Five key lessons from S'pore's haze crisis

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JULY 7, 2013
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INVESTPAGE32
HE
HELPED
When the haze hit,
Jeremy Chua swung
into action.
Many others did too.
INVEST
PAGES29&30
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PAGES
12&13
Docs told to give injured

workers enough leave
Manpower and Health
ministries send out
reminder; SMC probing
some of the complaints
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IN
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Radha Basu
Senior Correspondent
The Manpower and Health ministries have acted on complaints that
some injured workers are getting

too little medical leave from doctors because their bosses want to
avoid reporting workplace accidents.
Now all doctors here have been
reminded to give injured workers
the days off they deserve and
warned of the consequences if they
fail to do so.
The Singapore Medical Council
(SMC) is investigating some of the
complaints, director of medical services K. Satku and commissioner

for workplace safety and health Ho
Siong Hin said in a joint letter sent
out last month.
They did not provide details, but
groups helping foreign workers told
The Sunday Times they see a steady
stream of injured workers who seek
help after getting too few days off
from private doctors.
Some get only two or three days
off at clinics usually contracted by

their employers, but when they
seek further treatment at restructured hospitals for the same injury,
they get weeks or even months off
to recover.
The help groups welcomed the
government action to get doctors
to do the right thing.
The government letter reminded
doctors that workplace safety regulations require all accidents which
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Inside the
miracle ward
There were 4,000 premature
babies born in Singapore last
year. For them, it is a struggle to
survive.
The Sunday Times gets an
exclusive look at the tension,
heartbreak and tears in the
KK Womens and Childrens
Hospital unit where they are
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Reports >>Top News Pages
10 & 11
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Bartoli powers to her first Grand Slam

Marion Bartoli clinched her first Grand Slam
title as the 15th-seeded Frenchwoman beat
Germanys Sabine Lisicki 6-1, 6-4 in the
Wimbledon final yesterday.
Bartoli, 28, is the first player from outside
the top 10 to win a major since Venus
Williams in 2007, and the fifth-oldest woman
to become a first-time Grand Slam winner

since tennis became a professional sport in
1968.
With a supreme display of power hitting,
Bartoli took just 81 minutes to rout 23rd seed
Lisicki, who broke down in tears as the match
slipped away. See >>Sport Page 47
make a worker unfit for work for

more than three consecutive days
or result in death to be reported to
the Manpower Ministry.
To avoid reporting these
accidents, some employers may
request medical practitioners to
issue less than four consecutive
days of medical leave or to issue
light duty instead of medical
leave, it said.
Issuing medical leave carries
with it the responsibility of ensuring that the patient deserves it on
proper medical grounds. Rather
than be influenced by employers or
workers, it said doctors should rely
on good clinical assessment and
give medical leave commensurate
with the nature and severity of the
workers injury.
Medical practitioners who have
issued medical certificates inadequate for the nature of the medical
condition and are complained
against may be the subject of disciplinary inquiries by the SMC, it
warned.
Doctors were also urged to
report employers who try to circumvent accident-reporting rules by
influencing how much medical
leave their injured workers should
get.
There were 11,113 workplace
injuries reported here last year almost 1,000 more than in 2011.
Dr Andrew Chin, who heads the
department of hand surgery at the
Singapore General Hospital, told
The Sunday Times he sees between
one and two injured workers every
month who were given less medical
leave at a private clinic than they
clinically deserve.
The medical leave given should
depend on the specialists assessment at the time of the workers
presentation, test results and relevant previous medical data and
records available, he said.
Singapore Medical Association
ethics expert Dr T. Thirumoorthy
said medical certificates (MCs)
should be based on objective medical assessment and not other considerations, such as who is paying
for the treatment.
A doctors commercial relationship with the company may come
in conflict with his professional obligations to the patient, he said.
Without a doubt, a doctors primary obligation should be to serve the
welfare and best interests of the patient.
radhab@sph.com.sg
Injured workers tell stories of
leave denied >>Top News
Page 8
top news
top news
thesundaytimes July 7, 2013
Spore has
learnt 5 key
lessons from
haze crisis
Ng Eng Hen says the authorities will continue to
monitor situation, fine-tune contingency plans
July 7, 2013 thesundaytimes
Feng Zengkun
Environment Correspondent
Singapore will be even better prepared for the haze if it returns with
a vengeance, said Defence Minister
Ng Eng Hen, pointing to five key
lessons learnt from the latest episode.
At a press conference last Friday
to assess the recent haze crisis, he
added that the authorities will continue to monitor the situation and
fine-tune contingency plans.
Dr Ng, who heads an inter-ministerial committee to tackle the haze
problem, said: I think we are better prepared, both our people and
agencies. If the haze does return we
are confident that Singaporeans
will take it in our stride.
Last month, the annual haze in
Singapore worsened to unprecedented levels, with the three-hourly Pollutant Standards Index (PSI)
hitting a record 401 on June 21.

Air becomes hazardous when
the index crosses 300.
Fires in Indonesia had led to the
pollution here, before rain,
fire-fighting efforts and winds gave
Singapore a respite.
During a community event at
Pasir Ris Elias Community Club yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Teo
Chee Hean also spoke about the
recent crisis, saying episodes such
as the haze were a timely reminder
of the importance of being prepared in different emergency situations.
Haze is a long-term issue
Dr Ng said the first thing Singaporeans need to realise is that the haze
is a long-term problem.
Reports showed that both small
farmers and large corporations in
Indonesia are still burning forests
to clear the land for crops.

Our records on haze go as far
back as the 1970s, and I suspect this
slash-and-burn practice will be
hard to eradicate and change overnight. This is an area where we
need a multi-pronged approach,
said Dr Ng, adding that Singapore
must keep up diplomatic efforts
with Indonesia.
Last week, Indonesia began preparations to ratify an Asean agreement on transboundary haze after
meetings with Singapore and other
Asean members.
The Republic also needs to enlist
non-government groups to help
spread environmentally friendly
land-clearing practices in Indonesia, for example, mechanical methods such as using bull-dozers.
Better early warning system
At home, Dr Ng has called for a bet-
ter early warning system for haze.

PSI readings, he pointed out,
show what the air quality was like
in the past hours or days, not what
it would be in the near future. But a
predictive model will help Singaporeans plan ahead.
The Government responded
with health advisories for the next
day, but he wants more to be done.
He said the Environment Ministry is already looking at a better
model to predict haze conditions.
I think it will help us all, Dr Ng
said.
Information management
is key
ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
severe acute respiratory syndrome

(Sars) outbreak in 2003.
Dr Ng pointed out that the Government had distributed millions
of face masks to homes and retailers within days. Obviously there is
room for improvement each time
something happens, but we know
our plans and structures are functioning as intended.
The authorities also rolled out
other measures immediately,
including subsidised medical treatment for haze-related conditions.
It also set up a fund to help
childcare centres install air-conditioning to guard against the haze.
Singaporeans are resilient
But how the information is presented to the public is also key.

While some preferred simple
guidelines on how to react to the
haze in the recent crisis, others
expected detailed information.
STEPPING
Mr Jeremy Chuas SG Haze Rescue page on Facebook brought together Singaporeans willing to
help give out masks, educate the public or open their homes to provide respite from the haze.
I agree that we can improve on

this, said Dr Ng, explaining that
the Government recognises the
need to cater to different groups.
Asked why the relevant ministries contingency plans were announced only almost a week after
the haze hit record levels, given
that the haze was a perennial problem, he stressed that the plans were
in place but had to be customised
for the specific crisis.
These contingency plans are generic in the sense that they respond
to say, the haze, flu pandemics, terrorist threats. Each time we have an
emergency or crisis, they are updated.
The Singapore System is robust
Despite the challenges, Singapore
was able to respond quicker this
time, thanks to its experience in
handling major events such as the
But it was not just the Government

which responded. Dr Ng lauded the
initiatives taken by Singaporeans in
helping one another fight the haze.
Not only did people get together
to source and distribute masks,

some even opened their air-conditioned homes so that others could
take refuge from the haze, Dr Ng
pointed out.
That tells us the level of trust
and care we have for one another,
he said. This is a good sign for nation-building. And I think if Singaporeans continue to respond this
way it adds to our resilience.
Dr Ng said Singapore depended
on Indonesia to solve the haze problem at its source.
But if we take sensible precautions, look after ourselves and each
other, the haze wont disrupt our
lives. If the haze returns, Im confident that Singaporeans will take it
in (their) stride.
DR NG ENG HEN ON...

The health risks posed by the
haze
We would like to tell
Singaporeans, You know what
your health risks are when you
are exposed to so many hours
(of haze)... But the data,
unfortunately, is not that
precise... Experts tell us that
when conditions worsen, please
stay indoors... that is the best
they can do.
I think what people are
doing staying indoors, closing
the doors, (using) fans, some
using air purifiers is the best
that we can do on current
evidence. Until somebody
comes up with better studies to
show that the risks actually are
much more or much less, then

we can calibrate it.
Why it took a while for the
Government to announce its
haze contingency plans
The plans were in place but we
have to customise them to a
specific threat. The fact that the
haze went into unhealthy
levels and we were able to
activate masks, within a day or
two, was a fairly quick
response... This is in no way
saying that we are satisfied with
the response; we can always
sharpen it... The fact that well
over 80 per cent of
Singaporeans polled said that
Singapore would get through
the haze, I think its a measure
of confidence in our system.

Whether Singapore can
withstand a bigger crisis
I, personally, am gratified by
the way Singaporeans have
responded. There was a certain
robustness in the systems, and
more important than that, the
way Singaporeans reached out
to help one another.... it tells us
the level of trust and care that
we have for one another,
which is essential in any crisis.
You can have the best-laid
plans but if you dont have
trust and care for one another,
then you know its each man
for himself. So as long as we
have that, I am confident that
we can keep updating, keep
strengthening...
zengkun@sph.com.sg
UP TO HELP
UNDERGRADUATE JEREMY CHUA
PARAMEDIC YEO REN JIE
NUH OFFICER CLARA SIN
Call for aid rallies

those near and far
Poor visibility led

to tricky rescue
Quick to protect
patients and staff
Undergraduate Jeremy Chua, 25, expected to get a tan

when he returned home on a break from his American
university. Instead, he landed smack in the middle of
the haze.
In a matter of days, he set up the SG Haze Rescue
page on Facebook, which brought together Singaporeans willing to help give out masks, educate the public
or even open their homes to provide respite from the
haze.
Launched on June 20, the site was soon getting
300,000 hits a week. Even Singaporeans staying overseas wanted to help.
There was a Singaporean living in Hong Kong who
immediately ordered 250 masks and shipped them
over to us for distribution when she heard about the
mask shortage here, said Mr Chua, who is in his final
year at Vanderbilt University.
As the haze subsides, he hopes to turn SG Haze Rescue into a general response system when other crises
arise, and not just in Singapore.
Were currently looking at expanding this project
on a regional scale for other countries in the hope that
well be able to form a giant network.
Chan Huan Jun
When paramedic Yeo Ren Jie (left) arrived at the scene

of an accident early in the morning three weeks ago, he
faced an unusual problem.
Because of the thick haze, he had trouble finding
the motorcyclist who was lying on the expressway
with a fractured leg.
So he told the ambulance driver to slow down. He
finally spotted the victim when he was 50m away.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force officer then faced
another issue. The poor visibility and morning
rush-hour traffic were making rescue tricky.
So the 24-year-old staff sergeant moved the ambulance farther away, getting the driver to park it at an angle so that oncoming vehicles could see its search and
hazard lights.
That day, no one saw us till they were very near.
There was a risk that they might hit us or the victim,
he told The Sunday Times, adding that the victims injuries were quite bad.
When he asked how the accident happened, the motorcyclist said he had skidded after running over a
stone which he did not see because of the haze.
Jalelah Abu Baker
The morning after the PSI level hit 321, Ms Clara Sin
and her team of senior management officers at National University Hospital swung into action.
Within the day, windows were closed and 86
air-conditioners were deployed in all the subsidised
wards, said Ms Sin.
The timely action helped keep patients from further
exposure to the haze, which soon hit another high
when the PSI reading reached 401.
Exhaust fans were also installed along corridors to
dispel the haze, and a counter set up at the pharmacy
to sell masks to the public.
At SingHealth Polyclinics, a haze task force tracked
the stock of N95 masks and medications daily, said senior consultant Swah Teck Sin.
National Healthcare Group Polyclinics did its part
by distributing masks and eye-drops to their staff, and
even catered lunch so that the employees did not have
to go outside, said director of human resource and finance Simon Tan.
Staff wellness is critical so that the polyclinics can
continue to provide care to our patients, even as the
haze got worse, he explained.
Poon Chian Hui
ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
NEA OFFICER TANG HUI QI
Happy to clear the air

Ms Tang Hui Qi did not just have
the haze to deal with, but also
angry Singaporeans looking for an
answer.
The National Environment
Agency scientific officer, whose primary job is to make sure that air
quality is properly measured, and
her team had to deal with 500 to
600 calls and e-mail queries a day
about the haze.
Generally the callers are very
angry, so they will just rant, they
will vent their frustrations, said
the 24-year-old, whose team had
to deal with only 20 inquiries a day
before the haze.
She added that many of them
screamed at her, asking: What is
your government doing? What exactly? Tell me in detail. Why do I
not see any changes?
Her longest call took about 30
minutes.
While there is a call centre that
attends to queries, those concerning the Pollutant Standards Index
and the quality of air are routed to
her team.
ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
During the haze, Ms Tang and her team had to deal with 500 to 600 calls and
e-mail queries a day, often from frustrated Singaporeans.
But, with unscientific rumours

about the haze making their
rounds, she told The Sunday Times
that she was more than happy to

clear the air.
Jalelah Abu Baker
POH FAMILY MEN WITH MASKS
Giving
Chai Chee
a breather
When Mr Poh Seng Kah got a call
from a friend three weeks ago asking for help in donating masks, he
did not think twice.
Two hours later, the
56-year-old, who runs a family business in waste management, was going door-to-door in Chai Chee, giving out 400 N95 masks. They were
given to households living in oneroom rental flats.
It was a family affair, with his
son Poh Ching Hong, 26, and his
brother Poh Seng Choon, 51, joining him. It took them three hours.
The masks came from Mr Pohs
company. He had bought them for
his workers, who are exposed to
dust in their jobs.
The Government might take
some time to coordinate and execute such activities, so local merchants like us can step in faster,
said his son.
The family does take part in other donation drives, but said that
this was their first time helping out
(From left) Mr Poh Seng Kah, his brother Seng Choon and son Ching Hong
distributed N95 masks to residents of one-room rental flats in Chai Chee.
during the haze.

And the reactions from the
needy and elderly who received
the masks? Heartwarming, said

the 26-year-old.
Jalelah Abu Baker
Dr Jason Phua and NUH officer Clara Sin. NUH closed its windows and
deployed air-conditioners and exhaust fans when the PSI started climbing.
top news
More cases
involving
sex with
minors
Experts point to minors

easy access to social
networking and porn
sites for worrying trend
Jalelah Abu Baker
The number of people convicted of
sexual offences against minors has
been on the rise here in recent
years, setting what experts are calling a worrying trend.
There were 12 such convictions
reported in the first six months of
this year, compared to 13 in the
whole of last year.
Most of the accused in these cases were found guilty of having sex
with a minor, defined under the
law as victims below 16 years old.

In a case heard in court last Tuesday, a 16-year-old student admitted
to having sex with three girls, all no
older than 14.
He was unsuccessful with a
fourth victim, also a minor.
Muhammad Nor Aszroy Zaidon
had befriended his victims on Facebook and he would ask them to be
his girlfriend after chatting online.
This even though he had yet to
meet them in person. He was let off
last year with a stern warning, and
on condition that he would not
re-offend, after he was arrested for
having sex with a 12-year-old girl
he had met online.
But he went on and got two
other girls, aged 13 and 14, to have
sex with him on a staircase at his
flat in Teck Whye Lane and got
Business executive wins Miss Universe Singapore title

Business executive Shi
Lim being crowned
Miss Universe
Singapore by last years
winner Lyn Tan at the
Shangri-La Hotel last
night.
The 24-year-old, the
tallest contestant in
this years competition
at 1.76m, beat 15 other
finalists to the title.
They included
student and
entrepreneur Cheryl
Desiree Chan, 23, who
was first runner-up,
and second runner-up
Cordelia Low, a
24-year-old events
coordinator.
Ms Lim will
represent Singapore at
the Miss Universe 2013
pageant in Moscow
later this year.
As the winner of the
Singapore title, she got
to put on a one-of-itskind ruby and
diamond ring worth
$48,000.
ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM
caught again.
The 12 cases heard in court this
Like in Aszroys case, many of year involved both male and fethe men met their young victims male perpetrators. They also includthrough social networking sites like ed two young male victims.
Facebook.
To protect these minors, more
Psychiatrists, counsellors and so- needs to be done to educate girls on
cial workers The Sunday Times how to resist, and to teach the
spoke to pointed to the easy access males about the consequences of
minors have to social networking sex with minors and how to accept
and pornography websites as the no for an answer, said Ms Lim.
reason for the rise in such cases.
What is useful is role-playing.
(Minors) used to be more shel- They learn when they are put in
tered, but now they have exposure the situation, she added.
to complete strangers through soExperts say that the rising trend
cial networking sites, said Ms of such cases could be caused by a
Corinna Lim, executive director of combination of factors.
the Association of Women for AcYoung girls are targeted because
tion and Research.
they are naive, said Dr Carol
Mr Mani Joseph, a counsellor Balhetchet, director of youth serwho has worked with
vices at the Singayoung people for
pore Childrens Socimore than 30 years, More vulnerable
ety.
said
s o m e t i m e s (Minors) used to
The youngsters
young girls compete be more sheltered,
are also curious
with each other on but now they have
about sex and, with
who has more
their insecurities,
friends on Facebook, exposure to
the minors become
which gives them so- complete strangers
even more vulneracial validation.
ble, said Dr Ang
through social
It all starts with inYong Guan. The psynetworking sites.
nocent chats online,
chiatrist said rewhich later progress- MS CORINNA LIM,
search shows that
director of the
es to texting on the executive
the brain matures
Association of Women for
mobile phone, said Action and Research
only after 25 years,
Mr Joseph. And
which means that
when they do meet
till then, young peoand get intimate, usually after just a ple are less likely to be able to conshort period of time, the minors do trol their impulses or think of the
not know how to resist the physical consequences of their actions.
intimacy that the older person initiCriminal lawyer Amolat Singh,
ates, he added.
who recently had to defend a client
Ms Lim said the victims are who was charged with having sex
taken advantage of because of their with a minor, said sometimes, the
age and immaturity. They may minors can also be equal partners
not fully understand what is in the crime.
happening or may not know how
Indeed, while such cases generalto resist advances.
ly involved minors who had to be
Ms Lee Yean Wun, a social work- convinced or even manipulated iner with the Kampong Kapor Family to having sex, experts said they
Service Centre, recounted a case have also come across cases where
where a minor felt coerced to have both victim and perpetrator are in
sex with a man she met.
a long-term relationship and the
In such cases, the trauma experi- sex was consensual.
enced by the minor may be similar
In those cases, the minors may
to that experienced by victims of
not even reveal the identity of their
molestation and rape, especially if
partners.
it was their first sexual encounter,
Experts like Dr Ang said parents
added Ms Lee.
should
always keep a close watch
Several of these cases go unreported because the victim may feel on their children and create a seguilty and ashamed about having cure family environment. The
let it happen in the first place. And best antidote is a sense of security
if the assault was not brought to at home. When they are well-bondlight by a parent, friend or teacher, ed at home, they know when and
the victim may become with- where to draw the line, said Dr
drawn, disruptive, depressed or Ang.
even suicidal.
jalmsab@sph.com.sg
July 7 2013 thesundaytimes
top news
Holding maids
papers but really
boss girlfriend
MOM officers uncover
three cases of bogus
maids in relationships
with their employers
Amelia Tan
The Filipina had all the right papers
a valid passport and a permit to
work in Singapore as a foreign
maid.
But when enforcement officers
from the Ministry of Manpower
(MOM) entered the home where
she was working, they discovered
that she shared a bed with her male
employer.
The couples photographs were
around the flat, and their undergarments were hung together to dry in
their bedroom.
These red flags indicated that
she was no maid, MOM officers
told The Sunday Times. After four
hours of questioning, the man confessed that the Filipina was his
live-in girlfriend, not his maid.
He had brought her in as a maid

on a two-year work permit so that
she could stay in Singapore.
The couple is one of four similar
bogus cases uncovered by the ministry on May 28, during its largest operation to date against foreigners
living here under the guise of being
maids.
Officers from the ministrys employment standards branch, acting
on information received, checked
41 homes.
Of the four cases uncovered,
three involved women in relationships with the men who passed as
their employers. One woman
worked in her employers company
as a clerk, which is not allowed
under permits for maids.
Investigations into another 24
similar cases are ongoing, including six involving maids who were
not living with their employers a
requirement under the work permit conditions for foreign maids.
Employers in 13 of the 41
homes inspected were found to be
genuine.
Mr Michael Tan, a team leader

in the employment standards
branch, said that the number of cases of bogus maids has held steady
in recent years but nabbing them remains a priority. We want to send
a strong deterrent message that we
are watching and you will be
caught, he said.
Enforcement efforts have led to
the convictions of 21 employers
and 20 bogus maids between 2011
and last year.
The Sunday Times understands
that most of the women are from
the Philippines and Indonesia.
Mr Tan said some of the errant
employers wanted the women to
be waitresses in pubs and restaurants, or even office clerks, but
could not get work permits. Others
just wanted their foreign girlfriends
here.
Most of the culprits applied for a
foreign maid work permit because
it is relatively easy to meet the requirements.
The woman had to be at least 23
years old, pass a medical test and at-
Fishy explanation
He said she is a lady so
she should have the
room... That sounded
fishy, so I went into the
room and saw pictures
of them and their
underwear was hung
together.
INVESTIGATION OFFICER JESSIE LIM,
on the unusual arrangement where
the maid slept in the room while the
employer slept on the couch in the
living room
PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF MANPOWER
An MOM officer (above) interviewing a maid. In one of the bogus cases,

officers discovered that the maid and her employer were sharing a room
(below) and their undergarments were hung together to dry.
tend a one-day mandatory course

to learn about living and working
in Singapore. But these permit holders are not allowed to marry while
here without the approval of the authorities.
MOMs investigators interview
the employer, the maid, others living in the home and neighbours,
and look out for details such as the
living arrangements of the maid.
Investigation officer Jessie Lim
said warning bells sounded during
the recent raid when one employer
told her his maid slept in the bedroom, while he slept on a couch in
the living room.
He said she is a lady so she
should have the room, recounted
Ms Lim. That sounded fishy, so I
went into the room and saw pictures of them and their underwear
was hung together.
Anyone found to have fraudulently submitted false information
to illegally obtain a work pass can
be punished with a fine of up to
$20,000 and/or a jail term of up to
24 months.
The women will also be barred
from working in Singapore.
ameltan@sph.com.sg
El Baradei named
as Egypts interim
prime minister
ST PHOTOS: CHEW SENG KIM
The Geylang West CC features a gym designed for older folk, who will get personal attention from Dennis Gym trainers on how to use the equipment.
Gym for older folk at $5 a month

the Jalan Besar ward in which the
CC is located.
The CC, which has been upgradA gym designed for older folk is a
top attraction at the new and im- ed four times since its establishproved Geylang West Community ment in 1961, was opened by
Club, a first such tie-up by a CC Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
He said it was an example of
with a private operator.
For $5 a month, residents aged how CCs have kept up with resi50 and older will get personal atten- dents expectations as society betion from Dennis Gym trainers, comes more affluent.
However, CCs are important not
who will show them how to get the
just for their activities
most from lighter
but also because they
weights and equipare a centre for our
ment timers that lowFor residents
community activities
er their risk of strain
and organisation, he
We
want
to
tap
and injuries.
said.
More tie-ups be- the strength of
During the worst
tween CCs and the the private
week of the haze a
private sector are in
fortnight ago, CCs
the pipeline, said Peo- sector in
were the nerve centre
ples Association providing more
for mask distribution
chief executive direc- services, more
and a place for people
tor Ang Hak Seng at
convenience
and
to find respite in
the CCs opening yesmore affordable air-conditioned
terday.
rooms set aside as
Other tie-ups with programmes for
haze shelters, said Mr
private operators at
our
residents.
Lee.
the CC include a
He urged residents
childcare centre run MR ANG HAK SENG,
Peoples Association chief
to
make good use of
by Happy Town, and executive director
the CC, which he
the EdeS Academy
called a very imporwhich trains spa thertant part of communiapists and beauticians.
ty building and of building kamThe childcare centre charges
pung spirit.
$720 a month, which is 20 to 30
The gym for older folk is in a
per cent below market rate.
new three-storey extension to the
The CC has also imposed a ceil- CC that also has such facilities as a
ing on the fees Happy Town can dance studio and a rooftop space.
charge, in exchange for giving it a
Geylang West CC is the first of
lower rent, said Mr Edwin Tong, a four to be upgraded this year. AnMoulmein-Kallang GRC MP.
other 16 are expected to be reHe is the grassroots adviser to vamped by 2015.
Andrea Ong
PM Lee Hsien Loong trying his hand at a game station at the community clubs
opening yesterday. With him are PA chief executive director Ang Hak Seng (in
red) and Moulmein-Kallang GRC MP Edwin Tong (in pink).
As we go along the journey in

our CCs, we want to tap the
strength of the private sector in providing more services, more convenience and more affordable programmes for our residents, said Mr
Ang.
For instance, the gym for older
folk came about after grassroots
leaders consulted residents in Geylang West, where about 40 per cent
of the 12,301 residents are aged 50
and older.
It is also highly subsidised.
For every $5 paid monthly by an
older resident to use the nearly 100
sq m gym, the CCs management

committee gives $25 to the operator.
Administrative assistant Jenny
Chan, 65, and sprightly grandmother Yap Choo Siang, 76, are
part of a group of 15 who work out
at this gym every Thursday.
Madam Yap spends most of the
week at the CC, attending singing
classes, working out at the gym and
doing fitness dancing at the
rooftop space.
Im so busy now, she said with
a laugh.
Cairo Former UN nuclear agen- new elections.

cy chief and liberal opposition
Mr Mursis first year of turbuleader Mohamed El Baradei will lent rule was marked by accusabe named Egypts interim prime tions that he failed the 2011 revominister, sources reported.
lution by concentrating power in
Interim leader Adli Mansour the Brotherhoods hands and alsummoned Mr El Baradei to the lowing the economy to take a nopresidential palace yesterday, the sedive.
state news agency reported, withThe grassroots campaign Tamaout giving more details.
rod, Arabic for Rebellion, has
The news came as Islamists urged its supporters to take to the
massed for further protests to de- streets again today, foreshadowmand that the army restore ing further confrontation in the
Egypts first democratically elect- streets.
ed leader, after ferocious violence
Police meanwhile pressed on
that killed 37 people and injured with a round-up of top Islamists,
more than 1,000 nationwide in a announcing the arrest of Mr Khaisingle 24-hour period.
rat El-Shater, widely seen as the
The atmosphere was tense as most powerful man behind Mr
interim leader Adly Mansour held Mursi in the Brotherhood.
talks with ministers, aides and the
The United States joined UnitTamarod rebel group that engi- ed Nations chief Ban Ki Moon in
neered the mass demonstrations urging a peaceful end to the crisis.
culminating in the ouster of IslamWe condemn the violence
ist president Mohamed Mursi.
that has taken place today in
Crowds were swelling late yes- Egypt. We call on all Egyptian
terday outside Cairos Rabaa al-Ad- leaders to condemn the use of
awiya mosque, where Mursi sup- force and to prevent further vioporters have
lence among
been camped
their supportout for 10 days.
ers, said a US
A nearby bridge
State Departwas still littered
ment spokeswith rocks and
man on Friday.
burnt-out tyres
Army chief
from the overAbdel Fattah
night confrontaAl-Sisi
antions.
nounced Mr
Anti-Mursi
Mursis overprotesters meanthrow
on
while set up
Wednesday
checkpoints in
night, citing
Cairos iconic
his inability to
Tahrir Square afend a deepenter a night of
ing political crideadly fighting
sis.
nearby.
The armed
A coalition
forces have alof
Islamist
ready sworn in
PHOTO: AFP
groups early yes- Mr El-Baradei has been named as
Mr Mansour as
terday vowed Egypts interim prime minister and
interim Presicivilised pro- was to be sworn in late yesterday.
dent, and he
tests and peacehas dissolved
ful sit-ins in Caithe Islamist-led
ro until the military coup is re- Parliament. Mr Mursi is being
versed and the legitimate presi- preventively detained, said a
senior military officer. Mr El-Baradent is restored.
Despite the talk of peaceful dei was to be sworn in late yesterdemonstrations, fighting between day.
A judicial source said the proseMr Mursis supporters and oppocution would begin questioning
nents elsewhere in the capital and
Brotherhood members, including
in the city of Alexandria, where Mr Mursi, tomorrow for insultpitched battles raged in the ing the judiciary.
streets, killed at least 37 people
Coincidentally, former presiand injured around 1,000, medics dent Hosni Mubarak, toppled in a
said.
popular uprising that led to the
The bloodletting continued polls in which Mr Mursi was electyesterday with gunmen killing a ed, appeared in court in Cairo yesCoptic Christian priest by drag- terday when his retrial for alleged
ging him from his car and rid- complicity in the killing of prodling him with bullets in the res- testers in 2011 resumed.
The 85-year-old former strongtive north of the Sinai peninsula,
man appeared in the dock behind
security sources said.
bars, wearing dark sunglasses and
The fighting follows Wednes- a white prison uniform. During
days toppling of Mr Mursi, under- the televised hearing, Cairos crimlining the determination of the inal court heard submissions by
ousted leaders Muslim Brother- the defence before adjourning prohood to disrupt the militarys ceedings until Aug 17.
plan for a political transition until AFP, REUTERS
top news
Injured
workers tell
stories of
leave denied
TWC2s check with 150
injured workers finds
nearly 1 in 3 got less
leave than warranted
Radha Basu
When construction worker Bolai
Kumar Ghosh, 42, injured his left
wrist in a worksite accident in May
last year, his employer took him to
a clinic in a well-known private hospital.
The Bangladeshi, whose work
involves lifting heavy loads, was
given just two days of medical
leave and five days of light duty.
After a week, still in pain and
fearing that returning to work
would worsen his injury, Mr Ghosh
returned to the clinic but he was
not given more medical leave.

He eventually sought treatment
at Singapore General Hospital,
where he underwent tests and was
given 76 days off plus six months
of light duty. He has also been offered $8,400 as compensation.
The worker, who has been here
for 16 years, believes the clinic gave
him only two days off initially so
his bosses could avoid reporting his
accident to the Ministry of Manpower.
Last Friday, migrant workers
group Transient Workers Count
Too (TWC2) checked with about
150 injured Indian and Bangladeshi workers in Little India and
found that 42 roughly one in
three received fewer than four
days medical certificate (MC) after
being taken to a private clinic or
hospital. All the men then sought
treatment at restructured hospitals,
ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
Bangladeshi worker Bolai Kumar Ghosh holding up his injured left hand. The
private clinic he first visited gave him only two days off for his injury.
RULES ON WORKPLACE MISHAPS

Under the Workplace Safety
and Health (Incident
Reporting) Regulations, and
the Work Injury
Compensation Regulations,
employers must report to the
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
within 10 days if an accident:
L results in the death of an
employee; or
L leaves an employee unfit for
work for more than three
consecutive days or he is
hospitalised for at least 24
hours.
The Manpower and Health
ministries said any doctor who
encounters an employer
attempting to get around the
rules by influencing how
much medical leave a worker
is given may inform the
Manpower Ministry in
confidence at
mom_oshd@mom.gov.sg.
where they were given an average hospital first, almost all were later
of 94 days medical leave for the treated for the same injury at a pubsame injury.
lic hospital. That is a colossal
Accidents must be reported only waste of health-care resources,
if a worker gets more than three said Mr Au.
consecutive days off.
Another migrant workers
Several of the men, including group, Healthserve, said roughly
Mr Ghosh, echoed their com- one in five of 180 injured workers it
plaints to The Sunday Times.
has helped since January last year alIn the worst cases reported to so reported receiving only a few
TWC2, workers claimed they were days of medical leave at private clingiven fewer than four days off even ics, compared to weeks or even
after suffering fractures, amputa- months off at restructured hospitions and undergoing surgery.
tals.
In the wake of
If doctors are givsuch complaints,
ing injured workers
the Health and Man- Right move
too few days off to
power ministries
help employers, it
wrote to all doctors This is a
may not be only to
last month to re- longstanding
help the bosses
mind them of their problem that has
avoid reporting acciduty to give injured
dents.
workers the medical not gone away...
Leave might also
leave they deserve.
be cut short so that
We are glad that
Doctors have also MOM and MOH
employers do not
been warned that
have to pay workers
they might face disci- are paying
when they are not
plinary inquiries if attention to it.
working. Under Sinthey fail to do so.
gapore laws, workMR ALEX AU, TWC2s
Groups such as vice-president
ers must be paid
TWC2, which have
while on medical
long sounded the
leave.
alarm on such alleged malpractices,
Chinese carpenter Zhang Feng,
welcomed the government action. 46, got three months of medical
This is a longstanding problem leave after fracturing his leg in
that has not gone away, the March.
groups vice-president, Mr Alex Au,
He needed surgery and two mettold The Sunday Times. We are al clips were inserted. But although
glad that MOM and MOH are pay- he was still in pain and could bareing attention to it.
ly walk, his company doctor reReferring to TWC2s checks with fused to extend his medical leave.
workers, he said that on the basis of
He went to Tan Tock Seng Hospithe initial MCs given by the private tal which, after tests, extended his
clinics or hospital, one-third of all MC by another 40 days.
employers involved would be freed
He said: I work so hard for the
from having to report the accident company, but they did not care for
to the work safety authorities.
my welfare.
This is quite shocking, he said.
Of the 64 men sent to a private
radhab@sph.com.sg
24TH GOLDEN MELODY AWARDS
Sandy
Lam
wins big
A beaming Jolin Tsai

with her trophy for
Best Song of the
Year at the 24th
Golden Melody
Awards in Taipei
yesterday.
PHOTO: AFP
L Best Song of the Year

The Artist by Jolin Tsai
L Best Mandarin Album
Gaia by Sandy Lam
L Best Mandarin Male
Singer
Jam Hsiao
Dionne Thompson
Assistant Foreign Editor
Hong Kong singer Sandy Lam
swept the Golden Melody awards
at the Taipei Arena last night, in a
triumphant comeback after a
six-year hiatus from the music
scene.
But in a glittery awards night
peppered with the brightest talents
in the Chinese music scene, the reclusive Lam was nowhere in sight.
Receiving the awards on her behalf were record company representative Chen Ailing and Shilei
Chang, her co-producer on Gaia,
her long awaited work that netted
Best Album.
In her thank-you note, read out
loud at the ceremony, the ever-mysterious Lam apologised for her absence but did not explain it.
Thank you, judges, read her
note.
Im sorry I couldnt be there
this time to receive the award myself. I would like to thank the teachers that Ive had along my journey
and every music co-worker Ive
had. Thank you. Love, Sandy.
Other than best album and best
producer, the 47-year-old singer
was also crowned Best Mandarin
Female Singer, beating the massively popular Jolin Tsai, 32, who last
won the award in 2007.
Victory would have been especially sweet this year as the stiff
competition meant that the field of
nominees had been widened to six
from the usual five.
Lam had been nominated for a
total of six categories and hopes
had been high that she would
emerge a big winner.
THE WINNERS
L Best Mandarin
Female Singer
Sandy Lam
L Best Band
Monkey Pilot
L Best Album
Producer
Jointly won by Sandy
Lam and Shilei
Chang, for Gaia
PHOTOS: REUTERS
A pleased Jam Hsiao (above) was Best Mandarin Male Artist while Monkey Pilot (below)
walked away with the Best Band award. Both are Taiwanese.
PHOTO: UNIVERSAL MUSIC
The nights big winner, Hong

Kongs Sandy Lam, was a
no-show.
10
top news
[ special report: neonatal
top news 11
intensive care unit ]
Radha Basu
In a large hospital room with teddy
bears printed on its walls, nurse Aisha Alhadad carefully releases milk
droplets into one of several tubes attached to baby Catherine Dunphy.
Its her first time taking her
mothers milk, says proud father
Keven, 45, as his wife Chang Jia,
37, smiles through her tears. Its a
special, special day.
Cathy is one of a pair of twins
born on May 15, three months early. She and her twin Alexander
John AJ for short have been
fighting for their lives, breathing
through machines and feeding
through tubes in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at KK
Womens and Childrens Hospital.
Over the past two weeks, The
Sunday Times was allowed a
glimpse into the tense and tender
parental vigils and grim medical
battles waged daily at the 32-bed
ward, which KKH says is South-east
Asias largest such facility.
Cathys week-old room-mate
Bentley Isaac Firdaus is enjoying
his own magic moment.
Cradled in the arms of his father
Nurul Firdaus Abu Bakar, 31, the baby boy is being given his first-ever
bottle feed. Born nearly a month
early, he too had been fed through
a tube and needed help breathing
as machines monitored his vital
signs round the clock.
His mother, housewife Mischa
Char, 24, lets on that the first week
was tough. With a lung problem at
birth, he had six tubes in him at
one time. When he tried to pull
them out, they had no choice but
to sedate him, says Ms Char. It
was heartbreaking.
Born and brought up here, Bentleys parents live in a four-room
Housing Board flat in Woodlands.
They have two other children. Mr
Firdaus is a health and safety officer
in a construction company.
Cathys and AJs expatriate parents moved here from Dubai less
than two weeks before the twins
birth. Mr Dunphy is a New
York-born senior oil and gas executive. The pregnancy was going
smoothly till two days before the
twins made their premature
entrance into the world.
Ms Chang, a Nanjing native,
was alone in a serviced apartment
her husband was away on a busi-
Little ward
Nearly 1 in 10 babies
here born prematurely
OF
miracles
Grim medical battles are waged daily for babies
born too early as parents keep tender vigils
ness trip when she felt acute pain

in her stomach. An acquaintance,
one of the few people she knew in
Singapore, took her to a private hospital, which redirected her to KKH.
They felt that KKH would be
able to deal with premature babies
better, says Mr Dunphy, who has
been writing a blog on the babies
progress for relatives and friends
around the world.
Elsewhere in the ICU, doctor on
duty Pradeep Prakash Raut is ready
to perform a minor procedure on
another premature newborn. She
needs a feeding catheter inserted into her arm. The feed of electrolytes, minerals and vitamins is customised to the needs of each baby,
he says. A few hours later, he
checks in on Bentley and Cathy.
Will Bentleys lung infection
recur, asks a worried Mr Firdaus.
Unlikely, says Dr Raut. In fact, if
all goes well, he might leave this
unit as early as tomorrow.
Cathys prognosis is not as good.
She is a fighter, but has a problem
common in premature babies that,
if left untreated, could cause heart
failure. A week later, it persists and
she undergoes surgery.
Her brother, AJ, meanwhile, has
bleeding in the brain. He forgets to
breathe sometimes, setting off
alarms. When his oxygen levels

plunge, Ms Chang watches in panic
as a nurse calmly spanks AJs tiny
bottom, jolting him into breathing
again. The nurses here, they sure
know what to do, she says.
As they steel themselves for
heartbreak, parents of critically ill
newborns cling to hope. An encounter with a 15-year-old boy
proved serendipitous for Ms Chang
as she waited one morning while AJ
underwent surgery.
I was crying quietly, when this
boys mother, a complete stranger,
came over and gave me a hug, says
Ms Chang, a marketing professional. The two mothers got to talking
and Ms Chang was thrilled to know
the tall, healthy and happy teen
had been born at 24 weeks, just like
her twins. His birth weight, at under 800g, was the same as Cathys.
The boy had come to contribute
to a mural of handprints of previous NICU babies. To me he personifies hope, Ms Chang says.
Born at 26 weeks, baby Maryanne Teo, meanwhile, has overcome some of the problems the
twins are facing. She has spent
more than five months at KKH
since her Feb 2 birth, and is now in
the Special Care Nursery, a
step-down unit babies are moved
to before going home.
ST PHOTOS: ASHLEIGH SIM
(Above, left) Catherine Dunphy with parents Chang Jia and Keven. Twin brother AJ is also being cared for in the ward.
WATCH THE VIDEO

www.straitstimes.com
Parents talk about their
experiences with their
infants in the NICU
Download a QR code
reader app on your
smartphone and scan this
code for more information.
When she was born 14 weeks

early, all we could do was hold
hands, cry and pray that she could
breathe, says Maryannes father,
tax manager Bryan Teo, 35.
Their roller-coaster journey is far
from over, adds his wife, polytechnic lecturer Emily Tan, 33. As with
many premature babies, there are
likely to be developmental delays.
QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be
The couple are also worried

about the costs. Hospital stays as
long as Maryannes are known to
chalk up six-figure bills. The Government announced that from
March 1 this year, all citizen babies,
including those with congenital or
neonatal conditions, will be covered by MediShield. Born a month
earlier, Maryanne does not qualify.
Ours is a road less travelled,
says Mr Teo. But we know she will
make it.
Late last month, baby Bentley
went home, and the NICU welcomed little Giselle Quek. Her
mother, Veronica Ng, 35, is oblivious to the pain from her caesarean
section surgery two days earlier, as
she shuffles in to see her baby.
The administration manager
and her engineer husband Amos
Quek, 34, knew early that their second child had a hole in her heart.
They decided to have her anyway.
Now they have been told that

the hole may get smaller on its own
and she might not need surgery.
Their relief, however, is short-lived.
On her daily morning rounds,
doctor on duty Calinao Kristine Tecson brings grim news. Tests show
that Giselles kidney is misshapen,
there may be a blockage in her bladder and there are abnormalities and
bleeding in her reproductive organs. She also has a curved spine.
Ms Ng crumples into a nearby
chair in tears. More tests and time
are needed, but the couple are not
about to give up. Mr Quek lets on
that he was a premature baby, needed intensive care and spent three
months in KKH when he was born
in 1978. They told my mother I
would not live beyond a year, he
smiles ruefully. And here I am today still going strong.
ST PHOTOS: ASHLEIGH SIM
(Above) Bentley Isaac Firdaus being fed the first bottle of his life, by dad Nurul
Firdaus Abu Bakar as mum Mischa Char looks on.
(Above) Maryanne Teo with dad Bryan and mum Emily in the Special Care
Nursery, a step-down unit babies are moved to before going home.
Singapores birth rate has been declining, but the proportion of premature babies has risen from 7.2
per cent to 9.5 per cent of births
each year over the past two decades, Health Minister Gan Kim
Yong said yesterday.
This could be because women
are having babies later and more
couples are opting for assisted reproduction, among other factors, he
said.
Mr Gan was speaking at the official opening of the expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at
KK Womens and Childrens Hospital (KKH), where the tiniest premature babies are cared for, some for
several months.
The unit now has a bed capacity
of 32, up from 24 earlier, with plans
to have 40 beds by 2015. Other Singapore hospitals have a combined
capacity of about 40 NICU beds.
The NICU of KKH has been seeing between 400 and 450 patients a
year, up 30 per cent from a decade
ago, and more than nine in 10 survive. More than 4,000 premature
babies were born in Singapore last
year.
There is a dedicated nurse for
every baby on a ventilator. For
LITTLE WARRIOR BEAT THE ODDS

Pint-sized Luke Ng grins as his
mother welcomes The Sunday
Times into their Changi home
and says: Good morning, are
you here to interview me?
Friendly, articulate and
bright as a button, the
six-year-old has come a long
way since spending the first
five months of his life in
hospital.
He was born after a chain of
dramatic events when his
mum, art teacher Leow Pei
Chyi, 41, was six months
pregnant.
On the advice of her
gynaecologist, she was taken to

KK Womens and Childrens
Hospital where she was given
medicines to control heavy
bleeding and contractions.
But the next evening, she
went into premature labour
and little Luke tumbled out.
She broke down when she
saw her baby boy. He was as
tall as a ruler, weighed a little
more than a pack of sugar and
so, so helpless, she said. His
diapers went up to his chest.
Luke suffered from chronic
lung disease in his first year of
life. He was on a ventilator for
subsidies, Ms Leow and her

civil servant husband Frankie
Ng, 43, paid $35,000, mostly
through Medisave.
Even after Luke was
discharged, he had to breathe
through tubes. In those early
days at home, I would stay up
entire nights, just in case he
stopped breathing, she said.
But our babies are stronger
than we think. They are little
warriors.
Radha Basu
a month, needed heart surgery

and required blood transfusion
after a bad jaundice attack.
In those early days, all I
could do was take each day at
a time, said Ms Leow, now a
mother of two and on unpaid
leave.
On the advice of a friend
with premature twins, the first
thing Ms Leow did was apply
for a downgrade to B2 class,
which offered higher subsidies.
We knew we were in for the
long haul.
Her entire hospital bill came
to nearly $155,000. After
ST PHOTO: RAJ NADARAJAN
radhab@sph.com.sg
those in stable condition, there is

one nurse for every two babies.
The hospital said that while
most babies are discharged within a
few days or weeks, a small number
of more serious cases stay from one
to six months. Bills, after subsidies,
may range from $10,000 to
$60,000.
In March, the Government extended MediShield coverage to babies with neonatal and congenital
conditions. Needy families can also
tap Medifund Junior as well as
KKHs own $4 million endowment
fund to help pay bills.
Associate Professor Victor Samuel Rajadurai, who heads KKHs
neonatology department, said the
hospitals most premature baby
who is doing well was born at just
23 weeks. However, disability rates
are high for most babies born so early. The two smallest survivors at
KKH, who are doing well, weighed
435g and 470g at birth.
Together with countries like Japan, Luxembourg and Sweden, Singapore has the lowest neonatal mortality rate in the world of one per
1,000 live births according to the
latest report by the World Health
Organisation, issued earlier this
year.
Art teacher Leow Pei Chyi with

her son Luke and daughter Leah,
three. Luke was born nearly three
months premature and was in
hospital for five months.
12
home
A heritage
fest by the
people for
the people
Most of this years
programmes have
been put together
by everyday Sporeans
Amelia Tan
This years Singapore HeritageFest
(SHF) comes with a personal touch.
Participants can learn about the
history of Seletar Airport, Singapores coffee traditions and the culture of old estates such as Redhill
by listening to stories by everyday
Singaporeans who designed the heritage trails.
Given that the theme of the July
19-28 festival is Memories for Tomorrow, organiser National Heritage Board (NHB) believes it was appropriate to get Singaporeans to
share their experiences of neighbourhoods and favourite hangouts.
Heritage is not just about nostalgia. It is living and evolving, and
shaped by personal experiences,
said festival director Angelita Teo,
who is also director of the National
Museum of Singapore.
She revealed yesterday that most
of the festivals 20 programmes,
which range from heritage trails to
talks and workshops, were put

together by more than 20 community and interest groups, as well as
individual Singaporeans.
Exhibitions on unique facets of
the country, such as the history of
magic here, and music in the
1960s, will also be held in 10 locations across the island.
Ms Teo was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a media preview of the Seletar Heritage Trail at
Seletar Airport.
The trail was put together by aviation enthusiasts Ashwin Kotteri
and Jerome Tan.
The pair of university students,
both 22, joined the Singapore
Youth Flying Club while in secondary school and are now members of
Wings Over Asia, a social network
for private aviators and enthusiasts
across Asia.
A team of 10 members of Wings
Over Asia will lead participants on
the three-hour trail, which will cover the Seletar Camp, Seletar Airport
and the Singapore Youth Flying
Club.
Participants will visit colonial-style bungalows in the area and
listen to residents stories.
Mr Kotteri said: Seletar holds a
special place in my heart and I
ST PHOTOS: MARK CHEONG
University students Ashwin Kotteri and Jerome Tan with one of the planes that will take five winners of the festivals photography contest up in the air for a birds
eye view of Seletar. The students put together the Seletar Heritage Trail, which includes this colonial-style house in Oxford Street (below) as one of the stops.
want to share its rich history with

others.
The festival also features a photography contest, where members
of the public can post captioned
photos that showcase this years
theme, on the SHF website,
www.heritagefest.sg
Five winners will enjoy a
45-minute plane ride for a birds
eye view of Seletar.
NHB hopes that this 10th edition of SHF will draw more than
one million people.
ameltan@sph.com.sg
home 13
Inmates families
get helping hand
440 volunteers reach out to over 1,000 families with members in jail
Jalelah Abu Baker
When retiree Betty Lai visited the parents of a woman
who was in prison, she found that they were taking
care of their daughters 15-month-old baby.
So the 65-year-old helped them get financial assistance to supplement the income the inmates father
received from working for a laundry service. She also
got a part-time job for the mother and a place in an
infant care centre for the baby.
This was one of the success stories Senior Minister
of State for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli related yesterday during an event to recognise the work done by
volunteers with the Yellow Ribbon-Community Outreach Project run by the Singapore Prison Service
(SPS).
From just 58 volunteers benefiting 78 families in
2010, when the project began, there are now 440 volunteers helping to reach out to more than 1,000 families.
The volunteers, who come from grassroots organisations across 56 GRC divisions islandwide, help families with members in jail to look for financial assistance, education subsidies and employment.
During the appreciation luncheon and award ceremony at Buona Vista Community Centre, Mr Masagos lauded their work in lending a helping hand to
inmates families to manage the difficulties they are
confronted with after their loved ones are admitted into prison.
More importantly, they have helped families
cope with the stress and
anxiety from the absence
of a family figure at home, It takes time
usually the caregiver or the
In the
breadwinner, he said.
Giving another exam- beginning the
ple, Mr Masagos spoke family may not
about a 19-year-old whose
father was in jail. She was be very happy,
so touched by the help she and we will get
received in furthering her scolded... I
studies that she joined the
dont see it is a
programme.
The outreach pro- failure. I will just
gramme, he added, also allows inmates to focus on re- leave and go
habilitation, knowing that back again. The
their families are being second time,
cared for.
Despite the encourag- they are more
ing increase in the number welcoming.
of people volunteering,
MR MOHAMED IMHAR
SPS Reintegration and MOHAMED SAID, on the
Community Collaboration difficulties volunteers face
Services deputy director Abdul Karim Shahul Hameed
said more are needed, adding that those who sign up
will get a day of training to help them handle home
visits.
They are taught how to engage the families, and
how to handle sensitive issues.
But visiting these families, even with the inmates
consent, can still be a tense affair, volunteers told The
Sunday Times.
Mr Mohamed Imhar Mohamed Said, 57, who has
been doing volunteer work since he was 17, said: In
the beginning the family may not be very happy, and
we will get scolded.
But the personal assistant, who oversees the Siglap
Division and East Coast GRC volunteers, added: I
dont see it as a failure. I will just leave and go back
again. The second time, they are more welcoming.
Ms Fiona Tan, 40, a volunteer from the Admiralty
Division, makes it a point to break the ice by finding
common topics they can talk about. Even simple
things like banter with children who are present can
reduce the tension, said the civil servant.
PHOTO: SPH
Lucky shopper wins a car

Finance manager Tan Siew Bee went home
with the keys to a brand new Subaru Impreza
worth $65,000 (without certificate of
entitlement), after a day out yesterday.
No, the 35-year-old did not buy it. What she
did was beat close to 600 other shoppers in a
competition held as part of the Singapore Press
Holdings Shop & Win promotion at VivoCity.
Madam Tan had spent $51.40 on milk
powder at a participating retail outlet in Jurong
East mall JCube and was selected to take part
in yesterdays competition.
The car was presented to her by Motor
Image Enterprises senior sales manager Dennis
Lee.
Retiree Albert Lee, a volunteer from the Marsiling

Division, does not mind the pitfalls.
Said the 66-year-old, who has been volunteering
for 30 years: I get satisfaction from helping them,
and that is something money cannot buy.
jalmsab@sph.com.sg
ST PHOTOS: RAJ NADARAJAN
(From left) Volunteers Mohamed Imhar Mohamed Said, Albert Lee and Fiona Tan are among the growing number who
devote their time to helping inmates families find financial assistance, education subsidies and employment.
14
home
19 bloggers honoured at annual awards

Young and old, they
were feted for making
an impact at the 6th
Spore Blog Awards
Poon Chian Hui
When Mr Ivan Kwan conceived his
now award-winning blog in 2008,
it was out of a personal interest in
nature and wildlife conservation.
The former research assistant
never thought that his post in April
on what seemed to be an eviction
notice to Pulau Ubin residents
would set the public abuzz.
It even got the Government to
publicly apologise for the poorlyworded letter, which was really
meant to inform 22 households

that they had to pay rent to continue living on the island.
This helped Mr Kwan become
one of 19 winners at the Singapore
Blog Awards held yesterday at a River Valley Road venue.
The post went viral, which was
totally unexpected, said Mr Kwan,
31, who first learnt about the notice from a birdwatcher.
The Housing Board document
had stated that the residents
homes were slated for clearance,
suggesting that they were to make
way for an adventure park.
It also said that officers will determine the residents eligibility of resettlement benefits.
Puzzled, Mr Kwan posted pictures of the notice on his blog, The
Lazy Lizards Tales, along with a
call to the authorities to clarify the

issue. The possibility that the kampung houses were about to be lost
drew strong public reactions.
I was heartened to know that
so many people treasure Pulau
Ubin, said Mr Kwan, whose blog
was judged the best among those
dealing with environmental issues.
Blogs have the ability to impact
current affairs, because they have
the power to reach hundreds, or
even thousands of people.
The Singapore Blog Awards,
which is in its sixth year, recognises
people who devote their time and
energy to setting up and running innovative and informative blogs.
Organised by Singapore Press
Holdings bilingual news and entertainment portal, omy.sg, it drew
more than 1,500 blog registrations.
The winners included Ms Christina Gaos Travelgraphy for best photography blog and Ms Jasmine Koh
for best lifestyle blog, Scissors Paper
Stone. Ms Grace Tans Working
With Grace won best individual
blog. The winners were chosen
from a shortlist of 190 by a panel of
judges and online votes.
One of the judges, blogger Walter Lim, said this years contenders
were of a higher quality, and were
more diverse. Topics ranged from
parenthood to poetry, said the corporate communications manager.
There were also many nice personal stories, added Mr Lim, who
hopes to see blogs on finance and
health matters in the future.
It is also fantastic to see older
bloggers it shows that the trend is
quite mainstream, no longer con-
fined to the younger generation.

The winner of the best food blog
was Mr Tony Boey, 53, a full-time
blogger who writes about where
and what to eat in Johor Bahru.
I wanted to have a bit of an adventure, to go to unfamiliar places, said the ex-civil servant, who
set up Johor Kaki Food Guide in
2011. He drives to Malaysia almost
every day, sampling food from
street stalls to high-end restaurants.
So far, he has written about nearly 500 places. Among his top priorities now is to document as many retiring hawkers as he can.
Mr Boey said that being older
than most local bloggers did not
pose any barriers: When Im online, I actually forget my age.
chpoon@sph.com.sg
Mr Ivan Kwans post on what seemed

to be an eviction notice to Pulau Ubin
residents set the public abuzz.
Emergency WeCare Packs

for elderly poor living alone
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Spin of colours
It was a whirl of colours and candy surprises at
the Marina Barrage yesterday on the first day
of the two-day Layang Layang Fun Flying @
Marina Barrage kite event.
Into its third year, the event showcases kite
performances and displays from both
Singaporean and international kite fliers,
including from countries like Japan, the

United States and Indonesia.
The public was also treated to fun activities
like kite making and a Lolli-Drop, where
children caught mini-parachutes containing
sweets falling from a teddy bear suspended on
a kite line. The event ends today at 6pm.
About 30,000 packages filled with

medical and food supplies will be
given over the next three weeks to
poor elderly folk who live alone.
Starting today, grassroots leaders will go from door to door to distribute these WeCare Packs for
emergencies, put together by the
Peoples Association (PA).
The idea for it was triggered by
the haze, said the PAs deputy
chairman, Mr Lim Swee Say, when
announcing the initiative yesterday.
Grassroots volunteers had noted, while handing out N95 masks
to the poor two weeks ago, that
these old folk would need food if
confined at home for a few days.
Asked if it was also a response
to criticism that the Government
had not moved quickly enough to
distribute masks and aid, Mr Lim,
who is also Minister in the Prime
Ministers Office, said: Obviously
we could have done better.
But, he added, the new move also puts in place a response system
for the grassroots movement, so
we dont have to come up with
(one) each time we are hit with an
unforeseen development.
Each package contains basic
medical supplies such as medicine
for cold, eyedrops and Panadol,
plus food items such as instant
noodles, biscuits and canned food.
The food is enough for one person for about three days.
The PA has raised $2 million, of
ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Volunteers packing items into WeCare Packs yesterday. The packs of medical
and food supplies will be given out over the next three weeks to poor elderly
folk living alone. The food is enough for one person for three days.
Whats inside
Each package contains
basic medical supplies
such as medicine for
cold, eyedrops and
Panadol, plus food
items such as instant
noodles, biscuits and
canned food.
which $1 million was used to produce the packs with supplies from
FairPrice supermarkets and NTUC
Unity pharmacies. The remaining
amount will be kept for future
emergencies, it said.
Half the money was donated by
the supermarket chains charity
arm, NTUC FairPrice Foundation,
while the rest was raised by community development councils.
Tessa Wong
home 15
Streets all
aglow for
Hari Raya
Geylang Serai was
awash with a sea of
colours and lights
last night, marking
the beginning of this
years Hari Raya
light-up.
Some three
million people,
including tourists,
are expected to visit
the district, which
will be lined with an
array of street bazaars
to celebrate Ramadan
and Hari Raya
Aidilfitri.
There will also be
special Ducktours to
some of the lit-up
areas. This years
light-up was
launched by Acting
Manpower Minister
Tan Chuan-Jin.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
OUR SINGAPORE CONVERSATION
Giving
Malay
children
a good
start
Good pre-school education will
level playing field for them,
say participants at dialogue
Tessa Wong
The Government was urged yesterday to make
pre-school education compulsory as the move would
give Malay/Muslim children a good start in life.
Teacher Mazli Said, 38, who made the call, said Malay parents tend to leave their children with the
grandparents instead of putting them in childcare
centres or kindergartens.
We need to instil in them the spirit that Malay/
Muslims can succeed from an early age, and the importance of studying, he said at a session of Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) yesterday.
The dialogue was organised by Malay daily newspaper Berita Harian and attended by 40 professionals,
students, housewives and retirees as well as Education
Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is in charge of the OSC
effort.
Mr Mazlis call for a good pre-school education
was taken up by several of them, who said it would
level the playing field as few Malay families could afford top kindergartens.
Another major concern centres on employment.
The preference shown by foreign bosses in hiring
their countrymen over
locals was highlighted
by several people, while No silver bullet
others pointed to the
scarcity of Malays in the There is no silver
higher echelons of the bullet in
public sector and the mileducation. We
itary.
Engineering student just have to work
Syamil Maulod, 22, hard, put in the
asked: Can there be
greater transparency in effort at every
the Government and stage, and at
other sectors on why Malays are not seen that every stage
encourage (the
much at higher levels?
The struggle many children).
Singaporeans face in buy- Education Minister HENG
ing an HDB flat was no SWEE KEAT, who noted that
less felt among Malays, 99 per cent of Singaporean
children attend pre-school,
said some participants.
Responding at the including most Malay
end of the four-hour ses- children
sion, Mr Heng said that
99 per cent of Singaporean children attend pre-school, including most Malay children.
While it is important to encourage pre-school education, it is also necessary to make sure students do
well at every level of education, and that every school
is a good school, he added.
There is no silver bullet in education. We just
have to work hard, put in the effort at every stage,
and at every stage encourage (the children).
Mr Heng also noted that the issue of Malay representation in the civil service and military had been
previously addressed in Parliament.
What we should focus on is really how do we continue to raise the educational standards as well as qualifications, and encourage lifelong learning so that every community, regardless of race, can continue to
build deep skills and, in turn, access better opportunities, he said.
twong@sph.com.sg
16
home
Pirate3D raises $1.85m

on Kickstarter.com
Crowd-funding drive
over, start-up turns
to manufacturing
of its 3-D printer
Hoe Pei Shan
It took local start-up Pirate3D
just 10 minutes to raise its target
of US$100,000 (S$129,000).
By the time its 30-day crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.com was over last Saturday, it
had attracted US$1,438,765
(S$1.85 million) to produce
what it claims is the worlds
most affordable 3-D printer.
This is believed to be the first
time that a Singapore firm has
broken the million-dollar mark
on the popular American crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter.
It feels pretty darn awesome, said Pirate3D co-founder
Roger Chang, 25, who set up the
company with three others just
11 months ago.
Were also quite relieved
that the fund-raising bit is done
ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
The Pirate3D team (from left) Prof Neo, Mr Tsang, Mr Goh and Mr
Chang with their prototype of the Buccaneer 3-D printer. With it, people
can design and print everyday items from a spool of plastic.
because we had round-the-clock

shifts for 30 days straight monitoring the campaign.
The companys chic-looking
brainchild is called the Buccaneer. It aims to bring 3-D printing, which creates plastic objects
layer by layer, into homes.
This will allow people to design and print everyday items
such as kitchen utensils and toys

from a spool of plastic.
Priced at US$347, the Buccaneer is much cheaper than competing models such as the Replicator 2 from MakerBot, which
costs US$2,199.
The first batch of 200 Buccaneers is slated for delivery in December, but with more than
3,500 units pre-ordered through

Kickstarter, the firm is already
looking to expand.
Were hunting for new office space and will be hiring additional engineers, programmers,
and marketing personnel to be
based in Singapore and San Francisco, said co-founder Brendan
Goh, 26.
The other two co-founders
are Mr Tsang You Jun, 26, and
National University of Singapore
adjunct professor Neo Kok Beng,
48.
In the next month, Pirate3D
will decide on a locally based
manufacturer, which will be
able to produce the printer in factories across Asia.
The firm is also working on a
collaboration with Harvard Universitys Professor Calestous Juma, director of the colleges Science, Technology, and Globalisation Project, to donate 3-D printers to selected African institutions next year.
peishanhoe@gmail.com
ST PHOTOS: CHAN HUAN JUN
The hatchback (above) was sandwiched between a lorry and a Mercedes-Benz saloon. The four-vehicle incident also involved a double-decker bus
(below). The male driver of the hatchback was trapped in his car and had to be extricated by SCDF officers.
Small car crushed in

four-vehicle pile-up
Chan Huan Jun
A small hatchback was crushed
by a lorry in a four-vehicle
pile-up, which also involved a
Mercedes-Benz saloon and a double-decker bus, along Ang Mo
Kio Avenue 5 yesterday afternoon.
The male driver of the hatchback was trapped in his car and
had to be extricated by Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
officers with heavy appliances.
An SCDF spokesman said the
driver was conscious when taken
by ambulance to Tan Tock Seng
Hospital, where he was found to

have suffered multiple injuries.
The female driver of the bus
was also taken to hospital after
she complained of pain in her abdomen and right knee.
The accident took place just
before the traffic light junction
of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 and
Serangoon Avenue 6.
The police said they received
a call about the accident at
about 1.55pm yesterday. Investigations are ongoing.
Mr Low Choon Meng, who
was behind the wheel of the lorry, told The Sunday Times at the
scene that he ploughed into the

hatchback because he did not realise the lights had turned red,
and the cars in front of him had
stopped.
The 57-year-old also said he
was not aware that the white
hatchback was directly in front
of his lorry.
I had just finished my last assignment and I was driving back

to the warehouse, he said.
I didnt realise the lights
were red. The next thing I knew,
I had slammed into something
in front of me. I saw that I had
wrecked a car only when I got
out of my lorry.
17
18
world
Marry a
tycoon?
Pass these
tests first
Chinese club draws
flak for auditioning
potential wives for its
millionaire members
Ho Ai Li
China Correspondent
In Beijing
Some wore denim shorts; others
went for flowy skirts. Almost all
had pleasing eyebrows and a warm
shade of lipstick.
This was no casting call for models or actresses, but an exercise in
finding wives for tycoons of the
China Entrepreneur Club for Singles (CECS), which serves those
with assets upwards of 100 million
yuan, or S$21 million.
Say what you will, but many Chinese women hope to snare a rich
husband and dont mind such trials. In the last two years, at least
20 such events have been held,
mainly by the CECS, to target the
64,500 Chinese in such an asset
bracket.
When The Sunday Times
dropped in on the clubs auditions at a Beijing hotel last Sunday, young women were filling in
forms asking them for their height,
weight, bust and waist measurements.
Civil servant Han Zixing, 24,
(1.63m and 45kg) left blank the
space asking for her san wei vital
statistics. I dont see why they
have to ask for that, she said.
She was one of the 532 women
who waited in line that day for tests
on their looks, health, personality
and relationship history. Oh, and
how well they can help their men
pack for a work trip.
No more than 25 get a chance to

meet the 93 bachelors of the club,
which has drawn flak for putting
women through such cattle calls.
Such selections put men and
women on unequal footing and
can be accused of discriminating
against or even insulting women,
wrote columnist Qian Suwei in the
Zhengzhou Daily.
Actually, its a very high-class
platform,
said
Mr
Cheng
Yongsheng, who founded the club
last year. The women need to be
of good su zhi, he told The Sunday
Times, using a buzzword roughly
meaning quality.
According to the CECS website,
su zhi means, among other things,
women who do not have body
odour, tattoos, birth marks or a stutter and are taller than 1.65m.
(They need to think about the
next generation, said Mr Cheng.)
They also cannot be from poor
families, he said, with no apologies.
Wed need them to be men dang
hu dui, he adds, meaning that the
family backgrounds of couples
should match.
Many candidates have parents
who are officials or managers in
state-owned enterprises and typically work as civil servants or at foreign and state enterprises, he said.
Looks matter too.
During the event, Mr Feng
Wenyuan, one of the judges,
scored the women on their looks,
figure, mannerisms and dressing.
Their bust and waist sizes should
be proportionate, he said, without
elaborating.
At another table, counsellor Li
Shimeng asked the women to draw
Tarot cards and make up a story
based on them.
There are snakes and monsters... Things are not so good, said
PHOTO: CHINA FOTO PRESS
Some 500 women in their 20s lined up to be auditioned as potential wives for the multimillionaires of the China Entrepreneur Club for Singles at a four-star
hotel in Beijing last Sunday. The women had to clear tests on their looks, personality, relationship history and health.
THE CRITERIA
The candidates for tycoons
wives need to be of good su zhi,
said Mr Cheng Yongsheng,
who founded the China
Entrepreneur Club for Singles.
The clubs website says that su
zhi means, among other things:
L Women who do not have
body odour, tattoos, birth
marks or a stutter
L They are taller than 1.65m
L They cannot be from poor
families
L The women are also scored
on their looks, figure,
mannerisms and dressing.
Their bust and waist sizes
should be proportionate, said
Mr Feng Wenyuan, one of the
judges.
one, whose card showed a picture

of snakes.
The mumbo jumbo supposedly
helps Ms Li get an idea of the womens inner world.
ST PHOTO: HO AI LI
A female participant attempting to help her imaginary husband pack for a

work trip. This should be done by servants... I dont think a multimillionaire
will need to pack by himself, she complained loudly.
At the next station, the women

packed items like shirts into a suitcase, though some could be heard
making grouses.
This should be done by serv-
Okinawans talk of independence

Naha (Okinawa) In a windowless room in a corner of a bustling
market, Okinawans gathered to
learn about a political idea that until recently few had dared to take seriously: declaring their island
chains independence from Japan.
About two dozen people listened as speakers challenged the official view of Okinawa as inherently part of homogeneous Japan, argu-
ing instead that Okinawans are a

different ethnic group whose once
independent islands were forcibly
seized by Japan in 1879.
Until now, you were mocked if
you spoke of independence, said
one speaker, Mr Kobun Higa, 71, a
retired journalist whose book on
the tiny independence movement
has become a hot seller.
But independence may be the
only real way to free ourselves from

the American bases.
Mr Higa and other advocates admit that few islanders would actually seek independence for Okinawa,
the southern-most Japanese island
chain that is home to 1.4 million
residents and more than half of the
50,000 US troops based in Japan.
But growing perception that the
central government is ignoring
Okinawans pleas to reduce the US

presence has made an increasing
number of islanders willing to flirt
publicly with the idea of breaking
apart.
In May, a newly formed group
led by Okinawan professors held a
symposium on independence that
drew 250 people. A tiny political
party that advocates separation
from Japan through peaceful
ants... I dont think a multimillionaire will need to pack by himself,

cried one.
The wife-wannabes were also
asked about their past relationships
means has also been revived after

decades of dormancy.
Before, independence was just
something we philosophised about
over drinks, said former Okinawa
governor Masahide Ota. Now, it is
being taken much more seriously.
Once known as the Kingdom of
the Ryukyus, Okinawa has had a
tortured history with Japan since
the takeover, including the forced
suicides of Okinawan civilians during World War II and the imposition of US bases after Japans surrender.
The talk of independence has
and if they minded older men the

clubs tycoons are 38 to 55 years
old and half are divorcees.
The men pay at least 200,000
yuan a year in club membership
fees.
The club has been slammed for
promoting materialism, but the
women interviewed claim they are
not looking for rich husbands. Im
not looking for a rich mans son.
Whats important is that the guy is
capable, said Ms Han.
The club also sparked an uproar
earlier for requiring the women to
be pure of body, but no mention
of this was made this time round.
This casting roadshow had gone
to Shanghai, Jinan and Nanning
before Beijing. The club has helped
51 couples tie the knot, said media
officer Li Zhuo, a trendy young
man in a black cardigan.
Theres no way of telling if the
rich bachelors are as dishy as Mr Li,
though. Unlike the women, who
have their health and histories
prodded and poked at, the men
need only prove their wealth.
For never mind if men outnumber women in China. Just like it
was in the old days, marriage in
China is a rich mans world.
hoaili@sph.com.sg
reached Tokyo, where some conservative newspapers have begun

calling the activists pawns of China.
While few believe China is
about to pursue ownership of
Okinawa, Japanese analysts see an
informal campaign by the Chinese
as the latest gambit in its attempts
to take over the smaller group of islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
China is seen to be essentially
warning that it could expand its
claims beyond those islands.
New York Times
world 19
North, South Korea start Kaesong talks

Shaky start to meeting on fate of
Seoul-funded industrial park shut
down by Pyongyang unilaterally
Seoul North and South Korea yesterday held rare
talks on re-opening a joint industrial zone seen as the
last remaining symbol of cross-border reconciliation.
But the meeting showed little signs of making headway.
Negotiations got off to a faulty start, with the two
sides talking across each other over what to discuss
first. Although the opening session was attended by a
full contingent of three delegates from each side, the
chief members of both teams had to repeatedly meet
separately in an attempt to narrow their differences.
The talks delayed by nearly two hours follow
months of friction and threats of war by Pyongyang
after its February nuclear test attracted tougher UN
sanctions, further squeezing its struggling economy.
Kaesong was the most high-profile casualty of the
elevated tensions on the Korean peninsula but neither side has declared the complex officially closed.
Both sides said they want to re-open the Seoul-funded
industrial zone on the North Korean side of the border, but blame each other for its suspension.
There are a multitude of issues to discuss but the
issue of preventing damage to facilities from monsoon rains should take precedence, the Norths chief
delegate Pak Chol Su was quoted as saying at the start
of the meeting by a press pool report.
His South Korean counterpart and senior Unification Ministry official Suh Ho said: Weve come here
with a heavy heart as the Kaesong industrial zone has
been shuttered. I hope we settle the issue through mu-
IN BRIEF
Shanmugam in Brunei
Singapores Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam
and his wife were in Brunei Darussalam
yesterday to attend the wedding reception of
Prince Abdul Qawi and Tengku Amalin
Aishah Putri, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
said in a statement.
Prince Abdul Qawi is the eldest son of
Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Bruneis Foreign
Affairs and Trade Minister.
US missile shield fails test

Washington Americas missile defence
system failed in a test over the Pacific, with an
interceptor failing to hit an incoming ballistic
missile last Friday.
The costly ground-based interceptors have
not had a successful test result since 2008. The
anti-missile weapon is supposed to counter the
potential threat posed by North Korea.
AFP
Guangdong river contaminated

Beijing People living along the Hejiang River
in Guangdong province have been warned
against drinking and eating anything from the
river, after the authorities detected high levels
of cadmium and thallium in one section.
Cadmium is considered an environmental
hazard and thallium is extremely toxic.
AP
Ramp collapse due to negligence

Kuching Investigations into the collapse of
the Second Penang Bridge ramp revealed
shortcomings due to negligence by the
contractor, said Dr Johar Basri, a director with
the governments occupational health and
safety department, yesterday.
He added that charges against those
responsible for the June 6 accident which
resulted in one death are now being prepared.
The Star/Asia News Network
Syrias opposition elects leader

Beirut The main opposition Syrian National
Coalition (SNC) has elected former political
prisoner Ahmad al-Jarba as president.
The post had been empty since April when Mr
Mouaz al-Khatib resigned, citing frustration
over what he called a lack of international
support and constraints imposed on the body.
AP
tual trust and cooperation.

Pyongyang, citing military tensions and the Souths
hostility towards the North, in April withdrew its
53,000 workers from the 123 South Korean-owned factories at the Kaesong park.
Until then the industrial park a valuable source of
hard currency for the impoverished North had
proved remarkably resilient to the regular upheavals in
inter-Korean relations.
At yesterdays talks which took place in a conference building in the North Korean side of the neutral
border village of Panmunjom the South reproached
the North for suspending the operation of Kaesong unilaterally, calling for a clear-cut guarantee aimed at pre-
venting a recurrence, a Unification Ministry official

told journalists.
The official added that Seoul had urged Pyongyang
to take responsibility for losses suffered by South Korean firms in the park.
The North, however, will likely find it hard to accept
such a demand as it would amount to Pyongyang accepting full responsibility for the suspension.
Seoul suggested the meeting should first deal with
the issue of moving finished products and raw materials held up at Kaesong to the South. But Pyongyang
called for the re-opening of the zone at the earliest possible date, suggesting that the talks should urgently address the issue of preventing the facilities from being
further damaged by monsoon rains.

Seoul officials earlier said the South would not agree
to restarting Kaesong as if nothing had happened
and thus let the North get away with taking unilateral
action.
Yesterdays meeting came after a surprise move last
Wednesday from North Korea, which restored a
cross-border hotline and promised to let South Korean
businessmen visit the industrial estate and check on
their closed factories.
Analysts say North Korea is mindful of a US demand
that it improve ties with the South before there can be
any talks with Washington.
AFP
20
world
Indonesia
revives two
child slogan
Campaign renews
push for smaller
families in wake of
fast-rising population
Zakir Hussain
Indonesia Bureau Chief
In Jakarta
The slogan Two children are
enough, once common, is making
a comeback as Indonesia revives its
family planning campaign.
The first campaign which started in the late 1960s but lost momentum 30 years later saw the countrys total fertility rate fall sharply
from 5.6 births per woman in 1970
to 2.8 births in 1997, a shift policymakers credit for the countrys ability to lift millions out of poverty.
But the rate has stayed at around
2.6 over the past 10 years, and officials are embarking on a new push
to educate a new generation about
the importance of small families.
At this rate, we will get two Singapores being created in 10 years,
the new head of the National Population and Family Planning Board,
Professor Fasli Jalal, told The Sunday Times in an interview.

You can imagine the implications for poverty reduction, and access to health care, education and
jobs.
Radio jingles, TV ads, banners
and a grassroots-level campaign involving teachers and religious leaders have, in recent weeks, begun
spreading the message that small
families mean better-off families.
The board has also gone on Twitter and Facebook, and organised activities for youth under the banner
GenRe, short for A generation that
plans.
Health officials are also stepping
up the availability of contraceptives
at community health centres, all in
a bid to bring the fertility rate closer
to the desired level of 2.1.
Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi
did not mince words, saying recently that the family planning programme in the past 10 years had
failed.
Indonesias population rose from
206 million in the 2000 census to
238 million in 2010, and now
stands at more than 240 million.
Officials warn that if growth
Quebec
train
derails,
explodes
PHOTO: AFP
Parents Melinda Irmayanti and Muhammad Iqbal with their newborn girl Malika Ifrania Altha Meara at Bunda Hospital
in Jakarta. Officials warn that if growth rates persist, Indonesias population would nearly double to 450 million in 2045.
rates remain constant, the countrys

population would nearly double to
450 million in 2045.
Of particular concern is the continued high prevalence of early marriages, especially in rural areas and
provinces in eastern Indonesia.
The average age at which Indonesian women marry has remained at
19 over the past decade, and officials hope to raise this to at least 21.
Prof Fasli, a former deputy education minister, is concerned a new
generation has forgotten that smaller families helped the country develop rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s.
The population board is also

reaching out to religious leaders
as it did a generation ago to get
their support.
These include the two
mass-based Muslim organisations
Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, which were initially sceptical of Suharto-era family planning efforts but became convinced
as officials took religious considerations into account.
Islamic teachings, both organisations ruled then, justified family
planning on the grounds that it improved the health of mother and
child, and would result in better
and more devout children.
However, MP Eva Kusuma Sundari notes that the devolution of
power to regions that began some
10 years ago saw regional officials
put family planning on the backburner.
As a result, officials meant to be
in charge of educating residents on
the programme saw their workload
grow in other areas while funding
for the programme was cut.
The government appears to
TARGETS
Total fertility rate
L Current: 2.6
L Desired: 2.1
Average age
women marry
L Current: 19
L Desired: 21
have recognised this error, and

now seems determined to reverse
it.
Speaking at national family celebrations in South-east Sulawesi late
last month, Vice-President Boediono told local leaders to intensify
family planning efforts, saying Jakarta would support them.
If we do these, our aim of improving the quality of Indonesias
families and people, and ultimately to develop Indonesia, will be
achieved, he said.
zakirh@sph.com.sg
Lac-Megantic (Quebec) A
large swathe of a town in eastern
Quebec, Canada was destroyed
after a train carrying crude oil derailed, sparking several explosions and forcing the evacuation of up to 1,000 people.
Several people were reported
missing but Quebec provincial
police Lieutenant Michel Brunet
said it was too early to say if
there were any casualties in the
town of Lac-Megantic, 250km
east of Montreal.
The explosions ignited a
blaze that sent flames shooting
into the sky. Billowing smoke
could be seen from several kilometres away hours after the
derailment yesterday.
Some of the trains 73 cars
exploded and the fire spread to a
number of homes in the town of
6,000 people.
Lac-Megantic
resident
Claude Bedard described the
scene of the explosions as dreadful. Its terrible, he said.
Weve never seen anything like
it. The Metro store, Dollarama,
everything that was there is
gone. Resident Pierre Lebeau
said: The flames in the sky were
really impressive.
The cause of the derailment
was not immediately known.
The authorities cordoned off
the area as firefighters battled to
control the fire. Worried residents looked on amid fears that
some of their friends and loved
ones may have died in their
homes.
Were told some people are
missing but they may just be out
of town or on vacation, Lt Brunet told a news conference.
Environment Quebec spokesman Christian Blanchette said a
large but undetermined amount
of fuel had also spilled into the
Chaudiere River.
AP
21
22
world
Anti-graft chief has battle on his hands

Malaysian minister has
the proposals to fight
corruption but knows
enforcement is hard
CHANGING THINGS FROM WITHIN
Yong Yen Nie

Malaysia Correspondent
In Putrajaya
Mr Paul Low, the first minister appointed by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to battle corruption,
knows what measures are needed to
reduce graft like he knows the back
of his hand. He was a former president of Transparency International
Malaysia, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Since taking office in May, he
has been busy proposing reforms of
the procedures used by ministries to
procure supplies and services. The
bigger challenge for him is to convince all the ministries to adopt
them.
Mr Low, 67, acknowledges that it
will take time for his proposals to be
implemented.
So far, of the 24 ministries only
the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and
Local Government; Youth and
Sports; and Works have come forward to work with him on strengthening the internal controls in their
offices.
I have promoted to these ministries to adopt open tender systems
when it comes to procuring equipment and services for their ministries, and put in place controls that
would separate business and political dealings, Mr Low said in an interview recently.
He declined to elaborate on the
details as they involve the internal
workings of the ministries.
At present, ministries have the
option to procure supplies and services without open tenders. Most of
the services and works are negotiated directly with known suppliers.
Such a system is prone to abuse.
ST PHOTO: YONG YEN NIE
Mr Paul Low, Malaysias first anti-corruption minister, admits that his powers are limited and he cannot enforce the
recommendations.
Indeed, a Washington-based financial watchdog, Global Financial

Integrity, said in a report last December that more than US$64 billion
(S$82 billion) in illicit funds from
corruption and bribery flowed out
of Malaysia in 2010. That gives it
the dubious distinction of being second in the world only to China in
that regard.
Mr Lows appointment as Minister for Transparency, Integrity and
Human Rights comes at a time
when Datuk Seri Najib is facing
mounting criticism on the level of
corruption facing the country.
The perception that many of the

ruling Barisan Nasionals leaders are
corrupt caused it to lose more seats
in the general election in early May.
As a vocal critic, Mr Low has repeatedly blamed the graft level on
grand corruption, or corruption
at the highest levels of government
involving large sums of money.
Now, as a government agent, he
readily admits that his powers are
limited and he cannot enforce the
recommendations.
I have to work within the political realities and the institutional restrictions, he said. My main job is
to eradicate corruption but there

must also be some order and collaborative spirit by the ministers.
He maintains that he has the
full backing of Mr Najib in pushing
for reforms.
One of them involves human
rights reducing the number of
people who have died in police custody. The Bar Council has said that
at least 160 people have died in police hands since 2000, or about one
every month.
Mr Low has proposed giving
more teeth to the Enforcement
Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to discipline the police force,
which has been blamed for the rising number of deaths in lockups.
Putrajaya At 67, Mr Paul Low

reckons that he should be
enjoying life as a retiree.
I know that I should be on
some Caribbean cruise and
living life comfortably as a
retiree, said the new Minister
for Transparency, Integrity and
Human Rights.
Instead, he is skipping
family dinners and missing
playtime with his
grandchildren as he puts in
long hours at the office, in a
newly created job where he is
already facing doubters.
Mr Low, also one of two
appointed senators in the
Upper House of Parliament, is
already being branded a lame
duck minister before he has
even spent 100 days in office,
having assumed office only in
May.
Many are predicting that he
will fail, saying lack of political
will may prevent him from
going after senior government
officials and businessmen who
have accumulated their wealth
through corruption.
Mr Low, who has held
several directorships in
companies and is a former

president of Transparency
International Malaysia, is well
aware that his reputation is at
stake should he fail to
implement real reforms in the
government.
But he is not troubled.
I dont care about my
reputation, he told The
Sunday Times in an interview
recently. If I had wanted to
build my reputation, I would
not have joined the
government.
For years, Mr Low had been
pushing from the outside as
an activist, but he said being a
minister allows him to make
structural reforms in the
government.
Mr Low, who has a son with
his homemaker wife and two
grandchildren, is a
self-confessed workaholic.
Despite the long hours and the
challenges, he said: I am
enjoying my job.
I only know that I would
regret it if I miss this
opportunity to try to change
things from within, in these
five years.
Yong Yen Nie
We are in consultation phase

to give the EAIC disciplinary powers, which will allow the entity to
suspend or demote officers for misconduct, he said.
We are also finding ways to recruit more investigative officers to
make the EAIC more efficient.
The commission has been criticised by the opposition and NGOs
for failing to come down hard on
the police force for the rising
number of custodial deaths.
The main concern of the critics
is that the commission does not
have prosecution powers and can
only make recommendations to
the disciplinary authorities of the
respective enforcement agencies af-
ter its investigations.

But Mr Low said prosecution
powers can only come from the Attorney-General as stipulated in the
Constitution.
He has also defended his stance
of not pushing through the more
powerful Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission that was mooted by a royal
commission in 2005.
Mr Low said the commission is
not ideal as it singles out the police
force. I believe in radical but gradual change, not change to the
point where it causes an institution to collapse.
yyennie@sph.com.sg
world 23
Dengue cases
soar in the
Philippines
At least 10 have died as
officials scramble to
contain outbreak, which
happened unusually early
quitoes and a result of people storing

water improperly.
Dengue is spread by mosquitoes that
breed in stagnant water and which usually bite people during the day.
In the past six months, more than
11,000 people have come down with
Iloilo (Philippines) Dengue fever has dengue in Singapore, and four have
surged in central Philippines, infecting died.
Seven people died in neighbouring
more than 1,800 people and killing at
least 10, a provincial official said yester- Malaysia in the same period while more
than 12,000 were affected.
day.
Dengue fever is a recurring problem
The number of people struck down
in the Philippines,
by the mosquitoand many of the 1.6
borne disease in the
million people living
central province of Il- Stinging problem
in the largely rural
oilo this year is al- The number of people
central province still
ready 71 per cent
stockpile water in
higher than in the struck down by the
their homes due to a
same period last year, mosquito-borne
lack of proper plumbprovincial administra- disease in the central
ing, making it easier
tor Raul Banias said.
for the mosquitoes to
He added that den- province of Iloilo this
breed.
gue fatalities in the year is already 71 per
Provincial health
first half of this year cent higher than in the
workers are now bewere already equal to
same period last year,
ing deployed to the
the total deaths for
hardest-hit areas to
the whole of last year. provincial
inspect
homes,
The latest out- administrator Raul
searching for any wabreak in the province, Banias said yesterday.
ter containers where
around 400km south
the
mosquitoes
of the capital Manila,
has caused particular alarm because it might breed, Mr Banias said.
Residents are also being advised to
began before the start of the rainy seakeep
their water containers covered
son in June, when mosquitoes are less
while victims are being given free treatplentiful, he said.
ment in government hospitals, he said.
He added that the outbreak may be a AFP
sign of the changing behaviour of mos- More reports >>Think Page 42
British activist refused

entry to Sarawak
Kuala Lumpur British journalist
Clare Rewcastle-Brown, the activist
sister-in-law of former British premier
Gordon Brown, has been refused entry
to Malaysias Sarawak state.
Ms Rewcastle-Brown, who has spearheaded a campaign against state corruption and deforestation in Sarawak, was
blocked last Wednesday when she arrived in capital Kuching to meet her
lawyers in relation to a civil suit filed
against her.
Yesterday, in an interview to the
Malaysian Insider, she said the security
office of Chief Minister Taib Mahmud,
that has refused her entry, has also
banned her lawyer See Chee How from
leaving Sarawak for the past 14 years.
Mr See, the state assemblyman from
Batu Lintang in Sarawak, confirmed the
ban.
Ms Rewcastle-Brown, an investigative journalist and activist, runs the
Sarawak Report blog and Radio Free
Sarawak, media outlets that are fiercely
critical of Mr Taib.
In a video blog after her deportation
from Sarawak, she accused Malaysian
authorities of barring her so that she

could not defend herself against a transnational corporation that is on the British and European stock exchanges,
and by powerful figures within Sarawak
politics, the Independent reported.
Mr Taib has ruled Sarawak a large
state on Borneo island of 2.5 million
people and one of Malaysias poorest
states since 1981, during which time
activists and environmentalists have accused him and his family of enriching
themselves at the expense of its people.
His party is part of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition in Malaysia.
An investigation into Mr Taibs regime was launched by the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)
two years ago, although anti-corruption groups say it is being deliberately
slowed down.
He is being protected by the powers
that be, said Ms Ambiga Sreenevasan,
co-chairperson of Malaysia's Coalition
for Clean and Fair Elections, also
known as Bersih, adding that the proceedings against Ms Rewcastle-Brown
were tainted.
24
world
Pope clears John Paul II,

John XXIII for sainthood
Vatican City Pope Francis has given
the go-ahead for John Paul II to be made
a saint and granted a rare exception for
the canonisation of another of his predecessors, John XXIII, who had the same
reformist views and personal touch as
the current pontiff.
The announcements on Friday
marked a historic day at the Vatican,
which also issued an unprecedented
text co-written by Pope Francis and his
now-retired predecessor Benedict XVI,
in which the two popes said faith was a
common good and called for dialogue with non-believers.
The Vatican said Pope Francis gave
his widely expected formal approval to
a second miracle attributed to John Paul
II at a meeting with Cardinal Angelo
Amato, head of the Congregation for
the Causes of Saints.
The supposed miracle occurred to Ms
Floribeth Mora, a 50-year-old woman in
Costa Rica, the Vatican said. It followed
media reports that she had been cured
of a serious brain condition by praying
for the late popes intercession on the
same day that he was beatified in 2011.
At the funeral of the hugely popular

John Paul II in 2005, crowds cried Santo Subito! which roughly translates as
Sainthood Now! prompting the Vatican to speed up the path to sainthood,
which normally begins five years after
the death of the person in question.
In the case of John XXIII
(1958-1963), Pope Francis approved
the favourable votes from the Congregation for the canonisation even
though no second miracle has been
found a break with the usual procedure.
Nicknamed The Good Pope", John
XXIII called the historic Second Vatican
Council which overhauled and modernised the Catholic Churchs rituals and
doctrines. Pope Francis also promises to
be a reformist pope, planning an overhaul of the Vatican bureaucracy and its
finances, and promising a poor
Church for the poor.
The religious text issued on Friday,
however, showed that behind the differences in style there was continuity between Benedict and Francis.
The encyclical was co-written by the
Venezuela
to offer
asylum to
Snowden
PHOTOS: AFP, AP
The Vatican accelerated the path to sainthood for the hugely popular John Paul II (left),
who died in 2005. In the case of John XXIII (right), Pope Francis approved his
canonisation even though no second miracle has been attributed to him.
two men a first in Catholic Church history and highlights the importance of
faith in modern society, as well as restating opposition to same-sex marriage.
It also said faith cannot be imposed

by force and that believers should not
be presumptuous.
AFP
Country faces diplomatic showdown

with US; Nicaragua also signals it
may be ready to shelter fugitive
Caracas President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela has
said that he would offer asylum to fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, setting up a potential diplomatic showdown between the United
States and South Americas biggest oil exporter.
Mr Maduro said during a military parade marking
Venezuelas independence day last Friday that he had
decided to act to protect this young man from the
persecution unleashed by the worlds most powerful
empire.
In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega also gave
the 30-year-old computer expert another glimmer of
hope, saying that if circumstances permit, his government would be willing to shelter the man who has
been in limbo in a Moscow airport since June 23.
But how Snowden, whose passport has been revoked, could travel to either country remains unclear.
He has been scrambling to evade espionage charges after disclosing a vast US electronic surveillance programme to collect phone and Internet data.
He has sought asylum in more than two dozen nations. Most have declined.
The offers from Venezuela and Nicaragua appeared to be linked to outrage in Latin America over
the treatment last week of President Evo Morales of
Bolivia, whose plane was denied permission to fly
over several European countries because of what Bo- Playing politics
livian officials Now Maduro feels he
said were unfounded suspi- has a chance to
cions that Snow- establish himself as a
den was aboard.
leader who responds
A faulty fuel
gauge forced an when US imperialism
emergency land- exerts itself over the
ing in Vienna as region. For Maduro
Mr Morales was
on his way home the best-case scenario
from a meeting in would be if Snowden
Moscow. The Pres- never comes. That
ident was able to
fly back to South way he can say that
America after win- he is fighting the US
ning a promise without actually
that his plane
would not be having to do it.
searched
i n MR GREGORY WEEKS, director of
Spains Canary Is- Latin American studies at the
University of North Carolina in
lands while refuel- Charlotte
ling, said Mr Ricardo Martinez, a Bolivian diplomat in Austria.
The environment had changed since Evos plane
accident, Mr Gregory Weeks, director of Latin American studies at the University of North Carolina in
Charlotte, said. Now Maduro feels he has a chance
to establish himself as a leader who responds when
US imperialism exerts itself over the region. For Maduro the best-case scenario would be if Snowden never
comes. That way he can say that he is fighting the US
without actually having to do it.
Venezuelas opposition leader Henrique Capriles
accused Mr Maduro of making a fuss about Snowden
to distract voters from a dismal economic picture at
home, and a host of other domestic political problems.
If Snowden attempts to take up the offer, there are
no direct commercial flights between Moscow and Caracas, and the usual route involves changing planes
in Havana. Given the dramatic treatment of the Bolivian Presidents plane last week, a flight using European airspace could prove problematic. Nor is it clear if
Cuban authorities would let him transit.
Meanwhile in Russia, officials have expressed impatience over Snowdens continuing stay in the transit
zone of Sheremetyevo Airport. On Thursday, Deputy
Foreign Minister Sergei A. Ryabkov told reporters that
Snowden should pick a destination and leave as soon
as possible.
A bid by Snowden for Icelandic citizenship hit an
impasse on Friday when the countrys Parliament voted not to debate the issue before its summer recess.
New York Times, AP, Bloomberg, Reuters
world 25
Mandelas docs reject

turning off life support
PHOTO: AP
Journalists looking at arms and ammunition that the Nigerian military said it
had seized from Islamic fighters last month. Yesterdays pre-dawn attack in
the north-east was blamed on Boko Haram, a radical terror group.
Nigerian
militants
kill 42 in
boarding
school
Victims, mostly students, shot or
burned alive; more than 1,600
killed by militants since 2010
Potiskum (Nigeria) Islamic militants attacked a
boarding school in north-east Nigeria before dawn
yesterday, killing 42 people, mostly children, said a
medical worker and residents yesterday.
Some of the pupils were burned alive in the latest
school attack blamed on a radical terror group, survivors said. Parents screamed in anguish as they tried to
identify the charred and gunshot victims.
Farmer Malam Abdullahi found the bodies of two
of his sons, a 10-year-old shot in the back and a
12-year-old shot in the chest.
Thats it, Im taking my other boys out of school,
he said, as he wept over the two corpses. He said he
had three younger children in a nearby school.
Its not safe, he said. The gunmen are attacking
schools and there is no protection for students despite all the soldiers.
Survivors said gunmen hit Government Secondary
School in Mamudo village, 5km from Potiskum town,
at about 3am yesterday.
The gunmen are believed to be from the Boko Haram sect whose name means Western education is
sacrilege.
We received 42 dead bodies of students and other
staff of Government Secondary School (in) Mamudo
last night. Some of them had gunshot wounds while
many of them had burns and ruptured tissues, said
Potiskum General Hospitals Haliru Aliyu.
A local resident confirmed the death toll in the attack, the latest blamed on Boko Haram in Nigerias
volatile north-east.
Among those killed was English teacher Mohammed Musa, who was shot in the chest, according to
another teacher, Mr Ibrahim Abdu.
We were sleeping when we heard gunshots.
When I woke up, someone was pointing a gun at
me, said 15-year-old student Musa Hassan.
He put his arms up in defence, and suffered a gunshot that blew off four fingers on his right hand.
He said the gunmen came armed with jerry cans of
fuel that they used to torch the schools administrative block and one of the hostels. They burned the
children alive, he said.
He and teachers at the morgue said dozens of children from the 1,200-student school escaped into the
bush and have not been seen since. Some bodies are
so charred they could not be identified.
Islamic militants from Boko Haram and breakaway
groups have killed more than 1,600 civilians in suicide bombings and other attacks since 2010, according to an Associated Press count. Scores of schools
have been burned down in the past year in north-east
Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of
emergency on May 14, and deployed thousands of
troops to halt the insurgency.
The military has claimed success in regaining control of the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. However, the area covers some 155,000 sq km or one-sixth
of the sprawling country. Soldiers say they have killed
and arrested hundreds of fighters.
But the crackdown appears to have driven the extremists into rocky mountains with caves, from
which they emerge to attack schools and markets.
The militants have increasingly targeted civilians,
including health workers on vaccination campaigns,
teachers and government workers.
Farmers have been driven from their land by the
extremists and by military roadblocks, raising the
spectre of a food shortage to add to the woes of a people already hampered by the militarys shutdown of
mobile phone services.
AP, AFP
Johannesburg Mr Nelson Mandelas doctors have rejected the idea of turning off the
ailing icons life support unless he suffers
massive organ failure, a close family friend
told AFP.
Anti-apartheid activist Denis Goldberg,
who has been Mr Mandelas friend for more
than half a century, said last Friday that the
issue of turning off life support was discussed and ultimately dismissed.
I was told the matter had been raised
and the doctors said they would consider
such a situation only if there was a genuine
state of organ failure, he said.
Since that hasnt occurred, they were
quite prepared to go on stabilising him until
he recovers.
Mr Goldberg, 80, was convicted along
with Mr Mandela in 1964 for their fight
against white-minority rule. He visited the
former president at a hospital in Pretoria last
Monday.
Earlier, he said that Mr Mandela was
clearly a very ill man, but he was conscious
and he tried to move his mouth and eyes
when I talked to him.
He is definitely not unconscious, he
added, saying he was aware of who I was.
A court document filed by a lawyer for Mr

Mandelas family nine days ago stated that
the 94-year-old was being assisted in breathing by a life support machine.
The Mandela family have been advised
by the medical practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off, the
court filing read.
Rather than prolonging his suffering,
the Mandela family is exploring this option
as a very real probability.
The document designed to press a court
to urgently settle a family row over the remains of Mr Mandelas children also stated
that he was in a permanent vegetative
state.
The presidency has stated that is not the
case, but refused to give further details, citing the need to respect his privacy.
There was no official update yesterday on
the condition of Mr Mandela, who continues to be critically ill after being admitted to
hospital on June 8 with lung infection.
South Africas Parliament on Friday hosted a prayer service in a Cape Town cathedral
where Mr Mandela was hailed as an icon of
a truly free South Africa.
AFP, AP
26
world
US jobs data gives some cause for cheer

Beyond the headline numbers for job growth, it
gets a little more mixed, said Goldman Sachs chief
economist Jan Hatzius. There is still a lot of slack in
the labour market.
Although the economy has held up better than
some analysts expected in the face of tax increases
and automatic cuts in federal spending this year, overall growth in economic output has also been tepid.
The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.8 per cent in
the first quarter, short of what is needed to quickly
lower the unemployment rate.
Still, the job figures for last month were enough to
prompt Mr Hatzius and other leading economists on
Wall Street to predict that the Fed could announce a
shift in policy in September, rather than waiting until
December.
Its not a done deal in September, just more likely, Mr Hatzius said.
While Wall Street is focused on the Feds timing
because of the markets, observers from other quarters
say any move to reduce the stimulus this year would
be too soon because of the high unemployment rate
and the kind of jobs that are being created.
For example, more than half of the 195,000 jobs
added last month were in two sectors retail and leisure and hospitality which both tend to be low-paying. The manufacturing sector, which often pays better, shed 6,000 workers last month, its third consecutive month of losses.
New York Times
Weather Vane
Storms
Frankfurt
Jakarta
Los Angeles
Rome
Bangkok
Chiang Mai
Shenzhen
Yangon
Clear
growth and a slow but steady tapering on the part of

the Fed, traders pushed the stock market higher last Friday, with major indexes gaining about 1 per cent.
The 195,000 jobs added last month were significantly above the 165,000 monthly pace analysts had been
expecting. And the government sharply revised upward
figures for job gains in April and May, increasing the
average monthly gain in the first half of this year to
202,000 jobs.
But the picture painted by the data hardly reflected a
booming economy.
The unemployment rate remained stuck at 7.6 per
cent, far higher than the historical pattern for this stage
of a recovery. Other measures of joblessness actually
rose, with the broadest one that includes workers
forced to accept part-time positions jumping to 14.3
per cent, from 13.8 per cent.
Cloudy
New York New jobs data last Friday offered hope for
the elusive middle ground in the US economy, as the
Federal Reserve wrestles with when to ease its stimulus
efforts without endangering the recovery and the markets.
The pace of job creation last month was sufficient to
please investors and keep the US central bank on course
to slowly begin pulling back on its major bond-buying
programme this autumn. But the job gains were muted
enough to calm worries of an abrupt exit by the Fed, a
fear that has weighed on the markets lately.
The employment report, which showed the econo-
my added 195,000 jobs, was the first since the Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said last month that policymakers
were ready to begin tapering the stimulus later this year
if the labour market continued to improve.
The timing of the Fed action is critical. The central
banks programme of buying US$85 billion (S$110 billion) a month in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds has not only kept long-term interest
rates low for borrowers, including big companies as
well as individual home buyers, but has also helped
prop up Wall Street.
The possibility that the Fed might move more quickly than expected to dial back the programme has
prompted investors to sell both stocks and bonds in the
past six weeks and has raised rates on mortgages and
other loans.
Buoyed by the promise of moderate economic
Showers
Gains of 195,000 jobs beat hopes

but are muted enough to calm
fears of abrupt end to stimulus
Hong Kong
Kuala Lumpur
Melbourne
Xiamen
Chicago
Lisbon
Kuwait City
Prague
Singapore
Today: Partly cloudy.
Outlook: Monday & Tuesday: Morning thundery
showers.
33
26
Air Quality
Sunrise
PSI: 30 (Good)
24-hour reading up
to 4pm yesterday
7.04am
7.16pm
Moonrise
Moonset
6.03am
6.30pm
Sunset
Forecast details in at 6.30pm
Tides
Today: 4.48am (0.4m),
11.43am (2.4m), 4.48pm
(1.3m), 10.39pm (2.7m).
Desaru: 4.00am (0.6m),
11.33am (2.3m), 4.46pm
(1.6m), 9.31pm (2.1m).
Port Dickson: 12.28am
(0.9m), 6.22am (2.4m),
12.41pm (0.5m), 6.33pm
(2.5m). Mersing & Pulau
Tioman: 1.58am (0.6m),
10.16am (2.8m), 5.04pm
(1.6m), 7.54pm (1.7m).
Tomorrow: 5.22am (0.3m),
12.15pm (2.4m), 5.22pm

(1.2m), 11.13pm (2.7m).
Desaru: 4.35am (0.5m),
12.01pm (2.3m), 5.18pm
(1.5m), 10.15pm (2.2m).
Port Dickson: 1.04am (0.9m),
6.57am (2.5m), 1.18pm
(0.4m), 7.04pm (2.6m).
Mersing & Pulau Tioman:
2.39am (0.5m), 10.51am
(2.9m), 5.33pm (1.5m),
8.42pm (1.7m).
NORTH
Partly Cloudy
PSI: 30 (Good)
SOUTH
Partly Cloudy
PSI: 28 (Good)
EAST
Partly Cloudy
PSI: 26 (Good)
WEST
Partly Cloudy
PSI: 30 (Good)
CENTRAL
Partly Cloudy
PSI: 24 (Good)
For updates and more details, call Meteorological

Service Singapore: 6542-7788
World
Asia
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11/8C
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Showers
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Cloudy
Santiago
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4/12C
15/25C
17/25C
23/29C
Cloudy
Cloudy
Fair
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Middle East
Bahrain
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Dubai
Jerusalem
Kuwait City
Mecca
Riyadh
Tel Aviv
41/31C
37/17C
44/33C
31/16C
44/33C
42/32C
43/29C
30/22C
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
29/24C
35/19C
28/21C
22/3C
23/11C
Storms
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
25/12C
32/27C
27/21C
26/13C
25/15C
23/16C
28/16C
29/15C
23/15C
30/21C
39/21C
28/18C
37/21C
25/17C
27/18C
29/18C
25/16C
29/19C
26/19C
29/22C
27/17C
25/15C
Fair
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Fair
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Fair
Clear
Clear
Rain
Fair
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Rain
Clear
Cloudy
Africa
Abidjan
Cairo
Casablanca
Johannesburg
Nairobi
Europe
Amsterdam
Athens
Barcelona
Berlin
Brussels
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Frankfurt
Geneva
Helsinki
Istanbul
Lisbon
London
Madrid
Manchester
Moscow
Paris
Prague
Rome
Stockholm
Venice
Vienna
Zurich
Australia/NZ
13/6C Showers
Adelaide
16/10C Showers
Auckland
21/11C Clear
Brisbane
Christchurch 14/2C Clear
14/6C Showers
Melbourne
18/3C Fair
Perth
17/7C Fair
Sydney
14/11C Windy
Wellington
ST GRAPHICS
world 27
First Nepali billionaire

tips his hat to Spore
Tycoon, who set up his
groups HQ in city state,
lauds its high efficiency
and pro-business policies
Rupali Karekar
He calls Japan his unofficial B-school,
but Nepali tycoon Binod Chaudharys
success story may be incomplete without a mention of Singapore.
The city state features in a big way in
Mr Chaudharys steady rise in the business world, where he is now part of the
billionaires club with the likes of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
In March, Mr Chaudhary, with assets worth US$1 billion (S$1.29 billion), became the first non-Indian
South Asian to be included by Forbes
Asia in this elite club, a recognition
that has come with admiration and accolades, adding personal satisfaction to
his prosperity.
Singapore is the role model for any
country to follow, when it comes to
supporting and enabling the right kind
of environment to do business efficiently, Mr Chaudhary said in an interview
with The Sunday Times last week while
on a business-related visit.
The country knows how to respect
talent and entrepreneurship.
Mr Chaudharys Cinnovation
Group has its headquarters in Singapore. From here, it runs over 48 companies with more than 4,300 staff across
the globe. The group owns Alila Hotels
& Resorts here and Zinc Invision Hospitality in Thailand.
The parent company Chaudhary
Group (CG), Nepals biggest conglomerate, has been around for more than 140
years, with interests in food and beverage, education, real estate, financial services, cement, and hotels and resorts.
CGs prolific resume is a result of the
hard work of its president whose life story has been oft-repeated in the Asian
press in the last four months.
Mr Chaudhary, 58, comes from a
Products from all

over the world were
available in Singapore, he said, adding that high efficiency, minimum red
t a p e a n d i n v e stor-friendly policies
made
importing
goods from Singapore more lucrative.
As Nepali constitutional provisions
made foreign investments difficult, Mr
Chaudhary again
chose Singapore in
1990s to start Cinnovation CG.
There has been no
looking back for him
since, although high
costs have taken
some gloss off SingaMr Binod Chaudhary, 58, is the first non-Indian South Asian
pores shine.
to be included by Forbes Asia in the billionaires club.
Its expensive,
he said, but concepline of traders his grandfather, Mr tually its profile, image and efficiency
Bhuramal Chaudhary, was a textile still make it stand out.
trader who migrated from India to NeWith his three sons now handling
pal. His father, Mr Lunkaran Das the business, he said: The future of my
Chaudhary, expanded into other busi- company is in good hands.
nesses and set up Nepals first-ever deHowever, he is far from done. Joinpartment store.
ing politics and making a difference in
Mr Binod Chaudhary took the his own country is next on his agenda.
plunge into the arena at 18, putting his
I have a duty towards my country,
plans for higher studies on the back- Mr Chaudhary said, believing that Neburner. He started the countrys first dis- pal can be transformed if the politics is
cotheque, but that was not his only right and economy-centric. What hapfirst. He also introduced National Pana- pened in the Asean region in the 1980s
sonic, Suzuki and Toshiba to Nepal, im- can happen in Nepal in five years.
porting these brands from Japan alongHis earlier stint in Parliament from
side the textiles for his family business.
2008 to last year was with the CommuThe three months he would spend nist Party of Nepal. With elections due
every year in Japan was also a time to in November, Mr Chaudhary wants to
learn the tricks of the trade by observa- jump into the fray to serve his country.
tion.
That is the only wish that remains
Just then, a fledgling city state came unfulfilled, he said.
calling in the early 1970s. The young
country of Singapore was fast turning
rupsk@sph.com.sg
into an international trade hub, and Read more on Binod Chaudharys
was inviting entrepreneurs to set up success story on STAsia Report at:
businesses in the Republic.
http://www.stasiareport.com
MONEY BRIEFS
G-20 to target tech
giants tax avoidance
Berlin Western governments
are set to target tax loopholes
used by technology giants,
including Apple and Amazon,
as part of an international drive
to tackle corporate tax
avoidance, a draft action plan
seen by Reuters said.
The Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) has been
charged by the Group of 20
(G-20) with formulating
measures to stop big companies
from shifting profits into tax
havens. It is due to present an
action plan to a G-20 meeting
later this month.
Reuters
China, Switzerland
ink landmark FTA
Beijing China and
Switzerland signed a free trade
agreement (FTA) Beijings first
in continental Europe amid
trade tensions between the
Asian giant and the European
Union (EU).
The FTA aims to increase the
US$26.3 billion (S$34 billion) in
bilateral trade recorded last year.
In April, China signed its
first FTA with a European
country non-EU member
Iceland.
AFP
Poland unlikely to
adopt euro for years
Warsaw Poland will not be
able to join the euro zone for
possibly another decade because
the government lacks a
sufficient majority to approve
the changes needed to its
Constitution, Prime Minister
Donald Tusk said.
In an interview yesterday in
daily Gazeta Wyborcza, Mr Tusk
said there would not be enough
pro-euro deputies in Parliament
to back its adoption, even in the
chambers next term.
Reuters
28
thesundaytimes July 7 2013
invest 29
INSIDE INVEST
Hit your target

net worth early
Starting early allows you more time to save and more room to take risks
ing or fresh to the working world.
Here are some basic steps to remember on the way.
Jonathan Kwok
PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
NTU undergrad Tay Bo Yi carries little cash in his wallet because he prefers the convenience of cards. He signed
up for debit cards because of the promotions they offer, such as dining privileges, and some give cash rebates.
$100,000 BY 30?
IT CAN BE DONE
START SMALL,
LEARN THE ROPES
PLASTIC HAS
ITS PRIVILEGES
Think saving $100,000 by 30 is

an impossible dream? Jonathan
Kwok works out the sums to
show that a graduate earning
$3,000 a month can do just
that and even more.
See >>Page 32
Full-time investor Ang Hao Yao

(below) says that
$5,000 is a good
sum to start with
when investing in
stocks.
See >>Page 30
Undergraduate Tay Bo Yi is
familiar with credit cards but
that isnt because he is charging
thousands of dollars on them
every month. He uses them to
chalk up points for rewards and
rebates.
See >>Page 36&37
Not many students have a

grown-up approach to investing
having enough cash for next
weeks party is the main priority
but undergraduate Liyann Seet sees
it differently.
Ms Seet, 22, has personal finances that already resemble someone
who has been working for a few
years.
The Singapore Management University finance student has a
five-figure stock portfolio thanks to
cash she has squirreled away from
internships, Internet businesses
and modelling since she was 16.
Along the way she developed
positive money habits, such as carefully watching her spending and
having an emergency fund of cash
in case something untoward happens. And her share investments
are paying off, returning 40 per
cent since she started buying two
years ago.
Ms Seet, who starts work later
this year, hopes to treble her stock
portfolio by the time she is 25. She
declined to reveal the exact figures
of her portfolio.
In terms of my future financial
planning, my goal is to set aside
half of my pay for my stock trust account. This account will be used to
invest in stocks, she said.
Like Ms Seet, many young people may have dreams of hitting a
certain net worth within a few
years, whether they are still study-
adds.
When other commitments
come in, like car or mortgage repayments, young children or aged parents, the savings rate can then drop
Limit your spending
to 20 per cent.
Mr Christopher
Many young peoTan, chief executive
ple focus on getof financial advisory
ting as much infirm Providend, procome as possible
5 BUILDING
vided a less ambieither from a job
BLOCKS
tious saving target:
or starting their
People with commitown business
Limit spending
ments like a house
and there is no
It wont matter
and children can
doubt that earnhow much you earn if
aim to save at least
ings play a big part
you constantly spend
10 per cent.
in the path to fimore than you make
It may also be a
nancial success.
Get medical
good idea to open a
But earning
insurance
separate account for
$10,000 a month
Make sure you can be
your savings, says
would mean nothresponsible for your
Ms Tok Geok Peng,
ing for your financown medical expenses
DBS Banks senior
es if you splurge
vice president for
every single cent.
Watch your debt
consumer deposits.
So it is imperative
Make a distinction
to develop the habbetween good debt
Get medical
it of prudence
and bad debt
from the get-go
insurance
Have an
to spend less than
emergency fund
what you earn.
Health insurance,
Have at least six
Advisers say
otherwise known as
months of income
that young people
medical coverage, is
before
investing
with minimal fithe most important
nancial commitStart
insurance that everyments should save
investing
one should start off
at least 20 per cent
With the above four
with, say financial
of their income.
building blocks in
advisers.
Ms Salena Kanaplace, you can now
This helps cover
san, senior finanharness your excess
medical costs
cial services mansavings for higher
which can be
ager at AXA Life Inreturns
sky-high in Singasurance Singapore,
pore in the event
said they can aim
of a serious illness.
even higher, to
We can save a
save at least 50 of their income.
lot of our income, but without inWhen they settle down, when surance, we can spend all of that
they have a wedding and a house,
they will need the money, she TURN TO PAGE 30
1
2
3
4
5
30
invest
Figure out your

finances and expenses
FROM PAGE 29
very quickly with just one illness, says Ms Kanasan.
Its even worse if we have to stop working and stay at
home [after the illness].
Having taken money from their parents for over two
decades, most young graduates would want to be financially independent.
You wont ever want to turn back to them and say
sorry mum, Im sick now, can you pay my bills, says Ms
Kanasan.
Mr Tan adds that medical insurance is all [the cover]
you need if you have no dependents.
If you are going to pass on, nobody is going to miss
you financially. You need to at least make sure that you
can be responsible for your medical expenses if you are unwell.
Watch your debt

Debt and sky-high interest repayments can wreck your financial plans so you should always keep an eye on it.
You also need to make a distinction between good debt
like business or study loans that can reap investment returns in future and bad debt like a new TV that does not.
While paying off a debt is a priority so as to reduce fees
or interest, you should still save some money during the repayment period.
For instance, if one has 20 per cent left (of income) after deducting monthly expenses, 15 per cent can go towards the repayment of the debt with the other 5 per cent
being saved, says Ms Tok from DBS.
The savings will come in handy on a rainy day.
To prevent the debt from getting worse, debit cards can
help maintain financial discipline, adds Ms Tok. Unlike
credit cards, debit cards prevent you from spending more
than what you have.
Have an emergency fund

It is also prudent to set up an emergency fund that can
be easily accessed in case you lose your job or face other
out-of-the-blue events.
Once you start investing you may not be able to offload
your stocks easily or may have to take a large loss on the
sale.
Mr Vasu Menon, vice-president for wealth management
Singapore at OCBC Bank, recommends setting aside six to
12 months of your monthly expenses in the emergency
fund, while American financial adviser and television host
Suze Orman suggests at least eight months of expenses.
Mr Menon said: If you lose your job, the cash can help
you to meet your monthly expenses until you find a new
job, which may take as long as six months or even more.
Ms Tok advocates calculating the emergency fund in
terms of monthly salary - her advice is to have six months
of income before exploring ways to invest excess savings
and generate higher returns.
Start your investment journey
Setting aside cash for stocks

In terms of my future financial planning,
my goal is to set aside half of my pay for my
stock trust account. This account will be
used to invest in stocks.
MS LIYANN SEET, who already has a five-figure stock portfolio thanks to
cash she has squirreled away from internships, Internet businesses
and modelling since she was 16
With all these building blocks in place you can now start
investing.
This essentially involves harnessing your savings or excess money to work to generate more cash.
Property and stocks are the most common investment
classes in Singapore but a private condominium unit can
cost upwards of $1 million. So, most young people start
with shares, which can be had for as little as a few hundred
dollars. The stock market has a wide selection of large
counters called blue chips to medium-sized and smaller
companies.
For young people with a good risk appetite and starting out, they probably can afford to take a long term view
of their investments and so they can afford to invest in riskier products with good long term fundamentals, says Mr
Menon.
In this regard, it makes sense for younger people to put
their savings to harder work to build up their wealth instead of stashing most of their savings away into bank deposits.
Of course, investing in any stock comes with risk, and
you may at some points find your investments in the red.
You can choose to spread out your investments over a
basket of shares, so that the portfolio will not be overly affected if one individual stock does badly.
After the building blocks such as medical insurance and
the emergency fund are in place, investments will allow
your spare cash to grow and finances to take flight. Just ask
Ms Seet.
jonkwok@sph.com.sg
Ability matters more than capital when you invest, says former trader Ang,
who now devotes his energies to monitoring the companies in his portfolio.
Develop your
competency first
Full-time investor Ang Hao Yao was
formerly a trader but now devotes
his energies to monitoring corporate developments of the companies in his portfolio.
He holds a Chartered Financial
Analyst certification.
Mr Ang, 41 next month, is also a
corporate governance committee
member at the retail investors
watchdog body, the Singapore Investors Association of Singapore.
Here he shares tips on how
young investors can take their first
investing steps.
Q: How did you get started?
As a young boy watching my father
go through his stock portfolio on
weekends piqued my interest in
stocks. He invested based on the
fundamentals of a company and he
mainly bought blue chips. I must
have been quite young then since
by Secondary 1, I remember discussing stocks with my school teacher.
My actual first purchase of shares
was right after I turned 21. At that
time I was working at my first job
as an investment analyst in a stockbroking company.
Q: How much money do I need
to start?
You could probably start off with
$5,000 which could be diversified
into at least three different low
priced stocks. If the starting capital
were much lower than that, a large
proportion of your capital and returns could be eroded by transaction costs and it would be difficult
for you to make any headway.
I believe it is not the amount of

capital that you start off with that
counts, it is your ability that matters. If you are experienced and skilful, you can turn the five thousand
dollars into a million dollars. If
youre not competent, even if you
were to start off with a million dollars, you could reduce it into five
thousand dollars.
Q: What's the first thing any
young investor should do or
remember?
Investing can be a long, enjoyable
and fruitful journey. Do not rush into investing. Take your time to read
books on finance, on investing history and on famous investors, keep
up to date on developments in the
different industries locally and internationally, and talk to as many
experienced investors as you can.
In other words, build up your
competency and learn from the experience of others.
Q: What was one mistake you
made when you first started
investing?
I started investing in 1993 just as
the bull market then was reaching
its peak. So when the correction
came, I had almost all my portfolio
in stocks. Luckily though they were
in pretty solid companies and having just started in investing, I
didnt have much to lose.
The lesson I learnt: Not to load
up heavily when stocks have already been on a long rally as the
risk of a correction would be very
high by then.
stinvest@sph.com.sg
31
32
invest
[ young & savvy ]
Is it possible
to have
$100k by 30?
How it works out
Yes, but not without

some pain those
earning a median pay
will have to save 50
per cent of their salary
Saving 50% of income
Jonathan Kwok
Ill never get rich, a friend exclaimed recently during a casual
catch-up.
I earn so little and I dont think
Ill ever get $1 million. Heck, even
$100,000 seems far off for now, he
lamented.
I was caught by surprise at his
outburst, but decided to ask just
how much he earned.
It turned out his income was
more than $3,000 a month pretty
decent for a fresh graduate in the
first few years of his working life.
My friend was probably just despondent that like most of us
his earnings fall far short of what
the investment bankers of this
world get.
A fresh graduate in that rarefied
field can earn more than $9,000 a
month, I am told.
But is it true, as my friend frets,
that it is impossible to get ahead financially, on a regular salary?
I decided to investigate this
claim, taking as my starting point
the question of whether a fresh
graduate can reasonably expect his
savings and investments to chalk
up to that nice round figure of
$100,000 within six years of work.
These calculations were for a
male starting work at the age of 25
after two years of national service
and four years of university, and

who was hoping to hit the target by
age 30.
For the sake of the exercise, the
starting pay was taken as $3,050
the median salary for a fresh university graduate last year, meaning
that half of them earned at least
that. The graduate was assumed to
get a 4.5 per cent pay rise yearly,
and 15 months of salary a year including the 13th month plus two
months of bonus.
He was then taken to save 20 per
cent of his take-home pay, after
Central Provident Fund contributions. This is the minimum savings
target for young adults without
large financial commitments, say financial advisers.
The graduate would have two options in dealing with his savings.
First, he could put them all in the
bank at almost zero interest rates,
as has been the case for the past five
years since the financial crisis.
Or he could save 40 per cent for
a rainy day, and take some risks by
investing 60 per cent in the stock
market, where he may expect a yearly return of about 6 per cent the
average annual return of the Straits
Times Index over the past 10 years.
About $50k by 30
The number crunching showed
that the graduate would have accumulated only about $49,000 by the
age of 30 if he chose to put all his
savings in a bank.
Even if he chose to invest 60 per
cent of the savings in stocks, the 6
per cent annual return would give
him only $53,700 in total wealth
by the age of 30.
That is well short of six figures,
Saving 20% of income

Age
Monthly
salary
Annual
take home
Annual
expenditure
Annual
savings
Pure
savings
Total savings,
since age 25
25
26
27
28
29
30
$3,050
$3,187.25
$3,330.68
$3,480.56
$3,637.18
$3,800.85
$36,600
$38,247
$39,968
$41,767
$43,646
$45,610
$29,280
$30,598
$31,974
$33,413
$34,917
$36,488
$7,320
$7,649
$7,994
$8,353
$8,729
$9,122
$7,320
$14,969
$22,963
$31,316
$40,046
$49,168
$7,320
$15,233
$23,781
$33,010
$42,969
$53,708
$18,300
$19,124
$19,984
$20,883
$21,823
$22,805
$18,300
$19,124
$19,984
$20,883
$21,823
$22,805
$18,300
$37,424
$57,408
$78,291
$100,114
$122,919
$18,300
$38,082
$59,453
$82,526
$107,422
$134,269
25
26
27
28
29
30
$3,050
$3,187.25
$3,330.68
$3,480.56
$3,637.18
$3,800.85
$36,600
$38,247
$39,968
$41,767
$43,646
$45,610
Assumptions:
Starts off with no debt, such as study loans.
Starting salary is $3,050 a month.
15 months of salary a year (with 13th
month plus 2 months of bonus).
Annual Take Home refers to take-home
pay, after 20% CPF contribution. Spending,
Saving 40% and

investing 60%
Total from saving and
investing, since age 25
saving and investments are from take home

income.
Pay rise is 4.5% every year.
The rate of return for investments is 6% a
year. Investors will save 40% while investing
60% of their cash.
Source:
Sunday Times
calculations
ST GRAPHICS
Slow gain
Its not easy to consistently make double-digit
(percentage) gains especially in the current new
investment paradigm, where the world economy is
still reeling from the fracture suffered due to the
global financial crisis.
MR VASU MENON, OCBC vice-president for wealth management, Singapore
but financial advisory firm Providends chief executive Christopher

Tan says the achievement would
still be nothing to be sniffed at.
For an average person earning
$3,000 to $4,000 a month, to have
$50,000 by the age of 30 would be
quite good, he said.
Save more to get another $50k
Still, the $100,000 is not necessarily
an elusive goal within those first
years of working life.
But getting there involves some
pain, and the key is to save far more

than 20 per cent. In fact, you can
try to save at least 50 per cent of
your take-home pay, as recommended by advisers such as AXA
Life Insurance Singapores Ms Salena Kanasan.
With some effort, young people
can achieve this, especially if they
do not have heavy commitments
such as study loans, mortgages or
young children.
They also save on rental if they
live with their parents, and it is an
extra plus if their parents do not

need their financial support.
If a graduate can keep to the 50
per cent rule, that makes all the difference. He would be able to get almost $123,000 in pure savings by
the age of 30, easily surpassing the
six-figure target.
Investing a portion in the stock
market could give him about
$134,000 in savings and stocks.
Lesson learned
So to my gloomy friend, I can say
he does not need to earn a bankers
salary to squirrel away $100,000.
An average graduates salary will
do. The key lies in consistent, careful saving.
You may find it difficult to land
a job with significantly higher pay
but controlling spending is definitely within your control.
And saving a small nest egg early
on can provide the much-needed
capital to start your investing journey.

If your savings rate is low, investments will be of limited help, especially as it is becoming harder to get
high returns from the stock market
while keeping risk under control.
Its not easy to consistently
make double-digit (percentage)
gains especially in the current new
investment paradigm, where the
world economy is still reeling from
the fracture suffered due to the global financial crisis, said Mr Vasu
Menon, vice-president for wealth
management, Singapore, at OCBC
Bank.
The example above shows that
the 20 per cent saver would fall well
short of the $100,000 target, even if
he invested a portion of his money
in stocks.
But he would be easily able to
surpass $100,000 if he becomes
more frugal and saves 50 per cent
of income. Investments will then
provide the icing on the cake.
It may come as a culture shock
to those not used to watching their
spending to suddenly have a daily
budget. But saving half of your income need not entail a diet of instant noodles and plain water.
On a starting pay of $3,050 a
month, a fresh graduate would still
have about $980 to spend monthly. This is after accounting for CPF
contributions, saving half of his
take-home pay, and giving another
10 per cent to his parents.
That is more than $32 a day.
Such a budget would mean very
few taxi rides, meals at restaurants
or nights out at a club.
But Singapore has an extensive
public transport system, excellent
hawker food and free entertainment in the form of parks and exercise corners. These can easily substitute for more expensive options.
Importantly, the first few years
after graduation are the best years
to accumulate wealth.
Friends who have started their
own families tell me it is nigh on
impossible to save more than 20
per cent of salary, with high household expenses from electricity to
even toilet paper and additional
costs, when they have children.
Before you get hit by all these expenses, it is best to start living simply and paving the path for future
financial success.
jonkwok@sph.com.sg
invest 33
London developer updates

investors here in person
Top executive flies in to let buyers of Fitzroy Place know how the project is doing
Rachel Scully
How often does a foreign property
developer fly down to update you
on your overseas investment?
Exemplar, a Britain-based property developer, is believed to be the

first one to do so here for buyers of
Fitzroy Place in Central London.
The 999-year leasehold project
in the city of Westminster is a
five-minute walk from Oxford
Street. It offers penthouses, one-,
two-, three- and four-bedder units.
These are priced between 900,000
(S$1.7 million) and 14 million.
Over 90 per cent of the units
have been sold, totalling several

hundred million pounds.
Exemplar development director
Richard Shaw was present at the
two exhibitions and launches held
in Singapore in May and November
last year.
He was back in town two weeks
ago with the projects marketing
agents CBRE and Savills for a
two-day visit to inform buyers on
how the project is doing.
This includes a time-lapse video

available online showing how the
property is being built.
Mr Shaw had also examined the
finishings and quality of a prototype unit in London as it would
paint a more realistic picture than
that of a showflat.
Buyers were given a brochure
which showed pictures of the unit
Mr Shaw had inspected.
When asked if Exemplar came
Mr Shaw said the bulk of buyers from

Singapore were in their late 40s and
early 50s, buying apartments for their
children to be schooled there.
up with this slew of additional services to edge out its competitors because of the growing supply of London properties, Mr Shaw disagreed.
As this is Exemplars first foray
into residential property of this
scale in prime Central London, we
were marketing Fitzroy Place as a
brand and wanted to give buyers
that assurance and comfort since
they are putting a fair bit of money
with us, he said.
Besides, there is a shortage of
homes in Central London.
Singapore buyers made up 20
per cent of those who bought a
unit at Fitzroy Place. Mr Shaw said
that the bulk of them were in their
late 40s and early 50s, buying apartments for their children to be
schooled there.
The project is expected to be
completed by the fourth quarter of
next year.
rjscully@sph.com.sg
34
invest
How do
yu
keep
fit?
Wher
e
you avrer
e
Spending trap
Singapore is one of the
worlds most expensive
cities to live in, making
it easy to fall into the
trap of spending more
on short-term lifestyle
luxuries, the abundance
of nearby travel
temptations and the
commitment of
returning home to visit
family.
MR NEAL ARMSTRONG, Standard Life
Singapores chief executive, on the
results of the study
Foreign tourists chatting as a surfer

hits the waves at Kuta Beach in Bali,
Indonesia.
PHOTO: AFP
European
expats
favour
travel over
retirement
saving
More than a fifth do not save for
retirement despite having more
disposable income here: Survey
Rachael Boon
For some British and other European expatriates living here, going on holiday now seems to be more important than saving for retirement.
A recent survey by Standard Life, a long-term savings and investments company, has found that more
than a fifth do not save anything for retirement.
This is despite better salaries (85 per cent), more
disposable income (78 per cent) and more savings (73
per cent) than they enjoyed prior to arriving in Singapore.
The survey also found that 83 per cent keep aside
up to 20 per cent of their monthly salary for vacation
and travel purposes, and 67 per cent of respondents
save up to 20 per cent for short-term lifestyle and leisure habits. More than a third do not make a conscious effort to save anything on a regular basis.
Ms Emily Carrick, 29, client director of a branding
agency, has been working in Singapore for nine
months and loves to travel. She said: I travel once or
twice a month on a personal basis, and return
to the UK about twice a
year and use my credit
WHERE THEIR
card for travel-related
MONEY GOES
expenses.
However, the British
expatriate does save
about 10 per cent of
set aside up to 20
her monthly salary for
per cent of monthly
retirement, for examsalary for vacations
ple, in a private pension fund here and in
an account in Britain.
The other 90 per
save up to 20 per
cent is used mostly for
cent for lifestyle and
rent, travel and social
leisure habits
activities here, and
with an expected increase of disposable income the longer she
works, she plans to
do not make a
save more for her retireconscious effort to
ment in future.
save anything on a
Standard Life Singaregular basis
pores chief executive
Neal Armstrong said of
the findings: At first
glance, the results of our survey are promising and
show that respondents are taking a step in the right
direction by saving more. However, as recently reported, Singapore is one of the worlds most expensive cities to live in, making it easy to fall into the trap of
spending more on short-term lifestyle luxuries, the
abundance of nearby travel temptations and the commitment of returning home to visit family.
This certainly seems to be the case for nearly a
quarter of respondents who prioritise lifestyle choices
over planning for their future.
The rising cost of living in Singapore is also felt by
parents, with more than 10 per cent of the respondents spending more than 30 per cent of their monthly income on school fees.
Mr James Buck, 35, a director at a shipbroking company, is feeling the heat already, having to fork out
$900 a month for day care for his three-year-old
daughter.
The British expat, who has been in Singapore for
six years, said: When my wife and I came out here,
we didnt know wed be staying long enough to have
children and to put them in school here.
Married with two children, he is planning to move
back to London in five years and retire there, and his
priorities have shifted from saving for retirement to
his childrens post-primary education needs.
He said: Ive been saving my annual bonuses for a
deposit for a house when we move back, but we may
have to use some of that in the near future.
The poll was conducted online, surveying 150 British and other European expats living and working
here, over two weeks in April.
83%
67%
>33%
rachaelb@sph.com.sg
CLICK IT
Just tap on My Tip-Off on
if there are things you
want to share!
35
36
invest
[ me &
my money ]
invest 37
Undergrad saver believes

in the power of plastic
Convenience, perks of credit cards
help 23-year-old with his online
business, keep track of spending
Rachael Boon
Undergraduate Tay Bo Yi carries little cash in his wallet
as he prefers the convenience of cards.
The Nanyang Business School undergraduate toggles
between his debit and credit cards, to maximise his credit for the month.
Due to his heavy card usage, his pocket is full of
online bank tokens six to be exact so that he can
check his balances.
But Mr Tay, 23, is no big spender. At the age of 14, he
already understood the idea of locking up his savings in
a dedicated bank account, and having a separate one
for expenditure.
The young saver, who lives in an HDB flat in Jurong,
is largely influenced by his civil servant father who

often gives him advice on money matters.
With his preference for credit cards, the marketing
major who runs a small online business wants to learn
more about how they work.
I am interested in joining a bank and marketing
credit cards. The use of credit cards is a win-win situation for banks, but not for merchants.
Why is it that you use a card and you can get 10 per
cent off spending, but dont when you use cash? I want
to find out the mechanism behind this, and how banks
make money from credit cards.
Q: Cash or cards?
I like to use cards. A lot of my friends are cautious about
getting cards because they are worried about overspending. My dad said: Just be responsible for what you
spend.
I signed up for debit cards because of the promotions
they offer, such as dining privileges, and some give cash
rebates.
Even though its not a lot, if you accumulate your

spending in one card, and they offer a 1 or 2 per cent
rebate, every month, you could get $10 to $20 in
rebates, which is better than nothing.
Q: How many cards do you have and how much do
you spend a month?
I have four student credit cards, each with a credit limit
of $500, which translates to up to $2,000 in unsecured
loans. A cardholder can get up to 55 days of grace period for repayment.
I have Maybank and Citibank credit cards. I used to
have banking accounts with them.
I signed up for cards from the three local banks for
the convenience and card promotions. My Standard
Chartered bank token is interesting as it comes in the
form of a card.
I have six bank tokens. At one point, I even had one
from the State Bank of India.
I use my credit cards a lot, to buy goods online for
my business.
I charge about $200 to $300 every two weeks. In

one month, I can spend about $1,000 to $2,000.
Because every transaction is recorded, you can see
what youre spending on each month.
Q: How do you manage your money with all the
various cards and accounts?
Since the credit cards have different payment dates, I
just switch among them. So if one payment is due in
55 days from the middle of a month, I dont have to
pay it immediately and can instead choose to pay for
something else first. If I have some credit for one
month, I will adjust my payment accordingly.
I also like instalments. If I pay for a $400 mobile
phone by monthly instalments, at least I feel that Im
getting value for what Im paying for each month.
Q: Describe your money management style.
I have a CIMB Bank account. Since CIMB doesnt
have ATMs islandwide, which makes it inconvenient
for me to withdraw cash, I park all my savings there.
Its like long-term savings to me, especially when I
need to repay my student loan in a few years time.
I have some money from an insurance policy, one
endowment plan, and a fixed deposit that provides
insurance.
I also buy shares online through Standard Chartered. It costs about $2 a transaction, compared with
$25 a transaction charged by other brokers. I have
invested about $3,000 to $4,000 in shares which I
plan to sell at the right time.
Q: Tell us more about your business.
I sell phone screen protectors online which I consider
a low-risk, low-returns business. I initially invested
only $10 but slowly accumulated more stock over
time. I have earned about $15,000 in three years and
saved all of that.
Q: Moneywise, what were your growing-up years
like?
My dad has always been telling me to save, invest and
be prepared for the future. I once wanted to buy a
Game Boy gadget when I was in primary school.
Instead of buying one for me upfront, he gave me
a container and would drop in $5 every day.
He said: You can buy it when the money hits the
amount that the Game Boy costs, and if you do well
WORST AND BEST BETS

Q: What is your worst investment to date?
When I bought my first unit trust a few years
ago, I wasnt ready. The transaction fees were
quite high.
I bought a Europe-linked unit trust, but
didnt expect things to get so bad. I sold it and
lost about 5 per cent, but its not much.
Q: What is your best investment to date?
My business. Its partly because of the way my
dad taught me to find value in everything.
If other people cant find value in
something, but you can find it for them, you
can make money. Theres always this
entrepreneurial spirit in me. I like interacting
with people, to have a shop to call my own.
Nanyang Business School marketing major Tay Bo Yi runs a small online business selling phone screen protectors. He
says he has earned about $15,000 in three years and has saved all of that.
for your exams, Ill put in a bit more.

Its always been about saving up for the things you
want to buy or really need, and not impulse spending.
Q: What advice has he given you?
When I have money, buy property, dont buy a car. A
car depreciates but property will keep appreciating, at
least in Singapore. You may even get passive income.
Q: What do you invest in?
Ive been focusing on real estate investment trusts,
which pay out dividends every quarter. If I buy one
lot for $2,000, every quarter I get a bit of money, say
$10 to $20. I can get more money from the payout in
a year than from bank interest.

Ive always taken note of initial public offerings,
because if you manage to be allotted even just one lot,
you may be able to make around 20 per cent profit if
you sell it later.
Q: Whats the most extravagant thing you have
bought?
A MacBook Air for $1,200, which I paid for by credit
card to get the 2 per cent cash rebate. It was my first
Apple product.
I dont usually buy premium products. I could
have bought another brand for less, but I wanted
something different and I dont regret it.
rachaelb@sph.com.sg
think
38
[ EDITORIAL ]
Waste not, want not
lame it on the buffet syndrome. The

amount of food waste in Singapore hit a
record high last year as 703,200 tonnes was
generated a 26 per cent spike from the
558,900 tonnes produced in 2007. People
generally order more food than they can eat
in restaurants, coffee shops or foodcourts.
At buffets, they take more food than they can finish, piling
up their plates with every dish that is on the buffet table.
Restaurants should, as a rule, charge diners for food taken
and not consumed. Some already do it, but it must be an

industry-wide practice so that people learn to take only
what they can finish.
Also common is the practice of providing a lavish spread
for corporate functions such as an annual general meeting,
when serving drinks will do. Even departmental-level
meetings within organisations serve sandwiches and snacks
when all participants want is to get through the meeting
and clear out of the room. Restaurants should work with
non-governmental groups to deliver leftover or day-old
food to welfare homes. At present there is at least one such

group, Food From The Heart, which ensures that unsold
bread and pastries previously thrown away by bakeries go
instead to the less fortunate. There should be more such
groups and the food should not just be restricted to bread.
On a global scale, almost as much as half of the food
produced in the world equivalent to two billion tonnes
ends up as waste every year, according to a report
published this year by Britains Institution of Mechanical
Engineers. Up to half of the food that is bought in Europe
and the United States is thrown away by consumers. With
a projected three billion more people to feed by the end of
the century, the challenge is a growing one. Governments,
development agencies and organisations like the United
Nations should work together to help change peoples
mindset on waste and discourage wasteful practices.
PHOTO: SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
The Lidar images show that Mahendraparvata occupied an area of at least 35 sq km and had an estimated population of 75,000. It existed in the 8th and 9th century, hundreds of years before Angkor Wat (above).
Unearthing a lost Cambodian city

With tech help, team
maps 1,200-year-old
hidden metropolis in
ground-breaking find
Jonathan Pearlman
For The Sunday Times
In Sydney
uring his daily motorbike ride to explore a remote densely forested

mountain temple site
in Cambodia, French archaeologist Jean-Baptiste Chevance
frequently noticed strange little
ridges and mounds along the roadside.
Naturally curious, he wondered
about the significance of these odd
man-made features and whether
they might somehow be connected
to the hilltop temples he had been
exploring for more than a decade
in the Phnom Kulen mountains in
Siem Reap province. He had little
idea that they would lead him and
a team of international archaeologists to make one of the most remarkable discoveries in modern archaeology the lost ancient city
of Mahendraparvata.
Using a technology known as
Lidar, which fires pulses from an aircraft to the ground, the researchers
were able to create a three-dimensional map of what lay behind the
regions thick canopy of impenetrable forest.
The results, said Dr Chevance,
director of the London-based Archaeology and Development Foundation, were astounding. The maps
showed that the small bumps he
rode past each day were part of a
sprawling network of highly organised ancient roads and settlements
that were 1,200 years old.
I could not believe it we were
given the map of an ancient city,
he told The Sunday Times.
We knew there were religious
sites but what we discovered was
that there was a whole urban system a very organised city which
had been hidden by the deep for-
est. It was a huge step into the

knowledge of this area.
The researchers had confirmed
what had long been suspected: The
cluster of 30-odd temple ruins
across Phnom Kulen was actually
part of an ancient metropolis, the
founding capital of the Khmer Empire known from inscriptions to be
called Mahendraparvata.
The Lidar images show that Mahendraparvata occupied an area of
at least 35 sq km, with an estimated
population of 75,000.
The city existed in the 8th and
9th century, hundreds of years before Angkor Wat, the famous Hindu temple site 40km away which attracts more than two million visitors a year.
Dr Chevance, who has worked
in Cambodia since 1999, had no
doubt that it was the biggest discovery of my career.
We had actually been crossing
the city for years without knowing
it, he said. There were small
bumps, small dikes, small holes in
the forest. Suddenly, we realised
that a road we crossed every day
was a major ancient highway that
was 60m wide and 8km long. We
just didnt believe it.
The images of the cityscape were
produced following an aerial survey in April last year, which used
helicopters flying 800m above the
ground over thickly forested areas.
The aircraft were equipped with a
Lidar scanner to transmit millions
of laser pulses which rebound and
beam back; computer software
then converts the data into maps.
An eight-member consortium,
including the Cambodian governments Apsara the Authority for
Protection and Management of
Angkor and the Region of Siem
Reap conducted the project and
shared the US$250,000 (S$320,000)
cost. The survey enabled the creation of highly detailed topographical maps, including landmarks
such as roads, canals, ponds and
mounds.
The archaeologists have been
conducting field trips to verify the
ancient features. They also published their initial findings last
month in the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences of
the United States.
But the survey did not merely expose the city at Phnom Kulen. The
Lidar was used to map two other areas, around Angkor in Siem Reap
and Koh Ker, a city north-east of
Angkor. The results, say researchers, are no less ground-breaking.
Veteran archaeologist Roland
Fletcher, from Sydney University,
has spent years trawling through
jungle canopies across the Angkor
region and had long proposed the
radical theory that the famous tem-
THAILAND
CAMBODIA
Siem
Reap
Phnom Kulen
Angkor Wat
CAMBODIA
Phnom
Penh
Gulf of
Thailand
VIETNAM
GRAPHICS ADAPTED FROM NATIONAL POST
PHOTO: FAIRFAX SYNDICATION
Archaeologist Jean-Baptiste Chevance (right) with other team members in Cambodia. Dr Chevance, who has worked in
Cambodia since 1999, says finding the Mahendraparvata city complex was the biggest discovery of my career.
SOPHISTICATED METROPOLIS BIGGER THAN SPORE

The 900-year-old Angkor Wat
temple in Cambodia is one of
the worlds most famous
archaeological sites and the
best-known remnant of the
Khmer civilisation, which for
hundreds of years controlled
the most powerful empire in
South-east Asia.
But it has emerged in recent
years that the massive temple
complex, built in the early
1100s and dedicated to Hindu
god Vishnu, was only the inner
core of the worlds biggest
pre-industrial city.
The famous complex with
its 65m central tower occupies
about 2 sq km, part of an urban
sprawl of about 1,000 sq km
that was home to 750,000
people. That would have made
it larger in size than all of
ple site was actually just a central

core of a larger city. When the images from the Lidar arrived on his laptop at his office in Siem Reap, they
demonstrated that the theory was
correct.
It was one of the most astonishing experiences of my life, Professor Fletcher told The Sunday Times.
It was amazing stuff things we
never imagined, levels of details we
modern Singapore, which has a

total area of about 714 sq km.
Angkor itself was
surrounded by other
metropolises including the
empires founding capital,
Mahendraparvata, established
by Jayavarman II in about
802. The Khmers are believed
to have thrived in part because
they were able to control
South-east Asia's seasonal
deluges with sophisticated
systems of canals and
reservoirs, linked to adjoining
settlements. The empires rulers
tended to build their own
temples in stone.
The area around Angkor
reveals the ruins of about 1,000
temples, some of which are
well-preserved while others are
piles of rubble in rice fields.
never expected. It was quite fantastic.

Angkor Wat is one of the worlds
most famous archaeological sites
and its discovery prompted the authorities to declare a heritage site
around it in the 1920s. As a result,
it is in the midst of heavy unkempt
forest, which concealed the fact
that the complex of temples was
surrounded by evidence of a mas-
But archaeologists are only

just beginning to uncover the
complex network of highways
that linked the temples and
sprawling suburbs and
settlements.
The Khmer economy relied
heavily on rice harvests and the
empire was Hindu until about
the thirteenth century when it
turned to Buddhism.
The empires collapse in the
15th century remains a mystery
but is believed to have been
caused by a combination of
drought and a failure to
maintain their waterworks and
engineering prowess.
Archaeologists have
speculated that Angkors large
sprawl and low-density may
have been hard to sustain and
ultimately led to its collapse.
sive city.
You would think we would
know the area well, but we dont
because it is densely forested, Prof
Fletcher said.
We knew there was stuff we
didnt know. What we didnt know
was how much we didnt know and
how spectacular it would be.
The new images have shown
that the greater city of Angkor
the worlds biggest pre-industrial

city was about a third bigger than
previously thought.
The famous temple complex,
said Prof Fletcher, was merely its
inner urban centre like Orchard
Road, relative to the whole of Singapore. What everybody visits
when they go to Angkor is basically
the CBD, he said.
The conceptual and theoretical
breakthrough from the Lidar was
that we now know what the central
area around Angkor looks like.
One of the great moments of
my life was seeing the central area
of Angkor come up and the city
grid go all the way through Angkor
Thom out beyond its eastern wall,
all the way across to the great reservoir and all the way to the north
side to a huge temple called Preah
Khan.
The archaeologists have said
that it will take years to fully chart
the cityscapes across the region, including fieldwork to establish the
age and nature of the sites on the
Lidar maps.
Another remaining question is
the implication for the preservation of the sites, which make up an
area that is far more extensive than
previously thought. Unesco, for instance, is expected to reconsider its
heritage listing for the region,
which does not include Phnom
Kulen.
Apsara, which was involved in
the Lidar expedition, has expressed
hope that the sites will be heritage-listed. But the authority will
have a big task in trying to ensure
that the regions relics and monuments are properly surveyed and
preserved.
A big concern will be for
Unesco and Apsara to work out
what to do with the collection,
said Prof Fletcher. That is going to
be a very, very big task.
jonathanmpearlman@
gmail.com
think 39
A taxi in
hand is
worth two
on the road
Quantity, mileage not
the problem; its about
being able to get a cab
when you need one
Chua Mui Hoong

Opinion Editor
got my driving licence in

1998, but continued happily
taking cabs and public transport for a few more years.
I finally gave up on cabs in
2003. I still recall the exact moment I swore to get my own car. It
was raining and I stood outside my
office building in Toa Payoh, struggling with my umbrella, my handbag and my heavy laptop bag, trying to flag a non-existent cab.
I bought a second-hand car
shortly after.
Ten years on, many commuters
are facing the same problem of getting cabs on rainy days and during
peak hours. Taxi availability returned to the news last week.
The Land Transport Authority
(LTA) decided to give taxi companies another six months till December to meet service standards that
require 70 per cent of cabs to ply
the roads during peak hours (7am

to 11am and 5pm to 11pm) and to
ensure that 70 per cent of a cab
companys fleet clock a minimum
daily mileage of 250km. The proportions go up from next year.
The LTAs standards are a good
first step towards tackling the persistent mismatch: commuters who
say they cant find cabs when they
need one, and drivers who spend
hours cruising empty.
This is surprising given that
there are 28,000 taxis run by seven
companies in Singapore. Cab numbers rose 47 per cent from 2003.
But taxi ridership has gone up only
16 per cent.
What this shows is that adding
more cabs alone will not solve Singapores taxi problem. Instead,
each cab already licensed must be
put to maximum, and more efficient, use.
The LTAs measures serve to increase only the quantity of cab
hours on the road, by requiring
cabs to chalk up a minimum mileage and ply during peak hours.
They do not increase the intensity of cab use during those plying
hours.
The difference is like a company
adding more workers to make a
product, and making the workers
work longer hours, rather than
looking at how to raise the productivity of each worker.
National Taxi Association advisor Ang Hin Kee says the LTAs
250km rule has led to cabbies complaining that they cruise empty at
night just to chalk up the miles.
Rather than use quantitative
standards with minimum hours
and mileage, the LTA can be a lot
more proactive in looking at ways
to raise the efficiency of cab usage
thaTs in memory of
a Mr tan. . .
He died while waiting
for a taxi
S T I L L U S T R AT I O N : A D A M L E E
Not a numbers game

Adding more cabs alone
will not solve
Singapores taxi
problem. Instead, each
cab already licensed
must be put to
maximum, and more
efficient use.
while they are on the road. The objective should be to increase their
chances of picking up more fares
rather than cruising empty.
This can be done in two ways.
L First, increase the churn, or the
number of trips a cab can make during each shift.
This can be done by helping taxis raise their throughput so that instead of, say, picking up two fares
and travelling 30km in an hour,
they can pick up three and travel
50km.
How might this be done?
Allow taxis to use bus lanes during peak hours.
This will allow taxis to travel faster so they can pick up and drop off
more fares during the crucial morning and evening peak hours to
meet the increased demand.
The LTAs position has been that
bus lanes are meant for buses. Allowing taxis may also slow down
buses, which carry dozens of passengers, whereas taxis carry only
one to four.
But other cities show bus lanes
can be shared.
In London, taxis, motorcyclists
and cyclists share bus lanes, mostly
amiably.
Vancouver is the most recent,
and successful example. It experimented with letting taxis use bus
lanes in March last year. Cabs can
travel but not stop in them. It
proved so successful that the city
council voted to make it permanent this May.
Studies suggest time saved for
routes downtown was 12 per cent
in the morning and 17 per cent in
the afternoon.
There were teething problems at
first, with many cabs stopping and
cutting off buses. But a strict penalty system suspension of driving
from four hours to five days, with
the suspensions immediately broadcast to all taxi drivers via their in-vehicle messaging systems curbed
such anti-social behaviour soon
enough in Vancouver.
L The second way to raise cab efficiency is to make sure every empty
cab on the road is matched to a
commuter nearby quickly.
How? Harness technology.
In fact, the technology already
exists. Cab companies like ComfortDelgro and SMRT have their own
apps. But its cumbersome having
to use a different app for each cab
company, when a commuter really
just wants a cab, any cab.
As the regulator, LTA has to play
a role to coordinate across different
vested interests to spur an industry-wide solution. Instead of fragmented apps, there should just be
One App To Rule Them All.
Conceptually, its not hard to
do. Taxi companies already track
cabs. Last year, the Institute of Infocomm Research (IIR) showcased its
Taxi Trajectory software at its TechFest. This makes use of cab companies data on where cabs are plying.
Matched with cellphone data, the
software can be used to dispatch
cabs to places with past and current
demand for cabs.
Cabbies fear no-shows with
booking systems: they may spend
10 minutes driving to a place to
pick up a fare who jumped into another cab that happened to come
along. A centralised system capable
of accepting feedback and rating
can create incentives for both passengers and drivers to behave.
Taxi companies have little reason to encourage such a system
that will let passengers bypass their
proprietary call booking system.
They will lose revenue as a result.
This is where LTA has to step in,
to work with tech partners and
commercial providers to spur the
development of one common system to match cabs to commuters.
This is good for passengers and cabbies, and reduces congestion in the
long term by reducing the demand
for ever more cabs and even cars.
If people are confident of getting a cab when they need one, and
know they can get to their destination in good time since cabs can bypass peak hour jams on bus and
taxi lanes, some car owners will
switch to taxis and public transport.
Perhaps, in 2023, when Im
struggling with umbrella, handbag
and walking frame, Ill be able to
summon the cab nearest to me
with nothing more than a wink at
my Google Glass.
muihoong@sph.com.sg
Master reading, maths early for a good start in life
Sandra Davie
Senior Education Correspondent
If you want to know which children will grow up to be the most
successful adults, look at their reading and mathematics scores at Primary 1, a recently published study
suggests.
The study, published in the highly regarded journal Psychological
Science, draws a strong link between early acquisition of language
and numeracy skills and achievements later on in life.
Researchers Stuart Ritchie and
Timothy Bates from the University
of Edinburgh in Scotland found
that a childs mathematics and reading scores at age seven are key indicators of socio-economic status in
adulthood.
They
established
this
connection using data from the National Child Development Study, a
large, nationally representative
study that tracked the progress of
more than 17,000 people born in
1958 in England, Scotland and
Wales for over half a century to the
present day.
Data was collected at several
points during the participants'
lives, including at ages seven, 11,
16, and 42.
Their families socio-economic
background, as well as their reading
and maths skills were recorded
when the participants were seven.
At age 11, their IQ was measured,
and at age 16, they were asked questions that elicited their views on
and attitude towards school or
work.
When participants were 42, researchers checked how long they
had attended school and their socio-economic status at that point
asking about their jobs, how much
money they made and the type of
home they lived in.
What the researchers found was
a strong correlation between reading and maths scores at age seven
and socio-economic status 35 years
later.
Reading made such a difference
that going up just one reading level
at age seven was associated with a
5,000 (S$9,600) increase in income at age 42.
The long-term associations held
even after the researchers took other common factors into account.
The researchers concluded that
basic childhood skills literacy and
numeracy proved important
throughout life, independent of
how smart you are, how long you
stay in school, or the social class
you started off in.
Achievement in mathematics
and reading was also significantly
associated with intelligence scores,
academic motivation and duration
of education.
The results have drawn the attention of educationists and policymakers in Britain, Europe and the
United States due to the size of the
study and the strong correlations
made.
The Edinburgh University study
provides strong backing to several
other smaller studies in the US and
Britain that show how success in later life is built up from a very early
age even before a child begins formal schooling.
Various studies in the US, for example, showed a marked contrast
in the range of vocabulary of children from different backgrounds at
age three and how that was directly
linked to achievement in school lat-
ST FILE PHOTO
Studies showing how success in later life is built up from a very early age affirms the Education Ministrys efforts to shore
up the mathematics and reading skills of primary and secondary school students who lag behind.
er.
What can Singapore educationists and policymakers take away
from the Edinburgh University
study and others that have similar
findings?
First, it affirms the Education
Ministrys efforts to provide learning support programmes to shore
up the mathematics and reading
skills of primary and secondary
school students who lag behind.
For several years, the programmes were offered at Primary 1
and 2 levels but earlier this year,
the ministry announced that those
struggling with mathematics and
English will get help to catch up
and build a strong learning foundation throughout their primary and
secondary school years.
They will also receive closer at-
THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH STUDY

L Tracked 17,000 people born
in 1958 from birth to the
present
L Collected data at several
points, including when
participants were seven, 11,
16, and 42.
At 11, IQ was measured
At 16, academic motivation
At 42, checked how long they
tention in small groups, through extra coaching by specially trained

teachers.
For children in pre-school, there
had attended school and their

socio-economic status
L Found strong correlation
between reading and maths
scores at age seven and
socio-economic status at 42
L Going up one reading level
at age seven was associated
with a 5,000 (S$9,600)
increase in income at age 42
is a programme to help those struggling with their reading at Kindergarten 2 level.

The NTUC, a major childcare op-
erator, also has in place a reading

programme for children from nursery years.
These efforts are a step in the
right direction.
While several studies support
the fact that achievement gaps start
early on, not many have attempted
to look at whether intervention or
remedial programmes can help
close the gap.
The ministrys own data suggests that the learning support programmes which used to be provided at Primary 1 and 2 did help level
up the maths and English skills of
children.
So while it is worthwhile continuing with such levelling up efforts,
the results must be studied to see
what more can be done.
Some recent research in the US,
for example, suggests that rather
than remedial maths or English programmes, it may be more useful to
develop skills like perseverance,
grit, optimism, conscientiousness
and self-control in children lagging
behind academically. Emerging research suggests that these qualities
also play a big part in determining
success in later life.
The results of the Edinburgh University study also make the case to
extend existing reading programmes to more kindergartens
and childcare centres and to start
them much earlier, when children
start nursery classes.
A big hurdle would be finding
pre-school educators who can do
reading intervention programmes.
One idea that might work is for
the authorities to look into running training programmes to nurture licensed literacy or reading specialists, as is done in the US.
No doubt all this will mean a big
commitment of money and resources.
But it will be well worth it if the
result of levelling the playing field
for disadvantaged children gets
them off to a good start in life.
sandra@sph.com.sg
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[ YOUR LETTERS ]
The great salary debate

In his commentary (Do Sporean workers deserve their
wages?) last Sunday, managing editor Han Fook Kwang
quoted a reader who wrote to him questioning the capabilities
of Singaporean workers and if they deserved the wages they
were paid. Some business owners both local and foreign
feel the same way as they think workers here lack drive and
skills, said Mr Han. And there are no quick fixes or easy solutions
Onus on
workers to
show hunger
to this issue, which will require fundamental changes both in

the economy and in the education and training of
Singaporeans. The article elicited more than 20 responses, with
some readers bemoaning Singaporean workers poor grasp of
English, their attitude and lack of thinking skills. Others said the
comparisons were unfair, and that workers here deserved to be
paid more. Here are some of the responses.
Janice Heng
ST FILE PHOTO
Defensive mindset must go

All concerned Singaporeans should
read and re-read managing editor
Han Fook Kwangs commentary.
Arising from the issue of our median income stagnating at $3,000
per month, the question is whether
this reflects the true worth of Singaporean workers vis-a-vis others.
The unique circumstances in Singapore peg our median income at
the current level. We count our
blessings and thank our far-sighted
leaders for the blissful state they
have brought us, but we need not
apologise for it.
However, the reader who responded to Mr Hans earlier commentary (When wages fail to grow
along with economy; June 16)
pointed out numerous hard truths
about Singaporean workers.
Issues that cannot be ignored

any longer include many local graduates inability to converse in good
English, lack of confidence to interact in group situations, poor reasoning and critical thinking skills, and
a reluctance to venture abroad, as
well as the fact that the average
worker here is not as well trained as
those in Japan and Germany.
I know these to be fair observations, having worked in two global
companies in the past 32 years.
I agree with Mr Han that there
are no quick fixes or easy solutions and it will require fundamental changes both in the economy and in the education and training of Singaporeans.
However, I would go further to
suggest that efforts should be made
now to change the defensive mindset of many Singaporeans from an

early age, both at home and in
school.
By being humble and accepting
that we have to learn to speak well,
interact better, think harder, learn
the job well and be adventurous in
our career choices, we will be taking a giant step forward in turning
us into a world-class workforce.
By defending the current system
and practices on the basis of flattering rankings that we have received
periodically, we will continue to
sell ourselves short.
Not only will our median income stagnate, but so will our intellect and job skills relative to our
neighbours and competitors.
Yeoh Teng Kwong
All have a part to play in increasing wages

There are three additional perspectives to consider.
First, the growth of our economy has benefited higher-income
workers, given our focus on the financial, high-tech and pharmaceutical sectors.
Our gross domestic product
(GDP) per capita increased by
67 per cent, from $38,865 in 2002
to $65,048 last year. Within the
same period, residents gross median monthly income grew slower,
by 46 per cent, from $2,380 to
$3,480.
Income inequality remains high
with our Gini coefficient at 0.45 to
0.48, and the top deciles resident
household income is four times
that of the middle decile. Therefore, we have to focus on growing
industries that also generate good
median wage jobs.
Second, the wage share of GDP
in Singapore has averaged a low
40 per cent for the past three decades, which is 10 to 15 per cent be-
hind that of developed economies.

This difference is due to our reliance on multinational corporations (MNCs) and higher-outputoriented industries, and also our
friendly business policies and sustained foreign labour inflow.
Business owners have obtained
more value from our economic
growth than workers. Therefore,
our unions must continue to ensure that workers earn their fair
share of the growing pie.
Third, even as MNC executives
complain about the poor attitude
and lack of skills of some Singaporean workers, we must remember
that there are many other Singaporeans who diligently contribute to
their businesses.
MNCs choose to be situated in
Singapore because of our strong
rule of law, competitive tax regime
and attractive and safe environment. Singaporeans contribute to
this safe, secure and stable society
through national service and taxes.
The Government is right to consider how to ensure that employers

give Singaporeans fair and just consideration for jobs.
We, as workers, must step up to
grow median wages, but the Government, unions and business owners must also play a part to ensure
that the increased efforts of Singaporean workers are justly rewarded.
Soon Sze Meng
READ THE COLUMN

Managing editor
HAN FOOK KWANGS
column last Sunday
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Poor standard of English a problem

Managing editor Han Fook Kwang
has aired a truth that political correctness and politeness have long
buried.
I run a tiny legal practice and for
a long time was shielded from the
harsh realities of the labour market
because I had an excellent legal secretary. Unfortunately, she relocated to Turkey with her husband.
Over the course of a year, I experimented with all types of hires,
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among them polytechnic graduates. They could not string one sentence together, let alone two. They
could neither reason nor organise
work flow. Some of them found it
impossible to make it to work on
time, or at all. And once trained,
they jumped ship the moment
they could.
I was, however, lucky enough to
get an intern, a National University
of Singapore business graduate,
through family connections. Her attitude and aptitude were excellent,
but she struggled with her English.
When I pointed out to her that
her sentence lacked a verb, she had
no clue what a verb was, or the
rules of sentence construction.
At a class reunion, one of my
former classmates, now a school
principal, told me ruefully that Singapore had lost two generations in
terms of English, as they were not
taught the rules of grammar.
Our education system needs yet
another revamp, and industry leaders need to be consulted.
Josephine Chong (Ms)
Not all jobs given

equal respect
If you ask me whether Singaporean
workers deserve a median monthly
wage of $3,000, given the value of
the work they put in, I would say
no. Our wages are being pushed
up artificially, mostly by the seniority-based wage system and a predetermined pay structure depending
on ones basic qualifications, experience and age.
A fresh graduate entering the
workforce would expect to be promoted every two to three years,
and be a manager within five years.
With so much prestige placed
on managerial posts, many have
missed out on the opportunity to
master skills and become an expert
in their respective fields.
Singapores work culture does
not accord equal status and respect
to every job. Maybe this is impossible to achieve in a society where
the segregation between the haves
and have-nots is too great to be resolved.
Francis Seah
Workers deserve
their pay and more
It is unfair to look at Singapores
median income of $3,000 in isolation and jump to the conclusion that Singaporean workers
do not deserve their wages.
Income and cost of living go
hand in hand. While $3,000
would be deemed sufficient in
Singapore, it would not be
enough for someone living in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Sydney,
Oslo and Melbourne.
Being the sixth most expensive city in the world, Singapore
should be compared with similarly ranked cities, and not lowcost cities like those in Malaysia,
the Philippines, India and China.
Singaporean workers not only deserve their wages, but also
need to be paid more.
It is wrong to compare a
city-state with a country with
many cities. Incomes of workers
in the five most expensive cities

are at least twice those of Singaporean workers, while their property and car prices are cheaper,
and they have comprehensive
social welfare systems.
The presence of 7,000 multinational corporations and foreign talent contributes considerably to our gross domestic product, but without the collective efforts of the critical mass of Singaporean workers, we could never
have achieved good growth.
Singapore may not excel in
many fields, but it has become
one of the worlds largest oil rig
builders, and our oil refineries,
airport, waterworks and powerhouses are manned by local engineers and technicians.
Singapore will slowly but surely learn to reach the next stage.
Paul Chan Poh Hoi
Cant compare apples and oranges

I struggle to agree with the view
that Singapores median income of $3,000 per month is fairly high. The reader who wrote
to managing editor Han Fook
Kwang has failed to appreciate a
few points.
First, comparing the median
income of Singaporeans to that
of Malaysians is like comparing
apples and oranges.
Salary is not always linked to
productivity, but also to socioeconomic factors like the cost of
living.
The hourly wage of a
fast-food-chain waiter in Malaysia is $3, compared with $5 in
Singapore. Given that the productivity of both workers is the
same, does it mean that the Singapore worker is overpaid?
I would not think so because
there are differences in the cost
of living in the two countries. In
Singapore, the average fast-food
meal costs $8, compared with $4
in Malaysia.
Accordingly, there is a difference in the amount of money
they earn for their companies
and they should be appropriately compensated for that.

Second, the reader considers
workers in Japan, Germany and
Switzerland more well-trained,
articulate, creative and productive than their Singaporean
counterparts.
Having lived overseas for a
fair number of years, I do not
share his opinion.
Like their Swiss and German
counterparts, our workers fall into different parts of a spectrum,
ranging from those who are
poorly motivated to those who
enjoy their work, are productive
and employ creativity in the
course of their work.
However, I agree that there is
room for us to improve in our national productivity, and this can
be done through empowering
junior staff to make level-appropriate decisions, education, efficient staff deployment, outsourcing, infrastructure investment
and reducing the excessive reliance on foreign labour.
Christopher Liu
Its a marketing problem

It is sad to read the critical comments from a foreigner-turnedSingapore citizen quoted by
managing editor Han Fook
Kwang. The reader must have
forgotten that without a quality
Singaporean workforce, he
wouldnt be as successful.
The problem lies in our education system or factory, which
is designed for the sole purpose
of churning out efficient and
obedient workers to support our
economy.
I have been working in a multinational corporation since the
start of my career. One thing

that differentiates foreign talent
from locals is that the former
know how to promote and market themselves well.
In contrast, Singaporeans just
get the job done without vocally
claiming credit during meetings
and presentations.
It is the Facebook age now,
we cannot afford not to flaunt
our achievements. We need to
make sure that we get as many
likes as possible in real life.
Derek Low
One strand of public unhappiness over foreign labour policy

has been the idea that some
bosses simply prefer foreign
professionals, managers and
executives (PMEs) to Singaporean ones. The Government is
moving to tackle this. But
what happens if Singaporeans
arent good enough to win a
fair fight?
Plans to make firms give
Singaporeans a fair chance
were mentioned in this years
Budget debate, and came up
again at an Our Singapore Conversation session last weekend. The Government also
plans to raise the threshold for
Employment Pass salaries, to
ensure that local and foreign
PMEs compete on quality rather than price.
A commentary by managing editor Han Fook Kwang
last Sunday, however, noted
that firms might prefer foreigners as workers here might lack
hunger and skills. This is not
to argue against the upcoming
measures. Firms should have
to make unbiased assessments
of Singaporean candidates.
But if firms give Singaporeans a fair chance yet still find
them lacking what then?
Any government is arguably obliged to ensure good job
opportunities for citizens. But
as Acting Manpower Minister
Tan Chuan-Jin has pointed
out, this should not mean
jeopardising economic openness and dynamism.
Balancing citizen aspirations and economic openness
is possible only to an extent. If
and when a perceived excess
of foreigners can no longer be
explained by hiring bias, Singapore will face a choice.
It can adopt some form of
affirmative action for Singaporeans. Or it can accept that
Singaporeans have had their
chance, and the best person
should get the job.
The first option may compromise quality, endanger foreign investment and breed
complacency. The second
leaves citizens in the lurch. Of
course, the dilemma would be
averted if Singaporean PMEs
turn out just as capable as
their foreign counterparts.
Whether or not this is currently the case, our best bet is to
try and make it so.
There is much the Government can do: from upgrading
and training, to reforming education to encourage critical
thinking, initiative, and other
skills prized by employers.
But when it comes to hunger, the onus is on workers.
The hunger for a job should
not just create demands to be
spoonfed. It should spur
self-improvement, hard work
and the willingness to broaden ones diet for many worthy jobs are not office-bound.
If we do end up facing that
dilemma, perhaps tough love
is in order. After all, the unemployment rate in Germany
and China whose citizens
were said to be hungrier is
around twice that of Singapores. Tougher conditions
might make for tougher Singaporean PMEs.
How long that will take is
an open question. We might
have to wait for a new generation to grow up in conditions
where having a job is no longer taken for granted.
But change can also happen one worker at a time.
When, say, a student on exchange realises that his peers
in Europe are worrying about
finding any job at all. Or when
a job seeker looks at his foreign counterpart, with better
qualifications or a willingness
to work harder, and feels not
bitterness, but the urge to
out-compete.
Yes, governments are
obliged to provide job opportunities. But the job itself is
something to be fought for.
janiceh@sph.com.sg
A longer version of this
commentary appeared on
the Singapolitics website.
Go to www.singapolitics.sg
think 41
Built-up tension
Keep the tension between the old and new in Singapore, for a skyline that reflects our hopes and dreams
Denise Chong
quinting at Marina Bay

Sands with its three assertive towers, I cannot decide
whether it is giving the finger (well, fingers) to older,
threatened Singapore buildings, or
whether we have stacked our own
awesome Stonehenge to stand for
our moneyed civilisation years
after the flesh-and-blood part of us
has turned to dust.
Lots of news stories about demolishing older structures of Singapore
seem to read this way: Someone
would say it has to make way for
something better, chuck it it is underused and it is an eyesore. Then
someone else would say it has a lot
of history and memories, love it it
has a few good years left.
The torn-down Queenstown cinema, the disappearing retro mosaic
playgrounds, the old Woodlands
Town Centre due to be redeveloped
our island is an emotional minefield waiting for the pressure and
heavy tread of urban renewal to trigger an argument.
My arms and hands are
stretched taut between wanting to
hang on to lovely old things and
wanting to reach out for the shiny
and new. There is a constant tension between the old and the new
in our built-up little country.
If we lived in a dream landscape
with an infinite amount of space
like in the science-fiction movie Inception, I would want to conserve
the buildings like we do in the
Asian Civilisations Museum with
some ancient building structures. A
life-size freeze-frame of the way we
once lived.
Very old buildings are special.
Not everything is plumb straight.
Besides the hand-hammered and
hewn elements, everywhere are
signs of hard stone and wood yielding to the soft flesh of the human
foot and hand after many, many
years of use.
We usually have to take a plane
out of the country to get that sense
of being architecturally cocooned
by the past. Inside darkened centuries-old temples and churches, we
ooh, aah and wonder if they prayed
for or cursed the same things as we
do today.
I felt rather pleased that last
month all I needed to take was a
bus to cocoon myself in a
77-year-old house in Wilkie Terrace
in the Mount Sophia/Selegie area.
The house was built in 1935 by
PHOTOS: DENISE CHONG
Marina Bay Sands (above), in a Stonehenge-like silhouette with kites soaring over it, has remade the city skyline. Vanishing from the scene is this house (below) at
Wilkie Terrace, built in 1935. Such changes are creating an emotional minefield that can be set off by the heavy tread of urban renewal in Singapore.
Sentimental trap
If we overdo the
conservation process
and keep on referring to
the past, we fall into an
endless loop of retro
references and riffs; a
veritable Mobius strip of
throwback Thursdays.
We need
contemporary buildings
to tell stories of what we
care about today. This
may well be a rich
moment in time to build
ambitious structures
the ones that we will
later fight to preserve.
the Chias and three generations of
at least 100 family members called
it home.
But that concrete cocoon will be
transforming into a condo and the
family was saying goodbye to it
with a community arts project.
I walked through the bungalow,
up the concrete spiral staircase in
[ LETTER FROM TOKYO ]
Trickle of loan words

grows into torrent
Kwan Weng Kin

Japan Correspondent
A Chinese student once confided
in me that he found the Japanese
language difficult to learn.
How could it be, I thought,
when Japanese is full of words
made up of kanji (Chinese characters), many of which mean almost
the same as in Chinese?
The problem, the student said, is
that Japanese contains many words
borrowed from Western languages,
particularly English.
For instance, toraburu (from
trouble) is often used in place of

perfectly good Japanese equivalents for the word.
Such loan words are instantly
recognisable as they are written in
katakana, the angular Japanese
alphabet normally reserved for
spelling foreign words.
Their abundant use bothers
many Japanese too.
One 71-year-old man recently
sued public broadcaster NHK for
causing him mental distress
through its excessive use of foreign
words.
He took particular exception to
the NHKs penchant for substituting foreign terms for perfectly good
Japanese ones, such as hando kea
(hand care) to describe the act of
putting cream on ones hands.
The use of loan words has vexed
the Japanese for decades.
We are now seeing the overuse
of foreign words in sports, department stores, on street corners In
every facet of our daily lives, we cannot do without foreign words, said
the preface to a dictionary for loan
words published in 1930.
In 1936, Japanese philosopher
Shuzo Kuki (1888-1941), who had

spent nearly a decade in Europe,
penned an essay about the spread
of foreign words in Tokyo.
No matter where I walk, I see
signboards written in English, as if I
was in colonies like Singapore or
Colombo, he wrote, arguing the
need to protect the purity of the
Japanese language from the invasion of foreign words.
But Kukis words fell on deaf
ears.
The influx of loan words continues unabated, especially in new
fields such as information technology.
Among the earliest foreign
words from the West to enter Japan
were terms like pan (bread in
Spanish) and tabako (cigarette in
Spanish and Portuguese) around
the 17th century.
The full-fledged opening up of
Japan in the 19th century saw a
steady trickle of foreign words that
gradually grew into a torrent.
At first, the Japanese patiently
converted foreign words into Japanese and written in kanji, so words
like post (yubin), century
TNP FILE PHOTO
A Maku-donarudo Han-baga (McDonalds Hamburger) restaurant in Japan.

The loan words on the signboard are written in katakana.
(seiki) and philosophy (tetsugaku) have all become part of the

language.
But the influx of foreign words
soon became too large to cope with
and many ended up being used
without conversion.
The use of katakana meant a
minor transformation in pronunciation of the original foreign word,
so sandwich became sandouicchi
and delivery became deribari.
Since the English th sound has
no equivalent in Japanese,
mouth and mouse are both rendered as mausu, while think

and sink both come out as
shinku.
Surveys have shown that even
when there is a good Japanese
equivalent, the Japanese sometimes prefer the foreign import, as
in the case of baria furi (barrier
free) over shoheki jokyo.
The converse is sometimes true
too. More people say they prefer
goui to konsensasu (consensus), and kihon keikaku to masuta-puran (masterplan).
the backyard and looked up as the

sunlight faded from the sky. I saw
old-school Bakelite switches and
wondered when they will be
turned off for the last time.
As I left the house, I thought
about how this is a country that
makes you account for every thing
that you want to keep around. You
cannot leave an old thing just sitting there.
Use it, shrink-wrap-memorialise
it, monetise-stick-a-cool-cafe-in-it...
or lose it.
But would most Singaporeans
want to live in and fix up older
dwellings to keep them alive?
Most of us want to buff and
shine our own flats, and buy new,
gleaming stuff to line our new,
gleaming homes with their new,
gleaming fittings. Is it a contradiction that we want all that but could
someone else please conserve the
old dirty bits we think we love an
emotion that gets especially strong
when the apparent objects of our affection are about to be taken away?
As for the death-grip some of us
have on all things old, consider
how it is possible to over-sentimentalise things from the past. Perhaps
our minds have been trendily Instagrammed into viewing everything
through a retro filter. And that we
are artificially pining for a past that
we never had.
Are we also too busy or lazy to
come up with something new? If
we overdo the conservation process
and keep on referring to the past,
we fall into an endless loop of retro
references and riffs; a veritable Mobius strip of throwback Thursdays.
We need contemporary buildings to tell stories of what we care
about today. This may well be a
rich moment in time to build ambitious structures the ones that we
will later fight to preserve.
If it is money that we are obsessed about now, we should express that obsession in buildings
which have
that sleek
flash-and-cash sheen.
If it is trees that we want to hug
now, let the outlines of our
high-rise buildings grow fuzzy with
vegetation and dangling jungly
lianas.
And if it is indeed the retro look
that we are into, then lets conserve
the old structures. Just because.
I like the idea of keeping that
tension between the old and new
for it will grow us an urban landscape with a cool mix of buildings.
So, the Marina Bay Sands towers
I was squinting at are we expressing our rude wealth or are they a
dazzling monument to something
bigger? The Singapore skyline
should look like our hopes and
dreams made concrete.
denise@sph.com.sg
Some words assumed by most

Japanese to have been borrowed
from abroad were in fact concocted
by their countrymen, like furonto
garasu (literally, front glass) for
windscreen or gadoman (literally, guard man) for security guard.
And there are loan words that
do have a nice ring.
I am particularly fond of sukinshippu (literally, skinship), which
is a compact and evocative term for
the soothing, physical contact between a mother and child, or between close friends.
One account is that the word
was invented by the Japanese,
while another has it that skinship was used by an American at a
1953 World Health Organisation
meeting and brought back by a
Japanese participant.
Whichever the case, the foreignsounding sukinshippu is understood only in Japan and in South
Korea, which borrowed the word
from the Japanese.
The recent complaint against
the overuse of loan words by the
NHK is similar to the periodic calls
over the years for moderation in
the use of such words in documents that need to be understood
by all, such as government White
Papers.
Many critics even claim the
increasing use of loan words may
lead to a decline of the Japanese
language.
But so far there has been no
official drive to discourage the use
of foreign words.
wengkin@sph.com.sg
42
think
[ IM A SCIENTIST ]
Fighting
dengues
secret
weapon
Virus can attack again
through back door,
complicating search
for effective vaccine
Chang Ai-Lien
Q: How would you rate
Singapores mozzie-control
efforts?
Ooi Eng Eong (OEE): We have had
very good vector control compared
with the rest of the region. The
most effective way is to physically
remove or reduce the availability of
larval habitats, which are water containers. This is what has been practised here and, to a large extent, has
worked. The clearest evidence is
that our epidemics happen in sixto seven-year cycles compared with
three- to four-year cycles in most
dengue-endemic countries. The increased length of each cycle is because there is a lower force of infection due to vector control. But no
matter how good we are at tackling
the mosquito problem, we will continue to have cyclical epidemics,
unless we find a way to eradicate
the Aedes mosquito completely.
Thats the nature of such viruses.
We need a vaccine.
Q: When can we expect a
vaccine?
OEE: Im optimistic the day will
come but not in the next three to
five years. Vaccines on trial have
so far had limited efficacy, and the
most successful one to date has
worked in only about one-third of
patients definitely not enough to
prevent dengue.
Q: Why do we have to wait?
OEE: There are four different
dengue viruses so, to immunise
against dengue, four different vaccines need to be developed and delivered in one formulation, which
then needs to protect adequately
against all four viruses. If not, antibodies against one dengue virus
can potentially enhance infection
with another strain to cause more
severe disease.
Q: Companies create new flu
vaccines all the time based on
the dominant strain of the
period. Why has it been such a
struggle with dengue?
OEE: The dengue virus has a secret
weapon. It needs to get into the
white blood cells to multiply, and
uses a specific key to do so. But
when the body creates antibodies
to fight dengue, the virus is able to
use these antibodies as an alternative but effective key a back
door entry. The white blood cells
dont recognise these intruders and
kill them. Because of this, any vaccine must be able to protect against
all four dengue serotypes, so theres
no second opportunity for infection.
But the problem is that our body
doesnt react to any of these four
strains in the same way. There are
also no good animal models to test
potential vaccines.
Q: What research are you doing?
OEE: Were working with a
leading vaccine company to measure exactly which serotype a patient has immunity against after
vaccination. This hasnt been done
before and could guide the way forward.
Another important part of our research is looking at the way the dengue virus mutates, and which mutations are instrumental in causing
epidemics like the one we have
now. How many mutations occur
and when it happens we still
dont have any data on that. Were
now sequencing the virus from
blood samples and the mosquitoes
themselves to see where these mutations occur.
Q: What gives you an edge?
OEE: Clinician-scientists like those
we aim to train in our pioneering
Researchers Ooi Eng Eong (left) and Kenneth Goh from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. Dengue does many things that other viruses do not, says
Mr Goh. Not a lot of viruses have figured out how to manipulate their way into the immune system and cause even more damage the second time round.
OOI ENG EONG & KENNETH GOH

Associate Professor Ooi Eng
Eong, 46, is deputy director of
the Emerging Infectious
Diseases programme at the
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical
School.
He is also a lead principal
investigator under the
Singapore MIT-Alliance for
Research and Technology
(Smart) Infectious Diseases
Interdisciplinary Research
Group.
A dengue expert, he
received the 2010
Clinician-Scientist Award
(senior investigator) from the
Singapore National Medical

Research Council for his work
on dengue fever.
The award provides salary
and funding support for
outstanding clinician scientists
with a consistent record of
excellence in research.
A doctor as well as a
scientist, Professor Ooi did his
medical degree at the
University of Nottingham and
his doctorate at the National
University of Singapore.
He is married to a lawyer,
and they have two children
aged 15 and 13.
Duke-NUS MD/PhD programme

have a unique place in the overall
research ecology. We know how
cases are managed, what happens
to patients. This knowledge drives
our research and helps us move
from basic science to clinical medicine much faster. In medicine, one
of the difficulties has always been
that doctors and scientists speak
two different languages. By being
bilingual, we can bring these two
worlds together.
film Outbreak. Dengue happened

to be available in Singapore, and
the tools were using to study dengue can also be applied to other diseases, so the trainings portable. Before I started this work, I thought of
dengue as a boring mosquito virus.
But now I know that it does so
many things that other viruses do
not. Not a lot of viruses have figured out how to manipulate their
way into the immune system and
cause even more damage the second time round.
Q: Why study dengue?

Kenneth Goh (KG): I was always
interested in studying pathogens,
probably because of watching the
Beautiful science
Q: Is there a difference in how

dengue strikes here?
OEE: In most other countries,
Mr Kenneth Goh, 29, is a

clinician-scientist in training
at Duke-NUS.
His research revolves
around how viruses interact
with the human immune
system to cause disease, and
he is working with Professor
Ooi to study the early human
immune response to different
experimental dengue vaccines.
Before that, he studied
biological sciences at the
University of Chicago.
Now in his fifth year of the
Duke-NUS MD/PhD
programme, he expects to
graduate in 2016.
children get dengue because they

are at home when the mosquito is
active. Here, they are 100 times less
likely to get dengue at home. What
we are seeing is that about nine in
10 cases are adults. We are still trying to figure out where these mosquitoes are biting because, most of
the time, its not at home.
Q: Then where are the likely
places where people are getting
bitten?
OEE: We dont know. From a
research standpoint, there are
things we should be looking at.
With mobile phones all armed
with GPS, with Facebook and Twit-
Q: You work with mosquitoes in

your lab. How do you protect
yourself?
OEE: Our chance of getting
dengue is no different from anybody elses. Our mosquitoes are in
cages and we are very careful. I
dont use insect repellent but if you
need to, the data suggests using
one containing Deet. Theres no evidence that those with no Deet
work.
Q: Can you tell us more about
the Aedes mosquito and who
they like to bite?
KG: Most of the time, theyre
vegetarian and we feed them plant
sap. Only the female feeds on
blood when she needs to lay eggs.
Their black eggs look like rice
grains.
The female mosquito likes the
smell of human sweat and is also attracted to carbon dioxide. Other factors like body temperature and
blood type are not proven to be enticing. People react to bites differently. It may not be that you
havent been bitten, just that you
dont know youve been bitten.
ailien@sph.com.sg
IN BRIEF
Medical device cyber warning
New York The US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is warning medical device
makers and medical facilities of cyber threats to
medical equipment.
Hundreds of medical devices have been
affected, involving dozens of manufacturers, the
FDAs Dr William Maisel said, adding that many
had been infected by malicious software, or
malware.
Cyber security firm Cylance said medical
equipment vulnerable to cyber attack includes
surgical and anaesthesia devices, ventilators, drug
infusion pumps, patient monitors and external
defibrillators, which can be controlled using
default passwords by hackers.
The risk has grown as devices and hospital
networks are increasingly getting connected to
the Internet.
Reuters
Discovery may boost bandwidth

PHOTO: JAMES GATHANY
A female Aedes aegypti mosquito feeding from

its human host, its abdomen distended and red
from the blood meal. This black and white
dengue-spreader is more active at dawn and
dusk, and only the female insect bites as it
needs the protein in blood to develop its eggs.
Dengue fever and the more serious dengue
haemorrhagic fever are the most common
mosquito-borne viral diseases in the world.
Infected people get a sudden fever, as well as
ter, we can actually use todays technology to pinpoint where someone

got dengue, and how it is transmitted from one person to another.
For instance, if we find through genomic sequencing that two people
have genetically identical strains of
dengue, then we should look at
where their paths crossed to track
where the mosquitoes are likely to
be. Right now, were relying on doctors to report cases.
an intense headache, body aches, joint pains,

loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and rashes. In
dengue haemorrhagic fever, there are more
severe bleeding problems such as in the gums,
skin and organs.
There is so far no vaccine or drug to combat
dengue.
There have been four cases of dengue-related
deaths reported in Singapore this year, and over
12,200 people have been infected, in what is
shaping up to be the countrys worst outbreak.
Washington New fibre optic technology could

increase Internet bandwidth capacity by sending
data along light beams that twist like a tornado
rather than in a straight line.
The US journal Science said Boston University
engineering professor Siddharth Ramachandran
had found a way to make optical fibre handle
much as 1.6 terabits per second, or the
equivalent of transmitting eight Blu-Ray DVDs
every second, through a 1km fibre.
Internet data traffic is reaching its limit, with
demand for bandwidth by users of smartphones
and Internet-enabled devices creating problems
for network providers.
AFP
Brain zap makes others look nicer

Everyone needs to play their part and be socially responsible
to stop the chain of transmission in the community. Persons
who suspect they may have dengue should consult their doctors
as early as possible and use mosquito repellents in order to
reduce the risk of spreading the infection further.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH and the NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY.
Those who want more information on dengue can visit www.dengue.gov.sg
Pasadena, California A new way to look better

in the eyes of your partner has been discovered
by scientists at the California Institute of
Technology (Caltech).
A small device powered by a nine-volt battery
sending a tiny current to an area called the
midbrain was enough to make a group of
volunteers think that pictures of human faces
had become more attractive.
The more serious purpose of the non-invasive

deep brain stimulation is the potential for new
treatments for serious diseases.
Dr Vickram Chib, lead author of the study
published in the journal Translational Psychiatry,
wanted to know how mood and behaviour was influenced by the midbrain, believed to be the
source of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays
a role in disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and Parkinsons disease.
Malaria vaccine breakthrough

Sydney Australian researchers say they are
closer to a vaccine against malaria, with a study
showing that their treatment had protected mice
against several strains of the disease.
Professor Michael Good of Queenslands
Griffith University said the vaccine led to
naturally existing white blood cells, or T-cells,
attacking the potentially deadly malaria parasite,
which lives in red blood cells.
A single vaccination induced profound
immunity to different malaria parasite species,
said the study, published in the Journal of
Clinical Investigation.
AFP
Climate hot spots identified

Washington One in 10 people around the
world will, by the end of this century, live in a
place where climate change is damaging at least
two major sectors such as crop yields, water,
eco-systems or health, according to a new study.
These so-called climate hot spots will be the
most widespread in the southern Amazon, with
severe changes in water availability, yields and
eco-systems, said the study in the US journal,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The second-largest hot spot region is southern
Europe, with water shortages and crop failures
expected, said the study.
Other hot spots included the tropical regions
of Central America and Africa, the Ethiopian
highlands and northern regions of south Asia.
What today is considered extreme could
become the new normal, said co-author
Qiuhong Tang of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences.
AFP
Compiled by Cynthia Low
think 43
ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Mr Chan was severely injured in the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta in 2003. While recuperating, he thought of ways to grow his company, Laundry Network, which today boasts an annual turnover of more than $18 million.
hen Mr Chan Tai

Pang had to go to Jakarta for business
last month, his Indonesian associates
asked gingerly if he minded being
put up at the JW Marriott hotel.
The 67-year-old chief executive
of Laundry Network said he did not
mind. I went to bed at 11 pm and
slept right through the next morning, he says.
His business partners had not
been worried because he is a hard
man to please. It was because he
nearly died in the hotel in 2003, after a suicide bomber detonated a
car bomb outside the lobby.
The terrorist attack killed 12 people and injured 150 others, and left
him with severe burns and in a coma for more than a month.
The Chinese believe good fortune often befalls those who survive major accidents or disasters.
Maybe its true, he says with a
grin.
Plans he made during his long recuperation helped boost his companys fortunes, more than doubling
his annual revenue from $8 million
in 2008 to $18.2 million last year.
At first glance, there is little to betray the ordeal he survived. His face
is smooth and unlined, if just a little bleached in spots. His hair hides
scars on his head.
Then he shows you his upper
right arm, a veritable patchwork of
keloids and scar tissue. The back is
also quite bad, he says; he had
strips of skin peeled from his legs
and grafted onto his back.
Just glad to be alive, he says he
harbours no hatred against those
who nearly killed him.
Ive become more forgiving
and patient. Before the incident, I
was quite tough. I never used to
cry. Now I cry when I hear sad
songs or watch sad movies, he
says with a laugh.
Born in Xiamen, China, he is
the eldest of three children.
My father left for Singapore
three months before I was born to
escape the war with Japan. He
worked for my uncle who had a
paint factory here, he says.
His early years were spent in a
farming village with his mother
and paternal grandparents. As Xiamen was near Taiwan, it was
caught in the war between the Nationalists and the Communists.
There were bombings every
day, says Mr Chan. I didnt go to
a proper school. I went for lessons
held in a cave. We lived for quite a
while in a cave too, only going
back to our homes at night when
the fighting stopped.
When he was 12, he saw his father for the first time when the latter returned to Xiamen to bring
him here. His mother remained behind to look after her ageing
in-laws and joined them here only
a few years later.
We sailed for more than a
month in a very crowded ship.
There were no cabins, we slept on
mats in the common areas of the
ship, he recalls.
In Singapore, he lived with his
Surviving terror attack

made him a better man
aunt in her home in the Novena area. His father slept in a paint shop
which he manned in Rochor Road.
My auntie was the matriarch of
the family and I never felt I was
treated as a member in the household. I was closer to the servants
than my cousins, he says.
He attended Tao Nan Primary
and Chinese High School, but had
to help out every day after school
in his fathers shop. There was no
time to study. I worked with the
coolies in my fathers shop after
school until 10 every night. I
picked up smoking when I was 12; I
could have turned out very
wrong, he says.
The Chinese High was a hotbed
of student activism in those days
over issues such as labour rights, national service and discrimination
against the Chinese-educated.
As a hot-headed teenager, he
took part in some of the protests.
My father chained me to my bed
because he was scared I would run
away in the middle of the night. He
did the right thing. Some of my
school friends actually went into
the jungles to join the communists, he says.
He did well enough in his studies to go on to the Chinese medium
Nanyang University to study chemistry.
By then, his father had a stake in
the uncles paint business and the
plan was for him to come on board
too. The prospect did not excite
him, even though he had ideas for
the business.
It was hard because in the eyes
of my auntie, uncle and even my father, I was always a child.
So when an offer to work in the
central laundry of the Goodwood
Group of Hotels came his way after
he graduated in 1971, he grabbed
it.
The sophisticated machines and
laundry facilities so fascinated him
that he took courses in hotel management and mechanical engineering to become better at his job.
He became the first laundry
manager in the Asia Pacific region
certified by the National Association of Institutional Laundry & Linen Management in the United
States.
Over the next 30 years until
2000, he worked for several hotels
including the Westin Stamford and
Westin Plaza where he was director
of laundry and valet operations for
16 years.
In 1977, when Oberoi-Imperial,
the hotel he was then working for,
went into receivership because of
the financial crisis, he cobbled together $60,000 to start the first
Im glad to be alive and I dont hate

those who nearly killed me, he says
Wong
Kim
Hoh
meets...
Chan Tai Pang
HDB laundromat called Systematic

Cleaners later renamed Systematic Laundromat in Marine Parade.
Getting approval from the environment ministry to start the business was an uphill task.
In those days, laundry was classified as an offensive trade which
caused water pollution in HDB estates. But I explained to them I was
serving the neighbourhood. Moreover, many HDB homes also had
washing machines which discharged water into the sewer system. It took a long time but I finally
convinced them, says Mr Chan,
who was by then married to a teacher.
Novel for Singaporeans, the
coin-operated laundry concept
took off and within a few years, Mr

Chan and his wife who left teaching to run the company had nearly 20 such shops all over the island.
They set up Laundry Network, listed Systematic Laundromat as a business division and diversified into
providing laundry consultancy and
services for airlines and country
clubs.
The business flourished over the
next decade; monthly revenue in
his shops could hit $300,000. Our
paid-up capital was $600,000 and
we had more than $2 million in
cash. Everyone believed life was
very good.
In 1995, the Economic Development Board identified it as a homegrown enterprise which had growth
Alone amid the chaos

I woke up and found the room in darkness and
then started walking. I could hear screaming, and I
kicked bodies. I walked to the hotel entrance and
to the main road but through it all, nobody came
to offer a helping hand.
MR CHAN TAI PANG, on his ordeal after the terrorist bombing of JW Marriott
Hotel in Jakarta in 2003.
Blessed with good friends

I felt very rich and blessed. The fact that so many
of my friends came together to record messages on
a tape for me, urging me to wake up, is something
that I will always treasure.
MR CHAN, whose friends left messages on a tape urging him to wake up from his
coma.
potential and offered it a brand

new factory space in Woodlands at
a discounted price.
Flush with success, Laundry Network grabbed it and borrowed
more than $4 million for
state-of-the-art machinery.
It was a big mistake. The 1997
Asian financial crisis hit shortly after, and business dropped drastically.
And we had a lot of repayments
to make, recalls the towkay who also lost $800,000 when a laundry
consultancy deal with a major Jakarta hotel went south because of the
rupiahs devaluation.
Over the next five years, the couple sold two factories in Aljunied
and two shops in Thomson Plaza to
keep their business afloat.
My father also sold a house to
help us. It took us five years before
we found our feet again, says Mr
Chan who left his job with Westin
in 2000 to devote his energies to
Laundry Network.
But through it all, he never laid
off any of his workers.
We had to delay paying salaries
for a couple of weeks on one or two
occasions but the staff did not complain. Its about relationships. Today, we have about 30 staff who
have been with us for more than 20
years, says the entrepreneur who
has about 300 people on his payroll.
The turbulent road to recovery
was made even more so by the 9/11
terrorist attacks of 2001 and Sars
two years later.
Then came his brush with death
in Jakarta on Aug 5, 2003.
Im a free thinker but I really believe some things in life are fated,
says Mr Chan who was in the Indonesian capital to design the laundry
facilities for the JW Marriott and
Ritz Carlton hotels.
With great humour, he starts
chronicling the ironies of that fateful day.
He was supposed to have left for
Singapore in the morning but his
business associates had booked
him on the afternoon flight instead.
But that was not the worst, he
says.
His annual travel insurance had
lapsed the day before the blast but
his wife had arranged for the new
one to start the day after, when he
was due to fly to the United States
for another business trip.
So I ended up paying $25,000
for the most expensive flight out of
Jakarta arranged by International
SOS, he says, referring to the medical and travel security services company.
But he has learnt to look on the

bright side. He counts himself
lucky he was in the hotels coffeehouse and not in the lobby waiting for his ride to the airport
when the car bomb went off.
People who were at the lobby
had their limbs blown off, and died
on the spot, he says.
He passed out and woke up in a
smoke-choked, chaotic room.
Face blackened, back burnt, and
fingers blistered, he made his way
to a lorry ferrying the injured to
hospital.
He was flown back to a Singapore hospital the next morning,
with a severe lung infection and
blood poisoning, and fell into a coma that lasted 37 days.
Doctors told his wife and two
children to prepare for the worst. A
group of friends, including general
managers of several international
hotels, gathered to record encouraging messages for him on a tape. His
family played the tape continuously as he lay unconscious.
Recovery was long and slow,
with many painful skin operations
and months of occupational therapy and physiotherapy.
But he was already thinking
about ways to change his business
model.
I asked myself if we should go
into the yield business or the volume business, he says.
Deciding that radio frequency
identification (RFID) technology
would take his business to new levels, he staked $5 million over three
years researching and developing
new technology as well as equipment automation.
Laundry Network also applied
for and got funding help from the
National RFID Centre for laundry
tracking systems, one which was
used in Youth Olympic Games.
RFID gave our business a new
lease of life, says Mr Chan, now a
leading laundry consultant in the
region.
His company today has five business divisions, 25 laundromats,
eight laundry plants and employs
300 people, including 50 part-timers, dealing with airlines, dormitories, country clubs, serviced apartments and hotels. One of its biggest
clients is Resorts World Singapore
where the uniforms of 20,000 staff
are collected, laundered and returned daily.
Mr Andrew Kan, 60, has known
Mr Chan for more than 25 years.
The senior sales manager of
US-based Alliance Laundry Systems
LLC, says: After the Jakarta bombing, everyone in the industry
thought he would not survive. But
he came back from the brink of
death to rebuild the company by investing in high technology.
Mr Chan says his trials have
taught him not to take life for granted and to appreciate what he has.
Now a grandfather of five children aged between two and 10, he
says: I never liked apples but when
I was given one not long after I
woke up from my coma, it felt like
the best thing Id ever tasted.
kimhoh@sph.com.sg
sport 45
Howard rockets away

Seven-time All-Star
ditches Lakers to join
Houston after single
season in Los Angeles
New York Dwight Howard
soared into Los Angeles last summer as a flawed but celebrated
saviour, a smiling, muscle-bound, mischievous superstar who could dominate the
court and carry the Lakers into
another glorious era.
One disastrous season later,
he is on the move again, crushing one National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises dreams
while inspiring anothers.
Howard, 27, committed to
the Houston Rockets on Friday,
after mulling over offers from
five teams, including the Lakers,
Golden State Warriors, Atlanta
Hawks and Dallas Mavericks.
The first official confirmation
came from Mitch Kupchak, the
Lakers general manager, in a
statement posted online on Friday night.
We have been informed of
Dwights decision to not return, Kupchak said. Naturally,
we are disappointed.
The first clue from Howard
came in the form of his Twitter
avatar, which was altered to
show him in a bright red Rockets
jersey, with the No. 12 on the
chest. His right thumb is pointing up.
A short time later, Howard
tweeted his decision: Ive decid-
PHOTO: AP
Dwight Howards move means the Rockets are now trying to trade
superfluous players, including centre Omer Asik, to make room for the
No. 12 under the salary cap.
ed to become a member of the

Houston Rockets.
I feel its the best place for
me. I am looking forward to a
great season. I want to thank the
fans in Los Angeles and wish
them the best.
With that decision, Howard
became the first star in modern
NBA history to walk away from
the Lakers in his prime.
Under NBA rules, no signings
or trades can be completed until
Wednesday, and teams are generally prohibited from commenting until then.
However, players and their
agents are free to confirm deals.
Howard is eligible to sign a
four-year, US$87.6 million

(S$112.3 million) deal with Houston.
He could have signed a
five-year, US$118 million deal
had he stayed with the Lakers.
He also could have taken the
baton from Kobe Bryant to become the next great Lakers icon,
joining a pantheon that includes Magic Johnson, Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille ONeal
and Jerry West.
But the Lakers, for all their
glamour and rich history, appear
to be a broken, listless franchise.
Bryant is recovering from a
torn Achilles tendon and will
soon turn 35.
Their roster is ageing and

their boldest move in the past
year acquiring Howard and Steve Nash in separate trades in an
effort to create a super team
backfired badly.
Howard clashed with Bryant,
bristled over coach Mike
DAntonis offence and struggled to regain his dominant
form after off-season back surgery.
The Lakers won just 45 games
and were swept away by the San
Antonio Spurs in the first round
of the play-offs.
In his only season with the
Lakers, Howard struggled to find
a rhythm on offence and never
became the dominant defender,
shot blocker and rebounder that
made him a star for eight years
with the Orlando Magic.
He averaged 17.1 points and
12.4 rebounds per game last season, strong numbers for most
centres in the league. But for
Howard, they were his lowest
since the 2006-07 season.
The spotlight will be dimmer
in Houston and the prospects for
long-term success are much
brighter.
Howard will join James Harden, one of the leagues most electrifying young stars, to form perhaps the best centre-guard tandem in the league.
The Rockets should become
instant contenders in the Western Conference, joining the
Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder
and Los Angeles Clippers.
New York Times
IN BRIEF
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want....
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23
India back in
hunt after victory
Port of Spain India
kept their Celkon Mobile
Cup Tri-Nation Series
hopes alive after beating
the West Indies by 102
runs in a rain-shortened
fourth match at the
Queens Park Oval.
India totalled 311 for
seven batting first on
Friday. Set a revised target
of 274 off 39 overs, under
the Duckworth-Lewis
System after a 90-minute
rain delay, the home side
were dismissed for 171 off
34 overs.
AFP
ENID LAI NGAN YEE

Age: 83
Was called home to be with the Lord on 5 July 2013.
Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones.
(Husband: Martin Chia Peng Choy, deceased)
Children:
Spouses:
Chia Tien Cheong, Gregory
Lee Gek Lang, Mary
Chia Tien Yau
Dr Chia Tien Fung, Constance
Dr Ralph Stewart Brown, Jr
Grandchildren:
Chia Yu Yun, Claire
Chia Yu Xuan, Christopher
Chia Yu Xi, Catherine
all relatives and friends
Wake is held at Chuch of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Oratory,
248 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574371.
Nightly prayers will be held at 8pm.
Wake visiting hours from 9am to 10pm.
Cortege leaving on 10 July 2013 Wednesday at 9.15am.
For funeral Mass at 10am at St Ignatius Church,
120 Kings Road, Singapore 268172.
Thereafter to Mandai Crematorium Hall 2
for cremation at 12 noon.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want... and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23
SOH BOON HWEE

@ SU WEN HUEI
Age: 78
Was called home to be with the Lord on 5 July 2013.

Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones.
Wife: Ong Lily
Son:
Daughter-in-law:
Soh Liang Joseph
Doris Teo
Daughter:
Son-in-law:
Soh Yen Jacqueline
Liaw Yeow Hong
Granddaughters:
Grandson:
Soh Hui Min Jamie
Liaw Wee Kiat
Liaw Ee Jin
and all relatives & friends.
Wake at Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
50 Ophir Road Singapore 188690.
Funeral mass will be held at 9am Tuesday 9 July 2013 at the church.
Cortege will leave at 10am for
Mandai Crematorium Hall 1 for cremation at 11am.
Gazza out on
bail after arrest
PHOTO: AP
British and Irish Lions Leigh Halfpenny holding off a tackle from Wallabies George Smith in the third Test,
where he delivered a sterling Man of the Match performance, kicking five penalties and three conversions.
Lions run wild in decider

Sydney The British and Irish
Lions roared to a record 41-16
victory over the Wallabies to
claim their first series win in 16
years in the deciding Test in
Sydney yesterday.
The victory was built on a
dominant opening half when
they exploded to a 19-3 lead, before the Wallabies pulled back
to trail 10-19 at half-time.
But despite having their lead
reduced to three points, the
tourists stormed home with
three second-half tries before a
record 83,702 crowd.
Its pretty indescribable.
There was a lot said about selection in the week... but I think
we proved the Northern Hemisphere can do pretty well, Li-
ons captain Alun Wyn Jones

said. He took over as captain for
the deciding test after a hamstring injury to fellow Welshman Sam Warburton.
Australia skipper James Horwill said: We just werent good
enough tonight.
The Lions overpowered the
Wallabies in the final quarter to
finish four tries to one victors,
with Man of the Match Leigh
Halfpenny kicking five penalties and three conversions for
an individual record haul of 21
points beating Jonny Wilkinsons 18 points in 2001.
It was the most points the Lions have scored in a Test win in
Australia, eclipsing their 31-0
victory in Brisbane in 1966.
It was a triumph for coach

Warren Gatland, who caused
an uproar in Ireland with the
dropping of Irish Lions legend
Brian ODriscoll and fielding a
record-equalling 10 Welshmen
in the starting XV.
But the Lions responded to
the pressure of the big-match
occasion with three tries inside
the final 25 minutes to win an
epic series, after taking out the
opening game in Brisbane
23-21 a fortnight ago.
The large Lions contingent
of supporters celebrated in the
final minutes by singing Sweet
Chariot in salute to their
teams first series win since
South Africa in 1997.
AFP
London Former
England footballer Paul
Gascoigne has been
arrested following an
alleged drunken assault,
which involved his
former wife and a security
guard, at a train station in
London.
The 46-year-old, who
in March returned to
Britain from the United
States where he was being
treated for alcoholism,
was held at a police
station in Hertfordshire,
north of London, and is
now out on bail.
Reuters
2 Italian players
banned, fined
Rome Two Serie A
footballers, Torino striker
Paulo Vitor de Souza
Barreto and Genoa
defender Giovanni
Marchese, were banned
for three months and 10
days and fined 10,000
euros (S$16,500) each,
after entering plea
bargains in a
long-running,
match-fixing scandal.
Reuters
Jebet, Wang set records in Asian track meet

Pune (India) Bahrain teenager
Ruth Jebet led from start to finish to win the womens 3,000m
steeplechase with a new meet
record in the Asian track and
field championships in Pune on
Friday.
The Kenyan-born 16-yearold, who outpaced home favourite Sudha Singh, clocked 9min
40.84sec, well ahead of the previous meet mark of 9:52.42 by Japans Minori Hayakari in the previous edition in Kobe in 2011.
Sudha finished second while
Pak Kum Hyang of North Korea

claimed the bronze.
In the womens hammer
throw, Wang Zheng of China set
a new meet record with a distance of 72.78m, surpassing compatriot Zhang Wenxius effort of
72.07m at the 2009 Asian championships in Guangzhou.
Chinas Liu Tingting took the
silver while Japans Masumi Aya
picked up the bronze.
The gold medallists are assured of a direct entry into next
months world championships
in Moscow.
Emad Hamed Nour of Saudi

Arabia won his first Asian medal
when he braved the monsoon
rain to take the gold in the
1,500m with a time of 3min
39.51sec.
Moroccan-born Mohammad
al-Garni of Qatar took the silver
while Bilal Mansour Ali of Bahrain finished third.
Ethiopian-born Belayneh Betlhem Desalegn brought the United Arab Emirates their first gold
in the current meet by winning
the womens 1,500m, ahead of
favourite Mimi Betele of Bahrain.

She finished the race in 4min
3.67sec.
The bronze went to Japans
Ayako Jinnouchi.
China continued to prosper
as Wang Jianan won the mens
long jump and team-mate Jiang
Fan coasted home in the mens
110m hurdles.
Ayako Kimura of Japan triumphed in the womens 100m
hurdles.
AFP
45
46
sport
Late slip-up costs duos title defence

Chan U-Gene
Defending mens doubles champions Gao Ning and Yang Zi of Singapore were knocked out in the
semi-finals of the Asian Table Tennis Championships yesterday.
Their 2-4 (15-13, 5-11, 11-9,
9-11, 10-12, 8-11) loss at the Busan
event was inflicted by Chinese pair
Zhou Yu and Yan An, the eventual
champions.
The Singaporean paddlers were
up 2-1 in games and 9-8 in the
fourth, but failed to capitalise and
allowed their opponents back into
the game.
For Eddy Tay, the Singapore Table Tennis Association high performance manager who was watching from the sidelines, that was the
turning point of the game.
He said: If we had won that set
and gone 3-1 up, we would have
been able to close the game. But
during those crucial points, our
strategy was too conservative.
Against their Chinese opponents, Tay felt that the national
pair should have taken a more aggressive approach.
He explained: We must be able
to take the gamble as they are very
strong technically and we cant expect them to make mistakes on
their own.
Yang agreed, saying: We had

some chances in the game and we
should have taken it.
We didnt really have much
problems playing against them except that we should have changed
our game strategy at some points.
Still, the Singaporeans received a
joint-bronze with Japanese duo
Kenta Matsudaira and Koki Niwa,
who also lost to Chinese opponents Ma Long and Xu Xin (0-4).
There are no third-place play-offs,
with Singapore also winning a
womens team bronze earlier.
In the mens singles. Singapores
interest ended after Gao lost 1-4
(5-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-8, 9-11) to

Hong Kongs Tang Peng in the last
16, the same stage he reached in
the last three tournaments.
In the womens doubles, Singapores Isabelle Li and Yee Herng Hwee fell 0-3 (2-11, 7-11, 4-11) to Chinas Liu Shiwen and Ding Ning in
round two of the competition.
This leaves Feng Tianwei and Yu
Mengyu to keep the Republics flag
flying, as they beat Macaus Kuok
Cheng I and Wong Sio Leng 3-0
(11-5, 11-6, 11-6).
Mens singles and Womens
doubles s-finals & finals
Live, StarHub Ch211, noon
[ HOT BODS ]
Text and pictures by
Kua Chee Siong
Robin Leow, 28
Sales manager
Height: 1.81m
Weight: 72kg
Exercise regimen: I jog
3km twice a week after
which I will do a set of 20
push-ups and 12
chin-ups. I also do
interval circuit training
and go for Muay Thai
lessons two or three times
a month when I have the
time.
Diet: I dont really watch
my diet and eat
everything. I avoid fast
food but my sinful
indulgence is meat and
beer. I also take
multi-vitamins and
Omega-3 daily and drink
lots of water.
Elaine Jasmine Heng, 20

Student
Height: 1.63m
Weight: 48kg
Exercise regimen: I cycle
daily for about two hours
and also do toning/cardio
about four or five times a
week. These workouts
usually involve pilates
and body combat
sessions, which you can
easily track from YouTube
videos in channels like
Blogilates.
PHOTO: AP
Diet: I dont really have a

specific diet because I love
food too much. What I
usually do is to just eat
everything in
moderation, and make
healthier food choices. I
usually have one big meal
and one small meal a day
and try to cut down on
carbs. Snacks would
include mixed berries and
raisins, and a small bite of
dark chocolate on days I
feel happy.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamiltons pole at todays German Grand Prix is his 29th of his career equalling the records of Juan Manuel Fangio and Sebastian Vettel.
GERMAN GP:
TODAYS GRID
1st row
1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr)
Mercedes
2 Sebastian Vettel (Ger)
Red Bull
2nd row
3 Mark Webber (Aus)
Red Bull
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin)
Lotus
3rd row
5 Romain Grosjean (Fra)
Lotus
6 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus)
Toro Rosso
4th row
7 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari
8 Fernando Alonso (Esp)
Ferrari
5th row
9 Jenson Button (Gbr)
McLaren
10 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger)
Sauber
6th row
11 Nico Rosberg (Germany)
Mercedes
12 Paul di Resta (Gbr)
Force India
Reuters
Mercedes error
taints Lewis pole
Briton pips Red Bulls
Vettel to the front but
team-mate Rosberg
upset with big bungle
Nuerburgring Mercedes were
left red-faced at their home German Grand Prix yesterday despite
Lewis Hamilton seizing pole position after they admitted to making
a huge mistake with angry
team-mate Nico Rosberg.
With top director Ron Howard
visiting their pit lane garage for the
day, Mercedes enjoyed and endured all the drama of a Hollywood
movie in qualifying.
German Rosberg, who won in
Britain last weekend to send the Silver Arrows second in the constructors championship, failed to make
the final phase of qualifying and
will start from a lowly 11th on the
grid today.
It was just a misjudgment we
made. We had a cut-off time that
we thought would be reasonably
comfortable, he achieved it but the
track seemed to get a lot quicker at
the end and we hadnt anticipated
it, Mercedes team principal Ross

Brawn said. He didnt have the
greatest of laps anyway so that was
added to the frustration but we
didnt make the right call on that
one so well have live with it.
Rosberg, winner of two of the
last three races, was sitting second
midway through the second qualifying session. His team left him in
the garage, apparently believing his
time was good enough to put him
into the top 10 for the third and decisive session.
But Kimi Raikkonen led a charge
of late efforts and Rosberg was eliminated. His hopes of following up
his Silverstone triumph with home
heroics now look unlikely.
The team just did a mistake because they underestimated the
track ramping up, so thats a big disappointment, said Rosberg.
Tomorrow, its not going to be
possible to do much from 11th but
Ill give it everything anyway.
In a happier mood was Hamilton, who clocked a fastest lap of
1min 29.398sec to outpace nearest
rival Sebastian Vettel by one-tenth
of a second in a dramatic finale.
It had looked as if the Red Bull
drivers lap was fast enough for

pole until Hamilton, world champion in 2008, had the last word.
The 28-year-old Briton said: Its
really overwhelming. Ive been
struggling. Practice 1 was pretty
good, but P2 and P3 were disasters
and it got worse this morning.
We went back to the truck,
tried to analyse everything and
made lots of changes and hoped it
would work. Fortunately, the car
was beneath me and I was able to
put in the times.
Im proud to get pole but there
are no points for today. These guys
(Red Bull) are good on the long
runs. I hope, with my new set-up,
that the pace will be as good tomorrow and we can give them a run for
their money.
It was Hamiltons third pole position of the season and the 29th of
his career. This put him level with
Argentinian legend Juan Manuel
Fangio and defending triple world
champion and current series leader
Vettel in the record books.
AFP, Reuters
German Grand Prix
Live, StarHub Ch208 & mio TV
Ch114, 7.45pm
Scoresheet
ATHLETICS
Asian Cships In Pune, India (Winners
only, Chn unless noted) Mens
110m hurdles: Jiang Fan 13.61sec.
1,500m: Emad Hamed Nour (Ksa)
3min 39.51sec. Long jump: Wang
Jianan 7.95m. Hammer: Dilshod
Nazarov (Tjk) 78.32. 4x100m: Hong
Kong 38.94sec. Womens 100m hurdles: Ayako Kimura (Jpn) 13.25sec.
3,000m steeplechase: Ruth Jebet
(Brn) 9:40.84 (CR). Pole vault: Li Ling
4.54m (CR). Triple jump: Anastasiya
Juravleva (Uzb) 14.18. Shot put: Liu Xiangrong 18.67. Hammer: Wang
Zheng 72.78 (CR). Javelin: Li Lingwei
60.65 (CR). Heptathlon: Wassana
Winatho (Tha) 5,818 pts. 4x100m:
China 44.01sec.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
World Cships In Stare Jablonki, Poland Womens 3rd place: Liliane
Maestrini/Barbara de Freitas (Bra) bt
April Ross/Whitney Pavlik (USA) 21-18
21-15.
CYCLING
Tour de France 205.5km Stage 7
from Montpellier to Albi: 1 Peter Sagan (Svk/Cannondale) 4hr 54min
12sec. 2 John Degenkolb (Ger/Argos).
3 Daniele Bennati (Ita/Saxo-Tinkoff)
both same time. Standings: 1 Daryl
Impey (Rsa/Orica) 27:12:29. 2. Edvald
Boasson Hagen (Nor/Team Sky)
+3sec. 3 Simon Gerrans (Aus/Orica)
+5. Team: 1 Orica (Aus) 80:45:40. 2
Team Sky (Gbr) +8. 3 Saxo-Tinkoff
(Den) +19.
Strike threat flattens out as new tyres work well

Nuerburgring There was no sign
of multi-millionaires huddled
around a brazier with their banners
and placards demanding justice
from the evil oppressors of Formula
One.
As strike threats go, the warning
from the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) that they might boycott the German Grand Prix carried
all the weight of a powder puff.
By the close of play on Friday,
no one seemed entirely sure who
was doing the threatening or why
the rumpus over Pirellis exploding
tyres had reached such a fever
pitch.
CRICKET
Tri-nations, 5th ODI West Indies v Sri
Lanka (Live, StarHub Ch235 & mio TV
Ch122, 9.30pm).
We didnt say that we wont race.

At risk of bringing the pantomime season forward by six
months: Oh yes, you did, Sebastian. The GPDA statement was firm
in intent and underlined by Pedro
de la Rosa, the organisations chairman, moments before the start of
practice.
Pirelli has already addressed the
tyre issue that almost wrecked the
British Grand Prix last weekend
and turned up here with tougher
tyres reinforced by a high-tech Kevlar internal band that is stronger
and lighter than the steel used at Silverstone.
That means the tyres will operate at cooler temperatures and be

more resilient on a Nuerburgring
track that has none of the intensity
of Silverstones high-speed corners.
A raft of instructions to teams
on items such as tyre pressures
from Charlie Whiting, the race director, should help to keep Pirellis
rubber in tip-top condition this
weekend.
The horse had long bolted before the GPDA turned up to picket
the gates. So whos not racing anyway?
The Times, London
TABLE TENNIS
Asian Cships In Busan (Chn unless
noted) Mens singles, 3rd rd: Fan
Zhendong bt Yang Zi (Sin) 4-2, Koki
Niwa (Jpn) bt Pang Xuejie (Sin) 4-0,
Gao Ning (Sin) bt Doan Ba Tuan Anh
(Vie) 4-0. 4th rd: Tang Peng (Hkg) bt
Gao 4-1, Ma Long bt Kazuhiro Chan
(Jpn) 4-0, Xu Xin bt Seiya Kishikawa
(Jpn) 4-1. Doubles, final: Zhou Yu/Yan
An bt Ma/Xu 4-2. Womens singles, final: Liu Shiwen bt Ding Ning 4-2.
TV times
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
World Cships Mens s-finals (6pm).
3rd placing (11pm). Final (midnight)
Live, StarHub Ch202.
Sebastian Vettel, the world

champion and a GPDA director,
may have had one eye on the title
standings as he knocked flat any
idea that F1s drivers were threatening a walkout.
After all, he has never won his
home race and a hot, sunny Sunday could be an opportunity.
You must have got it wrong because we expressed that we trust
Pirelli, he said, looking rather
hurt. But we also expressed that
should there be an incident, we
would think about something like
that. Fortunately, nothing happened and the tyres worked fine.
GOLF
Greenbrier Classic In White Sulphur
Springs, West Virginia, 2nd rd (USA
unless stated): 131 Matt Every 69 62.
132 Daniel Summerhays 65 67, Bill
Lunde 66 66, Steven Bowditch (Aus)
65 67, Russell Henley 67 65, Johnson
Wagner 62 70. 133 Ben Curtis 67 66,
Greg Owen (Eng) 67 66, Tommy
Gainey 62 71, Jonas Blixt (Swe) 66 67.
Selected: 134 Brendon de Jonge
(Zim) 66 68, Lee Dong Hwan (Kor) 66
68. 135 Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 67 68.
Missed cut (139): 140 Ryo Ishikawa
(Jpn) 73 67. 142 Phil Mickelson 74 68.
143 Vijay Singh (Fij) 73 70, Noh Seung Yul (Kor) 72 71.
French Open In Versailles, 2nd rd:
136 Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 68 68. 137
Thomas Bjorn (Den) 68 69, Richard
Sterne (Rsa) 68 69, Soren Kjeldsen
(Den) 69 68. Selected: 138 Graeme
McDowell (Nir) 69 69. 142 Matteo
Manassero (Ita) 73 69. 144 Ian Poulter (Eng) 73 71, Luke Donald (Eng) 71
73. Missed cut (145): 146 Thongchai
Jaidee (Tha) 71 75, Jeev Milkha Singh
(Ind) 76 70.
StarHub Ch213 & HD Ch255, tomorrow, 3am).

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
UFC 162 Anderson Silva v Chris Weidman middleweight title (Live, mio
TV Ch414, 10am)
CYCLING
Tour de France Stage 9 (Live,
StarHub Ch205, 6.30pm).
MOTOR RACING
F1 German GP Race day (7pm). Main
race (7.45pm). Chequered flag
(9.45pm) Live, StarHub Ch208 &
mio TV Ch114.
FOOTBALL
Concacaf Gold Cup Canada v Martinique (Live, StarHub Ch222, tomorrow, 5.25am).
TABLE TENNIS
Asian Cships Mens singles and
Womens doubles s-finals & finals
(Live, StarHub Ch211, noon).
GOLF
French Open Day 4 (Live, StarHub
Ch213 & HD Ch255, 8pm).
The Greenbrier Classic Day 4 (Live,
TENNIS
Wimbledon Day 13 (Live, mio TV
Ch115 & HD Ch117 and StarHub
Ch209 & HD Ch210, 8.30pm).
sport 47
[ WIMBLEDON ]
It looks all
wrong, but
Bartolis right
Quirky Frenchwoman
brushes aside nervous
Lisicki to capture her
first Wimbledon title
Lee Yulin
Deputy Sports Editor
In London
The Wimbledon Championships
are synonymous with tradition.
Yet, a most unorthodox player
was crowned the womens singles
champion on Centre Court yesterday.
Frances Marion Bartoli beat popular German Sabine Lisicki 6-1, 6-4
to capture her first Grand Slam title. An unlikelier champion is hard
to find because Bartoli is not the
most elegant of players. Some experts feel she lacks the natural poise
of many of the past champions
who have graced this most hallowed of sports grounds.
Her style she uses both a double-handed forehand and backhand is hardly textbook material.
And then there are her idiosyncracies her bouncing and squatting on court, her shadow strokeplay and her poking of the back canvas next to the scoring box with
her racket.
Her victory also came on the
28-year-olds 47th try making her
the player with the most Slam appearances under her belt before
winning, surpassing the previous
record by Jana Novotna, who won
Wimbledon in 1998 after 45 appearances at the Majors.
Her season has been nothing
short of a roller coaster. She did not
split with one coach her father
but three. Experiments with
Novotna and Gerald Bremond also
failed.
Yet, when it mattered, it was Bartoli who rose to the occasion.
The final was hardly a classic,
characterised by errors from both
sides. Both lost their opening service games the Frenchwoman by
double faulting not once, but
twice.
But as the match progressed in
the scorching conditions, it was
clear that it was the German, playing her first Major final, who was
melting.
Much had been expected from

Lisicki, despite the fact that she was
the 23rd seed and Bartoli the 15th
seed.
After all, the German had slain
five-time champion Serena Williams in the quarter-finals and then
accounted for Agnieszka Radwanska (then the highest seed left in the
womens draw) in the semi-finals.
She also had to carry the weight
of a nations hopes on her broad,
muscular shoulders as the first German woman to make the womens
singles final since the great Steffi
Graf in 1999.
It also cannot be easy being nicknamed Doris Becker, even though
that is a nod to her powerful,
all-court game.
Yet, Lisicki, 23, learnt that power, without control or accuracy,
amounts to nothing.
When it came time to deliver,
the player who had beaten world
No. 1 Williams at her own game
withered. A slew of double faults
and a forehand that sailed long far
too often pock-marked her performance, despite the Centre Court
crowd roaring her on.
Bartoli, in contrast, improved as
the match wore on, taming her
nerves to triumph. She had perhaps
learnt from her first appearance in
the womens final a loss to Venus
Williams in 2007.
In her post-match, on-court interview, the new champion, who
dropped to her knees in disbelief after winning, said: I just cant believe it. Ive dreamt of this since I
was six years old.
The Frenchwoman was also gracious enough to spare a thought for
her opponent, encouraging the
heartbroken Lisicki by telling her:
Sabine, I am sure you will be there
one more time.
The teary Lisicki admitted that
her nerves had been the problem.
She told the interviewer: I was
overwhelmed by the situation. Marion handled it perfectly. She has
been on the tour for a long time.
But I hope I get the chance to
come back here again.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Marion Bartoli running to celebrate with her team after beating Sabine Lisicki. Bartolis win came six years after losing to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon final.
Bartolis dream fulfilled...

As a little girl, I dreamt of this
moment for so long. Finishing with
an ace to win Wimbledon, even in
my wildest dreams I couldnt have
imagined that.
...and words of comfort
I missed out here in 2007. I know
what it is like and Im sure Sabine will
be here one more time, no doubt.
Lisickis stage fright...
I was just overwhelmed by the
whole situation, but credit to
Marion. She handled it perfectly.
Shes been on the tour for a long
time and deserves this.
yulin@sph.com.sg
Lee Yulins trip to Wimbledon
was sponsored by mio TV, Star
Sports and Fox Sports Plus
PHOTO: REUTERS
Lisicki wept openly during the match and then burst into tears while addressing the crowd
afterwards. She later admitted she had been overwhelmed by the whole situation.
...and hopes
I still love this tournament. I just
hope I get another chance as well.
Djokovic in the way of a Murray title bid yet again

London It looked as though nothing could stop Andy Murray after
he reeled off five straight games to
take control of a Wimbledon
semi-final that had not been going
his way.
Then chair umpire Jake Garner
made an announcement: They
were going to stop play to close the
roof on Centre Court.
Murray pointed skywards,
where the late-evening light was
still shining brightly.
This is an outdoor tournament, he complained. I dont understand these rules.
Players rarely win these sort of ar-
guments and Murray is no exception. But instead of letting it ruin

his evening, he came back after a
half-hour break and closed the deal
against world No. 24 Jerzy Janowicz
to make todays Wimbledon final
for the second straight year.
Murray is one win away from becoming the first British man since
Fred Perry in 1936 to win the tournament.
Winning Wimbledon is a huge
achievement for any tennis player, Murray said. It is pretty much
the pinnacle of the sport.
Murray won 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4,
6-3 on Friday and should be the
fresher player when he meets world

No. 1 Novak Djokovic today.
It will be the third time they
have met in a Grand Slam final
over the past 10 months.
They have split the last two,
with Murray winning a five-setter
at the US Open last year and Djokovic winning in four sets in Australia
to open the 2013 Grand Slam season.
The reason for the lateness of
Murrays match was the way Djokovics triumph over No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro played out. It was a
4hr 43min affair, which was a
record for a Wimbledon semi-final.
It was a back-and-forth 7-5, 4-6, 7-6

(7-2), 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 victory that was
supposed to be the undercard on
the days schedule but turned out
to be something better.
It was one of the most epic
matches Ive played in my life,
Djokovic said.
It was filled with huge ground
strokes, long rallies and touches of
good humour from players with
plenty of respect for each other.
In the end, though, del Potro
summed the match up well when
he commented: I hit many winners in one point and, always, the
ball came back.
Mixing offence with his

best-in-the-world countering, Djokovic slid on the dried-out grass behind the baseline, did the splits a
few times and repeatedly returned
del Potros serves that reached up
to 209kmh. He finished with 80
winners over a match that encompassed 368 points.
Djokovic has won 10 of his last
12 five-setters while del Potro lost
his fifth consecutive match that
went the distance.
When you feel good physically,
when you know youre fit and you
dont feel huge fatigue, that gives
you mental confidence, obviously, the Serb said.
Froomes solo charge earns Tour lead

Trois-Domaines (France) Team
Sky stormed the Tour de France yesterday, when Britains Chris
Froome demolished his rivals to
claim the overall leaders yellow jersey with an awe-inspiring win in
the eighth stage.
The Sky team leader launched a
solo attack 5km from the races first
summit finish at Ax-Trois-Domaines and finished 51sec ahead of
team-mate Richie Porte.
Spains two-time runner-up Alberto Contador finished over a
minute behind, while the victory
hopes of 2011 champion Cadel
Evans all but faded in an epic
eighth stage.
This is only the first week, so
there is two weeks of hard racing to
come but now weve got the yellow
jersey weve got to defend it,
Froome told the BBC.
Last years runner-up behind
team-mate Bradley Wiggins, he
now tops the general classification
with a 51sec lead over Australian
team-mate Porte, with Spains Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) in third

at 1min 25sec.
Porte, the last rider in Skys impressive line-up to set the pace on
the 7.8km climb to the Pyrenean
ski station, said the order to hit full
gas came from Froome after the
Kenyan-born rider had realised
Contador was in trouble.
When Chris told me Alberto
was no longer there, I just tried to
give it everything I had, said Porte,
who had taken over the pace-setting duties from Britains Peter Kennaugh.
Colombian Nairo Quintana, an
aide to Valverde in the Movistar
team and a pure climber, attacked
in the long ascent to the Port de
Pailheres, opening a one-minute
lead at the top. But he was overtaken in the final 10km.
AFP, Reuters
PHOTO: AP
Tour de France: Stage 9

Live, StarHub Ch205, 6.30pm
Chris Froome displayed his awesome climbing ability to leave his rivals behind and win the eighth
stage of the Tour de France. He has told his team to stay focused to help retain his yellow jersey.
Not that anybody in Britain

cares. Their focus is on Murray,
who carries their hopes with him at
this tournament.
I would hope I would be a little
bit calmer going into the final, he
said. But you dont know. You
dont decide that. I might wake up
and be unbelievably nervous, more
nervous than I ever have been before. But I wouldnt expect to be.
AP
Wimbledon: Final day
Live, mio TV Ch115 & HD Ch117
and StarHub Ch209 & HD
Ch210, 8.30pm
48
sport
Reserves not cowed despite defeat

Sundram pleased with
their contributions
though 2 lapses lead
to loss to Kelantan
Kelantan
LionsXII
MALAYSIAN
SUPER LEAGUE
ATM 0 Perak 1
Johor Darul Takzim 1
Selangor 1
2
0
Felda United 2
Negeri Sembilan 1
Wang Meng Meng

The LionsXIIs Malaysian Super
League (MSL) campaign may have
ended on a losing note with last
nights 2-0 defeat in Kelantan but
coach V. Sundramoorthy will be
happy with the creditable performance from his reserves.
They have now given him more
tactical options when the Malaysia
Cup starts next month.
Before the game in Kota Baru,
Sundram had already declared that
he wanted to give his key players a
break after winning the MSL title
on Tuesday with a 4-0 drubbing of
Felda United.
Key players such as skipper
Shahril Ishak as well as midfield
duo Isa Halim and Hariss Harun
were rested while centre-back Safuwan Baharudin missed the match
because of suspension.
Instead, he would give the reserves the task of protecting the
teams 16-match unbeaten run in
front of 30,000 fanatical fans at the
Sultan Mohammad IV Stadium in
the Kelantan state capital.
The 47-year-old tactician will be
pleased with the contributions of
rookies like midfielder Izzdin
Shafiq, who confidently sprayed
passes all over the pitch, and
Aqhari Abdullah, who harried opponents constantly from his attacking midfield position.
Madhu Mohana was steady at
centre-back and was a threat with
his long throws, while Fazli Ayob
was lively on the right wing and delivered telling crosses.
Kelantan were fresh from their
Malaysian FA Cup final win last
week and seeking to finish fourth
in the 12-team table.
The defending Malaysia Cup
champions, and also last seasons
MSL title holders, snatched all the
Kelantan 2 LionsXII 0
T-Team 2 Terengganu 2
PKNS 4 Pahang 5
FINAL STANDINGS
P W D L F APts
1 LionsXII (C)
22 12 7 3 32 15 43
2 Selangor
22 10 10 2 31 17 40
3 Johor
22 11 7 4 32 26 40
4 Kelantan
22 10 6 6 32 20 36
5 Pahang
22 10 5 7 36 32 35
6 ATM
22 10 4 8 35 25 34
7 Perak
22 8 5 9 23 27 29
8 PKNS
22 8 4 10 34 34 28
9 Terengganu
22 7 6 9 25 31 27
10 T-Team
22 5 4 13 19 33 19
11 Felda (R)
22 4 7 11 13 35 19
12 N. Sembilan (R) 22 1 7 14 11 28 10
C: Champions R: Relegated
Walking the talk

for more unity
PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
Kelantan defender Farisham Ismail (left) holding off LionsXII midfielder Safirul Sulaiman in the Malaysian Super League game last night. Kelantans 2-0 win means
they finish fourth in the 12-team league. The attention will now switch to the Malaysia Cup Kelantan are the defending champions which starts next month.
three points, courtesy of two lapses

in concentration from the Singaporean visitors.
Goalkeeper Khairulhin Khalid
misjudged a sixth-minute corner
from midfielder Badhri Radzi as the
ball swerved in the air and dipped
straight into the net.
Striker Shahfiq Ghani nearly
equalised for the LionsXII but his

30m free kick smacked against the
crossbar.
In the 58th minute, Nigerian
striker Dickson Nwakaeme sneaked
past a static backline to latch on to
Badhris quickly-taken free kick
and blasted a left-footed shot into
the bottom corner to secure the
win.
Despite the defeat, Sundram was

pleased with his players display,
saying: The boys were not overawed by a strong Kelantan team.
We had good possession, created chances and performed well.
With the victory, Kelantan finished fourth in the 12-team MSL
with 36 points from 22 games, one
point more than Pahang, who
Van Ginkel to learn

ropes from Lampard
London Chelsea have found the
successor to veteran midfielder
Frank Lampard, sealing a 9 million (S$17.2 million) deal for rising
Netherlands star Marco van Ginkel.
The 20-year-old, who scored
eight goals in 33 games for Dutch
side Vitesse Arnhem last season,
boasts the physique, box-to-box energy and eye for goal that have
drawn the inevitable comparisons
with the 35-year-old Lampard.
Im very happy to be here at
such a nice club with great players, the Dutchman told the official
Chelsea website.
I know about all the players
and am looking forward to meet
them on Monday. I expect a lot,
Ive watched Chelseas matches
and its really nice to be here.
Van Ginkel, who made his senior international debut against Germany last November, was a key
member of the Vitesse side who finished fourth in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, their highest placing
since 1998. He was voted the best
young player in the Netherlands at

the end of last season.
According to the Guardian, the
youngster was mulling over an offer from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, before Chelsea manager Jose
Mourinho intervened with a personal call, assuring van Ginkel that
he would be granted significant
first-team football this season.
Van Ginkel is a great young talent and we would have liked him
to come to Ajax, said Marc Overmars, the Ajax sporting director.
Whether it is too early for him
to go to Chelsea or not, I dont
know. With us, he would have
played a lot of games and played in
the Champions League.
But Mourinho spoke with the
player and, much to Ajaxs dismay,
convinced the youngster he would
feature regularly in the Blues first
team and not be sent out on loan.
The Portuguese wants van Ginkel to start learning the ropes from
England international Lampard,
who signed a one-year contract ex-
y u
How do
make
money?
Wher
e
you avrer
e
edged out PKNS away in a 5-4 thriller, and two points ahead of Malaysian military side ATM, who lost
0-1 at home to Perak.
The LionsXII are champions
with 43 points, three points ahead
of both Selangor and Johor Darul
Takzim, who drew 1-1.
meng@sph.com.sg
About 700 participants from the local football community participated in the 2.7km Fun Walk category
of the inaugural Orange Ribbon
Run/Walk along Marina Bay yesterday.
The event, organised by Organised by OnePeople Singapore to celebrate racial and religious harmony, saw the participation of
S-League chief executive officer
Lim Chin, as well as players such as
Monsef Zerka, Jozef Kaplan, Lee
Kwan Woo, Noh Rahman and Indra Sahdan Daud.
Ten participants were chosen as
best dressed for the event.
Each won a pair of tickets to
watch an S-League Selection side
take on Selangor in the annual Sultan of Selangors Cup in September.
SOCCER SHORTS
Paulinho transfer finalised
Brazil midfielder Paulinho has
completed his 17 million
(S$32 million) move from
Corinthians to Tottenham
Hotspur after successfully
completing a medical. The
24-year-old, who scored 34
goals in 167 games for
Corinthians, shone in Brazils
winning Confederations Cup
campaign last month.
PHOTO: AFP
Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel has chosen Chelsea over Ajax Amsterdam,
after he was promised significant playing time in the first team.
tension at the club back in May.

Van Ginkel joined Vitesse at the
age of seven in 1999 and progressed through the youth ranks before making his Eredivisie debut at
the age of 17.

He becomes Mourinhos second
summer signing following the arrival of German forward Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen.
Altidore joins Sunderland

United States international Jozy
Altidore is set to join
Sunderland from AZ Alkmaar
after the clubs reached
agreement over a transfer.
The 23-year-old, who scored
38 goals in two seasons for AZ,
must still agree personal terms
and pass a medical. The move
marks a return to the English
Premier League for the forward,
who managed just one goal in a
season-long loan spell at Hull
City in the 2009-10 season.
Krkic loaned out to Ajax
Barcelona have agreed to loan
forward Bojan Krkic to Ajax
Amsterdam for the 2013-14

campaign with an option for a
further season.
The 22-year-old spent the
past two seasons playing in
Italys Serie A, enjoying a
reasonable season for AS Roma
but barely featuring last term at
AC Milan.
Bayern fine Nike-clad trio
Bayern Munichs stars Mario
Goetze, Mario Gomez and Jan
Kirchhoff have all been fined a
reported five-figure sum for
wearing Nike clothing, which
had not gone down well with
club sponsor adidas.
New signings Goetze and
Kirchhoff wore Nike T-shirts at
Tuesdays press conference to
officially unveil them.
Gomez was photographed
wearing a Nike cap at training
on Thursday.
All three players are privately
sponsored by Nike, but under
the terms of the clubs contract
with adidas, they must wear
only clothing made by the
German sports brand at official
events.
[ OFFSIDE ]
Triple treat at Bridge should stop Roman from roaming
Tay Yek Keak

The Roman Empire has lasted
10 years.
Dont confuse it with the
original Roman Empire of ancient times, which lasted in
parts here and there for almost
1,500 years.
Im an incurable optimist,
but I dont think that Roman
Abramovich, as Chelseas Caesar, can make his money last
that long.
Now, as a Blues fan, there is
only one thing I truly fear.
Not Frank Lampard leaving.

Not John Terry doing something dumb or David Luiz doing something even dumber.
Heck, not even Chelsea changing their blue strip into Manchester Uniteds red.
But what is scarier than Arsene Wengers Scrooge impersonation is if Restless Roman
gets an itch and suddenly decides to dump the Blues for, I
dont know, the latest French
club to turn into a fashion accessory like Paris Saint-Germain or Monaco.
Every day, I live with that
uncertain, mortal fear. Like
David Moyes wondering which
club are offering Wayne Rooney a better hair transplant discount.
To prevent the dark day of
In the driving seat

Its a terrible waste of
resources for a
billionaire to become
a bus driver, but at
least Abramovich can
steer the team in the
direction he wants.
Abramovichs wallet abandoning Chelsea, I have the plans
here to make the second decade of the Roman Empire even
greater than the first.
Firstly, Abramovich needs
to command the golden chariot.
I know Jose Mourinho demands command over football
matters, but every time you see
Abramovich sitting excitedly
in the stands, you know he is

just dying to show everybody
where to go.
Look, he doesnt have to be
a co-coach or Fernando Torres
official sympathiser.
He just needs to be driving
the team coach.
Its a terrible waste of resources for a billionaire to become a bus driver, but at least
Abramovich can steer the team
in the direction he wants.
Secondly, Chelsea must
build their own Colosseum.
Every empire erects its own
defining monument, the way
China built the Great Wall.
They are the lasting remnants
of supreme glory.
Abramovich has been looking to expand Stamford Bridge
into something much bigger,
like Stamford Super Fortress.
But zoning laws and site constraints have so far curbed his
enthusiasm for a magnificent
new stadium.
The dude needs to think out
of the box to clear the obstacles. Julius Caesar used an army.
Finally, Abramovich, the imperious owner, deserves a
crown. No kidding.
Roberto Mancini had his
trademark scarf, Alex Ferguson
his chewing gum and Martin
Jol his Shrek scowl.
So, there already are distinctive antecedents.
Just to make sure everybody
at Chelsea knows what the Second Roman Empire is all about,
I suggest that the crown be
shaped to look exactly like a little Champions League trophy.
stsports@sph.com.sg
49
thesundaytimes
July 7, 2013
sport
TOUGHEST START?
Does this season offer the most
challenging start for 20-time English
champions Manchester United in the
Premier League? The Sunday Times
checks out their previous campaigns.
2013-14
L (previous seasons position) 9-Swansea
(League Cup winners, away)
L 3-Chelsea (Europa League champions, home)
L 7-Liverpool (away)
L P-Crystal Palace (newly promoted, home)
L 2-Manchester City (away)
Hamilton pips Vettel

to pole position
at German GP.
>>Page 46
2011-12
L 11-West Bromwich: Win 2-1 away
L 5-Tottenham: Win 3-0 at home
L 4-Arsenal: Win 8-2 at home
L 14-Bolton: Win 5-0 away
L 2-Chelsea: Win 3-1 at home
Uniteds final league placing: 2nd
2008-09
L 12-Newcastle: Draw 1-1 at home
L 8-Portsmouth: Win 1-0 away
L 4-Liverpool: Lose 1-2 away
L 2-Chelsea: Draw 1-1 away
L 16-Bolton: Win 2-0 at home
Uniteds final league placing: 1st
2005-06
L 4-Everton: Win 2-0 away
L 10-Aston Villa: Win 1-0 at home
L 14-Newcastle: Win 2-0 away
L 8-Man City: Draw 1-1 at home
L 5-Liverpool: Draw 0-0 away
Uniteds final league placing: 2nd
Moyes to
start life
in the
fast lane
Moyes on...
United boss aims to

add to squad before
facing big guns early
in EPL campaign
not going anywhere. You have to

get the balance right.
The title-winning squad Moyes
inherited from the Ferguson will
pack enough quality to ride
through the early challenges, although a few new faces would be
more than welcome.
Moyes said he is trying to make
at least one deal before United
leave for a three-week pre-season
tour to Asia and Australia on
Wednesday.
I think things might be done a
little bit later this year, partly because there are quite a few new
managers in (the Premier League)
so not everything will be done
right away, but if you had the ideal
position you would try to get the
players in as soon as you could,
said the Scot.
I will try (to make a signing before the tour). We will do everything we can to add to the squad.
United are expected to make a
fresh bid for Leighton Baines, the
Everton left-back, after having an
initial offer of 12 million (S$23
million) rejected.
The club are also waiting to see if
Thiago Alcantara, the Spain Under-21 midfielder, will join them
from Barcelona.
Asked if Cristiano Ronaldo, the
Real Madrid forward who has been
linked with a return to United, was
a possible addition, Moyes said: I
would never speak about players at
other clubs because its wrong and
not my style.
The Times, London, Reuters,
AFP
Manchester The challenge facing David Moyes at Old Trafford is

tough enough. So the new Manchester United manager could be
forgiven for wondering if someone
was willing him to fail after the English Premier Leagues fixture list
handed him the cruellest of starts.
After a tricky trip to the Liberty
Stadium to face Swansea City on
the opening weekend of the season
on Aug 17, Moyes first competitive
match at Old Trafford will be
against Jose Mourinhos Chelsea a
week later.
From there, a home game
against Crystal Palace is sandwiched between daunting visits to
Anfield and the Etihad Stadium to
play Liverpool and Manchester
City respectively.
Its a tough start and Im not
convinced thats the way the balls
have come out of the hat when
that was being done, Moyes said,
with a smile developing across his
face.
But you have to play everybody
twice. I look back over the last five
years and Ive never seen Man United get a tougher start in any Premier League season.
He has a point. The last time
United had to meet three top teams
in their first five matches was in the
2011/12 season, where they had to
play Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea. They won all three games. and
finished the season second, behind
champions Chelsea.
But Moyes should count himself
lucky as it could have been worse.
Just ask Aston Villa manager
Paul Lambert, who has a much
harder task. His young team will
face Arsenal (away), Liverpool
(home) and Chelsea (away) in their
first three games this season.
Nonetheless, Moyes challenging start to his tenure will make an
already impossible job even more
arduous, as he seeks to replicate the
success of his predecessor Alex Ferguson.
For someone whose only silverware as manager was the third-tier
title with Preston North End in
2000, even the prospect of retaining the EPL title might be seen as
daunting amid the expected improvement from Man City, Chelsea
and Arsenal.
This job is about winning trophies and its something I want to
do, said Moyes. I think the priority is doing well in all the competitions and the Premier League. We
have to go for everything. You attempt to win everything.
But, at United, winning is not
enough. They have to win in style.
We will play exciting football,
the way Manchester United play,
Moyes stressed. But the biggest
thing is to win. I would always put
winning top of the list and Im sure
Alex would as well.
If you have an entertaining
team and dont win, then you are
Silverware
This job is about
winning trophies and
its something I want to
do. You attempt to win
everything.
Style
We will play exciting
football, the way
Manchester United play.
But the biggest thing is
to win.
Ronaldo
I would never speak
about players at other
clubs because its wrong
and not my style.
PHOTO: AP
New Manchester United manager David Moyes has already had a bid rejected for former player Leighton Baines but
insists that Bill Kenwright, the Everton owner, has not stipulated that he cannot return to Goodison Park to shop.
[ HEART OF FOOTBALL
He used to be David, now he can aim to be a Goliath

Rob Hughes
Moments before David Moyes gave
his first official media conference
as the manager of Manchester United on Friday, a bus-load of Japanese
disembarked at Old Trafford.
They were not at the Theatre of
Dreams to hear Mr Moyes.
Some were buyers at the Old
Trafford megastore in the East
Stand. Some were taking snapshots
of the Alex Ferguson statue outside
the North Stand.
All were pestered by an opportunist selling scarves inscribed with
Sir Alex Ferguson the Godfather.
Inside the press room, Fergies
old lair for 26 years and nine
months, Moyes didnt retreat from
the Ferguson connections.
Sir Alex, the younger Scot
mused, will never go away. You
can see his stand, you can see his
statue. And do you know, I hope he
is always up there in the directors
box looking down on me.
Hes there for advice, not to
pressure me.
Yet, there is a deference there.
Moyes started off his media talk by
describing the manner in which he
was summoned to the home of Sir
Alex back in May.
I had no idea whatever, he

said of the call. I was expecting
him to say he was going to take one
of my (Everton) players or something else.
But he said: Im retiring. Yeah,
I asked, when? Next week, he said.
The next thing he said was:
And youre the next Manchester
United manager. The blood
drained from my face, as you can
imagine.
The blood quickens now that
players who have always been beyond the wish list that Moyes
could dream of have started to report for training.
Very soon, they will be on the
road to play in Bangkok on July 13,
and then Sydney, Yokohama, Osaka, Hong Kong, Stockholm and
back home for the new season that
pits United against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool next
month.
By then, Moyes will have just
about got over his shock, his feeling of privilege, his feeling of thrill
that Ferguson picked him out, and
everyone from Sir Bobby Charlton
to the Glazer family in Florida, who
own Man U, have been so incredibly welcoming to him.
Those adjectives privilege,
thrill, incredibly welcoming are
all from Moyes. At 50, he sounds
like a born-again newcomer to the
business.
But he knows the expectation,
the demands. In Fergies 26 years,
his Red Devils brought home the
Premier League trophy 13 times.
In 11 years at Everton, Moyes

success was measured by his ability
to keep the blue half of Merseyside
in the EPL and to keep it in the
top half of a league where Evertonians could spend only like paupers
compared to the sheikh at Man
City, the oligarch at Chelsea, the
Yanks at Man Utd, and the combined wealth of an American billionaire and another oligarch buying the shares of Arsenal.
One early indication of Uniteds
buying power is that they have already bid 12 million (S$23 million) for Evertons dynamic
left-back Leighton Baines. No deal,
said Moyes former club chairman
Bill Kenwright and his successor at
Everton, Roberto Martinez.
But, while Moyes trotted out
that old line about not disclosing
any pursuit of other clubs players
under contract, you just know he
will be back with an improved offer
for Baines.
And you know that this would
be a Ferguson-approved signing because Sir let his admiration for
Baines be known.
The retiring knight has also
talked about Cristiano Ronaldo returning (although the Portuguese
himself insists that will not be this
season).
Moyes has, again in his own
words, to put his own stamp on
Old Trafford while maintaining the
tradition that Ferguson and before
him Sir Matt Busby sustained over
decades.
Manchester United are what

they are because of their Scottish
managers. Busby resurrected the
club after their stadium was
bombed in World War II. His Busby
Babes were shattered in the 1958
Munich Airport disaster but Busby
survived, rebuilt the success and
handed over to Ferguson.
Now, a third Scot has the chair
and the onus.
Moyes could simply have picked
up with the staff that Ferguson had
Old spice
Ex-United defender
Phil Neville, who
retired as an Everton
player last month,
is back as a
coaching influence...
And Paul Scholes is
invited to coach
though, for now,
he wants family time.
built up over 20 years. However,
Rene Meulensteen, the Dutchman
who honed technical skills there,
has chosen to become assistant to
Guus Hiddink in Russia with Anzhi
Makhachkala.
Fergies right-hand man Mike
Phelan wanted to stay but was not
invited to.
Moyes is choosing his own in-
ner circle. Four of them come from

Everton: assistant manager Steve
Round, first-team coach Jimmy
Lumsden, goalkeeper coach Chris
Woods and chief scout Robbie
Cooke.
But there is a bigger scheme
afoot. Ex-United defender Phil Neville, who retired as an Everton player last month, is back as a coaching
influence.
Ryan Giggs, still intending to
play at 40, joins him as a player-coach. And Paul Scholes is invited to coach though, for now, he
wants family time.
I wanted to make sure I had a
connection to what happened
here, Moyes said. And to make
sure I had some young members of
staff behind me as well.
Out with the older staff, but
build a new dynasty with people
who know what worked and are
young enough to adapt to whatever Moyes brings to the party.
One player who knows what
that might be, and who has
first-hand experience of the hunger
that fires Moyes, is Wayne Rooney.
Wayne is not for sale, Moyes
said repeatedly. Asked if Rooney
had categorically told him he
wants to leave (for Chelsea, it
seems rather than Arsenal), Moyes
replied: I can tell you categorically
that Wayne Rooney is training fantastically well.
What were doing at the moment is looking to see how we can
get Wayne Rooney the goals which
are going to challenge the likes of

Bobby Charlton and Denis Laws
numbers.
Rooney, whom Moyes had to
sell as a teenager from Everton to
United, has scored 197 goals in 402
appearances for the Red Devils.
Charlton finished on 249, and Law
237.
I see a little glint in Waynes
eye, said Moyes. He looks happy,
he looks as if hes saying hes going
to knuckle down. Im looking forward to working with him.
In red, the new management presumes.
stsports@sph.com.sg
four-digit draw
Jul 06 2013
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SUMIKO TAN
Learning to be
a stepmother
page15
July 7, 2013
Queue for free tickets to

the M Countdown music
chart show.
Beautify your
skin, Psy-style,
in Myeongdong
shopping area.
From watching a music chart show

for free to bumping into the stars,
AKSHITA NANDA reports on
where fans in the know hang out
in Hallyu-land.
PAGES 12&13
NEW
SENTOSA
SCENE
Boardwalk cafes,
beach bars draw
locals and tourists
PAGE2
Buy K-pop
merchandise
from stalls in
Myeongdong.
See Winter Sonata star Bae

Yong Joons handprint in
Chuncheon, Gangwon province.
GET FIT
CRAZE
Just how
healthy is
the fitspo
trend?
PAGES4&5
$23.8M COFFEESHOP
Property
experts
say sale
price is
justified
PAGE6
WASTE NOT,
WANT NOT
Families and
eateries on how
they avoid
wasting food
PAGES8&21
DESIGN: SALLY LAM PHOTOS: AKSHITA NANDA, SEAH KWANG PENG, LING LIM, CHEW SENG KIM, ISTOCKPHOTO
live
ST PHOTOS: MARK CHEONG, SEAH KWANG PENG
Thanks to the boats (left and top) anchored at Quayside Isle on Sentosa
and the spacious boardwalk (above), the area has a marina vibe that is
not seen on the mainland.
Sunny sides up at Sentosa

The islands new C Side and
Quayside Isle offer a beach
and luxe getaway without
the need to leave Singapore
Natasha Ann Zachariah
Diners at Paradiso Restaurant and Bar (above), which serves Mediterranean food, and
European bistro Picotin Express (right) have a meal while enjoying views of the marina.
SENTOSA
GATEWAY
PALA
W
TA
N
ALLANBROOK
E
JO
NG
AD
RO
ROAD
Tanjong
Golf Course
AC
VIEW
IV
W
AL
K
Sentosa
Cove
W Residences
W Hotel
Quayside Isle
Tanjong
Beach
CO
VE
DR
OR
E
Sentosa
Cove
Arrival
Plaza
Sentosa
Resort
& Spa
BE
Serapong
Lake
SER
APO LAK
ES
N
H
L ROAD
HIL
Palawan
Island
WA
LK
AR
ROTILL
AD ERY
Capella
Singapore
SE
UR
CH
Serapong
Golf Course
IVE
Beach
Selat Sengkir
DR
BIA
W Merlion
AL
K
Universal
Studios
Singapore
AR
TI L
L E RY A
VE
Football
Field
OC
EA
N
CSide
Imbiah
IM
Siloso
Beach
E
AV
AC
ROA
BE
SERAPONG CO
SIL
O
SO
Resorts
World
Cable
Sentosa
Car
station Waterfront
AY
W
MS TABITHA YEO, a regular visitor to Sentosas Siloso Beach
Shangri-Las
Rasa
Sentosa
Resort
Pulau
Brani
This is the cleanest beach in Singapore... Its not

crowded like other beaches, so you can really chill
out and not have to fight with people for space.
O ROAD
S
SILO
BE
Laze the
day away
by the
beach
(right) in
front of
the
Coastes
bar and
cool
down
with
drinks at
the Bikini
Bar (far
right).
Fort
Siloso
TE
GA
kindergarten-cum-enrichment centre will

be coming up too.
Nikei Fine Arts gallery manager Herman Salleh, 30, says the five-month-old
shop in Quayside Isle, which represents
mostly Japanese artists, sees many walk-in
customers after dinner.
Its still early days, he says. We
expect traffic to pick up when people move
into the nearby residences and know more
about the place.
Never mind that some of these businesses have outlets in town: Kith, a cafe serving
Western food and brunch items, also has
outlets at Robertson Quay and Park Mall.
Since Quayside Isles official opening
about four months ago, a handful of Kiths
customers have been driving to Sentosa regularly to get their caffeine fix. This, despite
the $7 day entrance fee for cars on weekends (reduced to $3 after 5pm), says the
cafes co-owner Jane Hia.
On weekends, the wait for a table there
could be as long as an hour.
Ms Hia, 29, adds: Even if you take the
free island shuttle, it would be a 15-minute
walk from the Sentosa Cove Village bus
stop. It does cut off some people without
cars but people are still coming.
Such tenacity from patrons is understandable, given that Quayside Isle has a
charming, marina vibe not found on the
mainland. With alfresco dining, retroinspired lamps dotting the wooden boardwalk and yachts floating at their docks next
AN
entosa, having shed its image as a

kitschy tourist trap, has been
flaunting more of its different sides
of late namely, the C Side and
Quayside Isle.
C Side, a 3,000 sq m collective of new
and revamped five eateries and bars on the
islands southern Siloso Beach, launched a
week ago.
There, families gather at the revamped
seven-year-old Coastes, a rustic, laidback
restaurant with sunbeds and deck chairs to
lounge on at the waters edge.
The younger 20somethings chill out
over ice-cold beers at the sexy, bigger Bikini
Bar: a quirky standalone bar with beer
bottles hanging overhead and, of course,
sexy servers in bikinis.
Peckish sun-seekers could hit up two
new food joints: Flame, which sells itself as
Singapores first beach rotisserie, and
neighbouring Makan Makan, which serves
local fare, such as laksa and chicken rice,
from beach-style hawker stalls.
Rounding off the collective is the Sand
Bar, a beachfront stalwart offering live
music on a sea-facing stage.
The outlets started renovations, which
cost $4 million, in August last year to create
more open-concept kitchens, widen old
spaces and spruce up seating areas.
Coastes managing director Heather
Seow says the rejuvenation and expansion
were timely as some eateries had closed
early last year, and the early seaside bars
had been around for seven years a long
time in the fickle nightlife scene.
The outlets which closed were Sakae
Sushi and New Zealand Natural Ice Cream.
She adds: C Side is a beach getaway
without you having to leave the country.
The opportunity came up to expand the
concepts and give the outlets a facelift.
Meanwhile, Quayside Isle on the
eastern end of the island has been
drawing foodies with its eclectic, upmarket
retailers, restaurants and bars.
There is also an art gallery and a beauty
salon to cater to residents of nearby
Sentosa Cove. A new pet shop as well as a
ST GRAPHICS
to it, it feels more like Santa Monica Pier in

Los Angeles or Coney Island boardwalk in
New York than Singapore.
Ms Edina Hong, 40, who runs four establishments in Quayside Isle as director of the
Emmanuel Stroobant Group, including the
upcoming Blue Lotus Chinese Eating
House, says: When I saw the place, I knew
that it would do well, given the amazing
views and how it would be a destination
for people to come to.
It used to be that people didnt want to
come to Sentosa because it had nothing
more to offer after you have been here

once. But now, they are coming back.
Regular Sentosa visitor Tabitha Yeo
agrees. The operations manager at a design
consultancy does not mind paying $8 in
cab fare to travel from her home in Tanglin
to Sentosa every weekend. She has an
Islander pass, which costs $25 and allows
her unlimited entry for a year.
Ms Yeo, who declines to reveal her age,
says of Siloso Beach: This is the cleanest
beach in Singapore and its a stress reliever
to be out here. Its not crowded like other
beaches, so you can really chill out and not

have to fight with people for space.
But the new enclaves are just the latest
instalment in a makeover story for the
former Pulau Belakang Mati, or island of
the dead/death from behind in Malay, as
it was called before being renamed in 1972.
In recent years, fancy attractions such as
Resorts World Sentosa, home to Universal
Studios Singapore and a Marine Life Park,
have sprung up. The Sentosa Development
Corporation says that the islands visitorship has more than tripled from 6.1 million in 2009 to 20 million last year.
Associate professor of marketing Seshan
Ramaswami, at the Singapore Management
Universitys Lee Kong Chian School of
Business, says the islands development is
fitting, given the increasing competition
from other attractions in Singapore as well
as neighbouring countries.
Having an array of lifestyle and entertainment offerings to suit all budgets has
helped Sentosa stay relevant to Singapore
residents and tourists alike, he adds.
It could aspire to be all things to all people. The island is big and its different attractions are physically separated. So one could
hang out for free on the beach and eat at
the foodcourt, having taken the monorail
over from VivoCity, completely oblivious
to the glamorous offerings a shuttle bus
ride away, he says.
The traditional Sentosa offerings, such
as the rides, shows and Fort Siloso, will
continue to attract travellers as well as
locals.
If anything, the island should aspire to
be a must-see location for tourists and still
be attractive enough for locals to spend
some time there a few times a year at least.
For now, folks are giving the island two
thumbs-up.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon,
Australian entrepreneur Nicole Rose was
thoroughly impressed with Sentosa after
chilling on the beach, riding the Segway
and cycling there with her friend, engineer
Sarah Godwin, 28.
The 38-year-old, who was visiting Singapore for the first time en route to London,
says: I got a long e-mail from a Singaporean friend telling me that I had to visit
Sentosa. Weve spent six hours here already
and it really feels like were truly on
holiday at a beach getaway.
I havent checked my BlackBerry
once.
natashaz@sph.com.sg
What do you like about C Side and
Quayside Isle on Sentosa? E-mail
suntimes@sph.com.sg
live
live
Spurred by break-up
From
scrawny
to buff
Who: Ling Lim, 27, architect

Instagram: lingandclean,
#fitspo, #fitfluential, #bodybuilding, #fitchick,
#girlswithmuscles
Followers: Instagram 3,900
A break-up five years ago forced Ms Ling Lim to
re-evaluate her life. Wanting to do something for herself, she decided to get fit. She read up on fitness and
dieting, hit the gym and exercised up to five times a
week. She also cut down on her consumption of processed food and had more home-cooked meals.
Within months, the 1.62m-tall woman, who used
to weigh about 55kg, noticed that her clothes fitted better and her muscles were more toned. But she did not
post photos of her progress until she started using Instagram last year. At first, she just wanted to share the pictures with a few friends.
Within six months, however, the number of her followers hit 1,000. She started to post more frequently
Who: Shawn Lim, 22, social

media executive
Instagram and twitter:
@mediumshawn, #Crossfit
Followers: Twitter 1,694;
Instagram 1,147
Mr Lim, who describes his
former self (right) as scrawny
and geeky, began hitting the
gym after reading up on fitness
last September.
His national service stint had
just ended, and the 1.62m-tall
young man, who weighed 64kg
then, felt unfit.
As a way to motivate himself,
he began posting pictures on Instagram and Twitter
that showed him working out.
When my friends saw that I was losing steam or
feeling discouraged, they would cheer me up. It was
also a way for me to track my progress, such as how big
I had become, which was what I was working towards
then.
He trained three times a week for about an hour
each time and started eating more healthily. He also
prepared his meals in
advance every Sunday
to make sure he had at
least one healthy meal
a day.
He lost 4kg within
three to four months.
He also started to bulk
up and gain muscle.
He posted photos of
his workouts almost
every day and his
number of followers
grew.
The singleton says:
Some friends commented that they felt
inspired by what I was
doing.
The most common
comment from people
was, I admire your dedication. I have yet to
receive any nasty comments.
He would meet
some of his followers
occasionally
to
exchange fitness tips
over a meal and share
what works or does not
work for them.
Even though I
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SHAWN LIM
didnt set out to inspire
Im always willTo me, progress is others,
ing to answer any quesno longer about my tions.
Theres no such
size but how fit I
thing as a stupid or silam, such as how
ly question to me.
long I take to
Everybody has to start
somewhere.
complete a
But his idea of fitworkout
ness changed in May,
MR SHAWN LIM (above), on
when he was offered a
how he has shifted his focus
free CrossFit trial in
from how he looks to how fit
exchange for blogging
he is
about it. CrossFit is a
combination of gymnastics, weightlifting, strength
and conditioning training.
After the month-long trial, he joined a CrossFit class
and trained five times a week.
He also started following other CrossFitters on
Instagram to pick up tips from them.
Instead of photos that show his muscle gain, he
now shows pictures of his CrossFit workouts, as he says
he has become less obsessed with his body image and
more concerned with health and fitness.
To me, progress is no longer about my size but how
fit I am, such as how long I take to complete a workout, he says.
I realised that being big and buff does not mean
you are fit.
Ms Daphne Maia
Loo lost 14kg off her
65kg frame (below)
with a combination
of exercise and a
sensible diet.
Social media executive Shawn Lim posts photos of himself executing CrossFit moves on Instagram and Twitter.
Get fit on Instagram

Fitness buffs who post photos of
their bodies, workouts and healthy
meals on social media inspire their
followers to do the same
Lea Wee
eeping fit is no longer a lonely journey, in

this age of social media.
More people are putting up photos of
themselves sweating it out on Instagram,
Tumblr and other microblogging websites,
and these before-and-after pictures let them chart their
progress.
In the process, they attract followers and inspire
them to embark on a fitness programme.
The trend, called fitspiration or fitspo in short, was
first popularised in countries such as Australia and the
United States about a year ago.
It is not known how big the community here is. But
there are at least five Singaporeans, aged 20 to 30, who
have been posting pictorial diaries of their fitness journeys in recent months.
They also put up photos of their meals, which usually adhere to a clean diet. This diet advocates the consumption of less processed food and more whole
foods, as well as lowering ones intake of salt, sugar and
oil.
The fitspo bloggers SundayLife! spoke to say they
did not set out to inspire others. But some of them
showed such remarkable progress that their posts have
drawn followers that number from a few hundred to
almost 4,000.
Fitspo comes in the wake of thinspo or thinspira-
tion, which was especially popular on Tumblr a few

years ago. People who follow this trend post images of
skinny people, usually women, to inspire others to lose
weight. The practice has since been widely condemned
for promoting an unattainable ideal that is also bad for
health.
Last year, Tumblr announced a new policy against
blogs that actively promote self-harm.
Then came fitspo, which supposedly sends a
healthier message by inspiring people to get fit.
Child-care teacher Gladys Png, 20, is one of them.
Last December, she got on the fitspo trend by following people from countries such as Australia and the US
who posted photos of their meals and workouts.
She says: There was this girl with a very saggy bottom who went on a 30-day squat programme. She started with 15 squats a day and ended with about 50. By
the end of it, she had a model-like bum. It was very
inspiring.
That same month, she started her own fitness programme and began posting photos of her meals and
gym workouts on Instagram. She now has more than
300 followers, and her weight has gone down from
54kg to 47kg. Given her height of 1.56m, her weight is
considered healthy.
But fitspo has also been criticised by some fitness
experts for its potential risks to ones health.
Ms Charlotte Hilton Anderson, an American who
runs The Great Fitness Experiment, a health and fitness site, described the trend as thinspo in a sports
bra on the website last year. The main worry is that
the quest for fitness can turn obsessive and unhealthy.
Ms Ling Lim, 27, who has been putting up pictures
of her workouts on Instagram since last year and has
more than 3,900 followers, is a cautionary tale.
The architect says she became so obsessed with sticking to a stringent diet at one point that she shunned all
social events for fear of straying from her meal plan.
Dr Cornelia Chee, 40, director of Womens Emotional Health Service at the National University Hospital,
says there is nothing wrong with wanting to be fit and
toned.
Its better than trying to lose as much weight as possible, she says.
But she warns: If the quest for fitness takes up so
much time that the person neglects other parts of his
life, such as work and family, then it could be
unhealthy and narcissistic.
All of us need some doses of self-love... but excessive self-absorption is a form of unhealthy narcissism.
Fitness trainer and gym owner Keith Tan says a fitness plan that works for one person may not work for
another. The 28-year-old adds: In trying to follow the
fitness regimen of another person, you may end up
injuring yourself.
Whatever you do, he says, start slow and enjoy the
process. The key to success is consistency and sustainability. If you hit a plateau, you may want to train with
a fitness professional.
A fitness regimen has to be tailored to each person
based on factors such as age, occupation and activity
level, he says.
Health professionals also advise against adopting
the weight loss diet of another person.
Ms Lynette Goh, a senior dietitian from National
Healthcare Group Polyclinics, says: Weight loss diets
may not be balanced or are very low in calories, so they
may lack important nutrients that our body needs.
There are also risks of vitamin and mineral deficiencies if the diet is not prescribed by a health professional.
While Ms Daphne Maia Loo sees nothing wrong
with exchanging tips with her more than 1,000 followers on Instagram, the social media consultant, who has
documented how she dropped 14kg in six months,
notes: I always start by telling them that I am not an
expert.
The 30-year-old has a personal trainer and used to
consult a nutritionist. What I share is what I have
experienced, learnt, experimented with and what has
worked for me, she adds.
leawee@sph.com.sg
People thought
she was pregnant
Who: Daphne Maia Loo, 30, social media consultant
Instagram: @daphnemaia, #fitness,
#eatcleantrainmean, #fitspo, #fitfam
Followers: Facebook 2,000; Twitter 3,000;
Instagram 1,000
Ms Loo had always wanted to lose
weight, but it was embarrassment
that finally moved her to action
last December. There were at
least four occasions over a few
months when people gave up
their seats on the MRT for me
because they thought I was pregnant, she recounts.
At 1.55m tall, she weighed
65kg then. She signed up for a
group class led by a fitness trainer
and started doing exercises such as
lunges and squats three times a
week for at least an hour each
time. She also sought help from a
nutritionist and began cutting out
processed food from her diet and
reducing her salt and oil intake.
Her efforts paid off and she lost
9kg in three months.
PHOTO: NICHOLAS LEE
Initially, she posted updates
and photos on her blog, Facebook and Instagram simply to track her weight loss and to update friends and
family members on her progress. Then in February,
she posted a current photo of herself next to one that
was taken three months earlier.
The stark contrast gained her 300 likes and more
than 150 comments on Facebook within two days.
Her followers on Instagram also surged from about
100 to more than 400.
She began to receive well wishes as well as questions on how she achieved the weight loss.
That motivated me to press on in my weight loss
and fitness journey, and I have since lost a total of
14kg.
She admits, however, that she became obsessed at
one stage with wanting to look like the fitness models
she was following on Instagram, who boasted toned
bodies and flat stomachs.
I started to train at a higher intensity. For
instance, I would choose jogging or cycling over
yoga. I also refused to eat food that was not prepared
at home.
But she snapped out of that phase after coming
across the Instagram sharing of Singaporean Ling Lim
(see other story), who had a similar experience.
Ling was on this really strict diet and fitness regimen. Her realisation that these were not sustainable
in the long run also made me realise that I was being
too harsh on myself.
Ms Loo now trains three times a week with her personal trainer and jogs, cycles or swims on two or three
other days. But she has learnt to listen to her body
and not over-exert herself.
Her aim these days, she says, is to maintain her
weight, lose some body fat and gain some muscle
mass, without injuring herself.
Besides using social media to chart her fitness journey, she now also posts updates to inspire others,
including her photographer husband, 29, to get fit. I
post inspirational quotes, nuggets about nutrition
and fitness Ive learnt and images of myself leading
an active lifestyle, such as working out in the gym.
Business analyst Alan Lam, 30, who has been following Ms Loo on social media since they met at a
blogger event two years ago, says he was inspired to
follow her even more closely after she posted photos
of her weight loss.
I was undergoing my own weight-loss programme at that time and it was useful to have someone to exchange diet and exercise tips with, says the
1.7m-tall business analyst, who now weighs 72kg
after losing 16kg.
Most importantly, the moral support and encouragement I got from her was priceless.
at least once a day instead of once

every few days as a way to motivate herself on her fitness journey.
These days, the singleton also
enjoys sharing tips with other fitness enthusiasts. We motivate
one another, she says.
Some of her followers are from
Australia, Britain, the United
States and Europe. She also followed fitness models such as
Jamie Eason and Natalia Melo
from the US, and envied them for their flat abs.
In March, she was chosen to test drive a 12-week
online programme by a fitness coach in the US and her
training intensified. She followed a strict diet with
approved food lists, trained for about 11/2 hours five to
six days a week and avoided social events because she
did not want to be tempted by food. She recalls: I lost
a significant amount of fat. I also gained more muscle
and strength.
When she posted a photo of herself before and after
the programme, her number of followers surged. She
PHOTOS: RUEVEN TAN, COURTESY OF LING LIM
Ling Lim in a photo taken last month (above) and when

she was 18 (left).
wanted to continue the regimen after the 12 weeks,

but soon realised she could not sustain that lifestyle.
I am not a fitness model. I have a life outside of the
gym, she says. I re-evaluated my goals and realised
what was most important is a healthy relationship with
food and the strength to love and respect my body.
She put up a series of posts on Instagram to let her
followers know that she had decided to give up the
strict regimen. About 20 people unfollowed her after
that but she was undeterred.
Instead of totally avoiding food that is processed,
she indulges in her favourite food such as pizza occasionally. And instead of hitting the gym five to six
times a week, she cut back to four or five times a week.
She does not know how heavy she is now but says
she was about 48kg when she last weighed herself last
year. She still posts photos of her meals and workouts
on Instagram. But instead of adding comments such as
be relentless, as she used to do, her messages are now
about finding the right balance.
The messages are about gaining strength in the
gym but they are also about respecting your body
enough to take breaks and enjoy life, she says.
My thighs will always touch. So?
live
Multi-million-dollar
price tag: Coffee
Express 2000 in
Hougang Avenue 4 is
not in a prime area,
near an MRT station or
shopping mall, but it is
known to be packed in
the evenings,
especially on
weekends.
Too much for

a coffee shop?
Experts say capital appreciation,
market share gained and
income generated play a part
in the sale of Hougang coffee shop
for $23.8 million
high prices are struggling to make ends meet these

days. A 50-year-old hawker, who runs the vegetarian
stall and wants to be known only as Madam Chua, in
the $14.5-million coffee shop at Block 155 in Bukit
Batok, says: I dont know why it was sold for so
much. Business is just so-so here.
Adds Madam Chua, who has been running the stall
since 1994 with her husband: The location is central
and there are a lot of people around, but there are also
Cheryl Faith Wee & Lim Yi Han
quite a number of coffee shops in this area.
Miscellaneous costs, such as the cost of cleaners,
arlier this week, a nondescript Hougang cof- have gone up at this coffee shop from $350 to $550 a
fee shop was sold for the eye-popping sum of month in the past one year.
$23.8 million.
A worker at a stall, who declines to be named, says:
Why so much? went the headline in a Rent is expensive, so we have to raise prices from
tabloid paper. But, some experts here are not between a few cents and $1. But we still cannot make
surprised at the not-quite-kopi-money price.
much nowadays. My boss said theres a possibility of
English-language newspapers reported last Monday giving the stall up.
on the record-breaking sale of Coffee Express 2000 in
Over at Xi Duo Fu Happy Hawkers, the $12Hougang Avenue 4, with 4,025 sq ft and 17 stalls, for million coffee shop in Jurong East bought by Koufu in
that hefty sum. The buyer, Broadway F&B Manage- 2007, a stallholder who wished to be known only as
ment, runs 15 eating houses, food courts and a restau- Madam Lin says: Every time a new owner takes over,
rant here.
there will be some adjustments made to the rental
When contacted, Broadway declined to comment.
fees. Since she opened her fish soup stall there 14
The coffee shop is not in a prime area, near an MRT years ago, the ownership of the coffee shop has
station or shopping mall which generates human changed hands about four times.
traffic. But experts interviewed say the sale should be
While she declines to reveal her rent, other stallseen as more than a real-estate transaction.
holders tell SundayLife! that rent and other miscellaneAssociate Professor Sing Tien Foo of the National ous costs have gone up twice since 2007, between
University of Singapores department of real estate $300 and $500 each time.
says that transactions involving coffee shops should
More than a decade ago, a bowl of fried fish soup at
not be seen purely as real-estate deals.
her stall cost $3.50. It now costs $4.
Says Prof Sing, 46: You are looking at a business.
Adds Madam Lin, who is in her 40s: When rent
There are other factors
and the cost of ingrediinvolved, such as econoents go up, we have to
mies of scale for big food
increase prices a little,
chains and the smaller
but if it is too expensive,
operation risks for those
no one will want to eat
with expertise in runhere.
ning coffee shops.
Meanwhile, tenants
Property analysts
at Coffee Express 2000
who spoke to Sundayhave not met the new
Life! say that paying a
management to discuss
high price for commerrent and other issues
cial property is not as
yet. The property transcounter-intuitive as it
action will be completsounds.
ed only in September,
International Properand SundayLife! underty Advisor chief execustands that the new
tive Ku Swee Yong says
owners will meet tenST PHOTOS: ASHLEIGH SIM, SEAH KWANG PENG
that a $23.8-million
ants later this month.
price tag for the HouMr Lee Kim Huat, 57,
gang coffee shop is reaowner of the Geylang
sonable if it can yield a Some of these big players really have
Prawn Noodle stall
4 per cent annual return the muscle to make such purchases.
there, says: We are takwhich he adds, is a reaing things one step at a
Whether
they
can
later
sell
the
sonable expectation of
time. If rent goes up and
retails shops in general. property at a higher price depends on
profit margins drop too
HSR International what they do to enhance the coffee
much, we might have
Realtors head, service
to increase prices slightand support, Mr Donald shops tenancy mix and income.
ly.
Yeo, says it is likely that MS EDITH TAY, director of PropertyBank. Other million-dollar
Mr Lees five-yearthe new owners of coffee shops include the S11 at Ang Mo Kio Central (above)
old
stall in Hougang is a
bought for $17.8 million and the one in Jurong East Street 13
Coffee Express 2000 will (below) for $12 million.
branch of his main stall
run some of its stalls
in Upper Paya Lebar.
themselves to generate
Mr Peter Ho, 26, manprofits.
ager of Char-Grill Bar
Adds Mr Yeo, 51:
which has a branch in
That way, they can get
the same coffee shop,
direct revenue. If they
says: We have been
are planning to lease out
here for four years. We
all the stalls, they might
hope to continue and
not have paid this
that business wont be
price.
affected.
Ms Edith Tay, in her
Both Geylang Prawn
40s, director of PropertyNoodle and Char-Grill
Bank which specialises
Bar declined to reveal
in commercial propertheir monthly rent.
ties, says F&B operators
When SundayLife!
consider factors such as
visited the coffee shop
capital appreciation
in Hougang on Wednesover time, market share
day and Thursday, there
and income stream.
was a good lunch crowd.
She explains: We always hear about record-breakIt is known to be packed in the evenings, especially
ing prices, but some of these big players really have on weekends, when people frequent the place for
the muscle to make such purchases. Whether they can drinks. There are five other coffee shops within a
later sell the property at a higher price depends on five-minute-walk radius.
Technical support officer John Lim, in his 50s, who
what they do to enhance the coffee shops tenancy
lives and works nearby, says: There is no shortage of
mix and income.
Other coffee shops have been sold for seemingly coffee shops in the neighbourhood, but I like the food
here best. I will still come here if prices are raised by
astronomical sums before.
Two years ago, six coffee shops were sold for close less than 50 cents.
Another frequent patron is massage therapist Pang
to $60 million. The most expensive of the six was in
Bukit Batok Street 11, with 13 stalls, which reportedly Kim Suan, 53, who eats there at least twice a week.
He says: Its my favourite coffee shop because it is
was sold for $14.5 million to trading company Lubriairy and open. I like the ambience. My friend and I
trade.
In 2007, foodcourt operator Koufu bought a 4,700 nicknamed this place the oasis, because it is our
sq ft coffee shop in Jurong East Street 13, with 13 watering hole.
stalls, for $12 million.
cherylw@sph.com.sg
And nearly a decade ago, coffee shop chain S11
F&B Holdings bought an 8,000 sq ft coffee shop in
limyihan@sph.com.sg
Ang Mo Kio Central, with 16 stalls, for $17.8 million.
Ironically, some tenants in the coffee shops sold at Additional reporting by Fabian Koh
connect
For kids sake, speak properly

Seriously Kidding
Tee Hun Ching
riends often express surprise when they hear

me converse with my kids in Mandarin,
maybe because I work for an Englishlanguage newspaper.
This is usually followed by an anecdote or
two about their children or other kids they know
who are apathetic or, worse, allergic to the language.
One friend recalled how her five-year-old girl
would thwart her attempts to practise Mandarin with
her by retorting in English: Mummy, stop speaking
to me in this alien language.
Proficiency in Chinese, once deemed an uncool
language when I was in school, is now highly valued
because of a resurgent China. But my husband and I
use the language at home not for its economic
currency, but for sentimental reasons.
We both grew up in Mandarin-speaking families.
So while we spend most of our day at work reading,
writing and conversing in English, Chinese remains
the language dearest to our hearts, and one which we
invariably use with close pals.
I would love to see my kids develop the same

emotional ties with their mother tongue.
What my friends dont know, however, is that I
fear my children will never grow to appreciate the
poetic beauty and economy of the language, for we
are such poor role models.
I may speak decent Mandarin, going by standards
here. But Chinese has been dumbed down so much
in school that we no longer expect much from one
another. Half-baked Mandarin, stemming from ill discipline and ignorance, has long been the norm.
So when my six-year-old son asks his threeyear-old sister in Mandarin to, say, pass him the pink
colour pencil on the table, it does not surprise me
that pink, colour, pencil or likely all three
words will be uttered in English. He is merely
modelling his speech after mine.
I was reminded afresh of how woeful my
command of the language was when I visited my
sister in China recently.
While chatting with my brother-in-law, who is
Shanghainese and speaks little English, I found
myself having to rehearse nearly every question and
sentence in my mind first to weed out English words
and iron out grammatical kinks in order to be understood. It was more embarrassing than exhausting for
someone who regards Chinese as her mother tongue.
At a language symposium held here last month,

Associate Professor Xiao Lan Curdt-Christiansen
from the National Institute of Education urged
parents to converse with their children in the
language they are strongest in, not the one they hope
their kids will excel in.
This is because when your grasp of a language is
weak, your vocabulary tends to be limited, she was
reported as saying. This, in turn, hampers your
childs learning of that language.
The advice seems straightforward enough. But in
the melting pot that is Singapore, it is not always easy
to tell which language, if any, we are good at. This is
despite the fact that more families are reportedly
using English to communicate with their children.
For most Chinese Singaporeans, our Mandarin is
riddled with English, and our English is a fractured
version we fondly call Singlish that blatantly defies
the rules of grammar.
It is ironic how, for a country that constantly trumpets bilingualism as the cornerstone of its education
policy, so few of us actually manage to master two
languages, or excel in just one, when we leave school.
In the Singapore context, being bilingual is not so
much about being fluent in two languages as having
the knack of mixing two or more languages in one
sentence.
I once heard a mother telling her child to wash his
hands with soap by combining English, Mandarin

and Malay in one short, wonky sentence: Wash na
ge sabun.
In such a rojak linguistic environment there,
Im just as guilty it is an uphill task trying to teach
or master any language in its unadulterated form.
We also butcher the grammar, mangle the
pronunciation and concoct our own words and
expressions that would not be understood beyond
these shores.
I despair whenever I hear my two pre-schoolers go:
You eat what just now?, Please open the light
and Why he dont talk to you?, among countless
other jarring examples.
Besides constant corrections, exposing them to
good books and films and, of course, disciplining
myself to speak proper English and Mandarin
without any cross-fertilisation, I am not sure what
else I can do to boost their language abilities.
If we are not more mindful about what we spout,
our kids may well grow up speaking alien languages
that would confound any native speaker.
hunching@sph.com.sg
How can we get children to speak proper English
or master their mother tongue? E-mail
suntimes@sph.com.sg
connect
ST PHOTOS: LIM SIN THAI, NURIA LING
Mr Sani Yuseri and wife Anita Kemat do not take their children, including younger son Muhammad Zulfiqar Sani and
daughter Nur Qystina Sani, to buffets because he does not like the idea of wasted food.
Families cut
down the waste
Parents speak out against the
trend of wasting food and how
they avoid that at home
Eve Yap
axi driver Sani Yuseri says his family of five do

not go for buffets at all.
Apart from the fact that his wife and three
children are small eaters and buffets are costly, he cannot abide food wastage after having
worked in the food and beverage industry for 26 years.
People feel they have paid, so they pile up their
plates with food, much of which they leave half eaten,
says Mr Sani, 50. Its such a waste.
He worked in four hotels including Hyatt Regency
Singapore before quitting in 2007 to become a taxi driver to spend more time with his family.
At home in their four-room HDB flat in Jurong West,
his wife, housewife Anita Kemat, 46, cooks just enough.
If there are leftovers, they tend to be just gravies or curries. To this, she might add a fried egg to make a new
dish the next day.
Their eldest child, administrative clerk Nur Syafiqah,
21, and her two younger siblings know not to order too
much when they eat out.
Out of 10 times that we eat out, we have leftovers
only about twice, says Miss Syafiqah. We usually pack
the meats, which keep better than the vegetables.

More people here, it seems, do the opposite of her
family. Food dumping here is at a record high.
The Straits Times reported last Monday that 703,200
tonnes of food waste were generated last year a 26 per
cent spike from 558,900 tonnes in 2007. The National
Environment Agency says that a rise in tourist arrivals
and increasing affluence had contributed to the problem.
When Mr Ler Jiawei was growing up, tight finances
in the family meant wastage of food was not tolerated.
The 28-year-old relationship manager in a bank says:
We were taught from five or six years old to finish
every single bit of food on the plate, or we got
spanked. His 53-year-old father, a foreman, and
51-year-old mother, a hawker, made exceptions only
when he and his two younger siblings were ill.
Now he disapproves when his friends leave a meal
unfinished if the food is not up to expectation.
Quoting Pope Francis, who attacked a culture of
waste in an address in St Peters Square last month, he
says: Im a Buddhist but I quote the Pope to them,
Wasting food is like stealing from the poor.
For Ms Jean Tan, 36, a unit director with a life insurance company, whether or not a family is well-to-do is
irrelevant. While she thinks it is unwise to force a child
to gorge just to finish whats on the plate, its also not
good to order lots or cook lots at one go.
Her elder child, eight-year-old Nicole, has learnt to
order only what she thinks she can finish. She says:
Mummy asks me to look at the next table to see if I can
finish that portion. If I can finish, shell order a full
meal for me. If not, we share because I dont want to
waste food.
In their home, a private apartment in Shelford Road,

the refrigerator is never stuffed she buys groceries as
and when she needs them.
In fact, sometimes my husband and I have to drive
out to a convenience store at a petrol station to get a carton of milk when we realise we have none for our coffee, she says with a laugh.
While parents interviewed may be conscientious
about not wasting food, they admit they have thrown
away food before and learn not to do so through trial
and error.
Teenager K. Schmitt counts herself lucky to have a
mop-up crew when she was growing up.
Dad and my pet rabbit ate up the greens which I
didnt like when I was a child, says the 18-year-old of
the time she was between six and eight years old.
Her 48-year-old managing director father is a Singapore permanent resident from Germany and her mother, 46, a Singaporean housewife.
Ms Schmitt, who lives with her parents and a younger sister in a townhouse in Upper East Coast Road,
agrees that food should not be wasted but you cant
force yourself to eat either.
That is why many parents of young children do not
order meals for themselves when dining out they
know their kids will not be able to finish what is on
their plates.
Ms Tan quips: Most of the time, if I am sharing food
with my daughter, I eat whatever she has ordered. As
most parents are known to do, I clear leftovers.
Mother-of-two Loh Li Nah, 37, tells the same story:
My husband and I usually ask for extra bowls and allocate manageable portions to our kids, so that the leftovers we have to finish arent too disgusting.
When eating at home, there is another option to parents wolfing down their childrens leftovers: Keep them
for another day.
When she cooks and serves a meal to her family,
Mrs Parul Srivastava, 37, ensures that the dishes do not
touch each other. This is so that it would be more
hygienic when leftovers need to be kept (see box).
For instance, she serves curry in a bowl to her two
sons and a daughter, rather than pour it on the rice.
This means unfinished curry can be refrigerated, even if
unfinished rice has to be discarded.
Mrs Srivastava, who runs bread-making classes via
Fireplace Gourmet Breads, also teaches her children to
pick their greens according to how much they can eat.
Each type of leftover vegetable dish is plastic-wrapped
separately.
Health and hygiene concerns are undoubtedly
important. Yet in extreme times, even these go out the
window. Housewife Katherine Ng, 56, recalls hearing
her mother talk about the hard times during the Japanese Occupation.
She used to say food was scarce during the war. I
heard her say they would eat bark of trees and how they
would starve, says Mrs Ng, whose mother has died. Her
63-year-old husband is in the food business.
Not surprisingly, she disapproves of cavalier attitudes towards food wastage.
She says: If you give me something to eat, I have to
finish it, because my mother taught me that every grain
counts. But the younger generation says, Cannot finish, never mind. Can throw away.
Her two children daughter Nichol, 35, and son
Nicholas, 34, who are managing directors of FoodXervices, a food distribution business have learnt well from
her.
Last year, they founded Food Bank Singapore, which
redistributes food donations to the needy.
Mrs Ng says of her childrens initiative: Whatever
they do, I give them my blessings. For this, I give them
my double blessings.
eveyap@sph.com.sg
Spread the love and excess food: Page 21
Mrs Parul Srivastava (above) serves her three

children (from left) Paras, Mansha and Manas
Srivastava small portions.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF JEAN TAN
Ms Jean Tan teaches daughter Nicole (both above) to

order only what she thinks she can finish.
STORING COOKED FOOD SAFELY

It is safe to eat leftover cooked food as long as it
has been handled or stored properly. Heres
how you should do it.
Storage
Store cooked leftovers in clean, shallow,
covered containers so that they can be chilled
faster to minimise bacterial growth during
refrigeration.
Different types of food can be kept in a
refrigerator for varying lengths of time. For
example, bacon keeps for about a week but
scallops just a day or two in a 4 deg C
refrigerator.
Also, any food that has been kept at room
temperature for more than two hours has a
higher risk of bacteria growth. So refrigerate
foods as soon as possible.
Food packaging that has been used to keep
raw food should not be recycled to store cooked
food as this can result in cross-contamination.
Cross-contamination in food occurs when raw
food, including the juices of raw meat, poultry
or seafood, comes into contact with
ready-to-eat food.
Reheating
Reheat cooked leftovers to boiling point before
eating.
If the food preparation involves raw food
and ready-to-eat food, the raw food should not
be mixed with food that has already been
cooked. This is to prevent cross-contamination.
When consuming leftover food, look out for
any changes in the smell or appearance of the
food. Discard when in doubt.
Source: For details, refer to Agri-Food and
Veterinary Authority of Singapores Food
Storage Chart at its website, www.ava.gov.sg
connect
pencil in...
HOPE FOR EVERY CHILD CONCERT
Be inspired by Mongolias award-winning Children
Of The Blue Sky Choir, formed by World Vision
Mongolia to help children from impoverished
families. They will perform in Mongolian, English
and Mandarin. Guest performers include
Singapores Jack & Rai and Arise! Children.
Where: Trinity Christian Centre, Level 4, Chapel, 247 Paya Lebar
Road MRT: Tai Seng When: Today, 5 - 7pm Admission: Free
Tel: 6922-0115 Info: Register at worldvision.org.sg/1/cotbs
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

Written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and
adapted into Mandarin by Danny Yeo and

Xiaohan, this classic childrens story stresses the
importance of hard work and perseverance for
success. This production is presented by The Little
Company, a division of the Singapore Repertory
Theatre.
Where: DBS Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Road, Robertson Quay MRT:
Clarke Quay When: Till July 28, 10am (Tue - Fri), 11am, 2 & 5pm
(Sat & Sun) Admission: $19 - $32 Tel: 6348-5555 Info:
www.sistic.com.sg
YOUNG PARENTS FIESTA 2013

Shop for bargains at this Young Parents Fiesta
2013. Receive a free goodie bag worth more than
$40 when you buy the July issue of Young Parents
at the event. Children can also meet Dora the
Explorer and Garfield. There is a Baby & Child
Photo Contest with prizes worth more than

$5,000 for the winners of cutest baby and child in
Singapore. The event is organised by Young
Parents (SPH Magazines).
Where: United Square, Atrium, Thomson Road MRT: Novena
When: Today, 11am - 9pm Admission: Free Info:
www.youngparents.com.sg/fiesta2013
BUGS! 3D A RAINFOREST ADVENTURE

Peek into the fascinating universe of insects, which
are magnified up to 250,000 times. This 3-D film
focuses on the development of the butterfly in the
tropical rainforests of South-east Asia.
Where: Science Centre, Annexe 1, Science Centre Road MRT:
Jurong East When: Till Wed, noon, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5pm Admission:
$4 ($3 for those with Megabugs Return! ticket) Tel: 6425-2500
Info: E-mail enquiry@science.edu.sg or go to www.science.edu.sg
DISNEY CHANNELS TEEN BEACH MOVIE

DANCE COMPETITION
Children aged nine to 17 who love dancing and
want to rub shoulders with Disney stars are invited
to sign up in teams of two to four for this contest.
Five teams will be picked to meet the Teen Beach
International Disney Channel star Maia Mitchell
and Bridgit Mendler, star of Disney show Good
Luck Charlie, when they come here on July 28.
They will also get to watch the exclusive preview
of Teen Beach Movie. The winning team will be
announced that day and each member will win a
Samsung Galaxy Tablet II 7.0.
Info: Contestants should send a dance video using the music of
Disneys Teen Beach Movie to www.disneychannel-asia.com by
July 20. The Teen Beach Movie songs are available on the website.
Teen Beach Movie will air on the Disney Channel on Aug 4 at
10am. For details, call 6542-0429 or e-mail support@ccnp.com.sg
10
connect
Granny,
youre
my
rock
Relatively Speaking
Eve Yap
Angus Ross prize winner Darrel Chang with (from left) his grandmother, Madam Chong Jee Yang, who looked after
him when he was growing up, sister Jolene and parents Cindy Sai and Sam Chang.
hen he was 13, national serviceman

Darrel Chang decided he wanted to
be a rock star after watching a Linkin
Park concert on television.
The first person he told was his
maternal grandmother, Madam Chong Jee Yang, 69,
whom he is close to. Her response was: Aiyoh, do
something else. Dont waste your chances because
you are good in your studies.
Darrel, a 19-year-old former Hwa Chong Institution student, bagged this years Angus Ross prize,
which is awarded to the best performing non-British
candidate in the GCE A-level English literature examination.
The teenager, who reads mostly non-fiction works
such as Cherian Georges The Air-conditioned Nation
apart from his texts, beat 11,000 entries worldwide.
His success helped Singapore maintain its excellent
track record of the prize. Last years prize was awarded
jointly to two Singaporean students.
Meanwhile, Darrel, a classical pianist turned electric guitar player, seems to be pretty serious about his
rock star ambition. His five-member band, Fancy This
Progression, were the opening act at the 2013 New
Year countdown at Jurong Central Park. His family
were among the 30,000 people at the show.
When he was growing up, Madam Chong was his
main caregiver. He lived with her on weekdays in her
three-room HDB flat in Telok Blangah. On weekends,
his parents Mr Sam Chang, a manager in an oilfield
services company, 52, and customer care executive
Cindy Sai, 47 took him home.
Grandma Chong, whose husband died before Darrel was born, later went to live with the Changs in
their five-room flat in Choa Chu Kang. She moved to
a younger sons home last year to look after his two
young children. Darrel now lives with his parents and
sister Jolene, 16, in a private apartment also in Choa
Chu Kang.
What were your first reactions to Darrels
ambition to be a rock star?
Ms Sai: We were initially against it. I said: You must
be kidding.
Mr Chang: If you want to make it big, it has to be
worldwide. I havent seen a band here make it big.
Darrel: Everyone says that. My band members and I
figure we will take a shot see how far we can go.
What do you feel about his music now?
Darrel: I was 17 when they first heard my band play
at a school talent competition. It was a turning point.
Mr Chang: From the audiences response during the
competition, Id say his music was successful.
Ms Sai: We go to support the band as a family at their
gigs if we have the time.
What was your ambition for Darrel?
Ms Sai: When he was in Nan Hua Primary School till
Secondary 2 in Hwa Chong Institution, he said he
wanted to be an engineer.
Mr Chang: Engineering is a good trade. I thought he
could make a decent living as an engineer but he has
his own ambitions.
Darrel: I had wanted to be like dad, an engineer. But
I was failing science in Secondary 3 and 4. So I
thought Id better switch lines.
Ms Sai: Then he told me he wanted to be a journalist.
What do you feel about your sons close relationship with his grandmother?
Ms Sai: Its great that they click very well. Not every
grandson is that close to his grandmother.
Mr Chang: No, I dont feel threatened because a
father has a special bond with his son. We are Manchester United fans and we watch the games and
scream and shout together.
Darrel, what do you miss most about not having your grandmother with you?
Darrel: Its a huge adjustment. I miss her just not
being around. Its coming home and knowing someone is there for you. My sister and I miss her cooking
too.
Madam Chong: Yes, I miss being in the company of
these grandchildren.
Darrel: She doesnt really call me but she buys bread
once or twice a week and comes over from my uncles
maisonette in Teck Whye, which is about 10 minutes
walk away.
Madam Chong: When I see delicious food, I think of
all of you. So I must buy it and come to give it to you.
What was the naughtiest thing he did as a
child?
Mr Chang: He once dropped a cordless phone 12
floors down from our living-room window.
Darrel: I was around eight. I dont know why I did it.
Ms Sai: His grandmother told us at the time that he
had dropped it accidentally.
How was he punished?
Mr Chang: I showed him the broken phone and
gave him a heavy lecture and a stern warning.
Darrel: I expected to be caned, actually.
Ms Sai: He hardly lies, so we took him at his word
that it wasnt done intentionally.
Did you have a no-caning policy?
Mr Chang: It usually started with reasoning, then
scolding, then yelling if he made things worse.
Darrel: I tended to argue and shout back. We both
lost our temper, and things built up.
Mr Chang: When the talking back escalated to a certain point, the cane automatically came out. One or
two strokes on the legs.
Ms Sai: Id say: Thats enough. Stop caning.
Mr Chang: And the grandmother would always step
in, saying, Dont cane, dont cane.
Darrel: The peak of all this was when I was in Primary 4. It stopped in Primary 5 or Primary 6, when I was
more mature. I was also busier with homework and
Gifted Education Programme projects.
Ms Sai: Jolene was not mischievous so she wasnt
caned.
What if you dont become a rock star?
Darrel: I hope to work for a humanitarian organisation such as the United Nations Childrens Fund.
Mr Chang: Im an Asian parent but a bit more modern than to expect my children to feed me when I
grow old.
Ms Sai: I had wanted him to be a lawyer or engineer.
But I think his Unicef choice is meaningful.
Mr Chang: We say to both our kids: We provide
you with everything you need for your career. We
dont enforce your choices. But you must live with
the outcome of your decisions.
If the parent-child roles were reversed, what
would you do differently?
Mr Chang: Id try to be a lot more time-conscious
and have a better sense of urgency.
Ms Sai: I would argue less with my parents when
they lecture me.
Darrel: I wouldnt ever use the cane and would probably give him less pressure in academic performance.
Id support his talents from the get-go.
eveyap@sph.com.sg
go 11
There is no one in
a suit with a mobile
phone running up
and down. The
pace is slow and
people take their
time. They enjoy
their life, culture
and friendships.
Italys
chill
spot
Sorrentos laidback feel as well as
appreciation of culture and
friendship are the things Nicholas
Lim love about the Italian city
Nicholas Lims
TRAVEL BLACK BOOK

Jennani Durai
Who: Mr Nicholas Lim, 39, president of travel
agency Trafalgar Asia and The Travel Corporation
(Asia), a collection of international travel and tourism
companies. The Singaporean, who has worked in the
travel industry for more than a decade, is married to a
marketing specialist and they have two daughters,
aged five and three.
Favourite city: Sorrento
Why: I have been there twice in 2005 and 2011.
Sorrento is where people park themselves on the
Amalfi Coast in Italy. They also use it as a jump-off
point to visit places such as Pompeii and the Isle of
Capri, where there are few or even no options for
accommodation.
Sorrento is a very colourful city with quaint little
shops the buildings are in pink, yellow, blue and
purple, and they have been there for generations.
There is so much culture and charm. There is no
one in a suit with a mobile phone running up and
down. The pace is slow and people take their time.
They enjoy their life, culture and friendships.
Favourite hotel
I am going to contradict myself a bit. I am going to
pick a very modern hotel after just saying how much I
love the old, quaint nature of the place.
I like the Hilton Sorrento Palace the best (Via Sant
Antonio 13, Sorrento, tel: +39-081-878-4141). It is
perched on a cliff and overlooks the sea. There is a
sharp drop from the cliff but you can still walk down
to a little stretch of beach.
Where the verandah of the hotel ends, that is the
cliff. Beyond that, you have an unblocked view of the
sea and Mount Vesuvius. Rooms start at 125 (S$205)
a night.
Favourite restaurant
Pompeii is about 30 to 45 minutes away by taxi from
central Sorrento and just outside it is a restaurant
called the Pizzeria Pompeii (Via Plinio 113, Piazza
Porta Marina Inferiore, Pompeii).
To me, that is the best place in the world for pizza
margherita, which is made with tomato, sliced
mozzarella, basil and extra-virgin olive oil. I have had
many arguments with friends and relatives over
which other restaurants I should try in the area. But
to me, that is the best one.
The place itself is nothing to shout about a few
outdoor tables under a red awning. Its a family-run
restaurant. But the pizza margherita is the best Ive
ever tried.
The taxi ride from Sorrento will cost at least 25.
Best way to get around
Places such as the Amalfi Coast are best appreciated
with local guides, whom you can hire through hotels
or tour companies. You can also hire taxis to take you
around.
The roads around Sorrento can be quite windy at
times, so if you are not familiar with the place, it can
be quite risky to drive.
I recommend you get someone to drive you
around because if you miss a turn, you could end up
falling off a cliff and into the sea.
Best place for a date
Start with the chair-lift to get to the top of Monte
Solaro (Via Caposcuro, 10-80071, Anacapri, tel:
+39-081-837-1438). This is a 600m-high peak from
which you can get a panoramic view of the entire
Amalfi Coast, the island of Capri and the Bay of
Naples.
The chair-lift is very safe but perhaps not the best
choice for someone who is afraid of heights.
There is a cafe on the peak. I cannot remember the
name but it is the only one there.
It serves only coffee and panini sandwiches, but
the cappuccino there would probably be the best you
would ever taste you are drinking it perched on a
cliff, 2m away from a 90-degree drop into the sea, so
you get an unblocked view of the sea.
There are probably only four or five tables up
there, so Id say its the best place for a date. With a
view money cannot buy, your date will not go wrong.
Event to bookmark
The Lemon Festival happens every July in the nearby
village of Massa Lubrense, which is about 15 to 30
minutes from Sorrento by taxi.
The area is famous for its lemons and the people
there make a lemon liqueur called limoncello. It is the
best place in the world for limoncello because they
harvest lots of lemons in the area. You can get good,
solid limoncello at almost any street corner.
The festival itself is like a fun fair with music and
people sell not only limoncello but also cakes, honey,
ice cream and other things made from lemon.
jennanid@sph.com.sg
MR NICHOLAS LIM (left) on

Sorrento
ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
12
go
go 13
PHOTOS: AKSHITA NANDA
Selling point: (from far left) Ten years after it was first aired, K-drama Winter
Sonata still draws customers to the souvenir store of Kim Yong Hae, 62. Her shop
is located at the gate of Choong Am High School in Seoul, one of the dramas
filming locations. A US$50 (S$64) Bae Yong Joon umbrella is her hottest seller. An
interactive gallery of K-pop stars attracts tourists to the Lotte Department Store in
Myeongdong while Psy the poster boy is used to sell everything from Turkish ice
cream (left) to face masks. One Mount boasts a water park (above), a filming site
of popular reality show Running Man.
Akshita Nanda
In Seoul
alaysian tourist Nur Diyana

Mazlan has been queuing
since 6.30am outside the
headquarters of music company CJ E&M in Seoul, with
at least 500 other Korean pop fans, all hoping to score a spot at its weekly countdown
concert.
The first 200 in line every Thursday get
the rare chance to enter the otherwise
off-limits-to-fans filming studio and watch
for free up to 20 bands and singers performing live on TV channel Mnets M Countdown show. One of the most popular
countdown shows with overseas fans, it is
broadcast live to Japan and the United
States, and airs in nine Asian countries,
including Singapore, via Channel M
(StarHub TV Channel 824 and SingTel mio
TV Channel 518). Owner CJ E&M is among
the biggest players in the South Korean
entertainment scene.
In the week that SundayLife! is there,
hot acts such as MBlaq, EXO and Sistar are
scheduled to perform.
Im queuing to see EXO, says Nur Diyana, 21, from Kuala Lumpur, who is also a
fan of boy band TVXQ. Having just finished her final-year engineering
examination at Universiti Teknologi Mara
in Selangor, she is rewarding herself with a
17-day stay in South Korea, which will be
mostly spent chasing K-pop stars. She and
her university friends plan to hang around
the Cheongdam area, where headquarters
of artist management companies such as
JYP Entertainment (Wonder Girls), SM
Entertainment (Super Junior, EXO) and
Cube Entertainment (Beast) are located, in
case the bands they represent show up.
I hope I can see the idols. Anyone, but
especially EXO, she says.
More and more South-east Asian tourists like her are coming to Seoul not for its
palaces or museums but to experience the
city Hallyu style. They visit filming sites of
popular Korean dramas or music videos,
eat at cafes sponsored by Hallyu (Korean
wave) stars and buy make-up or clothes
endorsed by singers and actors.
The Singapore arm of the Korea Tourism
Organisation says it gets on average 30
requests a month for information on tours
relating to K-pop or K-drama, with 154,000
people from Singapore visiting South Korea
last year. Arrivals are up 8 per cent in the
first half of this year, compared to the January to June period last year.
A spokesman for Singapore travel agency CTC Travel says that more tourists are
signing up for itineraries that include concerts and fan meets. For now, 80 per cent of
the South Korea tours it organises are to
visit the filming sites of TV shows such as
romantic drama Winter Sonata (2002)
the television series starring Bae Yong Joon
remains popular a decade after it first aired.
Increased interest in ongoing variety programme Running Man, which sees teams
compete to complete unusual tasks, has led
the agency to start offering tours to
out-of-the-way locations such as Petite
France in Gapyeong-gun, where one
episode of the show was filmed in 2011.
The French-themed village, about 90 minutes from Seoul, hosts regular concerts and
is home to museums of puppets, music and
writer Antoine de Saint-Exuperys book,
The Little Prince.
However, for cash-strapped younger
tourists, the biggest draw is the South
Korean capital, where Hallyu stars regularly
hold concerts and fan meets or film
entertainment programmes.
Fans haunt spots such as the Hongdae
area near Hongik University, often featured
in K-dramas or K-pop videos, or stalk the
streets of the upmarket Cheongdam or
Apgujeong areas, where companies managing major artists are headquartered.
I like to hang out at the Cube Studio
Cafe at Cube Entertainment. You get to see
the artists go in and out, says British
STAR
attraction
More are going to South Korea not for palaces and
museums, but for their dose of K-pop and K-drama
HALLYU HOLIDAY
Shop, eat and shoot photos at these
Hallyu-themed spots. You might even spot
your favourite K-pop or K-drama stars at a
cafe they own or en route to a film shoot.
SHOP
LYA Nature
What: A new skincare boutique started late
last month by actress Lee Young Ae, who
starred in the 2003 drama Jewel In The
Palace. A top-seller is her Moonhori House
Made soap ball of black sesame, rice and red
ginseng, which costs US$50 (S$64) for
cleansing and moisturising the skin.
Where: 63-38, Samcheong-dong,
Jongnu-gu, Seoul
Open: 10am to 10pm
Getting there: A 15-minute walk from Anguk
Station, subway line 3
10 Corso Como
What: A designer multi-label boutique
featured in Psys new music video,
Gentleman. It is the South Korean outpost of
the hip, high-end lifestyle emporium from
Milan. Reservations are needed to enter the
attached cafe.
Where: 79 Cheongdam-dong,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Open: 11am to 8pm
Getting there: A five-minute walk from
Apgujeong Rodeo station on the Bundang
subway line
drama set.
Where: 337-2, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu,
Seoul
Open: 11am to late
Getting there: A 10-minute walk from
Hongik University station on subway line 2
Kuai Chinese Flavour
What: Eat Gangnam-style at this Chinese
restaurant run by singer Psys mother. Staff
are wary of gawkers but welcome serious
diners. Prices start at US$9 a dish.
Where: Level 2, 524-1, Sinsa-dong,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Open: 11.30am to 3.30pm,
5.30 to 10.30pm
Getting there: A 15-minute walk from Sinsa
station, subway line 3
STALK
Bukchon Hanok
What: Old-school Korean houses line this
area, which is home to many masters of
traditional arts and craft, and also the site of
Choong Ang Middle and High School,
where several scenes were shot for 2002
K-drama Winter Sonata. Visit the souvenir
stores near the school, used as the home of
Choi Ji Woos character Yoo Jin in the drama.
Getting there: Walk from Anguk station,
subway line 3
EAT
PHOTO: CJ E&M
K-pop group EXO performing live to a standing house-full audience of 200 fans at the weekly
M Countdown pop chart show. Fans queue up to 14 hours to catch a glimpse of such acts.
student Lolly Best, 19, who started studying at the Korean Language Institute in
Seoul last September. The Cube Studio Cafe
is a coffee and souvenir shop opened last
year by Cube Entertainment at its
Cheongdam area base. It is often used as a
venue to host fan meets.
She joins the M Countdown queue outside the CJ E&M Center in the outlying Digital Media City area of Sangam every time
her favourite bands, such as MBlaq, are due
to appear.
Entrance into the company headquarters and filming studios is strictly regulated
by company security and also by veteran
fans.
Fans hoping to get into the countdown
show divide themselves outside the building into groups according to fan base, for
example, MBlaq lovers in one area, EXO
supporters in a separate line. Fans in each
group are assigned queue numbers based
on their level of commitment those who
own only CDs are on the lowest rung of the
ladder, while priority is given to those who
have splurged on official merchandise such
as lightsticks, towels or wristbands.
The system operates on honesty. Veteran fan leaders are in charge and nonKorean speaking fans can usually find
English-speakers willing to translate.
The M Countdown experience is only
for hardcore Hallyu fans. The lucky 200
start snaking into the building around
5pm, and there are numerous stops and
starts before they reach the studio. Part of
the delay comes as K-pop acts make surprise entries en route to other parts of the
building, sending fans into a frenzy. These
impromptu appearances are staged and
only feature newbie acts wanting to
increase their fanbase, says a CJ E&M insider.
The studio space is dominated by the
performing stage and less than half the
room is allotted for cameramen, journalists
and sweaty but jubilant supporters. Viewers who do not fix their eyes firmly on the
performers might have a panic attack as
boom mikes and cameras swing close over
their heads, trying to catch the best angles.
Many acts are pre-recorded earlier in the

day and used in the TV broadcasts but,
nevertheless, sometimes the stars re-appear
to perform them live. There may be fewer
frills in the live show singer Henry from
Super Junior-M, a sub-group of Super Junior, for example, uses fewer props for his
live rendition of the solo single Trap when
SundayLife! is there yet nothing beats the
electric excitement of seeing the idol on
stage, within touching distance for a lucky
few.
Then there are the bloopers one can
enjoy only in person because they are edited out of the broadcast. The emcees from
girl group Rainbow trip as they step off the
elevated platform in one shoot. A dancer
for girl group Girls Day is twice out of step
with her fellow performers and starts a rude
gesture out of frustration until she recalls
the cameras around her.
This raw glance at otherwise polished
pop shows more than makes up for the
gruelling wait beforehand, fans say.
Japanese salarywoman Youko Yorako,
27, flew in from Tokyo and booked a Seoul
hotel room solely to catch bad-boy group
VIXX in action at the M Countdown show.
She is one of the lucky 200 allowed inside
the studio. After queuing for hours to get
in, then screaming herself hoarse during
the 90-minute filming in the crowded,
standing-room-only studio, she plans to
repeat the exhausting cycle all over again a
few days later, when she will attend VIXXs
appearance at the KBS Music Bank chart
show hosted by TV channel KBS.
It may be really tiring, but its really
fun, she says in Japanese, adding that this
is her third visit to Seoul and her birthday
present to herself she turned 27 on
June 27.
K-pop groups dance perfectly, sing
beautifully and watching them is so much
fun. I will come again if I can get leave from
work, adds the hardcore Hallyu fan.
akshitan@sph.com.sg
The writers trip was sponsored by Scoot
and the Korea Tourism Organisation.
1st Shop Of Coffee Prince

What: The film set for the 2007 K-drama 1st Shop Of Coffee Prince has been
turned into a cafe boasting staff with a
striking resemblance to the original
cast. The walls (right) are autographed
by the main cast, including Yoon Eun
Hye and Gong Yoo. Prices start at
US$6 (S$7.60) for black coffee. Do not
be confused by the fake menu behind
the baristas, which is left over from the
QUEUE LIKE A PRO

What: M Countdown
Where: CJ E&M Center, 66 Sangamsan-ro,
Mapo-gu, Seoul
When: Every Thursday, 5.30pm
Getting there: Take subway line 6 and get
off at Digital Media City Station.
The live filming of TV channel Mnets M
Countdown show every Thursday is one of
the biggest and best free concerts in Seoul.
Filming begins at 5.30pm and only 200 fans
are allowed into the studio from about 5pm
onwards. Here is how to get the most out of
the experience.
ARRIVE EARLY: Queues (above) form as
early as 4.30am, so get there as early as you
can. Up to half the acts listed might
pre-record their performances in case of
scheduling conflicts later in the day. In that
case, the TV channel will bring fans in just
for those pre-recorded sessions.
BE WELL-EQUIPPED: Expect to wait up to
14 hours in line to get in and then to stand
for 90 minutes of filming. Wear comfortable
clothes and shoes, bring water and food,
and take bathroom breaks whenever you
can.
FLASH YOUR FAN CRED: M Countdown is

a promotional vehicle for pop groups, so
fans are usually allowed in depending on
which bands are scheduled to take the
spotlight. So wave that Rainbow lightstick
and show off that MBlaq wristband. These
will impress veteran fans and get you that
much closer to a coveted studio spot. Check
the weeks line-up at the website:
mwave.interest.me/mcountdown/main.m
BE PATIENT AND POLITE: The queue is
divided according to fan base and if 10
people show up at the same time, higher
queue numbers will be allotted to fans who
say they own or who are carrying more
merchandise. Do not worry if you do not
speak Korean. Many fans are bilingual and
showing off your fan cred will bridge
the language gap. Just do not make a
scene.
YOU HAVE OTHER OPTIONS: If you do
not get in to the M Countdown studio, fret
not. Other programmes such as celebrity
gossip and talk show M Wide Enews are
being filmed around the same time in a
glass-walled area near the queues. It is one
step closer to the heart of Hallyu and there
just might be a famous guest star.
Myeongdong
What: Hallyu-themed street stalls and
big-name department stores crowd this area.
Look out for Star Avenue leading up to the
Lotte Department Store, with giant posters
and interactive installations featuring K-pop
stars. Check out the streetside shops for
unique merchandise such as Psy skincare
masks or Kim Hyun Joong face towels.
Getting there: Euljiro 1-ga station on
subway line 2
Cheongdam-dong & Apgujeong Rodeo
What: Home to artist management
companies such as JYP Entertainment and SM
Entertainment, this is where patient fans can
spot acts from 2PM to Girls Generation,

while splurging at designer boutiques such as
Armani and Prada.
Getting there: Apgujeong Rodeo station on
the Bundang line
DAY TRIPS OUT OF SEOUL

One Mount
What: In 2016, a new theatre cum museum,
Hallyu World, opens in Goyang city, home
of giant funlands such as the 165,000 sq m
theme park, One Mount. For now, overseas
visitors will recognise One Mount as the site
of the exclusive One Mount Sports Club
featured in Psys Gentleman video. Only
members who have paid the US$40,000
entry fee are allowed in, but non-members

can visit the adjoining Water Park and Snow
Park. An episode of variety programme
Running Man last month was shot at the
Water Park.
Where: Goyang city
Open: 10am to 6pm
Admission: From US$50 a person for each
park
Getting there: Juyeop station on subway
line 3
Petite France
What: Romantic comedies Beethovens
Virus (2008) and Secret Garden (2010), and
a 2011 episode of variety programme
Running Man were filmed at this

French-themed village (left). Visit the
museums of puppets, music and Antoine de
Saint-Exuperys book, The Little Prince, or
enjoy free open-air concerts which feature
K-pop cover bands or classical music
ensembles.
Where: 1063, Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeongmyeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
Open: 9am to 6pm
Admission: US$8 for adults, US$5 for
children
Getting there: A 90-minute drive from Seoul.
Singapore travel agencies such as CTC Travel
(6536-3995 or e-mail enquiry@ctc.com.sg)
also organise trips to Petite France as part of
their Hallyu itinerary.
14
go
The Concierge
FREE AIR TICKETS, $1 DEALS

ASA Holidays will be holding its Power-Packed! Travel
Fair next weekend at Sands Expo & Convention Center
at Marina Bay Sands.
Highlights include a giveaway of 600 free air tickets
to Thailand and China (300 a day on a first-come-firstserved basis), $1 companion travel deals to destinations such as Europe, Japan and South Korea, hourly
holiday package bids starting from $10 and
one-for-one holiday deals to China and other parts of
Asia.
There will also be martial arts performances, appearances by Hello Kitty and home-grown celebrities such
as Kym Ng, and lucky draws with a grand prize of a
Mercedes-Benz B200 worth more than $110,000.
The fair is held from 11am to 8pm at Level 1, Hall A
of the convention centre. Admission is free.
GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TRIPS

MEET SHREK IN MACAU
Shrek (above), Po the Kung Fu Panda, as well as King

Julien and the penguins from the Madagascar movie
franchise now have a new home in Macau, at The
DreamWorks Experience at Sands Cotai Central, which
is part of the integrated resort Cotai Strip Resorts. The
family attraction features meet-and-greets with DreamWorks Animation characters and a daily DreamWorks
All Star Parade.
From this month to Sept 30, Sheraton Macao Hotel
and Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central, which are part
of the integrated resort, are offering themed DreamWorks Experience packages starting at HK$1,498
(S$247, before taxes). Hotel guests will have access to a
themed breakfast, called Shrekfast With The DreamWorks Gang, and movie nights.
For more information, go to
www.sandscotaicentral.com
Pick up photography tips while travelling around Bali

and Myanmar with School of Photography Singapore
and Aperture Asia, which organises photography training trips.
From Aug 7 to 11, former Straits Times photographer Alan Lim, the schools founder, will lead a group
of eight participants to Ubud, Bali.
The trip will include lectures and hands-on sessions,
in which participants will learn how to light their subjects and tell stories through pictures. It costs $1,880
(single) and $1,680 (twin sharing). The closing date is
Tuesday.
From Nov 2 to 6, Mr Lim and Simon Taplin, a global
assignment photographer for photo agency Getty Images, will lead a group of 12 to Myanmar, where they will
visit Shwedagon Pagoda, Bagan and Inle Lake. Prices
are $3,732 (single) and $3,245 (twin sharing). The closing date for bookings is Oct 2.
For more information, go to www.sops.sg
PHOTOS: CHAN BROTHERS, SANDS CHINA
WEDDINGS IN MALAYSIA, BALI

YTL Hotels, which owns properties such as The Majestic Malacca and the newly opened Gaya Island Resort
in Sabah, has launched its signature wedding packages
in Malaysia and Bali.
These tailor-made wedding experiences range from
exchanging vows on a yacht at sea to beachside wedding parties.
Package prices start from RM12,000 (S$4,800) per
couple. Each package includes a pre-wedding shoot,
wedding celebrant services, wedding day decor, wedding keepsakes and a spa treatment for the newlyweds.
Couples will also enjoy a free two-night honeymoon
stay at any Signature YTL Hotels property in Malaysia
and Bali if they book the trip within 18 months of their
wedding.
To book, e-mail events@ytlhotels.com.my or go to
www.ytlhotels.com for more information.
DEALS FOR TRAVEL PARTNERS
Chan Brothers is holding its Travel Powerhouse Opening Sale next weekend at Fook Hai Building, Levels 1 &
7, 150 South Bridge Road.
Deals include a $500 discount for the second traveller for 12/14D packages to Italy, Switzerland, Paris and
Amsterdam. The first traveller pays $3,588 before taxes.
The offer is for selected dates from this month to
December. Also, sign up for a 12D Hawaii Islandhopping Cruise Tour departing on Dec 5 and the second traveller gets a $600 discount. The first traveller
pays $5,388 before taxes.
For inquiries, call Chan Brothers Travel on
6438-8880.
Take a walk on the Lucerne Chapel Bridge in

Switzerland, one of the stops on the European package.
Where do
y u
go on
holiday?
Wher
e
you avrer
e
reflect 15
pairs. To make the choice easier, I asked her

to pick not one but two (and hurry up, I
silently pleaded). After much thought, she
pointed to a white pair and a glittery gold
one.
As usual, I had a few emotional meltdowns during the holiday, mostly when
my imagination went into overdrive gear
about Hs previous marriage.
Insecurity is, I suppose, par for the
course when you marry someone who had
been married before. You cant help but
compare your marriage with his earlier
one. Emotions become even more complex
when that marriage produced a child.
As a stepmother (a word Ive taken two
years to come to terms with), Ive a few
guidelines which I hope will help me
navigate this role with a measure of
maturity.
L Keep things light between A and me.
My approach is to maintain a friendly,
kindly but unsentimental relationship
with the child. Im not her mother and
dont try to be. (She calls me by my name.)
Im not looking for love, hugs, kisses or
gratitude. If, when shes grown, she can
regard me neutrally as the woman her
father married and who treated her with
decency and respect, thatll be good
enough for me.
L Never bad-mouth her mother or her
parents marriage in front of her.
That would be the surest way to alienate
her because children have a strong loyalty
to their parents. In any case, it must be
tough being a child of divorce, so why add
to the stress?
L Respect the father-daughter ties.
Its complicated being married to a man
with a child, but I went into this with my
eyes open. In fact, when I met up with him
four years ago, A was by his side, holding
his hand.
If I want him to be happy, I must respect
the love and sense of responsibility he feels
for her and give him plenty of space to be a
dad.
The 10 days with A passed easily. We
went shopping, walked on the beach, tried
some archery, she went on a pony ride, we
watched videos , I introduced her to Candy
Crush and showed her YouTube videos of
Justin Bieber (yup, I was trying to be a
cool stepmum).
Her birthday fell smack in the middle of
our trip and we all went to her eighth birthday party.
She and a gaggle of giggly girls from
school went swimming at a hotel, then
changed, watched a magic show and had
dinner at a restaurant there.
She wore a mint green frock we had also
bought together, and her gold dancing
shoes.
Looking at her prancing in them, all
that standing up and kneeling down
during our little shopping trip seemed
worth it, sort of.
Stepmum,
Year 2
As a stepmum, I keep
things light. Being friendly,
kindly but unsentimental is
the best approach, I feel
Sumiko Tan
wave of fatigue washed over me

as I knelt before her for what
must have been the 20th time
that day.
Its hard work buying shoes
for a child. My back was aching and all that
standing up and kneeling down was
causing me to feel faint and see stars.
The child in question was A, my
husbands daughter, otherwise known as
my stepdaughter.
Only, I dont regard her as a stepdaughter or at least Im not sure how one
is supposed to regard a stepchild.
Should I be experiencing fuzzy feelings
of love for her? Or should I be stewing in
stereotypical wicked stepmother resentment?
I felt neither sentiment last month
when I spent 10 days with the girl in
Wales.
Instead, I reacted to her as I would to
any eight-year-old child whom I like
because she is friendly to me, has a
cheerful, cheeky disposition and is cute
and pretty. She just happens to also be my
husbands daughter.
It was my second year playing stepmum.
Last May was the first time I spent an
extended period with A when she, her little
dog, H and I set off on a driving holiday in
south-west England.
That trip went pretty well although I
sensed her unease whenever she was alone
with me in the first few days.
But by the end of the trip, we had grown
quite used to each other.
This year, my mother came along for
the holiday. We rented a cottage in the

Gower Peninsula in Wales, an area with
sweeping bays and beautiful beaches.
Im not a kissy, gushy person, so when
we met again, I just waved to A and said
hello. She waved back and seemed pleased
enough to see me. The feeling was mutual.
For some reason, she was a little distant
towards her dad in the first few days (leaving him very morose and even more guilty
that he has to live so far away from her.)
She was warm to me though, and so I
ended up in the strange position of being
the cheerleader and go-between until she
thawed and father-daughter relations were
back to what they were.
Top on her shopping wishlist were
dancing shoes, and we spent one afternoon searching for the perfect pair.
At the mall, H conveniently said he had
to go to the bank, leaving me to be her
personal shopper. (Youre her father and
should be doing this, I hissed. I dont know
anything about buying shoes for a child.
What are dancing shoes anyway? But he
said Id be fine and walked away.)
With my mother hovering in the
background, A and I spent an hour at
Debenhams trying on numerous pairs of
shoes but she didnt like any of them.
We walked over to Monsoon which has
a nice kids section and a huge selection
of dancing shoes (I discovered that these
are dressy shoes with a bit of a heel). She
tried on at least two dozen pairs.
I never knew shoe shopping could be so
exhausting.
When I shop for shoes, Im done
pronto. I know my size, I know the brands
and designs I like and I can be out of the
store in 10 minutes flat, faster even.
Its trickier with kids, I discovered. Shoes
dont seem to come in uniform sizing (a
size 12 in one model was bigger than a 13
in another). While I know the pair should
fit, do childrens shoes also have to have a
bit of room into which their feet could
grow, I wondered?
I had to stand up and kneel down
numerous times to help her buckle and
unbuckle the shoes, get new pairs for her to
try and return those she didnt like.
I also didnt factor in how an eightyear-old might not exactly be a decisive
shopper.
We finally narrowed it down to five
sumiko@sph.com.sg
ST ILLUSTRATION: ADAM LEE
Fashioning
a unique
identity
Fiona Chan
The first time I noticed it was in winter.
I had just arrived in Japan and was
strolling through a sparkling snowfall in
Fukuoka, slowly realising how ill-prepared
I was for the cold weather.
Coming from Singapore, with its own
unique set of four seasons hot, hot school
holidays, hot, hot and rainy I felt like a
tropical fish which has suddenly plunged
into ice water.
My eyes kept watering from the wind,
my frozen fingers were stuffed deep in my
pockets and my nose was red from
constant blowing.
But the thing I was unhappiest about
by far was that I was clearly wearing the
wrong style of winter coat.
Just before I left Singapore, I had bought
two wool coats in preparation for my
Japanese adventure: one in camel and one
in white. Classically cut and easy to match,
they were all I thought I would need for
my winter wardrobe.
The moment I got off the plane in
Fukuoka, however, I discovered how
wrong I had been.
No one else appeared to have outerwear
like mine. In fact, as I looked around, I saw
that almost everyone was wearing the
same type of cover-up: jackets or peacoats
with a fuzzy faux-fur collar.
Some people were wearing plain black
coats, but only because they obviously
couldnt go to the office looking like a leopard which has escaped from the zoo.
I felt a bit self-conscious in my
non-black, non-furry toppers, but I
shrugged off my sartorial disaster as equatorial ignorance.
Oh well, I thought. Its not like I
have to look exactly the same as all the
other Japanese people.
How naive I was.
As the months passed, I realised that
not looking like everyone else in Japan
meant standing out as a clumsy foreigner,
a bulls-eye target for the inevitable
giggling and whispering.
Once, on a gloriously hot day in the
middle of April, I sauntered out into the

streets in a typical Singaporean outfit: a
sleeveless top, shorts and sunglasses.
The looks of horror I received from
passers-by all clothed in long sleeves and
pants, hiding from the sun under
lace-trimmed umbrellas were so pious,
one would have thought I had showed up
at a convent in a leather bikini decorated
with metal spikes.
After 10 minutes of optical flagellation,
I was finally shamed into ducking into a
shop and buying a cardigan to cover up
my sinful shoulders in 32 deg C heat.
The problem is that its not that easy to
fit in even if I wanted to. No matter what I
wear, I somehow manage to look like Ive
missed some secret trend memo.
When winter turned to spring, I ditched
my wool coats for denim and leather jackets. But everywhere I looked, Japanese
females were donning canvas trenchcoats
of varying colours.
Once the weather became warmer, I
unpacked my miniskirts and shorts, only
to find that I again stood out like a sore
thumb in the sea of maxi dresses and
cropped pants.
By the time summer officially rolled
around, I was prepared. I had amassed one
item of every type of vestment available,
standing ready to match what everyone
else was wearing.
Except that all the girls in Fukuoka, overnight and diabolically in sync, had gone
out to buy a completely new garment I
didnt even know existed: floral-patterned
jeans.
There was only one possible explanation. Clearly every girl between the ages of
20 and 40 in Fukuoka was on some sort of

secret mailing list, to which missives about
what to wear were distributed on a regular
basis.
Julys outfit: floral jeans, the latest
message probably said. Pair with loose
white top, pastel parasol, and fake eyelashes in Manga Cute #2 style.
For a while, I sulked about not being on
the secret mailing list. But then I realised: If
you cant join them, just ignore them.
Now, I wear all the sleeveless dresses,
bright shorts and flip flops I want, a
defiant if likely ineffective stand against
the absence of fashion diversity in Fukuoka.
The thing is, blindly following trends
takes all the fun out of deciding your own
individual style a principle that holds
true not just for clothes, but also for life in
general.
No doubt there is comfort in homogeneity and uniformity, but any society that
burnishes its sameness whether in Japan,
Singapore or anywhere else loses a bit
more flexibility and charm.
Fortunately, as I eventually discovered,
conformity doesnt hold throughout the
whole of Japan at least not in terms of
fashion.
On a recent trip to Osaka, I encountered
a boggling sight: a Japanese girl in a strapless dress.
Look! I poked my husband in excitement. Shes baring her shoulders!
My husband looked. Aiyoh, shameshame, he said disapprovingly. She
should buy a cardigan to cover up.
fiochan@sph.com.sg
Dirty truths about laundry

Akshita Nanda
A few days ago, I gave my younger
brother the life-changing talk that all
adults need but rarely receive. It wasnt
easy and he nearly bolted from the room
with embarrassment before I finished:
Never wash whites with colours, mums
and my delicates go in a net bag and
always try to give jeans a separate cycle.
He has just started doing the
communal laundry and judging by the
frozen expression on his face, this has
been a learning experience.
He appears to have learnt far more
than he ever wanted to about his parents
and sister. It has also made him more
thoughtful about generating piles of
grimy clothes.
Laundry reveals all our dirty secrets,
pardon the pun. Think the common
drama trope of lipstick on a husbands
collar or strange cologne on a wifes scarf.
Ticket stubs and receipts forgotten in
pockets, change and casino chips that
slip into the cuffs of jeans are all damning
clues the laundry detective easily pieces
together to deduce the true mental and
emotional state of the wearer.
Laundry leaks sensitive information
and ballpoint ink, in my case into the
hands of the doer and this is one reason a
few of my friends began washing their
own clothes in their teens.
Better that hassle than suffering the
maternal sniffs You need stronger
deodorant or militant paternal
wash-day rotas Its laundry day. The
bedsheets go in and I dont care if youre
still on the bed.
Doing ones own laundry is a rite of
passage, most of my friends agree, since it
affords a measure of privacy.
Taking those barriers down, later,
becomes one way to mark intimacy.
Mingling T-shirts in a washing machine
is an important milestone to cross in
courtship, as is the almost de rigueur
fight afterwards about who should hang
up the clothes and iron them once they
are dry.
When my relatives or friends visit
from overseas, adults are gently nudged
to do their own laundry but I will happily
launder with my own clothes the shirts
and shorts of cousins whose diapers I
changed in their infancy.
More often than not, I make them do
a communal laundry load instead. It is
out of kindness towards their future

spouses, since many male members of
my family awake late to the reality of
laundry.
Pampered by mothers and aunts or
the rare laundry-focused uncle, they need
to go through boot camp at the hands of
my generation before they understand
that dirty clothes do not swoop magically
from floor to washing machine or that
ironing is not done by house elves at
midnight.
So I hand these boys and young men
the detergent, bark instructions, then
watch, arms folded, as they figure out
how to dry and later sort the clean clothing.
A few loads on, these laundry newbies
will stop creating bio-hazardous piles of
dirty clothes on the floor and begin wielding hot irons with zeal and skill, but their
initial resistance is always tougher to overcome than a turmeric oil stain on white
linen.
One bashful young bachelor found his
first communal laundry experience so
embarrassing that he apparently sorted
the dry clothes with his eyes closed. I
ended up with my fathers shirts and my
mothers singlets instead of any garments
of my own.
Ive never handled so much womens
underwear in my life, he later explained.
I assured him that laundry experience
would add immeasurably to his dating
resume and prepare him for when he has
a household of his own.
Men dont have delicates, I am
informed. But we women do, and men
who figure out how to handle silk and
lace will also learn to be sensitive while
dealing with us. (Or only ever buy their
wives drip-dry clothes, that is the other
observed outcome.)
Yet even with the men in my life
taking charge of the laundry, I remain
privy to some secrets of theirs I would
rather not know about.
What takes out wine stains? one
young male relative asked.
He is over the legal drinking age, but I
was curious about this accident given
that we had had a blameless family
weekend. Had there been cocktails the
night before and why did no one inform
me?
He came clean.
I spilled this last month. On these
white pants.
You can lead a man to the washing
machine, but it takes a really long time
for new ideas to soak in.
akshitan@sph.com.sg
16
relax
GET FUZZY
SHERMANS LAGOON
BY DARBY CONLEY
STONESOUP
BY JON ELIOT
BY JIM TOOMEY
relax 17
BREWSTER ROCKIT: SPACE GUY!
FoxTrot
BY TIM RICKARD
BY BILL AMEND
ZITS
BY JERRY SCOTT AND JIM BORGMAN
ARGYLE SWEATER BY SCOTT HILBURN
LIO
BY MARK TATULLI
18
relax
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3.05 Flying Swords Of Dragon
Gate (NC16)
5.10 Doctor Mack (PG)
6.55 If You Are The One (PG)
9.00 April Bride (PG)
11.15 Exiled (M18)
1.05 AM Fate (NC16)
3.15 Mr Possessed (NC16)
5.00 Executioners (NC16)
Video On Demand
1 Crooked Arrows (HD)
2 Wrong Turn 5 (HD)
3 Lincoln (HD)
4 Argo (HD)
5 Skyfall (HD)
6 The Hobbit: An Unexpected
Journey (HD)
7 Jack Reacher (HD)
8 The Guilt Trip (HD)
Programmes available anytime you
want
mio Stadium (HD)

(Ch 102)
6.30 AM BPL: A Game Of Two
Halves
7.00 BPL: Premier League World
13/14
7.30 BPL: Classic Match
8.00 BPL: Review
9.00 BPL: MOTW #6 Liverpool Vs
Manchester United
11.00 BPL: Best Of BPL 12/13
Arsenal Vs Newcastle
1.00 PM BPL: Netbusters
Liverpool Vs Norwich
3.30 BPL: Classic Match Liverpool
Vs Fulham 06/07
5.30 BPL: A Game Of Two Halves
6.00 BPL: Premier League Greatest
Goals 8
7.00 BPL: Review
8.00 BPL: MOTW #7 Manchester
United Vs Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea Vs Arsenal
12.00 AM BPL: A Game Of Two
Halves
12.30 BPL: Premier League Greatest
Goals 8
1.30 BPL: Review
2.30 BPL: MOTW #11 Chelsea Vs
Manchester United
Liverpool Vs Norwich
mio Sports (Ch 111)

6.00 AM UEL: Uefa Europa League
12/13 Highlights
7.00 ITH: International Friendly:
England Vs Ireland
9.00 ITA: Italian Serie A 12/13
Highlights
10.00 UEL: Best Of UEL 12/13 Rubin
Vs Chelsea
12.00 PM UEL: Uefa Europa League
12/13 Highlights
England Vs Ireland
3.00 ITA: Italian Serie A 12/13
Highlights
4.00 UEL: Best Of UEL 12/13 Rubin
Vs Chelsea
6.00 CHL: Uefa Champions League
12/13 Highlights
Italy Vs San Marino
9.00 FRL: French Ligue 12/13
Highlights
10.00 CHL: Best Of CHL 12/13

Chelsea Vs Nordsjaelland
12.00 AM CHL: Uefa Champions
League 12/13 Highlights
Italy Vs San Marino
3.00 FRL: French Ligue 12/13
Highlights
4.00 CHL: Best Of CHL 12/13
Chelsea Vs Nordsjaelland
Star Sports (Ch 115)

6.00 AM Watersports: Hot Water
2013/14
7.00 Golf: Pgm-Asean Penang
Classic
8.00 Tennis: The Championships,
Wimbledon 2013 Daily
Highlights
9.00 Yachting: 49er Worlds
9.30 USA Swimming Grand Prix
Santa Clara
11.00 Football Asia 2013/14
Wimbledon 2013
3.30 PM Motorcycle Racing:
FIM MX1 & MX2 World
Championship 2013
Highlights
4.00 Motorcycle Racing:
MotoGP World Championship
2013 Highlights
5.00 Motorcycle Racing: SBK
Superbike World
Championship 2013
Highlights
5.30 USA Swimming Grand Prix
Santa Clara
Wimbledon 2013 Daily
Highlights
Wimbledon 2013 (Live)
1.00 AM Auto Racing: V8
Supercars Championship Series
Race 21
3.00 Auto Racing: Planet Speed
2013/14
3.30 Extreme Sports: Sports Max
2013/14
4.30 Auto Racing: FIA F1 World
Championship 2013 Raceday
5.15 Auto Racing: FIA F1 World
Championship 2013 Main
Race
Telecast details from

MediaCorp and StarHub.
For StarHub updates,
go to www.starhub.com/
cabletv or see StarHub
teletext (Ch 01). For
mio TV updates, go to
www.singtel.com/miotv
leo
July 23 -Aug 22
virgo
Aug 23 - Sep 22
libra
Sep 23 - Oct 23
scorpio
Oct 24 - Nov 21
sagittarius
Nov 21 - Dec 20
capricorn
Dec 21 - Jan 20
Your emotional state needs a little

work and you are in the right
place to focus on it. Clear out
some old baggage or at least
figure out what needs the most
attention.
You hear back from some person
or group you have been waiting
for and the news is good. Even if
you do not get the response you
were hoping for, this lets you
move on in a new way.
You need to let go of something
that feels more important than it
really is. Your energy is diffused
now and you need to trust your
gut when you abandon useless
baggage.
Your emotional side is extremely
strong right now, so much so
that you might blow past an old
roadblock. Just keep moving as
you should find that things start
to get really great soon.
You need to step up and try
something bold and new. The
good news is that you have
terrific energy. If you fall back on
the tried and true, things could
go wrong.
A friend calls on you and he
needs something. This in itself is
not all that unusual, but it may
be someone you usually rely on
or a friend with an extremely
strange problem.
Today is all about community.
Focus on friends and family and
see how you can bring them
together. It is easier than you
think, even for folks who have
not spoken in years.
Your psychic powers are on high
alert but you do not need to
worry. Your energy is so good
that you take care of threats
before anything bad can happen.
You should read others easily.
You need to get deeper into
whatever this new situation is
becoming even if you do not like
it. The only way out is through
and once you are enmeshed in it
all, you may like it a little better.
You need to deal with todays
issues first. Anything that has
been lingering can hang on a
little longer. Fortunately, you
know how to prioritise, so this
should not be all that difficult.
aquarius
It is far too easy to lose your cool

today, so do your best to just
slow down and try to get your
people to get in between you
and whomever is irritating you. It
does not have to end in a fight.
pisces
Your energy is bouncing right

along today, helping you to have
fun with almost everything that
crosses your path and everyone
who says hello. Make sure that
you are sharing the good times.
Jan 21 - Feb 19
Feb 20 - March 20
read 19
SIZZLING READS: JULY
Black and proud

Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichies third novel airs
tragicomic truths
about taboo topics
fiction
INHERITANCE
By Balli Kaur Jaswal
Sleepers/Paperback/
298 pages/$28.95/
Sleeperspublishing.com/
Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie
breaks racial
taboos in
Americanah, a
novel about
the African
immigrant
experience in
the West.
Book Of The Month

Akshita Nanda
AMERICANAH
By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Fourth Estate/ Paperback/478 pages/
$27.82/Major bookstores/
mericanah is a riveting and

incredibly funny book, full of
tender insights and wicked
humour.
The third novel of Nigeriaborn Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is part
immigrant story, part romance and part
paean to misunderstandings about blacks,
Africans and Nigerians in particular.
Its charm comes from the author
stating baldly and fearlessly, truths that are
obvious, but which are rarely spoken of.
In countries such as America, where
people of different races and ethnic backgrounds mingle supposedly without
restraint, social cohesion is maintained
through certain taboos. For example,
comments on race and ethnicity are
discouraged before they can cause offence,
even though this also limits honest discussion of ingrained prejudice or causes
unnecessary conversational hurdles.
Take this hilarious scene in Americanah
where a shop assistant tries to narrow
down which of her colleagues helped a
customer and is stymied because she dares
not ask: Was it the black girl or the white
girl?
Because this is America. Youre
supposed to pretend that you dont notice
certain things, explains a black American
woman to her fresh-off-the-plane Nigerian
friend.
Indeed, it is only because she is a
woman writer of colour a well-educated,
well-travelled Afropolitan writer that
Adichie can bend the rules and articulate
the unspeakable. Her characters openly
query why, in a country where a black
man is currently President, an Afro hairstyle is not considered appropriate for the
office, or why many black people aspire to
lighter skin.
In America, you dont get to decide
what race you are. It is decided for you,
says the protagonist Ifemelu, who moves
from Nigeria to the United States and
discovers that African tribal distinctions
such as Yoruba, Setswana and Igbo mean
nothing in the new country. In America,
Africans are quietly lumped with West
Indians and indigenous Americans as
black and then, depending on the
company, either marginalised or deified as
a personification of their race.
Things are little better for Ifemelus soulmate, Obinze, who was denied a visa to
America post 9/11 young black men are
now considered high-risk terror threats
and instead takes on an illegal identity in
England. He might surf a wave of pity if he
were fleeing war or poverty, but as the
adored only child of a university lecturer
seeking better job prospects, he fails to
charm liberal society.
Immigrants such as Ifemelu and Obinze
were forced to seek their fortunes elsewhere by the Nigerian military regimes of
the 1990s that squeezed entrepreneurship
and audacity out of the population. Yet
some years later, Nigeria started chugging
steadily forward and now it appears a
more attractive proposition than the
debt-ridden West.
So what if electricity is in short supply
in Lagos? People have set up giant generators. Yes, corrupt authorities take their cut
from entrepreneurs, but domestic demand
and enterprise fuel big factories and lavish
lifestyles. Overseas Africans therefore
return in droves to seek their fortunes in
PHOTO: IVARA ESEGE
the country they left. They find, poignantly and hilariously, that they are outsiders
here as well: Americanah, known by
their accents and appetite for vegan sandwiches.
Americanah is a much more cheery
story than the authors last novel, Half Of
A Yellow Sun, a tale of sisters living
through the 1967 Nigerian civil war. It
won the 2007 Orange Prize for fiction and
ended ambiguously, with a country torn
apart by strife.
Violence and political turmoil are only
part of the backdrop of Americanah.
Taking centrestage is the on-off romance
between Obinze and Ifemelu, which parallels each characters on-off romance with
his or her identity. Most teens and adults
go through a cycle of embracing, rejecting,
then re-embracing their heritage and it is a
pattern complicated by immigration and
the fact that globalisation has made some
individuals increasingly parochial.
Immigrants, like those of a minority
race or persons of colour, are accepted
only if they conform to type. Hair is a
powerful metaphor in this book, with
Ifemelu trying endless stratagems to tame
her frizzy curls and fit in with American
office codes before finally accepting her
body.
High on wicked humour,

Americanah gives tender insights
into the trials of Nigerian
migrants in the West.
Another excellent attack is made on the

Magic Negro stereotype so often played
up in Hollywood movies. The Magic Negro
is an unthreatening figure who is eternally wise and kind... never reacts under great
suffering, never gets angry... teaches the
white person how to break down the sad
but understandable prejudice in his
heart. US President Barack Obama,
Adichie writes, is straight from central
casting, which is why he attained Americas highest office.
While comical, this stereotyping or
pressure to conform is what many experience in multi-ethnic societies. No matter
how we reassure ourselves, the sad truth is
that the world is not yet blind to colour.
Hopefully, books like this will lead to
change and eventually societies where the
word race conjures images only of a
competition to see who is the fastest
runner.
If you like this, read: I Know Why The
Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (2012
reissue, Virago, $34.78, Books Kinokuniya). A deeply moving narrative of a life
scarred but not crushed by poverty, rape
and racism.
akshitan@sph.com.sg
fiction
CRAZY RICH
ASIANS
By Kevin Kwan
Doubleday/
Paperback/
384 pages/$29.96/
Major bookstores/
Inheritance is a
deeply
moving
story about how
familial ties that
bind also often
constrict.
The generation gap in a local
Punjabi family is rendered doubly
poignant as the clash between traditionally minded elders and their more
modern children mirrors similar
confrontations in Singapore as the
country evolves into an urban dynamo.
The patriarch of the family, Harbeer,
is a first-generation immigrant from
India and brings up his three children
and nephew almost single-handedly
after the death of his wife.
However, relations between him and
the children are strained.
One son is a disappointing prodigal
sent to the United States to redeem
himself with an engineering degree;
another, the good stay-at-home child, is
jealous of Harbeers affection for his
nephew; while the daughter is an
uncontrollable teen running wild with
local hoodlums.
Eventually, parents must give up
control and children must grow up.
Balli Kaur Jaswal explores the handing
over of the baton in tender, eloquent
prose.
It is obvious why an early draft of
this first novel made her, in 2007, the
first Singaporean writer to win the
25,000 (S$49,000) David T.K. Wong
Fellowship for writing at the
well-known University of East Anglia.
After years of polishing, this gem of a
story is almost flawless except for its
length Harbeers nephew, for example, deserved more space to tell his tale,
as did Harbeer himself.
Still, readers will be drawn in by the
surprising number of secrets that are
revealed slowly during the course of the
narrative.
Chief among them is the meaning of
the title, Inheritance, which evolves
from a reference to divvying up
Harbeers assets to the parental expectations children are expected to shoulder,
out of gratitude to the elders who raised
them.
Inheritance is a rare sort of novel in
that it explains both sides of the generation gap compassionately, without
assigning blame to either one.
I can hardly wait for Jaswals next
book, and hope only that she takes a
little less time with it than this one.
Crazy Rich Asians

delivers
exactly
what the title promises: Multi-millionaires buy Parisian wardrobes that equal
the annual budget of a small nation,
jetsetters on a depraved yacht trip off
Macau take an impromptu coffee break
in Australia and entrepreneurs buy up
entire islands in the Riau archipelago to
turn into exclusive resorts.
Readers of Singapore Tatler might
find these shenanigans relatively tame
but Bukit Timah-born Kevin Kwans
first novel has reeled in readers in the
West, who are less accustomed to
real-estate billionaires who drive
imported BMWs but eat in open-air
hawker centres with no sense of disconnect.
The narrative is a tongue-in-cheek
catalogue of excess in the lives of Singapores ultra-rich, wrapped around a
romantic plot device so thin it might as
well not exist.
American-born Chinese Rachel Chu
is in love with the dashing Nicholas
Young, who takes her home to
Singapore to introduce her to his family.
Nicholas relatives turn out to be
among the top 1 per cent of the island,
boasting not just full-time domestic
help but attendants who were trained
in the Thai court and whose service was
gifted to the family matriarch in perpetuity.
Naturally, Rachels motives, fashion
sense and family background get a
thorough sniffing and shredding.
It takes all Nicholas skill and access
to private jets to stop her from
running away from a family that seems
more crazy than crazy rich.
The novel is a fun beach or bedtime
read, full of guilty pleasures for readers
from this part of the world.
A Chinese family denied entrance to
a posh London hotel ends up buying
the place and firing the snooty
Caucasian manager; at a weekly Bible
study, devout tai-tais ask for divine help
to sell their plummeting stocks and
shares.
Such humorous interludes more
than make up for the paper-thin
characters and lack of true emotional
depth.
After all, this sort of novel does not
need heart unless it is a 24-carat heart of
gold suspended from a necklace of
diamonds.
If you like this, read: Fistful Of

Colours by Suchen Christine Lim
(1992, Books Kinokuniya, $14.98), a story about the search for individual identity in evolving Singapore.
Akshita Nanda
If you like this, read: The Diary Of A

Social Butterfly by Moni Mohsin (2013,
Books Kinokuniya, $15.95). Follow
Butterfly as she organises parties and disorganises love lives.
Akshita Nanda
20
read
SIZZLING READS: JULY
fiction
THE CHILDHOOD
OF JESUS
By J.M. Coetzee
Harvill Secker/
Paperback/277 pages/
$24.95/Books
Kinokuniya/
fiction
fiction
THE DARK ROAD

By Ma Jian
Chatto & Windus/
$22.95/Books
Kinokuniya/
CONSTANCE
By Patrick McGrath
Bloomsbury Circus/
$34.19/Books
Kinokuniya/
When J.M. Coetzee

writes a book, the
following are likely to
happen.
Fans and book lovers rush to get their
hands on his work, they immerse themselves in the world created by Coetzee,
and later they spend days contemplating
the book which may have stimulated
them on multiple levels.
With The Childhood Of Jesus the
title itself arouses curiosity readers may
finds themselves doing all the above, but
with an additional task of grappling with
one pertinent question: What was that
all about?
Unfolding in a Utopian setting where
idealism and contentment trump desire
and ambition, the book follows the lives
of middle-aged Simon and his sixyear-old (unrelated) ward David after
they land in Novilla.
The boy has lost a letter carrying
details of his mother, so Simon promises
to find her for David. Thus both, having
completely forgotten and cut off from
their past, begin a co-dependent life on a
clean slate.
The premise gives Coetzee unlimited
scope to mould his characters and take
them on an exciting adventure. But, fans
of the Nobel laureate will know, he
would rather philosophise the effects of
everyday events on innocent souls.
But, the book gets absurd when Ines
a random woman Simon spots playing
tennis is successfully coaxed to be Davids mother.
After this, The Childhood Of Jesus
sinks to unfathomable levels. Heavy on
allegory, readers will find not too subtle
Biblical similarities like Ines being a
virgin, David being a very gifted child
and believing he can perform magic.
The saving grace of the book is
Coetzees style of writing, but the philosophy weighs heavy at times, getting obsessive and annoying, and finally completely overshadowing the plot.
If you are a die-hard Coetzee fan, no
one can stop you from reading this book.
But if you are new to his work, read it for
the pleasure of stimulus. He has done a
lot better in the past.
These days, you have

to pay the government
nine thousand yuan to
die, says Father, taking
off his glasses and rubbing his tired eyes. The gates of hell
arent somewhere far beneath us. Theyre
right here on earth.
This exchange between a village
school teacher, Kongzi, and his young
peasant wife, Meili, sums up the vision of
hellish apocalypse that Ma Jian puts the
reader through in The Dark Road.
His latest is yet another critical novel
about the authoritarian aspects of the
Chinese political system. His novels,
including Beijing Coma, about the
Tiananmen Square massacre and its aftermath, have all been banned in China.
As research for this book, the Chinese
dissident posed as a reporter to visit family planning offices and hospitals where
forced abortions and sterilisations were
carried out. He also lived among fugitives
who were on the run from Chinas One
Child Policy.
The result is a stark, unflinching
account of the violence inflicted on
women by the state and their husbands.
Kongzi, a direct descendant of Confucius, is desperate to produce a male heir
to continue his familys distinguished
line. After giving birth to their one
authorised child who is a girl, Kongzi
forces himself on Meili every night to try
for a son.
To dodge family planning officers,
they flee from their village and join
vagrants who drift from one town to
another along the banks of the Yangtze.
From child trafficking to forced labour
to tainted food products to even infant
cannibalism, the bleakness never lets up,
except for some black humour.
Through these encounters, Ma Jian
explores weighty issues such as discriminatory class laws, womens lack of
control over their own bodies, the historical amnesia surrounding the social fallout of policy decisions and how China is
becoming a graveyard of the worlds electronic waste.
The book tries too hard and succeeds
more as a political essay rather than a
literary work.
Just as how the allseeing eyes of Doctor TJ

Eckleburg on a giant
advertising billboard
watches over the town
and frames the entire narrative of F. Scott
Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby, the demolition of New Yorks original Pennsylvania
station in the 1960s is a central motif in
this psychological thriller.
McGraths finesse in coupling urban
decay with his characters psychological
meltdown is impressive, though a tad
overwrought.
The book opens with an aloof and
clearly damaged Constance Schuyler
who meets Sidney Klein, a professor of
poetry many years her senior, at a party
in Manhattan.
He enjoys her mysterious air and
marries her shortly after. Family secrets
and dissipation inevitably tumble out
and Constance becomes an emotional
wreck as she confronts the truth about
her parentage and her past.
Freud would have a field day with this
novel. The psychobabble notions of repetition compulsion complex and identity as a construction are laid on thick and
heavy. Even in bed, Constance wants
Sidney to call her Iris, her sisters name,
while she calls him Daddy.
As the couple brood, fester, conceal
and react, we start to see chilling repetitive patterns forming.
Her adoptive father throws himself in
front of an approaching train, mimicking
her natural fathers death. Constance
finds release in infidelity, an act of betrayal which her mother was also guilty of.
The novel is a fascinating study of trauma, loss, sexual obsession, hysteria and a
doomed desire for control. These themes
are well complemented with its gothic
scene-setting, ambiguous dialogue and
rotating narrators.
McGrath, after all, grew up in Berkshire in the grounds of a mental hospital.
Yet the tortured psychological landscape that is being put forth is compromised by its characters solipsism. After a
while, their self-indulgence grates on the
nerves.
They should just grab some Valium
and go to bed.
If you like this, read: Life And Times

of Michael K by J.M. Coetzee (1983,
Books Kinokuniya, $19.26) is the story of
an orphaned gardener who lives a simple
life until events corrupt him.
Rupali Karekar
If you like this, read: Heart Of

Darkness (2009, Books Kinokuniya,
$14.93) by Joseph Conrad, about an
ivory transporters journey up the Congo
River in Africa.
Janice Tai
If you like this, read: Shutter Island

(2006, Books Kinokuniya, $16.36) by
Dennis Lehane. A US Marshal goes to Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane to
investigate the disappearance of a patient.
Janice Tai
graphic novel
TODAY IS THE LAST
DAY OF THE REST OF
YOUR LIFE
By Ulli Lust
Fantagraphics Books/
Paperback/
464 pages/$55.95/
Books Kinokuniya/
memoir
fantasy
Bookends
Akshita Nanda
Who: New Zealand-based playwright
and actor-director Catherine Downes
(right), 60.
She performs her award-winning
one-woman play, The Case Of Katherine
Mansfield, at The Arts House from July
18 to 20. Tickets for the 8pm show cost
$25 and are available at www.bytes.sg
The 90-minute performance brings to
life the writings and tragic history of
noted New Zealand author Katherine
Mansfield. She died age 34 in 1923, leaving a legacy of vivid, modernist short stories collected in books such as The Garden Party: And Other Stories (1922).
Born and raised in Wellington,
Mansfields hometown, Downes trained
at the Toi Whakaari drama school in New
Zealand and has a bachelor of arts from
Victoria University.
Introduced to Mansfields work in her
20s, she became inspired by the late
authors short life and ambitious quest
to be everything she was capable of
becoming rather than follow a constraining social path.
She wrote The Case Of Katherine
Mansfield using Mansfields journals,
letters and stories and performed it in
England, Europe and the United States. It
won two awards at the 1979 Edinburgh
Fringe Festival. Though other troupes
have picked up the play, Downes is taking it on after a hiatus of many years.
She stopped performing it for a few
decades because Katherine died
young but last year became interested
in it again as ageing friends and family
made her think about mortality.
For the Singapore production, her
only child, Sam Downes, in his 20s, acts
as her technical designer.
What are you reading now?
Obviously Im reading a lot of travel
books at present, books on Singapore or
Malaysia. Im also re-reading Charles
Dickens Great Expectations because Im
going to be directing a play about it in
New Zealand next year.
The novel I just finished reading is
Music & Silence by historical novelist
Rose Tremain. Its wonderful, the scope
and the story, the epic nature and the
way she interweaves the characters and
plotlines and the exquisite prose.
If your house were on fire, which
book would you save?
I probably wouldnt save Katherine Mans-
young adult
WAITING TO BE
HEARD: A MEMOIR
By Amanda Knox
Harper Collins/
Hardcover/461 pages/
$46.56/Books
Kinokuniya/
THE PALACE OF
CURIOSITIES
By Rosie Garland
HarperCollins/
$27.82/Books
Kinokuniya/
TRIPLE NINE
SLEUTHS:
DANGEROUS ISLAND
By Maranna Chan
Epigram/Paperback/
120 pages/$11.66/
Books Kinokuniya/
Ulli Lusts memoir

should come with a trigger warning.
Laden with struggles against misogyny and despair, the Vienna-born and
Berlin-based cartoonists first graphic
novel details her journey, as a naive
17-year-old, through Europe in a haze of
sex, drugs and punk.
At more than 460 pages, this brick of a
coming-of-age story hits you like one as
well.
It is 1984. Lust befriends fellow punk
teen Edi, and the two girls embark on a
journey that starts off as an adventure
and ends up looking more like a trap.
Without their passports, barely any
money and just the clothes on their back,
they decide to cross the border to Italy,
on foot and on a whim, in order to spend
the winter there.
They join a motley crew of misfits and
fellow travellers as they make their way
from city to city, encountering a colourful chorus of characters, from the insidious Italian mafia to a meditation fanatic.
Edi, however, turns out to be less of a
friend and more of a selfish free spirit
(with nymphomaniacal tendencies) who
follows her every impulse.
Their bodies become their currency,
and as Lust begins to explore her own
sexual impulses, she realises too late that
it is something that can be forced from
her something that she describes with
uncomfortable detail. Warning: She does
flesh out some graphic sexual encounters.
Her experiences on the road veer from
pure exhilaration there is the nearspiritual peak of watching the opera
Carmen in the Arena in Verona, Italy to
the horrors of sexual exploitation.
There were moments where I turned
the pages from sheer dread, whiteknuckled by her painful depictions of
rape culture and well-meaning but
misplaced idealism in human nature.
She holds a magnifying glass to punk
culture and that painfully dark periphery
of sexual indignity, allowing readers to
come away with their own sense of
enlightenment, as she does hers.
How long does it take

for Amanda Knox to
realise that she is an
extremely naive girl
caught in a situation that cannot be
solved with tears and ignorance?
Going by the 25-year-old Americans
memoir of how she gets out of a murder
conviction, it takes roughly about 150
pages before a lightbulb goes off that she
is in serious trouble for allegedly killing
her British room-mate in Perugia, Italy.
Back in 2007, Knox was a Seattle
college student accused of instigating
Raffaele Sollecito, her boyfriend of one
week, to murder Meredith Kercher. The
two were convicted, along with Rudy
Guede, a Perugino born in Ivory Coast, of
killing the 21-year-old student.
Initially sentenced to 26 years in prison, Knox had her conviction overturned
in 2011 after absurd holes the crime
scene was badly contaminated, the
police made up their own theories based
on their gut feeling and clueless witnesses were found in the prosecutions case.
Waiting To Be Heard, then, is Knoxs
attempt at telling the truth through her
eyes, starting with how she got herself
into this mess.
But unfortunately for Knox, the story
everyone is more interested in is the
crime. Kerchers half-naked body was
found under a comforter, her throat slit.
A window in another room was broken
into, and there were blood droplets and
faeces in the toilet. And the blame keeps
shifting all the time, until Guede is implicated alone.
Knox is not a sophisticated born-storyteller. She spends much of the book
saying how innocent she is, so the process of reading the same thing over and
over again becomes laborious, and
weighs down the text. Halfway through,
you wish she would stop trying to
convince you of her innocence, and be
more candid about her experience in an
Italian jail.
The good parts come in the closing of
the book, when Knox is set free. It is
fast-paced and exciting, much like a fugitive getting bundled out of the country
all to get an innocent Knox home.
With its Victorian

London setting and a
lion-faced girl and an
apparently indestructible man as lead characters, English novelist Rosie Garlands debut novel promises
enchantment and adventure.
Unfortunately, The Palace Of Curiosities fails to live up to this promise.
The author does know how to create
atmosphere. In the opening pages, she
captures the heady blend of magic and
savagery at a circus in London in 1831,
while giving her heroine, Eve, a mystical
origin story.
The lion ignores them all and opens
his mouth wide, gusting Mama with a
reeking gale of dead breath. She claps her
hand over her nose, but it is too late. Deep
in her belly, the clot of blood that will be
me in under an hour has smelled it, too.
Later, a more conventional act of
procreation occurs, but there is no doubting who Eves spiritual father is. She is
born covered with fur.
As for our hero Abel, he is washed
ashore out of the Thames, returning from
the dead to interrupt a motley crew stripping him of his garments. They let him
keep his clothes, not out of the goodness
of their hearts but because, as a member
of the crowd puts it: Hes not got the
decency to die when he should.
The narrative is less about plot than
character study. Abel is initially the more
fascinating character due to his miraculous condition, matched only by the
utter opaqueness of his memory he
cannot die, but he also cannot remember
having lived. That said, Eve is the character who is easier to empathise with, if
only because her character is better able
to articulate her passions.
But it is a waste to have wellfleshed-out characters when they do not
have much of a storyline in which to flex
their muscles. The premise of this novel
promises the unexpected, yet nothing
actually surprises.
Perhaps that is the surprise: that such
strange characters could have such unexceptional lives. That could well be the
authors point despite individual oddities, we are all more alike than we think.
If The Three Investigators those fictional

teenage
American
detectives, who were friends of Alfred
Hitchcock, in the mystery books from
the 1960s to 1980s were reincarnated as
Singaporeans, they would probably be a
lot like the Triple Nine Sleuths.
Corey Lam is the socially inept Primary School Leaving Examinations Top Scorer, her brother Colton is the Everyboy,
while their friend Stacy Rodriguez is the
boy-crazy free spirit. Together, the three
Secondary 1 students from Yuan Hwa
Secondary School solve grisly murder
mysteries, while dealing with some growing pains, trauma and family secrets of
their own.
Launched earlier this year, the new
series by local educator-turned-writer
Maranna Chan made a promising debut
with Dangerous Limelight, about a string
of deaths of women named Cordelia. The
follow-up, Dangerous Despair, revolved
around an old womans apparent suicide.
Dangerous Island, the third in the
series, has the trio investigating a killing
while camping on St Johns Island. When
a researcher at the Tropical Marine
Science Institute is found dead, the Lam
siblings and friend try to find some
answers to exonerate their aunt, his
colleague.
The book offers spooky suspense and
ick factor to keep morbidly curious kids
hooked. The real draw, however, are the
local references a policeman is as handsome... as Singapore Idol winner Hady
Mirza, while kiasu parents and China
cleaning ladies make appearances in the
series. Instead of straining to imagine
foreign settings, young readers can relate
to Chans scenarios which reflect Singaporean concerns, such as the growing
population and plight of the elderly.
Of all the three books so far, Dangerous Island is the most action-packed;
previous books emphasised trawling the
library and Internet for sources to piece
together clues. With the scene set for a
larger conspiracy, involving Stacys missing mother, the Triple Nine Sleuths look
ripe for a devoted following.
If you like this, read: Fun Home

(2007, Books Kinokuniya, $25.35), by
Alison Bechdel, a deeply personal
memoir about growing up as a gay
person in a conservative family.
Corrie Tan
If you like this, read: Honor Bound:

My Journey To Hell And Back With
Amanda Knox, (2012, Books Kinokuniya,
$44.07) by Raffaele Sollecito, Knoxs Italian boyfriend, on his ordeal.
Natasha Ann Zachariah
If you like this, read: Fingersmith

(2002, Books Kinokuniya, $23.54) by
Sarah Waters. Set in the same era and
also involving marginalised characters,
but this time stuff actually happens.
Stephanie Yap
If you like this, read: Sherlock Sam

And The Missing Heirloom In Katong by
A.J. Low (2012, Books Kinokuniya,
$10.59), in which a kid solves a mystery
redolent with Singapore flavours.
Clara Chow
PHOTO: CATHERINE DOWNES
field because I know it by heart now, Ive

saved her works inside myself.
The book I would save is The
Complete Works Of William Shakespeare. It would keep me going for a
while and its a particular copy I have
that an actress friend left me before she
died.
The Garden Party: And

Other Stories by Katherine
Mansfield (2008 reprint,
Penguin, $26.70), Great
Expectations by Charles
Dickens (2011 reprint,
Puffin, $10.70) and The
Complete Works Of
William Shakespeare
(2012 reprint, $49.66,
Collectors Library) are available at
Books Kinokuniya. Music & Silence by
Rose Tremain (2001, Washington
Square Press, $30.31) is available at
Amazon.com
bestsellers
Fiction
1. (1) Inferno by Dan Brown
2. (2) Fifty Shades Of Grey
by E.L. James
3. (-) The Racketeer by John Grisham
4. (4) The Time Keeper
by Mitch Albom
5. (-) Revenge Wears Prada
by Lauren Weisberger
6. (-) World War Z by Max Brooks
7. (3) Wedding Night
by Sophie Kinsella
8. (6) The Fault In Our Stars by John
Green and (8) Crazy Rich Asians
by Kevin Kwan
9. (5) The Ocean At The End Of The
Lane by Neil Gaiman
10. (7) Manuscript Found In Accra
by Paulo Coelho
Non-fiction
1. (2) Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic
2. (3) Life Without Limits
by Nick Vujicic
3. (1) The Wit And Wisdom Of Lee
Kuan Yew edited by Editions Didier
Millet
4. (7) The Art Of Thinking Clearly
by Rolf Dobelli
5. (5) Why A Students Work For C
Students by Robert Kiyosaki
6. (4) Lee Kuan Yew by Graham
Allison, Robert Blackwill and Ali Wyne
7. (6) Ctrl Alt Delete by Mitch Joel
8. (8) Frozen In Time
by Mitchell Zuckoff
9. (9) The Org by Ray Fisman and
Tim Sullivan
10. (10) The 15 Invaluable Laws Of
Growth by John Maxwell
Childrens
1. (6) Get Into Gear, Stilton!
by Geronimo Stilton
2. (1) Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The
Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
3. (2) Cavemice: Watch Your Tail!
by Geronimo Stilton
4. (3) Dork Diaries 6: Holiday
Heartbreak by Rachel Renee Russell
5. (4) Rumble In The Jungle
by Geronimo Stilton
6. (7) Thea Stilton And The Legend
Of The Fire Flowers by Thea Stilton
7. (5) Thea Stilton And The Dancing
Shadows by Thea Stilton
8. (9) Mouse In Space!
by Geronimo Stilton
9. (8) The Colossus Rises
by Peter Lerangis
10. (-) The Mouse Hoax
by Geronimo Stilton
This is SundayLife!s compilation of
the bestseller lists from Books
Kinokuniya, MPH, Popular and
Times bookstores. The numbers in
brackets are the previous weeks
positions.
taste 21
To cut down on
wastage, Korean
buffet restaurant
Todai offers the
leftovers from the
buffet spread to
their employees
to supplement
their lunch sets.
PHOTOS: ASHLEIGH SIM, SEAH KWANG PENG, MARINA BAY SANDS
Spread the love

and excess food
Food outlets make the effort
to reduce food wastage by
donating leftovers, selling
them cheap or giving to staff
Eunice Quek
he abundance of food in Singapore

has led to the problem of food wastage, with a new record set last year
when 703,200 tonnes were
chucked away. It is a 26 per cent
spike from the 558,900 tonnes thrown out
in 2007, according to figures from the
National Environment Agency.
While it is difficult to track food wastage,
restaurants that SundayLife! interviewed estimate the amount of waste to be about 5 per
cent. On top of monitoring food sales and
menu items, they add that they make a conscious effort to minimise the waste generated.
One of the latest companies to jump on
board is Marina Bay Sands, which started its
sustainability project late last month by
donating unconsumed bread and pastries to
Food From The Heart, a local charity.
The organisation, which was formed in
November 2002, has volunteers delivering
unsold bread to the needy.
The volume of bread that it distributes
now has almost tripled from 10 years ago,
from 120,000kg in 2003 to 320,000kg so far
this year. It started out with 300 volunteers
and now has 4,000.
About 23,000 people benefit from the
food donations, more than double the 9,000
helped in 2003.
A Marina Bay Sands spokesman says it has
put in place other ways to cut down on wastage. Excess desserts and cakes from our
hotel lobby restaurant Rise are distributed in
our two 24-hour Team Member Dining
Rooms, where they are consumed within the
day. In addition, excess food left over each
day from the two rooms and preparation
kitchens are put through two in-house compost machines.
Other establishments in Singapore that
have been working with Food From The
Heart include The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa, Grand Hyatt
Singapore, The Fullerton Hotel and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, as well as Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford.
Mr Edmund Toh, executive chef and
assistant vice-president of culinary operations at Resorts World Sentosa, says: We
have a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for
breads, pastries and sandwiches at the Rock
Deli at Hard Rock Hotel Singapore after 8pm
daily.
We also monitor food consumption at
our meetings, incentives, conferences and
exhibitions events closely and monitor the
food unconsumed after every event.
Orchard Hotel general manger Andrew
Tan says there are two kinds of food waste:
the avoidable and unavoidable.
He says: Avoidable waste includes kitchen preparation work and waste from guests.
About 3 to 5 per cent of leftovers have to be
discarded and categorised as unavoidable
waste, due to sanitisation and hygiene guidelines.
The hotel, he says, uses meat trimmings
for stocks and sauces. At its buffets, smaller
plates are laid out for guests and live kitchen
stations, where chefs cook dishes a la
minute, allow them to portion out the food.
The kitchen staff of Marina Bay Sands (above)

and Resorts World Sentosa (left) packing
leftover bread, muffins and pastries to be
donated to Food From The Heart, which
collects food and distributes them to the needy.
A spokesman for the Peperoni Pizzeria

chain, which is owned by Les Amis Group,
says: We ask the service staff to strongly
recommend dishes such as pre-cooked stews
or items that are nearing the end of their
shelf life.
If they remain unsold after a long
period, they are thrown away. Customers are
also advised against ordering too much, as
our portions are big.
The spokesman for Jumbo Group, which
owns the Jumbo Seafood chain, says: Our
staff are trained to advise customers on their
orders to minimise wastage. We do allow
takeaways at no extra charge for food that
cannot be finished. Unpopular menu items
are phased out.
Royal Plaza On Scotts general manager,
Mr Patrick Fiat, says of its popular buffet
restaurant Carousel: The chefs at Carousel
conduct food weighing at the end of buffets,
four to five times a week. The standard is to
keep leftovers from all buffet counters combined to below 4kg. Under the National Environment Agencys standards, such food
must be disposed of, as it has been exposed
for more than four hours.
The RE&S group, which owns the Ichiban
Sushi chain of restaurants and Kuriya Japanese Fresh Fish Market, offers takeaway sushi
at discounted prices before the outlets close.
Customers are advised to consume the items
within four hours.
At its sister outlet at nex mall, Green

Pumpkin Japanese Bakery, buns are sold at a
discount at the end of the day. In addition,
unsold toast bread is recycled into products
such as rusk.
A spokesman for Bibigo, a casual Korean
restaurant at Raffles City, says: We use leftover food ingredients which are still very
fresh for employee lunches or new menus.
For example, after cutting kimchi for the
side dish, we chop the leftovers for kimchi
fried rice. This helps to save food costs too.
Korean buffet restaurant Todai at Marina
Bay Sands says most of the premium seafood
in its spread, such as crab and abalone, are
consumed by customers. The leftovers of
other dishes become staff meals.
The average amount left over is less than
5 per cent of the total buffet spread, says a
spokesman for the restaurant.
He adds: It can be hard to advise customers not to take too much food in a buffet restaurant. Once, an employee had to speak to
a customer who was carrying an entire cake
back to his table. The party of three did not
finish the cake.
Some are thinking of new ways to re-use
food waste.
Grand Hyatt Singapore is looking to get a
machine to convert food waste into nonpotable water or biodegradable compost that
it can use for its landscaping, pending funding approval from the National Environment Agency, says the hotel spokesman.
Despite all the efforts, the amount of
waste produced is still high because a large
chunk of the problem is linked to the food
manufacturing and catering industries, as
well as supermarkets and hawker centres.
But good management, creative ways of
minimising leftovers and restraint help.
Housewife Anita Lee, 49, says: Its a good
idea for bakeries to sell their bread at a discount at the end of the day. After all, were
helping them to clear stock. I will go to
Green Pumpkin Japanese Bakery to buy
buns. I get to save some money too.
Communications manager Karen Lim,
29, says: I used to overeat at buffets so I now
pace myself and eat the items that I really
want first. I will definitely eat sashimi and
oysters, as well as seafood items. When I start
feeling full, I stop taking hot food items and
head to the dessert spread. By not taking too
much food, I dont have the tendency to
waste or overeat.
euniceq@sph.com.sg
22
taste
Elevating humble
hawker food
NEW FLAVOURS
This years Singapore Food Festival

offers new interpretations of local
dishes such as buah keluak fried rice
foods found in hawker centres.

The chef is serving some of his most popular creations in a seven-course menu ($95 a person) for lunch
and dinner until the end of the month.
Items include bak kut teh consomme, pomelo salad,
roast chicken wings stuffed with chicken rice and roast
snapper with otah paste.
Cookbook author and restaurateur Violet Oon, 63, of
Violet Oons Kitchen decided to offer a menu that
includes old and new Singapore foods.
Traditional dishes on her family menu for four
Rebecca Lynne Tan
include Nyonya Mah Mee and ngoh hiang, while inventive, more modern items include a chilli crab pizza.
She says: People can now get a chance to see what
awker food, from rojak to chicken rice, will
always remain a strong part of Singapores can be done with Singapore food and how it can evolve,
food heritage, but some chefs have taken with new takes on old-fashion dishes.
Those keen to learn how to prepare Singapore
these dishes to the next level by interpretcuisine can sign up for a culinary workshop and dinner
ing them in a new way.
Some of these restaurants will be offering Singapore- by Keystones chef de cuisine Immanuel Tee at The
inspired and modern Singaporean dishes in this years Miele Gallery.
There, 25 participants will be treated to a demonstraSingapore Food Festival.
tion of modern Singaporean dishes such
For its 20th instalment, the festival
as chilli crab, a combination of Alaskan
will centre on the countrys culinary
King crab and soft-shell crab served with
evolution from its hawker heritage to the People can now
unique, creative dining concepts of get a chance to see a chilli sauce and charcoal mantou; and a
rojak which chef Tee, 26,
today.
what can be done deconstructed
says will maintain similar flavour profiles
The month-long festival is organised
of the dish but will be served with pineby the Singapore Tourism Board, which with Singapore
apple gel instead of the cut up fruit.
has engaged more than 20 attractions food and how it
At The Jewel Box and for Sky Dining in
and event partners. It began on June 28 can evolve.
cable cars, diners can taste the cuisine of
and will end on July 28.
VIOLET OON, cookbook
three chefs Derrick Ang of Mount Faber
Head to restaurants such as Immi- author and restaurateur,
Leisure Group, executive chef Tony Khoo
grants in Joo Chiat, Violet Oons Kitchen on Singapore cuisine
of Marina Mandarin Singapore, and chef
in Bukit Timah, Keystone in Stanley
Pung Lu Tin of Gim Tim restaurants
Street, The Jewel Box at Mount Faber and Wild Rocket
at Mount Sophia for a taste of Singapore-inspired who have collaborated on set and a la carte menus.
cuisine.
Dishes include frog legs done two ways baked kung
The restaurants are serving savoury dishes that range pao frog legs in pastry, and crispy ginger frog legs with
from buah keluak fried rice to bak kut teh consomme spicy mango salsa.
with pork rib and foie gras wonton; and dessert items
Indeed, chefs say interpretations of hawker foods are
such as a bubor cha cha panna cotta, and cendol made infinite.
with white chocolate and coconut custard served with
Oon says: Chefs here are upping the ante with more
coconut granita and gula melaka sauce.
forms of Singapore hawker cuisine.
Chef-owner Willin Low, 41, of eight-year-old Wild
Rocket, which is participating in the festival for the first
rltan@sph.com.sg
time, says: It is the 20th anniversary of the festival and
I have always believed that our food is really just hawkFor more information about the Singapore Food
er food, but on a different platform and level.
He adds that his dishes are inspired by local hawker Festival 2013, go to www.yoursingapore.com/sff
PHOTOS: SINGAPORE FOOD FESTIVAL, VIOLET OONS KITCHEN, IMMIGRANTS-GASTROBAR, WILD ROCKET
Chef Immanuel Tee of Keystone will present his take on five of his favourite hawker food, including chilli crab.
SINGAPORE CULINARIANS
THE PAST, THE PRESENT
& THE FUTURE
What: Taste the cuisine of
Derrick Ang, executive chef of
Mount Faber Leisure Group;
Tony Khoo, executive chef of
Marina Mandarin Singapore;
and chef Pung Lu Tin of
Chinese restaurant group Gim
Tim, who have come up with a
special festival menu at The
Jewel Box.
Dishes include slow-cooked
salmon loin with spicy salmon
floss, citrus espuma and pickled
cucumber; frog legs served two
ways: baked kung bao frog legs
in pastry, and crispy ginger
frogs legs with spicy mango salsa (above); and
traditional braised Dong Po pork belly with
deep-fried buns.
The Sky Dining set menu includes dishes such
as double-boiled sea treasures with cordyceps
flower in supreme stock; braised lamb shank in
rendang sauce and a layered cendol mousse for
dessert.
Where: The Jewel Box, Mount Faber, 109 Mount
Faber Road and Sky Dining in the Singapore Cable
Car
When: Today, 11.30am to 2pm, 6.30 to 11pm.
Sky Dining in the cable car is available from 6 to
7pm
Price: At The Jewel Box, a six-course set lunch is
priced at $38 a person, while an eight-course set
dinner is priced at $75 a person. A la carte items
$8 and $35 each. Sky Dining is priced at $150 a
couple and each cabin can seat up to four people
Info: For reservations at The Jewel Box, call
6377-9688. Go to www.mountfaber.com.sg to
book a cable car for Sky Dining
PROGRESSIVE INTERPRETATIONS OF
SINGAPORE STREET FOOD
What: Chef de cuisine Immanuel Tee of
European restaurant Keystone in Stanley Street
will reinterpret five of his favourite hawker
delights at a food demonstration-cum-dinner at
The Miele Gallery.
Tuck into five courses including chilli crab
Alaskan King crab and soft-shell crab with a chilli
crab sauce served with a home-made charcoal
mantou; and cendol white chocolate and
coconut custard with a coconut granita, azuki
beans and a gula melaka sauce. The meal will be
available at Keystone from July 16.
Where: The Miele Gallery, Winsland House II,163
Penang Road 04-02/03. Keystone, 11/12 Stanley
Street
When: Demonstration at The Miele Gallery is on
Thursday, 7.30 to 10.30pm. From July 16, the
meal served at the demonstration will be available
at Keystone, noon to 3pm (weekday lunch), 6 to
10.30pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays). Closed on
Mondays
Price: The workshop-dinner costs $128 a person
with wine pairing, and is limited to 25 people. The
set meal at Keystone will be priced at $88 a person
and does not include wine
Info: Call 6221-0046 or e-mail
info@keystonerestaurant.com.sg. Go to
www.keystonerestaurant.com.sg
OLD AND NEW NYONYA COLLECTION AT

VIOLET OONS KITCHEN
What: Head to Singapore bistro Violet Oons
Kitchen for a taste of traditional and modern
Singaporean dishes. A set meal for four people
includes traditional dishes of ngoh hiang, tahu
goreng (above) and Nyonya mah mee, as well
as modern items such as chilli crab pizza and
a bubor cha cha panna cotta (right) for
dessert.
Where: Violet Oons Kitchen, 881 Bukit
Timah Road, near Old Holland Road.
When: Till July 28, 11.30am to 10pm
(Tuesdays to Thursdays), 11.30am to
11pm (Fridays), 9.30am to 11pm
(Saturdays), 9.30am to 10pm (Sundays)
Closed on Mondays
Price: $100 for a set meal for four

Info: Call 6468-5430 or go to
www.facebook.com/VioletOonsKitchen
THE MODERN SINGAPOREAN MENU
What: Chef-owner Willin Low of modern
Singaporean restaurant Wild Rocket is offering
some of his most popular hawker food-inspired
creations for the food festival.
His seven-course menu includes dishes such as
bak kut teh consomme with wonton filled with
foie gras; chicken wings stuffed with chicken rice;
pomelo salad (above); and snapper with otah
paste.
Where: Wild Rocket, 10A Upper Wilkie Road
When: Till July 31, noon to 3pm, 6.30 to 11pm
(Tuesdays to Saturdays). 11.30am to 3pm, 6.30 to
10.30pm (Sundays). Closed on Mondays
Price: $95 a person for a seven-course meal.
Available for lunch and dinner
Info: Call 6339-9448 or go to
www.wildrocket.com.sg
IMMIGRANTS SPECIAL HERITAGE SNACKS
WITH ALCOHOL PAIRING
What:
Immigrants
in Joo
Chiat,
headed by
chef-owner
Damian
DSilva,
offers
dishes
inspired by
Eurasian,
Peranakan,
Chinese,
Malay and
Indian flavours. Dishes such as the restaurants
signature buah keluak fried rice (above) can be
paired with Japanese whisky ($30) or a half-pint of
Asahi Black beer ($25).
Where: Immigrants, 467 Joo Chiat Road
When: Friday to Sept 9, 5 to 8pm daily
Price: Expect to spend about $25 to $30. Prices
for pairings may differ depending on the dish and
the type of alcohol
Info: For reservations, call 8511-7322. Go to
www.immigrants-gastrobar.com
taste 23
Noodle house Hong Mao

Mian Jia is planning to take
its food from the east to
all corners of Singapore
The Hong Mao Mian Jia brothers

(from far left) Stewart and Johnny
Goh will be opening two new
outlets with Bakery Cuisines CEO
Ken Seng Guan, and will serve
their signature wonton noodles
(extreme left) as well as new
dishes such as braised beef (top)
and tom yum noodles (above).
Eve Yap
PHOTOS: ASHLEIGH SIM, HONG MAO MIAN JIA
he brothers behind a popular Joo

Chiat Road wonton noodle shop
are in a $300,000 bid to push
their Hong Mao Mian Jia noodles
not just in the east but
island-wide.
Umbrella manufacturers Stewart and
Johnny Goh, along with their partner, chef
Ho Kok Choi, will be running a total of six
new outlets, in addition to their main shop
at 182 Joo Chiat Road, by June next year.
The trio have teamed up with Bakery
Cuisine to open a 350 sq ft basement shop
at the Esplanade MRT station by September, with another outlet in a Serangoon
North shophouse by November.
Bakery Cuisines chief executive officer
Ken Seng Guan, 40, says the tie-up will add
depth to its chain of 20 bakery outlets in
MRT stations and bus interchanges.
We love the noodles, and were converting one of our outlets at the Esplanade
MRT station from a confectionery to a noodle shop for a start, says Mr Ken.
Says Mr Stewart Goh, 61: We provide
the equipment and expertise and they provide the space, and we profit-share.
Hong Mao is also renting stalls at food
More mee
premises where restaurant chain Select
Group is a master tenant.
On July 1, it opened an outlet at the
staff canteen of Changi Airports Terminal
2, and it is planning an outdoor cart at the
revamped Chinatown food street, which is
now undergoing extensive renovations.
Mr Johnny Goh, 56, says the $300,000
investment will go mainly towards renovation and equipment costs for all the new
outlets.
The Chinatown one, taking up the biggest chunk of about $100,000, will also be
the most important one after its main shop.
Says Mr Johnny Goh: We will reach a
wider clientele here as there will be a good
blend of tourists and residents for us to tap
on.
Mr Ho, 62, former head chef of Parkroyal Hotel who heads operations at Termi-
nal 2, says the stall serves about 300 plates

of its $3.50 wonton noodles during lunch.
The expansion is more than just an ego
trip for the brothers, who were fans of the
noodles cooked by the original owner, Madam Irene Neo, in their childhood.
They took over the business in May last
year when she called it a day, citing ill
health.
But her regular patrons did not like the
new owners tweaks for instance, less
tongue-numbingly hot wonton and soup
without monosodium glutamate.
Mr Henry Teo, 63, boss and chef at Istanbul Gourmet kebab restaurant, also in Joo
Chiat Road, gave copious comments, saying the chilli is not lemak (or full-bodied)
and the noodles lack sauce.
He says, however: Now the standard
pass already.
Mr Stewart Goh says the brickbats were

a reality check for them to get the basics
right.
We were over-enthusiastic and
thought that we could get things right in
about six months, but its taken a year,
says the elder Goh.
Chef Ho has added more anchovies and
a herb bouquet to give body to the soup,
char siew is roasted fresh daily and factorybought base chilli is tweaked for a more
rounded taste.
The menu now also boasts braised beef
brisket, pork shank, tom yum and chicken
curry versions of the staple wonton noodle
and hor fun for variety.
Meanwhile, Madam Neo, 55, has
returned to selling noodles at her brothers
stall, Joo Chiat Ah Huat Wonton Noodle at
01-04 Dunman Food Centre.
Mr Neo Aik Huat, 47, says his sister has

recovered from a leg operation, and they
take turns to cook at the stall, which
opened two weeks ago.
But the scene is different at Engs Noodle House, another popular wonton noodle in the Eastern part of Singapore.
The shop in Tanjong Katong Road has
put expansion plans on hold, says Mr Desmond Ng, the son of the eaterys master
chef Ng Ba Eng, 71, who recently died of a
heart attack.
But the death is not the reason for the
delay, says Mr Ng, 43. He cites, instead,
manpower shortage and high costs.
He had been discussing with his late
father ideas about bottling Engs gunpowder-hot chilli sauce and selling noodles
pre-packed with sauce and chilli in supermarkets.
We also talked about opening one or
two shops either in the central or the west
so that my fathers long-time customers,
who are old, do not have to travel so far,
says Mr Ng. But Ill have to wait and see.
eveyap@sph.com.sg
Creating art
with sushi
Eunice Quek
Ask Hashida Sushis master chef Kenjiro
Hatch Hashida if he can tell between different types of sashimi while blind-folded
and he nods confidently.
This is not surprising, considering that
the 34-year-old grew up eating at the
renowned Tsukiji market in Tokyo and is
the son of famed sushi chef Tokio Hashida,
70, who runs the original restaurant in
Japan, near the market.
The bachelor, who is now based in Singapore to helm Hashida Sushis first overseas
outpost at Mandarin Gallery, says: Sushi
changed my life, if not, I would have been
a painter. I didnt learn about sushi
through books. It was about touch, taste
and smell.
On nurturing his palate from a young
age, the Tokyo-born chef fondly recalls
snacking on food from shops owned by his
friends families everything from bonito
flakes to seaweed and Japanese omelette.
He says: Once, my friends father
caught us taking the
bonito flakes and asked
us to show him what
was in our hands. Then,
he said that we had taken the cheap bonito
instead of the expensive
one, and showed us
what to take next time.
His maternal grandmother also owned two
grocery shops in Tsukiji
market.
When I was five, she
asked me to pick whatever I wanted. I chose premium caviar but she gave me the fake one
instead. I didnt like it, says the chef with a
laugh.
Unable to pass the entrance examinations into art university, Hashida went to
culinary school instead but spent a year
developing his artistic side with jobs such
as designing T-shirts, selling hand-made
pin-hole cameras and modelling part-time.
He joined his father after a year of studying English in the United States, and has
never looked back.
Each piece of sushi is a precise work of
art for the chef, who deftly slices and scores
the fish, adds a touch of freshly grated wasabi, and lightly brushes soya sauce on top
before serving.
He says he is still learning his craft.

In the beginning, I made sushi for my
father for two weeks before he approved,
he says. But he didnt say it. Instead, he
showed his approval by passing me a plate
of sliced fish and told me to make sushi for
the diners.
Tell us more about growing up in
Tsukiji market.
My friends and I would go to the alcohol
vending machine (now banned) to pick up
coins that drunk fishmongers drop. We
could collect pick up to $30 each.
At 3pm, the shutters came down at the
stalls and the market became our playground for soccer and baseball.
What are your favourite local foods?
Cold crab from Ah Orh Seafood at Sin
Ming Road and sea snails from a stall at
Newton Hawker Centre.
What are your favourite restaurants?
La Cicala at Club Street
and 2am:dessertbar at Holland Village. I also like Pollen at Gardens by the Bay,
and Italian restaurant Gattopardo at Hotel Fort Canning.
Where do you go for
supper?
Beach Road for Chinese
hotpot. I also go to Maison
Ikkoku at Kandahar Street.
My favourite drink there is
an Earl Grey tea gin and
tonic.
What food do you crave?
Natto, which are fermented soya beans. I
once stayed in South Africa for 20 days and
really missed Japanese flavours. When I
came back, I ate 20 boxes of natto at a go.
Whats always in your fridge?
Schweppes soda water. I can drink at least
six cans a day. But this soda water is still
considered weak the ones in Japan are
super bubbly.
Are you an adventurous diner?
Yes, I ate stewed bears penis when I was
eight years old. It was soft and tasted a bit
like boar. I have tried a bit of crocodile
Hashida Sushis master chef Kenjiro Hatch Hashida acquired his fine palate for fish at Tsukiji fish market, where he grew up.
meat too and would like to eat it again.
cap. I would then take a cutter and slice off

layers of the glue, as thinly as possible. I
also grew up observing my father and his
staff slicing sushi. So when they challenged
me to skin the halibut, they were shocked
that I could do it.
Tell us a funny food story from your

travels.
I stayed for one month in Hawaii 12 years
ago. For one week, I was on my own and
had only $5. I stayed in a
church which had a
Whats your favourite
McDonalds outlet across
kitchen tool?
WHAT WOULD YOUR
the road. I spent $4 on a
My Kama-Asa knife, which
LAST MEAL BE?
bagel there and had to
now has a custom-made
Natto (fermented soya
find more food.
blue crocodile skin cover
I discovered a street of beans) on rice.
by London-based designer
pink guava trees and the
Ethan Koh.
fruit became my meal. I
could eat 40 to 50 guavas every day. Even What ingredient do you like to work
when there were worms inside, I just took with?
them out and continued eating.
Eggs, the only other ingredient from another animal other than fish in a sushi restauWhats the first dish you made?
rant. Its so friendly. It can be used in chaSliced cucumber dipped in Japanese miso, wanmushi, tamago and even for macarons.
when I was four years old. My mother
taught me how to cut the cucumber.
Whats the most unique dish you had
to create?
You could skin a halibut at the age of Sushi cake that includes sea eel and pineap14. How did you pick up knife skills?
ple with a special sauce. It is covered with
It was a habit for me to pour Cemedine, cucumber, kanpachi (amberjack), prawn,
which is a clear-drying glue, on my knee sea urchin, salmon roe, tuna and scallop. It
is topped with gold flakes.

Whats your worst kitchen disaster?
When I was 21 years old, I was carrying a
pot of soup stock that weighed 80 to 100kg.
I had just passed the pot to someone else
when I slipped in my wooden slippers. My
elbow hit the glass door and the wound
was filled with glass pieces. I was rushed to
hospital for surgery immediately.
Whats your worst dining
experience?
I remember my parents working during
Christmas, while my two elder sisters were
out with friends. I had some food prepared
for me on the table, plus the table was filled
with whole Christmas cakes from customers for my parents. But I was so lonely, I
couldnt eat anything.
If you could invite someone to a meal
with you, who would you pick?
I would invite my father to dine at my restaurant in Singapore. I want to show him
that even though the fish is imported from
Tokyo, it is still of the highest quality.
24
taste
Core values
Fancy
nectarine
Posh Nosh
Tan Hsueh Yun
Food Editor
Stone fruit season marches on merrily, and this

weeks find is a curious fruit called the Mango
Nectarine. Although it has yellow flesh and is soft
and luscious like a mango when ripe, the fruit is
really the result of cross-breeding two strains of
nectarines.
Most commercial ones are a deep pink, which
signals to customers
that the fruit is ripe. But
anyone who has bought
perfect-looking but hard and
sour nectarines will know looks can
be deceiving.
With Mango Nectarines, there is no
guessing. The fruit is packed when unripe, with
the skin a light green. When it turns yellow, it is
ready to eat.
The ripe fruit bruises easily so choose and
handle with care. Although pricey, they are
delicious, being sweet all the way through.
Another advantage is that they are much less
messy to eat than a ripe mango.
Berry
delish
candies
There is nothing quite
so exciting as digging
into a bag of candies
and trying out all the
flavours.
It has been a long
time since Ive done
that, so this pretty box
of Leone Milk Candies
from Italy appeals to me
immediately.
Of the five flavours, the berry and the very bracing
mint ones are the best.
Fruity, bright and not too sweet, the berry candies are
the ones kids would go for. I like the mint ones because
they wake me up immediately. Piedmontese mint packs
a real punch.
Even the licorice one is good, its sharp flavour
mellowed by milk and caramel.
The coffee and cream ones sound good but are a little
insipid.
Leone Milk Candies, $22 for a 100g tin, from Dolcetto
by Basilico, Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Road,
tel: 6720-8000, open: 8am to 9pm daily
PHOTOS:
DESMOND LUI FOR
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Mango Nectarine, $11.95 for a punnet of four,

from Cold Storage, Ngee Ann City, B2-01-1,
tel: 6735-1266, open: 10am to 9.30pm daily
Mmm... marmalade
Jams with exotic flavours and combinations of fruit pack
supermarket and gourmet store shelves, but it is always
good to find a classic.
Tar 10 from Australia
makes a terrific Seville orange
marmalade. The fruit is a
bitter orange that is a cross
between a pomelo and a
mandarin and is grown
mostly in the Mediterranean.
Shiny and not set too
hard, the marmalade has a
bitter edge and an intense
flavour that makes it worth
buying.
Apart from spreading it on
toast, warm it over low heat
and serve with duck, or make
a salad dressing out of it by
whisking it together with
some olive oil, salt and
pepper.
ST PHOTOS: KUA CHEE SIONG
Mixed with softened
butter, the marmalade makes a terrific and unusual
spread for warm dinner rolls or for a smoked duck
sandwich.
Tar 10 Oxford Cut Seville Orange Marmalade, $14.95
for a 275g jar, from Hubers Butchery, 18A Dempsey
Road, tel: 6737-1588, open: 9.30am to 8pm
(weekdays), 9.30am to 7pm (weekends)
Pocky with more bite

When I saw these boxes of thicker, fatter Glico Pocky in Tokyo, I knew I had to get
them. Less than six months later, they are selling in Singapore.
Pocky are usually slender pretzel sticks covered with all manner of coatings.
These ones are slightly thicker and the coating is shaped so that the snack looks
like a baseball bat.
Although shorter, these sticks are more substantial, and you really taste the
contrast between biscuit and coating.
It is like eating Pocky for the first time.
Glico Pocky Midi, $4.80 for a 60g box, from Meidi-Ya Supermarket, Liang
Court, B1-50, tel: 6339-1111, open: 10am to 10pm daily
Use bread to
soak up the
juices the
mussels are in
for a complete
and satisfying
meal.
PHOTOS: DESMOND LUI FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Relax, with mussels

Cheap, good and readily available, mussels
cooked in a tomyum broth are perfect for
Sundays when you just want to chill out
Hunger Management
Tan Hsueh Yun
Food Editor
or the past couple of months now, I have been making an

effort to slow down, when I can, on weekends.
On Saturdays, I make like a human ping-pong ball and
ricochet here and there, trying new restaurants, catching
up with friends, foraging for things to write about and
doing zi char reviews.
Sometimes all that ping-ponging literally hurts but it is worth
the pain when I think of Sunday.
That is when everything just stops. I wake up late, take it easy,
catch up on reading or watching TV and do my best not to leave
home.
But to do that, I have to make plans and strategise. So if I am
going to cook, Ill get all the ingredients ahead of time.
While browsing supermarkets, I keep seeing trays of little green
mussels and decide they would make a good Sunday lunch.
The best kind of mussels, I think, are Bouchot ones from France.
They are grown on ropes tied to poles that are driven into the sand.
The apple used to be a

symbol of temptation, what
with Eve biting into one and
causing all sorts of chaos that
mankind has never recovered
from.
Now, there is an apple thats
supposed to evoke Envy.
That is the name of this crispy,
snappy cross between a Braeburn and a Royal Gala. The
large apple is almost as good as my all-time favourite,
the Pacific Rose. Both are grown in New Zealand, which
seems to have some very serious apple mojo.
Envy is sweet, flavourful and crunchy, which makes
it worth the price. It is also large and possibly enough
for one meal, if you have a small appetite.
It is such a pleasure eating an apple that tastes like
one. Now if only they could cross-bread an apple that
has the perfume of the Pacific Rose, the crunch of an
Envy and the light tartness of a Pink Lady.
Envy Apple, $1.75 each, from Cold Storage, Ngee
Ann City, B2-01-1, tel: 6735-1266, open: 10am to
9.30pm daily
They seem to be sweeter and cleaner than other mussels, possibly

because no grit gets into them and certainly no barnacles try to
grow on the shells either.
If you can find them in a supermarket, good for you.
The green ones are more readily available and the price is irresistible. A tray with 700g of mussels costs less than $2.
They are small and sweet too, and are mostly barnacle-free.
Add the robust flavours that go into tomyum soup and there is a
good lunch for a Sunday, with a glass of riesling at hand.
The fresh, punchy aroma wafting through the kitchen is another
reason to make this dish. It is a perfume that makes me long for a
holiday in Bangkok.
All the ingredients for the broth are easily available in wet
markets or supermarkets and they are all essential, so leave nothing
out.
In fact, if you do not like mussels, just double the amount of
stock or water and the aromatics that go into it; add prawns, slices
of fish and squid and turn it into a tomyum soup.
I have used both chicken stock and water, and stock is definitely
better. Try and use a low-sodium version if you are not using stock
made from scratch. Then a drop or two of fish sauce can go into it,
giving even deeper flavour.
With very little effort, lunch is on the table.
Liberating plump mussels from their shells in leisurely fashion is
very good for those who move at breakneck speed during the week.
Dunking good bread into the juices is yet another treat.
The vibrant flavour is good fortification for the inevitable:
Monday.
hsueh@sph.com.sg
www.facebook.com/tanhsuehyun
MAKE IT YOURSELF:
THAI-STYLE MUSSELS
INGREDIENTS
1kg mussels
4 stalks lemongrass
30g galangal
2 small purple onions, about 60g
4 cloves garlic
50g coriander, roots attached
4 birds eye chillies, or more to taste
6-8 kaffir lime leaves
500ml chicken stock or water
salt or fish sauce to taste
juice of 1-2 limes
sliced birds eye chilli for garnish
(optional)
warm baguette to serve
METHOD
1. Place the mussels in a large colander
and rinse under running water. Discard
any with cracked shells. Pull the beards
off the mussels (below). Give them a
gentle scrub and
remove barnacles,
if any, off the
shells. Rinse the
mussels again and
place them in a
large bowl of
water. Let them sit
for 45 minutes.
2. In the
meantime, slice off
and discard the top
part of the
lemongrass stalks,
leaving behind the
bulbous ends. Slice
off and discard the root, peel off the
outer layer and slice each stalk thinly
into rings. Slice the galangal into 4 to 5
thin slices. Add the lemongrass and
galangal to a large, deep pot.
3. Peel the skin and outer layer off the
onions, halve them and slice thinly. Peel
the garlic cloves and slice thinly. Add
both to the pot.
4. Slice the roots off the coriander and

rinse them under running water to get
rid of dirt and grit. Add to the pot.
Chop the rest of the coriander and set
aside in a bowl.
5. Slice the chillies and add them to the
pot. Tear the kaffir lime leaves and add
them to the pot too.
6. Pour the chicken stock or water into
the pot, cover and bring to a boil. Turn
heat down to low and simmer, partially
covered, for about 30 minutes, or until
the mussels have had their 45 minutes
of soaking.
7. Have a taste and add salt or fish
sauce if needed. If you have used
bottled or canned chicken stock, you
will not need any salt. Bring the mixture
to a boil. Add the chopped coriander,
reserving some for garnish.
8. Rinse the mussels once more and
add them to the pot. Give the pot a
good stir and cover.
Cook for 4 to 5
minutes or until the
shells open. If the
mussels are small, 3
to 4 minutes at high
heat should suffice.
9. Turn off the heat.
Using a pair of
tongs, remove the
mussels and divide
among two large
bowls.
10. Bring the stock
or water mixture
back to a boil and
keep it boiling for 3 to 4 minutes to
reduce it a bit. Lower the heat and add
lime juice to taste.
11. Ladle the juices over the mussels,
top with reserved chopped coriander
and sliced birds eye chillies. Serve with
warm bread.
Serves two
MUST TRY
Meringue ($15)
The crisp
meringues
sweetness takes on
added notes from
maple syrup.
taste 25
A simpler Saint Pierre
HOW TO NAVIGATE THE FOOD WORLD LIKE A PRO
CHEAT
SHEET
Tasty dishes come with friendlier

prices and in less stuffy ambience
This week, we look at mock meat products and

what goes into them.
L Purpose: Mock meats made from vegetable
sources, purportedly first created by Buddhist
vegetarians, are especially important to Chinese
vegetarian cuisine, although they are now eaten
worldwide. Besides allowing carnivores a gentler
transition to a meat-free diet, they provide
vegetarians with dense and succulent food
textures not frequently found in the vegetable
kingdom.
Restaurant Review
Wong Ah Yoke
Food Critic
he new Saint Pierre at Sentosas Quayside

Isle is quite different from its old namesake
in Central Mall. The old Saint Pierre, which
opened in 2000 and closed in February this
year, was considered one of the finest French
restaurants here in its heyday, winning both the approval of diners and accolades such as the World Gourmet Summits Restaurant Of The Year in 2007.
But in recent years, it began to fall off the radar as
internationally renowned celebrity chefs brought in to
open restaurants at the integrated resorts, as well as
fast-rising chef Andre Chiang, hogged the limelight
and the awards instead.
Rather than engage the big boys in a fight that he is
likely to lose, Saint Pierres chef-owner Emmanuel
Stroobant chose to reboot his restaurant by moving it
to its current location in late May. It seems a wise
move as it finds its niche as a mid-upper-class restaurant serving simpler dishes at less exorbitant prices.
While some of the old dishes are retained, the new
Saint Pierre shares little else with the old one. In some
things, in fact, it has been quite a sea change.
The most obvious is the ambience. Where the old
location in quiet Central Mall was a room with a low
ceiling and no view to speak of, the new second-floor
dining room boasts a lofty ceiling and glass walls that
look out onto the Sentosa Cove marina and the neighbouring W Hotel.
It is also a lot less stuffy now. Gone are the starched
tableclothes and equally stiff service. Instead, wooden
tables are left uncovered and the service staff, dressed
in dark jackets and jeans, present a comfortable balance of professionalism and friendliness. The result is
a restaurant that is smart and current.
More importantly, prices are more pocket-friendly.
While the old place served dishes with caviar or lobster for $98 and $88, the most expensive dish now is a
roasted lobster at $64. Otherwise, starters are generally
under $35 and main courses well below $50. Portions
are not big but a three-course meal will fill you up.
Those seeking a taste of the old Saint Pierre will find
it in the Foie Gras Classique ($48), a piece of pan-fried
foie gras that is still executed perfectly nicely crisped
outside and melt-in-the-mouth inside. Served with caramelised green apple and old port sauce to cut the fat,
it reminds me of why I was once so fond of the dish,
back when cholesterol was not yet a major concern.
Mock
meats
SAINT PIERRE
31 Ocean Way, 01-15
Quayside Isle,
tel: 6438-0887
Open: 5.30pm to
midnight (Tuesdays to
Saturdays), 11.30am to
3pm (Saturday brunch),
11.30am to 4pm (Sunday
roast), 5.30 to 10.30pm
(Sunday dinner). Closed
on Mondays
Food:
Service:
Ambience:
Price: Budget from $120 a person, without
drinks
Saint Pierre picks:

Plat De Cotes
DAngus 72h
(right) and
pan-fried foie
gras (top right).
PHOTOS: SAINT PIERRE
Then there is the Gateau Au Chocolat ($18),

described as Grandma Stroobants flourless Belgian
chocolate cake, a dense confection of luscious, delicious chocolate.
Those who fancy something new can check out the
Calamar Carbonara ($32). Its not totally original I
ate a squid fettucine in Rome last year and learnt to
cook a squid carbonara at a World Gourmet Summit
workshop in April, but its a wonderful creation. The
idea is to use squid that is sliced and lightly cooked in
place of pasta, then toss it in a classic carbonara sauce
of eggs, cheese and bacon. What makes this more interesting than a normal carbonara is the texture of the
squid firmer than pasta and a little springy.
I also like the Plat De Cotes DAngus 72h ($48), a
72-hour braised boneless Angus beef short rib which is
not only very tender, but also seared on the outside to
create another layer of texture and fire up the flavourful oils in the meat.
Those seeking something clean-tasting will find it
in the Risotto De Quinoa ($30), a cold starter of quinoa, Hijiki seaweed, cucumber and purple leaves that
tastes like a light and refreshing Japanese summer
dish. Its healthy too.
Among the desserts, I find the Crumble ($12), a

pear confit crumble with salted caramel and lime
snow, rather ordinary. The various components do
not come together well, though the salted caramel on
its own is yummy.
What is pleasantly surprising is the Meringue ($15),
which comprises crispy meringue, maple syrup, fresh
wild berries and passion fruit coulis. The description
sounds unremarkable but the various layers of textures
and flavours are lovely. Its the maple syrup that puts
the magic into the meringue, as its sweetness has more
depth and character than plain sugar.
The meringue itself is a trifle too sweet, but thats
the only fault I can find with the dessert.
The restaurant opens for only dinner on weekdays,
but offers an a la carte brunch on Saturdays and a Sunday roast at $68 a person. While it may no longer win
awards with its new direction, it could win more customers with its friendlier prices and ambience. And
that, of course, is no bad thing.
L Soyabean skin: Skins lifted

from the surface of simmering
soyabean milk are a key
ingredient in many Chinese
and Asian mock meats. They
absorb flavour well and can be
layered, rolled or folded,
pressed and cooked to make
products with internal
structures resembling meat
fibres. Shown here is a mock
chicken breast made from
rolled and pressed soyabean
skin.
L Textured vegetable protein: Usually derived
from soyabean residues left from soyabean oil
production, this is
sold in ready
prepared dishes or as
dry bits (shown here)
that, when
rehydrated, take on
the texture of
minced or chopped
meat. Concerns
about its processing
methods and
anti-nutrient content (substances which bind
nutrients, making them unavailable to our bodies)
have made it slightly controversial, although it still
appears in many products.
ahyoke@sph.com.sg
SundayLife! paid for its meals at the eateries
reviewed here.
L Konnyaku: Extracted from the konjac root, this
gelling agent produces resilient, firm textures in
mock seafood products such as the mock sashimi
slices (look for them in Japanese supermarkets)
sometimes used in vegetarian yusheng. Shown
here are vegetarian scallops and vegetarian pig
ears made from konnyaku and soya, with springy
consistencies very close to the real items.
L Legumes, mushrooms and starches: Other
ingredients used to augment mock meat products
for added flavour and texture include lentils,
mushrooms, beans, and starchy roots and tubers
such as taro. Vegetarian versions of fermented
items such as belacan are made from fermented
beans.
ST PHOTO: FOONG WOEI WAN

ST PHOTOS: TAN HSUEH YUN
Old favourites
with finesse
Hunt down
these dishes at
Le Chasseur:
(clockwise
from above
left) otah
omelette,
coffee pork
ribs and
claypot rice.
egg and spicy fish paste are so well integrated it

Zi Char Review
seems inevitable that they would end up together.
I keep thinking how good it would be in a sandTan Hsueh Yun
wich. It is equally good with rice.
Food Editor
Two pork dishes, both favourites, are as good as
ever. A pig trotter in black vinegar ($10) is properly
Le Chasseur or The Hunter in French is a pretty tender and the vinegar gravy mellow with just a genfancy name for a zi char place but then the food at tle tartness.
this New Bridge Road eatery has plenty of finesse.
Coffee Pork Ribs ($16) are meaty, their thick,
I have been going there for some years now but dark glaze have a good java punch.
had not visited in months until recently.
The crispy Ngoh Hiang roll ($5.30) is still good,
Some things have changed. Dishes which I used with crunchy water chestnut and chunky pork
to order, such as the perfectly done barbecued encased in crispy beancurd skin.
squid, are no longer available. Labour woes must
However, no meal at Le Chasseur is complete
have hit the place hard.
without Claypot Chicken Rice ($20).
But there are some old favourites
Owner Andy Lim uses basmati
which are still on the menu and I
rice. It sounds odd but the fragrant,
cannot help but wonder if I should
long grain rice works beautifully in
LE CHASSEUR
go more often before they, too, are
this claypot dish. It never goes
31
New
Bridge
Road,
discontinued.
mushy and the fluffy texture makes
tel: 6337-7677
I would hate, for example, to see
for very good eating.
the Stewed Peanut ($3) go. Le ChasOpen: 11.30am to 3pm,
The pot comes brimming with
seur does it from scratch and the
chunks of well-marinated chicken,
5.30 to 9.30pm daily
plump peanuts are soft enough but
shiitake mushrooms, salted fish, ChiRating:
retain some bite. The sauce is as far
nese sausage and greens. We dig
from the canned version as can be
deeper and deeper into the pot for
imagined flavourful and not loaded with salt.
more.
Stewed Beef ($8.50) is another dish Id hate to
And then it is time to scrape off the crusty, crispy
lose. The thin slices of beef do not come with a rice at the bottom and sides of the pot because
sauce but their tenderness comes from long simmer- expertly burnt rice is a joy to eat.
We cap our meal with the eaterys Tau Suan
ing. Chopped raw garlic on top is bracing and startlingly good with the meat, even if you will have ($2.80 a bowl). It is so hard to find a good version of
this split mung bean dessert.
dragon breath afterwards.
Most are over-thickened and gluggy but here,
On this visit, I order some dishes I have never the mung beans swim in syrup sweetened with gula
tried before. The Radish Soup ($6) is a little better melaka and retain some bite.
than at most zi char places but it does not stand
The crispy dough fritters, served separately so
out. It is the same with Prawn Paste Chicken ($7), they do not get soggy, tell you exactly what Le Chaspallid, boneless and blah.
seur is all about: simple food cooked with care.
Another lacklustre dish is Sambal Ladies Finger
($6.40), with the sambal packing no punch at all.
hsueh@sph.com.sg
Otah Omelette ($6.60), however, is terrific. The
www.facebook.com/tanhsuehyun
Its all gravy

Cheap & Good
Foong Woei Wan
Yong Ji, a Hokkien mee stall in Albert Centre, does

not open until 11am.
But for Mr Zheng Zhiqiang, a cook from China
who tends the stall, the day starts at 7am, when he
makes stock for Hokkien mee from prawns and various pig parts from skin to bone.
By the time the stall opens near lunchtime, the
stock has simmered for hours. Ladled into a hot wok
over noodles, whole prawns, sliced squid and sliced
pork, the stock thickens further, transforming into
the all-important gravy that Hokkien mee lives or
dies by.
Flavourful, sticky but not gummy, the gravy holds
the dish together and
keeps it good till the
YONG JI FRIED
last bite.
Around the gravy, SOTONG PRAWN
the noodles, shrimps, NOODLE
squid and pork
cooked with care and 01-87 Albert Centre, 270
control by Mr Zheng Queen Street
are as they should be, Open: 11am to 9pm
and a splash of tart daily, closed on Monday
chilli sauce adds heat Rating:
to the dish.
Incidentally, Mr
Zheng, who was born in Fujian province and speaks
Hokkien-accented Mandarin which is hard to distinguish from the local accent, didnt grow up on Hokkien mee.
I learnt it here, the 26-year-old permanent resident says of the dish, which was created in Singapore
and Malaysia in varying versions by his predecessors,
early immigrants from Fujian.
For the record, he follows a recipe by his Singaporean employer, Mr C Gim Teck, who runs another
Hokkien mee stall in Redhill Market.
Mr C, 44, who oversees a vat of prawn and pork
stock at his other stall, sums up his method: We
dont cut corners. Everything that should be in the
dish is in it.
woeiwan@sph.com.sg
L Wheat gluten:
Familiar to most
Chinese vegetarians,
protein-rich wheat
gluten can be
kneaded, baked,
steamed or fried to
yield various meat-like
textures in products
such as mock duck or
chicken drumsticks. In
the West, it is made into seitan, originally a
macrobiotic product, but now a widely available
meat substitute usually sold in plain or flavoured
blocks or shaped pieces. Shown here is
vegetarian tuna, made from pressed flavoured
wheat gluten. Its fibres mimic the flakiness of tuna
more effectively than one might expect.
L Western mock meats: In
the US and other Western
countries, mock meats are
more often known by their
particular brand names. For
example, American Tofurky
(made from tofu and wheat
protein, shown here in a
frozen pizza product),
British Quorn (made
from cultured fungal
protein and egg white)
and Dutch Plenti
(soya-based). Each
brand typically features
chunks, slices and
patties (shown here), among other variations.
L Asian mock meats: In contrast, mock meats in
Asia are more likely to have their mock identity
emphasised on their packaging, rather than their
brand name. Local vegetarian product shops often
stock a large, even
bewildering, variety of
mock meat and seafood,
from fish steaks with skin
made out of seaweed or
nori, beef balls and chicken
feet to pork ribs, duck
breast and barbecued eel.
Look hard enough and you
may even find vegetarian goat meat chunks and
vegetarian venison. Shown here is ready-prepared
mock belly pork braised with mui choy.
L Additives: Be aware that some mock meats are
highly processed and may contain a fair amount
of salt, sugar, monosodium glutamate, colouring
and texturisers to achieve their resemblance to
meat. Read labels carefully.
Text and photos: Chris Tan
26
Keeping the menus fresh

Philip Lee loves the innovative Italian fare at Noti and Forlino
Mums recipes win
the day at Noti
Tortellini ai Cinque Formaggi came

filled with five types of cheese.
Before I visited Noti Restaurant & Bar in

Club Street for this food review, I trawled
the Internet to see what others had to say
about it.
What stood out were comments, not just
on the restaurants southern Italian cuisine
and ambience but also about the friendliness
of its owner and chef, Mr Toni Rossetti.
I was to find out myself that Mr Rossetti,
44, and his Singaporean wife Winnie, 43,
who run the 75-seat restaurant, are genuinely people-friendly personalities, skilled
at making customers feel welcome.
We chatted like old friends during my
meal, with both describing each dish to me.
Mr Rossetti said many of the dishes were
from his mothers recipes. The family has a
home and a 100-ha olive plantation in the
seaside town of Otranto in the southern
province of Puglia.
The first dish was deep-fried risotto (rice)
balls with mozzarella cheese and spicy arrabiata sauce made with chillies and olive
oil ($9). I have never had rice with cheese,
let alone eat it with a chilli sauce. It was a
remarkable taste experience with the richness of the cheese blending well with the
fragrance of the rice, and the tingle of the
chilli sauce.
Gnocchi with pesto sauce.
PHOTOS: DELICIAE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
Great tasting sagne pasta with mixed meat

ragout. PHOTOS: NOTI
Next came bruschetta (home-made

light bread) cut into pieces and topped
with diced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms
and melted cheese ($11). Cheese is always
a great taste enhancer and it did its work
well here, with the tomatoes and mushroom adding balance and extra flavours.
This was followed by one of the restaurants signature dishes, home-made gnocchi with tiger prawns and pesto Salentino
($26). Gnocchi is roasted Russet potato pureed with rosemary and garlic and made
into small balls and further flavoured by a
pesto sauce made with fresh basil, walnut,
anchovies, and sun-dried tomatoes.
The texture of the gnocchi was soft
and smooth quite like that of the festive
glutinous rice balls enjoyed by Chinese
Singaporeans. This dish has complex flavours the sweetness of freshly cooked
tiger prawns, the distinct taste of anchovies and with the herbs and walnut adding
their characteristic aromas.
Another signature item was sagne pasta
with mixed meat ragout ($24). This is a
meal with great taste. The home-made
thick and firm pasta was smothered with
a rich sauce made from a mix of minced
beef and pork, tomato sauce, celery, carrots and onions, and topped with Parmigiano cheese.
Published and printed by Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E.
The addition of
olives, Sicilian
capers and tomato
sauce made this
dish exceptionally
flavourful.
The mixed meat and fresh vegetables

make this a balanced meal and substantial enough to satisfy the most peckish
customer.
Dessert was tiramisu served in a cup.
Rich and not too sweet, it exuded the flavours and fragrance of chocolate sauce,
coffee, cheese and strawberry another
special taste sensation to end my meal.
Noti Restaurant and Bar is located
at 54 Club Street, Singapore
069431. Reservations: 6222-0089.
From now till Dec 31, 2013, Citibank
Cardmembers enjoy up to 50% off
lunch set menus and 10% off a la
carte lunch and dinner menu.
Forlinos refreshing menu
Award-winning Italian restaurant Forlino,

on the second level of One Fullerton, has
introduced a completely new menu starting this month.
Its award-winning chef de cuisine,
Kentaro Torii, 31, says menu revisions are
done two or three times a year.
I recently went to this 90-seater fine
dining restaurant, which overlooks the
scenic Marina Bay, to sample a selection of
the chefs new culinary creations and left
very impressed with his kitchen magic.

Even before I sat down, I was distracted by the breathtaking scene of the bay
unimpeded views of the Singapore Flyer,
the Esplanade, Marina Bay Sands and the
Merlion.
What a great prelude to my meal at Forlino, which is owned by the Deliciae Hospitality Management group.
Chef Kentaro presented two appetisers
from a selection of six on the new menu.
These were Cured Tasmanian Ocean Trout
served with Baerii caviar, Burrata cheese
and mesclun salad ($48) and a hot and
cold foie gras with balsamic cream, Mandarin mostarda (fruit condiment) and homemade panettone, a sweet bread ($33).
The trout was extremely fresh and its
taste blended well with the slight saltiness of the caviar and the richness of the
cheese. The salad did its job well to give
some crunch and freshness to this delicious tidbit.
Foie gras is always a great favourite and
I was served two pieces one hot and
the other cold. Each rested on a piece of
panettone. The cold foie gras released an

unusual but utterly pleasant taste, a tanginess blended with some herbal spiciness
the result of adding Sambuca, an Italian
liqueur, and star anise in its preparation.
We next had Tortellini ai Cinque Formaggi ($32). The tortellini came filled with
five types of cheese mozzarella, taleggio, percorino romana, parmesan and gorgonzola. This was such a treat with each
cheese releasing its own texture, flavour
and aroma. The tortellini rested on two
tender pieces of Kurobuta pork cheek. On
the plate, drizzles of saffron cream sauce
and beetroot puree added zest to this meal.
I then had Roasted Italian Sea Bass ($42)
with black Italian rice. Bass, like cod, has
natural fulsome flavour but the chef pushed
it up a notch by adding olives, Sicilian capers and tomato sauce to this dish.
Dessert was a dark and bitter-sweet
Chocolate and Amaretti Mousse ($15)
made with aromatic Espresso coffee sauce
and chocolate Grissini. It was a fitting end
to a delightful meal which was accompanied by a glass of white wine from the restaurants array of Italian wines.
Forlino dining by the bay is located

at One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton
Road #02-06, Singapore 049213.
Reservations: 6690-7564. From
now till Dec 31, 2013, Citibank
Cardmembers enjoy exclusive 1-for1 all you can eat brunch at $88++
on weekends from noon to 2.30pm.
PRODUCED BY
Special Projects Unit,

Marketing Division,
Singapore Press Holdings
A member of Audit Bureau of Circulations Singapore. Customer Service (Circulation): 6388-3838, circs@sph.com.sg, Fax 6746-1925.

Five key lessons from S'pore's haze crisis

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110 PAGES IN FIVE PARTS MCI (P) 049/02/2013

Ministry goes after

Liyann Seets secrets to

Jonathan Kwok shows how

YOUNG, A GRAD, AND BROKE?

CHUA MUI HOONG

Docs told to give injured

some injured workers are getting

complaints, director of medical services K. Satku and commissioner

off at clinics usually contracted by

ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM

To subscribe, call 6388-3838 or

Bartoli powers to her first Grand Slam

to become a first-time Grand Slam winner

make a worker unfit for work for

thesundaytimes July 7, 2013

July 7, 2013 thesundaytimes

hitting a record 401 on June 21.

to clear the land for crops.

ter early warning system for haze.

ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

severe acute respiratory syndrome

But how the information is presented to the public is also key.

I agree that we can improve on

But it was not just the Government

to source and distribute masks,

DR NG ENG HEN ON...

much more or much less, then

of confidence in our system.

UNDERGRADUATE JEREMY CHUA

PARAMEDIC YEO REN JIE

NUH OFFICER CLARA SIN

Call for aid rallies

Poor visibility led

Undergraduate Jeremy Chua, 25, expected to get a tan

When paramedic Yeo Ren Jie (left) arrived at the scene

ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

NEA OFFICER TANG HUI QI

Happy to clear the air

ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

But, with unscientific rumours

that she was more than happy to

POH FAMILY MEN WITH MASKS

ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

during the haze.

the masks? Heartwarming, said

ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

thesundaytimes July 7, 2013

Experts point to minors

law as victims below 16 years old.

Business executive wins Miss Universe Singapore title

July 7 2013 thesundaytimes

thesundaytimes July 7, 2013

He had brought her in as a maid

Mr Michael Tan, a team leader

PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

An MOM officer (above) interviewing a maid. In one of the bogus cases,

tend a one-day mandatory course

ST PHOTOS: CHEW SENG KIM

Gym for older folk at $5 a month

As we go along the journey in