The number of littering fines meted out has hit a seven-year high, proof that old habits die hard.

For decades, the different agencies have worked hard to clean out litterbugs.

While there were some winners - today's pristine Singapore River being the biggest success story - it appears the problem has never really left us and has only become worse.

The number of fines issued each year has been on an upward trajectory since 2012, when 8,195 were issued.

Last year, more than 31,000 fines and 1,700 corrective work orders (CWOs) were issued to litterbugs.

The number of CWOs issued was also higher than in the previous five years.

As soon as the numbers made the news, the blame game started with some netizens singling out foreigners.

When they realised that more than six in 10 litterbugs caught were Singapore residents, they directed their unhappiness at new citizens and permanent residents.

There have been calls for the authorities to be tougher on litterbugs.

This includes reverting to the "show-and-shame" practice of the 1990s, where offenders were made to clean public areas, with their pictures splashed across newspapers the day after.

Besides an enforcement blitz, Public Hygiene Council chairman Edward D'Silva suggested displaying a scorecard for each estate with the number of litterbugs caught.

That way, residents have a stake in keeping their estates clean.

The spike in fines is indicative of tougher enforcement action.

There have also been campaigns to pique the sense of social consciousness, while penalties for littering were raised in April 2014.

Sticks and carrots have been used. But it may be time for a different approach.

Sharing her experience in Japan, the chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for the Environment, Ms Lee Bee Wah, said she witnessed how passers-by surrounded a man who had littered and told him off.

She said: "That is the mindset we need, that cleanliness is everyone's responsibility."

samboh@sph.com.sg

This article by The Straits Times was published in The New Paper, a free newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.

They live alone. Some have lost their wife, husband or children.

For many of these seniors, the night visits from a stranger is something that they look forward to.

Ms Ng Run Qian, 29, is one such "stranger".

Since volunteering with Lions Befrienders in 2009 when she was still a National University of Singapore undergraduate, Ms Ng has befriended about 90 seniors in Clementi and Mountbatten.

Together with the Befrienders team, she visits the seniors at their homes at night, chatting and providing a listening ear.

In this episode of Heroes Among Us, Ms Ng, who works as a maths tutor, talks about how these seniors have come to regard her as family, and even call her their god-daughter.

The eight-part video series explores the stories of ordinary Singaporeans who overcome challenges to pursue extraordinary lives.

This article was first published on Feb 5, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

It's tough to get people excited about the weather.

And it's even tougher in tropical Singapore, where it's pretty much only wet or dry every day.

So the country's national newspaper appears to have taken it upon itself to spice up its weather updates, by slipping in the odd quip and pop-culture reference:

The twitter account occasionally channels Rihanna:

You can never go wrong with puns:

It's sometimes #TMI, tbh:

And sometimes the Twitter account just makes up sounds.

The account has even responded to followers with puns:

The suddenly off-the-cuff tone of the tweets have confused Singaporeans, however.

Many people are wondering if they're the work of an enthusiastic intern: 

Some never want the "intern" to leave:

But people don't seem to be able to decide whether Straits Times' weather tweets should go back to being boring or not: 

Read the full article here.

Mashable is the go-to source for tech, digital culture, and entertainment content for its dedicated and influential audience around the world.

Like the crime-plagued Gotham City in the Batman comic and movie franchise, Yishun has its fair share of villains who help make the media headlines in Singapore.

While many other heartland towns aren't exactly sqeaky clean, the Internet quickly picked up on Yishun's scent and continues to throw a fist-bump everytime something new or sensational about the area makes the news.

From neighbourly spats and animal abuses to gruesome crimes, the heartland town in the North has fast attracted an unintended notoriety that most residents would shun.

Is that being fair to Yishun though?

Probably not, but that didn't stop multimedia artist Lhu Wen Kai from starting a website called The Yishun Dream which showcases the issues plaguing the town.

Read also

• Latest cat death in Yishun pond raises new concerns
• 26-year-old suspected drug syndicate leader arrested in Yishun
• 2 men caught on video raining blows on each other in Yishun carpark
• Pregnant woman hurt in Yishun accident cries while thanking boy who helped her

"I wanted to see if (reports of incidents in Yishun) was pure media hype or something that bears genuine concern, and while I still feel the town's notorious reputation was a classic case of over-representation in the alternative media, there are some incidents that really made me scratch my head in awe," Lhu wrote on his Facebook page.

Describing Yishun as one of 'Singapore's most dystopian societies masquerading as a sleepy heartland shopping district', Lhu centred on its main thoroughfare, Yishun Ring Road, dubbing it 'The Devil's Ring'.

"Over half of what grabbed the headlines in Yishun happened within that circle. The other notable spot is along Yishun Ave 2. That road is cursed, period," the 18-year-old added.

Lhu pinned the incidents in an interactive map, neatly categorising them by the nature of the mishap, such as siao lang (crazies), mother nature, cursed luck, suicides and murders.

For the uninformed, the website has compiled and summarised notable incidents around the Yishun neighbourhood from as far back as 2008, and also accepts submissions from readers.

Lhu is not the first to chronicle the mishaps around Yishun. A forum thread on Hardware Zone's Eat-Drink-Man-Woman, entitled 'Why Yishun is the most problematic place in Singapore' had a map in 2016 detailing the various incidents in the town.

Some Yishun residents, who have been the brunt of jokes for a while, were not amused.

An Eva Tan wrote on Facebook: "Those people who were reported to have 'weird' behaviour might have mental troubles, or need help. Instead of coming together to help them, we poke fun at them and laugh at their expense. It's pretty rude."

"I've lived in Yishun my whole life and there's a certain charm to it. People who don't live here, link what they see on the news and think that Yishun is full of crime," she added.

Agreeing, another Facebook user who goes by the alias Tomato Soup noted that a few winning lottery tickets were bought from Yishun, refuting the idea that the neighbourhood is unlucky.

Thankfully, it's not all doom and gloom for residents of Yishun.

While there is no caped crusader to keep Yishun residents safe, there are some positive stories, which Lhu categorised as 'not all heroes wear capes', such as the recent daring rescue of a drowning cat.

Maybe it's time to bring back VR Man.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

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2 men caught on video fighting in Yishun carpark

Source:

Facebook video screengrabs

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Photo Gallery

20-year-old arrested over man's death in Yishun

Source: Stomp, The New Paper

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Fight at Yishun restaurant: 4 injured, 7 arrested

Source: Shin Min Daily News, Lianhe Wanbao

SINGAPORE - The withdrawal of the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) mega free trade deal is a "setback" but it doesn't have to be the ultimate outcome for the global trade liberalising agenda.

Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang made this point in parliament on Monday as the House discussed the fate of the TPP and the impact on Singapore's economy now that the US is no longer in the picture.

He was responding to questions posed by three members of parliament (MP) - Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC), Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC), and nominated MP Randolph Tan.

Mr Lim made it clear that the TPP agreement - signed by all 12 members in February 2016 after seven long years of negotiations - cannot come into effect in its current form without the US.

Apart from the US, the other TPP nations are Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and Vietnam.

Collectively, they have an annual gross domestic product of nearly US$28 trillion that represents roughly 40 per cent of global GDP and about a third of world trade.

One of US President Donald Trump's first acts after his inauguration on Jan 20 was to sign an executive order to remove the US from the TPP, effectively killing off any hopes of ratifying the deal.

The new US administration has indicated it will instead push for bilateral trade agreements in the future.

Article 30.5 of the TPP requires at least six countries, representing 85 per cent of the bloc's combined GDP, to ratify the agreement.

The US, the world's largest economy, must be one of the six for this to happen.

With the TPP now in a state of limbo, Mr Lim informed the House of three scenarios that could emerge.

The first is for the remaining 11 members to press on with their respective plans to ratify the agreement, and hope that the US will change its mind and rejoin before the February 2018 ratification deadline.

The second is to pursue bilateral trade deals with one another instead, while the third is to go ahead with a so-called "TPP 11", which would be the original deal but tweaked to exclude the US.

Read also: Trump to sign orders to renegotiate NAFTA, pull out of TPP

"Each TPP partner will now have to carefully study the new balance of benefits without the US's participation, and consider the value of an agreement among the remaining 11 partners," said Mr Lim.

As far as Singapore is concerned, the impact of not having the TPP at all is not likely to be very significant, given that Singapore already has a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the US in place.

It also has FTAs with all the other TPP countries except Canada and Mexico.

"What we forgo are incremental benefits that we would have achieved over and above the benefits that we already have, through bilateral free trade agreements with the other nine of the countries in the TPP group," he said.

Singapore will remain actively engaged in other initiatives that promote regional integration, such as the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Singapore is a member of both the RCEP and AEC.

The former is a China-led trade deal that involves all ten ASEAN members and its six dialogue partners - China, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.

The minister added that Singapore will also continue to work with like-minded partners at the World Trade Organisation as advocates of a rules-based multilateral trading system.

Singapore's existing network of 21 FTAs also speak to the "deep ties" with key trading partners and this will help the country stay connected as the environment evolves.

"We will also actively pursue other forms of economic co-operation initiatives, including industrial parks and other projects in the region, to create more opportunities for our companies to collaborate and grow," said Mr Lim.

Earlier in his speech, he stressed that Singapore's external linkages can make the country more resilient against the growing threat of protectionism, having built up its regional and global connectivity with multiple regions around the world.

"We have also developed an efficient, stable, pro-business environment, with effective and consistent business and investment frameworks. This allows us to tap on the growth opportunities in Asia and elsewhere, for mutual benefit with like-minded partners," Mr Lim said.

"Amid the current rise of anti-trade sentiments, Singapore will stay the course to remain open and connected, to be an attractive global city that welcomes the best companies, talent and investments."

Read also: Singapore disappointed TPP is unlikely to be passed under Donald Trump: PM Lee

Chinese officials 'licking their lips' at Trump's decision to kill TPP

leeuwen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 07, 2017.
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Some cabin crew working for Singapore Airlines (SIA) have expressed unhappiness over the company's medical leave system, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is in touch with their union and management about their concerns, The Straits Times has learnt.

Some crew members said the current scheme discourages those who are genuinely ill from taking medical leave. They told The Straits Times anonymously that employees have incentive points that are docked when they submit a medical certificate for common ailments such as cold and cough.

Everyone starts with 10 points each year, which are lost once 12 casual MCs are accumulated.

The Straits Times understands that these points are taken into account in staff's annual appraisals, although they make up less than 5 per cent of the weightage.

A crew member said: "The whole system is flawed. Why even make it a factor... You really just end up penalising those who are really ill."

SIA declined to provide details of its performance management process, but stressed that those on medical leave are encouraged to rest and recuperate at home.

Operating with an MC is in fact a disciplinary lapse, said the airline.

Crew members are granted up to 28 days of paid medical leave and six months of paid hospitalisation (non-casual) leave for chronic or prolonged illness.

SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides said: "As with all other businesses, employee productivity and attendance at work are important for a successful airline operation. Although crew attendance is a component in the performance management process, we would like to emphasise that crew performance is measured across many other factors."

Read also: SIA air stewardess found dead in San Francisco hotel room

MOM, which is believed to have made contact with SIA in the last week, told The Straits Times that paid sick and hospitalisation leave is "a basic protection" under the Employment Act and a core benefit in collective agreements.

A spokesman said: "Employers should avoid penalising an employee solely based on his consumption of sick leave. Employers should adopt appraisal or performance management systems which are fair, objective, and which take into consideration the employee's ability, performance and contributions."

He urged all employers to communicate their employment and work-related terms and benefits to employees clearly to avoid any misunderstanding.

Employees who feel that they have been unfairly penalised for taking sick leave can approach the ministry for advice and assistance, he added.

The concerns raised by some SIA cabin crew follow the death of leading stewardess Vanessa Yeap, 38, in San Francisco last week.

She was due for a return flight to Singapore, with a stopover in Hong Kong, when she was found dead in her hotel room.

She had allegedly told her colleagues that she was not feeling well. The cause of death has yet to be certified.

When asked about these concerns, Mr Alan Tan, president of the Singapore Airlines Staff Union - SIA's biggest union which represents cabin crew - said: "We are aware that there is some unhappiness and concern among staff, and we are in discussions with management over this issue."

Read also: SIA refutes netizen's claims over MC rules

MOM: All employees have right to MCs

karam@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 07, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

If a minority candidate leaves his group representation constituency (GRC), a by-election will not be called, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing said yesterday.

He was replying to the opposition Workers' Party's Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC), who wanted to know what would happen if a minority member of a GRC stepped down to run for president.

Mr Singh used Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob as an example.

Madam Halimah, the minority member of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, has been tipped as a potential candidate for the upcoming election, which is reserved for Malays.

What then, Mr Singh asked, would happen to "the very existence of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, which by law requires a Malay MP as one of its political representatives in Parliament"?

Read Also: Presidential election to be held in September with new campaigning rules

Mr Chan said a by-election would not be called if a member of a GRC resigns or is incapacitated in any way.

"This is totally unrelated to the Bill today but since it was raised, I will deal with it," he said.

The GRC system has been in place since 1988, and requires each team to include at least one member of a minority race.

Mr Chan said that when Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong explained the GRC system in Parliament decades back, he said its intent was to achieve two purposes.

One, to ensure enough minority members in the House.

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A look at the presidents of Singapore

Source: The Straits Times, Zawiyah Salleh, New Nation, Wee Kim Wee, The Business Times, The New Paper, The Ong family, Lianhe Zaobao

This, Mr Chan said, had been achieved over the years.

Two, to ensure no political campaign on issues of race and religion, "that we will all, regardless of party lines, campaign on the basis that we are all Singaporeans, that we will not use race, language or religion for political reasons", Mr Chan said.

Elected members are expected to serve all residents, regardless of race, language and religion as well.

These key goals would not be affected if one member of the GRC left, Mr Chan added.

He noted there are 25 minority MPs out of 89, "more than what you'd expect proportionately from adding up the percentage of Malays, Indians and other minorities".

Read Also: Names of potential presidential candidates surface

"Even if we have one less, that is 24 out of 89, which is 27 per cent of Parliament," he said.

Near the end of the debate, Mr Chan accidentally called Madam Halimah "Madam President" instead of "Madam Speaker", to loud laughter from the House.

He did it twice, before he corrected himself.

This article was first published on February 7, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.@sph.com.sg>

The issue of timing came up for debate yesterday during the parliamentary debate on the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill.

The Workers' Party (WP) questioned the decision to reserve this year's presidential election for Malay candidates, with its chairman Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) saying she was not convinced by the Government's reasoning.

Meanwhile, Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC) noted that the move to push back the upcoming presidential election to September could give rise to talk that the Government has other motives.

In making her point, Ms Lim reiterated the same arguments she raised last November, when the Constitution was amended to reserve a presidential election for a specified racial group if no one from that group has been elected president in the past five terms.

The Government then said the next election will be reserved for Malay candidates, as the five continuous terms started from that of former president Wee Kim Wee.

The late Mr Wee was in office when the elected presidency took effect in 1991.

But Ms Lim noted that Mr Wee was not elected to office. His successor, the late president Ong Teng Cheong, was the first to assume the nation's highest office via a poll.

"Why not count from the first elected president, Mr Ong Teng Cheong? Is it because if President Ong was the first one to be counted, we would have to go through this year's election as an open election and risk the contest by Chinese or Indian candidates who may not be to the Government's liking?" she said.

In response, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing said Mr Wee was the first president to exercise the powers under the elected presidency, introduced in 1991. He added that the Government took advice from the Attorney-General on the matter.

He said Ms Lim was suggesting the Government has "all sorts of short-term political objectives to amend the Constitution and put in place this system", though this was far from the case.

Rather, the Government was planning for the long term, so that the system can overcome potential difficulties over sensitive issues such as race, language and religion.

He also noted the changes carried high political risk and cost. "If this Government led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is for short-term political advantage, would we do it? Would we expend our political capital to do this?" he said.

Read also: Presidential election to be held in September with new campaigning rules

He also said the changes had been debated for more than a year in a transparent process that involved the setting up of a Constitutional Commission to review the elected presidency.

He also noted that the WP had declined to present its position before the commission, despite being invited to do so.

Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera was later drawn into the debate when Mr Chan referred to his parliamentary speech last November, and said it showed support to depoliticise the presidency.

Mr Perera said he does not support the elected presidency and was speaking in the context of having an appointed, not elected, president.

But Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean rose to read from the Hansard, saying it shows Mr Perera was with him on the need to depoliticise the presidential election.

Mr Perera did not clarify his position then, Mr Teo added.

Mr Ang welcomed having the election in September, and the move not to designate sites for rallies.

But he wondered if having an acting president after President Tony Tan Keng Yam's term ends on Aug 31 would be seen by some as a move to install an interim president who would let the Government dip into the reserves.

"Let me quickly put such rumours to bed," said Mr Chan, adding that the Government would "respect that the rationale of the elected presidency is for an elected president to be the second key to the reserves and to key appointments".

At the end of the debate, the WP MPs and Nominated MP Kok Heng Leun voted against the Bill.

Read also: Names of potential presidential candidates surface

WP's senate idea flawed, unworkable: Shanmugam

Tan Cheng Bock 'disappointed' he's unable to stand in next presidential election

This article was first published on Feb 07, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The introduction of a Community Committee for presidential elections sparked a flurry of questions on ethnicity and identity in Parliament yesterday.

This 16-member committee will be set up before each election to assess which racial group candidates belong to, and will comprise a chairman and three sub-committees for the Chinese, Malay, and Indian and other minority groups.

During the three-hour debate on amendments to the Presidential Elections Act, MPs dug deep into what defines a person's race.

Presidential hopefuls must declare which community they consider themselves a part of, and the relevant sub-committee will issue a certificate if it agrees. This follows changes to the Constitution last year to provide for elections to be reserved for a particular racial group that has not been represented in the office for a period of time.

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang GRC) and Nominated MP Thomas Chua asked how this would apply to candidates of mixed race, who may identify with more than one community.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing responded that if such a citizen decides to apply for a particular community certificate, the relevant sub-committee "should adopt an inclusive attitude towards his application".

He said this was "different from the approach suggested by some other members", who wanted the lines between the different communities to be more clearly drawn.

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) had asked if an applicant's proficiency in his mother tongue should be a factor the committee considers. "Should a presidential candidate who sees himself as part of the Indian community pass muster if he or she can barely get by in Tamil or the other MOE (Ministry of Education) recognised Indian languages?" he said.

Read also: Presidential election to be held in September with new campaigning rules

Mr Chan said it was up to the committee to assess a candidate "holistically, and not home in on one factor". He said this was not new, it having worked well in the context of the group representation constituency, which ensures minority representation in parliamentary polls.

Mr Singh also asked if the background of an aspiring president's spouse would matter, pointing to how portraits of both president and "first lady" are prominently displayed in government buildings.

What would happen, he asked, if the aspiring president's spouse had converted to Islam to marry, but does not follow the faith?

Mr Chan noted in his wrap-up of the debate that the Constitution does not enshrine the position of first lady, adding that it is a courtesy term customarily used for the wife of the president.

Mr Nair, meanwhile, sought to clarify that the "other minority communities" would not be a catch-all for those who do not fit into the Chinese, Indian and Malay ethnicities.

Mr Chan said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean had made clear in Parliament last November that this referred to groups with some degree of history, permanence and established presence in Singapore, such as the Eurasian community.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong GRC) said the discussion on minority representation in the presidency has led to an openness to talk about race, a topic that used to be seen as sensitive. "It made us a bit uncomfortable to think about the current state of affairs, but it has pushed us to think about issues a bit more," she said.

Mr Chan said: "We will continue to work hard to ensure that each Singaporean feels cherished in our society, regardless of which community they are from."

Read also: Names of potential presidential candidates surface

WP's senate idea flawed, unworkable: Shanmugam

Tan Cheng Bock 'disappointed' he's unable to stand in next presidential election

Debate on timing of reserved election

This article was first published on Feb 07, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The authorities will gain new enforcement powers to ensure that pre-schools uphold standards, under a Bill introduced in Parliament yesterday.

These include powers to interview people, and take photos, videos or audio recordings at pre-schools for investigations.

Currently, the authorities are allowed to enter and inspect pre-school premises, and take documents from centres.

The Early Childhood Development Centres Bill will govern the 1,800 or so childcare centres and kindergartens here, which now come under the Child Care Centres and Education Acts respectively.

However, it does not apply to pre-schools run by the Government, such as Ministry of Education kindergartens.

It aims to regulate pre-schools to "protect the safety, well-being and welfare of children" there, and "promote the quality, and continuous improvement in the quality" of pre-school services.

Regulating both types of pre-schools under the same framework also means that requirements will be more consistent, regardless of the type of service offered.

For instance, under the proposed law, kindergartens will be issued licences that have to be renewed regularly.

Read also: 4 mega childcare centres to open in 2018

Currently, childcare centres must renew their licences every six to 24 months, depending on the licence tenure, but kindergartens can be registered through a one-off process.

Generally, childcare centres cater to children aged 18 months to seven years old, and offer the option of a full-day programme. Some centres also have infant care services.

Kindergartens cater to children aged two to seven years old, and most sessions last up to four hours.

The new Bill comes at a time when the pre-school sector has expanded significantly in recent years, owing to more mothers returning to the workforce and fewer grandparents willing to be primary caregivers of children.

The legislation has been delayed twice. It was initially slated to be introduced in the second half of 2015, before it was pushed back to last year, and then this year.

A spokesman for the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) told The Straits Times late last year that it "made some revisions to the earlier communicated timeline to provide the sector more time for a smooth transition onto the new regulatory framework".

More consultations with pre- school operators were also held last year, after a public consultation exercise in 2015.

The proposed law will have heavier fines compared with the two Acts that childcare centres and kindergartens now come under - offenders face up to a $10,000 fine and a year in jail.

ECDA previously said this was to match the severity of the offences and to align with similar penalties in other laws.

Currently, the maximum penalty under the Child Care Centres Act is a $5,000 fine and a jail term of two years; that under the Education Act is a $2,000 fine and a year in jail.

The Early Childhood Development Centres Bill will likely be debated in Parliament after the Budget debate, expected to be held next month.

Read also: 13,800 kids on childcare wait list​

Name of Bill captures range of operators and services provided

The authorities hope to send a signal to parents with the title of the would-be legislation - Early Childhood Development Centres Bill - that was introduced in Parliament yesterday.

Explaining the name, Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) chief executive Eugene Leong told The Straits Times: "We wanted a title - unfortunately it's quite long - that captures the range of operators and services that they provide."

His remarks follow the introduction of the Bill in Parliament by Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin. It will give the authorities more powers to investigate and take errant pre-schools to task.

Mr Leong noted that some people use "pre-school" to refer to kindergarten services, which typically last half a day. Most childcare centres offer the option of full-day programmes.

He said: "'Pre-school' could refer to preparation for school, but that's... not what we're talking about, (which is) holistic development in a child's early years."

ECDA is the government agency that oversees the pre-school sector. Its website states that the pre-school landscape "comprises both kindergartens and childcare centres".

The two types of pre-schools offer programmes for children up to the age of seven.

They are regulated under different Acts, but the new Bill proposes that they come under the same framework.

Some people also have the misperception that childcare centres offer only custodial care, when they actually offer education too, Mr Leong added.

He said: "We're dealing with the same teachers and children who can move between the two sectors... The Bill helps us to harmonise and ensure consistent standards across pre-schools."

Read also: Workplace childcare centres gain popularity​

Fewer enrolling for kindergarten, more opting for childcare

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 07, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Consumers and businesses have voiced concerns about water rates being hiked, even if some acknowledge that there is a need to do so to curb wastage of the scarce resource.

Restaurant Association of Singapore president adviser Andrew Tjioe said he hopes the Government will factor in the present economic climate when deciding on the price increase.

"We have other things to take care of like operation costs, which are very high," he said.

Yesterday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said the price increase is meant to ensure the reliability of Singapore's water infrastructure, and to reflect the scarcity of water.

This is the first time in 17 years the price is being increased.

The details will be announced during Budget 2017 on Feb 20.

Car-grooming firm Groomwerkz's managing director Tan Thiam Yong said higher prices for water usage could prompt users to be better at conserving the resource.

"For us, we have already done all that we can to save water but for those who are not at their optimum, it might prompt them to do so," said Mr Tan.

His company is now looking to recycle 90 per cent of the water used for car-grooming services, including car washing, by the end of the year.

Housewife Ng Kah Kiow, 54, who lives in Toa Payoh, said: "Naturally, we hope prices will not increase, but we understand that costs are going up and water is precious."

Professor Asit Biswas, visiting professor at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said the domestic water price should be raised by at least 50 per cent, with subsidies for low-income and large families.

The price of water should be doubled for industrial users, so that companies will increase efforts to reduce water use, he added.

He said there should also be yearly increments according to the inflation rate, to encourage people to reduce consumption.

The tariffs for domestic potable water, which are calculated monthly, stand at $1.17 per cubic m for the first 40 cubic m and $1.40 per cubic m thereafter, excluding taxes.

Prof Biswas said Singapore would have a water crisis if the Linggiu Reservoir does dry up.

It is now at about 32 per cent full.

The reservoir allows Singapore to draw its entitlement of 250 million gallons per day from the Johor River.

Kopitiam, which operates about 80 foodcourts and coffee shops, is hoping the price increase will not be significant.

"Any price increase will definitely affect business costs... Let's hope that the price increase won't be too hefty," said a spokesman.

kcarolyn@sph.com.sg

linyc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 8, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

For the first time in 17 years, Singapore residents will have to pay more for water, as the nation seeks to ensure long-term water security.

Details of the increase in water prices for both domestic and non-domestic users will be in the upcoming Budget to be announced on Feb 20, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli.

He said on a visit to Singapore's partially completed third desalination plant in Tuas yesterday that water has to be priced correctly to ensure a sustainable supply and reflect the scarcity of the resource.

The tariffs for domestic potable water, calculated monthly, stand at $1.17 per cubic m for the first 40 cubic m, and $1.40 per cubic m thereafter, excluding taxes.

The cost of producing and supplying water has increased, because of reliable but more expensive methods such as desalination and the need to renew ageing infrastructure like old production plants and pipes.

"In many countries where it is not priced properly, the water ministry is not able to recoup cost enough to build new assets to replace old assets, and sometimes, assets are just left in disrepair to the extent that even though they may have water, the water cannot get to where it is needed," said Mr Masagos.

"Water is a very critical asset that we have to take care of."

Experts have long called for the relatively inexpensive water prices to be raised in Singapore, as this would encourage people to reduce consumption.

Mr Masagos also noted the importance of diversifying water production methods. "If there is a more prolonged dry season affecting the region, Linggiu will actually run out in about two years. And therefore, we always must be ready to ensure that we have enough assets... to supply water to Singapore."

The Linggiu Reservoir in Johor supplies Singapore with up to 250 million gallons of water a day under an agreement with Johor.

Mr Masagos said that even in a worst-case scenario, Singapore should not need to resort to water rationing, due to its diversified sources.

Desalinated water is the most expensive of Singapore's four National Taps - with the other three being imported water, water from local reservoirs and Newater - given the energy needed to extract salt from seawater at high pressure.

Nonetheless, said Mr Young Joo Chye, director of engineering development and procurement at national water agency PUB, it remains a key pillar of Singapore's water supply strategy. "As a source of water that is independent of rainfall, it bolsters the reliability of our water supply against prolonged periods of dry spells and droughts."

Two desalination plants are now in operation here, meeting up to 25 per cent of Singapore's water demand of 430 million gallons per day.

Desalination will meet up to 30 per cent of demand by 2030, when at least five plants are expected to be operational.

linyc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 08, 2017.
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The practice of incentivising employees to take less medical leave is prevalent in workplaces here, say human resources agencies and union representatives.

ManpowerGroup Singapore's country manager Linda Teo told The Straits Times some firms give workers with good attendance monetary rewards, and most review medical leave records during appraisals, which can affect bonuses.

A Straits Times report yesterday said that some Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew are unhappy with the company's medical leave system - where crew members allegedly lose incentive points when they submit medical certificates (MC) for common ailments like cough and cold.

According to sources who wished to remain anonymous, these points are taken into account in staff's annual appraisals, making up less than 5 per cent of the weightage.

The Manpower Ministry is in touch with SIA's union and management about the crew members' concerns.

Read Also: MOM: All employees have right to MCs

HR firms and unions said SIA's practice of upfront incentives for attendance, if true, is unusual compared with other industries.

Ms Teo said SIA's approach is "more unique" as it rewards employees upfront.

She said a more common practice is to reward employees during year-end appraisals if they maintain an MC-free record.

"This incentivises the employees to work towards a goal of zero or low MC record and not view this additional incentive as an entitlement."

Others, however, were indignant.

Read Also: SIA refutes netizen's claims over MC rules

Quantum Leap Career Consultancy's director of talent acquisition, Mr Alvin Ang, said: "I don't think this (SIA's system) is the right thing to do. You are using something which instils fear."

He sees SIA's system as distinct from the "attendance bonus" common in service sectors such as retail and food and beverage.

F&B giants Crystal Jade and BreadTalk Group declined to comment when contacted.

Ms K. Thanaletchimi, president of the Healthcare Services Employees' Union, said employers should be more empathetic and find out why people take sick leave.

"If you just label a person as a 'poor performer' (for taking sick leave), that is unfair practice," said Ms Thanaletchimi, who is also a nominated MP.

Read Also: Some SIA cabin crew unhappy over medical leave system

Some organisations are more willing to trust their employees.

Since 2013, civil servants have been entitled to up to two rest days where they do not need MCs.

tohwenli@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 8, 2017.
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Autonomous vehicle technology might be at a nascent stage of development, but it is evolving quickly and rules need to be highly adaptable to regulate its use.

This is why the Government is amending the Road Traffic Act to better regulate trials of autonomous vehicles (AVs) here, Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng said in Parliament yesterday as he set out the changes to the law.

First, the law now recognises that a motor vehicle need not be one with a human driver.

Second, technology developers will have to adhere to a suite of rules when they trial such vehicles on the roads. These include time and space limits on trials, standards for the design of AVs, and requirements for developers to share data with the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

The rules can also exempt AVs and their operators from existing legislation, which mandates that a human driver must be responsible for safe use of motor vehicles on the road. But operators would have to ensure that there is liability insurance, or place a security deposit with the LTA during the trials.

These amendments were passed into law yesterday after a two-hour debate, which saw 11 MPs speak or raise questions about the Bill.

The safety of road users was a top concern, with Nominated MP Thomas Chua, Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir) citing an accident last October involving a lorry and a self-driving vehicle from start-up nuTonomy as an example of what could go wrong.

Read also: Start-up puts brakes on self-driving trials after accident
nuTonomy restarts driverless tests after crash

Mr Melvin Yong (Tanjong Pagar GRC) asked whether guidelines would be developed to provide clarity on how road users should react in the event of an accident with an AV.

"Who would be liable should an AV hit a pedestrian or another vehicle? Would the person or persons in the AV at the time of the accident be liable? What happens if there is no one in the AV when the accident occurs?" said Mr Yong.

Mr Ng noted that AV technology is still not mature, and accidents are "not to be unexpected" during trials. But the LTA has a framework in place to minimise the possibility of accidents. This includes requiring AVs to pass a safety assessment before they can be tested on the roads, he said. "AV developers must have robust accident mitigation plans for the trials, including having a safety driver who is trained to shift swiftly to take control of the vehicle whenever necessary," he added.

The rules governing AV trials will be in force for five years. Thereafter, the Transport Ministry could consider extending them or enacting more permanent laws.

Mr Ng said it would take about 10 to 15 years before AV technology could be deployed widely. "As this is emerging technology, the provisions will provide the flexibility needed to assess the appropriate regulatory response more quickly."

Read also: Self-driving taxis to debut in Singapore in 2018
All aboard! Singapore to try out self-driving buses
Self-driving shuttle to ply NTU roads soon

This article was first published on Feb 8, 2017.
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Singapore art gallery Mandala Fine Art has ceased operations, but up to 39 artists have not been able to reclaim their artworks, estimated to be worth more than $1 million.

Sri Lankan gallery owner Vitharana Mudiyanselage Hemasiri Vitharana left Singapore last year, leaving the works in storage facilities, which will not release them as they are owed rent.

When The Straits Times visited the gallery's premises in Kallang Avenue last Friday, the unit was vacant and its glass doors were chained.

Mr Vitharana also owes artists and former employees thousands in salaries and transport costs, according to former staff and 15 artists who spoke to The Straits Times.

Among these artists is Ukrainian painter Alexander Belozor, 54, who has appealed to the Embassy of Ukraine in Singapore for help.

Last week, a friend of the artist, named Zoe, posted an entry on his blog claiming that 14 of his paintings are still in Singapore and were not returned after being shown at last April's Asia Dive Expo.

Mandala Fine Art also owes Mr Belozor about US$2,000 (S$2,800) in transport costs, said Zoe, who spoke to The Straits Times on the artist's behalf.

While the embassy was able to get in touch with Mr Vitharana, Mr Belozor said that months of communication have led to naught.

"We decided to make the information public, to warn everyone and to try to find the artworks, which is the main goal for us now," said Zoe in an e-mail.

When contacted by The Straits Times, Mr Vitharana said in an e-mail that Mr Belozor's works are "safe and secure in a private place in Singapore".

But he said that he had lost $500,000 since setting up the company in 2014 and still owed money to the storage facilities. "To clear Alexander's work from there, we do need to do some payments. This is why his work is stuck," he said.

Others, too, are waiting. Last September, a police report was made on behalf of 38 artists from countries such as South Africa, Britain and Thailand.

They sent their works to Singapore in 2015 for a show mounted by the gallery, and were "stonewalled" by Mr Vitharana when they asked for them to be returned, according to the police report.

Police confirmed that a report was made and "the complainant was advised on his legal recourse".

British artist Jeremy Paul said that three of his paintings, valued at about $10,000, have not been returned. He added that the gallery also owes him £500 (S$880) for framing and delivery.

Mr Paul said in an e-mail that Mr Vitharana "broke the terms of my contract with Mandala in that the transport fees were not paid and no art has been returned". He added that the artworks were supposed to have been returned after the exhibition closed in December 2015.

As of yesterday, 14 of the 38 artists who lodged the police report have confirmed that their works have still not been returned.

Mr Vitharana told The Straits Times that these paintings are stuck in a storage facility owned by Ocean Logistics, in Jalan Pemimpin. He claimed to have paid 40 to 50 per cent of the fees owed.

An owner of Ocean Logistics, Mr Gary Yeo, told The Straits Times that he took the matter to the Small Claims Tribunal last April.

As a result, Mr Vitharana paid half of the bill - $5,000 - last May and promised to settle the rest by the end of the month. The outstanding amount has snowballed to $18,776 and Mr Yeo said he will be discussing his next steps with his lawyer.

He believes that up to 100 artworks are in storage. "If there's no payment, nothing can be taken out from the store," he said. "Someone has to foot the bill."

Meanwhile, former employee Vincent Ong said he is owed about $11,000. Two others, who declined to be named, claimed to be owed $3,000 each. Mr Ong said: "He paid me for only two months and the next two months or so, he didn't pay. And he never pays on time."

The gallery is no stranger to controversy. Last June, it was accused of reproducing photographer Vin PSK's work without permission and trying to sell the copy for $6,000.

Ms Aniela Rahardja, secretary of the Art Galleries Association (Singapore), said: "Unfortunately, if galleries are not responsive or communicative, there's not much that an artist can do, except perhaps report to police or sue the gallery.

"But a lawsuit is expensive and most artists cannot afford it."

The association's 29 members have to sign a professional practices and ethics code. Mandala Fine Art was not part of the association.

Mr Vitharana's present whereabouts are unknown. He said he plans to return but "there is no source of income" for him here.

"We accept our mistakes and we would like to apologise officially to all the parties who had to undergo difficulties because of us and the situation," he added. But apologies mean nothing to some artists.

"This is such a draining situation, and this is so unjust," said Zoe. "We don't even care about that money any more, even though Alexander has bad financial problems. We only hope to get the artworks back."

nabilahs@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 8, 2017.
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Ride-hailing platform Grab launched a new service, GrabCoach, yesterday targeted at group travellers and corporate customers.

GrabCoach has a fleet of more than 200 13-seater, 23-seater and 40-seater vehicles, and fares are fixed and priced at $65, $95 and $150 for a one-way trip respectively, Grab said in a statement yesterday.

"Now, for the first time, those who need to travel in groups can conveniently schedule a GrabCoach within minutes via the Grab app without having to spend hours coordinating with coach companies," said Grab Singapore head Lim Kell Jay.

"We are continuously looking at how we can contribute to a car-lite society by reducing the number of vehicles needed on our roads."

Passengers can book a GrabCoach on demand or up to seven days in advance.

Once a booking is confirmed, they can use the Grab app to access their driver's profile, track their vehicle's location in real time, and be notified when their ride is arriving.

Read also: Grab launches GrabPay Credits​

 Grab vs Uber: Breaking down the economics behind their price war and sustainability

No Grab or Uber for those with young kids​

kcarolyn@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 08, 2017.
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Former trade union leader and political detainee Fong Swee Suan was labelled a leftist, even a communist, by many in his lifetime.

But according to his two sons, he was a loving father and husband who made significant contributions to Singapore's development from a British colony to an independent nation in the turbulent 1950s and 1960s.

In one of the emotional eulogies they gave at their father's funeral service in Mandai Crematorium yesterday, elder son Otto Fong, 48, an author and cartoonist, remembered him as a patient man who "seldom lost his temper".

Read Also: Founding PAP member, left-wing union activist Fong Swee Suan dies

"Dad had green fingers, anything he planted blossomed," he added, referring to the time the family lived in Johor, from the late 1960s to the 1990s.

Younger son Yong Sheng, 42, an engineer, said: "I want to thank my dad for the sacrifices he made in the early years so that Singapore could be what it is today."

In the small group of about 50 people who bade a final farewell to Mr Fong were his wife, Madam Chen Poh Chang, 80; his eldest child, Lydia, 54, an architect; other family members; former leftist trade unionists and friends.

Read Also: PM Lee sends condolence letter to widow of former leftist union leader Fong Swee Suan

Mr Fong died last Saturday at age 85, after suffering from liver cirrhosis for several years.

He was a founding member of the People's Action Party (PAP) in 1954, but left with other leftists in the party to form the now-defunct Barisan Sosialis in 1961.

He quit the PAP because of differences over Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia.

Read Also: Former leftist trade unionist Fong Swee Suan dies, aged 85

A firebrand trade unionist and politician, he was imprisoned in 1955 and again in 1956.

When he was arrested a third time under Operation Coldstore, which was another security swoop against leftists and pro-communists in 1963, he was sent back to peninsula Malaya, where he was born. He spent 4½ years in jail there.

Hundreds of Mr Fong's former comrades, from the PAP as well as Barisan Sosialis, had paid their last respects at his wake in the past three days.

Read Also: A tribute to father's old friend Fong Swee Suan

Others included Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung and Minister of State for Education, and Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary. Both are sons of former leftists and Barisan leaders who were close comrades of Mr Fong.

Mr Ong told The Straits Times after visiting the wake on Sunday: "Mr Fong Swee Suan represented the ideals of many Singaporeans of an earlier generation - my parents' generation.

"He will be remembered and respected."

wengkam@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 8, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - Parliament passed a bill on Tuesday (Feb 7) to amend the International Enterprise Singapore Board Act (IESBA), to reflect changes in IE Singapore's role.

Speaking at the second reading of the bill, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon said first, the IESBA will be amended to reflect that IE Singapore's regulatory function over the commodity trading industry will be limited to spot commodity trading and the rubber trade industry.

The regulatory oversight of commodity futures contracts, which previously came under IE Singapore, had been transferred to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 2008.

With the passing of the Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill 2016 this year, IE Singapore will also be transferring the regulation of OTC commodity derivatives contracts to the MAS, for more effective regulatory oversight under a single agency.

Second, the IESBA will be amended to clarify that IE Singapore can collect, compile and analyse information relating to the commodity trade and industry.

This gives IE Singapore, the lead agency responsible for the promotion and development of the commodity trading industry, continued access to company and market data for policy formulation purposes.

Third, the IESBA will be updated to set out the circumstances under which IE Singapore may disclose confidential information related to the commodity trading industry to another public agency.

This would include disclosure of such information for the purpose of formulating or reviewing policy relating to trade.

There was also an administrative amendment to update the purposes for which the Singapore Rubber Fund may be used, to take into account the revised functions of IE Singapore.

This fund is to be used to facilitate the promotion and development of the rubber trading industry, but can also be tapped to promote or develop the broader commodity trading industry, with the view that the benefits also accrue to the rubber trading industry.

IE Singapore had conducted a public consultation on the draft Bill and there were no objections to the proposed amendments.

This article was first published on Feb 07, 2017.
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Underwater life around the offshore Sisters' Islands will now be better protected, after Parliament passed laws yesterday to designate the area as a public park.

This means it will be an offence to fish, collect corals or moor boats within the Sisters' Islands Marine Park without the approval of the National Parks Board (NParks).

The terrestrial areas of the islands are already protected under the law, and the latest change makes clear that the marine and foreshore areas, too, are to be safeguarded.

Senior Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said during the debate on the Parks and Trees (Amendment) Bill: "It is amazing our waters, which lie within some of the busiest commercial sea lanes in the world, are home to over a third of the world's total coral species. So protecting the reefs at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park is crucial to our coral conservation efforts."

The marine park, Singapore's first, is a 40-minute boat ride from Marina South Pier and about the size of 50 football fields.

It comprises the two Sisters' Islands, the surrounding reefs and the western reefs of nearby St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor.

Mr Lee said NParks will make new rules specific to marine parks in due course, such as imposing restrictions on diving, and the movement of vessels.

This will be done in consultation with the marine conservation community and other stakeholders, such as boat operators, he said.

The Bill received support from all nine MPs who spoke on it, with many welcoming the preservation of Singapore's natural heritage.

Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade GRC) and Non-Constituency MP Daniel Goh asked if there were plans for other marine parks.

Mr Lee said his ministry would work with nature groups, and use science and technology to determine if other areas should be designated as marine parks.

He added that the Sisters' Islands site was chosen based on the richness of species and habitats there, as well as its importance as a source of coral larvae.

Scientists had found that the reefs there are the "mother reef" of sorts, and the waters around them are the likely source of Singapore's coral diversity.

Another amendment to the Act makes it an offence for people to release animals into water bodies outside nature reserves, if there is cause to believe that the animals might end up in the reserves.

This is meant to prevent the introduction of non-native species, which can upset the balance of the natural ecosystem and harm native species.

First-time offenders could be fined up to $50,000, jailed up to six months, or both. Previously, the law only restricted the release of animals in a nature reserve.

Another update to the law deals with the maintenance of urban greenery, which Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC), Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC) and Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) asked about.

NParks officers will now have the power to enter private premises to check on the condition of trees and plants if there are public safety concerns.

The officers can also issue notices requiring private property owners to carry out pruning or engage an arborist to conduct detailed inspections, among other things.

Ms Lee wanted to know if NParks would intervene in neighbourly disputes arising from the shedding of leaves from trees.

In response, Mr Lee said NParks will refer such cases to community dispute-resolution channels, as it can take action only when the condition of a tree threatens public safety, or obstructs pedestrians' use of footpaths or the view of road users.

audreyt@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 08, 2017.
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The average person used $85 of his $200 Flexi-Medisave allotment in the scheme's first nine months, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Around 200,000 seniors have tapped the scheme in its first year, added the ministry in response to queries from The Straits Times.

Flexi-Medisave was introduced in April 2015 to help seniors pay less out-of-pocket for outpatient care at public institutions and general practitioners under the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas).

Under the scheme, Singaporeans aged 65 and above can use an additional $200 to pay for treatment, on top of the Medisave limits imposed for other schemes.

For example, if they have hit their $300 Medisave limit for outpatient scans, they can use Flexi-Medisave to pay for the remaining amount.

"The withdrawal amounts for Flexi-Medisave have been generally small, with an average of $85 withdrawn per patient from April to December 2015," a ministry spokesman said.

"As Flexi- Medisave was implemented recently, MOH is still monitoring its use by the elderly."

The figures for 2016 are not yet available.

Health experts interviewed said it is difficult to judge the success of the scheme simply by looking at the average amount used by patients.

"One reason for this could be that seniors are tapping other Medisave schemes first, and the limits set in those schemes are reasonable," said Dr Kang Soon Hock, who heads the social science core at the School of Arts and Social Sciences at SIM University.

"Thus, they may not have to tap Flexi-Medisave as a supplement unless it is necessary."

Healthcare economist Phua Kai Hong, who is a visiting professor at the graduate school of public policy at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, said that in general, people must know about any new scheme for it to work as intended.

Said Dr Phua: "More social marketing and public education will be required to increase awareness and uptake."

linettel@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 8, 2017.
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