SingaporeSurf

Singapore, KL Officials Don't See Quick Breakthrough On Water
by Eddie Toh and Chuang Peck Ming, Business Times Singapore
Officials from Malaysia and Singapore have downplayed the possibility of a quick breakthrough in the fresh round of talks starting today to resolve a package of outstanding bilateral issues.

No Conflict Of Interest, Says DPM
by Straits Times

Malaysia And Singapore Seek To Resolve Water Row
by Barani Krishnan, Reuters
A history of mistrust and doubts over Malaysia's foreign policy after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's scheduled resignation late next year could set back any long-yielding agreement, analysts said.

22 Men, One Ball - And Big, Big Bets
by Koh Boon Pin and Lee Hui Chieh, Straits Times
One punter has lost almost $100,000, while another has won $10,000. But the biggest winner will be Singapore Pools.

IDA Fines SingNet Over 'Misleading' Ad
by Denesh Divyanathan, Straits Times
It is believed to be the first penalty imposed by the IDA on an Internet service provider for a misleading ad.

21 DBS, POSB Online Accounts Hacked
by Sharmilpal Kaur, Straits Times
DBS Bank, stumped by three cases of online theft on Wednesday last week, yesterday admitted to another 18 similar cases taking place on the same day.

Fixed-Line Phone Service Via SCV Network By Dec
by Catherine Ong, Business Times Singapore
The soon-to-be merged StarHub-Singapore CableVision (SCV) group will offer fixed-line telephone services by the end of the year over the SCV network, according to chief executive Terry Clontz.

Temasek's Role That Of A Catalyst
by Eva Ho, Temasek Holdings, Straits Times
It is incorrect to state that 'Temasek set to play more aggressive role'.

It's A Free Shuttle To Market
by Neo Hui Min, Straits Times
Bus takes Sengkang residents to and from Seletar wet market 3 times a week, thanks to MP who heeded the complaints.

Singapore Responds To Regional Challenge
by AsiaInt
If anyone in the region can see and act on longer-term threats and challenges, it is the ruling caste of Singapore which has proved in the past adept at addressing issues before they arise and in so doing confounding the pessimists who have written off the island prematurely.

Singpaore Layoffs Slow, Jobless Rate May Hit 5.5%
by Business Times Singapore
The Republic has seen fewer layoffs but job availability remains sluggish and the jobless rate could hit 5.0 to 5.5 per cent this year, Minister of Manpower Lee Boon Yang said at the opening of a flight catering centre today.

Bus, MRT Firms Spend Too Much
by Irene Lim Chue Chue, Straits Times
Rather than spending lavishly on upgrading, maybe the money could be used to offset the fare increases.

Singapore In 2nd Place In "Economic Freedom" Index: Report
by Business Times Singapore
Hong Kong remained at the top while the United States came in third.

Why Restrict Talent Search?
by Paul Thompson, Business Times Singapore
A country that sees itself as an integral part of the global economy ought not to be restricting its search for talent from Jurong to Changi. Rather it should be trawling for candidates from Japan to Canada.

Bank Customers Get New Avenue To Fight Bad Service
by Hugh Chow, Straits Times
Industry's mediation unit, appeal panel will be able to order compensation of up to $50,000 for wronged customers.

Singapore Pupils Go Back To Basics
by BBC News
Singaporean children are being taught how to do simple household chores in an effort to make them less dependent on their maids.

Switkowski Has Lee On The Ropes
by Robert Gottliebsen, The Australian
The mistake Lee made in buying Optus was to assume that he could make an easy exit from pay-TV.

One Resaturant, 7 Eateries
by Tee Hun Ching, Straits Times
Colours By The Bay at Esplanade not only gathers seven restaurants under one root, but also allows customers in one eatery to order items from another.

PM: It's Singapore's Choice
by The Star
Malaysia has no problem if Singapore decides not to buy raw water from Johor because this will mean that the state can be assured of adequate water supply in future.

PTC Tries To Minimise Fare Hikes' Impact
by Eric Gwee Teck Hai, Public Transport Council, Straits Times
The PTC would like to assure readers that it has always sought to balance the interest of public-transport users with the need for bus and train operators to remain financially viable.

Small, Close Group Of Appointees Not GOod
by Chew Yong Jack, Straits Times
The process of appointing persons to important positions within the Government seems to be narrowed down to and decided within a small fraternity of notables.

$2 Is Great, But Why Charge At All?
by Ginnie Teo, Straits Times
More than 50 people polled welcome the move to slash Sentosa's admission fee, but some wonder why it is still not free.

Singapore Commits $3b To Revitalise Sentosa
by Business Times Singapore
The one-time jewel in Singapore's tourism crown has been struggling in recent years, with attractions being run down and some of them closing.

KL Says Water For Singapore Until 2161 If Price Is Right
by Business Times Singapore
Malaysia is willing to supply water to Singapore for another 100 years after the current pact expires 2061, but the city-state must be open to paying a higher price, a minister said today.

Customers Blame Banks For Internet Banking Inertia
by Siow Li Sen, Business Times Singapore
Don't blame us, blame the banks. That's the reaction of The Business Times readers to a survey that said Singaporeans' risk-aversion has caused the relative failure of Internet banking here.

When Services Are Neither Public Nor Private
by Ralf Dahrendorf, Straits Times
Governments can say that they did not have responsibility for the services, and the private providers can say that they merely did what the government wanted. In the end, not just democracy but the taxpayer may also be the victim.

Public Transport Needs More Public Scrutiny
by Chua Lee Hoong, Straits Times
Fare adjustment proposals are presented only to the PTC currently. They should be put into the public domain, too.

Radio Station In Trouble Again, Over Ad
by Lydia Lim, Straits Times
The Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) has told UFM 1003 to stop running a television advertisement, saying it had breached the Television Advertising Code by 'suggesting implicitly' that the station was better than rivals Love 97.2 FM and YES 93.3 FM.

Tech-Averse Singaporeans Give Banks Hard Time
by Siow Li Sen, Business Times Singapore
Remote channels like the Internet remain unpopular: survey report.

News Has To Be Presented Farily And Accurately
by Cecilia Yip, Singapore Broadcasting Authority, Straits Times
There could be separate broadcast programmes which are commentary pieces or personal columns.

PM Goh Hopeful Of Fixing Water Price With KL
by Lydia Lim, Straits Times
On Malaysia's plans to present a formula to fix the price of water it supplies to Singapore, Mr Goh said that it would be good to have 'a formula which can stand the test of time'.

KL To Table Water Price Formula At Talks
by Straits Times
Says formula could prevent future disputes; Malaysia also preparing claim to Singapore island of Pedra Branca.

Bank Fees And Interest Income Linked
by Goh Bun Hiong, Straits Times
As the derivation of interest income appears to be impossible without the incurring of such charges, there is clearly a link between the two.

PTC's Formula Removes Need To Cut Costs
by Joseph Chia Hock Herng, Straits Times
A formula that is based solely on the cost structure provides little incentive for transport companies to control or cut their costs.

HSA Knew Slim 10 Had Nicotinamide, Says Importer
by Straits Times
Copies of test results were submitted to HSA, as part of the approval process.

$388-m Payout: What Next, IDA?
by Straits Times
In their pursuit of the PS21 goal for a high-quality public service, public servants should not hide behind their mistakes.

Slim 10 Victims Can Sue
by Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times
Lawyers say those who developed health problems from drug could take importer, manufacturer or distributor to court.

Want To Run An HDB Carpark?
by Vince Chong, Business Times Singapore
The board said that if there are operators interested in running its carparks, it would be most happy to let them do so.

Clouds Have Not Cleared For Singapore's Manufacturing Sector
by AFP
Despite Singapore's manufacturing sector posting a surprisingly strong showing in April, economists say the linchpin of the country's economy continued to face a cloudy future.

Singapore Lawyer Happily Represents Thieves And Even Terror Suspects - But No Dissidents, Please
by Alexa Olsesn, Associated Press
"Lawyers here are too scared for their own livelihood."

Herbal Medicine Kills Singapore Slimmer
by BBC
A number of people have been taken ill after taking the pills, but the woman's death is the first reported since the authorities in Singapore ordered their withdrawl.

'Bring Justice For Me If I Die'
by Chang Ai-Lien and Wong SHer Maine, Straits Times
SLIM 10 has claimed its first life, and the victim made it clear that justice must be done.

Singaproe To Keep 13 Terror Suspects Behind Bars
by Reuters
Singapore says it will continue to detain 13 Muslim men without trial for allegedly plotting to bomb U.S. targets in the city state.

Heads Should Roll For Error
by Ron Tan Aik Ti, Straits Times
Shouldn't heads roll in this case, and some people in the then-Telecommunication Authority of Singapore responsible for this 'mistake'?

CPF Change 'Won't Hurt Property Market'
by Straits Times
"Whatever we do, whatever measures we take, it is clear we don't want it to have a depressing effect in the property market over the short to medium term."