament on Friday, I immediately began to think of how to take advantage of the new rules.

That is because I am the father of two, both of whom will be affected by the new policies. I therefore plead a fiduciary - nay, make that a downright moral - obligation to think like a psycho deranged rodent on steroids when it comes to my children's education.

On Friday, Mr Ng said that the grading of the PSLE will use letter bands similar to the O and A Levels for this year's Primary One pupils, and will no longer be based on how pupils do relative to their peers.

The Ministry of Education will also look into the DSA scheme to realign it with its original intent to recognise achievements in non-academic areas.

What Mr Ng was trying to tell us was that we should encourage our children to strive for more than just academic excellence and to focus on their own learning instead of competing with others.

But if you are a Singaporean parent, what you probably heard was: "Instead of sending your spawn to tuition classes for just academic subjects, now you must also send them for classes on sports or arts or music or whatever new criteria we want to assess, the gods have mercy on you all."

It is inevitable that most parents will try to put their children in the best position to succeed. There are certain secondary schools in Singapore that have gained a reputation, mostly deserved, for being able to deliver an excellent education for their students, and you cannot fault parents for wanting to get their children into those schools.

The Ministry of Education's solution of placing more emphasis on non-academic areas does not remove the desire and pressure to excel and get into those schools.

It merely shifts the target and form of that obsession. Sure, we might get children who can do math and play sports too, but none of them would have spent much time in the playgrounds because they are now going for enrichment classes not just for academic subjects, but for non-academic ones too.

The bigger question is why parents feel such a great need to get their children into the best schools in the first place, and the simple answer is that there is a very high perceived correlation between getting your child into a good school and the child's success later on in life.

What Singapore must do is to create and increase acceptance of a diversity of paths to a good life, so that a top school is deemed to be less of a determinant in later success. For example, while it would be unfeasible and unfair to the brightest students to make all schools uniformly equal, the government should try to reduce gaps, real or perceived, in the quality of teaching and access to resources between schools.

I should declare, partly for the benefit of the other parents in my elder child's Primary One class, that I am totally, totally not one of those crazy kiasu parents, haha, so no need to send your child to an enrichment class that could give your kid a leg up on mine, no. Please. Don't.

But I will admit that I will spend a lot of time trying to figure out ways to beat the system, not necessarily to do it, but to know what the competition will do. Sorry, Mr Ng, but whatever criteria you use to rank students, Singaporean parents will game it.

That is because we want the best for our children. The hope is that, by the time I have to fully confront the PSLE, what is best will not just be a good school.

kenlim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
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ASSESSMENTS of applications for Employment Pass will soon be expanded to take in three "company-related" factors, including the strength of the Singaporean Core in the company applying for the pass, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said on Friday.

Speaking in Parliament during the Budget debate on the expenditure plans for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), he said that the majority of companies in any given industry have a healthy Singaporean Core, but that there are "outliers" weaker than the industry norm in this area.

He said that after considering the proportion of Singaporeans hired by the company, the next question would be whether it has a firm commitment to nurture and boost the Singaporean Core for the future.

A company that doesn't fare well in the above two areas in this assessment, to be done by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (Tafep), is what Mr Lim calls a "double weak" company.

Finally, in consultation with relevant economic agencies, the Ministry of Manpower will consider how relevant the company is to Singapore's economy and society, that is, would Singapore be affected much if the company were not here.

"If the answer is 'not much', then these are what we call 'triple weak' companies," he said.

They will be put on the watchlist. Their work pass privileges could be suspended; specifically, their applications for Employment Passes or requests for renewal of these passes will be affected.

Tafep has already served notice on 100 companies, said Mr Lim.

"Curtailment of work pass privileges will have serious consequences on their continued operation and growth in Singapore," he said. "We hope they will take corrective action."

He added that the government is doing this "not because we are anti-foreigner, but because (these companies') behaviour has added to the deepening of the 'local-foreign divide' in our Singapore workforce".

And this will eventually weaken Singapore's overall competitiveness, he said.

Currently, applications for the Employment Pass are based mainly on "individual-related" criteria such as the qualifications, experience and salary of the foreign-worker candidate.

Mr Lim noted that Singapore's workforce is made up of two-thirds locals and one-third foreigners, but said both must work together as one to attract better investments and to create better jobs.

"Having foreign manpower as part of our Singapore workforce is a plus for us," he said. "This is not because Singaporeans are not good, but because we simply do not have enough in number, readiness and diversity of capability."

Strengthening the Singapore workforce is only one of the three main thrusts of the MOM's labour policies.

The other two are supporting industry transformation so that Singapore can become more manpower-lean and productive, and building a strong Singaporean core.

Mr Lim said Singapore has to go lean on manpower because both the growth in local and the foreign worforce here will drop by more than half.

"This is of great concern to MOM because if we fail to do so, manpower will become the bottleneck of (economic) growth," he said.

His ministry is putting special focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - which employ two-thirds of the workforce - to make the transformation. "The economy can't be manpower lean, productive and innovative if our SMEs are not."

In particular, it is ramping up the Lean Enterprise Development Scheme, which is a multi-agency support programme that provides grants to boost capability and capacity as well as short-term manpower flexibility.

In building a strong Singaporean Core, MOM has launched sectoral manpower plans to create jobs and develop skills of the future to support the growth of future industry.

"We help our people to upskill and reskill," Mr Lim said. "We build a strong Singaporean Core in all major sectors."

peckming@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 9, 2016.
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The saga, which has involved salvo after salvo being fired from both sides, shows no sign of respite.

Dr Lee Wei Ling took to Facebook again on Saturday afternoon to respond to a Straits Times article published the same day that claimed she had plagiarised her column.

The article was penned by the newspaper's associate editor Ivan Fernandez, who had edited Dr Lee's work since last November.

Dr Lee, who is the daughter of former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, said: "There were 5 subsequent emails with regards to this draft, never did Ivan bring up the issue of plagiarism."

In his article, Mr Fernandez had pointed out that her latest unpublished column had "several issues of serious journalist concern" with one of them being plagiarism.

He also said that it pained him "when she also alleged that those who edited her columns had been 'commanded to edit certain issues out, and they are to (sic) timid to disobey, and too embarrassed by their timidness to tell me the truth'".

Without any sign of backing down, Dr Lee further continued with this sentiment in her most recent Facebook post.

She said: "Given that my article was posted on Facebook on 1st April, and this is 9th April, I wonder whether the powers that be had instructed SPH to criticise me and accuse me of plagiarism."

She also carried on with her emphasis of wanting "to stop any attempts at hagiography at the first anniversary of my father's death."

Comments on her Facebook post have been mixed.

Some netizens such as James Lim said to let the issue go as she has already made her point.

"Dr Lee, you have made your a point that some of us are in agreement - that LKY would not want such an elaborate first anniversary commemoration. Please let this issue with SPH go. The editors have their jobs to do and you have views to share," said the comment on Dr Lee's post.

Others urged her to carry on the fight and to keep writing.

"No!!!! Please, never stop fighting! Everyone in Singapore is paying attention!",  said commentor Ng Yi-Sheng.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

Never having had a girlfriend, or one who is sexually active, and watching pornography frequently are the two strongest reasons why teenage boys turn to prostitutes, according to the first study here on teens who pay for sex.

Other reasons that some boys are more likely than others to visit prostitutes include the fact that they started having sex before the age of 16, said Associate Professor Wong Mee Lian of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, who led the study.

They could have reached puberty earlier and tend to have older friends who exposed them to behaviour that included smoking, drinking and sex with prostitutes, she said.

Another factor is that these teens have lower self-esteem.

"These boys want to feel accepted and want to boost their ego. They may not have a girlfriend to boast of, but they can pay to 'conquer' a prostitute," she added.

Her study found that educational background or the type of home the family lived in was not a factor in whether a boy was more likely to go to a prostitute.

Prof Wong and PhD student Junice Ng studied 300 heterosexual boys aged between 16 and 19 who visited the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control (DSC) Clinic between 2009 and 2014. The government clinic focuses on the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI).

The researchers noticed that more young patients at the DSC clinic said that they have had sex with a prostitute in recent years.

So, they decided to find out more.

Their research, published in the science and medical journal PLOS One in January, found that 39 per cent of the boys polled said they had sex with prostitutes - a figure that Prof Wong described as high.

According to the study, of the boys who visited prostitutes:

- The median age was 16.

- It was the first sexual experience for 38 per cent of them. 

- They had a median number of 4.5 sexual partners, including girlfriends or casual friends they slept with, by the time they were interviewed by Prof Wong's team.

- 30 per cent did not use a condom consistently, that is, each time they had sex with a prostitute.

- 42 per cent were diagnosed with an STI, but none was infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes Aids.

- Those who did not use condoms consistently were a lot more likely to be diagnosed with an STI.

Hundreds of local men fell for sex scams and lost thousands

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Internet screengrabs, Lianhe Wanbao, Stomp

Prof Wong said the teens' multiple partners and inconsistent condom use are a concern. They could be infected with an STI and pass it on to their girlfriends or others they have sex with.

Doctors and social workers said peer influence and pressure, plus curiosity about sex or a desire to be seen as sexually experienced, are also reasons why the teens turn to paid sex. Prof Wong said: "The boys say their friends dare or urge them to go to a sex worker to initiate them into manhood."

Those interviewed said national service is one stage in life where many young men get introduced to paid sex by their more sexually experienced mates. Take, for example, full-time national serviceman Raymond (not his real name), who had his first sexual encounter with a prostitute last year when he was 18.

"My army mates talk openly about their sexual experiences and visiting prostitutes. And if you have nothing to share, they tease you," the 19-year-old said. "I was a bit embarrassed (about being a virgin) and I wanted to fit in." His army mates took him to Geylang and his sex jaunts continued until he was diagnosed with gonorrhoea recently.

Doctors and social workers interviewed are concerned by the high proportion of teens who went to prostitutes. They believe this is because of the proliferation of online sex sites and forums.

Besides Singapore, some boys also visited prostitutes in neighbouring Johor Baru, Batam and Bangkok, the study found.

Adrian (not his real name), a 21-year-old, has had sex with prostitutes while holidaying in Bangkok. His friends took him to a Geylang brothel and paid for his first sexual encounter when he was 14 or 15.

He has friends who go to Johor Baru regularly to "have fun, as everything from food to prostitutes" is cheaper there.

Adrian, who is waiting to enter polytechnic and says he has stopped visiting prostitutes, added: "The holidays are to chill and to drink, not specifically to have sex. But when it's all boys going on holiday, sex somehow becomes part of the package."

This article was first published on April 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Eighty-five-year-old Mr Wee Yok Tai has lived in the same one-room flat in King George's Avenue for 30 years and is terrified that he will die alone in it.

The retired cleaner has no family and lives by himself in the spartan rental unit. He counts among his possessions a worn mattress, an empty fridge and two CCTV cameras on the ceiling.

They were installed about a year ago by undertaker Roland Tay, who came up with the unusual idea when Mr Wee asked him for help.

Mr Tay paid $1,000 for the equipment and monitors live footage from it at least three times a day using his mobile phone to check that Mr Wee is all right. Should anything happen, he will head over to help.

"I am alone, and there is no one to take care of me," Mr Wee said in Hokkien. "Two of my neighbours died and people found out only because of the smell. I don't want the same thing to happen to me."

Mr Tay, known for arranging free funerals for murder victims and the needy, suggested setting up a CCTV network, with one camera monitoring the bed and the other the outside of the toilet.

"I could visit him every two or three days instead, but if something happened, it would be too late already," said Mr Tay, who still makes it a point to visit Mr Wee every few weeks.

Privacy concerns are the least of the octogenarian's worries.

"I see (Mr Tay) as a friend. I'm in my old age already, and when I die, I want someone to know," said Mr Wee, who got to know Mr Tay through friends.

Mr Wee has severe arthritis and cannot walk without using a cane. The pain means he spends much of his day seated on a plastic stool in the middle of the room.

"Every day, I sit here and then I sleep, I just don't want to fall down," said Mr Wee, who fears that such an accident could kill him. The bachelor's fear highlights a very real concern elderly residents living alone here face, a problem that social workers say will only get worse as society ages.

According to the General Household Survey released last month, the proportion of households comprising only residents aged 65 or older stood at 82,600, or 6.7 per cent of all households. About half of this number, or 41,200, is made up of residents who live alone.The Government estimates that by 2030, this number will hit 83,000.

Health concerns aside, social workers say dying with dignity is one of the foremost concerns on the minds of these elderly folk.

"Who is going to take care of their funeral matters when they are gone? This is one of their main concerns," said Mr Desmond Chee, centre manager of eldercare centre Xin Yuan Community Care, a Toa Payoh-based centre which arranges funerals for elderly residents.

Mr Chee points out that although he tells his social workers and children of elderly parents to keep tabs on their charges, the reality is they cannot be there all the time. "Let's say you have a son who visits his father every Sunday. If something happens to the father on Monday, by the time the son finds out, six days would have passed," said Mr Chee.

He encourages children who have elderly parents who live alone to install either CCTV cameras or some form of elderly monitoring system in their homes.

Some voluntary welfare organisations, such as the Lions Befrienders, have done just that. Since 2010, it has installed elderly monitoring systems in 500 homes.

Lions Befrienders executive director Chey Chor Khoon said the system combines an alarm that seniors can activate and motion sensors that detect changes in usual movement or rest patterns. An SMS alert is automatically sent to a relative or volunteer befriender when there is a change in the normal patterns.

"We have encountered incidents of seniors who press the emergency button when they fall and cannot get up," said Dr Chey.

Security companies say they have noticed more inquiries from people who want CCTV systems set up to monitor their aged parents.

Mr Marcus Tan, managing director of security company Eurekaplus, said that over the last two to three years, he has received between five and 10 inquiries a month.

About 30 per cent go on to eventually install these systems, which can cost upwards of $600.

They do this for peace of mind, said Mr Tan.

"Ultimately, what price is your parents' well-being worth?"

Mr Tay has agreed to handle Mr Wee's future funeral for free.

Asked if he would go on to help other elderly folk, he said: "As long as people come to me, I will see what I can do to help."

dansonc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

A campaign to help a baby born without part of her oesophagus to get specialist surgery in the United States has raised $1.2 million.

Another to get money for surgery for a maid's young son afflicted by bone cancer has pulled in nearly $63,000.

Less than two weeks ago, a 46- year-old woman with a four-year- old son asked for help to support them financially as she battles ovarian cancer. Since then, she has raised nearly US$40,000 (S$ 54,000).

A campaign to raise money for the families of two SMRT trainees who died after being struck by a train last month has amassed $46,975.

The act of appealing to the kindness of strangers online has been catching on in Singapore, as more turn to sites such as Giveasia and Indiegogo - two of the more popular sites - to raise money for anything from medical treatment, education and even to fix a home razed by fire.

Giveasia, set up by National University of Singapore students in January 2010, has helped 50,000 people here and in Asia raise more than $9.25 million since going online.

Indiegogo has facilitated US$240 million in donations for social campaigns globally. Its social fund-raising arm, Generosity, which was set up last October, now hosts nearly 100 campaigns from Singapore.

Charities too have hopped on such platforms, which offer an easy way to extend their presence online.

"In 2010, we had 25 local charities. Now we have over 250," said Give- asia co-founder Aseem Thakur, 29.

TTSH Community Fund, the charity arm of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, uses it as an extra platform to reach out to donors for funds to help needy patients with their bills.

TTSH Community Fund executive Deborah Wong said it decided to get on board the Giveasia platform as it offers donors an easy way to give - by using their credit cards - and also draws more eyeballs to its cause.

Last December, the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre launched Giving.sg, a one-stop crowdsourcing platform for local charities to appeal for funds. It currently hosts more than 380 causes.

Those who go to these crowdsourcing platforms to raise money instead of going to a charity say crowdfunding brings in more funds.

There is also less red tape. Anyone above the age of 13 - with supervision requirements in Indiegogo's case - can create a campaign.

But the websites can shut down campaigns that violate guidelines, such as those involving illegal activities.

Giveasia charges a 2 per cent bank fee to process credit or debit card transactions. Generosity charges 3 per cent and 30 US cents on each donation to manage the fund transfer.

For 38-year-old corporate lawyer Isabelle Claisse, who launched a Generosity campaign to help her maid's 11-year-old son, who had bone cancer and needed surgery, this meant an easier time collecting funds.

"I didn't have to get people to send cheques or cash," said the Briton.

Instead, the platform transferred the money to her personal bank account. "I then transfer that money to the hospital," said Ms Claisse, who has been posting updates on how the money has been used.

Such accountability is critical for a successful campaign, and also helps the public feel more connected to the campaign.

Charity rules here require fund- raisers to keep a record of what has been received and how it is disbursed. And the Office of the Commissioner of Charities advises donors to be cautious and give to individuals or organisations they know.

A spokesman for Generosity told The Sunday Times what makes a successful campaign. "It's important to start with a personal story, tell the world who you are so they can feel connected. Explain why you care about what you're doing. Focus on the resources you need, and what your impact will be.

"Transparency will build trust with your contributors."

kxinghui@sph.com.sg

samboh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Almost two months ago, 10-year- old Dave Caba was wheeled into a hospital in Cebu, Philippines, for an operation to remove a potentially fatal tumour in his left leg.

His mother, Ms Mariza Canete, a Filipino maid who works in Singapore, said that when he awoke he exclaimed: "Yes! This is finally over."

Although the nine-hour operation removed the tumour and replaced part of the bone with a metal implant, Dave is not entirely free of bone cancer.He has one more chemotherapy session to go, and months of physiotherapy ahead to help him walk again.

Just last Friday, his blood platelets fell dangerously low and he had to have a transfusion - his third since his previous chemotherapy session early last month.

But even to reach this point is a "blessing", his mother said. "He is now much more cheerful, no longer moody," said the 30-year-old, who has three children.

Dave, who turned 11 last month, even asked for the bone the doctors removed during the surgery. "He wanted to smash it with his hand because it had been causing him so much pain," she said.

Her husband cares for him round the clock after quitting his painting job in Saudi Arabia.

Ms Canete said she is indebted to those who made Dave's surgery and treatment possible. Over four months, nearly $63,000 was raised through two campaigns on American crowdfunding site Indiegogo's charity platform Generosity.

It was started by Ms Canete's employer, Ms Isabelle Claisse, and her friend, Mr Adam Reynolds.

The two women also raised over $30,000 by shaving their heads.

Speaking of her gratitude to donors, an emotional Ms Canete told The Sunday Times: "I do not know most of the people who have donated, but this is proof that there are a lot of good people in this world. I am so thankful and so blessed."

Ms Claisse, 38, said the surgery cost over $16,000 and the implant around $38,000. It will be lengthened using electromagnets as Dave grows, so he will not need any more surgery. The money left will pay for the rest of his treatment.

Ms Claisse said she was "blown away" by the amount raised and the number of donors, especially those who remained anonymous.

"There were people donating four-figure sums in US dollars. It gave me a lot of hope for human nature and made me feel warm."

samboh@sph.com.sg

More foreign brides are seeking help after being left to fend for themselves due to absent or abusive Singaporean husbands.

This follows the surge in the increase in the number of local men marrying women from various parts of Asia in the last decade.

These women find themselves in a quandary, especially those with children, when their spouses abandon them, turn violent, land in jail or fall ill and die.

The Catholic-run Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI) received 240 calls for help from foreign wives, and handled 46 cases involving them last year, compared to 210 calls and 30 cases in 2011.

The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) got 55 similar calls for help last year, a fivefold increase from just 10 in 2011.

Fei Yue Family Service Centre has also seen an increase of 20 to 30 per cent in the number of such cases compared with five years ago, according to its principal social worker, Ms Joanne Tan. She said: "The rise in transnational marriages here means that more such marriages may be on the rocks."

Latest figures show that 5,126 citizen grooms married non-resident brides in 2014, nearly a 30 per cent jump from the 3,988 in 2002. Such unions accounted for about one in five marriages in 2014.

Over the last decade, more than 50,000 Singaporeans married foreign women who are not citizens or permanent residents.

Social workers say these women tend to be more vulnerable when their husbands leave because of a change of heart, jail or death, as they do not have residence status in Singapore or any family members here to rely on. Some also endure spousal abuse as they depend on the support of their husbands when it comes to renewing their visit passes so they can stay in Singapore.

Those on a long-term visit pass plus can stay here for three years and up to five years for each subsequent renewal. Long-term visit pass holders can typically stay up to a year.

Said Ms Vivienne Wee, Aware's research and advocacy director: "Renewals are not guaranteed and there is no clear timeline or criteria for obtaining a more stable basis of residence."

Said Ms Tan: "When they come to us, most of them already show some form of depressive symptoms."

Finding a job to support themselves and their children is tough.

Those on social visit passes cannot be employed here. Those on long-term visit pass can work but employers need to get permission from the Ministry of Manpower first. And even if they do get jobs, these are usually daily rated or low paying, as these women typically lack qualifications, said Mrs Cindy Ng, an assistant director at Methodist Welfare Services.

Some women also do not turn to their husbands' extended family since ties often sour when the marriage breaks down. Some may be kicked out of their homes and are faced with another predicament - they are not eligible to rent or buy a public flat.

Chinese national Ning Lei, a 35-year-old who gave birth to triplets last year after her Singaporean husband walked out on the marriage, had to stay at a church friend's home, for instance.

The three girls, who were stateless previously, were granted citizenship last month.

S'pore-born woman who has lived all her life here can't get citizenship

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

Singaporean children from foreign spouses can benefit from government subsidies in aspects such as childcare, education and medical care, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

In 2014, 16.9 per cent of all babies, or 7,146 newborns, had a Singaporean father and a non-citizen mother, up from 15.6 in 2000. Malaysian mums top the list of foreign women who had babies with Singaporean men. There were 2,185 newborns from such unions in 2014.

Social workers say foreign wives who have Singaporean children and go to them for help can be referred to the Social Service Offices (SSOs) for Comcare financial aid.

"In addition to SSOs providing financial assistance to the family, we will also partner social workers from Family Service Centres and other community organisations to provide assistance should the foreign parent face other issues such as employment and caregiving," said the MSF spokesman.

Said Mrs Ng: "If they have Singaporean children, there are schemes to help them but the issue is that some of them are not aware of their rights or do not know where to turn to."

Ms Tan recalled a case where an Indonesian wife got help to treat her depression only after the school noticed that her child had behavioural issues and referred the family to the authorities. The Singaporean father left the family last year.

Aware does provide information on their rights and the divorce process here. But social workers have called for more to be done, with some suggesting that non-profit groups or government agencies should reach out to every foreign bride. Ms Esther Chia, ACMI's executive director, suggested getting transnational couples to sign legally binding pre-nuptial contracts that outline the terms each party has to comply with should the marriages break down. Said Ms Chia: "Now, the playing field is not level."

• Additional reporting by Aw Cheng Wei

This article was first published on April 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

When her Singaporean husband was jailed for drug offences three years ago, Madam Siti became head of the household and sole carer of their two sons.

"It's not easy," said the 36-year- old Indonesian. "Every day, I am busy cooking, cleaning and taking my children to school."

Without her husband's $1,700 monthly income from his job as a driver, the family has to rely on about $900 a month, given by the Community Development Council, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and her mother-in-law.

Her sons, aged three and five, attend pre-school at different times, and she shuttles them around in the day and prepares their meals. The rent for their one-room unit in Jurong is $50 a month after subsidies, and as long as their utilities bill is under $60, they do not have to pay it.

"I am most scared about my children falling sick," said Madam Siti. Last month, her older son caught a cold and she could not afford $60 to take him to a private clinic. They waited for three hours at a polyclinic. Groceries, transport and phone charges add up to about $780.

She said her husband's incarceration has made her more independent. "He didn't allow me to go out without him," said Madam Siti.

"Without him, I learnt to take the bus and train to different places."

She is sometimes afraid to venture out as "my English is no good". "I want to work so I can stand (on my own)," she said. "I am scared my husband will go to jail again."

Her husband is due to be released in 2018. Madam Siti is currently on a long-term visit pass that needs to be renewed every year. She is eligible to work here, provided an employer applies for a letter of consent from the Manpower Ministry.

She has lost count of the number of part-time jobs she has applied for - from cleaning to waitressing. But no employer has contacted her.

"I don't try any more," she said.

She married her husband five years ago and she suspects he may have been incarcerated previously. They met through a mutual friend in Batam in 2009.

Madam Siti's "dream" is to work as a masseuse for women who have just given birth.

This article was first published on April 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

A serious accident involving two taxis, a saloon car and a police car took place at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road an Eunos Link at about 4.20am on Sunday (April 10) morning.

In total, seven people were injured in the accident.

In response to media queries, the Police confirmed that an operation was conducted along Still Road South on Sunday morning.

"A 27-year-old male driver refused to comply with the officer’s instruction at the road block and sped off. In the ensuing pursuit, an accident involving the male driver's car, one police vehicle and two taxis occurred at the junction of Eunos Link and Bedok Reservoir Road at about 4.14am," a police spokesperson explained, adding that the actions of the errant driver had endangered the lives of police officers and other road users.

Following the accident, the male driver put up a violent struggle and assaulted a Traffic Police officer in an attempt to evade arrest. The driver and his passenger were subsequently arrested for traffic and drug-related offences. Police investigations are ongoing. 

A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman said a fire engine, a red rhino, two support vehicles and four ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

A man who was stuck inside the saloon car was rescued by the SCDF within 15 minutes using hydraulic rescue equipment.

According to the Police, the male driver and his passenger, three Traffic Police officers, and a taxi driver and his passenger were injured in the incident.

Two of those injured were conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, while five others were sent to Changi General Hospital, SCDF said.

Dramatic car chase at Eunos ends with accident involving police car

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Stomp, Shin Min Daily News, Singapore Police Force

Stomp contributers Mick and Terry, who sent in photos of the accident to the citizen journalism website, both said there had been a "high-speed chase by the police".

Mick told Stomp: "In less than two minutes, more policemen and paramedics arrived at the scene and later, a man was seen being taken away by the police."

Terry added: "One police car, the white saloon and other taxis were caught in the carnage along Eunos Link."

Social media users also posted videos of the incident this morning.

Twitter user @flutteryfeeling posted an aerial view of the aftermath of the accident.

Another Facebook user posted a video of the accident and said that a Traffic Police car was "inside the bush".

In their statement, the Police reminded members of public to cooperate when approached by officers.

"Any evasion of a road block can cause potentially serious harm to other road users and also to our police officers. The police also take a serious view of members of public who abuse public servant," the spokesperson said.

The police also stressed that perpetrators who assault public servants or public service workers can be expected to be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

Any person convicted of voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant may be jailed for up to seven years, fined, caned, or face any combination of those punishments.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - A family feud between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Dr Lee Wei Ling has been thrown in the public spotlight after a series of Facebook posts by the latter.

In two posts published on her Facebook account on Sunday (April 10) at around 1pm, Dr Lee alleged that "HL has no qualms abusing his power to hv a commemoration just one year after LKY died". It is understood that HL refers to her elder brother, PM Lee.

She also described PM Lee as a "dishonourable son".

"I and HL (sic) are at odds on a matter of principle. HL has no qualms abusing his power to hv a commemoration just one year after LKY died, 'least we forget'," Dr Lee, 61, wrote.

"Let's be real, last year's event was so vivid, no one will forget it in one yr. But if the power that be wants to establish a dynasty, LKY's daughter will not allow LKY's name to be sullied by a dishonorable (sic) son. "

OTHER RELATED STORIES:

- Dr Lee says she didn't intentionally plagiarise

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- ST and ex-editor refute Dr Lee Wei Ling's allegations

These claims on Dr Lee's Facebook page, which has since been deleted, also detailed email exchanges between Dr Lee and The Straits Times associate editor Ivan Fernandez, regarding an article she was contributing for the national daily.

Nearly 5 hours later at around 5.30pm, PM Lee responded to his sister's claim.

Lee Kuan Yew through the years

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

,

Here is PM Lee's Facebook post in full:

"I am deeply saddened by my sister Dr Lee Wei Ling's claim that I have abused my power to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's passing in order to establish a dynasty. The accusations are completely untrue.

The first anniversary of a person's passing is a significant moment to remember him and reflect on what he meant to us. The more so with Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The Cabinet had discussed how we should mark the occasion. My advice was that we should leave it to ground-up efforts. Groups should keep their observances in proportion, and focussed on the future.

The Cabinet recognised the strong desire of many Singaporeans to show their respect for Mr Lee, and honour what he did for us. We reviewed the events and observances that different groups had planned, and agreed that they were generally appropriate. They expressed the sincerely felt sentiments of Singaporeans, which my Cabinet colleagues and I deeply appreciate.

The idea that I should wish to establish a dynasty makes even less sense. Meritocracy is a fundamental value of our society, and neither I, the PAP, nor the Singapore public would tolerate any such attempt."

At the centre of the dispute is Dr Lee's displeasure with the series of activities commemorating Mr Lee Kuan Yew's death anniversary, which falls on March 23.

A contributing article voicing her sentiments was penned for the Straits Times. Dr Lee later decided to retract her contribution to The Straits Times and post the article on Facebook instead.

It led to an exchange with the newspaper's associate editor Ivan Fernandez, who had edited Dr Lee's work since last November. Mr Fernandez pointed out that there was plagiarism in Dr Lee's article.

Dr Lee insisted that she did not attempt to plagiarise.

"I simply forgot to acknowledge the source," she wrote.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

Series of events held as tribute to Lee Kuan Yew

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, AsiaOne

There was more upheaval at Singapore Post on Friday night as it announced that independent director Keith Tay will leave the board. This came a week after chairman Lim Ho Kee said he will step down and just a day after his intended replacement, Professor Low Teck Seng, said he had decided not to take the chairman's role after all.

Mr Tay has stepped down as chairman of the nominations committee with immediate effect and will not seek re-appointment at the annual general meeting (AGM) in July, SingPost said on Friday.

The move is to "facilitate a rigorous exercise to renew the board and build bench strength". Mr Zulkifli Baharudin takes over as chairman of the nominations committee.

"These changes pave the way for board renewal as SingPost embarks on its next leg of transformation and growth," said the company.

SingPost revealed last December that it had failed to properly disclose Mr Tay's interest in a 2014 acquisition. He is a shareholder and office holder at corporate finance adviser Stirling Coleman, which acted for the sellers in at least three SingPost acquisitions.

This has sparked concerns about the quality of corporate governance at the mainboard-listed company.

It recently appointed leadership firm Heidrick & Struggles as an independent consultant to undertake a corporate governance review.

PwC and Drew & Napier have also been appointed to carry out a special audit to look into the matter.

Mr Lim said on April 1 that he wanted to step down as chairman on May 10, when SingPost's full-year results are due to be announced. He will leave the board on July 14, the planned date of the AGM.

Prof Low was named Mr Lim's successor on April 1, but he declined the post on Thursday. He said in a statement that he opted not to take up the role after reflecting on his "principal commitment" to the National Research Foundation as its chief executive.

National University of Singapore Associate Professor Mak Yuen Teen, a corporate governance specialist who has been a vocal critic of SingPost's corporate governance, was earlier quoted as saying that he hoped Mr Tay would also step down.

Prof Mak on Friday welcomed Mr Tay's move, saying: "It solves part of the issue by allowing renewal and bringing on board other directors with relevant skills and experience. However, there is still the issue of accountability for what had transpired... I am still very interested in the outcome of the corporate governance review, and particularly the special audit."

By voluntarily stepping down, Mr Lim and Mr Tay will avoid the possible scenario of some shareholders proposing their removal at the upcoming AGM, Prof Mak added.

SingPost shares closed 1.5 cents up at $1.585 on Friday before the announcement was made.

This article was first published on April 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - A 12-year-old has been reported missing. Zhang Jun Ning Glenda was last seen at the vicinity of Serangoon MRT station on April 8, the police said in a statement Sunday (April 10).

She was last seen carrying a pink haversack.

Anyone with information is requested to call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/CrimeStopper. All information will be kept strictly confidential.