SPCA requests AVA to restrict import, breeding, sale of pedigree dogs

Channel NewsAsia 27 Feb 08;

SINGAPORE: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) wrote to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) last week to call for tighter restrictions on the import, breeding and sale of pedigree dogs.

Last year alone, the SPCA took in some 3,000 unwanted dogs, and more than half of them were pedigree dogs.

In its reply, AVA said it would not be appropriate to restrict the number and type of dogs imported, bred and sold. It, however, has to approve the type and number of dogs pet shops can sell.

It also pointed out in its reply that since last September, AVA has introduced several measures to discourage abandonment of pet dogs, which include compulsory microchipping and the introduction of a differential fee for sterilised and unsterilised pet dogs. There are also tighter controls on breeding dogs on dog farms.

Last year, the AVA impounded 2050 dogs.

Deirdre Moss, executive officer of SPCA, said: "We definitely have a surplus. And you know we are limited in the number of homes that can be found also. We have 250 dogs coming in every month, of which half are pedigree, and we have got 30 to 35 homes to adopt them."

SPCA figures indicated that the number of lost or unwanted pedigree dogs rose from 30 to 50 per cent over the past two years, and the most common reason cited when dogs are given to the society is that the owners have no time to look after them. - CNA/ac

1,521 pedigree dogs dumped
Carolyn Quek and April Chong, Straits Times 28 Feb 08;

SINGAPOREANS are dumping their pedigree dogs, once prized for their rarity, at an 'alarming' rate, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

More than half of the 3,002 unwanted dogs the society took in last year, or 1,521 animals, were purebreds.

According to the society's executive officer Deirdre Moss, purebreds made up a quarter of the unwanted dog population in the 1980s and grew to almost one-third in the 1990s.

The increase comes as more owners import pedigrees from outside the country.

Leading the pack of breeds that showed up at the society last year were golden retrievers and Jack Russell terriers.

The pedigree dogs the SPCA sees now are younger than before, with most being one to four years old, she said.

Not having the time to look after their pet was the most common reason owners cited for surrendering the animals, the SPCA said.

To curb the the increasing numbers of pedigree dogs being imported, bred and sold here, the SPCA had suggested that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) restrict their supply.

But the AVA, in a response to the society, said it 'would not be appropriate' to restrict the number and type of dogs.

'We understand the SPCA's concerns but would like to reiterate that Singapore operates on a free market system,' said AVA's head of the centre for animal welfare and control, Mr Madhavan Kannan.

The SPCA warns against impulse pet purchases and urges potential pet owners to carefully consider the implications of dog ownership.

More abandon pedigree dogs
As number rises to alarming levels, SPCA calls for action
Leong Wee Keat, Today Online 28 Feb 08;

AS THE number of abandoned pedigree dogs shot up alarmingly last year, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has urged the authorities to tighten the import, commercial breeding and sale of such dogs.

Three years ago, about one in four lost and unwanted dogs was a purebred. This number rose to "alarming levels" last year, with one in two unwanted dogs a pedigreed. Overall, the SPCA received an average of 250 lost or unwanted dogs each month last year.

The trend shows no signs of abating. Last month, the SPCA received 125 lost and unwanted pedigreed dogs alone. Some reasons cited by owners giving up their canines included leaving the country, moving house, expecting a child and — a frequent excuse — no time to look after it.

In light of this, SPCA has written in to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) asking for curbs to be placed on the import and commercial breeding or sale of pedigree dogs.

"It's time to take stock of the number being bred, sold and imported annually and to see if there are enough homes for them," SPCA executive officer Deirdre Moss told Today. "There is definitely a surplus (of pedigreed dogs) and too many people buying on the spur of the moment."

Another animal welfare group, Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), supported SPCA's call. Over the last six months, ASD president Ricky Yeo said the society has seen a 20 to 30 per cent increase in pedigreed strays being picked up.

Even more worryingly, he notes, this trend means that the chances of rescued local mongrels being adopted have also eroded, as pedigreed dogs are seen as being "superior". At ASD, the adoption rate for pedigrees is on the rise, while that for mongrels has been slipping, said Mr Yeo.

An AVA spokesperson said the authority understands SPCA's concerns but reiterated that Singapore operates on "a free market system". He said: "It would not be appropriate to restrict the number and type of dogs imported or bred and sold commercially as long as the pet business is legal and complies with the regulations and applicable conditions."

With the revision of the Animals and Birds (Licensing and Control) Rule last September, the spokesperson said AVA has also introduced several measures — such as compulsory microchipping and introduction of a differential fee for sterilised and unsterilised pet dogs — to discourage abandonment. Tighter controls on breeding dog populations on dog farms were also put in place.

Ms Moss urged would-be owners to think long-term before getting a dog. "Dogs require a lot of attention, socialisation and training," she said. "Your part of the bargain also has to be fulfilled — you have to spend time with them and communicate with them. It is not unlike having a child."

Under the Animals and Birds Act, a person found guilty of abandonment of an animal could be fined up to $10,000 or jailed a year, or both.

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Needed: Greater ownership of environment

Straits Times Forum 28 Feb 08;

WE REFER to the letter, 'Singapore sadly lax over cleanliness now' (Feb 19). Over the years, educational efforts have been taken to make environmentally friendly practices, such as not littering, a part of our lives.

Indeed, the National Environment Agency's (NEA) surveys have shown that most people dispose of their litter in refuse bins. Sadly, the results also showed that a minority think that littering is acceptable. Singaporeans, therefore, need to have a greater sense of environmental ownership.

The NEA has been working with various partners to strengthen this sense of environmental ownership among Singaporeans. Working with kindergartens and childcare centres, it has developed creative teaching aids to help children learn about good personal habits, such as keeping the environment litter-free.

The NEA also works with the Ministry of Education to integrate environmental issues into the school curriculum. In addition, it has introduced Environment Champions and Litter-Free Ambassadors programmes to train students to promote the green message among their peers.

The NEA works with grassroots organisations, non-governmental organisations and youth groups to reinforce the anti-littering message. For example, it is working closely with the Environment Challenge Organisation (ECO) to urge participants of public events to keep public areas clean.

We will also act against the minority who litter.

The letter writer, Ms Maria Kleyman of the United States, lamented that cleanliness in the streets of Ang Mo Kio has declined since her last visit in 1988. Within the Ang Mo Kio estate, the Ang Mo Kio-Yio Chu Kang Town Council has been actively stepping up conservancy efforts.

The town council will continue to step up cleaning and constantly monitor and review the performance of its conservancy and cleaning contractors.

It will continue to promote environmental ownership and combat littering through advisories, posters and educational articles in our newsletters.

Ultimately, no one should take the present clean and green environment for granted, and everyone should be committed to adopting an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

S. Satish Appoo
Director, Environmental Health Department
National Environment Agency

Wan Chong Hock
Chief Executive Officer
Ang Mo Kio-Yio Chu Kang Town Council

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Singapore corporations increasingly finding green is profitable: PwC

Amit Roy Choudhary, Business Times 28 Feb 08;

WHILE today's business managers have become more environmentally conscious, easily measurable economic benefit is still the key driving force behind corporate green initiatives, both in Singapore and the rest of the world, according to a new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The joint study by PwC and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) looked at the green technology movement by exploring the key drivers for change; the effect green initiatives have on collaboration and innovation across the technology value-chain; green-oriented regulations; and opportunities for growth.

The study shows that 40 per cent of technology executives claim the green movement creates significant market opportunities for their companies, as evidenced by a noticeable increase in customer demand for green products and services.

Additionally, 60 per cent cite energy savings as one of the most important factors in their company's environmental decision-making process.

'The growing demand for environmental products and services could translate into one of the biggest new markets in recent memory,' says Greg Unsworth, PwC Singapore partner and Asia Pacific technology industry leader, told BizIT. 'Technology companies can exploit this opportunity to drive growth, but they must ensure their green initiatives are in line with their business strategy.'

He noted that given Singapore's status as a leading financial centre, companies based here cannot afford to ignore the issues arising around climate change and the international momentum towards environmental awareness.

Mr Unsworth said that apart from the broader social objective to reduce the impact of business on the environment, companies here need to be aware of potential consumer and investor backlash due to a perceived lack of green initiatives.

'The survey shows that nearly one-in-five companies in the technology sector already assess environmental policies and track records of their suppliers in making purchasing decisions, and this figure is expected to increase,' the PwC official noted.

He added that in future sound environmental policies may become a prerequisite to generate business in some instances. In a number of countries, for instance, government customers are increasingly mandated to purchase green where available.

Mr Unsworth also noted that while there has been a relatively light touch to date in Singapore regarding regulation, there will be an increasing interest in the experience of those countries that are introducing carbon taxes and other regulatory measures - 'many companies are moving now to be prepared for risk of potential future regulation'.

The survey showed that technology organisations are taking steps to safeguard themselves from stringent government legislation and regulations in the future by proactively imposing their own green-oriented controls.

'Twenty per cent of the survey respondents say their companies maintain a formal and widely distributed environmental policy,' Mr Unsworth noted.

He added that this figure will increase significantly over the next two years, jumping to 48 per cent. 'To further reduce the risk of government regulations, technology companies are implementing a range of other environmental processes such as auditing internal green practices, appointing senior executives to oversee green programmes, and creating a clearer linkage between green initiatives and performance,' he said.

Mr Unsworth noted that the measures that should be taken by individual companies in Singapore will vary, based on the nature of their business operations, scale and current initiatives in place. 'The current carbon footprint could be assessed and an understanding of the opportunities to either generate revenues or save costs should be explored.'

Specifically, Mr Unsworth suggests measures like IT infrastructure and server consolidation, exploring alternative energy sources and automated technologies that regulate energy consumption and increased use of video or Web conferencing to cut down on travel requirements.

The PwC official noted that as a small city state with little natural energy resources, Singapore is vulnerable to the impact of a volatile energy market. So the republic would do well to think of introducing innovative fiscal incentives to tackle climate change issues, he added.

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SM comments on IR, F1 as part of creating a new buzz for Singapore

When going for a buzz triggered an economic boom for Singapore ...
Today Online 28 Feb 08;

In an interview with the English-language newspaper, Korea Herald, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who visited South Korea last week, spoke on the challenges facing the Singapore economy. Below are edited excerpts from the interview.

"If we can't attract investments into Singapore, then how do you create jobs? So the No 1 priority for him (Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong) would be economic growth.

"An example I can give will be our Integrated Resorts (IRs), which include casinos. That was a very tough decision for him to take, because morally, we were against casinos.

"So he had to decide, how do you grow the tourism sector? … The Ministry of Trade and Industry suggested that maybe we should go for casinos, as part of the IRs.

"Half the country was against it … The other half were quite practical … So there was a huge debate in the country. In the end, he had to decide and he decided: 'Let's find ways to cope with the evils of casinos, and let's try and maximise the benefits'.

"I cite this as an example of how he has to take decisions to restructure the economy … And when he took this decision, the people — meaning investors and businessmen — were triggered by Singapore's boldness and pragmatism.

"And that triggered a boom in construction — because when you have these two big IRs, the construction industry took off … Financial services also boomed. So that decision caused us to grow by a huge 7.7 per cent last year.

"So there was a new buzz, a new excitement in Singapore — and then we said, well, from there what do we do? 'F1', somebody suggested — let's host Formula One. A city race, a night race. So we got excited — a night race within the city, but it's expensive … Again some people got unhappy, and he's got to decide.

"Then we were able to attract the Volvo Open — this is the sea race. Then we bidded for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games — again very expensive … If Singapore could succeed in hosting the first Youth Olympics, we'd get a lot of media attention … So, these are the decisions which he took to revitalise the economy and give it a new boost."

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Singapore growth plan not a 'grow-at-all-costs' policy

Alvin Foo, Straits Times 28 Feb 08;

THE Government's economic expansion strategy is the right one and not a 'grow-at-all-costs' policy leading to an overheated economy as suggested by Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) on Monday.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said yesterday that while Mr Singh's speech made for 'very entertaining listening, it was in fact Inderjit's analysis that is flawed'.

Mr Tharman said: 'The Government has not pursued a 'grow-at-all-costs policy' as (he) suggested.

'We 'went for growth' not by over-stimulating the economy with fiscal spending, but by making Singapore more competitive by building up our capabilities, keeping taxes competitive and investing in infrastructure.'

Mr Singh told Parliament on Monday that the Government's strategy of growing the economy as fast as possible in good years was partly to blame for rapidly rising costs.

Responding yesterday, Mr Tharman said that Singapore needs to capitalise on the boom years to offset the bad ones to ensure healthy long-term growth.

'We have to take advantage of the opportunities when external conditions are favourable, so that the good years can offset the down years when the global cycle turns.'

The economy was able to grow at an average of 5 per cent over the past 10 years because it had grown rapidly in the last four years by about 8 per cent on average, he noted.

Mr Tharman said Singapore should seize the economic opportunities and not turn away big investors to avoid rapid growth.

He said: 'When they are ready to invest, and we say no, they go elsewhere. If we miss them, we miss the whole cycle. And we lose not just one investment. We lose the whole cluster.'

Many MPs, including Mr Singh, Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC), Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) and Ms Penny Low (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), have expressed concern that the Budget did not do enough for businesses facing rising costs.

Mr Tharman said although costs have increased, so has the overall demand for goods and services.

The Government's approach is to provide the conditions for companies to grow over the long term.

'We will help our companies to move up the value chain so that they are more competitive in a higher cost environment,' said Mr Tharman, who added that short-term bottlenecks affecting labour and space are being addressed.

For example, the Ministry of Manpower raised the quota for skilled foreign workers from 15 per cent to 25 per cent last month.

The Budget also contained measures to deal with the temporary shortages in office space, he said.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has also been conducting an orderly release of industrial land which should relieve pressure on rents.

Mr Tharman also rejected suggestions from two MPs - Mr Singh and Ms Tan - to offer businesses rebates to cope with rising costs.

'Providing rebates would not solve the imbalance of supply and demand, which is the source of the problem. In fact, it might even accentuate the problem,' he said.

Mr Tharman noted that giving tax rebates on rentals may drive rents up further as they would boost demand without adding to supply in an already strong rental market.

He added: 'The real solution is to relieve the bottleneck in supply, which is what the Government has been seeking to do.'

Inderjit's analysis 'flawed', Kum Hong's 'reckless'
Christie Loh, Today Online 28 Feb 08;

AFTER two days of hearing criticisms about the Government's pursuit of economic growth at the cost of social cohesion, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has stepped forward with strong rebuttals.

Zooming in on points raised by two parliamentarians — Mr Inderjit Singh and Mr Siew Kum Hong — the minister sought to address what he dubbed "the most important debate" that arose during the discussion of Budget 2008: What is "the basic ethic that we want to sustain in our society"?

Is it, as Mr Singh suggested on Monday, a "growth-at-all-costs" policy that aims to expand as fast as possible in good times but inevitably leads to rising inflation and lower-income Singaporeans being worse off?

"This is plainly wrong," Mr Shanmugaratnam said yesterday. "It made for very entertaining listening, but it is in fact Inderjit's analysis that is flawed."

The minister explained that growth came about not because of the Government pumping in money to stimulate the economy, but due to measures to build up capabilities and infrastructure and to keep taxes competitive. This enables the people and businesses to take advantage of good times to offset weak years when the global economic cycle turns. Rejecting investors in the name of avoiding rapid growth would not make food more affordable or Singaporeans better off today, he said.

In fact, he said, buoyant 2007 was a good year for low-wage workers, as retrenchments sank to the lowest level since 1994.

Small businesses have also benefitted. Despite higher costs, their sales have risen due to the strong growth of Singaporeans' wages, he said.

"Our approach, therefore, is to provide the conditions for Singaporeans and our companies to succeed and to grow over the long term," said Mr Shanmugaratnam.

But he stressed that this strategy did not mean neglecting the less fortunate, contrary to the "impassioned speech" by Mr Siew, a Nominated Member of Parliament (MP).

On Tuesday, Mr Siew had said that the Government, being more concerned about not eroding the work ethic rather than caring for Singaporeans, was providing a minimal level of aid.

Mr Shanmugaratnam disagreed.

"His description does not square with the reality of the Government's interventions to support the lower-income group," he said, citing housing subsidies, Central Provident Fund top-ups, Medifund, ComCare schemes and the Workfare Income Supplement, recently introduced to cover the bottom 30 per cent of the population.

Whether the Workfare scheme needs to broadened — as some MPs have suggested — remains to be seen, as the first payments were given out just last month , said the Finance Minister.

But the basic philosophy of encouraging people to work, he stressed, cannot be shaken — which is why he said Mr Siew's "exhortation that we should ignore waste, ignore dead-weight loss, ignore disincentives to work, is reckless".

To help the poor, said Mr Shanmugaratnam, it is first necessary to expand the economy, create wealth and provide the incentive for Singaporeans to work.

"If our policies harm that, for the noblest of reasons, we will be in serious trouble, as many other countries have found," he added.

Read more!

Sungei Buloh: Dead fishes seen

Dead in the water
Straits Times 28 Feb 08;

Nature lovers were shocked to discover this scene at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Monday.

Straits Times reader Edmund Chan stumbled upon about 80 dead catfish and mullets in a brackish pond near the reserve, and sent this shot to The Straits Times' online portal, Stomp.

The National Parks Board said a combination of scorching temperatures and low rainfall made the fishes' natural surroundings too hot to live in, something that happens once every few years. The fish will now become food for the area's scavengers, or be washed out to sea.

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Pulau Ubin ferry: is $24 too much to pay for "rich biodiversity and rustic charm"?

Pulau Ubin ferry service should operate at fixed intervals during off-peak hours
Letter from Darren Goh Wei Rong, Straits Times Forum 28 Feb 08;

Why is the writer so stingy about paying $24 for two when there are so many willing to pay $35 per person just to hop onto the Flyer?: comment on the letter on the ST website

RECENTLY, I brought my friend who was visiting Singapore to Changi Beach.

We decided to head over to Pulau Ubin for a quick visit because I wanted to show her a different side of Singapore.

We arrived at Changi Point Ferry Terminal at 3pm on a weekday and there was no one else waiting for the ferry to Pulau Ubin.

I asked the ferry operator to take us to Pulau Ubin but he pointed to a sign board which stated that the ferry will only depart when there are 12 passengers.

The ferry operator offered to take us to Pulau Ubin immediately if we paid the fare for 12 passengers which would cost $24 or wait till there were more passengers.

We waited for 15 minutes but there were no other passengers so we decided to cancel our trip to Pulau Ubin because we felt that the ferry service was too expensive.

The Pulau Ubin ferry service should operate at fixed intervals during off-peak hours when passenger traffic is low.

For the ferry operator to insist on operating the ferry at maximum capacity will result in an unreasonably long wait or higher cost of visiting Pulau Ubin.

Public access to Pulau Ubin should be improved so that everyone can truly enjoy the rich biodiversity and rustic charm of the island.

Some "Latest comments" on the Straits Times website as of 9am 28 Feb 08;

I agree with tongcheekin.This bum boats don make much even though if there are 12pax to ferry.It's not that singapore has to show a good impression oto your foreign fren but it is you who had to show a good impression to your fren. Wats $24 to bring ur fren to the island when he already spend thousands of dollars to come to our island perhaps to see you. It all boils down to being a scrooge.
Posted by: joediver at Thu Feb 28 07:50:41 SGT 2008

For twenty over years, it has been this way.
The bumboat (not ferry) operator also need to make a living.
Why is the writer so stingy about paying $24 for two when there are so many willing to pay $35 per person just to hop onto the Flyer?
And he cited <>. So $24 for two is rather worth, and the whole bum boat to themselves, right?
Posted by: tongcheekin at Thu Feb 28 06:12:50 SGT 2008

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Sellers forced to dump pricey China veggies

Jessica Lim, Straits Times 28 Feb 08;

FOR five mornings last week, vegetable seller Lai Tan Hock, 38, bundled 10kg of fresh leafy greens in newspaper, loaded them onto a cart, then dumped them into a rubbish truck stationed outside Tekka Market.

In all, he dumped about $300 worth of vegetables from China.

He was among many wet market stallholders who had to get rid of vegetables imported from China last week.

A Straits Times check showed that at least 12 vegetable sellers at two wet markets in Singapore did this.

The reason: the prices of China vegetables went through the roof because a bitter winter cold snap hit supplies, and shoppers refused to fork out money for them.

In some cases, vegetables like cai xin more than doubled in price. Mr Lai, for instance, was charging $5.50 per kg of cai xin, up from the usual $2.50.

Other vegetables affected by the crimp on supplies included kai lan, which doubled in price from $3 per kg to $6, and cauliflower, up 50 per cent from $20 a kg to about $30.

Said Mr Lai, who gets about 30 per cent of his supplies from China: 'Prices of vegetables from China went up so high that customers didn't buy. Vegetables get rotten fast, so we had to throw.'

The severe weather in China affected a tenth of the country's farmland, and about 10 per cent of the stricken acreage may see a complete loss of crops and vegetables.

According to an analysis by Credit Suisse on the outlook for China this year, the weather woes will have a 'significant impact on food supplies'.

In Singapore, vegetable sellers, afraid of being burnt again by the high prices of China produce, are turning away from the country.

Instead, they will import more from Malaysia, which is a cheaper supplier: prices are 30 per cent lower, on average.

Malaysia already supplies 46 per cent, or about 175,000 tonnes, of the fresh vegetable imports into Singapore.

But customers have been demanding more and more China vegetables because they look and taste different.

Chinese varieties of kai lan and cai xin, for example, taste better because the country's cooler weather has an impact on taste, said Mr Tan Chin Hian, managing director of Ban Choon Marketing, which supplies vegetables to about 20 wet markets in Singapore.

But Mr Tan added that consumers would not mind the taste difference if they can save some money.

'Many retailers at wet markets would switch to Malaysian products because their customers tend to put price above quality and will be sensitive to even the slightest price increases.'

In fact, several importers say they will give China vegetables a miss even after supplies stabilise, as is expected once warmer weather returns.

Said Mr Tan Swee Heng, 51, a vegetable wholesaler for the past 30 years: 'These few days, prices of vegetables from Malaysia are still very good. I will just go for the cheaper supplier.'

Singapore imported about 28 per cent - or 104,713 tonnes - of its fresh vegetables from China last year.

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Live, work, play the architect's way

Business Times 28 Feb 08;

Tan Kay Ngee is following the footsteps of his grandfather who ran a business from the shophouse where he lived, says ARTHUR SIM

THE notion that the best cities are those that blend small neighbourhood communities with large business districts is increasingly being recognised and championed.

But it is not really new.

It is also something that dawned on architect Tan Kay Ngee after he moved into his Tanjong Pagar home of two adjoining colonial-era Peranakan shophouses.

The building includes Mr Tan's photography gallery on the first floor, his architectural practice of 12 people on the second floor and a pied-a-terre on the top floor.

And if one subscribes to the new 'Live, Work and Play' outlook espoused by our urban planners, it is also a microcosm of the city - or a city within a city.

Mr Tan takes precedent from his past.

'My grandfather ran a business from the rooms on the ground floor of the shophouse in Circular Road. Everybody knew each other and there was a real sense of a little village on that street,' he says.

In his own way, Mr Tan is trying to bring back life to his street, which now only comes alive at night when the pubs and karaoke lounges open.

He has done this by first creating a space for local artists, primarily Singaporean photographers, who can exhibit and sell their work.

The gallery was formed together with his friend Tay Kay Chin, and is currently featuring the works of Chow Chee Yong.

An art gallery, of course, is nothing unusual, but one that is located in both your home and office takes on a different dimension. Anyone can walk off the five-foot way and into the gallery during opening hours. And this immediately provides a friendly platform to engage total strangers.

As an architect of some of Singapore's most iconic modern houses, Mr Tan also wanted to create a certain atelier atmosphere for his staff, so that Design with a big 'D' is constantly on everyone's mind.

But he believes that good design comes from various unexpected sources like fashion, film and of course, art. 'When you embrace all this, your architecture will have the feel of the moment,' he explained.

Mr Tan, who was part of the design team for the Singapore Management University campus (SMU), adheres to a design ethic which focuses special attention on contextual elements of design.

As with the SMU campus, which was raised in many areas to allow a continuous flow of the green plane of the grounds that was once Bras Basah Park, Mr Tan's shophouse home also addresses the tropical context.

'Designing a house is the smallest architectural brief, and most complex, because everything has to work,' he says.

With a large built-up area of about 4,800 square feet spread out over three floors, Mr Tan had a lot of space to play with. But most of the architectural insertions are there to emphasise the traditional shophouse. These, like the internal courtyard, work to drive fresh air through the building.

The architectural language that Mr Tan is most familiar with tends to include stainless steel and flat roofs, so working on a 100-year-old building threw up some pleasant surprises. 'You get first-hand experience on how these traditional houses work. For example, the pitched-roof really has hidden magical qualities. The air in the space created by the roof acts as a buffer against the heat and adds a cooling effect to the house. Normally, a concrete flat roof will absorb heat from the sun,' he explains.

There are design interventions in this home that do make it clearly a space of the 21st century. The predominance of humble plywood as a design feature is one.

'I search to understand materials,' Mr Tan says, explaining that where plywood has been used as a veneer for surfaces, the sheets of plywood have been selected and placed individually for grain and colour, 'like a work of art in itself'.

'There is a certain subtlety at play,' he added.

Other subtle touches can be found in the master bedroom, which one enters through an oversized palazzo-style timber door that clearly says 'Private - Keep Out'.

The master bedroom suite comes with an attached roof terrace where the shower is located. Looking down from the roof terrace, one can see Mr Tan's prized garden, which he has managed to rent from the authorities on a monthly basis.

There is a school of thought that believes that any conservation work should be clearly articulated to reveal that it is new rather than to mimic history. So where additional windows and openings have been added, the structural reinforcement is exposed.

The living space, which has a kitchenette attached, is defined by the sweeping pitch-roof which has the joists exposed to good effect.

Occasionally, Mr Tan's staff might have to annex certain areas in his home to work in, but he does not mind. Recalling the days of his grandfather again, and remembering how the people who worked in the shop would eat most meals with the family every day, he says: 'It's the old Chinese way.'

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Integrate foreign talents into Singapore society: DPM Wong

Yesterday in Parliament, Business Times 28 Feb 08;

SINGAPORE must push on with its efforts to attract global talents, but it must also pay equal attention to integrating them into the local society, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.

'Locals alone are not enough to meet our manpower demands,' he told Parliament yesterday during the debate on the budget for the Prime Minister's Office. 'Contrary to Inderjit Singh's (Ang Mo Kio) suggestion that the rate of immigration is too fast and unrealistic, we must not slow down in attracting global talent just because some people feel uneasy about it.'

Mr Wong said the war for talent is now global - and very intense. 'Whether we like it or not, those who are capable and talented will go to places with better opportunities and where they feel welcomed,' he said. 'And if Singapore does not welcome them, they will simply look elsewhere and they will then compete against us.'

Having a good living environment is key in drawing global talent - and Singapore has so far done well in this department, Mr Wong said.

'Singapore's excellent living environment has become our competitive advantage to root residents and attract investments and talents,' he said.

Many developed countries, while competing aggressively for global talents, are not doing enough to integrate them.

'This has resulted in clashes and disputes between communities in countries such as Australia, France and even the US,' Mr Wong noted. 'Such problems can also arise in Singapore if we do not make the effort to integrate our immigrants,' he cautioned.

'Open your hearts': Singaporeans urged to welcome new immigrants as numbers hit new high
Tan Hui Leng, Today Online 28 Feb 08;

SINGAPORE welcomed 63,600 Permanent Residents (PRs) and 17,300 new citizens last year — in total, nearly 15,000 more than the average combined number of PRs and new citizenships granted each year since immigration criteria were broadened in 2004.

By comparison, just 760 more babies were born last year than the year before, a figure "far" from raising Singapore's total fertility rate to replacement level.

As such, said Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng in rebutting suggestions that the rate of immigration was too fast and unrealistic, depending on homegrown citizens to meet our manpower needs was not enough.

Case in point: Last year, when 236,000 jobs were created, many companies, such as those in finance and business, had to turn to foreigners to meet the shortfall even as locals filled most of the jobs.

"A number of business and investment opportunities have passed us by, simply because we are facing such an acute shortage of manpower and office space. Once lost, these businesses and opportunities may not come back," said Mr Wong.

He was responding to concerns raised by seven parliamentarians about the influx of immigrants and the problems of integration.

On worries about whether the country could cope with a larger population, Mr Wong clarified that contrary to popular belief, there was no 6.5 million "population target" — this figure was a planning parameter.

He added the assurance that with "creative planning and technology", the island could accommodate larger numbers "without compromising the quality of our living environment".

But even as he stressed that Singaporeans must remain the core of the population — unlike some Middle Eastern countries where non-resident foreigners outnumber the indigenous residents — Mr Wong urged Singaporeans to open their "doors, minds and hearts" to new immigrants, who are key to the country's long-term prosperity.

With the intense global competition, he noted: "Whether we like it or not, those who are capable and talented will go to places with better opportunities and where they feel welcomed.

"If Singapore does not welcome them, they will simply look elsewhere and they will then compete against us."

Former Malaysian and new Singaporean Maria Chin, who has been living here since 2001, has generally had no problems fitting in. Nevertheless, she told Today, some Singaporeans have voiced their disdain for foreigners to her, not knowing she was an immigrant.

"They seem to think that foreigners are taking away their jobs and that they have a motive for joining grassroots work," said the 44-year-old purchasing officer who is herself the assistant treasurer of a Residents' Committee in Sembawang.

There are some 900 PRs who volunteer as grassroots leaders islandwide — many, like Mdm Chin, who interact with new immigrants and encourage them to embrace the local culture and community.

But Mr Wong acknowledged that integration would take time, even as it should be encouraged "in schools, at the workplace, in the neighbourhood and the larger community".

Steps are already being taken. The Education Ministry recently set up a unit to enhance the integration process in schools. Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has been cited for programmes to familiarise foreign staff with the local culture.

And the People's Association will soon introduce a host family programme, where foreigners are paired with local families.

The Government is also not neglecting overseas Singaporeans. Following the success of the inaugural Singapore Day in New York last April, at which 6,000 Singaporeans turned up, the second such event will be held in Melbourne this October.

DPM Wong Kan Seng says S'pore attracting more new PRs, citizens
Channel NewsAsia 27 Feb 08;

SINGAPORE: Singapore has been increasingly attracting new citizens and permanent residents (PRs), who help sustain the country's economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said local Singaporeans alone are still not sufficient to meet the manpower demands here.

He revealed the latest immigration statistics during the debate on the Prime Minister's Office budget on Wednesday.

According to the figures, more foreigners have decided to call Singapore home for good.

Last year, Singapore saw over 63,000 new PRs, an 11-per-cent increase from 2006; and the city-state also welcomed more than 17,000 new citizens, a 30-per-cent jump.

Mr Wong said, however, there were only 760 more babies born last year compared to 2006.

He added that Singapore must continue to keep an open-door policy, both to new immigrants and foreign talents, although citizens remain the core of the population.

"For now, Singapore is a talent magnet for many. However, the global competition for talent is intense. Whether we like it or not, those who are capable and talented will be drawn to places with better opportunities and where they feel welcomed. And if Singapore does not welcome them, they will simply look elsewhere and they will then compete against us," said Mr Wong.

On integrating new citizens into the society, the minister cited some who have adapted to Singapore and are contributing to the city-state.

One of them is Kim Jin Ju from South Korea, a prefect at Yu Neng Primary. She participated in MediaCorp's Roving DV competition in 2006 and her school's entry came in first.

While he acknowledged MPs' concerns over the pace of immigration and social integration, Mr Wong said attracting immigrants will remain a key strategy to ensure the country's long-term growth and prosperity.

"So let us open our doors, minds and our hearts. We must work together, be welcoming to new immigrants and help integrate them into our community. There is a need for mutual acceptance, adjustment and respect. We can then live as one harmonious family to create even greater possibilities for ourselves, and our children and our future generations to come," Mr Wong said.

He also said schools, companies and the People's Association have implemented programs to help promote integration. But he noted that more can be done to break down barriers and dispel unwarranted biases.

Mr Wong added that Singaporeans based abroad are not forgotten. The government has been trying to engage them actively through events such as the Singapore Day. The inaugural event, held in New York last April, saw some 6,000 attendees.

He said another Singapore Day will be held in Melbourne, Australia this October. - CNA/ac

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Life sciences researcher sinks roots in Singapore

Zakir Hussain, Straits Times 28 Feb 08;

Impressed by the work and living environment here - including the Botanic Gardens and various farms in north-west Singapore - they decided to become permanent residents in 2001.

WITH two degrees under his belt from the famous Shanghai Jiaotong University in China, Mr Yu Hao could have pursued his PhD at any top American university.

Fortunately for Singapore, orchids turned out to be the deal-breaker for Mr Yu, 35, a life sciences researcher who won the Singapore Youth Award in the science and technology category last year.

Mr Yu chose to study orchid biology here in 1997 because the National University of Singapore had a reputation in the field.

Six months later, his wife Wang Jing, now 34, came to NUS to do a PhD in biological sciences as well.

Impressed by the work and living environment here - including the Botanic Gardens and various farms in north-west Singapore - they decided to become permanent residents in 2001.

That same year, Mr Yu got his doctorate. Ms Wang got hers a year later. But a stint in California a year later reinforced Mr Yu's decision to sink roots here.

'We considered a place where my family and work could be stable, and where we could bring up children,' he said.

Since 2004, Mr Yu has been a principal investigator at the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory. Ms Wang is a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology.

The couple and their two young children - daughter Yi Shan, seven, and son Qi Yuan, four - became Singaporeans in February 2006.

'We are proud to be members of a dynamic nation,' said Mr Yu.

'Giving up our previous citizenship was not really a struggle. Singapore's culture has integrated essences from various races,' he said.

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2lb of plastic poison found in whale's stomach

Banish the bags
The amazing picture of 2lb of plastic poison found in whale's stomach

The Daily Mail 27 Feb 08;

It looks like the kind of rubbish that piles up on waste ground or adorns hedgerows. But this collection of plastic bags was found in a far more disturbing place - the stomach of a minke whale washed up from the English Channel.

The young female suffered an appalling death, starved, exhausted and in agonising pain.


The discovery in 2002 was a wake-up call for marine scientists, who realised that plastic bags and other waste were one of the biggest threats to the whales, dolphins and turtles swimming around our shores.

The minke was found on the Normandy coast. At first, it was assumed she had died of natural causes.

When her stomach was cut open, scientists were amazed to find nearly two pounds of plastic bags, eaten by mistake as she searched for food.

The 2lb haul included two plastic bags from English supermarkets, seven transparent plastic bags, and fragments from seven dustbin bags.

In an ironic twist, one of the bags found in the gut of the dead whale appears to read: "We support good farm animal welfare."

Most worrying of all, there was no proper food in her stomach.

Minkes are among the smallest of the whales and the fastest moving. They can be seen swimming off the coasts of Scotland, Ireland and the South West.

The females are around 24ft long and weigh between five and ten tons. They can live for up to 60 years.

Although minkes are not threatened with immediate extinction, whale campaigners are concerned about their numbers. There are thought to be fewer than 184,000 left in the Atlantic.

Until the 1980s their biggest danger was hunters from Japan, Norway and Iceland. But another major threat has emerged in the plastic debris and rubbish in the seas.

Minkes feed by sieving huge amounts of water through plates in their mouths. The technique is supposed to catch small fish.

But as the seas get more polluted, the whales are also swallowing more rubbish.

The plastic can block their digestive tracts, causing serious internal damage. If the creatures consume enough bags, their stomachs become full, they stop eating and they starve.

A spokesman for the Marine Conservation Society said the Normandy minke had shocked the scientific world.

"It is an appalling amount of plastic to find in one female whale," he said. "It brings home what happens if we allow plastics into the marine environment."

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