Johor Bahru, Malaysia - A planned multi-billion-dollar new city near Singapore is attracting interest from investors with promises of luxury living but there are questions over its future owing to China's economic woes and warnings of environmental catastrophe.

Forest City, a $42 billion futuristic "eco-city" of high-rises and waterfront villas, will sit on four man-made islands on the Malaysian side of the Johor Strait just an hour from Singapore.

Offering 700,000 residential units as well as shopping malls, international schools, hotels, convention venues and medical facilities on 3,425 acres (1,370 hectares), the city will even have its own immigration centre.

The venture is being developed by Hong Kong-listed real estate giant Country Garden and a firm partly owned by Johor's powerful Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar with an eye on cashed-up Chinese buyers.

"It is by far one of the most enthusiastic private land reclamation projects I have heard of around the Southeast Asia region," said Chua Yang Liang, head of research for Southeast Asia at property services and investment group Jones Lang Lasalle.

Officials say they have shifted 500 units in pre-selling already, despite the development not due to be completed until 2035. During a visit by AFP, sales executive Alex Lee said he had sold 10 properties in one sitting with a Chinese businessman, who paid cash.

Investors can pay anything from $200,000 for a two-bedroom unit, up to $1.6 million for a seaside villa.

By comparison, a mass market condominium in Singapore costs around $740,000 - which in Forest City would buy a four-room seaside villa with a function hall, two parking lots and a large garden.

Opening Ceremony of the Forest City

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The Straits Times, Country Garden

Read also: Forest City developer presses ahead

But some analysts question the project's long-term sales targets as China's economy struggles to break out of a growth slowdown that has seen expansion fall to 25-year lows, while authorities clamp down on a flight of cash from the country.

At the same time Standard & Poor's said it was "cautious" about Forest City after it downgraded Country Garden's long-term corporate rating in March to "BB" from "BB+", citing risks from its aggressive land acquisitions.

It called sales targets "somewhat ambitious given this is a new large-scale project and targets primarily mainland (Chinese) overseas buyers".

And even if the project is a success, campaigners say it could prove to be a disaster for the local ecology and fishermen who complain of dwindling catches.

While its website describes it as a "liveable eco-city", environmentalists say the dumping of sand to build the new city -- an estimated 162 million cubic metres (5.7 billion cubic feet) -- could alter tides and destroy marine life.

"It has the potential to change the ecology of the whole area in profound ways," Greenpeace scientist Paul Johnston told AFP.

"It might change the things that are living there, it might change the vegetation that can grow there."

Local activists say at most risk of destruction is Malaysia's largest intertidal seagrass meadow on Merambong shoal off Johor.

The reclamation has also ruffled feathers in Singapore, with the city-state's environment ministry saying it is "carefully" studying an impact assessment report provided by Malaysia and is seeking further clarifications.

Read also: S'pore concerned over reclamation projects in Johor Strait

An environmental study commissioned by the Forest City joint venture firm, Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd, acknowledged a "permanent loss of traditional fishing ground" and damage to seagrass meadows and mangroves due to the development.

But it added that this would be balanced by the project's economic benefits, including the creation of an estimated 62,200 jobs.

Country Garden Pacificview executive director Mohamad Othman Yusof said developers were strictly following guidelines laid down by the Malaysian government to minimise the environmental impact.

He said at least 20 simulation studies were carried out before the reclamation was approved, while the project's original size of 5,000 acres was cut by 30 per cent and "double silt curtains" installed to prevent silt and sediment from spreading and polluting the waterway.

"No damage, no pollution has been exported to Singapore," Othman said. "We don't want to create any problems with anybody and we're going to abide by the rules and regulations."

Water quality is monitored closely following complaints by Malaysian fishermen, he said.

"We are very confident about the success of the islands," said Othman.

Read also: Johor chief minister: S'pore has also done huge reclamation

His son had only four months left to serve in his national service.

Mr Hiroyuki Matsuo, 54, told reporters that there were plans to send the 21-year-old for further studies overseas.

But now, the plans will never work out for Mr Yukio Matsuo.

He was killed on Friday at around 6.30am when the SUV he was driving went out of control, smashing head-on into a tree on Changi Coast Road.

The New Paper on Sunday understands that Mr Matsuo was an engineering technician in the Navy.

The car's five passengers, believed to be male Navy regulars in their 20s to 30s, were all injured in the accident.

According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the passengers were taken to Changi General Hospital. Two of them were unconscious.

REMORSE

In an interview with chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao, Mr Matsuo expressed his remorse towards the five injured passengers.

He said: "I hear that the other two unconscious victims are in serious condition.

"If they die, or have some permanent disability, I will feel very bad. I've done them wrong."

Mr Matsuo and his wife, Madam Grace Tham, run the Matsuo Sushi Restaurant at Goldhill Plaza. He declined to speak more when contacted by TNPS.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Lianhe Wanbao, Facebook screengrabs

But Shin Min Daily News quoted Mr Matsuo as saying that his son used to take public transport, which was time-consuming.

The younger Mr Matsuo would reportedly come home close to midnight.

In order to cut down on his travelling time, he started driving to camp four months ago, in March.

In the report, his mother said the young man was a careful driver who would not speed.

The impact of the crash was so great that the younger Mr Matsuo was trapped inside the wreckage after the crash.

An SCDF spokesman told TNPS that he had to be extricated using hydraulic rescue tools. He was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Matsuo said he has been praying for the five injured passengers to recover.

He said: "I already lost my son, I don't want other victim's parents to experience the same as me."

This article was first published on July 31, 2016.
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With the fast-paced lives that Singaporeans live, is there still time for us to read books?

No, a recent Straits Times street poll reveals.

Many people say they are too busy to read or would rather be on their phones.

A recent survey by the National Arts Council showed that less than half of Singaporeans read at least one literary book a year.

On Wednesday and Friday, The New Paper on Sunday spent a total of five hours looking out for book readers.

About 80 per cent of people in the trains were using some sort of mobile device.

The only ones reading were a few workers going through the newspapers and students on their school books. Only one person was reading a novel.

TNPS then headed for the Ang Mo Kio Public Library.

There were students with their laptops and seniors with newspapers and magazines.

Madam Molly, 67, was seated with a pile of recipe books.

She goes to the library once a month to find simple recipes that she can recreate at home.

The retiree says: "Singaporeans, especially children, have no time to read because they have a lot of homework, and they are pressured to go for extra classes like piano lessons."

In a corner of the library, we find an elderly man seated by himself, absorbed in his book.

STARTED YOUNG

Ms Janet Thor, 20, was one of the few non-student youngsters in the library.

The Malaysian, here for a month, is an avid reader and started reading since she was young.

"Reading can change a person's mind. By reading, you understand different situations, and if you were to ever fall into one, you would know how to solve it," Ms Thor says.

Getting S'poreans to read

The National Reading Movement kicked off on June 3 in an effort to promote reading in Singapore.

The five-year project aims to get Singaporeans to "Read More, Read Widely, Read Together".

Yesterday was the launch of National Reading Day, a key programme which is part of the five-year initiaitive and will be held on the last Saturday of every July.

It was launched by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim at the National Library Building. Events ranged from live plays by 2Tango and a cappella performances by the Temasek A Capella Group.

Trainspotting readers

Mr Aaron Ho is the owner of MRTreads, an Instagram account that documents photos of people reading on trains.

Speaking to sg.asia-city.com, Mr Ho says he got his idea from undergroundnewyorkpubliclibrary.com, a website that documents New Yorkers who are seen reading in the subway.

Mr Ho is a PhD candidate in a New York University, specialising in Victorian literature.

He is currently in Singapore to do part of his dissertation before heading back to complete it.

Mr Ho aims to encourage Singaporeans to read more often and to get inspired to read by seeing other people read.

Along with his photos, the captions indicate the book that the person is reading and occasionally his own opinions of it.

Some people have voiced their concerns over the photos as a breach of privacy, but Mr Ho is unfazed.

"There are no laws against public photography in the world. That said, if someone's photo is posted and they are uncomfortable about it, please write to me and I'll take the photo down," he tells sg.asia-city.com.

'Closet readers' not always seen

A 2009 study done by Ms Gladys Low of the National Library Board found that more than a third of people ranked reading as their least-preferred leisure activity.

Ms Renee Ting, manager of Books Actually, believes that people read but might not show it.

Ms Ting says: "We believe that there are people who read in Singapore, just that you don't see them. We like to call them 'closet readers'," says Ms Ting.

Books Actually is a local bookstore that has been around for more than 10 years, and it has seen a steady increase in customers till today.

"We have seen the crowd grow steadily by about 10 per cent each year since five years ago," says Ms Ting.

Singapore is also home to many book clubs and reading groups, all of which say that their membership has not fallen over the years. Bukit Batok East has a book exchange programme, Mezzo, which allows residents to exchange a book for a book.

With an initial membership of just 10 people after it was started in August 2013, it now has 80 members, mostly made up of middle-aged Bukit Batok East residents.

Ms Chan Wai Han, business development manager of publisher Ethos Books believes that there is no such thing as being too busy to read.

"For me, the best reading time is on the toilet or just before bed. We can always find the time," she says with a laugh.

This article was first published on July 31, 2016.
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When Ow Siew Hoe was sentenced to 12 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane for drugging and raping a woman on July 4, it was a case of justice being served.

But the 49-year-old man might have escaped punishment, if the victim, Amy (not her real name), had not agreed to share the details of her ordeal in court.

Shedding light on how rape cases are investigated and prosecuted here, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and the police's Serious Sexual Crime Branch (SSCB) say evidence from victims like Amy is crucial to successful convictions.

"A victim's testimony in a rape trial is very important, as you know in rape it is very unlikely there would be eyewitnesses due to the nature of the crime," said deputy chief prosecutor David Khoo, one of two deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) who brought Ow to justice.

The issue boils down to one of consent, in which case it would be the victim's word against her rapist's, said Mr Khoo.

"During the critical period of the rape, she has to (tell the court) there was penetration but no consent," said Mr Khoo, adding that if victims do not give evidence, the prosecution's case would be weakened considerably.

Ow, also known as Ow-Yong Siew Hoe, was a self-styled spiritual "master". Amy, a 35-year-old sales assistant, had approached him as she believed there was a "supernatural being" in her flat.

When she visited him at his Bukit Batok flat in February 2014, Ow drugged her with a cup of "holy water" before raping her while she was unconscious.

But the crime so traumatised her, she became suicidal and blamed herself for being foolish enough to get raped. At one point, she told the police she wanted to drop charges and even terminated her phone line so they could not reach her.

But the police did not give up.

Amy was sent for treatment at the Institute of Mental Health, and the investigating officer, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Zhang Yi Wen, would text her daily to ask how she was, and slowly gain her trust.

"She was very traumatised, she didn't want to face the court process and talk about (the rape) in court," said ASP Zhang.

But her evidence was crucial to bolster the circumstantial evidence found in Ow's home - where the police had found sleeping pills - and his DNA found on her panties.

And Ow had come up with his own version of events - he claimed that they formed a connection and had consensual sex after Amy confided in him her problems.

But Amy was afraid of seeing Ow again in court. To her, he was a "shifu" (Mandarin for master) who had powers to fight ghosts, said Mr Khoo. "These are things we as prosecutors need to be very aware of... You cannot show that you belittle their beliefs or be judgmental."

And even though Ow decided to plead guilty in the end - meaning Amy did not have to testify - the DPPs needed to prepare her to speak in court in case he changed his mind and the case went to trial.

Amy would go on to have three interviews with the DPPs.

Both prosecutors and the police learnt that two things would calm Amy down when she got hysterical - her 10-month-old toddler, and Chicken McNuggets.

She would hug her child or eat to take her mind off the memory of the rape.

So arrangements would be made to have food and her baby present.

Amy was also assured that there would be a gag order on her identity, and that prosecutors would apply for her to give evidence via a live-video feed instead of being in the same courtroom, said Mr Khoo.

DPP Stephanie Koh said arrangements were made for Amy to visit the actual courtroom and video conference room before the court date.

At her last interview in March - the most crucial before the hearing later that month - Amy recalled her experience in such vivid detail that it "came alive to her", said Mr Khoo.

She lashed out and crawled to a corner, crying uncontrollably.

"We had to 'ground' her, tell her 'Look at me, you are safe.'... (and) through her sobs and her wailing, she was able to tell me her story," he said, adding that after that episode, Amy said she was "so relieved to get it off her chest".

When he was sentenced on July 4, Ow bowed his head in court. Justice Chan Seng Onn told him: "Your heinous sexual acts have inflicted a lasting psychological impact on the victim."

Said Mr Khoo: "She really is a victim. She's probably blaming herself, yet you know in this case you really have to seek justice for her."

This article was first published on July 31, 2016.
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A fear of being disbelieved or a sense that reporting serious sex crimes such as rape would lead to reprisals are among the key reasons why rape victims do not come forward to report the injustice, said social workers.

Ms Anisha Joseph of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) said police and court processes can still be made "less lengthy and daunting".

Some victims face difficulties in reporting such as "judgmental and insensitive remarks, as well as procedural barriers, such as recounting the incident to multiple officers, long waiting periods and lack of updates on the case", she added.

"More awareness about the legal procedures and investigation practices that victims can expect will help debunk any myths they may have, and encourage them to come forward," said Ms Anisha, programme coordinator of Aware's Sexual Assault Care Centre.

The centre has seen an increasing number of people turning to it for help. In the first six months of this year, it handled 164 cases.

Last year, there were 267 cases, up from 234 in 2014.

Mrs Kim Lang Khalil, director of DaySpring Residential Treatment Centre, which helps abused teenage girls, said it can be painful for victims to recount the crime in its immediate aftermath, and it could take months before they are ready to narrate what happened in court.

"The recovery time is based on the individual... When they narrate the event, they should feel there is no longer a threat to them, and what happened was in the past," said Mrs Khalil.

She added that in her experience the police have been sensitive and tactful.

This article was first published on July 31, 2016.
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The National University of Singapore (NUS) Students' Union has apologised for what it called "indecent, reprehensible" games at freshmen orientation camps that it organised.

The union posted an official statement on its Facebook page on Sunday (July 31), apologising to "freshmen who have been placed into those uncomfortable situations during informal icebreaker games".

It said those "inappropriate activities" were not endorsed by the union and were played "within their own respective orientation groups".

In the statement, the union lamented that the university did not consult the union before deciding on Friday to suspend all orientation activities for freshmen.

"In light of the recent suspension of student-organised freshmen activities, which were effected without the consultation of the Union, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the dedicated student volunteers who have sacrificed their time and holidays to plan for the various orientation activities for the freshmen," the union said.

It belaboured the point that the "egregious" behaviour of a few students should not be seen as representative of the "moral integrity and mannerism" of NUS students.

It also appealed to the public not to "harass" its students, saying it has received reports of harassment by members of the public, including "name-calling, singling out in derogatory language etc".

The New Paper first reported on Tuesday (July 26) about sexualised games at NUS' orientation camps this year, despite repeated complaints going back years.

The university at first repeated, like it did in previous years, that it does not condone such game and will investigate the complaints, as well as promising to take "strong disciplinary action" on those responsible.

However, when a video surfaced on Friday (July 29), showing students conducting dunking and ragging activities after they were instructed not to, NUS suspended all student-conducted freshmen orientation activities.

Some students have spoken up, claiming that they are old enough to decide what is appropriate for them, and do not need parents and the authorities breathing down their necks.

The students' union's statement on Sunday called on students to "stay united", while saying that it "is assisting with ongoing investigations".

NUS suspends student-led orientation activities

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Video screengrabs, Stomp

sinsh@sph.com.sg

MINISTER for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu reiterated yesterday that the decision to not have live telecasts of the sporting action at the upcoming Olympics remains a commercial one.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the GetActive! Singapore launch at the Padang, she said: "That's something for the rights owner as well as the broadcasters to decide - it's a commercial decision."

The Straits Times reported last week that the Government is unlikely to provide additional funding to secure live broadcast rights to the Aug 5-21 Games, with a spokesman saying "the acquisition of rights for live sports content will remain a commercial decision".

Mediacorp, the national broadcaster, and Olympics broadcast rights holder Dentsu have struck a deal for only delayed telecasts this time.

But Ms Fu insisted that this would not dampen the celebratory mood of the nation if Singapore's athletes win a medal in Rio.

Referring to last year's SEA Games on home soil, she said: "When the major sports are happening in Singapore, obviously the whole country is very excited.

"This time, the Olympics is important for us, with so many of our athletes training very hard. But it's 30 hours away and the time zone is a bit different.

"So I think that while Singaporeans are still very concerned and interested in the performance of our athletes, I'm sure many of them will try to catch up and watch the Games at a later time."

Yesterday's launch, which saw an estimated 10,000 people in attendance, is part of a nine-day sports festival leading to National Day.

Under the GetActive! Singapore movement, sports centres and public spaces around the island will feature 21 sports for the ongoing Singapore National Games, which conclude on Sunday. More than 240 ground-up initiatives will also take place under the Active Enabler programme.

Sports festivals will also take place this weekend at 15 ActiveSG sports centres and three community fields in Tampines, Woodlands and Jurong East.

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An in-depth heritage study of one of Singapore's rare and historical gems - the 79-year-old Haw Par Villa - will soon be under way.

The National Heritage Board (NHB) has called a tender to study the park's some 1,000 Technicolor sculptures, dioramas and architectural features in detail.

It is likely to span about eight months and will start after the contract is awarded.

The focus of the tender, which closed last week, is to determine the condition of the sculptures and study the materials and paint colours used, "with the aim of restoring them as close as possible to their original form".

The study could lead to greater protection of the site and its artefacts, which reflect elements of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian folklore.

As it has been primarily managed as a tourist attraction, its value as a heritage site has been somewhat neglected.

Its owners, the Aw family, had handed the park to the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) predecessor, in 1979. Then, it changed hands in the 1980s and was run as a theme park in the 1990s. It was returned to the STB in 2001.

In response to queries, STB said it recognises the significance and heritage of Haw Par Villa, hence the partnership with NHB. The joint statement from STB and NHB also said the findings of the project will guide the long-term refurbishment and repair of the park.

Singapore Heritage Society's executive committee member, Yeo Kang Shua, said the need to identify the restoration and conservation work required for the statues is especially urgent as the park's sole painter, Teo Veoh Seng, is already in his 80s.

Built by the Myanmar-Chinese Aw brothers, Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, of the Tiger Balm ointment fame, Haw Par Villa has been billed as a unique Chinese cultural resource.

Among some of the folklore on display: the stories of the Eight Immortals, Journey To The West and The Legend Of Lady White Snake.

The park is also the last local philanthropic gardens built to provide breathing space to people in congested Singapore.

Experts said Haw Par Villa plays a vital role locally and regionally in depicting aspects of overseas Chinese culture.

Some also believe it has the potential to become a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The contractor that wins the NHB tender will also have to develop a management plan to "guide the long-term maintenance and upkeep of the heritage features" in five-year maintenance cycles.

Four suppliers have responded to the NHB tender so far, namely Andes Consulting, Art Logica, Studio Lapis and Tenon Construction, which have placed bids ranging from $88,800 to $239,000.

The site is currently managed by tour operator Journeys, which was appointed by the STB last year.

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SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was saddened to hear about former president S R Nathan's "grave condition".

In a Facebook post on Sunday (July 31) evening, Mr Lee said he was on his way to Washington DC for his official visit to the United States when he received news of Mr Nathan's stroke.

"Have been in touch with his family," Mr Lee wrote. "We have him in our thoughts and prayers."

Mr Nathan, 92, is in critical condition after suffering a stroke on Sunday morning, said the Prime Minister's Office in a statement. He is warded in the Intensive Care Unit at the Singapore General Hospital.

Along with his Facebook post, Mr Lee shared a photo of an antique Littleleaf Japanese Maple tree at the Singapore embassy in Washington, which Mr Nathan planted when he served as ambassador from 1990 to 1996.

Handpicked by Mr Nathan, the tree had been planted as a sapling when the embassy moved into a new chancery building.

His stint as ambassador was among many contributions in a long career, Mr Lee noted.

"He made many good friends for Singapore, and planted many seeds, including this beautiful antique Littleleaf Japanese Maple at our Washington DC embassy," he wrote.

Mr Lee is currently on an official visit to the US, where he will be hosted to a state dinner by US President Barack Obama on Tuesday (US time).

This article was first published on July 31, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - One choir hails from an Ivy League university, has a history that goes back 70 years and is in Singapore as part of its two-month world tour. The other, just four years old, is made up of students with autism from a special education school.

But both share a love for music. Harvard University's all-male a capella group Din & Tonics has performed with the Pathlight Youth Choir from Pathlight School the past week, drawing the attention of the public in MRT trains, MRT stations and shopping malls.

A video of the performances has been shared on Facebook more than 7,700 times since last Wednesday (July 27), including once by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The performances culminated in a concert on Saturday (July 30) at A Very Special Walk, an event to raise funds for services for adults with autism. More than $600,000 was raised, surpassing the target of $500,000.

The two music groups' partnership began in 2012. Singaporean Huang Kaiyang, who has a brother who used to study at Pathlight, was then a member of the Harvard group. So while Din & Tonics usually tours the world every two years to raise funds for its operations, it decided to support the autism cause on the Singapore leg of its tour.

Even though Mr Huang graduated two years ago, the Harvard group decided to continue its collaboration with Pathlight this year.

Mr Matthew Barber, 21, who also performed with Pathlight in 2014, said: "The Dins have had fulfilling experiences performing with Pathlight in the past. Singing for charity is very meaningful, especially for a cause we have a connection with."

While there are no Singaporeans in the group now, one member, Mr James Baskerville, 20, has a sister with a developmental disability and a Singaporean mother. He agreed that the collaboration with Pathlight was a meaningful one.

Mr Will Jaroszewicz, 20, said: "You could see the Pathlight kids all loved being on stage. It serves as a great reminder to us, that performing for others is something special and we should appreciate the opportunities we have."

At Saturday's performance at Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru, 10 members of the Harvard group - dressed in black tailcoats and lime green socks - stood among about 20 Pathlight School students. They sang Stand By Me and Bare Necessities, the popular song from the Disney film The Jungle Book.

Ms Nur Azimah Rahmat, 17, from the Pathlight Youth Choir, said: "I felt a bit nervous performing with these overseas celebrities, but I tried to hide the nervousness as I wanted to make sure that we perform well. I felt joyous and the atmosphere was really great."

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, and Mr Lee's wife Ho Ching were among more than 2,000 people at the event organised by the Autism Resource Centre (ARC), which set up Pathlight, and the Autism Association Singapore (AAS). Ms Ho Ching is adviser to ARC and patron to AAS.

Central Singapore District mayor Denise Phua, who is also president of ARC and a board member of AAS, said: "Children with autism grow up to become adults with autism. The need to stand by them and ensure that they continue to develop and learn does not go away when formal schooling is over.

This article was first published on August 1, 2016.
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When Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joins US President Barack Obama for a state dinner of American Wagyu beef at the White House on Tuesday, it will be a diplomatic coup for the small city-state.

Obama has thrown just 11 state dinners since he became president in 2009, in stark contrast compared to 1960s predecessor Lyndon Johnson, who held 54 state dinners in a single presidential term.

Singapore will be the first Southeast Asian country to have a political leader honoured with a US state dinner, and only the fifth Asian nation after India, China, Japan and South Korea.

And it is expected to be a lavish affair, with a preview of the menu showing it will include lime basil from first lady Michelle Obama's own garden, plus a dessert of peach sangria cake accented with coconut milk and kaffir lime leaves in celebration of Asia, and a performance by US singer Chrisette Michelle.

"These state dinners are extremely rare ... The fact that Singapore has been invited for such a visit and the state dinner is a tremendous compliment," Judith Fergin, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmCham Singapore), explained.

Fergin added that the state dinner also highlighted "the pivotal role that Singapore has played over the years in anchoring the relationship between the US and Asia."

The two countries have had economic, military and diplomatic ties since 1966 - a year after Singapore's independence - and are partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, the global coalition fighting Islamic State, and the Paris Climate agreement.

Khong Yuen Foong, Li Ka Shing professor of political science at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said the foundation of the relationship was laid by Singapore's late founding father Lee Kuan Yew, who was also the current Prime Minister's father.

"When the British forces announced their withdrawal from Southeast Asia, Lee took two-month sabbatical in the US in 1968 and got to understand the Americans much better, coming back with an admiration for American innovativeness, universities, and strategies," Khong said.

"Every since then, the American leaders saw Lee as someone from Asia who could add value to their strategic assessment of the Asia region," he said, adding that "few leaders in Asia are seen that way."

Lee developed close personal relationships with American politicians including legendary diplomat Henry Kissinger and President Richard Nixon. Lee was the guest of honour the last state dinner hosted by the White House for Singapore, by President Ronald Reagan in 1985.

"I have had the privilege of meeting many world leaders over the past half-century; none, however, has taught me more than Lee Kuan Yew," Kissinger wrote in the foreword to a 2013 collection of Lee's interviews, speeches and writing, called "Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World."

As well as a similarity in vision, Singapore policymakers have long sought military co-operation with the US because they believed a strong US military presence would add to stability in Asia.

Singapore played a part in facilitating a US military presence in the region, by signing the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding allowing the US to use its naval bases.

"The MOU was Singapore putting its money where its mouth was, because after the US military ejection from the Philippines, it did not have a base in Asia for logistics and the resupply of naval vessels," Khong explained.

In 2004, Singapore constructed the Changi Naval Base, which was built large enough to accommodate US aircraft carriers and warships.

Another important dimension of US-Singapore bilateral ties lies in trade.

There were more than 3,600 US companies operating in Singapore, which are generally "regional headquarters, sophisticated intellectual property-intensive operations, research and development centres [and] high-tech innovators," in 2015, according to an AmCham Singapore report.

There are also strong foreign direct investment flows between the US and Singapore; the United States is the largest foreign direct investor in Singapore, while Singapore is the US's third-largest Asian investor, the most recent data from the Organisation of International Investment showed.

At the turn of the millennium, Singapore and the US signed the United States Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), which was considered the "gold standards of FTAs," AmCham Singapore's Fergin told CNBC.

The USSFTA helped to transform Singapore's economy because its provisions went beyond tariffs to open up Singapore's financial sector to foreign investment, "which was also a keystone to Singapore's success as a wealth management hub and financial management hub," Fergin said..

"When people talk about a 21st century trade agreement as opposed to an older trade deal, these are things coming out of the USSFTA that were more than just tariffs, like investment provisions, intellectual property, data flows and dispute resolutions," she said.

Fergin added that the USSFTA helped to seed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, an ambitious US-led trade deal that has yet to be ratified by Congress.

With anti-trade and protectionist rhetoric playing a prominent part in the US presidential election, with both the GOP nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton criticising the TPP, there have been concerns that after seven years of negotiations, the deal would be scuppered.

In June, Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan highlighted the importance of the TPP to US-Asia relations, telling a forum in Washington that "many leaders in Asia have gone out on a limb to support the TPP" and that the trade deal would be a litmus test to America's commitment to Asia, The Straits Times reported.

Ahead of Prime Minister Lee's visit to the US, a White House press secretary said that discussions at the stake dinner would focus on how the two leaders could push for "rule-based order" in the Asia Pacific.

The National Arts Council's (NAC) redesigned bin centre is not just pricey, it apparently has a wicked sense of humour too.

Someone has started a parody Twitter account, with the handle, Bin Centre NAC.

There's no dirty talk here though.

Instead, the anthropomorphic "bin centre" dishes out snarky comments and snide digs like a boss.

The $410,000 consultancy fee includes setting up this Twitter account. Now you understand why it cost so much.

— Bin Centre NAC (@BinCentreNAC) July 29, 2016

The account was started on July 27, and it already has 211 followers as of today (Aug 2).

It describes itself as "the world's first tweeting Bin Centre. $470,000 only. Totally worth the price tag".

It was recently revealed in a report by the Auditor-General's Office that the NAC paid a consultancy fee of $410,000 for the construction of a bin centre costing $470,000.

This meant that the consultancy fee paid was 87.2 per cent of the cost of constructing the bin.

The high consultancy fees paid for the project have been the subject of much criticism.

It is not known who set up the parody Twitter account, but he or she has certainly been busy, posting more than 80 tweets since the account was started.

Bin Centre NAC's irreverent brand of humour is a hit with Twitter users.

Congratulations @benfongcm on being our 100th follower! You have won a 3 days 2 nights stay at the Bin Centre!

— Bin Centre NAC (@BinCentreNAC) August 1, 2016

It has also proved to be an astute social media user, even responding to an article by Coconuts Singapore on it.

Bin Centre NAC tweeted on July 29 that it would be promoted as the top tourist attraction in Singapore. Responding to a question from a Twitter user on how much it would charge for entry, the savvy Bin Centre responded that it would be charging an entry fee of $10 for adults, and $7 for students and Pioneer Generation card holders.

$10 for adults. $7 for children under 12 years old and Pioneer Generation card holder. https://t.co/6qcI3zee4i

— Bin Centre NAC (@BinCentreNAC) July 30, 2016

The bin centre is also offering free guided tours.

Free guided tour daily at 11am & 2pm. Please meet at Visitor Services Counter 15 minutes before start of tour. https://t.co/Br3XWklNn8

— Bin Centre NAC (@BinCentreNAC) July 29, 2016

Perhaps the hefty price tag doesn't seem so high for a bin centre which appears to be self-aware and possesses artificial intelligence.

xiuhuil@sph.com.sg

Driverless taxis are set to hit the ground as early as 2018, taking passengers on short trips on demand.

Yesterday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) inked deals with UK-based Delphi Automotive Systems and local start-up nuTonomy that will make such self-driving vehicle (SDV) services a reality.

The LTA and JTC yesterday also launched an SDV research centre and a circuit, where driverless vehicles can be tested under traffic conditions. The circuit will be open to industry players to develop their own offerings, with an eye on the future.

"Although many countries and cities are testing self-driving vehicles, we have yet to see international standards and regulations suitable for large-scale deployment of SDVs," said Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo.

The centre and circuit could help Singapore develop such standards and put SDVs on its roads, she said. "It's also a significant step towards realising our vision of SDVs being used for first- and last-mile connectivity in our towns."This is part of the Government's push towards a car-lite Singapore, which will include driverless shuttles and pods filling in the first- and last-mile part of journeys - taking passengers to and from homes and MRT stations or to nearby amenities like malls.

"Hopefully, this will reduce reliance and demand for privately owned vehicles," said LTA chief executive Chew Men Leong.

Also, at a time when it is hard to find bus captains and truck drivers, the concept could address manpower constraints, said Mr Chew at the signing ceremony for the agreement. And if self-driving freight and utility vehicles could ply the roads in the dead of night, there would be less congestion during waking hours.

NuTonomy expects to have a limited commercial service by 2018 with up to 75 vehicles available in certain areas, with services rolled out islandwide by 2020.

The start-up, which has been testing driverless vehicles at one-north since April, said that it expects to use electric vehicles which can go for up to 150km before requiring a recharge.

"We expect it to be much cheaper than normal taxis," said nuTonomy co-founder and chief technology officer Emilio Frazzoli.

Delphi services vice-president Glen W. De Vos said the firm now has six vehicles, but expects to have a fleet of 40 to 50 by 2022. He added that its service will have "competitive" fares.

Experts said driverless vehicle services will be a useful addition to Singapore's transport system, but it will be a challenge to have them on such a scale in just a few years.

SIM University adjunct associate professor Park Byung Joon said currently, such vehicles have been tested only in areas with light traffic, and not on busy city streets.

National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der Horng said safety is still a concern.

This article was first published on August 2, 2016.
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In the wee hours of last Oct 6, a police officer offered a $2 note to a man who did not have small change to buy a drink at a vending machine outside the Bukit Timah Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC).

The man had cuts and scrapes on his forearms and seemed disoriented. The needle of an intravenous drip was attached to his right hand, and his left wrist had a hospital identification tag.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Azri Aldrin Lim Teck Guan struck up a conversation with the man, Philippe Marcel Guy Graffart, which led to a shocking confession.

"I have done something bad to my son. I have done something really bad to my son," said Graffart.

When the police went to his 32nd-storey apartment at D'Leedon Condominium at Leedon Heights, they found five-year-old Keryan Gabriel Cedric Graffart lying motionless in the master bedroom.

The boy was pronounced dead at 6.17am.

Yesterday, Graffart, 42, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The High Court heard that the Belgian expat was depressed over an ongoing custody battle with his French wife over Keryan when he smothered the sleeping boy with a cushion between 9pm and 10.17pm on Oct 5.

Graffart then cradled his dead son in his arms and cried. He told him that he "was going to join him" and left the room.

Graffart then tried to kill himself by speeding down the Marina Costal Expressway and deliberately crashing his Audi sedan into the tunnel wall after releasing his seat belt.

But he escaped with minor injuries after the airbags deployed.

Read also: Maid found boy dead when police arrived

HE CALLED POLICE

After he was taken to Singapore General Hospital, he called the police twice about the accident, but then left before they arrived.

Graffart went home where he contemplated other forms of suicide, but did not act on it, said court documents.

Around 4am, he went to Bukit Timah NPC where he met ASP Lim.

The court heard yesterday that on the afternoon of Oct 5, Graffart became distressed after receiving an unexpected affidavit from his wife's lawyer through his lawyer, Ms Poonam Lachman Mirchandani.

The affidavit was about Keryan's care and custody proceedings, and contained transcripts of discussions between Graffart and his wife, Ms Theodet Gwendoline Cecile Anne, 40.

Graffart felt betrayed and accused his wife of divulging their private discussions to her lawyers.

He also faced mounting pressure about his next course of action in their custody battle.

Court documents said that shortly after the unexpected affidavit, Graffart, who was head of Asia Pacific fund distribution at Nordea Bank, thought about suicide but resisted it after thinking of his son.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, Shin Min Daily News, Lianhe Wanbao, Facebook screengrabs, The New Paper

In a series of e-mails to his lawyer, Graffart wrote: "I can't continue like this, I am so tired and don't know what to do. I am so afraid to lose my son or the relation (sic) I have with him.

"I want to find a way out and be cleaned of all this past (sic). I made such big mistakes I will not do anymore. (sic)"

The couple's 2011 marriage broke down in early 2014. They decided to separate but could not agree on custody matters regarding their son.

On the evening of Oct 5, Graffart did a number of Google searches on his phone - one on how long it took to suffocate a person and another on whether one could survive a crash at 150kmh.

After putting Keryan to sleep, Graffart pressed a cushion on the boy's face and suffocated him.

An autopsy report stated that the boy had bruises and abrasions on his forehead and face.

Read also: There were marks on neck of boy found dead in condo

A toxicology report found Zolpidem - a hypnotic medicine used to treat insomnia that is not recommended for children - in Keryan's blood.

A psychiatric report by the Institute of Mental Health said Graffart was suffering from major depressive disorder which had substantially impaired his thinking process and judgment of his acts, leading to the death of his son.

The initial charge of murder was later amended to the lesser offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Graffart, who faces jail of up to 10 years, a fine and caning, is expected to be sentenced on Aug 22.

This article was first published on Aug 02, 2016.
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The tip of shipyard worker V. Anbazhaga's right index finger is missing. It was crushed by some falling metal last September, when the 57-year-old from India was at work.

The mangled fingertip had to be amputated. But an orthopaedic practice at a well-known private hospital gave Mr Anbazhaga only one day of medical leave and three months of light duties.

His boss never reported the injury, he said. Nor were there any light duties available, and he soon found himself on a Special Pass, unable to work. He has now engaged a lawyer to pursue injury compensation.

The issue of errant doctors not giving injured workers enough medical leave has come under the spotlight again, after the top court said it would come down hard on such offenders in judgment grounds released last Wednesday.

In May, the court suspended Raffles Hospital orthopaedic surgeon Wong Him Choon, 51, for six months, following an appeal by the Singapore Medical Council.

In 2011, Dr Wong had operated on construction worker Fan Mao Bing's broken hand, but gave the Chinese national just two days' medical leave and certified him fit for light duties for a month after that.

Judge of Appeal Andrew Phang wrote in the grounds: "It should not be the case that a patient has to 'kneel and beg' (as the patient in fact did, according to Dr Wong) for medical leave that he was in any case entitled to on proper clinical grounds."

Migrant worker groups applauded the stern stance, saying it was a long-overdue step taken to address a widespread problem.

The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home) is planning to file complaints against at least four more orthopaedic surgeons. It first filed the complaint against Dr Wong in 2011 on Mr Fan's behalf.

Social worker and former Home executive director Jolovan Wham said the group sees a few dozen such cases every year, and the doctors involved are usually from private clinics and hospitals.

Mr Wham said if the worker receives a medical certificate (MC) of three days or less, or was hospitalised for less than 24 hours, the employer need not report the accident to the Manpower Ministry (MOM).

He can keep his safety record clean and also avoid higher insurance premiums in the future.

Said Mr Eric Lee, outreach coordinator at migrant worker community clinic Healthserve: "These doctors take instruction from the employers because they are the paymasters."

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) treasurer Alex Au estimated that one in four of the injured workers they helped has received insufficient MCs.

TWC2 committee member Debbie Fordyce said she has seen cases where workers recovering from serious injuries were kept on site and given light tasks.

One had had a craniectomy - surgery to remove part of his skull - but was told to dispense equipment to his colleagues. Another, whose leg had been crushed by a forklift, was left in an office but was "too sick to even sit".

Dr Andrew Chin, head of the Singapore General Hospital hand surgery department, said doctors should check if light duties are available at the patient's worksite and of what variety. "Under any circumstances if they are not available, or if the doctor is in doubt, then medical leave should be given."

Hand surgeon Andrew Yam, who has treated injured foreign workers for over a decade, suggested that MOM require all injuries be reported, and not just those with more than three days' MC.

Companies' safety records should be affected instead by the level of permanent incapacity rather than the number of days' MC.

Employers, however, may have their own problems with managing injured workers.

Singapore Contractors Association (SCAL) executive director Lam Kong Hong said: "For every story like (Dr Wong's), there's another story of workers who take advantage of employers by hopping from one clinic to another, getting MCs extended, or undertaking operations for $10,000, $20,000 that the employer only finds out about later."

While the court's judgment may spell more adequate rest for injured workers in the future, it is too late for Mr Fan, who has since returned to China. Mr Wham said they had lost touch with him. "He may never know that he won."

1. Last September, worker V. Anbazhaga's finger was crushed. The fingertip had to be amputated (left). An orthopaedic practice at a private hospital gave him only one day of medical leave and three months of light duties.

2. In 2011, orthopaedic surgeon Wong Him Choon operated on construction worker Fan Mao Bing's broken hand, but gave the Chinese national just two days' medical leave and certified him fit for light duties for a month after.

3. If a worker receives a medical certificate of three days or less, the employer need not report the accident to the Manpower Ministry. He can keep his safety record clean and also avoid higher insurance premiums in the future.

This article was first published on August 2, 2016.
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He was going to take a toilet break from working at his mother's stall at Haig Road Market and Food Centre on Sunday afternoon.

But what greeted Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) national serviceman Hamka Afiq, 19, was a sight he described as "scary".

"When I entered the toilet, I saw a man in his 30s lying on the floor. His skin was bluish purple, and white bubbles and foam were forming on his mouth," Mr Hamka told The New Paper.

"I was very shocked, because it was my first time coming into contact with a casualty, and his skin was very blue."

A police spokesman confirmed that they received a call for assistance at the food centre at 5.24pm on Sunday.

When they arrived, the police found a 34-year-old man lying motionless.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Mr Hamka said there were two or three friends of the dead man inside the toilet when he walked in.

He said: "One of his buddies was crying and was on the phone, saying 'your brother died' to someone.

"As a lifesaver, I wanted to help. But looking at his body, it was totally stiff already, and I could tell he was a gone case."

He left the toilet after one of the dead man's friends asked those not related to the deceased to leave, as the toilet was getting crowded. Mr Hamka noted that he saw a small syringe in the dead man's left hand.

An elderly toilet attendant told The New Paper he'd seen the man walk in, but after noticing that he had not come out for a long time, he went in to find the man.

'ALL COLD'

"I touched his body and it was all cold."

The attendant declined to describe what he saw around the body. He said he saw the man a few times each week, drinking beer and hanging around with his friends.

A man, who gave his name as Dan, told TNP that he was friends with the dead man, whom he had known as Omar for three years.

He said he was at the food centre when the incident happened, and he was alerted to the body by the toilet attendant, prompting them to call the police.

Dan said Omar usually hung out with him and a few other friends to eat and drink beer at the food centre, but did not know what happened to him.

He said: "For the past 10 months or so, he's not been acting normal. He's been very quiet, didn't want to talk or drink with anyone else.

"The last time I saw him was on Saturday afternoon. I called him out for a drink, but he didn't want to go with me."

Police are investigating the case as unnatural death.

This article was first published on Aug 02, 2016.
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A Canadian judge has turned down a Singaporean's bid for refugee protection in Vancouver, finding his claims of alleged potential persecution in Singapore to be unfounded.

Jedidiah Ian Tan, 23, who was exempted from national service on medical grounds after serving two months, had claimed the exemption was revocable and that he had no redress in Singapore except military justice.

"A refugee claimant must adduce clear and convincing evidence that is both relevant and reliable, and sufficient to convince the tribunal that state protection is inadequate," said Justice Cecily Y. Strickland in decision grounds last week.

The Canadian Federal Court judge noted that the Singapore authorities had "acted reasonably and expeditiously" in exempting Mr Tan from national service.

" The documentary evidence indicated that the safety of conscripts is taken seriously and failures to do so often receive considerable public scrutiny," she said.

"Additionally, evidence concerning similarly situated persons demonstrated that Singapore has measures in place to deal with physical and mental incapacity of national service members and their mistreatment by others in the military."

Mr Tan had applied to the court in British Columbia for a judicial review of the decision last year by the Refugee Appeals Division (RAD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, which had rejected his case for protection as a refugee.

Entering Canada in January last year, he had first successfully applied in May last year to the country's Refugee Protection Division (RPD) to qualify as a refugee in need of protection. He claimed that he faced persecution in Singapore as a male who was granted medical exemption from military service.

But that decision was quashed on appeal by the RAD, which led to the present court application.

The RAD was not convinced that "Singapore would not be reasonably forthcoming with adequate state protection should (Mr Tan) seek it".

He was medically diagnosed as suffering from spinal curve problems. He suffered back pains, had difficulty walking and could not sit down for long periods of time.

But he was found fit for service and reported for training in December 2013.

He claimed the training was difficult and caused him to suffer psychologically and physically. After a series of medical consultations, he was notified on May 23, 2014, that he had been exempted from service.

He claimed he was exempted on psychological grounds. But subsequent to his exemption, Mr Tan claimed that he and his father received phone calls and text messages from several SAF officers of his former platoon threatening to have him returned to continue military training.

Mr Tan also claimed he feared his exemption would be revoked and he would face job discrimination as he is required to disclose his military history when applying for jobs here.

The RAD, in rejecting Mr Tan's claim, found that as he is no longer a serviceman because of the exemption, he was entitled to redress from the civilian authorities should the military authorities consider revoking his exemption.

Documentary evidence also showed that Singapore "had effective mechanisms in place to address abuse and corruption in the police and armed forces," noted Justice Strickland.

She ruled that there was no procedural unfairness on the part of the RAD just because it viewed some of the same evidence differently from the RPD. The RAD had pointed to potential avenues of protection in Singapore against job discrimination and had not been unreasonable, she added.

This article was first published on August 2, 2016.
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Get-well wishes for former president S R Nathan continued to stream in from visitors yesterday, a day after he was hospitalised for a stroke.

Among the many leaders, senior civil servants and long-time friends who went to see him at Singapore General Hospital were the chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers J. Y. Pillay, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam.

Others who were there included historian Wang Gungwu, Foreign Affairs Ministry's Second Permanent Secretary Albert Chua, Singapore's Permanent Representative-designate to the United Nations Burhan Gafoor and Ms Claire Chiang of Banyan Tree Holdings.

Ms Chiang, a former Nominated MP, said she last met Mr Nathan, 92, about 10 days ago at his home.

"He was standing at the door, greeting us without any support, not even a walker," said Ms Chiang, adding that Mr Nathan told her to visit him more often.

She had promised to give him some extra spicy tom yam at their next meeting, as his taste buds have dulled. "So I told him just now, 'Abang (Malay for brother), wake up. There's mee siam, samosa and spicy tom yam waiting for you.'

"He's a foodie."

Professor Wang, chairman of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, told reporters: "Of course, we are hoping for the best.

"Nathan is someone with a lot of fight in him. I was told he was just here at the hospital on Friday for his regular dialysis."

Carpet shop owner N. J. Doshi, 85, who has known Mr Nathan for more than a decade, said after his visit: "He's a decent man and you seldom meet someone like that in your life. We wish him well and we are praying for him, but we know that he is in critical condition."

Other Singaporeans continued to express their hopes for his recovery on social media.

Facebook user Elias Sandy said: "He's a very down-to-earth person, even when he was the President... Let's all keep him in our prayers."

Separately, Professor Cham Tao Soon, President Emeritus of Nanyang Technological University, wrote to The Straits Times yesterday to join Singaporeans in wishing Mr Nathan a speedy recovery.

"As one who was twice his Proposer for the election of the President, I am glad to be associated with him as he was a great President loved by many Singaporeans," he said.

This article was first published on Aug 02, 2016.
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The National University of Singapore (NUS) is fully committed to comprehensively address the problem of sexualised activities at its orientation camps, but needs the time and space to do so over the next few weeks and months.

In his first public comments on the furore over such activities, NUS president Tan Chorh Chuan said there are a wide range of issues to consider and it has called "a time-out" on student-organised orientation activities for now.

Read also: Sexualised orientation games: NUS suspends all student-organised activities

NUS had announced the suspension of orientation activities last Friday, after it was reported that some students had complained about being pressured into taking part in risque orientation activities.

These included the alleged re- enactment of an incestuous rape scene and a dunking incident involving Sheares Hall students.

Yesterday, Prof Tan stressed that NUS does not approve of these.

Read also: 'Sexualised' uni camps spark fierce debate

Addressing freshmen at the 2016 Freshmen Inauguration Ceremony yesterday, he said: "We make our stand very clear: We do not condone behaviour, games and activities that denigrate the dignity of individuals and that are sexualised.

"It is very disappointing that a few in our student community have clearly not internalised this."

While noting that NUS does not intend to do away with orientation, he said that it does expect "orientation activities to be fully respectful of the dignity of all those participating" and has put in measures to help ensure this in recent years.

NUS suspends student-led orientation activities

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Video screengrabs, Stomp

Prof Tan also told the freshmen that he was "very sorry that your first days at NUS have been clouded by the controversies".

Meanwhile, the NUSWhispers Facebook page is still abuzz with comments about the controversy.

Read also: What NUS students say about orientation camp debacle

A female freshman, who is "thankful" orientation week is cancelled, said: "I doubt I'll be able to enjoy a camp where I have to be in perpetual fear of being forced to do immoral deeds or have them rendered upon me."

But another student said: "I was really looking forward to O (Orientation) week but now that it got cancelled, my freshman experience is really bad."

NUS undergraduate Charlie Woo, 24, suggested a more consultative planning process. "Perhaps, in future, the university can have closer co-operation with student leaders to review student-led activities before they are carried out," he said.

When asked, an NUS spokesman declined to say how long the ban on orientation activities would last, but said faculty-led activities such as welcome receptions would go on.

One activity that will proceed is the annual NUS Students' Union Rag and Flag today. Thousands of NUS students will take to the streets to raise funds for the needy.

This article was first published on Aug 02, 2016.
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The case for electric cars is now more compelling than ever, given the global commitment to improve air quality and reduce pollution-related costs, especially with the move towards achieving the goals of COP 21 (the 2015 Paris Climate Conference).

Singapore is steadfast in this commitment too, as is evident from its vision for a "car-lite" city-state coupled with the decision earlier this year to install 2,000 charging stations islandwide and the recent announcement to roll out an all-electric taxi fleet to further decarbonise the transport sector.

Electric vehicles, especially cars and buses, are key enablers to help close the gaps in Singapore's commitments to COP 21, by reducing or eliminating the use of the internal combustion engines on Singapore's roads.

In this context, it is important that current policies affecting the ownership and deployment of such vehicles be either tweaked, revamped or extended to ensure that these low-carbon (or zero-emission) technologies operate under a policy regime that promotes a level playing field (versus the incumbents) for all modes of transportation.

This is to ensure fair play so that low-carbon technologies can emerge as an alternative for deployment in Singapore's transport landscape. This is the reality: According to Singapore's National Climate Change Secretariat's business-as-usual scenario, the transport sector will contribute 14.5 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Singapore by 2020.

In simple terms, this means that high carbon emissions will continue to prevail in Singapore unless some strategies are changed. Emissions reduction in the key transport sector is therefore crucial to Singapore's commitment to reduce GHG emissions per GDP (gross domestic product) dollar by 36 per cent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.

Emissions from the transportation sector are among the largest contributors to urban pollution. Even with the technological improvements of engines and emission standards for conventional fossil-fuel engines, tailpipe emissions are constantly under regulatory watch. This begs the question: Does Singapore have the right framework and infrastructure to ensure a level playing field for adopters of electrical vehicles?

Currently, electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEVs) face disadvantages because of the formulae used to calculate CEVS (Carbon Emission-based Vehicle Scheme) rebates and road taxes. EVs offer many advantages, including the lowest carbon emissions among car models in the market.

Hence, a level playing field in the CEVS can only be created by granting an equitable - that is, levelling-up - incentive to EVs compared to higher-emitting hybrid car models. The emissions envelope (ie generation-to-end-use) of EVs is expected to fall further in the coming years as Singapore continues to expand the use of natural gas and renewables for electricity generation - justifying the need for more banding in the lowest emissions end of the CEVS.

Currently, the CEVS aims to differentiate vehicles based on the CO2 emissions per kilometre. However, it does this quite poorly, since it cannot distinguish in advance between a vehicle that is driven primarily in stop-and-go CBD traffic (such as a delivery vehicle) and one that undertakes uninterrupted highway journeys (such as regular commutes across the island).

We believe one solution around this is to consider scrapping the capital expenditure-based CEVS and replacing it with operating expenditure-based (Opex-based) schemes. A key advantage of replacing CEVS with an Opex-based scheme is that it eases traffic congestion by increasing the variable cost of driving versus using public transport.

The existing cost structure of car ownership is too heavily weighted on fixed acquisition cost, which encourages people to use their cars, even for "trivial" journeys, because variable costs linked to fuel and parking are so low. Alternatively, the Preferential Additional Registration Fee value of cars which receive the CEVS rebate should be based on the Additional Registration Fee value before the rebates, not after.

An opportunity to further reduce our GHG emissions while leveraging the electrification of buses and cars is to set up a regional testing centre with full test facilities for battery and charging infrastructure that would ensure that all vehicles are tested by one common standard and process. This will help accelerate the deployment of EVs, while growing regional demand will ensure the centre is economically viable.

The government currently owns the entire public bus fleet, one that runs on fossil fuels. In time to come, we may well have an electric-bus fleet, which would require adequate charging infrastructure. When this fleet conversion takes place, the government would not need to undertake the construction and operation of the charging stations itself. It can tender out the charging facilities to private operators, to reap benefits such as lower cost and higher quality of service arising from market competition.

The government should also lead a cost-benefit study with industry participation to determine the additional requirements for power distribution infrastructure and look into how the costs can be split among users. The study could serve as a test-bed whereby key data could be collected and analysed for future adoption.

Building codes such as the Building and Construction Authority's Green Mark take into account EV lots but do not quite promote easy installation of EV charging infrastructure post-building completion.

To ensure a future-ready building infrastructure and in line with the drive towards a Smart Nation, building codes should include the needs of EV charging for both the projected current population and future expansion of EV-ready car lots.

Green Mark can evolve to promote this change and could allocate more points for EV-readiness. Such policies will encourage developers to ensure that buildings are future-ready, equipped to embrace the full advantages arising from our drive to create a Smart Nation.

- The writer is a council member of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore and programme director, Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), at Nanyang Technological University.

This article was first published on Aug 02, 2016.
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