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Tag: Singaporeans

  • Bahren Shaari Appointed as New CEO of the Bank of Singapore

    Bahren Shaari Appointed as New CEO of the Bank of Singapore

    SINGAPORE: Bank of Singapore, the private banking subsidiary of OCBC Bank, has appointed Bahren Shaari as its new chief executive officer (CEO) from Feb 1 next year.

    He replaces Renato de Guzman, 64, who will retire as CEO from end-January.

    Mr de Guzman, also known as Bing, will stay on as senior advisor to the bank till Jun 30, 2015.

    Mr Bahren, 52, has more than 25 years of banking experience and was part of the management team at ING Asia Private Bank (IAPB) that moved over to Bank of Singapore in January 2010 when it was acquired by OCBC Bank.

    Prior to that, he was managing director of UBS Wealth Management, where he headed the South East Asia and Australia marketing team.

    Over the past five years, Mr Bahren helped build Bank of Singapore’s market position in Indonesia and Malaysia by tripling the assets under management.

    The bank said in a statement that he has “spearheaded the implementation of a robust client-centric advisory process that has helped deliver significant revenue growth”.

    Under the leadership of Mr de Guzman, the bank’s assets under management crossed the US$51.1 billion (S$65.9 billion) mark as at Sep 30, 2014, from US$23 billion in January 2010.

    Bank of Singapore’s chairman, Ching Wei Hong, said: “Within the short span of five years, Bank of Singapore has achieved remarkable success. A large part of this is due to Bing’s passion and his relentless efforts to always do what is best for our clients.”

    Last month, Mr de Guzman was named Outstanding Private Banker – Asia Pacific by news and research firm Private Banker International.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Singapore Employees “Under Happy”

    Singapore Employees “Under Happy”

    SINGAPORE: Employees in the Republic “can be happier”, according to the results of the National Workplace Happiness Survey 2014 revealed on Tuesday (Nov 11).

    The nation’s overall workplace happiness index is 59, which falls into the band “Under Happy”, between “Unhappy” and “Happy”.

    The survey was jointly conceived and organised in April by the Singapore Human Resources Institute – a not-for-profit organisation representing over 3,000 human resource professionals – and Align Group, a people consulting research firm. It was done to obtain a national benchmark on workplace happiness with a scientific measurement.

    The survey polled around 5,600 people in online questionnaires and 94 per cent of the respondents are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. They were asked about various aspects such as job satisfaction and well-being. Their responses were then mapped to an index with three bands: “Unhappy” (0-50), “Under Happy” (51-67) and “Happy” (68-100).

    The results show that more can be done to make workplaces in Singapore happier, said Erman Tan, president of the Singapore Human Resources Institute. “From the HR perspective, there is more that the employer can do to let our employees feel a sense of empowerment.”

    SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES VS MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS

    Industries with the highest happiness rankings are charity and social services and education, while those with the lowest rankings include logistics and supply chain, and banking and financial services.

    Employees of voluntary welfare organisations and local small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) are also happier at work, compared to those in multinational corporations.

    Said Align Group’s managing director, Low Boon Seong: “The reason could be that SMEs give employees more participation and more autonomy, and probably the staff are able to see how they shape the company’s growth, so I think this spells opportunities for SMEs in terms of their talent attraction and retention strategies.”

    SALARIES HAVE LOW IMPACT ON HAPPINESS

    The top happiness drivers include brand identity, culture and positive emotions. Of 28 factors, salary and benefits rank as having the least impact.

    Mr Low commented: “I think we can understand that for salary level, once you achieve a certain baseline, any increment would be marginal in terms of affecting how happy a person feels, and people will start to look at the higher factors.”

    WOMEN SEEM HAPPIER THAN MEN

    Women also seem to be happier at work than men, with a slightly higher index. One factor with a significant impact for women is whether they are treated fairly at work. For men, it is the hope of a better future at work.

    GENERATION X ANGST

    Among the different age groups, Gen X – those born between 1964 and 1980 – are the least happy at work, with an overall index of 58. For Baby Boomers – those born before 1964 – the index is 64.4. Meanwhile, the score for Gen Y – those born after 1980 – is 58.5.

    Mr Low described Generation X as “the sandwiched class”. He said: “This is consistent with other studies out there, probably because of the burden they have to carry in terms of managing older parents and younger kids.”

    ENGAGING EMPLOYEES

    Survey organisers feel the findings can help employers enhance HR policies. Mr Tan said: “People want to have some form of control over their career, over their work-life arrangement. They also want to be given a better direction, what sort of areas they can grow with the organisation.

    “I think the HR practitioners and employers need to sit down and understand the individual staff needs better. With that change of thinking, they will be able to enhance their current HR policy to make sure that there is a better engagement of the employee, and boost morale and productivity.”

    But organisers also acknowledge that there are limitations. As the English-language survey is done through electronic channels, the responses gathered are from those who have access to computers or smartphones.

    The profile mix is considered to be representative of the white-collar working population in Singapore. Organisers said that it would be interesting to compare the result of the survey with one that focuses on blue-collar workers.

    They added that some of the interesting dimensions can be analysed with more depth, possibly through a more precise study.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Indonesia Investigating Case of Two Indonesian PRs Being Part of SAF Contingent in Joint Military Exercise

    Indonesia Investigating Case of Two Indonesian PRs Being Part of SAF Contingent in Joint Military Exercise

    Indonesia is investigating two of its citizens for being part of a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) contingent in a joint military exercise earlier this month in Magelang, Central Java.

    The Indonesians are Singapore permanent residents (PRs) who are full-time national servicemen (NSFs). They went to Central Java for the joint exercise.

    When the Indonesian military found out their nationality, the pair were asked to remain at their military dormitory. They were not allowed to participate in the exercise, said Major-General Fuad Basya, the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) spokesman.

    Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said in response to queries: “The two NSFs, who are Singapore PRs, were part of the unit participating in an annual bilateral exercise between the SAF and the TNI to enhance military ties.

    “However, they were withdrawn from the exercise and brought back to Singapore. They did not participate in the bilateral exercise.”

    Under Indonesian law, it is an offence for citizens to serve a foreign military, and those who do so risk being stripped of their citizenship. But the law will take into account those Indonesians who study in countries that adopt mandatory national service.

    Indonesia has in the past asked Singapore to exempt its citizens who are PRs from performing national service.

    But in Singapore, male PRs are liable to be called up for national service.

    “Going forward, Singapore will not send Indonesians to a joint exercise here. We have asked them that, and they are agreeable,” Maj-Gen Fuad told The Straits Times.

    This month’s Safkar Indopura, which was held for nine days from Nov 4, was the 26th year the joint exercises were carried out, Antara news agency reported last week.

    An Indonesian Foreign Ministry official told The Straits Times that the matter of the two national servicemen was being handled by the Defence Ministry.

    This issue of Indonesians serving in the SAF is not new.

    In 1999, then President B. J. Habibie ordered, after a Cabinet meeting, that the citizenship of Indonesians living in Singapore who served national service be revoked, as the country does not recognise dual citizenship.

    In 2008, then Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda asked Singapore to exempt Indonesian citizens who are PRs from performing national service, saying they risked losing their citizenship.

    The issue was raised in 2008 following another controversy over the alleged recruitment of Indonesians into the Askar Wataniah, a paramilitary wing of the Malaysian army in Borneo where the two countries share a land border.

    In the latest case, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry official Krisna Djaelani was quoted by the Detik. com news website as saying: “There were two Indonesians who are known to have taken part in a joint exercise with the Indonesian military.

    “Under Singapore law, permanent residents have the same rights and responsibilities as citizens. So they are obliged to undergo compulsory military training.”

    But Mr Krisna, who is the ministry’s Indonesian workers protection and legal aid director, said that under Indonesian law, Indonesians who serve foreign militaries “will automatically lose their citizenship”.

    He added: “Now we are working with the Law and Human Rights Ministry. This is under the ministry’s jurisdiction.”

    Yesterday, Mr Krisna was quoted by Detik.com as saying during a media conference that the issue had been dealt with. But he did not elaborate.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Singapore In The Anti-IS Coalition: A Missed Opportunity

    Singapore In The Anti-IS Coalition: A Missed Opportunity

    Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

    I’ve debated whether to post this.

    Decided I should.

    In the last few weeks, there was an issue that was extremely important for the Muslim community here to address. Yet as a whole, we did not. For whatever reasons.

    I refer to PM Lee’s announcement that the SG govt was considering joining the ‘coalition of the bombing’.

    Instead of addressing the issue – the elephant in the room in my view – they chose to address the dog issue.

    The situation is akin to what happened in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War and the setting up of a US airbase in Dahran. Instead of addressing the issue, the ‘establishment ulema’ there chose to focus their attention to a Muslimah who – heaven forbid – decided to drive. Aparently that’s far more impt than the issue of an entire airbase being situated very near to Islam’s holiest shrines. But I digress.

    Let’s recap. After Minister Shanmugam posting something on IS on his FB, suddenly so many establishment asatizahs start falling all over themselves to condemn IS. Not in their name, they chorused dutifully. The asatiahs were from RSIS and MUIS. The big guns, so to speak. Then The head of PERGAS gave an interview on national TV, condemning in no uncertain terms IS and again chorusing ‘not in our name’.

    Don’t get me wrong. I do not support IS. Im saying these acts do not happen in a vacuum. US atrocities, the bombing of entire Muslim villages by drones, the killing of many Muslims attending a wedding feast, CIA and Mosad complicity in the genesis of IS…. all these are conveniently left out of the narrative.

    Then there’s the woeful episode of the black flags. Asatizahs began writing articles, questioning the authenticity of the hadith on Khurasan and the black flags. Firstly, it was done in a rather lop-sided manner. Eg, in a particular chain that was quoted by both Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Ahmad, it was said that Imam Tirmidhi considered the chain weak. But what did Imam Ahmad say about it? Next, two places were mentioned: Khoorasan and Jerusalam. There are other ahadith about a Muslim army liberating Jerusalem, and the hadith is muttafaqqun alaih – of the highest possible authenticity. This was not mentioned. Also, there appears to be numerous chains of the hadith. And these chains could strengthen one another, making it collectively sahih. Not to mention these ahadith appear in the canonical six collections of ahadith – collectively the most authentic we have.

    Then the ED of PERGAS saw fit to talk to BH about it not being right to purchase the flag, as it would make non Muslims uncomfortable. Truly, that’s a preposterous statement. Should we then censor the Quran? After all, the end of Bakarah is a doa for Allah azzawajal to Grant us victory agst the non Believers? That’s juz one eg out of many.

    We are told we should have husnu zhon. But shouldn’t these asatizahs have husno zhon on the Muslims who had purchased the flags, without realising its bigger implications? Should the asatizahs not contact these people personally and advise them to remove it from FB? To my knowledge this wasn’t done. And our brothers were hauled up by the authorities and have to answer for their deeds, with all the attendant worry the family had to go thru.

    Now, after the govt announced that they would join the ‘coalition of the bombing’ and the issue has become fait accompli, some among the asatizahs are voicing out their displeasure. A little too late no? Or is it an attempt to recover lost legitimacy, since there has been voices ‘encouraging’ out estab asatizahs to join the jihad?

    Final word. Late for Jumuah. We hope our pol leaders and estab asatizahs enjoy their paychecks and coming EOY bonus. If u r MUIS staff, bear in mind it comes from the Fitrah fund.

    A reminder these things come with strings attached.

    We hope and pray there will not be hell to pay.

    Gotta go for now. I’m not done yet. will dress our own complicity in this.

    Wallahualam. Barakallahufeek.

     

    Authored by Syed Danial on 7 Nov 2011.

  • Online Scammer Masquerading As PAP’s Zainal Sapari

    Online Scammer Masquerading As PAP’s Zainal Sapari

    SINGAPORE — Member of Parliament Zainal Sapari, of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, has warned of an imposter trying to scam people via Facebook.

    “An unknown person has created a scam Facebook page using my name and photo,” Mr Zainal wrote in a Facebook post this afternoon (Nov 11). “He may have send you a personal message to be friends and follow up with a message about UN funding that I have received.”

    The imposter would then try to direct unsuspecting victims to click on an external link, where they could supposedly register to receive cash from the United Nations Development Programme as well.

    The fake Facebook account carried Mr Zainal’s name and his most recent profile photo. Mr Zainal has since changed his profile picture as of 6pm today.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com