Singapore Morning News For September 5

Presidential election 2017: Five people applied for certificate of eligibility
By the close of application for the Certificate of Eligibility and Community Certificate at 5pm on Monday (Sep 4), the Elections Department (ELD) received a total of five applications for the Certificate of Eligibility, it said in a news release.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore’s manufacturing sector clocks in 12th straight month of growth in August
Singapore’s manufacturing sector expanded for the 12th straight month in August, according to data released by the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) on Monday (Sep 4).
— Channel NewsAsia

Smart facilities management crucial to Singapore’s digitisation drive
IN THE SME Go Digital briefing by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), much emphasis was placed smart facilities management amid the push for digitisation.
— Digital News Asia

Singapore developers seek to top up their landbank
THE recent pick-up in residential sites acquired by Singapore developers suggests that they have finally come around to the prospect of a more decisive recovery in Singapore’s residential market, and the downside of a depleting landbank.
— The Business Times

Collapse of PIE viaduct ‘a painful reminder’ of seriousness of accidents: LTA chairman
The collapse of an uncompleted viaduct earlier this year was a “painful reminder that accidents do happen and must be taken seriously”, said Land Transport Authority (LTA) chairman Alan Chan on Monday (Sep 4).
— Channel NewsAsia

Nuclear tensions trigger reflexive selling, but markets show restraint
ASIAN investors shed risk as expected on Monday, in response to North Korea’s latest nuclear claims, but tempered declines suggested scepticism about whether the heightened tension would meaningfully affect the global economy.
— The Business Times

Development charge rates for non-landed residential use up 13.8%
With the increasing hype around collective sales, the development charge (DC) rates for non-landed residential use has been raised by a sharp 13.8% on average.
— Singapore Business Review

Agents plan to boycott PropertyGuru
More than 1,000 property agents upset about a recent price hike by Singapore’s largest property portal have banded together to lobby their interests, that includes planning a boycott of PropertyGuru.
— The New Paper

Grab moves to woo taxi drivers from ComfortDelGro
Ride-hailing company Grab has announced what it calls “huge rental discounts” in an aggressive bid to woo cab drivers from Singapore’s largest taxi company, ComfortDelGro.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore Pools Building latest found to have combustible cladding
The Singapore Pools Building at Middle Road has been found to have cladding that does not meet fire safety standards, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in an update on its website on Monday (Sep 4).
— Channel NewsAsia

Greater partnership with Chongqing augurs well for Singapore
IN DEEPENING ties with Chongqing, Singapore can look at ways to ramp up financing for infrastructure projects along the One Belt One Road route, in part by taking aim at the expected 800 billion yuan (S$166 billion) pipeline of public-private partnership projects in the strategically located Chinese city alone.
— The Business Times

‘If you don’t already have a BRI plan, you’re too slow off the mark’
SINGAPORE did not take China’s proposal for the Silk Road Economic Belt seriously at first – until it became clear that Beijing was putting its money where its mouth was.
— The Business Times

Manulife Reit coy about location of next acquisition
THE management of Manulife US Reit, which over the weekend announced its acquisition of an office building in New Jersey for US$313.2 million, is keeping mum on which other US cities it is planning to expand into next.
— The Business Times

Outgoing NUS President to head new MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation
To tackle longer-term issues facing the healthcare system, the Ministry of Health announced a new Office for Healthcare Transformation yesterday to be headed by outgoing president of the National University of Singapore, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan.
— Today Online

Vertical fish farms may be housed at building rooftops or under flyovers, firm says
Rooftops, parks, and spaces under flyovers could see pockets of vertical fish farms in future, Surbana Jurong touted. The infrastructure consultancy firm said that it has worked with Singapore company Apollo Aquaculture Group to develop a system that could yield 5,000 tonnes of food fish per year, or six times that of a conventional fish farm with the same amount of space.
— Today Online

IPPT for seniors will gauge their frailty, health risks
Like their younger countrymen who do National Service, senior citizens in north-eastern Singapore can now sit for an individual physical proficiency test (IPPT).
— Today Online

SG Dealbook: Wilmar acquisition; Z-Obee delisting; Swee Hong note
Wilmar has acquired a 50 per cent stake in chocolate manufacturer Aalst while Z-Obee plans to delist from the SGX and civil engineering firm Swee Hong has raised capital from a convertible note.
— DealStreetAsia

For All Its Tech Savvy, Singapore Still Prefers Cash Over Digital Payments
In tech-savvy Singapore, where almost everyone has a smartphone, nine out of 10 people still prefer to pay for everyday transactions the old-fashioned way – with cash.
— Bloomberg

$1m for fund to promote inclusive arts events
When asked to work with a teen to express through art what home means to them, retired teacher Daisy Leong, 73, was surprised she shared similar ideas with her partner.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Prudential Singapore’s chatbot provides information specific to customers’ life insurance plans
AS PART of Prudential’s customer-centric approach, the life insurer has launched a chatbot that can provide its financial consultants with real-time information specific to their customers’ life insurance plans.
— Digital News Asia

Singapore’s DBS wins RBI approval to start subsidiary banking operation
Singapore’s biggest lender DBS Group Holdings has won the Reserve Bank of India’s approval to provide banking services in the country through a wholly-owned subsidiary, its CEO said on Monday.
— Sify

27 drivers caught in July for violating private-hire car regulations
Twenty-seven drivers were caught in July flouting new regulations for the burgeoning private-hire car industry, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday (Sep 4).
— Channel NewsAsia

One in two Singaporeans are unhappy at work
Singapore’s high productivity is backed by a lot of sad workers. JobsCentral Work Happiness Survey Report showed that at least one in two employees is unhappy at work.
— Singapore Business Review

Everbright Water scores Nanning river restoration project for $311m
China Everbright Water Limited (Everbright Water) scores the Nanning Shuitang River Integrated Restoration PPP Project (Nanning PPP Project) partnership with Guangxi, China for $311m (RMB1.5b).
— Singapore Business Review

Bukit Panjang transport hub opens
The Bukit Panjang integrated transport hub – with a new bus interchange to go with the existing Bukit Panjang LRT and MRT stations – opened yesterday, after a two-year delay.
— The New Paper

Commentary: Green buildings, Singapore’s natural ally for a greener future
It is the year 2500. We travel with driverless cars, Mars is a much loved tourist spot, and robots live and walk among us as peers.
— Channel NewsAsia

Feature photo Choo Yut Shing
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Singapore morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Singapore news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Singapore Morning News For September 5 added by Leakhena Khat on September 5, 2017
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.