pied triller, breakfast @ Changi - July 2014
from sgbeachbum
A Quiet Morning @ Upper Seletar Reservoir Park
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature
Bats Roosting in my porch: 3. Partial success with lights and CDs
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Butterflies Galore! : Conjoined Swift
from Butterflies of Singapore
13-15 Jun 2014: Nets and traps seen on Pulau Sekudu
from Project Driftnet Singapore
Black-mouth Nerite @ Kranji
from Monday Morgue
Channel NewsAsia 6 Jul 14;
SINGAPORE: About 600 vulnerable households in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC on Sunday received packages to help them prepare for haze and dengue.
Called the WeCare pack, it contains four N95 masks and some food and medicine, which are said to be able to last residents for three days.
Members of Parliament for the area on Sunday distributed the supplies to needy households and the elderly.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said: "We want to make sure that we are able to bring the essential items to those more vulnerable members of our community, so that in case there's another recurrence of a haze episode, they have the basic things that they need - masks and so on, and they don't have to go out to get them.
“This was something which we had to do on the fly last year. But this year we want to be prepared ahead of time. So we're doing this in every constituency in Singapore over these two to three months."
- CNA/xq
Stop-work order for dengue-hit site
Salma Khalik and Hoe Pei Shan The Straits Times AsiaOne 7 Jul 14;
Construction company China Jingye Engineering Corporation has been told to stop work and clean up its Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 Housing Board construction site after 35 of its workers contracted dengue.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said it will take the company to court after an inspection of the site found four mosquito breeding areas.
It is the fourth time the site has been found to have breeding areas. Project manager Tan Chee Hock said the company was given its first stop-work order there last year.
It has since paid fines of more than $10,000 in total for three cases of mosquito breeding.
In the current case, workers were first diagnosed with dengue on June 23 and a stop-work order was issued two days later. The firm has about 900 staff in total.
Mr Tan said China Jingye will plead guilty and extended an apology to residents in the area - 22 of whom have also fallen sick.
"We need to work with NEA to make sure the lives of those living around the site are not affected," he said. "We have that responsibility." The NEA is intensifying its efforts as the number of dengue cases rises, with more than 9,300 infections so far this year.
Last week, 676 cases were diagnosed - 123 more than the previous week. Between Sunday and 3.30pm yesterday, another 668 were infected by the mosquito-borne viral disease.
Roughly one in five sufferers ends up in hospital.
The NEA said it will check the seven construction sites in Choa Chu Kang every week. It is the neighbourhood with the most new dengue cases in the last fortnight, although checks have found only one home where mosquitoes are breeding.
Residents told The Straits Times they are worried about the rise in dengue fever and are doing their best to keep their homes free of stagnant water. Cabby Wahad Bach k, 58, blamed construction sites. "Before those came up, we never had so many people with dengue."
Singapore's current "super cluster" is the Serangoon and Hougang area where 550 people have been infected. The NEA has been deploying 200 officers a day there to spray insecticides, and search for and destroy breeding sites. They have found 266 breeding spots there - 80 per cent of which were in homes.
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 7 Jul 14;
Hopping on boats to Singapore's outlying islands may be one way to learn more about the Republic's island heritage - but it is not the only one.
Those who do not manage to register for the popular island-hopping trails, organised as part of this year's Singapore HeritageFest, can still glean nuggets of history from the festival's other programmes.
These include film screenings as well as activities and exhibitions at 11 festival hubs islandwide.
They are among more than 60 different programmes put together by organiser National Heritage Board for the annual festival, which is focusing for the first time on Singapore's island heritage.
Now in its 11th edition, the Singapore HeritageFest will be held from July 18 to 27.
At the festival hubs located at shopping malls and places such as the National Museum of Singapore, visitors can browse exhibitions featuring themes ranging from Singapore's myths and legends to its kampung history to its island heritage.
For instance, the Tales From Our Shores festival hub at Century Square, a mall in Tampines, will tell six stories that have been passed down through the generations.
Some will dwell on the origins of places and things - such as the hot springs of Sembawang and the kompang drum, a Malay musical instrument - while others will centre on how places in Singapore were named.
Visitors to the exhibition will learn how Bukit Merah - which means "red hill" in Malay - got its name after a jealous ruler ordered his men to kill a young boy, causing his blood to flow down the hill.
At another festival hub, at Jurong's Westgate mall, visitors can find out more about the different forms of traditional healing from the different ethnic groups - traditional Chinese medicine; jamu, which is traditionally Malay; and ayurveda, a traditional Indian healing form.
Traditional Healing hub curator Angeline Tong, 38, said: "The exhibition aims to inform visitors that traditional healing is a collection of ancient wisdom that we should treasure."
The festival's offerings have piqued 26-year-old bank analyst Daniel Govindan's interest.
"The festival hubs in heartland malls will be convenient to visit, and I'll pop by on my way home from work," he said.
Island-hopping trails oversubscribe
A ballot will be conducted for registrations via e-mail for the popular island-hopping tours.
Following strong demand, the National Heritage Board (NHB) has laid on more tours beyond the Singapore HeritageFest period.
When the festival website opened for registration at midnight on Monday, there was an overwhelming response. NHB has since asked people to register their interest by e-mail.
It has worked with its partners, such as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, to open up more slots, but registrations will have to be balloted and the tours will take place after the festival ends on July 27.
Themed Our Islands, Our Home, the festival aims to tell "lesser-known tales of our trading past" and showcase the cultures and traditions of immigrants who settled here.
"The public can also participate in the other programmes at the festival to learn more about our island heritage," said NHB.
There will be more than 60 different programmes and 11 festival hubs at locations such as Century Square, Changi City Point and the National Museum of Singapore.
The following are three events that visitors can still sign up for:
Pulau Ubin on Film: A Screening of Moving Gods and Discussion
When: July 20
Time: 4pm to 6pm
Where: National Museum of Singapore (NMS) Gallery Theatre, Basement; Register by e-mailing nhb_shf@nhb.gov.sg. First come, first served for up to 245 people.
Island Archaeology: An Obscure But Bountiful Past
When: July 15
Time: 7.30pm 9pm
Where: NMS Gallery Theatre, Basement; Register by e-mailing nhb_shf@nhb.gov.sg. First come, first served for up to 245 people.
Protecting Chek Jawa - Past, Present and Future. A Screening of Remember Chek Jawa and Discussion
When: July 27
Time: 4pm to 6pm
Where: NMS Gallery Theatre, Basement. Register by e-mailing nhb_shf@nhb.gov.sg. First come, first served for up to 245 people.
David Ee The Straits Times AsiaOne 7 Jul 14;
A NATIONAL effort to reduce the number of stray cats by sterilising them humanely is now in place again islandwide after more than a decade.
The stray cat sterilisation programme was quietly extended across Singapore in May.
Under it, volunteers who take strays from HDB estates to selected veterinary clinics will not have to pay a cent to get them sterilised and micro-chipped. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) funds half of the costs, while the Cat Welfare Society funds the rest. It typically costs between $30 and $60 to neuter a cat and another $20 to microchip it.
A similar programme ran from 1998 to 2003 before it was deemed ineffective and scrapped by the AVA, in favour of removing the then 80,000-strong stray cat population from the streets altogether for public hygiene reasons.
Strays were instead culled, pet owners educated not to abandon cats, and groups encouraged to house them at their own cost.
The AVA's decision back then was criticised by animal welfare groups, which subsequently funded sterilisations on their own.
They said sterilisation would have reduced the stray population effectively if the measure had been given more time to take effect.
In 2007, the AVA proposed a new sterilisation programme, but it had no takers as town councils did not want to clean up after the cats. In 2011, it was partially relaunched as a trial in four areas.
It was extended islandwide in May this year after the trials showed sterilisation managed to cut the stray population, the AVA said. "For sterilisation to be more effective... there has to be greater coverage," said a spokesman, adding that the programme supports sterilisation as "a humane way" of controlling numbers.
The move has drawn praise from animal welfare groups, which say culling is inhumane and ineffective. They said the drop in stray cat numbers from 80,000 to about 50,000 now, together with the fall in culling figures, is evidence that sterilisation works.
"If euthanisation numbers have decreased, it surely means that sterilisation is working, as fewer cats need to be culled," said executive director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Corinne Fong.
The AVA euthanised about 1,000 strays last year, down from 3,300 in 2008 and 13,000 in 2001.
"Mindsets do change over time," said Ms Fong. "I'm happy that the AVA saw it fit to re-introduce this initiative. It would have been good if it had sustained (the previous programme) - imagine what the stray cat population would be now."
Cat Welfare Society vice-president Veron Lau estimated the society and its volunteers sterilised "tens of thousands" of strays over the past decade. Last year alone, it sterilised 4,479 cats, she said.
"With this additional funding, it means that we can do more."
Groups hope stray cat numbers will fall to a more manageable 20,000 within five to 10 years. To do this, said Ms Lau, policies other than sterilisation have to succeed such as preventing cat abandonment. She also noted that sterilisation has not yet dented the numbers in industrial estates.
Dog welfare groups have also urged the Government to adopt a national sterilisation scheme, rather than culling, to reduce stray dog numbers. The AVA has regularly emphasised that its priority in the case of dogs is public health and safety, as stray dogs may attack people or carry rabies.
Human sterilisation of strays is best approach
The Straits Times AsiaOne 10 Jul 14;
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) affirms the national effort to reduce the number of stray cats by sterilising/neutering them humanely ("Islandwide plan to sterilise stray cats"; yesterday). This is certainly justified and timely, considering the still sizeable number of stray (or more aptly termed as "community") cats on the streets.
Ultimately, it is sterilisation that offers the most effective and humane means of keeping the community animal population in check.
On this note, we assure readers and donors that our existing voucher programme will go on, as it has for the last 23 years.
Since 1991, we have distributed more than 30,000 free sterilisation vouchers to the public, making it possible for community animals to be sterilised at participating veterinary clinics islandwide. The cost is borne by the SPCA. Currently, a monthly budget exceeding S$5,500 is set aside specifically for this.
This scheme is expressly for the sterilisation of community animals. We are unable to provide treatment/surgery for companion, or pet, animals with this focus in mind, and encourage pet owners to take their pets to private clinics for the necessary sterilisation.
More information on this scheme can be found at www.spca.org.sg/services_sterilisation.asp
In keeping with the principles of responsible pet ownership, we strongly urge all pet owners, too, to help curtail the growth of Singapore's unwanted animal population. They can also take heart in their sterilised pets being typically healthier and less prone to illnesses.
The humane sterilisation of our community animals would certainly go a long way towards creating a more harmonious living environment for all of us, and SPCA Singapore welcomes the return of this much-needed programme on a national scale.
We also applaud the programme implementation by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and the Cat Welfare Society, and would be happy to render any other form of support in any way we can.
-Corinne Fong (Ms)
Executive Director
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Singapore
South China Morning Post 7 Jul 14;
How badly affected would Hong Kong be if sea levels rise as predicted? The city's rugged coastline and high sea walls offer some protection but government and businesses cannot be complacent from the threat of stronger typhoons and accompanying storm surges, say experts.
"The government has to have policies at all levels. When we think about the substantial cost associated with sea flooding versus taking early action to avoid damage, it is better to plan ahead," said Kalmond Ma, the head of climate programme at the World Wildlife Fund.
The most deadly surges would come from a southerly direction and combine typhoon-strength winds, spring tides and a low pressure system to devastating effect, said Mok Hing-yim, a senior scientific officer at the Hong Kong Observatory, the government agency in charge of monitoring storms.
Ma said elevated sea levels around Hong Kong would put at risk residential and commercial buildings in unprotected districts. They would also affect wildlife sanctuaries such as the Mai Po marshes near the border.
Buildings less than 10 metres above sea level were potentially in trouble, said Caspar Honegger, the head of flood perils at Swiss Re. For those 20 metres and above, surges were not a problem, he added.
Sea levels in Victoria Harbour had risen on average 29mm per decade since 1954, when records began, Mok said.
Referencing data from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Observatory estimates sea levels will rise between 17 and 38cm by 2065, and between 26 and 82cm by 2100.
At the same time, it expects typhoons to increase in number and severity. In the Observatory's worst-case scenario, a storm like Typhoon Hagupit in 2008, which whipped up waves up to 3.53 metres high in Victoria Harbour and caused flooding and power cuts, will no longer be a once in 50 years event.
By 2065, it will happen every five years, and by 2100, it will be an annual occurrence. By 2100, wave surges topping 4 metres would hit Hong Kong every decade under this scenario, said Mok.
Various government departments were now assessing the impact climate change might have on Hong Kong, said Paul Chu, a spokesman for the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and a report was expected by early next year.
In a 2012 report, the Hong Kong Business Environment Council, a corporate-sponsored think tank, recommended a "first response" towards climate change. The government, power sector, transport network operators and the construction industry, among others, all needed to develop strategies to adjust to a changing climate, it said.
There are no cost estimates of the potential damage of future storm surges to Hong Kong, or of the investment required to protect existing shorelines.
In a recent report assessing the impact of hurricanes and rising sea levels on New York, Swiss Re analysts estimated that annual losses will increase from US$1.7 billion today to US$4.4 billion by 2050.
Mok said contractors and civil engineers routinely quizzed him on climate change.
"Contractors consider their safety margin and expected impact from climate change, the cost effectiveness and the longevity of the project," he said.
Coastline infrastructure needed to be protected by 5-metre-high walls, and new developments should be sited away from high risk areas, he said.
Ma recommends the construction of curved sea walls as these would help absorb a wave's power. Straight walls like the ones protecting Victoria Harbour, only deflect the waves and cause a ricochet effect. Low-lying land could be rezoned as unsafe and critical infrastructure moved to higher ground, he said.
Julia Fioretti PlanetArk 3 Jul 14;
Europeans will need to recycle 70 percent of urban waste and 80 percent of packaging waste by 2030, the European Union proposed on Wednesday, as it pushes to cut the amount of trash produced by its 500 million citizens.
Fostering an environmentally friendly economy has long been a priority for the European Union, which argues it would set the 28-country bloc on a sustainable path to growth after the financial crisis.
"If we want to compete we have to get the most out of our resources, and that means recycling them back into productive use, not burying them in landfill as waste," said Janez Potocnik, the EU's environment commissioner.
By 2025, the EU executive is also pushing for a ban on sending recyclable waste, such as paper and plastic, to landfill and a 30 percent reduction in the amount of food thrown away.
The proposals would build on the EU's current target to recycle half of all its trash by 2020, but member states are falling short of that.
In 2012, EU countries recycled just 27 percent of their urban waste, while over a third was put in landfill, according to data from Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency.
The EU is reviewing its 10-year strategy for boosting growth and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by a fifth by 2020 and in Wednesday's proposal suggested introducing a new target for the efficient use of raw materials.
"We have already made strong progress towards increasing recycling and reducing landfilling over the last decade," Potocnik said.
Germany was closest to achieving the 50 percent target in 2012, recycling 47 percent of its waste and burying none of it. Romania buried 99 percent of its urban rubbish.
The proposals received a cautious welcome from environmental campaigners, who said they were a step in the right direction but a lot more remained to be done.
"More recycling alone does not mean that Europe's overconsumption of resources is actually reduced," said Benedek Javor, spokesman for the Greens in the European Parliament.
"The top priority should be a greater focus on prevention of waste, with ambitious reduction targets."
The proposals need the blessing of the newly elected European Parliament and national governments before becoming law.
(Reporting by Julia Fioretti; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Teresa Cespedes PlanetArk 7 Jul 14;
Temperatures in Peru's Pacific peaked in June, rising 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 Fahrenheit) above average levels, but have since retreated and will likely return to normal by August, the state committee that studies El Nino said.
"The possibility of us seeing an extraordinary Nino is ruled out," said German Vasquez, the head of the committee.
Peru is the world's top fishmeal exporter, producing about a third of worldwide supply. The industry is concentrated along the South American country's northern and central coast.
Cold-water anchovy that swam south to escape warmer sea temperatures that arrived in April are making their way back now, Vasquez said.
"Anchovy are coming north," Vasquez said. "There are already fish in the center of the country, but they're still very close to the coast and not yet at their usual depth."
El Nino, characterized by a warming of surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, can trigger floods in some places and droughts in others.
Vasquez said sea temperatures off Peru's coast could rise again slightly at the end of the year.
(Editing by David Gregorio)
Favourite Nectaring Plants #4
from Butterflies of Singapore
Night Walk At Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West (04 Jul 2014)
from Beetles@SG BLOG
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 6 Jul 14;
MR V. Uthrapathi, 51, thought he would be lonely working 10-day stretches maintaining Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu, Singapore's southernmost island which is out of bounds, like the lighthouse.
But after 20 years as a lighthouse keeper, he is quick to point out the perks: the sea breeze that makes nights on the tiny isle comfortable, the peace and quiet, and the occasional sighting of dolphins.
During World Cup season, another draw is watching the matches for free, he said, as television signals from Malaysia and Indonesia can be picked up from Satumu, 23km south-west of Singapore's main island, a 60-minute boat ride from the mainland.
But the silence that the stocky Mr Uthrapathi enjoys may turn into oohs and aahs later this month, as the Raffles Lighthouse welcomes crowds during this year's Singapore HeritageFest, which will, for the first time, include a Lighthouse Trail featuring three lighthouses.
The trail will not only take visitors out to Pulau Satumu, but also on a bus ride to see the former Fullerton Lighthouse at Marina Bay.
They will also sail past the lighthouse on Sultan Shoal, near Jurong Island, during the 90-minute boat ride from Marina South Pier.
The National Heritage Board, which is organising the HeritageFest, said response to this year's offerings has been overwhelming.
It is working to add more tours beyond the festival period, to cater to the demand for the island tours.
The Raffles Lighthouse was built in 1885, the second-oldest of Singapore's five still in use.
The oldest is Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branca, off the mainland's eastern shore, which goes back to 1851.
Visitors will get the rare chance to climb Raffles Lighthouse's 88 spiralling steps to the glass-panelled dome that sits 29m off the ground, about six storeys up.
In it is its most-prized possession - an array of quartz halogen lamps in aluminium reflectors that emit white light visible from 20 nautical miles away.
Light pulses, three white flashes every 20 seconds, not only function as a location indicator, but also warn seafarers of treacherous rocks and reefs.
Visitors will see maritime artefacts, such as lanterns and wind gauges used in the 1970s, in a small museum that used to be the generator room.
Electricity from the generators was used to power and rotate the navigational lantern until 1988, when the revolving system was automated. Today, the lights are powered by solar energy.
From the Raffles Lighthouse dome, visitors can see the nearby Pulau Senang, the subject of a recent play about a failed penal settlement on the isle in the 1960s.
Despite her 129 years, Raffles Lighthouse is still well-preserved with a gleaming white exterior and polished original, century-old brass fittings, thanks to lighthouse keepers like Mr Uthrapathi. They take turns to work in pairs for 10-day shifts. Before automation, a seven-man crew stayed on the island for a month.
During their stint, the keepers perform tasks such as cleaning the light equipment and glass panels and ensuring batteries are charged. Every four hours, they have to check that the lights are working.
They make rounds on foot around the 1.3ha island, roughly the size of two small football fields, to ensure vessels do not breach the 300m radius around it.
"About 15 years ago, I saw one boat nearing the island at night with no light," said Mr Uthrapathi, who used to work as a horse trainer. He quickly notified the Coast Guard.
Besides Raffles, this year's HeritageFest Lighthouse Trail also features the Sultan Shoal Lighthouse. Built in 1896, it remained an isolated, outlying lighthouse off Singapore's west coast up till the 1970s. But Ms Tan Teng Teng, a heritage researcher, said there might soon no longer be a need for it.
"With land reclamation along the west coast and the combination of seven nearby islands to form Jurong Island, the Sultan Shoal Lighthouse is boxed in on three sides," she said.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore manages Singapore's five lighthouses. Only one of them is on the mainland, in Bedok, while the rest are on offshore isles.
The Republic also has two decommissioned lighthouses - Fullerton and Fort Canning - that were retired after their surrounding areas became too built-up and obstructed the view of the navigational light to mariners at sea.
Mr Wilfred Lau, 85, who visited Raffles Lighthouse in the 1950s while working as a project engineer, said Pulau Satumu was different then.
There was no television for the keepers and more manual labour was required to keep the lighthouse running, he said. "It's a lot more comfortable now," he said.
"The keepers also get 10 days on, 10 days off - I like that kind of job."
But Mr Uthrapathi said that while he appreciated its peace and modern-day comforts, there was one thing - or one person - missing.
"I miss my four-year-old daughter back home."
RAFFLES LIGHTHOUSE
Where: Pulau Satumu, or One Tree Island in Malay.
What: Singapore's second-oldest lighthouse was built in 1885, using granite from Pulau Ubin.
HORSBURGH LIGHTHOUSE
Where: Pedra Branca, which means "white rock" in Portuguese, is about 40km from the mainland's eastern shore. What: Built in 1851, it is Singapore's oldest lighthouse.
Pedra Branca was at the centre of a territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia for almost three decades.
Six years ago, the International Court of Justice awarded Pedra Branca to Singapore.
SULTAN SHOAL LIGHTHOUSE
Where: Sultan Shoal, which marks the western entrance to the Straits of Singapore, near Jurong Island.
What: Singapore's third lighthouse was built in 1896.
BEDOK LIGHTHOUSE
Where: On top of a 25-storey apartment block in the Lagoon View condominium in East Coast.
What: It is due to be moved to Block 3, Marine Terrace, in the third quarter of next year.
No reason was given but both locations are unique as lighthouses are typically built on the shore or on rocky outcrops and rarely on apartments.
PULAU PISANG LIGHTHOUSE
Where: On Pulau Pisang, an island about 15km from the Malaysian coastal town of Pontian.
What: It is in Malaysian territory but owned and managed by Singapore. The British government signed a contract with the Johor Sultanate for the right to build and manage a lighthouse on the island.
The right passed to Singapore under international law when it became an independent country.
The Straits Times Forum AsiaOne 6 Jul 14;
SINGAPORE - It is not surprising that the island-hopping trails in the Singapore HeritageFest, especially the lighthouse trail, drew overwhelming response ("HeritageFest website flooded with bookings for island-hopping trails"; Wednesday).
Many, including my family, can only hope that more such trails can be organised in future.
The visit to Raffles Lighthouse, which has played a strategic role in our maritime history, is probably the first of its kind that is open to the public. Many of us have learnt about the lighthouse through books, but what can beat visiting the actual site?
Secondary schools could consider working with the authorities to take students to the lighthouse, to bring history lessons to life.
The authorities could also explore making such trips available all year round, possibly at least once a month, charging a nominal fee of, say, $10 per adult and $5 per student or senior citizen.
The authorities could consider working with the Singapore Tourism Board to promote trails and activities that showcase our culture and traditions to foreign visitors. Singapore is not merely a food paradise and shopping haven; it has much more to offer.
Lim Lih Mei (Ms)
Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 5 Jul 14;
SINGAPORE: The government on its own cannot be the final decision maker for the use of spaces within the community, but will have to work closely with residents and other stakeholders.
Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said this at a focus group discussion on Saturday.
The focus group was attended by some 40 people, including members from non-government organisations, grassroots leaders and representatives from other interest groups.
The discussion is part of the review of the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, which sets out a framework for the next phase of the nation's development.
Parks and scenic spots allow Singaporeans to reconnect with nature, but the lack of amenities such as toilets and drinking water spots along the way may discourage some from fully utilising the space.
So some participants suggested opening food and beverage outlets run by non-government organisations, which in turn employ residents in the area.
One of the other issues that repeatedly cropped up was the under-usage of spaces such as those under fly-overs as well as void decks, and participants pointed out that tweaks in design, for example, could result in such spaces becoming a place of greater interaction in the community.
Some said the rows of fixed benches and chairs under void decks can be swapped for mobile furniture to create a more dynamic space.
Dr Chong Keng Hua, assistant professor of architecture and sustainable design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), said the space could be "a very adaptive environment that is more vibrant".
"So how can we make our place more secure and more vibrant for different groups of community at the same space? I think that's something we can look at in the future," he added.
Many agreed that the key to all these ideas is a government that is willing to be consultative from the start -- being more flexible in the design and use of spaces, and operating with a "light-touch".
Mr Desmond Lee said the government over the years has become more consultative and work with different interest groups in co-creating spaces.
He said: "At the very start, the government will take all these ideas back and we will look at how we can, on our own, facilitate that ground-up process.
"Perhaps we look at our rules, we look at the way we do things, we look at the trade-offs that we are so used to looking at, and seeing where we can allow latitude."
Mr Lee said it is also about working more closely with people who want to use community spaces, while ensuring they remain inclusive to all.
- CNA/fa/al
zazali musa The Star 6 Jul 14;
JOHOR BARU: Property developers involved in land reclamation activities within Iskandar Malaysia have to contribute 30 sen for each square foot of reclaimed land.
Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the new ruling would take effect immediately for ongoing reclamation works, completed projects on reclaimed land and new projects.
“The money collected from them will be channelled into a Fishermen’s Fund to assist fishermen in south Johor whose livelihood is affected by land reclamation,” he told reporters yesterday.
Mohamed Khaled said about 3,237.48ha of land would be reclaimed within the country’s first economic growth corridor under its Comprehensive Development Plan from 2006 to 2025.
“Based on our estimation, the state government will be able to collect RM104mil from developers whose projects are sited on reclaimed land,” he said, adding that the state government would not give approval to developers who declined to contribute to the fund.
Mohamed Khaled said the fund, which would be managed by the state financial officer, was only for eligible fishermen.
Similarly, he said another fund would be set up for Pengerang residents involved in the multi-billion Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex in Kota Tinggi.
Separately, he said Johor had submitted its proposal to the Federal Government to impose a levy on Singaporean cars entering Malaysia about six months ago.
Mohamed Khaled said Johor had proposed a RM20 levy on Singaporean cars, of which RM5 would go to the state and the money could be used to maintain roads.
“We leave it to the Federal Government as it is their prerogative,” he said.
Fund for Iskandar fishermen
Rizalman Hammim New Straits Times 6 Jul 14;
JOHOR BARU: DEVELOPERS undertaking reclamation work along the seafront in Iskandar Malaysia will have to contribute 30 sen for each square foot of land reclaimed, to a fund set up by the state.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the contribution would be used to help fishermen whose livelihood had been affected by the reclamation.
He said the decision, which was reached at a recent state executive council meeting, would take effect immediately.
“Developers will have to contribute 30 sen for each square foot of land they reclaim.
“The payment must be made before they start the reclamation projects. The payment system will be retrospective and will include projects already undertaken.”
He said the decision was made following complaints from fishermen in Iskandar Malaysia that the reclamation projects had affected their livelihood.
“There are 3,237.5ha of reclamation projects approved for Iskandar Malaysia, which means that the state government can collect RM104 million for the fund.
“The affected fishermen will receive cash assistance from the fund annually beginning next year and the amount that they will receive will be announced during the state budget presentation,” said Khaled, adding that the fund would be managed by the state financial officer.
The state government has already directed the Land Office to issue letters to the developers.
Khaled was speaking to the media after chairing the state Umno liaison committee meeting here yesterday.
He said the state government was also looking at several options to help those affected by the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC).
“There are several suggestions and we are studying the best mechanism to help those affected.”
The residents of six villages affected by the project will be relocated to new settlement areas under Phase 1 of the PIPC.
The villages involved are Kampung Sungai Kapal, Kampung Langkah Baik, Kampung Teluk Empang, Kampung Jawa, Kampung Batu Mas and Kampung Sebong.
The PIPC is set to become the region’s oil and gas (O&G) hub and promises to provide some 70,000 jobs to locals.
It aims to attract RM170 billion in investments in the next 10 to 15 years. It is also home to Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) RM89 billion Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid), which will spearhead the country’s and the region’s O&G hub aspiration.
On another matter, Khaled said the state government was studying the possibility of allowing property developers to pay the necessary fees they were required to pay the state government in kind, namely by giving commercial lots that they are developing to the state government, instead of paying in cash.
“We will award these commercial lots to Bumiputera entrepreneurs as it will boost Bumiputera ownership of commercial properties in the new development areas. At the moment, most Bumiputera entrepreneurs can’t afford to own commercial properties. This is one of the ways the state government is helping them.”
On the state government’s proposal to impose a levy on Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor, Khaled said he was waiting for a decision from the Federal Government.
“I hope the Federal government will understand the need to expedite the decision,” said Khaled.
Singapore had recently expressed concern over the massive reclamation works in Johor to build a man-made island in the Straits of Johor, near the Second Link off Tuas.
It is concerned about the potential transboundary effects of the project called Forest City, which involves several connected islands with a total land size of about 2,000ha.
The Department of Environment had issued a temporary stop-work order against all coastal land reclamation works for the project following a decision to study in greater detail the environmental impact of the project.
The project is being jointly developed by Chinese property developer Country Garden Holdings and Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor.
Special fund for fishermen affected by Iskandar Malaysia: Khaled
Rizalman Hammim New Straits Times 5 Jul 14;
JOHOR BARU: The state government will set up a special fund to help fishermen who are affected by the reclamation projects in Iskandar Malaysia.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the decision was made at a recent Exco meeting and all developers who undertake reclamation projects in the area will contribute to the fund.
"The developers will have to contribute 30 sen for each square foot of land that they reclaim. The payment must be made before they start the reclamation projects and we will collect the payment retrospectively," said Khaled.
He said the decision was made following complaints from fishermen in Iskandar Malaysia who said that the reclamation projects have affected their livelihood.
"There are almost 8,000 acres (3,237.5 hectares) of reclamation projects that have been approved in Iskandar Malaysia, which means that the state government can collect about RM104 million for the fund.
"The affected fishermen will received the cash assistance from the fund annually starting next year and the amount that they will receive will be announced during the state budget announcement," said Khaled, adding that the fund will be managed by the state financial officer.
The menteri besar was speaking to the media after chairing the state Umno liaison committee meeting.
Johor to impose 30 sen payment for every sq ft of sea reclamation
The Star 6 Jul 14;
JOHOR BARU: Johor will impose a payment of 30 sen for every sq ft on developers involved in sea reclamation works in the state with immediate effect.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the approach, to be enforced immediately, aimed at creating a special aid to assist fishermen whose livelihood was affected by the reclamation works.
"With a total acreage of 3,237.48 hectares in reclamation activities in and around Iskandar Malaysia, a total of RM104mil is expected to be received.
"The state government has directed the Land Office to issue letters to developers and it will take effect immediately.
“The payment system made will be retrospective, including for projects that are already undertaken," he told a news conference after chairing the Johor Umno Liasion Body meeting Sunday.
However, he said the actual number of aid to be channelled to the fishermen would be decided and announced during the budget presentation this November.
Mohamed Khaled said the state government was aware and took seriously the issue of the fishermen whose livelihood was affected by the sea reclamation works in several areas in the Iskandar Malaysia development region.
He said Johor also set up an international zone as a centralised area for foreigners interested to reside in the state.
The international zone enables the state government to limit property purchase by foreigners outside the zone that could not be fully controlled previously.
With the existence of the zone, the difference in the rate of taxes will be collected by the local authorities to be used to develop areas outside Johor Baru district. - Bernama
Johor to tax developers for sea reclamation
Today Online 7 Jul 14;
KUALA LUMPUR — Developers involved in sea reclamation work in the Malaysian state of Johor will have to pay a RM0.30 (S$0.12) tax for every square foot as part of a special aid programme for fishermen whose livelihoods are affected by the work, the state’s Chief Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said yesterday.
Mr Mohamed Khaled said the state expected to collect RM104 million from a total acreage of 3,237.48ha of reclamation activities in and around the Iskandar special economic region that would come under the payment scheme, The Star reported.
Developers would be receiving letters informing them of the move, which takes effect immediately, he said.
Noting that the state government was serious about the issue of fishermen affected by the sea reclamation work, he said the amount of aid to be disbursed to the fishermen would be decided and announced at a budget meeting in November.
Mr Mohamed Khaled also said Johor would set up an international zone designated for foreigners interested in residing in the state.
The zone would allow the state government to limit property purchases by foreigners and the special taxes collected in the zone would be allocated towards the development of other areas outside the Johor Baru district, he added.
A massive reclamation project in Johor recently came under scrutiny both within the state and in neighbouring Singapore after the Republic and non-governmental organisations raised concerns over the environmental impact of the project.
The Forest City project, a housing development in the Straits of Johor near Singapore’s Second Link, involves creating a 1,817ha island almost three times the size of Ang Mo Kio and includes a 49ha tourist hub as well as luxury homes.
Singapore had earlier expressed concerns about the possible transboundary impact of the reclamation work in the Strait and requested more information from Malaysia so that it would be able to undertake a study on the impact of the reclamation work.
Malaysian media reports later said several amendments were expected to be made to the project to minimise the environmental impact. AGENCIES
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