Giving extra help to level playing field The Straits Times Mar 16, 2011 Jane Ng and Jennani Durai visit two schools that have performed better than average in helping children from humble backgrounds Northland Primary pupils (from left) Fitri Nur Nirshah, 12, Melody Leom, 11, and Joanne Wong, 12, are among the school's top pupils who are also on financial assistance. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG NORTHLAND Primary School pupil Joanne Wong, 12, is hoping to win a place at the Singapore Sports School, but she first needs to cross the hurdle of passing her English. The netball player, who has been failing in the subject, does not have access to as many books as she would like - not on her taxi-driver father's salary - so she was thrilled when her school gave her eight books last year. Donating the school library's excess books to pupils on financial assistance is just one way the school helps those from lower-income families, said Northland principal Teoh Tiong San. Joanne is under the Financial Assistance Scheme, which the Ministry of Education (MOE) set up for pupils whose monthly household income does not exceed $1,500 for a family with one or two children. The school in Yishun has made a name for itself in recent years by punching above its weight in the Primary School Leaving Examination: Two-thirds of its Primary 6 pupils last year made it to the Express stream - above the national average. Of its 41 pupils on financial assistance, half entered the Express stream. Mr Teoh said schools should be 'counterpoints' to the less-than-ideal home environments of many pupils on financial aid.
'Don't bank on low cost foreign labour' The Straits Times Mar 16, 2011 Firms have to change business model: SM Goh By Leong Weng Kam, Senior Correspondent Mr Goh showing his support as SCCCI president Teo Siong Seng holds up the folder containing all the signatures of the 56th council members at the installation ceremony yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA THE days of companies relying on a cheap and plentiful supply of foreign workers to boost their output and bottom lines are over, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made plain to businessmen on Tuesday. That model of doing business is no longer sustainable, he said at the installation ceremony of the 56th council of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI). He noted that while prospects for economic growth remain bright, 'we will have to make the effort to achieve it. This growth is not going to be handed to us on a silver platter'. 'We will have to cut down on our reliance on cheap foreign labour and pay higher foreign worker levy. We have to make changes to the way we grow our economy and our businesses - in particular, our productivity,' he said. He is not the first minister, nor is this the first time he has spoken of the Government's determination to get companies to reduce dependency on foreign workers and to increase productivity instead. Noting the national drive to raise productivity by 2 per cent to 3 per cent every year and the increased funding available to companies, he said they had 'more incentives than ever to improve their productivity levels by restructuring their operations and upgrading the skills of their workers'.
Oliver Stone to head jury for Asian Short Film Award Channel NewsAsia By Satish Cheney | Posted: 15 March 2011 1829 hrs Oliver Stone SINGAPORE : Singapore is hosting the inaugural Screen Singapore in June, with one of the highlights - the Asian Short Film Award - being judged by three-time Oscar winner Oliver Stone. The region's film talent will be vying for the best Asian Short Film Award, and the winner - to be handpicked by a jury headed by Hollywood legend Oliver Stone - will go home with S$20,000 in cash and lots of exposure to the industry. Aubeck Kam, CEO, Media Development Authority, said: "This award is a way for us to reach out to any citizen or permanent resident of an Asian country - if you've got a good film, less than 10 minutes, send it to us. "And the best film - we want to celebrate and recognise through this award. Asia is in a very exciting phase of development right now. Clearly, the film industry has a lot of potential for growth." Six major Hollywood studios such as Warner Brothers and Universal are taking part in Screen Singapore. Talks are also underway with other overseas studios, such as those in India and China. The eight-day Screen Singapore will see red carpet events every evening, and although the VIP list is yet to be confirmed, top directors, producers and celebrities are expected to attend. Some 200 to 300 delegates are expected at the event, which the organiser pointed out is vastly different from film festivals. Jimmy Lau, managing director, Experia Events, said: "Screen Singapore is not a film festival. We don't have a multitude of awards to give out and neither is it covering areas of documentaries or edgy art films. This is all about mainstream movies. "The aim of this is also to ensure we can create an eco-system surrounding the red carpet and the premieres, and there'll be master classes, conferences as well as exhibitions to go along with it." The event runs from June 5 to 12 and organisers are hoping it can become one of the top industry events for the region.
Singapore's first Women's Heart Health Clinic Channel NewsAsia By Tanya Fong | Posted: 15 March 2011 2330 hrs SINGAPORE: Heart disease, not breast cancer, is the leading cause of death among Singapore women. One in three here die from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Yet less than 10 per cent of women are aware of this. Compared to men, women have subtler symptoms, such as abdominal pain, jaw or back aches and nausea. The lack of awareness of and resources for heart disease in women has spurred the National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) to start the first Women's Heart Health Clinic (WHHC) in Singapore. Dr Carolyn Lam, the clinic's programme director and initiator, pointed out that even when women exhibit the same symptoms as men, they respond differently. "Chest pain - 'I must be too stressed'. Neck pain - 'I need a massage'. Breathlessness - 'I'm really out of shape'. Men, however, will think it's a heart problem and see a doctor," she said. It has also been shown that women have worse outcomes than men after heart attacks and interventions. "We also wait longer before seeing a doctor. By then, the disease would have advanced," said Dr Lam. She added that the risk of heart failure in women "skyrockets" after menopause, surpassing the risk in men. WHHC - to start operating on April 21 - is a one-stop centre in which women will be treated by female cardiologists and receive integrated care from dieticians, occupational therapists and psychologists. There are currently two cardiologists, including Dr Lam, serving the clinic, which is also a research and education centre. Four more will come on board at a later date. WWHC is looking to build a database for research into cardiovascular disease, particularly of Asian women, where data is sorely lacking. Women who are interested can approach their general practitioners or call NUHCS to make an appointment.
LOL! Now we know why Singaporean women here are so anti-China : Wednesday March 16, 2011 Divorcee on a mission to expose adulterous men A SINGAPOREAN woman has embarked on a mission to stalk adulterous men. Apparently, Tay Wanqing, 46, is on a vendetta after her former husband had affairs with three Chinese nationals. The divorcee would walk around Chinatown, keeping a lookout for mismatched couples such as middle-aged Singaporean men with young Chinese women, China Press reported. Once a target is identified, Tay would take out her camera to spy on the couple. She would then send the photographs to the man’s wife. Tay has apparently declared war against the Chinese women who “stole” other people’s husbands. Due to her actions, Tay has received threats and was even beaten up but that has not deterred her. “When my ex-husband was having an affair, nobody helped me. I was forced to fork out a lot of money to hire private investigators. Now, I want to help other women for free,” she said. > The daily also reported that a couple drank pesticide in an attempt to take their own lives on a public bus in Johor. The 20-something couple had stored the pesticide inside a fruit juice bottle before boarding the bus to Skudai from the Johor Baru city centre at about 1.30pm on Monday. When the bus reached the Skudai highway, the estimated 40 passengers inside the bus detected a strong odour. Subsequently, they saw the couple drinking from a bottle. Suspecting something amiss, the bus driver immediately stopped the vehicle and flagged down a taxi to send the couple to the hospital. Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item. © 1995-2011 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
CPF maintains Special & Medisave interest rates Channel NewsAsia Posted: 16 March 2011 1118 hrs SINGAPORE: The Central Providend Fund (CPF) will be maintaining the interest rates for the Special and Medisave Account at four per cent from April 1 until June 30 this year. The government will also maintain the four per cent minimum rate for interest earned on all Special and Medisave Account and Retirement Account monies until December 31 this year. Thereafter, interest rates on all CPF account monies will be subject to a minimum rate of 2.5 per cent. Savings in the Special and Medisave Account are invested in Special Singapore Government Securities (SSGS). It earns an interest rate pegged to either the 12-month average yield of 10-year Singapore Government Securities (10YSGS) plus one per cent or four per cent, whichever is the higher, adjusted quarterly. The average yield of the 10YSGS plus one per cent, from March 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011, works out to be 3.42 per cent. Hence, Special and Medisave Account monies will be invested in SSGS which earn four per cent. Accordingly, the SMA interest rate payable to CPF members from April 1 to June 30, 2011 will be maintained at four per cent.
Are you a Singaporean? « Tao Li, TODAY Athlete of the Year 2010 Mar 14 2011 Low Lin Fhoong Posted at 9:09 pm under Uncategorized There were quite a few teary eyes when the Singapore women’s team finally brought home a silver at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, and again when Feng Tianwei, Wang Yuegu, Li Jiawei, Sun Beibei and Yu Mengyu beat China at the World Championships last year. But each time the table tennis team, or any foreign-born athlete, notches a significant victory, the debate on the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme is renewed. The issue was brought up again in Parliament last week, when nominated MP Joscelin Yeo questioned the policy and its ratio of FSTs to local born athletes, and the investment in both groups. Yes, the debate is not new. But the fact that it resurfaces again and again shows that it is close to Singaporeans’ hearts, as we mull over what it means to be Singaporean. Some say that we are a nation built by immigrants, hence the need to be more receptive. Others, however, are more resistant. All round the world, in cosmopolitan cities Sydney, London, Paris, and Singapore – smatterings of English, Mandarin, French, Vietnamese can be heard on the streets. Sports like badminton and table tennis – which are dominated by China’s army of talents – have gone global, with the powerhouse’s former athletes occupying spots in numerous national teams worldwide. Acceptance is not always easy, and often it works both ways. French national shuttler Pi Hongyan (former Chinese player) speaks the language, and others like Zhou Mi can communicate with her Hong Kong teammates in fluent Cantonese. Swimmer Tao Li is a great example of an athlete who has assimilated well, and the 21-year-old can even carry on a conversation in Singlish. Table tennis officials say it is a challenge getting the paddlers to speak English as most of their teammates and coaches speak Mandarin. Unlike Tao Li, who studied at the Singapore Sports School, the table tennis players do not have that advantage. Like our immigrant forefathers, it will take time for our new citizens to find their feet, and identities. But let’s not forget that they too have uprooted themselves to find better lives and opportunities overseas, and that they have contributed to sports development here. Youth paddler Isabelle Li has benefited from interacting with her seniors, and considers them role models for their work ethic and skills. Yes, getting into the national team will be tougher, but winning a spot among world champions will be so much sweeter. And perhaps, we will see Isabelle standing alongside Feng Tianwei at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Maybe the terms local-born and foreign-born will not matter then. Youth paddlers Lin Ye, Isabelle Li and Pang Xuejie return triumphant from the Italian Junior & Cadet Open. Photo by Low Lin Fhoong
I don't see any relevance of your post in my thread especially the highlighted portion. Don't you read it yourself.
Tao Li, TODAY Athlete of the Year 2010 TODAY Feb 11 2011 Tan Yo-Hinn Posted at 8:34 pm under Uncategorized Congratulations to Tao Li on being named TODAY Athlete of the Year 2010! The Singapore swimming star, who turned 21 last month, beat five other nominees – Feng Tianwei (table tennis), Wang Wenying (fencing), Mohd Hanafi Akbar (football), Lim Heem Wei (gymnastics) and Gai Bin (shooting) – to win the award, which has been won by table tennis star Li Jiawei (2008) and sailor Elizabeth Yin (2009). Tao Li is the TODAY Athlete of the Year 2010. Photo by Tan Yo-Hinn Over the past week, opinions have been divided on who should be the deserving winner. Many have rooted for Feng, mainly for her role in spearheading the national side to a historic win over powerhouses China to win, for the first time, the Women’s World Team Table Tennis Championship crown in Moscow last May, and in the process also cause seismic shockwaves throughout the global table tennis community for achieving the rare feat of halting the Chinese juggernaut. Others have also argued that the likes of Hanafi and Heem Wei deserve the recognition. They may not be as well-known or decorated as the likes of Feng or Tao Li, but have also always given their 110 percent and represented their country with distinction. And Tao Li, of course, stormed to victory in 26.10secs to defend her 50m butterfly crown at last November’s Asian Games to add to the silver in the 100m fly she had won five days’ earlier. Some might disagree on this, but it wasn’t just her achievements that seemed to resonate. It was perhaps the manner in which she won, the lead-up to it, and the fight she showed to prove her critics wrong and how badly she wanted it probably edged it for her. After she clinched a silver in the 100m fly in Guangzhou, Singapore’s chef-de-mission Low Teo Ping told the Singapore media there that like all other medallists, she could have her photo taken by one of China’s leading photographers. Instead, she declined, saying she’d take hers when she wins the 50m fly. Its that kind of conviction, self-belief and dare-to-do, no fear spirit that resonated with many of us that said: “Ah, finally here is someone who won’t sit on the fence, and is not afraid to take a challenge and to speak his or her mind – in a positive way of course - and not be fearful of it later.” I suppose its not just winning, but how one achieves it as well that counts. And it’s not just in the pool that the Hubei-born star has shown that hunger to succeed. When I first met her for an interview back in August 2005 at Farrer Park Swimming Complex, just a day after she received her citizenship application was approved, she could hardly speak a word of English although she tried to. But over the years, her English has improved steadily, and now converses fluently in the language, and readily gives interviews in English. Even though she still struggles to find the right words or adjectives, what matters is she keeps trying. She’s not afraid, and that quality has lifted her to where she is today, and as one of Singapore’s hopes for next year’s Olympic Games in London. Nonetheless, we musn’t forget the other five nominees in Feng Tianwei, Wang Wenying, Mohd Hanafi Akbar, Lim Heem Wei and Gai Bin and their heroics in 2010. Maybe Tao Li just had that extra edge that convinced the judging panel she should be the winner
Police officers receive medals for peacekeeping efforts The Straits Times Mar 16, 2011 By Tham Yuen-C Contingent Commander, Acting Superintendent Jim Wee Aik Boon (centre) who led the 21 United Nations Peacekeeping Force team of officers, who have returned to Singapore after a tour of duty in Timor-Leste. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM FROM patrolling streets to training police officers, the 21 Singapore Police Force officers who were sent to Timor-Leste did them all. On Wednesday, they received the Overseas Service Medal from Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee for keeping law and order in Southeast Asia's youngest country. The officers were sent there on a one-year stint as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. They are the fourth batch of Singapore police officers sent to the country since 2006
Pandas named Kai Kai, Jia Jia The Straits Times Mar 17, 2011 Names for cubs, which will arrive here next year, chosen from almost 1,000 entries By Huang Lijie The two-year-old female panda which will be called Jia Jia. -- PHOTO: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE WHAT are two 'beary' good names for the pair of panda cubs headed here from China? Kai Kai and Jia Jia - they got the most votes from a seven-member judging panel. The names were picked from a shortlist of 20 out of almost 1,000 entries submitted to a naming contest that ended last December. The two cubs are a three-year-old male and a two-year-old female. The male will be called Kai Kai, which means 'victorious' in Chinese. The female will be called Jia Jia, which means 'beautiful and fine' in Chinese. Due to arrive early next year, the cubs will be housed at the upcoming River Safari, a $140 million river-themed animal attraction by Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), the parent company of the Singapore Zoo. Pairs of names in the running included Ping Ping and An An, which mean 'peace' in Chinese; Pan Pan and Da Da, a play on 'panda' and whose Chinese characters may mean 'hoping for' and 'eminence'; and Zhong Zhong and Xin Xin, which mean 'loyal' and 'happy' in Chinese. The judging panel comprised representatives from the Singapore Tourism Board, the Chinese Embassy, WRS and sponsor CapitaLand.
...to be perfectly frank and blunt, pandas smells really awful specially for kid spectators peering through the glass with the air-conditioning exhaust siphoning out the air directly into childrens lungs. Pandas should be left in their natural habitat and not for public display. It's truly pathetic too to make pandas as gift (sometimes on loan or for siring purposes) to other nations. The fact it can be extinct rather soon doesn't make for an excuse as friendship bartering chip. Smell that? It stinks!
I thought most animals will exude some sort of 'smell'. Even with dogs in pet shops kept in enclosed surroundings. Well, we'll have to wait what the Singapore Zoo experts can come up with. As I recall reading, the River Safari is a big open space, but I suppose the pandas will be housed in a special abode. Maybe they can also plant trees with sweet scent, etc. The world has been engaging in 'barter trade' since long time ago. I give you this, you give me that. I give you money in exchange for goods and services. I give you friendship if you give me your most prized possession. I will be your good friend since you loan me the rare pandas. We also have the komodo dragon from Indonesia as a gift. Is there anything wrong? If we can keep rare animals from dying out even if it meant keeping them in zoos for public display, I still think it is worthwhile instead of them becoming extinct in the wild with natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamies, fires, etc and human poaching. Some zoos help to extend the lives of such animals by successfully breeding them, just like what the Singapore Zoo has done for so many animal and bird species including the orang utan and the komodo dragon. It is of great educational value for our very young to experience the sight of rare animals and birds before they become extinct.
AVA tells fish farms to increase yields The Straits Times Mar 17, 2011 By Jessica Lim The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is setting targets for the 95 coastal fish farms to increase productivity.-- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE FISH farms in Singapore have to reel in higher output or face the prospect of losing their licences. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is setting targets for the 95 coastal fish farms to increase productivity. Each farm must yield a minimum of 17 tonnes of fish per half-hectare of space annually. That space is the average size of a fish farm here. 'What we need to do with regards to local farming is to ensure that all the land that has been set aside for local farming will be productive,' said AVA chief executive Tan Poh Hong on Wednesday. Speaking at a press conference to announce its plans, she added that licences may not be renewed if targets are not met within two or three years. According to the AVA, some possible reasons for poor harvests could be a lack of capital or skills, or misuse of space, like using the farm for entertainment purposes. The push is part of a greater move to lift the percentage of local fish in the national supply from the current 4 per cent to 15 per cent in the next five to 10 years. Singapore imports 90 per cent of its food so increased local production would give some protection from disruptions in global food supply and escalating prices.
Channel NewsAsia AVA to help fish farms raise productivity Posted: 16 March 2011 1601 hrs Fish farm in Singapore SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is stepping up efforts to help local fish farms increase productivity. This is to meet Singapore's target of being able to produce 15 per cent of fish consumed locally. Over the next few months, AVA will be visiting every fish farm to understand the farmers' needs so that it can assist them in developing plans to help them achieve minimum production targets. There are currently 111 fish farms in Singapore. Of these, 95 are coastal farms and the other 16 comprise deep sea farms, hatcheries, industrial-scale farms and oyster or shellfish farms. These farms produce about four per cent of Singapore's total fish consumption. As part of AVA's licensing conditions for coastal fish farms, the farms are required to meet a minimum production target of 17 tonnes of fish per half-hectare space annually. Of the 95 coastal farms, 23 are currently producing more than the minimum production level of 17 tonnes. Ten are producing between 8.5 and 17 tonnes, while another 36 are producing at below 8.5 tonnes. The remaining 26 farms are new farms or farms which had undergone a recent change of ownership. AVA said it will work closely with farmers who are not meeting the minimum production target, to help them improve their productivity. Specifically, the authority will help them identify gaps that hinder production and develop improvement plans. Farmers will also be encouraged to leverage on AVA's Food Fund to improve farming technology and upgrade production capability.
Jurong Bird Park Talking about zoos, we have a bird zoo at Jurong called the Jurong Bird Park. This park has delighted many local and foreign tourists and I was there in January to see what was new, more particularly to view the special new exhibit on the Penguins. But I shall start off by showing you some pictures on the Bird Discovery Centre and the Flight Aviary.
Dr James Barnard wins Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Channel NewsAsia By Joanne Chan | Posted: 17 March 2011 1723 hrs Dr Barnard's technology, known as Biological Nutrient Removal, uses micro-organisms already present in the water to remove nutrients. (Photo: PUB) Video Dr James Barnard wins Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize SINGAPORE : The inventor of an eco-friendly method of treating used water has been named this year's Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize winner. The international award recognises outstanding contributions towards solving global water problems. It will be handed out at the Singapore International Water Week in July. In fish farming, algae that grow in the water is an important part of the ecology - as a food source for the marine life. However, excessive algae bloom can quickly turn fatal. Dr James Barnard, winner of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, said: "Other organisms feed on the algae, fish feed on the other organisms, and of course we eat the fish. That is the normal chain of events. "The main problem is when the system becomes imbalanced, the algae growth becomes excessive, and when it's excessive, it disturbs the water balance so the fish can no longer survive in it." This happens when nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are not removed from used water before being discharged into lakes and rivers. In 2008, the outbreak of algae bloom in waters off China's Qingdao disrupted the Olympics sailing competition and damaged marine life. Dr Barnard's technology, known as Biological Nutrient Removal, uses micro-organisms already present in the water to remove the nutrients. Pioneered in the 1970s, this technology is currently used in thousands of water treatment plants worldwide. It is more eco-friendly compared to traditional treatments as it does away with the use of resource-intensive chemicals. It can also result in up to 90 per cent of cost savings. The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize received a record 72 nominations from 29 countries this year. Dr Barnard's technology stood out from the competition for his innovative and cost-effectiveness in treating used water. Dr Barnard said he would donate the S$300,000 cash prize to charity. The South African native also hopes to use the money to improve school systems in his country. Past winners include Professor Gatze Lettinga from the Netherlands for his anaerobic technology for used water treatment, and Dr Andrew Benedek for pioneering low-pressure membranes.
Paddlers gain from landmark collaboration Channel NewsAsia By Raj Kumar | Posted: 17 March 2011 1933 hrs Isabelle Li SINGAPORE: Two of Singapore's paddlers can now study for a diploma and represent the country at international competitions. That's become possible with a landmark collaboration among the Singapore Table Tennis Association, Republic Polytechnic and the Singapore Sports School. Sixteen-year-old Isabelle Li and 18-year-old Pang Xue Jie have just embarked on a diploma in Sports and Leisure Management. They're on a special, tailor-made three-year programme that allows them to train with the national team in the mornings and evenings. Lessons and special tuition will be held in the afternoons, conducted by lecturers from the Republic Poly, but at the Sports School. This arrangement will cost S$260,000 annually for each athlete and will be borne by the STTA. Singapore Table Tennis Association president Lee Bee Wah said: "(So with this programme,) our two players will be able to get a diploma in three to five years' time. "Last year, we signed an MOU with NTU and NTU has agreed to take in these two players, so long as they finish their diploma (in Republic Polytechnic or any of the polytechnics in Singapore")". National table tennis player Isabelle Li said the programme has helped her make the best of both sports and her studies.
That's a good idea, maybe something similar could be done for badminton players. A lot of them are quitting to "focus on their studies" or whatever.
Woman donates S$1m to Japan quake victims Channel NewsAsia By Sara Grosse | Posted: 16 March 2011 1620 hrs SINGAPORE : A 24-year-old Singaporean woman has donated S$1 million to the victims of the earthquake in Japan. The Japanese Embassy in Singapore said this is the largest donation it has received so far. The S$1 million cheque was presented to the Japanese Ambassador at the Embassy. Accompanying Elaine Low was her father, who heads the company she works for - PT Bayan Resources. The company has long business ties with Japan and imports heavy equipment from the country. The Bayan Group owns and operates one of the largest coal terminals in Indonesia. The Low family also has friends and relatives who visit Japan often. Ms Low said she and her family felt the earthquake in Japan was unfortunate and wanted to donate as soon as possible. Ms Low, who is head of business development at PT Bayan Resources, said: "We wanted to make a donation during the weekend, but during that time, the Japanese Association was not in touch with the Red Cross Society yet. So we made a phone call to them after that." The family has previously donated to crises in China and Indonesia, but said this is their largest donation yet. Yoichi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan, said: "We have been receiving so many expressions of support from all over Singapore - the people, the government, different organisations - but this is, as a single act of support, the strongest expression...of supporting our people. "And we were very grateful. This would be a tremendous boost of morale for all the people back in Japan who are affected by this terrible disaster." The Japanese Ambassador said the money will be channelled to the Red Cross Society in Japan. It will either be used to support the rescue and recovery operations or be directed to victims themselves. The Singapore Red Cross has also received other donations for the Japan disaster. To date, it says it has received a total of S$235,000 for its first two days of collection. Singaporeans may make a cash, cheque or SMS donation to the Singapore Red Cross for victims of this disaster. For walk-in donations, the Singapore Red Cross is open from 9.30am to 9pm from Mondays to Fridays, and from 9.30am to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. For cheque donations, cheques should be made payable to the "Singapore Red Cross Society". Donors may also donate via their mobile phones to 75772. For every SMS, S$50 will be donated to the "Japan Disaster" fund. The Straits Times Mar 17, 2011 Singaporean donates $1m towards relief efforts Gift by tycoon's daughter is largest received by embassy By Melissa Lin Ms Elaine Low presented a cheque for $1 million to Japanese Ambassador Yoichi Suzuki for tsunami victims. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN MOVED by the news about Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster, Singaporean Elaine Low, 24, decided she wanted to help. On Wednesday, she handed a cheque for $1 million to Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Yoichi Suzuki. Ms Low is the daughter of Datuk Low Tuck Kwong, 63, founder of Bayan Resources, an Indonesia-based coal mining company. She is in charge of business development at the company. All she would say was: 'My family and I feel that it's an unfortunate disaster and wanted to offer our help.' She is leaving it to the Japanese to decide how best to use her donation to help victims.
