Meet Shirumimi, a Singaporean cosplayer who balances the modesty of her hijab with her love of anime

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Ever attended events like Anime Festival Asia, Japanese Cultural Festival or Singapore Comic Con? If yes, you’d have seen the throngs of people who creatively bring characters from film, television, books or Japanese anime and manga to life by donning colourful costumes – they’re known as cosplayers.

Among these enthusiasts is a cosplayer who wants to be known as Nur Mimi. While the nature of cosplaying is to don a larger-than-life costume of one’s favourite character, this 25-year-old’s approach is unique. 

She is a hijabi cosplayer who goes by Shirumimi.

The hijab is based on the religious concept of modesty, seen in the headscarf or headcover and modest clothes that Muslim women wear. A hijabi is the term for Muslim women who observe the hijab. 

As a hijabi, when Nur cosplays, she keeps her hair and her body appropriately covered.

“Many anime costumes are known for being revealing,” Nur said. “But I’ve learned that they can be creatively reimagined to suit a hijabi style.”

A LOVE FOR ANIME AND CUTE CHARACTERS

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Tengah residents get interim amenities like grocery truck and vending machines, with some teething issues

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SINGAPORE: Residents who have moved into their new homes at Tengah can buy food and daily necessities from a mobile grocery truck and vending machines while facilities are being built, the Housing Board (HDB) said on Wednesday (Dec 13).

These interim measures were recently introduced in Singapore’s newest town, as amenities such as a supermarket, food court and shops are only expected to be ready around the second quarter of next year. 

Residents CNA spoke to generally welcomed the interim amenities, although some reported teething issues with the vending machines.

Tengah is estimated to provide about 42,000 new homes over a land area of 700ha when fully developed – about the size of Bishan town.

Of its five housing districts, Plantation District is the first to be developed, with eight Build-to-Order (BTO) projects launched. Since August, residents have started collecting keys for the first three projects – Plantation Acres, Plantation Grange and Plantation Village.

HDB said that as of Dec 5, about 2,019 households – more than half of the 3,753 units in the three housing projects – have collected their keys.

However in a new town like Tengah, the amenities and major transport facilities will take some time to build up, unlike BTO developments which are built within existing HDB towns, said Dr Johnny Wong, HDB deputy CEO (Building).

The district’s Plantation Plaza Neighbourhood Centre, which is a five to 10-minute walk from Plantation Grange and Plantation Acres, will open around the second quarter of next year. Amenities include a supermarket, food court, F&B outlets, a clinic, shops and enrichment centres.

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Man accused of molesting 2-year-old girl in preschool remanded at IMH

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SINGAPORE: A man who is accused of molesting a two-year-old girl will be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for medical examination.

The 59-year-old Malaysian and Singapore permanent resident was first charged on Dec 6 with one count of outraging the modesty of the girl between 1pm and 3pm on Nov 9 at a preschool.

The location was redacted from the charge sheet, and a gag order is in place preventing the publication of anything that could identify the alleged victim.

The man, who formerly worked at the preschool but has since been dismissed, is accused of molesting the girl inside her diaper.

He was remanded after being charged on Dec 6, with permission given to take him out for investigations.

On Wednesday (Dec 13), the man returned to court via video-link from where he was remanded in Changi Prison’s A Division.

The man, who appeared bald, wore a white shirt and requested to speak in English.

The police prosecutor asked for him to be remanded at IMH to assess if he has any mental condition.

“He has requested assistance … as he feels he needs psychiatric help,” said the prosecutor.

“Considering the charge he’s facing and the age of the victim, we are inclined to believe that he may be suffering from a mental condition, your honour.”

Asked if he had anything to say, the accused said “no”.

The judge ordered him to be remanded for two weeks at IMH for medical examination and fixed the case for a further mention on Dec 27.

If convicted of molesting a minor, he could be jailed for up to five years and fined. He cannot be caned as he is above 50. 

NON-TEACHING STAFF FIRED

In response to CNA’s queries, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said it was made aware on Dec 5 of an alleged case of outrage of modesty that took place in a preschool about a month before.

“ECDA has since commenced investigations into the case. As the case is under investigation by both ECDA and the police, we are unable to comment further on it,” it added.

The agency noted that the non-teaching staff in question has been dismissed by the preschool.

“ECDA will not allow the staff to work in the preschool sector while investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, ECDA has instructed the preschool to closely monitor its children and provide close supervision and guidance to its staff.

“We will be working with the preschool to ensure the safety and well-being of enrolled children.” 

ECDA stressed that it conducts background checks on staff, including non-teaching staff, before any deployment to preschools. These checks include determining if staff have any previous criminal offences involving children or have been barred earlier from working in the preschool sector.

The agency also said it expects all preschools to report all serious incidents that affect the safety of children within 24 hours.

“If it is proven there is unreasonable delay in the reporting, we will take the preschool to task,” it added.

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Things I would tell my younger self: Actress and first-time director Yvonne Lim

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And to think it all started when Yvonne’s Taiwanese businessman (and former boy bander) husband Alex Tien mooted the idea to her that she should tell her personal story.

Yvonne, who insisted she’s still a deeply private person despite her celebrity status, revealed that she did not immediately say yes to the project, which was commissioned by Singapore-based cancer diagnostics company Mirxes.

“I thought about it, and I thought that if by me sharing my story, it’s going to help people to really think about life and to really cherish their loved ones and to be more vigilant about checkups” then “maybe it’s something that I need to do”.

She added: “I thought, maybe I need to tell my story in order to let people understand me more.”

She explained that she needed to be fully in charge of the project – from casting and editing to location scouting – because she wanted it to be “honest and true”.

Also, she needed to “do a good job because I needed to be answerable to my mum. It’s her story”.

“So yes, it did take a lot from me to really share the story, but I think somehow Hope being released let people know more about me and see another side of me that they have not seen before.”

Since the film’s release, people have been sharing their stories of loss and hope with her and Yvonne makes it a point to reply because she thinks that if people are willing to share their stories with you, then you should be there to listen.

“Because I did not have anyone listening to me when I was feeling lost or hurt.”

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Analysis: A tale of priorities, compromises and missed opportunities in Malaysia PM Anwar's first Cabinet reshuffle

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JOHOR BAHRU: The personnel changes in Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s first Cabinet reshuffle show his priority is to steady the ship domestically by tapping more on experienced hands and technocrats, especially given the economic challenges, say analysts.

Additionally, they told CNA that Mr Anwar also remains committed in maintaining the right balance across the different parties of his unity government, especially in ensuring that key players Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) are represented adequately.

However, analysts also pointed out that the cabinet reshuffle was a missed opportunity to make more sweeping changes and replace some ministers who have been criticised for below-par performances.

Political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research told CNA that while some of the changes can be lauded, it was a wasted chance to replace other key ministers who have not performed. 

“The surprise here is that some ministers who have done far worse have not been axed. There have been grumblings from the public and this has perhaps not been addressed by this cabinet reshuffle,” he said.

Mr Anwar had announced the new line-up for his Cabinet on Tuesday morning (Dec 12), expanding it from 28 to 31 full ministers, with five new ministers being sworn in and one being dropped altogether.

He also confirmed portfolio swaps for key ministries of health, foreign affairs, defence, higher education as well as federal territories.

Two ministries were split into four to meet the growing demands of each portfolio, such as the Ministry of Communications and Digital Ministry morphing into the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Digital.

“The situation is fluid and changing, in terms of the economy and the issues faced by the people, including rising costs of living, have to be handled properly,” said Mr Anwar during his press conference. 

He added that Malaysia was struggling with “international acceptance”, which prompted him to make changes to the foreign ministry. 

“We are also looking to explore new areas, like artificial intelligence, digital transformation, which made me consider some changes based on the situation we are in and the needs of the country presently,” said Mr Anwar. 

BANKING ON EXPERIENCE

A key highlight of the cabinet reshuffle was the return of high-profile names who served as ministers in previous administrations.

These included the Minister of Health Dzulkefly Ahmad and Minister of Digital Gobind Singh, both of whom served in the Pakatan Harapan government under former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad between 2018 and 2020. 

UMNO politician Johari Ghani, who was second finance minister under former premier Najib Razak, has also returned as Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities. 

Political observer Ong Kian Ming, who is director of the philosophy, politics and economic programme at Taylor’s University, told CNA that Dr Dzulkefly’s appointment allows Mr Anwar to replace “an underperforming health minister who has made a few errors” with an experienced hand who endeared himself to Malaysians in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mr Ong noted that Dr Dzulkefly’s predecessor, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, has drawn flak during her tenure particularly for not managing the generational end-game (GEG) bill which was an initiative to ban the sale of tobacco and related products for those born in 2007 and after.

Lawmakers from the unity government and the opposition recently criticised Dr Zaliha for dropping the GEG clause in the bill, alleging that she had buckled under pressure from tobacco lobbyists and industry players. 

Health experts said the clause would have protected those born from 2007 by prohibiting them from ever legally buying smoking products.

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Snap Insight: Malaysia PM Anwar’s new Cabinet choices display his strengthened political hand

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THE KEY SEATS

The appointment of technocrat Amir Hamzah Azizan, who stepped down as CEO of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to take up the position of second finance minister, will provide the operational support at the ministry, while Mr Anwar can ensure that the management of the national cash register does not become open to the rent-seeking practices of the past that led to many financial scandals, such as the fiasco at state-owned 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The breaking up of the Communications and Digital Ministry, with seasoned elected Member of Parliament Gobind Singh Deo heading the newly minted Digital Minister, is a reflection of the government’s determination to become more aggressive in the digitalisation of the national economy. 

Fahmi Fadzil will continue to lead the communications arms, which Mr Anwar recently acknowledged needed more improvement, particularly in communicating national policies to the public.

Mr Anwar also broke up the Ministry of National Resource and Climate Change that was headed by a loyalist, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who will now lead the newly formed Ministry of Natural Resource and Sustainability.

Fadhillah Yusof, one of Malaysia’s two deputy prime ministers and a powerful politician from the Sarawak state, has been appointed to the new portfolio of energy transition and public utilities, while remaining in charge of the affairs of Borneo states that include Sabah.

Mr Anwar added depth to the new line-up with the appointment of Johari Abdul Ghani, a powerful politician from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), to the Plantation and Commodities Ministry that was previously headed by Mr Fadhillah.

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CNA Explains: Why the price of gold has surged and where it could go from here

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Will prices remain elevated?

Since the high of Dec 4, the price of gold has gradually declined. As of Monday, it was trading at just under US$2,000 per ounce.

So where could prices go from here?

Mr Chwee said that even though markets expect the Fed to begin cutting interest rates in March 2024, OCBC does not expect this to happen until June 2024.

“This will support gold prices, though there could be some weakness if the Fed doesn’t cut rates in March 2024 as markets currently expect,” he said.

“We expect gold prices to remain elevated for the next six months,” he added.

Mr Heng Koon How, head of market strategy at UOB, said he forecasts gold prices to rise further to US$2,200 per ounce by the fourth quarter of 2024. 

“This is based on our core view that the US Fed will start cutting rates gradually across (the second half of 2024) and the US dollar will be softer as well,” he said. 

Going into 2024, the US presidential election and ongoing geopolitical tensions are likely to see more people turn towards precious metals, Mr Gregersen said.

“About a quarter of central banks also indicated their intention to increase their gold reserves further in 2024,” he added.

Mr Goh said: “Whether or not gold continues to rally will depend on the trajectory rates. If inflation continues to moderate and the Fed implements rate cuts next year, then gold will likely trend higher from here.”

“However, if there is a resurgence in inflation and the Fed is forced to hike rates further, we expect gold to retrace some of its recent gains,” the DBS analyst added. 

Should retail investors consider investing in gold?

Describing gold as a “good portfolio diversifier of risk”, Mr Heng said: “It is good from a long-term diversification point of view to allocate some gold into the portfolio.”

Silver Bullion’s Mr Gregersen said that it is a good time to buy metals, sharing that Silver Bullion saw a 300 per cent increase in sales volume last week.

“Physical gold mitigates counterparty jurisdictional and currency risks while reliably appreciating over the long term,” he said.

“It is a great choice in uncertain times.”

Mr Goh and Mr Chwee, meanwhile, highlighted several things which retail investors should take into consideration when investing in precious metals.

Mr Goh said that “counterparty risk and liquidity risk are important points to consider when investing (in precious metals) through mutual funds or (exchange-traded funds)”.

Mr Chwee also brought up liquidity as something to consider, as precious metals are subject to market fluctuations and may not be immediately convertible to cash. He added that, unlike cash, gold bears no interest. 

He also said that buyers must consider storage when buying physical gold, as it could incur additional costs, although he noted that investors can purchase precious metals digitally through banks including OCBC.

“Consumers should also consider … their risk profile and appetite, and speak with a financial adviser before making a decision to invest in gold,” he said.

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Singapore hospitals remaining 'vigilant', ready to respond to changing needs amid rise in COVID-19 cases

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SingHealth – which operates several hospitals, national specialty centres and polyclinics – also “remains vigilant and on high alert” for any new developments in Singapore’s COVID-19 situation. SingHealth deputy group CEO Fong Kok Yong told CNA that its hospitals are well-prepared to increase capacity to care for COVID-19 patients as necessary. “OurContinue Reading

Plans for Southern Islands to be fully self-reliant for water, power needs, after Kusu Island success

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It also helps to cut 96 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

The project is a tie-up between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), which manages the island.

“We found that these areas, these lagoons, were quite good sites for us (to install the solar panels), so that we don’t occupy useful land,” Dr Narasimalu Srikanth, programme director at the Energy Research Institute in NTU, told CNA.

He added that as the lagoons help in water transpiration, installing the solar panels there also helps to cool them down.

This makes them between 10 to 15 per cent more energy efficient than land-based solar panels, said Dr Srikanth.

FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The solar panels, which occupy an area about the size of two basketball courts, were installed with the environment in mind.

Their legs, for instance, are covered with marine-safe paint, and are constructed long enough so that fishes and turtles can swim freely beneath them.

The power generated from the solar panels is also stored in batteries and used for the island’s jetty, toilets, temple and main desalination system.

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