Category: Singapuraku

Public Transport Fares Will Be More Expensive From 5 Apr 2015

There will be an overall increase of 2.8 per cent to public transport fares following the conclusion of the 2014 Fare Review Exercise, the Public Transport Council (PTC) announced on Wednesday (Jan 21).

How the 2.8 per cent figure was calculated: By aggregating the 3.4 per cent fare adjustment quantum carried over from the 2013 Fare Review Exercise with the -0.6 per cent figure from 2014, the PTC said.

But fares for senior citizen, and existing monthly travel concession prices will not rise, said the PTC. The Transport Ministry separately announced on Wednesday that fares for lower-wage workers and persons with disabilities will not increase, while the monthly concession pass for persons with disabilities will remain at S$60 per month.

“In total, more than 1.1 million commuters will see their fares unchanged,” the PTC said in a press release.

FARE CHANGES FROM APRIL

From Apr 5 this year, adult card fares for buses and trains will increase by 2 to 5 cents, while student concessionary fares will increase by 1 cent, the PTC announced. Cash fares for adult bus and train rides will increase by 10 cents, while senior and student cash fares will remain unchanged.

The prices of all monthly concession passes for adults, National Servicemen and senior citizens will remain the same, it reiterated.

The PTC said bus and train fares will continue to be affordable, even for lower-income groups, as household income growth has generally outpaced household expenditure in public transport.

For instance, in 2013, the second quintile (the 21st to 40th income percentile) and second decile (11th to 20th income percentile) of households in Singapore spent 2.2 per cent and 3.1 per cent of their monthly income on public transport, respectively. These were down from the 3.2 per cent and 4.6 percent, respectively, in 2003, it said.

Said PTC Chairman Richard Magnus: “In approving the fare increase and deciding on the quantum, the Council made a concerted effort to minimise the impact on commuters, even to the extent of insulating some from the increase altogether. Overall, the fare adjustments for the 2014 fare exercise are lower than last year’s adjustments.”

IMPACT ON OPERATORS

With the fare increments, the PTC said the two public transport operators – SBS Transit and SMRT – will have to contribute S$5.5 million and S$8 million, respectively, to the Public Transport Fund. The total of S$13.5 million is S$2 million more than their contribution last year, according to the press release.

The Government will utilise the Public Transport Fund to provide Public Transport Vouchers to lower-income households to mitigate the increase in their travel expenditure, it added.

“I am always very concerned not only with making transport fares affordable, but making sure that our low-income families who need more assistance will be looked after,” Mr Magnus said. “The contributions to the Public Transport Fund by the operators will help defray the travel expenditure of these needy families.”

“PLEASED” VULNERABLE GROUPS NOT AFFECTED BY HIKES: LUI

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said on Facebook that he was “pleased” that more than 1.1 million commuters, particularly more vulnerable groups like senior citizens and persons with disabilities, will not experience a fare increase.

“Looking at the overall outcome of this year’s fare adjustment exercise, I believe the Public Transport Council has achieved a good balance between keeping fares affordable for Singaporeans and maintaining the viability and sustainability of our public transport system,” he wrote.

He added that the 250,000 public transport vouchers of S$30 will be provided to needy commuters, and the ministry aims to simplify the application process further.

“We also have other plans on the meaningful use of the Public Transport Fund and I will share these with you when we are ready,” the minister said.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

January 22, 2015
Madrasah Wak Tanjong Mengambil Semula Murid Darjah Satu Tahun Ini

MADRASAH Wak Tanjong telah mula mengambil semula murid darjah satu mulai tahun ini setelah ia memenuhi ukur tara Peperiksaan Tamat Sekolah Rendah (PSLE) di bawah Akta Pendidikan Wajib (CE).

Madrasah di Sims Avenue itu gagal memenuhi ukur tara tersebut dalam tempoh penilaian 2008 hingga 2010, oleh itu tidak boleh mengambil murid darjah satu dari 2012 hingga 2014.

Di bawah akta tersebut, madrasah sepenuh masa perlu memenuhi ukur tara PSLE tahunan jika ingin terus mengambil murid darjah satu.

Dalam jawapan bertulisnya kepada Encik Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap (GRC Aljunied), Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, berkata terdapat hingga 400 tempat bagi pendaftaran murid darjah satu di madrasah sepenuh masa.

Madrasah Alsagoff mengambil sekitar 30 murid darjah satu setiap tahun dari 2012 hingga 2014, manakala Madrasah Al-Maarif pula sekitar 67 pelajar.

Madrasah Irsyad, satu daripada tiga madrasah di bawah Sistem Madrasah Bersama (JMS), mengambil sekitar 204 murid darjah satu setiap tahun sepanjang tempoh itu.

Dua lagi madrasah JMS, Aljunied dan Al-Arabiah, berhenti mengambil murid darjah satu mulai 2009 sebagai sebahagian daripada sistem itu.

Kedua-dua madrasah itu hanya menerima pelajar menengah.

Menurut Dr Yaacob, sistem pendidikan madrasah memerlukan murid rendah mengambil lima mata pelajaran ukhrawi di samping empat mata pelajaran PSLE.

“Madrasah melaksana ujian kemasukan bagi memastikan pelajar yang mereka ambil dapat menghadapi tuntutan kurikulum dengan baik,” kata beliau.

Dr Yaacob juga berkata Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) bersama madrasah komited dalam menyediakan pendidikan bermutu bagi pelajar madrasah.

“Selain merekrut dan mengekalkan guru bermutu, Muis melabur dalam pembangunan profesional pemimpin dan guru madrasah,” kata beliau.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

January 21, 2015
No Hard And Fast Application Of Law In Proposed Bill On Drinking Alcohol In Public Areas

Police will take action based on the situation and there will be no hard and fast rules when it comes to arresting people who drink in public.

Under a new Bill tabled in Parliament on Monday, drinking in public places – anywhere the public can access – will not be allowed between 10.30pm and 7am. This ban will cover parks and common areas in Housing Board estates, for example. It excludes residences and common areas within condominiums.

Retail shops may also be banned from selling alcohol after 10.30pm.

Exceptions will be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

The proposed law has drawn a flurry of reactions, with many saying that it is too restrictive and harsh.

In response to queries about enforcement, a spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the police will be able to “take a more calibrated approach…based on the circumstances of the situation.”

For example, police will first ask the person drinking in a public place during the restricted hours to dispose of the liquor, and take down his particulars. If the person is a public annoyance, police can then ask him to leave .

“If he complies, no further action will be taken,” said the spokesman.

“Should the person ignore the advice, or if he is a recalcitrant offender, police may consider stiffer action such as issuing him a composition fine or arrest.”

The penalty for first-time offender is a fine not exceeding $1,000. A repeat offender may be fined up to $2,000 and jailed up to three months.

On Tuesday night, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also Home Affairs Minister, visited a coffeeshop in Hougang with MP Gan Thiam Poh, and assured patrons that they can continue drinking there.

He wrote on his Facebook page: “Uncle you can continue enjoying your beer at the coffeeshop as before. Coffeeshops can carry on according to their current licensed hours.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

January 21, 2015
Increasing Number Of Families Are Applying For Financial Assistance From MUIS

The number of people applying for financial assistance through the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) has risen slightly over recent years, said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, who is the Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs.

The number of applicants for zakat financial assistance has risen from 5,210 applicants in 2012, to 5,306 applicants in 2013 and 5,454 applicants in 2014. Dr Yaacob added that over this time period, MUIS approved an average of 99 per cent of applications each year.

Unsuccessful applicants might have sought help on matters for which MUIS does not have an assistance scheme. In such instances, MUIS would refer the applicants to the appropriate public agency, he added.

Dr Yaacob said the per capita income cap of the assistance scheme is decided based on the long-term sustainability of the scheme and how it supplements existing national assistance schemes such as ComCare.

With regards to enhancing services for needy families, Dr Yaacob said that MUIS regularly reviews the adequacy of its current financial assistance schemes and studies social trends and challenged faced by needy households. MUIS has also trained over 520 Mosque Befrienders to conduct regular home visits to long-term zakat recipients.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

January 21, 2015
Health Promotion Board: Race-Based Health Programmes The Way To Go

SEVERAL health programmes are tailored differently for the various ethnic groups to better tackle particular health concerns due to factors like lifestyle and diet, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim told the House.

“Malays have a common way of eating the kind of dishes that they like, similarly for Chinese as well as others,” he said.

This was why the Health Promotion Board (HPB) took a targeted approach by having calendars and workshops for different audiences, on top of its overall efforts to get people to have a balanced diet, exercise and go for health checks, he added.

Dr Faishal was replying to Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC), who asked about plans to address health issues facing the Malay community.

Statistics put out by the national registry of diseases last month saw a disproportionate number of diabetics and patients with kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes from the Malay community in 2013, although Chinese had the highest incidence of cancer.

Dr Faishal said research showed lifestyle, rather than genetic factors, appeared to be behind such differences.

“In terms of genetics, we do not have significant evidence to (explain) such a phenomenon,” he added.

He noted that HPB had worked with the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) and mosques to launch a 2014 calendar for Malay women that included healthy recipes, which was received warmly. The number of 2015 calendars was increased tenfold, to 30,000 households.

A version of the calendar targetting Chinese households has also been launched, he added.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

January 21, 2015