Some 80 corals that had been illegally imported into Singapore has been seized, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint statement on Monday (April 3).

They had been imported from the Philippines, and were falsely declared as "plastic aquarium ornaments".

The corals, which included 75 hard corals and five soft corals, were picked up at the importers premises, where they had been wrapped in plastic bags lined with paper, and conceals in ceramic mugs.

They are now under the care of Resorts World Sentosa while the case is investigated.

According to AVA, hard corals are a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Singapore is a signatory. Therefore, CITES permits are required for the import, export or re-export of CITES species, including their parts and products.

Under the Republic's Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, offenders can be fined up to $50,000 per scheduled species (not exceeding a maximum aggregate of $500,000). They may also be jailed for up to two years.

Meanwhile, although soft corals are not protected under CITES, they were seized together as they had been falsely declared.

Both agencies stressed that the Government adopts a zero-tolerance stance on the use of Singapore as a conduit to smuggle endangered species.

ICA said that it would continue to conduct checks on cargo, passengers and vehicles at the Republic's checkpoints, while AVA said that it would continue its efforts to partner local and international enforcement agencies to curb wildlife trafficking.

The authorities also reminded travellers against brining live animals, birds and insects into Singapore without a proper permit.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

It was prudent and necessary for the police and SBS Transit to react the way they did after an unattended bag was found at Hougang MRT station on Sunday afternoon, security experts said.

A 39-year-old Chinese national caused a security scare after he left a bag on the platform while running an errand. The bag was later found to contain household items.

The experts said the incident happened during a period of heightened threat of terrorism in the region.

Associate Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, head of Policy Studies and coordinator of the National Security Studies Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), said: "Trains and train stations... are 'target-rich environments' for terrorists to inflict maximum casualties.

"It was prudent to close the station to ensure no civilians would have been injured in a worst case scenario of a bomb going off."

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Man left unattended bag in Hougang MRT station causing it to be closed for an hour

Source:

The Straits Times

He cited past terrorist attacks mounted on transport networks, such as in Mumbai in 2008 and London in 2005.

In Sunday's incident, the station on the North-East Line (NEL) was shut for about 20 minutes, after emergency forces were activated.

The man was arrested for public nuisance, with investigations still continuing.

Professor Rohan Gunaratna, who heads the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at RSIS, said the authorities did not over-react.

He said it was essential to err on the side of caution, given the emergence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the region.

"The Government will not take any risks and it will not relax its security after this incident," he added, although he noted that responses to such incidents should be calibrated.

Criminal lawyer Amolat Singh called for laws relating to such incidents to be sharpened to reflect the security climate.

"Currently, there is no such notice that you cannot leave your items unattended. It is arguable that this guy simply did not think it was wrong. Pinning him with an offence or punishments requires more clarity," he said.

Experts agreed the actions taken were in line with the national SGSecure efforts with possible security threats at key infrastructure here.

Launched last September, the SGSecure movement aims to mobilise people to be more aware of security, respond to a terror attack and stay united after it.

RSIS Associate Research Fellow Abdul Basit said: "At the end of the day, no matter how prepared the forces are, commuters have to be alert as extra eyes on the ground."

In response to media queries, SBS Transit, which runs the NEL, said its current security measures at its MRT stations and bus interchanges include deploying transit security officers and installing surveillance cameras.

"We also continue to review our security measures to ensure these are relevant in a dynamic security climate," said Mr Patrick Nathan, SBS' vice-president for corporate information and communications.

Transport operator SMRT said it works closely with the authorities, including participating in regular emergency preparedness exercises to practise response protocols.

nghuiwen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
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Their Build-To-Order (BTO) flats are not ready yet, but some home buyers who rent units in Dover Road as interim housing from the Housing Board have been told they still have to move.

This has upset some tenants because it means that they will have to move twice.

The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), meant to give these home buyers a chance to start their families earlier, has a clause that caps the tenancy duration at three years, or when the PPHS site is unavailable, whichever is shorter.

But BTO flats typically take up to four years to complete.

About 50 households in three PPHS blocks in Dover Road have been told by the HDB that they have to relocate to a different PPHS site for a short while, before moving again when their BTO flats are ready.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the HDB said it is "not always possible" to ensure that the PPHS flats will be available until every tenant's BTO flat is completed. This is because the use of the flats is interim in nature.

Applicants can also apply for a PPHS flat at any time, and the waiting times for completion of their new flats vary, said the spokesman.

The lease on the Dover Road site ends on May 31 and all its tenants will have to vacate by then, they told The Straits Times. A letter from the HDB to residents said the site was due for redevelopment.

The HDB spokesman said "Applicants are advised to consider the availability of the PPHS site and choose one that best meets the completion timelines of their new flats."

They will receive two reminders to vacate the site, the first of which was sent a year before the deadline, added the spokesman.

Dover resident Tom Ye, 41, said he will have to move his family to an alternative PPHS site in Commonwealth Drive for about a month, before moving again when his Ghim Moh four-room BTO unit is ready in mid-June. He pays $1,700 a month for the Dover Road flat.

Added Mr Ye, an IT engineer: "I have a lot of furniture and with two young kids, it will be a lot of hassle to keep moving."

While Mr Ye is grateful for the scheme, he wonders if the HDB could have allowed him to remain.

The HDB said 220 PPHS households have rented units at the Dover Road site, with a majority moving on to their newly completed homes.

Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Gan Thiam Poh, who is a member of the Governmental Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for National Development, said he understands the residents' frustrations: "I don't see why there is a need to move them here and there before they can collect their keys."

Fellow GPC members Darryl David and Lee Bee Wah said the HDB should consider the impact on residents and allow flexibility. But they added that residents should also be fair because there can be construction delays.

Mr David said private landlords also define finite tenancy terms, including the lease period. But he said more can be done to help the tenants during these "transitory periods", such as with the home mover fees. The HDB can also consider extending the lease for those who need the home for another three months or so, he added.

Mr Gan suggested that the lease expiry be aligned with the applicant's BTO completion date from the onset.

ngjunsen@sph.com.sg

About the housing scheme

Eligible applicants waiting for their Build-To-Order flats can rent units from the Housing Board under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) at below market rates.

These are units vacated under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme.

There are 1,300 three- and four-room flats in Bedok South, Commonwealth, Jurong, Tiong Bahru, Eunos, Boon Lay and Bukit Merah under the scheme currently.

Introduced in January 2013, the scheme was initially extended to first-timer married couples with children under 16.

Later, married couples comprising first- and second-timer Build-To-Order applicants, those without children, and divorced or widowed parents with children also had access.

Families can co-rent a flat.

About 2,000 families have benefited from the PPHS, and more than 400 babies have been born to families living in the flats.

There are 780 households enrolled in the scheme as of last month.

Monthly rents for PPHS flats were slashed by as much as $400 from last Saturday, bringing down the rent to less than half of that offered in the open market in some cases.

50

Approximate number of households in three PPHS blocks in Dover Road that have been told by the HDB to relocate to a different PPHS site for a short while, before moving again when their BTO flats are ready.

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
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The cyber breach on the Defence Ministry's I-Net system was "consistent with a covert attack, with means used to mask the perpetrator's actions and intent", Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung said yesterday.

Investigations into the attack, which was discovered on Feb 1 and revealed on Feb 28, are ongoing, but "findings will be kept confidential for security reasons", he added.

Mr Ong was giving an update of the incident in Parliament, in response to questions from MPs Lim Wee Kiak and Vikram Nair, both from Sembawang GRC, and Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan.

Asked by Mr Tan if the culprit had been identified, Mr Ong said that he was unable to comment because it concerned a "security issue".

But the minister said the information loss is basic and no passwords were lost. "I do not think that, with this information, they can conduct further hacking," he added.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Feb 28 that the hackers had stolen NRIC numbers, telephone numbers and birth dates of 854 personnel, through a breach of its I-Net system.

The system provides Internet access on thousands of dedicated terminals to national servicemen and other staff working in Mindef's offices and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) premises.

Mindef also said it had ruled out casual hackers, criminal gangs and an inside job, leading experts to believe that foreign governments could be behind the attack.

The affected server was taken offline after the attack was discovered. Affected personnel were asked to change passwords and report any unusual activities relating to the use of their personal data.

Mr Ong said Mindef's IT systems are "no different" from others and, like them, experience "hundreds of thousands" of cyber-intrusion attempts, ranging from simple probes to cyber-espionage efforts.

But he said the I-Net system contains no classified information, and that networks which contain sensitive military information are physically separated from the Internet and protected with encryption and access controls.

This separation is critical, said Mr Ong, adding that the perpetrators in this breach "went through the window but couldn't access the house because the house is separate".

He also revealed that the breach occurred "weeks before detection" as he cited how the time taken before a breach is detected in other IT systems tends to be longer.

Referring to industry reports, Mr Ong said it takes an average of about 150 days, or five months, before a breach is discovered.

He listed examples such as the attack on the e-mail servers of the US Democratic National Committee in mid-2015, which was detected in April 2016, by which time all e-mails and chats had been stolen.

Mr Ong said Mindef and SAF will develop better assessment tools, data analytics and content scanning engines to fend off cyber attacks. "We will also review the storage of personal data on our Internet systems to minimise risks of cybertheft," he told the House.

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
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It is one of the shortest roads with one of the longest project durations. And when it finally opens in three weeks' time, on April 27, the 1.4km Sentosa Gateway Tunnel would have taken nearly 10 years from concept to completion.

The tunnel is open only to traffic leaving the resort island, and is accessible only to motorcycles and cars no higher than 3.5m. So it might not be passable to some sport utility vehicles with bicycles on roof racks.

A Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman said: "As the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel had to be constructed close to the North East Line MRT tunnels and the West Coast Highway viaduct foundations, it was designed with a height constraint of 3.5m.

"In view of the height constraint, and for fire safety reasons, only cars and motorcycles are permitted to use the... tunnel."

The tunnel is a one-way road that connects outbound traffic from Sentosa directly to Lower Delta Road and Keppel Road.

Read also: Cycling, walking trails on Sentosa revamped

The LTA said it will help alleviate the current congestion at the busy traffic junctions at Sentosa Gateway, Telok Blangah Road, Kampong Bahru Road and Lower Delta Road, "especially during evening peak hours and the weekends".

SUTL Enterprise chief executive officer Arthur Tay, who runs the One15 Marina on Sentosa, said: "It's long overdue. We're all very excited... It'll ease congestion for people who live on Sentosa, and people who have businesses there."

But BMW executive Sethipong Anutarasoti, 47, who lived in Sentosa Cove until last year, said: "My experience has always been okay.

"There were only a (few) times a year when there were events like golf or Chinese New Year that I experienced heavy jams."

Construction of the new underground road started in 2010, and was supposed to have been completed by 2015.

The LTA attributed the delay of the $160 million project to construction challenges posed by the proximity of the North East MRT line and West Coast Highway viaduct infrastructures.

The road tunnel is merely 1.6m above the North East Line tunnels and about a metre away from the foundations of the West Coast Highway viaduct.

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Bungee jumping in Sentosa

Source: The Straits Times, AJ Hackett International

In December 2015, the authority said the project would be completed by end-2016. Then in January this year, it hinted that the tunnel would be ready only in April.

Retired traffic engineer Joseph Yee said the tunnel will transfer traffic volume onto Keppel Road and Lower Delta Road because the throughput from Sentosa will be higher.

He reckons Keppel Road may become a bit more congested as a result, but Lower Delta Road has spare capacity.

"This is a known fact and not a reflection of any incompetence," Mr Yee said, adding that "there should be improvements all round" in the vicinity of the gateway.

For instance, more green time could be allocated to traffic lights in Telok Blangah Road.

This article was first published on Apr 04, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Younger singles may soon stand a better chance of getting hotly contested new two-room flexi flats, as the Government works to clear the backlog over the next two years by ramping up supply.

The application rate per flat last year for this group of singles aged between 35 and 54 was 6.6, much higher than the total application rate for families, the elderly and singles, which was 2.7 last year.

It means those applicants have "to try several times before they are successful", said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong yesterday.

"If you look at the overall picture, the situation for elderly singles is getting better... The one group where the application rates are still very high is the non-elderly singles," he said.

But the Government is ramping up the supply of two-room flexi flats - which come with shorter leases - over the next two years, the minister told Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC), who asked for more measures to help repeat applicants get such flats.

Read also: Shorter wait for BTO flats for young couples

Singles have been allowed to buy new two-room flats in non-mature estates since July 2013. To address the demand, the Housing Board has increased the supply of two-room flexi units in non-mature estates from 320 units in 2012 to an average of 4,000 units per year between 2014 and 2016, Mr Wong said.

About 40 per cent of these flats are set aside for elderly applicants, including singles, aged 55 and above.

The remaining flat supply is divided equally between nonelderly singles and families.

Meanwhile, any balance flats not taken up by the elderly or families are offered to singles, he said.

This article was first published on Apr 04, 2017.
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The Singapore style of teaching mathematics is already being used in thousands of schools across the United States. Now, it is making inroads into British schools as well.

The Inspire Maths series of textbooks, adapted from the books here, were trialled in 70 British primary schools by the Department for Education over the past two years.

A study found that they were effective in helping children master the subject better.

Now, with another £41 million (S$72 million) from the British government - to fund a network of "mastery specialist teachers" - the Singapore style of teaching maths may reach as many as 8,000 primary schools in Britain over the next few years.

The Inspire Maths series published by Oxford University Press was adapted from the My Pals Are Here! textbooks published by Marshall Cavendish Education for schools here.

Independent research conducted by the Oxford University Department of Education last year found that British schoolchildren made more progress in maths when teachers used Singapore-style methods.

Researchers found that pupils shot ahead of their peers when taught the Singapore way, which focuses on mastering core principles as "building blocks".

The "mastery" method, as Singapore's approach is called in Britain, introduces core concepts such as times tables, addition and subtraction gradually, until learners are confident. Ideas are broken down into small steps, using real-life objects such as cubes and beads to illustrate a point, before moving on to drawings and then concepts.

The research combined child assessments with classroom observations and interviews with teachers.

Teachers reported that the programme could boost children's motivation and engagement, and the evaluation found that it could be used creatively and flexibly.

Researchers also found that teachers value the professional development provided to support their use of the Inspire Maths resources.

Professor James Hall, lead author of the study and now a lecturer at the University of Exeter, said: "This boost to progress was surprising because pupils had been in a classroom setting for only a short period and because it often takes time to embed new teaching approaches."

The study involved two groups of children aged five to six - a total of 550 - learning maths in 12 English schools in 2015 to last year.

The first group learnt maths the normal British way for the first term, then switched to using the Inspire Maths textbook in the second term. The second group used the textbook for both terms, and made better overall progress than the first group.

Oxford University Press' editorial director for primary maths Jill Cornish said: "We now have clear evidence that a mastery approach can make a real difference to maths classrooms."

But, she said, Singapore maths cannot be a "quick fix".

First, the pressure on schools in England to cover a large number of maths topics in the national curriculum each year creates tension with the Singapore maths approach, which emphasises building solid foundations before moving on.

She added that teachers need more professional development and that school management teams need to be brought on board.

Marshall Cavendish Education's head of publishing Lee Fei Chen said: "We are excited about this research and that it demonstrates the effectiveness of a mastery method of teaching mathematics in UK classrooms that has been so successful in Singapore."

The Singapore style of teaching maths has gained attention because of the Republic's high placings in global benchmarking tests.

Singapore students were ranked No. 1 in maths, science and reading in the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment test results released in December last year. Britain was ranked 27th in maths.

Besides Britain and the US, 15 countries - including South Africa, Brunei and the Netherlands - are using customised textbooks based on Singapore maths produced by Marshall Cavendish Education.

sandra@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
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Those who deliberately spread falsehoods about the police and other public institutions will soon be taken to task, Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam said yesterday.

"The time has come for us not to simply rebut, but to actively deal with it, so that the people who seek to profit from such conduct will actually feel the pain of it," he said.

"We are looking at it and something will be done."

He was replying to Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten), who asked if the police would consider taking action to protect their reputation when false and malicious allegations are made.

Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister, cited a recent public perception survey where over nine in 10 people said the police demonstrated core values of courage, loyalty and integrity.

This has led to an "enormous reservoir of trust".

Consequently, the police will investigate any allegation thoroughly and issue a public response rebutting the allegations if they are untrue, he said.

He noted that sociopolitical website The Online Citizen "in particular glorifies in running the police down with a series of untrue stories", and cited a recent instance where it falsely alleged that police officers had accused a wheelchair user of motorcycle theft.

Mr Shanmugam noted that the police are not immune to making mistakes, saying public servants who commit crimes have faced the consequences.

Genuine feedback could sometimes be made in error.

But what is objectionable are deliberate falsehoods, he stressed.

"If there is no wrongdoing or misconduct and you deliberately accuse to pull down the institution by manufacturing lies, and if public trust in police is eroded and they can no longer enforce rule of law effectively, all of us will be the worse for it," he said.

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
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Four companies and one individual were charged in the State Courts on Tuesday (April 4) for failing to pay salaries to their employees.

In a statement, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) revealed that the four firms include two in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, a metal furnishing manufacturer and a construction firm.

The biggest offender was Goodmate Global, which makes metal doors, window and door frames, grilles and gratings. It faces 17 charges in total, comprising 14 counts of non-payment of salary, as well as three counts for failing to pay salaries to staff who left the company due to a breach of contract by the employer.

The two F&B companies involved were 3S Restaurant and WOW Holdings, which face seven charges and five charges respectively.

Both face multiple counts of failing to pay their employees. In addition, 3S Restaurant is also facing charges for not paying employees for working on public holidays, whereas WOW Holdings is facing charges of failing to pay salaries to workers who were dismissed.

The other two employers who were charged are construction firm Access Builders, and Woon Junyang, who is the sole director of robotics solutions provider Infinium Robotics.

Meanwhile, MOM said that another employer, Ching Hwa Ming, will also be charged soon for non-payment of salaries. Mr Ching, who is a director at both JS Environment Enterprise and Nam Hong Engineering, faces a total of 30 charges.

If convicted, the employers face fines of up to $15,000 and jail terms of up to six months. The penalties could be doubled for repeat offenders.

Mr Raymond Tan Choon Guan, MOM's director of employment standards enforcement, urged employers to pay their employees on time.

"MOM will take stern action against errant employers for salary non-payment, including prosecuting those who have wilfully refused to comply with Labour Court orders or those who owe a large amount of salaries to workers," he stressed.

The ministry also urged employees who have not been paid, or those who feel that their salaries have been wrongfully withheld, to approach MOM or their unions for assistance, as it will improve their chances of recovering their salaries.

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10 tips to asking for a pay raise

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seanyap@sph.com.sg

A 14-year-old girl was humiliated when a man squirted water and spat at her face during an audition with talent agency Premiere at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Monday (Apr 3).

Jerald, a contributor to citizen journalism website Stomp, filmed his daughter's audition at the Melati Ballroom where she was required to act opposite a man in a scene where she discovers he is a fake officer from the "Department of Education".

During the audition, the man squirted water from a bottle at Jerald's daughter's face, before spitting water at her as well.

Initially, she had been excited when she was called for a second round after her first audition on Saturday (Apr 1), and had even taken the day off from school to pursue her acting dreams, he told Stomp over the phone.

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Man squirts and spits water at girl in audition

Source:

Stomp

When Stomp asked Jerald whether the producers had given his daughter any warning that somebody would be squirting and spitting water at her during the audition, he replied that she had not been expecting that at all.

"She had expected a change in script but not anything that would involve making her feel insulted and humiliated," said Jerald.

Completely shattered by the incident, Jerald's daughter was crying when she told him she did not wish to go for the Premiere programme, even though she had been selected.

According to Premiere's website, the company travels around the world searching for young performers between the ages of five and 20 to go through their evaluation process in order to be invited to the programme.

The programme, held in Orlando, Florida, "draws dozens of today's top agents, managers, casting directors and record labels from across the globe looking to find their next discovery for upcoming projects."

Jerald called up the company to ask why they had gone to such lengths during the audition. He said: "They mentioned it was to push her to her limits and 'come out of the script'."

He said that his daughter's confidence has been affected by the episode. "Do you think this is acceptable?" he asked.

Visit STOMP for more stories.

Jobseekers interested in a career in the food and beverage (F&B) sector in Singapore will have an opportunity to enter the industry at Marina Bay Sands' F&B career fair this week.

More than 150 full-time and part-time openings for positions at the integrated resort's signature restaurants will be available at the fair, which will be held this Thursday and Friday (Apr 6 and 7).

Positions range from chefs and bartenders to restaurant managers and service attendants, Marina Bay Sands said in a statement on Tuesday (April 4).

Restaurants that will be participating in the career fair include existing establishments like Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen and Wolfgang Puck's CUT, as well as upcoming restaurant The Bird.

Interested applicants can sign up for interviews on the spot, and successful candidates may receive a job offer on the same day.

The F&B career fair will be held from 9am to 7pm on both days at the Begonia Ballroom, which is on the third level of the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

Information from drug couriers has helped nab almost 90 traffickers since 2012, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday, as he defended the use of the death penalty for drug cases as a powerful deterrent against drug kingpins operating here.

He dismissed arguments by Nominated MP Kok Heng Leun and MP Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) against capital punishment, saying they should focus on the victims instead of "just crying with the people in the death row".

Mr Kok argued that "however much trust we have in our system... mistakes are unavoidable" and once execution takes place, "mistakes made cannot be corrected".

Mr Yam said "the ultimate perpetrators... are often not the ones standing frightened at the gallows".

Pointing to the opioid crisis in America, Mr Shanmugam said the scourge causes 33,000 deaths a year.

"For those with bleeding hearts... they should think about these 33,000 deaths. What percentage do you want in Singapore?"

He cited the 2006 murder of two- year-old Nurasyura, known as Nonoi, whose stepfather, a drug abuser, dunked her into a pail because he could not stand her crying.

In 2009,six-year-old Edy was dumped in the Kallang River by a drug user who was caring for him while his parents were in jail for drugs.

"Those who think we should go soft on drugs... what is your solution to the thousands of Edys and Nonois around the world who are neglected, abused and suffering?"

He added: "In public policymaking, you need a soft heart, you need compassion, and that is what defines a civilised human being, but you can never have a soft head. If the heart alone rules policy, you are done for."

ashaffiq@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 05, 2017.
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Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli yesterday criticised an opposition MP's tendency to raise divisive issues relating to the Malay/Muslim community in Parliament.

At the debate on supporting the aspirations of women in Singapore, Workers' Party MP Faisal Manap (Aljunied GRC) called for Muslim nurses and uniformed officers to be allowed to wear the tudung at work.

He said countries like Australia and Britain allowed this, and asked when Singapore would do so.

Responding, Mr Masagos said he found Mr Faisal's approach "worrisome", as he had used the motion "to focus on differences instead of rallying people to be united".

"He dwells on issues that can injure or hurt the feelings of the community rather than inspire them. In fact, Mr Faisal has used many occasions to raise potentially discordant issues in this House," he said.

He cited issues Mr Faisal raised in past sittings, such as the need for halal kitchens in navy ships and the perceived discrimination against Malays in the armed forces.

He asked: "Is it his or his party's position that these issues are the top concerns of the community?"

The minister said Mr Faisal's approach needled the community's sensitivity "subtly and frequently".

"It leaves a lingering feeling of (something) unsolved and unsolvable, and impatience that one day I believe will explode. Is that what Mr Faisal wants?" he asked.

Mr Masagos noted that the Government had replied to Mr Faisal's queries before. He would not say more but stressed that "we are in a multiracial society and we all have a role to play to enlarge our common space".

Religion is important, he said.

"I, too, want to see progress in the tudung issue and religious matters that are dear to Muslims," he added.

But government and community leaders of all races and faiths were discussing such deeply emotive matters behind closed doors.

"There is a right time, a right place and right way to discuss this," he said. "The way to make progress is gradually and quietly, working under the radar to strengthen mutual trust and understanding among Singaporeans, so that we can move forward step by step."

In contrast, championing issues "in a higher-profile way like the member always does once in a while, using them to score political points, will not strengthen trust".

"It will only raise the temperature and actually make the problems harder to solve," Mr Masagos said.

He cited an old social media post by Mr Faisal, in which he posed for a photo during the Wear White campaign in 2014 with Zulfikar Shariff, who was arrested under the Internal Security Act last year for his support for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Mr Masagos said: "It makes us wonder whether it is Mr Faisal who is supporting Mr Zulfikar or Mr Zulfikar supporting Mr Faisal, or are they together in this because of a common cause."

Mr Faisal replied that he was there to support only Wear White, which opposes homosexuality. "I'm not so sure what's behind (the) minister's mind when he tried to link me to Zulfikar, and I'm a bit distraught by his effort to paint me negatively."

He disagreed he was sowing discord and said that as an elected MP, he had the right to voice the concerns of his community in Parliament.

Mr Masagos said Mr Faisal was "not repentant or apologetic", and "insists his strident approach is the correct way", although it puts Singapore's racial harmony at risk.

"If each community pushes its own claims aggressively, there will be pushback, there will be animosity," said the minister.

Citing the case of the imam who was on Monday found guilty of offensive remarks on Christians and Jews and fined, and the ensuing calm reaction all round, he added that this was because Singapore had tended to its racial and religious harmony fastidiously.

Mr Faisal replied that all he had been asking since he was elected was for the Government to address the issue: "How does that cause divisiveness and discord?"

Mr Masagos pointed to his "practice of subtly and frequently bringing issues that are sensitive to the community, knowing (they are) not easy to resolve and cleverly turning it into a state versus religion issue."

"These are all very dangerous moves. I actually wonder whether the WP and its leadership are committed to the racial and religious harmony which underpins the security of this country," he added.

"Do you want to go back to the politics of race and religion of the 1960s, the politics we wanted to avoid when we left Malaysia? If we don't want that, why do we let a member constantly raise these issues to stir the community?"

charyong@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 05, 2017.
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Jeremiah Liauw, 10, cannot walk, but he can ride - by moving just his arms - and will do that for 25km this month to raise funds for charity.

He was born with spina bifida, which affects his spine and causes his lower body to be weak. So, instead of riding a bicycle, he will hand-cycle in Ride for Rainbows to raise funds for Club Rainbow, which helps children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin will also take part and cycle 100km.

This is a first for him, and the first time that a minister is cycling that distance in the annual event, which is in its sixth edition this year.

The fund-raiser on April 29 has three segments: Cyclists can ride 100km, 50km or 25km. The last segment was added to this year's event to commemorate the charity's 25th anniversary.

As of last night, more than $494,000 had been raised. More than $650,000 was raised last year.

Mr Tan is the top fund-raiser so far, having garnered more than $34,000 in donations, while Jeremiah has raised over $7,000.

The St Joseph's Institution Junior pupil told The Straits Times: "I want to help the children from Club Rainbow." He is also a beneficiary of the charity.

His mother, housewife Michele Liauw, 41, said: "We raised to him the suggestion of joining this event, as we knew he's got good arm strength. He was game for it. " She will also join the 25km ride with her husband and their 14-year-old son.

Jeremiah started hand-cycling in 2015, and then spent more time going for para-swimming training sessions. But he resumed his hand-cycling training a few weeks ago to prepare for the 25km ride.

He has been training with the Para Cycling Federation of Singapore for about two hours every Saturday, hand-cycling around the track in ITE College East in Simei.

Since the age of four, he has also been an inspirational sports hero. In 2010, he crawled - with knee guards, and shoes on his feet and hands - to the finish line during the 750m Kids Dash event of the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore.

Last year, he bagged three gold medals at the Singapore Press Holdings Foundation National Para-Swimming Championships.

Club Rainbow president Sashikumar Ganapathy said: "It is an example of the courage our children have in facing the challenges of their illnesses. It's also heartening to see that a beneficiary is willing to raise funds for his charity and start giving back at such a young age."

Jeremiah said: "I think the ride is going to be fun. It's good to be able to have fun while raising funds."

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

To donate, go to www.rideforrainbows.org

This article was first published on April 5, 2017.
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THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will take developers to task if they misrepresent important information about the units they are selling to prospective home-buyers.

Making this point in parliament on Tuesday, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong stressed that it is mandatory for developers to provide a drawn-to-scale floor plan of the unit.

They must also present a detailed breakdown of the area by various types of spaces, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, air-conditioner ledges and balconies.

This information must be given to prospective home-buyers before they pay the booking fee for an option to purchase the unit.

The floor area of various types of spaces, including air-con ledges and balconies, must also be accurately represented in the show-flats.

Mr Wong was replying to queries posed by backbencher Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC).

Read also: The making of a global developer

Earlier, Mr Ang had asked if the URA is reviewing the rule of allowing developers to build large air-con ledges and balconies for non-landed residential properties without them being counted as part of the gross floor area, and yet are allowed to be charged to buyers for such space.

He also wanted to know if URA would make it mandatory to state the floor areas dedicated for balconies, air-con ledges and other outdoor space in the floor plans of properties during their launches.

In his reply, Mr Wong noted that URA grants gross floor area (GFA) exemptions to achieve certain planning objectives.

For instance, air-con ledges that are less than one metre in width are exempted from GFA in order to encourage developers to house air-con condensers neatly in residential developments. Balconies, however, are not exempt from GFA and developers must pay the development charge for them, said Mr Wong, adding that the rules on what constitutes GFA are publicly available on URA's website.

Read also:  More condo developers using smart tech

"Developers factor in strata area when pricing units in their developments. Strata area measures the amount of floor space that is sold to the buyer, on the basis that the space is for the buyer's exclusive enjoyment," he noted. "As both balconies and air-con ledges solely serve individual units, they are considered to be strata area, and hence, chargeable to the buyer."

Mr Wong advised all home-buyers to review all the information given to them by the developer so as to make an informed decision over their purchases.

This article was first published on Apr 05, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Tuesday (April 4) warned the public against buying or consuming a traditional herbal remedy that contains undeclared potent ingredients which cause steroid-induced side effects.

The advisory came after a woman who took it regularly was diagnosed with diabetes and Cushing's syndrome.

The product, named PHQ 1001 Khasiat Penawar Herba Qaseh Serata Herb, was marketed as a traditional herbal remedy for several medical conditions such as kidney diseases, impotence, pain and stroke, HSA said in a press release on Tuesday.

It was sold on social media platforms and online sites based overseas.

A woman in her 60s took the product regularly for a few months, hoping to cure her knee pain. While she experienced rapid pain relief, she also put on weight rapidly and developed a puffy face.

She was eventually diagnosed with diabetes and Cushing's syndrome, a condition caused by prolonged ingestion of steroids and characterised by a round face and obesity in the upper body, with thin limbs.

The conditions were likely to have been caused by a potent steroid, dexamethasone, found in the product, HSA said.

The woman's doctor said a few of her friends who also took the product experienced similar weight gain, likely caused by the steroids in the product.

The undeclared potent ingredients found in the illegal product are: dexamethasone, a potent steroid which, with long-term use, can cause Cushing's syndrome, high blood pressure, diabetes and an increased risk of infections; piroxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which can cause gastrointestinal adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting and gastric bleeding; anti-fungal drug griseofulvin, which can cause headaches and serious effects such as liver injuries and Stevens-Johnson syndrome; and paracetamol, an over-the-counter drug for relief of fever and pain.

HSA in its release warned those who sell the product to stop immediately. It is illegal to sell and supply complementary health products containing undeclared potent Western medicines. Those convicted of the offence can be jailed for up to three years and or fined up to $100,000.

Those with information on the sale or supply of the product can contact HSA's enforcement branch on 6866-3485 or e-mail hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg

HSA also issued the following advice for the public:

- Consult a doctor as soon as possible if you have been taking the product;

- If you have been taking the product for more than a few weeks, stopping suddenly without proper medical supervision can cause serious withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, confusion and low blood pressure, so do consult a doctor;

- Exercise caution when buying health products online or from unfamiliar sources, even when they are recommended by friends or relatives;

- Be wary of complementary health products such as supplements and traditional medicines that promise quick results for chronic medical conditions, as they may contain prescription medicines that should be taken only with medical supervision;

Members of the public can visit www.healthdangers.sg to learn more about the dangers of buying illegal health products from questionable sources.

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

With the widespread use of social media apps and sites, anyone can call themselves a 'social media influencer' these days. 

It's a title that comes with a delightful number of perks: Exclusive invitations to events that common folk never get to attend in their lifetime, and the constant offers of free food and beauty products in exchange for a post or two on your social media accounts. If you can make a name for yourself, that is.

With the increasing number of people battling for the title of "influencer", going from a nobody to a Somebody can prove to be quite a challenge.

Cue social media marketing startup FavesAsia, which provides a platform for aspiring influencers, also known as 'personalities', to make themselves known.

In a recruitment advertisement posted on Tuesday (April 4), FavesAsia tried to reel in prospective personalities with a video showing the journey to fame for an aspiring social media influencer.

Unfortunately, the sheer materialism and unrealisticness of the three-minute clip left viewers slack-jawed in disgust. The cringe-worthy clip, which was initially posted on Facebook, has since been taken down.

For those who wish to spend the next 3 minutes and 36 seconds of your life in a more productive way, here's the video in pictures.

A girl, henceforth known as Aspiring Influencer, is sitting alone at a cafe, swiping through an Instagrammer's profile.

Her friend then joins her and asks why she looks so down. Aspiring Influencer explains that she's envious of said Instagrammer for having so many followers and sponsorships.

She even adds that she is such a huge fan of the Instagrammer that she knows what underwear the Instagrammer wears. That's too much information, if you ask us.

Unfazed, Nice Friend then introduces her to FavesAsia, and the mechanics of how FavesAsia works are explained to the viewer in an abrupt voiceover.

The video skips to two months later, and Aspiring Influencer is seen eating with her friends at a cafe, before they head off to do their nails together. They then wrap up the day with a beach party or two. All the glitz and glamour, really!

Six months pass, and a Maserati that Aspiring Influencer is sitting in pulls up in front of a building.

Four bouquet-wielding fanboys immediately approach the car, and the driver - Aspiring Influencer's new boyfriend, perhaps? - appears surprised at their presence. We were surprised too: usually, only K-pop idol groups receive such raucous welcomes from their fans here.

Aspiring Influencer then bashfully explains that she wouldn't have dreamt of having so many fans if not for FavesAsia.

Aspiring Influencer is next seen at a networking event, with presumably other high-flying influencers. She's worked her way up from one thousand followers to joining the ranks of the influencers, with a fanbase to boot, after all.

The most worrisome part about this video is neither the shabby acting nor the dubious plot.

Instead, it is the message that it is sending to its viewers.

The video implies that young aspiring influencers could possibly be able to enjoy a life of fame and riches without much effort other than looking pretty and perhaps writing a sponsored post once in a while.

There are many things wrong with this: being an influencer is nowhere as easy as it looks, and the emphasis that FavesAsia places on beauty, both on the site and in its ad, promotes a materialistic and shallow culture that looks only skin-deep and no further.

After all, if fame were that easy to attain, then why is it that there are only so few influencers who truly make their mark? Wouldn't we all be fighting to become big-name influencers of our own as well, instead of slogging our days away at our desks?

Established social media influencers added their own two cents across different platforms.

A cast member of local Youtube channel WahBanana, Terence Then, wondered in a Facebook post what the video was trying to portray to the viewers.

In his Instagram post, he added: "Yes we are all humans, you must be thinking who doesn't want fame. Who doesn't want to be recognised and who doesn't want to be sponsored. But you need to understand all these doesn't LAST one bit. Why be blinded and chase things that doesn't last? Isn't that of less value than the things you can actually build to last?"

 

Saw this video on Facebook and I felt the need to talk about it because i'm so burdened by it. Basically in short, it's about a girl complaining that she is sad and jealous of a girl she's stalking on IG because she has not as much followers and no sponsorships. Her Friend then introduces her to FAVESASIA platform. The next part of the video shows her getting sponsored food at a cafe. Sponsored SPA. Going to parties. And finally being driven in a fancy sports car with fans waiting outside the MASERATI and her Boyfriend saying "eh so many fans already ah? Remember to smile ok?"。 Seriously what on earth is this shit? And most importantly what are you trying to portray to our younger generation? The impact of what you portray could mean a huge deal to clueless young teens growing up. Dear kids and teenagers you do have the freedom of choice to believe what you want. but please please please do not be influenced by such misleading content you see everywhere. Life isn't about this. It's much more than all the shallow things they are portraying in the video. You DO NOT need more followers. you DO NOT need to more sponsorships. You DO NOT need to be jealous of the people you see on Instagram. Yes we are all humans, you must be thinking who doesn't want fame. Who doesn't want to be recognised and who doesn't want to be sponsored. But you need to understand all these doesn't LAST one bit. Why be blinded and chase things that doesn't last? Isn't that of less value than the things you can actually build to last? 。 A house must be build on solid foundation if it's to last. The same goes for men. Build on your character and your gifts instead and success will definitely come in many ways. Paving your way to a happy and meaningful life. You do not always need affirmation from the world to know your worth. You definitely DO NOT need fame and followers and sponsorships and all that kind of stuffs to determine that. You are already an abundance of worth when you enter this world and you need to know that. Don't be blinded. Especially the younger generation who are growing up together with this digital social media age. Look further. Please look much further and deeper.

A post shared by terencethen (邓国强) (@terencethen) on Apr 3, 2017 at 8:37pm PDT

Another influencer, Nellie Lim, expressed her disgust at how the industry was portrayed in the video and emphasised that true influencers were not influencers for want of the material rewards they got out of their job.

She wrote in a Facebook post: "If you're only doing it because you want followers, sponsorships, media invites, fans and a boy who drives you around in a sports car, DON'T. Do it because you love creating content. Do it because you love working on social media strategies. Do it because you love what you do and not what you'll get out of it."

Local celebrity blogger Xiaxue, one of the pioneers of the industry, also weighed in on the issue. Although she did not watch the video, she wrote in a response to an anonymous query on ask.fm that if aspiring influencers wish to be "materialistic and fame hungry", nobody has any right to tell them to not be.

However, she added that the fame levels promised by FavesAsia were highly unrealistic, and nearly "impossible to achieve".

pariel@sph.com.sg

The woman was blamed by her mother-in-law for giving birth to a son with autism.

She, too, felt she had done something wrong for having a disabled child.

A child with autism may have difficulties expressing himself or communicating with others.

She became depressed.

Her husband, a taxi driver, stayed out to escape from the misery at home.

The family also turned vegetarian "to atone for their sins", hoping this would improve the boy's condition.

At times, overwhelmed by his behaviour such as scratching or banging of doors, the family caned him, which made things worse.

Recounting the story, Ms Woo Pei Foon, head of family services at St Andrew's Autism Centre, said the child, who is now a teenager, is attending the autism school run by St Andrew's.

This is one example of a family crumbling under the strain of raising a child with special needs, although the St Andrew's staff are helping them manage their turmoil and handle the boy better.

Across Singapore, many other families struggle daily with caring for loved ones with special needs.

The birth or diagnosis of a child with a disability - or multiple disabilities - brings about severe challenges and much grief, which is often left unsaid and buried deep within.

Parents also wrestle with anger, guilt and denial.

This struggle could go on for years and blow up in big or small ways, if not addressed.

Mrs June Tham, a veteran in the special needs field, said: "When a child is diagnosed, it's the loss of their hopes and dreams for the child. Parents would ask, 'Why me? What did I do wrong? Will my child have a future?'"

Finances are also tight, as the mother often gives up her job to care for her child.

Weighed down by caring for a child who may never be independent, coupled with existing marital woes, some marriages collapse, social workers say.

So it came as no surprise when a large-scale survey commissioned by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) found that caregivers of those with disabilities experienced a higher level of stress and strain than the average person.

Those working with children with special needs know of mothers who fell into depression and, in a few tragic cases, either killed themselves or their child.

In 2014, the mother of a seven-year-old autistic boy pushed him out of their ninth-floor window to his death.

The mother, who was diagnosed with major depression and had defaulted on treatment, was reportedly seized by thoughts that her son was the reason for her exhaustion and marital woes.

So, providing support for caregivers to help them cope is critical, especially before they get to breaking point.

It is also critical for the well-being of the child with special needs and other children in the family.

Last month, NCSS said it was developing a network of support for caregivers and will set up a Disability Caregiver Support Centre.

The centre aims to reach out to parents whose children were recently diagnosed with special needs as they often struggle with accepting and coping with the diagnosis, thus affecting family relationships.

It also wants to help ageing caregivers of adults with disabilities, who may experience burnout after decades of caregiving.

The centre will work with agencies such as special education schools to link parents to counselling, peer support groups and other help.

It will also drive research in the area and pilot new initiatives with social service organisations to support caregivers, among other things.

This new centre signals the ramping up of support for caregivers, which is much needed.

Now, some charities serving those with disabilities are already providing some support for caregivers, but more can be done.

For example, groups like St Andrew's Autism Centre and the Down Syndrome Association have support groups for caregivers to share experiences and learn how to better look after their children.

There are also training courses run by various groups to better equip caregivers in their roles.

Traditionally, parents get some time off from caregiving when their children are in school or at day activity centres, where therapy and other services are provided.

In the past few years, a few charities have initiated respite programmes on weekends, where parents get short breaks to rest, relax and recharge.

Parents can leave their special needs children at AWWA on Saturdays for a few hours.

There is a $10 registration fee and the service is free.

Short breaks do wonders to prevent burnout, social workers say.

What is needed is more respite services that are affordable and accessible.

Any other support services for caregivers also have to be affordable, as many families with special needs members have stretched finances.

But beyond the provision of services, the challenge is also to convince parents - who often neglect their own needs - to use respite and other support services.

The other challenge is to find adults with disabilities who are not using any services, and their caregivers, who may need help but do not know where to go for aid.

To this end, more outreach work is needed.

Reaching out to these families cannot be done by social workers alone, but by grassroots volunteers and even neighbours, who can all be trained to look out for them.

Finally, the Government's drive to promote inclusiveness and enhance understanding of the various disabilities has to be an ongoing one.

Mothers get no peace of mind if family members continue to point fingers at them for the children's condition.

Parents may think twice about taking their children out if members of the public stare at them or make unkind remarks.

A 56-year-old housewife, who wanted to be known only as Madam Neoh, is used to people staring at her 22-year-old son, who suffers from cerebral palsy and cannot communicate.

She is thankful for a supportive husband and in-laws.

Still, it is exhausting to attend to her son's every need, from taking him to the toilet to feeding him.

Money is also a concern as her driver husband earns about $2,000 a month, and she constantly worries about who will care for her son after their deaths.

Twice a week, AWWA staff visit her home to provide physiotherapy and other therapy services for her son.

The service is highly subsidised and she pays less than $40 a month.

Madam Neoh said: "I have no free time of my own but when the AWWA staff are at my home, I can relax or do some housework."

theresat@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Madam Mary Ho has made about $100 just by being at home since she signed up as a "parker" in January.

The 64-year-old housewife's Housing Board flat in Hougang is one of about 40 residential collection points under local start-up Park N Parcel that online shoppers can use to avoid missed deliveries at home.

"Parkers", which also include 60 commercial collection points such as retail stores, minimarts and cafes, are paid $1 for each parcel delivered to their address.

For a $2.50 fee, shoppers can choose from a list of locations and collection hours on Park N Parcel's website.

Co-founder Erik Cheong, who quit his job as a stockbroker last year to start the company, said the idea came from his girlfriend, who had her online purchases delivered to the home of her aunt, who lives three blocks away.

"I would miss deliveries because of my busy work schedule, but she (his girlfriend) didn't have that problem. So I thought there are retirees, students and home business owners that can do parcel collection for passive income," said Mr Cheong, 28.

Madam Ho receives between 30 and 50 parcels a month.

The service, which was launched in January and has had about 500 users, aims to triple its number of collection points to 300 by year end.

"Our goal is to have two to three per block, so you can pick up (parcels) from as close as your next-door neighbour's (home)," he said.

Park N Parcel conducts basic screening of residential parkers, and users also can leave reviews of parkers on the website.

It is one of several players in the logistics industry that have turned to self-collection solutions for parcels in the growing e-commerce marketplace.

Most of these solutions involve self-collection lockers, such as SingPost's POPStations, which have grown to a network of 143 locations since 2013.

Items from more than 10 partner merchants, including Taobao, Uniqlo and Zalora, can be delivered to a selected POPStation at no extra charge.

Missed SingPost deliveries can be collected from nearby POPStations, where the collection rate is more than 99 per cent, said SingPost.

Local logistics start-up blu, which provides end-to-end services for retailers such as warehousing, order and inventory management, automated fulfilment, and last-mile delivery, launched its bluPort parcel terminals last October. There are 41 of these terminals, offering same-day self-collection for purchases from local retailers within its network.

"The potential for home-grown e-commerce is huge, but it has remained largely untapped due to the persistent and costly fragmentation in the supply chain," said blu's founder Prashant Dadlani.

Logistics firm Ninja Van launched Ninja Collect, a network of about 20 lockers and 100 commercial collection points for its deliveries in 2015, and aims to double these by the end of the year.

Self-collection helps to make deliveries more efficient as volumes are consolidated, it said.

The firms said they are supportive of the planned nationwide locker system announced last year, which will maintain competition while ensuring the inter-operability of lockers by different market players.

Discussions on the model to be adopted are ongoing, according to the Infocomm Media Development Authority, which is the lead agency for the project.

Human resources executive Joy Tan, who picked up a parcel from Park N Parcel's Madam Ho last week, said it reduced the hassle of missed deliveries and long waits at the post office.

Said the 28-year-old: "It's a lot more convenient, as I can pick it up after work or at the weekend."

Parcel pick-up solutions

PARK N PARCEL

• Pick from 100 delivery addresses, and add the generated code to your shipping name during checkout on e-commerce sites for a pick-up reference.

BLUPORT

• Get deliveries from retail or logistics partners like DHL sent to one of 41 locations, including Cheers convenience stores and malls.

POPSTATION

• Select one of 143 locations while checking out on partner merchant websites or rent a locker for pick-ups.

NINJA COLLECT

• Opt for delivery pick-ups at one of 20 lockers and 100 retail locations like Guardian or Home-Fix outlets.

tiffanyt@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

After serving in the public sector for 36 years, Singapore's first female Permanent Secretary will retire from the administrative service.

Ms Lim Soo Hoon, Permanent Secretary (Finance) (Performance) at the Ministry of Finance, will retire on April 30, the Prime Minister's Office said in a press release yesterday.

After her retirement, the 58-year-old will continue to contribute to the public sector as a senior fellow of the Civil Service College.

She will also continue as chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) Board.

Ms Lim served in various capacities in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Communications and Information and the former Ministry of Labour.

In 1999, she became the first female officer to become Permanent Secretary.

As Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development, she strengthened social policies and spearheaded programmes such as the Singapore Sports School and the development of policies to promote pro-family practices like work-life balance.

She held several roles in her distinguished career, helping set key human resource policies for the public sector as Permanent Secretary (Public Service Division), Prime Minister's Office, in 2005.

In this role, she helped establish milestone development programmes for senior leaders, roll out re-employment policies for older workers in response to an ageing population, and looked at job redesign to help provide junior staff with more employable skills.

In 2012, Ms Lim was appointed Permanent Secretary (Finance) (Performance) in the Ministry of Finance, where she oversaw the ministry's central role in creating a high-performance government through efficient use of resources and integrating key programmes, processes and systems across government agencies.

Ms Lim also contributed to the widening of digital services in the public service and helped promote more data-sharing within the government and with the public.

She introduced a range of initiatives to raise the professionalism and capabilities of the procurement and finance specialist communities.

She also played a significant role overseeing the establishment of the Pioneer Generation Office, which has benefited many pioneers.

For her contributions, Ms Lim was awarded the Silver Public Administration Medal in 1998 and the Gold Public Administration Medal in 2004.

After she steps down, Mrs Tan Ching Yee will be the only Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

lydialam@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 4, 2017.
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