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PAP's Murali wins Bukit Batok by-election with 61.2% of the vote

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SINGAPORE - The People's Action Party's (PAP) candidate Murali Pillai has won the Bukit Batok by-election with 61.2 per cent of the vote, or 14,428 votes.

His opponent, Dr Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), garnered 38.8 per cent of the vote, or 9,142 votes.

There were 622 rejected votes out of the 24,192 cast today (May 7), which made up 94.03 per cent of the total voter pool comprising 25,727 registered electors.

The result was announced at close to 11.30pm, following nine days of campaigning by Mr Murali and Dr Chee before the Cooling-off Day yesterday (May 6).

Dr Chee congratulated Mr Murali and thanked his supporters at Bukit Gombak Stadium, the official assembly centre for SDP members and supporters.

"I said during the rally that I want to win with honour and lose with grace. I want to bow but not in defeat, but bow with grace and to thank again everyone who worked so hard to make this situation a possibility," Dr Chee said.

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Over at the PAP's Bukit Batok branch office, Mr Murali told reporters in a press conference that he was humbled and encouraged by the result.

He also thanked Dr Chee and the SDP, saying they ran a well-organised campaign.

Asked about his immediate plans for the Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency (SMC), Mr Murali replied: "I'll start work tomorrow."

He added that he will be attending his first Meet-the-People session on Monday (May 9), and that if the Speaker of Parliament permits, he would also like to attend the Parliament sitting on that day.

He said he is eager to build a team to make sure they are able to deliver on the "ambitious plans" he has outlined for the SMC, and invited those who would like to help to join him.

He would also like to work with a number of civic organisations on programmes such as job placement, healthcare cooperative, and mentoring of children from low-income families.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also secretary-general of the PAP, congratulated Mr Murali on his victory in a Facebook post shortly after the result was announced.

"Murali and his team have campaigned hard, but now their real work begins. He has served faithfully in Bukit Batok for many years, and with your support, will serve residents for many more," he wrote.

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The seat for Bukit Batok SMC was vacated by the PAP's David Ong, who resigned on March 12 amid allegations of an extra-marital affair.

The PAP will be holding a thank you parade around Bukit Batok on Sunday (May 8) at 10.30am.

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Building ties at briyani charity cookout

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Racial and religious harmony are fundamental building blocks for Singapore's future, a point stressed by President Tony Tan Keng Yam yesterday at an event where different segments of society came together to do their bit for the less well-off.

As part of The President's Challenge Charity Briyani, all the 69 mosques here sold a total of nearly 5,000 packets of the saffron-coloured rice dish.

Each pack cost $10, and organisers aim to raise $100,000 in total, including donations from corporate sponsors and a Friday collection in mosques on May 27.

The briyani - made with 900kg of rice - was prepared by Mr Alla'udin Mohamed, 63, chairman of Khalid Mosque in Joo Chiat, along with almost 80 volunteers, including six Bangladeshi workers.

The food was then sent to other mosques for collection.

At the event, Dr Tan and his wife, Mrs Mary Tan, added finishing touches of rose water and cashew nuts, among other ingredients, to a pot of briyani, and helped to stir another pot of the fragrant dish.

He said: "I think (an event like this) strengthens our Singapore society and builds a network of trust, which is so important today, if you see the events going on around the world."

The President's Challenge is an annual campaign with events that raise funds for charity.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who was also at the event organised in collaboration with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), added: "The fact that we have people from different backgrounds, different races, different nationalities coming together shows the significance of the event."

In the light of recent experiences, "we have to show the rest of the world that Singapore can stand tall together, with people of other backgrounds and other races, to do something that is good for everyone", he added.

Last week, the Ministry of Home Affairs said eight Bangladeshi workers who were planning to stage terror attacks back home had been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last month.

This marked the first ISA detentions involving a terror cell of foreign workers.

Also present at yesterday's event were beneficiaries, both Muslim and non-Muslim, from the Ren Ci Nursing Home and Ain Society.

The Charity Briyani is now in its 16th year.

Mr Alla'udin, who has cooked in each edition, first learnt to prepare briyani at Khalid Mosque when he was in his 20s, watching as it was being prepared.

This year, the food preparations started on Friday afternoon.

Said Mr Alla'udin of the event, which has seen more corporate partners joining over the years: "We are very lucky.

"We have non-Muslim partners to come together with us and celebrate our cause for the nation.

"We are breaking all walls, rebuilding bridges."


This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
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First mega childcare centre opens doors

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With 500 places on offer, the new E-Bridge Pre-School in Edgedale Plains in Punggol is five times larger than the average childcare centre in a Housing Board block, and it is already fully subscribed.

The centre, run by EtonHouse International, formally opened its doors yesterday - the first of five mega childcare centres being built by anchor operators to do so.

These operators, which include NTUC My First Skool and PAP Community Foundation, get government grants and priority in securing sites in HDB estates, and are part of efforts to meet the high demand for childcare places. But they cannot charge more than $720 a month for full-day childcare, among other conditions.

Acting Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng, who was at yesterday's ceremony, joked about wishing to be four again after touring the facilities.

He also stressed the importance of making available good-quality, affordable childcare under the Anchor Operator scheme. "The early childhood years set the foundations for life," said Mr Ng, who is also an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

"The experiences our children have in early childhood shape their capacity to learn and respond to future challenges."

The new centre is equipped with a specially developed sanitation system and temperature scanners similar to those used at airports. This will help to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases, such as hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which is spread via bodily fluids and is common in pre-schools.

Previously, some parents had raised concerns that such large centres would allow HFMD to spread more easily. Last week, the Health Ministry also sent out a statement saying that it is working with partner agencies to step up HFMD prevention. As of April 28, it said, 36 childcare centres and kindergartens had clusters of prolonged HFMD transmission this year.

Special disinfectant canisters in the new centre's classrooms will keep the air free of contaminants. It is also designed such that various sections can be easily closed off in the event of a disease outbreak.

The new E-Bridge campus, which sits on 5,000 sq m of land, takes in children between two months and six years of age. It currently has around 80 teachers.

The building is divided into five sections, or "pods", which roughly correspond to five different elements - water, earth, fire, wood and metal. For instance, there is a water-play area equipped with taps, buckets and funnels, a sand pit representing "earth", and a mock cooking area associated with "fire".

The corridors between these sections, meanwhile, appeal to the five senses. One is lined with windchimes, while another is stocked with jars of dried spices.

There is also a hedge maze on the rooftop and a herb garden behind the school that is stocked with plants like mint, lemongrass and pandan.

"Older children will be able to grind and touch the spices, for example, while the younger ones can smell them," said Ms Leanne Sunarya, executive director of pedagogy. "We believe that children learn best through play, and all the areas are designed to help them develop a wondering curiosity about the world."

The other centres, located in Yishun, Woodlands, Jurong West and Sengkang, are expected to be ready by the end of this year.


This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
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More stepping up to be foster parents

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"She was sobbing and trembling when she first came to me," recalled Madam Sarimah Amat, 49, on meeting her foster daughter Leela four years ago.

"We hugged and she hung on to me, maybe because she felt like I was there to rescue her. It was then that I knew I was doing the right thing."

With three children of her own - Mr Alfi Muswaadi Appathi, 25, Ms Syira Nurul-Ain, 23, and Mr Alif Mulyaadi Appathi, 20 - Madam Sarimah found room in her heart to care for more.

Before becoming a full-time housewife, Madam Sarimah was a childcare teacher by day and a silat instructor by night. A knee injury sustained in a bad fall forced her to stop working in 2010.

"It was too quiet at home as the kids had all grown up," she said. When she heard about the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) fostering scheme from her relative, she applied for it with her husband's support.

"Children are innocent and they should be loved and provided for. If we can't go to them, we will bring them to us," said Madam Sarimah on her decision to foster.

Over the past four years, she has fostered three children. Leela was her first and is still living with her.

The other two, Fazly and Ahmad, were under her care for half a year each. All her foster children are Malay/Muslim, but their names have been changed as their identities are protected by law.

Children who are placed on the fostering scheme lack alternative kinship care arrangements for various reasons. Their parents could have a physical or mental illness, or they could be victims of neglect and abuse.

More foster parents have been stepping forward in recent years. The number of foster parents registered under the MSF fostering scheme grew from 254 in 2014 to 370 this year, a step closer to the government target of 500.

The increase could be attributed to greater awareness of how vulnerable children can be helped.

A survey conducted by MSF among 246 foster parents last year showed that almost half of the respondents found out about the fostering scheme through newspapers, television or other forms of media.

More than 5,000 children have benefited from the scheme since its inception in 1956. The ministry matches the race and religion of the child to those of the foster family as closely as possible.

Now eight, Leela has grown in confidence. A bright and cheeky Primary 2 pupil, she looks forward to silat class every Thursday and enjoys playing sports with her foster siblings.

"Leela has brightened up our household and every day is like Hari Raya. All of us sayang (Malay for 'love') her the most as she is the youngest in the family," said Madam Sarimah.

Leela is closest to Ms Syira, with whom she shares a room. Snuggled up close to Ms Syira in a one-seater sofa, Leela said she loves drawing and baking with her foster sister.

To show her appreciation for her foster mother this Mother's Day, Leela made a card with a drawing of her and Madam Sarimah. It read: "Happy Mother's Day mama. I wish mama to be happy always. I love you very much and I love you forever."

With Ms Syira's help, she also baked chocolate cupcakes, knowing her foster mother's love for sweets.

"I was very touched by her efforts. Moments like when she first started calling me 'mama' and including me in her prayers moved me greatly," said Madam Sarimah.

Though it is inevitable that Leela will return to her natural family one day, Madam Sarimah said that it will be very hard for her family to see her leave when the time comes.

"We have grown very close. She tells me everything that happens in school when we walk home, like when she scored full marks for her Malay test or when a boy disturbed her," she said wistfully.

"I am very proud of how far she has come. We really treasure the moments we spend with her as a family, even if it's as simple as having dinner together."

Letters, cards and drawings that children have done for their foster parents will be on display during a fostering roadshow themed "What my family means to me" at Nex mall from tomorrow to May 15.

To find out more about fostering, call 6354-8799 or go to www.msf.gov.sg/fostering


This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
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PAP and SDP thank Bukit Batok supporters

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Both by-election candidates for Bukit Batok SMC have thanked their supporters this morning.

The new Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bukit Batok single seat Mr Murali Pillai and his party mates from the People's Action Party (PAP) went around the neighbourhood on a lorry waving at residents.

"Together we will build a better home for all of us," said the 48-year-old lawyer, according to Channel NewsAsia's Twitter account.

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, also joined the PAP team in thanking residents at Blk 154, Bukit Batok, reported The Straits Times in their live blog.

Mr Murali, who was also on the losing PAP team for Aljunied Group Representation Constituency at last year's General Election, will be sworn into Parliament on Monday (May 9), The Straits Times reported.

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Dr Chee Soon Juan and his party mates also did their morning rounds thanking their supporters.

He said: "We'll be back," in a tweet on Channel NewsAsia's account.

Mr Murali won 61.2 per cent of the vote, or 14,428 votes, in last night's count of the by-election.

Dr Chee garnered 38.8 per cent of the vote, or 9,142 votes.

There were 622 rejected votes out of the 24,192 cast, which made up 94.03 per cent of the total voter pool comprising 25,727 registered electors.

The result was announced at close to 11.30pm, following nine days of campaigning by Mr Murali and Dr Chee before the Cooling-off Day on May 6.

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Bukit Batok by-election: Murali thanks voters, says he is humbled by win, not triumphant

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In the end, there was no jubilant acceptance speech, no grand celebration by the winner of the Bukit Batok by-election.

Instead, People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Murali Pillai, in the face of his 61.2 per cent victory, said: "I am humbled by the results. I'm encouraged by the results but certainly not feeling triumphant."

Mr Murali, who was speaking at PAP's traditional press conference held after the result was announced at 11.30pm, was also quick to thank his rival, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, who got 38.8 per cent of the vote.

Said Mr Murali of Dr Chee and the SDP: "They ran a well-organised campaign. I want to thank them for the contest because it helped me articulate my plans for our Bukit Batok residents much better."

Residents, whom he thanked for giving him the mandate to serve, were front and centre of his speech.

"I will serve everybody, irrespective of their political affiliation," he stressed.

His press conference was a low-key one, held not at PAP headquarters or a stadium but at the party branch in Bukit Batok.

Also, Mr Murali was flanked, not by ministers but by four members of his campaign team, whom he said he was "eternally grateful to" for their time and hard work.

The quartet were: Madam Angelina Lim, branch assistant treasurer, Mr Lim Boon Lye, branch activist, Ms Noor Fatimah and Mr Tan Han Sen, branch activist.

Much of his brief speech focused on his immediate plans, which are to roll out the programmes he had proposed in his nine-day campaign.

These include a job placement programme, healthcare plans, and a mentorship scheme for children from low-income homes.

Mr Murali said the schemes would be ready in the next few months. "I'll start work tomorrow," he added, even as he said that his agenda was "ambitious".

"So I'll be out there looking for people to join me. And I would like to work with a number of civic organisations as well," he said.

"We really need lots of help and I welcome anyone to join me, and we'll take it from there."

Mr Murali, when asked, did not dwell on his margin of victory.

It was 11.8 percentage points lower than what the PAP's David Ong, who stepped down over an alleged affair, scored at the general election last year.

Instead, he quipped that he was "used to razor-thin margins", coming from Aljunied GRC where he contested in a team against the Workers' Party and lost with 49 per cent of the vote.

"I said from the start that this will be a tough by-election. And I'm really grateful for the results that have been announced," he said.

"It gives me encouragement, but certainly there's lots of work to be done."

Tomorrow will likely be a busy day for Mr Murali, as Parliament will sit in the afternoon.

Asked if he would be sworn in then, Mr Murali said: "If the Speaker permits, then I will attend."

He will hold his first Meet-the-People Session tomorrow evening.

Speaking to reporters after the press conference ended, several PAP leaders said they had expected a tough fight and were very happy with the result.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing said: "It's never easy to win a by-election."

These local elections are always a tough fight for the incumbent party, he added. "We never, never take for granted a by-election. It's not something that you can compare with a general election result."

Mr Chan added: "So of course we're very pleased that the residents of Bukit Batok have renewed their faith in the party."

His colleagues were also full of praise for Mr Murali.

Said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam: "He came out stronger than I expected. I think he did exceptionally well."

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said: "It was a good fight. It is a good win."


This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
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Bukit Batok by-election: SDP's Chee Soon Juan to stay on in Bukit Batok and run in next election

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Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan yesterday vowed to stay on in Bukit Batok and win over its residents, even as his contest in the by-election ended in defeat.

In a five-minute speech to thank supporters at Bukit Gombak Stadium shortly after the result was announced at 11.30pm, he said: "Bukit Batok, you've invited me here... I've come to know you, and hopefully you'll come to know me better in the years to come.

"We'll see better times, better results, for the SDP the next round."

Dr Chee, 53, was presented with garlands and was joined by his wife Huang Chih Mei on the podium as he addressed the crowd.

"I want to bow - not in defeat, but with grace and to thank again everyone who worked so hard to make this situation a possibility," he said.

"We go out with our head held high."

He later told reporters, when asked if he will stand in Bukit Batok at the next election if it remains a single seat: "Definitely, definitely."

The opposition veteran, who entered politics in 1992, won 38.8 per cent of the vote against his People's Action Party (PAP) rival Murali Pillai, who scored 61.2 per cent.

This was his best electoral performance over five attempts to enter Parliament since 1992, and marked a swing of 12.4 percentage points over the 26.4 per cent won by SDP candidate Sadasivam Veriyah in last year's general election.

Dr Chee's four-man team got 33.4 per cent of votes in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in GE2015, which marked his political comeback after having to sit out two previous general elections as he was an undischarged bankrupt.

The SDP chief said while he was disappointed at not having won, he felt encouraged by the result.

"Given that we've so few resources, what we're up against is never easy," he said.

"We were never under the illusion that this was going to be anything other than an uphill battle."

He stressed that the SDP had continued to emphasise both local and national issues, "despite our opponents engaging in the kind of politics we wish we wouldn't see in Singapore".

He also repeated his view - made several times during the hustings - that the contest was not just a direct one between him and his rival.

Asked for his response to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's comments on Facebook last night that Mr Murali's win shows "the Government and people are united in building a better nation together", Dr Chee said the media had not been fair to him.

SDP member Damanhuri Abas said the party will serve Bukit Batok residents in whatever way it can. He told The Sunday Times: "We surely will want to continue whatever we can do in Bukit Batok, if we are given the space by Mr Murali."

Mr Sadasivam said the party will spend the next few days taking stock of the result. But he said he was encouraged that SDP managed to win some voters from the PAP.

Analysts were divided over what the result meant for Dr Chee, who has moved away from his adversarial politics of the past to adopt a more conciliatory tone.

Dr Norshahril Saat of the Iseas- Yusof Ishak Institute said his improved result shows "people are willing to forgive and forget Dr Chee for what he has done in the past".

But former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin said the outcome also showed that "despite Chee's best effort, his past will still haunt him for a while".

Dr Chee told reporters he was determined to press on in future elections. He said: "This is a journey, a process. The destination is still far away, and we'll have to keep at it. One day, we'll get there."


This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
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'By-election effect' led to drop in PAP vote share

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Political watchers had expected the People's Action Party (PAP) to see a drop in vote share at the Bukit Batok by-election.

But the swing of almost 12 percentage points against the ruling party - in just eight months since the last general election - caught some by surprise yesterday.

"It tells you that the residents are quite affected by the David Ong scandal," said Dr Norshahril Saat of the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute.

He added that "the PAP can't take its good results in the last general election for granted".

PAP's Mr Murali Pillai won 61.2 per cent of votes against his opponent, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, who got 38.8 per cent of votes, his best showing since entering politics in 1992.

By comparison, former PAP MP David Ong polled 73 per cent in last year's general election, when he was up against the SDP's Mr Sadasivam Veriyah and independent candidate Samir Salim Neji. Mr Ong resigned from Parliament in March after allegations of an extramarital affair, triggering the by-election.

Dr Norshahril noted that the by-election result "is similar to the 2011 General Election, where the PAP had a 60-40 kind of margin".

Observers noted that people tend to vote more freely in a by-election, as there is no worry that they may end up toppling the Government.

Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) deputy director for research Gillian Koh, who felt the PAP's win was remarkable, said: "The opposition has a natural advantage."

It is made worse for the PAP, as its MP had to resign over an extramarital affair, she said.

Mr Murali was also up against Dr Chee, one of the most well-known opposition politicians. Yet, the PAP won. "The PAP should have lost the seat, but it didn't," she said.

In 2013, the Workers' Party won the Punggol East by-election, which was brought on by the resignation of PAP MP Michael Palmer, who had bagged 54.5 per cent of the vote in 2011.

"It (Punggol East) was a marginal seat and there was unhappiness towards the Government", said economist Walter Theseira, who comments on political issues. "These two factors were not present for this by-election."

There was also some focus on the race of the two candidates, but Dr Theseira did not think fielding an Indian candidate in a constituency where seven in 10 residents are Chinese cost the PAP many votes, although race did matter to some residents.

Mr Murali's victory signals that race may be a smaller factor than thought, said Dr Norshahril.

Dr Koh of the IPS believes that Bukit Batok voters - mainly heartlanders - would have given careful thought to whether their estate was going to be managed well.

This, said Dr Koh, was why Dr Chee had sought to assure voters "that it would not cost them if they voted for him". But PAP had an established track record in this regard, she added.

It may be Dr Chee's fifth defeat, but he still has reasons to cheer, as this is his best showing yet since entering politics in 1992, said former Nominated MP Eugene Tan.

Said Dr Norshahril: "The results tell us that the opposition still has a future in Singapore politics."

Former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin said the debate on a candidate's character may have cost the PAP some votes, too.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong probably alluded to Dr Chee when he said a person's heart and character are crucial if he wants to enter politics. "Of course, focusing on a person's character is important. But there's a danger when you go overboard," said Mr Zulkifli.


This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
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Bukit Batok by-election: SDP falls short with best shot in two decades

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The circumstances were as good as they could have been for Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan to finally win at an election. But in the end he still fell short in his fifth bid to enter Parliament.

The Bukit Batok by-election began, after all, with the People's Action Party (PAP) dented by the resignation of its MP David Ong over an alleged affair.

Since his stepping down on March 12, the SDP has had close to two months to strategise, focus and deploy its considerably experienced political machinery into a geographically compact constituency that would not overly stretch the resources of any sizeable party.

Opposition parties have also previously complained that they are sometimes stopped from undertaking house visits in condominiums. But with over 95 per cent of Bukit Batok residents living in public housing, the SDP had no bar on reaching out to the overwhelming majority of eligible voters.

What Dr Chee also had going for him this time was the so-called by-election effect - where voters have tended to be more willing to back the opposition candidate because the ruling party is in no danger of losing power.

Finally, the PAP, which has long argued that Group Representation Constituencies are needed in order to ensure minority representation in Parliament, took the chance of losing some votes when it opted to field a minority candidate.

Given all these factors, Dr Chee's 38.8 per cent of the vote last night will come as a disappointment. Despite it being his best showing at the polls, it was a comfortable victory for the PAP - and its first in the three most recent by-elections.

But there are some silver linings for Dr Chee.

He managed to engineer a 12.4 percentage point improvement on the SDP's performance in Bukit Batok from last year's general election. Dr Chee's vote share was also just shy of the SDP's hopes for a strong performance - of at least 40 per cent or more - so it could have a solid foundation of support to build on for the next general election.

Anything less would have called the electability of the party's long-time standard bearer into question despite Dr Chee shedding his combative image and adopting a more moderate tone.

But doubts about whether voters would buy into that change began to show at last year's polls. Even though he drew large crowds to rallies during GE2015 and there were long queues for his book signings, his Holland-Bukit Timah GRC team garnered just 33.4 per cent of votes.

Now just eight months later, he has managed a better showing - in a different constituency and in the absence of last year's 9.8 percentage point national swing to the PAP - although not quite enough to secure a seat for himself and his party.

But it is clear that Dr Chee's political past and the character issue will not fade, and is something that he will have to contend with in future elections that he contests.

The PAP has shown that it will continue to question his suitability for elected office based on his past actions and brushes with the law.

Even though the SDP labelled these as personal attacks and "character assassinations", last night's result suggests that the character issue continues to have some traction with voters.

And he certainly did not help his own cause by misinterpreting government data - such as on jobs for locals - and presenting a skewed picture of employment at his rallies. The episode may have given discerning voters cause to pause and consider that, perhaps, there is some truth in the PAP's position that voters should not trust him.

The SDP may also rue, on the character issue, that it took the moral high ground rather than go on the attack to ask why this by-election was triggered in the first place.

Although Dr Chee has fallen short at the ballot box once again, the result is unlikely to affect his position as the SDP's undisputed leader.

There is no one else in the party who has the same degree of visibility and profile with the public. Infectious diseases expert Paul Tambyah, regarded as the next leading figure, has stood by Dr Chee and has not shown any indication that he will mount a leadership challenge.

So, in the end, the status quo of Singapore's political landscape has been preserved. A win for Dr Chee would have been the first step of a comeback for the SDP, which was once the top opposition party with three elected MPs in the 1990s.

Dr Chee's presence in Parliament could have made things difficult for the PAP, and for the Workers' Party (WP), which made a breakthrough in 2011 by winning a GRC.

He repeatedly argued that he should be elected as the House needs an effective opposition voice, implicitly suggesting that the WP's MPs are anything but.

But with his loss, the WP's status as the only opposition party with a parliamentary presence stays intact. For now.


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Foreign workers' centre running out of funds

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A drop-in centre for blue-collar Bangladeshi workers near Little India will shut down by next month because its owner can no longer afford to pay for its rent and utilities.

"I'm sad to close Dibashram," said Mr Abdul Khaeer Mohammed Mohsin, 53, who also runs the local monthly Bengali paper Banglar Kantha. "But I have no more savings, and I still have to feed my family."

The father of three has been paying for the centre and its activities with the paper's profits of about $5,000 a month. The 600 sq ft second-floor shophouse unit doubles as his office.

Each month, the centre needs about $2,500 for rent and $500 for utilities, said Mr Mohsin, and the remaining $2,000 is used to print Banglar Kantha in Dhaka.

Mr Mohsin takes on freelance work such as translation and interpretation, amounting to about $2,000 a month, to pay for his household expenses. But Banglar Kantha's advertising revenue has been falling.

"I can run the paper from my home. All I need is a desk and a computer," said Mr Mohsin, who lives in a three-room Housing Board flat in Kallang Bahru with his wife and their three children.

But he is worried that the closure of Dibashram might spell a dearth of social spaces for the 160,000 Bangladeshi workers in Singapore.

Construction worker Tareq Hasan, 32, said he has been going to Dibashram every week for the past two years to read, talk to other Bangladeshis and write poetry.

"If this place closes, I don't know where else to go to relax. I like literature, and I don't know where (to find) Bengali books," he said.

Dibashram, which means daycare in Bengali, has been running for about five years and also helps workers with free translation and counselling.

It holds events to celebrate the Bengali New Year, Deepavali and Hari Raya.

For Labour Day, it organised a photography exhibition titled The Invisible Life of Migrant Workers, with shots taken by shipyard worker Hasanur Reza Zimy of how workers spend their days here.

Workers drop by Dibashram to read from a selection of Bengali books, play carrom or chess and fiddle with musical instruments such as guitars and goblet drums.

"If I have to move to a smaller place... there won't be any space for this collection that I built from scratch," said Mr Mohsin.

National University of Singapore's Professor Mohan Dutta, who studies migrant workers, said Dibashram is "an anchor" for the local Bangladeshi community and a bridge to help Singaporeans understand migrant workers better and vice versa.

"We will be losing a valuable, reliable resource if Dibashram closed," said Prof Mohan, who is helping to set up an online crowdfunding site to save the centre.


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Nations team up against terrorism at sea

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ASEAN, Asian countries, Russia, Australia, NZ and the US in joint ops against maritime threats

The Singapore leg of a multinational military exercise kicked off yesterday as task forces intercepted and stormed a merchant vessel hijacked by "terrorists" at sea.

The action-packed operation was part of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise, which started last Monday in Brunei. It will end on Thursday in Singapore.

The 11-day drill, which involves realistic sea- and land-based scenarios, aims to strengthen the capabilities of participating militaries in tackling terrorism and maritime threats.

About 3,500 personnel, 18 naval vessels, 25 aircraft and 40 special forces teams from 18 countries are taking part.

Participants include the 10 ASEAN nations, Australia, China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

The inaugural ADMM-Plus convened in Vietnam in 2010, with the goal of boosting security and defence co-operation among ASEAN countries and their partners.

Working groups were set up in various areas of co-operation, which include maritime security and counter-terrorism.

This is the fifth ADMM-Plus field training exercise. The first was held in 2013 and focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and military medicine.

This is the first time that the ADMM-Plus' maritime security and counter-terrorism working groups are collaborating in an exercise.

Its joint operations director Brigadier-General (BG) Desmond Tan, 45, said such a collaboration is important as terrorism can occur out at sea.

"This has the added advantage of (adding) more relevance and realism to the exercise, (as) terrorism and maritime security are sometimes intertwined," said BG Tan.

He added that collaboration allows for a wider scope of interaction among the troops.

Citing piracy issues, BG Tan also described the exercise as timely and relevant.

"I think we all recognise that these are transboundary challenges that no one country can tackle by itself," he said.

In yesterday's drill, the maritime security task force headquarters in Brunei's Muara Naval Base and the counter-terrorism task force headquarters in Changi Naval Base were alerted to a hijacked vessel.

After tracking down the vessel, four teams from Brunei, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand stormed the vessel using rigid-hull inflatable boats, while two teams from Singapore rapelled onto the vessel from Super Puma helicopters.

The hijackers were eventually subdued and the hostages rescued.

BG Tan acknowledged that the multinational nature of the exercise has brought challenges arising from the participants' different languages, cultures and tactics.

But he stressed: "This is exactly the purpose of this exercise - to bridge some of these challenges and to allow the various countries... to come together to exercise and to understand each other better and to build trust and confidence."

The exercise continues today with land operations in the Lim Chu Kang training area.

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg


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Best showing but should Dr Chee be going?

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Singapore Democratic Party secretary-general Chee Soon Juan is adamant he will stay on in politics despite garnering only 38.79 per cent of the votes in the recent Bukit Batok by-election.

After his thank you parade yesterday, he told reporters he intends to continue his work in Bukit Batok SMC.

But is his string of five losses in close to 25 years an indication that he should leave instead?

Political analyst Mustafa Izzuddin told The New Paper: "As much as I believe the Bukit Batok by-election was Dr Chee's swansong in his political career, I do not believe he will quit politics, because it has been in his DNA for more than 20 years."

National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser agreed, adding that there are many examples of opposition leaders elsewhere whose tenacity eventually paid off.

"Moreover, he has already invested much time and energy in politics and it'd seem like a waste to his cause (to exit politics)," he said.

Dr Chee's performance in the recent polls is his best to date.

But Dr Mustafa, a fellow at the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute, remains sceptical about Dr Chee's chances of being elected into Parliament.

"As much as one has to applaud the determination of Dr Chee to keep going despite losing every time he has contested, it is highly doubtful that he will strike parliamentary gold eventually.

"It will take an extraordinary turn of events, both politically and economically, for Dr Chee to make it into Parliament under the current circumstances of entrenched one-party dominance," he explained.

Associate Professor Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University, on the other hand, saw a possibility with a caveat: Dr Chee needs to make a "substantive change".

But he quickly added: "I don't think a leopard will ever change its spots."

He said: "This is someone who's trying to milk voters' sympathy. He was trying essentially to reinforce that he has been persecuted - not only him, but his entire family has had to suffer, and so that's why he's deserving of people's support."

POWER HUNGER

The law don said he also saw Dr Chee's hunger for power in the by-election.

When the People's Action Party (PAP) incumbent MP David Ong resigned, Dr Chee was the one who decided he would contest in the by-election.

"He made the decision on his own accord. Unless he did a CEC (central executive committee) meeting over the phone," he said.

Calling SDP Dr Chee's alter ego, he said: "The election was not about the party, or even the voters. It was all about him."

Political experts pointed to what they felt is a more pertinent question: Should Dr Chee continue to be the SDP's main man?

Said Dr Mustafa: "The decision SDP has to make is whether they would want to remain a Chee-centric party or look beyond Dr Chee, with others fronting the party, going forward.

"While one can foresee SDP contesting Bukit Batok SMC again in future, it is less certain at this point whether it will be Dr Chee who will stand there again in the next election."

Prof Tan said: "To put it bluntly, despite what is generally regarded as a good showing, Dr Chee should really examine if he's the best person to lead the SDP."

Law prof: Chee lacks staying power

His chances of winning would have been much higher if the media did not attack him, Dr Chee Soon Juan said on Saturday night after his concession speech.

The Bukit Batok by-election candidate told reporters in Mandarin: "We are not just competing with the PAP (People's Action Party), we are also competing with media. It's disappointing."

But looking at the poll results, a political analyst told The New Paper that the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general would not have won anyway.

Discounting factors like the SG50 effect, the margin of the by-election ought to have been much closer, said political observer Eugene Tan.

On Saturday, Dr Chee had said that the results were encouraging and that it did not feel like a defeat.

But Associate Professor Tan thought otherwise, given that a by-election effect that was "as good as it can ever get".

First, the PAP was on the defensive, after incumbent PAP MP David Ong vacated the seat due to a personal indiscretion, Prof Tan said.

Second, Dr Chee, who has been a politician since 1992, was up against Mr Muralidharan Pillai, who was contesting in just his second election in eight months.

Added the law don: "The fact that he (Dr Chee) couldn't even touch 40 per cent shows that there are severe questions as to his electability.

"Next year will be his 25th year, counting from his first election. By all accounts, it is actually a very dismal track record for such a high-profile (candidate)."

He mentioned Dr Chee's lack of "staying power" as one of the reasons for his loss.

Compared with other opposition politicians like Mr Chiam See Tong, who contested and looked after Potong Pasir, Dr Chee moved to a different constituency with each election.

Prof Tan said: "To me, this reveals his political opportunism. There is no loyalty to a particular constituency. In the end, it's all about expediency - which constituency, in his view, is his best chance...

"I have never seen him sitting down to help people work through their issues.

"He has never really held a Meet-the-People Session. He's not interested in helping people. He's interested in getting elected into office."

He went further to suggest that SDP's central executive committee member Paul Tambyah would have polled better than Dr Chee.

"Dr Chee is a polarising figure. Paul Tambyah is not. He will not bring into the campaign all the baggage... People would have been more prepared for a candidate like Dr Tambyah."

The question now is whether Dr Chee will move on to a sixth constituency in the next general election, despite his promise to continue outreach work in Bukit Batok.

"He claims he understands what the heartlander issues are because he lives in a small flat.

"Let's see what he does, whether he will go into deep hibernation or churn out policy papers which are out of touch with reality."

fjieying@sph.com.sg


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Worker accused of making false claim: MOM drops charges

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In a rare turn of events, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) last Friday withdrew charges against a foreign worker who it had accused of lying about his work injuries.

The withdrawal of the charges was a long-awaited relief for Bangladeshi safety supervisor Shahidulla Md Anser Ali. The 32-year-old has been stuck in Singapore, unable to work, for more than two years while his case was pending.

He told The Straits Times: "I am very happy. If I had done wrong, I would have gone to jail as this is the right thing to do, but I know I did no wrong."

He had gone to MOM in 2014 to make a report about being beaten by his boss, but ended up being charged with making a fraudulent claim under the Work Injury Compensation Act (Wica). He was also charged with two counts of lying to an investigating officer.

Wica is a low-cost alternative to common law for workers to settle compensation claims for injuries suffered during work.

Court documents said Mr Shahidulla was charged with lying that his supervisor physically assaulted him and injured his back at 10am on March 1, 2014.

Had he been found guilty of making a fraudulent claim, he could have been fined up to $15,000, jailed up to a year, or both. Each offence of making false statements could have led to a fine of up to $5,000, or a jail term of up to six months, or both.

An MOM spokesman said: "The charges were withdrawn as a new witness, who could not be located during investigations, has come forth to support Shahidulla's version of events.

"Making a fraudulent workplace injury compensation claim or providing false information is a serious act of deceit. MOM will not hesitate to take action against claimants who try to abuse the system."

Mr Shahidulla's pro bono lawyer, Mr Kalidass Murugaiyan, said: "I am glad the system panned out well for him in the end."

Wica violation cases are not common, but the number of workers MOM has taken to court for such offences has edged up over the years.

Last year, MOM prosecuted and convicted five workers for Wica offences, up from four in 2014 and two in both 2013 and 2012.

Nine workers have been prosecuted this year, with three convicted so far. In February, a Bangladeshi marine worker was jailed eight weeks for making a false claim that his left little finger was severed while he was using a saw at work.

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) executive committee member Debbie Fordyce said that in the past eight years, she has dealt with about a hundred new foreign worker injury cases a month, but only seen six - including Mr Shahidulla - in which MOM prosecuted the worker for a Wica violation.

Of these, only one other worker had his charges withdrawn by MOM in 2013.

Mr Shahidulla, an only child, said he is looking forward to returning to Bangladesh to see his parents. "My mother and I will kiss each other and cry, and I don't know who will cry more."

Unable to work in the past two years, he could not send back money and has had to borrow $4,000 from friends and relatives for living expenses, while depending on TWC2 for food.

However, he hopes to return to Singapore to work, as his safety qualifications would earn him more here than back home.

"I want to keep other workers safe," he said.


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Mother and son to graduate together

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At Ngee Ann Polytechnic's graduation this week, Madam Serimaryati Abdullah will not only be a proud mother seeing her son getting his diploma, but she will also be graduating with him.

The 51-year-old, who is the oldest NP student to graduate this year, will receive her Diploma in Health Sciences (Nursing) on Wednesday.

Her 22-year-old son, Mr Muhammad Nur Aniqq Ab Rahim, will get his Electronic and Computer Engineering diploma tomorrow.

"It's a double blessing for my family this year," said Madam Serimaryati, who was an enrolled nurse at Singapore General Hospital before she joined NP in 2013.

She holds a National ITE Certificate in Nursing, and had not gone to a polytechnic earlier as she did not meet the minimum grade point average of 3.5 required in 2008. The criterion was lowered later. "I've always wanted to go further (in my education), so I can do more as a nurse with better training.

"When I found out I could, I thought to myself, 'It's been so long since I've been to school'. I was initially worried about the generation and age gap. I was so afraid I wasn't able to blend in with the other students." But her son encouraged her and even helped her sign up.

Madam Serimaryati, who has four sons aged between 18 and 27, said: "My children motivate me a lot. They will ask me, 'How's school life? Anyone bullied you?' or 'Are the students rude? Do you understand what the lecturers are saying?'"

She added: "When we see each other in school, Aniqq would call me 'Ibu' (mother in Malay), hug me and hold my hands."

But she kept their relationship a secret to avoid unnecessary attention.

"People would ask me, 'Who's that?' And I would say that he is my friend's son. I didn't want them to ask so many questions."

Mr Aniqq, who is the third child in the family, said that even when he told his friends, they did not believe him.

As one of NP's mature students, Madam Serimaryati said one concern was taking longer than her peers to understand concepts.

"Sometimes, for essay writing, other people can finish in one hour, but I would take about three hours. But my children would help me go through my grammar. And I got better."

On her first week, she said: "Initially, I was very quiet. I would look and observe. In the classroom, I would sit in the second row. The students who came in would look at me, and ask, 'Excuse me, are you in the right class?'

"When the lecturer came in, I would be the first person he would notice. He would ask for my name and check it against the list to make sure I was an enrolled student.

"I got these a lot. But later, the lecturers were firm, and there was no special treatment for me. I was just like the other students."

On the decision to go back to school, Madam Serimaryati, who will start work at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital at the end of the month, said: "I'd tell others like me to just go ahead and do what you want. Age is not an excuse. Don't worry what others might think. There will always be people who will help you. Learning is never ending."

Mr Aniqq, who hopes to get a degree in computer engineering at Singapore Institute of Management, said: "I'm happy and proud that she decided to go back to school. She has always been my role model and I look up to her even more now."

xueqiang@sph.com.sg


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Yale-NUS adopts Latin honours system

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The Yale-NUS College has become the second institution here to adopt the Latin honours system, a degree classification used by American universities such as Harvard and Yale.

The system, which indicates the level of distinction a graduate has earned, uses nomenclature such as summa cum laude and magna cum laude. The Singapore Management University (SMU) also uses the terms.

But, unlike SMU which does not limit the number of students who can earn Latin honours, Yale-NUS has imposed a 35 per cent cap.

The policy, which was made known to students through an official e-mail in March, has drawn mixed reactions from them.

Some students said it would be hard to know for sure how they are faring each semester as their final honours level would be made known to them only at the end of four years. This is because they are not marked on a bell curve throughout the four years, unlike their peers at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The Latin honours is on top of the bachelor's honours degree in arts or science that all students receive after completing the four-year undergraduate honours programme.

The top 5 per cent are awarded summa cum laude, while the magna cum laude goes to not more than the next 10 per cent, and cum laude to not more than the next 20 per cent.

There is also a cap within each major - no more than 60 per cent or six of the students (whichever is larger) will receive honours at the cum laude level or above.

Similarly, no more than 40 per cent or four of the students (whichever is larger) will receive honours at the magna cum laude level or above. There are 14 majors at Yale-NUS. Class sizes for the majors in the inaugural batch range from three to 16, with philosophy and physical sciences being the smallest, and politics, philosophy and economics drawing the most students.

In response to queries, Professor Tan Tai Yong, executive vice-president (academic affairs) at Yale-NUS College, said Latin honours may not be commonly used here. But it is well-known globally, and the classifications are similar to those used by liberal arts and sciences colleges and universities in the United States and other countries. The college uses a different method of determining the level of honours due to its unique curriculum, smaller cohort and grading practices, he said, adding that using Latin honours also allows it to distinguish its system of honours from that of NUS.

Prof Tan noted that the Latin honours may not "directly equate to the various classes of degree honours conferred by institutions that follow other systems, such as the British system". Furthermore, the criteria for the levels of honours could differ across two institutions using the same honours terminology.

Other universities here, such as the Nanyang Technological University and SIM University, use the British honours system of first class, second-class upper, second-class lower and third class. Last year, NUS renamed its first-class honours as honours with highest distinction, second-class upper honours as honours with distinction, second-class lower honours as honours with merit and third-class honours as honours.

Prof Tan said the limits imposed on majors are meant to "recognise academic achievement within the major, in addition to the overall cumulative average point (CAP)". It is also to "help control for potential differences in grading across majors, and shifts in the average CAP from one graduating class to another".

About 170 Yale-NUS students signed a petition in March calling for the college to reconsider the honours system. One concern they had was that placing a cap within each major would lead to unhealthy competition, especially in courses with fewer than 10 students.

Some were also unhappy that the honours system was revealed only this year. Yale-NUS student Sherlyn Goh, 22, who belongs to its first batch which graduates next year, said: "Many of us had assumed that we would follow NUS' fixed CAP system."

The arts and humanities major also said having a bell curve system throughout the four years is better.

"It's important that students know how we are doing academically so that we can take steps to improve our work or plan our modules more strategically."

Global affairs major Dennis Chiang, 25, said some students think it might be unfair if they have the same CAP as an NUS student but do not make the 35 per cent cut for Latin honours. But he said that work experience would count more in his choice of career, either in policy work or journalism.

Prof Tan said Yale-NUS will recognise students' academic and non-academic achievements through other ways such as prizes and awards. He said that the college is "very confident" that students who do well in their studies and co-curricular activities, and those who prepare for work through internships or engaging professional networks will be "strong contenders in the job market or for graduate programmes".

Mr David Leong, managing director of recruitment firm PeopleWorldwide Consulting, said employers are increasingly looking at graduates' work experience.

"They also look at the role and responsibility of the job position, and the salary package is based more on that than the qualification of the applicant," he said. "Even master's degrees have marginal difference in salary offers, compared to someone with relevant work experience."


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GST evasion by online retailers and importers

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There have been 15 cases of online retailers and importers being prosecuted for evading Goods and Services Tax (GST) involving a total of more than $440,000 over the past two years.

Singapore Customs, which revealed the figures to The Straits Times, said there were seven such GST evasion cases in 2014, and eight last year. A spokesman said: "The offenders are usually Singaporeans who import branded goods such as handbags, wallets, shoes and apparel, and household goods such as robotic vacuum cleaners for sale locally."

They attempted to evade GST by using fictitious invoices showing a lower value for the goods for their import declarations, and avoiding payment of GST upon returning from overseas trips by not declaring their hand-carried goods at the Customs' Red Channel. So far this year, one seller has been prosecuted.

On April 27, branded handbag and wallet seller Yu Chung Tan, 47, was fined $190,000 for evading more than $50,000 in GST.

The partner of LovethatBag did so by instructing his suppliers from Europe, Hong Kong and the United States to indicate the value of the goods imported as below $400 in import documents submitted to Singapore Customs.

Goods imported by parcel post, except dutiable goods, are not subject to GST when their value is below $400.

Yu's intention was to save on the cost of his goods so as to price them more competitively, Singapore Customs said.

"Singapore Customs closely monitors the compliance status of companies, and will take enforcement action against those who do not comply with Customs requirements," the spokesman added.

The authority holds regular industry outreach programmes to remind companies of the need to comply with Customs regulatory requirements, including the payment of GST on hand-carried goods.

Criminal lawyer Amolat Singh said: " These retailers have a misunderstanding that because they operate online, they can get away with it. But sooner or later, the law catches up with them."

Under the Customs Act, anyone found guilty of intentional evasion of GST will be liable to a fine up to 20 times the amount of tax evaded and/or be jailed for up to two years.

Members of the public with information on smuggling activities, evasion of Customs duty or GST may e-mail Singapore Customs at customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg.


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New president aims to raise Aware-ness

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Making more people aware of Aware's work is among the priorities of former media veteran Teh Hooi Ling, who now helms the gender equality group.

Ms Teh, 48, who was a journalist at The Business Times for 22 years, was appointed president of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) last month, replacing Ms Winifred Loh.

"I'd like to see more of Aware's work being recognised in the public, and for more people to not associate us with the 2009 saga," she told The Straits Times in her first media interview as its president.

"We've done so much work. I hope people will recognise us for the good work that we're doing today and will continue to do."

Seven years ago, a group made up mostly of Christians seized control of the organisation, sweeping nine of 12 spots on the executive committee, after disapproving of what they perceived to be Aware's pro-homosexuality position.

Despite the incident's wide publicity, many people still do not know much about Aware's work - from the helpline and free legal clinics it runs, to a centre for sexual- assault victims, and training workshops for companies to prevent workplace harassment.

In its 31-year history, it has also raised awareness on a wide range of issues like rape, sexual harassment, Aids among women and the welfare of foreign domestic workers.

Aware does so much work that Ms Teh considers her past two years as its secretary an "intensive crash course" on the issues it deals with. She first learnt of the group more than 20 years ago through former colleagues such as Aware's co-founder Margaret Thomas and long-time member Schutz Lee.

She did not understand then why they were passionate about gender equality but, over time, she noticed more unfairness between the ways men and women were treated.

"My attitude then was - this is how the world is. I just have to accept it and work around it," said Ms Teh, a Buddhist. Referring to the 2009 saga, she said: "I felt that it's not right for any religious group to dominate and force their beliefs on others who may not subscribe to their value systems."

She then joined as a member, voting to oust the leadership team that came in in 2009 at an extraordinary general meeting.

"It was the first time I felt I was part of something larger than myself. I felt the tremendous energy and exhilaration when a group unites behind a common cause."

Later, she attended roundtable discussions, learning about feminism theories and starting to see how some social norms and policies are disadvantaged towards women.

For instance, "caring work" is valued less and paid less than other types of work, she said.

"If you look at pre-school teachers and nurses they are paid much less than, say, a bank officer who shuffles paper. How did we arrive at this? Well, we have a system that values competition much more than caregiving."

In 2013, she took on Ms Lee's suggestion to run for election as a board member, and became its secretary. That meant she had to take down the minutes of every monthly board meeting.

Aware's executive director Corinna Lim said: "The discussions can be quite intense. There are also lots of Aware activities happening at any one time, so I think it was a steep learning curve for her."

Ms Teh also took the effort to refer to past notes or reports when writing minutes. "When the board members talk, it's like bits and pieces of everything and you don't really have the full picture," she said.

She may be more mild-mannered than some former Aware presidents - at least three are former Nominated Members of Parliament - but she is no less influential.

Ms Lim said: "Although she doesn't say that much on the board, every time she speaks, we all listen because we know she... will come up with an interesting view.

"She has also made the most connections for us in the last two years, to funders and other partners."

At The Business Times, she started her widely followed investment column, Show Me the Money, in 2002, and her columns have been published in seven books, with another to be launched in July.

Business Times associate editor Vikram Khanna said: "She built a significant following with her astute columns and commentaries on investment themes."

Ms Teh believes her wide network of contacts, formed through her journalism career and her current job as a partner of a fund management firm, will help her raise awareness and funds for Aware.

She said 30 per cent of its funds come from four foundations and hopes to have new funding sources.

Although there is no particular women's issue she plans to focus on in her new role, she remains influenced by Buddhist values such as compassion, generosity and the belief that there is good in everyone.

"A lot of these values are espoused by Aware too. My personal philosophy and Aware's philosophy are pretty aligned."

She promised Aware members last month that she would be a "strong advocate of Aware's mission", which is to remove all gender-based barriers and allow people to develop to their full potential.

She added: "If we don't change mindsets, the same problems will keep cropping up. There is no denying the importance of providing support and care services. But there is a limit as to how many people can be helped, and this only addresses the symptoms."


This article was first published on May 9, 2016.
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Aware to review membership rules for men

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The membership rights of men in the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) will be reviewed, The Straits Times has learnt.

This comes at a time when men have become more involved in some of Aware's activities, such as a campaign to end violence against women.

Currently, men can join Aware as associate members but they cannot vote at its general meetings or stand for election for any position on the board.

Aware president Teh Hooi Ling, in her first media interview since her appointment last month, told ST: "More men have become informed and have become our allies to achieve our common goal of gender equality."

One example is Aware's White Ribbon campaign, which raises awareness about violence against women, and emphasises the importance of men's role in ending it.

A campaign video last year featured 14 men, including Law Minister and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and actor Adrian Pang.

Said Ms Teh: "We will review our membership rules to see how we can accommodate both the needs of growing our male supporters, and maintaining Aware as a safe space for women."

She noted that Aware has to be safe for women who are abused or harassed, and for women to express themselves in ways that may be harder to do so in a male-dominated world.

An extraordinary general meeting is expected to be held by the year end to review the membership rules.

Read also: Aware turns 30

Former Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong, 41, decided not to renew his membership less than five years ago.

He disagreed with Aware's current position on membership rights for men.

He said of the upcoming review: "It's about time. I think it's reasonable to not grant equal rights to men, but the current balance is not right."

He said it would be fair if men could vote but not stand for election for certain board positions.

There are also strong male supporters of Aware, he added.

During the 2009 Aware saga, in which a group of mostly Christian newcomers swept the leadership team, he offered legal advice to the "old guard" group which regained control of the organisation five weeks after it was ousted.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) announced last week the appointment of its first male chief executive in 64 years, Mr Mohd Ali Mahmood.

PPIS said it believes his leadership will motivate more men to be part of the #heforshe movement, which is led by the United Nations and aims to get men to play their part in promoting gender equality.

Mr Mohd Ali said: "Problems affect everyone in the system, directly and indirectly.

"Men could be more involved in such conversations."

Singapore Council of Women's Organisations president Malathi Das agreed: "So long as the organisation and its members do not feel that having male membership or leadership in any way constrains its carrying out its mission and objectives, there should be no objection to including men in the organisation...

"We shouldn't throw the men out with the bathwater. Hearing their perspectives and ideas can also help in advancing the women's cause."

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

Read also: Gender equality still tops Aware's agenda


This article was first published on May 9, 2016.
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SIA plane damaged tyres in emergency stop to avoid collision

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A Singapore Airlines plane popped its tyres as it was making a frantic emergency stop during take-off at Incheon International Airport to avoid a Korean Air jet that had crossed the runway without approval last Thursday (May 5).

Airlive.net reported that several tyres of the SQ plane "exploded during braking".

Bounded for San Francisco, SQ16 flight, which was carrying 186 people on board, was running at 90-100 km/h as it accelerated so that it could lift off the ground at about 5.50pm.

The airport controller ordered both flights to stop immediately after noticing Korean Air flight KE929 was crossing the runway without permission.

Korean Air plane, which was heading for St. Petersburg with 188 on board, had taxied onto the same runway unexpectedly. Korea IT Times said the pilots of the Korean Air Airbus flight allegedly ignored controller instructions.

The Singapore Airlines plane managed to make an emergency stop, but shredded its tyres as they were deflated in the process. When both planes had come to a halt, they were 1.7km apart.

An SIA spokesman told the media that SQ16 aborted its take-off following instructions that were received from air traffic control.

"The aborted take-off resulted in the deflation of a number of tyres on the Boeing 777-300ER, requiring passengers to disembark from the aircraft on the taxiway," the spokesman said.

The SQ flight was delayed for 19 hours. After repairs, it took off on May 6 at 1pm, reported The Aviation Herald.

The Korean flight left for St. Petersburg about 1 hour 40 minutes after the incident.

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is investigating the incident and is expected to release its report in two to three weeks.

chenj@sph.com.sg

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Tigeriar flight with damaged tyre lands safely on Hainan

Flydubai plane skimmed the ground and broke into pieces

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Should motorists stop if they hit a cat while driving?

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SINGAPORE - If a motorist knocks down an animal while driving, should he stop to help it?

The law gets tricky if it is a cat.

Enacted on Jan 1, 1963, Singapore's Road Traffic Act defines an "animal" as "any horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog". Motorists are required to stop and help these animals if they knock them down.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee said: "The specific provision in the Road Traffic Act relating to animals had been confined to farm animals of commercial value. The original intent of the legislation was to ensure restitution to their owners should an accident occur."

Mr Lee was addressing a question from Mr Louis Ng, MP for Nee Soon GRC, who asked if MHA will consider updating and aligning the definition of "animals" in both acts to ensure that there is alignment of legislation across the statutes.

In response, Mr Lee said that MHA intends to review the definition of "animals" in the Road Traffic Act, and also consider any amendment in the context of road safety, especially the safety of the motorist and other road users.

Currently, the definitions of "animals" in the Road Traffic Act and the Animals and Birds Act are not scoped in the same way.

The Animals and Birds Act seeks to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases through animals, control the movement of animals, prevent cruelty to animals, and safeguard the general welfare of animals in Singapore.

Meanwhile the primary intent of the Road Traffic Act is to ensure the safety of road users, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

So should all motorists stop and attend to animals in case of an accident?

"They should stop, if it is safe to do so. If the motorist requires assistance in attending to the animal, he can contact the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore or Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," Mr Lee said.

debwong@sph.com.sg

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