Quick News: Saturday, January 15, 2011

Measures tough but meant to stabilise: Mah Bow Tan

THE new property market cooling measures announced on Thursday were tough but they are meant to stabilise home prices and not necessarily intended to cause them to crash, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said on Saturday. The measures may not be the last as well, he warned, adding that the Government will monitor the market closely and may act again if needed. But Mr Mah emphasised that the measures are not permanent, and once they are no longer necessary, they will be removed. He also recognised that the new sellers' stamp duty (SSD) of up to 16 per cent could become a problem should property owners need to urgently sell their home shortly after they bought it. So if some owners had a mitigating reason to sell their home, such as the need to use the proceeds to pay for medical bills, the Government was prepared to be flexible. 'You can't formulate a policy that satisfies everybody in a group,' said Mr Mah. 'What you can do is to have a general policy and where there are genuine cases, take them offline and consider appeals as and when they come in.'

Walk or cycle to East Coast Park

SPORTS enthusiasts, food lovers and families looking for recreational spots in the east will find it easier to get to their playgrounds. A new 3.8km green corridor linking up the popular East Coast Park with Bedok Town Centre, as well as Bedok Reservoir, will be built over the next five years. This means that Singaporeans will be able to walk - taking about 20 minutes - or cycle directly from the MRT station or bus interchange in Bedok, to either of the two recreational spots. It is part of a larger 'ambitious' makeover for the East Coast, and comes on top of previously announced plans for a revitalised Bedok town with a new food centre, an integrated sports complex, a mall and an air-conditioned bus interchange. Also in the pipeline is a cycling network connecting schools, parks and MRT stations in an area stretching from Paya Lebar to Kaki Bukit and Tanah Merah. Unveiling the details on Saturday at Bedok Town Centre, Senior Minister S. Jayakumar, an MP for East Coast GRC, called the makeover an 'ambitious' one that 'will benefit not only residents of East Coast but also other Singaporeans'.

Schools should nurture 'three loves' in students: SM

SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong on Saturday identified two additional challenges that Singapore now faces, on top of its perennial efforts to ensure inter-racial harmony. These are: the widening income gap and the need to welcome foreigners. Speaking to 300 students and parents at an Edusave award ceremony in his Marine Parade ward, SM Goh sketched out these challenges and called on the young to help the community tackle them. On the issue of widening inequality, he said that Singapore 'emphasises inclusive growth'. 'Economic growth must benefit all members of the community. Otherwise, our community may be divided by differences in income levels within it.' Meanwhile, Singapore's low birth rates and ageing population mean that the workforce has to be supplemented by foreigners, he said. To help the country meet these challenges, young Singaporeans should demonstrate a 'love for the community', he said. 'Our young must not become too self-absorbed in their quest for personal achievement... and forget about contributing to the community they live in.'

S'pore NGO wins Chinese philanthropy award

LIEN Aid, the international development body founded by Lien Foundation and Nanyang Technological University, received the Global Charity Award for NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) from the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and China's Ministry of Civil Affairs. The ceremony took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Saturday. The award recognised Lien Aid's efforts in bringing water and sanitation to China's drought-hit regions of Yunnan, Sichuan and Shanxi, helping 30,000 people from 14 projects. Global Charity, a well respected Chinese philanthropic publication and the magazine arm of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, organised the awards. The nominees, comprising of individuals, enterprises and organisations, are selected based on their philanthropic efforts and contributions to Chinese society. Lien Aid was the only Singapore organisation to be awarded.


The end of MiFi for iPhone users?

THE news of Verizon Wireless securing the iPhone 4 was greeted with celebrations in the United States when it was announced recently. But going beyond the headlines and the good news to US iPhone fanatics, the straitstimes.com team tested and found that there is one technological breakthrough in this US deal, that could soon pave the way ahead for users of the iPhone worldwide and especially here in iPhone-crazy Singapore. It is the introduction of the iOS-specific version of the Verizon 3G Mobile Hotspot. With this 'Personal Hotspot' feature, users may be spared the agony of locating Wi-Fi hotspots or lugging around their MiFi, a portable wireless router, in their pockets. This generally spells the end of MiFi. By boosting an iOS-specific version of the Verizon 3G Mobile Hotspot, users would be able to access the Internet with laptops and tablets solely through their iPhones - sans cord, or even mobile broadband sticks.

DEVELOPER ACCESS FOR NOW
The straitstimes.com team tried this next version of the iOS and found that it works. Users could then avoid having to spend an average of $200 for a MiFi gadget to create a secure and personal wireless hotspot around themselves to get online. But one should not get overly excited after reading this. The iOS 4.3 beta is currently available to iPhone developers only, not the general public, till a public launch is announced by Apple. Otherwise, the iOS 4.3 will be compatible for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad, iPod Touch (4th and 3rd generation models). The new 'Personal Hotspot' works on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPad 3G/Wi-Fi. In short, it's goodbye MiFi, hello iPhone, your personal wireless router.

iPad enters Singapore classrooms

SINGAPORE - IF OPRAH can do it, so can schools in Singapore. Four schools in the city-state have begun handing out Apple iPads to students, relieving them of the need to carry satchels full of bulging text books and notes. Nanyang Girls High School has spent $135,000 to buy 150 iPads for 140 students and 10 teachers in a pilot project. Users connect to the Internet using the tablet, and download books and course material. They can take notes on the iPad, and use worksheets. 'It's much more convenient,' said 14-year-old Chloe Chen, sitting in a classroom with her iPad in front of her. 'Teachers can just tell us to go a website, and we can immediately go and do our work.' Last year billionaire talk show host Oprah Winfrey gave staff at her magazine an iPad and a cheque for US$10,000 (S$12,900) each. Ms Seah Hui Yong, dean of admissions at Nanyang Girls school, said the iPad was chosen because it complemented a new method of teaching under which students are given more freedom to learn themselves, instead of relying solely on the teacher in traditional classrooms. 'It's not so much about the iPad,' she said, adding that if some other better device comes along, the school could switch. 'If you talk to the girls you will realise that they practically don't need training. I think if anything, the joke is the teachers are probably taking a little bit longer getting used to it.' Safeguards are being put in place as well. 'There will be some concerns - making sure that the girls are going to appropriate websites, also making sure that the girls don't get addicted to the device and use it too much,' said Physics and Information Technology teacher Mark Shone.

Thaipusam rules not new: Shanmugam

HOME Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam reassured Hindus on Friday that public order guidelines issued on next week's Thaipusam procession are not new, and apply equally to all religious processions. Speaking to reporters in the wake of the varied reactions after the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) publicised the rules last week, he pointed out that such rules have been in existence for 38 years. Thaipusam, a Hindu festival, is traditionally celebrated here with an overnight procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple in Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani temple in Tank Road. The procession this year will start on Wednesday and last through Thursday. The Straits Times reported on Jan 7 that the guidelines mirrored those previously set by the police for Thaipusam. The report quoted procession organisers from the two temples saying that these had been put together for the public for the first time this year, to address issues of crowd and noise control. A subsequent report quoted the HEB saying the guidelines were set by the police and were not new. But it confirmed that it was the first time these had been compiled and made public.

Shah Rukh Khan crowned Best Actor at MBS

KING of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan was yesterday named Best Actor at the Zee Cine Awards in front of a sell-out crowd comprising fans and the who's who of the Indian film industry at the Marina Bay Sands marquee ballroom. The awards ceremony, arguably Bollywood's Oscars, drew other top stars such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and film-maker Karan Johar. Hosted by comic actor Akshay Kumar and director Sajid Khan, the three-hour-plus ceremony saw several stars dance to the tune of popular film songs. Rai Bachchan set the stage alight with her nimble-footed moves, while Chopra introduced the nominees in the Best Film category as she danced impeccably to a medley of songs. First held in Mumbai in 1995, the event celebrates the best in Indian cinema and gave out awards in more than 30 categories last night. Superstar Khan picked up the best actor award for his endearing portrayal of Rizvan Khan, a Muslim who suffers from a form of autism known as Asperger's syndrome, in My Name Is Khan.

Molesters' hunting ground: Nightspots

WHEN Anna (not her real name) went to popular nightspot Zouk last year for a night of fun, she did not expect to become a victim of molestation. As she was leaving the club with her boyfriend, the 25-year-old flight stewardess felt a slap on her buttocks.

ACS(I) teacher claims unfair dismissal

A TEACHER at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) has lodged a report with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) against the school, alleging unfair dismissal. Ms Ann Phua, a 59-year-old English language teacher who has been with ACS(I) since 2000, believes she was sacked because of her age.

Expletive-sprayed van driven into Muis premises

A DRIVER with Middle Eastern looks drove a van spray-painted with expletives about the Malay community into the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore's (Muis) headquarters on Friday, parked it, and fled on foot. Police, who were called in immediately to investigate, said last night that preliminary checks showed that the white Mercedes Vito van was driven to Muis' premises by a 'Middle-Eastern-looking man around 50 years old'. Police are tracing the whereabouts of the suspect. Issuing a stern warning, the police said they view such incidents 'seriously' and will investigate the matter 'thoroughly'. 'Any person who is found to have deliberately incited anti-racial or anti-religious feelings will be firmly dealt with under the law,' they added. When The Straits Times visited the Islamic hub in Braddell Road yesterday evening, it spotted the van near the entrance with red spray paint on its left, right and rear panels. The expletives, scrawled in Malay, referred to the community as 'sgmalay'. Among other things, the offensive remarks consisted of the word 'mati', Malay for die, at the back.

Closer to dream of owning his own home

AS A potential first-time home buyer, Mr Joshua Cheah, 29, was all smiles after he heard about the latest Government measures to curb property speculation. The credit risk analyst, who previously lived with his parents in a five-room flat at Farrer Court, has been on the lookout for his own pad since the HUDC estate went en bloc in 2007.

Upgraders get warm feeling from cooling measures

UPGRADERS like Mr Ken Kee, 33, are feeling optimistic in the wake of the property market cooling measures announced on Thursday. The manager, who rents a four-room flat in Sembawang, believes the latest government rulings will dampen speculation and improve their chances of landing their dream homes.

Nude artist 'taking a break'

THE Indian artist who caused a stir at the inaugural art fair at the Marina Bay Sands Exhibition and Convention Centre by stripping naked has stopped his attention-getting act. The artist, Mr T. Venkanna, who sat on a bench in the nude and took pictures with visitors, was not in the booth on Friday. Some newspapers had gone to town with the Hyderabad artist's act at Art Stage Singapore, questioning whether it could be considered art. A lawyer was quoted as saying the show could be against the law as it is an offence to appear nude in public. The art fair, which opened to the public on Thursday, is considered a public event. The exposure proved to be too much for some people. On Friday morning, Gallery Maskara's owner, Mr Abhay Maskara, told The Straits Times over the phone that the gallery was asked to stop the performance. He did not say who advised him to do so. He said: 'It is always a bit disheartening when works of art are not seen as art. We did not set out to create any controversy.' Mr Venkanna had sat behind a black curtain and a sign was posted in front of the booth, warning viewers of the content and restricting viewers to those who are 21 years and older.