Allowing two local lottery operators to offer online betting provides a regulated and safer platform for gamblers, said Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday.
His remarks came a day after the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) voiced its concern over last week's decision to allow Singapore Pools and Turf Club to offer bets online.
It said the move sent "confusing and conflicting signals" given that the Remote Gambling Act, which kicked in last year in February, banned all other forms of online betting.
Asked to respond to this comment, Mr Tan stressed that the Government shares the concerns of anti-gambling and religious groups over problem gambling.
But he said that despite the new laws against illegal online betting, "you will not completely eradicate the problem", adding that "it is there and it is growing".
"You can close down sites, but new sites will be set up, sometimes faster than you can close them down," he told Channel NewsAsia.
"It is a global market with a lot of money to be made, and the worst thing is that it is unregulated and there are no safety measures in place."
People will continue to be drawn to these sites, and "we want to look out for those individuals".
Which is why it was decided to have "a tightly controlled outlet" through which the Government can moderate any problems, and prevent it from growing more than it should, Mr Tan said.
Those who want to gamble online on the legal platforms must be at least 21 years old, and will have to set daily gambling limits. They will also not be able to place bets on credit.
An existing exclusion regime, which allows families to bar their loved ones from casinos, would also be in place for online betting.
Mr Tan said he was encouraged by the examples of Hong Kong and Norway which also allow a small number of legal online betting operators. "What they've found is that it hasn't exacerbated the situation at all," he explained, pointing out that Singapore rules are even stricter.
Mr Tan, who said his ministry had consulted NCCS in 2014 and that he too had recently been in touch with voluntary welfare organisations and religious groups, repeatedly highlighted during the interview how having a regulated online betting regime was the best compromise.
"If we don't have this environment, what it means is that those who seek to bypass existing bans that are in place will then operate in a place that is completely unfettered," he said.
"And I think that is quite dangerous, because they are exposed to criminal elements as well, over and above the social ills that come with gambling. So it is really a combination of these measures that we think would be one way to deal with the potential growing problem."
A set of new applied subjects to be introduced in schools will give young people a head start in figuring out their interests, beyond traditional academic disciplines, said parents and teachers.
Seven new subjects will be offered over the next two years.
Electronics and computing for O-level students will start next year, along with three Normal (Technical) level subjects - smart electrical technology, mobile robotics and retail operations. In 2018, drama, as well as exercise and sports science, will be offered at O level.
Mr Billy Ng, 54, who owns an IT consultancy, said his Secondary 1 son would enjoy electronics and computing. "Since primary school, he's been into gadgets, technology and programming."
National Institute of Education (NIE) don Jason Tan said the new subjects are in line with the SkillsFuture movement to encourage students to discover their interests, especially in applied learning.
"The range of subjects sounds in tune with some of the polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) courses, and these will give students a head start in preparing for post-secondary education," said Associate Professor Tan.
He also said it is good that some subjects cater to Normal (Technical) students. "It will be helpful for them in deciding which courses to take in future."
Mr Ravintharan Palanisamy, who will teach mobile robotics next year at Woodlands Ring Secondary School, said: "We hope to make the subject come alive so that students will be enthused and pursue related courses later on."
Secondary 2 student Zikry Izzaniq Azizan from Hong Kah Secondary, who hopes to take electronics next year, said: "In primary school, I took part in a robotics workshop and started to like electronics."
The 14-year-old, who wants to study engineering at a polytechnic, said: "Hands-on learning gives more focus than just reading textbooks."
In addition, secondary schools work with post-secondary institutions to offer shorter courses in applied topics.
For instance, more than 6,000 students have taken advanced elective modules (AEMs) - offered by the polytechnics to give Express and Normal (Academic) students a glimpse at practical training through laboratory sessions and workshops by poly lecturers.
The AEMs began in 2006 with about 200 students. Now, there are about 150 modules to choose from, in areas such as hospitality, aerospace and digital animation.
Since 2007, about 5,400 Normal stream students have also taken up elective modules offered by schools together with the ITE.
There are now 31 such courses in areas related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The modules can count towards credit requirements when students join the ITE.
This article was first published on Oct 07, 2016.
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When United States presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have their rematch in St Louis, Missouri, on Sunday, there will be a Singapore presence as well.
Mr Kenneth Sng, a Public Service Commission scholarship holder, will be delivering opening remarks at the event as the Student Union president of Washington University in St Louis, which is hosting the event.
His remarks are expected to be broadcast on American cable channel C-Span ahead of the clash between the two candidates.
Previous student leaders at presidential debates have also been given the opportunity to meet the nominees.
The Office of International Students and Scholars at Washington University said in its official newsletter that the role of Mr Sng - who is the first international student to serve as the Student Union's president - in the event holds special significance.
Even more so "considering how issues surrounding immigration policy have become so prominent in this election", it said.
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Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in first presidential debate
The 24-year-old attended Jurong Junior College from 2009 to 2010, and the school said yesterday that it is proud of its student.
"We are extremely happy for him and very proud of him being the first international student to be elected president of Washington University's Student Union, and being accorded this rare opportunity to deliver the opening remarks at the upcoming second US presidential debate," it said.
According to interviews with the university's student newspaper, Mr Sng said he ran to be president of the Student Union because he thought the university's financial allocation process was not transparent or streamlined enough when he tried to start a Singapore students' association.
The final-year student in economics and mathematics added that he intends to bring his approach to campus life back to the civil service when he graduates.
"If I have that sense of purpose and meaning in a career in civil service, I'll definitely continue for as long as I can."
Over 80 million people tuned in to watch the first debate between Mr Trump and Mrs Clinton, and another large audience is expected for the rematch.
The debate begins next Monday at 9am (Singapore time).
This article was first published on Oct 07, 2016.
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<p>When United States presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have their rematch in St Louis, Missouri, on Sunday, there will be a Singapore presence as well.</p>
In Singapore's multi-racial and multi-religious society, commonalities among the various communities must be emphasised.
In that way, Mahatma Gandhi's principles help to reach out to all members of the community, as well as enabling everyone to embrace love in order to help humanity, said MP for Bukit Batok SMC Murali Pillai.
"We have to observe what is happening around us. Terrorist threats and attacks are undermining world peace and stability. Even in developed nations, racial and communal conflicts are not uncommon.
Swami ji garlands. Photo: Hindi Society
But we have to note that such tensions did exist during Gandhi's era," he said at an event commemorating the 147th birth anniversary of the great Indian leader.
"Gandhi was a man focused in actions. He relied on the pillars of truth and non-violence. It is the personal connection that he had with the hearts and minds of millions of people that moved them," said Mr Murali in his speech at the Gandhi Memorial Hall at Race Course Lane on Oct 2.
"When we flip through history, we would be surprised by his simplicity. And we can learn from him that one can solve many problems with love and peace," he added.
The Choir from GIIS sang Sarva Dharma Prayer on the occasion to mark International Day of Non-violence. Photo: GIIS
President of Ramakrishna Mission (Singapore), Swami Vimokshananda recalled how the title 'Mahatma' was coined, combining the words 'Mahan' and 'Atma' (Great Soul).
The event was jointly organised by Singapore Indian Association, Hindi Society (Singapore), Singapore Gujarati Society, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Trust and Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin.
After robbing the woman in her flat, he made her strip before sexually assaulting her for an hour.
Raymond Lee Ling Soon also made his victim squat naked at the door and threatened to kick her private parts if she called the cops.
The facilities maintenance supervisor then made off with $400 cash, but did not get far as officers arrested him that day.
Yesterday, Lee, now 39, was jailed 11 years and ordered to be given 24 strokes of the cane for robbery and sexual assault.
His offences were described as heinous by District Judge Low Wee Ping, who also called the accused cruel and depraved.
Court papers said the victim, who cannot be named due to a gag order, had been working as a freelance masseuse out of her rented flat in Chinatown since December 2015.
She was assisted by a friend, who ran online advertisements for her services.
Lee saw the advertisements and guessed she stayed alone, based on previous experiences.
He made an appointment for a massage.
PENKNIFE
But his true intention was to rob the masseuse as he was in need of money, having been fined in court earlier for a National Environment Agency summons.
He also recalled a previous occasion where he robbed a victim in a lift using a penknife and decided to do the same.
On Jan 19 this year, at about 7.30pm, he arrived at the woman's flat armed with a penknife.
As soon as the masseuse let him in and closed her room door, he whipped out the weapon and held it to her throat.
He announced it was a robbery and ordered the masseuse to strip naked and lie on her bed, which the terrified woman did.
Lee then rummaged through her belongings and found $400 in cash, which he kept in his bag.
He then lay beside the woman, while still pointing the penknife at her.
For the next hour, he sexually assaulted and molested her, and made her perform oral sex on him.
Throughout this, she told him she was in Singapore to earn money to support her family back home.
After he was done, he told her to squat naked at the main door of the flat, close her eyes and count to 20.
He threatened to kick her private parts if she called the police.
She called the cops as soon as Lee left her flat.
Officers tracked him down that night after he had deposited the stolen money into his bank account.
Yesterday, Lee pleaded guilty to one count each of robbery by night and sexual assault by penetration.
Two other charges of molest and sexual assault were taken into consideration for sentencing.
Defence counsel Low Jian Hui said in mitigation his client was remorseful and had to care for his elderly parents.
But Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Kavita Uthrapathy argued Lee showed no remorse for his actions - having been jailed seven years and caned for robbery with hurt in 2000, when he was 23.
The court also heard that Lee had been convicted and jailed for cheating and for property offences in 2012.
DPP Kavita also said Lee committed the offences in the victim's home, where she was entitled to feel safe.
Judge Low, in sentencing, said the court was shocked when it read Lee's criminal record.
The judge added Lee had subjected his victim to robbery, molest and sexual penetration.
"I have no hesitation in sentencing you to 11 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane," the judge said.
This article was first published on October 07, 2016.
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An alleged hit-and-run accident last Friday not only left a boy with a broken arm but also caused him to miss part of his PSLE.
Raiyan Haikal, 12, is bitterly angry at the lorry driver who, he alleged, did not stop after hitting him.
"I can only feel anger," said the East Spring Primary School pupil, who is disappointed over not being able to complete his PSLE.
He took two papers, but had to miss Malay and Science, which he said he had studied especially hard for.
The accident left him with a fractured right arm - his writing hand - and a major cut on his cheek.
Raiyan said he had been crossing the junction of Compassvale Walk and Compassvale Road at 3.30pm, on his way home from the mosque, when the accident happened.
He told The New Paper that he is very certain that the lights were in his favour.
He heard the sound of a vehicle engine and the next thing he knew, the lorry had hit him.
"There was blood flowing from my right cheek and I felt pain in my whole (right) arm," he told TNP.
"I ran towards a bus stop (where there were bystanders) and I shouted, 'Uncle, help!' Then I felt tired so I lay down on the grass."
Passers-by called the police and ambulance. His mother, Madam Sofia Aziz, 43, said she was shocked when she received a call from one of the passers-by.
"When you see your son, bandaged like a mummy with so much blood... as a mother you would faint," said Madam Sofia, who works part-time as a baker at Petite Bakehouse at Anchorvale Road.
She arrived at the accident scene and went with her son to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
She believes that the side mirror of the lorry hit Raiyan's right cheek, cutting it. A fragment of glass was found in his wound at the hospital.
Photo: The New Paper
The boy was transferred to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. He was discharged on Sunday and remains on medical leave till Oct 21.
When asked whether Raiyan was using a mobile phone while crossing the road, Madam Sofia said he had not been allowed to take his phone to school that day because of his exam.
REGRET
The pupil, who took his Maths paper last Friday, regrets that he did not have a chance to do his Science paper on Tuesday.
"I was looking forward to it. I like to do science a lot and I learnt a lot in school,'' he said.
Madam Sofia said that before Raiyan went into the operating theatre, he had asked her whether he could recover by Monday so that he could take his Science paper.
She said that pride and sadness overcame her.
She added that her son had put in so much effort for the PSLE papers that it even got to the attention of his teachers.
When asked about medical fees, Raiyan's mother said she has not yet received the bills, but admitted she is worried.
"This will affect our finances a lot, we already have six children. My husband is the main breadwinner, I only work part-time. My eldest daughter is only in Secondary 2," she said.
The New Paper understands that Raiyan's father delivers letters and documents to offices.
For now, Raiyan is trying to recover. He needs help bathing as he cannot use his arm yet. Some of his teeth are also shaky.
As for the PSLE, his mother said the school has explained that they will compute his score based on his scores in Primary 5, and 6, all the way to his preliminary exams.
Madam Sofia said: "As a parent of course we will be worried but we just have to accept fate and life has to go on."
Photo: The New Paper
East Spring Primary School told TNP that the school has contacted the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) to do the necessary follow-up request for special consideration.
"We are also providing him support to facilitate his recovery," the school added.
A SEAB spokesman said: "We have a process in place to give special consideration to such candidates who missed papers with valid reasons.
"We will take into consideration the candidates' performance in the other papers and their peers' performance so that they are not disadvantaged."
Police said investigations are still ongoing.
This article was first published on October 07, 2016.
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During his five-day working visit to India from Oct 3 to 7 at the invitation of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met the Singaporean community in Delhi.
The reception was hosted by Singapore's High Commissioner to India Lim Thuan Kuan at The Leela Palace Hotel on Oct 4.
Before mingling informally with the almost 150 guests and their children and patiently smiling through a plethora of selfies and photographs, PM Lee addressed the gathering.
He said: "I am very happy to meet all of you here. Glad we have a Singaporean community in India keeping their links. My last visit was in December 2012. I owe this visit to the fact that a lot has happened to strengthen the relationships between our two countries in these four years."
He then mentioned Mr Modi's visit to Singapore last November and the dinner the two leaders had at Komala Vilas in Little India. Among those present were several who had moved to India for work.
CEO of telco operator Aircel Kaizad Heerjee and his wife Shernaz moved to India in 2012 after 11 years in Singapore.
General manager of SUCG Infrastructure India Steven Ng, 52, has been in Delhi for three years. His current projects are with Delhi Metro and River Rejuvenation in Rajasthan.
Said Mr Ng of his stint: "I see the transitions taking place in India. It's a much better place than I expected it to be."
Mr Harkiran Singh Sandhu, 48, a third-generation Singaporean is country head of an American company, while his wife Inderbir Kaur, 47, is a psychology consultant. The couple moved to Gurgaon in 2009.
Said Ms Inderbir: "India's cultural richness, its warm friendly people and the opportunity to understand our roots better, have endeared us to this country."
Another attendee was Mrs Lado Kaur. She has been living in India for 40 years, having come to New Delhi as Gurvinder Jolly's 20-year old bride from Singapore where her parents and siblings live. Her husband, an Indian citizen, is a retired businessman.
A recent addition to Delhi is Mr Francisco L. Avenir Jr, 57, and his family. He is a project engineering manager with CB&I, an engineering and construction company.
He and his wife Janet and their two daughters were originally from the Philippines and had lived in Singapore since 1992.
They moved to Gurgaon in February this year. He finds "India incredibly versatile and the people very hard-working".
While in Delhi, PM Lee was hosted to a lunch by PM Modi.
The two witnessed the exchange of three MOUs on co-operation in the field of industrial property between the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and the Indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, co-operation on the establishment of a North East
Skills Centre in Assam between the Institute of Technical Education Education Services and the Government of Assam, and co-operation in skills development between the Institute of Technical Education Education Services and the Indian National Skill Development Corporation.
They came, they ate, and they left. Then they came again.
A family of nine otters has been raiding a commercial fishing pond at Pasir Ris Park over the past six months to feast on the fish.
And the carnivorous mammals have quite an appetite, which has left Mr Darren Seng, who owns D'Best Recreation, with a big hole in his pocket.
He estimates that each raid by the otters - and they come almost daily - costs him about $300 to $500 worth of fish.
He said that since he bought D'Best Recreation in August 2014, he has seen two otters feeding on his fish.
But the problem has become worse over the last six months.
"There used to be only two otters, but now there are nine. Two more, and they could form a football team," Mr Seng, 36, told The New Paper yesterday in jest.
But it's no laughing matter when his business is losing thousands of dollars monthly to the otters, and he can't do much to stop their raids apart from trying to keep them away.
Otters, like all wildlife in Singapore, are protected under the law, and cannot be killed or harmed.
In any case, the re-emergence of the smooth-coated otters on the island in recent years should be cherished because they were once thought to be extinct.
So Mr Seng has come to terms with his predicament, though it still hurts when he tallies up his losses.
Otters in Singapore
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The Straits Times, NParks, facebook, Jeff Tan YouTube, The New Paper
FOR ANGLERS
"The fishes in the pond are bought for the anglers to catch, so they will disappear anyway," he said.
The fishing pond is open round the clock for anglers to catch saltwater fish. It costs from $43 for eight hours of fishing, depending on the time slots.
"Since the start of the year, my staff have reported an increase in the number of otter sightings," Mr Seng added.
Over the last six months or more, the otters have emerged from the nearby Tampines River, heading to the pond almost daily to feed on the fish.
TNP was alerted to a video, which was taken on Tuesday afternoon, that captured a family of seven otters making their way into the pond.
They were filmed munching on their catch while casually floating in the water and seemingly oblivious to the humans close by observing them.
"In the beginning, the otters would come in the early hours of the morning when it is darker and there aren't many people around," said Mr Seng.
"Now they come and eat our fishes even when it's bright and there are people around."
When TNP visited the pond yesterday afternoon, there were no otters in sight.
But regular anglers told TNP that they have seen the animals.
"Every time the otters come, I do not get any bites from the fishes for a few hours. They scare away the fishes," said retiree Billy Ng, 60.
He said he visits the pond almost every day and usually sees the otters early in the morning.
"I hope that the otters can be moved away from the pond because I've paid for the time to fish here," he added.
Photo: The New Paper
Another angler seemed to welcome the otters. "They provide an interesting feature for visitors to the pond," said Mr Roland Tan, 66.
Mr Seng, however, fears the otters will grow so confident that they will attack the fishes kept inside his storage nets in the middle of the pond.
"Our storage area can hold about 25 nets, and each of them can hold about 100kg to 400kg of fishes," he said.
Worried, he has turned to the National Parks Board (NParks), the government agency that rents out the recreation area to him, for help.
"I'm hoping the authorities can help me before the damage gets out of hand," Mr Seng said.
HEDGES
Responding to TNP's queries, NPark's group director of parks, Mr Chia Seng Jiang, said in an e-mail that NParks staff had gone to the pond on Sept 30 to assess the situation.
"We are currently looking into various measures, including planting hedges near the pond to deter the otters from fishing there.
"We will also be putting up advisories in the vicinity of the pond to share more information about otters with the public," he said.
While Mr Seng hopes the measures will be successful, he is not holding his breath.
"I hope the hedges help, but the otters have legs and can move around the hedges," he said.
CLEANER WATERS, MORE OTTERS
Until recent years, the smooth-coated otter was a rare sight in Singapore, where it was thought to have become extinct.
But now, they are not only seen often, but have also become a problem for home owners and hotels in Sentosa, as well as commercial fishing pond owners like D'Best Recreation's Mr Darren Seng.
Mr N. Sivasothi, a biological sciences lecturer at the National University of Singapore, told The New Paper that the high number of otter sightings can be attributed to our waterways becoming cleaner over the years.
"It was only in 1998 that the smooth-coated otter returned to the waters of Singapore," he said.
"As the waterways get cleaner, they would have more fishes, and it is only natural that the otters would explore their surroundings."
Mr Sivasothi, who has been involved in otter research in Singapore since the early 90s, added: "With the greening of the urban areas and the improvement in the waterways, wildlife will return to these areas."
In particular, many Singaporeans were excited to see three smooth-coated otter pups that were born and raised in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in April last year.
The Asian small-clawed otter, the other species found in Singapore, is harder to spot because it is a nocturnal creature and can be found only in a few areas.
A spokesman for the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore said it received 42 instances of feedback on otters, mostly pertaining to sightings, from January last year to last month.
Only a small number of the feedback were on nuisance issues, which includeed the eating of fish in ponds.
It is illegal to kill or harm otters because, like all wildlife in Singapore, they are protected under the Wild Animals and Birds Act.
Mr Sivasothi hopes that the National Parks Board's plan to plant hedges along the fishing pond at D'Best Recreation would be enough to make it difficult for the otters to gain access to the pond.
PAST CASES
August 2016
Residents at Sentosa Cove installed motion sensor lights and barbed wire fences to keep otters from feeding in their fish ponds. One resident said the otters ate 22 of the 25 koi in her pond.
Hotels in Sentosa were also affected, with one hotel reporting a loss of $85,000 worth of fish over eight months.
April 2015
A Sentosa Cove resident told My Paper she lost $64,000 worth of koi overnight.
Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa was also forced to temporarily relocate the koi from its pond after reportedly losing about $20,000 worth of the fish
This article was first published on October 07, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - When the person who picked up his son's phone arranged to meet at the Helix Bridge to return the phone, Mr Gary Koh thought it was strange.
You can imagine his surprise when a man climbed up from underneath the bridge to return the phone.
Mr Koh wrote on Facebook on Tuesday (Oct 4) that his son lost his phone at Marina Bay Sands during the weekend. His son didn't realise the loss for "a few hours", and they had written off the phone until Mr Satish Kumar, who picked it up in a toilet, called them.
Mr Kumar, who works for BMS Group Environmental Services, arranged to meet at the Helix Bridge near Marina Bay Sands.
Mr Koh said in his post that he thought it was a strange place to meet - until he realised that Mr Kumar was working underneath the bridge and had to climb up the bridge to return the phone.
Mr Koh shared in his post a few photos and said that Mr Kumar turned down his offer of rewards for the good deed.
sinsh@sph.com.sg
Singaporean uncle's kind act towards foreign labourers in train goes viral
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The Straits Times
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Video screengrabs, The Straits Times, Lianhe Wanbao
SINGAPORE - A 28-year-old man took a video of a young girl's underwear at the baby-product section of a supermarket in April last year, a court heard. The eight-year-old had been sitting in a shopping cart with her legs parted.
A shopper who sensed something amiss shouted for help and a security guard detained Wong Jia Wei. Police later found many other upskirt videos, taken of unknown young girls, in his mobile phone.
On Friday (Oct 7), Wong, a Malaysian, was jailed for 20 weeks. He pleaded guilty to 10 out of 18 charges of insulting the modesty of a woman.
The remaining counts, along with one charge each of having an obscene film and a film without a valid certificate, were taken into consideration in sentencing.
The court heard that since 2012, Wong had been recording upskirt videos whenever he got the chance.
Said Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz: "Wong revealed that he had taken numerous upskirt videos of young Chinese girls between six and 10 years of age when he chanced upon them sitting in a manner that inadvertently exposed their panties... he has been taking upskirt videos since 2012."
He would cover the screen of his Sony Xperia phone with a phone cover, while filming, so that others would not suspect his actions.
On June 30, 2013, Wong saw a girl seated with her legs apart on a parapet near a grass verge at Bugis Village with her family. He took a video which showed her face, inner thighs and panties.
He also recorded an upskirt video of a girl, who was seated on a chair with her legs apart, outside the Starbucks outlet in Bugis Junction on Sept 15, 2013.
The next year, on April 12, 2014, he filmed a girl sitting on the floor reading at Serangoon Public Library with her legs apart.
A month later, on May 10, 2014, he saw a girl, who was with her mother, sitting with her legs apart on board a public bus. He took a video, which showed her face, inner thighs and panties.
He also filmed girls sitting inside shopping trolleys in NTUC FairPrice outlets. He took an upskirt video at Bedok Mall on Dec 15, 2013; at Ang Mo Kio Hub on Jan 26 last year; and at Nex on March 27 last year.
Wong has been diagnosed with voyeuristic disorder, with a pedophilic tendency.
The maximum penalty for insulting the modesty of a woman is one year's jail and a fine.
This article was first published on Oct 7, 2016.
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Increase in number of child sex abuse cases a worrying trend in S'pore
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Video screengrabs, AFP, The New Paper, The Straits Times
SINGAPORE - A secondary school teacher who preyed on a girl four times his junior and got her to send him more than 50 nude photos and videos over a nine-month period was jailed for 22 months on Friday (Oct 7).
A district court heard that Kuang Liang Yong, 47, had embarked on a sustained campaign of deception and emotional manipulation. He crafted a fake identity of a man who suffered from erectile dysfunction to gain the 13-year-old's sympathy and got her to send the nude photographs and videos to him in 2012 and 2013.
His WhatsApp messages to her ran into more than 400 pages over two years.
The offences took place on 13 occasions over a nine-month period, involving a total of 57 pictures and videos.
Kuang had also stalked a 12-year-old girl by pretending to be a Primary 6 boy in August and September 2015. He persistently sent her lengthy reams of text messages throughout the day, expressing his love for her and pestering her to respond.
Apart from the jail sentence, Kuang was also fined $500 for behaving in a disorderly manner, one of the five charges proceeded. Ten others were taken into consideration in sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amanda Chong Wei-Zhen had told the court that in early 2012, Kuang was with his family at a games arcade at Sun Plaza in Sembawang when he overheard the first victim, then 12, telling a counter staff that she had lost her mobile phone.
He let her use his phone to try and locate her mobile, and saved her number without her knowledge as he found her "adorable'' and took a liking to her, said DPP Chong.
He subsequently contacted her over WhatsApp messenger, and identified himself as "Sean Romeo''. He did so over WhatsApp for almost two years - commencing before February 2012 and ceasing only in December 2013.
Sometime in August 2012, he misrepresented to the victim, then 13, that "Sean Romeo'' had been in a motor accident and was unable to have sex.
He feigned depression and said he wanted to give up on life because of his erectile dysfunction.
As a result, the victim complied with his request and sent him three nude photographs of herself as she was very sympathetic and wanted to help him.
Kuang responded, saying he loved her for she "really sacrifice for me''.
Less than a month later - on Oct 8 - he told her to remove her clothes for him. He pestered her to send him more nude pictures and videos of her doing a sexual act. She sent him six photos and three videos of the indecent act.
The victim was 14 when she sent him one nude photo and a video on June 21, 2013. This was a day after he had messaged her, claiming that he was going to kill himself when she threatened to stop contacting him as she was frustrated that he had not told her more about himself.
The offences came to light when the second victim's father lodged a police report on Sept 6, 2015 that his 12-year-old daughter had been having a WhatsApp conversation with an unknown person saved in her contacts as "Guardian Angel''.
Kuang had engaged in a course of conduct which involved acts associated with stalking, by persistently sending the Primary 6 pupil messages in which he made unwanted advances to her and keeping her under surveillance. He had posed as a 12-year-old Primary 6 boy from a poor background to gain sympathy for himself.
In his oral grounds of decision, District Judge Terence Tay ticked off Kuang for masquerading as "Sean Romeo'' on a reprehensive agenda by sexually exploiting a naive young girl.
He said he generally agreed with the aggravating factors cited by the prosecution such as Kuang's predatory conduct, pre-meditation and the degree of exploitation.
He said he was particularly disturbed by the fact that Kuang had tried to broaden his sphere of influence by asking the victim to ask for the phone numbers of three other girls.
Kuang, who is married with two children, has resigned from the education service. He was represented by Mr Paul.
This article was first published on Oct 7, 2016.
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Top 7 scams in Singapore and more
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www.scamalert.sg
Increase in number of child sex abuse cases a worrying trend in S'pore
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Video screengrabs, AFP, The New Paper, The Straits Times
SINGAPORE - The estate of Mr Lee Kuan Yew has applied to the High Court for permission to appeal against certain orders made by the court in relation to a case involving transcripts of interviews Mr Lee did with the Government in the early 1980s.
The executors of the estate - Mr Lee's children Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang - have sought leave from the court to appeal Justice Tay Yong Kwang's decision to disallow the filing of an affidavit setting out how the transcripts came into the possession of the Cabinet Secretary after Mr Lee's death.
The documents had been found at 38 Oxley Road, Mr Lee's home, by a family member shortly after he died on March 23, 2015.
The estate is also looking to appeal against the court's decision" to seal or expunge certain affidavits, portions of affidavits, and other Court documents, from the Court file", lawyers for the estate said in a statement on Friday (Oct 7).
Justice Tay said in his judgment last week that he had disallowed the filing of the affidavit setting out how the transcripts had come into the Cabinet Secretary's possession, as "those details were unnecessary and quite irrelevant to my decision".
LKY's estate donates furniture, personal belongings from Oxley Road home
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Estate of Lee Kuan Yew, Stamford Law, The Straits Times
"The details would only serve to distract from the real issues. The real issues were the interpretation of the Interview Agreement and whether the Official Secrets Act had any bearing on its interpretation," he said.
"Accordingly, I dismissed the Plaintiffs' application and expunged those parts of any affidavits and other documents which set out or referred to the same details."
Nonetheless, he noted the relevant background facts that while the transcripts were supposed to be with the Cabinet Secretary, they were instead found in Mr Lee's possession at the time of his death in March last year, but there was no record of why they had been transferred to Mr Lee.
He also noted that sometime in the six weeks following Mr Lee's death, a member of Mr Lee's family had handed the transcripts to the Cabinet Secretary, "thinking that the transcripts were official government documents". The family member was not named.
The court ruled that the transcripts are protected by the Official Secrets Act given the politically sensitive nature of their contents.
As such, the estate has the copyright to the transcripts, but not in the conventional sense that it is entitled to access, copy and use the transcripts.
Instead, it has copyright only for the purpose of ensuring the Government's compliance with the terms of the agreement that Mr Lee had signed regarding the interviews, which were done when Mr Lee was prime minister.
Man discovers final resting places of Lee Kuan Yew's maternal ancestors
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The New Paper, Raymond Goh
This article was first published on Oct 7, 2016.
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After getting free Milo from the Milo van, Singaporeans can look forward to more free food, thanks to Nathan Hartono.
The singer may not have won the top prize in the China singing competition Sing! China, but Tung Lok is celebrating his achievement by giving away free servings of his favourite dishes this weekend, and a 25 per cent discount at its outlets on Monday.
The pride is understandable.
Tung Lok's executive chairman, Mr Andrew Tjioe, just happens to be Hartono's uncle.
The group posted a congratulatory message and details of the three-day promotion on Facebook right after the finals concluded on Friday night.
On Saturday, there will be free servings of Spinach Tofu (because it's Hartono's favourite) at TungLok Signatures, TungLok Teahouse, TungLok Seafood and Shin Yeh Taiwanese.
Another of his favourite dishes, Liu Sha Bao, will be offered for free at Tung Lok Xihe Peking Duck, Tung Lok Heen and Lao Beijing on Sunday.
And on Monday, the group will be offering a 25 per cent dine-in discount on ala-carte orders at Lokkee, Dancing Crab, and Ling Zhi vegetarian, in addition to their other Tung Lok outlets.
Why 25? Well, that's Hartono's age this year.
According to the post, customers must flash the Facebook message to enjoy the promotion, and terms and conditions apply.
15,000 cups of iced Milo, otherwise known as Milo peng were given away on Friday, a Nestle company spokesperson told Channel NewsAsia.
The promotion was a show of support for the local crooner, after he joked in a The Straits Times interview that he would rent a fleet of Milo vans if he won the singing competition.
But not to worry if you missed it, as according to their Facebook post, more Milo vans will be deployed to locations in the North, South, East, and West, soon.
The slowing job market is a top concern for MPs, who have filed 16 questions for Monday's Parliament sitting on the Government's plans to support workers in this climate.
Online gambling, rewards for national sports athletes, as well as the use of personal mobility devices will also get an airing in the House.
With jobseekers outnumbering job vacancies for the first time in four years and the economy facing global headwinds, labour MP Melvin Yong (Tanjong Pagar GRC) will ask Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say what his ministry is doing to raise the employment rate of local workers, which has remained stagnant for the past 18 months.
Non-constituency MP Daniel Goh is asking if the ministry can make it easier for older professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) who are retrenched or jobless to join its Career Support Programme. The programme aims to encourage the hiring and training of jobless PMETs.
Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) wants to know if the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will make it mandatory for employers to report their hiring outcomes, and to list job openings in Jobs Bank, the national database, even when the position has been advertised on other platforms.
A comprehensive jobs registry "will help policymakers have further insight into the job market and, hopefully, identify vulnerable groups and emerging job trends before they become apparent to traditional analysis", said Dr Tan.
MPs also filed questions about online gambling, with lottery operators Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club given the go-ahead to launch online betting services.
Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) and Mr Edwin Tong (Marine Parade GRC) are asking Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin about safeguards to prevent an increase in online gambling.
Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC), Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) and Prof Goh are asking Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu if more can be done to recognise the sporting efforts of Paralympians. Ms Tin and Prof Goh want to know if disabled athletes can get the same rewards as able-bodied athletes.
Seven MPs have also filed questions on safety issues relating to the use of personal mobility devices such as electric scooters.
MPs Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC) and Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC) want to know if the Land Transport Authority will consider a requirement for users of such devices to buy insurance to cover accidents.
Eight Bills, including one amending the Constitution to effect changes to the elected presidency, will be introduced on Monday. MPs will also debate amendments to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Act that include simplifying the payout process for the Retirement Sum Scheme.
This article was first published on Oct 08, 2016.
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Schools need to take a more proactive approach in getting young children to speak up if they are asked to perform indecent acts, say social workers and counsellors.
Experts say cases of sexual grooming often go unreported because the victims are too afraid to tell anyone. This comes after recent court cases where school staff made children perform indecent acts, raising concerns among parents about whether schools are doing enough.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) told The Straits Times that the schools involved are "providing the students with the necessary care and support, and will continue to monitor their well-being".
MOE said it has a stringent selection regime for educators, including various screening processes and a panel interview with experienced senior educators.
It added: "Upon entering the service, we have in place regular platforms to emphasise our high expectations. These include conversations on the importance of maintaining professional relationships with students."
Fear of judgment and guilt often hold victims back from speaking up. To tackle this, experts suggest schools raise awareness of what sexual grooming entails.
Recent court cases involving school staff
School employees, including teachers, have been in the news for preying on young children.
In one case, primary school teacher Colin Ting Fook Mun unzipped a nine-year-old pupil's shorts to look at the underwear he had bought him, and on another occasion asked the boy to unzip his trousers. The acts occurred at the school. Ting, 41, who quit teaching 11/2 years ago, was jailed for 12 months.
In another case, a primary school employee sexually abused three brothers who were studying at the school he was working in. The 52-year-old man will be sentenced at a later date.
Yesterday, former teacher Kuang Liang Yong, 47, was jailed 22 months for getting a 13-year-old girl to send him more than 50 nude photos and videos over a nine-month period.
Mr Alfred Tan, chief executive of the Singapore Children's Society, hopes schools can organise more classroom discussions to teach pupils about "good and bad touches".
"Most children don't speak up because they feel guilty if they say something bad about their teachers or other adults," he said. "Schools must teach students what is considered inappropriate touching, and they need to tell a trusted adult if something happens."
Ms Jolene Tan, head of advocacy and research at the Association of Women for Action and Research, said: "In regular interactions with young people, adults need to demonstrate that any concerns they raise, including about authority figures, will be taken seriously.
"This will make it easier for victims of sexual exploitation to report behaviour that makes them uncomfortable and to receive the support that they need."
Ms Tan urged parents to have an atmosphere of openness at home. "If children know they can talk to their parents about sexual feelings or sexual activity without fearing a judgmental response, they are more likely to alert parents to situations of grooming," she added.
MOE said its teachers and counsellors look out for students in distress, and reach out to them to offer further intervention. Schools also have peer support efforts, such as having their peers alert trusted adults about suspected abuse.
"We take a serious view of every case where staff fall short of expected standards," it said.
This article was first published on Oct 08, 2016.
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Reader Nancy Goh, a single Singaporean senior citizen now working in the United States, intends to return home when she retires within the next five years. She wanted to confirm what flats she is eligible to buy, and whether she can arrange for a Power of Attorney for her sibling to apply for a flat on her behalf.
Housing reporter Janice Heng answers her questions.
Singles aged 35 and older can buy a new two-room flexi flat directly from the Housing Board, through Build-to-Order or Sale of Balance Flats exercises.
If they would like to buy a larger flat, they will have to do so on the open resale market.
Flat buyers may indeed appoint someone to act on their behalf through a Power of Attorney (POA), said the HDB.
They should consult a private solicitor to prepare this legal document. For applicants who are overseas, the POA must be prepared by the solicitor and signed by the applicant in the presence of a notary public, the Singapore High Commissioner, or a Singapore Ambassador in the country of their stay.
The solicitor has to register the signed POA with the Singapore High Court Registry.
Singles aged 35 and older can buy a new two-room flexi flat directly from the Housing Board, through Build-to-Order or Sale of Balance Flats exercises.
If they would like to buy a larger flat, they will have to do so on the open resale market.
If the application is successful but the buyers cannot attend the appointment to book their flat personally, they may authorise a representative to do so on their behalf.
This is done by completing an authorisation form that can be found on the HDB's website.
After booking a flat, they will need to sign the Agreement for Lease and pay the down payment. When the flat is completed, they will be invited to collect the keys within one month of being notified.
Either the flat buyers or their appointed representative will need to attend these appointments at the HDB sales office. Requests to defer key collection will be considered on a case-by-case basis, said the HDB.
For resale flats, the buyers or their appointed representative must attend two appointments at the HDB office together with the flat sellers: first to discuss administrative details, and then to complete the resale transaction.
Even after a POA has been arranged, there are some documents that must be signed personally by the flat applicant and mailed to the HDB.
These are the application form, the statutory declaration signed in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths or notary public, and letters of undertaking.
Buyers of resale flats must also sign and submit the resale checklist for buyers.
This article was first published on Oct 08, 2016.
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Property has its place in a diversified portfolio. Given relatively high home prices in Singapore, it is no wonder that many Singaporeans have, over the years, turned to investing overseas.
This was especially the case when the Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty, first introduced in 2011 for Singaporeans buying third and subsequent properties, was imposed on second homes from January 2013. The total value of overseas properties snapped up by Singaporeans hit a peak of $1.67 billion in the first half of 2013, although this moderated to $0.4 billion in the first half of last year, according to Monetary Authority of Singapore data.
Properties in Britain, Malaysia and Australia have been popular for some years, but Singaporeans are increasingly buying in Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
Mr Marc Townsend, CBRE Vietnam managing director, and Mr Keff Hui, a broker at Mortgage Supermart Singapore, give property reporter Rennie Whang the lowdown on some important factors to consider before investors jump in.
WHAT IS THE MARKET LIKE?
A flat or declining residential market, or a quiet market, is not ideal.
"You want to be buying into a lively market, where there is hopefully some potential for prices to rise further," said Mr Townsend.
WHAT ARE RULES ON FOREIGN OWNERSHIP?
In Australia, for example, foreign investors can buy only newly built residential properties and must obtain prior approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) for some property types. For more details, would-be investors can check the FIRB website at https://firb.gov.au/resources/guidance/gn01/
In Thailand, foreign freehold ownership is not allowed, but foreigners can buy freehold land for manufacturing purposes with Board of Investment approval.
Foreign ownership restrictions in emerging Asian markets are expected to be relaxed gradually in the coming years as they seek to attract international capital, CBRE noted in a recent report.
"However, investors should be aware of restrictions on capital repatriation and currency volatility as countries look to ensure they remain cost-competitive."
WHAT ARE RULES ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND TAXES?
Many countries have rules on foreigners bringing money into the country and taking it out.
Taxes can come in many forms, from transaction taxes to taxes for holding the property. As tax policies may need some interpreting and rates can change frequently, foreign buyers should speak to a lawyer and an accountant when entering a new jurisdiction.
WHAT ARE FOREIGN-EXCHANGE RISKS?
In some markets, tenants may want to rent in their local currency rather than in the US dollar or the Singapore dollar. Buyers should seek markets where the local currency has proven stable over time.
WHAT IS THE PROPERTY LIKE?
This includes a check on the quality of the developer, including if it is known to be reliable and will complete projects on time.
In some markets, location is essential, whereas in others with good transport infrastructure such as Bangkok or Singapore, it could be less of an issue.
WHAT IS THE 'RENTABILITY' OF THE PROPERTY AND WHAT KIND OF UNIT TO BUY?
A potential investor should find out if it is easy to get tenants and where they would be from.
This would include how much rent tenants in the market can typically pay and the features they may want in an apartment.
While everyone would love to snag a penthouse cheaply, it may not mean that a tenant would fork out more rent per sq ft than, say, for a two-bedroom unit.
For example, the rental market in Vietnam sees many Asian expatriates who often work in manufacturing. They may not have the high rental allowances of expatriates in other countries with large, fast- moving consumer goods, finance or telecommunications sectors, Mr Townsend noted.
"It's better to buy according to what rent potential tenants can give you, and questions on yield expectation are important," he said.
WHAT ARE FINANCING OPTIONS FOR OVERSEAS PROPERTIES?
These are aplenty, with options to finance the property in either Singapore dollar-denominated or foreign currency-denominated mortgages.
Foreign lenders may also offer additional options, such as flexibility for dual currency switching, fixed rates, and interest-only and interest-offset mortgages, depending on country of location, said Mr Hui.
HOW DOES THE TIMELINE FOR PROPERTY PAYMENT HERE DIFFER FROM THOSE IN MORE POPULAR OVERSEAS MARKETS?
While new properties sold in Singapore are on progressive payment schemes, most purchases in popular overseas markets - Australia, Britain and Malaysia, for example - are still typically sold under the deferred payment scheme.
This is where a buyer purchases the unit with a small 10 per cent down-payment deposit, with the remaining 90 per cent deferred till completion.
The payment timeline for completed overseas property purchases is similar to that in Singapore where the buyer places an upfront booking or option fee, with the remaining to be settled upon completion one to three months later.
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG - On the surface, the property markets in Singapore and Hong Kong have much in common. The two Asian financial hubs have both moved to rein in runaway home prices in recent years as they sought to make housing more affordable.
Yet, home values in the cities have diverged. Singapore has been successful in damping buyer demand with curbs, while restrictions have had little impact on Hong Kong's gravity-defying market, which is rebounding after a short-lived dip.
Urban planning researcher Demographia last year found Hong Kong housing to be the least affordable it has measured in 11 years of surveying large urban markets.
Singapore ranked 27th on the list with its overall affordability score holding steady in recent years. It takes an estimated 19 years of median household income to buy a home in Hong Kong, compared with five in Singapore.
Singapore's public housing model offers one explanation for how the city has been able to keep a tight leash on prices. Homes owned under a programme run by the Housing Board accounted for 80 per cent of all dwellings as of last year.
Hong Kong's public housing accounts for only about 21 per cent of total home ownership, and there is an average waiting list of more than three years to obtain a government flat in the city.
"The fundamental difference between the two property markets is that in Singapore, there is a big public sector," said Mr Raymond Yeung, chief economist at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.
Hong Kong also has severe land-use restrictions and a higher population density, Demographia noted, resulting in a shortage of land supply. Less than 25 per cent of Hong Kong's land has been developed, according to government figures. Even with a 6.3 per cent drop since a peak in September last year, home prices in Hong Kong remain up 35 per cent since curbs were rolled out in 2012.
Home sales, which dipped to a 25-year low in February, rebounded last month to levels not seen since at least the beginning of last year.
Another possible explanation for the Hong Kong market's resilience this year is a resurgence of interest from mainland Chinese.
Seeking alternatives amid surging home prices in cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen, they accounted for 9 per cent of total Hong Kong transactions in the three months ended June 30, compared with 5.8 per cent in the same period last year.
By contrast, the share of Chinese buyers in Singapore has been on the wane, with mainland investors representing 6.9 per cent in the second quarter, down from 7.1 per cent last year.
This article was first published on October 08, 2016.
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Designing a T-shirt for lifestyle brand Timberland might be a tall order for most teens.
But Asher Ng, 13, turned to the tallest animal in the world for inspiration.
The Pathlight School student, who loves animals, drew the feet of a giraffe snuggled in a pair of Timberland boots - by hand.
Explaining his design, Asher told The New Paper: "The giraffe has long legs and I think it would look good in boots. Since it lives in the safari, the weather there is harsh so it needs a good pair of boots."
The teen's design was one of two chosen by Timberland to be printed on T-shirts, which went on sale yesterday for $39.
For each T-shirt sold, $5 will go to The Art Faculty, which sells products by students from the school. Pathlight School specialises in teaching autistic children.
Asher was one of 12 students selected by the school for Timberland's design project, which was part of an effort to give back to the community.
He is one of the 36 students enrolled in the school's Artist Development Programme.
Ms Daisy Tan, 38, general manager of VF Brands, the parent company of Timberland, was impressed with the standard of designs.
She said: "Asher's design had everything that you find in our boots - the quartz stitch design, as well as the silhouette feel."
Ms Loy Sheau Mei, 51, senior vice-principal of Pathlight School, said: "This is a platform for more people to understand about the talents and abilities of this special community."
Asher has come a long way since he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism, at six years old.
His mother, Madam Lillian Ong, 47, a retail manager, said she and her husband felt very sad about his situation at first, but looked for solutions.
Madam Ong said: "(When he was about three), we wanted to know how to improve the situation instead, so we decided to enrol him in speech and occupational therapy back then.
"We eventually sent him to Pathlight School when he was seven as it provided a mainstream education in a special needs school."
Two years later, they sent him to Very Special Art, a local charity dedicated to providing opportunities in the art for people with disabilities.
Asher won the first contest he took part in and his parents realised that art was a medium for him to express his dreams to the outside world.
Since then, his art has been bought by companies such as Credit Suisse and Jurong Port.
Asher also excels at the ukelele, has a great memory and is compassionate.
Madam Ong said: "He performed at the Esplanade (Theatres on the Bay) playing the ukelele and could remember every single piece of information he researched on very clearly."
He also received the school's Most Compassionate Student award for two consecutive years.
Madam Ong said: "He always tells me he wants to build an industrial hotel in Ang Mo Kio because there are a lot of workers there. He thinks that an affordable, nice hotel would be good as they would not have to travel all over."
The teen, who just completed his PSLE last week, said: "I want to set up my own company and become an animator."
About the artist development programme Pathlight School's Artist Development Programme (ADP) aims to uncover and develop the potential of students. Under it, student artists are nurtured and taught by professional art teachers.
They are given opportunities to exhibit their works and where possible, their artwork is turned into art merchandise, and student artists can earn royalties.
The ADP made headlines two months ago when Ms Ho Ching, wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, arrived at the White House with a dinosaur-motif purse designed by a Pathlight School student, See Toh Sheng Jie, 19.
Boy who designed Mrs Lee's pouch loves dinosaurs
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The New Paper, Reuters
This article was first published on October 08, 2016.
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After graduating from one course at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East, she went back to pursue her dream course.
Miss Khloe Ng's persistence and hard work was rewarded when she won a bronze medal in the Beauty Therapy category in the 11th ASEAN Skills Competition last month.
The ASEAN Skills Competition has been around since 1993 and, every two years, it lets competitors from regional countries showcase skills such as cooking and hairdressing.
Miss Ng, 20, a former Serangoon Secondary School student, enrolled in the Electrical Engineering course after missing the cut for the Beauty and Wellness course.
She performed decently in her course, but remained more interested in Beauty and Wellness.
Her twin sister, Miss Kaylyn Ng, was in that same course.
Miss Khloe Ng told The New Paper: "I really liked studying in Electrical Engineering, but I felt that the beauty and spa industry would be more appropriate for me. The hours required in Electrical Engineering were a little too long."
Her teacher told her to change courses, but she wanted to finish what she had started.
After two years, she joined the Higher Nitec in Beauty and Spa Management course and she did so well she was shortlisted by her form teacher, Ms Heather Leung, 51, to enter the competition.
Ms Leung said: "Khloe is very reserved and can be very quiet in class, to the point that you don't realise she's there sometimes.
"She follows instructions to a T and picks up skills quickly, executing them professionally with high standards. She also thinks on her feet and that's how I knew she would be fit for the competition."
DRAINING
The days leading up to the competition in Kuala Lumpurwere mentally and physically draining for Miss Ng as she had finished her exams just two weeks earlier.
To add to her stress, it was mandatory for candidates to go through extra in-depth training classes outside of their curriculum to prepare them for industry-standard skills.
"I was nervous about the competition and wasn't sure if I was ready," said Miss Ng.
"But my friends and family encouraged me to seize the opportunity as it was an experience, so I did."
She said she became so nervous during the competition that she did badly on the first day. She kept forgetting the steps and dropping her tools.
While she was taking a break, she walked around to calm herself down and tried to remember what the procedures were.
Said Miss Ng: "I had to tell myself to treat it as if it's a normal training in school."
The three days of competition included a segment on manicures, pedicures and facials on the first day, express facial and spa/body on the second day, and nail art and make-up on the last day.
When she found out she had won a bronze medal, both she and Ms Leung could not believe it.
Miss Ng's mother, Madam Solvin Goh, 48, told TNP in Mandarin: "I'm so proud of my daughter and that her efforts have paid off. This competition wasn't about winning the prize, but the experience and striving to do the best that you can."
Miss Ng won the bronze medal with an Indonesian candidate, while two Malaysian candidates won the gold medal.
Dr Yek Tiew Ming, 56, principal of ITE College East, said: "The school and I are very happy for Khloe.
"I felt she worked hard and had an immense amount of self-discipline, given the fact that it was an international competition and she was pitting herself up against others who are the best in the country.
"I hope that she can continue to pursue her passion in this field and continue to prove herself, like others before her."
This article was first published on October 08, 2016.
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