Over 14,000 Signatures Support Harsher Punishment For Couple Who Tortured Woman

Despite the death penalty playing an important part in Singapore’s criminal justice system – with 80% of its residents firmly supporting it – it’s not often you see a nation calling for someone to be put to death or locked away forever.

But for Tan Hui Zhen and her husband Pua Hak Chuan, they’ve managed to accomplish just that.

Following news of the gruesome torture by the couple on their flatmate – which ultimately led to her death – it was reported that prosecutors are seeking 15 years’ jail for the woman and 14 years jail and 12 strokes of the cane for the man.

This sparked national outrage in what many consider to be “too lenient” of a sentence for such monstrous acts. Just take a look online and you’ll find comments such as this aplenty:

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Which prompted netizen Neo Chuan Yi to start a petition calling for the Attorney General Chambers (AGC) to mete out a harsher punishment for the culprits. Here’s the link to the petition.

Tortured for 8 months

On Monday (27 Nov), it was reported that in 2015, the couple had caused the death of Annie Ee – who has intellectual disabilities – after 8 months of physical and mental torture. Deputy Public Prosecutors April Phang and Claire Poh described the torture as stripping her of “her money, her dignity, and her will to live.”

Below is the list of abuse that Annie went through. Be warned, reader discretion is advised:

• Face slapped repeatedly for hours with the culprit’s bare hands and slippers
• Chest kicked and stepped on
• Head banged against a wall
• Upper body and buttocks whipped with a plastic belt
• Shoulder smashed by a dustbin
• Back beaten with a wooden pole
• Buttocks battered with a roll of shrink wrap
• Blisters pricked with a needle

The culprits had also psychologically abused her by undermining her sense of self-worth and questioning her regularly. She was also made to surrender her monthly salary of $1,200 and was given only $50 – later cut to $30 – as weekly allowance.

If that wasn’t enough, Annie had tried to commit suicide the day before her death by slitting her wrists using a pair of scissors as she felt “useless” and did not do what Ms Tan had told her to do.

Furthermore, the couple had tried to cover their tracks when they discovered her lifeless body by initially claiming that she had committed suicide. They also informed police officers that Annie was a clumsy person who would often injure herself by repeatedly jumping and landing on her buttocks for “no apparent reason”.

At the time of her death, Annie was found to have suffered the following: 12 fractured ribs, 7 fractured vertebrae, a ruptured stomach, and blisters and bruises all over her body.

The icing on this horrendous cake? The victim had considered the attacker her longtime friend — whom she simply wanted “acceptance and affection” from.

Initially charged with murder, the couple pleaded guilty to reduced charges of causing grievous hurt shortly after.

Petition for harsher punishment started

Naturally, Singaporeans were livid once they realised what Annie went through during her final eight months.

Which is why many felt that 15 years was too generous a punishment for Ms Tan. Hence, a petition was started to seek out a harsher sentence for the couple.

Receiving more than 14,000 signatures in slightly over a day, Neo hopes to make a difference by presenting the petition to the AGC.

We will NOT tolerate lenient sentencing of inhumane abusers who exploit the weak.

Public interest against lenient punishment

Of course, it’s understandable that some may be skeptical on the legitimacy of an internet petition. Because why would the law take precedence over public interest?

However, take a look at a speech by Attorney-General Lucien Wong on “Prosecution in the Public Interest” during the Singapore Law Review Lecture 2017.

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This effectively shows that public interest can indeed make a difference when it comes to court sentences.

If you still need more proof that Singaporeans are supporting a harsher punishment for the couple, check out the outrage that’s pouring online on Facebook,

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Yahoo,

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And even Reddit.

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Once again, the petition can be found here.

Awaiting their sentences

We here at MustShareNews absolutely do not condone any acts of torture. What happened to Annie was downright horrifying and inconceivable.

Do you agree with the pending sentence? Or should the couple be punished with something closer to what Annie went through?

Let us know your thoughts.

Ms Tan and Mr Pua will be sentenced on Friday (1 Dec).

Featured image from Change.org

The post Singaporeans Demand Harsher Punishment For Couple Who Tortured Intellectually Disabled Woman To Death appeared first on Must Share News.

SMRT Staff Drags Monitor Lizard By The Tail, Gets Slammed For Animal Mistreatment

SMRT staff at Bishan Depot were subjected to a surprise ‘monitoring’ session on 28 Nov. If you’re envisioning SMRT’s top brass inspecting Bishan Depot staff at work, we’ll probably won’t be getting so many train disruptions now.

The kind of monitoring we are referring to is more of a beastly nature. In a video circling the internet, SMRT staff at Bishan Depot were visited by Godzilla a giant monitor lizard.

Here’s the TL;DR of what happened.

Dragging-the-lizard tale

The video begins with SMRT staff prodding at something in the underside of a train carriage.

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After numerous stabbings with the handle of a dustpan, and possibly whispering that the train had broken down, SMRT staff managed to de-train a huge monitor lizard from the carriage.

The depot staff were seemingly anxious to get back to work with a few workers trying to usher their guest out of the depot. Given the recent clamp down of poor work ethics by SMRT management, it seemed that no one wanted to be caught eating snake.

Although attempts were made to usher the monitor lizard out of the depot, staff faced a case of reptile dysfunction as the lizard refused to pander to the directions of depot workers. This led to one staff channeling the spirit of crocodile hunter Steven Irwin.

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While another colleague distracted the monstrous beast with a broken dustpan, this brave staff caught hold of the lizard’s tail and sprinted towards the exit of the depot much to the cheers and laughter of his colleagues.

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Depot staff get tail-whipped by netizens

While some might argue that the actions of the SMRT staff were brave, most netizens condemned the actions of the depot workers.

Netizens argued that SMRT staff had treated the lizard cruelly by dragging it by the tail.

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However, there were those that saw the lighter side of the ordeal and thanked SMRT staff for their vigilance.

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No pleasing no one

It seems that no matter what SMRT staff do, they just can’t seem to escape public scrutiny. Moral of this tale? Don’t piss off your commuters.

Featured image from Facebook.

The post SMRT Staff Does A Steve Irwin And Pulls Monitor Lizard By The Tail Out Of Bishan Depot appeared first on Must Share News.

DBS Senior Economist Predicts Rise After PM Lee’s Statement About The Government Spending

It’s time for Singapore to become more expensive again. Show of hands, anyone surprised? Were you actually even expecting otherwise? After all, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had already stated that Government spending will only rise further as we move ahead.

Lo and behold, it looks like the Goods and Services Tax – or GST – will be increasing come 2018.

It was only a matter of time, really.

Forewarned by PM Lee

At the PAP’s Convention on 19 Nov, PM Lee had hinted that Singapore was about to get more expensive.

The GST will increase by this much.

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During his speech, he touched on the costliness of investments and social spending and how it was inevitable for spending needs to grow. He added that the Government spending will only increase as time goes by.

So Heng Swee Keat was right when he said that raising taxes is not a matter of whether, but a matter of when.

True to his words, it seems like that will happen really soon.

GST likely to be raised by 2 percent

On Wednesday (29 Nov), The Straits Times reported that DBS senior economist Irvin Seah suggested the GST will likely be raised by two percent in Budget 2018 due to Singapore’s increased spending needs.

We use the term “likely” loosely because they probably wouldn’t have reported it if it wasn’t already going to happen.

If that wasn’t enough, Mr Seah is expecting a staggered hike to be implemented over two years in order to “cushion the impact on households”.

Why target the GST instead of others?

If you’re upset after reading that, we suggest you close the article right now — because the reason why GST is targeted will only make you even more angry.

According to Mr Seah, it’s unlikely that corporate tax rates will be increased due to the need for Singapore’s economy to remain competitive. Personal income tax rates for top-income earners – or the “rich people who can actually afford living here” – will also not be touched due to it having being recently adjusted.

That just leaves tax revenues to GST I guess.

The GST is perhaps the most direct and effective tool in terms of raising tax revenue. It has a relatively broader tax base and it is also the second-largest source of revenue, just behind the corporate income tax.

Why? Because Singapore. That’s why.

Didn’t the Government previously promise not to increase the GST?

Yes, they did.

In case you forgot, here is what the Government posted on August 2015.

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Furthermore, during the 2015 Budget Statement, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam had also stated that revenue measures undertaken by the Government will be sufficient for the increased spending planned for the rest of this decade.

In fact, this is what he said:

We have prepared ourselves in advance and that must remain the way in which we plan for our budgets in the decades to come.

So why the change now? Because Singapore. That’s why.

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Welcome to Singapore

What are your thoughts on this? Are you surprised? Or have you been expecting this already?

We for one, have nothing to say about except the following:

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What to do?

Featured image from 123rf.com

The post GST Likely To Increase By 2% In 2018, Says DBS Senior Economist appeared first on Must Share News.

MK@Springdale Is Set To Become The Most Popular MOE Kindergarten

Most parents are probably wondering which MOE Kindergartens are worth enrolling in, since higher priority for entry will be given to their affiliated primary schools.

Which is why we’ve done the work for you, and ranked these 17 MOE Kindergartens based on the popularity of their co-located primary schools.

Generally speaking, schools with a higher risk of oversubscription mean that they are more popular with parents.

This will probably help you decide if it’s worth enrolling your child in the MOE Kindergartens near you.

17 Primary Schools Co-Located With MOE Kindergartens:

How the ranking works

The available school vacancies from Phase 2B onwards are released by MOE every year. Parents will then apply to ballot for a place if the slots are oversubscribed.

We’ve based our ranking on Kiasuparent’s calculation of the oversubscription risk of primary schools from the registration history of these schools for the past 11 years (2006-2016).

MOE’s official release of the total number of available slots from Phase 2B onwards has also been included. This is a useful figure to consider, especially for students who wish to apply based on proximity to the school and/or parent volunteer work.

Your possible strategy

If you’re aiming for entry to a high-risk primary school, it’s probably better to try to enroll your child in the respective co-located MOE Kindergarten (MK).

If the child’s primary school of choice is a low-risk school, you can still opt for a private kindergarten instead.

Do remember that applying for a more popular school means that there’s a lower chance of enrollment due to oversubscription. In this case, placement will be decided via a balloting process for the available slots.

MOE Kindergarten Ranking By Location

But if you’re just looking for a MOE kindergarten near your home, this list will be far more helpful.

NORTH

• MK@Riverside – Riverside Primary School (MEDIUM)
• MK@Yishun – Huamin Primary School (MEDIUM)
• MK@Northoaks – Northoaks Primary School (LOW)

NORTHEAST

• MK@Springdale  – Springdale Primary School (VERY HIGH)
• MK@Sengkang Green – Sengkang Green Primary School (HIGH)
• MK@Punggol View – Punggol View Primary School (HIGH)
• MK@Punggol Green –  Punggol Green Primary School (HIGH)
• MK@Fernvale Link – Fern Green Primary School (LOW)
• MK@Oasis – Oasis Primary School (LOW)
• MK@Punggol Cove – Punggol Cove Primary School (LOW)

SOUTH

• MK@Farrer Park – Farrer Park Primary School (LOW)
• MK@Blangah Rise – Blangah Rise Primary School (LOW)

WEST

• MK@Westwood – Westwood Primary School (HIGH)
• MK@Frontier – Frontier Primary School – (HIGH)
• MK@West Spring – West Spring Primary School (MEDIUM)
• MK@Dazhong – Dazhong Primary School –  (LOW)
• MK@Waterway – Waterway Primary School – (LOW)

MOE Kindergartens 2018 Intake Figures

Just like primary schools, admissions to MOE Kindergartens are also based on a priority order of citizenship, parents’ income brackets, proximity to school and lastly, children of permanent residents.

If oversubscribed, available slots will then be subject to a balloting process.

Here are the figures from 2018’s MOE Kindergarten 1 intake.

You can find out how to apply for your preferred MOE Kindergarten here.

Featured image from Schoolbag.sg.

Disclaimer: These rankings may be subject to change based on demand changes due to MOE’s new policy.

The post 17 MOE Kindergartens Ranked According To Popularity Of Their Co-Located Primary Schools appeared first on Must Share News.

Tan Kin Lian Devises His Own Rail Signalling System, Claims It’s More Cost Efficient And Better Than Thales

Although he failed to win the 2011 Presidential Elections, Mr Tan Kin Lian still tries his best to improve the lives of Singaporeans. Following the numerous train disruptions in recent time, the former Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Income has stepped forward to provide his own feedback on how the current rail system can be improved.

In a Facebook post on 29 Nov, Mr Tan shared that he had devised his own simulation of a signalling system. The ex-presidential candidate claimed that his system “should perform better” and is cheaper than SMRT’s new Thales system, which came under scrutiny following the train collision at Joo Koon Station.

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Here’s how Mr Tan’s train system works.

Say goodbye to hours of delay

In Mr Tan’s simulation, he assumes that there are 60 trains running in both directions on the North-South Line. During peak hours, trains will be dispatched at 2 minute intervals while during non-peak periods, the dispatching time will be 3 minutes. Each train is given 30 seconds to load and unload passengers at each station.

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The trains will travel an average speed of 60km/h unless there is a train 500m in front of it. If two trains are closer than 500m apart, the train’s collision avoidance device will apply the brakes to ensure the two trains do not collide.

If you take a look at his simulation system, you will be able to see how far the train has traveled and whether it is behind or ahead of its scheduled time.

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Most of the trains arrived a few seconds ahead of time, while 3 trains were late by at most 2 seconds. If a train is ahead of schedule, it’s speed will be reduced and conversely, increased if it is late. The system refreshes every few seconds so you will be able to see the changes in the train speed.

In the event that a train is behind time for more than 2 minutes, the train encountering the fault will be removed from service.

More efficient than Thales’ CBTC

If you are a train otaku, you would be able to see the similarities between Mr Tan’s system and Thales’ Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. Thales’ system employs a similar safety breaking distance procedure and communication system.

However, the only difference is that Mr Tan’s system has already taken train faults into account as some trains will be slowed down drastically. Despite the delays, Mr Tan’s system does not show any severe disruptions.

But will it actually work?

Mr Tan also claims that if the government and SMRT were to use his system, it would only cost them 10% of the S$195 million they paid Thales. Sounds like a sweet deal to us.

Since we aren’t train experts, we aren’t sure if Mr Tan’s system is a viable alternative. We’ll just have to wait for an actual train engineer to analyse the admittedly impressive stats churned out by his simulation system.

Featured image from Facebook and Facebook.

The post Tan Kin Lian Has Created A Train Signalling System That Is Better And Cheaper Than SMRT’s appeared first on Must Share News.

Invade Singapore Draws Flak After Asking Local Musician To Perform For “Maximum Branding Exposure” 

And events company Invade might have continued with this behaviour too, had word of their practice not spread online.

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In case you didn’t know, events and “space activating” company Invade will be hosting FlashBang Singapore – a retail flea market featuring art installations, music performances, and interactive exhibitions – in December.

Having previously organised ArtBox Singapore – which drew 660,000 visitors and made $20 million – FlashBang is sure to be a great opportunity for local artistes to gain exposure.

Unfortunately, it seems like exposure was all they offered local artistes to perform.

Offering “exposure” in exchange for performing

On Wednesday (29 Nov), singer-songwriter Amanda Tee shared on her Facebook an email she had received.

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It was an invitation from Invade — who were interested in engaging her as one of their musical acts for FlashBang.

Which is fairly standard procedure as far as securing talent goes with the exception of one crucial detail:

They weren’t actually offering her any sort of remuneration at all.

Instead, they were requesting for her services in exchange for exposure — not just any regular exposure mind you, but maximum branding exposure.

According to singer Gareth Fernandez, Ms Tee wasn’t the only one who received this “opportunity” as well.

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Which is strange considering Artbox drew $20 million. Surely, you’d have enough to spare for your hired talent.

Furthermore, something basic such as paying artistes for their work shouldn’t be anything new to a professional company like Invade.

Invade back-pedals on their “offer”

But only after Ms Tee’s post became widespread online — which caused outrage and drew flak to Invade’s practice.

Below is their reply to Ms Tee’s email:

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Pay attention to this sentence in particular:

Invade is and always has been an advocate of the local creative, arts and makers scene and we believe in providing fair compensations for artistes.

Kinda weird for a company that believes in fair compensation to offer exposure as payment isn’t it?

Additionally, Invade apologised in a Facebook update as well.

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Once again, they reaffirmed that they were a company that strongly supported the local arts scene and believed in fair compensation. They added that plans to develop a feasible compensation model was also in the works.

Issue had previously been brought up before

However, it turns out that this issue had previously already been raised — check out what musician Lewis Loh posted a week ago.

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Apparently, he received the exact same “offer” Ms Tee was given.

If you’re interested, this is how he responded to them.

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However, as his post went relatively unnoticed, it seemed that Invade hadn’t taken the initiative then to change the situation.

Only time will tell if the situation improves.

Has the damage already been done?

If they actually believed in fairly paying talent for their work, why didn’t Invade just offer payment from the get go? Could it be a case of the company trying their luck in hopes of someone agreeing to their terms?

Or could it simply be damage control to quell public unhappiness?

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Unfortunately, it seems that word of their “offer” had already spread — even to FlashBang’s event page.

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Netizens had quickly learnt of this — and they were more than happy to show how unhappy they were.

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Some even poked fun at their expense.

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Ironically, this incident helped Invade gain exposure for sure.

Settling for nothing makes nothing the standard

As much as we here at MustShareNews try to avoid preaching, actions like this will only undermine the arts scene in Singapore. It’s okay to love what you do, but enjoying your job and getting compensated for it are not separate entities. No artiste should have to pick one or the other.

After all, settling for nothing simply makes nothing the standard.

Could this serve as a turning point for the industry? Will Invade actually offer a fair compensation to talent from now on?

Unfortunately, it seems that this practice had been prevalent even during ArtBox.

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Let’s hope that Invade learns from this incident, so no artiste in the future will kena flashbang.

Otherwise, every Singaporean musician might just end up like this:

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Featured image from Invade

The post Events Company Invade Back-Pedals After Offer To Pay Artistes In “Exposure” Stirs Outrage Online appeared first on Must Share News.

SPP’s Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss Says GST Hike Isn’t The Best Tax Policy For Singapore

During PAP’s Convention on 19 Nov, PM Lee hinted that the Government was looking to increase its revenue in order to increase spending. This led to speculation that the government was going to raise taxes in order to fill its coffers.

If you’re wondering what kind of taxes are going to be raised, well its probably our favourite kind, Goods & Services Taxes (GST). If that happens, there is probably only one thing that we can do.

However, one Singaporean decided that she would not take the potential GST hike without putting up a fight. Enter Singapore People’s Party’s Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss.

In a blog post on 30 Nov, the politician questioned why the government is potentially employing a tax that has disproportional effects on the population.

Why make the poor poorer?

In her blog post, Ms Chong-Aruldoss questioned why the government was using a regressive tax to raise revenue for Government spending. A regressive tax is one which takes up a larger percentage of the poor’s income as compared to the rich, even though the same percentage of tax is the same for everyone.

The lawyer instead proposed two alternative taxes which would tax the Singapore population more proportionately and make Robin Hood proud.

1. Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

The CGT is a tax which is levied on profits made by a person when an asset is sold. Ms Chong-Aruldoss pointed out that this tax is currently not employed with the exception being when a person openly trades in the property market for gain.

She added that the tax is also applicable to profits gained from the “buying and selling of shares or other financial instruments”.

2. Estate Duty (ED)

Another tax which could be employed is the ED. The ED is levied on the total market value of a person’s assets, both cash and non-cash, when a person passes away. It was introduced in colonial times, and was supposed to prevent the accumulation of wealth by a particular family. Curiously, ED was practiced in Singapore up to 2008.

In 2008, then Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam argued that the ED was being removed as “it would encourage wealthy individuals from all over Asia to bring their assets to Singapore”. This would promote spending by these individuals in the Singapore economy.

The Finance Minister also argued that Singaporeans had worked hard, paid their taxes, and saved the remaining sum from their families. By imposing the ED, all these hard work would be washed down the drain.

However, Ms Chong-Aruldoss pointed out that the ED would affect the rich more than the poor, given that they have more assets.

Probably not gonna happen

Well, it is highly unlikely that such taxes will be employed in Singapore given that it would deter rich investors from spending their money here.

Now, let’s observe a moment of silence since for the money that will soon depart us.

Featured image from Youtube.

The post Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss Suggests Alternative Taxes That Target The Rich, Instead Of A GST Hike appeared first on Must Share News.

Loo Cheng Chuan Says $1 Million In CPF Savings By Age 65 For Couples Guarantees Worry-Free Retirement

This festive season, CPF’s golden boy is back to bring you tidings of good cheer.

Mr Loo Cheng Chuan, a self-made CPF Millionaire, preaches his ‘1M65’ ($1 million by age 65) strategy in an intimate 7-min interview with DollarsandSense posted this Wednesday (29 Nov) on Facebook.

He believes every Singaporean couple can have $1 million of combined assets by age 65. His secret weapon? The CPF Special Account (SA), which will apparently ensure a worry-free retirement nest egg of $1 million.

You can check out the enlightening video here. We’ve summarised the key points of his sermon after the jump.

Follow The 1M65 Way

Ideally, Mr Loo recommends that a young couple should top up their SA in CPF as early as possible.

With just a starting capital of $130,000 in two SA accounts, the power of compound interest means the couple will have an impressive combined amount of $1 million by their retirement age of 65.

So what age should couples start? Mr Loo recommends the age of “late 20s to early 30s” as a great time to begin.

Although saving early may be difficult, Mr Loo says that investing more into SA will reap eventual benefits, given the minimum 4% risk-free interest.

Once the minimum amount is raised, all that’s left to do is to “just let it run, and don’t touch” the money inside the SA.

Anyone who follows this method will thus “become rich very easily”.

Does Mr Loo’s math check out?

Thankfully, DollarsandSense has already done the math for us based on this scenario of a Singaporean couple starting work at 25 years old, getting married at 30.

Assuming the following:

• The couple earns a median salary of $3,222/month each.
• There is zero inflation, because it is compensated by zero wage increments and no bonus.
• They buy a 4-room BTO flat in non-mature estate for $238,000 (without grants)
• They pay monthly home mortgage using only CPF OAs
• The extra 1% interest CPF provides for first $60,000 is ignored.

They will complete paying off their home loan at $650/month after 25 years through their CPF OAs.

Using the 1M65 method, the combined assets of the couple at age 55 will then be:

1. A fully paid for HDB flat: $238,000 (zero price appreciation)
2. CPF Full Retirement Sum: $322,000 ($161,000 per person)
3. Medisave Account: $97,000 ($48,500 per person)
4. Cash from CPF: $597,000

This comes up to a grand total of $1,254,000. Impressive.

Unfortunately, this estimation is based on a couples’ net asset worth. Now, let’s talk cash.

Will the $1 million be in cash?

As CPF millionaires, how much can the couple withdraw in cash by age 55? CPF’s policy is that they have to hit the compulsory minimum retirement sum first.

So what is the minimum sum for most couples?

Turns out, it depends on which year they’re born in, based on this table from CPF’s website:

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Evidently, this minimum sum seems to increase the later they are born.

The CPF Board previously explained that it’s because long-term inflation and rising standards of living have to be taken into account.

For couples who are younger than Mr Loo, the minimum sum they have to hit looks set to be $181,000 or higher.

Currently, if the minimum sum is not fulfilled, only $5,000 cash may be withdrawn at age 55.

At age 65, the couple will be able to access their entire retirement sum in monthly payouts of $600-$750.

Although becoming CPF millionaires sounds enticing, they probably can’t cash their million fully at age 55. Dang.

CPF-anboy For Life

Despite the drawbacks to his 1M65 method, Mr Loo’s undying loyalty to CPF piqued our interest.

We did a little digging and uncovered that Mr Loo is no stranger to advocating for CPF investment, since Straits Times’ 2016 coverage of his ‘1M65’ ($1 million by age 65) strategy.

He even had a stint as part of CPF Board’s AreYouReadySG campaign back in 2015.

Perhaps there’s more vested interest here than meets the eye too.

Take a leap of faith with CPF

Mr Loo paints an idyllic picture of accumulating retirement savings based on CPF investment.

However, like many Singaporeans, we still can’t help but wonder what’s the point of being CPF millionaires if we’re unable to spend it.

Since most of us probably can’t save as much as Mr Loo anyway, his strategy may sound a lot better in theory than in practice.

In Mr Loo’s defense, he did mention that his method may not be for everyone.

But if you sensed a calling from his message today, you too can take the leap of faith with CPF today.

Featured image from DollarsandSense.

The post CPF Millionaire Says Every Singaporean Couple Can Have $1 Million At Age 65 Just By Investing In CPF appeared first on Must Share News.

E-Scooter Rider Suffers Head Injuries After Being Hit By A Double-Decker SBS Bus

On the morning of Thursday (30 Nov), it was reported that an e-scooter rider collided with a double-decker SBS bus while he was attempting to cross the road.

The accident left the scooter pinned under the vehicle, with its windscreen cracked as a result of the impact.

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The accident took place at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road and Kaki Bukit Avenue.

Unfortunately, it was reported that the man – identified to be Mr Atan Amat – had succumbed to his injuries the very next day.

Rider had dashed across the road

At 10.28am, police officials were alerted to the scene of the accident, which occurred at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road and Kaki Bukit Avenue 1 .

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A police spokesperson confirmed that Mr Atan had sustained head injuries and was sent to Changi General Hospital.

According to Channel NewsAsia, the bus had the right of way, and couldn’t stop in time to avoid Mr Atan, who had dashed across the road.

Additionally, photos of the accident circulating online showed that Mr Atan was not wearing any protective gear when riding the e-scooter.

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SBS Transit spokesperson Tammy Tan expressed her sadness to Channel NewsAsia.

We are currently at the hospital with [Mr Atan’s] family to render assistance as best we can.

Always put your safety first

In Parliament last month, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan mentioned that 90 accidents involving electric bicycles and scooters had happened in the first half of the year.

We here at MustShareNews would like to urge our readers to always put their safeties first. A helmet should always be worn at all times especially when riding such vehicles. It could mean the difference between life and death.

We send our condolences to friends and family of Mr Atan.

Featured image from Roads.sg

The post E-Scooter Rider Dies In Hospital After Accident With Double-Decker Bus At Bedok Reservoir Road appeared first on Must Share News.

Tan Hui Zhen And Pua Hak Chuan Sent To Jail For Torturing Woman To Death

Convicted earlier in the week, housewife Tan Hui Zhen and her husband, Pua Hak Chuan – better known as the couple that tortured an intellectually disabled woman for eight months – have been sentenced in court on Friday (1 Dec).

They will be spending the next 16.5 and 14 years in jail, respectively. Mr Pua will also be given 14 strokes of the cane.

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Prosecutors were earlier reported to have sought 15 and 14 year jail terms for Ms Tan and her husband. This sparked national outrage as Singaporeans felt that it was “too lenient” of a punishment for the crimes they committed.

As a result, a petition demanding for a harsher sentence was started.

Subject to 8 months of torture

After eight months of physical and psychological torture, waitress Annie Ee, who was intellectually-disabled, succumbed to the abuse.

In what was described as “monstrous cruelty”, Justice Hoo Sheau Peng referred to the case as “appalling”.

Both the accused have abused the victim in an inhumane and cruel demeanor. They fully abused the victim’s trust in them.

Ms Ee was subject to assault by the culprits’ bare hands and an array of foreign objects such as:

• Bedroom slippers
• Plastic Belt
• Bamboo Stick
• Dustbin
• Roll of shrink wrap

Her sense of self-worth had also been constantly undermined via intimidation and taunting. She was forced to give up her monthly salary of $1,200 for a $50 allowance — an amount which would later be reduced to $30.

Annie had even previously attempted suicide as she believed she hadn’t lived up to Ms Tan’s expectations.

At the time of her death, her battered body bore a grisly collection of injuries including: twelve fractured ribs, seven fractured vertebrae, a ruptured stomach and an assortment of blisters and bruises.

Petition asking for a harsher punishment started

At the time of writing, the petition has already received almost 20,000 signatures.

It was started by netizen Neo Chuan Yi, who disagreed with Singapore Prosecution and felt that the culprits deserved a harsher punishment.

It is not known whether the petition – which was to be delivered to the Attorney General Chambers –  had played a part in them receiving a heavier sentence.

If you’re interested, you can check it out here — though we’re not sure if signing it will make a difference at this point.

Singaporeans disagree with sentence

Is 16.5 years’ in jail appropriate for Ms Tan? Or does she deserve more for what she did?

Singaporeans seem to feel that it’s still too lenient of a punishment and that they got off easy.

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Many were upset and questioned how it was less serious than drug trafficking.

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What do you think about the increased sentence? Do you agree or disagree with it?

Let us know in the comments below.

May Annie finally rest in peace.

Featured image from Change.org.

The post Couple Who Tortured Woman To Death Sentenced To Harsher Jail Sentences Than Originally Sought appeared first on Must Share News.

Upset Singaporean Writes In To Mainstream Media To Complain About Their Attires

It’s always important to dress appropriately no matter the event you’re attending.

This is especially so if said event – held at Marina Bay Sands nonetheless – was a formal awards ceremony dedicated to recognising outstanding achievements and showing appreciation.

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Here’s a question – if you were attending an awards ceremony held at a fancy location with the dress code stated as “suit and tie”, what would you wear?

1. Suit & Tie
2. Tuxedo
3. White Tie

If you picked a striped sweater, congratulations. Because that’s exactly what one of the Singaporean winners wore at the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) inaugural FAS Nite 2017.

That’s why people write in to TODAY Online and complain la.

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Dressing inappropriately at a prestigious event

A total of two Singaporeans were called out by Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) deputy director Sebastian Tan, for displaying a lack of professionalism and respect to the organisers of the FAS Nite.

Furthermore, he felt the incident revealed that the local players did not possess the “mindset or behaviour of professional footballers”.

Absolute mad men.

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So what were the heinous actions that got Mr Tan so upset? During the prestigious event, both players had – wait for it – dressed casually.

Let’s take a closer look at their crimes — against fashion, that is.

Culprit #1: Hazzuwan Halim

First up is Hazzuwan Halim, who was named Young Player of the Year — but that’s clearly not as important as what he was wearing.

Just look at his attire — if you can, that is.

Repulsive.

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This youngster actually had the nerve to don a striped green sweater and chino pants.

He might as well spit on the faces of the organisers at this point — at least that’s more respectful than wearing a pullover.

Culprit #2: Huzaifah Aziz

Next up is Huzaifah Aziz, who had scored the Goal of the Year — but what’s more important in football, scoring goals or dressing nicely?

I think I’m going to be sick.

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To be fair, his attire isn’t really that bad. Just throw on a blazer and tie and he’s good.

It’s semi-casual. Ish.

We don’t really see what’s wr- oh no, we see it now. Just take a look at his shoes.

They are neither leather nor black.

Why can’t our players be more like the Albirex Niigata coach and players who – according to Mr Tan – exemplified the mindset and behaviour of a professional footballer?

Just look at how dapper they are.

2 of these is not like the others.

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After all, they won the S-League this year and dressed sharply for the awards ceremony — coincidence? I think not.

This is why we never win things, because we dress too casually.

Dress better next time we guess

Now we know what you’re thinking: why in the world would someone get upset – let alone bother – with their attires to the point of writing in an article to TODAY Online to complain about it?

Well, we here at MustShareNews sees his complaint and raise it with an article of our own.

We’re now writing to complain about him complaining about the players’ attires during FAS Nite.

Checkmate Mr Tan.

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So the next time you’re invited to such events, do remember to dress appropriately.

Just like Mr Johnson here.

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Otherwise people might get upset. Or worse.

Write a letter to the papers about you.

Featured image from S.League.

The post Singaporean Footballers Kena Shoot For Not Dressing Properly At FAS Awards Ceremony appeared first on Must Share News.

Policeman Successfully Captures Paradise Tree Snake From Neighbour’s HDB Flat Although He Was Off-Duty

What’s more charming than a man in uniform? A snake charmer who’s an off-duty policeman of course.

Courageous Inspector Fariz Bin Mohamad Noor helped to locate and secure an unwelcome reptilian house guest from his neighbour’s home, releasing it back into the wild on Tuesday (28 Nov).

As it turns out, the Paradise Tree Snake or ‘flying snake’ that he caught happens to be a master escape artist. Perhaps Inspector Fariz can now add ‘Pet Detective’ to his credentials as well?

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His grateful neighbour Ms Yvonne Wong took to Facebook to praise Inspector Fariz for his selfless actions.

Thankfully, no innocent creatures were harmed in this heartwarming rescue, unlike the recent SMRT baby Godzilla scare.

You may monitor her post here or peruse our summary below.

Reptile in the house

According to Ms Wong, she first spotted the snake at around 12.15pm in her Bukit Batok flat on Monday (27 Nov) and immediately called the police.

She was then told to contact the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) instead.

When an AVA team turned up two and a half hours later, the snake had already slithered out of sight. But Ms Wong’s family was sure it hadn’t left the house.

Having heard from Ms Wong’s family members about the situation, kind-hearted Inspector Fariz assured Ms Wong that she could contact him for help anytime, if the snake appeared again.

The unwelcome guest decided to stay another night with the family, only making a reappearance the next morning.

Ms Wong immediately contacted the AVA again, but was informed that they would take at least half an hour to arrive.

Singapore’s Ace Ventura

While waiting for AVA’s assistance, Ms Wong contacted Inspector Fariz, hoping that he would keep his promise to help.

True to his word, Inspector Fariz rushed home to assist Ms Wong’s family in tracking, capturing and releasing the snake back into the wild.

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He was so efficient that he managed to beat the AVA team who missed out on catching the snake a second time.

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A tree snake in paradise

AVA has identified the reptile as a Paradise Tree Snake from a WhatsApp photo Ms Wong sent over.

Paradise Tree Snakes are famed for their ability to launch themselves from treetops and sail as far as 100 metres. That’s probably how Ms Wong’s unexpected guest ninja-ed its way into her home in the first place.

Just take a look at this master escape artist in action.

These snakes swim through the air by twisting their tails from side to side, crossing large distances quickly.

They are known to parachute from tree to tree, but we guess that high-rise flats are now an option too.

All things considered, this makes Inspector Fariz’s feat even more incredible as he somehow managed to catch this slippery fiend without professional help.

The Kampong Spirit

Ms Wong has expressed her profound gratitude for Inspector Fariz’s courageous deed.

Praising him for going beyond the call of duty and showing compassion to living creatures, Ms Wong also said that he demonstrated the true ‘Kampong Spirit’.

We at MustShareNews would like to commend Inspector Fariz too for assisting in the daring rescue of this reptilian citizen.

For everyone else living in Ms Wong’s estate…If there’s something ssstrange in your neighbourhood, you know who to call.

Featured image from Facebook.

The post Off-Duty Policeman Rescues Flying Snake From Neighbour’s Flat In Daring HDB Escapade appeared first on Must Share News.

LTA To Investigate Complaints That Train Operators Failed To Update Commuters On Train Disruptions

What’s worse than daily train disruptions? Not being informed about the delays.

Train breakdowns have become a common feature of commuting in 2017. However, LTA has now found the media teams of rail operators similarly guilty of communication breakdowns with the public.

Since train operators have held their tongues on train delays, commuters have mostly taken to social media to complain.

Land Transport Authority (LTA) has finally taken action to address these complaints, by issuing a reminder to train operators to inform passengers of service delays on 30 Nov.

But how effective will this belated warning be?

LTA will be watching

In a report by ST, the LTA said that train operators are required to tell passengers of any service delays that will exceed 10 minutes “through train and station announcements as well as via mainstream and social media”.

A spokesman from LTA shared that the governing body has “received feedback from commuters on rail operators’ public announcements during service delays, and will be looking into this matter”.

While this might bring some relief to commuters, we aren’t quite sure if LTA’s clampdown will yield significant results.

After all, this is not the first time that the LTA has intervened on the behalf of commuters.

Remember what you said in 2012, SMRT?

Back in 2012, a Community of Inquiry (COI) was created to look into train disruptions that occurred in 2011.

In a press release by the LTA, the COI had recommended that SMRT “improve communications and information dissemination to the public”.

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In response to the COI’s recommendation, SMRT announced that they had introduced a “dedicated communication team” to relay timely messages to commuters on various platforms like Twitter.

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Now you might be wondering why we chose to bold those two words. Well, it’s because “dedicated” and “timely” are hardly adjectives that are synonymous with SMRT’s Twitter account.

There have been many occasions when SMRT’s Twitter service went silent and failed to update commuters on train breakdowns.

To be fair, SMRT has provided updates at times. However, netizens have complained that they have been inaccurate.

Communication requires U and I

Speaking to ST, Mr Patrick Nathan, vice-president for corporate communications at SMRT, said that the train service provider recognises the need to update commuters of delays.

He added that SMRT will adhere to the rule of alerting commuters when delays are at least 10 minutes long.

The train provider has also released an update to existing travel app SMRTConnect which will allow commuters to check how long disruptions will last for.

As for whether this will prove to be accurate or useful, one can only guess. Let’s just hope that the team responsible for providing the details is not SMRT’s Twitter team.

A word of caution if they should fail — commuters will definitely be calling for LTA to mete out harsher punishments at dedicated and timely intervals too.

Featured image from LTA and Facebook.

The post SMRT Is Supposed To Provide Updates For Train Delays Of More Than 10 Minutes: LTA appeared first on Must Share News.

Singaporean’s Audi Gets Stolen From Johor Bahru Car Wash

Most Singaporeans love to take advantage of our superior currency to snap up good deals in Johor Bahru (JB). This could be in the form of cheaper food, petrol and even to wash their cars.

While the amount of savings may make a trip across the causeway hard to resist, one Singaporean found out that the monetary savings might not necessarily be a good deal.

In a Facebook post on 3 Dec, which has since been taken down, Mr Mohamad Hafiz shared his experience on how a simple car wash in JB went downhill for him in a matter of hours.

Dude, where’s my car?

A car wash is supposed to be a simple procedure. You choose the package, leave the car at the car wash and pick up your squeaky clean car once the cleaning is completed. However, that was not how it went down for Mr Hafiz on the night of 16 Nov.

Mr Hafiz shared that he left his three week old Audi at a JB car wash around midnight on 16 Nov. As it is common practice, he handed his car keys to the car wash company so that they could shift his car from the washing area to the drying/vacuuming yard.

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However, when he returned to collect his car later, Mr Hafiz found that it was no longer there.

We imagine this was his reaction at the car wash shop, just less funny.

Grand auto theft

Mr Hafiz arrived to collect his car two hours later but was told that his “friend” had already collected it on his behalf. The thief had apparently paid for the car wash and drove the Audi away.

We can only imagine the confusion that he felt at the time.

After discovering that the incident wasn’t a prank, Mr Hafiz lodged a police report with the bosses and manager of the car wash place.

Since it was already late, he waited till the next morning to contact his car dealer and finance company. Fortunately, Mr Hafiz was informed that there was a tracker in his car, this allowed him and the police to track the stolen car.

The chase is afoot

Mr Hafiz and the police found that the car was parked near a condominium, and after “2 hours of battling with the guards and management”, managed to procure the unit number of the flat that the thief was staying in.

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Here’s where things got interesting. When Mr Hafiz and the police tried to apprehend the thief in his flat, the latter tried to escape capture by climbing down from the 22nd floor to the 20th floor. However, he was stranded as seen in this video below.

The suspect was later caught and brought back to the police station.

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Judging from this picture below, it seems that force was needed to subdue the thief as he was spotted with cuts and a swollen eye.

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Car was detained for 2 weeks

If you thought that the thief’s arrest spelt the end of Mr Hafiz’s ordeal, well we are sorry to disappoint you. Mr Hafiz’s car was detained for 2 weeks as police needed to conduct further investigations. Despite being in the hands of the Malaysian police, he was filled with “anxiety and worry” given the ordeal he went through.

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A message for vehicle owners

With many Singaporeans driving or riding across the Causeway to take advantage of the exchange rate, Mr Hafiz pointed out that he shared this story so as to warn others to be more vigilant about the security of their vehicles. After all, we are pretty sure no one wants to be part of a real-life Gone In 60 Seconds.

Be vigilant like this man.

We’re just glad that Mr Hafiz managed to retrieve his car back.

Featured image from Facebook. 

The post Singaporean Loses Audi At JB Carwash, Tracks Down Thief To Find Him Stuck On Condo Parapet appeared first on Must Share News.

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2017 Had Major Issues

They say marathons are a test of one’s endurance, determination, and stamina.

But according to runners who participated in the annual marathon Standard Chartered marathon on Sunday (3 Dec),  that didn’t apply to just the race itself as well.

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Despite being designated as an IAAF Gold Label Road Race – or one of the “leading road races around the world” – runners’ complaints about their experience on Sunday painted a different story instead. According to them, it was anything but the gold standard.

Which is why they took to social media to air their frustrations about the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2017.

Here are 4 things that were running through the participants’ minds instead.

1. Poor bag deposit management

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Perhaps the biggest complaint surrounding event was the time it took for participants to drop off their bags. Some even reported to have queued for longer than it actually took for them to complete the race.

According to the complaints, only 6-8 people and 3-4 trucks for collection were employed, despite the thousands of runners in the queue.

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Which led to an increased wait time of over two hours.

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This resulted in many participants missing their designated flag off times.

Something no one would like to experience especially after waking this early on a Sunday morning.

2. Buses unable to reach drop-off points

Because train services weren’t available during the early mornings, private chartered buses were provided from 39 different pick-up locations travelling point-to-point to the start line.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the journey to the race wasn’t a smooth and comfortable one for some as official shuttle buses were also reportedly unable to access drop off points due to the massive crowd that formed as a result of poor bag deposit management.

As a result, runners were forced to alight a distance away where they had to walk to the bag deposit locations.

One in particular, complained of having to walk 3km before he could even start queuing to deposit hit bag.

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Can you imagine being made to walk a considerable distance right before you’re supposed to run a marathon?

Talk about a stamina drain.

3. Connection issues with the app

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Runners who had hoped to keep track of their running progress had the option of using the official Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon mobile app.

Unfortunately for them, issues such as the app not working properly during the run sprang up during the race itself.

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Which is the absolute worst thing that can happen seeing as how the app was specifically designed to keep track of the run.

Servers were also reported to be down for over three hours.

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One frustrated participant was told Channel NewsAsia the following:

None of the timing stations showed on the app apart from the start time.

Even as of 10am – five hours after the final wave for those running the half and full marathons – the app was still reported to be not functioning properly.

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The app was reported to be working properly only after the event itself — so at least they can say their app works?

Looks like TATA Consultancy Services can prepare to say tata to a partnership with Standard Chartered next year.

4. Not enough finisher tees

Other than the finishing medal, what’s the other thing that’s part of the winning trophy that participants can look forward to after completing a marathon?

We’ll give you a hint: it’s not Joakim Gomez.

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Can you imagine the anger and frustration when runners were told that there weren’t enough finisher tees of their sizes left — and that they had to make do with whatever sizes that remained.

Which is why many took to Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon’s Facebook to complain that they ended up with t-shirts of the wrong size.

Participants were reportedly grabbing any size they wanted due to stock running out, which led to many getting sizes that were either too big or small.

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Additionally, some were even told that the reason they couldn’t collect a shirt of their choosing was because they had started the race late and that some shirts were reserved for later waves.

However, if you recall, the reason they were late at all was due to the poor bag deposit management. It certainly wouldn’t make sense to blame the runners for starting late now would it?

Furthermore, this raises a question as to how could shirt sizes be out of stock, when those who registered were required to indicate their size in the first place?

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As a result, you end up with situations where runners started asking each other to exchange sizes.

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Which is both hilarious and disappointing at the same time.

Your thoughts on the marathon

What are your thoughts on the controversy surrounding the Standard Chartered marathon? Given that it’s held annually, shouldn’t Standard Chartered have already thought of solutions for these issues?

Or are you simply wondering why some people pay to run so early in the morning?

If you participated in the marathon, we’d love to hear your opinion on this.

Let us know in the comments.

Featured image from Facebook.

The post 4 Problems At Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2017 Even Before The Run Started appeared first on Must Share News.

Media Titans Request For Ban On Illegal Streaming Devices In Singapore

Piracy has long been outlawed in Singapore, but online piracy is apparently still rampant. Or so the Coalition Against Piracy thinks.

A coalition of entertainment titans have recently assembled to call for a ban on set-top boxes which allow viewers to tap into programmes from the English Premier League, HBO and Cartoon Network for free.

According to Bloomberg on Monday (4 Dec), they will call on Singapore to block illicit pirating software, in the hopes that illegal streaming of movies, TV shows, and sports will cease.

However, as set-top boxes have perfectly legal functions such as accessing YouTube, our government has pointed out that outlawing the devices will not necessarily solve the problem.

Illicit streaming devices

An illegal streaming device usually comes in the form of a set-top box with programmes that allow it to piggyback on an existing cable channel, so a user may livestream scheduled TV shows or movies for free.

Typically, they are used by viewers to access shows they are unable to watch due to censorship, lack of a licensing deal, or simply to avoid paying a subscription fee.

Readily available online and offline

Singaporeans are spoilt for choice when it comes to purchasing a device of their own, as they are readily available for sale both online and offline.

We’ve done a quick search and an Unblock set-box is readily available on e-retailer Q0010 for $188. It’s even promoted as the ‘SG Version’ with ‘SG Support’.

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Users typically buy these gadgets with illegal streaming apps installed, or simply access download links embedded in the software.

There are even online tutorials on how to set-up these boxes freely available on YouTube, with multiple forums offering tech support.

For as little as $100, retailers at Sim Lim Square also offer similar products. Stores sell 10 to 20 boxes per weekend, and during electronic fairs, this number reportedly reaches 300 per day.

The coalition demands action

Since it is true that these devices are freely available in Singapore, the coalition is lobbying for the Singapore government to do the following things:

1. Eliminate confusion by defining the legal usage of devices.
2. Take legal action against companies offering pirated content.
3. Block streams of illegal content from entering Singapore. (RIP 123Movies)

Costs associated with illicit broadcasts of video content are also expected to nearly double between 2016 and 2022, hitting US$51.6 billion (S$69.63 billion) in global revenue.

With such high costs involved, it’s no wonder Singapore has been chosen as the industry’s gateway to combating online piracy in the region.

Could this possibly spell the end for illegal streaming as we know it?

Government says not illegal leh

Turns out, it’s not illegal to own a set-top box in Singapore at all.

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore has clarified,

Copyright infringement is not about a device or technology but whether that device or technology is used in a manner that is illegal.

In other words, the device or technology is strictly not illegal.

There’s nothing unlawful about using the devices, as long as the boxes do not illegally download and store copies of programmes.

Currently, the sale of these devices is permitted in Singapore, as the government does not consider the devices illegal when used to access legal streaming sites like YouTube.

As long as users can ensure their content is from authorised content providers, no copyright laws will be violated.

Pirates are here to stay

Although the coalition makes a valiant attempt to defend themselves from internet pirates, the status quo in Singapore looks set to stay, for now.

Perhaps it would be wiser instead for these content providers to consider other profit models to ensure their revenue is protected?

Streaming original content like Netflix has proven effective in building up a loyal brand following, encouraging people to subscribe and be more willing to pay to support their favourite shows.

Ad revenue or merchandising and branding opportunites are other possible alternatives to be considered.

Nonetheless, Singaporeans can also work on changing our mindsets towards paying for original content, given that an alarming 2 out of 5 people are guilty of illegal streaming.

Until then, the pirates are here to stay.

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Featured image via IPOS Facebook and UnblockTech.com

The post Set-Top Streaming Boxes Are Not Illegal In Singapore, Says Government appeared first on Must Share News.

PAP Leaders Say That Potential Party Candidates Are Concerned That The Political Climate For PAP MP’s Is Becoming Tougher

“People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” — Alan Moore

If you are a fan of Moore’s V for Vendetta, then this phrase needs no introduction. However, what needs introduction is the fact that our country’s longest-ruling political party may be encountering some difficulties in recruitment for the first time ever.

The People’s Action Party (PAP)’s search for future general election candidates has begun, as the political party reaches the mid-point of its current five-year term. However, it seems that the ruling party has met with a few hiccups in their recruitment drive, according to mainstream media reports at least.

In an article on 3 Dec, The Straits Times published a scoop on potential candidates for the upcoming 2021 General Elections. While the newspaper claimed that at least 200 individuals have been identified, it seems that the search for potential candidates is more difficult this time round.

The reason? Well, the malicious comments by social media users.

People are more afraid to step up into government?

With three more years left till the 2012 General Elections, existing PAP leaders, party activists and supporters have started to nominate individuals to be earmarked as potential election candidates. The search is currently headed by PAP’s organising secretary Gan Kim Yong.

Mr Gan will be assisted by younger potential fourth-generation PAP leaders such as Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and Senior Minister for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Sim Ann.

However, it seems like the search for new faces is more difficult this year. ST listed some potential PAP candidates such as Mr Charles Lim, Mr Alvin Tan, Ms Jaclyn Seow and Ms Asyifah Rashid to name a few.

But, these potential candidates declined to comment on their situation. While this may be understandable given that the PAP is currently in the early stages of scouting candidates, there may be another reason why candidates have been keeping mum.

According to some of the MPs that ST talked to, potential candidates have turned down opportunities to represent the PAP. These unnamed candidates argued that the reason why they declined was because of the “more difficult electorate and rising vitriol on social media”.

Pasir Ris-Punggol MP Teo Ser Luck added that candidates he approached were concerned about this tough political climate.

What this essentially means is that Singaporeans’ keyboard warrior game is so fierce that it has deterred some candidates from stepping into the firing-zone. You would need to look no further than Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who has been requested by the public to commit hara-kiri on numerous occasions due to the disruption of train services.

There’s still time to persuade them

However, PAP MPs are pressing on in the search to find the leaders for the next generation. Marine Parade MP Seah Kian Peng shared that he has been asking candidates “to keep and open mind and to attend tea sessions first” before making a decision. This would give both parties a chance to assess each other.

With 15 out of the 21 Cabinet Ministers reaching the twilight of their political careers soon, it is evident that replenishment of talent and leaders are of utmost priority to the incumbent Government.

However, it seems that for the first time in a long while, the government may be afraid of Singaporeans and their harsh criticism.

Featured image from Facebook

The post PAP Members Say Rising Vitriol On Social Media Is Hindering Recruitment Of Potential PAP Candidates appeared first on Must Share News.

Koryo Mart At Bukit Timah Sells Chupa Chups Canned Drinks

As a kid, I’d often hover around the counter of the mama shop staring at those gleaming candies that were carefully watched by the shop keeper. There were just so many variations, like sweets that you could whistle or those that changes the colour of your tongue. But the pinnacle of childhood happiness came in the form of a Chupa Chups lollipop.

For a humble price of 40 to 50 cents, you could get what seemed like an everlasting burst of cola, strawberry, grape, or an assortment of other flavours in your mouth.

So imagine our delight when we found out that this blast from the past now comes in a sparkling drink form.

Found in Koryo Mart

Images of the drink were first leaked by photographer Xavier Lur in a tweet on 5 Dec. Based on the pictures uploaded by the SMU student, it seems that the Chupa Chups drink comes in three classic flavours: strawberry milkshake, orange and grape.

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Now you might be wondering where this sweet decadent drink can be found. Well, instead of teasing us with only pictures, Mr Xavier shared that they could be found at Koryo Mart located at Bukit Timah. It’s also walking distance from Beauty World MRT Station.

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Time for a sugar rush

While PM Lee Hsien Loong raised the issue about diabetes in his National Day Rally Speech this year, the revelation of this drink has put our health plans on hold for the moment.

Given the popularity of the lollipop, it’s probably a good time for a sugar rush to grab these drinks before they run out.

Featured image from Xavier Lur.

The post Koryo Mart Sells Sparkling Chupa Chups Drink That Will Take You On A Trip Down Memory Lane appeared first on Must Share News.

Could BlueSG’s Electric Cars Spell The End For Other Ride Services?

First it was bicycles with the bike-sharing scheme. Very soon, you’ll be able to do the same for cars as well.

Electric cars, that is.

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On Tuesday (12 Dec), Singaporeans will get their first taste of the electric car-sharing scheme as the first fleet of cars hit the roads.

But how does it compare to other services such as Uber and Grab or even the taxis? Is it cheaper to actually use their services? What about the issue of having to drive for yourself?

Read on more to find out.

Electric car sharing in Singapore

Come 12 Dec 2017, BlueSG will be launching a total of 80 electric cars with 120 charging points across 30 locations over Singapore.

You can either reserve a Bluecar via the BlueSG app or website, and simply head to any BlueSG location to pick up an available car. Alternatively, you can visit any of the charging kiosks and tap your registered EZ-link/BlueSG card and follow the instructions.

Based on the map provided on their website, there are 30 parking spots located around the island, and here’s where they’re located.

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Rentals will be charged based on duration instead of distance, and are available from two different plans — however, bookings are strictly restricted to a minimum of 15 minutes.

The first of which simply chargers users $0.50 per minute of usage — which works out to $30 per hour.

Alternatively, you can pay a premium yearly price of $15 a month and pay $0.33 per minute — or $19.80 per hour.

Now that we have the prices, let’s start making comparisons.

Comparison with taxis

Let’s take a look at how BlueSG’s electric cars stand with regular taxis.

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According to The Straits Times, the off-peak fare for a cab hailed on the streets as $12 for a 20-minute ride. Keep in mind that this amount assumes the cheapest pricing and doesn’t include surcharges or waiting fees. This equates to $36 for an hour spent in a moving taxi.

However, based on BlueSG’s pricing system, you could expect to pay either $19.80 or $30 per hour – depending on which plan you use.

As such, it’s clear that electric car-sharing is a cheaper alternative to hailing a cab.

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However, it’s important to note that rides under BlueSG can only be ended by plugging it in at a charging station.

If you board a cab, on the other hand, you’re able to drop off at virtually any location to your convenience. Furthermore, you’re able to kick back and rest during the entire time while the driver brings you to your location.

Hence, the extra charge can be said to be used for convenience and comfort. However, this might change in the future — especially given BlueSG’s plans to have a network of 500 stations island wide by 2020.

Comparison with Grab

Now let’s take a look at how Grab charges their fares.

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As you can see, they charge at $0.50 per kilometer with a base fare of $2.50.

In order to find out how it stands as compared to BlueSG – which charges by duration instead –  we’ll need to make the comparison using the the rates charged by taxis.

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Using the figure from The Straits Times, it can be calculated that the distance covered by the cab is roughly 15.5km.

By Grab’s pricing, a journey of 15.5km would cost the passenger $10.25 whereas a 20-minute ride using BlueSG’s cars would cost you either $7.3 or $10.

Surprisingly, electric car-sharing comes out to be cheaper than that of Grab — albeit just slightly.

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However, just like the taxi services, Grab offers a similar convenience and comfort so unless you actually plan on driving, it might still be a better option.

Cheaper but less convenient

Despite netizens’ feedback about the prices, it’s actually cheaper for you to use electric car-sharing.

However, do note that as there will only be 30 stations available on launch, finding a place to park might just end up costing you more as they charge by duration. Furthermore, by using the cars, it would mean that you’d have to drive yourself around as opposed to letting a taxi/Grab car driver do it instead. So bear that in mind before you hop onto one of the electric cars.

As such, there’s no clear winner in this comparison.

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But as time progresses, BlueSG could see more improvements which might make it a legitimate competitor. So don’t count them out just yet.

After all, didn’t the Government just announce zero growth COE for cars and motorcycles?

Featured image from BlueSG.

The post BlueSG’s Electric Car-Sharing Service Is Actually Cheaper Than Taxis Or Grab appeared first on Must Share News.

Ministry Of Finance Needs Your Feedback On Budget 2018 To Solve Problems Nobody Knows How To Solve

Because complaining is a national pastime in Singapore, the government now wishes to channel your complaints to more constructive outlets — planning Budget 2018.

In other words, they want you to help them generate ideas for solutions to the problems they need to solve for you. Genius.

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The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has even upped the stakes this year by releasing an advertisement to promote how easy it is to let the government know what you think.

A pun-filled ‘pawsitive’ video, featuring an adorable cat called Smarty is paw-ssibly a good effort to promote active citizenship and feedback.  Problem is, the advertisement doesn’t really address what we’re supposed to talk about.

You can view it here, for the sake of Smarty at least.

The video highlights two issues very briefly, raising questions about building a SmartNation and lifelong learning for practically everyone.

But it’s mostly focused on how simple it is to give feedback this year, with the message of “Even Smarty can do it, right?”.

Although that’s endearingly cute, it does serve to draw the attention away from the real issues at hand.

Huh, what feedback?

Traditionally, MOF seeks public feedback for our national budget for the next fiscal year, via feedback sessions conducted by REACH, a governmental agency under the Ministry of Communications and Information.

To be fair, MOF has clarified,

Individuals, households, and businesses are welcome to feedback on how our businesses can compete, how our people can seize new opportunities, how we care for and support one another, and how we plan for future needs.

Unfortunately, these are very general guidelines which do not address specific issues.

Although it’s good to be welcoming to all sorts of ideas, it’s hard for Singaporeans to give constructive feedback if we don’t know what actual taxation schemes or policies the government wishes to focus on.

Judging by the current submissions thus far, some netizens have asked for more childcare leave or $1000 SkillsFuture credits for those who are 40 and above.

Without a general direction provided, the budget feedback session does seem more like a free-for-all Christmas wishlist than a constructive public discussion.

That said, what feedback is REACH is really looking for?

We have to talk about raising taxes

Hidden among these public posts is REACH’s official guide on what feedback they hope to garner.

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In summary, REACH is seeking feedback for the following points:

1. Building a technologically ready society
2. Supporting local firms’ innovation
3. Retraining and upskilling workers
4. Encouraging the community to care for the elderly
5. Educating Singaporeans to plan for their futures
6. Promoting volunteerism among individuals and businesses
7. Financing government expenditure to deal with growing social needs

Well that’s clear. We can only wonder why these points are not promoted at the forefront of this year’s advertising campaign for Budget 2018.

Tax issues are also ranked dead last on REACH’s list, although they are arguably the most directly related to Budget 2018 compared to the others on the list.

This could be because ‘financing government expenditure’ actually refers to the possibility of raising taxes — a touchy issue that most citizens dread.

Perhaps it’s more strategically placed than we thought.

A formality to appease citizens?

As the government has yet to outline possible solutions to pressing issues faced by Singaporeans, it’s no wonder that this feedback session seems overly broad in context.

With no limit to the issues brought to the fore, the focus of the feedback session also risks being shifted from the realm of constructive public debate to something less helpful.

Hopefully, when live Q&A sessions are held next year, facilitators will help guide Singaporeans in discussing more pertinent problems, like our public transport’s infrastructure, possible GST hikes, CPF issues and healthcare matters.

Otherwise, the yearly budget feedback session may risk becoming a formality to appease citizens instead of a constructive way to pinpoint public spheres which require immediate financial help.

Ways to be heard

If you do have burning opinions about anything at all, here are some ways you can go about making them heard.

From 4 Dec 2017 to 12 Jan 2018, REACH wants everyone’s feedback via these channels:

• Singapore Budget Website
• REACH Microsite
• REACH Discussion Forum
• Live Q&A Session from REACH’s Facebook page (4 Jan 2018, 8:00pm to 9:00pm)
• Hashtag #SGBudget2018 in your tweets to @REACH_Singapore
• Email them at reach@reach.gov.sg
• Call them at 1800-353-5555 (Weekdays, 8:30am to 5:45pm)
• SMS them at 9773 2587
• Go to a Listening Point near you to chitchat with a REACH officer.

Talking about the things that matter

Thankfully, there’s one firm we can rely on to kickstart this debate with actual material for discussion.

Most of us probably weren’t aware of accounting firm Deloitte’s valiant 39-page feedback report for Budget 2017 last year.

They deserve major props for submitting a comprehensive report complete with graphs, charts and thousands of words detailing their views on everything from healthcare to fiscal policy.

So here’s a note to the big G, we are truly grateful for this avenue to express our opinions.

But next time, instead of relying on a cute ‘pawsitive’ cat mascot, throwing some solutions up for discussion would be an effective way to get Singaporeans talking as well.

Featured image from REACH and REACH’s microsite.

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