SINGAPORE: The over-disbursement of grants by S$1 million (US$754,000) by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and weaknesses in controls at the People’s Association (PA) were among the lapses flagged by the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) on Wednesday (Jul 19). The AGO’s audit report of public agencies in Singapore forContinue Reading
SCDF said that shouts of help could be heard coming from inside the unit when they arrived and firefighters from Sengkang Fire Station and Punggol Fire Station “conducted forcible entry through the front door”.
The unit was smoke-logged and the firefighters had to carefully manoeuvre their way into the unit, it added.
According to SCDF, five people were found inside one of the bedrooms and rescued by the firefighters.
They were taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation and one of the adults also sustained minor burn injuries.
About 50 residents from the affected block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the fire is likely to have been caused by an electrical origin in the kitchen,” said SCDF.Continue Reading
SINGAPORE: Former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song on Wednesday (Jul 19) announced his intention to run for the Singapore presidency.
The 75-year-old, who was speaking to the media after collecting eligibility forms from the Elections Department (ELD), said his bid was prompted by “recent concerns about the integrity of our national institutions”.
Mr Ng is the third presidential hopeful to throw his hat into the ring. Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was the first to do so on Jun 8, followed by businessman George Goh on Jun 12.
President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term expires on Sep 13 and she has said she will not stand for re-election.
The ELD has said that the Presidential Election may be held at any time from Jun 13, and if it has not been held by the expiration of the term of the incumbent President, it should be held shortly after.
Here’s what we know about Mr Ng:
Mr Ng was born to a Teochew family and grew up in a mud-floored attap house in Kangkar, a fishing village located where Sengkang is today.
In an interview with the Straits Times in 2012, he recounted how life was not easy for the big family with 11 children who depended on his father’s income as a fish auctioneer.
“One of the things which made me sad was my mother having to borrow money from neighbours when things got desperate,” he said.
Being the second eldest child, Mr Ng felt the weight of responsibility from young and would help his father out at the fish market and look after his younger siblings.
Kangkar was “infested with gangsters” then and Mr Ng, who was baptised a Catholic when he was seven years old, credited the Catholic church and his school Montfort for keeping him focused on his studies.
Mr Ng received a Public Service Commission scholarship to study physics at the then-University of Singapore. He later obtained a Sloan Master’s degree in management from Stanford University.
He married his schoolmate from Montfort, Patricia, in 1972 and had three children, aged 50, 47 and 33. Mrs Ng died in 2005 from stomach cancer.
He is engaged to Ms Sybil Lau, a Canada-born Singaporean who is 45. She started her career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs and has been managing her family’s wealth since 2009.
Her profile on networking site LinkedIn states that she sits on the boards of American billionaire Ray Dalio’s family office in Singapore and SG Enable, the government-established agency which helps people with disabilities. She is also an independent director of WELL Health Technologies, a Canadian operator of clinics, and a partner at venture builder The Delta.
Chinese language daily Shin Min reported last Saturday that the couple have known each other for four years and that Mr Ng’s children are supportive of their relationship.
PUBLISHED : 19 Jul 2023 at 09:50
The eight-party alliance seeking to form Thailand’s next government proposed Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat as their candidate for prime minister as the joint session of parliament began on Wednesday.
It is his second attempt to win the endorsement of the bicameral legislature after losing in his first attempt last Thursday.
Pheu Thai renominated Pita to parliament at 9.38am.
The United Thai Nation Party immediately argued against it, citing parliamentary regulations prohibiting a failed motion being resubmitted at the same session.
If we had to pick a favourite, it would have to be Kedai Kopi Dan Makanan Hong Lai’s Hokkien mee. At its mothership along Jalan Genting Kelang, roaring fires translate to flame-licked woks which imbue the fried noodles with incredible wok hei (that inimitable smoky flavour of the wok’s breath).
Hong Lai’s Hokkien mee (S$9.80) features thick egg noodles strewn with fresh seafood, all drenched in a glistening coat of dark soy sauce. The moonlight kway teow (S$9.80) is equally divine, served with the requisite raw egg on top, which you mix into the noodles so that it clings to each delicious strand.
Another highlight is the dry beef noodles (S$9.80) from Soong Kee Beef Noodles. A texture-rich tumble of sliced tripe, beef balls and slivers of tender beef served over springy egg noodles doused in a tasty dark soya sauce.
Experts weigh in on possible scenarios
Academics have predicted how a new prime minister could be found and a new government formed ahead of Wednesday’s second prime ministerial vote in parliament.
Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, told the Bangkok Post the chances of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat becoming the new prime minister had fallen ahead of the second round of voting.
“Ahead of the first round of voting on July 13, the chance was less than 50%, but now it is only 30%,” Mr Wanwichit said.
Mr Pita’s PM bid hangs in the balance due to several unfavourable factors, including a dispute over whether the motion regarding his renomination in parliament can be allowed while it remains to be seen whether the Constitutional Court will decide to accept for consideration a case involving his previous iTV shareholding and order his suspension.
If he still fails to secure sufficient support for his bid for the premiership in the second round of voting, he will no longer have any legitimacy to proceed with his bid for the prime minister role, Mr Wanwichit said.
He said if Srettha Thavisin, one of the Pheu Thai Party’s three prime ministerial candidates, is nominated for the role, he may receive more support from senators than Mr Pita.
“This probability is now 80%, but whether support from senators will be enough remains to be seen,” he said.
Another possibility is that the MFP will be forced into opposition as it cannot work with parties not part of its coalition under the MoU they all signed, he said.
“This probability is 50%, but it remains to be seen whether Mr Srettha will be able to control MPs from parties of the outgoing government [if the parties are approached to join a new coalition government led by Pheu Thai],” Mr Wanwichit said.
But he said he believed this could be a ploy to get Mr Srettha to form an alternative coalition with Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwon becoming prime minister, though he put that possibility at only 25%.
Another scenario involves forming a minority government by seeking the support of renegade MPs from the MFP and Pheu Thai, Mr Wanwichit said.
“But I don’t think anyone will attempt that as such a government lacks legitimacy. Doing so will trigger political chaos. This possibility is less than 20%,” he said.
Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political science lecturer from Burapha University, told the Bangkok Post that Mr Pita has little chance of becoming prime minister in the second round of votes as most senators frown upon him. “The chance is only 30%,” he said.
As for Mr Srettha, he is likely to be nominated for prime minister, though senators will not vote for him if the MFP remains a coalition ally of Pheu Thai, he said.
One scenario is that an alternative coalition would be formed, sidelining the MFP after today’s vote, Mr Olarn said. If Mr Pita fails to secure support for his PM bid, Pheu Thai will have a justification to refuse to comply with the MoU they signed and free itself from the MFP-led coalition, he said.
But only if Pita fails in today’s PM vote
Pheu Thai is ready to form an alternative coalition excluding the Move Forward Party (MFP) and it will bring in parties from the outgoing government if MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat fails to secure enough support to become prime minister in parliament on Wednesday, according to Pheu Thai sources.
The sources said that Mr Pita, the MFP’s sole prime ministerial candidate, faces several hurdles to his PM bid, and he will still not be able to receive sufficient backing during the second round of voting today.
They said the first hurdle is that his critics, especially the 250 senators, will cite parliamentary meeting regulation No.41, which prohibits a motion that has been rejected by parliament from being resubmitted during the same session, to block his renomination.
If rejected, the PM vote will have to be rescheduled, and Pheu Thai will have a chance to nominate its own candidate, the sources said, adding Srettha Thavisin, one of the party’s three PM candidates, is expected to get the nod.
The sources went on to say there is not much chance of forming a new coalition government with the MFP because most senators have made it clear they will not support the party due to its stance on amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law.
To overcome this hurdle, Pheu Thai will take the lead in forming the new government and exclude the MFP while trying to bring some parties from the outgoing government into the coalition, such as the Bhumjaithai, Palang Pracharath and Chartthaipattana parties, with a combined number of 300 or so MPs.
“This composition is most likely to happen, and it must be agreed upon [by the parties mentioned above] and approved by the senators before the next round of voting [if Mr Pita fails in his bid today],” the sources said.
“This is a major issue. Pheu Thai may have to take some flak, but we hope people will understand the situation,” they added.
“We cannot get everything, but we won’t lose everything.”
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of Pheu Thai’s three PM candidates, said on Tuesday the party will nominate Mr Srettha for the coveted role of prime minister if the joint parliamentary session rejects the nomination of Mr Pita on Wednesday.
“The Pheu Thai Party will nominate Mr Srettha Thavisin. This is clear,” said Ms Paetongtarn, the daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
According to Thaksin and Ms Paetongtarn, he is expected to return to Thailand soon after years in exile, despite the spectre of legal action.
Ms Paetongtarn said that before nominating Mr Srettha, Pheu Thai would fully support Mr Pita for prime minister.
If parliament rejects his bid, Pheu Thai will nominate Mr Srettha, she said.
Mr Pita failed to get the needed majority vote during a joint sitting of the House and the Senate on July 13.
The eight prospective coalition allies resolved on Monday to renominate Mr Pita on Wednesday, although critics say this process cannot continue indefinitely.
Ms Paetongtarn said she supported Mr Srettha because of his knowledge of business and economics. Mr Srettha is a former president of real estate developer Sansiri Plc.
“The focus is on when we can form the new government. It is in the public interest because the nation must move forward,” she said. “The focus is on what we can do to develop the nation, to build up the confidence of international investors.”
Reporters asked her about one senator’s promise to support Pheu Thai if it excludes MFP from its coalition. Ms Paetongtarn said the eight parties would discuss the matter.
“Please let party executives have their discussions. The issue is very sensitive,” she said.
Responding to reporters’ questions, Ms Paetongtarn said she had not thought about whether she would have a ministerial portfolio in the new government.
She said later that her father has decided to postpone his homecoming until the political situation becomes more stable and the vote to select the nation’s 30th prime minister has concluded.
Thaksin said earlier he wanted to return before his birthday on July 26.
On Oct 29 last year, a crowd crush occurred during Halloween festivities in the Itaewon neighbourhood of Seoul, South Korea. Over 150 people, including more than 20 foreigners, were killed. Several Singaporeans were reportedly in the crowd, Singapore media outlets reported later. They were lucky to make it out alive.
There have also seen catastrophic crowd crush incidents at sporting events, such as the stampede at a football match in Indonesia in October 2022.
Those tragedies serve as a reminder of the potential harms of being caught in a crowd. According to Risk Frontiers, a risk management company in Australia, the dangers of such situations include asphyxiation, getting trampled on, getting crushed between people or against fixed structures such as barriers.
If caught in such situations, travellers should fold their arms up in front of them at chest level, like a boxer. In this position, they can protect their ribcage when bumping into others, and ensure space around their ribs and lungs, allowing them to be able to breathe properly, according to one tip from the Singapore First Aid Training Centre.
They should also keep away from barriers such as walls, fences and other solid objects to prevent being crushed against those items, and control their breathing and avoid screaming to save their breath.
One of the key considerations when planning a trip is to research the typical weather conditions of the intended destination.
With the increasing impact of climate change, weather patterns have become more erratic and unpredictable, making it essential for travellers to be prepared and adaptable. In recent months, there have been tropical storms in Japan, intense heatwaves in South Asia, and severe flooding across regions in Italy.
But these efforts have yielded little success, especially as online shopping grew in popularity.
The frequency of discounts and promotions on online platforms – as often as once a month – has also watered down the uniqueness of a sale event and may have even induced “sale fatigue” among customers, several retailers said.
“In the past when there were fewer sales, GSS can make an impact because it was something that people can look forward to,” said Ms Shareen Wong, founder of Embrace Jewellery.
“It was also a concerted effort with many retailers coming together to offer a discount, and that obviously drives more traffic to Orchard Road,” she added. “But it’s now less and less so.”
Embrace Jewellery and other retailers that CNA spoke to said they have not participated in the GSS in recent years. They have gone ahead with their own promotions, both online and offline, instead.
Footwear brand Melissa, for example, had its usual mid-year sale last month.
“Our mid-year sale typically coincides with the GSS period but with or without GSS, we went ahead with ours in June,” said Mr Terence Yow, the managing director of Enviably Me which is the official distributor of the Melissa brand in Singapore.
Adding that he has not heard anything about the GSS this year, Mr Yow told CNA: “We find it a bit odd because it is a long-established tradition, and we are wondering when it is. But are we losing sleep over it? Not really.”
Home-grown department store OG also had its own mid-year sale featuring storewide gift-with-purchase and other promotions last month, as well as a members-only private sale at its People’s Park store.
OG said it has been “aligning” its sale events, both online and offline, with some of the popular monthly online sales. Nonetheless, a nationwide event such as the GSS is “still impactful and brings awareness to tourists”, it told CNA.
“The SRA has yet to announce official plans for GSS for this year. We’re excited to see what SRA has in store for the official GSS event and look forward to joining,” said a spokesperson.
Mr Yow reckoned that the GSS still has a role to play in the local retail calendar but to revive Singapore’s status as a shopping paradise will require “something much bigger and not just about discounts”.
“It can be a big shopping and wine-and-dine festival with some experiential activities and concerts,” he said. “Don’t think of it as a shopping-only or retail-only event; you can bring in different types of F&B and services too.”
The initiative of Orchard Road’s pedestrian night, or closing part of the prime shopping belt to motorists once in a while, could also be revived, said Mr Yow, noting that retailers saw a “good bump up in sales and traffic” when that took place.
Describing Orchard Road as “a pale shadow of itself”, the business owner added: “I think what we need to think about is much more than GSS – how can we revive shopping in Singapore and starting from Orchard Road.
“The bigger question is whether we can reinvent and recreate Singapore’s shopping and dining environment – to make it a lot more experiential, a lot more attractive, not just to tourists but also to the locals,” he said.
“For that, maybe we need something way bigger and more relevant than GSS.”
Raid on motel room caught on camera
PUBLISHED : 19 Jul 2023 at 04:58
Kalasin: A police investigation has been launched into an allegation that five policemen in this northeastern province abducted a woman, falsely accused her of drug possession and extorted 50,000 baht from her in exchange for her release.
Pol Maj Gen Phuttiphong Musikul, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 4, said on Tuesday the incident occurred in an area under the jurisdiction of Muang police station in Kalasin, and the station commander has reported it to the regional police office.
The allegation was backed up by a video taken surreptitiously with a mobile phone, confirmed Pol Maj Gen Phuttiphong. All five men in the video are officers attached to various units in Kalasin province. A fact-finding investigation has been launched to look into disciplinary and criminal action against the men.
“If the allegations are confirmed, they will be punished,” Pol Maj Gen Phuttiphong said.
The probe was launched after the woman posted on the Khaosan Palanchai Facebook page seeking help, and TV Channel 8 then sent a news team to interview her.
The woman, whose name was withheld, alleged that five men arrived at the resort in Muang district where she was staying alone around 6.20pm on July 4. The men claimed to be members of a police task force in Kalasin. They searched her room but found nothing illegal but did find 20,000 baht in cash. They then took her from the room and asked her to point at some white tissue paper left under a tree outside the room, but she refused, the woman said.
She was then forcibly taken to their vehicle, and they drove around Muang district. On the way, they tried to persuade her to confess that she owned the tissue paper containing illicit drugs. She said that she refused. The woman said the five men demanded 50,000 baht in exchange for her release.
She said she was afraid of being falsely charged with drug offences, so she contacted her younger brother and borrowed 30,000 baht from him, which she then gave to the men along with the 20,000 baht they had seized from her room.
She had managed to video what happened during the police raid on her room without them noticing.
Pol Lt Gen Yanyong Vejosot, chief of Provincial Police Region 4, ordered Kalasin police chief Pol Maj Gen Suwan Chiewnawinthawat to explain the incident after the video was aired on TV news.