An independent panel has been appointed to look into improper payments made by the Aljunied- Hougang Town Council (AHTC), following an extensive report by audit firm KPMG last year that found $6.9 million worth of such payments.

The panel, which will comprise senior counsel Philip Jeyaretnam, senior counsel N. Sreenivasan, and KPMG managing partner Ong Pang Thye, will consider if the payments can be recovered and take other follow-up actions.

The Housing Board (HDB) and AHTC said in separate statements yesterday that they have agreed to the appointment of the panel, which Mr Jeyaretnam will chair.

HDB had asked AHTC to appoint a third party to recover the improper payments made from town council funds.

These include overpayments and payments without proper certification of work being done, among other things.

KPMG had traced some of the improper payments made to AHTC's then managing agent FM Solutions and Services.

The panel will have the power to make demands and come to settlements on behalf of AHTC, among other things.

It can also request the cooperation of AHTC members to provide necessary documents, and update AHTC and HDB on the progress of its work.

HDB said yesterday that the KPMG report on improper payments had flagged regulatory breaches by AHTC and also pointed out that the town council's "failed control environment exposed public funds to the potential for misappropriation and civil or criminal breach of trust".

It added that KPMG had said AHTC may potentially recover some of the losses from the town councillors if they were found to have breached their fiduciary duties.

"The independent panel will consider what recovery actions should be taken, in respect of the findings in the report," HDB said.

The Workers' Party-run town council said in its statement that "the panel will act independently, without remuneration, and without taking directions from AHTC, HDB or any other party".

AHTC also said that while it had "a different perspective" on key aspects of the KPMG report, it "believes that it is in the interests of AHTC and its residents to appoint an independent panel to review the findings and take such action as deemed appropriate to safeguard AHTC's interests".

The report on improper payments by KPMG is part of the ongoing audit of AHTC following lapses flagged by its own auditors as well as the Auditor-General's Office.

AHTC had appointed KPMG in March last year to look into its books following an order from the Court of Appeal.

ziliang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 18, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Royal Plaza on Scotts' buffet restaurant Carousel celebrated its 10th anniversary with a pay-as-you-wish buffet lunch on Saturday (Feb 18), which saw people queueing up from as early as 6.30am to snag a seat.

According to a statement from the hotel, the restaurant welcomed a total of 307 guests, where patrons could pay any amount they wished to enjoy the spread from 12pm to 1.30pm.

As promised, the hotel has donated profits from the event to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, totalling $11,222. This amount is inclusive of a donation of $4,000 (the value of one membership fee) from The British Club.

The fund provides pocket money to children from low-income families to help them through school.

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and General Manager of Royal Plaza on Scotts, Mr Patrick Fiat, said: "We are honoured to share this joyous occasion with our guests and to do our part in giving back to the society."

candicec@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Electric bicycles are becoming a common sight on roads in Singapore.

Their number has risen in recent years, with an estimated 15,000 e-bikes in use today.

With the recent spate of incidents involving e-bikes, the Government has enforced tighter rules.

For instance, e-bikes will soon need to be registered to an owner and bear registration plates.

In this episode of askST, Straits Times journalist Danson Cheong highlights rules which e-bike owners should know about.

For example, users have to be 16 years old and above, and e-bikes cannot be ridden on footpaths.

This article was first published on Feb 13, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Mr Kim Jong Nam, the murdered estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, appeared to have maintained a relatively low profile during his time in Singapore.

According to the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, which cited government sources, Mr Kim, who was critical of North Korea, fled to Singapore in 2012 - because his Macau home was exposed to the media and North Korean spies.

He is said to have chosen Singapore for ease of travel to Europe, where his son Han Sol was attending university.

A source in Singapore spotted Mr Kim three times within seven months - twice at a hotel lobby at Marina Bay Sands and once in Orchard Road.

However, Mr Kim appeared not to have drawn too much attention to himself here.

Staff from some 20 Korean shops and eateries in Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah whom the The Sunday Times spoke to did not recognise Mr Kim immediately when shown a photo of him.

They also did not recall meeting him before.

"I read a report that he had a girlfriend here," said Madam Ja Young, a Beauty World Centre shopkeeper in her 40s who was born in South Korea, but became a Singapore citizen 18 years ago.

Madam Jackie Yoo, 52, a South Korean working at a Korean barbecue restaurant in Tanjong Pagar Road, said her friend spotted Mr Kim twice in the area in 2014.

The first time was while the friend was walking along the street, and the other, when he had lunch at the same restaurant as Mr Kim.

As Mr Kim was dressed ordinarily, in a newsboy cap and jacket, her friend did not recognise Mr Kim at first glance along the street.

It was only on a second occasion, when they sat at adjacent tables in an eatery, that her friend identified Mr Kim from his photos in news reports.

He behaved normally and was alone, without any family members or bodyguards, said Madam Yoo.

When contacted, the restaurant's owner, who declined to be named, stopped short of confirming Madam Yoo's account, and merely said that North Koreans have dined in Korean restaurants in the area before.

Mr Kim also reportedly "liked" the Facebook page of Kimidori Japanese Girls Bar in Orchard Plaza.

However, staff there denied having seen him when The Sunday Times visited the bar last Friday.

One staff member, who has worked there for two years and did not wish to be named, said it mainly served an exclusive Japanese clientele, and could not confirm if Mr Kim had indeed patronised the bar.

He added that even if Mr Kim had visited the place, it was unlikely that he would have been recognised, citing a high customer turnover rate and Mr Kim's ordinary dressing.

Many North Koreans here do not appear to mingle much with South Koreans, but they do patronise shops and eateries run by them.

Madam Yoo recounted an incident two years ago when two North Korean customers ended a conversation with her abruptly after she introduced herself as a South Korean. 

Agreeing, Madam Ja said: "They don't really like to talk about their identities or country."

Mr Kim's death has left many South Koreans here with mixed feelings. "It is about their country, so it is their problem," said Madam Yoo.

Others felt that the death was tragic but were reluctant to express any sympathy, preferring to keep all North and South Korean matters separate.

When contacted, the South Korean embassy said it had no comments.

Meanwhile, the North Korean embassy appeared to be closed when The Sunday Times visited last Friday and did not reply to queries by press time.

raynoldt@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
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Young hawkers have welcomed the proposals made recently to the Government to breathe new life into a traditional trade that has not always been welcoming.

They like the idea of transforming hawker centres into social spaces and training grounds, as well as providing amenities such as Wi-Fi to customers.

But what is needed to attract and keep young hawkers in the business boils down to economics, new-generation hawkers told The Sunday Times.

The way things are right now, earning a living worth the sweat of their toil is still a challenge for most of them.

Earlier this month, a 14-member Hawker Centre 3.0 Committee submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) its recommendations to sustain Singapore's hawker culture on the back of concerns that it could die out.

Issues like the relatively high median age of incumbent hawkers - 59 years - were also flagged.

Measures identified as most relevant are those that would boost their profit margin, said young hawkers.

The opportunity cost involved is a substantial barrier to entry for most aspiring hawkers.

Many of those who keep at it do it out of passion for a street food culture they believe in sustaining.

"Being a hawker actually requires a lot of effort and time," said Mr Chris Eng, 22, head chef at Star Yong Kwang BBQ Seafood in Alexandra Village Food Centre.

It requires sacrifices too.

"Your friends or family members might be outside celebrating their public holidays but you will have to spend time at your hawker business because these days are the peak periods."

And with high overhead costs combined with pressure to keep prices low, the income is seldom enough to make up for the work they have to put in.

As Mr Kai Koh, 31, who two years ago set up Roast Paradise selling char siew and roast pork at Old Airport Road Food Centre, put it: "If one can get a job earning $2,000 to $3,000 in a comfortable air-conditioned environment, why would they want to slog in a hawker centre for a similar salary?"

Read also: 12 young hawkerpreneurs who are breathing life into Singapore's hawker culture again

COSTS

Setting up a hawker stall is a viable way of road-testing a culinary concept as it involves less risk than investing in a restaurant, said Mr Joshua Khoo, 32, whose French restaurant chain Saveur started as a stall in a Joo Chiat coffee shop.

Unlike first-generation hawkers - who were resettled from the streets to food centres in the 1970s - new entrants are not eligible for government rental subsidies. As of last December, "new" stallholders pay an average of $1,260 a month, against an average of $240 a month for those who are subsidised.

A 2014 analysis conducted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the MEWR found that raw materials make up more than half of hawkers' operating costs, compared to rentals, which account for about 12 per cent of costs.

With that in mind, the committee's recommendation of bulk- purchasing ingredients or providing hawkers with crucial information like suppliers' contacts could help with lowering costs.

Mr Khoo, for example, has been getting his frozen meat supplies from the same contact in his restaurant business. "Knowing who to go to can save me up to $500 a month, which is quite a big sum for hawkers," he said.

TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT

Hawker training programmes are set to be expanded if the recommendations are implemented.

But it is even more crucial that aspiring hawkers get on-the-job training on how to streamline their service, on top of acquiring culinary skills.

Not many of those who had joined hawker training programmes eventually joined the trade for the long term due to inexperience.

As of last year, out of the 46 who trained under the Hawker Master Trainer Pilot Programme in 2013, only five have stayed on in the business.

Social enterprise Dignity Kitchen, which conducted the training, said that the programme has been tweaked to provide more practical training. It may also set up incubation stalls for young hawkers to hone their processes.

Hipster hawker centre Timbre+, which opened last April, could set a benchmark for what hawker centres of the future could look like.

On top of featuring live music performances and an automated tray-return system, its management also helps hawkers market their dishes and respond to customer inquiries online.

Mr Edward Chia, Timbre Group's managing director, said: "We try our best to offer economies of scale so that hawkers can just focus on ensuring food quality and consistency."

Read also: Students get a taste of hawker life​

Hawker Centre 3.0 panel recommendations

• Introduce sustainable training programmes to help facilitate and encourage the entry of aspiring hawkers into the profession.
• Launch a one-stop information centre for hawker trade-related inquiries.
• Explore the viability of centralised dishwashing, cashless payment and bulk purchases of common ingredients.
• Encourage wider adoption of more efficient and productive equipment that will help to automate tasks.
• Enhance hawker centres' vibrancy by having activities such as music performances. Community groups, such as grassroots organisations, schools or tertiary institutions, could also partner hawker centres to hold regular activities.
• Improve amenities within hawker centres by providing free Wi-Fi access and child-friendly spaces.
• National Environment Agency to conduct more campaigns to encourage tray returns and other gracious customer behaviour.
• Improve current tray-return facilities in terms of design, layout and location so they are more convenient to use.

Read also: Braised duck stall owner retiring with no successor in sight

yuensin@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

When he was 12, Mr Tan Boon Kwang started helping out at his father's Teochew braised duck stall, which operated from a pushcart in Redhill.

He moved with his father to Redhill Food Centre when it was built in the early 1970s and since then, he has been running Redhill Lor Duck Rice and Noodle.

His wife, 57-year-old Ong Ai Ling, has been helping him for the past decade.

But Mr Tan, 59, plans to retire at the end of this year.

Over the years, the stall has built up a steady following, with customers forming long lines during lunch hour to order the braised duck dish and clear herbal soup.

It became even busier after the stall was recommended by the Singapore Michelin Guide 2016.

Read also: 12 young hawkerpreneurs who are breathing life into Singapore's hawker culture again

Having undergone a heart operation three years ago, Mr Tan cannot handle the physical demands of being a hawker.

He and his wife have already cut down their working hours - they now take three days off a week instead of one day, and they close the stall at 2pm instead of 8pm.

So far, there are no potential successors, said Mr Tan.

A company had expressed interest in taking over the stall, but there has been no word yet.

Their two children, a 32- year-old teacher and 30-year-old fitness trainer, have no interest in joining the industry.

Read also: Students get a taste of hawker life​

Said Madam Ong: "Kids these days don't want to get up in the wee hours of the morning, or miss out on seeing friends during the weekend because of work. In the past, our families were poor so we all tried to earn money to help our parents.

"Of course it is a pity to see the stall close down, but we have no choice. Health is more important."

Asked about the Hawker Centre 3.0 Committee's report, the couple said that ultimately, what would keep customers coming back is the quality and taste of the food.

"If the food is good, you don't need Wi-Fi or performances. Our customers come from all over the island," said Madam Ong.

The couple are willing to impart their skills to the next generation, but stress that the work is not easy.

"It'll be much easier if an aspiring hawker is passionate about the industry. But unless you are willing to put in the hard work, you won't learn anything," said Mr Tan.

Read also: Hard slog must be worth it, say young hawkers​

yuensin@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Kidney failure rates are shooting up among Malays here, with their risk - already higher than the other races - going up by 50 per cent over the past decade.

Ten years ago, Malays had twice the risk of getting kidney failure, requiring either a transplant or dialysis, compared to Chinese, and 1.5 times compared to Indians.

Today, their risk has grown to almost triple that of Chinese and more than twice that of Indians.

The latest figures are from 2014 since it takes two years to confirm a diagnosis.

They show that the age standardised rate, which takes into consideration the age at which kidney failure hits, was 643 per million people for Malays, compared to 224 for Chinese and 274 for Indians.

Dr Marjorie Foo, head of renal medicine at the Singapore General Hospital, said the high rates of kidney failure among Malays could be because more of them suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure - both risk factors - compared to the other races.

Professor A. Vathsala, a senior nephrologist at the National University Hospital, added: "We believe that late diagnosis of diabetes, perhaps a higher proportion of smokers among Malays and obesity contribute to the increased risk of kidney disease among Malays in Singapore."

In absolute numbers for 2014, kidneys failed in 1,109 Chinese, 408 Malays and 118 Indians.

A study of 58,000 diabetic patients at the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics from 2006 to 2009 found that among the three major ethnic groups here, Malays had the highest incidence of diabetic kidney failure while Indians, in spite of poorer control of diabetes than the other races, fared best.

The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nephrology, suggested this could be caused by delayed diagnosis in Malays resulting in more advanced complications, coupled with Malays having low levels of exercise and the highest incidence of smoking.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, Malays make up 30 per cent of patients undergoing dialysis at its centres.

One of them, Madam Zaiton Ahmad, 58, lost the use of her kidneys five years ago. She discovered she had diabetes and high blood pressure only when she had a stroke in 2003. Both her parents had diabetes, and one of her older brothers is also on dialysis.

Since her diagnosis, she has been on medication and has tried to eat well and exercise. But her blood sugar levels stayed high and her kidneys failed in 2012.

Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob said Malay MPs have set up programmes to address this situation.

Her constituency of Marsiling, for example, organises regular health screenings, exercise programmes and a Befrienders' Programme to support the more needy cases.

They have also linked up with a healthcare professionals association for the Malay/Muslim community to focus on Malay-speaking residents.

"We need to focus more on the young, moulding healthy eating and lifestyle habits from young, rather than waiting until illness strikes before doing something," she said.

salma@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
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A pall of finality hangs over the Sungei Road flea market as peddlers digest the news that they have about five months left before it closes for good .

The Government said on Tuesday that July 10 will be the last day for the market, which began in the 1930s as a small trading spot along Rochor River.

Singapore's last free hawking zone will be prepared "to facilitate future residential development use", a multi-agency statement said.

There is still hope - the Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods, which has around 70 members - has submitted an appeal to extend the deadline until the end of the year.

If that fails, it intends to secure a temporary site in Jalan Besar, though talks are still under way, said association president Koh Eng Khoon, 76.

But there is a palpable sense that time is up, the peddlers told The Sunday Times. As they reminisce about the "good old days" with ST, some joked that they were about to be sacked again.

Many, like Mr Neo Chue Eng, began plying their trade at the market out of necessity when they were retrenched from their previous jobs and could not find another.

The 58-year-old, who was let go as a shipyard worker at the height of the Asian financial crisis in 1997, said working in Sungei Road was more than just a source of income.

He met his wife, Madam Peh Guat Lian, 50, at the market and the two of them work at adjoining lots selling used clothing.

The flea market, also known as Thieves' Market, is where some 160 to 200 hard-nosed peddlers honed their street savvy.

Read also: Sungei Road flea market to close in July

Its alumni include Koufu founder Pang Lim, who cut his teeth in business by selling fruit and old watches at the market in his teens.

At 1pm daily, peddlers begin carting in cardboard boxes and luggage containing second-hand goods, antiques and collectibles such as old vinyl records, toys, coins and stamps. Some, like Mr Neo, have their own lorries, while others take public transport.

The 300-plus lots on the site operate on a first-come-first-served basis, though an unspoken code exists among regulars to occupy the best spots, said Mr Neo.

It is a tough job, with peddlers having to brave bad weather and unruly customers, said vintage electronics seller Aderoh Bakar, 70.

Stick around and one can hear loud arguments as buyer and seller haggle over the already-low prices.

"Arguments are very common here. It's a business tactic," he said.

Mr Aderoh, who has been working alone in the market for the past 20 years, said he will miss the community spirit and friendships that the peddlers have built.

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Photo Gallery

Sungei Road flea market to close after 80 years

Source: The New Paper, The Straits Times

"Everyone looks out for each other here. For example, if I need to go to the toilet, I can do so in peace as I trust the others to help look after my things," he said.

In the past, it was also normal to see the authorities crack down on peddlers selling illegal items, such as pirated goods.

Come July, the peddlers said they do not know what they will do when the market closes for good.

It would be a challenge for many peddlers who depend on it for income. The peddlers told The Sunday Times they earn between $400 and $600 a month.

Said Mr Neo: "This place gave us a lifestyle that we have known for nearly 20 years. I can't imagine us doing anything else."

He and his wife earn a combined $1,200 every month, enough to support their Secondary 1 daughter.

The Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods was established in 2012 after the Sungei Road Free Hawking Zone was reduced in size in 2011 to make way for the construction of the Downtown Line.

Mr Koh, who has lobbied the authorities for years, was disappointed at the news.

He said most of his 70 members are determined to keep on hawking for a living: "Most of the people here are very old and this is the only way they know how to survive."

Also a peddler himself for four decades, Mr Koh said an extension will give the association time to find a new place.

"It will be such a shame that an iconic place with a rich and long history will not be allowed to exist."

Read also: 7 things you ought to know about Sungei Road market before it disappears

ngjunsen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

In Singapore, a pet cat can legally live out its fabled nine lives in a Housing Board flat only if its owner lives in certain blocks in Chong Pang.

Since October 2012, those residents have been allowed to keep cats under a pilot scheme called Love Cats. Elsewhere, cat ownership has been banned since the HDB's inception in February 1960.

The reasons given by the HDB revolve round the potential for cats to be a public nuisance, due to their tendency to wander, caterwaul, shed fur and defaecate in public areas. But flat dwellers can own one dog of an HDB-approved breed.

This apparent discrimination against cats has been a bone of contention for animal lovers for years.

The issue has cropped up again, in letters - both for and against the ban - last month in The Straits Times' Forum page.

But are bigger changes afoot?

Yes - if MP for Nee Soon GRC Louis Ng has his way.

Mr Ng, founder of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), told The Sunday Times that the pilot in Chong Pang was successful and that he intends to bring the issue up in Parliament soon.

He said: "We are hoping to expand, if not nationalise, the programme."

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2014-07-30 10:56:26

Photo Gallery

Woman with 20 cats told that they must go by Thursday

Source: The New Paper

Dr Jaipal Singh Gill, executive director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the ban was "not based on reasoned arguments".

"If we look at the reasons for the ban put forward by HDB, all of them occur as a result of irresponsible pet ownership," he said.

Many whom The Sunday Times spoke to also deemed the HDB's reasons insufficient to warrant a ban, as dog ownership brings similar problems.

Mr Alexander James Fonseca, a 21-year-old waiting to enter university, said: "I think cats may not have the social nature of dogs and are hence harder to control, but they still seem to be trainable."

Mr Oliver Chern, who is in his 40s and works in marketing, said: "The regulations for dogs are quite reasonable. Perhaps a similar system could be established for cats, to hold their owners accountable."

When asked why cats do not have a registration programme as dogs do, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said that it requires licensing of dogs for traceability during the outbreak of diseases such as rabies. Thus, its requirements are targeted at dogs rather than cats.

Taxi driver Aaron Liu, 54, dislikes cats but he, too, finds the ban bizarre. "While stray cats can be very loud when they fight, pet cats should not be an issue," he said.

Administrative and finance executive Jocelyn Tan, 42, who has cats under the Love Cats programme, said: "Even my next-door neighbours have never seen my cats."

She said that responsible owners mesh their windows and litter-train and sterilise their pets.

But Mr Peter Khaw is less optimistic about the effectiveness of rules on cat ownership, compared with an outright ban.

The retired aviation consultant, who is in his 70s, does not believe the rules will be adhered to.

Read also: Woman with 20 cats told that they must go by Thursday

"We still have problems with littering and obstruction of corridors in Singapore, (so) I am not sure if pet owners will really cat-proof their homes."

Some families in Jurong West have cause for concern. They have been living with flies and a bad smell for nearly two years, after a neighbour with more than 20 cats moved into the block.

"It is like living above a sewage plant," said retired teacher Dominic Wee, 57. HDB has taken the owner to court, but the problem persists.

"If there is a rule against keeping cats in HDB flats, how can my neighbour get away with this?" he asked.

Veterinarian Joyce Lauw noted that in most cases, pet hygiene is not a problem. Though both dogs and cats can spread rabies and worms, Singapore is rabies-free.

"Vaccinations can also prevent the spread of diseases," she said.

Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection transmitted by cat faeces and dangerous to foetuses, is also rarely seen here.

Dr Christopher Chong, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Gleneagles Hospital, said: "Domesticated cats are healthy and they are less likely to have the infection that can be passed on to humans."

Read also: If dogs are allowed, why not cats? Kitty lovers unhappy about no-cat rule in HDB flats

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

About a week after a 40m tembusu heritage tree killed a woman and injured four other people, the site of the incident in the Singapore Botanic Gardens remains cordoned off to the public.

The crash took place at least 50m away from the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, but the surrounding area remained popular with visitors when The Sunday Times visited yesterday.

Said a 40-year-old mother of two, who wanted to be known only as Abby: "The incident came as a surprise to us, but we still visit - it's a good place for the children to play."

But the consulting firm director, who visits the gardens weekly, added: "We try to stay away from big trees now."

Tattoo artist Michael Vestil, 38, said that such accidents are beyond human control and do not deter him from visiting the gardens to relax with his family.

Read also: 1 killed, 4 injured after huge Tembusu tree falls at Botanic Gardens

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/1-killed-4-injured-after-huge-tembusu-tree-falls-botanic-gardens#sthash.ulWmvMSf.dpuf

Indian national Radhika Angara, 38, who was pinned under the tree, died in the incident.

Her husband, Mr Jerome Rouch- Sirech, 39, and their one-year-old twin children were also injured.

They were having a picnic just 5m away from Singaporean Tay Pei Lei, 26, who dislocated her shoulder.

Ms Tay was treated at the National University Hospital after the crash and discharged later in the day.

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Photo Gallery

Huge Tembusu tree falls at Botanic Gardens

Source:

The Straits Times

However, she has to go for physiotherapy and magnetic resonance imaging soon.

While she is considering submitting her medical bills to the National Parks Board (NParks) for reimbursement, she worries that the claim might not be successful.

Mr Patrick Yeo, a partner at Withers KhattarWong law firm, said that past cases suggest it may be difficult to make a successful claim for damage caused by a fallen tree.

Usually, NParks will investigate to find out if there were any problems with the tree and who should be held responsible for the incident, he added.

But one argument which may be raised is that it was an "act of God" and there was no negligence involved.

"But that doesn't stop NParks from offering some form of compensation to the family, out of goodwill," Mr Yeo said.

Read also: Botanic Gardens tragedy: 'Not likely' tree fell owing to lack of space

Botanic Gardens safe to visit: NParks​

byseow@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

After three years in the banking industry, Ms Kelly Wong decided to start learning how to make wonton noodles from her father around 2013, despite "knowing nuts" about the trade when she first started.

"I've been eating these noodles since I was young. We've got a very good product and it will be a waste if I don't learn, and take over from him," said the 27-year-old.

Her father, now 65, specialises in Cantonese dishes and has worked in the food and beverage industry since he was eight, cooking for canteen stalls and fine-dining restaurants.

He also runs a small business that manufactures and supplies noodles, including spinach and tomato noodles that she also uses in her dishes.

She did not just want to supply noodles, but wanted to also be able to cook them herself.

"I wanted to understand my product, so that I would know how to deal with problems that my customers may face," said Ms Wong, who does not mind her long 13-hour work days.

For about four years from 2013, she ran a stall at Maxwell Food Centre, but moved to a stall at hip hawker centre Timbre+ when it opened last April, pulling in an average of about 200 customers every day.

Business at the Maxwell stall had been partially affected by ongoing construction work for the Thomson-East Coast MRT Line, and Timbre+ in Ayer Rajah Crescent offered a fresh concept that was more appealing to young patrons.

At Timbre+, stallholders meet regularly with management about once a month to go through suggestions or air concerns that they have about the operations.

Read also: Braised duck stall owner retiring with no successor in sight

Ms Wong also appreciates the automated tray return system and help with cleaning the dishes at the hawker centre.

A challenge young hawkers like her face are tight profit margins, and the need to establish themselves against bigger brands.

She relies on social media for marketing, which Timbre+ also helps with by posting information on its website and social media channels.

"People will always think that older hawkers cook better than the young, because they have years and years of experience. But if you don't give us a chance, you will never be able to taste some dishes again. Such skills are built on experience, and we have to build it up slowly."

Read also: Hard slog must be worth it, say young hawkers

yuensin@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

In 2012, residents in areas such as Bishan, Woodlands and Jalan Batu expressed resistance to the news that eldercare facilities would be built in their neighbourhoods.

But despite earlier petitions - which some called the "Nimby" or "not in my backyard" syndrome - many have accepted - and, in some cases, grown to embrace - the facilities that they once opposed.

In turn, service providers are making an effort to be considerate to their neighbours.

Five years ago, about 40 residents signed a petition against a nursing home that was set to be built on an empty plot of land facing blocks of flats in Bishan Street 13.

One man said at a dialogue session that "the old folk will be groaning right into my home".

Such sentiment has dissipated. Residents encourage tolerance over minor issues. Some now even volunteer at the home.

The Lions Home for the Elders is set to mark its official opening next month, having been operating for more than a year, and has become "accepted as an integral part of the town", MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Chong Kee Hiong told The Sunday Times.

"Some residents have family members who are residing in the home and find the proximity a welcome convenience. There are also residents who have taken to volunteering at the home."

This was despite teething issues, such as the complaint that the home's public announcement system was loud, he said.

It has since adjusted the system's placement and volume, and informs residents ahead of special events.

When contacted, the home declined to comment.

NEED FOR TOLERANCE

Pre-school teacher Koh Hui Wah, 58, whose flat is one of a few facing the home, often hears cutlery and dishes being washed, as well as elderly residents' voices.

But she is unfazed. "There is a need to be accommodating. We're all going to grow old some day."

Similarly, in 2012, a group of Jalan Batu residents signed a petition opposing plans for rehabilitation centres for seniors to be built in the void decks of Blocks 10 and 11.

But feedback has been positive since the centres opened in 2013, according to Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan.

"We had an open house, inviting residents from Block 11 to come down," he said. "A number of those who signed the petition, who were concerned, seemed relieved that it was not as bad as they thought, and they recognised that it would be a useful facility for them."

He said that the centre is helpful as there is a large proportion of elderly Housing Board residents in the area - up to two-fifths of the population - with many using wheelchairs because of strokes or amputations.

Crane operator and Jalan Batu resident Raymond Tay, 62, said: "People tend to be resistant when changes are announced, but when they reap the benefits, they change their minds."

SOME STILL HAVE DOUBTS

In Woodlands Street 83, the mood is more sombre, although the Sree Narayana Mission, which runs the eldercare centre at the void deck of two HDB blocks, is making efforts to bond with residents.

When the Health Ministry announced plans for the centre in 2012, about nine-tenths of Block 861 residents signed a petition against it.

Ms Ellen Lee, then the MP, struck a compromise in which residents would also get several new features in the block, such as a sheltered walkway to the carpark and a study corner.

Current MP Amrin Amin said: "Since then, the town council has not received any more complaints or feedback about the centre from residents."

While the study corner is seldom used, the facility's senior administrative executive Annie Leong said residents' complaints over issues like ambulance sirens died down about two years ago, after the centre asked the vehicles to switch off their sirens when in the estate.

She added that the HDB residents may not often attend the centre's events, but they have become more friendly over the years.

"We hope to try our best and have more community activities involving both residents of the HDB blocks and the users of our centre."

But for some residents, the loss of void deck space remains a bitter pill to swallow. A 60-year-old unemployed man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Ang, said: "If the authorities want to build such a centre, we have no choice either."

A self-employed man, who gave his name only as Mr Goh, 51, added: "Sometimes, when I come home, I see the old folk around and it feels like I'm living in a nursing home - just upstairs from them."

THE WAY FORWARD

The MPs emphasised that with an ageing population, the need for eldercare facilities will only become more acute.

"The availability of such facilities within residential estates would enhance the quality of care that family members can access... with much greater convenience," said Mr Chong, adding that it is reasonable for people to be concerned about what happens around their estate.

Mr Amrin said residents should be engaged early to prevent misconceptions. To address concerns, "we should also keep our lines of communication open throughout the implementation process".

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
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Visitors to the revamped World War II gallery space in the Former Ford Factory will see its signage changed in a month or so, said the National Library Board (NLB) yesterday.

Initially called Syonan Gallery: War and its Legacies, the space was renamed Surviving the Japanese Occupation: War and its Legacies last Friday, following a public outcry.

Signs bearing the original name at the gallery's entrance were covered or removed by yesterday morning.

NLB, which picked the name Syonan Gallery for the revamped National Archives of Singapore museum, said there are a total of nine signboards which will be replaced.

Design and production of the new signs may take some time but visitors can look out for the sign, Former Ford Factory, on the front gate, said a spokesman.

The gallery opened last Wednesday, but its initial name upset some people, who said it seemed to honour the Japanese Occupation.

In 1942, after the British surrender, Singapore was renamed Syonan-to, which means "Light of the South".

Announcing the name change last Friday, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim apologised for the pain caused.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in Facebook posts in Chinese and English, that he and his colleagues "honour and respect" the deep feelings of Singaporeans who went through the Occupation, and renamed the exhibition "to bear witness to these painful memories".

Read also: 'Syonan Gallery' renamed; Minister Yaacob Ibrahim apologises for pain that name caused

He also thanked people who gave their feedback on the matter and said "such conversations bring us closer together".

Visitors to the gallery called the name change an appropriate move.

Researcher James Low, 47, who was there with his family, said: "I'm actually quite impressed that there's a readiness to listen to how some people feel very strongly about this.

"When the (original) name was chosen, it reflected a factual consideration of that period of time. But deeper thought may only have been possible when people who lived through that time spoke up to share their thoughts and feelings."

Some, like retiree Tan Fong See, 79, cannot bring themselves to step into the exhibition, but he was happy to hear of the new name. "Many people did not like the Syonan name," he said.

World War II History Research Association chairman Kek Boon Leong likened the strong reaction now to Singaporeans' feelings when an Indonesian warship was named after two marines who bombed the MacDonald House in 1965. The move was called insensitive and unfriendly by some in 2014.

Others, like Ms Belinda Mock, 56, a manager in the IT industry, is supportive of the change but added that people should eventually look beyond what a place is called.

Mr Lam Phin Chong, secretary-general of a Chinese clan association, said that while he was disappointed at first with the authorities' reaction to opposing views from the public, he is glad they came round. "We should, and we can forgive (the Japanese). But we cannot forget that period of history. It hurt us and harmed us," said Mr Lam of the Char Yong (Dabu) Association.

Read also: NLB explains rationale behind naming new museum Syonan Gallery; name had sparked debate

Name of revamped museum stirs debate

byseow@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
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After beating cancer at the age of 12, Tan Yi Jun returned to school only to endure another form of torment: bullies who labelled him "cancer boy".

While the name-calling and bald taunts persisted through secondary school, counselling provided by the Children's Cancer Foundation (CCF) helped him to cope, said Mr Tan, now 20 and an interactive and digital media polytechnic student.

The voluntary welfare association yesterday celebrated its 25th anniversary by launching two new programmes to provide child cancer patients with support during treatment and beyond.

The programmes, a collaboration between CCF and KK Women's and Children's Hospital, will provide CCF beneficiaries with resources such as psychosocial support and nutritional care.

Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor made the announcement at Concorde Hotel, where a roving photo and art exhibition featuring the works of childhood cancer survivors and CCF stakeholders was also launched.

Mr Tan's photograph of a drain in a cemetery is on display at the Together We Are Stronger exhibition, which will make stops at VivoCity, among other locations.

He was diagnosed with a rare mediastinal germ cell tumour, which grows in the chest, and underwent chemotherapy for six months followed by surgery to remove it.

"It was quite tough, I vomited almost every day during the treatment. During the operation, they had to cut open my ribcage, and my heart stopped twice," he said.

While he is now healthy, Mr Tan regularly volunteers at CCF events, such as Hair for Hope, to encourage children who are suffering.

"I want to help make them feel happy and that they are not alone."

Separately, the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) yesterday ran Singapore's inaugural Relay for Life, a 17-hour community event which hopes to convey the message that cancer patients are not alone.

Held for the first time in Singapore, the event at Bukit Gombak Stadium saw cancer survivors walking and running in the Survivors' Lap to raise funds for SCS.

The event is expected to draw more than 7,000 participants by the time it ends today.

Mr P. J. Roberts, 43, who took part yesterday, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2013 and beat it.

He praised the event for focusing on both cancer patients and their caregivers. "It's tough for the family. You're affected by it and you're dealing with it in your own way but they need support as well."

tiffanyt@sph.com.sg and kcarolyn@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 19, 2017.
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Why would you take someone else's underwear, let alone do it right in front of a sign that warns of a CCTV camera?

That was the question that was on Stomp contributor Izad's mind, after the CCTV camera outside his home recorded some truly bizarre footage at 4am on Friday (Feb 17).

The Stomp contributor noted that the camera was activated after the sensors picked up movement, and he realised someone was loitering outside.

"After a few seconds, this person started to touch my maid's sports bra and her underwear," said Izad.

"After which the person quickly took both items.

"But before going off the person stopped by our front door to look around in our shoe cabinet.

"Couldn't be sure if it's a she or he? But the face is very clear."

Visit STOMP for more stories.

With consumers taking to social media to voice their praise or complaints, many organisations try their best to answer such feedback.

Adding humour to such responses brings a human touch to an otherwise faceless corporation.

But get the humour wrong, and you border on being unfunny, and even insensitive.

This seems to be the case in a recent exchange between a passenger, Candy Lim, and budget airline Scoot.

Candy posted a photo of her actual in-flight meal alongside the menu, which shows a much more appetising image of the food.

Candy lamented that the actual meal looked nothing like the photo, and that she had paid $18 for it.

Scoot responded by saying, "Hi Candy, we're sorry that our food in person looks nothing like it did in picture. You know what they say.... #Selfies always look better."

This response, however, did nothing to ease the situation, and actually made things worse.

The response annoyed most netizens, who said that the attempt at humour fell flat.

They also added that the complaint itself was not properly addressed in the response.

Others, however, took a different view of things.

They pointed out that budget airline meals were pre-packed, meaning the likelihood of it looking picture-perfect would be low.

Visit STOMP for more stories.

The stage is set for a showdown between managing agents and residents at strata-titled properties such as condominiums over a proposed legislative amendment.

The tweak would allow condo managing agents to do away with a mandatory annual review of their appointments.

The Ministry of National Development and the Building Construction Authority (BCA) are inviting public feedback until tomorrow on 33 proposed amendments to the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act.

Under current rules, a managing agent's contract is reviewed at every annual general meeting, and can be terminated.

An agent can be appointed by the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST), the managing body of a condominium, for up to three years.

The proposal to scrap the mandatory review is based on the rationale that "it is redundant to review the appointment of managing agents every year if the managing agent has already been appointed by the MCST for three years", according to a BCA media release.

Some condo residents The Straits Times spoke to were against the amendment.

Retired corporate secretary Winnie Tan, 63, who lives in an Upper East Coast Road condo, said its managing agent had been appointed for three years.

But the "council is having difficulties negotiating the fees with the managing agent. With a three-year contract that does not allow for annual review, condo owners will have difficulty terminating non-performing managing agents without incurring penalty costs", she said.

Also, "a managing agent with a long tenure is unlikely to align its interests with the condominium owners, but are more likely to protect its own interests. The check and balance is lost if the three year contract is non-reviewable".

Undergraduate Chan Kai Yan, 21, said managing agents tend to form close relationships with the management council, which may not be in the interest of residents, especially without the annual review.

He said he learnt that the managing agent at his grandmother's Bukit Timah condo had not accounted for wheel- clamp release fees, but as the management council had approved the accounts without the fees at the annual general meeting, "there was nothing the BCA could do".

But managing agents cheered the proposed amendment, citing benefits such as being able to plan for the long term.

Ms Eleana Teo, managing director at Knight Frank Property Asset Management (Strata Management), said the amendment was "good news", as it would allow agents to discuss and work on longer-term plans with the council.

NO SPECIAL PRIVILEGES

"This amendment does not accord the managing agent any special privileges, nor does it give any leeway to the managing agent in the decision-making process," she said.

"Should there be any reason the council finds that there is a need to part ways with the managing agent, similar to all contracts, there is always a provision for termination which can be exercised by either party."

Dr Lim Lan Yuan, president of the Association of Property and Facility Managers, said that "if managing agents were reviewed every year, no managing agent will want to do anything more than a year, as they could have put in all their resources, but their appointment may not be renewed".

He said that for longer-term asset enhancement, managing agents need more than a year to execute the plans.

A spokesman for the BCA said that "where appropriate, BCA will take the feedback into consideration when finalising the amendments to the Bill".

"The effective date of the amendments will be announced when the draft Bill is read in Parliament."

xinen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 20, 2017.
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DBS plans to hire 100 software developers after a two-day hackathon.

It is the first bank in South-east Asia to adopt such a recruitment approach, said DBS in a statement

In recent years, companies looking to improve capacity in the digital arena have hosted hackathons.

These typically last between two and five days, and involve a large group of people working together to solve - or hack - a problem, usually coming up with usable software.

Hackathons have been gaining popularity as a recruitment tool among tech companies, especially in start-up markets like India.

The DBS recruitment drive - DBS Hack2Hire - will include an online challenge to gauge the programming and technical capabilities of candidates, followed by a live two-day hackathon, where approaches to problem-solving will be tested.

Shortlisted candidates from the second round will be offered full-time roles at DBS - making them the first hires ever to be made by the bank through hackathons.

DBS' group head of core systems technology, Ms Soh Siew Choo, said: "We are seeing rapid advancements in banking technology using cloud, machine learning and Big Data, which are paving the way for a new world of seamless banking.

"We want to bring developers well-versed in these new technologies into the bank to accelerate our digital transformation efforts."

At the hackathon, to take place next month, talent will work on projects related to data analytics, machine learning, and cloud native application development.

These projects span across spectrum of the bank, from enhancing customer experience during loan applications to digitisation of finance operations.

DBS Hack2Hire is conducted in collaboration with leading technology providers Amazon Web Services, Cloudera and Pivotal.

marilee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 20, 2017.
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Family members and friends were shocked and saddened by the sudden death of well-known property agent Mr Mohamed Gazali Aspar.

The 41-year-old was found unconscious while cycling along Upper Changi Road North on Saturday (Feb 18), and was declared dead at about 12.30pm at Changi General Hospital.

According to doctors, Mr Gazali, who was an associate division director at real estate firm PropNex, died from coronoary heart disease.

Mr Gazali's eldest brother, Mr Meera Sahib Aspar, 55, was in tears when he said that he would miss his younger brother's sociable and cheerful disposition.

He told Berita Harian that he had last seen Mr Gazali on Feb 11, when he visited one of Mr Gazali's children who had been warded in hospital.

He added that Mr Gazali was a responsible man, who would make time for his family regardless of how busy he was.

"Our families would still meet once a week over a meal, and all his nephews and nieces liked Mr Gazali for his sense of humour," Mr Meera Sahib said.

One of Mr Gazali's nephews, Mr Saiful Rizal, paid tribute to his late uncle, and called Mr Gazali "my biggest inspiration".

In a Facebook post, he wrote: "If it weren't for your help on how to game the O-Levels when I was at the lowest point of my life, I wouldn't be where I am today. If you weren't there to show me that a kid from Haig Road can do all these amazing things, I wouldn't been able to do it."

Mr Ismail Gafoor, PropNex Singapore's chief executive, also expressed his condolences and sadness on Facebook, saying that Mr Gazali's death was a huge loss for both the real estate industry as well as the local Malay-Muslim community.

"Gaz, whom I have known more than 15 years, was a great leader, a man with clear directions and always put his family and peoples interest before self. I admired his passion and willingness to help everyone around him and add value in the lives of others," he wrote.

One of Mr Gazali's cycling buddies, Mr NoorHakem Kamil, 38, shared that he had been shocked upon hearing the news.

"On the day, he had just been asking on our shared WhatsApp group whether anyone would like to go cycling with him. He would usually cycle with a few friends, but went out alone yesterday,' Mr NoorHakem said.

Mr Gazali's funeral was held at the Al Istighfar Mosque yesterday. He is survived by his wife and four sons.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

A woman from Singapore, who was in financial difficulty with her husband, had two of her children taken away from her and placed in foster care while she was living in Britain.

The authorities there said the couple used their children - a boy, seven, and girl, five - to demand welfare benefits and even coached the daughter to claim that social workers had sexually abused her.

The UK High Court decided earlier this month that the children will not be reunited with their mother, but will be given up for adoption there instead.

The woman, who held a Singapore identity card and is said to be of South Indian origin like her husband, gave birth to their third child in Singapore in December 2015 and has lived here since.

Court documents did not reveal the nationalities of the couple and their children.

The UK court heard that she returned to Singapore when she was 38 weeks pregnant. This was a month after the local authorities in Britain started proceedings to remove her third child at birth, to also be placed into foster care.

In deciding that the two children should be put up for adoption, UK High Court Justice Michael Keehan said in judgment grounds: "I am satisfied that nothing else will do in the welfare best interest of the children, other than to be placed for adoption.

"The parents do not consent to the same. I have no doubt that, very sadly, they will be heartbroken at my decision. I am satisfied for the reasons given, that the welfare of the children requires me to dispense with the parents' consent."

The family's problems came on the radar of the authorities in Birmingham, where they lived, after the husband lost his job in 2013.

It emerged that he did not have valid immigration entry papers and the mother was an overstayer, having first arrived in 2004. They were ineligible for state benefits and the family became destitute by April 2014. The family was referred to the local authority but the parents held the authority wholly responsible for providing for the family.

"The father's extreme behaviour was exhibited as early as May 14, 2014 when he threatened to jump into the river off a bridge together with the children if a new house and financial assistance to the level sought were not provided," noted Judge Keehan.

The couple did not care for the emotional well-being of the children, using them to demand more money, as well as keeping them out of school and even hiding them in cupboards to prevent social workers from seeing them, he added.

In 2015, the father coached the girl to falsely make serious allegations of sexual abuse against the school and social workers, which triggered a full probe by the police. The boy's school attendance was also falling away and his behaviour was deteriorating.

In August that year, the children were removed from the parents and placed in foster care to prevent further absconding after they had earlier tried to flee to Glasgow but returned to Birmingham.

At an earlier court hearing in February last year, the father had sought the return of his children to reunite with his wife and new baby in Singapore, with subsequent documents claiming the couple would be able to care for the children financially with family support.

The judge found this was not a "realistic option", given the evidence and serious findings of emotional abuse, and ordered foster care placements. The case then went to appeal as the parents tried to be reunited with their children.

A three-judge court last October ruled that the case be remitted for a further hearing to the High Court.

At issue before Judge Keehan was whether the children should continue with long-term foster care, or be placed for adoption with a "forever family" as sought by the local authority.

Based on the woman's written submissions and the father's testimony at a hearing last month, the judge concluded that their "beliefs, views and stance" had not changed "one jot" since the proceedings first started in August 2015.

Justice Keehan concluded if the children remained in long-term foster care and the father had contact, he would do everything to "undermine the placement" and be wholly incapable of supporting them.

"Neither parent accepts that there are any deficits in their parenting or any reason why the children should live separately from them."

He added there was no evidence of any material change in the circumstances of the mother, the father or the children so far to cancel the foster care order as sought by the father, and ruled that there be a review in due course on the progress of finding suitable adopters.

"Adoption would bring to the children a degree of stability, security and permanence that long-term foster care cannot achieve."

vijayan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 20, 2017.
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