Amid the slowing economy and uncertain job market, many Singaporeans have said they are unsure of where to start looking for opportunities in several growth industries. To that end, TODAY has launched an eight-part weekly series that looks at the openings available, the prospects and how workers can equip themselves with the skills for these positions. In the previous instalments, we looked at the logistics, food manufacturing, hotel, early childhood, information and communications technology, healthcare and international trading industries.
This week, in the final part of the series, we focus on the financial sector. Amid growing economic linkages in the region and the technological disruption, the industry is facing a hiring shortage in niche areas and emerging roles, even as old roles are made redundant.
SINGAPORE — After four years at a creative agency designing mobile and tablet applications in his job as a user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) designer, Mr Gordon Goh decided in 2014 it was time to expand his horizons.
A Google search for similar available positions in other companies led him to DBS Bank’s career portal.
“I said to myself ‘Why would a bank want a designer?’” said Mr Goh, 33, who graduated from the University of New South Wales with a degree in industrial design.
Out of curiosity, he applied for the job. And despite his lack of financial knowledge, he snagged it.
“At the interview, they did say having financial knowledge would be good but it wasn’t a priority and I can learn it on the job. They just wanted a designer who can design prototypes for them,” said Mr Goh, adding that his family and friends were initially surprised that he had joined a bank. “They asked, ‘What are you doing there? Are you becoming a banker?” he recalled.
Mr Gordon Goh, UX Designer at DBS Innovation Group. Photo: Raj Nadarajan
Mr Goh has been working under the DBS Innovation Group for almost three years. He was among the team responsible for the giant interactive map on a 75-inch LED television – showing the bank’s credit card and Nets transactions across the island – that greets visitors to DBS’ 16,000 sq ft innovation space in the Sandcrawler building at Fusionopolis. Mr Goh and his team had come up with the idea, making use of data compiled by the bank’s data analytics team to help other departments understand consumer trends.
Amid the digitisation wave and rise of FinTech (financial technology), many new positions – including UX/UI designers, app developers and data scientists – that did not exist previously are now in need of filling across the financial industry, which consists of sectors such as banking and insurance.
Among his varied duties as a UX/UI designer at DBS, Mr Goh designs prototypes of mobile apps for the banks’ products and services. He has also worked on a project, among others, to redesign the user interface of the bank’s ATM machines. “Seeing your product out there in the market is a dream. But the coolest part about the job is improving people’s lives,” he said. “Previously, you had to queue up to use the machine to pay your credit card bills. Now, you can pay your bills while you’re in the MRT on the way to work.”
Another UX/UI designer, Mr Leonard Goh, 28, joined FinTech start-up GoBear in June last year. The company runs a comparison site for insurance, credit cards and loans. “Improving user experience so that consumers can access financial services or products easily revolves around design. The world is in need of UX/UI designers right now,” he said, reiterating that financial companies are starting to understand the importance of design as part of their business operations.
Mr Leonard Goh, User Interface Designer, GoBear. Photo: Raj Nadarajan
GoBear head of information technology and development Ivonne Bojoh, 43, said she is looking to hire two more designers to add to the existing team of three in the coming year. “All companies are more driven towards user or customer centric design to ensure whatever you created is whatever your customers are expecting,” she said.
DBS, for instance, is also looking for people with skills in cloud computing and Hadoop – an open-source software framework used for big data processing – to support its digital initiatives. The bank’s executive director for human resources James Loo said: “Our future success depends on our ability to harness the digital revolution and completely re-imagine the banking experience.”
JOB CUTS – ONE SIDE OF THE STORY
Over the past year or so, news of several banks shedding jobs hit the headlines. This, however, tells just one side of the story: Like many industries, the financial industry has been affected by technology disruption. This translates to certain jobs being made redundant while new ones are being created.
West Coast GRC Member of Parliament Patrick Tay, who is also the director of National Trade Union Congress’ (NTUC) Future Jobs, Skills and Training department, said the job cuts were due to the recalibration and consolidation of business operations amid the disruption. Based on his interactions with financial professionals, he said that some positions such as analysts are being made redundant.
“You have workers who are redeployed to other roles within the bank; those who find similar or different roles in other firms; and then you have workers who would be forced to leave the industry because they really can’t find suitable roles,” said Mr Tay, who co-chairs the Financial Sector Tripartite Committee which has set up a centre to coach displaced workers and match them with jobs that are in demand.
Banks including DBS and Citibank have internal programmes to help staff develop new skills. For instance, DBS’ internal mobility programme enables staff to make lateral career moves to gather different skills and experiences. It noted that last year, about 30 per cent of its positions were filled by internal transfers.
SIM University economist Walter Theseira noted that it may not be straightforward for banks to train current employees for emerging roles. Banks have to assess whether it is cost-effective to cross-train workers, he said.
As result, banks are hiring even as they are firing. One area facing a hiring shortage is compliance, for example. DBS’ Mr Loo reiterated that hiring for specialised and niche positions continues to be a challenge because of the comparatively smaller talent pool. “It usually takes a slightly longer time to hire for these positions,” he added.
From 2011 to 2015, the financial sector saw robust employment growth averaging 3.3 per cent per year, creating around 6,200 jobs annually, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). It expects a more moderate employment growth the coming years.
Even as the industry undergoes structural changes, external factors such as a growing middle class and deepening economic links between regional countries will drive demand for financial services in Singapore, which is a financial hub. As such, several traditional job roles across the industry’s different sectors will remain in demand.
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BANKERS
On some days, Ms Cheryl Tan, 36, can be found visiting aircraft hangars instead of being at her office. As a claims manager at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions – the commercial insurance unit under reinsurance firm Swiss Re Group – she is required to be on site to assess the damages of aircraft and find out from engineers how the different components work.
“This is very different from just reading a report… which helps in gaining a full understanding of the incident and the claim,” said Ms Tan, a law graduate who has been working in the firm for almost two years.
Ms Tan, who started out as a lawyer at a boutique law firm specialising in maritime law, first entered the insurance sector some eight years ago as a senior claims adjuster in a different company.
Ms Cheryl Tan, claims manager at Swiss Re. Photo: Raj Nadarajan
She noted the common misconception about her current job being largely a “backroom operational function” and all claims handlers are “chained to their desk”, processing claims day in and day out. “This could not be further from the truth,” she said.
Her colleague, Mr Imran Shahid Hamid, 28, started out with Swiss Re Group in its graduate programme. He noted that there is a lack of understanding about the reinsurance industry. Recalling his friends’ reaction when he first joined the company, he said, “In a very Singaporean way, they asked, “Do what one?”
Mr Imran Shahid Hamid, 28, client manager, Swiss Re. Photo: Raj Nadarajan
As a client manager, Mr Imran’s job involves being an underwriter – a person who prices the reinsurance contracts for insurance firms. Noting the low profile of the reinsurance sector, the economics graduate from the Singapore Management University noted that future job seekers may not be aware that a wide range of positions – including in areas such as behavioural economics, natural sciences and data analytics – is available. “The finance sector is beyond just about banks. There are also insurance and reinsurance,” he said. “You can come from a wide variety of backgrounds and still find something that you can do within the reinsurance business.”
Even within the banking sector, jobs roles and the requisite skill sets differ. For example, as an operational risk officer with the Bank of China, Mr Nie Tongxin’s duties include business continuity management which requires him to identify the critical business functions in each of the bank’s department, so that, should a disaster strike, these services can still be conducted.
Mr Nie, 27, had joined the industry in May last year after spending more than two years working as an economics and public policy researcher at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The economics and engineering graduate underwent the Chartered Financial Analyst programme in order to make the switch.
A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT
Despite its reputation as a well-paying industry, the financial industry is also known for its hire-and-fire culture and relative lack of job security.
Mr Fonzarelli Ong, a senior vice-president at Citibank Singapore, recalled that when the global financial crisis hit in 2008, there was a “sweeping anxiety” across the industry. “Markets were quiet, phones were no longer ringing, everyone’s waiting to see what happened,” said the 35-year-old.
To thrive in such a dynamic environment, financial professionals have to be on their toes and keep learning. Recounting an advice given by his mentor when he first joined the industry in 2005, Mr Ong said, “You cannot have this ‘I have arrived’ mentality’ because you haven’t and you can never arrive. Because the environment is always shifting, things are always evolving.”
Starting out as a management associate, Mr Ong had spent time working in the foreign exchange and global markets, among others. Cognisant of the impact of technology disruption, he switched last year from his previous role in wealth management to his current position as head of digital banking.
Noting how digital initiatives used to be under the remit of one department in his bank, Mr Ong said: “But as the time went by, everyone has to start speaking the digital language, whether you’re a sales person or a relationship manager.”
SINGAPORE – Living in Singapore, Marcus Lim never wanted for water. But when he arrived in India, he found that people had to walk for hours to collect water, which might be in short supply or, worse, contaminated.
Then there are the sanitation issues related to this lack of water and poor water quality – diseases like cholera, and poor crop harvests.
Said Mr Lim: “For me growing up in Singapore, I knew the value of water from an intellectual perspective. But I have never really experienced what it feels like to be short of water.”
Mr Lim and his India-born partner Stanley Samuel, as co-founders of Ecosoftt, decided to help villages in India with their water problems.
Headquartered in Singapore, Ecosoftt is a social enterprise that deals with decentralised water management. It is one of more than 100 water companies that have built up expertise across the water and wastewater treatment sectors in Singapore – and a number are now venturing abroad to help other communities.
WATCH: How they changed life in a village (1:39)
The works of intrepid people and enterprises that are applying the lessons of Singapore’s development to impact communities elsewhere – specifically, India and Rwanda – are the subject of a Channel NewsAsia two-part documentary, Finding Singapore (premiering Tuesday, Feb 5, 8pm).
WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED
In 2015, Ecosoftt helped to tackle a drought in the hamlet of Rampur Tola, near the city of Jabalpur. The plan was to give the villagers some degree of water security.
The company designed a water management system that was built by the community.
From having to walk for hours to get water, now every household had their own tap. New toilets and bathrooms were constructed, and they were connected to a sewage network system. Treated waste-water was then reused for gardening, landscaping, irrigation and other purposes.
Mr Lim said: “What gave me the greatest joy was that at the end of the project, the villagers came to us and said that now they have toilets, they have water, they have a safe place to bathe.
“And I was like, wow, you know, it’s such a basic thing that you could give to people and this would complete their lives.”
The company is currently working to help clean up one of India’s famous rivers, located in the holy city of Omkareshwar which is home to one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the land.
The city has a population of about 10,000 but the number of visitors goes up exponentially during major festivals – along with the quantum of sewage.
Ecosoftt built the city’s first sewage treatment plant last June, one of five facilities that will treat the sewage before it flows to the river.
These social impact projects have become a strategic part of its business. Said Mr Lim: “It is about providing technologies, expertise, human capital and financial resources to where they are most needed – which are communities that are facing water and sanitation and environmental challenges.
“You can’t get more challenging than that.”
SUPPORT IN SINGAPORE FOR NEW IDEAS
While Ecosoftt is tackling the water situation in India, two other Singapore-based outfits are addressing its problems of sanitation and homes.
The World Toilets Organization, headed by founder Jack Sim, is collaborating with local partners to provide safe and affordable sanitation to the rural population.
billionBricks, a non-profit organisation, has developed portable, insulated tents to protect the homeless and vulnerable from the extreme weather in India.
Founder Prasoon Kumar, a New Delhi native who moved to Singapore 10 years ago, said: “Singapore does a lot of experiments, a lot of new thinking… There’s a huge community which supports new ideas.
“At the end of the day, a lot of the things we’re doing requires a huge amount of mental strength and I think Singapore provides us that basis for strength.”
The two-part documentary, Finding Singapore, premieres on Sunday, Feb 5, 8pm (SG/HK), with episode 2 on Feb 12.
After three years in the oil and gas industry, Mr Derrick Lee signed up to be a hawker.
He had always been interested in the food and beverage (F&B) sector and thought the Entrepreneurship Programme run by Fei Siong Food Management was a good platform for him to learn the ropes.
Today, the 31-year-old business graduate is the proud owner of Ah Khoon Authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice, a stall at Ci Yuan Community Club’s hawker centre in Hougang.
Mr Lee told The New Paper: “Though I was interested in F&B, I didn’t have any recipe.
“I was totally clueless… But through the programme, I met my mentor, a veteran hawker, who shared with me tips accumulated over the years. His guidance was like a shortcut.”
Such training programmes are what the Hawker Centres 3.0 Committee hopes to see more of to attract aspiring hawkers.
National University of Singapore business graduate Derrick Lee is running his own chicken rice stall.
Yesterday, it submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources its recommendations to sustain Singapore’s hawker culture.
The committee was set up last year to review and make recommendations to the Government on the management of hawker centres and the sustainability of the hawker trade.
This is in light of the 17 new hawker centres to be built by 2027, adding some 800 cooked food stalls. This means hawker centres will increasingly face challenges, such as manpower constraints.
The relatively high median age of incumbent hawkers – 59 years old – is also worrying.
The problem was flagged more than five years ago when first-generation stallholders started finding it difficult to find an immediate family member to pass the mantle to.
Over the course of the year, the committee engaged more than 800 stakeholders, including hawkers, the public and cleaning contractors.
Other than having training programmes to support new entrants, the committee suggested allocating a number of stalls in hawker centres as incubation stalls for aspiring hawkers to experience what it is like for a limited period.
A panel of mentors could be formed to provide guidance to these aspiring hawkers.
The committee also suggested improving productivity in hawker centres, enhancing the centres as social spaces to improve their vibrancy and promoting graciousness in hawker centres.
If successfully implemented, these recommendations will invigorate the trade and sustain hawker culture while ensuring a pleasant dining environment for everyone, said the committee.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli, thanked the committee and those who had contributed their feedback and ideas.
He added that his ministry will respond in due course.
This article was first published on Feb 4, 2017.
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Mr Derrick Lee’s relatives became concerned when he decided to quit his job in the oil and gas industry to become a hawker.
They thought being a hawker was not something to be proud of – a common misconception, Mr Lee, 31, told The New Paper.
But that did not deter the National University of Singapore business graduate from signing up for Fei Siong Food Management’s hawker training programme in 2015.
“My family does not run a food and beverage business, and it is difficult to break into the industry just like that.
“I could join a restaurant as a waiter, then slowly join the kitchen staff. But since (Fei Siong) was keen to accept apprentices, why not?” he said.
He learnt from veteran hawker Foo Joon Khoon, who shared his wealth of experience.
Read also: Aspiring hawkers can learn from veterans
Today, Mr Lee runs Ah Khoon Authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice with the help of two full-timers – one of them being Mr Foo – and a part-timer. It is one of the 40 cooked food stalls at Ci Yuan Hawker Centre in Hougang.
“Although (Mr Foo) is my employee, he is also my mentor who continues to guide me, so it is a balancing act.
“Luckily, we share quite a good chemistry. When I look at him now, I see a little of my father in him,” Mr Lee said.
His stall will turn two in November.
“It is tiring, and I have to sacrifice a lot of personal time, but I get more money and satisfaction than what I would as an employee,” he said, adding that he has plans to expand his business.
Recommendations to sustain Singapore’s hawker culture
Sustain the hawker trade through:
– Training opportunities and pathways for hawkers
– Incubation stall programmes for aspiring hawkers to experience the trade
– One-stop information and service centre for trade-related inquiries
– Enhancing the profile of the trade by sharing inspiring stories of hawkers
Improve productivity in hawker centres through:
– Centre-level initiatives, such as centralised dishwashing and bulk purchasing of ingredients
– Stall-level productive equipment for certain tasks, such as cutting chilli
Improve vibrancy of hawker centres and enhance them as social spaces through:
– Regular organised groups for patrons
– Improved amenities, such Wi-Fi and child-friendly spaces
– Ensuring a variety of food
Promote graciousness through:
– Improving tray return facilities to foster a tray return culture
– Encouraging considerate behaviour, such as the sharing of tables
This article was first published on Feb 4, 2017.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
She was the main caregiver for her lymphoma-stricken younger sister when Ms Cara Chew, 32, was herself struck with the same disease in December 2015.
The news of her own illness came just two months after their father had undergone heart bypass surgery.
‘I don’t have time for this’ was her first thought upon being diagnosed with diffused large B-cell lymphoma.
“I was more stressed than sad,” she added.
Having to balance the role of caring for her sister and father while maintaining her job as a marketing manager simultaneously was hard on her.
To mark World Cancer Day, which occurs on Feb 4 annually (see report below), Ms Chew was encouraged by her friend, fellow lymphoma survivor Beng Harng, 38, to submit her story to Stomp via e-mail.
She was first featured on Stomp on Feb 1 as part of its campaign to raise awareness for cancer.
Not wanting to aggravate her father’s condition post-surgery in the intensive care unit, she told him only about a week later. But thankfully, “he took it like a guy and urged us to move forward”, she said. After sharing her condition on her Facebook page, a high school senior from an international school in Beijing, where she studied at previously, sent her an encouraging message about other survivors and how they coped with cancer.
“That really got the positivity ball rolling and set the stage for my first chemotherapy session,” Ms Chew added.
She continued to document all six cycles of her chemotherapy sessions extensively on Facebook, Instagram (@smilesandcocktails) and her blog.
Through these platforms, she befriended cancer patients worldwide, receiving and providing mutual support to them.
Her Christian faith also helped her pull through the ordeal. “I believe everything happens for a reason so I decided to have complete faith in God instead of worrying,” she said.
This thought stayed with her throughout the chemo sessions, which involved oral and in-vitro medication, which she had to go for once every three weeks.
She was an exercise buff, visiting the gym at least thrice a week, but the chemo sessions tired her out easily.
Ms Chew, the oldest of three sisters, also suffered from bouts of memory loss.
Her youngest sister, Catherine, 26, had to stick post-it notes around the house to remind her to switch off all electrical appliances. She once forgot to switch off the stove after cooking.
ALLAY FEARS
Having taken care of her younger sister during chemo sessions helped allay Ms Chew’s fears for her own chemotherapy.
“I was more prepared psychologically and emotionally for what was to come.”
On having to lose her luscious locks from the chemo sessions, she said her Greek boyfriend provided assurance and encouragement to embrace her baldness.
“You’re beautiful, don’t ever think otherwise,” he would tell her over the phone every night.
He would also wake up early or sleep late, due to the difference in time zones, to remind her of her medical appointments.
The experience has taught her to let go instead of always planning for everything.
“Sometimes, it’s all right to drink coffee and do nothing for four hours. We’re always so busy being productive and stressed in our society.”
While she is glad to have been a caregiver, she noticed that people often ask only about the patient. Having been in both positions, she feels it is tougher being the latter.
“You don’t understand what they’re (cancer patients) going through but you have to attend to their every need,” she said.
“It really takes a physical and emotional toll on you. It’s a pity there isn’t a World Caregiver Day. It sounds selfish but the irony is that you have to take care of your own health first before you can look after another’s,” said Ms Chew, who now practises taiji daily.
Remembering World Cancer Day with overnight relay
The inaugural Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) Relay For Life will take place on Feb 18 and 19, in line with World Cancer Day, which occurs globally on Feb 4 every year.
The overnight relay, which is organised by the SCS, aims to draw 9,000 participants. It will stretch over 17 hours, according to The Straits Times.
SCS chief executive officer Albert Ching said: “We are rallying Singaporeans to stand in solidarity with the cancer community at the SCS Relay For Life by walking to celebrate (cancer survivors), remember (loved ones lost) and fight back (against cancer).”
The relay will be held at the Bukit Gombak Stadium with celebrities Benjamin Kheng, Desmond Tan, Romeo Tan and Nick Shen attending the event. Singer Nathan Hartono will be performing.
Attendees can pledge their support for World Cancer Day via photo boards on social media.
This article was first published on Feb 4, 2017.
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When the death of Singapore Airlines air stewardess, Vanessa Yeap, 38, was reported, tributes began pouring in for her.
She was found dead in a San Francisco hotel room on Feb 1 (Singapore time) by her colleagues after she failed to turn up at the lobby for the return flight to Singapore.
She was reportedly ill two days before the incident.
The cause of death is still under investigation by the authorities there.
A Facebook user, Philip Lim, on Thursday claimed SIA crew avoid taking sick leave even when ill because it would affect their chances of a promotion.
He also claimed SIA rewards its flight crew if they maintain an MC-free year.
He did not reply to queries from The New Paper yesterday.
SIA refuted his claims.
An SIA spokesman told TNP yesterday that there is no reward for maintaining an MC-free record.
She said an MC-free record is a reflection of personal pride and an indication of an employee who manages his health well.
TNP spoke to two air stewardesses who said there are two categories of medical certificates – casual and non-casual.
Both of them declined to be named.
They said when a cabin crew member takes an MC because of a flu or minor ailments such as stomach ache and fever, it is considered a casual MC.
One of them, who has been with the company for several years, said when they take a casual MC, it can affect their promotion prospects and renewal of contract.
FEAR
She claimed she has not taken a casual MC for the past eight years for fear it would affect her record.
She said: “It prevents people from abusing MCs, but if you’re sick it is a whole different thing.
“It is easy to spread the flu especially when you are in an enclosed area and the air doesn’t circulate.”
They said more serious conditions, such as conjunctivitis or torn muscles, are considered non-casual MCs and they will not be penalised for taking them.
The SIA spokesman added: “Crew members who are given medical leave are encouraged to rest and recuperate at home.
“Operating with an MC is a disciplinary lapse.
“Crew members are granted up to 28 days of paid medical leave and six months of paid hospitalisation (non-casual) leave due to chronic or prolonged illness.
“Crew members diagnosed with tuberculosis or cancer are given additional paid leave.”
Mr Lim had also claimed points are deducted from crew members’ annual service performance for every MC they take.
In response to this, the spokesman said: “As with all other businesses, employee productivity and attendance at work is important for a successful airline operation.
“Although crew attendance is a component in the performance management process, we would like to emphasise that crew performance is nonetheless still measured across many other factors.”
The second air stewardess said the MC practice should be reviewed.
She said: “We face issues such as jet lag, adjusting to different temperatures and meal times that could potentially affect our health.
“A flu can lead to severe consequences. So can that be considered casual?”
This article was first published on Feb 4, 2017.
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SINGAPORE – Veteran Hong Kong action star Sammo Hung dropped by Geylang on Friday (Feb 3) afternoon for some local dishes with his family, surprising diners there.
Hung, 65, visited Ser Seng Herbs (Turtle) Restaurant at Geylang Lorong 21 for turtle soup with six other family members, Shin Min Daily News reported on Saturday (Feb 4).
Restaurant staff told Shin Min that there were no seats available when Hung arrived at about 2pm, but he waited outside patiently while his son Timmy Hung entered to order.
“They had no airs at all and waited their turn in the queue. At first, we didn’t recognise Timmy Hung, and realised a big star had arrived only when Sammo Hung sat down,” said a staff member who did not give his name.
Restaurant owner Chen Chonglu told Shin Min that he personally waited on Hung’s table.
The martial artist ordered many dishes for his family, Mr Chen said. This included a $65 claypot turtle soup and black chicken soup that cost $13.
Hung told Mr Chen in Cantonese: “The soup is very good!”
The veteran actor left about an hour later.
Mr Chen said: “To have a huge star visit us during Chinese New Year and have a satisfying meal, I’m really honoured and proud!”
Hung is known for his body of work in Hong Kong action cinema, churning out more than 230 movies since his film debut in 1961. He has acted alongside actors such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
He is also a fight choreographer, movie director and producer.
This article was first published on Feb 4, 2017.
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LONDON – Australian actress and pop star Kylie Minogue has split from her fiance, British actor Joshua Sasse.
The singer, 48, confirmed the split with a post on Instagram on Friday (Feb 3).
“Thank you for all your love and support throughout this recent chapter of my life,” she wrote. “Thank you now for your love and understanding with the news that Josh and I have decided to go our separate ways. We wish only the best for each other as we venture towards new horizons.”
Just hours earlier, on Thursday, Minogue posted a photo of herself looking cheerful on Instagram.
She met British actor Sasse, 29, in 2015 on the set of US series Galavant, in which he stars and she was making a guest appearance. The pair announced their engagement five months later, in February 2016.
According to Britain’s Sun newspaper, the Australian star called it off because she suspected Sasse of cheating on her with Spanish actress, Marta Milans.
A source had told the Sun that Minogue was devastated by the split and “no longer trusts” Sasse, reportedly asking him to move out of their West London home.
It comes days after a pre-recorded interview that Minogue did with Britain’s This Morning TV programme went out on air, showing her gushing about Sasse and talking about their weddingm said the Daily Telegraph.
She also recently told You magazine that she planned to take her husband-to-be’s name when they married, the Telegraph said.
She said: “Kylie Sasse is a great name… Kylie Minogue has never exactly tripped off the tongue. I’ll definitely be taking Sasse but there will be Minogue in there somewhere.”
Back in December, she also opened up about the couple’s battle to have children as she admitted it is a “different kettle of fish” as you get older.
The couple were thought to have been planning to wed in Melbourne, although they had made it clear they would not do so until Australia legalised gay marriage.
It would have been the first wedding for both of them, said the Telegraph.
Minogue’s previous long-term partners include Spanish model Andres Velencoso, fellow Neighbours actor Jason Donovan and French actor Olivier Martinez.
There was no comment from representatives for either Minogue or Sasse, reported the Telegraph.
Milans – who filmed US drama No Tomorrow alongside Sasse in Canada last year – has also not commented on the reports.
This article was first published on Feb 4, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
