SINGAPORE - Guys, ever wanted a girl so much but cannot seem to get her to fall for you? You're not alone.

Seemingly rejected, confused and unnoticed, Singaporean Goh Yong Wei created a series of memes to express his unrequited love.

The 24-year-old posted those memes on his Facebook account in an album called 'Xian Cha Bor memes', reflecting his sense of humour through his sadness. Most of the photos feature him with a prop.

One hilarious meme, which had Goh posing in front of a laptop decorated with stickers, read: "All these stickers, but you never stick around."

Another meme that pictured him with colour pencils and highlighters had the caption: "All these colour pencils, yet I still can't colour your world".

The photo album has garnered almost 600 reactions and over 2,800 shares on Facebook.

So, is Goh getting any girl's attention with his memes? It seems like Lady Luck could be smiling on him.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Goh Yong Wei's Facebook

On Thursday (March 30), Goh posted a status update on Facebook saying that he has about 100 "friendly" strangers chatting him up.

We wish him all the very best in his soul(mate)-searching.

stephluo@sph.com.sg

More proof that Singaporeans can't be trusted to be gracious of their own accord: priority queue stickers in MRT stations.

First, the facts. On Thursday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that it will implement priority queues at all MRT stations, by placing stickers in front of train and lift doors.

The teal-coloured stickers are adorable: a cheery smiley face urges commuters to let elderly, disabled, and pregnant travellers, as well as those with prams, to enter first. The stickers are sizeable, too, blocking off space for commuters who are most in need.

LTA introduced the scheme "as a move towards a more gracious society". But the truth of the matter is that this only underscores how ungracious a society Singapore can be.

Let me be clear: I love the idea of priority queue stickers; I just hate that we have to resort to them to engender plain, common decency.

There's no doubt they'll work, in the same way designated priority train seats have worked - it's now rare to see those seats occupied by able-bodied people when there are others in greater need on board.

Even then, one has to wonder how much of that comes from a genuine desire to be kind, as opposed to the fear of a thorough drubbing via online shaming.

And that's where the need for priority queue stickers really feels absurd. They're ultimately a sad admission of the sorry state of affairs - where rules, instead of one's conscience, are needed to kindle kindness.

So what's the solution here?

It's easy to fall back on the usual call to teach graciousness in schools - you know, start from a young age and all that jazz.

But isn't that what we've been doing already? What's not going right there?

I suspect we've been neglecting a crucial piece of the puzzle: the education that goes on outside of school. Teachers are already doing a splendid job, but are we - parents, caretakers, society at large - keeping up the good work once the school bell rings?

We're certainly not modelling good behaviour when we rush into the train ourselves and chide kids for not getting on quicker. Or when we morph into kancheong spiders and tell them: "Faster - go chope that seat!" Both are missed opportunities to lead by example.

Somewhere, Singa the Courtesy Lion is pouring himself a drink, congratulating himself on his decision to retire in 2013. (Three years ago, Singa dramatically quit his post as Singapore's graciousness mascot after 30 long years on the job. "I'm just too tired to continue facing an increasingly angry and disagreeable society," said Singa in an open letter.)

I'm sure the stickers will go some way in engineering more kindness in Singapore. But I just wish we didn't have to be told.

I'm sure Singa would agree.

This article was first published on April 1, 2016.
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He is at an age where his father could be reading bedtime stories to him, but for Benjamin (not his real name), it is the opposite.

Instead, the eight-year-old reads to his wheelchair-bound father, talks to him, and plays around him - without expecting a response.

His father, Mr Tan Yun Yeow, 37, cannot walk or talk after a horrific workplace accident in 2009.

Mr Tan's younger brother, Rodney, 28, said: "(Benjamin) is not scared off by my brother's situation. He just understands that his father is sick and he's trying to take care of him."

Mr Tan's plight was thrust into the spotlight after an apex court ruling on Tuesday.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon dismissed an appeal against Mr Rodney Tan's ability to sue his brother's former employer for $3 million in damages over the accident. (See report on next page.)

The ruling has evoked mixed feelings for the family, Mr Rodney Tan told The New Paper yesterday in a phone interview.

The sales manager said: "I think as a family, we feel relieved. But at the same time, we don't know how this whole thing is going to pan out.

"It's been six, seven years... There have been some ups and downs not just emotionally. Financially, it's also a strain on the family."

Seven years ago, Mr Tan, an engineer, was logging data at a worksite in Changi when there was an electrical explosion. The blast left burns on 38 per cent of his body - his face, torso and arms. He also slipped into a coma.

Complications developed while he was unconscious. First, his kidneys failed. Then, he contracted pneumonia in his right lower lung.

Shortly after, his heart stopped beating for a while.

"Many times, the doctor asked us to prepare for the worst. That initial six months while he was in the ICU (intensive care unit) were very challenging," Mr Rodney Tan said, adding that his brother's condition was shrouded in uncertainty.

"We were so afraid he couldn't make it."

A month later, the injured engineer underwent a tracheostomy - a surgically-made hole that goes through the front of the neck and into the trachea.

Mr Tan woke up from his coma slightly over a year later with a "reduced conscious level", according to court documents. He was assessed to be of unsound mind and incapable of managing his financial and personal affairs.

Mr Rodney Tan said he is not clear about the extent of his brother's brain damage, which he suspects could be due to the respiratory arrest back in 2009.

"He is able to blink and move his head. But we don't know how bad the damage is or whether he understands us," he said.

NEW FATHER

The accident happened at a time when Mr Tan was basking in the joy of parenthood.

Mr Rodney Tan said: "When the accident took place, (my brother) was only a year into his marriage.

"He had moved out to his own place with his wife and six-month-old son just three months before...

"He had only just moved into a new chapter of his life and the accident changed it all overnight."

Mr Rodney Tan, who lives with his injured brother as well as their younger brother and their parents in a five-room flat, said communicating with him takes a lot of guesswork.

"Basically, we can't communicate with him. It's hard for him to tell us what he wants as well. Sometimes, we can only feel if he's relieved, uncomfortable or happy. He won't be able to give any form of signal," he said.

The communication barrier exasperated the family initially, he admitted. They had to figure out from scratch what Mr Tan likes and dislikes.

"We would try to get him different types of food to figure out what he likes. The one he likes, he will eat a little bit more...

"It's frustrating for us, for sure, but all the more frustrating for him. He used to be a very active person, so for him to lose his ability to communicate and move around overnight..." Mr Rodney Tan said, his voice trailing off.

Now that he can proceed with suing his brother's former employer, he will discuss the next step with his lawyers.

The family, except his mother, Madam Lim Poy Nue, 64, has largely come to terms with Mr Tan's condition

Madam Lim, who works odd jobs occasionally, told TNP in a separate interview: "Once in a while, memories still come back and haunt us. But at least I know (my son) is still alive."

Doctors cannot predict if Mr Tan will eventually recover, but his loved ones are grasping at every glimmer of hope.

The family is still paying the hospital bills - which came up to $700,000 - while keeping a lookout for possible tests that could help Mr Tan.

Said Mr Rodney Tan: "There are some cases who stay the same forever, but some cases may take a turn for the better. What we are trying to do now is to let him go for every single test (that may help him)...

"I'm happy to say that seven years down the road, we are still hoping for a miracle."

Basically, we can't communicate with him. It's hard for him to tell us what he wants as well. Sometimes, we can only feel if he's relieved, uncomfortable or happy. He won't be able to give any form of signal.

- Mr Rodney Tan, on his brother, Mr Tan Yun Yeow, who survived an explosion seven years ago

Mr Tan Yun Yeow before the accident. 

ABOUT THE CASE

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision allowing the brother of a mentally incapacitated engineer to sue for damages on his behalf.

In 2009, Mr Tan Yun Yeow, 37, suffered severe burns after an electrical explosion at his workplace.

He slipped into a coma and only regained consciousness after more than a year. The hospital then found him to be mentally incapable of managing his financial and personal affairs.

In 2010, on the basis of a lawyer's letter that Mr Tan's next-of-kin wished to claim compensation under the Work Injury Compensation Act (Wica), the Commissioner for Labour assessed that Mr Tan was entitled to $225,000 - the maximum sum under the law for accidents before Jan 1 this year.

An award of compensation under Wica bars a worker from suing for further damages in court.

BROTHER APPOINTED

In August 2012, Mr Tan's younger brother, Rodney, was appointed by the court to make legal claims on behalf of Mr Tan under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA).

Under the MCA, the court may appoint a deputy to make decisions for those who lack the mental capacity to do so. (See report, above.)

Through his lawyers, Mr Noor Marican and Mr Ramasamy Chettiar, Mr Rodney Tan sought to reject the compensation and instead seek $3 million in damages in a High Court suit.

But the insurer for Mr Tan's employer objected, and argued through lawyer K. Anparasan that the Commissioner had the discretion to accept a claim by the next-of-kin, thus making the 2010 assessment binding.

Justice Quentin Loh disagreed, and ruled that Mr Tan lacked the capacity to make a choice and only a person appointed by the court had the right to act on his behalf.

Last year, he quashed the 2010 notice of assessment by the Commissioner, stressing that the courts will "jealously guard the rights of injured workers who lack the mental capacity and competence to make choices that are in their best interests".

The insurer appealed. Mr Anparasan argued that Mr Rodney Tan had the legal standing to claim compensation on behalf of his brother.

Second Solicitor-General Kwek Mean Luck, who acted for the Commissioner, said in his submissions that the insurer was trying to force Mr Tan to accept compensation he never chose to claim, depriving him of his right to claim for damages under common law.

On Tuesday, the apex court, led by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, dismissed the insurer's appeal.

WHAT IS THE MENTAL CAPACITY ACT?

The Mental Capacity Act addresses the need to make decisions for persons who are 21 years old and above, but lack the mental capacity to do so.

It allows the court to appoint a deputy to make decisions and act on behalf of a mentally incapacitated person who has not made a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

An LPA is a legal document that allows someone to make decisions on a person's welfare or property matters on his behalf when he lacks the mental capacity.

The Act also allows parents of intellectually disabled children (below the age of 21) to apply to the court to appoint a deputy.

This ensures that their child's future care is arranged for, should they die or lose their mental capacity.

fjieying@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 1, 2016.
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About 840,000 Singaporean Housing Board (HDB) households will receive the next instalment of the GST Voucher-Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebates in April, said a statement from the Ministry of Finance on Friday (April 1).

Annually, those living in 1- and 2-room HDB flats will be able to offset about three to four months of utilities bills on average with their regular GST Voucher-U-Save.

Those living in 3- to 4-room HDB flats can offset about one to two months of utilities bills on average.

The GST Voucher-U-Save forms one of three components under the permanent GST Voucher scheme, designed to help lower-and middle-income Singaporean households with their living expenses.

The U-Save component is distributed every quarter.

In April, eligible Singaporean households will each receive a GST Voucher -U-Save of up to $65, depending on their HDB flat type. Households whose members own more than one property are not eligible for the GST Voucher-U-Save.

sujint@sph.com.sg

In the five months since her husband died from burns after he tried to light up an aromatherapy diffuser, the biggest question that has been plaguing Madam Nurul Asyikin Norman is:

"Why was I not given a safety briefing about the dangers of using a diffuser when I bought it?"

Mr Mohammad Rizalludin Hassan, 34, died last Oct 22 from extensive burns to more than 80 per cent of his body after a flash fire in the couple's Jurong East home.

Madam Nurul saw her husband engulfed in flames on Oct 13 after he lit the diffuser in the bathroom of their master bedroom.

At a coroner's inquiry yesterday into Mr Rizalludin's death, Madam Nurul asked a police investigating officer if safety briefings were given to customers who bought the Avita Aromatherapy Diffuser.

The officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alex Neo, said customers are usually given a safety briefing and demonstration by employees at the company showroom in Commonwealth Drive

ASP Neo said this was based on his interview with Mr Chok Wai Chen, operations manager of Shiang's International, which sells the diffuser.

Madam Nurul, 34, who has four children with her late husband, said in court that she "did not go through a safety briefing" and she did not get any safety demonstration when she first bought the product in 2014 because of the haze.

"I was verbally told how to light the diffuser," said the primary school teacher.

After seeing an online promotion last year, Madam Nurul went back to the shop alone, and paid a promotional price of $692 for another diffuser and 12 litres of aromatic oils.

Mr Chok had said in his statement: "We cannot be sure if individual members perform the said steps before selling Avita Aromatherapy Diffuser range of products, even if we tell them to do so.

"The reason why we go through the necessary safety procedures before we sell is because we understand that the aromatherapy oils is (sic) flammable and thus potentially dangerous to the consumers of the said products."

ASP Neo also informed the court about a safety video on the company's website.

Madam Nurul then asked when the video was uploaded - before or after her husband's accident.

ASP Neo said Mr Chok "did not specify the timeline" when the video was uploaded.

SIMILAR

Madam Nurul asked ASP Neo if there were similar accidents in the past.

There had been none involving customers who bought the diffuser but Mr Chok told him that there had been one involving an employee on the company premises in 2014, said ASP Neo.

Mr Chok had said: "A staff (sic) sustained minor burns when he used the company's aromatherapy oil to light up an already ignited catalytic burner, as against safety procedures."

Mr Chok stated there have not been any reported incidents involving Avita Aromatherapy Diffuser products since they were released in 2007. When contacted by The New Paper yesterday, he declined to comment.

Madam Nurul told The New Paper yesterday how her family had been coping with their loss.

She said: "Emotionally, it's still quite raw, especially when my mother and I had witnessed what happened to my husband."

Her mother, Madam Juraidah Nabi, 53, who also saw Mr Rizalludin in flames during the incident, was visibly affected when she read the first few pages of the investigation report.

She started crying quietly and later placed it on the table in front of her.

Referring to the coroner's inquiry, Madam Nurul said: "The feeling is like reliving the night of the incident."

The inquiry will convene again on April 4.

TRAPPED VAPOURS FROM OILS FLAMMABLE

A Singapore Civil Defence Force investigator told the court yesterday that the flash fire was an accident likely to have been caused by the combination of trapped vapours from essential oils and a lighter.

Major Samuel Koh said: "During the pouring of the essential oil into the diffusers, flammable essential oil vapours would have come off and accumulated in the confined bathroom space.

"The naked light from the gas lighter is a competent ignition source which could have ignited the flammable vapours in the bathroom."

The origin of the fire was traced to the vanity top in the bathroom of the master bedroom.

He said in his report: "The scorch marks observed on the various items in the bathroom suggest that a flash fire had occurred within the bathroom."

Among the items found there were two sets of aromatherapy diffusers that had sustained heat damage, two disposable lighters and a burnt bottle of essential oil re-fill.

One of the diffusers was partially filled with oil and its catalytic burner was not fully screwed to the diffuser.

Father of 4 dies of burns after essential oil diffuser explodes

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Berita Harian

ANALYSED

Essential oil fluid from both diffusers and a 5-litre essential oil refill tub kept by the family were analysed.

The temperature at which the liquid gives off sufficient vapour to ignite was determined to be about 16 deg C.

Last Oct 13, Madam Nurul Asyikin Norman had asked her husband, Mr Mohammad Rizalludin Hassan, to help her light up the diffuser.

Mr Rizalludin, an engineer, went into the bathroom and Madam Nurul later said she heard a "loud sound".

She and her mother then saw him coming out of the bathroom, engulfed in flames. The flames were put out with blankets.

Mr Rizalludin died nine days later in hospital.

An autopsy revealed he had died of extensive burns to the front and back of his torso, entire face, neck and legs.

HOW TO USE A DIFFUSER SAFELY

PRECAUTIONS

After filling the diffuser with oil from the essential oil container, wipe off any spilt oil from the diffuser and your hands.

Close the oil container immediately.

Before lighting up the diffuser, remove the oil container from the immediate vicinity.

After lighting up, blow out the open flame after two minutes. Position the burner head away from the reach of children and pets.

SAFETY MEASURES

Keep the oil container away from open flames.

Do not have a lit diffuser next to you when filling up additional diffusers.

Do not leave the flame unattended.

Blow out the flame instead of using an object to snuff it.

Do not try to light a diffuser with the flame of another diffuser.

- Adapted from video at www.myavita.com

zaihan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 1, 2016.
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Last February, a nurse sent her first-hand account of a Thaipusam incident to sociopolitical website The Real Singapore (TRS).

But yesterday, Ms Gowri Yanaseckaran told the High Court the version published by the now-defunct website was "cooked up" and "all nonsense".

The 32-year-old, who had been unhappy with the way the police had told some of the festival participants to stop playing musical instruments, which resulted in a scuffle, had e-mailed what she saw to TRS.

But what was published on TRS had her blaming a Filipino family for complaining to the police after their young child cried because of the noise made by the "urumi", an Indian drum.

"There was no such complaint by a Pinoy family, to the best of my knowledge," Ms Gowri said in her court statement.

"I was surprised as I had made no mention of any complaint by a Pinoy family in my e-mail."

The testimonies of several witnesses yesterday, in the continuing trial of Yang Kaiheng, 27, also showed the article had made false claims.

Yang and his wife, Ai Takagi, 23, have been charged with writing and disseminating the seditious article, along with five other inflammatory articles and a Facebook post.

Takagi had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 months' jail last week.

But Yang claimed trial, saying his involvement lasted only about a month in 2012 and was "ad hoc" after that.

Yesterday, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chan Wai Hoong, who was present during the Thaipusam incident, reaffirmed Ms Gowri's

court statement.

He said: "The initial instruction to approach the group of musicians and advise them to stop playing their drums was issued by me."

He was not approached by a Filipino family with a complaint, he said.

ASP Abdul Murad testified he had asked Takagi to retrieve her Google search history "to determine if she had carried out any searches that may be relevant to the Thaipusam-related article".

The word "urumi" and phrase "urumi instrument" popped up.

Also, the Google account used for these searches bore the name "Mohd Farhan", a fictitious name she had adopted, she told ASP Abdul. The name "Farhan" had been used to sign off an editor's note which said it was the objective of TRS editors to "instil fear" in companies that hire foreigners instead of Singaporeans.

That article is also the subject of one of the charges against Yang.

Yesterday, the prosecutor sought to establish, among other things, that Yang was inextricably involved in TRS, including developing and maintaining the website. Deputy Public Prosecutor G. Kannan did so by comparing two chat logs.

One is a Skype conversation between a user called "able_tree" and Mr Damien Koh, a Web developer who started TRS with Yang and Takagi but later quit. The prosecution said Yang and Takagi shared the "able_tree" account.

The other is a WhatsApp conversation extracted from the smartphone of Takagi, an Australian.

DPP Kannan noted that Singlish words like "meh", "liao" and "lor" were each used at least three times in the Skype conversation, but no such expressions were found in the WhatsApp messages.

The Skype conversations also had Hokkien expletives, which were absent in the WhatsApp chats.

DPP Kannan also highlighted an online conversation in which a Vietnamese programmer addressed "able_tree" as "Yang".

In the same conversation, the programmer was asked to clarify some things about Elance, an online freelancer portal, which "able_tree" was not familiar with.

On this portal, DPP Kannan noted, was an account with the name "kaiheng" and it was used to hire freelance programmers for TRS.

The hearing continues.

rachelay@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 1, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

It was her daily routine to head out for a late lunch after 2pm, usually at the coffee shop next to her home in Bedok North.

After her meal, 77-year-old Poh Ah Gin enjoyed wandering around the neighbourhood, sometimes collecting cardboard boxes to recycle to pass time. This was what she was doing on Tuesday evening when the driver of a Comfort taxi reversed into her twice at high speed.

The accident took place behind a coffee shop at Block 123 in Bedok North Street 2. Madam Poh was killed instantly.

The 64-year-old cabby, who is believed to have lost control of his Hyundai Sonata before it mounted the pavement, has been arrested for causing death by a negligent act.

Taxi reverses into woman collecting cardboard, and kills her

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper

Yesterday, at Madam Poh's wake at Block 120, family members described her as a "happy-go-lucky" woman who was single by choice.

She had lived alone in her three-room flat since 1975, after her mother died. However, she also had a "stubborn" streak, said her sister, Madam Mary Poh, 73, who lives one street away from her and would frequently cycle over to visit.

"My siblings and I would chip in for her expenses. We've told her many times that she doesn't need to collect cardboard, but she insisted on doing it to pass time."

Madam Poh Ah Gin, who was the third of 11 children, would give the cardboard she collected to a rag-and-bone man for free, said her nephew, Mr Francis Loo, 49, who works in the pharmaceutical industry. "She never earned a cent from it. She was just kind-hearted."

Another nephew, Mr Patrick Lim, 45, a civil servant, added: "She was an independent and strong lady. Even at her age, she had no problems with her health."

The family said they were grateful that two doctors from a nearby clinic stepped in to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation after the accident.

"They are really kind to come forward to help," said Mr Loo. "Some people may say it's their duty, but I'm really appreciative."

Madam Poh will be cremated tomorrow afternoon.

See also:

- Hazards of being a cardboard picker

- BMW driver who knocked cardboard collector down didn't apologise or help

- 'Cardboard auntie' who was knocked down by school bus was in driver's blind spot: Coroner

- Let's do more to support elderly cardboard collectors

This article was first published on April 1, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Elderly cardboard collectors in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper, The Business Times

Singaporean Lim Yong Nam is now in United States custody after Indonesian police handed him over to their US counterparts in Jakarta yesterday.

Lim, who faces charges for breaching an American trade embargo against Iran, was sent to the capital from Batam island, where he had been held while the US' extradition request was being reviewed by Indonesia.

"Lim Yong Nam has been handed over to a US Marshal... but we cannot disclose the location of the (prisoner) transfer," said Mr Andar Perdana Widiastono, who heads the provincial prosecutor's office in Riau Islands province.

When contacted, an official from the US Embassy in Jakarta declined to comment on the case.

Indonesia has no formal extradition agreement with the US, but Indonesian law allows for such requests to be considered on a case- by-case basis. A Batam district court granted the request last year.

Judges said they had taken into consideration the two countries' good relations and America's help in returning two Indonesian criminals to Indonesia.

President Joko Widodo endorsed the court's ruling in January.

Lawyer Boy Kanu, who represented Lim in Batam, said his client had tried to appeal to be sent to Singapore instead.

Efforts to reach Lim's wife in Singapore for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said yesterday it has contacted the relevant US authorities to ask for information on the legal process that Lim will face in the US. "We have also requested the US to ensure that Mr Lim is accorded his due legal rights. MFA will continue to discharge our consular responsibilities by providing Mr Lim with the necessary assistance," an MFA spokesman said in a statement.

Lim is accused of acquiring 6,000 radio frequency modules for export to Iran. The US had asked Singapore to extradite him in 2011, but the Singapore High Court found that the crime he was accused of was not an offence in the Republic.

Lim had been held in Batam since October 2014 after he went to the island to attend a trade exhibition.

In 2011, he was indicted along with three other Singaporeans and an Iranian national by the US Department of Justice for conspiring to allow electronics components from the US to be exported illegally to Iran instead of their stated final destination, which was Singapore.

The US alleged that 16 of the modules were found later in improvised explosive devices in Iraq that had not been detonated.

wahyudis@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 1, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Singapore has just suffered its most parched March here in over a century, alongside some scorching weather. And the next two weeks will bring little respite, says the weatherman.

Rainfall will likely remain below average, and daily maximum temperatures could soar to a blistering 35 deg C on some days, with short afternoon showers bringing scant relief, said the Meteorological Service.

"The warmer and drier conditions are a direct consequence of El Nino, which some meteorologists have called a Godzilla or Monster El Nino because of its intensity," said Dr Erik Velasco, a research scientist from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.

High temperatures and less rain in the region could contribute to more fires, and if the winds switch direction, blowing more frequently from the east and south-east, hazy conditions can be expected, he added.

Schools in Singapore shut as regional haze reaches unhealthy levels

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AFP, Reuters, The Straits Times

The PSI here has already reached moderate levels, hitting 24-hour levels of 62-70 at 10pm yesterday.

Last month, Changi climate station, which is used as a reference station, collected just 6.2mm of rain, making it the driest March since 1869, when rainfall records started.

But the situation was not as dire as in February 2014 - the country's driest month on record, with just 0.2mm of rain recorded.

And on March 11, the mercury hit 35.3 deg C in Choa Chu Kang, making it the hottest day this year. Out of the 31 days last month, temperatures on 18 days exceeded 34 deg C.

The mean monthly temperature of 29 deg C was also 1.5 deg C warmer than the long-term mean for March, making last month the second warmest March here since temperature records started in 1929.

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

An IT company manager who carried out a campaign of abuse against an intern was yesterday sentenced to a 10-day short detention order (SDO).

The community sentence is served in prison, but carries no criminal record.

A judge said that Lee Yew Nam, 45, the manager of Encore eServices, had used 32-year-old Calvin Chan Meng Hock like a "punching bag" - slapping and hitting him during a string of violent outbursts when he felt his work was not up to standard.

He was caught when another intern took a 17-second video of him hitting Mr Chan, and posted it online.

Lee was convicted of four charges of causing hurt to Mr Chan at his Jurong Town Hall Road office between January and May 2013.

Photo: Stomp

Two other charges of causing hurt and using abusive words were considered in sentencing.

The court was told that in January 2013, Lee slapped Mr Chan once in the face for failing to neatly arrange several software files in a computer.

The following month, he punched Mr Chan in the face several times, then pushed him off his chair, as he believed the intern had failed to correctly answer a customer's request.

On May 14, 2013, Lee grabbed Mr Chan's chin and forcefully pulled it back after finding out he had forgotten to delete files from a database.

The abuse that was caught on camera took place the next day, after Lee went through a conversation log between Mr Chan and a customer.

Video of boss abusing employee goes viral

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Video screengrabs, Stomp

Lee felt Mr Chan had failed to perform his work well, and questioned him. When Mr Chan gave him an explanation deemed unsatisfactory, he became increasingly agitated and started to shout at the younger man. Lee then punched him in the head before slapping him three times.

In passing sentence, District Judge Lim Tse Haw said the 10-day SDO imposed would be sufficient to deter like-minded employers from laying their hands on their employees.

"A strong message must be conveyed to all employers that such brutish behaviour has no place in our civilised society," he said.

"It must be made clear to all employers that an employee, no matter how low his position in the company is, is an important member of the company and not a punching bag, not even for stressed-out employers."

The judge considered Lee's clean record, his plea of guilt, albeit at a late stage on the first day of his trial, his $5,000 voluntary compensation and the fact that he was suffering from a depressive disorder.

However, he said he could not ignore the fact that what Lee had done was a serious matter. "As a responsible employer, he has a duty to have regard for the well-being and welfare of his employees.

"Instead, he subjected the victim to physical hurt and verbal abuse on numerous occasions, once in 2010/2011, and five other occasions from January to May of 2013."

Lee's lawyer Diana Ngiam successfully applied for her client to start his sentence on April 8. The maximum penalty for causing hurt is two years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Hearing over punishment

A special hearing was held earlier this year to determine IT company manager Lee Yew Nam's sentence after he was convicted of four charges of physically abusing a subordinate several times in 2013.

The defence asserted that the 45-year-old was suffering from a major depressive disorder at the time, and that it contributed to his offending behaviour.

His lawyers tried to persuade the court to call for a mandatory treatment order (MTO) report before sentencing Lee.

First implemented in 2010, an MTO requires offenders with mental conditions to undergo psychiatric treatment for up to two years in lieu of jail time.

Two expert witnesses - Lee's psychiatrist, Dr Tommy Tan, and the prosecution's Dr Jerome Goh from the Institute of Mental Health - testified .

The prosecution argued that the defence had not satisfied the court that Lee's disorder had contributed to his offending behaviour on all of the charges.

It argued there was also insufficient evidence to show that Lee's irritability and agitation were attributable to the major depressive disorder.

Also, the prosecution argued there was not enough evidence to show he had lost control of himself.

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
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Parliament will sit for nine days, starting on Monday, to debate the Government's Budget statement for the new financial year, and the hot topics will include help for small businesses and vulnerable Singaporeans to weather the uncertain economic climate.

In the first three days of the annual marathon, MPs will weigh in on the programmes and spending priorities that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced on March 24.

Each MP is allowed to speak for up to 20 minutes.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Finance as well as Trade and Industry, is expected to start the debate.

He told The Straits Times yesterday he would talk about "the challenges of getting our act together and how our workforce can better prepare for the structural changes to come".

As part of the $4.5 billion Industry Transformation Programme, government officers will be attached to about 20 sectors to help drive innovation in firms and industries.

"These cluster champions are a good move, but it is not easy to get people from different groups to work together," Mr Liang said.

Mr Heng will respond to the MPs' comments and concerns on the third day, after which Parliament will vote on the Budget for the financial year starting in April.

Ministers will then present the budgets of their individual ministries, and MPs will scrutinise and comment on their spending plans.

To do so, MPs will file "cuts" - a call for a $100 reduction in a ministry's budget - and use the opportunity to give their views on a ministry's programmes and policies.

The minister and other office-holders will respond and, if satisfied, the MP will withdraw the cut in order for the individual budget to be passed by Parliament.

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir) plans to address the issue of fiscal prudence.

He said: "We must differentiate between a 'must-have' and a 'good- to-have' when we allocate our Budget priorities. Must-haves include defence, security and training our population to be equipped with skills and expertise to face up to future challenges."

Before the debate on the Budget statement on Monday, last year's hepatitis C saga will come under the spotlight during question time.

Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera wants to know the names of and penalties given to the Singapore General Hospital and Health Ministry staff linked to the outbreak, while Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC) will ask what measures are in place to ensure such an incident does not happen again.

The marathon debate will wrap up on April 14.

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
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For 13 hours from Thursday night, Block 508 in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 was the stage for high drama.

Madam Chua Tian Choo was trapped in her bedroom by her chopper-wielding son, who was threatening to burn himself in their two-room flat on the eighth floor, in a stand-off with narcotics officers who were there to arrest the suspected drug offender.

Elite police units armed with tactical gear were called in, civil defence officers set up an air bag and safety net outside the block, and about 50 residents from the seventh to ninth floors were evacuated in case of a gas explosion.

The drama ended only after the police were able to force their way into the flat at about 10am yesterday, arresting the 48-year-old tattooed suspect who was led out shirtless and with blood trailing down a leg. It was only then that the tired residents who spent the night at the void deck and a nearby community club were allowed to return to their homes.

Madam Chua, 70, told The Straits Times that the incident had left her feeling dizzy, but insisted her son, the elder of two - both of whom are no strangers to prison - never harmed or threatened her.

"It's over, I'm happy," she said in Mandarin.

The incident was sparked when Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers knocked on the door of her flat at about 9pm on Thursday, looking for her son as part of their investigations into a suspected drug trafficking syndicate.

CNB said he refused to open the door. Instead, he threatened to burn himself. The man was also seen holding a chopper.

Man arrested in Ang Mo Kio after 13-hour stand-off with police

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The New Paper, Lianhe Wanbao, The Straits Times

The Singapore Civil Defence Force was called in, along with the police's Special Operations Command and negotiators.

The spectacle caught the attention of residents at a nearby Meet- the-People Session that was being held by Mr Ang Hin Kee, the MP for the area, and they began helping those who had to be evacuated.

"We opened up air-conditioned rooms at the neighbouring community club, and brought in blankets and comfortable chairs for the elderly and very young to get some sleep," said Mr Ang.

The police managed to force their way into the flat after cutting through the gate.

A small amount of "Ice" and heroin were found, CNB said.

Preliminary tests showed that the suspect had taken drugs. Three knives, including a chopper, were also found.

When The Straits Times visited the flat, two gas canisters could be seen in the living room.

Neighbours said the family had been living there for about eight years, and the suspect could often be heard yelling or seen talking to himself.

Mr Ang said he recognised the man. "About two months ago, he came to us for financial assistance, and we gave. We helped with food as well. He said he was unemployed," he said.

Madam Junidah Sadham, a 50-year-old housewife, was among those who had to be evacuated along with her husband, niece and granddaughter. She ended up at the void deck but could hardly get any sleep because of the ongoing drama.

"We were worried about what was happening and how long it would take. Luckily, no one was hurt," she said.

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
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A 71-year-old taxi driver, who killed his lawyer's wife after hitting her on the head with a bicycle chain and setting fire to the law office she was in, was sent to jail yesterday with the maximum sentence of 10 years.

Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng agreed with the prosecution that this was one of the most serious instances of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

She called Govindasamy Nallaiah's attack on Madam Low Foong Meng, 55, "deplorable" for causing the victim to suffer multiple injuries.

The jail term was backdated to August 2011 when Govindasamy was in custody. If given the usual one-third remission for good behaviour, he could be released in two years.

In February, Govindasamy was convicted of the lesser charge of culpable homicide and cleared of murder. He originally faced life imprisonment or death under a rarely invoked murder charge.

Under the provision, a killing amounts to murder if the person commits an act knowing it is so imminently dangerous that it would in all probability cause death.

But the court found that the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that his act "would in all probability cause death".

He was, however, guilty of culpable homicide as his act was "likely" to cause death.

Man claims trial to killing ex-lawyer's wife, setting building on fire

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The Straits Times, The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News, Rengarajoo Balasamy

Madam Low's husband, Mr Rengarajoo Rengasamy Balasamy, was not in court for the sentencing. When The Straits Times contacted him later, he said: "That's what the court thought was correct... There's nothing I can say about it. What status do I have?"

He said the case was a matter between the prosecution and the accused, adding: "What I've lost, I've lost. I'm not going to get it back."

Asked if he felt angry towards Govindasamy, he replied: "Of course. I'm not Mahatma Gandhi or Jesus Christ, I'm an ordinary human being with all the feelings. You put yourself in my place and you will know how it feels like."

The court heard during the trial last year that Govindasamy owed Mr Rengarajoo, a childhood friend, $38,000 in legal fees incurred when the lawyer represented him in a 2002 corruption trial. In July 2011, Mr Rengarajoo took legal action against Govindasamy's son to recover the debt.

Govindasamy was given a deadline to pay by Aug 10, 2011, or his son and daughter- his guarantors - would be taken to court.

That morning, Govindasamy went to Mr Rengarajoo's office in the Afro Asia Building and tried to negotiate with Madam Low.

When that failed, he took out a bicycle chain and padlock and hit her on the head until she passed out. He then used a lighter to set some files on a table on fire before fleeing, leaving her inside.

Yesterday, his lawyer, Ms A. Sangeetha, sought a jail term of not more than seven years, arguing that "his paternal instincts had overcome his rationality".

Govindasamy had gone from being a senior Customs officer to a bankrupt after his corruption conviction and did not want his children, both civil servants, to have the same fate, she said.

The prosecution sought the maximum term of 10 years.

It argued that Govindasmy's acts were pre-meditated and calculated, noting that after knocking Madam Low out, he had the presence of mind to search the office for a file containing his children's acknowledgement of debt.

As Govindasamy's family left the court yesterday, his daughter, Ms Letchmi Ghandi Govindasamy, said through tears that the family would "just wait for him to come back".

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
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A four-year-old who fell nine floors from his new home in Yishun Ring Road in October last year died because of "a truly sad misadventure", a coroner said yesterday.

Darien Riley Zabiq, who had been left alone at home with his two-year-old sister, had placed a chair in front of a window to reach it and push it open, the coroner's court heard.

He then used a wooden-framed mirror to bridge the space between the window frame and the air-conditioner ledge, before climbing onto the ledge and falling over.

Delivering his findings into the boy's death, State Coroner Marvin Bay said while there is no mandatory requirement for HDB flat owners to install window grilles, it would be "a rational and prudent safety measure" to have them in high-rise apartments, particularly for households with young children.

Children are naturally inquisitive, keen to explore their environment and "may not have developed a sound appreciation of risks", he said.

And one can never reliably anticipate "their propensity to do the unexpected and hazardous".

On Oct 6, Darien was supposed to have gone to kindergarten, but he did not want to and had kicked up a fuss, so his mother, Madam Sophia Noreen Kamsani, let him sleep in. She also let her daughter, Eriqa, stay at home instead of dropping her off at her grandmother's.

As she was late for work, and with Darien and Eriqa asleep in the master bedroom, Madam Sophia went to Yishun Street 11 to give her mother, Madam Nor Hidayah Abdullah, her house keys.

See also: 

- Boy falls to death while standing on top of condo's air-con unit 

- Home alone boy, 4, falls to his death

- 13-year-old girl falls to her death from 21st floor

Madam Sophia's husband, Mr Zabiq Kamis, had already left for work, while their two older children, aged eight and 10, had gone to school.

She made sure all the windows were closed before she left at about 8.15am. About 20 minutes later, Darien fell.

He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Madam Nor Hidayah was on her way to babysit her grandchildren when she got a call from Mr Zabiq telling her he had been contacted by the police.

Policemen found Eriqa asleep in the master bedroom. The window was open and a chair, taken from another room, had been placed in front of it.

The rest of the windows in the home were closed.

The family had moved into the flat just 12 days earlier and had arranged for window grilles to be installed.

As a safety measure, Madam Sophia had put cardboard boxes filled with heavy items near the windows as a barrier. She also reminded the children not to open the windows, or go near them.

The windows could not be locked, but only closed and secured by a handle.

In an interview a week after the incident, Mr Zabiq, a security officer, had said: "That day, we made the 'fast' decision (to leave the children at home alone), which was the wrong decision. And we have paid for it with my son's death."

Madam Sophia, a part-time dental assistant, added: "The pain will always be there, but we have to move on and be strong, as we have three other children."

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
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A general practitioner has been suspended for 12 months for supplying cough syrup to addicts .

Dr Liew Kert Chian, 46, was practising at Temasek Clinic & Surgery in Bedok when he supplied 90ml bottles of cough syrup to more than 30 addicts at $22 each.

He did this without making prescriptions and left no records of the sales, made between Jan 2 and Oct 5 in 2011.

At a disciplinary hearing by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) on Feb 4, he pleaded guilty to one charge of having been convicted of an offence implying a defect in character.

He was ordered to pay a penalty of $5,000.

In a press release yesterday, the SMC said 266 litres of Procodin syrup and 11.4 litres of Beacodyl were unaccounted for.

"This was not a case of mere inadvertence or inexperience on the part of Dr Liew in failing to keep proper records," said the council.

The records of the sales were first made in pencil on the addicts' treatment cards, and later erased. There were no records in the dispensing record or in the treatment cards.

In mitigation, Dr Liew's lawyer said the doctor is the sole breadwinner and has to support his wife, daughters aged seven and 12, and 81-year-old bedridden mother.

However, the tribunal found it "deeply troubling" that he had recorded the purchases of the cough syrup in pencil in the patients' treatment cards, and erased them later.

This clearly showed a high degree of planning. Also, this was not a case in which he stopped selling the syrup to the addicts "on his own volition out of remorse", said the SMC.

The offence came to light when a friend of an addict told the Health Sciences Authority that her friend had been abusing cough mixtures and pills bought from the doctor.

"By profiting from his patients' addiction, instead of properly treating them for their addiction, Dr Liew had recklessly disregarded the potential harm that could be caused to these patients."

Dr Liew's 12-month suspension took effect on March 19. He was convicted in the Subordinate Courts in October 2013 of supplying cough syrup without keeping a proper record, and was fined $4,500.

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Singaporeans have been gobsmacked by the overwhelmingly suffocating dry spell in March, and it hasn't even hit haze-filled season yet! While we are not going to hit 40°C, according to NEA, we may hit 36°C on some days, with other daily highs of 33 to 34°C.

NEA has attributed a few factors to the dry spell in Singapore, such as the influence of El Nino, the presence of a dry and warm air mass over the region, and the occurrence of the equinox.

via GIPHY

What Exactly Is Causing The Heat?

Some of us might be wondering, why is it expected to be so hot this month? Well, global warming and El Nino aren't the only culprits. A phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) has also contributed to this in cities such as Singapore.

The UHI effect is a situation whereby urban areas are significantly warmer than rural areas due to urbanisation and human activities in large cities. And it's going to heat up even more, as Singapore continues to urbanise and develop.

But here's the good news! A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) researchers have developed a modelling tool to depict UHI effects by creating visual maps for areas based on (i) sunlight and shading, (ii) wind flow and temperature, and (iii) noise levels.

A*STAR Team who developed the UHI modelling tool

With such information, city planners, housing developers and even town councils can better make informed decisions on exactly where and how to build better cities. By determining our island's pain points, we can address them in simple but effective ways; such as increasing tree cover, installing rooftop gardens and building water features to cool things down. Perhaps the rooftop infinity pool of the Marina Bay Sands is not simply an aesthetic construction after all!

Here's a video of the modelling tool developed by A*STAR:

5 Places In Singapore To Escape the Heat

Now if the heat does become unbearable, here are some places we specifically highlighted out for you to escape the heat:

1. Pinnacle at Duxton

First on our list is Pinnacle at Duxton, simply because it has a great rooftop on its 50th Storey Skybridge. And yes you do not have to be a resident there to access the facilities. Other than enjoying the cool breeze from the rooftop garden, you can also enjoy the amazing view of the city. Here's a look at the Skybridge:

2. Vivocity Rooftop Pool

If Pinnacle is not enough to charm you, you can also drop by the drop by the popular Vivocity. Other than being known as the largest shopping mall in Singapore, Vivocity has a great rooftop pool which is designed to keep the temperature around cool. It is familiar to see families and kids around enjoying the facilities. Pro tip from us? Grab a few snacks and set up a mini picnic over at the rooftop pool to escape the hot Singapore weather!

3. Lantern at The Fullerton Bay Hotel

This is fast growing to be one of our favourite hangout spots - Lantern at the Fullerton Bay Hotel. Located at the Marina Bay, the bar gives you a stunning view of the bay area, perfect for to bring your date on a weekday or weekend night. With the rooftop pool, along with its proximity to the bay, you can be sure that the bar is a great spot to escape the Singapore heat, which can be unbearable even after sunset.

4. Punggol Waterfront

Instagram-worthy spots around Punggol Waterfront

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The Straits Times

For friends staying at Punggol, you are in luck - the waterfront is probably one of the best places to hang out to escape the Singapore heat. The park with well-planned with its green features and water features, and for the adventurous and for those in the know, Punggol Beach is hidden gem - soft, fine sand, moss-covered rocks, with an unbeatable view of the horizon.

5. Gardens By The Bay

Cherry blossoms bloom in Gardens by the Bay

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Gardens by the Bay

Last (but definitely not least) on our list is the Gardens By The Bay (of course it is!). Gardens By The Bay is just a walk away from the Bayfront MRT and it is a nature park spanning 101 hectares of reclaimed land in central Singapore. You can choose to stroll at the park, cycle around it, visit the popular Flower Dome or Cloud Forest, or take part in the many activities that the authorities have planned for visitors.

The heat will be better come April, and while we await the cooler weather, these are the five spots that we've identified to avoid the heat in Singapore. Know any hidden spots that we should all check out? Do let us know in the comments below!

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By any global measure, a prime minister of Singapore presides over a minuscule patch of earth and speaks for a tiny fraction of the world's population. Yet notwithstanding the city-state's small size-or maybe because of it-its prime ministers often have a keener grasp of American interests than Americans do.

So it's no surprise that Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's current prime minister, would come right to the point in a meeting with The Wall Street Journal editorial board.

When asked for his take on the Obama administration's unratified Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, which neither the leading Democratic nor Republican candidate for president supports, he answered this way:

"You have an administration which understands America's international responsibilities and interests, but you have a population which is anxious, tired, and doesn't want to bear any burden and pay any price. And that's very difficult for whoever becomes president."

The TPP is a trade deal with 11 other Pacific nations that would cut tariffs on American goods and services, improve intellectual property rights, and help write the trade and investment rules for an area that is home to about 40 per cent of global economic output.

The agreement notably does not include China. There's an irony here, because at a moment when trade opponents in the US are hollering that these deals are always stacked against Uncle Sam, China's leaders fear the opposite is true with TPP. They believe, Mr. Lee says, "that you are trying to create rules which will favour you."

Read the full article here

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He spent the night anxiously waiting at the void deck of his block of flats. And by the time it was morning, Mr Abu Bakar Omar decided to take a day off.

The 55-year-old was among the residents of Block 508, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, who took leave from work after having to forgo the comfort of their homes between Thursday night and Friday morning.

This was due to a stand-off between an alleged drug offender and the authorities at the HDB block.

When The New Paper arrived at the scene yesterday at about 9.30am, the stand-off was still ongoing.

About 15 residents were seated below the block in a variety of chairs provided by grassroots members and the town council.

Mr Abu Bakar, who was at the void deck when The New Paper met him, said he was tired and could not get back to his house to change into his work clothes. So he had no choice but to call in sick.

The cleaner, who lives on the seventh storey, was supposed to start work at 7am yesterday.

He and his wife were able to rest at his daughter's nearby unit but he still didn't get a restful night's sleep.

Though his daughter's unit is in the same block, her household was not required to evacuate because it was at the other end of the block.

ANXIOUS

"I was very anxious because of all the commotion," he said.

"So for most of the night, I joined the other residents downstairs to see if there were any updates."

He said that at about 4am, he tried to get some sleep.

"Even then, my mind was still on everything that is happening. All because of this, I can't go to work this morning."

Like Mr Abu Bakar, nurse Misha Kaur also took the day off.

She said her family roughed it out at the playground at the foot of the block overnight.

"I took the day off because I didn't get to sleep at all last night," said Ms Misha, whose family lives on the ninth storey. The nurse, who is in her 40s, said that at about 8.30pm, she heard knocking on her door.

"Next thing I knew, the SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force) was at my door and they asked if they could enter to put up a safety net.

"There was a strong smell of gas in the air and they asked us to go downstairs for our own safety."

Mr Ang Hin Kee, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, who joined residents at the void deck of block from about 10pm on Thursday, told TNP at 10am yesterday that residents who could not return to their homes were allowed to rest below the block or at the nearby Cheng San Community Club.

TNP understands that a few families with children were able to rest in the air-conditioned music room of the community club.

Grassroots members also set up chairs and provided food and drinks for residents who were unable to return to their homes.

For those who wanted to use the toilet, the grassroots members accompanied them to use the toilet at the community club.

The residents were able to return to their homes only after police broke into the unit and arrested the suspect at around 10am yesterday.

Mr Ang said the authorities took a long time because they wanted to ensure everyone's safety.

For Ms Misha, she was just relieved that the whole episode was over.

"I'm just glad nobody is hurt."

tnp@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 2, 2016.
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