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More than 130 collection points for free N95, surgical masks from Aug 26; some malls to have digital queue system

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Singapore residents can collect free masks at 15 CapitaLand malls and selected Sheng Siong, Prime Supermarket, Cold Storage, FairPrice Xtra and Giant outlets from Aug 26 to Sept 26. These are among the more than 130 collection points islandwide where the masks will be available, Temasek Foundation said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 19). Each household can collect 50 medical-grade surgical masks and 25 N95 respirator masks, which have "95 per cent particle filtration efficiency or better". To collect the masks, residents must show a paper or electronic SP residential bill with their SP Group utilities (residential) bill account number. The number will be scanned and recorded before the masks are given out. Residents can also provide their SP residential account number for manual validation. Household representatives are encouraged to reduce plastic waste by taking their own bags to carry the boxes of masks when the collection exercise begins, as no bags will be provided. The surgical masks will come in two boxes of 25 pieces, or one box of 50 pieces. The N95 masks come in one box of 25 pieces. The masks are standard adult size. To reduce crowding, 11 of the 15 CapitaLa...

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SkillsFuture scam: Key syndicate member sentenced to jail for 11 years and one month

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Another key member of a syndicate which duped SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) into wrongfully disbursing over $40 million was dealt with on Wednesday (Aug 18). Andy Quek Sze Leng, 41, was sentenced to jail for 11 years and a month over his role in the largest case of fraud perpetrated against a public institution in Singapore. The former Grab and Uber driver had earlier pleaded guilty to 21 charges which included cheating and laundering the criminal proceeds. Another 49 charges, including for similar offences, were taken into consideration during sentencing by District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt. The scam saw the syndicate use nine shell companies to submit bogus SkillsFuture claims to SSG. Under the scheme, a Singapore business entity that sends its employees for skills-training courses with registered training providers can apply to SSG for a subsidy, if certain conditions are met. This means a portion of the total course fee payable by the business entity to the training provider will come from the Government. Depending on the claim method used, subsidies are paid to either the training provider or the employer. Between May and October 2017, the shell companies submitted a to...

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Back to the office from Aug 19 but hybrid work is here to stay

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5 minutes

SINGAPORE - On Thursday (Aug 19), Singapore will ease restrictions, giving companies the green light to bring more staff back to the office. Even so, most employers - including Singapore's largest, the Government - expect hybrid working arrangements to be a permanent feature of the post-pandemic world. "The Public Service is working towards supporting greater work flexibility in the post-Covid new normal," a Public Service Division spokesman told The Straits Times. "This will go towards meeting the needs of officers and, at the same time, balancing organisational needs." Two weeks ago, the multi-ministerial task force tackling the pandemic announced that working from home would no longer be the default from Aug 19. Instead, up to 50 per cent of employees able to work remotely would be allowed back to the office. This has not been the case since May 8. Companies had scrambled to make hybrid work possible - sometimes haphazardly - when Covid-19 first arrived in Singapore last year. But after more than a year of such arrangements, most firms and their staff seem to have found a rhythm. Law firm Dentons Rodyk said it plans to allow employees a fixed number of work-from-home days each w...

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Students and staff can return to school once they or their close contacts test negative for Covid-19

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - From Thursday (Aug 19), students and school staff who are close contacts of anyone quarantined as part of Covid-19 measures can return to campus once that person tests negative. Also, those who have received a health risk warning can return to school once they test negative for Covid-19. These moves will affect students and staff from primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges and the Millennia Institute, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a letter to parents and guardians on Wednesday. The letter announced changes to both the leave of absence (LOA) and the approved absence policies. Both are used to limit Covid-19 transmission by having people stay away from school campuses if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus. Students and staff must now stay home until their LOA is over. There is no fixed length of time for an LOA, as it varies from case to case. For example, those given an LOA because a family member is under a stay-home notice are required to stay away from campus for the duration of the notice. MOE said the change is in line with Singapore's gradual easing of community safe management measures. The letter said students and staff w...

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Woman detained after shouting in court during trial of Briton who was seen without mask on train

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A woman has been detained after shouting in court during the trial of Benjamin Glynn on Wednesday (Aug 18) morning. The judge had told the woman, whose mask had broken, to leave the court. But she refused to comply and started shouting "kangaroo court" several times. She was also heard calling herself a "living woman" and saying she had no contract with the police, making reference to the same sovereign citizen movement as Glynn had made. When the police attempted to escort her out, she told them not to touch her. She also shouted: "I do not respect the judge." The judge instructed the police to remove her from the court and stood down the case temporarily. The case resumed shortly after she left the court escorted by several officers. Outside the courtroom, the woman remarked that wearing a mask was unnecessary. When told that she was not allowed to enter the court again, the woman questioned the officers. She said: "Why can't I go back inside? Is he (the judge) afraid I'll call him a kangaroo again?" When the woman attempted to leave about 15 minutes later, the officers stopped and detained her. She then told the police she was a Singaporean and recited her IC number ...

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Bidders on Carousell offer to buy Sinovac Covid-19 vaccination appointment slots

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - News that the Government's stock of 200,000 doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines here is running low has prompted offers to buy vaccination slots on consumer marketplace Carousell. A check by The Straits Times on Wednesday (Aug 18) showed four bidders dangling between $50 and $80 to buy the slots. They were posted from Thursday last week. It is unclear if any transaction has taken place. ST has reached out to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority on the legality of such deals. MOH has allowed 31 private healthcare institutions to offer the vaccine under the Special Access Route. Those interested have to call the clinics or visit the healthcare institutions' websites to book an appointment. Walk-in patients are turned away. MOH had on Aug 10 announced that Sinovac stocks here were being depleted, but added it was facilitating private healthcare institutions to order more supplies. Stocks are expected to arrive in the next four to six weeks. The Sinovac vaccine is not included in Singapore's national vaccination programme. One of the bidders on Carousell said his family member is unable to receive messenger ribonucleuc acid (mRNA) vaccines, such as ...

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Elderly woman’s hip fractured after maid pushed her to hurry her along: Court

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Frustrated with the number of chores she had on top of having to care for an elderly woman, a maid pushed her charge, causing the 85-year-old woman to fall and fracture her hip. On Tuesday (Aug 17), Kyu Kyu Aye was jailed for two months for committing a rash act causing grievous hurt. The 41-year-old maid from Myanmar was employed by the family for about six years, and was tasked with handling the chores and caring for the victim. The court heard that the elderly woman's legs were weak and she tended to fall. On a day in August last year, the woman was walking to the kitchen slowly, and Kyu Kyu Aye wanted to hurry her along. The maid pushed and pulled the woman a few times, and at some point pushed her behind her neck or head, causing the victim to fall. The incident was captured by a security camera in the home. The victim was taken to hospital and found to have sustained a fractured hip. Assistant Public Prosecutor Lydia Goh urged the court to jail the maid for two to three months. She said the victim was not capable of protecting herself, and that the maid knew her charge was a vulnerable person. The APP added that Kyu Kyu Aye had also used force on the victim when s...

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A year in jail for man who burned maid’s left forearm with heated metal spatula

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - After a drinking session, an intoxicated man picked up a heated metal spatula and used it to burn his domestic helper's left forearm on Oct 18, 2018. Rajamanickam Suresh Kumar came home drunk again the next day and pulled the woman's left wrist before pushing her into her room. The 35-year-old offender was on Tuesday (Aug 17) sentenced to a year's jail. After a trial, District Judge Ronald Gwee had earlier found him guilty of one count each of assaulting and using criminal force on Indian national Vadivel Gowthami. Deputy Public Prosecutor Thiagesh Sukumaran had said in his submissions that Rajamanickam's wife was Ms Vadivel's employer. It was the maid's first time in Singapore and she did not know anyone here except for her husband's aunt who also worked as a domestic helper. Ms Vadivel, who earned $400 a month, started working at Rajamanickam's Jurong West flat in April 2018. She worked six days a week and was tasked to perform chores including cleaning and cooking. The DPP said that the maid later stated that she felt tired every day. She lodged a complaint to her agent in July 2018, stating that she wanted to return to India. Soon after, the agent told Rajamanickam'...

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S’poreans highly aware of environmental issues but adoption of green practices lags: OCBC climate index

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The average Singaporean is highly aware of environmental issues, adopts many green practices some of the time, and advocates some of these issues and practices to friends and family. These are the findings of a climate index launched on Tuesday (Aug 17) by OCBC Bank in partnership with Eco-Business, a media and business intelligence company. OCBC said it hopes to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire people to modify their lifestyle and act responsibly. Singapore, in recognition of the existential threat climate change poses to the island, unveiled its Green Plan 2030 earlier this year. Under the Paris Agreement, Singapore is committed to halve carbon emissions by 2050. The inaugural OCBC Climate Index national average came at 6.7 points - with Singaporeans scoring an average of 8.3 for awareness, 6.5 for adoption and 5.6 for advocacy. About 54 per cent of respondents had scores of between 6 and 7.9, while 30 per cent had scores of 4 to 5.9. The highest score was 9.5, with about 15 per cent of respondents scoring between 8 and 10. The lowest average was 3.1, and just 1 per cent had scores of 2 to 3.9. The index also showed that Singaporeans had high awa...

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MOE to roll out AI-enabled marking system for English Language writing by 2023

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - A new artificial intelligence-enabled marking system that will help students with English Language (EL) writing is set to go live in schools here in about two years. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is developing an automated marking system to help correct grammar, sentence structure and expression in English, according to tender documents seen by The Straits Times. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Highest financial aid of $225k paid to two patients for serious side effects from Covid-19 vaccine: MOH

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Two patients suffering from serious side effects related to the Covid-19 vaccine have each received the highest payout of $225,000 in government financial aid so far, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). One of them is a 16-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest after his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The boy is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. "The Tier 1 payout of $225,000 has been extended to a total of two applicants so far, including this case," an MOH spokesman told The Straits Times late at night on Monday (Aug 16). The spokesman did not provide details of the second case and whether it was related to the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine. Under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP) rolled out earlier this year, a one-time payout will be given to those who experienced medically significant serious side effects. This is to give a greater peace of mind for those taking Covid-19 vaccination. MOH added that a total of of $782,000 has been paid out, or is in the process of being paid out, to 144 applicants who have been assessed to have met the qualifying criteria for VIFAP. MOH said on Monday (Aug 16) that the 16-year-old boy...

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SCDF rescues injured hiker from Clementi Forest on National Day

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) rescued an injured teenage hiker from Clementi Forest on National Day (Aug 9). Paramedics and firefighters involved in the rescue told The Straits Times that the teenager had been in the forest with his parents when he slipped into swampy terrain and his left leg was stuck between two thick roots. ST understands he is 17 years old. The SCDF received a call for assistance at 6.10pm that day. A light fire attack vehicle from Bukit Batok Fire Station and an ambulance from Clementi Fire Station arrived at the forest nine minutes later, at the entrance opposite Maju Camp. A team of rescuers entered the forest and hiked 20 minutes through rough terrain to reach the family's location about 900m away. "It was rough terrain and there were many obstacles such as logs along the way," said Third Sergeant Shanmugam Alagudass, a section commander at Bukit Batok Fire Station. Firefighters and paramedics were each carrying a load of about 5kg during the rescue. This included medical equipment such as a stretcher and other supplies to treat traumatic injuries. It took under one minute to free the teen's leg from the roots. Paramedics who examined...

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SingPost pilots electric scooters and vans to replace current light vehicles by 2026

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The postman will soon be bringing your mail on electric vehicles. Singapore Post announced on Monday (Aug 16) that it will replace all of its lighter vehicles with electric ones by 2026. For a start, it has begun pilots of two electric scooters and two vans. The Iona RAP three-wheeler scooter is being considered in the pilot to replace the company's 700 motorcycles and scooters that run on internal combustion engines. The BYD T3 electric vans, if successful, are also expected to gradually phase out SingPost's 140 petrol vans as their certificates of entitlement expire in the next five years. SingPost's target is to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent by 2030. The pilot should end sometime in the next few months and could be further expanded if criteria like safety are met. "As Singapore's leading last-mile and postal service provider, our delivery vehicles traverse the length and breadth of the nation every day," said Mr Vincent Phang, chief executive of SingPost Singapore and its postal services. "There is a tremendous potential for us to do better for the planet." The two Iona RAP scooters will be piloted on the Anson-Road-Shenton Way and Emerald H...

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S’pore students should develop diverse strengths to navigate more complex world: Chan Chun Sing

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6 minutes

SINGAPORE - To navigate an increasingly complex and competitive world, Singapore students have to pursue more diverse interests and capabilities, beyond what is taught and tested in schools. How far the Republic can move in this direction and away from an overemphasis on academic grades depends on educators, parents and societal culture at large, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Monday (Aug 16). Highlighting diversity as key to alleviating the "unhealthy stress" of pursuing the same definition of success, he spoke of the need for diverse schools, education pathways, skills, perspectives and experiences. Mr Chan also highlighted the need for a diversity of schools with unique propositions to cater to different students. He noted that seven out of 10 students in a Primary 1 cohort progress to the polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education, and Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman is leading a review to ensure their education and training enable them to remain competitive in the job market. Mr Chan stressed the important role played by teachers and called on them to be "critical thinkers and communicators" who "read extensively, learn widely and reflect continuou...

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Xin Xin and Le Le among names suggested by ST readers for first panda cub born in S’pore

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Xin Xin and Le Le are among the popular names suggested by netizens for the first panda cub to be born in Singapore. The Straits Times asked on Facebook for suggestions of a name for the newborn panda, and netizens responded. Xin Xin refers to heart in Mandarin, or alludes to Singapore. Some netizens also spelt it as Xing Xing or Sing Sing, which would mean stars. Le Le refers to joy. Said Facebook user Yvonne Chua: "Since the mum's name starts with 'J' and the dad's name 'K', their junior (should) start with 'L'." The panda cub was born to parents Kai Kai and Jia Jia at the River Safari at about 7.50am on Saturday (Aug 14). Other name suggestions included Xi Wang (hope in Mandarin), An An (peace) and Kang Kang (health). En En, which refers to gratitude in Mandarin, was another idea. Facebook user Celia Chong, who suggested it, said: “Gratitude to the animal care team that helped Jia Jia during (her) pregnancy period in Singapore.” Qi Qi, referring to the number seven in Mandarin, was suggested by Facebook user Derek Lee, who pointed out that the cub was born on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. It also happened to be during the giant pandas' s...

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Foreigners plug gap as locals shun jobs in Singapore’s social service sector

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - Demand for social services is expected to grow in the coming years and the sector's workforce will expand in tandem as Singapore's population ages rapidly. With fewer people in Singapore keen to take up care and support jobs in the sector, there is a need to plug the gap with foreign manpower, said the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Singapore gets first panda cub, born to Kai Kai and Jia Jia at River Safari

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The nation’s first panda cub was born on Saturday (Aug 14) at the River Safari at about 7.50am, to parents Kai Kai and Jia Jia. In a statement on Sunday, Wildlife Reserves Singapore called the birth "a joyful boost to the ongoing National Day celebrations this year", adding that the panda cub's gender is yet to be determined and will be announced later. Meanwhile, mother Jia Jia and her cub are in an off-exhibit den to give them time to nurse and bond, it said. The successful birth comes after the giant pandas’ seventh breeding season. They began mating in 2015. Giant pandas are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity, in part due to the narrow window for conception. Females like Jia Jia ovulate only once a year, and her fertility also peaks for just 24 to 36 hours. WRS said 13-year-old Kai Kai and 12-year-old Jia Jia displayed signs of being in heat in April this year. It added that its animal care team was optimistic that the pandas would naturally breed this year, as the pair had shown improvements in their mating techniques the year before. Experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda (CCRCGP)advised WRS vets to perform artificial inse...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Aug 15

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2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Aug 15. Over 300 people killed in magnitude 7.2 quake in Haiti At least 1,800 injured and Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a month-long state of emergency. READ MORE HERE 4-year-old birthday boy among 9 hospitalised after eating food from home-based bakery The Peachy SugarMaker is a home-based business that makes cakes, biscuits and dessert tables. READ MORE HERE Staff at Bishan and Sengkang bus interchanges linked to 2 of 3 new Covid-19 clusters Cluster linked to staff at Bishan interchange has 9 cases, the one linked to Sengkang interchange has 13. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news S'pore F&B outlets find fake vaccination certs, some disgruntled diners in first week of dining in Some people thought they could dine-in while unvaccinated if they are in a group of two. READ MORE HERE Why is it important for people with chronic conditions like diabetes to get Covid-19 jab? People with chronic conditions can take mRNA vaccines. READ MORE HERE Will a hybrid workplace mean inequality between remote and office workers? Active engagement is key to ensuring e...

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Doing more to keep child sex offenders from making same mistake

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9 minutes

SINGAPORE - For a number of years, former primary school teacher Chock Soon Seng taught Chinese to primary and secondary school students as a freelance tutor. But he had a dark secret - the 43-year-old was convicted twice for sexually abusing boys. He was jailed for 10 months in 2010, when as a primary school teacher, he tried to persuade two 13-year-old boys to let him watch them perform a sexual act. In 2014, he was sentenced to three years' jail for offences that included sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy and threatening to put his naked pictures online. The tutor struck again, abusing two underage boys, and in April this year, he was sentenced to six strokes of the cane and eight years of corrective training for four counts of sexual penetration. Corrective training is usually imposed on repeat offenders, without the usual one-third remission for good behaviour. The case is the latest to throw light on the sentencing and rehabilitation regimes of sexual offenders who target children, and comes amid a report in January that showed 2,798 victims below 16, and 1,000 victims between 16 and 20 years old, were sexually assaulted from 2017 to 2019. People who have committed serious o...