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  • Cars Too Expensive, Singaporeans Rent Cars By Becoming Uber Driver

    Cars Too Expensive, Singaporeans Rent Cars By Becoming Uber Driver

    In one of the most expensive countries in the world to own a car, Peter Chiu is finding a novel way to pay for one.

    The 58-year-old retired policeman rents a car in Singapore, drives three to four hours a day for Uber Technologies Inc. to cover its cost, and has a shiny Honda Vezel the rest of the time for his personal use. Hiring a vehicle to work for Uber is becoming a more common sight in the city-state, where Chiu’s SUV costs more than a BMW M3 luxury sports sedan does in New York.

    “Buying a car in Singapore is so expensive,” said Chiu. “If you want to drive around to cover expenses, that is quite easy. And any extra money you get, that’s more income for you.”

    New technologies are not only disrupting traditional industries in Singapore — a trend that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said will force the economy to transform — but also changing consumers’ behavior as they try to cope with rising costs and unemployment at a six-year high.

    “Uber is another avenue for employment,” said Brian Tan, an economist with Nomura Holdings Inc. in Singapore. “It makes the labor market more efficient, because it provides you with an alternative career. You don’t need a special license for that.”

    A Honda Vezel like Chiu’s typically sells for more than S$100,000 ($71,000) in Singapore, almost four times the price in the U.S. On top of taxes, car owners in the city state are forced to buy permits — called Certificates of Entitlement — which are limited in supply and auctioned by the government to help curb road congestion and pollution. At the most recent offering this week, the permit cost S$50,789 for the smallest vehicles.

    Rental Surge

    Chiu drives six days a week for Uber, just enough to cover the S$500 weekly cost of his vehicle, which he rents from Lion City Rentals, a local subsidiary of the car-hailing company. He doesn’t mind the part-time work or the traffic in a country that’s smaller than Rhode Island in the U.S.

    Between 2014 — the year after Uber began operating in Singapore — and 2015, the number of rental cars in the country soared more than 50 percent to 29,369, surpassing the number of taxis on the road, according to official data. Even so, the total vehicle population decreased by 1.5 percent.

    Simon, a 45-year-old former property agent who preferred to give his first name only, rents a Toyota Corolla and drives for Uber four hours a day at most. A slump in home sales since the government began imposing measures to rein in prices has pushed many in the industry to seek other sources of income, including ferrying commuters around the island for Uber.

    Simon said his main job now is making “alternative investments” and the Uber gig allows him to have a car of his own to use on weekends, when he makes trips about 20 kilometers (12 miles) across the border to Malaysia with his wife and two kids. The journey has an added cost-saving advantage: he buys gas for his car in Malaysia, where it’s cheaper.

    Uber is using auto rentals and financing to attract and retain drivers around the world, as are rivals such as GrabTaxi Holdings Pte in Singapore and Lyft Inc. in the U.S. While for many drivers, earning an income may be the main reason they turn to the ride-hailing companies, in Singapore, having the car may be just as important.

    “It makes a lot of sense to rent a car,” said Tang Kin Yee, 53, whose main job is in commercial photography and advertising. Business was slow last year and he started driving for Uber to supplement his income.

    He now rents a Honda Vezel and is thinking about driving for Uber full time.

     

    Source: www.bloomberg.com

  • Surge Pricing Proposal Approved – Cannot Find Taxi, Be Prepared To Pay More

    Surge Pricing Proposal Approved – Cannot Find Taxi, Be Prepared To Pay More

    The Public Transport Council (PTC) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) have approved proposals from taxi companies and ride-hailing app Grab to implement surge pricing in the form of flat fares for trips booked via mobile applications.

    In a joint media statement, PTC and LTA said: “The companies have informed LTA and PTC that this will be introduced as an additional option for commuters to book a taxi, on top of the current metered fare taxi bookings. We have no objections to the proposals.”

    Just like private hire cars booked via Grab and Uber, the cost of a taxi trip booked through a mobile app will vary according to demand. Peak hour trips will cost more, while off-peak trips will cost less.

    Separately, SMRT Taxis has inked an exclusive partnership with Grab to enable all SMRT taxi drivers to use Grab as the only ride hailing app for taxi bookings. Both companies are also collaborating to offer customers dynamic fixed fares for taxi trips booked via Grab. This lets customers know the fare for their intended trip before the start of the journey.

    According to a Grab spokesman, “Dynamic fixed fares are displayed upfront, and already accounts for travel time, distance, booking fees, and real-time demand and supply for taxis. SMRT taxi drivers who accept bookings via this new Grab service enjoy fixed, competitive fares for their service.”

    Metered fares continue to apply for street-hail pickups as well as phone and GrabTaxi bookings.

    Managing Director for SMRT Taxis and Private Hire Services, Tony Heng, said: “The market has evolved and matured significantly, and more customers are now open to having dynamic fixed fares for their taxi rides. This partnership with Grab allows us to keep the pricing for our services competitive, catering to different customer needs and preferences.”

    Melvin Vu, Head of GrabTaxi Singapore, added that Grab has been engaging the authorities since December on implementing dynamic fixed fares for taxis. “The current taxi fare model does not account for real-time passenger demand and driver supply, which often means that passengers pay a surcharge even when there are many available taxis within the vicinity. Dynamic fixed fares ensure that taxis are better utilised throughout the day and passengers enjoy more affordable rides based on real-time market demands, while not eliminating metered fares.”

    Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

  • Qari Malaysia Tarik Perhatian Warga Saudi Dengan Bacaaan Yang Lunak

    Qari Malaysia Tarik Perhatian Warga Saudi Dengan Bacaaan Yang Lunak

    ARAB SAUDI: Meskipun orang Islam di Asia Tenggara sering merujuk kepada para ulama’ mahupun qari di Timur Tengah, namun tidak mustahil juga sekiranya perkara sebaliknya berlaku.

    Yang jelas, seorang warga Malaysia sudah berjaya menarik perhatian dan menawan hati mereka di negara-negara Arab dengan kemahiran beliau membaca kitab suci Al-Quran.

    Dalam tukilan laporan Al Arabiya, Mohamad Yusuf, yang berasal dari Kelantan, juga semakin menempa nama di kalangan warga Timur Tengah, terutama sekali di Arab Saudi.

    Dalam satu wawancara dengan Al-Arabiya.net, Yusuf berkata beliau sudah mula menghafaz Al-Quran sejak berusia enam tahun, setelah ayahnya mendapati beliau mahir menghafal ayat-ayat dari kitab suci selain mempunyai suara yang lunak.

    Ayahnya kemudian menyertakan Yusuf ke dalam kelas di masjid, di mana beliau lebih mempelajari tajwid serta hukum-hukum sebutan bagi bacaan Al-Quran.

    Pada usia 13 tahun, beliau sudah mendalami maqamat, iaitu cara melunakkan suara bagi bacaan kitab suci tersebut.

    Menurut laporan Al Arabiya, Yusuf sangat berterima kasih kepada ayah dan guru-gurunya atas sokongan dan dorongan mereka, yang banyak meningkatkan keyakinan dirinya.

     

    Malah, Yusuf berkongsi beliau turut menggemari bacaan Al-Quran daripada qari-qari seperti Sheikh Mustafa Ismail, Sheikh al-Shahat Mohammed Anwar, Sheikh Ahmed Naina dan Sheikh Yasir al-Sharqawi.

    Buat masa ini, Yusuf juga sedang menuntut di Fakulti Pengajian Islam di Universiti Sultan Ismail. Tahun lalu, beliau turut menjuarai sebuah musabaqah tilawah Al-Quran yang diadakan bagi universiti-universiti di Malaysia.

     

    Menjawab kenyataan-kenyataan bahawa qari-qari muda meniru-niru gaya bacaan mereka yang lebih berpengalaman, Yusuf berkata bahawa tidak salah untuk menggunakan teknik-teknik para qari terdahulu.

    Bagaimanapun, beliau turut menambah bahawa seseorang qari itu harus merancang dan membangunkan cara bacaan baru tersendiri.

    Menurut Al Arabiya lagi, Yusuf juga berkongsi bahawa beliau sedang berusaha keras untuk memperhalusi bacaannya dengan harapan untuk menjadi salah seorang qari yang dihormati

     

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Mufti Fatris Bakaram: Ikut Contoh Nabi Muhammad Dalam Menangani Cabaran

    Mufti Fatris Bakaram: Ikut Contoh Nabi Muhammad Dalam Menangani Cabaran

    [Sewaktu] di Universiti al-Azhar, saya kembali dibawa untuk mempelajari sirah Nabi sekali lagi. Namun tidak lagi hanya dalam bentuk pembentangan fakta. Kami dibawa untuk membanding sumber-sumber sejarah yang berbeza, meneliti hujah dan dalil yang menjadi sumber pemberitaan sejarah yang ada, berfikiran kritikal dan analitikal terhadap peristiwa-peristiwa yang dikhabarkan, mengkaji sebab dan akibat dari setiap peristiwa, dan mengenalpasti pengajaran yang dapat dirumuskan daripadanya.

    Kini, mungkin kerana faktor umur, atau mungkin kerana pembacaan-pembacaan saya, atau mungkin kerana pengalaman selama suku abad terlibat di dalam pelbagai isu agama di dalam kehidupan masyarakat, saya merasakan bahawa semakin saya membaca tentang sirah Nabi saw semakin saya terpesona dengan perwatakan baginda.

    Menelusuri pelbagai peristiwa tegang dan peperangan yang banyak terjadi sepanjang sejarah baginda, saya dapati faktor konflik tidak lagi menjadi titik pemerhatian pusat yang memenuhi atau mempengaruhi minda saya. Yang lebih terserlah kepada saya kini ialah keunggulan keperibadian Nabi saw dalam peranannya sebagai pembimbing dan pemimpin di sebalik segala cabaran yang dihadapi. Baginda tetap optimistik dan berfikiran positif walaupun ada kalanya berhadapan dengan keadaan yang sangat getir. Baginda tidak pernah berputus asa menginginkan kebaikan walaupun untuk orang yang mengimpikan kesengsaraan terhadap baginda. Keanggunan akhlak mulia baginda tidak pernah pudar mahupun luntur biarpun tekanan demi tekanan yang diterima seakan-akan melenyapkan segala harapan yang ada. Di sebalik keteguhan jiwa yang dimiliki, kelembutan budi dan kehalusan bicara baginda tidak pernah berubah walaupun masa banyak mengubah apa yang ada di sekelilingnya. Jauh daripada sifat tergopoh-gapah ketika berusaha mengatasi krisis yang melanda, baginda malah senantiasa tenang mengatur strategi dengan kematangan serta kebijaksanaan yang menjadi contoh tauladan sepanjang zaman.

    Inilah rahmah yang sebenarnya.
    Iman tidak pernah dipohonkan untuk menjadi payung bagi mengelakkan insan daripada basah dihujani ujian Tuhan. Sebaliknya, iman digenggam bagaikan azimat untuk meneguhkan jiwa dalam berani menghadapi apapun cabaran yang menerpa, dengan keluhuran akhlak tidak tergugat dan kelembutan budi bicara tetap terjaga.

    Sesekali tercubit hati terasa derita apabila ribut datang menjelma. Namun seorang mukmin tidak akan patah semangatnya. Kerana di sebalik kesedarannya bahawa dia hanyalah makhluk yang lemah, ada Tuhan yang diimaninya sebagai sumber kekuatan dan tempat pergantungan. Yang tiada iman menghiasi dada pula akan senantiasa mendabik dadanya, menyombong dan menyangka bahawa dialah yang hebat dan kuat berhadapan dengan apapun taufan mahupun gempa. Dia terlupa, pokok besar yang paling megah batangnya pun, akan mudah tumbang jika akarnya rapuh.

    Imam al-Bukhari meriwayatkan sabda baginda Nabi:

    ‎مَثَلُ المُؤْمِنِ كَالخَامَةِ مِنَ الزَّرْعِ، تُفَيِّئُهَا الرِّيحُ مَرَّةً، وَتَعْدِلُهَا مَرَّةً، وَمَثَلُ المُنَافِقِ كَالأَرْزَةِ، لاَ تَزَالُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ انْجِعَافُهَا مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً»

    Bermaksud: Perumpamaan orang beriman adalah umpama tumbuhan yang berbatang lembut, ada ketikanya condong ditiup angin dan ada ketikanya pula kembali menegak. Sementara perumpamaan orang munafik pula adalah umpama pohon kayu yang berbatang besar, tetap keras menegak sehinggalah tercabut samasekali (dibantai ribut).

    Salam bersambut mengundang ramah
    Menyahut sungguh cinta yang jatuh
    Pekerti yang lembut bukannya lemah
    Yang besar angkuh menanti runtuh

     

    Source: Fatris Bakaram

  • Eminent Islamic ScholarShaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah Meets Key Singapore Leaders

    Eminent Islamic ScholarShaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah Meets Key Singapore Leaders

    One of the world’s most influential Islamic scholars called on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday at the Istana.

    Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah, president of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies which is based in the United Arab Emirates, called on Dr Tan in the morning.

    They spoke about the importance of social harmony and reaffirmed multiculturalism as a cornerstone of Singapore’s multi-religious, multiracial society.

    Shaykh Abdallah then met PM Lee in the afternoon, with Singapore’s Mufti Fatris Bakaram also present at the meeting.

    The Shaykh, who is from Mauritania and is a strong advocate for multiculturalism and inter-faith understanding, is in Singapore as the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) Distinguished Visitor.

    He will deliver the Muis Lecture today – the highlight of Muis’ Distinguished Visitor Programme. This is the fifth time the programme has been held since it started in 2006.

    PM Lee said in a Facebook post: “Inter-faith understanding is crucial to maintaining peace and harmony. We enjoy such peace and harmony but we have to keep learning from others, especially when we see so many countries experiencing religious tensions and conflicts.”

    The Shaykh arrived in Singapore on Monday for a five-day visit.

    On Tuesday, he met Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim, who is also Minister for Communications and Information.

    On Wednesday, at a seminar for Islamic religious leaders, he spoke about compassion and human dignity and how they were part of Islamic tradition and thought, Muis said.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

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