When she sees a car while crossing a road, her legs tremble.

Her bicycle, which she rode often for light exercise, now sits untouched in a corner of her four-room flat.

All because she saw her friend, Madam Lin Shui Yu, 59, lying motionless after being run over by a cement mixer on Monday morning.

Still visibly distraught by the recollection, Madam Lee Xiu Mei, 61, told The New Paper yesterday in Mandarin: "My head throbs whenever I close my eyes... I don't think I'll ever forget seeing my friend's crushed body on the road.

"I still find it hard to accept her death. It feels like a nightmare."

Madam Lee, a retiree, was cycling home to Block 453, Yishun Street 41 with Madam Lin, who was also a retiree, and another friend after a trip to the Sembawang Hot Spring that morning.

The trio had waited at the traffic light at a crossing at the T-junction between the Yishun Avenue 9 and Yishun Central roads.

When the pedestrian light turned green, they crossed the road by cycling in single file.

Madam Lee took the lead, with Madam Lin and the other friend following behind.

Tragedy struck when a cement mixer made a left turn from Yishun Central into Yishun Avenue 9 and ran over into Madam Lin.

Madam Lee said she turned around when she heard her friend screaming for her to stop.

"One minute my friend was alive and well but now, she is gone," said the petite woman.

A police spokesman said a 50-year-old man has been arrested for causing death by a rash act.

Madam Lee, who is still struggling to come to terms with her sudden loss, told TNP that the three of them were good friends and neighbours who would meet each other every day.

They would either go to the wet market, or go on walks at the nearby park every morning.

Madam Lin and Madam Lee became good friends four years ago after becoming neighbours.

At home, Madam Lin was also someone her family relied on.

"She is the treasure of the family. Losing her is like losing my limb," said her 37-year-old nephew, Mr Lin Hong Fu, who works in the electronics industry.

He described his aunt as someone who took good care of her family.

Yishun cyclist killed by cement mixer, driver arrested

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Shin Min, Lianhe Wanbao

CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY

Every weekend, their family would gather at Madam Lin's house, where she would cook up a feast.

"We had so many people, we could fill two to three tables," Mr Lin said.

Madam Lin had two children and five grandchildren. But her family dinners also included her extended family.

She also regularly cooked their favourite food and passed it to them.

The close-knit family updated each other on their daily happenings via their group chat on WhatsApp every day.

Madam Lin and her husband are both permanent residents born in China, and have been married for 40 years.

She was known to be very loving towards her husband, who does renovation work.

She would call every day to ask him how much longer he would take to get home from work so that she could heat up food for him.

Once he got home from work, Madam Lin would greet her husband at the door with a glass of warm water.

"They were a model couple - they never fought," said Mr Lin.

Mr Lin added that ever since the accident, Madam Lin's husband has been unable to sleep or eat, and has been crying uncontrollably.

"The mere act of picking up his chopsticks would remind him of (Madam Lin) and he would get distraught again," said the nephew.

Madam Lin's husband declined to be interviewed when TNP visited the family at Madam Lin's wake last night.

Mr Lin said the family is expecting more re­latives to fly in from China to see Madam Lin for one final time.

A relative in Singapore is helping them with their visas.

"We tried sending photos and updates to them but they are just too sad.

"They needed to see her for the last time," said Mr Lin.

For Mr Lin, he is trying to let the news sink in and hoping to seek answers to his aunt's death.

He had been busy with the wake and funeral preparations.

"Our top priority now is to take care of my uncle (Madam Lin's husband) as he still can't accept this news.

"If she died naturally, it would be easier to swallow. But this accident is too sudden for us to accept," said Mr Lin.

This article was first published on May 18, 2016.
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Most mobility scooters travel at a speed of around 7kmh and are designed to be safe and stable medical devices for the elderly and people with disabilities, distributors here say.

Agis Mobility director James Lee said: "Before we sell it to customers, we would advise them on safety precautions, such as slowing down at a kerb." If a kerb is more than 5cm above ground, users should avoid crossing it.

Customers are also encouraged to try scooters before buying them, according to Falcon Mobility managing director Warren Chew.

"If we see them panicking, or if they appear unsuitable, we would turn them away," he said.

Both companies said the number of mobility scooter users here has been doubling year-on-year for some time. Mr Chew estimates that there are currently 4,000 users.

Occupational therapists stress the need for proper assessment prior to buying a mobility scooter.

Typically, they would look out for a client's motor functions, cognitive ability and eyesight before prescribing such devices, said Ms Tay Hwee Lin, principal occupational therapist at SPD, formerly known as the Society for the Physically Disabled.

"There are many models out there that fit different needs," she said. "It's important to get the right equipment for you."

Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists president Florence Cheong said: "Besides doing trials to test their ability to operate it, we look at their home environment and their daily routine."

A one-day orientation course to familiarise users is also being offered by the Handicaps Welfare Association.

Users are guided by social workers through a training track and taught the skills and limitations of operating mobility scooters.

With proper knowledge and training, many believe that these devices provide many benefits. "It gives users a sense of independence," said Mr Chew. "Having the freedom is important to their dignity and helps in their well-being."

This article was first published on May 18, 2016.
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Parkway Parade will stay shut at least through tomorrow for repairs to its fire protection system, compromised by a fire that occurred at the mall three days ago.

The closure includes the carpark, so workers in the office tower, which is open, will have to park elsewhere.

"Parkway Parade will be keeping the retail mall closed for the next two days," said its general manager Jenny Khoo yesterday.

"The fire caused damage to essential cabling for the fire protection system. We are currently working on reinstatement, followed by testing and commissioning."

No one was injured when the fire broke out at a shop on level two of the seven-storey mall in Marine Parade around midnight on Sunday. The building, managed by Lend Lease, including the carpark, remained closed on Monday and yesterday for checks and rectification works.

There was still a burnt smell in the air at around 3pm yesterday.

Mall employees were seen manning a side entrance, near the taxi stand, letting in only those who said they were going to the adjoining office tower or the banks on level one, which were open. The main entrances remained closed.

Retailers who were allowed to enter the mall to check on their shops yesterday told The Straits Times the floors were still wet from the sprinklers activated during the fire.

A retailer who declined to be named said some goods that were placed on the floor of his shop in the basement were damaged. Some parts of the false ceiling had also collapsed.

"It's not that bad. We are calling our insurance company to come down and take a look, before we write a report to the mall to claim compensation," he said.

A spokesman for Dairy Farm Group, which runs Giant and Cold Storage in the mall, said it had notified its insurers to assess the extent of damage.

With the mall's carpark closed - it has space for 1,201 vehicles - office workers said they parked at either the Roxy Square shopping mall opposite, or a multi-storey carpark in the nearby housing estate.

"It was less chaotic (yesterday) since it's the second day and most people know about the carpark's closure," said customer service executive Anthony Tan, 35.

But an executive who wanted to be known only as Eric, 40, said his colleagues were blocked from entering the carpark. "They didn't know it was closed and called the office to ask about alternative parking."

Despite a notice at the main entrances indicating that the mall was closed, some bewildered shoppers were seen waving their hands in front of the automated glass doors, which would not open.

Student Alexis Lee, 21, who took a taxi from her school in Bugis to the mall to buy groceries, was surprised to hear the news.

"The staff at the door told me I cannot enter. They didn't say why. It's inconvenient but I'll just go to the FairPrice nearby instead," said Ms Lee, who lives in Marine Parade.

In 2013, Jem in Jurong East was closed for two weeks for repairs and checks after a first-floor ceiling collapsed.

This article was first published on May 18, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices finished mixed on Wednesday (May 18).

In the second round of bidding for May, premiums for Category A cars dropped from $47,889 to $47,020.

COE prices for Category B cars also fell from $51,010 to $49,156.

For the open category, Category E, COE prices rose from $49,000 to $49,700.

Motorcycle premiums saw a very slight increase from $6,302 to $6,303 for this round's bidding exercise.

COE premiums for goods vehicles and buses went up, from $42,302 to $43,002.

stephluo@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - In 2008, an unknown aircraft intruded into Singapore airspace, triggering a shutdown of Singapore's commercial air traffic for 50 minutes, and the activation of two air force F16D fighters to intercept it.

The 2008 episode was a testament to the high state of readiness by the Republic of Singapore Airforce (RSAF) - and it is a scenario that will be played out to the public this weekend (May 21 and 22) at Paya Lebar Air Base.

So what exactly happens when an unknown aircraft enters Singapore airspace?

From the scrambling of fighter jets, monitoring and interrogation by air traffic controllers, to ground-based air defence (GBAD), the public can witness the action at the RSAF Open House (ROH 2016).

After a five-year hiatus, ROH 2016 will also return with a static display of over 20 aircraft and weapon systems, showcasing ROH 2016's theme of "defending our skies".

Pilots, fighter planes, and joyrides at the RSAF open house 2016

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AsiaOne, The Straits Times, Berita Harian

Colonel (COL) Randy Ong, Deputy Chairman of the ROH 2016 explained that the introduction of new initiatives this year will ensure better experiences for visitors.

"For example, we have enhanced the simulator rides where [the public] don't have to queue up and wait for their turn. We are issuing tickets so that they can move around and enjoy the exhibits while waiting for their turn," said COL Ong, who is also the Commander of Paya Lebar Air Base.

"We also looked to ease the congestion that we do expect over at Airport Road. When the vehicles come in, there is a more seamless and enjoyable journey."

"We always take pride in bringing the public into the air base because operations all start from the air base. To bring the public in, they are able to see how the RSAF operates.

"More importantly, it's [to allow the public] to understand how the people behind the scenes work together as one single team to ensure mission success for the RSAF."

Get your shades and sunscreen ready this weekend. Here are five things not to miss at ROH 2016:

1) Action in the sky

Watch as a pulsating scenario is played out before your eyes from the grandstand metres away from the latest RSAF fighter jets - complete with pyrotechnics, visuals, and sound effects.

Audiences will witness two pairs of F-16C and F-15SG fighter jets being scrambled to intercept an unknown aircraft, while Apache attack helicopters provide air-land support.

GBAD systems will also feature in the display, while Army troops will make an appearance from a Chinook helicopter underslung with a Mark II Light Strike Vehicle.

Make sure your cameras are ready as the SAF Red Lions parachute down - the only chance this year as they will not be performing during this year's National Day Parade.

Showtimes for the 30-min RSAF operational capabilities demonstration are at 10.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday (May 21), and 11.30am and 4.30pm on Sunday (May 23).

2) Know your RSAF

Did you know that the RSAF reduces its flying in Singapore during examination periods - for our students to have a peace of mind while studying?

Learn this and more, such as the RSAF's history and transformation, operations, and its people in the RSAF exhibition.

There are also simulators for visitors to try their hand at flying the F-16 jet and UAVs.

3) Take a wefie

Ever wondered how missiles and bombs are loaded onto a fighter jet? At the static display area, airmen will do a live demonstration of the loading process with precision and speed.

You can also take your most expensive selfie / wefie in the cockpit of a million-dollar fighter aircraft.

20 types of advanced aircraft and weapon systems will be on display, such as the F-15Sg, F-16D+, an F-16C with the RSAF Black Knights paint scheme, UAVs, Helicopters, and GBAD weaponry.

4) Carnival and shows

Children will be kept busy at the carnival zone with console games and aircraft model prizes.

The SAF Military Working Dog Unit will also showcase its security and enforcement operations at the K9 demonstration area.

5) Soar into the clouds

Get on cloud nine with four different aircraft such as the RSAF's C-130 plane, Fokker-50 aircraft, Ch-47 Chinook helicopter, or the Singapore Youth Flying Club's DA-40 trainer aircraft.

Only winners of the RSAF e-ballot and contest winners will be allowed for a joyride if they meet the eligibility criteria.

ROH 2016 details

ROH 2016 is open to the public from 9am to 6pm over the weekend (May 21 and 22), and admission is free.

There are free shuttle buses to Paya Lebar Air Base from Eunos bus interchange and Kovan hub, starting at 8.30am to 5.30pm at 10-min intervals. Alternatively, the public can take SBS bus service 90.

There are no public parking spaces, and only LTA-registered taxis from Comfort, CityCab, SMRT, Trans-Cab, Premier, and Prime, are allowed into Airport road after KPE exit and Kim Chuan road.

SINGAPORE - Those who did not vote at the Bukit Batok by-election on May 7 can now apply to have their names restored as their names have been removed from the registers of electors.

According to a press statement issued on Wednesday (May 18) by the Elections Department (ELD), the application also applies to those who did not vote in previous elections but wish to do so for future elections.

Non-voters will lose their eligibility to vote or stand as a candidate at future elections if their names are not restored to the registers of electors.

ELD added that the certified list of non-voters is available for inspection at the Elections Department from Thursday (May 19).

Non-voters who were registered overseas electors and who still wish to cast their votes overseas at future elections should re-register as overseas electors.

Singaporeans vote in Bukit Batok by-election

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, AsiaOne, MediaCorp, Parliament of Singapore

According to ELD, both restoration of non-voter names and registration as overseas electors will close with the issue of the writ for an election.

Re-registration as an overseas elector is also required with each revision of the registers of electors.

Singaporeans can also check their particulars in the registers of electors online at the ELD website, community centres or clubs, at Singapore overseas missions that serve as overseas registration centres or at Elections Department itself. They are required to bring their NRIC or passport.

stephluo@sph.com.sg

"Rusty" the dog spends all day, every day, chained to a wall in his owner's garden.

Nicknamed by volunteers after the rusty chain he is tethered to, Rusty has room only to sit, stand and pace in the same small area.

After volunteers' efforts and investigations by the authorities, Rusty's owner has lengthened the chain, but the dog remains tethered to the wall.

The practice of chaining dogs remains legal in Singapore, but one group hopes to raise awareness of the harmful effects this has on the animals.

Speak out against chaining of dogs

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facebook

"Keeping a dog on a chain or a tether outside might not always seem like a malicious act. These owners may not know about the detrimental effects," said Ms May Ling, 50, co-founder of Chained Dog Awareness Singapore (CDAS).

Chaining a dog for long periods can result in pain, injury and sore necks from constant tugging of the chain. It can also affect a dog's psychological well-being and cause it to become anxious or even aggressive.

It is a "tradition that has been passed on over many generations and is difficult to curb", said Ms Anita Chew, 50, co-founder of CDAS.

Founded in March last year by three volunteers who help find homes for rescued dogs, the not-for-profit group focuses specifically on the welfare of chained dogs in Singapore. Ms Darrell Lee, 46, owns an ad agency, Ms Chew works part-time in the hospitality industry and Ms Ling, 50, is a financial adviser. The trio juggle their jobs with their dogged determination to save the animals from a lifetime of being chained up.

CDAS will be holding its first public outreach event, Break The Chain, on May 21 and 22, from 1pm to 7pm, at the Urban Plaza, Shaw House, in Orchard Road.

Apart from raising awareness, the event also aims to encourage more people to step up and speak out against dog owners who tether their pets.

While people who witness dogs being chained may feel for the animals, some are hesitant to approach the owners or alert the authorities. Here are some tips from CDAS on what to do if you see a dog being chained up for long periods:

Monitor the dog's condition and situation, including the length of its chain.

Speak to the owner of the dog directly and offer to help by walking the dog. Members of the public can also alert CDAS and work together to educate the owners of the chained dog.

Though some people may feel uncomfortable about reporting a neighbour, "it's precisely this mindset that has led to many people turning a blind eye", said Ms Ling.

Over the last five years, 655 cases of dogs being chained or caged were reported to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said SPCA acting executive director Jaipal Singh Gill.

"There are many dogs that spend most of their lives at the end of a chain or in a cage, and it is time we did better for man's best friend," said Dr Gill.

"There is really no other way, except to be the voice for our dogs," said Ms Ling. "We need education to change the mindset of these chained dog owners and also prevent others from tethering their dogs."

For more information on the event this weekend or the group's work, visit their Facebook page.

xiuhuil@sph.com.sg

The historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (TPRS) will open its doors to the public from 9am to 6pm on Vesak Day this Saturday (May 21).

Visitors can catch a last glimpse of 'WOMEN: New Portraits', an exhibition of newly commissioned photographs by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. The exhibition at the station's main hall will end on May 22. Admission is free.

Officially opened in May 1932 till it ceased operation on July 1, 2011, the iconic station was gazetted as a national monument that year.

Visitors can snap photos of the national monument to take part in a contest, Celebrating Places and Memories". The contest is on till June 12.

Camera buffs can check out other unique State properties at www.sla.gov.sg/slaplacesandmemories/

chenj@sph.com.sg

In order to lure male customers, some women working at beauty parlours in Orchard Towers have taken to pulling them inside their shops for business.

According to Shin Min Daily News, these women would approach men passing by and physically lure them into the parlours.

One woman, known only as Ms Tan, told the Chinese newspaper that her male friends were approached by the women after they were seen alone.

Ms Tan was with her boyfriend and five other friends at Orchard Towers for dinner last week. She said that the girls separated from the guys as they went to the restroom while the guys went ahead to get seats at the restaurant.

The 29-year-old said: "When the guys passed by a beauty parlour, one of the women held on to my friends' hands and asked if they wanted a massage.

"My boyfriend and two male friends let go of her hand and the woman stopped pestering them after they saw my girl friends and I approaching," she added.

Ms Tan described the woman as scantily clad in a low-cut top and short skirt and was wearing heavy make-up. She told Shin Min Daily News that the woman looked to be in her 20s.

After observing the women for a while, Ms Tan and her friends noticed that it wasn't just one parlour which had women pestering potential male clients but other parlours also had women doing the same.

She said: "The women would go up to men who were passing by and pull their hands or hold them by their waists before bringing them into the shops."

And it's not just Ms Tan who is bothered by this scene. Men working in Orchard Towers also feel uncomfortable when they get harassed by the women.

One reader of Shin Min Daily News said that some of the men have lodged police reports against these scantily clad women, who may even wear bikinis sometimes to attract men.

He said that the women are quick to react upon knowing that the police are coming to conduct checks and would quickly go inside the shops to hide and turn off the lights.

BMW has overtaken Volkswagen as the brand with the most customer complaints about product defects.

For the 12 months ended April 30, the Bavarian brand had the dubious honour of topping the list with nine complaints received by the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case).

Volkswagen, which hogged the top spot for the past two years, was next with five complaints, along with Mercedes-Benz and Toyota (including one about Lexus). The last one that made the top five list was Mazda, with four complaints.

edXAds by Rubicon Project Case said all the defect-related complaints were filed against authorised agents.

Comparing the ratio of complaints to the number of cars sold also saw BMW topping the list, with 2.55 complaints for every 1,000.

Volkswagen was next with 1.64, followed by Mercedes with 1.0. Among the three German brands, VW was the only one that improved in the complaints-to-sales ratio. Last year, its ratio was 3.41. Mazda had 0.76, while Toyota had 0.58 complaints per 1,000 cars sold.

In total, there were 42 defect-related complaints about new cars in the period, with European makes accounting for two-thirds of the tally.

A Case spokesman said: "We see a variety of defective motorcar complaints, such as faulty engine cooling system, defective gearbox, rattling noises while driving, problems with the braking system, et cetera.

"Some cars are reported to have multiple defects as well."

Retiree Tan Chim Peng, 52, said he bought a BMW X3 in February last year. Just two months later, he detected a whistling sound when he travelled at more than 80kmh. The windows also rattled intermittently.

He said: "The workshop inserted a thin rubber strip above the window frames, but the noise persisted. They couldn't fix it."

He approached Case, and the car agent offered to buy back the X3. "I paid $224,800 for it, and six months later, they offered me $160,000," he said. He decided to keep it until recently, when he traded it in for a Mercedes-Benz GLC.

He said: "The BMW has a good engine, but its insulation is poor. My previous car, a Hyundai Tucson, had better insulation, and it cost half the price."

A spokesman for BMW agent Performance Motors (PML) said: "We take great pride in the products that we sell and we are confident that they have been tested by the manufacturer... to ensure that the products are of the highest quality.

"That said, each of the concerns raised with the Consumers Association of Singapore was on different issues. A few issues were raised regarding expired warranties and general wear and tear of the vehicles and component parts.

"PML addressed these issues closely with customers to ensure that they were resolved in a timely manner."

Case said product defects accounted for the bulk of the 119 complaints it received about new cars.

The remaining 77 complaints were about a wide variety of issues, from poor service to failure to honour a sales agreement to misrepresentation, and were attributable to both authorised agents and parallel importers.

"For example, the consumer could have requested a car made in a certain country and the car dealer could have led the consumer to believe that it was so, when it was not true," the Case spokesman said.

This article was first published on May 19, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums for cars dipped at the latest tender yesterday. But they would have fallen more dramatically if not for strong bidding from Uber.

The COE price for cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp finished 1.8 per cent lower at $47,020, and that for cars above 1,600cc or 130bhp closed 3.6 per cent lower at $49,156.

The premium for Open COE, which can be used for any vehicle type but ends up mostly for bigger cars, bucked the trend to end 1.4 per cent higher at $49,700.

Motor traders pointed out that the Uber-owned Lion City Rental submitted 870 bids in all three COE categories, and was successful for all but 30 of them.

In the previous tender two weeks ago, Lion City Rental was successful in all its 90 bids in the Open category.

Together with the bids it submitted in two previous tenders, Lion City has secured about 1,700 car COEs - all within just two months of bidding.

Echoing the frustration of car dealers, Mr Ron Lim, general manager of Nissan agent Tan Chong Motor, said: "Retail demand has slowed down quite drastically. But COE prices continue to be supported by all these bids from private- hire companies. When will their appetite be satisfied?"

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) had earlier barred taxi companies from bidding for COEs so as not to overheat premiums.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore had also introduced car loan curbs to do the same thing.

But Uber and other private-hire firms are not bound by these restrictions.

The LTA said last month that private-hire vehicles can lower the demand for privately owned cars, but added that it would continue to "monitor the situation".

Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of diversified motor group Prime, said Uber and other private-hire firms cannot keep up the demand.

"There just aren't enough drivers," Mr Neo said. "And the turnover for such drivers is very high. So I believe this cannot be sustained. They will stop bidding, and premiums will fall."

Meanwhile, the commercial vehicle COE premium rose by 1.7 per cent to end at $43,002 yesterday. Motorcycle premium was flat, ending just $1 higher at $6,303.

This article was first published on May 19, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - Singapore is expected to hang a Malaysian murder convict on Friday despite last-minute clemency pleas, his family and human rights groups said.

Kho Jabing, 31, was sentenced to death in 2010 for killing a Chinese construction worker in a robbery gone wrong and spent the next six years on a legal roller-coaster trying to avoid the gallows.

In a news conference late Tuesday, his sister Kho Jumai, 27, said the family was told in a letter from the Singapore Prisons Service that her brother would be executed on May 20.

Executions are normally carried out at Changi Prison before dawn on Fridays in Singapore.

The prison did not immediately respond to AFP's requests for confirmation of the execution date.

Only the Singapore president, on the advice of the cabinet, can grant clemency.

The president said last week that he will not grant clemency although the family is pleading for a last minute reprieve.

"I've done everything I can, I've sent letters all over the government, to anyone who would listen. Whether the letters were really received, I don't know because I don't have much education," said Kho's mother Lenduk Baling, speaking through an interpreter.

Malaysia also has capital punishment, executing murderers and drug traffickers by hanging, a system like in Singapore that dates back to British colonial rule.

Amnesty International Malaysia and Human Rights Watch have both released statements calling on Singapore to halt the execution and review the case.

After Kho was sentenced to death in 2010, Singapore amended its mandatory death penalty for murder, giving judges the discretion to impose life imprisonment under certain circumstances.

His case was reviewed and Kho was re-sentenced to a life term in 2013.

But after an appeal by prosecutors, Kho's death sentence was reinstated in January 2015.

An appeal was thrown out by a five-judge court last month, setting the stage for Friday's hanging.

Singapore executed four people in 2015, one for murder and three for drug offences, according to Singapore prison officials.

Rights groups have called on Singapore to abolish capital punishment but the government has rejected such calls, arguing death sentences are a deterrent to crime.

Hai Sing Catholic School student Winnie Hiew, 15, kept her love for sport stacking under wraps when she first started two years ago.

"I didn't want to tell my friends, in case they thought I was weird," she said. "Everyone's outside playing badminton and basketball, and I'm here stacking cups."

Her passion and hard work eventually earned her three overall national sport stacking records for the female division.

Sport stacking, also known as cup stacking or speed stacking, requires participants to stack and unstack cups in various specific formations as fast as possible.

The idea came from a Mr Wayne Godinet from California in the early 1980s, and it was popularised in the 1990s. The World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA), based in Colorado in the US, was formed in 2001 to promote and govern sport stacking around the world.

The Singapore branch of the association was founded in 2008 and is now headed by Mr Allan Ong, 41.

There are about 3,000 stackers in Singapore, but only 250 who stack competitively under the banner of Team Singapore, estimates Mr Ong, who runs the Singapore branch full-time. Stackers come from all age groups, from as young as five to as old as mid-60s.

Over the years, Team Singapore has accomplished several notable feats. It holds five divisional world records, one by nine-year-old Shaina Nero Ruiz. Special stackers - those with physical or intellectual disabilities - have set four world records. Twelve-year-old Ikhsan Irwan is one of them. He holds world records for all individual competitive sequences in the Level One Special Stackers Age 11-14 division.

Stacking is gaining traction in Singapore, according to Mr Ong.

More than five schools have contacted WSSA Singapore for information about stacking so far this year, more than double the number in the same period last year.

St Stephen's School has been holding cup stacking sessions regularly during recess since August last year, when some play areas were hoarded up for upgrading.

The principal of the primary school, Mr Thomas Koh, told The Straits Times it became so popular that the school held a competition early this year, in which over half the pupil population participated.

"Cup stacking was chosen because it can be played by all ages and within the school canteen," said Mr Koh.

WSSA Singapore's Mr Ong said about 10 community centres run regular sessions on cup stacking.

In 2011, Singapore held a major competition, the Asian Open, that was attended by seven countries.

The Singapore Open will be held on June 4 and 5 at the Orchid Country Club. So far, about 100 Singaporeans are participating, as well as about 80 competitors from countries and territories including Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

More children in Singapore are taking up stacking, compared to two years ago, when most of the stackers were senior citizens, said Mr Ong.

Parents whose children are into stacking find it a good way to bond with them. Winnie's mother, Ms Serene Ong, 39, volunteers at some of the stacking competitions her daughter took part in. She even participates in the Parents' Doubles, where a parent and child each uses one hand to stack together.

"We talk and interact more now," said Ms Ong, a secretary in the semiconductor industry.

Ms Jane Sim, 35, whose son Edison Chew, 11, is a competitive stacker, said: "We discuss strategies to improve our timings. We have a common goal."

Ms Sim, a naval engineer, noticed a change in her son, who goes to Jing Shan Primary School. "He used to be able to focus for 10 minutes (when he studies)... Now, he can focus for over 30 minutes," she said.

According to recent studies by Texas Tech University and Mesa State College in the US, sport stacking improves concentration and hand-eye coordination, and utilises both the right brain and left brain. It also improves bilateral coordination, the ability to use both sides of the body at the same time in an organised manner.

Edison and Winnie stack with their friends regularly now, and hope that more schools will offer it as a co-curricular activity.

Said Winnie: "Some people don't see it as a sport... (but) I hope stacking can become as popular as other more common sports."

This article was first published on May 19, 2016.
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Corporate watchdog Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) has launched an investigation into possible breaches of the Companies Act by Singapore Post (SingPost).

In a Singapore Exchange filing this morning (May 19), SingPost said ACRA told SingPost on May 18 to submit the joint special audit report on its corporate governance dated May 3, reported The Straits Times.

It said Acra was starting investigations into possible breaches of the Companies Act as highlighted in the report. SingPost had released only a summary of the report to the public.

The audit report emerged in the firm's long-drawn corporate governance saga after SingPost announced in July 2014 that none of its directors had an interest in the acquisition of freight forwarding firm FS Mackenzie (FSM).

It was discovered that the then-SingPost director Keith Tay was the non-executive chairman and 34.5 per cent shareholder in corporate finance advisory firm Stirling Coleman, which was advising the seller in the FSM transaction.

In an executive summary of the special audit report that was released on May 3, auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Drew & Napier said that the error was due to the carelessness on the part of SingPost staff and there was "no deliberate intention" to hide Mr Tay's interest in the acquisition of FSM, reported The Business Times.

It was Mr Tay himself who pointed out to SingPost the error after the announcement was released on July 18, 2014 on the Singapore Exchange (SGX.

SGX told AsiaOne today that it will refer "potential breaches" to the authorities.

June Sim, Head of Listing Compliance, SGX, said: "SGX will refer potential breaches of regulations to the relevant authorities and has referred this matter to Acra.

"To provide assurance to investors and SGX, SGX has directed SingPost to obtain independent confirmation on the implementations of the recommendations by the Joint Special Auditors. SingPost will implement the recommendations together with the outcome of the Corporate Governance review. "

She added that SGX is reviewing the findings of the joint special auditors and "will determine the appropriate course of action".

"Any regulatory action to be taken against the relevant persons will have to be proportionate to the listing rule breach," she said.

Related: Director in SingPost saga steps down

chenj@sph.com.sg

Parkway Parade shopping mall will reopen on Friday (May 20) following a fire that took place within one of the mall's retail stores late on Sunday night.

The fire reportedly occurred at Fox Kids and Baby, a clothing store on the second floor of the mall.

The shopping mall announced its re-opening in a Facebook post on Friday.

A day after the fire broke out, AsiaOne reported that the mall would be closed until further notice. There were no reported injuries.

However, the shopping mall remained shut for reparation works to take place, The Straits Times reported.

The mall's retailers who spoke to the paper had also said they were allowed to check on their shops and noticed that the floors were still wet from the activationof sprinklers during the fire.

Parkway Parade had earlier said on their official Facebook page that they were still investigating the cause of the fire.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

A new passenger terminal building will be built at the eastern side of Seletar Airport to help boost it as a private and business aviation gateway to Singapore.

When it opens in end-2018, operations at the current terminal located on the western side of Seletar Airport will cease, the Civil Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced today (May 19) in a statement.

A tender for its construction was called yesterday and construction is expected to begin in October.

As part of the larger Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP), the new terminal will also support growing general aviation activities.

CAAS statement said: "With the growing demand for air travel and increased traffic at Changi Airport, there is a need to ensure the optimisation of the use of resources within the entire aviation system in Singapore. When the new PTB at Seletar Airport is ready in end-2018, turboprop aircraft operations will be shifted from Changi Airport to Seletar Airport."

Read also: Seletar Airport to be bigger and better

chenj@sph.com.sg

Malaysia-born artist Red Hong Yi has done it again.

The artist, who is famed for creating works of art using unusual materials, has constructed a mural entirely out of chopsticks, this time for Facebook's Singapore office.

She said in a Facebook post on Thursday (May 19) that the social networking company wanted a mural on the 10m long wall in their Singapore office, and had asked for it to be made of chopsticks as the wall is near the office's cafe.

She posted a video of her working on the mural on her Facebook page on Thursday.

It has been viewed at least 750,000 times, and garnered more than 17,000 likes. In the video, she pieces thousands of disposable bamboo chopsticks together and sets them ablaze with a blowtorch to create depth and colour.

Red, as she is popularly known, said in her post that she wanted to "explore bamboo chopsticks as a material and experiment with alternative methods to create murals, so instead of painting on the wall, I decided to set it ablaze".

For her latest work for Facebook's Singapore office, Red chose to depict the Merlion, a well-known Singapore icon.

She used 15,000 bamboo chopsticks, which were "glued, torched, then layered again and burnt a few more times to create depth and dimension to the piece," according to her Facebook post.

Red Hong Yi - the artist who paints without a paintbrush

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Red Hong Yi's Facebook page

Besides chopsticks, she has used coffee cup stains, straws, tealight candles and even rolled up socks to create amazing portraits of famous people, including Taiwanese musician Jay Chou, British singer Adele, Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan and Chinese film-maker Zhang Yimou.

She has also created quirky works of art using different kinds of food, from cucumbers to dragon fruit.

But she did not always know that she wanted to be a full-time artist.

Red graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master in Architecture in 2010, then moved to Shanghai to pursue a career in architecture. It was here that she created her first work using unusual materials.

Using only sunflower seeds, she crafted a portrait of Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei.

Red describes herself in her Facebook profile as an "artist + shy rebel" who "paints without a paintbrush".

xiuhuil@sph.com.sg

Future visitors to some of Singapore's national monuments will be in for a pleasant surprise once restoration works for these buildings are complete.

One of Singapore's first gazetted national monuments, the Cathedral of Good Shepherd, will have new features including a meticulously restored neo-classical ceiling, new tiled floors mirroring its original chequered design as well as a newly reinforced foundation and structural roof and walls.

This year, a total of $2.32 million will be disbursed via the enhanced National Monuments Fund (NMF) to 23 national monuments, including the Cathedral of Good Shepherd, said the National Heritage Board (NHB) in a statement on Thursday (May 19).

Therefore, more monuments and their owners will be able to benefit from the enhanced fund with greater support in their restoration and maintenance works.

The enhanced NMF also includes a new category of funding for maintenance. This new maintenance fund has been allocated $2 million and is aimed at ensuring that stakeholders conduct regular maintenance work and avoid building deterioration.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper, HDB, Former Command House, The Business Times, Lianhe Zaobao, T Kavi, MDA, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Tracy Sua, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

This inaugural disbursement of NMF's new maintenance fund will have more than $100,000 dedicated to the maintenance works of 20 national monuments including Al-Abrar Mosque, Chesed-El Synagogue, Hong San See, Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre, St Joseph's Church, Tan Si Chong Su and Sri Perumal Temple.

Additionally, the enhanced NMF also sees an increase in restoration fund.

The Hajjah Fatimah Mosque is among the recipients that will benefit from this increase as the monument will be supported in terms of treatment and repair works to its wall surfaces, and for the repainting of its façade in mineral paint, which is a special type of paint more suited to the monument's historic fabric.

Director of the Preservation of Sites and Monuments (PSM) division under the NHB Ms Jean Wee said: "Maintaining old buildings like our National Monuments is not an easy task, and requires much commitment and funds from the owners.

"We recognise this and with the enhanced NMF, we are able to help more monument owners with the rising costs of such works. This is a joint effort to ensure that our monuments will be preserved for posterity."

ssandrea@sph.com.sg

SPEED demons beware, the Traffic Police have a new gadget to nab those who break the limit.

Yesterday, they unveiled a new portable speed laser camera that will be deployed at 44 speeding hot spots - including West Coast Highway, Braddell Road and Changi Coast Road.

It is the first time the older cameras are being replaced since speeding enforcement operations began in 2004.

Manned by a single officer, the new cameras can capture higher resolution images, work better in low light conditions and have a battery life of eight hours - double that of the older model.

Officers will be stationed on overhead bridges or by the roadside - the list of enforcement areas is available online.

The gadgets also have the ability to capture video, unlike the older model.

Signs will be placed about 200m before the speed laser cameras.

"The intent is to let motorists be aware that they are entering an accident-prone area so slow down and drive carefully," said TP deputy commander Devrajan Bala.

Deputy assistant commissioner Devrajan added that the new cameras will complement existing efforts to curb speeding with the TP's other cameras on the roads.

Asked why it took 12 years for the TP for upgrade its speed laser cameras, he said: "The technology has improved tremendously. We were looking for something that would be a gamechanger, in terms of camera capabilities.

"In the past, (cameras' performance was) dependent on light conditions... the current ones are very reliable."

The number of accidents caused by speeding fell to 1,197 last year from 1,363 in 2014.

However there were 8,021 injury accidents caused by speeding last year, up almost 3 per cent from 7,809 in 2014.

Fatal speeding accidents rose to 48 last year, from 43 in 2014.

In recent years, the TP have replaced their ageing film cameras with digital ones, and deployed mobile speed cameras - autonomous devices which can be taken down and set up within a week - at speeding hot spots.

The mobile speed cameras, which were launched earlier this year on Seletar Link, have been deployed at two more locations - Jurong Island Highway and Lim Chu Kang Road.

"The mobile speed cameras have been very effective, we see very good behaviour now... Our idea is to shape the motorist's behaviour," said TP commander Sam Tee.

Motorist Steve Keh, 41, who works in the maritime industry, said: "These will surely be effective and make people drive carefully."

dansonc@sph.com.sg

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Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat remains sedated and in a stable condition, his fellow Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said yesterday.

Mr Baey, who is Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, said he had not had the chance to visit Mr Heng. MPs and grassroots leaders have been asked to put off visits till a later date.

"The family needs some space and that takes priority," he told The Straits Times.

He also said some Tampines GRC residents had asked if there would be a site for people to leave their expressions of good wishes as well as flowers and fruit for Mr Heng.

"Our view is that these are kind gestures we and the family really appreciate, but the most important thing now is for Swee Keat to recover," Mr Baey added.

Mr Heng, 54, had collapsed a week ago during a Cabinet meeting after suffering a stroke.

Doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital had successfully closed a ruptured aneurysm that had caused bleeding in his brain.

He remains in intensive care.

The Straits Times understands that flowers, cards and gifts for the minister continue to arrive at the hospital's Heritage Museum, where they are kept.

Mr Heng's duties have been taken over by several ministers and MPs.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the previous finance minister, is back helming the ministry, while Mr S. Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), was appointed co-chairman of the Committee on the Future Economy.

The four other Tampines GRC MPs will take turns to visit constituents in Mr Heng's Tampines Central ward, and attend to their needs at his Meet-the-People Sessions on Mondays. They will be helped by former Tampines GRC MP Sin Boon Ann, who has been appointed deputy chairman of the People's Action Party branch in Tampines Central.

This article was first published on May 20, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.