Prime Minister-to-be Lawrence Wong on his guitar hobby, highlights Singapore brands in new video

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Many guitarists are well-versed in Morningstar Engineering’s line of MIDI consoles. Some people are aware, however, that James Toh and Benjamin Chia, graduates of Singapore Management University ( SMU), established the company in Singapore. Morningstar items have been used by many foreign artistes– including Bruno Mars, who is already using the bank’s MC8 controller  on his globe visit, as well as Herman Li, the guitar for Dragonforce.

James Toh, who spoke to CNA Lifestyle, revealed that the company first learned of Mr. Wong’s use of their goods maybe in November 2020.  

” Our second change with him was on Instagram. When we learned that he started following us, we sent him a DM. Eventually, we also corresponded with him via internet to provide professional help for some queries he had,” Toh added.

Toh said in Toh’s video:” We were pleasantly surprised when we found out that he was using our product and likewise filled with enthusiasm for the fact that he is such a strong and serious musician. He treated us very nicely and made it very nice for us to appear on his system. “

How did a modest company like Morningstar become thus well-known abroad?

Solid products, a solid logistics network, tactical marketing, and excellent customer service are just a few of the factors that helped us establish a worldwide presence. To connect with customers, dealers, and establish relationships with various business stakeholders, we also hold an annual show at a music equipment protocol in the United States. “

He added:” Most lately, we were excited to have Bruno Mars in Singapore… Watching our product in action with quite a sizable band perform on stage in Singapore was very anything. “

Many fans have urged Mr. Wong to make more of these videos in the future, with others casually inviting him for a blocking program. Mr. Wong’s sincere video seems to have had a positive impact on him. Fingers crossed for a single guitar effectiveness at his future swearing-in service.

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CNA Explains: Why was Aung San Suu Kyi moved out of prison?

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What’s behind the walk?

” Up to this point, what we do know is that ( the move ) was framed as an act of compassion to alleviate the senior leaders ‘ suffering from the very high warm temperatures,” said the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak think-tank’s senior fellow Moe Thuzar.

However, she continued, “raises questions” about the precise spots to which they had been moved.

Observers have remarked that there might be pulling of political chords.

There had been a number of high-level unusual engagements with the Myanmar military prior to the reported jail transfer.

This included a conference between former Thai foreign secretary Don Pramudwinai and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi in July of last year.  

Additionally, there has been shuttle politics between China and Myanmar in recent months, including a conference between Tatmadaw-Myanmar’s military commander Min Aung Hlaing and Chinese special envoy Deng Xijun.  

When asked if China might have contributed to Ms. San Suu Kyi’s release from prison, University of Hong Kong assistant teacher Brian Wong responded that” the likelihood is most definitely there.”

In light of the harm to its economic interests, China has a significant interest in a quick solution of the Myanmar issue; the spill in terms of frontier insecurity,” he said.

It’s obvious that Beijing is losing patience and, in some cases, belief in the Tatmadaw’s ability to maintain order and security. “

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More construction firms going bust after pandemic, say liquidators

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WANTED BY DIFFIC WOES

According to the trustees CNA spoke to, the effects of the crisis are now being felt as damaged projects enter the stage of implementation and disputes over delays and costs start to arise.

Construction companies have experienced significant growth in the post-pandemic period thanks to COVID relief measures and important government projects over the past few years. However, the reality is beginning to permeate, according to attorney Danny Quah.

Drastic changes to global supply chains, rising costs, the significant strengthening of foreign employee quotas, and the strong Singapore buck, which is causing a decline in export competitiveness, are just a few of the causes of the best environment for construction companies to go through insolvency or restructuring proceedings. ”

Construction firms are also subject to late project completion deadlines or costly lawsuits because of the tough environment.

A HIGH NUMBER OF DEFAULT Mortgages

At legislation firm CHP Law, Mr. Quah, who is in charge of legal and professional litigation and arbitration, said he anticipates a rise in construction company foreclosures.

In total, the market had the highest number of proxy money last year, at 63 %. 81 per share, compared with an average of 1. 72 per cent, according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ).  

The perspective is mainly dark for public contractors, experts said.

“With the domestic market cooling down, we are likely to discover less fresh personal growth, ” said Mr Tan Wei Cheong, a mate with advisory firm Deloitte Singapore.

Construction firms that are common engineers may start to discover less need for such services. They will be affected as they continue until the home business recovers. ”

A higher percentage of construction companies indicated they are unable to finance their operations, according to the most recent federal company survey conducted by the Singapore Business Federation. In contrast to 3 percent in 2022, the sector is currently facing a severe credit squeeze, according to a statement released in January.

In the current atmosphere, market participants are more cautious when it comes to taking on new projects.

Businesses are now more careful. Because they do n’t know where things are going, we do n’t see people making important investment decisions or financing decisions. Many people are observing and adopting a more protective posture, according to Mr. Tan.    

PROP UP SECTOR Initiatives

Also, bright patches remain. In the first quarter of this year, people projects helped to spur growth in the construction industry, yet as private sector structure output decreased.

The public sector is expected to contribute about 55 per cent of total construction demand this year, including new Build-To-Order ( BTO ) flats, phase two of the Cross Island MRT Line, and airport and port developments.

Every business has a distinct appetite for risk, according to Mr. Kenneth Loo, executive director of Straits Construction Singapore.

At the end of the day, when you submit a job sweet, you must evaluate your own resources and your own place on how to proceed. If you take a higher risk, and if your sources are inadequate, that will be very difficult. ”

In the meantime, Mr. Neo of TA Corporation stated that the company would focus on other areas like high-value bungalows and does not anticipate a return to high-rise private enclosure construction like condominiums in the near future.

“Personally, I will not go back to this market again because it’s no longer viable, and competition is pretty rough, ” he said.

However, even with the closing of vendors for as  Tiong Aik Construction, people are unlikely to be seriously impacted, as designers will be able to quickly get repairs, Mr Loo said.

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PM Anwar reiterates Najib house arrest bid up to Pardons Board; stresses unity in Malaysia government

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SINGAPORE: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has refused to be drawn into former premier Najib Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his six-year jail sentence under house arrest. 

“The decision must be made at the Pardons Board meeting and the final decision by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong must also be made at the meeting,” said Mr Anwar in his speech at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) 25th anniversary convention on Sunday (Apr 21), according to The Star.

Malaysia’s Pardons Board consists of the attorney-general, the chief minister and a maximum of three others appointed by the country’s king or state ruler. In Najib’s case, Dr Zaliha Mustafa – as the federal territories minister – is part of the board reviewing his bid. 

On Sunday, Mr Anwar also stressed that relationships among the parties in the unity government were “stable and strong” although there were some issues that needed to be negotiated outside Cabinet, referring to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent affidavit, where he claimed to have seen a royal order supporting Najib’s bid. 

The unity government consists of Mr Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN) – of which the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is a component party – as well as parties from Malaysia’s Borneo states. 

Mr Anwar, who is also PKR president, said that the “voices outside (the Cabinet) do not necessarily represent the voice of the leadership”, according to the Malay Mail. 

“I have to admit that there are a few things that are unravelling outside the Cabinet. But so far there is no sign of even a small rift between PH, UMNO-BN, Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.

Mr Ahmad Zahid is chairman of the BN coalition, and president of Najib’s party UMNO. He was Najib’s political secretary during his tenures as youth minister and minister of defence in the late eighties and early nineties. 

Mr Anwar first said that the matter concerning Najib’s remaining sentence fell under the Pardon’s Board’s jurisdiction when speaking to reporters on Apr 19. He also said then that he did not want to get involved in the matter. 

Najib’s bid for house arrest and Mr Ahmad Zahid’s statement have caused backlash and accusations of  impunity and special treatment against Mr Anwar and his deputy, according to South China Morning Post.

On Apr 17, CNA sighted a copy of the affidavit, claiming Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had shown Mr Ahmad Zahid a copy of a royal addendum order approving house arrest for Najib, who has been serving his sentence in Selangor’s Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022 . 

The royal order was reportedly issued by Malaysia’s former king Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billahwas Shah of Pahang.

According to Mr Ahmad Zahid, Mr Tengku Zafrul showed him a photograph or scan of the royal order during a meeting at his house on Jan 30, a day after a Pardons Board meeting which halved Najib’s initial 12-year sentence. 

Mr Tengku Zafrul has issued a statement disputing the claims as having “certain factual errors”.

The affidavit was filed with Kuala Lumpur Crown Court on Apr 9. Whether Najib’s push for house arrest will be successful will be determined on Jun 5. 

Analysts CNA spoke to believe that the affidavit and its surrounding drama could cause a rift between UMNO and the unity government, as the latter does not want to be seen as “freeing” Najib. 

Najib was arrested on Jul 3, 2018, as part of an investigation into the 1MDB scandal. In 2020, he was found guilty of seven charges of corruption for illegally receiving US$9.4 million from SRC International, a former unit of the government fund.

Mr Ahmad Zahid himself also faced 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), bribery and money laundering in relation to his charity foundation Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) in 2018. 

In September last year, he was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on all 47 charges. However, the High Court has since set Jun 27 to decide a leave application by the Malaysian Bar to challenge the attorney-general’s decision to halt the proceedings against the deputy prime minister, Bernama has previously reported. 

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Ex-childcare centre educator charged after tripping 20-month-old girl twice; banned from preschool sector

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SINGAPORE:   After allegedly tripping a 20-month-old girl and causing her to fall in a preschool, a former educator of a childcare center was charged in court on Monday ( 22 Apr ) with ill-treating the child.

The 33-year-old girl, who taught at a middle in  the northeastern region of Singapore has since been prohibited from employing staff in the daycare industry.

Due to a court-imposed joke order, the girl and school may be identified. The accused is never named   as it might determine the target.

The accused, a Singaporean, was handed two matters of ill-treating a baby. Her command sheet states that she accidentally fell onto the lady at the school on November 6, 2013, at around 12 with her leg. 28pm.  

She reportedly repeated the work a few minutes afterwards, causing the child to drop once more.  

According to the command sheets, the functions caused the alleged victim to suffer unwanted bodily pain and harm.  

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA ) made it known in a statement to CNA that it had been aware of a case of child mismanagement by a former preschool educator against the alleged victim.  

The child’s parents contacted the company the day after the alleged incident to inquire about the situation because their daughter had a facial injury sustained. ECDA did not specify the wound.  

The company commenced investigations soon, including an unexpected visit to the school, interviews with important witnesses, and confirmation of records.  

The center notified ECDA of the child incompetence affair by a previous team member and filed a police report on November 21, 2023, according to a director.” After an initial delay in reviewing CCTV footage due to program issues, the center made a policeman report.”  

” Our investigations revealed that the child’s injury was the result of poor management by a school workers,” the report concluded. “

Soon after the incident, the accused stopped working in the center.

The spokesperson continued, but due to the court case, ECDA has since taken legal action against the center and the school team.

To protect children’s safety, ECDA did not permit the accused to function in the school field, the agency said.  

The accused made an indication to the jury that she was not criminal. On May 20, she may go back to judge to ask for a second report on her situation.  

If convicted of ill treating a child, she may be jailed for up to eight years, or fined up to S$ 8,000 ( US$ 5,877 ), or both.  

CNA has reached out to the school for opinion.

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Singaporean woman killed in Spain: Married suspect reportedly owned several businesses

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Ong is a registered owner or investor in six firms, according to data 8World obtained from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA ).

Insurance and financial management companies are among the businesses that he lists, as well as those that offer services related to computer equipment and academic support.  

Records show that five of these organizations have been deregistered, with only one of them still in operation ,  8World added.  

Ong’s Instagram accounts was scanned by CNA, which revealed that he had attended international scream events like Tomorrowland in Belgium and the ; In Las Vegas over the past two years, there has been an Electric Daisy Carnival ( EDC ). He is also a regular user of facilities, both in Singapore and Spain, and travelled abroad frequently.

His most recent job placed him in Alicante on April 4, the same day that Ms. Fang arrived in Spain.  

According to local magazine Levante El Mercantil Valenciano, Spanish authorities have established that Ong and Ms Fang’s cellular phones were both present in Abanilla on the day of her death.  

It further stated that she had known each other for many centuries and that she was never sexually assaulted.  

The document said  there may have been an “economic purpose” behind the killing, adding that Ms. Fang allegedly transferred money to an unnamed second person.

Ong is already remanded in prison, pending studies.

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