SINGAPORE: A maid was sentenced to one-and-a-half years’ jail on Wednesday (Jul 26) after she stole jewellery from a hidden wardrobe compartment in her employer’s home and more than S$50,000 (US$37,700) in cash. When the thefts were discovered, she quickly contacted another maid to tell pawn shops to sell offContinue Reading
Former minister Lim Kim San lived in a 52,059 sq ft good class bungalow (GCB) in Dalvey Road. Mr Lim, who has been widely credited to be the man behind Singapore’s Housing Development Board project, built this home for himself in 1967 – when many Singaporeans lived in rented housing.
Staying in his sprawling bungalow did not stop Mr Lim from making an important and telling contribution to the country and Singaporeans. Having already been a key architect of the success of Singapore’s public housing programme, Mr Lim went on to serve commendably in the finance, interior, defence, communications, education and national development portfolios as well as chairman of the PUB and PSA, reflecting a multi-faceted and long history of contributions to Singapore.
Mr Lim was independently wealthy before he came into politics, and he only did so after then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him to give up his business interests to come into government and serve the country. At no point in his political career did Mr Lee require Mr Lim to give up living in a GCB – when many Singaporeans did not even own their homes. Nor was he chided for doing so or accused of not being able to properly serve Singaporeans, or that there would be a disconnect.
Similarly, Singapore’s pioneering law and labour minister E W Barker lived in a GCB in Queen Astrid Park. That did not prevent him from serving Singapore.
Other pioneer leaders and ministers, including Dr Goh Keng Swee and Hon Sui Sen also lived in large government bungalows. Dr Goh lived in Goodwood Park, in a black and white bungalow just off Orchard Road. Government housing was part of the scheme of service in those times. Dr Goh was Mr Lee’s right hand man, in the making of modern Singapore and is credited for many of Singapore’s current institutions and policies that have greatly benefited the country.
Singapore’s 1G leaders were unimpeachable in their personal conduct. But where they lived was not an issue, as long as there was no corruption involved. And several lived in large, landed houses – some in GCBs and some in black and white bungalows.
From the start, Mr Lee brought in people to serve if he thought they could do the job – regardless of their background, regardless of whether they were rich or poor. There were unionists, who were not wealthy, but who contributed greatly to nation building, by coming into politics. As was said in parliament during this debate, what matters is not how wealthy or poor a person is. It is the heart and the willingness to serve, and competence that should matter.
I am not seeking to compare the 1G leaders with current leaders. Every generation is different. But Mr Han made a comparison on how the leaders lived to which I have a different point of view.
PUBLISHED : 26 Jul 2023 at 15:23
The parliament president has advised the Move Forward Party to shelve its request for the parliament to review last week’s rejection of the renomination of its leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister, pending a court ruling.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who is ex-officio parliament president, said on Wednesday the MFP should wait for the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Ombudsman’s petition for a ruling on the joint sitting’s resolution, pushed through with the backing of appointed senators.
The Constitutional Court’s ruling would have an effect on the parliament and all concerned, he said.
Mr Wan also said that his decision to postpone indefinitely the parliament’s next vote to select a prime minister, which had been scheduled for Thursday, was free of any political motive.
He made the decision because the Constitutional Court had still to consider the petition from the Office of the Ombudsman, which also asked for a postponement of the vote.
If the court does not accept the matter for consideration, Mr Wan said, he could set a date for the next parliamentary vote right away.
Mr Pita failed to win a majority vote from both the House and the Senate to become prime minister on July 13.
He was renominated to a joint sitting on July 19 but the joint sitting rejected it on procedural grounds. Opponents argued it was in violation of parliamentary regulation 41, which prohibits the resubmission of a failed motion during the same parliamentary session.
Mr Pita’s supporters and many academics disagreed with the parliament’s resolution on July 19, arguing that regulation 41 applies to general business, not the prime ministerial nomination, and asked the Constitutional Court through the Ombudsman to rule on the legality of Mr Pita’s renomination.
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday (Jul 26) said he intended to be “a President for a new era” as he officially launched his campaign for the office. “I stepped into this race because I feel very strongly in the need to evolve Singapore’s culture, some ofContinue Reading
PUBLISHED : 26 Jul 2023 at 14:32
Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would be treated as an elderly prisoner and receive whatever medical treatment he may need if he is imprisoned on his planned return to Thailand on Aug 10, Corrections Department chief Ayut Sinthoppan said on Wednesday.
The department chief gave this assurance after Thaksin’s daughter announced her father would return to Thailand through Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport on August 10. Thaksin has previously said he would enter the justice process.
When the former prime minister arrived at Don Mueang he would be met by immigration police and a record made of his arrest, Mr Ayut said.
Corrections Department officials would do whatever is ordered under a court warrant, he said. They would be at the court where the arrest warrant was issued. If the charges against the former prime minister ocurred in Bangkok, he would be taken to Bangkok Remand Prison if the court ordered his detention.
To date, the department had not received a court warrant for Thaksin.
Paetongtharn “Ung Ing’’ Shinawatra, one of three Pheu Thai candidates for prime minister, announced on Instagram on Wednesday that her father would arrive at Don Mueang airport on Aug 10.
Mr Ayut said Thaksin would b treated as an elderly inmate. If he had underlining illnesses he would receive medical treatment on the advice of a prison doctor. Thaksin would be quarantined at the prison hospital for Covid-19 testing for 10 days before being moved to a prison patient ward, as was the case with former Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdit, Mr Ayut said.
There was no timeframe for medical treatment. Doctors based at the prison would assess his condition, he said.
He denied reports that caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreu-ngam, as acting justice minister, had coordinated with the department regarding Thaksin’s return. He said Mr Wissanu had not been in contact with him.
Thaksin’s government was overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006, while he was overseas. He has since lived in self-exile, based in Dubai, except for a brief visit to Thailand in 2008.
During his absence, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to a total of 12 years imprisonment in four cases.
In the first case, the court found him guilty of abuse of power in his then-wife Khunying Potjaman’s purchase of state-owned land in Ratchadapisek area for less than the market value. In October 2008, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The 10-year statute of limitations on the court ruling expired in October 2018.
In the second case, Thaksin was sentenced to two years in prison after he was found guilty of malfeasance in a case concerning the two- and three-digit lottery.
In the third case, Thaksin was handed down three years in prison for abusing his position by authorising loans totaling 4 billion baht to Myanmar by the Export-Import Bank of Thailand. The loans were used to buy equipment from a telecoms firm owned by his family.
The fourth case resulted in a five-year prison sentence. The court found him guilty of using nominees to hold shares in a telecommunications company, Shin Corp, which is prohibited for any political office holder.
The statute of limitations has not expired in the second, third and fourth cases.
She is starting with making her department’s Architectural Conservation Laboratory (ArClab), located in a conserved building on Neil Road, more accessible. The venue provides students a space to develop cutting edge cross-disciplinary research and collaboration across the fields of digital conservation technology, material sciences, and building aesthetics. Her idea cameContinue Reading
SINGAPORE: The mother of a woman who abused a maid to death testified in her former son-in-law’s trial on Wednesday (Jul 26), saying she was concerned that her daughter was suffering from “mental torture” because of the maid, whom she claimed could not do any work well. Prema S Naraynasamy,Continue Reading
SINGAPORE: Mobile network operators Singtel, StarHub and M1 will retire their 3G services by Jul 31 next year.
These three telcos are currently the only mobile network operators offering these services.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said on Wednesday (Jul 26) that the move is in view of advancements in the mobile communication space where 3G has been largely replaced by 4G and 5G.
IMDA added that the one-year transition period was to allow operators to adequately engage and migrate their remaining 3G subscribers before retiring their 3G services.
To facilitate this transition, mobile network operations will offer individual users the option to convert to 4G plans “on terms that are no worse-off”. A range of mobile phone options at different price points will also be provided.
For enterprise users, support will be given to help them migrate to 4G or other alternative services while minimising disruption to their existing services.
IMDA also said retailers will no longer be able to sell 3G mobile phones or 4G models requiring 3G for voice calls, except for export purposes. This will take effect from Feb 1, 2024.
Those affected can contact their respective telcos for more information and assistance.
3G entered the Singapore market almost 20 years ago, and the next wave of 4G developments took place in the mid-2010s.
Since the introduction of 5G last year, 5G subscriptions have gained prevalence – making up 15 per cent of the total mobile subscribers. IMDA said this number continues to grow.
“Overall, close to 99 per cent of Singapore’s mobile subscribers are currently on 4G or 5G,” it said, adding that as of April this year, the 3G subscriber base makes up about 1 per cent of the total mobile subscription, with the number on the decline.
Internationally, operators such as those in Australia and the UK are similarly expected to retire their 3G services by 2024, said IMDA. Some countries such as the US and Malaysia have already retired 3G services.
“When the 3G networks retire, more spectrum can be released for investment in 5G to provide a better experience for users and support enterprises undergoing digital transformation,” it added.
The scenario, which took place across lanes cordoned off from busy traffic, involved an accident among vehicles moving towards Singapore.
A motorcycle and a car collide in front of a lorry carrying 10 drums of hydrochloric acid. To avoid hitting them, the lorry driver swerves, losing control and hitting a barrier wall.
The impact knocks five drums of hydrochloric acid onto the road. Two drums on Singapore’s side rupture, spilling hydrochloric acid. Three drums roll to Malaysia’s side, with two similarly rupturing.
Concentrated hydrochloric acid is corrosive and can cause burns. Inhalation of the vapours can also cause coughing, choking, inflammation of the respiratory system, fluid in the lungs, circulatory failure and even death.
PUBLISHED : 26 Jul 2023 at 11:33
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to arrive at Don Mueang airport on Aug 10, his daughter Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra announced on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I can’t quite believe what I am typing, my father is returning on Aug 10 at Don Mueang airport,” Ms Paetongtarn wrote on her father’s 74th birthday.
According to the Pheu Thai Party’s prime ministerial candidate, she had missed only three of her father’s birthdays, with the latest one being this year, as there were many preparations to be made.
“(Our family) is both glad and worried, but we always respect our father’s decisions,” Ms Paetongtarn wrote.
She extended her best wishes to her father, hoping for his good health and safety, and that he could fulfil his wish of regularly sending his grandchildren off to school.
Ms Paetongtarn also wrote that her father was a prime minister who was recognised for having the most national contributions, but he also faced hardships and mistreatment.
Thaksin had mentioned his plan to return to Thailand since early last year, she wrote.
Since being overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006, Thaksin has been living in self-imposed exile, except for a brief visit to the country in 2008. During his absence, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to a total of 12 years in prison in four cases.
In the first case, Thaksin was found guilty of abuse of authority in his then-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra’s purchase of state-owned land in Ratchadaphisek at a price below the market value, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. The 10-year statute of limitations on the court ruling expired in October 2018.
The second case led to a two-year prison sentence for the fugitive former prime minister, as he was found guilty of malfeasance in connection with the two- and three-digit lottery case.
In the third case, Thaksin received a three-year prison sentence for abusing his position by authorising 4 billion baht in loans to Myanmar through the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of Thailand. The funds were used to purchase equipment from a telecoms firm owned by his family.
The fourth case resulted in a five-year prison sentence for him, as the court found him guilty of using nominees to hold shares in Shin Corp, a telecommunications company, which is prohibited for any political office holder.
The statutes of limitation for the court decisions on the second, third and fourth cases have not expired.