Singapore morning news for June 12

GrabCar fined for unauthorised disclosure of customer data in 120,000 marketing emails
GrabCar has been ordered to pay a financial penalty of S$16,000 after it sent out more than 120,000 marketing emails to customers containing the name and mobile phone number of another customer.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

MAS bars remittance firms from offering loans
Remittance firms will be barred from lending money from Sept 10 as the authorities move to better protect consumers – many of them foreign maids here – and close off what industry observers say is a regulatory loophole.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Kaplan Professional’s WSQ courses suspended
Kaplan Professional has been barred from conducting Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses for 12 months – its second suspension since December last year – after further audit checks uncovered serious lapses.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Bicentennial bill still available at some banks
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said yesterday that the new $20 notes issued to commemorate Singapore’s 200 years of history have seen strong demand from members of the public, and that limited quantities are still available at some banks.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Police warn of fake $50 and $100 portrait-series notes
Be wary of receiving counterfeit $50 and $100 Singapore currency notes, the police advised the public yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

War on trans fats: Food manufacturers support Singapore ban on partially hydrogenated oils starting 2021
Singapore has confirmed the ban of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) – a form of trans fats – as an ingredient in all foods, with the new rules expected to come into force from June 2021.
— Food navigator-asia

SAF unveils the Hunter – the Army’s first fully digital fighting vehicle
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) on Tuesday (Jun 11) introduced the Army’s latest armoured asset – a next-generation vehicle that promises to be deadlier, faster, and safer than its predecessor.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Kaplan Professional suspended from WSQ accreditation, SkillsFuture funding over ‘serious lapses’
Kaplan Professional will be suspended as an approved training organisation under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) due to serious lapses, said SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) in a media release on Tuesday (Jun 11).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore’s healthcare cost inflation expected to hit 10.1 percent in 2019
According to the Mercer report, the country’s healthcare cost inflation hit 10 percent in 2018, which is 10 times Singapore’s economic inflation rate. Around the world, the top three health risk factors that drive medical costs up are still metabolic and cardiovascular risks, …
— The Independent

Singapore seen as one of the easiest countries to do business in Asia
Based on a report by TMF Group, a provider of international administrative services, Singapore is ranked the sixth easiest place to do business in Asia.
— The Online Citizen

Singaporeans continue to support Huawei despite Google ban
Last month, Google stopped its business operations with China’s Huawei with immediate effect, and the suspension include services that involve the transfer of hardware and software as well as technical services except those that are publicly available through open source licensing.
— The Online Citizen

PDPC imposes S$8,000 fine on law firm for incorrect disclosure of clients’ personal data via emails
The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) has issued an S$8,000 fine against a law firm after an administrative staff was found sending email correspondences meant for a client to an incorrect email address by mistake on two separate occasions in 2017.
— The Online Citizen

New award to recognise corporations, individuals in social enterprise
A NEW award has been introduced to recognise corporations and individuals who have contributed significantly to the social enterprise sector in Singapore.
— The Business Times

Guard who fell into pit and died: Family seeking answers
A security guard of rooftop bar 1-Altitude who fell into a 4m-deep pit and died on Sunday was apparently trying to keep two customers away from a barricaded area, colleagues who witnessed the accident told his family.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

84% of offenders serve out probation orders
The rate of offenders who completed their probation orders remained high last year despite increasing numbers of longer sentences being handed out.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Superiors didn’t tell us to stop ‘kolam’ ritual, says officer
If his commanding officers had told them to stop the kolam ritual which involved Corporal Kok Yuen Chin getting into the 12m-deep pump well, the group of servicemen would have listened.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

12 students would have been expelled under new policy
Twelve students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) who had committed sexual offences in the past three years would have been expelled under new and tougher sanctions proposed by a review committee.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Dead NSF one of most well-liked at fire station, says fellow officer
Corporal Kok Yuen Chin was one of the most well-liked officers during his stint at Tuas View Fire Station, where he served as a full-time national serviceman.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Loan from remittance firm traps maid in web of debt
When Sharon (not her real name) arrived to work as a maid in Singapore last November, she was told that she would not be getting any salary for six months.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Boost expertise in Asian legal systems: Shanmugam
Legal academics here need to deepen their expertise in areas such as the laws of other Asian countries, in order for Singapore to become an important legal centre in the region, said Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Urban farm cert for Sky Greens’ organic vegetables
Buyers of mini-vegetables from the first vertical farm here can now be assured the greens are grown without the use of artificial fertilisers or pesticides.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Lion Global seeks to divest unit to Bank of Singapore
Lion Global Investors, a subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings, is looking to divest a unit to Bank of Singapore for RM24.9 million (S$8.16 million).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S$20 Bicentennial notes see ‘strong demand’, limited supply remains at 4 banks
The newly launched S$20 note to commemorate Singapore’s Bicentennial has seen strong demand since it was made available on Monday (Jun 10), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said in a media release on Tuesday.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SCDF officer who pushed NSF Kok Yuen Chin into well describes incident he has guilt, nightmares over
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer who pushed full-time national serviceman Kok Yuen Chin into a pump well at a fire station, causing his death, took the witness stand on Tuesday (Jun 11).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Elderly man rests on the floor of MRT compartment with fewer seats
A photo of an elderly man sitting and resting on the floor of an MRT compartment is circulating online. Some have said that the man is sitting on the floor since the MRT train he is travelling on has removed some seats to improve train capacity.
— The Independent

More foreign workers are not given IPA letters, exposing them to exploitation
In 2018, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) commissioned a survey and it was revealed that 15.4 per cent of non-Malaysian work permit holders did not receive their in-principle approval (IPA) letter before they enter Singapore.
— The Online Citizen

Grab, Citi team up to launch co-branded credit cards
Citigroup has teamed up with Singapore-based ride-hailing firm Grab to launch co-branded credit cards, as it looks to boost its Asian customer base by about 13 per cent via partnerships with digital firms, a senior Citi executive said.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Gaining a Deeper Understanding of CapitaLand’s Business Empire
Investors will get a better overall understanding of CapitaLand Ltd (SGX: C31) and its multiple business divisions.
— The Motley Fool

SATS opens private-jet centre at Seletar Airport
IN-FLIGHT catering services provider SATS has opened its Business Aviation Centre (BAC) at Seletar Airport, providing personalised concierge, lounge and passenger services to private-jet customers, SATS said in a media statement on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

Firm fined for damaging pipe, unapproved works
A construction company was fined $44,500 yesterday for carrying out excavation works without approval last year and damaging a water main along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Dentist who let therapist fit braces suspended, fined $10k
A dentist has been suspended for four months and fined $10,000 for letting an oral health therapist fit braces on a young boy.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Top social enterprise awards to factor in use of cutting-edge tech
The evaluation criteria for this year’s prestigious President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Awards (PCSEA) have been updated to include efforts at adopting cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Expanded HDB scheme lets buyers book flats the next day
From next Tuesday, home buyers can book a Housing Board flat the day after they apply for one.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Company Briefs: Mapletree Investments; Viking Offshore and Marine
Mapletree Investments is acquiring an eight-storey office building comprising approximately 210,000 sq ft of net internal area in Dublin from Irish real estate developer Marlet Property Group.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Temasek unit launches new private equity bond
Yield-hungry retail investors can subscribe to a new private equity bond by Temasek subsidiary The Azalea Group from today.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

CapitaLand to divest interest in 3 China malls for $589m
CapitaLand will sell its entire stakes in three shopping malls in China for 2.96 billion yuan (S$589 million) to CapitaLand Retail China Trust (CRCT), the two mainboard-listed companies said in bourse filings yesterday morning.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Sats opens centre for private-jet customers at Seletar
In-flight catering services provider Sats has opened the Business Aviation Centre (BAC) at Seletar Airport, providing personalised lounge and passenger services to private-jet customers for discretion, privacy and speed, it said in a media statement yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Man tasered at Everton Park charged for attempting to assault police inspector, damaging benches
A man tasered by police at Everton Park has been charged with three new offences, in addition to the seven other charges he was already facing.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

New aviation medical centre for pilots and air traffic controllers launched
Hypoxia, a condition where your body doesn’t receive enough oxygen, is just one of the many health risks that pilots face on the job. In a safety critical industry like aviation, such health complications can cost many lives.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Football: Yoshida handed first loss as Singapore fall to Myanmar
It was a tough reality check for new Lions head coach Tatsuma Yoshida as his side were beaten 2-1 by Myanmar in an international friendly at the Singapore Sports Hub on Tuesday (Jun 11).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

NEA asks Bedok resident to assist in investigations after thermal camera captures smoker outside unit
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has asked a Bedok resident to assist in investigations after a thermal camera caught a person smoking outside his unit on multiple occasions.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Most S’poreans will take 45 minutes tops to commute to work by 2040
Much greater convenience and accessibility in the future.
— Mothership

The Big Read: Through thick and thin (waistlines) — Singaporeans’ enduring love affair with fast food
Experts believe that the fast food industry here will continue to thrive despite health concerns and a cut-throat sector.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Soft rock legend Michael Bolton based in Singapore for new reality show
Asian Dream sees six contestants from the region compete for the chance to go on tour with the Grammy-winning singer and become a Subaru ambassador.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Fathers want bosses’ support in balancing family, career: Poll
Efforts to support new mums in the workforce have been growing in recent years, and it appears dads also want to do more to better balance their careers and family life.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Man accused of strangling, raping girlfriend says marks on her neck were love bites
A 42-year-old man on trial for strangling and raping his 30-year-old girlfriend said on Tuesday (Jun 11) that the injuries on her neck were love bites.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

13,000 shared bikes expected by end-2019 as Anywheel takes on expansion
Local firm Anywheel is set to expand its fleet of shared bikes and it hopes to have a total of 10,000 bicycles on the road by the end of the year.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Feature photo AEC News Today Digital

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo acknowledges World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15.

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 June 12 added by John Le Fevre on June 12, 2019
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.