Rilek1Corner

Category: Sosial

  • Today In Singapore’s History: Hotel New World Collapse – Rescuers Dug With Bare Hands

    Today In Singapore’s History: Hotel New World Collapse – Rescuers Dug With Bare Hands

    It was nearly midnight on March 15, 1986 when Ms Helen Tan was carried out of the rubble, her body wrapped in a blanket.

    At about 11.25am that day, the building she was in had collapsed, trapping 50 people and ultimately claiming the lives of 33, in what was to be one of the worst disasters in post-war Singapore.

    Better known as Hotel New World, the Lian Yak Building at the junction of Owen and Serangoon roads housed a bank on the first level and a nightclub on its second level. The other four levels were occupied by the 67-room hotel.

    More than 500 personnel from the police, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the now defunct Singapore Fire Service (SFS), and Singapore Armed Forces took part in a five-dayrescue operation that saved 17 people including Ms Tan.

    She had SCDF Senior Warrant Officers (SWO) Jimmy Tan, Mohd Salleh Ali and Isnin Ghani to thank.

    Then in their 20s, they were firemen in the SFS’ MRT task force, and had undergone rescue training in the MRT tunnels that were under construction.

    The training came in handy, they told The Straits Times yesterday on the eve of the tragedy’s 30th anniversary, but what they lacked was equipment.

    After hearing Ms Tan’s cries for help, “we had to use our bare hands and emergency tools to dig a tunnel through 6m to 8m to reach her”, said SWO Tan, 58.

    They took turns to crawl through the narrow passageway, struggling to breathe through the thick dust and hoping that the tunnel would not collapse on them.

    A basin that separated the rescuers from Ms Tan then had to be chipped away with a small hammer before she was finally freed.

    Nine survivors were rescued on the first day, and Ms Tan was the last that day.

    On Wednesday morning, after several tests using a noise detector found no signs of life, the rescue operations were called off.

    Madam Chua Kim Choo was the last to be rescued, after being trapped for 83 hours, or more than three days.

    Rescuers worked until Saturday to recover the remaining bodies.

    “Once we heard the order to stand down, we were relieved. Our bodies also started to feel the ache,” said SWO Salleh, 58.

    Investigations later found that the building had collapsed due to structural faults and shoddy construction, as well as strain from new installations on the roof.

    Following the tragedy, more frequent spot checks on buildings were put in place, as well aslegislation to enforce stricter maintenance checks.

    The Government also merged the Singapore Fire Service and the Singapore Civil Defence Force in 1989, to ensure better coordination for rescue work, especially during disasters.

    The three officers were among 94 people presented awards by then President Wee Kim Wee.

    “Sometimes the juniors will ask what’s this triangle badge,” said SWO Tan, pointing to his uniform.

    “I tell them it’s a rescue badge for Hotel New World. We try to share our experience with them, so they can learn.”

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • MUIS, MBMF And Tranparency

    MUIS, MBMF And Tranparency

    The last few days, there have been some murmurings about MUIS’ decision to increase the amount that every Muslim contributes to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF).

    Beginning from 1st June, MBMF contributions will increase between $1-10.

    There are of course, several perspectives to this issue.

    First, MBMF helps the community to build masjid and run Mendaki activities.

    Mendaki also contributes a portion of the funds to other Muslim organisations it supports.

    Second, MBMF is a very efficient way to collect funds. Rather than wait for Muslims to send in their donations or organise standing orders to deduct part of their salary, MBMF reverses method. Muslims are assumed to agree to donate and only opt-out if they do not want to contribute. This ensures maximum contribution.

    However, while there is benefit to the system, there are certainly obvious flaws.

    The main flaws are centred on the lack of transparency and consultation.

    First, it removes the intention from the donor. The donor do not decide to contribute. The money is taken from him.

    That donors can opt-out does not negate the fact that those who remain may not necessarily intend to donate.

    or even if they agree, that decision was taken away from them from the beginning.

    Second, and more importantly, is the lack of transparency and consultation.

    While we can appreciate some of the work done by MUIS and Mendaki, there is still a lot of problems with regard to its institutional and functional designs.

    Both organisations’s finances are primarily supported by the Muslim community.

    Whether it is through MBMF, zakat harta, fitrah, waqf etc, the bulk of financial support comes from the Muslim community.

    And yet, they are not accountable to the community.

    When was the last time MUIS held a consultation session with the Muslim community to seek our input in their performance and actions?

    When did the Muslim community, the body that pays for MUIS and Mendaki’s main expenses, appoint the leaders of these two organisations?

    MUIS and Mendaki leaders are appointed by the government.

    They report to the government.

    But we pay their expenses.

    And when the government discriminate against Muslims, both organisations have taken the government’s position.

    And there have been quite a number of reports on how some Muslims in need were turned away by MUIS and Mendaki.

    We pay their expenses, support their programs and help them operate…but are not consulted.

    Instead, they reported to and are appointed by the government.

    And turn away some in need.

    Yes, Muslim organisations need support.

    But the support should come with accountability.

    And at times, it may be better to use the money that is deducted for MUIS and Mendaki to help those we know are truly in need.

     

    Source: Almakhazin SG

  • Roy Ngerng: Please Donate And Help Me Pay Damages

    Roy Ngerng: Please Donate And Help Me Pay Damages

    Hello everyone, this is an update to the defamation suit with the prime minister.

    I have to pay a total of S$180,000. (I have to pay him S$150,000 in damages and S$30,000 for the costs of the hearing.)

    (1) I have to pay S$30,000 by this Wednesday.
    (2) From April 1, I have to pay $100 every month for 5 years.
    (3) After 5 years, from 2021, I have to pay $1,000 every month until I finish paying.

    I would like to thank lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam and his colleagues for helping me reach this settlement. I am very grateful to them.

    These 2 years since I was sued hasn’t been easy. There have been ups and downs.

    I am just glad that it started a conversation on the CPF and some enhancements were made to the CPF.

    But I have learnt some lessons as well. I should have been careful with how I say things. I am thankful to have reached the settlement with the prime minister.

    I hope to have a fresh start. I have been looking for a job and doing freelance photography. I hope to be able to find a job and make use of my work experience and skills in an area that I could make good use of. I miss contributing effectively to make positive change.

    After the last election, a choice was made. I hope that this will be one that will put the country in the right direction. People choose what they are ready for.

    Finally, I would like to thank everyone who have supported me over these years. Thank you for believing in me. I did what I could. And I am glad that somehow, we were able to make a difference.

    Also, I would like to thank my parents and my family. I wouldn’t have been able to get through this without them. At a time where I had even lost friends, they have been an unwavering pillar of support.

    I hope this marks an end to a chapter and hope that we can move on from here.

    If you would like to help to defray the costs, you can also fund raise to the bank account at POSB Savings Bank Account 130-23068-7 (Ngerng Yi Ling).

    Thank you once again. 

     

    Source: Roy Ngerng Yi Ling

  • Roy Ngerng To Pay Lee Hsien Loong Damages In Installments Over 17 Years

    Roy Ngerng To Pay Lee Hsien Loong Damages In Installments Over 17 Years

    Blogger Roy Ngerng will pay S$100 a month for five years, and S$1,000 a month subsequently in damages awarded to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for defamation until the full sum of S$150,000 is paid.

    In a hearing on Monday morning (March 14) to assess the damages, the lawyers of Mr Ngerng and Mr Lee reached a settlement in relation to the terms of payment of the judgement sum, Mr Ngerng’s lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam told TODAY.

    Mr Thuraisingam said both sides had agreed late last week on terms to settle the costs payable (S$30,000) for the assessment of damages hearing, which Mr Ngerng has to pay by Wednesday.

    No interest would need to be paid if Mr Ngerng makes each payment on time, said Mr Thuraisingam, who is acting on a pro bono basis. “In the event that he breaches the terms of the agreement (i.e fails to make any one of the payments), the full amount outstanding plus Court Judgment interest will be immediately payable,” the lawyer added in an email reply.

    It would take 17 years for Mr Ngerng to pay the damages in full.

    In December last year, a High Court judge ordered Mr Ngerng to pay Mr Lee S$150,000 for alleging that the latter had criminally misappropriated Central Provident Fund monies. While past defamation cases involving Prime Ministers have attracted damages in excess of S$300,000, Justice Lee Seiu Kin said a “substantial reduction” in this case was warranted, given the blogger’s “comparatively low standing”.

    Mr Ngerng had earlier been found guilty of defaming Mr Lee, and in a three-day hearing in July to assess damages, Mr Lee’s lawyer Davinder Singh made the case for “substantial damages” to be awarded. The case stands out for the “depth and intensity” of Mr Ngerng’s malice towards Mr Lee and his resolve to damage Mr Lee’s reputation, thus warranting a “very high award of damages”, Mr Singh had said.

    In response to media queries, Mr Lee’s press secretary Chang Li Lin confirmed that Mr Ngerng “had asked to be let off by paying only S$36,000 out of the costs plus S$150,000 in damages”. “The PM had responded to say that (Mr Ngerng) had to discharge his entire debt, but that he was prepared to give (him) time to pay the S$150,000 by instalments, provided (he) paid the costs immediately,” Ms Chang said. Mr Ngerng agreed and this was recorded by the Court, she added.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • [Clarification] Masjid Sultan – Investigation Completed, Staff Did Not Chase Away Congregant, Reminded To Be Sensitive, Careful When Attending To Congregants

    [Clarification] Masjid Sultan – Investigation Completed, Staff Did Not Chase Away Congregant, Reminded To Be Sensitive, Careful When Attending To Congregants

    Assalamualaikum wr wb,

    Sultan Mosque viewed this matter seriously and has invited Mr Saifudean Mead for a meet up session to resolve this pertinent issue, amicably.

    The Mosque Management has investigated the case and found that our staff concerned did not chase away the congregant and his group from Sultan Mosque.

    Our management has reminded all staff to be vigilant and at the same time to be more sensitive and careful when attending to our congregants’ needs.

    Management Sultan Mosque.

    Wasalam.

     

    Source: Masjid Sultan Singapore