Lee Hsien Loong Calls On Singaporeans To Work Together With Optimism For 'Brighter' Future

Bernama.com, 31 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on Singaporeans to be united and look forward with optimism for a brighter tomorrow in the wake of the gloomy global economy.
In his New Year Message, Lee pointed out that the republic's success as a nation was increasingly defined not just in economic terms but also by "our social capital and therefore need to strengthen "our values of tolerance, mutual respect and empathy." Full story

PA Grassroot leader: More suicides in Bedok Reservoir after Workers' Party win

TR Emeritus, 31 Dec 2011


Link

Related:
Sear Hock Rong - PA's Youth movement

Man infected with bird flu in critical condition

inSing.com, 31 Dec 2011
According to AFP, a bus driver infected with the H5N1 virus, otherwise known as bird flu, is in critical condition in Shenzhen.
He was hospitalized for running a high fever and later on was found to have the deadly strain.
According to authorities, the 39-year-old man apparently did not have direct contact with poultry. Full story

Singapore Growth Slowed to 4.8% in 2011, Lee Hsien Loong Predicts ’Difficult’ Global Outlook Next Year

Bloomberg, 31 Dec 2011
Singapore’s growth slowed in 2011 and the economy will be hurt next year by a protracted European debt crisis and a “difficult” global environment, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
Gross domestic product (SGDYTY) rose 4.8 percent this year, Lee, 59, said in his New Year message released in Singapore today. That compares with the government’s earlier forecast of a 5 percent expansion. The trade ministry predicts the economy will expand 1 percent to 3 percent in 2012, an estimate reiterated by Lee. Full story

Related:
Singapore PM says economy grew 4.8pc in 2011 - The Malaysian Insider
Singapore Prime Minister: Economy Expanded 4.8% In 2011 - Nasdaq
Singapore's economy during grew 4.8 per cent in 2011: PM Lee Hsien Loong - The Economic Times
Singapore economic growth slows to 4.8 per cent in 2011, PM says - CanadianBusiness.com
Singapore 2011 economic growth slows to 4.8 pct - CBS News
Singapore Predicts ‘Difficult’ 2012 on Europe, Foreigner Curbs -BusinessWeek
Singapore economy expands by 4.8% in 2011 - The Mainichi Daily News
Singapore's economic growth to slow down in 2012, premier says - Monsters and Critics

OPINON: Developers the real landlords - Seah Chiang Nee

Malaysia Star, 31 Dec 2011
Traditionally, property developers in cities like Singapore and Hong Kong have enjoyed economic power far beyond their numbers.
We were politely reminded of this when Singapore’s developers told the government they were disappointed at not being consulted before it announced recent measures to cool the market.
This was tantamount to a right to be informed in advance of any policy or price affecting their interests. Full story

NUS and Tsinghua University to offer joint law programs

LLM Guide, 30 Dec 2011
The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Tsinghua University in Beijing are planning to offer new joint law programs, the schools announced today.
The first planned program is a concurrent, "3+1" model program that will allow selected LL.B. students from both law schools to spend part of their course time at and receive an LL.M. degree from the partner institution. Full story

OPINION: Singapore stamp duty a blessing for Malaysian properties - Choong En Han

Malaysia Star, 31 Dec 2011
Malaysian properties appear to be even cheaper for investors compared with those in the republic
Singapore's decision to impose additional taxes on private property purchases may be a blessing in disguise for other property markets in the region.
CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) Malaysia executive director Paul Khong says move will have a positive impact on Malaysian properties especially those in Johor. Full story

Fans rally for embattled Singapore football league

The Times Of India, 30 Dec 2011
Singapore football fans Friday urged supporters not to abandon their embattled domestic league as the country prepares to re-enter competition in neighbouring Malaysia.
Local supporters' group 'Lions All The Way' will hold a road show in the busy Orchard Road shopping district this weekend to promote the 12-team S-League, whose attendances have hit an all-time low after a spate of scandals.
The group fears the S-League will become overshadowed by the Malaysian Super League, in which a Singapore representative team will play for the first time in 17 years from next month. Full story

Salary review committee submits report to PM Lee

Yahoo! Singapore News, 30 Dec 2011
The committee that was convened to review Singapore’s ministerial salaries has submitted its report to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday,.....Its chairman, National Kidney Foundation and Changi General Hospital chairman Gerard Ee, confirmed this on Friday, with added understanding on the part of local media that the report will be made public early next month. Full story

Overflowing Stamford Canal cause of recent Orchard Rd flash floods: PUB

Yahoo! Singapore News, 31 Dec 2011
An overflowing Stamford Canal was the cause behind the flooding at Liat Towers two Fridays ago, said the Public Utilities Board (PUB).
Because the canal was full due to a three-hour heavy downpour, excess rainwater from the roof and back area of Liat Towers overflowed into the basement area and could not be drained off into the canal by the building's internal pumps. This led to ponding in the front of the building. Full story

2011: A ground-breaking year for INTERPOL’s future

NewDesignWorld, 30 Dec 2011
(NewDesignWorld Press Center) - The addition of three new member countries: Curaçao, Sint Maarten and South Sudan at the 80th General Assembly came towards the end of a year which began with the official ground breaking ceremony for the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore and saw INTERPOL’s global databases accessed 2 million times a day. Full story

MAS will face more competition next year: Lee Hsien Loong

Bernama.com, 30 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is bracing itself to thrive in a more competitive world following the underlying problems inflicting the global economy -- indebtedness and imbalances -- that remain unresolved, in particular, in Europe.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his address at the recent MAS 40th Anniversary dinner, outlined the challenges the central bank will face in 2012. Full story

Malaysia- Singapore Trade To Perform Positively Despite Slugish Global Economy

Bernama.com, 31 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-Singapore bilateral trade this year is expected to be positive with a double-digit growth again despite the sluggish global economic environment due to weak US recovery and the eurozone debt crisis.
According to Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) trade commissioner for Singapore, Naim Abdul Rahman, from January to October this year, Malaysia's total trade with Singapore had already increased by 11.8 per cent against the same period in 2010. Full story

Electricity bills to go up in 2012

inSing.com, 30 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE: Households will pay more for electricity in the next quarter in 2012.
On average, a family living in a four-room HDB flat can expect to pay S$2.30 more.
SP Services said on Friday that electricity tariffs for households for the period between January 1 and March 31 will increase by an average 2.3 per cent due to higher fuel prices, which will drive up power generation costs.
This is 0.61 cents per kWh more - from the current 26.98 cents to 27.59 cents per kWh. Full story

Related:
Needy households to receive more help amid electricity tariff hikes - Yahoo! Singapore News

Investigation shows heavy rainfall caused 'water ponding' at Orchard Rd on 23 Dec: PUB

Yahoo! Singapore News, 30 Dec 2011
In a press release on the same day, PUB said that “prolonged heavy rain fell over the southern and central parts of Singapore”.
The national water agency added that flood waters reached up to a height of 30 cm for some areas but said that there was no flooding at Orchard Road.
However, it said that “water ponded at the open area of Liat Towers, the underpass between Lucky Plaza and Ngee Ann City, and the basement of Lucky Plaza due to the sustained heavy downpour”. Full story

OPINION: MRT stations and Singapore property prices — Ku Swee Yong

The Malaysian Insider, 30 Dec 2011
Some investors believe in entering the market early because with the view that when the MRT stations are completed and the line starts running, the market for residential properties nearby would have already “priced in” the premium of the convenience. There is also a view that in the very long term, most Singaporeans will be living within 500m from an MRT station and any “price premium” arising from such proximity will disappear.
It seems that we still lack solid data to substantiate and quantify the effects. But I think it is correct to say that there is an initial euphoria as sellers of properties around the named stations will immediately raise their prices. Full story

OPINION: MILF-PRON Special Report for 2011: Malays under threat - Yusseri Yusoff

The Malaysian Insider, 30 Dec 2011
DEC 30 — As the year draws to a close, the researchers at the Malaysian Institute of Learning Foundation for Political Research On Nationalism (MILF-PRON) have decided to release a special report for public consumption on a very important issue, that is the threats which threaten the Malays such that they are constantly feeling threatened.
There is absolutely no doubt that 2011 has been the most threatening year for the survival of the Malays in their own land........ Full story

Singapore GDP Probably Fell in Fourth Quarter on Manufacturing - Bloomberg

Bloomberg, 29 Dec 2011
Dec. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Singapore’s economy probably contracted in the fourth quarter as manufacturing slumped, increasing pressure on the island’s policy makers to stimulate growth even as inflation accelerates.
Gross domestic product probably dropped an annualized 5 percent in the three months through December from the previous quarter, when it rose 1.9 percent, according to the median of 11 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. Full story

NOL's chairman to be replaced by Temasek executive in April 2012

Reuters, 29 Dec 2011
Dec 29 (Reuters) - Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines, which owns the world's sixth biggest container shipping firm, said its chairman, Cheng Wai Keung, will retire after the board's annual general meeting in April 2012.
Cheng, who was chairman for the last 10 years, will be replaced by Kwa Chong Seng....Full story

Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye To Head COI On MRT Service Disruptions

Bernama.com, 29 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- Singapore's Chief District Judge of the Subordinate Courts, Tan Siong Thye will head the Commitee of Inquiry (COI) to look into the cause of recent Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) service disruptions in the republic.
It said the other members of the committee were Professor Lim Mong King from the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Nanyang Technological University and Mr Soh Wai Wah, the Director of Prisons. Full story

Related:
It's all about timing, says CAD chief Tan Siong Thye - cad.gov.sg
Committee of Inquiry appointed for train breakdowns - Yahoo! Singapore News

300,000 Expected At Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2012

Bernama.com, 29 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- About 300,000 people, both locals and tourists, are expected to gather at the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2012 celebration on Saturday.
Jointly presented by Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, which is into its seventh year, invites everyone to pen their hopes for the New Year on wishing spheres. Full story

Taiwan-born TV host Quan Yi Feng given rare probation sentence for violence

inSing.com, 29 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE: Television host Quan Yi Feng was sentenced to 15 months probation on Thursday for damaging a taxi meter and the receipt printer of a cabbie last year.
District Judge Low Wee Ping accepted her earlier mitigation plea which included severe clinical depression, anxiety and sleep problems.
When Quan pleaded guilty last month, Mr Low had said the court "seldom calls for a probation report for offenders who are more than 20 years old except under exceptional circumstances." Full story



Related:
Actress Quan Yifeng given 15 months’ probation - Yahoo! Singapore News

Singapore banks beefing up operations for 300,000 rich non-resident Indians

Indian Express, 29 Dec 2011
Singapore-based banks are beefing up their operations to manage the USD 25 billion wealth of the city state's 300,000 non-resident Indians (NRIs), who have an investment preference for Indian securities and the rupee.
Singapore's estimated NRI wealth of USD 25 billion is also small vis-a-vis global NRIs' combined wealth of USD 500 billion, but the city state is nonetheless an important centre for banks from the perspective of NRI coverage, Srinivas Siripurapu, Head of South-East Asia and South Asia at Barclays Wealth in Singapore, was quoted as saying. Full story

Related:
Singapore banks beef up operations to cover NRI market - The Economic Times

OPINION: 2012 New Year's resolutions for Singapore

CNNGo.com, 29 Dec 2011

1. Bring back chewing gum
Dear Singapore government, I think we're "old" enough to understand the appropriate use (and disposal) of Wrigley's. Besides, aren't you sick of the world makoing fun of us? We are.
More on CNNGo: Elaine Ee-Meyers: It's time to legalize chewing gum in Singapore
2. Lose the plan
Planning in Singapore has been meticulously put together down to every yellow line on the roads. It’s resulted in a tight ship, but not everything can, or should, be planned. Some, like the arts, entrepreneurship and community, need to grow on their own, bubble up organically, experiment, find their own momentum and shape. Can we loosen the leash and let go a little? If we can, we might be pleasantly surprised. Full story

OPINION: Domestic workers in Singapore open to mistreatment

Radio Australia, 28 Dec 2011
A Singapore advocate for the rights of migrant workers says the Philippines government should do more to protect it's people overseas.
Bridget Tan, President of the Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics says Phlilipino domestic workers arriving in Singapore often have their work contracts unilaterally altered by their employer and lose such rights as a day off each week. Full story

Click here to hear the program

OPINION: Southeast Asia-China rise, fall together - Shawn W Crispin

Asia Times Online, 22 Dec 2011
BANGKOK - If China slips, how far will Southeast Asia fall? With the United States and Europe facing prolonged and potentially worsening economic downturns, concerns are rising that China's earlier resilience to global economic turmoil is starting to fade, darkening the outlook for the rest of emerging Asia.
China's resilient growth helped Southeast Asia bounce back briskly from the 2008-9 global financial crisis, providing an alternative and fast growing source of demand for the region's many export-geared economies. Full story

Singapore-domiciled bond issuance down 25 percent

Malaysia Star, 28 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE: The Singapore-domiciled bond issuance to date this year, reached US$14.9 billion, a 25.8 per cent drop after 2010's annual record volume of US$20.0 billion, according to the Thomson Reuters' Singapore 2011 Debt Capital Market Review.
It said during the fourth quarter, primary bond offerings from Singaporean companies saw 15 new issues raising US$2.4 billion - 37.4 per cent below quarter three 2011 issuance (US$3.9 billion)....Full story

Singapore Output Price Inflation Eases In November

Nasdaq
(RTTNews.com) - Singapore's producer price inflation in the manufacturing sector slowed in November, data released by Statistics Singapore showed Thursday.
The manufactured products price index increased 8.5 percent on an annual basis in November, slower than the 8.8 percent growth seen in October. In September, the rate of growth was 7.3 percent. Full story

SPH Says Yahoo! ‘Deliberately’ Committed Plagiarism

Bloomberg
Singapore Press Holdings Ltd., embroiled in a legal tussle with Yahoo! Inc. as both accused each other of copyright infringement, said the Internet company “deliberately” reproduced its news content without permission.
Singapore Press sued Yahoo’s Southeast Asia unit Nov. 18, claiming the company reproduced 23 articles from newspapers including the Straits Times from November 2010 to October 2011 without authorization. Full story

Related:
SPH: Yahoo! has been 'free-riding' on the efforts of its editorial staff - Yahoo! Singapore News
Singapore's SPH says Yahoo! plagiarised content - Yahoo!7
Singapore Press Accuses Yahoo Of Plagiarism In Copyright Suit - Nasdaq
Singapore Press Says Yahoo! ‘Deliberately’ Committed Plagiarism - BusinessWeek
S'pore media house countersues in SPH-Yahoo copyright saga - ZDNet Asia
Singapore's SPH says Yahoo! plagiarised content - AFP
Singapore Press vs Yahoo - The Diplomat

Singapore exodus causes massive jam in Johor

Malaysia Star, 28 Dec 2011
JOHOR BARU: There was a massive traffic jam on the road leading to the Causeway via the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) at Bukit Chagar as thousands of Singaporeans rushed back home.
State Immigration Department director Nasri Ishak said all the counters were opened at the CIQ to cater for the huge number of people crossing over.
“The jam at the CIQ is caused by Singaporeans rushing back home after spending several days in Malaysia.
“The Singaporean authority at their CIQ is conducting thorough checks on all vehicles, causing traffic congestion to spill over into Malaysia,” he said. Full story

TOC thanks readers who spoke up for its credibility and effort in exposing racism

The Online Citizen, 27 Dec 2011
Within 12 hours, we had garnered over 120 comments most of them supportive of TOC. We list here some of the supportive comments from our Facebook:
Jon Zephanius: This is good–it means TOC has become a force to be reckoned with. And also, as much as they are trying to kill you, in order to do so, they have broken an unspoken rule not to mention TOC’s name in the news. The more they try to kill TOC, the more they publicise its name. Let them come and try.
Shalenny Radzali: to be fair, TOC headlines are the same as those in magazines/newspaper/TNP. their main objective are the same for all & that is to entice readers to proceed reading the article/watching e video. whatever readers think of the article is entirely up to them & i think TOC is in no way trying to manipulate ppl’s mind. so thank you TOC for giving us an avenue to read fair & accurate news. Full story

Marina Bay Sands sue high-rollers to recover $7.5 million gambling debts

Monsters and Critics, 28 Dec 2011
A Singapore casino operator is suing five high-rollers to recover 7.5 million Singapore dollars (5.78 million US dollars) in alleged debts, media reports said Wednesday.
Marina Bay Sands filed a case in the High Court against a Singapore-based Japanese, Takami Shinichi, who allegedly owes 2 million Singapore dollars after taking a credit line for gambling,.... Full story

S’pore developers warn of recession after cooling measures

The Malaysian Insider, 28 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 28 — The Singapore government’s latest measures to cool the residential property market may cause the economy to slip into a recession, the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) said.
“Industry players are of the consensus view that the measures will, at least in the short term, negatively impact property sales volume and price,” REDAS president Wong Heang Fine said in a message to members issued late yesterday. Full story

VIDEO: AVA authorised Malaysia-registered vehicle to catch stray dogs in Singapore?

Youtube, 27 Dec 2011
This morning, a pregnant stray feeder from Punggol spots a vehicle before dawn, with 2 men collecting and deploying dog traps.
Suspicious, she asks for their authorisation letter from AVA, as the vehicle is a Malaysian registered vehicle. The 2 men produced the letter.



Link

OPINION: Property market outlook for 2012

Yahoo! Singapore News, 26 Dec 2011
I think these trends are signalling that we are near a turning point in the property bull market. The insiders are turning cautious while the "man on the street" average investors are still rushing in. Middle income families are rushing to buy high-priced HDB flats and mass market residential properties and small-time investors are snapping up "shoebox" industrial units with a fairly ambiguous rental market.
At the same time the wealthy and developers (the "insiders") are turning cautious on the market, and the weakening global economic situation means that the yields of the industrial and commercial properties could be at risk. Full story

OPINION: Singapore aspires to be an "honest" broker between China and India - Tan Yinglan

The Economic Times, 28 Dec 2011
An honest broker is what Singapore aspires to be as it steps up efforts to foster greater interaction between Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs, says Tan Yinglan, a scholar on Chinese entrepreneurship who is part of the government's drive to promote innovation in the city-state.
"We specialise in helping Indian firms work with China, and vice versa. The analogy is that India and China are two big elephants and we are like a little mouse around these two elephants. We will make ourselves useful in places where the elephants cannot reach," says Tan, 30, who is the head of projects at the National Research Foundation in the Singapore prime minister's office. Full story

OPINION: Impact of Eurozone on Singapore's economy may be negligible

PR Urgent, 27 Dec 2011
December 27th, 2011—Singapore—Amongst growing concerns on the ongoing Eurozone crisis on economies around the world including Singapore, some feel that the impact of problems in Eurozone on Singapore would be negligible. Although Singapore’s dollar saw some losses against the US dollar in the past couple of weeks and there have been concerns on the stock market in the country as well, but overall many feel there is not much to worry about at the moment. Full story

Forthcoming Lunar New Year Spurs Gold Buying in Singapore

IBTimes.com, 27 Dec 2011
Appetite for the precious metal gold in Singapore was seen picking up in the last few days prior to the usher of a new year.
Private mints shops in Singapore reported orders from jewellers and gold shops have boosted sales in the last few days by at least 20 per cent... Full story

Related:
More buying gold in S'pore - inSing.com

OPINION: What Singaporeans most watched on YouTube in 2011 - Chan Chi-Loong

Techgoondu, 27 Dec 2011
According to YouTube, here are the most-watched community videos of 2011 by Singaporeans:
1. Nice Guys
2. Daily Life of Rustin Hieber
3. Yam Ah Mee Election Club Mix (GE 2011)
4. Strangers, again
5. plastic bottle heartbreak on valentine’s day (Original)
6. Angry Birds Rio Trailer
7. Nyan Cat [original]
8. POKEMON IN REAL LIFE!
9. The iNavigator
10. Greatest Marriage Proposal EVER!!!
Full story

Singapore Red Cross to send second relief team to Philippines

Philstar.com, 27 Dec 2011
INGAPORE (Xinhua) -- The Singapore Red Cross will send its second team of seven people to the typhoon-affected areas in the Philippines on Wednesday, the organization said.
They are expected to bring relief items to 47 relief centers in the southern Philippine city of Cagayan De Oro, which are temporary shelters to over 12,000 local residents displaced by tropical storm Sendong. Full story

OPINION: Managing Singapore’s LNG import model

Eco-business.com, 27 Dec 2011
It is worth noting that even as Singapore’s piped gas importers and their foreign gasfield suppliers are working out a swap arrangement proposed by Indonesia – aimed at diverting some Singapore-destined supplies to meet urgent domestic needs there – the Republic is starting to look at how it wants to procure future LNG supplies.
The writing is on the wall: piped gas supplies from neighbouring countries – whose own gas needs are increasing just as their domestic gas production is slowing – will dry up sooner rather than later, perhaps even before Singapore’s long-term gas supply agreements (GSAs) with Indonesia and Malaysia expire. Full story

3/4 Tank Ruling Applies To Singapore Registered Vehicles Effective Jan 1, 2012

Bernama.com, 27 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- With effect from Jan 1, 2012, Singapore's three-quarter tank rule will also apply to compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel supply tanks of CNG motor vehicles and petrol-CNG motor vehicles.
In a statement here Tuesday, Singapore Customs said currently, petrol tanks of Singapore-registered motor vehicles leaving Singapore must be at least three-quarters full. Full story

50 Nominations For Appointment As Nominated Members Of Singapore Parliament Received

Bernama.com, 27 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- Fifty proposal forms have been submitted for consideration as Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) for Singapore's 12th Parliament.
The Office of the Clerk of Parliament said that out of the total, 34 nominations were from the general public.
Another 16 were from the seven functional groups representing organisations from business and industry, the professions, labour movement, social service organisations, civic and people sector, tertiary education institutions, media, arts and sports. Full story

Related:
50 applications submitted for NMP positions - Yahoo! Singapore News

Singapore Reports Growth In Both Public And Private Sector R&D Expenditure

Bernama.com, 27 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- Singapore reported a 7.4 per cent growth in Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) from S$6 billion to S$6.5 billion in 2010 as expenditure in both the public and private sectors rose.
This is according to the latest National Survey of R&D 2010, published today by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Full story

Letter: Foreigner who renounced PR status to avoid National Service still admitted to NUS medical school - Sreedharan Sechachalam

The Online Citizen, 27 Dec 2011
“Based on personal observations as a doctor who studied medicine here, I am not confident that the ground situation reflects the stated policy.
I know of renouncers who were admitted to the National University of Singapore’s highly competitive medical school, to which, every year, some straight-As Singaporean students fail to gain admission.
At a higher level, some renouncers have been admitted to speciality training programmes which are sought after by many Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans. Those who complete these programmes will qualify to be specialist doctors in the public or private sector.
In my academic or professional life, I am fortunate not to have been in a situation where I had to compete with renouncers. I have nothing personal, either, against these individuals, who are good doctors but not particularly outstanding.
But if their admission to study and work here is in accordance with existing policies, what then are these policies? I am sure there are similar examples in other industries.
From a pragmatic viewpoint, I do not suggest a blanket ban for all who renounce their PR status prior to serving NS. However, I would like to be assured that there are valid reasons for allowing them to study and work here.
And if they are permitted to do so, they must be put at a relative disadvantage, in some manner, for not having performed NS. This will further strengthen the mindset of those who serve NS that they do have an edge in applying to study or work here.
Perhaps the authorities could disclose the number of renouncers still studying or working here”." - Sreedharan Sechachalam Full story

More drivers use mobile phones while driving in Singapore

Philstar.com, 27 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE (Xinhua) -- Singapore police issued bills for 271 drivers per month on average for using mobile phones while driving in the first nine months of the year, local media reported on Tuesday.
A total of 2,930 drivers received bills for using cell phones while driving in 2010, up from 2,867 in 2009.
The newspaper said its reporter spotted four drivers using cell phone in about twenty minutes on a busy road in the downtown area, while two were spotted smoking and another driver using a towel to wipe his face. Full story

Singapore's equity capital markets down 3 percent in 2011

Bernama.com, 27 Dec 2011
SINGAPORE, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- Singapore's equity capital markets (ECM) tapered off in 2011 with a slight decline of -3 per cent from last year.
It also raised US$6.3 billion from 68 equity issues to date while maintaining relatively the same level of activity as 2010, according to the Thomson Reuters' Singapore 2011 Equity Capital Market Review. Full story

Temasek selling off loss-making NIB Bank to Chinese bank - sources

The Express Tribune, 27 Dec 2011
KARACHI: Fed up with mounting losses at its only major investment in Pakistan, the Singapore-based Temasek Holdings is selling off its stake in NIB Bank and is reportedly in talks with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, sources told The Express Tribune.
Temasek certainly has reason to be unhappy. The Singaporean state-owned institutional investor has ploughed about $540 million into NIB Bank and has thus far seen the bank make close to $400 million in losses. At the close of trading on Wednesday, NIB Bank had a total market capitalisation of approximately $154 million, which values Temasek’s 74% holding (through its subsidiary Bugis Investments) at $114 million. Full story

Related:
Temasek reported looking to sell majority stake in Pakistan bank - The Malaysian Insider
Temasek looking to sell majority stake in Pakistan bank-report - Reuters

Cut in deep sea i2i cable between Chennai and Singapore slows internet services

Gulftoday.ae, 27 Dec 2011
Sharjah: Yet another international submarine cable cut, the third in two years, may possibly cause degradation of Internet services in the region as there were two international submarine cable cuts in Suez, Egypt and between Chennai and Singapore on Sunday.
The first one is SMW3 cable in Suez and the other one is i2i cable between Chennai and Singapore.
A press statement from du on Monday said: “We are issuing this statement in order to alert our customers to a possible degradation of Internet services as a result of the two international submarine cable cuts.” Full story

Related:
Deep sea cable snap will make Internet slower: du - Khaleej Times Online
Company: Cable cuts could slow Emirates Internet - The Sydney Morning Herald

New strategies needed for Malaysian developers after Singapore's latest property curbs

theSundaily, 27 Dec 2011
Malaysian property developers with projects in Singapore will have to rethink their strategy, including selling more to Singaporeans, after the island nation came out with a new ruling on additional tax for foreign buyers early this month, said Ho Chin Soon Research Sdn Bhd director Ho Chin Soon.
"There is a big effect because for the top brands (of Malaysian property developers) who are there, the buyers are mostly Malaysian buyers who follow their brand. Malaysian developers with projects there now need to change their strategy and sell to Singaporeans," he said. Full story

Delhi High Court refuses to let Chandra visit Singapore

Indian Express, 27 Dec 2011
Sanjay Chandra, the managing director of Unitech Wireless Pvt Ltd who is a co-accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, on Monday withdrew his plea from the Delhi High Court seeking permission to take his nine-year-old son to Singapore for treatment.
Chandra who planned to fly out to Singapore Monday withdrew his petition after the High Court refused him permission. Full story

Christmas Crowds Throng Shopping Belt in Singapore

CRIEnglish.com, 26 Dec 2011
The wet monsoon season in Singapore did not stop the crowds from thronging the shopping belt Orchard Road during Christmas, though it makes it a bit cool -- a welcome special weather condition for the local residents.
People thronged the shopping belt Orchard Road on Sunday. The business association and community organizations had decorated the trees and the buildings with lightings in the cool colors of blue and white, making it a bit "cool" for the Christmas. Full story