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Ramen stallholder starts website to raise brand awareness

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - Despite being on four food delivery platforms, Mr Tan Hock Soon receives only two to three online orders each day. Since Covid-19 hit Singapore last year, business has fallen by 40 per cent, said the 49-year-old who runs the Ramen Taisho stall at Maxwell Food Centre. 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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Slow business but some hawkers in Singapore still not on food delivery apps

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - As the number of Covid-19 cases in Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre climbed, Mr Koh Tong Khoon sensed bad news was coming. The Mookata Eating House stall at Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre that he owns is not on any food delivery platform. 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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All credit and debit card customers affected by duplicate transactions have been refunded: DBS

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - DBS Bank has given refunds to all customers affected by a payment processing glitch, which charged them twice for transactions made with credit and debit cards. Singapore's largest bank said in a Facebook post on Saturday (June 19) that all duplicate card transactions have been refunded and any fees - as a result of the error - will be waived. "Our systems are safe, secure and uncompromised. We apologise for any undue anxiety and regret the inconvenience caused," it added. DBS did not say how many customers were affected and the value of the wrongful transactions. It first acknowledged the issue on Twitter at around 11.20am on Friday. By 7.50pm, DBS said the glitch had been resolved. Some customers said online that the transactions caused their bank accounts to go into a negative balance. Others said they were unable to log into their accounts through the app or Internet banking portal on Friday morning. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said it had instructed DBS to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report. More on this topic Related Story DBS to refund credit and debit card users affected by duplicate transactions by June 20 Related Story More than 1,000...

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Police investigate 311 people in S’pore over alleged scams; victims lost more than $8.2 million

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - The police are investigating 219 males and 92 females, age between 16 and 84, for suspected involvement in 866 reported cases of scams where victims lost more than $8.2 million. This comes after a two-week operation between June 5 and Friday that uncovered a range of scams, including Internet love, government official impersonation and fake gambling platform. The suspects are being investigated for cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. Cheating offences carry an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine. Money launderers may be jailed up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000 or both. Individuals providing a payment service in Singapore without a licence may be fined up to $125,000, jailed up to three years, or both. To avoid becoming accomplices, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use their bank accounts or mobile lines as they would be held accountable if these are linked to crimes, the police said. Those who have information on scams can call 1800-255-0000 or submit information at this website. More on this topic Related Story 2 men charged for alleged involvement in China officials impersonation sca...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on June 19

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2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, June 19. Cautious reopening will give S'pore time to get more people vaccinated: Covid-19 task force Vaccination rates are not high enough to proceed with reopening more confidently. READ MORE HERE askST: If we're a family of five, can we dine out together from June 21? Can I resume attending my regular yoga class? Here are answers to questions you may have about Singapore's latest Covid-19 measures. READ MORE HERE Restaurateurs say new two-per-table rule to curb Covid-19 spread better than nothing Hardest hit will be Chinese restaurants, where dishes are mostly for sharing. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Census 2020: Key trends of a changing Singapore and what they mean More educated, fewer marriages and babies, less religious, getting greyer. S'pore's demographic evolution is posing challenges. READ MORE HERE Evidence from overseas shows Sinovac vaccine carries some risk of Covid-19 infection despite jabs The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines Singapore is using are among those with the highest efficacy. READ MORE HERE DBS to refund credit and debit...

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Population census: Higher incomes in Singapore, but mind the job and wealth gap

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - In 2000, the biggest proportion of resident households - 28.5 per cent - could be found in the $1,000 to $2,999 bracket of monthly income from work. Ten years later, it was those earning $3,000 to $4,999, at 16.2 per cent. In Census 2020, the largest share - 13.9 per cent - was in the uppermost bracket of $20,000 and over. At the other end, a significant proportion (12.2 per cent) brought home no more than $3,000 a month. 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 population census: Of strata titles and stratification

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - Smaller households - in terms of fewer members - are on the rise. More are staying in condominiums; although for private properties overall, large variations continue to exist between ethnic groups. These findings from Census 2020 raise key issues around stratification, representation and social cohesion, say experts. 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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Woman fined $5,000 for slapping girl, 8, who accidentally stepped on her foot

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A woman was fined $5,000 on Friday (June 18) for slapping an eight-year-old girl's face in an MRT train after the latter accidentally stepped on her foot. A district court was told that the girl apologised to Connie Soh who was talking loudly on her phone and did not hear the child. Soh, now 46, thought that the girl had failed to apologise and committed the offence. The Singaporean pleaded guilty last month to one count of voluntarily causing hurt. Some time before 1.47pm on July 15 last year, the victim accidentally stepped on Soh's left foot after boarding an MRT train with her mother at Choa Chu Kang station. Soh did not hear the child's apology and confronted her mother. The mother said her daughter had given one, and an argument ensued. When the train reached Yew Tee station, Soh slapped the victim to try to prevent her from leaving, The girl burst into tears and her mother alerted the police soon after. Later that day, the mother took her daughter to National University Hospital where she was found to have a bruised left cheek. The child was also given two days of medical leave. For voluntarily causing hurt, an offender can be jailed for up to three years and fin...

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First Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines to be given in S’pore on Friday afternoon, 2 weeks’ wait for others

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6 minutes

SINGAPORE - The first of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccinations will be administered at some private clinics on Friday afternoon (June 18), following the authorities' approval of 24 private healthcare clinics to draw on the Government's existing stock of the vaccine. As not all the clinics have received the vials yet, many have turned away walk-in requests from the public or placed them on registration wait lists. According to some clinics approached by The Straits Times, the waiting time for those who register successfully could be two weeks or more. Several clinics told ST they have been inundated with calls since the Ministry of Health's (MOH) announcement on Wednesday on the 24 selected providers. Among clinics ready to administer the first jabs on Friday is the Rophi Clinic and HeartlandHealth's Bedok South outlet. A spokesman for Rophi Clinic said it has received "thousands of sign-ups who have registered their interest, but all slots are booked". It will be giving out 20 jabs this afternoon. The Rophi Clinic spokesman said that vaccination will be conducted on non-clinic days to segregate those receiving vaccines from regular patients. The clinic is encouraging individuals to mak...

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20-year-old charged with abetting breach of stay-home notice, trespassing into SHN facility

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A 20-year-old Singaporean man was charged in court on Friday (June 18) for abetting the breach of stay-home notice (SHN) requirements by a person on SHN and trespassing into the premises of an SHN dedicated facility. The court heard that he intends to admit to the charges. He will be back in court on July 29. On Nov 28 last year at about 3pm, Sow Kaiser visited his friend who was serving the notice at a hotel and spent about an hour in the room before leaving. Sow allegedly took a lift and entered the hotel's restricted area, where he then used a service lift to get to the room. He was subsequently spotted by the hotel's security guard but left the hotel before he could be apprehended. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said on Friday that those who fail to comply with SHN requirements will be liable to prosecution under the Infectious Diseases (Covid-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations 2020. The penalty may be a fine of up to $10,000, or a jail term of up to six months, or both. In addition, those found guilty of trespassing will receive a jail term of up to three months, or a fine of up to $1,500, or both. Members of the public can provide information about anyone wh...

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Former property agent who made racist remarks on MRT train charged in court

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A woman caught on video making purportedly racist remarks appeared in a district court on Friday (June 18) and was handed two charges over alleged acts "prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups". Tan Beow Hiong, 57, was also charged with one count of being a public nuisance. In April, the Singaporean is said to have maintained a channel on YouTube comprising multiple videos alleging racism or harassment by people of other races. She was in an MRT train on April 21 when she allegedly singled out the other passengers and made derogatory remarks about them. Tan is accused of being a public nuisance on another occasion in an MRT train on May 11. This time, she allegedly spoke loudly in a carriage, stating that she was not racist. She is also said to have made statements such as: "We are very different." Tan made the headlines earlier this year after she was recorded grilling passengers about their race on an MRT train. Both her YouTube channel and employment as a property agent have been terminated. In an earlier post on Facebook, property consultancy Knight Frank Singapore said her conduct had been brought to its attention. It added that on...

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Indonesian man who entered S’pore waters illegally among new Covid-19 cases

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - An Indonesian man who entered Singapore waters illegally was among the Covid-19 patients whose cases were announced on Thursday (June 17). The Ministry of Health (MOH) said the man entered Singapore waters from Indonesia without valid documentation, and was arrested by the Police Coast Guard. "He was tested for Covid-19 infection, and isolated until he was conveyed to the hospital when his result came back positive," said MOH. The man, aged 26, did not show symptoms. He was confirmed positive on Wednesday. The ministry did not say when he was arrested. He was among the seven new imported cases reported on Thursday. More on this topic Related Story Three people arrested for allegedly entering Singapore illegally by boat Related Story Bukit Merah View market and other Covid-19 clusters in S’pore: What we know so far

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Mandatory Covid-19 testing under way for 130 stallholders, cleaners at Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Testing for Covid-19 was quick and smooth at the void deck of Block 80D Telok Blangah Street 31, as stallholders and cleaners from the Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre and Market turned up for mandatory swabbing on Thursday (June 17) morning. The temporary test site was set up after a second worker at the food centre was confirmed to be infected on Wednesday. When The Straits Times (ST) visited the site, there was some crowding at the entrance as hawkers showed up early for appointments scheduled from 9am, but it cleared quickly as testing commenced. The testing was to go on till 4pm. An MP for West Coast GRC, Ms Rachel Ong, who was present, told ST that around 100 stallholders and 30 cleaners were expected to be swabbed. The hawker centre is closed for deep cleaning and disinfection from Wednesday afternoon till Friday. Ms Ong told ST that the community has been understanding and supportive. "I think everyone knows that this is the correct thing to do, and there was a lot of support," she said. She added that the hawkers were thankful for recent rental rebates. On further support for stallholders and hawkers, she said: "We are still assessing it with our grassroots volu...

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Youth unemployment rate climbed higher last year amid Covid-19: MOM report

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - The youth unemployment rate climbed higher last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, compared with previous downturns, the Ministry of Manpower said on Thursday (June 17), as part of its labour market report for the first quarter. The annual average resident youth unemployment rate hit 10.6 per cent, higher than the 8.8 per cent in the 2009 global financial crisis and the 9.3 per cent in 2003 with the Sars pandemic. MOM said: "This could reflect greater difficulties among youth trying to secure part-time or temporary employment in the retail and food and beverage industries." It added that these sectors were more severely hit by the pandemic, compared with previous recessions. Youth are defined as those aged 15 to 24. About four in 10 youth in employment are in temporary jobs or contract work, the report said. They are mostly students who work on the side. Unemployment rate among youth is also consistently higher than other age groups, reflecting the job search of fresh graduates entering the labour market, for instance, the report said. There is also a higher churn among this age group as they explore various options to find a suitable job. Those who are studying might als...

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Ngee Ann Poly to sack lecturer in racist remark incident for serious misconduct

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) is in the process of sacking senior lecturer Tan Boon Lee for serious misconduct. This comes after a video posted on June 6 of Mr Tan making racist remarks to an interracial couple in Orchard Road went viral online. This was followed by an Instagram post on June 9 by NP alumna Nurul Fatimah Iskandar, who alleged that Mr Tan made Islamophobic comments in a class in 2017. NP said it made the decision after completing its internal investigations into both incidents. It has charged Mr Tan – a lecturer at the School of Engineering – with a serious breach of its staff code of conduct, and “is proceeding to terminate his service”. "Our staff members are expected to respect cultural, ethnic and religious differences in our society. They must uphold secularity and impartiality at all times... The disciplinary action meted out against the staff in question reflects our commitment to provide a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for our campus community," said NP in a statement on Thursday (June 17). Police investigations into both incidents are ongoing. In her Instagram post, Ms Nurul, now 22 and a student at the National University of Singapore, ...

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Rise in workplace injuries from slips, trips and falls a concern and needs to be addressed: Zaqy Mohamad

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Workplace injuries caused by slips, trips and falls in the food and beverage (F&B) industry have risen by an average of 12 per cent a year in the four years before the pandemic, and have been the main driver of injuries in the sector, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad on Thursday (June 17). Overall, work injuries in the sector have also been rising at an average rate of 9 per cent a year from 2016 to 2019, tapering down slightly last year, as many workplaces were forced to shut due to Covid-19. Last year, there were 985 work injuries in the F&B sector. In 2019, there were 1,167 injuries in the sector, and 932 in 2018. These trends are becoming a concern and need to be addressed, Mr Zaqy said at a virtual forum for the F&B sector organised by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council. He said: "Good workplace safety and health makes good business sense... No one wants to work in an accident-prone industry... "For owners, a safe workplace and a healthy workforce means higher productivity, less time lost due to sick leave, better staff retention, and even lower costs from avoiding work injury insurance premium hikes due to injury claims. "For empl...

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S’pore’s labour market continues recovery into 1st quarter; total employment grows by 12,200

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5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Singapore's labour market continued its recovery in the first quarter, with total employment growing for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. A report by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday (June 17) showed that the total employment, excluding foreign domestic workers, rose by 12,200 in the first three months of the year, after four consecutive quarters of decline. This far surpassed the preliminary estimate of 4,800 released in April. Resident hires continued to rise, outpacing the decline in non-resident employment, which is partly due to restrictions on the inflow of foreign workers. This increase was driven by the broad hiring of residents in the service sectors, such as information and communications, food and beverage, health and social services, and administrative and support services. More retrenched residents here have also found jobs within six months, while job vacancies have risen to nearly match the unemployed population, according to the report. But the labour market is still not fully back to its pre-pandemic state, said MOM. Moreover, uncertainties in the economy and the recent tightened measures during phase two (heightened al...

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Wanted French national has continued journey to France after transit in Singapore: MHA

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A wanted French national and his family, who had made a transit in Singapore on Sunday (June 13), left Singapore on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Mr Daillet Remy Vincent Christophe, his partner, Ms Bardet Leonie, and their three children were residing in Malaysia when they were arrested late last month for overstaying in Langkawi island. The Malaysian authorities deported them to France via Singapore on Sunday. During their transit in Singapore, the pregnant Ms Bardet had complained of discomfort. She was issued a special pass to enter Singapore and was taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital on the advice of doctors at Changi Airport. A spokesman for MHA said on Wednesday: "Daillet and the children remained in the transit hotel at Terminal 3. They were not allowed to enter Singapore as they were deportees from Malaysia for France. Bardet was subsequently discharged and reunited with Daillet and the children at the transit hotel." On Monday, online portal theVibes.com reported that the five French nationals did not board Air France Flight 257 - a direct flight to Paris - which departed Changi at 10.35pm on Sunday. Two of the three children, aged ...

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Centuries-old shipwrecks discovered in S’pore waters; artefacts to be displayed in museums

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6 minutes

SINGAPORE - Two shipwrecks - one dating possibly to the 14th century and the other to the 18th - have been excavated within Singapore's waters - a first for the nation and a groundbreaking development for its maritime heritage. Both wrecks, bearing Chinese ceramics as their primary cargo, were found in the waters off Pedra Branca, a rocky outcrop surrounded by shallow waters where ships throughout history have come to grief. The plan is to display the artefacts in museums here from the end of this year. Maritime archaeologist Michael Flecker, who supervised both excavations, described the first wreck as a "pretty remarkable" find, as it is contemporary with the Temasek period that spans the 1300s to 1600s. In 2015, commercial divers carrying out salvage works for another project stumbled upon several ceramic plates, which they handed over to the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute because of their uncanny resemblance to artefacts they had seen in the news. The institute dated the plates to the 14th century, which kick-started an excavation project, beginning with an initial survey in 2016, that is now into its sixth year. The wreck was located about 100m north-west of the island, the Nat...

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Marine archaeologist’s 24-year wait to survey wreck site in S’pore pays off

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - In 1992, maritime archaeologist Michael Flecker applied for a licence to survey the waters around Pedra Branca, an act he described at a public lecture in 2018 as "a little ahead of my time". He was 24 years early. In 2016, Dr Flecker would lead a team to survey waters around the island and their efforts would uncover two historical wrecks by 2019 - the first one containing artefacts dating to the 14th century. At the 2018 public lecture, organised by the Singapore Maritime Heritage Interest Group and the Marine Offshore Oil and Gas Association, Dr Flecker described how the local authorities then "didn't know quite what to do with an application from a private company", for him to carry out a survey around Pedra Branca, located about 24 nautical miles east of Singapore. Ongoing negotiations between Singapore and Malaysia during that period over which country had sovereignty over Pedra Branca meant that Dr Flecker's application was put to the side. In the meantime, the Australian added more than 20 archaeological projects to his resume, including the Tang shipwreck near Belitung in Indonesia, whose artefacts are now displayed at the Asian Civilisations Museum. The 58-yea...