SINGAPORE - The asking price for a new three-storey Singapore penthouse, complete with a private pool on the 64th floor, has reached a dizzying S$100 million.

Due to be formally unveiled later this year, Wallich Residence's penthouse is in the tallest building in Singapore, the island of well-heeled stability that attracts the super-rich from its less-developed Southeast Asian neighbours, as well as multi-millionaires from mainland China.

The 'bungalow in the sky' penthouse in the GuocoLand-developed Tanjong Pagar Centre, is likely to become Singapore's most expensive apartment.

It will test the endurance of demand for luxury property in the city-state - the part of the market that has taken the biggest hit from measures aimed at cooling down property prices in recent years.

Prices for luxury homes in Singapore have fallen 15-20 per cent from a 2013 peak, according to JLL consultancy, part of the Jones Lang LaSalle global property services group.

But JLL is now starting to see the prospects of a turnaround - at least at the top end of the market - and is forecasting a 3-5 per cent increase in luxury prices this year, citing demand from both locals and foreigners who feel the market is bottoming out.

JLL said the volume of transactions in the first four months of the year in Singapore's core central region, which is popular among wealthy foreigners and includes the Orchard Road shopping area and Sentosa island, was 35 per cent higher than in the same period last year.

"A lot of people think Singapore is value for money because it's been downhill all the way - such a long winter," said Chandran VR, managing director at a real estate agency specialising in high-end homes.

"Now they feel it is the right time to come in," he said. By contrast, he noted that Hong Kong apartment prices have been soaring, adding that "sensible investors will come here,"instead.

GuocoLand Singapore Group Managing Director Cheng Hsing Yao said buying by foreigners has picked up since the start of the year at the developer's high-end Leedon Residence project, near the 150-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens.

GuocoLand is part of Malaysian conglomerate Hong Leong Group, headed by billionaire Quek Leng Chan.

"In absolute numbers, it may not be that huge, but the ticket sizes are actually quite significant for some of them," Cheng said. Some foreigners were buying homes worth S$8-12 million in the project, he said.

The recent tightening of property market controls elsewhere, such as in Hong Kong and Australia, has played a part in attracting foreign demand to Singapore's luxury property this year, Cheng said.

City Developments Ltd (CDL), one of the largest Singapore developers, also said the average sales price at its high-end Gramercy Park project has risen to more than S$2,800 per square feet in recent months, up 8 per cent from a year ago, and foreign buyers accounted for three-quarters of the project so far.

CDL's billionaire Chairman Kwek Leng Beng is a cousin of the Malaysian developer Quek.

PLENTY OF TOOLS

Still, Singapore's broader residential market remains subdued, having fallen for 15 straight quarters to log its longest losing streak since official records began in 1975.

"We are forecasting for prices to come down between 1 to 5 per cent this year before reaching an inflection point in 2018," said Eli Lee, an analyst for OCBC Investment Research.

While prices in Hong Kong tripled and Sydney's doubled over the past decade, Singapore prices rose just 29 per cent.

Singapore introduced property price cooling measures to curb speculation as did many other "hot property" cities in the region.

While some measures were relaxed slightly this year, the authorities warned last month there would be no more rolling back for now.

Singapore is not short of policy tools to ward off speculators.

Most of the island's apartment blocks were built and then managed by the government, though the vast majority of the units have been sold to citizens.

This allows it to keep control of some speculative activity, and therefore prices. Initial buyers of government apartments, for example, are largely prevented from flipping a property through a fast resale.

The high home ownership rate, at about 90 per cent, also makes it easier for policymakers to craft measures targeting speculative demand when the market is overheated.

All home buyers have to pay a stamp duty at a progressive rate of up to 3 per cent, but foreigners have to pay an additional 15 per cent for their purchases. Singaporeans also have to pay an extra stamp duty of 7-10 per cent when they make second and subsequent purchases.

"With tightening measures taken in other countries, that could lead investors to shift funds back here. So we just have to watch that very closely," Ravi Menon, managing director ofthe Monetary Authority of Singapore, said last month.

New home sales more than doubled in March from a year earlier, reaching their highest level in nearly four years.

And developers, led by Chinese companies, are paying record sums to secure land. Shenzhen-based developer Logan Property and its partner Nanshan Group recently paid a record S$1 billion at a government land auction. That was almost 50 per cent more than the previous record set in 1997.

"The strong winning bid...signals developers' strong confidence in the Singapore residential market and their belief that prices could return to growth soon," said Christine Li, research director at Cushman and Wakefield in Singapore.

The recent Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant has drawn various responses from the social media community.

There have been unsavory comments.

Some, however, defended the girls.

However, one thing is for sure. These pageants are here to stay. And for a tiny island, we have TONS of beauty pageants.

So what other pageants are there in Singapore? You will be surprised at the wide range of pageants you can enroll yourself into when you feel that you have the necessary qualities or, as illustrated by the case above, ready to be roasted online by unkind keyboard warriors.

1. Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant

Let's start with the one that made headlines recently.

According to The Straits Times, the pageant will yield four winners under different titles who will go on to represent Singapore internationally under each title.

The four titles are: Miss Singapore Tourism Queen, Miss Singapore Chinatown, Miss Singapore Global Beauty Queen and Miss Grand Singapore.

So this is effectively a pageant for pageants.

 Finalists were chosen by a committee of former pageant winners, reported The Straits Times.

2. Miss Universe Singapore

Boomz! This pageant needs no introduction - we consider this the "mother of all pageants" here.

Initially misunderstood to be the same as Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant, the organisation has clarified this mistake in an Instagram post.

Winner of Miss Universe Singapore will proceed to represent Singapore in the annual Miss Universe pageant on an international stage.

3. Miss Singapore Pageant International

Somewhat similar to the Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant, this pageant also has 4 sub-categories.

According to its Facebook page,  it is the official holder of the following four titles: Miss Singapore International, Miss Singapore Supranational, Miss Singapore Asia-Pacific International, & Miss Singapore Tourism Queen Of The Year International.

Not to be mistaken with Miss Singapore Tourism Queen 2016. That would be Divya Sd.

Similarly, it is also mistaken for Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant, in which they quickly clarified in a Facebook post.

If you're confused about whichever is which, don't worry. I'm confused as well.

4. Mrs Singapore and classic Mrs Singapore pageant

This next one is for the women who are married.

According to their Facebook page, this competition separates the girls from the women, and is the only married woman contest in Singapore that gives wonderful and remarkable women a chance to represent Singapore.

5. Miss World Singapore

Miss World Singapore is the next most prominent pageant after Miss Universe Singapore.

It is also the oldest running international beauty pageant. According to their website, they are looking for intelligent, beautiful and passionate young women who want to make a difference and participate for the honour of becoming Miss World Singapore.

Registration is open to Singapore citizens between the age of 17 and 24.

6. Miss Earth

Alongside Miss Universe and Miss World, this pageant is the next largest international contest and with a message too.

Miss Earth is required to address issues concerning the environment and other global issues - this makes this pageant sound the most intelligent of them all.

Others?

I am pretty sure I have not covered all the pageants out there. These days, beauty contests have evolved to incorporate personality traits, talents and intelligence, such as CLEO's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors, Manhunt, Female's 50 Most Gorgeous, and whatnot.

They say every journey is a discovery. As you traverse through the list of pageants in this article, I can only hope you do not get as disoriented as I am.

As for me, I have discovered that for an island of roughly five million inhabitants, there sure are a lot of pageants.

akosasi@sph.com.sg

SERDANG - Seven Malaysian universities have been listed in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings Top 50 Under 50 2018.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) was the highest ranked institution at the 15th spot.

The 44-year-old varsity was at No. 17 last year.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is in 16th place, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia at 21st and Universiti Sains Malaysia at 23rd.

"All our research universities are not only in the top 50 but in the top 23 under the QS World University Rankings Top 50 Under 50," he told reporters after launching the Sports Leadership Transformation Pro­­gram­me at UPM yesterday.

The other universities to make the list - released on June 8 - are Universiti Teknologi Pe­­tro­­nas (91-100), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) (101-150) and Inter­national Islamic University Malay­sia (101-150).

Except for Universiti Malaya, all the other universities in Malaysia are below the age of 50.

Idris congratulated UUM for debuting in the rankings this year.

"The 33-year-old university's position in the 101-150 band shows that its focus to be a niche university, which focuses on management and social sciences, does not prevent it from competing and shining among other institutions," he said.

He said UUM became an Asso­ciation to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) accredited institution last year, adding that this has contributed to its ranking position.

AACSB is the hallmark of excellence in business education, and has been earned by less than 5 per cent of the world's business programmes.

UUM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak thanked the UUM family "who is committed to the success of the university's agenda".

"This achievement shows that UUM's strategic plan started in 2010 is bearing results," he said.

He also hoped that staff and students would continue to carry out the university's agenda so that it could compete with other renowned international universities.

UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datin Paduka Aini Ideris said the university had always focused on the fundamentals of teaching, research and services.

"We work hard to ensure quality education, quality research that benefits the community and produces all-rounder graduates with holistic and entrepreneurial skills," she said.

Nanyang Technological Universi­ty, Singapore tops the list this year followed by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Ko­­rea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology.

The wife of Spencer Tuppani has issued a statement expressing grief after her husband was stabbed by her father and subsequently died.

It was earlier reported that 38-year-old Tupanni was allegedly stabbed by his father-in-law, 69-year-old Tan Nam Seng, along Boon Tat Street at around 1.20pm on July 10.

The stabbing is believed to have occurred at a coffee shop at the junction of Boon Tat Street and Telok Ayer Street. Police later found Tupanni outside eatery A Poke Theory located at 27 Boon Tat Street.

He was conveyed unconscious to Singapore General Hospital, and was subsequently pronounced dead at about 2.13pm.

Read also

Boon Tat St murder: Victim once sold 'everything he owned' to save business

According to The New Paper, Eldad Tan, manager of A Poke Theory, rushed out with a colleague and saw Tupanni lying face down in a pool of blood.

He told reporters: "I was so focused on the man on the floor I didn't notice an older man holding a knife, standing over him. He said, 'Don't help him, he's my son-in-law. Let him die. I'm old already, I'm not afraid of going to jail."

Tan Nam Seng was arrested by police later in the afternoon, and was charged in court for murder yesterday (July 12). He will be remanded at Central Police Division for investigation until July 19.

Read also

Boon Tat Street murder: Attacker looked 'calm' after stabbing son-in-law

If convicted of murder, he will face the death penalty.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Ms Tan Cheng Cheng, wife of Tupanni, has issued a statement with regard to the events that have unfolded.

The 43-year-old said: "This is a double tragedy for the family. Our family has lost a loved one and my beloved father is facing a serious charge.

"You cannot imagine our immense grief, but please try to understand and let us have some peace."

Tan has also requested that the privacy of the family be respected.

Fast food chain McDonald's officially launched a new menu exclusively for its fans in Singapore today (July 13), and it has certainly generated quite the buzz among everyone.

Inspired by local signature delicacies, the menu consists of a Nasi Lemak Burger, Chendol McFlurry, Bandung McFizz, Coconut Pie and McFizz, Coconut Pie and Criss Cut Fries.

Stomp contributor Vi saw a huge crowd at McDonald's The Metropolis outlet at around 12.30pm today, when she was having lunch in the area.

According to her, the queue was so long that it extended beyond the fast food restaurant's premises.

So does McDonald's new menu live up to the hype?

Netizens have been leaving their feedback on McDonald's Facebook page and the nasi lemak burger, unsurprisingly, appears to be the most popular item.

Facebook user Nasrul X Shahida gave the burger an 8/10 rating and wrote: "From the rempah chicken fillet to the slightly spicy sambal tumis, it was a delight at every bite. The sambal tumis actually tasted like sambal tumis albeit being sweeter and slightly less spicy."

Another user, Noor Hayati, said, "Nasi Lemak burger does taste a bit like Nasi Lemak and the sambal is nice. Being old school, I still prefer the original Nasi Lemak but of course this is a must try."

Online publication Stirr recently did a "brutally honest taste test" of the burger. Watch the video below for their verdict.

According to the recent Global Productivity Study by Unit4, provider of enterprise systems for service organisations, Singapore office workers spend only 60 per cent of their time on primary duties.

This is lower than the global average of 72 per cent, possibly hinting Singaporean staff as the least productive group.

Singaporean office employees spend 380 hours a year (equivalent to 47.5 work days or two months of the working year) completing administrative or repetitive tasks rather than their primary job function.

This loss of productivity is costing Singapore's service industry more than $36.5 billion annually.

On average, respondents aged 41 and above estimate they spend significantly more time on their primary duties compared to those aged 26-30.

In the study, Singapore office workers identified the amount of time they spend on specific daily administrative tasks that prevent them from focusing on their primary duties.

This included manually collating and entering data (30 per cent), tracking their project status (26 per cent), with 20 per cent citing handling invoices, and 11 per cent citing submitting expenses and planning travels.

Stephan Sieber, CEO of Unit4 said: "Left unchanged, this productivity issue could be crippling for business, particularly services organisations who rely on the strengths and output of their people."

When asked if they would trust technology - such as a digital / virtual assistant or software application - to manage repetitive tasks, 83 per cent of Singaporean office workers said they would.

72 per cent felt they would see improved productivity, and 69 per cent felt it would improve their happiness. They are also confident that this technology will be available soon, particularly younger workers (even within a year).

Additionally, 78 per cent of workers in Singapore agree that technology that aids administration is important for their company to remain competitive.

"The shifting of roles and responsibilities that come from technological advancements will see more people spending their time on value-added services to help a business grow. We believe that the future of work will be supported by the best technology, enabling the best people to deliver more value to their customers than their competitors," said Sieber.

The Global Productivity Study was an online survey commissioned by Unit4 and conducted by DJS Research in April / May 2017 with 1,505 office-based employees working in the service industry in 11 countries, including Singapore.

Many parents purchase homes near good primary schools in hope to get their child into their desired primary school. Forget Nanyang Primary School, Methodist Girls' School etc.

You can hardly find any HDBs houses that are within 1km of these schools. Instead, we will explore 5 popular primary schools that are nestled amongst the HDBs.

Some parents go to great lengths to admit their children into good primary schools, with cases of parents lying about their address just to gain admission into the school of their choice.

It may be fair to think that there will be parents who choose the location of their homes just to enrol their child in a "good" primary school.

Here's what we found

We compared the prices of HDB flats closest to 5 popular primary schools against the median transacted price of a flat of the same type in the same quarter in the district.

*Median transacted price data taken from HDB

*Transacted price for nearest block from PropertyGuru

With the exception of those highlighted in red, the transacted prices for the blocks nearest to the school are actually not more expensive than the median transacted price for the district.

It does seem that flats do not actually command a premium just because there is a popular primary school within close proximity. Parents do not really buy a HDB flat because they want to get their kids into that school.

If you are thinking of choosing a home close to a good school, you might be in for a pleasant surprise.

However, if you are looking for a home close to a good school for investment purposes, you might want to reconsider since it does not really make your flat more valuable, unlike having an MRT station close to your house.

Note that our conclusion is based on a sample of 5 popular primary schools and is not necessarily representative of the patterns in the property market all around Singapore.

Also, there might be some factors that have not been taken into consideration since there are other ways parents can increase the chances of their child entering a popular primary school.

They can either rent a house close to those schools or be a parent volunteer.

SINGAPORE - One man was killed and 10 others injured in Singapore Friday when a partially-built elevated highway they were working on collapsed, authorities said, a rare construction accident in the city-state.

The worker who died was Chinese, as were three of the injured. The other seven were Bangladeshis, officials said.

About 60 emergency officials rushed to the scene after the pre-dawn accident. Pictures circulating online showed rescuers searching in the early morning gloom among rubble and collapsed scaffolding.

"Eleven workers were working on top of the structure during the accident. One worker was killed and the other ten injured," said Singapore's Land Transport Authority, adding those hurt had been sent to hospital.

Officials said all workers at the site had now been accounted for.

The transport authority added it had "begun safety investigations into the cause of the accident in order to see if there are any lapses or gaps we would need to address urgently".

Construction accidents in Singapore are rare because of the city-state's stringent safety requirements. Much construction work in affluent Singapore is carried out by migrant workers, who come to the country on short-term work permits.

Is it okay to wear clothing with a LGBT message in a Safra gym?

No, according to a few club members who were seemingly unhappy when gym user Koh Jee Leong wore a tank top with the phrase "gay but not yet equal" to the gym at Safra Mount Faber. 

But Safra, a recreational club for national service men, has stepped in to declare its official position: It is okay to wear it, adding the man didn't break any rules.

"We have also spoken to the gym users who gave the feedback. From our conversation with Mr Koh, we believe there was no intent to cause discomfort to other gym goers so we hope this can be resolved amicably," said Safra in a report on Channel NewsAsia.

The controversy started when Mr Koh turned up at the gym at Mount Faber on Wednesday (Jul 12) in that tank top.

The gym manager told him a few people had previously complained to him, accusing Mr Koh of "trying to change a sensitive social policy or issue", Mr Koh wrote on Facebook.

"I asked him how many people complained. He repeated, some, and elaborated, more than one but not many," Mr Koh wrote in his post that has since been shared 400 times.

"He (gym manager) also said that 'the social issue' was sensitive nationally, and that SAFRA could not allow any social advocacy."

Mr Koh, a Singaporean poet based in New York, is a frequent user of the gym when he returns to Singapore.

He explained to the manager that he was not trying to change any social policy but was "just wearing a tank top specially designed by a New York designer".

He added in his post that the words did not refer to Singapore at all.

The gym manager agreed that the complaint was "subjective," but pointed out that "the majority could be dissenting quietly".

"I asked him what he would like me to do. He said he was not going to ban me from the gym but would ask me to be sensitive to other gym users," said Mr Koh.

In its statement, Safra added that it tries to mediate when disagreements between gym-goers crop up.

chenj@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Otters might be cute and cuddly, but they too can be rather savage when situations call for it.

A video posted by Facebook user Patrick Ng on July 7 shows a romp of otters attempting to chase away a dog from an open field in Marina Bay.

In the video, the group consisting of 10 otters can be seen at one end of the field several metres away from the black dog.

They then started running towards the canine, picking up speed as they went along.

After the halfway mark of the video, they started charging at the canine.

In response, the latter began to run in an attempt to put some distance between itself and its furry foes.

The dog ran out of frame at the end of the video, and the triumphant otters claimed the field for their own.

SINGAPORE - Singapore temporarily suspended all road and rail construction on Friday to carry out safety checks after a viaduct under construction collapsed, killing a worker from China and injuring 10 of his colleagues.

Preliminary investigations showed corbels - brackets that help support beams - had given way while the construction team was working in the early hours.

"As a precautionary measure, LTA is checking all other work sites," the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement.

"Works at all LTA road and rail construction sites will observe a safety timeout this morning."

Three of the injured were also from Chinese, one was Indian and six were Bangladeshis.

Engineers responsible for the project had been ordered to carry out a detailed investigation into the design and construction quality, the LTA said.