SINGAPORE - The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has filed a disciplinary complaint to the Law Society against lawyer Edmund Wong Sin Yee who was rapped by a judge last week for focusing on the breast size of a molest victim.

In a statement, AGC said that Mr Wong's conduct falls "far short of the standards of professional conduct to be expected from an advocate and solicitor".

AGC added that his conduct represents a "flagrant abuse of the function of the advocate and solicitor".

Mr Wong, who is in his late 50s and runs his own firm S. Y. Wong Law Chambers, had been defending Xu Jiadong, a 24-year-old student from China. Xu was eventually found guilty of brushing his forearm against the breast of a 22-year-old woman in a train at Toa Payoh MRT station on July 9 two years ago.

AGC noted that Mr Wong had asked the victim to stand up so as to assess her "attractiveness". And when the victim protested the offensiveness of his conduct, Mr Wong had replied that he intended to ask "even more insulting question later on".

He had also suggested to the court that he would have to know the victim's "breast size" and whether the victim had been wearing attire which was "very low cut with a (sic) very voluptuous breast protruding out" on the day of the incident.

AGC said the implication of such lines of questioning bear broader repercussions on public confidence in the criminal legal process.

It also noted that District Judge Shawn Ho had described Mr Wong's conduct as "indecent", "scandalous", apparently "intended to insult or annoy the victim", and "lamentable".

Judge Ho had also said Mr Wong's conduct was completely unacceptable, deserving of disapprobation and fell short of expectations of lawyers.

Mr Wong has a history of offences.

In August 1992, he punched a nurse at the Singapore National Eye Centre and insulted the modesty of a woman working at the clinic.

A few months after being called to the Bar, he hit a motorist in the mouth with his mobile phone, for which he eventually got a year in jail.

In July 2003, he was suspended from practice for two years over the road rage conviction.

Just on Saturday, Mr Wong was ordered by a disciplinary tribunal to pay $3,000 for improper conduct in using expletives in a separate trial.

The tribunal, appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, last month found Mr Wong liable for the remarks, one of which was made to a deputy public prosecutor and the other to another defence lawyer which was heard by both deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) present.

The tribunal, comprising Senior Counsel Edwin Tong and lawyer Pradeep Pillai, set a $1,000 penalty for one charge and $2,000 for using an expletive in the second charge. He was also ordered to pay the Law Society $6,500 in costs.

"The use of expletives by counsel during proceedings cannot be condoned," said the tribunal in its report.

The offensive remarks were made at a criminal trial last September. When DPP Houston Tian Jin Johannus asked a witness to recount the sexual acts she had performed on a customer, Mr Wong muttered to the DPP to ask her "whether shiok (enjoyable) or not".

Two days later, while another defence lawyer was cross-examining the same woman, Mr Wong uttered an expletive in response to the witness' reply. It was heard by DPP Johannus and DPP Rachel Lee.

This article was first published on August 8, 2016.
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As Singapore rings in its 51st birthday on Tuesday, one of the island's most well-known sights is also celebrating a key anniversary.

It may not top the list of tourist attractions but a public skate park in the midst of a central shopping district has become a cultural iconic for skaters and non-skaters alike. The Somerset Skate Park turned 10 in January, and is widely recognised as a manifestation of the island-nation's multicultural spirit.

As one of the world's most religiously diverse nations, according to the Pew Research Center, Singapore's population consists of predominantly Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnic groups as well a large circle of expatriates - a mix that's consistently reflected at the skate park.

On any given day, skaters from various age groups and backgrounds can be seen practicing tricks, cheered on by a crowd of bystanders-some of whom skate, others who simply hang out at the park for the "good vibes."

"There have always been a mix of cultures at the park but everyone is cool with one another, there are always positive energies. I've never seen any nasty things go down," said Tan Lepham, a skateboard instructor and founder of Por Vida Skateboarding.

Tan, who's been a regular at the park ever since it was built, notes that the zone is home to a range of communities. "Graffiti artists, break-dancers, bikers, and rollerbladers all hang out there too," he pointed out, noting that skateboarding's carefree lifestyle is a big draw to those who don't practice the sport.

As one of the most densely populated countries in the world, Singapore has limited street space for skaters to perfect their skills, underlining the need for specialised zones. Since the National Youth Council (NYC) Skate Park was shuttered in 2004, the Somerset Skate Park became the de-facto spot for the new and experienced to hone their craft when it opened two years later. A second skate park was opened in 2009 on the eastern side of the island to meet rising demand.

Photo: The Straits Times

The government-run NYC, which operates the Somerset Park, told CNBC there were plans in the pipeline to improve the park's overall layout and make it more inclusive to youths with other interests. NYC said that it would be consulting youngsters for their feedback before going ahead with any changes, adding that the park was not in danger of closing anytime soon.

"The park brings people of diverse backgrounds together and fosters a community spirit," explained Irwan Idris, a veteran skateboarder who recently directed NS23, a documentary about the island's skate culture. Named after the Somerset subway station, the film features interviews from a range of well-known Singaporean skaters and narrates accounts of friendship and teamwork at the park.

The thriving scene has produced top-rated pro skaters, such as brothers Firdaus and Farris Rahman, who regularly compete abroad. Firdaus, who counts Billabong and Vans as sponsors, has represented Singapore at Tampa Pro-one of the sport's oldest competitions, according to ESPN-and the Kia World Extreme Games, where he took home gold last year. Farris meanwhile is on the Red Bull team and landed second place at the Asian X-Games in 2011.

So now that skateboarding is officially an Olympic sport at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, will a Singapore skater make the cut?

"We have a good number of skateboarders on this little island. It will be a long shot but hopefully our representatives could bring an Olympic gold for Singapore," said Idris.

Witness says driver kept starting and stopping, causing accident

Reports of road accidents have surfaced the world over since Pokemon Go was launched. The game became available in Singapore on Saturday, and an accident the next day in Queenstown has been linked to it.

Mr Amos Ng, an office clerk, was walking back to his Mei Ling Street home after work on Sunday night, trying to catch Pokemon Go characters along the way.

In the world's latest gaming craze, which was launched here on Saturday, players trawl places around the country using their smartphone's GPS system to spot and capture Pokemon.

At about 10.20pm, Mr Ng, 31, an office clerk, noticed a dark-coloured sedan around the Mei Ling Street area.

He said the car kept starting and stopping abruptly and was moving slowly.

He noticed a driver and two passengers in the car.

The driver and his front seat passenger looked to be in their 50s, while the woman in the backseat seemed to be in her 20s.

Mr Ng suspects that they, like him, were playing Pokemon Go.

He said: "I saw them taking out their electronic devices and making swiping actions (on their devices).

"I found it quite amusing at first."

He also saw the car driving near Queenstown Stadium, which is just a minute's drive from Mei Ling Street.

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

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The Straits Times, Facebook / RSAF, Facebook/SPF, AsiaOne, Capitaland

POKESTOP

The stadium is a PokeStop, which is a place of interest where players can collect items that will help them catch more Pokemon characters.

Mr Ng passed the car and continued on his way home.

Suddenly, he heard the screeching sound of a car braking followed by a loud crash.

He turned and saw that a white car had crashed into a kerb at the junction of Mei Chin Road and Mei Ling Street.

Mr Ng said: "I noticed that the driver of the dark car had seen the white car crash, but accelerated forward in the direction of Global Indian International School."

Mr Ng added about 30 people rushed down from nearby HDB blocks because of the commotion.

The owner of the white car, who wished to be known only as Mr Vasily, said he had tried to overtake the dark car, which was in front of him, because it was driving recklessly.

Mr Vasily, 26, said: "The man driving (the dark car) kept starting and stopping.

"I signalled right and attempted to overtake him, but he kept moving forward."

Mr Vasily then accelerated to move out of the way.

As he was trying to overtake the dark car, his car went out of control and crashed into a kerb. His car slammed into a road railing.

A fuming Mr Vasily, whose car had to be towed to a workshop, said: "I'm very, very angry (with the other driver)."

The Singapore Civil Defence Force sent an ambulance to the site, but its assistance was not required.

No injuries were reported.

Police investigations are ongoing.

A police spokesman said the penalty for playing Pokemon Go while driving a vehicle would be the same as driving while using a handheld device.

This means a fine not exceeding $1,000, jail time of up to six months or both.

Pokemon Go: A beginner's guide

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The New Paper

Pokemon Go-related accidents

TAIWAN, AUG 6 - A motorcyclist fell off his motorbike while playing Pokemon Go. He ended up with a fractured knee. About 350 drivers have been fined in Taiwan for using their phones while on the road since the game was launched, authorities said.

MELBOURNE, JULY 28 - A teen crashed his car into a school fence while playing the game.

ISRAEL, JULY 27 - A girl, 15, fell off her bicycle while playing Pokemon Go and she suffered a cracked skull, reported Ynetnews.

aryat@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Aug 9, 2016.
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When finance officer Adeline Kang went to her neighbourhood clinic to see the doctor about stomach pains and a sore throat, she was not expecting to pay more than $50 for the consultation fee.

The fees displayed at Wee's Family Clinic & Surgery in Whampoa Drive state that it costs $40 for a short consultation and $50 for a long one.

However, she was charged $80.

When the 41-year-old queried the cost, she was told it was $40 to address each medical issue. She also had to pay $32 for medicine.

As it was her third visit to Dr Wee Chee Chau for her sore throat, she had expected to be charged less because it was a follow-up visit for the same problem.

However, Dr Wee told The Straits Times there had been no mistake. "When you have two problems, it's like seeing a doctor twice," he said.

His fees vary according to the number of medical conditions, their complexity and the duration of the consultation, he explained.

Asked if there was a cap to the consultation fee, Dr Wee said: "I can't tell you offhand, but it won't be in the thousands of dollars."

He added that he is a family physician and not just a general practitioner, so his charges are higher.

A check with other clinics found that their normal practice is to charge for one consultation, no matter how many medical problems the patient has.

A spokesman for the Parkway Shenton chain said: "The consultation charge at our clinics ranges from $25 to $38 per visit.

"This is a one-time charge regardless of the number of ailments presented by our patients."

The Raffles Medical chain of clinics also said its clinics levy only one consultation charge per patient, regardless of the number of medical problems that need attention.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said there is nothing wrong with the way Dr Wee charges.

Its spokesman said: "GPs are private providers within our larger healthcare system. Clinic charging varies across clinics and patients, depending on multiple factors.

"These may include the complexity of the patient's condition, the length of consultation, the type of treatment and medication provided, and the cost structure of the clinic, including rental and other overhead costs."

But she added that clinics are "encouraged" to display their common charges, like consultation fees, prominently in their clinics and provide itemised receipts to patients.

However, a clinic is not obliged to charge patients the amount stated in its table of fees. The MOH spokesman added: "Clinics have the prerogative to deviate from displayed charges, where justifiable."

Ms Kang said that she does not plan to visit the clinic again, even though her company picks up her medical tab.

This article was first published on Aug 9, 2016.
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A man who helped one of Singapore's most notorious gangsters flee the country after a gangland-style shooting of a nightclub owner was yesterday found guilty - a decade after the crime.

On Feb 15, 2006, Tan Chor Jin, dubbed the"One-eyed Dragon"as he was blind in one eye, sparked an international manhunt after he repeatedly shot Mr Lim Hock Soon in his Serangoon Avenue 4 flat.

Malaysian Ho Yueh Keong, who had fetched Tan from the Woodlands Checkpoint the day before the shooting, took him back the same way about an hour after the killing.

Tan was nabbed 10 days later in a Kuala Lumpur hotel. He was found guilty of discharging a firearm and hanged in 2009 at the age of 42.

But Ho remained at large for nine years and was caught only when he tried to leave Malaysia for Batam. He was extradited in July last year.

Yesterday, Ho, now 43, stood upright in the dock and listened intently to a Mandarin interpreter as Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Wen Hsien read out the facts of the case before District Judge Tan Jen Tse.

Handcuffed, shackled and wearing prison attire - a white T-shirt and brown trousers - he pleaded guilty to one charge of harbouring a fugitive. Another count of concealing information about the murder will be considered when he is sentenced tomorrow.

Tan, better known as Tony Kia to his associates, was part of the Ang Soon Tong gang which operated in both Malaysia and Singapore. It was notorious for gun-smuggling, drugs, illegal moneylending and illegal gambling. Tan often hired Ho, also known as "Moh Tang", to drive him from Malaysia to Singapore. Ho would be paid $50 to $100.

Read also:  20 crimes that have shaken Singapore since 1965

In late 2005, Tan bought a Beretta pistol. He told Ho in January 2006 that he wanted to kill Mr Lim.

On Feb 14, 2006, Tan asked Ho to drive him from Malaysia to Singapore in a Malaysian-registered dark blue Kia car. Tan said he might meet Mr Lim, but did not say why. They spent the night in a flat at Block 515 in Hougang.

Malaysian in One-eyed Dragon case finally charged after 9 years

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The Straits Times, Lianhe Wanbao, Lianhe Zaobao, Sin Chew Daily/ANN

The next day, Tan fired six rounds from his pistol into Mr Lim at his flat at about 7am, after he had made Mr Lim tie up his wife, maid and teenage daughter. Five bullets hit Mr Lim. Tan then returned to Hougang, woke Ho up and asked him to drive him back to Malaysia.

While in the car, Tan told someone over the phone that he had killed Mr Lim. Ho asked Tan if he really did so. Tan admitted to the murder and said he threw the pistol into a river.

Ho drove Tan into Malaysia at about 8.20am and they headed for Ho's home in Larkin, Johor Baru. He later drove Tan to Penang in the latter's BMW before they headed back to Muar in Johor. Tan gave him RM500 before they separated.

A few days later, Ho called Tan to say he wished to surrender, but Tan told him not to do so and he obeyed.

For harbouring a person who committed a crime punishable with death, Ho faces up to five years' jail and a fine.

The maximum penalty for not giving information about a crime is six months' jail and a fine.

This article was first published on Aug 9, 2016.
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Unexploded 2m-long ordnance discovered three weeks ago finally deemed safe to handle

For three weeks now, crew on board a Singapore barge carrying sand for land reclamation have lived in fear of their accidental cargo - an unexploded 2m-long ordnance.

It was only yesterday morning that the war relic was finally assessed by experts to be safe to handle. This means that a private firm will now dispose of it.

The piece of ordnance is said to have been carried over from Vietnam, which supplied the sand. It was found on board the vessel KNB 1, a delivery barge that loads sand from another vessel before discharging it at the reclamation site.

While the barge was discharging the sand, the war relic was discovered as it became caught between the hatch and a conveyor belt that carried the sand, a source said.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Police Coast Guard were alerted to the incident on July 18. MPA said: "A safety zone was immediately established around the site of the barge."

The vessel, with the registration number SR 3498C, is involved in the land reclamation project for a new port terminal in Tuas.

On the advice of the Singapore Armed Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, the barge was subsequently moved from the reclamation site to Sudong Explosive Anchorage, said MPA. The site is a designated anchorage for the loading or discharging of dangerous goods.

It is believed that in the past three weeks, ordnance disposal experts from the military and a private consultancy have made repeated trips to the barge anchored off Pulau Sudong. The barge is about 40 minutes away by boat from West Coast Pier.

"As the war relic is buried under sand materials on board the barge, time is needed to carefully remove the materials first," said an MPA spokesman.

Yesterday's green light for removing the war relic means relief could come soon for the crew of seven, who have been on board for the past three weeks.

"It has been three weeks. Why did they not evacuate us? I fear my life is still in danger," said a crew member.

The barge is chartered by Starhigh Asia Pacific, which specialises in sand supply. It could not reply to The Straits Times by press time on why the crew remained on board.

Weapons and equipment editor Kelvin Wong of military publication IHS Jane's said the typical procedure would be to clear civilians from the immediate area around the unexploded ordnance. He said: "While the authorities may have ascertained that the bomb is a dud, safety protocols would likely require the evacuation of civilians from the area, especially if the disposal experts are in the process of disarming or removing the weapon."

He said that if the bomb was from the Vietnam War, it was likely to be a free-fall explosive. Such bombs are usually triggered by a fuse, timer or by impact, Mr Wong said.

adrianl@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Melody Zaccheus

This article was first published on Aug 9, 2016.
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In career spanning over 34 years, Peter Ho took on leading roles at ministries and PMO

Former top civil servant Peter Ho heads the list of recipients of this year's National Day Awards.

Mr Ho, 62, who was head of the Civil Service from 2005 until his retirement in 2010, was given the prestigious Distinguished Service Order.

Four other individuals with a record of public service were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

They are: renowned artist and Cultural Medallion recipient Lim Tze Peng, 95; former chairman of the National Environment Agency (NEA) Chew Gek Khim, 54; Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) member and former Supreme Court judge Goh Joon Seng, 81; and National University of Singapore professor and marine biologist Leo Tan Wee Hin, 71.

The awards are given out every year to recognise individuals for their contributions to Singapore.

A total of 3,959 people have been honoured this year, including members of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), community and grassroots leaders, and educators.

Getting this year's top award is particularly sweet for Mr Ho, now chairman of the Urban Redevelopment Authority, as he shares the same birthday as the nation.

His distinguished career, spanning over 34 years in the public service, includes permanent secretary appointments at the ministries of defence and foreign affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office.

A strong believer in a networked government, Mr Ho is credited with having galvanised various agencies to work together on key challenges.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he initiated a series of policy reviews that strengthened its ability to respond to a fast-changing strategic landscape. He also oversaw the setting up of the National Security Coordination Secretariat in the Prime Minister's Office to respond to transnational terrorism, and helped to set up the Centre for Strategic Futures, where he remains a senior adviser.

The former SAF scholarship holder is also credited with initiating changes in the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) to bring about a third-generation SAF by modernising capabilities to better deal with new threats.

Mr Ho told The Straits Times yesterday that he was surprised and honoured at being given the award, noting that he had, even after retirement, been given the privilege to serve in many capacities.

As Singapore strives to be a Smart Nation that harnesses technology to improve citizens' lives, Mr Ho said civil servants can and need to continue to be innovators and risk-takers.

He recounted how his team decided to outsource the development and running of Mindef's first Internet portal for national servicemen to outside experts.

"This was heresy at that time," he said. The Government's response was lukewarm, but his team pressed on and the portal became a model that other agencies began to follow.

Someone has to break the mould, he added. "This underscores the basic principle: If you want to make big improvements, you cannot be timid... You must be daring enough to try new things out, and you manage the risks," he said.

"You must be psychologically prepared for some to fail: If you have done your work properly, a few will fail, but most will succeed."

Retired Supreme Court judge Goh Joon Seng, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, has been active on several boards since he left the Bench in 2000.

"I never expected, when given the honour, to serve as a member of the CPA and chairman of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony," he said.

Fellow recipient Chew Gek Khim, who was NEA chairman from 2008 to 2015, was instrumental in the upgrading of existing hawker centres and the construction of new ones.

Ms Chew is executive chairman of investment company Straits Trading, and also helped galvanise industry associations and companies to work with the NEA on waste minimisation and recycling efforts.

Under her watch, the NEA embarked on a programme to build 10 new hawker centres by 2017, and another 10 centres by 2027.

"It is gratifying to see the creation of more hawker centres, which indirectly help cap rising food prices," she said. "I am also very happy to see how NEA has evolved, and it now attracts qualified and talented young people who aspire to make Singapore's living environment even better."

yanliang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Aug 9, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - It's Singapore's 51st birthday today and for one family, it will also be their most memorable National Day yet.

Wong Ying Ying, 37, and Raymond Toh, 39, welcomed their first child - a baby girl - just one second past midnight at Mount Alvernia Hospital on Aug 9.

The 3.5kg baby was delivered naturally.

Wong, who is a Singaporean PR and works in customer service, was told on Aug 8 that she was ready to go into labour.

"We are delighted and thankful that our little girl is finally here in time to celebrate National Day," she said, happily exclaiming that there would be fireworks every year on her daughter's birthday.

ljessica@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, who suffered a stroke in May, will not be attending the National Day Parade this evening as his doctor has advised him to avoid crowded places.

Mr Heng said in a Facebook post today (Aug 9) that he is still recovering from a lung infection which he developed while he was hospitalised for his stroke.

"The doctors say the lungs take time to recover fully and a new infection could set back that process. Because of that, I also cannot attend the parade today," he wrote.

He added that he will probably be doing his rehabilitory exercises and stretches while watching the parade at home.

He also said that he is feeling "great", and has thanked well-wishers for their prayers and words of encouragement, as well as his colleagues and grassroots activities for taking care of Tampines GRC, for which he is an MP.

Mr Heng is currently on medical leave after suffering a sudden stroke on May 12 during a Cabinet meeting.

He underwent a successful operation on the same day at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and was discharged on June 25.

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Prime Minister's Office

huizhen@sph.com.sg

Taipei - Taiwan's new envoy to Singapore resigned on Tuesday after he was caught drink-driving last week in the island's capital Taipei, just hours after he had been sworn into office.

Antonio Chiang - a veteran journalist and political commentator - said he had drunk whisky and wine over dinner with friends before he was caught late on August 2, local media reported.

His arrest triggered calls for his resignation from campaigners in Taiwan against drink-driving.

The office of Taiwan's new president Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday she had accepted his resignation and "respected" his decision.

Taipei prosecutors handed Chiang a suspended indictment and a NT$60,000 (S$2,570) fine on Monday, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.

His blood alcohol content was 0.27 milligrams per litre, the agency reported. Taiwan's legal limit is 0.25 mg per litre.

Campaign group Taiwan Against Drunk Driving - headed by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver - last week protested outside the foreign ministry, calling Chiang a "disgrace" to the island.

Chiang told Central News Agency on Tuesday he feels "very guilty and remorseful" for causing trouble for the government.

Taipei maintains representative offices instead of embassies as it does not have formal diplomatic relations with many nations, which instead choose to recognise rival Beijing.

Chiang writes a column for Taiwan's Apple Daily newspaper, which often publishes articles critical of China.

Residents at three blocks of flats in Pandan Gardens have been plagued by thousands of midges which are said to appear in swarms at night.

Residents in the affected blocks near Pandan Reservoir told Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao in a report yesterday that they have been affected by the flying insects almost daily for a month now.

The midges are a nuisance to those living in blocks 411, 409 and 408, dropping into their food and even flying into some residents' noses.

Efforts to chase them away are futile, and it is impossible to kill them all, said some residents.

Chen Zhongbao, 50, who works in the funeral business, told Wanbao that the problem has been ongoing for a month.

"In the day, the midges fly about along the ceiling in the common corridor. But after 7pm, once the lights are on at home, they will fly in," said the Block 411 resident.

Housewife Weng Lizhen, 66, who lives on the 12th floor, said the bugs land on her face now and then, which she feels is unhygienic.

"Even though they do not bite, they frighten my grandson when he comes for a visit," she added.

Wanbao visited the flats and found dead midges littering the corridors, with more on lower floors.

A cleaner, who was sweeping away midges from the corridor ceiling, said he clears away the insects in the mornings but more appear later, with thousands gathered on the ceilings.

A spokesman for national water agency PUB told My Paper yesterday that it has observed a recent increase in Chironomid midges around the HDB blocks near Pandan Reservoir.

"PUB has been closely monitoring the situation and is carrying out measures such as fogging, misting and larvicide application at Pandan Reservoir," said the spokesman.

"Midges do not bite or spread diseases but are a nuisance when present in large numbers. PUB will step up the frequency of the measures to control the population."

According to a guide to non-biting midges on PUB's website, here are three tips for residents to minimise the nuisance:

• Install insect screens across windows and doors to prevent them from entering.
• Close the blinds and curtains during dusk and dawn when the midges are most active.
• Midges are attracted to light. Switch off the lights in rooms that are not in use, or dim the light if possible.

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The Ministry of Health (MOH) clarified in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 9) that it did not say that there was "nothing wrong" in response to queries about a clinic's billing practice.

MOH said that it was misrepresented in The Straits Times' article and added: "These words were inserted by ST."

In The Straits Times' report published on Aug 9, Ms Adeline Kang, 41, said that she was charged $40 each for stomach pains and a sore throat during a consultation at Wee's Family Clinic & Surgery in Whampoa Drive.

MOH was quoted as saying that there was "nothing wrong" with Dr Wee's charges.

After the article was shared on social media, it elicited many angry comments on Facebook, with many netizens expressing their surprise at MOH's "response", and others warning their family and friends not to patronise the clinic.

In response to the article, the health ministry said ST journalist Ms Salma Khalik had asked for comments on the case, but did not provide information such as the clinic's name or the patient's bills so that MOH could review the case.

Therefore, it provided a general reply explaining what general practitioners usually take into account while charging patients:

"GPs are private providers within our larger healthcare system. Clinic charging varies across clinics and patients, depending on multiple factors. These may include the complexity of the patient's condition, the length of consultation, the type of treatment and medication provided, and the cost structure of the clinic, including rental and other overhead costs."

"Clinics are encouraged to display their common charges like consultation fees prominently in their clinics, and provide itemised receipts to patients. However, clinics have the prerogative to deviate from displayed charges, where justifiable. We also encourage patients to clarify with the clinics about their charges when in doubt, in order to minimise misunderstanding."

After the clinic was identified in the report, MOH said that it will be reviewing the case.

minlee@sph.com.sg

A constituency's National Day celebrations yesterday sought to demonstrate the inclusive society that Singapore aspires to be - one that actively engages the disabled and the disadvantaged.

About 1,500 residents took part in the Kembangan-Chai Chee National Day Observance Ceremony, which was streamed on Facebook Live.

Among those who turned up at Kampong Kembangan Community Club dressed in red and white to celebrate Singapore's 51st birthday were 150 people with disabilities.

Through this year's event, organisers aimed to increase awareness of people with disabilities, the mentally ill and the disadvantaged.

The observance ceremony, which featured a combined marching contingent formed by students from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (Minds) and Ping Yi Secondary School, saw Minds student Abdul Salam Afraar Sajith leading the Pledge.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AsiaOne, Berita Harian, The Straits Times

"I am excited. I practised for one or two days," said the 17-year-old, who is autistic.

Apart from a mass community walk, the celebrations included buskers with disabilities performing alongside youth from the Singapore Children's Society in a mini food and music festival.

There was also a para-sports showcase, letting people try out activities such as wheelchair basketball and blindfold football.

For the first time, 23 voluntary welfare organisations, social enterprises and agencies participated in the festivities, with the food and drinks prepared by their beneficiaries.

The community club also entered the Singapore Book of Records for the largest word formation made up of origami hearts.

Residents in neighbourhood and residents' committees spent a week folding the origami hearts to form a huge "SG51", measuring 7.9m by 4.5m.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, an MP for Marine Parade GRC and the guest of honour, told The Straits Times that he was heartened by the emphasis on people with disabilities and the disadvantaged at this year's event.

"Over the years, we have been moving towards a more inclusive society. People recognise that a better Singapore is a more inclusive Singapore," he said.

"It is a work in progress, but just from today, we can see that it really brings smiles not just to their faces, but in their hearts as well," he added.

During the celebrations, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, the anchor minister for Marine Parade GRC, sent a video message from Rio de Janeiro, where he is supporting Singaporean athletes competing in the Olympics.

Mr Tan, who is Minister for Social and Family Development, is the president of the Singapore National Olympic Council.

He said that inviting those with special needs to join the celebrations this year is part of a longer journey to ensure everyone feels they are a part of Singapore society.

"In fact, just reach out to fellow Singaporeans, whether they are able-bodied or have special needs," said Mr Tan.

"As long as you connect with each other, I think that's what makes it meaningful and what makes it home, because it's all about relationships."

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AsiaOne, The Straits Times, The New Paper

This article was first published on August 10, 2016.
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It never snows in Singapore but some MRT commuters are feeling the chill - thanks to ice showers coming from the air-conditioner vents of some trains.

The phenomenon happened on China-made trains plying the Circle Line.

The Straits Times understands that there were at least two incidents last month.

On a train heading from Bartley to Kent Ridge on a Saturday morning, ice shards - some the size of a little finger - blasted from a vent.

The train was evacuated mid-journey.

The second incident took place on a Monday afternoon on a train from Bras Basah to Serangoon, when ice particles fell from above.

The trains were designed by French manufacturer Alstom and assembled in China.

Their air-conditioning system was jointly designed by Alstom and Chinese equipment supplier King.

The Land Transport Authority told The Straits Times it was aware of the freezing flaw, and was taking steps to rectify it.

"The forming of the ice particles was caused by the excessive cooling of the air-conditioning system," said an LTA spokesman.

"Rectification works are being carried out, and we are also conducting fleetwide checks as a precautionary measure."

She added that there was no impact on train operations as the rectification works and checks are done concurrently when the trains are undergoing their scheduled preventive maintenance.

She also said such problems are not specific to trains, and "can happen to home air-conditioning systems and refrigerators".

Professor Choo Fook Hoong of the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University said that while the phenomenon does arise, "it is not common".

"Usually, it's when the sensor is faulty and it is not detecting temperatures accurately," he said, adding that the air-con would then run continuously and humidity in the air condenses before ice forms.

Prof Choo said the flaw is relatively easy to fix - by replacing the faulty sensor.

Rival transport group ComfortDelGro Corp said it has encountered ice forming on the air-con vents of its Downtown Line trains too.

Last month, there were also reports of water streaming down from the air-con vents of an East-West Line train.

This article was first published on August 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Global terrorism threats and a weak economic sentiment may have cast a pall over the tourism industry, but travel agencies are cautiously optimistic that Singaporeans will continue to spend at two upcoming travel fairs.

The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas) Travel Fair will take place at Singapore Expo Hall 3 from Friday to Sunday.

It will have 67 exhibitors, of which 22 are travel agencies.

The 49th edition of the fair will include a food and wine fair, and a lucky draw.

Also, nurses from Tan Tock Seng Hospital will provide advice on travel vaccination.

The fourth Travel Revolution fair, organised by the Singapore Outbound Travel Agents Association (Sotaa), will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre from Aug 19 to 21.

The 61 exhibitors include 33 travel agencies. Admission to both fairs is free.

Sotaa was formed in May last year by 25 agencies that pulled out of Natas' twice-yearly fairs to organise their own event, Travel Revolution.

They included major players Chan Brothers Travel, CTC Travel and Dynasty Travel, which cited issues with previous fairs such as high rental rates and a lack of transparency.

The outlook for the industry is "challenging" given the spate of news on the weak economy and terrorist attacks, said a Sotaa spokesman.

"That said, travel has long become an integral part of the lifestyle of Singaporeans who are known to be hardcore travellers, deft in adjusting their travel plans rather than forgoing them altogether."

Trending destinations include Australia and New Zealand, as security concerns in Europe drive Singaporeans Down Under.

Nordic countries such as Finland and Iceland are also hot destinations as this year is touted to be the last year to catch the Northern Lights before they diminish.

The next peak of solar activity is not expected till 2025.

Many are also heading to Britain to take advantage of the falling pound following the Brexit vote.

Also popular are perennial favourites Japan and South Korea.

The Japanese yen, though rising, is still relatively low compared to its heyday, while South Korea is fast rebounding after last year's Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) health scare.

One Singapore dollar could buy about 76 yen yesterday, compared with 63.3 five years ago.

A Natas spokesman said that despite an uncertain global economic outlook, it anticipates growth in overseas travel as Singapore increases its flight connections.

It noted that there are new direct flights from Singapore to destinations such as Cairns and Canberra in Australia, Okinawa and Hokkaido in Japan (during the year end), Dusseldorf in Germany and San Francisco in the United States.

POPULAR DESTINATIONS

• Australia

• New Zealand

• Finland

• Iceland

• Britain

• Japan

• South Korea

This article was first published on August 10, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Her painting was inspired by friends and neighbours of different races and backgrounds.

And it was a thrilling experience for artist Tan Hui Min, 34, to see it exhibited at the National Day Parade last night in the most innovative of ways - on the costumes of performers.

Miss Tan, who has low IQ and mild mutism, was one of the Touch Community Services special-needs artists whose hand-painted artworks were adapted for the NDP performance.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AsiaOne, Berita Harian, The Straits Times

She is also a craft assistant with the organisation.

Miss Tan told The New Paper in an e-mail interview: "My inspiration is from racial harmony. I have a lot of friends and neighbours of different races in Singapore.

"In my painting, I drew children from the four races holding hands to show them living in harmony in Singapore."

The performance, orchestrated by the Singapore Soka Association, saw 420 participants flip their large skirts to create an impressive mass display of the artworks.

PERFORMER TOO

But Miss Tan was unable to witness the transformation of her painting because she was also a performer for the segment.

In tune with the parade's message of inclusivity, Miss Tan and about 150 special-needs participants from seven voluntary welfare organisations led the crowd in hand-signing two popular National Day songs: Home and Count On Me, Singapore.

The audience was also invited to sing and sign along.

Miss Tan said she didn't know her painting would be exhibited on such a large scale and learnt about it being used for such a massive visual display only when her teacher showed her a photo of it.

"I felt happy and thrilled when my teacher took pictures (of the adapted painting during the rehearsals) and showed them to me," said Miss Tan.

"I feel excited and delighted that my artwork was being featured during National Day."

Miss Tan did the artwork, which took about four hours to complete, a few years ago.

The painting was selected by the NDP committee earlier this year for the performance.

Crowd-pleasers

1. The crowd roared its approval of the retelling of folk hero Badang's story. The highlight was when he burst through a "rock" to emerge victorious.

2. A unicorn was suspended above the stadium - against a sea of rainbow-coloured lights from LED wristbands worn by members of the audience - symbolising the hopes and dreams of the younger generation.

3. A floating island, made up of multiple iconic buildings up to six- storeys high, was lifted above the stage. The Sky City prop was meant to inspire the audience to look towards the future and to celebrate that the Singapore of tomorrow is here today.

4. For the first time in NDP's history, over 150 special needs participants signed to familiar NDP songs like Count On Me, Singapore and Home. The audience was invited to join in, a gesture aimed at creating a more caring and inclusive Singapore.

5. The enclosed venue meant indoor fireworks - which wowed the audience. Those who did not have a chance to attend the NDP at the stadium were treated to a separate segment of outdoor fireworks.

This article was first published on Aug 10, 2016.
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It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you what's wrong with Singapore's public transport system-it's too crowded, breaks down too often, and for those who are located far from MRT stations, is too slow.

The Public Transport Council's recent survey is now hoping to glean more insights on why the public transport experience sucks.

Instead of harping on the crowding and breakdowns, which to be fair aren't going to be fixed anytime soon, they have chosen to focus on the areas which can be changed.

Their first report has touched on some ways to make public transport more inclusive for commuters such as families, the elderly and the disabled. More reports are forthcoming.

I'd just like to jump the gun and offer some suggestions that many of the Singaporeans around me have provided.

Bring back the MRT seats

You can't not have noticed that at some point in our recent past, MRT carriages with zero seats came into being.

People complained about overcrowding, and then someone at LTA/SMRT had a huge brainwave-remove the seats and you can cram even more people in!

Um, when people highlighted the overcrowding, they were hoping for increased train frequencies or more carriages, not the removal of seats.

To be fair, most people who commute during peak hour do not even have a fighting chance of getting a seat.

But removing the seats altogether reduces the number of people who can sit down during off peak hours.

And anyone will tell you that being able to sit down, even if it means waiting a couple of stops for others to vacate their seats, makes a world of difference to your comfort levels, especially if you face a long commute.

In 2015, there was a report which mentioned that fold-up seats might soon be available-let's hope this comes to pass, although we foresee that Stomping will be brought to a whole new level, as Singaporeans navigate the minefields of when it is appropriate to fold up your seat so the other sardines in the can have more room to breathe.

Allow non-foldable bicycles on trains and buses

The PTC's report revealed that parents want to be allowed to bring strollers onto buses without having to first fold them up.

Well, they're not the only ones who find it highly inconvenient not being able to bring certain things onto buses and trains.

People who ride bicycles and other mobility devices face a conundrum when they have to rely on the MRT to complete their commutes.

At present, only foldable bicycles are allowed on the MRT. A good foldie is quite expensive, and many people find cycling on tiny wheels slow and uncomfortable. Nobody wants to lock their nice bicycles up at the station because bicycle theft is rampant.

If Singapore is truly going to become a cycling city, they're going to have to find a way to enable commuters to transport their bicycles on the train. Outside of peak hours, allowing bicycles should not be a problem, especially as so many seats have already been removed to create standing areas.

Sure, it's going to be an inconvenience. In a city where people can commute entirely by bicycle without having to rely on public transport, or where they can just hop in a car to get somewhere further, banning bicycles on public transport would be more reasonable.

But if Singapore really wants Singapore to be "car-lite" or whatever, some concessions will have to be made in order to promote alternative forms of transport.

Bus routes should be made clearer on buses and at bus stops

If you're one of those unlucky souls who lives far away from the nearest MRT station, you've probably tried to take buses to your final destination, figuring that it'd save you having to take the feeder bus to the MRT station.

Being one of those people, I've lost count of the number of times I've found myself staring squinty-eyed at the bus routes posted up at bus stops, before searching the road names on my phone in order to ascertain where exactly a particular route would be taking me.

Even if you go so far as to fork out the money to buy the Bus Guide at Popular, the routes are confusing simply because you only have road names to go by.

One big problem is that there's no visual representation of the bus routes online. If the bus service websites could post up maps showing the routes of the various buses, life would be a lot easier.

In addition, there's also the problem of not knowing which stop to get off at.

I can't tell you how many times I've missed a stop, only to realise the next one was a million miles away.

There is no clear indication of which stop a bus is at. While bus stops are labelled, it is often difficult to see them from inside a crowded bus, especially when the windows are always tinted with some ad so you can barely see outside.

You could be alighting in Hell for all you know.

In the old days as a student, I used to just ask the bus driver to tell me when to get off.

But when buses are crowded or the driver has difficulty understanding English, that tactic doesn't work as well.

Also, when you're forced to move to the back of the bus and there's a sea of people between you and the driver, it's a lot harder to give him a shout out.

Digital displays in all buses informing passengers of the next stop would be a huge help.

This is something I've seen in many countries, and I don't see what's stopping the bus companies from installing them on the buses in Singapore.

In addition, a map providing a visual representation of the bus routes should be made available online, or even better, at bus stops.

The article first appeared on MoneySmart.

MoneySmart.sg is Singapore’s leading personal finance portal, and aims to help people maximise their money with powerful tools and engaging content.

SINGAPORE - The body of a woman was found at RB Capital building in the Central Business District (CBD) on Wednesday morning (Aug 10).

The police told AsiaOne that they received a call requesting assistance at 22 Malacca Street at about 9.20am.

The woman is understood to be in her 40s, The Straits Times reported, adding that her body was found on the fourth-floor parapet.

She was later pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police are investigating the case, which has been classified as an unnatural death.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

The National Day Parade may be over, but that doesn't mean that netizens have stopped talking about it.

It seems that one participant caught the eye of several Singaporeans, including blogger Alvinology, who published a blog post on Ms Neoh Yew Kim, a 22-year-old sign language instructor.

Using sign language, Ms Neoh led 150 special needs participants and the 55,000-strong crowd at the Sports Hub in a mass song-signing activity on Tuesday (Aug 9).

Dressed in a white dress with her hair pulled back neatly, Ms Neoh's elegance and sweet smile captured the hearts of many who were watching the performance.

An instructional video uploaded on YouTube featuring Neoh song-signing to Home and Count on Me, drew positive comments. One netizen commented that Ms Neoh was "pretty".

There is even a forum thread discussing Ms Neoh's good looks on Hardware Zone.

Neoh, who wears a hearing aid and cochlear implant, told The Straits Times through a sign language interpreter that song-signing enables those who can't hear to "enter the world of music and allows the able-bodied to join in with us in that moment".

According to the daily, the office support worker who is employed in the banking sector, is also a volunteer with various organisations such as the Singapore Association for the Deaf.

The inspiring performer also performed at the opening ceremony of the 8th ASEAN Para Games in Singapore last year.

Humans of Singapore, a popular blog showcasing everyday Singaporeans on the street, had also featured Neoh previously.

Netizens go gaga over pretty sign language instructor at NDP

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, YouTube screengrabs

In a September 2014 post, the blog published a photo of a cheerful Neoh posing candidly at Singapore Polytechnic.

She told the photographer that she suffered from hearing loss when she was just six months old, and attended school with other hearing impaired students as a child. However, when it was time to enter secondary school, her disability became clear and began to overwhelm her.

The struggle to cope hit hard, and she wanted to blame someone for the problems she had at school.

She said in the Humans of Singapore post: "My parents weren't around because they're divorced and live separately, so I couldn't blame them. But I live with my sister and grandmother, and my sister has the same problem, so I became angry and started blaming her instead - I thought that maybe she bit me and I had the same problem!"

Eventually, Neoh began to overcome the obstacles with the help of friends, and by brushing up on her lip-reading skills.

Imperfection, she told Humans of Singapore, does not mean a person is worth less than others.

"Sometimes your imperfection is what makes you resilient, what makes you stronger. So you shouldn't run from it, you should embrace it and make it your own," she was quoted as saying.

ljessica@sph.com.sg