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Tag: Singaporeans

  • Safuwan Baharudin: Everyone Involved Should Shoulder Blame For Lions’ Suzuki Cup Exit

    Safuwan Baharudin: Everyone Involved Should Shoulder Blame For Lions’ Suzuki Cup Exit

    By his own admission, it was not a good 2014 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup outing for Safuwan Baharudin.

    Two years ago, he and fellow Lion Baihakki Khaizan were feted as the region’s top central defensive pairing in Singapore’s winning campaign.

    But after their exit on Saturday from the group stage of this year’s competition, the team, their coach and the Football Association of Singapore are bearing the brunt of criticism from the football fraternity and fans who had expected more from the defending champions.

    While media reports have cited disharmony in the squad and dissatisfaction with head coach Bernd Stange as reasons for the poor showing, Safuwan would not be drawn to adding more fuel to the fire.

    Instead, the 23-year-old told TODAY: “(The blame for) Singapore’s exit from the Suzuki Cup has to be shouldered by everyone in the team and not just coach Bernd Stange. We cannot push all the blame on him. Every member of the team has to share the responsibility, Stange included.

    “But he is only the coach; he decides the line-up and the tactical formation, but at the end of the day, what the players do on the field decides the outcome of the game.

    “In short, all of us are in it together. Sink or swim.”

    Calling it a nightmare outing for the Lions, Safuwan said losses to Thailand and Malaysia showed that the team still had plenty to learn.

    “Especially in our attacking part of the game, we did not score a single goal from open play, apart from Khairul Amri’s header against Thailand,” he pointed out. “The other goals came from set pieces: Free-kicks and corner kicks.

    “We lacked creativity up front. We didn’t have someone brave and confident enough to take on opposing defenders in the 18-yard box and do the damage.”

    Until the free-kick he took, which resulted in Amri equalising against Malaysia, Safuwan’s campaign this year had been teetering on disaster. His handball late in the opener against Thailand led to the visitors’ winning penalty. In the following match, his foul on Myanmar striker Kyaw Ko Ko led to yet another penalty in a poor second half for the Lions that heralded the disaster against Malaysia.

    “I must admit that I had a very quiet tournament, especially in the opening two matches. But I know I had a better game against Malaysia, and I thought I could get better if we had entered the semi-finals,” said Safuwan.

    “The Suzuki Cup is over for us. We have the World Cup qualifiers next year. And while we’re frustrated with the early exit from the Suzuki Cup, maybe we should not dwell on it anymore and move on.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Man Left CPF Savings To Female Friend From PRC Instead Of His Family

    Man Left CPF Savings To Female Friend From PRC Instead Of His Family

    INSTEAD of leaving his Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings to his family, a man left it to a 25-year-old female friend from China, giving her $37,000.

    His wife found out only after the man – whom she was married to for 34 years – died, Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday.

    The widow, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Saw, 61, tried to appeal to a court, pouring $30,000 of her savings into the effort. Not only did she lose the suit, but she now also has to pay $7,000 in court fees.

    “It was really not worth it,” lamented Mrs Saw.

    The couple have a son and two daughters, all of whom are married. But things took a turn for the worse after Mr Saw committed suicide in June last year. Mrs Saw said she had stopped him from doing so on two occasions.

    While clearing her late husband’s belongings, she was shocked to find out that Mr Saw had, in 2011, arranged to have all his CPF savings given to the female friend.

    Mr Saw also had a will, in which the Chinese national would get $150,000 from the sale of his home. A further $450,000 from the sale would be split between an old folks’ home, a temple, his brother, friends and go towards paying off his credit card and housing debts.

    The remaining sale proceeds were to go to his immediate family, but the home is expected to sell for only $600,000, so his family may not get anything.

    Mrs Saw said her husband changed his will in 2012 to redistribute funds initially set aside for his family.

    In tears, she told Wanbao: “I knew he liked to go out to drink and have fun, but I always thought he was just flirting around, and would still be focused on the family. But little did I know that he would make such a decision.”

    She added that she could not comprehend why her husband made such a move.

    To safeguard her own interests as his wife and with support from her children, Mrs Saw used her savings to hire a lawyer to appeal to the court.

    “After my husband’s business failed in 1986, he didn’t have a job. Since then, I’ve carried the burden of being the family’s breadwinner and brought up our children. How could he quietly leave his money to a stranger and none for me?” said Mrs Saw.

    The widow said that she had never met the Chinese national. The woman, whom her husband met at a bar in 2009, is from China’s Liaoning province and works as a service staff member at Marina Bay Sands, she said.

    During mediation, Mrs Saw said that the woman reiterated that she and Mr Saw were just friends and did not have an intimate relationship.

    Mrs Saw said that in her husband’s beneficiary nomination form for his CPF savings, his relationship with the woman from China is listed as “goddaughter”.

    She raised doubts over this as Mr Saw initially wrote that the woman was his “granddaughter”, before changing it to “goddaughter”. “One can imagine that when he was making the arrangements, he was not thinking clearly,” claimed Mrs Saw.

    But the court decided that Mr Saw and the Chinese national had maintained a good relationship – regardless of whether the woman was his “goddaughter” or mistress.

    As there was insufficient evidence to determine Mr Saw’s state of mind when nominating the Chinese national as his beneficiary, the judge did not rule in Mrs Saw’s favour.

     

    Source:http://mypaper.sg

  • Want To Be A Police Tactical Unit Trooper?

    Want To Be A Police Tactical Unit Trooper?

    Musawifee knew at age 16 that he wanted to be a trooper.

    The 21-year-old National Service Probationary Inspector (NSPI) was intrigued by the Special Operations Command (SOC)’s “red bus” (or more colloquially referred to as “ang chia”) when he first saw it five years ago.

    A Google search on the anti-riot vehicle then led him to the job description of a Police Tactical Unit (PTU) officer.

    The officer knew that instant that that was what he wanted to do.

    “I was posted to the Home Team Academy as an NSPI after my basic military training. From the first day of my officer cadet training, I knew I wanted to be a SOC trooper,” he recalled.

    It was different for his batch-mate Corporal (Cpl) Benny Ng though.

    The 22-year-old knew about the existence of SOC through a friend who serves in the PTU, only after his Operationally Ready Date in June last year (2013).

    He took the leap of faith to apply as a regular officer and has never looked back.

    NSPI Musawifee and Cpl Ng are among 58 full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and regular police officer trainees who went through eight weeks of high-intensity training in hopes of joining the 16th Intake of this elite unit of the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

    Only 43 made it through the course and qualify to be a PTU officer.

    The PTU, which provides the SPF with tactical response to riots and terrorist attacks on vulnerable target spots island-wide, conducts the Police Tactical Course (PTC) twice a year — in April and September.

    Those who applied would be put through a series of physical and mental challenges designed to stretch candidates to their limits.

    Besides being trained at defending firearms from a takeaway attempt, NSPI Musawifee has also mastered the skills of combat shooting through real-world simulated gun battles.

    But he shared that the most fulfilling moment was to lead his 42-man contingent through a 72-hour grueling training marathon, which involves a 16km road march in combat gear weighing more than 10kg.

    “We managed to complete the mission even without adequate rest. That is the most rewarding and fruitful experience for me,” he said.

    This is just one of many tests a PTU recruit will have to pass — the others are Combat Fitness Test and the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT).

    They would also have to march and run in full battle gear, which consists of a tactical vest, an impact-resistant helmet and shield as well as protective shoulder, elbow, thigh and shin guards.

    “Putting on all the (combat) equipment will put you off your comfort zone. This is a test for us as trainees, to be able to overcome the exhaustion from carrying all the weight, so we will be better prepared during a riot,” said NSPI Musawifee.

    Of all the challenges Cpl Ng faced, passing the IPPT and 3X test — during which he was tasked to complete a gamut of exercises, including chin-ups, seat-ups, and running at high speeds over short distances — was the most herculean task.

    But he and NSPI Musawifee never once thought of giving up.

    “It is a ‘mind over body’ kind of situation, where you are really tired but you have to go on… you cannot give in to your body,” said NSPI Musawifee.

    While NSPI Musawifee is determined to make his parents proud of what he is about to accomplish as a PTU officer, Cpl Ng instinctively credited his fellow troop mates as his source of motivation.

    “Sometimes when we fall in for meals, we get to see other troopers fall in as well. When I see them wear the red berets; that is my motivation; I dreamt to be one of them,” he said.

    On 21 November, NSPI Musawifee and Cpl Ng joined 31 Police National Service Full-time (PNSF) officers and 12 Regular police officer trainees in graduating from the Police Tactical Course at the 16th passing-out parade held at SOC, Queensway base.

    Guests also had the rare opportunity to witness the officers showcase their tactical movements and strong firepower in armed and unarmed surprise attacks as well as in a simulated gunman situation.

    Backs straight and shoulders high, the passing-out officers stood ready and proud as they received their red berets from Commander SOC, AC Anthony Ng — a symbol which highlights their elite status in the police force.

    AC Ng also gave out the Best Operational Fitness award and Best Trainee award respectively to Cpl Ng and Special Constable Nor Haiquel in recognition of their outstanding performance in the course.

    Cpl Ng modestly dedicated his achievement to his batch mates who pushed and motivated one another through the stressful times:

    “(This course allowed me) to achieve something, not as an individual, but together with my PTC mates and troop mates,” he said.

    Indeed, the pride on the faces of their loved ones as they don the red berets makes everything worth it.

    Cpl Ng’s advice for future candidates of the Police Tactical Course is to come armed with perseverance and strong will.

    “Training will inevitably be tough, but tell yourself that it will all be worth it when you don the red beret. So don’t give up”, NSPI Musawifee added.

     

    Source: https://www.hometeam.sg

  • Licensed Moneylenders May Be Just As Bad As Ah Longs

    Licensed Moneylenders May Be Just As Bad As Ah Longs

    A man borrowed $400 from a licensed moneylender and ended up owning thousands of dollarst.

    This was reported by The Straits Times who interviewed cleaner Goh Chin Ann and found out about this.

    Mr Goh initially borrowed $400 from the licensed moneylender Credit88 in August.

    But there were three different conditions on the loan.

    On the agreement that Mr Goh signed, the interest was only eight cents a day.

    However, the contract also had another condition – if he did not pay back his loan the next day, he would need to pay a $600 late-fee charge.

    But he was give a card with a third condition. It said that he had to repay his loan in five months, at $200 a month.

    But this loan repayment was actually not in the agreement.

    Mr Goh is 62 years old and earns only $1,000 a month. Eventually, he defaulted on one of his installments.

    That was when he was warned of the “very, very high” late fee.

    By now, Mr Goh was at wit’s ends and he approached two other moneylenders – licensed ones again.

    He borrowed another $500 from Assure Capital in Clementi and AP Credit in Anson Road. Their interest rates were half of what Credit88 charged, at 3.72 percent.

    But they both also made him sign contracts which said that he had to pay up the full loan the next day or he would have to pay a late fee of $1,250.

    Soon, Mr Goh was saddled in thousands of dollars of debt.

    Eventually, Mr Goh approached Blessed Grace Social Services, a support group for gambling addicts, who helped Mr Goh negotiate to pay the loans over a longer period.

    These were licensed moneylenders but even they would resort to such tactics to force borrowers into a corner.

    The three licensed moneylenders did not want to comment on their tactics.

    But apparently it is a common “scare tactic” that these licensed moneylenders use.

    It is also a way for “moneylenders to cover themselves”.

    This is how their trick works – as the repayment schedule is different from the agreement they give to borrowers, if they are questioned on this, they will then pretend that the the repayment schedule actually includes the late fees.

    But how have these moneylenders become so bold in using such tricks? Are they not licensed and should be better policed?

    However, Moneylenders’ Association of Singapore president David Poh acknowledged that because there no rules at all on late charges, this allowed the licensed moneylenders to do whatever they want.

    There is only a rule on interest rates cap.

    But even then, for borrowers who earn below $30,000 a year, the annual interest is still a staggering 20 percent.

    Mr Poh admitted, “The only way for moneylenders to earn a profit from low-income borrowers is through late fees,”

    On how this should be dealt with, Mr Poh said, “We encourage the authorities to cap such fees, so borrowers do not suffer.”

    When contacted, the Registry of Moneylenders only said that it knows of the “very high late fees” and a review is ongoing but if this problem has been ongoing for some time now, should remedial actions not have been taken earlier?

    The registry regulates the moneylenders.

    The licensed moneylenders claim that there should not be further new rules as they would have to close shops.

    They also said that they do not lend money to the low-income to make money off them.

    However, Mr Goh’s example proves otherwise and not only that, many gambling and debt support groups also revealed that these moneylenders have been very happy to keep lending the low-income money.

    Clearly, these licensed moneylenders lack morals and ethics and they are profiting off the low-income, who have the least ability to pay.

    Earlier last month, a committee tasked to review moneylending regulations recommended new regulations for a loan cap of four times the borrower’s monthly income, interest rates to be capped at 4 per cent a month, and late interest capped at 4 per cent a month, with no other fees allowed.

    But Mr Poh had said then, “It won’t be a sustainable figure. We are looking at around 10 to 15 per cent based on our default (costs), our accounts … if this were to go on, at 4 per cent, we will definitely close shop – most of my members will close shop.”

    But yet, Mr Poh also acknowledged that the moneylenders were actually profiting from the low-income.

    Clearly, what the “licensed” moneylenders are doing is unethical and preys on the low-income.

    Even if the new regulations are implemented, the moneylenders can still devise new ways to go about that.

    Moreover, it does not solve the fundamental issue as to why the low-income even need to borrow in the first place.

    To effectively deal with the current situation, the solution should not be a piecemeal effort to develop new regulations.

    A holistic plan should also involve uplifting the incomes of the low-income to allow them to earn enough without having to borrow beyond their needs, in addition to the addiction counselling and support provided.

     

    Source: www.therealsingapore.com

  • Congestion At New Bedok Integrated Transport Hub

    Congestion At New Bedok Integrated Transport Hub

    While the opening of the Bedok Integrated Transport Hub on Sunday (Nov 30) was marred by some commuter complaints of traffic jams, LTA said on Tuesday that anti-congestion measures had been put in place ahead of the opening of the transport hub.

    These measures include the widening of roads, assigning traffic marshals to control traffic, and the installation of sensors within the interchange that are meant to interact with the traffic lights to control the flow of buses in and out of the terminus, an LTA spokesperson told Channel NewsAsia.

    “However, some time is required for bus operations to familiarise with the new interchange, and to allow some fine tuning during the start of operations,” added the spokesperson.

    ‘BUS FLOW WAS PRETTY BAD’

    After Bedok Integrated Transport Hub opened, some complained that buses seemed to take longer than acceptable to leave and enter Singapore’s largest bus interchange.

    “The bus flow was pretty bad” on Sunday, said a commuter who chose to remain unnamed. He pointed the finger at the traffic light at the junction of Bedok North Drive – the road leading to the transport hub – and Bedok North Ave 1. “The roads here are also too narrow,” he added.

    Ms Emily Kan, 73, said the feeder bus trip from her home to the interchange, which used to take less than 15 minutes, took about half an hour on Sunday and Monday.

    Another commuter, Mr Eric Ng, said that the bus he took to the interchange on Monday at 8.30am took about 15 minutes just to enter the interchange. He noted that on the return journey, the bus he boarded left the interchange without any delays.

    The owner of a shop nearby, who identified herself as Ms Lin, 27, said one of her staff was late for work on Monday evening, having waited 40 minutes for the bus she was on to turn into the interchange. From 5pm to 5.40pm, the staff “could see the interchange but could not get down”, Ms Lin said.

     

    On Tuesday, a resident of one of the blocks directly facing the interchange said the traffic situation had improved since the day before, when she said there was a traffic jam during the morning rush hour. “Traffic has been smooth today,” said the resident, who also asked to remain unnamed.

    “LTA is monitoring the traffic situation closely and will continue to review for further adjustments to enhance the traffic flow,” the LTA spokesperson added.

    “THERE ARE SO MANY BUSES HERE”

    When Channel NewsAsia visited during the morning off-peak period, a string of buses were seen waiting for the traffic light to change in their favour, allowing them to turn right into Bedok North Drive from Bedok North Ave 1. Previously, buses entered the old terminal via New Upper Changi Road. No marshals were seen assigned to direct traffic.

    A commuter at the interchange on Tuesday afternoon, Madam Fathma Adam, 73, said she was not surprised about the jams. “There are so many buses here, and roads are very small, and there’s only one lane leading to the terminal,” she said.

    A shopowner, Ms Liang, noted that compared to the previous interchange, in which about “five or six” buses could stop concurrently to let passengers alight, only three buses can stop at the same time at the new transport hub.

     

    A bus captain who asked to remain unnamed also cited the number of traffic lights outside the terminal and the narrow lanes as possible causes of delays. “There is also limited parking space for the buses inside the interchange,” said the bus captain, who added that it was confusing that two of the three lanes exiting the terminal filtered to the left.

    Not all the chatter on social media was negative, with many lauding the new addition to the Bedok landscape.

    New bedok interchange. Life is good now pic.twitter.com/qnr5p1hjMj

    bedok inter expanding eastpoint opening whitesands renovating airport expanding & siglap restaurants life in the east has never felt so good

    Post by StarHub.

     

    The 1.6-hectare interchange, which is linked to Bedok Mall, allows commuters an air-conditioned transfer to Bedok MRT Station. A total of 29 bus services call at the hub.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com