Tag: Singaporeans

SJI Wins First Schools’ Football Title In 30 Years

Four years after re-instating football in the school’s curriculum, St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) claimed their first football title in 30 years when they beat Queensway Secondary School 1-0 in the final of the National Schools’ South Zone B Division Football Championship at SAFRA Tampines today (April 1).

The goal separating the two sides came in dramatic fashion in the dying minutes of extra time when, freed by midfielder Elliot Ng on the right, Nasrul Matin delivered a cross for the unmarked Jared Ng to tap the ball past Queensway keeper Ismail Aung Htun Thu.

But SJI were left on edge when Mari Martinez was sent off for two senseless infringements, including a handball that gave Queensway the opportunity to take the match into extra time.

However, Queensway, the better side for most of the match, failed to convert the free kick as referee Victor Teo blew the final whistle.

SJI’s victory capped four years of hard work by former LionsXII assistant coach and national defender Kadir Yahaya, who was hired in 2012 to help SJI build a decent footballing side after they dropped the sport in 2000.

They were quick to announce their return, reaching the South Zone C Division Final the following year, but lost 2-1 to Serangoon Garden Secondary School. That defeat only strengthened the team’s resolve to work harder.

“My team is not as skilful as Queensway, but this is the same team that played in the C Division final two years ago and what got them the winners’ trophy in the end boiled down to sheer hard work,” said Kadir.

“What has been equally important is that the school did not interfere in my work and this gave me a lot of room to implement my training programme.”

Better known for its rugby teams, SJI took football off its list of co-curricular activities in 2000, citing declining interest and resource constraints.

It returned after the SJI Old Boys alumni called for its reinstatement, said Bernard Teo, the teacher-in-charge of football at SJI.

“There is renewed interest in football at the school with a different crop of students we are getting at SJI,” he said.

“They have shown more discipline to work hard for the sport and are achieving things and this is good for the school.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

April 2, 2015
Malaysia’s GST Takes Effect: Less Savings, Still Worth The Trip

Singaporeans who frequently shop in Malaysia say they will continue to do so, even though prices of many goods could go up after the new goods and services tax (GST) kicks in today.

This is because the strong Singapore dollar makes shopping across the Causeway at least 30 per cent cheaper than in Singapore, they said. The new GST is 6 per cent.

Popular items that Singaporeans cart back include groceries such as instant noodles and soft drinks, baby items such as diapers, and household essentials like shampoo and toilet rolls.

Yesterday, Malaysians thronged malls and supermarkets, such as the one at Aeon Bukit Indah in Johor Baru, to stock up on essentials such as paper towels, diapers and detergent.

According to a poster at the entrance of the supermarket, essential items such as rice, palm oil and white bread are exempted from the new GST.

Singaporean Lim Peng Soon, 61, is not too concerned about the new tax.

He drives to Johor Baru from his Woodlands home once a week to pick up household items and groceries, such as eggs.

“I know about the tax, but I will continue to buy things in Johor. It will still be cheaper than in Singapore,” said Mr Lim, who is self-employed. “Generally, I save at least 30 per cent buying things in Malaysia.”

For accounts manager Viki Foo, 39, her trips to Kuala Lumpur once every three months will continue.

She stocks up on baby formula for her 21/2-year-old son.

“I’ll still save quite a fair bit, especially with the good exchange rate,” she said. Yesterday, $1 could buy RM2.69, compared with RM2.59 a year ago.

When it comes to buying big-ticket items such as laptops, however, Ms Foo said she will be more “cautious” as it may cost at least $100 more with the new tax.

For some Singaporeans, the new GST means fewer trips. Administrator Jennifer Goei, 57, has stopped visiting Johor since the Chinese New Year.

The recent hikes in vehicular fees and tolls have put her off making such trips altogether. “And now, there’s this 6 per cent GST,” she said.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

April 1, 2015
Retailers Gear Up For New Liquor Rules

With new rules restricting the retail sale and public consumption of alcohol just around the corner, retailers have begun taken steps to comply with restrictions.

Some retailers have begun reminding customers of the impending change with signage at their stores, while others are looking into restricting access to their alcoholic beverages sections.

From Wednesday (April 1), public drinking and alcohol retail sales will not be allowed between 10.30pm to 7am.

Passed in January, the laws were prompted by rising alcohol-related violence and risk of public disorder, and caused some outcry when introduced. The public will still be allowed to drink at home, at approved events and in licensed establishments such as bars and coffee shops outside of the restricted hours.

Asked how it was preparing for the new laws, a FairPrice spokesperson said there will be prominent signs displaying the retail hours for alcohol in the over 280 FairPrice and Cheers retail outlets.

Dairy Farm Singapore Group – which counts supermarket chain Cold Storage and Giant and convenience store 7-Eleven among its brands – will be modifying its point of sale or cash registering systems to curb the sale of booze during restricted hours.

Sheng Siong is contemplating cordoning off the alcoholic beverages area after hours and reopening them in the morning when sales resume. All its 35 outlets around the island sell alcohol and 29 of them operate around the clock.

On average, alcohol sales peak at around 8pm. “In the short term, sales may be affected by the liquor ban. But as consumers change their buying habits – stocking up their beer or wine earlier (before 10.30pm) to drink at home, sales should recover after some time,” said a Sheng Siong spokesperson.

At Prime and YES supermarkets, alcohol-laden shelves will be covered by cloth or roller blinds from 10.30pm. The YES supermarket chain, which sells alcohol in three out of its five outlets, will also be locking up its liquor chillers.

One senior staff – with at least three years of experience – has been assigned the night shift at each of these outlets starting this month, said Managing Director Kwek Hong Lim. These three outlets are open 24 hours.

“We brainstormed scenarios: What if a customer comes in slightly drunk (after 10.30pm), opens a can and says he wants to buy it? That’s why we’ve shifted our more experienced staff to take the night shift. It’ll be better to have someone more senior who’s able to handle the customer politely,” said Mr Kwek.

Some alcohol retailers and manufacturers – including FairPrice, 7-Eleven and Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Singapore – have also jointly proposed a voluntary programme for retailer to create a “responsible culture” for alcohol sales.

This includes plans to train and certify all retail store managers on the responsible sale of alcohol – under the Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) workshop – within the first year of the law coming into effect.

Giving an update, Ms Shannen Fong, APB Singapore’s head of corporate relations, said that the liquor industry is targeting to implement the programme by next month.

“APB also participated in a dialogue session with the authorities recently and is encouraged that the industry’s (programme) is regarded as a point of differentiation for liquor retail sale hours extension,” said Ms Fong.

Dairy Farm Singapore Group has enrolled over 600 operations staff for a four-hour TIPS workshop. Training will take place in phases next month.

“(It) will empower our staff to take a proactive approach towards preventing alcohol misuse and maintaining control of the environment,” said a Dairy Farm spokesperson.

“At the end of this, our staff will be certified to deal with problem behaviour and the challenges associated with underage drinking and drunk driving.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

March 31, 2015
H-450 UAV Finally Operational 8 Years After Delivery

Eight years after it was delivered to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Hermes 450 (H-450) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is now fully operational, following the completion of testing and training of the crew.

The H-450 will be operated by 116 Squadron at Murai Camp. It will complement the older Searcher UAV, which was introduced in 1998, in providing battlefield surveillance from the sky.

Compared with the Searcher UAV, the H-450 is able to fly higher, faster and longer. It has a cruising speed of 70 knots, a maximum altitude of 16,000ft and can stay more than 14 hours in the air. It requires two people to operate and is able to fly on autopilot. It is also equipped to transmit real-time imagery back to Earth while in the air.

In comparison, the Searcher UAV, which requires three people to operate, is able to cruise at a speed of 65 knots, reach up to 15,000 ft and last eight hours in the air.

Apart from the H-450 and Searcher UAV, the SAF has acquired the Heron 1 UAV, which was inaugurated into 119 Squadron in May 2012. The Heron 1 UAV, which can fly up to 20,000 ft and has a flight endurance of more than 24 hours, is not yet fully operational.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen yesterday said his ministry has made significant investments in the research and development of UAV systems over the years with the DSO National Laboratories and the Defence Science and Technology Agency.

Noting that UAVs have become a critical asset to many military operations, Dr Ng added: “The achievement of full operational capability for the Hermes 450 UAV today is another significant milestone in the SAF’s transformation into a modern and effective fighting force.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

March 31, 2015
Parents Likely To Pay Lesser For Childcare

More parents may soon pay lower fees for childcare, with at least half a dozen operators keen to tap a government scheme that offers grants for centres to reduce their charges.

At least six large and mid-sized operators, which have over 5,000 childcare places in total, said they are likely to apply to the scheme announced earlier this month.

To be eligible for the Early Childhood Development Agency partner operator scheme, operators must lower fees, cap them at $800 a month for full-day childcare, and offer at least 300 childcare places each or as a group. The median fee is now $900 a month.

Smaller operators which do not meet the size requirement can partner others to apply, but those The Straits Times spoke to were unsure or not keen (see sidebar).

The application period ends on April 10. Operators will be appointed by the year end.

Major private childcare opera- tors Busy Bees (formerlyKnowledge Universe Singapore) and Modern Montessori International (MMI) said they are keen, but plan to include only their brands that cater to the mass market and have lower fees. They have more than 30 centres each and charge over $1,300 a month on average.

But MMI will have only its two centres under the Hamilton Preschool brand, which charge an average of $763 a month, take part. Busy Bees is likely to include only its three Small Wonder centres, which charge an average of $745 a month, in the scheme.

Busy Bees Asia chief executive June Rusdon said: “These centres also aim to offer good quality yet affordable services… Taking part in this scheme will expedite our cause to reach the masses.”

Some mid-sized operators are also keen and are likely to have all their centres take part.

Star Learners managing director Tan Meng Wei put it simply: “We welcome any help that they seek to provide.”

Just Kids Learning Place director Lurvin Lee said: “Funding will be helpful for rent, salaries, professional development course fees, and learning resources.”

But with the lack of details, some operators are undecided.

Carpe Diem and Sunflower Childcare want to know the grant amount, to determine if it is financially viable for them to take part.

A spokesman for the Early Childhood Development Agency would only say: “The scheme is a competitive process. The grant quantum will be based on the submissions and other information obtained from the shortlisted operators.”

With $250 million set aside for the scheme over five years, some hope that there will be many operators appointed.

Sweetlands Childcare director Chan Chew Shia said limiting the grants to some operators, such as the five current anchor operators, could lead to higher fees at centres that do not qualify.

With anchor operators getting grants and support to set up more centres, there has been more demand for teachers, resulting in higher salaries to attract them, she said. Centres run by non-anchor operators end up having to charge higher fees to cope with rising costs, she added.

Administration executive Lynnette Loong, 35, whose son attends childcare at Star Learners, is glad the pre-school is keen.

“Lower fees is good news. I hope the centres also get help in finding teachers, as a manpower shortage leads to rising staff costs and could lead to higher fees.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

March 31, 2015