Safety Loh, Some of the photos look like you took it under the building. How did you get into the site? Did they allow you? Did you have any PPEs?
If you drive a car, you will not be able to get near the site to take a shot. There will not be enough space for you to park and you are prohibited to enter the barricades. However, if you walk, cycle or drive a bike, you can get close and under to take those shots!
Changi Point attractions Though Singapore has become much more urbanised than say 30 years ago, there remain pockets of delightful rural idyllic and rustic attractions in the suburbs that have been upgraded for the people to enjoy and relax. One example is Changi Point where there is a jetty for boats plying to and from Pulau Ubin island, another interesting outback, and where the government has turned this part of Singapore's eastern coastal rim close to Changi International Airport into a connected boardwalk with other parklands. Changi Beach Park is on the opposite side, a favourite venue for holiday makers, youngsters and families, some of whom would pitch their tents and enjoy an evening of BBQ amidst the strumming of the guitars under the shade of spreading canopy trees. A concrete bridge connects the two sides of this famous point. A stone's throw from the jetty is Changi Village where delicious hawker food is available and above the jetty is the Changi Point Coastal Walk that brings the visitor right up to Changi Beach Club located at the far end and just opposite across the waters to reach 'Kellong Walk'. Along the way, one will pass the old government chalets perched high up with a commanding view of the sea. Further down the boardwalk, Changi Sailing Club comes into view, sharing a common beach with the public at certain points where soil erosion is taking place. But the nearby jetty is private property for their sailing members only. Not far away at the water's edge there is a huge boulder which acts as an unusual and prominent marker along this beach front, a unique location that serves as a popular place for fishing enthusiasts and photographers, especially for wedding couples. The 'Kellong', a place of shelter for the fishing public, completes the round of this nostalgic fishing village that must have become a favourite haunt for many, young and old. So, going to the recent Singapore Air Show has once again given me the chance to re-visit one of Singapore's rare rural settings.
ION clock ticks down to August's Youth Olympic Games TODAY 12 February 2010 1000 hrs By Tan Yo-Hinn, SINGAPORE - With exactly six months to go to before the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games gets underway, organisers are hard at work as they attempt to put on a good show. The level of awareness of the Games among Singaporeans remains a concern, though. But speaking at the launch of the second Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games official Countdown Clock at ION Orchard yesterday, Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) chief operating officer Eric Tan believes there will be more than sufficient interest when the Games officially open on Aug 14. "We're on the right track. When the bid was given to Singapore, there was great enthusiasm from everyone," he told MediaCorp. "To release news in a certain manner that is too early is also not desirable. As we get closer to August, Singaporeans get to look forward to more information. "There will be many, many things to announce, but we want to do so at a time we think people will remember what's coming up and look forward to it, but not too late so that they cannot make any plans." David Ponzo, (South-east Asia) vice-president of Omega, launched the Countdown Clock at ION Orchard. Over the next six months leading to the opening ceremony on Aug 14 at The Float @ Marina Bay, SYOGOC will intensify their publicity drive to make the Games more visible. Five more Countdown Clocks will spring up islandwide. More information will be provided via the local media, and possibly through advertisements, posters and commercials along the Orchard Road shopping belt. "We will be dressing up selected parts of Singapore," said Tan. "It will be a very deliberate plan to promote the YOG where it counts, such as community celebration areas. Stay tuned, you won't be disappointed." The Youth Olympic Games, to be held from Aug 14 to 26, will see about 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 205 National Olympic Committees competing across over 200 events in 26 sports. Meanwhile, the Chinese city of Nanjing were named hosts for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, after edging out the Polish city of Poznan 47-42 in a ballot at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Vancouver on Wednesday. The Countdown Clock at ION Orchard will help keep Singaporeans in the loop. - TODAY
S'pore for Winter Olympics The Straits Times Feb 13, 2010 By Gerard Wong SINGAPORE is working to produce its first athletes for the Winter Olympics in four years' time. A Singapore Sports Council (SSC) project is under way to groom a handful of athletes towards qualifying for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Mr Teo Ser Luck revealed on Friday. He was speaking to reporters after cable operator StarHub's media event to launch the new SuperSports Arena channel (Channel 122). Mr Teo, who is Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Transport, senses that now is the time for the sports ministry and the SSC to embark on this ambitious project. 'We have enjoyed success at the Commonwealth and Asian Games and at the Olympics, and we have put in place a system for developing elite athletes. 'So the time is right for us to start looking at other sports to compete in.' Singapore is working to produce its first athletes for the Winter Olympics in four years' time. --PHOTO: REUTERS
Romania lifts immunity The Straits Times Feb 13, 2010 It also dismisses envoy's claims of a set-up as a 'lurid allegation' By Jonathan Eyal, Straits Times Europe Bureau & Sujin Thomas ROMANIA responded swiftly yesterday to a request from Singapore, lifting immunity for an embassy staff member here and distancing itself from remarks made by its former charge d'affaires over a fatal car accident last year. It said that since former charge d'affaires Silviu Ionescu has been suspended from his diplomatic job, it will be up to him to decide whether to return to Singapore for a coroner's inquiry next month. A Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Romanian MFA) spokesman told The Straits Times on Friday that his country would do 'everything possible in order to maintain and enhance good relations between Romania and Singapore'. The spokesman, Mr Lucian Rosenfeld, also dismissed allegations by Dr Ionescu in a recent television interview that he had been 'set up' by the Singapore Government. Romania 'firmly disassociates itself' from those accusations, Mr Rosenfeld said. Dr Ionescu has been identified as a suspect in two hit-and-run accidents last Dec 15 involving a Romanian Embassy car. PHOTO: SHIN MIN
Distinction in O-level at 11 Feb 13, 2010 By Amelia Tan IF THERE is one subject Sheldon Tan, 11, looks assured of scoring an A* for at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) this year, it is mathematics. He has already bagged distinctions in mathematics and additional mathematics at O level. This Rosyth School pupil, who sat for the international equivalent of the O-level mathematics exam and scored an A* when he was just nine years old, was also allowed to skip a year in school. Sheldon has been mad about maths from the age of three, has a diploma in piano performance, enjoys computer games and playing with his siblings and is in bed by 9pm. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
PM Lee's LNY message emphasizes productivity goals, replacing population Channel NewsAsia 13 February 2010 0614 hrs By S Ramesh, SINGAPORE : Singapore's total fertility rate fell to a record low last year. In his traditional Lunar New Year message, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the challenges facing the country which include upgrading productivity and the declining birth rate in Singapore. PM Lee said the Year of the Ox began on a challenging note, with Singapore facing its worst economic crisis since its independence. "In the first quarter of 2009, our GDP plunged 10 per cent. But our economy pulled back up so that for the whole year GDP only declined 2.1 per cent. We kept unemployment low, bringing it down to just 2.1 per cent in December. In a recession year, we managed to increase employment by 39,000. Thankfully, our efforts produced a much better outcome than we had feared," said PM Lee. But Singaporeans made a collective effort to find practical solutions to tackle the crisis. Mr Lee said it's because Singaporeans responded as one people that the country prevailed from the economic crisis. But he warned that the people must remain vigilant in the Year of the Tiger. That is because though economies have stabilised there may still be surprises and close calls. So, Singaporeans should be psychologically prepared and not let down their guard too soon. The PM noted that the Economic Strategies Committee has recommended moderating the inflow of foreign workers and raising productivity growth. But Singapore cannot continue importing foreign workers as liberally as before, because it will run up against space constraints. So to make up for this, productivity levels have to go up much faster, and Mr Lee said upgrading productivity is therefore a vital task. PM Lee said: "Importing fewer foreign workers does not mean less competition for Singa¬poreans, because our real competitors are out there in the world, and not here among us. Instead it means that our workers have to work harder to upgrade ourselves. "Only when every citizen is well-trained, and is continually improving his skills and know-how, will Singa¬pore do well, and every citizen better his life. Upgrading productivity is therefore a vital task. "We must not fail, otherwise our economy will stagnate, our city will become less vibrant and our children will enjoy fewer opportunities. By working smart and bringing about this economic transform¬ation, we can exploit the abundant opportunities in Asia, and create more chances for ourselves." Maintaining and rejuvenating the population is another challenge Singapore faces. Despite all efforts, the PM said Singapore's producing far too few babies. Last year the resident total fertility rate (TFR) slid further to 1.23 from 1.28 the year before. This is the lowest Singapore has ever experienced. For the Chinese, Mr Lee said the TFR was even lower, going down from 1.14 to 1.09. The prime minister is worried about this year too, because some Chinese couples prefer not to have children during the Year of the Tiger due to superstitions against children born under this animal sign. He said: "In each of the last three Tiger years (1998, 1986 and 1974), the number of births dipped by 7 per cent. It is one thing to encourage ourselves with the traditional attributes of the zodiac animals. But it is another to cling on to superstitions against children born in the Year of the Tiger, who are really no different from children born under other animal signs." Mr Lee feels regardless of the zodiac sign, Singapore must remain a good place to have and bring up children. He added that the government will continue to support and encourage Singaporeans to have children. Concluding, he hopes that Singaporeans will recall how important families are to them, rejoice that the people have united to overcome a very major challenge, and resolve to make the best of the year ahead. The prime minister wishes all Singaporeans a very happy Year of the Tiger. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Yes indeed. Not only the parents, the Government and Singaporeans in general are happy too as our future depends on the young. The better they are the better Singapore can also progress. I think Rosyth School is among a few that has a gifted children programme and many parents would love to have their children in this school if they can make it.
S'poreans must not run down or trivialise others' beliefs: SM Goh Channel NewsAsia 13 February 2010 1428 hrs By S Ramesh, SINGAPORE: Singaporeans have once again been reminded that they must not run down or trivialise the beliefs of others. Weighing in on the episode surrounding Pastor Rony Tan from Lighthouse Evangelism, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong explained that Singaporeans are free to profess any faith, and to practise and promote their religions. However, this must be done responsibly. Speaking at the opening of the Singapore Jain Religious Society's building on Saturday, Mr Goh said citizens must respect not only the common spaces that other Singaporeans live, work and play in, they must also respect their separate space. That is a key principle underpinning the peace and social cohesion that Singapore has. Senior Minister Goh said that was why the Home Affairs Ministry had to act firmly in response to the insensitive comments by Pastor Rony Tan from Lighthouse Evangelism recently. Mr Goh continued to say he is glad that the matter has been resolved. However, he cautioned that in the future, there may be the occasional misunderstanding between people of different races and religions. When it occurs, people must act quickly, exercise tolerance, respect any different viewpoints as being part and parcel of the multicultural social fabric and try to resolve the misunderstanding sincerely. Mr Goh emphasised that the government and the people have worked hard to maintain the country's social harmony. Singaporeans have grown up with diversity in their midst - in schools, while doing National Service, in housing estates and workplaces. But more can be done to enhance mutual understanding of one another. Mr Goh said he believes Singaporeans will find more commonalities than differences by reaching out to one another. "Our success in forging a multi-racial and multi-religious society has sometimes resulted in Singaporeans, especially younger Singaporeans, taking the harmony we enjoy for granted," Mr Goh said. "No one is surprised when they hear of families of different races and religions living happily together in HDB flats. For example, in Blk 33 of Marine Crescent, on the 13th floor, you have Muslims, Catholics and Buddhists living side-by-side. In the same block, on the 3rd floor, there are Hindu, Taoist and Christian families happily sharing a common corridor. "Last December, I attended a year-end Christmas Party organised by an RC in Marine Parade. The RC chairman is a Christian; the vice-chairman a Buddhist and the treasurer a Muslim. "The resident who dressed up as Santa Claus is a Hindu grandfather! Working together, they drew out many residents of different races and religions for the party. We sang Christmas carols together, thoroughly enjoying ourselves." Goh Chok Tong
Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park opens in Singapore Channel NewsAsia February 2010 2234 hrs By Satish Cheney, SINGAPORE: Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park welcomed its first visitors on Sunday in Singapore. It is part of the S$6.59-billion Resorts World Sentosa, which also opened Singapore's first casino in the afternoon. Visitors to the park were transported into a world of Hollywood magic where celebrity culture and movies are celebrated. Among the many highlights, visitors can travel back in time to the ancient world of Egypt, and the long lost land where dinosaurs come alive. Fast forward to the future, the theme park features a sci-fi city where visitors can experience inter-galactic battles. Of course, a theme park would not be complete without replicas of hit animated films. Universal Studios Singapore is also showcasing the fairytale world of Shriek, and the dense, tropical jungle of Madagascar. First visitors to the park on Sunday created an air of buzz and excitement, with several adults admitting they feel like kids as the theme park worked its magic. The roller-coaster rides created the most amount of hype, even though they were not operational during this phased-in opening. "It would be better if we could get on the rides but I think it looks good so far," said a visitor. "We came to take a look first so next time we come, we know what to do." "I was very amazed because it was quite similar to what I remember when I was in America and it brings back a lot of fond memories," said another visitor. "We want to have a look and feel of the atmosphere of the place. My husband is quite afraid of the rides so this ticket is a much better buy than buying the full price." Tickets were priced at S$10, and have been sold out for the eight-day sneak-peek period. However, visitors can expect the full experience when Universal Studios Singapore re-opens, with all the rides and shows next month. World's tallest duelling roller-coasters, one seated and the other suspended, in Battlestar Galactica CYCLON vs HUMAN ride (2009 Resorts World Sentosa)
Singapore's first casino at Resorts World Sentosa opens its doors Channel NewsAsia 14 February 2010 1720 hrs SINGAPORE: Singapore opened the first of two casino resorts Sunday, part of a multi-billion dollar bet to transform itself into a hot tourist destination and reduce the economy's reliance on manufacturing. The casino at Resorts World Sentosa welcomed its first punter - a middle aged Singaporean woman - at the auspicious time of 12:18 pm (0418 GMT) on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. When pronounced in the Cantonese dialect, 12:18 sounds like "prosperity". The first bettor was followed by an initial crowd of about 200 enthusiastic gamblers and within hours of the opening, hundreds more were queuing up outside. Ushers gave out free bottled water and ice cream in the sweltering tropical heat. The opening - to be followed within months by a second casino resort built by Las Vegas Sands in Singapore's business district - is part of an ambitious plan to transform the city into a key destination for casino high-rollers, business executives and families. "I'll probably play jackpot. I'm willing to wager around a hundred (dollars) in it," said Tiong Tak Si, 60, a retiree from Brunei. Resorts World Sentosa, which is on Sentosa island, a former British garrison linked to the main island by bridge, is owned by Malaysian gaming giant Genting Group. "We have waited a long time for this. Today's opening of the casino is a milestone for Resorts World Sentosa, for Genting Group and for Singapore," said group chairman Lim Kok Thay. The construction of Resorts World Sentosa, together with the Las Vegas Sands' casino resort, Marina Bay Sands, is costing more than US$10 billion. They will also offer visitors a range of glitzy hotels, restaurants and luxury goods shops. Genting's casino complex includes a Universal Studios movie theme park, which it opened Sunday for sneak previews ahead of full operations. Singapore, host to thousands of multinational corporations, is already a major travel draw because of its reputation for safety, cleanliness and efficiency, as well as man-made attractions such as top-end shopping malls. However, it is a tiny island which lacks the white-sand beaches and breath-taking scenery found in neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia and the government is continually searching for new ideas to create a buzz about the city-state. In 2008 it made sporting history when it hosted the world's first Formula One night race. It has built the world's biggest observation wheel, the Singapore flyer, and an arts venue and has given its prime Orchard Road shopping belt a makeover. Now it plans a landscaped area called Gardens by the Bay near the Marina Barrage built in 2008. The city-state is aiming to get 17 million visitors a year generating more than US$21 billion by 2015, up from 9.7 million visitors last year. Analysts expect the casino resorts to help the city meet those targets. "There is clearly a push to add to the range and depth of attractions here and that is important for a place like this," said Robert McIntosh, an executive director with CBRE Hotels Asia Pacific, a consultancy firm. "They (casino resorts) are a massive boost to overall tourism to Singapore," he told AFP. Lim said he is confident the resort will meet its 13 million visitor target annually. "As you know we are running a sequence of openings, going back as far as a month ago, when we first opened the hotels namely the Festive hotel, followed by the Hard Rock, then Michael and then the Crockford's tower," he said. "We have created 8,300 jobs and that number is still growing. Seventy per cent of the jobs have gone to Singaporeans. Resorts World Sentosa is the latest addition and the crown jewel in our chain in Integrated Resorts." CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, an independent brokerage firm, said Singapore's casinos are expected to generate revenues of US$2.1 billion this year, rising to US$3.5 billion in 2011. Singapore in 2005 agreed to go ahead with the two casino resorts after a rare public debate. Opponents feared gambling would threaten the city's "family values" and put it at risk of becoming a centre for money-laundering. But the government has put in safeguards, including imposing a S$100 entrance fee for Singaporeans and permanent residents and banning anyone declared bankrupt from the casinos outright. Last month it launched a dedicated police unit to investigate casino-related crimes.
Gifted students are very common in Malaysia. Nowadays, it is not surprising to see students scoring 10, 13 or even 16 straight As, despite many cant really speak or write in English .... or speaking Ingland veli veli little bit onli.
Of course only a small percentage are really gifted, but it is important also to have a wide enough educational net to cater to as many children who may be good in other ways too. Some are late developers. It is therefore heartening to see our government encouraging the schools, vocational and tertiary institutions to expand their courses and programmes to encourage more students who are interested.
You are generalizing a little too much here. IMHO. Sure we have some gifted children. God is fair, after all. It's not Amalina's fault if her 17 As would create such havoc, right. Adik sheldon tan ( that's what Malaysians would call him if he's ours) cannot be found everyday. Some says geniuses are born, not made. but without a good care, they cannot go further.
After a big year, an even bigger one looms for the paddlers TOFAY 05:55 AM Feb 13, 2010 by Low Lin Fhoong SINGAPORE - They celebrated a successful 2009 season on Friday night, but Singapore's women's table tennis team of Feng Tianwei, Sun Beibei, Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu and Yu Mengyu have already laid out their goals for the upcoming year. The team finished second at the World Team Cup and Asian Table Tennis Championships last year, and the national side wrapped up the season by bringing home six out of the seven gold medals on offer at the SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos in December. At the inaugural Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) Awards Ceremony at Toa Payoh on Friday, president Lee Bee Wah set the team a target of three medals at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November, and four golds at October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Feng, the world No 6, was crowned Best Player of the Year. The 23-year-old and other members of the national team depart Singapore for the Qatar Open on Monday, and will miss the Lunar New Year holidays. "The big task this year is the World Team Championships, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games ... with Jiawei back in the team, the team strength will increase and become stronger,'' she told MediaCorp. Sun, world No 19, teamed up with Yu Mengyu to win the SEA Games women's doubles title and she received the Special Award of the Year. The spotlight also turned on Singapore's local-born paddlers at the event. Pang Xuejie bagged the Most Improved Player of the Year accolade. Singapore Sports School student Isabelle Li, 15, who won the mixed team bronze medal at the Asian Youth Games, received the Most Promising Young Player award. With STTA's increased focus on developing local talent, table tennis chief Lee stressed that players like Pang, Isabelle and Zena Sim would receive the support required to turn them into world-class paddlers. "We would like to give them opportunities to take part in events like the World Championships and Pro Tours, and improve their world rankings,'' she said. "In the last two years, our youth development squad and national youth teams have doubled in numbers, and youth development is going well." Paddler Xuejie, 16, who graduated from the Singapore Sports School last year, has taken a year off studies to concentrate on table tennis. "My goal is to get a medal in the Commonwealth Games with my doubles partner Cai Xiaoli," he said.
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Lifelong pursuit of perfection The Straits Times Feb 17, 2010 Despite a great 2009, Feng Tianwei hungers to be the best in the world By Rohit Brijnath IN HARBIN, she goes to the cemetery and stands in front of the tombstone. Medals in her hand. Medals she's won for Singapore and herself, medals she's won for this man who isn't here. The tombstone is her father's, who died when she was 15. The medals are her offering to him, her proof to him that his dreams, and hers, are coming true. Feng Tianwei has an even voice, but now just the slightest trace of sorrow leaks into it. 'This is one of the big regrets in my life. When my dad was around, I never had these results. But in a way, these results were his dreams, too. I feel when I get the results, he will be able to feel it from where he is because he's done so much for me.' Dad must have felt it in 2009 because the results were many and the results were fine. No wonder, up on the Internet, there's even a marriage proposal that's been left for her. Feng won the Korean Open, she beat the then-world No.1, China's Zhang Yining, she won the SEA Games individual gold. She is not any star from Singapore, she is an international star, she beats the world's best and has become one herself. In November, briefly, she rose from No. 6 to No. 5. But it is not the achievement itself, but her response to her ranking promotion that commands attention. 'My first reaction was one of shock. I didn't think I would surpass sixth spot. It means that I must have higher expectations of myself because being No.5 shows that I have the ability.' From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_Tianwei Feng Tianwei was born on 31 August 1986 in Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China. She is the only daughter of Feng Qingzhi, a granary worker, and his wife Li Chunping, an employee of a department store. Feng's parents, who were poor, lived frugally for years to pay for her table tennis training. Her father suffered from multiple sclerosis, but she was not told how severe his illness was. He died in 2002, weeks before Feng tried out for China's national B squad. Although Feng topped the qualifying matches a month later and was called up for the national team in 2003, she suffered from a long illness; a source close to her said it was "because she missed her father too much". Feng left China in 2005 to play in the Japanese professional league. While there she was spotted by Liu Guodong, a coach with the Singapore Table Tennis Association, in 2006. In March 2007 she was invited to train in Singapore under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme. She became a Singapore citizen in January 2008.
Lets be honest ... I know the truth can be painful, sometimes very painful indeed ... We can either face up to it or continue to be deluded. If we take a look back, say 30 years ago, it is uncommon then to hear of students scoring 10As, let alone 16 As. And back in those days, our education system is something to be proud of. If you are studying in UM for example, you are considered a top student because it was not easy to be admitted to UM. But today, you can find any Ah Chong, Ah Beng, Muthu or Ali Mamat there. UM today is not like the UM of yesterday. The same goes for our education standards ... it has nose dived. Look at the standard of English amongst the students today. I need not elaborate further. We have loads of students who are scoring 10 to 15As today but how come we dont see institutions of higher learning like Oxford, MIT, Harvard etc being flooded by these so-called 'bright' Malaysian students? The truth is we have lowered the bar to please ourselves. You know, syiok sendiri. Look at our local grads, many are unwanted in the job market. They have very low or poor communication skills. The government have no choice but to absorb all of them into the civil service and the end result is we have a very bloated and ineffective civil service. Again the taxpayers have to bear the burden of an ineffective education system. And the sad part is, most of these graduates are malays, 99% of them. While the rest of the world is surging ahead, we are still going in circles. Jangan la jadi sikatak tu dibawah tempurung.
