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Elderly man died in shop house, corpse discovered only after bodily fluids seeped through floor and into the unit below
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Mar 16, 2024
Man's body found at Bedok flat after neighbours discover foul-smelling fluid from unit The decomposed body of a 76-year-old man was found inside his home after his neighbours noticed a foul-smelling liquid leaking from his unit.  The body was discovered at about 10.45am on Thursday (March 14) inside an eighth-floor unit at Block 713 Bedok Reservoir Road, reported Shin Min Daily News.  When a reporter from Shin Min arrived at the scene that afternoon, three Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) personnel had broken into the unit.  Several police officers were also present.  There was also a pool of liquid outside the man's flat, and a foul smell in the air.  Four members of the elderly man's family were present to identify the body, but none of them wanted to be interviewed.  A resident, who did not want to be named, said that the deceased was a Chinese man who had been living in the flat alone for more than 40 years.  "I noticed the foul smell these few days and I saw the liquid on the floor, so I called his aunt who works nearby. She then informed his family members," said the man, who lives on the same floor as the deceased.  Another resident in the same block, surnamed Chen, said he saw police officers arrive at about 11am. "I was downstairs watering the plants in the morning, when I was about to leave my house a neighbour told me that there was a smell coming out from the elderly man's flat, that's when I realised something was amiss."  The 81-year-old added that the deceased was single.  In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police confirmed that they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at Block 713 Bedok Reservoir Road on Thursday morning. The elderly man was found lying motionless in a residential unit and was pronounced dead at scene by an SCDF paramedic.  Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play. Police investigations are ongoing. https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/mans-body-found-bedok-flat-after-neighbours-discover-foul-smelling-fluid-unit
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AMDL says MBS sucks balls, cites reasons why tourists shouldn't spend the night there
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Taylor Swift panties kym?
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Mar 04, 2024
Govt considering action against those who leaked confidential info on S’pore’s Taylor Swift deal: Edwin Tong • A confidentiality clause was included in the contract for Taylor Swift's shows in Singapore, said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong in Parliament on Monday (March 4) • The Government is considering taking action against those who leaked information about the deal • Mr Tong added that the Sports Hub aims to be “more than simply a venue for hire” SINGAPORE —  A confidentiality clause was included in the contract for Taylor Swift's shows in Singapore, and the Government is now mulling "appropriate measures" since some details of the deals were leaked, said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong on Monday (March 4). Mr Tong was responding to a question from Nominated Member of Parliament Usha Chandradas who asked whether there was a confidentiality clause in the American singer's contract with Singapore and, if so, whether the Government will take action against those who breached it. She noted that the news of Swift striking a deal to make Singapore the only Southeast Asian stop on her Eras Tour has “struck a nerve” with some of the city-state’s neighbours. Without mentioning any names, Mr Tong said the Government will assess the terms of the contract and will take “appropriate measures under advisement”.  Last month, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was quoted as saying that Singapore had brokered a deal to pay the pop star up to US$3 million (S$4.04 million) for each of her six concerts — in exchange for keeping the shows exclusive to Singapore in Southeast Asia. According to Mr Srettha, concert promoter Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) had informed him of the arrangement. TODAY reached out to AEG on Feb 19 to ask if there was indeed an exclusive deal made with Swift and how much she was paid per show.  AEG did not respond to those queries.  On Feb 20, the authorities confirmed that they had given a grant to help bring the Swift concert to Singapore, though they stopped short of confirming if an exclusive deal was struck. It was later reported by CNA that the figure is closer to US$2 million to US$3 million in total for all six shows. TODAY again reached out to AEG on Monday to also ask if it was the source of information for what Mr Srettha said on Swift's exclusive deal with Singapore. Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Mr Tong also said that the goal of Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), which manages the Singapore Sports Hub, is to be “more than simply a venue for hire”. “Our aim is to bring a whole spectrum of events to Kallang for Singaporeans — from top-tier marquee events to community-related ones; from music concerts to sporting as well as social events.”  He said that since the Government took over, the Sports Hub has seen a 30 per cent increase in sports, entertainment, and community and lifestyle event days from 2019. Besides bringing in world-class acts such as Swift, Coldplay and Mayday Parade, Mr Tong said KASM has brought in marquee sporting events and has a team dedicated to organising more free community sporting events. For example, Sports Hub hosted a record 43 National School Games finals in 2023, compared with 16 before the pandemic, he said. "While we cover a range of top-tier events that are ticketed, there is also a range of non-ticketed and non-revenue generating events, such as the large-scale festivals during Chinese New Year, last year for Hari Raya and Deepavali," he said. “This ensures that we have a strong social return by providing programmes for everyone to bond, interact and build affinity with the Sports Hub." https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/govt-action-taylor-swift-leak-deal-2374941
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Taylor Swift panties kym?
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Feb 29, 2024
Philippine lawmaker wants probe on Taylor Swift’s Singapore-only concert deal — ‘not what good neighbours do’ • Lawmaker Joey Salceda says Manila should not ‘just let things like this pass’ and that it should ‘register its opposition’ to Singapore • Other regional politicians have also commented on the deal that supposedly states Singapore is the only Southeast Asian stop for Swift’s concerts A Philippine lawmaker has called on his government to question Singapore over the city state’s decision to offer American pop star Taylor Swift a significant monetary grant, supposedly to prevent her from performing anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Calling Singapore’s move “not what good neighbours do”, Joey Salceda, who serves on the Philippine House of Representatives, asked the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs to seek an explanation on the deal from the Singaporean embassy. The deal is said to contain a condition that Singapore would be the only stop on the Southeast Asian leg of Swift’s hugely popular Eras Tour. “Some [US$3 million] in grants were allegedly given by the Singapore government to [concert promoter AEG] to host the concert in Singapore,” Salceda said. “The catch was that they do not host it elsewhere in the region.” Swift arrived in Singapore on Wednesday ahead of her six sold-out concerts at the 55,000-seat National Stadium, the first of which will start this Saturday. More than 300,000 Swift fans, popularly known as “Swifties”, are expected to attend the concerts. News of her concerts in Singapore sparked a frenzy for tickets in the city state and across the region last year, with some queuing overnight for a chance to snag tickets. Many Swift fans across Southeast Asia have expressed disappointment over Singapore being the only stop in the region for the 34-year-old superstar’s tour. Salceda’s comments are the latest uproar over the alleged exclusivity term signed by Swift’s concert promoter and Singapore, which critics see as a snub to its regional neighbours. Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin first made the claim earlier this month that Singapore paid Swift about US$2.8 million per show under the exclusivity deal. Salceda said that while the policy worked to the benefit of Singapore, he took issue with how this was done “at the expense” of its neighbours. “I give it to them that the policy worked,” he said. “But it was at the expense of neighbouring countries, which could not attract their foreign concertgoers, and whose fans had to go to Singapore. “I don’t think we should just let things like this pass. We should still officially register our opposition. It also runs contrary to the principle of consensus-based relations and solidarity on which Asean was founded,” he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. On February 21, the Singapore Tourism Board and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth said in a statement that Swift had received a grant but did not specify the amount or whether it was conditioned on exclusivity due to confidentiality agreements. More at https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3253563/philippine-lawmaker-wants-probe-taylor-swifts-singapore-only-concert-deal-not-what-good-neighbours
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SimplyGo SIMPLY FAILED!!!!! App unresponsive, notifications for transactions not reflected and website not accessible by some!!!!!
In Current Affairs
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Feb 28, 2024
Some commuters who switched to SimplyGo can collect cards that use old ticketing system from March 18 to June 30 SINGAPORE — Some commuters who got SimplyGo cards between Jan 9 and 22 will now be able to get a new card that uses the old ticketing system. The collection period will be between March 18 and June 30, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Wednesday (Feb 28). Card collection for eligible commuters will be scheduled based on the last digit of their SimplyGo Ez-link card identification number. This follows the decision to extend the old ticketing system until at least 2030 rather than fully adopting the SimplyGo system for adult fares as originally planned. Commuters can obtain the new cards that use the old "card-based ticketing system" at any of the 44 SimplyGo ticket offices available island-wide, LTA said. "About 290,000 adult cards (SimplyGo Ez-link and Nets Prepaid) and 67,000 concession cards users are eligible to receive new (card-based ticketing) cards," LTA said. HOW TO COLLECT NEW CARDS Commuters unsure of their eligibility can check by keying in their 16-digit SimplyGo Ez-link card identification number found on the back of their card via the SimplyGo website. Eligible commuters will be able to collect their cards on a scheduled date determined by the last digit of their SimplyGo card. This collection system will be used to ensure a more organised collection process with shorter waiting times, and avoid overcrowding, LTA said. Commuters unable to collect their cards on the allocated dates may visit a ticket office at a time of their choosing from April 29 to June 30. Longer queues and waiting times are to be expected during the morning and evening peak hours of 8am to 9.30am and 5pm to 7pm. Commuters are also reminded to take along their SimplyGo card for verification during card collection, LTA added. Concession card holders, including seniors, who got their SimplyGo cards on or before Jan 22 will have a replacement card sent to their registered addresses between April 1 and May 31. "There is sufficient stock of card-based ticketing Ez-link cards and eligible commuters are encouraged to adhere to their allocated collection dates," LTA said. Commuters who bought the Nets Prepaid card between Jan 9 and 22 will be able to collect a free Nets FlashPay card from April 1 to June 30 at any of the 44 SimplyGo ticket offices. WHAT LED TO POSTPONEMENT OF SIMPLYGO SimplyGo was introduced in 2019 by LTA to offer a range of digital ticketing and e-payment options for transit.  It allows cardholders to view fare history and top-up card balance on-the-go via a mobile application. The plan to fully adopt the SimplyGo payment system for adult fares by June 1 was announced on Jan 9 by LTA. However, on Jan 22, a decision was made to postpone the planned change to at least 2030 after LTA said that it would try to iron out concerns raised by commuters. These included the inability to view the card's balance amount and the fare deducted at card scanners. Commuters were also concerned about the delays they faced in trying to upgrade their Ez-link cards to SimplyGo-compatible cards during the initial two-week period. In an apology to the public on Jan 26, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat called the move to phase out EZ-link cards for SimplyGo cards a "judgement error". LTA had underestimated commuters' "strong preference" to be able to see fare deductions and card balance information at scanners on buses and at MRT fare gates. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/commuters-switch-simplygo-jan-get-new-cards-old-ticketing-system-lta-2371936
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Japan Food Town shuttered on Feb 29, lease terminated by landlord Isetan for 'non-payment of certain sums'
In Announcements/Broadcasts
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Feb 27, 2024
Bookstore chain Times closes Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point branches SINGAPORE – Times Bookstores has shuttered its Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point branches, as the chain’s presence here and in the region continues to dwindle in the face of weak sales and low foot traffic. The English-book retailer, which has been in Singapore for more than 40 years, has held moving-out clearance sales at both outlets, leaving a sole remaining store in Cold Storage Jelita in Holland Road. The closures were confirmed by the owners of Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point, CapitaLand and Frasers Property. Times declined to comment on its future plans in Singapore, and whether it had attempted a new bid to stay on in either locations. The development marks the latest in a slew of Times closures over the past five years, as rumours abound over the chain’s future plans. Times, owned by regional consumer group Fraser and Neave, recently also shut multiple branches in Malaysia. In Singapore, its three-floor Centrepoint store wound up in 2019, before the bookstore chain ceased operations in Marina Square and Paragon in 2021, its woes compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. Its Jewel store, Times Junior Jewel, also closed at the end of 2023. The space it had occupied now houses Japanese entertainment store Sanrio. A Plaza Singapura spokesman thanked Times for the “strong partnership over the years” and said The Travel Store will take over Times’ fourth-floor space by the end of March. Frasers Property did not reveal who its new tenant will be. Singapore bookstores have been adversely affected by poorer sales, rising rent, and higher goods and services tax and printing costs, which have pushed up book prices. Many stores have come up with new ways to attract buyers by offering more than the conventional bookstore experience. Kinokuniya Singapore, for instance, sells merchandise such as Sonny Angels, a line of tiny cherub dolls popular among Gen Z, and in 2023 launched a Studio Ghibli pop-up. Popular has evolved to focus more on stationery and textbooks, while indie spaces such as Book Bar organise book launches and reading club activities with food and drinks. The Singapore Books Publishers Association, in a statement to The Straits Times, said it was saddened by the news, “given the small book landscape in Singapore and the loss of other prominent bookstores in recent years”, such as Borders and MPH. “Every sales channel is increasingly precious,” it said. “This will adversely affect the accessibility of Singapore literature to our local community and the ability of our publishers to find readers.” More at https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/bookstore-chain-times-closes-plaza-singapura-and-waterway-point-branches
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Budget 2024: What Singaporeans can expect to get throughout the year
In Current Affairs
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Feb 19, 2024
Mr Lawrence Wong Woke Up on Friday Morning and Chose Violence. Our whole company had our “introduction to pickleball” session this morning. Pickleball was the poison chosen by our company’s culture planning community to keep us cohesive and to help emphasize certain aspects of our culture we should deepen this year. Having a “strong mind” was one of those. I certainly needed a strong mind after an entire morning of running around, bending down to pick up balls and then having to be the note-taker for this year’s Singapore budget. Finance Minister Lawrence Wong woke up on Friday morning with a different idea. He chose violence and decided to nuke the CPF Special Account for CPF members who are 55 years old and older. My CEO, Chris, thought this wasn’t that big of a change. You should see the meltdown transpiring within the 1M65 Telegram group. My colleague Choong Hwee and myself were both moderators there, but we had to concentrate on listening to the budget. Before you know it, his unread messages on 1M65 blew up to 1000+. My CEO couldn’t have been more wrong. So many rich people with so much money that they wanted to shield from spiralling inflation or have already shielded in their CPF SA were extremely incensed! It was as if the government suddenly announced that all your freehold properties would now be converted to 99-year leasehold ones instead. After 1 day, I had more time to digest most of the announcements during the Singapore Budget and I think this CPF change is kinda big enough for me to reflect more upon it. Suffice to say, this technically affects the financial planning strategies for our existing clients in a myriad of ways. Do note that whatever I post here are my own personal views and not representative of Providend, or now Havend , whom I technically work for. Here are my short thoughts (I want to go back to resting and not doing anything). Two Related Announcements that Should be Considered Together Mr Lawrence Wong announced that 1. They shall be raising the CPF Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS) from 3 times the CPF Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) to 4 times. 2. They will be closing the CPF Member’s CPF Special Account (SA) after the member turns 55 years old. The monies accumulated in the CPF SA will go to: • Your CPF Retirement Account (RA) to meet the CPF Full Retirement Sum (FRS), which for example comes up to $213,000 for those who turned 55 year old in 2025. • The rest will be allocated to your CPF OA. • Your CPF SA will subsequently be closed. A good way to understand this is to watch this video created by CPF: By default, the government wants us to accumulate enough in our CPF so that we can have enough passive income for our retirement. Which is why they set this CPF FRS. For those who don’t wish to put so much into their CPF LIFE or have prudently secured a home that can be sustained long enough relative to one's life expectancy (95 years old according to the G), they could set aside just half (of the CPF BRS) in their RA. However, for those who feel that they require a larger safety net, the government allows them to top up their CPF RA with cash, or transfer from their OA to augment this CPF ERS sum. In the past, members could only top up their RA to 3 x BRS but with this change you can now do so up to 4 x. Not just that, but you can top up to the PREVAILING ERS and not the ERS deemed for your 55-year-old cohort. What this means is that when the ERS moved up from $426k in 2025 to $456k, you can top up your CPF RA to $456k. Then again, why would you want to do that? Eventually, CPF LIFE will pay out a fixed monthly income that is guaranteed for life. The table above (courtesy of the Straits Times) gives you an illustration with regards to the amount of income that can be bumped up. A lot more at https://investmentmoats.com/money/singapore-budget-2024-sa-account-after-55-nuked/
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Jie jie gets "groped" by dragon in Chinatown....
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Feb 17, 2024
Marina Bay Sands cancels final dragon drone show due to mechanical issues SINGAPORE: The final display of Marina Bay Sands' (MBS) dragon drone show has been axed due to mechanical issues. The show, originally scheduled for 9pm on Sunday (Feb 18), was cancelled "due to mechanical issues with the drones during the scheduled pre-show tests", an MBS spokesperson said on Saturday evening. "The safety of the team and members of the public is our priority," said MBS, adding that there will be no replacement shows. "We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank all visitors for their strong support of the inaugural drone series." In response to CNA's queries, MBS said: "A successful drone show is a complex operation that is dependent on many factors." "Testing is done at each rehearsal, and we also evaluate the performance of the drones in real-time." At the first showing of MBS' The Legend of the Dragon Gate: Drone Show by the Bay on Feb 10, large crowds, with congestion exacerbated by rainy weather, sparked safety concerns among some audience members.  To better regulate the flow of traffic, MBS announced on Feb 11 that it would deploy more crowd control measures for the remaining shows. It also advised attendees to consider alternative viewing locations for the show. MBS later rescheduled the rest of the showings and pushed back their start times by an hour. The drone show, which utilised 1,500 drones to form a dragon hovering over Marina Bay, was jointly organised by the Singapore Tourism Board, MBS and UOB. The first show, which was originally slated to take place on Feb 6, was "cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances". https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/marina-bay-sands-cancels-final-dragon-drone-show-4131356
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Poll: How would you rate the SG government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic thus far?
In Current Affairs
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Feb 05, 2024
Contact tracing data from pandemic era TraceTogether, SafeEntry systems deleted SINGAPORE: Almost four years after the launch of TraceTogether and SafeEntry, authorities have deleted all COVID-19 related personal contact tracing data derived from the two systems. The only exception is TraceTogether data pertaining to a murder case in May 2020 that will be retained by the police, the Smart Nation Group announced on Monday (Feb 5).  "This is necessary because legal applications may be made to challenge the conviction or sentence many years after the case has concluded," said Smart Nation, adding that the Singapore Police Force may be obliged to disclose the data if such situations arise. TRACETOGETHER AND SAFEENTRY TraceTogether, a mobile app, was launched in March 2020 to support contact tracing efforts amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Developed by the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the Health Ministry, the app worked by exchanging Bluetooth signals between phones to detect other users of the app who are in close proximity. This allowed the authorities to identify people who had been in close contact with anyone who had tested positive for COVID-19. A physical token was subsequently developed for those who did not own mobile phones, as well as those who preferred not to use the app. SafeEntry was a national digital check-in system that logged the details of people visiting public venues like malls and workplaces. It was integrated with TraceTogether and user had to tap their phones or tokens to check in and out of such venues. STOOD DOWN Part of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act enacted in February 2021 required the government to specify a date after which digital contact tracing systems were no longer required to prevent or control the spread of COVID-19. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, as the minister in charge of digital government and public sector data governance, in consultation with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, determined the date to be Jan 5, 2024. "This is because the risk of a severe COVID-19 outbreak requiring TT (TraceTogether) and SE (SafeEntry) to be restarted in the immediate term is low," said Smart Nation, which oversees Singapore's digital transformation and leads development of such strategies. The law also requires the data administrator of the digital contact tracing systems must stop all data collection and ensure the deletion of any personal contact tracing data used for the purpose of contact tracing from the systems.  All such data, except for the one related to the murder case, was deleted as of Feb 1. REMOVED FROM APP STORES Both the TraceTogether and SafeEntry (Business) apps have been removed from the official mobile app stores, said Smart Nation, adding that the backend digital infrastructure supporting the systems have been dismantled. The TraceTogether and SafeEntry websites have also been shut down, it added. TraceTogether apps on mobile phones may be uninstalled and tokens recycled at 3-in-1 e-waste bins across the island. "TT and SE have served us well during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic by accelerating our contact tracing efforts and enabling the implementation of community safe management measures," said Smart Nation. "We thank members of the public for their support of the TT programme and our digital contact tracing efforts in our fight against COVID-19." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tracetogether-safeentry-discontinued-covid-19-pandemic-contact-tracing-4099406
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Cheebye coffeeshop in Tampines doubles rental rates, forcing numerous stallholders to vacate
In Announcements/Broadcasts
[GPGT] Eh NTUC FairPrice, you got no money to hire a proper designer and resorted to using some si ginna intern siboh?
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Japan Food Town shuttered on Feb 29, lease terminated by landlord Isetan for 'non-payment of certain sums'
In Announcements/Broadcasts
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Jan 24, 2024
Stickies Bar abruptly shuts down outlets; 37 employees file salary-related claims SINGAPORE - Popular watering hole Stickies Bar abruptly closed two of its outlets on Jan 15 and laid off more than 30 employees, amid workers’ complaints about delayed salary payments. Former employees The Straits Times spoke to said they are still owed salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions. They have since filed salary-related claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM). In a joint statement on Jan 24, spokespersons for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and TADM said 37 Stickies employees have filed claims with TADM as at Jan 22. TADM has arranged for mediation sessions between the company and the affected employees on their claims, the joint statement added. Stickies is a popular local bar in Singapore known for affordable drinks. According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, the directors of Stickies are Mr Norman Then and Mr Chong Sing Yong. In response to queries from ST, Mr Then said on Jan 24 that the bar has engaged insolvency practitioner Farooq Mann from Mann & Associates in the capacity of an interim judicial manager. Mr Then added that this was to “protect the going concerns of the business and to look out for the best interest of all the creditors, including the staff”. On Jan 15, two of the bar’s four outlets – in Aljunied and Keng Cheow Street – were closed with immediate effect, said Mr Calvin Chen, a part-timer at Stickies. The 28-year-old added that prior to the closing of the outlets, Stickies had already started retrenching employees.  At the time of the interview on Jan 22, Mr Chen said Stickies’ outlets in Dhoby Ghaut and Sunset Lane were still operating. However, Mr Then told ST on Jan 24 that only the Dhoby Ghaut outlet remains open, and did not provide further information on the one at Sunset Lane. Mr Chen, who currently works full-time in administration, said that the majority of employees were not paid for the month of December. He added that payment was supposed to come in on the 7th of every month, but since August 2023, delayed salary payments and wrong amounts of salaries credited had become the norm. Explaining the situation in December, an employee who wanted to be known only as Cel said Mr Then had said on Jan 11 that employees would receive their December salaries on Jan 15. However, when the day came, employees received a WhatsApp message that indicated that the company would be undergoing debt restructuring, or interim judicial management. Mr Bryan Kuah, a 24-year-old part-timer at the company, said his pay came in two weeks late in September, and even then, he received only 10 per cent of his pay. He added that the last time he had received his pay on time was in March 2023, and the last time he received his pay at all was in October. “The delayed salary has affected me in my daily needs and spending as I am also a full-time student in university, and do not have much time to earn money for my monthly spending,” said Mr Kuah. Ms Joey Peh, Stickies’ former marketing manager, told ST on Jan 22 that she resigned in December after months of not receiving her pay and CPF contributions on time. “It was not just a one-off thing. It started to happen more frequently and that’s when the red flags started popping up,” Ms Peh said, adding that she had tried to raise this issue with higher management before she finally resigned. More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/stickies-bar-abruptly-shuts-down-outlets-37-employees-file-salary-related-claims
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SimplyGo SIMPLY FAILED!!!!! App unresponsive, notifications for transactions not reflected and website not accessible by some!!!!!
In Current Affairs
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Jan 24, 2024
Once a fool , always a fool.
0
SimplyGo SIMPLY FAILED!!!!! App unresponsive, notifications for transactions not reflected and website not accessible by some!!!!!
In Current Affairs
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Jan 22, 2024
Commuters no longer need to switch to SimplyGo as LTA U-turns on move to replace older ticketing system • Commuters who bought or converted to SimplyGo cards between Jan 9 and 22 can switch back to an EZ-Link card for free • The older EZ-Link system allows commuters to see their fare deductions and card balances at fare gates and bus card readers • "I apologise on behalf of MOT and LTA for the delays commuters experienced when they tried to convert their existing EZ Link cards," says Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat SINGAPORE: Commuters will no longer be made to switch to the SimplyGo payment platform for public transport, as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has reversed a decision to phase out the older ticketing system following complaints. The government will spend an additional S$40 million so that commuters can continue to use EZ-Link cards and NETS FlashPay cards if they wish to, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat announced on Monday (Jan 22). Those who have upgraded to a SimplyGo EZ-Link card may exchange it for the previous EZ-Link card for free if they prefer to use the older ticketing system. Announcing the decision on Monday, Mr Chee acknowledged the concerns of commuters who want to see their fare deductions and card balances when they tap out at fare gates and bus card readers. They are currently not able to do so using SimplyGo cards. Explaining why this is the case, LTA said on Jan 12 that while it is "technically possible", it would take a "few seconds" for fare gates and bus readers to obtain and display the card balance and deduction information from the backend system. This would, in turn, slow down the entry and exit for commuters. "I have discussed your feedback and concerns with MOT (Ministry of Transport) and LTA," Mr Chee said in a Facebook post. "We have decided to extend the use of the current CBT (card-based ticketing) system for adult commuters, and not to sunset the system in 2024 as originally planned. "We will spend an additional S$40 million so that commuters can continue to use EZ Link cards and NETS FlashPay cards if they wish to." FREE EXCHANGE OF CARDS Adult commuters who have purchased a SimplyGo EZ-Link card, or converted their EZ-Link cards to SimplyGo EZ-Link cards between Jan 9 and Jan 22, now have the option to switch back to the previous card for free.  Concession cardholders who received a SimplyGo-compatible card or converted their cards to SimplyGo on or before Jan 22 can also exchange their card for free, if they do not wish to continue using SimplyGo cards. This group includes seniors, students, Workfare Transport Concession cardholders and people with disabilities, said LTA. More details on the card exchange will be available by the end of February. "We seek commuters’ understanding that we require some time to prepare our operations for the card exchange, to minimise inconvenience to commuters," LTA added. The SimplyGo platform was introduced in 2019, which enables commuters to use contactless bank cards as their travel card on public transport. LTA had planned to phase out the older ticketing system from Jun 1 this year in favour of SimplyGo, noting that around two-thirds of adult public transport fares are currently paid through SimplyGo EZ-Link cards or bank cards. The legacy card-based ticketing system for adult commuters is also nearing the end of its operational lifespan, LTA said earlier this month. Mr Chee said on Monday that he has tasked LTA to study ways to enhance the features and improve the user experience for account-based ticketing cards – which include SimplyGo and bank cards. He added that in particular, the authority will look at possible solutions for such cards to display fare deductions and stored value card balances at fare gates and bus card readers. BENEFITS OF ACCOUNT-BASED TICKETING CARDS Despite its shortcomings, account-based ticketing (ABT) cards like SimplyGo have their benefits, said the Transport Minister.  For instance, if a commuter misplaces the card, the balance can be protected because the value is stored in the user's account. "Whereas if they lose a card-based ticketing card, the value stored in the card will be lost," Mr Chee noted. "Some people buy ABT stored value cards for their family members, so that they can top up the value more conveniently using the SimplyGo app," he added. Such cards have become more popular, Mr Chee said, with about 40 per cent of adult commuters now using bank cards or mobile wallets. The minister also apologised for the delays commuters experienced when they tried to convert their existing cards to SimplyGo ones. In the days after LTA's initial announcement to phase out the legacy EZ-Link system, some commuters told CNA that they encountered hiccups in the upgrading process.  A surge in transaction volumes caused the SimplyGo app and ticketing machines to be less responsive, said LTA at the time.  Last Friday, a free exchange service for those looking to swap their NETS FlashPay cards for the NETS Prepaid Card was not available. The SimplyGo upgrade feature was also "temporarily unavailable" at some ticketing machines on Saturday. “I apologise on behalf of MOT (the Ministry of Transport) and LTA for the delays commuters experienced when they tried to convert their existing EZ-Link cards. This could have been avoided with better preparation,” said Mr Chee. "LTA has worked to address this issue. It has updated the SimplyGo app and speeded up the card conversion process." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/simplygo-ezlink-card-lta-u-turn-free-exchange-40-million-4064446
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Jie jie gets "groped" by dragon in Chinatown....
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Jan 21, 2024
Despite online criticism, SUTD students proud of annual CNY lantern designs in Chinatown • Since 2012, student volunteers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design have been designing the Chinese New Year lanterns in Chinatown • Some of these designs, including the dragon-themed design this year, have become the subject of online criticisms • TODAY spoke with three student volunteers from this year’s project who shared what the design process was like and how they tackled the criticisms SINGAPORE — As a child, Gan Bei Ru would marvel at the Chinese New Year lanterns that she saw in Chinatown and at the River Hongbao. “Every time I saw these lanterns, I was curious about whether they were designed by professional painters or designers,” the 22-year-old said. So when the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) student found out that she could participate in the lantern design process through her school, she jumped at the chance. But the realisation of a childhood fantasy comes with a little grief: Scathing criticism from a segment of the population. In 2019, the pig-themed lanterns were slammed for looking "dirty". Last year's rabbit-themed lanterns attracted snarky comments that they looked like rabbits sitting on toilet seats. And the brickbats have already streamed in for this year's centrepiece dragon design, which some people said looks "lecherous". But the SUTD students, who have played a part in designing the festive lanterns along Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road since 2012, are taking it in their stride. “Of course we are quite worried about the public sentiment every year, but I guess we will take it with an open heart,” said Ms Gan. She is one of this year's team of 13 student volunteers who were recruited through an open call. Interested students had to go through a selection process which involved interviews with SUTD’s Office of Student Life and a student mentor who had participated in the previous year’s Chinese New Year lantern design. Those who were picked for the project had to come up with design concepts that would be pitched to the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee. The committee picks a concept, and then each student is tasked to work on a portion of the final design, which they would have to complete in nine months. Student volunteer Tan Si Min, 21, said that to create her designs, she researched how dragons are used in designs across the world and in traditional Chinese architecture, where there is always either a dragon on the roof or a dragon that winds around a pillar. “So that’s what I took inspiration from for my work on the overhead design which the cars go under. I thought it would be a good idea to have like a gate so that people can enter the installation,” she said. CRITICISM ONLINE Then comes the actual construction and fabrication process for the lanterns, which the students were not involved in. But they understand how things can get lost in translation, from the designs to the build, which inevitably led to the online criticism.“ I feel that from design to fabrication, there is a gap but for this year, I can say that at least 80 per cent of our designs are coming to life, which is quite heartening to see,” Ms Gan said. TODAY has reached out to the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee to find out more about the contractor who fabricated and assembled the lantern designs. Ms Gan, who took part in last year’s project, said that the criticism received for the rabbit design was something they took on board. The problem with the rabbit design was that it did not come off well when viewed from certain angles. So for this year, the team tried to create a more symmetrical design that would appeal to people viewing from both sides of the road. “With every bad comment, we take it as a learning point and move on from them to improve our next design,” Ms Gan said. Fellow volunteer Chua Shuei Ray Eusebius, 24, said that the team also keeps a folder of past designs so that the next team could learn from the design process and take into account public sentiment to design something better than the last one. “As long as I’m happy and my project team is happy and most of the public sentiment is all right, then I think we would have done a good job,” he said. When asked what they gained from this experience, Ms Tan said that she learned how to improve her time management, as she had been working on the project while she was overseas on a student exchange programme. For Ms Gan, it was dealing with stakeholders — which include the committee as well as the public. “(I learnt) how to be receptive to criticism and not feel discouraged by the comments, but to filter out the good and constructive parts to improve our designs,” she said. Dr Zheng Kai, an SUTD lecturer who guides the students as their faculty advisor, believes that the students grew as team players in the course of their work. “I think it’s never easy to work on design with a team, but when you come together and complement each other to present a final deliverable design that they are proud of, it is a testament to their teamwork, bond and skills,” he said. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/chinese-new-year-lantern-chinatown-sutd-2346176
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S. Iswaran is in "RAIL" trouble.
In Current Affairs
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Jan 20, 2024
Singapore Minister’s Legal Woes Sink Storied Political Career S. Iswaran, the Singapore transport minister who resigned after facing graft charges, was in public service for more than a quarter of a century. It took just months for his storied career to unravel. The 61-year-old Iswaran — who helped bring Formula 1 racing to Singapore and represented the city-state at the World Economic Forum — was charged Thursday with two counts of corruption, 24 counts of obtaining “valuable things” from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant, and one for obstructing justice. He said he’s innocent. He tendered his resignation earlier this week to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who accepted it on Wednesday. “I reject the allegations in the charges and will now focus on clearing my name,” Iswaran said in a letter to Lee on Jan. 16. “Given the circumstances, I feel it is right for me to resign from Cabinet, as a member of parliament and as a member” of the ruling People’s Action Party, he said. Iswaran’s resignation is the end of a high-flying government career that had seen him in leadership positions in at least five ministries, including key ones such as trade, a sector vital to the city-state’s survival. His downfall marks a low point for Singapore, which prides itself on a reputation for clean governance and business-friendly policies. The People’s Action Party, whose distinct white uniforms are meant to signify its politicians’ incorruptibility, has ruled the island since the country’s independence in 1965. “I am disappointed and saddened that you are leaving politics in these circumstances,” Lee wrote in reply to Iswaran. “But it is essential that I deal with such matters rigorously in accordance with the law. It is the right thing to do.” Iswaran had held the role of transport minister since May 2021, and was concurrently the minister-in-charge of trade relations, representing Singapore at global meetings such as the WEF in Davos and those by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Tasked by Lee for almost a decade to deliver the annual National Day speech in Tamil — one of Singapore’s four official languages — it was the premier himself who announced in July the anti-corruption agency’s probe into Iswaran. Lee later said Iswaran had been blocked from access to official resources and government buildings, the same corridors he had roamed since first winning a seat in parliament in 1997. Tough Times The Iswaran scandal is taking place at a particularly sensitive time, with the country preparing for a leadership change this year when Lee is expected to hand power over to his deputy, Lawrence Wong. Iswaran’s arrest in July 2023 added to a difficult few months for the PAP, with voters’ trust already shaken by the poor optics of two ministers renting state-owned colonial mansions. They were later cleared of wrongdoing in a government review. In mid-July, speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin — once seen by observers as a prime ministerial candidate — resigned after an extramarital affair with a fellow lawmaker. Singapore’s ministers are among the world’s best-paid, earning about S$1.1 million ($820,000) a year, according to the Public Service Division. The city-state is ranked as the fifth-least corrupt country in the world, according to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, trailing Denmark, Finland, New Zealand and Norway. Iswaran was alleged to have improperly obtained tickets to watch musicals and soccer matches in the UK over a period of years from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Iswaran was also charged with obtaining dozens of tickets to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix race over several years from Ong. A spokesman for Ong declined to comment about the case. Career Journey Iswaran started his public service journey in 1987 in the home affairs and education ministries before he was seconded to the National Trades Union Congress, an umbrella labor movement with ties to the government. He was the first chief executive officer of the Singapore Indian Development Association, a government-approved body aimed at boosting the socio-economic status of the local Indian community. He was director for international trade in the lead up to Singapore’s hosting of the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference in 1996. Later, he was managing director at state-owned investor Temasek Holdings, where he carried out investment, takeover, buy-out and merger transactions in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, high-tech manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors. Iswaran’s working relationship with Ong predated the 2008 arrival of F1’s night race in Singapore. When he was managing director at Temasek in the early 2000s, the state investor backed Ong’s bid for NatSteel Ltd., Singapore’s biggest steelmaker. The tycoon won control of the steelmaker in 2003 through one of his entities known as 98 Holdings Ltd., which listed Iswaran as a director on behalf of Temasek. The state investor unloaded its stake in Ong’s firm in 2004. In 2022, a consortium led by Ong, together with units of Temasek, acquired a media and property company in the city-state. Easy Camaraderie Iswaran boasted an easy camaraderie publicly with legislative and ministerial colleagues. He was often seen chatting with peers as they left the parliament floor, where he has a seat in the front row as a minister. As is typical with many Singapore politicians, Iswaran’s family is rarely in the limelight. He met his wife when they were both in their late teens and studying at the University of Adelaide, she said in an interview with India Se magazine in 2019. He read economics there, and later earned a masters in public administration from Harvard University. His wife is listed as chairwoman of a non-profit organization which helps students from low-income families when there is a crisis. They have three children who are now around their early 20s, according to the 2019 interview. His Instagram feed over eight years featured mainly his interactions with constituents on his walkabouts and at community events, cycling around the island, hosting visiting politicians from overseas and his travels for work. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made some appearances, as did other politicians from the South Asian country. One post was a picture of Iswaran, his son and soccer star David Beckham. Famous Friends In the early months of Covid-19, Iswaran reached out to Indian celebrities including actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and musician A.R. Rahman to send messages of support to the local migrant worker community who weren’t allowed to leave their dorms. The transport portfolio he oversaw is one of the most challenging in the Cabinet. The ills of subway breakdowns, a shortage of taxis or complaints about ride-hailing platforms and high car prices are shared on social media quickly and widely, with blame directed at the government. In announcing a 2021 Cabinet reshuffle, Lee praised Iswaran’s work in his prior role as communications and information minister, saying he had “helped us understand and respond to citizens’ views and concerns.” Iswaran made reviving aviation a priority after the pandemic devastated the travel industry. The national carrier had cut thousands of jobs during Covid-19 and was forced to raise billions of dollars to survive. As the nation gradually reopened its borders and allowed more freedoms domestically with the easing of the pandemic, Iswaran said in January 2022 that Singapore would continue to host the F1 race for another seven years after “thoroughly evaluating the long term benefits that a term extension could bring.” Lee wrote to Iswaran on Wednesday that the integrity of the ruling party and government must be upheld. “Singaporeans expect no less,” he said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-18/s-iswaran-s-fall-after-corruption-charges-comes-at-crucial-time-for-singapore
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SimplyGo SIMPLY FAILED!!!!! App unresponsive, notifications for transactions not reflected and website not accessible by some!!!!!
In Current Affairs
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Jan 15, 2024
Singaporeans Speak on the Not-So-EZ Transition to SimplyGo Confusion ensued after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that bus and train payment cards must be upgraded. Come June this year, those with adult EZ-Link cards and NETS FlashPay cards will be left hanging at the gantry. Commuters must either upgrade to SimplyGo EZ-Link cards or exchange them for NETS Prepaid cards to ride. Commuters questioned the benefits of the switch to the SimplyGo system. They pointed out that a card balance is not displayed at the MRT fare gate under the SimplyGo system, which is a hassle for those who plan their budgets down to a tee.  Some raised valid concerns about whether the new system could have been more friendly to less tech-savvy seniors. While the new system arrives with a wider range of services, those services are accessed via yet another companion app for commuters to keep up with.  Others who’ve long abandoned EZ-Link cards in favour of contactless debit and credit cards (or smartphones and smartwatches) don’t really care—nothing’s changing for them, after all.  Regardless of how you feel about the impending upgrade to SimplyGo, one thing remains clear: This was one confusing ride.  “The SimplyGo system doesn’t show you your card balance. And if too many people ahead of you at the gantry are on SimplyGo, it’s difficult to tell whether the fare gate is registered because it says the same thing on the gantry screen. There’s no changing card balance, so you don’t know you tapped out.  The new system seems streamlined to the point of inconvenience. The old EZ-Link system worked fine. Sure, it needed a few cosmetic upgrades. But this overhaul, with its app and streamlined system, feels like it’s trying to be advanced for the sake of it without considering the daily commuter in mind.” – Isaiah, 27 “Maybe it’s just the neurodivergent need to see things laid out in front of me; if not, I’ll completely lose track or forget about its existence. I’m the kind of person who needs to go through the physical motions of adding money to my transport card to monitor how much I’m spending on transport.  Simply not having my balance shown when I tap in and out of rides becomes an increased inconvenience because I end up boarding the bus without any remaining balance on my card, which could’ve been easily prevented if I could, y’know, see how much money I have left.  And before anyone says I can just pay via the SimplyGo app, just how many apps—ones with only one purpose—do you have on your phone? What a waste of space.”– Adrianna, 28 “It doesn’t affect me because I use contactless payment for everything. It says SimplyGo whenever I’m at the fare gate, so I’m used to it already.  For those without credit cards, I can see why it would be tricky for them. The SimplyGo system requires a… different form of financial planning because the card values are not shown immediately.” – Eleanor, 29 “SimplyGo can actually track movements because my card is connected to my dad’s account. The app literally updates my dad where I went, where I alighted, and how much my fare is.  Once, I went to Plaza Singapura, and my dad questioned me the moment I came back. I know he can go to the SimplyGo app to double confirm if I am telling the truth about my whereabouts. It feels worse knowing that he can track my movements via the app. There’s literally no privacy!  The app updates in real-time as well. When my sister comes home from work, my dad can check the time she boards the bus. Sometimes he’ll go: ‘Oh, she’ll be back soon. She just boarded the bus.’ It’s so creepy.  Sometimes, I’ll use my bank card to pay for trips instead, pretending that I’ve forgotten to bring my SimplyGo EZ-Link card out.” – Miss S, 26 “This transition to the SimplyGo system was not carried out properly. The announcement was sudden. I mean, the whole point of EZ-Link cards is that they store value, which can be used for other functions like paying for ERP. All in just one app.  But cards which have been ‘upgraded’ to SimplyGo cannot be used with motoring applications. What’s the point of upgrading to a card that has fewer multi-functionality? That’s like trading a slightly older Swiss Army Knife for a newer and sleeker pen knife. Oh, and the pen knife comes with an app. If it matters.” – Ralph, 26 “Think about the seniors who will now have to toggle between the app and the card to see their card balance and to top-up. That’s yet another app for them to pick up and learn and navigate. And really, who needs another specialised app for a super-specific purpose? It’s a case of where if you only have a hammer, everything else looks like a nail. Now, every solution is about streamlining and coming up with an accompanying app. The problem is that SimplyGo looks like it’s digitalising for digitalisation’s sake. Not everything needs to go digital or have an accompanying app.” – Jaiden, 23 https://www.ricemedia.co/not-so-easy-transition-to-simplygo/
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[GVGT] Kurt Tay is appealing to the general public for donations to fund his legal woes
In Chillin' In The Lounge
Ah Sam Boi Boi
Jan 11, 2024
Online personality Kurt Tay charged with distributing obscene material, making threats SINGAPORE – Online personality Kurt Tay was handed 10 charges on Jan 10 for distributing obscene material and sending threatening messages on the Telegram messaging app. Having appeared in court before, the 41-year-old, whose real name is Tay Foo Wei, now faces 11 charges in total. Ten of them are for distributing intimate images and videos of a woman without her consent. According to court documents, Tay allegedly sent photos and videos of the woman performing a sex act to multiple Telegram groups and users on Oct 27, 2023. He did so purportedly knowing that it was likely to cause the woman humiliation, alarm and distress. Court documents did not say whether he knows the woman. His 11th charge is for contravening the Protection from Harassment Act by making threatening, abusive or insulting communication. On Oct 18, 2023, Tay allegedly asked in a Telegram group chat if anyone knew where to hire a killer and that he wanted someone to die. The messages included vulgarities. Tay’s lawyer said in court on Jan 10 that his client has been harassed and heckled by the public, causing grief to his family, and that he will be making police reports. Tay, who auditioned for Singapore Idol in 2006, is known for his antics including carrying a World Wrestling Entertainment belt and getting breast implants. For each charge of distributing intimate material without a woman’s consent, he can be jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or given any combination of these punishments. He could be fined up to $5,000 if he is found guilty of making threatening, abusive or insulting communication. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/online-personality-kurt-tay-charged-with-distributing-obscene-material-sending-threatening-messages
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Ah Sam Boi Boi

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