Mr Jason Lim does not recall the events leading up to the moment his motorcycle blew up, only that he was cruising down the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in July 2014.

The crash left about 20 per cent of his body scorched by third-degree burns, both of his knees dislocated, and his collarbone cracked.

When he came to about a month later, he found himself in the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) with metal rods sticking out of his legs, and he had no idea how he ended up there.

This led to a 44-day hospital stay and a journey of nearly two years to find out what had happened.

Mr Lim, who had been on a solo backpacking trip, later pieced his story together with the help of friends, family and a pastor, who tracked him down after he went missing in Cambodia.

A car had knocked him over in his first night in Cambodia, and he picked up his bike to give chase, only to crash after the other vehicle braked suddenly.

Mr Lim, 26, will launch a book tomorrow on his experiences to inspire others, including victims with trauma.

Part of the proceeds from book sales will go to The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund and a non-profit project, Alongsiders.

"I don't have trauma, but I know what it is like to wake up to your life completely changed," he said. "I couldn't get out of bed, use the toilet, or shower by myself... I lost my dignity, independence, and freedom."

The accident left Mr Lim, who had just finished national service, with hospital bills of some $250,000.

When he was discharged from the hospital in a wheelchair, his mother quit her job as a teacher to care for him full-time.

HOURS

For four months, it took four hours to help him shower as his wounds had to be cleaned and dressed.

While Mr Lim has fully recovered, he goes for annual check-ups and avoids high-impact sports to not wear out his knees.

Mr Lim, who has been working on the book full-time and giving talks, also started a website telling his story to encourage others.

He was helped by organisations, such as the Burns Support Group, which facilitates interactions between survivors and medical professionals to help with recovery. Mr Lim said there are now efforts to set up a trauma support group involving SGH staff and other survivors.

Dr Poh Seng Yew, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with SGH, said it is important for patients to hear of the recovery experiences of other victims.

"For patients with massive injuries, they often fall into depression and get less involved in recovery," said the doctor who treated Mr Lim's knee joints.

For university student Sean Suen, meeting survivors like Mr Lim was proof he could recover well and live life to the fullest.

The 25-year-old recalled the night in June last year when he fought for his life alone in waters off Tioman island, Malaysia.

"It was a diving accident... and (I) hit a ferry's propeller underwater," said Mr Suen, who had been on an advanced diving course.

He was the last in his group of five to return to the jetty.

"No one knew I got hit... I had to fight for my survival," he said.

Mr Suen had a fractured thigh bone, dislocated left hip and a puncture that almost reached his small intestines. By the time he was air-lifted to Singapore for treatment, his wounds were made worse by seawater.

He spent three months in SGH, where a social worker introduced him to Mr Lim.

Mr Lim said: "When Sean told me his story, I was smiling.

"I finally felt like I was not alone, and when I shared my story, I could see him lighten up and start to smile.

"I think he felt the way I did."

byseow@sph.com.sg

WATCH THE VIDEO

Jason Lim's story on www.jasonyolt.com

This article was first published on Jan 5, 2017.
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Singapore students who took the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma examinations last November, have topped their counterparts from the Asia-Pacific with a pass rate of 97.32 per cent.

The 1,849 students from the Republic managed an average total points score of 38.27 out of the maximum 45 points, IB said in a press release yesterday.

Fifty-seven students from Singapore achieved the perfect score of 45, making up more than half of the 93 perfect-score students from the Asia-Pacific region.

Australia came in second in the region, with a pass rate of 94.07 per cent, an average total points score of 34.56, with 32 students scoring full marks.

Japan was lowest in the region with a pass rate of 76.92 per cent, an average total points score of 30.10 and no student achieving the maximum score.

Asia-Pacific saw 5,205 students taking the examinations, while 14,071 students took the November exams worldwide.

GLOBAL SCORES

As a region, Asia Pacific outperformed global scores, with a pass rate of 91.3 per cent and an average total points score of 34.82. The global pass rate was 70 per cent, and the average total points score was 29.21.

Students from IB World Schools in the Asia-Pacific region were set to receive their results yesterday.

Last year, a total of 161,344 students received IB diplomas, a 6 per cent increase from the year before.

IB director general, Dr Siva Kumari, congratulated the new graduates and wished them success.

She said the graduates "join an ever-growing community of IB alumni across the world, a group well-equipped to contribute productively wherever they choose".

"Their preparation for entry to higher education is second to none, and the most highly reputed universities recognise diploma programme graduates as holistic, well-rounded individuals who can perform successfully wherever they choose to study," added Dr Siva.

- THE STRAITS TIMES

This article was first published on Jan 5, 2017.
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Sulphur dioxide is safe to use on fruits like mandarin oranges to prevent browning, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has said.

It is allowed for use on "fresh, whole and unpeeled fruits", AVA said in response to queries from The Straits Times.

"The safety of its use has been established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, an international scientific panel," the agency added, referring to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.

A Facebook post on Dec 27 had raised concerns online about excessive sulphur dioxide on the skins of mandarin oranges.

Facebook used Jo Teoh, who lives in Kedah according to her profile, said that a batch of oranges that she bought in Malaysia smelled strongly of sulphur, even after extensive washing and scrubbing.

Her post was shared nearly 7,000 times and attracted more than 1,000 comments.

She said she reported the matter to Jabatan Kesihatan or Malaysia's health department on Jan 1, but lab tests would take one to two months.

"If the food is deemed unsafe, they would ban it in all of Malaysia," she wrote.

Singapore's AVA said it "systematically inspects, samples, and tests to ensure that food products meet our food safety standards, including standards for chemical preservatives".

"As a good food safety practice, consumers are advised to wash fruits with edible skins (for example: apples, pears) thoroughly before consumption. Peeling is also effective for eliminating pesticide residues as most of the residues reside on the surface of fruits," AVA added.

The maximum limit for chemical preservatives, including sulphur dioxide, is specified under the Singapore food regulations.

This article was first published on January 5, 2017.
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Raffles Country Club (RCC) in Tuas will become the second country club, after Jurong Country Club, to be acquired by the Government and make way for the upcoming Singapore-Kuala Lumpur high-speed rail (HSR).

The club is required to hand over the site - bordered by Tengeh Reservoir and the Ayer Rajah Expressway - to the Singapore Land Authority by July 31, 2018, as it was deemed a suitable location to run the HSR's at-grade tracks.

Here are five interesting facts about RCC.

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

1. IT OFFICIALLY OPENED IN AUGUST 1988

In 1988, RCC was Singapore's 10th golf club to open its doors, and was reported to be "set amidst gently rolling plains near the Tengah Reservoir in Tuas".

The club, which sits on land spanning 143ha, was developed by the Jurong Town Corporation, which was also responsible for Jurong Country Club.

It boasted facilities such as a swimming pool and tennis and squash courts.

News reports said then that RCC came about as the land around the reservoir was a water catchment area and thus unsuitable for industrial use.

It was also built to meet the increasing demands of business executives for recreational facilities in the Jurong industrial area.

2. IT HAS TWO GOLF COURSES

The Lake course is catered more for the social golfer which provides a more "leisurely round" of golf and offers more picturesque views, according to RCC's website.

The Palm course, first designed by renowned golf course designer Robert Trent Jones Junior, opened in July 1988 and has been described as the "thinking golfer's layout".

Plans for a $26 million revamp of the latter, which had become increasingly unplayable due to irrigation issues, hit a snag in 2013 after its members vetoed them due to doubts over whether the Government would extend its lease of the land.

3. IT COST $40,000 TO JOIN

News reports in 1988 estimated that a RCC membership cost $40,000.

Less than a month after its opening, some members reportedly sold their memberships for a big profit, with some asking for up to $68,000.

A check on club membership broker websites now showed that memberships are going for between $32,500 and $34,000.

The club currently has about 2,650 members.

Read Also: Raffles Country Club to give up site for KL-Singapore High Speed Rail

4. IT WAS LAST UPGRADED IN 2011

A new golfing wing costing $9.5 million that took close to two years to build was officially opened by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong in July 2011.

The wing houses a lounge area, a changing room facility and a revamped men's and women's locker.

5. ITS LEASE HAD BEEN DUE TO EXPIRE IN 2028

RCC's fate is in line with the Government's move to cut down on the number of golf courses in Singapore in favour of redevelopment efforts.

It was announced in May 2015 that Jurong Country Club would house the HSR's Jurong East terminus, while a year earlier, Keppel Club and Marina Bay Golf Club were given the news that their leases would not be renewed beyond 2024.

Another three clubs - Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC), National Service Resort and Country Club and Singapore Island Country Club - had their leases extended but were forced to give up part of the land they occupy.

TMCC, for instance, had to give up 10ha of land for new taxiways to be built at Changi Airport.

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

This article was first published on January 5, 2017.
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Four people were injured after a two-vehicle collision early Wednesday (Jan 4) left one car overturned and the other lodged in the central divider.

A police spokesman said they were alerted to the accident along Upper Bukit Timah Road, near Cashew Road, at around 12.32am.

The injured quartet, aged between 22 and 45 years old, were conveyed conscious to Ng Teng Fong Hospital.

Photos sent to The Straits Times by housewife Clare Teo showed a white sedan that had mounted the road's central divider after crashing into the railings.

An overturned silver sedan was seen upside down near a row of shophouses.

The Straits Times understands that the white sedan had been following the silver one before it crashed into the latter's rear.

Ms Teo, 43, said she had been walking home when she heard a loud screeching noise and then a "bang".

"When I approached the accident scene, there were already some people helping to pull out the occupants, a middle-aged couple, from the silver car," she added.

"They looked pale and shaken from the accident."

Investigations are ongoing, said the police spokesman.

This article was first published on January 5, 2017.
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Formula One fans in Singapore are keen for the race to remain there, despite negotiations between organisers and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone seemingly stalled, according to a survey conducted by British research firm YouGov.

The contract for the Singapore race expires this year and Ecclestone and organisers are still in negotiations about extending beyond 2017, though he suggested in an interview with a German autosport magazine last November that talks were not progressing well.

The Singapore race costs some S$150 million ($104.69 million) to put on every year, 60 per cent of which is funded by the government.

It was first staged in 2008 and the city-state renewed its contract for another five years in 2012.

The future of the race, however, was a concern for the 1,002 Singaporean respondents to the survey, with 57 per cent keen for it to continue beyond this year.

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Photo Gallery

F1 race heats up in Singapore Grand Prix

Source: The Straits Times, The Business Times, Reuters

About 70 per cent also felt the race had been a net positive for the country.

YouGov conducted the survey of 9,332 people within eight countries in the Asia-Pacific area because the future of the sport within the wider region is clouded.

The area hosts five Grands Prix on the 20-race calendar this year - in Australia, China, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.

Malaysian organisers have already said they had no interest in hosting a race after 2018 because of declining ticket sales and television viewing figures.

The survey, however, found that overall more than 60 per cent of respondents wanted more races within the region with Hong Kong (33 per cent), Bangkok (27 per cent) and Sydney (20 per cent) suggested as potential hosts.

While 71 per cent would be interested in attending races, high ticket costs and having to travel to another country to do so were major deterrents.

SINGAPORE - Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices ended predominantly higher in the first bidding exercise for 2017.

Prices for cars up to 1600cc edged up by $350, ending at $50,101.

Those in Cat B for bigger cars were at $53,106, up $1,997.

For goods vehicles and buses in Cat C, COE premiums finished lower by $3,198, to end at $46,302. Those for motorcycles also ended lower, from $6,101 to $6,053.

COEs in the Open category closed at $53,001, up by $2,612.

candicec@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Former president of ship builder Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine Chang Cheow Teck, 56, was on Thursday (Jan 5) spared a jail term, that would have left him with a criminal record.

District Judge Kessler Soh Boon Leng imposed a short detention order of 14 days on Chang for failing to use reasonable diligence in performing his duties between April 2008 and 2010.

He was charged last month (December) under the Companies Act, which also involved ignoring information that pointed to criminal wrongdoing at ST Marine.

He is the sixth of seven former ST Marine senior executives to plead guilty in one of the largest corruption scandals here that first broke in December 2014.

Former ST Marine chief executive officer and president See Leong Teck received the heaviest sentence of 10 months' jail and $100,000 fine. Two others were jailed and fined, while one - Patrick Lee Swee Ching - was fined $210,000.

Former group financial controller Ong Teck Liam has yet to be sentenced, while former president of commercial business Tan Mong Seng's case is still ongoing.

Chang had previously faced three charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly conspiring with two subordinates to offer bribes of almost $274,000 in return for ship repair contracts. The three charges were withdrawn.

Court documents showed that at least $24.9 million in bribes, which were falsely claimed as entertainment expenses, were paid by ST Marine between 2000 and 2011.

During Chang's term, at least $6.5 million in bribes were paid.

Shortly after Chang joined the company, Ong told him in a handwritten note that cash payments amounting to more than $3 million were made by ST Marine in 2007 and early 2008.

Chang, believing that these sums were paid as commission to third parties or paid for entertainment, failed to raise any queries about the legality of these payments.

In April 2010, he received an e-mail highlighting that the amounts in "commission cash cheques" were to be capped individually at $5,000.

While aware that these practices were not normal, he failed to question the rationale and legality of these payments.

The prosecution argued that the circumstances should have given rise to suspicion on Chang's part that there were illegal practices ongoing.

However, Chang's defence lawyer Hamidul Haq argued that he "would have taken action if he was aware".

Mr Haq said: "He had no part in the corrupt activities ... His mistake was in assuming certain things, and relying on the recommendations by his employees."

The lawyer asked for a short detention order instead of a fine, noting that his client would have 10 to 15 years left to contribute to the corporate community, which would require a crime-free record. This was not objected by the prosecution.

Chang was also the former president of ST Aerospace from 2010 to 2014. He is currently unemployed.

In sentencing Chang, District Judge Soh said: "This was the darkest hour of your career but you have to learn, move on and serve diligently in whatever capacity in the future. It is also serves as a lesson for other directors to be diligent in what they do."

This article was first published on Jan 5, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - Two Cabinet ministers and two backbenchers have been co-opted into the People's Action Party Central Executive Committee (CEC).

They are Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir Sitoh Yih Pin and MP for Bukit Batok Murali Pillai.

They join 12 members who were elected and two who were co-opted into the committee when party elections were held last month during the PAP conference.

They bring the total number of members in PAP's top decision making body to 18.

The decision to co-opt the four was made at a CEC meeting on Thursday (Jan 5), PAP organising secretary Chan Chun Sing, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said in a press statement.

The CEC also announced its office bearers on Thursday, which was largely unchanged from the previous committee.

Mr Ong, touted as a key fourth generation leader, replaces Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen as one of three party organising secretaries.

PM Lee with fellow CEC members (from left) Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin; Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob; Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing; Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim; Depu

Familiar faces re-elected to PAP central exec committee

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and Mr Chan also remain as organising secretaries.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan remains the party chairman, and Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim the vice-chairman.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stays on as party secretary-general, and Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam as first and second assistant secretary-general respectively.

Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say remains the treasurer, and Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam the assistant treasurer.

SINGAPORE - Patches of oil have been spotted along Singapore's beaches, after an oil spill occurred in Johor waters on Tuesday (Jan 3).

According to a statement from Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore on Thursday (Jan 5), the oil has washed up on shorelines of Pasir Ris Beach, Changi Point Ferry Terminal, Changi Sailing Club and Changi Beach.

In an update on Thursday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said that cleaning operations have completed at Pasir Ris and Punggol beaches, but are still ongoing at Noordin beach in Pulau Ubin and Changi beach.

The 800m stretch of Changi beach affected by the oil slick has also been closed to facilitate the clean-up.

Members of the public are advised to exercise caution when visiting these beaches and to avoid the affected stretches.

NEA added that it is monitoring these beaches as well as the quality of the seawater.

According to The Star, the Johor Port Authority (JPA) confirmed that failure of the generator set on a Singapore-registered vessel caused it to collide into another vessel on Tuesday.

JPA said in a statement that Wan Hai 301 experienced generator failure, causing it to lose control and crash into APL Denver, a Gibraltar-registered ship, that was docked at Johor Port in Pasir Gudang at around 11.05pm.

It also confirmed that some 300 tonnes of marine fuel oil had leaked from APL Denver and the Singapore authorities were alerted to contain the oil slicks that had shifted into Singapore waters.

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Photo Gallery

Changi Beach gets cleaned up after oil spill from Johor

Source:

The Straits Times

candicec@sph.com.sg

Changi Airport has installed cameras and sensors at one of the two taxi queues at Terminal 3 to track the number of people in line and estimated waiting time for a cab.

The aim is to eventually allow the airport to update commuters as well as work with taxi companies to ensure there are enough cabs.

The initiative is one of several being explored as part of a new $50 million, five-year programme to harness technology and innovation to help run the airport more efficiently and make journeys hassle-free for travellers.

Launched jointly by Changi Airport Group and the Economic Development Board, the Changi Airport Living Lab Programme involves the airport working with innovation-driven companies and start-ups to develop and demonstrate new solutions in a live environment.

Both parties sealed the co-operation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the airport yesterday.

ROBOTICS

Key technology areas being looked at include robotics, such as cleaning robots to help the airport manage scarce manpower resources.

Another area of interest is the use of data analytics to find opportunities to enable a more accurate and real-time perspective of operations.

Consumer analytics, for example, will offer insights into travellers' habits and preferences, strengthening the airport's lifestyle product offerings.

Non-intrusive new security technologies can also enhance the passenger experience and reduce the stress of undergoing security clearance, while strengthening safety and security standards, Changi said.

Changi Airport Group's chief executive officer, Mr Lee Seow Hiang, said: "Building innovation today is critical to transforming our business and operations for the future."

EDB's chairman, Dr Beh Swan Gin, said: "The Living Lab is aligned with EDB's goals of fostering a vibrant eco-system of technology providers driving innovation and creating new businesses from Singapore."

This article was first published on Jan 6, 2017.
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Training companies offering SkillsFuture Credit-eligible courses should not use publicity gimmicks such as lucky draws and gifts to promote their programmes.

They should also refrain from marketing their courses as being "free" or "paid for by the government", and instead explain how course fees are being offset in part or full by credits or subsidies.

These are among a list of publicity guidelines released by the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) statutory board yesterday.

SkillsFuture is a national movement aimed at upgrading the skills of all Singaporeans and promoting lifelong learning.

Under it, an initial $500 is granted to every Singaporean above 25 years old to attend skills courses - which could range from developing mobile apps to providing advice on wine.

The SSG said the new publicity guidelines will provide greater clarity on the use of the SkillsFuture Credit.

They should not ask for confidential details from the public, including their SingPass, to make the SkillsFuture Credit claims on their behalf, the SSG said.

The SSG said in a Facebook post: "The guidelines will ensure that training providers do not request confidential information such as SingPass, and that they do not cause confusion to the public."

Under the guidelines, companies are to ensure that they do not convey the impression that the use of SkillsFuture Credit is limited to a specific training provider or specific courses.

This article was first published on Jan 6, 2017.
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Cheap sourcing - awarding contracts to the lowest bidder - is so prevalent that it is depressing the pay of low-wage workers.

But National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general Zainal Sapari hopes the law will change that, as a fairer contract will eventually benefit the workers.

The Labour Movement is calling for an enhancement to the Government Procurement Act, which was first passed in Parliament in 1997, and governs the contract-awarding practices of government agencies.

Speaking to The New Paper at NTUC Centre yesterday, Mr Zainal, who is also an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said he will raise the issue in Parliament during the upcoming Budget debate.

One of the principles under the current Procurement Act is to ensure value for money - goods and services bought must be the most effective and efficient use of public revenue.

But this could lead to consequences such as compromising on the welfare of workers.

Industries providing essential services are usually most vulnerable to cheap sourcing, said Mr Zainal, who is also the director of U Care Centre, which provides guidance on work-related issues to low-wage workers.

With the amendment, he hopes to address the issue of one-sided contracts, a complaint among service providers such as those in the cleaning and landscaping industry.

But will companies be supportive of such practices in light of a slowing economy?

The Labour Movement hopes the Government can take the lead with progressive procurement practices, and the private sector will be compelled to follow.

Read also: Sustained help for low-wage workers needed

AWARENESS

Mr Zainal thinks this is the right environment as there is "greater awareness" about low-wage workers due to social media.

He said: "When we look at the economy, we have to take things into perspective. Growth rate last year was 1.8 per cent and this will be the new norm.

"I personally feel we cannot always use the economic environment argument at the expense of helping workers."

One of the Labour Movement's proposal is an option for contract variation to address any unforeseen changes in government policies, such as the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) or foreign worker levies.

First mooted in 2012, the PWM requires service providers in the cleaning, security and landscaping industries to pay their workers a minimum wage and it links pay increase to training.

Mr Zainal said: "Generally, service providers were supportive (of the PWM), but the challenge was to convince the service buyer to pay more so (that they) can pay workers better."

Other proposals include ensuring that liquidation damages, or compensation for breach of contract, is proportionate to the service lapse and termination clauses to ensure that the worker's job security is not compromised (see report on the right).

Cleaning and landscaping companies are eager for these proposals to be implemented.

Environmental Management Association of Singapore president Milton Ng brought up the example of how some companies were locked into contracts they could not terminate when it became untenable due to extra costs from new government policies.

He said: "Business conditions are evolving. If service providers are under duress (due to the contract), the services will be affected."

Chairman of the Landscape Industry Association Singapore, Mr Goh Eng Lam, thinks there should be a decreased emphasis on price when it comes to evaluating a tender.

He said: "Companies will naturally bid aggressively based on prices.

"Eventually, the worker will suffer as the company has to bear with the contract and take on aggressive cost-cutting to keep afloat."

Read also: Wage boost for some of Singapore's lowest paid workers

More protection for low-wage workers

linheng@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 06, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - More than 10 people were injured in a chain collision on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) on Thursday (Jan 5) morning.

Police said they were alerted to the accident involving five vehicles at 6.58am. The vehicles were headed towards Tuas after the Jurong Town Hall Road exit.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said 11 people were taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

The Straits Times understands that 10 of the injured were from a minibus. The other four vehicles involved were a motorcycle, a lorry, and two cars.

A passenger from one of the cars also sustained injuries. The motorcyclist was not injured.

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Photo Gallery

11 hurt in 5-vehicle accident on AYE

Source:

Lianhe Wanbao

It is understood that a domino effect was triggered when a lorry switched lanes and nearly hit the motorcyclist, who swerved into another lane.

The lorry involved in the accident braked to avoid the motorcycle, causing a chain collision with the other three vehicles.

The accident caused a traffic jam that stretched to Buona Vista and lasted several hours, according to the Land Transport Authority's Twitter feed

SCDF sent one fire engine, three ambulances, and one support vehicle to the scene.

Police are investigating the case.

This article was first published on Jan 5, 2017.
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Housing Board (HDB) resale prices fell by 0.3 per cent last month, compared to November.

Resale prices of flats in mature estates dipped by 0.2 per cent, while those in non-mature estates dropped by 0.4 per cent, according to the latest data released by SRX Property yesterday.

There were also fewer resale flats transacted last month, with HDB resale data showing that 1,364 resale units were sold, a 13.9 per cent drop from the 1,585 transacted units in November.

Year on year, resale flat prices decreased by 0.2 per cent, compared to December 2015, the SRX Property Price Sub-Indices showed.

The year-on-year comparison also showed that prices in mature estates increased by 1 per cent, while those in non-mature dipped by 1.2 per cent last month.

ZERO

SRX Property also said the overall median transaction over X-Value (TOX) for HDB was zero last month.

The median TOX measures how much people are overpaying or underpaying against the computer-generated estimated market value or the X-Value.

Read also: Govt may tweak resale terms for prime HDB flats

HDB resale prices seen remaining stable

This article was first published on Jan 06, 2017.
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I applaud the Government's efforts to move away from paper qualifications when grouping civil servants ("Civil servants no longer grouped by education level"; Jan 5).

Having excellent paper qualifications is no doubt important for it reflects the learning abilities and attitude of an individual.

But grades cannot dictate an individual's career path once he or she enters the workforce.

With the old system, a worker with poorer paper qualifications may find that despite his best efforts, his career progression is still hampered.

As a result, he will eventually lose his motivation and not do his best.

These individuals are also unlikely to actively contribute ideas for the benefit of the organisation.

After all, what is the point of contributing good ideas if individuals are not assessed based on their performance?

Compared with their peers who have better paper qualifications, their innovative ideas may be ignored.

In any organisation, the last thing we want is to develop a culture that is stifling and uninnovative.

As employees become less willing to contribute, they also tend to become less resourceful when it comes to problem solving.

Changing the grouping is just one way to de-emphasise paper qualifications.

More must be done to develop a positive and innovative culture.

Darren Chow Weng Kin

This article was first published on Jan 06, 2017.
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Golfers might feel hard done by following the acquisitions of Raffles Country Club and Jurong Country Club, but such surprises are not likely to continue, said experts.

The two golf clubs are making way for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR).

Read also: Raffles Country Club to give up site for KL-Singapore High Speed Rail

Long-term planning might not have included the need to set aside land for this relatively recent development, hence the "last resort" of acquisition, said private sector urban planner Sarah Lin.

"The (HSR) plans were only finalised in recent years," she noted.

The bilateral agreement for the HSR was inked last month following a memorandum of understanding in July, with the express service between both cities expected to be running by end-2026.

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

In contrast, most demands on the country's land resources are known and planned for in advance, so land acquisition should not usually be required, said Ms Lin.

So, for instance, Keppel Club's golf course, which will see its lease expire in 2021, occupies land that has been zoned for residential use in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) 2001 Concept Plan.

Land-scarce Singapore has long had to grapple with competing needs. And going ahead, as it looks to build long-term infrastructure for a growing population, eyes are on what land can be tapped.

Experts identify various sources: For instance, 800ha of land freed up by the relocation of Paya Lebar airbase and underused pockets of industrial land across Singapore.

More golf courses are also getting the chop.

Read also: Fewer options for local golfers

In 2013, the Government indicated that it was looking to redevelop golf course land for other uses such as housing. Then, there were 18 courses occupying about 1,500ha. In 2014, the Ministry of Law announced that 219ha of land will be made available from 2030, when the leases on golf courses expire.

On Wednesday, Singapore Land Authority chief executive officer Tan Boon Khai stressed that golf courses were not being targeted for land acquisitions.

But development plans are taken into consideration when golf clubs' leases are reviewed, he added.

R'ST Research director Ong Kah Seng said in cases where push does come to shove, golf courses are probably low in priority.

Housing, infrastructure, economic and industrial uses will all take priority over lifestyle uses such as golfing, he added.

National University of Singapore Associate Professor Ho Kong Chong noted that golf courses are a low-intensity and inefficient use of scarce land.

Ms Lin said that besides golf courses, there are other nodes of land for further development, such as reclamation and redevelopment - not least from the relocation of Paya Lebar airbase.

Former chief planner Liu Thai Ker said: "When we developed the 1991 URA concept plan, we deliberately kept a bit of land undeveloped while outlining further reclamation efforts from the sea."

Existing land use can also be intensified, he added, citing industrial land in areas such as Jurong and Eunos. "We used to build cheap factories - single-storey shophouses with workshops. We can rebuild them and free up the space for other development. We can also look at intensifying building upwards."

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janiceh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 6, 2017.
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No matter how great technology is, it is the human touch that differentiates one good taxi ride from the rest ("Time for taxi companies to focus on 'heartware'" by Mr Chow Kok Fai; Jan 4).

This is where taxi drivers make a difference.

Courtesy begets courtesy. A warm greeting and smile upon embarkation would set the atmosphere for the ride.

Engaging in small talk with the passenger may help break the ice.

But if the passenger desires a quiet ride, then the taxi driver should refrain from talking and, perhaps, turn down the volume of his radio.

Showing pride in one's work is something cab drivers can work on.

They can certainly learn from their Japanese counterparts, who dress and look sharp while on duty.

Getting out to help with luggage of their own volition certainly projects professionalism and generates goodwill from the start.

Taxi drivers should not choose their fares and accord good service based on that.

They must accept that long- and short-distance rides are part of the nature of the trade.

To cherry pick will damage the reputation of our taxi industry.

Matching the supply and demand for taxis has been a perennial issue, and a solution is still lacking.

If most taxi drivers choose the same hours to ply the roads then naturally, fare takings will be affected, as supply outstrips demand.

Let us also not forget to put passengers at the centre of the taxi trade, as it is they who support the livelihood of our taxi drivers.

Taxi rides are more than just getting from one point to another.

It is up to taxi drivers to make every ride comfortable.

Lee Teck Chuan

This article was first published on Jan 06, 2017.
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A few golf courses are lost to development, but that does not mean Singapore's green coverage is shrinking. More green spaces are on the way, with the amount of land dedicated to parks and nature reserves slated to increase from 5,700ha in 2010 to 7,250ha in 2030.

This is according to the Ministry of National Development's Land Use Plan, released in 2013.

Golf courses are classified separately under community, institution and recreation facilities.

The building of new golf courses has threatened nature areas in the past, with activists successfully protesting against a proposed golf course at Lower Peirce Reservoir in 1992.

Now, the projected increase in Singapore's greenery will come mainly from more parks in public housing estates, the development of former railway land into the 24km Rail Corridor and more green trails. For instance, the 150km Round Island Route is a continuous walking and cycling trail that will link existing park connectors.

And as public housing estates proliferate, so will parks. The aim is for 85 per cent of residents to live within 400m of a park by 2030.

But nature experts note that from a conservation standpoint, it is not just the quantity of greenery that matters, but the quality.

Preserving existing greenery, especially forests, is key, said Dr Ho Hua Chew, vice-chairman of the Nature Society (Singapore)'s conservation committee. "There are a lot of unprotected wild green areas, not gardens and parks, which deserve protection," he said.

Citing patches of secondary forests such as one near Lentor, he noted that these provide crucial habitats for native wildlife.

This article was first published on Jan 6, 2017.
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Close to 20 travel agencies, which were part of a faction that set up its own association and travel fair, have now made up with travel agents' association Natas.

The agencies, including big players such as Dynasty Travel and CTC Travel, will participate in the Natas fair next month instead of rival fair Travel Revolution.

For consumers, this will mean a bigger show of travel agencies at the Natas fair, which will be held from Feb 17 to 19 at Singapore Expo Hall 4.

Issues that caused the rift, including high rents, a lack of say in how the fair was organised, and transparency on how profits from the fair were used, have been addressed for the upcoming fair, said the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas).

"With these agents coming back for the 50th anniversary, I feel that it is a big thing," Mr Steven Ler, deputy president of Natas, told The Straits Times yesterday.

A new organising committee, made up of 10 travel firms - half of which had defected from Travel Revolution - will make the majority of decisions related to the fair. Previously, the fair was organised by Natas executive committee members who were not necessarily exhibitors.

Natas said it had explained to agencies that profits from the fairs go into advertising subsidies and discounts for repeat exhibitors.

Agencies returning to the Natas fair next month after the two- year-long spat include Super Travels, Hong Thai Travel and New Shan Travel.

Hong Thai senior marketing manager Stella Chow said: "The rental is lower and the majority of Travel Revolution exhibitors are going back to Natas.

"Based on our experience, the mix of exhibitors is more important to consumers than the location of the fair."

Despite many travel agencies moving back to the Natas fair, big players such as Chan Brothers Travel, SA Tours and Apple Holidays will continue to take part in Travel Revolution. It will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre from Feb 24 to 26.

The Singapore Outbound Travel Agents Association (Sotaa), which runs Travel Revolution, said it will carry on with the fair as it has a two-year contract with venue Marina Bay Sands.

But with just 11 agencies taking part, the fair will be downsized from three halls to two halls.

Sotaa president Kay Swee Pin, who is managing director of SA Tours, said she had met Natas last September to discuss a joint fair. "For the sake of the industry, we were happy to do so," she said.

However, the discussions did not work out in the end.

A spokesman for Chan Brothers said it was sticking to Travel Revolution because of the better venue and Sotaa's proven track record in managing the past four fairs, among other reasons.

The Travel Revolution fair attracted 82,000 visitors over three days in February last year, while the Natas fair last March drew 58,000.

Visitors enjoy free admission to both fairs.

mellinjm@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 6, 2017.
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