Oct 21, 2009

By Rachel Xie

FANS of American Idol Carrie Underwood got a real treat today when she performed at the grand opening of Singapore’s latest hotspot, ION Orchard – for free.

Some 500 people gathered at the junction outside ION Orchard for her first live gig in the whole of Asia.

The country-pop crooner got the crowd grooving as she belted out hits from her second album, Carnival Ride. During the show, she pulled a surprise out of the hat by singing Mama’s Song, a never-performed-before single from her upcoming album Play On.

Donning a slinky sequinned tank top, skin-tight jeans and knee-high leather boots, Underwood was literally traffic-stopping as she strut her stuff on an outdoor stage for a full 45 minutes.

Passersby slowed down to catch a glimpse of the starlet magnified on ION Orchard’s unique exterior LED screen walls.

Air steward Ernest Soh, 22, who was at the show said: “This is just incredible. I’m a die-hard supporter of Carrie’s and here she is, performing right in front of me. I’m actually breathing the same air as her! She sounds even better live than on TV.”

And for that, Underwood fans have to thank Ms Soon Su Lin, CEO of Orchard Turn Developments. She passed over other A-list stars like Gwen Stefani and Beyoncé, choosing instead, the country singer who had never performed in Asia before.

She said: “That will bring more excitement and novelty. We were also looking for someone with mass appeal, elegant, stylish and friendly, someone both young and old can relate to.”

Underwood was crowned the fourth ‘American Idol’ in 2005. Since then, she has won four Grammys and sold more than 10 million records in the US alone. This makes her the most successful American Idol winner ever as predicted by the infamous Simon Cowell, resident judge on the singing talent show.

Her mini concert here is part of Constellation, a week-long festival in celebration of the official opening of ION Orchard. All the events scheduled for this week are free.

From now till 24^th October, visitors to the shopping mall can look forward to a star-studded line-up of programmes including fashion shows and a guest performance by Taiwanese singer-songwriter Wang Leehom.

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M1 breaks SingTel’s iPhone monopoly; customers may get cheaper prices

By Daniel Teo

MobileOne (M1) will offer the iPhone later this year, ending the device’s year-long exclusivity with rival Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel).

Singapore’s smallest telco inked a deal with American computer giant Apple to sell the iconic smartphone. Pricing and availability dates will be announced in the near future.

SingTel has been the sole Singaporean carrier of the iPhone since August last year. Currently, SingTel offers the iPhone 3G, and its faster, newer sibling, the 3GS, with 2-year plans ranging from $39 to $205 monthly. M1’s entry into the market has sparked off speculations of lower prices for data plans that are bundled with the iPhone.

SMU undergraduate Tan Howe Yuan, 24, said: “I think it just means prices for the phone and data plans will go down, now that SingTel has competition.” Tan is a new iPhone user who had recently switched from StarHub to SingTel in order to get the device.

“I’m a little bummed that the news came out right after I bought mine,” Tan said ruefully.

M1 customer and imminent iPhone owner, Caroline Sng, 22, said. “I’m hoping it comes tied with a good plan. It’ll be better savings all round.”

SingTel has responded publicly to anticipated iPhone price-cuts. In a statement to local media, Cheam Tze Hui, SingTel’s Corporate Communications Manager, said: “We wish to assure our customers that we review our price plans regularly to ensure that they offer the best value and remain competitive.”

Competition is welcome because the consumer benefits. In its native US, the iPhone is sold exclusively by AT&T. In a CNET article about the American telco’s iPhone monopoly, senior editor Kent German laments about how iPhone customers have no choice but to put up with “spotty coverage” and “abysmal customer service”.

“It’s aggravating and just not fair, they [AT&T iPhone customers] would say, and I have to agree,” German writes.

Fortunately for Tan, he has had no major complaints with his SingTel iPhone. However, Singaporean users will soon have the option to choose between two carriers. But where does that leave StarHub, the only other telco in Singapore?

StarHub spokesperson Michael Sim told ZDNet Asia that the company is “interested to bring the iPhone to StarHub customers” but was not forthcoming about any negotiations with Apple.

The iPhone has had a cult following since the first model was launched in 2007. The latest rendition, the 3GS, sold 1 million units worldwide only 3 days after its launch in June this year. In Singapore, SingTel says iPhone sales numbers are in the “tens of thousands”. And now M1 will be able to get at a piece of the iPhone pie.

By Chu Wenshen

SINGAPORE Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) claimed a 1-0 victory over S.league strugglers, Sengkang Punggol Football Club (Sengkang FC) on Friday evening, thanks to a 15^th- minute match-winning header from team captain, Aleksander Duric.

The narrow victory was enough for SAFFC to put the S.League title beyond the reach of runner-up, Tampines Rovers.

This is SAFFC’s fourth consecutive S.League title, a record for the longest run of consecutive titles in the competition.

The motive of SAFFC was clear early in the game with the Warriors ( nickname of SAFFC) eager to grab an early goal. They started the match in a frantic manner, spraying balls upfield with enthusiasm.

Shaking off the weariness after a disappointing season, Sengkang FC seemed determined in their staunch defence to delay SAFFC’s title celebrations. They survived the early onslaught of SAFFC’s attacking play through strong defending efforts. But, Sengkang was facing an experienced team characterised by their pacy movement and attacking approach to the game.

A goalkeeping blunder in the 15^th minute by Sengkang allowed SAFFC to grab the opening goal. Aleksander Duric rose above the sea of Sengkang defenders to head the ball towards goal. Sengkang’s goalkeeper, Amos Boon, failing to get a hold of the ball, palmed it towards the left post, sending it to the side netting.

The 1712-strong crowd erupted in joy amidst the celebratory beats of the kompangs(Malay drum – usually used in joyous occasions) as Duric raced towards the embrace of his celebrating team-mates.

“This is a good, confident start to the match. I’m starting to have the celebration mood already,” said SAFFC fan, Lim Teck Woo, 47, warehouse supervisor.

However, the valiant Sengkang FC side did not go down without a fight. In the 44^th minute, Sengkang’s young striker, Mamadou Diallo, unleashed a blistering left-foot drive which forced a tremendous save from SAFFC’s goalkeeper, Shahril Jantan, preserving SAFFC’s lead.

The second half saw Duric displaying his aerial prowess again, almost scoring from a header again after connecting with Ahmad Latiff’s pin-point cross at the 59^th minute. John Wilkinson added more pressure at the 71^st minute with a long-distance volley which Amos Boon scrambled to clear from goal.

However, Sengkang’s skipper Indra Sahdan Daud, making his return from a recent injury, almost leveled the score in the final minutes of the match. Unfortunately, SAFFC’s defence denied him the chance to score the equalising goal by crowding him out in the penalty box.

The match concluded with SAFFC’s fans giving a standing ovation to their departing captain, Aleksander Duric. Duric is due to leave the club to play for Indonesian club, Sriwijaya FC,in November this year.

“We (fans) will miss Duric when he leaves. His goal tonight is the perfect parting gift for us,” said Kong Peng Hui, 23, student.

By Lin Jiamin

AMID the Deepavali celebrations this year, some Singaporeans took the time to spread the joy to more than 900 low-income families by donating away approximately S$10,000 worth of food.

Last Saturday, more than 350 people turned up for the “Every ONE can” food donation drive at food distributor FoodXervices’ warehouse, buying food items at discounted prices.

The first-of-its kind warehouse sale, where items purchased can be immediately pledged for donation, was a success despite the recent economic downturn.

Miss Nichol Ng, Managing Director of FoodXervices, said: “The amount of food donated in this one-day donation drive has exceeded our expectations of just filling the 14-feet truck.”

This was grocery shopping with a heart as customers did their part for charity by purchasing from a range of 3,500 products available at wholesale prices. These purchases were then donated in aid of the campaign.

Miss Ng said: “Most people don’t think twice about food but apparently there are people who really need it.”

She added that the concept was sparked off by the recent trend of warehouse sales.”

“It has a different twist to the usual retail food donation, with people purchasing food items and pledging them on the spot,” she explained.

Singaporeans can look forward to more of such events as FoodXervices hope to string in small charity organisations and food suppliers create a more efficient network for future donation drives.

Student Amanda Zheng, 21, who bought and donated two bags of 10kg rice, said: “Food is a basic necessity and this campaign is a good idea as people can donate food to the needy at relatively cheaper prices.”

The programme for the day included live music performances, celebrity appearances and a mini-carnival for children.

The public were also presented with the opportunity to support the “Stand Up Take Action Against Poverty” mass global campaign.

The event attracted 229 individuals to ‘STAND UP’ by pledging to call on world leaders to end poverty.

Steps were taken to increase convenience for the public to participate in the “Every ONE Can” campaign. Free shuttle bus services between the warehouse and the bus stop at Harbourfront MRT station was provided at 15-minute intervals.

This sale-donation event was jointly organised by Singapore’s food distributor, FoodXervices and ONE (SINGAPORE), an organisation dedicated to raising public awareness and taking concrete actions to eradicate poverty.

It was held in conjunction with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This day, which is initiated by the United Nations (UN), is dedicated to reminding global leaders of their commitments to eradicating poverty.

The proceeds from the donation drive will be distributed by Food From The Heart.

Interview with Co-organiser, Ms Nichol Ng

Interview with NUS undergrad, Ms Amanda Zheng

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MediaCorp Gives Hope to Disaster Victims

19 October 2009 10.45pm

By Genevieve Yeo

SINGAPORE – Project Hope, a two-hour MediaCorp televised fund raising event, raised $1.3 million last night to aid disaster victims plagued by the recent natural disasters in neighbouring countries of the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The two-hour benefit concert saw over 50 MediaCorp, local and ASEAN artistes performing and appealing for donations in English and other national languages including Tagalog, Vietnamese and Bahasa Indonesia.

There was also a special guest appearance by John Lee, a Singaporean businessman and survivor of the Indonesian earthquake, who vividly described his ordeal during the show. He was in Maryani Hotel having a business meeting, when the quake occurred.

Meanwhile, a special phone line to appeal for donations above $50 was set up. It involved 30 local celebrities, as well as radio personalities like radio deejay Glenn Ong, Caldecott queen Zoe Tay and professional racer Hafiz Koh.

At the opening of the show, Mr Lucas Chow, CEO of MediaCorp, urged Singaporeans to be involved in Project Hope, an outreach that “transcends language and boundary [and] unites us in times of calamity.”

Housewife Karen Lim, 49, was impressed that MediaCorp reacted so quickly to hold the event to “help the neighbours in need”.

Red Cross’s corporate communications executive Jo-Ann Huang said: “The funds will go towards relief recovery and rehabilitation efforts for the survivors”.

This includes proper temporary housing due to the threat of water-borne diseases in Vietnam and the Philippines through three beneficiaries: the Singapore Red Cross Society, Mercy Relief and Habitat for Humanity Singapore.

Donors who donated more than S$1,000 during the show had their names or companies displayed on the television screen, along with the sum of their donations.

Project Hope was organised by the SMART Alliance, formed by ASEAN broadcasting companies. It is led by MediaCorp’s CEO Mr Lucas Chow. The SMART Alliance consists of ABS-CBN from the Philippines, International Media Corporation from Vietnam, Media Nusantara Citra from Indonesia, Media Prima from Malaysia and MediaCorp from Singapore.

The programme was simultaneously aired from 8.30pm to 10.30pm on Channel 5, Suria, TVMobile and the large screens outside newly-opened Orchard Central. The encore telecast will be on Sunday 25 October 2009 on Surai from 11am to 1pm and on Channel 5 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

Donation phone lines will be opened until Monday 26 October 2009 midnight for the following donation amounts: 1900-112-5010 for a S$10 donation, 1900-112-5020 for a S$20 donation, 1900-112-5050 for a S$50 donation and 6354-4611 for donations above $50.

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One(Singapore) to end poverty, one at a time

By Tan Christine

AT the stroke of midnight, The Forbidden City at Indochine became the gathering ground for hundreds of compassionate Singaporeans seeking to do their part to eradicate poverty.

This was part of local non-profit organisation One(Singapore)’s campaign to encourage people to come together and pledge to stand up against poverty. The event aims to gather the masses to remind global leaders to keep to their promises to eradicate poverty by 2025. Singapore was also part of the 198 countries that signed the declaration.

Radio DJ and actress Vernetta Lopez, also the founder of One(Singapore), headed the pledge event at the restaurant in Clark Quay. Lopez spoke to the crowd to remind them of the poverty in other countries and what they can do to help. Following which, she led the hundreds in a pledge to do their part for poverty.

“I was quite excited about this when I heard from my friend about the organisation and this event. It’s a meaningful way to spend my Saturday night out” said sales assistant Marrianne Lee, who specially visited Indochine to support the event. She added, “Even though it’s a small gesture, it feels good to know you’re playing a part”.

Lee was accompanied by her friend, 25 year-old Lin Shu Pei, who is also a volunteer in other charity organisations. Lin mentioned that the turnout this year was at least 50 percent more than the same event held last year. “I’m glad that people are getting aware and starting to do their part. It’s a good sign,” said Lin.

Despite the charitable atmosphere at Indochine that night, some people are, however, less enthusiastic about the organisation’s charitable cause. Thirty-two-year-old banker Anthony Liew said: “I’m just here to drink. I really don’t think the organisation will change anything. Eradicating poverty is not up to us.”

Founder Vernetta Lopez does not think likewise. Lopez stated that One(Singapore) takes small steps that contribute to alleviating poverty by supporting smaller charity groups that are in line with One’s development goals. These goals include reducing birth mortality rates, ensuring universal primary education and ensuring environmental sustainability.

“Every second, three children die from poverty (due to starvation and lack of proper sanitization)”. This is the mantra that One(Singapore) strives to drive into Singaporeans. Lopez said that the volunteer-based organisation aims to encourage people to have a sense of awareness and compassion about people living in poverty around the world.

Founded in 2005, One(Singapore) is a local non-profit organisation created to remind and encourage Singaporeans to do their part for people living in poverty, joining hands with international bodies to support the same cause.

By Faith Quek

SINGAPORE – M1 will begin selling the Apple iPhone later this year, breaking SingTel’s year-long monopoly on the coveted touch-screen smartphone.

M1 said on Tuesday in a press release that it has secured a deal with the American computer conglomerate to sell the iPhone and “looked forward to offering the iPhone and a range of tailored service plans to customers in Singapore”.

The question on most consumers’ mind now is perhaps the cost of the iPhone and its data plans by M1.

Marketing manager Taylor Ng, 28, said: “M1 has much to do about catching up with SingTel. Besides, M1’s main customer base is [made up of] mainly youths who do not have the earning power yet. Hence, I’m expecting cheaper rates when M1 launches its iPhones.”

According to earlier reports by The Straits Times, an M1 spokesperson said that the company will bring in the latest model but declined to provide further information like availability dates and pricing.

In anticipating a price battle against M1, SingTel replied to a letter in TODAY that its price plans will be reviewed regularly to ensure continual offering of the “best value” to customers while providing the “latest and most innovative mobile devices and services” to remain competitive in the market.

Due to its exclusive rights over iPhone sales, SingTel has sold over 100,000 iPhones for the past 14 months and has gained a lucrative foothold of its competitors’ share of post-paid mobile customers. However, M1 is expecting to recoup the customers they have lost over the year.

This latest move by M1 leaves StarHub as the only local telco operator without access to the touch-screen smartphone.

According to The Business Times, StarHub’s chances of bringing in the iPhone remain slim due to two factors: the need to commit high volume sales and revenue-sharing with Apple. Market analysts who spoke to The Business Times forecasted the recent loss of the English Premier League (EPL) rights to SingTel as a prelude to more pay-TV losses. Hence, attaining the distribution rights of selling iPhone would further stretch the company’s bottom line as StarHub would have to share part of its revenue with Apple.

Relationship manager Jaslyn Khoo, 36, a StarHub subscriber said: “StarHub needs to restore investors’ confidence, especially with the recent lost of the English Premier League (EPL) rights to SingTel and probably market share (as well) due to the iPhone duopoly.”

She added that StarHub’s competitive advantage lies in its “network infrastructure of the highest mobile data network speeds” among its competitors and predicted that “it is only a matter of when since the telco companies are known to be very competitive.”

However, market watchers cautioned that the entrance of StarHub will worsen the imminent slow breakeven point of M1 and SingTel when the former officially takes its place as an alternative provider of the iPhone. According to The Business Times, analysts expect the impending price battles to cause the telco companies to recoup their investment in one year, up from the initial nine months when SingTel monopolised the iPhone market in Singapore.

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Microsoft wheels out new Windows Mobile 6.5

By Brandon Tan Yuan Yu

AMIDST the hype over Apple’s iPhone, Microsoft upped its ante with the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 at ION Orchard last Friday. This came eight months after its announcement in the Mobile World Congress 2009.

The responses over the three-day roadshow seemed positive as crowds came forth at the booths to watch live demonstrations.

Those who had hands-on experiences were thrilled to see a revamped user interface and better web browsing capability.

Businessman Nelson Koh, 36, who was at the show said: “The new interface addresses issues like usability and connectivity, and I think it signifies a good beginning for Windows Mobile users.”

Besides promoting the overhauled operating system, Microsoft also introduced services equivalent to Apple’s App Store and MobileMe, called Windows Marketplace and My Phone. Windows Marketplace offers over 200 applications while My Phone provides data backup services for users.

“The applications from Windows Marketplace allow users to customise their mobile phones,” said Microsoft promoter, Simon Lim, 22.

He added, “If they do not like what they download, they get full refund when they return the application within 24 hours.”

However, some bystanders felt that Windows Mobile 6.5 was overhyped.

An unimpressed financial analyst Francis Ong, 27, thought that the newly launched services were merely an imitation of Apple’s innovation.

Ong said, “The features pale in comparison with iPhone, Android and Blackberry. For example, the number of applications available for download in Windows Marketplace is really a joke.”

On the other hand, another Microsoft promoter Charles Mah, 24, said that users should not be discouraged by the disparity of the number of applications between Windows Marketplace and Apple’s App Store.

He urged that the quality of an application is the real measure of a successful application.

Microsoft also held lucky draws where winners walked away with free Windows Mobile 6.5 equipped smartphones like HTC Touch 2.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s three major telcos Singtel, M1 and Starhub, were engaging in aggressive marketing campaigns.

SingTel was offering the brand new HTC Touch 2 for free when customers signed up for a specific mobile plan over the booth. Starhub and M1 was offering the HTC Touch 2 at a low price with a two-year contract.

“A new HTC Touch 2 and a new operating system at one dollar is a steal, I couldn’t resist signing up for another Starhub line,” said undergraduate Samuel Wong, 22.

The event also showcased new smartphone models from Asus, Acer, InQ, LG, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

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Two out of three telcos in Singapore to sell iPhone by end of the year

By Muhamad Farhan Bin Abdul Hamid

M1 has sealed a deal with Apple to bring in the iPhone to Singapore by the end of this year.

This breaks SingTel’s monopoly on the iPhone distribution rights in Singapore after 14 months. M1 has yet to reveal the iPhone’s pricing or its release date but “more information on pricing, tariffs and availability dates will be released in due course.”

M1 customers are relieved that the company is bringing in the iPhone. Azmawati Mohamed, 45, has been an M1 subscriber for nearly a decade and her loyalty has paid off.

She said: “If I make the switch to Singtel for the iPhone, I lose my loyalty benefits with M1 like bill rebates and free handphone vouchers. Now that M1 is going to sell the iPhone too, I don’t have to hop over to Singtel.”

The announcement has also left potential iPhone buyers in excitement as they foresaw an imminent price competition between the two telcos.

Polytechnic student Muhamad Fahmi, 20, who has been put off from buying an iPhone said: “I hope the phone will be cheaper now that two companies are selling it. If it’s affordable enough, I’m definitely buying it. ”

In response to M1’s successful deal with Apple, SingTel spokesperson Cheam Tze Hui said: “We review our price plans regularly to ensure they offer the best value to our customers and remain competitive in the market.”

To date, SingTel has sold over 100,000 iPhones and has won over customers who switched over from other providers under the Full Number Mobile Portability (FNMP) scheme in order to get their hands on the iPhone. The FNMP scheme allows customers to retain their mobile number when they switch providers.

In spite of SingTel’s stronghold on the sales of the sleek smartphone for over a year, sales are expected to be brisk for both telcos as demand for the latest iPhone model, the iPhone 3GS, is still strong. Long queues are still seen at SingTel’s Hello stores, after new stocks of iPhones were released on 7 October.

M1’s move comes as a major blow to Starhub, after losing the rights to broadcast major sporting events like the Barclays Premier League (BPL) and Formula One, to SingTel. Starhub spokesperson Michael Sim said that the company was “still interested to bring the iPhone” to its customers to retain its customers.

Starhub is still negotiating with Apple for the distribution rights to sell the iPhone, although it was reported in the Business Times that the company could not meet Apple’s demands which include committing to a high volume of unit sales and giving it a cut of the revenues as well.

by Siti Nor Farah Bte Edros

IF you are looking for love, look no further because the Social Development Network (SDN) is providing services and activities for singles with its new dating packages at a subsidised price.

SDN is offering a dating package worth over $500 to provide services and activities for singles.

To kick start this new move, the government matchmaker, SDN will partner with nine other accredited agencies like matchmaking companies Exclusive Match and Champagne JSG.

Interested parties will get to sample dating activities from the nine agencies and the government will subsidise part of the cost.

Singles can sign up for any of the 10 dating packages, introduced by the agencies, which includes personalised introductions and dating activities.

Meanwhile, former SDU-SDS members can choose any one of these packages for free. The first 1,000 new members to sign up for any package will also receive the complimentary offer.

Industry partners applauded this move and echoed their support for SDN, saying that this will provide more opportunities for singles and promote growth in the dating industry.

SDN is the new name from the merged Social Development Unit (SDU) and Social Development Services (SDS). The two organisations merged this January and were temporarily named SDU-SDS to widen its pool of singles and to provide extensive network and resources for them to meet one another.

Cynthia Lee, director of Exclusive Match, a matchmaking and image consultant firm, said that this move by SDN offers an incentive to singles to find life partners through events organised by the various dating agencies.

No membership fee is required to join the SDN network. Anyone who is interested can simply visit SDN’s website for events, activities and even request to join them.

The network is open to all Singaporeans, regardless of their educational level. They can now connect with one another without facing the stigma of joining as SDU or SDS members.

One of the founders of Champagne JSG, Gracelyn Lee, said: “Everyone in the nation will be involved in this.”

“The move will encourage people, especially busy professionals, to be more socially responsible for their personal life by meeting more people.”

Dating agencies have already organised events and introduced packages to attract singles into the dating scene. Most of the activities are interactive to allow singles to get to know one another.

Matchmaking often starts with group activities. Individual dates will then follow if they meet someone they like through these activities.

Exclusive Match provides a wide range of activities such as pizza-making while Champagne JSG organises activities using its lifestyle and wine concept.

Abigail Cheong, a 28-year-old single and former NUS graduate who previously participated in a dating event by SDU, said that these activities can attract people, especially busy professionals, who find professional dating services too expensive.

“The government is subsidising for you to date,” added Cheong. “So there is really no excuse for you to say that it’s hard to find a partner.”

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Worksite Safety, Everyone’s Responsibility

By Peggy Toh

Government safety officials are now stepping up vigorously to reduce worksite accidents.

So far, 18 lives have been lost to worksite accidents while half of the death and permanent disablement cases reported in the first half of this year come from the construction and marine sectors.

The Work Safety and Health Council (WSHC) have developed two plans to improve worksite safety and to achieve a long-term sustainable standard.

The Council aims to work more closely with stakeholders in the construction and marine sectors to improve workers’ competence in administering work safety standards such as skills and trades training on managing work hazards.

Ms Qu Weiya, assistant manager for Practices and Research at WSHC, explained that workers need to be properly trained to manage risks that come with their work and abide by proper safety and health procedures.

The Council also plans to put two taskforces in charge of resolving worksite safety concerns that were raised over falls from heights and crane lifting operations.

The taskforces will review training materials to make it more comprehensive which includes identifying new fall hazards and implementing new preventive measures.

Mr KC Tan, manager for Safety at Sato Kogyo, supports the new plans in raising safety standards as he said that the new plans would enhance companies’ image to attract potential employees who are conscious in work safety regulations.

To boost the collaboration efforts and resources of all stakeholders, WSH 2018, was launched in April. The strategy aims to achieve a safe and healthy workplace for everyone.

Safety officials have also urged all companies, from top management to workers, to develop a strong work safety culture, to prevent unnecessary risks and accidents.

Aimed at reducing the death rate to no more than 1.8 per 100,000 workers, the Ministry of Manpower is enforcing its penalty on errant employers and individuals who endanger the lives of workers.

Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of WSH Council, stressed that each stakeholder must take personal ownership and responsibility in managing work safety matters to ensure better work safety outcomes.

“While employers have a duty to provide their employees with adequate training and protection against WSH hazards, workers themselves must take responsibility for their own safety,” added Ms Qu.

Interview with KC Tan, at Sato Kogyo Part 1 & Part 2

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Overwhelming response to CPF Life scheme

by Nadiah Md Shahjohan

THE CPF Life scheme that came four years ahead of the proposed launch now has 12,000 members when it was introduced only a month ago.

Longer life expectancy and ageing population have been concerns for Singaporeans and permanent residents (PR) here. CPF Life thus tackles the financial risks that come with living longer and increasing expenditure at retirement age.

Manpower Minister Mr Gan Kim Yong said that members under the new scheme will receive a monthly pay-out for as long as they live but the amount depends on the cash savings they have in their Retirement Account.

According to Mr Tey Chee Keong, a deputy director at CPF Board, about 30,000 people have inquired about the scheme at its five service centres in addition to the 13,000 calls that CPF Board have received within a month. CPF Board has also sent 200,000 letters to eligible individuals to sign up for the scheme.

Previously, Singaporeans and PR with a CPF account automatically fall under Minimum Sum Scheme which entitles them to a monthly payout for up to 20 years after retirement. Now, CPF Life comes with different plans whereby members can choose between Basic Plan, Balanced Plan, Plus Plan and Income Plan. Each plan entitles members monthly payouts ranging from $172 to $444 depending on the amount in members’ Retirement Account.

Single mother Mdm Zabida Nor Ali, 59, signed up for CPF Life scheme as she believes it would give her financial security at old age. She retired in January this year and is now staying with her 89-year-old mother and 29-year-old son.

Mdm Zabida is not the only one who thinks CPF Life will help to ease their monthly finances. Export operator Mdm Maimunah Mohamad, 56 said, “Even though with the Basic Plan, I will receive low monthly payouts, I believe it is sufficient for me,” she added, “Taking care of my frail 80 year-old mother motivates me to financially prepare myself for old age.”

Singaporeans aged between 55 and 80 years could sign up for the new CPF annuity scheme starting end September this year.

13 October, 2009 10:05 PM

By Andrew Ee

SEVENTY employees from the Singapore office of RBS Coutts have resigned today – the banking industry’s greatest number of resignations in recent years. This amounts to about one-third of the UK-based private bank’s approximately 250-strong staff in Singapore.

Many of the former employees, including about 20 key managers and around 50 support staff, are said to be joining former RBS Coutts Asia CEO Hanspeter Brunner at Swiss-based Italian competitor BSI.

Brunner resigned last week to head BSI’s Asian operations starting March next year.

Some of the resignations are believed to be related to bonus prospects, although RBS Coutts Singapore said that its compensation packages were “market competitive”.

RBS Coutts said that the resignations represented less than 15 percent of its approximately 510 staff in Asia. It plans to replace employee shortfall and increase Asian headcount to 710 by 2015.

RBS Coutts Asia CEO Nick Pollard said to the Business Times: “I’ve grown businesses before. We have to be patient, we have to bring the right people in.”

HR professionals and experts said that RBS Coutts will face an uphill battle in its recruitment efforts, in wake of the financial crisis.

Janice Lee, 28, human resource manager of a local recruitment agency, said: “We’re playing a balancing game here. On one hand, we need to be mindful of (the company’s) bottom-line. On the other, we need to give the right benefits to attract and retain talent.”

NUS School of Business Assistant Professor David Lehman, said: “The infancy of private banks in Asia is reflected in staff volatility. You’ve got to be careful with how you manage staff – and pay them.”

The departures will see some clients of RBS Coutts Singapore – with whom former employees have built lucrative businesses – changing banks. RBS Coutts Singapore said that clients who choose to stay with the private bank will not be affected.

Some in the finance industry who were interviewed felt that the mass resignations at RBS Coutts Singapore were due to staff-related issues and have nothing to do with prospects in the industry.

Tan Tai Chuan, 30, relationship manager with an international private bank, said: “Private banking hinges a lot on building relations. If managers leave, so will their clients. It’s normal.”

Shawn Woo, 45, branch manager of a local financial advisory firm, said: “This is a sign that Asia will lead global monetary growth. More market activity, more competition.”

RBS Coutts is the international private banking division of RBS, which was rescued by the UK government last year in a bid to avert financial sector collapse following UK’s credit crisis.

By Yong Shu Hsien

SINGAPORE – For the first time in nine years, one of the four artists, whose works are being exhibited at the Singapore Arts Museum, will receive a cash reward and a sponsored overseas trip to a country.

The award, Credit Suisse Artist Residency Award, will allow the artist to develop their artistic talent and gain exposure to overseas art communities. The winner will get to choose his or her desired country to visit.

A group of artists who call themselves Vertical Submarine is the first group in history to be short-listed to exhibit their works. Formed since 2003, Vertical Submarine comprises Joshua Yang, 35, Justin Loke, 30 and Fiona Koh, 26. The other three nominated artists are Donna Ong, Felicia Low and Twardzik Ching Chor Leng.

The President’s Young Talent (PYT), a biennial contemporary art exhibition series showcasing work of upcoming Singapore artists, is jointly organised by the Istana and the Singapore Art Museum. It is currently in its ninth year since its inauguration in 2001.

A voting system has been set up for the first time, to allow the public to vote for their favourite artist or artwork. Those who vote will stand a chance to win attractive prices. A People’s Choice Award will also be presented to the artist voted favourite by the public.

Ms Tan Siu Li, curator of the exhibition said: “The President’s Young Talent (PYT) is an important platform to showcase their (artists’) talent and their ideas and it has been a rewarding experience as I had the opportunity to work with the artists and help them realise their projects”.

She added that PYT committee set up a website as part of their outreach and educational effort for Singaporeans and the international community, so that they can be aware of the happenings in the Singapore art scene.

The public could take part in the art-making process, which was facilitated by one of the nominated artists, Felicia Low.

21-year-old student, Tan Hui Kheng, who was present at the exhibition, said she was heartened to see the involvement of government in PYT as it shows that the government is continuously promoting the works of young Singapore artists.

The exhibition will be held from 15 August to 27 December 2009 at the Singapore Art Museum. The winner of the PYT09 Credit Suisse Artist Residency Award will be revealed on 6 November 2009 at the PYT Gala dinner.

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Four Japanese seasons in one cultural night.

By Goi Jia Yi Pearlyn

The inaugural NUS Japanese Cultural Night on October 16 left Japanese enthusiasts enthralled as they immersed themselves in an evening of cultural performances inspired by the seasons in Japan at NUS Lecture 13.

Themed “kisetsu”, which means “Seasons” in Japanese, the cultural performances include Nihon Buyo (Japanese dance), Sado (Japanese tea ceremony), Koto (Japanese musical instrument) and Taiko (Japanese drums).

The event was organised by the NUS Japanese Studies Society (JSS) with the objective to raise awareness and appreciation of the Japanese cultural arts in NUS.

“The turnout itself was overwhelming, something that we did not expect,” said Charmaine Tan, President of the NUS JSS, when asked to comment on the crowd of 150 people. “Both the audience and the performers enjoyed themselves – and that’s what I think make up a great performance.”

The Singapore Polytechnic Japanese Taiko Drum Team performed the highlight of the event called “Drums of Happiness”. The energetic drum beats symbolise the celebration of harvest during autumn in Japan.

Other performers come from NUS Japanese clubs such as NUS Nihon Buyo, NUS Sado Group and NUS Kotokotton.

The NUS Nihon Buyo charmed the audience with their graceful dance steps when they performed the dance “Sakura Sakura”. The dance highlighted the maidens’ personalities and their admiration for the Sakura flowers, and the use of fans to symbolise falling petals and blooming flowers in Summer.

Melodious music filled the auditorium when NUS KotoKotton began to strung a range of tunes using the koto, which is a traditional Japanese zither originated from the Chinese guzheng.

The most notable piece was entitled “Matsuri-ka”, which means flower festivals literally. The arrangement of the music, made up by a standard 13-string koto and a 17-string bass koto, added a vibrant Spring atmosphere to the cultural night.

Indeed, the audience showed great enthusiasm for the last dance performance as they clapped to the beats of “Soranbushi”, an energetic folk dance with origins from fishermen of Hokkaido.

“I like the energy of the last dance,” said Ho Yonghow, a third-year Civil Engineering student. “The dance was well expressed through the happiness and vigour of the performers.”

Besides increasing awareness, the NUS JSS also aims to promote ties between Singaporean and Japanese students through educational and cultural exchanges.

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Country Music Superstar Carrie Underwood Live at ION Orchard Opening Night

By Tran Nguyen Quoc Khanh

COUNTRY music may not be the top pick for Singapore’s music fans, but American Idol and multiple-Grammy-Award winner Carrie Underwood sure got everyone, or at least more than 500 of them, on their feet when she was in town last Friday night.

The premiere of Mama’s Song, a new release from her upcoming album Play On, was performed by the singer. Underwood’s one-night-only outdoor concert, her first in Asia, was in line with Constellation, the official opening of Singapore’s newest shopping mall ION Orchard.

Fans gathered near the stage as early as 5 p.m., three hours before the scheduled show time.

Singapore-based MTV Asia VJ, Utt, was the emcee for the night. He took the stage to lighten up the atmosphere as anxious fans stood waiting. A video clip of Underwood was shown on the large screens accompanied by synchronised fireworks.

Underwood then appeared on stage at about 8.30pm amidst frenzied applause from the eager and ecstatic crowd. She kick started the concert with the track Flat on the Floor from her latest platinum-certified album Carnival Ride.

Underwood topped the feast of country music and electrified the audience with other hits like Last Name, So Small, Cowboy Casanova, All-American Girl and Home Sweet Home, which was quite a treat as fans had expected much less for a mini-concert.

“She’s amazing. This is first time I’ve seen her with my own eyes. It’s pretty incredible,” said Samuel Duong, 25, a fan of Carrie who had camped for the show since five o’clock.

The best was, as usual, saved for the last as Underwood belted out the never-been-performed single Mama’s Song, which got a standing ovation from the fans.

Almost the entire crowd pulled out their recording gadgets for the premiere.

Being an eperienced stage performer, Carrie engaged fans with small talks in between the songs, briefly commented on the humid tropical weather and told everyone how excited she was.

The crowd responded with loud cheers after every song, seemingly thirsty for more of Carrie’s sweet yet powerful voice.

Carrie Underwood’s Introductory Video – Live at ION Orchard Opening Night

Carrie Underwood’s “Mama’s Song” – Live at ION Orchard Opening Night

Carrie Underwood’s First Song “Flat on the Floor” – Live at ION Orchard Opening Night

Intruder Alert: Is Eusoff Hall Safe?

Oct 21, 2009

By Chew Yee Kiat

THE Master of Eusoff Hall, Professor Tan Tin Wee, has called for an urgent meeting with its residents, following a series of cases of intrusion into female residents’ rooms.

The recent cases have raised security concerns among hall residents. In all cases, the victims went to bed with their doors unlocked.

Thus, the meeting aimed to raise awareness among hall residents about their own safety and to stay extra vigilant.

During the meeting, Professor Tan also provided examples of previous cases of intrusion over the years to show residents just how serious these cases could be.
He brought up an example of an incident that happened two years ago in King Edward VII Hall when an undergarment thief fell to his death while he was trying to escape from the residents.

Though it was an accident, Professor Tan made his point clearly that hall residents should never allow intruders into hall.

Currently, hall residents use a device known as transponder key to lock their rooms. It is the surest security measure to prevent intrusion into their rooms.

“I urge everyone here to lock and latch their door when you go to sleep, or when you leave your room,” said Professor Tan, stressing the seriousness of the issue.

Safety has always been a concern for the residents of Eusoff Hall, as it is not entirely off limits to public. Besides, the compound, which is sited right behind Kent Ride Bus Terminal, is not fully fenced. Countless cases of stolen slippers and shoes have happened after they were left outside the rooms unattended.

With regards to theft cases, Professor Tan reassured hall residents that more security measures are being implemented.

For instance, fences are currently being set up around hall boundaries to keep outsiders away. Once the construction is complete, Eusoff Hall would be entirely off limits to public and the only way to enter the hall would be to use the transponder key.

Meanwhile, some hall residents are managing a night watch programme to raise the safety of Eusoff residents. The night watch programme helps to keep Eusoff Hall safer as previous cases of intrusion happened mostly at night.

Despite these security measures, Professor Tan said that there is only one way to prevent similar cases of intrusion from happening in the future.

“Vigilance, vigilance, vigilance; I could never emphasise this enough,” he stressed.

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50 years and 50 years on

By Chin Chia Hwee

“WHATEVER we are doing now, given time, the Chinese will do and do it better,” concluded Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the annual Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum as he highlighted China as one of the main competitors for Singapore in the next 50 years. This was addressed in the last of the nine pre-selected questions raised by the audiences.

The annual forum held at the NUS University Cultural Centre, had seen great response from many and around 500 questions were submitted to the forum’s committee. After careful deliberation from the committee and Professor Tommy Koh, the best nine were selected.

However, some students were still not satisfied about the selection.

Jason Su, a 2^nd year business student and a member of the NUS Political Association commented: “They should have allowed questions to be asked on the spot. The forum will be much more dynamic, instead of sounding rather like a rehearsed-speech.”

The nine chosen lucky participants fired their pre-selected questions regarding issues of a greener Singapore, attitudes of the youth and the declining fertility rates during the forum, which lasted approximately one hour.

During the forum, Minister Mentor Lee mentioned that he believed that Singapore would see more and more citizens whose parents are not born and bred in Singapore. He saw this as a result of the declining birthrate due to a change in attitudes in the new generation.

“ We have been trying all we can to get them to at least replace themselves,” Minister Mentor Lee said with a tint of humor when addressing the issue of an ever-declining birthrate in Singapore put forth by Boo Ho Chin, a student from NUS.

Minister Mentor Lee then went on to highlight the importance of creating a national identity for these second-generation born and bred Singaporeans.

Another concern raised by NUS student Jang Jia Hui was about youth’s attitudes nowadays. MM Lee responded with an anecdote about his own grandchildren. He realized that their reliance on the butler was detrimental and youths should be more self-reliant instead.

On the possibility of a greener Singapore, Minister Mentor Lee did not see Singapore following the footsteps of Korea and Taiwan in their recycling efforts.

“In Singapore, you have to be able to pinpoint who, then they will do it,” Minister Mentor Lee commented about how unrealistic it would be to get Singaporeans to comply with recycling efforts if there was no way single out individual offenders.

The forum continued with Minister Mentor Lee citing Singapore’s good system of laws and regulation, especially those pertaining to intellectual properties, as its main competitive edge against uprising countries like China.

This was the second time that Minister Mentor Lee was invited to the ministerial forum. Although not all were satisfied, many were just excited to see him in person.

Fairus bin Jasmin, a 3^rd year Arts student exclaimed: “It’s great to be able to see him tonight. He’s like a living legend!”

The move to filter out questions first might have taken into the consideration of what happened the last time Minister Mentor Lee attended the forum back in 2005.

Jason Su added: “Perhaps the committee thought that the forum in 2005 was too lively for comfort as a NUS student made reference of Minister Mentor Lee to a ‘despot’.”

Ending promptly in almost the same way that it started, the auditorium erupted into another round of standing ovation as the founding father of Singapore, Minister Mentor Lee, made his exit.

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E-Resource Fair 2009: Larger Crowd, Greater Experience

15 October 2009, 10.30am

By Lin Peiyu

MORE than 1000 students and staff visited the E-Resource Fair 2009, organised by NUS Libraries, yesterday at the central library forum. The fair saw the largest turnout for NUS Libraries outdoor event to date.

The crowd was greeted by 21 e-resource publishers showcasing their latest databases and imparting search tips to interested visitors in their booths.

This year’s fair was unlike the previous year where goodie bags consisting of corporate gifts were handed out to visitors. Instead, visitors had to stop by at least three booths and answer questions related to the databases before they could redeem their goodie bags and qualify for the grand draw.

The event also allowed visitors to interact and direct any queries to the publishers present.

“I think this hands-on interaction is a great way for them (visitors) to learn about our services,” said Janice Chia, 35, Elsevier’s account development manager.

Students interviewed felt that the change to a more engaging interaction between publishers and themselves was beneficial.

“Compared to last year, I think this year is better in that I really learnt something useful for my research purposes,” said Leaw Weilin, 21, third year Communications and New Media student.

Chemistry lecturer Prabhavathy Janardhana, 37, said that the interaction with publishers reinforced what was being taught during library tutorials.

Apart from gaining research skills useful for acing projects and assignments, attractive lucky draw prizes, such as iPod Touch and Nintendo Wii devices, were another major attraction.

These prizes, sponsored by the publishers, were incentives to reward students and staff for their time and participation.

“The sponsorship was a way of thanking NUS libraries for having us here to promote the use of databases among students and staff,” said Jaryl Loh, 29, client services consultant from LexisNexis.

NUS librarian Hashimah Johari, 42, said this year’s fair garnered a “much better response” compared to the previous year, which attracted about 600 people.

“We’ve improved our programmes and increased publicity based on feedback from students and vendors last year and I think our efforts paid off from the good response,” she added.

First year Economics student Jason Ti, 21 said that the fair was a “great experience” as he was surprised that the library would actually organise such a fair to help students learn more about using e-resources.

“I’ll definitely look forward to next year’s E-Resource Fair,” he added.

The fair was a highlight of the E-Resource Discovery Day organised by NUS Libraries to promote the use of e-resources as a research and learning tool among students and staff.

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A Script of Enjoyment

By Siah Shing Yeen

NUS Raffles Hall’s annual production concert, Off Script, ended last Sunday night with a standing ovation from the full house during the curtain call. The concert ran for two days at the University Cultural Centre.

Off Script is a comedy depicting the struggles of six individuals in a production team who faced a tight schedule to rehearse for a play.

The two-hour concert started promptly as a huge crowd of about 400 strong were seated within 15 minutes when the doors opened.

Indeed, the evening was well spent as the concert provided great comical relief to the audience as the actors exchanged humorous dialogues with a local flavour. Dance routines that were infused into the play enthralled the audience further.

The highlight of the concert was the epilogue titled Big Bang, as the entire cast came on stage and danced to a melody of pop songs to enliven the atmosphere. Audiences clapped along enthusiastically to the catchy tunes as the mood in the theatre reached fever pitch.

Actor Joel Kang who played as the director drew the most laughter as he entertained the crowd with a zany Hong Kong accent. Finally, there was a resounding cheer from the audience as the actors returned to the stage to give their final thanks.

“It was hilarious. Joel surprised me with his comical accent and exaggerated expressions. I didn’t know he had it in him!” Kelvin Chua, a Year 3 Raffles Hall resident said.

Second year Arts student, Koh Shu En who particularly enjoyed the last skit in which the whole cast performed together, also raved about the play.

Co-producer Tan Chee Chung said that the concert was “not as easy to pull off as compared to previous years” as there was no freshmen intake this year. Tan explained that the hall was undergoing a major overhaul, which resulted in a severe lack of manpower for the play.

“Despite the lack of manpower, we were encouraged by remembering the joy that we had experienced after the concert last year, which inspired us to put forth a good show again this time,” he said.

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A Bazaar With Heart

By: Lim Ziwei Paul

THIS was not just any ordinary school bazaar; it was one with a touch of heart.

More than 1,200 people thronged the opening day of the National University of Singapore Students’ Business Club (Bizad Club) “Yes We Care” Bazaar last Wednesday, which featured 24 stalls representing charitable and non-profit organisations.

This charity fair was organised by the Bizad Club and run entirely by students from The Zoe Project, a Management and Organisation (MNO) school project, which encouraged students to help others using management concepts taught in class.

Bizad Club Business Development Manager Ms Oh Kai Li explained: “What’s unique about this bazaar is that we [are] working with the MNO students to come in and set up charity stalls for the Zoe Project. It is also part of an outreach campaign to gather students’ feedback on the school.”

The students chose a variety of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Bone Marrow Donor Program, Children Cancer Foundation and Young Men’s Christian Association to lend their voices at the bazaar. In order to attract crowd, free scoops of Dreyers’ ice cream were also given to anyone who signed up for the National Kidney Foundation newsletter.

The students also extended a helping hand beyond Singapore to overseas organisations like Children in Cambodia and Refugees of Western Sahara.

Posters and exhibits spanned the corridors of the NUS Business School as students set up stalls to represent the NGOs. Each group had a different objective. Some focused on raising funds for the needy while others raised awareness of the plight of refugees from the third-world countries.

Mr. Ng Woon Yong, a Computing Faculty student representing Kampung Senang Charity Home said: “We are getting quite a good response from the people here. Many have offered to give donations and have also expressed interest in what we are doing.”

Reactions were positive from crowd-goers as students and staff from various faculties descended in droves to patronise the stalls. Amongst the crowd was Engineering student Todd Chua.

He said: “The location is ideal because there are a lot of people here. I think it will encourage students to contribute to society and create awareness of what’s happening to some of the needy that we are trying to help.”

SINGAPORE’S wildlife theme park, Night Safari, is reporting a record number of visitors this October as a result of its ongoing Halloween attraction.

The “Halloween Horrors” programme transformed the wildlife park into a haunted rainforest filled with Western and Asian ghosts scaring visitors at every corner. The month-long programme has already attracted almost 5,000 visitors on one of the nights – a 35% jump from the usual visitorship per night. The activities take place mainly over the weekends and with two more weekends to go till October 31, the organisers are expecting more to join in the scare fest.

“On October 31 last year, we had close to 8,000 visitors. This is a record in terms of visitorship for one night,” said Ms. Zoei Lee, Assistant Operations Managerof Night Safari .

“Judging from last year’s massive turnout, we’re expecting even more to come this year. We’re already seeing a steady increase in the number of visitors every week,” she said.

According to Ms. Lee, the increase can be attributed to local youths and young adults visiting on top of the usual tourist groups. She said that viral marketing through word-of-mouth and social networking sites have played an important role in increasing the publicity of the event. After visiting the park, these youths shared their experiences on web blogs and networking sites like Facebook.

With more crowds expected, the organisers are beefing up its staff volume in the coming Friday and Saturday nights. According to them, they have spent more money for elaborate props and additional scare actors this year. However, they declined to reveal the exact figures.

Even at the entrance, visitors were already treated to a scare fest in the form of long queues at the ticket counters stretching at least 10 metres. This excludes the additional 30-minutes waiting time to hop on the tram.

Alex Thompson, 26, a tourist from Australia said: “We didn’t mind queuing, actually. It just made us more excited. Plus, we were entertained by the jesters spooking us while we were getting tickets!”

The highlight of the Halloween programme is its 50-minute tram ride. Called the “Train of Terror”, visitors on board the tram are brought into a rainforest where “creatures of the dark” roam. These “creatures” are, of course, scare actors dressed as ghosts, witches and vampires planted in the forest to spook visitors from every corner. This year, visitors can expect bloodied interpretations of fairy tale characters as part of the “Scary Tales” theme.

“The tram ride was fun with all the screaming! The dark setting is perfect for some good old scare. It was interesting to see the scary versions of Snow White and Beauty and the Beast!” said Siti Zakiah, 23, a final year undergraduate at the Nanyang Technological University.

Last year, some visitors objected to the Halloween programme, stating that the screaming would affect the animals. However, the organisers explained that the activities took place only at the undeveloped section of the forest with no animals in the area.

According to Ms. Lee, there were guests complaining about the long queues for tickets this year but she explained that measures have already been taken to speed up the buying process. These include extra booths for walk-in purchases and online collection of tickets.

For more information, visit http://www.halloweenhorrors.com.sg

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‘Travel Malaysia’ Fair reaps $5 million in sales
By Lee Min Kok

SINGAPOREANS spent a whooping $5 million dollars on tours and bus fares to Malaysia at the recent ‘Travel Malaysia’ fair, proving that our closest neighbour is still very much a viable holiday destination for Singaporeans.

A record turn-out of more than 50,000 visitors – almost double the size compared to last year’s 30,000 – was at the fair, held from 16 to 18 October at the Suntec City Convention Centre.

The three-day event featured more than 140 booths with over 100 exhibitors, including express bus ticketing agencies as well as key Singaporean and Malaysian service providers.

Besides the usual tour packages and coach fares on offer, this year’s event came with an added twist – Tourism Malaysia had shifted its emphasis to the promotion of home stay holiday escapades and lesser known destinations in a bid to attract more Singaporeans.

Retiree Lim Ah Chew, who makes his bi-annual trip to Genting Highlands for the various concerts on offer, was surprised at the crowds who turned up at the fair.

“Last year’s event was not as crowded. The lucky draw prizes are also quite attractive, which could have motivated people to visit the fair,” Mr. Lim said.

Despite recent money woes and increasing competition from regional low-cost carriers, organisers Express Bus Agencies Association (EBAA) stated that the success of the event was never in doubt.

“Timing could also have been a factor. Our event coincided with the end of the school exams, so naturally a lot of families would have been sourcing for their end-of-year holiday trip,” said Mr. Tan Kah Hin, the overall event organiser and manager from EBAA.

Indeed, popular bus tour operators such as Transtar Travel and Five Stars Tours enjoyed brisk sales.

Transtar Travel even conducted a special promotion low-cost carrier style – by offering 9,900 luxury coach seats at just 9 dollars each.

According to the EBAA, half of the 22 million visitors to Malaysia from January to December 2008 came from Singapore, with about 5 to 6 million of that number travelling on land by coach.

“The main draw for this event has always been our luxury coaches. Even though this year’s emphasis is on home stays, we strive to improve and innovate on our coach features each year,” said Mr. Tan.

Concurring with this assessment was civil servant Eugene Tay, who had opted for a cheaper alternative for his family during the approaching December holidays instead of the expensive trips to Japan and Europe in previous years.

“I’ve never visited Cameron Highlands before, and I thought it would be a good experience for my family on a luxury coach. With modern amenities like massage chairs, PC games and Wifi, who needs budget airlines?” said the 35-year-old.

Also present at the launch of the event was Tourism Malaysia Deputy-General, Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, who noted that Singaporeans are now looking for adventure and eco-tourism, besides experiencing Malaysia’s rich culture, heritage and lifestyle.

“Singaporeans form an important part of our tourist arrivals. Even though Singapore’s population is only slightly over four million, a Singaporean makes an average of three trips to Malaysia. We need to offer fresh, year-round attractions in order to attract them,” Datuk Mirza said.

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JewelFest Banks on Mass Appeal to Dazzle Singaporeans

21 October 2009
By Rosmayati Tay Shieh Ting

Diamonds are a girl’s best friends, and the recent Singapore JewelFest 2009 merely strengthened common beliefs that most women are unable to resist fine jewellery.

This year’s edition of the prestigious jewellery festival held at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza saw more than 20,000 visitors grace its sumptuous surroundings, a marked increase from the 15,000 that visited the event last year.

Held over the course of ten days from 9 to 18 October, the annual event dazzled audiences with over $120 million worth of fine jewellery from 36 international brands on display. 

This year’s event offered a wider range of fine jewellery to encourage consumer spending at the exhibition, including easily-identifiable local brands such as Goldheart, Poh Heng and Tian Po.

Organiser Lizard Storm said that the average consumer has joined regular high-society collectors in this year’s spending.

The show extravaganza, a diamond choker named “Grandiosa” by Goldheart Jewellery, is priced at an astounding S$6.4 million, while the more affordable pieces started from as low as S$68.  

“For the past two years, we’ve seen a lot of high society buyers. But recently, more people are upgrading and coveting more luxury items. This time they buy 0.5 carat and the next time they’d buy 1-carat. These people are now spending more,” said Ms. Angela Loh, a director at Lizard Storm.

While there was a drop in overseas visitors, this was compensated by Singaporeans who viewed the festival as the annual season for jewellery shopping.

“The JewelFest is the perfect place to shop for jewellery because there’re so many brands there. You’re spoilt for choice. I saved up my money in order to shop during the JewelFest,” said jewellery lover and advertising executive Widya Hamir, 26.

Besides attracting connoisseurs and shoppers, JewelFest also received its fair share of window shoppers.

Far from displeased, the JewelFest organisers were thrilled with the exposure that its jewellers were given.

Mr Joseph Hong, the chairman of this year’s JewelFest, explained: “Singapore JewelFest has always been about jewellery appreciation and the promotion of fine jewellery of high quality and design excellence.”

Other than the usual marquee brands on show, this year’s event also saw the introduction of two other new brands – Pooja and Zydo, both with Italian roots – to add further flavour to the international festival.

“JewelFest gives such new jewellers the exposure that they need and providing them with an opportunity to grow in a highly fragmented market”, said Ms Loh.

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Healthy Food Steals Limelight from Fashion Show

18 October 2009

By Tan Xiu Fang

SINGAPORE – Shoppers yesterday thronged the basement at Isetan, a Japanese departmental store in Scotts Road, to get a taste of the longevity-boosting cuisines at its annual Okinawa Fair. The fair was also held in conjunction with its first “Japan Fashion & Lifestyle Festival”.

This year’s Okinawa Fair has brought in health foods commonly consumed by the Okinawan people. Some of the featured products include the Jimami Tofu, also known as Peanuts Tofu, which is a jelly-like beancurd made using seawater.

The food fair turned the supermarket basement into a lively marketplace as shoppers crowded round the food demonstrations, sampling and asking about the benefits of these “Healthy & Natural” Okinawan cuisines.

Vivan Tan, 65, a food promoter at Isetan Supermarket said: “When there are Japanese fairs, it is always very crowded. But it is more crowded this time, even during the last two days (Thursday and Friday).”

The most popular product was the Beniimo Sesame Dango, a sesame-sprinkled Okinawa purple sweet potato ball, sold at $4.50 for six pieces.  “It was the fastest-selling snack at the fair,” said stall owner, Akira Nakasone. “The purple Okinawa sweet potatoes are good for the eyes,” he added.

Even the Director of Okinawa Prefectural Government, Ken Yamashiro, was manning a booth at the fair. He hoped to promote a healthy diet amongst people.

Yamashiro said: “One of the keys to longevity for Okinawa people is our healthy diet.”

According to the World Health Organisation report, Okinawa has the highest longevity rate in the world. The Okinawa Prefecture consists of 160 islands and is located at the south of Japan.

Housewife Joan Chia, 60, said that the Okinawa Fair was “a good experience” for her.

“You can taste their (Okinawan) food without travelling there. The food is very nice, very healthy. Yes, they should organise more of such fairs,” said Chia.

However, the Japanese Fashion Show, which was also one of the main highlights in Isetan’s first Japan Festival, received a different response from some shoppers.

Raymond Liau, 29, engineer, said: “It’s okay. Nothing special, just a fashion show.”

During the fashion show, models wearing traditional Japanese-inspired modern apparels, such as the doll-like “Lolita” dresses, paraded down the escalators of the shopping mall from the second level to the first.

Some Singaporeans also felt that the fashion on display was impractical for Singapore.

Rasna Bhatia, 42, management assistant, who had never seen a fashion show being held on escalators before, said: “the models’ leggings and boots don’t look like normal clothes that people wear.”

When asked to comment on which is the more appealing event, Liau said: “The Okinawa Fair of course. People are getting more health-conscious. And Singaporeans love food.”

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Travel Malaysia 2009 Brings New Surprises

By Ong Yuan Sen Sebastian

MALAYSIA is coming up with new ways to appeal to Singaporeans as a preferred holiday destination this year.

A three-day exhibition, Travel Malaysia 2009 showcased many new tourist destinations in Malaysia. Apart from the hotspots like Malacca or Genting Highlands, new places like Kedah, Labuan and Terengganu are aggressively being promoted.

At these new areas, tourists can take in the sights of untouched natural surroundings, away from the bustles of the city.

Many of the tour packages focused on activities that bring tourists and their surroundings together. In Kedah for example, tour packages include sport fishing and visiting Geoparks in Langkawi.

Speaking at the opening of Travel Malaysia 2009, Tourism Malaysia Director-General, Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, said that they are trying to promote new destinations which are not “that well-known” to Singaporeans.

He said: “Malaysia needs to offer fresh, all-year round attractions, to ensure their stay was fun and worthwhile as well as to keep them (Singaporeans) coming.”

Special offers and attractive tour packages were offered by different agencies at the fare. Packages to Genting Highlands for 2 days 1 night cost as low as S$69, and bus fares to Kuala Lumpur cost from S$9 onwards.

Civil engineer, Alan Lim, 45, father of two, said that with the economic downturn, their holiday destinations will have to be affordable especially when travelling as a family.

He said: “Pricing is the most important factor when the family travels now, with two kids, but the attractions that they offer must also appeal to the young ones.” He added: “Maybe this year I will bring my family to somewhere we have not been before in Malaysia.”

Among the commercial operators, there was a section solely dedicated to home-stays in Malaysia. The home-stays provided an alternative to the hotel stays in Malaysia and promised a more immersive experience for tourist.

Tourists can look forward to enjoying traditional economic activities such as rubber tapping, traditional games, songs, dances and local recipes. All of these will give tourists a sense of belonging to the village and ensure repeat tourists. Singaporeans can choose to experience a home-stay holiday from 15 different parts of Malaysia.

Researcher, Sandy Tan, 25, said that she have heard of home-stays in Australia but never before in Malaysia.

She said, “Maybe I will try a home-stay in Sabah, I like the greenery and the nature. This will be a good opportunity for me to understand how the people go through their daily life.”

According to Tourism Malaysia, a record 22 million tourists arrived in Malaysia from January to December 2009. Singaporean tourists make up about 50 percent of that number or 11 million tourists. This has also shown an increase of 4.9 percent compared to the same period in 2007.

This year’s Travel Malaysia 2009 featured 85 exhibitors in more than 130 booths including key industry players like express bus ticketing agents and service providers from Singapore and Malaysia.

Travel Malaysia 2009 is held at Suntec Covention Centre and will last from 16 October to 18 October 2009.

The fair is organised by the Singapore Express Bus Agencies Association.

By Lee Min Kok

ALMOST 40 films that invoke issues of the human condition will be on show during the International Social Action Film Festival until 1 October.

The festival, held in Singapore for the first time, kicked off on 9 September at Sinema Old School with the critically-acclaimed film War Dance, a documentary about three children in war-torn Uganda who struggle against adversity to achieve their dreams.

Besides films, the festival will also host workshops and discussion forums with filmmakers, academics and policy makers to engage audiences on a variety of issues across the world. These issues will centre around four main themes – human rights, inequality, sustainability as well as children and youth.

Festival Co-director, Ms. Olivia Loh-Ing, said: “It’s really easy to use film as a medium to highlight messages. We want audiences to watch a film and set them thinking of the issues it addresses, and then hopefully inspire them to take the next step to do something.”

Though the films are not the usual fare that Singaporeans are used to, avid film buffs can still look forward to entertaining pieces like Heavenly Kings, a mockumentary directed by Hong Kong director Daniel Wu.

Another one to watch out for is controversial animal activist film The Cove, where hidden cameras investigate the horrific treatment of animals in Japan.

On the public response to the festival so far, Ms. Loh-Ing revealed that the reception for certain films had been mixed, with some films more popular than others.

“We have a pretty good programme lined up over the next few weeks, so I’m optimistic that it will gain even more prominence,” she said.

The one-and-a-year-half old Sinema Old School is nestled at the top of Mount Sophia, the perfect venue for film-goers to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

One such film-goer was Singapore Management University undergraduate Shirleen Low, who managed to take time off from her busy schedule to experience the festival. After watching a series of documentaries chronicling the plight of migrant sex workers in Batam, England and Germany, she was visibly moved by the poignant messages that the films attempted to convey.

“These films are a refreshing change from the usual blockbuster fare that youths like us frequently flock to cineplexes to watch. They really set me thinking about how life in Singapore has been so smooth-sailing, compared to the difficulties these people face on a daily basis,” said the 20-year-old.

This festival was the brainchild of San Diego, California-based film company Legacy XXI, and has made its run across 8 countries and 15 cities such as Sydney and Berlin.

It will conclude its run in Singapore on Children’s Day on 1 October, where fittingly, the closing film will be Guy Moshe’s harsh yet poetic film, Holly, dedicated to raising awareness of the epidemic of child trafficking.

5oo Storm Heartland in MRT Pub Crawl

By Brandon Tan Yuan Yu

IT was an unusual evening for some western heartlanders as they saw 500 international students descending on ‘kopitiams’ on Wednesday in a drinking extravaganza known as the ‘MRT Pub Crawl’.

Held for the 4^th time since 2008, the ‘MRT Pub Crawl’ is now amongst the most popular events for international students from local universities. Participation rates have doubled since its inception, now including more local students as well.

“My sincerity to play host probably explains why students, especially foreigners, are coming back for more,” said organiser Desmond Choo.

The fourth-year undergraduate from the National Technological University explained that a ‘pub crawl’ is a bar-hopping activity where people visit different bars to drink in a night. Choo added that ‘The MRT Pub Crawl’ is uniquely Singapore as it allows students from all walks of life to mingle and network while “hopping” from MRT station to station to get a drink in the heartlands.

Unlike previous seasons when participants recognised themselves with bright orange event tee-shirts, participants of this season wore white-based event tee-shirts that allow their friends to inscribe personal messages.

Sweden exchange student, Marcus, 22, who was amongst the revelry, cited the event as “a refreshing idea” and “a good opportunity to meet real people”.

Indonesian student, Dhika, 23, along with students of other nationalities, were shock to see a huge turnout as the ‘MRT Pub Crawl’ is by far the largest pub crawl they have attended.

Unlike a typical pub crawl, the ‘MRT Pub Crawl’ which kicked off at Boon Lay MRT station during a mad rush at 7:30 p.m., has raised public concern over rowdy behaviours of the “pub crawlers”.

However, Germany exchange student, Stefen Kersting, 22, felt that the public’s concern was unfounded as pub crawlers get to take breaks from drinking in between the stations.

“But I’m waiting to see if people stick to the rules after a while,” he added.

Indeed, some pub crawlers crossed the line toward the final destination at City Hall station when a group of them performed public display of affection despite disapproving stares from passengers on board.

Finally, they made their way to where they would later end the night on a high at Supperclub, a pub in Odeon Tower while leaving a trail of disgruntled passengers.

Meanwhile, Choo is working on other activities to provide more channels for international students to interact, which includes ’Halloween Rave Underground’ in October 2009.