SINGAPORE: I have been asked many times – is it really so important that we speak and write in good, plain English? We have progressed and prospered all these years, why sweat the small stuff?

We ignore the little things to our undoing. It is so easy to forget that it was the decision to make English our language of business and communication that had given us an economically competitive edge in the region.

MUCH TO LOSE

There is much more to lose than our competitive edge if we choke our sentences with jargon or gibberish. Sometime ago, I was looking at a caption for an exhibition which went “Last year, a rescue helicopter was activated for a medical evacuation of a cargo vessel crew”. I wondered if it was written by a robot.

READ: Dear public service, what do you mean by this jargon? A commentary

I later found out that a rescue helicopter was flown to a cargo vessel to ferry a crew member who was ill to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. I wished it had been written the way it was told to me – in plain action words or verbs such as “was flown” and “to ferry”. I could then visualise the scene and feel for the crew member who “was ill”.

Gobbledygook boxes up these sensory details. It becomes abstract and lifeless when we start stringing together a series of nouns, such as “there was scope for better coordination and harmonisation of various activities to allow for an economy of efforts”. 

But when we breathe life into our sentences with verbs and say “we could be more efficient in better coordinating and harmonising the various activities”, we bring it to ground level where there is life, and we immediately connect with the reader.

So, if we simply mean to “reach out more widely to civil servants”, why say “have a more encompassing engagement reach on civil servants”? In trying to impress with unnecessary big words, we lose our readers’ goodwill and patience. I have a few lengthy papers stuck in my cabinet, unread, because I could not get past the first page.

FORGET ABOUT GETTNG YOUR PROPOSAL APPROVED

The last thing we want is to lose the patience of the powers-that-be. As a young officer, I was constantly reminded that they are busy people, who do not have time for lengthy, garrulous and convoluted submissions. Forget about our analysis being read or our proposal approved if they have to plow through a morass of jargon and gobbledygook. 

Sometimes we create our own jargon as we develop a project or plan a campaign, and over time we begin to use certain shorthand terms and phrases that we find convenient or expedient.

However, we often continue to use them when we write a paper to explain our project to our higher-ups or some committee. It is necessary to spell out in clear concrete words what we mean when we say things like “strong 3P partner involvement”, “story curation process”, “immersion visits”, and “speaker sessions”. 

If we want them to approve our projects, campaigns or whatever, then we need to make it clear to them what we are doing.

Albert Einstein once said “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”. George Orwell went further: 

If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.

So if we don’t want our bosses to think we cannot hack it, write in plain, clear and succinct English! When did jargon become our first language? Is it when we joined the workforce?

WHY IS JARGON EXPECTED IN STAFF WRITING?

Something strange happens when a staff officer is asked to draft an email. Suddenly, a simple “we would like to update you on” becomes “this email serves to update you on”.

“I have attached … for your review” becomes “please find attached … for your kind perusal” and “we have not seen the book” turns into “we do not have any visibility over the book”. A clear “as he would be away” becomes “in view of his travel schedule”.

Note takers think they need to embellish their minutes with lines like “he asked for the reasons behind the team’s reservations about using XYZ” when a short “he asked why the team was not keen to use XYZ” would have taken less time to write and read.

An officer who consulted me on a paper he was writing told me that he could not take in my edits as his superiors expected him to write with big words to impress. I think we should be sending all supervisors and managers to courses on effective writing and editing.

Why can’t we talk straight and say “we encourage everyone to take part” instead of “we encourage maximum participation”. Or say “the competitions will be held during the last week of school term” instead of “the competitions have been aligned to the last week of school term”. 

And “we will facilitate the provision of dates to schools as early as possible” is highfalutin jargon for “we will help provide the dates to schools as early as possible”.  

WE CARRY THIS BAD HABIT IN EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

Organisations carry this bad habit to public forums. Many readers were floored by a spokesman who said that her agency “will re-balance the soft-touch regulatory approach … and exercise greater oversight to ensure the needs of both patrons and hawkers are well served”. 

Did she mean to say that the agency “will be tougher on the operators and watch them more closely so that they do not exploit their customers”? Your credibility is lost when you lack clarity and sound as if you are giving a non-committal response. In other cases, you may be seen as trying to avoid accountability.

Must we also sound as if we are issuing an order with “to facilitate wheelchair accessibility, commuters can enter MRT stations via an entrance near a taxi stand”? We could explain gently that “there is an entrance near a taxi stand for commuters in wheelchairs to move into the MRT stations easily”.

A more personal and friendly tone reflects sincerity and empathy. People will be more receptive to our views and explanations. Yet, very often, organisations sound as if they were a computer spewing out policy lines crafted by a robot. The officious tone alienates the reader.

And if you are in an industry or profession that has many technical terms to explain things with some precision, please explain them in words that the layman can understand. Consumers who cannot understand you will go to someone whom they can.

VISION STATEMENTS

This leads us to websites where an organisation’s mission, role and vision are all condensed into two or three broad iffy statements of grandeur that sometimes leave one wondering what that was all about.

Vision statements are supposed to be short and sharp, but most times they are less sharp than short. For instance, in this aim “to bring about a greener and more inclusive public transport system, complemented by convenient options to walk and cycle from their homes or to their destinations”, I wonder what is meant by “a greener and more inclusive transport system”.

Which part of the transport system is green? What will it include that is not already there? And then who are the “their”?

How we write our mission and vision statements is a good indicator of how clear or garbled the rest of our website is. People access websites in search of information. They want to learn more, understand, check and clarify. So much is lost when jargon, code-speak and iffy phrases become the default.

Calling a spade a spade will also help us avoid jargon. Let pens be pens and not “writing instruments”, driverless cars be driverless cars instead of “autonomous vehicles” and lifts be lifts instead of “vertical transportation”.

So I am very happy to learn from a former colleague that the department she is in has begun a campaign on Instagram to promote plain simple English, starting with words it would like to replace such as interlocutor, concomitant, delineate and vis-a-vis. 

I would add opine, peruse, cognisant and stakeholder. I hope this will inspire other departments in her ministry, then across the entire civil service, and to other organisations in the private sector, to get rid of jargon.

Yes, little things matter. I really believe we will be more efficient, and even more productive, if we write what we mean and mean what we write. As Ernest Gowers wrote in his book Plain Words:

Be short, be simple, be human.

Judith d’Silva was an active member of the Speak Good English Movement. She has given talks on writing clearly at the Civil Service College and to HDB station managers.

SINGAPORE: Bitten by the gym bug as a 20-year-old, Marcus Yap was determined to drag his brothers along.

First, he convinced his younger brother Matthew to swap his keyboard and mouse for barbells and weights. 

“I just wanted to play my computer games and for him to leave me alone,” recalled Matthew. “But I couldn’t say no because he would keep pestering me.”

Then a year later, Marcus, a former badminton player, coaxed their youngest brother Matthias into ditching his baking equipment for the bench press.

“He was always the kid interested in eating, baking and cooking,” recalled Marcus, now 24. “We kind of forced him into it, like how I forced Matthew.”

But Marcus’ influence didn’t end there.

His sessions at the gym turned into a love affair with a new sport – powerlifting; and unsurprisingly, his brothers followed suit.

The strength sport requires competitors to perform three lifts, the squat, bench press and deadlift. They have three attempts at each lift.

“My friend, who was an arm wrestler, told me that I was quite strong, so why not try out powerlifting,” recalled Marcus. “I learned more from the Internet by watching YouTube videos.”

Participating in his first competition in 2014, Marcus recalls going into the local event a “blank slate”.

“I was completely new, completely raw,” he recalled. “Surprisingly, I won. I didn’t have a handler, I didn’t know what I was doing … From there, the Powerlifting Singapore president said: “You’re actually not bad’ and he started training (me).”

Several months later, it was Matthew’s turn to compete while Matthias stepped up to the platform a year later.

“Matthias was always known as the brother that doesn’t compete,” added Matthew. “It was shocking to people when he started.”

FROM A LOCAL GYM TO THE WORLD STAGE

Four years on from Marcus’ first competition, the trio are no longer fresh-faced gym enthusiasts. The Yap brothers are seasoned competitors and have left their mark on the international stage.

Matthew, 19, is the proud holder of two world records. Last December, he set a powerlifting squat world record (215.5kg) in the Under-66kg sub-junior category at the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships in Alappuzha, Kerala. He also holds the powerlifting world record in the Total category with a cumulative lift of 588kg, achieved at the same event.

Matthias, 18, also competed in Kerala, finishing with a silver in the Under-74kg sub-junior Total category. He also has three national records to his name.

Both Matthew and Matthias are coached by their older brother, Marcus, himself a former two-time world record holder.

In 2015, Marcus cracked the powerlifting deadlift world record in the Under-59kg junior category with a 223kg lift in the Classic World Men’s Championships in Salo, Finland. A year later, he also broke the world record at the IPF Asian & Oceania Championships 2016 with a cumulative lift of 536kg.

“When Marcus started, I’d look to him for everything – from the training to the mental aspect,” said Matthew. “I wanted to be an exact copy (of him) … After he competed at the 2015 (World) Classic Championships and he broke the deadlift world record, it was very, very encouraging. 

“I was like: ‘Wow, I want to do that one day’.”

WORKING PART-TIME TO MAKE THE BIG TIME 

Their path to success, however, has been littered with numerous difficulties, said the brothers.

While the trio are part of Powerlifting Singapore, it is not a recognised national sports association. As such, athletes who compete at overseas meets have to pay their own way.

The Yap brothers estimate that they have spent close to S$30,000 of their own money on international competitions.

Matthew, now a second-year student at Republic Polytechnic, recalls having to work part-time at electronics retailer Challenger.

Prior to the World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Belarus last year, he also worked 10-hour shifts at a cafe during school holidays. “I worked almost every day,” he said. “I told my manager that if you can put me (down for more shifts), just please do.”

Making it to Belarus and competing was just half the battle. 

Both Matthew and Marcus were detained by officials in Minsk airport due to a visa mix-up and had to rebook new flights home. They could not afford to do so and only managed to find a way back after a crowdfunding campaign was set up by Powerlifting Singapore.  

Coming from a single-parent family, the trio are also mindful not to let their passion affect their family finances.

“We didn’t want our hobby and interest to ultimately be a burden,” said Matthew. 

The 19-year-old also recalls how Marcus once spent less than S$50 a month on food prior to the 2015 World Championships in Finland.

“I would prep all the food from home … and if there was any fitness-related job out there, I would do it,” said Marcus, who is now a coach and personal trainer.

‘GIFTED’ IN BEING DISCIPLINED

Matthew has since been offered assistance from the Chiam See Tong Sports Fund, which provides him with financial support.

Their achievements aside, watching his siblings grow as individuals rather than athletes gives eldest brother Marcus a sense of satisfaction.

“One thing about being a coach is that you always want to see your athletes be better than you,” said Marcus. “Not just knowing that they did well on the platform but what they do adds value to their life. That gives the greatest fulfilment.

“Seeing them do well and (seeing) us become more respected, it feels like everything was worth it. We worked so hard and sacrificed so much to get to this point. It was not wasted.”

Many don’t see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, the brothers stress.

Matthias and Matthew train five times a week, for approximately three and a half hours a day. Such was his dedication that Matthias remembers sacrificing sleep to wake up at four in the morning for his training sessions before heading for a six-month internship.

“The harder the adversity, the more fulfilling it is and the bigger the sense of achievement,” said Matthew.

“When people look at us, there’s a sense of possibility,” added Marcus. “A lot of people say we’re genetically gifted (for the sport) but I would say that we are gifted in being disciplined.”

Marcus trains with Matthew regularly, and comes up with a regular training programme for Matthias. The latter also sends him videos of his lifts to look through and give constructive feedback on.

“It definitely helped me to train right, have the right techniques … if they weren’t here to help, I’d be all over the place,” said Matthias.

“Whenever I was felt not very confident in training, Marcus would reassure me that I just have to focus and calm my nerves, this helps a lot,” said Matthew. “This reinforcement and me observing what he does – his techniques to calm himself down, focus and be in the zone, was what we (also) picked up.”

“If one of us screws up, somebody will be there to say something,” adds Marcus. “We have each other’s backs.”

Next up for the trio will be this year’s edition of the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships in Mongolia. Matthew will be participating in the Under-74kg junior category, and Matthias in the Under-74kg sub-junior category.

Athletes aged between 19 and 23 participate in the junior category, while those between 14 and 18 compete in the sub-junior category.

Having moved up an age class and weight class, Matthew’s focus will be to do his best against seasoned and older competitors.

When asked what his goal is, Matthias answers without hesitation: He wants a gold medal and the Asian record – he no longer is just the brother who “doesn’t compete”.

SINGAPORE: Singapore and the United States share a strong and mature bilateral relationship, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Nov 16), adding that he is confident the relationship will “continue to strengthen at all levels”.

Speaking at a joint press conference with US Vice President Mike Pence at the Istana, Mr Lee reaffirmed the “robust and enduring partnership” between both countries, describing the relationship as “deep and wide”, with close cooperation in many areas like economic, defence and security.

For instance, both countries cooperate closely in areas like transnational security, terrorism and cybersecurity. Singapore also provides support for the US’ military presence and defence engagements in the region.

Economically, Mr Lee noted that Singapore’s investments in the US and US exports to Singapore support more than a quarter of a million American jobs. The US is also Singapore’s largest foreign investor, with many American companies choosing to base their Asian headquarters in Singapore.

“Even Shake Shack is opening its first burger outlet in Singapore very soon,” he quipped, to chuckles from the audience. “Which is the most important investment of all.”

But Mr Lee asserted that there are still many other ways to collaborate, including in areas like energy, advanced manufacturing and technology.

Both countries renewed an agreement to collaborate on infrastructure, and announced their collaboration on a technical assistance programme to conduct cybersecurity training workshops for ASEAN member states.

Both leaders also welcomed the signing of a Tax Information Exchange Agreement, which will permit Singapore and the US to exchange relevant tax information to enforce its respective tax laws, and a reciprocal Inter-Governmental Agreement, which will provide for the automatic exchange of information with respect to financial accounts under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

Mr Pence was on an official visit to Singapore in conjunction with the 33rd ASEAN Summit. During his visit, he participated in the 6th US-ASEAN Summit, as well as the 13th East Asia Summit.

READ: ASEAN’s overall prospects promising, but there are challenges: PM Lee

READ: ASEAN-US ties ‘healthy’, but need to be seen in backdrop of US-China relationship: PM Lee

On Friday morning, he received an official welcome ceremony at the Istana. 

Mr Pence and his wife, Mrs Karen Pence, then attended a ceremony where a new orchid hybrid, called the Papilionanda Mike and Karen Pence, was named in their honour.

SINGAPORE IS AN INSPIRATION: MIKE PENCE

Speaking at the joint press conference, Mr Pence thanked Mr Lee for the hospitality, and described Singapore as an “inspiration” to the world.

“It is really remarkable to think of Singapore’s success in only 53 short years,” he said, adding that Singapore has reached “towering heights”.

“Here, two great oceans meet, and here, like nowhere else on Earth can be found such variety, such contrast, such success and such prosperity,” he said. “In such a small place, it is truly an inspiration to the world.”

“Singapore shines brightly and the United States is proud to call Singapore a strategic partner and friend.”

Mr Pence added that the US’ partnership with Singapore is “emblematic” of the bonds forged over the generations, and that the US is forging now across the Indo-Pacific region.

“We are proud to stand together to advance our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said.  

“The US seeks an Indo-Pacific where every nation is free to follow their own path, pursue its own interest, where the seas and skies are open to all engaged in a peaceful activity and where sovereign nations grow stronger together,” he added. “Our vision excludes no nation, requiring only that every nation treat their neighbours with respect.”

“Singapore and the United States stand together, and we stand strong,” he said. “We will continue to protect the freedom of the seas and skies across the Indo-Pacific together.”

Mr Pence also encouraged ASEAN to continue to move forward with a meaningful and binding code of conduct for the South China Sea, and stressed the importance of achieving a “final and fully verified” denuclearisation of North Korea.

SINGAPORE: The United States and Singapore will collaborate on a cybersecurity programme for ASEAN member states, said the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) in a news release on Friday (Nov 16).

Both countries signed a declaration of intent on Friday for the Singapore-US Cybersecurity Technical Assistance Programme for ASEAN Member States.

It aims to “further (strengthen) partnerships in regional cybersecurity capacity building”, said CSA.

The signing of the declaration between CSA and the US Department of State took place as part of US Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Singapore in conjunction with the 33rd ASEAN Summit.

Under the programme, three cybersecurity training workshops are expected to be held annually on various aspects of technical cybersecurity. 

The workshops will take place in Singapore and selected regional venues, in partnership with other ASEAN partners, said CSA.

READ: Singapore, Canada agree to boost cybersecurity cooperation

“This new partnership, which will see the active involvement of key local and international cyber industry players, will help to enrich the programme content and strengthen regional cybersecurity capacity,” said CSA chief executive David Koh.

The programme extends the work of the Singapore-US Third Country Training Programme Workshop on Cybersecurity, and also builds on the ongoing collaboration under a cybersecurity cooperation agreement signed between Singapore and the US in August 2016, CSA said.

SINGAPORE: The technological revolution over the last few years has undeniably disrupted many industries – and the financial services sector is not excluded. 

At this intersection of finance and technology lies the fintech phenomenon, which has seen many new businesses enter the market to provide products and services that aim to make the lives of customers easier.

Today, however, fintech is more than that. As leading players in the financial services sector look to become more competitive with the introduction of industry-changing solutions, there is an increasing demand for more advanced products and services that go beyond meeting customer demands.

To stay ahead of the curve in a prominent finance hub like Singapore, it is no surprise that local banks and financial institutions are increasingly collaborating with international businesses to harness innovative and revolutionary fintech solutions.

New Zealand, a country that shares common characteristics and values with Singapore, is part of that collaborative network. As two small and advanced economies in Asia Pacific, New Zealand and Singapore share a similar worldview. 

Our economies are outwardly focused and complementary, and we are strong proponents of regional economic integration. Both countries also rank at the top of the pack globally for ease of doing business, and for being the least corrupt.

More importantly, New Zealand recognises that to bring our tech solutions to the world stage, collaboration is key.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD FOR COLLABORATION

These complementary skills are at play in the technology space.

Over the years, New Zealand’s technology sector has seen rapid growth – it is now the country’s third largest and fastest growing export sector. 

In the past year alone, 200 of our largest technology exporters grew their overseas trade by 12.4 per cent, reaching a value of over S$7 billion. 

Today, technology industry players continue to look outside our borders for opportunities to expand further.

Meanwhile, Singapore, with its conducive business environment and government’s push to create a robust fintech ecosystem, has proven to be a springboard for technology companies looking to meet the challenges of the country and the wider region.

The country’s “sandbox” initiative also allows for fintech players and start-ups to experiment with and test potential fintech solutions in a risk-free environment. This is coupled with a strong legal framework in Singapore. 

There are regulations on payments and guidelines on secure cloud computing, which are continually assessed and evaluated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Furthermore, Singapore’s established industry experience and executional business capability complements the creative solutions and technology expertise coming from New Zealand in areas like insurtech, cybersecurity and data systems.

In fact, some New Zealand companies have already established their presence as trusted partners in the Singapore financial services landscape, providing creative solutions that help to improve efficiency, increase transparency and generate growth in tandem with local companies.

For example, Auckland-based company 9 Spokes have been working with OCBC in Singapore to deliver a version of its market-leading small-business insights tool tailored to the bank’s customers. 

The OCBC Dashboard, launching at the Singapore FinTech Festival, will allow SMEs to monitor their internal operations and track performance in real-time, helping them make more informed business decisions.

Another Auckland company, Delta Insurance, opened its Singapore office in 2017, and was the first local company in Singapore to offer cyber security insurance. 

With cybercrime estimated to cost Singapore over S$2 billion each year, Delta has created a holistic Cyber Risk Management solution to help clients in the financial services industry and elsewhere manage and mitigate these risks for their business. 

READ: Cybersecurity is the next economic battleground, a commentary

On the evidence of successful partnerships like this, many more New Zealand companies are targeting Singapore for expansion, and they are creating solutions tailored to the specific needs of businesses in Singapore and the region.

This year, a total of 12 New Zealand technology companies are participating at the Singapore FinTech Festival to both showcase their technological expertise and creativity, and create more collaborative partnerships with key players in financial services.

As part of the festival, two of these companies, Valocity and Eightwire, have also reached the final stage of the Global Fintech Hackcelerator competition, tackling some of the most pressing issues facing the financial services world today.

READ: A safer online playground powered by hackers, a commentary

Through its first-of-its kind cloud-based mortgage lending and valuation platform in New Zealand, Valocity has enabled banks to streamline the entire mortgage lending process. This enables banks to deliver a more seamless, transparent and relevant customer experience while at the same time managing risk and regulatory compliance.

Meanwhile, Eightwire’s technology allows for financial services companies to share data between systems autonomously and securely. Their technology runs in a secrecy security model that has government certification for national security data, which also means that the company’s customers know that their personal information meets strict privacy requirements for aggregation.

As part of the competition, the two companies have worked with local corporate sponsors and industry mentors to develop and refine their solutions for contextualised problem statements. 

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD

It is competitions like the Global Fintech Hackelerator that highlight the significance of collaborative fintech partnerships between countries like Singapore and New Zealand.

As the industry continues to develop further with more emerging technologies set to come into play, the need to collaborate cannot be ignored. 

I look forward to more collaborations between Singapore and New Zealand in the creation of fintech solutions that will bring positive outcomes and sustained growth to both our countries and the wider region.

Hayley Horan is New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to Singapore.

SINGAPORE: The owner of a local food delivery service has acknowledged he is unable to pay eateries what he estimates could be hundreds of thousands of dollars owed for food that has been delivered, stating that poor business, high overheads and stiff competition has forced his company to shut down.

“Honestly, it’s not that I’m not trying to pay them – it’s really that I can’t do anything,” What To Eat owner Benson Lo, 40, told Channel NewsAsia on Thursday (Nov 15). “I hope I can repay them but I really have no means.”

Mr Lo said he is focused on paying off staff salaries and larger chunks of his debt, and is looking to declare his company bankrupt. “If they want to sue the company, it’s really beyond my means,” he added. “I will just leave it to (the bankruptcy process).”

F&B OUTLETS OUT OF POCKET

His comments come as dozens of food and beverage (F&B) outlets said they are owed money for food delivered through What To Eat, noting that the company has vacated its office and Mr Lo has been uncontactable. Some have left angry comments and scathing reviews online.

What To Eat is still listed by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority as a “live company”, although its website and social media pages have been taken down. Mr Lo’s office and mobile numbers are not in service.

The Garden Slug owner Joseph Lim, 43, told Channel NewsAsia his company is owed at least S$700, with payments stopping in February. He last got a response in August.

“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “Give people an idea when you want to pay them back, not just escape and hide. This is people’s hard-earned money.”

A partner at Annabella Patisserie, who only wanted to be known as Mr Lau, said he has written off the S$1,000 he is owed, adding that he would not approach the authorities.

“Usually we try not to (contact the police),” the 38-year-old said. “We understand how other people feel if we do that. That’s how SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) work.”

While Mr Lau said he has been able to write off the debt due to the “manageable” cost price of his products, he acknowledged that other F&B businesses might not be able to.

“I’m more worried about customers paying money online then they don’t receive the product,” he added. “They thought it’s the merchant, but actually we are not getting paid.”

Nevertheless Mr Lau said he believes What To Eat has run into financial problems and is “not running away”.

Still, a shareholder of a hawker stall in northwest Singapore decided to take matters into his own hands. He said he managed to recover the S$1,000 he was owed by confronting Mr Lo at his office on Geylang Road and waiting at a coffee shop he thought was run by him.

“If he really has real financial difficulties, he should at least let us know and not avoid us,” said the 30-year-old, who asked to be identified only by his initials KA. “Don’t wait until your so-called partners come and chase you until things turn sour, then you start to pay money.”

“I’LL BE SPIT ON BY THEM”

It was at this coffee shop that Channel NewsAsia tracked down a weary-looking Mr Lo. He said he was renting a stall there as his only source of income to raise his three children.

Previous attempts to reach Mr Lo at his office proved unsuccessful, with the next-door tenant saying he had moved out and that people had come looking for him stating he owed them money. 

“I’m really at the stage where I’ve given up everything,” Mr Lo said after leaving a small room he was sleeping in at the coffee shop. “I sold all my personal things to pay off my staff’s salary.”

While What To Eat showed promise after its launch in 2013 with over 100 F&B partners, Mr Lo said orders started dwindling as investors pumped money into competitors like Foodpanda.

“We are local and it’s hard to fight with them,” he lamented, noting that his company also suffered a “big burn out” last year after its attempted expansion to Malaysia fell flat.

But the alarm bells really started to ring when Mr Lo discovered that the company owed a single business about S$100,000 after not paying them for almost a year and a half.

Mr Lo said he does not know how this happened, suggesting that it could be due to accounting issues with either party.

“During that time, they started asking debt collectors to disturb us,” he said, adding that he was forced to use funds reserved for other establishments to settle the spiralling debt. “This big chunk that snowballed made me unable to sustain the business.”

Mr Lo said he would be harassed by loan sharks at his office and at home, pointing out that it did not “look good”. 

“They’ve been very aggressively coming over,” he said, adding that he would ask them for more time. “I told them this is a business thing; they shouldn’t come to my house.”

His biggest regret is not shutting up shop sooner, although he said this was because he did not want to leave his employees stranded, almost all of whom he said were foreigners.

“During the end of September, I really struggled so much; I didn’t know whether I should stop,” he said. “If I stop, (my staff) can’t find jobs.”

When asked why he had not gathered the F&B owners he owes money to in order to explain his situation, he replied: “I tell you, if I gathered them I’ll be spit on by them.”

“Honestly, this is business. Anyone can guarantee that a business can succeed,” he said. “Trying to sustain this business has sucked me dry.”

SINGAPORE: A little-known, elite police task force was stationed at the Suntec City Convention Centre, where world leaders met for the 33rd ASEAN Summit, earlier this week.

The Public Order Response Force (PORF) is an elite arm of the Singapore Police Force, and is activated only during major events, which this year also includes the Trump-Kim Summit in June.

The officers are handpicked from across the different police units and then trained to be the first to respond to any public order incidents, such as riots and protests.

The team has been in operation in all six land divisions since 2011.

PORF Commander, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Dominic John Baptist, said their training regime includes both scenario-based exercises and classroom-based training.

“The PORF supplements the Special Operations Command in dealing with the public order incidents,” he said.

“So, it’s the first line of defence when we are dealing with public order threats to the ASEAN Summit. My role as a PORF commander is to ensure that my officers are always ready to deal with public order incidents, if and when they arise.”

The officers work across different departments in the police force and train together several times a year to maintain cohesion in the team.

Added DAC Baptist: “This tempo will actually increase as and when a deployment is made known to us like the ASEAN Summit.

“My team was involved in the Trump-Kim Summit earlier in the year and that experience has given us some higher state of readiness as we move towards preparations for this deployment.”

Within PORF is an all-female team, trained to handle public disorder situations involving women, children and the elderly.

From 23 members in its 2007 pioneer batch, the Special Women’s Task Team now numbers over 100.

Apart from securing the ASEAN Summit venue, the police force also had to implement security measures at hotels where the delegates stayed during the event.

These include vehicle checks, X-ray screening of baggage and the use of metal detectors, as Channel NewsAsia witnessed at the Ritz Carlton during the Summit.

Commander of Tanglin Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Chong Zun Jie, said: “One of the challenges we face is the hotel remains open to the public as well as the hotel guests.

“Therefore, the security measures we put in place must minimise inconvenience to the public and hotel guests, without compromising the safety and security of the delegates.

“To do this, we’ve worked very closely with the hotel’s management over the past few months over the security arrangement.”

A total of 5,000 police officers provided land and sea security during the Summit.