SINGAPORE: Four-time ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup champions Singapore may find themselves cast as underdogs ahead of this year’s competition, but some members of the footballing fraternity believe Fandi Ahmad’s side can still spring a surprise or two.
The Lions have failed to move past the group stages in the last two editions of the tournament and have been thrust into a group containing the likes of reigning champions Thailand, dark horses Indonesia and a Philippines side led by former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson. Minnows Timor-Leste round off Group B.
Singapore have two home fixtures at the National Stadium in this year’s campaign, beginning with Indonesia on Nov 9 and Timor-Leste on Nov 21.
Singapore have not won a competitive fixture since a 2-1 victory over Cambodia three years ago, sinking to a lowly 165th in the FIFA world rankings (as of Oct 25).
But those whom Channel NewsAsia spoke to said that the Lions have a decent shot in the tournament.
“We are in a tough group but I still have the belief that this time we can get through the first round – not by much, but merely because of the hunger that the players should have from the previous failures,” said former Lions goalkeeper Shahril Jantan, who was part of the squad which won the 2004 edition.
Progression from the group stage could see the Lions potentially face Vietnam, Myanmar or bitter rivals Malaysia in the semi-finals.
Singapore first won the tournament in 1998, when it was known as the Tiger Cup. It won again in 2004, 2007 and 2012.
Former Lions midfielder Noor Ali, who was part of that side, recalled how that team was written off by the public before the competition even began.
“Nobody gave us a chance before the tournament,” he said.
“It’s better that people write you off; at the end of the day, you are motivated to go out and prove people wrong.”
OPENING GAME KEY
Marko Kraljevic, head coach of Singapore Premier League side Balestier Khalsa, pointed to the Lions’ opening home fixture with Indonesia as the game which could decide Singapore’s fortunes.
“The first game will be the biggest one; if you win you get lots of confidence,” said Kraljevic.
“If Singapore can beat Indonesia, the chances to qualify from the group will be high.”
But the Indonesians might prove a tough nut to crack, even if the Lions have homeground advantage.
“It’s Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand; I just think they are too strong for the other nations right now,” said former Singapore international John Wilkinson.
“Thailand have hit that plateau, they galloped on about three, four years ago. They are at another level than the other Southeast Asian nations. Indonesia have already kicked on and … Malaysia are looking better than in the last few years.
“But it’s the Suzuki Cup and anything can happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if Singapore made it to the semis – but I certainly wouldn’t bank on it.”
The Thais have won the regional tournament a total of five times and are the only nation to have clinched the trophy more times than Singapore.
Fandi Ahmad, his coaching staff and players sing the national anthem before Singapore’s friendly match against Mauritius. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
THE FANDI FACTOR
Former Lions legend Fandi has been entrusted with the task to lead the Singapore side at the upcoming tournament, after being appointed as interim head coach in May this year.
He took over from V Sundramoorthy, who had been in charge of the Lions for almost two years.
Fandi’s reign got off to a solid start as a new-look Lions stayed unbeaten in their first four international friendlies – with a draw against Mauritius, followed by wins over minnows Fiji, Mongolia and Cambodia. The team have just returned from a training camp in Japan.
And according to local football blogger Ko Po Hui, there are already signs that the Lions may have turned a corner.
“The Lions are playing with more confidence and have shown more spirit in the last few matches under Fandi, as compared to the pragmatic and conservative approach of Sundram,” said Ko, who has been covering local football for more than twenty years.
Former Home United coach Aidil Sharin agreed with this view.
“I can see that these players are enjoying their football now under coach Fandi,” he said. “Watching their friendly games, I see their desire to win.”
Fandi’s man-management skills is another asset he brings to the team, said Shahril Jantan, who played under the 56-year-old during the former’s time as SAFFC head coach.
“Just by having Fandi in the team generates that respect among players; and this was missing with the previous coaches,” said Shahril.
“He speaks to the players a lot and that helps the players to feel taken care of, giving them the confidence that the coach is always there for them.”
Singapore skipper Hariss Harun in action for the Lions. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
But what will ultimately be key will be the experienced players in the squad stepping up, said Noor Ali.
“We have people like Safuwan Baharudin, Hariss Harun – these players are playing overseas,” he said.
“The strong point about this team is that there are a lot of players out there performing well. Gabriel Quak too has shown promise on his return to the national fold. That’s very positive for the team.”
Shahril also agrees on this point about leadership and experience.
“If these players who are the backbone of the team can perform to their abilities, they may be able to carry the team far,” he said.
“Fandi can only do so much. In the end it is the players who are on the pitch – whether they are mere passengers or they put their heart into the matches.”
SINGAPORE: Two trends are reshaping Singapore’s housing landscape.
Today, almost 1 in 6 Singapore resident is 65 or older. That’s 548,000 senior citizens.
By 2030, every 1 in 4 residents will be 65 and above – residents who might want to unlock the value of their homes for retirement income or downgrade to a smaller house after their children have moved out.
Graph showing the trend of single citizens in Singapore (Graphic: Sing Tien Foo, source: Department of Statistics)
Compared to their parents’ generation, a huge proportion of those in their thirties are staying single. More than 2 in 10 in their late-thirties are single – a group that will probably live on their own and will need housing that caters to this independent lifestyle.
Where the implications of these shifts extend beyond housing, there is no more pressing time than now to pay serious attention to these issues of demographic change.
AGEING NEEDS
It is with great foresight that the Singapore Government has set up two ministerial-level committees to deal with ageing since 1990: The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Ageing Population (IMC) and in 2004, the Committee on Ageing Issues (CAI).
These whole-of-government mechanisms have the task of developing strategies that address the potential needs of ageing residents, in terms of housing, medical, retirement and social supports, among others.
Singapore population trends (Graphic: Sing Tien Foo, source: Department of Statistics)
One policy thrust both committees have been pushing is the concept of “ageing-in-place”, which is defined as “growing old in the home, community and environment that one is familiar with, with minimal change or disruption to one’s lives and activities”.
Most Singaporeans seem also to espouse this ideal of ageing, according to HDB and URA surveys, suggesting that this is indeed a direction that has broad national support.
But beyond ensuring that elderly Singaporeans have a roof over their heads, supporting ageing-in-place also extends to broader issues – of upkeeping quality of life, promoting social integration, and supporting an active, independent and healthy lifestyle.
LEASE BUY-BACK SCHEME (LBS) HELPS UNLOCK VALUE FOR SENIORS
Why do I say it must go beyond ensuring elderly Singaporeans have a house to live in? Because most Singaporeans already do.
In fact, the success of Singapore’s homeownership policy has a flip side. Singaporeans typically spend a large portion of savings during their working life to pay off mortgages. Over the course of one life cycle, many households find themselves becoming “asset-rich, yet cash-poor” during their golden years.
A common refrain is why don’t seniors sell their flats and downgrade to a smaller apartment? Why not move to a neighbourhood where flats are more affordable and unlock the value of their current homes?
Elderly in Singapore (Photo: Calvin Oh)
I think the answer lies in how many older Singaporeans have come to regard the neighbourhood and their neighbours they live in as an extension of the home they hold dear. It just wouldn’t be the same staying elsewhere.
But there is a solution to this. The Housing Development Board’s Lease Buy-back Scheme (LBS), which has been around since 2009, allows senior households to monetise their HDB flats, while continuing to live there.
In recent years, the Government has expanded the eligibility of the scheme to make it available to more seniors.
While LBS was at first only open to elderly households living in 3-room or smaller HDB flats, the scheme was extended in 2015 to elderly households living in 4-room flats; and the eligibility age limit has also been extended from 62 years to 65 years.
The income ceiling was also raised from S$3,000 to S$12,000, which allows more senior households to participate in the programme.
Most recently in August, Minister for National Development, Mr Lawrence Wong, further announced an expansion of the scheme to 5-room and bigger HDB flat owners.
LBS participants, who mostly live by themselves, have the options to age-in-place by continuing to stay in their flats for a period varying from 15 to 35 years – while receiving HDB bonuses, cash and top-ups to their CPF Retirement Account in exchange for the tail-end of their leases.
POTENTIAL SUPPLY SHOCKS
Although only over 3,100 households have applied for the scheme, the number will probably increase as Singapore ages.
When more aged parents shift away from the mindset of wanting to bequeath their flats to their adult children who have moved out to form their own family unit, I believe the LBS take-up rate will increase.
HDB flats at Tampines Avenue 9. (File photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
It is not a problem yet but HDB must plan ahead to find ways to better manage the inventory of returned flats before the numbers rise.
Together with the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS), a large quantity of older flats could be potentially removed from the resale market when they are returned to HDB, a problem compounded if HDB is unable to step up supply of Built-To-Order flats supply.
The worst outcome for property owners is a shock in prices when more flats are returned to the Government when their lease expires.
But unlike VERS, where HDB takes back an entire precinct, flats returned through LBS are more likely to be distributed in different pockets across buildings, precincts and neighbourhoods.
One option is for HDB to sell off these flats on short leases or rent them out, which can alleviate short-term price pressures in the resale market.
RISING NUMBER OF UNMARRIED SINGLES
But who would buy these flats? This is where singles come in.
Rather than leave the returned LBS flats idle, renovated flats could be sold on short balance leases or rented out to singles, to offer them more housing options.
Singles aged 35 and above today can purchase a 2-room flexi BTO flat directly from HDB. They can also buy a larger flat from the resale market, but prices are much higher.
With more staying single, HDB can never build enough new 2-room flexi BTO flats to satisfy this higher housing demand for small apartments from singles.
But consider this. Almost two thirds of the flats put up for LBS thus far were 3-room flats – an apartment size and budget that would appeal to singles who only have one source of income
Members of the public looking at a BTO flat model at the HDB Hub. (Photo: TODAY/Wee Teck Hian)
Another option is to make LBS flats available for rent to singles, which can significantly cut down their waiting time as they wait for their new 2-room flexi flats to be built.
Communities in these areas stand to benefit, as singles who move into matured estates could inject new life into their new neighbourhoods.
Families also stand to benefit. Singles who buy LBS flats close to their folks can spend more time looking after their aged parents, while living on their own and enjoying privacy. They wouldn’t have to choose.
No doubt selling LBS flats to singles will generate other implications that demand closer attention. What will owning a flat with a shorter lease mean for their retirement adequacy?
Will this be seen as a signal to encourage singlehood by providing an additional source of flats for singles to purchase?
The impact is unclear at this point but what is certain is that HDB will have to find buyers and renters for a larger number of LBS flats in the future – and singles are a ready pool.
Sing Tien Foo is the Dean’s Chair Associate Professor and Director of Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies (IRES), National University of Singapore.
SINGAPORE: You can engage as many real estate agents you want, and that is just what some people do when trying to sell or rent out their properties.
It is like having a football team with 20 players instead of 11: The more people, the more chances to score right?
Actually, it is not quite that simple. Here is what you need to know before you use a whole army of agents, or give a property agent exclusive rights to market your property, be it for sale or renting out.
THE PROS OF MULTIPLE PROPERTY AGENTS The benefits of having multiple property agents are that: You can theoretically reach a wider group of buyers; you are getting a wider perspective; and you can access different buyer demographics.
1. You can theoretically reach a wider group of buyers
This is the theoretical “shotgun effect”. If one property agent with exclusive right can find two interested buyers/tenants, 10 property agents can find 20. This remains one of the core reasons why some sellers/landlords want multiple agents: They think they can close the deal a lot faster.
But further below, we will explain why we think this theory is outdated.
2. You are getting a wider perspective
More agents often mean more feedback. You will get a wider range of opinions, such as on what renovations to make to attract more tenants, or which nearby amenities to highlight, or how much you should set your asking price. Since each agent potentially brings a new insight, you could learn a lot about your property that you had not considered.
The downside to this is analysis paralysis. It is kind of like hosting a marketing meeting with 30 people, and ending up taking six months to decide on the colour of a product. You also need to remember that not all agents have equally informed opinions – that leaves it up to you to filter out the valuable insights from the rubbish.
3. You can access different buyer demographics
Different agents, in theory, cater to different types of buyers. By using multiple agents, you can market your property to multiple demographics at once. For landlords this would mean reaching different types of tenants, from foreign students to affluent single expatriates.
There typically isn’t a diverse demographic where buyers are concerned, so using multiple agents to reach different profiles is usually done by landlords who want to rent out, but are not sure which segment of the market they should target. Even though this sounds reasonable, we do not fully agree with this, for reasons described below.
Many buyers now rely on online platforms to search for properties. (Screenshot: 99.co)
THE DOWNSIDE OF USING MULTIPLE AGENTS
Back in pre-Internet days, the two positions – multiple agents versus an agent with exclusive rights – were more or less equal, but buyers now rely on online platforms to search for properties.
Changes in the way a property is bought and sold, coupled with new regulations implemented over the years that restrict the ways agents can market their properties, mean there is now more advantages to using an exclusive agent.
That is because: Almost all agents now use the same platforms to market your property; for regular residential properties; you seldom need access to niche demographics; prioritisation is more important than numbers; and multiple listings can confuse prospective renters or buyers.
1. Almost all agents now use the same platforms to market your property
Before the rise of online listings, marketing properties was less efficient. It mattered how many flyers your agent put out, how many cold calls they made, and which newspapers or magazines they advertised in. Multiple agents were more helpful in those days, as they were needed to cover more ground.
But today, most buyers go through the same online listings sites, or browse using the same apps. And because of the way internet listings work, you will reach roughly the same volume of potential buyers, regardless of how many agents you use. The Do Not Call registry and Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) rules against flyer distribution also helped concentrate agent marketing efforts on online portals.
(At most, having multiple agents will mean your listing gets posted a few more times, but that is also a drawback – see point four).
2. For regular residential properties, you seldom need access to niche demographics
It is commonly said that different agents can access different demographics. But the question you have to ask yourself is: Does that really matter for your property?
If you are trying to sell a property that is out of the norm – such as a S$15 million penthouse, or an industrial manufacturing site – then having a group of specialised agents can be important.
You will want agents who can access certain niche demographics (for example, one agent to target the super-affluent or one agent to target businesses buying properties). Each agent may also have personal networks they can tap on for potential buyers.
But for selling more mainstream properties, such as HDB resale flats or mass market condos, these specialisations matter less. The buyer demographics are not as niche, and most agents will be reaching out to the same pool of people.
For renting out properties, different demographics now rely on the same means — online portals — to find their rooms and units to rent, thus negating the need for multiple agents.
3. Prioritisation is more important than numbers
Because real estate agents are in sales, there is the old misconception that it is just a numbers game. Now that may be true for the agent in question, but sellers and landlords are always better off focusing on quality.
There is no point having five agents who can sell your property, if all of them put you last on the priority list (because they think someone else might get the commission).
Even worse, a non-exclusive agent might use your house as leverage to sell another property on his/her list. The agent might show a prospective buyer your house first, because he/she has access to it, after which they may bring the buyer to a better house, using the technique of contrast to pump up the perceived value of the second home. In short, you might get played if you use multiple agents.
4. Multiple listings can confuse prospective renters or buyers
This is why some agents hate listing houses, after another agent already has. Prospects get confused when they see the same property marketed by different agents – they may think some of the listings are old, or wonder if there might be something wrong about the house. They might even think it is a scam.
Put yourself in their shoes: Imagine if Agent A shows you around the house, and the next day you find the same property listed, but with Agent B as the contact — you may feel that you are being played.
So, stick to an exclusive agent if you do not want prospective buyers to start asking questions like “How come there are so many agents and it’s still not sold? Have all the other agents gave up?”
In general, it’s better to give one property agent the exclusive rights to sell or rent out your property. Given how properties are marketed nowadays, as well as buyer behaviour and mindsets, there is very little to recommend the multiple agents route. It is much better to switch agents if the current one is not performing. It is not hard to do, and it ensures every agent you engage is more committed to market your property.
SINGAPORE: She had written many letters to agencies before, but this one to SP Services was a matter of life and death.
The family of five that Ms Nalini Ramachandran was helping was having trouble paying the bills. They had a child on a ventilator 24/7, without which he could not breathe.
While they were already receiving financial assistance, the bills were coming up to S$500 a month. It was up to the social assistance manager from the Social Service Office in Chua Chu Kang to ensure their electricity supply was not cut off.
And this she did.
But that successful intervention was still just one step. The 50-year-old also wanted to help increase the utilities assistance for the family.
Ms Nalini Ramachandran, social assistance manager
To her relief, her superior, assistant general manager Sajahan Jainulabdeen from the same office, agreed. Even then, Ms Nalini knew her work with the parents – both unemployed – was not done yet.
For all the assistance that she and her colleagues at the Social Service Office in Chua Chu Kang render to residents in need, not every problem is dealt with as easily, and not every case resolved happily – a reality that the officers, most of whom signed up for the job out of a sincere desire to help, have to grapple with.
One colleague, for example, was just about to process a case when his client passed on, leaving him saddened but determined to do his best for his other clients.
Their office – one of 24 across the island which bring social assistance closer to residents in need – sees an average of 12 to 14 walk-in cases a day.
Help for these clients, who include those in the nearby public rental flats, may involve working closely with other agencies and community partners. More and more, the officers’ work entails being “advocates for their clients”, said Mr Sajahan, 46.
Clients include those who live in the nearby public rental flats.
And it isn’t confined to financial aid.
A growing number of younger people without jobs, including families with young children, need help. So the role of social service officers at Chua Chu Kang has evolved to include providing employment assistance.
JOBLESS FOR 10 YEARS
There are various reasons why people seek help in this aspect: Some were on contract jobs that ended, while others were working in a sunset industry.
“They want to continue in the same industry, (but) it’s not possible,” said Mr Sajahan.
There are many other circumstances that cause people to ask for assistance.
One of Ms Nalini’s clients, 41-year-old Noraisah Abdul Rahim, first came to the office with her husband to get help with paying their household bills in instalments.
He was earning roughly S$1,900, while Mdm Noraisah was a housewife who had not worked for 10 years. With better budgeting, they would be able to manage, “but it would be even better if Noraisah could find a job”, said Ms Nalini.
Having been jobless for so long, however – initially because of asthma, low blood pressure, leg pains, and her belief that her English was not good enough – had dented Mdm Noraisah’s confidence. So Ms Nalini supported the family with their bills, while encouraging her to explore employment options.
But instead of leaving the search to them, she looked for openings and found one possibility: A job as a library assistant.
It was work that Mdm Noraisah had done before and thus was familiar with, and her reaction to the news was: “I thought I was dreaming. And then I was very happy.”
WATCH: A peek inside the Social Service Office and its work (6:36)
She was also nervous, however, about the job interview. “Will I be all right? Can I speak English well enough?” she questioned herself.
Her husband shared her doubts. To convince him, Ms Nalini promised: “Don’t worry, I’ll help her. I’ll give her confidence before she goes for her interview.”
And she did – assuring Mdm Noraisah that she should stick with her “simple English” and that “if people use difficult words and you don’t understand, they’ll know and they’ll simplify their English”.
Mdm Noraisah got the job. In July, some four months after seeking help, she started working again.
Ms Nalini is not done with helping them, however. “For her to sustain (her job), I need to closely monitor her,” said the officer.
That means every week I call her … I want to hear from her how it’s been.
Only if her client is holding down her job after six months would Ms Nalini rate this as a successful case.
BENEFITS OF INTEGRATING ASSISTANCE
One year ago, things might have been handled differently.
The joint provision of social and employment assistance at the Chua Chu Kang Social Service Office began in October 2017 as part of a pilot at five offices (the other four are at Jalan Besar, Kreta Ayer, Taman Jurong, and Yishun).
Before that, clients had needed to make separate appointments with – and to repeat their stories to – officers from Workforce Singapore or the Employment and Employability Institute, who were deployed to the Social Service Office once a week.
The change in service model has been of “great value”, said Ms Nalini. “We’re more equipped, and we can monitor them (clients) closely.
“We give you financial assistance to help you bounce back from your most difficult times, and in return, you become self-reliant through the job assistance that we also provide you.”
This means resolving cases more holistically as the Social Service Office becomes more of a one-stop centre, added Mr Sajahan.
The Social Service Office at Chua Chu Kang has become more like a one-stop centre.
“We can move a client out of the cycle they’re in,” he said. “Concentrating on just financial (aid) doesn’t work most of the time.”
Mr Sajahan and his team of seven underwent training by the statutory board so that they can help clients find the right job. But the choice of “which is the best” is still up to the clients, he said, after the officers give them the options.
ALL CHIPPING IN FOR A 24-YEAR-OLD
With the onus on the individual to make his or her own decisions, some cases can be long drawn out.
Since October 2017, social assistance manager Goh Chai Yee from the Chua Chu Kang office has been working with the Tan family. They initially sought help to manage their household expenses as they were having issues paying their bills.
The 64-year-old father is a coffee-shop assistant and the sole breadwinner; the mother, 62, is a housewife, while their 24-year-old daughter has not had a regular job since leaving the retail line as a supervisor over a year ago.
Given the family’s circumstances, the office helped with their service and conservancy charges and utilities bills.
But after about a dozen conversations with the family, Ms Goh hasn’t yet been able to motivate the daughter, a graduate of NorthLight School, to secure financial stability through a full-time job.
The girl aspires to be a singer – although her only experience in the field has been one busking session and several unsuccessful auditions at restaurants and pubs.
Social assistance manager Goh Chai Yee has been helping the Tans with their situation
And her parents have not pressured her to get a job. “They don’t spend a lot and have been able to manage their expenses with the income they’re getting, so they don’t feel like they are in a desperate situation,” said Ms Goh, 30.
In such cases where more must be done to help a family, the social service officers have discussions in their regular team meetings, working collectively to suggest ways forward.
Ms Goh told her colleagues she worried for the family’s future. “The father is quite old. If something happens to him, they’d lose their only source of income,” she said. But how to get his daughter to confront the reality of that situation?
For nearly 20 minutes, the team put their thinking caps on, offering suggestions to Ms Goh, asking if her client had perhaps encountered difficulties in her previous job.
Assistant general manager Sajahan Jainulabdeen (left) at one of the regular team meetings, where the officers discuss cases.
Ms Goh has meanwhile encouraged the daughter to consider a part-time job so she can continue pursuing her dream. While the officer is determined to convince her client and her family about a full-time job, it would be “a big challenge”.
“Different people have different mindsets,” she said. “We cannot dictate what they do”.
WHEN MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ISSUE
Just as building rapport with clients is important but sometimes difficult, so too is the task of trying to understand what every person is going through. “Each client comes with a different set of issues,” noted Mr Sajahan.
This means having to “see a case from every angle”, as Ms Nalini put it.
For instance, one of her colleagues is helping a beggar who had not worked since three years ago – and during the interview, the man shed tears while talking about his mother who had died around the same time.
So the officer has been trying to establish whether the client is suffering from depression that he would need help with.
To the officers, a case isn’t merely paperwork – they strive to understand what every client is going through, and to see each case from every angle.
Such mental health issues are not uncommon.
Ms Goh has another case in which a woman, around 30 years old, has been unable to hold down a job because she would get into conflict with her colleagues, or because her supervisor would say her work was substandard.
“After talking to her for some time, we realised that she could be facing mental health issues, which would explain her problems at work,” said Ms Goh.
“Whenever she sees her friends going on holidays or having good meals, she feels very envious of them.
She would regularly call us or me – sometimes even several times a day – to seek advice on how to get a job (and) stay in a job.
Sometimes Ms Goh would talk to her for 30 minutes to an hour. “We’d give her advice, and the next day, she’d call again, asking the same questions.”
Initially, the client was resistant to the idea of seeking counselling at a family service centre. But as part of the action plan for continuing to receive financial assistance, she finally agreed to see a social worker and seek treatment concurrently.
“It’s still a work in progress,” said Ms Goh.
Mental issues aside, Ms Nalini said she sees different types of people seeking help. There are the motivated ones, who try to follow their action plan so that they do not have to visit the Social Service Office any more.
There are those who know they qualify for help and think, “Why not?”
And there are those who want to enjoy life instead of working hard. As one client told Ms Nalini after he did not adhere to his action plan, he “just didn’t want to work”. These are the individuals the Social Service Office cannot help indefinitely.
DIFFICULT MOMENTS, AND GRATITUDE
When clients are demanding or keep questioning why assistance is not granted, the morale of the officers is sometimes affected, admitted Mr Sajahan. They are also sometimes left wondering why a client “hasn’t been forthcoming with information”.
If an officer needs space or help to deal with the issues, Mr Sajahan or his team leader may take the case and manage the client themselves.
Above all, the team members support one another because the job of being a listening ear to clients in a rut can be “mentally very draining”, he noted.
The support of their colleagues is important to social service officers.
There are also times when it can get ugly.
Ms Nalini said: “Sometimes people tell you off to your face, raise their voice and scold you in the presence of a lot of people. I had that recently.”
Even then, she said, it is important to remain patient. “Nobody wants to be difficult. There must have been some life stressors that triggered their behaviour – some prior not-so-favourable experience,” she explained.
I’d get frustrated, I won’t deny that, but I won’t show it to them.
It has been more than five years since she got into this line, having left her job as an English teacher because she thought “it would be lovely if I could work in a helping profession”.
And over the years, she has learnt how to calm agitated clients and win their trust when they see her desire to help.
It requires delicate handling on the officers’ part when advising their clients, agreed Mr Sajahan, stressing:
We’d never get to the point and say, ‘Why aren’t you doing this?’
“The client will just turn around and say, ‘You’ve never been in my shoes. You don’t know how it feels to not have food on your table. You wouldn’t know how it feels when my child cries and I don’t have money to buy milk’,” he added.
He has, however, seen tough times of his own, when his father lost his factory job during the 1980s recession.
And he witnessed how his father bounced back as a hawker and supported two families: Theirs and his late uncle’s family in India. “That made me realise that we can do something about our lives,” said Mr Sajahan.
Nothing gives his team more joy at work than seeing their clients achieve self-reliance and financial independence.
Said Ms Goh: “Sometimes they’re very appreciative of that. They come back and thank us, and send in their compliments.”
The chance to wield the personal touch with people was what made the chemistry graduate opt to work on the ground.
“You might see it as our job. But for some clients, whatever amount of help they get, to them it is very helpful in terms of managing their lives and their situation,” she said.
This article by CNA Insider was done in collaboration with Gov.sg
SINGAPORE: Nearly 600 patients from Yishun Polyclinic with chronic conditions have benefited from a pilot scheme that allows them to earn rebates if they meet healthcare targets.
This was revealed at the opening of the revamped polyclinic on Saturday (Nov 3), which sees about 1,800 patients daily after its expansion.
The revamped polyclinic at Yishun Avenue 9 has a floor space of 8,700 m sq. (Photo: National Healthcare Group)
The chronic care plan, which was first launched in April last year, allows patients who suffer from conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol to sign up for a year-long personalised programme.
The plan covers a full suite of healthcare services, including consultations, screenings, as well as medication, and costs between S$100 and S$500.
Patients can also use Medisave to pay for up to 85 per cent of their bill.
When patients meet goals such as their target blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol levels, they can get rebates of between S$5 and S$20 to offset the cost of the following year’s plan.
Ninety per cent of patients over the past year have met their care plan targets and have been given rebates for their next annual plan.
Other than lowering the cost of medical fees, and the convenience for patients, deputy head of Yishun Polyclinic Dr Lim Ziliang said the care plan also helps patients better understand how to handle their chronic conditions.
“It makes the patient more cognizant of what they expect for their care of the year and also improves on their health literacy. If they are a bit more aware, they are empowered to think of their health better as well.”
The scheme was also rolled out at Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic in September and will be implemented at four other National Healthcare Group polyclinics in Hougang, Toa Payoh, Geylang and Woodlands over the next few years.
NEWER, BIGGER POLYCLINIC
The revamped polyclinic at Yishun Avenue 9 has a floor space of 8,700 sq m, which is greater than its first building beside Yishun Community Hospital.
The larger space allows the polyclinic to offer more services such as an expanded Women’s and Children’s Clinic, as well as physiotherapy services.
The area’s Member of Parliament, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the polyclinic has been an integral part of Nee Soon since 1998, and has supported the residents well.
“I am heartened to see that the polyclinic has been redeveloped and relocated to cater to the changing and increasing healthcare needs of the community. It will … complement the eco-system and network of other healthcare facilities in the area,” he added.
SINGAPORE: There are practical ways for the Government to help young couples be “baby ready” – including helping them get their flats sooner, said Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo on Saturday (Nov 3).
Mrs Teo, who also oversees population matters, was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of a new campaign called #BabyReady that encourages Singaporeans to consider starting a family earlier.
The campaign is spearheaded by HeyBaby, a community movement under the Prime Minister’s Office that promotes marriage and parenthood.
Mrs Teo said Singapore provides a good environment for people to start families.
“We have stepped up our efforts in terms of making housing more readily accessible. The other aspect that has been ramped up a great deal would be the early childhood education.”
She said that with each generation, aspirations are higher and wanting to provide the best for one’s children is a “very natural feeling”.
“I think the question is really how we can make sure that at every juncture, we look at the changing needs of couples. In today’s context, one area that comes out very strongly is the need for flexible work arrangements.”
She also noted that there are more employers now who offer such flexible work arrangements.
Newly-weds Vernon Tey, 39 and Cadence Koh, 27 told Channel NewsAsia they are encouraged by such initiatives to support young couples in becoming parents.
“We are actually planning to have a baby in one to two years’ time. We look around, we know there are some initiatives like Baby Bonus, childcare subsidies, and extended maternity leave,” said Mr Tey.
Ikea’s Starterkid bundle comprises nine essential items for newborns such as a baby cot, foam mattress, a baby care mat and bibs. (Photo: Elizabeth Neo)
One company that is helping parents and first-time parents ease into their new role is IKEA Singapore, which has partnered the #BabyReady campaign.
The Swedish furniture giant launched a Starterkid bundle comprising nine essential items for newborns such as a baby cot, foam mattress, baby care mat and bibs. It retails for S$149.
Deputy managing director at IKEA Southeast Asia Mike King said: “IKEA hopes to show young couples that an affordable, sustainable and quality lifestyle is possible as they start their family.”
MELBOURNE: As Singapore moves closer to selecting its next fighter jet to replace its fleet of F-16s, the oldest of which turned 20 earlier this year, the focus has been on the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
It has been widely considered by the defence community as the leading option to be selected by Singapore.
So how would the F-35 be able to fit into Singapore’s defence system?
ALLOWS SINGAPORE TO GENERATE HIGH-END AIR POWER CAPABILITIES DESPITE FEW AIRBASES
The F-35, which has already been selected by 13 countries as their next generation fighter jet and is gradually entering service with a few, exists in three different variants.
The F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) version that has been selected by a majority of customers; the F-35B Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) version that can operate from short runways or smaller aircraft carriers; and the F-35C that is designed to operate from the US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
As far back as 2013, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) was known to be evaluating the F-35 among several other fighter types for its F-16 replacement, with reports since then suggesting that Singapore was particularly interested in the F-35B STOVL variant.
Belgium opted for the US-built F-35 stealth fighter aircraft (Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro NOGI)
The F-35B can take off from a stretch of runway as short as 168m and land vertically courtesy of a lift fan and a thrust vectoring exhaust nozzle system that diverts airflow downwards during take-off and landing.
This also allows the F-35B to operate from the smaller aircraft carriers operated by the US Marine Corps and Italy, or those who lack a specialised aircraft launch and recovery systems like the United Kingdom’s ships.
Essentially, the F-35B will be the first truly multirole STOVL-capable fighter jet in service. Older STOVL aircraft, such as the Anglo-American Harrier “jump-jet”, were essentially light attack or local air defence aircraft with limitations in performance and weapons carrying capability.
The attraction of the F-35B in Singapore’s context is that it brings the advanced capabilities in the other F-35 variants, albeit with some weapons carriage and manoeuvrability restrictions due to the lift fan, into an aircraft with STOVL performance.
This means a potential operator like Singapore, with its limited strategic depth due to its small land area and number of airbases, will still be able to generate high-end air combat capability to defend itself in the event of its runways being disabled in times of conflict.
Previously, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has conducted exercises by turning a stretch of Lim Chu Kang Road adjacent to Tengah Airbase into an alternate runway where fighter jets can take off and land from.
An F-15SG taking off from Lim Chu Kang Road which was converted into a temporary runway. (Photo: Loke Kok Fai)
A NIMBLE NODE FOR A NETWORKED FORCE
The F-35 is designed from the start to be more than just a fighter jet.
Its ability to function as part of an integrated, networked force is a big plus for Singapore, given MINDEF’s efforts to transform the SAF into what it calls a “3rd-Generation fighting force” that is similarly networked and integrated.
The F-35 can function essentially as a network node in such a force; gathering, processing, and sharing information and data about the battlefield to friendly forces through datalinks.
As part of these network-enabled capabilities, the F-35 is even able to send targeting information to friendly aircraft and other forces that will then be able engage that target.
This capability was demonstrated recently when a US Marine Corps F-35B provided information about the exact location of a distant target via datalink to one of its High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) during an exercise in Yuma, Arizona.
The Marine HIMARS, similar to those currently being operated by the SAF, was then able to use this information to destroy that target by firing a GPS-guided rocket, according to a report that appeared earlier this month in the Marine Corps Times newspaper.
A HIMARS vehicle can hold up to six rockets. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
The effect of this capability is two-fold. First, the demonstration of the F-35’s capability of being a network node means that its ability to unleash fire power at enemy targets is not limited by the weapons it can carry itself.
Second, the F-35B is able to give friendly forces such as other, less stealthy fighter jets or ground-based rocket systems, the ability to engage those targets without using their own sensors (such as radars) to find targets – therefore lowering the risk of giving away either of their own positions.
DRONE MOTHERSHIP
Another potential capability of the F-35B that could be of interest to Singapore’s defence planners in the future is work in the US exploring its ability to act as a mothership to cheaper, unmanned aircraft.
The US Air Force Research Laboratory has taken steps to develop such a concept, known as the Loyal Wingman.
Defence companies have also done work in this area, with Lockheed-Martin having reportedly flown a demonstration with an unmanned F-16 teamed with a manned fighter. Another company, Kratos Defence and Security Solutions has also tested two unmanned aircraft types that were developed for the programme.
An F-35B is cleared for short take-off at night. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Such a development would not only enable militaries to send unmanned aircraft for riskier missions while under the control of a manned aircraft, it would also conceivably enable air forces to reduce manning requirements.
With Singapore’s population challenges that has seen the SAF embrace the use of unmanned technology in recent years, this is yet another potential avenue that could interest MINDEF in years to come.
ENABLING REGIONAL INTEROPERABILITY
There are several regional air forces already buying F-35s with Australia, an F-35 development partner country who has a close security relationship with Singapore, ordering 72 F-35As.
Australia is also building facilities and infrastructure to support its own F-35s, which includes threat emitter systems to simulate hostile radar and air defences in the same training areas RSAF fighters have used in the past as part of the training agreements Singapore has signed with Australia. These could potentially be used by the RSAF to train with in the future.
The F-35 can carry more than 3,500 pounds of weapons in stealth mode and over 18,000 pounds when stealth is not needed. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
In northeast Asia, both Japan and South Korea have ordered F-35As for their own air forces and have reportedly looked into the possibility of operating F-35Bs from ships of their respective navies.
The United States military also plans to deploy F-35s to its forward-deployed forces based in the region, with one squadron of US Marine Corps F-35Bs already based in Japan while more US Air Force and Navy fighter squadrons based in Japan are expected to convert to the F-35 over the next decade.
This will create a significant pool of F-35 users in the region, which will potentially enhance interoperability among these nations during any multinational coalition operations.
Australian companies have also successfully secured the rights to conduct heavy maintenance and warehousing of spare parts for regional F-35 operators, and this would streamline sustainment and supply chain matters should Singapore opt for it as the next fighter jet.
Mike Yeo is the Asia reporter for US-based defence publication Defense News.
SINGAPORE: Renting a home is different, and much more tricky, when you have kids in tow. Most importantly, you need to look out for these specific home features (and potential hazards) when you are looking for the ideal place to rent.
1. Consider unfurnished apartments instead
With furnished apartments, most landlords will not allow many changes. Landlords often consult interior designers on fittings, furnishings, and equipment as part of their renovation process – many have built the apartment around a particular theme (for example, art deco, traditional Chinese, urban chic).
This will deprive you certain options that can make younger children more at home. You will not be able to stencil the walls for a theme nursery, for example.
The main reason to choose unfurnished, however, is to protect your security deposit, not so much of the rent. Damage to furnishings is more likely when you have children, however well behaved they may be.
(And having a party for 10-year-olds and their friends, in an apartment with S$150,000 of designer furniture, is a good way to end up with a Xanax prescription.)
(Photo: Happiest Baby)
2. Consider social access, not just accessibility
Renting a home as a parent with kids? Then you will want a place where your children can safely meet the neighbours and mingle.
If you are renting an HDB flat, this is a foregone conclusion – the design of the estates, with their open void decks, shared playgrounds and exercise facilities, are purpose built to facilitate this.
Your children find it easy to make friends, and your neighbours will be more impossible to get off your back than a wet T-shirt.
Parent and child at a playground in Punggol. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
If you do want to live in a private condominium, check if the management council organises family activities (for example flea markets, tea parties, community cookouts.) Condominiums with active management councils are more likely to have strong communities, which will make it easier for your children to find friends.
3. Balcony and window safety
People who buy or own property as an investment will not install safety grilles on the windows, or high railings on balconies.
These are banned in some developments; the building managers want to maintain a uniform façade. Or just as likely, the interior design threw a fit and refused to “like, design a prison of the soul, okay.”
This leaves things in your hands. You should ensure balcony walls are high enough not to be climbed by children — a 1m height is used by most shopping malls, and is a good guideline. There also should not be features like steps or grooves, which will make the wall possible to climb.
Even then, children are clever at getting to dangerous places. So, it is wise to install invisible grilles on your balcony. These grilles are made of high tensile strength stainless steel, spaced far apart enough so the young cannot pass through, but thin enough to not affect the view from your balcony. Note that if the unit you rent does not come with these grilles, installing them will likely be at your own expense, and may likely cost a few thousand dollars.
If there are large windows that your child can easily fit through, you may want to install grilles on the inside (check with your management for an approved grille model for your condo), or look for units where the windows are not easily opened.
Vertical storage refers to features such as bookshelves or tall display cabinets. These exist to maximise space, and can tip over and fall on people if they are not secured properly to the wall.
As far as possible, vertical storage should be firmly attached to the walls. If that cannot be done, they should at least be pushed up against the wall, rather than be left free standing. The heaviest items should also be placed on the bottom shelf or drawer to lower the furniture’s centre of gravity, minimising the risk of it tipping. Most landlords are okay with you making these safety reinforcements, check with them or their agent if you are unsure.
(TODAY file photo)
5. Newly renovated homes can be bad for children with asthma, or other respiratory issues
You would think that a brand new home would be cleaner and better for children with allergies and asthma. That could well be an untruth, depending on how the renovation was done.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are (often carcinogenic, or cancer-causing) toxins released from fresh paint, and especially from new carpeting or flooring as parquet.
You know that “new building” smell? Congratulations, you were probably inhaling poison. Besides increasing the risk of cancer, VOCs cause severe lung irritation and worsen existing conditions like asthma.
VOCs can linger in a newly renovated home for weeks to months, depending on how the contractors did their jobs. So you should raise the issue with the landlord, and check whether they used low VOC paints, whether pesticides were used when laying the new carpet, etc.
6. Drop by the apartment at around 10pm, before renting
Most viewings take place in the day. The neighbours are not in. They could be a pair of bookish young teachers, or a pair of death metal rockers who lost their hearing 12 years ago and still have not noticed.
That is why you want to drop by at night for a few minutes, just to check the noise level. If you have a toddler, or young children who need to go to school, this step is extremely vital. This advice could save you from getting into neighbour disputes, and/or having to hire a good lawyer later.
It will take a lot of extra time to find a child-friendly apartment, because let’s be frank: human beings were not designed to live in little cubes.
Singles’ Day – aka 11.11 – on Nov 11 is the world’s biggest online shopping event where items can go for up to 90 per cent of their usual sticker price.
Enthusiasm for the one-day shopping spree has been growing since it was first introduced locally by Chinese tech giant Alibaba in 2009. It has since gone on to be a global event, with Alibaba raking in US$25.4 billion in sales from the 2017 edition alone, and the gala was attended by Australian actress Nicole Kidman, US artiste Pharrell Williams and local stars like Zhang Ziyi, among others.
That success has spawned similar efforts by other e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee and Qoo10 hoping to cash in on the phenomenon.
But how are they ramping up their efforts to entice consumers to their platforms and making sure the items purchased are delivered on time? Channel NewsAsia spoke to all three to find out.
LAZADA
NEW FEATURE(S): As the e-commerce platform backed by Alibaba, it’s no surprise that Lazada is adopting features that are commonly seen on its parent company’s Taobao platform. One of these is in-app live-streaming, a new element being rolled out this year, said Lazada Singapore CEO Alexis Lanternier.
“Since social selling is quickly becoming an important decision-maker for shoppers, our livestream function will allow customers to shop directly from the stream and engage with the brands and personalities in real time,” Mr Lanternier told Channel NewsAsia in an email.
He added that a Snap to Shop function will also make its debut this year, where shoppers can take a picture of something they like and find the exact product or something similar.
WE HEAR YOU: The Lazada Singapore CEO shared that it will also introduce a Chat function, something which shoppers had requested. Based on its findings, the consumer is three times more likely to complete the purchases if the query is responded to within 30 minutes, he added.
GAME ON: Lazada will also rely heavily on gamification tools to get shoppers to spend more time on its platform in the hope that they will spend more, similar to the approach taken by its rival Shopee (read more below).
One example is Shake It, which was introduced on Nov 1 and will run till the actual day. Consumers can shake their mobile phones at designated game sessions to try and get shopping vouchers, Mr Lanternier shared.
Lazada is embracing gamification, such as this Slash It mechanism that involves one’s social network to help reduce prices of items, as part of its 11.11 push this year.
Another feature called Slash It, which runs from Nov 1 to Nov 10, gives shoppers the opportunity to lower the price of a product by sending the product link to their friends. The more these friends “slash” the price, the lower it gets for the buyer, he explained.
MEETING DEMANDS: Mr Lanternier said the 11.11 sale is growing in popularity, and Lazada Singapore expects “at least three times more sales and orders to fulfil” compared to last year’s numbers, which he did not disclose.
To meet this demand, he said the company started preparing earlier this year and has ramped up its manpower “multifold” to facilitate faster packing, as well as introduced more automation in its warehouse. The latter initiative was road-tested for the smaller-scale 9.9 shopping day, which saw productivity increaseby 30 per cent, the executive claimed.
He also pointed to the recent announcement of its partnership with 7-Eleven and Ninja Van to offer parcel collection at the convenience stores instead of relying on home deliveries, as another way of meeting shoppers’ needs. The service is now available at 159 stores and will be deployed to the remaining 350 by year’s end, “which should ease last-mile delivery challenges”, he said.
Head of marketing Tao Ruoshan told Channel NewsAsia during a recent interview that shoppers had told them: “I saw the upcoming offer and want to get it, but when the Flash Deal started, they forgot to return until it was too late.
“They’d say: ‘Oh my god, I forgot! Can you bring it back?’” Ms Tao recounted, adding this reminder would help shoppers keep track of their wishlist items.
Another feature that will be deployed is the voucher wallet, which allows shoppers to collect vouchers that various sellers are offering. On checking out their items, they can go to this wallet to use the applicable voucher and get better deals, she explained.
This was first introduced at its earlier 9.9 event and, asked how the feature was received, Ms Tao said: “Given that Singaporeans are not very vocal when it comes to (praising positive things), not receiving any complaints is a very good thing.”
WE HEAR YOU: See Flash Deals reminder.
GAME ON: Not to be outdone in the shakes stakes, Shopee is bringing back its in-app game Shopee Shake, which it said was well-received at the earlier 9.9 shopping event.
A shopper participating in the Shopee Shake, which the e-commerce platform said was well-received during an earlier trial run during the 9.9 shopping event. (Photo: Shopee)
The game essentially allows shoppers to invite up to 10 friends (for 11.11) to form a group and, at stipulated times, “shake” their smartphones to earn Shopee coins, which can then be used to offset purchases.
Ms Tao shared that more than 500,000 sessions took place on Sep 9 and believed the “social and fun” feature is a hit among online shoppers. More recently, on the first themed day leading up to 11.11, Shopee saw a greater number of shoppers playing in groups – 1 in 3 players, up from 1 in 4 during 9.9, she said.
MEETING DEMANDS: The marketing head shared that her team has been working with sellers, such as audio companies JBL and Marshall, to identify popular items through analytics. With the information, these sellers can then pre-pack the items, she added.
“They typically spend up to three working days in advance pre-packing the relevant products,” Ms Tao said.
JBL products packed and ready to be delivered ahead of time. (Photo: Shopee)
To make sure there is no downtime for the site during this season, the Shopee executive said its product team had worked to forecast traffic and put in place measures to ensure its servers have sufficient capacity.
“Closer to the event, they will also be conducting a series of stress tests to ensure that we will be able to effectively manage the influx of traffic,” she explained.
QOO10
NEW FEATURE(S): Buddy flash deals, auction events and lucky draws are some of the features Qoo10 is bringing to the table this year, as it looks to end a milestone year, with a bang.
Yet, it is competing from a position of strength. According to findings from Malaysia-based online shopping aggregator iPrice, Qoo10 remain the most visited e-commerce site in Singapore for the third quarter of this year, with more than 10 million monthly visits, followed by Lazada (6.3 million) and Shopee (2.5 million).
On the buddy flash deal feature, Mr Cho Hyunwook, manager of Qoo10 Singapore, said he expects participating customers to “save as much as 90 per cent off the usual price” of said products.
WE HEAR YOU: One of the areas Qoo10 is paying attention to is how checkout coupons, made available during major events, are being used – particularly the balance between the discount provided and minimum spend required.
For instance, Mr Cho said it is seeing increasing consumer confidence in purchasing bigger ticket items like larger home electronics and smartphones. “Accordingly, our most valuable discount coupon for 11.11 this year saves the user S$110 for a minimum spend of S$800.”
GAME ON: There are some gamification features leading up to the actual day such as a “lucky claw machine” game, but it’s safe to say this is not a priority for the company.
MEETING DEMANDS: Mr Cho said the company has been working to increase the efficiency of its delivery network to prepare for this year’s shopping day.
He said one of the most common bottlenecks in huge online shopping festivals like 11.11 is parcel processing and delivery time, which often suffer because of the overwhelming volume of orders to process.
As such, it made “significant upgrades” to its backend systems like moving to a larger facility with a conveyor belt system that can automatically sort up to 4,000 parcels an hour, the manager revealed.
“This has allowed us to heavily reduce the intensive labour needed to manually sort items, and cut processing times by half,” Mr Cho said.
“This, in turn, has allowed us to create a second time slot in the afternoon for dispatching deliveries, rather than our previous system of dispatching once a day in the mornings.”
Qoo10 staff waiting at the parcel chutes to process orders as they come in at the new logistics facility. (Photo: Qoo10)
With all that said and done, which of the three platforms will you be mainly shopping out of come Singles’ Day?
