Some of the 12 fish farms in the East Johor Strait have had their sales suspension lifted.
The announcement by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) yesterday came in the wake of a collision between two container vessels in the strait separating Singapore and Malaysia on Jan 4.
The collision resulted in roughly 300 tonnes of oil being spilled into the surrounding waters.
As of yesterday, two farms which produced only fish were allowed to sell their stocks.
While another nine farms were given the green light to sell their fish, the sales suspension was not lifted for crustaceans and molluscs sold by these farms due to ongoing food-safety evaluation, AVA said.
Similarly, the sales suspension remained for one farm which produced only molluscs.
An AVA spokesman said: "Most of the farms in the East Johor Strait have completed clean-up and put up mitigation measures to prevent re-entry of residual oil.
"Fish samples collected from the farms have also passed our food-safety evaluation."
Meanwhile, AVA will continue to monitor the situation and conduct sampling at the East Johor Strait coastal fish farms.
zaihan@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 21, 2017.
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Police have engaged with parents and a school over the way the force delivers its crime-prevention talks - particularly in addressing the issue of sexual assault.
This is after concerns arose when a police officer told female students during a school talk on Monday to be mindful of their attire, lest they attract unwanted attention.
The crime-prevention talk at the School of the Arts was for Secondary 2 students.
"Arising from feedback received, police have clarified the matter with relevant parties," said a police spokesman.
Some students interpreted the male officer's remarks as a form of victim-shaming that holds the girl responsible over her attire that may have provoked the perpetrator into sexually assaulting her.
At least two parents aired their concerns on social media.
One of them, television actress and drama instructor Eleanor Tan, 40, told The Straits Times that the police contacted another parent, and told her they will look at improving the way they conduct such talks.
"The police officer may have had good intentions, but he delivered his warnings on crime prevention through a haze of outdated sexist notions and victim-blaming assumptions," she said, adding that it left some of the students upset.
Another parent, voice and presentation coach Petrina Kow, 40, posted on Facebook: "I have highlighted to (the police) my deeper concerns and what gives me hope is that they are really pro-active and eager to improve and receive feedback.
"I do not walk away from this incident outraged... I am still cautiously aware of the long journey ahead to break these deeply held, misguided and ultimately dangerous notions of 'inviting crime'."
Aware Singapore shared the posts, saying: "One in three young people in Singapore (has) faced sexual violence - and messages like these do nothing for their recovery, and reinforce dangerous myths about sexual assault that prevent survivors from seeking help."
The episode follows that of a lawyer who defended his client's molestation charge by focusing on the victim's breasts. Law Minister K. Shanmugam later chided the lawyer, saying the "theory that only attractive women get molested" is not taught in law school.
jantai@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 21, 2017.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has urged the Indonesian authorities to process the case of detained boat captain Shoo Chiau Huat "expeditiously" so that the Singaporean can return home without "unnecessary delay".
In a statement yesterday, MFA said that while the Singapore Government respects the law and judicial process of Indonesia, it is "deeply concerned" with Shoo's prolonged detention and the "long-drawn" judicial process related to his case.
Shoo has been detained since April last year when his boat, ferrying 13 recreational anglers from Singapore and Malaysia, was stopped for trespassing by the Indonesian Navy in waters off Bintan Island.
While his passengers were deported a week later, Shoo was charged with illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.
He was acquitted in July, but new charges relating to immigration offences were brought against him in October.
Shoo was found guilty on Tuesday.
The Tanjung Pinang Court ruled he should pay a 50 million rupiah (S$5,300) fine or serve five months' jail in lieu of the fine.
But he may not be allowed to leave even if he pays the fine, as the Indonesian Navy says it intends to pursue a separate case against him for sailing in Indonesian waters without a permit.
He could serve a maximum six years' jail.
Shoo's wife, Mrs Jasmine Shoo, said: "I visited him ...last Tuesday, knowing he might not be back for the (Chinese New Year) festivities, and gave him a red packet for good luck."
The 50-year-old administrative assistant is taking care of their four children.
This article was first published on January 21, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - The way 54 Surbana Jurong employees were sacked has left unionists surprised and aggrieved, with some saying that due process was not followed for those who are union members.
In a Facebook post on Friday (Jan 20), Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union (Batu) president Nasordin Mohd Hashim wrote: "Usually, before a union member is terminated, the details of the case would be officially given to the union to ensure our members will be given fair treatment and that due process is followed."
But he said that "this was not observed" in the Surbana case, adding that 18 of the 54 workers were union members.
His post was shared by National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Zainal Sapari.
The posts came after reports of a strongly-worded e-mail seen by The Straits Times on Wednesday, in which Surbana Jurong group chief executive Wong Heang Fine told staff that the group cannot allow a small proportion of poor performers to be a drag on the rest of the organisation.
That was why the infrastructure consultancy terminated the employment of a group of workers in Singapore over the previous two weeks.
The 54 employees represented 0.41 per cent of Surbana Jurong's global workforce and 0.79 per cent of its Singapore staff.
But Mr Nasordin said in his Facebook post that eight of its union members involved were staff who were offered re-employment or had their contract renewed.
He asked: "Why did the company offer them re-employment or renew their contract if their performance was not satisfactory to begin with? Why did the company not allow these long serving staff to see out their contracts?"
He added that some of them had cleared their performance review in July but were still "managed out", making it unsurprising that the public might think the company "is avoiding compensating the workers".
"The timing of the termination leaves much to be desired," he said.
Meanwhile, Singapore Industrial and Services Employees' Union general secretary Philip Lee also said on Facebook that it is "common practice to give warning as an initial step" before terminating employment.
There should also be feedback and opportunity for employees to improve, he wrote on Friday, where he questioned if the workers were given a chance to appeal.
"To sack them just before (the Chinese New Year) is heartless to the extreme,"he said.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had said earlier that it is currently looking into the termination of employment involving employees under the Surbana Group of companies.
MOM added that 18 employees have been referred to it by the unions and the ministry is providing assistance to them.
This article was first published on Jan 21, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - Despite persistent rain, a preview of this year's Chingay parade went on at the F1 Pit Building on Saturday (Jan 21).
Chingay preview performances held at the F1 pit building on Jan 21, 2017.Photo: The Straits Times
Some 10,000 students from 60 primary and secondary schools were treated to the show which featured local segments of the parade, that will take place on Feb 10 and 11.
Chingay preview performances held at the F1 pit building on Jan 21, 2017.Photo: The Straits Times
This year's parade, its 45th, features 8,000 performers in seven segments that look at Chingay in the past, present and future.
Highlights include the recreation of a tiger float that first appeared in the 1974 parade, performances of home-grown Mandarin music wave xinyao, and a finale featuring laser lights, fireworks and other special effects.
Members of the People's Association Youth Movement (PAYM) dressed for the weather in poncho costumes, inspired by the heavy downpour during last year's parade.
School of the Arts dance student Vinny Lai, 17, returned to perform for the second year in PAYM's finale.
"I'm came back because of the friends I made last year and the opportunity to perform in front of such a large audience," she told The Straits Times ahead of the show.
Chingay preview performances held at the F1 pit building on Jan 21, 2017.Photo: The Straits Times
Having rehearsed three times a week since last November, she said: "I'm not worried about the rain, we danced in the rain last year, too."
Tickets for the Chingay parade are on sale on Sistic now, and about 46,000 spectators are expected to attend over the two nights.
This article was first published on Jan 21, 2017.
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Last July, two stately bungalows which had fallen into disuse after housing the defunct Grand Hotel in Marine Parade for decades were converted into pre-schools following a $5 million makeover.
Earlier this month, The Sunday Times visited three abandoned abodes which have intrigued their neighbours, urban explorer groups, and heritage expertssuch as siblings Charles and Raymond Goh.
In Singapore, such "abandoned" properties are not tracked.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) tracks the vacancy rate for private homes that are completed, while the Ministry of Law's Public Trustee' s Office administers the estates of deceased persons. The Singapore Land Authority manages state land and state properties.
Even so, heritage experts believe that there are about 20 such old and unoccupied properties that dot land-scarce Singapore.
SLP International executive director Nicholas Mak said owners of such properties might hold on to them as they may not need the money and have no plans for the estate.
He said: "In land-scarce Singapore, the value of these properties will only increase, especially if they are freehold. Owners keep hold on them as a form of investment or for the next generation. These are usually their spare properties and not their main place of residence."
In other cases, the properties might be contested by descendants or part of court tussles and cannot be sold, he added.
1 BEDOK AVENUE
1 Bedok Avenue - A villa dating back to the 1920s which was owned by businessman "Abdul Hadjee Kahar Bin Abdul Ramee". The Villa Kahar was later sold to Dr Lee Choo Neo, Singapore's first female doctor and grand-aunt to Singapore's first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It is now owned by the descendants of Dr Lee and her husband. Photo: The Straits Times
Unoccupied for decades, a villa dating back to the 1920s has stood the test of time in the quiet neighbourhood of Bedok, near Upper East Coast Road.
Records show that it was owned by businessman "Abdul Hadjee Kahar Bin Abdul Ramee". According to heritage blog Remember Singapore, he had purchased land there from a Chinese nutmeg plantation owner for about $7,000 in 1910.
The house changed hands after the family was forced by the invading Japanese army to sell it. It was unoccupied for years and photographed in a state of disrepair in 2005.
According to research by the National Heritage Board, Villa Kahar was later sold to Dr Lee Choo Neo, Singapore's first female doctor. Dr Lee was the wife of prominent businessman Teo Koon Lim and grand-aunt to Singapore's first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
The board described the architecture as a "fine example of a synthesis between traditional and imported styles" for it stands on stilts like kampung houses, but features neo-Rococo influences at the same time .
The Sunday Times understands that the building, currently registered to Livet Company, which is owned by the descendants of Dr Lee and Mr Teo, was recently spruced up and could soon be rented out to a ballet or pilates studio. The original interior, which had eight rooms, has been largely re-configured. When contacted, the Teos declined to comment.
The building now boasts a relatively fresh coat of yellow paint, green louvred windows and decorative ceramic work on its front facade.
A book by Professor Hadijah Rahmat, called Kilat Senja, notes that many operas and parties used to be held at the villa.
Dr Lee Nai Jia, head of South-east Asia research at Edmund Tie and Company, said the price for the site could be around $700 per sq ft given its development potential.
67 CAIRNHILL ROAD
67 Cairnhill Road - This home was bought in 1912 by Boey Chuan Poh, the sole proprietor of the Union Times, a Singapore newspaper. The property last belonged to Mr Lien Kwang Wah, the brother of tycoon Lien Ying Chow. It is now held in Mr Lien Kwang Wah's family. Photo: The Straits Times
Prime districts are also home to such abandoned properties.
Take, for instance, 67 Cairnhill Road, tucked among soaring condominiums. The aged property is shrouded by tall trees, overgrown ferns and plant roots that creep across a boundary wall. The building itself appears to be a raised one-storey structure and wears a weathered coat of mint-green paint.
Steps leading up to the house are old and broken, and a string of colourful Christmas lights can be spotted on one side of the facade.
A resident in Cairnhill Mansions next door, who wanted to be known only as Ms M. J., 65, said she had always wondered who owned the house as she had never seen anyone going in. She said: "It's not nice to see such a building with rotten leaves lying all around in a prime area. It's quite unsightly."
Research by the Goh brothers, who brought the issue of abandoned property to the attention of The Sunday Times, found that it last belonged to Mr Lien Kwang Wah, who died in 2008. The Sunday Times understands that the property has been held in the family of the brother of tycoon Lien Ying Chow, the founder of Overseas Union Bank.
The home was purchased in 1912 by Boey Chuan Poh, the sole proprietor of the Union Times, a Singapore newspaper. Mr Boey also built a villa off Balestier Road that is known as the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall today. Mr Charles Goh said: "The house was known as Fernbank and it was re-numbered from 44 to 67 Cairnhill Road based on the 1930 map of Singapore."
9 CLAYMORE ROAD
9 Claymore Road - The bungalow is owned by Mr Tan Kheng Chuan who reportedly owned Hiap Ann Sago Factory which has since been deregistered. The building has been abandoned since the 1970s. A 2007 report pegged its value at $151.5 million. Photo: The Straits Times
Architecturally or historically significant structures often catch the eye of conservation experts.
Take the case of the 1938 Chee Guan Chiang bungalow at 25 Grange Road, which suffered from vandalism and poor maintenance for years. It was conserved by the URA in 2008. The building was designed by one of the leading architects of the Modern Movement in Singapore, Mr Ho Kwong Yew, who also designed the now demolished Haw Par Villa residence.
Another bungalow which bears some similarity to the Chee Guan Chiang house is the property at 9 Claymore Road, just behind Pacific Plaza in town. It is owned by Mr Tan Kheng Chuan, who reportedly owned Hiap Ann Sago Factory, which has since been deregistered.
The Goh brothers estimate that the building, which has curved walls and extensive windows, has been abandoned since the 1970s. A 2007 report pegged its value at $151.5 million.
263 Outram Road - The abandoned premises of the former Pohsan Dance Studio. It used to be the workplace and living quarters of Mr Low Poh San and his wife, Ms Jenny Quek, who were Singapore professional ballroom dance champions in the 1940s and 1950s. Photo: The Straits Times
Other intriguing homes, which have remained empty for years that were highlighted by heritage community members such as blogger Jerome Lim, include the abandoned premises of the former Pohsan Dance Studio at 263 Outram Road which dates back to 1937.
It used to be the workplace and living quarters of Mr Low Poh San and his wife, Ms Jenny Quek, who were Singapore professional ballroom dance champions in the 1940s and 1950s. It is now part of the conserved Tiong Bahru estate.
This article was first published on Jan 22, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
<p>Last July, two stately bungalows which had fallen into disuse after housing the defunct Grand Hotel in Marine Parade for decades were converted into pre-schools following a $5 million makeover.</p>
Singapore's future prime minister needs to have courage, steel, be able to lead and connect with the people, and get the buy-in from Singaporeans to set out the nation's path, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday .
Paraphrasing founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's words, he added: "Whoever leads Singapore will have to have the iron in him.
"He has got to be able to lead the people. This is not a game of cards, it's everybody's lives."
Mr Shanmugam was speaking on the sidelines of a ground-breaking ceremony for the Automobile Association of Singapore's new building in Kung Chong Road.
He talked about the qualities a future candidate should have in the context of regional developments such as terrorism and security issues, as well as uncertainties elsewhere in the world.
The future leader should also be able to "look at what is happening (and) take pre-emptive action so that we always land on our feet, and we succeed", he noted.
On succession plans, Mr Shanmugam said "the Prime Minister has set out his timetable", adding: "We look for the next generation of leaders early so that they can come in with a number of years to go still."
PM Lee Hsien Loong on Friday responded to a question about his involvement in selecting the next leader during a dialogue, saying the search is progressing. He reiterated that the next generation of ministers will choose their own leader.
He said a team of next-generation leaders is in place and it was reinforced in 2011, and again last year.
Those identified as potential candidates include Minister in the PM's Office Chan Chun Sing, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Education Ministers Ng Chee Meng and Ong Ye Kung, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and National Development Minister Lawrence Wong.
Mr Shanmugam said "the challenges that Singapore will face are really no different from the challenges that we have faced over 50 years". "The world is changing, will continue to change and we have to adapt to that, survive and prosper."
This article was first published on Jan 22, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
<p>Singapore's future prime minister needs to have courage, steel, be able to lead and connect with the people, and get the buy-in from Singaporeans to set out the nation's path, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday .</p>
The legal framework penalising irresponsible driving is set to be "strengthened and toughened up", reiterated Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.
He was speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Automobile Association of Singapore's (AA Singapore) new seven-storey building in Kung Chong Road, off Leng Kee Road.
Mr Shanmugam said more could be done for road traffic safety here, with support from partners such as AA Singapore.
In the first three quarters of last year, there was an average of about 11 fatal accidents a month. But every fatal accident is "one too many", said Mr Shanmugam.
On average, there are just under 700 traffic accidents with injuries each month, he added.
Besides encouraging better driving habits, there has to be "very firm and clear action against traffic violations", he said.
In December, it was announced that the Government would seek to increase penalties for offences resulting in death or injury or involving drugs or alcohol, as well as for repeat offenders.
Mr Shanmugam said: "If you have destroyed people's lives... there must be some responsibility."
He added: "It's not just a question of being fined, going into jail, coming out after a few months."
On the new building, Mr Bernard Tay, president of AA Singapore, said: "The transformation allows us to cater to the changing motoring and lifestyle needs, and members can look forward to more exciting and value-added services with enhanced membership benefits and privileges."
The $25 million building is expected to be a one-stop centre for members and the public. Slated to be completed next year, it will be about 3.6 times larger in floor area than the old two-storey building, which has been demolished.
AA Singapore also presented a $15,000 cheque to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. It had conducted a road safety campaign last year, where it donated $5 for each online pledge from the public.
byseow@sph.com.sg
11
Average number of fatal accidents in a month in the first three quarters of last year.
700
Number of traffic accidents with injuries each month.
This article was first published on Jan 22, 2017.
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That's how one health expert describes the new system that will consolidate public healthcare into three large groups. The key this time is a focus on primary care, Insight finds.
For 71-year-old Lim Ah Sai, a double amputee who has five chronic illnesses, including glaucoma, healthcare gets very complex.
Three times a year, he goes to Toa Payoh Polyclinic to make sure his diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are in check.
He also has an appointment every two months at the National Skin Centre in Novena so doctors can keep tabs on his eczema.
Almost every day, he goes for day care at voluntary welfare organisation SPD - which cares for people with physical disabilities - or visits the senior activity centre run by Touch Community Services near his home in Geylang Bahru.
Mr Lim and his wife - who is working and cannot care for him - have no children.
"It's simple because they (all) arrange transportation for me," Mr Lim says. "But if they didn't, how would I get anywhere?"
Last week, the Health Ministry (MOH) announced a set of changes to the healthcare landscape that might make life simpler for people like Mr Lim who have multiple appointments around the island.
But at first glance, the changes make it look as if history is repeating itself.
The six healthcare clusters, formed in the late 2000s when two bigger groups were split up, are merging again. By next year, after the transition is complete, there will be three large groups overseeing public healthcare - SingHealth, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) and the National University Health System (NUHS).
Photo: The Straits Times
As familiar as this landscape appears, experts are quick to point out that Singapore today is not the same country it was in the 1990s - and that makes all the difference.
Reshaping the healthcare scene is meant to solve problems the Republic didn't have before, especially that of a growing senior population making frequent hospital trips for relatively minor ailments.
"At present, some patients have to make multiple trips to hospital specialist clinics for chronic disease management," says Dr Tan Wu Meng, an MP for Jurong GRC, who is on the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Health.
"But what if we could empower more family physicians to manage more such patients in the community closer to home - with specialist opinions in the same cluster just a phone call, an instant message, or an e-mail away?"
This is exactly what MOH hopes to achieve with its emphasis on primary care as part of the merger.
Primary care refers to polyclinics, general practitioners (GPs) and family medicine clinics - the first ports of call for most people when they fall ill.
Photo: The Straits Times
LESS TO-ING AND FRO-ING
Having three large clusters rather than six smaller ones will make it easier to coordinate between hospitals and primary care doctors, says a ministry spokesman, and help to "anchor care in the community as a collective force".
"Primary care is the bedrock of a good healthcare system," the spokesman adds. "A patient with a chronic disease may require treatment at an acute hospital for a serious complication, but should ideally be able to be managed close to home by his regular family doctor over the longer term."
This means the changes could save people time and money - for if they find that they can rely on doctors near their homes, they have less reason to travel further and pay more for care in a hospital clinic. And it is not just savings in terms of transport expenses, but also in medical costs, as seeing a specialist is generally more expensive than going to a polyclinic doctor.
Comparing the healthcare system to a pyramid, Mr Roy Quek, chairman of private healthcare group Thomson Medical, says: "You want to catch people at the base of the pyramid first, rather than all the way at the top where the costs are much higher."
Mr Quek, who used to be deputy secretary of health policy at MOH, adds: "Primary care is always going to be our first line of defence - but it must be able to link back to the larger system."
Mr Quek says that although primary care is always going to be the first line of defence, it must be able to link back to the larger system. Photo: The Business Times
WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE CHANGES
The changes will see the newly formed National University Polyclinics, managed by NUHS, take over the management of five of the 18 existing clinics - meaning all the new clusters will have their own set of polyclinics.
In 1999, the nation's public healthcare facilities - general hospitals, specialist centres and polyclinics - were divvied up more or less equally between SingHealth and NHG.
But under then Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, they were hived off into six smaller clusters, each in charge of a specific geographical region, the idea being that these smaller clusters - each anchored by a general hospital - would have more room for innovation and become more independent.
However, last Wednesday, MOH announced the merger once again of these clusters, in anticipation of the growing complexity of healthcare needs. Each cluster will look after more than a million Singapore residents and partner with one of the three medical schools here.
Moving to a system where clusters cover broader areas makes it easier for institutions to work together and provide seamless care, says Dr Loke Wai Chiong, healthcare sector leader at Deloitte South-east Asia.
This means making it simple for patients - and their medical records - to move between institutions with the minimum amount of fuss. "If you think about seamless patient care, it happens only when you have the various care providers sitting down together to organise things," Dr Loke says.
"I think there is a recognition that collaboration is easier if there are fewer clusters, and between and within these three it will hopefully be easier to agree on workflows and processes, and ultimately standardise (them) at the national level."
MOH has said that the vast majority of healthcare staff will retain their current roles, with no changes to their monthly salaries. If people have to move, they will be offered jobs that match their skills and experience, and at the same pay.
However, the merger means many employees will get better opportunities for career progression and development, says Dr Lee Chien Earn, group chief executive of the Eastern Health Alliance, which will soon come under the management of SingHealth.
Dr Lee points out that the merger means many employees will get better opportunities for career progression and development.
Photo: Changi General Hospital
Each organisation that is now part of a larger whole will also have access to a wider range of facilities, services and networks.
HOW THE NEW SYSTEM WILL HELP
For example, says Health GPC member Dr Tan, polyclinics would be able to do more for patients with all the "firepower" of a large cluster behind them. "(This is) whether it's a remote consult with a specialist, being able to restock complex prescriptions without the patient going to hospital, or arranging tests and scans and being able to readily download the images and results."
Dr Tan believes polyclinics would be able to do more for patients with all the “firepower” of a large cluster behind them. Photo: The Straits Times
Of course, it goes beyond just polyclinics and acute hospitals leveraging on one another's strengths. It also includes community hospitals and the national specialist centres. And it means that organisations formerly from different clusters will be able to tap one another's community networks - such as GPs in private practice, voluntary welfare organisations or nursing homes - to, and from which, so many referrals are typically made.
How all this potential will pan out in the next few years remains to be seen, although experts agree it should improve efficiency in the system, especially when it comes to planning and innovations.
"The gains may not be so immediate in terms of things like waiting times," Dr Loke says. "But the system now is less complex and there is more scale. Scale helps - it's hard to do things like telemedicine and telemonitoring without it."
And Mr Quek adds: "It should lead to greater efficiency when you consolidate manpower over a larger, integrated footprint."
linettel@sph.com.sg
MORE SEAMLESS
I think there is a recognition that collaboration is easier if there are fewer clusters, and between and within these three it will hopefully be easier to agree on workflows and processes, and ultimately standardise (them) at the national level. '' DR LOKE WAI CHIONG, Deloitte South-east Asia's healthcare sector leader.
This article was first published on Jan 22, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
Around 600 fans braved the rain on Saturday evening (Jan 21) to catch local singing sensation Nathan Hartono at an exclusive showcase presented by Singtel Music.
With his rich vocals, the singer crooned to the audience with a setlist comprising original songs such as Electricity and Tell Me Something from his upcoming EP.
He also performed the Chinese pop favourites - William Wei's 'Have You Ever' and Jay Chou's 'The Longest Movie' - that catapulted him to fame in Sing! China last year.
Those who missed out on Hartono's performance can view highlights on Singtel's social media pages, or listen to his new EP through Singtel Music's premium Spotify and KKBOX subscriptions.
The showcase is part of Singtel Music's efforts to support local music talent.
For more information, visit www.singtel.com/singtelmusic.
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2016-07-17 11:12:40
Photo Gallery
Local singer Nathan Hartono wows Sing! China judges
Mouldy cakes, soiled underwear and nuggets crawling with maggots - these are not items in trash bins, but in-kind donations to thrift shops or charities.
They might be extreme cases, but charities interviewed by The Sunday Times said that up to 40 per cent of the items donated by the public end up being discarded regularly because they turn out to be unsuitable for the charities' use.
Time and effort is needed to collect and sift through them.
At The Food Bank Singapore (FBSG) - which collects donations of non-perishable food items like canned food and rice and distributes them to social service organisations - volunteers and staff spend about 1,700 man-hours sorting through an average of 240 tonnes of food donated by the public every year.
About 10 to 20 per cent of the items are discarded because they do not fit the charity's requirements, said Ms Margarita Seah, an FBSG management associate.
Bizarre examples of donations collected last year include syrup that expired in 1998.
The charity also often finds used coffee cups and half-eaten food in donation boxes at some collection points - which may contaminate other donations.
"It's quite shocking to see that people are leaving such items behind, as our signs clearly state that we collect only non-perishable items," said Ms Seah.
The signs at collection points list examples of acceptable items, such as unopened snacks or canned food with at least four weeks of shelf life, as well as items not accepted, such as unlabelled food products.
Ms Seah said that FBSG is looking at redesigning the signs with graphics to make the guidelines more obvious.
It now conducts talks in schools and offices to spread awareness before it holds food drives, during which donated items are collected from the public.
The Singapore Red Cross also has had its share of oddities among the unsuitable items that have been given to it.
Mr Dennis Yeo, its head of fund-raising, said that last year alone, the charity received items like a beer keg, five samurai swords and even a knuckleduster.
"There was still beer inside the keg and we had to call the distributor to collect it as it was a pressurised container," said Mr Yeo, who added that the swords and knuckleduster had to be handed over to the police.
About 30 to 40 per cent of the public donations that it receives for resale at its two thrift shops are unsuitable for use.
The Red Cross has guidelines on its website listing the items that it accepts - mainly new or second-hand items in good working condition such as clothes, electronic devices like mobile phones or iPads, and toys and books.
Mr Yeo said that one suggestion for donors is to ask themselves what condition they would like a product to be in, if they were the recipients.
Some organisations have made a more concerted effort to combat the problem of unwanted donations over the past year.
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Singapore provides free accommodation for parents with gravely ill children at the National University Hospital. Ms Shameem Abdul Rahman, its executive director, said that in the past, 40 per cent of in-kind donations for beneficiaries were unsuitable.
But a new rule that RMHC introduced in the middle of last year - requiring staff and volunteers to inform donors that they have to inspect items before accepting them - has helped to reduce that percentage to almost zero.
The organisation also encourages donors to call to find out what specific items are on its wish list.
"There are times when they would give us leftover food items that have been opened and non-food items that are already used. That makes us pretty sad as we're (seen as) a dumping ground, which is wrong," said Ms Shameem.
To cope, other charities have reduced the number of donations they receive in kind.
Project Goodwill Aid had collected used items in good condition for low-income families twice a year since 2013, but founder Siti Nurani Salim said that this year, the organisation will cut the frequency to once a year because too much effort is needed to sort through and dispose of unwanted items.
Still, the seven charities interviewed by The Sunday Times said that there still remains a need for donations in kind.
On average, the Red Cross collects $400,000 a year from its thrift shop sales and Mr Yeo said that they are looking at expanding the store.
"Getting cash donations from individuals and corporations may be challenging given the economic outlook, but our thrift shop is one way through which we can convert donations we receive into cash."
The Salvation Army's social enterprise unit, Red Shield Industries, operates five thrift shops and receives 54 million tonnes of donations in kind a year. It said its operations not only help to raise funds but also allow people to do their part for the environment by reusing items and reducing wastage.
About 35 per cent of funds raised by the unit come from thrift shop proceeds.
"Cash provides greater flexibility when it comes to meeting needs, but we welcome all types of contributions that will allow us to make a difference in the community," said Red Shield Industries' deputy general manager Richard Goh.
yuensin@sph.com.sg
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Up to 40 per cent of donations unsuitable for use.
This article was first published on Jan 22, 2017.
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Restrictions on the two main football pitches at Home United Youth Football Academy (HYFA) in Mattar Road are likely to be "temporary" while stakeholders work out a compromise, said MP for MacPherson Tin Pei Ling.
After complaints of noise from some residents, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) had ordered in mid-last month that the fields not be used during weekends and weekday nights from 7pm.
The move sparked heated discussion on whether the SLA was right to impose such curbs, and how this reflects on the development of Singapore's sports culture.
Around 1,900 people have signed an online petition started four days ago on Change.org to oppose SLA's restrictions.
Among those who spoke up publicly were Mr Jose Raymond, a former senior director at the Singapore Sports Hub. He called the partial suspensions "a slap in the face for the development of sports culture in Singapore".
"As a result of this minority, more than 1,000 children will suffer," he said in a Facebook post, referring to the children with football academy JSSL Singapore.
Columnist Neil Humphreys called the incident "astonishing" on football website FourFourTwo last week, pointing out that football can act as a "cultural emollient for disparate groups in society".
Such developments seem to suggest that Singapore focuses on the "first, minor negatives, rather than the overwhelming positives".
"One of the best football facilities in the country was hit with an injunction after a handful of complaints, denying children the opportunity to play," he added, referring to the HYFA facility which was built, after consultation with the authorities, for more than $1 million in 2014. "That's the antithesis of a sports culture."
The Sunday Times understands that SLA is working to reach an "amicable solution" with the relevant agencies and HYFA.
But the facility has lost its main client, JSSL Singapore, whose bottomline has been affected twice by a change of policy by the authorities.
JSSL Singapore managing director Harvey Davis, whose academy has since relocated to The Arena in Woodleigh Park, said: "This doesn't sit well with me, and shouldn't sit well with Singapore as a community... it's damaging for Singapore sports."
About the incident, Ms Tin said residents did not have "nimby" (not in my backyard) syndrome.
"To be fair, residents understand the need for give and take," she added. "They are not opposed to sports in the community and are not against HYFA's presence... but they hope for some reprieve, on some nights."
She said some residents were forced to change their lifestyle because of the constant noise.
In one case, a family with two toddlers left their flat all day and came back late at night on weekends, at the peak of activities last year, as their children could not fall asleep at home.
While four residents spoke up publicly about the matter, 35 households said they were affected by the noise, she said, adding that it was unlikely SLA had imposed restrictions just because of complaints from a few people, and that the residents were not unreasonable.
Some residents of Block 126, such as Mr Alan Hoong, 56, said: "We were subjected to noise pollution for more than half the day."
"We couldn't speak properly at home, and couldn't even watch television," he added, although things improved after the new measures.
However, other residents said they enjoyed having such activities nearby.
"As long as the noise stops by 10pm, it's all right for us," said Madam Tan Suan Mooi, 76, a retiree.
Said retiree Low Chor Young, 67: "Initially, it was really loud. There was a lot of shouting.
"But since they moved the supporters' tents further away, the noise has been bearable.
"We should be more easy-going and not complain unless necessary."
Last May, a group of residents met representatives from government agencies, including the SLA and Urban Redevelopment Authority, plus Home United to discuss ways to resolve the issue.
The football academies compromised by using quieter whistles and moving the supporters' tents.
But these moves did not appear to be enough for the affected residents, who seem to be a minority.
On that point, Mr Darryl David, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Culture, Community and Youth, said: "We shouldn't be focusing on the number of people making the complaint but the nature of it."
"These four people could be raising an issue that more are experiencing.
"I don't think this reflects on the community's attitude towards sporting culture," he added.
While some may argue that heartlanders could be more prone to such incidents, Mr David said it all depends on the urban density of a neighbourhood.
"It reflects that we are getting denser, and the spaces we have are getting more populated," he added.
"We have to try to be more tolerant and understand the needs of a different group."
byseow@sph.com.sg
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To be fair, residents understand the need for give and take. They are not opposed to sports in the community and are not against HYFA's presence... but they hope for some reprieve, on some nights. '' MP TIN PEI LING, who said residents did not have "nimby" (not in my backyard) syndrome. She added that some were forced to change their lifestyle due to the constant noise.
'Red card' shown twice
It is the second time that JSSL Singapore, which was hit by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) restrictions last month, has had to move.
Up till two years ago, the football academy conducted training on weekends and some weekday evenings at Victoria Junior College, said its managing director Harvey Davis.
The arrangement had been in place for six years until 2015, when he was informed by the school that the Education Ministry said it could no longer rent out its space to private organisations.
JSSL moved out within four months but its clientele of nearly 1,500 children then dropped to some 700.
About 60 per cent of its students are local, said Mr Davis.
While it had about 1,200 children last year, the number has fallen to about 800 now.
At the Home United Youth Football Academy, JSSL ran its programmes and league matches from 8am to 9pm on weekends and weekday nights
On Dec 6, Mr Davis said JSSL was "called into the building and told (by the operator Asia Sports) that we had to vacate the pitch there and then".
He was told that residents in the area had complained, and the SLA decided to impose restrictions, so he had to go.
JSSL had its last session on Dec 18, he said, adding that it would have been better if it had been given more notice, and a chance to mitigate the situation before moving out.
More than 1,000 students were affected. Relocating and setting up its facilities again cost JSSL some $50,000, said Mr Davis.
This excludes losses from student fees when participation fell.
SINGAPORE - The kampung spirit of Singapore's old days is being rekindled in Tampines Street 43, thanks to two refrigerators.
Placed in the lift lobby of a block of flats, the fridges have been placed there for residents in the area to donate food to their needy neighbours.
The initiative by the Tampines North Citizens' Consultative Committee was launched at Block 441 on Saturday (Jan 21) by Mr Baey Yam Keng, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Grassroots Adviser to Tampines Grassroots Organisations.
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Fridges stocked with food in Tampines block to help boost kampung spirit
Mr Baey helped stock up the fridges with the first batch of fish, meat, eggs, vegetables and fruits contributed by residents in the area.
One fridge is reserved for halal items, while the other is for non-halal food. They are targeted at the residents of Blocks 441 and 442, which are about 20 years old and house about 100 single-room rental flats for needy families.
Mr Baey said he hoped the initiative would not only provide extra food but also turn the common area into a "watering hole" for residents to meet up and get to know one another.
He added that the fridges would be observed over the next few months, to assess the feasibility of the idea and whether the initiative was something that might benefit other estates in Singapore.
"They are welcome to copy and steal this idea," Mr Baey quipped.
Girls tend to outdo boys academically at a younger age although this gap closes as they enter their late teens and early 20s.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education (MOE) showed that in the last 10 years, girls performed "slightly better" than boys in the Primary School Leaving Examination. Girls were around 2 to 3 percentage points over-represented in the top quintile, and about 3 to 4 percentage points under-represented in the bottom quintile.
At the O levels, girls were around 1 to 2 percentage points over-represented in the top quintile and about 1 to 2 percentage points under-represented in the bottom quintile.
But there was hardly any distinction in qualification to the tertiary level. The numbers of males and females pursuing degrees in local universities have been comparable over the past three years, said the ministry.
For instance, out of a total of 18,126 undergraduates in the 2015 intake for the six publicly-funded universities, 9,192 were female.
An MOE spokesman said these figures reflect global trends in educational results by gender.
Worldwide, girls are better readers than boys across all age groups up to upper secondary.
For mathematics and science, girls also generally do better than boys up to lower secondary but boys outperformed girls at the higher levels.
The disparity in performance between boys and girls is "a complex issue that depends on various factors, such as the subject matter, students' education level, motivation level and behaviours and the education systems", said MOE.
A 2015 report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on gender equality in education stated that boys' poorer performance in school is likely linked to their behaviour rather than "innate differences in ability".
For example, boys reported that they spent one hour less each week on homework than girls, more time playing video games than girls and less time reading for enjoyment.
But MOE also noted that Singapore's gender gap in results is not as evident as in worldwide studies. In the latest 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment, for example, the difference in reading ability between 15-year-old girls and boys in Singapore was smaller than most other countries' and the OECD average.
The spokesman for MOE said the ministry has initiatives to support academically weaker students, regardless of their gender, such as learning support and remediation programmes.
Psychology experts and educators contacted said while boys and girls develop differently, parents should not oversimplify how they learn, especially at a young age.
Psychologist Daniel Koh from Insights Mind Centre said girls tend to be better listeners and are more receptive to details - qualities which make for more effective learning.
Boys, on the other hand, get bored and distracted easily, needing more stimulation and space to pay attention, he added.
They also tend to do better with practical and performance-based tasks, which feature more at later stages of education such as polytechnic and university.
But Assistant Professor Ryan Hong from the National University of Singapore's psychology department said research has largely yielded gender similarities rather than differences.
And these differences, like in maths or verbal reasoning, are usually small, he added.
He noted though that males here may have "matured in the course of national service and that allows them to be more focused and responsible in their university studies".
Mr Koh added: "Boys at times also take longer to determine what they want to do or find interest in something... They usually grow in maturity and discipline by the time they finish army."
Madam Esther Yap, 50, said her daughter, now 18 and in her third year of polytechnic, matured faster than her son, who is now 16.
"From primary to secondary school, he just liked to play computer games. Only at the beginning of this year in Secondary 4 when my daughter pushed him to think about his future, then he focused more on work," added the sales coordinator.
Her son wants to study engineering in polytechnic next year.
"I wasn't worried. I knew he would make it when he knows what he wants to do."
Boys not in a hurry to grow up, says mum
Nicholas, 14, picked up table tennis at age six and recently started playing football too. His sister Jerica, 17, has been playing the guzheng since she was in Primary 1.Photo: The Straits Times
When 14-year-old Nicholas Fung was in primary school, the playful boy spent hours playing video games and football with friends.
His mother, Madam Janice Ong, said: "He seemed to be in a daze in primary school. He was more interested in play."
Compared to his older sister, Jerica, who is now 17, Nicholas seemed to be weaker in his studies, especially in language, noticed Madam Ong, a housewife.
Said the 47-year-old: "In primary school, she was more diligent. She will do her work, follow through and look through her corrections.
"But the boy can make the same mistake again and again.
"Like his friends, he was more into play and games. Even recess is about playing, not eating."
But Madam Ong was not too concerned about her children's differences. "I think it's a natural part of growing up. Boys are usually not in a hurry to grow up." In fact, she saw "signs of improvement in maturity" in Nicholas only last year when he completed Secondary 2.
"Teachers say that he has potential to do well. He studied his hardest for the end-of-year Secondary 2 exams," she said. "He knows now... he needs to be more responsible, otherwise he will face consequences like not getting promoted."
She said: "Boys tend to be more playful but once they set their mind on a goal... they will really work towards it. The school environment and peer pressure also push them to study hard as their maturity level grows."
Today, Madam Ong is glad that both her children have also developed interests of their own - Nicholas is sporty and plays table tennis for his school while Jerica is a musical talent who plays the guzheng.
Nicholas picked up table tennis at the age of six and joined the Singapore Table Tennis Association's Junior Development Squad for primary school pupils. He trains four times a week and has won awards representing his secondary school. Recently, for recreation, he started playing football once a week with a club.
Jerica, now in her first year of junior college, has been playing the guzheng since Primary 1. Two years later, she auditioned and got into the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts' School of Young Talents programme that trains students in music, dance, art and drama. In 2013, she joined the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra and has taken part in local competitions.
Said Madam Ong: "I'm very blessed that my kids have these interests and they enjoy these activities. It just happened naturally.
"I didn't push them."
Better for parents to support children based on learning needs
Boys and girls may have different strengths - with girls being better in processing speed and language, while boys have better memory and mathematics skills.
But children - regardless of their gender - develop differently, and parents should understand their strengths and weaknesses individually, said psychology experts.
Assistant Professor Qu Li from the Nanyang Technological University's psychology division said a recent study of more than 1,000 students, aged 12 to 18, in Canada showed that females outperformed males in six domains: processing speed, fine motor skills such as writing notes, verbal fluency, selective attention, spelling and language comprehension.
Males did better in other areas such as memory, arithmetic skills and the ability to resolve conflicting information, according to the study published in the January 2017 issue of the Journal Of Neuroscience Research.
It is not surprising that girls do slightly better at written tests, said Prof Qu, as the six domains they fare better in are "essential cognitive skills for a student to perform well in the PSLE and O levels, and to learn well in a school setting".
The skills that boys are better at tend to be more useful for hands-on tasks, she added.
But she noted that these differences, although statistically significant in larger population samples, are "relatively small" at the individual level, suggesting that educators and parents should not resort to stereotyping both genders.
Instead, they could support children according to their learning styles and developmental patterns, she said. "Children develop at different paces and, in the end, it boils down to individual learning needs. It does not mean that girls cannot be good engineers," Prof Qu added.
Assistant Professor Ryan Hong from the National University of Singapore's psychology department said in terms of maths and verbal reasoning, there is "no or very small" difference in ability between both genders. "If cognitive abilities do not seem to account for differences, then perhaps temperament or personality might account to some extent," he said. For instance, girls tend to be better in focusing on relevant tasks and persevering while boys may be more physically active and distracted, he added.
Psychologist Daniel Koh from Insights Mind Centre said girls and boys may have varying learning styles - girls, for example, use more inductive thinking, which refers to making broad generalisations based on specific observations.
Boys are deductive thinkers, which means they reach conclusions based on logic.
But, ultimately, a child's performance is also based on his family environment, school culture and his self-belief, added Mr Koh.
This article was first published on Jan 22, 2017.
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Stomp contributor Ita was at OUE Downtown at Shenton Way on Monday morning (Jan 23) when she saw a biker braving the pouring rain to push traffic barricades to the side of the road.
Ita speculated that strong winds might have blown them out of their original positions.
The rain was relentless, but the motoryclist did not mind getting drenched to push the barricades out of the way to ease the traffic jam on the road.
Ita managed to capture his heartwarming act on video and wrote:
"Good Samaritan on the move despite the heavy rain to avoid the road jam."
In the year since it opened, the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) has handled more than 500 cases, with salary disputes, request for transfers and physical abuse being the three most common issues.
While more than 80 per cent of all the cases have been resolved, the centre said it wants to push for mandatory electronic payments by employers, so maids have more ownership of their money.
CDE chairman Yeo Guat Kwang said yesterday that salary disputes arise because there is no standardised system for paying these workers.
He was speaking on the sidelines of an event at the Singapore Flyer to thank the centre's volunteers and to share CDE's report card for the past year.
Currently, some employers pay their maids in cash.
In some cases, the employer would "act as bankers" and collect loan repayments from maids on behalf of maid agencies, Mr Yeo noted.
But when employers fall into financial difficulties, they end up paying the maids and agencies late, or not at all.
The CDE, which is run by the National Trades Union Congress, will push for electronic payments to be applied to all domestic workers, he said.
There are about 237,000 foreign domestic workers in Singapore.
The centre, which has sheltered 110 workers since it opened on Jan 24 last year, will open a second shelter in a yet undisclosed location in June, which can house up to 100 maids.
It also has plans for programmes such as counselling, retraining and temporary job placements for those staying for longer periods.
Those involved in abuse cases may stay at the shelter for six months or so.
To help employers and employees understand each other better, and reduce cases of miscommunication, the centre yesterday launched a series of books which portray, through comics, the various cultural misunderstandings that may arise.
The books, which come in four different bilingual versions, including English-Bahasa Indonesia and English-Tagalog, are available at the CDE's office and website.
The centre will also launch a survey next month of 2,000 employers and employees to understand how best to tackle the issues faced by both sides.
Welcoming CDE's push for cashless payments, the president of the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore), Ms K. Jayaprema, said this will enable the worker, employer and the authorities to track independent records that can prove whether payments were made correctly and on time.
This article was first published on Jan 23, 2017.
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The newly built Jurong Christian Church at the junction of Tah Ching Road and Corporation Drive is not your typical church building.
Instead of just one church, the building situated in a public housing area houses six Protestant churches of different denominations.
In January last year, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said it would lease land for "multi- user places of worship" for the first time, to house multiple groups of the same religion in the same multi- storey building.
While there are existing buildings that house more than one church, these are usually leased from private landlords.
The Jurong church hub is one of a few designed and built from scratch to house multiple church groups.
The pilot project was spearheaded by the Lutheran Church in Singapore to help address land scarcity faced by small and medium-sized religious groups in Singapore.
Partially opened last month, the new church building has a gross floor area of 64,436 sq ft.
Its amenities include three sanctuaries, three multi-purpose halls and a rooftop chapel.
The Jurong Christian Church (Lutheran), or JCC (Lutheran), owns the plot of land under a 99-year lease.
It bought the land in 1967 and used to have a two-storey red brick building there.
The church is one of three long-term occupants of the new hub and contributed about $12.5 million to the $24.5 million effort.
The others are the Renewal Christian Church and New Life Baptist Church, which are contributing about $6 million each.
The three occupants have permanent sanctuaries, offices and activity space at their disposal.
The Lutheran Church's Bishop Terry Kee said: "We have been blessed with the land, so we wanted to share our space."
Its three short-term tenants paying monthly rents are Jurong Tamil Methodist Church, Bible Mission Church and Hearts Alive.
The hub will be officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on March 4.
The authorities allowed the Jurong church hub to raise its plot ratio from 1.6 to 1.79 "in view of their interest to see if the hub concept would work", said Bishop Kee.
The ratio represents the density of building in an area of land.
The hub was also given an increased allowance for its height, and it is as high as a 10-storey Housing Board block of flats.
Building committee chairman Thomas Tan said the height was needed to ensure that the sanctuaries have enough head room to provide worshippers with the sense of a "service hall as well as inner peace".
JCC (Lutheran) originally purchased the land from Jurong Town Corporation.
In 2007 or so, the church roof began to leak and the Building and Construction Authority advised the church to reinforce some of its columns and beams should it continue to use the building.
But this would cost $1 million and would not improve or expand the existing space for its 500 congregants.
Bishop Kee, who participated in the National Council of Churches of Singapore's (NCCS) panel to give feedback to the MND on religious hubs, then thought of using the Jurong grounds as a test bed for the hub concept instead of just rebuilding for JCC (Lutheran) alone.
He said he empathises with small and medium-sized churches that struggle with steep rents and unconducive environments.
Churches and temples have the option to purchase sites set aside by the Government, but these are usually too big and too expensive for smaller groups.
Many churches rent ballrooms in hotels or are housed in cramped industrial estate spaces.
There are more than 100 small and medium- sized churches in industrial areas.
The NCCS represents more than 250 churches in Singapore, but not all of the churches in industrial estates are registered with it.
Reverend Lai Soon Loy, the pastor in charge of the 40-year-old and 200-member New Life Baptist Church, said the members have been "nomads" for all of the church's history.
Its last official address was an industrial building in Jalan Pemimpin.
He said: "The new building is an actual formal church space and the worship atmosphere will be much better. It's quite exciting to be part of this pilot project."
To address concerns over "disamenities" such as noise from congregants and traffic pollution, the team will roll out several measures, including arranging for services to start at different times.
Bishop Kee said: "We hope to manage the disamenities well so that the authorities will support similar plans and churches will be encouraged to share their facilities in future."
On doctrinal differences among the various denominations worshipping under one roof, Bishop Kee said: "As long as their belief is within the Christian faith, we will be able to find common ground to work together. Essentially, we are doing things in the spirit of unity to serve the community in love."
Asked if there are concerns of "church hopping", Bishop Kee said: "It could be a bit stressful for pastors but a bit of competition will keep us on our toes."
melodyz@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 23, 2017.
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