Tag: Singaporeans

Police Reports Lodged Against Parallel Importer

Some customers of parallel importer Exodus Global have made police reports after they did not receive their cars despite paying for them.

At least seven customers have paid $493,470 to the firm since October last year, according to police reports seen by The Straits Times.

Four of these customers paid the full downpayment for their cars, but are still waiting to get them.

The firm, which is located in Ubi Avenue 3, said on its website that it deals in parallel imports and local “pre-owned vehicles”.

Parallel importers buy cars from dealers abroad and sell them here, typically at prices lower than those charged by the authorised dealers.

The firm also appears to have sold cars through De Auto Boutique and De Auto Leasing, which says on its website that it is a division of Exodus Global.

In their police reports, the customers said they first paid a deposit of between $2,000 and $20,000.

In July and August this year, four customers were told that their vehicles were ready for collection within two weeks.

They were then asked to pay the remaining amount, ranging from $20,000 to $116,500. They did so.

However, so far, none of the customers who made the police reports has received his or her car. Three of them said they were told by Exodus Global director Andy Chin that the firm was experiencing financial difficulties.

When contacted, Mr Chin said he was not ready to comment.

An information technology executive, who wanted to be known only as Mr Ong, 46, said he made the full payment of $136,500 for a Toyota Harrier on July 24, after he was told the car would be delivered by Aug 4.

However, delivery was delayed. The firm said it was having problems with car registration, among other things.

“It’s bad but what can I do? $136,000 – it’s just gone,” Mr Ong said.

A 43-year-old engineer who declined to be named said he has paid $97,888 for a Toyota Voxy 2.0 but still has not received it.

“I’ve suffered sleepless nights. There’s a lot of anger because it has dragged on for so long,” he said.

The chances of getting his money back? Almost zero, he added.

The Consumers Association of Singapore said it has “handled three cases against De Auto Boutique/Exodus Global and received a separate 20 enquiries about the same company”.

In 2014, about 108 people said they paid about $3.6 million in deposits to parallel importer Volks Auto, for cars that were not delivered.

Source: The Straits Times

October 4, 2016
Artist Koh Mun Hong And Singer Nona Asiah Receive Cultural Medallion Award

Artist Koh Mun Hong and singer Nona Asiah have been conferred this year’s Cultural Medallion award. The Young Artist Awards recipients are Alecia Neo, Muhamad Harezam, Liu Xiaoyi, Marc Nair and Pooja Nansi.

The Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Awards recognise individuals who have contributed to the development of Singapore’s cultural landscape.

Mr Koh, 64, is a well-known Chinese calligrapher, poet and ink painter who has taught and groomed many younger calligraphers in Singapore.

Madam Asiah, 86, who is better known as Nona Asiah to fans, was an iconic singer in the 1950s and 1960s, and a tireless vocal coach after she retired from the limelight in the 1970s.

Mr Koh credits the late calligrapher Pan Shou, whom he met through a mutual friend, as an important mentor.

He says: “I learnt a lot by watching him write Chinese calligraphy and from our conversations about poetry. His poems have such a dignified air, they leave you deeply inspired.”

He says he is happy to be conferred the Cultural Medallion award and receive recognition for his hard work and contribution to the arts. He has not yet, however, made plans on how he might use the $80,000 fund he has access to.

On being conferred the Cultural Medallion, Madam Asiah says: “It should have happened 10 years ago. I’m too old to receive this now.”

Still, she cannot hide her excitement. At the interview with The Straits Times, she beams with pride as she shows off the baju kurung she will wear to the ceremony on Tuesday (Oct 4) night, which she designed and sewed.

She says: “I never expected I would get the award. I thought I had finished achieving everything as a singer and teacher.”

Source: The Straits Times

October 4, 2016
Woman Gets 4 Weeks’ Jail For Offering $10,000 Bribe To Police Officer

A woman who offered a $10,000 bribe to stop a police officer from investigating her involvement in possible offences under the Women’s Charter was sentenced to four weeks’ jail on Monday (Oct 3).

Zhu Kuai, 42, unemployed, admitted to offering the bribe to Assistant Superintendent Chan Wai Hoong at Fortune Centre, Middle Road, on April 14, 2016.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Vincent Ong said ASP Chan and two others from the police force’s compliance management unit were sent to Fortune Centre that day following a tip-off about unlicensed massage establishments and condoms in letterboxes.

The officers were walking around Level 4 of the building when they came across LK Beauty Spa, which purported to offer beauty and spa services. They noticed Zhu sitting inside. Once she saw the police officers, she closed the main door of the unit.

Sensing something amiss, the officers approached the unit to interview Zhu, who had previously worked there but was not managing it any more. Two bundles of keys were found in her handbag.

Suspecting that one of the keys was for the unit’s letterbox, ASP Chan suggested that Zhu take the officers to the letterbox for an inspection.

Zhu began to panic and repeatedly pleaded with the officers not to open the letterbox. While walking to Level 1, Zhu continued to plead with ASP Chan not to open the letterbox and asked to settle the matter privately with him. ASP Chan ignored her.

At the letterbox, she admitted that the letterbox contained condoms and that these were used for providing sexual services at the unit. A black bag containing many unused condoms was seized.

A female staff sergeant was recording her statement when Zhu asked to speak to ASP Chan in private, but the latter refused and told her to say what she wanted in the other officer’s presence.

Zhu then told ASP Chan in Mandarin: “I give you ten thousand dollars.” He rejected the offer and warned her not to bribe a public servant. But Zhu said: “Ten thousand dollars you don’t bring me back,” intending to induce the officer to cease investigations as she was afraid that he would arrest her for providing sexual services.

He ignored her offer and asked his colleague to continue recording her statement.

Zhu was escorted to Police Cantonment Complex and arrested for suspected offences under the Women’s Charter and bribery.

She has a conviction under the Massage Establishments Act.

Her lawyer Chung Ting Fai said the mother of two, who was from China but is now a Singapore citizen, deeply regrets her actions which have brought untold agony and trauma to her family. She could have been fined up to $100,000 and/or jailed for up to five years.

Source: The Straits Times

October 4, 2016
Walid J. Abdullah: Think Chinese Privilege Does Not Exist?

Seeing quite a few Singaporean Trump supporters commenting on CNA and ST articles, is scary, yet totally unsurprising. Hatred, fear of others, racism: that’s what people who support him have in abundance.

On a slightly-related note, bumped into a Singaporean here earlier today. I smiled at him, suspecting that he was likely Singaporean or Malaysian. He asked how i was doing, and after a short conversation, guessed that i was from Sri Lanka (which is not a bad attempt by the way: my ancestors from my dad’s side are indeed Sri Lankan Tamils. And later on in the day, someone of Sri Lankan-Tamil origin asked me the same question. Has happened many times before.)

But, the difference is, this was an elderly Singaporean (probably 60-70 years old). After speaking to him, he still did not know i was Singaporean. Which was, hmm, shall i say, borderline racist perhaps?

May i add, i was with my Malay wife and Khalid, both of whom, last i checked at least, do not look Sri Lankan/Indian/Pakistani/Bengali.

I answered: Wah, you have lived in Singapore your entire life, and you still don’t know there are non-Chinese living in Singapore? Cannot like that lah Uncle.

Him: No no, because you look like you’re from Sri Lanka.

Me: (in a semi-joking manner, while laughing) Alamak uncle, i feel insulted that you think i’m not a fellow citizen. Surely you could tell (that I’m Singaporean) from my accent right?

Him: Errr. No no, it’s because of your look.

(Of course, again unsurprisingly, no apology from him. Because how is it his fault right that a non-Chinese is Singaporean?)

So the next time you wish to think Chinese privilege does not exist, think again.

Or just go to the comments section on CNA and ST articles.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

October 3, 2016
LTA Considers Activating ERP Gantry For KPE

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Friday (Sept 30) that it is considering whether it is feasible to activate the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry located just before the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) tunnel entrance, after the Tampines Road entry slip road.

According to the LTA, the traffic speeds along that stretch of the KPE between the Tampines Expressway and Airport Road have “persistently fallen below the optimal speed range of 45kmh to 65kmh for expressways during the morning peak hours on weekdays”.

This, the LTA said, has led to significant and persistent traffic congestion.

“We need to monitor the traffic situation in the next quarter, before making the decision on whether we will turn the gantry on,” said a spokesperson for the LTA, adding that this particular gantry has not been activated since the KPE was open.

“We will have to see if people start using alternative routes and the situation changes,” the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, the LTA said it has been stepping up improvements for public transport options to help cater to the growing population in the north-east area of Singapore, such as the introduction of two new City Direct bus services from the fourth quarter of 2016, and recently adding 15 new trains to the North East Line.

Source: TODAY Online

October 2, 2016