All Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) personnel have to take part in a yearly survey to assess their psychological readiness.

Miss Lin Liqin, 23, who has been under the psychology branch in the RSAF under the Air Power Generation Command for a year as a research assistant, felt there was a need to update the online and paper survey system.

So she suggested conducting the survey through a mobile app, which is now under trial.

Miss Lin got her start in identifying new opportunities with data at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), where she was enrolled in the business intelligence and analytics course.

The course, misconceived by many to be about business, focuses on information technology (IT).

Students are equipped with data analytic and visualisation skills that can help businesses solve problems and generate insights.

Miss Lin said: “In the business analytics and visualisation project module in Year 2, I learnt how to identify trends in car accidents from 2013 to 2014.

“The data records of the individual accidents were in an Excel sheet, and I placed them into different charts.”

Results showed that black cars and white cars were more commonly involved in car accidents, and that there was a higher incidence of fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles.

The data can be used to help reduce such accidents, said Miss Lin.

Suggesting having an RSAF app was not the first time she applied what she had learnt in school to a real-life situation.

During her three-month internship with StarHub in 2014, she made a suggestion to her supervisor to use data available online to get feedback for the programmes StarHub provides.

Using the programming language Java, she extracted feedback from movie review websites to compare it with StarHub’s own consumer data to better cater to their viewers’ preferences.

NYP also trained Miss Lin in data processing programmes such as SAS, Microsoft Excel, SPSS and SAP Lumira.

WIDELY USED

These programmes are widely used in the industry, and they help to turn large amounts of data into clear and accessible visual forms.

Noting that the IT industry is constantly changing, Miss Lin said she has to be always ready to upgrade herself.

“Technology is changing rapidly, so we are encouraged to go on courses to keep our skill set relevant,” she said.

“Some examples of courses include basic and advanced Excel. This is part of the training and development fund that Ministry of Defence personnel can tap on to upgrade ourselves every year.”

bxliew@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 15, 2017.
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Today is the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore. A survivor remembers

Mr Tommy Wong was only three years old when the Japanese invaded Singapore in 1942, during World War II.

During the three years and eight months of the Japanese Occupation, his family took desperate measures to survive.

Now 78, Mr Wong needs a walking aid to move around. He still gives talks to national servicemen and students about the importance of Total Defence.

Armed with a hat and an umbrella for a walking stick, Mr Wong, a freelance tour guide, takes students on battle trails like Bukit Chandu, and shares his war experience with them.

He feels everyone should play a part in defending Singapore and is part of the Commitment to Defence (C2D) Ambassadors Programme.

It comes under Nexus, the Ministry of Defence department responsible for Total Defence.

Mr Wong’s experience during World War II was one of the factors that prompted him to become a soldier.

He was a regular in the army from 1964 to 1989.

He said of the occupation: “It was a very tough time. We had no food. My sister had to carry me to queue for fish, and even then it was rotten fish.”

KIDNAP BOYS

He was also dressed up as a girl because there was a rumour going around that the Japanese would kidnap boys.

He wore a girl’s samfu (traditional everyday wear for Chinese women) and his hair was grown and tied in a ponytail.

Four of his sisters had to hide in a fake ceiling, and came down only for meals.

His father was jailed for sabotaging the Japanese, but was released after the war. His entire family survived.

In 1960, he joined the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps, where he realised the importance of being united and defending Singapore.

He said: “Once a soldier knows why he’s here and that he is protecting his family, he will be committed to fight.

“This unity will be important in times of trouble. This is how you learn to be strong without using strength.

“Even if you are on a motorised wheelchair, you can hold a gun and still help to defend Singapore.”

On Total Defence, he said: “The law states that you are an NSman for a number of years, but to me, I am operationally ready for life.”

Yesterday, Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen delivered his Total Defence message at the former Ford Factory in Upper Bukit Timah Road, where Singapore’s British rulers surrendered to the Japanese on Feb 15, 1942.

He said the Japanese Occupation was a period of subjugation and deprivation that taught that generation two bitter but valuable lessons.

DEPEND ON YOURSELF

He said: “One, you cannot depend on others to defend you and two, the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

“It created in the pioneer generation of Singaporeans a deep-seated conviction that if ever we were in charge of our nation’s destiny, we will ensure a strong defence to keep Singapore safe and independent.”

tanpya@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 15, 2017.
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​

DR YAP HIM HOO,

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, AVA

AVA manages free-roaming chicken population for public health and safety

We thank the writers who have shared their views on the management of free-roaming chickens and would like to take this opportunity to clarify the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority’s (AVA) position on the matter.

One of AVA’s responsibilities is to ensure that Singapore is kept free from the associated animal and plant diseases that pose a threat to public health.

In this regard, AVA needs to carry out surveillance work to detect and control diseases early, well before they can potentially spread to Singapore.

There is clear scientific evidence that chickens are susceptible to the bird flu virus, and these chickens can in turn transmit the disease to humans.

This was what happened when the region was struck with bird flu in 2004.

It is also why the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organisation, in a joint statement to battle bird flu in 2004, specifically mentioned the need to manage free-range chickens, so as to control bird flu at source.

Keeping poultry in a bio-secured environment is a measure recommended by the OIE to prevent bird flu incursion.

The risk of free-roaming chickens here being exposed to bird flu is real and significant, as we are one of the stopover nodes for migratory wild birds.

This means that the chickens on our island can catch the disease through direct contact with wild birds or even through their droppings.

In a recent bird flu outbreak in Denmark, investigations found that the outbreak started due to contact between wild birds and free-roaming chickens.

There have also been cases of bird flu outbreaks around the world where the primary risk factor for human infection was linked to direct or indirect exposure to infected poultry.

The various media reports may have given the impression that AVA is taking action solely because of complaints of noise.

But that is not the case. AVA’s concern is not about noise but about public health and safety.

The noise issue only served to bring attention to the relatively high numbers of free-roaming chickens in certain areas, which in turn raise the exposure risk to bird flu there.

We recognise the views expressed from different stakeholders and will continue to explore various options to manage the free-roaming chicken population here.

We are also continuing our research studies on the risks of a bird flu outbreak here, to better understand how the disease may start and spread through the free-roaming chicken population here and what measures are needed to reduce public health risks.

We seek the understanding of all Singaporeans as we go about doing this work to keep our nation and our people safe.

E-mail your views and photos to tnptalk@sph.com.sg You can also write to us at The New Paper, 1000 Toa Payoh North, Level 6, Annexe Block, Singapore 318994

For verification, we need the writer’s full name and contact number (preferably a cellphone). We reserve the right to edit letters. By your submission, it is deemed that you have granted us the right to archive, resell or reproduce the letter in any medium.

This article was first published on Feb 15, 2017.
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The new high-speed camera system will be introduced in the first quarter of next year along the new Dana-Mela Coast Road, hoping to “shape” the driver’s road behavior and make them more aware of the speed limit.

Known as the average speed camera (ASC), which calculates the average speed of the vehicle, through the radar into the monitoring area (can be 100 meters to 5 km range) to track.

The technology used in ASC can distinguish trucks and cars based on their radar markers.

It can also determine whether the vehicle has traveled at its assigned speed limit.

Traffic police yesterday provided information about the initiative, as well as last year’s annual traffic update.

ASC tried out for several months in 2014 and will eventually be deployed in hazardous areas and areas that are considered to be accident prone due to speeding.

Entering the ASC area will mark bright signs, road signs and stripes.

The Straits Times understands that there are no plans to deploy more ASCs until the completion of studies into identifying potential deployment sites. – THE STRAITS TIMES

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

Permit holders to be offered option of operating at selected hawker centres at subsidised rates

Eight decades of history at Sungei Road flea market will come to an end this July.

In a multi-agency statement yesterday, the Government said the hawking zone’s last day of operation will be July 10 to make way for future residential developments.

The Straits Times understands that roads in the area could be re-aligned.

The statement was issued by the National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Workforce Singapore, National Heritage Board (NHB) and Singapore Police Force.

It noted that the 31 rag-and-bone men from the site were not included in the Government’s street hawker resettlement programme to purpose-built markets and hawker centres in the 1970s and 1980s “because of their chosen trade”.

They were given permits and allowed to continue at Sungei Road. Only 11 permit holders still operate there today.

The NEA will offer them the option of operating at lock-up stalls at selected hawker centres at subsidised rental rates.

Meanwhile, vendors who are registered with the police under the Secondhand Goods Dealers Act will need to provide a new business address if they wish to continue to ply their secondhand goods trade elsewhere.

The authorities said that Social Service Offices will facilitate financial assistance and Workforce Singapore will provide employment services under existing schemes to eligible vendors who may require such help.

They added that while the site has had a long history and holds special memories for many Singaporeans, “over time, the nature of the site has changed, as reflected in both the profile of vendors and buyers, and type of goods sold”.

Previous articles have reported that “opportunistic traders” are attracted to the site, also known as Jalan Besar market, because of its rent-free and city location. The authorities have had to conduct checks on the sale of prohibited goods regularly.

The Government said that such street trades should be allowed to continue only in designated venues such as trade fairs and flea markets, rather than on a permanent basis.

It noted that the NHB has conducted research and documentation on the market and its vendors to preserve memories of the site.

Mr Koh Ah Koon, 76, the president of the Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods, which represents about 70 of about 200 stalls at the market, said he is disappointed by the news.

He told ST that the closure of the site could push some peddlers back to the ways of the past, when they squatted illegally. He added that his association had proposed four alternative sites but these had been rejected by the authorities.

He said: “At least 80 per cent of us are elderly folk in our 60s, 70s and 80s who depend on our stalls for income. We hope we will be able to keep this traditional trade and way of displaying our wares alive.”

Singapore Heritage Society president Chua Ai Lin said that it is a pity that alternative solutions were not found.

FACET OF LIFE

She said the market is a good example of a functioning community and economic system and a facet of Singapore’s rich and diverse urban life.

Dr Chua said: “This is the only free hawking zone in Singapore. We will be losing the sense of an organically formed flea market. A whole community will be dispersed and can no longer congregate as second-hand sellers.”

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

SINGAPORE –

As a result of the growth of the Chinese market and the increase in spending on food and beverage, shopping and accommodation, the number of tourists and consumption in Singapore in 2016 hit a record high.

According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) preliminary estimates, the number of tourists last year increased by 7.7% to 16.4 million, and tourism revenue increased by 13.9% to $ 24.8 billion.

Strong performance marked a decline from tourism revenue by 7.6% to $ 21.8 billion in 2015, the first decline since 2009.

The good news for the retail industry is that between January and September 2016, shopping spending increased by 48% compared to the same period in 2015. This is due to increased spending on candy, gifts and souvenirs as well as fashion and accessories, and STB reviewed the performance of the past year at a media conference (February 14).

Visitors are also willing to go out for more accommodation (up 28%) and food and drink (an increase of 24%). However, sightseeing, entertainment and games fell by 16%, and integrated resorts reported lower betting revenues.

Indonesia is still the main source of tourists in the Republic of 2016, and China began China after China became the first place in January to November. Followed by Malaysia, down 2% due to devaluation of ringgit, India ranked fourth in Australia.

Chinese tourists are the biggest consumers for the second consecutive year, with visitors increasing by 36% and becoming the largest growth market.

The agency said there has been an increase in the number of visitors from first-tier and second-tier cities in China, India and Indonesia, and STB has stepped up its marketing efforts.

Hong Kong’s largest visitor arrivals (-12%) were mainly due to weak economic performance.

Business activity and the cruise industry showed double-digit year-on-year growth. More than 410 business events were held in 2016, bringing 28% revenue growth and cruise passenger traffic up 16% to 1.2 million.

“Despite Singapore’s premier economic performance in some of the major source markets and the outbreak of the card card, Singapore has managed to attract more quality visitors and contribute to economic growth,” said Lionel Yeo, chief executive officer of STB.

This year, STB predicts that tourism revenue will grow by 1 to 4 percent to $ 25.1 billion to $ 25.8 billion. The number of visitors is expected to be 16.4 million to 16.7 million, an increase of 0% to 2%.

This article was first published on Feb 14, 2017.
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