Some commuters who switched to SimplyGo can collect an older EZ-Link card from Mar 18 to Jun 30

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All commuters must bring their current SimplyGo card for verification during card collection. Even after collecting their new CBT card, they can continue to keep and use their SimplyGo card. 

LTA encouraged commuters to stick to their allotted collection dates to “ensure a more organised collection process with shorter waiting times”, adding that there is “sufficient stock” of CBT EZ-Link cards.

There may, for instance, be longer queues and wait times during the morning and evening peak hours – 8am to 9.30am and 5pm to 7pm. Commuters may wish to visit the ticket office during off-peak hours for a shorter wait time, the authority said.

Those who are unsure about whether they are eligible to collect a new CBT card can find out by entering their EZ-Link card identification number at https://go.gov.sg/eligibilitychecker, or calling the SimplyGo hotline at 1800 2255 663.

COLLECTING A NEW NETS PREPAID CARD

The collection schedule is slightly different for cardholders of NETS Prepaid cards. 

From Apr 1 to Jun 30, commuters who purchased a NETS Prepaid card between Jan 9 and Jan 22 can get a free NETS FlashPay card from any ticket office islandwide. 

Similar to CBT EZ-Link cardholders, these commuters can continue to keep and use their existing NETS Prepaid card even after collecting their NETS Flashpay card. They can also request a refund on the remaining balance on their NETS Prepaid card via the NETS app. 

If they are not sure of their eligibility for a new NETS FlashPay card, they can check on the SimplyGo website or call the NETS customer service hotline at 6274 1212. 

CBT CONCESSION CARDS

Concession cardholders who were issued or converted their cards to SimplyGo on or before Jan 22 will also receive a new CBT card. This applies to senior citizen, workfare transport and person with disabilities concession cardholders, as well as adult monthly travel cardholders. 

However, these groups will have their card mailed to their address that is registered with TransitLink. 

This will make it easier for concession cardholders, such as seniors and people with disabilities, to obtain a new card, said LTA.

After receiving their new CBT card, they can choose to either use it or continue with their existing SimplyGo card.

To ensure that each eligible concession cardholder has only one valid concession card, they need to activate their new CBT concession card at any ticket office if they wish to use it, added LTA. 

The process is similar to activating any new concession card. They must bring along their NRIC, as well as existing and new concession cards. Customer service officers at the ticket offices will also help to transfer any remaining value to their new concession cards.

LTA said about 290,000 adult users of SimplyGo EZ-Link and NETS Prepaid cards, as well as 67,000 concession card holders are eligible to receive new CBT cards.

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Giant signs warn against online scams

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‘Do not be rushed’, ‘Do not click on links’, ‘Do not transfer money’, residents advised

PUBLISHED : 28 Feb 2024 at 16:05

Giant signs warn against online scams
Pol Col Yotsawat Kaewsuebthanyanit talks to a woman about online scam gangs as giant warning signs are hung on the Muang police station building in Khon Kaen on Wednesday. (Photo: Chakrapan Natanri)

KHON KAEN – Giant signs warning people against online scammers and advising how to avoid them were hung on the outside wall of Khon Kaen police station on Wednesday, as police said more than 2,000 victims had already filed complaints there this year.

Signs up to 3 metres tall carried  warnings and advice such as  “Do not believe”, “Do not be rushed”, “Do not transfer”, “Do not click on links’’. 

“Victims of online fraud, phone 1441,’’ said another sign.

Pol Col Yotsawat Kaewsuebthanyanit, superintendent of  Muang police, said the placards were put up because complaints about online fraud were flooding in.

Last year, there were more than 5,000 victims of online scams, he said. Already this year more than 2,000 victims had filed complaints with Khon Kaen police. Many were taken in by new tricks being used by scam gangs to steal their money.

“Muang police station is warning residents by putting up signs in front of our office building,” Pol Col Yotsawat said. “We are also making public the trickery employed by the fraudsters, who often claim to be law enforcement officials or to be from the private sector, to threaten and deceive people.”.

He urged people to take extra caution, to not be rushed into transfering money to someone they do not know, and not to click on links to suspicious apps.

Signs warning people about online scammers, at Muang police station in Khon Kaen (Photo: Chakrapan Natanri)

A woman files a complaint at Muang police station in Khon Kaen on Wednesday. (Photo: Chakrapan Natanri)

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Having the resources for a strong economy and society ‘not a fairy tale’, requires prudence: Lawrence Wong

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On Wednesday, Mr Wong said many governments in advanced economies do not have enough money to fund their policies and have to raise taxes. “Their fiscal systems are at risk of breaking,” he said.

Having a version of an independent Budget office – which the Workers’ Party (WP) has proposed – did not help, said Mr Wong.

“No political party in these countries is prepared to dish out the hard truths, so their policy debates are dominated by what some commentators call fiscal fantasies,” he said.

Examples include overly optimistic forecasting assumptions and the idea that all the funds can be raised from the rich with close to zero consequences for the rest of the population. They may also kick the fiscal can down the road indefinitely, he added. 

“Let’s not indulge in fantasy thinking. Not in this House, not in Singapore,” he said, adding that Singapore is in a unique and privileged position of being able to use savings from the past, rather than having to pay for debts accumulated by previous governments.

“We must maintain our commitment to set aside enough not just for ourselves, but also for the future. So I call on everyone in this House, let’s commit to upholding these values.

“Fiscal responsibility, discipline, ensure that our fiscal system meets the needs and aspirations of both current and future generations of Singaporeans,” Mr Wong said.

He repeated Mr Lee’s challenge to make drawing more from Singapore’s reserves an election issue. 

“The PAP will join issue with you, we will present our case to Singaporeans, and ultimately, Singaporeans can decide what is the best fiscal approach to take Singapore forward.”

Workers’ Party MPs and Progress Singapore Party NCMPs did not respond directly to the challenge.

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Singapore’s total fertility rate falls to historic low of 0.97

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SINGAPORE: For the first time ever, Singapore’s resident total fertility rate has dropped below 1.0.

Preliminary estimates show that the total fertility rate fell to 0.97 in 2023, declining further from the previous record of 1.05 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021.

“There are various reasons for Singapore’s low fertility. Some are temporal, for instance, couples that had their marriage plans disrupted by COVID-19, which may have in turn delayed their parenthood plans,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah said in parliament on Wednesday (Feb 28).

Others also cited concerns about the financial costs of child-raising, pressures to be an excellent parent, or difficulties managing work and family commitments, she added. 

Laying out the PMO’s plans, Ms Indranee said the government is looking at how paid parental leave can be increased. 

“We must recognise that this requires workplace adjustments, and that employers may face challenges in making arrangements to cover for employees’ extended absences,” she said.

The government will engage with tripartite partners on further enhancements, and pace out any proposed changes, Ms Indranee added. 

She also noted parents’ feedback that care needs are greatest during a child’s first 18 months.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has been “ramping up” infant care capacity and plans to grow childminding services as an additional infant care option for families, Ms Indranee said, adding that the ministry will provide more details later.

On concerns regarding child-raising costs, she said MSF will lower childcare fee caps in anchor and partner operator preschools by S$40 in 2025 – as announced during Budget 2024. 

Ms Indranee also pointed to measures announced at Budget 2023 to boost support for parents and families, such as increasing government-paid paternity leave to four weeks.

The government will mandate the additional leave “as soon as possible, to benefit more fathers”, she said. 

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Alleged serial rapist arrested in Bangkok

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PUBLISHED : 28 Feb 2024 at 14:32

Alleged serial rapist arrested in Bangkok
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Bureau arrest the alleged serial rapist, aged 40, in an elevator of a condominium building in Bang Sue district, Bangkok, on Wednesday. (Photo: IDMB Facebook)

An alleged serial rapist who uses the name “Toey Bang Pho” and targets schoolgirls was arrested in Bangkok’s Bang Sue district on Wednesday.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) took 40-year-old “Toey” into custody in the elevator of a condominium building in the Tao Poon area. His real name was given only as Wissanu. 

Police said Mr Wissanu was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Bangkok South Criminal Court on Feb 9 on charges of intruding into a house and raping a child aged below 13 years, regardless of whether consent was given.

The arresting team was led by Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thumsuthee, the MPB chief investigator.

According to police, the suspect had raped at least four schoolgirls. There were other victims who had not  filed police complaints. 

He had first been arrested on a rape charge on Sept 7, 2017. He had followed one student and  masqueraded as the driver of a hired vehicle. He picked up the student from school and instead of taking her home drove another route and parked under the Krung Thon Bridge, or Sang Hi, where he punched her in her stomach and raped her.

He was later arrested and sentenced to prison. Since his release his alleged victims included a 12-year-old girl on Oct 30 last year Pol Maj Gen Theeradet said.

Mr Wissanu had hidden near the fire escape of the residential building in Bangkok’s Sathon district where the student lived. When she returned home alone after school, he allegedly foillowed her up to her room.

When she opened the room door he came up behind her, allegedly placed his hand over her mouth and dragged her inside, closing the door. He then raped her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone, the girl told police.

A relative of the girl arrived at the room, she shouted for help and the suspect fled. 

The relative took the girl to file a complaint with Thung Mahamek police. Investigators identified her attacker as Mr Wissanu, aka Toey Bang Pho. Police obtained a court warrant, tracked him down and arrested him.

Police said Mr Wissanu was in hiding in his girlfriend’s condominium room, in the building where he was arrested in an elevator.

During initial questioning, Mr Wissanu denied all charges. He said he was a former civil servant and he liked children, according to police. He also claimed that in all the previous cases against him, the sex was consensual, Thai media reported.

Pol Maj Gen Theeradet said police did not believe him. The suspect was a repeat offender after being released from jail and fell into the category of “serial rapist’’, the chief investigator said.

He believed there were more victims who had not dared to file complaints. He urged them to come forward. They could contact investigators  via the IDMB Facebook page, where officers were available to give advice around-the-clock.

Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thumsuthee, chief investigator of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, with the arrested suspect (white hat).. (Photo: IDMB Facebook)

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Former Kinderland preschool teacher gets fresh charges of abusing 3 other children

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SINGAPORE: A former preschool teacher who was seen in videos allegedly rough-handling children has been charged with abusing three other kids.

This is on top of her previous charge involving a 23-month-old girl.

Lin Min, 34, was given a total of five new charges on Wednesday (Feb 28), comprising three counts of ill-treating a child and two of using criminal force.

All the alleged fresh offences occurred at a Kinderland preschool between May and July last year.

Lin is accused of forcing a three-year-old boy to lie down in a rough manner, handling him roughly and using criminal force on him by tipping a milk bottle into his mouth while he was lying down on the floor.

She is also accused of ill-treating a three-year-old girl by restraining her to a chair and pouring water into her mouth.

Lin also allegedly used criminal force on a two-year-old boy by using a book to hit his buttocks five times.

A gag order issued by the court prevents the publication of anything that could lead to the identification of the victims.

Lin was first charged in August with ill-treating a 23-month-old girl by forcing her to lie down and pouring water into her mouth.

This allegedly occurred on Jun 30, 2023, at the same Kinderland preschool.

She is out on bail of S$15,000 and is slated for a pre-trial conference in March.

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‘World’s Greatest Butcher’ Dario Cecchini from Italy to sell S.50 beef sandwiches at Maxwell hawker pop-up

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Cecchini says he has “been so inspired by [his] trips to the hawker [stalls] in Singapore”, hence the decision to do a hawker pop-up here. Cecchini, along with the head chef of Bottega di Carna, Singaporean Kenny Huang, will be making panini, which are sold at Dario’s well-loved food truck in Tuscany, called the Cecchini Panini Truck. The chefs will occupy BBraise’s stall and work alongside its hawker to serve three different sarnies, each costing S$6.50.

The sandwiches will be made with Tuscan Rosetta, a round type of bread using a recipe from Cecchini’s hometown.

Of the three types of panini served, one is made in collaboration with BBraise’s hawker. Cecchini said that “Bold & Braised is one of the best”, adding that “they serve all parts of the pig, very similar to my style and philosophy”.

Besides pork belly lor bak, BBraise also serves braised pig’s trotters and bak kut teh using pork ribs.

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Additional support to transform and create a more vibrant arts scene to be announced

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GIVING NEW LIFE TO TRADITIONAL ART FORMS

Lao Sai Tao Yuan Teochew Opera Troupe is a 160-year-old opera troupe looking to refresh itself.

“Our Chinese opera artists are also getting older, most of them are in their 70s and 80s, likewise for our musicians,” said Mr Nick Shen, its troupe leader. 

“So it’s very difficult to find fresh blood. And our audiences are dwindling, so it actually affects the income of all our veterans. We definitely need to think of innovative ways to promote Chinese opera and also find different platforms for the veterans to perform.”

Mr Shen, who is also the founder and artistic director of Tok Tok Chiang Opera, added that it is “very challenging” to reach out and engage young people to ensure continuity in audience demand.

His troupe has taken a big bet to go digital with the help of government funding, including creating new products that appeal to a much younger crowd, such as a digital comic book about a warrior and other legends.

A mobile game is also being developed, where players can unlock characters to build their own opera troupe, and is “an innovative and fun way for the youth to discover and learn more about Chinese opera”, said Mr Shen. 

“This app will be in English and Chinese, and the Teochew dialect will no longer be a barrier to understanding.”

He wants to use these in workshops that the troupe conducts with two to three schools each month. 

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Arts groups expected to receive more support to transform Singapore’s arts scene

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GIVING NEW LIFE TO TRADITIONAL ART FORMS

Lao Sai Tao Yuan Teochew Opera Troupe is a 160-year-old opera troupe looking to refresh itself.

“Our Chinese opera artists are also getting older, most of them are in their 70s and 80s, likewise for our musicians,” said Mr Nick Shen, its troupe leader. 

“So it’s very difficult to find fresh blood. And our audiences are dwindling, so it actually affects the income of all our veterans. We definitely need to think of innovative ways to promote Chinese opera and also find different platforms for the veterans to perform.”

Mr Shen, who is also the founder and artistic director of Tok Tok Chiang Opera, added that it is “very challenging” to reach out and engage young people to ensure continuity in audience demand.

His troupe has taken a big bet to go digital with the help of government funding, including creating new products that appeal to a much younger crowd, such as a digital comic book about a warrior and other legends.

A mobile game is also being developed, where players can unlock characters to build their own opera troupe, and is “an innovative and fun way for the youth to discover and learn more about Chinese opera”, said Mr Shen. 

“This app will be in English and Chinese, and the Teochew dialect will no longer be a barrier to understanding.”

He wants to use these in workshops that the troupe conducts with two to three schools each month. 

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Director denied pay raise helps himself to over S,000 from company accounts, gets jail

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SINGAPORE: A director of several linked companies felt he was doing a lot of work and asked for a raise.

When his request was denied, he decided to help himself to a total sum of about S$53,600 (US$39,840) from the companies’ bank accounts.

Yang Fan, a 34-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to four months’ jail according to a judgment made available on Wednesday (Feb 28).

He pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal breach of trust as a director by dishonest appropriation, with another two charges taken into consideration.

The court heard that Yang was a director of Japanese beauty and wellness company Osaka Kuma, Kuma Retail and Kuma Supplies.

He handled company operations such as logistics, merchandising, retail operations, technology and finance.

He was entrusted with the three companies’ respective bank accounts and had final approval for any bank transactions.

In July 2022, Yang felt that he was “doing a lot of work” and requested a raise in his salary.

The shareholders denied his request, and Yang decided to embezzle funds for his personal use.

Between end-July 2022 and end-November 2022, Yang transferred a total of S$28,867.50 over 13 transactions from one of the company’s accounts to himself.

He also took money from the other accounts, totalling S$53,631.

Another director noticed that money was being transferred directly to Yang. Internal investigations ensued and Yang made partial restitution of about S$14,000 in December 2022. 

A police report was lodged in January 2023, and Yang later made full restitution.

SENTENCING ARGUMENTS

The prosecution sought six to seven months’ jail, while defence lawyer Sara Ng from Covenant Chambers asked for a high fine.

District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt said it appeared from text messages attached to the mitigation plea that Yang committed the offences because he was in financial difficulties and under stress.

The lawyer also said that her client has “suffered the loss of everything he had toiled for, including his close relationships”.

Yang has lost his friends, business partners and his fiancee, she said.

However, the judge said these are “consequences which flow from his intentional wrongdoings”, and that “such downstream effects are to be expected and are quite often inevitable”. 

Judge Chay said Yang’s motivation for the offences was “entirely out of greed”.

“He felt he deserved to be paid more and decided to take matters into his own hands when his request for a raise was denied,” he added.

He said no mitigating factors relied on by the defence would justify a fine or a reduction of the jail term.

Yang intends to appeal against the sentence and is out on bail pending appeal.

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