A focus on bilingualism and “Singapore flavour” for MOE kindergartens An example of an activity under the Starlight Literacy Programme for the English language. The programme is a story-based curriculum that develops children’s language skills through a rich variety of songs and stories. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION By Amanda Lee 31 August SINGAPORE — When the five Ministry of Education (MOE) kindergartens begin classes in January next year, children can expect to spend at least a quarter of each day on Mother Tongue lessons, as part of the kindergartens’ focus on bilingualism. This will make up to about 30 per cent of the curriculum time, said the ministry’s Director of Education Services Loke-Yeo Teck Yong, at a media briefing on the kindergartens’ curriculum on Thursday. The Starlight Literacy Programme — one of two flagship programmes designed using principles in MOE’s kindergarten curriculum framework for all schools — will be offered in both English and Mother Tongue Languages — Chinese, Malay and Tamil.MOE Programme Director (Literacy Development) Dr Elizabeth Pang said that language development has to be “daily, frequent (and) regular”. “In some centres, not every day is dedicated to ... literacy but … what we know from the research is that it needs to be … daily,” she added. When contacted, the PAP Community Foundation, which operates 235 kindergartens island-wide, said it offers Chinese, Malay and Tamil as second languages, with classes ranging between 40 minutes to an hour a day. “In centres where there is insufficient children to make up a class or often in case of Tamil language, we group the students who have opted for this language together for their lesson in a nearby centralised location,” a spokesperson said. During the Budget earlier this year, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat announced MOE’s re-entry into the preschool sector, with 15 kindergartens to be opened over the next three years. Registration for the first five took place in April, but the 560 places available received mixed responses. The MOE said that there are about 250 children enrolled in the MOE Kindergartens. “As this is the first year that MOE is setting up the kindergartens, the number of children enrolled is a good start. It will allow time for refinement and review of the programme to ensure that it best meets the needs of our children,” added its spokesperson. The ministry will provide about six to eight teachers for a K1 cohort of up to 120 children. The number will be dependent on actual enrolment and the demand for mother tongue language. All teachers must have a professional diploma in early childhood education, and the ministry hopes to hire suitable candidates early as there are still another 10 kindergartens slated to open, said Mrs Loke-Yeo. The ministry also shared more details of how it has sought to infuse the curriculum with a “Singapore flavour”. Noting that there is a lack of resources with local flavour in the current kindergarten curriculum, Director of Curriculum Planning & Development Division Chua-Lim Yen Ching said: “When you have materials that (are) related to Singapore, (it) is something that the children can identify.” Agreeing, Mrs Loke-Yeo added: “It is really about exposing the child from young what is it like to be a Singaporean and the common experiences.” For example, children will learn about hawker centres through picture books created by the MOE, visit hawker centres and talk about what they saw, and sing songs like “Our Hawker Centre Food” - sung to the tune of “Are you sleeping”. Materials like enlarged picture books were also created for the Starlight Literacy Programme, which will use a story-based curriculum to develops a child’s language skills. The other flagship programme — the HI-Light Programme — is aimed at the holistic development of children and features themes such “What are the places around me?” where teachers will bring children on a neighbourhood walk, and discuss topics like road safety. During each term, children will embark on a Week of Wonder project to investigate topics of their interest, so that they experience “self-directed learning” and build their confidence. The MOE also held two information sessions on the curriculum for parents and children who are enrolled in the kindergartens today (Aug 31). Another three will be held on Sept 21. Details can be found at http://www.moekindergarten.edu.sg/others/events-n-news
Healthcare hub to be built in central district Aerial view of the 17-hectare Health City Novena. Image: Tan Tock Seng Hospital Health City Novena, to be developed around TTSH, will link up facilities to offer acute, intermediate, long-term care By Vimita Mohandas 31 August SINGAPORE — Come 2030, Novena will boast a 17-hectare integrated healthcare hub built around Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), which will encompass health services, research and education, commercial, leisure and public spaces. Called Health City Novena, the development — spearheaded by TTSH, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) and the Health Ministry — will serve as the healthcare anchor for the Central Singapore district and link up healthcare facilities to offer acute, intermediate and long-term care. More resources will be channelled to intermediate care — which includes rehabilitation, sub-acute care and palliative care — to facilitate the transition of patients back to the community. On the cards is an Integrated Intermediate Care Hub comprising Dover Park Hospice and a proposed second community hospital for patients who need step-down care. Launching the masterplan yesterday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong noted the increasingly complex healthcare needs of an ageing population. “The population of seniors age 65 and above in the (Central Singapore) region is around 15 per cent, compared to the national average of 10 per cent,” he added. When completed in 2030, Health City will increase healthcare-related space in the area by 150 per cent. Its total bed capacity is expected to increase by 12 per cent for acute care and 60 per cent for intermediate step-down care. This means that for every 10 acute beds, the number of step-down beds in Health City will increase from four to six. “This facilitates patients’ transition back to the community,” Mr Gan said. The first phase of construction is targeted for completion between 2018 and 2020. When the second phase is completed in 2030, some 30,000 people — patients, staff and visitors — are expected to pass through the premises daily. Currently, TTSH sees 15,000 people passing through every day. Mr Gan said effort will be made to make moving from one part of Health City to another easy, safe and pleasant through a network of walkways, bridges, roads and interconnected basement carparks. Professor Chee Yam Cheng, NHG’s Group CEO, added that the billing system should be integrated throughout the various facilities to make the process a seamless one for patients. Also part of Health City is the new National Centre for Infectious Diseases. It will also collaborate with the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine on research.
Low unemployment rate cannot be taken for granted, says Heng Mr Heng interacting with NUS students at the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum yesterday. Photo: NUS Students’ Political Association Education Minister stresses need for graduates to possess attributes such as innovation to prepare for the future By Kok Xing Hui -31 August SINGAPORE — Finland has “one of the best education systems in the world” but a youth unemployment rate of over 20 per cent, while China produces 7 million graduates each year in an economy that is doing well but has a jobless rate of 16 per cent for those aged below 25, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. Addressing some 270 university students at the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum at the National University of Singapore last night, he said Singaporeans have been conditioned to think that they will be able to get jobs, and even better jobs with better qualifications. However, the Republic’s low unemployment rate is an “extremely unusual situation” and cannot be taken for granted. Mr Heng stressed the reality of “global forces driving change”, and noted how Detroit, once regarded as the Silicon Valley of America with its innovation companies, is now bankrupt. Just 10 to 15 years ago, when discussing with colleagues about the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a fellow member said: “We would like to be the Detroit of the East.” “Now, to say that I want to be the Detroit of the East carries a very different meaning,” said Mr Heng. Detroit, he pointed out, is 3,300km away from Silicon Valley and San Jose. Within a 3,300km radius of Singapore lie 12 other cities — Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hanoi, Bangalore and Chennai, to name a few — which too have the ambition to become the Silicon Valley of Asia. Will Singapore remain a vibrant hub of innovation and job creation, “or will we go the way of Detroit?”, he asked. The fall of cities is “extremely sobering”. “Jobs will move across cities, jobs will move across nations and the nature of jobs will change,” he added. Jobs of the future will be polarised, he said. On one end there will be abstract tasks that require problem-solving, persuasion and creativity. On the other end, there will be manual tasks which require in-person interaction, situational adaptability, language recognition — jobs which many people have the skills for and hence attract low wages. To prepare for the future, graduates need certain attributes — to be alive to ideas, innovate and invent things, have good interpersonal and communication skills. In addition, Singaporeans need to have values, such as being trustworthy and respecting intellectual property, he said. Mr Heng’s speech was followed by a question-and-answer session, during which students asked about difficulties in implementing new education policies, how schools can better teach communication skills and what the Ministry of Education has done to encourage innovation. In response, Mr Heng said that change “is not something that you can do overnight”. “The primary school system is connected to the secondary school system, the PSLE system is connected to the system of posting to schools, in turn the secondary school system is connected to JCs, to the ITEs, polys, even the universities,” he said. “What we need to do is to be able to think through this whole chain of events.” He added that the ministry employs 33,000 teachers and that “the changes don’t take place in my office, real changes take place when things happen in the classroom”. Moreover, the Government also has to consider if the changes will be better for students and how parents will react to the changes.
China, Singapore to seek out new areas of cooperation Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 26 Aug 2013. Photo: Ministry of Communications & Information Environmental collaboration, yuan clearing centres among areas discussed as PM Lee meets Chinese leaders By Teo Xuanwei 27 August BEIJING — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday pledged to grow bilateral ties, as both countries seek out new areas of cooperation beyond traditional ones like the development of industrial parks. At their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Mr Lee noted both countries’ wide-ranging and growing cooperation, both at the national and provincial levels. “Our bilateral relations are in very good shape,” he said. “And we’ve made good progress on the proposals that President Xi made when he was in Singapore to enhance bilateral relations.” Mr Lee, who will today visit the autonomous region of Xinjiang in western China for the first time, said he hopes to understand the conditions “in a very different part of China from the coastal area which we are familiar with”. In a welcome speech earlier, Mr Xi cited the raft of projects the two governments have collaborated on and how the Republic is the only Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) member to have signed a free trade agreement with China, to underscore the excellent state of China-Singapore relations. He also spoke about the need for the two governments to ensure the success of existing bilateral projects — Suzhou Industrial Park, Tianjin Eco-City and Guangzhou Knowledge City, among others — and for these successes to be replicated in other parts of China. “I believe the two sides should continue to work together to build on past successes and open up new dimensions for the future,” said Mr Xi. “We need to further deepen mutual political trust and enhance pragmatic cooperation and raise our bilateral relations to a higher level from a new historical starting point.” Mr Lee is on a week-long official visit to China at the invitation of Mr Xi. It is their first meeting since Mr Xi became President in March. Speaking to reporters after his talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang earlier yesterday, Mr Lee said they held substantive discussions, which touched on new areas of cooperation between the two countries such as the yuan clearing centres in Singapore, the social management exchanges started last year and environmental cooperation. Both leaders also agreed that the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, which was set up a decade ago to oversee all areas of cooperation between the two countries, also “has a clear mandate to work not just on existing areas but also new areas of cooperation”, said Mr Lee. Mr Lee invited Premier Li to visit Singapore and deliver a lecture and “make an exposition of how China sees the world and how it can foster closer relations between China and ASEAN”, which the Chinese leader accepted. On Friday, Mr Lee will tour Liaoning, which he visited in 2005 when Mr Li was then the province’s Party Secretary.
S’pore-based start-up sold for rumoured S$255m The home page of Singapore-based video-streaming online service Viki. Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten inks agreement to buy video-streaming site Viki for undisclosed sum ByTan Weizhen 6 hours 9 min ago SINGAPORE — In what is said to be the biggest acquisition deal of a Singapore-based start-up, Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has inked an agreement to buy video-streaming site Viki for a rumoured US$200 million (S$255 million) — a deal which a Viki co-founder said proves that one does not have to be in Silicon Valley to “build a world-class team”. News of the acquisition broke yesterday on technology blog All Things D. In an interview with TODAY, Viki Chief Executive Officer Razmig Hovaghimian — who hails from Egypt and has been raising a family here for the past four years — said he has found the technology community here “very helpful and supportive” since he incorporated the company here in 2010. His free video site, which has about 22.9 million users monthly, operates on an advertising-supported, crowd-sourcing model where subtitles to streamed television shows and movies are added by users in the same collaborative manner as Wikipedia. This allows, for instance, Korean shows, to break into the American consumer market, overcoming language barriers. Rakuten Chief Executive Hiroshi Mikitani said in a statement: “Viki is a one-of-a-kind company with an entirely unique approach to video streaming that is truly global and truly engaging.” Mr Hovaghimian, 38, was tightlipped on the size of the deal, only saying it was confidential. Analysts said the US$200 million figure was about right, based on the number of users and the nature of its offerings. Viki hires 50 employees, one-third of whom are Singaporeans and permanent residents, Mr Hovaghimian said. Among the company’s leadership team, the head of products and the head of community products are Singaporean while the head of engineering is a PR, he said. “This (the deal) really proves you don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to build a world-class team. I can, and did, hire a good team here,” he said. He met many of his engineers and staff at Hackerspace, a physical space in Bussorah Street here where white-hat hackers — who specialise in non-malicious hacking, usually to detect system flaws — meet to network or work on projects. Mr Hovaghimian was working for American media and entertainment giant NBC Universal when he was posted here in 2009. He later decided to base himself here after his children were born here. “I also loved the fact that the government was very supportive (of start-ups) and it was close to Asian countries, a strong growth market,”said Mr Hovaghimian, whose wife is also working here. Singapore telco SingTel is among his local investors — the only company to have invested, with the rest being individuals. The start-up also received some government subsidies. The idea for Viki was conceived as a “class project” when he was studying at Stanford University in the United States, and he worked on it even when he was working at NBC Universal. The deal could give Rakuten, traditionally an e-commerce provider, a deeper foothold in the digital content market, which it wants to gain ground in. Mr Hovaghimian said the deal came together after what was initially a discussion for partnership. “We met like, 10 times, and clicked. We found that our vision aligned … they like the fact that we know mobile very well, and we like the fact that they know social very well. They are strong in community building, and e-commerce, an area we might be looking at in the future,” he said. The site will primarily be free for users, but the company is considering some “phenomenal” paid content. Viki’s users come mostly from Asia and the US, with the rest split between Latin America and Europe. Mr Ajay Sunder, Senior Director of Telecoms for the Asia-Pacific for research firm Frost & Sullivan, said the size of their user community justifies the rumoured price tag. “They have a good strategy, primary ad-driven, but also crowd-sourced which explains how they have grown so fast,” he said, adding the company is poised to grow as consumers become used to paying for content. He also noted that more within the start-up-community are creating products for an audience beyond the Singapore market, which is something investors look for.
Growing interest in aviation industry in schools Photo: Ooi Boon Keong Some secondary schools are offering aviation courses so students can experience what the sector has to offer By Amanda Lee 02 September SINGAPORE — At Hillgrove Secondary School, aerospace is not just a specialty for a few — every student has a chance to experience what the sector has to offer, be it through instructional programmes, co-curricular activities (CCAs), or learning journeys to aviation centres and training centres to experience the industry first-hand. And the school — which received special mention by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally last month for developing aerospace as its niche — has seen its efforts take off. Since 2007, 43 graduates have gone on to pursue aviation courses at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic and the Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs). Nine went on to take the Basic Flying Course and obtained their Private Pilot Licence with the Singapore Youth Flying Club, while one, Mr Aditya Sharma, is now an RSAF Apache helicopter pilot. The school’s endeavour is part of the wave of growing interest in the aerospace and aviation industry. In July this year, a new scheme to support the setting up of key laboratories by industries in local universities was launched by the National Research Foundation. The programme is set up by aerospace company Rolls-Royce and Nanyang Technological University, and will focus on three core research areas: Electrical power and control systems, manufacturing and repair technologies, and computational engineering. Polytechnics, ITEs, universities and industry partners said they have generally seen an increase in applicants for places in aviation and aerospace courses. Out of 10 organisations contacted, seven said intakes have increased. For example, Temasek Polytechnic, which offers a Diploma in Aerospace Engineering, has seen its intake more than double since it rolled out the programme in 2009. Northbrooks Secondary School, which has also developed aerospace as a niche, has weaved the industry into its curriculum for all Secondary One, Two and Three Express and Normal (Academic) students. At the Sec 1 level, students acquire basic knowledge in general aerospace topics, such as the discovery of flight and early flight machines, basic aerodynamics of flight and flight control surfaces, as part of the semester’s interdisciplinary project work. The school also has Youth Flying Club as a CCA to cater to students with interest and talent in the area. At Hillgrove, the theories and principles of flight, aero-modelling and kite-making and flying are part of Design and Technology lessons, which is customised and funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) Aviation Youth Outreach Seed Fund. Sec 2 students learn about flight and aerospace in Science, Mathematics and Social Studies through project work. The school is currently collaborating with SP and the Education Ministry’s Educational Technological Division to further develop flight and aerospace lessons and resources. At the lower secondary level, students will be introduced to elementary science and maths concepts such as speed and area, so they can construct and fly airplane models. Upper secondary students will learn how to apply physics and mathematical concepts to construct simulations in rocket science. For example, Sec 3 students will apply aero-engineering concepts such as vectors and acceleration to construct computer simulations in the different phases of a rocket’s flight. The school has also offered Youth Flying Club as a CCA since 2001, and the club now has 60 members who get to learn how to fly an aeroplane through a flight simulation programme. Sec 3 student Iqbal Rosli, 15, a member of the club, said he hopes to be a pilot in future. He participated in the Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition this year with two other team-mates, and clinched Silver in the Theory of Flight category. “We learnt a lot in YFC (Youth Flying Club), like the different parts of a plane and how to fly a remote-controlled aeroplane. I learnt a lot and it helps me (in my path) to be a pilot in future,” he said. AMANDA LEE
Casa Clementi and Punggol Breeze bag HDB awards for design and construction Published on Sep 02, 2013 12:58 PM http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/20130902/26953441e.jpg Children in the playground near the recently completed Punggol Breeze. -- ST FILE PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/20130902/18314116e.jpg Casa Clementi, along Clementi Avenue 1, under construction. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KEVIN LIM By Charissa Yong Singapore's biggest public housing project is also one of this year's best. Casa Clementi, a 10-block development of 2,234 flats, has picked up two top Housing Board awards this year for being well designed and well built. Its features include 15,000 sq m large landscaped deck with playgrounds and exercise corners for residents. The contractor, Straits Construction, was also commended for minimising noise pollution to the nearby Nan Hua High School by installing curtains and barriers. A total of 18 HDB awards will be presented to architects and contractors on Tuesday. Punggol Breeze, a 12-block HDB project of 964 units with a long roof garden, also bagged two design and construction awards.
More can still be done to make use of underground spaces: Minister Khaw Published on Sep 03, 2013 11:34 AM An underground linkway between Orchard Central and The Centrepoint. There is still scope to do much more in terms of making use of underground spaces in Singapore, said Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan on Tuesday. -- ST FILE PHOTO: DESMOND LIM By Melissa Lin There is still scope to do much more in terms of making use of underground spaces in Singapore, said Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan on Tuesday. In his latest blog entry, Mr Khaw noted other countries who have done much more with their underground space to enhance their residents' quality of life. Examples include Canada and Japan, whose cities have extensive pedestrian passages, shopping malls and offices underground. One of the "largest and most well-known" underground city is Montreal's RÉSO, he wrote. "It comprises 32km of tunnels covering about 12sq km in downtown Montreal, linking a wide range of facilities such as offices, hotels, retail shops, cinemas, universities and train stations. It is easily accessible and half a million people use it every day." Singapore has made good use of underground spaces with shopping malls, MRT lines and expressways located underground. But more can be done and the ministry is "thinking about the possibility of developing an underground equivalent of the Master Plan" even though these developments do cost more, wrote Mr Khaw. He added: "Taking reference from other cities, there are possibilities of creating underground transport hubs, pedestrian links, cycling lanes, utility plants, storage and research facilities, industrial uses, shopping areas and other public spaces here."
Criticise a minister but don't sling mud: Shanmugam Defamation laws 'not there to stop political discussion' The Straits Times Published on Sep 03, 2013 7:13 AM Law Minister K. Shanmugam. -- PHOTO: REUTERS By Tham Yuen-c And Maryam Mokhtar As Singaporeans become more politically engaged, they should feel free to discuss politics and even criticise ministers and policies, provided they do not make spurious allegations they cannot substantiate, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday. Responding to law students' questions about Singapore laws and their impact on free speech at a dialogue organised by students from the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law, Mr Shanmugam signalled that the Government was not about to soften its stance on defamation laws, even as he said the laws do not curtail political discussion. Defamation laws, he said, are not there to stop people from criticising the Government, but exist to protect personal reputations. "If you make a personal allegation of fact, if you say I took money, I am corrupt, I will then sue you and ask you to prove it. But if you say I am a stupid fool who doesn't know what I'm talking about, and the Government comprises ministers who don't know what they're talking about and you criticise every policy of the Government, no one can sue you," he said. Background story DRAWING A LINE Every country imposes restrictions on speech, it's a question of where you draw the line and whether you have a clear rationale for it. - Law Minister K. Shanmugam, citing the example of how it is an offence to deny the Holocaust in Austria
Nine private bus operators bid to run City Direct routes Published on Sep 03, 2013 7:12 AM The bus stop opposite Gek Pok Shopping Centre is one of the stops on the Jurong West City Direct route. The two-year contract for the route was won by ComfortDelGro Bus, which launched City Service 651 yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN By Royston Sim Nine private bus operators have bid to run nine City Direct bus services which will give heartland commuters an extra option in and out of the city. The nine routes, which will be rolled out from next January, will serve residents in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Batok, Eunos, Hougang, Jurong East, Sembawang, Sengkang and West Coast. The Land Transport Authority (LTA), which called for tenders for the routes in June, can award the services individually or in packages, which means there could be multiple private operators getting deals. Bidders were free to submit proposals for one or more of the routes before July's deadline. Ng Ing Tsair Bus Service,for instance, put in a bid to operate only the Bedok route.
Commuters give new City Direct bus service the thumbs up They say paying 30 cents more for new City Direct service is worth it Published on Sep 04, 2013 7:22 AM All of the commuters who spoke to The Straits Times praised the City Service 651 for the convenience and comfort the ride offers them. The service starts from Jurong West Avenue 3 and takes the Ayer Rajah Expressway to Marina Boulevard. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO By Jermyn Chow The daily work commute to Marina Bay used to be a stifling 1 1/2-hour feeder bus and train journey for Jurong West resident Xu Huimei. "The chance of getting a seat was zero," the bank analyst said. But for 30 cents more yesterday morning, the 27-year-old had a stress-free journey in a relatively empty 40-seater bus, taking an hour to get to work. She was one of around 50 commuters to hop on the new City Service 651, launched on Monday by ComfortDelGro Bus after it won the tender for $1.06 million in June.
SJI launches booklet of former campus at Singapore Art Museum Published on Sep 03, 2013 10:20 PM http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/20130903/SJIBookTwo0309e.jpg An art exhibition in the chapel at the Singapore Art Museum featuring works of former St Joseph's Institution (SJI) students. SJI launched a guide booklet on Tuesday, Sept 3, 2013, for visitors to navigate their way through its former campus in Bras Basah, which now houses the Singapore Art Museum. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/20130903/SJIBookOne0309e.jpg Mr Foo Chee Cheng (right), 70, former History teacher at St Joseph's Institution (SJI), gives a guided tour about the heritage of the former SJI campus to Mrs Louise Grant (centre), Principal of SJI International Elementary School, and Mrs Susi Teo, Vice principal of SJI International Elementary School. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING By Maryam Mokhtar St Joseph's Institution (SJI) launched a guide booklet on Tuesday for visitors to navigate their way through its former campus in Bras Basah, which now houses the Singapore Art Museum. Produced by a team of students and teachers from the school, the booklet is available for free to visitors of the museum, whose building has been gazetted a national monument by the National Heritage Board. Among iconic parts of the 161-year-old school's original premises is the second-floor chapel, which continues to retain basins that once held holy water, a pressed steel ceiling and the original multi-coloured concrete floor tiles. The launch of the booklet was held concurrently with the opening of the school's first public visual art exhibition - Creation. Also located at the Singapore Art Museum from Tuesday till Friday, the exhibition showcases the works of 12 former SJI boys, two of whom were past winners of the UOB Painting of the Year Award.
Singapore still 2nd most competitive economy: World Economic Forum Today File Photo Republic retains second place in the Forum’s annual Global Competitiveness Report, ahead of Finland 3 hours 32 min ago GENEVA — Singapore has retained its number two spot in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, behind Switzerland and ahead of Finland, said the Geneva-based body yesterday (Sept 3). Switzerland has kept its title as the world’s most competitive economy for the fifth year running, though it needs to resist any temptation to protect its core banking sector if it wants to stay top, the Forum added. The Geneva-based body, most famous for gathering politicians and billionaires at an annual shindig in the Alpine resort of Davos, revealed that the same economies made the top 10 as last year, but in a different order. Germany, the United States, Hong Kong and Japan all edged up while Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom all slipped by two or three notches. The United States’ flair for innovation helped it reverse a four-year downward trend, although serious concerns remained over its macroeconomic stability, the Forum said, ranking it 117 out of 148 countries in that category. The Forum bases its assessment on a dozen drivers of competitiveness, including institutions, infrastructure, health and education, market size and the macroeconomic environment. The report also factors in a survey among business leaders, assessing the government’s efficiency and transparency. Switzerland scored well across the board, but the report said it needed to guard against complacency. “Its banking sector is ... Under scrutiny, and this traditional economic engine is necessarily undergoing great change,” the report said. “In the future, it will be important for the country to continue to build on its competitive strengths and resist over regulation and protectionism,” it added. Switzerland has been hit hard by a global crackdown on tax havens, succumbing to pressure from the EU and the United States to give up a centuries-old tradition of banking secrecy. While most of the top 40 remained relatively static, South Korea slid six places to 25th, weakened by its poorly functioning financial market, quality of its institutions and extremely rigid labor market, said the report. China remained in 29th place and again led the BRICS pack, while Indonesia climbed 12 places to 38th, helped by a 17-place jump in infrastructure and other advances. “After years of neglect, Indonesia has been boosting infrastructure spending to upgrade roads, ports, water facilities, and power plants, and our results suggest that these improvements have started to bear fruit,” the report said. It also made a big improvement in labor market efficiency, but was let down by bribery, security and a worsening health picture. India slipped one position to 60th while Russia edged up three spots to 64th, helped by an improving macroeconomic environment. There was also little change at the bottom of the list. The overall wooden spoon went to Chad, just behind Guinea and last year’s loser Burundi. The report defines competitiveness as “the set of institutions, policies, and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country”. REUTERS
Govt mulling large-scale underground developments Jurong Rock Caverns will be South-east Asia’s first underground storage facility for oil and petrochemical products. Photo: JTC Subterranean transport hubs, public spaces could be on the cards for Singapore, says Khaw By Kok Xing Hui 7 hours 9 min ago SINGAPORE — Signalling for the first time that urban planners are exploring the possibility of large scale underground developments that further “push the boundary of usage”, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday that a subterranean statutory land use plan could be on the cards. Policymakers are currently in the midst of updating the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Master Plan and a draft will be put up for public consultation via an exhibition soon, Mr Khaw noted. “In parallel, we are thinking about the possibility of developing an underground equivalent of the Master Plan to see how practical underground plans can complement the above ground Master Plan to make our city even more exciting and liveable,” he revealed. Writing on his blog, he added: “We will not rush to do this underground Master Plan. We will also not be able to formulate a comprehensive underground Master Plan in our initial attempt(s). But the earlier we begin this process, the faster we will learn and the easier it would be for us to realise these plans.” Citing cities in the Scandinavian countries, Canada and Japan, Mr Khaw said there was a full range of possibilities such as underground transport hubs, pedestrian links, cycling lanes, utility plants, shopping areas and other public spaces. Tokyo, for instance, has automated underground bicycle parking systems while in Oslo, Norway, an underground sports hall and swimming pool double as civil defence shelters during emergencies. Every day, half a million people pass through the “underground city” at Montreal’s RESO, which comprises 32km of tunnels covering an area of 12 sq km, linking facilities, including offices, hotels, retail shops, cinemas, universities and train stations. Mr Khaw noted that the Republic has “made good use” of underground spaces for shopping malls and underpasses, as well as 12km of expressways and almost 80km of MRT lines. It has also used subterranean spaces for storage: When it comes into operation next year, JTC’s Jurong Rock Caverns will be South-east Asia’s first underground storage facility for oil and petrochemical products. The Singapore Armed Forces has also relocated its Seletar East Ammo Depot to an underground ammunition facility — a world’s first when it was unveiled in 2008 — built under a former quarry site in Mandai. “Still, there is scope to do much more,” Mr Khaw pointed out. He acknowledged the higher cost of underground developments, “especially if the cheaper alternative of using surface land is available”. Still, “we can try to push the boundary of usage — to experiment, to learn and to evolve practical innovative solutions — so as to prepare for the future”, he said. Members of Parliament (MPs) and architects whom TODAY spoke to welcomed the possibility of creating “more common space beyond the physical limitations of land”, as Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng put it. Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Gan Thiam Poh noted that not only will underground developments help address the land scarcity, a subterranean Master Plan will also provide opportunities for architects, engineers and builders here to “try building new things beyond what we already have”. Mr Frven Lim, Director of Architecture at building consultancy Surbana, said a coordinated approach will give Singapore’s underground ambitions a “greater chance to succeed”. Still, Mr Seah reiterated that underground projects come with huge price tags. “I support the idea, but it must be used in places where the costs can be justified by the benefits it creates,” he said. Apart from costs, architect Victor Lee noted the design challenges to maximise the supply of natural air, light and greenery to these “controlled environments”. For starters, Mr Lim suggested that the Government build automated underground car parks. “Parking does not require a high quality space — you don’t need the space to be well lit, you don’t have to walk into it,” he said, adding that these car parks will also generate revenue to offset the costs. Such car parks are present in France, where motorists leave their cars in a building and the vehicles are moved underground, he said. “This will be the first trigger to get people to start thinking about how else the underground space can be used.”
HDB launches landscape design guide to showcase good work Published on Sep 04, 2013 11:31 AM A spread inside the Housing Board's new landscape design guide. -- PHOTO: SCREENGRAB OF HDB'S LANDSCAPE GUIDE By Charissa Yong The Housing Board (HDB) has launched a landscape guide to showcase current good designs and spur future ones. "Good landscape design in the spaces is important, especially in a high density environment...open spaces and lush greenery offer residents respite from high-rise surroundings," said HDB chief executive Dr Cheong Koon Hean. Minister of State for National Development Mohamad Maliki Osman, who launched the 134-page guide, added that paying attention to such design from the start "will ensure that landscaped areas are easy to maintain and at minimal cost". Both were speaking on Wednesday at the HDB Peak forum for building and construction industry professionals.The guide describes how HDB designs public housing estates, including the evolution from simple tree planting and small playgrounds during its early days to current extensive use of rooftop greenery and exercise facilities in newer precincts like the upcoming Bidadari estate. It includes reference standards for the industry such as structures and plant types that can be used. The guide may be viewed at www.hdb.gov.sg/landscapeguide
ITE students to volunteer at 2015 SEA Games 1,000 students from the Institute of Education (ITE) will be volunteering at the 2015 SEA Games to be staged in Singapore By Patwant SinghPOSTED: 03 Sep 2013 11:59 PM SINGAPORE: 1,000 students from the Institute of Education (ITE) will be volunteering at the 2015 SEA Games to be staged in Singapore. This is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the institution and the Singapore Sports Council. The exact areas the students will be helping in are being worked out, but these could include media and show events. The collaboration also forms part of the Games organisers’ journey to co-create the event and to share the sense of ownership and pride in being hosts of the Games. Lim Teck Yin, CEO of Singapore Sports Council, said: "I think we are always ready to work with other partners as well. ITE as a first strategic partner is a very significant move for us and I think the relationship should extend beyond the SEA Games. It is really related to everything that we wanted to do under Vision 2030." - CNA/gn
Spouses of foreign diplomats experience Hungry Ghost festivities Some foreign diplomats and spouses of other diplomats in Singapore were hosted on Tuesday evening by Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and his wife to a special event to learn more about the lunar seventh month or Hungry Ghost festivities. Guests at a Hungry Ghost event hosted by Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and his wife. By Olivia SiongPOSTED: 03 Sep 2013 11:26 PM SINGAPORE: Some foreign diplomats and spouses of other diplomats in Singapore were hosted on Tuesday evening by Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and his wife to a special event to learn more about the lunar seventh month or Hungry Ghost festivities. It is believed that during this month the gates of Hell are opened for souls to wander the Earth. Apart from watching a ‘getai’ performance at Mr Shanmugam's ward in Chong Pang, the guests also observed a seventh month prayer and witnessed a traditional seventh month dinner and auction that was attended by some 2,000 residents. This is the first time the minister and his wife hosted such an event during the seventh month. Dr Seetha Shamugam, wife of Mr Shanmugam, said: "This is one of the more important things that happen in Singapore, (the) month-long celebration. “It's about charity, the values of charity, value of making offerings, value of seeking protection for our loved ones -- these are all important values we have in our culture and so I thought it'd be good to bring them (the guests) down and… give them the opportunity to experience it (the festival) first-hand so they can gain an appreciation and understanding of Singapore culture." Dr Grace Moshi, wife of the Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, said: "The thing that I find the most amazing about it is the way people remember their loved ones, the ones who have passed on. It's a really a nice way for families to have something to celebrate, something to look back to. That's been quite amazing. “The fact that they're held in community centres where large communities of people live… sort of has the sense of bringing the community together. So that has been quite impressive to me." - CNA/gn
S'pore, China have mapped out key areas of collaboration moving forward: DPM Teo By Kristine Lim POSTED: 03 Sep 2013 10:09 PM NANNING, China: Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Teo Chee Hean, has said that Singapore and China have mapped out key areas of collaboration moving forward. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi province. In his speech, Mr Teo welcomed China's proposal to upgrade the existing ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. China is ASEAN's largest trade partner while ASEAN is China's third-largest trade partner. ASEAN-China bilateral trade grew at an average of 21.6 per cent annually over the last three years. Mr Teo said that Singapore will benefit from closer economic ties between China and ASEAN. He said: "Trade has grown eight times (since 2002) - we are talking about US$400 billion and we hope to grow that to a trillion dollars in the next few years. "In this phase of China's development, there will be outward flow of investments from China as well, not just FDI (foreign direct investment) into China but FDI from China into the region. We are seeing more and more of that. And that means more opportunities for greater integration of the economies of China and ASEAN countries." Moving forward, new areas of cooperation between Singapore and China would include financial services, human resource development and social management. The Guangzhou Knowledge City, a project between Singapore and Chinese companies and supported by the two governments, is also an example of how Singapore companies can tap on opportunities as China develops. Mr Teo said: "This represents the next phase of China's economic transformation and development and we hope to help to play an important part in that. One area that they were very interested in, for example, is IPR (intellectual property rights)... So that, I think, is the next phase of China's development." DPM Teo will be co-chairing high-level bilateral talks to be held in Singapore later this year. He said: "Premier Li Keqiang also made mention that the new leadership had deliberately chosen a very senior leader, Executive Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, to co-chair the JCBC (Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation) with Singapore... (an) indication of the importance placed on the relationship with us." Singapore will be the "country of honour" for the China-ASEAN Expo next year, during which a series of activities will be organised to promote the country. - CNA/ms
Checking out Singapore's first trampoline park Student Jack Kwa at Amped Trampoline Park, which opened in Tanjong Katong three weeks ago. Tuesday, Sep 03, 2013 The Sunday Times By Lydia Vasko SINGAPORE - Bounce your way to fitness at Amped Trampoline Park, touted as the first of its kind in Singapore and South-east Asia. Opened three weeks ago, the indoor park features almost 50 trampolines, which blanket the floors and line the walls in a converted Tanjong Katong school gym. The trampolines are connected by bright blue padding, which shield the trampolines' frames and springs. Visitors can bounce off the walls and jump their way over 460 sq m of the park, which is located on the second floor, above a Peranakan Village Food Centre and Beer Garden. Trampolines have been sold in Singapore for decades, but this is the first time members of the public, aged two and above, can pay to jump en masse on so many trampolines. The park is the passion project and creative outlet for Canadian Shad Johns, 41, and Singaporean Jason Ong, 37, both managers at a technology company here. And it is already shaping up to be a viable business, with sessions rapidly filling up solely through word of mouth. Last Saturday, nine of the park's 12 hour-long slots were fully booked, primarily by families and teens. Nine of its 10 slots for the next day, Sunday, were fully booked too. "We're flat out," says Mr Johns, on how busy the park has been. "We have gotten such a great response." Talks are under way to open more outlets on Singapore mainland and Sentosa in the next couple of years, he adds. "We saw a hole in the market and we went for it. You have skate parks, you have wakeboarding, but what do you do when it rains or if it gets too hot?" says Mr Johns, who began trampolining as a child in his backyard in Canada. A basic, 1.2m personal trampoline costs about $200. Larger models of 3m or more, which allow for more diversity of movement, cost anything from $1,200 to $3,000, excluding delivery and installation, says Mr Ray Dougall, managing director of Trampolines Asia, which has sold trampolines in Singapore for more than a decade. See more at: http://yourhealth.asiaone.com/content/spring-singapore#sthash.dfjrdjVH.dpuf
Singapore's largest theme park to tie up with local food and beverage outlets Published on Sep 05, 2013 10:31 AM An artist’s impression of KidZania in Sentosa. The theme park is set to open in 2015 and will be the anchor tenant at Sentosa’s new Family Entertainment Centre. Singapore's largest theme park, which is slated to open in 2015, will feature local food and beverage outlets as part of the activities for children. -- FILE PHOTO: KIDZANIA By Carolyn Khew Singapore's largest theme park, which is slated to open in 2015, will feature local food and beverage outlets as part of the activities for children. Among the 30 companies that will set up shop at park are The Soup Spoon and Killiney Kopitiam. Electronics company Canon, financial institution Maybank and dairy product company Yakult will also set-up shop there. At KidZania Singapore, which will be on Sentosa's Palawan Beach, children aged four to 14 will get to role play in different occupations. The park will feature a city scaled down to a child's size where children can role-play life as an adult. Housed in a three-storey building, the theme park will cover an area of 11,500 sq m and will also house rides and arcade games.
