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SMRT track accident: Families of dead duo planning joint prayers

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The families of the two SMRT trainees hit and killed by an oncoming train on Tuesday are planning to hold joint prayers next week to mourn their loss, said an uncle of one of the dead men.

Relatives said both families are struggling to cope with the sudden deaths of Mr Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26, and Mr Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24.

"We'll be having prayers every day... We also invited the other family to join us (next week), for a combined prayer for the deceased," said Mr Bakhtiar Ahmad, 63, an uncle of Mr Muhammad Asyraf.

The two trainees were among 15 technical staff investigating a possible fault with a point machine used for trains to change tracks.

They were struck by an oncoming train near Pasir Ris station while walking towards the machine.

When asked about a statement by SMRT on Wednesday revealing that a key safety procedure had not been followed, Mr Nasrulhudin's older brother Nisham, 32, said: "We have no comments on SMRT's statement. We hope to wait for the complete picture after investigations are over."

Said Mr Bakhtiar: "We don't want to speculate. Let the authorities do what they are supposed to."

In an e-mail message to all staff yesterday obtained by The Straits Times, SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek said "our efforts must now be to make sure such a tragedy never happens again".

"Clearly there is much more that can and must be done everywhere to make our workplace safer for all our staff," he wrote.

In the wake of the accident, industry observers also weighed in on SMRT's safety protocols. "The investigation should reveal why 15 people needed to go down just to inspect a fault. There may be a valid reason, but it's yet to be known," said Mr Rajan Krishnan, chief executive of engineering firm KTC group.

According to SMRT, the 15 staff comprised six engineers, five technical officers and four trainees.

A rail engineer, who spoke to ST on condition of anonymity, asked if there was a worker assigned to keep a lookout for oncoming trains, or a controller for site safety.

He said that whenever a track excursion is required, one person among the group should be responsible for the safety of everyone else.

"His job is not to hold a shovel or anything like that, but to set up a safe system of work. He has to calculate the speed of the train and the sighting distance that you have, so that you obtain the required warning time to get out of the track and into a place of safety," he added.

byseow@sph.com.sg

adrianl@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on March 25, 2016.
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Friday, March 25, 2016 - 15:21
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Rescued Yishun cats still 'severely malnourished'

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They were among the 39 cats rescued from a fourth-storey Housing Board flat in Yishun exactly a month ago.

The four cats were still emaciated and sick when they were released yesterday by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to the Cat Welfare Society (CWS), a non-profit organisation run by volunteers.

The felines, each weighing less than the normal weight of 2kg, were taken to James Tan Veterinary Centre on Whitley Road for assessment and treatment.

CWS committee member Veron Lau said: "We are hoping to get their weight back up and ensure they are healthy before we sterilise and vaccinate them. We want them to go to good homes."

The 39 cats, kept in filthy cages, were removed from a three-room unit at Block 207, Yishun Street 21, on Feb 25. Both AVA and CWS learnt of their plight after residents there complained about "faecal odour" from the unit in September last year.

It was after several attempts that AVA managed to contact the flat owner - a hoarder - and removed the cats, which were already in poor condition.

Twenty-five cats had been released to CWS after being under AVA's care.

"Many were severely malnourished. More than half were below 2kg in weight and were at high risk of organ failure," Ms Lau told The New Paper yesterday.

Unfortunately, three of the 25 died while at the vet's and another four from the 14 that were still at AVA also died.

"The four released to us today were not doing too well so we had to take them to Dr Tan to be looked at," Ms Lau said, adding that the remaining cats left at AVA will be released soon.

Ms Lau said while the kind vets at different practices had given "huge concessions to helping these cats, remedying years of neglect does not come cheaply".

RAISING MONEY

"We are raising $10,000 to continue the care for these cats, but with 10 more being released to us, it looks like we have to raise more money," she said.

Under the Animals and Birds Act, anyone found guilty of cruelty to animals, including abandonment, can be jailed up to 18 months, fined up to $15,000, or both.

When asked if the flat owner will be taken to task for his cats, AVA would only say that investigations are still ongoing.


This article was first published on March 25, 2016.
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Friday, March 25, 2016 - 14:00
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OMGtel aims to be No. 2 telco, cut roaming charges

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Singapore's fourth telco contender OMGTel has promised to remove pricey roaming charges and stray signals from Indonesia, and improve spotty network coverage, as it finalises $400 million worth of funding to help its bid for a licence.

The subsidiary of Consistel, which set up the Sports Hub's wireless systems, is hoping to raise a total of $1 billion to build a brand new 4G network islandwide.

"We're close to securing 40 per cent of the total funding," Consistel and OMGTel chairman Masoud Bassiri said yesterday. "We have serious investment offers. We only have to sign the papers."

He would not disclose investor details, citing "intense rivalry".

The company is confident of raising $1 billion by the third quarter of this year, when the official auction for mobile airwaves is expected to take place.

New entrants will be offered 60 MHz worth of mobile frequencies at a discount of 45 per cent, or at a reserve price of $35 million. The potential fourth telco could launch its services as early as April next year.

OMGTel's newly appointed chief executive officer Bill Amelio, a technology veteran, said it will be "aggressive and hungry" in the upcoming auction.

Another fourth telco hopeful MyRepublic, a local fibre broadband services provider, is expected to contest.

UOB Kay Hian director of research Jonathan Koh said the upcoming auction will be "the liveliest in 14 years" as no new company had expressed any interest in entering the Singapore market.

Should OMGTel win mobile airwaves in the auction to become the fourth operator here, it said it will compete on talk-time, roaming charges and contract length as well as network quality.

"We can deliver consistent coverage as you walk from the carpark to the lift and into buildings and trains. Right now, coverage is very choppy," said Mr Bassiri.

Meanwhile, MyRepublic said it would charge consumers as little as $8 a month for a mobile plan should it become the fourth telco.

Former Cabinet minister George Yeo, who is OMGTel's adviser, said: "Singapore does need a fourth operator, given the state of technological development in the world. Today, people get a bill shock when they forget to switch off auto-roaming. We should be in a world where these things are like water and electricity; you pay a fixed rate and the marginal cost is zero."

OMGTel claimed it could roll out its network islandwide as early as the end of next year using its proprietary automation software for indoor network planning, among other systems. It is also targeting to unseat StarHub as the No. 2 mobile operator in Singapore.

StarHub chief marketing officer Howie Lau said: "Competition is not new to us, and we will continue to build on our strengths."

SEAMLESS NETWORK COVERAGE

We can deliver consistent coverage as you walk from the carpark to the lift and into buildings and trains. Right now, coverage is very choppy. ''

itham@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on March 25, 2016.
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Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 07:30
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SAF to conduct live firing military exercises from Mar 28 to Apr 1

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SINGAPORE - The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will conduct military exercises in various parts of Singapore from 8am on Mon, Mar 28 Mar, to 8am on Mon, Apr 4.

These areas include Seletar, Marsiling, Jalan Bahar, Neo Tiew, Lim Chu Kang, Jalan Kwok Min, Tuas, Upper Jurong, Hong Kah, Ama Keng, Bedok Jetty, Kranji, Lentor, Simpang, Sembawang, and Mandai.

Blanks and thunderflashes will be used.

SAF (Army) will conduct Live Firing Exercises in Pasir Laba (SAFTI) Live Firing Area from 8am on Mon, Mar 28, to 8am on Mon, Apr 4.

Sea vessels and crafts sailing through the Western Johor Straits during these times are to keep within the 75m Navigable Sea Lane and not to stray into the Live Firing Boundary.

Live ammunition and flares will be used.

The public are advised not to be alarmed and to keep clear of these areas.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will be conducting Live Firing exercises around Pulau Sudong, Pulau Pawai and Pulau Senang from Mon, Mar 28 to Mon, Apr 1, daily from 7am to 11pm, and on Sat, Apr 2, from 8am to 1pm.

Flares will be released during the night firing.

The islands of Pulau Sudong, Pulau Senang and Pulau Pawai are proclaimed manoeuvring and firing grounds.

The public are advised to keep clear of these islands and to stay clear of the prohibited waters off Changi Naval Base and Tuas Naval Base.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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Friday, March 25, 2016 - 16:28
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18 dogs abandoned in different parts of Singapore in 48 hours

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A Facebook post on Voices For Animals (VFA) has brought the public to attention of dog abandonment - altogether 18 pedigree dogs in two days.

In a post yesterday, the animal welfare group said 16 dogs were abandoned in 24 hours in different parts of Singapore such as Yishun, Sengkang, Serangoon, Tampines and Petir Road.

Another batch of abandoned case!!!!1 pair of poodles, Long nails, doesn't know how to walk on leash! One male one...

Posted by Voices For Animals on Thursday, 24 March 2016

A Channel NewsAsia report today said the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also "took in eight small pedigree dogs in the last 48 hours, including poodles and poodle crosses".

In The Straits Times report, SPCA's acting executive director Dr Jaipal Singh Gill said the the dogs showed signs of having the same owner. He said they have similar skin problems, were groomed in the same way and had long nails.

Animal activist Mr Derrick Tan, 35, of VFA also said in The Straits Times report that the dogs "smelled bad, had long nails and skin issues".

Comments on VFA's Facebook posts speculated that person who abandoned the dogs could have been a breeder.

I think it's a dumping session. So many dogs being abandoned. Yesterday Night rescued, 1) 3 from Yishun a female...

Posted by Voices For Animals on Thursday, 24 March 2016

Mr Tan said in The Straits Times report that a suspect has been traced who had told him the dogs were abandoned all over the island in the hopes for them to get adopted.

The Straits Times reported that Mr Tan said all the dogs have been accounted for. Most of them are with VFA while others are with the SPCA and one is with Animal Lovers League, another animal welfare group.

3 abandoned dogs. Has named them, Rainie the younger Maltese, Coral the older Maltese, & Sandy the Cavadoodle. I...

Posted by Voices For Animals on Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Channel NewsAsia reported that Dr Gill said that six of the eight dogs with SPCA have microchips and SPCA is tracing the identities of these owners, if possible.

SPCA has also made a report to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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Friday, March 25, 2016 - 19:00
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SPCA, rescuers pick up several pedigree dogs

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Officers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and other dog rescuers were kept busy for the past 24 hours.

They picked up more than a dozen pedigree dogs, believed to have been abandoned, from various parts of Singapore.

Founder of Voices for Animals (VfA) Derrick Tan was alerted on Facebook by friends that three pedigree dogs had been found at a public toilet in Yishun on Wednesday.

"They could not house them so I went down to the toilet to get the dogs," he said.

3 abandoned dogs. Has named them, Rainie the younger Maltese, Coral the older Maltese, & Sandy the Cavadoodle. I...

Posted by Voices For Animals on Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Yesterday, he picked up another two toy dogs from the grounds of a condominium in Hougang.

"Another two dogs were picked up separately by other rescuers. One was found by the highway near Old Tampines Road," Mr Tan told The New Paper.

MICROCHIPS

SPCA also rescued six pedigree dogs, five of which were poodles, in the last 24 hours. Other breeds included maltese, shih tzu and cocker spaniel.

Its spokesman said some of the dogs have microchips.

"We are tracing the registration of the microchips to identify the owners of the animals, if possible," she said.

"We understand that other animal welfare groups have found similar dogs in the past day or so. It is possible that these animals were used for breeding and were abandoned by the same person," she added.

Mr Tan said: "If you can't cope and need to rehome your pet, please take them to proper shelters or to the SPCA. Please don't simply abandon them anywhere. They could get run over by cars or be abused."


This article was first published on March 25, 2016.
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Friday, March 25, 2016 - 21:00
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Cross-border RMB transactions now possible between Chongqing and Singapore

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SINGAPORE - Eligible corporates and individuals in Chongqing, China, can now conduct cross-border Renminbi (RMB) transactions with financial institutions and corporates in Singapore.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has welcomed the move by the People's Bank of China Chongqing Operations Office (PBC Chongqing), said a MAS statement today.

PBC Chongqing's directive has issued one of the agreed outcomes in financial co-operation between China and Singapore during the state visit to Singapore in November 2015 by the President of the People's Republic of China, Mr Xi Jinping.

The directive allows corporates in Chongqing to issue RMB bonds in Singapore and repatriate the funds raised in full.

In addition to Chongqing, the funds raised can be used outside of the municipality for the development of economic activities and infrastructure in China's western region that include the six provinces of Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan, and five autonomous regions of Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, and Xinjiang.

The directive also allows equity investment funds in Chongqing to make direct investments outside of China, including Singapore and the ASEAN region, and individuals in Chongqing can make RMB remittances to Singapore to settle current account transactions.

The initiative will facilitate greater use of RMB in the region and contribute to the growth of the offshore RMB market in Singapore, said the statement.

It will also strengthen financial connectivity between Chongqing and Singapore.

This will be useful in achieving the objective of enhancing modern connectivity and services in China's western region under the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, announced in November 2015.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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Friday, March 25, 2016 - 19:29
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Almost $30,000 raised for SMRT trainees killed on tracks

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SINGAPORE - An online fundraising campaign has collected more than $30,000 in just over two days for the families of the two SMRT trainees killed on the tracks near Pasir Ris MRT station on Tuesday (March 22).

Mr Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26, and Mr Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24 were among 15 technical staff investigating a possible fault with a point machine used for trains to change tracks.

They were struck by an oncoming train while walking towards the machine.

The campaign on fundraising website Give.asia, was started by entrepreneur Shariff Raffi and Give.asia co-founder Aseem Thakur.

In a note on the campaign page, Mr Shariff, 32, said he did not know the two trainees personally but felt saddened that they had died while putting "their lives on the line for us".

"While taking the train the same evening (Tuesday), I couldn't help but feel deeply moved by what had happened and kept thinking about their families and friends," he said.

The fundraising effort started on Thursday (March 24).

Mr Aseem, 29, told The Straits Times both he and Mr Shariff were "touched by the overwhelming support and donations to the fundraising page".

"As shared on the page, at the end of the fundraiser, we will be sending the funds to SMRT so that the funds can be properly channeled to the families of Mr Asyraf and Mr Nasrulhudin Najumudin."

The two fundraisers have been liaising with SMRT and the campaign will close in a fortnight.

Mr Asyraf's uncle Bakhtiar Ahmad, 63, said the family is aware of the donation drive and intends to respond to well-wishers soon.

"The family is currently focused on the spiritual aspect of our loss," he said.

Separately, SMRT has also started an internal donation drive for staff to contribute to the families of the two men killed.

The company took responsibility for the incident and issued an apology on Wednesday.

It said that a key safety procedure was not followed, adding that the company has established a team to evaluate all workplace safety procedures and instituted mandatory work-team level safety reviews.


This article was first published on March 25, 2016.
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Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 09:19
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Five arrested, more than 2kg of drugs seized in CNB operation

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SINGAPORE - Five people have been arrested and more than 2kg of drugs worth an estimated $156,000 were seized in a Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) operation on Thursday (March 24).

At about noon, CNB officers observed a car driven by a 47-year-old male Singaporean, who picked up a 43-year-old Singaporean man and a 21-year-old Indonesian woman.

The driver drove to a carpark in the vicinity of Lengkong Tiga in Bedok, where a suspected drug courier, a 29-year-old Malaysian man on a motorcycle, passed a plastic bag to the male passenger, who is a suspected drug trafficker.

Officers arrested all four for suspected drug activities, and recovered two bundles of heroin weighing about 950g from the plastic bag, along with $5,880 in cash.

They then raided the hideout of the suspected drug trafficker, where about 920g of heroin and four packets of "Ice" weighing about 30g were recovered.

Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of another suspected trafficker, a 41-year-old Singaporean man. About 400g of cannabis, 20g of "Ice" and 35g of heroin were found in his hideout.

A total of about 1.9kg of heroin, 400g of cannabis and about 50g of "Ice" were seized in the operation.

Investigations into the drug activities of all suspects are ongoing. The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine - or pure heroin - trafficked exceeds 15g.


This article was first published on March 26, 2016.
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Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 09:49
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Police investigating NSF who leaked photo of dead SMRT worker

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A photograph of the body of one of the two workers killed in the SMRT accident that made its rounds online was a screenshot of a police computer terminal.

It was allegedly leaked by a full-time police national serviceman, the police said yesterday.

The picture, which showed a close-up of Mr Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari's body lying on the MRT track, was circulated on social media websites, forums and messaging app WhatsApp earlier this week.

It was even seen by some of Mr Asyraf's family members before they received news that he had died, The New Paper reported on Thursday.

The picture, which also revealed the 24-year-old's full name and IC number, appeared to have been taken off a screen.

Yesterday, in response to media queries, a police spokesman told TNP that investigations revealed that the picture was a screenshot of a police computer terminal.

A police NSF is believed to have shared the photograph with his family and friends.

The officer is being investigated for an offence under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), the spokesman said.

The police are also investigating how the photograph was uploaded online.

"The police deeply regret the insensitive and illegal action of the officer and met with the family today to explain the circumstances surrounding the leakage," the spokesman said.

"The police have strict rules on the management of official information and take a very serious view of any breach. Officers who commit any wrongdoing will be dealt with in accordance with the law."

SERIOUS OFFENCE

Criminal lawyer Rajan Supramaniam from Hilborne Law said an offence under the OSA is a serious one, particularly so in this case when the sensitive photograph was allegedly leaked while Mr Asyraf's family was still grieving.

He said that such photographs are taken and strictly used for investigation purposes, and are not meant for public viewing.

"If leaked, they could cause a public outcry, distort the impact of the case and affect the post-mortem findings by authorities," he said. Mr Asyraf's cousin, Mr Muhd Kamal, 24, an undergraduate, told TNP last night upon hearing the news: "It was a very sensitive picture and we wanted to find out who did it. And now we know.

"But we would now leave it to the police to best handle it."

He had earlier urged people not to circulate the picture, saying it was disrespectful to the deceased.

Mr Asyraf's father, Mr Ahmad Buhari, 61, had told TNP that he saw the photograph when he was in Mecca, Saudi Arabia."I was very sad when I saw the picture," he had said.

The maximum punishment for wrongful communication of information under the OSA is a two-year jail term and a $2,000 fine.

This article was first published on March 26, 2016. 
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Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 11:57
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25-year-old man's fascination with buses started in primary school

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He has more than 500 pieces of bus-related items including guides, tickets and service plates.

Full-time national serviceman Muhammad Zakaria Azmi, 25 , has spent about $1,500 on these items, which he bought from scrapyards and bus depots.

Their prices ranged between $10 for a service plate and $300 for a digital service number display.

Mr Zakaria, who has a diploma in aerospace engineering, said: "I started collecting bus guides in my primary school days as I took a public bus to school every day.

"I'm fascinated by how these artefacts bring back memories for commuters.

"When my elderly uncles visit and see the artefacts, they start telling me about bus routes in the 1980s."

For Mr Zakaria, bus number plate SBS2701Z holds special meaning as it has his birthday, Jan 27, and initial "Z" on it.

It was given to him by a friend who picked it up from a scrapyard.

Mr Zakaria often chats with the driver when he takes a bus.

He said: "Not everyone can be a bus captain.

"It's interesting to know the captain's life story and how he started his job."

His favourite bus service is 176, which he took to get to his primary and secondary schools in the west.

He is an only child and his parents are supportive of his collection, he said.

Mr Zakaria, who lives with them in a five-room flat in Pandan Gardens, said: "My parents allowed me to use the master bedroom as my room so that I have space for my collection.

"They encourage me to pursue my hobby as long as I keep my room clean."

COMMUNITY

Together with a friend, Mr Zakaria is also working on building a remote-controlled bus model measuring 1m by 18cm by 30cm, which he hopes to commercialise in the future.

He has contributed some 15 items to the Our Bus Journey bus carnival.

He estimated that there are about 150 bus enthusiasts in Singapore, saying: "The community of bus enthusiasts is definitely growing.

"Some of them are influenced by friends.

"There are bus enthusiasts as young as seven years old."

Mr Zakaria feels commuters should be more courteous to bus drivers.

He said: "We often complain when bus services are delayed. But some reasons for their delay, such as road conditions, are inevitable.

"Simple gestures, such as saying thanks when a bus waits for you to catch it, can make a bus captain's journey more enjoyable."

WHAT: Our Bus Journey bus carnival

ORGANISED BY: Land Transport Authority

WHERE: VivoCity, Outdoor Plaza

WHEN: Today and tomorrow, 11am to 8pm

ADMISSION: Free

krystalc@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on March 26, 2016.
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Sunday, March 27, 2016 - 00:30
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Lee Wei Ling: Papa would've cringed at 'hero worship'

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SINGAPORE - The late founding prime minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew would have objected to an extravagant commemoration of his death anniversary, his daughter Dr Lee Wei Ling said in a Facebook post yesterday (March 25).

In the post, Dr Lee revealed that she had turned down requests from publications to comment on the first anniversary of her father's death, which was on Wednesday (March 23). But she decided to speak out after seeing a portrait of Mr Lee constructed using 4,877 erasers with the Singapore flag.

The art installation is on display at The Red Box in Somerset Road until tomorrow (March 27).

"It was a well-meaning effort but it made me wince," Dr Lee wrote.

Explaining why, she said that she was reminded of her first visit to China with Mr Lee in 1976. Their delegation was greeted by children lining the streets and chanting loudly: "Welcome, welcome, a very warm welcome".

"It was very contrived and my father was not impressed. We are Singaporeans, not prone to excessive, unnatural displays of emotion. Papa merely waved at the children, as he would have done in Singapore," Dr Lee wrote.

She also questioned the need to commemorate Mr Lee's death after just a year, "when last year's event still hang heavy on the hearts and minds of some people".

"Papa's focus never wavered. What he did was all for the welfare of the nation and its people. Yes, it is good that we remember history. But it would be even better if we honour Lee Kuan Yew by working for the well-being of Singapore and Singaporeans," she added.

"Any veneration could have the opposite effect and lead future generations of Singaporeans to think that my father's actions were motivated by his desire for fame, or creation of a dynasty. He strove hard and determinedly in life to advance Singapore, and not for his place in history, or leaving a great legacy. He is a rare politician and leader, who did what he had to do with no thought to any gain for himself."

on Facebook

Lee Kuan Yew would have cringed at the hero worship just one year after his death The response of Singaporeans during...

Posted by Lee Wei Ling on Friday, March 25, 2016

huizhen@sph.com.sg

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Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 17:35
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Man trapped after 6-car accident in Yishun

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SINGAPORE - A six-car collision in Yishun this afternoon (March 26) left two people injured, including a man who was trapped and had to be freed using hydraulic rescue tools.

Both victims were conveyed conscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a statement. They were alerted to the scene at the junction of Yishun Avenue 7 and Sembawang Road at about 12.20pm.

Citing eyewitness accounts, Channel NewsAsia reported that the accident involved six cars and caused a traffic jam.

At 1.50pm, Twitter user @fybayu said that there was a "terrible jam" along Gambas Avenue towards Sembawang Road. She also posted a 10-second clip showing a badly smashed up black car along with a few other cars.

on Twitter

huizhen@sph.com.sg

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Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 19:27
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SDP announces campaign slogan for Bukit Batok by-election

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SINGAPORE - The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has announced its campaign slogan for the Bukit Batok by-election: "Now is the time".

On its campaign card, which was posted on its Facebook page this afternoon (March 26), is a list of initiatives that the party pledges to fulfil within 100 days of getting elected.

Among the promises are to publish an interim financial report and to announce a Bukit Batok Town Council budgetary plan.

on Facebook

NOW IS THE TIME! The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is launching its campaign slogan for the Bukit Batok SMC...

Posted by Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) on Saturday, March 26, 2016

SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, 53, will contest the seat in the Single Member Constituency, which was vacated by the People's Action Party's (PAP) David Ong who resigned amid allegations of an extramarital affair.

Lawyer Murali Pillai, 48, will be the PAP's candidate.

huizhen@sph.com.sg

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Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 20:32
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SAF relaxes rules on mobile devices in camps

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The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has tweaked its restrictions on smartphones and other electronic devices.

Since the beginning of the month, the ban on personal tablets and laptops in camps has been lifted, allowing servicemen to use these devices in green zones, which include cookhouses, bunks and medical centres.

Previously, personal tablets and laptops could be used only in business centres in selected camps.

Smartphones can also now be used in zones marked red, which include unit operations rooms and offices with sensitive information, so long as the camera has been disabled. This can be done by either grinding or sandblasting the camera lens, or taking out the camera unit.

Previously, servicemen were allowed to use camera-equipped phones only in the less sensitive green zones. Those entering the no-camera phone red zones had to deposit their phones in lockers.

The Defence Ministry confirmed the move, saying that servicemen will have to prove that the cameras in their modified smartphones or smartwatches comply with its standards of "being permanently unusable" before being allowed into the red zones.

The latest moves reflect the soaring popularity of camera-enabled smartphones or devices and will minimise disruption for its personnel, especially national servicemen who attend their annual in-camp training.

More than 70 per cent of the some 7.3 million mobile phones in Singapore are camera-equipped smartphones.

In a nod to this trend, the SAF divided camps into green and red zones in 2012, allowing personnel to use camera phones in the non-sensitive green zones.

Previously, selected commanders and operational personnel were also issued with "modified smartphones" - which have had the cameras removed - on a trial basis.

Now, the military is also testing out a mobile device management technology that can remotely disable cameras in its mobile devices and wipe out their data.

Operationally ready national serviceman Mike Tay said that fewer restrictions on laptops and tablets will make it less troublesome for servicemen.

This will allow them to catch up on their work in between training.

But the 29-year-old accountant, who is an infantry officer, said he will not be modifying his smartphone. "I take pictures with my phone all the time... why would I waste the time and money to get it removed just for reservist which only happens once a year."

jermync@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on March 27, 2016.
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Safety first as work starts on Canberra station

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Khaw's emphasis comes even as LTA notes that stringent measures will be put in place

Work on Canberra station on the North-South Line (NSL) started yesterday, as Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stressed that safety will be a top priority in building the station - only the second after Dover to be built over an MRT line already in operation.

Canberra station, which is between Sembawang and Yishun stations, is expected to be ready in 2019.

"Building a new station on a functioning line has its challenges," Mr Khaw wrote on Facebook, adding that he has "stressed to the construction team to place safety as their top priority".

Mr Khaw's emphasis on safety comes after two SMRT workers were hit and killed by an oncoming train near Pasir Ris MRT last Tuesday. SMRT admitted a day later that a safety lapse led to the deaths of the men, aged 26 and 24.

In a press release yesterday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) noted that stringent safety measures will be put in place.

"We have enhanced the work processes used previously for the construction of Dover station," said LTA. Dover station, on the East-West line, opened in 2001.

For Canberra station, critical works next to the existing tracks will be confined to the three to four hours when the trains are not running, said LTA.

When works are carried out near the "live" tracks, LTA and the contractor will coordinate with SMRT, the NSL operator, over access to the work area, and impose stringent control on the works being done, it added.

A project safety review process for the design and construction phases has been implemented, along with detailed risk assessments, LTA said.

A protective enclosure of nearly 220m - the length of the station - will be built around the tracks for safety. This is so that light construction works, such as the outfitting of the skin of the roof, can be done even as trains are running.

Working around an operational MRT line presents a unique set of engineering challenges, especially as the hours to do critical works are limited, said LTA's director of rail expansion Chuah Han Leong.

"You are building all around the MRT line - building under because the concourse is there, building next to it as the platforms are on both sides, and a roof on top. You are wrapping around the viaduct, basically," he said.

A station mock-up will be built off-site so a trial installation of the columns and roof truss can be done, to determine the safest and most effective construction method, Mr Chuah added.

The mock-up will be a skeletal version and will comprise two sets of columns and roof trusses.

During construction, the roof trusses, which span more than 28m, will have to be lifted vertically by cranes and joined to columns of about 17m in height. "You can imagine the precision required," Mr Chuah said.

As part of the works, a new 72m- long rail crossover track will be constructed north of Canberra station to connect the two existing tracks. "This allows trains to move from one track to the other, providing better operational resilience," LTA said.

The contract to build the station was awarded last April to China State Construction Engineering (Singapore) for $90 million.

When completed, Canberra station will serve residents of nearby estates like Sembawang Springs as well as upcoming residential developments.

adrianl@sph.com.sg


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Plan to directly link Punggol and Pasir Ris towns

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Once a new link road is built, motorists can move between the two towns without using TPE

A new road linking Punggol and Pasir Ris will allow residents to travel directly between the two towns, doing away with the need to go onto Tampines Expressway (TPE).

It will link Punggol Central to Pasir Ris Industrial Drive 1, and allow motorists to connect to Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) directly.

The project, whose completion date was not given, was announced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

"There are quite a number of residents who commute between the two (towns). This will allow residents to travel to the two towns quickly and seamlessly without going onto the TPE," said Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security.

Yesterday, Mr Teo, together with grassroots leaders and MPs of the GRC, officially opened a new 1km temporary slip road that connects motorists in Punggol directly to the KPE.

The slip road, which goes over Sungei Serangoon, is expected to ease peak-hour traffic jams along the expressway entrances at Punggol Road and Punggol Way, which motorists had to use previously to go onto the TPE, so they could link to the KPE.

It is an interim measure before a project to expand the KPE/TPE interchange is completed in the third quarter of 2019. The works will include building a new link road to Punggol Central, three new vehicular bridges and a new flyover across the TPE.

Mr Teo said the new slip road and the future KPE/TPE interchange will benefit not only residents of Punggol, but also those living in Rivervale in Sengkang.

As many residents there use the entrance to the KPE through Buangkok East Drive, the new slip road will help ease traffic there, he said.

To maintain a smooth traffic flow, only cars will be allowed to go onto the new slip road to the KPE, said the Land Transport Authority, and heavy vehicles will continue to use Punggol Road and Punggol Way.

Mr Teo said the new slip road is "one small step" towards bringing better transport to residents.

Public transport was also being improved, with the adding of bus services, including some that take residents directly to the city centre.

Punggol residents welcomed the new slip road, saying it will cut the duration of their commutes.

Mr Ng Joo Hai, 40, a test analyst, said: "It can probably save me about 10 to 15 minutes in the mornings. It's a direct exit to the KPE and will allow me to avoid the heavy traffic in Punggol Road."

adrianl@sph.com.sg


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Singapore's future according to Mr Lee Kuan Yew

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When Mr Lee Kuan Yew was asked how he wanted to be judged by history, he replied: "Ah, history... I'm dead by then."

That was during an interview in 2009 with the authors of the book Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going.

I remembered thinking at the time that it was so like him: unsentimental to the end, and dead right.

But though he didn't want to dwell on what that judgment might be, he had plenty to say about the future of this place after his death.

And we the authors were very keen at the time to get him to talk about it, pressing him about this scenario and that.

How did he see Singapore's politics changing? How long would the People's Action Party be able to remain in power? How might its demise occur? What will happen in 10, 20 or 50 years from now?

He had agreed to do the book with us because he wanted his views to reach as many people as possible, but especially younger Singaporeans, never mind if they agreed with him or not.

So, on the first anniversary of his death, I thought it fitting to put together those views, not about what he had achieved, but the future which he was so concerned with in his later years.

Some of the following extracts were said in different parts of the year-long interviews we had with him, but for the purpose of this piece, I have edited and put them together.

I think he would have wanted Singaporeans to reflect on what he had to say.

Q How confident are you that Singapore will survive you?

Mr Lee All I can say is I think Singapore is safe for 10 years. No trouble because there's a team in place that will handle it. Whether it will be 15, 20, 30 years depends on them getting a team of players very soon. Part of the team is in place but you need a leader man. You need somebody who can communicate, who can mobilise people, move people. It's not enough to have a good policy. You got to convince people.

QWhat about beyond 10 years?

Mr Lee I think there will come a time when eventually the public will say, look, let's try the other side, either because the PAP has declined in quality or the opposition has put up a team which is equal to the PAP and they say, let's try the other side. It must come.

Q How will it happen?

Mr Lee It depends on when it happens and whether it happens all of a sudden or it happens gradually. If the decline in standards happens gradually, an opposition will emerge of quality. I mean, the public can sense it.

I think the more likely is a gradual evolution because it is most unlikely the way we have evolved the party and the renewal of the party leadership that you will get such a clash of opinions that it will divide the whole leadership, the MPs and the party machinery into two, or into one major part, one minor part.

Q What will happen if it takes place suddenly?

Mr Lee If it is sudden, well, you're landed with an emergency. In that emergency I think the people will just take somebody like me and a few of those friends and say look, let's make a bid and stop this from going down the drain.

Q What could possibly make it happen suddenly?

Mr Lee You have a rumpus in the leadership. They disagree profoundly, either for reasons of principle or personality and suddenly it breaks up... I cannot tell you what's going to be in maybe 20, 30, 40 years, not possible.

We might have a genuine difference of perspective what the future should be, what kind of Singapore will survive and thrive in that future. We might have a clash. I don't know.

I've lived long enough to know that nobody settles the future of his country beyond more than a decade or so of his life. Stalin grabbed the whole of eastern part of Europe, grabbed all the Asian republics right up to Siberia, took Outer Mongolia which belonged to China under his wing. That's 1945. He's dead. 1950s or -something, Khrushchev came up. 1992, it dissolved - less than 40 years. They threw up a Gorbachev who never went through a revolution, who did not know that he was sitting on a boiling cauldron.

Q So there's nothing that can be done to prepare us for that eventuality?

Mr Lee Can anybody tell you how to prevent, from getting a stroke or an accident? That you will eventually die is a certainty, right? But how you will die, nobody can tell you.

Q What is your greatest fear for Singapore?

Mr Lee I think a leadership and a people that has forgotten, that has lost its bearings and do not understand the constraints that we face. Small base, highly, technically, organised, very competent people, complete international confidence, an ability to engage the big boys. You lose that, you're down. And you can go down very rapidly...

No system lasts forever, that's for sure. Ten years, I don't think it'll happen; 20 years, I can't say; 30 years, even more I cannot tell you. Will we always be able to get the most dedicated and the most capable, with integrity to devote their lives to this? I hope so but forever, I don't know.

As I re-read these extracts now, he seemed more tentative and ambivalent about Singapore's future than I had ever heard him.

Who can tell what might happen beyond 20 years?

The PAP might still be around, but, then again, it might not.

But he had an underlying confidence in the people, that if they sensed Singapore was heading downhill, they would rally around another group and "stop this from going down the drain".

Of all the things he had said about the future, that's worth remembering.


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Terror strike in Singapore 'only a matter of time'

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Three in four Singaporeans believe that it is only a matter of time before the country comes under a terror attack, with Changi Airport the likeliest target. But a third of people surveyed worry that not enough is being done to prepare its citizens for the eventuality.

These figures came out of a Sunday Times poll last week of 500 people across all ages and demographics who were surveyed at locations across the island, including transport hubs, shopping areas and Changi Airport.

The survey was carried out after a coordinated attack in the Belgian capital of Brussels killed 31 people and injured 300. Two suicide bombers detonated explosives in the departure lounge of Brussels airport, before a third blew himself up on the subway at the end of rush hour.

Nearly nine in 10 of those The Sunday Times spoke to had heard of the attacks in Brussels, and most were worried of something similar happening here, pointing to Singapore's position as a travel and business hub for Asia, and its support for the fight against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS).

Some also highlighted how ISIS has already hit close to home by attacking Indonesia, and that members of the jihadist group had also been arrested across the Causeway while planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Malaysia.

When asked, those surveyed said they were most worried about attacks on "soft targets". Around 130 highlighted tourist attractions such as Sentosa, while 183 thought MRT stations and bus interchanges could be targeted. Over 200 each pointed at Singapore's financial district or its malls, especially those along Orchard Road. But nearly half of those surveyed believed Changi Airport would be the likeliest target.

Said private tutor Fred Tan, 57: "We are a centre for air travel, and people can go in and out of the airport easily. You can't tell who's a terrorist by how they look."

About 54 per cent surveyed believe Singapore is prepared for an attack, highlighting the vigilance of the country's security forces, the number of armed patrols they see at key nodes such as the airport and train stations, and the recent remarks on how the country was stepping up its measures.

On March 18, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said the terror threat level facing Singapore was at its highest in decades, and announced the formation of a new fast-response police team and the beefing up of CCTV coverage at common places across the island.

There will also be efforts aimed at better securing private buildings and major events. "It is no longer a question of whether an attack will take place, but really, when is an attack going to take place in Singapore, and we have to be prepared for that," said the minister.

Two-thirds of those surveyed also said they were willing to undergo more thorough and increased security checks at places such as the airport, MRT stations and shopping centres. "I don't mind bag checks and car checks because these are for security purposes, and it is honestly better to be safe than sorry," said Mr Karan Deep, 30, a waiter. "At the end of the day, if people have nothing to hide, then they should have nothing to worry about either."

But a small group said they were worried about privacy. "My right to move about without being questioned is important," said Ms Anne Lemoine, 35, a Canadian engineer who has been living here for seven months.

But while the country may have the hardware, around 35 per cent wondered if citizens had the heartware to deal with an attack. Many of them believe Singaporeans still are not taking the terror threat seriously enough. "Physically, we are ready, but psychologically, no," said Mr Nathan Huang, 27, a consultant. Events manager Jasmine Teo, 26, added: "There's a lot of complacency. Even when we hear a fire alarm in the mall, few would actually react."

Others worried about the unrest that could arise after an attack.

Mr Daniel Rajan, 57, who is in between jobs, said: "Once there's a terrorist attack, there may be a reaction against a particular race or religion, and this will definitely threaten our social stability."

Added Ms Wong Fang Chin, 50, a financial consultant: "Deterrence is definitely a community effort but I feel that many of us keep to ourselves."

Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng, who is also on the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Home Affairs and Law, believes government initiatives such as SG Secure, which Mr Shanmugam announced, can play a part.

SG Secure, which would be launched later this year, aims to organise and train residents to guard against attacks, and maintain social harmony in the aftermath. "I think we need more drills on the ground, perhaps in the schools, to see if students are ready; and on the ground at the grassroots level - because in case of emergencies, these people will be the liaison officers," said Mr Ng.

Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo said counter-terrorism preparation is not just the domain of the Government.

"The fast-evolving threat and modus operandi mean that we need everyone to help in identifying potential ill elements," said Mr Choo, who is also on the GPC for Home Affairs and Law. "By standing united, we will show that Singapore cannot be defeated by terrorists."

dansonc@sph.com.sg
rybentan@sph.com.sg
trebecca@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Alexis Ong, Ng Keng Gene, Wong Shiying and Veena Vinod


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Bag checks at MRT stations the new normal?

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Stricter checks at MRT stations may soon become part of everyday life in the face of increasing terror threats. Security experts say Singaporeans should ready themselves for inconveniences such as bag checks and screenings at key installations, especially transport hubs.

Associate professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore said terror attacks over recent years at metro or train stations in London, Madrid and Brussels show that these have become a target of choice. "We have to make these installations tougher to crack. Security checks will create inconvenience, but there is no choice, and people will have to understand this," Dr Singh said.

While there are already security checks at MRT stations, these are random and sporadic. Since the Brussels attacks, The Sunday Times understands patrols have been stepped up at key installations such as transport nodes, and security enhanced at checkpoints.

Experts said attacks on other "soft targets" such as shopping malls, schools and hawker centres are also worrying because these are "impossible to fully protect".

Mr Toby Koh, managing director of Ademco Security Group, suggested that random checkpoints be set up as a "visual deterrence".

This could mean circulating security checkpoints around the different MRT stations or transport hubs at random.

"It would remind citizens that security is important and to keep it in mind," he said, adding that complacency was Singapore's greatest weakness.

"We are a victim of our good policing, we always think this is not going to happen to us."

He added that commercial building owners could do more, noting that less than 10 per cent of such buildings were designed with security considerations in mind. Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam flagged this concern on March 18, and revealed that the government would be asking developers of large projects to factor in security considerations at the design stage. Building owners could also be asked to install CCTV cameras.

Mr Paul Lim, chief executive of Secura Group, said buildings could be designed such that CCTV cameras could reach larger areas, and have fewer chokepoints to reduce the risk of stampedes in the event of an attack.

"How buildings are designed can also mitigate the after-effects of a terror attack, for example, if you have shatter-proof glass or pillars that withstand certain levels of explosive. In buildings that are badly designed, the damage can be 10 to 100 times greater," said Mr Lim.

Security studies academic Antonio Rappa from SIM University said more stringent checks should also be carried out on foreigners after they enter the country.

He pointed out that in the 1920s and 1930s, Japanese tourists who travelled to Malaya would take pictures of beaches, installations and utility pipelines. These later became part of an intelligence trove when the Japanese invaded.

In calling for vigilance, Dr Rappa said: "The security situation in Singapore is under control but the fact that arrests have been made recently, and more arrests are likely to occur, in my view, show the number of supporters for overseas terror networks is growing."

Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo, who is on the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, said much of the "counter-terrorism work is done behind the scenes for obvious operational secrecy reasons".

"Singaporeans can be assured that the HomeTeam and security agencies are silently protecting our homeland," he said.

dansonc@sph.com.sg


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