Left high and dry by their rogue interior designer and $54,000 poorer, Mr Abdul Halil and his wife, Ms Stevanie Nur Rindyanie, were resigned to living in a partially renovated flat until they could scrape together more money for a redo.

It would have taken them another year to save up $10,000 for some basic renovation work.

But, thanks to electronics and furniture retailer Courts, its partner, interior design firm Ciseern by Designer Furnishings, and another interior design firm, Aart Boxx Interior, the couple now have a completely renovated and fully furnished home, an executive Housing Board flat in Woodlands.

The companies provided the couple with free appliances and design services.

Their plight – they said they had paid interior designer David Toh to do up their house, but he disappeared about two months after the renovation started – was published in The Straits Times in November.

For two months, Ms Stevanie, 33, had to squat over a cutting board and a temporary stove to cook in the kitchen as there were no work counters or cabinets.

The family- the couple have three children aged 14, nine and four – had to dodge loose wires dangling from the ceiling in the toilets.

One of the renovation workers even poured cement down the toilet bowl as he was angry about not being paid.

Last year, the couple engaged Mr Toh of Arts Design & Space Interior Studio after finding him on Carousell, an online marketplace.

While he brought in workers to start the renovation, they stopped turning up after about two months. He also went missing.

Mr Halil, 42, an environmental health and safety officer, could not reach him on the phone.

When The Straits Times spoke to him, Mr Toh said “the matter was settled” before hanging up.

Mr Halilhas filed a police report and a claim with the Small Claims Tribunals.

After reading about the couple’s situation, Courts and Ciseern decided to help.

About two years ago, they started Courts Design Studio, which provides customised interior design, renovation and furnishing packages.

Ms Jasmine Seow, 40, marketing director of Courts Singapore, says: “We really empathised with them when we saw the pictures. No one should be left in the lurch like that. Courts and Ciseern have the resources to help, so we knew we had to do something.”

Courts Design Studio provided $13,000 worth of services and products, including a cooker hob and hood.

They also had down lights and a quartz countertop installed in the kitchen.

Separately, Mr Ivan Lin, 33 , Aart Boxx Interior’s director, contacted Ms Stevanie via Facebook to offer help.

He did $10,000 worth of renovations, which included creating a bar counter that looks into the kitchen; installing a shoe cabinet; and doing up two walk-in wardrobes and shower screens in two toilets.

Mr Lin says: “Seeing the picture of Stevanie (cooking on the floor of her incomplete kitchen) hurt my heart. This is not supposed to be a scene we see in Singapore. My first thought was to help them. Too many ‘bad eggs’ spoil our industry nowadays, but there are still good and genuine interior designers around.”

Ms Stevanie, a freelance make-up artist who also runs a home wedding business, uses one of the walk- in wardrobes as a display space for bridal gowns.

Mr Halil also spent $5,000 fixing other things around the house and started small do-it-yourself projects, such as turning the balcony space into a dining area.

The flat has three bedrooms and a study.

He is touched by the help he has received.

“It was a very stressful period for us trying to get our money back. We’d have had to save up again and redo the house when we could. I didn’t expect anyone to help us.”

Beaming, Ms Stevanie adds: “Finally, we have a home.”

natashaz@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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Take the lift to the 19th storey of Block 28D Dover Crescent and an impressive display greets you in the lift lobby.

There are seven rooster figures, including the popular Looney Tunes chicken character Foghorn Leghorn.

Pots of fresh flowers, pussy willow and artificial plants surround them.

On the right, three rooster figures are on the wall.

Six discs line the columns on the left and there are banners with Chinese New Year greetings.

This is the creation of resident Mark Tham, 68, a retired director in a food and beverage company.

He lives on the floor of the festive lift lobby and puts the display together with the help of his neighbours.

Since moving in six years ago, he has been decorating the lift lobby for Christmas and Chinese New Year every year.

For his Chinese New Year display, he dedicates three hours on weekdays and six hours on weekends, and spends about $1,000 on props a year.

He lives in a four-room flat with his wife Julia, also 68.

They have two sons, aged 43 and 38.

On why he started doing this, the grandfather of four says: “When I first moved in, I had time on my hands and wanted to start this project to get to know my neighbours. I want the display to encourage neighbourly bonding and kampung spirit. At least it gives us something to talk about and contributes to the festive atmosphere.”

He usually plans his designs a year in advance.

Whenever inspiration strikes – at church or when he is listening to music – he writes them on paper.

A drawing block in his room also has “blueprints” of his designs.

He says: “When I do something, I want it to be the best. So I plan properly and work hard.”

For his Chinese New Year display, he cut the chicken figures out of plywood with an electric saw, spraypainted them and applied a coat of protective lacquer.

The six discs are the coverings of pails, but are spraypainted and pasted with images of chicken characters.

His materials are bought locally and in Johor Baru.

Mr Tham, who has no training in art, says: “Everything I know is self-taught. I love to D-I-Y. It is hard work, but seeing the final product and my neighbours’ smiles warms my heart.”

Over the years, his neighbours have also contributed to the set-up.

One woman, for example, handmade 14 lanterns using red packets for this year’s display and they now hang from the ceiling.

His neighbours on the same floor appreciate the decorations.

One of them, university student Ong Chu Feng, 24, whose father contributed fresh plants, says: “We are glad to help contribute to the festive atmosphere and, every year, he comes up with a beautiful display. Many people, even those in other blocks, often visit our lift lobby.”

Ironically, there are no festive decorations in Mr Tham’s flat.

He says: “I want to concentrate on the lift lobby. If the decorations are in my home, who will get to see them?”

This article was first published on January 28, 2017.
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Before she had children, Ms Eunice Liuu did not decorate her home for Chinese New Year as she usually spends the festive occasion at her grandmother’s place.

But now that she has two sons – Noah, three, and Nathan, two – the 37-year-old primary school teacher decorates her five-room HDB flat in Punggol even if nobody comes to visit.

“The decorations are mainly for my children.

I want to create a festive atmosphere and remind them of their Chinese roots.”

While simple, her decorations are charming and creative.

The centrepiece is a 45cm-tall white metal birdcage with two stalks of artificial peach blossoms.

Two long-tailed birds – one red, one yellow – stand on the branches and three butterflies are nestled among the blooms.

Ms Liuu made this herself.

The birdcage, which was bought for $20 from a shop in Bugis in 2012, was originally part of her wedding decorations when she married engineer David Lee that year.

She says: “During our wedding dinner, we placed the birdcage next to a display of our family photos as part of a ‘memory lane’ showcase.

After the wedding, I did not want to throw it away because of its sentimental value.”

She kept the birdcage in the storeroom.

But since three years ago, she has been bringing it out every Christmas and Chinese New Year.

For Chinese New Year last year, she filled it with Mandarin oranges.

During Christmas last year, she filled it with gold, silver, red and blue baubles.

She says: “I prefer putting together my own decorations as they are more meaningful and the birdcage is very versatile.”

For this year’s design, she bought the flower stalks for $5 from a shop at the nearby Punggol Plaza earlier this month.

She also bought the birds ($8) and butterflies ($5) at another shop in the mall.

She recalls: “At first, I was not sure how many birds to buy.

But at the store, the owner told me that a woman before me bought three birds because she had three children.

So I bought two birds because I have two sons.”

Setting up the birdcage took 11/2 hours and Ms Liuu secured the stalks to the cage with cable ties.

“I wanted the flowers to look like they were growing out of the cage and it took a few rounds of trial and error to achieve this effect.”

The birdcage is not the only sentimental item in her decorations.

Holding the pineapple tarts and chocolate squares is a 38-year-old circular plastic container (above) with a beaded design, a gift from a relative to celebrate Mr Lee’s birth.

It has been used to hold snacks every Chinese New Year.

She says: “Many people like to have new things for Chinese New Year.

But my family prefers to hold on to things that others gave us because these are meaningful gifts.”

Rounding up the decorations are wall decals, a platter and basket of oranges as well as tins of Chinese New Year snacks.

“Our decorations are simple, but they really reflect who we are as a family.”

This article was first published on January 28, 2017.
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Chickens are roosting on Ms Clarissa Choh’s sofa.

Well, soft toy versions of the creatures, anyway.

Peppered around the living room are nine of these stuffed animals that come in different shapes and sizes.

Two actually go “cock-a-doodle-doo” when you hug them.

On the shelf are three lion heads.

Ms Choh, 41, says she went big on the rooster theme because her son Cayden, 11, was born in the Year of the Rooster.

She owns a clothing business and is married to stockbroker Zoyd Teo, 43.

They also have two daughters – Zea, 12, and Zelle, nine – and the family live in a three-storey bungalow at Shepherd’s Hill Estate.

The stuffed toy display started last year when Ms Choh bought monkey toys to welcome the Year of the Monkey for Zea.

As to why she included the lion heads, she says: “We used to hire a lion dance troupe to perform at our home during the festivities.

But this year, there was no time to plan as Christmas and Chinese New Year were just too close.

“But if anybody wants to perform an impromptu dance with my lion heads, he is very welcome to do so,” she says with a laugh.

Her decorations, planned a year in advance, usually has a colour scheme.

This year, it is yellow and magenta.

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Year of the Rooster off to crowing start at Chinatown countdown

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The Straits Times

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“Yellow is my elder daughter’s favourite colour and not commonly used for Chinese New Year. I think that makes it unique.”

Six yellow cushions, with matching floral designs, sit on the couch.

On a table is a yellow table runner.

Even the pussy willoware dyed yellow and magenta.

She says: “To me, details are important. I treat the decorations like my own passion project and hope they make every Chinese New Year special for my guests.”

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Photo Gallery

Chinese New Year celebrated all over the world

Source:

Reuters

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This article was first published on January 28, 2017.
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For the past 16 years since moving to Singapore from India, Mrs Kavita Raha has had her circle of friends limited mostly to people from her workplace as well as expatriates.

But yesterday, the 50-year-old, who became a Singaporean last year, finally found the perfect opportunity to meet more of her neighbours.

She was one of more than 40 volunteers at a Chinese New Year reunion lunch organised by Henderson-Dawson Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC) for 130 elderly residents.

Mrs Kavita, who lives in the constituency, said she enjoyed talking to the residents at her table and was delighted to be part of the event.

This is the first time the grassroots volunteers were joined by new citizens and permanent residents, as well as volunteers from the American Women’s Association and Hua Yuan Association, for the annual reunion event.

Ms Joan Pereira, an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and host of yesterday’s lunch, said that such events help to build relationships between volunteers and beneficiaries.

“What’s most important is that there is trust and the elderly residents know the community is here for them in good times and bad.”

In a blog post yesterday, Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin reminded members of the public to “look out for those around us even as we visit our families and friends”, in order to build a more inclusive Singapore.

Madam Teng It Hong, a resident, said she used to make do without a reunion event before Henderson- Dawson CCC started organising the lunches in 2010.

The 81-year-old, who is unmarried and lives alone, has been to all of the lunches.

“I’m happy that they invite me for a reunion meal every year,” she said.

abigailng@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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About three weeks ago, Ms Kiew Yoke Sim received a message through a specially created WhatsApp chat group.

It stated the time, date and venue of the Kiew family’s reunion dinner, followed immediately by: “Just copy n paste your menu below.”

And so began a five-day chat between Ms Kiew, 55, and her six sisters-in-law to decide what to cook for the dinner.

She has six brothers and two sisters.

Last night, she took stewed mushrooms with pork knuckles, as well as cereal prawns, to her eldest brother’s home, to join the line-up of more than eight other dishes prepared by various family members.

After setting the dishes on the table, the housewife, her husband and their three children caught up with the 30 other people at the terraced house in the West Coast area.

When dinner time arrived, all 35 people from eight families gathered in the living room to tuck into the festive bounty.

The Kiews, spread across three generations, hold a potluck reunion dinner every year at the house of the eldest son, Mr Kiew Tai Wah.

The event moved to his place after their mother died six years ago.

Their father died in 1966.

Mr Kiew has an older sister who is 73.

The 68-year-old retiree said splitting the cooking responsibilities between the family members helped simplify the entire event.

After the meal, the children gathered to play and watch TV while the adults mingled over drinks.

Mr Kiew said he had not bothered to decorate the house, save for some pots of orchids, a few couplets on the wall and some ceiling ornaments.

“I’m a lazy bum,” he said with a laugh.

Even so, the reunion dinner holds much importance for him.

“None of us ever leaves Singapore during this festive season. There is always a lot of eating, joking and laughing,” he said.

“It’s the unity that my mum nurtured,” he added.

He said the current adults in the family want to build strong bonds between those in the next generation.

Ms Kiew said she and her brothers do get together sometimes to have tea and catch up, and that the whole family tries to meet on Sundays.

But the reunion dinner is by far their biggest gathering of the year.

“Just to see your own relatives, you’re very happy,” she said.

“It’s really… a lot of noise but it’s so fun.”

josehong@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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The large majority of employers obey Labour Court orders to pay their workers, an advocacy group for foreign workers said yesterday.

Those who do not comply with these orders – mostly related to salaries owed or injury compensation – often do not have the money to do so “due to forces beyond their control”, Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) chairman Yeo Guat Kwang told The Straits Times.

“These employers harbour little or no wilful intention to short- change or exploit their workers,” he said in a statement.

The “very small group of employers” with the means to pay workers, but who are “wilfully non-compliant”, is of greatest concern to the MWC.

“We call on the authorities to take stern action against them,” he added.

Mr Yeo said the MWC works closely with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to see how current systems can be improved to better protect migrant workers.

He said the MWC has asked the authorities to widely publicise successful prosecutions of errant employers, “so that a strong example is made of offenders and a firm message of non-tolerance of such behaviour is sent to all employers”.

It also suggested that MOM improve the monitoring and enforcement of work injury compensation insurance so that injured workers get paid.

Mr Yeo, a National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant director-general, was responding to Straits Times reports this month on the plight of Bangladeshi construction workers Islam Rafiqul and Sujan Ahmed, whose employers did not pay them salary or compensation despite being ordered by the Labour Court to do so.

A commentary on Thursday also called for the Labour Court to be given more powers so that the workers do not have to enforce the payment orders themselves.

Mr Yeo said the MWC has helped migrant workers enforce such orders in the last two years.

Workers getlodging and $1,000 to $3,000 in goodwill payments while waiting for complaints to be processed.

The MWC was set up by the NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation in 2009.

Earlier this month, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say told Parliament in a written reply that the Labour Court heard 6,000 complaints of salary disputes a year in the past two years.

In about 1,400 cases each year, the Labour Court ordered employers to pay workers.

But in about 350 cases, the employers defaulted on the Labour Court’s orders.

Mr Yeo said of the current system: “It is important to note that while our system addresses the needs of most workers, there… remain cases such as that of worker Sujan Ahmed that fall through the cracks.”

tohyc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 28, 2017.
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