Can Japanese car brands like Mitsubishi make a significant comeback here? FANS of the brand that gave the world iconic models like the Lancer Evolution series and the Pajero will be glad to know that it is making a comeback. Although it was technically never away, the high COE prices of recent years and an ageing product lineup caused Mitsubishi to fall on hard times.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Lift
SINGAPORE - A giant helium-filled balloon will float above Singapore from early next year to watch over the Republic's skies and shores day and night.
Known as an aerostat, the balloon will be tethered to the ground and house a surveillance radar that can spot hostile aerial and sea threats from as far as 200km away. These include straying civilian light aircraft, small boats and even mobile missile launchers.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Tuesday that the 55m-long blimp will be deployed from inside a military camp, adding that the balloon will 'improve our surveillance capabilities significantly'. He however did not disclose the camp's location.
Dr Ng said that the aerostat will complement Singapore's existing early warning and information-gathering systems that are facing increasing constraints, due mainly to the construction of taller buildings that prevent them 'from establishing a clear line of sight'.
'In order to see far, you have to be very high with no buildings to block you...Our ground-based radar systems can only operate above high-rise buildings,' said Dr Ng at his ministry's PRoductivity and Innovation in Daily Efforts (PRIDE) Day awards ceremony held at Nanyang Polytechnic .
'Airborne radars can go around the clock, but that is costly and manpower intensive.'
It will be cheaper to launch and operate the aerostat. Dr Ng said the balloon will save about $29 million in operating costs.
Operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the aerostat can hover at a height of 2000ft, or a 200-storey building, and transmit detailed data to the ground immediately. The information will also be shared with other security agencies such as the Police Coast Guard.
Aerostats have been used by law enforcement agencies around in the world since the 1980s. They include the US Customs and Border Protection Agency which uses aerostats to scan the skies for suspicious aircraft activity.
jermync@sph.com.sg
Thailand Approves Kunming
Rail lines running north from Bangkok to Chiang Mai have become so decrepit that derailments occur regularly. But plans to upgrade are also sidetracked with high frequency. So Asian transportation experts, and railway buffs everywhere, were surprised by the Thai military government's sudden approval in July of a $23 billion plan to upgrade and expand rail lines and other infrastructure. Included were two lines that could revolutionize the region's freight service, linking ports around Bangkok and in Singapore with China and onward to Europe.
Such a pan-Asian rail network has been on the drawing board for decades and is promised in several recent regional pacts. Some routes were mapped out more than a century ago as the British and French carved tracks through the jungle in an ambitious Great Game of Trains that was meant to boost trade among their colonial holdings in Asia and counter Russia's Trans-Siberian railway.
Now a new game is under way, and China is the key player. 'China has been eyeing routes from Yunnan to the coast for a long, long time,' says Chalongphob Sussangkarn, who has studied various freight and passenger routes for decades as an advisor to the Thai government. Ports in Singapore and Bangkok, he notes, are closer to China's vast southwest region than China's own eastern ports.
Southeast Asian ports also offer access to strategic shipping lines where much of the world's oil is transported, as well as service to many of the world's fastest-developing nations. Various routes from China have been pitched over the years, with the main options via reticent Laos or the more difficult terrain of Myanmar, which has a keener government. China has pledged to finance either route. Last month China took the first step by approving an $11.4 billion plan to build two rail lines-one from near Yunnan's provincial capital, Kunming, to the Laos border and the other from Dali in western Yunnan to the Myanmar border. No matter the alternative, after Laos or Myanmar the tracks must run through Thailand, the sole land bridge to Singapore. Malaysia and Singapore have already approved a high-speed line to be finished by 2020. The last domino could be Thailand.
The plan approved by Thailand's new rulers recalls a proposal by the elected government they dispatched in a coup in May. As before, major questions involve not only the route, equipment and whether the gauge of the track will match the Chinese lines. There is also concern about the massive investment and the ever looming shadow of China. The courts killed the last plan over questionable 'rice for rails' funding-the Yingluck government allegedly planned to swap surplus rice for Chinese trains. 'China is eager to move forward and is offering financing as well as technology and its own equipment,' says one industry official close to the discussions. 'But resistance is also high. There is a huge fear about a kind of new Chinese colonization.'
Chalongphob concedes that China's participation, both as a rail partner and a competitor for potential business, is on everybody's mind. 'But if you don't have a link to southern China in the next 20 years, this will really be an enormous lost opportunity.'
Thailand has ample experience with lost railway opportunities. It was among Asia's earliest exponents of rail: Its industry began rolling in 1890 with the formation of the Royal State Railways of Siam. Within 15 years lines were running north and south, and it became the State Railway of Thailand in 1951.
But typical of government-owned enterprises, modernization and maintenance failed to keep pace. Instead investment shifted to roads and the boom in private automobiles. The northern route from Bangkok to Nong Khai, on the Lao border, is one candidate for being extended to China; it's among the more recent main lines but still over half a century old. The other main option north-Bangkok-Chiang Mai-dates to the 1920s; likewise the tracks running south to Malaysia. With the government steadfastly refusing to raise the low passenger fares or divert more money from the budget, the system is starved of investment. Practically all trains run late and at a loss. Studies show that freight costs nearly twice as much to move in Thailand as in nearby countries, but cargo long ago shifted to faster, more dependable trucks. Thai trains carry passengers in mainly grungy third-class compartments. 'Without aggressive and sustained support and restructuring, the Thailand railway system is likely to become irrelevant within ten years,' said the Asian Development Bank in a report last year.
The infrastructure package approved in July could halt the decline. Details have been sparse, though in the original announcement the government estimated that work would begin next year, with completion in six to eight years. Equipment-makers and transportation experts report that there have been no consultations, but officials were promising new details this month.
Many view the big infrastructure package as the type of prestige project typically mounted by new governments. It's also the kind of grand scheme that suits an authoritarian regime. China has ramped up its railways in just a few decades, becoming a genuine global powerhouse, exporting its own high-speed technology and boasting innovations such as a link to remote Tibet that pushed the limits of construction as the highest-altitude line in the world. 'We're definitely watching. This would be huge, if it happens,' says Kevin Smith, who has covered Thai trains for the industry magazine International Railway Journal and has seen previous proposals go nowhere. 'We'll believe it when we see it.'
Like many others, he scoffs at the enormous breadth of the transportation plan and its apparent contradictions. As announced the package has something for everyone: express trains to China and Singapore for exporters, urban rail expansion for traffic-weary Bangkok commuters and improvements of national highways for all. Besides the major lines to China that have gotten most of the attention, several other routes are mentioned, including tracks to neighboring Cambodia.
Experts say a viable blueprint should focus on an individual sector, such as passenger or freight service. The plan touts extensive electrification and double-tracking of rail lines. This would be huge; Thailand has 4,500 kilometers of rail, the vast majority of them single track. Adding dual carriages would boost speed and efficiency, but it's expensive and more practical when the market is high-paying passenger lines in urban corridors.
For trains to China, cargo will be the priority, and upgrading existing tracks would seem to be the more logical plan. The government has already downplayed hopes of high-speed passenger lines, saying safety concerns will limit trains to speeds of 160 kilometers an hour, about half the norm of China's high-speed trains. 'The line will likely come down the corridor from Kunming toward Chiang Rai and then down through Chiang Mai to Bangkok, if it comes,' says railway consultant Greg Wood, who worked on the ADB's 2013 train plan. 'But in my view it will be very expensive, carry limited traffic and cost a lot to keep working. It will mainly serve the geopolitical interests of the Chinese government to link to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.'
Worries over procurement procedures are widespread, especially with China involved in discussions about the route as well as being potentially a supplier and financer. Both Lao and Myanmar officials have questioned China's desire to fund lines through their countries, citing issues of repayment and land grants, among numerous concerns.
Thailand's history of problems with projects of this scope is almost as ragged as its run-down trains. Corruption scandals have brought down many governments, and battling corruption is a major theme of the military junta that is now running the country. Hence, some see a discussion by the government last month about creating an agency to oversee the transportation plan as a good development. 'The establishment of a railway department within the Ministry of Transport was one of my recommendations to take over control of the railway infrastructure,' says Wood. 'That now seems to be happening. So it will be a useful first step.'
Chalongphob adds: 'These railway projects are going to happen someday, there is no question about that. The question isn't just when but how, and how it benefits not just Thailand but the other countries involved.'
Singapore Airlines first A380 has landed
Singapore Airlines' inaugural Airbus A380 service has landed at Auckland Airport and will fly daily between Singapore and New Zealand for next five months.
The superjumbo, which replaces a Boeing 777-300ER over the summer season, carries up to 471 passengers across two decks.
It features 12 luxury first class suites, 60 business class seats and 399 in economy.
The Singapore Airlines A380 service will compete with Emirates A380 which features similar levels of luxury.
Emirates has been flying the A380 from Dubai to Auckland via Australia for five years.
The aircraft landed at about 11.20am and was welcomed with a celebratory water arch from the airport's fire tenders water canons and a Maori song.
Singapore Airlines New Zealand general manager Edwin Chiang said the A380 will fly daily between Singapore and New Zealand through to March 29.
Depending on customer demand he hoped the A380 will eventually fly to New Zealand all year round.
The service marks the first step towards an alliance signed between Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand which officially starts on January 6.
Under the alliance, announced in January, Air New Zealand will resume flying between Auckland and Singapore, having abandoned the route in 2006 because of heavy losses.
Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said the additional capacity from Singapore Airlines' A380 will bring an extra 55,000 passengers to New Zealand each year.
- © Fairfax NZ News
Monday, October 27, 2014
Singapore captures heart of tennis star Serena Williams with orchid named ...
Women's tennis star Serena Williams took home a trophy and more than $2 million for her win over Romanian Simona Halep in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Finals in Singapore on Sunday, but an orchid named after her really captured her heart.
The orchid hybrid bears purple and white-coloured flowers in line with the WTA's colours, and it blooms throughout the year.
The Dendrobium Pramot x Burana Charming was named after singles winner Serena Williams This hybrid has a striking purple lip, offset by the pale petals, some with a blush of light purple at the tip. The flared petals suggest energy and speed, and the parentage makes it likely these will be long lasting flowers. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD
It is a hybrid between Dendrobium Pramot and Burana Charming. Doubles winners Cara Black from Zimbabwe and Sania Mirza from India also had the orchid honour.
The Dendrobium Thonglor Jewel x Queen Southeast were named after doubles team winners Cara Black and Sania Mirza. The slightly arching flower spikes carry elegant flowers of a creamy white heavily flushed with pastel purple-pink. The lip has a striking flared form, offsetting the white throat at the centre of the flower. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD
The three women are the next sports celebrities celebrated this way in Singapore, after golfer Annika Sorenstam, the world's top female golfer at the time, took part in the Lexus Cup here in 2006.
The Singapore Tourism Board said that the flowers were named after them to echo WTA's ideal of expanding women's roles in sport and society.
Orchid christening goes a long way, with the first named in 1956 after Lady Anne Black, the wife of a former governor of Singapore.
The nearest you can get to some celebrities, dignitaries and visiting heads of states is probably at the National Orchid Garden at the Singapore Botanical Gardens.
Here are others who have had hybrid orchids named after them.
1. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan holding up a picture of Ascocenda Shah Rukh Khan, an orchid named after him at the National Orchid Garden. -- PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN
2. Britain's first female prime minister Margaret Thatcher
Britain's first female prime minister Margaret Thatcher admiring the orchids at the orchid enclosure in Botanic Gardens. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
3. Singaporean singer-songwriter Stefanie Sun
Singer Stefanie Sun at the Singapore Garden Festival-Orchid Show prize presentation, where she became the first local celebrity to have an orchid named after her. -- PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
4. Renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli
Renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli stands beside the hybrid named after him, which was showcased at the Celebrity Orchid Display in the National Orchid Garden in 2010. -- PHOTO: YTL CORPORATION
5. Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan
Dr Tan Wee Kiat (left) of the National Parks Board (NParks) with UN secretary general Kofi Annan (centre) at an orchid naming ceremony in 2000 in Singapore. -- PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
Pink dolphin has non
SINGAPORE: Underwater World Singapore (UWS) responded to allegations by animal welfare groups that their animals were kept in 'sub-standard' conditions, saying on Monday (Oct 27) that a pink dolphin at Dolphin Lagoon was actually suffering from a non-transmissable form of skin cancer.
'The dolphin mentioned in the Wildlife Watchers' report was diagnosed skin cancer, which is not transmissible, and is being treated by our marine mammal veterinarian,' said a spokesperson from Underwater World Singapore.
'It is under the attentive care of our team of marine mammal trainers,' added the spokesperson. 'Health checks are conducted regularly and the results show that, apart from the cancer, which is being specifically treated, the dolphin is generally in good health.'
Underwater World Singapore also said that appearance of the dolphin in public at the main pool was 'minimised' and that it does not participate in any performance or programme. The public are informed of its condition whenever they are asked about it, UWS added.
The oceanarium also said that the dolphin still enjoys playing with the other dolphins and is not being isolated from the others.
Responding to comments that their otters are being kept in 'sub-standard conditions', Underwater World Sentosa said it offers the otters the 'opportunity to explore different stimuli in different enclosures at both the front and the back of the house'.
'Our trainers observe the otters closely and frequently, and vary the enrichment activities according to the otters' interest,' added the oceanarium. 'All enrichment items provided and the method of delivery are reviewed to make sure that our otters interact safely and positively with their enrichment toys.'
The spokesperson was not able to comment on the other dolphins and animals mentioned in a report by Wildlife Watchers (Singapore) and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
'SUB-STANDARD CONDITIONS' FOR ANIMALS
Animal welfare groups Wildlife Watcher (Singapore) and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on Sunday published a report, detailing the 'appalling' health of dolphins held at the Dolphin Lagoon as well as 'sub-standard' conditions of other animals at Underwater world Singapore.
The report featured seven points detailing the investigations, including that of infrastructure degradation and wounds seen on the dolphins itself. Of the former, the report stated that 'corrosion of pool beams were visible from audience's viewpoint'.
As for the health of the dolphins, the report noted: 'One of the adult female dolphin named 'Han' has a visible infection on top of her head and another distinct wound on the left side of her bottom jaw. From pictures take in July and August, both injuries show no signs of improvement and appear to have worsened over time.
'Our investigators also found fresh scratch marks on another adult dolphin, suspected to be bite marks inflicted by other dolphins kept together in the facility,' the report stated.
Other points in the report included dolphins and fur seals made to display and perform 'unnatural acts for entertainment', while the Asian Small-clawed Otters were housed in 'sub-standard conditions, indicating an obvious lack of welfare'.
Members from both groups looked into the conditions and welfare of the pink dolphins at the Lagoon in July and August by sitting in on programmes featuring the animals. Through these sessions, they logged seven hours of observation, videos and photos during the two days - Jul 23 and Aug 17, 2014 - they were at the tourists attractions on Sentosa.
'APPALLED AT CONDITIONS': ACRES
Commenting on the findings, ACRES Chief Executive Louis Ng said ACRES is 'appalled by the conditions of the dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon'. He added that it supports the campaign by Wildlife Watcher (Singapore).
'Dolphins clearly do not do well in captivity and belong in the vast open oceans. The global movement to end the keeping of dolphins in captivity is growing. ACRES hopes that companies in Singapore will make a moral and ethical decision to end the confinement of dolphins in captivity.'
Mr Ng also cited Switzerland as an example, noting that the keeping of dolphins or whales in zoos or waterparks will end, while India, too, banned the keeping of cetaceans, or marine mammals, in captivity.
New exhibition to explore 700 years of Singapore's history
SINGAPORE: The National Museum of Singapore is launching SINGAPURA: 700 Years, an interactive exhibition that explores seven centuries of the Republic's history, on Tuesday (Oct 28), it announced in a press release on Monday (Oct 27).
With the closure of the Singapore History Gallery on Nov 3, SINGAPORE: 700 Years will be one of the exhibitions that will be open to the public during the Museum's revamp, the release stated.
The exhibition will present seven centuries of Singapore's defining moments through six sections, namely Archaeology in Singapore, Ancient Singapore (1300 to 1818), Colonial Singapore (1819 to 1942), Syonan-To (1942 to 1945), Road to Merdeka (1946 to 1965), and Independent Singapore (1965 to 1975).
Visitors to the exhibition can expect an interactive experience, said the National Museum. Highlights include hands-on experiences such as casting a vote to decide Singapore's merger with Malaya, and taking a history quiz. A HDB void deck from the 1965 to 1975 period complete with chess tables and chess has also been recreated.
In 2015. visitors will also be able to use their smart devices to retrieve more information about displays, share what they see with their social networks, and provide feedback, added the museum.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a series of special programmes will be rolled out progressively over the 10-month exhibition for visitors who are keen to find out more about Singapore's history. These include talks and workshops on archaeology and interactive tours, the Museum said.
SINGAPURA: 700 Years will be on display from Oct 28 2014, to Aug 10, 2015 at the National Museum of Singapore. Admission to this exhibition is free for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, S$6 for foreign adult visitors and S$3 for foreign student and senior citizen visitors. Further information is available on the National Museum of Singapore's official website.
Gyanendra Malla ton powers Nepal to victory over Singapore
Gyanendra Malla ton powers Nepal to victory over Singapore
Bermuda records first victory of tournament against Malaysia
As the action intensified in Kuala Lumpur, day three of Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 saw Nepal record a 190-run victory over Singapore, and Uganda and Bermuda win their rain-affected matches by 24 runs and 37 runs respectively.
On a big-hitting day, Nepal scored 263 for nine and then dismissed Singapore for 73, Uganda posted 215 to defeat USA by 24 runs chasing a revised target of 153 (Duckworth-Lewis Method), and Bermuda recorded its first win of the tournament with a 37-run win over Malaysia, which was chasing a revised total of 217.
In the showcase match of the day, a knock of 114 by 24-year-old Gyanendra Malla sealed a resounding 190-run victory for Nepal over Singapore in front of a large and vocal crowd at Bayeumas. Coming in on the third ball of the day, man of the match Malla struck 13 fours and one six, sharing a 73-run second-wicket partnership with Naresh Budhaayer (29) and a fourth-wicket stand of 92 with Sharad Vesawkar (25). After posting the first century of the tournament, Malla was dismissed in the 44 th over, after which Nepal lost five wickets in four overs to reach a total of 263 for nine, the highest team total of the tournament to date.
Amjad Mehboob was Singapore's leading wicket-taker, claiming four wickets for 47 in nine overs, while Darmichand Mulewa claimed three for 31 and Anish Paraam took two for 66.
In reply, Singapore lost opener Arjun Mutreja, the highest run-scorer in the tournament before today's matches, for five runs in the second over. Coming in at number three, Chetan Suryawanshi top-scored with 15, as Nepal's Sompal Kami and Amrit Bhattarai regularly claimed wickets to leave the side reeling at six for 41 in 10.4 overs. Left-armer Basant Regmi finished off the tail end, returning extraordinary figures of four wickets for six runs from 5.4 overs, with Sompal Kami claiming four for 41 and Amrit Bhattarai bagging two for 19.
Nepal skipper Paras Khadka was delighted with his side's efforts: 'I think it was an amazing performance overall from the boys. Hopefully it is the first of many to come in the remaining matches in the tournament. We've lost one game and had two victories, so it's not over for us. We need to go out there and perform strongly.'
The captain said Malla's man of the match performance was well deserved. 'Gyanendra played very, very well. He's been an amazing player for Nepal, but he'd not made three figures before. I think there's a lot more to come from him. The bowlers followed up, I couldn't have asked for anything better.'
At Selangor Turf Club, Uganda sealed its third consecutive victory of the tournament with a 24-run win over USA (D-L Method). The side's decision to bat first proved a good one, with opener Roger Mukasa anchoring the innings with a knock of 71. Hamu Bagendra (21), Phillemon Selowa (27) and Brian Masaba (36) helped Uganda post 215 for the loss of eight wickets.
USA, led by Srinivasa Santhanam (37), started its chase well, however Uganda skipper Frank Nsubunga claimed the top four on the batting list to restrict the side to 69 for four in 17.4 overs. When rain struck in the 34 th over, USA had lost five wickets for 116 runs, and, chasing a revised target of 153, lost a sixth wicket two balls after the break. The sides were able to play two overs, with Adil Batti striking a six off the final delivery to take the USA total to 128 for six before the match was called off, with Uganda recording a 24 run victory.
Uganda skipper Frank Nsubuga was the main wicket-taker for Uganda, claiming four for 14 runs, while Mukasa was adjudged man of the match.
The delighted captain said: 'The camp is so happy with this win. The boys are consistently putting in good performances. The wicket was turning a lot, so we just needed good length, which we achieved.'
However, Nsubuga said his side would not rest on its laurels. 'Today's match is finished, and we've got two matches to go. We are waiting for Malaysia tomorrow, and we are going to give 110 per cent.'
In the final match of the day, Bermuda recorded its maiden victory of the tournament with a 37-run victory over host Malaysia at Kinrara Oval (D-L method). Christian Burgess again led from the front in a man of the match performance, with his knock of 82 coming from 88 balls. A half-century from veteran Lionel Cann (51) and a blistering 14-ball 43 by Allan Douglas II saw the side post 257 for eight from its 50 overs, with Malaysia's Suharril Fetri and Nasir Shafiq taking two wickets apiece.
Skipper Ahmed Faiz led the Malaysia response with his second half-century of the tournament (87), however, the side was not able to reach the revised target of 217 after rain interrupted the game in the 43rd over, and Bermuda sealed a 37-run victory.
Bermuda captain Janeiro Tucker was thrilled with the side's first win: 'We've been working on assessing the wickets to get ourselves into the position we got into today, and today we executed our plans. Now we're looking for a win tomorrow to put pressure on the other teams.'
Scores in brief:At Kinrara Bermuda 257 for eight, 50 overs (Christian Burgess 82, Lionel Cann 51, Allan Douglas II 43; Suharril Fetri 2-41, Nasir Shafiq 2-45) Malaysia 179 for seven, 43 overs (Anwar Arudin 45, Ahmed Faiz 87; Dion Stovell 3-29)Bermuda won by 37 runs (D-L method)Player of the Match: Christian Burgess (Bermuda)
At Bayeumas Nepal 263 for nine, 50 overs (Gyanendra Malla 114; Amjad Mehboob 4-47, Darmichand Mulewa 3-31, Anish Paraam 2-66) Singapore 73 all out, 21.4 overs (Basant Regmi 4-6, Sompal Kami 4-41, Amrit Bhattarai 2-19)Nepal won by 190 runsPlayer of the Match: Gyanendra Malla (Nepal)
At Selangor Turf Club Uganda 215 for eight, 50 overs (Roger Mukasa 71; Brian Masaba 36; Timil Patel 3-42, Danial Ahmed 2-26, Muhammad Ghous 2-44) USA 128 for six, 35.4 overs (Srinivasa Santhanam 37, Frank Nsubuga 4-23)Uganda won by 24 runs (D-L Method)Player of the Match: Roger Mukasa (Uganda)
At Kinrara: Nepal v USAAt Bayeumas: Malaysia v UgandaAt Selangor Turf Club: Bermuda v Singapore
All matches are scheduled to start at 1015 local time
Singapore's startup scene is overrated. But that's the only way it can succeed
Here's a dirty secret: Singapore is really good at getting people to drink its kool-aid. As a tourist destination, it's great at trumpeting itself to the press. The local media has made an art out of proclaiming that Singapore is number one, or near the top, in everything.
It's a top financial center. The most competitive economy with the lowest unemployment rate. The list goes on. The Straits Times even proclaimed Singapore the number one place in Southeast Asia for startups. Nevermind that Southeast Asia is a low bar.
But here's the problem: people believe the Singapore hype too much. The more times you repeat a lie, the higher the tendency for you to believe it. Fortunately, that bubble has burst in recent weeks.
Two startups announced massive funding rounds. Neither are from Singapore. GrabTaxi, which closed a round reportedly worth US$65 million, hails from Malaysia. Indonesian ecommerce site Tokopedia topped that with a US$100 million announcement.
One prominent startup has downsized in Singapore. Thailand's aCommerce pulled out its logistics operations from the country, citing online retailer disinterest in serving the Singapore market (case in point: Rocket Internet's Lazada entered Singapore last in Southeast Asia).
These developments have the following effects:
It puts Malaysia and Indonesia back on top of public consciousness as a startup destination, never mind that most of the largest public-listed internet companies in the region already come from Malaysia. Investors will start to take more notice of the region as a whole, and Singapore's neighbors as a startup destination rather than Singapore itself. Think about it: of all the bigger ecommerce companies located in Singapore, a big name like Sequoia has chosen instead to head directly to Indonesia to fund Tokopedia first.
It's the second effect that could have lasting impact on Singapore's reputation as a startup hub. It exposes the country's weaknesses:
It's a tiny market that's at odds with the region. Asia's growth story is occurring in places like Indonesia and Vietnam. Many Singapore-based entrepreneurs are not adaptable enough to thrive in these countries as they are culturally more in-tune with the West and other developed markets. Yes, Silicon Valley startups think global from day one, but they have the United States as a primary market and a foothold with which to shoot for world domination. Singapore isn't like Israel. Its people are too comfortable. It doesn't have neighboring countries threatening to wipe them off the face of the planet. It lacks deep links with countries like the United States. Doing business in Singapore is ridiculously expensive. Rents are high. Cost of labor is through the roof due to the higher standards of living. It's very common even for Singapore companies to hire talent from elsewhere in the region if they can.
Given these factors, it's very easy to discount Singapore as an overhyped startup hub. If we're talking lifestyle, there's beautiful Bali, which offers tranquility together with coworking spaces to get work done. If we're talking blue ocean, it might make more sense to jump straight into a voluminous market like Indonesia or Vietnam and dominate there first rather than start from Singapore.
Don't count Singapore out
Think what you will about Singapore, but you can't blame its government for hyping up the country. It's a necessary survival strategy, woven into the circumstances which birthed forth the nation. And it remains important today, given the odd environment it is situated in.
Depending on your viewpoint, you'd believe one of two things: either Singapore's meritocratic ideology was at odds with Malaysia's racial politics, resulting in an ouster that caused Lee Kuan Yew to famously weep on TV, or Singapore overplayed its hand by meddling too much in Malaysian politics and got shown to the door.
The consequences, however, were undisputed. Singapore had to fend for itself without a hinterland. Its entire narrative, politics, and economic policy, up to today, revolve around that very fact. It's forever a startup headed by a nimble, near opposition-less government that can react swiftly to changes.
As such, Singapore is very sensitive to how it is perceived internationally, especially when it affects the economy. It has to. With no domestic market to speak of, it has to rely on foreign investments to bring in the bacon.
Singapore's governance, infrastructure, intellectual capital, and reputation are its competitive advantages. Lose them and market forces will rapidly swing the other way. In other words, if the government didn't get the startup ball rolling, Singapore may never take the lead.
This is reflected in the startup scene here: it has made a huge publicity event out of its expanded Block 71 program, which houses the local startup ecosystem. It's pumping money into startups through the TIS, ESVF, and a new medtech investment scheme.
The government demonstrates a lot of self-awareness with these programs. It's the only government in Southeast Asia capable of enacting, implementing, and iterating upon policy at such a scale and speed, and it's taking full advantage of that ability. It's also aware that its research and educational institutions are the best in the region, hence its tweaking of TIS to cater to intellectual property-heavy startups.
Critics who point out that Singapore's government is meddling too much in the startup scene are simply ignorant about the country's history.
Not just an oasis, but an aircraft carrier
There's a hidden element of Singapore's startup strategy that hasn't been articulated much. On the surface, Singapore is marketing itself as an oasis. Its relatively corruption-free governance attracts investors into the region, creating the wide availability of venture capital funding you now see.
But what Singapore is, or is trying to be, is an aircraft carrier. It's projecting influence beyond its tiny shores. It's trying to achieve what Israel now has, but the reverse way. Instead of collecting a global diaspora, it's letting people go out hoping they'll maintain ties here, and bringing people in hoping they'll develop roots in the country. The influx of talent adds to the local knowledge pool, creating a virtuous cycle of wealth and knowhow.
ACE, a Singapore entrepreneurial organization, has set up a Beijing chapter and is looking to establish more in other cities to help Singapore companies expand abroad. Meanwhile, government-linked VC Infocomm Investments has been busy finding ways to bring foreign startups to set up shop in Singapore.
This is a full-on, multi-agency, customer acquisition effort to turn Singapore into a brand name for innovative companies and entrepreneurs, both local and foreign. Singapore is not just a destination or a country. It is a signpost for the region and a platform for global expansion.
Now we turn to the startups themselves. There has been some nice stories that have come out of Singapore. We have brave Singaporeans who have succeeded abroad: names like Sim Wong Hoo (Creative), Min-Liang Tan (Razer), and Peng T. Ong (Interwoven) comes to mind.
We have the hot internet companies that have or are making a name for themselves, many of which are run by foreigners or naturalized citizens: Garena, Reebonz, RedMart, PropertyGuru, Viki, and Luxola are some examples belonging in this category.
But for Singapore to really reach its aims, what it needs more of are startups that use Singapore as a base but are global in nature. It needs companies wise enough to get the government or government-linked enterprises as customers, then scale from there. In other words, less SGCarMarts and more Razers, less HungryGoWheres and more Hope Techniks.
So before it gets there, expect to see Singapore market the heck out of itself. It's fake-it-till-you-make it, state edition.
Because sometimes, the more you repeat a lie, the more it becomes true.
See more: Razer reportedly closed a funding round from Intel that values the company at $1 billion
Sunday, October 26, 2014
WTA Tour Finals Singapore 2014 Tennis Live Streaming: Serena Williams vs ...
Watch the tennis live streaming as World Number 1 Serena Williams takes on Simona Halep of Romania in the final clash of the WTA Tour Finals 2014 in Singapore on Sunday. Serena Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki while Simona Halep triumphed over Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals on Saturday. The tennis match will be streamed live on WTA Live or Tennis TV. US viewers can catch the action on ESPN 3 or watch on .
Serena Williams, who has already won the year-end tournament five times, will be gunning for her third straight WTA Tour Finals crown. Simona Halep, on the other hand, is relatively younger and inexperienced in the year-end tour. Additionally Serena Williams is coming in to the tournament after winning her record-equalling 18 th Grand Slam when she won the US Open earlier in September. Simona Halep, who was the runner-up at the French Open and semi-finalist at the Wimbledon had a poor outing at the Flushing Meadows.
The 44th edition of the tournament takes place at Singapore Indoor stadium from October 20-26, 2014. The singles event features the top eight tennis players - Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Eugenie Bouchard, Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki, who will be playing in the round robin format, split in two groups of four. The top two from each group will go into the semi-final.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Singapore pastor Joseph Prince goes worldwide
Published on Oct 26, 2014 7:56 AM
Singapore is home to the world's 10th richest pastor?
Last week, the New Creation Church rubbished claims by United States-based entertainment website Richest Lifestyle that its founding member and senior pastor Joseph Prince drew a salary of $550,000 a year and had a net worth of US$5 million (S$6.4 million).
However, there is no denying the extent of Mr Prince's reach.
The 51-year-old hosts a religious television show which, it is claimed, can be seen in more than 200 countries, and has been aired daily on several major American television networks such as ABC Family and Daystar Television.
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From wariness to trust
'When a friend passed me a cassette tape with his face on it, I was very wary because I thought the church would be some personality cult and not a proper church. But then I heard him preach, and I was moved.'
MS GERALDINE WEE, a scriptwriter who joined the church a decade ago FIVE NIGERIANS AMONG WORLD'S 10 RICHEST PASTORS
Five of the 10 richest pastors in the world are from Nigeria, according to a rich list out this month.
The Richest Lifestyle entertainment website that published the list on Oct 7 ranked Nigerian pastor David Oyedepo at No. 1 saying he has a net worth of US$150 million (S$191 million). He founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981 and is said to own four private jets and homes in Britain and the United States.
Lifestyle's list was based in part on a 2011 Forbes article which focused on Nigeria's 'business-savvy' pastors. Both publications list pastors Oyedepo, Chris Oyakhilome, Temitope Joshua, Matthew Ashimolowo and Chris Okotie as the country's richest pastors, all with estimated wealth of above US$10 million.
Also in 2011, BBC published a report on its website titled: Nigeria: Where Religion Is Big Business. It said an increasing number of the country's 70 million Christians were followers of so-called 'prosperity teachings' - the belief that prosperity is a sign of spiritual blessing. 'Services are held in megachurches that hold thousands, with millionaire pastors preaching the word,' it said.
Nigeria's megachurches have also expanded to the US, Europe and Asia, the report said, earning income from the sale of books written by the pastors, and CDs and DVDs of their sermons. But the bulk of the income is from congregation donations.
A report by the Guardian newspaper in Britain last year said the UK Charity Commission was examining the booming British operation of Mr Oyedepo - which received more than £16 million (S$32 million) in tithes between 2008 and 2011 - over 'allegations that charitable funds have been misapplied'. It is not clear what the investigation's outcome was.
The top 10 rich list includes US-based pastors Billy Graham, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar and T.D. Jakes, estimated to be worth between US$18 million and US$42 million each.
Serena Williams jokes about 'legendary' racquet smash in Singapore
Serena Williams of the U.S. walks to her chair after smashing her racket in frustration during her semifinal match ...
World No.1 Serena Williams gave a fiery display of her fighting spirit on Saturday afternoon at the Singapore Indoor Stadium during her WTA Finals semi-final against good friend Caroline Wozniacki.
Williams had a 9-1 head-to-head record going into the game against the Dane, but got off to a slow start in the opening set.
The American's frustration came to a boil when she went 5-2 down after sending the ball into the net.
Williams proceeded to smash her racquet multiple times into the ground, leaving it in an obliterated, mangled mess. Her act left the crowd gasping and earned her a warning from the chair umpire.
Serena Williams of the U.S. smashes her second racket during her WTA Finals singles semi-finals tennis match against ...
Williams went on to lose the set 6-2, but ultimately came roaring back to win 6-3 in the second and eke out a thrilling third 7-6(6) - leaving her in a good mood to joke about her racquet smash at the post-game press conference.
'It was, right?' she chuckled in response to one journalist describing it as 'epic'.
'I don't know how many times I hit it but boy, that racquet will never do me wrong again, I tell you! It was definitely legendary!'
In this photo released by the World Sport Group, Serena Williams of the U.S. smashes her racket in frustration ...
The 33-year-old went on to explain that her anger stemmed from giving 'everything' when she plays and right then, she felt like she was letting the fans down, after all their strong vocal support for her.
'Well, at least you know I'm passionate; I give 200 per cent,' Williams asserted. 'When I play, it doesn't matter how I feel; I'm going to give everything I have for every shot and every point.'
'I'm not the kind of girl that goes out there and just plays through the motions and just doesn't care whether I win or lose.'
She did acknowledge, however, that it was also down to her 'losing her cool'. 'I am not proud of it!' she added, smiling.
Serena Williams through to semi
Serena Williams reached the last four at Singapore's WTA finals and tied down the year-end world number one ranking without hitting a ball on Friday.
Simona Halep, who inflicted Williams' heaviest defeat for 16 years on Thursday, tended the wound by stealing a set in defeat to Ana Ivanovic.
That was enough to usher Williams through to the BNP Paribas event's semi-finals, where she will meet Caroline Wozniacki.
Maria Sharapova botched three match points before regrouping to beat Angieszka Radwanska in three sets - but still failed to reach the last four come the end of Friday's final group-stage action.
Number two seed Sharapova slipped out after dropping a set against Radwanska, in spite of her 7-5 6-7 (7/4) 6-2 victory.
Radwanska sneaked through to meet Halep in the semi-finals, courtesy of Wozniacki's victory over Petra Kvitova.
'She owes me a handbag,' Wozniacki said after helping Radwanska progress thanks to her 6-2 6-3 win over Kvitova, before refocusing on facing Williams.
'I believe in myself and believe in my skills.
'I've been playing well, so I believed I could beat anyone here.
'I obviously also knew that if I wasn't playing up to my best, I could lose to all of them.
'But I'm really pleased about the way this week has gone so far.'
Halep, the only player to have qualified for the last four on Thursday, capped Friday's play by taking the set off Ivanovic to secure Williams' safe passage.
Ivanovic won out 7-6 (9/7) 3-6 6-3, but Halep securing the second set pushed Williams home.
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Singapore Property Magnate Raj Kumar And Son Kishin RK Get Urge To Merge
Dynamic father-and-son pair Raj Kumar and Kishin RK, created a stir in Singapore real estate this week by announcing their plan to merge their respective property firms, Royal Holdings and RB Capital. The new entity, which is yet to be named, will be created over the next 18 months. The duo is aiming for gross assets of close to $8 billion by 2020, more than double their present combined value.
Kishin, 31, says a merger is appropriate and timely because RB Capital and Royal Holdings have portfolios, which are now almost equal in size. ' Hence, integrating makes a lot of sense.' An only child, Kishin is the sole heir to his father's portfolio; the proposed move, long overdue, represents the second phase of succession planning, he adds.
The first phase was completed in 2012 when Kumar, 60, and his younger sibling Asok Kumar Hiranandani, divvied up the property portfolio they had built together over 3 decades and went their separate ways. (Both brothers are billionaires and feature among Singapore's richest) Prior to that regrouping, Kishin had started RB Capital in 2006, independent of the family empire.
While the siblings had been content to remain landlords and being called the kings of strata retail for their ownership of shops in several malls on the Orchard Road strip, the youngster took the plunge into development and construction. RB Capital's newest showpiece is the 442-room Holiday Inn Express on Clarke Quay, which opened this year. Next up is a massive riverfront development at Robertson Quay, which will consist of shops, restaurants and a new 225-room Intercontinental Hotel.
These sites, along with a valuable parcel in the Little India area, were acquired in a buying spree over the past two years. The present lull in the market has provided a breather, allowing them to get on with what Kishin refers to as 'putting the back of the house in order. ' He says he sees huge potential to unlock value from his father's legacy portfolio.
Foremost among them is the 16-story office building at Raffles Place from where Kumar operates; it will be torn down for a 50-story tower that will house headquarters for the combined group. Another goldmine is Cuppage Terrace, a row of 17 traditional shop-houses in the heart of Orchard Road. ' Dad has a bank of assets that are ready to be rejuvenated, ' says Kishin.
RB Capital has been mulling a hotel REIT and to achieve that, overseas acquisitions are likely. Two years ago, father and son had bid for a 42-hotel portfolio of the Marriott hotel group but lost out to a sovereign wealth fund. While they are still eyeing assets abroad, ' Singapore will remain a priority. ' Kishin is aiming for an $8 billion property portfolio by 2020,:' We don't just want to accumulate assets. Our goal is to create value. '
WTA Tour Finals Singapore 2014 Tennis Live Streaming: Simona Halep vs ...
Watch the tennis live streaming as World Number 3 Simona Halep from Romania takes on Agnieszka Radwanska on day 6 of the WTA Tour Finals 2014 at Singapore on Saturday. The year-end tournament has the top eight tennis players in the WTA circuit taking on each other in the battle of supremacy. The tennis match will be streamed live on WTA Live or Tennis TV. US viewers can catch the action on ESPN 3 or watch on .
After reaching the finals of this year's French open and the semi-finals of the Wimbledon, Simona Halep was one of the strong contenders for the last Grand Slam of the year. However, the third-ranked player lost in the third round of the event. She will be taking on Agnieszka Radwanska, who hasn't had a great year unlike 2012 and 2013. However, she made a good comeback towards the latter half of the year.
The 44th edition of the tournament takes place at Singapore Indoor stadium from October 20-26, 2014. The singles event features the top eight tennis players - Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Eugenie Bouchard, Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki, who will be playing in the round robin format, split in two groups of four. The top two from each group will go into the semi-final.
Friday, October 24, 2014
University of Bristol welcomes the President of the Republic of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore will visit the University of Bristol today [Thursday 23 October 2014] as part of a four-day State Visit to the UK as a guest of Her Majesty The Queen.
The President will launch the 'SPHERE (Sensor Platform for HEalthcare in a Residential Environment) eHealth hackathon'. The President accompanied by his wife, Mrs Tan, will meet students from two local Bristol schools, Red Maids' and Bristol Free, who have entered the first wearable technology competition. The students will demonstrate how to create a wearable device for healthcare.
The technology competition, called Dress/Sense, will challenge teams of scientists, medics, engineers, designers and textile artists to design a piece of wearable technology with a health benefit. The event will take place over three days and the teams will be competing for a £5,000 prize, with the winning team being announced on 22 November 2014.
The President will view displays on cutting-edge research from the EPSRC-funded SPHERE project in the field of wearable technology. The £12 million project, based in the Faculty of Engineering and led by Professor Ian Craddock, focuses on developing sensor systems to monitor health and wellbeing in the home which could, for example, spot overnight mini-strokes by noticing small changes in behaviour or expression.
It could also be used at home as an early warning system to prevent long-term health conditions such as heart disease, dementia and diabetes as well as depression and obesity.
Three research demonstrations the President will see are:
How video analytics can be used to benefit the older population by helping to prevent falls. A prototype interactive data 'dashboard' that displays real-time information from various sensors. The dashboard is the first step to understanding how clinicians will interact with health sensor data. The Internet of Things (IoT) connects the physical world with internet-enabled gadgets and could bring together communications and energy harvesting. The first SPHERE prototype, an ultra-low-power wearable device, using enabled technology will be on display along with a demonstration of wireless power transfer.
During the event the President will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and the University of Bristol to collaborate in healthcare technology research.
The agreement marks an important step forward in collaborative research and development of new ageless ageing and healthcare technologies between Singapore and the UK. The partnership will look into the development of smart sensor systems for monitoring people's health within the home environment, and technology-empowered tools that can promote healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits among vulnerable populations, among others.
Professor Bertil Andersson, President of NTU Singapore, said: 'The UK and Singapore have much to gain from combining our strengths in technology and innovation to improve care among vulnerable populations, including the elderly. This agreement is an excellent opportunity for NTU Singapore and Bristol that are both traditionally strong in engineering to jointly develop highly innovative healthcare solutions through technology. More importantly, the state visit by Singapore President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, reaffirms the strong ties between our two countries in higher education and research.'
The President and Mrs Tan will also have the opportunity to meet over 80 Singaporean students who are studying at Bristol.
Professor Sir Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, said: 'We are honoured to welcome his Excellency Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of the Republic of Singapore and distinguished guests to the University.
'We enjoy an excellent relationship with Singapore and I am particularly pleased that so many of our students from Singapore are here to meet the President. This is a proud day for the University and for the city.'
A joint workshop to identify opportunities and approaches for collaboration between the UK and Singapore on research and innovation for future cities will also take place, hosted by the University's Cabot Institute. This will bring together researchers, policy makers and funders who will be joined by UK Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Greg Clark and Dr Maliki Osman, Singapore Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Mayor, South East District.
Greg Clark, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, said: 'Britain has a long history of collaboration with Singapore and our universities are privileged to count many prominent Singaporeans amongst their alumni. As global leaders, forging these strong academic partnerships together will improve healthcare technology and boost economic growth even further.'
In 2015, the Cabot Institute and its Future Cities initiative will launch a new framework which will allow research to be conducted in partnership with groups from across the city and the world. This will promote innovations in education, sustainability, creative technology and low carbon energy.
Further information
The President of the Republic of Singapore, accompanied by Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guests of Her Majesty The Queen, from Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 October 2014.
This is the first State Visit to the United Kingdom by a President of the Republic of Singapore.
The visit comes ahead of the 2015 50th Anniversary celebrations of the independence of the Republic of Singapore, on 9 August 2015.
About SPHERE:
SPHERE (Sensor Platform for HEalthcare in a Residential Environment) is an interdisciplinary research collaboration (IRC) funded by the EPSRC and led by the University of Bristol, together with the universities of Southampton and Reading.
The project, which focuses on developing sensor systems to monitor health and wellbeing in the home, is working in partnership with Bristol City Council, IBM, Toshiba and Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC).
About the Cabot Institute:
The Cabot Institute carries out fundamental and responsive research on risks and uncertainties in a changing environment. It drives new research in the interconnected areas of climate change, natural hazards, water and food security, low carbon energy, and future cities. Its research fuses rigorous statistical and numerical modelling with a deep understanding of social, environmental and engineered systems - past, present and future. It seeks to engage wider society by listening to, exploring with, and challenging its stakeholders to develop a shared response to 21st Century challenges.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Top 10 hawker food stalls in Singapore
As you'd expect from a country where eating is the national pastime, Singapore is a wonderful place to eat, whether you're spending $5 or $500. We're blessed with some of the best high-end restaurants anywhere, and many of the world's greatest chefs have set up shop here. However, for my top 10 places I've chosen street-food or hawker stalls. Hawker food is a national treasure, but an endangered one, as the well-educated kids of the uncles and aunties who cook these dishes rarely wish to carry on the tradition - there's just so much hard work involved. The places I've picked are anything but posh but you'll often find chefs and food lovers like us at them seeking pleasure, inspiration and that oh-so addictive umami hit.
Lao Sim shredded chicken and fish dumpling noodles
If you want to soak up the authentic, vibrant atmosphere of a suburban Singaporean housing estate, Toa Payoh is your place. The dumplings (£4.50) are made of beaten white fish then stuffed with mince meat and fried dried sole. They are so much work that almost nobody makes them any more, which explains why people from Hong Kong trek out here to buy box loads of them to take home. I brought [Basque chef] Andoni Mugaritz here and he spent an entire afternoon learning how to make the fish dumplings: 'the perfect gluten-free ravioli,' he called them. * Blk 127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre #02-01 310127
Da Dong Prawn Noodles for prawn noodle soup
The prawn noodles that are promoted as Singaporean are mostly Hokkien-style (Chinese), which means fried. But I love them the other way - soup-style - served at Da Dong. It's to die for! They make their stock each day with prawn heads and shells, all the spare parts of the pig, plus Chinese herbs. At S$10 (around £5) a pop, this must be the most expensive prawn noodle hawker in Singapore - but it's worth every penny* 354 Joo Chiat Road
Sungei Road Laksa for spicy noodle soup
For me, this is the most perfect Singapore snack - spicy noodle soup with bean curd puffs, fish sticks, shrimp and cockles, which comes from Peranakan cuisine, a combination of Chinese and Malay influences. Shop at the markets of Little India, then pause at Sungei Road Laksa stall. The portions are really small - maybe three or four mouthfuls for £3 - but every mouthful is an explosion of flavour. Coconut milk makes a dish lemak, or velvetty. Our Laksas are often very thick and lemak, but not here, which makes this version ever so refreshing.* 27 Jalan Berseh #01-100
Fu Ming Shu Shi for chai tow kueh
A Singapore hawker staple is carrot cake, which is neither carrot nor cake but a savoury daikon (white radish) omelette. This place mixes grated turnip with rice and tapioca flours, then steams it. The gnocchi-like dough is stir fried with scrambled eggs and lots of garlic. Their black version is then fried with caramelised sweetish thick soy, while the white is finished with a more savoury light soy sauce. I prefer white. This is a uniquely Singaporean dish. Being on the oily side, it makes a great after-party stomach-settling snack - our late-night kebab, if you like ... all for under £4.* RedHill Lane Food Centre #01-49
Xiu Ji for Ikan Bilis yong tau fu
Yong Tau Fu is a Hakka delicacy, similar to Japanese oden. It's a mixture of stuffed tofu, tau pok (dried tofu skin) and vegetables. The tofu stuffing is usually fish mousse or minced pork. Fish balls and fried fish cake also figure, as does a clear soybean broth and ikan bilis, which are small dried anchovies. The broth is served with yellow noodles and a great ginger dipping sauce (£4.50). The way this uncle uses ikan bilis makes his version super-umami!* 335 Smith Street #02-88 Chinatown Complex Market
Otowa Yakitori
Some people are surprised that we have such an old and thriving Japanese community in Singapore. Fifteen years ago chef Tetsuya (who has an exceptional restaurant in town called Waku Ghin) brought me here for some exceptional yakitori at Fujita-san's place, called Ahodori. It is long gone, but his disciple, Yoshino-san opened Otowa Yakitori down the road from Iggy's. This is a 10-seat hole-in-the-wall, without even a signboard, but is so clean I even eat chicken sashimi here (£17).* 150 Orchard Road #03-16 Orchard Plaza Singapore 238841
Heng Heng for bah kut teh
Bah kut teh is pork rib 'tea'. It's usually very peppery, but Heng Heng's is incredibly pure and delicate, and subtly flavoured with cinnamon (£3). This is the pinot noir of bah kut teh. There's always a very mixed crowd here, from Rolex-wielding moguls to ladies who lunch, plus local workers. The tea is served in a claypot; they also do a very good steamed fish.* 107 Owen Road Singapore 218914
Loo's for Hainanese curry rice
Two stalls next to each other, both with wonderful food, both serving lunch only, and both jam-packed. Best to get there at 11am before the crowd arrives. Loos offers all sorts of delights - curried octopus, braised pork, fried eggs and so much more (£3) - that they serve on rice with curry sauce and lor, which is a thick, sticky, sweet-ish soy gravy. This is hearty and flavourful food.* 71 Seng Poh Road Tiong Bahru #01-49
No Name for Chinese vegetarian bee hoon
The stall next to Loo's serves Chinese vegetarian food, which comprises vegetarian spring rolls, fried tofu skin, and mock meats made from gluten. And vegetables, of course (£3). It is not always the healthiest fare, but this unsigned stall serves exemplary vegetarian vermicelli (bee hoon) accompanied by sweet hot chilli sauce and pickled green chilli, giving it a tangy punch.* 71 Seng Poh Road Tiong Bahru #01-49
Chye Lye for curry fish head
After a visit to the zoo, or if you just love food, hit Chye Lye. The fish heads are always meaty and fresh (£6). They use red snapper, which I prefer to carp (which can taste muddy) and the meat always has bits of that lovely fishhead jelly texture ; it's almost like a mildly spicy bouillabaisse to me. The uncle makes his stock with lots of vegetables, tomato, onions and tamarind, so it's slightly sour and very umami. You can drink it by itself, it's so good. If that doesn't excite you, they also do a fantastic fried spring chicken with crispy skin flavoured with lime and belachan shrimp paste. Oh, and they fry eggs in boiling oil until they have dark frilly edges and melting yolks. I'm getting hungry just thinking about them!* 1 Jalan Legundi Singapore 759263
Interview by Kevin Gould
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Sign up for the daily email Ignatius Chan and his wife Janice Wong run Iggy's, Singapore's ground-breaking, multi-award winning restaurant. Iggy's Journeys, a travelogue celebrating their first 10 years will be published in early 2015
Singapore Airlines signals budget determination with Tiger takeover
Credit: Reuters/Edgar Su
A Tiger Airways plane is towed on the runway past Singapore Airlines and Tiger Airways planes sitting on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore July 21, 2014.
The flag carrier plans to have Tiger cooperate more closely with its similarly loss-making medium- and long-haul budget airline Scoot, people familiar with the company's strategy said. The aim is for a resource-sharing relationship akin to that SIA has with premium regional subsidiary SilkAir, they said.
Bringing Tiger under its control is a gamble for SIA because the budget carrier has a tiny passenger base in Singapore following its withdrawal from other markets. But the budget sector is growing quickly as rising incomes mean low-cost travel is becoming increasingly affordable in Southeast Asia's highly populous countries.
'Tiger and Scoot are just distinguished by the type of aircraft and how far they fly. Essentially, they are low cost in model,' said one of the people, who were not authorised to speak to the media and so declined to be identified. 'The key is operational efficiency - ticketing, check-in, luggage routing.'
SIA said last week it would raise its stake in Tiger to about 55 percent from 40 percent. It would also buy up to S$140 million ($110 million) of a S$234 million rights issue, taking its stake as high as 71 percent.
EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION
Tiger expanded over the past seven years from its island home into surrounding markets, with the archipelagos of Indonesia and the Philippines offering particular opportunities for growth.
But it lost out to competition from the likes of AirAsia Bhd (AIRA.KL) as well as Lion Air in Indonesia and Cebu Air Inc (CEB.PS) in the Philippines. It has since exited ventures in those two countries as well as in Australia, leased out excess aircraft and deferred orders to buy more - leaving it once again Singapore-focused.
'If you look at the results over the last one to two years, the primary drain has been from most of these overseas ventures,' Tiger Chief Executive Lee Lik Hsin said in a conference call after the company released earnings last week.
'So that (past restructuring) would certainly put us in a very good position to improve our future performance,' said Lee, CEO since May.
Tiger's shares have plunged 40 percent over the past three months, and its return on equity was negative 93 percent last year. That makes the stock the worst performer among 34 airline peers across Asia, data from Thomson Reuters StarMine shows.
BEWILDERING
Tiger has booked a loss in each of the past three years, including a record S$223 million in the year ended March. Including its planned rights issue, Tiger will have raised about S$900 million in less than five years.
'If ever there was proof that Singapore Airlines has no business straying from its full service business model, it has been provided by Tiger Airways,' Credit Suisse analyst Timothy Ross said in a research report this week. 'What continues to bewilder us is why it continues to pump in more cash.'
A spokesman for SIA said exposure to the low-cost market ensures the group is present in all major passenger segments and provides an additional engine of growth.
SIA's shuffle, however, still leaves Tiger up against competition such as AirAsia. Tiger's 25 planes and Scoot's six pale in comparison to the 160 aircraft across AirAsia brands plus 20 at long-haul arm AirAsia X Bhd (AIRX.KL).
'There is little point in going in and trying to take them on,' said one of the people familiar with SIA's strategy. 'The question then is where the growth will come from.'
'Singapore has only a small base. That is arguably the biggest challenge facing Tiger in the coming months and years, and they still don't have an answer for that.'
(Additional reporting by Siva Govindasamy in SINGAPORE and Shilpa Murthy in BANGALORE; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
Serena Williams embarrassed by Simona Halep in Singapore
Ecstasy and euphoria are the usual emotions world No1 Serena Williams experiences on a tennis court. On Wednesday, she encountered a different one - embarrassment.
One of the game's all-time greats, a winner of 18-grand slam singles crowns, 63 WTA titles, the owner of four Olympic gold medals, Williams has become accustomed to success.
But on Singapore's purple indoor hard court on Wednesday, Simona Halep took her back 16 years to a time when, as a teenager, she was trying to make a name for herself.
Halep's 6-0, 6-2 success in their Red Group clash at the WTA Finals was the worst defeat Williams had experienced since she was crushed 6-1, 6-1 by Joannette Kruger in the quarter-finals at Oklahoma City in 1998.
Halep served well, pushed her opponent around the court and went for her shots, but Williams, by her own admission, was woeful.
'Yeah, my forehand was off today again. I guess it went on an early vacation,' a sombre and downbeat Williams told reporters. 'Lord knows my serve was as well. My serve, I don't even know. My serve was at best in the 10 and under division in juniors. It was actually embarrassing I think describes the way I played. Yeah, very embarrassing.'
Williams had shown no sign of what was to come on Wednesday as she held off the feisty challenge of Ana Ivanovic to start her campaign on Monday with a 6-4, 6-4 victory, her 16th consecutive win in the season-ending championships she has won the last two years.
That was her first action since pulling out of the Wuhan Open because of illness then the China Open with a knee complaint earlier this month.
Characteristically, she didn't blame the knee ailment, which had required extensive rest, for Wednesday's meltdown.
'I'm definitely not 100% okay. I'm just here playing, but I'm not nowhere near 100%,' she said.
'That has nothing to do with today's match. I think Simona played really well and the best match of her career. To be quite frankly honest, I'm looking forward to our next meeting because she is making me going to go home and work hard and particularly train for her.'
Williams scrambled for a solution during their 65 minutes on court, shrieking at herself, jumping around in between points and going through at least four racquets to find something that worked. All proved fruitless.
She won just nine points as she suffered the ignominy of being bageled in the first set, before finally holding serve in the ninth game to get on the board.
Struggling to get into the match, she simply reverted to clawing another game from the world No4-ranked Romanian, who she had beaten in their three previous meetings.
'I'm obviously frustrated and I wanted to do better. I wanted to win more than two games. I was trying for three,' she said. 'At one point I was like, If I can just get three games. But that didn't work out for me. But it's okay. You know, things are going and I'm still going to come back and I'm going to be better.'
She will be back on court on Thursday night hoping to prove that, as she takes on Eugenie Bouchard of Canada with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
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