Singapore Local News, 2011-05-31

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More BTO flats planned for mature estates Home buyers have always found Build-To-Order (BTO) projects in mature estates harder to come by but a reprieve is in sight.The Housing and Development Board (HDB) should be able to launch such projects next year, following new National........

Current status of private education institutions as at April 30 Estimated Number of Private Education Institutions (PEIs) as at December 2009 - about 1,000 Registered (as at 30 April 2011) - 274 Registration Applications Being Processed - 107 Other Deemed Registered PEIs (until 20........     Two MPs to attend ASEAN inter-parliamentary forum in Manila SINGAPORE : Two Members of Parliament will be representing Singapore at the 3rd ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus in Manila...... Non-voters can now apply to restore names to registers SINGAPORE : The lists of voters who did not cast their ballot at the May 7 General Election is available for inspection at the Elections Department and designated community centres from Tuesday...... MOH advisory for those travelling to Germany SINGAPORE : The Ministry of Health (MOH) is advising Singaporeans who are travelling to Germany to observe good hygiene...... German Chancellor on official visit to S'pore from Wednesday SINGAPORE : German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be in Singapore from Wednesday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong...... NTUC FairPrice extends discount scheme NTUC FairPrice is extending its housebrand discount scheme for another two months till 31 July to help customers cope with rising costs of living...... Dr Ng Eng Hen appointed Leader of the House SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has appointed Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence and MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, as the Leader of the House...... RWS expects air-conditioning system to be fully restored by Friday SINGAPORE : Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) said it expects its air conditioning system to be fully restored by Friday...... S$40m fund to encourage more med-tech start-ups SINGAPORE : The government will launch a S$40 million fund to encourage more medical technology (med-tech) start-ups as part of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2015 plan...... Former Salvation Army employee jailed eight months A former training coordinator with voluntary welfare organisation, Salvation Army, was jailed on Tuesday for eight months after dishonestly misappropriating S$35,358.60 of its money...... Man jailed for taking video of girlfriend's sister SINGAPORE : A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) First Sergeant was jailed on Tuesday for two weeks for taking a video of his girlfriend's sister while she was bathing...... Youths rank demographic trends as key issue that would impact Singapore Singapore youths have ranked the ageing population as a key issue that would impact the country...... HSA to suspend licences of 10 tobacco retailers The Health Sciences Authority will suspend, for six months, the licences of 10 tobacco retailers for selling tobacco products to underage youth...... Maid agency manager fined, banned from operating indefinitely An employment agency manager was fined S$6,000 for helping a client obtain a maid without a valid work pass in November 2008...... Acquittal of taxi driver in sex act case upheld by Appeals Court The prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of a 45-year-old taxi driver accused of performing oral sex on a four-year-old boy in 2005 was thrown out in the Court of Appeal on Tuesday morning...... 22 people arrested for loansharking activities Police have arrested 16 men and six women, for their suspected involvement in loansharking activities, following an islandwide operation which ended early Tuesday morning...... Strength of 3G army lies in ability to network: Defence Minister Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the strength of Singapore's third generation military lies in its ability to network an array of systems, not just individual hardware...... CPF minimum sum to be revised upwards to S$131,000 From July, the prevailing CPF minimum sum (MS) will be revised upwards to S$131,000, up from S$123,000. The CPF Board said the new MS will apply to members who turn 55 from July 1 2011 to June 30 2012...... The "truth" about youths in Singapore A global study found that 53 per cent of 16-22 year olds said they would rather give up their sense of smell than give up their technology like laptops and mobile phones...... Good Neighbour Award extended to non-HDB residents This year's Good Neighbour Award (GNA) will be extended to non-HDB residents. The Housing & Development Board said this is to spread the messages of neighbourliness to a wider community beyond HDB estates......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-30

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ERP gantry along East Coast Parkway to be relocated SINGAPORE - The existing Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry along East Coast Parkway towards Changi before Rochor Road exit will be relocated to about 600m away from its current position. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said this was to.......     Shangri-la Dialogue starts on Friday Close to 30 high-ranking delegations will be taking part in this year's regional security summit known as the Shangri-la Dialogue. The three-day meeting in Singapore will take place from Friday to Sunday. Malaysian Prime........

Lim Boon Heng wants PA to be people-centric The newly-created role at the People's Association (PA) - special adviser to the chairman - came after retired minister Lim Boon Heng wanted to see through a key change in the organisation: From being event-centric to people-centric......     Propriety trader guilty of price manipulation A proprietary trader pleaded guilty on Monday to manipulating the price of CapitaMall warrants traded on the Singapore Exchange...... Better support for parties affected by divorces and maintenance defaults From Wednesday, additional measures will be implemented to enhance the enforcement of maintenance orders under amendments to the Women's Charter...... President aides appointed Ninety-seven honorary Aides-de-Camp (ADC) were appointed on Monday at the Istana...... NIE to set up new research centre to explore new teaching methods The National Institute of Education will set up a research centre to see how the best teaching practices can be expanded to more schools...... Businessman fined after punching man in dispute over parking lot A 61-year-old businessman was fined S$1,600 on Monday for punching another man in the mouth in a dispute over a parking lot at Mount Alvernia Hospital...... Relocation of ERP gantry along ECP towards Changi The existing Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry along East Coast Parkway (ECP) towards Changi before Rochor Road exit, will be relocated to about 600 metres away from its current position...... Warehouse at Sungei Kadut catches fire A warehouse storing metal and engine parts, at Sungei Kadut Street 1, caught fire early Monday morning...... Senior gang member jailed four years, caned 12 strokes A 27-year-old senior gang member was jailed four years on Monday and ordered to receive twelve strokes of the cane after being part of a brawl which resulted in a teenager losing an eye...... Khaw asks HDB to look into building more BTO flats in mature estates National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said he has asked HDB to look into building more Build-To-Order (BTO) flats in mature estates...... National Dental Centre puts in place stronger governance framework The National Dental Centre said a more robust governance framework is now in place, following a full review of internal safety processes...... Dental surgeon fined for extracting wrong teeth A dental surgeon practising at the National Dental Centre was fined S$3,000 for wrongly extracting two teeth of a patient back in May 2007...... Private home prices up slightly in April: NUS Index Private non-landed home prices in Singapore rose slightly in April, according to the NUS Singapore Residential Price Index...... MPs: No conflict of interest SINGAPORE - They are general managers accountable for the day-to-day administrative functions of town councils. Some of them are also employees of managing agents who win contracts from the town councils to service the estate......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-29

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Sleeping beauty and the bamboo warrior

Traffic police arrests 16 during anti-drink driving checks The Traffic Police arrested 16 motorists yesterday during a five-hour anti-drink driving blitz. Between midnight and about 4.30am, officers conducted checks beyond the usual areas such as Clarke Quay. In all, 93 motorists took the breathalyser.......     Students engaged in defence dialogues Minister of State for Defence & Education Lawrence Wong and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence & National Development Maliki Osman made use of the opportunity provided by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Open House to kick-start the..... MICA Minister Yaacob outlines priority areas in his new ministry Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim said he would focus on ensuring the arts reaches out to all levels of society...... Quality manpower in childcare needed Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing is asking for ideas to attract the manpower needed to meet a higher demand for childcare services...... Dengue cases rise in South West District Singapore's South West District has seen a 24.8 per cent increase in dengue cases in the first four months of this year.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-28

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Rules of prudence: Serving in a new era THIS letter by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was circulated to all People's Action Party MPs and released to the media yesterday. Our Party has won 81 out of 87 seats in the just concluded General Election. The opposition........

15 town councils at your service One is a mega town council of two Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), when most comprise one GRC and one Single Member Constituency. Two town councils have been dissolved, while there are no changes for three: Bishan-Toa........     TODAY newspaper goes 7 days a week Singapore's second-most read newspaper, TODAY, will go seven days a week - with the launch of a Sunday edition from 29 May...... Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School exceeds enrolment target Singapore's Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School has exceeded its enrolment target of 50...... Man nabbed for alleged bribery A 31-year-old Indian national was arrested for trying to bribe a police officer so that he would not be arrested for theft...... Drink driving suspects nabbed The traffic police have arrested 16 motorists suspected of drink driving, during a five-hour islandwide operation on Saturday morning...... MINDEF to engage NSmen Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen said his ministry would continue to focus on defence diplomacy and work with like-minded countries...... Young inventors win awards A "Super Cake Cutting Plate", invented by 11-year-old Kei Kunishige from Excelsior International School, is one of six silver award winners at the 25th Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors' Award this year...... S'pore to enhance tourism sector Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang said Singapore needs to maintain its competitive edge in the tourism sector......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-27

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Getting "Dads@Workplaces" to be more engaged at home Fathers often see themselves as providers rather than nurturers for the family, while a 2009 survey by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports revealed that fathers saw work responsbilities as their biggest obstacle to playing a........     Shadrake loses appeal against jail term British author Alan Shadrake this morning lost his appeal against a six-week jail term and fine for insulting Singapore's judiciary in a book about criminal executions in the city-state. Shadrake, 76, was convicted on contempt of........ Good job prospects for fresh grads Even before she sat for her final examinations last month, National University of Singapore psychology final-year student Kim Huang had three job offers - all from the banking sector - on the table. After her examinations ended, two more from........ 'A Presidential contest is important' Former Member of Parliament Tan Cheng Bock has indicated that he may be a candidate in the coming Presidential Election. The 71-year-old confirmed he had quit the ruling People's Action Party earlier this month. Aspiring........

Dover Park Hospice to undergo S$2.4 million upgrade With the Government having signalled that it wants to ramp up end-of-life care and capabilities in Singapore, Dover Park Hospice (DPH) has taken a step in this direction, by expanding its palliative care services to the tune of S$2.4........     Emeritus SM Goh to attend IAC meeting in Quebec, Canada SINGAPORE : Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong will visit Quebec, Canada, from May 28 to 31 to attend the 29th Annual Plenary Meeting of the InterAction Council (IAC) in his capacity as Singapore's former prime minister...... 9 suspected drug traffickers arrested SINGAPORE : The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has arrested 55 suspected drug abusers and nine suspected drug traffickers, three of whom could face the death penalty...... Lim Wee Kiak withdraws, apologises for remarks on ministerial pay Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, has withdrawn and apologised for his recent remarks on ministerial pay...... President Nathan forfeits public service awards to Ming Yi, Durai President SR Nathan has forfeited the Public Service Medal awarded to convicted monk Shi Ming Yi...... Tighter security for water tanks required SINGAPORE : National water agency PUB will require building owners with water tanks to use higher quality padlocks or lock sets with keys that cannot be duplicated...... MPs can rent void deck space to set up office for MPS Members of Parliament will now be given an option to set up offices at HDB void decks for their Meet-the-People (MPS) sessions...... Presidential Election: Eligibility certificate applications open June 1 All persons who wish to be a candidate for the Presidential Election can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility from the Presidential Elections Committee from June 1...... Bukit Timah Railway Station gazetted as a conserved building The Bukit Timah Railway Station has been officially gazetted as a conserved building as of Friday...... Civil servants to get 0.5-month mid-year bonus plus S$250 SINGAPORE : Some 74,000 civil servants in Singapore will be getting a mid-year bonus of half a month salary plus S$250 in July, the Public Service Division (PSD) of the Prime Minister's Office announced on Friday...... Largest-ever BTO launch The HDB is offering homebuyers close to 4,000 new flats in six Build-to-Order (BTO) projects launched on Friday - the largest supply of BTO flats in a single launch...... Lorry driver arrested on suspicion of driving under disqualification A lorry driver was arrested after his vehicle hit an advertisement board at a bus stop in Bedok North Friday morning...... Visa now accepted at all NTUC FairPrice stores Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice will accept Visa payment card at all its stores island-wide starting Friday...... BRAND'S recalls multi vitamins BRAND's is voluntarily recalling all batches of its Alpha Tank Chewable Multi Vitamins & Minerals...... Seafood stall boss sentenced to 10 years' jail for killing China lover A seafood stall boss was sentenced Friday to 10 years' jail for killing his China mistress in 2006...... Undercover videos released to back freedom for RWS dolphins A local animal welfare group has released undercover videos of 25 dolphins that will be part of the attractions of the marine life park at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS)...... More heartlanders to join fight against dengue More heartlanders are joining the fight against dengue by undertaking active roles in clamping down on mosquito breeding sites...... Changes in town councils following General Election The Ministry of National Development (MND) said the new town of Moulmein-Kallang has been formed under the Town Councils (Declaration of Towns) Order 2011 following the General Election...... Court rejects Shadrake's appeal against conviction and sentence Singapore's Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal by British writer, Alan Shadrake, against his conviction and sentence...... Former MP Tan Cheng Bock may run for President Former Member of Parliament Dr Tan Cheng Bock has indicated that he may be a candidate in the coming Presidential Election......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-26

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Taking the review a step further At his second swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong continues the tradition of using that august platform to send a message to Singapore and its citizens. This time round, he wants a comprehensive review of political........

Poisoning case: 'No' to new evidence The attempt by the defence lawyers of Fong Quay Sim, 69 - who was convicted of poisoning her husband - to cast doubt on the credibility of the investigating officer was rebuffed yesterday, after the High Court disallowed new evidence to be........     More terminally-ill patients to get care In a move that will ramp up hospice care services in Singapore, the Dover Park Hospice said it is increasing its number of beds from 40 to 50, which will allow it to care for about 500 terminally-ill patients a year...... Singapore Pharmacy Council hopes to increase number of pharmacists The Singapore Pharmacy Council said it hopes to increase the number of pharmacists by about 1,000 over the next five years. This will then bring the number to some 3,000 in all...... More young donors becoming philanthropists More young donors are now becoming philanthropists. North West Community Development Council has seen an increase in donors below 40 years old joining Club-100 @ North West...... Doctor jailed for tax evasion An eye surgeon was jailed on Thursday for six months for tax evasion...... Loanshark harassment suspect nabbed Police have arrested a 35-year-old Chinese man believed to be responsible for more than 25 cases of loanshark harassment by setting fire at debtors' units and splashing corrosive liquid on cars...... S'pore artists invited to Vivid Sydney Four Singapore artists have been invited to showcase their special light art works at Vivid Sydney...... Indian maid charged with theft A maid, who had allegedly staged a burglary in her former employer's flat, has been charged with stealing some S$30,000 worth of jewellery...... Man jailed for pocketing company money A gambling addict and former deputy general manager of a marine and offshore engineering firm was on Thursday jailed six years after misappropriating almost a million dollars of the company's money...... Singapore, Nevada gaming regulators sign MOU The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore (CRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB)...... NDP ticket application ends Sunday Application for tickets to this year's National Day Parade (NDP) will end on Sunday...... Khaw Boon Wan: I'm no masochist National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said his new appointment in the ministry does not make him a masochist...... Controlled substances found in "Metabolic Advantage" health product The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has found thyroid gland and thyroid hormones, which are controlled substances, in a health product called Metabolic Advantage...... Water industry investments doubled in Singapore Investments in Singapore's water industry have doubled in size in the last five years - up from S$660 million in GDP value-add in 2005...... Surgeon Susan Lim's application against SMC dismissed The High Court has dismissed surgeon Susan Lim's application to stop the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) from setting up a second disciplinary committee to investigate if she had overcharged a Bruneian royal patient......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-25

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Singaporeans not affected There has been no impact on Singaporeans travelling to and in Europe after the Icelandic volcano erupted. Travel agents MediaCorp spoke to are hopeful there will be no repeat of last year's chaos. Flights from Singapore to Europe remained........     Arts Fest: Belgian group puts up provocative show An interactive performance at the ongoing Singapore Arts Festival is set to raise eyebrows. Called Internal, the provocative show - which will be put up at the School of the Arts Gallery - carries a warning that it may contain some........ 14 to be charged with loan-sharking activities Twelve men and two 14-year-old girls will be charged in court today with loan-sharking activities. The girls are said to be loan-shark harassers who allegedly splashed paint and scrawled graffiti on walls at housing estates in........ The drive towards satellite-based ERP Singapore is one step closer to a possible satellite-based method for road congestion pricing here, with trials of such systems to begin next month. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced yesterday it has awarded tenders to........ No hasty changes to education system: Heng Swee Keat While newly-appointed Education Minister Heng Swee Keat (picture) reiterated yesterday that he would "not be hasty" in making changes to the system just for the sake of change, he cited values and character development as an area of focus...... Transport Minister takes public transport A picture of Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew taking a bus has caused a buzz among netizens. The picture, which was published on The Straits Times' Stomp portal, showed Mr Lui reading a copy of this newspaper while sitting at the........ Wanted: More safety nets and bridges Ageing trends occurring worldwide are accentuated in the Asia Pacific region, which is where the majority of older people will be found in this century. Policies on development and economic growth have increased the adverse effects of........ We are sorry, says M1 All M1 customers will enjoy free local mobile calls as well as SMSes and MMSes today. The free services, which started at midnight, will end at 11.59pm today. These services will not be deducted from the free minutes and messages included in........ Changi sees double-digit passenger traffic growth Changi Airport saw more than 3.73 million passengers last month, up 13.7 per cent from the same time last year. The increase in passenger traffic was attributed to the 13.9 per cent increase in aircraft movements to 24,270 flights,........ Former poly lecturer jailed, fined for money-lending A former part-time polytechnic lecturer, who was found to be less culpable than his accomplice in an illegal moneylending business, received a relatively shorter jail term yesterday. Lee Kim Hock, 52, was jailed 39 months and fined........

Malaysian man escapes gallows One of the two Sarawakian men convicted of murder has escaped the gallows. Jabing Kho and Galing Kujat, who bludgeoned to death a Chinese national while robbing him, were convicted of murder and sentenced to death in July......     Efficient energy scheme gets another S$22.8m boost Another S$22.8 million will be set aside for the Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET) scheme, which helps companies defray the cost of purchasing technology to help them use energy efficiently. Minister for the........ Micro satellite sends images to Singapore The country's first locally-built micro satellite has started transmitting images back home. The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) embarked on the project with DSO National Laboratories in 2002, hoping to generate interest........ Man guilty of molesting two girls A 50-year-old man was convicted yesterday in the Subordinate Courts of molesting two young girls, one of whom was his girlfriend's daughter. The man, who is still in a relationship with the then 14-year-old girl's mother, had........ To intercept suspect shipments, global cooperation vital: S'pore In a busy port such as the Republic's, one thing is clear: If the authorities are to intercept suspect shipments here, international cooperation and intelligence exchange are critical, Singapore Customs director-general Fong Yong Kian said........ Diplomats gather at Istana President S R Nathan hosted yesterday evening the annual diplomatic reception, a meeting of some of the most distinguished dignitaries based here. Also present at the Istana were Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Foreign Affairs and Law Minister....... Premature ejaculation drug sold out The premature ejaculation (PE) pill, Priligy, has sold out in Singapore within its first month of release...... Two Colombians jailed three months for theft Two Colombians were each sentenced to three months' jail on Wednesday for working together to steal more than S$350 worth of cash and valuables on May 13...... Former pet farm operator fined S$50,000 for not taking proper care of dogs A former pet farm operator was fined S$50,000 on Wednesday after failing to take proper care of 15 dogs in a facility he used to run...... Primary schools celebrate International Year of Chemistry at Shell Science Fair 2011 is the International Year of Chemistry, and schools in Singapore are gearing up for all things related to that branch of science...... Dileep Nair named Singapore Ambassador to Laos The government has appointed Mr Dileep Nair as Singapore's next Ambassador to Laos...... RSAF personnel to get credit exemptions at UniSIM SINGAPORE : SIM University (UniSIM) will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) as part of RSAF's continuing education for its personnel to develo..... Two markets to close for upgrading from June 1 Two markets will be closed for upgrading works from June 1 under the National Environment Agency's (NEA) Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme (HUP)...... S'pore does not import beverages recalled in Taiwan: AVA The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it does not import beverages that have been recalled in Taiwan recently...... High court judge disallows new evidence in poisoning case The High Court has disallowed an application to admit new evidence by the lawyer of an elderly woman who's appealing against her conviction and sentence for poisoning her husband...... Even in race for economic pursuits, family still top priority, says Chan Chun Sing SINGAPORE : Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Major-General Chan Chun Sing said even in a race for economic pursuits, Singapore will continue to support and grow the family as a core institution of society...... Maid stages housebreaking; steals over S$30,000 worth of jewellery Police have arrested a 35-year-old Indian domestic helper for stealing more than S$30,000 worth of jewellery from her employer...... Television host Quan Yi Fong charged with mischief Television personality Quan Yi Fong was charged in court on Wednesday with two counts of mischief and one count of using criminal force on a taxi driver...... MOM to conduct Comprehensive Labour Force Survey The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is conducting the Comprehensive Labour Force Survey from Wednesday to end of July......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-24

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It takes more than courses to know thy neighbour Getting to know your neighbour is important. When you need advice or they need assistance, knowing your neighbour helps a lot. And when there is an emergency, it is even more crucial. Although the latest version of the Emergency Preparedness........

GP suspended, fined A general practitioner has been suspended for five months for professional misconduct. The Singapore Medical Council's (SMC) disciplinary committee also fined Dr Kong Sin Ming S$5,000. Dr Kong, 64, practised at Kong........     Chief of Royal Australian Navy conferred Meritorious Service Medal SINGAPORE : Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Tuesday conferred the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (tentera) or Meritorious Service Medal (military) on Chief of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Vice Admiral (VADM) Russell Crane...... Iceland ash cloud no impact on S'pore travellers Travel agents in Singapore said there has been no impact on Singaporeans travelling to, and in Europe, as a result of the recent Iceland volcanic eruption...... Education Minister Heng Swee Keat won't make changes in haste Newly-appointed Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has said he "would not be hasty" in making changes to the system just for the sake of change...... Shanmugam to make 1st official overseas trip Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam will be in Bali on Wednesday for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Meeting...... Men, girls to be charged with loansharking activities Twelve men and two 14-year-old girls will be charged on Wednesday in court with loansharking activities...... Changi Airport registers 13.7% growth in passenger traffic SINGAPORE : Singapore's Changi Airport registered a 13.7 per cent growth in passenger traffic to over 3.73 million for the month of April...... New ministerial pay package "should also look at average man's pay" It may be a while before the committee set up to review salaries for political appointment holders completes its report, but views on the subject continue to be debated...... Man jailed, fined for money-lending offences A former part-time lecturer at Republic Polytechnic was on Monday jailed 39 months and fined S$300,000 for illegal money-lending offences...... M1 says sorry for disruption Telecommunications company M1 has apologised to its customers after it encountered a technical failure last Wednesday...... Malaysian man escapes the gallows One of two men from Sarawak convicted of murder has escaped the gallows...... S'pore underscores commitment on countering proliferation of WMD Singapore underscored its commitment to counter the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) when it played host to the 12th International Export Control Conference beginning Tuesday till Thursday......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-23

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DPM Tharman officially appointed MAS chairman The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced that Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been officially appointed as its chairman with effect from May 21, for a period of two years. Mr Tharman, who is also........

Mr Lee to meet key Asian officals, business leaders Senior Adviser to the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore (GIC), Mr Lee Kuan Yew, is visiting Beijing. A statement said that he will meet Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping, Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau.......     Home Team to use Command Leadership framework to help identify and develop future leaders Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said the Home Team will use a Command Leadership framework to help it identify, select and develop future leaders...... Info kit for caregivers of children with developmental needs SINGAPORE : An information organiser kit is now available for caregivers of children with developmental needs...... Drinking? Make sure you have a Designated Driver Be a D.D. or Designated Driver. That is the message of an anti-drink driving campaign organised by Pernod Ricard Singapore, a wines and spirits distributor...... Sim Ann says experience in civil service, grassroots volunteerism puts her in good stead Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Sim Ann said the combination of her experience in civil service and as a grassroots volunteer would put her in good stead in her new appointment...... Man placed on probation for threatening to kill others SINGAPORE : A 40-year-old man was placed on 18 months' probation for threatening to kill others with a samurai sword and using a golf club to hit his elderly father...... More than 6,000 students graduate from SP Kang Kok Wei was a few points short of getting into the Normal Academic stream in secondary school. But through sheer hard work, the Clean Energy major is now one of seven top students at Singapore Polytechnic...... GP suspended for professional misconduct A general practitioner has been suspended for five months for professional misconduct...... MOM fines dormitory operators The Manpower Ministry (MOM) has fined two dormitory operators a total of S$70,000 for aiding employers put up foreign workers in unacceptable accommodation...... "Husband poisoning case" investigator's credibility questioned The High Court heard on Monday that the credibility of the police officer involved in investigating the case of an elderly woman who poisoned her husband, has to be considered...... Senior Parliamentary Secretaries sworn in Four Senior Parliamentary Secretaries have been sworn-in on Monday by President SR Nathan at the Istana...... ERP rates lowered for June holidays The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has lowered the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates by between 50 cents and a dollar at 12 gantries for the June school holidays...... DPM Tharman officially appointed MAS chairman The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has officially appointed Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam as its chairman, with effect from May 21, for a period of two years...... Distance fare refund ends Jun 17 TransitLink said commuters affected by distance fare corrections between July 3 and November 23 last year have made some S$130,000 in bus stop distance claims...... Gerard Ee: "Am I up to it?" "Am I up to it?" That was the first thought Mr Gerard Ee had, when he learnt he would be chairing the committee which would review ministerial salaries......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-22

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Nothing's sacrosanct in Government review of policies, says PM On Wednesday, he rolled out a new-look Cabinet - with nine Ministers stepping down from the previous team. Three days later, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared that "nothing should be sacrosanct" as he revealed that the formula for........     Planking reaches Singapore Planking - the activity where people lie face down for photographs - has reached Singapore...... New ministerial pay effective from 21 May Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has decided that the new salaries for political appointment holders, based on a review committee's recommendations, will take effect from 21 May 2011, which is the date when the new government took office...... Important to look at outdated policies with fresh eyes: Chan Chun Sing Helping the needy, engaging the youth and enhancing sports to the next level - these are some of the key priorities for the new Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Major-General Chan Chun Sing......

Ministerial salaries review committee to adopt very different model: Gerard Ee The Chairman of the committee that's undertaking a review of ministerial salaries in Singapore, Mr Gerard Ee said his committee will adopt a very different model to assess how much ministers should be paid......     Teo Ser Luck wants to do more for local businesses and promote entrepreneurship Newly-promoted Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Teo Ser Luck said he wants to do more for local businesses and promote entrepreneurship...... Lee Kuan Yew to meet Asia leaders and attend Nikkei Conference Former Minister Mentor and current Senior Advisor to the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore (GIC), Mr Lee Kuan Yew will visit Beijing from Sunday till May 24...... Dr Balakrishnan pledges transparent process in climate change challenge Newly-appointed Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said it cannot be "business as usual" both at home and internationally when dealing with climate change...... "No burden of office"; will advance S'pore's international ties: Emeritus SM Goh A day after Singapore's new Cabinet was sworn in at the Istana, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said he has no "hangover" nor the "burden of office" the morning after...... ComChest Heartstrings Walk raises more than S$1m More than S$1 million was raised from the ComChest Heartstrings Walk Sunday morning at Marina Bay......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-21

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Top litigator, and now S'pore's top diplomat Having made his name in the courtroom as one of Singapore's top litigators, Mr K Shanmugam (picture) will soon be making his mark on the global stage as the Republic's top diplomat. On Saturday, Mr Shanmugam, who left legal........

Struggle to fill job vacancies ManpowerGroup's sixth annual talent shortage survey has revealed that one in three employers worldwide is struggling to fill key vacancies. The results of the survey released on Friday revealed that 44 per cent of employers in........     MP "horrified" after bus spot checks Member of Parliament (MP) for Mountbatten Lim Biow Chuan has conducted his own spot checks to verify complaints of irregular bus services in Mountbatten...... USVs a big hit at IMDEX Asia Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) attracted much attention at this year's International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX Asia) show in Singapore which ended on May 20...... SingTel successfully launches satellite ST-2 Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) has successfully launched Singapore's second commercial satellite, ST-2, into orbit following an impressive lift-off from Kourou, French Guiana...... Workers, firms get awards for gains in productivity & employment 50 workers and 50 companies were given awards on Saturday by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) for gains in productivity, skills and employment...... S'pore should tap on contacts of outgoing politicians: Shanmugam Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said Singapore should tap on the good relations and contacts of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Foreign Minister George Yeo cultivated over the years...... Man found murdered near Arab Street A 60-year-old Singaporean man was found murdered early Saturday morning...... Early conclusion to selection process of IMF MD advantageous: Tharman Singapore's Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has called for an early conclusion to the selection process for a new Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)...... MP Josephine Teo steps down as Business China CEO Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Josephine Teo has relinquished her position as Chief Executive Officer of Business China, an organisation that nurtures an inclusive bilingual and bi-cultural group of Singaporeans......

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-20

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CNB staff sergeant charged A senior staff sergeant from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) was charged with failing to arrest two men after they allegedly offered him bribes totalling S$130,000. Lim Tian Siew (alias Lang Tian Siew) is believed to have........     Japanese man fined S$6,000 for causing the death of a motorcyclist A Japanese financial controller was fined S$6,000 for causing the death of a motorcyclist on August 23 2009. Goto Shobun, 37, who has been working in Singapore for the last four years, was also disqualified from driving all classes........ Suspect arrested for involvement in nine cases of cheating, theft and robbery Police have arrested a 33-year-old man believed to be responsible for at least nine cases of cheating, theft and robbery cases islandwide. He struck over 11 months between June last year, and this month. The suspect........

How Singapore stacks up in the gambling stakes Loss per adult resident 2010: Australia - €902 Singapore - €822 Hong Kong - €352 Japan - €251 Malaysia - €127 2009: Australia - €885.....     I'm "not George Yeo" and "never will be", says Shanmugam Law Minister K Shanmugam, who will also take on the foreign affairs portfolio in the new Cabinet, says he is "not George Yeo" and "never will be"...... ICA's largest haul of contraband cigarettes in 5 years SINGAPORE : The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has scored its largest haul of contraband cigarettes in five years - 412,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes with an estimated street value of S$4.12 million...... Amy Khor wants to address affordability, accessibility, adequacy of healthcare Dr Amy Khor would like to address affordability, accessibility and adequacy of healthcare when she takes on her new post as Minister of State for Health...... CNB officer charged with bribery SINGAPORE : A Senior Staff Sergeant from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has been charged with failing to arrest two men after they allegedly offered him bribes totalling S$130,000...... 54 suspects nabbed for immigration offences SINGAPORE : A 75-year-old man was among 54 people nabbed by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in an island-wide operation on Wednesday and Thursday...... Suspect arrested for at least 9 cases of cheating, theft and robbery Police have arrested a 33-year-old man who's believed to be responsible for at least nine cases of cheating, theft and robbery islandwide...... Man jailed for giving almost S$2.4m in bribes A businessman was sentenced Friday to four months' jail and fined S$180,000 for giving bribes worth about S$2.39 million...... Heng Swee Keat has right personality for Education Minister role: Masagos Zulkifli Minister of State for Education and Home Affairs, Mr Masagos Zulkifli said new MP Mr Heng Swee Keat has the right personality for his new role as Education Minister...... New phase in govt's commitment to inclusive growth: Tharman Shanmugaratnam Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said his appointment as the Minister coordinating economic and social policies, signals a new phase in the government's commitment to inclusive growth...... Khaw determined to make housing and HDB popular again In his last blog post as Health Minister, Mr Khaw Boon Wan said he is determined to make housing and HDB Singaporeans' popular icon again...... Reform Party eyes western and central Singapore for GE 2016 SINGAPORE - Setting its eyes on 2016, the Reform Party (RP) has set up five regional branches in western and central Singapore to walk the ground - and in the process signalled its interest in contesting the Radin Mas and Pioneer wards at the next Ge..... An alternative Malay leadership? SINGAPORE - He knows it will not be easy but Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, the first Opposition Malay MP, hopes to build up an alternative Malay leadership that is not linked to the ruling People's Action Party (PAP)...... 'Malay MPs cannot operate the way they have done in the past' SINGAPORE - One thing is clear to new MP Zainal Sapari : The People's Action Party's (PAP) Malay Members of Parliament cannot cling on to the old ways of handling issues...... Election poll raises questions SINGAPORE - An election opinion poll conducted and published online before Polling Day has raised questions on the current set of laws which prohibit the publication of the results of such surveys during the hustings...... What will the GPCs do now? SINGAPORE - With a record number of Opposition MPs and Nominated MPs - 18 in total - in the next Parliament, it seems that Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs), first formed more than two decades ago to generate alternative views in the legisla.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-05-19

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Ticket applications for NDP and preview show open on Friday From May 20 till May 29, Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents may apply for tickets for this year's National Day Parade and preview show. The shows will be held at The Float @ Marina Bay and applicants may apply for two, four or six........     One in five job seekers use social media to find jobs More job seekers are scouring social media sites for job opportunies, but they are also worried about the damage that content on their social networking pages can have on their careers. A recent survey by recruitment firm Kelly........ COE premiums rise marginally SINGAPORE - COE premiums for most categories rose marginally in the latest open bidding exercise on Thursday. COEs for small cars rose the most, up S$2,199 to almost S$46,989, the highest this year. Big car COEs rose S$289 to........ Road closures on Sunday affect 4 bus services SINGAPORE - Four bus services will be affected by road closures on Sunday due to the Cold Storage Kids Run. The affected services are 100, 130, 131 and 195, said SBS Transit on Thursday. As a result, along Coleman Street, bus........ Puppy smuggler caught SINGAPORE - A 31-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested for trying to smuggle 15 puppies into Singapore. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority discovered the puppies in a Malaysia-registered car during a routine check at the Woodlands........ Man nabbed over upskirt video SINGAPORE - A 30-year-old man who is suspected of taking an upskirt video of a woman has been arrested with the help of two polytechnic students. The suspect allegedly used his mobile phone to take the video while riding an escalator behind....... Woman admits to stealing nearly S$8,600 worth of designer goods A recalcitrant shoplifter with a history of kleptomania is unlikely to have had committed her latest string of offences due to the mental condition. This, based on a report by Dr Stephen Phang, 30, a senior consultant from the........ M1: Mobile phone service 'fully restored' Mobile operator M1 today said they have fully restored its mobile phone service, after customers complained of disruptions in the service from yesterday morning. Service was fully restored after 10pm last night, said Ms Petrina........ Tanjong Pagar Railway Station relocated to Woodlands Train Checkpoint from July The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be relocated to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint from July 1. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and the Bukit Timah Railway Station will cease all........ 2011 growth forecast raised to 5-7 per cent Singapore raised its growth forecast for 2011, citing a "modest" recovery in the United States and Europe and healthy expansion in Asia, sustaining pressure on the central bank to allow the currency to appreciate further. Gross........

Tharman dismisses talk about becoming IMF chief On the same day that he was named one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers in the new Cabinet, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam was yesterday mentioned in the international press as a possible candidate to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is l.....     New office holders want to better engage stakeholders SINGAPORE : One day after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his new Cabinet, the various office holders with new responsibilities have said they want to better engage stakeholders...... Woman's shoplifting "unlikely" caused by kleptomania A woman with a history of kleptomania is unlikely to have had committed her latest string of shoplifting offences due to the mental condition...... Ticket applications for NDP and preview show open on Friday From May 20 till May 29, Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents may apply for tickets for this year's National Day Parade and preview show...... National Family Celebration to target youths The theme of this year's National Family Celebration, which will kick off on May 25, is "connecting youths with their family"...... Man nabbed for smuggling puppies A 31-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested for trying to smuggle 15 puppies into Singapore...... New lineup shows PM's resolve to re-look policies Member of Parliament (MP) for Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Josephine Teo said "the new lineup shows a strong resolve by the Prime Minister to take a re-look at all policies across the board"...... COEs marginally higher in latest bidding exercise COE premiums for most categories rose marginally in the latest open bidding exercise...... Giant media screens unveiled in Bugis Street makeover Singapore: Eight media screens along Bugis Street, the largest street shopping location in Singapore will be exclusively marketed and managed by MediaCorp...... Polytechnic students help catch upskirt pervert Police have arrested a 30-year-old man who took an upskirt video of a female victim at Seah Im Road Wednesday afternoon with the assistance of two public-spirited polytechnic students...... Over 42,000 packets of illegal cigarettes seized 42,570 packets of illegal cigarettes were seized by Singapore Customs during an operation conducted on May 5...... Ex-principal accused of misappropriating nearly S$150,000 A former principal of Maris Stella High School has been charged with misappropriating S$148,539.85 between May 2004 and September 2009...... PAP Town Councils to enhance security measures on water tank access The PAP Town Councils said they will further enhance the current security measures on access to the water tanks of HDB blocks...... Mah Bow Tan says he will continue to be involved in public service National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan has revealed that he had asked to retire at the end of the last term of Parliament...... New appointment a "heavy responsibility", says Chan Chun Sing MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Major-General Chan Chun Sing, has described his new appointment as a "heavy responsibility" and that he will do his best to "be part of the team"...... New Cabinet will have its work cut out Politics in Singapore is generally marked by incremental change. However, with the watershed General Election of May 7, politics and government in Singapore will not be the same again. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described the changes to the Cabin..... New office-holders keen to engage the public and tackle hot issues SINGAPORE - Despite being a new face in political circles, Brigadier-General (NS) Tan Chuan-Jin has been entrusted with not one, but two, Minister of State portfolios - for Manpower and National Development...... Ministers of State eager to make an impact SINGAPORE - Known as a vocal champion on workers' issues, labour Member of Parliament (MP) and backbencher Halimah Yacob is looking forward to the challenge of reaching out to a wider cross-section of society in her new role at the Ministry of Commun..... Immediate appointments not surprising SINGAPORE - It has been 26 years since a political entrant was ushered directly into Cabinet, when Mr Richard Hu was appointed Finance Minister...... Will keep "open mind" as to what policies need to change: Gan Kim Yong Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong, who will be the new Health Minister, said his immediate focus at the ministry is to learn and understand the current policies, and their impact on the ground......