Ang Sim Poh, 48, was charged on Wednesday (May 31) with committing a rash act to endanger the personal safety of others after he and two others thrashed the interior of Heng Long Teochew Porridge at 1012 Upper Serangoon Road.

In an earlier Stomp article, it was reported that Ang, along with two others, 40-year-old Pang Pei Pei and 46-year-old Tan Sung Meng, had wreaked havoc in the eatery at around 3.30am on May 27 following a dispute over the cost of their food.

Ang is the third person to be charged thus far, following Pang and Tan, reports Sure Boh Singapore.

Represented by lawyer Rajan Supramaniam, Ang is currently out on S$5,000 bail.

He is set to return to court on Jun 21, 2017 for trial.

If found guilty, Ang faces up to six months in prison, and/or a fine amounting up to S$2,500.

Pang and Tan had contacted Shin Min Daily News to explain the reasons behind their outrage.

They said that they have been regular customers at the establishment for five to six years and were not drunk on the night of the incident.

Pang revealed that she went back to her table and chatted with her friends after ordering the food.

She then allegedly handed an employee a S$50 note for payment, but did not check how much was the change amount.

When the trio decided to order one more dish, she realised that they had been charged S$28 for the dishes earlier.

Pang then approached the staff for an explanation, but were angered by their apparent 'rudeness', proceeding to wreck the place.

Despite her dissatisfaction with the employees' attitude, she admitted that they had done wrong and that they will plead guilty to the charges.

A fourth person, 53-year-old Mr Yeoh Keng Hock is being investigated.

Yeoh was arrested earlier in the week and has yet to be charged.

One might think that reaching the summit is the ultimate goal every time Khoo Swee Chiow scales a mountain. Not anymore, says the veteran mountain climber.

As part of Singapore's first expedition to Mount Everest, Khoo Swee Chiow was one of the only two who made it to the summit on May 25, 1998.

Since then, he has quit his job in IT to become a full-time adventurer, and completed the adventure grand slam which includes reaching the North and South poles and scaling the highest summit in each of the seven continents.

However, life now is not about outdoing others and completing remarkable feats, says Khoo.

The 52-year-old sees life in a different light now, after having overcome setbacks in various multitudes.

On the last episode of The Newsmaker, Singapore's very own first adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow speaks about the lessons he has learnt in life.

About "The Newsmaker":

"The Newsmaker"（封面人物） is one of 10 SPH-produced short form digital video series as part of a pilot Public Service Broadcast initiative. In this 13-part series, people who have made news headlines in the past share with the host Fred Lai (Content Producer, Chinese Media Group Digital) how the news events changed their lives and how they have been coping since then. All episodes come with English subtitles.

This series is also available on the zaobao.sg website and mobile app.

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has condemned a 'sick' Facebook post made by a user about 29-year-old Staff Sergeant Nadzrie Matin, who died in a traffic accident along Serangoon Road on Thursday while on duty.

In Mr Shanmugam's post on Saturday (June 3), he said he was 'deeply upset and angry' about the post made by Facebook user, Thomas Poh Heng Chua.

Chua had gloated about Staff Sergeant Nadzrie's death because he had given him a ticket.

Chua wrote on his Facebook page, which has since been disabled: 'Wow Police act so great intimidate also must die... in the end all Police also will die like everyone in funeral parlour so don't intimidate just because you a f------ intimidating police."

In a comment thread in which he replied to another user, he wrote: "..think become police can show off good lah die also in the end like any other civilian. Last time this same TP gave me a ticket because he deem my driving skills no good enough look what happen to him."

Said Mr Shanmugam in his post: "People like Thomas are sick in the head. No decency or any sense of right and wrong."

"You wonder what human decency people like Thomas have - to be so self-centred, smug and making nasty remarks about an officer who died doing his duty. While there is a completely distraught wife, grieving parents and family, and teammates who are crying."

The post had also outraged netizens, with several Facebook users reporting his actions to his alleged employer, Singapore Airlines.

Chua had stated that he is a flight attendant at Singapore Airlines on his Facebook profile. But Singapore Airlines has since refuted the claims that Chua is an employee, Channel NewsAsia reported.

candicec@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Britain's Prince Harry began a goodwill visit to Asia on a subdued note Sunday following a deadly terror attack in London.

The fifth in line to the throne attended a reception at Eden Hall, the British High Commissioner's official residence in Singapore where a flag flew at half-mast in respect for the seven killed in Saturday night's carnage.

Harry met staff and volunteers of Singaporean AIDS and mental health charities, issues close to his heart following the efforts of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Harry, his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate have started Heads Together, a campaign intended to remove the stigma surrounding mental health problems.

Harry also visited the Jamiyah Children's Home where he took part in an "iftar", the breaking of the fast during the Muslim month of Ramadan.

The prince will on Monday take part in a charity polo match benefiting Sentebale, his charity that supports children and young people affected by HIV in Lesotho and Botswana.

He then travels on to Sydney to promote the 2018 edition of the Invictus Games.

The games, the brainchild of the former soldier prince, feature injured and sick service personnel from all round the world.

The man who criticised a traffic policeman who died while on duty has been arrested, but for offences unrelated to his online posts, said a statement from the Singapore Police Force on Monday (June 5).

According to the police, the 39-year-old man, Thomas Chua Poh Heng, was arrested on June 4 at about 5.37am, for a case of theft from a department store along Syed Alwi Road.

Security officers had detained him outside the store with an unpaid item and handed him over to the police.

In the statement, police also confirmed that Chua had been under investigation for three other police reports lodged against him since January 2017, prior to the theft case.

Police investigations into these cases are still ongoing.

In his post made last week, Chua had gloated over Staff Sergeant Nadzrie Matin's death.

His comments prompted outrage among netizens, with Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam also publicly condemning his words on Facebook.

Said Mr Shanmugam in his post on June 3: "I was deeply upset and angry about a gloating post that one Thomas Chua has made on Police Officer Nadzrie's death. Nadzrie died while on duty.

"Thomas was gloating about Nadzrie's death, because Nazdrie had given him a ticket!

Read also

Traffic police officer dies after accident along Serangoon Road, driver arrested

"People like Thomas are sick in the head. No decency or any sense of right and wrong.

"What is a TP officer to do when someone breaks the law? It is because of officers like Nadzrie that the rest of us have safety and security.

"Thomas's comments are an insult to all police officers, and deeply offensive to Nadzrie's family.

candicec@sph.com.sg

We hope you've noticed our new look and content.

To celebrate our first month of change, we're giving away $100 worth of shopping vouchers each to lucky winners who share with us what #yourdailygoodstuff means to you.

Be it food, a happy day, a quote, or whatever you feel, tag us to let us know what #yourdailygoodstuff is.

Here's what to do:

1. Like us @sphasiaone on Instagram AND Facebook (to be eligible)

2. Hashtag #yourdailygoodstuff to show us what you've got (make it public so we can find you)

3. Tag a friend on your photo to spread the ❤️

Contest ends June 18 at 11.59pm. Get tagging!

Often associated with chilling by the beach and sprawling spaces that are not in Singapore, hammocks don't usually come to mind when one is furnishing a home or office here.

However, if you've been to popular outdoor festivals like the Laneway Festival, ArtBox, and DBS Marina Regatta, you might have noticed a hammock-filled area where attendees can lie down and take a breather - literally.

A visit to a typical office of millennials is also never complete without the sighting of a hammock (or a few) positioned at a quiet corner, alongside the fake grass patches and beanbags.

Leading the hammock revolution here is local startup Airmocks, founded in 2014 by Ernest Ng during his final year as a business marketing student at Nanyang Technological University.

I Felt The Need For Singaporeans To Take A Step Back To Chill Out

Ernest Ng, Founder of local startup Airmocks

For Ng, the idea to reintroduce hammocks to Singaporeans was something that occured to him after travelling overseas during his university days.

"I had the chance to travel overseas while on internship and exchange and had a lot of experience with hammocks. Seeing similar concepts overseas gave me the idea to introduce it in Singapore as there wasn't a hammock culture here yet then."

However, given the hot and humid weather in Singapore, Ng was aware that hanging a hammock outdoors might not be that great an idea, so he set out to create hammocks that could be enjoyed indoors.

The perfect solution? Free-standing hammocks.

"Added to that, strict limitations such as not being able to drill holes in the walls and ceilings of government properties restricted Singaporeans on having the relaxing hammock experience."

"Singapore could definitely use (free-standing hammocks) owing to the harsh weather conditions outside, and using it in the comfort of one's home would be perfect."

"I also observed an increasing trend in private homes marketing their property as beach-side living or having terms like 'Palm' and 'Oasis' in their names, all pointing to an increasing pool of consumers demanding a more relaxed and 'Californian' lifestyle."

"What is the palm life without hammocks then?"

But for him, creating a hammock culture is less about simply introducing a new concept, but more for encouraging fellow Singaporeans to relax.

"I felt the need for Singaporeans to take a step back to chill out after reading reports of Singaporeans burning out at work and the general rise in stress levels here."

Hanging On Through The Tough Times

As a solo founder, everything from sourcing to logistics to marketing fell onto Ng's shoulders.

To make things worse, hammocks were still a rather niche concept that the average Singaporean wasn't totally familiar with yet.

Admitting that it was "very tough and challenging especially at the start", the first-time entrepreneur had to learn skills like website designing and shipping from scratch.

In 2014, he released the Airmocks Classic, one he describes as "very raw and less fancy than the models [they] have today".

Fortunately, the hammock was "very well-received", and Ng cites its success to the fact that it was foldable, portable, and users could use them both indoors and outdoors.

Over the years, the hammocks have been improved by using higher quality steel for the stands, adding a more robust layer of powder coating to prevent scratches and rust, and even improved mechanisms designed for convenience.

One of which is to reduce the number of catches needed for set up from six to four.

"We improve our designs through constant interactions with our existing customers, taking feedback and complaints very seriously."

One of the difficulties he faced though, is the high operating costs that comes with running the business, while also keeping the product prices affordable for the average Singaporean.

"It is also a challenge to constantly re-invent and improve our products to stay ahead as the leading hammock company in Singapore."

A full-time entrepreneur for 2 years now, Ng admits that while the journey "has definitely not been easy", supportive customers and friends had helped him tide through the tough times.

Spreading The Hammock Culture To Offices And Events

To date, over a few hundred sets have been sold, and marketing mainly happens on their Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Judging from the number of tagged photos of happy customers with their products - it's clear that they've also succeeded in appealing to the aesthetics of Instagrammers.

More significantly though, is their presence at popular outdoor events - some of the more significant ones being ArtBox, the yearly Singapore Night Festival and the DBS Marina Regatta.

"We mostly secure new events from existing events as organisers are always on the lookout for something fresh. Moreover, our Airmocks add a relaxing and chill-out vibe to the whole atmosphere, thus making it popular with attendees from all walks of life."

And it's not just events - they are also a common sight at the cool office spaces of companies like Skyscanner, DBS, and Fitness First.

"There has been a rising trend in companies valuing employee welfare and realising the importance of proper rest and work-life balance. Most of the time, they approach us after learning about our products at events and features on the various media platforms."

The Future Of Airmocks, And Giving Back To Society

Business-wise, Ng hopes to bring in new designs and colours to suit whatever needs customers might have.

He cites the example of their dual-function hammock (currently their best seller) which is able to convert from a full-blown hammock to a swing chair, catering to the customers who suffer from space constraints.

But Ng has hopes to start giving back to society with his business too.

"We are actually in the midst of launching a CSR campaign in which we would take in older product models in exchange for cash vouchers to purchase our newer models. These older products would then be donated to orphanages and schools overseas where the children do not have the privilege of having products like this to play or rest in."

And as for advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Ng has this to say:

"Change is the only constant in the business world and you need to cultivate the stamina and determination to keep moving forward."

"Have a clear direction for your business as not having a goal to work towards will lead you to going off-course and facing the possibility of getting obsolete and ultimately failing."

Interested? Check out Airmocks on their website and Instagram!

Run when you see an approaching snake or continue to eat your beehoon?

One old man did the latter even when a big python was heading towards his table, probably lured by the aroma of the fried noodles.

A video posted on Every Day Sg today (June 5) shows a commotion when the creepy visitor made a grand entrance at a coffeeshop in Bukit Gombak while the man remained unflinching.

Curious customers surged forward to look at the snake sliding into the outdoor seating area of the coffeeshop while some whipped out their mobile phones to film it.

The creature was heading towards the table where the old man was seated. But surprisingly, he continued to eat his beehoon as he watched the approach of the snake with no sign of panic while frantic customers scrambled for safety.

But not wanting the visitor to come any nearer to him, another man grabbed a chair and tried to scare it away.

It sprung at him in retaliation, but the man jumped back in time as he dropped the chair. That's when the clip ended.

We're not sure what happened after that and when the incident happened.

But one thing is sure: We will run off with our plate of beehoon just like the London man who fled the terror attacks on Sunday while clutching his mug of beer.

chenj@sph.com.sg

Don Quijote, a popular Japanese discount chain store, is opening its first South-east Asian outpost in Singapore's Orchard area.

Known for selling a wide variety of goods at bargain prices - from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, groceries, to electronics and unique lifestyle items, news of its opening has raised our hopes for a new eclectic shopping experience.

According to a statement from the Don Quijote Group, the store here will offer "cool" Japanese products. The exact opening date will be announced later.

There's no doubt fans of Japanese-themed products are certainly thrilled, and here are five things you should know about the store.

1.  Also known as 'Donki'

'Don Quijote' (pronounced'dawn kee-ho-tay') too much of a mouthful? It's also known simply as 'Donki' in Japan.

The chain first opened in 1989 in Japan, and is known for being a one-stop convenience discount store that keeps to late hours, with some stores even operating 24/7. 

2. Hawaii is its sole outpost, thus far

The chain currently has 350 stores in total, with sales revenue of up to 800 billion yen ($10 billion) in Japan. Of the hundreds of stores, only three lie outside of Japan, in Hawaii.

3. Find pop culture merchandise including toys, costumes

Yes, Don Quijote resembles Daiso and Isetan, but there are far more interesting items you can find here, and they can be found hanging from its ceilings down to the floor racks.

The store stocks costumes which harks to Japan's cosplay culture, ranging from funny to the downright bizarre.

Based on Instagram posts, Gudetama merchandise are also sold in the stores, and we can only expect even more items from our favourite Sanrio characters.

4.  It has a store mascot and theme song

The chain has its own mascot - a blue penguin which dons a red hat. It can be found at the storefront and in random corners of the store.

One store in Japan even has a claw machine of their mascot toy!

A quick look at their website also showcases differently-designed mascots for different store locations.

We wonder if there would be a new 'Donki' mascot designed specially for the Singapore store as well?

Don Quijote is also known for its distinctive theme song, titled "Miracle Shopping", which was sung by a store employee and released in 1999.

With its unique branding put in place, there's no wonder the store held its place in the hearts of the Japanese!

5. Online shopping and delivery service

For those who can't wait for the brick-and-mortar store to open, Don Quijote also offers an online shopping service with international shipping on their website, where you can browse a selection of items that are stocked in their stores.

While you're waiting, why not give online shopping a try and familiarise yourself with the Japanese products they have to offer.

But is it the same here?

Being the first of their kind in Southeast Asia, we aren't so sure if Don Quijote will keep to its Japanese traditions.

Would the store operate beyond stipulated opening hours of its retail counterparts in Orchard? Would their goods be sold at discounted prices like in Japan?

Some netizens were hesitant to believe so.

Moreover, Singapore already has a restaurant in Dempsey Road with the same name, raising doubts as to whether the Japanese convenience store would be named differently.

Even so, we are certainly excited for its arrival and preparing ourselves to lay hands on the Japanese goodies.

ongymm@sph.com.sg

There is something oxymoronic about aesthetic food.

We only want what is desirable, void of all harsh bruises and marred surfaces.

Yet when a dish that is able to imitate artistry is placed in front of us with glaring creative precision, we don’t dare give into our salivating mouths that are desperately straining for the culinary beauty.

An online Singaporean bakery called Batikrolls by Nura has achieved this expressive aesthetic with their expertly crafted Batik rolls, that are almost too beautiful to eat.

According to Eatbook.sg, the cakes come in six unique designs, with each roll measuring 22cm long. They can be filled with flavours to the customer’s individual liking; fillings include Nutella, vanilla and blueberry buttercream.

But these edible beauties come at a price, ranging from $26 to $28 depending on the design.

While many of their designs include layered flowers gracefully swimming, unfolding against a contrasting background, others with more abstract motifs have sparked awe and excitement online.

One Instagrammer posted, “In love with the style and colour combination”, while another user exclaimed “so beautiful!”.

Based on the flurry of responses online, many others seemed desperate to get their hands on this visual delight.

Unfortunately, eager foodies might have to wait. They are fully booked during the Hari Raya period, and will only accept orders starting July 17, Batikrolls posted on their website.

Read also

This guy calls rainbow cakes 'gay cakes' - are we really in 2017?

tarinis@sph.com.sg