Woodlands Checkpoint, currently among the world’s busiest land crossings, will be extended into the nearby Old Woodlands Town Centre as part of efforts to accommodate growing traffic needs and ensure secure immigration clearance.

Two lots of private land – one housing Woodlands Point and another a disused cinema – were acquired by the state yesterday for the extension, said the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

The acquisitions will enable upgrading works to be progressively carried out at the checkpoint without compromising operations, said the SLA and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

“Since the opening of the (Woodlands Checkpoint) in 1999, traveller and vehicle volumes… have been increasing over the years while the security threat has heightened significantly,” said the statement. “The (checkpoint) has to be upgraded to meet growing traffic needs and ensure that immigration clearance remains secure.”

Along with the Tuas Checkpoint, it is among the world’s busiest now, clearing up to 400,000 travellers daily. This touches 430,000 during festive peak periods.

The two lots acquired – each measuring 1,632 sq m – are to the east of the checkpoint and located at 268 and 270 Woodlands Centre Road, respectively.

ICA is conducting a feasibility study to determine the optimal design of the checkpoint extension and the extent of upgrading and redevelopment works required on the facility.

This will take into account the capacity of the checkpoint, overall traffic flow and upcoming developments such as the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System, said ICA.

An agreement on the Rapid Transit System, a quick shuttle service from Johor Baru via Singapore’s upcoming Thomson-East Coast MRT line, is set to be inked next year.

The latest acquisition will affect a total of three lessees and 14 tenants, said the SLA, adding that the HDB is the head lessee of both properties.

“Market value compensation as at the date of gazette will be paid,” said a spokesman, adding that those affected will have 18 months, up to Oct 1, 2018, to hand over the properties.

“SLA will work closely with the affected lessees and tenants, and assist them throughout the acquisition process.”

Among the lessees is C.J. Management & Development, which runs Woodlands Point. The company did not respond to queries on the acquisition yesterday.

The announcement did not come as a surprise to most tenants and residents, who had noticed growing traffic jams in the area as well as thinning business at the sites being acquired.

When The Straits Times visited the affected areas yesterday, only seven shop units at Woodlands Point were open.

byseow@sph.com.sg, nghuiwen@sph.com.sg

383548

2017-03-31 09:42:28

Photo Gallery

Old Woodlands Town Centre (OWTC)

Source:

The Straits Times

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

This article by The Straits Times was published in The New Paper, a free newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.

Some fibre broadband customers have been allegedly tricked by rogue contractors of sole network builder Netlink Trust (NLT) to pay a fee to speed up installation works.

Customers typically wait two weeks for NLT contractors to turn up and install fibre points or activate fibre links, after placing an order with Internet service providers (ISPs) like Singtel or StarHub.

The Straits Times learnt that two customers living in separate condominiums in the east were allegedly told by NLT contractors to pay a fee in cash to have the installation done immediately.

The customers did not have fibre points in the homes they recently moved into, and arranged for the installation to be done last month.

The workers claimed the condos had not given approval for installation and, without immediate payment in cash, they would have to wait another two weeks for the job to be done.

When contacted, NLT said it was not aware of the incidents but confirmed the payments are not legitimate. It urged consumers to report such cases.

One of the alleged victims, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lee, told ST the installer said he needed two more weeks to get the condo management’s approval.

“But he could speed things along if I was willing to pay some money,” said Mr Lee, 42.

The asking price was $500 but Mr Lee had only $30 with him.

The contractor allegedly accepted the money and installed the fibre point in his home.

It was a similar story for Mr Tan, 45, who said he was asked to pay $500 to avoid waiting another two weeks.

“I need Internet access for work and could not wait that long,” said Mr Tan, who eventually paid $150.

It is not known if the same contract worker was involved in both cases.

ST understands that private residences that are five years or older tend to be targets for the scam. NLT and ISPs stopped absorbing the cost of installing the fibre point from 2014.

ISPs bill consumers for such installations on behalf of NLT, and no direct payments to contract workers should be made.

New private residential properties have fibre points as developers have been required by law to install them since May 2013.

Mr Jimmie Ling of the Association of Management Corporations in Singapore said condo managers need at most two days to approve works by NLT contractors.

“In most cases, all the NLT workers had to do is inform the condo manager – fibre point installation is a standard process that is known to all condo managers,” he added.

itham@sph.com.sg

This article by The Straits Times was published in The New Paper, a free newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.

Entrepreneurs and those hoping to join a start-up received a boost yesterday from the labour movement’s U Startup initiative.

The first U Startup Day featured an inaugural career fair at ACE Ideation Centre at one-north involving more than 100 start-ups offering over 300 jobs in areas such as e-commerce, fintech and medtech.

About 1,100 jobseekers attended, and about 16 per cent of the 1,000 who registered for the event were over the age of 40.

The founders of the start-ups also held a dialogue with National Trade Union Congress secretary-general Chan Chun Sing on topics such as financing and talent.

Since its launch last year, the U Startup initiative has reached out to about 1,000 start-up founders and partners to understand the landscape.

Leveraging on the labour movement’s growing network, U Startup provides workshops, access to funding partners, domain experts and career coaching services for start-ups to expand their businesses.

For instance, it has a network of funding partners with a funding range of $25,000 to $2 million.

Mr Chan told the media yesterday that the start-up scene is vibrant and attracting many workers.

“This is a good sign, but because the employment models, products and services (and) contractual models are different, the labour movement must also evolve in tandem to the evolving needs of our start-ups,” he said.

Mr Chan added that the start-up scene is diverse and needs people from all walks of life and backgrounds.

According to the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (Ace), total funding for start-ups here surged from US$157 million (S$219 million) in 2012 to US$1.19 billion last year.

These start-ups, especially those in the technology sector, face a pressing need for talent.

“However, with competing manpower demands from multinational companies and the public sector, an equally strong talent supply to start-ups is necessary to ensure they reach full growth potential,” said Ace in a press release.

Ms Deborah Wee, co-founder of online furniture store HipVan, which has 30 employees, said it is always looking to hire someone who is a “good fit” with its company culture.

She said: “A lot of people think start-ups are sexy and the job is so fun, but everything they dislike in a corporate job can also be found in a start-up.”

Ms Toh Jiaxin, client success manager of local start-up Glints, an online talent recruitment platform, said not everyone would find a job at a start-up appealing.

She said: “It might not pay a lot, and there might not be many opportunities to move up the career ladder. Besides, who knows what is going to happen to the company next month?

“But it can also be rewarding, because you could also get the chance to witness the unprecedented growth of a company.”

Mr Lew Pak Kian, 45, who left his job as a technical analyst in a bank last October, was hoping to find new opportunities at the fair yesterday.

The father-of-two said: “I have been taking up web development courses online, and I hope to gain some experience and exposure by working at a start-up.

“The pay might not be high, but it is better than nothing. Besides, I could learn something and even start out on my own one day.”

tnp@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 31, 2017.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

When Simon Place residents Madam Yeoh and Mr Lim were told they had Zika on Tuesday, their first thoughts were about their neighbours.

“I know there are two pregnant mothers living nearby and I didn’t want them to be in danger,” said Madam Yeoh.

The positive Zika diagnosis for the husband and wife, whose full names were not given, meant they formed a Zika cluster – the first of the year.

The couple live in a four-storey terrace house in Kovan.

By yesterday, the National Environment Agency had inspected 234 of 400 premises in the area, and destroyed 10 mosquito breeding grounds.

Fogging was used to help kill the Aedes mosquitoes, which also spread dengue.

Zika results in mild cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for unborn foetuses.

That is why Madam Yeoh, 42, and her 48-year-old husband, spent an hour warning residents that they had Zika.

Read also: First Zika cluster reported at Simon Place

The first person they told was their pregnant next-door neighbour. Said Madam Yeoh: “We advised them to move out for the next few days, and they did. I was also very touched that everyone was very kind and concerned about us.”

358953

2016-12-27 12:35:02

Photo Gallery

Zika outbreak in Singapore

Source:

The Straits Times

The New Paper

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

They had developed rashes and fever last week and visited a 24-hour clinic in Hougang on March 23. They were advised to go for a blood test, which they did at an Outram Park polyclinic.

The symptoms have nowgone and Madam Yeoh’s pregnant neighbour even visited her yesterday.

The self-employed couplewere in Japan in February for a holiday and initially felt they may have contracted the virus there.

Their doctor said they were probably bitten around two weeks ago, after their trip.

327494

2016-09-06 11:57:34

Photo Gallery

Fighting Zika: Which mosquito repellent to use

Source: The Straits Times, New Straits Times, Avon, Reuters, The Business Times, Ronnie Lim, Far East Flora

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

“We could have been bitten while taking our two poodles for a walk,” said Madam Yeoh.

NEA officers checked their home on Tuesday but did not find any signs of mosquito breeding, she said.

Residents at Simon Place say mosquitoes are an issue.

326529

2016-08-29 10:47:52

Photo Gallery

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Source: The Straits Times, The New Paper

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

Retiree Paramaes Govin, 60, who lives in a terrace house, said: “Fallen leaves and seeds from the trees clog the gutters on the roof.”

Aljunied GRC MP Sylvia Lim visited the area yesterday morning. She said: “Residents living in this area are quite used to clusters of mosquito-borne diseases – in the last few years we’ve had dengue outbreaks. So they already know what to do and how to protect themselves.”

261947

2016-02-01 17:36:11

Photo Gallery

What is the Zika virus?

Source: Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–
• 
  
  <!–

Infectious diseases specialist Leong Hoe Nam from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital said the new cluster is not cause for alarm, as the cases were from the same household.

There have also been just six other isolated Zika cases this year, after the last cluster was closed in December.

This article by The Straits Times was published in The New Paper, a free newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.