United Overseas Bank (UOB) has released an official statement, responding to allegations that its staff was involved in a dispute with an elderly man.

In a Facebook post at around 11pm, the bank said:

"Our investigations show that the couple shown in the video is not our UOB Toa Payoh branch staff.

"While we agree with many of you that the behaviour captured is shameful and deplorable, nevertheless we need to be fair to the innocent and therefore respectfully request that any unsubstantiated allegations not be posted."

United Overseas Bank (UOB) has responded to an incident whereby a couple was caught on camera arguing with an elderly man at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market & Food Centre on Apr 21.

A clip of the incident was originally posted by Facebook user Manny Quest and went viral after it was re-uploaded by Thelocalsociety yesterday (Apr 22).

The dispute was apparently over an empty table at the hawker centre, which the couple said had been 'reserved' by them.

At one point in the video, the young man can be seen pushing the elderly uncle from behind. Fortunately, the table broke the latter's fall.

A witness also recounted what happened and said that the couple used expletives on the older man, who remained calm and polite throughout.

The incident has sparked national outrage and started an online witch hunt for the couple in question.

Several netizens claimed to have identified them and said they were employees at a Toa Payoh branch of UOB.

In response to the allegations, UOB wrote on its Facebook page today (Apr 23) after queries by Stomp:

"We are investigating the matter to ascertain the identities and determine if either or both parties in the video are members of our staff. UOB cannot condone such behaviour which neither reflects our values nor the standards we expect of all our employees."

Read also: Woman arrested after spewing vulgarities and hitting staff at Tiong Bahru store

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SINGAPORE - You may have seen it on Facebook or Instagram, although it is not available in Singapore.

The pink and blue Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino, available only from April 18 to 23 in the US, Canada and Mexico, conjured up a such frenzy that Starbucks baristas began complaining about making them on social media.

The flavour of the drink, which is sprinkled with shiny pink and blue powder, apparently changes as you stir it.

The pastel-coloured drink has been said to be a great "fashion accessory", no faint praise when photogenic food rules social media.

One Starbucks outlet, at Orchard Point, meanwhile, has come up with a Singapore version of the drink.

A video on YouTube by user thejetsets posted on Friday (April 21) shows how this "tropical edition", which he dubbed the Merlion frappuccino, was made.

The baristas seemed a little hesitant at first, but both the customer and the baristas were happy with the result - a pink and orange frappuccino that looks like a sunset.

"It's good, they should sell it" was the customer's verdict. According to one of the baristas, the flavour is "creamy mango".

The "unicorn" food trend started about a year ago in the United States, according to the New York Times.

Unicorn cakes, toast, lattes, cookies and bagels have popped up in cafes, bakeries and social media.

This includes anything with candy colours, and sparkly, or cute pastel-coloured decorations. Some mimic actual (imaginary) unicorns, with confection horse ears and golden horns.

With Starbucks jumping on the psychedelic bandwagon, there has been some interest in Singapore.

Starbucks Singapore's Facebook page has received some queries from customers about whether the sparkly drink will be coming to the island.

At least one local cafe, Boufe Boutique cafe, serves a unicorn cake, while many do have rainbow cakes.

The Straits Times has contacted Starbucks Singapore for its comments.

Meanwhile, how about a colourful ice kacang?

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Where to find rainbow foods in Singapore

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This article was first published on April 23, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - He had just finished exercising at Bedok Reservoir Park when a phone call from a friend informed him there was an "accident" at the park's carpark.

As Mr Sim Yumin rushed to the carpark, he saw the familiar sight of his Nissan Silvia S15 car.

From 50m away, he sensed something was amiss as his car was heavily vandalised.

Mr Sim, 36, who works in the storage solutions industry, told The Straits Times on Friday (April 21): "I just couldn't walk. I was speechless. I was angry and scared at the same time. Who have I offended?"

A few seconds later, a group of 15 friends jumped out from behind a parked van shouting "surprise!" last Wednesday night.

It was a prank planned and executed by Mr Sim's girlfriend, Ms Shereen Tan.

Along with her friends, the pranksters, who took 40 minutes to complete their handiwork at a nearby multi-storey carpark, thought it would be a great way to celebrate the couple's 10th anniversary.

Said Ms Tan, 29: "I know that the Nissan is his (Mr Sim's) baby. But I had told the painter at the car workshop that I would be footing the bill for the new paintwork."

But netizens thought the Nissan, which had words like Prada Power, O$P$, Fat and Fabulous, had been vandalised by loanshark runners.

Images of his car began appearing on Facebook, multiple WhatsApp chat groups and citizen journalism portal Stomp, garnering more than 22,000 views as of Sunday (April 23) morning.

Added Mr Sim, who is now amused at the whole affair: "At traffic stops, people took out their mobile phones, smiled and snapped away. I didn't dare look at them. Now, I just can't wait to get my car professionally painted."

This article was first published on April 23, 2017.
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A random conversation - one with her boyfriend over the difficulty of finding healthy and tasty food in Singapore - planted the seeds of entrepreneurship and an idea of opening her own place in her head.

That was just over two years ago. Today, Miss Charlotte Wang, 24, is the proud owner of Guac and Go in Maxwell Road, a healthy food cafe centred around avocados.

The interest in "clean" eating has been on the rise and there are many inspirational images on social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest, something Miss Wang uses to her advantage.

Miss Wang does not feel threatened by the proliferation of salad bars.

She said: "No two places are the same. You can never have too much food."

She studied art business management and then worked in sales and marketing.

So, when she found herself as a business owner, she was out of her depth.

In the early days, the staff comprised just the couple and Miss Wang's mother.

"It was quite crazy, running for the last bus kind of crazy. Sleeping at midnight, waking up at 6am to rush down and open the shop... It was fun, but I do not miss it," she said.

One of the many concerns young entrepreneurs have would be the management of staff, especially those who are older. For Miss Wang, being a boss initially proved difficult.

She said: "I used to be staff. Suddenly, I had to manage people and tell them what to do."

Also adding to her list of worries were how some of her suppliers treated her.

"When I started, there were some people who would not contact me. They would contact my boyfriend instead, because they thought he was the boss."

DETERMINED

But the determined young woman refused to buckle under the pressure and stood her ground.

The early stages of the business had an effect on a more personal level too.

"For the first two years, I was a bit miserable that I had to give up my social life. I really did feel quite lonely - the only people I got to meet were at the cafe."

So she gave herself a deadline to see if going into business was the right route for her.

Today, many of the cafe's patrons are familiar faces - a sign that the venture has taken off, something that excites Miss Wang.

"It is really not easy... the long hours, and you got to do the nitty gritty. Even the gross stuff, such as washing dirty dishes and picking up used tissue. Some things just make you want to cry," she said with a laugh.

But the grind proved to be worth it for Miss Wang, who said: "I gave myself six months to figure out if this was what I wanted to do. And yes, this is what I want."

tnp@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 24, 2017.
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It was a weekend to remember for Indonesian domestic helpers Sumiati Sarwoto and Kadek Wiriasih.

Earlier this month, local radio station ONE FM 91.3 encouraged its listeners to call in and share positive stories of their helpers.

Two families and their helpers were subsequently invited to appear on ONE FM's #1 Breakfast Show, during which they were rewarded with a one-night staycation at Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore with meals provided at J65 and Ah Hoi's Kitchen and spa treatments at Essence Vale Spa for the helpers.

On Saturday, Madam Sumiati, 42, and Madam Kadek, 49, got to experience a two-hour spa session.

It was the first spa session for Madam Sumiati, who said she had never felt so carefree.

She told The New Paper: "I never got an opportunity like this back home. I came here to work as a maid, so I never thought I would experience something like this."

Tears welled up in Madam Kadek's eyes as she spoke.

Even though she had a spa treatment in Bali three years ago, she can hardly afford to pamper herself due to her responsibilities as a wife and mother.

Of her experience at Essence Vale Spa, she said: "I was well taken care of. The massage really released all the tension in my shoulders and back."

When the pair first stepped into their individual hotel rooms, Madam Kadek felt "like a princess", while Madam Sumiati could not help but feel like she was appreciated.

"Working as a maid, I never thought I would be treated like royalty," said Madam Kadek.

Both women are so attached to the children they care for they ended up rooming with them on Saturday night.

With a laugh, Madam Sumiati said of her employer's 20-month-old daughter: "I took care of her and watched cartoons with her. I cannot sleep without her."

Meanwhile, Madam Kadek watched American shows with her employer's two sons, aged 10 and 15.

huienl@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 24, 2017.
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Tiong Bahru Football Club (TBFC) is a modest side playing in the National Football League (NFL), the second tier of Singapore football.

But the amateur club has been in the spotlight for the past week, with the focus on its finances rather than its football.

In documents obtained by The Sunday Times, the club's annual revenue for the year ending March 31 last year was $36.8 million, more than the Football Association of Singapore's (FAS) budget of $35.8 million in the same period. Around $31 million was paid back in jackpot winnings and taxes.

Its income was around $5 million. With a surplus of $698,804, this means the club, which does not pay its players salaries, spent more than $4.3 million.

In comparison, a typical S-League club, a professional outfit with salaried players and a clubhouse, operates on a budget of around $2 million a year.

TBFC's chairman is Mr Bill Ng.

The owner of a private equity firm is leading a team to contest the FAS election this Saturday.

TBFC's figures have surprised observers.

A former NFL club official said: "An NFL team requires at most $50,000 to run - if you count equipment, allowances, coaching and match bonuses. How did they get so much money?"

Much of TBFC's income comes from its 29 jackpot machines, housed at its basement clubhouse in People's Park Centre.

Retiree Ng Hong Fatt said of the jackpot machine players: "This place is most crowded during weekends and public holidays. You have to come early or else you'll have no chance of getting a seat. Many people don't want to give up their seats because the staff will serve you food and drinks."

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Offices of FAS, 3 football clubs raided

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The Straits Times

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Permits to run jackpot machines are granted by the police and the number of machines is tied to the number of members.

TBFC's latest annual returns filed with the Registry of Societies showed it has more than 18,000 members.

A large chunk of its income is spent on employee compensation.

Last year, it spent $2.07 million on its staff, including $527,877 on "staff training, uniforms and welfare".

About $1.37 million went into salaries and bonuses.

Another $108,229 went to "gifts and sponsorships", while "entertainment and refreshment" took up $105,166.

Read Also: FAS saga: The $500,000 conundrum

Its clubhouse takes up two adjacent units with an area of 3,735.08 sq ft.

It pays $958,955 in rental a year, which means monthly rent comes up to about $21.40 per sq ft (psf).

Real estate agent Goh Kok Leong, who is looking to rent out a unit in the same building, said prices in the People's Park Complex basement range from $12 to $24 psf for a 500 sq ft unit.

The rental would go down for larger spaces.

Checks by The Sunday Times showed the landlord is Polygon Ventures, a general wholesale trade company, according to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

Polygon's majority shareholder is listed as Ms Bonnie Wong, who is Mr Ng's wife.

Read Also: Who is FAS presidential candidate Bill Ng?

Lawyers that The Sunday Times spoke to say there is nothing illegal about renting from one's spouse but that it would be advisable to declare this fact to members of the club.

The club said it spent $169,250 on "football accessories expenses".

That is more than three times the average of an NFL's club spending.

TBFC, coached by Hougang United Prime League coach Robert Eziakor, finished fifth in the 10-team NFL last season.

The spotlight first fell on TBFC on April 13 when, at the unveiling of his team's manifesto, Mr Ng said that TBFC had donated $500,000 to the FAS with the intention of helping Singapore football, but that the money had gone to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) instead.

He said FAS general secretary Winston Lee had asked for the donation.

Mr Lee denied this and produced a letter and cheques to show Mr Ng had knowingly made the donation to the AFF and that it was former FAS president Zainudin Nordin who had asked for the donation.

Mr Ng denied these two claims but has not produced documents to back up his claim.

The donation saga took another twist when local sport governing body Sport Singapore filed a police report last Wednesday about alleged misuse of club funds at TBFC and attempts to delay the audit of some clubs.

On Thursday, the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) raided TBFC, Hougang United, Woodlands Wellington and the FAS office.

Mr Ng is also chairman of Hougang.

In 2014, he was tasked to lead a merger between Hougang and Woodlands, but the move was called off after it was deemed unconstitutional.

Mr Ng and Ms Wong, along with Mr Zainudin and Mr Lee, were questioned by the CAD on Friday.

The 2017 NFL was launched yesterday and TBFC are set to kick off their season with a match against Bishan Barx FC on May 7.

At the clubhouse yesterday, staff were seen entering the premises, which had been closed following last Thursday's raid.

Shortly after, a sign was put up to indicate that operations would resume today.

The show goes on, even as questions remain.

This article was first published on April 23, 2017.
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Social media can be a powerful tool to call out bad behaviour in bike-sharing schemes, said experts such as Dr William Wan, general secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement.

Since the launch of three such companies here this year - local venture oBike and China-based firms Mobike and ofo - photos of misused bikes have made the rounds online.

Some were repainted or stashed outside flats, while others were trashed in locations such as canals.

Last Tuesday, ofo lodged a police report over a video of a teenager throwing and stomping on one of its bikes in the Geylang Bahru area.

"Social media is a powerful tool for calling out such bad behaviour," said Dr Wan, who added that one report could quickly trigger others.

In any society, he said, there will always be a small number who think only of themselves.

Instead of relying on laws to curb bad behaviour, he believes in allowing individual users to "take ownership in making this community-sharing initiative work, through gracious and responsible behaviour".

The public should also help firms by calling out and discouraging any misuse they encounter, he said.

Sociologist Paulin Straughan said social media could also encourage positive behaviour.

Last Wednesday, Twitter user Syra uploaded a photograph in a post saying that instead of just leaving a ruined ofo bike as she found it, she took it home and asked her father to repair it.

Her post was widely shared online.

Bike-sharing companies have adopted measures to curb bad behaviour.

This month, ofo launched its online reporting system for users to flag improper behaviour.

A spokesman said it offers vouchers to those who report bikes parked indiscriminately and move them to designated parking stations, and it reserves the right to impose a penalty on users who repeatedly or severely misuse its services.

It said destroyed bicycles account for less than 1 per cent of its fleet here.

At oBike, which launched a credit scoring system this month, all users start with 100 points, and rentals are priced at 50 cents for 15 minutes.

It said damaged bicycles are "rare", and it has yet to see any rider falling below 50 credits.

Bike rentals jump to $50 for 15 minutes for those with less than 60 points.

Meanwhile, Mobike said it has not found any of its bicycles here intentionally damaged or misused.

Mr Francis Chu, co-founder of cycling group Love Cycling SG, warned that selfish user behaviour could become more common if not discouraged.

But he added that the problem may be a teething issue.

The Land Transport Authority said last month that it will continue to raise bicycle parking capacity at public transport nodes, and is working with dockless bicycle-sharing operators to encourage users to park responsibly.

byseow@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 24, 2017.
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Hobbyist photographer Koh Kim Chay feels deeply rooted in Singapore's public housing estates.

For almost three decades, using an analogue film camera, he has documented thousands of homes before they were demolished.

The retired engineer, 60, grew up in Stirling Road, in two of Singapore's oldest HDB blocks.

Three rental blocks - 45, 48, and 49 - were completed in 1961, and Mr Koh's family had a flat on the seventh floor of Block 48. They moved to Block 45 in 1974.

He remembers that when a man selling bread came by on his bicycle, there was no need for his mother and other neighbours to go downstairs - they would just lower a basket on a rope to pay for and collect their bread.

There were also cows that roamed freely in the vicinity. And he recalls many happy hours spent fishing for guppies in the stream that is now the Alexandra Canal.

Mr Koh, who is married with a son, now lives in an executive Housing Board flat in Choa Chu Kang.

From the lush expanse of the colonial-era Princess Elizabeth Park estate to the brick-clad heights of Pickering Street, they have all been captured by Mr Koh before they were demolished.

Many of the dwellings were built by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), set up in July 1927 under the Singapore Improvement Ordinance to solve the serious housing shortage then faced by a rapidly growing population. The SIT was dissolved in 1959, and its successor, the HDB, took over in February 1960.

Other photographs showcase the newer-generation flats in refurbished or newly emerging estates in the 1970s through to the 1980s, with amenities such as schools, food centres, markets, and shops. These are all gone too.

Mr Koh hopes to publish a photo book of 27 old estates, titled Singapore's Vanished Public Housing Estates.

Working with him is photographer and former teacher Eugene Ong, 39, who helped to curate the pictures and did research for the accompanying text.

Last month, they started a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise US$10,000 (S$14,000) to cover the design and printing cost of 500 copies.

The book is designed by Do Not Design, a creative agency specialising in work for art, culture and commerce.

So far, the duo have raised about 86 per cent of their target. The campaign will end on May 10.

Mr Koh hopes the book can help Singaporeans remember the places that had to make way for new buildings. "After documenting old Singapore for the past 30 years, I feel it is important to leave something tangible for posterity," he says.

"There are lots to learn from the photos and they are a part of Singapore's history that many have never seen before as the buildings are no longer here. We have to tell those stories."

•Go to igg.me/at/svphe to support the crowdfunding campaign.

This article was first published on April 24, 2017.
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Animal welfare groups are prepared to make shocking finds. After all, they look into cases of neglect and abuse all the time.

However, even all their experience could not have prepared the members of three animal welfare groups for what they would find in a flat in Tampines.

The president of one of the groups called Voices For Animals (VFA), Derrick Tan, posted on Facebook that there were over 100 mice and 23 rabbits inside the flat, occupied by an elderly mother and son.

Neighbours had reported the issue to town council, who had sought the assistance of VFA, House Rabbits Society and Bunny Wonderland (BW).

Tan said in his post that the duo had started with three mice, which had multiplied to over 100 over the years.

Despite the combined efforts of all the groups, they were unable to round up all the mice and rabbits as the animals could easily avoid them.

This forced the groups to call pest control to step in, However, as the rabbits and mice are not pests, but the result of negligence, the groups are putting them up for adoption.

Twelve rabbits are being cared for by HRSS, nine are with BW and the mice are being looked after by VFA.

The groups have made posts urgently requesting for adopters and donors to support the animals' food, medical and sterilisation care.

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SINGAPORE - A 49-year-old Singaporean man and a 36-year-old Vietnamese woman have been sentenced to six months' imprisonment for entering into a marriage of convenience. The middlemen who assisted in their arrangement have also been jailed and fined.

The 49-year-old, Lee Poh Chiew, was introduced to 36-year-old Nguyen through a couple, 39-year-old Singaporean, Cheong Mun Siong and his Vietnamese wife, 31-year-old Tran Thi Cam Nhung.

In 2014, Nguyen had told her friend Tran that she would like to remain and work in Singapore.

To help prolong Nguyen's stay here, Tran informed Nguyen that her husband Cheong had a friend who could enter into a marriage of convenience with her and sponsor her Visit Pass application. In return, Nguyen agreed to pay Cheong $8,000 in three cash instalments.

Cheong's friend, Lee, was keen to make easy money and agreed to the arrangement.

On Nov 21, 2014, the "marriage" between Nguyen and Lee took place where Cheongwas one of the witnesses. Nguyen paid Lee $1,100 and a monthly sum of $400 after the "marriage". In return, Lee acted as the local sponsor for her Visit Pass application.

Lee and Nguyen were arrested by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on April 27, 2015. They were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment on May 18, 2015 for entering into a marriage of convenience.

Cheong and Tran were arrested on Jan 6, 2016 and were convicted on April 17 this year for arranging the marriage for Lee and Nguyen. Cheong was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and fined $8,000 in default of four weeks' imprisonment while Tran was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

In a statement on Monday (April 24), ICA says it takes a serious view of individuals who circumvent the system to obtain immigration facilities in Singapore.

The penalties for the offence are a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both. ICA says will continue to take firm enforcement action against errant couples and middlemen.

candicec@sph.com.sg

It started with a viral video showing a couple arguing with an elderly man at a Toa Payoh Lor 8 hawker centre, which led to the latter being shoved.

Now, a petition has been started by a member of the public, purportedly to drum up support to launch legal action against the couple.

In the video, the woman engages in an argument with the old man over a 'reserved' seat at the table.

Read also: Couple scolds elderly man for sitting at 'reserved' table in hawker centre

Her male companion then rushes in, shoving the elderly man in the back and almost causing him to lose balance. The argument escalates before the old man eventually leaves with his tray of food.

The clip, which was first uploaded on April 21 by Facebook user Manny Quest, went viral after it was reuploaded the next day by Thelocalsociety. It sparked outrage from viewers and also prompted a witch-hunt for the couple, who were dressed in office attire.

Read also: UOB confirms couple who bullied elderly man in viral video not their staff

According to a petition on Change.org, a member of the public named Trish Suan has started a petition to raise funds for the elderly man, "to take civil action against the couple for intimidation and verbal abuse".

The petition, which has 2,559 supporters at the time of writing, is also intended to "raise awareness that the Silver Generation should be respected, and not abused", and to "petition MSF (Ministry of Social and Family Development) to take constructive action to protect the Pioneer generation of Singapore".

According to Suan, the petition will be delivered to MSF, the Law Society of Singapore, the Community Legal Clinic and the Agency for Integrated Care.

The video showing the heated exchange on Thelocalsociety's Facebook page has since garnered more than 2.5 million views, with many users taking the elderly man's side.

They also slammed the couple for being disrespectful, pointing out that it was "just a table" that the couple could have simply shared.

One user commented, "Respect the elderly... if it's your parents being treated that way... how would u feel... where's the empathy." Another added, "Dress smart doesn't mean you have manners... It's sad to see this kind of 'educated' people but lack of respect."

According to Shin Min Daily News on Monday (April 24), investigating police officers arrived at the hawker centre the day after the incident to record eyewitnesses' statements, after several police reports were lodged.

candicec@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - A cybersecurity operation run out of the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) here has uncovered more than 9,000 malware-laden servers and hundreds of compromised websites in the ASEAN region, including government portals.

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) said on Monday (April 24) that it worked with investigators from seven countries and seven private sector companies for this operation.

The countries involved were Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. China also provided additional cyber intelligence.

The IGCI, which sits on the former site of the Tanglin Police Division headquarters in Napier Road, was opened here in April 2015.

These investigators identified about 8,800 servers across eight countries in the ASEAN region which were acting as command and control points, which are systems used to control and spread malicious software known as malware.

These affected servers were involved in targeting financial institutions, spreading ransomware, launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and distributing spam.

The operation also found almost 270 websites from the ASEAN region infected with a malware code which exploited a vulnerability in the website design application.

Among them were several government websites which may have contained personal data of their citizens.

Interpol says investigations are ongoing.

IGCI Executive Director Noboru Nakatani said the operation was a perfect example of how the public and private sectors can work efficiently together in combating cybercrime.

"With direct access to the information, expertise and capabilities of the private sector and specialists from the Cyber Fusion Centre, participants were able to fully appreciate the scale and scope of cybercrime actors across the region and in their countries," said Mr Nakatani.

"The Singapore Police Force will continue to work closely with our ASEAN counterparts and the Interpol community to eradicate criminal activities in the cyberspace," said Assistant Commissioner Cheng Khee Boon, commander of the SPF's Cybercrime Command. "We will spare no effort to track down cybercriminals who think that they can operate under the impunity of cross jurisdictions."

lesterh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 24, 2017.
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Commercial vehicle prices are set to tumble due to a six-time increase in the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) supply for vans, trucks and buses.

To capitalise on that likelihood, motor dealers have cut prices.

Nissan agent Tan Chong Motor, the leading retailer of commercial vehicles here, started the ball rolling by slashing its prices by up to $20,000 soon after the new COE quota was announced on April 12.

According to the Land Transport Authority, the COE supply for commercial vehicles will rise from an average of 322 per month now to 2,168 per month for the May-July quota period - a rise of 573.3 per cent.

"With the big increase in COE supply, buyers are all holding back," said Tan Chong general manager Ron Lim.

"To entice them to come in, we're offering these non-guaranteed deals with a COE rebate of $23,000."

This means that if the COE premium falls by $20,000 or so, the buyers will get their vehicles. And they will get a refund of any amount below the COE rebate level of $23,000.

Multi-franchise holder Cycle & Carriage responded with even sharper cuts, slashing prices of its Mitsubishi, Kia and Citroen commercial models by $30,000.

COE premiums for commercial vehicles in the last three tenders hovered between $46,000 and $49,000.

With the cuts, prices for a Nissan Cabstar 10-footer truck start from $69,900, down from $89,900; while an NV200 van starts from $63,900, down from $83,900.

At Cycle & Carriage, the price for a Kia K2500 is now $49,988, a Citroen Berlingo costs $51,988, and a Mitsubishi Maxus G10 starts from $48,988 - all $30,000 lower than before, and with the COE rebate pegged at $15,000.

Toyota agent Borneo Motors has also responded by cutting prices by $24,000. The price of its Toyota Dyna 150 is now $79,900, with a COE rebate of $18,000.

Tan Chong's Mr Lim said it was necessary to cut prices, as buyers were waiting to see how far premiums would fall before deciding to buy. He said that if dealers did not slash prices, "the whole market will come to a standstill".

But industry watchers said slashing prices would not work for dealerships which still have COEs from previous tenders.

One example is Volkswagen Singapore.

A senior executive said: "We will not take the risk of dumping now. Why should we cut by $20,000 when the most we lose is $10,000 (per COE) if premiums plunge?"

He was referring to the $10,000 deposit that the LTA requires for each COE bid. The deposit will be forfeited if the COE is unused.

Volkswagen is selling its vehicles without COEs.

The eventual price a buyer pays will depend on the COE premium.

Results of the next tender will be announced tomorrow.

Isuzu agent Triangle Auto has not adjusted prices.

General manager Michael Wong said: "It is very uncertain where prices will go."

A senior industry source said premiums are likely to fall, but by how much "is anyone's guess".

But with the response whipped by the steep prices cuts - which Mr Lim described as "very strong" - COEs may not fall sharply.

As such, Borneo Motors is still selling its cars with guaranteed COEs.

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

Ride-hailing app provider Grab's offer to buy SMRT's taxi business has sparked the interest of at least one other bidder which is looking to enlarge its presence in Singapore's burgeoning cab industry.

Diversified motor group Prime, which has taxis as well as private-hire operations, is also keen to jostle for SMRT's business.

Prime chairman Neo Nam Heng said: "We're definitely interested, but the question is how much they are willing to sell at.

"When we bought their (SMRT's) car rental business, it was making losses. By the second year, we made it profitable."

He was referring to Prime's $13.5 million purchase of Tibs Leasing from SMRT in 2003. Prime is Singapore's smallest taxi operator, with a fleet of 704 as at end-February.

SMRT, the third-largest operator here, has about 3,400 cabs.

SMRT's taxi business has largely been loss-incurring since it started in 1990 and began to turn around only in recent years.

Prime said Grab had made a similar offer to buy its taxi business some time last year, but "we did not want to sell".

"We want to grow the business," Mr Neo said.

GOOD PARTNERSHIP

Asked to comment on the sale, SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek said: "We have a very good partnership with Grab, with Strides, our private-hire services, as well as our taxi business. And we continue to look for all kinds of ways to partner and co-operate with them."

SMRT's sale talks with Grab - which supposedly include its Strides private-hire and Bus Plus premium bus operations - hinge on the buyer agreeing to hire all affected employees.

Grab, however, is said to be uninterested in increasing its headcount.

It refused to comment.

The National Transport Workers' Union was also unavailable for comment on the issue.

Commenting on Grab's bid for SMRT's taxi business, Trans Cab, the second-largest cab operator here, said the sale would be a positive development.

"Even though it is relatively new, Grab seems more familiar with the taxi industry and issues faced by cabbies," Trans Cab managing director Teo Kiang Ang said.

Asked if he would make an offer for SMRT's fleet, Mr Teo said: "It's not a vehicle issue, but a driver issue."

He was referring to the taxi industry being short of drivers as more migrate to driving private-hire cars.

Industry observers have ventured that consolidation would be inevitable in the cab trade.

Economist Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said: "The market is naturally unstable with more than one major player.

"The price competition between Uber and Grab is great in the short run, but is likely to lead to longer term problems."

And as the market evolves, Dr Theseira said, the regulators have to be even more watchful.

- Additional reporting by Adrian Lim

christan@sph.com.sg

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

An accident involving a tipper truck and a private bus yesterday at about 9am at the junction of Jurong Island Highway and Seraya Avenue resulted in one dead and nine injured.

The New Paper understands the tipper truck had broken down and was stationary when the collision happened.

A police spokesman said the bus driver, a 58-year-old man, was arrested for causing death by rash act.

A spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force said nine conscious people were sent to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

The police spokesman said the injured were aged between 27 and 53.

The dead man was a 62-year-old passenger on the bus.

When TNP visited the hospital, some of the survivors said the dead man was an in-house contractor for Asahi Kasei Synthetic Rubber Singapore.

They said they worked for the same company and were being ferried back to the Jurong Island checkpoint after their night shift when the accident happened.

Bloodstains could be seen on some of their clothes, and one even had a noticeable limp.

TNP also understands some of the affected passengers required stitches for their wounds.

Concerned friends and family members rushed down to see them.

The bus passengers told TNP the tipper truck driver was also injured and was taken to hospital.

A passenger said he was sleeping when he heard a scream.

When he woke up, he had landed on the floor of the bus.

Another passenger said the workers were sleeping as they had just finished work.

He said: "When the accident happened, I was thrown onto the floor and I heard screaming.

"I was in a state of shock but still managed to call for an ambulance."

TNP contacted Asahi Kasei Synthetic Rubber Singapore but the company declined to comment.

Investigations are ongoing.

tnp@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 25, 2017.
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Two prime condominium projects are slated to hit the market in the second half of the year amid a significant pick-up in new private homes sales.

Analysts say the projects - GuocoLand Group's Martin Modern and New Futura by City Developments (CDL) - are likely to interest local and foreign buyers if developers can price the units "correctly".

Cushman and Wakefield research director Christine Li believes Martin Modern will be well received, "as the high-end residential market seems to be bottoming".

Non-landed private home prices in the core central region were down 10.3 per cent as at March 31 from a peak in the first quarter of 2013.

Mr Wong Xian Yang, head of research and consultancy at OrangeTee, said: "Non-Singaporean demand for Singapore properties is also slowly recovering, which bodes well for core central region properties."

PropNex Realty said the indicative average price for units at Martin Modern is about $2,300 per sq ft. CDL said pricing for New Futura will be determined closer to the launch date.

wongsy@sph.com.sg

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

Authorities arrested 32 foreign nationals during a raid on an entertainment hub in Batam, Riau Islands, early on Sunday, as they had failed to show proper documents.

Among those who were detained during the raid on bars in Kampung Bule were six Singaporean military personnel who could not show their passports or any duty letters.

The raid was a surprise to the industrial island located near Singapore and known as a tourist destination.

Batam Immigration Office head Teguh Prayitno told the The Jakarta Post on Monday that the joint raid involving the Indonesian military and public order agency staff was part of an operation to control "social problems"

"We have deported those that were caught during the raid [including the Singaporean military personnel]," he said.

A total of 72 people, including 40 Indonesians, were detained for failing to show proper ID during the raid. Seven alleged Philippine sex workers were also detained at a bar.

Yudi Kurnain, a Batam Legislative Council member, condemned the raid, saying that it might discourage tourism in the island.

"They should conduct immigration checks in a humane way, not through such repressive actions," he said.

Get your favourite Instagram filter on standby because highly-adored specialty cafe from Japan is about to land on our shores.

Omotesando Koffee, which had its humble beginnings as a pop-up shop in Japan, will be opening its doors here this June.

It is set to be housed in the brand new Downtown Gallery mall in Shenton Way.

The cafe is famous for its minimalist style, as well as their signature custard cake which come in bite-sized, little cubes.

It will also offer items exclusive to Singapore on its menu, according to The Straits Times, but the menu will follow Tokyo's and Hong Kong's closely. 

Coffee lovers who are familiar with the well-loved cafe might have flocked to its now-defunct coffee shop situated within a quiet residential area in Tokyo's Omotesando.

And those who managed to locate the store might concur that it was no easy feat doing so, mainly because the tiny shop was inconspicuously hidden by shrubs. It could've been easily mistaken for a traditional Japanese wooden home.

However, the original Omotesando Koffee was shut down in December 2015 because the old building it was in had to be demolished.

But, thankfully that wasn't the end of story for Omotesando Koffee.

In 2016, Omotesando Koffee opened an outpost in Hong Kong's Wan Chai district.

Earlier this year, Omotesando Koffee founder, Eiichi Kunimoto, opened a specialty shop in the exact same location as the original store called Koffee Mameya, but it doesn't serve coffee, it just sells beans. 

So caffeine addicts, you can be grateful that you will be able to enjoy a cup of joe perfected by the talented baristas of Omotesando Koffee right here in Singapore.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

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Big names are coming to our island's F1 and it's not just the drivers.

Ariana Grande, Duran Duran, and OneRepublic are some of the headline acts that will perform at Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix this September, race organiser Singapore GP revealed on Tuesday (April 25).

The 10th edition of the night race, which will be held from Sept 15 to 17, will also include performances by George the Poet, Lianne La Havas, Seal, and The Chainsmokers. 

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Headline acts at upcoming F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2017

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Singapore GP

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The three-day Zone 1 ticket (from $448) includes access to all the headline concerts, while the three-day race ticket ($248) will include access to all the concerts in Zone 4.

Early-bird tickets are on sale until May 8 and offer savings of up to 28 per cent off regular ticket prices.

Tickets are available at www.singaporegp.sg, via the ticketing hotline +65 6738 6738, and all authorised ticketing agents.

minlee@sph.com.sg

The link between football and jackpot machines goes back to the days before professional football started in Singapore in the 1990s, but it is under serious scrutiny now following reports of Tiong Bahru Football Club's (TBFC) $36.8 million annual takings last year from its 29 jackpot machines, which is more than the budget of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) in the same period.

Yesterday, members of one of the two teams competing for the top posts in the FAS admitted it has little hold on the clubs, outside of the competitions, and cannot require a club to contribute a fixed amount of its jackpot operations towards football.

There is a misconception about the amount of control the FAS has over the clubs, said former FAS vice-president Bernard Tan, who is running for the position of deputy president on one team, but Saturday's elections could provide the opportunity to correct this.

Former TBFC general manager Richard Woon told The Straits Times yesterday how the club grew to be a jackpot powerhouse while its amateur football team plays in the second-tier National Football League."I believe we are the first club to have jackpot machines. We applied for the licence around 1990. We had five machines when we started, but it was to raise funds for the club. We wanted enough to run the club," he said.

TBFC's model worked and was subsequently copied by more clubs when the professional S-League was launched in 1996.

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2017-04-21 09:18:37

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Offices of FAS, 3 football clubs raided

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These days, jackpot revenues cover around a third of an S-League club's operating costs. Sponsorships and subsidies from the FAS take care of the rest.

Balestier Khalsa chairman S. Thavaneson, whose club has eight machines, said: "Most S-League clubs started getting them from around 1998, but it was purely to cover operating costs. We are not in the business of running jackpot machines and building surpluses.

"The focus must be on football. Anyway, we don't have time to concentrate on jackpot operations. We already spend about 90 per cent of our time on football activities."

But S-League clubs are not the only football teams with jackpot rooms. Clubs that have not played in the S-League for years are still profiting from jackpot machines.

Tanjong Pagar United and Gombak United, for instance, still run jackpot operations, although they have not played in the S-League after the 2014 and 2012 seasons, respectively.

They reported gross incomes of $490,000 and $9.2 million for the year 2015, respectively.

Woodlands Wellington, which sat out from 2014, also run a clubhouse with an income of $11.3 million. The club, Hougang United and TBFC were raided by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) last week. The raids came after a police report was filed against TBFC over suspected misuse of funds and purported attempts by a TBFC official to obstruct ongoing audits by the FAS.

The chairman of Hougang and TBFC is Mr Bill Ng, who is leading the other team in the FAS election.

He is assisting the CAD with investigations, along with his wife Bonnie Wong, former FAS president Zainudin Nordin and FAS general secretary Winston Lee.

Responding to ST's queries, an FAS spokesman said the clubs sat out the S-League to "strengthen their financial position", but they are encouraged to offer football activities for the community at large.

"The sit-out clubs are required to submit monthly management accounts and annual audit reports."

Another club that also runs jackpot operations is Sinchi FC, which last played in the S-League in 2005.

Their clubhouse, which has six machines, is at Sultan Plaza. The FAS said Sinchi is not its affiliate.

It was last reported in 2012 that Sinchi's jackpot revenue was being used to pay off debts, but little is known of its footballing activities.

Mr Woon, who is with Tanjong Pagar now, coaches several youth teams. The club also runs a women's football team and hopes to rejoin the S-League one day.

To that end, the FAS said: "They may apply to return to the S-League when they are financially stable. However, their application will be subject to meeting stringent criteria, and is at the discretion of the FAS and S-League."

It will be left to the new FAS council, after Saturday's election, to decide on whether the sit-out clubs can return.

• Additional reporting by Winnie Tan

Key questions on jackpot rooms

Q Is a permit required to run a jackpot room?

A Yes, under the Private Lotteries Act, a private lottery permit from the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department is needed to operate a fruit machine. Permits cost $195 per year.

Q What kind of club or society is allowed to run a jackpot room?

A Societies - which can include clubs - must be registered with the Registry of Societies or another relevant authority, and must have at least 500 voting members at all times.

These societies must not have been established for purposes connected with gaming, wagering or lotteries.

The Constitution of the society or club also must not prohibit gambling or private lotteries.

Registered charities cannot run jackpot rooms.

Q Are there regulations surrounding how jackpot rooms can operate?

A Police regulations state that at least two other recreational facilities need to be in operation at the clubhouse during the operating hours of the jackpot room.

The interior of the jackpot room and the machines also cannot be in the public's view.

Q Who is allowed to play in these rooms?

A Only members and their guests, both of whom have to be at least 18 years old, are allowed in the jackpot rooms. Each member is allowed to take along a maximum of two guests.

Q Can food be served in jackpot rooms?

A Yes, club operators can provide food and drinks to members, but they cannot advertise their operation of jackpot machines.

Q How many jackpot rooms are there?

A The police declined to reveal the number of private lottery permits they have issued to such societies. But media reports in the last few years have stated that there are over 90 such jackpot clubs in Singapore.

Q How much can these clubhouses earn?

A Checks by The Straits Times on the latest annual returns filed by clubs with the Registry of Societies show that gross incomes can vary widely - these can range from $36.8 million (Tiong Bahru Football Club) to $475,185 (Albirex Niigata Football Club).

Q Are these takings taxed?

A Yes, these societies have to pay a private lotteries duty to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

This amount is 9.5 per cent of the "turnover", or the total amount wagered by players on jackpot machines.

This article was first published on April 25, 2017.
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