It’s that time of the year again. Hapless 12-year-olds are sitting for the national exams that’ll either make or break the next few years of their academic progress — the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE).
It should go without saying that PSLE is a stressful experience for both students and parents alike.
This year, one Singaporean mother was so upset at the difficulty of this year’s PSLE math paper that she took to Facebook to write an open letter to Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.
In a recent Facebook post, Serene Eng-Yeo called a math paper “harrowing” and complained that it left her child “defeated, crushed and utterly demoralised” when he sat for it on Friday (Sept 27).
A masterplan has been unveiled to protect operational technology (OT) systems from cyber attacks that can cripple Singapore’s water supply, transport and other critical sectors.
The OT Cybersecurity Masterplan will bolster defence against such cyber attacks by growing the talent pool and facilitating the exchange of information between the public and private sectors.
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean announced the masterplan on Tuesday (Oct 1) at the opening of the fourth Singapore International Cyber Week.
OT systems are those that operate critical infrastructure services with interconnected devices and computers, such as those in the energy, water, transport and media sectors.
SINGAPORE: About 930,000 Singaporean households living in Housing Board flats will receive the next instalment of the GST Voucher – Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebate in October, the Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday (Oct 2).
The rebate, which is part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme, is distributed every three months. It helps households offset part of their utilities bills and lowers their expenses, the ministry said.
U-Save rebates amounting to S$300 million are expected to be given out this year.
Eligible households will each receive a rebate of up to S$100 in October, depending on their flat type.
(Source: Ministry of Finance)
Households whose members own more than one property are not eligible for the U-Save rebates.
Regardless of their electricity provider, eligible households will continue to receive the rebates to offset their utilities bills, the ministry added.
The rebates will first be used to offset bills from SP Group for non-electricity charges (water, gas and refuse collection). Any remaining U-Save rebates will then be used to offset electricity bills by the electricity retailer.
The annual rebates are equivalent to three to four months of utilities bills for those living in one- and two-room HDB flats, the finance ministry said.
“Those living in three- and four-room HDB flats receive support equivalent to about one to two months of their utilities bills,” it said.
SINGAPORE – Veteran diplomat Tommy Koh laments that Singapore is a First World country with Third World people. Many Singaporeans lack the civic-mindedness that citizens of an advanced country should have, he said on Tuesday (Oct 1).
“I am more critical of Singaporeans than of the Government. Many of our people don’t give a damn for the environment when they should. Many of our people are selfish and unkind. Just look at the way they drive,” Prof Koh said, drawing laughter from his audience.
He was speaking at the Singapore Bicentennial Conference, organised by the Institute of Policy Studies. It was held at Raffles City Convention Centre and ended on Tuesday.
During the dialogue, which was moderated by Straits Times editor and editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings English/Malay/Tamil Group Warren Fernandez, Prof Koh and Bloomberg News editor-in-chief John Micklethwait both highlighted areas in which Singapore society can improve.
SINGAPORE: The Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) will not be enforced during both peak and non-peak hours until further notice, according to Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport (MOT).
“No enforcement until further notice,” a ministry spokesperson told CNA on Tuesday (Oct 1), the day the VEP enforcement was meant to kick in.
In 2017, it was announced that foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia would need a VEP as part of the country’s efforts to tackle car theft and the cloning of syndicates, as well as to prevent vehicles with outstanding fines from leaving.
CNA sought clarification from the Malaysian MOT after it drove in and out of Johor via the Causeway during the off-peak hours on Tuesday without being checked for VEP.
There was no enforcement when our vehicle entered the country at about noon, nor was there a request to see our VEP when we left at about 2pm.
There was 20-minute congestion while entering Johor Bahru via the Causeway on Oct 1, 2019. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Malaysian immigration officers also appeared torn as to the correct protocol. As our car entered Johor, one officer said VEP checks had begun and would be conducted on the way out.
However, the officer that saw to us as we left Johor said the checks had not started, but when they did, they would be conducted on the way in.
MOT did not respond to CNA’s question about whether inbound or outbound traffic would be affected when the rule eventually comes into force.
Before CNA embarked on its journey into Malaysia, a quick check on the popular SGCustom chat group on Telegram showed Singapore drivers were unclear on the latest VEP developments.
The group, which has more than 30,000 members, offered a tip, however, that drivers could save their VEP registration confirmation slip as a temporary substitute for the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag – information that had been disseminated by the Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) in earlier emails.
The VEP registration confirmation slip. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
We had prepared a copy of the confirmation slip, but despite signs reminding drivers to collect their RFID tag before Oct 1, the immigration officer that greeted us upon entry did not request for the tag or the slip.
In Johor, Singapore drivers that had also passed through appeared unfazed by the situation, especially as they had already been experiencing issues with the VEP registration.
A number had waited months to be invited to book an appointment so they could have the RFID tag installed. Those who had been invited said there were no appointment slots available.
The Shell petrol station near the Causeway popular with Singapore cars. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
At a petrol station near the checkpoint, Mr Siva Raj said he had been waiting several weeks to get an appointment and had meanwhile saved his confirmation slip as a PDF on his phone.
Mr Raj, who works in real estate, said he did not foresee “any problems” going in and out of Johor without the VEP in the next few months because of the year-end holiday period.
“Jams at the Causeway and Tuas Second Link will affect business here,” said the 42-year-old who enters Johor twice a week to visit his parents-in-law.
“Malaysian authorities should give months of ample notice before enforcement (properly) starts,” he added.
The entrance to Bangunan Sultan Iskandar also has VEP signboards set up. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
On our way out of Johor, there were again signs reminding drivers to collect their RFID tag. Again, the immigration officer did not request to see it.
“VEP has not started,” said the officer when asked. “Checks will be done on the way in, I think.”
Near the Causeway exit, the VEP reminder signs had been set up in an area that had speed bumps, barriers and sensors. Some drivers said this could be a potential area for future VEP checks.
But on Tuesday, the barrier lifted for our car and we soon joined the queue on the Causeway back to Singapore, though this lasted just 10 minutes.
NEW APPOINTMENT SLOTS AT END OF OCTOBER
Another check on the SGCustom group on Telegram showed that at least three drivers had not been checked for VEP upon entering and leaving Malaysia on Tuesday afternoon.
However, one member of the group also posted a screenshot of an email from JPJ’s VEP helpline addressing the issue of appointment slots.
“We have not yet opened the time slots for the month of November,” according to the email seen by CNA. “We open the available slot monthly. So, we advise you to try check again later by the end of the month for the next available slot.”
Slight congestion while leaving Johor Bahru via the Causeway on Oct 1, 2019. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
MOT had announced on Sep 23 that it would open an RFID installation centre at KSAB in addition to the ones at Gelang Patah Southbound RnR (Rest and Relaxation), Plaza Angsana open carpark, Pandan RnR and Lima Kedai Toll Plaza.
The email stated that drivers can still continue entering Malaysia as usual “until further announcement on VEP enforcement from Ministry of Transport Malaysia”.
“However, please do bring along your VEP confirmation slip along with all supporting documents as proof of your VEP registration,” it added.
Many people across the country are delighted by the sight of Singapore’s charming otters — but you might not find them so loveable after learning what they’ve done.
A group of hungry otters recently snuck into a private residence and raided a koi pond.
As the furry creatures feasted on the fish, their squeaks gave them away.
In a video clip posted on YouTube on Sept 26, a woman can be seen following the sound and discovering the wild animals having a go in her pond.
“Oh my god, they’re eating the fish! Go away!” she shouted.
Caught in the act, the unwelcome guests made a quick getaway by jumping out of the water and scurrying over the fence.
But the damage was already done — a total of seven fish had their heads bitten off.
SINGAPORE – An elderly man was taken to hospital after a fire, suspected to have been caused by a personal mobility device (PMD) battery, broke out in his Marsiling flat on Tuesday morning (Oct 1).
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post on the same day that another person living in the flat had put out the fire with buckets of water before its firefighters arrived at the scene.
The fire happened at 4.25am at a unit on the 11th floor of Block 214 in Marsiling Lane. The man was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for smoke inhalation.
It is unclear if the PMD involved was UL2272-certified. The UL2272 standard is a set of safety requirements covering the electrical drive train system of PMDs, including the battery system.
E-scooter owners are required by law to have their devices UL2272-certified by July 1 next year.
SCDF said preliminary investigations showed that the source of the Marsiling fire was electrical in origin and was due to one of three PMD batteries that were charging at the time of the fire.
SINGAPORE – Singapore has agreed to Malaysia’s request for an additional one-month suspension of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) project in the spirit of bilateral cooperation, and also agreed to waive additional costs incurred during the period, said a Ministry of Transport (MOT) spokesman.
But Singapore reserves the right to claim any additional costs incurred beyond Sept 30, should Malaysia request any further extensions of the suspension period, which will now end on Oct 31.
Both governments signed a bilateral agreement last year to build the 4km cross-border MRT link from Woodlands in Singapore to Bukit Chagar in Johor to help alleviate congestion on the Causeway.
But in March, Malaysia requested a six-month extension to respond to Singapore on issues relating to the RM4 billion (S$1.3 billion) project. Then in May, both countries agreed to suspend work on the RTS link until Sept 30.
As part of the deal, Malaysia agreed to reimburse Singapore more than $600,000 for abortive costs incurred as a result of the six-month suspension.
SINGAPORE: Commuters with medical conditions and need a seat on public transport will soon find it easier to ask for one under a new initiative by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
From Tuesday (Oct 1), those with invisible medical conditions that may prevent them from standing for long periods of time can get a special sticker to alert fellow commuters on trains and buses that they need a seat.
Examples include – but are not limited to – commuters with chronic pain, heart disease, those recovering from strokes or physical injuries, those undergoing cancer treatment, those who use prosthetic limbs and early-stage expectant mothers, said LTA in a news release.
These stickers will progressively be made available at all MRT stations, bus interchanges and TransitLink ticket offices.
Those with invisible medical conditions can now get a special sticker to alert fellow commuters on trains and buses that they need a seat. (Image: Land Transport Authority)
Commuters can use their medical certificates or doctors’ letters to support their request if they feel comfortable doing so, added the authority.
“Commuters have consistently demonstrated graciousness to the elderly or expectant mothers on public transport,” said Deputy Group Director (Public Transport) at LTA Priscilla Chan.
“However, there is another group of commuters whose conditions are often hidden and yet they need seats just as much.
“Following consultations with various voluntary welfare organisations, we are embarking on this visual identifier pilot to bridge the gap between commuters with invisible medical conditions and fellow commuters who now will not need to second-guess the needs of these commuters.”
Similar initiatives are being used on other transport networks, such as in London and Japan, she added.
Commuters are encouraged to give up their seats not only to those wearing the stickers but also to others who may need seats, including senior citizens, expectant mothers and parents with young children, said LTA.
