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Samsung washing machines are also exploding now, and has turned Singaporeans into conspiracy theorists

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To say that 2016 is a horrible year for Samsung is a gross understatement.

Early Thursday morning, local news sites Channel NewsAsia and The Straits Times reported on the battered electronics giant getting hit with another blow.

Samsung announced on Wednesday (Sept 28) that it is currently "in active discussions" with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission on "potential safety issues" with regard to its top-load washing machines manufactured between March 2011 and April 2016.

This comes after a "class-action lawsuit" which complained that the appliances were exploding - some as early as on the day of installation itself.

on SPH Brightcove

"In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items," it said, and has since recommended owners of the machines to "use the lower speed delicate cycle when washing bulky items".

Samsung is also said to be currently "working on a remedy for affected customers".

Needless to say, the Facebook comments section of both news sites exploded (pun intended) with comments from Singaporean netizens, and has garnered close to 2,000 shares on both sites combined.

Not exactly surprising, since the scandal of exploding Samsung Note 7s has already been a big blow to their public reputation.

Singaporean Netizens = Conspiracy Theorists?

Some have come out to say that it's a "conspiracy" which aims to bring down Asian companies in the US:

One took the chance to voice his grievances with Samsung in general: 

Caption

 Another predicted the future contents of our curriculum:

 While another had a rather intriguing proposition:

However, there were a good number of comments making references to how Samsung is making products akin to explosive weapons, which is honestly quite inappropriate, even if they probably meant it as a joke:

Thankfully, there was one who decided to be the voice of reason amid the chaos:

Keep Calm And Look At The Bigger Picture

Personally, my family has been using a good number of Samsung appliances (we even have a Samsung washing machine!) for the past few years, and so far, they've been working fine and have not given us any problems - let alone explode on us.

Of course, we could be the lucky ones to have gotten appliances that do not have any issues, but let's be honest - can you think of any other brands who hasn't given us some form of trouble over the years of using them? 

There's really no telling if the lawsuit is sabotage, and someone trying to take advantage of Samsung's weakened state, or simply Samsung's production flaws coming to light all at once, but from the recent slate of news, we can all agree on one thing:

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Friday, September 30, 2016 - 10:33
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New bus service 883 for Canberra from Oct 23

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New bus service 883 will begin on Oct 23 to serve those living in new and upcoming properties along Canberra Street and Canberra Way.

The loop service will ply between Sembawang Bus Interchange and Yishun Central 2, stopping at six points.

It will improve travel connection to key places such as Sembawang and Yishun MRT, Sun Plaza, Northpoint Shopping Centre, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital.

The service will operate daily from 5.30am to 12.30am on weekdays and Saturdays. On weekends and public holidays, it will operate from 5.45am to 12.30am

For more information, contact the SMRT Customer Hotline at 1800-336-8900 from 7.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays (excluding public holidays) or visit www.smrt.com.sg

chenj@sph.com.sg
 

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Friday, September 30, 2016 - 22:27
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Senior journalist appointed head of SPH's Chinese Media Group

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Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has appointed senior journalist Lee Huay Leng as Head of Chinese Media Group (CMG) from Dec 1, the group announced in a statement today.

Ms Lee, currently Editor of Lianhe Wanbao and Senior Vice President (New Growth) of Lianhe Zaobao, will oversee the commercial and operational aspects of CMG, which publishes three Chinese newspapers in print and digital format - Lianhe Zaobao, Lianhe Wanbao and Shin Min Daily News.

The group also publishes four student weeklies - zbCOMMA, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Up Junior and Thumbs Up Little Junior, ZBBZ Newsgazine and My Paper (Chinese section). It also operates SPH Radio's Chinese radio station, UFM100.3, and Focus Publishing, which produces a range of books and magazines including U-Weekly.

Ms Lee, working alongside Mr Goh Sin Teck, Editor of SPH's Chinese flagship newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, will report to SPH's Deputy CEO, Mr Anthony Tan.

Mr Tan said: "Huay Leng has more than 20 years of experience in the newsroom. Her varied experience and deep knowledge of the news media put her in a good stead to lead CMG in navigating challenges and seizing growth opportunities ahead."

On her appointment, Ms Lee said: "I am humbled by the honour of being tasked to lead CMG in these trying times. Whilst we are clear that the path ahead is not easy, my team will forge ahead with confidence and devote our best as we journey together."

Mr Chua Chim Kang, currently Managing Editor of CMG, will take over as Editor of Lianhe Wanbao on Dec 1. He will also be appointed Managing Editor (Chinese Radio) to help grow the Chinese radio station UFM100.3 together with General Manager of SPH Radio, Mr Sim Hong Huat.

SPH statement today also announced that the Cultural Industry Promotion Department (CIP) of CMG will be renamed Culture, Education and New Growth. It will be responsible for developing areas such as publishing, culture events and education.

The unit will be helmed by Ms Loh Woon Yen, currently Deputy Digital Editor of CMG. She will be appointed VP, Culture, Education and New Growth. Ms Ang Yiting, currently the Digital Content Editor of CMG, will take over her position.

To offer better integrated marketing solutions to advertisers and partners across the multiple platforms of SPH's vernacular titles, Ms Chee Li Foong will be appointed Head of Chinese, Malay and Tamil Titles of SPH's Integrated Marketing Division from Oct 12. Ms Chee will concurrently be Head, CMG Content Studio in the Chinese Media Group.

chenj@sph.com.sg

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Friday, September 30, 2016 - 22:35
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SBS Transit bus stuck in tennis court at Yio Chu Kang; second incident of wayward bus in 2 days

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SINGAPORE - A public bus has ended up in an unlikely place - the second time this has happened in two days.

An SBS Transit bus was found in a tennis court next to Yio Chu Kang MRT station on Friday (Sept 30) evening. The bus, believed to be service 13, appeared to have crashed through a fence.

It hit a lamp post, and there were shards of glass all over the tennis court. No one was playing at the court when the incident happened.

A witness, who only wanted to be known as Marcus, told The Straits Times that the accident happened around 6.20pm.

The bus driver appeared dazed but was unharmed, the 56-year-old tennis coach said.

SBS Transit said it was "stunned", but no one was hurt in the accident.

"We are stunned that this has happened and will certainly be launching an investigation into it," said Ms Tammy Tan, senior vice-president of corporate communications.

"We are, however, thankful that no one was on the tennis court and no passengers were on board at that time."

A reader, who wanted to be known only as Ricky, told The Straits Times that he was shocked to see the bus stuck in the fence.

The 54-year-old public servant said he had alighted from bus 162 on his way home at about 7pm when he came across the unusual sight.

He said he was concerned about the safety of the passengers and anyone who may have been playing tennis on the court.

There was no obstruction at the interchange as "two-thirds of the bus" was in the court, he said.

"If anyone was playing tennis there, it would be a sudden attack," he said. "I'm worried for the lives and safety of others."

The bus was towed away at about 7.45pm.

On Thursday, an SMRT bendy bus was stuck in a field at Kim Keat for 10 hours. After making a wrong turn at Kim Keat Avenue, the bus driver tried to make a u-turn on the field.

The wheels and part of the body sank into the ground, and the service 67 bus had to be hauled away by a tow truck.

The Straits Times understands that the bus was off-service and heading to Kranji Depot.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Saturday, October 1, 2016 - 09:31
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Man trapped under double-decker bus in accident on Hougang Avenue 9

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SINGAPORE - A man was trapped under a bus after an accident on Hougang Avenue 9 on Friday (Sept 30).

The double-decker bus, service 72, knocked into the pedestrian at about 10.30am.

(Above) The victim being attended to by SCDF officers. Photo: The New Paper

The 51-year-old man, dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of bermudas, was smeared with blood and had a look of pain on his face in photos submitted by a Shin Min Daily News reader.

There was a web of cracks on the bus' windscreen and blood was left on the road after the man was freed.

A number of passers-by stopped to help, said Mr Bernard Chua, 45, who was walking to work when he witnessed the accident.

Mr Chua called the police and used his newspaper to shield the victim from the hot sun, he told Shin Min Daily News.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that the victim's right leg was trapped under the bus.

The man was freed by SCDF and was conscious as he was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The hospital was alerted to be on standby to receive him, SCDF said.

SBS Transit is attempting to reach out to the victim and his family, said its senior vice-president of corporate communications, Ms Tammy Tan.

"Our priority is the well-being of the injured gentleman and we have been trying to get in touch with him or his family," Ms Tan said.

"We were at the hospital earlier today but were unable to establish contact with any of them. We will continue to reach out. Meanwhile, we are assisting the Police with their investigations."

A fire engine, a Red Rhino, two fire bikes, an ambulance and a support vehicle were sent to the scene.

Police said investigations are ongoing.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Saturday, October 1, 2016 - 10:01
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Bedok North Zika cluster closed after no new cases for two weeks

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SINGAPORE - The Zika cluster at Bedok North was closed on Friday, the second one to close since the outbreak began in Singapore on Aug 27.

There were five cases at this cluster which included Bedok North Avenue 3, Bedok North Avenue 2 and Bedok North Street 3.

No new cases have been found in the area in the last two weeks.

There were no new Zika cases reported on Friday (Sept 30), said the National Environment Agency. The number of locally-transmitted cases for 2016 is now 398.

The first cluster to be declared closed was at Bishan Street 12 on Wednesday.

There are now seven remaining Zika clusters around the island. Six have not seen any cases in the last two weeks.

Only the Aljunied cluster has had five new cases. There are now 298 cases there.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Saturday, October 1, 2016 - 10:06
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HDB conducting ultrasound checks on sunshades at 4 blocks in Tampines

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SINGAPORE - The Housing Board (HDB) on Friday (Sept 30) embarked on an ultrasound inspection of the sunshades in four blocks in Tampines.

This comes after a concrete sunshade on the fourth floor of Block 201E, Tampines Street 23, dislodged on Sunday (Sept 25) and fell on the sunshade on the third storey.

No one was injured in the incident, and the cause is still under investigation. HDB engineers have also ascertained that the building is structurally safe.

HDB said it will be using ultrasound scanning equipment to check the sunshades at the affected block and three other blocks which have similar sunshades - Blocks 201A, 201B and 201D, Tampines Street 21.

The four blocks, which were built in 1985, are home to 181 households and have 73 sunshades.

HDB said the ultrasound scan "seeks to assess the condition of each sunshade, including the presence of reinforcement bars embedded within the sunshades as this is one of the areas of our investigation".

The ultrasound scanner transmits magnetic waves into the concrete and detects the presence of metal reinforcement bars inside the sunshade.

Scaffolding and safety barriers have been erected at the site in preparation for the checks.

HDB added that it will work with the Tampines Town Council to repair the sunshade on the third storey, which was hit by the dislodged sunshade on Sunday.

The dislodged sunshade was taken to a laboratory on Sunday where more checks will be done.

"To get a complete and accurate picture of the cause behind the incident, we need both the laboratory investigation and site checks to run their full course," HDB said, adding that it will share the investigation outcome and the follow-up measures.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Saturday, October 1, 2016 - 10:13
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LTA looks into introducing ERP charges on Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway

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SINGAPORE - The authorities are considering imposing Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges on the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) for the first time, in a move to ease congestion there.

The tolls could be implemented from as early as the second quarter of 2017.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Friday (Sept30) that traffic speeds along the KPE have "persistently fallen below the optimal speed range of 45kmh to 65kmh" during the weekday morning peak hours.

"This has led to significant and persistent traffic congestion," it said in a press release.

It is currently evaluating whether to activate an existing ERP gantry situated just before the KPE tunnel entrance, after the Tampines Road entry slip road.

The LTA said it will review the traffic speeds in the next two quarters, before making a decision.

The authority added that it has been improving public transport options to cater to the growing population in the north-east of Singapore.

Residents in Punggol, for example, are currently served by City Direct Service 666, which started in February 2016, it said. This service brings them directly to and from the Central Business District during morning and evening peak periods.

From the fourth quarter of 2016, two new City Direct services will also commence, to serve those living in Buangkok, Sengkang and Hougang, the LTA added.

In addition, 15 new trains have been recently added to the North East Line, to help reduce crowding and shorten wait times, especially during peak periods.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Saturday, October 1, 2016 - 10:18
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Overseas Singaporeans to be covered by MediShield Life: MOH

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SINGAPORE - Overseas Singaporeans should remain covered under MediShield Life, the MediShield Life Council (MLC) has recommended.

However, a small and distinct group of overseas Singaporeans who live abroad permanently can ask for MediShield premium collection to be suspended, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

The Council's recommendations were accepted by the Ministry of Health.

In its review, the MLC sought inputs from both OS and locally-based Singaporeans. The final recommendations reflect the MLC's assessment after "extensive deliberations and careful consideration of the many good ideas and suggestions received".

Council chairman Mrs Fang Ai Lian said, "This was a complex issue and the Council took into consideration the varying circumstances of different groups of Singaporeans. Ultimately, our aim is to ensure that MediShield Life continues to meet the healthcare needs of all Singaporeans."

The Council said that everyone should contribute to the scheme "as part of collective responsibility".

Overseas Singaporeans, who remain covered under MediShield Life, can benefit from the coverage whenever they seek medical treatment in Singapore.

However, it recognised that there is a small and distinct group of OS who have chosen to live abroad permanently and feel that they will not benefit from it.

For them, the Council recommended they apply for suspension of the premium collection.

These Singaporeans are eligible if they live abroad permanently with no intention to reside in Singapore, based on the following supporting indicators:

• Possess a valid permanent residency permit in their country of residence;

• Resided outside Singapore for at least five years immediately preceding their application for suspension of premium collection, except for short visits; and

• Able to afford healthcare treatment in their country of residence, and declare that they do not need to rely on MediShield Life in Singapore. Should they choose to relocate back to Singapore or no longer meet the eligibility criteria for suspension of premium collection, they will have to pay the accumulated sum of premiums not paid previously, with compound interest.

They would not need to pay additional premiums for health conditions that they had developed during the suspension of premium collection.

Should they seek medical treatment in Singapore during suspension of premium collection (for instance while visiting), they can still choose to claim and benefit from the payouts.

Once he does so, his suspension of MSHL premium collection will cease and he will have to pay the full sum of the premiums not paid previously, with compound interest.

Those who meet the eligibility criteria may apply to the CPF Board for suspension of MediShield Life premium collection from Oct 7.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Saturday, October 1, 2016 - 10:23
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Man in 17-hour Sembawang stand-off charged with having brass knuckles

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SINGAPORE - A man who allegedly held a two-year-old boy hostage in a Sembawang flat in a dramatic 17 hour-stand-off with police was on Friday (Sept 30) hauled to court.

Muhammad Iskandah Suhaimi was charged with having a knuckle duster without permission. Knuckle dusters are also known as brass knuckles.

District Judge Christopher Goh granted the police prosecutor's request for Iskandah to be remanded for psychiatric evaluation, even as police investigations regarding his involvement in other possible crimes are still ongoing. The case will be mentioned again on Oct 14.

Iskandah was arrested at around noon on Wednesday (Sept 28), after policemen broke into the fifth floor flat at Block 462, Sembawang Drive, where he had locked himself in. Some officers entered the unit through its windows.

Police said the arrest was for wrongful confinement of a two-year-old boy and for suspected drug-related offences.

Iskandah had reportedly fought with the boy's mother, and then locked himself inside the flat with the boy on Tuesday night.

The police activated its Crisis Negotiation Unit and Special Operations Command, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force dispatched its Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, among other resources.

The boy was not harmed and has been placed in the custody of the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

His mother, who seemed to have fought with Iskandah before the stand-off began, has also been arrested for suspected drug offences.

The punishment for unlawful possession of a scheduled weapon is a jail term of up to five years, with at least six strokes of the cane, for a first conviction. The penalty for the crime for subsequent convictions is a jail term of between two and eight years, with at least six strokes of the cane.

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Sembawang stand-off: What we know so far. str.sg/4NQD

Posted by The Straits Times on Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, all kinds of knuckle dusters are considered weapons.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Ex-tour guide Yang Yin jailed 6 years for misappropriating $1.1 million from widow

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SINGAPORE - Former tour guide Yang Yin was sentenced to six years' jail on Friday (Sept 30) for misappropriating $1.1 million entrusted to him by a wealthy Singaporean widow.

Yang, 42, from China, befriended Madam Chung Khin Chun when he was her tour guide and moved to Singapore to live at her Gerald Crescent bungalow off Yio Chu Kang Road in 2009. He had pleaded guilty in August to two charges of misappropriating $500,000 in 2010 and $600,000 in 2012 from her. The 89-year-old was diagnosed with dementia in April 2014.

Yang was given 32 months for the first charge and 40 months for the second charge.

The prosecution had asked for a jail term of 10 to 12 years as a deterrent sentence in order to send a message that any misuse of funds entrusted by vulnerable persons will be severely dealt with.

At the start of Friday's hearing, Principal District Judge Bala Reddy said the sentence meted out must be one that reflects the total amount of money misappropriated, as well as one that takes into account various aggravating factors of the case.

The 10 to 12 years' jail term that the prosecution asked for would be "particularly crushing", said the judge, citing past cases where the jail terms handed out were lower than that even though larger amounts were misappropriated.

The prosecution has two weeks to appeal the verdict.

Madam Chung Khin Chun (second from left) and Madam Hedy Mok (third from left) with Madam Chung's supporters and friends. Photo: The Straits Times

On Thursday (Sept 29), Yang was sentenced to 26 months' jail for a slew of offences, mostly related to falsifying payment receipts to his bogus company Young Music and Dance Studio in his bid to dupe the authorities into granting him permanent resident status. The 26 months' jail term was backdated to include his time in remand. Yang has been in remand since October 2014.

The two sentences will run consecutively.

Speaking to reporters after the sentencing, Madam Chung's niece, Hedy Mok, said she was "totally disappointed". She plans to appeal the verdict but said she would check with her lawyer first.

"What he stole was not only money... he actually took away the dignity," she said. "He didn't do what he was supposed to do, (that is) look after her. He didn't do that... he didn't look into her welfare and it's totally disappointing."

She added: "The message out to the public now is to really look after the old, vulnerable and lonely."

Yang's lawyer Irving Choh said his client was "relieved" after the sentencing.

"Although the sentence is longer than what we asked for... I am pleased. But I will be visiting my client to see whether he will want to appeal."

He added: "Prior to the sentencing, he was nervous. But after the sentencing, he was relieved."

His lawyer had asked for a jail term not exceeding three years.

Yang had said that Madam Chung looked upon him as her 'grandson' and that he had moved into her home to look after her. Madam Chung's husband died in 2007 and the couple have no children.

But the prosecution has argued that he moved to Singapore to take advantage of her and had schemed to get his hands on her money.

In January 2010, he persuaded Madam Chung to give him $500,000 to buy her a horse painting by renowned Chinese artist Xu Beihong. The painting was later said by an art expert to be a $200 fake.

He also tried to conceal his misappropriation of $600,000 by lying to the police that he had used the money to buy five paintings for her. The five paintings were evaluated by an expert to be worth $2,000 to $3,000 in total. Until today, the two sums of money remain unaccounted for.

From the time Yang moved into Madam Chung's bungalow in 2009 to his arrest in 2014, her cash savings went from $2.7 million to $10,000.


This article was first published on September 30, 2016.
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Saturday, October 1, 2016 - 10:46
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Threat from extremist groups to Southeast Asia growing: Ng Eng Hen

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KO OLINA, Hawaii  - The threat that violent extremist groups pose to Southeast Asia is growing each year as they become more organised and focused in their aims, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday.

Ng was speaking to reporters following a meeting of Southeast Asia defence ministers with US Defence Secretary Ash Carter in Hawaii, where the defence chiefs devoted a major chunk of time to discussing the threat from Islamic State and similar groups.

Over 1,000 Southeast Asians have flocked to join Islamic State's self-declared "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria, Ng said.

"Every year we meet, the situation and threat from extremist terrorism rises," Ng said. "Compared to, say, a year or even two years ago, they're more organised...they're more networked, they're more clear in their articulation of what they want to achieve."

Security officials said in June that Southeast Asian militants who claim to be fighting for Islamic State said they had chosen one of the most wanted men in the Philippines to head a regional faction of the group.

Authorities in the region have been on heightened alert since Islamic State claimed an attack in the Indonesian capital Jakarta in January in which eight people were killed, including four of the attackers.

Ng cited a recent plot in which an Indonesian cell coordinated by an Islamic State member in Syria had planned to shoot up hotels in Singapore's Marina Bay area. The plot was foiled by Indonesian authorities, he said.

"They have gone beyond networks to push the flow of funds, weapons. They are already plotting," Ng said.

US defence officials believe that hundreds of citizens from Southeast Asia have returned to their home countries after joining Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, raising concerns that they may try to launch a wave of attacks.

Ng said Southeast Asian defence chiefs believe that if Islamic State were destroyed in its base in Iraq and Syria, that would actually increase the risk to their region in the short-term, because seasoned Islamic State fighters would likely return home. The United States is leading an air campaign to dislodge Islamic State from Iraq and Syria.

"They would decide to come back, some re-energized, some trained and the networks would still be existing," Ng said.

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Yang Yin trial: Widow's niece regrets not acting earlier

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It was in 2009 when Yang Yin first moved into Madam Chung Khin Chun's sprawling Gerald Crescent bungalow, going on to trick the 89-year-old widow into handing over more than a million dollars.

But it was only five years later that her niece, Madam Hedy Mok, found out what he was up to, evicted him from the home and went to the police - leading to Yang yesterday being sentenced to six years' jail for criminal misappropriation.

Still, it was bittersweet for Madam Mok. "I regret not acting against him earlier," she told The Straits Times. "I did not know (the full extent of) what he had done until it was too late."

Madam Mok became embroiled in the saga in early 2014, when she visited her aunt during Chinese New Year with her mother, Madam Doris Chung. Madam Doris Chung noticed that her sister's memory was failing and asked her daughter Hedy to take her sister to a doctor.

Madam Chung was subsequently diagnosed with dementia and Madam Mok applied to be her aunt's guardian in June. That was when she discovered that her aunt had already granted Yang, a former China tour guide, legal powers in 2012 to have full control over her assets estimated to be worth $40 million, including her bungalow. The legal powers were revoked in November 2014, after Madam Mok applied to the court to have the Lasting Power of Attorney cancelled.

When asked if she should have visited her aunt more often, Madam Mok said: "She is a private person." She knew that Yang was living in the bungalow but he had avoided meeting family members each time they visited, she said. After finding out that he had gained control of the widow's financial matters, she evicted him, his wife and two children from the bungalow.

Madam Mok, 62, who runs a tour agency, then took in her aunt to live with her in her semi-detached house in East Coast. Madam Chung has been living there since August 2014. The widow now spends her days reading newspapers in the morning and swimming in the afternoon. She also has a full-time maid to attend to her needs.

In court yesterday, Madam Chung, a retired physiotherapist, appeared oblivious to the proceedings. She closed her eyes during most of the trial. When asked by reporters how she felt about the outcome, she replied: "I don't know."

Madam Mok said she plans to sell the Gerald Crescent bungalow and use the proceeds for her aunt's upkeep. "The rest will go to charity according to her will," she added, although she has not decided when and how to sell the house.

When asked if she would miss the Gerald Crescent bungalow if it is sold, Madam Chung said: "Of course I will miss it. I lived there a long time. But Hedy's house is my home now."

Read also: Yang Yin trial: How judge decided on six-year term


This article was first published on October 01, 2016.
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Yang Yin trial: How judge decided on six-year term

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In his 22-page grounds of judgment, Principal District Judge Bala Reddy explained in detail how he decided on a jail term of six years for Yang Yin's criminal breach of trust offences.

He took into account aggravating factors submitted by the prosecution, which had asked for 10 to 12 years' jail for Yang.

These include how Yang had betrayed the trust of 89-year-old Madam Chung Khin Chun by capitalising on her age and lack of immediate familial support to foster "an environment of unquestioning trust" with the widow.

The judge said: "Throughout the material time, the accused's actions were the subject of what amounted to absolute trust, free from the scrutiny of the eyes of outsiders."

He also said he gave "little credit" to Yang's plea of guilt. "The trial had gone on for 12 days and it was during the accused's cross-examination that he decided to plead guilty," he wrote.

Yang first indicated he wanted to plead guilty in July before changing his mind weeks later to claim trial. A month later, he pleaded guilty.

The judge yesterday also raised another point made by the prosecution - that a deterrent sentence is needed to send a clear message that those who misuse funds entrusted to them by the vulnerable will be severely dealt with.

A deterrent sentence, however, need not be "crushing", Judge Reddy said, explaining that 10 to 12 years' imprisonment would be "manifestly excessive".

Even though the accused had virtually depleted the widow's liquid assets of about $2.7 million in early 2010 to less than $10,000 as of Aug 30, 2014, this should be viewed in the right perspective.

This is because Yang had pleaded guilty only to misappropriating $1.1 million from the widow. "This court could only sentence the accused to what he had pleaded guilty," he said.

Read also: Yang Yin trial: Widow's niece regrets not acting earlier


This article was first published on October 01, 2016.
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A message of simplicity

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It is a shame the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Balestier Road, mostly used as a landmark by pedestrians to find their bearings, is often overlooked as a destination.

After all, the pre-war Art Deco building has interesting features, such as its double-height hall bathed in soft light, structural arches along the side aisles of the hall and its domed roof with decorative panels.

Churches built in recent years tend to be grand modern buildings, but the Protestant Christian congregation at the Seventh-day Adventist Church like their simple church.

"They do not like loud colours," says the church's senior pastor Mark Chan, 53, who has been preaching there since 1993.

As a result, the look of the building has remained largely unchanged since 1934 - the year it was built - with its original green glass windows intact, save for a few mismatched panels fitted in to replace the ones that broke.

Its exterior walls have also been kept white, similar to the light palette or pastel colours that Art Deco buildings typically have, says Mr Lee Yan Chang, executive architect of conservation management at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The original colour of the building is not known.

Even a major renovation from 1988 to 1989, which cost $400,000, was mainly a functional one.

A metal roof was installed over the hall's concrete vaulted ceiling, rusty water pipes were replaced and the wooden pews traded in for cushioned ones.

A concrete stage at the back end of the church now takes the place of the original wooden one.

The only aesthetic element added was the trio of stained-glass windows behind the stage.

The church, which was gazetted for conservation in 2005, was originally owned by the Assemblies of God before the current church bought it in 1951 for US$29,000.

Mr Lee says the church is an "ideal example of conservation" and acts as the gateway to Balestier, an area URA gazetted for conservation in 2003 for its interesting streetscape.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. DOMED ROOF AND SLOPED FLOORS FOR THE HALL

The hall, which is about 15m high, has a concrete vault ceiling with simple decorative panels.

The high ceiling acted as a natural ventilation system before the church's air-conditioning system was added in 1995.

Hot air, says Mr Lee Yan Chang, executive architect of conservation management at the Urban Redevelopment Authority, would rise and leave the hall through the windows on the top row, a design feature well suited to the tropics.

The floor slopes down towards the stage. This allows for an unblocked view for those seated at the back and is similar to an amphitheatre. Mr Lee says: "The floor of the traditional church is always flat. I am not aware of other churches of the era with a sloped floor."

2. THE BUILDING'S FACADE

The stepped profile - which resembles the tubes of a pipe organ - is a common feature of Art Deco buildings, a simple style that differs from the excessive ornamentation of Neoclassical buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, says Mr Lee.

The vertical fins can also be read symbolically. The seven columns, for instance, are believed to symbolise perfection and completion.

3. GREEN GLASS WINDOWS

Instead of cutting out most of the sunlight, the handmade dark-green window panes diffuse the sun's rays, bathing the hall in a soft glow. The steel window frames, which are characteristic of the pre-war era, show signs of rust, but are otherwise well maintained, says Mr Lee.

Read also: New Novena Church surprises many with grand look


This article was first published on October 01, 2016.
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19 crew members still onboard arrested Hanjin ship

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About 6km off the east coast of Singapore is a ship that has been anchored for more than a month.

The Hanjin Rome was arrested on Aug 29 after its owner, South Korea's Hanjin Shipping, was sued for owing its creditors $7.3 billion.

A ship arrested in Singapore must remain in its waters until there is a resolution.

Since the arrest, the container ship's 24 crew members - 11 South Koreans and 13 Indonesians - have been stuck on board with no idea of when they can go home.

On Tuesday, Captain Moon Kwon Do and four of his crew - two South Koreans and two Indonesians - were granted permission to be repatriated.

Although he was relieved to go home, Captain Moon, 36, told The New Paper that he was worried about the crew members still onboard.

When he steered his ship into Singapore waters on Aug 29, he thought it would be another routine call to port, where it would refuel and replenish cargo before departing to the Middle East, where its cargo was bound.

But at 9.20pm, he received news that his ship had been arrested.

Captain Moon spoke to TNP while he and his two compatriots were heading to Changi Airport from the PSA Building on Alexandra Road at 8pm on Tuesday.

He said he was allowed to leave the ship only because of a family emergency at home.

"I found out my grandmother has intestinal cancer. My uncle told me that she does not have more than a week to live," he said, adding that his thoughts were with his grandmother, wife and eight year-old twin daughters back in South Korea.

"Every day, I call and talk to my wife and my daughters."

STUDENTS

The two South Korean crew members said they were allowed to leave because they are university students doing their apprenticeship.

The reasons for the repatriation of the two Indonesians are not known.

Responding to TNP's queries, the Sheriff of the Supreme Court said arrangements were made for the repatriation of five crew members on Sept 26 and they were allowed to disembark the next day.

The Sheriff's Office added that the order of arrest applies only to the vessel, not to its crew. It is therefore common practice for the crew to request to be repatriated.

The arrested vessel must maintain the minimum manning requirements of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Captain Moon said he was shocked to find out his ship had been arrested because he and his crew had no idea their employer was in deep financial trouble.

He said: "In my 16 years with Hanjin, never did I imagine that this would happen to my company.

"I immediately called the headquarters in Busan for help."

Hanjin filed for bankruptcy two days later on Aug 31.

"It became clear that we were going to be here for the next one, two, who knows, six months," said Captain Moon, who told his crew not to give up hope.

He tried to keep up a brave front and cracked jokes during dinner to lighten the mood.

But when he was alone in his cabin, he said, "there were times I felt like bursting open the windows and doors".

In the month after its arrest, the crew survived on two shipments of food supplied by a ship chandler, one on Aug 29 and another on Sept 17, worth about $5,400 and $ 6,800, respectively.

"There was Indonesian food, meat, lamb. Also, Korean ramyun (instant noodles), of course," said Captain Moon.

TENSE

The atmosphere on the ship, however, remained tense.

"It was uncomfortable being on the ship for so long," said Captain Moon.

"The crew members were nervous about their future and the company's future. They did not know when they would be able to go home to see their families."

One of the two Mokpo Maritime University students, Mr Kim Seon Kuk, 21, was glad to be going home.

The apprentice engineer said he called his family once a week.

"They told me to cheer up, not to fall ill and to eat well," he added.

His varsity mate, Mr Byeon Dae Seung, 21, said: "Food and the conditions on board were good, but mentally, I felt trapped.

"I feel sorry for those who remained behind, unsure of when they would be able to see their families."

Captain Moon told TNP that his No. 2, Captain Kim Young Woo, has been put in charge of the ship.

Despite Hanjin's uncertain future, Captain Moon is determined to remain with the company.

He said: "When I joined Hanjin in 2000, I was determined to stay with the company for life."

His parting words to his crew were: "So long, we will meet on another Hanjin ship."

Ripple effect

The Hanjin Rome was arrested on Aug 29, after Hanjin Shipping company was sued by German shipowner Rickmers for owing its creditors some $7.3 billion.

When Hanjin Shipping and Company, the world's seventh-largest carrier, filed for bankruptcy on Aug 31, it created a ripple effect that stranded more than 80 Hanjin vessels around the globe.

This is one of the biggest bankruptcies in the shipping industry and has affected global supply chains.

The New Paper understands that these vessels carry a wide range of cargo.

Nanyang Technological University Maritime Associate Professor Lam Siu Lee said: "If the cargoes are consumer goods, the impact would be larger and more direct on consumers. Impacts include delay of goods, disruption of shipping imports.

"If the cargoes are components for manufacturing, manufacturers' supply chain and production schedule would be delayed."

But she added that consumers would probably not notice a major shortage in supply because "retailers and distributors usually have some safety inventory to deal with uncertainties".

FROZEN

The Straits Times reported on Sept 16 that the High Court had temporarily frozen all Singapore proceedings against Hanjin Shipping and its Singapore subsidiaries, pending a full hearing for all parties here on whether the freeze should continue until next January.

For now, Hanjin vessels are allowed into Singapore ports to unload cargo, assuming it is able to pay port and handling fees to do so.

Since then, it has been reported that at least two other Hanjin vessels - Hanjin Argentina and Hanjin Jebel Ali - had berthed at Tanjong Pagar Terminal and likely to have unloaded cargo.

Singapore is one of three countries that have approved an interim stay order recognising Hanjin Shipping's rehabilitation proceedings in the Seoul courts on Sept 16, the other two being the UK and the US.

When a ship is arrested...

What does it mean when a ship is arrested?

Mr Eugene Cheng, 29, an associate specialising in shipping litigation at Gurbani and Co LLC, said: "Claimants must first have a claim against the shipowner. They then file an application for a warrant of arrest in court.

"When a ship is arrested, it means that it is unable to leave Singapore waters.

"The arrest does not apply to the crew members, who may be repatriated by the arresting party."

Why are ships arrested?

Though there are varying reasons, Mr Cheng said it is usually because of marine related claims and the purpose of arresting a ship is to force the shipowner to appear in court and settle the claim.

Nanyang Technological University Associate Professor Lam Siu Lee said: "Another reason is that Singapore has port state control, and has the right to inspect and arrest foreign ships in Singapore waters."

How many other arrested ships are on Singapore shores?

The Hanjin Rome is not the only arrested vessel in Singapore waters.

As of yesterday, there are seven others, the longest being the Ocean Mare, which has been unable to leave Singapore waters since April.

The map above shows their positions, according to marinetraffic.com

Mr Cheng said it is not uncommon for ships to be arrested in Singapore waters because our admiralty laws grant claimants the right to do so.

Mr S Mohan, Managing Director of Resource Law LLC, said: "Given the sheer number of vessels that call at Singapore coupled with its efficient legal system, it is common for ships to be arrested in Singapore."

What happens to arrested ships?

Mr Cheng said it is unlikely that ships would be arrested for more than a year.

He said: "The arresting party would usually apply for a sale of the ship to prevent it from becoming a wasting asset because expenses such as port dues and crew wages will reduce the value of the ship."

What happens to the crew onboard an arrested ship?

According to the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, once a ship is arrested, anything that enters or leaves the ship has to be approved by the Supreme Court.

This includes the change of crew. Crew members would have to apply for permission from the Sheriff of the Supreme Court to be repatriated.

In an arrested ship, at least half the number of officers, engineers and crew (or watchmen/security guards) must be onboard at all times to meet the minimum manning requirement.

A mid-sized cargo vessel like the Hanjin Rome requires a skeleton staff of about 12 to 15 operational employees - half its original crew size - given its current circumstance.

Mr Cheng said: "The humanitarian thing is to repatriate and replace the old crew or change the crew on board the ship when it was arrested.

"This is because the crew did not sign up to stay in Singapore for an unknown period of time."


This article was first published on October 01, 2016.
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Istana Heritage Gallery to open on Oct 8

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SINGAPORE - Once hailed as the finest building of its kind in the Far East, the stately Istana in Orchard Road, built in the late 1860s, is usually open to the public only five times a year.

But from Oct 8, visitors can take a more frequent look at some of its treasures, including its art collection, state artefacts and state gifts from the President's official residence, at a new heritage gallery at the Istana Park, which fronts the main Istana gate.

The gallery will be open to the public throughout the week except on Wednesdays.

The gallery, which took about nine months to build, is the size of three four-room Housing Board flats. Renovations cost about $900,000.

The showcase, which is expected to draw 120,000 visitors each year, is a collaboration between the President's Office, National Parks Board, the National Library Board and the National Heritage Board's (NHB's) Preservation of Sites and Monuments division.

The gallery was initiated by President Tony Tan Keng Yam and part of efforts to educate the public on the history and heritage of the Istana, a national monument.

The Istana said the aim is to complement its open houses with an additional platform for the public to learn about its rich history and heritage, and its role in Singapore's development as a nation.

Ms Jean Wee, director of NHB's Preservation of Sites and Monuments division, said most Singaporeans know the Istana as the official residence of the President, but not the many stories it has to offer.

She said the gallery focuses on the history of the Istana - a building that has witnessed and played a key role in Singapore's development.

"The gallery also explores the role and significance of this important national monument, which parallels in many ways the changing dynamics of Singapore's journey from a colony to sovereign state," Ms Wee added.

The gallery, which offers free admission, is divided into six sections.

The first details the neighbouring 1869 Sri Temasek building on the the Istana grounds which, together with the Istana, was preserved as a national monument in 1992. Sri Temasek was originally the house of the colonial secretary.

The second section traces the early years of the Istana, when it was constructed between 1867 and 1869 on a piece of land that used to be a nutmeg plantation.

The third recounts the effects of World War II on the Istana and its occupants.

The fourth chronicles its transformation from the Government House into the Istana and the replacement of the colonial symbols with the state crest, Presidential Standard and Presidential Crest, after Singapore attained full internal self-government status in 1959.

Sir Harry St George Ord, the first governor of the Straits Settlements, had initiated the Istana's construction. He had intended the building to be the governor's residence.

The fifth section details the Istana's flora and fauna, while the last describes the functions of the Istana, which includes hosting visits by foreign dignitaries.

Some of the objects that visitors to the gallery will be able to see include a bust of Singapore's first president Yusof Ishak and a selection of state gifts from countries such as Brunei, China and Malaysia.


This article was first published on October 02, 2016.
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Man charged with having brass knuckles: Other scheduled and prohibited weapons in Singapore

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SINGAPORE - A man who allegedly held a two-year-old boy hostage in a Sembawang flat for 17 hours was charged on Friday (Sept 30) with having knuckle dusters without permission.

Also known as brass knuckles, the metal covering that fits over one's fingers are considered scheduled weapons under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act.

The punishment for unlawful possession of a scheduled weapon is a jail term of up to five years, with at least six strokes of the cane, for a first conviction. The penalty for the crime for subsequent convictions is a jail term of between two and eight years, with at least six strokes of the cane.

Read also: 12 things you might not know you could be punished for in Singapore

While some small but easily concealed items are prohibited in Singapore, you can import guns and stun guns with a permit from the police. But lighters shaped like a gun cannot be brought in.

Read on to find out which weapons are allowed and which are not allowed in Singapore.

1. SCHEDULED WEAPONS AND SUBSTANCES

Under the Act, there are two schedules of items, one lists corrosive substances and the other weapons.

Besides knuckle dusters, other scheduled weapons include:

- Flick knives and gravity knives, which have a blade which is released from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by centrifugal force,

- Any whip manufactured from bicycle, motorcycle or similar chains,

- Any sword, machete or parang, axe, sickle, bearing scraper, spear, bayonet, iron rod, or nanchaku,

- Wasp knives, which can inject a ball of compressed gas that freezes both human and animal tissues and organs where injected.

Corrosive substances are mainly acids. In the list are sulphuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid,formic acid, acetic acid, phenols, ammonia, potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.

Pepper spray is also on this list as it contains corrosive phenols.

2. OTHER PROHIBITED ITEMS

Other prohibited items, which are banned from being imported into or taken out of Singapore are:

- Concealed weapons, for example a blade disguised as a cane,

- Lighters in the shape of a gun or pistol,

- Firecrackers and all types of fireworks, including tube-sparklers and "pop-pop",

- Throwing knives, Ninja stars or Shurikens,

- Catapults or slingshots,

- Crossbows.

3. PERMITTED WEAPONS AND TOOLS

Knives for hunting, outdoor survival, diving are permitted, according to the police website.

Machetes, sickles and parangs for agriculture and for carpentry are also allowed.

Other permissible "weapons" include blow pipes, axes, leather or rope whips, and bows and arrows.

4. CONTROLLED ITEMS

These can be imported into or taken out of Singapore with prior approval from the police licensing department. Controlled items include:

- All types of firearms, air guns,

- Ammunition and explosives,

- Airsoft and paintball guns,

- Taser and stun guns,

- Spear guns,

- Swords, spears, spearhead, daggers and bayonets,

- Signal flares,

- Tear gas sprays,

- Bulletproof vests,

- Steel helmets,

- Toy guns, including pistols and revolvers,

- Handcuffs,

- Truncheons or batons,

- Night vision / infra-red goggles and binoculars.


This article was first published on October 1, 2016.
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Maid lauded for helping employer in cancer fight

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Domestic helper Erlinda Melchor breaks into tears when she recounts how her employer Clem Cull was diagnosed with stage four cancer in April.

"I've been worried about him... It's very hard for us," Ms Melchor, 42, who has been working for the Culls for nearly four years, told The Sunday Times.

Mr Cull's cancer has relapsed. Ms Melchor had been working for the family for just two months when Mr Cull, a headhunter, was first diagnosed with stage three head and neck cancer in 2013.

Yet Ms Melchor, who is from the Philippines, stayed on to help. Not only did she take care of Mr Cull's young daughter Annabel when he went for treatment, but she also read up on cancer and prepared nutritious foods such as smoothies for him.

Yesterday, her contributions were recognised when she was named Helper of the Year at the Sassy Mama Helper Awards, held for the first time by parenting website Sassy Mama Singapore.

Mr Cull, 42, who hails from New Zealand and moved to Singapore for work six years ago with his banker wife Amy, 39, describes Ms Melchor as "awesome".

"When you get diagnosed, everyone's like 'Oh my God, what do you do?' So we were really lucky to have Erlinda," he said.

"We had lots of family coming over... The house was kind of like a train station. But she was just so good at organising everything - cooking the meals and making sure I was eating healthily."

Things settled down when Mr Cull's cancer went into remission. Now that the cancer has returned and spread, Ms Melchor has been busy bringing the family's visiting relatives to visit Mr Cull when he was hospitalised, accompanying him to chemotherapy, and helping to take care of the latest addition to the family, five-month old Daniel.

"Of all the employers I've worked for, they are the nicest... There is no reason to leave," said Ms Melchor, who has worked as a domestic helper here for more than 10 years.

She has a 17-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son, who are being looked after by her parents in the Philippines. Her husband died in a car accident in 2006.

At the event held at The Pantry in Loewen Road near Dempsey Hill yesterday, nine other domestic helpers received awards in the categories of Special Recognition, Childcare, Master Chef and Pet Lover.

Winners walked away with prizes which included food and beauty vouchers, as well as headphones.


This article was first published on October 02, 2016.
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Dad feared she would be 'Steve Job-less'

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Most school-leavers would be happy with one top university offer. Nineteen-year-old Gabrielle Ong has four - and all of them to study that university course most beloved of the digital native, millennial generation - computing.

But the true millennial that she is, Gabrielle is not just a fast learner and innovative; she also wants meaning in her life.

She is taking the road less-travelled and putting on hold the offers from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Management University (SMU).

Instead of signing up for the paper chase, she is following her passion for computer coding and looking for a job in order to hone her skills in that area - in a market where unemployment rates are rising. And, with only the A levels under her belt. The idealistic former Raffles Institution (RI) student also hopes to eventually combine her two passions of computer coding and community work.

Unsurprisingly, her father, Mr Benjamin Ong, 60, himself an NUS graduate, is apprehensive about her decision.

This is particularly as the family's two other children - Gabrielle's older brothers - have graduated from university, one with an engineering degree and the other with a degree in computing.

Mr Ong, a professional engineer who runs a consultancy firm, says: "I am an employer myself and I am well aware of how firms, and even the Government, look for qualifications when hiring people."

It is not the first time that Gabrielle has surprised him with an unconventional notion for her life's pathway. At the end of Secondary 4, after watching a documentary on Apple's founder Steve Jobs, Gabrielle told him that she wanted to drop out of school.

Gabrielle, who by that time was already beginning her love affair with coding, recalls: "I told him that I wanted to quit school and be like Steve Jobs. And he told me, 'You will be Steve Job-less'."

She explains: "It was a throwaway remark. School was interesting, but I wasn't getting as much as I wanted out of it. But thankfully my dad pointed out that I did not have the skills, so I went to JC."

Today, however, with Gabrielle completing junior college and with decent A-level scores, her dad is open to what young people want to pursue in this fast-changing world. He has come around to accepting Gabrielle's decision not to go the university route for now. In fact, he says: "I also see the value of work and the skills one can pick up from working."

Her mother, Madam Ng Kwee Heong, a teacher-turned-homemaker, says it has helped that Gabrielle took pains to explain her decision to go to work. "I would ask her one question after another. But she will always take the time to answer my questions. I realised from her answers that this was not a frivolous decision. She had thought this through."

WHY A JOB INSTEAD OF SWOT?

Gabrielle's decision to look for a job instead of going to university came after she got a first-hand experience of being employed.

This came while undertaking a three-month boot camp, or crash course, earlier this year on Web development at General Assembly (GA), a New York-headquartered education company that expanded to Singapore last year.

Despite being the youngest in her class of 22, she impressed her instructors so much that they offered her a paid stint as an instructional assistant at the end of the boot camp in May. Gabrielle says that working over the last three months at the school taught her more about designing and building websites. But more importantly, it taught her the value of work.

She says: "Teaching the course forced me to delve deeper, to understand the concepts better and, in the process, I learnt even more about programming websites.

"But I also learnt other things - I would say, the more important things. The working environment is not as structured as school. So you have to pick things up quickly and learn as you go along. And be able to handle the everyday challenges and stresses of working life.

"That's when I realised that university can wait. I can learn so much more by going to work first. In fact, I will probably gain more from a university education after a few years of working because I will be able to appreciate the relevance of what I am studying."

THE ROAD TO SELF-DISCOVERY

Although Gabrielle attended top schools - Tao Nan Primary, Raffles Girls' School and Raffles Institution, where students are known for their academic prowess - she says she learns best by doing things.

She explains: "Reading up on something is fine, but it is when I try to put it into practice that it all falls into place for me.

"I understand the topic deeply and then I will try and see how it can be applied to solve different problems."

Indeed, studies show that there are different types of learners - visual, auditory learners, and kinesthetic ones, who learn best through activity and exploration. Experts say kinesthetic learners make up just 5 per cent to 10 per cent of a population and include scientists and inventors.

Gabrielle's interest in coding started in secondary school when she had to set up websites for school projects.

She says: "Like everyone else, I used the templates available online. I thought that was the only way you could create websites. I didn't know you could create it from scratch. I always found myself wondering, 'Oh man, if only I could add a feature to this. If only I could modify the software to allow me to do something I wanted to do'."

In junior college, after hearing about some of her classmates taking up coding lessons, she decided to enrol. She completed her A levels in December last year and early this year signed up for the boot camp at GA.

She admits that the boot camp was a very intense three months, and she often had to stay up into the early hours of the morning to practise what she had learnt during the day. "But then, being able to build the stuff that I envisioned in my head and seeing it come to life really excited me and kept me going," she says. "I fell in love with coding, or rather, what I can do with coding."

She agrees that designing and building websites from scratch is a useful skill to have, but adds that for her, coding is a means to an end - to help people in need.

Like many millennials, Gabrielle wants to make a difference in the world and, for her, it's in community service.

It is not just a "millennial thing", though - her father has served for years at Care Corner, a voluntary organisation that runs a range of services for the needy.

Gabrielle says her own desire to help goes back to her early childhood days when she was close to a family friend who had special needs. "I saw how people treated him unfairly and thought how lucky I was. It grew my resolve to help the less fortunate among us."

It was in her junior college years at RI that she involved herself more deeply in community work, despite demands on her time such as serving as vice-captain of the track-and-field team.

She was part of a group of students who provided weekly tuition classes at a children's home. She even brushed up on her Malay language skills so that she could interact with the children better.

But she is most proud of a project she led with a schoolmate to get RI students involved in cleaning up the homes of needy residents living in some HDB estates. For the project done in collaboration with the Central Community Development Council, she and her schoolmates had to deal with problems of pest infestation and hoarding, but by the end of the year, they had helped to clean about 100 homes.

She says it is hard to explain what she gets out of helping others: "After helping to clean someone's home, I don't go home thinking, 'Yay, I feel good'. It's more of a deep sense of compassion and wanting to help them even more."

CHALLENGING JOB HUNT

Gabrielle's job search has made her realise that some companies here still hire based on qualifications, not skills.

Over the last two months, she applied for 20 jobs, and heard back from only about half.

Still, that has resulted in a handful of job offers, and she is close to choosing one as a junior software developer in a start-up.

She hopes that universities will be more flexible in allowing students to defer their studies if they want to gain some work experience first, before embarking on their studies.

She is heartened, though, by the Government encouraging young people to explore their interests and aspirations at an early age. Schools are offering education and career counselling and polytechnics are giving more weight to students' aptitudes when admitting them.

The teenager is also grateful that her parents support her plan of heading to work before university, despite their apprehensions.

Madam Ng is confident her daughter will succeed in her own way, noting that Gabrielle has always been determined and hardworking.

She says: "Having seen how hard Gabrielle has worked over the last nine months and how she has taken charge of her own learning, we are more assured."

Gabrielle calls her plan to work before studying "reverse engineering" and said she does not know how long it will be before she heads to university.

"I am going to take it one step at a time. For now, I see it as learning from the university of life. It's a different kind of education, but I'm taking charge of my own learning."


This article was first published on October 02, 2016.
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