Om Mani Padme Hum
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Judicial review of judge’s decision to deny Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee bail to be heard this Thursday
Judicial review of judge’s decision to deny Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee bail to be heard this Thursday
23 Jul 2013 01:46am
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today set this Thursday to hear the application for leave for judicial review filed by controversial couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee over the Sessions Court judge’s decision to deny them bail.
The duo’s lawyer, Chong Joo Tian, told reporters that the application was filed on July 19 and would be heard by High Court Judge Mohd Azman Husin.
They were charged with three counts of mocking Muslims and the holy month of Ramadan and posting pornographic pictures on their blog.
The claimed that Judge Murtazadi Amran had erred in law by denying them bail as they had no prior criminal record.
Tan, 24, and Lee, 25, further claimed that there were no grounds for the prosecution’s submission that they had a tendency to commit the same offence if released on bail.
The couple submitted that all their electronic equipment and computers had been seized by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and if there was a risk of repeating the offence the court could have set conditions for the bail.
Tan and Lee also said they did not pose a flight risk as their families lived in Malaysia and even if there was their passports could have been impounded.
On July 18, Judge Murtazadi denied Alvin Tan (Tan Jye Yee) and Vivian Lee (Lee May Ling) bail, pending their trial on the grounds that the case was a matter of public interest.
Tan is being detained at the Sungai Buloh Prison while Lee is in the Kajang Prison.
They were jointly accused of making a seditious posting on ‘Alvin and Vivian – Alvivi’ Facebook site (https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers) with a photo of themselves eating ‘bak kut teh’ (a pork dish) with the greeting ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa (Happy Breaking Fast) with bak kut teh, fragrant, delicious and appetising’, with a halal logo as well.
On the second charge, Tan and Lee were accused of posting pornographic pictures on http://alviviswingers.tumblr.com/ at the same place between 9pm and 2am from July 6 and 7.
The duo were also charged with posting on their own Facebookpages the same picture (bak kut teh picture) and comments which were likely to cause religious enmity between people of different faiths.
Deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin, who led the prosecution, had applied for both the accused to be denied bail as the charges they faced were under Section 298A (1) (a) of the Penal Code and Film Censorship Act, which were non-bailable offences.
- Bernama
- wong chee tat :)
23 Jul 2013 01:46am
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today set this Thursday to hear the application for leave for judicial review filed by controversial couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee over the Sessions Court judge’s decision to deny them bail.
The duo’s lawyer, Chong Joo Tian, told reporters that the application was filed on July 19 and would be heard by High Court Judge Mohd Azman Husin.
They were charged with three counts of mocking Muslims and the holy month of Ramadan and posting pornographic pictures on their blog.
The claimed that Judge Murtazadi Amran had erred in law by denying them bail as they had no prior criminal record.
Tan, 24, and Lee, 25, further claimed that there were no grounds for the prosecution’s submission that they had a tendency to commit the same offence if released on bail.
The couple submitted that all their electronic equipment and computers had been seized by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and if there was a risk of repeating the offence the court could have set conditions for the bail.
Tan and Lee also said they did not pose a flight risk as their families lived in Malaysia and even if there was their passports could have been impounded.
On July 18, Judge Murtazadi denied Alvin Tan (Tan Jye Yee) and Vivian Lee (Lee May Ling) bail, pending their trial on the grounds that the case was a matter of public interest.
Tan is being detained at the Sungai Buloh Prison while Lee is in the Kajang Prison.
They were jointly accused of making a seditious posting on ‘Alvin and Vivian – Alvivi’ Facebook site (https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers) with a photo of themselves eating ‘bak kut teh’ (a pork dish) with the greeting ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa (Happy Breaking Fast) with bak kut teh, fragrant, delicious and appetising’, with a halal logo as well.
On the second charge, Tan and Lee were accused of posting pornographic pictures on http://alviviswingers.tumblr.com/ at the same place between 9pm and 2am from July 6 and 7.
The duo were also charged with posting on their own Facebookpages the same picture (bak kut teh picture) and comments which were likely to cause religious enmity between people of different faiths.
Deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin, who led the prosecution, had applied for both the accused to be denied bail as the charges they faced were under Section 298A (1) (a) of the Penal Code and Film Censorship Act, which were non-bailable offences.
- Bernama
- wong chee tat :)
High Court allows sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee to be free on bail
High Court allows sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee to be free on bail
25 Jul 2013 12:13pm
Notorious sex bloggers Alvin and Vivian leaving the MCMC office at 9.30pm last night.
KUALA LUMPUR: Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee have been allowed to be freed on bail of RM30,000 each, with two sureties, by the High Court here.
High Court judge Mohd Azman Husin set bail at RM10,000 on each of the three charges Tan and Lee are facing.
He also imposed three conditions – that the two must not upload materials or have access to smart network devices to upload religious and racially sensitive material. Their passports were also impounded.
Judge Azman, who made the decision in chambers, also ordered the couple to report to the nearest police station on the first of every month.
This follows the couple’s application for a revision of the Sessions Court’s decision to deny them bail, Malaysiakini reported.
- wong chee tat :)
25 Jul 2013 12:13pm
Notorious sex bloggers Alvin and Vivian leaving the MCMC office at 9.30pm last night.
KUALA LUMPUR: Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee have been allowed to be freed on bail of RM30,000 each, with two sureties, by the High Court here.
High Court judge Mohd Azman Husin set bail at RM10,000 on each of the three charges Tan and Lee are facing.
He also imposed three conditions – that the two must not upload materials or have access to smart network devices to upload religious and racially sensitive material. Their passports were also impounded.
Judge Azman, who made the decision in chambers, also ordered the couple to report to the nearest police station on the first of every month.
This follows the couple’s application for a revision of the Sessions Court’s decision to deny them bail, Malaysiakini reported.
- wong chee tat :)
Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee officially set free at 10.20am
Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee officially set free at 10.20am
26 Jul 2013 11:26am
Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee arriving at the MCMC office for questioning on July 15..
KUALA LUMPUR: Notorious sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee left the Jalan Duta court complex at 10.20am in separate cars after their family members posted bail.
Yesterday, the High Court allowed them to be out onbail of RM30,000 each, with two sureties, after they applied for a revision of the Sessions Court’s decision to deny them bail.
High Court judge Mohd Azman Husin set bail at RM10,000 on each of the three charges Tan and Lee are facing.
He also imposed three conditions – that the two must not upload materials or have access to smart network devices to upload religious and racially sensitive material. Their passports were also impounded.
Judge Azman, who made the decision in chambers, also ordered the couple to report to the nearest police station on the first of every month.
The two had spent almost a week in jail.
- wong chee tat :)
26 Jul 2013 11:26am
Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee arriving at the MCMC office for questioning on July 15..
KUALA LUMPUR: Notorious sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee left the Jalan Duta court complex at 10.20am in separate cars after their family members posted bail.
Yesterday, the High Court allowed them to be out onbail of RM30,000 each, with two sureties, after they applied for a revision of the Sessions Court’s decision to deny them bail.
High Court judge Mohd Azman Husin set bail at RM10,000 on each of the three charges Tan and Lee are facing.
He also imposed three conditions – that the two must not upload materials or have access to smart network devices to upload religious and racially sensitive material. Their passports were also impounded.
Judge Azman, who made the decision in chambers, also ordered the couple to report to the nearest police station on the first of every month.
The two had spent almost a week in jail.
- wong chee tat :)
Sex blogger Alvin Tan says prison stint was ‘not bad’
Sex blogger Alvin Tan says prison stint was ‘not bad’
26 Jul 2013 05:54pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Sex blogger Alvin Tan said his eight-day prison stint was “not bad”.
Soon after Alvin and Vivian Lee signed their release documents this morning, reporters rushed up to them and asked how it was like in prison and Alvin said with a smile, “Not bad.”
Vivian kept her head down and did not respond.
Chong Joo Tian, their counsel, said his clients were “quite happy to be out of prison”.
He added: “They need time to rest. We will take it from here.”
Alvin’s mother posted bail for both of them.
- wong chee tat :)
26 Jul 2013 05:54pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Sex blogger Alvin Tan said his eight-day prison stint was “not bad”.
Soon after Alvin and Vivian Lee signed their release documents this morning, reporters rushed up to them and asked how it was like in prison and Alvin said with a smile, “Not bad.”
Vivian kept her head down and did not respond.
Chong Joo Tian, their counsel, said his clients were “quite happy to be out of prison”.
He added: “They need time to rest. We will take it from here.”
Alvin’s mother posted bail for both of them.
- wong chee tat :)
People urged to monitor social media for any posts by Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee
People urged to monitor social media for any posts by Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee
27 Jul 2013 08:23pm
KUALA TERENGGANU, July 27 — Communication and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Jailani Johari has urged members of the public to monitor controversial couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee’s blog for any possible seditious posts.
“I urge the public to help monitor the couple’s blog and social networking sites and report the same to the authorities,” he told reporters here today.
Commenting on their conditional release on bail yesterday, Jailani said stern action would be taken against the bloggers if they breached the court’s conditions.
Yesterday, High Court judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin released them on RM30,000 bail in one surety each, with four conditions.
The conditions are, their passports are compounded, they must report to the nearest police station once a month, are prohibited from posting obscene photographs, provocative comments or articles which touch on religious and racial sensitivities, and prohibited from using network communication devices for the same purpose.
Tan or Tan Jye Yee, 25, and Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, were jointly charged with posting a seditious photograph on their Facebook page, ‘Alvin and Vivian – Alvivi’ at https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers, with the caption, “Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan Bak Kut Teh…wangi, enak, menyelerakan !!!” (Happy Breaking Fast with Bak Kut Teh…fragrant, delicious and appetising!!!) and a halal logo.
Meanwhile, on a separate development he said that the Ministry planned to expand the ‘Klik dengan bijak’ programme nationwide, through the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission.
He said the move was to create awareness among the people on the importance of correct internet usage.
“Clicking the wrong thing can land you in trouble as we can see from numerous cases involving blogs, face book and so on,” he added. – BERNAMA
- wong chee tat :)
27 Jul 2013 08:23pm
KUALA TERENGGANU, July 27 — Communication and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Jailani Johari has urged members of the public to monitor controversial couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee’s blog for any possible seditious posts.
“I urge the public to help monitor the couple’s blog and social networking sites and report the same to the authorities,” he told reporters here today.
Commenting on their conditional release on bail yesterday, Jailani said stern action would be taken against the bloggers if they breached the court’s conditions.
Yesterday, High Court judge Datuk Mohd Azman Husin released them on RM30,000 bail in one surety each, with four conditions.
The conditions are, their passports are compounded, they must report to the nearest police station once a month, are prohibited from posting obscene photographs, provocative comments or articles which touch on religious and racial sensitivities, and prohibited from using network communication devices for the same purpose.
Tan or Tan Jye Yee, 25, and Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, were jointly charged with posting a seditious photograph on their Facebook page, ‘Alvin and Vivian – Alvivi’ at https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers, with the caption, “Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan Bak Kut Teh…wangi, enak, menyelerakan !!!” (Happy Breaking Fast with Bak Kut Teh…fragrant, delicious and appetising!!!) and a halal logo.
Meanwhile, on a separate development he said that the Ministry planned to expand the ‘Klik dengan bijak’ programme nationwide, through the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission.
He said the move was to create awareness among the people on the importance of correct internet usage.
“Clicking the wrong thing can land you in trouble as we can see from numerous cases involving blogs, face book and so on,” he added. – BERNAMA
- wong chee tat :)
Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee behind bars till trial is over
Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee behind bars till trial is over
18 Jul 2013 06:28pm
Sex blogger Alvin Tan being escorted by police to the Sessions Court today.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee are now behind bars after they were denied bail when they pleaded not guilty to three charges at the Sessions Court here today.
Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25, and Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, were sent to the Sungai Buloh and Kajang prisons respectively after their charges were read before judge Murtazadi Amran.
In the first charge, they were jointly accused of making a seditious posting on “Alvin and Vivian – Alvivi” Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers) by uploading a photo of themselves eating bak kut teh (a pork dish) with the greeting ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh …fragrant, delicious and appetising’ together with the ‘halal’ logo.
They allegedly committed the offence at 10.48pm between July 11 and 12 at 568-14-18, Kompleks Mutiara Jalan Ipoh, Mile 3 1/2 here.
They were charged under subsection 4 (1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948 which is punishable under subsection 4 (1) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
For the first offence, they face a fine up to RM5,000, an imprisonment up to three years or both.
In the second charge, Tan and Lee were accused of displaying pornographic pictures on http://alviviswingers.tumblr.com/ at the same place between 9pm and 2am between July 6 and 7.
They were charged under subsection 5 (1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 which is punishable under subsection 5 (2) of the same Act which carries a fine of between RM10,000 and RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to five years or both, if convicted.
They were accused of uploading on their Facebook page the same picture and comment which were likely to cause religious enmity between people of different faiths.
The content was read at CAF – Syed Restaurant, Jalan Dang Wangi here at 10.48pm between July 11 and 12.
They were charged under Section 298A (1) (a) of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment of between two and five years, if convicted.
The couple looked unperturbed when the charges were read to them individually and they also responded individually by saying, “I asked to be tried”, Bernama reported.
Judge Murtazadi denied bail for both accused after taking public interest into account.
He said the court was not affected by external elements in deciding on the bail.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin asked the court not to grant bail to the accused as the charges under Section 298A (1) (a) of the Penal Code and the Film Censorship Act were non-bailable offences.
“Of course, we accept the court discretion to allow bail on the two charges, but the prosecution objects to any bail granted until the trial is over,” he said.
Noorin said secondly, both accused had a tendency to upload pictures that could arouse public outrage.
Chong Joo Tian, the lawyer representing both accused, applied for bail for both of them on the grounds that the charges had yet to be proven and was premature in nature.
He said the prosecution could not pre-empt that the accused had a tendency to commit similar offences as they had yet to be found guilty.
“Both my clients gave full cooperation to the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) and the police during investigations and they do not have any criminal record and the offence they were accused of do not involve any form of violence,” he said.
On the other hand, Deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff argued that the court should take the surrounding circumstances into account in determining whether bail could be granted.
“Alvin Tan is a household name and if we were to ‘Google’ only the name Alvin, pictures and articles about him will pop up, for which, if it is not controlled, it can destroy society and religion. No doubt it does not involve violence, but it is a serious offence,” he said.
Noorin asked for the three cases to be tried together under Section 170 of the Criminal Procedure Code as they entailed the same transaction and witnesses.
However, Chong asked for the second charge to be tried separately as the first and third charges involved posting pornographic pictures on different websites.
Noorin said Section 170 allowed criminal offences to be tried together even though all the three cases were different and the prosecution would prove the offences occurred in the same transaction.
Murtazadi allowed the three cases to be tried together and set Aug 23 for mention.
He also gave an opportunity to the two accused to state their reasons why bail should be granted to them.
Tan said, “I want bail. I do not have any power, position, wealth, employment or job. And all my multimedia items have been confiscated by the MCMC which would affect my tendency to upload photos and access the Internet.”
Lee, who is a kindergarten teacher, said: “I would also like to be given bail and I have the same opinion as Alvin.”
- wong chee tat :)
18 Jul 2013 06:28pm
Sex blogger Alvin Tan being escorted by police to the Sessions Court today.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee are now behind bars after they were denied bail when they pleaded not guilty to three charges at the Sessions Court here today.
Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25, and Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, were sent to the Sungai Buloh and Kajang prisons respectively after their charges were read before judge Murtazadi Amran.
In the first charge, they were jointly accused of making a seditious posting on “Alvin and Vivian – Alvivi” Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers) by uploading a photo of themselves eating bak kut teh (a pork dish) with the greeting ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh …fragrant, delicious and appetising’ together with the ‘halal’ logo.
They allegedly committed the offence at 10.48pm between July 11 and 12 at 568-14-18, Kompleks Mutiara Jalan Ipoh, Mile 3 1/2 here.
They were charged under subsection 4 (1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948 which is punishable under subsection 4 (1) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
For the first offence, they face a fine up to RM5,000, an imprisonment up to three years or both.
In the second charge, Tan and Lee were accused of displaying pornographic pictures on http://alviviswingers.tumblr.com/ at the same place between 9pm and 2am between July 6 and 7.
They were charged under subsection 5 (1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 which is punishable under subsection 5 (2) of the same Act which carries a fine of between RM10,000 and RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to five years or both, if convicted.
They were accused of uploading on their Facebook page the same picture and comment which were likely to cause religious enmity between people of different faiths.
The content was read at CAF – Syed Restaurant, Jalan Dang Wangi here at 10.48pm between July 11 and 12.
They were charged under Section 298A (1) (a) of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment of between two and five years, if convicted.
The couple looked unperturbed when the charges were read to them individually and they also responded individually by saying, “I asked to be tried”, Bernama reported.
Judge Murtazadi denied bail for both accused after taking public interest into account.
He said the court was not affected by external elements in deciding on the bail.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin asked the court not to grant bail to the accused as the charges under Section 298A (1) (a) of the Penal Code and the Film Censorship Act were non-bailable offences.
“Of course, we accept the court discretion to allow bail on the two charges, but the prosecution objects to any bail granted until the trial is over,” he said.
Noorin said secondly, both accused had a tendency to upload pictures that could arouse public outrage.
Chong Joo Tian, the lawyer representing both accused, applied for bail for both of them on the grounds that the charges had yet to be proven and was premature in nature.
He said the prosecution could not pre-empt that the accused had a tendency to commit similar offences as they had yet to be found guilty.
“Both my clients gave full cooperation to the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) and the police during investigations and they do not have any criminal record and the offence they were accused of do not involve any form of violence,” he said.
On the other hand, Deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff argued that the court should take the surrounding circumstances into account in determining whether bail could be granted.
“Alvin Tan is a household name and if we were to ‘Google’ only the name Alvin, pictures and articles about him will pop up, for which, if it is not controlled, it can destroy society and religion. No doubt it does not involve violence, but it is a serious offence,” he said.
Noorin asked for the three cases to be tried together under Section 170 of the Criminal Procedure Code as they entailed the same transaction and witnesses.
However, Chong asked for the second charge to be tried separately as the first and third charges involved posting pornographic pictures on different websites.
Noorin said Section 170 allowed criminal offences to be tried together even though all the three cases were different and the prosecution would prove the offences occurred in the same transaction.
Murtazadi allowed the three cases to be tried together and set Aug 23 for mention.
He also gave an opportunity to the two accused to state their reasons why bail should be granted to them.
Tan said, “I want bail. I do not have any power, position, wealth, employment or job. And all my multimedia items have been confiscated by the MCMC which would affect my tendency to upload photos and access the Internet.”
Lee, who is a kindergarten teacher, said: “I would also like to be given bail and I have the same opinion as Alvin.”
- wong chee tat :)
Yangzijiang to trade shares in RMB on SGX's dual currency trading platform
Yangzijiang to trade shares in RMB on SGX's dual currency trading platform
POSTED: 25 Jul 2013 1:01 PM
Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced on Thursday that Yangzijiang Shipbuilding will be the first company to trade its shares in renminbi (RMB) on SGX's dual currency trading platform.
SINGAPORE: Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced on Thursday that Yangzijiang Shipbuilding will be the first company to trade its shares in renminbi (RMB) on SGX's dual currency trading platform.
Yangzijiang's RMB-denominated shares will start trading on 5 August.
Magnus Bocker, CEO of SGX, said this is an exciting and positive development for Singapore as an offshore RMB centre. It also demonstrates how SGX is contributing to the infrastructure and capabilities required for issuers and investors to tap opportunities offered by China.
The exchange currently offers other services such as the listing and depository of offshore RMB bonds and the listing, quotation, trading, clearing and settlement of RMB-denominated securities.
SGX also offers China A50 index futures, the only offshore access to the China A-share market.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 25 Jul 2013 1:01 PM
Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced on Thursday that Yangzijiang Shipbuilding will be the first company to trade its shares in renminbi (RMB) on SGX's dual currency trading platform.
SINGAPORE: Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced on Thursday that Yangzijiang Shipbuilding will be the first company to trade its shares in renminbi (RMB) on SGX's dual currency trading platform.
Yangzijiang's RMB-denominated shares will start trading on 5 August.
Magnus Bocker, CEO of SGX, said this is an exciting and positive development for Singapore as an offshore RMB centre. It also demonstrates how SGX is contributing to the infrastructure and capabilities required for issuers and investors to tap opportunities offered by China.
The exchange currently offers other services such as the listing and depository of offshore RMB bonds and the listing, quotation, trading, clearing and settlement of RMB-denominated securities.
SGX also offers China A50 index futures, the only offshore access to the China A-share market.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
CDL Hospitality Trust distribution per stapled security down 6.8%
CDL Hospitality Trust distribution per stapled security down 6.8%
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 10:35 PM
CDL Hospitality Trust's income to be distributed per security fell 6.8 per cent to 2.72 cents in the second quarter from a year ago. This as income available for distribution fell to S$29.4 million, a 6.4 per cent drop from the same period last year.
SINGAPORE: CDL Hospitality Trust's income to be distributed per security fell 6.8 per cent to 2.72 cents in the second quarter from a year ago. This as income available for distribution fell to S$29.4 million, a 6.4 per cent drop from the same period last year.
CDL Hospitality Trust also reports a fall in gross revenue by 2.9 per cent on-year to S$35.6 million in the second quarter. This was largely due to lower gross revenues from its Singapore hotels and exchange losses from a weak Australian dollar.
The REIT manager said in a statement that it expects stiff competition and the weak global economy to continue impacting performance in Singapore and Australia for the rest of the year.
CDL Hospitality Trust owns 12 hotels and one resort. Among the hotels, six are located in Singapore, including Orchard Hotel and Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 10:35 PM
CDL Hospitality Trust's income to be distributed per security fell 6.8 per cent to 2.72 cents in the second quarter from a year ago. This as income available for distribution fell to S$29.4 million, a 6.4 per cent drop from the same period last year.
SINGAPORE: CDL Hospitality Trust's income to be distributed per security fell 6.8 per cent to 2.72 cents in the second quarter from a year ago. This as income available for distribution fell to S$29.4 million, a 6.4 per cent drop from the same period last year.
CDL Hospitality Trust also reports a fall in gross revenue by 2.9 per cent on-year to S$35.6 million in the second quarter. This was largely due to lower gross revenues from its Singapore hotels and exchange losses from a weak Australian dollar.
The REIT manager said in a statement that it expects stiff competition and the weak global economy to continue impacting performance in Singapore and Australia for the rest of the year.
CDL Hospitality Trust owns 12 hotels and one resort. Among the hotels, six are located in Singapore, including Orchard Hotel and Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Caldecott station to be new MRT interchange
Caldecott station to be new MRT interchange
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a S$285 million contract to Samsung C&T Corporation to expand Caldecott station into an interchange.
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the S$285 million contract for the construction of Thomson Line Caldecott station and associated tunnels to Samsung C&T Corporation.
Construction of the station and tunnels will start in August 2013.
When completed in 2020, Caldecott station will become an interchange station connecting the future Thomson Line with the Circle Line.
When the Thomson Line Caldecott station is completed in 2020, commuters will be able to enjoy a direct route between Woodlands and Caldecott stations in 25 minutes.
Currently, it takes about 40 minutes to travel along the North-South Line and transfer to the Circle Line at Bishan.The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the S$285 million contract to Samsung C&T Corporation to expand Caldecott station into an interchange.
LTA has also awarded a S$421-million contract to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Ltd for the construction and completion of Thomson Line tunnels in Woodlands.
The contract includes tunnels linking Woodlands station to the Mandai depot.
Construction of the tunnels will start in August 2013 and is targeted for completion in 2019.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a S$285 million contract to Samsung C&T Corporation to expand Caldecott station into an interchange.
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the S$285 million contract for the construction of Thomson Line Caldecott station and associated tunnels to Samsung C&T Corporation.
Construction of the station and tunnels will start in August 2013.
When completed in 2020, Caldecott station will become an interchange station connecting the future Thomson Line with the Circle Line.
When the Thomson Line Caldecott station is completed in 2020, commuters will be able to enjoy a direct route between Woodlands and Caldecott stations in 25 minutes.
Currently, it takes about 40 minutes to travel along the North-South Line and transfer to the Circle Line at Bishan.The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the S$285 million contract to Samsung C&T Corporation to expand Caldecott station into an interchange.
LTA has also awarded a S$421-million contract to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Ltd for the construction and completion of Thomson Line tunnels in Woodlands.
The contract includes tunnels linking Woodlands station to the Mandai depot.
Construction of the tunnels will start in August 2013 and is targeted for completion in 2019.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
TTSH warns of possible job offer scam
TTSH warns of possible job offer scam
By Vimita Mohandas
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 11:15 PM
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has warned of a possible scam where emails were sent to residents in the Philippines in its name to lure them into paying money.
SINGAPORE: Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has warned of a possible scam where emails were sent to residents in the Philippines in its name to lure them into paying money.
The emails requested payment of some 3,750 pesos (about S$109.50) for employment opportunities at the hospital and to attend a supposed coaching session.
Interested applicants were invited to attend a “Tan Tock Seng Hospital Working Visa Interview Coaching” session which, according to the emails, will be held in the hospital’s office at the Philippines on August 3-4.
In its Facebook page, TTSH stressed that it did not send out any emails of such nature.
It said that the address used in the emails, tantocksenghosp@live.com, is a bogus email address.
The hospital also said it does not have a consultancy firm in the Philippines, nor does it collect payment from candidates for any training or coaching.
It advised interested applicants to contact the hospital’s Human Resource Department directly for any enquiries on job opportunities, at hr_enquiry@ttsh.com.sg.
TTSH has reported the matter to the police.
Similar incidents had taken place in February when hoax email messages were sent to Filipinos, offering jobs at Jurong Health Services (JurongHealth) and Singapore General Hospital.
- CNA/nd
- wong chee tat :)
By Vimita Mohandas
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 11:15 PM
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has warned of a possible scam where emails were sent to residents in the Philippines in its name to lure them into paying money.
SINGAPORE: Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has warned of a possible scam where emails were sent to residents in the Philippines in its name to lure them into paying money.
The emails requested payment of some 3,750 pesos (about S$109.50) for employment opportunities at the hospital and to attend a supposed coaching session.
Interested applicants were invited to attend a “Tan Tock Seng Hospital Working Visa Interview Coaching” session which, according to the emails, will be held in the hospital’s office at the Philippines on August 3-4.
In its Facebook page, TTSH stressed that it did not send out any emails of such nature.
It said that the address used in the emails, tantocksenghosp@live.com, is a bogus email address.
The hospital also said it does not have a consultancy firm in the Philippines, nor does it collect payment from candidates for any training or coaching.
It advised interested applicants to contact the hospital’s Human Resource Department directly for any enquiries on job opportunities, at hr_enquiry@ttsh.com.sg.
TTSH has reported the matter to the police.
Similar incidents had taken place in February when hoax email messages were sent to Filipinos, offering jobs at Jurong Health Services (JurongHealth) and Singapore General Hospital.
- CNA/nd
- wong chee tat :)
New system to cut patient waiting time at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
New system to cut patient waiting time at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
By Vimita Mohandas
POSTED: 27 Jul 2013 5:41 PM
Patients at the upcoming Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital can look forward to a hassle-free experience with the new One Queue, One Bill system.
SINGAPORE: Patients at the upcoming Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital can look forward to a hassle-free experience with the new One Queue, One Bill system.
A visit to the hospital which involves multi-disciplines or varied tests will be streamlined on the same day, if possible. This will help to cut down travel time and money.
The new specialist outpatient experience will see an integrated system for better coordination of appointments as well as through a new role called the Patient Service Coordinator (PSC).
The PSC will serve as a key point of contact for patients to coordinate appointments and direct their general enquiries.
JurongHealth said particular attention was paid to the planning, designing and building of the two hospitals to provide a seamless experience.
Foo Hee Jug, chief executive of JurongHealth, said: "The transition from an acute hospital to a community hospital is also planned to be seamless. Overall, the key focus for us is to ensure that the experience is as seamless as possible and that takes into the consideration of the patient comfort and their convenience.
The 700-bed Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and 400-bed Jurong Community Hospital is on track to open in December 2014 and June 2015 respectively.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Vimita Mohandas
POSTED: 27 Jul 2013 5:41 PM
Patients at the upcoming Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital can look forward to a hassle-free experience with the new One Queue, One Bill system.
SINGAPORE: Patients at the upcoming Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital can look forward to a hassle-free experience with the new One Queue, One Bill system.
A visit to the hospital which involves multi-disciplines or varied tests will be streamlined on the same day, if possible. This will help to cut down travel time and money.
The new specialist outpatient experience will see an integrated system for better coordination of appointments as well as through a new role called the Patient Service Coordinator (PSC).
The PSC will serve as a key point of contact for patients to coordinate appointments and direct their general enquiries.
JurongHealth said particular attention was paid to the planning, designing and building of the two hospitals to provide a seamless experience.
Foo Hee Jug, chief executive of JurongHealth, said: "The transition from an acute hospital to a community hospital is also planned to be seamless. Overall, the key focus for us is to ensure that the experience is as seamless as possible and that takes into the consideration of the patient comfort and their convenience.
The 700-bed Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and 400-bed Jurong Community Hospital is on track to open in December 2014 and June 2015 respectively.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
24 schools conduct P1 balloting
24 schools conduct P1 balloting
By Sharon See
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 7:12 PM
Phase 2B of the Primary 1 registration drew to a close on Friday, with balloting conducted at 24 schools.
SINGAPORE: Phase 2B of the Primary 1 registration drew to a close on Friday, with balloting conducted at 24 schools.
This phase is for children whose parents are volunteers, endorsed church or clan members, or community leaders.
St Joseph's Institution (SJI) Junior was one school which conducted balloting for Singaporean applicants living beyond two kilometres of the school.
Most of the applicants are Catholic Church members or grassroots leaders.
Balloting began at 9am, and the mood was a nerve-racking one for applicants because it determined where their children will study, learn and play for the next six years.
But with just six places left for the 28 applicants, competition was intense.
Mr Alvin Lee, a successful applicant who is a senior market development manager at a biotech firm living in Ang Mo Kio, said: "Very, very thankful, very excited and also very relieved, so we don't need to join the nail-biting experience next week again... We were always looking at the MOE website or kiasuparents.com to see the calculations, to calculate our odds."
Mr Daniel Setiadi, an IT specialist who was unsuccessful, said: "We have looked at the history of the balloting and normally, SJI Junior is balloting at Phase 2B, so we kind of expected it.
“We will look for another school for Phase 2C, probably closer to our place. So that's the plan so far."
Before the unsuccessful applicants left, SJI Junior also gave out pamphlets and information on nearby schools to help them choose another school during Phase 2C.
Channel NewsAsia spoke to a number of unsuccessful parents who had mixed views about the registration process, in particular the alumni priority phases.
One of them said she had no complaints even though her son did not get a place in the school, as she had previously benefited from the system when she enrolled her daughter in her former school.
But some other parents were visibly more upset and felt perhaps a quota should be placed on the number of vacancies given out at Phase 2A(2), where parents only have to present their school report books to enrol their children.
Over at Sembawang, Canberra Primary conducted balloting in Phase 2B for the first time.
Canberra invited representatives from nearby schools to provide more information for the unsuccessful applicants.
Mr Sam Wong, principal of Canberra Primary, said: “Parents who've gone through one balloting, I'm very sure they would not like to go for another. Therefore, if we can assist them to make a good choice where they don't have to go for another time of balloting… I think that would be delightful.”
Madam Theresa Ng, principal of Northoaks Primary, said: “We are a new school starting in 2014, so this is a good opportunity for us to reach out to another group of parents… to introduce to them our programmes, to help them understand what we will be doing in 2014.”
The next phase of registration -- Phase 2C, which is open to all children without affiliation -- opens on July 30.
- CNA/gn
- wong chee tat :)
By Sharon See
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 7:12 PM
Phase 2B of the Primary 1 registration drew to a close on Friday, with balloting conducted at 24 schools.
SINGAPORE: Phase 2B of the Primary 1 registration drew to a close on Friday, with balloting conducted at 24 schools.
This phase is for children whose parents are volunteers, endorsed church or clan members, or community leaders.
St Joseph's Institution (SJI) Junior was one school which conducted balloting for Singaporean applicants living beyond two kilometres of the school.
Most of the applicants are Catholic Church members or grassroots leaders.
Balloting began at 9am, and the mood was a nerve-racking one for applicants because it determined where their children will study, learn and play for the next six years.
But with just six places left for the 28 applicants, competition was intense.
Mr Alvin Lee, a successful applicant who is a senior market development manager at a biotech firm living in Ang Mo Kio, said: "Very, very thankful, very excited and also very relieved, so we don't need to join the nail-biting experience next week again... We were always looking at the MOE website or kiasuparents.com to see the calculations, to calculate our odds."
Mr Daniel Setiadi, an IT specialist who was unsuccessful, said: "We have looked at the history of the balloting and normally, SJI Junior is balloting at Phase 2B, so we kind of expected it.
“We will look for another school for Phase 2C, probably closer to our place. So that's the plan so far."
Before the unsuccessful applicants left, SJI Junior also gave out pamphlets and information on nearby schools to help them choose another school during Phase 2C.
Channel NewsAsia spoke to a number of unsuccessful parents who had mixed views about the registration process, in particular the alumni priority phases.
One of them said she had no complaints even though her son did not get a place in the school, as she had previously benefited from the system when she enrolled her daughter in her former school.
But some other parents were visibly more upset and felt perhaps a quota should be placed on the number of vacancies given out at Phase 2A(2), where parents only have to present their school report books to enrol their children.
Over at Sembawang, Canberra Primary conducted balloting in Phase 2B for the first time.
Canberra invited representatives from nearby schools to provide more information for the unsuccessful applicants.
Mr Sam Wong, principal of Canberra Primary, said: “Parents who've gone through one balloting, I'm very sure they would not like to go for another. Therefore, if we can assist them to make a good choice where they don't have to go for another time of balloting… I think that would be delightful.”
Madam Theresa Ng, principal of Northoaks Primary, said: “We are a new school starting in 2014, so this is a good opportunity for us to reach out to another group of parents… to introduce to them our programmes, to help them understand what we will be doing in 2014.”
The next phase of registration -- Phase 2C, which is open to all children without affiliation -- opens on July 30.
- CNA/gn
- wong chee tat :)
Eleven killed in China nursing home arson attack
Eleven killed in China nursing home arson attack
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 5:56 PM
Eleven nursing home patients burned to death early Friday in China after one of them set the facility on fire in a row over money, state media reported.
BEIJING: Eleven nursing home patients burned to death early Friday in China after one of them set the facility on fire in a row over money, state media reported.
Wang Gui, who was 45 and had had a stroke, set the inpatient section of the home in Hailun, Heilongjiang province, on fire after another resident allegedly stole 200 yuan (US$33) from him, the Xinhua news agency said, quoting the local police.
Wang and 10 other people, the oldest aged 87, died and two others were injured, the report said.
The nursing home housed 283 mostly senior citizens, Xinhua said. It was built in 2005 and has 450 beds for people in the northeastern area who have no source of income.
Wang was sent there as he had nobody to take care of him after his stroke, it added.
Social tensions have been mounting in China in recent years against a backdrop of a widening income gap and abuses of public power, with disputes even over trifling issues sometimes triggering serious incidents.
- AFP/gn
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 26 Jul 2013 5:56 PM
Eleven nursing home patients burned to death early Friday in China after one of them set the facility on fire in a row over money, state media reported.
BEIJING: Eleven nursing home patients burned to death early Friday in China after one of them set the facility on fire in a row over money, state media reported.
Wang Gui, who was 45 and had had a stroke, set the inpatient section of the home in Hailun, Heilongjiang province, on fire after another resident allegedly stole 200 yuan (US$33) from him, the Xinhua news agency said, quoting the local police.
Wang and 10 other people, the oldest aged 87, died and two others were injured, the report said.
The nursing home housed 283 mostly senior citizens, Xinhua said. It was built in 2005 and has 450 beds for people in the northeastern area who have no source of income.
Wang was sent there as he had nobody to take care of him after his stroke, it added.
Social tensions have been mounting in China in recent years against a backdrop of a widening income gap and abuses of public power, with disputes even over trifling issues sometimes triggering serious incidents.
- AFP/gn
- wong chee tat :)
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