Like many Singaporeans today, Mr Tang Siew Loon will be hoping for continued prosperity and good health in the Year of the Rooster.

But as the 64-year-old looks ahead to an auspicious 2017, an event on Oct 22 last year will hold special significance for him.

"I am lucky to be alive," Mr Tang told The Straits Times.

Last October, the sales manager was at Eunos Community Club's Red vs White Karaoke Challenge when he suffered a heart attack.

Those seated next to him, including his wife, tried to resuscitate him but failed.

It was then that Madam Lucy Ying sprung into action.

The 71-year-old, who had performed earlier, was startled by the commotion at the table next to hers.

But she knew she had to act fast.

She rushed over to find Mr Tang, who had been on stage singing and dancing just minutes ago, slumped on his chair unconscious.

"I thought there had been a quarrel since people were drinking," she said in Mandarin.

"But I was shocked to see his face turning purple and his fists clenched. His wife was also shouting his name and crying hysterically."

Tilting Mr Tang's head up, Madam Ying gave him three breaths of air through his mouth.

"On the third breath, I used all my might and I saw his eyes open slowly," she said.

"I was so relieved."

Her "kiss of life" was recognised by the Eunos Senior Citizens' Executive Committee at an informal award ceremony on Jan 11.

About 13 family members, including Madam Ying's two great-grandchildren, were present as she was presented with a certificate for saving a life.

However, Madam Ying, a widow with four children and eight grandchildren, was quick to brush off any credit in an interview with The Straits Times at her Ubi home.

"I don't think I was being brave. It's a normal thing to help someone in need, even if he is a stranger," she added.

"I watch a lot of dramas on television and also go on Facebook, so maybe that was how I learnt to do it (resuscitate Mr Tang)."

The incident has turned the pair from mere acquaintances into friends.

Madam Ying visited Mr Tang once during his five-day stay at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

In a video taken by Madam Ying's family members at the ceremony to honour the heroine, Mr Tang paid tribute to his saviour

"I had a lucky star, an angel, that night," said the father of four children aged between 20 and 26.

"She did not care what happened, she just 'jumped' onto me and gave me three 'kisses', saved my life.

"There must be a reason why I am still alive... Maybe I have not done enough good to society... I have done some reflection."

Doctors at the hospital later found five blocked arteries, including three major ones in his heart.

Mr Tang, who declined to be photographed, said he had to undergo an angioplasty, with stents inserted into two of his arteries.

Eunos Senior Citizens' Executive Committee chairman Tan Jun Hong, 34, said it was the first time it had handed out a certificate for "extraordinary personal action".

"Every little act means a lot and we should not forget about the kindness of individuals," he said.

"Madam Ying is a good example of how age does not matter when it comes to saving someone's life. She managed to save someone younger than her, and that is a big learning lesson for everyone," he added.

Madam Ying, who keeps herself active with taiji as well as ballroom and latin dancing, said she will now look out for cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses offered at the community club.

Mr Tang, who is still recovering and going for physiotherapy, said his new lease of life has made him more aware of his body and health.

He had been breaking out in cold sweat and feeling sleepy often before the incident, but dismissed it as work-related stress.

"I learnt the hard way that it is important to go for a check-up when you show any symptoms," said Mr Tang.

nghuiwen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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When residents of Dakota Crescent moved out of the estate last month, what they left behind were more than pots and pans.

Instead, "meows" from frightened cats can sometimes be heard from four of the vacated blocks in the estate, which has been earmarked for redevelopment.

A group of volunteers has so far found 23 cats in the deserted estate.

The team believes most were house pets as they wear collars, are found near specific units, or are potty-trained.

The group of five, which calls itself Team Dakota, is now hoping to find new homes for the stranded felines before demolition starts, though it is not known when this will begin.

The Housing Board had asked residents to move out by Dec 31 last year.

It has plans to rejuvenate the iconic estate built in the 1950s.

The volunteers have yet to complete a count of the cats in all 17 rental blocks.

Ms Tan Peiying, 36, one of the volunteers, told The Straits Times that the team came to know of the situation in Dakota Crescent last month, when two volunteers took a walk around the estate.

"We are all animal lovers and we decided to do something for the cats, and got together to start the initiative last month," said Ms Tan, an office administrator.

To date, the team has relocated six of the 23 cats, as well as four others from the vicinity, to new homes or commercial boarding facilities.

"We hope as many as possible ex-house cats can be rehomed. For those which are ill, we hope they can receive palliative care and treatment, especially if they are elderly and chronically ill."

Once a cat is rescued, Team Dakota members take it to a vet and pay for its medical bills.

They post receipts of the treatment on its Facebook page, and sponsors can decide how much they would like to contribute.

Expenses are also reflected on a public Excel sheet on the team's Facebook page.

As a gauge, a medical consultation to determine a cat's health starts from $35.

The fees to board two cats in a single room costs about $450 a month in a commercial boarding facility, said Ms Tan.

Ms Veron Lau, a representative from the Cat Welfare Society, said the society has observed that owners often leave their cats behind when they leave or move.

A prominent example was when the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station went out of service in July 2011, she said.

About 50 cats were left behind when the station closed, prompting the society to tie up with pet shop chain Pet Lovers Centre to organise a three-month adoption drive.

Compared to cats, left-behind dogs are less of a problem as all dogs have to be licensed, which means their ownership can be traced.

She said: "There have been active sterilisation exercises through the years by various volunteer teams for both community cats and pet cats to keep cat numbers under control, or the problem could have been worse.

"Still, finding homes for the cats left behind isn't a small feat, and it is heartening to see people coming forward to give this case and the cats the necessary attention."

audreyt@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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Parties involved in accidents with private-hire cars operated by companies such as Uber and Grab tend to have a harder time settling their claims, according to lawyers who act for insurers.

These vehicles are involved in accidents more frequently than other passenger cars, added insurers.

Major insurers that cover these fleets told The Straits Times that private-hire cars, which have more than tripled in number to 51,000 in the last three years, are 30 per cent to 50 per cent more likely to meet with an accident.

Typically, the number of accidents reported represents 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the passenger car population.

But for private-hire cars, that figure is 20 per cent to 25 per cent.

General Insurance Association president A.K. Cher said: "These cars are on the road longer than the normal passenger car.

"Many of them are also driven by very young and inexperienced drivers.

"And they also rely heavily on their mobile devices for navigation, so (the drivers) can be distracted."

The concern is underscored by data on Uber-owned Lion City Rentals, which is looking for a new insurer.

Its fleet grew from 1,412 last February to 8,676 in November.

In that period, its cars were involved in more than 2,100 accidents, incurring close to $10 million in claims.

The figures come from an insurer vying for Lion City's business.

"It is hard to gauge its accident rate because the fleet has grown so fast," said an underwriter in that firm.

"But assuming an average of 5,000 (cars in the fleet), it would translate to a ratio of 40 per cent."

This is similar to the accident rate for taxis and commercial vehicles.

Insurers did not want to be named as they were bidding for Lion City's contract.

A current insurer, Ergo, did not wish to comment either.

Uber declined to comment when approached.

Meanwhile, lawyers acting for insurers said they are seeing more cases involving private-hire cars, and these tend to be harder to settle.

All private-hire cars must be insured, but their premiums are higher, reflecting their risk exposure.

Mr Patrick Yeo, a partner at Withers KhattarWong, said his firm had handled an injury claims case in which the private-hire driver was underage and therefore uninsured.

"In a case of an uninsured private-hire car driver, the damage to the cars involved is also (deemed) uninsured," Mr Yeo said.

"The owner of the car damaged by the private-hire car will have no recourse against the insurers of the private-hire car. They would have to sue the driver or owner of the private-hire car directly."

He cited another case where a Grab driver was not covered by the insurance policy because he had less than two years' driving experience - the minimum declared in the policy.

Mr Anthony Chey, a partner at RHTLaw Taylor Wessing, said he had represented a pedestrian who was knocked down by an Uber car at a pedestrian crossing in 2015.

"The case appeared simple enough as liability was clearly against the vehicle driver," Mr Chey said.

But it dragged on for nearly a year because the insurer did not respond, despite reminders.

"Along the way, I learnt that... the case was delayed because of some policy issues regarding the insurance coverage," he said.

"The claim, which should have been settled within three months, ended up taking 11 months."

Insurers and lawyers advise motorists involved in a road accident to request the other driver's identity card details, in case the person is a private-hire driver.

christan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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The large majority of employers obey Labour Court orders to pay their workers, an advocacy group for foreign workers said yesterday.

Those who do not comply with these orders - mostly related to salaries owed or injury compensation - often do not have the money to do so "due to forces beyond their control", Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) chairman Yeo Guat Kwang told The Straits Times.

"These employers harbour little or no wilful intention to short- change or exploit their workers," he said in a statement.

The "very small group of employers" with the means to pay workers, but who are "wilfully non-compliant", is of greatest concern to the MWC.

"We call on the authorities to take stern action against them," he added.

Mr Yeo said the MWC works closely with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to see how current systems can be improved to better protect migrant workers.

He said the MWC has asked the authorities to widely publicise successful prosecutions of errant employers, "so that a strong example is made of offenders and a firm message of non-tolerance of such behaviour is sent to all employers".

It also suggested that MOM improve the monitoring and enforcement of work injury compensation insurance so that injured workers get paid.

Mr Yeo, a National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant director-general, was responding to Straits Times reports this month on the plight of Bangladeshi construction workers Islam Rafiqul and Sujan Ahmed, whose employers did not pay them salary or compensation despite being ordered by the Labour Court to do so.

A commentary on Thursday also called for the Labour Court to be given more powers so that the workers do not have to enforce the payment orders themselves.

Mr Yeo said the MWC has helped migrant workers enforce such orders in the last two years.

Workers getlodging and $1,000 to $3,000 in goodwill payments while waiting for complaints to be processed.

The MWC was set up by the NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation in 2009.

Earlier this month, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say told Parliament in a written reply that the Labour Court heard 6,000 complaints of salary disputes a year in the past two years.

In about 1,400 cases each year, the Labour Court ordered employers to pay workers.

But in about 350 cases, the employers defaulted on the Labour Court's orders.

Mr Yeo said of the current system: "It is important to note that while our system addresses the needs of most workers, there... remain cases such as that of worker Sujan Ahmed that fall through the cracks."

tohyc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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About three weeks ago, Ms Kiew Yoke Sim received a message through a specially created WhatsApp chat group.

It stated the time, date and venue of the Kiew family's reunion dinner, followed immediately by: "Just copy n paste your menu below."

And so began a five-day chat between Ms Kiew, 55, and her six sisters-in-law to decide what to cook for the dinner.

She has six brothers and two sisters.

Last night, she took stewed mushrooms with pork knuckles, as well as cereal prawns, to her eldest brother's home, to join the line-up of more than eight other dishes prepared by various family members.

After setting the dishes on the table, the housewife, her husband and their three children caught up with the 30 other people at the terraced house in the West Coast area.

When dinner time arrived, all 35 people from eight families gathered in the living room to tuck into the festive bounty.

The Kiews, spread across three generations, hold a potluck reunion dinner every year at the house of the eldest son, Mr Kiew Tai Wah.

The event moved to his place after their mother died six years ago.

Their father died in 1966.

Mr Kiew has an older sister who is 73.

The 68-year-old retiree said splitting the cooking responsibilities between the family members helped simplify the entire event.

After the meal, the children gathered to play and watch TV while the adults mingled over drinks.

Mr Kiew said he had not bothered to decorate the house, save for some pots of orchids, a few couplets on the wall and some ceiling ornaments.

"I'm a lazy bum," he said with a laugh.

Even so, the reunion dinner holds much importance for him.

"None of us ever leaves Singapore during this festive season. There is always a lot of eating, joking and laughing," he said.

"It's the unity that my mum nurtured," he added.

He said the current adults in the family want to build strong bonds between those in the next generation.

Ms Kiew said she and her brothers do get together sometimes to have tea and catch up, and that the whole family tries to meet on Sundays.

But the reunion dinner is by far their biggest gathering of the year.

"Just to see your own relatives, you're very happy," she said.

"It's really... a lot of noise but it's so fun."

josehong@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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For the past 16 years since moving to Singapore from India, Mrs Kavita Raha has had her circle of friends limited mostly to people from her workplace as well as expatriates.

But yesterday, the 50-year-old, who became a Singaporean last year, finally found the perfect opportunity to meet more of her neighbours.

She was one of more than 40 volunteers at a Chinese New Year reunion lunch organised by Henderson-Dawson Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC) for 130 elderly residents.

Mrs Kavita, who lives in the constituency, said she enjoyed talking to the residents at her table and was delighted to be part of the event.

This is the first time the grassroots volunteers were joined by new citizens and permanent residents, as well as volunteers from the American Women's Association and Hua Yuan Association, for the annual reunion event.

Ms Joan Pereira, an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and host of yesterday's lunch, said that such events help to build relationships between volunteers and beneficiaries.

"What's most important is that there is trust and the elderly residents know the community is here for them in good times and bad."

In a blog post yesterday, Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin reminded members of the public to "look out for those around us even as we visit our families and friends", in order to build a more inclusive Singapore.

Madam Teng It Hong, a resident, said she used to make do without a reunion event before Henderson- Dawson CCC started organising the lunches in 2010.

The 81-year-old, who is unmarried and lives alone, has been to all of the lunches.

"I'm happy that they invite me for a reunion meal every year," she said.

abigailng@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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Chickens are roosting on Ms Clarissa Choh's sofa.

Well, soft toy versions of the creatures, anyway.

Peppered around the living room are nine of these stuffed animals that come in different shapes and sizes.

Two actually go "cock-a-doodle-doo" when you hug them.

On the shelf are three lion heads.

Ms Choh, 41, says she went big on the rooster theme because her son Cayden, 11, was born in the Year of the Rooster.

She owns a clothing business and is married to stockbroker Zoyd Teo, 43.

They also have two daughters - Zea, 12, and Zelle, nine - and the family live in a three-storey bungalow at Shepherd's Hill Estate.

The stuffed toy display started last year when Ms Choh bought monkey toys to welcome the Year of the Monkey for Zea.

As to why she included the lion heads, she says: "We used to hire a lion dance troupe to perform at our home during the festivities.

But this year, there was no time to plan as Christmas and Chinese New Year were just too close.

"But if anybody wants to perform an impromptu dance with my lion heads, he is very welcome to do so," she says with a laugh.

Her decorations, planned a year in advance, usually has a colour scheme.

This year, it is yellow and magenta.

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"Yellow is my elder daughter's favourite colour and not commonly used for Chinese New Year. I think that makes it unique."

Six yellow cushions, with matching floral designs, sit on the couch.

On a table is a yellow table runner.

Even the pussy willoware dyed yellow and magenta.

She says: "To me, details are important. I treat the decorations like my own passion project and hope they make every Chinese New Year special for my guests."

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Chinese New Year celebrated all over the world

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This article was first published on January 28, 2017.
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Before she had children, Ms Eunice Liuu did not decorate her home for Chinese New Year as she usually spends the festive occasion at her grandmother's place.

But now that she has two sons - Noah, three, and Nathan, two - the 37-year-old primary school teacher decorates her five-room HDB flat in Punggol even if nobody comes to visit.

"The decorations are mainly for my children.

I want to create a festive atmosphere and remind them of their Chinese roots."

While simple, her decorations are charming and creative.

The centrepiece is a 45cm-tall white metal birdcage with two stalks of artificial peach blossoms.

Two long-tailed birds - one red, one yellow - stand on the branches and three butterflies are nestled among the blooms.

Ms Liuu made this herself.

The birdcage, which was bought for $20 from a shop in Bugis in 2012, was originally part of her wedding decorations when she married engineer David Lee that year.

She says: "During our wedding dinner, we placed the birdcage next to a display of our family photos as part of a 'memory lane' showcase.

After the wedding, I did not want to throw it away because of its sentimental value."

She kept the birdcage in the storeroom.

But since three years ago, she has been bringing it out every Christmas and Chinese New Year.

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Chinese New Year celebrated all over the world

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For Chinese New Year last year, she filled it with Mandarin oranges.

During Christmas last year, she filled it with gold, silver, red and blue baubles.

She says: "I prefer putting together my own decorations as they are more meaningful and the birdcage is very versatile."

For this year's design, she bought the flower stalks for $5 from a shop at the nearby Punggol Plaza earlier this month.

She also bought the birds ($8) and butterflies ($5) at another shop in the mall.

She recalls: "At first, I was not sure how many birds to buy.

But at the store, the owner told me that a woman before me bought three birds because she had three children.

So I bought two birds because I have two sons."

Setting up the birdcage took 11/2 hours and Ms Liuu secured the stalks to the cage with cable ties.

"I wanted the flowers to look like they were growing out of the cage and it took a few rounds of trial and error to achieve this effect."

The birdcage is not the only sentimental item in her decorations.

Holding the pineapple tarts and chocolate squares is a 38-year-old circular plastic container (above) with a beaded design, a gift from a relative to celebrate Mr Lee's birth.

It has been used to hold snacks every Chinese New Year.

She says: "Many people like to have new things for Chinese New Year.

But my family prefers to hold on to things that others gave us because these are meaningful gifts."

Rounding up the decorations are wall decals, a platter and basket of oranges as well as tins of Chinese New Year snacks.

"Our decorations are simple, but they really reflect who we are as a family."

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Year of the Rooster off to crowing start at Chinatown countdown

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This article was first published on January 28, 2017.
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Take the lift to the 19th storey of Block 28D Dover Crescent and an impressive display greets you in the lift lobby.

There are seven rooster figures, including the popular Looney Tunes chicken character Foghorn Leghorn.

Pots of fresh flowers, pussy willow and artificial plants surround them.

On the right, three rooster figures are on the wall.

Six discs line the columns on the left and there are banners with Chinese New Year greetings.

This is the creation of resident Mark Tham, 68, a retired director in a food and beverage company.

He lives on the floor of the festive lift lobby and puts the display together with the help of his neighbours.

Since moving in six years ago, he has been decorating the lift lobby for Christmas and Chinese New Year every year.

For his Chinese New Year display, he dedicates three hours on weekdays and six hours on weekends, and spends about $1,000 on props a year.

He lives in a four-room flat with his wife Julia, also 68.

They have two sons, aged 43 and 38.

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Chinese New Year celebrated all over the world

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On why he started doing this, the grandfather of four says: "When I first moved in, I had time on my hands and wanted to start this project to get to know my neighbours. I want the display to encourage neighbourly bonding and kampung spirit. At least it gives us something to talk about and contributes to the festive atmosphere."

He usually plans his designs a year in advance.

Whenever inspiration strikes - at church or when he is listening to music - he writes them on paper.

A drawing block in his room also has "blueprints" of his designs.

He says: "When I do something, I want it to be the best. So I plan properly and work hard."

For his Chinese New Year display, he cut the chicken figures out of plywood with an electric saw, spraypainted them and applied a coat of protective lacquer.

The six discs are the coverings of pails, but are spraypainted and pasted with images of chicken characters.

His materials are bought locally and in Johor Baru.

Mr Tham, who has no training in art, says: "Everything I know is self-taught. I love to D-I-Y. It is hard work, but seeing the final product and my neighbours' smiles warms my heart."

Over the years, his neighbours have also contributed to the set-up.

One woman, for example, handmade 14 lanterns using red packets for this year's display and they now hang from the ceiling.

His neighbours on the same floor appreciate the decorations.

One of them, university student Ong Chu Feng, 24, whose father contributed fresh plants, says: "We are glad to help contribute to the festive atmosphere and, every year, he comes up with a beautiful display. Many people, even those in other blocks, often visit our lift lobby."

Ironically, there are no festive decorations in Mr Tham's flat.

He says: "I want to concentrate on the lift lobby. If the decorations are in my home, who will get to see them?"

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Year of the Rooster off to crowing start at Chinatown countdown

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This article was first published on January 28, 2017.
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Left high and dry by their rogue interior designer and $54,000 poorer, Mr Abdul Halil and his wife, Ms Stevanie Nur Rindyanie, were resigned to living in a partially renovated flat until they could scrape together more money for a redo.

It would have taken them another year to save up $10,000 for some basic renovation work.

But, thanks to electronics and furniture retailer Courts, its partner, interior design firm Ciseern by Designer Furnishings, and another interior design firm, Aart Boxx Interior, the couple now have a completely renovated and fully furnished home, an executive Housing Board flat in Woodlands.

The companies provided the couple with free appliances and design services.

Their plight - they said they had paid interior designer David Toh to do up their house, but he disappeared about two months after the renovation started - was published in The Straits Times in November.

For two months, Ms Stevanie, 33, had to squat over a cutting board and a temporary stove to cook in the kitchen as there were no work counters or cabinets.

The family- the couple have three children aged 14, nine and four - had to dodge loose wires dangling from the ceiling in the toilets.

One of the renovation workers even poured cement down the toilet bowl as he was angry about not being paid.

Last year, the couple engaged Mr Toh of Arts Design & Space Interior Studio after finding him on Carousell, an online marketplace.

While he brought in workers to start the renovation, they stopped turning up after about two months. He also went missing.

Mr Halil, 42, an environmental health and safety officer, could not reach him on the phone.

When The Straits Times spoke to him, Mr Toh said "the matter was settled" before hanging up.

Mr Halilhas filed a police report and a claim with the Small Claims Tribunals.

After reading about the couple's situation, Courts and Ciseern decided to help.

About two years ago, they started Courts Design Studio, which provides customised interior design, renovation and furnishing packages.

Ms Jasmine Seow, 40, marketing director of Courts Singapore, says: "We really empathised with them when we saw the pictures. No one should be left in the lurch like that. Courts and Ciseern have the resources to help, so we knew we had to do something."

Courts Design Studio provided $13,000 worth of services and products, including a cooker hob and hood.

They also had down lights and a quartz countertop installed in the kitchen.

Separately, Mr Ivan Lin, 33 , Aart Boxx Interior's director, contacted Ms Stevanie via Facebook to offer help.

He did $10,000 worth of renovations, which included creating a bar counter that looks into the kitchen; installing a shoe cabinet; and doing up two walk-in wardrobes and shower screens in two toilets.

Mr Lin says: "Seeing the picture of Stevanie (cooking on the floor of her incomplete kitchen) hurt my heart. This is not supposed to be a scene we see in Singapore. My first thought was to help them. Too many 'bad eggs' spoil our industry nowadays, but there are still good and genuine interior designers around."

Ms Stevanie, a freelance make-up artist who also runs a home wedding business, uses one of the walk- in wardrobes as a display space for bridal gowns.

Mr Halil also spent $5,000 fixing other things around the house and started small do-it-yourself projects, such as turning the balcony space into a dining area.

The flat has three bedrooms and a study.

He is touched by the help he has received.

"It was a very stressful period for us trying to get our money back. We'd have had to save up again and redo the house when we could. I didn't expect anyone to help us."

Beaming, Ms Stevanie adds: "Finally, we have a home."

natashaz@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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Setting aside 14 per cent of a town council's income for a dedicated Lift Replacement Fund is a move that is overdue, given the number of lift accidents over the past two years ("Town councils to set aside 14% of income for lift fund"; Jan 24).

But the big question is: Are there enough skilled technicians to perform quality maintenance and repair work on the lifts?

Lift replacement and lift maintenance are labour-intensive jobs.

If the industry is suffering from a dearth of workers with the relevant skill set, then it would hardly be surprising if the schedule for lift replacement cannot be completed on time.

Equally important is whether tenders awarded for lift replacement are based on the proven track record of companies or if a heavy weightage is placed on price.

Too much emphasis on costs could result in projects being awarded to companies which are eager to clinch the tender but are short on experience or, worse, compromise on the quality of materials or the technical competency of their workers.

Singapore has been suffering from a shortage of workers with competency in mechanical and electrical repairs and maintenance of lifts ("Lift sector facing shortage of engineers, technicians"; Aug 1, 2016).

The Government should encourage more young Singaporeans to join the industry through incentivised training and an attractive compensation package.

More importantly, it should help to promote a change of attitude towards such jobs, which are usually deemed to be low-paying, dirty and unglamorous.

Gabriel Cheng Kian Tion

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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More people are turning to mediation to settle spats, with Singapore's pioneering mediation centre reporting its highest number of cases filed in its 20-year history.

The Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) handled 499 cases here involving a record $775 million last year.

The number of cases was a 72 per cent jump from 2015.

The majority of the disputes were commercial in nature, with about a quarter involving construction, company and shareholder disputes, the SMC said yesterday.

The spike comes as mediation is given a boost through new judicial initiatives and a new legislative framework.

Since last October, for instance, straightforward divorces and contested estate cases involving at least $3 million in assets may be ordered for mediation at the SMC, instead of being heard at the Family Justice Courts.

A change to the Supreme Court practice directions last year also requires lawyers to advise clients that mediation is a viable option.

At a Beijing conference of the Asian Mediation Association last October, Judge of Appeal Andrew Phang underscored the significant role the Singapore judiciary played in cementing mediation as one of the prime ways to settle disputes.

He pointed out how mediation is made an attractive option through judicial policies and practices, and how it is also cheaper than a court trial, for instance.

He highlighted that more than 90 per cent of the cases settled were done within 24 hours at the SMC.

Judge of Appeal Phang cited the SMC's track record in handling large sums in dispute, having mediated more than $3.5 billion worth of disputes in total, including a $209 million claim - the highest so far.

Rajah & Tann partner Jonathan Yuen, who has been a certified mediator for more than a decade, attributes the increase in mediation to greater awareness of its benefits.

"There is also a mindset change, unlike before, when agreeing to mediation was seen by a lot of people as a sign of weakness," he added.

Drew & Napier Senior Counsel Hri Kumar Nair believes that cost plays a key part, with litigants having to consider the time, manpower and opportunity costs of a court trial, in addition to the legal fees, "not to mention the stress and the uncertainty of the result".

"Another reason is the experience and competence of the mediators we have now," he added.

Clients, Mr Nair said, are more agreeable to mediation as they cannot be forced to accept a deal they are not satisfied with.

Anything they say during the process is also confidential and cannot be used against them subsequently.

"This 'openness' (being able to talk freely behind closed doors) helps parties articulate their real grievances and concerns, and may allow them to reach a solution which the law may not be able to provide," he added.

"I have been involved in a number of mediations, including one where the agreement was finally signed at 3am.

There was one particular case where the different parties were all victims of a fraudster, and the legal issue was who should bear the responsibility for the loss, which ran into the millions.

"Ultimately, the parties agreed to share the loss... This was not a solution which the law provides."

SMC executive director Loong Seng Onn said the centre has, over the years, worked closely with businesses and professional bodies to promote mediation, and has also trained numerous lawyers and others in mediation skills.

"As mediation gains traction, the next phase of our work is to make mediation a viable full-time career. We are working to create specialist panels to meet the needs of users."

vijayan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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Al-Istighfar Mosque in Pasir Ris has built a temporary prayer facility to accommodate its growing congregation.

The mosque in Pasir Ris has a capacity of 3,500 but worshippers fill up almost every inch of space there, with many standing on the pavement when attending weekly Friday prayers and during the Hari Raya periods.

The temporary prayer facility, which can house 500 people, is a sheltered structure with large fans hanging from its ceiling.

It is about 15m across the road from the mosque.

Even with the opening of the temporary facility yesterday, blue sheets were laid out for worshippers, who could not fit into the facility, to kneel on.

Before building the facility, the Office of the Mufti realised that constructing the prayer facility separate from the mosque building might violate the Islamic principle of saf.

Saf is a religious requirement where congregants must be connected in continuous rows.

Breaking this connection may render the congregational prayer invalid.

Islamic scholars of the Office of the Mufti, which is part of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, discussed it with reference to religious texts and eventually concluded that the new facility would not break the saf rule.

The congregation in the smaller facility, they said, could still follow the Imam directing the prayers through loudspeakers in the facility, and was no more than 150m apart.

The Office of the Mufti, however, added that congregational prayers should be held in the temporary prayer facility only when the main mosque is completely filled.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who was at the opening of the facility yesterday, said the extension will provide an interim increase in prayer space at the mosque.

This, along with the upgrading of Masjid Darul Ghufran in Tampines and the construction of a new mosque in Tampines North, will help to alleviate the prayer space crunch in the eastern neighbourhoods of Singapore, he said.

josehong@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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UPDATE: A 41-year-old man has been charged for the offence of Murder under Section 302(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, which carries the death penalty, said a police statement today (Jan 30).

After years of trying, and several miscarriages, Madam Choong Pei Shan finally had a baby.

Four-year-old Teo Zi Ning could do no wrong and Madam Choong, 39, would regularly post pictures of her daughter on Facebook.

They were inseparable.

On Saturday, the first day of Chinese New Year, police received a call for help at 6.30pm.

Officers found mother and daughter dead in the bedroom they shared in their sixth-storey flat at Block 619, Woodlands Drive 52.

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Photo Gallery

Man arrested after woman and child found dead in Woodlands flat

Source:

The Straits Times

By 11pm, police were seen taking Teo Ghim Heng, 41, away in handcuffs, in connection with the deaths.

He is believed to be the dead woman's husband.

Read Also: Woman and 4-year-old daughter found dead in Woodlands flat; man arrested

One of her Facebook friends, Mr David Seah, said Madam Choong went by the name of Ade Teo on Facebook.

He told The Straits Times yesterday that he had been Facebook friends with her for "many years".

He said: "She only posted her child's (photos) on FB. She loved her very much."

He added that the housewife was always attentive to her only child's needs.

"She had a miscarriage a few times (before) she had her little girl."

Friends, like Mr Seah, have been trying to make sense of the tragedy.

Mr James Yap said he would "like" Madam Choong's post every time pictures of her cute daughter were uploaded on Facebook.

Mr Yap, who befriended Madam Choong on Facebook about two years ago, said: "This must be sad news for her family, especially when it is the first day of Chinese New Year. It is supposed to be a happy time shared among family members."

But there was no festive cheer, even among neighbours.

When ST visited the block yesterday, the faint smell of smoke lingered and soot stained the corridor outside the flat.

While Singapore Civil Defence Force officers found no source of a fire on Saturday, it is believed that the acrid smell is linked to what killed the mother and child.

Mr Seah said Madam Choong's husband was a real estate agent, and that the couple moved from Hougang several years earlier.

He knew him only as Eric Teo.

A 44-year-old neighbour on the sixth floor, who wanted to be known only as Madam Kam, said that neighbours saw the couple only in the mornings when they would drive little Zi Ning to pre-school.

The housewife said: "In the evenings, the wife (Madam Choong) would wait under the block for her husband to return with their daughter. They appeared normal."

Mr Muhd Hilmi Deres, who also lives on the sixth floor, said that the family mostly kept to itself and rarely had visitors.

The 47-year-old said that last year, an elderly couple stayed with the Teos for a few days during Chinese New Year.

Said Mr Hilmi: "The Teos moved in about five years ago and occasionally, there would be three men who visited the family to play mahjong."

Another resident of the block, who gave her name only as Mrs Yeo and has lived there for 18 years, said she spoke to Madam Choong once last year.

The 44-year-old housewife, who lives in a flat one floor below Madam Choong's, described the doting mother as polite.

She said mother and daughter would always walk together.

Mr Roland Tay, founder of Direct Funeral Services, said the mother and daughter would be cremated together.

He added that their bodies were yet to be collected, but he was working with the family on the funeral arrangements.

zaihan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on January 30, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - Overcast skies did not dampen the large crowds that gathered to visit the Istana on the second day of Chinese New Year, some of whom queued up for almost two hours to enter the grounds.

The Istana, the official residence of the President of Singapore, opened its gates early on Sunday morning (Jan 29), and by the afternoon queues could be seen stretching past neighbouring Plaza Singapura.

Though skies were grey, it did not rain, allowing more than 20,000 visitors to enjoy various performances, including displays by the Yuan Ching Secondary School Lion Dance Troupe and the Cixi City Celadon Ou Music Troupe.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife, Mrs Mary Tan, joined the crowds later in the afternoon and were treated to a performance by the Yi Quan Athletic Association's Lion Dance Troupe.

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Photo Gallery

Chinese New Year celebrated all over the world

Source:

Reuters

AFP

They also took in a performance by the Maha Bodhi School Symphonic Band, and visited a Chinese calligraphy booth as well as a bird display by Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Mr Vic Leong, 62, had queued up for more than an hour with his wife and two sons to visit the Istana in the afternoon.

"We had some free time, so we decided to come here," said the retiree, adding that he had last visited the Istana in 2011,when his son performed there as part of the Deyi Secondary School band. "It's a very beautiful place."

Another visitor was Mr C.K. Ong, a Singaporean who has lived in Hong Kong for the past 35 years. He said he returns to Singapore every Chinese New Year, and after visiting friends and family, goes to the Istana during its annual open house.

"This is like our White House. We should be proud of it," said the 63-year-old retiree.

azhaki@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 29, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.@sph.com.sg>

I was riled up after reading about the unsuitable items that people donated ("Trashy donations hamper charities' work"; Jan 22).

Food Bank Singapore and the Salvation Army rely on donations in kind from the public to aid them in their work.

They help us to help others by distributing donated goods to those who have need of them.

But it seems that some donors are treating them as rubbish collectors.

What does this say about the mentality of these donors?

First, there is a clear misunderstanding of what it means to be charitable.

The word "charity" has its root in the notion of love.

We do not treat those we love with disrespect.

To give them rubbish is the ultimate insult.

Second, there is a lack of common decency.

One of the key virtues in life is to treat others as we would like to be treated.

Surely, we would not like it if we were in a dire situation and we were given rubbish.

Donors should reflect on what they give to charities.

Charities have to sort through and dispose of unsuitable donated items.

This robs them of precious time that could have been invested in helping their beneficiaries.

It is heartening that some organisations are doing good in Singapore.

If we can help them, we should do so. If we cannot, we should not make things more difficult for them.

William Wan (Dr)
General Secretary
Singapore Kindness Movement

This article was first published on January 30, 2017.
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A cloaked figure lies huddled on a bench at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, a picture of helplessness and poverty.

His face and hands are hidden under a blanket, but go nearer and you will realise that it is a sculpture of Jesus with crucifixion wounds on his feet.

Called Homeless Jesus, the bronze sculpture, which has made headlines around the world, was installed at Singapore's oldest Catholic church last November - in time for its reopening in the Civic District after a major restoration.

The sculpture is also the first to be sited in South-east Asia, though Homeless Jesus can be found in Catholic and Protestant churches in about 50 cities, including Madrid, Chennai and Washington, DC.

Created by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, the life-size sculpture and its accompanying bench were also installed in the Vatican last year, after Pope Francis had previously blessed a smaller model of it.

But it has stirred some controversy, with some saying it demeans their neighbourhoods, or that Jesus was never said to be homeless in the Bible.

But Cathedral of the Good Shepherd rector, Monsignor Philip Heng, said: "Of course, Jesus was not homeless nor a beggar, but he lived simply with his 12 disciples... and preached the gospel of compassion and mercy.

"This sculpture is an artistic impression and expression of how He is one with the poor."

Mr Schmalz had contacted the Catholic leader, Archbishop William Goh, in May last year, offering to send the sculpture.

An anonymous donor paid for the work and shipping. It was installed in one of the cathedral's six gardens, at the national monument's main entrance.

Mr Schmalz declined to reveal the cost of the sculpture to The Straits Times.

Monsignor Heng said Mr Schmalz's only request was that it be located in a place where it would be noticed.

The rector believes it is an appropriate addition to the grounds.

He said: "I think it's a rallying call for the cathedral because homelessness is part of the reality of Singapore."

Even in a prosperous country like Singapore, there are people who sleep on cardboard sheets at street corners and five-foot-ways in the city centre, he said. Sometimes, they approach the cathedral and worshippers for food or money.

After Monsignor Heng took over as rector in 2015, he appointed two volunteers to speak with the needy who came around, so as to assess their situation to determine how much financial help they needed.

The cathedral has documented the cases of at least 20 such people.

It also distributes about 150 boxes of food every Sunday at the cathedral to both the needy and migrant workers.

The programme is funded by donations from worshippers.

Feedback about the sculpture from worshippers and visitors has been positive so far, said Monsignor Heng, adding that some people think it is a real person.

"Just because we don't see the homeless and needy often, it doesn't mean they don't exist," he said.

"The sculpture reminds people that the Christian faith is not just about you and God alone, but also about the larger community."

Housewife Cecila Charmaine Chan, 60, who attends mass at the cathedral, agreed.

She said: "If we want to follow Christ, we also have to love the poor."

Mr Schmalz said over the phone from Florida: "Singapore is a major city in the world and there are a lot of rich as well as poor people living there. So the message, which is to challenge people to see God in the poor, has to be represented there."

Each sculpture takes about three to four months to create in his studio in Ontario, Canada.

Born Catholic, Mr Schmalz said he was inspired to create the sculpture after seeing a homeless person sleeping under a blanket on a busy street in Toronto, Canada, six years ago.

On the rejection he has faced, Mr Schmalz said: "It's a powerful message that some people don't want to talk about.

"Christianity is not meant to be cushy. It requires us to take a hard look at ourselves and treat everyone with love."

melodyz@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on January 30, 2017.
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It is the time of the year when photographers flock to immortalise migratory birds in Singapore to escape the winter chill of the Northern Hemisphere.

But some resort to questionable practices to get good shots, with reports of photographers going off trail or baiting birds, said the National Parks Board (NParks), custodian of Singapore's nature areas.

Following its own observations, NParks put up signboards earlier this month in Venus Drive near the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, to remind people to remain on trails and not feed the birds.

Photographers go to the forested area near Upper Thomson Road to catch a glimpse of wintering visitors such as the Siberian blue robin.

When people go off trail, they damage the forest floor, and feeding wild animals may be a source of diseases and parasites, said NParks director for conservation Sharon Chan.

NParks' latest move follows two high-profile cases.

Orthopaedic surgeon Lee Soon Tai, 63, was fined $2,000 last October for littering and feeding live fish injected with air to endangered grey-headed fish eagles.

He and his companions apparently did this to get a shot of the bird swooping down on its prey, which would be near the surface of the water.

In December 2014, another photographer who had tethered a tern chick's legs to a bush for a photograph was found guilty of animal cruelty and fined $500.

NParks officers have advised photography groups at popular bird- watching locations on proper photography etiquette, said Ms Chan.

It also supports nature and photography communities in organising talks and participating in panel discussions on field ethics at workshops.

Earlier this month, the Nature Photographic Society (Singapore) launched a unique photo competition requiring participants to submit a short write-up on the subject in the photograph.

This prompts photographers to consider other aspects of the bird's ecology, said society president Fong Chee Wai.

NParks is supporting the competition, and winning entries will be exhibited at one of its parks.

Those who go off trail in nature reserves may be fined up to $2,000.

For offences relating to the unauthorised capture, disturbance and manipulation of any plant or animal, the penalties range from a maximum fine of $5,000 (if committed in public parks) to $50,000 (if committed in national parks or nature reserves).

audreyt@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on January 30, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - Call it a reunion if you must.

On the third day of Chinese New Year, Singapore received the nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) armoured vehicles which were detained in Hong Kong since November 23 last year.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a press statement that the nine Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) and other equipment arrived on Monday at 2.40pm and will be sent to an SAF Camp for post-training administration.

Mindef added that the standard post-training administration for all vehicles and equipment include thorough serviceability checks and routine maintenance.

The vehicles were seized while on transit in Hong Kong. They were being transported on board a container ship to Singapore after a military exercise in Taiwan.

According to South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Customs claimed that the vessel owner APL had not provided appropriate permits for the vehicles.

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Photo Gallery

SAF armoured vehicles seized in Hong Kong port

Source:

Factwire

debwong@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Police are investigating an incident which saw a white Honda Accord ram into a motorcycle on the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) on Sunday (Jan 29) morning.

The collision, which flung the motorcyclist clean off his vehicle, was captured on a car's dashboard camera and has since gone viral after being shared on Facebook by road safety page Beh Chia Lor.

The motorcyclist suffered head injuries and was taken to the National University Hospital, where he is understood to be in stable condition.

His motorcycle caught fire immediately after the crash, with two motorists who stopped to render aid helping to put out the blaze with their own extinguishers.

Footage showed the Honda Accord speeding away after the crash. A second motorcycle barely avoided a collision.

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Teacher Khairi Jumali, 27, who witnessed the incident, estimated that the Honda had been travelling at over 100kmh when the crash occurred at close to 6am.

"It's a minor miracle he (the motorcyclist) was still alive, given the impact," Mr Khairi added.

"There was a large gash on his head and he was bleeding quite badly, but he was thankfully still conscious."

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, a police spokesman said investigations are ongoing.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it dispatched a fire engine and an ambulance to the scene.

This article was first published on Jan 30, 2017.
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