Singapore’s Marina Bay district is home to an iconic skyline that never fails to awe visiting tourists with its grandeur, but do you know that it hides a ‘cool’ secret?
Lying 25m underneath the iconic Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum is the largest district cooling network in the world, the Marina Bay District Cooling plant, which is responsible for keeping the whole Marina Bay district cool.
A video released by Temasek Holdings on Saturday (May 6) provided a peek into the plant, which operates a district cooling system in contrast to traditional air-conditioning systems.
Thanks to this underground system, there is no need for overhead cooling towers. Rooftop space is freed up for other amenities, such as the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool, which is also the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool.
And here we thought we knew all there was to know about Marina Bay.
Currently used for commercial buildings, district cooling systems produce and distribute chilled water from a central plant to a network of buildings, and simultaneously receive used water to be chilled again. This allows for a drastic reduction of energy costs and carbon emission levels.
Indeed, as French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery famously wrote, “What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Sun, sand, sea. And the joy of savings. Announcing special limited time offers on exciting destinations. Sales period: Now – 22 May 2017. Travel period: Now – 30 September 2017
The former chairman of Chulalongkorn University Savings Cooperative – wanted for fraud after allegedly luring people into a lottery “scam” that caused hundreds of millions in damages – surrendered to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in Bangkok early yesterday morning.
Dr Sawat Saengbangpla, 79, turned himself in to investigators at around 2am, CSD chief Pol Maj-General Suthin Sappuang confirmed.
Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Thitirat Nonghanpitak will announce details of the case at a press conference today.
‘Confessed to bogus scheme’
A police source said Sawat confessed during six hours of interrogation that the lottery scheme was bogus.
Investigators will now seek to trace his transactions, retrieve the money and arrest more accomplices.
The source said Sawat would be taken to court today when they seek approval for an initial period of detention.
They will object to him being released on bail on grounds that the ‘scam’ caused Bt540 million (S$22 million) in damages to 78 victims and he may tamper with evidence.
Arrest warrants have been extended for suspected money launderers, including Methawat Khonman, 32, who allegedly received Bt40 million to Bt60 million from 2010 until February from Sawat; Pavisaporn Baiket, 28, who allegedly received Bt42 million from Sawat; and Pavisaporn’s friend Jiratchaya Khunyosying, 32.
Victims complained to police after Sawat suddenly disappeared after failing to pay them dividends from a separate cooperative scheme he allegedly lured them to invest in.
The people who lost money were told that the scheme, which reportedly ran from 2010, would buy and resell lottery tickets and yield a high return of one per cent a month.
The wait is over. This sequel to Army Daze, Singapore’s best-loved comedy, is finally here! The all-new comedy catches up with Malcolm Png three decades later.
Pointy-eared and short-haired, the Jindo dog is a symbol of South Korea, where breeders and authorities keep its bloodline even purer than one of the world’s least diverse societies.
The medium-sized hunting dog comes from the island of the same name, a remote rural community off the peninsula’s south coast.
Visitors are greeted by signboards and statues of the eponymous canine, known for its fierce loyalty, and live ones stand guard outside homes or peek out from doghouses.
But its bucolic appearance belies the rigid canine apartheid it imposes on the animals.
Any dog that cannot prove its pedigree, or that fails to come up to standard, is immediately exiled, and any coming onto the island – even a returning Jindo – must have official permission, and be neutered.
“We protect the breed by not letting registered dogs off the island and not allowing others in without a government permit,” says Cha Jae-Nam, who heads the Jindo Dog Research and Test Centre.
The dogs have been bred for centuries, and Seoul classified them as a National Treasure in 1962.
Now Cha’s state-run centre spends two billion won (S$1.25 million) a year on what he calls a “systematic and scientific” preservation of purebred Jindos.
“It’s not common for people to conduct a paternity test on their newborns, but we do for all puppies at birth,” he says.
“They are given a birth certificate if they match the DNA of their parents, but if they don’t, they must leave the island.”
The emphasis echoes widespread notions about racial purity in South Korea, an unusually homogenous society where the population is around 96 per cent ethnically Korean, and mixed-race relationships are frowned upon in some quarters.
But even unquestionable genetics do not ensure survival for the dogs. When a puppy reaches six months of age, it must undergo a strict assessment of the shape of its ears, legs, tail and head to be microchipped and join the 6,000-odd registered National Treasure status Jindos on the island.
Any that fail are removed.
The rigorous controls enable Cha to declare confidently: “All Jindo dogs in Jindo county are purebred.”
Jindos have been adored by South Korean leaders, with Kim Dae-Jung giving a breeding pair to the North during his “Sunshine Policy” of the early 2000s, and others enjoying pampered lives at the Blue House under the country’s two most recent presidents Lee Myung-Bak and Park Geun-Hye.
But Park came under fire when she was ejected from office by a court order in March and notoriously left her nine dogs behind – bringing more attention to the rules surrounding them.
Critics such as Chae Il-Taek, director of the Korean Animal Welfare Association, say preservation of the breed should not come at the cost of “discrimination that undermines the dignity of the animals”.
The obsession over the “pure” Jindo bloodline meant some breeders abandon puppies that fail to meet the criteria – which often end up on meal tables, he says.
South Koreans are believed to consume somewhere between 1.5 and 2.5 million dogs every year, according to animal rights groups, although the number is in decline with dwindling demand among the younger generation.
“A large number of the dogs kicked out from Jindo are sold off to dog meat farmers,” Chae says.
In a fluorescent-lit lab at the test centre, researcher Kim Jong-Seok proudly opens a double-door fridge containing rows of blood vials.
Officials say the facility has DNA samples of all Jindo dogs born on the island and Kim, who has studied the breed for two decades, believes the meticulous controls are necessary to keep the Jindos clean and healthy.
“The inbreeding of royal families has led to many deformities in humans,” Kim says.
“As such, we are preventing various diseases and deformities.”
The measures are welcomed by Jindo breeders, who can sell purebred puppies for around US$1,000 (S$1407) each.
“Procedures like the screening are inconvenient and tedious at times but we don’t complain because it leads to production income,” says Lim Tae-Young, who heads an association of some 70 Jindo breeders on the island.
“It’s not to say the dogs kicked off the island are bad and the ones that remain are good,” he says, a handful of playful puppies wagging their tails at his feet.
The early 2000’s was arguably one of the most successful eras of modern music.
Numerous talented acts strut their stuff throughout the new millennia, but “teenage angst” was uniquely epitomized by alternative rock band Linkin Park and punk rock ensemble Blink-182.
Although the two bands dabble in different musical genres, the pair will co-headline two shows in a mini-tour dubbed as “Welcome To Blinkin Park”, Huffington Post reported.
Prior to the epic mash-up, Blink-182 returned to the scene last year with their Billboard-toping album “California”.
Linkin Park, on the other hand, has continued to experiment with their music and is set to release a new album later this month called “One More Light”.
“Welcome to Blinkin Park Tour” will take place on July 28 at Citi Field in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, New York and on July 30 at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.
Check out the group’s hilarious “Funny or Die” promotional video below.
SINGAPORE: While we actively promote breastfeeding as the safest and most nutritious way to nourish young children, mothers do rely on infant formula at times to supplement. The latest national breast feeding survey in 2011 shows that 96.1 per cent of mothers breast feed their babies to some extent right after delivery but this number drops to 41.6 per cent six months after delivery, which indicates that many babies rely on infant milk formula either exclusively or partly for their nourishment.
A standard can of 900 grams of infant formula purchased from a regular supermarket costs about S$56 on average, compared to $25 in 2007. The price of infant formula has thus risen 120 per cent over 10 years, nearly twice as fast as nominal median incomes in Singapore, which rose 65.6 per cent over roughly the same period, placing a greater strain on household expenditures.
Table showing percentage changes in median incomes and prices of infant milk powder in Singapore and in Western Europe with 2006 as base. (Graph: Sun Xueling, Sources: Various including Data.sg, MOM)
Based on an online survey I conducted over three days, which over 2,500 respondents completed, parents with children younger than a year old spend about $191 per month on infant milk formula on average. This represents 15.4 per cent of household expenditure on food for young families.
Infant milk formula is thus not a small item of expenditure for young families.
IS THE PRICING OF INFANT MILK FORMULA FAIR?
A check on prices for similar cans of infant formula in Malaysia, Australia, UK and the US shows that a similar can of infant formula in Singapore costs 1.63 times the cost in Malaysia, 2.07 times the cost in Australia, 2.6 times the cost in the UK and 1.15 times the cost in the US, based on prices on websites at point of checks.
Table showing prices of infant milk formula in Singapore relative to Malaysia, Australia, UK and the US. (Table: Sun Xueling. Sources: Various including RedMart, Lazada, NTUC Fairprice, Boots)
While one may argue, for instance in the case of Malaysia, that business costs are generally higher in Singapore, regular milk sold in Singapore only costs 34 per cent more compared to Malaysia. Yet Wyeth’s S26 Stage 2 infant milk powder costs 63 per cent more in Singapore compared to Malaysia.
Why has the price of infant formula risen so much?
The explanation provided by major infant formula suppliers seems to point to efforts into research and development (R&D) for infant formula.
A check on a similar can of infant formula from Malaysia and from Singapore also shows slight differences in the ingredient mix.
Does the difference in the quantity of ingredients added to whole milk powder (for instance, cow’s milk) which then constitutes infant milk formula account for the higher prices of infant formula charged in Singapore?
Has the formulation been changing consistently over time to warrant the repeated price increases in Singapore?
And as to the R&D cited by major infant formula suppliers in Singapore, are the requirements of the Singapore market so different that R&D specific to Singapore is needed to warrant the sustained price increases in Singapore?
CONCENTRATED INFANT FORMULA MARKET IN SINGAPORE
Infant formula worldwide is dominated by five suppliers – Nestle, Abbott Nutrition, Groupe Danone, Mead Johnson Nutrition and the Kraft Heinz Company, accounting for about 60 per cent of the global market .
The market is likely to be even more concentrated in Singapore, as based on my survey of 2,508 respondents conducted over three days, the top five suppliers in Singapore accounted for 89 per cent of the market. Other surveys suggest the market concentration in Singapore is even higher.
Market share of top five major infant milk formula suppliers in Singapore, based on online survey of more than 2,500 respondents. (Chart: Sun Xueling)
Interestingly, the other market that shows a high degree of concentration is the US, where the top four suppliers account for 92 per cent of the market in 2015. The US also shows high prices for infant milk formula.
The high price of infant milk formula in Singapore could thus be related to the large market share the major suppliers of infant milk formula have here.
To encourage more competition, Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon said in Parliament yesterday that the Government will simplify and streamline import requirements as well as remove unnecessary barriers to entry in order to bring in more options for parents without compromising food safety. Further, more infant formula options will be made available in hospitals.
With more choices of infant milk formula available to consumers, more sources of supply and hence greater competition in the market, prices over time should level out.
PARENTS’ MINDSETS ARE UNDERSTANDABLE
Parents want the best for their children. They are willing to spend on good-quality infant formula because infant formula constitutes the sole source of nutrients for their young child if breast milk is not available.
Further, infant formula is a short-term spending item. Young parents expect to spend on infant formula until their child becomes capable of consuming solid foods. As a result, they are willing to incur high expenses in the short term to buy good quality infant formula.
These pre-existing mindsets of parents, which are understandable, logical and well-meaning, create a conducive environment for suppliers of infant formula, who can use this to their advantage.
I look forward to the Competition Commission of Singapore’s findings later this week on the market structure of infant formula in Singapore and the behaviour of the market’s main. This should shed light as to whether there is anti-competitive behaviour. We need to ensure that the interests of parents and, indirectly, the interests of young children are being taken care of and not taken advantage of.
ETHICAL MARKETING OF INFANT FORMULA IN SINGAPORE
A survey respondent left a comment on my Facebook, which is worth highlighting:
My boy of seven months is already drinking 250 millilitres and the price of FM (infant formula milk) is taking a toll on us. I believe that the brand of FM is priced not in terms of just the brand but the quality and research behind it. As a mother, I want to give my baby the best even if it’s taking a toll on us … Some say no money buy cheaper brand, it’s all the same … No! I will try to give my baby the best! And what’s good for his health!
Parents want the best for their child and they are afraid to short-change their child. Such mindsets open them up to being taken advantage of if they are not careful.
Any shopper to a supermarket in Singapore will observe that within an array of infant formula brands, certain brands aggressively market improvements in IQ that accompany the consumption of their infant milk powder. This improvement in IQ is purportedly a result of the addition of certain special ingredients in their infant milk formula.
The interesting use of mortar boards in advertising also sublimely reminds parents to purchase infant formula that helps their child get ahead academically.
As Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon shared in Parliament on May 8: “While some infant formula companies give the impression that their particular brand of milk or milk powder can do more for children, the scientific evidence for this is weak.”
It is thus timely that the Health Promotion Board’s Sale of Infant Food Ethics Committee is supporting an ongoing review to extend coverage of the code of ethics restricting advertising, marketing and promotion of infant formula to all infant formula for up to 12 months of age. The standards in Singapore should be in conformity to international standards on ethical marketing.
HELP FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
In the meantime, help is needed for low-income families who may face difficulties purchasing infant milk formula for their young children. The $1.5 million milk fund scheme launched by NTUC Fairprice and the five CDCs (Community Development Councils) in February, which will benefit up to 7,500 children from low-income families is timely.
With its disbursement in $20 denominations to a total of $200, the NTUC vouchers could potentially offset 40 per cent of the cost of a tin of milk powder with each purchase. And assuming a young child consumes about three tins a month, the vouchers will help a family for three to four months, a significant period in the development of a young child, before he or she can consume solids.
Parents want the best for their children. While we continue to advocate breastfeeding as the best form of nutrition for young children, infant formula acts as a supplement to breastfeeding in some cases, or as the sole source of nutrients in others.
Providing more options to parents and ensuring the availability of accurate information is thus key to ensuring fair pricing and appropriate marketing of infant milk formula. The rights of consumers, in this case well-meaning parents who want the best for their young children, should be protected.
Sun Xueling is a Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
SEOUL – South Koreans began voting on Tuesday to elect a new leader, looking to move on from a corruption scandal that brought down former President Park Geun-hye and shook the political and business elite to the core.
Unless there is a major upset, liberal Moon Jae-in – who calls for a moderate approach on North Korea, wants to reform powerful family-run conglomerates and boost fiscal spending to create jobs – will be elected president.
The vote will end months of leadership vacuum. Park was ousted on charges of bribery and abuse of power in March to become South Korea’s first democratically elected president to be forced from office. She is in jail, on trial.
Park has denied wrongdoing.
Moon, who lost to Park narrowly in the last presidential election in 2012, has criticised the two former conservative governments for failing to stop North Korea’s weapons development.
He advocates a two-track policy of dialogue while maintaining pressure and sanctions to encourage change.
A Gallup Korea poll published last Wednesday showed Moon with 38 per cent support in a field of 13 candidates, with centrist Ahn Cheol-soo his nearest challenger with 20 per cent.
Tens of thousands of South Koreans stage protest in Seoul calling for President Park Geun Hye to resign
Moon told reporters after casting his ballot he had “given the campaign his all”, and urged South Koreans to vote.
Ahn, who voted earlier at a different polling station, said he would wait for the people’s “wise decision”. Other presidential candidates were also seen voting early in the day.
Voter turnout stood at 5.6 per cent by 8 a.m. (2300 GMT Monday), according to the National Election Commission.
One in every four voters cast ballots in early voting last week, and officials think higher participation by younger people could drive turnout to the highest in three decades.
A decisive win by Moon will provide much-needed stability and is expected to improve market sentiment at a time when robust exports have supported a recovery in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
The won is up nearly 7 per cent against the dollar this year, while South Korean shares are trading at a record high as foreign investors feel confident about corporate earnings after South Korean businesses did well in the first quarter.
South Korean financial markets are closed on Tuesday but will resume trade on Wednesday.
The winner is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday, after the Election Commission releases the official result.
The new leader is expected to quickly name a prime minister, who will need parliamentary approval, and main cabinet positions, including national security and finance ministers, which do not need parliamentary confirmation.
‘NEW ERA’
The election is being watched closely by allies and neighbours at a time of high tension over North Korea’s accelerating development of weapons since it conducted its fourth nuclear test in January last year.
Pyongyang carried out a fifth test in September and is believed ready for another.
US President Donald Trump has vowed to stop North Korea developing a nuclear missile that can hit the United States.
North Korea would be keen to see a Moon victory. Its official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary on Monday the time had come to put confrontation behind by ending conservative rule in the South.
“We as the same race should gather our strength to open a new era of independent reunification.
To do so, the puppet conservative group’s move to remain in power should be definitely crushed,” it said.
The US State Department said Washington looked forward to continuing “close, constructive, deep co-operation” with South Korea’s new president.
“We will continue to meet all our alliance commitments, especially with respect to defending against the threat from North Korea,” State Department spokeswoman Katina Adams told Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
The new president will also face the challenge of defusing tension with China, which is angry about South Korea’s decision to deploy a US anti-missile defence system that China sees as a threat.
Park had decided not to vote, despite having the right to do so because she has not been convicted, media reported. An official at the detention centre where she is being held declined to comment, citing her privacy.
The polls opened at 6 a.m. (2100 GMT on Monday) and will close at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT).
For a graphic on South Korea’s presidential election, click – http://tmsnrt.rs/2p0AyLf
For a graphic on Election demographics, click – http://tmsnrt.rs/2pGD25v
