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BLACK CLOTHES have been selling out fast at shops across Thailand, which has become a veritable sea of black as loyal subjects mourn the passing of much-revered HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
His Majesty passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief and the beginning of a sombre mourning period.
Shopping malls have been packed with shoppers buying black garments in tribute to the late King.
Wholesale clothes markets in the Bo Bae and Pratunam areas yesterday also attracted large crowds seeking black clothing, with severe traffic jams in surrounding motorways.
The Traffic Police Division said that since the morning, traffic congestion had been reported in nearby Chakkrapadipong Road, Phya Thai Road, Phetchaburi Road, Rama IX Road, Asok-Din Daeng Road and Phaholyothin Road.
The tailbacks also affected vehicles trying to exit the expressway to the Victory Monument area and Phaholyothin Road.
By 11.30am, according to traffic police, a huge number of people were also heading to Central Lat Phrao and Union Mall, with snarl-ups reported in surrounding roads.
Speaking to AFP from her streetside stall at Pratunam, 45-year-old Somporn Sriwichai, who usually sells children’s dresses, said: “All of us in Thailand are very sad and I don’t want to be selling black clothing. But I have very little money and now I have something I can really sell.”
Somporn said she shifted 100 items on Friday alone. She is making more money than she has in weeks, selling T-shirts and polo shirts for between Bt150 and Bt250.
In Sa Kaeo province, the big Rong Kluea Market ran out of black clothes yesterday due to the overwhelming demand.
Vehicles heading to the market caused long tailbacks from 9am. Inside, people snapped up black garments with sad faces.
With such huge demand, prices jumped by 20 per cent for both new and second-hand items later in the day.
“But I’ve heard that all black pieces were sold out fast. People who dropped in later had to return empty-handed,” Major Chan Wongwaimethee, chief of the 1201st ranger company based in Sa Kaeo province, said yesterday.
A Cambodian businessman said the sudden massive demand for black clothes reflected the overwhelming love that Thai people had for the late King.
“If you look around, you will even see that Cambodian vendors at the Rong Kluea Market also wear black now. After spending years at the market, they too have learned about the King’s great and kind contributions to the well-being of his people. We mourn along with Thais,” he said.
The Commerce Ministry has advised members of the public to file complaints if they find any shop overcharging for black clothes. If convicted, offenders could be liable to seven years in jail or a maximum fine of Bt140,000 (S$5505).
SINGAPORE – The US dollar hit a seven-month high against a basket of major international currencies on Monday (Oct 17) after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen boosted long-dated US bond yields.
The dollar index, which rose 1.4 percent last…
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The King and the Queen of Bhutan yesterday paid their respects to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in front of his body in the Grand Palace’s Phra Thinang Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, stressing the strengthened ties between their country and Thailand.
Some among the crowd of mourners said they felt blessed and grateful to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Majesty Jetsun Pema Wangchuck for wholeheartedly respecting and joining the Thai people in mourning the tragic loss of their revered King.
The royal couple, along with their son, eight-month-old Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, arrived in Thailand on Saturday and were welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
The 36-year-old King and his Queen, 26, were accompanied by a motorcade and arrived at the Grand Palace around 10am. The King prostrated himself and offered a wreath in front of the body as a gesture of his “deepest respect” to the late King.
The Bhutanese monarch also expressed his respect for the King on his official Facebook page, saying: “To the Incomparable, Visionary and Most Precious Jewel King, the King of Thailand, who attained Parinirvana, I would like to offer my deepest respect, and my heartfelt prayers. May Your Majesty always be born as Dharma Raja, to the benefit of all sentient beings.”
After about 20 minutes, the King left the Grand Palace, waving to the people through an open car window.
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Many among the crowd shouted “Long live the King” as the motorcade passed. Some said they loved and felt blessed to welcome the king and queen.
“My hair stood on end when I saw the King of Bhutan wave his hands and give the wai greeting to us. The King of Bhutan is courteous and, like King Bhumibol, he loves and takes care of his people,” said Manikan Kaewsuriwong, a 44-year-old Bangkok businesswoman.
Manikan had come to the Grand Palace for three days in a row since Friday to pay her respects to the King.
“I come here today to sign a book of condolence and welcome the Bhutanese king. He is respectful. It is amazing to see how much the monarch respected our beloved King,” said Sudarat Thaikasem, a 31-year-old corporate employee who was joined by her mother and sister.
The Bhutanese monarch’s deep respect to the King has been highlighted since Wednesday when His Majesty’s health condition was announced as being |unstable.
He ordered special prayers to be |performed throughout the Himalayan kingdom for the King’s speedy recovery.
Following the King’s death on Thursday, the Bhutan monarch declared the next day as a national holiday and day of mourning in Bhutan. He and his royal family led their people in offering 1,000 butter lamps and prayers in remembrance of the late King.
Thai people have taken the Bhutanese king to their hearts since 2006 when, as crown prince, attended the celebrations in Bangkok marking the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol’s accession to the throne.
Despite five hours of heavy rain from 11am to 4pm, people had waited in long lines to enter Sala Sahathai Samakhome Pavilion inside the Grand Palace’s complex to sign the book of condolence in front of the King’s portrait.
The black-clad mourners, many with colourful umbrellas, kept waiting for their turn to enter the Grand Palace until 4pm when the Viset Chaisri Gate closed. A number of people left without having a chance to sign the condolence book.
“Though my turn did not come today, I will return again next weekend. It is fine, as I come here with my heart and I am willing to return to pay respects to my beloved King,” said Tanachot Kaewpradap, a 19-year-old law student at Thammasart University.
Around Sanam Luang, the Royal Lawn in front of the Grand Palace, food trucks and small stalls provided free meals and drinks to mourners.
SINGAPORE – Lasalle College of the Arts student Cheryl Chou, 20, was crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2016 on Sunday night (Oct 16) at the grand finals of the beauty pageant.
She triumphed over 14 other finalists for the coveted title. Other beauties included Temasek Polytechnic student Tanisha Khan, 18, the first runner-up, while the second runner-up was Sonya Branson, 25, a full-time model.
Ms Chou will go on to represent Singapore on the world stage at the international Miss Universe pageant in January in the Philippines.
She walked away with a $10,000 cash prize, $24,000 of beauty and wellness services from Beaute Hub, up to $20,000 of dental aesthetic services from Orchard Scotts Dental, $9,000 of training sessions from Bodyburn Fitness Singapore and a Canon camera worth $1,000.
This year’s pageant is co-organised by The New Paper and Miss Universe Singapore Organisation, and presented by the Singapore Turf Club.
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The judging panel of seven included national director of Miss Universe Singapore and winner of the 2002 title Nuraliza Osman, The New Paper deputy editor Murali Subramaniam, as well as show producer and fashion consultant Daniel Boey.
About 300 guests attended the glitzy black-tie affair held at the grand ballroom of the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, a far cry from the low-key closed-door selection process for last year’s Miss Universe Singapore.
There were performances by Singapore Idol 3 winner Sezairi Sezali and Singaporean jazz flautist Rit Xu.
gurveenk@sph.com.sg
A pedestrian, 71, died after a lorry hit her at the junction of Choa Chu Kang Street 51 and Choa Chu Kang North 5.
The accident happened about 11.55am yesterday near Limbang Shopping Centre.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed with The Straits Times. The SCDF had sent one fire engine, one Red Rhino, one ambulance and one support vehicle to the scene.
A 30-year-old male driver was arrested for causing death due to a rash act, according to a police spokesman.
Police investigations are ongoing.
wderek@sph.com.sg
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The father of the man, who was charged for burning down a wet market at Jurong West Street 41 last week, apologised to stallholders, blaming himself for being a “failed parent”, when he was interviewed by Shin Min Daily News.
The 74-year-old father of the suspect Lim Ying Siang, 41, told the Chinese evening daily that he “has no face to see the affected stallholders again”, many of whom he used to visit as his home is close to the wet market.
“After this incident, I do not know how to greet my neighbours anymore,” said senior Lim, who did not want to be named and refused to reveal his current job.
“Except for going out to work, I will try not to step out of home,” he lamented.
According to Mr Lim, his son was not quite sound in the mind after he fell unconscious for six days more than 10 years ago.
“Now that he has done this, we should not ask for forgiveness. But we still hope to be forgiven,” he pleaded.
He recalled that last Monday night, his son came home drunk, and he locked the main door for fear he would be up to no good if he went out.
“But he lost his temper and insisted on going out. So I opened the door but followed closely behind,” said Mr Lim.
He later took his son home from a coffee shop, which was one of the two that were also burnt down in the fire.
But the son again sneaked out in the wee hours, and not long after, the fire that consumed the wet market at Block 493 broke out.
Mr Lim recounted that he visited the accident site that day to inquire what had happened.
He also found his son, who he said was in a state of daze.
Mr Lim and his wife were shocked two days later when police informed them that the fire might have been the work of his son.
“Since he is already 41, how could I control him?
“To ensure he won’t get into another trouble, it’s better not to bail him out,” said Mr Lim.
The son, who is not employed, was charged for arson on Saturday, and could be jailed for life, or imprisoned for up to 10 years and fined, if found guilty.
Meanwhile, the 51 affected stallholders, who are suffering from income loss since the fire, said they were surprised to learn that the HDB would not waive their rent for the first 10 days of this month – that is, up to the eve of the fire.
A stallholder, Ms Hou, thinks it is unreasonable, considering their current situation.
Mr Chua, 63, who has a share in the tenancy of the wet market and one of the razed coffeeshops, said the HDB told him that the waiver applies only to the days after the fire.
myp@sph.com.sg
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SINGAPORE – Singapore’s exports in September fell less than expected as a decline in shipments to China moderated and sales to Europe rebounded, but the outlook for the trade-dependent economy remained grim on sluggish global demand.
Non-oil domestic exports last month slid 4.8 percent from a year earlier, the trade agency International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore) said in a statement on Monday.
The median forecast in a Reuters poll was for a 6.0 percent contraction.
In August, overseas sales stalled with shipments to the United States picking up and exports to China falling less than the previous month.
On a month-on-month, seasonally adjusted basis, non-oil domestic exports increased 2.4 percent in September, IE Singapore said, beating a forecast 1.5 percent expansion in the survey.
With pills for coughs, fever and flu now coming in different colours and flavours such as cherry and grape, it can be easy for children to mistake them for sweets.
Pharmacists here say they have seen cases of kids being taken to hospital after swallowing the tablets by accident and yesterday urged parents to keep them out of reach.
This was one of several key messages of a health fair organised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore and North West Community Development Council.
Held at Woodlands Civic Centre, the society hopes that the annual fair Own Your Health @ North West will encourage everyone to take charge of their well-being.
Esther Ang, a pharmacist from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, said young children are curious and prone to taking medications by accident.
The society tried to show how medicine and sweets can easily be confused by displaying two similar gingerbread houses – one made of sweets, the other of pills.
“If placed in common areas, children might just help themselves to it because it looks or tastes like Ribena, for instance,” said Ms Ang.
IT professional Jimmy Chong, who has three children aged between six and 12, was at the health fair yesterday.
He said he will be mindful of storing medicine properly.
“I was quite surprised to find that some of the medication looks like candy,” said the 43-year-old. “As parents, we have to be responsible and not place the medication within their reach.”
Apart from keeping pills and medicine out of easy reach, it is also important to ensure that the dosage is given correctly.
Ng Hong Yen, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, said: “The doses for children are actually very small so any inaccuracy in the volume of medicine being administered can actually result in a significant increase in the intended dose.”
She added that parents should use syringes or medicine spoons instead of teaspoons to administer drugs to kids.
kcarolyn@sph.com.sg
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