Former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock’s declaration that he wanted to stand again was seen as a tactical move by political observers yesterday. They viewed it as calculated at increasing his chances of qualifying for the next presidential election, even as a review of the eligibility criteria is under way.

National University of Singapore (NUS) sociologist Tan Ern Ser said if the revised qualification criteria end up leaving Dr Tan ineligible to stand, it “may have the effect of causing some disquiet among segments of the electorate”.

Dr Tan is “throwing a spanner in the works before the commission gets down to recommending any new criteria which may turn out to disqualify candidates with his kind of credentials”, he added.

A nine-member Constitutional Commission led by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon is reviewing eligibility criteria for candidates, the role of the Council of Presidential Advisers, and steps to ensure minority candidates have a chance to be elected from time to time.

Strategy aside, former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin sees Dr Tan’s move to stake a claim as a good step: “The electorate can start thinking if this is who they want to be president.”

Dr Tan also said the president cannot stop Parliament from passing a Bill, but could withhold assent in some cases and issue a statement on his disagreement.

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But Mr Zulkifli said candidates had to be clear that Singapore has a parliamentary system, and the president has to support and strengthen it, not openly disagree with policies. “It’s fine if the president wants to call on the prime minister, or the leader of the opposition, to offer his thoughts,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, it is up to Parliament to debate and for the Government to decide what to do. The president can’t pick up a loudhailer to say he disagrees.”

NUS’ Associate Professor Tan believes it is the president’s prerogative to express disagreement with Parliament and provide another layer of checks on issues within his purview, which is important should there be a rogue Parliament.

“However, if we have a responsible Parliament and Government, having frequent open clashes between the president and Parliament and the Government may undermine the Government’s capacity to rule effectively,” he said.

But Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said Dr Tan appears to have adopted a more moderate stance, and this could be due to the strong support the People’s Action Party got in last year’s general election: “He must have sensed that presenting himself as someone who will not rock the boat would probably go down well.”

A look at the presidents of Singapore

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The Straits Times, Zawiyah Salleh, New Nation, Wee Kim Wee, The Business Times, The New Paper, The Ong family, Lianhe Zaobao

This article was first published on March 12, 2016.
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Around 70 per cent of local security officers are already enjoying higher wages and better skills training, half a year before all security firms here are required to roll out these benefits.

All 250 security agencies – comprising some 33,000 security officers who are Singaporeans or permanent residents – have to adopt the progressive wage model by Sept 1, or risk losing their licences.

The new model maps a clearer career progression pathway for security officers and will see their average basic wage increase to at least $1,100, up from $800 in 2013.

Under the model, which is like a wage ladder, security officers get a pay rise of at least $200 at each tier, after they undergo training in areas such as incident management and equipment operations.

It aims to boost the standards and image of the industry, which faces challenges such as low wages and productivity, high turnover as well as excessive overtime hours.

A total of 19 two- to six-day courses are now available. Security companies pay $30 to $400 to train a worker, after a government grant of up to 90 per cent.

“It is very important for our security agencies to send their staff for training, as it is the only way they can raise the industry’s standards and improve the staff’s productivity,” said Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan yesterday.

“Eventually, the companies will be able to pass on the benefits to their workers.”

Mr Tan was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to Reachfield Safety and Security Management’s centralised command centre based at the National Library Building.

An early adopter of the new wage model, the company has reaped benefits from using technology in its daily work, said its managing director Alvin Lee.

For instance, all security officers on patrol use a real-time reporting system, named iREP, that allows them to mark their attendance at various points of a building.

The system is available as a mobile phone app, which can be easily carried around.

To respond faster to emergencies, especially in larger buildings, some officers can also hop onto Segways.

The company has so far bought five Segways, costing about $5,000 each, for use by its security officers at AMK Hub.

“The use of technology also professionalises their image, which will help to attract and retain more security officers,” said Mr Lee.

Mr Luong Kok Fai has attended three courses and received a $200 pay rise to $1,300 since he joined Reachfield Security about five months ago.

The 26-year-old senior security officer will attend two more courses in the next two months.

He said: “It has definitely built up my confidence in carrying out my job well, both in helping members of the public and the police when it comes to handling incidents.”

This article was first published on March 12, 2016.
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The Singapore Botanic Gardens has launched a new exhibition called Exploring Our World’s Heritage. It comes in the wake of its induction as a Unesco World Heritage Site last July.

Visitors will get to learn more about the Unesco World Heritage Convention and the outstanding universal values a site must illustrate to qualify for listing.

This includes being an ex- ample of traditional human settlement, being an outstanding example of ongoing ecological or biological processes, or having exceptional beauty.

The Botanic Gardens met two – having a historical landscape, and playing a role in the interchange of human values.

The next section zooms in on the diverse heritage sites within South-east Asia itself. They include the Baroque churches of the Philippines, Thailand’s Ban Chiang archaeological site – a prehistoric human settlement – Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay seascape of about 1,600 limestone islands and outcrops, and Malaysia’s Melaka and George Town.

The free exhibition is parked at the CDL Green Gallery on Holttum Lawn. It starts today and runs till Nov 20.

Beauty of the Botanic Gardens

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The Gardens’ director Nigel Taylor had laid out plans for the exhibition early on. He said: “Now that we’re part of the club we can talk about it, you see.”

The Gardens’ senior deputy director of operations Koh Poo Kiong said the aim of the showcase is to educate visitors on what a Unesco World Heritage Site title means for the Gardens, as well as to encourage them to explore other heritage sites during their travels.

Students can fill in activity sheets as they walk through the space, he said, adding that it could be particularly useful for Primary 6 pupils as their Social Studies curriculum features a section on the Unesco accolade.

He said: “It is certainly worth coming to look at it with your family and friends to learn more about the gems here and in our region, and get inspired to visit the other global heritage sites.”

Poet Edwin Thumboo has penned a poem for the Gardens, which will be on show at the exhibition.

This article was first published on March 12, 2016.
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Lush Green is the colour of choice as buses here get their biggest makeover since Singapore Bus Service was formed in 1973.

The new colour was picked by nearly 29,000 commuters in a poll. The “greenies” beat those who wanted Bright Red by just 144 votes.

Lush Green will be rolled out progressively as government bus contracts take effect.

The makeover will start with 50 buses from late May, when Australian firm Tower Transit starts operating from the Bulim Depot in Jurong.

The Government’s bus contracting is as significant as the colour shift as it overhauls a public bus regime that has been largely unchanged for about four decades.

Under the new system, the state owns all fixed and operating assets and bus operators focus on meeting service standards.

After Bulim, British firm Go-Ahead will run routes from Loyang from September.

The Straits Times understands that the next package of routes to be put up for bidding is likely to be in Woodlands.

Besides the new colour, passengers, as well as drivers, can also look forward to a new generation of buses that will have three doors (from two now), and two stairwells instead of one (for double-deckers).

It’s a Lush Green makeover for new bus fleet

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These will make boarding and alighting faster, and contribute to shorter journeys.

There could also be a gamut of cabin amenities such as USB charging ports and warning systems for driver fatigue, speed and blind spots.

The three-door buses, slightly taller and longer than today’s buses, will start streaming in by about end-2018, while the new internal features will be introduced from the year end.

The Land Transport Authority said yesterday that it has not decided on the exact configuration.

“We are at the stage of gathering public feedback,” said group director for public transport Yeo Teck Guan. He was speaking at the Bus Carnival at Ngee Ann City, where visitors can give their feedback. The event started yesterday, and continues this weekend.

Touchscreen pads are set up next to two concept buses – one by Britain’s Alexander Dennis (Bus A) and the other by Germany’s Man (Bus B).

Bus A’s third door is near its tail, while the one on Bus B is right next to its second door, with a partition.

Ms Carol Lim, 55, a special needs educator who was at the carnival yesterday, said she prefers Bus A, in which the second and third doors are farther apart. “I think that’s better for the flow of people,” she said.

Meanwhile, 42-year-old Patrick Ang, who is self-employed and a wheelchair user, felt Bus B is more accessible. “There is also more space for me inside,” he said.

Bus A also got the vote of police national serviceman Cleon Bong, 21. “I like the separated doors. At the upper deck, everyone can exit from the back,” he said.

Resort receptionist Ying Kit, 36, said: “If the door is behind, passengers have to walk all the way to the back. With Bus B, it’s more centralised.

“This new bus reminds me of luxury coaches – that’s a good thing.”

Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport member and Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan said: “I like both.”

He was among a VIP entourage led by Senior Minister of State for Transport Ng Chee Meng that witnessed the unveiling of the new bus colour as well as the two bus concepts yesterday.

Other visitors interviewed said the USB ports were “good to have”, but unnecessary.

The Bus Carnival will continue from March 25 to 27 at VivoCity, and from April 1 to 3 at the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh.

This article was first published on March 12, 2016.
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