SINGAPORE: It is quiet, almost sombre, in the wards of the nursing home moments before Mr Jack Tan arrives. And it seems as if the only reception he will get would be the impassive faces of the patients.

But that is before the transformation begins. That is why the 56-year-old is there. That is his thing.

Once his equipment is set up and he starts on his electronic wind instrument, a range of emotions ripple through the three wards of the Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home.

Resident Lilian Khoo, who is usually depressed and moody, is on her feet and dancing to the oldies he is playing for them.

“I’ve never seen her as happy as I’ve seen her today,” says Mr Richard Then, the third son of the late Mdm Lee Ah Mooi.

Mdm Khoo is not the only one in smiles. Others are singing and clapping. One resident, however, is gripping Mr Then’s hand instead – and crying.

Mr Tan knows his target audience well. Earlier, he told CNA Insider what to expect:

In the beginning, they’ll ignore you. Some will start to love your music, some will dance along, some will sing along, some will cry.

Even a bedridden resident is responding to the music, moving his hands and feet. Mr Tan has seen this before as well, including among those on intravenous drip.

His music has even brought tears out of patients in coma, which in one instance, he was told, came as a final relief before death.

The irony is that his decision to bring joy to others came about after he was faced with the prospect of his own death five years ago, and which he narrowly avoided last year.

Struck by an illness that is still dogging him and thinking that his days were numbered, Mr Tan, a welder, decided to make music as a busker. Now he is touching lives.

A MOTHER’S GIFT

Music has been his passion since young, and he thanks his late mother for that. Her love of singing had an indelible influence on him.

“Whenever she was free after cooking, she used to sing,” recalled Mr Tan, one of eight children – four boys and four girls – born to a hawker and a housewife. “And each time she sang, I’d sit beside her.”

But as they were poor, his parents could not afford music lessons or even a musical instrument for him.

At the age of 17, he started working part-time as a shopkeeper and saved up to learn music. His first lesson was on the drums, which he had always wanted to play.

By the time he was 19, he was drumming in bands in varied places, from pubs to street festivals for the seventh lunar month.

It was not long before he began thinking, “How far can I go? I want to go up.”

So he auditioned, successfully, for the Singapore Soka Association’s symphony band. For 18 years, he played for the Buddhist organisation, representing the country in international competitions and performing in big events locally, including four shows at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

He has also drummed for two-time Grammy winner and jazz artiste Shunzo Ohno, his “mentor”. But he never thought of making music his career, as that would have been “quite difficult” in Singapore.

“I wanted to start a family. With a family, you’d need to have a daytime job,” said Mr Tan, who is married with two sons, aged 20 and 25.

That job that paid the bills was as a welder, first in the marine industry and then in aviation, spanning almost 30 years now.

It was always music, however, that nourished his soul. Yet, for all he had accomplished musically, he had not quite fulfilled his mother’s words to him as a son enthralled by her singing.

He recounted:

Use music to touch people’s hearts. That’s what my mum said. You can be a very good singer, but if your music doesn’t touch others, you’re not a good singer.

Those words came flooding back to him during the “darkest moment” of his life.

‘WHY ME?’

In 2013, he started feeling fatigued and fell ill often. His company, ST Aerospace Engineering, sent him for blood tests, and that was when his life was turned upside down – even before he got the results.

At the Singapore General Hospital where the tests would be done, he saw thank-you cards from the families of leukaemia patients – many who had died – and noticed other patients with shaven heads.

He googled the disease and learnt that it was a type of blood cancer. He cried.

What the doctors found, however, was lead in his blood and low blood cell counts, which had weakened his immune system. But they could not conclusively diagnose leukaemia, though they suspected related issues with his bone marrow.

“The doctor said, ‘I can’t give you any medication. I don’t know what to request for you,’” said Mr Tan, who showed CNA Insider his medical reports. There was no medicine that could remove the lead in his blood either.

For three months, his company put him on administrative duties. The thought that he may not have much time left ran through his mind. So did the question ‘why me’, many times. But eventually, it gave way to another question.

“Why not take this opportunity to make my life more meaningful, and this period of time to make sure I can play music to touch people’s hearts?” he asked himself.

I don’t make a lot of money. I’m not very well-educated. I think, maybe, this small part I can contribute to society. Then that’s why I said, ‘Okay, I’ll move on with this until the moment that I can’t play.’

Having played in many different places before, he knew that he wanted his music to move the man in the street most of all. So he thought of busking, also because it would not be the choice of many musicians.

It was not unlike what his mother used to do when she was young, during World War II. She told him that she used to sell flowers on the street and sing at the same time.

If she could she see him busking now, he thinks it would bring tears to her eyes.

NOT ANOTHER BEGGAR ON THE STREET

Mr Tan’s sons were supportive. But he received a different reaction when he told his friends and bosses that he was auditioning for a busking licence. He said:

You know what they told me? Oh my God, another beggar on the street. I was quite sad.

The comment played on his mind. At his first busking location, Tampines, he thought of wearing a cap and sunglasses so that his colleagues, friends and relatives would not recognise him.

In the end, he simply kept the volume of his music low. “I was so shy,” he admitted. But the encouragement of other buskers soon gave him the confidence he needed.

“They came by and said, ‘You play good music, just that you’re not loud enough to capture passers-by,’” he recounted. “From that day, my whole concept of busking started to change.”

His choice of musical instrument had also changed. Two years earlier, he bought an electronic wind instrument with seven octaves and about 100 built-in synthesiser sounds.

Invented in Japan, it simulates the sound of various instruments, such as the flute, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, violin and drums, as well as voice. He took six months to master it.

“There’s something different about this instrument. You can do a lot of magic,” he said.

One of the things it has done is to help him cater for the musical tastes of the different generations, depending on his location. And slowly, he began to achieve his goal.

He remembers the time when he was playing the Chinese song Endless Love, which reminded him of his mother, and “this aunty cried on the street”.

“I asked the aunty, ‘Why do you cry?’ The aunty said, ‘I cry because your music touched me. It reminded me of my late husband,’” recounted Mr Tan.

Then there were occasions when people would come back and request the same songs. As he began to recognise his passers-by, he would play the tunes they liked. And the crowds grew.

Outside City Hall MRT Station, one of his allocated sites, the crowd was so big once that the police came and asked him to move further away from the station exit.

He said appreciatively: “When people start to enjoy my music, I feel that, oh my God, I’ve done something that moved their hearts.”

HIGH-RISK SURGERY

Busking was giving Mr Tan purpose and satisfaction. But last year, his health robbed him of that. His fatigue wore him down to the point that he could no longer perform.

He then found himself waking up at night, short of breath. In June, the results of a hospital check-up showed that his sleep disorder had to do with his respiratory system.

Soon after, he had a thyroid issue that even turned his knuckles black. And within the span of a month, he began to feel numbness in his hands and feet.

That last symptom called for a scan to detect whether he had any cancerous cells or growth. The result showed a lump near his groin. But the doctors could not be certain it was cancerous.

“I cried because it wasn’t easy – one thing after another,” he said. And when he was referred to the National Cancer Centre for surgery, he went into a tailspin, just because of the word “cancer”. He became depressed.

The operation would be a high-risk one, as the growth was very near a main blood vessel. And the doctor told him that two patients had died during this kind of operation because of bleeding.

Not wanting to have the stress of living with the lump, however, he agreed to the surgery. Before the appointed date, he instructed his younger son: “If dad dies, this is the insurance you claim, this is my CPF.”

Mr Tan also made a vow to keep if he survived the surgery. “I promised myself that I’d work much harder for music. I’d use music as therapy for those patients who need it more than me,” he said.

Everyone lives with a mission. I hadn’t finished my mission. I didn’t want to die.

He was conscious during the operation – and wanted to rejoice once the surgeon told him the entire growth had been removed.

“I wanted to stand up and go out because my brother-in-law and sister were waiting for me … Just imagine, I was alive!” he said in his usual animated way.

His sisters were a pillar of support for him, before and after the surgery, caring for him on his road to recovery. Although he wanted to return to busking, they ordered him to rest first.

“I told him, ‘You should keep yourself all the more fit … because if you’re sick, you won’t be able to share enough (of your music),’” said sister Sharon.

In all, their brother could not busk for 10 months last year.

CHINATOWN’S PIED PIPER

In January, Mr Tan was fired up again. And it marked the “turning point” of his busking journey, though not solely because of his recovery.

With Chinese New Year approaching, he started busking at weekends in Chinatown – and found a group of young-at-heart seniors who still remember the district for its lively sights and sounds of old.

He became the spark that transformed their memories into relived experiences. The seniors came, they listened and they danced. Then they asked for more – for him to keep returning every weekend with his medley of melodies from the 1960s.

Unless he has to perform at an event, he has obliged, even adding colourful lights to his set-up.

“I believe some (older folks) can’t even afford to see a concert,” he said. “I just do my part to throw a mini-concert on the street for them.”

Given their age profile, his usual night’s takings of about S$110 to S$120 is the lowest among the handful of sites where he can busk – about half of what he can possibly earn.

But he stressed: “It’s not about money. I want to bring joy.”

He keeps going because of the difference in the seniors now. Describing what he saw before, he said: “They didn’t particularly have anything to do. They just sat down and watched people move about.”

Still, he never expected the crowd to grow as big as it did, blocking an entire passageway along New Bridge Road at times. Here, the police have come a number of times to ensure that the public can pass.

Prior to CNA Insider’s video on these street-jamming seniors, he had given out 400 name cards to them. In the three weeks since, more people have shown up, including youngsters who brought their parents.

Wholesale otak-otak seller Hero Loh is already an avowed fan. “His music is very good. When you hear it, you feel comfortable,” said the 64-year-old.

If he continues, then I’ll continue. Then we’ll have (dance) partners; then I’ll stay with him forever to dance.

Even as people seek out Mr Tan on the street, he has also been doing more to bring his music – a repertoire of 400 to 500 songs now – into the wards of nursing homes and hospitals.

While he has been playing for patients for some years, the frequency has increased to about twice a month. And he wants to keep doing it for free.

“It’s a blessing that I’m able to go and perform for them,” he said. “I believe music can heal. It’s a healing process.”

His own health is under control so far. Every morning, he must take probiotics for his colon. He has medication for high cholesterol and also for oily blood, which he needs to dilute.

His blood issues have yet to be resolved, though the lead content is coming down. And he did not have to fret about his hospital bills because of his company’s medical benefits.

He still experiences fatigue, but his music is able to get him through it. “I have to psyche myself up and say I’m not sick, my blood is okay. This is how I change my mindset,” he said.

“I still want to do more. I still think I can do more.”

Know of any everyday heroes who are making an impact? Drop us a note here at CNA Insider.

SINGAPORE: Earlier this month, Ms June Eng made plans to visit a new grocery store with her family but for this shopping trip, she had to be prepared.

With three reusable containers in her bag, the recycling enthusiast headed to UnPackt – a social enterprise located in Jalan Kuras that sells daily necessities without packaging.

Despite having to bring her own carrier, the 42-year-old, who became a vegetarian four years ago to reduce her carbon footprint, described it as an experience that she had been “looking forward to”. 

“I always wanted to do this but never had the chance,” she said, while passing a container to her child to get a snack. “This is a good initiative that’s long overdue.”

With an aim of reducing unnecessary waste, plastic bags or any form of plastic packaging are a no-no at UnPackt. 

Instead of the usual pre-packed items that one is used to seeing at supermarkets, dried food, oils and cleaning supplies are stocked in self-service dispensers that line up the shelves. Customers are free to fill up their carriers with the amount they want and prices are determined by weight.

The grocery store, which opened its doors just two weeks ago, is not alone in touting this packaging-free concept.

At The Social Space, a multi-concept lifestyle store along Kreta Ayer Street, the refillery section is decked out with at least ten dispensers, each ranging from 15 to 20 litres. Items on sale include shampoo, eco-friendly dishwashing and laundry liquids.

Pop-up store The Green Collective is also encouraging shoppers to bring more than just their own bags. Among the 15 eco-friendly brands gathered under one roof at OneKM Mall, two of them sell food items and Castile liquid soap without packaging.

All three shops require consumers to bring their own containers and bottles, or purchase one in-store. At UnPackt, there is also the option of using a donated one for free.

“ENCOURAGING START”

These zero-waste businesses come as packaging continues to make a big contribution to Singapore’s annual trash mountain. 

Figures from the National Environment Agency (NEA) showed that 1.7 million tonnes of waste was generated domestically in 2016. Of this, one-third was packaging waste, such as single-use plastic bags and takeaway food containers, that could fill up more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. 

With their stores offering plastic-free shopping options, the eco-conscious entrepreneurs are hoping to get Singaporeans started on reducing waste in their daily lives. 

UnPackt’s co-founder Florence Tay said the response thus far has been “quite good”, with the grocery store seeing a couple of regulars within two weeks of opening. 

“We managed to encourage some of the residents nearby to embark on purchasing without packaging,” said the former marketing manager at the Singapore Heart Foundation. “On their first time here, they had to use one of our recycled containers but subsequently, they started bringing their own.” 

“This is definitely faster than I expected,” said Ms Tay.

At The Social Space, its founders Daniel Yeow and Cheryl Ou have also had an “encouraging start” with consumers who may not have been committed environmentalists. 

“There was one aunty who happened to walk by, decided to come into our store and started asking many questions like why we’re doing this and how the refillery concept works,” said Ms Ou. “She really had no clue as it was her first time seeing something like this.”

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting her to come back but she did and with her own containers. These are the unexpected customers who make us really happy.” 

WIDENING THE REACH

Still, the entrepreneurs are aware that not all consumers have given them the green light, especially in Singapore where the use of single-use plastic, such as straws and food packaging, are entrenched in the country’s consumption habits.

“The aunty who lifted our spirits is not an anomaly, but neither is she the majority,” said Ms Ou, noting that most of the patrons at the refillery section continue to be zero-waste advocates.

Echoing that, Mr Mayur Singh, a co-founder of The Green Collective, said Singaporeans are generally aware of environmental issues, though there remains a “missing gap” between awareness and action.

“We all wanted to talk to more local consumers, which is why we are so happy to have the opportunity of a retail store in the heartlands. Just focusing on the expatriate community or those who are already eco-warriors won’t work,” said Mr Singh, who also runs social enterprise Coopita.

Pricing is a strategy that the businesses are banking on to appeal to more consumers.

Given the absence of individual packaging, the economics of bulk-purchasing allows UnPackt and The Social Space to price their products at 5 to 10 per cent cheaper, respectively.

“We are already saving because we are buying in bulk,” said Mr Yeow. “When deciding how much of that savings we should transfer to our customers, we decided that it needs to be significant enough for people to go ‘Alright, I can give this a try!’” 

Retail analyst Samuel Tan from Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Business noted that while more Singaporeans are paying attention to sustainable living, it is still a “long journey” when it comes to educating and cultivating a change in the buying behaviours of consumers. 

“Drawing from the experience of a leading environmentally-friendly retailer, it took years for Body Shop to be well accepted by shoppers for the brand’s belief and philosophy,” said Mr Tan, who suggested independent players like UnPackt to step up on their social media presence or consider tie-ups with bigger retailers. 

Ms Jen Teo, executive director of the Singapore Environment Council, reckoned that with green consumerism on the rise, eco-friendly stores are a “step in the right direction” and will likely do well in the long run.

But before that, more needs to be done to drum up awareness about Singapore’s environmental issues. 

“Singaporeans will need to learn to reduce waste and recycle more if it is to reach the goal of becoming a Zero Waste Nation by 2030. The key lies in understanding what we should use less of, and what we can and should eliminate in our daily living,” said Ms Tan. 

To spur more Singaporeans to take the first step towards reducing waste, The Green Collective has been holding weekly events, ranging from talks centred around various environmental issues to workshops on soap-making and upcycling of furniture. 

Co-founder Danielle Champagne said: “The idea is not just to sell, but to make this into a one-stop shop to bring together people with similar mindset while exposing the wider population to a greener lifestyle.” 

“We want to show that going green doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive,” she told Channel NewsAsia. “It is all about small, simple steps every day that make a difference.”

SINGAPORE: Reigning ONE Women’s atomweight champion Angela Lee edged out a close encounter with Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi on Friday (May 18), retaining her title and stretching her unbeaten streak to 9-0.

Judges awarded the five-round bout to the 21-year-old Lee – who represents Singapore – in a unanimous decision, as she cast aside doubts about her fitness following a long absence from the cage.

It was an emotional return for Lee after a car accident kept her out for about a year. Her last fight was in May last year.

But Lee’s opponent in her first match back could hardly have been tougher. Yamaguchi, 35, again displayed the kind of tenacity that saw the pair go to five rounds in their first title bout back in 2016.

“Mei is an incredibly tough opponent,” Lee said immediately after her win. “It’s a huge night for my family.”

The fight started evenly as both fighters traded blows on the mat. Lee however moved into a slight advantage, using her superior physique to try and pin her rival into submission.

But as the rounds rung by Yamaguchi grew into the match, and in the final round she landed a kick that sent Lee flying to the ground. The crowd gasped then cheered as Lee recovered to ensure a frantic finish.

In the end it was not enough for the diminutive Yamaguchi, who said afterwards that she thought she had done enough to level the points.

“Angela got some position on me but I thought I caught up with that knockdown,” she said. “But the decision still went to her, so I think that was a point for a champion.”

Nevertheless, Yamaguchi said she’s not giving up on the title just yet.

“I heard that (Angela) is going up the weight division, so maybe I can challenge for the title again,” she added. “I’ll keep training and getting stronger.”

SINGAPORE: A bill that will allow the Government to intervene to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect and self-neglect was passed in Parliament on Friday (May 18).

The Vulnerable Adults Bill defines such individuals as those aged 18 years or older who – because of mental or physical infirmity, disability or incapacity – are not able to protect themselves.

During the Second Reading of the Bill, Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee said that the bill seeks to protect individuals from, among other things, physical, psychological and emotional abuse and neglect such as deprivation of necessities. It also seeks to protect against self-neglect, which could see vulnerable adults end up living in “grossly” unsanitary or hazardous conditions.

The Bill empowers the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to enter private premises and to assess a possibly vulnerable adult, if there is reason to believe that the individual was, is, or is at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect or self-neglect.

MSF may also remove vulnerable adults from their residence and commit them to gazetted care facilities, or to the care of a fit person.

“I wish to assure members that committals to these care facilities will only be done as a last resort, for an appropriate duration, until the vulnerable adult can be safely reunited with his family,” Mr Lee said.

BILL REQUIRES FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STEP FORWARD

The effectiveness of the Bill, however, is dependent on those who meet and interact with vulnerable individuals stepping forward to raise alarm bells for community agencies and the authorities to intervene, Mr Lee said.

He cited the example of the “horrible and tragic” case of Annie Ee, an intellectually disabled waitress who died after eight months of abuse by her flatmates.

He also brought up another case in which help was provided after neighbours sounded the alert when they saw a 68-year-old early-stage dementia patient walking around with bruises.

The Family Service Centre (FSC) found that the daughter of the patient, identified as Madam Chua, would beat her mother every time the elderly woman soiled herself or left the stove on.

Social workers found out that the daughter was remorseful, and that her anger stemmed from frustration and stress from dealing with her mother’s failing health and a special needs son.

The daughter agreed to participate in counselling and assistance programmes to help her manage Madam Chua’s failing mental and physical health.

Since the FSC’s involvement, there have not been further incidents of violence, Mr Lee added. 

“Cases such as this remind us of the complexity of family relationships, and the crucial role that family and community intervention plays in helping vulnerable individuals,” Mr Lee said.

BILL PROTECTS WHISTLE-BLOWERS AND PROFESSIONALS

Mr Lee gave assurance that the Bill will protect individuals who report such cases to the relevant authorities. 

“Whistle-blowers will be protected from civil and criminal liability, as long as they had acted with reasonable care and in good faith,” Mr Lee said, adding that professionals such as doctors, lawyers and counsellors will also not be regarded to have breached any professional etiquette or ethics.

In order for swift action to be taken by agencies to protect the vulnerable adult and hold perpetrators accountable, confidential information relating to a vulnerable adult may also be shared among agencies where necessary, Mr Lee said. 

MEMBERS QUESTION SCOPE OF BILL, POWERS TO INSTITUTIONALISE

Members unanimously supported the Bill, but asked for clarifications.

Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim and MP for Jalan Besar GRC Denise Phua raised concerns on how the government will exercise its power to institutionalise vulnerable adults.

“Before the State exercises its drastic powers of intervention, I would expect that a case by case, subjective assessment would have to be made,” Ms Lim said.

Being institutionalised generally comes with a loss of pride and a loss of autonomy, having to live by an institution’s rules, she added.

In response, Mr Lee said that the individual’s state will be assessed by a qualified person. A “mental capacity” form that is in the works will first have to be filled up. He added that the situation will be assessed holistically. 

Members also asked why financial abuse was not included in the definition of abuse. The Bill refers to abuse as emotional, physical or psychological abuse.

Among members who questioned the exclusion of financial abuse were Nominated Member of Parliament Chia Yong Yong, Jalan Besar GRC MP Lily Neo and MP for Marine Parade GRC Seah Kian Peng.

Financial abuse is under-reported, due to its “subtle, non-tangible nature” said Mr Seah. Quoting a 2014 study by Trans Safe Centre, which deals with abuse against the elderly, he said that one in three cases of such abuse was of a financial nature. 

The government can intervene if financial abuse occurs alongside neglect and abuse covered under the Bill , Mr Lee said in response. He also said that other family members do step forward to prevent financial exploitation.

“Let us gain more experience in operationalising this vulnerable adult protection framework while we continue to study this complex issue of financial exploitation of family members,” he added. 

SINGAPORE: The tit-for-tat tariffs between the US and China have had “limited” negative impact on Singapore’s economy as they affect only a “modest share” of the country’s exports, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing in Parliament on Friday (May 18).

An analysis by his ministry estimated that about 0.09 per cent of Singapore’s domestic exports could be directly affected by the trade tariffs, Mr Chan said.

Still, the Government is closely monitoring developments, particularly for any indirect impact on firms and workers over the longer term, he said. Economic agencies are also in close contact with companies that may be affected.

Mr Chan, who took over the helm at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) this month following the latest Cabinet reshuffle, said he has also called for an in-depth study to be done on the possible implications of a trade war. 

One direct implication is rising costs for businesses, but even if tariffs are not targeted at Singapore, there could also be a “knock-on impact” as global trade flows shift, he said.

Tariffs targeted at other countries affect the trade flows between and among these countries, which could also affect Singapore, he explained in his reply to a question from West Coast GRC Member of Parliament Patrick Tay.

“Whether it’s positive, negative or to what extent, we will need to study this carefully,” he said.

“All these are complex issues and requires us to watch the trends carefully. It requires us to review our economic models to make sure we understand the shifts in the trade flows and ask ourselves what other actions do we need to in order to safeguard ourselves from these uncertainties.”

For instance, Singapore must not be overly dependent on any particular markets, he said.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on varying items including steel, aluminium and solar panels – aimed chiefly at China and has threatened more on other Chinese goods.

In retaliation, China announced a list of counter-tariffs on a variety of US exports, such as crops and aircraft. 

A Chinese delegation is currently in Washington for talks with top US administration officials, following a separate round of negotiations in Beijing earlier this month.

Mr Chan said Singapore has registered its concerns with US and China, and continues to engage them.

With the country being a strong proponent of free trade and supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system, Singapore remains concerned that an “escalating cycle of expanding unilateral tariff measures will result in negative spill-over effects on global supply chains”.

“Any disruption to global trade flows or trade volumes will affect big and small economies alike. We hope that countries will exercise restraint and avoid further escalation of tensions,” he said.

SINGAPORE: Seventeen people were arrested in police raids on several unlicensed massage parlours and public entertainment outlets in Singapore on Thursday (May 17). 

In a news release on Friday, the police said they raided unlicensed massage parlours at Mosque Street, Trengganu Street and Sago Street and public entertainment outlets at Magazine Road, Sam Leong Road, Upp Circular Road and Boat Quay. 

Two women aged 21 and 27 were arrested for allegedly providing sexual services at a massage parlour. The operator of one parlour was also found to have employed a foreign woman without a valid work pass. Both the operator and the woman working illegally were arrested, the police said. 

Three public entertainment outlets were also found to have breached licensing conditions, and 13 women aged 18 to 30 were arrested for working at such outlets without valid work permits. 

The police said “firm action” will be taken against the operators for flouting rules for massage establishments and public entertainment outlets. 

“The police take a serious view of anyone found breaking the law and these offenders will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the news release said. 

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SINGAPORE: Who will be the next big name in local Mandarin music? New reality competition show SPOP Sing! aims to find out.

The talent search, hosted by Lee Teng, Bonnie Loo and YES 933 DJ Gao Meigui, will kick off on May 21 with auditions held in schools and public venues. Contestants will enter egg-shaped karaoke capsules, designed to symbolise incubation and new beginnings, and perform a locally composed song of their choice.

Throughout their journey, finalists will be able to seek advice from international singing competition veterans Nathan Hartono, who finished second in Sing! China 2016; Joanna Dong, who placed third at Sing! China 2017 and YouTube singer Boon Hui Lu, who participated in Taiwan Hopestar.

The trio will give their suggestions on song choices, singing techniques and delivery. They will also join the contestants in performing the SPOP Sing! theme song and its music video.

Contestants will be judged by local Chinese music veterans Lee Si Song, who has composed songs for international stars including Jacky Cheung, Sandy Lam and Jam Hsiao; Billy Koh, the music company head honcho who discovered Kit Chan and JJ Lin; and singer and composer Jimmy Ye.

From 20 finalists, the top four will emerge and face off at the grand finals held at the Padang as part of a festival featuring local acts and musicians. The winner will be determined by audience votes. He or she will receive a cash prize of S$30,000 and go on to immediately perform their debut song, composed by a renowned local composer, bringing the grand finals to a close.

At the conclusion of the competition, an SPOP Sing! Original Soundtrack, comprised of all the songs performed by the top 20 contestants, will be available for streaming or downloading on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, KKBox, Deezer and local telcos’ digital music stores.

Catch SPOP Sing! at the following times:

Audition Highlights: June onwards on Toggle
Prelude: Aug 9 at 8.30pm on Channel 8 and Toggle
Quarter finals: Starting Sep 24, Mondays at 8pm on Channel 8 and Toggle
Semi finals: Oct 28 at 8pm on Channel 8 and Toggle
Grand final: Nov 4 Nov at 7pm, live from the Padang, on Channel 8 and Toggle

SINGAPORE: SilkAir, Singapore Airlines’ regional wing, will be merged with its parent brand after undergoing a major cabin upgrade, Singapore Airlines announced on Friday (May 18). 

In a news release, Singapore Airlines said more than S$100 million will be invested in the multi-year cabin revamp programme which will see new lie-flat seats in Business Class and the installation of seat-back in-flight entertainment systems in both Business Class and Economy Class.

This will ensure closer product and service consistency across the SIA Group’s full-service network, the company said. 

Aircraft cabin upgrades are expected to start in 2020 “due to lead times required by seat suppliers, including to complete certification processes”, according to Singapore Airlines. 

The merger will take place only after a sufficient number of aircraft have been fitted with the new cabin products, and specific details will be announced progressively as the programme develops and timelines are finalised, it added. 

There will also be transfers of routes and aircraft between the different airlines in the portfolio, which Singapore Airlines said was “consistent with ongoing efforts to optimise the SIA Group’s network”. 

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong called the announcement a “significant development to provide more growth opportunities and prepare the Group for an even stronger future”. 

The changes will be “positive” for customers, Mr Goh, adding that it was a major investment to ensure that Singapore Airlines’ products and services continue to lead the industry across short, medium and long-haul routes. 

SilkAir operates a fleet of 11 Airbus A320-family aircraft, 22 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft. It is currently transitioning to an all-737 fleet, and serves 49 destinations in 16 countries, according to Singapore Airlines.