A six-star hotel in the heart of the city is still shuttered more than a year after it was scheduled to open, due to a dispute among its owners.

The Patina, Capitol Singapore, whose 157 rooms are spread across the Capitol Building and Stamford House in the City Hall area, was supposed to open by the end of 2015.

The luxury hotel was touted as having high corniced ceilings, dramatic archways and grand windows, and also houses a chocolate atelier and a Peruvian Amazon restaurant and bar.

Analysts had expected the hotel to pull in high-end or business tourists.

Read also: The world’s first craft beer hotel wants to soak you in a hot tub full of beer

But the hotel’s doors were still locked when The Sunday Times visited the site earlier this month, though the interior appeared furnished with sofas and chairs.

The Sunday Times understands that the hotel’s opening date has not been confirmed and that the delay was due to “challenges at ownership level”.

Its website has gone live, though visitors are unable to make bookings.

The Patina is part of the integrated development Capitol Singapore, which includes a retail mall, residential units and the historic Capitol Theatre. Both the mall and the theatre are in operation.

The 542,000 sq ft Capitol Singapore project cost $1.1 billion.

Read also: Family’s 3-storey home has unique spaces with feel of a plush hotel suite

It was earlier reported that buyers of the residential component, Eden Residences Capitol, will not be affected by the dispute.

In April last year, one of the development’s owners, Perennial Real Estate Holdings, filed applications for three of its associated companies, which own Capitol Singapore, to be wound up.

But on March 3, the High Court dismissed the applications, prolonging the impasse. There is one month to appeal.

Perennial had previously told the Singapore Exchange that the shareholders and management of the Capitol entities were “in deadlock”, unable to agree on some key issues over the project.

Perennial owns an effective 50 per cent of each of the three associates, while the other 50 per cent is held by Chesham Properties, an affiliate of private luxury developer Pontiac Land Group, a local company.

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The firms had come together in 2010 after winning the bid, with the aim to restore the site’s three conservation buildings to their former glory, turning the development into a landmark and injecting new vibrancy into the City Hall area.

But the mall, Capitol Piazza, has been mostly quiet since it began opening in phases in May 2015. Italian eatery Spizza closed its outlet there after less than two years.

Some tenants were not even aware that the building next door, with its dark windows and ornate plaster decorations, housed a hotel.

“I passed by but didn’t know it’s a hotel,” said Ms Sharyn Ng, 35, who works at a hair salon a few doors down. “It’s a waste that it has not opened. We could get more walk- in customers.”

Associate Professor Prem Shamdasani, from the National University of Singapore Business School’s marketing department, said the development, while well-restored, “cannot just leverage on its proud heritage and strategic location, but has to offer unique and diverse experiences to attract both locals and tourists”.

“If it doesn’t, then it is a waste of its potential,” he added.

This article was first published on Mar 20, 2017.
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Over the next 15 years, 10,000 to 13,000 trees in Singapore could be removed to make way for transport and housing projects – an ongoing trade-off between nature and development.

But the National Parks Board (NParks) is taking steps to mitigate against the possible impact, it tells The Sunday Times.

All the affected trees will be replaced at least one-for-one, it said, adding that it is likely even more trees will be planted in their place.

The 10,000 to 13,000 range is a “working figure”, based on development projects in the pipeline, to help it plan how many trees it needs to replant in advance, the statutory board noted.

Read also: NParks taking steps to improve tree health

Singapore has about seven million trees, of which six million – along streets as well as in parks, state lands and nature reserves – are in areas managed by NParks.

The Sunday Times understands that some developments that will affect trees are the North-South Expressway, Thomson-East Coast Line and Jurong Region Line.

There are also works such as the Jurong Lake Gardens project, expansion of Changi Airport and upcoming housing estates in Bidadari, Tengah and Tampines North.

NParks’ deputy chief executive Leong Chee Chiew told The Sunday Times that because Singapore is not just a city but also a country, this leads to “intense land-use demands”.”We need to work a lot harder and smarter than other cities. As an agency, we work very closely, collaboratively with other agencies to anticipate what are some possible disruptions.”

By working with agencies like the Land Transport Authority (LTA) “very early on” in the planning stage, NParks can, say, evaluate if plans could be modified to save certain trees. For example, it could work with LTA on modifying the alignment of a road.

Read also: Rooting out sick trees

“We have the advantage of being able to plan way ahead of time,” he said. But he noted that development projects could change over time so the projection may not reflect what will happen in the next 15 years.

To the best of his knowledge, Dr Leong said no heritage trees will be affected by the planned developments. But he was unable to offer more details on the age or range of species of the trees that will be affected, saying it is still too early to tell.

While most of the trees to be removed will be used for mulching and biofuel or be recycled, a small proportion will be salvaged – often transplanted to a holding site before being replanted elsewhere.

Whether or not a tree is salvaged depends on factors such as historical significance, size and species.

The size of a tree determines how likely it is to survive the transplantation – larger trees have a more extensive root system, which makes them more likely to suffer damage when moved. Some species are also more suited to transplantation.

Read also: Botanic Gardens safe to visit: NParks

In recent years, NParks has been moving towards a system of replanting where different plant species are grown in layers, mimicking a forest environment. This allows for greater biodiversity. There has also been a push to grow more native species.

The replanting will depend on the site and could involve shrubs, saplings, semi-mature trees and mature trees.

NParks has been planting 40,000 trees every year since 2015, in parks and for replacement. Trees for replanting are largely obtained from tree banks, home to more than 11,000 trees, and Pasir Panjang Nursery which has 200,000 plants.

NParks said it can nurture 700 to 800 trees that are at least 3m tall for replacement each year.

Nature Society president Shawn Lum said the loss of older trees might be “jarring” at first.

Read also: NParks volunteers help with oil spill cleanup efforts at Chek Jawa over the weekend

“The character of the area will change if big trees are cleared and replaced by things not as majestic.”

But Dr Lum added: “It’s quite a good opportunity as well, to rethink greenery from a whole landscape scale… (as) a more seamless integration of roadsides and parks with the forest.” He doubts the various developments will affect any endangered tree species although the Bidadari area, a haven for migratory bird species, might suffer an ecological impact when trees are removed.

Mr William Lau, former president of the Singapore Institute of Planners, and now the International Federation for Housing and Planning’s ambassador for South-east Asia, said: “Removing 10,000 to 13,000 is a small percentage compared to the total greenery (in Singapore). “As such, it has no significant impact on the current good balance between urban development and greenery.”

This article was first published on Mar 20, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Singapore has built more rain shelters on expressways for motorcyclists to take cover or take breaks, but some bikers have still been spotted pulling up on road shoulders despite a horrific crash on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) on March 11.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it has built about 80 motorcycle rain shelters under flyovers, mostly at the 10 expressways.

This is up 25 per cent from 2009, when there were 60 shelters, which could accommodate some 1,000 motorcycles.

At a cost of $2.58 million, the LTA doubled the number of shelters that year, from 29 in 2008.

Mr Yam Ah Mee, the then chief executive of LTA, had said that the shelters are “one improvement to our land transport infrastructure to increase motorcyclist safety”.

The 42.8km Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) has the most shelters – 17, followed by the 26.5km Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and the 14.4km Tampines Expressway (TPE) with 13 shelters. The 11km BKE has seven.

The shelters are marked by umbrella signs as well, posted about 40m ahead of each one. They are demarcated by vehicle impact guardrails or spring loaded poles – installed depending on the configuration and space available at each site, said the LTA.

The March 11 accident has cast the spotlight on motorcyclists’ practice of stopping on expressway road shoulders under flyovers for breaks or to take cover during bad weather.

A van ploughed into motorcyclists parked on such a shoulder on the BKE, under the flyover of the Seletar Expressway (SLE).

Two died and six were injured, all Malaysians. They had stopped as dark clouds gathered. Van driver Koh Boon Ping, 24, was charged last Monday with two counts of causing death by a rash act.

A recent check by The Straits Times (ST) saw many riders on the BKE using the designated rain shelters.

They said that news of the accident has left them wary, and they are more careful now.

Mr Alex Goh, 38, a technician who was waiting for a friend at a designated rain shelter on the BKE, said: “We move further in at shelters now, rather than stopping at non-designated areas under flyovers. We also try not to stand outside the barricades.”

But ST also spotted at least four motorcyclists stopping briefly at the crash site within 15 minutes.

Motorcyclists are advised to pull over only at designated shelters, but road safety experts said it is almost second nature to stop by the shoulder if the shelters are too crowded during bad weather or if they are already caught in the rain.

Mr Norman Lee, general secretary of the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association and a rider of about 20 years, said: “During peak hours and heavy rain, one shelter may not be able to hold that many bikers. They may spill over and obstruct the left lane.

“Riding in the rain is equally dangerous because visibility is reduced, and there is an increased braking distance.”

Mr Ong Kim Hua, president of the Singapore Motorcycle Safety and Sports Club, said it would help to build more or larger shelters, especially on the BKE, due to the number of bikers using the highway.

There are an estimated 40,000 Malaysian motorcyclists commuting to Singapore daily, with many using the BKE and SLE.

Mr Ong said that unlike road shoulders under flyovers, designated shelters help to “channel” bikes off the expressway into a bay, away from oncoming traffic.

An LTA spokesman said that before building a shelter, it has to assess if there is enough space and height for motorcyclists to park and wait safely.

The spokesman said: “To ensure safety, there must also be an unobstructed line of sight for motorcyclists entering and exiting the sheltered area.”

Don’t wait for rain to wear raincoat

Designated rain shelters for motorcyclists on expressways can generally accommodate 10 to 20 bikers depending on size, said Mr Aman Aljunied from Singapore Safety Driving Centre.

But he added that it is best not to wait until rain is imminent before putting on a raincoat.

For example, he makes the decision before starting his trips.

“Everyone will end up stopping at the same spot, and it may get too crowded,” he said.

The rider of 45 years said he takes care to leave his signal lights on when he pulls over, and he faces traffic so he can see oncoming vehicles.

“I will move behind the guardrails to do so,” he added.

ACCORDING TO ROAD TRAFFIC ACT

l No vehicle shall stop on any shoulder or verge on an expressway unless in line with certain rules.

l Exceptions are made in cases of a breakdown, an emergency, for motorists to give help to others, or to recover a fallen object.

l Motorists who stop on the shoulder are liable to a fine of up to $160 and four demerit points.

TRAFFIC POLICE ADVISORY FOR MOTORCYCLISTS

l Pull over at dedicated shelters under vehicular flyovers along expressways when seeking shelter from the rain.

l At the shelters, stand behind the railing, face oncoming traffic and switch on hazard lights.

l Motorcyclists should always remain visible and keep a lookout for traffic.

byseow@sph.com.sg

A retired banker has lost his appeal in challenging a decision by a Law Society review committee to dismiss his complaint that opposing lawyers in disciplinary proceedings against his wife, prominent surgeon Susan Lim, had inflated their fees.

Mr Deepak Sharma had based his complaint on, among other things, the fact that WongPartnership’s claim for $1 million in legal costs against his wife was eventually driven down to $370,000.

The law firm had represented the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) in a long-running and high- profile case against Dr Lim for overcharging a Bruneian royal patient.

But in a written judgment last week, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mr Sharma’s bid for judicial review of the committee’s decision, ruling that the committee had not committed an error of law.

Read also: Susan Lim saga: Husband appeals against High Court ruling

The apex court upheld the legal principle put forward by the committee – that, in the absence of proof that a lawyer has put up improper or fraudulent claims, a significant reduction by the court of costs would not, in and of itself, amount to professional misconduct.

Judge of Appeal Andrew Phang, delivering the decision of the three-judge court, noted that in the case of costs between lawyer and client, overcharging can, in and of itself, amount to misconduct.

However, the current case does not involve a lawyer billing his client, he said. Instead, it is a case involving party and party costs, in which the losing party is ordered to pay costs to the winning party.

The final amount is determined by the court, in a process known as taxation, after hearing from the winning side who puts up the bill as well as the objections of the losing side. “It is often, if not invariably, the case that a party’s claim for party and party costs will be reduced by the court on taxation, for the reason (if nothing else) that taxation is an adversarial process and the quantum of costs to be allowed will typically be disputed by the opposing party,” said Justice Phang.

Read also: Susan Lim case: Court slashes SMC’s cost claims Susan Lim case

The corollary, he said, is that an excessive claim for such costs would not, in and of itself, generally constitute professional misconduct by the lawyer concerned.

In the current case, Justice Phang said the committee had concluded that there were no improper or fraudulent claims.

Dr Lim had been ordered to pay the SMC’s legal costs after she lost a court battle to block a disciplinary hearing against her. The hearing was over a $24 million bill for the patient in 2007. She was eventually suspended for three years and fined $10,000.

In 2013, WongPartnership put up three bills detailing the fees of Senior Counsel Alvin Yeo and Ms Melanie Ho, amounting to about $1 million. The fees were brought down to $340,000 by an assistant registrar, and finally adjusted to $370,000 by High Court judge Woo Bih Li.

Read also: Susan Lim case: ‘Ethical fee limit for docs exists’

In 2014, Mr Sharma, who had funded Dr Lim’s legal expenses, complained to the Law Society against Mr Yeo and Ms Ho for “gross overcharging”.

A two-member review committee dismissed his complaints, except for one against Ms Ho. Dissatisfied, he asked the High Court to quash the decision and order a fresh review of his complaints.

His lawyer, Mr Abraham Vergis, argued that, given the significant reduction of costs by the court, the committee should have referred the case for an inquiry.

Mr Sharma’s bid for judicial review was dismissed by Justice Woo, who said the committee had not made errors of law and was entitled to dismiss his complaints.

He appealed. But the Law Society and the Attorney-General’s Chambers argued that Justice Woo’s findings should be upheld.

This article was first published on Mar 19, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE – Police arrested a lorry driver after a collision between his vehicle and a car on the Central Expressway (CTE).

The police said they were alerted to the accident on the CTE towards Seletar Expressway at about 3pm on Sunday (March 19).

A 30-year-old driver was arrested for suspected drink driving.

The Straits Times understands that the lorry was attempting to overtake the car when it swiped the car on the left.

The incident caused heavy traffic on the CTE until about 5pm, according to the Land Transport Authority’s Twitter updates.

Vehicles were backed up to the Balestier Road exit at one point.

No injuries were reported and police investigations are ongoing.

This article was first published on March 19, 2017.
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