The Land Transport Authority (LTA) recently awarded a contract valued at a jaw-dropping sum of $1.99 billion for the building of the East Coast Integrated Depot and its tunnels.
What’s so special about this depot?
It’…
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New scheme for mediation in IP disputes funds up to S$5,500 per case
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore estimates that close to 30 intellectual property disputes will benefit from the scheme, which takes effect in April, over the next three years.
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FundedHere commences operations in Singapore
The equity and debt crowdfunding platform says it will connect start-ups in Southeast Asia and China with accredited investors in Singapore, with investment amounts starting from S$5,000.
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Lawyer Murali Pillai is the PAP's candidate for Bukit Batok by-election
SINGAPORE – Lawyer Murali Pillai is the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate to defend Bukit Batok constituency at the by-election.
Mr Pillai, 48, was part of the PAP team that nearly wrested Aljunied GRC back at the 2015 General Election.
On Monday (March 21), he was formally introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the PAP candidate at a press conference at the party’s Bukit Batok branch.
Mr Tharman, who is Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC, said: “We have a man who knows Bukit Batok and its people well, works well with everyone, totally dedicated to residents. I’ve known Murali for the last 15 years and I have the highest regard for him.”
The Straits Times, The New Paper, Lianhe Zaoabao, Berita Harian
The announcement comes a day after the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) named secretary-general Chee Soon Juan as its candidate for the by-election.
The by-election is triggered by the sudden resignation of former MP David Ong on March 12 over an alleged affair with a grassroots volunteer and party member. Both Mr Ong and the volunteer have since resigned from the PAP.
Mr Tharman said the party did not want to rush into making an announcement because it wanted to get a feel of what type of candidate people want.
Also present at the press conference were Jurong GRC MP Desmond Lee and Ang Wei Neng, and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, who is MP for Yuhua.
Lawyer Murali Pillai is PAP candidate for Bukit Batok by-election
DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam on choosing Mr Murali Pillai as PAP’s candidate
Mr Pillai said he is honoured that the party placed faith in him, adding: “I have a record of working in Bukit Batok.”
If elected, he said his focus will be on helping the elderly and needy, given that Bukit Batok is a mature town.
“More seniors will come along. It will be my job to help them,” he said, adding that he would work towards preventing a permanent underclass from developing.
He also noted that the constituency has a number of rental flats, and one of his priorities will be to ensure that children there get the same basic opportunities that others get. “But these are not local issues but national issues. I am keen to pursue such issues in Parliament if elected,” he said.
He recounted the story of a mother of five who was worried that she would pass on her debts to her children. The woman’s husband died of cancer and she had to take over the servicing of debts. The woman wanted to end her life but Mr Pillai said he was able to intercede and help her to turn the corner. “This incident taught me to listen closely to residents.”
Mr Pillai, a partner at law firm Rajah & Tann, has been the chairman of the PAP’s Paya Lebar branch in Aljunied GRC since 2012.
But he is no stranger to Bukit Batok, having been secretary of the PAP’s branch in the constituency from 2007 to 2011. He also held roles such as the chairman of the ward’s Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle and vice-chairman of its PAP Community Foundation.
Mr Pillai was also part of a team of four election rookies and one veteran backbencher who stood in the opposition-held Aljunied GRC in the 2015 General Election. The PAP team, which observers said had only a slim chance of winning, almost pulled off an upset and scored 49 per cent of the vote against the Workers’ Party.
Some analysts, however, pointed out that Mr Pillai may have a disadvantage as a minority candidate, given that Bukit Batok has a higher proportion of Chinese residents than the national average – some of whom are elderly who may be more comfortable speaking in Mandarin.
Responding to that, he said while there may be a language barrier, he believes he can overcome it as long as he shows his sincerity in helping the residents.
Weighing in, Mr Tharman said: “When people look at Murali, they see Singapore. They see someone who is with them, not someone who is above them in any way. They see someone who listens to their needs. They see someone who represents our multiracialism.
“They see something about Singapore in him that they can associate with very easily.”
The date of the by-election has not been announced. Some analysts, however, say it could take place as early as May, soon after Parliament completes its debate on the Budget on April 15.
Mr Tharman said he and his team do not know when the election will be. But they felt that one week was enough for things to settle and to listen to views. “There was no reason to hold back announcing a candidate that we are very comfortable with.”
On the so-called by-election effect where the opposition tends to have an advantage over the incumbent, he said: “That’s the nature of by-election. We took that into account in picking someone who will appeal to Bukit Batok residents.”
Asked about competing against a seasoned politician, Mr Pillai said: “Politics is really about serving residents. And I consider myself seasoned because I have put in quite a bit of time serving the residents’ needs. That is really the focus.”
He added: “As far as I’m concerned I know it will be a tough battle.
“One thing I learnt from my experience in Aljunied GRC is to fight hard for every vote. I am not taking anything for granted. I am going to fight hard for every vote in Bukit Batok.”
The Straits Times, Berita Harian, Shin Min Daily News
This article was first published on March 21, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
Man found unconscious at East Coast Park beach
March 21, 2016 10:31 PM
SINGAPORE – A man was found unconscious at an East Coast Park beach on Monday night (March 21) at around 8.45pm, an eyewitness told The Straits Times.
Thai national found dead at East Coast Park beach
March 21, 2016 10:31 PM
SINGAPORE – A Thai national died at an East Coast Park beach on Monday night (March 21) at around 8.45pm.
M’sian columnist claims he was refused entry into S’pore
SINGAPORE – Malaysian columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah is claiming he was “treated like a terrorist” recently when he tried to enter Singapore and was later barred from entry by the authorities.
Writing in the Malay-language daily Sinar Harian, Dr Ridhuan Tee…
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Judge urges Madonna to resolve son spat
London – A judge at England’s High Court on Monday pleaded with US pop megastar Madonna and her British film director ex-husband to resolve a legal dispute over their son Rocco amicably.
Alistair MacDonald said it would be a “very great tragedy” if any more of the 15-year-old’s childhood was lost in the spat between Madonna and Guy Ritchie over where he should live.
Judges have heard that Rocco had remained in London with his father after a visit in early December. Madonna wants the teenager to return to live with her in the State of New York.
MacDonald made his plea for peace after ruling that the proceedings in the English courts could be halted. Litigation is also under way in New York.
“At the root of these proceedings… is a temporary breakdown in trust,” the judge said.
“I renew, one final time, my plea for the parents to seek, and to find, an amicable resolution to the dispute between them. Because agreement is not possible today does not mean that agreement will not be possible tomorrow.
“The boy very quickly becomes the man. It would be a very great tragedy for Rocco if any more of the precious and fast receding days of his childhood were to be taken up by this dispute.
“Far better for each of his parents to spend that time enjoying, in turn, the company of the mature, articulate and reflective young man who is their son and who is a very great credit to them both.”
MacDonald said Madonna accepted that the New York court had “jurisdiction”. He gave her permission to withdraw the London case.
“The existence of parallel proceedings in two jurisdictions, before two judges with two sets of lawyers is introducing unnecessary and unhelpful complexity and hindering attempts at settlement, as well as incurring considerable expense,” the judge said.
Madonna and Ritchie split in 2008 after eight years of marriage.
MacDonald said they had agreed that Rocco would live in the United States with Madonna but spend time with Ritchie, an agreement approved by a family court judge.
“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” director Ritchie had attended some of the London court hearings, though Madonna had been on tour in Australia and New Zealand.
Contaminated Spring Bay Australian mussels recalled: AVA
SINGAPORE – An alert has been issued for the recall of some batches of Spring Bay Australian Mussels, and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) confirmed on Monday (March 21) that contaminated Australian mussels have been imported into Singapore.
The…
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Students must be enterprising to be 'future-ready', says Ng Chee Meng
March 21, 2016 9:21 PM
SINGAPORE – Students must develop an entrepreneurial spirit as innovators, inventors and path-blazers to bring Singapore’s economy forward, said Acting Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng on Monday (March 21).
