oBike has filed a police report after a couple was caught on camera dumping their bikes into a drain in a video on Stomp.
The video which was sent to us by Stomp contributor Chin, was posted on Stomp on Nov 20 where it went viral, garnering over 50,000 views on Facebook and sparking outcry from netizens who condemned the couple’s behaviour.
The video was also later posted to other Facebook pages such as ROADS.sg and reported by other publications such as The Straits Times.
Mr Edward Chen, co-founder and chief marketing officer of oBike, told The Straits Times that oBike is “aware of the video that is currently circulating online and can verify that the bicycles in the video belong to us”.
“It is evident that the perpetrators have damaged our bikes maliciously and we strongly condemn their behaviour,” he said.
“Our operations teams are working closely with the police to identify those responsible.”
oBike added that it has since filed a police report.
The bike sharing operator has lodged a total five police reports of its bikes being abused and vandalised since its launch in April this year.
PHNOM PENH – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told garment workers on Wednesday that they would be the ones to suffer – not him – if the European Union withdrew preferential trade terms over the banning of the main opposition party.
After the Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) last week at the government’s request, the European Union raised a potential threat to the tariff free access it grants most Cambodian exports.
European Union countries accounted for about 40 per cent of Cambodia’s exports in 2016. Most of that was clothing.
“You must remember clearly that if there is any cut of buying orders, it’s all the fault of a group of people of the opposition party,” Hun Sen told garment workers in Phnom Penh.
“Hun Sen won’t die but workers, you will die,” he said.
The CNRP was banned after its leader, Kem Sokha, was arrested for alleged treason.
The government says Kem Sokha sought to take power with American help. He rejects that allegation as politically motivated, to allow Hun Sen to extend his more than three decades in power in a general election next year.
Hun Sen accused the opposition party, many of whose leaders are in exile, of trying to lobby against Cambodian trade.
Leaders of the opposition party have said they would not call for measures to curb trade because of the impact it could have on the livelihoods of an estimated 700,000 garment workers.
Sweden said on Tuesday it was stopping new aid for Cambodia, except in education and research, and would no longer support a reform programme in the first concrete action by an EU country.
The United States cut election funding and said it would take more punitive steps.
But Cambodia’s economy has proved largely immune to political turbulence, recording annual growth of about 7 per cent for the past six years.
The World Bank said on Wednesday it expected the economy to grow 6.9 per cent next year, compared with a projected 6.8 per cent pace in 2017, despite risks including uncertainty over the election.
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s speaker of parliament, who was arrested last week over his alleged role in a $170 million (S$230 million) graft case, has sent a letter from his cell to house leaders pleading to be allowed to keep his job while he fights the charges.
Setya Novanto, who has denied wrongdoing, is being held for 20 days for questioning by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). He made the request in a letter handwritten in his holding cell that was released to the media late on Tuesday.
The KPK is investigating state losses of about $170 million after allegations that sums ranging from $5,000 to $5.5 million, generated by marking up procurement costs for national electronic ID cards, were divided up among politicians in parliament.
“I ask other parliament leaders to give me an opportunity to prove that I wasn’t involved,” Novanto wrote.
“And in the meantime do not organise an ethics council plenary session on the possibility of making me non-active either as parliament speaker or as a member of parliament.”
Novanto, also chairman of Golkar, Indonesia’s second-largest party and a partner in the ruling coalition, is one of the most senior politicians to be detained by the KPK, which is popular among Indonesians for targeting members of the establishment suspected of abuse of power.
His battle with the graft agency has gripped Indonesia, where newspapers have splashed the story on front pages and memes mocking him have circulated on social media.
He has clung to power through several previous corruption cases and repeatedly missed summonses for questioning by the agency in recent months, saying he needed heart surgery.
Novanto was named a suspect on Nov. 10 again after using a controversial legal manoeuvre to get earlier charges dropped last month.
In another letter, addressed to Golkar, Novanto said “there has been no discussion of me temporarily or permanently stopping as chairman of Golkar”.
In that letter he nominated Idrus Marham to serve as acting chairman of the party.
Novanto’s lawyer, Fredrich Yunadi, told Reuters it was up to parliament and party officials to decide if he should keep his posts, but he was confident that his client would win his case.
“We have strong proof (and) in every court we always win,”Yunadi said.
Asked if he was concerned about the strength of evidence against Novanto, KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said: “From the beginning the KPK has had strong evidence, and the two people we have put on trial already (in this case) have been found guilty even up to an appeal stage.”
The Internet service provider secured S$70 million in new funds from Makara Capital, which will be used in part to develop its cloud-based mobility platform.
MyRepublic CEO Malcolm Rodrigues and Makara Capital CEO Ali Ijaz Ahmad (second and third from right).
(Updated: )
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SINGAPORE: Internet service provider MyRepublic on Wednesday (Nov 22) announced it secured S$70 million in funds from Makara Capital, which it will use to “accelerate” plans to launch mobile services, including in Singapore, “next year”.
MyRepublic CEO Malcolm Rodrigues said during a press briefing announcing the investment that it was initially looking to launch mobiles services in Singapore, via a mobile virtual networking operator (MVNO) model in partnership with a local telco.
But the thinking “shifted” internally, and it now plans to launch mobile services in all four markets it is currently in – Singapore, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand, he said.
As a result, Mr Rodrigues added, plans to launch its mobile services in Singapore will be held over to the first quarter of next year, while Australia and Indonesia will also have access to these services by the middle of next year.
The company had previously said it would launch mobile services in Singapore later this year, possibly by October.
“We’re testing the platform right now … and we’ll look to be launching soon,” Mr Rodrigues said.
Asked about the mobile plans consumers can expect, the CEO said: “It’s going to be really good … we plan to be really competitive.” He declined to give away more details, saying that these will be revealed in the coming months.
“We don’t compete in price, we compete on value,” he said of the company’s guiding principle, adding that “we know TPG is coming”. TPG won the fourth telco licence over MyRepublic last December.
Mr Rodrigues also said the new funds will go towards building up its consumer and enterprise markets, as well as customer service.
It will also look to expand its regional footprint beyond the four markets it is currently in. The possible markets include Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, and it hopes to enter them “in five years”, the company said.
The S$70 million funding decision was supported by IP ValueLab’s evaluation of MyRepublic’s “strong” intellectual property portfolio, a joint press release said. IP ValueLab is the enterprise engagement arm of the Intellectual Property of Singapore.
SINGAPORE – Singapore is hoping to deploy autonomous buses on public roads in three different districts of the city-state from 2022 to provide better connectivity, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement on Wednesday.
Countries around the world are encouraging the development of self-driving technologies.
High-density Singapore, which has manpower shortages in many sectors, is at the forefront of such efforts and is hoping to prompt its residents to use more shared vehicles and public transport.
There are at least 10 companies testing their autonomous technology on the island.
Autonomous scheduled bus services will complement human-driven public buses, and will initially travel on less crowded roads, according to the statement.
Autonomous on-demand shuttles will allow commuters to hail the services via their mobile phones.
The government said it was seeking inputs from the industry and research institutions on the key requirements for the successful pilot launch of these autonomous vehicles.
SINGAPORE: In line with the Government’s plan to transform industries, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) has launched an industry transformation map and initiated a Trade Association (TA) Hub for trade associations as the Prime Minister calls on them to keep helping to upgrade Singapore’s economy.
A conduit through which the Government can engage businesses, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (Nov 22) called trade associations and chambers (TACs) “important partners” in helping to “grow our companies, and create better jobs for Singaporeans”.
Mr Lee also called them the “aggregators and multipliers in our business ecosystem” when he spoke at the opening of the TA Hub.
With their pulse on their industries’ needs, TACs can support SMEs, helping them “overcome the limitations of size by working together, and doing things that would otherwise be difficult for a single company to do alone,” Mr Lee said.
The TA Hub, where TACs can collaborate, opened three years after it was initiated by SCCCI.
Mr Lee added that the TA Hub, located at Jurong Town Hall, will help build a stronger TAC community, and cultivate a culture of mutual support and collaboration”.
Currently, more than 160 trade associations are members of the SCCCI, which also held its fifth trade association congress on Wednesday.
From left: JTC chairman Loo Choon Yong, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing and SCCCI President Roland Ng San Tiong unveil the Trade Association Hub’s logo on Wednesday (Nov 22). (Photo: Dewi Fabbri)
Through the TA Hub, Mr Lee said he hopes TACs “will find more opportunities to work together even across different industries”. This can also help them venture overseas and expand their global footprint.
One example is the IE Singapore-SCCCI Singapore Enterprise Centre (ISSEC), which provides facilitation and business matching services to Singapore companies venturing into China.
The Government, he said, will also do more to help companies “upgrade, scale up and compete internationally”, through the merger of SPRING and IE Singapore, which will form the new agency, Enterprise Singapore. This will allow the government to streamline their initiatives and schemes, “to provide simpler yet more comprehensive support to companies and TACs”.
A Trade Association Transformation Map was also announced at the SCCCI congress. The map identifies challenges faced by trade associations and chambers, and looks at ways these challenges can be addressed.
Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Sim Ann, who also spoke at the event, said that Singapore’s transformation is not limited to industries with Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) that the Government is in the process of developing.
The ITMs cover 23 sectors, which cover approximately 80 per cent of Singapore’s economy. Fourteen ITMs have been launched, and the rest will be launched in next year.
Senior Minister of State For Trade and Industry Sim Ann speaks at SCCCI’s 5th Trade Association Congress. (Photo: Dewi Fabbri)
“Our goal for a future-ready Singapore involves driving productivity, innovation and competitiveness across all sectors,” Ms Sim said.
Ms Sim also highlighted four pillars that will support the Trade Association Transformation Map.
The first looks to build strong secretariat capabilities that will develop career pathways and address talent development in trade associations and chambers (TACs), while the second pillar looks to strengthen leadership within trade association and chambers. This will be done through education, by offering management courses for TAC leaders.
The third pillar, will look at enhancing productivity of TACs by optimising their resources through technology, as well as creating platforms for resource sharing. The fourth pillar will look at forging partnerships through cross-industry collaboration.
Thirty TACs have already committed their support to the Trade Association Transformation Map.
The TAC Management Handbook was also released at the congress. The handbook compiles some of the best practices in TAC governance and operations, as well as outlines services that TACs can provide their members, such as business conferences and overseas business missions.
Soon after, she heard a gunshot and saw the boar fall to the ground.
“The police then quickly moved to clear the area around the boar,” said the Stomp contributor. “They did a good job in clearing the path for motorists quickly.”
In a statement, the police said that they were alerted to an accident involving a wild boar and a car on Punggol West Flyover.
The injured wild boar was lying on the road when police officers and ACRES personnel arrived at the location.
The wild boar got up and charged towards the officers and passers-by in the area.
It continued to charge forwards even after officers fired their Tasers at the boar.
“As the wild boar was rampaging and was a danger to the people in the vicinity, an officer had to draw his revolver to fire a shoat at it, to stop it from injuring anyone,” said the police.
The tusked boar, which measured 1.5m from head to tail, was shot in the neck.
It was subsequently handed over to ACRES personnel who had to put it to sleep due to its injuries.
No one was injured in the incident.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) posted a statement on Facebook saying that it will monitor the situation at the Punggol area closely.
on Facebook
AVA will monitor the situation at Punggol area closely. We will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders, such as…
Posted by Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) on Tuesday, 21 November 2017
It added that it will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, such as Acres, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, NParks, and the National University of Singapore (NUS), to manage the wild boars to ensure public safety.
“We are exploring various measures such as erecting barriers to prevent wildlife from encroaching onto roads, and putting up signages about wildlife crossings at specific locations to warn motorists,” it wrote.
The public can call AVA at 1800-476-1600 to report wild boar sightings.
Singaporean visitors to Bali have been advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to defer non-essential travel to areas affected by the eruption of Mount Agung yesterday (Nov 21).
The volcano was reported to have erupted and has been spewing black smoke since around 5pm on Tuesday (Nov 21).
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said on his Twitter account: “Residents are advised to remain calm. Do not panic. Stay away from areas within a 6-5/5 kilometer radius of the volcano.”
Terjadi letusan Gunung Agung pada pukul 17:05 WITA. Asap teramati bertekanan sedang, warna kelabu tebal dan mencapai ketinggian maksimum sekitar 700 m di atas puncak Masyarakat agar tetap tenang namun agar senantiasa mengikuti rekomendasi PVMBG dalam Status Level III (Siaga). pic.twitter.com/R802fVxzuP
In a travel advisory, MFA said Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency has been warning residents and tourists to stay away from an exclusion zone of 7.5 km around the crater on Bali.
It added that ash clouds from volcanic eruptions could severely disrupt air travel and affect outdoor activities.
SINGAPORE: The new Punggol Polyclinic, which will open on Friday (Nov 24), will offer more than the standard services – it will also have X-ray, physiotherapy and podiatry services, SingHealth Polyclinics said in a press release on Wednesday.
The four-storey polyclinic is housed in a new Housing Board commercial development called Oasis Terraces, located next to Oasis LRT at 681 Punggol Drive.
(Source: SingHealth Polyclinics)
Other key services offered include outpatient medical care and treatment for chronic and acute conditions, women health services such as screening for cervical and breast cancer, child health services, immunisation and development assessment.
Punggol Polyclinic will also work with the upcoming Sengkang General and Community Hospitals, clinics and other community service providers to provide seamless care for residents, SingHealth said.
The polyclinic will have lifts and low ramps to allow wheelchair access, it added.
More information will be available on SingHealth’s website from Friday.
Tourist Police acting deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal on Wednesday vowed to step up its crackdown on taxi drivers who take advantage of foreign tourists.
Surachet said the Tourist Police has been instructed by the Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, to co-operate with the Land Transport Department on the issue.
Surachet said the prime minister wanted to get rid of unruly taxi drivers because their behaviour damages the kingdom’s image in the eyes of foreign tourists.
“It’s an urgent agenda item to get rid of taxi drivers breaking the law and taking advantage of tourists,” Surachet said.
He said the authorities received about 1,000 complaints from tourists about taxis each month. Many drivers were accused of refusing to use the meter, and some tourists complained that they were charged Bt800 (S$33) for just a 300-metre ride.
“The prime minister has given an instruction that the issue related to taxis is an urgent agenda item that the government must solve,” Surachet said.
“Taxis are parts of the country’s image. When taxi drivers do bad things, it affects the country’s image, because foreign tourists will post on online communities how they have been taken advantage of.”
He said the Tourist Police will set up road checkpoints in Pratunam area and at Central World where there are a lot of foreign tourists.
There will also be checkpoints at Central Pinklao, the Southern Bus Terminal and Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Surachet said that over the past seven to eight months, police have reduced the problem of taxis refusing to take passengers in Pratunam area by issuing fines of Bt2,000 and suspending taxi licences for three months.
About 1,000 taxi drivers have been fined at Pratunam while 30 to 40 drives have had their licences suspended. Ten were banned from driving taxis for good, he added.
