SingaporeSurf

Malaysia's Senai Airport Eyes Singapore's Cargo Business
by Joseph Edwin, Dow Jones
Malaysia's Senai Airport in southern Johor state expects to lure 20% of air cargo business away from Singapore's Changi Airport over the next 10 years, in addition to targeting a fivefold increase in passenger traffic over the next five to seven years.

Singapore: Case Not Admissible
by The Star
Singapore argued that Malaysia's action in dragging the dispute before the tribunal lacked any basis and even questioned the sovereignty of the tribunal over adjudicating and arbitrating in the dispute because Malaysia had not fulfilled a major condition, namely that of first discussing the matter in a detailed manner, providing evidence and settling it through negotiations.

KL Argues Reclamation Case
by Lydia Lim, Straits Times
Malaysia began its case before an international tribunal to put an immediate stop to Singapore's reclamation at Pulau Tekong and Tuas, by arguing that the works were encroaching on its territorial waters. The reclamation was also causing irreversible damage to its marine environment, it alleged in its arguments before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

Government Bodies' Credibility Hurt By Sars Fiasco
by Lim Boon Hee, Straits Times
If a national disaster like Sars can result in great discrepancies and inaccurate information being given out by government spokesmen, nobody will believe what they may say in future.

Pay-TV License: Blaems Poor Econ Conditions
by Dow Jones
The Singapore government Wednesday said it didn't receive any bids for a proposed second pay-TV licence in the city-state, when its tender closed at midday.

Singapore Wants More
by Steve Creedy, Herald Sun
Singapore will continue to press for a full open-skies agreement after heavy lobbying by Qantas delivered a deal that increased access to Australia but did not allow it flights between Australia and the US.

Lab Not A Good Idea, Admits Institute
by Chang Ai-Lien, Straits Times
EHI admitted that it had not been a good idea to set up a biosafety level 3 (BSL3) lab within the confines of a lower-level safety facility.

Singapore SARS Patient Was Infected In Lab
by Associated Press
World Health Organization investigators said Tuesday that a Singapore researcher became infected with SARS in a government lab and blamed insufficient lab safety training for the mistake.

Singapore, Australia Ink Air Deal
by Reuters
Singapore's airlines can fly to any point in Australia under an air services pact just signed, but the deal falls short of the open skies arrangement Singapore has sought for the past decade.

Bush Okays Sale Of Global Crossing To Telemedia
by Business Times
President George W Bush on Friday allowed the sale of a majority stake in bankrupt Global Crossing Ltd to a company owned by the Singapore government, a deal that had come under scrutiny for possible national security implications.

Most Singaporeans Want SM Lee To Retire: Internet Poll
by Business Times

FairPrice Seen As Most Likely Buyer Of Shop N Save
by Angela Tan, Business Times
BT understands that there has been only one 'serious and keen' potential buyer to date and that is NTUC FairPrice.

Boob Jokes Are Not Okay
by Elisia Yeo, Today
With or without Playboy on local newsstands, women will continue to be demeaned.

6 In 10 Of NTU's Fresh Graduates Have Clinched Jobs
by Natalie Soh, Straits Times
More than half of Nanyang Technological University's latest batch of graduates have secured jobs.

Tribunal To Hear KL's Application Next Week
by Lydia Lim, Straits Times
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has fixed Sept 25 as the date when it will hear an application from Malaysia for an order to stop Singapore's reclamation at Pulau Tekong and Tuas.

Malaysian Censors Ban Jack Neo's "Homerun"
by Channel NewsAsia
According to Raintree Pictures CEO Daniel Yun, the Malaysian censors felt the movie contains many scenes with a political undertone, which Malaysian movie-goers could easily identify with.

WHO To Review Singapore Lab Safety After SARS Case
by Reuters
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday it is sending two experts to Singapore to help the city state review laboratory safety after a medical researcher tested positive for the deadly SARS virus.

Singapore Signals Shift On IPOs
by John Burton, Financial Times
Singapore has signalled it may take a tougher approach on policing initial public offerings after it rejected the proposed listing of NagaCorp, a Cambodian casino operator.

Under $20
by Karamjit Kaur, Straits Times
From Orchard to Kuala Lumpur: A bus to Senai, then a flight on AirAsia from Nov.

WHO Says No Intention Of Issuing SARS Travel Advisory Against Singapore
by Channel NewsAsia
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it had no intention of issuing a travel advisory against Singapore after it was confirmed a Singaporean man had contracted SARS.

Singapore Lets Cosmo Girl Back - But Only In A Jacket
by John Aglionby, Guardian

WHO Does Not Yet See Singapore Man As SARS Case
by Reuters
"At this stage, we are treating it as a suspected case — a perplexing case — but we're not treating it as probable SARS."

Efficient Transport System, But Not Value For Money?
by Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times
LTA poll of 1,000 commuters shows most agree system meets their needs, but only half feel it offers good value for money.

Air Asia Steers Clear Of Singapore For Now
by Dow Jones
Malaysia's only budget carrier, Air Asia, doesn't plan to use Singapore's Changi Airport in the immediate future despite the possibility of discounts offered by the hub, the New Straits Times daily says.

No Free-For-All Zone Yet For The Arts
by Tan Shzr Ee, Straits Times
The idea was rejected by Mita on grounds that 'the repercussions from such activities' could not be 'contained or restrained by artificial boundaries', said Mita Minister Lee Boon Yang yesterday.

Second Pay-TV Bidding May Turn Into Non-Event
by Kelvin Wong, Straits Times
Tenders for licence unlikely unless MDA rules on SCV's exclusive contracts with major content providers, say analysts.

Mahathir Says Malaysia Wants Arbitration In Land Dispute With Singapore Because Talks Failed
by Associated Press
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Sunday that Malaysia referred a dispute over Singapore's land reclamation activities to an international tribunal because negotiations have failed to settle the disagreement.

"Sharks" March In Singapore Against Soup Delicacy
by Reuters
Clad in shark suits, a group of Singapore students marched through the city state on Sunday to protest over the mass slaughter of the big fish to make shark fin soup, a delicacy throughout Asia.

Arbitration Unnecessary, Says Singapore
by The Star
Singapore has expressed regret over Malaysia's decision to bring the republic's land reclamation issue to arbitration.

Changi May Cut Charges For Budget Airlines
by Karamjit Kaur, Straits Times
No-frills carriers that make use of fewer airport services could be charged less, and this may be good news to new players.

Group: Singapore Likes Its Censor Laws
by Alexa Olesen, Associated Press
Singaporeans want a little more sex and lot less violence in the arts but are largely content with their notoriously conservative censors.

Surprise Halt To Increases In Sports Fees
by Lydia Lim, Straits Times
Govt overturns decision announced this week to raise charges at Sports Council facilities, pledges to take care with hikes.

Bush Signs Chile, Singapore Trade Pacts
by Associated Press
President Bush signed legislation Wednesday to begin free trade with Singapore and Chile, saying that opening world markets is essential for U.S. prosperity and the spread of freedom.

Censorship Review Panel Unveils Ideas To Relax And Refine Standards
by Bridgette See, Channel NewsAsia
Giving Singaporeans more choice at the cinema, on television and in the magazines they read. A panel appointed by the Government has just come up with a slew of suggestions to relax and refine censorship standards.

Text-Messaging Drivers May Go To Jail
by Associated Press
Singaporeans who send text messages on their mobile phones while driving face a fine of up to 1,000 Singapore dollars and six months in jail, police said Tuesday.

Johor To Continue Buying Water From Singapore
by The Star
Johor has to put on hold its plans to stop buying treated water from Singapore's Public Utility Board following a delay in the completion of the Semangar Water Treatment Plant near here.

Changi Airport Moves Up To Second-Cheapest In Asia
by Karamjit Kaur, Straits Times
Fighting travel slump with rate cuts, Changi becomes more attractive to airlines but is still trailing KL airport.

Singapore No Partner Of Thai's No-Frills Airline
by Nondhanada Intarakomalyasut, Bangkok Post
"We've never invited Singapore to be our partner."

Thai Press: Singapore Drops Thai Joint Airline Plan
by Dow Jones
Singapore authorities have dropped a plan to set up a joint venture airline with a Thai partner, citing an unattractive return on investment, Krungthep Turakij reports quoting an unnamed source.

Singapore Creates More Space For Fun, Not For Civil Society
by Ivan Gan, Manila Times
It remains to be seen whether Lee Hsien Loong, commonly perceived as an unapproachable politician who takes a no-nonsense stance, will continue with Goh's steps toward some openness.

Why 7 Ministers In PM's Office
by Straits Times
Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong explained the duties of the seven ministers in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), saying that each of them has substantive responsibilities.

Buzz At Speakers' Corner
by Wendy Tan, Straits Times
Regulars and a fair share of curious passers-by were attracted by the buzz of activity that had built up on the third anniversary of the Speakers' Corner.

Singapore FTA Move Seen Gaining Support As WTO Talks Bog Down
by Business Times
Singapore's lead in negotiating regional or bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) may gain more followers in East Asia if the upcoming WTO meeting in Mexico fails to make progress, analysts said.

No Rise In Hospital Fees, Khaw Promises
by Helmi Yusoh, Straits Times
His promise, however, was accompanied by a plea to Singaporeans that they need to moderate their expectations and not insist on expensive medicines when less costly generic drugs and treatments will bring similar results.