Brunei's Attorney-General's Chambers has engaged Senior Counsel Hri Kumar Nair from Singapore to help with a complex corruption case that involves a Malaysian mastermind, officials from Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and more than B$5 million (S$5 million) overall.

Mr Nair led a team from Drew & Napier, including Mr Navin S. Thevar and Mr Edwin Soh, in the case against Sabeli Ismail, 56, a senior official with BSP who had worked for the company for more than 34 years.

The law firm's chief executive, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, had acted on behalf of Brunei's Attorney-General in August in a related trial.

The case was "part and parcel" of continuing efforts to weed out corrupt elements and practices in BSP, noted the presiding judge.

Last October, Sabeli pleaded guilty to six graft charges, with an additional five taken into consideration, all of which occurred in 2008.

He had created work orders for the purchase of various items from Musfada Enterprise for which he received B$30,250 (S$30,250) in total and caused B$51,200 loss to BSP.

Five charges, related to him pocketing another B$21,500, were taken into account.

He was convicted and jailed for four years concurrently on each charge last month, fined B$30,250 and ordered to pay B$50,000 in costs.

In judgment grounds last month, Brunei's chief magistrate Muhammed Faisal Pehin Dato Kefli underlined "the importance of the oil and gas industry to Brunei's economy and the status of BSP as a public body within that industry".

BSP accounted for more than half of Brunei's gross domestic product and 90 per cent of its total export earnings, a court had heard in an earlier related case.

Sabeli is the second of eight suspects to be convicted in the complex large-scale graft case being probed by the authorities in Brunei since 2009.

Mr Singh had, last August, prosecuted former BSP employee Aidah Tengah, 44.

She was jailed for three years on appeal for corruptly receiving bribes totalling B$200,200 from David Chong, the manager of Musfada Enterprise, a key BSP contractor.

Musfada supplied items such as oil spill kits, box pallets and safety equipment.

Chong, a Malaysian who orchestrated the bribes paid between 2007 and 2009, was sentenced to six years' jail in 2013 for his role.

Legal practitioners said the engagement of lawyers from a top Singapore law firm suggested the premium placed on the case by the Brunei government.

Said Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore president Sunil Sudheesan: "We should be honoured that Brunei has chosen one of Singapore's leading private-sector lawyers to prosecute an important case there.

"It is no surprise as Brunei had engaged Mr Singh before and Mr Nair is one of his most esteemed colleagues."

vijayan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 03, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Whoever said you can't teach an old dog new tricks has never met 10-year-old Butter.

In the past six months, the mixed breed canine has learnt to raise the alarm whenever Ms Stella Chew's blood sugar levels fall to a critical low - even if its owner does not notice it herself.

Ms Chew, 37, began researching online and training Butter as a diabetic alert dog when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last June.

Now, the financial technology consultant is helping to train the dogs of other diabetics free of charge, so as to help them better cope with the chronic illness.

Many people with diabetes - especially Type 1 diabetics, whose bodies are unable to produce insulin - are prone to hypoglycaemia, when blood sugar levels become too low.

"You start to tremble or become incoherent, and your body tends to go into panic mode," Ms Chew said.

"One time, it happened when I was sleeping and I was struggling to get up and broke out in a cold sweat."

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Photo Gallery

Dog has a nose for helping diabetic owner

Source:

The Straits Times

But now, Butter, trained to pick up the smell of someone having low blood sugar levels, acts as an early warning system, alerting Ms Chew with a lick or nudge before the symptoms start.

The dog has even nudged her awake at night when she was fast asleep and had no idea her blood sugar levels were low.

While diabetic alert dogs are not uncommon overseas, especially in the United States, they are almost unheard of in Singapore.

They also tend to be expensive, costing several thousand dollars.

Rather than buying a dog, Ms Chew trains people's dogs or works with them to pick a suitable dog from a shelter.

Such a canine must be intelligent, have a "natural confidence and sense of responsibility" and, of course, a sharp nose.

She learnt to train Butter with help from people on online forums.

She would freeze saliva samples when she is in a hypoglycaemic state and later thaw them for Butter to sniff and get acquainted with the smell.

Ms Chew is now working with four people, and hopes they will pass on the knowledge when their dogs have mastered the skill.

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Tips on living well with diabetes

Source:

Various sources

One of them is Irish national Caitriona Evans, who heard about what Ms Chew was doing through KK Women's and Children's Hospital, where her 13-year-old daughter, Caoimhe, was going for treatment.

She and Ms Chew visited a local shelter, and she adopted a dog which had been abused.

The dog has since "progressed tremendously" and is starting scent training to pick up the smell of someone having a hypoglycaemic episode, Mrs Evans said.

She said of her daughter: "With the dog, she'll be able to live alone - and if it doesn't work out, the dog will still be part of the family."

There is no accurate way to predict when someone might have a hypoglycaemic episode, said Dr Ben Ng, an endocrinologist at Arden Endocrinology Specialist Clinic.

Instead, many people rely on warning signs such as sudden drowsiness or trembling hands.

They also plan ahead - packing sweet food with them if they are going to exercise, for example, which can cause blood sugar levels to drop and trigger an episode.

But people may not react in time, said Dr Ng.

"Hypoglycaemia can come on very suddenly and be dangerous, so any effort to reduce the number of episodes a person might have is a good idea," he added.

linettel@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on January 3, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Six years ago, Damien Foong was born at the stroke of midnight at Mount Alvernia Hospital while revellers all over Singapore rang in the new year with fireworks, making him one of the first four babies born in 2011.

Today will be another first for Damien - he will be starting Primary 1 at Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School in Bishan.

Yesterday, his father, IT manager Donovan Foong, 46, prepared Damien for his first day at school by taking him for a haircut, buying school supplies and packing his bag.

Mr Foong said he is confident that Damien can adapt to school fast.

"Psychologically, I think he is ready. He is an outgoing boy and tends to make many friends."

Read Also: Dramatic birth for first Singapore baby of 2017

Still, he is slightly worried that Damien, who turned six on Sunday, might face problems when it comes to academics since he is the youngest among his peers.

Under the Compulsory Education Act, children born between Jan 2, 2010, and Jan 1, 2011, both dates inclusive, have to enter Primary 1 this year.

In contrast, Damien is not worried.

"I am excited about school and want to make new friends."

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday posted an Instagram message for students who are starting school: "For those starting in a new school, be yourself, get to know your classmates and teachers, and enjoy your new adventure.

"For those returning to school, I wish you an inspiring year of discovery and learning."

This article was first published on January 3, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

We refer to the report on live-in caregivers ("Elderly sick turn to foreign, live-in caregivers"; Dec 27, 2016).

We recognise the work done by foreign caregivers in caring for patients in their own homes, which supports ageing in place.

However, we would like to clarify that these nurses are not registered with the Singapore Nursing Board and are not on our register of qualified nurses in Singapore.

Families requiring nursing procedures for seniors at home can get in touch with the Agency for Integrated Care's Singapore Silver Line on 1800-650-6060 to be referred to an appropriate home nursing provider.

Families can also check with the provider on whether their nurses are registered with the Singapore Nursing Board.

Tan Soh Chin (Ms),

Registrar

Singapore Nursing Board

This article was first published on Jan 03, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The issue of seat-hogging has become a perennial bugbear whenever exam season rolls around.

From airport lounges to cafes and even hospitals, the sight of students crowding into public areas to study for hours at a go has drawn the ire of some members of the public, with numerous complaints filed about the issue over the years.

Now, some entrepreneurs are offering alternatives: pay-per-use study areas that function much like co-working spaces.

For a flat fee, students can secure a desk space to study for hours at a stretch, and have access to Wi-Fi and power points, and even beverages and snacks.

Most of the "co-study areas" that offer such services charge an average of $1 an hour, with cheaper rates if one books a seat for longer stretches of time.

Last July, entrepreneur Tan En Wei, 23, started a study area called Desk Next Door, which can accommodate up to 18 people, in a Housing Board shophouse in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.

The idea for the service came from his own experiences when he was a polytechnic student.

"I couldn't study at home when I was a student, but when I went out to study, it was hard to get a space in fast-food restaurants or libraries, and you might get chased out during peak hours," said Mr Tan.

Response to Desk Next Door, which is also open to working adults, has been good, with about 30 to 40 students using the space every week during the peak period of September to November.

A spokesman for The Study Area, which started in July 2015 and now operates two study spaces in Tai Seng and Kovan, said it expects to be "expanding quite aggressively" in the next few years, with plans to open one to three units this year.

Each of its study areas can accommodate 30 students, and it is open 24 hours a day, with rates of $12 for a 12-hour slot, or $18 for a full-day slot. It is also open to adults and freelancers.

The spokesman said that, during peak season last year, almost all of of its 60 12-hour slots at its two centres were taken up.

He said The Study Area also hopes to provide opportunities for networking between adults and students, shaping it into a community space similar to co-working spaces.

The idea for such set-ups came from reports about the need for study space, said the spokesman.

Other organisations such as Sky High Educators, an education services start-up, rented space from a co-working space run by a marketing firm at International Plaza.

As part of a pilot programme funded by self-help group Yayasan Mendaki, it provided a study space for 15 undergraduates over five days in November at a rate of $5 for five hours.

Sky High's owner, Mr Faris Abdul Malik, 24, a Nanyang Technological University student, said it hopes to expand the self-study programme this year.

Mr Harith Sulaiman, 25, who is doing a mechanical engineering degree at PSB Academy, said he started going to The Study Area last August. "I used to study at cafes like Starbucks and would always end up paying for a drink or two, so I might as well use study spaces like this. It's cheaper and not noisy at all," he said.\

Read also: Students treat study areas as personal space

Wherever it is, place must be conducive to studying

This article was first published on Jan 03, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

In the light of the gloomy economic outlook, voluntary welfare organisations (VWO) in Singapore must come up with "innovative ways" to attract donors, said Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (THK) chairman Lee Kim Siang.

At Junction 8 in Bishan yesterday, THK launched a roadshow highlighting its services, with an example of such innovation - the introduction of two claw machines that offer users a chance to win stuffed toys at $2 a try.

The money raised will go towards services such as THK's free meal centres and free clinics, which do not receive government funding.

Mr Lee said the roadshow and the machines were a "minor expenditure" to attract people to find out more about THK's services and programmes. An anonymous donor sponsored about $10,000 to buy 10 claw machines.

VWOs, Mr Lee said, must raise awareness of what they are doing to help the needy, adding that THK had not yet been affected by the sluggish economy.

"We are OK. In good times and bad times, people help us," he said. He added that, during this time, the public may be more likely to help bigger VWOs which they are more familiar with.

Mr Saktiandi Supaat, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, agreed that VWOs could do more to raise funds, given the economic slowdown. He said: "Creative methods of fund raising could be one way."

Other charities are also looking at innovative ways of reaching out.

During the Christmas season, private-hire car service Uber roped in drivers to collect toys and books to donate to the Singapore Red Cross, while HCA Hospice Care aims to hold a golf tournament this year.

THK's roadshow and claw machines will be at Junction 8 until Sunday. From Jan 16, they will be at AMK Hub in Ang Mo Kio, as well as Northpoint in Yishun, for between one and three months.

In the future, THK hopes to place the machines at other malls, as well as places such as community centres and swimming complexes.

Mr Prakash Gedam, whose two children tried out the claw machines at Junction 8, said it was a good way to raise funds. Said the 41-year-old, who works in a bank: "The kids can enjoy themselves while the parents give to charity."

azhaki@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 03, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Last month, news of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Charles Chong undergoing a liver transplant took many people by surprise.

Three years ago, the MP for Punggol East, 63, was diagnosed with a severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - steatohepatitis - but did not make it public.

While NAFLD is an unfamiliar term to most people, a recently released study by SingHealth doctors found that its incidence is rising in Singapore, and could well be affecting half of the adults here.

This could put more people at risk of liver failure or cancer, the main causes of which are hepatitis or heavy alcohol use.

But the damage caused by NAFLD is similar.

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US man donates liver to a stranger and marries her a year later

Source:

/ Facebook

Professor Pierce Chow, the lead doctor in the study, said it suggested that the rate here could be higher than the Asian average of about 30 per cent of adults.

While the causes of the disease are not clear, people with NAFLD tend to have hypertension and high cholesterol levels - the same risks for heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

The study looked at Singapore General Hospital patients who had surgery to remove their gall bladder, a pear-shaped organ that sits next to the liver, for the periods 2001 to 2004 and 2011 to 2014.

From the pre-operative scans of the earlier group of 127 patients, 40 per cent had NAFLD. Ten years later, 57 per cent of the 99 patients had it.

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Photo Gallery

First in Singapore to donate liver to stranger

Source: The New Paper, The Straits Times

More patients in the latter group also had high levels of cholesterol - 46 per cent versus 19 per cent.

Almost half of the patients in both groups had high blood pressure.

The study, published online on Dec 20 prior to a print version by the Singapore Medical Journal, said it was "a significant increase" and that intervention is needed to prevent NAFLD's progression to more advanced liver disease such as liver cirrhosis (hardening) and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).

Prof Chow said fatty liver disease is a growing concern in many developed countries that face increasing obesity.

In the United States, NAFLD is the third most common cause of liver cancer after hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease.

Because it has no symptoms, NAFLD is rarely discovered until much damage has been done.

Researchers also found that the more obese the person, the higher the risk of having a fatty liver. Indians also appear to be at higher risk.

According to the National University Hospital, which carries out the bulk of liver transplants here, "common causes of liver failure include hepatitis B, cirrhosis, cancer and autoimmune disease".

There are about 60 people waiting for a liver transplant, about five times the number 10 years ago.

Last year, 38 people had such transplants.

salma@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on January 3, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Anyone who has used Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation in mobile apps or vehicles may have noticed that the location data can be inaccurate and "jumpy".

Given this, how do driverless or autonomous vehicles - which require great accuracy - manage to navigate safely? In Singapore, the answer lies partly with a local network of reference stations.

The Singapore Satellite Positioning Reference Network (Sirent) uses eight powerful antennae across the country to correct satellite data for real-time precision of up to 3cm accuracy (see graphic).

It is currently used by "auto riders" - self-driving shuttle buses - at Gardens by the Bay, and autonomous vehicle trials in one-north.

The Singapore Land Authority's (SLA) Sirent was set up in 2006, but updated in 2015 to use global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data from several countries' satellites, not just the United States' GPS data.

With more potential satellites, users are more likely to get the required clear line of sight to satellites from any particular point.

Sirent's system processes and corrects satellite data to give a constantly updated, accurate position, which is used mainly for surveying and mapping. The Singapore Turf Club even uses it to ensure accurate lane markings on race tracks.

But with its real-time updates and precision, Sirent could also help Singapore's smart-city push in areas such as autonomous vehicles, said SLA deputy director of land survey, Dr Victor Khoo.

"When you want to automate something, you first need to know its position," he said.

Regular GPS technology, as seen in mobile phones, is inadequate for autonomous vehicles as its accuracy is within a few metres, he added.

Instead, Sirent's GNSS capabilities are used alongside technologies such as sensors and lasers so that the vehicles can navigate with an accuracy of mere centimetres.

Laser scanning and cameras are necessary for capturing surrounding data relative to the vehicle's position, noted Dr Khoo.

But real-time kinematic navigation - the method which relies on Sirent - pinpoints the vehicle's actual position on the roads.

Satellite positioning is also more suitable for locations such as Gardens by the Bay, said autonomous vehicle expert Niels de Boer.

Laser-based systems need clear, defined edges to work well - and "trees don't have sharp edges", said Mr de Boer, programme director for future mobility solutions (autonomous vehicles) at Nanyang Technological University's Energy Research Institute.

Many other countries do not have the benefit of a central set-up such as Sirent, he noted.

If someone wants to use corrected satellite data, they would have to buy their own system and servers, which could cost US$80,000 (S$116,000) to US$100,000.

"By having this system available for the whole of Singapore, it saves a lot of money," Mr de Boer added.

Sirent is also helping construction firms work smarter, in pinpointing where to put foundation piles.

This was done last year for public flats in Bidadari and Punggol, for instance, by building firm S C Ang Consortium.

Agency for Science, Technology and Research scientist Sivanand Krishnan, who is helping with the project, said this method improves productivity fourfold, measured in man-hours.

janiceh@sph.com.sg

Read also: All aboard! Singapore to try out self-driving buses
Self-driving shuttle to ply NTU roads soon

This article was first published on Jan 3, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Irfan Fandi has big shoes to fill. As the son of local football hero Fandi Admad, he is touted as one of Singapore's most promising football talents.

The 19-year-old is also the new face of Singapore's anti-drug campaign, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) announced on Tuesday (Jan 3).

Irfan Fandi, who was named by the Guardian as one of the 40 best young talents in world football in 2014, will feature on the campaign's Facebook and Instagram accounts (CNB.DrugfreeSG).

In a video uploaded on the social media accounts, the Home United player explains why he chooses to remain drug-free.

The campaign is targeted at youths, who are urged to share their reasons to stay drug-free on social media with the hashtag "#IAmDrugFreeBecause…".

CNB has been taking a softer approach to target youths.

Besides getting celebrities like Taufik Batisah to sing songs like 'High On Love' (and not get high on other things, geddit?), CNB has also conducted roadshows giving away a dessert it calls "Tio Smoke's Dragon's Breath cups".

We're definitely not smoking you on this one.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

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Football star Irfan Fandi opens up about 5-year relationship with silat player

Source: screengrabs, Irfan Fandi, The New Paper, The Straits Times, Berita Harian

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TNP New Face 2014: Wendy Jacobs 'so proud' of daughter Iman Fandi

Source: The New Paper

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2016-04-22 12:50:41

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Malaysian actor jailed 8 months for possessing drugs in Singapore

Source: Berita Harian, Singtel Mio TV, Freda Hassan, StarHub

It is common for travel groups to take a picture together as a keepsake, and this is one of the bigger selling points marketed by tour agencies to entice travellers to take up celebrity packages.

Chan Brothers Travel (Chan Brothers) is one of those that offers such opportunities - travellers can take pictures with their favourite celebrity and even appear on television in "My Star Guide", a local reality travelogue where selected local artistes play the role of a tour guide and "lead" tour groups overseas.

In its 11th season this year, the successful programme is one area of concern for Chan Brothers when implementing data protection policies for the tours, as the entire trip is captured on camera and presented on television.

"Not everyone in the tour wants to be on television or in photos that we use for marketing communication purposes," says Ms Janet Chan, Chan Brothers' Senior Business Development Manager for E-Commerce Marketing and Data Protection Officer (DPO).

"Even if they join the celebrity tour, it doesn't automatically mean that they want to be photographed or filmed."

To ensure compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) which allows individuals to decide how they want their personal data to be collected, used and disclosed, Chan Brothers makes it a point to notify customers of the nature of the tour.

Customers may state their preference in relation to video or photo exposure when they purchase a tour package, especially for celebrity packages where the entire tour process is documented and presented on TV.

During pre-travel briefings, Chan Brothers' travel advisors will once again verbally remind travellers to inform their tour leaders of their preferences during the trip.

360° USER-EXPERIENCE

Managing Chan Brothers' customer preferences extends beyond the duration of the tours; it starts from the day the customer contacts Chan Brothers and ends long after the fulfilment of the tour package.

The company's standard operating procedure (SOP) is to first notify customers of the purpose of the collection of their personal data once they express interest in signing up for a package.

This is done by frontline staff. The information is generally mandatory for the company to see through the delivery of its services, such as to help customers with their hotel or airline reservations.

With regard to marketing, customers are given a choice to opt out. "One of the first changes we made to our processes was for our in-house information technology (IT) team to include an opt-out selection for customers. This seemingly small change made a huge difference to the overall customer experience," says Ms Chan.

The IT team is also in charge of regularly reviewing the agency's IT security polices and keeping up with the latest trends in cybersecurity, so that sufficient measures are in place to secure the company's online transactions. Existing measures such as secured login, automated logout mechanisms and systematic updates of firewalls, to name a few, are constantly updated with the latest patches to ensure there are no loopholes in safeguarding customers' data.

Ms Chan adds, "With enhanced IT security, customers are also more comfortable making online transactions, which has a positive impact on our revenue streams and user experience."

Since the company has an estimated 120,000 customers and followers in its SMS and eDM (electronic direct mail) databases, and providing access as well as keeping personal data accurate are requirements of the PDPA, Chan Brothers has created a dedicated email account to handle all access and correction requests.

INTERNAL PROCESSES MATTER, TOO

Aside from ensuring compliance in customer-facing practices, the company also enhanced its internal data protection policies to help employees handle personal data better.

For example, all hardcopy registration forms must now be shredded before disposal. Retention periods for personal data, such as those found in obsolete tour bookings, have also been introduced.

Third party vendors, too, are required to adhere to Chan Brothers' data protection policies.

Ms Chan further shares that Chan Brothers' data protection policies are made available on the company's intranet for  employees' easy reference. As the DPO, she conducts regular training to keep employees up-to-date on data protection policies and practices.

She is supported by a team comprising designated personnel from each major department, namely e-Commerce, Marketing Communications, Customer Service, IT, Human Resource and Finance. The team reviews existing procedures in their relevant departments every quarter to ensure that there are no loopholes in safeguarding customer's personal data.

PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION A WORTHWHILE EFFORT

Although it took some getting used to, Ms Chan says that targeted marketing has proven to be both efficient and effective.

She explains, "We now only send marketing SMSes to customers who are willing to receive information by SMS, and this improves the effectiveness of our promotions. Checking our telemarketing list against the DNC Registry is also relatively quick. We usually set aside just one day for the checks to be completed."

Aside from the purchase of credits to check their telemarketing list against the DNC Registry, Ms Chan attributes the bulk of the cost of complying with the PDPA to time and resources spent in implementing the company's data protection policies and practices.

Ms Chan says, "Our efforts have been worthwhile because customers are now more aware of our personal data protection practices. Our policies have made our processes more transparent and increased customer trust in us."

SINGAPORE - Pictures of a girl who sustained bruises after getting molested at the Siloso Beach countdown party on New Year's Eve has emerged on Facebook.

Recounting the incident, the victim, Evelynn Boey, wrote that she was molested at the foam pool as crowds jostled inside.

"Someone grab me/hug me (sic) from the back and pushed me in and started groping," Ms Boey wrote.

Read also

• Feminist groups speak up about rape culture in Singapore
• International group pushing to legalise rape may meet in Singapore
• Rape activist 'live-blogs' aftermath of her alleged rape ordeal
• Brazilian women protest 'culture of rape'

After the Malaysian was shoved into the foam, she claimed the attacker tried to yank away her bra and allegedly put his hand in her pants.

She wrote: "I shouted but I guess nobody can hear me as the music was loud too."

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Photo Gallery

Feminist groups speak up about rape culture in Singapore

Source: The Straits Times, The Malaysian Feminist's Facebook

After the attack, Ms Boey approached a security guard who was standing by the foam pool, but was rebuffed.

"All I get from (the security guard) was 'I didn't see anything, I can't do anything'."

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Photo Gallery

Internet video of girl gang raped by over 30 men and boys shocks Brazil

Source: AFP, Reuters

Ms Boey said that she was not drunk as she doesn't drink. Despite being the victim, Ms Boey said that she was careless for being carried away, but insisted that 'nobody deserves this'.

A police spokesman toldAsiaOne that a report has been lodged.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

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Photo Gallery

Police NSF rapes 16-year-old, jailed for extortion

Source: The New Paper

HONG KONG - The nine Singapore armoured vehicles that have been detained in Hong Kong since November have been moved indoors, Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department said on Tuesday (Jan 3), quashing speculation the vehicles may have been returned.

A report by the Apple Daily newspaper on Monday (Jan 2) said the vehicles, which it said had been kept at an outdoor storage yard of a Customs storage facility in Tuen Mun, had "vanished" from the site that morning.

But the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department said in a statement issued to The Straits Times on Tuesday the vehicles "are still kept at a storage place of Customs in Tuen Mun".

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Photo Gallery

SAF armoured vehicles seized in Hong Kong port

Source:

Factwire

"They have been stored indoors since December 6," it said in the statement.

"As the case is still under investigation, no further information is available," it added.

On Nov 23, the Hong Kong Customs detained the nine Terrex vehicles that were on board a container ship that was in transit in Hong Kong.

They were being shipped to Singapore following an SAF military exercise in Taiwan. Hong Kong Customs said it had impounded the shipment because vessel owner APL had failed to provide appropriate permits for the vehicles, the South China Morning Post reported.

Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Dec 30 the Singapore Armed Forces will learn from the incident and has already changed its practices to better protect Singapore's military assets.

Read also

• Mindef confirms 9 armoured vehicles seized in Hong Kong
• SAF deploys team to Hong Kong to secure seized armoured vehicles
• Don't lose focus over Terrex issue: Ng Eng Hen
• The Terrex fallacies

Dr Ng , writing in a Facebook post, added that all levels of the Singapore government had been working hard over the past two months to get the Terrex vehicles returned to Singapore "quietly and out of the limelight where it is more effective".

This article was first published on Jan 3, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - A day after another otter was spotted with a fishing hook and line embedded in its body, Singapore's water agency PUB reiterated its stance against illegal fishing and said surveillance patrols will be stepped up at Marina Bay, where the latest incident reportedly happened.

In response to a query by The Straits Times on the Marina Bay incident, a PUB spokesman said on Tuesday (Jan 3) that PUB officers " carry out daily surveillance at the reservoirs and take enforcement action against illegal fishing - fishing at no-fishing areas and/or using live bait".

"Surveillance patrols will be stepped up at Marina Bay," the spokesman added.

Those caught fishing at no-fishing areas or using live bait can be fined up to $3,000.

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Photo Gallery

Wild otter spotted with fish hook in eye

Source: The Straits Times, Yane Kang

The Straits Times on Monday (Jan 2) reported that a female otter, believed to be the mother of a new litter, was spotted by otter watchers at the floating platform on Monday morning with a fishing hook and line in its body.

Anglers were photographed fishing at a no-fishing zone along Marina Bay that same day.

PUB said it urges anglers "not to put themselves and other people or animals at risk by fishing at no-fishing areas".

Read also: Bishan 'mum' otter with new litter spotted with fish hook in its body

It also encouraged members of the public to call the PUB hotline on 1800-2255-782 if they spot any illegal or unsafe fishing activities.

It would be helpful to provide the date, time and location of the incident, along with photos and videos, PUB added.

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Photo Gallery

Otters in Singapore

Source: The Straits Times, NParks, facebook, Jeff Tan YouTube, The New Paper, AFP

Legal fishing areas nearby include designated fishing areas at Marina Reservoir, two stretches of designated fishing areas at Kallang Basin.

PUB reminded anglers to "take note of the do's and don'ts as reservoirs are common spaces shared by other water sport users and the public".

"While enjoying these recreational spaces, anglers should take responsibility by practising good fishing habits such as discarding hooks and bait into bins, and not hook the otters," said its spokesman.

The Straits Times understands that the otter watching community have not managed to confirm whether or not the hook is still in the female otter.

The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society is not actively trying to capture the otter to remove the hook as capture can be very stressful for the animal.

An otter pup that was spotted with a fish hook in its eye in April last year (2016) recovered from the wound without any external help.

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Photo Gallery

Otter 'hurt' by angler's hook

Source: Internet screengrabs, YouTube screengrabs

This article was first published on Jan 3, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - Shortly before Mr Goh Chok Tong was to be fielded as a first-time candidate in the new constituency of Marine Parade in 1976, he realised that he had no party branch in the area to assist him.

Fortunately, a People's Action Party (PAP) MP donated $2,000 from his branch to get Mr Goh started, and directed a few of his branch members to help Mr Goh. Several market stallholders - fishmongers and pork sellers among them - also stepped forward to help.

With their assistance, Mr Goh won the seat with 78.6 per cent of the vote, kickstarting a political career that would see him serve as Singapore's second prime minister from 1990 to 2004.

Recounting the humble beginnings of the PAP's Marine Parade branch as he marked 40 years as an MP in the constituency, he reminded grassroots volunteers that the PAP can never take the people's support in Marine Parade for granted.

"I am telling you all this to give you a picture of the natural birth of the Marine Parade branch. We did not inherit the branch from anyone. We built it from scratch," said Mr Goh, who is now Emeritus Senior Minister, at a dinner on Friday.

"Going forward, we must not assume that we will always poll more than 70 per cent in our Marine Parade ward. We should not even assume that we will always win."

Mr Goh said the high points of his time in Marine Parade were winning his first electoral contest and a 1992 by-election victory.

He added that the 2011 General Election was a low point.

"When the result for Marine Parade was announced, I felt the deep disappointment and gloom in our supporters. I too did not expect Marine Parade GRC to poll only 55 per cent. It was a lesson in the vagaries of elections. What you had done for the people as an MP or PM did not matter as much as the prevailing mood of the people," he said.

Therefore, the PAP cannot assume it will always prevail at the ballot box, said Mr Goh, giving several reasons.

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2016-05-18 15:21:47

Photo Gallery

Underground mall to be developed next to Marine Parade station

Source: Land Transport Authority, The Business Times

For one thing, "I cannot be around for the next 40 years, it will be difficult for a new person to get the same support as me for various reasons", said Mr Goh, who has won the Marine Parade seat 11 times over the years in 10 general elections and one by-election.

Also, older voters from the Pioneer Generation who lived through Singapore's early struggles for survival will be "replaced by younger voters whose bond with the PAP is less instinctive, and more transactional", he added.

With Singapore now a "settled democracy", elections in future will depend more on the mood of the day that is influenced by prevailing politics, he said, adding that this means the PAP's brand and track record will count for less.

Finally, opposition parties will grow and attract better qualified members, he said.

Pointing to how he has passed the baton to a younger team at his constituency, Mr Goh said whether Marine Parade remains with the PAP in future will depend on what the team does.

At the national level, he added, the fourth-generation leadership team was also taking shape and honing their political and leadership skills.

"They will make mistakes just as their predecessors did, but they must find and conquer their own mountain," he said.

During the dinner, which was held at the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy Hotel and attended by about 350 grassroots leaders and party activists, Mr Goh also thanked several party stalwarts who were key in building up the PAP's Marine Parade branch.

They include Mr Tan Kin Lian, who contested and lost in the 2011 presidential election, and Mr S. Puhaindran, who ran the constituency on Mr Goh's behalf when he was busy with his Cabinet duties.

Touching on what legacy he hopes to leave behind, he said: "Marine Parade must continue to be the best home in the land, as our Marine Parade song goes. It must be a 4G Home: Great, Gracious, Generous and Green. We must never hand over our lives' work on a silver platter to some opposition party who had never even spent time here."

Mr Yusof Lateef, 48, who is one of two branch secretaries in Marine Parade, said the mood at the dinner was nostalgic.

"It was good to see the early pioneers of the branch, there were a lot of hugs," he said.

But Mr Yusof, who has been with the branch for 30 years, said he was heartened that Mr Goh spoke about the future as well.

"Mr Goh's message was clear: The party must never cease in working for the people. We celebrated, but when the next Meet-the-People Session comes along, work starts anew," he said.

This article was first published on Jan 3, 2016.
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Cars will soon have to be far cleaner than they are today to qualify for green incentives.

The Government is reviewing the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS), which now dispenses rebates or surcharges based on how much carbon dioxide (CO2) a car or taxi emits.

A new scheme is likely to measure other pollutants emitted, such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter, or soot from diesel cars.

The new scheme could kick in as early as July 1, when the current scheme expires.

However, the change could be delayed so as to be in line with the Euro 6 emission standards, which will take effect for petrol vehicles from September and diesel models from January next year.

The CEVS revision is likely to affect diesel vehicles most. Although they produce less CO2 than petrol equivalents, diesel engines tend to emit more nitrogen oxides, which is harmful to the environment and can also lead to serious health issues, and particulate matter.

Observers said this impending change to the new scheme could be why taxi companies like ComfortDelGro and SMRT have been ramping up their fleet of petrol-electric cabs.

Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of Prime group of companies which runs Prime Taxi, noted that in 2009, it was the first cab company to use hybrid cabs.

"Diesels have good CO2 levels, but the NOx (nitrogen oxides) and PM (particulate matter) are a real problem," he said.

This is why a number of cities, including Paris and Madrid, are planning to ban diesel vehicles, he added.

Mr Neo, who is also adviser to the Automobile Importer and Exporter Association, said incentives like road tax exemptions should also be considered for petrol-electric hybrid commercial vehicles like vans and lorries.

He pointed out that these commercial vehicles, which are mostly diesels, account for nearly 60 per cent of Singapore's total pollution from vehicles, even though they make up around 30 per cent of vehicles on the road.

Motor Traders Association president Glenn Tan said moving away from a carbon-centric scheme is "the way to go".

"It is better to have a balance of various pollutants, rather than focusing just on CO2, which can be one-sided as... you are trying to reduce pollution on the whole," he said.

Mr Clarence Woo, executive director of the Asian Clean Fuels Association, said moving towards a scheme that considers other pollutants is good news.

"CO2 causes global warming, even though it is not strictly a pollutant," Mr Woo noted.

"So the focus has been on having more efficient engines, which reduces CO2, and indirectly reduces other pollutants. But I think we have to deal more directly with these other pollutants."

The Land Transport Authority and National Environment Agency would not provide details when asked about the review.

In a statement, they said: "We are in the midst of reviewing the scheme and will share more details when ready."

christan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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The thing about addiction is that there will always be someone looking to exploit a weakness or a loophole for a quick buck.

That is partly why the illegal sales of cough medicine containing codeine persists.

A lucrative black market supply of codeine cough medicine thrives because there is a demand, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has said.

To further deter illegal pushers, HSA has raised fines for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Those who engage in the unlawful sale or import of codeine can now be fined up to $50,000 - five times the previous limit - and/or jailed for up to two years.

The stiffer penalties took effect on Nov 1.

Codeine works well at suppressing coughs but people can become addicted to the calming or euphoric effect it induces.

The fine revision is a sign that the authorities are not letting up, and comes as the black market price of codeine cough medicine soars.

DOUBLE

In 2015, the HSA said prices had nearly doubled.

A 90ml bottle of codeine cough medicine costs around $30 on the black market.

In 2010, a 110ml bottle was reportedly bought off the streets for $15.

The lure of bigger profits means the previous fine limit of $10,000 a charge might only have had a limited effect on discouraging the illegal trade.

Besides enforcement operations, the authorities monitor the sales, and release information and advisories to educate the public and healthcare professionals on the dangers of abusing codeine.

Things get murkier when there are black sheep among healthcare professionals who profit from the illicit trade.

The public can make a difference by raising the alert when a friend, colleague or family member is involved as over time, abuse of codeine can lead to organ damage and even death.

Raising fines alone may not be enough to stamp out the illegal supply chain.

Nonetheless, it is a vital part of measures to contain the codeine scourge.

chpoon@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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He fell after being pushed during a minor pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

In the confusion, someone stepped on Mr Abdul Ghafur Mohd Ibrahim's left ankle.

Today, the 59-year-old bus driver is recovering in a hospital in Jordan, with his left leg amputated after it was infected by flesh-eating bacteria.

Facing a rising medical bill that is at $123,000 currently, Mr Abdul Ghafar's family is trying to raise money, along with the sum needed to repatriate him.

His son-in-law Mohamad Ameen Said Abdul Kadir, 37, told The Straits Times on Monday: "We're shocked that a small ankle injury could become so serious. We were heartbroken when we learnt he was infected by flesh-eating bacteria."

Mr Abdul Ghafur and his wife were part of a group that left Singapore on Dec 11 to perform their "umrah".

After his fall, and towards the end of the pilgrimage, he discovered big blisters on his left foot.

As he was staying in Jordan then, he checked into Al Khalidi Hospital in Amman on Dec 23.

For the next three days, doctors gave the Malaysia-born Singapore permanent resident antibiotics to control the infection on his ankle, which was oozing pus.

Three members of Mr Abdul Ghafur's family flew to Jordan on Dec 27 to keep his wife company.

AGGRESSIVE

Despite the antibiotics, the infection continued to spread aggressively, said Mr Ameen, an operations manager.

Mr Abdul Ghafur's infection worsened after he developed high fever and low blood pressure and eventually, the left leg had to be amputated above the knee.

Today, the bacterial infection appears to be contained, although Mr Abdul Ghafur remains in intensive care and is being supported by a ventilator.

While he is recovering, his family has been saddled with a hefty medical bill.

A copy of the 35-page medical bill and medical report was shown to ST.

His 35-year-old daughter, who wanted to be known only as Madam Rabiathul, said "the medical fees are too high for us to cover".

Through contributions made by strangers who had seen the family's plea for donations on social media, the family has managed to raise around $32,000, which is still not enough.

They also expect the bill to increase.

Mr Ameen felt the $55 travel insurance his father-in-law had paid as part of the "umrah" package was "inadequate".

ST understands that the travel insurance covers only $20,000 for hospitalisation and $50,000 for repatriation to Singapore.

Mr Ameen said: "The cheapest quote to fly him back to Singapore with proper medical attention is around US$120,000 ($174,000).

"And he is in no condition to fly.

"What is important for the family right now is to generate as much funds as possible. We're thankful some help is coming our way."

Mr Ameen said he had sought assistance from Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The family is also looking into Mr Abdul Ghafur's personal accident insurance plan, which has a clause for permanent disability.

Mr Ameen said: "My father-in-law's personal accident insurer needs to see him in Singapore where his condition will be examined and verified by the insurer's doctor before any payout is made."

Mr Abdul Ghafur's plight was intially brought to light by netizens, including Ms Rubiah Suib, a colleague of Madam Rabiathul, who had appealed for donations on her Facebook on Dec 28.

Her post, which was one of many similar posts, was shared more than 500 times.

zaihan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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After 10 months of scriptwriting, midnight shoots and tedious editing, Temasek Polytechnic's (TP) digital, film and television graduates' short film, Vengeance Is Mine, clinched gold at the 18th Digicon6 Asia Singapore Awards.

The 15-minute film is a thriller about a husband who finds a package containing the finger of his mistress on his doorstep.

Calling themselves Dark Owl Pictures, the team is made up of director Siti Rahmah, 22, producer Nur Shahira, 21, director of photography Matin Akmal, 21, editor Maria Tan, 23, and production designer Joycelyn Yeoh, 23. They graduated from TP in 2015.

Vengeance Is Mine started out as the group's final-year project in TP.

Miss Rahmah told The New Paper: "Before we even started on the script in April 2014, I had 17 versions of the story.

"I got together with my groupmates and discussed how to make the storyline more thrilling and realistic."

Their script went through 27 drafts, after much vetting from their lecturer and mentor Andrew Ngin.

In post-production, the team had to brainstorm how to produce the sound of a shovel smashing into a head for a particularly gruesome scene.

Miss Rahmah said: "I initially wanted to try a melon instead, but we decided that a smashing a cabbage would sound better."

They also made many props from scratch, including the severed finger and a coffin.

When the short film was done in February 2015, Mr Ngin was so impressed with his students' work that he sent it to take part in the 18th Digicon6 Asia Singapore Awards, an annual short film competition held across Asia.

Miss Rahmah flew to Japan and represented the team at the award ceremony on Nov 19 last year.

"When they announced that Vengeance Is Mine won gold, my knees were shaking. I was trying so hard not to trip as I went up on stage," she said.

Mr Ngin, who has worked on local television shows such as Fighting Spiders and Growing Up, said he was surprised by the win.

He said: "Doing a thriller is not easy, because it relies heavily on story-driven suspense.

"They had to use their storytelling to keep surprising the audience."

bxliew@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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Despite scoring eight points for his N levels and qualifying for the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP), he chose to go to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) instead.

Mr Rayner Eng, 19, took up a Higher Nitec in mechatronics engineering, a two-year programme, at ITE College West.

He graduated with a perfect grade point average of 4.0 last year, and was awarded the IES Engineering Award.

Sponsored by the Institute of Engineers (IES), Singapore, it is given to the top graduate from an engineering course.

Mr Eng told The New Paper: "My seniors in the PFP said it was mostly theory-based. So, I decided to go to ITE because it would provide me with the basic hands-on and fundamental skills of engineering, which was what I wanted."

The first-year aeronautical engineering student at Singapore Polytechnic was inspired to be an engineer as he was an avid robot collector as a child. He joined his school's Robotics Club in Primary 4.

PROJECT

In his first year at ITE, he and two classmates were shortlisted by lecturers to do a project for Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the Singapore Zoo.

They had to find a faster way to slice fish for animal feeding, shows and training.

Mr Eng said they created a machine with five blades that sliced fish into six pieces in six seconds. It can slice up to 90kg of fish in an hour.

He added: "The project took about seven months to complete, and was tedious as we had to create everything from scratch."

They had to present their computer-aided draft to their lecturer for approval before buying materials to build the machine.

He said: "We presented about seven times, and each time there were minor details that needed to be adjusted. I was quite frustrated but we managed to perfect it in the end."

Their invention won three awards - the Energy Innovation Challenge in 2015, and the Lee Kuan Yew Technology Award and Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Award last year.

Mr Joseph Heng, senior lecturer-mentor at the mechatronics engineering department in ITE College West, said: "He went to ITE to get a strong engineering foundation, and ITE has offered him that."

bxliew@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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When she chose to study in a polytechnic, she never imagined flying to Dubai for a dream internship.

Miss Vythiswari Muralli, 19, is a third-year sustainable urban design and engineering (SDE) student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic's (NP) School of Design and Environment.

She did a three-month internship with DP Architects, one of Asia's largest architecture firm.

She told The New Paper: "Dubai is home to many iconic structures designed by famous architects. So, when my lecturer informed us about the internship, I jumped at the opportunity."

INPUT

She thought she would not be handling much work as she was an intern. But she was surprised when her supervisor, the associate director of the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region, with 27 years' experience, asked for her input on the design of commercial buildings and hotels.

"I was asked how I felt about building facades, their decorative elements, and what I thought could be done to make them better. I was honoured because I was only two years into architecture," she said.

Miss Muralli assisted with 3D modelling, drawing floor plans and did site analyses and reports.

She said: "Some of the projects I worked on are going to be built soon.

"I feel really proud of myself as I played a part, and it is my first step as an architect."

She added that her brief stint in the working world opened her eyes to the industry, and the course had equipped her with the relevant skills she needed.

"In school, when we had to do 90-page site analyses, I complained a lot," she said.

"But during the internship, I realised what I thought was small was actually relevant."

DP Architects has also expressed interest in hiring Miss Muralli full-time after she graduates.

She said: "I am so grateful I decided to study SDE in NP, because I never expected I would experience so many things. I thought I would simply study and graduate, but I got to visit many places such as Milan, Rome, Bali and Bandung for study trips and workshops."

Head of office of internship and careers in NP, Ms Christy Chung, said a polytechnic education is very industry-focused.

She said: "Poly has a close connection with the industry, and coupled with applied learning, graduates will be industry ready.

"A poly education is interdisciplinary in nature as it mimics the real world environment."

bxliew@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 4, 2017.
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