F&N board to resign, give Charoen "free hand"
Posted: 29 January 2013 2033 hrs
SINGAPORE - Fraser & Neave said on Tuesday that all of its board members, including chairman Lee Hsien Yang, will resign from the company next week, paving the way for Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, the largest shareholder, to have a greater say in the Singapore company's future.
The nine board members decided to resign to allow Mr Charoen's TCC Assets to have a "free hand to chart a new direction" for Fraser & Neave, a Singapore property and soft drinks conglomerate, Mr Lee told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting.
Mr Charoen, who holds a 46% stake in Fraser & Neave, had raised his offer to S$9.55 a share for the company's remaining shares - 7.5 percent higher than his previous offer of S$8.88. The increase was aimed at fending off a rival bid from a group led by Stephen Riady's Singapore-listed property firm Overseas Union Enterprise. Mr Charoen's offer closes on Monday.
The Overseas Union group decided not to raise its S$9.08-per-share offer, saying such a move was no longer attractive after recent measures taken by the Singapore government to cool the city-state's property market.
Fraser & Neave said the board will resign whether or not Mr Charoen acquires more than 50% of the company before the offer closes, in which case the offer would become unconditional.
"As clearly the largest shareholder of the company today, and probably a controlling shareholder of the company in a few days' time, it's not inappropriate for them to have that full flexibility and to want a clean slate, where they would want to move things forward," said Mr Lee.
The AGM started with shareholders lobbing wide-ranging questions about the takeover before annual financial matters of the company were addressed.
Some questioned how TCC Assets managed to secure an additional 90 million F&N shares on the eve of the auction, as most shareholders would have held on to their shares until the auction ended.
"The 90 million shares were a very sizeable block. TCC's broker must be very effective in persuading shareholders to sell on the eve of the auction," one of the shareholders said.
Several of them expressed disappointment that an auction called by the Securities Industry Council (SIC) failed to get into full swing when the Overseas Union group bowed out on January 21, the first day of the sale.
The auction was triggered because neither bidder declared a final offer by a January 20 deadline set by the Singapore securities watchdog.
The SIC had stepped in after Mr Charoen extended the deadline of his previous offer seven times and the Overseas Union group twice, testing the patience of investors.
"I was disappointed too that OUE Baytown, after extending on numerous occasions presumably with an interest to bid in due course, chose not to bid when the auction process was initiated," Mr Lee said.
But Mr Lee said Mr Charoen had raised his offer before the auction, creating a "clear gap" with the Overseas Union group's S$9.08-per-share bid.
When asked if he was satisfied with the outcome, Mr Lee said: "It would have been good to get a better outcome for shareholders but it's a good outcome."
Separately, Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings, Fraser & Neave's second-largest shareholder with a 14.8% stake, said it will decide whether to sell its stake to Mr Charoen by Monday.
- CNA/ir
- wong chee tat :)
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Ex-SMRT bus drivers report abuse allegations in online video
Ex-SMRT bus drivers report abuse allegations in online video
By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 30 January 2013 1044 hrs
SINGAPORE: Police said two defendants who had been charged for their roles in an SMRT bus strike in November 2012 have made serious allegations in a video online that they been assaulted while in police custody.
Police said in a statement on Tuesday night that they are aware of the video interviews.
They urged the two men, 32-year-old He Jun Ling and 33-year-old Liu Xiang Ying, to make a police report so that they can investigate the case.
Police said the defendants' lawyers can also raise this matter in court when the case against them is heard.
Police added that as the case is currently before the court, it is not appropriate for them to comment on it.
- CNA/ck/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 30 January 2013 1044 hrs
SINGAPORE: Police said two defendants who had been charged for their roles in an SMRT bus strike in November 2012 have made serious allegations in a video online that they been assaulted while in police custody.
Police said in a statement on Tuesday night that they are aware of the video interviews.
They urged the two men, 32-year-old He Jun Ling and 33-year-old Liu Xiang Ying, to make a police report so that they can investigate the case.
Police said the defendants' lawyers can also raise this matter in court when the case against them is heard.
Police added that as the case is currently before the court, it is not appropriate for them to comment on it.
- CNA/ck/fa
- wong chee tat :)
SIA to axe 76 pilots due to surplus
SIA to axe 76 pilots due to surplus
By Yvonne Chan | Posted: 30 January 2013 1815 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) said on Wednesday that it has taken the difficult decision of asking 76 pilots on fixed-term contracts to leave by end of June.
It said in a statement that it is releasing them before their contracts expire.
The airline had previously been releasing pilots only when their contracts expired.
SIA said it will help the pilots find jobs within the SIA Group and with other airlines.
The airline currently has a surplus of pilots as the global financial crisis of 2009-10 had resulted in excess capacity and slower-than-expected growth.
SIA saw its net profit in the first-half of the current fiscal year ending March fall by 30 per cent on-year. This followed a 69 per cent drop in net profit in the airline's financial year ending March 2012.
It had earlier put in place other measures to address the surplus. These included voluntary no-pay leave and the suspension of cadet pilot recruitment.
No financial details of the cuts have been released.
Leithen Francis, editor of Aviation Week, said: "Things are pretty good in Asia in terms of economic growth but a lot of SIA business is long-haul, places like the Europe and the US where the economic situation is not so good.
"A lot of the growth last year was in short-haul international services, so that means a lot of flights between say Singapore and Malaysia, and Malaysia and Thailand... So even though the market will grow in 2013, we may have a situation where the growth is on short-haul and not so much on long-haul, which doesn't really help Singapore Airlines mainline."
He added: "Another factor why SIA is announcing cuts is because its announced recently that its retiring its five A340 aircraft. These are the non-stop aircraft that flew from Singapore to New York and Los Angeles.
"The fact that its retiring those A340 aircraft means it no longer requires its A340 pilots. So some of the pilots have lost their contracts are A340s pilots, although the majority of the pilots from what I understand are (Boeing) 777 pilots."
Pilots employed on fixed-term contracts make up about 4 per cent of Singapore Airlines' total pilot workforce.
- CNA/al/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Yvonne Chan | Posted: 30 January 2013 1815 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) said on Wednesday that it has taken the difficult decision of asking 76 pilots on fixed-term contracts to leave by end of June.
It said in a statement that it is releasing them before their contracts expire.
The airline had previously been releasing pilots only when their contracts expired.
SIA said it will help the pilots find jobs within the SIA Group and with other airlines.
The airline currently has a surplus of pilots as the global financial crisis of 2009-10 had resulted in excess capacity and slower-than-expected growth.
SIA saw its net profit in the first-half of the current fiscal year ending March fall by 30 per cent on-year. This followed a 69 per cent drop in net profit in the airline's financial year ending March 2012.
It had earlier put in place other measures to address the surplus. These included voluntary no-pay leave and the suspension of cadet pilot recruitment.
No financial details of the cuts have been released.
Leithen Francis, editor of Aviation Week, said: "Things are pretty good in Asia in terms of economic growth but a lot of SIA business is long-haul, places like the Europe and the US where the economic situation is not so good.
"A lot of the growth last year was in short-haul international services, so that means a lot of flights between say Singapore and Malaysia, and Malaysia and Thailand... So even though the market will grow in 2013, we may have a situation where the growth is on short-haul and not so much on long-haul, which doesn't really help Singapore Airlines mainline."
He added: "Another factor why SIA is announcing cuts is because its announced recently that its retiring its five A340 aircraft. These are the non-stop aircraft that flew from Singapore to New York and Los Angeles.
"The fact that its retiring those A340 aircraft means it no longer requires its A340 pilots. So some of the pilots have lost their contracts are A340s pilots, although the majority of the pilots from what I understand are (Boeing) 777 pilots."
Pilots employed on fixed-term contracts make up about 4 per cent of Singapore Airlines' total pilot workforce.
- CNA/al/ac
- wong chee tat :)
TCC Assets moves one step closer to F&N takeover
TCC Assets moves one step closer to F&N takeover
By Yvonne Chan | Posted: 30 January 2013 1943 hrs
SINGAPORE: TCC Assets is yet another step closer to gaining full control of Fraser & Neave (F&N).
In a statement to the Singapore Exchange on Wednesday, TCC Assets said it had purchased an additional 3.3 million F&N shares (0.23 per cent) at S$9.55 per share on January 29.
Together with Singapore-listed ThaiBev, TCC Assets now owns 46.36 per cent of F&N (not inclusive of acceptances).
Earlier this week, F&N said Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's revised offer of S$9.55 per share for the drinks and property conglomerate was "fair". The company added that its chairman Lee Hsien Yang and three other independent directors, who hold the firm's shares, intend to accept the revised offer.
On Tuesday, F&N's board of directors said they would resign after the close of the revised offer next week to allow the Thai tycoon to decide on the future direction of the company.
Meanwhile, Mr Charoen's TCC Group is reportedly planning to raise as much as 50 billion baht (US$1.7 billion) by injecting two Bangkok property assets into funds.
Mr Charoen has offered S$9.55 for the remaining F&N shares. This values F&N at around S$13.8 billion. His offer lapses on February 4.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Yvonne Chan | Posted: 30 January 2013 1943 hrs
SINGAPORE: TCC Assets is yet another step closer to gaining full control of Fraser & Neave (F&N).
In a statement to the Singapore Exchange on Wednesday, TCC Assets said it had purchased an additional 3.3 million F&N shares (0.23 per cent) at S$9.55 per share on January 29.
Together with Singapore-listed ThaiBev, TCC Assets now owns 46.36 per cent of F&N (not inclusive of acceptances).
Earlier this week, F&N said Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's revised offer of S$9.55 per share for the drinks and property conglomerate was "fair". The company added that its chairman Lee Hsien Yang and three other independent directors, who hold the firm's shares, intend to accept the revised offer.
On Tuesday, F&N's board of directors said they would resign after the close of the revised offer next week to allow the Thai tycoon to decide on the future direction of the company.
Meanwhile, Mr Charoen's TCC Group is reportedly planning to raise as much as 50 billion baht (US$1.7 billion) by injecting two Bangkok property assets into funds.
Mr Charoen has offered S$9.55 for the remaining F&N shares. This values F&N at around S$13.8 billion. His offer lapses on February 4.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
UE plans to launch rival bid for WBL Corp
UE plans to launch rival bid for WBL Corp
By Lynda Hong | Posted: 30 January 2013 2324 hrs
SINGAPORE: Another corporate fight is brewing as property and engineering group United Engineers plans to launch a rival bid for WBL Corp at S$4 a share.
United Engineers said the company's growth has reached its peak after the property and construction firm raked in record revenue of S$1.19 billion in 2011.
The company is now looking for more recurring income.
To do that, United Engineers said it has to look beyond its home ground in Singapore for inorganic growth.
That is why it has offered to buy the remaining 61.7 per cent of WBL Corp that it does not own for S$687 million in an all-cash offer.
Jackson Yap, group managing director and chief executive officer of United Engineers Limited, said: "In property development, the earnings could be quite lumpy. When you have the project finishing, you have a spike in your earnings. So we are trying to spread it out and have a more recurring income.
"The auto business offers us that opportunity. It is a great business. We have seen quite good growth for them. We think that that is one of our core businesses if we are looking to take over."
United Engineers is eyeing on WBL Corp's business outside Singapore, particularly in China.
These include automotive, property development, technology and engineering.
Jack Wang from Lexico Advisory said there could be lucrative spin-offs if the acquisition is successful.
Mr Wang said: "You are not just buying one company. You are actually buying three segments of the business which I think if anyone is confident of about the fundamentals, you can spin-off some of the business, and you can get lots of value out of it."
United Engineers has the support from WBL Corp's major shareholders which include OCBC Group, Great Eastern, and the Lee Family.
Together they hold 38.3 per cent stake in WBL Corp.
United Engineers said it will fund the acquisition by internal funds and external borrowings.
WBL Corp's shares were halted for trading on Wednesday. Its shares last traded at S$4.20 apiece.
Major shareholder Straits Trading with some 44.6 per cent stake in WBL Corp has not commented on United Engineers' latest offer.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Lynda Hong | Posted: 30 January 2013 2324 hrs
SINGAPORE: Another corporate fight is brewing as property and engineering group United Engineers plans to launch a rival bid for WBL Corp at S$4 a share.
United Engineers said the company's growth has reached its peak after the property and construction firm raked in record revenue of S$1.19 billion in 2011.
The company is now looking for more recurring income.
To do that, United Engineers said it has to look beyond its home ground in Singapore for inorganic growth.
That is why it has offered to buy the remaining 61.7 per cent of WBL Corp that it does not own for S$687 million in an all-cash offer.
Jackson Yap, group managing director and chief executive officer of United Engineers Limited, said: "In property development, the earnings could be quite lumpy. When you have the project finishing, you have a spike in your earnings. So we are trying to spread it out and have a more recurring income.
"The auto business offers us that opportunity. It is a great business. We have seen quite good growth for them. We think that that is one of our core businesses if we are looking to take over."
United Engineers is eyeing on WBL Corp's business outside Singapore, particularly in China.
These include automotive, property development, technology and engineering.
Jack Wang from Lexico Advisory said there could be lucrative spin-offs if the acquisition is successful.
Mr Wang said: "You are not just buying one company. You are actually buying three segments of the business which I think if anyone is confident of about the fundamentals, you can spin-off some of the business, and you can get lots of value out of it."
United Engineers has the support from WBL Corp's major shareholders which include OCBC Group, Great Eastern, and the Lee Family.
Together they hold 38.3 per cent stake in WBL Corp.
United Engineers said it will fund the acquisition by internal funds and external borrowings.
WBL Corp's shares were halted for trading on Wednesday. Its shares last traded at S$4.20 apiece.
Major shareholder Straits Trading with some 44.6 per cent stake in WBL Corp has not commented on United Engineers' latest offer.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Thai tycoon takes majority control of Singapore's F&N
Thai tycoon takes majority control of Singapore's F&N
Posted: 31 January 2013 0144 hrs
SINGAPORE: A Thai tycoon has clinched majority control of Singapore conglomerate Fraser and Neave (F&N), making his offer to fully takeover the company unconditional.
TCC Assets, owned by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, said in a statement late Wednesday that its stake in F&N stands at 50.92 per cent after further purchases in the stock market and more shareholders accepting its offer.
With majority control now in the hands of the Thai parties, "accordingly, the F&N offer has become unconditional in all respects," the statement added.
TCC Assets is offering to buy F&N shares it does not already own at S$9.55 apiece, valuing the drinks, property and publishing conglomerate at S$13.75 billion.
The deadline for the rest of the shareholders to accept the offer was extended from February 4 to February 18, according to the statement.
Indonesia-led property firm Overseas Union Enterprise (OUE) averted a bidding war earlier this month when it declined to match the offer by the Thais. OUE is linked to Indonesian tycoon Mochtar Riady.
The takeover is said to be the biggest in Singapore's corporate history if it pushes through.
F&N became a takeover target after it sold off its most prized asset, Tiger Beer maker Asia Pacific Breweries, to Dutch giant Heineken in September.
It still has lucrative beverages, property and publishing operations.
Analysts believe more shareholders are likely to accept the offer as it is the only bid on the table.
The market however is closely watching whether Japanese brewer Kirin, which holds a 15 per cent stake in F&N, will sell its interests or remain a minority shareholder.
Kirin had allied itself with OUE in the bidding war. Its 15 per cent stake is worth more than S$2.0 billion at the rate offered by TCC Assets.
Charoen's TCC Group has a real estate unit, and the tycoon also owns Thai Beverage, which sells Chang beer.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 31 January 2013 0144 hrs
SINGAPORE: A Thai tycoon has clinched majority control of Singapore conglomerate Fraser and Neave (F&N), making his offer to fully takeover the company unconditional.
TCC Assets, owned by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, said in a statement late Wednesday that its stake in F&N stands at 50.92 per cent after further purchases in the stock market and more shareholders accepting its offer.
With majority control now in the hands of the Thai parties, "accordingly, the F&N offer has become unconditional in all respects," the statement added.
TCC Assets is offering to buy F&N shares it does not already own at S$9.55 apiece, valuing the drinks, property and publishing conglomerate at S$13.75 billion.
The deadline for the rest of the shareholders to accept the offer was extended from February 4 to February 18, according to the statement.
Indonesia-led property firm Overseas Union Enterprise (OUE) averted a bidding war earlier this month when it declined to match the offer by the Thais. OUE is linked to Indonesian tycoon Mochtar Riady.
The takeover is said to be the biggest in Singapore's corporate history if it pushes through.
F&N became a takeover target after it sold off its most prized asset, Tiger Beer maker Asia Pacific Breweries, to Dutch giant Heineken in September.
It still has lucrative beverages, property and publishing operations.
Analysts believe more shareholders are likely to accept the offer as it is the only bid on the table.
The market however is closely watching whether Japanese brewer Kirin, which holds a 15 per cent stake in F&N, will sell its interests or remain a minority shareholder.
Kirin had allied itself with OUE in the bidding war. Its 15 per cent stake is worth more than S$2.0 billion at the rate offered by TCC Assets.
Charoen's TCC Group has a real estate unit, and the tycoon also owns Thai Beverage, which sells Chang beer.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, January 27, 2013
李丽连：首要任务是确保榜鹅东市镇理事会交接顺利
Updated: Sunday, 27 January 2013 10:21
李丽连：首要任务是确保榜鹅东市镇理事会交接顺利
®Copyright MediaCorp
新当选榜鹅东单选区议员的工人党党员李丽连说：她的首要任务是确保榜鹅东市镇理事会的交接事宜顺利进行。
李丽连在工人党总部举行的记者会上说：现有的榜鹅东市镇会在人民行动党的白沙榜鹅市镇会旗下，因此她在完成交接事宜后，将着手设立榜鹅东市镇会，然后再招募志愿者，协助主办基层和社区活动。
李丽连也答谢榜鹅东选民对她的信任，并表示不排除成为一名全职议员的可能性。
"我必定会尽全力，为您服务，在国会里，维护您的权益，我也会把市镇会给管理好。除了胜利的喜悦，我也知道有很多工作在等着我去做，我期待在选区内见到大家，让我们共同打造一个团结，充满活力的榜鹅东。"
李丽连宣布，将从下个月4号起，晚上7点半到9点半，在河谷街第135座组屋楼下，接见选民。
针对政府在补选期间宣布的各项新措施是否影响选情，李丽连回应说：
李丽连认为，这些新措施是受欢迎的，而这些课题也是工人党议员曾经在国会中提出的。她说，榜鹅东的选民通过选票表达了他们的心声，他们希望国会里有更多把声音，希望工人党向政府施加更多压力，以便能看到更多更好的改变。
- wong chee tat :)
李丽连：首要任务是确保榜鹅东市镇理事会交接顺利
®Copyright MediaCorp
新当选榜鹅东单选区议员的工人党党员李丽连说：她的首要任务是确保榜鹅东市镇理事会的交接事宜顺利进行。
李丽连在工人党总部举行的记者会上说：现有的榜鹅东市镇会在人民行动党的白沙榜鹅市镇会旗下，因此她在完成交接事宜后，将着手设立榜鹅东市镇会，然后再招募志愿者，协助主办基层和社区活动。
李丽连也答谢榜鹅东选民对她的信任，并表示不排除成为一名全职议员的可能性。
"我必定会尽全力，为您服务，在国会里，维护您的权益，我也会把市镇会给管理好。除了胜利的喜悦，我也知道有很多工作在等着我去做，我期待在选区内见到大家，让我们共同打造一个团结，充满活力的榜鹅东。"
李丽连宣布，将从下个月4号起，晚上7点半到9点半，在河谷街第135座组屋楼下，接见选民。
针对政府在补选期间宣布的各项新措施是否影响选情，李丽连回应说：
李丽连认为，这些新措施是受欢迎的，而这些课题也是工人党议员曾经在国会中提出的。她说，榜鹅东的选民通过选票表达了他们的心声，他们希望国会里有更多把声音，希望工人党向政府施加更多压力，以便能看到更多更好的改变。
- wong chee tat :)
时事分析员: 李丽连和许宝琨之间的得票率差距 令人感到意外
27/1/2013
时事分析员: 李丽连和许宝琨之间的得票率差距 令人感到意外
®Copyright MediaCorp
受访的时事分析员说，当选榜鹅东单选区议员的工人党候选人李丽连和人民行动党候选人许宝琨之间的得票率差距，令人感到意外。
政策研究学院的分析员张俪霖告诉记者余慧慧，多数选民会选择李丽连，是因为他们比较认识她，并且认同工人党议员在国会所扮演的角色。
“李丽连是他们熟悉的，而许宝琨就是一个新人的姿态，虽然他代表执政党，他的成绩是百分之43，就是类似当初李丽连以新的候选人的成绩。这只是一个补选，而不是一个大选，有些选民可能会认为，有多些问责的声音，他们有做一些调整，他们就认为能多送一个进去。”
张俪霖也指出，这次的补选显示本地选民的思想模式和考虑因素，已经改变。
“榜鹅东是新单选区，而选民是夹心层比较多，36岁以上的选民占了投票的百分之51，所以未来的选民是否会往中间选民的方式发展，就是会给各政党不同的挑战。不是说每个课题就是会支持某个政党，而是中间选民就是会看个别候选人的策略和应变能力等。”
另一名分析员赖涯桥说，李丽连是我国自1965年以来，首位赢得单选区议席的反对党女议员，具有历史意义。
“她年纪非常轻，只有34岁，她是一个新手，但很有亲和力，就是在接下来4年，就是好好利用亲和力，还有就是女性的优势，在同选民的接触，和国会的辩论，她应该丰富政治语言和政治智慧，才不会辜负选民的期待。”
- wong chee tat :)
时事分析员: 李丽连和许宝琨之间的得票率差距 令人感到意外
®Copyright MediaCorp
受访的时事分析员说，当选榜鹅东单选区议员的工人党候选人李丽连和人民行动党候选人许宝琨之间的得票率差距，令人感到意外。
政策研究学院的分析员张俪霖告诉记者余慧慧，多数选民会选择李丽连，是因为他们比较认识她，并且认同工人党议员在国会所扮演的角色。
“李丽连是他们熟悉的，而许宝琨就是一个新人的姿态，虽然他代表执政党，他的成绩是百分之43，就是类似当初李丽连以新的候选人的成绩。这只是一个补选，而不是一个大选，有些选民可能会认为，有多些问责的声音，他们有做一些调整，他们就认为能多送一个进去。”
张俪霖也指出，这次的补选显示本地选民的思想模式和考虑因素，已经改变。
“榜鹅东是新单选区，而选民是夹心层比较多，36岁以上的选民占了投票的百分之51，所以未来的选民是否会往中间选民的方式发展，就是会给各政党不同的挑战。不是说每个课题就是会支持某个政党，而是中间选民就是会看个别候选人的策略和应变能力等。”
另一名分析员赖涯桥说，李丽连是我国自1965年以来，首位赢得单选区议席的反对党女议员，具有历史意义。
“她年纪非常轻，只有34岁，她是一个新手，但很有亲和力，就是在接下来4年，就是好好利用亲和力，还有就是女性的优势，在同选民的接触，和国会的辩论，她应该丰富政治语言和政治智慧，才不会辜负选民的期待。”
- wong chee tat :)
Singapore Ruling Party Loses Parliament Seat in Setback for Lee
By Shamim Adam -
Jan 27, 2013 1:24 AM GMT+0800
Singapore’s opposition extended its
record presence in Parliament after winning a by-election, as
support for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s ruling party
falters even as his government boosts efforts to help citizens.
The Workers’ Party’s Lee Li Lian won 54.5 percent of 29,415 valid votes in a four-way race yesterday, defeating the ruling People’s Action Party’s Koh Poh Koon, who came second with 43.7 percent, the televised results showed. A by-election was called after the PAP’s representative, who previously held the seat, resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Prime Minister Lee is struggling to win back support lost in the 2011 general elections as record-high housing and transport costs, public discontent over an influx of foreigners and infrastructure strains weakens approval for his party. Last year, Lee’s administration cut ministerial pay, speeded up construction of homes and made permanent a program to provide cash, utility rebates and medical funds for elderly and low- income households.
“It’s a devastating loss for the PAP and it comes as a huge shock,” said Bridget Welsh, a political science professor at the Singapore Management University. “They aren’t going far enough to address the fundamental disconnect with society and the people’s grievances.”
A total of 29,832 voted in Punggol East, a suburb in northeastern Singapore, of which 417 were disqualified ballots, the results showed. The seat fell vacant after Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer stepped down in December. He won 54.5 percent of the vote in 2011.
Lee, who has led the country since 2004, has raised foreign-worker levies and salary thresholds to cool the inflow of non-Singaporeans. The clampdown on an island smaller than New York City has driven the jobless rate to an 18-month low of 1.9 percent, pushing up manpower costs and constraining the central bank’s scope to combat an economic slowdown with monetary easing.
“The results show that the effect has not been trickled down to the ground,” Low Thia Khiang, secretary-general of the Workers’ Party, said in a televised press conference yesterday. “People still feel the pressure of the high cost of living and many other things as well, so I expect the government will work harder on that.”
Voters in Punggol East account for about 1 percent of the Singapore electorate. The by-election won’t change the balance of power in government; the PAP has 80 of 87 seats in Parliament.
“Despite this victory, the Workers’ Party is still a small party with much to do and improve upon,” Sylvia Lim, chairman of the Workers’ Party, said in the televised press conference. “If you think it’s a step toward a two-party system, I think we’ve still got quite some way to go.”
The island’s population has jumped by more than 1.1 million to 5.3 million since mid-2004, driving up property prices and stoking social tension as the government used immigration to make up for the low birth rate.
Ranked by the World Bank as the easiest place to do business, Singapore had cut taxes in past years to spur investment. Located at the southern end of the 600-mile (965- kilometer) Malacca Strait and home to one of the world’s busiest container ports, the country has remained vulnerable to fluctuations in overseas demand for manufactured goods even as the government boosts the financial services and tourism industries to become less reliant on exports.
Lee from the Workers’ Party, a 34-year-old sales trainer, will be the second elected woman opposition member of Parliament after Lim. The other candidates were surgeon Koh Poh Koon from the PAP, Desmond Lim from the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party.
To contact the reporter on this story: Shamim Adam in Singapore at sadam2@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephanie Phang at sphang@bloomberg.net.
- wong chee tat :)
The Workers’ Party’s Lee Li Lian won 54.5 percent of 29,415 valid votes in a four-way race yesterday, defeating the ruling People’s Action Party’s Koh Poh Koon, who came second with 43.7 percent, the televised results showed. A by-election was called after the PAP’s representative, who previously held the seat, resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Prime Minister Lee is struggling to win back support lost in the 2011 general elections as record-high housing and transport costs, public discontent over an influx of foreigners and infrastructure strains weakens approval for his party. Last year, Lee’s administration cut ministerial pay, speeded up construction of homes and made permanent a program to provide cash, utility rebates and medical funds for elderly and low- income households.
“It’s a devastating loss for the PAP and it comes as a huge shock,” said Bridget Welsh, a political science professor at the Singapore Management University. “They aren’t going far enough to address the fundamental disconnect with society and the people’s grievances.”
A total of 29,832 voted in Punggol East, a suburb in northeastern Singapore, of which 417 were disqualified ballots, the results showed. The seat fell vacant after Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer stepped down in December. He won 54.5 percent of the vote in 2011.
‘Tougher Fight’
“In a by-election, the governing party candidate always has a tougher fight,” the premier said in a statement. “Our plans and programs are already in progress, but they are geared towards the longer term and will take time to show results.”Lee, who has led the country since 2004, has raised foreign-worker levies and salary thresholds to cool the inflow of non-Singaporeans. The clampdown on an island smaller than New York City has driven the jobless rate to an 18-month low of 1.9 percent, pushing up manpower costs and constraining the central bank’s scope to combat an economic slowdown with monetary easing.
“The results show that the effect has not been trickled down to the ground,” Low Thia Khiang, secretary-general of the Workers’ Party, said in a televised press conference yesterday. “People still feel the pressure of the high cost of living and many other things as well, so I expect the government will work harder on that.”
Second Loss
This is the PAP’s second by-election loss in less than a year. The Workers’ Party, the only elected opposition in Parliament, retained its seat in a May poll after it expelled its representative for the Hougang district for “indiscretions in his private life.”Voters in Punggol East account for about 1 percent of the Singapore electorate. The by-election won’t change the balance of power in government; the PAP has 80 of 87 seats in Parliament.
“Despite this victory, the Workers’ Party is still a small party with much to do and improve upon,” Sylvia Lim, chairman of the Workers’ Party, said in the televised press conference. “If you think it’s a step toward a two-party system, I think we’ve still got quite some way to go.”
The island’s population has jumped by more than 1.1 million to 5.3 million since mid-2004, driving up property prices and stoking social tension as the government used immigration to make up for the low birth rate.
Economic Growth
Singapore’s growth eased to a three-year low of 1.2 percent in 2012 and gross domestic product is forecast to increase 1 percent to 3 percent this year. The island is in a “new phase” where it must adjust to a slower expansion than it has become accustomed to, the prime minister said in a New Year’s speech. GDP climbed an average of 6 percent in the decade through 2012.Ranked by the World Bank as the easiest place to do business, Singapore had cut taxes in past years to spur investment. Located at the southern end of the 600-mile (965- kilometer) Malacca Strait and home to one of the world’s busiest container ports, the country has remained vulnerable to fluctuations in overseas demand for manufactured goods even as the government boosts the financial services and tourism industries to become less reliant on exports.
Lee from the Workers’ Party, a 34-year-old sales trainer, will be the second elected woman opposition member of Parliament after Lim. The other candidates were surgeon Koh Poh Koon from the PAP, Desmond Lim from the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party.
To contact the reporter on this story: Shamim Adam in Singapore at sadam2@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephanie Phang at sphang@bloomberg.net.
- wong chee tat :)
WP’s margin of victory ‘devastating’ for PAP: analysts
- Yahoo! Newsroom/Yahoo! Photos / Christine Choo - A sombre Dr Koh and DPM Teo at the PAP post election press conference
Political observers say the Workers Party’s win in
Punggol East has dealt a huge blow to the PAP and indicates rapidly
growing resentment on the ground.
Describing PAP’s loss as "devastating" for the party,
associate professor Bridget Welsh said that it showed a "massive
downturn in support".
“It is not just about demographics but a national erosion of support sustained over the last four elections. The trends indicate that the PAP is in deep trouble – it’s efforts to win over the electorate are not working,” said Welsh, who is from Singapore Management University’s Political Science faculty.
“This is more than a wake-up call, it’s a fire alarm.”
In the end, Workers' Party candidate Lee Li Lian finished with 16,038 votes against PAP's Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Former Nominated Member of Parliament Siew Kum Hong was also surprised at the nearly 11 per cent winning margin, saying that it sent out a clear message that the ground was shifting – and not in favour of the PAP.
“The size of the margin emphasises how unhappy voters continue to be. It’s clear that voters continue to be angry about issues like housing prices, public transport, COE prices, and the AIM issue,” he said.
He admitted that he had thought it would be too close to call but "the size of the swing was a surprise”, considering that WP's Lee Li Lian managed only 41 per cent of votes when she contested the same ward at the 2011 General Elections.
Eugene Tan, assistant law professor at Singapore Management University, said the "stunning" margin of victory would have surprised the WP itself.
"A 13% increase in votes for the WP in a mere 20 months does suggest that all is not well for the PAP," said the current NMP.
“It is not just about demographics but a national erosion of support sustained over the last four elections. The trends indicate that the PAP is in deep trouble – it’s efforts to win over the electorate are not working,” said Welsh, who is from Singapore Management University’s Political Science faculty.
“This is more than a wake-up call, it’s a fire alarm.”
In the end, Workers' Party candidate Lee Li Lian finished with 16,038 votes against PAP's Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Former Nominated Member of Parliament Siew Kum Hong was also surprised at the nearly 11 per cent winning margin, saying that it sent out a clear message that the ground was shifting – and not in favour of the PAP.
“The size of the margin emphasises how unhappy voters continue to be. It’s clear that voters continue to be angry about issues like housing prices, public transport, COE prices, and the AIM issue,” he said.
He admitted that he had thought it would be too close to call but "the size of the swing was a surprise”, considering that WP's Lee Li Lian managed only 41 per cent of votes when she contested the same ward at the 2011 General Elections.
Eugene Tan, assistant law professor at Singapore Management University, said the "stunning" margin of victory would have surprised the WP itself.
"A 13% increase in votes for the WP in a mere 20 months does suggest that all is not well for the PAP," said the current NMP.
'Demographics helped swing votes'
The demographics of Punggol East voters, mostly young families with children, drew crucial votes to the Worker’s Party, said the analysts.
“The fact that the electorate in this constituency is young only highlights the serious gaps the party faces in connecting with the electorate in future. The policy tinkering and elitist materialist approach is not working,” said Welsh.
Tan said many Punggol East residents are also part of the post-independence generation and therefore "less enamoured of the PAP".
"The message of a strong opposition as a safety net appealed strongly. And then there is the by-election effect in which voters were less constrained in their choices because the outcome would not result in any change of government," he added.
On the other hand, Singapore Democratic Alliance Desmond Lim's and and Reform Party K Jeyaretnam's poor vote shares, at 168 and 353 votes respectively, was "not a surprising result" for Siew.
“I think the fact that SDA and RP also contested didn’t make a difference,” he said.
What now?
All three analysts also said PAP will have to have a good, hard think about the policies they have lined up since their poor showing at the General Election in 2011.
“They still have up to three years until the next GE, so there is definitely enough time for them to make a difference. The question is whether they have learnt the right lessons from GE2011 and this by-election,” said Siew, who added that key issues like public housing and transport would have to be tackled and solid policies introduced.
Tan said the PAP had much to do to stem the "political bleeding" and that the ruling party had to find a way to "excite" the voters vis-a-vis their vision and policies for the country.
"How to stop the PAP's political vulnerability from being seen as normal is a key matter that it needs to deal with. Once electoral defeats of the PAP become normalised and are seen as no big deal, then the PAP's political longevity will be severely challenged," cautioned Tan.
WP, on the other hand, will need to step up to make sure that they give their voters what they promises – a louder and alternative voice in Parliament. With Lee joining their ranks, WP will now have a total of nine representatives -- six from Aljunied and Hougang, one from Punggol East and two NCMPs.
It also "shortened the runway" for the WP to grow to contest in every seat in future elections, said Tan.
“They will have to be more active on issues, and this boost will likely give WP more confidence to set the agenda and engage issues,” said Welsh.
- wong chee tat :)
WP's Lee Li Lian wins Punggol East by clear margin
- Workers' Party holds a briefing after election win in Punggol East 26 January 2013. (Yahoo! photo)
Lee Li Lian of the opposition Workers’ Party won the
Punggol East by-election by a comfortable margin Saturday, delivering a
big blow to the ruling People’s Action Party.
The 34-year-old sales trainer garnered 16,038 votes against PAP candidate Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam got 353 votes while Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim got 168 votes.
A total of 29,832 votes were cast, of which 417 were rejected votes.
But more than just the win, it was the margin of victory of nearly 11 per cent between Lee and Dr Koh that surprised many.
After polls had closed at 8pm and ballot boxes had been delivered from polling stations to the counting centre at North Vista Secondary School, word soon began to trickle that WP was edging the contest by a narrow margin.
Right up until the official announcement made by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee shortly before 11pm, the margin of victory was expected to be close.
The 34-year-old sales trainer garnered 16,038 votes against PAP candidate Dr Koh Poh Koon’s 12,856 to become the first female opposition member to win a single member constituency since 1965.
Reform Party’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam got 353 votes while Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Desmond Lim got 168 votes.
A total of 29,832 votes were cast, of which 417 were rejected votes.
But more than just the win, it was the margin of victory of nearly 11 per cent between Lee and Dr Koh that surprised many.
After polls had closed at 8pm and ballot boxes had been delivered from polling stations to the counting centre at North Vista Secondary School, word soon began to trickle that WP was edging the contest by a narrow margin.
Right up until the official announcement made by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee shortly before 11pm, the margin of victory was expected to be close.
During a press briefing at the party's headquarters at Syed Alwi Road, WP's Lee thanked voters for their confidence in her and said her top priority would be ensuring a smooth handover.
She promised to manage the estate diligently and "stand up for you when you need to be heard", immediately sharing that her Meet-the-People sessions would start on 4th February, a sign perhaps that she and the party had come fully prepared, expecting to win.
WP chairman Sylvia LIm noted that the impact of the campaign had the ruling party scrambling in the eleventh hour and showed "the value of political competition in getting the government to sit up and take notice".
However, she said WP remained a small party and there was still much to do and improve upon, dimissing the notion Singapore was close to being a "two-party system" when over 90 percent of Parliament was still in PAP hands.
She added that the party would continue to engage the government on issues close to Singaporeans but said she hoped that Lee's victory would encourage more women to join politics.
WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang said the results of the by-election show Singaporeans still expect the government to work harder.
"The results show that the effect (of new government policies responding to citizens' concerns) has not really trickled down on the ground," he said, noting that there were still a lot of pressures in the area of cost of living.
"I expect the government will work harder on that and the Workers' Party will assist whenever it can," he said.
In a statement, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he respected the choice of Punggol East voters, and congratulated the WP for its victory.
He added that the PAP fielded a good candidate in Koh, whom he said showed character and courage in contesting the election.
In a press conference after the results were announced, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, with candidate Koh beside him, said the government would continue with programmes for the long-term good of Singaporeans.
DPM Teo singled out the "circumstances leading to the by-election" as well as issues like the stalled construction at Rivervale Plaze as being central to the PAP's defeat.
"I hope the voters can give us their support the next time," Teo said.
Koh, meanwhile, thanked all those who helped them in the campaign and said he would be ready to serve if called upon by the party.
SDA's Lim, who conceded defeat before the election results were officially announced, said it had been a "fast and hard" race, and that entering the content he was well aware of the risks and challenges.
Lim, who was criticised for joining the race and perhaps diluting opposition votes, said the move was something the SDA had to do to keep its political flame alive.
The by-election, which came after then Parliament Speaker and MP for Punggol East Michael Palmer resigned last month in disgrace after admitting to an extra-marital affair, was closely watched by Singaporeans .
The win brings to seven the number of MP seats held by the WP, aside from the two places garnered for NCMPs. One more NCMP seat is held by Lina Chiam of the Singapore People's Party.
She has been with the party for six years and has held various posts including president of the youth wing and is its current deputy webmaster.
Lee has campaigned on the promise she would fight to make the voices of worried young parents raising children heard, as well as those elderly Singaporeans facing rising costs and medical care.
Lee said she would fight tirelessly to make the voices of worried young parents raising children heard if elected to Parliament, as well as elderly Singaporeans facing rising costs of medical care.
- wong chee tat :)
WP's Lee wins Punggol East by-election
WP's Lee wins Punggol East by-election
Posted: 26 January 2013 2301 hrs
SINGAPORE: Ms Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party (WP) has won the Punggol East by-election.
Returning Officer Mr Yam Ah Mee announced the results at about 11pm on Saturday.
Ms Lee won 16,038 or 54.52 per cent of the valid votes, while Dr Koh Poh Koon of the People's Action Party received 12,856 or 43.71 per cent of the votes.
At a news conference following the announcement of the by-election results, chairman of WP Ms Sylvia Lim said the party's message to the voters was to get the government to pay more attention to them.
She also said the party is very encouraged by the results, taking it as a sign to have WP in Parliament and that they endorse the party's brand of politics.
Ms Lee said she knows that there is a lot of work to be done and will make sure there is a smooth handover and wants to build a strong community in Punggol East.
She also added that most immediate task is to build up the town council and increase the number of grassroot leaders in Punggol East.
She also shared that her Meet-the-People session will start on 4 February at Block 135 Rivervale Street.
WP's secretary-general Mr Low Thia Khiang said the results show that people still want the government to work harder. He said people still feel pressure from the high cost of living.
Reform Party's Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam took 353 or 1.20 per cent of the votes and Singapore Democratic Alliance's Mr Desmond Lim had 168 or 0.57 of the votes.
Both Mr Jeyaretnam and Mr Lim will lose their S$16,000 election deposit as they have garnered less than 12.5 per cent of the votes cast.
Total number of votes cast was 29,832, with 417 rejected votes.
This was 94.26 per cent of the 31,649 registered electors in the Single Member Constituency.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Ms Lee and the Workers' Party for winning the by-election.
"I respect the choice of Punggol East voters," he said in a statement.
Mr Lee said the PAP will continue to work to improve the lives of Singaporeans, and present its report card for voters to judge in the next general election.
He added that he intends to field Dr Koh again in a future election, so that he can be part of the PAP's team to serve Singapore.
RP's Mr Jeyaretnam also congratulated the Workers' Party, saying that the by-election was mainly fought on local issues.
He said that irrespective of the results, the party "has taken the first step in mending the broken promise of all, which is the promise to build a democratic society."
- CNA/al/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 26 January 2013 2301 hrs
SINGAPORE: Ms Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party (WP) has won the Punggol East by-election.
Returning Officer Mr Yam Ah Mee announced the results at about 11pm on Saturday.
Ms Lee won 16,038 or 54.52 per cent of the valid votes, while Dr Koh Poh Koon of the People's Action Party received 12,856 or 43.71 per cent of the votes.
At a news conference following the announcement of the by-election results, chairman of WP Ms Sylvia Lim said the party's message to the voters was to get the government to pay more attention to them.
She also said the party is very encouraged by the results, taking it as a sign to have WP in Parliament and that they endorse the party's brand of politics.
Ms Lee said she knows that there is a lot of work to be done and will make sure there is a smooth handover and wants to build a strong community in Punggol East.
She also added that most immediate task is to build up the town council and increase the number of grassroot leaders in Punggol East.
She also shared that her Meet-the-People session will start on 4 February at Block 135 Rivervale Street.
WP's secretary-general Mr Low Thia Khiang said the results show that people still want the government to work harder. He said people still feel pressure from the high cost of living.
Reform Party's Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam took 353 or 1.20 per cent of the votes and Singapore Democratic Alliance's Mr Desmond Lim had 168 or 0.57 of the votes.
Both Mr Jeyaretnam and Mr Lim will lose their S$16,000 election deposit as they have garnered less than 12.5 per cent of the votes cast.
Total number of votes cast was 29,832, with 417 rejected votes.
This was 94.26 per cent of the 31,649 registered electors in the Single Member Constituency.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Ms Lee and the Workers' Party for winning the by-election.
"I respect the choice of Punggol East voters," he said in a statement.
Mr Lee said the PAP will continue to work to improve the lives of Singaporeans, and present its report card for voters to judge in the next general election.
He added that he intends to field Dr Koh again in a future election, so that he can be part of the PAP's team to serve Singapore.
RP's Mr Jeyaretnam also congratulated the Workers' Party, saying that the by-election was mainly fought on local issues.
He said that irrespective of the results, the party "has taken the first step in mending the broken promise of all, which is the promise to build a democratic society."
- CNA/al/ck
- wong chee tat :)
PM Lee congratulates Workers' Party on by-election win, calls on people to come together as one
PM Lee congratulates Workers' Party on by-election win, calls on people to come together as one
Posted: 26 January 2013 2327 hrs
Singapore: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has congratulated the Workers' Party and MP-elect Ms Lee Li Lian for winning the Punggol East by-election.
He said in a statement issued just after the by-election results were announced that he respects the choice of Punggol East voters.
"Now that the Punggol East by-election is over, we should re-focus on national issues" said Mr Lee in his media release.
He said Singapore has a heavy agenda coming up, such as The White Paper on Population that will soon be debated in Parliament, and Budget 2013 which is less than a month away.
"Let us come together as one people to do our best for Singapore" said PM Lee.
He said the PAP fielded a good candidate and Dr Koh Poh Koon had showed character and courage in contesting this election, and did the PAP proud.
Mr Lee noted that many voters were impressed by Dr Koh's sincerity and commitment. But unfortunately there were not enough of them for him to win, as he went on to thank all those who voted for Dr Koh and the PAP.
- CNA/sf
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 26 January 2013 2327 hrs
Singapore: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has congratulated the Workers' Party and MP-elect Ms Lee Li Lian for winning the Punggol East by-election.
He said in a statement issued just after the by-election results were announced that he respects the choice of Punggol East voters.
"Now that the Punggol East by-election is over, we should re-focus on national issues" said Mr Lee in his media release.
He said Singapore has a heavy agenda coming up, such as The White Paper on Population that will soon be debated in Parliament, and Budget 2013 which is less than a month away.
"Let us come together as one people to do our best for Singapore" said PM Lee.
He said the PAP fielded a good candidate and Dr Koh Poh Koon had showed character and courage in contesting this election, and did the PAP proud.
Mr Lee noted that many voters were impressed by Dr Koh's sincerity and commitment. But unfortunately there were not enough of them for him to win, as he went on to thank all those who voted for Dr Koh and the PAP.
- CNA/sf
- wong chee tat :)
New premises for Singapore Pools from Feb 6
New premises for Singapore Pools from Feb 6
Posted: 25 January 2013 1717 hrs
SINGAPORE : Singapore Pools will operate from its new premises at Middle Road from February 6.
It will move its office and main branch in PoMo, Selegie Road, to the new Singapore Pools Building.
Services at PoMo will cease on February 5, after 8pm.
The 12-storey Singapore Pools Building will house its office departments, main branch, draw hall, sports entertainment, as well as other office tenants.
The first draw at the new premises will be held at 6pm at the draw hall on Level One.
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 25 January 2013 1717 hrs
SINGAPORE : Singapore Pools will operate from its new premises at Middle Road from February 6.
It will move its office and main branch in PoMo, Selegie Road, to the new Singapore Pools Building.
Services at PoMo will cease on February 5, after 8pm.
The 12-storey Singapore Pools Building will house its office departments, main branch, draw hall, sports entertainment, as well as other office tenants.
The first draw at the new premises will be held at 6pm at the draw hall on Level One.
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
Polyclinics see more cases of diarrhoea
Polyclinics see more cases of diarrhoea
By Lim Wee Leng | Posted: 25 January 2013 2226 hrs
SINGAPORE: The number of diarrhoea cases in Singapore has hit the epidemic level.
Last week, polyclinics saw a daily average of 569 cases of patients with diarrhoea.
This is lower than the previous week, when the average was 596.
Compared with the same period last year, the number of cases increased about 6 per cent.
The number of cases in the same period last year was 539.
Doctors say this could be because of the current Norovirus infections in countries such as the United States and United Kingdom.
Singaporeans who have visited these countries may have contracted it and spread it back home in schools or at work place.
Doctors have reminded the public to practise good hygiene and healthy eating.
- CNA/de
- wong chee tat :)
By Lim Wee Leng | Posted: 25 January 2013 2226 hrs
SINGAPORE: The number of diarrhoea cases in Singapore has hit the epidemic level.
Last week, polyclinics saw a daily average of 569 cases of patients with diarrhoea.
This is lower than the previous week, when the average was 596.
Compared with the same period last year, the number of cases increased about 6 per cent.
The number of cases in the same period last year was 539.
Doctors say this could be because of the current Norovirus infections in countries such as the United States and United Kingdom.
Singaporeans who have visited these countries may have contracted it and spread it back home in schools or at work place.
Doctors have reminded the public to practise good hygiene and healthy eating.
- CNA/de
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
CapitaMall Trust reports 2.6% rise in Q4 DPU
CapitaMall Trust reports 2.6% rise in Q4 DPU
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 18 January 2013 1821 hrs
SINGAPORE : CapitaMall Trust Management on Friday said its distribution per unit (DPU) was up 2.6 per cent to 2.36 cents in the fourth quarter of 2012.
For the full year, unitholders will receive a total of 9.46 cents for the fiscal year, compared to 9.37 cents in 2011.
CapitaMall Trust Management said that for the fourth quarter of 2012, its distributable income grew 5.7 per cent to over S$79 million.
For the full year, distributable income grew 5.1 per cent to more than S$316 million.
Gross revenue rose 10 per cent to S$173.67 million, while net property income increased 14.3 per cent to S$112.91 million during the same period.
The management attributed this to completed asset upgrades in malls like the "Atrium@Orchard", JCube and Bugis+.
Ongoing enhancements in IMM are also expected to contribute positively this year.
The management added that its new Westgate shopping mall at Jurong Gateway is on track to be completed later this year.
Moving forward, the management said that it will look at some of its older malls for possible upgrading opportunities.
Wilson Tan, CEO of CapitaMall Trust Management Limited, said: "This is something important because last year we (were) able to churn out three new asset enhancement exercises, and this is really going to bring us great profits...for 2013, so asset enhancement is an exercise we will continue to do."
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 18 January 2013 1821 hrs
SINGAPORE : CapitaMall Trust Management on Friday said its distribution per unit (DPU) was up 2.6 per cent to 2.36 cents in the fourth quarter of 2012.
For the full year, unitholders will receive a total of 9.46 cents for the fiscal year, compared to 9.37 cents in 2011.
CapitaMall Trust Management said that for the fourth quarter of 2012, its distributable income grew 5.7 per cent to over S$79 million.
For the full year, distributable income grew 5.1 per cent to more than S$316 million.
Gross revenue rose 10 per cent to S$173.67 million, while net property income increased 14.3 per cent to S$112.91 million during the same period.
The management attributed this to completed asset upgrades in malls like the "Atrium@Orchard", JCube and Bugis+.
Ongoing enhancements in IMM are also expected to contribute positively this year.
The management added that its new Westgate shopping mall at Jurong Gateway is on track to be completed later this year.
Moving forward, the management said that it will look at some of its older malls for possible upgrading opportunities.
Wilson Tan, CEO of CapitaMall Trust Management Limited, said: "This is something important because last year we (were) able to churn out three new asset enhancement exercises, and this is really going to bring us great profits...for 2013, so asset enhancement is an exercise we will continue to do."
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
CapitaCommercial Trust reports 6.8% rise in DPU
CapitaCommercial Trust reports 6.8% rise in DPU
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 23 January 2013 1908 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore's CapitaCommercial Trust reported a 6.8 per cent increase on-year in its distribution to unit-holders for Q4 2012. This was mainly due to higher income from some of its buildings, as well as contributions from a newly acquired asset, Twenty Anson.
CCT, which includes buildings like Raffles City Tower, Capital Tower, Six Battery Road in its portfolio, reported a fourth quarter distribution per unit of 2.05 cents
For the full year, the REIT's distribution per unit rose 6.9 per cent to 8.04 cents. Its distributable income for the fourth quarter climbed seven per cent to 58.3 million.
The REIT said its occupancy rate increased to 97.2 per cent during Q4 2012 from 97.1 per cent in Q3, while Singapore's CBD average occupancy rate declined from 93.2 per cent in Q3 2012 to 92.2 per cent in Q4 2012.
Looking ahead, the REIT's manager pointed out that there is little risk of an oversupply in the Singapore office market -- just one new office building will be added to the supply in Singapore this year -- and the office rental market is showing signs of bottoming out.
Lynette Leong, CEO of CapitaCommercial Trust Management, said: "This year's supply is going to be quite low, at 0.8 million square feet. The average for the next three years is also going to be 0.8 million square feet. In the last three years, the demand was about 1.5 to 1.8 million square feet per annum.
"If you examine the rental trend, the rate of decline has also eased, so that is also another signal that the rent is reaching a trough. So we think that this year is a year that is poised for rental growth."
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Kristie Neo | Posted: 23 January 2013 1908 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore's CapitaCommercial Trust reported a 6.8 per cent increase on-year in its distribution to unit-holders for Q4 2012. This was mainly due to higher income from some of its buildings, as well as contributions from a newly acquired asset, Twenty Anson.
CCT, which includes buildings like Raffles City Tower, Capital Tower, Six Battery Road in its portfolio, reported a fourth quarter distribution per unit of 2.05 cents
For the full year, the REIT's distribution per unit rose 6.9 per cent to 8.04 cents. Its distributable income for the fourth quarter climbed seven per cent to 58.3 million.
The REIT said its occupancy rate increased to 97.2 per cent during Q4 2012 from 97.1 per cent in Q3, while Singapore's CBD average occupancy rate declined from 93.2 per cent in Q3 2012 to 92.2 per cent in Q4 2012.
Looking ahead, the REIT's manager pointed out that there is little risk of an oversupply in the Singapore office market -- just one new office building will be added to the supply in Singapore this year -- and the office rental market is showing signs of bottoming out.
Lynette Leong, CEO of CapitaCommercial Trust Management, said: "This year's supply is going to be quite low, at 0.8 million square feet. The average for the next three years is also going to be 0.8 million square feet. In the last three years, the demand was about 1.5 to 1.8 million square feet per annum.
"If you examine the rental trend, the rate of decline has also eased, so that is also another signal that the rent is reaching a trough. So we think that this year is a year that is poised for rental growth."
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
NTUC's My First Skool to lower fees for some children
NTUC's My First Skool to lower fees for some children
Posted: 23 January 2013 1804 hrs
SINGAPORE: NTUC First Campus said more than 60 per cent of parents with children at its childcare arm, My First Skool, can expect to pay lower fees.
It said this in response to the government's move to increase childcare and infant care subsidies for lower- and middle- income families from April.
NTUC First Campus said this will encourage more families to choose full-day childcare and infant care services.
It said My First Skool has done its part to keep fees affordable.
Its median childcare fee of S$642 is 14 per cent below the national median fee of S$750.
My First Skool last increased fees two years ago - by S$30.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 23 January 2013 1804 hrs
SINGAPORE: NTUC First Campus said more than 60 per cent of parents with children at its childcare arm, My First Skool, can expect to pay lower fees.
It said this in response to the government's move to increase childcare and infant care subsidies for lower- and middle- income families from April.
NTUC First Campus said this will encourage more families to choose full-day childcare and infant care services.
It said My First Skool has done its part to keep fees affordable.
Its median childcare fee of S$642 is 14 per cent below the national median fee of S$750.
My First Skool last increased fees two years ago - by S$30.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
SMRT sacks 3 drivers allegedly involved in Nov strike
SMRT sacks 3 drivers allegedly involved in Nov strike
Posted: 23 January 2013 1629 hrs
SINGAPORE: SMRT has terminated the services of three bus drivers who are facing criminal charges for their alleged roles in a strike last November - for absence from work without valid reasons.
It said He Jun Ling, Gao Yue Qiang and Liu Xiang Ying breached the terms of their employment contracts.
The contract of a fourth driver, Wang Xianjie, who had also been charged and had not reported for work, expired on 14 January.
He is no longer employed by SMRT.
SMRT said in a statement on Wednesday that the four drivers had not reported for work since they were released on bail on 6 December 2012.
In the past six weeks, it had actively sought to maintain contact with them.
They had, until recently, refused direct communication with SMRT even though they were still employed and paid by SMRT.
They also moved out of the accommodation provided by the company and rejected SMRT's offers of alternate accommodation.
SMRT said their continued absence from work without official leave is a breach of the company's policy, as well as the terms of their employment contracts.
It suspended them from their duties, pending an internal disciplinary inquiry.
Notices of the inquiry were sent to their lawyers.
The inquiry was held on 17 January for He, Gao and Liu but the three were absent.
After considering the facts and evidence, the SMRT disciplinary board found that the three were absent from work without prior leave or reasonable explanation.
They also failed to inform or attempt to inform SMRT of the reasons for their absence.
Though the men's work permits have been revoked, they will have to remain in Singapore as their case is before the courts.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 23 January 2013 1629 hrs
SINGAPORE: SMRT has terminated the services of three bus drivers who are facing criminal charges for their alleged roles in a strike last November - for absence from work without valid reasons.
It said He Jun Ling, Gao Yue Qiang and Liu Xiang Ying breached the terms of their employment contracts.
The contract of a fourth driver, Wang Xianjie, who had also been charged and had not reported for work, expired on 14 January.
He is no longer employed by SMRT.
SMRT said in a statement on Wednesday that the four drivers had not reported for work since they were released on bail on 6 December 2012.
In the past six weeks, it had actively sought to maintain contact with them.
They had, until recently, refused direct communication with SMRT even though they were still employed and paid by SMRT.
They also moved out of the accommodation provided by the company and rejected SMRT's offers of alternate accommodation.
SMRT said their continued absence from work without official leave is a breach of the company's policy, as well as the terms of their employment contracts.
It suspended them from their duties, pending an internal disciplinary inquiry.
Notices of the inquiry were sent to their lawyers.
The inquiry was held on 17 January for He, Gao and Liu but the three were absent.
After considering the facts and evidence, the SMRT disciplinary board found that the three were absent from work without prior leave or reasonable explanation.
They also failed to inform or attempt to inform SMRT of the reasons for their absence.
Though the men's work permits have been revoked, they will have to remain in Singapore as their case is before the courts.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Citibank launches new smart banking machine
Citibank launches new smart banking machine
By Brandon Tanoto | Posted: 23 January 2013 2017 hrs
SINGAPORE: Consumers will soon be able to access almost all branch banking services round-the-clock via a smart banking machine.
Citibank's customers can now open bank accounts and even apply for loans using the machine, which is located at Paragon Shopping Mall. In future, this machine can also instantly print and issue ATM, debit and credit cards.
For a personal touch, customers can also communicate with a bank officer via video conferencing.
Citibank said these banking machine will also be equipped with biometric capabilities for customer identity authentication.
The first Citibank Express machines were unveiled in both Singapore and Malaysia on Wednesday.
The smart banking machines will be rolled out at Citibank's nine instant banking centres in Singapore over the next three years. The bank is also looking to install these machines in shopping malls, neighbourhood hubs and commercial hubs to reach out to its customers.
CEO for Citi in the Asean region, Michael Zink, said: "This rollout across ASEAN underlines the importance of this region to Citi, both in Asia and globally.
"ASEAN is home to a fast-growing and dynamic consumer base who wants to bank with a partner that embraces high technology to meet the evolving needs of our customers."
Looking ahead, Citibank plans to add more locations for the new machine across Asia.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Brandon Tanoto | Posted: 23 January 2013 2017 hrs
SINGAPORE: Consumers will soon be able to access almost all branch banking services round-the-clock via a smart banking machine.
Citibank's customers can now open bank accounts and even apply for loans using the machine, which is located at Paragon Shopping Mall. In future, this machine can also instantly print and issue ATM, debit and credit cards.
For a personal touch, customers can also communicate with a bank officer via video conferencing.
Citibank said these banking machine will also be equipped with biometric capabilities for customer identity authentication.
The first Citibank Express machines were unveiled in both Singapore and Malaysia on Wednesday.
The smart banking machines will be rolled out at Citibank's nine instant banking centres in Singapore over the next three years. The bank is also looking to install these machines in shopping malls, neighbourhood hubs and commercial hubs to reach out to its customers.
CEO for Citi in the Asean region, Michael Zink, said: "This rollout across ASEAN underlines the importance of this region to Citi, both in Asia and globally.
"ASEAN is home to a fast-growing and dynamic consumer base who wants to bank with a partner that embraces high technology to meet the evolving needs of our customers."
Looking ahead, Citibank plans to add more locations for the new machine across Asia.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Keppel Land adopts "wait-and-see" approach after property cooling measures
Keppel Land adopts "wait-and-see" approach after property cooling measures
By Lynda Hong | Posted: 23 January 2013 2323 hrs
SINGAPORE: Property group Keppel Land expects new home sales in Singapore to "come down quite a bit" this year, after new private home sales hit a record 22,000 units in 2012.
The developer of Reflections at Keppel Bay is not going to rush into launching new projects in the coming months. Instead, Keppel Land is adopting a wait-and-see approach, before making its next move. This after the seventh round of property cooling measures were introduced by the government earlier this month.
Already, some developers, like Qbay, have announced discounts to move sales.
Ang Wee Gee, CEO of Keppel Land, said: "We see prices perhaps consolidating. But we don't see a major correction. But neither do we see the price spiking further because the government will introduce further measures to dampen it. So I suppose where the situation, where the upside possibility is not high, but the downside risk may not be that high as well."
Keppel Land has a huge cash position of S$1.6 billion. This gives it holding power from launching new projects till markets improve. But the company reports net profit in Q4 2012 halved from a year earlier to S$527.3 million. Full year net profit was 39 per cent lower at S$838.37 million.
Still, Keppel Land's earnings beat analysts expectations.
Wilson Liew, an analyst at Maybank-Kim Eng, said: "We are looking at how China sales performed this year as they have shown in FY 2012 that sales rebounded somewhat, and we hope to see the sales momentum to be carried into 2013.
"We also would look out for the potential divestment of Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, sometime this year. In Singapore, we are likely to see a slowdown in sales for the next three months on the back of the cooling measures.
"But we still think that the long-term fundamentals are still attractive, particularly for the residential sector and we will lookout how well Keppel Land does in their launches, such as the ones in Tanah Merah."
Key contributors to last year's total sales of 2,350 homes, Singapore and China will continue to be Keppel Land's core market. The property giant said the stringent cooling measures introduced in the two countries will prevent asset bubbles from forming, supporting a healthy development of these markets. So far, half of Keppel Land's assets are in Singapore, while 35 per cent are in China.
Keppel Land also proposed a final dividend of 12 cents per share.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Lynda Hong | Posted: 23 January 2013 2323 hrs
SINGAPORE: Property group Keppel Land expects new home sales in Singapore to "come down quite a bit" this year, after new private home sales hit a record 22,000 units in 2012.
The developer of Reflections at Keppel Bay is not going to rush into launching new projects in the coming months. Instead, Keppel Land is adopting a wait-and-see approach, before making its next move. This after the seventh round of property cooling measures were introduced by the government earlier this month.
Already, some developers, like Qbay, have announced discounts to move sales.
Ang Wee Gee, CEO of Keppel Land, said: "We see prices perhaps consolidating. But we don't see a major correction. But neither do we see the price spiking further because the government will introduce further measures to dampen it. So I suppose where the situation, where the upside possibility is not high, but the downside risk may not be that high as well."
Keppel Land has a huge cash position of S$1.6 billion. This gives it holding power from launching new projects till markets improve. But the company reports net profit in Q4 2012 halved from a year earlier to S$527.3 million. Full year net profit was 39 per cent lower at S$838.37 million.
Still, Keppel Land's earnings beat analysts expectations.
Wilson Liew, an analyst at Maybank-Kim Eng, said: "We are looking at how China sales performed this year as they have shown in FY 2012 that sales rebounded somewhat, and we hope to see the sales momentum to be carried into 2013.
"We also would look out for the potential divestment of Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, sometime this year. In Singapore, we are likely to see a slowdown in sales for the next three months on the back of the cooling measures.
"But we still think that the long-term fundamentals are still attractive, particularly for the residential sector and we will lookout how well Keppel Land does in their launches, such as the ones in Tanah Merah."
Key contributors to last year's total sales of 2,350 homes, Singapore and China will continue to be Keppel Land's core market. The property giant said the stringent cooling measures introduced in the two countries will prevent asset bubbles from forming, supporting a healthy development of these markets. So far, half of Keppel Land's assets are in Singapore, while 35 per cent are in China.
Keppel Land also proposed a final dividend of 12 cents per share.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, January 21, 2013
NUS law prof challenges CPIB officer in sex-for-grades trial
NUS law prof challenges CPIB officer in sex-for-grades trial
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 2159 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case on Thursday cross-examined an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements. The procedure is also known as a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang challenged Bay Chun How to prove his case that his statement given to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was made under duress.
If he can prove this, he will able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court and this would weaken the prosecution's case.
On the sixth day of the closely-watched trial, several allegations were made against CPIB officer Bay Chun How, who recorded one of six of Tey's statements.
Tey had been picked up by Mr Bay on 2 April last year to help with investigations, but he became ill and was said to be vomiting.
Tey was sent to Alexandra Hospital in an ambulance.
Tey has charged that Mr Bay had been eager to haul him back to the CPIB on 5 April, to record a statement, even though he was still on medical leave.
But the senior officer pointed out that it was Tey who "insisted on giving (the) statement".
Later, when re-examined by the prosecution on whether he had asked how Tey was feeling during the interview, Mr Bay said: "No. He looked fine, clear-headed."
During the interrogation, Tey, a former district judge, said he showed Mr Bay his medication, but was still forced to make a confession. Mr Bay firmly denied this.
At one point in time, Tey claimed that Mr Bay threatened to place his wife under arrest. Mr Bay disagreed.
Tey's other allegations include Mr Bay swearing at him and placing him in a "very cold interrogation cell" on 2 April. Mr Bay denied having sworn at Tey.
As for the interrogation cell, he said: "The air-con controller was mounted on the wall for you to adjust."
During prosecution's re-examination, Mr Bay also shed light on the time when Tey fell ill.
He told the court his colleague reported to him that Tey was vomiting. "I was expecting to see pale face, bad content on the floor, vomit, but I saw none of those," said Mr Bay.
Prosecutor Kok Shu-En asked: "So what did you see?"
"I saw the accused holding on to a clear plastic bag and trying to vomit something into the bag. The bag had only a few mouthfuls of saliva inside," said Mr Bay.
Mr Bay also told the court on the day when Tey was sent to the hospital, the paramedics who came to pick him up were grumbling.
He said Tey had insisted on being wheeled out to the ambulance, despite being mobile.
Several times during the hearing, the Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye would remind Tey to focus when it seemed like he was deviating from the purpose of showing the court that his statement is inadmissible.
Tey's repetitive questioning and the fact that Mr Bay did not answer questions directly also slowed down the pace of the trial.
Five other statements of Tey are being disputed.
Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo, who testified in court as the prosecution's eighth witness on Thursday.
The remaining three were recorded by CPIB Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
Tey faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July in 2010, in exchange for giving her better grades.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 2159 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case on Thursday cross-examined an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements. The procedure is also known as a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang challenged Bay Chun How to prove his case that his statement given to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was made under duress.
If he can prove this, he will able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court and this would weaken the prosecution's case.
On the sixth day of the closely-watched trial, several allegations were made against CPIB officer Bay Chun How, who recorded one of six of Tey's statements.
Tey had been picked up by Mr Bay on 2 April last year to help with investigations, but he became ill and was said to be vomiting.
Tey was sent to Alexandra Hospital in an ambulance.
Tey has charged that Mr Bay had been eager to haul him back to the CPIB on 5 April, to record a statement, even though he was still on medical leave.
But the senior officer pointed out that it was Tey who "insisted on giving (the) statement".
Later, when re-examined by the prosecution on whether he had asked how Tey was feeling during the interview, Mr Bay said: "No. He looked fine, clear-headed."
During the interrogation, Tey, a former district judge, said he showed Mr Bay his medication, but was still forced to make a confession. Mr Bay firmly denied this.
At one point in time, Tey claimed that Mr Bay threatened to place his wife under arrest. Mr Bay disagreed.
Tey's other allegations include Mr Bay swearing at him and placing him in a "very cold interrogation cell" on 2 April. Mr Bay denied having sworn at Tey.
As for the interrogation cell, he said: "The air-con controller was mounted on the wall for you to adjust."
During prosecution's re-examination, Mr Bay also shed light on the time when Tey fell ill.
He told the court his colleague reported to him that Tey was vomiting. "I was expecting to see pale face, bad content on the floor, vomit, but I saw none of those," said Mr Bay.
Prosecutor Kok Shu-En asked: "So what did you see?"
"I saw the accused holding on to a clear plastic bag and trying to vomit something into the bag. The bag had only a few mouthfuls of saliva inside," said Mr Bay.
Mr Bay also told the court on the day when Tey was sent to the hospital, the paramedics who came to pick him up were grumbling.
He said Tey had insisted on being wheeled out to the ambulance, despite being mobile.
Several times during the hearing, the Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye would remind Tey to focus when it seemed like he was deviating from the purpose of showing the court that his statement is inadmissible.
Tey's repetitive questioning and the fact that Mr Bay did not answer questions directly also slowed down the pace of the trial.
Five other statements of Tey are being disputed.
Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo, who testified in court as the prosecution's eighth witness on Thursday.
The remaining three were recorded by CPIB Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
Tey faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July in 2010, in exchange for giving her better grades.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
NUS law prof couldn't remember own name in hospital: CPIB officer
NUS law prof couldn't remember own name in hospital: CPIB officer
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 1410 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor defending himself in his corruption trial could not remember his name, identity card number and address on the day he was supposed to be discharged from hospital.
The prosecution's 8th witness, Mr Wilson Khoo of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), revealed this in court on Friday morning.
He said the accused, Tey Tsun Hang, was overheard telling the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on April 4, 2012.
Tey, 41, was admitted to the hospital on April 2 -- the day he was at the CPIB for questioning. During his time there, Tey felt unwell and was sent to the hospital by ambulance.
He was to be discharged two days later but while making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Mr Khoo told the court that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB the next day on April 5, ready to give his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey had asked him to let him know about the bribes he had allegedly received, as well as what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
Mr Khoo said he told Tey that he was the one who was giving the statement and asked Tey to say whatever he could recall.
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How had showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave. He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts.
However, Mr Bay had denied this.
Tey, a former district judge, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gratification in the form of gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, who is now 23, in return for lifting her grades.
He allegedly committed the offences between May and July 2010.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 1410 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor defending himself in his corruption trial could not remember his name, identity card number and address on the day he was supposed to be discharged from hospital.
The prosecution's 8th witness, Mr Wilson Khoo of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), revealed this in court on Friday morning.
He said the accused, Tey Tsun Hang, was overheard telling the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on April 4, 2012.
Tey, 41, was admitted to the hospital on April 2 -- the day he was at the CPIB for questioning. During his time there, Tey felt unwell and was sent to the hospital by ambulance.
He was to be discharged two days later but while making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Mr Khoo told the court that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB the next day on April 5, ready to give his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey had asked him to let him know about the bribes he had allegedly received, as well as what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
Mr Khoo said he told Tey that he was the one who was giving the statement and asked Tey to say whatever he could recall.
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How had showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave. He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts.
However, Mr Bay had denied this.
Tey, a former district judge, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gratification in the form of gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, who is now 23, in return for lifting her grades.
He allegedly committed the offences between May and July 2010.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
NUS law prof may not be as ill as he claimed to be: CPIB officer
NUS law prof may not be as ill as he claimed to be: CPIB officer
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 2237 hrs
SINGAPORE: There was a constant war of words between Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officer Wilson Khoo and Tey Tsun Hang on the seventh day of the trial, during the accused's cross-examination of the witness.
Tey, 41, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, in return for giving her better grades.
One area of contention was whether Tey was indeed ill on 2 April last year.
Tey was admitted to hospital on the day he was at the CPIB for questioning.
Tey had felt unwell and was sent to hospital by ambulance.
In Mr Khoo's diary entry, he wrote the doctor treating Tey was unable to diagnose any medical condition.
Tey accused Mr Khoo of making it sound like "he was play-acting", "trying to fool CPIB officers" and "trying to bamboozle them".
But the witness retorted this was what the doctor told him.
Tey fired back, saying he will prove in due course that the doctor had diagnosed him with "altered mental status" upon hospitalisation.
During the hearing, Mr Khoo said on 4 April, when Tey was to be discharged from the hospital, he could not remember his name, identity card number and address.
He said Tey was overheard saying this to the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on 4 April 2012.
While making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors tested Tey's condition and declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Another point of argument - Tey was "overly cooperative" in giving statement to CPIB on 5 April.
Mr Khoo testified that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB, and insisted on giving his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey repeatedly asked the officer to note the dates of gratification and favours he had received.
He also asked Mr Khoo to tell him what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
"No accused person would be so actively volunteering such information," said Mr Khoo.
Tey shot back, asking Mr Khoo if he would give CPIB ideas "so that he could be charged with more charges of corruption?".
To which, the witness said: "Yes, your honour. Absolutely!"
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave.
He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts. But Mr Bay disagreed.
Heated exchanges also took place between the two over the time taken to record Tey's statements.
Mr Khoo recorded two of Tey's statements. One was made on 5 April and the other, 10 April.
The earlier statement, comprising five pages, took some three hours to record while the other four-page statement took two hours 15 minutes.
Tey then made the point that the recordings of a few pages should not take that long, unless there was selective recording and constant badgering by Mr Khoo to give confessions deemed satisfactory to them.
But Mr Khoo said time was taken to interview Tey and the duration also included time taken for Tey to read the recordings before printing.
Another contention was the words "corrupt intent".
Mr Khoo had said Tey had insisted on using those words in his confession.
This drew Tey's rebuttal: "So the defendant insisted so that he will end up in Changi (prison)?"
Mr Khoo immediately replied: "Yes. He insisted."
During the cross-examination, Tey pointed out that there were several similar entries in not just Mr Khoo's investigation diary, but Mr Bay's as well.
The former district judge pointed to entry number 6 made in Mr Khoo's diary on 2 April 2012, saying it is "word-for-word", exactly the same as Mr Bay's entry number 12.
He noted that the words "items seized sealed in the bag by me" were used in both entries, describing the same event.
In the end, Mr Khoo ascertained that he was the one who sealed the bag.
Tey also charged that CPIB officers had used expletives on him and pressured him into making confessions. These were all denied by Mr Khoo.
Towards the last half hour of the morning's proceedings, Tey sprang a surprise during his cross-examination of Mr Khoo.
He showed the witness a receipt of a psychiatric consultation with Dr Tommy Tan, and said Dr Tan will be called to the stand.
This was met with strong objection by lead prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy, who pointed out that Mr Khoo was not in a position to answer questions pertaining to Dr Tan.
He added: "If the defence wishes to call an expert witness, especially one who they have told us they are not calling, they should have at the very least informed us if they had changed their mind and before calling their witness. Bearing in mind he's an expert, they should produce a report so that we can instruct an expert if necessary."
But Tey rebutted - saying that the prosecution had not been willing to disclose information and provide material to the defence.
This prompted Mr Jumabhoy to say: "I resent the suggestion that the prosecution have not complied with its obligations in respect of disclosure.
"We have, from the very outset way back in August 2012, been serving material on this accused. He has been in receipt of the list of witnesses which have been updated, yes, but at each stage that they have been updated, he has been in receipt of that list."
The DPP went on to say that Tey has known the list of prosecution witnesses two weeks before the trial, which he said, "as a matter of law, is more than he (Tey) has a right to expect".
Mr Jumabhoy then said the accused has not been straight with the court.
He said: "It's clear from what has happened that this accused has not been straight with the prosecution and certainly not straight with the court. It rings somewhat hollow for him to be suggesting on 18 January that the decision to call Tommy Tan was taken only after hearing Mr Wilson Khoo's evidence."
In the end, Tey said he would serve the relevant information to the prosecution.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 18 January 2013 2237 hrs
SINGAPORE: There was a constant war of words between Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officer Wilson Khoo and Tey Tsun Hang on the seventh day of the trial, during the accused's cross-examination of the witness.
Tey, 41, faces allegations that he corruptly obtained gifts and sex from a former student, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui, in return for giving her better grades.
One area of contention was whether Tey was indeed ill on 2 April last year.
Tey was admitted to hospital on the day he was at the CPIB for questioning.
Tey had felt unwell and was sent to hospital by ambulance.
In Mr Khoo's diary entry, he wrote the doctor treating Tey was unable to diagnose any medical condition.
Tey accused Mr Khoo of making it sound like "he was play-acting", "trying to fool CPIB officers" and "trying to bamboozle them".
But the witness retorted this was what the doctor told him.
Tey fired back, saying he will prove in due course that the doctor had diagnosed him with "altered mental status" upon hospitalisation.
During the hearing, Mr Khoo said on 4 April, when Tey was to be discharged from the hospital, he could not remember his name, identity card number and address.
He said Tey was overheard saying this to the staff at Alexandra Hospital while he was getting discharged on 4 April 2012.
While making arrangements to do so, one of the doctors tested Tey's condition and declared that he was not ready to leave hospital care.
Another point of argument - Tey was "overly cooperative" in giving statement to CPIB on 5 April.
Mr Khoo testified that Tey appeared unexpectedly at the CPIB, and insisted on giving his statement.
During the interview, Mr Khoo said Tey repeatedly asked the officer to note the dates of gratification and favours he had received.
He also asked Mr Khoo to tell him what he had allegedly done in exchange for them.
"No accused person would be so actively volunteering such information," said Mr Khoo.
Tey shot back, asking Mr Khoo if he would give CPIB ideas "so that he could be charged with more charges of corruption?".
To which, the witness said: "Yes, your honour. Absolutely!"
Previously, Tey had claimed that CPIB investigator Bay Chun How showed him a list with the names of students and the gifts they purportedly gave.
He said Mr Bay, who took the stand on Thursday, had asked him to confirm the names of the students and gifts. But Mr Bay disagreed.
Heated exchanges also took place between the two over the time taken to record Tey's statements.
Mr Khoo recorded two of Tey's statements. One was made on 5 April and the other, 10 April.
The earlier statement, comprising five pages, took some three hours to record while the other four-page statement took two hours 15 minutes.
Tey then made the point that the recordings of a few pages should not take that long, unless there was selective recording and constant badgering by Mr Khoo to give confessions deemed satisfactory to them.
But Mr Khoo said time was taken to interview Tey and the duration also included time taken for Tey to read the recordings before printing.
Another contention was the words "corrupt intent".
Mr Khoo had said Tey had insisted on using those words in his confession.
This drew Tey's rebuttal: "So the defendant insisted so that he will end up in Changi (prison)?"
Mr Khoo immediately replied: "Yes. He insisted."
During the cross-examination, Tey pointed out that there were several similar entries in not just Mr Khoo's investigation diary, but Mr Bay's as well.
The former district judge pointed to entry number 6 made in Mr Khoo's diary on 2 April 2012, saying it is "word-for-word", exactly the same as Mr Bay's entry number 12.
He noted that the words "items seized sealed in the bag by me" were used in both entries, describing the same event.
In the end, Mr Khoo ascertained that he was the one who sealed the bag.
Tey also charged that CPIB officers had used expletives on him and pressured him into making confessions. These were all denied by Mr Khoo.
Towards the last half hour of the morning's proceedings, Tey sprang a surprise during his cross-examination of Mr Khoo.
He showed the witness a receipt of a psychiatric consultation with Dr Tommy Tan, and said Dr Tan will be called to the stand.
This was met with strong objection by lead prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy, who pointed out that Mr Khoo was not in a position to answer questions pertaining to Dr Tan.
He added: "If the defence wishes to call an expert witness, especially one who they have told us they are not calling, they should have at the very least informed us if they had changed their mind and before calling their witness. Bearing in mind he's an expert, they should produce a report so that we can instruct an expert if necessary."
But Tey rebutted - saying that the prosecution had not been willing to disclose information and provide material to the defence.
This prompted Mr Jumabhoy to say: "I resent the suggestion that the prosecution have not complied with its obligations in respect of disclosure.
"We have, from the very outset way back in August 2012, been serving material on this accused. He has been in receipt of the list of witnesses which have been updated, yes, but at each stage that they have been updated, he has been in receipt of that list."
The DPP went on to say that Tey has known the list of prosecution witnesses two weeks before the trial, which he said, "as a matter of law, is more than he (Tey) has a right to expect".
Mr Jumabhoy then said the accused has not been straight with the court.
He said: "It's clear from what has happened that this accused has not been straight with the prosecution and certainly not straight with the court. It rings somewhat hollow for him to be suggesting on 18 January that the decision to call Tommy Tan was taken only after hearing Mr Wilson Khoo's evidence."
In the end, Tey said he would serve the relevant information to the prosecution.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
NUS prof Tey questions CPIB officer in "trial within a trial"
NUS prof Tey questions CPIB officer in "trial within a trial"
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 1125 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case is cross-examining an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements -- in what is called a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang is questioning Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) Chief Special Investigator Bay Chun How to prove his case that the statement given to CPIB was made under duress.
If he can prove this, Tey will be able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court. This would weaken the prosecution's case.
Five other statements of Tey's are being disputed. Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo and three by Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
They are expected to take the stand in the "trial within a trial".
Tey, 41, faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July 2010, in exchange for lifting her grades.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 17 January 2013 1125 hrs
SINGAPORE: The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case is cross-examining an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements -- in what is called a "trial within a trial".
Tey Tsun Hang is questioning Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) Chief Special Investigator Bay Chun How to prove his case that the statement given to CPIB was made under duress.
If he can prove this, Tey will be able to argue that the evidence cannot be admitted in court. This would weaken the prosecution's case.
Five other statements of Tey's are being disputed. Two were recorded by CPIB officer Wilson Khoo and three by Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt.
They are expected to take the stand in the "trial within a trial".
Tey, 41, faces six allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from his former student, Ms Darinne Ko, between May and July 2010, in exchange for lifting her grades.
-CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
More than S$8.3b disbursed in tax rebates to encourage procreation
More than S$8.3b disbursed in tax rebates to encourage procreation
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 20 January 2013 1802 hrs
SINGAPORE: The government last year gave out more than S$8.3 billion in tax rebates and reliefs aimed at encouraging procreation in the Year of Assessment 2012.
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore also told Channel NewsAsia that more than 850,000 working mums and dads enjoyed such tax breaks in 2012.
Thirty-six-year-old assistant marketing manager Lum Sook Fong collected nearly S$27,000 in child tax reliefs last year.
Together with other rebates, the working mother of two ended up not paying any taxes to the government at all.
Madam Lum said: "I know there should be some kind of relief but exactly what amount, I didn't know until I get the statement, so I was kind of surprised because the amount is quite substantial."
Currently, there are three kinds of rebate and reliefs aimed at supporting working mums with children.
They are: Parenthood Tax Rebate of up to S$20,000 per child; the Qualifying/Handicapped Child Reliefs; and the Working Mother Child Relief.
Both the Parenthood Tax Rebate and the Qualifying/Handicapped Child Relief can be claimed by both mums and dads.
Sums worked out by tax consultant Ernst & Young show that working mums earning about S$94,500 to S$351,000 a year don't have to pay any taxes after taking into account the Parenthood Tax Rebate, the Working Mother Child Relief, and other tax breaks like the Foreign Maid Levy Relief.
This applies to a Singaporean tax payer aged 55 and below, married, with three children.
There are various monetary incentives to support families, including cash gifts like the Baby Bonus.
Those Channel NewsAsia spoke to say while such incentives can ease the financial burden of bringing up baby, money isn't everything.
It may encourage those who already have children to have more but it may not change the minds of couples who don't want any children in the first place.
Joni Ong, president of advocacy group I Love Children said: "I agree that money is useful but money isn't everything. I believe if you love children and you want to have children to complete your family, no matter how much money is there or not there, you will proceed to have the babies anyway."
Experts said what is needed is a supportive environment at home and at work, among other things.
"For my case, I would think it would be useful as well if the Baby Bonus is higher because what we have, could only tied us for the first few years. After that, I have to start paying cash for their childcare," said Madam Lum.
She added: "Another part is also the family support like maybe having grandparents to be there to take care of the kids. As a working mum, I would say that the environment is very important and also the work-life balance that we have."
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 20 January 2013 1802 hrs
SINGAPORE: The government last year gave out more than S$8.3 billion in tax rebates and reliefs aimed at encouraging procreation in the Year of Assessment 2012.
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore also told Channel NewsAsia that more than 850,000 working mums and dads enjoyed such tax breaks in 2012.
Thirty-six-year-old assistant marketing manager Lum Sook Fong collected nearly S$27,000 in child tax reliefs last year.
Together with other rebates, the working mother of two ended up not paying any taxes to the government at all.
Madam Lum said: "I know there should be some kind of relief but exactly what amount, I didn't know until I get the statement, so I was kind of surprised because the amount is quite substantial."
Currently, there are three kinds of rebate and reliefs aimed at supporting working mums with children.
They are: Parenthood Tax Rebate of up to S$20,000 per child; the Qualifying/Handicapped Child Reliefs; and the Working Mother Child Relief.
Both the Parenthood Tax Rebate and the Qualifying/Handicapped Child Relief can be claimed by both mums and dads.
Sums worked out by tax consultant Ernst & Young show that working mums earning about S$94,500 to S$351,000 a year don't have to pay any taxes after taking into account the Parenthood Tax Rebate, the Working Mother Child Relief, and other tax breaks like the Foreign Maid Levy Relief.
This applies to a Singaporean tax payer aged 55 and below, married, with three children.
There are various monetary incentives to support families, including cash gifts like the Baby Bonus.
Those Channel NewsAsia spoke to say while such incentives can ease the financial burden of bringing up baby, money isn't everything.
It may encourage those who already have children to have more but it may not change the minds of couples who don't want any children in the first place.
Joni Ong, president of advocacy group I Love Children said: "I agree that money is useful but money isn't everything. I believe if you love children and you want to have children to complete your family, no matter how much money is there or not there, you will proceed to have the babies anyway."
Experts said what is needed is a supportive environment at home and at work, among other things.
"For my case, I would think it would be useful as well if the Baby Bonus is higher because what we have, could only tied us for the first few years. After that, I have to start paying cash for their childcare," said Madam Lum.
She added: "Another part is also the family support like maybe having grandparents to be there to take care of the kids. As a working mum, I would say that the environment is very important and also the work-life balance that we have."
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
A-REIT reports 4% increase in distribution per unit in Q3 2012
A-REIT reports 4% increase in distribution per unit in Q3 2012
Posted: 15 January 2013 1928 hrs
SINGAPORE: Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (A-REIT) has reported a 4.0 per cent on-year increase in distribution per unit (DPU) to 3.62 cents for its third quarter ended 31 December 2012.
The amount available for distribution increased 11.9 per cent to S$81.1 million in the quarter under review.
In a filing on the Singapore Exchange, A-REIT said it recorded positive rental reversion of between 5.5 per cent and 25.3 per cent over the preceding rental rate for renewal leases.
Despite the weakening economic climate, A-REIT said its occupancy rate for the portfolio remained stable at 96.4 per cent.
Meanwhile, occupancy rate for multi-tenanted buildings (on a same-store basis) stood at 93.5 per cent.
For the remaining of the financial year, A-REIT has about 2.1 per cent of its revenue due for renewal.
In the next financial year, about 24.6 per cent of its property income will be due for renewal.
A-REIT said it has started renewal negotiation, with about 22 per cent of the related expiring revenue renewed and another 13 per cent in advance negotiation.
A-REIT added that it has secured commitment for about 31 per cent of the lettable space at Nexus@one-north (previously known as Fusionopolis Phase 3), which is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2013.
To take advantage of the prospective future demand in the Jurong Lake District, A-REIT has also started new asset enhancement work at 31 International Business Park
Barring any unforeseen event, A-REIT expects to maintain a stable performance for the financial year ending 31 March 2013.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 15 January 2013 1928 hrs
SINGAPORE: Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (A-REIT) has reported a 4.0 per cent on-year increase in distribution per unit (DPU) to 3.62 cents for its third quarter ended 31 December 2012.
The amount available for distribution increased 11.9 per cent to S$81.1 million in the quarter under review.
In a filing on the Singapore Exchange, A-REIT said it recorded positive rental reversion of between 5.5 per cent and 25.3 per cent over the preceding rental rate for renewal leases.
Despite the weakening economic climate, A-REIT said its occupancy rate for the portfolio remained stable at 96.4 per cent.
Meanwhile, occupancy rate for multi-tenanted buildings (on a same-store basis) stood at 93.5 per cent.
For the remaining of the financial year, A-REIT has about 2.1 per cent of its revenue due for renewal.
In the next financial year, about 24.6 per cent of its property income will be due for renewal.
A-REIT said it has started renewal negotiation, with about 22 per cent of the related expiring revenue renewed and another 13 per cent in advance negotiation.
A-REIT added that it has secured commitment for about 31 per cent of the lettable space at Nexus@one-north (previously known as Fusionopolis Phase 3), which is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2013.
To take advantage of the prospective future demand in the Jurong Lake District, A-REIT has also started new asset enhancement work at 31 International Business Park
Barring any unforeseen event, A-REIT expects to maintain a stable performance for the financial year ending 31 March 2013.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
教授接受性贿赂案：关键证人高文慧曾怀孕并堕胎
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涉及国大法学院副教授性贿赂案的关键证人高文慧，向查案人员透露，自己曾经怀孕并堕胎。
贪污调查局查案人员Bay Chun How今天出庭供证时说，高文慧是在去年4月2号第一次被带到当局接受调查时，向当局透露这点。
Bay Chun How是控方的第七名证人。他说，他当天到被告郑尊行的家调查，大约早上10点回返贪污调查局。当时，他了解到高文慧在受盘问的过程中，十分合作，并证实曾送被告礼物、同他发生关系。高文慧也告诉查案人员自己怀孕和堕胎的事。
41岁的郑尊行共面对六项控状，指他在2010年5月到7月间，向当时的学生高文慧，索取礼物和性贿赂，让她献身以换取更好成绩。
自行抗辩的被告郑尊行，较早前盘问控方第二证人，也就是贪污调查局查案人员方娟娟时，指当局是通过诱导、恐吓和许诺的手段，录取高文慧的口供。方娟娟对此加以否认。
控方第三个证人今天也出庭供证。她是国大人力资源部的高级副处长 Lee Swee Khuen。她说，国大有一套行为准则，要求职员必须呈报所收到的礼品和任何利益冲突。
- wong chee tat :)
郑尊行性贿赂案 涉案女生曾怀孕堕胎
记者：林伟玲
新闻视频
国大法学院副教授财色贿赂案审讯第五天，被告郑尊行反对控方将他在贪污调查局录的六份口供书呈堂，法庭因此进入案中案的审讯。负责为他录口供书的贪污调查局调查员也爆出，他被告知，涉案女生曾怀孕和堕胎。
声 称供词并非自愿作出，被告郑尊行反对六份口供书呈堂，案子目前进入案中案的审讯。法官接下来必须对，是否接纳口供书为证据做出裁决，调查员在录制口供的过 程中，有没有使用不恰当的手段，成了审讯的焦点。为被告录制第一份口供书的贪污调查局调查员马俊豪透露，虽然被告是在去年4月2日被带到贪污调查局问话， 不过因为被告后来身体不适，被紧急送医，口供三天后才录制完成。当被问及，录口供过程中，是否有强迫、利诱或答应给被告任何好处时，马俊豪表示没有，因为 对方可是前法官。
郑尊行去年4月2日被带到贪污调查局问话，但三天后才录完口供，整个过程极为戏剧性。以下是为被告录下第一份口供书的贪污调查局调查员马俊豪在庭上供证的内容摘要：
4月2日
| 早上： 调查员马俊豪形容被告在谈到自己的教育背景、事业时，非常合作，也很坦率。但当他被告知案件详情之后，对方突然沉默，低下头。当调查员抬起他的头时，发现被告眼眶泛红。后来他一直不回答问题，还表示，知道这天会到来。 |
| 下午2点： 调查员原本想了解他与涉案女生的关系，但郑尊行不断啜泣，拒绝回答问题，调查员根本无法问话。 |
| 晚上7点： 郑尊行声称想呕吐，头晕，胸口疼痛。 |
| 晚上8点25分： 调查员紧急传召救护车。 |
| 晚上8点45分： 救护车抵达将郑尊行送到亚历山大医院。 |
| 晚上11点25分： 调查员被告知，医生诊断郑尊行没事，但他身体上的不适，已经转换成一个精神上问题，因此认为郑尊行必须留院。原本在医院待着的贪污调查局调查员被令撤回。 |
| 调查员到医院了解郑尊行的情况，医生说，郑尊行因为被关在谈话室多个小时，患上幽闭恐惧症。 |
| 调查员接到院方来电，指郑尊行已经可以出院了。贪污调查局派人员下去接他，但郑尊行无法顺利出院，因为他忘了自己的名字、住址、电话号码，无法完整填写出院文件。 |
| 下午1点： 院方又来电，指郑尊行可以出院，不过调查员告诉院方，他们决定让郑尊行多休息，他可以自己离开医院。 |
| 下午2点： 郑 尊行致电贪污调查局，称要下来录口供，还叫调查员来接他。马俊豪告诉他，等他病假结束后才继续录口供，不过郑尊行坚持。马俊豪回复郑尊行，如果真要来，就 自己下来。郑尊行抵达贪污调查局之后，马俊豪去接他，郑尊行当时还穿着病人服装。郑尊行称，那是因为他之前呕吐弄脏了衣服。 |
星期三出庭供证的还有国大人力资源处高级协理处长李瑞勤。她透露， 被告目前被令暂时停职，不过依然领取全额薪资。 据了解郑尊行是在去年7月被控，不久之后就被令停职。
- wong chee tat :)
NUS law prof Tey contests 6 CPIB statements
NUS law prof Tey contests 6 CPIB statements
By Claire Huang | Posted: 16 January 2013 1313 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor defending himself in the sex-for-grades corruption trial has contested the admissibility of his six statements to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Tey Tsun Hang, 41, said they cannot be counted as evidence as they were made under duress.
A hearing to determine the admissibility of the statements, also known as trial within a trial, took place on Wednesday.
Tey faces six allegations that he obtained gifts and sex from his ex-student and then girlfriend, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui between May and July in 2010, in return for lifting her grades.
Prosecution's seventh witness, CPIB investigator Bay Chun How told the court that during the interview on April 2 last year, Tey Tsun Hang said he had "expected this day to come".
During the trial within a trial hearing, he said Tey had started out being "frank", "forthright" and "helpful", but turned silent when told of the allegations.
Mr Bay recalled Tey staring at his tie then looking up at him with "red and tearing" eyes.
In recounting the events of April 2, Mr Bay also told the court that Ms Ko revealed to them she had been pregnant.
He told the court he had returned to the bureau shortly before 10am that day after making a trip to Tey's house.
Before interviewing Tey, Mr Bay had wanted to find out what progress had been made.
That was when he learnt that Ms Ko was already giving information and had confirmed her sexual relationship with Tey, as well as the gifts.
He added that she had told the CPIB about her pregnancy and abortion.
The court heard that Tey became unwell during questioning on April 2 and was sent to the hospital in an ambulance.
While he was on sick leave, Mr Bay said Tey offered to go back to CPIB to record his statement.
When asked how he reacted towards Tey, bearing in mind he had just got out of hospital, Mr Bay said: "He looked well and wanted to give the statement."
Asked if the recording of the statement was made under threat, inducement or promises, Mr Bay flatly denied it, saying it is because Tey is an ex-public prosecutor and former judge.
Mr Bay had recorded one of six statements contested by Tey. His colleague Wilson Khoo recorded two statements, while Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt recorded the other three.
A trial within trial takes place when the three men take the stand to testify.
With such a hearing, both the prosecution and defence will question the three CPIB staff to see if the statements were made under duress.
If so, the defence can then argue that the statements are inadmissible in court.
Earlier in the day, Tey continued his cross-examination of CPIB officer Png Chen Chen.
She was the one who interrogated Ms Ko.
Tey charged that Ms Png extracted the confession from Ms Ko under inducement, promises and threats, but the CPIB officer disagreed.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day.
Ms Png was the prosecution's second witness.
A third prosecution witness, Mdm Lee Swee Khuen, also took the stand.
Mdm Lee is a senior associate director of the Human Resource Department of NUS.
She testified that NUS has a code of conduct, requiring staff to declare gifts as well as conflict of interests.
An issue raised by Tey on January 15 also surfaced during her testimony.
Tey had said he could not afford two forensic tests costing more than S$50,000 to verify handwriting and ink dating on his cheque book entries as he has been suspended since July last year.
On Wednesday, Mdm Lee told the court that Tey is still receiving his pay every month, even while on suspension.
MediaCorp understands that Tey is paid more than S$15,000 a month.
The fourth witness who testified was Ms Eileen Pang, senior associate director of financial services at NUS.
Other prosecution witnesses who testified in court were Mr Akira Goh of CYC Shanghai Shirt Company, and Mr De Costa Desmond Max, seller of the iPod Touch.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day on Thursday.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Claire Huang | Posted: 16 January 2013 1313 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor defending himself in the sex-for-grades corruption trial has contested the admissibility of his six statements to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Tey Tsun Hang, 41, said they cannot be counted as evidence as they were made under duress.
A hearing to determine the admissibility of the statements, also known as trial within a trial, took place on Wednesday.
Tey faces six allegations that he obtained gifts and sex from his ex-student and then girlfriend, Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui between May and July in 2010, in return for lifting her grades.
Prosecution's seventh witness, CPIB investigator Bay Chun How told the court that during the interview on April 2 last year, Tey Tsun Hang said he had "expected this day to come".
During the trial within a trial hearing, he said Tey had started out being "frank", "forthright" and "helpful", but turned silent when told of the allegations.
Mr Bay recalled Tey staring at his tie then looking up at him with "red and tearing" eyes.
In recounting the events of April 2, Mr Bay also told the court that Ms Ko revealed to them she had been pregnant.
He told the court he had returned to the bureau shortly before 10am that day after making a trip to Tey's house.
Before interviewing Tey, Mr Bay had wanted to find out what progress had been made.
That was when he learnt that Ms Ko was already giving information and had confirmed her sexual relationship with Tey, as well as the gifts.
He added that she had told the CPIB about her pregnancy and abortion.
The court heard that Tey became unwell during questioning on April 2 and was sent to the hospital in an ambulance.
While he was on sick leave, Mr Bay said Tey offered to go back to CPIB to record his statement.
When asked how he reacted towards Tey, bearing in mind he had just got out of hospital, Mr Bay said: "He looked well and wanted to give the statement."
Asked if the recording of the statement was made under threat, inducement or promises, Mr Bay flatly denied it, saying it is because Tey is an ex-public prosecutor and former judge.
Mr Bay had recorded one of six statements contested by Tey. His colleague Wilson Khoo recorded two statements, while Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt recorded the other three.
A trial within trial takes place when the three men take the stand to testify.
With such a hearing, both the prosecution and defence will question the three CPIB staff to see if the statements were made under duress.
If so, the defence can then argue that the statements are inadmissible in court.
Earlier in the day, Tey continued his cross-examination of CPIB officer Png Chen Chen.
She was the one who interrogated Ms Ko.
Tey charged that Ms Png extracted the confession from Ms Ko under inducement, promises and threats, but the CPIB officer disagreed.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day.
Ms Png was the prosecution's second witness.
A third prosecution witness, Mdm Lee Swee Khuen, also took the stand.
Mdm Lee is a senior associate director of the Human Resource Department of NUS.
She testified that NUS has a code of conduct, requiring staff to declare gifts as well as conflict of interests.
An issue raised by Tey on January 15 also surfaced during her testimony.
Tey had said he could not afford two forensic tests costing more than S$50,000 to verify handwriting and ink dating on his cheque book entries as he has been suspended since July last year.
On Wednesday, Mdm Lee told the court that Tey is still receiving his pay every month, even while on suspension.
MediaCorp understands that Tey is paid more than S$15,000 a month.
The fourth witness who testified was Ms Eileen Pang, senior associate director of financial services at NUS.
Other prosecution witnesses who testified in court were Mr Akira Goh of CYC Shanghai Shirt Company, and Mr De Costa Desmond Max, seller of the iPod Touch.
The trial continues with Mr Bay on the stand for a second day on Thursday.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Singles to be allowed to buy new HDB flats this year: Khaw
Singles to be allowed to buy new HDB flats this year: Khaw
Posted: 14 January 2013 2217 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National Development Ministry (MND) aims to implement its policy of allowing singles to buy new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats for owner-occupation this year, said its Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Monday.
In a written reply to a question in Parliament, Mr Khaw said MND is "finalising" its policy. Currently, singles cannot buy new flats from HDB by themselves. They can, however, buy a resale flat if they are at least 35 years old.
Over the past decade, 18,000 singles aged between 35 and 40 bought HDB resale flats. Of these, 3,800 singles - or 21 per cent - got married subsequently, said Mr Khaw.
In a separate parliamentary reply, Mr Khaw said the minimum age of 35 for singles to buy new flats "supports our promotion of marriage and parenthood".
"We will be revising our policies to allow singles to buy new HDB flats with certain restrictions. However, there are no plans to lower the minimum age, as marriage rates are highest between the ages of 25 and 34," he added.
- TODAY
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 14 January 2013 2217 hrs
SINGAPORE: The National Development Ministry (MND) aims to implement its policy of allowing singles to buy new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats for owner-occupation this year, said its Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Monday.
In a written reply to a question in Parliament, Mr Khaw said MND is "finalising" its policy. Currently, singles cannot buy new flats from HDB by themselves. They can, however, buy a resale flat if they are at least 35 years old.
Over the past decade, 18,000 singles aged between 35 and 40 bought HDB resale flats. Of these, 3,800 singles - or 21 per cent - got married subsequently, said Mr Khaw.
In a separate parliamentary reply, Mr Khaw said the minimum age of 35 for singles to buy new flats "supports our promotion of marriage and parenthood".
"We will be revising our policies to allow singles to buy new HDB flats with certain restrictions. However, there are no plans to lower the minimum age, as marriage rates are highest between the ages of 25 and 34," he added.
- TODAY
- wong chee tat :)
Temporary sheltered linkways to be provided at Marina Bay
Temporary sheltered linkways to be provided at Marina Bay
Posted: 14 January 2013 2316 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be providing temporary sheltered pedestrian linkways along the roads between Marina Bay Financial Centre and Marina Bay Station.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said this in response to Mr Gan Thiam Poh's parliamentary question on whether the transport ministry will provide a sheltered or underground pedestrian walkway.
Mr Lui addded that the Urban Redevelopment Authority plans to build an extensive underground pedestrian network (UPN).
This is to link the developments in Marina Bay to the nearby MRT stations, including Marina Bay Station.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 14 January 2013 2316 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be providing temporary sheltered pedestrian linkways along the roads between Marina Bay Financial Centre and Marina Bay Station.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said this in response to Mr Gan Thiam Poh's parliamentary question on whether the transport ministry will provide a sheltered or underground pedestrian walkway.
Mr Lui addded that the Urban Redevelopment Authority plans to build an extensive underground pedestrian network (UPN).
This is to link the developments in Marina Bay to the nearby MRT stations, including Marina Bay Station.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Tilted jack-up rig in Jurong Shipyard restored
Tilted jack-up rig in Jurong Shipyard restored
Posted: 15 January 2013 1241 hrs
SINGAPORE: Jurong Shipyard has restored and floated the jack-up rig that tilted in 2012 to its original upright position.
Eighty-nine workers were injured in the incident at the shipyard on 3 December.
Sembcorp Marine said on Tuesday that with the rig now back to its upright position, Jurong Shipyard and the authorities will focus on investigations into what caused it to tilt.
Repairs and restoration work will start when the stop-work is lifted.
The three-legged rig was scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2013 but this has been rescheduled.
The rig is expected to be delivered by the end of third quarter of 2013.
Sembcorp Marine said the repairs and change in the delivery date are not expected to have any material impact on its net tangible assets and earnings per share for the year ending 31 December 2013.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 15 January 2013 1241 hrs
SINGAPORE: Jurong Shipyard has restored and floated the jack-up rig that tilted in 2012 to its original upright position.
Eighty-nine workers were injured in the incident at the shipyard on 3 December.
Sembcorp Marine said on Tuesday that with the rig now back to its upright position, Jurong Shipyard and the authorities will focus on investigations into what caused it to tilt.
Repairs and restoration work will start when the stop-work is lifted.
The three-legged rig was scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2013 but this has been rescheduled.
The rig is expected to be delivered by the end of third quarter of 2013.
Sembcorp Marine said the repairs and change in the delivery date are not expected to have any material impact on its net tangible assets and earnings per share for the year ending 31 December 2013.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
M1's 3G network hit by power fault
M1's 3G network hit by power fault
Posted: 15 January 2013 1155 hrs
SINGAPORE: Some customers of M1 have been facing problems with their mobile services on Tuesday.
The telco said in a notice on its website that one of its mobile network switches has been hit by a power problem and this may partially affect mobile services to some customers.
M1 said it's working to restore service, including diverting traffic to another switch.
It has also advised customers who have problems with the 3G service to try switching their devices to the 2G network for the time being.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 15 January 2013 1155 hrs
SINGAPORE: Some customers of M1 have been facing problems with their mobile services on Tuesday.
The telco said in a notice on its website that one of its mobile network switches has been hit by a power problem and this may partially affect mobile services to some customers.
M1 said it's working to restore service, including diverting traffic to another switch.
It has also advised customers who have problems with the 3G service to try switching their devices to the 2G network for the time being.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Monday, January 14, 2013
S'pore property shares tumble after cooling measures
S'pore property shares tumble after cooling measures
Posted: 14 January 2013 1408 hrs
SINGAPORE: Shares of major property developers in Singapore were battered Monday after the government introduced new measures to cool the real estate market at the weekend.
By midday, shares of top developers listed on the Singapore Exchange had sunk more than four per cent as investors spooked by the measures dumped the stocks.
CapitaLand shed 4.11 per cent to S$3.73, City Developments fell 6.11 per cent to S$11.83 and Keppel Land slumped 6.31 per cent to S$4.01.
"We're seeing a knee-jerk reaction to the cooling measures," said Jason Hughes, head of premium client management for IG Markets Singapore.
The new measures, which came into force Saturday, included sharply higher duties on property purchases by foreigners.
Singaporeans' minimum cash downpayments for second or subsequent homes were raised from 10 to 25 per cent of a property's value.
But Hughes predicted property stocks would be able to ride out the storm thanks to their overseas portfolios.
"We do have to consider that a number of these guys are regionally focused," he said, adding that the effects would have been more severe if they were "purely local developers."
HSBC Global Research said in a report that Singapore may institute more cooling measures because property demand is expected to remain robust.
"Low interest rates and an expected economic recovery this year will support demand. Further steps can, therefore, not be ruled out," the report stated.
The new property measures were imposed after home prices continued to rise even as the city-state suffered an economic slowdown.
Singapore narrowly avoided a technical recession in the last quarter of 2012.
The economy grew just 1.2 per cent in 2012, from 4.9 per cent in 2011, with 2013 expansion forecast at 1.0-3.0 per cent.
- AFP/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Posted: 14 January 2013 1408 hrs
SINGAPORE: Shares of major property developers in Singapore were battered Monday after the government introduced new measures to cool the real estate market at the weekend.
By midday, shares of top developers listed on the Singapore Exchange had sunk more than four per cent as investors spooked by the measures dumped the stocks.
CapitaLand shed 4.11 per cent to S$3.73, City Developments fell 6.11 per cent to S$11.83 and Keppel Land slumped 6.31 per cent to S$4.01.
"We're seeing a knee-jerk reaction to the cooling measures," said Jason Hughes, head of premium client management for IG Markets Singapore.
The new measures, which came into force Saturday, included sharply higher duties on property purchases by foreigners.
Singaporeans' minimum cash downpayments for second or subsequent homes were raised from 10 to 25 per cent of a property's value.
But Hughes predicted property stocks would be able to ride out the storm thanks to their overseas portfolios.
"We do have to consider that a number of these guys are regionally focused," he said, adding that the effects would have been more severe if they were "purely local developers."
HSBC Global Research said in a report that Singapore may institute more cooling measures because property demand is expected to remain robust.
"Low interest rates and an expected economic recovery this year will support demand. Further steps can, therefore, not be ruled out," the report stated.
The new property measures were imposed after home prices continued to rise even as the city-state suffered an economic slowdown.
Singapore narrowly avoided a technical recession in the last quarter of 2012.
The economy grew just 1.2 per cent in 2012, from 4.9 per cent in 2011, with 2013 expansion forecast at 1.0-3.0 per cent.
- AFP/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Pastor charged with performing oral sex on underage victim
Pastor charged with performing oral sex on underage victim
By Alvina Soh | Posted: 14 January 2013 1515 hrs
SINGAPORE: A 45-year-old pastor has been charged with three counts of sexual offences.
He faces two counts of oral sex and another count under the Children and Young Persons Act.
The pastor allegedly made an underage girl, who's a church member, perform oral sex on him in the church one afternoon in mid-October 2011.
He's also accused of having oral sex again with the girl, who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offence.
This allegedly happened at a jogging park sometime between September and October 2011.
At the same place, he's also alleged to have exposed himself and used her hand to rub his private parts.
Both of them cannot be named due to a court order to protect the identity of the victim.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
By Alvina Soh | Posted: 14 January 2013 1515 hrs
SINGAPORE: A 45-year-old pastor has been charged with three counts of sexual offences.
He faces two counts of oral sex and another count under the Children and Young Persons Act.
The pastor allegedly made an underage girl, who's a church member, perform oral sex on him in the church one afternoon in mid-October 2011.
He's also accused of having oral sex again with the girl, who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offence.
This allegedly happened at a jogging park sometime between September and October 2011.
At the same place, he's also alleged to have exposed himself and used her hand to rub his private parts.
Both of them cannot be named due to a court order to protect the identity of the victim.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Wardrobe change and the trial begins
Wardrobe change and the trial begins
By:
SHOW time.
From the moment Tey Tsun Hang stepped out of a white car at the Subordinate Courts yesterday morning till the time he left the court in the evening, the drama never stopped.
Stepping out of the car, he took a moment to pose casually for press photographers.
In court, the action continued.
First, his lawyer, Mr Peter Low, requested Tey also be allowed to actively cross-examine witnesses. Tey said that if that was not allowed, he would discharge Mr Low and represent himself.
After a round of discussions, Tey decided to retain Mr Low as his solicitor, who would give him legal advice but not address the court. Tey would conduct his own defence.
Next, he argued on what he called a “minor, inane point” – that unlike the prosecutors, he did not have a screen before him which would allow him to read the live transcript of the proceedings.
The New Paper understands that typically all parties in a trial would decide if they wanted to engage such services and share the costs. The service, provided by an external company, costs several thousand dollars a day.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy said Tey had opted to cancel this service a few days ago.
The 41-year-old law professor, who has since been suspended, then whipped out a copy of the Subordinate Court Practice Direction to argue that he should be given similar access to any such transcripts.
Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye adjourned the hearing and got all parties into his chambers to settle the administrative matter. Tey eventually got access to the live feeds, at least for yesterday.
Before the trial resumed, Tey left the courtroom. When he returned, he had ditched his grey and white striped suit for a blazer and lawyers’ robes.
The lawyers’ robes are usually used during High Court appearances, rather than at the Subordinate Courts.
Tey then started setting up a mini office in the dock, putting up a wooden easel to prop up legal documents and carrying other bags and files into the dock.
He directed several of his former students to sit behind the defence counsel’s table and they took notes during the hearing.
When court resumed, Tey asked the judge if he could stand at the defence counsel’s table instead as the dock would “pose considerable physical restraints in my current constitution”.
Tey, who has a slight limp, made his way to court using an umbrella as a walking stick.
Mr Jumabhoy objected, arguing that though Tey was representing himself, it did not change his position as the accused and therefore he should remain in the dock.
While this was being discussed, Tey turned to face the public gallery, put both hands on the dock and then casually popped a sweet into his mouth.
When the court officer was reading the charges to Tey, he turned the microphone to the officer and later patted him on his back after all charges were read.
Asked how he wanted to plead, he said theatrically: “If I were standing before the Almighty, I could give but one answer – I am not guilty. So please help me, God.”
Finally, after about two hours, the first witness, Miss Darinne Ko, was called to the stand.
Throughout the trial, Tey paced up and down in the dock, going to one side to confer with his lawyers, rustling through documents and checking what had been said by Miss Ko.
At one point, she said she was very distracted by his movements, but the judge told her to focus on her testimony.
Miss Ko subsequently sat with her hand glued to her forehead, shielding her from seeing Tey.
She turned further away from him later in the day when photographs he took of them after their first sexual encounter were tendered in court by the prosecution.
Tey objected to the 18 photos being submitted as evidence at this stage, until the forensic expert who extracted the photos from his laptop took the stand.
While claiming that he did not want these “compromising” photos to influence the judge’s mind, he held one of them up high and slowly swirled around so that the packed courtroom could see it.
Tey also had several notable sound bites.
At one point, he said he preferred to be referred to as the “defendant”, rather than the “accused”.
At another, he claimed to have been “scrambling like mad” and like a “headless chicken” when given only a few days to read a forensic report linked to the case.
When the prosecutor asked for a short break, Judge Tan said the transcribers also needed a break. Tey chipped in: “So do I, I’d taken too much fluids during lunch.”
Just before the lunch break, Tey asked that all officers from the Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau be removed from the court.
The prosecution said only one officer – Miss Ko’s escort – was in court and she was not related to the investigations.
Tey said he saw no reason for her to remain in court then and said: “I can escort the witness as well.”
Mr Jumabhoy retorted: “We thankfully and respectfully decline.”
But Tey had the last word: “I beg your pardon, Your Honour. I should have been more restrained.”
Related story: Darrine Ko says she lost her virginity to Prof Tey
- wong chee tat :)
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