The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) today (Jun 20) held a walkabout in the Mountbatten neighbourhood along Singapore’s east coast.
SPP member Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss also handed out a flyer in which she stated: “I want to serve you to the best of my ability; your concerns are my concerns. This is why I am walking the ground in Mountbatten SMC, and this is why I visited your home today.”
Among the issues she said she wanted to hear residents’ thoughts on were housing, education, healthcare, employment and community facilities.
Ms Chong-Aruldoss, a lawyer by trade, was the former Secretary-General of the National Solidarity Party (NSP). She ran in the 2011 General Election in Mountbatten under the NSP banner, but was defeated by the People’s Action Party candidate Lim Biow Chuan after getting about 41 per cent of the votes. She joined the SPP this year.
Singapore must hold its next parliamentary General Election by January 2017
Property experts say the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) is losing its relevance and should be scrapped.
The scheme was suspended in 2011, but came under the spotlight after recent complaints by residents over defects in their new DBSS flats. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) says the scheme is not currently its priority.
One four-room DBSS unit at Ang Mo Kio gave its owner nightmares. Forty-five-year-old Ng Tong Seng had moved into the flat – which cost more than S$500,000 – in December 2012. Within weeks, he found numerous flaws, from bug infestation to cracks on the walls.
It was a painful process for Mr Ng, who had to spend months getting the developer to rectify the defects.
“The number of defects filed by the residents was a lot,” he said. “And they were having a difficult time catching up with all the work. We have about one year to get all these rectified by the developer and the developer took their own sweet time.”
He said the HDB did not offer much help.
“We are being left alone by authorities,” he said. “We bought the house under the ruling of HDB. They threw the rule books at us, but when we faced problems and approached them for help, they said, ‘Sorry, I can’t do anything’. So, that is frustrating. On one side, you try to govern me, on the other side, you can’t help me. So, I’m very confused about their rule.”
Residents of the Trivelis DBSS estate in Clementi have also questioned HDB’s role in the scheme. About 500 of them have complained about problems such as rusty dish holders and flooding in the corridors.
The housing board says it oversees the scheme, but under the sale and purchase agreement, developers must rectify defects reported by buyers within a year.
HDB brought on board private developers to bring diversity and creativity to public housing designs, when it introduced the scheme in 2005. The condominium-like furnishings of DBSS units initially grabbed attention.
But experts say the quality of Build-to-Order (BTO) flats has gone up.
Associate Professor Sing Tien Foo from the Department of Real Estate at the National University of Singapore said: “I think the differentiation has become smaller. So, if the price differentiation is relatively big, it makes DBSS less attractive in that sense compared to BTO flats, because there’s still a price gap between BTO and DBSS flats.
“So, we might see that the DBSS scheme may no longer be necessary in the near future. So, this is probably a good time to phase it out.”
The scheme was intended to cater for the “sandwiched class”, which referred to those who could not afford private condominiums, but did not qualify for BTO flats because their income exceeded the qualifying ceiling, which was then set at S$8,000.
However, analysts say prices between private and HDB units are narrowing, which means the scheme is losing its target group. Furthermore, the income ceiling for BTO flats was raised to S$10,000 in 2011, the same as that for DBSS properties.
With not much difference in quality, they added that home buyers will be more inclined to purchase BTO flats, which are cheaper. This would lower demand for DBSS flats.
Still, one expert says it’s better to suspend the scheme than scrap it totally.
“Because we never know that, perhaps one day when prices start to escalate quickly again, there may be a need to bring back a scheme that is similar to DBSS,” said Mr Nicholas Mak, an executive director for research and consultancy at SLP International Property Consultants. “But I think in the next two or three years, the chances of it coming back are not high.”
There have been 13 DBSS projects since the scheme was introduced.
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has said Singaporeans must continue to build and maintain a harmonious society, regardless of race, language or religion.
As the country turns 50, he urged the public to reflect on how its pioneers helped shape such inclusiveness.
“This harmony did not come by accident,” said Mr Heng. “It is good work, hard work, on the part of everyone and because Singaporeans reject race-based politics, we reject intolerance. And instead we embrace each and every race, and we embrace multi-racialism, and we embrace a multi religious society.”
He was speaking at an event called SG50 Harmony Swing, which was held at the Nanyang Polytechnic Stadium on Saturday afternoon (Jun 20). It was organised by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society and was a prelude to the society’s annual “Inter Racial Inter Religious Harmony Nite”, which will be held on Jul 12.
The event saw 3,578 people being part of the country’s largest Zumba dance to date. They smashed the previous record in the Singapore Book of Records of 1,162.
3,578 people of all races and religions broke the record of the country’s largest Zumba dance this afternoon. http://bit.ly/1SyxrUH (Video: Nadia Jansen Hassan)
In true Singaporean fashion, participants came from all races and religions. Amilia Amil, one of the participants, joined with her friends despite having started fasting.
“We are here to show that despite fasting, we can do fitness activities, and also to celebrate with the rest of the multi races and cultures here,” she said.
“It’s a wonderful feeling for everybody,” said Chairman of the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society Lee Kim Siang. “We’re all neighbours, we’re all Singaporeans. We get to see each other, we dance together, we have fun together.”
A 55-year-old man has been issued a stern warning by authorities after he flew an unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the National Stadium, which has been gazetted as a Special Event Area.
Police said that the incident took place on Jun 16 during the Closing Ceremony of the 28th SEA Games.
The man had used the drone to take photos of the fireworks display at the ceremony even though he did not have a permit to do so in a Special Event Area. After completing investigations and consulting the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the man was given a stern warning on Jun 18.
Police added that flying such an aircraft without a permit can threaten public safety and security, especially in areas where large crowds are gathered. Flying one near a fireworks area is also especially dangerous and can cause harm to those watching the display.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Sabah on Jun 5, Channel NewsAsia visited the families of three mountain guides who lost their lives in the tragedy.
KOTA KINABALU: Mount Kinabalu looms large in Sabah, physically and spiritually.
At 4,095 metres above sea level, it is one of the tallest mountains in Southeast Asia. Wherever you go in Sabah, you can get a glimpse of its imposing presence. Its peak, though often shrouded in mist, looks majestic on a clear day.
For the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun tribes, Mount Kinabalu is also the sacred resting ground for the departed. They hold on to this belief, even though the majority are now Christian.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Sabah on Jun 5, Channel NewsAsia visited the families of three mountain guides who lost their lives in the tragedy.
“JOVIAL, CONTAGIOUS, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY”
Marius Salungin had ten siblings. His brother, Joseph Selungin, was the youngest. Marius remembers him fondly.
“We laughed a lot when we were around him,” Mr Salungin said, when asked to describe Joseph, who died in the earthquake with two climbers. “Because he told us a quite a lot of jokes. He was fun to be with. That’s him.”
Marius Salungin lost his brother Joseph Selungin, a mountain guide, in the Sabah earthquake. (Photo: Ray Yeh)
“One of the guides found him,” he continued. “He told us that he was holding two customers.”
The guide that Mr Salungin had referred to is Mohd Sharul Lizam, who said: “I knew what he was wearing, what backpack he was carrying, so I could confirm that was Joseph. He was covering his two climbers. They cuddled. But rocks fell on top of them.” None from the group survived.
Joseph Selungin was 33 years old. He is survived by his wife and two children aged four and two.
To help them cope, Mr Salungin said: “We discussed among our siblings in the family and we will try to help our best. And as for now, I think the donations that have come in will help the family. Hopefully the wife will be able to handle the money well.”
Joseph Selungin’s funeral service on Jun 10. (Photo: Shushan Lam)
Mr Salungin also told Channel NewsAsia that he would “tell Joseph’s children that their father was a very responsible person, also very jovial, contagious and happy-go-lucky.”
“He would have wanted the children to be successful and be like the father, responsible and to have positive characters.”
“HE WOULD BE A GOOD FATHER TO MY CHILDREN”
Valerian Joannes and Jessica Sikta got engaged in December last year and had planned to tie the knot in November. But Mr Joannes, who was on the ropes atop Mount Kinabalu when the earthquake struck, died in a rock slide with 10 young students and teachers from Singapore.
“He told me that the children were very young,” said Ms Sikta, 25. “Before this, he only took adults.”
Valerian Joannes and Jessica Sikta on their engagement day. (Photo: Jessica Sikta)
Mr Joannes, who was 28, had worked as a Via Ferrata trainer for three years.
His fiancée told Channel NewsAsia that he loved kids. “He would pinch them on the cheeks, but he cannot hurt the children,” she said. “If we had children, I’m sure he would have been a very good father. But now it’s only a dream that will never come true.”
For their wedding, Mr Joannes had planned to surprise her with a song he composed and performed. “He was very talented and he was a good singer,” she said. “The last song he was able to give us was titled ‘I will hold your hand.’
“In the song, he said that every relationship goes through rough times, but we are always able to get back together.” Ms Sikta explained, while the song played in the background. “And then he sings, please forgive me.”
Jessica Sikta remembering her fiance. (Photo: Shushan Lam)
It is believed that Mr Joannes had time to get out of harm’s way after the earthquake, but died trying to save some of students.
“If he is still with me now, but the kids are gone, I know he would not be happy,” said Ms Sikta. “He would have been traumatised.” She believed “that’s why God took him”.
“PROUD THAT HE DIED FOR A REASON”
Sapinggi Ladsou, 56, had 10 children. Of the five boys, four became mountain guides like himself. Robbi was one of them.
“We feel the impact of Robbi’s passing,” Mr Ladsou told Channel NewsAsia. “It’s not just losing one child out of 10 children.”
Robbi Sapinggi a few months before the earthquake struck. (Photo: Nelson Chua)
According to eyewitness accounts, Mr Sapinggi, 30, had survived the initial rock fall after the earthquake. Badly injured, he instructed his climber to descend without him, because he wanted to help others on their way down the steep slope.
He died shortly after rescuers found him a few hours later.
“We received many messages from Robbi’s ex-clients. They told us how Robbi had helped and encouraged them,” said Lynn Thiang of Amazing Borneo, the tour company that worked with Mr Sapinggi.
“If you have climbed Mount Kinabalu before, you would know many people wanted to give up right before reaching summit because it was very tiring,” said Ms Thiang. “But Robbi would encourage the climbers and give them the confidence. We are all proud of Robbi, that he died for a reason.”
Robbi’s funeral. (Photo: Amazing Borneo)
The veteran mountain guide left behind his wife, Reena Joshi, and their 6-month-old baby. Ms Joshi, a UK national, met Robbi seven years ago while travelling through Sabah.
“Her family is worried about her,” Mr Ladsou said, “so I want her to stay here, so that we can help her.”
Ms Thiang also said: “Robbi really loved his son and I’m sure he wants to see that his son is well taken care of.”
(Photo: Ray Yeh)
THE SABAHAN SPIRIT
Visiting bereaved families and friends so soon after the tragedy struck, Channel NewsAsia’s producers did not expect the warm welcome extended to us from everyone we met along the way. In those few days, we witnessed another kind of spirit that lives in Kinabalu’s mountains.
It is the spirit that transcends human instinct to run from danger, to save lives. It is also the spirit that welcomes strangers into one’s home amid personal grief and sorrow.
The locals call it the Sabahan Spirit. And it is this spirit that will help the communities pull through and rebuild.
