Singapore Local News, 2013-03-06

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Local PMETs continued to face unfair foreign competition, say MPs Several MPs said local PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) continued to face unfair competition from foreign workers, despite measures announced in Budget 2013......     MPs raise concerns over changes to car ownership policies Several MPs have raised their concerns in Parliament over the latest changes to car ownership policies...... Gold investors up in arms after another buyback scheme goes wrong Some gold investors are up in arms, after another buyback scheme went wrong. This followed a previous incident involving Genneva Pte Ltd in September 2012...... Budget 2013 signalled policy shift in line with WP's belief, says Pritam Singh Several MPs commented on the Budget initiatives aimed at helping children from less advantaged families level up...... CNB arrests 85 suspected drug offenders in islandwide operation A 48-hour islandwide operation by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) saw the arrest of 85 suspected drug offenders and seizure of drugs worth more than S$15,000...... MPs back call for free off-peak travel on public transport Day Two of the Budget Debate in Parliament saw several MPs rising in support of a proposal to grant commuters free travel on public transport during off-peak periods...... Singaporean man missing in Hawaii SINGAPORE : Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and its Consulate-General in San Francisco said they are aware of the case involving a Singaporean man who is missing in Hawaii......

Documentary film on painter Chua Ek Kay premieres at SAM SINGAPORE : A documentary film on one of Singapore's most well-known painters, Chua Ek Kay, premieres at the Singapore Art Museum on Wednesday......     Social enterprises, cooperatives "help to make for a better Singapore" Social enterprises and in particular cooperatives help to make for a better Singapore, said MP for Marine Parade GRC and managing director of NTUC FairPrice, Seah Kian Peng...... Newton MRT fire likely due to cable insulation issues: Lui Tuck Yew The fire at Newton MRT station on 13 February was caused by a short circuit, likely due to cable insulation issues, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew told Parliament...... Govt to continue studying options on population issues: DPM Teo Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said Singapore's ageing population issue is a one-off problem that resulted from having a very large baby boomer generation from the early 1950s to mid-60s...... NMP cautions against excessive curbing of talent flow to S'pore Nominated MP Tan Su Shan has cautioned against measures to excessively curb the flow of talent into Singapore...... More calls for flexi-work arrangements in Parliament Parliament saw more calls for flexi-work arrangements on Wednesday to allow Singaporeans to have more quality time with their families...... Swiss national to go on trial for online vice ring case A Swiss national accused of having paid sex with an underage girl will be the first to fight the case this month...... Freeze public transport fare increases till service is improved: MP A call has been made to the government to freeze any public transport fare increase until Singaporeans see significant improvements in service level and enhancements...... Transport Ministry gets highest number of Budget cuts from MPs Singapore's Members of Parliament have filed 455 cuts for the forthcoming debate in the Committee of Supply for the various ministries and organs of state during the ongoing Budget debate...... High Court reserves judgement on constitutionality of Penal Code section A hearing into whether a section of the law that criminalizes gay sex is unconstitutional was conducted at the High Court on Wednesday morning...... Professional success is balancing work and personal life: women's poll More than half of female professionals in Singapore define professional success as having the right balance between work and personal life...... New initiatives from AGC to boost prosecutors' professionalism, competence SINGAPORE : The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) announced a slew of initiatives on Wednesday to enhance the professionalism and competence of prosecutors......