SINGAPORE: The rise of private property prices in Singapore slowed in 2019 to 2.5 per cent, compared with the 7.9 per cent increase in 2018, according to official flash estimates released on Thursday (Jan 2).
In the fourth quarter of last year, the private residential property index inched up 0.3 per cent to 153.3 points following two consecutive quarters of growth.
The increase in the fourth quarter was driven by prices Outside Central Region (4.3 per cent) and in the Rest of Central Region (2.7 per cent), figures released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority showed. Prices in the Core Central Region dropped by 2.6 per cent.
Landed property prices recorded a 4 per cent increase, compared with the 1 per cent growth in the third quarter.
Non-landed property prices dropped 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, after rising 1.3 per cent in the previous quarter.
The decline in prices for non-landed properties was led by the Core Central Region at 3.7 per cent. Prices in the Rest of Central Region dropped 1.4 per cent.
Bucking the trend were properties in Outside Central Region with a 2.9 per cent increase in prices.
The flash estimates are compiled based on transaction prices given in contracts submitted for stamp duty payment and data on units sold by developers up until mid-December.
The statistics will be updated on Jan 23 when URA releases its full set of real estate statistics for the fourth quarter of the year.
SINGAPORE: Prices of resale flats remained unchanged for the whole of 2019, after inching up 0.4 per cent in the last quarter of the year, official flash estimates showed.
The resale price index in the October to December period is estimated to have climbed to 131.4 from 130.9 in the third quarter, according to data released by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Thursday (Jan 2).
The index provides information on the general price movements in the resale public housing market. Figures for the full quarter, together with more detailed public housing data such as resale and rental transactions, will be released on Jan 23.
The fourth quarter’s 0.4 per cent rise came after prices inched up 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, following four consecutive quarters of decline.
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said in December that more flats will be built in 2020 to meet greater demand for public housing. Between 16,000 and 17,000 flats will be launched this year, up from 14,600 in 2019, he said.
HDB will launch 3,000 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats in Sembawang and Toa Payoh in February, its first sale exercise this year.
In May, it will launch about 3,700 BTO flats in Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Tengah. Of these, the flats in Choa Chu Kang have shorter waiting time, said HDB.
Those aged 19 and under are no longer able to purchase cigarettes.
Starting yesterday, the Minimum Legal Age (MLA) for the purchase, use, possession, sale and supply of tobacco products will be raised from 19 to 20 years old, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The MLA will subsequently be raised to 21 years old in 2021.
MOH said in a press release yesterday: “Raising the MLA aims to deter youths from picking up smoking by limiting the access to tobacco products, and is part of the Ministry’s continued efforts to denormalise smoking and reduce smoking prevalence among youths.”
This change in the MLA was debated and passed in Parliament on Nov 7, 2017, as part of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) Bill 2017.
The MLA was raised from 18 to 19 years old on Jan 1, 2018.
NEW WARNING NOTICES
The Ministry said that the tobacco industry, including retailers, importers and wholesalers, have been reminded of the changes.
New warning notices have also been distributed to retailers for display at their outlets, added MOH.
SINGAPORE – A 34-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday (Dec 31) for using social media app Telegram to incite Personal Mobility Device (PMD) users to attack park users at Punggol Park.
The police said they received a report on Monday that a Telegram user had posted in Telegram chat groups calling for PMD users to gather at Punggol Park at 9pm that day to “cause injury to anyone they see”.
Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division identified the suspect and arrested him on Tuesday at 10am.
Two mobile phones were seized from the suspect.
It is unclear why the man incited PMD users to turn violent.
Those convicted of making an electronic record containing an incitement to violence can be jailed up to five years, fined or both.
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
SINGAPORE: With their sleek green-tinted glass windows, expansive open spaces and greenery lining their walls, the two new towering blocks along Sin Ming Place could be mistaken for office buildings.
But they are not.
They form part of Eunoia Junior College’s (EJC) new campus which boasts the tallest buildings among JCs in Singapore.
The campus was built upwards to compensate for the smaller four-hectare plot of land it sits on, compared to the six-hectare average plot size of other JCs. One of the academic blocks is 10-storeys high, the other reaches 12 storeys.
Eunoia Junior College at Sin Ming Place (Photo: Muhd Raydza Abd Rahman)
The Ministry of the Ministry of Education (MOE) said EJC cost S$100 million to construct. In its 2019 budget documents, the ministry said the total project cost for the development of the campus was estimated at almost S$144 million.
The total development cost of the project, which includes consultancy costs, improvement works and other related fees, is still being finalised and is expected to be lower than what was budgeted, said the ministry.
The main building of Eunoia Junior College has 12 storeys that give a scenic view of the surrounding neighbourhood of Bishan. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
DESIGNED FOR STUDENT INTERACTION
A duplex library takes up the ninth and tenth floors of one of the academic blocks. It offers a panoramic view of nearby Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. The library is part of a student hub, which includes an activity deck on level 10, an art studio and special learning rooms.
A stage within the library provides a space where students “can perform spontaneously”, said principal Mrs Wong Mei Heng.
The interaction areas are “really huge spaces created for the students to carry out many of the activities to facilitate their bonding and facilitate the ability to initiate activities”, said Mrs Wong.
The multiple floors of Eunoia Junior College are separated with green spaces that are accessible for staff and students. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
“The learning spaces are designed from the start with the intention of encouraging collaboration, encouraging active student life, and encouraging the students to really make use of space to support their learning,” she added.
The 2-storey library of Eunoia Junior College aims to provide students with a conducive area to study with a view overlooking Bishan Park. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
Students were invited to give input on how they would like the spaces in the new campus to be furnished and who gets to operate stalls at the canteen.
“When we selected and shortlisted our canteen vendors, the students joined us in tasting the food and giving us the vote. So all the vendors that we bring in really are a result of students’ vote,” said Mrs Wong.
PERCEPTION OF IP SCHOOLS “HAS NOT BEEN VERY FAIR”
EJC took in its first batch of students in 2017 at its interim campus at Mount Sinai. Students from the Integrated Programme (IP) of Catholic High School, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School and Singapore Chinese Girls’ School make up about two-thirds of the 1,250-strong student body.
The remaining one-third are students from the O-Level track, and they come from about 80 different schools, said Mrs Wong. The school has about 120 teachers.
Responding to questions on the perception that EJC is an elite school with mostly IP students, Mrs Wong said: “Actually maybe the perception of IP schools has not been very fair because our students grow in the heartlands of Singapore as well. And they face every challenge that every teenager faces.”
Mrs Wong said that classes are mixed, all students choose their co-curricular activities at the same time, and the college’s flagship IP programmes are available to students from the O-Level track as well.
“About two-thirds of our students come from IP schools that have rich traditions, and they have four years of forging friendships and they’re going to have another two years to continue that. But they are also sensitive to the fact that there will be another batch of college mates that come in and join in. Inclusivity is something that we have focused on right from the start,” she said.
“For us, I think it is important that once our students come into EJC, then they are Eunoians and we don’t differentiate between IP and JAE (joint admissions exercise) students.”
Eunoia Junior College’s 900-seater auditorium will also serve as a lecture theatre. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
Student mixing is one of the major factors that influenced the design of the college’s new campus. Next to the classroom blocks is a five-storey student activities centre that houses an eight-lane track and full-sized field on its roof. It also houses a 900-seat lecture theatre, the canteen, and Bishan North Community Club.
As the first JC to be co-located with a community club, Mrs Wong said that the plan is for students to be involved in activities such as reading programmes for children, digital literacy programmes for the elderly, and organising activities for residents.
An elevated stadium is located on the top of the student activities block, consisting of a football field and an 8 lane running track. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW CAMPUS
On Jan 6, a symbolic relay from Mount Sinai to Bishan via Rifle Range Road and the Central Nature Reserve, will mark the move to the new campus.
“We will miss Mount Sinai but we look forward to the Bishan campus. In terms of giving closure to our students, some of them were also involved in saying goodbye to Ghim Moh, because, in a way, we would say that the school has grown up in Ghim Moh,” said Mrs Wong.
Appreciation notes written by the students had been distributed to the stallholders at Ghim Moh hawker centre, a Eunoian haunt for the past three years, she said: “It’s touching to see the students value a space that they also have been able to learn from.”
SINGAPORE: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers uncovered three separate attempts to smuggle contraband cigarettes into Singapore during the last two weeks of the year.
In total, more than 600 cartons and 1,600 packets of cigarettes were seized by officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint.
Last week, two smuggling attempts were foiled when officers discovered 556 cartons and 1,458 packets of cigarettes in various modified compartments of two Malaysia-registered cars, ICA said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (Dec 31).
Assorted duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the modified rear passenger seat of a Malaysia-registered car on Dec 29, 2019. (Photo: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority)
In the first case on Dec 29, officers found an assortment of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden within the modified dashboard, floorboard, fuel tank and rear bumper of the vehicle
On Dec 27, more contraband cigarettes were confiscated after officers found the items stashed within the front and rear bumpers, modified dashboard, gear compartment and side panels of another car.
Assorted duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the modified rear passenger seat of a Malaysia-registered car on Dec 27, 2019. (Photo: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority)
The cars were driven by a 33-year-old Malaysian man and a 27-year-old Malaysian woman, who were referred to Singapore Customs with the exhibits and vehicles.
In a separate case on Dec 23, ICA officers found 47 cartons and 230 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the modified seat compartments of a Malaysia-registered car.
Assorted duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the modified rear passenger seat of a Malaysia-registered car on Dec 23, 2019. (Photo: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority)
“This case involving two Malaysians, a 29-year-old male driver and a 42-year-old female passenger, was referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation,” ICA said.
ICA added that this method of concealment is a cause for concern as similar methods may be used by people with ill intent to smuggle security items into Singapore.
Assorted duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the modified rear passenger seat of a Malaysia-registered car on Dec 23, 2019. (Photo: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority)
SINGAPORE – Singapore’s second Chief of Defence Force (CDF), retired Lieutenant-General Ng Jui Ping, died at the age of 71 on Wednesday (Jan 1).
Former Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officers who have worked with Mr Ng took to Facebook to pay their tributes to him.
In his post on Wednesday, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said that Mr Ng was CDF and Chief of Army during a period of transformational change in the SAF. “His views were always sharp and incisive. Above all he was a leader who was mission focused and got things done,” Mr Teo said.
Mr Teo said he visited Mr Ng three weeks ago. “We reminisced over the times we served together in the SAF. As always, he displayed great strength and courage,” he wrote, adding: “My deepest condolences to the family of an old comrade.”
Another retired general, Mr Bernard Tan, recalled how he spent 10 days with Mr Ng as his staff officer on an official visit to France and the US.
“No officer I have worked with has been so demanding or skilled at keeping people on their toes,” said Mr Tan.
SINGAPORE: About 100 friends, family and Filipino community members in Singapore attended the wake of Arlyn Picar Nucos on Wednesday (Jan 1).
Ms Nucos, 50, was one of the six victims of the Lucky Plaza accident that happened on Sunday.
Her employers entered the funeral parlour at Sin Ming at about 11.40am to view their beloved helper’s body.
Ms Nucos had worked with them since 1992, said Bernard Menon, the director of the migrant workers’ segment at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), which oversees the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) and the Migrant Workers’ Centre.
Emotional scenes as mourners gather at the wake of Filipino domestic worker Arlyn Nucos who was one of the victims of the Lucky Plaza car crash on Sunday Dec 29, 2019. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Ms Nucos, who had no children of her own, had seen the employer’s three children grow up for almost 30 years, Mr Menon said.
The employer and her family declined to speak to the media.
After waiting at the coffee shop next door, the rest of the bereaved streamed into the funeral parlour at Sin Ming at about 11.45am, many of them unable to hold back tears.
Just minutes before noon, a priest from the Church of Sacred Heart performed the last rites for Ms Nucos which lasted for about five minutes.
He read from the Bible as mourners, most of them women from the Filipino community, gathered around her casket and repeated the prayers after the priest.
Emotional scenes as mourners gather at the wake of Filipino domestic worker Arlyn Nucos who was one of the victims of the Lucky Plaza car crash on Sunday Dec 29, 2019. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
After the last rites were performed, the women moved closer to the casket to see her body as tissues were passed around. Some of them laid flowers on top of her casket, while others leaned in to say a few words to her.
Laila Laudencia, one of the victims who has been discharged from hospital and who was Ms Nucos’ friend, was sitting at the back with a bandage on her leg. She cried openly as friends surrounded her, comforting and hugging her.
One of the injured victims, Laila Laudencia, of the Lucky Plaza car crash attends the wake of Arlyn Nucos on Wednesday Jan 1, 2020. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
One of the injured victims, Laila Laudencia, of the Lucky Plaza car crash attends the wake of Arlyn Nucos on Wednesday Jan 1, 2020. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Marites Asuncion, said that she was a close friend of Ms Nucos and that they were part of the same association in Singapore, called Annak Ti La Union Detoy.
“She is very kind,” Ms Asuncion said. “We would go for picnics and she would cook for us dishes like Adobo.”
After she heard about accident, Ms Asuncion rushed over to the scene and was one of those that helped to identify Ms Nucos, she said. She followed the victims to the hospital afterwards.
Edith Valladolid said that she knew Ms Nucos when she worked for a family that lived near Ms Nucos’ employers in the Holland neighbourhood.
They would see each other and stop to chat at Empress Road market once in a while. They were not close, Ms Valladolid said, but “Arlyn is a very nice friend”.
People were in tears as they paid respects at the wake of Arlyn Nucos on Wednesday Jan 1, 2020. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Susett Raquiza, a domestic helper in Singapore, did not know Ms Nucos but used her day off to pay her respects. “I wish she may rest in peace and for her family to be strong.”
An envelope was passed around to collect money for Ms Nucos’ family. Ms Nucos is from the La Union province of the Philippines. The money will be handed to her sister-in-law who also works as a domestic helper in Singapore and was among the women who came to pay her respects said.
Ms Nucos’ sister-in-law arrived midway through the service as she went to visit Arceli Picar Nucos, Ms Nucos’ sister, in hospital earlier.
Arceli Nucos was also a victim of the accident and is currently in the intensive care unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said Mr Menon.
As the hour drew to a close, the undertaker came to take Ms Arlyn Nucos’ body, which will be repatriated to the Philippines this afternoon. The hymn “Amazing Grace” played as the casket was rolled out while the mourners lined in two rows.
The body of Arlyn Nucos is moved to the hearse after the wake on on Wednesday Jan 1 , 2020. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Some of them yelled “bye ate” – ate means older sister in Tagalog – and followed the casket to the main road as they bid her farewell.
The hearse carrying the body of Arlyn Nucos moves off as mourners walk behind it. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Close to S$250,000 has been raised so far, said Mr Menon as he gave an update on CDE’s fundraising campaign for the six victims.
He said the charity has an internal guiding principal on how they disburse money from their Domestic Employees Welfare Fund, but in this case “it is still premature to say how we want to apportion it” as the conditions of each of the victims are still “fluid”.
“Among the injured, if their permanent employment is then affected and they are unable to carry on working, we also have to do quite a bit to ensure they and their dependents are also taken care of,” he said.
As for the families of the two deceased, he said their family members’ employment there are not permanent. It is likely that the two helpers were sole breadwinners, so there is a need to determine how much long-term assistance to offer their families.
Mourners gather after the hearse carrying the body of Arlyn Nucos leaves the premises. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
The daughter of Abigail Leste, the other victim who died from the Lucky Plaza accident, had indicated interest to travel to Singapore. However, as her remains are planned to be repatriated tomorrow (Jan 2), Mr Menon said that it might be better for the daughter to wait for her mother’s remains in the Philippines.
“The relatives there have voiced their opinion that maybe it’s better if we leave the funeral and the remains repatriation arrangements to be done here and the family receives the body over there” he said.
A wake for Ms Leste was held Tuesday evening.
Ms Egnal Limbauan, the other injured victim still in hospital, is currently in the high dependency ward, said Mr Menon. Both injured victims are conscious and responsive, but their conditions remain “quite serious”.
He also confirmed that there were eight people among the group who were together before the car crash, but two of them managed to avoid the collision.
SINGAPORE: Former Chief of Defence Force Ng Jui Ping died on Wednesday (Jan 1), Singapore’s Defence Ministry (MINDEF) said in a statement. He was 71.
The retired Lieutenant-General (LG) joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1966.
During his tenure, he emphasised “leadership by example” where commanders at various levels personally led and executed training, MINDEF said in a Facebook post.
LG (Ret) Ng, whose military career spanned 30 years, was the SAF’s second defence chief between 1992 and 1995 after he took over from LG (Ret) Winston Choo.
Both of them, along with Brigadier-General Kirpa Ram Vij, were described by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as among those who “built the SAF from scratch”.
Former Chief of Defence Ng Jui Ping with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at an OCS Commissioning Parade event in July, 2016. (Photo: Facebook/Lee Hsien Loong)
LG (Ret) Ng was also one of PM Lee’s commanding officers while in the Singapore Artillery – where he began his career.
His other appointments include chief of staff, general staff, commander of 3rd Singapore division, director of joint intelligence directorate and chief of army.
“EXEMPLARY LEADER”
On behalf of the SAF, Chief of Defence Force LG Melvyn Ong expressed his condolences to the family: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of LG(Ret) Ng Jui Ping. He was an exemplary leader and laid the foundation for the SAF to be as it is today.
“My officers and I are fortunate beneficiaries of his legacy and will continue his work to keep Singapore safe and secure. We thank LG(Ret) Ng for his many contributions to the SAF and extend our deepest sympathies to his family.”
LG (Ret) Ng Jui Ping on board a Super Puma helicopter to observe Exercise Wallaby at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Australia in 1993. (Photo: MINDEF)
During his military career, LG (Ret) Ng established a Warrant Officer Corps in 1990 to train, groom and appoint non-commissioned officers to command positions, similar to the officer corps, MINDEF said.
As the Defence Chief, he was involved in the pioneering of the second generation SAF and redefined its strategies and capabilities to enable an integrated and more effective armed forces, the ministry added.
“MISSION FOCUSED”
Among the roles following his military career, LG (Ret) Ng was appointed deputy chairman at the Central Provident Fund Board between 1995 and 1996. He was also a former vice president at the Football Association of Singapore.
He received several awards including the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1981, Public Administration Medal (Gold) (Military) in 1991, and the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) in 1995.
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean said LG (Ret) Ng was Defence Chief and Chief of Army during a period of transformational change.
Expressing his condolences to the late LG (Ret) Ng’s family on Facebook, Mr Teo described him as someone with views that “were always sharp and incisive” and that he was a leader who was “mission focused and got things done”.
“I visited him three weeks ago. We reminisced over the times we served together in the SAF. As always, he displayed great strength and courage. Farewell JP and may you Rest in Peace,” said SM Teo.
SINGAPORE – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat will unveils the annual Budget in Parliament on Tuesday, Feb 18, 2020.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced the date in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 1).
Live television and radio coverage of the Budget will be available.
A live webcast will also be available on the Singapore Budget website, MOF said.
MOF said that the ongoing public feedback exercise is set to conclude on Jan 10, 2020 and it thanked Singaporeans for giving their views through Government feedback agency Reach or various feedback sessions.
The public can still give feedback to the ministry through the Singapore Budget website at www.singaporebudget.gov.sg, the Reach Budget microsite at www.reach.gov.sg/budget2020 and Reach’s social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.
