Not all the lights have gone out at Dakota Crescent, which has been slated for redevelopment – a handful of households still call it home four months after the official deadline to move out.

The Housing Board has granted extensions where necessary. In an update to The Straits Times, HDB said more than 96 per cent of the 400 households there have moved out and seven of 17 blocks have been “gated up and locked”.

The authorities previously said that the 17 rental blocks there would have to go as part of the Government’s rejuvenation plans for ageing HDB estates.

The lone rangers include Mr Bilyy Koh, 62, who rolled off his daybed languidly to speak to The Straits Times as the sun set on the estate one balmy evening last month.

Mr Koh, who is unemployed, will likely be moving to a new rental flat later this month after renovation work is completed.

For now, as the only occupant of Block 12, he takes it upon himself to share the history of the 1958 estate with heritage enthusiasts who stream in.

“This is our heritage and a remnant of the old Kallang estate. It was beautifully designed by the Singapore Improvement Trust to house the poor. As a citizen, I would not like to lose this part of my history… and I want to be the last person to leave Dakota,” he said.

Like Mr Koh, most of the remaining residents said they are waiting for their new homes to be ready.

Although the authorities had given residents an end-2016 deadline to move out, an HDB spokesman said: “For the remaining households, we have granted them an extension of stay, as they have asked for more time to carry out renovation works to their new homeownership flats.”

She added that for their safety and well-being, HDB has advised them to move to their new homes as soon as possible. In the meantime, the area will continue to be maintained and HDB has also requested the police to step up patrols.

The authorities reviewing future plans for estate

Residents who indicated that they wanted to keep renting were given priority and their rents were not increased. They were given options of one- or two-room flats, including those in a new block in nearby Cassia Crescent, which was completed last year.

Residents could also choose to buy a new flat from HDB. Eligible first-timers received a Central Provident Fund relocation grant of $15,000 for families or singles jointly buying a place; lone singles received $7,500. Eligible tenants were also given a removal allowance of $1,000, upon moving to their new accommodation.

Another long-time resident who has yet to move out is childcare teacher Low Shuilin, 27. She lives there with her 25-year-old sister, who works in a bank, and her retired 60-year-old mother.

Ms Low said she had missed the original deadline to apply for a flat under HDB’s relocation exercise because she thought she would be unable to afford it.

But with help from relatives and government grants, she and her mother now own a three-room flat in Cassia Crescent. The unit is almost ready and the family will be moving in the next few days.

Ms Low, who has lived in Dakota Crescent for most of her life, said: “I really hope it will be conserved because we have lost much of our early public housing history.”

A conservation report has been submitted to the authorities to retain the blocks and turn the area into a mixed-use complex.

Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, said last year that the authorities’ planners are open to looking at different ways in which the area can be redeveloped and rejuvenated while retaining its identity.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority’s latest update to ST is that it is “reviewing the future plans for the estate and will share more details in due course”.

Late last month, ST caught up with administrative officer Ratipah Ahmat, 29, on the day that she was moving with her family to Sengkang. She had lived in a unit in Block 30 with her husband and three young children for five years.

Armed with freshly taken pictures of her Dakota Crescent flat and plenty of memories, she said: “It has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am glad my children grew up here. We’re lucky to have rented a flat in such a historic area. We didn’t think it would be so special and such a quiet, old-school respite.

“We will miss Dakota so much. I hope I can come back with my children’s children one day and show them how Singapore’s old flats used to look like.”

Read also: Once bustling Dakota Crescent now a ghost town

This article was first published on Apr 17, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

A new alliance is being formed to promote responsible drinking and raise standards in the nightlife sector, marking the first industry-wide effort to do so.

Helmed by operators and alcohol suppliers, it aims to train bar staff on how to spot and handle inebriated customers, for instance, and even how to react during a terror attack.

The Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA), which represents 445 operators, and the European Chamber of Commerce’s (EuroCham) wine, spirits and beer committee here – composed of nine alcohol brands that make up the lion’s share of the local market – are joining forces, they revealed to The Straits Times.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is being finalised to form the Singapore Alliance for Responsible Drinking (Sard).

Also on the cards is a public engagement effort on responsible consumption and possibly an accreditation scheme to promote minimum standards for operators.

While both parties have previously worked together on ad hoc initiatives, they decided to pool their resources this time for a larger impact, said Mr Davide Besana, vice-chairman of EuroCham’s wine, spirits and beer committee. He is the Asia-Pacific corporate affairs manager for Edrington, which makes Scottish whiskies such as The Macallan and Highland Park.

Edrington, together with other brands on the committee – Bacardi, Diageo, Moet Hennessy Diageo, Pernod Ricard, William Grant and Sons, Remy Cointreau, Carlsberg and Asia Pacific Breweries – make up an estimated 80 per cent of the alcohol market here.

The alliance will also provide a collective voice for the industry in its regular engagement with the authorities, such as over the proposed amendments to the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act introduced in Parliament earlier this month.

Among the proposals are a “lighter touch” and licences with longer validity periods for law-abiding licensees, but stiffer penalties for errant operators.

SNBA president and nightlife veteran Dennis Foo said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has been more proactive in seeking industry input in recent years. “We are very supportive of (the Amendment Bill) – it recognises that proper operators should not be treated the same as bad ones,” he said.

The MOU to form the alliance will be signed within the next few months, and discussions have already begun on possible initiatives, said EuroCham executive director Lina Baechtiger.

Among these is the introduction of a voluntary accreditation scheme to raise standards in the industry by rewarding responsible operators, such as the Best Bar None scheme adopted in Britain.

The alliance is also looking to expand a programme to train bar staff to identify, intervene and prevent potential alcohol-related problems among customers.

Sard’s formation is timely as the definition and scope of nightlife has evolved, said Timbre Group’s managing director Edward Chia, who is vice-president of SNBA.

The lines between bars, clubs and restaurants have blurred, while a decentralisation of nightlife entertainment is expected to take place over the next decade as neighbourhood establishments continue to sprout, Mr Chia added.

Mr Foo, who is the chairman of CityBar Holdings, said: “There are a lot more restaurant-bars now, and a lot of young professionals joining the industry.”

The increasing threat of terrorism and overseas attacks on public entertainment establishments also present fresh challenges.

“We need to train our people to know what to do if something happens,” said Mr Chia, adding that the only way to do this is with an industry-wide move.

Mr Eugene Fung, owner of The Mad Men Attic Bar near Boat Quay, said that leveraging on the overseas experience of alcohol brands would be useful for the adoption of best practices here.

“Having a common voice will also help in our engagement with the authorities so we know better what we are doing wrong or right,” he said.

This article was first published on Apr 17, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

One of Singapore’s founding leaders, Tuan Haji Othman Bin Wok, has died.

According to an announcement on the official Facebook page of People’s Action Party (PAP), Mr Othman, passed away peacefully on Monday (Apr 17).

The former member of the country’s first Cabinet died at Singapore General Hospital at 12.21pm, said an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

He was 92 years old.

Mr Othman was an MP for Pasir Panjang constituency from 1963 to 1981 and had joined the People’s Action Party soon after its founding in 1954.

The statement continued: “The Government will accord Mr Othman Bin Wok the honour of being borne on the Ceremonial Gun Carriage for his final journey from Sultan Mosque to Pusara Abadi at the Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery.”

Mr Othman will be buried at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery on Tuesday, according to PMO.

“The late Encik Othman was an integral member of Singapore’s first Cabinet formed by the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew,” said the PAP in its Facebook post.

“He served as the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs Minister between 1963 and 1977.”

A memorial service will be organised by OnePeople.sg on Wednesday.

The state flag on all Government buildings will be flown at half-mast till the completion of the memorial service, the PMO statement added.

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Othman Wok, member of Singapore’s first Cabinet, dies

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The Straits Times

Berita Harian

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ssandrea@sph.com.sg

Woodlands could get almost 10,000 new dwelling units as part of the Housing Board’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, which is poised to transform the entire town into a “Star Destination of the North”.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new residential projects yesterday at Woodlands Central, where an HDB exhibition on the area’s renewal plans was launched.

The projects will be sited at Woodlands Central and Woodlands North Coast.

The Woodlands Central homes, to be integrated with commercial and community facilities, will be built near Woodlands MRT station. The authorities have yet to decide if these will be public or private units.

Meanwhile, the Woodlands North Coast public housing development will offer residents a “housing- in-the-woods” experience by leveraging on the area’s natural hilly terrain so they can enjoy views of Admiralty Park and the Strait of Johor.

The entire makeover of Woodlands – the Republic’s northern regional centre – will be implemented within the next five to 10 years, said Mr Wong. A budget has yet to be finalised.

He added: “In Singapore, the Government not only builds HDB flats, but we ensure a quality home and living environment for everyone, and so we invest significant amounts in upgrading programmes… billions of dollars.”

The ROH programme aims to spruce up the heartland for Singaporeans. Woodlands is set to undergo the biggest changes as part of the scheme’s third batch, which also includes Toa Payoh and Pasir Ris.

The HDB listed six “star attractions” to be rolled out in the 1,198ha town. The first involves expanding the Woodlands Regional Centre.

This comprises two parcels of land: retail hub Woodlands Central, a 30ha area around Woodlands MRT station and Causeway Point with a new town plaza; and Woodlands North Coast, a 70ha area between Republic Polytechnic and the Woodlands waterfront.

The second parcel, Woodlands North Coast, is set to house a business park – the first such cluster in the northern region – with land set aside for small and medium-sized enterprises. 

The facelift for the waterfront also means new trails and a nature promenade for residents.

“The Woodlands Regional Centre will be a new hub for businesses, especially those with Malaysian and Asean linkages. This will create many more opportunities and jobs for Singaporeans. It will make Woodlands an attractive place to live, work and play,” said Mr Wong.

Other attractions include a new 1.9km community link called WoodsVista Gallery connecting Woodlands Central to the waterfront and the upgrading of the existing Woodlands Town Garden.

A healthcare complex – Woodlands Health Campus – will include a new acute care hospital, community hospital and nursing home. It will be opened in phases from 2022.

Mr Wong called the HDB’s makeover and a swathe of projects in the estate “major game changers”.

The projects include three new MRT stations in Woodlands by 2019 as part of the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line. The line will be connected to the future cross-border MRT system linking Woodlands to Johor.

The new North-South Expressway, a 21.5km road linking Woodlands to the city, is also likely to be ready in 2026. Last month, the authorities announced a makeover for Woodlands Checkpoint as well.

The HDB engaged 220 residents and community stakeholders in 2015 over seven focus group sessions, in developing these plans for Woodlands.

A spokesman told The Straits Times that the various agencies will work closely with one another to assess if there is any potential environmental impact from the proposed developments and, where necessary, put in place mitigating measures.

Detailed ROH plans for Toa Payoh and Pasir Ris will be announced on April 22 and April 29.

ST Explainer: Sprucing up the heartland

What is a regional centre?

Regional centres outside the city centre were introduced in 1991 to

decentralise economic activities.

Woodlands grew rapidly in the 1990s and was earmarked for extensive development to transform it into a regional centre for the northern part of Singapore in 1997.

The other two such centres are the Jurong Lake District and Tampines Regional Centre. Seletar is slated to be the fourth such centre.

What is the Remaking Our Heartland scheme?

It is a programme by the Housing Board to spruce up the heartland. Woodlands, Toa Payoh and Pasir Ris are towns under the scheme’s third batch.

Other areas that have come under this programme include Dawson, Yishun and Punggol in 2007, and Hougang, Jurong Lake and East Coast in 2011.

Woodlands’ massive makeover will also cater to residents of neighbouring towns – Marsiling, Sembawang and Yishun.

When will Woodlands’ transformation start?

Most of the plans will likely be implemented within the next five to 10 years.

The actual implementation timeframe for each proposal will differ from site to site.

How much will the Woodlands’ makeover cost?

The HDB said it is still seeking residents’ feedback on the plans for the town through its public exhibition, and costs have not been finalised at this point.

How many HDB flats are there in Woodlands today?

There are about 242,600 residents who live in HDB flats in Woodlands. The HDB currently manages 63,779 dwelling units, and the projected ultimate number of flats is expected to swell to 98,000.

melodyz@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 17, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

It was a joyous night for Zoe Tay and Chen Hanwei as they were crowned Best Actress and Best Actor respectively on Sunday (April 16) at the Star Awards 2017.

The veteran actors received accolades for their performances as a male confinement nanny in The Gentlemen and a cancer-stricken nurse manager in You Can Be An Angel 2.

Tay, 49 and Chen, 47, have co-starred in numerous TV dramas such as By My Side (2008), Devotion (2011), The Dream Makers (2013), and remain close friends after spending nearly 30 years in the show business.

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Zoe Tay and Chen Hanwei through the years

Source:

MediaCorp

The Straits Times

The New Paper

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And besides being comfortable teasing each other before the camera, they are also often seen celebrating each other’s achievements.

#Friendshipgoals anyone?

Here are some things you may not know about the A-lister besties:

1. They didn’t have the best impression of each other when they first met

Tay thought that Chen was arrogant while he said she gave off supermodel vibes.

However, the actress said that as time passed, she saw “the real Chen Hanwei (who) is kind, sincere and gives me a sense of security, like the roots of a tree. I’ve always said that he is like an angel to me.”

2. They took part in the inaugural local talent show Star Search in 1988

Organised by then-Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, Tay emerged as the winner of the competition while Chen was a finalist. Both of them went on to build successful acting careers over the years.

3. Both of them had their breakthrough roles in the 1990s

Tay rose to fame after playing the materialistic girl Bobo in Pretty faces (1991) while Chen captured the audience’s hearts with his role as a teacher in Morning Express (1995).

4. They are fashion darlings in Singapore

Dubbed a fashion icon for her elegant style, former model Tay continues to grace the covers of local magazines.

Chen appears to be more adventurous with his fashion choices, which may be the result of his brief stint as a stylist when he took a break from acting in 1997.

5. They have both won the All-Time Favourite Artiste Award

After being named top 10 most popular male/female artist 10 times at the Star Awards, Tay clinched the all-time favourite artiste award in 2004 and Chen joined her on the list in 2014.

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2017-04-17 08:56:56

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Star Awards 2017: Veteran stars swoop top honours

Source:

The Straits Times

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minlee@sph.com.sg

When the daughter of local blogger Lee Kin Mun, better known as mrbrown, went missing five years ago, social media played a pivotal role in helping to find her.

Faith, then 11 years old, has autism and could not talk. So her father tweeted a series of messages on what she looked like and where they had lost her. His tweets had more than 50 re-tweets each and “Faith” then trended on Twitter for about two hours.

She was eventually found 11/2 hours later by a train station staff member and Mr Lee’s friend.

Unlike Mr Lee, not many parents of children with special needs are familiar with using social media or can tap a similarly large number of friends or followers to find their missing children.

So a group of parents have banded together to start a Facebook page and community to help disseminate appeals over missing children, particularly those with special needs.

Created in February, Reunite Missing Children has posted two missing notices of children with special needs.The group also posts resources to raise awareness among members of the public on how to identify and assist these children.

Said one of its founders, Ms Sun Meilan, 44: “Finding a missing child is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Social media allows us to alert the larger community so that they can help keep a lookout if they are in the vicinity.”

She added: “Sometimes the authorities have scant details in their missing notices and other parents have been able chip in online with details of his clothing or interests to help the search.”

Ms Sun had also invited a distributor of personal tracking devices last month to share with parents how these devices work. Children who wear them can be located via a mobile app.

However, many parents were hesitant to buy the devices as they can be expensive and their children tend to lose or remove them from their bodies.

Police said inquiries are immediately conducted when they receive a missing person report. This includes screening the person against police databases and checking with other institutions and hospitals. They may also issue appeals for information from the public on various platforms, including social media.

There is no minimum time required for the missing person to have lost contact with family members before a report can be lodged.

Said a police spokesman: “The viral nature of social media means that netizens are able to further disseminate the information shared by the police, thereby providing a multiplier effect to our efforts.”

Ms Sun hopes that people will not stop short of sharing these missing children posts on social media.

She said: “Our resources are very limited and the parents of the missing child can get very anxious. We need more eyes on the ground.”

This article was first published on April 16, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.