Singapore morning news for May 20

Singapore Airlines profit drops by 47.5% despite recording highest annual revenue to date
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has reported a 47.5% decline in profit for the financial year of 201/19 despite also recording its highest annual revenue to date (S$683 million).
— The Online Citizen

Singapore is Rolling Out 5G by 2020. Should the Telcos be Worried?
In Singapore, the rollout of the 5G network by 2020 is looming. Should SingTel (SGX: Z74) and StarHub (SGX: CC3) start to fret given the amounts of investment required?
— The Motley Fool

Biometric fingerprint scans help nab 840 at checkpoints
Biometric fingerprint screening helped detect around 840 people trying to enter Singapore under different or false identities over the last three years.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

No respite for Singapore exports; trade recovery unlikely in 2019
THE escalating US-China trade war is likely to further hurt Singapore’s exports for the rest of 2019, as hopes fade for a sustained trade recovery in the near future, said economists.
— The Business Times

Singapore ready to act if economic outlook is hit
It is a bit too early to talk about contingency plans for workers, but the Singapore Government is ready to act should the economic outlook worsen as a result of escalating tensions between the US and China, Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S. Iswaran said yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Nigerian based in Singapore jailed for role in Citibank money-laundering scheme
Nigerian national Paul Gabriel Amos was jailed this week after he admitted his connection to the 2008 money laundering case, in which Citibank was duped into transferring a hefty SGD 37.2 million from the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE)’s corporate account to various accounts worldwide.
— The Independent

Singapore focused on fundamentals and capacity building as US-China tensions escalate: Iswaran
The Singapore government is ready to act should the economic outlook worsen as a result of escalating tensions between the US and China,even as it remains focused on ongoing efforts to diversify the economy, enhance innovation capacity and reskill its workforce, Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S. Iswaran said on Sunday (May 19).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Chan Chun Sing calls for deeper integration at Apec meeting
Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing has urged Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) economies to step up on deepening regional economic integration and advance discussions on next-generation trade and investment issues, including the digital economy, during a bloc meeting in Vina del Mar, Santiago.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Taiwan legalises same sex marriage, meanwhile in Singapore more than half agree consensual sex between men is a crime
Gay rights supporters assembled in the rain outside Taipei’s parliament building for the announcement of the landmark ruling that legalises same sex marriage in Taiwan. The huge crowd cheered and waved rainbow flags. There were cries of joy as people hugged each other in happiness while the …
— The Independent

SilkAir order for 31 Boeing 737 MAX planes still ‘intact’, says Singapore Airlines
SIA says SilkAir would only resume 737 MAX flights after the aircraft is certified safe not just by Singapore, but by aviation authorities of countries that SilkAir flies to.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

DPM Heng Swee Keat warns public on fake reports using his name to scam people
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Sweet Keat has warned the public on fake reports that have been circulating online misusing his name. In a Facebook post on Friday (17 May), Mr Heng, who is also the Finance Minister, wrote that “many fraudulent reports have been circulating misleading comments …
— The Online Citizen

S’pore finance ministers have never interfered in Temasek, GIC investment decisions: Heng
As finance minister, he has never once interfered in investment decisions taken by the national sovereign wealth funds, Temasek and GIC, as doing so would lead to him losing the authority of holding them accountable for their performance, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said in an interview with a Swiss newspaper published last Friday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Firms adapting to trade wars, but there’s more pain ahead
WHILE business performance continued to worsen in the first quarter of 2019, firms are no more pessimistic over business prospects in the next six months than they were a quarter ago.
— The Business Times

Public transport system may not go fully cashless by next year
May 20, 2019 5:00 AMThe change to a fully cashless public transport system may not be completed by next year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Emotional Tosh Zhang steps down as Pink Dot 2019 ambassador after much flak for old homophobic tweets
Two days after being nominated as an ambassador for Pink Dot’s 2019 campaign on LGBTQ+ discrimination and prejudice, Tosh Zhang released an emotional public statement to say that he is stepping down from the role. This came after some of his old homophobic tweets were dug up by the …
— The Independent

Meet the Singaporean behind Google Assistant’s personality and jokes
Mr Woo Wai Keong has a simple litmus test to know if his efforts at making people fall in love with Google’s digital assistant is working: “My mum must get it.”
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Eating more rice may not reduce obesity, says HPB
Eating more rice does not necessarily reduce obesity, said the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and dietitians, after reports of a Japanese study on the link between high rice consumption and low obesity rates made the headlines recently.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

New heights in heavy lifting: Largest vessel built by Sembcorp Marine
In 13th century Norse mythology, Sleipnir is the eight-legged horse of the god Odin known for its strength, courage and speed.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Passers-by rescue baby monkey lying on road
A baby monkey found lying on a road in Bukit Panjang yesterday was rescued by passers-by.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore’s biggest challenge is to build ‘a sense of unity’ amid ‘tremendous changes’: DPM Heng
ST GALLEN, Switzerland: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said Singapore must continue to learn how to evolve and improve our systems and adopt useful policies from other countries.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Commentary: The start of subject-based banding – is grouping classes by CCAs the best option?
Grouping students based on CCAs may end up inadvertently segregating classes of students along socioeconomic, racial and gender lines, says NUS’s Kelvin Seah Kah Cheng.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Micron Tech output up this year despite slide in Singapore exports
CUTBACKS have been made across the Micron Technology portfolio, but chief business officer Sumit Sadana has reiterated the multinational’s commitment to its footprint here.
— The Business Times

Driving under influence: 13 caught for third time or more over past 3 years
Over the past three years, 13 people were caught for their third or subsequent offence of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, figures from the Ministry of Home Affairs show in response to queries from The Straits Times.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Spike in numbers booked for driving without licence
More people were caught driving without a licence over the past five years, as the number of offenders increased by 55 per cent from 921 in 2014 to 1,435 last year, said the Ministry of Home Affairs.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Ride hailing is Gojek’s main focus in S’pore
While Gojek is a super app in Indonesia offering food ordering, digital payments and courier services, its immediate priorities for Singapore centre on building a reliable ride-hailing service.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

More cases of motorcycle riders flouting helmet law
More motorcycle riders and pillion passengers were booked last year for helmet violations than in 2017.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Shanghai-bound plane forced to wait by passenger whose daughter was shopping at duty-free
A Shanghai-bound flight from Bangkok was delayed half an hour due to a mum who was waiting for her daughter to finish shopping at the duty-free zone.
— The Independent

Fake apps and GPS spoofing used by fraudulent Grab drivers to cheat passengers and fellow drivers
Back in the heyday of old-school taxis, dishonest drivers cheated their customers through faulty meter wirings. Nowadays, Grab’s ride-sharing platform is facing a new wave of sophisticated fraudsters.
— The Independent

Jho Low-linked jet still at Seletar, police looking at US ruling
A private plane, believed to be owned by fugitive Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, widely known as Jho Low, is still sitting in a hangar at Seletar Airport where it has been stored for more than two years now.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Police took at least 7 years to charge Singapore PR for money laundering
It was reported on Thu (16 May) that Singapore PR, Amos Paul Gabriel, who is a Nigerian was sentenced to three years’ jail and fined S$4,200 for money laundering and other offences.
— The Online Citizen

Younger Singaporeans’ support for capital punishment for drug traffickers below national average: MHA survey
The majority of younger Singaporeans are supportive of the tough anti-drug measures the country is taking, but support for capital punishment for drug traffickers is lower than the national average, according to findings from a survey by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore exports continue to fall in April, shipments to most top markets decline
Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) continued to fall in April, dropping 10 per cent year-on-year according to figures released by trade agency Enterprise Singapore on Friday (May 17).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Number of dengue cases in 2019 surpasses last year’s total count
The number of dengue cases recorded in 2019 so far has surpassed the total number of cases in 2018, figures from the National Environment Agency (NEA) show.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

What will it take to kick Singapore’s growing multimillion-dollar addiction to bottled water?
Singapore is known the world over for the quality of its tap water. Nonetheless, consumers here still fork out millions of dollars on bottled water every year.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

S’porean receives fake RM$20 note in Johor Bahru, warns others to be careful
Be careful especially during festive seasons.
— Mothership

Dyslexic S’porean Rhodes Scholar runs start up which lends money to social enterprises
He’s on a mission to better the world.
— Mothership

Submarine hunter, recon leader: What a naval mothership and its unmanned systems can do
CNA’s Aqil Haziq Mahmud spent some time at a maritime defence exhibition to suss out how a naval mothership could operate with unmanned boats and drones.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Donations or bribes: How rich Singapore-based parents get their kids into elite US unis
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMSome Singaporeans and expatriates here are so desperate to get their children into top US universities that they break rules or behave unethically to game the system.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Commentary: What happened to caution and graciousness on the roads?
Tougher punishments and more cameras cannot replace the need for better attitudes towards road safety.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Commentary: Singapore’s Tuas Mega Port a bold investment that will face significant challenges
With Tuas Terminal, the country has upped the ante and made a huge bet on its maritime future, says Asia Pacific Connex’s Andre Wheeler.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore is third most innovative city globally: JLL report
SINGAPORE is the third most innovative city in the world, with innovation now an important part of real estate investment strategies, according to a new report from global property consultant JLL.
— The Business Times

Singapore and New Zealand ink agreements to strengthen ties, deepen cooperation in key areas
SINGAPORE: Singapore and New Zealand on Friday (May 17) signed a partnership agreement to bolster cooperation in trade, defence, and science, technology and innovation.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Suspension lifted for catering firm involved in PCF Sparkletots food poisoning cases
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has lifted the suspension on Kate’s Catering, the catering company linked to more than 250 cases of food poisoning at 13 PCF Sparkletots preschools.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Grab partners with Indonesian varsity to nurture medtech, social startups
University of Indonesia and Grab have joined forces to support the university’s development program for startups Top Indonesian public university the University of Indonesia (UI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through its Business Unit Management and Development Directorate …
— e27

Woman gets 14 years’ jail for ‘unprecedented’ ponzi scheme involving S$35 million
SINGAPORE: A woman who ran a ponzi scheme for five years, cheating 53 people out of more than S$35 million in total, was sentenced to jail for 14 years on Friday (May 17).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

PM Lee congratulates Australian PM Scott Morrison on election win
SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday (May 19) after his ruling coalition’s victory in the country’s national elections.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

MOM bans 60 abusive employers in 3 years from hiring maids again but loopholes remain, say observers
May 19, 2019 6:11 PMA little-known Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rule bans abusive employers – and all their household members – from ever hiring maids again.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Fully cashless public transport system may not be implemented by 2020
May 19, 2019 4:31 PMSINGAPORE – The change to a fully cashless public transport system may not kick in by 2020.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

P N Balji’s industry giants seen in the current age of pygmies
In his chit-chat on Storm on Thursday May 16 about his forthcoming book, Reluctant Editor, veteran journalist P N Balji described three Singapore Press Holdings journalists as giants of the local newspaper industry. They were Peter Lim, the former Editor-in-Chief, Cheong Yip Seng, his successor, …
— The Independent

Commentary: Singlish is not English. That’s not a bad thing
To ask if speaking Singlish makes it difficult for people to speak English is akin to asking if speaking Spanish would be detrimental to the learning of Greek, says NTU Associate Professor Tan Ying Ying.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

ST Asia Report wins two top prizes at Global Media Awards
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMThe Straits Times Asia Report, which curates some of the best analyses and features on the region from the ST Foreign Desk, bagged two top honours at the International News Media Association (INMA) Global Media Awards in New York on Friday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

The art of soft sell: Political leaders changing how they communicate with public
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMThe topic was a serious, even controversial, one – the recently passed fake news law. The approach, however, was light-hearted and unorthodox, with Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam appearing in online video interviews.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

More politicians harness social media to enhance public outreach
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMPoliticians around the world have taken to social media to amplify their voices, sway election outcomes and give their public personas a bit of a shine.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

New Zealand PM wears pink during her visit to Singapore to support her stand against bullying
Singapore – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived in Singapore on May 17 (Friday) for her official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The popular state leader who has shown the world her resolute stance against bullying signified the same with her choice of …
— The Independent

Does the Fake News Bill carry the weight of moral authority?
I guess it was of no great surprise that the arguably controversial “Fake News Bill” has passed. Despite the valiant attempts of the Workers’ Party (WP) Members of Parliament (MP) to fight against the passing of the bill, they were but a minority in an overwhelmingly …
— The Online Citizen

Redefining democracy and practices for the future of Singapore
by Brad Bowyer Democracy is not just about having a vote it is more about how we operate between the votes and support a healthy Democratic culture. There are two distinct flavours of Democracy, the Western approach that is more individually focused and the Asian approach that emphasises collective …
— The Online Citizen

From making waves to drowning in red ink: Hyflux, Tuaspring and how a business giant came undone
As Hyflux’s dramatic debt restructuring continues to unfold, its flagship Tuaspring desalination plant was taken over on Saturday (May 18) by PUB at no cost. CNA looks back at how the ambitious project started – and then floundered.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Super-app scams in spotlight as Grab beefs up its anti-fraud team
WITH their fingers in many pies of the digital economy, super-app players like Grab and Gojek could become increasingly attractive targets for malicious actors.
— The Business Times

Six Singaporeans arrested, drugs worth S$100,000 seized in raids: CNB
SINGAPORE: Six Singaporean men were arrested and drugs with an estimated street value of S$100,000 were seized on Thursday (May 16) evening after raids by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

2 Reasons Why Frasers Centrepoint Trust Can Keep Increasing its Dividend: Part 1
Frasers Centrepoint Trust (SGX: J69U) is one of the most well-known retail REITs in Singapore. But the key question is: can it continue raising its dividend?
— The Motley Fool

Singaporean actor Aliff Aziz loses wife as she is granted a divorce due to his straying ways
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Divorce was granted to Bella Astillah, wife of Singaporean singer and actor Aliff Aziz, 28, after she revealed that “he cheats too much.” On May 16 (Thursday), the Syariah Court in Kuala Lumpur approved the divorce requested by Aliff’s wife. When the judge asked …
— The Independent

Commentary: It’s fast food galore at Jewel Changi Airport. Aren’t parents troubled by our kids’ junk food intake?
Many have flocked to A&W and Shake Shack at Jewel Changi Airport. But maybe parents ought to take a step back to think about limiting our kids’ junk food intake, says mum June Yong.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Seniors get tested for stomach cancer at free screening
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMA community project has been launched to raise awareness of the need for early cancer detection among senior citizens.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

CPF Rule Change: What’s in it for you as a homebuyer?
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMThe much-awaited rule change for the Central Provident Fund (CPF) was announced recently. Home owners would be able to withdraw more from their CPF to buy ageing flats from May 10, provided that the remaining lease can last them until the age of 95.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

More than 20 e-scooter, e-bike riders caught flouting rules in Punggol
SINGAPORE: More than 20 electric scooter and electric bicycle riders were caught flouting the rules in Punggol on Friday night (May 17).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Copper-cladded Sentosa Cove bungalow sold for S$32 million
A SEAFRONT bungalow in Cove Drive on Sentosa, dubbed the Copper House, changed hands last month for S$32 million.
— The Business Times

Former Australian PM Bob Hawke ‘a good friend of Singapore’: PM Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (May 17) expressed his condolences over the death of former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Tosh Zhang’s homophobic tweets resurface, netizens divided on his role as one of Pink Dot 11’s Ambassadors
Just hours after homegrown pro-LGBTQ movement Pink Dot SG had announced its line-up of Ambassadors for its 11th edition this year on Thu (16 May), singer-actor Tosh Zhang came under fire for a string of homophobic tweets he had posted from 2010 to 2013. Netizen Sarah Yip pointed out the matter in a …
— The Online Citizen

Netizens question Singapore’s safety after foreign worker charged for raping student near Kranji War Memorial
Indian national Chinnaiah Karthik will be seen in court in June to face an aggravated rape charge as he attacked and raped a female university student in Kranji. On 4 May, the 21-year-old foreign worker purportedly approached the 23-year-old student along Turf Club Avenue at around 1.30am, …
— The Online Citizen

It Changed My Life: She gives up high-flying career and five-figure salary to pursue mindfulness
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMMs Angie Chew gave up her $20,000 monthly salary and took a 60 per cent pay cut to grow a charity promoting happy and healthy living.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Use Ramadan to build close community ties: Heng Swee Keat
May 19, 2019 5:00 AMRamadan is a good opportunity for Singaporeans to build cohesiveness and forge deeper understandings, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

MCCY appoints 16 individuals to engage with youths
SINGAPORE: Sixteen individuals were appointed on Saturday (May 18) to engage with youths on their hopes and dreams for the future of Singapore in 2025.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

The farm boy who became owner of one of Singapore’s largest mala xiang guo chains
You Ma You La owner Yang Jian once struggled to find customers and almost had to shut down before a mini-lobster dish saved his business, as On The Red Dot discovers.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

These 2 Singapore Blue Chips Announced Mixed Results Recently
These two companies reported mixed results recently.
— The Motley Fool

3 Reasons CapitaLand Mall Trust Can Continue to Grow Its DPU
CapitaLand Mall Trust (SGX: C38U) looks set to continue to deliver more distributions to unitholders in the future.
— The Motley Fool

Feature photo Nutrinest

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo acknowledges World Bee Day, May 20.

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 May 20 added by John Le Fevre on May 20, 2019
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

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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.