Ms Deshi was an ambitious flight attendant living the jet-setting life when she started to get bruises on her body that would not fade.

Worried, she went for a check-up in January last year and was found to have acute myeloid leukaemia, a strain of blood cancer.

For the next few months after that, she went through aggressive treatments and suffered infections that kept her weak and hospitalised, unable to eat or drink.

Many times, she felt close to giving up.

"I felt so demoralised and dejected sometimes.

"I went from a flight attendant to someone who couldn't do anything and needed help to use the toilet," said Ms Deshi, 32, who did not want her full name to be disclosed.

She would have died six months after her diagnosis if she did not get a bone marrow transplant, her doctor said.

Now, 18 months after her diagnosis, Ms Deshi is alive and healthy and even certified fit-to-fly recently.

This is all thanks to Ms Sheila A. Nair, whose bone marrow donation a year ago saved her.

Bone marrow recipient meets her donor

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

BMDP, The Straits Times, The New Paper

Yesterday, the two women met for the first time.

Ms Nair, 27, an accounts executive, had a nervous smile as she waited to meet the person whose life she had changed.

When Ms Deshi walked through the door, they embraced each other tightly.

Tears streaming down her face, Ms Deshi thanked Ms Nair repeatedly.

"Sheila is a part of me, her cells are in my body. She's like my sister," she said.

Ms Deshi's mother, Madam Rani Kaur, 55, sobbed as she thanked Ms Nair - her "new daughter".

The meeting was organised by the Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP), which is dedicated to expanding and managing Singapore's only register of volunteer bone marrow donors.

Ms Nair became a donor when she chanced upon their booth in Potong Pasir Community Centre as a 17-year-old.

When she got the call about a match, she was surprised. The chances of a perfect bone marrow match with unrelated persons are around one in 20,000.

BMDP currently has about 65,000 donors in its local register.

Last year, the non-profit group helped facilitate 58 transplants here, of which 15 involved local donors.

There has been an increase in new donors each year and they hope the registry will surpass 100,000 donors by 2018.

"When we can match local donors instead of foreign donors with local patients, we save a lot of time. And one thing patients really don't have is time," said BMDP chief executive Jane Prior.

Getting donors can be hard as misconceptions surround bone marrow transplant procedures.

For Ms Nair, however, joining the programme was a no-brainer.

"Well, if you can do something good, then why not?"

Bone marrow transplant FAQ

Q: What is a bone marrow/stem cell transplant?

A: It is the replacement of diseased marrow with marrow from a healthy donor.

Q Who can become a bone marrow donor?

A: Anyone between the ages of 17 and 49 of good health can be a donor. The Islamic Religious Council has also given approval for all Muslims to be donors.

Q How is bone marrow collected from a donor?

A: There are two methods.

- There is the bone marrow harvest method in which bone marrow, which contains stem cells, is removed from the back of the pelvic bone using a special needle. The process takes 45 to 60 minutes under general anaesthesia.

- The peripheral blood stem cell harvest method gives donors four daily injections of a naturally occurring hormone to stimulate the growth of stem cells. On the fourth day, the cells will be collected in an outpatient procedure very similar to a blood donation except that it will take five to seven hours. The method of harvest is selected based on the recipient's condition.

Q: Is the bone marrow transplant procedure painful?

A: Donors might experience slight discomfort but all discomfort should be gone in a week. Most can return to their daily routines almost immediately.

Q: Are there any long-term side effects linked to the procedure?

A: There are no known long-term side effects. Donors should see their blood count return to normal within four weeks.

Q: If I come up as a match, do I have to pay for the procedure?

A: No. Donors will be reimbursed for all expenses relating to the donation including travel expenses or unpaid leave.

Q: How do I become a bone marrow donor?

A: You can ask for a cheek swab kit online at www.bmdp.org.

For more information, visit www.bmdp.org.

• Source: Bone Marrow Donor Programme

This article was first published on August 5, 2016.
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Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin found their way to Singapore yesterday in their search for answers about the city-state's development.

The creators of the ubiquitous search engine, who were on their maiden visit, met Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the National Gallery, which is housed in the old City Hall and Supreme Court.

Mr Page, 43, and Mr Brin, 42, also visited the Port of Singapore, one of the world's busiest ports, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority's city gallery, which showcases Singapore's physical transformation.

A Google spokesman said they were in town to learn about Singapore's development story, but declined to provide more details about their visit.

The pair had started Google as a search engine when they were doctoral students at Stanford University. The company's products now include online advertising and cloud computing technologies, and the Android operating system.

Mr Page is also the chief executive of Google's parent company Alphabet, while Mr Brin serves as Alphabet's president.

Google opened its Singapore office in 2007, starting out with sales and research and development. In 2013, it opened a US$120 million (S$161 million) data centre in Jurong West, its first in South-east Asia. The Internet giant also acquired local business messaging start-up Pie in February to kick-start plans to locate an engineering team in Singapore.

This article was first published on Aug 5, 2016.
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Take your children tomorrow to a playground that looks like a junkyard in Baghdad Street - trust the organisers, they say they know what they are doing.

Parenting organisation and social enterprise Chapter Zero Singapore will set up the temporary playground on the street in Kampong Glam, which is closed to traffic every weekend, using all kinds of objects and materials.

There will be tyres, motorcycle wheels, fan belts and bubble wrap collected from industrial estates in Kaki Bukit and Yishun; and from their own homes, unwanted plastic and paper bags, cardboard boxes, bedsheets and clothing, used cardboard rolls from kitchen paper towels, old telephones and keyboards.

Mrs Shumei Winstanley, one of the co-founders of Chapter Zero, says: "Unlike most conventional toys, such materials encourage open-ended play and are free."

As an example, the 28-year-old lawyer says a bedsheet can be whatever a child wants it to be - a magic carpet, a superhero's cape or to cover a fort.

There are endless possibilities with the "loose parts" in such a playground.

Adults are advised not to instruct or direct the play, although they are welcome to join in.

Mrs Winstanley, who has a two-year-old daughter, says: "Children use their imagination and creativity to figure out how to solve problems and overcome obstacles without any adult view of failure or what is the right or wrong way to play."

Chapter Zero, formed earlier this year to advocate play in children, was inspired by Pop-Up Adventure Play - an organisation from Britain and the United States that supports children's play - to organise tomorrow's inaugural event, which is open to the public at no cost.

It intends to hold more of such pop-ups every one to two months to encourage open-ended, childdirected play.

The pop-up playground is supported by PlaystreetsSG, an initiative under the Singapore Wellness Association which converts streets into playgrounds.

It will have two areas to cater to the needs of children of different age groups. Each space is about half the size of a basketball court.

The dry area will have materials such as cardboard, fabric and wood for the children to build on or piece together, while the wet area will have buckets of ice and water as well as cups, bottles and funnels for the children to play with.

At the playground, there will be potentially risky items such as ropes, pipes, heavy wooden pallets and planks.

Facilitators from Chapter Zero and volunteers will be there to help the children assess the risks.

Ms Suzanna Law, a playworker with Pop-Up Adventure Play who visited Singapore last month to give a talk on risks in play, says it is important that children learn to negotiate risk in play throughout childhood.

She tells The Straits Times in an e-mail: "Otherwise, we are in danger of nurturing a generation of adults who are fearful of everything."

She adds that adults often think that their children will come to harm by doing risky things, but risks are different from hazards.

As she explains: "Hazards are non-negotiable risks that can be removed or avoided. For instance, a sharp object, or crossing at a red light.

"Risks refer to the likelihood of an adverse outcome and may not always be removed or avoided.

"We need to take a risk to cross a road, make a meal or fall in love."

She says that children discover through play which risks are higher than others and which risks can be overcome.

Adventure playgrounds in the US and Europe sometimes feature riskier things such as screwdrivers, hand drills and chainsaws. But these will not be found at the event here tomorrow.

Mrs Winstanley explains: "As Suzanna says, we can't go from zero to chainsaw.

"Risk has to be introduced incrementally."

•Catch Pop-Up Adventure Playground in Baghdad Street from 4 to 7pm tomorrow. Admission is free.

This article was first published on August 5, 2016.
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Former president of the Singapore Swimming Club (SSC) Freddie Koh Sin Chong was made bankrupt yesterday for owing the club an estimated $2.26 million.

The amount comprises judgment debt, interest and costs.

The club filed a bankruptcy application against the 70-year-old last month for using club funds to defend a defamation suit.

Separately, Mr Koh has been expelled from the club after disciplinary proceedings held last month .

He was found guilty of five charges of breach of fiduciary duties with the intention of furthering his own interests rather than that of the club.

He had made the club pay for his legal expenses even after a judgment was passed by the Court of Appeal in a 2009 defamation suit.

He was also found guilty of two counts of breaching the code of conduct and ethics of the club.

Mr Koh had owed $1.52 million to the club after the apex court overturned a High Court decision last year, which rejected the club's bid to recover the money used by him in his unsuccessful defence of the defamation suit.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the club was entitled to a refund on the grounds of Mr Koh's breach of fiduciary duties, as well as how the club had paid his legal bills under a mistaken belief that he was discharging his duties to the club.

Mr Koh became club president in May 2008. He was ousted at an extraordinary general meeting in March 2012.

He was unrepresented at yesterday's bankruptcy hearing.

The club was represented by WongPartnership.

This article was first published on Aug 5, 2016.
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Supporters of Car-Free Sunday SG now have a new pedestrianised zone to play at.

The car-free event wrapped up last month after a six-month trial in the Central Business District and Civic District.

Car-Free Sunday SG drew 10,000 people in its last edition.

But tomorrow, Let's Lepak At Mount Faber (lepak means relax or hang out in Malay), the first car-free initiative at a park, will take place.

An 800m stretch along Mount Faber Loop, from Mount Faber Park Car Park D to the junction near Faber Bistro, will be closed to traffic from 4 to 7pm.

Visitors can trek up to the road using the Marang trail, which starts from Exit D of HarbourFront MRT station.

They can also take a cable car to Mount Faber station from HarbourFront station, then walk for three minutes.

The free event is part of GetActive! Singapore, a week-long series of sporting activities held in the lead-up to the nation's birthday.

The theme is sports and wellness, with music and art elements.

Organised by Mount Faber Leisure Group and supported by the National Parks Board, the initiative will run on the first Saturday of each month and is on trial till October.

At the park, perched 100m above sea level, visitors can create art using their bodies in dance painting, work up a sweat at a zumba or functional fitness session, or create models of cable cars from recycled materials.

Ms Suzanne Ho, Mount Faber Leisure Group's general manager, says the idea to go car-free came about after the company learnt about the Government's push to steer Singapore towards a car-lite nation.

The company applied to hold the event under the Streets for People programme, a ground-up scheme launched by the Urban Redevelopment Authority to support community-driven projects to turn streets into car-free public spaces.

Ms Ho says: "With the forest all around, the public, along with residents of Mount Faber, would be able to come and play and enjoy the outdoor space free of traffic."

She expects the road closure to have "minimal impact" on traffic as motorists typically travel via Mount Faber Road to Mount Faber and down to Henderson Waves, and will not pass the closed stretch.

Road marshals will be deployed to facilitate traffic flow.

Ms Ho says the Mount Faber stretch where the activities will be held can take up to 400 people.

Visual artist Jaxton Su and independent dance artist Chen Jiexiao hope to spread the word on dance painting, a relatively new art form here that was developed by the duo last year.

In their programme Colours in Motion, participants, with the help of the two artists, will use their bodies as brushes to create colourful works of art on large pieces of paper.

The works will have a National Day theme.

A roving percussion group will belt out familiar National Day Parade tunes.

A food truck operated by soya bean specialist Mr Bean will be at the venue and there are eateries nearby, such as Faber Bistro.

Health coach Melody Chong, 39, plans to head down and try out dance painting.

She says: "I haven't been to Mount Faber for years - I used to jog there - and it's great that they are organising events like these."

BOOK IT / LET'S LEPAK AT MOUNT FABER

WHERE: Mount Faber Loop

WHEN: Tomorrow, 4 to 7pm

ADMISSION: Free. Those who register at lepakmountfaber1. peatix.com can redeem a goodie bag (limited quantities available)

INFO:www.faberpeaksingapore.com

This article was first published on August 5, 2016.
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Provisions made for likely losses from loans to oil and gas sector may not be enough

Ratings agency Moody's said the three local banks may not have made enough provisions against potential losses from their loans to the hard-pressed oil and gas sector.

The warning comes as offshore services company Swiber Holdings defaulted on a coupon payment due on Tuesday, after filing to be placed under judicial management late last week.

DBS Bank last Friday also revealed it would increase provisioning for loan losses to half of its $700 million exposure to Swiber.

Moody's said in a report yesterday that these developments are "credit negative", noting that DBS's 50 per cent provisioning level in this case far exceeds the 20 per cent in losses that the three banks currently see on their oil and gas loans.

"This situation indicates that the current provisioning they make on their oil and gas exposures could prove inadequate, and that the current low credit costs on their oil and gas exposures will rise faster than we had anticipated," it noted.

Singapore's three biggest lenders - DBS Bank, OCBC Bank and United Overseas Bank (UOB) - are the main financing sources for offshore services companies here.

Moody's said DBS' substantial upward revision in its provision for its Swiber exposure shows that the deterioration in the oil and gas industry could have a much stronger impact on bank bottom lines.

Under a severe stress scenario, DBS would be the worst hit among the three banks, said the report.

It noted that close to 60 per cent of DBS' pre-provision income for the second half of this year could be eroded by loan loss provisions while adding a full percentage point to its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio. OCBC and UOB would see losses of 40 to 50 per cent.

Moody's added that it could not rule out "the risk of a broader default of a loss severity akin to Swiber", given that it sees the company as representative of the weak financial state that is prevalent across the oil and gas industry.

Separately, analysts from JPMorgan Chase & Co have also questioned DBS' ability to handle non-performing loans.

"The core tenet of DBS' investment thesis is the bank's ability to tide over ongoing NPL cycle better than peers due to shifts in underwriting practices since 2009," said analysts in a report on Wednesday.

"The abrupt downgrade of $700 million exposure to Swiber challenges that confidence."

The JPMorgan analysts cut their rating on DBS from neutral to overweight and recommended investors sell the bank's stock ahead of its second-quarter earnings release next Monday.

Asked by The Straits Times for comment on the report, OCBC said that its group chief executive Samuel Tsien had said at the bank's results briefing last week that the 30 to 40 per cent of the specific provisioning it has taken over the last three quarters are for loans to the oil and gas support services sector.

OCBC's NPL ratio for oil and gas loans rose from 7.1 per cent at the end of March to 7.5 per cent.

But Mr Tsien added that the group takes a "stringent view in our modelling". "Once it is a substandard asset, we will then assess how much specific provisioning is required by discounting the future comfortable cash flow that the company has, the future value of the collateral, if there's collateral, take a haircut on the collateral, and then decide whether it is still able to cover the loan outstanding. If it does not, that difference is then put into specific provisioning."

The unfolding Swiber saga

Feb 29, 2016:Swiber announces full-year net loss of US$27.4 million (S$37 million) for 2015, its first loss since listing.

July 8: Swiber says completion of its US$710 million offshore field development project in West Africa will be delayed owing to "weakness in the oil and gas sector". It adds that it faces US$4.76 million in outstanding demand letters and is seeking legal advice.

July 11:Swiber says London-based private equity firm AMTC did not subscribe to US$200 million preference shares in its wholly owned unit Swiber Investment.

July 25:Swiber says it faces $15.2 million in outstanding demand letters, up from US$4.76 million announced previously.

12.58pm, July 27:Swiber halts trading of shares. No reason is given. Last traded price is 10.9 cents.

1.04am, July 28: Swiber announces it filed a winding-up application on July 27. More letters of demand have been received; total is now US$25.9 million as of July 26.

1.33am, July 28:It announces that vice-chairman Francis Wong, director and chief financial officer Leonard Tay, and executive director Nitish Gupta have resigned.

8.36am, July 28:Provisional liquidators ask for trading of shares to be suspended.

July 29: It announces suspension of trading of all its outstanding bonds; letters of demand have now swelled to US$50.5 million. Says it has applied to discharge its provisional liquidators and filed to be placed under judicial management instead, after a major financial creditor indicated that they are supportive of judicial management instead of liquidation.

Aug 1: Provisional liquidators announce Swiber is unable to pay its coupon payment due Aug 2.

Aug 3:Put into interim judicial management; winding-up application withdrawn.

tsjwoo@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Aug 5, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - A former tour guide on trial for misappropriating money from a rich widow had a moment of panic in court on Friday (Aug 5) and asked for permission to "give up" testifying.

Yang Yin, a Chinese national, has pleaded guilty to 120 charges but claimed trial a week ago to criminal breach of trust charges.

But before the prosecution could begin its cross-examination on Friday, Yang, who is accused of allegedly misappropriating $1.1 million from Madam Chung Khin Chun, 89, said he was unable to continue being cross-examined.

"I feel very stressed," he told the court through an interpreter, adding he was physically and emotionally unwell.

He had been on the stand since Tuesday (Aug 2).

Deputy Presiding Judge of the State Courts Jennifer Marie then asked if he was able to proceed with the trial.

He replied: "I would like to request Your Honour... I would like to give up giving testimony."

The former tour guide then requested time alone with his lawyer, Mr Irving Choh.

After the 15-minute break, Mr Choh made an application for his client to undergo a medical examination by the prison authorities.

This is to ascertain and ensure that Yang is "physically and mentally able" to continue giving evidence in court, said Mr Choh.

Judge Marie then agreed to adjourn the hearing to Aug 15 for Yang to undergo medical examination at the Changi Medical Complex, which would determine if there is "good cause" for him to refuse to answer any questions, she said.

Yang had been expected to plead guilty but withdrew that decision last week, saying he had more evidence to submit.

He is facing two charges over allegedly misappropriating $500,000 and $600,000 from Madam Chung.

Tussle over widow's $40m assets turns ugly

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, Madam Hedy Mok, Lianhe Wanbao, Madam Chang Phie Chin, Court Documents

The prosecution has sought to poke holes in his statements, and Yang admitted on Thursday (Aug 4) that he had lied in at least one instance when it suited him.

In May, Yang pleaded guilty to 120 other charges, most of which involve falsification of receipts to make it appear that a business he set up was real.

In 2014, Madam Chung's niece, Madam Hedy Mok, began a series of civil actions to strip Yang of any hold over her aunt, claiming he had unduly influenced the old woman.

In 2008, Yang was Madam Chung's private tour guide when she visited Beijing.

A year later, he moved in to live with her in her Gerald Crescent bungalow worth an estimated $30 million, and gained power of attorney over her affairs.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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When Mr Pau Sian Mung arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, it was the first time he had been outside of his native Myanmar.

The 32-year-old is here to arrange to take back the body of his younger sister, Ms Piang Ngaih Don - a maid who was allegedly murdered by her employers last month.

He was yesterday given $4,500 in donations collected by Helping Hands for Migrant Workers, a volunteer group to help migrant workers from Myanmar.

But he has set aside this money for funeral arrangements back home and for the education of his dead sister's three-year-old son.

The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, which assists migrant workers here, is also collecting donations for Ms Piang's family.

It will be costly to take his sister's body back home to Dimpi Village in Tedim Township, in the impoverished Chin state.

The village, with a population of 1,500, is located in a mountainous area only accessible by a four-hour drive on a muddy road from Kalay Township.

According to Ms Kitty Aye Mar Mar from Helping Hands, half of that cost will be paid by an insurance company, with the other half shared between Singapore and Mynamar maid agents, and the Myanmar Embassy.

Mr Pau, who works in a Catholic church in his village, told The Straits Times that he and his family are shocked at the death of his 24- year-old sister.

Describing her as "very quiet", he said she stopped schooling when she was 15, after finishing Grade 9 - Singapore's equivalent of Secondary 3.

She worked in construction but heard from some of her friends that she would earn more money as a maid in Singapore.

She came here last May, leaving her son with her five siblings.

According to Mr Pau, his sister had called the family five times since then.

"My sister wanted to buy a plot of land to build a house for herself and her son in Kalay Township," said Mr Pau.

"She planned to work in Singapore for two to three years to earn enough money."

Their parents, who were farmers, died within a year of each other when Ms Piang was just four years old.

She is the sixth sibling to have died.Her surviving siblings, who are Catholics, farm the plot of land left behind by their parents.

Mr Pau has erected a cross in his village to remember his sister and plans to bury her next to their parents.

He said he appreciates the kindness of those who have donated money to his family.

Ms Piang was allegedly murdered by Gaiyathiri Murugayan, 36, and her mother, Prema Naraynasamy, 58 - both housewives - some time between July 25 and 26.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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A technician who stole $32,700 worth of treadmills, cross-trainers and bicycles from the gym-equipment supplier he worked for was jailed for 10 months yesterday.

Suhaime Jamin, 48, is the third employee of AIBI International to be imprisoned over the thefts.

He had admitted to four of 11 charges of stealing equipment from the company at Yishun Industrial Park A with his nephew in September and October last year.

His nephew, former technician Muhammad Sairilpaezel Mohd Pungot, 28, has been jailed 12 months while driver Iskandar Kamsan, 29, was given two weeks' jail for their roles in the crime.

Investigations showed that Ermin Woon, 32, a former AIBI staff member, asked Sairil in June last year if he had "anything" for him - referring to AIBI machines.

Subsequently, Sairil would look out for new AIBI machines in the warehouse to sell to Woon.

He would take each piece of equipment out from the fourth floor of the warehouse and hide it behind a shutter on the first floor.

Both he and Suhaime would load it into a company lorry, drive to Old Choa Chu Kang Road and sell it to Woon, whose case is pending.

When Suhaimi left the company in October, Sairil got Iskandar to join him in the operation.

Investigations showed that Woon would pay $100 to $340 for each piece of equipment delivered to him.

AIBI's marketing director made a police report on Oct 27 last year, stating that a number of pieces of gym equipment had been stolen from the company.

Police recovered 11 items worth $17,703.

Suhaimi could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined on each charge of theft as a servant.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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The opening of two mega childcare centres in areas with high demand for the service has been delayed.

Initially slated to open by the third quarter of this year, the centres in Jurong West and Sengkang West run by NTUC First Campus' My First Skool (MFS) are now due to open by the first quarter of next year.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times following a Lianhe Zaobao report, an MFS spokesman said construction work on the Jurong and Sengkang sites started last September and October respectively.

But certain "unforeseen site constraints and technical complexities" emerged.

At the Jurong site, the need to re-route an originally planned sanitary line to a much longer route extended the time taken for construction work "considerably", while the Sengkang site faced some challenges due to soil conditions.

MFS said parents who have expressed interest in the centres have been informed of the delay.

The Sengkang centre has a capacity of about 500, while the Jurong centre can take about 300 children.

A Housing Board void deck centre usually admits about 100 children.

An Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children centre run by Awwa, formerly known as the Asian Women's Welfare Association, will be co-located with the Sengkang childcare centre.

The delay has upset parents like Ms Mariana Idris, 32.

The housewife had been looking forward to placing her two daughters in the same centre.

"I was initially interested because of the intervention centre.

"It's very hard to find childcare in my area because there are many young couples with young children," said Ms Mariana.

Her elder daughter, five, is autistic and goes to Awwa's Lorong Napiri centre, while her three-year- old attends a playgroup.

There are five mega childcare centres run by anchor operators.

Plans for these were announced by the Government last year in order to meet demand, and it was expected that the centres would add about 2,000 spots to the pool of childcare places.

These operators, which include EtonHouse International and PAP Community Foundation, get government grants and priority in securing sites in HDB estates.

But they cannot charge more than $720 a month for full-day childcare, among other conditions.

Two of these centres in Punggol and Yishun have already started operations, with another centre in Woodlands to open by the year end.

An Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) spokesman said childcare capacity has grown by more than 30,000 over the past three years.

This exceeds the earlier target of 20,000 more places between 2013 and 2017 that had been set by the Government, he added.

"ECDA understands the inconvenience faced by parents arising from the delay, and will continue to work closely with our anchor operators to expedite the completion and opening of the centres," he said.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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Singaporeans need to move away from knee-jerk punishments and public shaming of individuals who make racist or xenophobic comments online, several academics said yesterday.

While such people should be called out, demonising them, reporting to the police as the first response and asking for quick solutions are not fruitful, they added.

The reason is that apologies made under such pressure are very likely to be insincere.

A better approach is to confront the individual in a civil way, National University of Singapore (NUS) adjunct senior fellow Lai Ah Eng said at a conference on managing social and cultural diversity in Singapore.

"I met a retired teacher, who every morning when she goes on the Internet... reasonably and civilly answers comments that she disagrees with," Dr Lai said.

"People should take it up as a new habit... instead of angrily saying your piece and then shutting down the computer."

But even as individuals like Dr Lai's teacher friend step up to the plate, the Government cannot take a step back, said Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary, a panellist.

The way the Government proactively manages diversity has led to Singapore's success, and should not be thrown out, he argued.

"Looking for opportunities for sacrifice and compromise, rather than a process of demanding gains - that's a principled approach that's served us well," he added.

At the conference, attended by 200 scholars and civil servants and organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), 15 panellists discussed diversities in relation to race, religion, language and values.

Dr Lai recounted six incidents of public outrage against racism or xenophobia from 2011 to 2012.

For instance, Chinese national scholarship holder Sun Xu had his scholarship revoked after netizens were outraged at his comparing some Singaporeans' behaviour to that of dogs, on his Weibo account in 2012.

A former NTUC assistant director, Ms Amy Cheong, lost her job after drawing flak over her expletive-laden Facebook rant against Malay traditional weddings.

Episodes like these underscore the importance of knowing how to manage differences in a mature manner, said the academics.

This is because as Singapore's population evolves, new fault lines may open up between new citizens and long-time Singaporeans, the rich and the poor, and conservatives and liberals, they added.

NUS sociologist Paulin Straughan criticised some people's tendency to take photos or videos of unacceptable behaviour and post them online for other netizens to condemn - while "hiding behind anonymity".

She said: "That's not being a community, that's just being a rat... We need to take ourselves beyond that. How do we be busybodies in a constructive manner?"

Learning to do this is crucial for Singapore as it is a small country and cannot afford to fragment owing to differences, she added.

Singapore also needs to watch out for how inequalities can become entrenched via the education system.

Upper- and middle-class parents, anxious to give their children a strong head start in life, pay for tuition and enrichment classes.

Children of poorer parents who cannot afford such privileges may fall behind, said NUS sociologist Tan Ern Ser.

But he argued that it is better to "take care of the weak, rather than undermine the strong".

Being for or against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights is another schism that has made the headlines in recent years.

The world views of people in the two camps may be fundamentally opposed, said independent political scientist Johannis Abdul Aziz, who conducted focus-group sessions on the topic earlier this year.

But both sides reject violence and hate speech, he added.

This ability to "disagree agreeably" will become important as more Singaporeans get involved in political debates and even party politics, said IPS deputy director of research Gillian Koh.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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An electric bus will be tested out for the first time in Singapore on a public route, in a pilot which could see more of such green vehicles being used for mass transport.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) revealed to The Straits Times yesterday that it is working with Shenzhen-based automaker BYD and bus operator Go-Ahead Singapore on a six-month trial to assess the suitability of e-buses for public transport.

The single bus to be used in the trial is a single-deck K9 model from BYD (Build Your Dreams) which can carry a total of 80 passengers.

Commuters can hop on this bus on one of the services that will be operated by Go-Ahead Singapore, the LTA said.

While the British-based firm is set to kick off operations next month, the launch date and route which the e-bus will ply are still being worked out.

An LTA spokesman also said: "The electric bus will operate trips on top of those scheduled, and hence there will not be any adverse impact on service levels."

Go-Ahead Singapore, which won a government bus tender last November, will run 25 bus routes in the Pasir Ris and Punggol areas.

The LTA said that BYD will implement the necessary charging infrastructure at Go-Ahead's depot in Loyang to support the e-bus operation.

According to sources, the K9 to be used will require between five and 10 hours to be charged fully, allowing it to run for 250km.

The K9 bus is supplied by BYD Singapore and its local distributor S Dreams, which are working to promote electric vehicles (EV) here.

The e-bus trial is part of the EV test bed led by LTA and the Economic Development Board to trial fleet-based EV operations, a follow-up to the earlier phase which ended three years ago and involved individual corporate users.

Also being tested is an e-taxi pilot that will launch next month, and a nationwide electric car-sharing programme that will be rolled out next year, and will grow to 1,000 cars by 2020.

Cities such as Paris and Chicago have been progressively incorporating e-buses into their fleets.

Transport for London, the city's transport authority, has committed to ensuring all 300 single-deck buses in central London are zero emission by 2020.

Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, executive director of Nanyang Technological University's Energy Research Institute, said: "Electric buses are the way to go to reduce CO2 emissions.

"Residents living near bus stops will also appreciate e-buses as they do not have emissions and are quiet."

But he said that Singapore's warm climate could present a challenge.

"Besides being used for driving, the battery charge of the electric bus will also have to support the air-conditioning, and this could limit the range," he added.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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Have a problem with your phone bill, but don't want to butt heads with your telco or take the matter to court?

Another option may soon be coming your way.

The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) has proposed a new Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme to help customers of telcos resolve their problems with billing, contracts, service quality and compensation.

The proposal is part of several revisions MCI wants to make to existing laws that govern telcos and media service providers.

The regulatory changes are outlined in a consultation paper released yesterday.

Every year, for the past three years, mobile phone, broadband and pay-TV subscribers have been filing more than 340 billing and contract-related complaints, said MCI.

Consumers can turn to the courts and Small Claims Tribunal, but the costs may be high.

The Infocomm Development Authority and the Media Development Authority also hear such cases.

"But they do not mandate the form of remedies or corrective actions that service providers must offer to consumers," according to the consultation paper.

The ADR scheme - modelled after those in Australia, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom - aims to change this.

The new law would allow consumers to pay significantly less to force telcos to come to the table for settlement.

Exact mechanics and fees have yet to be worked out.

An independent organisation will be appointed to hear cases and help both parties settle their disputes.

Adjudication may be considered at a later stage.

The Consumers Association of Singapore said it will consider taking on the role of hearing cases.

"Telcos will have to participate in ADR when direct negotiations fail," said its executive director, Mr Seah Seng Choon, adding that on many occasions, telcos have turned down consumers' request to participate in mediation.

All three telcos - Singtel, StarHub and M1 - said they are still reviewing details of the proposals.

The consultation ends at noon on Aug 24.

Other proposed changes include mandating rent-free rooftop space for installing telecom equipment and prohibiting building owners from tying up exclusively with any player for fixed-line telephony or broadband services and denying tenants their choice of telcos.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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Lawyers booked for inappropriate conduct in court may have to agree to training or counselling by a senior lawyer as part of a new protocol worked out by an ad-hoc study committee.

The arrangement to be put in place provides for the Law Society to be notified by the court about the inappropriate conduct which, in turn, will be fed back to the lawyer.

As this is voluntary, it is up to the lawyer to agree to counselling or training if required and be reminded of his or her duty to the court.

Law Society president Thio Shen Yi, providing details of the new protocol in the latest issue of the society's Law Gazette, said the arrangement agreed between the courts and the society's governing council was meant to rectify such infractions informally.

"Moving forward, a complaint triggering the disciplinary process does not necessarily have to be both the first and last resort, but will be managed with a 'lighter touch'."

Senior Counsel Thio had noted last year that judges in both the High Court and State Courts had observed an increasing incidence of inappropriate conduct.

Among other things, lack of punctuality had drawn comments from the State Courts, High Court and even the Singapore International Commercial Court.

The study committee under the Singapore Academy of Law's Professional Affairs Committee chaired by Justice Quentin Loh had concluded that the current range of formal disciplinary measures was too limited to tackle the wide variations of inappropriate conduct.

"The courts had a binary decision - complain and constitute an inquiry committee or disciplinary tribunal or simply do nothing.

"This created a situation which almost counter-productively encouraged more complaints than fewer," he said.

"A middle ground was needed, one that could potentially lead to a de-escalation of the complaints."

Mr Thio said if the errant lawyer accepts the feedback and the court is satisfied the lawyer has taken steps to address the issue, the matter will likely be treated as closed.

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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A daycare centre for dogs re-opened its doors to canine boarders on Thursday after a month-long closure to stem what was believed to be an outbreak of a serious bacterial infection.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is allowing Sunny Heights to accept new dogs, as it is taking steps to ensure these dogs do not come in contact with those already at the centre.

It will continue to monitor the situation.

Investigators are still working to determine how canine visitors to Sunny Heights might have developed suspected leptospirosis.

The disease is usually spread by rodents, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) says no rat activity has been detected at Sunny Heights.

Environmental samples taken by the AVA have tested negative for pathogenic species of leptospires.

In addition, six rat traps deployed since the surge of suspected leptospirosis cases early last month have remained empty, said Sunny Heights owner Derrick Tan.

The AVA told The Straits Times it is still investigating the possible sources of infection.

"While there is currently no evidence linking leptospirosis cases associated with Sunny Heights to rodents, in general, infected rodents are known to be the primary source of leptospirosis, through their urine," it said.

The AVA was notified of 27 cases of suspected canine leptospirosis between Jan 1 and last Monday, 15 of which were associated with Sunny Heights.

As of Thursday, three of the 15 have tested positive for leptospirosis, and test results from a second round of sampling are pending.

Of the 15 dogs which have died or been euthanised after developing symptoms similar to leptospirosis this year, six had visited the centre.

AVA had earlier cautioned that bacteria can remain in the soil or stagnant water for months, making it difficult to completely eliminate the risk of transmission from the environment.

It also urged dog owners to keep their dogs up to date with their vaccinations, which can reduce the chance of the dog being infected and prevent the excretion of bacteria in the dog's urine.

The centre has also taken other precautions on top of existing measures, like disinfecting the premises twice daily, said Mr Tan, who estimated the month-long closure has cost the centre at least $80,000.

Other than segregating the dogs, staff must step into a bucket of disinfectant before entering dog holding areas.

The swimming pool has also been drained and disinfected.

Mr Tan, who is also president of animal welfare group Voices for Animals, keeps 10 rescued dogs at Sunny Heights as part of the group's scheme to let potential adopters interact with them.

Prior to the closure, both the rescued dogs and those at daycare were kept in the same area to allow the animals to socialise.

Responding to allegations from netizens that the disease had come from the rescued animals, Mr Tan said on Thursday that initial tests showed none of them had leptospirosis.

"They were vaccinated and quarantined before they were introduced to the other dogs," he said.

But as an extra precaution, daycare and rescued dogs are now kept in separate buildings while the authorities conduct further tests.

Before the outbreak, Sunny Heights welcomed an average of 50 dogs every day. That number has dropped to 10 since its re-opening.

Mr Tan urged all dog owners to get their pets vaccinated, as disease-causing bacteria can be found in public places such as parks.

Shipping officer Annie Lam, 47, agreed. Said Mrs Lam, who has taken her dog back to Sunny Heights: "I am very happy with their facilities and don't feel insecure about sending Jacob in.

"Pet owners should also do their part and ensure their pets are fully vaccinated."

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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A law to protect the identities of vulnerable adults involved in abuse or neglect cases is being proposed by the Government.

These adults, once made known to the director of social welfare, will be protected from public scrutiny.

Nobody - including individuals, websites and the media - can publish information, photos or videos that can identify them.

Those who do so face a fine of up to $5,000, and the penalty doubles on second conviction.

The proposed law will also prevent anyone from publishing the location of the vulnerable person's temporary place of safety.

Social workers, academics and politicians The Straits Times spoke to applauded the proposed law under the draft Vulnerable Adults Bill, which is now going through public consultation until Aug 23.

While abuse cases involving vulnerable people have remained under 200 a year, the authorities want to put more safeguards in place as this population is expected to grow.

Keeping their identities from the public eye preserves the dignity of those suffering abuse, experts said.

Just because a person needs help and intervention does not mean he would want his embarrassment "aired for the world to see", said National University of Singapore sociologist Paulin Straughan.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said the intention is to protect these adults from "undue attention, and to minimise the trauma from exposure by the media or members of the public".

"It also minimises the possibility of revealing the whereabouts of the vulnerable adult to an alleged perpetrator who may cause further harm," said an MSF spokesman.

Keeping identities private also helps to prevent public lynching of possibly innocent family members, added MP (Marine Parade GRC) Seah Kian Peng, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Social and Family Development.

When a video surfaced in July last year of a frail-looking woman being slapped by a younger woman outside their HDB flat, it quickly went viral and received hundreds of comments, many of which pilloried the younger woman.

It prompted Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin to say that it is not appropriate for the public "to chip in and criticise one particular party, or canvass for particular actions, or call for people to visit them".

Associate Professor Straughan said: "When you post a video online, you are not able to contextualise it for your audience and that's not fair to the people in the video."

However, it does not mean that whistle-blowers can no longer alert the authorities to suspected cases of abuse through social media.

"This provision applies only after a case has been brought to the attention of the director of social welfare," said MSF.

"The reporting of a suspected case of abuse, neglect or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult to the ministry - either directly or through social media - would thus not be flouting the law."

Still, experts feel that whistle-blowers should report through official channels instead of posting online and calling on a public jury.

To encourage people to do so, there should be just one channel of reporting, said Prof Straughan, so that people are assured that cases will not fall through the cracks with multiple agencies involved.

Ms Petrine Lim, principal social worker at Fei Yue Family Service Centre, said people need to know who to report to so they will not be discouraged from whistle-blowing.

MP for Jalan Besar GRC Denise Phua said public discourse should not come at the expense of one's dignity.

"The vulnerable people affected may not want their lives and identities exposed this way."

This article was first published on August 6, 2016.
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Change is afoot at the Central Provident Fund (CPF) scheme with the two new options announced on Wednesday.

While the new options may take two years or more before they are available, other CPF enhancements - announced early last year by the CPF Advisory Panel - have already kicked in.

They include different payout options to give us more choice as well as the flexibility of deferring payouts up to age 70 so as to receive more cash later.

The Sunday Times highlights the two new options and provides a guide for you to plan ahead for your CPF Life payouts.

Planning for one's silver years

CPF Life plan with escalating payout option The two CPF Life plans - Standard and Basic - pay fixed monthly amounts for life.

The new escalating option is provided to address the concerns of some members about the rising cost of living.

HOW IT WORKS

The recommendation is for payouts to increase at a rate of 2 per cent per year to cope with inflation. However, those opting for this plan will start with payouts that are about 20 per cent lower compared with the current level plans.

Let's assume that CPF member Henry Tan (not his real name) has set aside the Full Retirement Sum of $161,000 at age 55 in his Retirement Account. When he reaches his payout eligibility age of 65, his Retirement Account would have grown to $243,900 because of the interest received from CPF.

Under the CPF Life Standard plan, he can expect monthly payouts of $1,320 when he turns 65 for as long as he lives. If he opts for the escalating option, he gets just $1,020 at the start but the payouts will increase at 2 per cent annually.

It may take Mr Tan about 25 years for his cumulative payouts from the escalating option to catch up with the payouts from the alternative fixed-amounts option, after which the escalating option would outperform.

At age 78, Mr Tan's monthly payout will be $1,330, exceeding that of the Standard Plan. And when he is 87, his monthly payout would have increased to about $1,580.

Those who want higher initial payouts under the new escalating option can either top up their CPF Life premiums or delay the payout start age up to age 70. The escalating option is not available for the Basic Plan.

WHAT DO EXPERTS SAY?

Finance experts say members should decide based on which payout structure best suits their retirement needs.

For those who may be concerned about increases in the cost of living as they grow older, the escalating option could be attractive, notes Mr Colin Pakshong, CPF Advisory Panel member and actuarial consultant.

One in three CPF members aged 65 are expected to live beyond the age of 90, and more will do so as life expectancies keep rising.

Mr Pakshong says: "If you have other sources of income in the initial years, perhaps through part-time work, savings or family support, deferring your payouts to enjoy the benefit of inflation protection may be a good idea."

He adds that members can think of the deferral or top-up as what they need in order to "buy" inflation protection.

"For others who may not be able to top up their accounts or defer their payouts, they must decide if the lower initial payments will mean their retirement income is too low for their needs. If so, the escalating annuity may not be a viable option for them."

Members should also keep in mind that whatever option they choose, their beneficiaries will always get back the remainder of principal amount of money that was put in. "Anything that has not been paid out as retirement income will be paid out to beneficiaries on the passing of a member," says Mr Pakshong.

Lifetime Retirement Investment Scheme (LRIS) CPF members who want to invest their retirement savings can do so via the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS).

The LRIS is an alternative, simplified investment option which will offer a small number of low-fee, well-diversified and passively managed funds. It is targeted at members who do not have the financial expertise and/or time to select and monitor their investments.

HOW IT WORKS

The CPF Advisory Panel has recommended that the funds be professionally managed, with its net return to investors enhanced by low or zero sales charges and low fees, taking advantage of economies of scale from pooling members' investments, says Mr Pakshong.

WHAT DO EXPERTS SAY?

Mr Brandon Lam, head of retail financial planning, consumer banking group at DBS Bank Singapore, says the LRIS is ideal for those who have a long-term investment horizon and who do not want their investment returns to be eroded by fees and charges over time.

However, it is important to note that investment returns are subject to the performance of the underlying fund.

CPF Advisory Panel member and Providend chief executive Christopher Tan notes that there is no need to invest your CPF savings if you are content with the current annual returns of your CPF accounts.

Another scenario is where you may already have investments funded by cash, and treat your CPF, especially your Special Account savings, like the bond allocation of your overall portfolio.

Members who want or need higher returns for their CPF savings and are prepared to take a higher risk have two options - CPFIS, for savvier investors, and the LRIS.

Mr Pakshong warns that members should remember that the LRIS approach still involves a risk-reward balance.

"There is a risk that actual returns could be lower than those provided on the Ordinary and Special Accounts. Members need to be prepared to accept the risk of this happening if they invest in the LRIS. Otherwise, they can choose to leave their monies in their CPF accounts to earn the current interest rates."

Guide to CPF options for retirement

IF YOU HAVE JUST STARTED WORK

It is prudent to plan early for retirement. Ms Chung Shaw Bee, UOB's head of wealth management, regional and Singapore, says: "Doing so will reap benefits from the compounding effect of time. Having a long-term horizon can help to smooth out the impact of volatility on investment holdings," she says.

HOW TO GROW YOUR CPF SAVINGS

•Transfer your savings from the Ordinary Account to the Special Account to enjoy higher interest. Money can be moved from an Ordinary Account to the Special Account so long as the total amount in the Special Account does not exceed the prevailing Standard Retirement Sum of $161,000. This will enable you to grow your nest egg very quickly, simply by relying on the power of compounding. However, bear in mind that the money will be locked up in the Special Account as it is meant for your retirement. So do so only if you foresee that you will not need the funds in the short term. The Ordinary Account offers a guaranteed annual interest rate of 2.5 per cent while savings in the Special Account attracts 4 per cent. The first $20,000 of Ordinary Account balances, and $40,000 of Special Account balances, earn 1 percentage point more. As of January this year, members aged 55 and older are earning up to 6 per cent for the first $30,000 in their Retirement Account.

•Invest in the LRIS. When it is made available in the coming years, the LRIS will be a simple and low-fee option for members who want to invest to potentially earn relatively higher returns but, do not have the expertise or the time to do so.

•Consider the CPFIS. This will be suitable for savvier members who wish to actively manage their investments.

IF YOU ARE TURNING 55...

•Set aside Retirement Sum. At age 55, you will have to decide on the CPF Life payouts you need at your eligibility age and set aside the appropriate Retirement Sum in your Retirement Account.

•Top up your spouse's CPF account. After setting aside your Basic Retirement Sum, which is $80,500, you can consider transferring your CPF to your spouse's CPF so that he/she can also enjoy monthly payouts for life.

•Top up your own CPF account. You may want to top up to the Enhanced Retirement Sum, which is $241,500 presently.

IF YOU ARE TURNING 65...

•Choose your CPF Life plan from age 65. You may choose from the Standard (higher monthly payouts, lower bequest) or Basic plans (lower monthly payouts, higher bequest), or the new CPF Life plan with escalating payouts, once it is available.

•Choose to start payouts later. You can opt to defer payouts up to age 70. For each year that you defer, your starting payout increases by up to 7 per cent.

•Opt to withdraw 20 per cent of your savings. The 20 per cent includes the $5,000 sum that you could withdraw at age 55. This helps you to meet any urgent needs after age 65. But it means that your monthly payout quantum will be permanently reduced.

This article was first published on August 7, 2016.
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That the advisory panel set up to look into possible improvements to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) has finally completed its study after missing its initial deadline of mid-2015 underscores the challenges of reviewing a scheme that is the pillar of Singapore's retirement support structure.

The slew of enhancements and an alternative investment scheme means that members will have more choices and control over their retirement planning.

The 13-member advisory panel was led by National University of Singapore president Tan Chorh Chuan and it was first mentioned at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally in August 2014. No doubt, we are likely to hear about it again this coming National Day Rally.

Three key guiding considerations underlined the panel's work. They are "adequacy" so as to provide a basic level of lifelong support in retirement; "flexibility" in order to cater to varying retirement needs and circumstances; and "simplicity" to enable members to understand how the CPF system works.

The first enhancements were announced in February last year. Though they were not groundbreaking, the incremental improvements meant clearer choices over the retirement sums to be set aside and payouts from the national annuity scheme CPF Life.

Implemented this January, these include a choice of different levels of CPF Life monthly payouts based on different levels of savings. I particularly like the Enhanced Retirement Sum, which means members can set aside a bigger sum at age 55 so as to enjoy higher retirement payouts.

One of the biggest changes was allowing members to withdraw up to 20 per cent of their Retirement Account savings at the payout eligibility age, to address the demand for more flexibility. They could also defer their payout start age up to 70 to enjoy higher monthly payouts of 6 per cent to 7 per cent for each year deferred.

It would give them more choice and help boost their nest egg, but it also means that people do not get their payouts till later. However, this would meet the needs of some members who could afford to delay their payouts because they receive pocket money from their children or have sufficient income, according to the CPF Board.

Last Wednesday, the panel announced its second and last set of recommendations after much deliberation and feedback from focus-group discussions. I was a participant at one of the discussions.

CPF LIFE PLAN WITH ESCALATING PAYOUT OPTION

To assuage concerns about the rising cost of living, the panel has recommended an optional CPF Life plan with payouts that increase at a set 2 per cent a year. However, this option may not be what some members were looking for as it comes with lower starting payouts.

Furthermore, it would take about 25 years - for members with the Basic Retirement Sum - for the cumulative payouts from the escalating option to catch up with that of the fixed-amount option, after which the escalating option would outperform.

To this, CPF Board says that based on actuarial calculations, one in three CPF members aged 65 now are expected to live beyond the age of 90, and more will do so as life expectancies continue to rise.

The CPF does provide the option of allowing members to choose to top up their CPF Life premiums further and/or delay their payout start age up to age 70 to avoid lower starting payouts.

Not surprisingly, the panel believes the new escalating-payout plan is unlikely to attract the bulk of retirees who would be more comfortable with the level-payout plans.

LIFETIME RETIREMENT INVESTMENT SCHEME

(LRIS) CPF members, particularly those with a 20- to 30-year investment time horizon, will be interested in a new LRIS to help grow their savings.

Potentially a game changer, it will provide a few simple investment choices - likely to be low-fee, passively managed life cycle funds with varying risk characteristics. Consultant Mercer found that with a fund size of just $500 million, the scheme's expense ratio could be a low 0.5 per cent.

Currently, CPF members who wish to invest their retirement savings can do so only via the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS). For the year ended Sept 30, 2015, a significant 84 per cent of CPF members who invested in CPFIS either made losses or generated returns of up to 2.5 per cent. The lacklustre experience has been attributed to various reasons like high cost, restrictive funds, as well as poor financial knowledge, poor understanding of risk-reward balance and the lack of time to manage their investments.

In fact, some financial experts have, in the past, advised members against using their CPF funds, particularly Special Account funds - which attract up to 4 per cent returns - to invest due to the high risks involved.

The new LRIS is catered to members who want to invest but lack the financial expertise, time and resources to do so. It is akin to eating a set menu at a buffet while savvier members can continue to invest via the CPFIS which has more than 200 CPFIS-included funds and is also due for a review to enhance it.

However, members will have to wait, for perhaps a few years, before the LRIS is launched. An Expert Investment Council will be set up to look into the LRIS details and implementation. The LRIS, with its focus on low fees, is a timely move in the light of recent reports indicating significantly lower and volatile investment returns in the coming years.

For instance, GIC recently said in its annual report that it anticipates significantly lower and more volatile returns in the next 10 to 20 years, compared to its experience in the last two to three decades. This is due to a difficult investment environment with modest growth prospects, greater uncertainty and a high degree of volatility.

Hence, controlling investment cost will be an important factor in enhancing returns.

Still, members who do not wish to take risks with LRIS can leave their monies in their CPF accounts.

CONCLUSION

The panel's recommended suite of CPF options has taken into account the need to cater to members with different financial circumstances and investment know-how. Overall, the proposed enhancements are a move in the right direction and will be a boon to CPF members, offering more choices via a suite of flexible tools for them to shape their retirement solutions.

Still, there is much work to do as the implementation dates for the escalating payout option and the LRIS are a few years away.

Now that the panel's work is done, it is up to members to make the effort to understand what is in store for them. After all, the CPF is a fundamental component in our retirement planning. As in most things in life, having more options is good when you know what to do with them.

So it pays to understand what are your retirement objectives, do your homework and make informed choices.

This article was first published on August 7, 2016.
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The Chinese government has asked Singapore to "respect"China's position on the outcome of a recent ruling by an international tribunal and a consensus Beijing said it has reached with ASEAN.

In a statement on Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hua Chunying said China had made its position on the issue "very clear". "The related ruling is illegal, invalid and has no binding force," she said.

"China hopes that Singapore... can maintain an objective and fair position as the coordinator of China and ASEAN dialogue relations, so as to advance Sino-Singapore relations and promote healthy and stable China-ASEAN ties."

Ms Hua was responding to media queries on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's remarks in Washington on Tuesday that the ruling of the tribunal made a "strong statement" about what the international law is in maritime disputes.

One question also quoted Mr Lee as saying as a small country, Singapore hopes all countries can respect the international law and accept the outcome of the tribunal ruling, which was slightly different from what was actually said. The Chinese media had reported his remarks.

At a reception hosted by the United States Chamber of Commerce and US-ASEAN Business Council, Mr Lee had said: "Ideally, international tribunal rulings set the order for the world because, ideally, when you have disputes between countries, it is much better to have an arbitration and adjudication based on acknowledged principles than to fight it out and see whose guns are more powerful. Speaking from the point of view of a small country, this is all the more (a) fundamental, important principle."

The tribunal had rejected China's historic claims over the South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines.

Reactions to South China Sea ruling

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, AFP, Weibo

The 10-member ASEAN put out a joint communique that referred to maritime disputes after a meeting of its foreign ministers in Vientiane, Laos, last month.

The communique did not mention the ruling. But it statedthe ministers reaffirmed their commitment "to the peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes... in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos)". The tribunal was held under the auspices of Unclos.

Ms Hua on Friday said ASEAN had also clearly stated its position saying that it, as a collective entity, did not hold a position on the tribunal ruling in the recently concluded ASEAN foreign minister's meeting. The ministers' joint communique, however, did not state explicitly that ASEAN did not hold a position.

China had similarly protested when countries such as Japan and Australia spoke on the issue in the aftermath of the tribunal ruling. It told Japan to stop interfering in the South China Sea issue after Tokyo said the award of the tribunal was final and legally binding, and all parties should comply.

China's air force yesterday sent bombers and fighter jets on "combat patrols" near contested islands in the South China Sea, in a move a senior colonel said was part of an effort to normalise such drills and respond to security threats, reported Reuters.

This article was first published on Aug 7, 2016.
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Growing awareness of the problem has led to more cases being reported in Singapore

A middle-aged man had to be taken away from his home last year as volunteers cleared piles of trash from his Housing Board (HDB) flat after an intervention from the town council - the sight of his "belongings" being discarded was too much for him to bear.

Elsewhere, a retired engineer hoarded numerous electrical items even though they were spoilt or backdated. He insisted he would refurbish them and make them into useful items once more.

In yet another case, an elderly widow collected stacks of newspapers, filling her home with them. It mattered little that she would never read them - the newspapers were a reminder of her late husband and keeping the papers was how she continued to remember him.

These are just three cases of hoarding that Singapore agencies such as Habitat for Humanity Singapore and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) have dealt with in recent years.

The problem made the headlines recently after a woman and her daughter were reported to have spent the past two years sleeping and washing their dishes outside their four-room Ang Mo Kio flat, as a result of the clutter they had accumulated inside.

The Nee Soon town council and HDB were alerted to the situation after complaints from neighbours.

There has been increased recognition of the condition and engagement, says Dr Kelvin Ng, a consultant from the department of community psychiatry at IMH.

Hard life for members of hoarding family

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News

It is one of the conditions receiving attention over the last few years as part of the National Mental Health Blueprint and Community Mental Health initiatives.

Hoarding has long been considered a subtype or a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but Dr Ng says it can also occur in groups of people who have no mental or developmental disorders.

Even though hoarding tendencies can be seen in a spectrum of illnesses, including schizophrenia and dementia, the more severe problems involve an irrational reluctance to let go - often because the hoarders are scared to throw out something they might need later for practical or nostalgic purposes.

"Persons who hoard have usually experienced loss or stress in the past, which causes them to have a 'vacuum' in their hearts, which they try to fill with the hoard," says Dr Ng.

Toa Payoh hoarder's neighbours complain his junk reeks

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper

"They also may not be able to articulate why they feel the way they do, as the reason that triggered them to hoard may have been forgotten. So the hallmark of a hoarder would be the difficulty or distress they exhibit when they have to clear the hoard."

A study conducted in 2010 by the Research Division at IMH found that one in 50 people in Singapore will display hoarding behaviours.

However, experts say the problem is under-reported here. Cases rarely come to light unless the situation is so severe that the spillover either affects family members or neighbours or the home becomes a serious fire and health hazard.

Of the 800 cases the IMH's Mobile Crisis Team has been activated to handle in the past three years, only 15 are related to hoarding issues.

Similarly, at the HDB, the number of complaints about hoarding is low. According to an HDB spokesman, it received 35 and 30 cases in 2014 and last year, respectively, of feedback on hoarding in HDB flats. From January to June this year, it received 16 cases of such feedback.

'Cat lady' with 20 cats gets help in cleaning cockroach-infested flat

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Facebook screengrabs/ Cat Welfare Society

But the low numbers may not be a true reflection of the hoarding situation in Singapore because hoarding can also occur within private properties, which are not under the purview of the HDB.

A lot of hoarding also takes place in a home, which means neighbours may be unaware of the issue until belongings spill out into a common corridor or they have to deal with resultant pest infestations.

Moreover, it takes hoarders time to accumulate an amount big enough to be a problem. Until then, their hoarding tendencies may remain unknown to others. This is often also why many severe cases of hoarding involve the elderly - their tendency to hoard may worsen as the years pass.

Still, thanks to the efforts of various agencies in Singapore, including referrals from medical social workers and senior activity centres, it seems more cases are coming to light.

Inside Eunos's cockroach flat

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The Straits Times, Facebook video screengrabs

At Habitat for Humanity Singapore, which runs the decade-old Project HomeWorks to improve the living conditions of the elderly, the sick and the disabled in one- and two-room rental flats across the island, at least two or three cases of hoarding are dealt with every month.

Clinical psychologists in private practice such as Ms Agnes Teo of Think Psychological Services have also noticed a rise in the number of clients referred to them for hoarding over the past three years.

Treating underlying mental illnesses such as schizophrenia with medication can sometimes reduce hoarding behaviours.

Psychotherapy - specifically cognitive behavioural therapy - is also increasingly recognised to be an effective way to treat hoarding behaviours. It involves talking to a trained therapist to examine the root of problems and dealing with troublesome habits such as hoarding.

According to Mr Yong Teck Meng, national director of Habitat for Humanity, the hoarding problem is an uphill battle that requires long- term concerted efforts on the part of agencies to rehabilitate hoarders.

Volunteers at his organisation are trained to clean out the homes of hoarders. Often, these jobs are completed only after three or four visits.

"In most cases, the hoarders get very agitated when they see their stuff being taken away, even if these are oranges from Chinese New Year two years ago," he says.

"Helping to clear their home therefore is a long-term process, which requires not only distracting them when the home is being cleaned, but also keeping in contact with them to ensure they do not bring back all the clutter to their home."

avarma@sph.com.sg

Persons who hoard have usually experienced loss or stress in the past, which causes them to have a 'vacuum' in their hearts, which they try to fill with the hoard. - DR KELVIN NG, a consultant from the department of community psychiatry at the Institute on Mental Health

SYMPTOMS IN EARLY STAGES OF HOARDING

- Has difficulty with organising or planning

- Indecisive about where to keep or place items

- Unable to throw away items or avoids doing it

- Has recurrent thoughts about needing a specific item in the future or fearing it will run out

- Exhibits extreme emotions about possessions, such as embarrassment, fear or suspicion if they are touched

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT TRIGGER HOARDING TENDENCIES

- Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Hoarders might find it difficult to throw away or part with their possessions, regardless of their actual value.

- Schizophrenia: A person suffers from hallucinations and may hear voices asking him to collect and hoard items.

- Problems with symmetry: A person may end up being obsessed with a certain shape or may need to have multiple copies of the same item.

- Depression, anxiety and/or a stressful or traumatic event

If you know someone who may have a hoarding problem, you can approach the town council for assistance. Or call the Mental Health Helpline on 6389-2222 for advice if you think the person may have mental health issues.

This article was first published on Aug 7, 2016.
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