SINGAPORE – It has a permanent look of surprise on its face, but this slow loris was probably really afraid when it found itself surrounded by a concrete jungle instead of the lush greenery she is used to.

Earlier this month, officers from the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres) were notified of a slow loris stranded in a multi-storey carpark at Yishun Central. The resident who found the nocturnal animal recognised it immediately and knew that it was not in a place it belonged.

Slow loris finds itself stranded at Yishun carpark

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YouTube screengrabs, Acres

One of Singapore’s critically endangered creatures, slow lorises are usually found deep in the nature reserves of Singapore where they enjoy a diet of fruit, sap, nectar, bird eggs and insects.

In a video uploaded on Acres’ YouTube account, the slow loris can be seen perched on the ledge three storeys above ground.

With thick gloves to protect himself from the the animal’s strong and toxic bite, an Acres officer grabs hold of it and brings it carefully to safety.

Manager of Acres’ wildlife department, Kalai, told AsiaOne in a phone interview that the Sunda slow loris, which is native to Singapore, is usually not found near residential areas.

So how exactly did this “young adult” female slow loris get to a carpark in Yishun Central?

Kalai says there are just two possible scenarios. One possibility was that it had been sold as part of the illegal pet trade and escaped from captivity, while the other possibility was that it could have accidentally ‘hitched’ a ride out of the nature reserve on the car of an unsuspecting visitor.

If the small animal was indeed smuggled into the heartlands illegally, it could have gone through lots of hardship and would have difficulty adjusting in the wild, Kalai said.

To ensure it was ready to be released back into the wild, Acres officers fed the slow loris a small piece of guava from a height. When the slow loris reached for its treat, it revealed a lovely set of teeth, including its canines. This, Kalai says, was an important sign as illegal traders usually clip the teeth of slow lorises to prevent them from biting. This cruel action also makes it almost impossible for the animal to adapt back to the wild.

After spending just over a day with Acres, the slow loris found in Yishun was microchipped and determined fit for re-entry into its natural habitat.

Video footage shows Acres officers opening up its cage in an undisclosed forested area. While it seemed slightly confused at first, the slow loris soon noticed the greenery around and began to crawl out (slowly, of course) into its new home.

Hopefully this furry little animal gets to enjoy the rest of its days roaming free in the reserves, undisturbed by human activities. Remember – illegal trade causes these exotic animals lifelong pain and suffering. They might be cute, but they don’t belong in the confines of your home.

See also: Civet rescued after getting stuck in drain in Singapore house

ljessica@sph.com.sg

A 41-year-old woman was found dead in her car early yesterday morning.

Ms Gina Goh had gone out the night before to deliver a home-made cake to a friend, but was found dead in her car with the engine still on, below the Tampines HDB block where she lived.

The police said they received a call requesting assistance at Block 453 Tampines Street 42 at around 7.30am yesterday.

Officers found the woman lying motionless in her car. She was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

Ms Goh’s mother Janet Ng, 68, said she did not know how the death could have happened.

“She must have been very tired, she must have just managed to drive back home and then she just fell asleep.” She also said that her daughter was asthmatic.

Ms Goh, who was married without children, lived in a five-room flat in the area with her husband and her mother.

Madam Ng said: “She was my only child. I don’t know how to continue without her.”

Ms Goh’s husband, who was away in South Korea on business, is flying back this morning.

Madam Ng described her daughter as a “helpful and filial” woman who adored dogs. “She was a very loving girl,” she added.

Neighbours were taken aback to hear of Ms Goh’s death.

A technician, 58, who gave his name only as Mr Mony, said: “She was such a nice lady. She would always say ‘hi’ to us in the lift.”

Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported that Ms Goh was a software engineer, quoting a colleague of hers who was at the scene.

The police are investigating the unnatural death.

This article was first published on April 30, 2016.
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Singapore’s newest mosque, packed with features that are friendly to families as well as the environment, will be completed by Hari Raya Haji in September.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim revealed this yesterday while taking a tour of the Maarof Mosque building in Jurong West – which is now 90 per cent complete – alongside Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) chief executive Abdul Razak Maricar and other Muis officials.

The mosque, originally scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, cost about $16.8 million to construct and can accommodate about 4,500 worshippers.

It will serve the needs of young families in upcoming developments in the area and has a host of family-friendly features, such as nursing rooms and a play area.

It will also have ramps and dedicated seating areas for the elderly and those with disabilities.

The 25th mosque to be funded by the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF), Maarof will serve residents and workers from Jurong West to Tuas, as well as the upcoming Wenya Industrial Estate.

It is expected to ease overcrowding at the Assyakirin Mosque in Taman Jurong and Al-Mukminin Mosque in Jurong East.

The 2,500 sq m mosque, one of the largest in Singapore, will also serve students from the nearby Nanyang Technological University.

The nearest mosques to the university are currently the ageing Pusara Aman Mosque and Al-Firdaus Mosque, which can accommodate around 200 and 500 worshippers respectively.

Located in Jurong West Street 24, the Maarof Mosque has rooms at the edges of the building to allow for natural lighting, and an ancillary block with a facade that blocks heat and glare.

“Each storey is 4.4m high and the high ceilings help provide natural ventilation,” said Mr Mohamed Madeni Jais, architect with RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, which designed the building.

Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for Communications and Information, said the building of the mosque is an example of the value of the MBMF, which all working Muslims in Singapore contribute to.

“The money raised all goes back to the community by providing them with places that meet their social and religious needs,” he said.

Dr Yaacob hopes to dedicate a corner of the new mosque to the original Maarof Mosque, which served Muslims in the Kampong Glam area between 1870 and 1996.

He hoped those who served with the old mosque will attend the opening of the new one, and added that it was important to remember mosques that had served the community in the past.

“Having that sense of heritage and continuity is important,” he said.

azhaki@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 30, 2016.
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Time has run out for home owners in a 54-year-old walk-up apartment block in Tanjong Katong Road.

They had until the end of yesterday to move out of their homes and surrender their properties – which has been acquired to build the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line’s (TEL) Amber Station – over to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

Two of the six property owners – Mr Sim Chiang Lee, 82, and Mr Cheng Quek Hin, 69 – still live in the block and occupy five units.

The other units have been handed over to the SLA.

The block holds nine units – including a provision shop on the ground floor. Four units, including Sin Aik Provision Store, are owned by Mr Sim.

The SLA, which takes legal possession of the property from today, will serve an enforcement notice on Tuesday to the Sims and Chengs, giving them 28 days, or until May 31, to move out or SLA will take legal action to evict them.

Mr Sim, Mr Cheng and three other owners are seeking higher compensation from the SLA. They have filed appeals with the Appeals Board (Land Acquisition) and the case is pending.

Mr Cheng told The Straits Times that SLA’s compensation offered to him and his neighbours – between $1.4 million and $1.6 million each or about $1,000 per sq ft – was too low.

The units in the walk-up apartment block are between 1,420 sq ft and 1,497 sq ft in size.

Mr Cheng added that the owners’ valuers gave them a price of $1,500 per sq ft or about $2.2 million per unit, based on the “development potential” of the site. SLA’s valuation is based on market value of the property on the date of gazette.

While their appeal is still pending, all the owners have accepted compensation. The Straits Times understands that should their appeal be successful, they would receive an additional payout.

The apartments and six adjacent semi-detached homes were gazetted for compulsory acquisition in August 2014. SLA offered property owners a total of $45 million for the land. The six semi-detached home owners accepted compensation and are moving out.

Initially, the Sims and Chengs had refused to move until they knew the outcome of their appeal.

Yesterday, they met SLA representatives and asked for more time to move out. “I want until October to move out… We have a lot of goods to move out and need to look for a new shop space. We need at least three months,” said Mr Sim Kim

Teck, 65, who runs the provision shop with the elder Mr Sim, his brother.

Mr Cheng said he could not afford an equivalent property in the area with the current payout. He also said he needed more time to look for a flat elsewhere.

An SLA spokesman said Mr Sim’s and Mr Cheng’s request could not be granted as “as this will delay the construction of Amber Station and the opening of TEL beyond 2023”.

Mr Tan Keng Chiam, JLL’s head of valuation advisory services, said the market comparison method used by the SLA for valuation was generally quite transparent and fair.

He said units at the King’s Mansion condominium, across the road from the walk-up apartments, were transacted at prices ranging from $1,100 to $1,200 per sq ft in 2014.

“But of course, not all properties will have the same features,” he said, adding that a “like-for-like” comparison would be impossible.

dansonc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 30, 2016.
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Police cameras will be put up not just in housing blocks, but also town centres and public walkways, in a move to enhance vigilance.

The cameras, to be installed from the second half of the year, will come with pan-tilt-zoom functions and 360-degree fields of view. They will also be able to automatically analyse closed-circuit television footage to detect unusual activities.

Jurong Gateway, Bedok Town Centre and Ang Mo Kio Town Centre are the first three locations to get the new cameras, under an initiative called Polcam 2.0.

By December 2020, the cameras will be installed in all key public areas, such as town centres and pedestrian walkways.

The initiative follows the success of Polcam 1.0, which began in 2012 and saw police cameras installed at 10,000 Housing Board blocks and multi-storey carparks. “That has helped the police solve crimes and has given greater confidence to the public,” said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam at the annual Police Workplan Seminar and Exhibition yesterday.

“Police will need new ways to analyse all the bits of data and video footage that is going to be taken,” he said. “It is not possible to do this manually, so they are developing and refining video analytics capabilities to automate the analysis of Polcam footage. This will highlight incidents of interest to our officers who can then look at it.”

Protective security measures for buildings and premises will also be given a boost to increase deterrence and improve the police’s situational awareness.

Commercial entities will be encouraged to adopt the Video Surveillance Standards, so that CCTV footage can be obtained by the police for investigations and incident management.

The necessary legal framework will be put in place to require premises owners and organisers of major events to adopt essential security measures.

The police will also test the use of unmanned vehicles to help its manned patrols, while the Police Coast Guard (PCG) will begin exploring the use of unmanned surface vessels to conduct localised surveillance patrols and intercept intruding vessels.

The use of new technology has been a key part of the Home Team’s transformation to keep pace with emerging challenges, including the threat of terrorism, amid a manpower crunch, said Mr Shanmugam.

He also talked about the need to ensure that the police force continues to attract and retain good people. To this end, the police are set to implement a new unified rank structure, and invest more in their training.

Highlighting how Singapore has been ranked the world’s safest country by last year’s Gallup Global Law and Order report, he thanked the police officers on behalf of Singaporeans for their work.

This article was first published on April 30, 2016.
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Holding a by-election just eight months after a general election is a waste of public money, said Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) member Sadasivam Veriyah at his party’s rally last night.

The 63-year-old, who stood in the constituency in last September’s polls, hit out at People’s Action Party MP David Ong for the personal indiscretion that led him to step down, leaving the Bukit Batok seat vacant.

“As a politician, if you are standing for election, your concentration should be to serve residents. Not about personal life. If you have got other interests, other commitments, you should not be standing for election,” he said.

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AsiaOne, screengrabs

Mr Sadasivam, a former teacher and PAP member, brandished a copy of Mr Ong’s pamphlet from the GE2015 hustings and said: “Most of you would have received this pamphlet distributed by David Ong. Please refer to the last page where he said it’s a privilege to serve you. Where is he now?

“You believed in his promises, you believed what he said, 73 per cent voted for him but, within six months, he has vanished from the political scene!” Mr Sadasivam had polled 26.4 per cent in the three-cornered fight in the constituency.

He was among several speakers last night who accused Mr Ong of breaking his promise to residents. Mr Ong stepped down on March 12 over an alleged extramarital affair.

However, SDP chief Chee Soon Juan said as he wrapped up last night’s rally: ” You never kick a man when he’s down, there’s no honour in that. For all I know, David Ong is a good guy, but sometimes good guys make bad mistakes. Who hasn’t?”

Dr Chee said some people have advised him to capitalise on what they termed the “weakest point” of the PAP, but he did not want to do so.

He noted that this is the second by-election in three years sparked by similar circumstances surrounding PAP MPs. The first was at Punggol East in 2013.

He said: “Let’s leave Mr Ong alone for him to find his life again and let his family heal again.”

Speakers at the rally also called on Bukit Batok residents to vote Dr Chee into Parliament, holding him up as an alternative voice. SDP member Damanhuri Abas accused the PAP of not being upfront over $1.9 million worth of estate upgrading plans for a precinct in Bukit Batok in a saga that unfolded over the past week.

He said: “Fortunately in this instance, they were caught like David Ong with his pants down.”

This was but one in a series of recent incidents that Mr Damanhuri cited, arguing that Singapore’s meritocratic system has lost its way.

The examples include the two SMRT workers who were hit and killed by an oncoming train last month, and the hepatitis C outbreak at the Singapore General Hospital last year.

There were “serious flaws” in how leaders get appointed, he said, adding that they appeared to be protected by the PAP Government and had a lack of accountability.

He said these were issues that Dr Chee would raise in Parliament.

National University of Singapore medical professor Paul Tambyah said: “The Government will not change on May 7… But with Dr Chee in Parliament, you’ll have a fresh voice, someone who is not afraid to stand up, to speak up for the least and the last of us.”

waltsim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 30, 2016.
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Bukit Batok residents will have a full-time MP and a town council that will be run with more transparency and accountability than any other, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Chee Soon Juan said last night.

This would be the case if he wins the May 7 by-election, he said in his first rally of the campaign.

In an hour-long speech in four languages and a dialect, he outlined his plans to ensure a smooth handover of the town council.

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AsiaOne, screengrabs

These included the team that the SDP has assembled to get the job done, and the goals the town council would achieve in its first 100 days after it took over.

He also touched on several issues during the rally, including what he said was the Government’s failure to boost productivity, its decision to ring-fence Singaporeans’ Central Provident Fund savings, and high ministerial salaries.

The opposition veteran, who is contesting his fifth election, said he was excited about the by-election, as it presented the SDP with an opportunity to run a town council and accomplish “bigger and better things” with the community.

“Running the town council will allow the SDP to shine and demonstrate our competence,” he said.

A transition team comprising four accountants, three estate managers and six lawyers has been formed to “make sure that the new SDP-run (Bukit Batok) Town Council works without a hitch, all from Day One”, he said.

Within the first 100 days, the town council will publish a comprehensive report of the handover, a clear budgetary plan, its first interim financial report, its workplan for the first 12 months, and estate maintenance strategies, he added.

“Why do we go through the whole trouble of telling you specifically what will be done by whom and by when?

“We do this because we not only want to match the current levels of management of PAP-run town councils, we want to surpass them,” he said.

“We want to set new standards for transparency and accountability in town council governance. We do this because we want to be held accountable.”

He criticised the People’s Action Party (PAP) for employing managing agents to run its town councils. He said this unnecessarily raised expenses for residents.

Under the SDP’s plan, Dr Chee will dispense with a managing agent and personally oversee the running of the town council.

The SDP will also “employ experienced managers to head the various departments”.

To show that it was serious about ensuring a smooth takeover should Dr Chee win, the party invited Mr Yeo Yeu Yong, chief executive officer of facilities management firm Primech Services International, to speak at the rally.

Mr Yeo, 67, is part of a four-man team that will act as a resource panel to advise the SDP on town council issues in the first 100 days.

Mr Yeo said he previously ran a company that had contracts “spread across many town councils”, and which won contracts with various agencies such as the Housing Board, National Parks Board and ground-handling firm Sats.

Other speakers like medical professor Paul Tambyah stressed that estate upgrading and neighbourhood renewal programmes will continue even if the SDP wins at the polls.

Dr Tambyah pointed to how the Eunos Spring Neighbourhood Renewal Programme went ahead even when the Workers’ Party won in Aljunied GRC in 2011. Hougang has also undergone the HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland programme “despite the fact that Hougang has not had a PAP MP for more than 25 years”.

Last night, Dr Chee reiterated that he will be more committed to residents than his PAP opponent, lawyer Murali Pillai, can be.

“Mr Murali’s choice of not committing himself full-time to Bukit Batok… does reflect what is closest to his heart,” he said, referring to Mr Murali’s remarks that he can put Bukit Batok residents first while continuing to practise law.

“Me? There is no question, my heart is here full-time in Bukit Batok.”

yanliang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 30, 2016.
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