"Why should you presume to tell me how my country should run?"

That's what Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told BBC HARDTalk host Stephen Sackur when asked about Singapore's freedom of speech and trade.

Mr Lee's comments were made during a sit-down interview with Sackur that will be aired in full today (Mar 1).

In a Facebook post, Mr Lee said he discussed "a wide range of issues, both international and domestic" when he met the host last week and elaborated on "how Singapore is navigating forward in these uncertain times".

Over the past few days, Singaporeans and fellow netizens on the Internet space have been sharing short clips of Mr Lee's highly-anticipated BBC interview.

It's safe to say that his responses have sparked quite a reaction amongst many online.

Mr Lee was candid in his views on various topics that surfaced during the interview, including freedom of speech and trade in Singapore, Section 377A of the Penal Code as well as Brexit.

On press freedom and trade

Sackur sought a response from Mr Lee by saying that Tim Farron, a leader of the Liberal Democrats in the UK, had apparently suggested: "If we're to seek a deal with Singapore, Theresa May the Prime Minister, must raise issues of freedom of expression and freedom of the press in any trade talks with Singapore."

With that, Mr Lee offered this comeback: "I don't see you being restrained in asking me any questions."

After a long pause which seemed to heighten the tension in the room, Sackur replied: "No I'm not, but that's not really the point is it?"

The Prime Minister continued: "We have no great wall of the Internet, you can get any site in the world you wish - so where's the restriction?"

Mr Lee also highlighted his answers on this topic in a Facebook post: "The world is a diverse place. Nobody has a monopoly on virtue or wisdom. And unless we can accept that, and we prosper together and co-operate together, accepting our differences...I think it becomes difficult."

On Section 377A

A controversial topic, Sackur attempted to get a more personal reaction from Mr Lee when they discussed Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises sex between men.

In fact, he had pressed for the Prime Minister - not once, but twice - to give his personal take.

Sackur had asked if Mr Lee's perspective would change, if any of his "children or grandchildren were gay".

Mr Lee then acknowledged that if he removed the law, he "wouldn't be removing the problem".

He also referenced cases in the West whereby the notion of gay marriage has incited protests in various countries despite the change in attitude overseas.

His personal view?

"I'm prepared to live with it until social attitudes change," said Mr Lee.

On Brexit

Mr Lee was straightforward and admitted that a country like the UK "may not have strengthened its influence in the world" by leaving the European Union (EU).

"It's an enormous market that's on your doorstep. You can't avoid doing business with it, and if you can't influence it, you might not have strengthened your influence in the world," said Mr Lee.

Last year, the Prime Minister took to his Facebook page to share his thoughts on Brexit when news broke.

He had called the UK vote to leave a "turning point".

At the 34th People's Action Party (PAP) Conference held at Singapore Expo in December 2016, Mr Lee reminded his country to fight the trend of developed countries turning inwards, and that Singapore "must remain open".

He told Sackur: "From our point of view, we think that Brexit weakens the EU. We are not sure it strengthens the United Kingdom."

Read also: HARDtalk host: DPM Tharman dodged 'Sackur punch' at symposium

The full BBC HARDTalk interview will be televised today (Mar 1) at 12:30pm, 5:30pm, and 11:30pm on BBC (StarHub TV Ch 70) as well as on radio's BBC World Service (88.9 FM) on Friday (Mar 3) at 12:06pm.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

The Australian air safety authority has launched a probe into an incident involving a Singapore Airlines (SIA) aircraft.

Flight SQ291 was approaching Canberra Airport on Feb 22 when the pilot brought the Boeing 777 below the stipulated lowest safe altitude.

The incident happened about 20km from the airport.

While there were no injuries and the plane was not damaged, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was alerted to the incident and is investigating, a spokesman told The Straits Times.

SIA confirmed that it has been approached by the authority.

"We are extending our full co-operation on this incident," said SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides.

It is unclear how the lapse occurred and whether it was detected by the cockpit crew themselves or by air traffic controllers.

Neither the authority nor airline would shed more light on the matter, citing ongoing investigations.

For all flights, pilots have to ensure that the aircraft does not fly below the stipulated lowest safety altitude.

This is to keep the plane at a safe height above an obstacle or terrain during landing approaches, said qualified pilot and founder of Revion (flight) Ground School, Toh Youhao.

The actual altitude depends on flight rules set by different air traffic regulators and also the highest obstacle or terrain along the flight path.

Typically, it is at least 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle.

The safety buffer is critical as it allows for errors in the air by including an additional area that a pilot might stray into, experts noted.

Mr Toh said: "It is the job of the pilots to find out what the lowest safety altitude is.

"The information is provided in the pre-flight package and also available in flight charts that pilots can access."

The Australian authority is expected to complete its probe into the SIA incident and issue a report by June.

The report will likely detail the circumstances that led to the incident and point out lapses that should be rectified

The ATSB gets thousands of reports each year but investigates only those that are deemed more serious.

It is currently probing 112 aviation incidents.

karam@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 1, 2017.
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Four years ago, a young couple left their jobs to set up Fluff Bakery, a small cupcake shop in Kampong Glam.

They already had a loyal following on Instagram, where Ms Nursyazanna Syaira Mohammad Suhimi, 29, would post pictures of her homemade cupcakes.

So when she and her husband Ashraf Alami, 35, opened a bricks-and-mortar store in 2013, long queues would snake outside their shophouse in Jalan Pisang.

From 600 cupcakes a day, they now sell double that, and are setting their sights on starting franchises in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The potential for Singapore businesses like theirs in the region was highlighted by Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran in Parliament yesterday, when he pointed to bright spots in Asean.

A rising middle class has created demand in sectors such as retail and food and beverage, he said.

The digital economy also presents unprecedented opportunities that allow companies - no matter how small - to reach out, he added.

Fluff Bakery's social media presence has nabbed the brand fans even in Malaysia.

It has held some pop-up stores there this year, and demand has been hot: For their first event, all 500 cupcakes were snapped up in half an hour.

The second time around, they sold 1,000 cupcakes in just over an hour.

Mr Ashraf hopes to open a physical store in Kuala Lumpur in May.

This year's Budget sees the Government setting up a $600 million International Partnership Fund, which will co-invest with Singapore-based firms to help them scale up and internationalise.

Mr Ashraf hopes to hear more details of the fund.

He said: "As an SME, expanding overseas is very daunting, because you don't have many resources. Any assistance or guidance - financial, networking - is more than welcome."

Read also: Indian tea giant buys Twelve Cupcakes

asyiqins@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Mar 01, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) have extended their collaboration on the "Belt & Road" Chinese portal a year after its official launch.

SBF and SPH today (March 1) signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) - one on broadening the Chinese portal's news content and adding an events calendar, and the other on developing an English version of the portal. The MOUs were signed by Mr Ho Meng Kit, CEO of SBF, and Ms Lee Huay Leng, Head of Chinese Media Group, SPH. The signing was witnessed by Mr S.S. Teo, Chairman of SBF, and Mr Anthony Tan, Deputy CEO of SPH.

The "Belt and Road" portal is Southeast Asia's first comprehensive website focusing on the Initiative. It presents individuals and businesses with the latest developments, as well as Singapore and regional perspectives, and insights on the opportunities and risks.

Since its launch in March 2016, the "Belt & Road" Chinese portal has received a total of 7.5 million page views, with visitors coming mainly from the Greater China Region, Singapore, ASEAN and the United States. Later in 2017, an English version of the portal will be unveiled. It will be aimed at attracting more international readers and widening the portal's reach beyond the region. The "Belt & Road" English portal will leverage the overwhelming demand of "Belt and Road" related news, as well as provide a Western community's perspective on this initiative.

Mr S.S. Teo, Chairman of SBF said: "SBF is very pleased to further our collaboration with SPH. The 'Belt & Road' initiative is projected to involve 65 countries constituting 4.4 billion people and about 30 per cent of global GDP. It offers great business opportunities, so we strongly encourage Singapore businesses to visit the 'Belt & Road' portal often to gain insights and explore possibilities for business and investment.

SBF looks forward to continue working closely with SPH to make the 'Belt & Road' portal more informative for the business community."

Mr Anthony Tan, Deputy CEO of SPH, said: "The Chinese 'Belt and Road' portal was well received by users from all sectors after its launch last year. We are happy to partner SBF to continue our expansion of the portal's development by broadening its news content and launching an English version which will be unveiled later this year. 'Belt and Road' is a significant bilateral co-operation between Singapore and China. The English portal will help to strengthen the understanding of this initiative for readers and enterprises, and create more business opportunities in the region."

The "Belt and Road" initiative has recently been identified by both governments as a focal point of China-Singapore bilateral co-operation. Singapore and Chinese companies should expect more partnership opportunities along the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" in the coming years.

Two readers 'Din' and 'Anonymous' alerted Stomp to an incident that happened this morning (Mar 1) at the Marina One construction project in Marina South, where a man died after falling down from a height.

Stomp contributor Din, who was informed by his friend working at the site, said the worker was from Hyundai Engineering and Construction, the main contractor in charge of the project.

Both Stomp readers said one person died, while another was injured.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force told Stomp that they were alerted to the incident at 11.11am.

Two ambulances were dispatched, and one person was pronounced dead at the scene, while a male Indian in his thirties was conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.

Stomp has contacted the police for more details.

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Man dies after falling from Marina One construction site

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The intense debate on the water price hike over the past two days shows Singapore needs to do much more to raise awareness of its water issues, Minister Chan Chun Sing told the House.

"We need to do much more to socialise our people to the challenges that we are facing on the water front," he said.

"The fact that we have such an intense discussion reflects that we have left this issue off our national psyche for too long."

He said it would be too much for him or the Government to expect everyone to defend the price rise, but added that MPs had to get certain basics right no matter which side they were on.

Read also: Water price hike hot topic on Day 1 of Budget debate

He asked: "Do we agree that water is existential to our country's survival? Do we agree that we should price water properly? If we agree on these two questions, we can go to the mechanics of how to price it properly, what we should consider."

Mr Chan, a former army chief, said an entire generation that has worn uniform knows what this means, adding that Workers' Party MP Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) used to serve with him in the same unit.

Read also: Budget 2017's water price hike: What you're not hearing about the 30 per cent increase

The Government spares no effort to manage the risks all these years, he added, recalling how when he was in primary school, there were three reservoirs. Today, there are 17, plus desalination and Newater plants.

"How many more desalination plants and how many more Newater plants must we build in order for water to never be a weapon pointing at our heads?" he said, adding that two-thirds of Singapore's entire land area is now a water catchment area.

Read also: Cost of supplying water has more than doubled: PUB

A lot of money is also spent to ensure not a drop of water is wasted. "Some countries lose up to 5 to 10 per cent of their water supply through leaky pipes. If we lose 5 per cent of our water through leaky pipes, we need to build one more Newater plant."

There is never an easy way to stress the value of water, he said, noting the 30 per cent increase over two years is the first in 17 years - which works out to about a 1.6 per cent rise each year.

Read also: Twitter users share how to save water after Budget 2017's announcement of water price hike

"We can do this every year. We can do this every five years," he said. "We can do this every 10 years but regardless which way we choose, we have to make sure that we never forget - that water is existential."

This article was first published on Mar 02, 2017.
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If the aim of the recent water price hike was to raise public awareness about Singapore's water demand and supply, the move can now be considered a splashing success.

Water talk flooded the Budget debate in Parliament for the second day in a row yesterday, with the Government offering more details on its decision in last Monday's Budget to raise water prices by 30 per cent over two years.

Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said he could not provide exact calculations of the price rise due to "commercial sensitivities", but gave some insight on the process.

To meet growing water demand, he explained that Singapore will have to rely more on desalination even though it is more expensive than Newater, because there is a limit to how much used water can be treated in Newater plants.

Read also: Water price hike hot topic on Day 1 of Budget debate

And as Singapore becomes more urbanised, new and replacement pipes have to be built underground to minimise inconvenience to road users. This is two and a half times as costly as laying traditional pipes above ground, he said.

As a guide, Mr Masagos said Singapore's latest desalination plant cost 40 per cent more in its first year than the first desalination plant did in 2005. "With the 30 per cent increase that we have announced, the price will be close to, though still slightly lower than, the price of the next drop or the long-run marginal cost today. This is the best way to emphasise the scarcity value of water," he said.

Mr Masagos also pointed out that despite the higher prices, water will remain affordable for most businesses and households - rising by less than $25 a month for three out of four businesses and less than $11 a month for those living in Housing Board flats.

Read also: Budget 2017's water price hike: What you're not hearing about the 30 per cent increase

Indeed, the outsized unhappiness over pricier water has highlighted the mismatch between Singapore's water insecurity and Singaporeans' growing complacency about cheap water.

For a generation that takes for granted the bountiful water flowing from their taps and are likely paying more for their cellphone bills than their water bills each month - as Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC) observed - the hike is a timely reminder that Singapore has no natural water resources of its own.

Read also: Cost of supplying water has more than doubled: PUB

In fact, the Republic is the most likely in the world to suffer high water stress in 2040, Mr Masagos said, citing a report by the World Resources Institute.

Labour chief and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing noted in Parliament that the "intense discussion" about the water tariffs "reflects that we have left this issue off our national psyche for too long". "We have to make sure that we never forget" that water is key to Singapore's existence, he added yesterday.

Both ministers were emphatic about the need to raise the price of water, even as some MPs rose to suggest other ways of encouraging water conservation.

Read also: Twitter users share how to save water after Budget 2017's announcement of water price hike

Mr Seah called for periodic water-rationing exercises to drive home the value of water, while Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) asked the Government to consider opening up the water supply sector to more private sector players, and to borrow ideas from other countries on conserving water.

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) of the Workers' Party also had other proposals, including deepening the reservoirs to increase catchment of water, directly channelling Newater into homes, and giving rebates to households that have demonstrated water savings.

But Mr Masagos maintained that the best way to drill in the importance of water is to charge the full price of providing it.

"It is only through right pricing that we can have everyone valuing water as a strategic resource and consciously conserving it," he said.

He also noted that deepening the reservoirs may decrease the yield of these water bodies, but did not elaborate. And he dismissed the suggestion of offering rebates for saving water, calling it "counter- intuitive" to subsidise water use.

On supplying Newater directly to homes, Mr Masagos said the time had not yet come for that.

"Theoretically we can ,but we don't have to right now," he said. "And certainly when we need to, we will have to put the right processes to ensure this can be done because we must ensure that it is safe for our house to drink from end to end."

But he was less forthcoming on why the hike was implemented this year, when the economy is already experiencing slow growth.

The move comes on top of other cost rises such as higher charges at public carparks, diesel tax changes and a carbon tax starting in 2019.

In Tuesday's debate, Workers' Party Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera had suggested that the timing of these cost increases was motivated more by political than economic considerations.

Mr Singh yesterday asked about any link between the water price hike and PUB's annual net income, which he said has actually risen in recent years - implying less need to charge more for water usage.

Mr Masagos said the water accounts were more complicated, but left it at that.

Now that the price hike has focused the nation's attention on water issues, however, a better explanation on its timing would not go amiss. Water has always been scarce and crucial for Singapore - the Government should shed light on what tipped the scale this year.

This article was first published on Mar 02, 2017.
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There is only a finite amount of resources to go around, so the latest fiscal budget should be seen in the context of how it can help tackle future challenges - even as previous measures continue to provide support, Singapore's Parliament heard on Wednesday.

This line of reasoning came in response to a call from some quarters of the House for the government to go deeper in its engagement for Budget 2017 so that trust in society is preserved.

Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said halfway through the eight-hour debate on Wednesday: "If we're political leaders, we have to face the issue squarely: in every society, how do we distribute the finite resources?

"How do we make that statement that we, as a society, will lean forward to help those that need a bit more help?"

In her speech near the end of the day, Nominated MP Kuik Shiao-Yin said that in times of slower growth, such as what Singapore is going through now, the government will have to adopt a more empathetic outreach to explain why it prioritises certain segments of the economy and society over others.

Read also: Budget 2017: 5 things that may affect you directly

"When you are in that claustrophobic space of anxiety and scarcity, you don't have enough mental bandwidth to deal with anything more than each day's demands," she said.

"That's why compassionate communication of available solutions rather than a 'Don't know, go talk to your MP' approach by front-line officers matters so much."

Read also: Budget 2017's water price hike: What you're not hearing about the 30 per cent increase

Wednesday was the second day of debate in the House on Budget 2017; the perceived lack of short-term support in the fiscal budget unveiled last week continued to dominate the proceedings.

Budget 2017 was unveiled just after an economic restructuring report was issued; it also came at a time when Singapore's economy had charted 2 per cent growth in 2016 - low by historical standards.

The confluence of structural and cyclical challenges has hurt businesses and households. Many who were looking for some immediate relief in Budget 2017 were disappointed.

On Wednesday, 32 Members of Parliament (MPs) and two Cabinet ministers attempted to contextualise Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's budgetary plans last week as a prudent one that focuses on future capabilities to help firms, workers and the economy grow stronger.

Read also: Water price hike hot topic on Day 1 of Budget debate

Mr Chan stressed that the government has to strike a very fine balance with the fiscal budget every year.

Thus, with external realities becoming more unpredictable and technological disruption cycles becoming more rapid, there is an urgent need to equip Singapore's workers, companies and the government with the skills to ride through these disturbances.

This explains the lack of near-term relief in Budget 2017.

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Budget 2017: Heng Swee Keat receives warm welcome back in Parliament

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Speaking in his capacity as labour chief, Mr Chan said: "Grants and subsidies alone won't create jobs - especially sustainable jobs. The crux must come from our businesses, our access to markets, our innovation."

And in order to achieve these, Budget 2017 introduced measures to encourage innovation, help companies gain access to overseas markets, spur workers to upgrade their skills, and review Singapore's regulatory environment to foster growth of new businesses and sectors.

Budget 2017 should also be seen in the context of previous budgets, which had put in place support measures, the benefits of which continue to be felt today, said Mr Chan.

These "long tails" of earlier measures continue to help Singaporean firms and households today, he said, echoing an observation by Minister for Industry S Iswaran on Tuesday. Examples include Workfare, the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Voucher, the U-Save rebates and the SkillsFuture framework.

But with each long tail comes smaller manoeuvring space for the government in the present too, said Mr Chan; this is because these earlier commitments continue to weigh on government's coffers. For example, some 460,000 Singaporeans are expected to receive S$770 million in Workfare Income Supplement for work done in 2017.

He said: "So it is not just the new things that are important. It's also what has been going on and will continue to go on that will define this Budget."

Many MPs on Wednesday acknowledged the need for the government to stay prudent with its fiscal resources. This means that some areas of the economy and society will get more help than others, like the customised support Budget 2017 has lined up for some sectors.

But some MPs also said that more compassion should be shown when the government and public servants communicate with the public.

Nee Soon MP Louis Ng reminded the House that as the government fine-tunes its running of the country, it should also remember that its policies will not be able to cover all the ground.

"Our aim seems to be to process each case as fast as possible and to follow the book as strictly as possible.

"Unfortunately, many people fall through the cracks when the system is so rigid, when we view things in black and white and where compassion is not exercised regularly enough," he said.

For Ms Kuik, a more understanding approach from the government will get more buy-in from the public, thereby ensuring that Singapore does not go down the fractious road that has led to the rise of populism in other advanced economies.

"I believe there are many taxpayers and voters on the ground who still need to be more honestly engaged and deeply convinced that this system's story is genuinely about Moving Everyone Forward Together, not just Moving Some of Us Forward Together," she said.

"We need more open and honest conversations on this front.

This article was first published on Mar 02, 2017.
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Kindergartens will have more requirements to adhere to, after a new law regulating pre-schools was passed on Tuesday.

But those whom The Straits Times spoke to said they already meet most of the requirements and have had guidance from the authorities on what needs to be improved.

While they acknowledged that they would incur additional costs to comply with the rules, they noted these are minimal and unlikely to lead to fee increases for parents.

The new Early Childhood Development Centres Bill governs about 1,300 childcare centres and about 500 kindergartens. Currently, these come under the Child Care Centres Act - which will be repealed when the new Bill takes effect - and Education Act respectively.

Under the new law, kindergartens, which are now registered in a one-off process, will have to get licences that are renewed regularly, as is currently done for childcare centres. The new Bill also gives the authorities more investigative powers and flexibility in handling less serious offences, by providing a wider range of regulatory sanctions.

Kindergartens said having a single regulatory framework for the two types of pre-schools is a step in the right direction. Khalsa Kindergarten principal Santi Devi noted: "The new Bill is comprehensive and will help to upgrade the standards of kindergartens... It'll give parents more peace of mind and confidence in kindergartens."

Kindergartens said they do not have to make many adjustments, and in areas where they have to, on-site guidance from staff of the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) over the past two years had been helpful.

Paper Scissors Stone Montessori Kindergarten director Cheryl Ng said: "I was initially unclear if a foldable sofa bed in a corner is suitable for a sickbay.

"I clarified this during ECDA's visit and learnt that it is. I was also given a draft of the new licensing requirements, which gives us a feel of what it will be like when the licensing checks take place."

Chinese Kindergarten principal Wong Lay Choo said she previously gave particulars of only teaching staff to ECDA. But she learnt that under the new requirements, all staff would have to be registered.

St James' Church Kindergarten senior principal Jacqueline Chung said her staff have been going for health check-ups, which were previously not required, but added that the Government has helped in subsidising these costs.

The principals said the extra costs to be incurred to comply with the requirements are likely to be minimal or one-off so these are unlikely to be passed on to parents.

However, Dr Chung suggested that pre-schools with the quality certification from the Government should be automatically licensed.

She said: "This would save time and resources for both pre-schools and ECDA. The requirements to get the quality certificate are already stricter than those to get a licence."

The new law is expected to take effect over the next year after other detailed regulatory requirements are gazetted by early next year.

Kindergartens will have up to a year, after the gazetting, to get licensed under the new law.

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

raynoldt@sph.com.sg

1,300

Number of childcare centres the new Early Childhood Development Centres Bill governs.

500

Number of kindergartens it governs.

This article was first published on March 2, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The authorities are investigating a case involving an imam who allegedly made insensitive comments about Christians and Jews.

Investment associate Terence Nunis, 40, posted a video on a Facebook page last Friday of what appeared to be an imam saying a prayer after a sermon at Jamae Mosque in South Bridge Road.

The video, which Mr Nunis said was taken in early January and sent to him by a friend who had attended the sermon, showed the imam - who is believed to be from South India - using the Arabic word "fanswurna" when he spoke about Christians and Jews.

Mr Nunis, who is a Muslim, said the use of the word "fanswurna" - which means "to overcome" or "to grant victory over" - in relation to other religions is problematic.

"In this case, the flavour is far from benign and the implicit meaning is more than just being better than them... but to dominate them," Mr Nunis told The Straits Times.

He also said in his Facebook post that the imam had made similar comments last Friday.

The police confirmed that a report had been lodged over the imam's remarks.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said it is aware of the case.

It is assisting the police with their investigations.

"As part of due process, the individual has been placed on leave while investigations are ongoing," added a spokesman.

The spokesman also said that Muis takes "a very serious view of any behaviour or speech which promotes feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will between different faith communities".

This article was first published on March 2, 2017.
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Imposing in its neo-Gothic grandeur, St Joseph's Church has watched over Victoria Street since 1912.

But plans for the church were initiated some 70 years earlier by the first Catholic priest to permanently reside in Singapore.

Reverend Francisco da Silva Pinto e Maia, a native of Porto, had founded the Portuguese Mission in Singapore in 1825 and conducted mass at the house of Dr Jose d'Almeida, a prominent doctor, until a small chapel in Bras Basah Road was consecrated in 1833.

This was the first Catholic place of worship in Singapore.

In July 1827, Father Maia secured the spiritual jurisdiction of Singapore from Pope Leo XII, upon which he was formally recognised as a leader of Catholics in Singapore in matters pertaining to the faith.

Father Maia managed to secure land and the bulk of funding for the church in Victoria Street but died in 1850, aged 65, before construction started.

His successor, Reverend Vincente de Santa Catharina, oversaw construction of the first St Joseph's Church. It was completed in 1853 and stood till 1906, when it was demolished to allow the construction of the current edifice, which is laid out like a Latin cross.

As St Joseph's Church was established under the auspices of the Portuguese mission, it naturally became a gathering point for Portuguese Eurasians in Singapore.

Many Catholics then could trace their lineage back to mixed marriages between settlers and the indigenous people in 16th century Malacca, which was a practice encouraged by the Portuguese administration.

Prominent Portuguese Eurasians such as Hermogenes Desker, eldest son of property magnate Andre Filipe Desker (the namesake of Desker Road), donated generously to the church.

In fact, the younger Desker's estate funded the marble flooring in the current church.

The church building was gazetted as a national monument in 2005.

In typical neo-Gothic style, the church is adorned with crockets (carved ornamentation of leaves, flowers or buds on an inclined surface) on its towers.

Carvings of leaves can also be seen along the exterior walls.

Reverend Ignatius Yeo, administrator of the church, told The Straits Times the garden theme was deliberate. "It is a reflection of the kingdom of God and the eternal Garden of Eden," said Father Yeo, who has been working at the church since 2013.

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St Joseph's church at Victoria Street

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The octagonal central tower, which rises to nearly 20m, is capped by a dome rather than a sharp spire. Such domes are rarely seen in Singapore, he added.

"The eight sides of the tower symbolise the resurrection of Jesus Christ," he added, as Christians believe Christ rose from the dead eight days after entering Jerusalem. The garden theme extends to the interior, with carvings along the walls and on furniture such as the pews.

Stone fruit hang off the top of arched alcoves in which statues of the apostles reside.

The alcoves were built into the church's pillars to symbolise the apostles' pivotal role in the religion.

At the end of the nave (the central aisle-like walkway) within the church, one can find the main altar, which is dedicated to Joseph.

An altar with Our Lady of Fatima can also be found to the left of the main altar.

Our Lady of Fatima refers to apparitions of the Virgin Mary that appeared in Fatima, Portugal a century ago in 1917, on the 13th day of every month from May to October.

The apparitions were first witnessed by three children but the final apparition, called the Miracle of the Sun, was purportedly seen by tens of thousands of Catholics in the area.

Officially deemed a miracle in 1930, Catholics worldwide dedicate devotions to the Lady to this day.

The church was the first to promulgate the devotions locally, a reflection of its Portuguese heritage, though there are smaller-scale devotions at other churches here.

In 1950, azulejos - painted porcelain tiles, which in this case depict the various apparitions of Mary at Fatima - from Portugal were even installed onto the exterior walls of the church and its adjacent parochial house, itself a national monument that was gazetted last June.

The devotions remain well-attended; as many as 5,000 people turn up for the October procession.

A regular attendee is parishioner Marian Morier, 48, who is also pastoral coordinator at the church.

Her father's side of the family has long been associated with the church, and she is an alumna of St Anthony's Convent, which was located in the church's vicinity when she was a young schoolgirl.

"I feel St Joseph's Church is like home," she said.

In the meantime, the familiar landmark in pastel blue is set for change. Father Yeo said the current colour scheme was painted over the original white more than 15 years ago.

Come next year, the facade will be coated in deep shades of grey befitting of its distinguished history.

hytay@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Mar 02, 2017.
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Hakka people used to sing their traditional songs loud and proud at the mouth of the Singapore River in the early 1960s, said freelance voice-over artist Lee Yong Tick.

"Back then, there wasn't much to keep the people entertained at night so some Hakka people would sing," he added.

The 57-year-old was just a child then and did not have the chance to learn or participate. He noted that this practice stopped after people complained the singers were too loud at night.

For decades after that, Mr Lee heard little about Hakka songs or Hakka singing groups - until 2005, when a university senior introduced him to Char Yong (Dabu) Association's Ke Yun Tuan, which translates to Hakka melody group.

It has close to 20 members whose ages range from 30 to 70.

"When I was growing up, people always asked if I knew how to sing Hakka songs but I never picked it up. I decided to join the group to learn how to, since the songs are a big part of our culture," he said.

Through songs, the Chinese dialect is being kept alive here today. 

According to the 2010 census, there are more than 230,000 Hakkas here and they form the fourth-largest Chinese dialect group. The largest group is the Hokkiens, followed by Teochews and Cantonese.

The name Hakka literally means "guest people" and was given by other people in the lands where the Hakkas settled.

Despite the name, Hakkas in Singapore can trace their roots to provinces in southern China, where their ancestors lived after migrating from northern provinces like Shanxi.

Char Yong's president Ivan Ho, 65, said scholars believe the Hakkas moved around constantly, with five or six great migrations taking place across a span of 2,000 years.

"Wherever we went, the flatlands and fertile ground were already occupied so we had to reside on hilly terrain or mountainous areas," he added.

This gave rise to traditional Hakka music known as "mountain songs". "We had to sing and shout across the hills - the sharp tone can travel farther to help us communicate with each other," Mr Ho said.

While their ancestors used to sing on mountains and at the mouth of the Singapore River, Hakka groups today sing proudly in concerts and on stages.

At the 10th Hakka Song Festival last year, the representatives of seven local associations performed more than 30 songs.

Two Malaysian Hakka associations were also invited to perform.

Last October, Char Yong's song group also organised its own concert at Hwa Chong Institution's Cultural Centre Theatre.

Around 600 people attended the event which celebrated the group's third anniversary.

Beyond singing, the association also organises Hakka classes for members and their relatives who are interested in picking up the language.

Char Yong has run the class annually for the past two years.

Secretary-general Lam Phin Chong, 66, said enrolment has not been overwhelming but it is encouraging that people in their 20s have signed up.

Lessons are taught by the head of heritage and publication of the association.

"They are keen on picking up simple phrases that they can use in daily life," he added. Students learn words such as "soi mok" (which translates to "fall asleep") and "hong ki" ("awaken").

He said they are difficult words to pick up because they do not sound similar to their Mandarin equivalents ("shui jiao" and "shui xing").

An interesting aspect of the dialect is that the names of some body parts are linked to gender.

For example, tongue is "sep ma" and is "female" while nose is "pi gong" and is "male".

Mr Lam hopes people will be able to pick up the dialect more easily through Hakka songs. The establishment of Hakka TV, a Taiwanese broadcasting station, has heralded more modern compositions.

The station was launched in 2003, two years after the Hakka Affairs Council was set up as Taiwan relaxed its stance on speaking dialects.

The 193-year-old Ying Fo Fui Kun building in Telok Ayer Street, which houses the Hakka clan association, will also reopen as a free public gallery later this year after being shuttered for two years for restoration works.

The gallery is part of the clan association's drive to promote Hakka cultural values, said clan president Lai Ah Keow.

Mrs Joanne Tan, 50, notes that it is difficult to find people who speak Hakka now.

"I'm quite lucky, many of my colleagues are coincidentally Hakka so I get to speak it with them other than with my siblings and cousins," said Mrs Tan, who works at a charity organisation.

Student Rachel Lim, 21, said when she meets other Hakkas, they can bond over other aspects of the culture besides language - such as the nation's founding father Lee Kuan Yew's Hakka heritage and the notion that Hakka women are often strong and hardworking.

She is not fluent in speaking Hakka but can understand it. "I would want to improve it just to communicate with my grandparents better.

"But I predominantly speak English to my parents and friends so Hakka is not a priority or necessity," she said.

She has not taken formal classes but makes use of a different technique. "I imagine my grandma saying what I want to say, and follow after her," she added.

Read also: What various dialect groups bring to the table on Chinese New Year

abigailng@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Mar 02, 2017.
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When Mr Philip Chew, 82, visited his old workplace in Taman Jurong three years back, he was struck by how much the place had changed.

The retired civil servant, who worked for JTC Corporation in the 1970s, could find neither the old shophouse in Corporation Road where his office once stood nor the food centres he used to frequent.

"Only the diamond blocks are still standing," said Mr Chew. He was referring to how blocks 63, 64, 65 and 66 in Yung Kuang Road are connected to form a diamond with a courtyard in the middle.

Mr Tan Chan Kiat, 43, who spent his childhood there, described the four blocks as "the closest thing we had to a mall".

"The supermarket was our go-to place for things we could not get at the wet market, such as fishing gear, lottery tickets and videotape rentals," said Mr Tan, who lived a five-minute walk from the Taman Jurong blocks.

He added: "The courtyard was where we played hopscotch, catching and badminton."

Architectural historian Lai Chee Kien said the blocks' design, with the corridors facing inwards and looking over the courtyard, encouraged social activity.

Having the corridors face one another is "a social form of defence for the neighbourhood", he added.

"It's the idea of knowing your neighbours so well that you can distinguish between the residents, visitors and strangers."

JTC, formed in 1968 as Jurong Town Corporation, built the 456-unit residential development in the 1970s.

Companies in the industrial zone rented the units to house their employees, including foreigners.

Residents nicknamed the development "di zhap yit lau", or "21 storeys" in Hokkien, for its height.

The blocks were built as Singapore made an industrialisation push to attract investments and create jobs.

By 1980, more than 110,000 people lived in JTC housing units in Taman Jurong, Boon Lay Gardens, Teban Gardens and Pandan Gardens.

The flats were handed over to the Housing Board in 1982 but the units in the four blocks in Yung Kuang Road remained as rental ones.

Over the years, most of the former JTC blocks were demolished, except for the Yung Kuang Road blocks and a few others in Boon Lay Drive.

When the Asian financial crisis hit in 1997, companies that fell on hard times terminated the tenancies of employees living in the diamond blocks.

With occupancy rates falling, HDB decided in 2001 to relocate remaining tenants to other rental blocks nearby.

But businesses on the first two floors continued operations.

"Our business took a hit then," said Madam Lek Kim Noi, 62, who runs Chee Khiang Bookstore with her husband. He had set up the business in 1973.

"A few shops closed during that time. We then moved from the second floor to the ground floor, which had better visibility," she added.

Long-time grassroots leader Roland Choo, 49, said there was talk that the four blocks would be demolished.

"It didn't happen and eventually HDB used them as interim rental housing for families," he added.

From 2009 to 2014, the blocks were used in a scheme which offered low-cost housing to people without permanent homes.

In 2015, a year after the last interim housing residents were relocated, the units were spruced up for HDB's Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme.

The scheme puts families in temporary homes as they wait for their new Build-To-Order flats.

Residents move out within three months of getting the keys to their new homes, and other couples take over the units.

Mr Choo said he is unsure of the HDB's plans for the estate while architecture and landscape photographer Darren Soh, 40, who captures buildings in Singapore, thinks the blocks will eventually have to go.

"At some point in time, the building will be too old to keep," he said. "But some old buildings are socially significant too. The diamond blocks are a remnant of our industrial past."

leepearl@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Mar 02, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - Singapore is considering using drones and unmanned vehicles to inspect its underground railway tunnels, its transport regulator said on Wednesday, its latest experiment with new technology.　

The Land Transport Authority has put out a request on the possibility of industry participation in the use of unmanned aircraft and vehicle technology for inspections of its Mass Rapid Transit system and road tunnels.　

Labour-intensive manual inspections are carried out regularly on the rail system and road tunnels to check for problems such as cracks or water leaks.　

"The use of automated technologies ... will not only improve the accuracy of inspections, but will also free up engineers' time, enabling them to focus on the analysis of the data captured to recommend any necessary remedial measures," the LTA said in a statement.　

Singapore has announced plans to begin testing driverless buses and trucks.　

Self-driving cars are already being tested on public roads in a high-tech company district in the west of the city.　


Read also: 3 ways to improve Singapore's public transport system

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SingPost test flies first drone to send mail

Source: The Straits Times

Singapore - An American mixed martial arts instructor was jailed for four years by a Singapore court Thursday for having sex with underage girls and possession of child pornography.　

Joshua Robinson met two Singaporean girls online, court documents showed, and pressured them into having sex with him.　

"There is no doubt in my mind that in doing what he did, the accused was a sexual predator," district judge Crystal Ong said in handing down the sentence.　

"The law must come down hard on such individuals so as to specifically deter them from re-offending and also to deter others from committing such acts against vulnerable young persons."　

Both victims were only 15 years old at the time of the offences, which occurred between 2013 and 2015. The age of consent in Singapore is 16.　

In both cases, Robinson filmed himself performing sex acts on the girls before having unprotected sexual intercourse, the court documents said.　

One of the victims had a "mental breakdown" shortly after their encounter in June 2015 -- three months after she first started chatting with Robinson -- and told her parents, who made a police report.　

Robinson pleaded guilty last month.　

Detectives who raided Robinson's Singapore apartment found close to 6,000 obscene films in his possession. More than 300 of the films featured children.　

Robinson is also accused of showing an obscene video to a six-year-old child whose father attended his gym. The girl later told her mother about the incident and a separate police report was filed.　

Creator says he wanted to beautify the area but town council says it poses a fire hazard

A pagoda-like tower of psychedelic toys, figurines and knick-knacks, erected late last year at a void deck in Yishun, had been described by some as an art installation worthy of a place in the Singapore Biennale. But it is gone now after the authorities, worried about fire safety, stepped in.

Featuring baby dolls, Astro Boy and Humpty Dumpty toys, rubber duckies, old trophies, pink plastic flowers and religious sculptures - including Buddhas in multiple colours - the installation at Block 108 Yishun Ring Road was the handiwork of retired contractor and longtime resident Or Beng Kooi, 75.

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'Artistic' tower of items at void deck in Yishun trashed

Source:

The Straits Times

Shirley Soh

Residents in the area, who know him as "Ah Pek" (old man), contributed their old items to him.

The widower has four grown-up children and spends most of his day mingling with fellow retirees at his void deck. This was his attempt at beautifying the common area.

But as soon as it started gaining traction and fans, Mr Or said he was instructed to take it down by Nee Soon Town Council.

And so the structure came tumbling down last Thursday, and about 200 items were discarded.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Or said: "It's the Government's area so I can't insist that it stays.

"Many of us male retirees in the neighbourhood hang around the void deck so my aim was to give people a chance to enjoy it and make everyone happy. "

Ms Shirley Soh, an artist who was part of the 2013 edition of the Singapore Biennale, a major contemporary art exhibition organised by the Singapore Art Museum, had noticed the installation when she was in the area. She said it was a great shame that it had to be dismantled.

"The creator definitely had an eye in the way the items were selected and placed. There was thought given to it. I was very impressed.

"It reflected a kitsch pop culture, featuring things that people bought, therefore making it part of the material culture of Singapore. It's also ground-up art," added Ms Soh.

Five residents The Straits Times spoke to yesterday said the installation had not been in anyone's way.

Ms Fatimah Uni, 65, a kitchen helper, said Mr Or also started a garden at the foot of his block about seven years ago. "It was an interesting feature that brought some colour to the void deck. The Ah Pek has been very helpful around the area. We appreciate all he has done to make it a nice place," she added.

Nee Soon Town Council chairman Louis Ng said the town council received "a feedback" about items placed at the HDB block's Senior Citizens Corner. A Residents' Committee member then spoke to the senior citizens and told them not to store their items there.

"The items can pose a fire and safety hazard and we advise residents not to store their items at the void decks or social gathering points," said Mr Ng.

This article was first published on March 2, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

There's no in-flight entertainment, no hot meals served on a tray and no chance at all of getting up to use the washroom or even to stretch their legs.

So how do fighter jet pilots do it if faced with a lengthy 10-hour flight from Singapore to say, New Zealand?

A video posted by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) on its Facebook page on Feb 27 gave an insight into what goes on in the cockpit of an F-15SG, along with some really cool panoramic views.

In the 1 min 37 second clip, RSAF pilots explained that they keep their meals simple, relying on energy bars or chocolates, and avoid heavy foods made from dairy products or curry which might lead to an upset tummy mid-flight.

Why? It's because "there simply enough space in the aircraft". Er, we get what you mean.

And when they need to do a No.1, well, they do it in pee bags while strapped to their seats.

Sounds like a rough ride for the average Joe right? Well, it's a regular day at the office for these jocks.

sujint@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Five breathtaking species of the poison arrow frog have leapt their way into S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa, including the dyeing, blue and Amazonian species.

These thumb-sized frogs are the first amphibians to be showcased in the aquarium, which boasts a collection of 100,000 animals, across 800 species.

Native to Central and Southern America, the frogs are part of the aquarium's ongoing plan to feature unique species and promote conservation awareness.

These conservation efforts are especially important as many of their species are now endangered as a result of deforestation to make space for farmland.

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A look at S.E.A. Aquarium's new poison arrow frogs

Source:

The Straits Times

To accommodate more than 40 poison arrow frogs, S.E.A. Aquarium built a new exhibit to replicate the frogs' natural habitat in humid rainforests, with temperatures between 22 and 27 deg C.

Measuring 1.5 to 6 centimetres, poison arrow frogs pack a lethal punch in a tiny package. When provoked, they secrete deadly toxins to elude capture. Frogs with the brightest colours are usually the most poisonous. The most toxic species, the golden poison arrow frog, can be found in the aquarium.

Aquarists have taken pains to ensure that the new additions are not poisonous by carefully regulating their diet. Since ingesting poisonous insects induces harmful secretions, the frogs' diet consists of non-poisonous insects such as crickets and wingless flies.

Visitors to S.E.A. Aquarium can view these colourful frogs and other freshwater species at the Central and South American exhibits.

This article was first published on March 2, 2017.
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Singapore's spending needs will keep growing in the years ahead, even as it becomes tougher to raise revenue in a maturing economy, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.

The population is ageing, and infrastructure needs are rising too.

This means that besides spending prudently and effectively, the Government will have to grow revenue through new taxes or raising tax rates over time, he told Parliament in his speech rounding up the three-day Budget debate.

He said that any decision to raise taxes "will not be taken lightly". "We will study all options carefully," he added.

Read also: Budget 2017: 5 things that may affect you directly

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) and Mr Yee Chia Hsing (Chua Chu Kang GRC) had asked how the Government intends to review its tax system.

Mr Heng assured members: "We will ensure that our tax system continues to be fair and sustainable."

He outlined three principles.

One, the tax system must be fair and progressive, with the better-off contributing more.

Two, a sustainable tax system is also one that rewards effort by individuals and enterprise by companies. He noted that Britain has lowered the corporate tax rate from 30 per cent to 20 per cent over the past 10 years, and plans to further lower it to 17 per cent by 2020. The new United States administration has indicated plans to cut corporate tax rates too.

Read also: Minister Chan Chun Sing rejects WP's take on Budget 2017

"We must ensure that Singapore continues to be an attractive place to work and do business, so we have a thriving and vibrant economy."

Three, sustainability entails striking the right balance between current and future generations.

Addressing a suggestion by Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) to use proceeds from land sales, he said such proceeds go to past reserves.

"It is because of this prudence that we are able to build up our reserves, and we can use part of these returns for our expenditure.

"We must remain disciplined and prudent in spending the returns of our reserves, so that they remain a stable and sustainable source of revenue over the long term," he said.

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Budget 2017: Heng Swee Keat receives warm welcome back in Parliament

Source:

The Straits Times

Singapore must ensure it has the capacity to invest in critical programmes and infrastructure for the long term, in a way that is equitable to current and future generations.

Mr Heng said the challenge of raising revenues for growing needs is not unique to Singapore.

He cited, for example, how Hong Kong announced in its recent budget that it would be setting up a tax policy unit to review its tax system.

He noted that Singapore's Budget spending has been higher than operating revenues since FY2015.

The Government anticipated this and raised revenues ahead of spending needs - by increasing the goods and services tax in 2007 and introducing the net investment returns framework, which allows it to spend up to half the long-term expected real returns of GIC, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Temasek Holdings, in 2008. Other moves included raising duties for betting, liquor and tobacco, and raising top marginal rates for personal income tax.

Read also: Cupcake business hones recipe for overseas success

"But beyond this decade, we can expect the fiscal situation to become more challenging as our expenditures exceed revenues in the longer term," Mr Heng said.

"With higher spending needs, it is ever more critical for us to ensure that we spend within our means to get the outcomes we want."

Funding policies for ministries have been designed to get agencies to operate efficiently and effectively, and this was further reinforced by a 2 per cent downward adjustment to ministries' budget caps.

He said scrutiny of major infrastructure projects is also being tightened, and subsidies are targeted at the right groups - those in need.

This article was first published on Mar 03, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Budget 2017 seeks to strike a balance between short-term concerns and gearing up Singapore for the future, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.

Responding to MPs who said during a two-day debate that companies hit by the slowing economy are not receiving enough help, Mr Heng said the Budget focus is on targeted help for the worst-hit sectors while encouraging companies to build deep capabilities for the long term.

"A painkiller may work for a while to dull the pain, but it masks the underlying problem and delays needed action," he told Parliament.

In his speech rounding up the 2017 Budget debate, Mr Heng said companies and workers are facing an increasingly volatile and complex world where economic growth is slowing and new, disruptive technologies have become par for the course.

Read also: Budget 2017: Lack of 'goodies' to attract foreign investors

He also acknowledged that companies in some segments of the economy have been hit hard by the slowdown, even as they face mounting operating costs.

But, he said, "unlike the 2009 global financial crisis or the 1985 recession, we are not in a crisis".

While some sectors are facing a cyclical downturn, others are doing well and cannot find enough workers to fill vacancies, he noted.

The worst-hit industries have received targeted help, he said, pointing out that the near-term support measures for businesses in Budget 2017 added up to $1.4 billion.

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Budget 2017: Heng Swee Keat receives warm welcome back in Parliament

Source:

The Straits Times

These include enhancements to corporate income tax rebates as well as extensions to existing measures like the Wage Credit Scheme.

Noting that $1.4 billion "is not a trivial amount", Mr Heng added: "These are on top of the substantial stimulus measures introduced in the last three to four years, of which their cumulative effects are still working through the economy."

While businesses are facing cost pressures, "we must also recognise that, in a functioning economy, cost pressures serve as price signals, so that resources can be channelled into the most productive use."

He added: "We must be careful not to hamper this process. An across-the-board stimulus would not be effective as it may further push up cost pressures. So we monitor the situation closely and calibrate the fiscal stance accordingly."

Read also: Budget 2017: Companies disappointed with lack of short-term support for businesses

Beyond short-term relief, the Budget also builds on ongoing efforts to prepare companies for the challenges ahead, the minister said.

"We want to help our businesses build deep capabilities that will enable them to adapt to a fast-changing world, and seize new opportunities where they arise.

"This is the key to continued success," Mr Heng said.

This article was first published on Mar 03, 2017.
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