Dog owners and pet businesses to face stricter licensing requirements from March
SINGAPORE – Stricter licensing requirements for pet dogs will kick in on March 1, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 31).
Under the enhanced regulations, announced in November last year (2016), dog owners who sell or give away their dogs will have to inform AVA that they are no longer keeping the dogs, and provide the particulars of the dog’s new owners.
Businesses selling dogs will also have to license them before transferring ownership to the customer when he buys an animal.
The onus is currently on owners to license their dogs, which many fail to do, those in the animal welfare community told The Straits Times.
The regulations, amended on Tuesday (Jan 31), are aimed at improving the traceability of pet dogs, particularly in the event of a disease outbreak such as rabies, as well as discouraging pet abandonment and reuniting lost dogs with their owners, the AVA said.
Since the announcement, AVA has been working with pet businesses to prepare them for the new rules, and has received encouraging feedback, it said.
“Some of the businesses said that the change will reduce the amount of paper work and help them keep track of their sources, which is important for disease control. We will continue to engage our stakeholders and provide assistance where required, to ensure that the transition is smooth,” said Ms Jessica Kwok, group director of AVA’s animal management group.
To make it easier for dog farms and pet shops to comply with the revised licensing requirements, pet businesses will be able to register multiple dogs intended for sale under a single “group” dog licence. The licence fees will be tiered according to the number of dogs intended for sale, the AVA said.
Ownership transferral for both businesses and individual pet owners can be done on AVA’s online Pet Animal Licensing System (Pals) portal.
This article was first published on Jan 31, 2017.
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'Instinct' guides SMRT taxi driver in dealing with unexpected birth in cab
SINGAPORE: He has earned praise for his quick-thinking and calm handling of a sudden delivery of a baby in his cab – but SMRT taxi driver Mohamad Nazaruddin said it was merely “instinct” which helped him keep on top of the situation.
On Monday (Jan 30), the 39-year-old Mr Mohamad received a taxi booking by Mdm Ma.elena del Rosario Ortiz and her husband, who were hoping to get to the National University Hospital (NUH) for a check-up.
When Mr Mohamad picked the couple up from their home, he realised Mdm Ma.elena was heavily pregnant and was in a bit of pain.
“Their intended destination was NUH. I told myself that I should take the Seletar Expressway (SLE) and Central Expressway (CTE) route because along the way, there are a few hospitals – like Tan Tock Seng (Hospital) and Khoo Teck Puat (Hospital), in case something happens,” he told Channel NewsAsia.
While he was approaching the Thomson Road exit, Mr Mohamad realised Mdm Ma.elena’s pain had escalated after taking a peek in the rear-view mirror. “She could see the baby’s head was already out, and she asked her husband to support the baby. Few moments later, with one push, the baby was out from her tummy,” he recounted. “It was a very smooth delivery.”
Mdm Ma.elena’s husband then turned to Mr Mohamad for advice on what to do.
“I told him to ensure the baby is responding, ensure that the liquid from the water bag and the blood does not enter the (baby’s) mouth as it might endanger the baby; ensure that the umbilical cord does not entangle the baby’s neck,” said the father of two, who observed the deliveries of both his children. “(It was) more or less instinct.”
Mdm Ma.elena del Rosario Ortiz with her newborn. (Photo: SMRT/Facebook)
Eventually, Mr Mohamad asked the couple if they would like to be taken to the nearest hospital, Mount Alvernia, and they agreed.
Mr Mohamad said it never crossed his mind to panic. “I had to ensure that this passenger gets to the nearest hospital, at the soonest (moment). It’s about life and death,” he said. “If I panic, I’m sure the situation would be worse. I just told myself to relax.”
After Mdm Ma.elena’s family alighted, Mr Mohamad said he got in touch with the company’s contact centre as he wanted to waive off the taxi fare “as a little token” from him to the family. “From there we kept in touch about the baby, and thank God that the baby is in good health,” he said.
Mr Mohamad, who has been a taxi driver with SMRT for two years, said while “everyday has its own challenges”, he never imagined something like this would happen in his vehicle.
“I hope the baby is in good health, and (will be) happy always. And all the best to the couple, hopefully we can keep in touch!” he said.
Philippines' Duterte wants China sea patrols to stop kidnappings
President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday (Jan 31) he has asked China to send sea patrols to help stop militants from abducting sailors and attacking vessels off the southern Philippines.
Mr Duterte said he would like Beijing to dispatch a fleet like it did in 2009 when it sent a naval convoy to the Gulf of Aden to protect Chinese ships from Somali pirates.”I also asked China if they can patrol the international waters without necessarily intruding into the territorial waters of countries,” Mr Duterte said in a speech to newly promoted Filipino generals.
“Grey ships are not really needed,” he said, an apparent reference to warships.”I said even coast guard cutters would do, just to patrol, like what they did in Somalia.”
Manila has said militant groups are trying to establish an ISIS-backed caliphate in Southeast Asia that would include the Philippines’ southern island of Mindanao.
Mr Duterte pointedly made his appeal for help to China rather than the United States, which has traditionally been the country’s main defence ally.
Since his election last year, Mr Duterte has responded to US criticism of his deadly war on crime by pivoting away from America and moving closer to China, despite ongoing territorial disputes between the two.
Abu Sayyaf, one of the groups seeking to set up a caliphate, began kidnapping sailors in waters between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines last year, taking several dozen hostages and attacking cargo ships.
Indonesia has warned the region could become the “next Somalia” and the three later pledged coordinated patrols.
The International Maritime Bureau said this month the number of maritime kidnappings hit a 10-year high in 2016, with waters off the southern Philippines becoming increasingly dangerous.
Surprise passenger as baby is born in SMRT taxi
SINGAPORE – Picking up his first passengers of the day, SMRT taxi driver Mr Mohamad Nazaruddin received an unexpected addition on route: the couple’s baby.
Madam Ma.elena del Rosario Ortiz and her husband, Mr Hamid, were on their way to the hospital for a check-up in Mr Mohamad’s taxi on Monday (Jan 30) afternoon.
Mr Mohamad noticed his passenger was in pain and decided to drive to the nearest hospital instead. But the baby came early and was delivered in his taxi.
The 39-year-old stayed calm and advised Mr Hamid on how to ensure the baby would be fine.
Nurses helped the couple and their baby when they arrived at the hospital and Mr Mohamad waived the couple’s taxi fare.
The story was shared by SMRT on its Facebook page on Tuesday (Jan 31).
Madam Ma.elena described the experience as “unforgettable and remarkable”.
“I feel shocked and also overjoyed that my baby girl was born in a taxi,” she said. “My husband and I would like to thank Mr Mohammad for doing a good job to take care of our baby and reassure us that the baby is fine. It was very well done.”
Mr Mohamed said: “I’m lost for words. I’m glad that I’m able to help them in terms of giving them advice on what to do with the baby and ensuring that the baby is safe.
“I feel great about being part of this amazing journey with the parents. I hope that the family will be happy and joyous and wish them all the best.”
To recognise his good deed, SMRT said that it will waive Mr Mohamad’s taxi rental for a day.
This article was first published on Jan 31, 2017.
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Robert Loh, first head of NCSS and former YMCA of Singapore president, dies at 91
SINGAPORE – YMCA of Singapore’s former president Robert Loh has died at the age of 91.
Dr Loh, who was the association’s longest-serving president from 1970 to 1992, died at 2.45pm on Tuesday (Jan 31). He would have turned 92 in April.
He was YMCA of Singapore’s president emeritus, a trustee since 1984, and a YMCA board member from 1962 to 2011. After retiring from the YMCA board, Dr Loh was given an Honorary Life Membership to recognise his contributions.
The late Dr Loh was also the first president of the National Council of Social Service, serving from 1992 to 2002.
Dr Loh was a trained opthalmic surgeon who established the Eye Bank at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). He also introduced microsurgery, laser surgery, intraocular implants, corneal grafting and modern retinal detachment surgery to Singapore when he was at SGH.
Said YMCA of Singapore in a media statement on Tuesday (Jan 31): “While we mourn the loss of Dr Robert Loh, we honour his memory as a stalwart supporter of the YMCA of Singapore and the social service sector, and a community champion who has lived a life devoted to service.”
It added that it will be working closely with the late Dr Loh’s family to organise a memorial service in February.
This article was first published on Jan 31, 2017.
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Singaporean mother told to prove she was lactating by German airport police
A Singaporean mother was stopped by Frankfurt Airport police and asked to prove she was lactating after a security check showed a breast pump in her carry-on bag when she was travelling alone.
Ms Gayathiri Bose, 33, told the BBC that she has filed a complaint with German police and added that an airport security officer had told her to squeeze her breast to prove that she was lactating.
Ms Bose was on her way to her Paris-bound flight on Jan 26 when the “humiliating” and “very traumatising” incident happened.
According to the BBC report, Ms Bose was taken aside for questioning at the security screening station, after her carry-on bag, which contained her breast pump, went through the X-ray machine.
Police officers asked her where her baby was, and seemed doubtful that the device was a breast pump.
They kept her passport and a female officer led her to a room for further questioning.
The officer then asked Ms Bose to prove that she was lactating, and Ms Bose had to open her blouse and show the officer her breast.
When asked why she did not have anything attached to her breast, Ms Bose replied that the pump did not work by being permanently attached.
The officer asked Ms Bose to show she was lactating by hand-expressing, and Ms Bose complied.
She told the BBC: “I was just in shock, I was going through the motions. I was all by myself as well, and wasn’t sure what would happen to me if they decided to make trouble for me.”
She added that she cried and “was terribly upset”.
Her breast pump was tested and cleared before being returned to Ms Bose and she was allowed to board her plane to Paris after nearly 45 minutes.
The manager at a transport company is exploring the possibility of taking formal legal action, saying that while she acknowledge the need for security checks, “to outrage a person’s modesty is definitely crossing the line”. She has a three-year-old child and a seven-month-old baby.
German police declined to comment to the BBC about the incident, but said that the security check that Ms Bose underwent was not part of the usual procedure.
Mr Christian Altenhofen, spokesman for the German federal police unit at Frankfurt Airport told the BBC: “If a suspected explosive is detected at an air safety control point, the baggage and the person must be searched.
“The measures you have described for a breastfeeding mother are clearly not included.”
This article was first published on Jan 31, 2017.
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Gas prices to go up from Feb for Singapore households
SINGAPORE: Gas tariffs for households will increase by 4.5 per cent or 0.76 cent per kilowatt hour (kWh) from Feb 1 to Apr 30, 2017, City Gas announced on Tuesday (Jan 31). This means the tariff will be 17.61 cents per kWh for the three-month period.
The higher price is mainly due to a 20.8 per cent increase in fuel costs compared with the previous quarter.
City Gas said it reviews the tariffs based on guidelines set by the Energy Market Authority (EMA), the gas industry regulator.
Baby girl born in SMRT taxi en route to hospital
SINGAPORE: One Singaporean taxi driver got an unexpected new passenger after a baby girl was born in his cab on Monday (Jan 30).
Taxi driver Mohamad Nazaruddin was driving Mdm Ma.elena del Rosario Ortiz and her husband to the hospital for a check-up when he noticed that she was in pain. He decided to drive the couple to the nearest hospital, but the baby girl was born before they arrived.
“This is such an unforgettable and remarkable experience,” Mdm Ma.elena was quoted as saying in a Facebook post from SMRT on Tuesday. “I feel shocked and also overjoyed that my baby girl was born in a taxi. My husband and I would like to thank Mr Mohammad for doing a good job to take care of our baby and reassure us that the baby is fine. It was very well done.”
Mr Mohamad Nazaruddin with the family and an SMRT representative. (Photo: SMRT/Facebook)
The 39-year-old Mr Mohamad, who has been a taxi driver for two years, said that he was glad to have been able to help.
“I’m lost for words. I’m glad that I’m able to help them in terms of giving them advice on what to do with the baby and ensuring that the baby is safe,” he said in the SMRT Facebook post.
“I feel great about being part of this amazing journey with the parents. I hope that the family will be happy and joyous and wish them all the best.”
According to SMRT, Mr Mohamad waived the taxi fare for the couple. SMRT has also waived his taxi rental for a day.
Beware of fake ICA website
www.ica.sgov.asia
This is the URL of the fake Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website that is phishing for visitors’ visa application numbers and passport numbers.
These are screengrabs from the fake website:
ICA said in a statement on Tuesday that a police report has been filed and that the authority is working to bring down the website.
It cautioned members of the public to only use the official ICA website at www.ica.gov.sg for all informational and transactional needs concerning ICA matters.
debwong@sph.com.sg
