Singapore Morning News For February 5

Singapore still 2nd freest economy in the world but gap with top-ranked Hong Kong widens
Singapore retained its position as the second freest economy in the world for the 24th consecutive year, but the margin with top-ranked rival Hong Kong has widened further.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Improper for MPs or public officers to ‘get back’ at each other: DPM Teo
Members of Parliament or public officers who use their position or authority to “get back” at each other because of disagreements will be investigated, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Sunday (Feb 4).
— Channel NewsAsia

Samsung teams up with Singapore’s Grab for SE Asia push
Tech giant Samsung Electronics said on Feb. 2 that it has inked a partnership with Grab, the largest ride-hailing firm in Southeast Asia, to provide its mobile devices and security solutions.
— The Jakarta Post

How Mahathir’s political astute could help Singapore’s crowded opposition landscape
The return of Mahathir Mohamad to politics, notwithstanding his entry in the arena among his former political foes in the opposition, has all the attributes of a shifu.
— The Independent Singapore

ASEAN foreign ministers in Singapore for annual retreat
Singapore’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will kick off when the regional bloc’s foreign ministers gather for their annual retreat starting Sunday (Feb 4).
— Channel NewsAsia

It’s when, not if: Singapore worries, and prepares, for terrorist attack
Armed officers patrol a train station where television screens and giant posters warn of the threat from terrorists. Nearby, fake gunmen storm a shopping mall in one of many recent terror attack simulations.
— Times of India

Singapore fintech firm to launch e-payments platform in GCC
Cryptocurrency users in the GCC will be able to convert digital assets into local currencies and withdraw them from ATMs, with the planned launch of a new payment platform in the region in March.
— The National

PDPC Singapore responds to feedback received in public consultation regarding personal data management
The Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore (PDPC) has released its response to feedback received from a public consultation launched in July 2017 on Approaches to Managing Personal Data in the Digital Economy.
— Open Gov Asia

Singapore MAS-licensed P2P lender Crowd Genie launches ICO
CROWD Genie Financial Services Pte Ltd (Crowd Genie) operator of a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending platform licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), looking to build an Asia-wide exchange of financial assets, announced the launch of its Initial Coin Offering (ICO) public sale., through its related entity CGSPV Pte Ltd (CGSPV).
— Digital News Asia

Singapore monitors impact of Malaysia’s decision on Goods Vehicle Levy at Tuas
Singapore will monitor the impact of Malaysia’s move to reduce the Goods Vehicle Levy (GVL) at the Second Link while keeping the levy unchanged at the Causeway, says Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
— The Borneo Post

Supermarkets rolling out QR code payment via Nets
Supermarkets have begun to embrace Nets’ QR code, the cashless payment system that hundreds of hawkers have been using since last September.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Singapore’s second integrated community hub opens in Bedok
Singapore’s second integrated community hub opened in Bedok yesterday, bringing a sports centre, public library, community club, polyclinic and senior care centre under one roof.
— The New Paper

Concerns over money-for-love website TheSugarBook
Members of Parliament Tin Peiling and Seah Kian Peng are calling for the authorities to address concerns about TheSugarBook, a money-for-love site that claims to have about 30,000 members in Singapore.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Singapore, the next Fintech regional hub
In recent years, fintech has been gaining traction and popularity globally. Startups and incumbent firms enter the industry, in hopes of claiming a share of the pie. They challenge the traditional notions of banking services. Simultaneously, they offer greater conveniences to consumers.
— Asean Today

Masterplan of Singapore’s underground spaces ready by 2019
An underground masterplan that maps out Singapore’s underground spaces and their potential uses is set to be unveiled next year.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Malaysia reduces goods vehicle customs charge at Second Link, Singapore to monitor impact
Singapore will be monitoring the impact of Malaysia’s move to reduce the Goods Vehicle Levy (GVL) at the Second Link, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Sunday (Feb 4).
— Channel NewsAsia

Highest Budget surplus ever ($12b?): Increase taxes?
I refer to the article “Spending on security to be ‘very major’ Budget item” (Straits Times, Feb 4). It states that “”I do expect our security expenditure to go up because we want to be able to support our security agencies in this very important mission to keep Singapore safe and secure,” he said.
— The Independent Singapore

Government to sponsor new nursing degree programme for mid-career individuals
To encourge mid-career individuals here to take up nursing, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) have introduced a new, fully sponsored degree programme for nursing at the National University of Singapore.
— Today Online

Do supermarkets in Singapore use excessive packaging for fresh produce?
An online petition advocating the use of less plastic packaging for fresh produce at two supermarket chains has garnered more than 7,000 signatures in three weeks.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Feature photo Justin Zhuang

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 February 5 added by Leakhena Khat on February 5, 2018
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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.