Singapore navy testing unmanned mine-hunter Channel NewsAsia 22 May 2010 1339 hrs SINGAPORE : The Singapore navy is testing an unmanned underwater vessel capable of detecting and destroying mines as part of its modernisation plans, a report said Saturday. The remotely-controlled mine-hunting vessel is able to operate at depths of 100 metres (330 feet) for up to five hours and hit a maximum speed of six knots, the Straits Times reported. Electronic devices attached to the 2.5 metre-long vessel, which is developed locally, enable it to scan the seabed to detect and destroy mines. The vessel is part of the Singapore Navy's drive to modernise its fleet using unmanned systems. It will be able to undertake tasks "too dangerous and difficult" for navy personnel, the newspaper quoted Chief of Navy Chew Men Leong as saying. The navy currently has two types of unmanned surface vessels in active service, but both do not possess mine-hunting capabilities, the report said. Mine-hunting is important for the Singapore navy because the city-state is located near the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. - AFP/jy The Republic of Singapore Navy
Navy's role ever-expanding TODAY 11:00 AM May 22, 2010 by Zul Othman SINGAPORE - The world as we know it is shrinking but the role of one of the smallest navies in the world - the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) - is expanding. This was the observation Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong (picture), made during his interview with the media on Tuesday. To illustrate his point, RAdm Chew, 42, said the RSN has been actively contributing to international challenges while cooperating with other countries in a bid to keep sea lanes open. One example was the RSN's recent mission in the Gulf of Aden. In that mission, 48 Singapore Navy, Air Force and Army servicemen comprising officers and specialists led the Combined Task Force 151 in the area. They commanded more than 2,500 personnel and six ships from various countries including Britain, the United States and South Korea. The group ended its three-month tour of duty last month. A mission like this, RAdm Chew added, allows the RSN to make a meaningful contribution to maritime safety. He said: "We also gain good sets of knowledge to work with a multi-national force and at times lead them ... this is an area the Navy will continue to make a contribution to." Closer to home, the RSN is also working with regional forces in maintaining maritime security in surrounding waters to ensure that commerce and trade are not affected. The training of its people is also a priority because "our people can step forward with a sense of shared values (while we) imbibe in our people the will to fight and rise to the occasion and take on the challenges head on". To drive home that point, the seventh Navy Open House - which begins on Saturday and ends on Sunday at Changi Naval Base - will feature an interactive exhibition showcasing the personnel of the RSN.
The Straits Times May 22, 2010 M'sian PM in town for retreat MALAYSIA'S Prime Minister Najib Razak will visit Singapore from 23 to 24 May for a retreat with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said the Foreign Ministry on Saturday. PM Najib will be accompanied by his wife Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor. The Malaysian delegation also includes the foreign affairs, international trade and industry, transport and home affairs ministers. PM Lee will host PM Najib to a welcome dinner. During the retreat, both countries will discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional developments.
Special Envoy senses Romania's 'good effort' TODAY 11:01 AM May 22, 2010 by Satishkumar Cheney SINGAPORE - Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania said on Friday that he sensed a "good effort" by the Romanian authorities to move the hit-and-run case involving former diplomat Silviu Ionescu forward. Mr Anil Kumar Nayar, who was in the capital Bucharest this week, was also "cautiously optimistic" that Romanian officials "will do their best to make their visit soon" to look at the facts of the case. The officials "need to sort out some administrative and logistic details" before they can come to Singapore, he added. Ionescu is wanted in Singapore in connection with a hit-and-run accident last December, which killed one pedestrian. He's now in the custody of the Romanian authorities. Mr Nayar and a delegation of legal experts went to Bucharest on Tuesday to assist the Romanian authorities in the case. Their visit ended on Friday with the Special Envoy having met officials from the Romanian foreign and justice ministries as well as officials from the Prosecutor's Office. During a teleconference with Singapore reporters here, Mr Nayar said details cannot be given as investigations are still on. But the tone and direction appear positive. "After talking to them, our sense is that in line with the commitment given by the Foreign Minister of Romania to Minister George Yeo, a good effort is indeed being taken so far to move this case forward in line with the shared objectives, I think, of the two countries to make sure that justice is served," Mr Nayar said. The Special Envoy said that more work needs to be done to make sure the momentum is sustained, not just on the Ionescu case but in terms of bilateral relations as well. There will be some exchange of information between both countries in the coming days, he added. As to Ionescu's whereabouts, Mr Nayar said they were told by the Romanian officials that the former diplomat is currently under detention for a 29-day period. "We were told by the Prosecutor's Office that he is under detention. We don't think he is under house arrest. That means he is detained somewhere," Mr Nayar said. (Unable to attach pic in this new system )
One star, 17 suitors TODAY 11:00 AM May 22, 2010 Sports School tight-lipped about coaches who have applied to train Tao Li by Tan Yo-Hinn SINGAPORE - Seventeen coaches are in the queue to train Singapore swim star Tao Li in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics, after the 2008 Beijing Games 100m butterfly finalist parted ways with long-time mentor Peter Churchill last month. While the Singapore Sports School - where Tao Li is a first-year student in their through-train programme with the Auckland University of Technology - would not release the names of the applicants, MediaCorp understands that they have applied for the post of senior coach at the school's swimming academy. "Seventeen coaches have submitted an application and we are on track in our search for a coach to replace Churchill," school principal Deborah Tan told MediaCorp on Friday. "We are happy with the quality of the applicants. An evaluation committee will arrive at an initial shortlist of coaches with the relevant experience, which will be further reviewed. Interviews will commence shortly after that." Applications closed on Monday. The selection process will not only involve the Sports School, but also other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, the Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Swimming Association (SSA). The new coach is likely to start work by July. The school's search for a senior coach started earlier this month, with one of the requirements being that the successful person must have at least 10 years' experience with senior international swimmers. He or she must also possess a proven track-record of medal success at international meets in the 50m, 100m and 200m events. Apart from preparing the school's elite swimmers for national representation at the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, world championships and Olympics, the person who is selected would also have to design and implement the training and competition plans, and work closely with the SSA's high performance team to advise and assist them in implementing development and elite programmes. Churchill, who began coaching Tao Li in 2006, has returned to Australia after resiging from the job. The swimmer felt she needed a new training programme and coach in order to make the step up to the London Games, as she was getting "too comfortable" with the Australian's routine. The 20-year-old butterfly specialist is regarded as one of the Republic's brightest hopes for a medal at the London Olympics based on her performance at the Cube in Bejing two years ago, where she became the first Singaporean to reach an Olympic swimming final. Tao Li, who had set a then-Asian record of 57.54sec in the semi-finals of the 100m fly, finished fifth in the final, clocking 57.99s. The China-born Singaporean first hit the headlines when she won the women's 50m fly at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha - the first Singaporean to strike gold at the Asiad since Ang Peng Siong at the New Delhi Games in 1982. Tao Li is currently at a training camp in Hubei.
A giant in our midst TODAY 05:55 AM May 24, 2010 by Lee Hsien Loong Prime Minister May I, on behalf of the Government and people of Singapore, convey our deepest condolences to Mrs Goh and the family of the late Dr Goh Keng Swee on his passing at the age of 91. Great leaders shape and influence the course of events through their actions and ideas. Singapore is a small country with a short history. But we too have had giants in our midst - men who have turned the tide for Singapore, and created a successful nation against the odds. Dr Goh was one of our nation's founding fathers. In our formative years, he dealt with the most pressing problems of the day. But more importantly, he introduced sweeping initiatives that set the basis for the country's long-term prosperity and security. Without him, much of today's Singapore would not exist. Dr Goh was a nationalist and a strong advocate for independence from British rule. After earning his PhD in England, he worked for a few years in the social welfare department, while supporting the People's Action Party (PAP) from behind the scenes. In 1959, Singapore won self-governing status from the British, and General Elections were held. Dr Goh resigned as a civil servant to contest as a PAP candidate. When the PAP won, Dr Goh became our first Finance Minister. Dr Goh soon discovered that the Government was almost broke, and expected a budget deficit of $14 million that year. Prudent and thrifty by nature, Dr Goh immediately introduced drastic measures to cut spending, including cutting civil service salaries. This was obviously unpopular, but Dr Goh stood firm. When he delivered the Budget at the end of the year, he proudly declared that the Government had achieved a small surplus of $1 million. He had drafted the speech personally, after secluding himself on the remote island of Raffles Lighthouse to concentrate on the task. Dr Goh set the tone for the PAP Government, which ever since has steadfastly upheld budget discipline and fiscal prudence. A RADICAL, UNTESTED APPROACH Dr Goh next turned his attention to jump-starting the stagnant economy. He decided on a strategy of rapid industrial*isation, attracting investments from MNCs to create jobs and exports. This was a radical and untested approach. It was contrary to the conventional wisdom then, that poor countries could achieve economic development through import substitution, and that MNCs were new colonial powers out to exploit impoverished workers in the Third World. Key to the industrialisation programme was an ambitious project to transform the swamps of Jurong into a modern industrial estate. Dr Goh saw this as "an act of faith in the people of Singapore". He and his friend, Mr Hon Sui Sen, then chairman of the Economic Develop*ment Board, set out to develop Jurong with energy and determination. The strategy did not work immediately. Investors were put off by the instability and mayhem created by the communists and their sympathisers. There were more troubles after Singapore joined Malaysia, and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur controlled the award of Pioneer Certificates (for tax holidays) to investors. Not a single application for Pioneer Certificates was approved during this period. Given these problems, Jurong made little progress. Cynics mocked the venture, calling it "Goh's Folly". But after independence we left these problems behind. The industrialisation strategy proved its worth, and Jurong industrial estate took off. By 1968, almost 300 factories operated in Jurong, employing 21,000 workers. Today, the Jurong project has far outgrown its geographical boundaries. Jurong Town Corporation was renamed JTC Corporation, because it was managing industrial estates all over Singapore, not just in Jurong. JTC Corporation has also spun off commercial arms, like Ascendas and JTC International, which have planned and built industrial parks and townships in many Asian countries. These successes have won Singapore an international reputation as a first-class infrastructure provider. THE S'PORE DOLLAR LEGACY Dr Goh pioneered many other economic institutions. He helped create the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), where he laid out the policies that produced a stable Singapore dollar and preserved the purchasing power of Singaporeans, not least their CPF savings. Years after Dr Goh retired, I served as chairman of MAS. My task was to revise and update MAS' policies, many of which traced back to Dr Goh. We changed course very cautiously, always mindful of the good reasons and careful analysis that underpinned the original policies. For example, Dr Goh firmly opposed allowing market players free rein to speculate on the Singapore dollar, say, by borrowing Singa*pore dollars in order to short the currency. Our small, open economy depended too much on a stable exchange rate. MAS applied a very strict policy, famously known as "the non-internationalisation of the Singa*pore dollar". By the late '90s, we needed to relax these restrictions, in order to grow the fund management industry in Singapore. We did so in careful, incremental steps, over several years, loosening the implementation but never giving up the principle. Beyond economics, Dr Goh helped to steer our nation through its difficult birth. His was often a backroom role, developing strategies and arguments to counter first the communists and then the communalists. But his robust attitude encouraged the whole team to press on against seemingly unwinnable odds, eventually to prevail and create today's Singapore. WRANGLING TALENT FOR SAF Once Singapore became independent, we faced a pressing need to develop a defence capability and safeguard ourselves in a dangerous world. Although Dr Goh initially knew little about military matters, he took on the heavy responsibility as our first Defence Minister, and built up the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from scratch. Dr Goh took a personal interest in all aspects of the SAF. No detail was too small for him. I once followed him to visit a field engineer defence exercise. We passed one site where the troops were digging a large bunker. It was a hive of activity: All the soldiers swarming over the work site, hard at work. This did not escape Dr Goh's practised eye. He commented that the soldiers should have been divided up into shifts - one-third working, one-third resting, and one-third on guard. They should not all be working at once, and especially not to impress the minister. Dr Goh understood that what counted most to the SAF was ability and talent. The SAF needed commanders and staff officers with the leadership qualities, intellectual abilities and professional competence to build and operate a modern, high-tech defence force. He created Project Wrangler, a talent management scheme overseen personally by the minister, to identify promising officers, and systematically track, groom and advance them to key command and staff appointments. He introduced the SAF Scholarship scheme to induct top talent into the SAF. But he did not forget the older officers, mostly non-graduates, who had got the SAF off the ground: So, he implemented a programme to enable deserving ones among them to study for Master's degrees at Duke University in military history and strategy. This is why today we have a cadre of capable and committed SAF leaders who understand defence technology, appreciate the strategic context, and can make sound decisions on and off the battlefield to ensure Singa*pore's security. Without such a team, we could not have built up, nor could we operate the 3G SAF, a professional and credible deterrent force respected alike by Singaporeans, partners and other armed forces in Asia and around the world. I was in the first batch of SAF Scholars. Dr Goh took a special interest in us, and met us before we left for our overseas studies. He presented us each with two military classics: Sun Tzu's Art of War and Liddell Hart's Strategy: The Indirect Approach. He had specially ordered the books, and inscribed them to each of the young second lieutenants, "wishing you a successful military career". Dr Goh's gesture showed both his grasp of strategy and security issues, as well as his keen interest in nurturing talent for the SAF. THE LIVES HE CHANGED Dr Goh's last ministry was education. Here, too, he introduced major reforms, leaving his imprint on a fundamentally changed education system. His approach was systematic, analytical, and results oriented. Today, nearly every student completes secondary education, masters both English and a mother tongue, and attains standards of mathematics and science that are among the highest in any country. As in so many other areas, Dr Goh's work laid the foundation on which his successors have built, to reach greater heights. With a creative mind and wide-ranging interests, Dr Goh had a tremendous zest for life and work. He would come up with new ideas every day for the civil servants to study and implement. Submissions to him frequently came back covered with corrections, to polish the language and sharpen the arguments, or sometimes demolish them. Many young officers benefited from his guidance. Their careers and lives were changed by their interaction with Dr Goh, who more than once intervened at critical points to overcome an obstacle or to guide them in the right direction. They included President S R Nathan, Mr Goh Chok Tong, Mr Wong Kan Seng, Mr Mah Bow Tan, and Mr S Dhanabalan, as well as Permanent Secretaries like Ngiam Tong Dow, Lim Siong Guan, Philip Yeo, and Joe Pillay, and many others. Dr Goh was a hard task-master but also a teacher and mentor. He recognised good work, and would back officers who had done well. He promoted and appointed people on merit, disregarding seniority in order to get the job done. He would fight for their promotions, which were not always within his dispensation because he needed to persuade the Public Service Commission. He would stand up for them publicly. I remember when I resigned from the SAF to enter politics, an Opposition MP filed a Parliamentary question which was obviously targeted at me. Dr Goh was then no longer the Minister for Defence, but he nevertheless rose in Parliament to defend me, and the integrity of Mindef's personnel and promotion system, in his usual robust style. Many other officers who served him had similar experiences. Dr Goh also had a fun side to him. In Mindef, he became frustrated that directives from headquarters to the units were having so little effect. As an experiment, he ordered a directive issued to all units that comprised nothing but the Bible passage on Noah's Ark. The directive made its way through the organisation - some units simply passed it on to their subor*dinate units for implementation, others filed it for reference, and only one person asked what it was for. Dr Goh wrote up the results into a paper, which he entitled Noah's Ark Progresses through the SAF. CHARACTER AND COMPASSION Dr Goh's writings and speeches reflected his depth of thinking and broad range of reference. He published three volumes - The Practice of Economic Growth, The Economics of Modernisation, and The Wealth of East Asian Nations. Many of the pieces are gems that remain well worth reading today, decades later. Those wishing to learn about economic management and governance in modern Singapore will gain much from studying them. A whole generation of Singaporeans has grown up enjoying the fruits of growth and prosperity, because one of our ablest sons decided to fight for Singapore's independence, progress and future. Instead of pursuing a private career, Dr Goh chose to serve the larger good, and stayed in public service for more than 25 years. Thousands have paid their last respects to Dr Goh this last week, in gratitude for what he had done for Singapore, and often personally to themselves. The media have reported a few of their stories - the old lady who was visited by Dr Goh when the family was very poor; another lady whom Dr Goh had come across as a little girl weeping in school, and had comforted; the young navy officer who reported to Dr Goh after making a grave mistake, but was forgiven because he owned up. These personal gestures and kindnesses reflected Dr Goh's character and compassion, which underpinned his enormous contributions to Singapore. Singapore is forever indebted to Dr Goh Keng Swee. (BTW Dr Goh was born in Malacca.)
A nation says goodbye TODAY Updated 07:10 AM May 24, 2010 by Zul Othman SINGAPORE - He was, as Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew put it, "a slow developer" at college. Yet he rose to be Mr Lee's "troubleshooter" during Singapore's crucial formative years, taking on the toughest of jobs in Government and making the greatest impact, of all his Cabinet colleagues, on Singapore's future. Yesterday, the late Deputy Prime Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee - who died on May 14 at the age of 91 after a long illness - was given a State funeral, befitting a founding father who had served over two decades in Government holding portfolios from defence to education and finance. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was among the foreign dignitaries who paid their last respects at Parliament House earlier in the day. More than 18,000 others had come to bid Dr Goh farewell as his body lay in State since Thursday. Dr Goh's casket arrived at the Singapore Conference Hall at about 2pm atop an Artillery Gun Carriage towed by a ceremonial Land Rover and flanked by a military escort. The motorcade, led by family members, followed. The casket was draped with a state flag, the highest honour given to a man in recognition of his services to the nation. Dr Goh's only son, Mr Goh Kian Chee, led the eight pallbearers from the Police and Singapore Armed Forces into the auditorium followed by Dr Goh's wife, Dr Phua Swee Liang, and other family members. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra played a tribute to its founder and patron as Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam received the family. During the solemn 90-minute ceremony, which started at 2.30pm, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recalled how Dr Goh as Singapore's first Finance Minister turned the economy around by introducing "drastic measures" that helped turn the Budget from a deficit of $14 million to a surplus of $1 million a year later. In his eulogy, MM Lee paid tribute to Dr Goh as the man who made the greatest difference to the outcome for Singapore. The nation has now lost "a remarkable and outstanding son", he said. As the tributes flowed, the words of two younger members of the family about their love for a doting grandfather, showed the warm side of a usually taciturn public figure. Many among the 850 invited guests, from ministers, diplomats, officials, military personnel and students, were seen wiping away tears. In his eulogy, Dr Goh's grandson, Mr Goh Ken-yi, a 37-year-old bank officer, remembered how his grandfather would fall asleep while telling him a bedtime story. "Being the spoilt child that I was, I would nudge him awake and he would always continue despite his own fatigue." Grandniece Marian Hui,15, described Dr Goh as "the epitome of consideration" - recalling how he once chose the cheapest entree for himself at a birthday dinner. "He did not want us to pay more than what was necessary. He was just happy to be there," she said. President S R Nathan presented the state flag and four medals, including The Darjah Utama Temasek (Order Of Temasek - First Class), to Mrs Goh. At about 4pm, a lone bugle sounded The Last Post to conclude the ceremony. MM Lee went over to Mrs Goh and offered his condolences. A final private ceremony was held for family members at the Mandai crematorium. Retiree Osman Talib, 67, said: "Some of Dr Goh's policies may not have been popular but he helped shaped this country into what it is today."
As my troubleshooter, I gave him toughest jobs in Govt: MM TODAY 05:55 AM May 24, 2010 SINGAPORE - In the tumultuous years following Singapore's independence, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew considered it his "good fortune to have strong men" around him. And the late Dr Goh Keng Swee - his close friend and troubleshooter - was one of them. "Of all my Cabinet colleagues, it was Goh Keng Swee who made the greatest difference to the outcome for Singapore," Mr Lee said at Dr Goh's State funeral, in a eulogy many had been anticipating - Mr Lee's first public comments on his long-time colleague since his death. "He had a capacious mind and a strong character. When he held a contrary view, he would challenge my decisions and make me re-examine the premises on which they were made. As a result, we reached better decisions for Singapore. "In the middle of a crisis, his analysis was always sharp, with an academic detachment and objectivity that reassured me. His robust approach to problems encouraged me to press on against seemingly impossible odds." Describing Dr Goh as a "slow developer" who did not shine academically until he got to Raffles College, Mr Lee said they became "close friends" after they met in London in 1949-1950. Dr Goh was then studying at the London School of Economics on a scholarship while the young Lee was preparing for his Bar finals. "We shared a common view that we could run Singapore and Malaya better than the British colonial officials ... "Together with Kenny Byrne, Toh Chin Chye and S Rajaratnam, we planned to build up a mass movement, to form a political party, win elections and take over from the colonialists," Mr Lee said. While Dr Goh was "hopeless as a campaign orator", he was a man with a "formidable analytical mind", Mr Lee said. Referring to Singapore's short-lived merger with Malaysia, Mr Lee noted that after two years of constant friction and two race riots, he had asked Dr Goh in July 1965 to negotiate "a looser re-arrangement for Singapore but keep Singapore within the Federation". "He (Dr Goh) decided that the best alternative was a clean break," Mr Lee said. Calling Dr Goh his "troubleshooter", Mr Lee added: "I settled the political conditions so that his tough policies we together formulated could be executed. "I gave him the toughest jobs in government: The Ministry of Finance from 1959 to 1965 when economic survival was crucial; Ministry of Defence in 1965 when all we had were two battalions of the Singapore Infantry Regiment, that then had more Malaysians than Singaporean soldiers." And when the British announced they would withdraw their forces in 1967, ?"I sent him back to the Ministry of Finance to deal with the loss of 20 per cent of our GDP with the withdrawal of the British military spending". Mr Lee also spoke of how Dr Goh persuaded him to subsidise the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Zoological Garden, Jurong Bird Park, Sentosa, the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden, so Singaporeans could "have a feel for beauty and the arts". Years later, when it was time for leadership renewal, "Keng Swee and Rajaratnam helped me to select and ensure that we had a team of younger men who would take over the Government without a drop in competence, drive or dynamism". "With his passing, we have lost a remarkable and outstanding son," Mr Lee added.
S'pore: Lowest child mortality The Straits Times May 24, 2010 PARIS - SINGAPORE is ranked first in the world for the lowest estimated rates of children under five who die each year for 2010, followed by Iceland, Sweden, Cyprus and Luxembourg. In the United States - whose ranking has dropped from 20th to 42 since 1970 - the mortality rate is nearly double the European average. But the proportion of under-five children who die each year across the globe has dropped 60 per cent over the past four decades, according to a study published Monday. In the last 20 years this salutary decline has accelerated, with the number of deaths among newborns, infants and one-to-four year olds falling from 11.9 million to an estimated 7.7 million in 2010, the new figures show. That remains a staggeringly large number of young lives lost, many to preventable diseases and overwhelmingly in the world's poorest nations. A child born today in Chad, Mali or Nigeria is nearly sixty times less likely to see her or his fifth birthday than one born in Scandinavia. And progress still falls short of the trajectory needed to meet the UN's Millennium Development goal of slashing child deaths globally by 66 per cent between 1990 and 2015. But the decline in under-five mortality is still an encouraging achievement, and suggests further progress is possible, the report says. Even at the current rate of improvement, there are 31 countries on pace to meet the UN benchmark for 2015, including Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia and Egypt. All told, 54 of the 187 nations examined in the study are poised to reach the goal. In 1970 there were more than 200 under-five deaths for every 1,000 live births, the measure used to rank nations in this grim index. By 1990, that list had dwindled to 12, and today no country crosses the 200-death threshold, according to the study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet. 'One of the biggest achievements of the past 20 years has been this incredible progress in countries that historically have had the highest child mortality in the world,' said Christopher Murray, Director of the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and co-author of the study. --AFP
Phase one of Woodlands Waterfront opens Channel NewsAsia 23 May 2010 1807 hrs By Evelyn Choo & Lynda Hong SINGAPORE : The northern region of Singapore now has a new leisure destination - Woodlands Waterfront. And the park's launch on Sunday attracted some 2,500 people. The park was designed with community-based events in mind. Phase 1 opened up three hectares of the Woodlands Waterfront. The phased opening was by residents' demand. "The project was actually planned in close collaboration with... input of the grassroots. Many of the facilities that we have provided were for community purposes," said Ler Seng Ann, group director of Conversation & Development Services with Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Although only one-third of the park area has been opened, the URA said the main features are already in place. One is a playground that's not just for children. Youths can also seek thrills at the two-storey Skywalk and crawl through the playground's tree pods. The waterfront park, which overlooks the Straits of Johor, will also feature a refurbished 400-metre jetty - a reminder that the park used to be occupied by warehouses. The remaining six hectares of the Woodlands Waterfront will be opened by the end of the year, with features like the Catilevered Promenade, nature area, trails and green spaces. When fully completed, the Woodlands Waterfront will be linked to the nearby Admiralty Park and the park connector along Woodlands Centre Road and Admiralty West. The Woodlands Waterfront will also add on to 1.5km of the 150km-Round Island Route, which allows seamless strolling, jogging or cycling around Singapore. Construction costs of the park and promenade amounted to $19 million. - CNA /ls
KTMB station in Tanjong Pagar to relocate to Woodlands by July 2011 Channel NewsAsia By S Ramesh | Posted: 24 May 2010 1432 hrs SINGAPORE: Singapore and Malaysia capped a historic day in relations on Monday with agreement on a long outstanding bilateral issue. After 20 years, both sides have arrived at a solution on the Malayan Railway Land in Singapore. The leaders of the two countries agreed to move the station at the heart of the city centre in Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands Train checkpoint, near the border by the 1 July 2011. The smiles said it all - of a retreat that has been fruitful with significant moves. The centrepiece must surely be the issue of the railway land and lines, spelt out in the Points of Agreement (POA) signed in 1990. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: "Our focus has been developing our bilateral relationship at a time when we face many challenges in an uncertain and rapidly globalising world. “There are many competitive alternative centres growing in Asia where we need to work together bilaterally in ASEAN and where we also need to clear issues which have been hanging over us for some time so that we can move forward and develop a win-win relationship. “It is a matter for rejoicing. It is a good deal. Both sides are happy and this will benefit both sides considerably." Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak said: "A year ago, when we met, we decided that we wouldn't allow outstanding bilateral issues to be in the way of developing and strengthening bilateral ties and move forward in areas where we could achieve common agreement between our two sides. “With that positive mindset in mind, we have achieved much within a year starting with the officials from both sides who have been working very hard to find a common ground. “Today is quite historic because we see now the light at the end of the tunnel with respect to an outstanding issue which has been lingering for almost 20 years." Having waited this long, the next move is to move fast. PM Lee said: "There is urgency. This matter really cannot wait indefinitely because it is already 20 years. And there are many development projects in Singapore which have been held up because the POA has not been implemented as it should have been many years ago." So the 1990 Points of Agreement has now been supplemented by new terms and conditions to maximise the potential of the Malayan Railway Lands in Singapore. When the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB station) moves to the Woodlands train checkpoint by 1 July 2011, Malaysia will co-locate its railway Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facility there. On its part, Singapore would ensure that there are bus services to connect KTMB station at Woodlands with a nearby MRT station for the convenience of train passengers. Another key issue settled is the development of several land parcels linked to the train line. Both countries will also set up a company known as M-S Pte Ltd by December 31 this year. Malaysia will have a 60 per cent stake under Khazanah Nasional Berhard while Singapore will have a 40 per cent share to be held by Temasek Holdings. This company will handle the joint development of three parcels of land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands as well as another three pieces of land in Bukit Timah. These land parcels could be swapped based on the equivalent value for pieces of land in Marina South and Ophir-Rochor. Both sides will conduct valuation studies. Prime Minister Lee will visit Kuala Lumpur within a month to discuss the land swap. The transfer of the land parcel to M-S Pte Ltd will take effect at the time when KTMB vacates the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Mr Lee added: "Land prices have been moving over this last one year. You have seen the property market is quite active. That is the reason why we did not settle the land swap today. I wanted an updated valuation. “On the basis of updated valuations, we will make them an offer and it is up to them whether they want to take the offer for the swap. It is substantial. These are very valuable pieces of land if they are developed. “And that is why the POA as it was and even more now as it has been updated and rounded up is a win- win proposal for both countries because it enables us to develop the land. “It enables M-S Private Limited to share in the upside of the land which is KTM land and I think enables us to move forward in so many other areas to cooperate and work together for mutual benefit without having this outstanding issue always there a question mark. If you can't solve this, how can you talk about new things?” "So with the understanding we have achieved at today's meeting, we can more or less say that the POA agreement with some enhanced features should be finally put to rest particularly when PM Lee meets me in a month's time. “The spirit and political undertaking is to find a resolution on a mutually beneficial manner so that both countries can benefit the finalisation of the enhanced POA agreement." Both leaders also agreed the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station's passenger terminal will be conserved given its historical significance. It will also be the centrepiece for the proposed new development on this site. The job is now in the hands of a joint implementation team. It has to complete its work by the December 31. For joint statement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak at the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat, click here.
Romanian representatives on Ionescu case to visit Singapore this week Channel NewsAsia 25 May 2010 0008 hrs SINGAPORE: Romanian representatives of the Joint Technical Working Group on the case of former diplomat Silviu Ionescu have indicated that they would be visiting Singapore this week. A spokesman from Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Monday that the Romanian Embassy in Singapore has informed MFA and the Singapore Attorney-General's Chambers of the visit. The spokesman said Singapore is ready to accommodate the visit despite the short notice given by the Romanian side. This message was relayed by Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Anil Kumar Nayar, when he spoke with the Romanian Foreign Ministry's Secretary of State Doru Costea on Monday. The Romanian representatives plan to be in Singapore from Wednesday to Saturday. MFA said the representatives would like to interview a list of witnesses related to the case of Dr Ionescu. Singapore's Special Envoy also explained to Mr Costea that Friday is Vesak Day, a public holiday in Singapore. "As such, the Romanian officials would have only one working day to carry out the requested hearing with the available witnesses," the MFA spokesman said. "Special Envoy Nayar stressed to Secretary of State Costea that the Romanian representatives were welcome to visit during the scheduled dates of 26-29 May 2010, but that they should be prepared to stay for a longer period of time." MFA said Mr Costea indicated that he would follow up with the Romanian Prosecutor's Office. The ministry has also sent a Third Party Note to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, asking it to confirm the dates of the visit in order to facilitate the work of the Romanian officials in Singapore. MFA is still waiting for a response from the Romanian side.
S'pore remains Asia's best The Straits Times May 26, 2010 SINGAPORE retained its ranking as the Asian city with the best quality of life, while Hong Kong lags rival financial hubs as it struggles with air pollution, according to a survey by Mercer Consulting, Bloombeg News reported. Singapore ranks 28 among 221 cities, Tokyo is at 40 and Hong Kong is placed 71, the list shows. The cities are rated on 10 factors including infrastructure, political and social environments, and access to medical care. Hong Kong scored poorly on health concerns, said Cathy Loose, a Tokyo-based Mercer officer who helped compile the list. 'The government hasn't done very much to introduce green measures or reduce pollution,' said Loose, in an interview. The list serves as a compensation guide for expatriate relocation, Bloomberg said. Hong Kong's air pollution was the worst on record during the past two quarters, sparking regular government health warnings. To address the problem, the government introduced a bill in April proposing a ban on idling engines among other steps, Bloomberg reported. Hong Kong's effort to cut pollution and protect the environment trails even that of Havana and ranks just above Damascus, the list shows. Overall, Vienna retains the top spot as the world's best city to live in.
PA ties up with foreign groups The Straits Times May 26, 2010 Embassies and cultural organisations offer native trainers to deliver 'authentic' experience By Melissa Sim THE People's Association (PA) has tied up with embassies and foreign cultural groups here to give Singaporeans a glimpse into the intricacies of, for example, Mexican dance, how to make Russian pancakes, tie a Japanese kimono or speak Italian. Such courses on aspects of foreign cultures, available at the PA's network of 105 community clubs, are run by people native to the country, no less. The PA has so far tied up with eight embassies and organisations to come up with a menu of classes far wider than when it was relying on foreign trainers on an ad hoc basis. It will continue to widen its list of partners, said Ms Jacinta Lim, who heads PA's Lifeskills and Lifestyle Division. Those already on board include the Mexican and Japanese embassies, the Swiss Association, the Turkish Cultural Centre and the Italian Cultural Centre, all of which rope in their respective countrymen who have cultural knowledge or skills to share. Ms Lim said embassies and cultural organisations are the experts on their cultures, so they would deliver an 'authentic' experience. The supply of trainers is also sustainable, she said, adding: 'We want to tap their expertise and networks, their members working or living here and also their visiting experts.'
Record tourist arrivals The Straits Times May 26, 2010 April is the fifth month in a row to log record number of visitors By Lim Wei Chean THE number of tourists who came to Singapore last month shot up 20.4 per cent over that for April last year. In raw numbers, 938,000 foreigners came here last month. This rewrote the record for April, which had previously stood at 826,000, and madeit the fifth straight month in which record monthly visitor arrivals were logged. All but one of the top 15 markets sent more tourists this way. Thailand led the increase with 57.5 per cent more of its nationals coming here, followed by Malaysia with 50.8 per cent more, and India, 30.8 per cent more. Britain was the only market from which the number of visitors fell, by 1 per cent. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) put the growth down to the continued improvement of the economic climate, but industry players say the two new integrated resorts have started working their magic.
Railway land deal The Straits Times May 26, 2010 Deal with KL 'a triumph' KL's wish to involve Singapore in Iskandar region a factor: Analysts By Jeremy Au Yong THE resolution of the 20-year-old stalemate between Malaysia and Singapore over railway land here was a triumph of economics over politics, analysts who tracked the issue said yesterday. At the macro level, both countries saw the need to overcome differences and varying interpretations, and to work together to be effective regional and global competitors. On the micro level, they said it was Malaysia's desire to have Singapore involved in the Iskandar Malaysia economic corridor in southern Johor that was a critical factor in helping to seal the deal. Associate Professor Alan Chong of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, for instance, said that central to an agreement being reached was how each country could benefit economically. Politics was a secondary consideration. 'Malaysia has seen that adopting a more positive attitude towards cooperation can pay dividends. Most people want to see South-east Asia's two most promising economies exploit economic interdependence,' the foreign policy expert said. It was a sentiment that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak alluded to on Monday when they announced the breakthrough in the impasse over the Points of Agreement (POA) signed in 1990.
Railway land deal = More leisure options The Straits Times May 26, 2010 By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent NEWS that a rapid transit line from Johor Baru to Singapore will be up and running by 2018 has whipped up anticipation among commuters, transport industry players and academics. The experts, who say such a line has been a long time coming, add that it will open up a host of entertainment, shopping and leisure options for Singapore when it begins running. The idea of a rapid transit link between the two countries has been talked about ever since the first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains started rolling in Singapore 20 years ago. A formal announcement was made on Monday, when a joint statement by the two countries revealed that it would connect the Republic to Tanjung Puteri, which is near the Malaysian end of the Causeway. When contacted yesterday, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said he was pleased that both governments had committed themselves to the project. 'I believe that a rapid transit link will greatly enhance connectivity between Singapore and Johor Baru,' he said, adding that the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia - an economic zone in southern Johor about three times the size of Singapore - will oversee the implementation.
S'pore ranked 17th most expensive retail location globally Channel NewsAsia 25 May 2010 1837 hrs SINGAPORE : Singapore has moved up one spot to become the 17th most expensive retail location in the world. According to the latest CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) Global MarketView report on the retail sector, prime retail rents in Singapore stood at US$436 per square foot (psf) per annum in the first quarter of this year. It said prime retail rents in the world's leading shopping destinations have stabilised in most markets in the first quarter. The report said as the global economic recovery begins to gather momentum, consumer and retailer confidence have started to improve. While this has still not translated into retail sales growth in most markets, demand for prime retail space remains healthy and vacancy in the best locations is low, it added. As a result, there are a number of major cities where prime rents are rising, and many more where the rate of decline has slowed or rents are now stable. New York City remained the world's most expensive retail destination, with prime rents at US$1,725 psf/annum. Sydney was in second place globally at US$1,155 psf/annum, while Hong Kong ranked third at US$974 psf/annum. London remained in fourth place, after recording a 20 per cent annual increase in rents since the first quarter of 2009 to US$861 psf/annum. Paris rounded out the top five locations with rents of US$791 psf/annum. Tokyo stayed in seventh position globally, with rents of US$711 psf/annum, while Brisbane moved up one place from the fourth quarter of 2009 to rank eighth at US$668 psf/annum, and Melbourne remained in 10th place at US$568 psf/annum. CBRE said the Australian economy is growing strongly, with an expanding workforce and falling unemployment. However, higher interest rates have fuelled consumer caution and prevented any significant increase in retail sales. The report said the Asian region is helping to lead the recovery, with retail markets generally stabilising or strengthening in the first quarter. It added that with the exception of Japan, retail leasing activity in major Asian cities continued to pick up and a number of international retailers are looking to expand their footprint across the region, particularly in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. Letty Lee, director, Retail Services in Singapore, CBRE, said: "The retail landscape changed dramatically over the past year. Singapore has been successful in attracting a sizeable number of global brands and new-to-market concepts due to an abundant choice of prime pipeline supply in the Orchard Road and the Marina Bay area. That in turn has put some pressure on prime retail rents." However, CBRE said there is a risk of supply imbalance in markets like China and India, where a large amount of shopping centre construction will be delivered over the next nine months. As for Latin American markets, some cities like Mexico City and Santiago have seen the strongest growth in rents, showing 12 to 13 per cent on-year growth in rentals.
M'sians welcome news of land swap deal between S'pore & Malaysia Channel NewsAsia 25 May 2010 2218 hrs By Channel NewsAsia's Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia's decision to give up its railway land in Singapore for joint redevelopment has received the thumbs up from Malaysians in general. Many see it as a major step towards improving bilateral ties, and resolving outstanding legacy issues that have plagued ties between the two neighbours. It made headlines in all of Malaysia's main newspapers - a landmark agreement between Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong that ends a 20-year deadlock. Malayan Railways (KTM) will move its Tanjong Pagar station near Singapore's financial district to Woodlands by July next year. Some industry experts have hailed it as a breakthrough, and see relations improving between Singapore and Malaysia. "Singapore is our number one source of tourists. (For) the development of southern parts of Johore, we will welcome it, especially... from Singapore, which is just our next door neighbour. This is very positive from Bandar Iskandar, and generally it's a good signal for better things to come," said Dr Victor Wee, chairman of the Malaysia Tourism Board. In Kuala Lumpur, public reaction has been generally positive, although some would rather wait for details to be firmed up. "In general, I would say it looks good for both countries. It's always tough negotiating with Singapore, that's my concern," said Jamaluddin Ismail, a Malaysian businessman. "I don't know whether it's good for us or bad for us, it needs time to tell," said another Malaysian resident. The railway land that has been freed up will be developed by a company that's 60 per cent owned by Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and 40 per cent owned by Singapore's Temasek Holdings. One option is to swap the KTM land for other plots of equivalent value, after a valuation has been carried out. "It must be very transparent. It should be a situation where both sides gain, and at the same time, not one party is having major advantage over the other," said Khoo Kay Kim, an associate professor at University Malaya. While all eyes are on the land swap deal, in particular the valuation of Malaysia Railway or KTMB's land in Singapore, analysts have reminded both sides to look at the big picture and decide in the interest of long term relations of both countries.
MM Lee on what Shanghai needs to become a financial hub Channel NewsAsia 25 May 2010 1956 hrs SHANGHAI : Singapore's Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, has said Shanghai must groom a huge pool of English-speaking talent if it wants to become Asia's financial hub. Speaking at a forum on the sidelines of the Shanghai World Expo just over a week ago, Mr Lee said it is not enough for Shanghai to produce financial experts if they are not fluent in English, the international language of finance. He was responding to a question on what Shanghai must do to transform itself from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. Mr Lee said another important pre-requisite is the rule of law. He said: "Any contractual disputes are now resolved in Hong Kong and not Shanghai because Hong Kong recognises the rule of law. It can play the role of the arbitrator. Shanghai must achieve such a system one day. "If you cannot achieve the rule of law across the country, in Shanghai, when there are any contractual conflicts, you can get arbitrators to resolve these conflicts. These arbitrators must be an external party, and neutral."
