SINGAPORE: A 77-year-old male pedestrian died of his injuries after an accident involving a minibus on Monday (Apr 17).

Police said they were informed of the accident along the service road of Block 485 Segar Road at 6.12am. The elderly man was unconscious when he was sent to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.

The 69-year-old male driver was arrested for causing death by a rash act, and police said investigations are ongoing.

SINGAPORE: The number of new private homes sold by developers continued to surge in March, increasing 81.8 per cent from 979 units in February to 1,780 last month, according to figures by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Monday (Apr 17).

The 1,780 units sold in March also more than doubled the 843 sold in the same month last year.

Including executive condominiums (ECs), 2,358 units were sold last month, more than the 1,308 sold in February. This means that there were 578 ECs sold last month, a 75.7 per cent jump from the 329 units sold in February.

There were 1,527 new units launched by property developers last month, up from 1,308 in February. The biggest launches were in Grandeur Park Residences at Bedok South Avenue 3 (720 units), Park Place Residences at PLQ, Paya Lebar Road (217 units) and The Trilinq at Jalan Lempeng (105 units).

“These are very strong numbers, indicative of the latent buying demand that is still very much prevalent in the market today,” ERA Realty Network key executive officer Eugene Lim said.

Mr Lim noted that small units were the main contributor to sales at newly launched projects, with two-bedroom and smaller units accounting for 352 and 129 units at Grandeur Park Residences and Park Place Residences at PLQ respectively.

He added that while larger units saw a relatively slower pace of sales, these units tend to find buyers only in the later stages of construction when the projects are completed or close to completion, as those buying such units tend to be those living in them and prefer a shorter waiting time to move in.

“The coming months will see more projects being launched as developers look to capitalise on the strong buying momentum exhibited,” Mr Lim said.

He also said he expected about 8,000 to 9,000 private residential units and 2,500 to 3,000 EC units to be sold by developers in 2017.

SINGAPORE: The late Mr Othman Wok’s “greatest legacy” was the development of the Administration of Muslim Law Act, said the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) on Monday (Apr 17), after news broke that the former Cabinet minister had died.

It was this piece of legislation, developed together with the late Professor Ahmad Ibrahim, that made the establishment of MUIS, Syariah Court and Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) possible, the organisation said in its statement.

It added that as Minister for Social Affairs from 1963 to 1977, Mr Othman had laid the foundation for the administration of Muslim affairs in Singapore while developing the national policies and infrastructure for culture and social welfare for a young nation.

He also played a big role in establishing the Mosque Building Fund, at a time when resources had to be mobilised to build new mosques for the community as the nation underwent rapid urbanisation. Through this Fund, the community has been able to build 26 new multi-function mosques, offering many programmes for religious learning and social development which benefit the community and beyond till this day, MUIS said.

“With his passing, the community has lost a strong leader who sought tirelessly to uplift the community. His significant contributions not only create a deep impact on the lives of the Singaporean Muslims but have also enabled them to grow and prosper as the nation grew.”

ADVANCED QUALITY OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICE: MSF

Yayasan Mendaki said in a separate statement on Monday that the late Mr Othman was one of the Malay leaders who played a “pivotal role” in keeping the spirits and unity within the community and Singaporeans at large after the separation from Malaysia in 1965.

“The successes of those within the Malay/Muslim community would not have been possible without the foundations laid by pioneers such as Mr Othman Wok. The community is indeed grateful to Mr Othman Wok for proposing free education to all Malays from primary to tertiary,” MENDAKI said.

It also noted that his efforts as the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs help laid the foundation of the social service as well as volunteer sectors.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) also issued a statement saying it was “greatly saddened” by the passing of the former Cabinet minister.

It noted that Mr Othman was the first Minister for Social Affairs and, over his 15 years of service, “worked to advance the quality of social welfare service from the basic functions of assistance and rehabilitation, to also focus on social progress for national development”.

These efforts include his “visionary step” of initiating the predecessor of the National Council of Social Service, which helped to create a more effective social service ecosystem. He also championed the training of social workers and volunteers to better equip them with skillsets needed.

“Mr Othman’s tireless efforts in shaping the social sector in Singapore set a solid foundation for all of us at MSF to build upon. He will be dearly missed,” the ministry said.

SINGAPORE: Telco M1 on Monday (Apr 17) reported a 14.6 per cent year-on-year drop in net profit after tax for its first-quarter financial results.

Net profit reached S$36.3 million, partly driven by higher depreciation and interest expenses, the company said, but added that it increased 14.3 per cent over the preceding month, according to its press release.

Operating revenue increased 1.2 per cent year-on-year while service revenue remained stable at S$201.5 million, as growth in fixed services revenue offset lower IDD and roaming revenues, it added.

Growth in residential and corporate signups contributed to strong growth in the company’s fixed services revenue, which increased 22.8 per cent to S$30 million, the telco said, adding that it added 8,000 more fibre broadband customers in the quarter to 168,000.

It also added 24,000 postpaid customers and 3,000 prepaid customers, to bring the total mobile customer base to 2.05 million as at Mar 31, 2017.

The telco also noted an increase in the average postpaid smartphone data usage. The figure grew to 3.7GB per month in the first quarter of its financial year, compared to 3.3GB a year ago, it said.

To address the growing data usage, M1 said it secured additional radio spectrum at the recent spectrum auction conducted by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), which will be used to “enhance network coverage and innovative technologies will be deployed to augment network capacity”.

“We are introducing improved cloud-based service offerings to drive growth in fixed services, and developing new Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Nation capabilities and solutions. These efforts will further strengthen M1’s position as the telecommunications provider of choice,” said CEO Karen Kooi.

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will make a working visit to Hong Kong on Tuesday (Apr 18) and visit the United States after that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced in a media release on Monday.

Mr Teo’s upcoming visit to Hong Kong will reaffirm longstanding and close cooperation between Singapore and Hong Kong, MFA said.

“The visit continues the exchange of high-level visits between Hong Kong and Singapore including PM Lee Hsien Loong’s and DPM Teo’s visits to Hong Kong in September 2014 and April 2013 respectively, and Mrs Carrie Lam’s visit to Singapore in July 2015 when she was Chief Secretary for Administration,” the ministry added.

While in Hong Kong, Mr Teo will meet with Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE) and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Leung Chun-ying, former CE and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Tung Chee Hwa, as well as CE-elect Carrie Lam. They will discuss issues of mutual interest and explore ways to enhance cooperation between Singapore and Hong Kong, according to MFA.

Mr Teo will also meet Hong Kong business leaders, as well as attend a dinner reception for the Singaporean community in Hong Kong during his trip.

Mr Teo will then visit the United States from Apr 19 to Apr 23. On the agenda is a meeting with the business community in the technology sector in San Francisco, as well as a meeting with Singaporeans working in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

Mr Teo will then take part in the 2017 Sedona Forum in Arizona from Apr 21 to 22 at the invitation of The McCain Institute, along with members of the US Administration, the intelligence and security community and key members of Congress. At the high-level, private gathering of national and international leaders, Mr Teo will speak on the topic “A View from Asia”.

Mr Teo, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, will visit the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Peace Carvin II F-16C/D training detachment at Luke Air Force Base before returning to Singapore.

Mr Teo will be accompanied by Mrs Teo and officials from MFA. For the San Francisco leg of the trip, officials from the National Research Foundation will accompany the Deputy Prime Minister as well.

SINGAPORE: Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim hailed the late politician Othman Wok as a “multicultural icon” after the 92-year-old’s passing on Monday (Apr 17).

Speaking to reporters after paying his respects at Mr Othman’s house, Dr Yaacob said: “You see the way he interacted with others at ease, and how he was comfortable with people of different backgrounds … It was his life.”

He also spoke about the legacy left behind by Mr Othman, a former Cabinet minister and one of Singapore’s first generation of leaders.

“As you know, he was a member of the founding fathers and therefore he laid the foundation for modern Singapore,” said Dr Yaacob. “And that’s something we can never forget because without him and the other founding fathers, we wouldn’t have modern Singapore.”

“The other thing which is much closer to my heart is the foundation he laid for a modern and progressive Malay-Muslim community,” added Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

Mr Othman’s efforts in developing the likes of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) as key institutions within the Muslim community allowed “us to lead a very vibrant and socio-religious life”, he said.

“And of course, developing the Mosque Building Fund and now there are 26 mosques in all the heartlands.”

Added Dr Yaacob: “But what I will remember him personally for is the way he was able to balance his roles as both a community and national leader.

“In both, he brought to bear the ethos that has been associated with him and the founding generation – that respect for multi-racialism, respect for meritocracy and really respect for society where every community has a space to thrive and develop as best as they could.

“He’s always reminded us not to forget to continue to be tolerant and understanding of one another and live peacefully with each other.”

Dr Yaacob also lauded Mr Othman’s courage during Singapore’s separation.

“He was one who saw through some of the extremist forces that were at play at that time, to realise that a better future lies for Singapore through a society where we respect one another.

“He fought not only for the Malays but for everyone in Singapore.”

SINGAPORE: The late Othman Wok played a central role in fighting for higher wages for union members and workers, as well as in putting NTUC on the international arena, said NTUC president Mary Liew and secretary-general Chan Chun Sing on Monday (Apr 17).

The former Cabinet minister died on Monday afternoon at the age of 92 and will be given astate-assisted funeralon Tuesday.

In a jointly penned a letter of condolence to Mr Othman’s family, they noted that Mr Othman served the labour movement with “unwavering determination and dedication”.

Their letter of condolence is reproduced below:

Dear Puan Lina,

The National Trades Union Congress, our affiliated unions and all in the Labour Movement family share your grief over the passing of your husband, Brother Haji Othman Bin Wok, and extend our condolences to you and your family.

Brother Othman served the Labour Movement from 1951 to 1962 as the Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Printing Employees’ Union. Representing workers from local newspapers and publishing houses, Brother Othman played a central role in fighting for higher wages and better working conditions for union members and workers. In 1953, he led the union on a strike in the fight for higher wages and fairer treatment for workers of the Malaya Publishing House. Likewise, in 1954, he fought for workers of the Straits Times Press.

Brother Othman also played a valuable role in putting NTUC on the international arena. In 1963, he accompanied Brother Devan Nair, then NTUC’s Secretary-General, to the Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organisation meeting in Tanzania and lobbied hard for Singapore’s membership into the forum. Being a member of the forum was critical to NTUC and the nation’s efforts to win the wider domestic support in the on-going struggle against pro-communist elements in Singapore then.

Always with workers’ interests in his heart, during his time as the Minister of Social Affairs and Culture, Brother Othman called upon employers to adopt a mindset change in workplace practices by providing time for employees to go for sports and recreational activities. He was a strong believer that a physically fit and healthy worker is a happy and efficient worker.

Brother Othman has served the Labour Movement with unwavering determination and dedication. His legacy, comradeship and contributions will remain with us for many generations to come and he will be deeply missed by all in the Labour Movement.

SINGAPORE: Wet and warm weather conditions are expected to persist in the second half of April and could extend into May, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Monday (Apr 17).

In a media advisory, the Met Service said short showers are expected on six to eight days in the second fortnight of this month. On two or three days, Singapore could see widespread showers accompanied by gusty winds between the pre-dawn hours and the early morning, it added.

Rainfall for this month is also forecast to be slightly above normal.

Although wet weather is expected on most days, the daily maximum temperature could still hit 35°C. Temperatures are likely to range from 24°C to 34°C, the Met Service said.

It noted that the first fortnight of April saw several warm days, with the maximum temperature exceeding 34°C on five days. Daily maximum temperatures ranged from 29.6°C to 34.7°C, while the daily minimum temperature ranged between 22.3°C and 26.2°C.