Tag: Singaporeans

NS Recruits’ Photos And NRIC Numbers Posted Online In BMTC Slip-up

The latest cohort of National Service (NS) recruits who completed their basic military training over the weekend had their NRIC numbers and pictures published online for a day, before authorities realised the mistake and took down the materials.

The incident happened about a month after a cyber attack on an Internet access system used at military premises caused an unprecedented theft of the personal data of 850 national servicemen and Ministry of Defence (Mindef) employees.

In the latest case, the recruits’ NRIC numbers were emblazoned under their personal portraits that were uploaded onto Facebook last Saturday by the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) — a practice to allow servicemen to share the photographs with their family and friends.

Apologising for the “mistake”, BMTC commander Colonel Desmond Yeo said these portraits were taken down by noon the following day “when the oversight was realised”.

He was responding to a reader who wrote in to TODAY’s Voices section to highlight the incident.

Col Yeo did not specify the number of recruits affected, but there are a few thousand recruits in each graduating cohort.

The soft copy portraits of recruits are uploaded online to make the BMT graduation parade a “memorable and meaningful event”, said Col Yeo.

Recruits have also “warmly received” the practice, he added.

In the past, the portraits were manually labelled with a recruit’s platoon, section and bed number, for example.

To speed up the process, the BMTC used a new system for the most recent graduating cohort of recruits.

The labels were automatically generated by scanning the recruits’ Singapore Armed Forces identity cards.

“This resulted in the portraits being labelled by NRIC numbers. No other personal data was released,” said Col Yeo.

“BMTC recognises that making available our recruits’ portraits, labelled together with their NRIC numbers on a platform accessible to the general public, was an oversight. We apologise for the mistake.”

Col Yeo also said the BMTC is reviewing its procedures to prevent a similar recurrence.

A recruit from the affected cohort, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, 18, was not aware of the BMTC’s slip-up.

Asked if the leak of personal information was a concern, he said: “Even if it was a mistake, I would assume they’d be able to deal with whatever happens, and if I’ve any concerns, I should be able to approach them and they’d have a proper solution.”

Early last month, a cyber attack on I-net, the system used at military premises to access the Internet, resulted in the theft of the personal data of about 850 national servicemen and Mindef employees, including their NRIC numbers, telephone numbers, and dates of birth.

Classified military information was not compromised in that unprecedented breach — described by Mindef as appearing to be “targeted and carefully planned” — as that is stored on a separate and more secure system which is not connected to the World Wide Web.

Mindef said it disconnected the affected server after the breach was discovered and carried out immediate and detailed forensic investigations.

Source: Today

March 16, 2017
Thai National Jailed And Caned For Splashing Paint At The Pinnacle@Duxton Pre-school

A Thai national who splashed red paint on a pre-school where a debtor’s children had attended was sentenced to 15 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane on Wednesday (March 15).

Samroeng Sompop, 33, left the same evening by taxi after completing the loan shark harassment job at Modern Montessori International (MMI) pre-school on the third-level of a block at The Pinnacle@Duxton on Jan 13 last year.

He pleaded guilty to causing annoyance to the childcare centre staff with Lee Tiow Kiong, 56, while acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender known as Kelvin in connection with a loan taken by the debtor.

About 30 debtor’s notes with “O$P$” written on them were found on the floor nearby. The notes contained the names of the debtor and his family as well as their home address at one of the seven blocks at the residential complex.

Two “Super Big Gulp” cups stained with red paint and wrapped in a plastic bag were found on the floor.

Investigations showed that the debtor had taken a loan from a loan shark, known as Ah Siao, in August 2015 and had subsequently defaulted on payments.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Amanda Sum said due to the harassment from unlicensed moneylenders at home and at his workplace from late September 2015, the debtor moved out and transferred his two children to another childcare centre.

Sompop was arrested at Changi Airport on Feb 16 this year after his identity was established.

Police had arrested Lee for a separate offence of loan shark harassment in March last year.

Lee revealed during investigations that he had also committed the loan shark harassment at the MMI pre-school with Sompop by driving him there.

The court heard that Sompop had come to Singapore on Jan 13 2016 on an all-expense paid trip sponsored by a person called Max, whom he knew from Thailand.

Lee had picked him up that day from the hotel and told him that he would give him 20,000 baht (S$802) to commit harassment at the pre-school.

After Sompop completed the job, Lee drove him to Queen Street where he took a taxi to Johor Baru, and eventually made his way back to Thailand.

Lee has been dealt with.

The maximum penalty for unlicensed moneylending harassment is five years’ jail, a $50,000 fine and six strokes of the cane.

Source: ST

March 16, 2017
Resident Tracks Woman Offering Sex Services In Condo, Records 111 Visitors In 3 Weeks

A woman allegedly offering sex services in a condominium unit in Little India is being investigated by the police, thanks to three weeks’ work by a neighbour who wanted to stamp out vice activities there.

The neighbour, who gave her name only as Mary, told Shin Min Daily News in a report on Tuesday (March 14) that the woman from China moved in on Feb 20.

Mary found her activities suspicious.

“She moved in in the morning. That afternoon, there were strange men who visited her, and after that even more strange men,” Mary told Shin Min.

She said the men took the lift separately and visited the woman’s second-floor unit in the six-storey building. She declined to reveal the name of the development.

The woman allegedly entertained 111 customers in the span of three weeks, with as many as 10 a day in her busiest week, said Mary.

The visitors ranged in ages from 20s to 60s, and would visit between 11am and 3am.

“I once saw an uncle walking outside the condo,” said Mary. “After I talked to him, he admitted he was waiting for a woman. I had heard friends say that you can use the Weixin chat service to get ‘services’, and by using Weixin’s ‘people nearby’ feature, I found (a woman nearby) offering ‘professional massage’ services.”

The woman’s Weixin photo matched the new tenant.

On her profile, she allegedly advertised her services and even included a website link, said Mary.

“I clicked on the link and found out that she offered sex services, so I reported it to the police. After that, I checked the closed-circuit camera television footage daily and wrote down 18 pages of notes on strange men who went to the second floor,” she said.

On Saturday (March 11), Mary printed out posters explaining what the woman was doing, to warn other residents.

The woman moved out on Sunday (March 12), Mary said.

Police confirmed with The Straits Times on Tuesday that a report was lodged, adding that investigations are ongoing.

In 2015, The New Paper reported the arrest of another woman conducting vice activities in a condominium unit, after a resident reported it to the police.

The Straits Times understands that it is the same sharp-eyed resident at the same development.

Source: ST

March 14, 2017
No One Should Spread Ill-Will Against Other Religions Or Non-Believers: DPM Teo

Singapore must keep a close watch on exclusivist and divisive teachings or statements, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Tuesday (March 14).

Such remarks have had repercussions in other countries, he noted in a speech at the annual retreat of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), a group of local Muslim scholars who have been countering terror detainees’ misunderstanding of religious concepts.

“Attacks claimed to be in the name of Islam have led to a rise in Islamophobia, with anti-immigration rhetoric and negative reactions among other communities,” he said.

“More importantly, no person should spread ill-will against other religions or non-believers,” said Mr Teo.

Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, said the Government takes a strong stand on such teachings or statements.

“We will investigate each case carefully, and take action if necessary,” he said.

“It has taken many years for us to build a cohesive society, united as one people regardless of race or religion. We must focus on what we have in common rather than allow others to divide us,” he added.

He was speaking in Malay to about 50 RRG members and volunteers, many of them religious teachers.

In his speech, Mr Teo noted that the threat of terrorism to Singapore and the region is at its highest level in recent years.

As terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) faces severe pressure in Syria and Iraq, its fighters are likely to disperse and find new battlegrounds.

“We have to be prepared for attacks from ISIS-linked cells in South-east Asia,” he said.

Observers have noted that the threats of terrorism and extremism could have an impact on social cohesion here, and Mr Teo suggested three levels the RRG could help in building a united and cohesive society.

First, it can counsel individuals at risk and detainees to support their rehabilitation.

Such individuals now tend to be significantly younger, have no prior terror links and were self-radicalised by extremist propaganda, said Mr Teo.

Second, the RRG can play a “peace-building” role to enhance cohesion and promote inter-faith understanding within the Singapore community.

“By working with other communities and religious groups, we can show how Islam as a religion is inclusive and consistent with our nation’s values,” he said.

This is especially important as exclusivist religious teachings from the internet or preachers have tried to make inroads into Singapore, he added.

Third, the RRG can continue to strengthen the understanding of the practice of Islam within Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious context.

“Every one of you in the RRG has worked tirelessly,” Mr Teo said, thanking members for their work. “You make an important contribution to maintaining peace and harmony among all Singaporeans,” he said.

Source: ST

March 14, 2017
Commentary: Riding Is A Cheaper Method Of Transport But That Only Shows How Cheap Your Life Is

Hi

Someone posted a bold comment about riding motorcycle in Singapore and relate to the BKE accident recently. In the post he criticise riders saying that ride motorcycle as a form of cheap transport. He say maybe there is a trend in singapore because like almost all riders are malay and told the malays to take care. He was a rider to a driver (car to lorries who cares) and realise that singapore roads are not for bikers.

In the post:

“i am a rider and driver from cars to lorries even class 4, i must say bikers are a pain in the ass (: thankfully i drive now. Lets face the fact that Singapore roads are never suitable for motorcycles. Yes it may be a cheaper method of transport as compared to a car. However, that only shows how cheap your life is. so if you cant afford to drive, dont ride and just take public transport @ Yusuf norseni i dont know whats the trend going on in SG but it seems like many mlay are riders, please take care buddy. Lets pray for all the casualties and van driver, peace out”

So, who is this guy think he is. All bikers are pain in the ass? All riders are malay? How bout your stupidity is the trending now. People can ride because of hobby and they want to spend the money on bikes. Why you have to mention one race when saying about all the bikers in sg? And from rider to driver means you right to criticise and look down at people who are riding bikes is it? No point you remove your fb.

I have been riding in singapore close to 10 years now. From small bikes to bigger so i know how it feel as a biker here. I work despatch and delivery too. As a singaporean and malay and a rider, i really feel offended and angry.

Salim

Reader’s Contribution

March 14, 2017