Every year in May, it is a custom for our Prime Minister to deliver his May Day Rally, and this year is no exception. Held at D'Marquee, Downtown East this year, the May Day Rally saw PM Lee sharing several important notes with regards to the current state of the labour workforce in Singapore.

For the benefit of those of you who may have missed the broadcast, here are the key points that PM Lee highlighted:

Singapore is not spared from the global economy downturn

Most of us know now that the current global economy is on a slowdown, and this has many countries on edge. Singapore is no exception, and we join the major economic blocs, whom are facing problems too. Port, Marine, Oil and Gas and Electronics were cited by PM Lee as examples of industries that have been harder hit. On the flip-side, Infocomm Technology, Finance and Insurance, Healthcare and some others have reasons for optimism, with investments and job growth. As these changes are driven by globalisation and technology, it is something all countries go through, not just Singapore.

People are still losing jobs

In Singapore, we are still seeing ongoing retrenchments. Those suffering from the fallout may have difficulty finding another job due to mismatched skill-sets and expectations, with older PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) a major concern. While job growth has slowed, there are still more jobs than job seekers, with a shortage of workers.

PM Lee also pointed out that our unemployment is still low and Singaporeans are less likely to be retrenched as compared to foreigners.

Changing landscape of industries

The exponential growth of online-based businesses is rivaling traditional establishments. Taobao is changing the way we buy things, Airbnb, the way we spend our holidays, and Uber, the way we travel around places. Businesses are encouraged to improve upon their existing infrastructure to entice consumers back. At the same time, the government will be introducing measures to ensure fair competition between old and new business models.

Jobs are not as there were before

As the economy shifts into emerging industries, jobs are lost due to forlorn businesses. These jobs are disappearing because companies are moving towards exclusive usage of robots and software, and while in other cases, these companies are moving out to countries with lower costs. Yes, they are jobs available in the new industries, just that the job-seekers who are applying for them do not match the requirements needed by these new industries.

Here's what being done by the Government

The government has put in place several helplines where both employers and workers can seek financial assistance from. PM Lee shares what is available during the rally.

1. Head-start for students

Preparation of workers for emerging industries is underway with schools being the logical place to start. Students from the various universities, polytechnic, and ITE are being educated in soft skills, including to better prepare them for the workforce, on top of the industry-relevant skills needed. As a result, we have seen a rise of starting salaries across the board.

2. Programmes to aid mid-career switch

According to PM Lee, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has three support avenues to help those who are undergoing a mid career switch. There's the Career Support Programme (CSP), where employers receive wage support from the government to give chances to PMETs who have been retrenched mid-career. Other than that, the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) and the Place and Train Programme are also in place, where employees can receive re-training courses with the training fees paid for, as well as receive a partial amount of your wages. This is to lessen the burden of transition while also helping to defray cost of living.

3. Reputable re-education

Perhaps one of the most important pointer from PM Lee's announcement is this: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is partnering with local universities to help mid-career workers attain new skills. This mirrors the existing partnership the NTUC has with the polytechnics and ITEs.

Under the new partnership with local universities, NTU will be the first to work with NTUC, and NTU will offer continuous education through the use of technology enabled learning (TEL). These short courses will be suited for the working population to help them keep abreast of new technologies and developments. Lastly, SkillsFuture is to be further expanded, in due time, to include more schemes.

Singaporeans are well taken care of

Concluding his speech, PM Lee shared that workers around the world are worried not just for their jobs, and also affordable housing and healthcare, as well as retirement. However, the key difference between Singapore and everywhere else is that there are schemes in place for workers in Singapore to help tackle all these problems.

"We may be in a time of change, but I can reassure you honestly that if we work together, we can overcome all these problems. The Government is ready, the Labour Movement is ready. The people need to be ready. And the people are ready. You have supported our programmes. And you have voted for them, and for the team to work with you. With your strong mandate we are able to implement them vigorously, and improve your lives."

If you would like to re-watch the May Day Rally, make your way over to the Prime Minister's Office Youtube channel here.

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The family's cries for help pierced the air, but their neighbours could only watch helplessly as the fierce pre-dawn blaze rolled through the seventh storey Hillview Green condominium unit in Hume Avenue.

According to witnesses, the fire broke out around 5.30am yesterday. Residents quickly vacated the block but the family in the unit was trapped as the fire raged in the living room and blocked the path to the door.

A resident who lives on the fourth storey and wanted to be known only as Mr Han C K told The New Paper on Sunday the fire spread quickly.

"The whole thing was very scary because the fire was huge," said Mr Han, 62.

It appeared the family tried to find refuge in one of the bedrooms farthest from the living room. From his vantage point on the ground, Mr Han could see one woman at the window.

He said: "You could see her crying and screaming for help but there was nothing we could do." It is understood that the unit housed 10 occupants - Mr Alvin Ng Swee Seng, 68, his wife Madam Moreen Soh, 69, their two sons Mr Terrence Ng, 41, and Mr Timothy Ng, 29, their wives, two children and two maids.

Related: Elderly man dies after injuries

ESCAPE

Residents said three of the family members - Mr Ng, Madam Soh and their younger son - escaped the flat before the Singapore Civil Defence Force officers arrived.

Mr Timothy Ng told Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News he had clambered down from the balcony to a unit below.

He took a fire extinguisher from his neighbours and tried to put out the fire. That was when his parents dashed out the door, through flames and thick smoke, he said. The elderly couple sustained burns.

SCDF dispatched two fire engines, a Red Rhino, two support vehicles and five ambulances to the scene. Using two water jets, firefighters extinguished the blaze and rescued the remaining seven occupants.

All except one were taken to various hospitals for smoke inhalation.

The other Hillview Green residents were gathered at the condo's tennis court, where SCDF officers did a roll call to ensure everyone was accounted for, said Mr Han.

The elder Mr Ng - who had been taken to Singapore General Hospital with his wife - died later in the day.

Mr Timothy Ng told Shin Min Daily that his father, a retired businessman, suffered from heart problems. Mr Han and his family, who moved to the condo in 2000, had been friends with the Ng family for about 16 years.

"I'm very saddened to hear about Alvin. He was a really nice man and a good friend," he told TNPS yesterday evening.

Madam Soh is still in the intensive care unit.

MP visits

Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary (Education, Trade and Industry) and Choa Chu Kang GRC MP, visited the condo yesterday morning.

She told TNPS she and "the community leaders are assisting the family" and will "help the other affected residents as much as possible ".

She added that she would be visiting the victims in hospital. "They are receiving support from their family, friends and the community," she said.

Investigations into the fire are ongoing.

crober@sph.com.sg

Hillview Green condo fire kills 1 elderly man

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The New Paper, Han CK

This article was first published on May 1, 2016.
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In its biannual Macroeconomic Review released on Wednesday, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said negative business sentiment has become more pervasive and unemployment is expected to rise this year, ven as wage growth slows.

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The Chinese Development Assistance Council plans to step up efforts to inform the elderly about government schemes to help them. To do so, the self-help group plans to develop its pool of volunteers who are conversant in dialects.

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Seven in 10 Singaporeans supported this year's Budget, according to a poll conducted by government feedback unit Reach. It surveyed 1,327 citizens aged 20 years and above over the telephone between March 28 and April 7.

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Electronic Road Pricing rates at four gantries on the Ayer Rajah Expressway and the Bukit Timah Expressway will be revised upwards from tomorrow. The adjustment follows the quarterly review of traffic conditions.

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On Monday evening, train services on the North-South, East-West, Circle Line and Bukit Panjang LRT were disrupted during peak hours due to a power trip, SMRT said. Train services from Woodlands to Kranji were disrupted for half an hour after 6.30am on Tuesday.

Last week's index: 90

This week's index: 70

This article was first published on May 1, 2016.
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For three days, I visited the refuse areas of markets and wholesale centres to find out who "lives off the land" - or makes use of the immense amount of food wastage that is generated every day.

I looked forward to trying out dumpster diving, thinking it would be like a treasure hunt.

Years ago, a colleague went dumpster diving and wrote positively about the experience.

But while she looked for household items and sundries, I was supposed to forage for what could be a meal.

On the first day of my adventure at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, I found myself staring into a filthy bin that contained a "rojak" of vegetables. I was fiercely debating in my head if people actually ate them. In the end, I left when my gut turned from staring at the bin for too long.

My only find of the day was a watermelon by the side of the road, which some mynahs were staking their claim on.

So imagine my joy the next day when I came across boxes of tomatoes, which looked fresh.

Placed neatly next to the bins, I thought I had struck the jackpot until someone came over and claimed the tomatoes as his.

What about canned or dried foodstuffs in the bins? Surely those are safer to eat?

JACKPOT

As it turned out, canned foodstuff nearing their expiry dates are not thrown away into bins. They are, instead, usually sent back to the suppliers for replacements.

As for the dried foodstuff I saw, such as grains, they were poured out of their plastic packets and into the bins to be mixed with all the other trash.

I was not the only one on the prowl - there was competition from the cardboard aunties.

They rummaged through unwanted vegetables that were given by the wholesalers and still in their packaging, before emptying the whole lot into the bin.

There is a lot of food wastage generated by us, and yes, some people manage to salvage some of it. But to cut the approximately 790,000 tonnes of food wasted a year, we need to start further up along the process.

When shops are determined to keep shelves full all day, there is bound to be wastage.

I do not blame them. Shoppers like full shelves, which explains why you see supermarkets chock-full of produce all the time. Consumers also reject ugly fruits and vegetables, resulting in edible food getting discarded.

It really is up to each of us to change how we shop, and perhaps that can eventually encourage companies to make changes to further address the issue of food wastage.

ngjunsen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 1, 2016.
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Singapore generates 788,600 tonnes of food waste.

This means each Singaporean contributes about 146kg of food waste yearly, based on figures released by the National Environment Agency in 2014.

The amount has increased by 48 per cent in the past decade.

Households, supermarkets, catering and bakery businesses all contribute to this situation.

Food waste is generated daily through our food cycle: production, distribution, retail and consumption.

"Wastage occurs due to various reasons such as food spoilage due to improper storage or handling, edible food discarded due to blemished appearances, and when individuals overestimate their appetites," says Mr Eugene Tay, executive director of Zero Waste SG.

He says because Singapore is relatively more affluent and there are more food choices available, people end up buying more than they can consume.

Despite the wastage, food and beverage companies are not so keen to donate excess and unsold food.

This could be because of food poisoning and legal liability issues, says lawyer Luke Lee, 63.

"The party providing the food item may be liable in court. Though the chances of them being liable for damages is not high, you can't discount that possibility," he says.

boeylw@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 1, 2016.
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If everything at the grocery store is just $1, you can bet customers will raid the pantry.

And that happened on April 25 at The Food Pantry. But the store, smaller than a three-room flat, is a grocery business with a difference.

The Food Pantry is a project of Food Bank Singapore, a charity initiative started by two siblings who wanted to tackle the problem of food waste here.

The bank takes donations of unused food from food and beverage companies and then distributes the items to the needy. (See report on facing page.)

Whatever is leftover is not left to waste. Instead it ends up at the Pantry and each item is sold for $1.

The money is then used to cover overheads.

Last Monday, the pantry opened for the first time and people streamed in immediately.

By noon, 80 per cent of the goods were gone - just three hours after the store's opening.

Ms Nichol Ng of The Food Bank Singapore says she was surprised by the turnout.

"We didn't expect The Food Pantry to pique so many people's interest. We are definitely happy that many are receptive to buying these foods despite their shorter shelf life," says Ms Ng, whose designation is chief food officer.

And that is the catch with items at the Pantry - they generally have a shelf life of around two months.

PRIORITY

Ms Ng says: "Redistributing the food for free to the underprivileged remains our main priority.

"When certain items are rejected by the beneficiaries or if the shelf life is short, then will we consider stocking them at The Food Pantry to give it a last shot at having a chance to be consumed instead of instant disposal."

Ms Ng hopes to change attitudes with The Food Pantry.

She says consumers tend to pick up the best-looking items with the longest shelf life.

"If you intend to use the stuff tomorrow, you don't need a year-long shelf life. Help to use up the products with shorter shelf life first before it ends up in the dumpsters," she says.

Residents in the area had heard of the plan to sell short shelf-life items for $1 and were eagerly waiting for its opening.

The customers were mainly middle-aged and elderly citizens, with a handful of people in their late 20s.

The Food Pantry is hoping to include perishable items next, if people are comfortable paying for items with short shelf life and some defects.

Meat will only be introduced if there is proper storage and refrigeration to ensure that the quality is not compromised.

What expiration dates really mean

Would a can of beans go bad immediately after hitting the use-by date?

Not necessarily, says Dr Leong Lai Peng.

The senior lecturer at National University of Singapore's Food Science & Technology Programme says some food still tastes good after expiry dates.

She says: "It is certainly not a magical date when the food will suddenly turn bad the day after."

So what does it mean when the packaging says "best if used by"?

Dr Leong explains some of the more common terms:

What the terms mean

Sell by and manufacture date

Meant for retailers and manufacturers for stock control.

Pack date

For manufacturers to know when the item was packed.

Best if used by

Quality is peak before this date. Quality includes taste, texture and aroma.

Guaranteed fresh

A guarantee that the product tastes fresh by this date.

Use by

You are encouraged to use this product by this date for maximum enjoyment and quality.

Food safety tips

• Whether before or after the expiry date, look out for clues that the food has gone bad. The clues include inflated packaging caused by gases produced by bacteria and a bad odour.
• Store food at the recommended conditions. For example, the storage temperature before and after opening. If the advice is to consume foods within a stipulated number of days after opening, you should also observe that.
• Handle with care. This includes maintaining the cold chain for cold foods. For food that is fragile, be gentle.
• Don't dent cans as damaging the packaging is similar to opening them. Once opened, the packaging does not protect the food.
• Do not thaw and refreeze food. Similarly, don't leave chilled foods out at room temperature for too long. Take out what you need and put the rest back in the fridge.
• For food to be consumed over a period of time, use a clean and dry serving spoon to scoop out a portion. Do not eat directly from the packaging and then put it back in the fridge.

boeylw@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 1, 2016.
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The Food Bank Singapore was founded in 2012 by siblings Nichol and Nicholas Ng. It operates as a bank for companies or individuals to donate their unused or unwanted food.

The food is then assessed for quality and redistributed to the needy through 160 member charity organisations.

Beneficiaries include family service centres, voluntary welfare organisations, various homes, soup kitchens and needy individuals.

The siblings also run a family business, FoodXervices, which distributes more than 4,000 products to food and beverage and hospitality companies.

It was through this business that they learned how much food was wasted. Ms Ng, 37, tells The New Paper on Sunday that The Food Bank Singapore collects an average of 60 tonnes of food per month for redistribution.

The bank does not redistribute expired products or any products past its "use-by" date.

Donors have the option of dropping off excess food with at least four weeks of shelf life at the following locations:

The Food Bank Singapore's warehouse at Tanjong Pagar Distripark

Bank boxes located at City Square Mall, Sentosa Cove, VivoCity, National University of Singapore, The Grandstand, Parkway Parade and Liang Court.

For more information, visit www.foodbank.sg.

boeylw@sph.comsg

This article was first published on May 1, 2016.
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There will be no rallies tomorrow (May 2).

The Police Elections Permits Office (PEPO) said in a statement today that it "did not receive applications for any election meetings to be held on 2 May 2016."

The Singapore Democratic party (SDP) will be holding its rally tonight from 7pm at Bukit Gombak Stadium.

It will be their second rally for the opposition partying running in the by-election for Bukit Batok SMC.

Their first was on Friday night (April 29), at the same time as the People's Action Party (PAP).

SDP party chief Dr Chee Soon Juan is contesting for the single-seat against People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Mr Murali Pillai.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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AsiaOne, screengrabs

An equivalent of two bowls of food per person is thrown away every day, according to statistics.

But you can find people at the other end of the spectrum - such as a 60-year-old cardboard collector who wants to be known only as Madam Kwek.

She sifts through the discarded produce at the wet market at Lorong 1, Toa Payoh in the early mornings. The New Paper on Sunday found her peeping into the dumpsters.

She took a cursory glance into one of them and pulled out a red plastic bag of "tang oh" (garland chrysanthemum).

"Just wash it properly and it is edible," she tells this reporter.

At 4am, stall owners at the wet market are busy sorting through vegetables and fruits to prepare them for sale.

No one bats an eyelid at Madam Kwek as she rummages for free through produce that was tossed out. She is allowed unhindered access to the dumpsters as she is a known cardboard collector in the area.

When asked why she would take food that has been rejected by others, Madam Kwek says: "I would rather buy fresh vegetables, but people throw away so much food that can still be eaten.

"If I see it and leave it there, it will be such a waste."

She adds that the produce she picks up is not solely for her own consumption as she gives some of it away.

"I give some to the old folks back in my estate who can cook it. They know it is from the dumpster, but they trust that it is clean," she says.

As a cardboard collector, Madam Kwek has a working relationship with some of the sellers in the wet market.

Read also: Shop to sell unwanted food for $1

SIFT

TNPS observed vegetable and fruit sellers passing cardboard or styrofoam boxes of unwanted produce to Madam Kwek and other cardboard collectors.

The latter will sift through the produce and pick out what they like before throwing the rest into the dumpsters.

This way, the sellers get a free hand with waste disposal while the cardboard collectors get to keep the boxes and produce.

The cardboard collectors collect mainly vegetables, fruit and bread. They avoid meat and fish as these go bad quickly.

Says Madam Kwek: "I've also been looking for people throwing away dried or canned food, but that doesn't seem to be the case."

At the stretch of vegetable stalls along Buffalo Road in Little India, people can be seen looking into the trash bins between 6pm and 8pm.

And at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, the biggest vegetables and fruit wholesale market in Singapore, even larger piles of unwanted produce are stacked up at the dumpsters, free for the taking.

Says a vegetable seller from Sri Mullai Trading in Buffalo Road: "In the evening when we start to throw out vegetables, there will be some uncles and aunties waiting to take the stuff.

"As long as they don't create a mess, it is okay."

One staff member at vegetable importer Hupco says produce is thrown away when they have yellowed or are deemed no longer fresh. Odd-looking produce is also thrown away despite being safe to eat, as customers simply do not buy them.

But he warns that people should not take food from dumpsters as it is an unhygienic practice.

"Most of these bins don't get cleaned for a long time, and there must be plenty of bacteria in there. It is not worth it," he says.

Read also:

FairPrice supermarkets slash food wastage by 41 per cent

Recycling food waste means less money down the drain

Cheap cabbage becomes a gourmet veg

ngjunsen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 1, 2016.
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Good use of waste at old dump site

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The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - Thousands flocked to Bukit Gombak Stadium on Sunday night to attend the second Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) rally.

Eight SDP members spoke before Bukit Batok by-election candidate Dr Chee Soon Juan took to the stage. Bukit Batok residents will go to the polls on May 7.

SDP spoke repeatedly about contesting party People's Action Party's (PAP) "character assassination" in this by-election. They raised issue with PAP's Ms Grace Fu, who had earlier said that Dr Chee had not held a full-time job in a long time.

SDP also appealed to the media to "report with integrity" and "to stop pandering to one side".

Some initiatives to assist Bukit Batok residents were also announced in between the speeches.

SDP rally at Bukit Gombak Stadium on May 1

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AsiaOne, The Straits Times

Here are some points that were raised at Sunday night's rally:

1. SDP members stand up for Dr Chee

The first half of the rally saw SDP members standing up for Dr Chee and about his choice to remain in Singapore to serve the people, despite his qualifications and opportunities outside politics.

Mr John Tan brought up Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's earlier remarks on what Dr Chee's potentials were.

""All he (PM Lee) knows is public knowledge of the man. He doesn't even have time to sit down to have coffee with Dr Chee.

"Mr Lee may have a lot of people working for him, but are mostly paid or at least receive some kind of benefits.

"Look around here, my colleagues in red. They are working for free.

"That, Mr Lee, is Dr Chee's potential. Dr Chee's ability is such that it can draw you here. Not like other parties, they need chicken rice to entice people to come to their rally."

During his speech, Dr Paul Tambyah said: "Criticise the speech, policies, values - but do not attack the man."

When Dr Chee took to the stage, he too addressed the remarks made by Ms Fu and Mr Lee: "I find it really in bad taste when Ms Grace Fu and Mr Lee Hsien Loong try to tell you that because I don't make a lot of money like them, then I'm not working and therefore cannot take care of Bukit Batok.

"The truth is that I have been working every single day to not just keep the SDP together but build it up, and to think and propose and write about ideas for Singapore. I just have not asked to be paid or paid a lot."

2. SDP criticises the media

While on stage, SDP speakers appealed to the media to "report with their heart".

Throughout the rally, SDP raised issue with a report in Lianhe Wanbao in April which they claim the headline was erroneous. SDP said they had requested for the headline to be changed and the online version was updated.

Ms Jaslyn Go questioned: "If the article was correct, would Lianhe Wanbao have agreed to change the headline?

"The media must take responsibility and be fair to the voters. The media has to stop pandering to only one side and be made use of for character assassination."

Dr Chee also outrightly said that he was disappointed with the outcome of the interview. He even joked about a photo that was used by the media. He said his opponent Mr Murali Pillai was shown smiling, while he was seen with a "black face".

He said to talk about policies and compare both parties' initiatives would be better than talking about each other's characters.

3. SDP announces four new initiatives

Four inititiatives were announced in between speeches, if SDP gets elected into Parliament. They are:

- Heart for Bukit Batok programme: This is meant for low income and needy residents. Bukit Batok residents can adopt a low income and needy family in the community to volunteer their time and assistance to them,

- Pathfinder programme: SDP will manage and setup a trust fund for the elderly who are poor. If elected, Dr Chee said he will use his MP allowance to assist 10 low income families.

The programme will also help nurture students, build their confidence, and have someone help see them through their education years with subsidised private tuition,

- Dollars and Sense: This is for residents who need assistance with financial problems. SDP has a team of experts who can meet individuals or small groups for advice on financial management, and

- Legal Lifeline: This provides the first step of assistance to low income residents who are in need of legal advice. SDP said seven lawyers have so far volunteered.

Dr Chee held a book signing session after the rally. A long queue formed with supporters waiting to get their books signed by the SDP candidate.

SDP said its next rally will most like be on Tuesday (May 3) but the location is not confirmed. Details will be revealed later.

klim@sph.com.sg

Visitors to three popular beauty spots have recently complained about a spate of littering - and they believe they know who the culprits are.

The trash, usually found in spots near military training grounds, are suspected by hikers to have been left by those who were in the vicinity for military exercises.

Empty food ration packets, mess tins and transparencies bearing map markings have been found around Upper Peirce and Seletar reservoirs, as well as a beach near Pasir Ris.

Debbie Fordyce, a rights activist, has been walking at the reservoirs for more than a decade and picks up litter when she sees it.

On April 10, she collected 64 empty ration packets, 23 clear plastic bags used to hold these rations and other items such as water bottles wrapped in green socks. "The trash filled seven full plastic bags," she said.

Two weeks later, when she visited the same clearing, she and her nephew - together with this reporter - collected four bags of litter.

A biker, who wanted to be known only as Mr Koh, said he sees the trash on his route towards Seletar Reservoir every Sunday.

The 43-year-old bank manager said: "The trash is usually scattered... and looks to be the work of irresponsible individuals, not an organisation.

"The sight is an eyesore because the forest is a reserve meant for people who want to get away from the city. We don't need reminders of inconsiderate and uncivil behaviour."

As training grounds are out of bounds to civilians, the trash that the public found may be part of a larger litter problem.

Litter problem, big headache

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The Straits Times, The New Paper, Facebook screengrabs

A clean-up operation by the Public Hygiene Council on April 23 at a beach near Pasir Ris yielded at least 100 empty food ration packets.

Council chairman Edward D'Silva said: "Unfortunately, military trash found in public spaces is not something new."

Wildlife consultant Subaraj Rajathurai urged the public not to quickly point fingers at the Ministry of Defence as the items could also be left behind by the public. He noted that trekkers may "want a realistic experience, and they buy military rations from the army market".

The empty ration packets on the beach, he added, could have been washed ashore by contractors who did not dispose of the trash properly.

"More investigation is needed," he said.

Colonel Andrew Lim, assistant chief of the general staff (training), said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) "does not condone littering, whether in camps or in the training area". Servicemen are educated and consistently briefed on the need to keep the training areas clean and to dispose of waste appropriately, he added, noting that administrative areas are cleared of waste before units depart the training area.

Col Lim added: "We do our best to keep them litter-free.

"However, from time to time, we do receive public feedback of SAF litter in training areas.

"When that happens, the SAF will conduct clean-up operations. At the same time, servicemen caught littering will be disciplined accordingly."

Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah, who is also chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for the Environment and Water Resources, said there is "no magical answer" to the littering problem.

Ms Lee, an advocate against littering, said: "We just need to go on emphasising to the public the need to be responsible citizens.

"Hopefully, in time, we win (litterbugs) over... We have set the ball rolling and we just have to keep at it."

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Visitors to the Bukit Brown Cemetery will soon be greeted once more by its iconic cast-iron gates.

Removed from their Lorong Halwa posts last year to make way for a major road, the structure now lies in a workshop but will go up in a new access road near its original location, likely next month.

At the workshop in the north of Singapore, workers have been gingerly brushing away the layers of rust that have accumulated in the grooves of the cast-iron gates.

Supported by wooden frames, the brittle gates are undergoing a six-month refurbishment by a team from Fusion Clad Precision - a contractor hired by the National Heritage Board (NHB).

The refurbishment, which started in January, has five core steps. Rust is first removed before coatings are applied to reduce future corrosion.

The gates' lock and latch components as well as lampholders are then repaired before missing parts are replaced. The last step is to reinforce the gates' structural integrity.

The team, comprising four master craftsmen and three other members, is at step two of the process.

Its managing director Teo Khiam Gee said the gates need a lot of attention as well as "the human touch".

"Skilful hands are important as the parts are in varying states of disrepair. Its original state was very fragile. It is like handling a baby," he said.

The structure is made up of parts, such as a pair of cast-iron gates through which cars used to pass, two side gates for pedestrians, and four free-standing square columns.

It was likely prefabricated in Britain and shipped to Singapore. Its square columns were cast on the spot.

Bukit Brown Cemetery opened its doors in 1922.

About 20 per cent of the structure will be replaced to address the damage to its structural integrity and functionality.

NHB told The Straits Times that the gates will likely be relocated next month to the mouth of a new access road near its original location.

NHB's assistant chief executive of policy and community, Mr Alvin Tan, said retaining and refurbishing the gates are important as they "provide a sense of arrival to the cemetery and preserve a sense of continuity for visitors and interest groups".

The refurbishment is an initiative of a multi-agency work group chaired by the Ministry of National Development. It includes NHB, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and civic organisations All Things Bukit Brown and the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS).

The effort is guided by conservation best practices shared by SHS. The heritage board also has its own in-house metals specialist, Mr Ian Tan, manager of the heritage research and assessment division.

When ready, the gates will be painted black - a common colour for outdoor use.

Mr Tan said its original colour is hard to determine. Exposed layers of paint show that it had changed colours - which included a shade of blue - a few times over its history.

Mr Tan said the structure is one of the rare large-scale ornamental iron gates in Singapore. "It shows how technology flowed across countries. It is also likely that its ornamental parts were done here in Singapore. Each coil and twist are different and clearly done by hand," he said.

Some parts of Bukit Brown have been razed as the LTA constructs a major eight-lane road through the cemetery to connect the MacRitchie Viaduct to the Adam Flyover. This project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

This article was first published on May 3, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

NHB launched its documentary on the relocation of the gates on its heritage portal Roots.sg yesterday.

通过把组屋所有权转给配偶，以避免购买第二套房地产时缴付额外买家印花税（ABSD），这样的做法今后可能再也行不通。

从上个月起，坊间传出建屋发展局修改组屋转名规定的消息，引起一些买家的热议。一名读者告知《联合早报》，建屋局员工向她证实房地产转名规定确实有改动，联名购有组屋的夫妻无法再像原来那样，随意把房地产的所有权，转到配偶名下。

这名王姓屋主受访时说，她和丈夫联名拥有一个组屋单位，最近想要购买私人公寓。今年初，房地产中介推荐他们考虑把联名屋主关系"脱钩"（decoupling）进行房地产转名，即一人把现有房地产所有权全部转给配偶，那他本身就可以做为首次购屋者，单独购买第二套房地产。

受访房地产分析师指出，这样做的主要好处是买家不必缴付购买第二套房地产的7％额外买家印花税。以一间房价100万元的私宅来说，买家可以省下7万元额外买家印花税。此外，买家可以获得的购屋贷款顶限也从第二套房地产的50％，提高到第一套的80％。

分析师说，根据当局原有规定，组屋屋主可以通过产权赠与的方式，把名下的组屋所有权转让给配偶、父母、子女和兄弟姐妹等直系亲属，这一过程不牵涉金钱交易。据知，这个做法过去两三年流行起来，在坊间是"公开的秘密"，

不过，建屋局网站上的条文近来修改。根据新规定，组屋屋主只有在家庭情况发生特定变化下才能通过产权赠与的方式进行房地产转名，例如家庭成员结婚、离婚、去世，或是陷入经济困境，必须通过转名来保留组屋。

换言之，规定调整后，当局封锁组屋屋主透过房地产转名，免交额外买家印花税的渠道，让第二次购屋者不能再钻原有的政策漏洞。分析师预计，受到直接影响的群体，是现金流不足、又不愿卖组屋买私宅，而是希望同时拥有两套房地产的买家。

受访分析师认为，组屋房地产转名的做法受欢迎，是受到房地产降温措施催化。为了给房市降温，政府在2013年1月调整额外买家印花税规定，新加坡公民在购买第二套房地产时就须缴付额外买家印花税。在此之前，这笔印花税只在本地公民购买第三套房产时征收。

智信研究与咨询总监王伽胜估计，每10户从组屋升级到私宅的本地家庭中，约有一两户会选择房地产转名。

他说："另一个选择房地产转名的原因，是夫妇还没还清房贷，并且这笔贷款主要是由夫妻一方偿还。这种情况下，另一方就可以通过转名免除背负贷款，在购买第二套房产时获得更高额的贷款。"

也有分析师指出，建屋局过去"没有公开禁止"夫妇通过房地产转名免付额外买家印花税，因此不解当局为何过了这么久才堵上这个漏洞。

坊间也有传闻称，当局选择在此时收紧房产转名政策，是因为额外印花税额即将调整。不过据本报查知，此次调整与额外印花税政策无关。

王伽胜认为，建屋局此时调整政策的一个可能原因，是当下大环境疲软，未来经济发展面对许多未知因素，人力市场和房地产市场可能将受到冲击。"禁止夫妇随意为房地产转名，显然是避免国人过度投资房地产的有效方法。例如，若一方在单独购买私宅后遭解雇，就很难继续供房，但如果两个人联名拥有这套房产，他们还可以在经济危机到来时互相支持。"

欣乐国际（SLP）执行董事麦俊荣认为，当局这次调整政策，能够让组屋回归到为家庭提供栖身之处的初衷。"虽然这样的规定可能影响房地产投资市场的需求，但这类需求原本就不应该被允许。如果一户家庭希望同时拥有两套房产，他们就应该购买两套私宅。"

规定调整后，当局封锁组屋屋主透过房地产转名，免交额外买家印花税的渠道，让第二次购屋者不能再钻原有的政策漏洞。分析师预计，受到直接影响的群体，是现金流不足、又不愿卖组屋买私宅，而是希望同时拥有两套房产的买家。

Get the full story from Lianhe Zaobao

SINGAPORE - The assembly centres for Polling Day (May 7) at Bukit Batok will be at the field along Bukit Batok Industrial Park A and Bukit Gombak Stadium.

The two locations, which are also doubling as rally sites, will allow People's Action Party's (PAP) Murali Pillai and Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) Chee Soon Juan to gather with supporters and the public at their allocated venues at the close of the polls at 8pm on May 7 until 30 minutes after the announcement of the result of the by-election.

Allocation of the assembly centres to the contesting parties will be revealed on May 6 - after permit applications for the sites have been made in person by the candidates or their election agents at the Police Elections Permits Office (PEPO). 

Bukit Batok by-election: Nomination day

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AsiaOne, The Straits Times

PEPO added that contesting parties can only apply for one site, and that a ballot will be conducted if there is more than one applicant for a venue.

Contesting parties can also apply for a permit to use an indoor site as an assembly centre.

PEPO will conduct a briefing on the application process tomorrow (May 4) at 9am at the Police Cantonment Complex, and has encouraged the candidates and/or their election agents to attend.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AsiaOne, screengrabs

prabukm@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - ComfortDelGro-owned MaxiCabs will be implementing a surcharge for rides with more than four passengers.

The $3 surcharge, which will come into effect on May 9, will affect each passenger when more than four of them board the cab.

So imagine sharing a MaxiCab with four or more friends. Each of you will have to pay $3 more on top of the total cab fare. 

ComfortDelGro did not state a reason for this measure, but said that the surcharge "is not applicable for flat rate transfer services". 

According to TODAY, the "boarding fare for MaxiCabs in $3.90, with a 30-cent fare jump for every 400m or less, after the first kilometre up to 10km and every 350m thereafter or less, as well as for every 45 seconds of waiting or less".

The report also added that the current booking fee is $10. 

prabukm@sph.com.sg

It started when his schoolbag went missing.

Six months later, Eddy (not his real name) was sprayed with soya sauce, called names and kicked several times.

Eddy, 10, is a Primary 5 pupil at a school in the west.

He told The New Paper that his ordeal began when his schoolbag went missing from his classroom between lessons last September.

The bullying got worse in March this year when a Primary 6 boy called him names before repeatedly kicking him.

The attack left a large bruise on his left upper arm.

According to the Singapore Children's Society's Bully-Free website, one in five primary school pupils has been a victim of bullying. (See report, above.)

Speaking to TNP in his flat, Eddy said he had gone for his mother tongue class in another room when his bag disappeared.

He said: "I was worried as the bag and its contents cost about $150 in all. I looked for it everywhere, but it was nowhere to be found."

When his mother, who wanted to be known only as Madam Ann, 47, found out about the missing bag, she alerted one of his teachers.

The housewife decided to let the matter rest when two prefects found the bag at an open-air balcony on the fourth storey of the school the next day.

Eddy said: "I was relieved, but my bag was wet as it had rained the night before. Nothing was missing or damaged as my bag was closed. Until now, I still don't know who had taken it."

In March this year, while walking home at around 3.30pm. Eddy stopped to chat with two Primary 5 boys at a traffic light junction.

He said a Primary 6 boy who was with them suddenly threatened to squirt him with his "pepper spray".

Eddy said: "I jokingly stuck out my tongue at him. He took out a small bottle and sprayed some liquid on my face. I tasted it and found that it was soya sauce.

"The boy was laughing when he did that so I thought he was just joking."

But matters took a serious turn when he encountered the boy and another Primary 6 pupil on March 29.

The boy called him names, and refused to stop despite Eddy's protests.

Eddy said: "He also threatened to call his friends down to beat me up if I made him angry."

FOLLOWED

Eddy ignored him and left for a nearby 7-Eleven store but noticed the two boys following him.

When he entered the store, he held onto the doors to prevent them from entering but failed.

As he was making payment, the bully suddenly kicked him on his right thigh.

He said he did not retaliate and walked to a nearby bus stop.

The bully followed him and continued kicking his thighs. Unable to take the abuse, Eddy cried.

While he was at the bus stop, the boy ran towards him and kicked him hard on his left upper arm.

Two schoolmates nearby tried to stop them, but the bully and his friend also punched them, Eddy said.

When his bus showed up a minute later, Eddy got in and wept all the way home.

Madam Ann was furious to find out about the bullying and called the school to speak to a teacher.

Eddy made a police report the next day. The police confirmed the report.

Madam Ann said they reported the matter to the police because she was worried that Eddy would be assaulted again.

Eddy was given two days' medical leave by KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Responding to TNP's queries, the school principal said: "We are aware of the incident and have spoken to the parents and students involved. The school will continue to monitor and follow up with the students involved."

On Sunday, Madam Ann told TNP that a teacher had assured Eddy that he will be safe, both in school and outside.

She added: "My son told me that the bully has apologised to him. His teachers have assured me that my son can approach them if he is bullied again, and I'm glad."

Eddy, who does not want to transfer to another school, said: "I have lots of friends here. I also know my mother and teachers are looking out for me."

How to deal with a bully

Tips for victims

- Ignore the bully and walk away.

- Avoid the bully.

- Stick to your friends. Bullies hardly pick on those who are surrounded by friends.

- Tell an adult, parent, teacher, counsellor or the principal.

- Ask a witness to report the bullying to an adult.

What bullies can do to stop their bad behaviour:

- Put yourself in the shoes of your victims.

- If you usually hang out with people who bully others, get away from them and find new friends.

- Ask people whom you trust to help you, such as your parents, teachers or school counsellors.

- Try to make amends or at least be pleasant to those you used to bully.

Source: bullyfree.sg

Psychologist: Bullying could start from home

Parents and other adults can play an important role in curbing bullying among children, experts told The New Paper.

Mr Ian Poulier, associate consultant at counselling service SEL Network, said victims must immediately inform adults they trust, such as their parents and teachers.

The former school counsellor of 12 years added: "Victims shouldn't fight back. They may end up badly hurting their bullies, and end up in trouble themselves."

Dr Carol Balhetchet, senior director of youth services at the Singapore Children's Society, said parents should also remain calm when they find that their children have been bullied.

The clinical psychologist said they should inform the school authorities, who can investigate the matter by listening to both sides.

Counsellors can also be called in to help the bully and victim.

GAIN ATTENTION

So why do some children bully others? Dr Balhetchet said that some do so to feel empowered and gain attention from their peers.

"There are instances where the child feels bullied at home by siblings or parents," she said.

"What they can't do at home, they may take it out on their peers. But not every bully is bullied at home."

She also stressed that parents need to be good role models so that their children do not become bullies.

Mr Poulier said parents of bullies need to take a step back and reflect on why their children target others.

He said: "If the parents think they are verbally abusive to their kids, they may need to stop that.

"They should talk to their kids to find out why their children act that way. Parents of bullies can also go for counselling to know more about parenting techniques."

Bullies kick, throw chair at Malaysian teen

A Form Two Malaysian student fractured his right elbow after he was allegedly kicked by his classmates at a school in Pokok Sena, Kedah.

The 14-year-old claimed that he was frequently bullied by his classmates and was traumatised by the latest incident, which took place last Monday.

"One of them kicked me in the back of the class. I fell and my right hand hit a table.

"While I was grimacing in pain, another twisted my right hand. I screamed and ran to the teachers' room for help," he said.

A teacher sent him to the Pokok Sena Health Clinic before he was referred to the Kuala Nerang Hospital, reported The Star.

"The doctors confirmed that I had fractured my right elbow," he said at his home on Sunday.

The teenager claimed that prior to the incident, his right leg was injured when his classmates threw a chair at him.

CANED

"I complained to a teacher and they were caned. However, they continued to bully me," he said.

He said the bullying started about two months ago when he reported his classmates skipping their science lessons to a teacher.

His father said the bullying has left his son traumatised.

"I will transfer him to another school. I also plan to take legal action against the school over the incident," he said.

Kota Setar district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Rozi Jidin, said a 14-year-old boy had been detained.

State Education Department dir­ec­tor Datuk Azuyah Hassan said the case is under investigation.

HELPLINES

Tinkle Friend Helpline (for primary school pupils only): 1800-274-4788

ComCare: 1800-222-0000

This article was first published on May 3, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Changi Airport's inter-terminal Skytrain system will be expanded by 2019, with additional train cars and upgraded infrastructure.

A contract was awarded in March to Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to upgrade the driverless transit system, The Straits Times has learnt.

Six new train cars will be added to the system to cope with the "expected increase in ridership" as passenger traffic grows, said a spokesman for Changi Airport Group (CAG).

The Skytrain from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 - which serves both public and transit areas - will be upgraded from a two-cabin train to a three-cabin one, CAG added.

Also, the current single-cabin Skytrain serving transit passengers at Terminal 3's "A" boarding gates will get an additional cabin, CAG said.

The project also involves "upgrades and additions to signalling and communication systems and related station facilities" for the 6.4km system, Mitsubishi said in a press statement.

While CAG did not reveal the cost of the project, Japanese newspapers said it is "some billions of yen".

Since it opened in 1990 to connect Terminals 1 and 2, the Skytrain has gone through a series of upgrades, including a refurbishment from 2002 to support the opening of Terminal 3 in 2007.

The current Skytrain uses Mitsubishi's Crystal Mover train system - which is also employed at airports in Dubai and Hong Kong. The new train cars purchased by CAG will be similar to those in its current fleet.

The upgrades will expand the Skytrain's capacity to cope with an expected increase in passenger traffic after Jewel Changi Airport is completed in 2018, Mitsubishi said.

Jewel Changi Airport is a mixed-use complex with retail outlets and airport services, in front of Terminal 1.

Changi handled a record 55.4 million passengers last year, a 2.5 per cent increase from 2014.

The free transit system is not only used by travellers, but has also become popular with families.

Mr Abraham A., 33, an insurance executive who has a daughter, four, and son, two, said: "It can get quite crowded on the weekends. My kids don't usually take the MRT, so getting on the Skytrain is a real treat.

"Having more train carriages will be good."

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

This article was first published on May 3, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Visitors to three popular beauty spots have recently complained about a spate of littering - and they believe they know who the culprits are.

The trash, usually found in spots near military training grounds, is suspected by hikers to have been left by those who were in the vicinity for military exercises.

Empty food ration packets, mess tins and transparencies bearing map markings have been found around Upper Peirce and Seletar reservoirs, as well as a beach near Pasir Ris.

Ms Debbie Fordyce, a rights activist, has been walking at the reservoirs for more than a decade and picks up litter when she sees it.

On April 10, she collected 64 empty ration packets, 23 clear plastic bags used to hold these rations and other items such as water bottles wrapped in green socks. "The trash filled seven full plastic bags," she said. Two weeks later, when she visited the same clearing, she and her nephew - together with this reporter - collected four bags of litter.

A biker, who wanted to be known only as Mr Koh, said he sees the trash on his route towards Seletar Reservoir every Sunday. The 43-year-old bank manager said: "The trash is usually scattered... and looks to be the work of irresponsible individuals, not an organisation.

"The sight is an eyesore, because the forest is a reserve meant for people who want to get away from the city. We don't need reminders of inconsiderate and uncivil behaviour."

As training grounds are out of bounds to civilians, the trash that the public found may be part of a larger litter problem.

A clean-up operation by the Public Hygiene Council on April 23 at a beach near Pasir Ris yielded at least 100 empty food ration packets.

Council chairman Edward D'Silva said: "Unfortunately, military trash found in public spaces is not something new."

Litter problem, big headache

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The Straits Times, The New Paper, Facebook screengrabs

Wildlife consultant Subaraj Rajathurai urged the public not to quickly point fingers at the Ministry of Defence as the items could also be left behind by the public. He noted that trekkers may "want a realistic experience, and they buy military rations from the army market".

The empty ration packets on the beach, he added, could have been washed ashore by contractors who did not dispose of the trash properly.

"More investigation is needed," he said.

Colonel Andrew Lim, assistant chief of the general staff (training), said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) "does not condone littering, whether in camps or in the training area". Servicemen are educated and consistently briefed on the need to keep the training areas clean and to dispose of waste appropriately, he said, noting that administrative areas are cleared of waste before units depart the training area.

Col Lim added: "We do our best to keep them litter-free. However, from time to time, we do receive public feedback of SAF litter in training areas.

"When that happens, the SAF will conduct clean-up operations. At the same time, servicemen caught littering will be disciplined accordingly."

Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah, who is also chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for the Environment and Water Resources, said there is "no magical answer" to the littering problem.

Ms Lee, a vocal advocate against littering, said: "We just need to go on emphasising to the public the need to be responsible citizens.

"Hopefully, in time, we win (litterbugs) over... We have set the ball rolling and we just have to keep at it."

This article was first published on May 3, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.