SINGAPORE - Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) won three awards at this year's Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (PANPA) 2016 Advertising and Marketing Awards. The awards presentation ceremony was held this evening at The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

More than 300 industry colleagues were present to toast the best sales, marketing and creative contributions to the news media sector. The PANPA Advertising and Marketing Awards is presented by The Newspaper Works annually.

In the Best Print Single Advertisement for Client category, SPH's Swarovski Christmas advertisement won for taking creative newspaper advertising to new heights. Through the art of paper engineering (origami), it also increased the level of interaction between readers and the newspaper, as well as extend the retention value of the advertisement.

SPH Scholarship 'Question' campaign was Highly Commended in the Best Print Campaign for a Client. The objective of the campaign was to promote journalism as a career.

The idea was based on "Every Story Starts With A Question" to portray how the inquisitive minds of journalists enabled them to dig deeper with questions to come up with the basis of every piece of news. The portrayal showed the exciting depth of a career in journalism.

To round off an eventful night, Mr Tommy Lim, Head of SPH Marketing's CreativeLab, was named Creative Services Professional of the Year under the Executive Excellence categories. These awards are to celebrate those who strive for excellence, put the client first and deliver great results. With over 25 years of experience in the advertising field, Mr Lim has received multiple awards at the New York Advertising Fest, PANPA Awards, Singapore Creative Circle Awards and SPH iink Awards.

Mr Alan Chan, Chief Executive Officer, SPH, said: "These awards are testament to SPH's commitment to constantly innovate and deliver creative solutions to our advertisers. With the rapidly evolving media scene, coupled with changing media consumption habits, we see the need to proactively generate new ideas to stay ahead as Asia's leading media company."

The spread of the Zika virus has widened to areas in the north and east, after single cases were found in Yishun, Upper Thomson and Simei. The Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday also revealed that a second pregnant woman has been diagnosed with the virus.

She has been linked to the original cluster in the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive area, where the other expectant mother lives.

The 31 new infections detected as of noon yesterday, and another five found through look-back testing, take the total number of locally transmitted Zika cases here to 151 - less than a week after the first case involving a Malaysian woman living in Aljunied was found.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

In a Facebook post a few hours before MOH's latest update last night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it was only a matter of time before the Aedes mosquito-borne virus reached Singapore.

"The cases so far have been in Aljunied and Bedok, but we must assume that Zika is elsewhere in Singapore too," he wrote, adding that scientists are still learning about Zika "But we know that for most people, it is mild, and in fact often causes no symptoms at all. Pregnant women are at risk, as they are with other viral infections like dengue and chicken pox. Do take precautions and get tested if you show symptoms.

"Our best defence is to eradicate mosquitoes and destroy breeding habitats, all over Singapore. Do the five-step Mozzie Wipeout. Let's all do our part to fight Zika, and dengue as well."

The National Environment Agency said it is determining areas where mosquitoes are more prevalent, and taking action to reduce the population there - even if the area has no known Zika case.

This is aimed at breaking the disease transmission chain, and preventing further spread.

After Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive, cases have been found in Paya Lebar Way/Kallang Way, Bedok North Avenue 3, Punggol Way and Joo Seng. Yesterday, MOH said it has found that three cases are not linked to any existing cluster. The affected people live in Yishun Street 81, Tagore Avenue and Harvey Crescent.

By the end of today, there should be posters on Zika and how to wipe out mosquitoes in every Nee Soon South lift, said the area's MP Lee Bee Wah. Checks will also be stepped up to find any pools of water which could allow mosquitoes to breed.

Yishun residents took the news in their stride, highlighting that unless one is pregnant, an infection has little impact. The bigger worry for most was how the virus was spreading. Said bank executive Agnes Teo, 36: "When the first case was reported, it was so far away, and now it's in my neighbourhood."

A resident of a landed estate near Harvey Crescent in Simei, Ms Yip Ming Yen, 38, said her family had started to take precautions such as closing the windows and using insect repellent. "It's definitely a concern," said the lawyer.

Meanwhile, the mother-in-law of the first pregnant woman found to have Zika here told The Straits Times yesterday that the family is feeling a bit better now that she is well and returning home from hospital soon. "She just has to go back later for check-ups regularly."

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

Malaysia yesterday confirmed its first case of Zika linked to the outbreak here. Its Health Ministry said the 58-year-old financial consultant travelled to Singapore on Aug 19 to visit her daughter, who lives in Paya Lebar.

The daughter also tested positive for Zika, and is one of at least six Malaysians living here who have been infected. More than 50 cases involve foreigners, most of whom are from China and India.

•Additional reporting by Yeo Sam Jo and Janice Heng

This article was first published on September 2, 2016.
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Doctors are advising pregnant women that there is no need to get tested for Zika, unless they show key symptoms, such as a fever and rash.

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

On Wednesday, a pregnant woman took to Facebook to say that a doctor at Woodlands Polyclinic would not refer her for a free test even though she had "all (Zika) symptoms besides rashes". So she paid $300 for the blood and urine test for her peace of mind.

The Health Ministry and Clinical Advisory Group on Zika and Pregnancy advise that unless a pregnant woman has clear symptoms of Zika - fever and rash, and another symptom such as red eyes or joint pain - there is no need to get regular blood or urine tests.

Those in the private sector, such as obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) clinic A Company for Women, have also released advisories along these lines.

Dr Christopher Ng of GynaeMD Women's and Rejuvenation Clinic said that he has been getting at least one call a day from his patients inquiring about the possibility of getting tested.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

He generally asks them to come in to discuss the issue, adding: "I wouldn't be surprised if some people want to go ahead anyway, despite MOH's general advice against doing so."

Read also: 

• Zika outbreak: Why free testing for mums-to-be who show symptoms islandwide
• First case of pregnant woman with Zika in Singapore; potential new cluster at Bedok North Ave 3
• Pregnant woman with Zika is well: Family

This article was first published on Sep 02, 2016.
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Three-year-old Jarrell Tan loves spending weekends with his siblings at the void deck under his home in Bedok North Avenue 3, where they take turns to ride their bicycles and scooters.

But now, he will have to be happy playing at home.

His father, IT engineer Tan Kok Soon, 34, is taking steps to protect his children from the Zika virus that has arrived in his neighbourhood - and that includes keeping them at home.

The Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that Bedok North Avenue 3 could be a Zika cluster.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

Parents like Mr Tan are not taking any chances, even though the virus is not known to have a serious impact on young children. Mr Tan is ensuring his three children have repellent on before they go to childcare in the mornings.

"My wife and I have also closed all the windows and turned on the air-conditioning in our home to keep the mosquitoes out," he said.

Housewife Ho Hwee Chin, 63, is also doing the same, having banned her four grandchildren - aged one to seven - from going to the playground. She said: "I don't want to leave it to fate."

Neither do the authorities and the town councils. Efforts to prevent the spread of the Zika virus were in full swing yesterday with pest control officers fogging the vicinity and oiling drains to prevent mosquito breeding.

Aljunied GRC MP Faisal Manap, who takes care of Kaki Bukit ward which part of the affected cluster of 43 blocks comes under, spoke to residents and visited homes yesterday. House visits were also conducted by Fengshan MP Cheryl Chan. Six of the blocks in the cluster come under her single-member constituency.

At East Coast GRC's Kampong Chai Chee ward, where the remaining blocks are, more than 30 grassroots volunteers went door to door at 12 blocks of flats, passing out fliers to residents containing information on the virus and how to prevent its spread. The new cluster in the eastern part of Singapore is a major residential hub near the Bedok MRT station.

Yesterday, residents went about their usual activities. Volunteers are keeping an eye out for pregnant residents and have been told to note down their particulars so they can offer help if needed.

Zika is associated with microcephaly in unborn babies, a defect that results in abnormally small heads. The risk is higher during the first trimester and early part of the second trimester of pregnancy.

Madam Noor Diah Ahmad Junsi, 40, who is seven months pregnant, has been spraying insect repellent around her house, especially before she sleeps at night.

Although she is considered to be at a lower risk since she is in her final trimester, the law firm secretary is still worried.

"There is no guarantee that my baby will not get affected," she said.

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

This article was first published on September 2, 2016.
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To wait or not - this question is on the minds of couples planning to have a child after the spread of Zika to several areas in Singapore.

The advice from doctors is that there is no real reason to delay, since it seems unlikely the virus will be eliminated from these shores.

Instead, those planning parenthood should accept that this is likely to be the "new normal" and take precautions against being bitten by the Aedes mosquito - which spreads Zika - and make sure their homes are mosquito-free.

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

"The transmission vector is a mosquito which is endemic in Singapore. You might want to delay pregnancy but when do you think Zika is going away?" said Dr Christopher Ng of GynaeMD Women's and Rejuvenation Clinic.

The same point was made by infectious diseases specialist Leong Hoe Nam of Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital: "If we can't clear the Zika cases in the next few weeks, chances are that it will stay rooted in Singapore. But life must go on."

While a Zika infection is typically mild, with symptoms of fever and rash along with others such as sore eyes and joint ache, it can have serious effects on unborn children. Pregnant women who catch the disease may give birth to babies with unusually small heads - and this could lead to developmental problems.

Said massage therapist Suhailah A. Samin, who has two sons: "We were planning for a third child but decided not to have more kids during this Zika period. We're afraid we may not be able to cope with the pregnancy and will suffer... more worries with all the 'what-ifs'."

Other couples, however, are taking any risk in their stride.

"We are no longer young," said renovator Sky Yong, 41.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

Both he and his wife, finance manager Ashley Low, 39, work fairly near Aljunied, where the first cluster of local Zika transmission was detected.

"We love children... Zika, Aids, whatever virus is out there, we will still go for it. We can't live controlled by fear," added Mr Yong.

Housewife Christina Chong, 36, and her husband, lab officer Ong Wai Chung, 37, are also undeterred. "We have been waiting for so long, planning for two or three years, before the virus came along. We are just avoiding the affected areas but there's nothing much you can do."

Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo, who oversees the National Population and Talent Division, said it is natural for prospective parents to be concerned. She encouraged them to find out more about the disease and its potential health risks, and speak to doctors if necessary.

"I hope they are not overly deterred because, as with dengue and chikungunya, we have to deal with Zika through taking regular precautions such as using mosquito repellents when going outdoors and looking out for symptoms," she said.

Read also:

• Pregnancy and Zika: Here's what you need to know
• Zika infection: Expert advice on how pregnant women can protect themselves
• Zika outbreak: Why free testing for mums-to-be who show symptoms islandwide

This article was first published on Sep 02, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Hotels and travel agencies here have reported a handful of cancellations from foreigners intending to visit, amid mounting fears over the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

However, observers say that it is too soon to gauge the likely impact of the outbreak on the local economy.

Several governments, including the United States, Britain and South Korea, have issued travel advisories for those travelling to Singapore.

Mr Patrick Fiat, general manager of Royal Plaza on Scotts, said the hotel has received three cancellations since Tuesday. It waived cancellation charges for a pregnant Canadian woman.

"If the current number of cases increases, we may see the situation worsen," he said.

Travel agency Hong Thai Travel said several independent travellers from mainland China and Taiwan due here next week have cancelled their trips.

"Although they did not specify that it was because of Zika, it is unusual for travellers to cancel at the last minute," noted assistant general manager Tony Aw.

Another travel firm, Lex Travel, said that cancellations for pre-planned group tours have risen by 20 to 30 per cent since the start of the week.

"Numbers (of Zika cases) can scare people, especially tourists," said UOB economist Francis Tan.

"But it's too early to tell whether there will be an impact on the economy... What we do know is that unlike Sars, which hit us in 2003, the ease of transmission and severity (in terms of mortality) are not as bad."

Then, arrivals slumped by as much as 71 per cent in a month.

Ms Jean Ng, sports director of the Singapore Tourism Board, said it will track developments closely and monitor the travel trade to address any concerns by visitors.

CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun said September is usually quiet for tourism, other than the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, which can bring in up to $100 million in receipts.

Preparations for the Sept 16 to 18 F1 race are "on track and proceeding as per normal", said a spokesman for event organiser Singapore GP.

A Ministry of Trade and Industry spokesman told The Straits Times that the World Health Organisation has not issued travel restrictions to Zika-affected areas, and that Singapore remains a safe destination.

A Singapore Airlines spokesman said that the carrier has neither cancelled flights following news of the outbreak here nor seen shifts in demand for travel to or from Singapore.

This article was first published on September 2, 2016.
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When Junior the manatee first lifted its nostrils out of the water after it was released into its new Caribbean enclosure, the humans watching with bated breath remembered to breathe as well.

Its best friend, Kai, also surfaced to similar cheers of whoops, claps and exclamations of "voila!".

The Caribbean island grouping of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory, is now home to the two gentle giants.

The two West Indian manatees from Singapore have settled down well in the brackish waters of the National Park of Guadeloupe, after their arduous 34-hour journey last month.

The bachelors are now ready to receive their harem - 10 females which will soon join them from other zoos.

Kai and Junior's arrival is the culmination of a decade-long effort to reintroduce the threatened aquatic giants, which have disappeared in Guadeloupe, to the region.

River Safari's manatees doing well in Caribbean

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Wildlife Reserves Singapore, The Straits Times

Six-year-old Junior and seven-year-old Kai are part of the world's first manatee repopulation programme that aims to bring their kind back to the Caribbean region, where they were hunted to extinction in the early 1900s.

The hope is that the duo, as well as 13 other manatees - 10 of them female - which will be joining them over the next five years, could help repopulate the region.

The manatees will be kept within a 15,000ha naturalised enclosure within the park, but their offspring will be introduced into the wild.

The national park has said that the project could have important and widespread regional impact for improved conservation.

Mr Keith So, 40, deputy head aquarist at the River Safari, where Junior and Kai grew up, accompanied the marine mammals on the 19,600km voyage from Singapore to Guadeloupe.

Video credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore

He said the animals were calm during the flight and did not have to be sedated.

The whiskered herbivores made the journey on a chartered flight in sponge-lined crates, with an entourage of two veterinarians and a keeper.

Said Mr So: "After the vet checks, Junior and Kai were released into the enclosure. It was a new environment for them and they swam around exploring.

"When they took their first breath, everyone was so relieved!"

Manatees are marine mammals and need to surface to breathe, said Mr So. "It was important for them to surface to breathe, or they may drown due to the stress of a new environment," he said.

Mr So and his colleague, Ms Doris Su, 28, also spent about two weeks in Guadeloupe to make sure that the manatees settled in well.

Said Ms Su: "Everything happened really fast. Kai and Junior were still swimming around in River Safari the day before, and two days later, they were swimming under the Caribbean sun.

"I was very relieved when they were released back into the water, and when they started to eat well again, I knew they were all right."

But getting the manatees ready for the adventure of their lifetime took much longer.

The team started a training regime for them from June to make the journey as stress-free as possible.

Mr So said: "The manatees get scared easily, and would get stressed out whenever new objects are introduced into their tank.

"Since we needed to transport them using canvas sheets, we had to introduce (the sheets) to them slowly, and with positive reinforcement."

Baby manatee abandoned from birth becomes animal icon

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AsiaOne

Read also: Baby manatee abandoned from birth becomes River Safari animal icon

The keepers first left edges of the canvas sheet in the tank during feeding time - the manatees' favourite part of the day - before putting the whole sheet in the water. They also fed the animals high-fibre biscuits as a treat and spoke to them calmly and gently.

"Manatees are very intelligent.

"They can tell if the trainer is stressed, so it's important for the handler to be calm when working with them as well," said Mr So.

It was also important that the gentle giants learnt how to follow targets held by their trainers.

This would allow Kai, at 662kg, and Junior, at almost half a tonne, to be separated from the 12 other manatees in the same enclosure at the River Safari.

This training was done with the help of treats: The manatees were rewarded with a biscuit whenever they followed their targets.

The training helped with the crating process on Aug 7, which went smoothly as the more than 30 keepers and handlers involved in the move communicated well, said Mr So.

Ms Su had a tender moment with Junior that day.

She had entered the holding tank just before the crating process began, and Junior greeted her by nudging her belly with his snout, Ms Su said.

"It seemed like he was asking me what was happening. I could only hold his head and gave him a really big kiss for assurance. He let go and swam away after that," said Ms Su.

"It was painful to hear the closing of the aircraft cargo door when I was at the airport and heartbreaking to see the plane take off," added Ms Su, who flew to Guadeloupe on a different flight.

"At that point, I finally accepted the fact that they were not coming back.

"But there is a bigger purpose for them, and I am proud that they are part of the founding group to repopulate a manatee-extinct region."

audreyt@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 02, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - An oat cracker snack from Malaysia is being recalled after a consumer found some plastic on a piece of the biscuit.

In a statement on Friday (Sep 2), the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said that it received feedback on Tuesday from a member of the public who found a small plastic wire cover in a piece of IKO Oats Cracker with Muesli.

As such, the importer has decided to take precautionary measures by voluntarily recalling the affected batch of crackers, which has an expiration date of June 1, 2017.

"Consumers who have purchased the product are advised not to consume it," AVA said.

The authority added that it had been working with the importer to investigate the matter.

Those who have bought the affected batch may contact Brilliant Marketing at 6694 5879 or sales@brilliant-marketing.com for enquiries or to exchange the product.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - It was a red-hot, star-studded affair at rooftop bar Loof on Thursday (Sep 1), as Chinese fashion and beauty magazine NUYOU celebrated its 40th anniversary in style.

The glitzy party, which had the theme "a touch of red", was attended by a bevy of local celebrities, including actors Ian Fang and Chris Tong, actress Jeanette Aw, singers Kelly Poon and Tay Kewei as well as celebrity hair maestro David Gan, among others.

To celebrate the special anniversary, the NUYOU team has also put together a commemorative bumper issue. The birthday edition features a triple gatefold cover headlined by three of the region's biggest stars: local star Zoe Tay, Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai and co-host of South Korean variety show Song Ji-hyo.

Other highlights include a showcase of the latest Fall/Winter collections by top international names such as Gucci's Alessandro Michele, Fendi's Silvia Venturini Fendi, Mulberry's Johnny Coca, Coach's Stuart Vevers, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and Anya Hindmarch, who also share their birthday well wishes.

Terence Lee, NUYOU Editor-in-Chief, said: "NUYOU is not just a fashion and beauty magazine; we also inspire and empower women through our personality and feature stories. One of the biggest stories in this issue is "Smile, we're 40", where we gathered 20 amazing women who share how they feel about reaching this important milestone."

Nuyou turns 40

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SPH Magazines

"In addition, we put the spotlight on the next generation of movers and shakers by rounding up 15 game changers under 30 from different fields. It's our way of championing new talent while offering an engaging read.

Diana Lee, General Manager of SPH Magazines, said: "It is no mean feat for a women's Chinese fashion and beauty title to cross its 40th year milestone. This wouldn't have been possible without the continued support and encouragement from our readers and advertisers over the years."

As part of the celebrations, NUYOU launched a limited edition jewellery collection in collaboration with RISIS, which is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The magazine also worked with Amsterdam fashion brand Scotch & Soda to create a stylish limited edition pouch.

Other NUYOU Fabulous 40 treats for readers include: A chance to win $12,000 worth of Amara Hotels & Resorts staycations for every copy of NUYOU purchased at Cheers convenience stores; a chance to win one of the four pairs of return air tickets worth a total $5,000 to Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, in partnership with Scoot; and a 40 per cent discount for all all readers who sign up for a one-year print or digital subscription of NUYOU!

SINGAPORE - Another 38 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in Singapore have been reported as of noon on Friday (Sep 2), the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed.

In a joint statement on Friday, MOH and the National Environment Agency (NEA) revealed that 34 cases are linked to the cluster in the areas of Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way.

The authorities did not reveal where the other four victims lived, but said that they had no known links to any existing cluster.

The latest cases bring the total number of locally transmitted Zika virus infections in Singapore to 189, including two pregnant women. Of these, at least 57 are foreign nationals from China, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Taiwan and Mynamar.

Today reported that a 24-year-old woman was diagnosed with both Zika and dengue, though it is unclear if she is one of the two pregnant women that has been announced by MOH.

The first locally transmitted Zika infection was reported last Saturday.

MOH and NEA said that there were ongoing efforts to control the Aedes mosquito population in the Aljunied and Bedok North Avenue 3 areas. As of Sep 1, 74 mosquito breeding habitats in both clusters, comprising 42 in homes and 32 in common areas, have been detected and destroyed.

"Vector control remains key to reducing the spread of the Zika virus. Premises owners should udertake vector control measures regularly, and ensure proper housekeeping within their premises at all times to remove potential mosquito breeding habitats. Residents also need to do their part to prevent mosquito breeding in their homes," MOH and NEA said.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

Meanwhile, a number of Members of Parliament (MP), including Yishun GRC MP Lee Bee Wah, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Sun Xueling, and Workers' Party MPs have been seen conducting their own outreach efforts and handing out flyers about Zika to residents in their constituencies.

In a Facebook post, MacPherson SMC MP Tin Pei Ling wrote that the battle against Zika looked like it would be a "long drawn battle across the island". She also said that she had asked the Marine Parade Town Council to extend mosquito fogging operations to other parts of MacPherson, while efforts such as routine search and destroy, oiling of drains and misting would continue to prevent mosquito breeding.

"My team of grassroots leaders and I will also continue to meet residents to enlist everyone's help to fight the spread of mosquitoes and Zika. Only then can we hope to overcome this disease and protect ourselves and our children," she wrote.

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Singapore has come a long way in building a nation where every citizen has equal standing and rights, but race still matters when it comes to politics and how people cast their vote, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

This is why it is necessary to amend the Constitution to ensure a president from Singapore's minority races is elected from time to time, he said in an interview with MediaCorp broadcast on Sunday (Sept 4) night.

"We have come a long way. It's not a Chinese or Malay or an Indian nation. Everybody has his place, everybody is equal... People believe in this ideal and believe that we have made progress towards this ideal," he said.

"But at the same time, it doesn't mean that we have become colour blind because we are different races, different languages, different religions and those factors are still important to us and will be for a very long time to come."

PM Lee speaks at National Day Rally 2016

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The Straits Times, Twitter screengrabs

Mr Lee spoke on the issue of race and the elected presidency during his National Day Rally last month but he took ill and did not complete his prepared remarks on the topic.

In the TV interview shown on Sunday, he took the opportunity to explain his thinking on the subject, ahead of the release of a Constitutional Commission's report on proposed changes to the elected presidency, including ensuring a minority is elected from time to time.

Mr Lee cited a recent survey done by Channel NewsAsia and the Institute of Policy Studies that showed people were more willing to accept members of their own race marrying into their family.

A significant number of survey respondents also indicated greater acceptance for someone of their own race to be president.

This shows that race still counts in elections, Mr Lee said, adding that it means a Malay or Indian candidate for president will inevitably face difficulties that someone from the majority race might not.

"Not everybody will rule him out but some will find the hurdle higher and so he starts off at a disadvantage - and in a close election, that will make a big difference," he said.

And though all voters say they will vote for the best candidate, "that definition differs depending on which voter you ask, and race is one of the factors which goes into that", he added.

Mr Lee said it was important for a minority to be President from time to time, because the head of state represents all Singaporeans.

"Then people see that yes, this is my country. Someone like me can become the head of state, can represent the country. "

The survey also showed younger voters are less race conscious.

But Mr Lee noted: "The distinction is still there, it hasn't disappeared and I don't think it'll disappear for a long time."

Even in the United States, where the ideal is a melting pot, President Barack Obama was the first African-American elected to the post after 230 years of independence.

Mr Lee pointed out that fewer than half of White Americans voted for Mr Obama in the 2008 election, but 95 per cent of African-Americans cast their ballots for him.

"It shows that a black man can now win but it shows that race is still a big factor in American elections, which is not so surprising," Mr Lee said.

The figures put into perspective Singapore's position, that race is a factor "we have to accept and... take into account and decide what we're going to do about, to make sure our system will work properly".

Asked if provisions to guarantee a minority President might be seen as tokenism, Mr Lee replied: "I don't think it's tokenism. I think it's a very necessary symbolism of what we are as a multiracial society, what Singapore means, stands for and what we aspire to be."

As such, the mechanism that determines the head of state has to bear this in mind and "produce an outcome which is multiracial and which will reflect the colour of our society, the shape of our society".

Mr Lee acknowledged concerns that making such provisions in Singapore's case could be seen as giving a minority candidate an easier path to the presidency, and said such sentiments reflected the success of meritocracy.

"People want to succeed on their own merits and nobody wants to come in on a free ride and be seen that standards have been lowered for a particular race," he said.

"So whatever mechanism we do, we have to make sure that the same qualifying criteria apply, same standards, and there cannot be any relaxation or any doubt that the person who's elected is of that quality. And there are minorities who are of that quality," he said.

Mr Lee noted that when the President was appointed by Parliament, Singapore had "eminently qualified" presidents in Yusof Ishak, Benjamin Sheares, Devan Nair and Wee Kim Wee. "We want a mechanism which can produce this kind of an outcome, this kind of diversity as an assured outcome, which presently we don't have," he said.

Mr Lee was also confident the Chinese community would accept such a measure as "majority Chinese accept that we cannot be a Chinese-Chinese society and that was so right from the beginning".

"Chinese Singaporeans of that generation... understood that they had to give space to the minorities, that they had to go the extra step to make the minorities feel comfortable living in Singapore... having opportunities like everybody else and not being disadvantaged, that is why we are able to get here today and have a multiracial society.

"If they look at the elected President changes in that spirit, (as) part of being a harmonious, happy, multiracial society, then I think that people will understand and will accept and will support," he said.

Mr Lee also said although there is no political pressure to make these changes now, they had to be done for the nation's long-term good.

"We are not in a situation where the minorities are demanding something and the majority is pushing back and saying, 'We don't want it'," he said. "I think it is something that we need to do."

This article was first published on September 4, 2016.
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Indonesian authorities have made a fresh arrest in connection with a plot to launch a rocket attack on Marina Bay hatched by the leader of a terrorist cell in Batam.

A 24-year-old man was caught by commandos from the elite Detachment 88 counter-terrorism unit who raided an Internet cafe in Batu Aji on Batam on Saturday morning.

Eyewitnesses at the Matrix@Net cafe said eight heavily armed officers came in and grabbed the suspect.

Yesterday, Riau Islands police chief Sambudi Gusdian confirmed the arrest while police spokesman Agus Rianto would only identify the suspect as "LH", an unemployed Indonesian from Batu Aji.

The Straits Times understands that police intelligence had linked the man to the Batam-based Katibah Gigih Rahmat (KGR) cell, named after its leader Gigih Rahmat Dewa. The police previously said Gigih, a 31-year-old factory worker, had planned the rocket attack under the direction of Indonesian militant Bahrun Naim.

Bahrun, who is believed to be in the Middle East fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has kept close contact with ISIS loyalists in Indonesia via smartphone messaging app Telegram.

The rocket attack plot came to light after Gigih and four KGR members were nabbed in Batam on Aug 5. Though weapons such as a bow and arrow and an airsoft gun modified to resemble an AK-47 assault rifle had been seized in police raids, no rocket was found.

General Agus said LH had allegedly joined other KGR members for drills using airsoft guns in preparation to fight with ISIS militants in Syria.

Besides helping Indonesians travel to Syria, he is also said to have received funds from Uighur separatists belonging to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement based in China's restive Xinjiang region.

The money is believed to have been used to smuggle Uighur militants into Batam or harbour others who have managed to enter Indonesia from a third country such as Malaysia.

Also read: 6 arrested in Batam for plotting to launch rockets aimed at Marina Bay

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Puzzled over a blockage in her toilet's plumbing, a flat owner hired a plumber who found a dead tortoise in the drainpipe.

The owner, a 43-year-old human resources manager who gave her name as Madam Luo, told Lianhe Wanbao in a report yesterday that she had moved in a month ago.

Two weeks ago, when getting a new toilet bowl installed, she found that the drainage hole seemed blocked. It made a gurgling sound when water flowed in and the water flow seemed especially slow.

She got a plumber to clear the pipe, but it got blocked again a week later, and the problem seemed to worsen.

Madam Luo said the water would not flow into the pipe and instead overflowed back onto the floor. Pouring chemicals in did not help, either.

On Saturday, she called a plumber again.

He went to the unit downstairs and opened the pipe cover to take a closer look.

"He opened the cover, put his mobile phone in to film what it looked like, and the video gave me a shock," said Madam Luo.

"A black mass was stuck in the pipe. At first glance, it looked like a tortoise."

The plumber had cleared many blocked pipes, most of which were clogged by brushes, soap or small items of clothing.

But he had never considered that a tortoise would be blocking a pipe.

After trying all he could to no avail, he called wildlife rescue group Acres (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society).

The Acres officer confirmed upon arrival that a tortoise was stuck in the pipe, and that it had died for some time.

Acres told Wanbao that most tortoises in Singapore are red-eared sliders, and that releasing one in the wild is illegal, so many owners flush them down the toilet or drainage pipes.

The spokesman added that the species of the tortoise in the pipe could not be determined as it was badly decomposed.

He also said that the tortoise could have been allowed to roam freely at home and accidentally fell into the drain.

Acres appealed to all those with pet tortoises or terrapins to be mindful of the environment when letting their pets out to roam, and to cover any holes in the floor.

The drainage pipe is only about 100mm wide, and the tortoise's shell is more than 90mm wide.

The shell is too hard for it to be flushed out using conventional methods.

The plumber intends to smash it into pieces which can flush down the drainage system.

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Restaurants here are taking a serious beating amid the slowing economy, with sales in the first half of the year dropping almost every month year-on-year.

The biggest fall was in March, when restaurant takings fell 9.8 per cent compared with March last year, according to figures from the Department of Statistics.

On the flipside, sales at food courts, cafes and canteens have been on the upswing. Takings have increased by 0.2 to 7 per cent year-on-year, in the first six months of the year.

"The economy is generally slowing down and this might have caused Singaporeans to be more conservative in their spending," said the Restaurant Association of Singapore's executive director Lim Rui Shan.

CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun agreed, noting that wage growth has slowed.

"People still have to eat but they are more careful with how much they spend," he said.

And it is not just individuals and families who are cutting back.

Companies are also holding fewer corporate meals at fancy restaurants, he added.

Irene Choo, 54, who runs her own cleaning business, said she is cutting down on how much she spends on food given the uncertain economic climate.

She now dines at restaurants once a week at most, compared to a few times a week previously.

"It's too expensive to eat at restaurants, where it can cost $50 a person," she noted.

At foodcourt chain Kopitiam, sales have increased by 1 to 2 per cent in the first half of the year.

Foodcourt operator NTUC Foodfare said sales have been stable at its outlets.

Ms Lim of the Restaurant Association said it is difficult to predict if restaurant sales will pick up in the latter half of the year as analysts are not optimistic about Singapore's economic growth this year.

"The festive seasons at the end of the year might help boost sales," she added.

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The practice of isolating suspected Zika patients until they are given the all-clear is being reviewed, and they may be sent home to rest instead.

Currently, suspected patients are isolated at the Communicable Disease Centre as they await their test results. Those found to be Zika-positive are isolated in hospitals.

Read also: 57 foreign nationals test positive for Zika in Singapore

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is considering letting suspected patients rest at home while their blood and urine samples are tested, and sending confirmed cases home to rest, said Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor yesterday.

This comes as Zika cases here continue to rise, with another 27 detected by noon yesterday. This brings the total number of locally transmitted Zika cases here to 242.

Of the new cases, 25 are from the initial Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Kallang Way/Paya Lebar Way cluster, while one is from a potential new cluster in Joo Seng Road where a previous case was found.

The last of the new cases has no known links to any cluster. MOH did not say where this case was found.

Yesterday, Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, said: "We are reviewing the practice of isolating Zika-positive patients who are actually clinically well and do not need to be hospitalised."

"In fact, they could be sent home to recuperate but take necessary precautions like applying repellent so they don't get bitten by mosquitoes which will then transmit the disease," added Dr Khor, the MP for Hong Kah North, on the sidelines of an event in her constituency.

In the past week, doctors have observed that Zika-positive patients admitted to hospitals are generally well and have very mild symptoms, and are discharged one to two days after testing negative for the virus.

Also, four in five Zika-infected people do not show any symptoms of the virus, said Dr Khor.

This means that there are people in the community who are infected but do not know that they are, so isolating just those who have tested positive may not be effective.

Dr Khor added that such an approach will be in line with the ministry's protocol for dengue, where those who test positive for it are not warded in hospitals unless their condition is serious.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

When asked if Zika is here to stay, she said: "We do expect that we will continue to have Zika virus cases over time, just like dengue."

Infectious diseases specialist Leong Hoe Nam agreed that isolation may not be key in fighting Zika.

"It appears that the Zika virus stays in a patient's blood for three to five days, considerably shorter than dengue's five to seven days," he said.

So by the time an infected person sees the doctor and does the test - which has a turnaround time of two days - the virus may be gone already, which makes isolating the patient pointless.

Preventing mosquitoes from breeding is still key, said Dr Khor, amid continuing community efforts to spread the message to residents yesterday in areas such as Yew Tee and Siglap.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that as of last Saturday, it has destroyed 62 breeding habitats in the Aljunied cluster and 39 breeding habitats in the Bedok North Avenue cluster.

NEA will continue with its mosquito control and outreach efforts in those areas, as well as in the potential Joo Seng Road cluster.

This article was first published on September 5, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Read also:

• Singapore confirms another 26 locally transmitted Zika cases; total now at 82
• Aljunied resident who contracted Zika describes what she went through
• Zika outbreak: Expectant mums take precaution

Amid sprawling and majestic lantern set-ups depicting Asian folklore on the moon, small mobile phone lanterns bobbed in an array of hues across Gardens by the Bay yesterday.

Clutched by visitors, the smartphones, encased within translucent paper and perched on selfie sticks, were powered by an app that made them dance and glow in multiple colours.

As visitors walked through the grounds, the colours changed to match the garden's larger lantern set-ups which include one of Chang Er, the mythological moon goddess.

Conceptualised by lecturers Carlos Banon and Felix Raspall from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, the magical scene was part of the Mid-Autumn @ Gardens by the Bay opening night's lantern procession.

The mobile phone lantern app uses GPS and Bluetooth beacon technology, with the aim of putting an old-meets-new twist to the traditional festivities, said Gardens by the Bay.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

Dr Raspall, 36, who is an assistant professor, said their design sought to serve as a bridge between tradition and innovation. He said: "Inspired by the beauty of the lantern processions, we aimed to enrich the event with a subtle use of design and technology, bringing a more contemporary character without losing the charm that the public loves."

This year's Mid-Autumn celebrations, which will run till Sept 18, will take place over three weekends instead of the usual two. It was officially opened by President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

It is jointly organised by Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Press Holdings' Chinese Media Group and the National Arts Council, in partnership with the National Library Board and the People's Association.

Most of the display sets, designed by the Gardens and fabricated by a team of skilled craftsmen from China, are installed in the free-access areas of the Gardens.

Other highlights from the programme include a colonnade of lights near the Supertree Grove, featuring 4,000 lanterns painted by the community.

There will also be free nightly multiracial performances, storytelling sessions, craft booths and a food street featuring dishes such as salted egg fries and chilli crab mantou.

Making its debut at the showcase as well is a multimedia installation that resembles a giant lantern.

The 18m-wide circular structure is made up of 6,000 curtain-like silicon strands that light up with projected imagery and videos.

Mid-Autumn festivities also took place across other parts of the island yesterday. Among them was the Chinatown Business Association's mooncake tasting event at Kreta Ayer Square.

This article was first published on Sep 05, 2016.
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Parents of school-going children are not taking any chances should the Zika virus spread to other parts of Singapore during the week-long school break that started last Saturday.

Many parents told The Straits Times they will keep their young ones indoors - partly due to preparations for the year-end examinations that commence this month - and minimise the children's outdoor activities. The children will also be armed with mosquito patches and insect repellent sprays.

Read also: 57 foreign nationals test positive for Zika in Singapore

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

A few parents will be taking their children on short trips to nearby tourist destinations to reduce their risks of being infected.

Mr Derek Chen, who lives near the Aljunied Crescent and Sims Drive cluster, said he has taken leave from work and will be taking his family on a three-day getaway to Bintan.

"We don't want to take any risks," added the 40-year-old, who works in sales. "It is better that we stay away for a while."

Other parents, such as housewife Melissa Lee, said their children will be spending their school break at home.

They added that they will be taking the necessary measures. Most have stocked up on mosquito patches, lotions and sprays.

Ms Lee, 44, who has two children aged seven and nine, said she will be shutting all the windows and switching on the air-conditioning at her home in Bedok.

"I've told my kids to play indoors and avoid going to the nearby park or playground," added Ms Lee.

"If we have to go out, I will make sure that they apply insect repellent and have their mosquito patches on."

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

Marketing executive Samantha Tan, 45, who has two school-going children aged nine and 11, has taken a few days off from work to "make sure they do not wander outside".

"I'll be worried if my kids are outdoors as it increases their exposure to mosquitoes," she said. "We'd rather they stay home. At least we'll have some peace of mind."

Madam Tan, who lives in Upper Thomson, said she has also turned the Zika situation into a learning activity, reminding her children to remove stagnant water and not litter.

Unlike past school holidays, housewife Siti Zubaidah, too, is avoiding taking her two daughters, aged four and six, outdoors.

"For kids, their immunity may not be as strong as adults'," said Madam Siti, 42, who lives in Tampines. "Usually during the school holidays, we would go to the beach or the playgrounds, but we may have to avoid these places this time around and stay indoors instead."

While some parents are worried, others are not letting the Zika situation affect their children's holidays.

Engineer Dan Wong, 41, said his 11-year-old boy "deserves a good break as he has worked hard for the past few months", and he will allow him to play outside whenever possible. However, Mr Wong will be monitoring the situation closely.

"Children need the space outdoors to destress, especially during the exam season," he said. "But it is also good to take precautions, just to be on the safe side."

This article was first published on September 5, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Read also:

• Singapore confirms another 26 locally transmitted Zika cases; total now at 82
• Aljunied resident who contracted Zika describes what she went through
• Zika outbreak: Expectant mums take precaution

The Zika virus is likely here to stay, with cases popping up from time to time just like dengue, which is also carried by the Aedes mosquito.

With the presence of Aedes mosquitoes here, a high population density and the fact that infected individuals do not exhibit symptoms, it is "not surprising" that cases will pop up from time to time, said Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor yesterday.

"We do expect that we will continue to have Zika virus cases over time, just like dengue," she said, noting that Zika is endemic to some countries in the region. While she did not name any country, Thailand is one country that has had Zika cases in past years. In the first half of this year, it had 97 Zika cases.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

Yesterday, Dr Khor also revealed that the Government is reviewing its practice of isolating suspected and confirmed Zika patients. These patients could be allowed to rest at home if they take precautions such as using mosquito repellent, she said. This is in line with the government protocol for dengue fever.

Yesterday, another 27 cases were detected, bringing locally transmitted Zika cases here to a total of 242. While Singaporeans are concerned about the virus, "we should live our lives as normally as possible... (while) taking the necessary precautions", said Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources.

Read also:

• Zika virus in Singapore likely from Asian strain, number of infections over 200: MOH
• PM: Best way to curb Zika is to stop mosquito breeding
• Zika outbreak: Residents keep kids indoors and use insect repellent

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

This article was first published on Sep 05, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.