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Concept designs for KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail stations unveiled

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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has taken a step closer towards building the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) after Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak unveiled the architectural concept designs for seven stations.

"We are all excited to see the lift-off of this project that has been the talk around the world for sometime now," the Prime Minister said at an unveiling ceremony at the Malaysia International Trade Exhibition Centre here on Tuesday.

Najib, who said that the project was close to his heart, said the unveiling of the station designs would allow Malaysians to get a better "look and feel" of the HSR.

"I have personally been involved in ensuring that every station design retains a strong reflection of Malaysia's identity and heritage whilst remaining modern and futuristic," he added.

Here's what the KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail stations could look like

The station in Putrajaya embraces Islamic architecture while the one in Seremban draws inspiration from the Sri Menanti palace.

The station in Melaka is inspired by the state's history and is designed with an image of a merchant ship in mind.

The design of the Muar station is taken from the rehal (book rest) which is used to hold the Quran, while the Batu Pahat station is inspired by the kuda kepang (a traditional dance).

The Johor station will be the representation of a handshake.

Najib also announced that land acquisition process for the project had started, involving the freezing of development in pre-selected areas along the route.

He said that acquisition would be carried out once the areas concerned are finalised.

He added a three-month HSR public inspection period at key locations along the route will begin on Nov 1.

"This exercise serves as a channel for the public to share their feedback, suggestions or raise any concern regarding the project, and proposed alignment," he added.

He said that the HSR project will help drive the nation's National Transformation 2050 (TN50) aspirations, while revolutionising connectivity between two of South-East Asia's major economic forces.

The KL-SG HSR will cover a 350km route connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with stations in Bandar Malaysia, Bangi-Putrajaya, Seremban, Melaka, Muar, Batu Pahat, Iskandar Puteri and also Jurong East in Singapore.

The train will have a top speed of 350kmph and will take about 90mins to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - 18:09
Here's what the KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail stations could look like
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Golden Mile attack: Victim suffered severe fractures to face, might need facial reconstruction

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A 22-year-old Singaporean man, who was seen attacking another guy at Golden Mile Complex in a viral video, was charged today (Oct 16) with voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Following the incident, which occurred on Oct 11 at around 3am, Wee Boon How was arrested by the police on Oct 14 and brought back to the crime scene yesterday (Oct 15).

Wee is accused of punching and stomping on 25-year-old Mr Bong Heng Yun's face multiple times.

The two, who were not acquainted, are believed to have been involved in a "staring incident" that led to the attack outside a first-floor toilet.

Man charged with causing grievous hurt in Golden Mile Complex assault case

Mr Bong was subsequently sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but has since been discharged.

Stomp understands that he suffered severe facial fractures and might need facial reconstruction.

Wee, who was granted bail of $20,000, said that he would plead guilty and is engaging counsel. He will appear in court again on Nov 13.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - 18:38

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Huge argument on MRT train after commuter allegedly hits woman with motorised wheelchair

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A motorised wheelchair rider allegedly hit a woman with his mobility device on board an MRT train yesterday (Oct 16) at around 2pm, leading to a heated argument.

Stomp contributor Andre who witnessed what happened told Stomp in a telephone interview that he first saw the man riding out of a lift at Bishan MRT station's Circle Line platform.

Like the Stomp contributor, he was waiting for the train going towards the direction of Dhoby Ghaut.

Following the train's arrival, the man rode his mobility device forward into the carriage, made a left turn and started reversing into a bay that was designated for wheelchairs.

According to Andre, there were around four people in the bay at that point.

The man was jerking as he made abrupt stops while reversing, possibly to subtly tell the commuters to make space for him.

The Stomp contributor said that the woman then told the man patiently that he should not be manoeuvring his motorised wheelchair like he did.

The man purportedly did not take the comments well, and started scolding the woman.

He was heard saying "settle in the next station" rather loudly.

He then allegedly hit the woman with his motorised wheelchair by moving forward. Andre believes that he also ran over the woman's foot.

A heated argument ensued, with the woman angrily questioning the man over his actions.

In a video recorded by the Stomp contributor, both individuals can be seen talking loudly and gesturing at each other.

A Singapore Armed Forces personnel tried to intervene, but the duo did not calm down despite his efforts.

Towards the end of the video, both of them wanted to report the matter to station staff based on their conversation.

They subsequently alighted at Lorong Chuan MRT Station.

It is unclear what happened after that.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - 18:56

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Nakhon Kitchen's Holland Village outlet suspended for 2 weeks

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Thai restaurant chain Nakhon Kitchen's Holland Village outlet has been suspended for two weeks by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

According to a notice on the NEA's website, the outlet accumulated 12 demerit points over the last 12 months and was fined a total of $800 for two offences: failing to keep the premises free of rodent infestation and failing to register an assistant.

A licensee who accumulates 12 or more demerit points during a 12-month period can have his licence suspended for either two or four weeks or cancelled, depending on their past record. All food handlers working in the suspended premises would also be required to attend and pass a basic food hygiene course again before they can resume work.

The restaurant manager of Nakhon Kitchen's Holland Village outlet, known only as Mr Law, told Channel NewsAsia that rodents had been coming in from the car park area behind the restaurant.

He added that there are "a lot of rodents behind this stretch of Holland Village" at night, and that the outlet will be building a barrier to block them and other insects from entering the kitchen.

Nakhon Kitchen, famed for its affordable Thai dishes, has seven outlets across Singapore. Business is as usual at the other six outlets.

huizhen@sph.com.sg

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - 19:56
Revised

5 things that can save parents of school-going children time and money

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There comes a time in every parent's life when they realise that the reason for their overpowering eyebags is no longer a night at the club or staying up to cram for an exam, but: kids.

Being a parent, especially in a dual-income family, is a constant struggle to try to get enough sleep, while ensuring everyone gets home from school in one piece and nobody fails the PSLE.

In other words, you need all the help you can get. So here are five things parents of school-going kids can use to save time, money and their sanity.

SCHOOLBER

Making sure your child makes it through the school gates in time every morning is more stressful for parents than it is for the kids.

Not only do you have to be up before everyone else, after you drop the kids off you have to make sure that you get to work before your boss starts complaining.

Unfortunately, for some parents, using the school bus service may not be practical, especially if the kid has lots of remedial lessons or CCAs, since the bus will still have to be paid for on days the kid doesn't manage to take it.

That's when Schoolber can save the day. It's a car-sharing service that matches you up with other parents with kids who go to the same school as yours. Bus-pooling is also possible on the platform if there are enough interested parents.

Schoolber saves you from having to drop your child off at school every single day or, if you prefer, you can able to earn a bit of money sending other parents' kids to and from school.

The app helps you choose between having more money and more time.

ONLINE TUTORING

So your kid isn't doing too well in math or whatever, and you've decided that the time is right to join the ranks of parents with kids enrolled in tuition.

The problem is, tuition can get mighty expensive. If you want to save your kid from the hassle and time-wastage of travelling to a tuition centre, you'll have to bear the extra cost of paying for a private tutor who comes to your home.

You might want to consider an online tutor instead. You'll be paying tuition centre prices for one-on-one attention, while saving time that would otherwise be wasted ferrying your kid to and from tuition.

SLOW COOKER

It's baffling how parents who work full-time still find the time to cook for their families at the end of a long and exhausting day.

Before your kids are old enough to start hanging out all night long at Starbucks outlets, you'll have to make sure they get fed nutritious meals every day.

The answer to that is a slow cooker. All you have to do is cut up the ingredients, dump them into the machine and wait. There is no need to watch the slow cooker or worry about things burning, so you're free to do other things

You can toss your ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning before you leave for work. Pick recipes according to how long you'll be gone-there are some recipes that are still edible even if you return 10 hours later.

CAROUSELL

The amount Singaporean parents spend on kid-related stuff is mind-boggling, especially when children outgrow their toys, clothes, etc so quickly that before you know it, you're already trying to get rid of the stuff.

Unless you're planning on having enough kids to rival the brood in The Sound of Music, there are only so many times you can turn what you've bought into hand-me-downs.

So use Carousell to sell all your unwanted kid-related purchases. Even better, before you buy anything your kid will need, check to see if someone else is selling it on Carousell.

You can even find textbooks, assessment books and past year papers being sold on the platform.

SCHOOL PICKER

When it comes time for your kid to take the PSLE and fill up that form indicating his top choices of secondary school, many parents spend hours and hours poring over the various options.

The School Picker application helps parents and students pick primary and secondary schools and JCs based on their location and desired CCAs. You can also use the map to find all the schools in a certain area.

Of course, we all know many parents are just going to put RGS / RI and other top schools at the top of their forms. But the school picking app might be able to save you a few minutes/hours of your life when picking the last few schools on the list.

Do you have any other recommendations for parents of school-going children? Share them with us in the comments!

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - 13:00

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Major Wi-Fi security flaws affect billions worldwide, including almost every Internet user in Singapore

Singapore president Halimah Yacob to attend Royal Cremation in Thailand

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Singapore's President Halimah Yacob will attend the Royal Cremation Ceremony of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, said Singapore's Foreign Ministry.

She will visit Bangkok from October 26 to 27 and will be accompanied by her husband; Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, and officials from the President's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The trip to Thailand is her first overseas trip as the president after she sworn in as Singapore's first female President on Sept 14.

King Vajiralongkorn takes part in Chinese funeral rite for the late King Bhumibol

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 - 09:54
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Close shave for driver after forklift arm impales car in Choa Chu Kang


Deepavali drama as fight breaks out at Kallang MRT Station

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A fight broke out between a group of men at a bus stop in front of Kallang MRT Station on Wednesday (Oct 18) at around 5pm.

Stomp contributor Aloy was nearby when he noticed the ruckus.

"They were fighting and shouting, and one guy walked away with his head seriously bleeding," said the Stomp contributor.


Photo: Stomp

"The guy in grey even grabbed a thick tree branch and chased after the bleeding guy," he added, although that part was not shown in the video Aloy shared with Stomp.

It is unclear what the fight was about.


Photo: Stomp

Stomp has contacted the authorities for more information.

Watch the video below.

Thursday, October 19, 2017 - 08:14

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28-year-old Singaporean woman and 3 other stranded Hokkaido hikers airlifted to hospital

Photos: Man suffers minor scratches after forklift impales car in Choa Chu Kang

Man arrested for leaving bag unattended at 2 MRT stations on the same day

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Singapore police have arrested a 37-year-old man for leaving his bag unattended at two locations, Farrer Park and Outram MRT station, on the same day.

Police were alerted to a case of an unattended bag at one of the exits of Farrer Park MRT station on Monday (Oct 16) at about 12.25pm.

The man later collected the bag and left the station before the arrival of officers.

On the same day at about 2.10pm, police were alerted to another case of an unattended bag at Outram MRT Station. 

According to a statement by the police, the 37-year-old man approached the officers and claimed ownership of the bag while investigations were ongoing.

The bag contained a laptop, mobile phones and computer-related paraphernalia.  Further investigations revealed that the man was the same person who had earlier left his bag at Farrer Park MRT station.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the man had intentionally left his bag inside the two MRT stations while he went to run errands.

Police investigations are still ongoing. Anyone convicted for the offence of Public Nuisance under Section 290 of the Penal Code may be fined up to $1,000.

According to the statement, all security threats are treated seriously and police will not hesitate to take action against anyone who intentionally cause public alarm. 

Members of the public are also reminded not to leave personal belongings unattended and to report any suspicious items or behaviour to the MRT staff or the police immediately.

a1admin@sph.com.sg

Thursday, October 19, 2017 - 10:59

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Wild boar attacks and injures man outside Hillview condominium

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A man in his 40s was injured in a wild boar attack at 25 Hillview Avenue today (Oct 19) at around 8.43am.

Stomp contributor Sharafu told Stomp in a telephone interview that the victim was on the pavement receiving treatment from paramedics.

He also reported seeing the wild boar lying motionless under a sheltered walkway near a bus stop. Its condition is unclear.

Wild boar that attacked man at 25 Hillview Ave dies after getting hit by bus

The Stomp contributor did not witness the attack as it was taking place.

In response to a Stomp query, a spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force said that the victim sustained cuts and lacerations on both legs.

He was conscious when conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

Several Twitter users also posted photos of the scene following the animal attack.

on Twitter

Images published by netizens Brianna Degaston and Ahmad Syarif show a police cordon around the area where the incident occurred.

on Twitter

 

Thursday, October 19, 2017 - 13:02
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HDB resale transaction time to be halved to 8 weeks from 2018

CNBC Transcript: Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore

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Following is the transcript of CNBC's interview with Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong. The full interview will be broadcast on CNBC Conversation on Saturday, Oct 21, 2017, 6.30pm (SG/HK Time).

For a Chinese version of the transcript, please click here.

All references must be sourced to CNBC.

Interviewed by Christine Tan, Anchor, CNBC.

Part 1

Christine Tan (CT): Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, good to talk to you.

You're heading to the US this weekend to talk to President Donald Trump next week. It'd be your first visit to the White House under the Trump administration. What do you hope to accomplish during this visit?

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (PM Lee): I hope to develop our relationship with the Trump administration, and with the United States. It's a very sound relationship that's based on the basic strategic congruence of views, about the world, about the region. And deep co-operation over many years, in the economic sphere, trade, investments; in security and defence area, we've trained in the US, the US forces use our facilities, we've fought together in Desert Storm, and now in the coalition against ISIS. So there's, it's a deep and multi-faceted relationship. With the new administration, we've met their principal officers -- Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis, Mr. McMaster and I've met President Trump also, in the G20 in Hamburg. But this is an opportunity to call on him in the White House, meet him formally, and also to meet the officials as well as people in Congress, on the Hill.

CT: Any new deals you're hoping to do, with the US, during your visit?

PM Lee: (chuckle) Well, we're hoping to sign an agreement between SIA and Boeing to buy more aeroplanes.

CT: (laughs) Is that a done deal, you think?

PM Lee: I think that's a done deal.

CT: This is not the first time, like you said, you've met President Trump. You've met him on the side lines of the G20 Summit earlier this year. You and I know he's been called many things. How would you describe him in your own words?

PM Lee: Well I think he's confident of himself, there are things which he wants to do, he has a very set view of the world, and of people. And we will work with him. I mean, he has been elected, he has a mandate from the American voters, and he represents the United States of America.

CT: Well it's been about 10 months since he took office. His election promise of "America First" -- do you get a sense perhaps he's backed down a little from his campaign rhetoric, now that he's had time to settle in?

PM Lee: think every administration has a settling-in process. And there's always an adjustment, between what you can say during a campaign and what you find are the possibilities and the imperatives when you win the election and you enter the Oval Office. And the Trump administration is not different. Perhaps the adjustment is bigger in this case, because Trump represented such a radically different rethink to so many things which American... policy intelligentsia had considered to be shared conventional wisdom. But, reality and forces of events press down on every president.

CT: But do you worry about America turning inwards?

PM Lee: We have long depended on an America which has got a clear sense of its stakes in the world and how much it depends on the world as well as how much the world and its allies and friends depend on the United States of America, and we hope this will continue.

CT: Nonetheless, since he took office, one of the first things he did was to pull the US out of TPP. Now you've expressed disappointment at the move. Where is TPP minus the US now? Is it still going forward? What's the status?

PM Lee: We're still talking, the 11 remaining members are still discussing how we can take it forward and we hope we'll be able to get somewhere.

CT: Who's taking the lead?

PM Lee: I think all the 11 are. Many of the 11 are quite keen. The trade ministers have been meeting and APEC is coming up soon, so by the time APEC comes up, perhaps there'll be further developments.

CT: Is there anything happening behind the scenes? Whether it's Singapore, ASEAN or Asia that's working to convince the US to re-join the multi-lateral trade pact?

PM Lee: I think the President has made his position quite clear, he's made the formal decision and I think we'll leave it at that, I don't think it is the time yet, to start new initiatives multi-laterally with the United States, perhaps one day the time will come.

CT: With the US pull-out, is it only natural you think that countries like Singapore and ASEAN now pivot more towards China and its Belt and Road initiative to compensate for the US abandoning TPP?

PM Lee: I think we are paying a lot of attention to China one way or the other. They are a big factor in the world, they are successful, they are growing, they want to grow their influence and all the countries in Asia want to be their friend and want to benefit from China's development and success.

The TPP would have enhanced our relations across the pacific as well as the relations and interdependence among all the TPP partners, which included many major economies, the Japanese, the Australian, United States, NAFTA, Canada and Mexico. There's no TPP but the volume of trade nevertheless is substantial and we hope that it will still be able to grow.

CT: Well TPP like you alluded to, really was, under Obama, was US pivot to Asia…

PM Lee: It was, it was part of Obama's policies towards Asia.

CT: Where do you see that relationship now? Is that US Asia pivot still intact?

PM Lee: Well, I am sure the new administration will not use the same word, but I hope they will pay attention to the region because Asia has been a source of strength and prosperity for America. It has many partners here, it has enormous amount of trade here, it has resources from Asia, energy particularly. It has security interest in Asia, and the fact that Asia is stable and prospering and not a troubled part of the world, I think that's a great relief to the United States to say the least.

CT: Can it matter to Asia politically and strategically even though they pulled out of a huge multilateral trade pact like TPP, in other words, they pulled out economically but they still want to be there politically and strategically?

PM Lee: Well, they pulled out of the TPP means that we didn't conclude this deal to have a free trade agreement. It doesn't mean that the existing trade stops, it doesn't mean that investment flows are abandoned. It does not mean that Asians are not travelling to America to work, to study, for tourism or Americans are not all over the region. These are very big stakes we have in each other and which we'll continue. We had hoped that with a TPP that would have given it an extra boost. Well, that's not to be but we have what we have and we'll find other ways to take it forward.

CT: When do you think TPP will come about…Do you have a time frame?

PM Lee: No I think there's, there's a tide in these affairs and if you miss the tide, you may be able to achieve the same objectives one day. It will have to be in a different form, in a completely different way.

CT: But it's delayed in the process.

PM Lee: Yes, of course. It will take several years before you can come back to it, and stars have to come back into alignment.

CT: We know that President Trump is going to visit Asia next month. He will attend APEC and the ASEAN-US Summit. What are the chances of his talks getting hijacked by the North Korean issue?

PM Lee: I'm sure it will be on the agenda, it's very high on the US' agenda, President Trump himself is very seized with it, and ASEAN is also focused on this, although ASEAN's influence on matters must be limited.

CT: We've had a war of words, an exchange of words between President Trump and North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un. Trump has labelled him -- I'm sure you know this -- madman, rocket man -- are you worried about North Korea and its provocations?

PM Lee: I think brinksmanship has been part of the North Korean issue for a long time. I mean, it's part of the game, you... make a threat, you posture, you.... [pause] make a risky move, you hope that the other side will then do something to placate you, or to give you some advantage in exchange for good behaviour, and then after some time it starts again. So it's not the first time, what's different this time is that North Korea has more nuclear weapons, they've conducted more nuclear tests, they're developing their missile technology, particularly the ICBM technology, and so the risks are higher. But the danger is not just the immediate alarums but also the longer term trends, which are set off in Northeast Asia, if things persist in this direction. Because with North Korea going this way, the South Koreans are asking themselves "what can we do?" The Americans have removed their tactical nuclear weapons, from South Korea, now, what do we do? Do we ask the Americans to bring them back? Do we, the South Koreans, think of developing some capability? 60 per cent of South Koreans now think that they should have some kind of nuclear capability. So that's in South Korea. Japan, too, which has a very strong anti-nuclear public stance... sentiment, will be forced to think about the possibilities and the unthinkable, and what may they need to do. And one former defence minister has said recently, "Well perhaps we should ask the Americans to bring their nuclear weapons and put them in Japan." And the government says "No, we shouldn't." But these are thoughts which cannot be completely suppressed and it in fact, it goes that way, and South Korea and Japan go closer to be in nuclear power or actually cross the threshold. It means, different strategic and security balance in Northeast Asia. More risky, more tense, and the Chinese will be very alarmed, and, I don't think they'll make for a safer world. There'll be implications elsewhere in the world.

CT: But from where you sit, do you want the US to have more military involvement here in the region?

PM Lee: Well the US has always had a presence in the region, the Pacific command is one of their major commands around the world, with the 7th Fleet and with the other US Forces based in...

CT: But at a time like this, do you want them more involved militarily?

PM Lee: I think that they're not... well... they'll never have enough military forces from their point of view, of their admirals and their generals. But what is most important is not just the amount of forces you have in theatre, but the political will and the focus and the political direction which is set in Washington, but also in the United States, that, to know that Asia is important to the US, that the US will cultivate its relations with Asia, that the US will continue to contribute to the peace and stability of Asia.

CT: And this is something you want to get out of your visit?

PM Lee: Well it is something which I say on every visit to the US... And it is a message which bears repeating because I think it is the truth, which is not going to change in the short while and which needs to be made a reminder because the US has so many other preoccupations -- domestically and also internationally, in other parts of the world.

Part 2

CT: Prime Minister, earlier on we talked about the US and North Korea. President Trump has long said, and let me quote him, "China is a linchpin to solving the North Korean crisis." How would you respond?

PM Lee: China has a major role to play. They share a border with North Korea, they have very high volumes of trade with North Korea... or at least they are a very big part of North Korea's external trade. And so they have influence over North Korea. But I would not say that the North Koreans will do anything that the Chinese want them to do. Big countries know that small countries can be quite obstreperous.

CT: But from your point of view, do you feel that China should play a bigger role in resolving the nuclear crisis in North Korea?

PM Lee: I think that Chinese have complex calculations to balance. They are living there with a neighbour. They do not want to destabilize the neighbour at the same time. I think they can't be at all happy with the way things are going with nuclear tests and with missile tests. It must worry them a great deal.

CT: Things were a little bit tense last year between Singapore and China over some comments made over the South China Sea. A few months later, you had to deal with the issue of Singapore's military vehicles getting impounded in Hong Kong. Now last month, I know you just returned from a trip to Beijing, where you met with President Xi Jinping and some top Chinese leaders. How would you describe relations with China now?

PM Lee: We are good. We are forward looking. We are two countries and sovereign countries, so there will always be issues where we don't completely see eye to eye. But fundamentally, there are no basic conflicts in our perspectives. And we both wish to do more together bilaterally, and also in the context of ASEAN. Because next year, Singapore is Chairman of ASEAN, and also for these couple of years, Singapore is the ASEAN coordinator for relations with China. So we both want to make the relationship prosper. In fact, there's a lot we are doing together. Singapore has big investments in China, all over, in many of the provinces. And the Chinese are growing their activities in Singapore too. Their banks are here, thousands of Chinese companies are here. With the Belt and Road, I think there is opportunity for them to use Singapore as a base for financing, for regional headquarters, for all sorts of activities. And I see no reason why that shouldn't happen.

CT: So just to be clear, relations between Singapore and China are not strained over differences in the South China Sea?

PM Lee: Every country will have... every pair of countries will have issues where, "I wish you'd agreed with me. You wish I'd agreed with you." But we remain good friends, and it is so with Singapore and the US, it is so with Singapore and the People's Republic of China.

CT: But these issues you've had to deal with China last year - any lessons learned for Singapore?

PM Lee: Well I think we understand each other's position clearer now. Singapore's position has always been...

CT: It wasn't clear before?

PM Lee: It's clear, but events happen, and then we react to events and then the positions have to be restated, clarified. In the case of the South China Sea, our position has always been that we are not the claimant state. We have no claims. So we don't take sides on those claims: who owns which island. But we do have an interest in freedom of navigation in the rule of international law, in the peaceful resolution of dispute, and in ASEAN having a role in an issue which is this important in our neighborhood. And I think that bears repeating.

CT: Let's talk more about what you said about not taking sides, and let me quote you in an article and get your reaction, "The shifting geopolitical climate is making it more difficult for the Lion City to live with a Giant Eagle on one side, and Dragon on the other." Prime Minister, is Singapore in a conundrum?

PM Lee: Well, it's never easy to be a small country next to a big neighbour. If you have one big neighbour only, that's not easy to manage. If you have two big neighbours, well in some ways you have more friends but in other ways you have to make more difficult choices.

CT: But is it getting difficult? To manage that relation between US and China?

PM Lee: We hope that the US ... well, it depends on, it depends on how the US relationship with China develops. If that stays stable and good, then it's easier for Singapore. If that becomes strained or harsher, then it's harder for us.

CT: What do you mean by "harder"? You have to pick a side?

PM Lee: If there are tensions between America and China, we will be asked to pick a side. It may not be directly, but you will get the message that: we would like you to be with us and are you with us. If not, does that mean you're against us? And that's to put it gently.

CT: Which side would you pick?

PM Lee: We hope not to have to pick sides. We have such substantial relations with both. China's our biggest trading partner, America is somewhere near there. And very important partners in many other areas well, including security. We hope we will be able to maintain these relationships.

CT: Well Singapore, like you said, is going to be chair of ASEAN next year. There are some concerns that China is and will lean on Singapore to keep ASEAN calm over the South China Sea. How would you respond?

PM Lee: As chairman, we are not the Commander-in-Chief. We are the honest broker. We are coordinating ASEAN, we are bringing the parties together in order to help to the degree that we can to produce an ASEAN consensus because ASEAN works by consensus. And unless all the countries go along and most of the countries agree, you cannot take an ASEAN position, and that is all the more so in the case of the difficult issue like the South China Sea where the strategic interests of the different ASEAN countries are not entirely the same. Our position as Singapore is not the same as that of the claimant states because we are not a claimant state. The position of a country which is like Laos, which is land-locked and has a border with China, cannot be the same as the position of the Philippines, which is an island nation, an archipelagic nation and has a claim on the atolls and reefs. And if we look at Myanmar, it doesn't even have a shoreline on the South China Sea, it's on the Andaman Sea. So the interests do not all exactly, fundamentally align, and therefore when you make a consensus, that consensus can only be to the degree that these countries do share a common perspective. And as the chairman of ASEAN, we will try and foster the process of coming to such a consensus.

CT: Well still on China, earlier this week, we've had the 19th Communist Party Congress and we have China of course pledging further liberalization of its economy. We know that Singapore is one of the largest foreign investors in China. What are you exploring? What are you working on that could see Singapore playing a bigger role in China's development?

PM Lee: There are the private sector projects which are all over China. We have real estates, we have developments of shopping malls, we have got service apartments, we've got retail, we've got infrastructure, people with power stations, with water treatment plants, waste treatment plants. We've got all kinds of service projects, tourism - so that's on the private sector. On the government side, we have the G2G projects.

CT: Well you've had Suzhou, you've had Tianjin, and you have Chongqing?

PM Lee: We've had Suzhou, we've had Tianjin, now we have Chongqing and Chongqing is the latest and we are working very hard at it. So that's a major focus, and there's a very high level JCBC - Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, which is chaired by two deputy prime ministers overseeing it. So that is a major focus of co-operation. But we also have co-operation in the education field, culturally, and many other areas.

CT: So Singapore is well entrenched in China

PM Lee: Trade too; we're talking about an upgrade to our China-Singapore FTA.

CT: Could your next big partnership, big project, involve the One Belt One Road infrastructure project?

PM Lee: Well actually the Chongqing project involves the One Belt One Road because Chongqing is in a Western part of China. It is the beginning of the belt, the Silk Road Economic Belt [as] the Chinese call it, where the railway starts from Chongqing it goes all the way to central Asia and reaches Western Europe. And the specific project which we are pursuing in Chongqing which is called the Southern Corridor is very much linked to One Belt One Road because it starts in Chongqing and what the idea is to develop the rail corridor from Chongqing down to Guangxi Beibuwan, and therefore provide a faster, more economical connection for western China out to the maritime Silk Road and out to the world. So instead of travelling all the way down the Yangtze River to Shanghai and then doubling back and going to Europe, you can just go down to Guangxi, take a ship you're in Singapore, from Singapore's PSA Container Port, you can be in anywhere in the world economically and quickly. So the Chongqing project is very much related to the Belt and Road. In fact, it links up the Belt, which is the land route, and the Road, which is the sea route.

CT: Any more projects like Chongqing?

PM Lee: Well, Chongqing is a very big project, so we'll get this one done first. But there are smaller projects all over China which are prospering and I think will benefit from our good relationship.

CT: Well you've been Prime Minister since 2004, lots of questions about political succession and who's going to be next to lead the country. Can you share with us, what you're doing behind the scenes to find the next Prime Minister?

PM Lee: Well, I've explained this, quite often, and quite publicly that I've assembled a team, a strong team of younger ministers, they have to establish themselves, among themselves, they have to work out their relationships and assess one another, publicly they have to gain the confidence of the public and show the public what they're able to do. And in time I think they'd have to come to a consensus as to who should be leading the team into the next stage. Beyond me. And I, the process has taken some time and we've been bringing in people in every election, 2006, 2011, 2015... So, it's advanced, we'd continue to bring people in to reinforce the team. But, who's to emerge? Well, time will tell, and it's... it cannot be a very long time because the clock ticks and waits for no man.

CT: But from what you know, are you close to finding the next prime minister?

PM Lee: Oh, I think it's very likely that he would be in the cabinet already but which one, well that would take a while to...to account.

CT: Here in Singapore, lots of concerns about technological disruption, impact on jobs, not to mention competition coming from foreign labour. What are you doing to address these issues?

PM Lee: Oh! That has been the subject of a lot of attention... we have the Committee on the Future Economy, chaired by Heng Swee Kiat, finance minister, to develop strategies to deal with these challenges. And the committee has reported and we are now following up to implement the strategies. We're.... facing the same challenges as many other developed countries -- which is that change is rapid, that it's disruptive, that we need to master new technologies and we need to be able to do it with people who are already in the workforce, middle-aged. And not just young people in school. So, getting our education system to produce people with the right skills is an important part of it. And that we've always been doing. But to, upgrade and refresh the skills of people who are already in the workforce so that you can, with confidence, change your career and take up a different job and maintain your employability, be still able to find work -- I think that's something which we have put a lot more emphasis on in recent years. We call it SkillsFuture. And it's not just running courses, but having the framework to have the courses fit into one another and recognised by the employers and to fit in with your work and your career and your training so that it's complementary, and it's not a completely divergent activity.

So that's one important part of it. The other important part of it is to get the industries and the different sectors of the economy up to speed, and to, to cope with the transformation. And you have here, to deal in a very tangible and concrete way with individual industries, individual firms, and not just in a stratospheric, macro, philosophical approach. And you need to have a specific sense for each industry -- what are the skills which are needed, what are the market areas which can be exploited, what are the changes which the companies need to make, how can we help the companies to achieve these changes. And if there has to be some rationalization, how can we help them to shake out and make it less painful.

So we're going industry by industry, with transformation maps. And we're planning to make 23 of these transformation maps -- we've already got a good number of them, and we work closely with the industries to help to make this happen. If you take a laisse-faire approach -- you say "I just fold my hands, the government doesn't know any better, let it all sort itself out." But we don't think that that's the right thing to do and we think that the government has a constructive and... active role to play and we will do that, working with the industry. And fostering the change, rather than obstructing it.

CT: Well, Singapore is expected to grow two to three per cent this year. What is your vision for Singapore beyond that? Can you put forward a compelling vision for Singapore and its next stage of development? Where do you see the city state?

PM Lee: Well, first, we would like to continue to grow. Two to three per cent is by developed countries' standards, is a very significant level. We would like to be able to continue doing that over the next 10, 15 years. And if we can do that for the 10, 15 years, and you can make a very substantial change in the quality of life and standard of living of the population. But, we also measure ourselves against other economies, other societies, other cities. How are other people living? What have they done to improve their lives? Have we been able to do the same or better? And today, I think Singapore is not a bad place to live. If you have to choose a place to work, to bring up your family, to fulfil not just your economic needs but a more satisfying, comprehensive view of what you can do with your life, I think in Singapore you can do a lot of that. There is something you can achieve, not just to feed yourself but more. And in 10 years' time, in 20 years' time, what is that standard which is expected? I'm quite sure that if you look at New York or London or Beijing or Shanghai or Sydney or Mumbai, it will not be what it is today. It will be something new, there will be new technology, there will be new ways of doing things, there will be new aspirations.

CT: But Singapore will be there right on top.

PM Lee: And we want to be there. And our job, the government's job is to help Singapore stay at the top.

CT: Let's talk about the government's job because Singapore has often been described as a nanny state. And if I were to quote your late father, he had a great quote, he said, "If Singapore is a nanny state, then I'm proud to have fostered one." For many, Singapore is already a developed economy. Do you think it still needs a baby-sitter? A nanny?

PM Lee: Well, if you ask the Singaporeans, on the one hand, they'll say let us do our own thing, on the other hand, whenever an issue comes up, they'll ask what the government is doing about it and they have very high expectations of what the government should be doing, which is right because they voted for the government and they expect the government to be able to perform. So we have to keep that balance. No government prospers by saying I don't need to do anything and just by being there, we have made the country thrive. You have to have an idea of what you need to do, what needs to be fixed, what can be improved, what we should now imagine together, which we didn't previously imagine and having thought of it, decide to do it. And that's the government's role.

CT: It's been more than two years since your father, the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, passed away. What's life like, for you, post Lee Kuan Yew?

PM Lee: Well. Life goes on. I think Mr. Lee prepared well for the day when he would not be here, and he made sure that Singapore would be able to go on without him. He handed over as Prime Minister in 1990. 25 years before he died. So I think we miss him, we think of him often, we read his old speeches and we say, "well, that's still relevant to us today." The way he puts it still has a ring to it. At the same time, we have to build on that and move forward, because if we just remained with what he had imagined and what he had done and nothing more, I think he'd have been very disappointed.

CT: If he were alive today, what advice do you think he would have given you?

PM Lee: I think he would have said, "Press on, move on. Don't be looking at the rear view mirror. Remember what has happened, understand how you got here, but look forward and press forward."

CT: You can hear his voice in your head?

PM Lee: (laughs) Yes, we can imagine that.

CT: Earlier this year, you had a dispute with your siblings over your father's estate. For many, it was a rare moment in Singapore's politics where something so private involving the founding Lee family is made so public. Have you and your siblings managed to resolve the issue?

PM Lee: Well the matter is in abeyance, I'm not sure if it's solved.

CT: Are you on talking terms with your siblings?

PM Lee: We have not recently communicated.

CT: How are relations with your siblings now? Do you hope to patch up with them?

PM Lee: Well, I think they are where they are. Perhaps one day when emotions have subsided, some movement will be possible. These things take time.

CT: Are you sad?

PM Lee: Yes, of course.

CT: And finally, you have until January 2021 to call the next elections. Could it happen in the next two years?

PM Lee: Yes, of course. Any time.

CT: So we should be prepared.

PM Lee: We always need to be prepared.

CT: As Prime Minister, you said you'd step down after the next election, before you turn 70. You're 65 now. Are you ready to step down in the next couple of years?

PM Lee: I am ready. What I need to make sure of is somebody is ready to take over from me.

CT: Is there somebody in the wings?

PM Lee: Well, as I've said, there are people in the wings. The question is, who it will be and that will need to be decided.

CT: How will you ensure a smooth power transition?

PM Lee: By building up the team so that when I leave, the rest of the team will be able to work and carry things forward. And they're doing that by being hands on, by having responsibility for major policies, by taking charge of...spiky ministries.

CT: But you will still be there behind the scenes?

PM Lee: Well, that's up to the next Prime Minister.

CT: What sort of legacy do you hope to leave behind?

PM Lee: I think that's not for me to say. I'm just trying to do my job day by day.

CT: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, thank you so much for talking to me on CNBC Conversation.

PM Lee: Thank you.

This article was first published in CNBC.

Friday, October 20, 2017 - 08:42

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North Korea issue is 'different this time,' warns Singapore prime minister

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North Korea threatens 'unimaginable' strike on United States North Korea threatens 'unimaginable' strike on United States

Pyongyang's ongoing nuclear aggression may potentially result in South Korea and Japan hosting nuclear weapons on their own turf, a scenario that would have wide-ranging negative consequences, Singapore's leader has warned.

"What's different this time is that North Korea has more nuclear weapons ... so the risks are higher," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in an interview with CNBC on Thursday.

To date, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has conducted six nuclear tests - the latest and largest one on Sept. 3 potentially incorporated a hydrogen bomb and caused a 6.3 magnitude earthquake - in addition to many ballistic missile launches. That's despite ongoing efforts by the international community to bring the sanction-burdened state to the negotiating table.

Tensions recently escalated amid a series of hostile exchanges between President Donald Trump and Kim, with North Korea's deputy United Nations ambassador warning on Monday that "nuclear war may break out any moment." That's left South Korea and Japan - seen as Kim's likeliest targets - weighing various security options, including the deployment of American tactical nuclear weapons in both countries.

"These are thoughts which cannot be completely suppressed and if in fact it goes that way, and South Korea and Japan go closer to being nuclear powers or actually cross the threshold, it means a different strategic and security balance in northeast Asia," Lee said on Thursday.

Not only would that scenario produce more risk and tension, "the Chinese will be very alarmed," he added. "I don't think that will make for a safer world, there will be implications elsewhere in the world."

That is, the current tensions are not just dangerous because of the chance of immediate flare ups, but also because they may introduce "longer-term trends, which are set off in northeast Asia if things persist in this direction," the 65 year-old leader said.

Last month, South Korean Defence Minister Song Young-moo and Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis discussed the prospect of returning American nukes to Asia's fourth-largest economy. Washington stationed nuclear weapons in South Korea in 1958 but withdrew them in 1991. Former Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba also suggested placing American nuclear weaponry on Japanese territory last month. Both governments, however, dismissed the idea.

On Trump and TPP

Lee is due to meet with Trump in Washington on Oct. 23, the second encounter between both leaders. During his visit, Lee said he expects to sign an agreement between Singapore Airlines, majority-owned by the government, and Boeing to buy more airplanes, describing it as "a done deal."

The prime ministers also addressed Trump's exit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, which includes Singapore and several Asian economies. The US withdrawal from that deal won't damage the American relationship with the region, he continued.

"It doesn't mean that the existing trade stops, it doesn't mean that investment flows are abandoned," Lee said.

Unlike Tokyo, which is still hoping for Washington's return to the free trade accord, Lee said he doesn't expect the White House to change its mind.

"The president has made his position quite clear ... I think we leave it at that, I don't think it's the time yet to start new initiatives multilaterally with the United States. Perhaps one day the time will come."

Developments regarding a new TPP framework without the US may occur by November's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, Lee added.

Here's the full transcript of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's interview with CNBC.

This article was first published in CNBC.

Friday, October 20, 2017 - 09:32

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