At luxury watch retailer Leong Poh Kee, where watches cost upwards of $15,000, sales have plunged by at least half since the beginning of the year.

Its regular customers, who contribute to most of the sales, are from the mineral and oil sector and have taken a hit from the economic slowdown, said its managing director William Leong.

"This is the worst I've seen in my more than 40 years of being in the business," said the 59-year-old.

"Customers don't visit as frequently as before, and even when they come by, it's harder to convince them to buy."

It is not just the luxury segment that is feeling the pinch.

Retail experts have pointed to the slowing economy here and overseas as the key factor for the slump in sales during the recent Great Singapore Sale, which ran from June 3 to Aug 14.

The latest official statistics show that retail sales, excluding motor vehicles, in June and Julyfell 3 per cent over the same months last year.

While it is not all doom and gloom yet, consumers are being more prudent with their spending, it appears.

At supermarket chain FairPrice, sales of its house-brand items, which are at least 10 per cent cheaper than popular brands, and its "everyday low-priced" products - a basket of items most popular among shoppers and which are competitively priced - have risen by about 10 per cent since the beginning of the year.

Madam Tong Xiao Jing, 54, who quit her job as a quality control manager last year and has been unable to find a job since, said she tries to buy cheaper household products now.

She shops at Swanston, a retailer at People's Park Food Centre known for selling products at lower prices than its competitors.

Staff at the store told The Straits Times that business has been "very good".

"The items can be $1 or even $2 cheaper than elsewhere," said Madam Tong, as she loaded shampoo bottles into her shopping basket.

But while consumers scrimp on their daily necessities, one sector remains fairly resilient: beauty services.

Facial, hair and nail salons, as well as aesthetic clinics, said sales are still growing, albeit at a slower rate.

"Sales have been fairly okay. We are still seeing growth although not as fast as compared with five years ago," said Ms Gladys Cheng, director of face spa chain Jet Concepts.

She added: "People will generally still buy when it comes to beauty. They may go for a cheaper option, but beauty is still a need for most."

Said Dr S.K. Tan, medical director of aesthetics practice IDS Clinic: "Patients do remark that the economy is bad... but consumer spending appears to be the same."

Read also: - On the menu: Cheaper sets as restaurants battle gloom

                         - Shopping patterns shift amid slowdown

                         - Tuition still on demand, but other types of classes hit

This article was first published on Oct 12, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The Meizu M3 Max is an elegant phablet with a massive battery life and a very competent camera. At just $325, it is also excellent value for money.

The Chinese company's M series is known for offering powerful features at a low price. Although the M3 Max falls squarely into the budget category, Meizu has done a lot with the design of the phone.

Overall, it has an iPhone-esque aspect, with flat, unobtrusive design elements. The front of the phone is devoid of branding, and the bezel flanking the 1,080p screen is svelte.

The only accent is an oblong-shaped home button-cum- fingerprint sensor, which is ringed in rose gold.

Flanking the top and bottom of the phone's back cover are two antennae lines, similar to the iPhone 6, which give radio waves a conduit through the otherwise-metal shell. The 13-megapixel rear camera sits top-centre, with a flash and the Meizu logo just below it.

Even though the M3 Max has a relatively large six-inch screen - half an inch bigger than the iPhone 7 Plus - it feels light and manoeuvrable enough to be operated with one hand.

To me, the best part about the M3 Max is its outstanding battery life. The 4,100mAh battery is a beast, and can handle almost two full days of use on a single charge. This also means a very long standby time. I stowed the M3 Max away in my drawer for about a week and, when I finally retrieved it, its battery was still over 90 per cent full.

This is also thanks to the Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 processor, a battery-efficient chip that can handle most everyday tasks without a hitch. Loading apps, messaging and browsing on the phone were also always smooth.

The phone's rear camera is also a pleasant surprise and is one of the best I have encountered on a sub-$400 phone.

When I snapped a picture of my dog from about a metre away, the image was clear enough for me to pick out individual tufts of fur, while colour reproduction is faithful and well-balanced.

The phone comes with Meizu's Flyme UI, which is based on Android 5.1. I find the overall design of Flyme quite appealing, as it uses minimalist, impressionistic icons.

The default music player is represented by a red circle ringed by black - resembling a vinyl record - while the App Store is a blue square with a white curved handle on it, which hints at a shopping bag.

However, Flyme sometimes takes its stab at modern art a little too far. The browser icon is a blue circle with a needle inside - its take on iOS' Safari icon - but the way it is rendered makes it look like a clock.

It also does not have an app drawer, and comes with quite a number of pre-installed apps, such as TaoBao, Weibo, QQReader and Qunar Travel. The good thing, though, is that uninstalling these apps is just a matter of dragging-and-dropping, and any user who buys an M3 Max will have an easy time cleaning up the home page.

Tech specs

Price: US$236.99 (S$325) from wwww.joybuy.com

Processor: Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10

Display: 6-inch; 1,080 x 1,920 pixels

Camera: 13-megapixel (rear) with phase-detection autofocus and dual-LED (dual tone) flash; 5-megapixel (front)

Operating system: Flyme UI (Android 5.1)

Memory: 64GB of storage and 3GB of RAM

Battery: 4,100mAh non-removable

Rating

Design: 4/5

Features: 5/5

Performance: 4/5

Value for money: 5/5

Battery life: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Verdict: A phone with a very good battery and camera and excellent value for money.

lting@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on October 12, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Since Taiwanese singer Angela Chang last performed at the Singapore Expo in 2008, she has not taken a hiatus, although it may seem like it.

She continued to release albums, but they have been under the radar as she has kept a low profile since a slew of negative press reports about her contentious relationship with her mother around 2008 and 2009.

There were allegations that she had chased her mother out of their home, followed by accusations that Chang was unfilial and ungrateful.

The 34-year-old - who became a star in her early 20s with hits such as Invisible Wings (2006) and a lead role in the idol drama My MVP Valentine (2002) - is ready for a full-fledged return to the entertainment scene and to reclaim lost turf.

"When I encounter unhappy things, I would selectively forget things. This is therapeutic. If you keep dwelling on it, it won't do you any good," says Chang, who was in town recently to promote her new album, Head Over Heels, and her concert here on Nov 18 at Suntec City.

At the press conference, the petite lass with big doe eyes and a powerful voice looks poised and at ease in a white lacy top and a short black skirt.

While questions about her family were a no-go, she seems to have left the ugly past firmly behind.

Indeed, some of the songs she is known for are about staying positive in the face of adversity. They include Invisible Wings and, from the new album, tracks such as I'm Not Afraid and Go.

On Head Over Heels, her ninth studio album, she contributed lyrics to one song, Do You Remember, and also directed a music video for the first time, for the track Before Goodbye.

As she puts it: "Having been in this line for so many years, it's a pity if you don't show some growth because that means you haven't learnt anything new."

She promises something new and different at each of her concerts, tweaking the line-up of songs as well as to her costumes. There might be more in store for fans here as Singapore holds a special place in her heart.

She had lived here with her family for about a year when she was about 10 and she still has fond memories of that time.

"My first impression was the smell of durians right across from where we lived, near Sentosa, I think. When I went to the beach, the water was so clear I could see fish swimming. And the streets were so clean," she says.

Something else that is new is her changed attitude towards romance.

"I think I've tended to be pretty rational and I used not to believe in love at first sight. But now, I'm not discounting that possibility. Maybe in the future, if you find the right person, you'll just fall head over heels. You never know."

100% Angela Zhang World Tour

Where: Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre, Halls 601 to 604

When: Nov 18, 8pm

Admission: $88 to $168 from www.apactix.com and post offices islandwide

•Head Over Heels is out.

This article was first published on Oct 12, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

My eldest son enters Primary 1 next year. When my wife asked me which primary school we should pick for him, I replied, to her annoyance: "It doesn't matter."

My reply does not mean I worry any less than other parents about my child's first step into the education system in Singapore.

Truth be told, I worry a lot. My three children will grow up with an entirely different set of opportunities and challenges than I had.

I worry about what future changes will mean for our children and their economic future.

As the CEO of a home-grown serviced residence business with global operations in more than 100 cities across 27 countries, I worry about the challenges of operating in a rapidly changing marketplace.

I worry about how our economies and lives are being shaken up by technological disruptions. Much has been said about the radical changes unleashed by new digital, robotic and genomic technologies.

Their impact on many aspects of our lives is undeniable.

Technology has the ability to quickly shift behaviour.

As a kid, I remember my parents warning me not to go out at night during the lunar Seventh Month.

Yet, since the recent launch of Pokemon Go, it is not uncommon to see kids and parents wander around at night to catch 'em all.

In a single stroke, Pokemon Go has shifted decades of "customary" behaviour.

The simple answer - which may be a painful truth for us - is that we need to change. We need to change now.

NO ONE OWES US A LIVING

One of the great privileges of my career journey has been the opportunity to interact with people of all sorts, from all over the world.

Increasingly, Ascott faces strong competition in the accommodation space from new tech players like Airbnb and Expedia.

To better understand the "enemy", I have made it part of my job to meet representatives of tech companies and start-ups as I travel across the United States, Europe and Asia.

What I heard shook me up. I recall asking the founder of one of China's leading Internet companies, "What drives you?" He declared, with no hint of apology whatsoever, "I want to make the next company irrelevant."

I have heard many variations of such bold ambitions. Make no mistake: these technology companies are confident. And it is not just bluster - they are out to change the rules of the game and reshape the future.

That keeps me on my toes, and forces me to ask how we as a company can continue to stay relevant and competitive against these entrepreneurs who have laser clarity of purpose, are nimble, well-funded and without historical legacies, and can probably better relate to their future customers.

I am acutely aware of how quickly companies can rise and fall. Look at Nokia, Research in Motion (Blackberry) and Kodak in the high technology era. The same applies to Singapore. Nobody owes us a living.

For traditional incumbent businesses, past successes can ironically be the biggest inhibitor of future success.

It will always be more attractive to extract more value from today's tried-and-tested business than risk that for an uncertain tomorrow. A little known detail of Kodak's fall was that Kodak was the first to come up with the core technology used in digital cameras.

Yet, they still went bankrupt, as they were too complacent and slow to self-disrupt.

That is why I constantly urge my team to dream big, challenge assumptions and push the boundaries of their thinking.

I tell them to acquire new knowledge, explore new markets, learn about new technologies and forge new partnerships. As we say, "don't try, don't know". Just make sure that if we fail, we fail fast, and fail cheap.

INNOVATORS, NOT RULE KEEPERS

Change is coming for individuals too. Competition for jobs is intensifying.

There are many people who can do your job. There are many people who can and want your job.

What makes you so special? What makes you stand out?

If you look around the world, there are literally millions of people who are young, highly qualified yet unemployed.

Many of these people are packing up and leaving their home countries to find jobs overseas, armed with master's degrees and PhDs.

They are prepared to go to China, learn Mandarin (some speak it even better than many Chinese Singaporeans), immerse themselves in the local culture and compete for jobs that pay non-expatriate packages.

If I were to turn the scenario around to our Singaporean graduates, how many of us are prepared to do the same?

If your answer is yes, my next question is, what is the competitive edge you have that other people do not?

Can you weather the uncertainty and disruption in today's complex world?

Singaporeans are trained to spot 10-year series answers.

My business counterparts in multinational corporations tell me they like to hire Singaporeans because we are honest, law-abiding and hard-working.

We are good at following rules and instructions. For these reasons, we make great heads of internal audit, compliance managers and finance heads.

These are not bad things. But have Singaporeans become victims of their own strong values?

The pessimists will say that we cannot be in leadership positions.

Leaders are supposed to be flexible enough to manage ambiguity and complexity as they arise.

Leaders are supposed to make judgment calls, even with incomplete and imperfect information.

We often work well within a clearly defined structure, but may feel uneasy when asked to create something new from the whole cloth.

When I started out in the private sector nine years ago as the Assistant to the Group President at CapitaLand, and asked for my job description and responsibilities, I was given this reply: "You have a blank piece of paper - make what you will of it." It was a simple but extremely empowering statement.

I had no commercial experience prior to joining CapitaLand from the public service.

I read up as much as I could on corporate finance, real estate, valuations and business strategies. I spoke to many people, listening and learning from them.

Just as I was getting comfortable in the world of real estate, I was posted to Shanghai to oversee and grow Ascott's business in China.

I knew nothing about the serviced residence business, much less the intricacies of doing business in China. Once again, I was thrown into the deep end to sink or swim.

Nobody ever warned me that part of my job was dealing with thugs demanding unauthorised payment.

Did I have moments of insecurity and incompetence? Many. Yet looking back now, I fully appreciate the exposure I was given.

I learnt to manage within messiness, and to create my own structure in an unstructured environment.

GETTING USED TO DISCOMFORT

I interview many people in the course of my work.

A young Singaporean man in his early 30s left the deepest impression on me.

He had spent a large part of his life growing up in Africa, helping with his dad's business and eventually venturing into building homes in Africa. It was not an easy journey.

He faced barriers to doing business everywhere: dismal infrastructure, lack of skilled labour and corruption.

I wanted to recruit him straight away - for his resilience, adaptability, sense of adventure, and desire to learn. He is Singaporean, but his journey is a very different one from most Singaporeans.

To remain competitive, we must be prepared to venture out of our comfort zone, and develop resilience and the ability to manage uncertainty.

Those who are willing to take risks, step out of their comfort zone and into the discomfort of uncertainty will be those who reap the biggest rewards.

No one is born ready for the future economy.

Our education system takes us further than most, but when we first enter the workforce, we are still far from where we want to be.

The shelf life of paper qualifications will be limited. We must expect to change jobs, industries and skills in the course of our work life.

We must continue to grow and evolve. We must build up the skills and global perspectives that will allow us to take up the very top jobs.

How much we want to learn, how much value we want to add, and how much we want to achieve is up to us.

Our work has just begun. We have a lot to do in the coming years to be even more future ready. The first step starts from having the desire to change.

When I told my wife "it does not matter" which primary school our son Matthew goes to, my point was that his school is not the only thing that matters.

We may be able to provide our children with the structured environment they need but there must be balance.

As parents, as educators, as policymakers, as anyone involved in the upbringing of children - I hope we give them enough unstructured blank paper: to make their own mistakes, to build grit, to build up street smarts.

Because they will need all of this to write the next chapter of our Singapore story.

stopinion@sph.com.sg

Lee Chee Koon

The writer is the chief executive officer of The Ascott Limited. He is also a member of the Committee on the Future Economy’s Sub-committee on Jobs & Skills, which looks at ways to prepare Singaporean workers for the future.

This article was first published on October 12, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Q:

How has your restaurant and business grown over time?

A: 

We have been in the business for three generations already. My grandfather started the business as a zi char stall in an open-air carpark, before we moved to Ellenborough Market. After that, we were at Gay World and subsequently in Amoy Street, until moving to RELC Centre in Orange Grove Road last year.

So, from when I was young, I have grown up in this environment - from the time a can of Calmex Mexican Abalone cost $3, until the $150 it costs now.

As a Teochew restaurant, we have hit a certain standard and many dignitaries dine with us. As a chef, I feel we have a certain value in our work: Once we have reached a certain level, we must do more.

Q:

How did you go into the ready-to-eat premium food business?

A:

Having been in the market for so long, we knew what customers wanted. We knew how to treat abalone - from its live form to a restaurant dish - but could we commercialise it to save time? That was the challenge.

If you want restaurant quality, it can take days to prepare these dishes. We started with working on dried abalone in 2005, and then branched into making ready-to-eat shark's fin and ready-to-eat fresh abalone.

Q:

Where do your products come from? Who buys your products?

A:

We make our products at the place of origin. For shark's fin, it's mainly Costa Rica and Panama; for abalone, it's New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

We also sell our ready-to-eat products in these countries, where we own factories or have business partners.

Our point of difference is that while other companies just package abalone with water and salt, we do it restaurant-style. We use the retort process, which reliably kills any bacteria.

Our customers are mainly corporate gift companies, although there are also restaurants and individual buyers.

Q:

What plans do you have for your business?

A: 

We don't earn a lot in this business, but we have made enough to send my son to medical school, while my daughter Jasmine is also managing the restaurant and will take it into the future.

I've manufactured ready-to-eat products for a few years. So many factories and raw material producers believe that I can make their material speak.

I think that's my mission, really, to do it well.

This article was first published on Oct 12, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

LONDON - The scary clowns craze may just have gone too far.

A freshman in London faces possible expulsion after carrying out a nasty clown prank on campus, the Daily Mail reported on Tuesday (Oct 11).

The prankster, known only as Kenny, chased other students through the Brunel University campus in London, dressed as a clown but armed with a chainsaw.

The 19-year-old was doing it as a stunt for his YouTube channel.

Kenny was filmed walking through the campus, dressed a gold costume, red wig and clown mask,before charging at a group of apparent victims.

The latter were his friends who were in on the prank, but others on campus did not know this, according to the Daily Mail. Bystanders were confused and startled by the spectacle.

A student recorded Kenny's act from inside her hall residence and posted it on her Twitter account, saying it was "not cool". In her viral video, it is not clear that the scene was staged.

Kenny, a media studies student, apologised for the prank and is now worried about his university status.

"I'm really nervous. I don't know what is going to happen. It's such a mess," he told the Daily Mail.

Kenny explained that he used the chainsaw for the "shock factor". His Youtube channel has 1,500 followers.

He also told the Daily Mail he made the clown video to "follow the trend". He lamented: "But the internet has just blown this way out of proportion. It's like,'oh wow, there's a killer clown at Brunel'. People are making me out to be a terrorist."

A Brunel university spokesman said: "The student who was dressed as a clown and carrying a chainsaw was caught on a number of our 400 CCTV cameras and has since identified himself to our campus security team. We take such incidents, and our students' safety, extremely seriously and the student will now be passed on to the police."

Related: Creepy clown sightings spook America

Woman shocked into early labour

In a separate incident in Whitwick, Leicestershire, ITV news reported that a woman was shocked into early labour after a teenager dressed as a clown jumped out in front of her.

Her friend's post on Facebook about the incident was shared hundreds of times, and led to calls for the teenager to be apprehended, according to ITV news.

Police in the UK have warned potential offenders that they could be committing a public order offence with such pranks.

Clown terror spreads worldwide

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

SCV, Tom Keller

This article was first published on October 11, 2016.
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To avoid damaging the special vein that is their lifeline, kidney dialysis patients must endure jabs at different spots on their arms three times a week.

One home-grown firm, Advent Access, is hoping to change this. Its solution: a tiny titanium implant that sits under the skin, helping nurses to slip in a needle exactly the same way each time.

The result is a single clean slit - almost like an ear piercing - that leaves the rest of the vein as intact as possible.

"Kidney dialysis has been around for 70 years, but even up to today, the Achilles heel of dialysis is still vascular access," said the company's founder, Mr Peh Ruey Feng.

When people have regular dialysis, he explained, needles are inserted at different points along the arm each time to reduce damage to the specially modified vein underneath. But over time - and dialysis can last a lifetime - the vein can weaken from these repeated puncture wounds, eventually becoming unfit for use.

This is where Mr Peh and his team come in. Apart from reducing stress on this critical vein, called the arteriovenous fistula, the implant makes inserting a needle so simple that they hope people will eventually be able to carry out dialysis on their own.

"Right now, the most difficult technical hurdle (for patients) is to perform vascular access," said Mr Peh, adding that doctors have told him that educated patients nowadays are capable of operating dialysis machines on their own.

The latest figures show there were nearly 6,000 dialysis patients in Singapore in 2014, with the number growing each year.

They must now spend 12 hours a week at dialysis centres, but the new implant could mean a step towards greater independence.

Dr Akira Wu, a renal specialist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, said the device - which is called the av-Guardian - could be especially useful for fat people or those with smaller veins.

"It can be a real challenge to find the fistula, especially for women, whose veins are a bit smaller," Dr Wu said. "Sometimes, you just have to use your judgment and push the needle in."

Advent Access - a spin-off from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research - is working with National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and National Kidney Foundation on a pilot trial.

One patient on the trial, 45-year-old Mr Tan, who declined to give his full name, said: "There is definitely a difference because previously a sharp needle was used, but now it's a blunt needle, so it's less painful."

This article was first published on Oct 13, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

When Mr Alan Lim and Ms Teo Yen Ting showed up at Kong Hock Keng Temple last June decked out in red robes and golden headdresses, they drew curious looks from devotees, not least because they looked like they had just stepped out of China's Han Dynasty.

The couple were at the Chinese temple in Telok Blangah to tie the knot in front of Taoist deities such as the Jade Emperor, Monkey King and Nezha the Third Lotus Prince.

"I used to help out at this temple for many years. We wanted to get married at some place special, and our faith is important," said Mr Lim, 26, who works as a career coach.

The Taoists met each other during a Taoist Federation (Singapore) youth committee conference in 2013. They share an interest in Chinese history and culture - something they wanted to commemorate on their special day.

Clad in traditional costumes bought from e-commerce site Taobao, Mr Lim and Ms Teo, 23, a part-time tutor, offered fruits and joss sticks to the deities. Their solemniser, Master Adrian Long, 50, then recited religious scriptures before pronouncing them man and wife.

They are among a number of young couples now holding their matrimonial ceremonies at Chinese temples. About 20 to 30 do so each year, said Master Long, who is a deputy registrar of marriages and a special committee member with the Taoist Federation (Singapore). "Some met at these temples, while others simply want to seek blessings for a blissful marriage," he said. "Some also pray to their ancestors whose ashes are in the same temple."

The Singapore Buddhist Federation (SBF) has noticed more couples getting hitched at Buddhist venues, said the federation's president, Venerable Seck Kwang Phing, 63. He is also a solemniser.

While there were 10 to 20 weddings five years ago, there are now at least 100 in temples or at Buddhist institutions each year, he said. They are usually held at the SBF building in Geylang or Bishan's Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.

Couple's Descendants of the Sun wedding photos go viral

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Kien Thuc Website

"I usually remind the bride and groom to be a good couple according to the Buddhist scriptures. For example, husband and wife must treat each other equally," said Venerable Seck. Depending on the couple's preference, the solemnisation ceremony is accompanied by the chanting of sutra and offerings to Shakyamuni Buddha.

"To do good, the couple can also offer lunch, robes or any daily necessities to the monks."

People of other faiths often get married at their places of worship, such as churches, mosques and Hindu temples.

The Sultan Mosque in Kampong Glam, for instance, hosts about three to four weddings each week. These are officiated by a kadi, who solemnises Muslim marriages.

Mosque manager Zainal Abidin Omar, 47, said more couples have been getting married at the venue since it was restored a year ago.

"Youngsters like to have their weddings here because they want to get blessings from God," he said, adding that they can have their reception at the nearby restaurants.

For some, the venue represents both faith and fate. Software engineer Mah Chun How, 34, and accounts assistant Kang Say See, 29, got married at the Yueh Hai Ching Temple in Raffles Place last month.

Before they met in 2014, they had visited the temple to ask Yue Lao, the elder under the moon deity believed to be a matchmaker, for a partner. "We got to know each other not too long after," said Mr Mah.

"The temple is very special to us. We believe Yue Lao brought us together."

This article was first published on Oct 13, 2016.
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The economic slowdown has not led to widespread anxiety among workers, but some are concerned enough that they have taken steps to protect themselves against more trying times ahead.

In the face of rising layoffs and fewer job vacancies, brushing up on skills and looking for additional sources of income are some ways workers are trying to cope, observers told The Straits Times.

With layoffs in the first half of the year at the highest level since 2009 and job vacancies falling below the number of job seekers for the first time since 2012, workers have lower bargaining power in the job market.

Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) chief executive Gilbert Tan said there is an increasing trend of employees - both professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) and the rank and file - who are concerned about layoffs and job stability.

"Many are taking courses or considering reskilling or upgrading to better prepare themselves for the slowing economy," he said, adding that e2i has seen about 40 per cent more workers seeking training so far this year, compared with the same period last year.

Popular courses include networking, career planning, interview skills and conflict management.

Over 80,000 Singaporeans used their SkillsFuture credit in the first eight months of this year, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung said in a written response to a question by Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh for Monday's Parliament sitting.

Besides learning more skills, some workers are on the lookout for ways to protect their incomes.

Mr Tan said e2i has seen more workers looking for help to take on additional jobs, especially contract or freelance workers or those who receive daily wages.

Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Ang Kin Kee, an assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, said some workers are taking on multiple income streams to ensure they are less susceptible to a slowdown in one area. For instance, a swim coach does wedding photography on the side, while others moonlight as part-time Uber or GrabCar drivers.

People who lose their jobs may take on shorter-term jobs which they are overqualified for while they search for their next position, and this can become a worry if they remain underemployed for a long period of time, observers said.

Feeling underemployed can lead workers to feel demotivated, and underemployment also means the economy is not using resources optimally, said NTUC assistant secretary-general Patrick Tay, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower.

But the phenomenon is hard to measure because there is a lack of good data on skills-based underemployment as it is difficult to define the skills that people hold as well as those actually required for a job, said SIM University labour economist Walter Theseira. For example, not all jobs targeted at degree holders actually need skills acquired at university level, he said.

Maximising career prospects in these uncertain times calls for some effort on workers' part, observers added. They can keep up with trends in their industry and be proactive if it is likely to become a sunset industry in the near future.

Said UOB economist Francis Tan: "Look at industry journals, blogs or websites to understand how your industry is doing not just in Singapore but in other countries which may become growing competitors."

It is also worthwhile to obtain second or third skills in another area and do more networking to know more people, said National University of Singapore Business School senior lecturer Wu Pei Chuan.

Dr Theseira finds that transferable skills like project management, leadership and discipline, rather than employer-specific skills, are key.

These are some of the skills Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan hopes to help residents brush up on. He has asked a residents' committee to organise an event this month on life skills such as resume writing and interview skills.

"We don't have a big crowd of unemployed people, but we want to equip people and make them alert that these are some of the things you need to prepare in case you need to look for a job," he said.

Percentage increase in workers seeking training so far this year, compared with the same period last year: 40

This article was first published on Oct 13, 2016.
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Eleven-year-old Mohamad Firman Shah was running about at a playground last month when he accidentally stepped on a woman's foot.

She was so angry that she called the police and paramedics even though his mother explained that both she and her son were visually impaired.

"People do not know we are visually impaired because we do not look like we are handicapped," said housewife Norrizan Nahar.

The 35-year-old mother of six has congenital cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye that is present at birth. The condition can affect one or both eyes.

When a child has a cataract, the lens cannot focus the rays of light onto the retina normally. Instead, the lens produces blurry images.

Her daughter, Anggun Kasturi, 14, and son Firman were born with a similar eye condition, and had cataract removal surgery when they were a few months old. Both wear glasses for long-sightedness, and need regular eye checks to ensure they are wearing the correct lenses and receiving appropriate treatment for lazy eye.

"It is a rare condition that occurs in one to three in 10,000 children worldwide," said Dr Cheryl Ngo, Consultant at National University Hospital Eye Surgery Centre. Both Singapore National Eye Centre and KK Women's and Children's Hospital operate on fewer than 10 cases a year.

Except for the thick glasses that the children wear, their visual handicap is not apparent. But just to make out the information in things like text messages and on price labels at the supermarket, they have to make sure the words and numbers are extremely close to their eyes.

Madam Norrizan had a corneal transplant in July 2013 that marginally improved her vision in the right eye. But she was found to have corneal graft rejection in May 2014 which left her with exceedingly low vision, comparable to that of a newborn baby.

The former hospital porter and cleaner now relies mainly on her left eye for sight and has since been certified medically unfit for work.

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Mum and kids suffer from rare eye condition

Source:

The Straits Times

Madam Norrizan, who is a single mother, currently receives social assistance that helps her with medical expenses, rental for her two-room Housing Board flat, and household utility bills. She also collects food rations every month from the community centre. Her oldest daughter, Anggun Sulastri, 16, takes care of daily household chores and her younger siblings.

Even as they get by with the bare minimum, Madam Norrizan's children are her motivation in life.

When Kasturi and Firman are occasionally teased for their thick glasses and "big eyes", she tries to encourage them to be confident because she had similar experiences growing up. "I always tell them to be positive because we still have our hands and legs. Only our eyes are handicapped."

Despite her visual impairment, she tries to take the children out at least once a month to places like West Coast Park and VivoCity mall, where the children can have fun and get out of the house.

Madam Norrizan used to be a sprinter with the Singapore Disability Sports Council. Her hope is in her children and she wants to see them "be somebody some day".

Inheriting her mother's passion for sports, Kasturi also loves running and trains in school every Wednesday. "Kasturi wants to be like me," said Madam Norrizan. "She said that she wants to join the Paralympics and represent Singapore one day."

xiaobinn@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on October 13, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

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5 bad eye habits you could be guilty of

Source:

Various sources

The juggling of different duties wears them out. If they could focus on teaching, and on the crafting of lesson plans, they might be less inclined to quit.

A peek at the two-page curriculum vitae of a young teacher shows he has a wide range of work experience, from administrator to first aider, event organiser, child-care provider, even cheerleader.

That is on top of his teaching load, of course, which requires him to draw up lesson plans, deliver them to a class of 30 pupils and grade their work.

The primary school teacher, who has been in the service for four years, is expected to juggle all these different duties and keep the balls in the air.

He is not alone in doing so, and that is why some teachers compare their job to being in a circus act - with no end in sight.

The workload of teachers is a matter of public interest, as seen in the response to a recent Straits Times article about 5,000 teachers having quit the service over the last five years. The report published last week had 3,000 shares on Facebook and garnered some 400 comments.

Some teachers took to social media to air their grievances. Others wrote in to The Straits Times, including one who set out in detail a typical work day that starts at 7am. He teaches until 1pm, then spends the afternoon on matters related to co-curricular activities (CCAs) and meetings, gets home at 8pm and starts grading assignments and fielding parents' queries. He usually goes to bed at 1am, after preparing the next day's lessons.

Other teachers expressed disappointment that colleagues who moved up the ranks and now work at the Ministry of Education (MOE) headquarters have forgotten what it is like on the ground.

The figure of 5,000 resignations over five years may not be excessive, given that there are 33,000 school teachers in all.

One pressing concern though is how many more are planning their exits?

The other question to ask is what can be done to retain teachers, including those with experience, and help them stay in a job they love?

BURNOUT

About a third of teachers here have under five years of experience. That is based on 2014 data, which also shows that less than half have been in service for 10 or more years. That suggests teacher retention is a challenge.

A long-standing complaint of teachers is that they have to shoulder mundane administrative tasks that include organising school events, and budgeting and planning for CCAs that they are in charge of. Some help has come in the form of allied educators which MOE hires to help teachers with administrative work and to manage students' concerns.

Yet, the feedback from teachers is that the amount of time-consuming paperwork has grown rather than fallen in recent years. One example cited was the requirement for teachers to fill in a detailed form when organising an activity that takes students out of school. They then have to get clearance from at least two levels above them, says an ex-teacher.

What adds to their burden are enthusiastic principals who introduce new ideas which teachers are expected to implement, and parents with unreasonable expectations, including some who expect teachers to be at their beck and call.

These factors combine to cause burnout not just among young teachers but among veterans with over 20 years of experience. These skilled professionals are walking away from what was once a lifelong career.

MOE on its part is not overly worried by the current rate of attrition.

In a reply to The Straits Times, it said that the annual resignation rate has "remained low at around 3 per cent" in the last five years.

A check by this paper found though that the resignation rate has actually crept up from 2 per cent, or 400 to 500 resignations a year, a figure disclosed by MOE in 2000 when the force numbered around 24,000.

That has now grown to 33,000 teachers, and MOE said the size of that teaching force "remains stable". But for how long?

HELPING TEACHERS STAY IN SERVICE

The ministry has cut back on the hiring of teachers. In the past three years, it has hired about 1,000 teachers a year. At its peak in 2009, MOE recruited 3,000 teachers a year.

That rate of hiring grew the teaching force significantly. Now MOE has switched gear and is focused on replacing teachers who have called it quits and recruiting teachers in specific subject areas, such as art and music. So numerically, it works out fine - incoming teachers replace outgoing ones and the size of the teaching force has, as the MOE said, remained stable.

But surely this is not and cannot be just about the numbers.

The worry is that the education service is losing trained and talented professionals, and their wealth of experience. Teaching is a complex craft that requires time and effort to perfect. Experienced teachers cannot be replaced overnight by new ones.

That's because while it takes a decent teacher to deliver content, it requires a great one to break it down in a way that helps students learn. That is a skill honed over time.

MOE has tried to support teachers by hiring administrative staff and allied educators to take over some of their work. It has also hiked salaries.

In August last year, MOE said up to 30,000 teachers will get 4 per cent to 9 per cent increases in their monthly wages to keep pace with market increases. In a Facebook post then, former Education Minister Heng Swee Keat acknowledged the growing demands on teachers.

But such efforts may not suffice. That is because teachers are for the most part not motivated by money. They did not join the force to get rich but to enrich their students' lives.

What they seek most is assurance that they will be given more time to hone their craft, and to carry out the research and crafting of lesson plans that will enable them to teach their charges more effectively.

The irony is that good teachers are quitting the service to enter the lucrative tuition business because it allows them to focus on teaching and getting better at it. Some former teachers turned tutors say they get a sense of satisfaction from being able to teach so effectively they can guarantee their students a string of As.

As Singapore moves to overhaul its pressure-cooker education system and shift it away from an excessive focus on examination grades, it would do well also to take a closer look at how to boost teacher morale and welfare.

As a start, MOE can consider setting out clearly defined roles for teachers and delegating tasks that have nothing to do with teaching, like events organisation and managing CCAs, to allied educators or external facilitators. CCA duties, which many teachers consider distractions, can be outsourced.

There is also a need to educate parents on the role of teachers and the line between reasonable and unreasonable requests of a teacher's time.

Teaching is a noble profession, but it need not be a thankless one.

calyang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Oct 13, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Efforts are under way to identify new areas of growth for Singapore amid volatility in the global economy and rapid technological change. The Committee on the Future Economy, tasked to chart a blueprint for Singapore's economic future, last month released findings from their broad public consultations. A key theme of discussion, it said, was on how Singapore can fully develop its digital economy - or how well it can use information and communications technology (ICT) to ramp up competitiveness and enhance societal well-being.

Singapore's focus on the digital economy is wise, not least because of our early adoption of ICT. Over 30 years ago, the Government established the National Computer Board that was responsible for developing Singapore into a regional centre for computer software development and services. We have a strong regulatory framework that protects intellectual property and this year, the World Economic Forum ranked us among the top seven countries which generated economic impact from investments in ICT.

But the transformation into a digital economy is not going to be easy. A fundamental challenge is to ensure that everyone is included in this transformation, with those who are economically disadvantaged offered practical ways to cope with change.

NETWORKED, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH

In the last 20 years, policies such as Singapore IT2000 and the Infocomm 21 Strategy have increased Internet connectivity across Singapore. As reported in the Infocomm Development Authority's latest survey, 87 per cent of households have at least one computer and 88 per cent have broadband access at home in 2015 (up from 74 per cent and 54 per cent in 2005 respectively).

More recently, the Digital Inclusion Fund and the Silver Infocomm Initiative were set up to target low-income households and senior citizens respectively.

However, research shows that even with more or less equal access, not everyone benefits from ICT in the same way. Dr Jakob Nielsen, who studies and writes about making the Internet easier to use, says that a usability divide and an empowerment divide exist. While the former refers to inequality caused by the disparity in people's skills to utilise technology's capabilities, the latter refers to the gap that results from people's different propensities to harness ICT opportunities.

Both divides contribute to participation inequality, a phenomenon that has persisted despite technological advances which make ICT easier to use. According to Dr Nielsen, about 90 per cent of users in social networks and community systems do not contribute, and 9 per cent contribute on an irregular basis. What this means is that most contributions are made by the minority of 1 per cent of users.

The study on media and Internet use during the last General Election by the Institute of Policy Studies measured how often people engaged in different types of activities on social media platforms such as blogs, YouTube sites, discussion forums, social networking sites and Instant Messaging platform. We found that more people engaged in passive media usage across all social media platforms. More engaged in activities such as sharing a post, following other users and finding out how others feel about an issue, compared to creating content. A study conducted a few months ago during non-election time yielded similar findings.

In order to thrive in a digital economy, besides gaining access to a device and Internet connection, users must be able to leverage ICT to develop and showcase their competencies.

Being proficient in navigating technological platforms in their various formats to acquire information for learning and working will no longer be enough, one has to be an active contributor in community networks and a co-creator of solutions.

TRUE DIGITAL NATIVE

While the Government is making commendable effort in its socially inclusive ICT policies, we can bolster existing initiatives in two ways. At the launch of the Info-communications and Media Development Authority (IMDA) two weeks ago, it was announced that the agency will work with three social service organisations to connect with more needy households and teach them how to use their tablets through starter kits and classes.

Besides using income as a variable to identify needy households, we could consider family type as another useful indicator of who may need help and provide targeted outreach efforts to atypical households. Here, I refer to households of single parents who are divorced, widowed or unwed, and are raising a child or more on their own. They are more likely to have less time and disposable income than married couples. Single parents from lower income brackets face a double whammy.

The Government recognises that single parents face challenges on multiple fronts and has in recent years put in place housing, healthcare and education policies to alleviate stress for this segment. Perhaps the same approach can be taken to target these households in the drive to increase digital literacy for children of this group. Some assistance will go a long way in ensuring that this group thrives in an environment with less guidance and supervision.

The second approach is aimed at helping users overcome the propensity barrier and motivating them to embrace ICT for learning, play and work. The Ministry of Education announced in February that 19 schools will offer programming as part of the new O-level subject computing that also includes algorithm and data management, starting next year. And over the next two years, seven new subjects, including robotics and electronics, will be introduced to the O- and N-level syllabuses to promote more hands-on learning. These moves signal the Government's recognition of new skill sets needed for the digital economy.

I would go one step further and propose that a subject like programming be introduced at the upper primary school levels. It should be pitched at the right level and offered as a non-examinable subject, thereby assuaging anxiety among parents and children about such a subject.

According to a Straits Times report in March, there has been a surge in demand for courses on coding and computational thinking among parents of young children. These parents are those who are willing and able to pay premium prices. Offering such courses as part of the school curriculum in primary schools will ensure that people from different backgrounds will have the opportunity to acquire an increasingly important skill at a young age, regardless of income.

Singapore has been doing well in distributing the spoils of technology and preparing citizens for the future economy.

Let us strive for more ways to bridge the ICT divide among various groups.

stopinion@sph.com.sg

The writer is a senior research fellow from the arts, culture and media research cluster of the Institute of Policy Studies. She is a member of the Media Literacy Council.

This article was first published on Oct 13, 2016.
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A pretty face and a good figure no longer a supermodel make.

Korean-American model Irene Kim, who has become a force in the fashion world thanks to her savvy social media presence and sassy attitude as bright as her rainbow-hued locks, says: "It is not about the pretty face any more. It is not about the measurements. You have to be able to talk in front of people. You have to have a brain. You have to know how to style yourself."

On top of entertaining her close to one million followers on social media, Kim, 28, has strutted down many runways at the Seoul Fashion week, graced the front row of New York Fashion Week shows and hosts Korean fashion television shows such as K-Style and Style Live.

Together with another social media supermodel Kendall Jenner, she has curated a new line of Estee Lauder make-up called Estee Edit.

"To have this following and build my brand, I would say that a lot of it was done myself - 98 per cent is controlled by me. There's my team helping me, but I want to make sure that everything is filtered through my rainbow hair," says Kim, who was speaking to local media on Monday in between filming a travelogue here.

M.U.S.T, which stands for My Unexpected Sweet Trip, is a new travel series which premieres on cable TV channel tvN next month.

Her trademark multi-coloured locks are the result of her experimenting with the spectrum of hair shades out of boredom and curiosity.

"Back then, coloured hair wasn't the trend, especially for Asian models because we are known for black, straight, long hair. Once I changed it, it totally gave me this trademark," says Kim, who flips her red- tinged side fringe to reveal streaks of other hues beneath.

"Every time I get my hair retouched, it just makes me feel good. It gives me a little bit of recharge. When people see it, I get compliments, I get smiles. Who doesn't love colour and fun?"

She switches hair colours twice a month on average and picks hues depending on her mood and her colourist's creativity.

Raised in Seattle, where she was born, and South Korea, she oozes effortless charm while speaking in fluent English.

Before bursting on the modelling scene five years ago, she was already pursuing a career in fashion, albeit behind the scenes.

She studied textile design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, as well as worked on an online style magazine in New York and dabbled in styling work in South Korea.

While serving an internship at talent agency JYP Entertainment, she came up with the Wonder Girls' leopard-print look for their hit dance single So Hot in 2008.

"The manager asked me to try coming up for a concept for their new album. Then mine got picked. That was really amazing. I was like 19. My name was even listed in the album," adds Kim, who counts girl group miss A's Min and former Wonder Girls' member Sunye as her close friends.

To hear her tell it, she was destined for a career in fashion from a young age.

"I watched my mum and grandma put on make-up every morning. I would go to my mum's closet and try on her shoes.

"My mum said from when I was three years old, I would change outfits three times a day. She would change me and, if I didn't like it, I would change it again. Or I would change before every meal."

•M.U.S.T premieres on Nov 3 at 10.30pm on tvN (Singtel TV Channel 518 and 619, StarHub TV Channel 824).

This article was first published on October 13, 2016.
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Beauty treatment junkies will soon be able to tap on a slew of new discounts, thanks to two business- savvy girlfriends.

Entrepreneurs Caryn Tan-Lim, 29, and Bernadine Reddy, 36, are launching Singapore Beauty Week - 10 days of discounts of up to 50 per cent.

The online event, from Nov 10 to 19, will offer deals at more than 50 merchants including big players such as Banyan Tree Spa, newer entrants such as Freia Aesthetics spa and small heartland outfits such as Dainty Beaute salon.

Ms Tan-Lim, a former business development manager at a bank, says that it all started in April during a discussion with Ms Reddy about how people here tended to stick to conventional services such as manicures and basic facials.

"We talked about how tough it was to get shoppers to try new beauty treatments here and to expand your base of customers," she says.

The entrepreneur also hopes to give the Singapore beauty industry - valued by Euromonitor to be worth $1.54 billion last year - a facelift.

It has been one of the top five most-complained-about industries here for the past five years, according to figures compiled by the Consumers Association of Singapore.

The biggest issue: pressure selling by pushy salesmen who force customers to pay exorbitant amounts for packages.

Ms Tan-Lim and Ms Reddy hope that Beauty Week will help undo the damage, as well as give credible merchants the chance to make a good impression.

Beauty Week merchants, says Ms Tan-Lim, are not allowed to harass customers to sign up for packages. They were also researched and at least half of them were tested before being allowed to participate.

The event is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, which will market it to tourists overseas.

This is not the first business venture for either entrepreneur.

Ms Tan-Lim founded nail salon Hands + Feet Studio (Spa) in 2012. The business was sold earlier this year.

Ms Reddy, who was a customer at Ms Tan-Lim's nail boutique, is the founder of branding firm Happy Bold Italic.

The two, who became fast friends, then launched a business selling nail lacquer in 2014.

Singapore Beauty Week is their second venture together. They charge each merchant a participation fee of $500 to $1,500, depending on the type of services it offers.

Merchants say they welcome the extra exposure.

Ms Serene Seah, spa director at Freia Aesthetics, hopes that more people will learn of her Orchard Road spa, which opened in April. "We're new and there is a lot of competition in the industry. Hopefully, this event will draw more new customers," says the 41-year-old.

Her aim is for the event to raise revenue by 10 per cent.

Owner of Scissors Art Carrie Choo, 36, hopes to get 20 to 30 per cent more customers after the event.

The hair salon, which opened in 2014, has an outlet in Binjai Park and another in Joo Chiat. Each gets about 15 customers a day.

Ms Choo says: "We don't get much traffic... Hopefully that will change."

The honorary secretary of the Spa & Wellness Association Singapore, Mr Edward Wong, 65, says that a well-organised event could be just what the industry needs.

However, he says that it is imperative the event is not another cheap sales gimmick.

"If organised and managed well, Singapore Beauty Week can enhance the image and confidence of the beauty industry... but it is mandatory that the participants genuinely offer services without pressuring customers to purchase packages."

Beauty junkies are also looking forward to the event.

Student Vivienne Lim, 22, says: "Eyelash extensions can be expensive, but I've been wanting to try them, so if I can get a good discount during Singapore Beauty Week, why not?"

Customers can go to www.beautyweek.sg to select a service and book an appointment during the event.

Payment will be made directly to the vendor at the appointment.

This article was first published on October 13, 2016.
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Singaporean professionals will find it easier to work in Australia and Singapore businesses will be able to bid for government procurement contracts there, after both countries yesterday expanded a free trade pact in the "most substantial upgrade" to bilateral ties.

The extension of the Singapore- Australia Free Trade Agreement was one of four key agreements signed yesterday in Canberra's Parliament House under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). They will not just strengthen economic links but also boost cooperation in military training, innovation and science, and combating transnational drug crime.

"Together, the agreements signed this week represent the most substantial upgrade in the Australia-Singapore relationship in a generation," said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull in a joint statement. At a joint press conference after the signing ceremony, Mr Lee said the "landmark, transformative agreement" will take cooperation "to unprecedented levels that only close partners can achieve".

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PM Lee in Australia

Source:

AFP

Lianhe Zaobao

Mr Turnbull said it was made possible because both countries are strategically aligned. The two leaders also acknowledged that there were trade-offs in the negotiation process. But they added that it was also a matter of understanding the other side's needs and considerations.

Said Mr Lee: "People can be sure that just as our people get advantages in Australia, so too will Australians correspondingly get advantages in Singapore...You bargain hard, but you bargain to win together."

The leaders were also asked about the message the CSP is sending out, especially at a time when some governments are pushing for protectionist measures or are reluctant to turn to innovation or automation.

Said Mr Lee: "The signal to the world is that... we found opportunities to cooperate together, we are very happy we are making progress, and we hope that you too will find it possible to make similar progress with us or with each other." There will be problems, but it's "far better we cooperate together than (closing) ourselves off in our own little corner, because that way leads to impoverishment, leads to misunderstanding, leads to trouble", he said.

Mr Turnbull said it was critical for leaders to reassure their community and explain that "turning your back on change is only a road back to impoverishment".

On whether Singapore could be assured that Australia's bipartisan system can sustain the CSP through the years, Mr Turnbull quipped: "So profound was the spirit of bipartisanship yesterday that the Leader of the Opposition (Bill Shorten) and I attended the events wearing the same orange ties. It shows it was almost subliminal - the spirit of harmony."

Mr Lee thanked the leaders of Australia's main parties for their support. The two prime ministers also commended the sustained efforts of officials to realise the benefits of closer cooperation.

Yesterday, Mr Lee also met Mr Shorten. He and Mrs Lee also called on Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial before leaving for Singapore.

Benefits in four key areas

Of the four Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) agreements signed yesterday, one will see trade ties being deepened while the other three will see Singapore and Australia collaborate more closely in the areas of defence, scientific research and anti-drug trafficking. The upgraded Free Trade Agreement will come into force next year and planning for the expansion of new military training areas in Australia will start early next year.

These are some of the benefits under the agreements:

Trade

• More flexible rules of origin, which are standards used to determine the origin of goods, will make it easier for Singapore exports to qualify for tariff-free treatment in Australia.

• Reduction in regulatory barriers, such as onerous labelling requirements, will facilitate trade in goods like wine, cosmetics and medical devices.

• Opportunities for companies from both sides to bid for government procurement contracts.

• Easier mobility and longer stays for business people.

Defence

• New A$2.25 billion (S$2.35 billion) programme will allow the Singapore Armed Forces to conduct unilateral training in Australia for 18 weeks, in areas 10 times the size of Singapore, for up to 14,000 troops per year over 25 years.

• Joint development of military training areas and advanced facilities in Australia.

Science research and innovation

• The Singapore and Australian governments will provide about S$50 million worth of support for collaboration in science and innovation.

• More cooperation between research institutions, such as between Singapore universities and Australia's Data61 to look into big data and smart cities.

• Shared use of research infrastructure - like supercomputing centres in both countries - to realise a greater return on investments, spread expenses, allow for maintenance of infrastructure, and let researchers improve their research by accessing a wider range of facilities and intellectual cultures.

• Establishing Australia's fifth landing pad in Singapore to facilitate the foray of high-tech Australian start-ups into Asia.

International drug crime

• Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau and the Australian Federal Police will conduct joint training, learning and development programmes and officer exchanges to combat the proliferation of drugs, especially new psychoactive substances.

This article was first published on Oct 14, 2016.
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The head of a green group has been suspended indefinitely, surprising many in the environmental scene.

Mr Edwin Seah, 46, who has been executive director of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) since April last year, was told of the move yesterday morning while on leave.

He said he was told via a phone call from the council's executive committee chairman Lam Joon Khoi.

"I'm shocked because no reason was given, and I was due to travel tomorrow night on official business," he told The Straits Times.

He was due to fly to Ukraine tonight for the annual general meeting and elections for the Global Eco-labelling Network, of which he is an elected board member.

An SEC spokesman said:"The SEC Board has decided to suspend Edwin Seah with effect from today.

We are unable to comment further as investigations are ongoing."

ST understands the council will hold a committee of inquiry next Wednesday.

The non-governmental organisation spreads environmental awareness through training programmes, awards and its Singapore Green Labelling Scheme.

It was started in 1995 and has 28 full-time staff.

Mr Seah, who was previously at the Singapore Tourism Board and Energy Market Authority, was nominated along with SEC former eco-certification head Kavickumar Muruganathan for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award last year.

They were recognised for raising awareness about the link between the haze and unsustainable paper products.

Mr Seah's suspension is the latest in a string of personnel changes in the charity.

In April, Mr Kavickumar, 27, left to join Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).

Former chief executive Jose Raymond, 44, also joined APP in January but left last month and has since set up his own public relations firm.

Professor Ang Peng Hwa, who co-founded the Haze Elimination Action Team volunteer group, said he was shocked by the news, especially as he had just met Mr Seah at an SEC event on Wednesday.

"With all the recent personnel changes this year, it seems like it is a spell of bad luck for SEC," he said.

This article was first published on Oct 14, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The Singapore economy is on track to log its slowest rate of growth since 2009, and few companies have been spared the effects.

Business has stagnated and firms are bracing themselves for the coming winter.

The economy is projected to expand by 1 to 2 per cent this year, in what could be the slowest year since the global financial crisis.

"The numbers don't indicate a full-blown recession - growth is still positive, albeit slow," said UOB economist Francis Tan.

"But companies are experiencing a protracted period of slow growth, and this is making overall sentiment even more pessimistic."

Companies in the hardest-hit sectors have had no choice but to lay off staff.

Percentage the economy is projected to expand by this year, as estimated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Against the backdrop of one of the worst slumps the global oil and gas industry has seen in decades, thousands of workers in that sector here have lost their jobs, as firms tried to slash costs amid the plunge in oil prices.

The collapse of debt-laden offshore services firm Swiber Holdings is stoking concerns in the credit markets over banks' exposure to the oil and gas sector.

Banks themselves have not been having an easy time - the poor outlook has resulted in savage staff cutbacks across the industry. Examples include ANZ, which has trimmed staff numbers here, and Barclays, which slashed 1,000 jobs in Asia, including some in Singapore.

The manufacturing sector, which makes up a fifth of the economy and has been hit hard by lacklustre export demand, has been shedding workers every quarter for about two years. But a spate of recent large investments - including a US$4 billion (S$5.5 billion) plant expansion by chip-making giant Micron Technology - might provide a lift.

Meanwhile, bank lending to corporates has been on a downward trend over the past year - a sign that firms are borrowing less for expansion and investment.

Amid high costs and flagging sales, a growing number of companies are buckling under the pressure. About 42,000 businesses were shut down in the first six months of this year, compared with 49,000 over the whole of last year.

"In a downcycle, it's the strongest that survive," said Mr Tan.

"The weaker companies will see shrinking growth, and won't last long because of their cashflow issues, especially if revenues keep sliding for a long period."

Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang told Parliament earlier this week that a recession is unlikely to set in, but the possibility that the Singapore economy could see some quarters of negative growth cannot be ruled out.

"Depending on the nature and severity of the downturn, the Government is prepared to consider introducing a range of contingency measures, which could include broad- based as well as sector-specific measures," he added.

Advance estimates of Singapore's third-quarter growth will be released today and should offer a clearer idea of where the economy stands. But all signs point to continued slow growth ahead, and companies are gearing up for more tumultuous times.

This article was first published on Oct 14, 2016.
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"I want to go home." Those were the first words whispered by Thai teenager Aroonrak Jattanathammajit who was left in a coma after she was hit by a car in Balestier Road last month.

Aroonrak, 16, first opened her eyes on Sunday evening after being warded for nearly a month at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

Her father, who was by her side when she first came around, said through a translator yesterday: "She was looking at the drip next to the bed, eyes wide."

Mr Sarayuth Jattanathammajit, 49, said: "Now, I am relieved. I am happy she can open her eyes."

Aroonrak, a Secondary 2 student at San Yu Adventist School , was hit by a car after leaving her hostel in Balestier Road on Sept 18.

After she was hit, the teen was taken to KKH where she underwent two brain operations. She spent 10 days in the Intensive Care Unit. She was later moved to a normal ward.

Her parents have been by her bedside every day and when she woke on Sunday, it was such a relief for them that they finally left the ward for a meal together.

"Usually we will take turns (to get food)," said Mr Jattanathammajit. This was so that one parent would always be with Aroonrak, their only child.

Mr Jattanathammajit had only $500 with him when he first arrived in Singapore after the accident.

He had borrowed about 12 million Thai baht (S$465,000) from a bank to fund his family's ailing rubber business, as well as to send his daughter here to study.

After reading reports about the teen's plight earlier this month, Singaporean Dennis Yeo, 44, started an online crowdfunding drive to help Aroonrak and her family.

In less than two weeks, more than $118,000 has been raised on fund-raising website Give.asia.

Mr Yeo, who works in a non-profit organisation, said he wanted to help ease the burden of Aroonrak's medical bills. He and her parents have settled the outstanding bills, which amounted to about $57,000.

The family has been overwhelmed by the help it has received. "I never thought so many people would come forward to help," Mr Jattanathammajit said tearfully.

Yesterday, Mr Yeo went to KKH to hand over a portion of the money - about $90,000 - raised for the family.

He intends to keep the campaign going until Sunday and hand over the remaining funds raised to the family after that.

Mr Jattanathammajit thanked Mr Yeo profusely when the two met at the hospital yesterday.

Said Mr Yeo: "We cannot communicate verbally, but we have a common understanding that what we are doing is for the sake of his daughter."

For Aroonrak, there is still a long road to recovery. Though her hospital bills thus far have been settled, she is expected to go for a skull operation in about a month.

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Photo Gallery

Thai student fighting for life after accident on Balestier Road

Source:

The New Paper

Photos courtesy of Mr Sarayuth Jattanathammajit

rahimahr@sph.com.sg 

This article was first published on Oct 14, 2016.
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