Universities here constantly review their research policies to uphold high standards of integrity, and have in place processes to look into research malpractice when such allegations are made.

Some even have compulsory training courses to school their researchers in good research practices and ethical behaviour.

The universities were responding to queries from The Straits Times (ST) on the measures they take against research malpractice, in the light of a recent incident at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

The university retracted 11 academic papers authored by researchers from the National Institute of Education (NIE) following malpractice investigations.

ST reported on June 4 that one academic, Dr Noel Chia, was listed as lead author of eight of the papers and co-author for the other three. The special-needs education expert, who had taught at NIE since 2006, resigned in April.

NTU conducted an investigation following allegations of research malpractice.

It found that primary data was not available to verify Dr Chia’s research, and said it had doubts about “ethical approvals” for the collection of the data.

Universities here, such as the National University of Singapore and SIM University, expressed zero tolerance towards research misconduct, and errant researchers could face disciplinary action, such as dismissal in serious cases.

NTU research integrity officer Tony Mayer said that if there were allegations of malpractice, an investigating panel might be set up to seek verification of data and sources cited in the research.

“Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the university may demand that the authors publish a correction in the affected journals or retract entirely the published papers,” he said.

“The errant researcher is also subject to disciplinary action.”

Earlier this year, NTU introduced a research data management policy and a centralised system, where researchers have to store their data and records. The system is searchable by other researchers, so a study or parts of it can be replicated.

To prevent research misconduct, NTU promotes awareness among its researchers. For instance, it has research integrity advisers to offer guidance to other researchers.

There are also compulsory training courses for all PhD students, project officers and research and postdoctoral fellows. A concise training package for faculty is in the pipeline as well.

Other institutions, such as the Singapore University of Technology and Design, also hold training sessions where research issues are discussed.

Institutions noted that the strict guidelines faculty members must observe include emphasising integrity in recording and reporting results, and exercising care in the execution of procedures.

Steps are also taken to ensure that whistleblowers who report research misconduct are protected.

Professor Steven Miller, the vice-provost of research at Singapore Management University, said it expects faculty members to uphold the “highest standards of integrity and ethical practices in research, which would include the responsibility to report research misconduct if such acts are observed”.

calyang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 13, 2016.
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A diver in a red and white Santa Claus costume, with a stringy beard no less, plunges into a tank, sending the fish into a frenzy.

It is feeding time at Underwater World Singapore (UWS), the 25-year-old aquatic attraction on Sentosa whose impending closure at the end of the month has sparked nostalgia and drawn big crowds.

Gliding rays and sharks alike swarm around the diver, engulfing him in a mini fish tornado as he slots food into their mouths one by one.

“I treat them like my babies,” said the diver, Mr Philip Chan, 62, the senior supervisor of the curatorial department at UWS, and the head of UWS’s team of divers.

But such feeding sessions, which The Straits Times saw last week, will soon be a thing of the past.

Mr Chan, an avid diver who has been with UWS since it opened in 1991, said he is sad to see the animals go.

His affections lean towards the eagle rays and the nurse sharks, which he describes as “gentle”.

Two of the nurse sharks have been there since the aquarium’s opening, he said.

While he has been bitten a few times by sharks which mistake him for a fish, they let go once they realise he is not food.

“Whenever I get in danger, I just keep calm. I can overcome any danger by just being calm.”

During festive periods, Mr Chan is himself a bit of an attraction along with the sharks and stingrays.

His appearances in the UWS tunnel as Underwater Santa during Christmas and Underwater God of Fortune during Chinese New Year have delighted many a guest.

The two costumes were brought out daily following news of the attraction’s impending closure.

While humans loved the costumes, Mr Chan said the fish reacted differently when he first wore them many years ago.

“They were shocked when they saw me dressed up for the first time, but after a while, (they) only cared about the food in my hands,” he said with a laugh.

His colleagues described him as a big brother, whose priorities are to keep feeding times for the animals strictly on schedule and to ensure the safety of the divers.

Mr Abdul Shukor, 56, who has been working at UWS as a senior diver for the past 25 years, calls Mr Chan the “lighthouse beacon that guides the younger ships”.

Said Ms Nirhayu Matunus, 47, secretary to UWS’ curatorial department: “Philip is like the big brother at Underwater World Singapore… He is strict, but he actually has a heart for people.”

She recounted how he once drove her to the hospital to see her late father.

“He didn’t ask me why I was rushing to the hospital or who was hospitalised – he just offered to take me there,” she said.

Mr Chan’s association with UWS actually started before it opened – he was involved in collecting marine specimens, catching fish and setting up marine life support in 1990, in preparation for the opening of UWS.

He had previously worked in Sentosa’s Coralarium – which closed in 1995 – and was involved in the Coral Salvaging Project in 1997, in which he and a group of volunteer divers helped relocate corals threatened by a land reclamation project, from the Southern Islands to Sentosa’s north-eastern coral beds.

Mr Chan, who started his working life as a lifeguard in 1975, said his passion for diving began when he took up the sport at the Singapore Armed Forces Yacht Club in his 20s.

Since then, he has clocked an estimated 5,000 dives over the years.

While his wife and two daughters are divers as well, they do not dive as often as Mr Chan, and family dive trips have become rarer as his daughters have grown older.

“Diving is relaxing and trouble-free, and working here makes me happy because I can dive every day and be with the fish.

“Just being in the water and feeding the fish, understanding their behaviour… was the best part (of my job),” said Mr Chan of his time at UWS.

He cited the opening of the aquarium as his fondest memory of his job, recalling the 6,000 to 7,000 visitors every day during its first month, “with lines stretching to Siloso Beach”.

While Mr Chan does not know yet what he will do after UWS closes, he is looking forward to a break after working there for 25 years.

Ever the diver, he said: “If I can get my kakis (friends) to go, I’d like to go to our favourite dive spots in Malaysia to snorkel or free-dive.”

racheloh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 13, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

7.9 tonnes of seized elephant ivory worth an estimated $13 million was crushed on Monday (June 13), said the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA).

The ivory was pulverised by an industrial rock crusher, incinerated at an eco-waste incineration plant, and the ashes would be used as landfill at Pulau Semakau.

This is the first time AVA has crushed seized ivory. The authority added that the move sends a strong signal that Singapore has zero tolerance on being used a conduit to smuggle endangered species and their parts.

Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Home Affairs, witnessed the crushing and said: “Tackling this illicit trade requires close international co-operation, and also the assistance of the public and NGOs. We will continue our enforcement efforts, to prevent Singapore from being used as a transit point.”

Singapore is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement that ensures trade does not threaten wildlife species with extinction.

Ms Tan Poh Hong, CEO of AVA, also urged the public to play their part. She said: “Demand is the impetus for poachers of endangered animals. The public can help reduce demand by not buying such products. When demand falls, poaching will naturally fall too.”

Anyone with information on illegal wildlife trade can contact AVA at 6805 2992 or submit feedback via AVA’s website. All information provided will be kept in strict confidence.

The authority added that illegally acquired or imported products that contain or purport to contain endangered species detected will be seized.

Those found guilty of importing, exporting or re-exporting CITES-listed specimens without a permit from AVA will face a maximum fine of $50,000 per item (not exceeding an aggregate of $500,000) and/or up to 2 years’ jail.

minlee@sph.com.sg

The loud crash startled him, as it did the other stallholders and customers at the Ramadan bazaar.

Mr Mohamad Sophian, 24, who operates a Ramly burger stall, rushed out to see what had happened.

A crowd had gathered, and although he saw his girlfriend’s wallet on the road, it did not register that something might have happened to her.

It was only when Mr Sophian got closer to the crowd that the horrible truth hit him: A woman was lying in a pool of blood after being hit by a car, and that woman was his girlfriend.

The accident happened at about 8.30pm last Tuesday.

Ms Siti Nurfadariiyah Rosdi, 21, was crossing the road at the junction between Jurong West Avenue 1 and Jurong West Street 41 when a car hit her.

Witnesses said she was flung to the other side of the road and landed head first.

A stall owner’s niece, Nur Fatin Farisha, 15, told The New Paper that the crash was so loud it shocked almost everyone at the bazaar.

She said: “Some of the stalls were already closed by then. Almost all the stallholders ran out of the bazaar and started to form a crowd around her.

“She was near the central road divider when the car hit her.”

Miss Siti suffered multiple injuries and died on the way to the hospital.

The driver, a 41-year-old man, was arrested by the police.

Miss Siti had been on her way to her boyfriend’s stall when she was hit. The student at a private college had been helping her boyfriend’s family at the bazaar every year for the past five years.

Mr Sophian told TNP: “The last thing she said to me was ‘I’ll come back soon’.

“I didn’t expect that was the last time I was going to see her. When I saw her lying in the pool of blood, I almost collapsed.”

He felt her faint pulse for the mere seconds he got to cradle her.

“I was sad and then I got angry. I wanted so much to punch the driver in the face,” said Mr Sophian.

He was restrained by the other stall owners. When TNP visited the stall last Friday, it was closed.

Mr Sophian left small bouquets of flowers on the food case of the burger stall, the road divider where Miss Siti was hit and the tree near the spot where she landed.

“Throughout the five years I was with her, she frequently told me that I never buy her flowers,” Mr Sophian said.

“Now that she’s gone, this is all I can do for her.”

The police said they were alerted to the accident at 9.07pm. Investigations are ongoing.

Miss Siti was taken unconscious to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Miss Siti’s brother, Mr Muhammad Fadiq Rosdi, 27, was also shocked by the news of her death.

The container handling specialist was on his way to meet his friends when he received a call from his younger brother.

“He was sobbing on the phone and kept repeating ‘she is gone’. I didn’t want to believe it until I saw her body (at the scene) with my own eyes,” he told TNP last Friday.

When he arrived, Mr Fadiq saw the driver crouching at the side of the road.

“When the Traffic Police introduced me as the deceased’s brother, he just stood up and walked away,” he said.

“I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye. I just felt angry every time I looked in his direction,” he said.

The fourth of six children said his family is still trying to cope with the loss of Miss Siti.

“My mother, especially, is still grieving. Both of them were very close, they did a lot of things together,” said Mr Fadiq.

DONATION

A fellow stall owner, Mr Afyque Salleh, 25, was about to close his hair products stall when he saw the accident.

He started collecting donations yesterday to help Miss Siti’s family.

The airport emergency officer took to Facebook to urge members of the public to contribute.

“I lost my brother to a car accident four years ago so I know how it feels to lose a loved one,” he said.

“Since her boyfriend’s family owns the stall just behind mine, she’s a familiar sight at the bazaar. I just wanted to do my part to help.”

For every hair product he sells, he will donate $2 to Miss Siti’s family. As of last night, he had already raised about $600.

Mr Afyque said he will collect donations until the bazaar ends on July 3. Mr Fadiq thanked him for his generosity and urged members of the public who witnessed the accident to come forward.

“I hope we can get justice for her,” said Mr Fadiq.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Stomp, Nur Muhammad Hidayah Kassim, Afyque Salleh, The New Paper

fnawang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 13, 2016.
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The gastric flu outbreak may have gone.

But so have the customers, say hawkers at Pek Kio Market and Food Centre.

Hawkers whom The New Paper spoke to last Friday said business has fallen by about 30 to 50 per cent since the market re-opened on May 27, following the gastric flu outbreak two weeks ago.

Owners of Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles said they made a loss of about $300 on the first day alone.

The couple who did not want to be named, said in Mandarin: “The tables used to be filled with office workers during lunch time, but there is barely anyone now.”

Pek Kio Market was forced to close from May 25 to 26 after more than 180 patients with gastroenteritis were reported in the area.

A joint media release from National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Health (MOH), Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and national water agency PUB on June 8 stated that “investigations did not implicate any specific event or food premises or stall that could be the source of the outbreak.”

However, stall owners said that they were still suffering as a result of the outbreak.

Mr Bay, 65, owner of $2.5 Fried Rice, told TNP that there used to be buses that would take office workers to and from the market for lunch, but most of them have stopped coming.

This reporter spotted only one bus last Friday ferrying people back to office after lunch.

Mr Ong Eng Koon, 51, owner of Xin Heng Kee Chicken and Duck Rice, said: “People hear the name Pek Kio and they are scared now… I’m afraid I won’t be able to pay my rental if this keeps up.”

Hawkers said they are at a loss on how to bring customers back.

GEYLANG

To find out, TNP visited Rojak and Mee Siam at Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre – the stall that was the middle of a mass food poisoning incident in 2009 – to ask how hawkers at Pek Kio Market could recover from the current incident.

The then-owner of the stall, Mr Sheik Allaudin Mohideen, was fined a maximum $9,000 in May 2010 for unhygenic practices at his stall and was barred by the NEA from operating a food business.

Mr Allaudin died last year from stomach problems.

When TNP visited the stall – now run by Mr Allaudin’s wife Madam Hajara Allaudin and her two sons – last Friday, there was a steady stream of customers buying food from the stall.

The stall owners said: “As long as the food tastes good, the people will come back.”

Madam Tan Chun Ruo, 45, owner of Pek Kio Seafood Delights, hopes this will be true in the coming weeks.

Her stall saw more customers last week.

“I hope people will come back as long as we keep our stalls clean and do our jobs well,” she said.

– Additional reporting by Nurul Asyikin Yusoff

dlaiu@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 13, 2016.
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