China Hu An Cable IPO

Interesting? More study needed. Considering the company "China Hu An Cable Holdings" had made its intention to list here known quite some time ago. Well about 1 month ago, to be rather specific.

But the timing of the IPO launch is quite gloomy, I'd say. Let's just take a look at the recent Tiger Airways IPO. Today it's closed at $1.46 (down from the IPO offer price of $1.50 & its first day trading's closing price of $1.58).

So very likely I'll give this counter a miss. (And still considering Sin Heng Heavy Machinery IPO, instead.)

China Hu An Cable Holdings has applied to list on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Mainboard.

The China-based integrated wire and cable manufacturer lodged its preliminary prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore on Thursday.

In the document, the firm said it intends to channel S$28 million of the net proceeds from the listing and/or bank borrowings to the construction of new workshops, production lines and acquisition of new production machinery.

These expansion plans are expected to commence six months after listing.

Another S$1 million from the net proceeds will be used to strengthen its research and development capabilities in order to broaden its product range.

China Hu An Cable said its order book stands at about RMB173 million of unfulfilled secured contracts, which it expects to deliver in the next six months.

From Channel NewsAsia, "China Hu An Cable applies to list on SGX Mainboard". (31/12/09)

CHINA Hu An Cable Holdings Ltd, an integrated wire and cable manufacturer, has launched its initial public offering (IPO) for a Singapore Exchange mainboard listing.

The China-based company's offering comprises 118 million new shares and 58 million vendor shares, of which five million are public-offer shares and 171 million placement shares. Each share is priced at 42 cents. The offer opens today and closes on Feb 4. Trading of the shares is expected to begin on Feb 8.

The company aims to raise about $44.6 million in net proceeds to help expand and enhance its manufacturing facilities to better cater to the high-end cable market.

CIMB Bank, Singapore branch, is the manager and CIMB-GK Securities Pte Ltd is the underwriter and placement agent.

According to executive chairman and chief executive officer Dai Zhi Xiang, the IPO will place Hu An Cable in closer access to international markets, and allow it to better tap growing demand from sustained infrastructure spending, nationwide power infrastructure upgrades, and niche but promising sectors such as the mining and ship-building industries.

The company said it has developed a strong brand reputation in its 11 years of establishment. It is situated in the wire and cable hub of Yixing in Jiangsu Province and is said to have a strong focus on research and development.

Hu An Cable is supplier to companies such as State Grid Corporation of China and China Huadian Group. It has also participated in state projects such as the Beijing Workers' Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

For the nine months ended Sept 30, 2009, the group recorded 103 million yuan (S$21 million) in net profit on revenue of 943.5 million yuan.

From Business Times, "China Hu An Cable launches mainboard IPO". (29/01/10)

Kingdom Come | Kingdom Comedy

Currently re-reading DC graphic novel "Kingdom Come". Used to find the story unbearably dull with Alex Ross' gouache style of painting pretentious. (Really, it's much an ache to see not only the cover page, but also the whole content of the book drawn that way.)

Used to.

But after having chanced to read "Thy Kingdom Come" (which by the way is also a graphic novel), I came to appreciate Alex Ross' technique of drawing (See, he drew the cover page for the series) & made me want to give a previously scorned "Kingdom Come" a second chance.


Well, I still hate "Kingdom Come". Then again I'm grateful that it gave me enough reason to try to dedicate a post for this "Kingdom Come" which led me to the discovery of this hilarious redrawn of the cover. Featuring the almost forgotten DC character, "Captain Carrot"! Heh.

The good old days when Life can be so bright with a simple comic book. Sigh.

The runaway diplomat Dr Silviu Ionescu is confirmed to be a culprit (and a coward, at that) in a hit-and-run accident

Dr Silviu Ionescu. Previously a suspect in a hit-and-run accident that injured two & killed one has now been reported to be the one who drove the car fast & furious.

Little surprise that he once said (after escaping to his country Romania) that he won't be back to Singapore.

Now is a matter of how well the cooperation between Interpol Bucharest and Singapore police.

Shall we finally witness the long arm of law caught this crook? Let's patiently wait & see...

On a separate news (from Malaysia's Bernama), it mentions how the dead victim's mother sought the assistance of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) in Kuala Lumpur to seek justice for her son.

It's getting more complicated & pressurizing for Singapore to bring a satisfying (and just!) end to this case.

AT LEAST 35 witnesses will be called at a coroner's inquiry into the death of a hotel assistant manager who was run over by a Romanian diplomat's car in December.

The inquiry into the death of Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, a Singapore permanent resident, will be held from March 3 to 10.

Mr Tong died on Christmas Day - 10 days after a hit-and-run accident at Bukit Panjang - after he was taken off life support.

Romanian diplomat was the driver

SENIOR STATE Counsel Lau Wing Yum said said extensive police investigations showed that the car was not stolen and that Dr Ionescu was behind the wheel at the time of the two accidents.

Dr Ionescu flew back to Romania three days later. He has since been recalled by the Romanian government.

But Mr Lau said his whereabouts is not known. He added that the Singapore police are in contact with Interpol Bucharest.

From Asiaone, "Hit-and-run inquest March".

AT LEAST 35 witnesses will be called at a coroner's inquiry into the death of a hotel assistant manager who was run over by a Romanian diplomat's car in December.

The inquiry into the death of Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, a Singapore permanent resident, will be held from March 3 to 10.

Mr Tong died on Christmas Day - 10 days after a hit-and-run accident at Bukit Panjang - after he was taken off life support.

The newly-wed and Malaysian waiter Bong Hwee Haw, 24, were walking on the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Bukit Panjang Road and Bangkit Road at about 3.10am on Dec 15 when they were hit by an embassy car. The car sped off and hit an 18-year-old student at the next controlled junction.

Principal Senior State Counsel Lau Wing Yum revealed this in court on Wednesday while giving a brief summary of what happened that fateful day.

He said the Romanian charge d'affaires, Dr Silviu Ionescu, 49, reported the loss of his car at 3.40am that day. The car, with its front windscreen smashed and bonnet dented, was found locked and abandoned at Sungei Kadut Avenue later that day.

From Straits Times, "Hit-and-run inquest March".

Police investigations have revealed that Romanian diplomat, Dr Silviu Ionescu, was the driver of a car that was involved in a hit-and-run accident on December 15 last year.

The accident resulted in the death of a 30-year-old Singapore permanent resident, Tong Kok Wai, and injured two others.

Deputy Principal Senior State Counsel Lau Wing Yum told the Coroner's Court on Wednesday that the state will "lead evidence that 49-year-old Dr Ionescu is criminally concerned in causing Mr Tong's death".

The court heard that the car from the Romanian Embassy hit Mr Tong and another pedestrian, 24-year-old Bong Hwee Haw, as they were crossing the road at a traffic junction of Bukit Panjang Road and Bangkit Road, at around 3.10am on December 15.

Instead of stopping, the car sped off. It hit 18-year-old Muhammad Haris Abu Talib at the next controlled junction.

Mr Lau told the State Coroner, Victor Yeo, that the traffic lights were in favour of the pedestrians in both instances.

Mr Lau also said that Dr Ionescu made a 999 call about 30 minutes after the accidents to report that the car, a black Audi, had been stolen. Police investigations, however, revealed that the car was not stolen.

The vehicle was recovered at around 11am that day, locked and abandoned at 21 Sungei Kadut Avenue. Mr Lau said the right side of the car's front windscreen was smashed. The front bonnet and the driver's door were dented.

Dr Ionescu left Singapore for Romania on December 18 - as he said that he was seeking treatment for health problems.

All three pedestrians who were involved in the accidents were sent to the National University Hospital.

However, Mr Tong, who suffered fractures to his right leg and skull, succumbed to his injuries and died on Christmas Day - 10 days after the accident. His widow, Yenny Young, has engaged prominent criminal lawyer, Subhas Anandan.

Mr Bong has engaged a team led by N Srinivasan from Hoh Law Corporation. He wants to be compensated for the injuries he sustained. Mr Srinivasan told reporters that his client, who has already returned to Sarawak, incurred hospital bills amounting to nearly S$50,000.

The pre-inquiry conference for this case will be held on February 24. The coroner's inquiry will begin on March 3. At least 35 witnesses will be called at the inquiry.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Police investigations reveal Dr Ionescu was driver of car that hit 3 people in Dec".

The Singapore authority will hold a coroner's inquiry into the death of Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, a Singapore permanent resident who died after a hit-and-run accident involving a Romanian diplomat's car last month.

Over 30 witnesses will be called to testify in the inquiry to be held from March 3 to 10.

Tong, 30, a hotel assistant manager died 10 days after being hit by a car while crossing the road with Sarawakian waiter Bong Hwee Haw, 24, in Bukit Panjang in the early hours of Dec 15 last year.

It was reported by the local media that the car sped off and hit an 18-year-old student, Muhammad Haris Abu Talib, at the next pedestrian crossing. Both Bong and Haris suffered serious head and bodily injuries.

Earlier this month, Tong's mother, Tong Ah Mooi, 59, sought the assistance of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) in Kuala Lumpur to seek justice for her son.

On Wednesday, principal senior state counsel Lau Wing Yum revealed in court that Romanian charge d'affaires Dr Silviu Ionescu, 49, was the man behind the wheel at the time of the double accidents that morning.

He said police investigation had shown that the car was not stolen as claimed by the diplomat although it was found locked and abandoned at Sungei Kadut Avenue later that day on Dec 15, with its front windscreen smashed and driver's door and bonnet dented.

It was reported that Ionescu left Singapore for Romania three days after the incident and had since been recalled by the Romania government.

Lau said Ionescu's whereabouts were not known but the Singapore police were in contact with Interpol in Bucharest.

Also earlier this month, Aurelian Neagu, Romania's ambassador to Singapore but based in Tokyo, Japan, met Singapore Foreign Ministry officials to present the Romanian authorities' standpoint connected to the accident but no details were released on the meeting.

From Bernama, "Singapore Coroner's Inquiry Into Death Of Malaysian".

---

Update on 31/03/10: the expected verdict is out, the obvious killer is named.

FORMER Romanian diplomat Dr Silviu Ionescu was found on Wednesday to have caused the death of a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident in Bukit Panjang last December.

State Coroner Victor Yeo said he was satisfied that the State had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the driver of the black Audi car involved in the Dec 15 accident was none other than Dr Ionescu, 49, then the charge d'affaires of the Romanian Embassy.

After a six-day inquiry into the death of Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, an assistant manager, earlier this month , the coroner recorded a verdict of death due to the reckless act of a known person.

Coroner Yeo also found that Dr Ionescu, who had since returned to Romania, had deliberately lied about his Audi car being stolen from outside the embassy at Jalan Harom Setangkai, near Farrer Road, shortly after the accident.

The inquiry also heard that the ex-diplomat had severely injured Mr Tong's close friend, Mr Bong Hwee Haw, 24, who was using the pedestrian crossing, when they were hit.

Mr Bong, who is now back in Kuching, Sarawak, could not remember what happened except that the lights were in their favour at the time.

Dr Ionescu did not stop and went on to hit Institute of Education student Muhammmad Haris Abu Tabli, 19, at the next junction of Bukit Panjang and Pending Road.

From Straits Times, "Ionescu caused death".

Overcrowding at TTSH: Answer lies in quality and quantity

I disagree with what Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) CEO Dr. Eugene Fedelis Soh commented about how "having more room for beds is not the solution". He suggested instead for the hospital to re-look its quality framework.

His remark does not make sense at all.

The issue of overcrowding in TTSH is real. It has nothing to do with quality. It's the matter of quantity...or lack of it.

Even Health Minister Mr. Khaw Boon Wan admitted the issue as it is & wisely apologised for the overcrowding situation in his blog. Check out his well-said post in "Healthcare 2010: Expanding Capacity, Raising Capabilities" dated 21 Dec 2009.

Part of the 6th paragraph:

I thank the patients too for their patience and understanding. It is no fun waiting for a bed, in a crowded room or in a corridor; I am truly sorry.

So please just admit it, Dr. Soh. If it's merely a quality issue, why over the last three years, 145 beds had been added to TTSH?!

It's much more encouraging to read how a very important person like the Health Minister is willing to recognize the situation, empathize with the patient & apologize for the inconvenience. By the way, he even mentioned about the upcoming KTPH (it stands for Khoo Teck Puat Hospital--and guess what, there's even a Wikipedia article about it: here) which is supposed to be 'the final solution' to the overcrowding problem faced by TTSH.

Occupany in public hospitals may be on the rise, but Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) chief executive officer Dr Eugene Fedelis Soh says that in order to serve its patients, "having more room for beds is not the solution".

What needs to be done, he said, is for the hospital to re-look its quality framework.

On top of this, staff must realise that the needs of the patients come first and foremost.

"I think for the longest time we have not looked at quality in isolation," Dr Soh told MediaCorp.

"We have been making changes, telling our staff they are to look at the value they bring to our patients," he added.

Nonetheless, the 165-year-old hospital recently came under fire from some patients for the lack of beds.

Dr Soh said the hospital is learning from its mistakes and doing its best "to make sure that patients' experiences are part of the healing process".

Over the last three years, TTSH said it had added 145 beds. It also operates 80 beds in collaboration with RenCi Hospital, he added.

Last month, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan apologised for the overcrowding situation in his blog.

Several times a week, TTSH has had to divert civil defence ambulances to other hospitals.

"It is no fun waiting for a bed, in a crowded room or in a corridor; I am truly sorry," wrote the minister.

Despite this, some patients seemed pleased with the work put in by TTSH. The hospital pulled up last year's score to 67.2 out of a 100 - up 0.21 points from 2008 in the Customer Satisfaction Index of Singapore.

The findings, released on Monday by the Institute of Service Excellence at the Singapore Management University, ranks sectors based on customer expectations, perceived overall quality and perceived value.

Said Dr Soh: "We are happy that improvements have been made despite the challenges in the last year, especially during the H1N1 period… credit for this must go to our staff as well."

Improving patient experience in the last year was an uphill challenge said Dr Soh, especially when TTSH is one of the busiest restructured hospitals in Singapore.

This situation has been made even more complicated by the manpower crunch faced by the healthcare industry.

The Ministry of Health has taken steps to beef up manpower, with more than 1,200 people enrolled in nursing courses at the polytechnics.

Dr Soh said the challenge for TTSH was to ensure that its nursing recruits from China and the Philippines were made aware that they should be adding value and care for the patients.

What's heartening is that TTSH caregivers have been going the extra mile, he added.

For example, nurses at the hospital have been following up on recently discharged patients.

Furthermore, caregivers have also been working with the Home Nursing Foundation (HNF) to ensure that patients' needs are met even if they choose to recuperate at home.

These steps have impressed Mrs Chan Foong Chueen, 49.

She said: "My mother has been hospitalized here for the sixth time since 2008… Even though she was warded at different wards each time, the care she received was always of a consistently high standard."

"The nurses went beyond being healthcare professionals who provided medical care for my mother, as they were good listeners who gave me good advice when I encountered difficulties in communicating with the maid my siblings hired to look after my mother".

From Channel NewsAsia, "Overcrowding at TTSH: Answer lies in quality, not quantity".

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno: a convict...and a writer?!

Poor Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno. She hasn't received her much dreaded caning, but she already lost her job & husband. She is now said to be writing a book about her experiences and plans to publish it someday.

Let me guess the title of the book. It could be "1 Business, Six Akan Datang Rottans, and a Bestselling Book later". Hmmm....or simply, "The Confusing Case of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno: Drinker, beware!". Heh. Unimaginative...

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, who has been sentenced to six strokes of rotan by the Kuantan Syariah Court for drinking beer, is planning to write a book about the trials of tribulations of her life.

Kartika, 33, started penning her thoughts in August last year, the day the religious authorities took her in a van from her house in Perak to the Kajang Prison in Selangor to carry out the sentence.

“Although the van later made a u-turn back to my home as the authorities have decided to postpone the caning, the experience and anticipation have left such a huge impact that I decided to pen down my thoughts.

“I jotted down what I was feeling while I was still inside the van. When I was sent home that day, I suddenly felt the urge to perform Umrah in Mecca.

“In Mecca, I will pray to Allah to give me strength and courage to pick up the pieces and carry on with my life," said Kartika just before breaking down in tears.

Sources close to Kartika said she had lost her job because of the court case, and that she was now in the process of divorcing her Singaporean husband as the long wait for the sentencing had taken a toll on their long distance relationship.

The Syariah High Court had on July 20 last year ordered the mother of two to be caned six strokes and fined RM5,000 after being caught drinking at a hotel in Cherating in 2008.

Although she paid the fine, the sentencing has yet to be carried out.

Kartika, who had earlier received a 14-day umrah package from Gemilang Travel and Tours in conjunction with the opening of its new office in Ara Ampang commercial complex, said she would write about her life experiences as a lesson for the younger generation.

Kartika said she hoped to perform Umrah in March after her divorce was finalised, adding however that she was still hopeful for a reconciliation with her estranged husband.

“Right now, I need peace of mind. I hope to find it in Mecca," she said.

From The Star Online, "Part-time model Kartika wants to write about her life".

THE former model set to be caned for drinking a beer has lost her job and her husband. Now, she just wants to take her punishment and move on.

'My life is almost destroyed, and I just want to start all over again,' Ms Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, told The Straits Times.

'I wish to go to Mecca to perform my umrah (pilgrimage), and go back to modelling as I am into Islamic fashion.'

The Malaysian from Perak made international headlines when she was ordered to be caned six times and fined RM5,000 (S$2,060) in July last year for drinking alcohol in public.

She would be the first woman caned in Malaysia under Islamic law. The punishment is enforced only in Pahang, Kelantan and Perlis. Civil law does not allow caning for women.

The Pahang Syariah High Court abruptly postponed her caning in August until after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

From Straits Times, "Just do it".

Sin Heng Heavy Machinery IPO

Sin Heng Heavy Machinery IPO. Looks attractive. Let's dig for more details about this company, shall we?

From the official website, SinHeng under Corporate Profile, it mentions:

We are a leading heavy lifting services provider in Singapore. We focus on the mid-to-high lifting capacity segment and serve mainly customers in the infrastructure and geotechnic, construction, offshore and marine, oil and gas industries.

Our core business activities are the equipment rental business involving the rental of cranes and aerial lifts and the trading business involving the trading of new and used cranes and aerial lifts. We also undertake sales and distribution of spare parts for cranes and aerial lifts.

As part of our equipment rental business, we also undertake turnkey project engineering services which are currently being carried out mainly in Singapore.

We own a fleet of cranes with mid-to-high lifting capacity, comprising crawler cranes, all terrain cranes, truck cranes and rough terrain cranes, and aerial lifts, comprising boom lifts and scissor lifts. Within our fleet, our cranes have up to 500 ton lifting capacity and our aerial lifts can access heights of up to 45.7 metres.

Interesting. And equally impressive is (from Business Times): "For the fiscal year 2009, the group generated S$136.99 million in revenue and S$21.98 million in profits. For 2008, revenue was S$131.83 million an net profit was S$17.16 million.".

Homegrown heavy lifting service provider Sin Heng Heavy Machinery plans to raise net proceeds of S$21.6 million in an initial public offering in Singapore.

It plans to list on Singapore Exchange's mainboard and is offering 168 million new shares at 26 cents each.

Sin Heng is one of the leading heavy lifting service providers in Singapore, with a strong focus on the mid to high lifting capacity segment.

The group's fleet of cranes is generally deployed for larger projects to carry out heavy lifting work.

The company is currently involved in prominent projects such as the Marina Bay integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa, Marina Bay Financial Centre and the Marina Coastal Expressway.

Sin Heng plans to use the main bulk of the net proceeds to expand equipment rental fleets in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Sin Heng plans to raise S$21.6m in net proceeds in IPO".

Sin Heng Heavy Machinery Limited, one of the leading heavy lifting service providers in Singapore, on Monday offered 168 million shares for mainboard listing at 26 cents each in its initial public offer (IPO).

The shares comprised 88 million new shares and 80 million vendor shares.

Of these, 9.6 million shares will be offered for public subscription, and the rest will be placed out.

The invitation will be open from January 26, 2010 and close on February 1, 2010.

The net proceeds from the issue of new shares is estimated at S$21.6 million. This will be used in part to fund the renewal and expansion of its equipment rental fleet in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The estimated net proceeds of S$18.8 million attributable to the vendor will be used mainly to partially repay the Leverage Loan.

For the fiscal year 2009, the group generated S$136.99 million in revenue and S$21.98 million in profits. For 2008, revenue was S$131.83 million an net profit was S$17.16 million.

From Business Times, "Sin Heng Heavy Machinery offers 168 mln shares at 26 cts each for mainboard listing".

The Lost Room

The Lost Room. Started shown yesterday (Sundays, 10:00 PM on Channel 5). Gave the episode 1 a try. No regret. Or perhaps, I'm just a sucker for a show with 'Lost' in its title. Heh.

PS. Check out The Lost Room DVD trailer here.

Tiger Airways IPO & first day of trading (22/01/10)

Screenshot from SGX 22/01/10: Tiger Airways in Top 20 Volume

The arguably exciting shares of Tiger Airways have finally seen the first day of trading. It's one of the top 5 most traded counter & closed at $1.58 after hitting intra-day high of $1.61 & touching down the low of $1.49.

The jump may be barely 8 cents, but still it's a positive amidst the bloodbath of the general market.

I sound as if I may be interested to try on my hands on this shares. But with the recent news of Japan Airlines bankruptcy, I do not think it's wise to jump to the crowd.

And anyway there are still a lot of study need to be done with regards to the financial performance of Tiger Airways.

Shares of budget carrier Tiger Airways took off smoothly and scaled higher on its trading debut in the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Friday.

The stock rose 5.3 per cent above its offer price of S$1.50 to end the trading day at S$1.58.

It is also the fifth most heavily traded counter with some 93.6 million shares changing hands.

The counter went through patches of turbulence during its ascent with the stock hitting a low of S$1.49 during intra-day trading before picking up to hit as high as S$1.61.

Yet some profit taking just before market close caused the counter to level off at the S$1.58 closing price.

In a press release, Tony Davis, chief executive officer of Tiger Airways said: "We are proud to be the first low cost airline to list on the SGX-ST and would like to welcome all our new shareholders as we embark on our new journey as a listed company.”

Despite Tiger's steady showing, some sceptical analysts believe that the stock's closing price is just an effect of short-term market reaction and is unlikely to be sustainable.

Aviation consultant Prithpal Singh said he does not believe the low-cost carrier will be able to sustain its current share price.

"Even though they have painted a very rosy picture, I don't expect them to be able to perform according to what they said they will. My own estimation is that it will probably fall to below a dollar in the near-term," he said.

Meanwhile, some traders believe that Tiger's share price could have climbed even higher if not for the weak sentiment in the broader market.

"Tiger's showing was muted by the overall weakness in Asian markets following the overnight drop in Wall Street," said a dealer from a local brokerage firm.

Regional markets tumbled yesterday in the aftermath of US President Barack Obama's proposal to limit trading activities of Wall Street banks to lessen financial risks.

The key Straits Times Index (STI) fell 1.1 per cent or 31.27 per cent to close at 2,819.17 points.

While the jury is still out on Tiger's share price prospects, dealers said that they are encouraged by its performance as the airline's higher closing has set a positive tone to the IPO market this year since Tiger is the first IPO to be listed in SGX this year.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Tiger Airways shares scaled higher on trading debut".

Mustafa under fire: 45 fire safety violations in 5 years!!

Well, I'm not surprised. Not a new news about the substandard fire safety standard of this bustling 24-hour Mustafa Centre. Read from TripAdvisor about how one reviewer nicked kathir77 from Australia commented negatively about Mustafa Centre:

Cons: Heavy crowd (Morning less crowd), staffs not responded properly, no proper signs including fire exit, not giving proper respect to the customers, getting taxi is also difficult.

Can always give this Mustafa Centre a miss. Unless the harsher fine (what is $17,000 for them? They can easily pay that small amount of penalty!) is slapped to their blind management.

ITS track record makes 24-hour Mustafa Centre one of Singapore's most dangerous buildings for fire safety.

The 12,000 sq m shopping centre, which has four floors and two basement levels, has chalked up 45 fire safety violations - the highest by any building here in the past five years.

Most of these violations led to a string of warnings and fines totalling $6,600. But it has also been taken to court for more serious breaches. In the past five years, Mustafa has been charged in court four times and fined $43,000 for fire safety breaches.

In its latest court appearance on Tuesday, it was fined $17,000 for overcrowding and using its external corridor as a retail area without a permit.

On Jan 6, the Subordinate Courts granted the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) request for a Fire Hazard Order against Mustafa Centre for repeated violations. In one of the more serious enforcement actions the SCDF can take, Mustafa can be fined up to $10,000 and $500 every day that it defaults on the order. SCDF can also order it to shut for 72 hours for very serious violations.

Mustafa's common breaches include obstructing exit points and fire-fighting equipment, and using its external covered walkway for retail, the SCDF said in a release on Friday.

From Straits Times, "Fire hazards at Mustafa".

Chua Hwee Hwa: maid abuser's wife also abused maid

Poor Chua Hwee Hwa. As if the news is not shocking enough that her husband, Lawrence Lim Hwang Ngin's jail term was doubled for abusing his maid, she is too reported to be charged with abusing maid.

Wait. Did I say 'poor'?

On second thought, I shouldn't. I should have been wondering what this Chua Hwee Hwa was doing when the beast of her husband, a former police officer Lawrence Lim Hwang Ngin committed the heinous act. She just kept quiet? Pretended nothing happened? Or even worse, also participated in the abuse?

Chua Hwee Hwa, indeed, may have been such a partner in crime.

A good opportunity to demonstrate equality of sexes here in Singapore. Give her a punishment as harsh as that of her husband!

THE wife of a Criminal Investigation Department officer was charged in court on Thursday for allegedly abusing her maid on five occasions.

Assistant manager Chua Hwee Hwa, 37, is said to have caused hurt to her Indonesian maid at their Woodlands flat between January and May 2006.

Her husband, Lawrence Lim Hwang Ngin, 37, is now serving a two-year jail sentence for maid abuse. Lim, a staff sergeant with the CID's Intellectual Property Rights Branch, was found guilty of five charges of maid abuse in July 2008 and cleared of eight other charges including rape.

His initial one-year sentence imposed in November 2008 was doubled by the Court of Appeal last month after the prosecution appealed. He, too, appealed but lost.

Chua, who is represented by Mr Lee Teck Leng, faces a jail term of up to 18 months and/or a fine of up to $1,500 on each charge upon conviction.

A pre-trial conference is set for Feb 8.

From Straits Time, "Woman on maid abuse charges".

Her husband, a former police officer, recently had his sentenced doubled to 24 months last month for abusing their then 23-year-old Indonesian maid.

Now it is her turn to face the music.

On Thursday, Chua Hwee Hwa, 37, was charged in a district court with allegedly abusing the same maid at their Woodlands flat between January and May 2006.

Chua, who was represented by former district judge Lee Teck Leng, remained silent during the proceedings and did not enter a plea.

Her husband, 37-year-old Lawrence Lim Hwang Ngin, was found guilty of kicking the maid, hitting her on the head and rapping her forehead with his knuckles on five occasions between January and May 2006.

Normally, maid abuse cases are heard at the Subordinate Court but Lim's case was taken to the High Court because he also faced allegations of sexual assault on the maid who had been working for his family since 2004. However, he was later acquitted of rape because of inconsistencies in the latter's testimony.

Lim was sentenced to a year's jail in November 2008 on the other five charges of physical abuse. But after an appeal by the prosecution, the Court of Appeal - the highest court in the Singapore justice system - upped the sentence to two years.

During the trial, the court heard of details of how Lim waged a 'psychological war' against the maid. Not only was she ordered her to record her chores in a notebook hung around her neck, she was also required to keep another notebook for recording her mistakes, prosecutors said.

In the 114-page written judgment released last month following Lim's new sentence, Justice V K Rajah said the Court of Appeal had opted to take a firmer stand on bosses who terrorised their domestic helpers.

He added: "Surely, it cannot be said that an abusive employer who persistently mistreats and humiliates a maid and then later physically injures her should be sentenced similarly with one who ordinarily treats a maid well, but then on a solitary occasion loses control of himself and then inflicts a similar injury?"

In the meantime, Chua's case will be heard at a pre-trial conference on February 8. She could be jailed up to 18 months and/or fined up to S$1,500 on each charge if found guilty.

From Channel NewsAsia, "37-year-old woman charged with abusing maid".

Singapore Earthquake Prediction by a moron

Yes. By a moron. Check out his stupid doomsday prediction in not one, by TWO clips posted in Youtube. Titled, "Earthquake Prediction for Singapore in January 2010" & "Earthquake Warning for Singapore in January 2010", the clips were posted by an idiot nicknamed flank99 on 15 Dec 2009 & 30 Dec 2009 respectively. (Just for a record, so far the clips have been viewed 5730 & 2478, uhm, again respectively. They hardly caused a ripple in the Net, did they?)

I dare him to step in Singapore. Police will catch & the accusation that he spreading terror may just seem justified.

Then again, perhaps not. Who bother to listen to a fool? What he think he is? A mutant with a special power to predict unnatural natural disaster to a foreign country?!

A Caucasian man predicts an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 or greater will hit Singapore anytime from January onwards this year.

In the video posted on YouTube, he says: "The earthquake will affect Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Phillipines, Indonesia, India and Eastern Africa."

Singaporeans should be prepared and should hide under our tables and beds, he said.

He also urged them to leave their houses and stay away from telephone poles.

He makes appeals to both Singapore's president and America's president to be prepared.

Users who posted responses to the videos reacted skeptically to his "predictions", with some pointing out that Singapore does not have telephone poles.

One forummer, MiloOnTheRocks said that the video creator was "an attention seeker that has succeeded having thousands of people watching his dumb clips on Youtube."

The forummer also pointed out that due to Singapore's geographic location, earthquakes do not occur here.

From Asiaone, "Caucasian predicts earthquake in S'pore".

Avatar: the 3D show that depresses & kills?

Neytiri: "What, our show caused depression & even killed a person?" | Jake: "Yeah, fool human. So glad I'm not one of them" (AVOID EYE CONTACT TO NEYTIRI)

First there was this news about how fans of the film, Avatar have inundated dedicated websites with their confused and depressed postings, setting up discussion threads like 'Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible', which already has more than 1,000 posts.

Then there's even more shocking news a man dies after watching Avatar.

Heck, I still want to catch this show!!

THE perfection of an idyllic planet populated by perfect blue aliens at one with nature and each other from the hugely successful movie Avatar, is causing ordinary humans to become depressed, reported entertainment media on Thursday.

The world created by director James Cameron is so perfect that entire support groups have sprung up to help fans cope with the fact that it doesn't exist.

According to an article in The Daily Telegraph, fans of the film have inundated dedicated websites with their confused and depressed postings, setting up discussion threads like 'Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible', which already has more than 1,000 posts.

In another forum a user wrote: 'When I woke up this morning after watching Avatar for the first time yesterday, the world seemed grey. It just seems so meaningless. I still don't really see any reason to keep doing things at all. I live in a dying world.' Other fans are even more affected by the situation, reported The Daily Telegraph, with one posting: 'I even contemplate suicide thinking that if I do it I will be rebirthed in a world similar to Pandora.'

Another report in The Daily Mail newspaper said that the detailed visual realism could be leading viewers to become particularly attached to the idea of the world.

Dr Stephan Quentzel, psychiatrist and Medical Director for the Louis Armstrong Centre for Music and Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York told CNN: 'Virtual life is not real life and it never will be, but this is the pinnacle of what we can build in a virtual presentation so far. It has taken the best of our technology to create this virtual world and real life will never be as utopian as it seems onscreen. It makes real life seem more imperfect.'

From Straits Times, "Avatar is causing depression".

A 42-YEAR-OLD Taiwanese man with a history of high blood pressure has died of a stroke likely triggered by over-excitement from watching the blockbuster Avatar in 3D, a doctor said on Tuesday.

The man, identified only by his surname Kuo, started to feel unwell during the screening earlier this month in the northern city of Hsinchu and was taken to hospital.

Kuo, who suffered from hypertension, was unconscious when he arrived at the Nan Men General Hospital and a scan showed that his brain was haemorrhaging, emergency room doctor Peng Chin-chih said.

'It's likely that the over-excitement from watching the movie triggered his symptoms,' he told AFP.

Kuo died 11 day later from the brain haemorrhage, and the China Times newspaper said it was the first death linked to watching James Cameron's science-fiction epic Avatar.

Film blogging sites have reported complaints of headaches, dizziness, nausea and blurry eyesight from viewers of Avatar and other movies rich in 3D imagery.

From Straits Times, "Man dies after watching Avatar".

City Harvest's expansion plan: a misplaced goal? A greater glory for God in, what, a marketplace?!

When I read how City Harvest founder Dr Kong Hee proudly said: "Finally, we will have a church in the marketplace, for the marketplace, to penetrate the marketplace", I just can't resist to recall the following story in mind & sigh. It's about how Jesus chased away merchants from the temple.

From John 2:13-16, "The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"

I'm so glad I'm not (and never) part of this commercialized religious organization.

"The nature is my church. The greatness of the God can't be contained in a man-made structure. The sincere act of kindness to my fellow human being is my prayer." One wise person was once advising me that. I concur.

CITY Harvest Church has announced a $310 million expansion plan to buy land, and to erect a building that will house shops, restaurants and a 12,000-seat auditorium.

Founder Kong Hee, 45, said during church services yesterday and last Saturday that the land sale would be completed later this month. He did not specify the location, but said the site would be in the 'central south' district.

He described the site as 'super large'. It is believed the site covers an area as large as three football fields - six times the size of the Protestant church's current home in Jurong West Street 91, which it owns.

'This is truly amazing,' Dr Kong said yesterday at the Singapore Expo, where it has been renting a hall for services. 'Finally, we will have a church in the marketplace, for the marketplace, to penetrate the marketplace.'

The church's plans to incorporate retail elements into its building project follow similar plans announced in 2007 by New Creation Church, another large Christian group in Singapore.

New Creation has teamed up with mall developer CapitaLand Retail to build an 'integrated hub' at Buona Vista. The $1 billion project, when ready in 2012, will house shops, a concert hall and a theatre.

From Straits Times, "City Harvest's expansion plan".

---

Update on 20/03: The Commissioner of Charities has come to picture & questioned City Harvest Church about its $310 million stake in Suntec Singapore. A commercialized church...please count me out of it!

THE Commissioner of Charities has questioned City Harvest Church (CHC) about its $310 million stake in Suntec Singapore.

The 33,000-strong megachurch announced two weeks ago that it had become a co-owner of the downtown commercial property, which houses a convention and exhibition centre.

The complex's full name is Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

From Straits Times, "City Harvest questioned".

Batman: The Killing Joke (The Deluxe Edition)

No joke this graphic novel "Batman: The Killing Joke"! Managed to get hold of the deluxe edition (published in 2008) of the classic masterpiece first published in 1988.

This pivotal story (which involves Barbara Gordon being shot by the Joker and thus, retired from her role as Batgirl and later to become the wheelchair-bound Oracle) was written by Alan Moore & the artist was Brian Bolland.

For the 1988 edition of "Batman: The Killing Joke", the coloring was done by John Higgins.

The Deluxe Editon has Brian Bolland himself did the remastering of the colour. It's said in the Introduction by Tim Sale (yes, the artist himself for the TV series HEROES), that "Bolland's colors are characteristically thoughtful and restrained."

But what I like most is how the flashback sequences have Bolland "washes out all color in each one...but chooses to spotlight an object in each in increasingly shades of red, all leading up to...the Red Hood".

Anyway, here are some samples from the Net that showcase side by side the 'original' (1988) version and the Deluxe Edition (2008).

So which one do you like best?

Ris Low, Espire Condoms' spokesperson: Low risk of success??

As if it's not enough to be named by CNN as one of 25 most influential people in Asia, the fall beauty queen Ris Low is now reported to be an ambassador for safe sex. She is the youth spokesperson for Espire Condoms.

Fearless, she is. I have stopped being surprised about news related to this boomz lady, Ris Low.

What I'm puzzled is how Espire Condoms come to decide to utilize her infamy to be the representative of the company.

Safe sex? Maybe. Safe move? Hardly.

Former controversial beauty queen Ris Low is now an ambassador for safe sex.

Ris who had to give up her Miss World Singapore 2009 title after her credit card fraud conviction went public is now the youth spokesperson for Espire Condoms.

She said having worked in an anonymous AIDS clinic three months ago convinced her that youths should abstain from sex.

But if they choose to have sex, they should do it the safe way by using condoms so as to ensure the "risk" of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies is "low".

Ris Low, who gave Singapore words like "boomz" and "shingz", may just give Singapore another word with her new endorsement.

The distributors of the condoms, Zander Asia, had approached Low late last year.

They are not disclosing the sum of the endorsement, but said she was hired as they believe she can reach out to youths.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Ris Low endorses condom brand to promote safe sex among youths".

FORMER beauty queen Ris Low has morphed from being a wayward youth to a champion of troubled teens.

Miss Low, 19, who was appointed as a youth ambassador by a home-grown condom distributor yesterday, is taking a private course in counselling.

On her mission in life, she said: 'I'm learning how to counsel people with problems such as depression, anxiety and even sexual problems. Someone they can relate to is me.'

To hone her skills, she is working part-time as a clinic assistant in an Aids clinic, spending three days a week counselling patients and teaching them how to use condoms correctly.

She will also conduct talks on safe sex in schools and other public arenas, and use her blog and other social media to spread the message in her role as youth spokesman for Singapore-based firm Zander Asia, distributor of Espire condoms.

She said: 'I like to reach out to youths. I can counsel people very well and I can influence people.

From Straits Times, "Ris a safe-sex champion".

Update: Read also The Canadian Press, "Singapore former beauty queen seeks to improve image with safe sex, condom campaign", and CNNGo, "Ris Low: Ex-beauty queen turns condom spokesperson".

You may hate her, but you've got to admit she helps to made Singapore more known to the world!

Friday solar eclipse (coming soon in the sky above you)

What interests me most of this Friday solar eclipse (that's tomorrow, to state the obvious) is that people will experience a cool sensation on the skin as there will be a dip in radiation from the sun.

Now that's worth experiencing (Singapore has been very hot lately). Heh. So mark the timing: on Friday from about 3.10 pm to 5.30 pm!

A COOL sensation will descend over Singapore this afternoon with a solar eclipse said to be the longest of its kind in the next 1,000 years.

At its peak over the Indian Ocean, it will last for just over 11 minutes.

In Singapore, it will last from about 3.10pm to 5.30pm, with the best viewing time at about 4.25pm.

The Singapore Science Centre will set up its giant telescope and host various activities to mark the event. It usually attracts a few hundred people to watch such eclipses. It will also hand out free solar glasses through which the eclipse can be viewed safely.

'There will definitely be something worth seeing and people will experience a cool sensation on the skin as there will be a dip in radiation from the sun. It will feel like the sun in more temperate climates,' said the centre's outgoing chief executive, Dr Chew Tuan Chiong.

Friday's eclipse is an annular one - the moon will pass in front of the sun, but will not block it completely, as in a total eclipse. Instead, there will be a ring of fire, or a solar ring, visible around the edge of the darkened moon.

From Straits Times, "Catch solar eclipse on Fri".

---

Update on 15/01/10: Nah, I don't really feel the day was cooler due to the solar eclipse. A bit annoyed that the clouds eclipsed the solar eclipse itself.

For half the world on Friday, the sun was briefly reduced to a blazing ring, as the moon passed in front of it.

More than 2,500 people gathered at the Science Centre to witness the first solar eclipse of the new decade. But dark clouds and rain put crimps into the festivities.

At 2.45pm on Friday, Singapore was to have witnessed a partial eclipse - with the moon covering about 30 per cent of the sun.

Astronomy buffs and families made the most of the occasion to enjoy a day out. Many came armed with special filter glasses and even telescopes to witness this rare phenomenon. Unfortunately, an overcast sky blocked all view of the sun.

A sudden shower forced everyone indoors, and observers were reduced to watching a simulation of the eclipse. But the rain passed quickly and the sun soon made a reappearance.

The solar eclipse also made a fine present for the Centre's outgoing chief.

Dr Chew Tuan Chiong, outgoing chief executive, Science Centre Singapore said: "It is wonderful to have a solar eclipse on the last day of my work. One of the reasons is when I see the crowds turn up for an event, even on a weekday afternoon, it already makes me nostalgic."

Singapore will experience the next total solar eclipse in 2019.

From Channel NewsAsia, "First solar eclipse of new decade overshadowed by clouds, rain".

Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy: a prostitute slayer

Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy within 2 hours had sex twice with a pregnant prostitute (in one news, she's reported to be a Sri Lankan). After which, the insatiable customer demanded for the third time. The service provider--as expected in any business transaction--wanted for more money.

So what this Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy did? He killed the prostitute.

And if it's not enough he robbed her valuables (that included her handphone which Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy misused to make at least 28 long-distance international calls to India.

And he optimised the use of the remaining 2 hours of the hotel room (Diamond Hotel in Geylang Lorong 18 enjoyed a bad publicity, thanks to this Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy. Customers will wonder which room was it?!) to look for another prostitute & did the deed AGAIN in the same room & in the same bed over which the dead body of the Sri Lankan prostitute was hidden.

Horrible.

Sure he pleaded guilty on Monday to committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Whatever this 'culpable homicide' anyway?

A quick check on the Net on the subject has Wikipedia explains about this term, 'culpable homicide':

Culpable homicide (also known as negligent homicide) is a specific offence in various jurisdictions which generally involves the unlawful killing of another with (in most relevant jurisdictions, but not all) an absence of an intention to kill.

The term is also used in some other jurisdictions as an official description for the general group of offences involving the unlawful killing of a human being.

But I have got a feeling that the fact that he robbed the victim after killing her & misused her handphone for making many international calls to India & especially took in another prostitute in the same room where he committed the crime will prove that Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy was not at all remorseful.

So why reward him with a luxurious living in the prison for a life time? Using taxpayers' hard earned money some more. Groan.

Hang him, instead!! And if I may suggest, hang him in the Geylang Lorong 18 for a warning to those sexual predators not to further victimize prostitutes.

That will serve as a stern warning.

HE HAD sex with a pregnant prostitute twice in a Geylang hotel but when Indian national Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy asked for the third time, she wanted more money.

A scuffle ensued, and the 21-year-old general worker ended up killing the Sri Lankan woman and stuffing her body under the bed. Despite this, he took her valuables, found another prostitute and brought her back to the same room for sex.

Reddy, who worked in a shipbuilding company, pleaded guilty on Monday to committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder in September 2008. He will be sentenced on Thursday.

From Asiaone, "Man admits killing prostitute".

Not content with killing a pregnant prostitute hours earlier, an Indian national brought another back to the scene of his crime to have another round of sex.

His sexual encounter with the second prostitute took place on a bed, which was hiding the body of the first.

This bizarre and twisted incident was told to the High Court as 21-year-old Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable homicide, not amounting to murder.

The crime had taken place last September.

After two rounds of sexual intercourse in Diamond Hotel in Geylang, a scuffle broke out between Reddy and the 21-year-old victim after he demanded another round of sexual intercourse.

During the struggle which ensued, Reddy pressed tightly on the woman's neck with hard force for between one and two minutes.

He only released his grip on her neck when he realised she was dead.

Reddy then stuffed the deceased's body under the bed, but not before removing her gold chain and two gold rings from her body and misappropriating them.

He then dressed himself and left the room to look for another prostitute.

After finding one, Reddy proceeded back to the room at Diamond Hotel.

The pair had sex on the bed, even as the deceased's body was stuffed under it.

They then checked out of the room and Reddy wandered around until daybreak before returning to his dormitory.

Later that afternoon, Reddy used the deceased's mobile phone to make at least 28 long-distance international calls to India.

He was arrested at his dormitory two days later.

An autopsy report said the deceased's cause of death was strangulation.

The baby boy in the deceased's womb also died as a result.

The hearing has been adjourned till Thursday for Reddy's mitigation and sentencing.

He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Killer had sex with prostitute on bed which was hiding dead body".

AN HOUR after strangling a pregnant prostitute and stuffing her under the bed, Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy took another prostitute back to the hotel room for sex.

He also pocketed the dead prostitute's valuables, including her mobile phone from which he made more than 20 international calls. Her body was discovered the next morning by a housekeeper. Reddy was then arrested at his dormitory.

Yesterday, the 21-year-old, who worked in a ship building company, pleaded guilty to committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder for the offence in September 2008.

The High Court heard that Reddy had got to know the woman, also 21 and seven months pregnant at the time, in August 2008, less than a month before her death. They arranged to meet on Sept 2 and checked into a room at the Diamond Hotel in Geylang Lorong 18 at about midnight.

But just before checking in, the pair had a disagreement over her fee. She wanted to charge him $150 for her services and $40 to use the hotel room for four hours. Reddy eventually bargained it down.

They had sex twice over the following two hours. When he asked again for sex, the woman demanded more money, saying she needed to pay her agent. If Reddy did not comply, she would have her agent's men beat him up.

From Straits Times, "Guilty of killing prostitute".

---

Update on 14/01/10: the verdict is out. The prostitute slayer, Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy was sentenced to 17 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane.

An Indian national was sentenced to 17 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane for killing a prostitute.

Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy had strangled a pregnant prostitute in September last year, took her possessions, hid her body under a bed and took another prostitute to the same bed for a round of sex.

His mitigation plea on Wednesday failed to mention or explain his post-killing actions.

Instead, Reddy claimed that the victim, a 21-year-old Sri Lanka national, had "guided and lured" him into procuring her for sex over the phone.

The pair met and checked into Diamond Hotel at Geylang.

Mr Low Cheong Yeow, Reddy's lawyer, argued the 21-year-old accused was "neither the initiator nor aggressor" in the altercation, which aroused over a dispute involving another round of sex.

Reddy claimed that the victim had attempted to assault him by moving towards him with a clenched fist.

But Deputy Public Prosecutor Gillian Koh-Tan argued that Reddy had overreacted and had other recourse when compared to the "defenceless woman" who was in the seventh month of her pregnancy.

Reddy, who pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, claimed he was unaware the woman was pregnant.

Judicial Commissioner Chong agreed with the prosecution that Reddy's cold blooded and callous actions were aggravating factors.

Not only did Reddy misappropriate the victim's items, the judge noted he brought another prostitute to the same room for another round of sexual intercourse.

Judicial Commissioner Ching said this showed an utter lack of remorse.

He also noted the killing was "clearly far disproportionate" to the threat Reddy faced and that the accused was fully conscious of his actions.

Reddy could have been sentenced to a maximum of life imprisonment.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Indian national gets 17 years, 12 strokes of cane for killing prostitute".

AN INDIAN national, who displayed 'utter lack of remorse', was jailed 17 years on Thursday for killing a pregnant prostitute.

Madhuri Jaya Chandra Reddy, 21, will also be caned 12 times.

He had sex with the Sri Lankan prostitute, strangled her and stuffed her body in the hollow below the double bed of a hotel room in Geylang. Madhuri then had sex with another hooker on the same bed. He also pocketed the dead prostitute's valuables, including her jewellery and her mobile phone from which he made more than 20 international calls.

To Judicial Commissioner Steven Chong, this 'post-killing conduct indicated an utter lack of remorse'.

The general worker pleaded guilty in the High Court on Monday to culpable homicide for strangling Ms Radika Devi Thayagarajah. The mother of two sons, aged two and six, was here on a social visit pass. She was seven months pregnant and the male foetus died with her.

Madhuri could be jailed up to 20 years or sentenced to life imprisonment, and caned up to 24 times.

From Straits Times, "Jail for hooker killer".

Alan Moore talks...

Check out the interesting YouTube clips: "Alan Moore talks - 01 - V For Vendetta", "Alan Moore talks - 02 - Watchmen", and
"Alan Moore talks - 03 - League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen".

Pinnacle@Duxton skybridge entrance: $5

Pay per view. People are allowed to enter the skybridge at Pinnacle@Duxton for $5. It's not mentioned however for how long one can stay there and from what time.

Quite tempted actually to try. It will give me a lot of chance to take a wonderful shot of Singapore virginal concrete jungles from 50 storeys. I believe it must be breathtaking to view all those man-made creations, huh?

HOW much does it cost to see Singapore from 50 storeys up? $5.

The HDB is allowing people to enter the Skybridge at the Pinnacle@Duxton for that fee. And there are takers.

Ms Lynn Wee, 32, a designer, said: "I think $5 is fair for a nice view of the city.

"Although it is not a private housing area, it is only fair to the residents if the number of non-residents on the Skybridge is kept within limits."

A 35-year-old self-employed resident, who gave her name only as Ms Chen, agreed. Although Ms Chen is a resident of the Pinnacle@Duxton and is entitled to four access passes for her household, she thinks $5 to "take a walk and see Singapore at your own time" is a good deal.

An HDB spokesman said the $5 fee is to help "defray the cost of managing access to the Skybridge". She added: "It also helps to regulate demand and prevent overcrowding of the Skybridge."

Sales manager Catherine Kum, 33, feels her new home is a "tourist attraction". She said: "It is an iconic housing estate that offers a different view from what you get at the Singapore Flyer."

It costs $29.50 for a ride on the Flyer, which offers a 360-degree view of Singapore from a height of 165m. The Pinnacle@Duxton stands at 156m.

Still, there are some who are reluctant to accept that they have to pay the fee.

"Five dollars is too expensive. It would be hard on families who come to visit," said Ms Amy Ng, a 40-year-old administrative executive who paid the fee to enter the Skybridge with her husband yesterday.

Although she agreed that the view was "nice", she is unsure whether she would visit the Skybridge again. "Maybe if it's $2, I will," she said.

Partially quoted from Asiaone, "Would you pay $5 for this view?".

Silviu Ionescu: I'll be back (to Singapore)...NOT!!

Silviu Ionescu. This Romanian diplomat is for sure not Arnold, although the 3 victims--one sadly dead--might insist he is equally a Terminator.

After all, the android-from-future-turns-good movie character in Terminator movies is well known with his phrase "I'll be back".

The suspect in hit-and-run case Romanian diplomat however at first was reported in a Romanian news website that he'll be back in Singapore late January, and yet the latest news has him claimed that he was misunderstood and that he won't return to Singapore.

You ask me what kind of impression this suspicious character tells you?! (or in that matter: is a Romanian news website really that terrible in quoting such a supposedly important diplomat?)

I hope the Korean national who was said to be dropped by Silviu Ionescu at her home in Bukit Timah at about 2.30am on the day of the accidents (15/12/09) would come forward & help the investigation.

My take is that Silviu Ionescu may indeed never go back to Singapore (he is no crazy, you know?). Good riddance, actually. We'll never know how many more lives could have been spared from such a killer diplomat.

D'uh. Of course the above rants are valid if only he's proven to be guilty. But hey, his lack of courage to face the music in Singapore can only tell me that he doesn't even bother to prove that he's innocent.

ROMANIAN diplomat Silviu Ionescu, who might have been involved in a hit-and-run accident here, has made a U-turn and told journalists in his home country that he will not be returning to Singapore after all.

Last week, he had said he would come back some time this month, after seeking medical treatment for diabetes at home.

Yesterday, he said his statement had been misunderstood.

From Asiaone, "Romanian diplomat says he won't return" (08/01/10)

The Romanian embassy's charge d'affaires, who's suspected to be involved in a tragic hit-and-run accident, could be back to his post in Singapore in late January.

Dr Silviu Ionescu told a Romanian news website that he returned to Bucharest after the incident for some medical examinations which had been scheduled in advance.

The 49-year-old diplomat also stressed he had no connection with the accident, and hopes the perpetrator is found as soon as possible.

On 15 December 2009, the embassy's car, a black Audi A6, hit three pedestrians at about 3.10 am in Bukit Panjang.

At 3.50am, Dr Ionescu filed a police report saying his vehicle had been stolen.

One victim, 30-year-old Tong Kok Wai, suffered severe brain damage and died on Christmas day.

His friend, 24-year-old Bong Hwee Haw is still recovering in hospital, while the third victim who suffered leg and neck injuries has been discharged.

Police said investigations are still ongoing and would not rule out any suspect in the course of its investigations.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Romanian Embassy's Charge d'Affaires says he will return to S'pore in late Jan".

THE Romanian diplomat linked to a hit-and-run case was spotted in a car with an Asian woman less than an hour before the accident on Dec 15.

The Straits Times understands he is believed to have dropped off a woman, said to be a Korean national, at her home in Bukit Timah at about 2.30am.

About 40 minutes later, the embassy car, a black Audi A6, hit three men in Bukit Panjang and then sped off. One of them has since died.

Yesterday, an eyewitness claimed he saw Romanian charge d'affaires Silviu Ionescu leaving Peace Centre in Selegie with a woman in an Audi A6 that morning. The 49-year-old man told Lianhe Wanbao that the embassy car, sporting diplomatic plates, had pulled up to his left at a traffic junction.

The long-haired passenger in a white dress, who looked to be in her 20s, was quarrelling with Dr Ionescu, he claimed. The altercation was so serious that the Audi did not budge even when the lights turned green. Only after the cars behind had sounded their horns for almost a minute did the vehicle speed off in the direction of Bukit Timah, he added.

Dr Ionescu, 49, earlier told reporters he had visited a karaoke lounge in Peace Centre to meet some businessmen, and that he was back at the embassy by about 1.30am to do some work after that.

From Straits Times, "Woman in envoy's car".

Ainan Cawley, Singaporean child prodigy soon a Malaysian???

Yes, I won't be surprised if one day Ainan Cawley currently a 10-year-old Singaporean prodigy (you read amazing tales of the boy wonder that Pretoria News reported below!) will soon be declared a Malaysian by his parents.

After all Mr Valentine Cawley, Ainan Cawley's father, is very clear when he declared that for the family to consider returning to Singapore, 'Singapore would have to change in several ways'.

The father is very sore, alright.

He had complaints about MOE, NUS & NTU for being "tardy with responses and inflexible about accommodating Ainan".

I have yet seen replies from these institutions about the complains. Hope to see soon their take on the issue.

A 10-YEAR-OLD Singaporean prodigy is now studying in a private college in Malaysia, after his parents claimed they found the Singapore education system too rigid to cater to his genius.

Ainan Cawley, of Irish and Malay parentage, made headlines when he became the youngest person in the world to pass his GCE O-level chemistry examination. He was seven then.

He is now aiming for a degree from Help University College in Kuala Lumpur.

Ainan, his parents and two younger siblings moved there last month.

His father, Mr Valentine Cawley, 41, who tutored Ainan in physics and chemistry, said that for the family to consider returning to Singapore, 'Singapore would have to change in several ways'.

He said: 'It would have to support Ainan a lot better than it has, for instance... and I don't see that happening, given what we have experienced so far.'

In his e-mail reply to The Straits Times, Mr Cawley had a number of complaints about the Ministry of Education (MOE) as well as tertiary institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

He claimed that they were tardy with responses and inflexible about accommodating Ainan.

Mr Cawley's request to homeschool his son was turned down by the ministry. Instead, Ainan had to attend regular school from Primary 1 to 4. To Mr Cawley, this meant 'his time was basically wasted, from an academic point of view'.

He said that it took a year before the Gifted Education Programme department organised half a dozen practical chemistry lessons for Ainan.

Those quickly over, Mr Cawley then had to make his own arrangements to get Ainan access to the Singapore Polytechnic's laboratories. That, he claimed, took 22 months.

The lessons dried up a year later last July, when Ainan's mentor fell ill. After that, the polytechnic 'withdrew its support', Mr Cawley said.

The two universities offering science were sounded out as well. But NUS said the boy's application could be considered only if he took and passed three A-level papers in the same session. NTU said Ainan was 'too small', said Mr Cawley.

'We had, by 2009, completely exhausted our options. The only thing was to look overseas.'

Mr Cawley said he approached the National Association for Gifted Children of Malaysia president Zuhairah Ali for advice and she helped Ainan secure places at a few colleges in just a week.

The family's choice was Help University College, which gave Ainan a scholarship covering all his tuition fees.

The university was set up in 1986 and has about 9,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in courses such as information technology, management and law.

A university spokesman told The Straits Times that Ainan was evaluated by its psychologists and subject experts, and checks were made on his background.

She said: 'We decided to offer Ainan a place at Help as we believe that we are able to meet his needs.

'Ainan has also met some lecturers at Help and they have commented that he is a very clever child. He was able to answer successfully the A-level maths questions that were given to him, which he had never studied for.'

Help said that he would be given a 'flexible platform' to pursue his interests and mature at his own pace. The university has also offered a research position to Mr Cawley so that the family can stay together.

Ainan is enrolled in an American degree programme which allows him to study for one to two years in the university and transfer to another university to complete the rest of his degree programme. He can choose from a list of about 80 universities, mostly located in the United States.

Asked to comment on Ainan's case and whether the education system here catered for gifted children, Mensa Singapore president Patrick Khoo said that the Singapore system is 'quite flexible', with an array of educational options from the Singapore Sports School to the School of the Arts.

He said: 'We cannot expect to tailor every course to every specific gifted child, at least not in the public school system. It will be prohibitively expensive and only the private educators can do that. Even then, the parents must be rich enough to pay for such customised courses.'

From Asiaone, "S'pore system 'too rigid' for child prodigy".

A Singaporean prodigy who passed Grade 10 chemistry at the age of seven is moving to Malaysia to attend the HELP University College because the island state is too rigid to accommodate gifted children, his father says.

Ainan Cawley, who passed his GCSE at the age of seven, has enrolled for an American degree programme. He can recite Pi to 518 decimal places and the periodic table. His father, Valentine Cawley, keeps a blog on his progress, "The boy who knew too much".

Cawley, of Irish origin and from London, said: "His vision is wide, ranging across the disciplines of physics, biology and chemistry... sometimes his insight seems prophetic, for he sees what is possible, rather than what is merely now."

His father and mother, Syahidah Osman, who is from Singapore, say Ainan was crawling at four months and walking at six and a half months. He spoke his first words in his first month, read his first letters at eight months, and was reading at three. At one, he gave a full account of his birth.

The couple's second son was crawling at six months and walking at eight. Their third could hold his head up and look around on the day he was born. At six months he could walk.

From Pretoria News, "Boy enrols for degree".

Racist KFC ads?

Racist KFC advertisement?

How do you survive a crowd of "awkward" black people? According to KFCs latest advertisement a bucket of fried chicken will do the trick. Is this racist? You be the judge...

Well, to answer ThunderCurls, I'd say yes, it's a racist advertisement!

Anyway, even Asian is guilty of such an ad. For example, Korea have a similar 'racist' KFC ad. Check the YouTube clip, "Korean Racist KFC Commercial".

US FAST food giant Kentucky Fried Chicken said on Thursday it would pull a cricket-themed TV advert running in Australia, after furious online debate claiming it was racist.

The ad, which features a white Australian cricket fan appeasing West Indies supporters with an offer of fried chicken, sparked controversy in the United States after being posted on the Internet.

Some bloggers and journalists accused KFC Australia of playing on a racist stereotype that African-Americans eat a lot of fried chicken. One viral media site, Buzzfeed, posted the video under the subtitle 'What's a white guy to do when he awkwardly finds himself in a crowd full of black folks? KFC has the answer.'

KFC Australia issued a statement on Thursday saying it would immediately remove the advertisement 'to avoid the possibility of any further offence'. 'We apologise for any misinterpretation of the ad as it was not meant to offend anyone,' the restaurant chain said.

Prior to pulling the ad KFC had defended it as a 'light-hearted reference to the West Indian cricket team", and said it was unaware a 'culturally based stereotype' existed in the US relating to fried chicken.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard declined to comment on the ad but said her 'general world outlook is to take things on the lighter side'.

From Straits Times, "KFC pulls 'racist' cricket ad".

Singpost Admail: What if the so-called junk mails are printed on recycled paper?

An author of the blog, Alvinology makes a honourable plea to "save the trees and say NO to junk mails from SingPost". He showcases his sharp sense of obtaining info by navigating in the quite complicated (at least for me) website of Singpost & presents the the order form that SingPost is using to "profiteer by spamming mailboxes".

What he fails to realise is that there's a possibility that business elsewhere (those advertisers which make use the service of Singpost called Admail) print those 'junk' mails on recycled paper.

Just because it's not mentioned in SingPost Admail Terms & Conditions, it doesn't mean that they don't use such a paper.

Right?

Well, very likely not. Recycled paper is believed to be more expensive.

Sad.

Sorry, perhaps Alvinology is right. Save the trees. Say NO to junk mails from SingPost. Call SingPost’s hotline on 6845-6210 to opt-out from this Earth-raping act from Singpost.

Will it make a difference?

Unlikely.

Unless this SingPost Admail service is a global "junk-mails" distributor, I don't see how a relatively small number of Singapore population can make difference to protect the Mother Earth.

The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite

Currently reading "The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite". (And resisting not to click on the Wikipedia article of the graphic novel. Heh.) Well, and guess what? There is even a Fan site, "The Umbrella Academy Fan Site".

James Gomez quits Workers' Party

Good for Workers' Party that this James Gomez dude quits the organization voluntarily. After all, why should the Party continue to nominate him as a candidate in the next general election after all the screw up he created in the previous election?

He botched a simple but crucial process to file his application!

Sure it was said that he was "not trying to be funny" (it's a sad, pathetic case in fact) & did not do it on purpose (he's too young to be senile, isn't he?!). Then again, the incident just makes me wonder how capable our opposition candidates, really??? Creating a free publicity (our newspaper is always hungry for news, alright) with what should be considered an embarrassing human error. Sigh.

An opposition candidate, who caused a stir with his application forms at the Election Department during the last General Election in 2006, has quit the Workers' Party (WP).

James Gomez, who stood on the WP ticket in the Aljunied GRC team, announced on Tuesday his decision not to renew his Workers' Party membership, which lapsed on December 31 last year.

He was speaking at a Speakers' Corner event in memory of the late opposition figure JB Jeyaretnam.

Mr Gomez was in the spotlight during the previous general election when he claimed he had submitted his form for the minority certificate to the Elections Department.

Investigations and CCTV footage later showed he had not done so. Mr Gomez was then taken to task by leaders of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

Among them was First Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng who, during the 2006 hustings, warned the electorate that Mr Gomez had attempted to create the impression that the Elections Department was at fault.

As Polling Day neared, Mr Gomez admitted he did not file the application, contrary to his earlier claims.

The WP's Secretary General Low Thia Khiang said the incident was merely an unintentional omission and a mistake made as Mr Gomez was busy. Mr Low declared that Mr Gomez was "not trying to be funny", and did not do it on purpose.

The Workers' Party team lost narrowly to the PAP team at the Aljunied GRC polls in 2006.

From Channel NewsAsia, "Opposition candidate for Aljunied GRC James Gomez quits Workers' Party".

---

Update on 07/01: James Gomez will focus on 'non-party work' but does not rule out contesting next GE.

DR JAMES Gomez, the Workers' Party (WP) candidate for Aljunied GRC who caused a controversy during the 2006 general election, has quit the party.

He has also submitted an application to set up a civil society group called Singaporeans for Democracy, but the application has yet to be approved by the Registry of Societies (ROS).

Dr Gomez told The Straits Times yesterday that the group he plans to form will aim to promote civil and political reforms among Singaporeans here and abroad using new media tools.

The group submitted its application in April last year but has yet to hear from the ROS, he said.

Under ROS rules, 10 names need to be submitted in any application to start a new society. Dr Gomez declined to say who the other nine are.

When contacted by The Straits Times, the ROS said it received the application on April 28 last year. It is currently processing the application and will inform the society once its registration has been approved, it said.

From Straits Times, "Gomez quits Workers' Party".

Halimah Yacob vs Temasek Review: 1 - 0

It's encouraging to see how a senior politician like Mdm Halimah Yacob cares enough to correct a relatively unknown (yes, it's relative, you know? Heh) site like Temasek Review.

Such a move can only be interpreted that politicians have begun to realise the power of the Net that even a misquote (intentionally or not) should warrant a correction.

Well done, Mdm Halimah Yacob!

She felt she had been misquoted, and wrote to the editor of a local website for a correction.

But that simple request by NTUC deputy secretary-general Halimah Yacob to The Temasek Review has sparked off a buzz among netizens, with some viewing her move as a positive one in engaging the alternative media.

In an interview with MediaCorp last week, Mdm Halimah had noted that some middle-aged degree holders lost their jobs and ended up driving taxis because of the downturn. Under-employment, she said, was unavoidable because of limited job opportunities from slow economic growth.

However, in its article on Dec 31, Temasek Review wrote that Mdm Halimah had said it was unavoidable that middle-aged degree holders end up driving taxis.

In a letter to the editor of the website, Mdm Halimah said the article "did not accurately reflect the essence" of what she had said and asked for a correction. The website has since amended its article and also posted her letter online.

Many lauded Mdm Halimah's move on the website.

"TR (Temasek Review) should truly write a thank-you letter to Halimah Yacob and encourage her to participate more and also invite her to ask her fellow PAP MPs to engage comments, views and opinions in TR positively like her," wrote netizen southchinasea.

"It's a good sign that a very senior PAP/MP like Mdm Halimah to respond (sic), let's likewise return the respect rationally without the usual rhetorics (sic)," wrote PeterL.

Calling it a "significant" step for alternative media, Mr Tan Tarn How, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, noted that other MPs before Mdm Halimah had engaged netizens, but in a different manner.

"In the past, the government has addressed issues brought up without necessarily making a link with specific websites. For instance, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew addressed concerns expressed online, but did so via the mainstream media than by engaging directly with individual websites," he said.

Last year, Mr Lui had spoken against netizens who posted unkind comments about MP Seng Han Thong after the latter was set on fire by a disgruntled constituent.

Singapore Management University assistant professor Eugene Tan noted: "On when to seek clarifications, the priority would be to seek corrections from the more prominent websites, blogs or portals.

"The inaccuracy in question, even if perceived to be minor by some, is deemed to be significant and important enough for Mdm Halimah to clarify her position."

When contacted, Mdm Halimah told MediaCorp she saw the article while surfing the Web over the holidays. "It is useful to engage when it is incorrect," she said. "There was an inaccuracy and I wanted it corrected. Judging from the reaction, people do appreciate that point."

From Channel NewsAsia, "Netizens hail MP for engaging blog after being misquoted".