Celebrating a shared S pore

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1 FRIDAY AUGUST 10, 2018 SINCE 1845 Top of the News Cashless payments catch on A10 World Jokowi names senior cleric as running mate A13 Sports Courtois leaves Chelsea for Real Madrid C9 Business Banks step up security measures C1 Top of the News More nabbed at checkpoints for drug abuse A3 Opinion Australia seeks Plan B A20 Celebrating a shared S pore Lombok hit by another major quake Fireworks lighting up the night sky during the grand finale of the National Day Parade at the Marina Bay floating platform yesterday. Lombok island and parts of Indonesia s West Nusa Tenggara province were jolted by a magnitude-6.2 earthquake yesterday, sending fresh panic among residents who were still traumatised by last Sunday s powerful quake. The death toll has climbed to at least 259, with thousands homeless after their houses were flattened, while others preferred to remain outdoors under tents in case of more tremors. Electricity, water and telecommunications services have been progressively restored to parts of Lombok, but residents in other districts complain of slow delivery of aid such as food and tents. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN READ MORE National Day Parade HOME B1-7 The community on National Day SEE TOP OF THE NEWS A6 HOME B8 Russia slams latest US sanctions MORE ONLINE Relive parade s moments at ndp ,000 spectators celebrate diversity and shared S porean past at 53rd birthday bash Tan Tam Mei Lifting their heads to the sky, the 25,000 people at Singapore s 53rd birthday bash raised their voices to sing Majulah Singapura as fireworks in the formation of five stars shot up into the night sky. The triumphant pyrotechnic show that ends every National Day Parade was an emotional coda to a day when Singaporeans celebrated their unity in diversity, their home and country, and felt like the sky, indeed, was the limit. The ninth parade to be held at the Marina Bay floating platform stoked the exhilaration, utilising the elements that have made it a crowd favourite of sky, sea and that gleaming downtown backdrop. Making their aerial debut were divers from the Republic of Singapore Navy, who drew thunderous applause as they jumped out of a plane in freefall, opening their chutes to land in the calm waters with their operational gear and fins on. The cheers got even wilder with the act that followed them, the sky- diving Red Lions, who landed gracefully on the platform. Sports instructor Debbie Poh was thrilled to see the Red Lions and divers together at the show. This couldn t have been done elsewhere because the floating platform is right next to the water, said Ms Poh, 30. It s the perfect venue. President Halimah Yacob attended the parade for the first time as Singapore s head of state. The crowd rose to its feet as one, cheering and waving flags at her arrival. Singapore s first female president, with her trademark warmth, stayed after the parade was over to mingle with fellow Singaporeans. At home, Singaporeans watching the sundown parade on TV got the best view when spectators in the stands held up red and white placards from their funpacks, to form the sentence WE (heart) SG. It was a smart idea, said student Jasdev Singh, 14. The coordination required is really cool and the results turned out awesome... It shows how each one of us can play our part and contribute. Also contributing were more than 3,000 participants, who performed in the spectacular mass displays of song and dance that showcased home-grown creativity. We are Singapore, said the 2018 National Day Parade. It was also the year s theme song a 1987 classic by Hugh Harrison made new by musician Charlie Lim, but still familiar and beloved. Ms Doris Lim, 40, who works in the IT industry, said the remade version was refreshing. Of the new lyrics, she said: They are as meaningful as the old ones. The affection for a shared Singaporean past was palpable, as the audience sang heartily along with the combined schools choir back after five years to National Day favourites such as Chan Mali Chan and Munnaeru Vaalibaa. Like the parades of previous years, this one melded people s favourite things about Singapore into a satisfying whole. The past was very much with the present, when Singaporeans planted their feet and stood together, and looked to the future. tammei@sph.com.sg Russia condemned a new round of US sanctions as illegal and unfriendly yesterday. The US State Department said it would impose fresh sanctions by the end of the month after determining that Moscow had used a nerve agent against former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain, something Moscow denies. A senior US official said the sanctions would target exports of goods related to national security. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was starting to work on retaliatory measures. SEE TOP OF THE NEWS A8 76 PAGES IN SIX PARTS $1.10 To subscribe: sphsubscription.com.sg A Singapore Press Holdings publication MCI (P) 113/01/2018

2 A2 BRIEFING Straits Times Digital 10 REACH US AT Website: Facebook: must-reads for today 1 Moving on after quake Residents on the Indonesian island of Lombok, who are attempting to rebuild their lives following Sunday s powerful earthquake, remained on edge yesterday as they continued to be hit by daily aftershocks. Electricity was restored to parts of the island yesterday morning, giving some the hope that the worst was over. TOP OF WEB SPECIAL Everyday heroes THE NEWS A6 Traders selling their goods on makeshift stalls outside the market building at Gunung Sari wet market in West Lombok yesterday. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG 2 China takes tougher stance China s state media has ramped up rhetoric against the latest tariff move by the United States, warning that Beijing is ready to fight back against Washington s mobster mentality. The increasingly shrill tone suggests a ratcheting up of trade tensions. TOP OF THE NEWS A4 3 NYC votes to cap Uber, Lyft New York City has become the first major American city to halt new vehicle licences for ride-hailing services as it moves to cap the number of for-hire vehicles for a year while the city studies the booming industry. The legislation, passed overwhelmingly on Wednesday, is a significant setback for Uber in its largest market in the United States. WORLD A19 PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE 4 Quick way to apply for jobs Mobile jobs portal FastJobs has launched a kiosk at Radin Mas Community Club that allows residents to seek jobs and apply for them via SMS. Another 15 to 20 kiosks will be launched by the end of the year. HOME B12 5 Liaoning s free trade push Chinese province Liaoning is hoping to crank up its economy with a pilot free trade zone across three of its cities to help revitalise the area. BUSINESS C1 6 Bringing back some sparkle Home-grown jewellery stores are launching new collections and adapting mainstays in a bid to shed their old-school image and cater to the millennial crowd. LIFE D2 7 Man fails to void casino debt A Malaysian businessman, who blew $10 million in credit within three days at the Resorts World Sentosa casino and settled nearly half the debt, has failed in his court bid to void the outstanding $5.9 million. The High Court rejected Mr Lee Fook Kheun s claim that he was intoxicated when he inked the credit deals. HOME B9 8 New strategy for Australia? As trust in the Trump administration falters, Australia has to decide how to accommodate the growing calls at home for a new strategic outlook that is less America and more Asia, says Euan Graham from the Lowy Institute. OPINION A20 9 GOP debates Trump s role A new round of lacklustre showings by Republican candidates has reignited a debate in the GOP over whether United States President Donald Trump will be a drag on the party s chances in the November mid-term elections. WORLD A12 10 Mourinho slams bad press Jose Mourinho, ahead of the Premier League s opening match against Leicester, has hit out at the negative media treatment runners-up Manchester United received compared with football clubs that finished below them last season. SPORT C10 Readers wrote in to The Straits Times to share stories about the heroes in their lives as part of the paper s National Day contest. These heroes ranged from a former convict who has turned over a new leaf to a para-athlete with incredible resilience. Check out 10 of the winning entries. str.sg/opoz GRAPHICS Paradise island in peril Chaos and destruction were evident across the Indonesian resort island of Lombok after a magnitude-7 earthquake struck on Aug 5. We take a look at the destruction. str.sg/lombok-quake

3 TOPOFTHENEWS FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES A3 Nagasaki marks 73 years since atomic blast Prayers were held for victims of the 1945 atomic bombing of the Japanese port city of Nagasaki on the 73rd anniversary yesterday. Crowds gathered to pay their respects in front of the 10m-tall Peace Statue at Nagasaki s Peace Park in western Japan. The United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug 6, 1945, killing around 140,000 people, followed by a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki three days later, which killed some 74,000 people. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on Aug 15, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday became the first sitting UN chief to attend the Nagasaki ceremonies. PHOTO: REUTERS SEE WORLD A16 More busted at checkpoints for drug abuse Experts point to worrying trend after number of cases jumps from 78 in 2016 to 126 last year Tan Tam Mei The arrest of former Singapore Idol Hady Mirza, 38, at a land crossing in Singapore for drug abuse has put the spotlight on a worrying trend. The number of people arrested at the various checkpoints here for drug abuse from 2013 has climbed gradually, from 47 that year to 65 in It hit 69 in 2015, before reaching 78 the following year. But last year, the number spiked significantly. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) told The Straits Times that some 126 Singapore citizens or permanent residents (PRs) were arrested last year at checkpoints and airports. Experts are worried, with criminal lawyer Amarick Gill saying he has picked up on the trend and has seen more young adults and fulltime national servicemen approach him for legal help. Some don t know that there is a law against this; others choose to take the risk thinking they won t be checked when returning to Singapore, said Mr Gill, who has been a lawyer for more than 20 years. ST understands that suspects are pulled up at checkpoints and made to take urine tests to confirm if they have consumed drugs. A CNB spokesman said that under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those found to have abused drugs overseas will be dealt with as if the offence was committed in Singapore. Hady, who worked as a Grab driver, was reportedly picked up before this month at a land crossing in Singapore. He has been placed in a drug rehabilitation centre. Mr Gill said such cases were almost unheard of five years ago. But he has since handled clients who organised drug holidays where the sole intention was to consume drugs. You just need a bit of money and you can book a whole villa for you and your friends for the weekend, added Mr Gill. Addiction specialist Thomas Lee said he has come across patients who pursued their studies or careers in countries such as Australia and Canada, where drugs like cannabis are easily available or legal. They come back to Singapore and look for ways to continue the habit, added Dr Lee, medical director and consultant psychiatrist at the Resilienz Clinic. If abusers find that they can t continue their drug use here because laws are too strict, they can easily fly overseas to get their fix. This is worrying because the boundary of drug use is expanded. With neighbouring countries such as Thailand looking into studies that could lead to the legalisation of medical cannabis, as announced in May this year, Mr Gill said he would not be surprised if the number of drug abusers caught at Singapore checkpoints increases further. The CNB had previously main- tained that claims made about the efficacy of cannabis as a medicine are inconclusive and unproven. Dr Lee said that as with prescription medication such as painkillers, there is always room for abuse. If cannabis is legalised in a neighbouring country, I m sure somehow someone will find a way to purchase it and abuse it. The CNB told ST that it works with the education authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to educate and remind citizens and PRs that it is an offence to experiment with drugs when overseas. tammei@sph.com.sg

4 A4 TOPOFTHENEWS Tariff war: US accused of mobster mentality China has no choice but to fight back, warns state media, as it urges Beijing to get creative to overcome challenges Lim Yan Liang China Correspondent In Beijing China s state media, ramping up the rhetoric against the United States latest tariff move, has warned that Beijing is ready to fight back against Washington s mobster mentality. The increasingly shrill tone suggests a ratcheting up of trade tensions between the world s two largest economies, whose sectors from steel to soya beans have already been hit by reciprocal tariffs. The two countries trade conflict, which is merely push and shove at the moment, is likely to escalate into more than just a scuffle if the US administration cannot marshal its mobster mentality, the China Daily said in an editorial yesterday. China continues to do its utmost to avoid a trade war, but in the face of the US ever greater demand for protection money, China has no choice but to fight back. Beijing said on Wednesday it will impose additional tariffs of 25 per cent on US$16 billion (S$21.8 billion) worth of US imports to mirror Washington s move, which takes effect on Aug 23. This will bring to US$100 billion the total amount of goods subject to reciprocal tariffs, with US President Donald Trump threatening 25 per cent tariffs on another US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods. Not helping matters, Mr Trump s remarks in recent days have raised the level of acrimony, which may derail any nascent negotiations. At a dinner meeting with top businessmen and senior officials on Tuesday, he said China s Belt and Road Initiative was personally insulting, and that his top priority is to stop Beijing from gaining any unfair advantage on trade. He also said that almost every Chinese student who went to the US is a spy. Mr Trump has long accused Beijing of intellectual property theft and said its Made in China 2025 strategic plan harms US interests. The bulk of the US$16 billion worth of Chinese goods subject to new US tariffs are semiconductors and related products that the Office of the US Trade Representative said benefits from the Made in China 2025 plan. The latest round of tariffs shows the US is attempting to force China to submit to it by extreme pressure and deceit, China Institute of International Studies research fellow Jia Xiudong wrote in a commentary in the overseas edition of the People s Daily yesterday. China sees through the two-sidedness of the Trump administration, which on the one hand wants dialogue and cooperation, but on the other cannot restrain the impulse to suppress China in its development, said Professor Jia. Given that the Sino-US trade gap does not allow China to match new US tariffs dollar for dollar, some are urging Beijing to get creative on how to fight back. The Global Times said unconventional methods should be considered if needed, citing the four trillion yuan (S$800 billion) stimulus plan Beijing implemented in the 2008 global crisis to sustain growth. History tells us we can look to some unconventional methods to overcome economic challenges, it said in Wednesday s commentary. Still, experts hold out hope that both sides may yet find a way to call a truce or even a longer-term solution. The latest trade data shows Chinese exports continuing to surge, which may give Beijing confidence to make adjustments to its Made in China 2025 plan as long as it does not impede economic growth. Beijing-based economist Hu Xingdou said that despite the war of words, China and the US have said they want the same thing: to move in the direction of free and fair trade, with China adopting more market economy reforms. China has expressed willingness to reform its state-owned enterprises and reduce the government s intervention in the economy, he told The Straits Times. Both sides will have to come to a compromise, as this kind of confrontation, if prolonged, is of no benefit to the US. Tit-for-tat tariffs SHOTS FIRED US-China trade war intensifies, based on imposed and threatened tariffs Total US imports of Chinese goods: US$506 billion Tariffs Ready in effect to go Threatened $34b $16b $200b (In US$) Total Chinese imports of US goods: US$130 billion $34b $16b $60b US CHINA FEB 7, 2018 US slaps steep safeguard tariffs on washing machine and solar cell imports, indicating concerns over Chinese dominance of the global supply chain MARCH 23, 2018 US implements tariffs on global steel imports (25 per cent) and aluminium (10 per cent) APRIL 2, 2018 China hits back with 25 per cent tariffs on US$3 billion worth of US imports in response JULY 6, per cent tariffs come into 25 per cent tariffs come into effect on US$34 billion worth effect on US$34 billion worth of Chinese imports of US imports 25 per cent tariffs to be levied on the next US$16 billion worth of Chinese imports AUG 23, per cent tariffs to be implemented on an additional US$16 billion worth of US imports TO BE ANNOUNCED US threatens 10 per cent China to impose retaliatory tariffs on US$200 billion tariffs on US$60 billion worth worth of imports from China of US imports, pending US decision yanliang@sph.com.sg Sources: REUTERS, BLOOMBERG STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS 2 potential endgames amid current acrimony BEIJING The United States and China have sparred repeatedly over trade, in a tit-for-tat skirmish that has shown little sign of abating. High-level talks have stalled, while both sides have been threatening further tariffs in recent days. But amid the current acrimony, trade officials from both sides have been working on ways to try to dial down the conflict. Two possible paths appear to be emerging. Both would deliver trade wins for US President Donald Trump and his more moderate advisers, while also letting President Xi Jinping of China push ahead with his ambitious industrial plan to build national champions in cutting-edge technologies. The most likely endgame seems to be a stalemate, with tariffs staying in place for months or even longer. So far, the US has imposed tariffs on US$34 billion (S$46.4 billion) worth of Chinese technology goods and US$3 billion of Chinese steel and aluminium, with another US$16 billion in the offing. China has responded in kind, outlining its own plan on Wednesday for measures on US$16 billion of US goods. While the policies have drawn loud complaints from US companies that have become reliant on imports from China, they have been forcing multinationals to rethink their supply chains and start moving them away from China. Over time, such changes could reduce the trade deficit between the two countries and limit national security concerns, two big sources of discontent for Mr Trump. A negotiated truce is also possible. Although the two sides remain far apart, Beijing has made subtle shifts to a more conciliatory position. China now appears willing to discuss changes to its strategic plan, Made in China 2025, which the Trump administration has identified as a long-term threat to big US industries such as aircraft manufacturing, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. China s stance now is that a resolution of trade tensions must not block its further economic progress, but adjustments to Made in China 2025 could happen. The latest trade figures, which came out Bags of chemicals being unloaded at a port in Zhangjiagang, in China s Jiangsu province. President Donald Trump is unhappy over the large, persistent trade deficits with China. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE on Wednesday, show that Chinese exports continue to surge, giving Beijing some confidence. The red line is China s right to develop, not the concrete industrial policies and measures regarding Made in China 2025, said former Commerce Ministry official He Weiwen, who remains one of China s top trade experts. To Mr Trump and his aides, China is trade enemy No. 1. In making their case, they point to large, persistent trade deficits as well as state-owned banks funding potential rivals to US giants in high-tech and advanced manufacturing. They also worry that China is engaged in a rapid military buildup that would give Beijing more heft in Asia and around the world. The tariffs address part of the US President s concerns, mainly by reducing US companies dependency on Chinese suppliers. Hundreds of Western companies already have been reconsidering China s role in their supply chains, according to several people in- volved in such decisions. Executives are increasingly looking for ways to transfer the final assembly of goods to factories outside China, mainly in low-wage countries elsewhere in Asia or in Mexico. Doing the final assembly outside of China will allow companies to bypass the new US tariffs. It could also start to cut the deficit with China over the next couple of years. But these moves may not do much to the overall trade deficit of the US, rearranging it instead to other countries. Beijing will also retain a lot of leverage, given that the manufacturing of a long list of components, from wires and screws to electric motors and digital controls, will most likely remain in China. Negotiating Made in China 2025 is more complicated. The Trump administration has called for Beijing to halt all subsidies to industries in the programme, including low-cost loans from state-owned banks; accept that the US will have some tariffs on these industries for reasons of national security; end cyber espi- While the tariff policies have drawn loud complaints from US companies that have become reliant on imports from China, they have been forcing multinationals to rethink their supply chains and start moving them away from China. Over time, such changes could reduce the trade deficit between the two countries and limit national security concerns, two big sources of discontent for Mr Trump. onage aimed at stealing commercial secrets; and stop demanding that US companies share key technologies with Chinese companies. While China is not willing to go nearly that far, it could offer some concessions that might provide an ostensible victory. China has expressed a willingness to change parts of its industrial policy that violate global trade rules. But China s programme falls into some grey areas. While the World Trade Organisation has many rules to prevent governments from subsidising companies directly, the rules are more vague on whether a state-run banking system can provide preferential loans. Such loans have been the core of Chinese industrial policy for many years, and continue to be under Made in China The dilemma is whether any tweaks to Made in China 2025 would make much of a difference and appease the Trump administration. China might also be signalling a willingness to compromise on tar- iffs. For much of the trade war, Beijing has matched Washington dollar for dollar on retaliatory measures. Last week, China shifted tack. Faced with US threats of tariffs on two-fifths of China s exports to America, or US$200 billion a year, Beijing responded with a threat of tariffs on two-fifths of US exports to China, or US$60 billion a year. The change raised the question whether China might be willing to accept a compromise on tariffs linked to the share of total trade that is taxed in each direction. China has not yet made any such offer, and on Wednesday the country s Commerce Ministry announced it would keep pace with the Trump administration s next round of tariffs on US$16 billion of imports a year that are to take effect on Aug 23. Beijing s more cautious approach to the greater threat, of tariffs on another US$200 billion in annual imports, was also just practical: China does not even import that amount of goods from the US annually.nytimes

5 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES A5

6 A6 TOPOFTHENEWS Lombok earthquake An Indonesian official and a soldier trying to calm people after an aftershock hit an area in Tanjung, Lombok island, yesterday. The latest magnitude-6.2 earthquake was among hundreds of aftershocks following a magnitude-7 earthquake on Sunday. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Fresh quake hits Lombok, causing further damage Two killed, 24 injured as latest tremor brings down buildings on popular holiday island Linda Yulisman Indonesia Correspondent In Jakarta A fresh magnitude-6.2 earthquake hit Indonesia s Lombok island yesterday, killing two and injuring 24. Witnesses reported seeing collapsed buildings as a result of the latest in a series of tremors in the popular tourist destination. The earthquake occurred at 12.25pm local time, with an epicentre located 6km north-west of North Lombok at a depth of 12km, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). BMKG chief Dwikorita Karnawati said the quake was strongly felt because the epicentre was shallow. Many people felt the tremor... They were surprised and ran out. It also caused mild damage (to buildings), she told a press briefing broadcast by MetroTV. Ms Dwikorita said such aftershocks were natural after a major earthquake and there is no potential for a tsunami to be caused by the upward movement of the Flores back arc thrust fault. Residents whose houses are not damaged can return to their houses, although they are still advised to remain alert to future aftershocks, she said. The latest quake was among hundreds of aftershocks following a magnitude-7 earthquake on Sunday. National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Twitter last night that yesterday s earthquake caused significant trauma, killing two and injuring 24. Buildings that were already weakened structurally after the earlier quake saw further damage, he said. BNPB reported that as of late Wednesday afternoon, the death toll had increased to 259, including two in neighbouring Bali. A collapsed portion of a hotel on Gili Trawangan, off Lombok, on Wednesday. Sunday s earthquake cut off electricity and damaged the water supply system on the island, which has more than 300 hotels, cottages and small villas, including those operated by foreign nationals. This number will continue increasing as rescue teams continue to find victims under collapsed buildings, the agency said in a statement. An earlier figure by the Indonesian Armed Forces on Wednesday was much higher, at 381 deaths. BNPB also said that 1,033 people were severely injured and treated in hospitals and community health centres. The number of people evacuated or moved to shelters also climbed to 270,168, it added. Other material losses included 67,857 houses and 458 schools damaged by the powerful quake. Separately, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said that at least 46 foreigners, including those from Britain, Australia, Sweden and France, have decided to stay in Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno popular holiday island destinations on Lombok despite the earthquake as they wanted to look after their property, including villas, restaurants and cafes. ylinda@sph.com.sg Gili Trawangan s jetty also collapsed, forcing incoming boats to land on the beach to evacuate tourists or bring in fresh supplies. ST PHOTOS: MARK CHEONG Residents on edge as daily aftershocks continue Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja Indonesia Correspondent In Lombok Residents in Lombok, located beside the island of Bali, remained on edge yesterday as they continued to be hit by daily aftershocks since Sunday s powerful earthquake, even as they try to rebuild their lives. Parts of the main Lombok island have had electricity restored, leading some to hope that the worst was over. Then, a magnitude-6.2 aftershock hit yesterday afternoon, shattering their hopes. On the small island of Gili Trawangan, off the main island of Lombok, hotels, cottages and diving schools said on Wednesday that they have started to rebuild and clean up, hopeful that the worst was over and that tourists would start coming in again in the coming months. Popularly called Gili T, the island boasts more than 300 hotels, cottages and small villas, including those operated by foreign nationals. It is the most frequently visited island by tourists among the three Gili islands. After Sunday night s magnitude-7 quake, electricity was cut off and the water supply system was damaged. The utilities had not been restored as of Wednesday. The island s main jetty had also collapsed, forcing incoming boats to land on the beach to evacuate tourists or bring in fresh supplies. Some hotels painted an optimistic view of the future, saying they were betting on the island s ageless charms, including the breathtaking sunset views and opportunities to snorkel with passing sea turtles. Mr Matteo Balderi, manager of the Dreamdivers hotel, told The Straits Times on Wednesday that he would address the post-earthquake challenges quickly. Our rooms are still more than fine. But we face a lack of water and, of course, electricity. If a tourist wants to come here (now)... he is always welcome, Mr Balderi said. For conditions to return to normal, he said, visitors might have to wait until early next month. Building structures on Gili T, like in many parts of Lombok, were mostly not designed to withstand earthquake forces. Another hotel manager, Mr Bagoes Janaka, said his staff who arrived back on the island on Wednesday had not checked all the rooms to see whether water pipes and electricity lines were damaged. At least some of the rooms could be offered to visitors in three BMKG chief Dwikorita Karnawati said the quake was strongly felt because the epicentre was shallow. Many people felt the tremor... They were surprised and ran out. It also caused mild damage (to buildings), she told a press briefing broadcast by MetroTV. months time. We also need time to repair the annexed restaurant whose roof collapsed, Mr Bagoes told ST. The kitchen is badly damaged. Lombok was last hit by a powerful quake on Jan 20, 2004, measuring magnitude-6.2, according to Indonesia s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre. On the main island of Lombok yesterday morning, just before the magnitude-6.2 aftershock in the afternoon, the restoration of electricity in many areas since Sunday s quake had provided reassurance. At the Gunung Sari wet market in West Lombok, more residents showed up to buy their daily needs. This is one-third of the normal crowd. Yesterday, we saw one-quarter of the normal, said vegetable seller Muhammad Badrul Huda. To play it safe, traders had opted to set up makeshift shops outside the market building. On normal days, this is where motorcycles, cars and horse-ridden carriages park. Now, they have turned it into a market, Ms Adit, a shopper, told ST. More hotels in the provincial capital of Mataram have also started to accept visitors, a quick check yesterday found. Most hotels previously rejected visitors on worries of tremors that could jeopardise the guests safety. But there are major concerns too in some parts of the province, including over the fate of residents who were made homeless after their houses were flattened in the quake. Additionally, some shelters in remote North Lombok regency have complained of the slow delivery of aid, increasing the risk of the spread of diseases. Villager Adi Susanto, 30, from Sokong village, one of those suffering from the slow delivery of aid, said the village has no stock of medicines, especially those to treat children with diarrhoea and fever. There are many children here. They are prone to those (illnesses) as we sleep outside. We also need more blankets, he said. There have been complaints too that food aid meant for the interior of North Lombok was intercepted and taken away by other evacuees along the road. When food comes, the priority is for the children and women. Sometimes, the men eat only once a day, said an evacuee at a shelter in Sokong village. There was also a complaint that the Social Affairs Ministry set up a public kitchen only yesterday morning four days after the quake, said Mr Muhammad Sultan, 25, a resident of Manggala village in North Lombok. Tents were distributed a day earlier, but the village still needs more, he added. wahyudis@sph.com.sg

7 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES A7

8 A8 TOPOFTHENEWS Top local brands lend support to ST Singaporean of the Year award Rahimah Rashith Some top local brands have lent their support to The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award, contributing additional prizes for all finalists and the winner. The companies are Singapore Airlines (SIA), Millennium Hotels and Resorts, and Osim. Organised by The Straits Times and supported by UBS Singapore, the award honours an individual or group of people whose extraordinary acts of goodwill have improved their community and the lives of others. It also recognises Singaporeans who have put the country on the world map or persevered through incredible adversity. President Halimah Yacob is patron of The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award. The winner will receive $20,000 from UBS, while the other finalists will each get $5,000. In addition, SIA will sponsor a pair of business-class tickets for the winner and a pair of economy-class tickets for each of the finalists. In all, SIA will sponsor prizes of over $100,000 in value. The winner will also receive a five-night stay in any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts global properties, while finalists will each receive a three-night stay. Millennium Hotels and Resorts has more than 137 hotels across the world. Osim will sponsor a udiva 2 Mas- President Halimah Yacob chatting with para-athlete Jason Chee, a finalist for the ST Singaporean of the Year 2017 award, at the ceremony in February, as past finalists Ashvin Gunasegaran (second from left) and John Shu looked on. NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN Nominate people who you think are inspiring at ST FILE PHOTO sage Sofa worth over $3,000 for the winner, while the other finalists will each receive a ujolly Full Back Massager worth $499. Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez, who is also the editor-inchief of Singapore Press Holdings English/Malay/Tamil Media Group, said: This award celebrates the extraordinary spirit of Singaporeans. It is therefore fitting that some of the best known Singaporean brands have come forward to support this effort. They join UBS Singapore, which has been our sterling supporter from day one, in upholding the values the award stands for. We are most grateful to all of them for their support. SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong said that being a national carrier and a home-grown brand, it is delighted to be the airline partner of the Singaporean of the Year 2018 award. We are proud to partner with The Straits Times to celebrate the selfless acts of Singaporeans, honouring those who have made a difference in their community and the lives of others, he said. Mr Kwek Leng Beng, chairman of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, said he is pleased to be partnering the paper in honouring exceptional Singaporeans and their contributions to the country. He cited how in 1996, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels caught the attention of the business world when Russia denounces new US sanctions as illegal, unfriendly US move hits investor sentiment, sends rouble falling to two-year low MOSCOW Russia condemned a new round of US sanctions as illegal yesterday, after news of the measures sent the rouble tumbling to two-year lows and sparked a wider asset sell-off over fears that Moscow was locked in a spiral of never- ending curbs by the West. Moscow has been trying with mixed success to improve US-Russia ties since Mr Donald Trump won the White House in 2016, and Russia s political elite were quick to chalk up a summit last month be- tween Mr Trump and President Vladimir Putin as a victory. But initial triumphalism swiftly turned sour as anger over what some US lawmakers saw as an overly deferential performance by Mr Trump and his failure to con- it listed on the London Stock Exchange, becoming the first Singapore company to list there. Millennium Hotels and Resorts is a brand of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels. Using a twin owner-operator strategy, a DNA that is unique to M&C, we have grown our portfolio to become a global hospitality player. Similarly, through this award, I hope Singaporeans will continue flying the Singapore flag high, said Mr Kwek. An Osim spokesman said it is honoured to be doing its part in giving back to the community by being the sponsor. In addition to giving recognition to the best of Singaporean talent who exemplifies qualities that Osim is rooted in, we hope this award inspires more Singaporeans to attain greater success, while fostering a strong sense of care in building the community, he said. The three firms join UBS, which has been the presenting sponsor since the award s inception in The Straits Times will unveil the shortlisted candidates in batches between this month and December. This will be followed by two weeks of public voting, and the outcome will be used as a reference by judges in making their final decision. The judging panel consists of editors from the ST newsroom as well as business and community leaders. front Mr Putin over Moscow s alleged meddling in US politics galvanised a new sanctions push. Having bet heavily on improving ties with Washington via Mr Trump, Moscow now finds that the US President is under mounting pressure to show he is tough on Russia ahead of mid-term elections. In the latest broadside, the US State Department said on Wednesday it would impose fresh sanctions by the month s end after determining that Moscow had used a nerve agent against a former Russian double agent, Mr Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia, in Britain, something Moscow denies. The Kremlin said the sanctions were illegal and unfriendly and that the United States move was at odds with the constructive atmosphere of the encounter between Mr Trump and Mr Putin in Helsinki. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was starting to work on retaliatory measures. The new sanctions come in two tranches. The first, which targets US exports of sensitive goods related to national security, comes with deep exemptions and many of the items it covers have already been banned by previous restrictions. However, the second tranche of sanctions, which would be activated after 90 days if Moscow fails to provide reliable assurances that it will no longer use chemical weapons and allow on-site inspections by the United Nations or other international observer groups, is more serious. The sanctions would target exports of national security-related goods including sectors such as specialised oil and gas technology and some electronics and sensors, a senior US State Department official said. Asked whether sanctions would apply directly to Russia s biggest airline Aeroflot, the official said they would not, but they could theoretically affect the company if it tried to import any of the goods covered by the sanctions. The US State Department s an- It Changed My Life Young & hungry Under-30 chefs cooking up a Singapore storm FILY Stay-home dads: Is there still a stigma? gangster to acclaimed potter Once a secret society henchman, Kim Whye Kee now makes delicate teapots for a living UBS Cash prize of $20,000 for the winner and $5,000 for each finalist. UBS is the presenting sponsor for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award. SIA A pair of round-trip business-class tickets for the winner and a pair of roundtrip economy-class tickets for each finalist. Millennium Hotels and Resorts A five-night stay in any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts global properties for the winner, and a threenight stay for each finalist. Osim A udiva 2 Massage Sofa worth over $3,000 for the winner, and a ujolly Full Back Massager worth $499 for each finalist. rahimahr@sph.com.sg In your next Sunday Times From Prizes in store for winner, finalists nouncement fuelled already worsening investor sentiment about the possible impact of more sanctions on Russian assets and the rouble at one point slid by over 1 per cent against the US dollar, hitting a two-year low, before recouping some of its losses. The US move also triggered a selloff in Russian government bonds and the dollar-denominated RTS Index fell to its lowest since April 11. The Kremlin said the new sanctions were illegal and do not correspond to international law. Such decisions taken by the American side are absolutely unfriendly and can hardly be somehow associated with the constructive not simple but constructive atmosphere that there was at the last meeting of the two presidents, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Washington had become an unpredictable player on the international stage, Mr Peskov added, saying that anything could be expected from it. REUTERS

9 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES A9

10 A10 TOPOFTHENEWS Cake cafe Lady M, whose outlets at South Beach and Scotts Square are cashless, has seen shorter billing and waiting times for customers, among other benefits, after accepting only non-cash payment methods like Alipay. The take-up of cashless payments has been on the rise, with eight in 10 Singapore consumers adopting e-payments and nearly three in five merchants accepting them. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO Going cashless Some businesses have ditched cash entirely as more consumers embrace e-payment modes Ankita Varma When Ms Juliana Wong, 34, tried to pay for her coffee at Black&Ink in Swan Lake Avenue in the east in April, she was surprised to hear the cashier say that the cafe does not accept cash. Instead, she would have to download an app on her phone and pay by credit card. I ve never experienced not being able to pay with cash at a cafe or restaurant, said the teaching assistant. We re definitely changing with the times now. Evidently, at this joint, as with an increasing number of others, cash is no longer king. The cash-free business, once an isolated phenomenon, has been picking up steam here, with a growing number of businesses taking a hardline approach and no longer accepting cash. Instead, patrons pay using credit and Nets facilities or mobile payment portals such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Alipay and GrabPay, and apps such as Eatsy. This follows Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong s National Day Rally speech a year ago, during which he spoke about achieving a cashless economy as part of Singapore s drive to become a Smart Nation. The take-up of cashless payments has been on the rise, with eight in 10 Singapore consumers adopting epayments and nearly three in five merchants accepting them. But rejecting cash altogether was a route that few, if any, businesses had dared to venture down, given fears that it could alienate customers. Now, though, things could be changing. A check by The Straits Times throws up at least five estab- Use the phone to buy joss sticks or to donate lishments that have ditched banknotes and coins entirely in the past year. They range from cafes to consumer electronics stores. Singaporeans, they say, are now much more comfortable with inputting their details into mobile apps, and therefore also benefit from the cashless movement, as they can easily pay for purchases without having to frequently visit ATMs. For the businesses, the upsides are also clear. Cake cafe Lady M, whose outlets at South Beach and Scotts Square are cashless, has seen shorter billing and waiting times for customers, the elimination of cash pilfering and a more efficient process during the closing and opening of their stores, as staff no longer need to count and handle cash. Yes, we have definitely had cases where we lose customers who are carrying only cash, said its spokesman. But to minimise this, we frequently communicate about being cashless on social media and ensure we have signage placed prominently near the entrances so customers are aware before they dine with us. It is legal for businesses to reject cash, so long as they state upfront that they do not accept that mode of payment. Another cafe, Wild Honey, has also eliminated the use of cash at its outlets at Scotts Square and the Mandarin Gallery. Convenience store Cheers, meanwhile, launched its first self-automated and cashless store at the Nanyang Polytechnic campus in July last year. Consumer electronics store Audio House opened Singapore s first fully cashless electronics showroom at its Bendemeer Road store. Its managing director, Mr Alvin Lee, said the time spent transition- Paying for joss sticks, buying altar offerings or making donations? Devotees at Chai Chee United Temple will soon be able to do so with their smartphone. In what appears to be a first for religious organisations here, the Taoist temple, founded in 1995, will be introducing such cashless modes for on-the-spot payments at its facilities from next Monday. It intends to do so via PayNow Corporate, the newest offering by the Association of Banks in Singapore that enables businesses, corporates and the Government to pay and receive funds instantaneously. Mr William Koh, a representative of Chai Chee United Temple, said the service will help streamline the cash collection process at the temple. We often have payments being made in cash or cheques for things like membership fees at the temple, as well as donations, he said. By offering a cashless ing the business has been worth it. We spent three years and around $500,000 to put the systems in place, but now all our products are tagged with QR codes so customers can scan to find out product specifications and prices, or add (the product) directly to their cart with just their mobile phones. Audio House now needs to hire fewer workers to man the registers, he said. Savings are passed on to the consumer in the form of rebates. But it is not all easy takings for service, we want to make it more efficient for visitors to make donations or buy things like offerings. It is also a way for us to encourage more young people to come to the temple. Mr Koh said the temple will have a QR code, which visitors can scan to make purchases such as lamps or joss sticks, or to donate to the temple. It also plans to have staff on hand to teach older users how to use the PayNow system, even though it will continue to accept cash. It is very easy and instantaneous, so we are very keen to implement it, said Mr Koh. It is important that we stay up to date with the times. The launch of the service makes the process of donating at a religious institution one step easier. Most religious institutions here transact using cash or Nets, though many churches have long allowed interbank transfers for e-tithing. Ankita Varma businesses that are shunning cash. Though they are a small minority, customers who would rather pay with cash do kick up a fuss. And older patrons often do not have cards or smartphones with them, which means the businesses lose valuable customers. Card readers or the Wi-Fi being down can also be an inconvenience. And then there is the problem of high transaction costs. In Singapore, interbank rates can be extremely high in many cases it is eight to 10 times that of the costs in China and this can make the cost of transitioning to a cashless system prohibitive for businesses that have to look out for their bottom lines, said Mr Shaun Heng, who founded Eatsy, an app offering diners a one-stop portal to order, pay and split their bills. It charges eateries between 5 per cent and 10 per cent per transaction. For cashless systems to thrive here, they need to be more than just a payment portal. They need to value-add for the merchant. So, for instance, Singapore s first cashless bar, Get Juiced, in Clarke Quay, spent $200,000 implementing a cashless system, including the creation of a proprietary app that allows for direct interaction with its customers. It appears the cashless trend is here to stay and will flourish. Over a million people in Singapore now use PayNow, a peer-topeer fund transfer service, with the total value of transactions exceeding $900 million to date. PayNow Corporate, which launches next Monday, will enable businesses, corporates and the Government to pay and receive funds instantaneously, by linking their unique entity number to their bank account. Other players include GrabPay, which has 4,500 merchants on board its peer-to-merchant stored e-wallet service. For now, though, the response to a completely cashless world seems mixed among consumers. I already do so much cashlessly through my phone... so I appreciate not frequently having to keep cash on me, said student Madhu Rai, 26. It is the way of the future but I think people need to be given time to adapt so it is not more inconvenient in the long run. avarma@sph.com.sg Tough call to break into largely cash-only Germany Jonathan Eyal Europe Correspondent In London At first sight, merely a routine corporate PR exercise: Mr Tim Cook, Apple s boss, has just announced that the computer and phone giant will launch its Apple Pay mobile payment system in Germany later this year. But Apple s announcement, which comes hard on the heels of Google s decision to roll out its own mobile payment solution in the German market, amounts to nothing less than a revolution. If the Apple and Google launches succeed, they may end up reshaping consumer preferences in Europe s biggest country. Most visitors to Germany are struck by the peculiarity that, while the German economy is the most competitive and innovative in Europe as well as being the world s third-largest, German consumers not only seem happy to stick to oldfashioned cash in most of their transactions, but also are actively resistant to using credit or debit cards. This is a largely cash society, where it is quite common for traders to put up no credit card notices. No less than three-quarters of all payment transactions in Germany are conducted in banknotes and coins, a far larger amount than anywhere else in the European Union. An astonishing 80 per cent of small payments those worth 5 (S$7.90) or less are done in cash in Germany, compared with 68 per cent in France and less than half in the Netherlands, for example. A survey by the Bundesbank, the country s national bank, shows the average German carries 107 in his wallet, compared with only around 30 in the average French or Belgian pocket. In order to keep up with the country s love of cash, since the introduction of the euro banknotes in 2002, Germany s Bundesbank has printed more euro notes than all the other countries using the single currency combined. There are many reasons for the Germans peculiar attraction to cash. One explanation is history. After suffering one of the world s worst bouts of hyperinflation a century ago, when at one point a single loaf of bread cost 428 billion German marks and employers halted work in the middle of each day to pay their workers since the notes would be worthless within hours, Germans are justifiably proud of their post-war German mark, which was the symbol of their economic prowess, and that translated into an affection for banknotes. Given their troubled past, the Germans also value privacy. So the arguments that electronic payments are safer and reduce crime and tax evasion play very differently with ordinary Germans, who immediately ask who will collect their data and how this may be misused; the anonymity of cash is highly prized. Then, there is psychology. Many Germans view credit card debts not as a clever use of financing opportunities, but as a question of morality: Only irresponsible or unscrupulous people get into debt. Indeed, the German language word for debt Schulden comes from the word Schuld, which means guilt. So what the Germans do at the national level keep their budgets balanced and spend only what they have they also do at the personal level. That does not mean that Ger- mans are resistant to technology. They probably top the world in the use of ATMs, of which there are many more in Germany than elsewhere in Europe. And they are shopping online, although the PayPal payment system is used for 41 per cent of online purchases, followed by bank transfers which account for a further 21 per cent; credit cards are used for less than a fifth of all online transactions. Can Apple s Apple Pay break the mould and change this German mindset? In the over 30 countries where Apple s service is already available, it relies on local credit card providers, whose cards are used to charge the Apple cellphones. That was not an option in Germany, so Apple turned instead to the German banks which, unsurprisingly, were initially hesitant to admit an intermediary between themselves and their customers. Google Pay encountered the same problem but the pool of potential customers is wider since Google s payment platform works on all Android phones. Still, only 0.4 per cent of Germans currently use their phones for any financial transactions. Although the entry of Apple and Google has already created a panic among Germany s banks, the country s traditionally staid bankers should be reassured by surveys recently published in Handelsblatt, Germany s top financial daily, which indicate that consumers remain as risk-averse as ever; only around 7 per cent appear to welcome the entry of Google and Apple into the payments market. Either way, German government officials are refraining from saying anything about this development. For, when the German Finance Ministry last proposed a cap on cash transactions, this prompted a Hands off our cash campaign from the tabloid Bild, the country s best-selling newspaper. The government beat a hasty retreat. jonathan.eyal@gmail.com

11 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES A11

12 A12 DAIM ZAINUDDIN MAHATHIR ALLY TIPPED FOR ADVISORY ROLE IN MALAYSIA GOVT A15 Left: Kansas Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach, with his wife Heather, in Topeka, Kansas. Below: Mr Kobach s supporters watching election returns at a primary night gathering in Kansas on Tuesday. President Donald Trump with Republican congressional hopeful Troy Balderson during a rally in Lewis Center, Ohio, on Saturday. Growing fears about Mr Trump s political capital have led the Republican Party to wonder if Mr Trump ought to stay out of the country s most hotly contested races. PHOTOS: THE NEW YORK TIMES Republicans debate Trump effect after poor showing at polls Results show limits of US President s ability to lift candidates, say some party strategists WASHINGTON A new round of lacklustre showings by Republican candidates has reignited a debate within the GOP over whether US President Donald Trump will be a drag on the party s chances in November and should stay out of some of the country s most hotly contested races. Inside the White House, Trump aides are mapping out plans for the mid-term elections that would offer a variety of options to Republican candidates, be it a visit from the President s daughter Ivanka Trump to a blue state or a presidential tweet for a red-state ally. But mounting apprehension about Mr Trump s political capital lingered in Washington and on the campaign trail. In a flurry of elections on Tuesday from the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, to the technology corridor in Washington state Democrats turned out in droves and significantly over-performed expectations by posing serious challenges to Republicans in staunchly GOP districts. Many Republican strategists viewed the results as a dark omen three months ahead of Election Day, saying they illustrate the limits of Mr Trump s ability to boost candidates, particularly in suburban areas where his popularity has suffered. Even in Republican primaries, securing Mr Trump s endorsement was not a guarantee of electoral success. Nothing bodes well, said veteran Republican consultant Stuart Stevens, a frequent Trump critic. You look at the amount of money spent on the Republican side in Ohio, the focus put on it, including a Trump rally last weekend in the district, and you have an early warning sign. It s time for Republicans to counteract. Mr Trump took a different lesson from the outcomes, crowing in a series of tweets that his presence on the campaign trail and his record could lift his party and prompt a giant Red Wave. He wrote: As long as I campaign and/or support Senate and House candidates (within reason), they will win! Despite Mr Trump s last-minute visit and Republicans dramatically outspending Democrats, Ohio Republican State Senator Troy Balderson was barely ahead of Democrat Danny O Connor, an elected county recorder, in Tuesday s special congressional election in central Ohio. The race remained too close to call on Wednesday with thousands of provisional votes still outstanding. The razor-thin margin comes in a district that Mr Trump won by 11 points in 2016 and that Republicans have held since Mr Balderson had embraced Mr Trump in the campaign s final stretch. Democrats need 23 additional seats to take over the House majority and two seats to take control of the Senate. Mr Balderson was far from the only Republican who underwhelmed on Tuesday. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington state and chairman of the House Republican Conference, failed to win 50 per cent of the vote in a primary and will face Democrat Lisa Brown in November. Washington state has a nonpartisan primary process where the top two finishers move on to the general election. Republicans working with the White House also pointed to Tuesday s elections in Kansas as the latest example of the volatility inside the West Wing. Mr Kris Kobach, the anti-immigration secretary of state who served as vice-chairman of Mr Trump s now-disbanded voting integrity commission, was endorsed by Mr Trump in the Kansas gubernatorial primary less than 24 hours before polls opened. Some aides and top Republicans had urged him to hold off on endorsing Mr Kobach, who they fear could threaten other Republicans due to his hard-line positions. The race remained too close to call on Wednesday, with Mr Kobach holding a lead of fewer than 200 votes over incumbent Governor Jeff Colyer. Trump allies maintain that the President is the Republican Party s best asset and said his involvement will be critical to stoking the enthusiasm of base voters. The President is a real help for the mid-terms and we should recognise that, said Representative Mark Meadows from North Carolina. The problem is when people can t decide whether to support him or make some sort of lukewarm effort to play to the middle. You can t halfembrace the President s agenda. The tricky balancing act facing GOP candidates is apparent on policy. On immigration, most Republicans are eager to rally Trump voters who are clamouring for a border wall to be built and Mr Trump has been calling for a shutdown of the federal government unless Congress appropriates funds. But they also feel pressure to reassure moderates alarmed by the Trump administration s abandoned push to separate migrant children from their parents. WASHINGTON POST EARLY WARNING SIGN Nothing bodes well. You look at the amount of money spent on the Republican side in Ohio, the focus put on it and you have an early warning sign. It s time for Republicans to counteract. MR STUART STEVENS, a veteran Republican consultant and a frequent Trump critic, on how Trump s endorsement in Republican primaries is not enough SUCCESS GUARANTEED As long as I campaign and/or support Senate and House candidates (within reason), they will win! US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, tweeting that his presence on the campaign trail and his record could lift his party Rashida Tlaib poised to be first Muslim woman in US Congress DETROIT By the time Ms Rashida Tlaib finished speaking, there was not a dry eye left in the room. I want people across the country to know that you don t need to sell out, Ms Tlaib said. You don t have to change who you are to run for office and that is what this country is about. Ms Tlaib is poised to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress after she narrowly defeated Detroit City Council president Brenda Jones in a Democratic primary race on Wednesday to succeed long-time Representative John Conyers Jr, a Democrat, in Michigan s 13th Congressional District. She will run unopposed in November. In a separate Democratic primary contest for a special election to decide who serves for the remaining months of Mr Conyers term, Ms Jones prevailed over Ms Tlaib on Wednesday afternoon, Associated Press reported. Ms Tlaib, a former Michigan state legislator, Detroit native and daughter of Palestinian immigrants, was so cautious about celebrating her victory that she waited until every vote was counted and long after the Associated Press had called the race in her favour to begin her celebrations at almost 3am. That meant the crowd had thinned significantly from the dozens who attended her earlier results party, but those who stayed until the early morning saw a special sight a room full of largely ArabAmerican immigrants emotionally celebrating an American democracy that has, in their view, been hostile to their existence and identity. A lot of my strength comes from being Palestinian, she said at one point. Ms Tlaib s mother draped her in the Palestinian flag as she spoke. I will fight back against every racist and oppressive structure that needs to be dismantled, Ms Tlaib said. The eldest among 14 children, Ms Tlaib campaigns with a raw energy rarely seen by candidates across either party. More than any singular policy position, her calling card is the no-holds-barred way in which she has engaged voters from traditionally marginalised backgrounds. She said voter interactions are her Ms Rashida Tlaib is a former Michigan state legislator and the daughter of Palestinian immigrants. Her calling card is the no-holds-barred way in which she has engaged voters from traditionally marginalised backgrounds. PHOTO: NYTIMES comfort zone, where she feels most free to rail against corporate political action committee money, and the uselessness of traditional representatives. I m going to push back against everything that s so unamerican that s coming out of this administration, Ms Tlaib promised the audience. My grandmother told me never to let a bully tell me, can I do this? or you can t do this. Her win on Wednesday rounded off what was a mixed evening for many Muslim voters in Detroit and Michigan. Mr Abdul El-Sayed the former Detroit health director who was supported by Senator Bernie Sanders and the insurgent New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lost heavily in the Democratic primary race for governor, which was won by establishment favourite, Ms Gretchen Whitmer. More than 90 Muslims mostly Democrats have entered races for local, state or national public office, according to Jetpac, a non-profit group that advocates civic engagement across the country. With Ms Tlaib, the group has now notched its most high-profile victory, which comes complete with a stunning visual sending a Muslim woman, who in 2016 heckled then presidential candidate Donald Trump during a speech in Detroit, to the House of Representatives. I won! Ms Tlaib exclaimed at one point, seemingly in disbelief. She soon, however, corrected herself. We won, she said. NYTIMES

13 ASIA FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES A13 Jokowi picks senior cleric as running mate Surprising move widely seen as attempt to bolster Islamic credentials in 2019 election Linda Yulisman Indonesia Correspondent In Jakarta Indonesian President Joko Widodo yesterday picked conservative cleric Ma ruf Amin as his running mate for next year s presidential elections, in a surprising move that is seen widely as an attempt to bolster his Islamic credentials. Dr Ma ruf Amin, 75, chairman of the Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI), will run as the vice-presidential candidate in the April 17 polls where Mr Joko is expected to face off against former general Prabowo Subianto to lead South-east Asia s biggest economy. Mr Joko made the decision after meeting leaders of his nine coalition parties. He said his decision followed deep contemplation and suggestions from various groups as well as approval from party leaders. Maybe there are questions from the people all over Indonesia why Professor Dr Ma ruf Amin was chosen. Because he is a wise religious figure, said Mr Joko. We complement each other, representing nationalist and religious camps. Mr Joko s decision ended months of speculation about who would be his V-P candidate. Just hours before the announcement, there was heavy speculation that the President would pick former Constitutional Court chief and defence minister Mahfud MD. Apart from his key role in MUI, Dr Ma ruf is the supreme leader of Indonesia s largest Islamic organisation Nahdlatul Ulama and has a track record as a regional legislator and lawmaker. He was a member of the People s Consultative Assembly, or MPR, and the Presidential Advisory Board. He is a graduate of Bogor-based Ibnu Khaldun University and has an honorary doctorate from Malang State Islamic University. However, Dr Ma ruf and MUI have played other roles in politics that are not without controversy. One example often cited by his critics is the MUI statement that condemned former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama an ethnic Chinese Christian who was an ally of Mr Joko as a blasphemer for insulting the Quran in the Jakarta gubernatorial election last year. Dr Ma ruf later testified at Basuki s trial. The Islamic cleric began to weave a closer relationship with Mr Joko after the massive demonstration against Basuki in early November Library talks by seasoned journalists CO-ORGANISED BY THE STRAITS TIMES AND NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD you ask, we answer, come listen News gathering, reporting and story telling in the digital age Central Public Library 100 Victoria Street #B1-01 Programme Zone Friday, August 31, pm to 8.30pm (Registration starts at 6pm) Sign up at For more information, go to Marc Lim News Editor last year, according to local media reports. There are worries in Indonesia that the tensions seen in the Jakarta election last year, which was marred by the fanning of racial and religious issues largely incited by hardline groups, will be repeated in the 2019 presidential race, which could threaten the re-election of Mr Joko. Analysts have said that Mr Joko may need a strong Islamic figure as a running mate not only to counter rivals who may use these religious issues, but also to lure voters in conservative strongholds in Indonesia s most-populated island of Java. In the 2014 election campaign that Mr Joko eventually won, he was hit by an online smear campaign claiming that his family was communist and he is of Chinese descent. With the announcement by Mr Joko s camp, all eyes are now on his contender, Mr Prabowo, who had been expected to declare his run- ning mate yesterday. Candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency must submit their nomination by today. A senior Gerindra party official said Jakarta s deputy governor Sandiaga Uno is 99 per cent certain to become Mr Prabowo s pick, Reuters reported yesterday. Mr Arya Fernandes, a political analyst from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told The Straits Times that Mr Joko s decision on Dr Ma ruf reveals his willingness to accommodate the interests of various political parties and compromise. However, the move closes the possibility of the establishment of a third camp of Islamic candidates in the next polls, he added. Mr Arya further said that after solving the Muslim vote issue, the equally-tough challenge will emerge if Mr Prabowo chooses Mr Sandiaga, who represents a young leader, as young voters might be attracted to this pair. Indonesia s demography has changed. The number of young voters has increased and this should also be addressed by Mr Joko, he said. ylinda@sph.com.sg COMPLEMENTARY PICK Maybe there are questions from the people all over Indonesia why Professor Dr Ma ruf Amin was chosen. Because he is a wise religious figure. We complement each other, representing nationalist and religious camps. INDONESIA PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODO (above), on his choice of conservative cleric Ma ruf Amin as his vice-presidential candidate. Indonesia Ulema Council chairman Ma ruf Amin is also the supreme leader of the country s largest Islamic organisation. PHOTO: INSTAGR /KHMARUFIN

14 A14 ASIA Umno must leave baggage behind, say 3 party leaders It is time to rebuild and not waste time getting involved in ex-premier Najib s trial, they say KUALA LUMPUR Three leaders of Najib stepped down as Umno president three days after the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition was toppled from power in the May 9 general election. He is the Umno Member of Parliament for Pekan constituency in Pahang. Umno have said that the party must forge ahead without its former president Najib Razak, as his corruption lawsuits would cloud plans to renew the opposition party. Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa, vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin and a Kuala Lumpur division chief, Mr Johari Abdul Ghani, spoke just days after Najib failed to make an impact in a Selangor by-election despite leading the campaign and putting up his former aide as a candidate. Former prime minister Najib was on Wednesday slapped with three charges of money laundering in court, linked to alleged inflow of millions of dollars into his personal bank accounts from SRC International, a former subsidiary of state Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa (left) and vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the focus must now be on the party, not Najib. fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. This is in addition to three criminal breach of trust charges on July 4 and one for abuse of power that were also linked to SRC. Tan Sri Annuar, a former Najib loyalist, said yesterday: We must continue this journey. We are not going to wait. We are not going to waste our time defending Najib. Mr Annuar was quoted as telling The Malaysian Insight news site: We in Umno cannot carry this baggage forever. There must be a cutoff. It is entirely his (Najib s) responsibility. He added that the focus must be on the party not on an individual. Najib is no longer the president of the party. To me, he is just a party member. Whether people support him or not, it is immaterial, Mr Annuar said. Najib stepped down as Umno president three days after the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition was toppled from power in the May 9 general election. He is the Umno Member of Parliament for Pekan constituency in Pahang. Meanwhile, Datuk Khaled, one of three party vice-presidents, said Umno cannot move on if it allows Najib, a man under trial, to get involved in its affairs. Yes, we should treat him with honour and respect, but we should move on from what has passed. It is Najib who is on trial, not Umno, PETALING JAYA Malaysia s Attor- ney-general Tommy Thomas has defended the appointment of a consultant to his former law firm to head the team of lawyers representing 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the government in the claim over superyacht Equanimity. Mr Thomas was responding to an allegation that there was a conflict of interest when the Attorney-General s Chambers hired Ms Sitpah Selvaratnam in its work, as she had been a consultant in Mr Thomas former firm over the past eight years. Mr Thomas said in a statement yesterday that Ms Sitpah is a prominent expert in maritime law. She is the longtime chairman of the Bar Council s Shipping and Admiralty Law Committee and the founding president of the International Malaysian Society of Maritime Law. Additionally, she will not be paid any fees for doing the work linked to the yacht. Her services are rendered to us without any charge to the taxpayer. It must be kept in mind that these legal proceedings are brought for the benefit of Malaysia, said the Attorney-General in his statement. Accordingly, we are entitled to Malaysia s best shipping lawyers. There is no question of conflict of interest because we are all on the same side. He added that Ms Sitpah has been involved in numerous arrests of ships and vessels, and also opposing arrests in more than 25 years of specialised practice. The vessel reportedly worth US$250 million (S$341 million) was allegedly bought by businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, using funds stolen from the 1MDB state fund. 1MDB is now under new management after the Pakatan Harapan alliance won federal power in May. Mr Thomas said the most effective basis of invoking the court s jurisdiction over the superyacht is admiralty law or the law of shipping. Referring to Ms Sitpah, he said: She is therefore the obvious choice JAYA Equanimity could smash the world record for the most expensive superyacht ever to be sold at auction if it goes under the hammer. With the vessel now in Malaysian custody, all eyes are on the fate of the luxury yacht reportedly worth US$250 million (S$341 million). Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had said on Monday that his ministry wanted to get the best value from the Equanimity. Our aim is to draw back as much money as we can from the asset, Mr Lim had said, adding that the immediate plan was to ensure all paperwork was in order and all proper controls were imposed. An online search of prices fetched so far by superyachts suggests that Equanimity could create a new record if the government decides to initiate an auction. An article on the website of British publication Boat International listed the sale of the 72m Lurssen Apoise as the most expenpetaling PHOTO: BERNA of arrest on the vessel by pasting it on the mast. Besides Ms Sitpah, lawyers Jeremy Joseph and Ong Chee Kwan were also appointed to represent the claimants. They will be paid normal commercial rates, said the Attorney-General. Mr Thomas added that both Ms Sitpah and Mr Joseph were approached by foreign parties to act for them in this matter, but they had declined. The real test of (Ms Sitpah s) ex- With the vessel now in Malaysian custody, all eyes are on the fate of the luxury yacht reportedly worth US$250 million (S$341 million). sive yacht ever auctioned. At an auction in 2010, it was sold for US$34.75 million, much lower than what Equanimity could be worth. VesselsValue, a London-based online ship-valuation database firm, when contacted, said it valued Equanimity at US$175 million. Looking through our system, we also have the Apoise as the superyacht which has achieved the most at auction, said VesselsValue associate director Claudia Norrgren. The Apoise and Equanimity, at 91.5m, fall under the category of a superyacht or mega-yacht, which Equanimity at Port Klang on Tuesday. VesselsValue, a ship-valuation database firm, said it valued Equanimity at US$175 million. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Ms Sitpah Selvaratnam, who is heading the team of lawyers representing 1MDB and the Malaysian government in the claim over Equanimity, is a consultant at Attorney-General Tommy Thomas former law firm. He says she was hired for her expertise in maritime law. to advise Chambers and myself on the matter... As the transactions were intricate and layered corporate deals carried out by Jho Low and advisers to hide the true source of funds used to purchase the yacht, drafting the legal papers required skill and expertise in shipping law and corporate law. Equanimity is currently docked at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Port Klang, after it arrived there on Tuesday. A sheriff of the Admiralty Court on that day served a warrant A15 Equanimity could be costliest yacht to be auctioned said Mr Khaled in a statement yesterday. Datuk Seri Johari, said it was a mistake to have allowed Najib to campaign in the Sungai Kandis by-election. We need to forget the era before the May 9 election. Umno has a new president and new leadership, said Mr Johari in a statement on Wednesday. He is one of the party s 191 powerful division chiefs. Their remarks differed from the stance taken by new Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Asked by reporters yesterday about Mr Annuar s comments, Datuk Seri Zahid said: I hope he (Najib) is not hurt or affected by such opinions. I also hope that he won t feel emotionally distraught and undergo the court process with calmness and fortitude. On Wednesday, Mr Zahid, when asked about the statement by Mr Johari, had responded: For me, one should not stomp on someone when he is down. The Umno candidate for the Sungai Kandis contest, Datuk Lokman Adam, was Najib s former communications director at the finance ministry. Mr Lokman polled 38.1 per cent of the valid votes cast in last Saturday s polls, with Pakatan Harapan retaining the seat after its candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni received 61.4 per cent of the votes. No conflict of interest in hiring of lawyer, says Malaysia s A-G ASIA FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES perience and expertise would come into play if and when Jho Low or any other party applies to set aside the warrant of arrest. The arguments would then be vigorously put forward by all sides when the court hears the matter on its merits, and it is critical that Malaysia has the best barristers. Litigation is dynamic; unpredictable events occur in court, and Malaysia s case must be in safe hands, said Mr Thomas. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Daim tipped to play advisory role Tun Daim Zainuddin s expertise in civil service matters could be tapped, say sources. PETALING JAYA As the three- month work of Malaysia s Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) wraps up its work, speculation is rife that its chairman, Tun Daim Zainuddin, could be appointed as adviser to the government to help young ministers settle down into their jobs. Sources say the 80-year-old s experience in handling the civil service and the private sector could be tapped to primarily assist the new government for the next few months. He was finance minister twice in the previous Mahathir administration and is trusted by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The five-member CEP led by Mr Daim was set up on May 12 and given a mandate of three months to advise the Pakatan Harapan government on economic and financial matters, as it was the first time that the former opposition parties had won federal power. It was learnt that Mr Daim s new advisory role would be for a limited period to help some of the new Cabinet ministers, especially in their dealings with civil service matters. Many of the ministers are new and have not held big positions in the government before. Managing ministries is difficult, especially handling a civil service that has senior officers with long service, said a source. In the Cabinet today, only Tun Mahathir and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had held ministerial positions. Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng were chief ministers of Selangor and Penang respectively, and so had some experience with the civil service. Two of the newer ministers are below 40 years old. The rest of the Cabinet are new and do not have the experience in dealing with the civil administration. They sometimes make announcements without thinking them through, which has resulted in the backtracking of decisions, said a former top civil servant. The other reason, the retired official said, is to tap Mr Daim s experience should the country go through an economic slowdown or a recession. In 1985, Daim was the Finance Minister when the country went through an economic crisis due to a global recession. In 1998, Dr Mahathir recalled Daim to assist him when the country was going through its worst-ever recession, said the official. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK refers to a commercially operated luxury yacht over 24m long. Asked about the long term, Ms Norrgren said superyachts do not really go up in value. If it goes for auction it never realises its full potential as it is a distressed sale. A luxury yacht broker said the selling price of a used superyacht such as Equanimity would depend on factors such as how many people have been on the ship and used it daily. The broker said offering Equanimity for charter service could diminish its value. The condition (of the yacht) will deteriorate. It will bring in charter income but the resale price of the yacht will be reduced, added the broker. Still, Equanimity is not the most expensive superyacht out there. In an online CNN article last month about the 10 costliest yachts, at No. 1 was the Serene, a 134m vessel that was reportedly bought by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman for US$550 million. In 10th position was Octopus, a US$200 million vessel commissioned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

15 A16 ASIA AsiaBriefs Rescued Thai boys, coach made citizens BANGKOK The United Nations refugee agency welcomed yesterday a decision by Thailand to grant Thai citizenship to three boys and their soccer coach from among a group of 13 who were rescued from a flooded cave last month. The four were granted citizenship on Wednesday. The 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach were catapulted into the international spotlight after they became trapped inside the Tham Luang Cave in the northern province of Chiang Rai, triggering a dramatic rescue effort. REUTERS 3 carmakers admit emissions cheating TOKYO Japan s Suzuki Motor, Mazda and Yamaha have admitted using false emissions data for some vehicles, the Transport Ministry said yesterday, in the latest product quality scandal to hit the country s auto sector. The companies came forward after the ministry last month ordered 23 car and motorbike companies to conduct in-house probes after it emerged Nissan and Subaru had cheated on fuel economy and emissions data. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Jailed banker loses final murder appeal HONG KONG Hong Kong s highest court yesterday rejected the final attempt by a British former banker to force a new trial over his jailing in 2016 for the cocaine-fuelled murder of two Indonesian women he tortured and raped. Rurik Jutting, 32, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ms Sumarti Ningsih, 23, and Ms Seneng Mujiasih, 26, in A three-judge panel at the Court of Final Appeal did not grant Jutting leave for appeal, rejecting his lawyer s argument that the trial judge had misdirected the jury over the defence of diminished responsibility, broadcaster RTHK reported. REUTERS 20 killed after rains trigger landslides NEW DELHI At least 20 people were killed yesterday in landslides triggered by heavy rains in southern India, an official said, pushing the nationwide monsoon death toll for this year to over 700. The casualties were reported from Idukki, Malappuram Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. XINHUA Ninth grade students from Mandawali s Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya No. 2, a government-run school, engage in a group discussion with their science teacher. The use of learning techniques like group discussions is part of a radical shift under way in Delhi government schools that have conventionally relied on teachers as the fount of all knowledge. ST PHOTO: DEBARSHI DASGUPTA NIE-trained teachers lead way in Delhi govt schools S pore interaction provides new exposure, is part of state s efforts to overhaul pedagogy Debarshi Dasgupta India Correspondent In New Delhi The students sit in small groups discussing their presentations for the day s lesson on plant cells. An excited murmur builds up among them, competing against the thrumming monsoon rain. They have been asked to share what they have learnt by reading up on their assigned topics. This kind of a group discussion would seem fairly commonplace in schools today. Not so for students in this government-run school in Delhi s Mandawali neighbourhood; it is only their second encounter with this method of learning. Students take turns to speak, relying on elaborate charts they have prepared and even impromptu aids such as pens that double as cells. It is evident the ninth grade students are already hooked on this different way of teaching. While we do retain what the teacher tells us, sharing what we learn with our classmates makes the knowledge fit even better in our minds, says 14-year-old Sonali. Her classmate Monika Nautiyal, 14, adds: This method gives everyone a chance to speak and discuss, which helps us overcome our fears. The use of learning techniques like group discussions is part of a radical shift under way in Delhi government schools. Teaching at these schools, like in many others across the country, has conventionally relied on teachers as the fount of all knowledge, relegating students to docile recipients. It is often referred to as the jug-mug model the teacher simply pours wisdom from his jug and unquestioning students receive it in their mugs. Ms Medha Parashar, the science teacher for ninth grade at Mandawali s Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya No. 2, says, What we are trying to do is focus on how we can make the learning experience more interactive and stimulative for the children. The teacher, she adds, has to be a facilitator who draws out the best in each child. Ms Parashar is one of 200 government teachers trained at Singapore s National Institute of Education (NIE) in different batches from August to October last year. The move to train its teachers in premier Indian and international institutions is part of the Delhi government s wider efforts to overhaul pedagogy in its schools. Each batch of teachers spent around a week at NIE focusing on, among other things, putting in place a student-centric system of education that encourages critical questioning and generating pedagogical support to enhance the teacher-student relationship. We focused a lot on making the student s thinking visible. It s important for the child to express what he or she is thinking. If not, how else will we encourage critical feedback and questioning? asks Ms Manu Gulati, an English teacher who was also trained at NIE. They also visited public schools in Singapore to see how parents and the wider community are drawn in to support the education process. These teachers now serve as mentors in Delhi, adapting what they learnt to local conditions and sharing it with approximately another 10,000 teachers to create a wider ripple effect. It is important to remember that teachers are no longer merely pouring knowledge but co-constructing it with students, adds Ms Gulati, describing the ongoing pedagogical change in Delhi s government schools as a revolutionary shift. The deputy chief minister and Delhi s education minister, Mr Manish Sisodia, told The Straits Times that the training at NIE has helped improve the quality of education in government schools in two ways. This Singapore interaction has given our teachers exposure to new research in education and new methods of making their classroom more engaging, as well as the opportunity to interact with their peers on a global scale. The other effect... is the significant boost it has given to the teachers morale, he said. Encouraged by the impact it has had, the Delhi government announced on July 10 that it would send another batch of 400 teachers to NIE for training. Delhi is a state and its government led by the Aam Aadmi Party manages the delivery of education and other basic services. About 26 per cent of the state s budget is set aside for education, the highest of any Indian state. This attention to public sector education has borne encouraging results. The pass percentage of final year students of Delhi government schools this year increased by 2.3 percentage points, touching 90.6 per cent. Private schools, on the other hand, were left behind at 88.4 per cent. It is a propitious counter narrative to the general disdain public schools evoke in India, something that has nourished a rampant profitable private school industry. debarshi@sph.com.sg UN chief sounds nuclear warning to mark Nagasaki bombing TOKYO Millions still live in fear of nuclear war with many countries ramping up their atomic arsenals, the head of the United Nations warned yesterday, marking the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. Mr Antonio Guterres, the first sitting UN Secretary-General to attend ceremonies honouring those who died in the bombing, said that even 73 years later, there was still a shadow cast by the dread of unthinkable carnage. Nuclear-armed states are spending vast sums to modernise their arsenals and disarmament processes have slowed and even come to a halt, noted Mr Guterres. There is an urgent need for disarmament of all kinds, but especially nuclear disarmament, stressed Mr Guterres. The US dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug 6, 1945, killing around 140,000 people. The toll includes those who survived the explosion itself but died soon after from severe radiation exposure. Three days later, the US dropped a plutonium bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, killing some 74,000 people. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on Aug 15, In Nagasaki yesterday, crowds flocked to pray and pay their respects at the 10m-tall peace statue. The ceremony came amid lingering worries over North Korea s nuclear threat and in a year when President Donald Trump has pledged to bolster the US arsenal. Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue also issued a passionate call for denuclearisation. To the great concern of those in the atomic-bombed cities, a shift towards openly asserting that nuclear weapons are necessary and that their use could lead to increased military might is once again on the rise, he said. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE URGENT CALL TO DISARM There is an urgent need for disarmament of all kinds, but especially nuclear disarmament. MR ANTONIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General, on how millions still live in fear of nuclear war happening again

16 ASIA FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES Indonesia set to soften impact of halal law Moves include accepting foreign halal certificates, simplified application process Jeffrey Hutton Regional Correspondent In Jakarta The government of President Joko Widodo is readying rules that senior administration officials say will limit the fallout from a 2014 statute requiring all consumer products to seek certification that they comply with Islamic law. The regulations, expected as early as next month, will all but exempt prescription and over-thecounter pharmaceutical products from declaring whether they meet halal standards. Other provisions include recognition of more than 40 overseas halal certifying bodies to help ease import bottlenecks, as well as simplified application processes. As Mr Joko readies his bid for a second term, sluggish economic growth and a fraught relationship with religious conservatives are vulnerabilities for an otherwise popular incumbent. Mr Wijayanto Samirin, special staff for economy and finance in Vice-President Jusuf Kalla s office, who has become the administration s point man on halal certification, said the proposed regulations strike the right balance between religious orthodoxy and pragmatism. They will impact some $380 billion worth of consumer products. Halal is a sensitive issue for most Indonesians but it affects industries comprising 30 per cent of the economy, Mr Wijayanto said. We want the regulation to have the right balance between accommodating halal requirements and promoting investment climate. Critics of the Halal Product Assurance Law, approved three days before former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left office, said it amounted to pandering to religious conservatives. Proponents argued that with the law, Indonesia stood to become the de facto benchmark for halal certification as Muslims around the world spend more. A widely quoted report in 2015 by Thomson Reuters seemed to bear this out when it said consumer spending by Muslims would climb to US$2.6 trillion (S$3.5 trillion) by the end of the decade from roughly US$1.9 trillion. But while halal certification may be good for business, getting the imprimatur even a voluntary one can be a headache. Over the past five years, the semi-governmental religious body Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) which up until last year awarded halal certification doled out just over 35,000 certificates. The Employer s Association of Indonesia (Apindo) reckons each halal certificate costs a company on average 15 million rupiah (S$1,400). Multiply that over potentially millions of products produced by Indonesia s 1.6 million food and beverage companies and costs may spiral, said Apindo s executive director Danang Girindrawardana. The administration is trying to strike a balance, he added. But this regulation leaves us with a lot to worry about. Besides the cost, another concern has to do with bottlenecks. One senior executive at Procter and Gamble tells of the company s application to certify its Downy line of laundry detergents. The process took four months and required sending a team of investigators from the government s newly minted Halal Product Certification Agency (BPJPH) to certify a supplier s factory in Europe. Downy contains no animal products, the executive said. We re a multinational. We can afford that. But smaller companies can t, he added. FMCG stands for fast moving consumer goods. For us, four months is not fast. Mr Wijayanto said certification will be done in stages to avoid a sudden rush. Products such as wool that do not containing products of slaughtered animals will be exempt from certification. Additionally, the government will streamline the applications by fanning out certifying inspectors across the country, while letting companies apply for halal certificates at the same time they seek routine health and safety ticks of approval. Demand (for halal certification) will be met by capacity, Mr Wijayanto said. Another worry is the potential for bureaucrats to seek bribes in return for halal stamps of approval. But Mr A beauty products shop in Jakarta. Consumer products are required to carry halal certification, under regulations expected as early as next month. PHOTO: REUTERS Wijayanto vows clear tariff and schedules for certification applications will prevent this. The BPJPH assumed responsibility for policing halal standards from the MUI last year, in part because of worries about the previous body s lack of transparency. The enemies of rent seeking activity are simplicity and clarity, said Mr Wijayanto. Sensitivity around the halal issue is linked to the growing influence of religious conservatives, with the administration walking a fine line as it seeks to satisfy them and keep the economy on track. The ministries of religious affairs, finance, trade, and law and human rights are helping to write implementing regulations. While the food and beverage industry is ex- A17 pected to be the main focus of the certification push, it was the pharmaceutical industry that was the most worried. Chemical compounds that form the basis of everything from vaccines to Viagra cannot easily be replaced if they are found to contain porcine enzymes or DNA, as is common in medicines. But the proposed regulations will maintain current rules requiring companies to list their ingredients. Pharmaceutical companies must make locally available any halal future alternatives. The government will ensure the implementation of regulations and the ministerial regulations are aligned with the priority of the President, said Ms Denni Puspa Purbasari, the deputy chief of staff for economic affairs in the office of the president. The priority of the President is to increase exports and investment. This needs to be done by improving the investment and business climate. Indonesia s gross domestic product expanded 5.3 per cent during the second quarter due to foreign investment in infrastructure and manufacturing. Investors say they are confident Mr Joko is eager to mitigate the impact of the halal rules. Whether this enthusiasm carries into the next administration is unclear. If this attitude prevails, it will have a positive impact on investors but it s still early days, said a Western business leader. jdhutton@sph.com.sg

17 A18 WORLD Mr Adel Al-Jubeir (right) says Canada knows what it needs to do; Mr Justin Trudeau declined to say whether he would apologise to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Grains Organisation, a state-run grains buyer, told traders it would no longer accept milling wheat or feed barley from Canada, said a Bloomberg report. Saudi Arabia s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said the next wave of retaliatory steps could affect investment flows between the countries. PHOTO: REUTERS S. Arabia warns of further retaliation against Canada Riyadh against mediation in row over arrests of women activists RIYADH/TORONTO Saudi Arabia said it will continue to ratchet up pressure on Canada for criticising the recent arrests of women activists, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau upheld his stance on human rights. The kingdom s foreign minister, Mr Adel Al-Jubeir, has said that the next wave of retaliatory steps could affect investment flows between the countries. Saudi Arabia s central bank and pension funds have already begun selling Canadian assets, according to people familiar with the matter. A report on the asset sales in the Financial Times earlier on Wednesday triggered a brief sell-off in the Canadian currency. Canadian stocks and bonds were little changed. Canada knows what it needs to do, Mr Al-Jubeir told a news conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, saying there was no need for mediation in the dispute. We don t ac- cept interference in our affairs. Canada will remain firm on human rights, Mr Trudeau told reporters in Montreal, adding that Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland had a good, long conversation with her Saudi counterpart on Tuesday and that Canada does not want poor relations with the kingdom. He declined to say whether he would apologise to the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia s unusually severe response is the latest evidence that while touting himself as a champion for economic and social progress including by letting women drive for the first time Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not accept any outside criticism or perceived challenges to his authority. Under his watch, Saudi Arabia has implemented an increasingly aggressive foreign policy. In November, the kingdom recalled its ambassador to Germany and cut back commercial ties with some German companies after the then-foreign minister suggested the kingdom had orchestrated the surprise resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-hariri, a charge it denies. The fact that the Saudis have made similar noises about Germany is further evidence that they are just more willing to escalate with important trade and political partners than in the past, said Professor Gregory Gause, an international affairs and Saudi specialist at Texas A&M University. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Stockholm over criticism by the Swedish foreign minister of Riyadh s human rights record. Since Ms Freeland called on Saudi Arabia to release rights activist Samar Badawi from prison on Aug 2, Saudi Arabia has expelled the Canadian ambassador, frozen new business deals, suspended flights to Toronto and ordered the return of thousands of students who are studying at Canadian schools. The kingdom has also stopped medical treatment programmes in Canada and was working on transferring Saudi patients there to other countries. The Saudi Grains Organisation, a state-run grains buyer, told traders it would no longer accept milling wheat or feed barley from Canada, according to people familiar with the matter. So far this year, Canada has exported C$1.4 billion (S$1.46 billion) in merchandise goods to Saudi Arabia and imported C$2 billion, according to Statistics Canada data. Canada s main imports from Saudi Arabia are oil, while its exports include armoured vehicles as part of a C$15 billion arms contract signed in 2014 with a unit of General Dynamics Corp. Saudi investments in Canada include Manitoba-based grain trader G3, which was formed in 2015 after Saudi Agricultural & Livestock Investment and Bunge Ltd acquired a 50.1 per cent stake in the former Canadian Wheat Board for C$250 million. BLOOMBERG

18 WORLD FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES For-hire drivers and their supporters rallying in favour of proposed legislation that would put a cap on ride-hailing cars on Monday, outside the headquarters of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, which also houses offices of Uber and Lyft, in New York City. A19 WorldBriefs Ms Michelle Bachelet will be the new UN human rights chief. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Chile s Bachelet to be UN rights chief UNITED NATIONS UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the appointment of Ms Michelle Bachelet, Chile s twice-serving President who endured torture under the Pinochet regime, as the world body s next human rights chief. Ms Bachelet, 66, is set to replace Mr Zeid Ra ad Al Hussein of Jordan, a critic of United States President Donald Trump s policies, who has held the post of UN high commissioner for human rights since September AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE New York City votes to cap Uber, Lyft in crackdown Legislation will limit number of for-hire cars for a year, set minimum pay rate for drivers NEW YORK New York City has be- come the first major American city to halt new vehicle licences for ride-hailing services, dealing a significant setback to Uber in its largest market in the United States. The legislation passed overwhelmingly by the City Council on Wednesday will cap the number of for-hire vehicles for a year while the city studies the booming industry. It also allows New York to set a minimum pay rate for drivers. Uber has become one of Silicon Valley s biggest success stories and changed the way people across the globe get around. But it has faced in- creased scrutiny from government regulators and struggled to overcome its image as a company determined to grow at all costs with little regard for its impact on cities. New York s move to restrict the number of ride-hailing vehicles and to establish pay rules for drivers another step no other major city has taken could provide a model for other governments that want to rein in the industry. The city s aggressive stance also raises questions over how fast Uber can continue to grow as the company valued at US$62 billion (S$84.5 billion) plans to move to- wards an initial public offering next year. The proposal to cap ride-hailing services led to a clash among interest groups, with taxi industry officials saying the companies were dooming their business and Uber mounting a major advertising campaign to make the case that yellow cabs have a history of discriminating against people of colour. Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said the legislation will curtail the worsening traffic on the streets and improve low driver wages. We are pausing the issuance of new licences in an industry that has been allowed to proliferate without any appropriate check or regulation, Mr Johnson said before the vote, adding that the rules would not diminish existing service for New Yorkers who rely on ride-hailing apps. Many cabbies and Uber drivers say they support the cap proposal. They hope it will halt the flood of new vehicles clogging city streets and allow them to make more trips and improve their earnings. Mr de Blasio praised the Bills and said he planned to sign them into law. The cap on new for-hire vehicles would take effect immediately. More than 100,000 workers and their families will see an immediate benefit from this legislation, Mr de Blasio said, referring to the city s army of for-hire drivers. And this action will stop the influx of cars contributing to the congestion grinding our streets to a halt. But Uber has warned its riders that the cap could produce higher prices and longer wait times for passengers if the company cannot keep up with the growing demand. Ride-hailing apps have become a crucial backup option for New Yorkers swept up in the constant delays on the city s sputtering subway, as happened on Wednesday when signal problems again snarled train lines across a large swathe of the city. Ride-hailing services have also grown in neighbourhoods outside Manhattan where the subway does not reach. Uber and Lyft, the second most popular app in New York, criticised the City Council s decision. Uber said it would work to keep up with the increasing appeal of its service despite the limit on new vehicles. The city s 12-month pause on new vehicle licences will threaten one of the few reliable transportation options while doing nothing to fix the subways or ease congestion, Uber spokesman Josh Gold said in a statement. Mr Joseph Okpaku, a vice-president at Lyft, said in a statement: These sweeping cuts to transportation will bring New Yorkers back to an era of struggling to get a ride, particularly for communities of colour and in the outer boroughs. NYTIMES Slew of Galaxy Note 9 upgrades as Samsung targets power users Trevor Tan In New York Electronics giant Samsung officially announced its newest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 9, yesterday the latest salvo in the fierce battle for dominance in the premium smartphone market. While the Note 9 s design is not a significant refresh from the yearold Note 8, Samsung has boosted specifications to cement its appeal. Battery life, storage, speed and processing power have been upgraded to exceed or match its competitors, and Samsung s mobile honcho DJ Koh said the Note 9 is designed for a level of performance, power and intelligence today s power users want and need. The 6.4-inch Note 9 uses a 4,000mAh battery, up 21 per cent in terms of battery capacity from the Note 8. It is said to be able to last the entire day. In addition, Samsung has doubled its internal storage from that of its predecessor with a basic 128GB model and a high-end 512GB model. Expandable via a microsd card, the Note 9 could go up to 1TB in terms of storage space. Samsung is purely trying to compete on the numbers games largest battery capacity, higher storage and more pixels, said Mr Loo Wee Teck, research firm head Euromonitor International s head of consumer electronics research. The company has also upgraded its S Pen stylus. The S Pen comes with Bluetooth support, allowing users to use the stylus to remotely control the camera for selfies, present slides and play a video. The Galaxy Note series kick-started the phablet trend (screen size larger than 5.5 inches) and its selling point was the stylus, said Mr Loo. In terms of cameras, an increasingly important differentiating feature among smartphones, the Note 9 inherited the rear dual-camera system a 12-megapixel f/1.5 wideangle and a 12-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera of its S9+ cousin, complete with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. As is expected for flagship phones, this Android 8.1 smartphone is armed with the latest processors the Note 9 will come fit- ted either with Samsung s Exynos 9810 chip or Qualcomm s Snapdragon 845. The Note 9 also includes a water carbon cooling system to prevent overheating and an artificial intelligence system that automatically de- livers a stable performance. The phone is expected to be on sale in Singapore soon though local pricing and launch date have yet to been announced. trevtan@sph.com.sg Argentina won t legalise abortion BUENOS AIRES Argentine senators yesterday rejected a Bill to legalise abortion after an impassioned debate, pushing back against a groundswell of support from a surging abortion rights movement. The Senate voted 38 to 31 against the proposed measure, which would have legalised a woman s right to seek an abortion into the 14th week of pregnancy. The Bill had narrowly passed in the Lower House last month. REUTERS Crown casino sues to protect its views SYDNEY Australian casino giant Crown Resorts has filed a lawsuit to protect its views of Sydney Harbour from a neighbouring development backed by two of the country s richest families and a Chinese billionaire. The suit against the state government sets the scene for a fight over one of Sydney s most prized possessions, harbour views, between the casino company of billionaire James Packer and a group of powerful adversaries who took over the 6ha former stevedoring site next door in January. REUTERS

19 A20 THE STRAITS TIMES Ng Yat Chung SPH Chief Executive Officer Anthony Tan Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ignatius Low Chief Marketing Officer Low Huan Ping Executive Vice-President (Technology) Chua Wee Phong Executive Vice-President (Circulation) Warren Fernandez Editor-in-Chief (English/Malay/Tamil Media Group) and The Straits Times Editor Sumiko Tan The Straits Times Executive Editor Dominic Nathan Managing Editor (English/Malay/Tamil Media Group) Helen Chia, Paul Jacob, Rahul Pathak, Lim Chuan Huat, Ravi Velloor, Vikram Khanna Associate Editors Paul Cheong Night Editor Ong Hwee Hwee Digital Editor Marc Lim News Editor Zakir Hussain Foreign Editor Lee Su Shyan Business Editor Abdul Hafiz Sunday Editor Li Xueying Enterprise Editor Kor Kian Beng Defence & Security Editor Jeremy Au Yong Lifestyle Editor Lee Yulin Sports Editor Chua Mui Hoong, Audrey Quek Opinion Editors Peter Williams Art Editor Stephanie Yeow Photo Editor Mathew Pereira Forum Editor The Straits Times says Drawing lessons from Dave Lee s death O bedience to rules is one of the cardinal principles of orderly civilian life. In the military, it can mean the difference between life and death, and in wartime, between the survival and the fall of the nation. The investigation into the death of Corporal First Class (CFC) Dave Lee has revealed that lapses and breaches of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regulations were possible contributory factors in the tragedy. This is intolerable. The SAF must, as promised, stamp out unruly behaviour by taking deterrent action against the offenders in this case. This is a necessary step that the SAF has to take towards becoming a military that trains under realistic conditions while always striving for zero fatalities. Realism and safety are not mutu- ally exclusive. Those familiar with SAF life or with military life elsewhere may look at the infractions and, at first glance, view them as relatively minor. The day before CFC Lee suffered a heatstroke, he was made to run six laps of 400m at a pace of 10 seconds faster per lap than should have been required of him. He rested 45 seconds less in between laps than stipulated in the lesson plan. That night, because two soldiers violated lights out by using their mobile phones, the whole platoon, including CFC Lee, was given physical punishment, including bear crawls, sprints, leopard crawls, push-ups and crunches. They also had water poured over them. These informal punishments were unautho- rised, and went unreported. Because of the punishments, CFC Lee and his peers had at most six hours and 15 minutes of rest 45 minutes less than the seven hours required the night before an 8km fast march. On the day of the tragedy, the soldiers were asked to declare before the march if they had had seven hours of rest, and they responded in the affirmative, even though they had not. Some would look at this series of violations and wonder if a military that concerned itself with such matters was going soft. After all, is not the process of training men into fighters all about stretching and straining them, so that they can perform and survive under tougher conditions? The answer to these concerns rests on good judgment, by commanders all down the line. Pushing soldiers to their limits is fine. Pushing them over their limits is dangerous and foolhardy, and can result in a misadventure. The difference between legitimate and overzealous strain should be determined by science and experience. And what science finds to be acceptable limits of risk then have to be encapsulated in clear training regulations, which must be followed at all times by all personnel, both the commanders and the commanded. One death is one too many. It is a sacred trust that parents place in the SAF to keep the boys safe while training them hard. If this trust is eroded, support for national service would be hit, placing Singapore s security at far greater risk. Australia seeks Plan B as trust in US falters its established Five-Power partners, Singapore and Malaysia. Canberra s options are more constrained than often realised, but creative diplomacy is Australia s main strategic multiplier. Canberra must play its cards as creatively as possible, and not be afraid to fail. Regional countries should also recognise that even if Australia s economy is in relative decline to theirs, and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is small by regional standards, its weight in the strategic balance is significant. Absent a major security crisis, future Australian governments will be loath to ramp up defence expenditure further. But as a result of the recapitalisation under way, Australia is qualitatively not far off the pace of US forces. Australia now annually deploys an amphibious task force across the surrounding region, in Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour. It will soon include air warfare destroyers equipped with the American Aegis air defence system. Australia s Navy is maintaining a more regular presence in maritime South-east Asia than it has done for several years, including a recent submarine deployment in the South China Sea. The air force also recently deployed one of its first operational P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft to Japan in support of sanctions against North Korea. It has 12 on order. Canberra under pressure to review its security and defence policies amid growing calls for greater defence spending and a less America and more Asia outlook Euan Graham For The Straits Times Something is stirring Down Under. Australia is starting to fret about the fundamentals of its security, in a way not felt for more than a generation. This observation would surprise many Australians as their immediate environment remains peaceful and the country enjoys prosperity, in substantial part because of booming trade with Asia. They fear terrorism far more than they lose sleep over strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific. Polls by the Lowy Institute suggest they worry increasingly about US President Donald Trump, too, but show ongoing support for Australia s alliance with the United States. This popular perception stands in contrast to the growing number of commentators voicing anxiety about the future of Australia s strategic position. Their underlying concern is not a direct strategic threat, which is unlikely to materialise, but the flow-on implications for Australia of a steady tipping of Asia s power scales in China s favour relative to the US. This is not new. Professor Hugh White has been warning about the power shift for years. But two factors have brought it home for Australia. First, China s determination to pursue nationalistic interests abroad has become more overtly coercive, at the bruising expense of other states sense of sovereignty. Australia has felt this directly to some degree. Canberra has endured the frosty fallout from a raft of friction points with Beijing, including its diplomatic stance on the South China Sea and last year s robust legislation to counter illicit foreign influence. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, for instance, has not visited Beijing in over two years. High-level contacts in both directions have been few and far between. Second, there is the Trump factor. Australia has been fortunate to escape serious run-ins with the mercurial US President. But even seasoned supporters of the alliance have seen enough of Mr Trump s wrecking-ball approach to openly doubt the commitment of their major ally to sustaining the so-called rules-based order. That is despite the best efforts of Defence Secretary James Mattis and others to assure US allies that Washington s security commitments will not be compromised by Mr Trump s America First foreign policy. Former foreign minister Gareth Evans warned in a recent editorial that no one should be under any illusion that the US will be there for us militarily in any circumstance where it does not also see its own immediate interests being under some threat. He urges Australia to recast its foreign policy in less America, more Asia terms, while boosting self-reliance in defence. Mr Peter Jennings, a former deputy defence secretary, counsels Canberra to develop a Plan B, with a detailed set of defence recommendations including a sharp hike in military spending from around 2 per cent of gross domestic product, to 3 per cent, in order to finance the accelerated acquisition of a more potent conventional deterrent. CALLS FOR NEW ALLIANCES Mr Jennings wants Canberra to conclude new alliances with Japan, France and Britain, while bolstering relations with Indonesia and India. He further suggests that Australia should have a forward naval presence in the South Pacific. These are not voices from the political fringe. Others, including University of Sydney s Ashley Townshend and Brendan Thomas-Noone, have added their own set of recommendations, amplifying the call for Canberra to concentrate its diplomatic and defence resources on the Indo-Pacific macro-region and particularly its nearer region, encompassing maritime South-east SOUTH PACIFIC Asia and the South Pacific. This is not inconsistent with the government s own defence and foreign policy white papers. But there is an urgent, harder-edged feel to the recent commentary. Change is no longer impending. The old certainties have gone. The strategic imperative for Australia to step up its regional efforts has arrived. No one within Australia s small strategic community wants the US alliance to end. Mateship aside, the rub is that access to US defence technology and intelligence helps hold down the costs of defending an island continent to around half of what they would be otherwise, with just 60,000 personnel in uniform. Even if those links endure, wider questions are being asked about the long-term willingness of the US to defend an isolated ally 8,000km from Hawaii. That includes questions about the credibility of America s extended nuclear deterrence guarantees to Australia. The fact that the US alliance consistently receives bipartisan political support in Australia should not obscure how significant it is that such questions are being asked openly, in the mainstream. BIGGER REGIONAL ROLE In fact, it is helpful to consider re-tooling the alliance in ways that give Australia more of a leading role. The alliance has become such a fixture of Australia s strategic landscape that it sometimes appears immutable. That makes it an easy target in the Trump era. A leading role for Canberra should follow logically from a greater alliance focus on Australia s immediate region. Diplomatically, Canberra would be well placed to lead bilateral or US-Japan-Australia trilateral initiatives, including the recently announced three-way initiative to cooperate on infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific. Canberra can help the Trump administration with the advice and expertise that it lacks on niche countries in Australia s immediate region, freeing up Washington to concentrate on priority areas within its free and open Indo-Pacific strategy. In the military sphere, US forces, including the Marines in Darwin, could deploy more regularly under Australian command. That would be healthy for the alliance, demonstrating Australian ownership to alliance sceptics. It would be more of a classical geographical division of labour within the alliance, with Australia assigned primary responsibility for its proximate patch, especially the South Pacific, where geopolitical competition is heating up. In that sense, potentially a move back from the global alliance of the 2000s. It is important to understand that scepticism about the US alliance is also a longstanding feature of the Australian debate. It reflects fears, mainly on the left, that Australia has been easily led into foreign wars of choice. There is an associated assumption that the bonds of alliance somehow deprive Australia of independence in its foreign policy, stunting its potential to associate more closely with Asia, China in particular. Former prime minister Paul Keating has criticised Australia s sacramental attitude towards the alliance, going as far as saying that Australia should cut the tag. The tyranny of distance has long unnerved Australians because they feel peripheral to the major power centres. The flip side of geographical isolation is a physical security cushion from potential sources of threat. Like the weather, Australia catches the edge of storms from Asia and the Pacific Ocean, but being an island continent itself ensures that most of the population is sheltered from all but the biggest of conflagrations. Since European settlement, Australia s security has been founded on close ties with the leading sea power of the day. That has tied Australia into a broader security system. With the exception of the world wars, that is why Australia s conflicts have always happened somewhere else. Australians have never had to fight alone. Instability has intruded on Australia s near region in the not-so-distant past. Canberra led stabilisation missions to East Timor, in 1999, and the Solomon Islands, in But the strategic impact of these episodes was limited and localised. And Australia did not have to act unilaterally. As a middle power, Australia should certainly do everything it can to develop its regional defence linkages within the Indo-Pacific. Japan holds the most obvious promise as an Asian ally. Indonesia and India are clear choices as security partners, but their inward focus and limited capacity portend strategic inertia in reality. In South-east Asia, Canberra is already working around this problem, extending defence engagement and building influence with newly receptive countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, and Australia s air force is starting to take delivery of its 72 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, and has the ability to refuel them in the air. It has also bought 12 E/F-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. These are often the same variants as operated by their US counterparts. In South-east Asia and the South Pacific, Australia s military heft counts double or triple, because so few states have the ability to project force beyond their borders. Canberra should focus on the Indo-Pacific as its strategic canvas. Specifically, Australia s planners need to think more about what is required to deploy and operate the ADF jointly and sustainably within the nearer region, if necessary on its own. In the South Pacific, New Zealand and France have some limited capability to offer, but Australia is the local hegemon by default. It remains the largest aid provider overall, but needs to raise its game, given the growing soft diplomacy overtures from China to the countries in the South Pacific. Last month, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands signed on to a joint undersea Internet cable project, funded largely by Australia, in a deal that is seen as forestalling plans by Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies to lay the links itself. Australia s sometimes parochial defence and security debate is getting livelier. That s good for it. But it also gives options for other small and middle powers in a regional security environment increasingly defined by major power competition. stopinion@sph.com.sg Euan Graham is a Senior Fellow of the Lowy Institute. He is a participant in the 20th Asia Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers, organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

20 OPINION FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES A21 Keeping faith in the elusive Thai election While many opposition supporters sat out the Cambodian polls, political parties are sprouting in Thailand, despite all odds Tan Hui Yee Indochina Bureau Chief In Bangkok During a recent chat with a political aspirant in Bangkok, we talked about the difficulties she faced while trying to muster the paperwork to register a new political party. Do people ask you to merge your party with the Future Forward Party? I broached, trying not to discourage her while mentioning the group led by Mr Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the dashing tycoon-turned-politician who has vowed to send the military back to its barracks in this coup-prone kingdom. All the time, she said. But her party has something different to offer, she stressed. Politics in this region has a winner-takes-all bent, with ruling groups or individuals dominating all arms of the state. Long-term two-party systems are rare. Consequently, if a political challenger manages to rattle an incumbent, public opinion tends to frame other opposition parties as inconsequential extras on the set. And so it seems to be the case in Thailand, where a new Constitution and laws introduced over the past four years of military rule have undermined a political faction that has won every single election since Coup-maker and current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been ambivalent about his next step after oft-delayed elections now expected some time in February next year are called. Members of a handful of new parties have declared they are open to him returning as premier. A ban on political gatherings remains, and is lifted only occasionally at a time and place of the junta s choosing. As of Tuesday, 115 political parties have applied to be registered with the election body. Yet, much of the spotlight remains on the youthful, deep-pocketed Future Forward, with its celebrity line-up from the worlds of business, academia, television, sexual minorities and people with physical disabilities. In environments like this, smaller political parties are often scorned for splitting the opposition loyalties, or worse being complicit in grander plans to keep the opposition off keel. The fact that they may have something else to offer is often overlooked. These debates resurfaced in the July 29 Cambodia general election, which was made very lopsided by the recent court dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and an almost year-long pre-trial detention of its president Kem Sokha on allegations of treason. The CNRP won 55 out of the 123 parliamentary seats in the 2013 general election and represented the closest any party had come to loosening Mr Hun Sen s three-decade-long grip on power in recent years. But CNRP s exiles, having lost ground through the courts and also from the shuttering of media outlets strongly critical of Mr Hun Sen, helped push the pendulum to the other end by urging its three million or so supporters to boycott the poll, to delegitimise it. OUTCOME OF BOYCOTT A victory of the ruling Cambodian People s Party (CPP) was a foregone conclusion, and it turned into a rout. While official results have not been released, the CPP claims it swept all 125 parliamentary seats with 77.5 per cent of the popular vote after over 82 per cent of voters cast their ballots. Critics attribute the last figure to the manipulation of electoral rolls to favour the ruling party, as well as intense pressure by all sectors to make people vote. Yet some CNRP supporters still managed to register their protest by spoiling their votes, pushing the number of invalid votes past 596,000, higher than the 374,000 garnered by the best performing opposition party, the Funcinpec party. It was a scenario foretold with alarm days before the election by Mr Yeng Virak, president of the three-year-old Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP), who argued that boycotting or spoiling votes would simply hand the CPP an even bigger victory, in an electoral exercise that will bolster its legitimacy by handing it a fresh mandate. GDP later won just over 70,000 votes, according to preliminary results. We don t think the international community will declare I will not recognise the election as free and fair and therefore I will not recognise the government that comes out of that, he told The Thai pro-democracy protesters marching towards Government House during a rally in Bangkok on May 22, to mark the fourth anniversary of the 2014 military coup. They called for the junta government to hold an election this year, instead of February next year as promised by Thai Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Straits Times in frustration. If they make that statement, that means they are preparing to close down their embassies. Indeed, while the United States and European Union have both declared the July 29 election not credible, only the US has said it will consider additional steps, like the expansion of visa restrictions on key officials imposed in December last year. Economic sanctions like the suspension of preferential treatment for imports are considered too blunt as they hurt low-wage workers more than people in power. Mr Hun Sen, brushing aside international criticism, is reportedly in a hurry to form a new government before the original scheduled date in mid-september. From abroad, CNRP exiles are lobbying for more foreign pressure on Phnom Penh. What is left of the opposition in Cambodia will now very likely be absent from the next legislature. For them, questions about the credibility of this democracy are less helpful than the longer-term quest of effecting change from what toeholds they have left. Some opposition politicians and analysts in Cambodia admit that they are tired of the years-old cross-continent sabre rattling between Mr Hun Sen and key opposition political exile Sam Rainsy, and are trying to offer fresh perspectives. FIGHTING THE SYSTEM The problem in Cambodia is not about good or bad leaders, Mr Khem Veasna, president of Cambodia s League for Democracy Party (LDP), which won over 300,000 votes, told The Straits Times during campaigning for the election. It is the structure of the administration that centralises the power in one person. Mr Hun Sen, for example, has a personal bodyguard unit with thousands of members, something which the The quiet bias in US college admissions The writer argues that Asian American applicants to elite US universities are at a disadvantage due to the schools preference for applicants who are outgoing, gregarious and comfortable in the spotlight, as evidence shows that Asians are less likely to display these traits than Westerners are. The preference for extroverts may account for Asian Americans lower personality scores Jonathan Zimmerman Do Harvard and other elite universities illegally discriminate against Asian American applicants? I m not sure. But there s another group of people who definitely face routine prejudice in college admissions. They re the quiet types who keep to themselves, often preferring a relaxed evening at home to a rowdy night out. They like to study alone, not in groups. And they re often the last ones to speak up in class. I m talking about introverts, of course. And if there s one thing we ve learnt from reports on the recent lawsuit against Harvard University s admission system, it s that introverts routinely get the short end of the stick. The lawsuit alleges that Harvard has engaged in unlawful racial balancing by systematically discriminating against Asian Americans, who were given lower personality scores by admission officers. It s a hard charge to prove. If an Asian applicant received a lower personality score, how can we know if that s because she was Asian? We can t, without evidence. But here s what seems apparent: Harvard s personality evaluation favours people who are outgoing, gregarious and comfortable in the spotlight: in a word, extroverts. Consider this example, which The New York Times drew from the hundreds of documents that have been filed in the Harvard lawsuit. An Asian American applicant was described as a hard worker, but would she relax and have any fun? Other Asian American candidates were characterised the same way industrious and high-achieving but often lacking in distinguishing excellence (or DE in admissions shorthand). Nor were they likely to be seen as leaders, the figures who stand out from the crowd by standing in front of it. And that s what US elite schools are looking for, unabashedly and unapologetically. When Harvard says it wants people with a positive personality who are widely respected two other criteria the Times extracted from the court filings it s not talking about the kid who will stay in her dorm room on Saturday night to study or watch a video. Introverts aren t always shy sometimes they can be quite chatty but they also need time alone. And they definitely don t need to be the centre of attention, which makes them markedly less attractive to admissions LDP seeks to dismantle. Over in Thailand, there appears to be no clear leader for the former ruling Puea Thai party deposed by the 2014 coup after former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra fled the country last August just before she was convicted of dereliction of duty. More than one former minister has told The Straits Times that it makes more sense for any potential candidate to lie low, given how often leaders of the party and its previous iterations have been cut down by court cases. Pressure is meanwhile mounting on Mr Thanathorn. He was questioned by police last week as a witness after the junta filed a criminal complaint alleging facts were distorted in a Facebook Live video that featured him and other party members. Both Thailand and Cambodia are technically constitutional monarchies, but Thailand s King Maha Vajiralongkorn is seen to be more assertive of his authority. PHOTO: NYTIMES committees. Colleges want the applicants who will take the bull by the horns and the campus by storm. That means joining as many groups as possible and ideally being the president of each one. And it means participating in maybe dominating every available conversation, in and out of class. That would be defensible if we knew that extroverts were more intelligent or successful than other people. But they re not. As Ms Susan Cain shows in her indispensable 2012 book, Quiet: The Power Of Introverts In A World That Can t Stop Talking, we are easily impressed by extroverts. We perceive people who talk a lot and, especially, those who talk quickly as more able. And there s zero evidence for that. Ditto for the presumption that they make better leaders. As Ms Cain shows, there are plenty of introverts including Mr Bill Gates and Mr Charles Schwab who have become famously effective leaders. They govern by example rather than charisma, by listening rather than talking. Going back to the 1950s, some colleges have argued that the corporations that hire graduates and that also donate millions to the colleges preferred the gregarious, active type, as one dean told sociologist William Whyte, author of the 1956 classic The Organisation Man. The dean added: We see little use for the Prime Minister Prayut, in a public address in May, stated: This reign ought to be the reign where the country is peaceful, safe and (where people) have a better life. The government has humbly taken (the King s) advice into practice. Unlike in Cambodia, Thailand s political actors and even small, fledgling ones remain committed to the electoral system. This is despite the elusiveness of an election, the restrictions they face and the fact that military influence has been woven into future power structures ostensibly to guard against corruption. Much of the kingdom s political landscape will become clearer after the dust settles from the current spate of horse trading. For now though, it s a good sign that even small, obscure parties feel confident enough to want to strike out on their own, despite the odds they face. tanhy@sph.com.sg brilliant introvert. That s still generally the case at America s selective universities, as recent research on admissions suggests. Never mind that not all of their students intend to enter the corporate world, or that a wealth of research demonstrates that introverts can flourish in that world as much as extroverts can. We want strong personalities, who make their mark in public performance rather than behind the scenes. And we re sticking with that story, despite evidence that Asians are less likely to display these traits than Westerners are. Cross-cultural studies have demonstrated that people in the East tend to emphasise traits such as humility and hard work, while Americans more often favour cheerfulness and enthusiasm. So do US college admissions policies. I don t know if that makes them racially discriminatory. But I do know that they re scientifically indefensible, especially in the light of everything we have learnt about personality over the past half-century. Last week, the rest of the Ivy League including my employer, the University of Pennsylvania closed ranks behind Harvard, defending the use of race in college admissions and emphasising the profound importance of a diverse student body for their educational missions, as the schools wrote in a friend-of-the-court brief. I agree with them. I just wish they were friendly to diverse personalities, not just diverse races. Without that, we ll end up with students who look different from one another but think and act the same. WASHINGTON POST Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Campus Politics: What Everyone Needs To Know.

21 A22 OPINION Why rice bunnies are popping up on China s social media China s MeToo movement the latest to deploy emojis and homonyms in running battle to evade censors Yuan Yang As China s MeToo movement gathers steam, individuals and media platforms are pushing at the boundaries of what is allowed on the country s tightly controlled Internet by finding ways around censorship to allow activists to mobilise support. Over the past two weeks, dozens of people have taken to China s Twitter-like platform, Weibo, to publish stories of sexual harassment by Beijing s top literati and leaders of non-governmental organisations. Although no prominent official has yet been publicly accused, regulators have taken a cautious approach, as with all public incidents that can spark mass expressions of discontent. Two nuns published a 95-page document on July 1, accusing the president of China s Buddhist Association, Shi Xuecheng, who is also the abbot of the famous Longquan monastery near Beijing, of sexual abuse. Within days, the case had gained so much attention that sexual abuse became an auto-correct phrase suggested by the dominant search engine Baidu for searches on Longquan monastery even though searches on the topic were blocked. The abbot issued an official denial through a statement from the monastery, which said the allegations contained forged evidence and were false and malicious. The authorities have known from the beginning that the movement has shades of anti-authoritarianism, and they are afraid the allegations will spread to officials, said Dr Wu Qiang, a former Tsinghua University professor and commentator on social movements. Private channels of communication can be explosive in spreading information quickly. The intermittent censorship of the MeToo hashtag and its variants on Weibo have led to many alternatives most prominently rice bunny, which is pronounced mi tu in Mandarin. Users are now trying out the emoji for a bowl of rice and a rabbit, as well as various other homophones for me too, along with its translations into other languages. Do you think you can censor all of us? Minority-language speakers, step up! reads one post. Last month, an anonymous intern posted on Weibo her account of being sexually assaulted by a state-television personality. The alleged perpetrator did not respond to a request for comment. Although the intern s post was quickly censored, many more accounts including those with millions of followers saved it through reposting a screenshot of it. While it is easy for computer algorithms to search text, it is slightly harder to search and identify what is being conveyed in images, especially if the re-posters add blemishes to the image or distort it by flipping it upside down, for example. The government is allowing people to let off steam in a controlled way, said Ms Lotus Ruan, a research fellow at the University of Toronto s Citizen Lab who has been tracking the claims. However, there is a limit on how far and how high up public discussions can go, she said, and any discussions of government officials were likely to be censored. It is issues like MeToo that make things difficult for the authorities, Mr Charlie Smith of GreatFire.org, a censorship monitoring group, said. Regardless of the subject matter, once a threshold (of social media activity) is crossed, automatic censorship kicks in... but it really runs a risk of pissing people off, he added, pointing to past instances of censorship that dumbfounded and angered Chinese people. In the past, the authorities have also backtracked after seeing an upswell of anger at the censorship but this is a difficult balance, Mr Smith argued, adding: At some point, the authorities are going to miscalculate and one of these issues will gain momentum. Media platforms have also risked censorship to capture popular attention focused on China s sexual harassment allegations. Meiri Renwu which translates as People of the Day one of a crop of media start-ups whose investigations get over 100,000 reads each, used its public WeChat account to solicit stories of sexual harassment from readers. In less than 24 hours, we received over 1,700 stories of sexual harassment, read their headline. The article was censored not long after publication. China s top blogging platform, Douban, pushed a notification to some users saying MeToo: speak out your stories, oppose sexual harassment. Within a day, MeToo remained on the list of trending topics but was labelled currently being investigated, and soon related posts could no longer be searched. The cost of being censored is not too high, and on the contrary, running a MeToo story, which is an issue that people care about deeply, is good for boosting viewership and branding for the account, said a media professional at a major Chinese Internet platform who wished to remain anonymous. The person added that self-published media platforms such as Meiri Renwu can break sensitive stories more easily as they receive less scrutiny compared with state-owned or large private media groups. Although one sensitive story may not hurt, there have been a wave of permanent closures of WeChat public accounts in recent months, including the well-known Feminist Voices account. Last month, a local bureau of the Cyberspace Administration of China announced that 720,000 accounts had been closed down by Internet platforms in the second quarter of the year. Meanwhile, feminist groups have been organising meetings and next steps via China s ubiquitous social-media app WeChat. In a group that was set up shortly after accusations of sexual harassment against professors emerged in January, more than 200 activists had joined within a few days. Don t forget to take screenshots, is one guideline in a WeChat messaging group of feminist activists, while members often remind others to post the screenshots as well as the links censorship happens so quickly that an article is likely to be taken down in the course of a conversation about the article, stumping those who arrived late. WeChat is a double-edged sword, said prominent political dissident Hu Jia, explaining that it allows people and political movements to organise quickly, but also lets officials keep track of them. WeChat conversation data passes through Tencent s servers in unencrypted form, allowing censorship algorithms to scour their content. After a weekend filled with heated WeChat discussions, the organiser of one such group suggested participants download an encrypted messaging app instead. FINANCIAL TIMES Additional reporting by Xinning Liu Sophia the robot on stage before a discussion by Hanson Robotics on artificial intelligence at the RISE Technology Conference in Hong Kong last month. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE China has the edge in race for AI supremacy Daniel Wagner For The Straits Times In the global battle for artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy, only a handful of countries and companies are in serious contention. The small club of leading national players include China, Russia, the United States, Israel, Japan and South Korea, while primarily Chinese and American companies lead the pack of commercial contenders. These include Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, Amazon, Facebook and Google. What distinguishes all of them is the amount of resources they have put into research and the achievements they have already made in the AI arena. And they are poised to leap further and further ahead of those who are lagging behind or have not yet even entered the race. While Germany, Japan and South Korea are focused primarily on commercial applications, Russia excels in military applications. The US is currently the overall leader of the pack, but not likely for long. China and leading Chinese firms have positioned themselves to sprint ahead of all the others in the coming decade. China is particularly well placed to assume the global AI lead because it has capital, people and computing power in abundance, and is deploying all of them in a targeted manner. China has set itself the target of being the world s leading AI power by 2030, and has committed to spend at least US$150 billion (S$205 billion), seeding the funds into areas like research and development, talent acquisition, and mergers and acquisitions to achieve its goal. By comparison, many developed countries are only beginning to craft AI strategies and are spending comparatively little to enter the race. For example, Australia does not yet have an AI strategy, but recently announced a four-year, US$22 million allocation in the national budget to support the development of AI. Last year, the European Union invested 500 million (S$790 million) in AI and plans to spend 1.5 billion by the end of China has two other resources that make it a promised land for AI. The country already has about 40 per cent of the world s trained AI scientists and most large universities have launched AI programmes, meaning that percentage will only increase. Also, China s enormous population generates more data than any other nation, given its 750 million-plus daily Internet users. Almost all of them go online from smartphones, which generate far more valuable data than desktop computers, primarily because they contain sensors and are mobile. Moreover, unlike in the West, where citizens are preoccupied with civil liberty protections, the Chinese are not so necessarily concerned about privacy, which makes openly collecting data easier. While the quantity of Chinese AI research has grown dramatically, US researchers remain responsible for most of the groundbreaking work. However, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which was instrumental in leading AI policy work during the Obama administration, has been depleted of 70 per cent of its staff under the Trump administration, depriving the US government of critical expertise and insights at a time when China is ramping up the competition. Furnace Earth: Wildfires set to worsen Don J. Melnick, Mary C. Pearl and Mark A. Cochrane The world seems to be on fire again, just as it was last year when destructive and deadly wildfires of enormous size raged in California, Chile, Argentina, British Columbia, Portugal and other countries around the world. The widespread fires this year have magnified concerns that we are locked in a worldwide pattern of conflagration that is both persistent and catastrophic. Wildfires have been even more pervasive this year in central and northern Europe than last year, including Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Germany. In Greece, east of Athens, some 90 people were killed. Last year in Portugal, more than 100 people died in wildfires, including at least 30 people who were trapped in their cars when flames engulfed a road. Already California is far ahead of last year s record-breaking numbers, with 14 wildfires raging, 303,500ha burned, over 1,000 homes and businesses destroyed and multiple deaths. And we have yet to reach peak fire season. Wildfires may well be the single greatest agent of deforestation worldwide. The destruction of natural habitat, the devastation of human habitation, the dislocation of large numbers of people, the disruption of commerce and the draining of government resources were all on scales in 2017 that we have not experienced before. For the United States as a whole, last year was the second worst for wildfires in over 60 years, with four million ha burned, exceeded only by 2015, when about 4.1 million ha went up in flames. While we naturally focus on the immediate loss of lives, the full toll may not be so immediate. Recent epidemiological research following the enormous fires in Indonesia in the past few years suggests that lung disease from smoke and particulate matter inhalation may have caused over 100,000 additional premature deaths across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. A dangerous, large-scale feedback loop that promotes wildfires has emerged. Forests, woodlands and grasslands hold much of Earth s terrestrial carbon. When they burn, more carbon What Chinese researchers have been very good at doing is focusing on an idea and expanding on its different applications. In fact, the Chinese have become prominent in adding value to existing research, with researchers in China wasting no time to produce papers on various applications, which can then be further developed. A less obvious advantage is that Chinese researchers usually speak English, so they have the benefit of access to all the work disseminated in English. By contrast, the English-speaking AI research community is much less likely to have access to work written in Chinese, and the velocity of work is much faster in China than in most of Silicon Valley. China s government is proceeding at warp speed to rapidly make up for any lag it has with Western firms and governments. Chinese companies believe that by rotating Chinese staff to Silicon Valley and American staff to Chinese campuses, they can cut short the time needed for reaching parity with the US. For the time being, however, the size and experience of China s AI workforce is a fraction of that of the US. Half of the top 10 employers of AI talent in China are US firms including IBM, Intel, and Microsoft which are integral to the development of China s human capital in AI. For some types of high-value semiconductors, China has had to rely on imports for virtually all of its needs. To address this, the Chinese government implemented its Made in China 2025 policy, an initiative to upgrade Chinese industry and become the global leader in manufacturing, while at the same dioxide is released, increasing concentrations in the atmosphere and causing land and sea surface temperatures to rise. This warming increases the likelihood of even more widespread and intense fires and exacerbates the severe weather and sea level rise we are now beginning to experience. What has been particularly worrisome in recent years is that the world s largest forests, the taiga of Russia and its boreal forest cousins that ring the Arctic and store much of the world s carbon, experienced wildfires at a rate and scale not seen in at least 10,000 years, according to palaeoecological records. The explosive rise in wildfires has occurred for two major, interrelated reasons: climate change and human behaviour. As land surface temperatures rise, there has been a general warming across all seasons, with intense periods of heat during the warmest parts of the year, longer intervals without rain and marked reductions in relative humidity. Heat waves and droughts cause vegetation to dry into combustible fuels, enabling small fires to become widespread infernos. Tossing a cigarette butt out a car window or failing to extinguish a campfire can end up obliterating hundreds of thousands of acres within weeks. Research on wildfires in the United States over the past 20 years found that 84 per cent were started by people, accounting for time achieving self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on other countries. The policy outlines a wide-ranging strategy for harnessing and promoting the acquisition of foreign technology through outbound investment, including the use of industrial funds and state-owned capital dividends. However, the zeal with which China is pursuing its goal has generated a growing backlash among Western governments against permitting future sensitive technology-oriented investments by Chinese investors in their countries. For instance, Germany is considering lowering its threshold for deals that can be subject to a ministerial veto. President Donald Trump is also expected to endorse measures to expand the powers of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US, an inter-agency panel that scrutinises foreign investments for possible national security threats. Many in the West may find China s way of doing business distasteful, but there are no real rules dictating how to achieve AI supremacy. Like it or not, China is well on its way to getting there. It will do the West no good to simply complain about how China gets to the finish line. Perhaps it should play the game in a similar fashion. The stakes are rather high and, in the end, it will not matter so much how a country achieves AI supremacy, but that it does so. China deserves credit for recognising early on the importance AI fluency implies for national competitiveness in the coming decades. Other countries should either find a way to maintain their position or get out of the way, because nothing will stop Beijing in its quest to become the world s leading power in AI. stopinion@sph.com.sg Daniel Wagner is chief executive officer of Country Risk Solutions. He is also the co-author of the forthcoming book AI Supremacy, which will be published next month. 44 per cent of the land burned. Moreover, when no controlled burning takes place to eliminate flammable brush and deadwood that has built up on forest floors, those forests become ripe for intense fires that are difficult or impossible to control. As we have seen in the unexpected, catastrophic fires last year in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and this year in Sweden, troubled by record heat and a worsening drought, wildfires are no longer limited to regions typically considered prone to such events. Australia has imposed special construction requirements for fire-prone areas to mitigate wildfire damage, but new, fire-wise policies for construction and development should exist everywhere wildfires loom as a threat. Climate change has made wildfires collectively one of the most destructive extreme natural events we face, and this trend is likely to worsen in the coming years. Unless we take careful and thoughtful actions, providing education and incentives for adapting to wildfires as well as enforcing stricter rules to prevent them, we risk much more than we realise. NYTIMES Don J. Melnick is a professor of biology at Columbia University, Mary C. Pearl is a biologist and Dean of the Macaulay Honours College at the City University of New York, and Mark A. Cochrane is a professor at the University of Maryland s Centre for Environmental Science.

22 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES THE STRAITS TIMES CONTACT US A Singapore Press Holdings publication News Centre 1000 Toa Payoh North, Singapore General line: Home: stnewsdesk@sph.com.sg Business: stbusiness@sph.com.sg Life: stlife@sph.com.sg Art: start@sph.com.sg Newsline: World: stworld@sph.com.sg A23 Sport: stsports@sph.com.sg Pictures: stimage@sph.com.sg ST Digital: stdigital@sph.com.sg HIV laws still valid National Day Parade A question was raised as to the relevance of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disclosure laws in the case of HIV-positive individuals who are taking medicine consistently, thus suppressing the virus and not making it transmissible (Science has progressed since HIV laws were enacted, by Dr Leong Hoe Nam; Aug 7). Timely checks are not a catch-all. First, post-exposure screenings may not accurately capture the infection given the possibility of an incubation period. Second, there is a possible time lag between infection and the detection test. Third, the viral load factor in the infected person may fluctuate from I finally got myself the highly coveted NDP ticket! So exciting!! the recent viral load test. Given the above, the laws safeguarding otherwise innocent partners who cannot appraise the risk they are exposing themselves to, is still valid, notwithstanding the advancements made in HIV treatment (Man jailed for not telling partner about his HIV status; Aug 2). Care must be exercised by individuals with HIV infection, and they have a duty to offer their partners a fair basis to exercise judgment on whether to participate in activities that will markedly place them at a heightened risk of exposure. Therefore, such disclosure laws should continue to be in place. supply of food. During the dry season mid-year, breeding activity drops off. But if food is provided, breeding continues throughout the year. His statement that the feeding of wildlife by untrained individuals would often do more harm than good is unsubstantiated and supercilious. Many desirable bird species are quite adaptable as far as diet is concerned. It is inaccurate for him to claim that what is used in bird feeders is nutritionally inadequate. Very reliable and well-researched products are readily available in Singapore. Pet birds grow, sing and breed on these diets. Wild birds will flourish just as well. His mention that the feeding of wild pigeons caused them to procreate and become pests is irrelevant to the subject of wildlife. The pest pigeons are not truly wild but are domestic stock that has gone feral. I will support steps the authorities take to humanely remove them. Mr Prabakharan s position that we should keep our distance from wildlife and that nature appreciation can be achieved by visiting parks and nature reserves is too extreme a stand. Ms June Yong Chung Mee calls for parents to interact more with their children and model the behaviour they want to see in their children, instead of filling their time with enrichment classes (Give kids more space to be kids; Aug 7). Ideally, parents should be the ones to impart values to children. In reality, however, this is not always possible. Besides, most children also go through a stage of rebellion or self-assertion, of wanting to break free from parental control. Time spent in tuition or enrichment classes may actually keep some children off the streets and prevent them from turning wayward. In the past, mothers stayed home to raise children while fathers were the sole breadwinners. This is often not the case today. Whether out of necessity or choice, many mothers today work and children are left to their own devices for many hours in a day. The chances of succumbing to the lure of the latest gadgets and meeting unsavoury characters online are high. Time spent in tuition classes, though pressurising or stressful, may be the lesser of two evils. Tuition classes do instil social skills in students as they learn in small groups. And I have come across tutors who inspire their students to reach for greater heights, and to never give up. Students learn to persevere and be resilient too. These tutors also tell students that failures are stepping stones to success and instil feelings of self-worth. Every child has his own stress-tolerance level. Some actually thrive on some amount of pressure. Perhaps parents can allow some leeway for their children to decide if they wish to attend additional enrichment classes, depending on their interests and schedules. The adage, everything in moderation, applies here too. Let moderation be the key consideration when parents sign their children up for extra lessons. Lee Chiu San Low Siew Hua (Ms) Joel Pang Keeping a distance from wildlife too drastic an idea Areas of concern in crackdown on errant PMD users I am delighted that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is putting more enforcement personnel to tackle and mitigate the dangers posed by personal mobility devices (More eyes to help detect errant cyclists, PMD users; Aug 6). The report on errant e-scooter rider Derrick Gan Zhong Kang exposed his misdeeds and the penalty imposed as a result (E-scooter rider fined for injuring woman; Aug 8). However, it fell short by not citing the illegality of riding pillion, as was the case here. This is one of the rules clearly set by LTA but flouted all over the island. It could very well be why the e-scooter s braking power was compromised. The extra weight from the pillion rider could have been a contributing factor. The other area of concern is the speed limits of PMDs on pedestrian and shared paths. Such paths currently provide no protection to pedestrians from errant riders. As such, the speed limit on shared paths should be brought down from a maximum of 25kmh to 15kmh. Near accidents are common and continue to be a menace. This is especially so at zebra crossings or traffic junctions where pedestrians and mobility devices jostle for space. LTA s efforts in instilling safe riding habits and improving infrastructure to support the growing cyclist population are commendable, and I hope with new resources in place, it can do more in the area of enforcement. Ho San Cheow Excerpts from readers letters INSTALL SPEED HUMPS ON WALKWAYS FOCUS ON PLASTIC WASTE TOO I suggest that humps be installed on walkways to slow speeding bicycles and e-bikes. Yellow and black vulcanised rubber humps of 1.2m to 1.5m width can be fixed easily onto walkways and it would not be too costly to install. It will save lives. I was disappointed that Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli said the more pressing issue facing Singapore is electronic waste rather than plastics (E-waste a more pressing issue than plastics: Masagos; Aug 3). He said: When you try to do everything, you will end up doing nothing, so do the most important things first and right now, we are tackling e-waste. But, can t we do things simultaneously? Damage to the environment from plastic waste is so obvious. Mr Masagos believes that the issue is about reducing the demand for plastics. Will people cut their demand when plastic bags are given free? Much has been said about the success of levies and fines in cutting plastic waste in other cities. It is rather difficult to believe that such a scheme would not work in Singapore. Peh Choo Huat HAVE WATER COOLERS AT FOODCOURTS Food and beverage businesses have a key role to play in the war on diabetes. Most patrons at hawker centres and foodcourts often buy sweet drinks to go with their meal. The Health Promotion Board should work with the National Environment Agency as well as foodcourt operators to install water coolers in food centres. With drinking water freely available, fewer patrons would feel the urge to purchase sweet drinks. Kevin Tong Weng Jin Eddie Lee Wai Seng MAKE A LITTLE EFFORT TO BE GRACIOUS E-HEALTH RECORDS WILL NOT HELP ALL Despite numerous campaigns and initiatives, a significant number of people still do not return their trays at food centres. Tray return contributes to a faster turnover of tables. It would also reduce pests and birds as there would not be any unattended leftovers on the table. If people make a little effort to return their tray after their meal, Singapore can gradually turn into a cleaner and more gracious society. I refer to the compulsory extension of the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system to private medical and dental clinics. I support the use of NEHR in large institutions and the public healthcare sector. It allows for the easy transfer of records and information, monitoring disease trends as well as studies on the efficacy of treatments. It is cost-effective for large institutions. However, making it compulsory for small, private medical and dental clinics is onerous for them. Vivian Tan Wei En (Ms) The increased costs will also lead to an increase in patient fees. There is the issue of ensuring cyber security as well. To monitor healthcare trends, data from public hospitals, school health services and SAF Medical Corps is sufficient, without the need to collect more information from others. Lewis Lee Kim Chuan (Dr) BANKING ON DBS TO SHINE DBS transformation over the past five decades has been nothing short of phenomenal (DBS played key role taking risks in its early years for S pore; Aug 5). From its humble beginnings, DBS is today one of the world s top banks. With today s global business conditions in constant flux and technological disruption becoming ever more dominant, every banking decision now is contingent upon a carefully calibrated confluence of multi-factorial considerations while satisfying ever more stringent governance and risk-management parameters. With the banking landscape thus set for more challenges in the years to come, there should be little doubt that DBS will continue to be at the forefront of it all. Woon Wee Min While nature interest groups generally welcome inclusion and encourage the public to participate in their activities, I am surprised that Mr Neeraj Prabakharan advocated exclusion in his letter (Feeding wild animals does more harm than good; Aug 4). The late president S R Nathan made wild birds feel at home in the Istana, and ensured that hornbills had adequate food and shelter so that they would breed there. Heartened by Mr Nathan, private citizens with the means to do so and with support from people involved in the Istana project emulated his example, thereby encouraging hornbills and other desirable birds, once scarce in Singapore, to re-establish themselves. Yet, Mr Prabakharan supports prohibiting the feeding of wildlife. This will discourage nature lovers from actively attracting songbirds to their gardens. While he admits that bird-feeding stations are frequently set up to see birds through the winters in temperate countries, he is incorrect to claim that in Singapore there is an abundance of food all year round. For local songbird species, breeding is dependent on the Social enterprises that forge ties with others can do more good Two years ago, when I noticed the plight of displaced workers, I started a social enterprise of my own. Today, this commercial cleaning business works with more than 50 voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to support workers from various disadvantaged backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, single parents, former offenders and more. In building the company, I have come to see that social enterprises can do more good for themselves and the social causes they champion by venturing out of their silos to collaborate with peers and counterparts. Furthermore, as businesses with unique needs and challenges, we naturally understand each other. The social service sector in Let moderation be key when opting for extra classes Singapore has admirable initiatives in place to provide as much support as possible to enterprises. The Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise has systems in place to mentor and guide social enterprises, while the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre s Company of Good programmes actively connect like-minded business leaders. The many VWOs and social workers under them must also be acknowledged for their tireless efforts in helping their respective beneficiaries. The more we reach out to our sector partners, the more we will realise that we are all working towards the same goal of building a stronger and more caring society. FORUM ONLINE NEO SAY WEI: Principles that underpin NS mustn t be compromised. MORE LETTERS ON Join readers in sharing heart-warming stories at groups/whatsgd/ Benjamin Chua Guang Long Option to change SingPass ID could be made easier It should not come as a surprise that many SingPass users have not changed their unique online IDs from their NRIC numbers ( Most S poreans still use NRIC number for SingPass ID; Aug 8). The availability of the option for SingPass users to use non-nric details as their SingPass IDs was probably lost on the public because it was implemented with other enhanced security measures such as SingPass two-factor authentication (2FA). The emphasis then was to get everybody to sign up for the 2FA token. The SingPass log-in page also does not help. There is nothing on the page to indicate that you can change the SingPass ID. A message could have been inserted to tell users that they can change their SingPass ID, along with a link to the page to do so. Changing the SingPass ID requires one to log in to Nobody does that. Each time we go to a site which requires SingPass authentication, we see only the SingPass log-in page and not the other pages on the SingPass site. Even when you log in to the site, the link to change the SingPass ID is buried and is not so obvious. If the authorities want people to change their SingPass ID, then they should make this change easier and more obvious. Phua Kok Hee WRITE IN: Letters should be meant for exclusive publication in The Straits Times. They should be no longer than 400 words and must include the writer s full name, address and phone numbers. The Forum editor reserves the right to edit the letters. For women, please indicate Miss, Ms, Mrs or Madam. Please your letter to stforum@sph.com.sg. Readers can also respond to letters via Facebook and Twitter.

23 A24 BIG PICTURE WEATHER Windy, with passing showers in the afternoon. High 33 deg C Low 25 deg C 24-hr PSI as of 5pm yesterday: 55 to 60 (Moderate) PHOTO: REUTERS The exact moment a mudslide hits Soil and rocks were sent flying into the air as a mudslide tumbled through the village of Chamoson in Valais, southern Switzerland, on Tuesday. This video still taken from social media shows the moment it hit, crashing into buildings and vehicles. There were no reported injuries, but local radio station Rhone FM said some homes had to be evacuated and roads around the village were closed. The mudslide, which eyewitnesses described as similar to a volcanic lava flow, was sparked by a storm that caused a river bed to burst its banks. In recent months, the canton of Valais has experienced extreme weather conditions, such as higher lightning activity with intense spells of rain.

24 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES B1 280 NUMBER OF NEW LIFTS FOR SEMBAWANG GRC B9 NATIONAL DAY PARADE HERE S A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER The format for the annual National Day Parade (NDP) might seem similar year in, year out: military display, mass performances and, of course, fireworks. But credit must go to the organisers and participants who worked hard to make yesterday s birthday bash a little special. This year s NDP held at the Marina Bay floating platform (left) delivered a treat for the 25,000 spectators: a bigger aerial display by the air force, day-time fireworks, free-falling naval divers, and wing-suited Red Lions. History was also made at Singapore s 53rd birthday with President Halimah Yacob, the country s first female head of state, in attendance. A birthday comes and goes in 24 hours, but the act of remembering the country s past and celebrating its achievements will hopefully make an impact that lasts far longer. Kor Kian Beng Defence B2&3 Diversity B4 Dreams B5 Destiny B6&7

25 B2 HOME NDP 2018 HOME FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES 3,300 Defence B3 Number of performers in the parade s show segment this year Instagram posts PHOTO: ALFRED SIM zolalfredo Little #shenmomo celebrating his first NDP! He was such a darling! I thought he might fall asleep midway through the show but I was wrong! He was super excited and very attentive when watching the whole parade! Loved his expression when he first experienced fireworks. Luckily we bought him an ear muffler for the loud fighter jets display and fireworks! Happy National Day everyone, We Are Singapore! PHOTO: INSTAGR/MELMELEATS melmeleats The National Day Parade flypast sees some excited spectators taking photos or videos of the planes with their mobile phones while others are busy covering their ears from the deafening roar of the jet engines. A naval diver floating down towards the Marina Bay waters during the parade. A team of eight combat divers made its aerial NDP debut yesterday, jumping 1,800m from a Super Puma helicopter. Maiden parade for the President Aerial allure: Naval divers, Red Lions thrill with parachute jump Months of training paid off in bringing the National Day Parade (NDP) to life yesterday and the performers had another reason to cheer at the end of the show after President Halimah Yacob went over to mingle and take photos with them. The first female President to grace the parade, Madam Halimah received a warm reception from the crowd and the performers. It was not the first time that Madam Halimah, 63, had a formal role to play in NDP. Before she became President, she was the reviewing officer at every parade preview since During that time, she held the post of Speaker of Parliament, which she relinquished last year before being declared President-elect on Sept 13, She became Singapore s first Malay President in 47 years, after a walkover in the country s first presidential election reserved for candidates from the Malay community. While Madam Halimah did not speak to the media during the parade yesterday, she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that National Day is an occasion for Singaporeans to celebrate their nation s independence and to reflect on how far they have come. This year s Parade is especially meaningful to me, because the programme will involve Singaporeans from diverse talents, she wrote. It is a good reminder that regardless of background, we can all contribute. Yesterday, Madam Halimah, who was decked out in red and white, attended the parade with her husband, Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, also 63. As the sun began to set, the massive crowd was swept up in a wave of excitement by the stunning sight of eight Singapore naval divers, joining the Red Lions for the first time, floating down from the sky. The spectators watched in awe as the combat divers from the Naval Diving Unit slid into the Marina Bay waters. The eight men, who were making their aerial debut at a National Day Parade (NDP), had jumped 1,800m from a Super Puma helicopter. 3,800m Record height from which the Red Lions executed a wingsuit jump out of a C-130 aircraft. They were followed by the army s Red Lions, a crowd favourite, who were greeted with thunderous applause as they whizzed through the air in wingsuits and landed on the Marina Bay floating platform. The 10 parachuters, with their distinctive red and white parachutes, launched themselves from 3,800m, an NDP record. One of them bumped into another as he landed, but both were unhurt. Then came the aerial show with 26 aircraft performing formations and flying over Marina Bay. Two F-16 jets among them formed a heart in the sky with their smoke trails, sparking loud cheers and claps from spectators. It was a reprise of a 2008 manoeuvre by the Black Knights, the aerobatics team of the air force. To mark the 50th year of the air force, the final turn was done by an F-15 jet decked in blue. It brought the aerial performance to a close by doing a G-force turn in a sharp vertical climb to 2,400m. Mr Haroon Omar, 69, a retired operations executive who was at the parade with his wife, said he enjoyed watching the naval divers. It s something different from previous years. I would like to see it again. PHOTO: ANUKRITI BANERJEE magical.unicorntears ALL CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SINGAPORE This year s Parade is especially meaningful to me, because the programme will involve Singaporeans from diverse talents. It is a good reminder that regardless of background, we can all contribute. PRESIDENT HALIMAH YACOB, in a Facebook post on Tuesday. How much do I love my country? Enough to volunteer with the Singapore Armed Forces. As a volunteer, we don t do as much as the national service (NS) boys. We don t go through three months of BMT (Basic Military Training). All we have is two weeks of BT (Basic Training) where we learn basic soldiering skills including weapons handling and marching drills, where we get a taste of what the NS boys actually go through. According to your vocation, you then proceed to the next phase of training termed the Qualification Training (1 week), after which you may be deployed! President Halimah Yacob inspecting the Guard of Honour yesterday. It was her first NDP as President, but not the first time she had a formal NDP role. Before she became President, she was the reviewing officer at every parade preview since 2013 when she was Speaker of Parliament. It s a bird, it s a plane, it s a Red Lion... The army s Red Lions are greeted with thunderous applause as they whizz through the air past the Merlion before landing on the Marina Bay floating platform. A Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15 jet taking part in the NDP aerial performance. It has been painted blue as part of the air force s 50th anniversary celebrations, slated for later this year. Lately I ve been spending a lot of time with international students. I ve met people from far-flung corners of the globe and I ve been so happy to listen to their experiences, learn about their cultures and about them as individuals. What I ve realised is that I ve only been able to do this because Singapore has always welcomed diversity. The fact that these students picked Singapore over any other destination speaks volumes about the kind of nation Singapore is, and aspires to be. Happy birthday, Singapore. Thank you for allowing many families like mine to live and prosper on your little island. Hope you continue to find strength in diversity. Cuddly dose of nostalgia NDP TE Tattoo time... to celebrate National Day. A member of the NDP audience getting help to put on a temporary tattoo to mark the nation s 53rd birthday. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong waving to the crowd as he and other MPs make their way to their seats to watch the parade. Members of the audience doing their version of the Kallang Wave during the NDP. Their spirits never flagged as they lapped up the visual delights. An elephant, two lions, a bee, a frog and a water droplet walked onto the Marina Bay floating platform yesterday, to a cheering full-capacity crowd. Sounds like the start of a joke? Actually, they were familiar mascots from Singapore s past public campaigns, and they guaranteed a fillip of nostalgia to the day s events. Singa the Courtesy Lion, a cheery figure dressed yesterday in blue shorts and T-shirt with a flower emblem, exhorted Singaporeans to be courteous and considerate. One of his cuddly companions, Sharity, a sweet pink elephant in a blue jumpsuit, symbolised care and compassion for the less fortunate. The two were joined by Captain Green, the frog who promoted a clean and green lifestyle; Teamy the Bee, who encouraged a more productive workforce; Nila the Lion, the official mascot of the 2015 South-east Asian Games, and Water Wally, who spread the message of water conservation. These were the faces of education campaigns launched in the 1980s and 1990s, that also had their own slogans and songs to cement the message in people s minds. Besides dancing energetically to their campaign songs yesterday, the mascots also showed they were not short on humour. Reaching into the fun bag for the placard on which people could complete the sentence I am, Singa wrote I am your dream date and cheekily showed it to emcee Sonia Chew, while the crowd roared. Civil servant Clement Ong, 52, found their appearance at the parade great. Seeing them really reminded me of the campaigns during my childhood, said Mr Ong, who attended the parade with his wife, Madam Angie Yang, 44, yesterday. REPORTS BY: TAN T MEI, AW CHENG WEI, JOSE HONG, FABIAN KOH, DEREK WONG, FELICIA CHOO, RAHIMAH RASHITH AND JAN LEE A dose of mascot magic helping to energise the audience during the pre-parade segment. The cuddly Singapore icons are (from left) Nila the Lion, Water Wally, Singa the Courtesy Lion, Sharity, Captain Green and Teamy the Bee. PHOTOS BY: ARIFFIN JAR, ALPHONSUS CHERN, BENJIN SEETOR, DESMOND FOO, DESMOND WEE, GAVIN FOO, KEVIN LIM, KELVIN CHNG, LEE JIA WEN, LIM YAOHUI, MARK CHEONG, NG SOR LUAN, ONG WEE JIN, SYIL SAPARI AND CHONG JUN LIANG

26 B4 HOME NDP 2018 Diversity 8,500 sq m Size of the stage an NDP record Celebrating everyday heroes Singaporeans of different backgrounds coming together. That was the core message of the first act of yesterday s three-hour National Day Parade. The act, titled Diversity, opened with an electric guitar version of the National Anthem before local singer Joanna Dong appeared with a rendition of My Island Home. Eight hundred participants showcased how ordinary citizens from different eras in the country s history helped to make Singapore extraordinary. Dancers entered the stage dressed as construction workers and the Samsui women who came to Singapore in its early years to build up the country. Others were dressed as nurses, engineers, rickshaw riders and hawkers in early Singapore. Buildings wrapped in construction scaffolding rose around the performers before being unveiled as brand-new Housing Board flats. Towards the end of the act, Singaporeans everyday heroes who actually perform these small but im- portant roles bank tellers, nurses, general waste collectors, bus captains and more joined the performers on stage. They were separated into groups of five, with each group carrying a banner with the words democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality that the five stars on Singapore s flag represent. On stage, performers formed five stars with glowing red boxes that said Home. One of the performers, 17-yearold Samson Solomon Sim, an Institute of Technical Education College Central student, said: It s an honour to be performing in front of thousands and representing my school. Performers holding up lighted bricks with the word Home inscribed on them during the first act, which represents the coming together of people from all walks of life to build Singapore. More than 600 performers from the Institute of Technical Education don various costumes to represent Singaporeans from different walks of life, such as engineers, traffic wardens, nurses and hawkers, in a mass dance kicking off the parade. Joanna Dong performing during the first part of the show with a choir. She says the NDP stage is special as it is the biggest platform here. A 10-minute film featuring the inspiring stories of five Singaporeans moves some to tears. Creative director of this year s parade, film-maker Boo Jun Feng, had said he hoped the film would unite Singaporeans. Real-life stories that inspire A 10-minute film during the National Day Parade yesterday moved some in the audience to tears. Aimed to be an introspective look at the real-life stories of Singaporeans, it highlighted how they overcame adversity. The film showcased the diverse backgrounds, challenges, and achievements of the five, ranging from overcoming financial difficulties, to picking up new skills to benefit the migrant worker community. One of the main characters was Madam Mary Klass, 83, who overcame her father s opposition to represent Singapore in athletics at the 1956 Olympics. Father-and-son busking duo, Mr Mashruddin Saharuddin, 64, and his son Nizaruddin, 27, were also featured in the film. Mr Mashruddin, who is blind from birth, sings and plays the cajon, a box-shaped percussion instrument. His son plays the guitar and joins in on the vocals. The film was integrated with performances during the show segment of the parade. Creative director of this year s parade, film-maker Boo Jun Feng, had said he hoped the film would unite Singaporeans. These are experiences that are still happening today with anyone who has ambition but is facing obstacles... There s a timelessness to what the stories are about, he said. TIMELESS STORIES These are experiences that are still happening today with anyone who has ambition but is facing obstacles... There s a timelessness to what the stories are about. MR BOO JUN FENG, creative director of this year s parade, on the stories in the film.

27 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES NDP 2018 HOME 18 Dreams B5 Number of boats and floats in the water procession A playground for all ages Many Singaporeans were transported back to their childhood as the show segment took a nostalgic turn with the action moving from the stage to the water. Themed Our Hopes, Our Aspirations, the second part of the show saw 18 vessels glide into the audience s view, creating a dream-like atmosphere. The floats featured the dragon, dove and pelican playground designs, which many Singaporeans hold dear as part of their childhood. On one of the boats was Emily Tay, the youngest performer at this year s National Day Parade. The seven-year-old from the Marymount Convent dance club co-curricular activity exclaimed: I m ex- cited to see the fireworks. There was a flurry of lights on the stage as more than 700 primary and secondary school students formed kaleidoscopic formations with lanterns. The sea of lights was extended to the audience as Singaporeans waved the light bubbles distributed in the fun packs along with the performers, symbolising the na- tion s hopes and aspirations. Twelve 18m-tall garlands, each with more than 200 balloons, swayed gracefully on stage, controlled masterfully by 36 young men. It took two men to handle each garland, with one acting as spotter. Pulling each garland can lead to a drag of about 20kg, according to a garland holder, Mr Ronnie Lai, 22. The challenge is fighting against the wind and having the garlands in close proximity to one another as there is a risk of entanglement, said Mr Lai, who is waiting to enrol at the National University of Singapore. But the best part is when we run out and hear the children shouting in excitement when they see the balloons. PEACE AND STABILITY My wish for Singapore is peace and stability for everyone. MR PEH SWEE LIM, 70, a taxi driver. CHERISH DRES My hope is for Singaporeans to cherish their dreams and have success in working towards their future. JOTNOOR SINGH (left), 12, who was with his brother Jasdev, 14. After Jotnoor had answered, Jasdev said: My wish is less cliched. It is to maintain the multicultural society we have. A MORE INCLUSIVE NATION A display of 18m-long lighted garlands, each made up of more than 200 balloons, swaying gracefully on stage as performers masterfully create beautiful shapes and formations with them. I hope for Singapore to be the best, as it is now. And I hope we can become more inclusive and helpful in terms of education, and help more groups like senior citizens or the physically disabled. I hope I can help contribute to that, too. MR RAGHUR KARUMURU, 44, with his wife Sandhya Raghuram, 38. The couple, who are both IT project managers, were at the parade for the first time, after watching it on TV for many years. MORE SOCIAL INTEGRATION I d like more social integration across the races and classes, and foreign talent, especially because they contribute so much to Singapore. It is a throwback to childhood for some Singaporeans as a float in the shape of the iconic dragon playground, as well as others featuring the dove and pelican playground designs, sails through the waters surrounding Marina Bay. The sea of bright lights is extended to the audience as they wave their light bubbles with the performers, symbolising the nation s hopes and aspirations. Choir strikes a chord with spectators Five years after they last performed at the National Day Parade (NDP), the combined school choir made a stunning return to the Marina Bay floating platform, singing a medley of classics to welcome Singapore s 53rd birthday yesterday. Together with the crowds in the stands, the combined school choir sang as one voice to the tunes of Chan Mali Chan, Xiao Ren Wu De Xin Sheng, Munnaeru Vaalibaa and more. Led by choirmaster Lim Jiuan from Nan Hua High School, the choir was made up of 220 students from East Spring, Riverside, Unity and Yuhua secondary schools. They were each clad in an orange and red vest and a shimmery cap, 220 Number of students in the choir from East Spring, Riverside, Unity and Yuhua secondary schools. but it was their enthusiasm and smiles that shone brightest on the floating platform stage. Choir member Megan Saravanan said that the performance was a huge moment for her. Since I was young, I have always watched the NDP on TV. To be a part of it is a dream, said the Sec- ondary 3 student from Unity Secondary School. The choir joined military tattoo performers during the parade and ceremony segment for the first time, making this year s tattoo the largest since the parade moved to the floating platform. Spectators welcomed the return of the combined school choir. Having the choir sing and dance to the tattoo segment is something quite unique. It brought the segment alive, said private tutor Sarah Tan, 27. Designer Nur Fatin, 49, agreed. She said: The singing, songs and the choir are always my favourite part of National Day. It is a part of our NDP history. MS SHAZANA LATIFF (in white), 34, a finance administration manager who was with her daughters Laiqa, three, and Lana, six months old and cousin Waui Hamid, 30, a designer, in the field outside Victoria Theatre. PEACE AND PROSPERITY I hope that we will continue to be prosperous and peaceful. The iconic combined school choir makes a comeback after a five-year hiatus, singing a medley of classics to celebrate Singapore s 53rd birthday. MS YAU YING SHAN, 35, an engineer who was with her daughter Yeo Le Ying, four, who said: I want to see a lot of fireworks!

28 B6 HOME NDP 2018 HOME FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES 93 Destiny B7 Age of oldest participant in the parade, veteran violinist Julai Tan EVERLASTING COUNTRY I wish for Singapore to grow, live long and be an everlasting country. RAYDEN KWEK, a 10-year-old pupil, who was with his parents Doris Lim, 40, and Ronny Kwek, 47, who are both in the IT industry. It was Rayden s first time watching the parade live. Giant balls being released from the top of the floating platform into the crowd during the grand finale of the parade yesterday. Eager hands reached out immediately, either to take photos or to push the balls along. Spectators enjoying the dazzling fireworks display. Up to 3,000 fireworks lit up the sky during the parade, with the highest shooting up to about 240m. Parade participants letting their hair down and having fun together after the show came to a close, relieved at a job well done. Performers from the Singapore Soka Association (below) dazzling the crowd with their quick costume changes to create different formations, including that of a house with a heart within (above). A Singapore flag being unveiled during the grand finale of the parade before the Pledge and National Anthem segment that capped off the show. RACIAL HARMONY I wish for Singapore to be more prosperous, and that there will continue to be harmony among the different races. STUDENT SYAFIQAH FAIZUL, 18, who was at the parade with her mother Sutinah Sujaair and grandfather Sujaair Ali. The last time they attended the NDP was at the old National Stadium. PARENT S HOPE I hope that Singapore will continue to be a successful and peaceful place where my children can grow up in. Shimmering splendour The show s third act was a shimmering splendour of gold and red. Called Our Spirit, Our Strength, it symbolised the perseverance and determination of Singaporeans. This was summed up with an eyecatching dance performance by the Singapore Soka Association, with about 650 dancers wowing the audience with their costume changes. The performers gold costumes The audience (right) taking part in the Placard Challenge, where they used the red and white placards in their funpacks to form the words We Are Singapore across the floating platform. Performers from the People s Association (far right) raising excitement levels among the crowd with their vibrant and energetic ethnic drum performance yesterday. 650 Number of performers in the Singapore Soka Association s dance piece, choreographed by dance instructor Yeo Bee Loon. turned red in the blink of an eye as they effortlessly sashayed across the stage to create formations such as that of a house. The choreography was crafted by dance instructor Yeo Bee Loon, 40. The theme of the act resonated deeply with Ms Yeo, as she dedicated at least five days a week since the start of the year to planning and training for the performance. MRS NEETHU AGARWAL, 34, with her son Arjun Bhandari (left), three, and her friend s son Vihaan Singhvi, four, outside Victoria Theatre, while waiting for the fireworks. SG100 AND BEYOND Singapore is 53 years old and it s a miracle we survived against all odds. My wish is (that) we will be celebrating SG100 and more, so my boy and my boy s boys will continue to see this miracle. Besides having to juggle the commitment with her irregular working hours and her role as a mother to a seven-year-old daughter, Ms Yeo is also looking after her ill father. But her role in the National Day Parade is one she cherishes. It is fun but challenging. I tell my daughter that it is important to contribute, and I am glad for the full support of my family, she said. MR WILLI CHOW, 45, an IT manager, who attended the parade with his son Samuel, mother Lilie and younger sister Agnes. Drumming up excitement at finale Last night s National Day Parade ended on a high note as some 500 energetic performers from the People s Association drummed to the beat of Singapore s 53rd birthday. The vibrant grand finale had the crowd shaking their light bubbles a glowing rattle that came with this year s funpack to the sound of the drums. Among the performers, all decked out in colourful costumes, was Ms Sylvia Ow, 26, who said rehearsals started in March. These were held once a week until June when they became twice-a-week sessions as the big day drew closer, said Ms Ow, a nurse. She sometimes had to go for train- ing right after a full shift at work. Her employer, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, had been understanding and organised her duties such that she could balance her work with her parade commitments. I m honoured and excited to be part of the performance. There is a good diversity of people (taking part in the performance), and the seniors had been very helpful, said Ms Ow, who likes dancing. During the grand finale, organisers released red balls from the top of the seating area, encouraging the audience to look out for them and play with them as they descended. The balls warmed up the specta- tors and got them ready to sing along to this year s National Day song, a remake of the 1987 classic We Are Singapore. The spectators had to raise their placards at specific times during the sing-along. When raised in unison, the placards spelt out We (heart) SG. The segment also featured a symbolic moment of unity when everyone at the platform was called on to take the pledge and sing the National Anthem. Private tutor Gordon Lee, 32, felt that the message formed by the raised placards We (heart) SG was meaningful, and the activity showed how spectators can create something beautiful when they work together. We are all strangers here, but when we raise the placards together, we form a beautiful message for the country, he said. It s a reminder that we, as Singaporeans, should work together to create a beautiful picture for the future. PROSPEROUS FUTURE My wish for Singapore is that we continue to prosper. I also hope we will be happy with what we have at the moment and teach our children that. MR RUSTOM GHADIALI, 80, and his wife Shirin, 65, who took their grandson Shaan Shetty, 14, for a family outing at NDP.

29 B8 HOME Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong blowing out candles on a cake together with children from the PAP Community Foundation at the Teck Ghee National Day observance ceremony yesterday. On Mr Lee s left are Mr Dee Kim Hua, organising chairman of the ceremony, and grassroots adviser S. Vasoo, a former MP. ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN National Day S poreans mark nation s birthday in novel ways Activities include dragon dance procession, pyrotechnic shows and walk-and-run event Hariz Baharudin The National Anthem and the pledge resonated at National Day observance ceremonies all over the island yesterday, but Singaporeans also marked the nation s 53rd birthday in novel ways. At the stroke of midnight, about 1,300 residents in Geylang Serai constituency were among the first to mark Aug 9 this year. Two pyrotechnic shows, one at midnight and one after the observance ceremony, entertained residents who had stayed up for the festivities. The residents also took part in a dragon dance procession that cov- ered 1km from the Geylang Serai Community Club premises in Haig Road to Wisma Geylang Serai, where the club will be relocating today. MP and grassroots adviser to Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Fatimah Lateef was among those present. Dr Ang Jia Ming, 30, a member of the committee that organised the Second National Day baby for couple event, said the turnout for the celebrations surprised him. The crowd was much more than I expected and I think they enjoyed the pyrotechnic performance. This is something that I hope residents will remember. Music filled the air in Teck Ghee, in Ang Mo Kio, at about 8am yesterday as more than 1,500 residents enjoyed performances at its National Day observance ceremony at Townsville Primary School. The event, which was attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is MP of the Teck Ghee ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC, saw a Chinese orchestra ensemble and a pipe band play National Day songs. The choir from Townsville Primary also performed some of the songs and led the crowd in singalong sessions. Mr Lee, who is also a grassroots adviser to Ang Mo Kio GRC, took part in a cake-cutting ceremony. In Choa Chu Kang, about 5,000 Singaporeans celebrated National Day by lacing up for the Majulah Walk and Run an 8km run or a 3km walk from Choa Chu Kang Stadium to the Gain City Megastore in Sungei Kadut. Participants were flagged off by the MPs and grassroots advisers to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong and Mr Alex Yam. Residents were also entertained by a number of performances, including Malay and line dances by interest groups. Entrepreneur Eric Lim, 58, was one of the residents who helped put together the event. He said: The main objective is to motivate residents to get out more. Activities like this walk and run can also help them interact, get together and develop closer bonds with one another. harizbah@sph.com.sg Ms Nuraidillah Rapi e and Mr Firman Akhfar Ismaal with their two-year-old daughter Nurdaneya Filza and newborn son Muhammad Aqil Fayyadh, both of whom were born on National Day. Tiffany Fumiko Tay Multimedia journalists Alyssa Woo and Hairianto Diman, who anchored the Hangout with ST show, at the Marina Bay Floating Platform. ST PHOTO: LEE JIA WEN ST PHOTO: ZHANG XUAN Two years after the birth of their daughter on National Day, a Singaporean couple welcomed their second child a son at the stroke of midnight yesterday. The nation s first new citizen on Aug 9 was born at Parkway East Hospital. As soon as baby Muhammad Aqil Fayyadh was delivered safe and sound at 23 seconds past the hour, the doctor broke into a rendition of Majulah Singapura, his mother Nuraidillah Rapi e, 29, told The Straits Times. The same doctor helped to deliver the couple s first child, twoyear-old Nurdaneya Filza. Both Aqil Fayyadh and Nurdaneya Filza had due dates in the second half of August and were early surprises, said their father Fir- Hangout with ST goes behind the scenes at NDP Toh Ting Wei man Akhfar Ismaal, 29, a prime mover driver. Ms Nuraidillah, an architecture draftsman, said: He was due on Aug 18, but yesterday I started to have contractions, so we decided to come in. The labour this time was shorter and I was more prepared after having the first one. After three hours in labour, Aqil Fayyadh, whose name means intelligent and generous traits the couple hope their son will grow to possess was delivered, weighing 3.4kg. Yesterday afternoon, the hospital presented the family with a cake in the shape of a Singapore flag to celebrate the children s birthdays. The couple, who have been mar- ried for three years, said it was a pleasant surprise to have both of them born on the same day. Said Ms Nuraidillah: It s a double celebration to have both children share the same birthday, especially on National Day. They are celebrating with Singapore too. tiffanyt@sph.com.sg Watch four hours of the National Day Parade in under three minutes through a special time lapse video by The Straits Times Picture Desk. Relive the National Day Parade 2018 Relive the NDP moments with ST s live blog at Read about Singaporeans birthday wishes for the nation at For more, go to Viewers of Hangout with ST went on a special journey yesterday when they got an exclusive peek at the workings behind the National Day Parade (NDP). Streamed live for an hour at 5pm from the Marina Bay Floating Platform, this National Day edition of the video series by The Straits Times contained five video packages, as well as pre-recorded and live interviews. They included performers sharing their NDP memories, and NDP creative director Boo Junfeng and fireworks committee chairman Low Miang Hwei talking about preparations for the parade. Viewers were also taken on a ride out to sea for a glimpse of how fireworks were sorted and protected with three layers of waterproofing. They got to meet members of the Naval Diving Unit and watched a motivator display funpack items, among other things. Multimedia journalists Alyssa Woo, 27, and Hairianto Diman, 30, anchored the show, which is usu- ally broadcast from a studio in the ST newsroom on Thursdays. Two other journalists, Mr Basil Edward Teo, 29, and Mr Jose Hong, 27, joined the crew for this special edition. Mr Teo spoke to performers at the F1 Pit Building, while Mr Hong interacted with members of the audience at the floating platform. Said Ms Woo: It was so heartwarming to see everyone dressed in red and some families in matching T-shirts. Hearing everyone cheering made me feel proud to know that Singaporeans love their country. The electric atmosphere also left a deep impression on Mr Hong. He said: Even though I have watched the preview and the show multiple times, the energy feels even more intense on the actual day. The extra hours put in on Saturdays preparing for the big day were worth it, said Mr Hairianto. We wanted to bring something special to our ST readers and viewers with something that we have not done before. twtoh@sph.com.sg

30 HOME FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES B9 Sembawang GRC to get 280 new lifts $33m scheme to replace old lifts set to benefit 12,600 households in 135 HDB blocks Hariz Baharudin Residents in the Sembawang GRC area can look forward to new lifts in the coming years, as 280 lifts in 135 HDB blocks will be replaced. These lifts are in some of the older neighbourhoods in the area, including Woodlands and Admiralty, and will be replaced by June 2020 benefiting 12,600 households. Residents will not have to pay for the new lifts. The Sembawang Town Council will be undertaking the $33 million cost. Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Home Affairs Amrin Amin, both Sembawang GRC Members of Parliament, launched the programme yesterday at a National Day event held at Kampung Admiralty. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Mr Amrin said the decision to replace the lifts was High-roller fails to void $6m casino debt K. C. Vijayan Senior Law Correspondent A Malaysian businessman who blew $10 million in credit within three days at the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) casino and settled nearly half the debt has failed in his court bid to void the outstanding $5.9 million. The High Court rejected Mr Lee Fook Kheun s claim that he was intoxicated when he inked the credit deals which he also argued were invalid as RWS had failed to comply with the Casino Control Regulations. He had sought to have monies paid returned to him. Mr Lee has not proved on the balance of probabilities that he was so intoxicated that he failed to understand the nature and effect of the Credit Agreements, said Justice Valerie Thean in judgment grounds last week. Even if this were not so, he has not rescinded the agreements; indeed his delay and conduct have affirmed them, she added. The judge was also not convinced by his claims, following the 13-day hearing spread over several months earlier this year, noting RWS had complied with statutory requirements in conducting the necessary background creditworthiness checks on Mr Lee. The court, among other things, heard he signed a settlement deal in January 2015 with RWS because a lawsuit would embarrass the 67-year-old who was a director and shareholder of various construction companies. He first visited RWS in July 2010 with the prospect of opening a seafood restaurant, and later became a casino premium member who rolled at its high-limit gaming area. He was issued $5 million worth of gambling chips when he visited the casino on Aug 20, 2010 and obtained a further $5 million in gambling chips on Aug 22. The total sum was fully drawn down and RWS pursued the debt several months later when he failed to repay despite being notified. In January 2015, he signed a settlement agreement acknowledging the $10 million debt and continued with payments until August. He had paid $4,067,287 between Aug 23, 2010 and Aug 21, 2015, and with Genting points of $2,118 deducted, he still owed $5,930,595. His lawyers Michael Palmer and Reuben Tan argued that being intoxicated at the time, he did not understand the nature of what he had signed. They added that the deal was void as Mr Lee did not seek the credit recommended by the casino staff. RWS lawyers, Senior Counsel N. Sreenivasan and A. Shankar, said Mr Lee lacked credibility in his claims based on inconsistencies in his evidence. vijayan@sph.com.sg made after receiving feedback from residents who had complained of various problems with their lifts. He added that it was more economical to replace them. Said Mr Amrin: It is costly to maintain. So after doing the calculations, we took a very deliberate decision to replace the lifts ahead of schedule. The lifts that will be replaced have been in operation for between 21 and 24 years, and the exercise is ahead of the lift replacement cycle of 28 years. Student Ong Jia Hui, 24, was cheered by the news. For the last three years, he said he has been uneasy taking one of the two lifts at Block 677, Woodlands Avenue 6, to his ninth-floor flat. His block is among those that will have their lifts replaced. Mr Ong said the lift would jerk frequently and make loud noises as it moves. Hopefully with this lift replace- Sembawang GRC MPs Khaw Boon Wan (in red shirt) and Amrin Amin (in white shirt) at a National Day event held at Kampung Admiralty yesterday to launch the lift-replacement programme. PHOTO: SEMBAWANG TOWN COUNCIL ment programme, the situation will get better for all of us living in this neighbourhood, he said. In a press release, the town coun- cil said the lifts that are being replaced suffer from inconsistent performance and frequent breakdowns. The other lifts not involved in this programme will be replaced progressively according to HDB s schedule, said Mr Amrin. The 280 new and faster lifts will be bigger to accommodate more people and ease access for residents in wheelchairs, said the town council. They will be installed following the latest guidelines from the Building and Construction Authority. Said Mr Amrin: This is one of the biggest expenditures we have (undertaken) for lifts. It is an important initiative for our residents. Especially now with more people in wheelchairs, we require bigger lifts. Resident Kamsani Hanuari, who lives on the ninth floor of Block 678 in Woodlands Avenue 6, said the lifts at his block have doors that close too quickly. The 51-year-old security officer said this happened over the last year, adding that he is worried it may be dangerous for children and residents who are older, or are in wheelchairs. For safety reasons, I am glad that they will replace the lifts because it can be quite dangerous and I am looking forward to using the new lifts, he said. harizbah@sph.com.sg

31 B10

32 HOME FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES Debate coach accused of sexual misconduct B11 Mr Mustaq Ahmad (above) and five others are being sued for alleged oppressive conduct by his step-siblings and their mother, led by Mr Ayaz Ahmed (left). ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Man allegedly had sexual encounter with student, sent explicit photos of himself Charmaine Ng A police report has been made against a debate coach accused of sexual harassment and behaving inappropriately towards the secondary school students he was training. The Singaporean, who was not identified, allegedly sent sexually explicit photos of himself via WhatsApp to a male student who was a minor, said the Debate Association (Singapore) in a statement on Tuesday. He also allegedly had a physical sexual encounter with the student, the statement added. When contacted, the police confirmed on Wednesday that a report was lodged, and said they are looking into the matter. The Debate Association, in the statement, said in 2014, the man allegedly sent the student sexually explicit photos of himself and pressured the student, who was part of a debate programme organised by the association, to reciprocate by sending similar photos. The man, who was in his late 20s at the time, was director of the programme from 2012 to 2014, the statement added. He is said to be a prominent and respected figure in the debating circle. He allegedly continued to pressure the student until the end of 2014, when he initiated and had a physical sexual encounter with the student, the statement said. By then, the student was no longer part of the programme. The man also allegedly made sexual comments in a separate WhatsApp group chat with nine other students, where he discussed sex acts, sexual preferences and the sexual history of those in the group chat, the statement added. He also led discussions on the objectification of (students) who were minors by sending photos of the students, and asking the group members to comment on their physical characteristics, including genitalia. The association said it has since barred the man from future events, and informed partner organisations. He was notified of the ban on Tuesday. The executive committee has been in touch with all the students affected, and encouraged them to file their own police reports. It has also provided options for counselling and assistance from social organisations equipped to deal with such cases, the statement said. The man, who founded the programme, was in charge of interviewing and selecting potential candidates for the programme, coordinating training sessions, selecting guest trainers and conducting training, the association said. After allegations against him were made, the association filed a police report on Sunday and conducted extensive reviews of the programme. There have been no other allegations of misconduct against subsequent directors of the debate programme, it said, adding the programme has been shut down with immediate effect. In response to queries from The Straits Times, Debate Association (Singapore) president Cherylyn Wee said the association had earlier heard about the allegations but could not act as none of those involved had come forward. She said evidence came to light only recently, after it reviewed the programme. She added that the association is moving to create more robust and thorough processes in all our programmes to ensure such cases never happen again. ngxtc@sph.com.sg Mustafa Centre boss fails to strike out lawsuit K. C. Vijayan Senior Law Correspondent Mr Mustaq Ahmad, founder of the iconic Mustafa Centre, has failed in his appeal to strike out his step-sibling s high-stakes lawsuit against him, an outcome that takes the case closer to the prospect of a full trial. Judicial Commissioner Mavis Chionh dismissed the appeal last week after a four-hour hearing where, unlike the earlier round, both sides raised representation levels with a senior counsel each. Rajah & Tann Senior Counsel Lee Eng Beng and lawyer Jonathan Yuen argued Mr Mustaq s appeal while Drew & Napier Senior Counsel Davinder Singh instructed by lawyer Darshan Singh Purain countered for the respondents. Mr Mustaq and five others are being sued for alleged oppressive conduct under the Companies Act by his step-siblings and their mother, led by Mr Ayaz Ahmed, 47. The other defendants are Mr Mustaq s wife, their two grown-up children and his brother-in-law, all directors in Mohamed Mustafa and Samsuddin Co Pte Ltd (MMSCPL), which is also named a defendant. Mr Mustaq, 67, is the son of Mr Mustafa Majid Khan and Madam Momina. After his mother died, his father married Madam Asia Abid Khan and had five children. The patriarch died on July 17, 2001, not having made a will. His six children and Madam Asia became beneficiaries of the Mustafa estate in varying portions under a Syariah Court Inheritance Certificate. Mr Mustaq is the sole administrator and trustee of the estate. At issue is the Mustafa estate s per cent stake in MMSCPL, which Mr Mustaq s step-siblings and their mother claim was the result of two company share allotments in 1995 and 2001 which diluted their interests as beneficiaries of the Mustafa estate. They are seeking to void the share allotments and obtain a court-ordered independent expert to assess losses allegedly suffered by MMSCPL as a result of the defendants conduct, among other things. Mr Mustaq s bid to strike out the suit was rejected by Assistant Registrar Scott Tan last month. On appeal, his lawyers among other things pointed out that Mr Ayaz and the others had concurrently applied in a separate court suit to replace Mr Mustaq as administrator of the Mustafa estate with Mr Ayaz. They argued this latter suit to replace Mr Mustaq should be settled first and then Mr Ayaz and the other plaintiffs could ask the new administrator to pursue the case under the Companies Act as this would be fairer and save resources. But Mr Ayaz s lawyers in their submissions listed details to show there are special circumstances to allow the plaintiffs to bring this action on behalf of the estate. They added that the power to strike out a claim is exercised with caution as, if invoked, it would deprive a litigant of the opportunity to have his claim tried by a court. Judicial Commissioner Chionh, in dismissing the appeal at the chambers hearing, also rejected Mr Mustaq s appeal for the plaintiffs to provide security for costs. Mr Mustaq s daughter Shama Bhano, when asked whether they would appeal further, said: We are in contact with our lawyers and will let them handle this. Our business is carrying on as usual. A High Court pre-trial conference on the main suit was held on Wednesday. vijayan@sph.com.sg

33 B12 HOME Ms Joelle Pang, start-up FastJobs regional business development director, showing Radin Mas MP Sam Tan how to use a FastKiosk at the Radin Mas Community Club yesterday. The kiosk lists job vacancies in the Radin Mas neighbourhood. ST PHOTO: SONG TAO Seeking a job? Apply, be screened via SMS SPH start-up to roll out network of 15 to 20 job kiosks in community clubs by year end Tiffany Fumiko Tay Radin Mas residents seeking temporary, part-time, contract and full-time jobs in their neighbourhood can now apply for them via Short Message Service (SMS). Mobile job portal FastJobs launched its first kiosk at Radin Mas Community Club yesterday as part of efforts to connect older workers with job opportunities near their homes. Another 15 to 20 FastKiosks will be set up at other community centres by the end of the year. To use the kiosk, residents select a job they are interested in, send a text message to the mobile phone number provided and answer questions from employers sent by an SMS bot. Employers can then con- tact the applicants directly. There are plans to expand the network of kiosks built with a simple user interface to cater to older residents to more community clubs, vocational schools, malls and residents corners, the firm s regional business development director Joelle Pang said. The kiosks will also be made available in more languages over time, she added. But for a start, the pilot kiosk will offer job opportunities such as retail assistant and customer service associate positions from 10 employers in and around the Radin Mas neighbourhood, including Cheers, KFC and Sasa. A larger pool of jobs, suitable for older workers, will be added in the future, said Ms Pang. FastJobs, a Singapore Press Holdings start-up, focuses on blue-collar workforce recruitment and sees an average of 5,000 jobs posted a month. Its mobile app has been downloaded more than one million times since its launch in The FastKiosk was launched at a National Day observance event attended by some 500 residents. Radin Mas MP Sam Tan said at the launch that the community club s partnership with FastJobs is part of a move to enable the community, especially the older workers, with digital literacy skills, a move which is in line with Singapore s Smart Nation initiative. Mr Tan, who is Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development, said Radin Mas is a good area to launch the kiosk as it is a mature estate with about a third of its residents aged 50 and above, many of whom seek transitional or part-time jobs. Hopefully this platform can provide flexible working arrangements for the elderly who only need to work on a part-time basis, while helping local companies to fill manpower needs, he said. Mr Tan Kheng Hoe, who was at the event yesterday, said he would consider using the kiosk to look for part-time work in customer service where he can put his language skills in English, Mandarin, Malay and dialect to good use. The 72-year-old, who has worked as a security supervisor, shipyard worker and taxi driver, said it has been difficult to find work because of his age and secondary school qualifications. I want to keep working because it is boring to retire and stay at home. But when I apply or leave my number with the person in charge (of hiring), they never call me back, said Mr Tan. This platform is more convenient to use, but it would be better to have a Chinese language option or someone to assist as some of the elderly may not know how to use it, he added. tiffanyt@sph.com.sg Link gives youth opportunities to volunteer or intern in Asean Cara Wong Young people in Singapore will soon get more opportunities to intern or volunteer in other South-east Asian countries. The Asean Youth Community (AYC) was launched on Wednesday as a platform to connect young people in the region and link them up to internships or volunteer opportunities in Asean countries. The initiative was launched at an event at Serangoon Garden Secondary School to mark the 51st anniversary of Asean, which was attended by about 400 youth delegates and diplomats from Asean countries. The new platform is an initiative of the Character and Leadership Academy (CLA), a charity here which focuses on youth leadership development. At the end of the day, we want young people to take ownership of their learning, and use what they learn to really impact society, said CLA founder Delane Lim, 33. He hopes the new platform will encourage youth to care more for their community, especially through regional community service projects. Participants for the internship and volunteer opportunities will be selected by the AYC, and application will be open to tertiary students. There are plans to roll out the programmes by the end of the year, with at least 12 slots to be available to students here. Also on the cards are workshops and conferences for youth from Asean, such as a summit in December to recognise outstanding youth leaders from Asean countries. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Family and Social Development and Education Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, a guest at the event, said he was confident that the new initiative will help build up the capacity of young people in Asean. Some students are looking forward to the new opportunities. Filipino Karl Ong, 22, an exchange student at the National University of Singapore, said: I see it as a channel for youth to have a better regional perspective, and to be able to understand the dynamics of the region. carawong@sph.com.sg Also on the cards are workshops and conferences for youth from Asean, such as a summit in December to recognise outstanding youth leaders from Asean countries.

34 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES C1 $682M OUNT RAISED BY CHINESE ONLINE GROCERY FIRM DADA-JD DAOJIA C2 Tighter bank security measures after SingHealth hack Banks have stepped up security measures following a directive from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) last month, in the wake of a cyber attack on SingHealth. Personal information of 1.5 million patients at the country s largest public healthcare group was stolen in the worst cyber attack in Singapore s history. In response, banks such as Maybank, OCBC and DBS have tightened their customer verification processes and assessed how the attack on SingHealth might affect current checks. For example, Maybank started asking additional verification questions to confirm customers identities last month. For all transactions over the Internet, mobile and phone, Maybank already has two-factor authentication (2FA) through SMS or a hard- ware token, its spokesman said. OCBC s head of group corporate communications Koh Ching Ching and a DBS spokesman said their banks have also enhanced customer verification processes and measures. DBS has also been urging customers to be on the alert for scam calls or phishing s, its spokesman added. Ms Koh said: We have in place a set of rigorous authentication measures to validate our customers Liaoning aims to be gateway to N-E Asia Chinese province seeks to ease trade flows between Japan, Korea and Europe through Dalian port Chong Koh Ping China Correspondent In Liaoning A more stable Korean peninsula, warmer Sino-Japanese ties, and the potential opening of North Korea could be the impetus for China s north-eastern province of Liaoning to crank up its economy. Local officials told visiting reporters recently that a more stable North-east Asia will help China s rust belt move up a gear economically. They are also optimistic that a pilot free trade zone (FTZ) across three of the province s cities Shenyang, Yingkou and Dalian will speed up efforts to revitalise the province and its surrounding area. Our opening up is centred on the North-east Asia region. With the political atmosphere in the region being much better than before, it will help us with opening up and reduce any impact from the (China-US) trade war, said Mr Zhang Dong, executive deputy director of the Yingkou area administration of the Liaoning FTZ. Liaoning, which has a population of over 43 million, has in recent years been consistently ranked among China s worst-performing provinces in terms of growth. According to Mr Wang Enbin, deputy director of the Liaoning FTZ office, the zone has attracted nearly 30,000 new companies with a registered capital of billion yuan (S$84 billion) since its opening in April last year. This compares identities before proceeding with requests. HSBC and Citibank Singapore said their current verification processes do not rely only on personal details such as name, NRIC number and address. Citibank s process comprises a combination of measures such as voice biometrics, one-time PINs (personal identification numbers) and security questions, said Ms Alice Fok, its customer franchise head. well with the 18,000 new company registrations in the first four years of the Shanghai FTZ. Businesses setting up shop in these zones enjoy preferential policies, tax breaks, easier Customs clearance and simpler business applications. The ultimate aim is for Liaoning to be the logistics and trading hub of North-east Asia, facilitating trade flows between Japan, Korea and Europe, mainly through Dalian port. Mr Sun Shiwei, an official with the Dalian FTZ, said the next step is to work on moving goods from Japan and South Korea to Europe via Dalian on China-Europe trains. We are only barely starting but going forward, our focus will be on how to get Japanese and Korean goods to Europe, not by sea through the Strait of Malacca, which will take more than 30 days, but by railway, which will take only 10-odd days, he added. Currently, electronic products and car parts from Japan and South Korea are exported to Europe from China by rail. From Europe, the incoming cargo is mainly timber. Local businessmen said they have not been hit by the US-China trade spat so far. Mr Wen Bo, president of a local plastic factory, noted that the Chinese yuan has weakened considerably against the US dollar in recent weeks. This is actually good for exporters like us, he said, referring to his business, which mainly exports plastic bags to Japan. Mr Sun said Japanese and Korean firms form the bulk of the foreign companies in the city, so the trade war has limited impact locally. Among them are Japanese conglomerates Toshiba, Hitachi and Panasonic, and Korean conglomerate Doosan Group and car parts maker Hanon. He said the trade spat actually presents a good opportunity for Liaoning to boost trade and invest- An HSBC spokesman said the bank may use other methods such as pre-set passwords or a set of prescribed questions that customers are required to establish before using its phone banking facility. A spokesman for United Overseas Bank said it is constantly monitoring developments and enhancing its systems to ensure that they detect and respond to potential cyber security risks and threats promptly. Currently, banks in Singapore are required to put in place 2FA for cus- Rust belt provinces RUSSIA MONGOLIA Aw Cheng Wei Heilongjiang CHINA Inner Mongolia Beijing Jilin Liaoning Sea of Japan/ NORTH East KOREA Sea STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT Our opening up is centred on the North-east Asia region. With the political atmosphere in the region being much better than before, it will help us with opening up and reduce any impact from the (China-US) trade war. MR ZHANG DONG, executive deputy director of the Yingkou area administration of the Liaoning FTZ. ments with neighbouring Northeast Asian countries. We think this is a very good period for us, he added. An economic powerhouse during the years of the planned economy, Liaoning was one of the first areas in the country to industrialise, and had a large concentration of stateowned steel mills, heavy machinery factories and coal mines. But follow- tomers. They must also be extra careful when authorising high-risk transactions such as changing fund transfer limits, registering thirdparty payee details and opening beneficial accounts. The MAS will work closely with financial institutions to ensure that robust cyber defences are in place, its chief cyber security officer Tan Yeow Seng said last month. But customers must do their part by guarding their passwords well and practising good cyber hygiene, he added. If they suspect any fraudulent transactions in their accounts, they should notify their banks immediately. awcw@sph.com.sg ing China s move to introduce market reforms in the 1980s, foreign trade and private enterprises became the new drivers of the country s economy. Liaoning began to fall behind as its heavy industries were plagued by inefficiencies and overcapacity. In 2016, the central government announced it would pump 1.6 trillion yuan over three years into an existing plan to shore up the economy of China s north-eastern region, which includes Liaoning. Dr Liang Qidong, vice-president of the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told The Straits Times that while reforms in Liaoning had previously been industry-specific, they are now focused on opening up more of its industries to foreign investments. With the US-North Korea summit held in Singapore in June raising hopes that Pyongyang will embark on economic liberalisation, Mr Wang said he is hopeful that Liaoning, being just next door to North Korea, will benefit when its neighbour opens up to the world. We are one of the closet neighbours to North Korea and we have had ongoing cooperation for many years. Many of our projects with North Korea have been put on hold but they are not scrapped, said Mr Wang, who is also from the province s Commerce Bureau. He listed industrial parks, trade in goods and services, and mining and energy as some possible areas of collaboration. North Korea has a great need for basic infrastructure, construction and expertise in energy and mining, he added. Said Mr Wang: We can achieve a win-win situation, where we can help them and grow our economy. And if North Korea opens up its border, tourists from both countries can also help boost consumption. kohping@sph.com.sg Dalian port, the most northern ice-free port, can operate year-round, even during China s frigid winter months. It is at the heart of Liaoning s plans to be the logistics and trading hub of the North-east Asia region, moving goods from Japan and South Korea that arrive at the port to Europe via a railway network. ST PHOTO: CHONG KOH PING

35 C2 BUSINESS Asian investors unfazed by China s latest tariff threat Most markets rise but concerns over impact of all-out trade war keep optimism in check HONG KONG Asian investors yes- terday largely brushed off China s tit-for-tat response to US President Donald Trump s latest tariff threats, with most markets rising, but concerns about the impact of an all-out trade war are keeping optimism in check. Beijing said on Wednesday that it would impose 25 per cent tariffs on US$16 billion (S$21.8 billion) of US goods from Aug 23, retaliating in kind to a warning from US officials the day before and escalating a crisis that pits the world s top two economies against each other. While the row has sent global markets into convulsions this year, the latest development had been widely expected, with Wall Street ending mixed. Hong Kong rose 0.9 per cent, extending a rally into a fourth day, while Shanghai surged 1.8 per cent following healthy Chinese inflation data. Seoul was 0.1 per cent higher, Sydney added 0.5 per cent, and Wellington rose 0.8 per cent while Bangkok gained 0.1 per cent. However, Tokyo dropped 0.2 per cent on a stronger yen. Manila was down 0.4 per cent after data showed that the Philippine economy massively undershot growth expectations in April-June, with the government citing the temporary closure of popular holiday island Boracay as a key reason. Energy firms fell in line with a sharp sell-off in oil, following a report showing US stockpiles fell less than expected, while investors also fretted over the effects of a ChinaUS trade war on demand. Both main contracts dropped more than 3 per cent on Wednesday, with analysts saying figures pointing to a fall in Chinese imports from the US were also detrimental. WTI and Brent were slightly higher yesterday. Oil fell out of bed last night as worries over Chinese demand surfaced after the trade data and in the wake of China s hitting back in the tariff war targeting energy products, said Mr Greg McKenna, chief markets strategist at AxiTrader. On currency markets, the rouble extended Wednesday s losses and is now down more than 4 per cent against the US dollar after the US imposed fresh sanctions over Russia s alleged role in the attempted killing of a former spy in Britain. The pound also remains rooted near one-year lows on fears that Britain would leave the European Union next year with no deal to trade with the bloc, with the country s trade secretary and central bank boss recently warning that the chances of such a scenario are increasing. The market is clearly getting more nervous over the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, which would be a messy outcome for the UK economy, said Mr Rodrigo Catril, a senior foreign exchange strategist at National Australia Bank. In early trade yesterday, London fell 0.5 per cent, Paris shed 0.3 per cent and Frankfurt was off 0.1 per cent. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE HK s top banks raising key mortgage rate Walmart, JD.com invest $682m in Chinese firm HONG KONG Hong Kong s top BEIJING/SHANGHAI Dada-JD Dao- banks are hiking an important mortgage rate, piling pressure on borrowers and raising the risk of a slowdown in one of the world s most expensive property markets. HSBC Holdings, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Hang Seng Bank said late on Wednesday that they would raise new mortgage rates from next Monday. Standard Chartered announced a similar move on Tuesday. Mortgages in Hong Kong are normally either linked to the prime rate, or the benchmark rate Hibor the Hong Kong interbank offered rate. Hong Kong s de facto central bank has raised its base rate twice this year in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve, but the city s major banks left their prime rates unchanged, as they have since 2008 when they slashed them at the height of the global financial crisis. Hong Kong people held HK$1.258 trillion (S$218.4 billion) in outstanding mortgage loans with banks as of the end of June, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). The mortgage delinquency ratio remained unchanged at 0.02 per cent at the end of June. Private home prices in Hong Kong have been on a record-break- Private home prices in Hong Kong have been on a record-breaking run for 19 consecutive months, surging nearly threefold since Reining in the property market remains a top priority for the local government, but prices have been rising since 2016 despite tightening measures. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ing run for 19 straight months, fuelling discontent among residents in the financial hub. Prices have surged nearly threefold since 2008, propelled by a supply shortage, low interest rates and big flows of money from Chinese investors. A skilled service worker would need to work 20 years to buy a 650 sq ft flat near the city centre, according to UBS. Reining in the hot property market remains a top priority for the local government, but prices have been rising non-stop since 2016 de- spite tightening measures. Hong Kong s sky-high property valuations are also seen by analysts as a tangible risk as US interest rates trend higher. The former British colony tracks US rate moves because its currency is pegged to the US dollar. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged last week, but is expected to raise rates twice more this year, which will spur the HKMA to follow suit. HSBC, HSBC s local subsidiary Hang Seng Bank, and Bank of China (Hong Kong) said they would raise their prime rate-linked new mortgage rate by 10 basis points to prime minus 2.75 per cent effective from Aug 13. This would mean an effective rate of 2.25 per cent. They also said they would raise the cap for Hibor-linked mortgages to their best lending rate minus 2.65 per cent. Hibor-linked mortgages normally flip to prime-linked mortgages when a rise in Hibor makes prime-linked mortgages cheaper. Hibor has been trending upwards for the past 12 months. Standard Chartered said it would also raise its prime rate-linked new mortgage rate to the best lending rate minus 3 per cent. This is also an effective rate of 2.25 per cent, as Standard Chartered s best lending rate is 5.25 per cent. It also said it would raise the cap for Hiborlinked new mortgages to Standard Chartered s best lending rate minus 2.9 per cent. The news comes after Citibank raised its mortgage rates on Tuesday, effective immediately. REUTERS Ezion back in the black on fair value adjustments Liftboat-focused Ezion Holdings returned to profitability in the second quarter mainly on fair value adjustments arising from its refinancing exercise. The gains offset a gross loss from its operations. Ezion posted a profit after tax of US$86.96 million (S$118.5 million) for the quarter ended June 30, reversing from a loss after tax of US$2.57 million for the same quarter a year ago. Second-quarter earnings per share were 2.84 US cents, compared with a loss per share of 0.3 US cent for the same quarter the previous year. Ezion s first-half profit after tax came in at US$40.55 million, compared with a loss after tax of US$15.3 million for the same period in FY17. The company said it experienced continued delays in redeployment of its liftboats during the second quarter due to working capital constraints before the finalisation of the refinancing of its bank borrowings. It also also saw a reduction in fleet utilisation for its jack-up rigs, tugs, barges and charter rates for its overall fleet. AT A GLANCE REVENUE: US$23.13 million (-65.7%) NET PROFIT: US$86.96 million (not meaningful) Consequently, second-quarter revenue fell 65.7 per cent to US$23.13 million, and it resulted in a gross loss of US$10.91 million, reversing from a gross profit of US$6.69 million for the same period the previous year. But the loss was more than offset by fair value adjustments of US$91.12 million resulting from the closure of a refinancing exercise, which had called for the issuance of convertible bonds and warrants to holders of notes and perpetuals. Holders of these securities exercising equity swaps for the con- vertible bonds helped lift Ezion s asset value, the group said on the release of its first-quarter results in May. The group had issued over 1.25 billion shares at cents and more than million shares at cents during the second quarter to security holders exercising the equity swaps. The group s second-quarter bottom line was also helped by higher other income, mainly on a foreign exchange gain due to the strengthening of the United States dollar against the Singapore dollar. jia, a Chinese online grocery and delivery firm, yesterday said it has raised US$500 million (S$682 million) from Walmart and JD.com in its latest round of financing. The firm comprises two businesses and is partly owned by JD.com. Dada operates a network of five million delivery personnel, while JD Daojia partners retail stores and provides one-hour delivery services of groceries and other items. Walmart said it invested about US$320 million in the latest fund raising. Their partnership dates back to 2016 when Walmart invested US$50 million, the company said, adding that at present, 200 Walmart stores in 30 major Chinese cities have a presence in JD Daojia. We are confident that this deeper collaboration with Dada-JD Daojia will enhance our omni-channel footprint and deliver a better O2O (online to offline) customer experience, said Walmart China president and chief executive officer Wern-Yuen Tan. The global retail giant has been pushing to integrate its retail network in China with the country s burgeoning smart retail movement, as retailers and tech giants such as Alibaba Group and Tencent cut deals to combine shoppers online and offline experience. Earlier this year, Walmart said it opened its first small high-tech supermarket in the southern city of Shenzhen, which will stock products that customers will also be able to buy on the American retailer s store on JD Daojia. The stores are competing with Alibaba s Hema to provide fast delivery of groceries to customers. Alibaba is China s top e-commerce player, while Tencent is strong in social media and gaming and has, along with Walmart, a considerable stake in No. 2 online retailer JD.com. Alibaba and Tencent have between them splashed over US$10 billion on retail-focused deals, boosting their reach offline. Their moves mean there are few brickand-mortar sellers without an allegiance to one or the other. REUTERS Brand Your Assets Call or notices@sph.com.sg to publicise your Financial Statements NOTICES

36 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES C3

37 C4 BUSINESS Mobile telecommunications tower operator China Tower (left) closed unchanged on its debut on Wednesday after completing the world s biggest initial public offering in two years. Its performance mirrors that of smartphone maker Xiaomi (right), another keenly anticipated listing that is little changed a month after it started trading. PHOTOS: REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE HK s IPO frenzy coming to a rapid halt A Meituan Dianping rider on his way to deliver food in Beijing. The Chinese food delivery giant filed for an IPO in Hong Kong on June 25. Many of the sales that helped reignite market are trading below offer prices HONG KONG Brace, brace. Hong Kong s initial public offering (IPO) take-off is going to come to a screeching halt. There s a flood of deals still in the pipeline, it s true, from food delivery giant Meituan Dianping to biotech unicorn Innovent Biologics. But investor fatigue is setting in, with many of the hot sales that helped to reignite the market in the past year trading below their offer prices or showing lacklustre gains. China Tower closed unchanged on its debut on Wednesday after completing the world s biggest IPO in two years. That mirrors the performance of smartphone maker Xiaomi, another keenly anticipated listing that is little changed a month after it started trading. Ascletis Pharma, a Hangzhoubased maker of HIV drugs, has slumped 20 per cent since making its entrance at the end of last month. Even the online insurer that sparked a revival of Hong Kong s IPO frenzy is in the red. ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance, a company backed by Internet behemoths Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group Holding, surged on its debut last September but now stands 42 per cent below its price on listing. Two-thirds of IPOs that raised more than US$1 billion (S$1.36 billion) in the two years ended July 2017 were below their offer prices after six months; three-quarters had dropped after a year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Ironically, the cause of the pain can be traced partly to measures Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing took to fight back against a US market that was luring away China s new-economy stars. Under chief executive Charles Li, the exchange operator opened the gates to both dual-class stocks such as Xiaomi and pre-revenue biotech firms such as Ascletis. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE The promise to IPO hopefuls was simple: List in Hong Kong and get access to the trading pipes that allow investors in mainland China s partially closed capital markets to buy into the city s stocks (another Li initiative). Often unable to list at home, this offered a way for pharma and tech companies to tap the wall of mainland investment money. It also helped Hong Kong to regain its crown as the world s big- Public market may be better off without Tesla NEW YORK Tesla chief executive Elon Musk wants to take the company private. Well, good riddance, and do not let the garage door hit the bumper on the way out. As innovative and disruptive as the maker of electric cars has been over the past decade or so, it does not belong on publicly traded markets. For starters, it has lost money every year since That is understandable for a growing business in a capital-intensive industry. But that is what venture capital is for. Granted, Mr Musk is adamant the company will make money in the second half of this year and more than enough to avoid having to raise more capital, despite a dwindling cash pile. He will have to deliver with leveraged lenders looking over his shoulder. Under Mr Elon Musk, Tesla has routinely reneged on promises and targets. It would be ironic if Tesla drives off the stock exchange just as it becomes profitable. But under Mr Musk, the company has routinely reneged on promises and targets. The latest was in last week s earnings call, when he appeared to dial back expectations of sustainably producing 7,000 vehicles a week. On top of that, Tesla engages in execrable corporate governance. The board is packed with Mr Musk s allies. One is his brother Kimbal, a chef. Lead independent gest IPO fund-raising venue. Hong Kong s pitch also held out the prospect of a more direct route back to the mainland stock market via Chinese Depositary Receipts (CDRs), though this did not pan out as hoped. China decided CDRs were a concept whose time had yet to come, forcing Xiaomi to postpone a sale it had planned to conduct simultaneously with its Hong Kong IPO. That s not all: China s stock ex- director Antonio Gracias runs a private equity fund Mr Musk has backed, and was a director at another of Mr Musk s firms, SolarCity, before Tesla bought it in 2016 a deal that raised governance concerns of its own. Both also sit on the board of a third Musk venture, SpaceX, in which Tesla director Ira Ehrenpreis has invested. Mr Steve Jurvetson is a director there, too, though he is suspended from both boards after his own venture capital firm DFJ ousted him last November during a personal misconduct probe. And Mr Brad Buss spent seven years as SolarCity s finance chief. That leaves just three directors with no other obvious ties to Mr Musk. It took almost a day for the board to publicly acknowledge Mr Musk s tweets about wanting to take Tesla private. And even then, its members said little of substance. They have yet to even set up an independent committee in preparation for discussions. That fits their track record. They stayed silent, for example, when Mr Musk took to Twitter to brand as a pedo one of the rescuers of the Thai football team trapped in a cave recently. Such outbursts on social media and investor calls make Mr Musk a liability, and Tesla hard to value. The public market is better off without it. REUTERS changes later said they would not let mainland investors buy shares with weighted-voting rights, closing Xiaomi off from the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock connects. The takeaway? Hong Kong probably is not ready for companies that have yet to turn a profit. The two big gainers among listings since mid-2017 are Chinese new-economy firms that are making money: Tencent-backed online bookstore China Literature and biotech firm WuXi Biologics (Cayman). A biotech firm that is further along than Ascletis in clinical trials, such as Innovent, may win more fans but even that is no guarantee. Cancer drug developer BeiGene fell on its debut on Wednesday. Chinese IPOs tend to be smaller in the US but their performance has been better, with lack of profitability no bar in a market that prizes growth. Conversely, earnings are no shield when growth prospects dim: Qudian, a Beijing-based online lender that is profitable, plunged by over half since March amid a regulatory crackdown on the industry. The lesson for China s budding new-economy stars is that Hong Kong may not be worth the hassle. And for the city s IPO investors: Stick to firms that are in the black. BLOOMBERG Pinterest takes its time preparing for possible IPO DALLAS Pinterest is taking a ma- ture approach to stock market listings. The scrapbooking site founded and run by Mr Ben Silbermann is one of the last social networks to tap the public markets for cash, but may do so through an initial public offering in mid-2019, CNBC reported recently. It is probably worth US$13 billion (S$17.7 billion), a tad more than after a fund raising last year. The market is not as hot as it was, but Saudi Arabia s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal s US$250 million investment in Snap, unveiled on Tuesday, suggests investors are still interested in taking stakes in social media networks. More time could make for a better debut for Pinterest. Unlike other social media platforms that engage in banter, Pinterest s clicks come primarily from new mums snooping around the Web for less controversial interaction. More than 60 per cent of its users have children under the age of five and are overwhelmingly women aged 25 to 54. Almost three-quarters of them use the platform to find ideas that help with everyday life, like organising a closet or planning a work wardrobe. Pinterest may not have the excitement and adrenaline of Twitter and Facebook, or the youthful magnetism of Snap. But it is actually useful, which appeals to advertisers. Users are already in the mood to shop and the site pushes them to do so. It is easy for advertisers to slip in their supplementary wares a baking sheet for the person seeking a chocolate chip cookie recipe, for example that fit a specific search. This year, Pinterest s revenue should approach US$1 billion, according to CNBC, roughly twice what the company made last year. But valuations have steadied since Pinterest raised US$150 million last year, which left the company worth just over US$12 billion. Snap s enterprise value has since fallen to 14 times this year s estimated revenue, a drop of more than 40 per cent. Facebook s recent tumble leaves it at around 9.5 times revenue. At a multiple closer to Snap, Pinterest is worth only slightly more than its valuation last year. It has grown its users by almost 15 per cent over the past year. That is faster than other mature platforms like Twitter, whose monthly active users grew around 3 per cent, it reported late last month. But Pinterest does not have quite the same manipulative magic as Facebook when it comes to generating revenue out of those users. Its average monthly user brings in roughly US$5, where Mr Mark Zuckerberg s platform brings in about US$25, albeit with mounting concerns over its aggressive use of user data. The main task should be for Pinterest to increase that metric. Time is on its side. REUTERS

38 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES C5

39 C6 OBITUARIES FOR BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES or "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul." Psalm 23:1-3 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:6 You ll Never Walk Alone. Liverpool Football Club 31 Oct 1915~10 Aug 1997 Age: 86 "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die" GENE GOH YOU JUN Passed away peacefully on 9 August 2018 leaving behind loved ones. Justin Shen Chia Sin Husband: Yoong Kok Pin (deceased) was called home to be with the Lord on 9 August Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones. Age: 53 Was called home to be with the Lord on 9 August Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones. Father: Shen Ting Brother: Shen Chia Chiang Nephew: Shen Yong Mother: Loh Ah Soi Sister-in-law: Shen Xiu Zhi Father: Raymond Goh Mother: Susan Tan Brother: Ian Goh Godbrother: Boaz Ling Uncles: Eng Choo, Eng Sai, Eng Tian and Jimmy Goh "In memoriam" is for the loved ones whom you remember... Aunties: Chwee Sim, Doreen, Margaret and Nellie Cousins and friends Uncles, aunties, cousins, all relatives and friends. Wake is held at Singapore Casket Level 2, Regency Room, 131 Lavender Street, Singapore Funeral Mass and cremation on Monday 13 August Details will be announced at the wake. The family respectfully requests no wreaths please. Wake is held at Blk 227 Jurong East St 21 (void-deck) S pore Wake service will be held on 11 August (Saturday) at 8pm. Cortege leaves on 12 August (Sunday) at 3.30pm for Mandai Crematorium Hall 3 for cremation at 4.30pm. 1st Year Anniversary In Loving Memory of Wake at Blk 223 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Singapore Night service on 9, 10 August 2018 at 7pm. Cortege leaves on 11 August 2018 (Saturday) at 10am for Mandai Crematorium for cremation at 11am. In memory of a loved one In memory of a loved one In memory of a loved one Memories of You Live On Forever In Our Hearts Larry Leo Teng Han Mdm Maruthan Mariyayee Departed on 23 July 2017 One year has gone pass so fast. Time is supposed to heal wounds but it seems as though all it does is make us miss you even more each day that you are gone Always remembered by Son, Daughters, Sons-in-law, Daughter-in-law, Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren Thalai Thevasam Prayers will be held on Saturday, 11th August 2018, 7.00pm at Sri Sivan Temple, 24 Geylang East Ave 2, Singapore Please treat this as a Personal Invitation 11th Anniversary In Loving Memory Of Michael Lim Chee Chau Age: 67 Passed away peacefully on 9 August Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones. Departed on 10 August 2017 Dearly missed by your friends of Swiss Cottage Class of 1976 Wife: Yip Low Yin Daughter: Leo Liting Son: Leo Zhineng Daughter-in-law: Li Jing Granddaughter: Gervi Leo Qi Wei Siblings, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Wake at Singapore Casket Level 4, Topaz Hall, 131 Lavender Street, Singapore Cortege leaves on Monday 13 August 2018 at 11.20am for Mandai Crematorium Hall 3 for cremation at 12.20pm. Adeline Kang Sock Eng Alan Lim Angelin Chua Angeline Yip Chia Piak Kim Chong Yew Weng Clara Low Lee Bin David Teo Yew Seng Jamie Pang Jaw Tee Ming Jim Wang Jimmy Ang Joan Tan Lee Kim Siong Lee Lee Thiam Lee Yoot Ming Lim Gek Khim Lim Siew Liang M K Janice Mary Chua Mike Cheng Yeo Ai Mui Ong Boon Eng Richard Chong Ricky Neo Rose Wong Siew Buck Eng Siew Kwee Eng Tan Teck Whai Winnie Tan Wong Liang Toon PATRICIA WONG KUM YIN Gone to be with the Lord 10 August 2007 Dearly missed and fondly remembered by Husband, daughter and loved ones. Living with Honour, Leaving with Dignity. Funeral Packages from $5888 We provide pro-bono funeral services for those who really need help / Share the message of farewell with loved ones & friends Download the free ST Classifieds App. Tap on Obituaries within the App. You can search for notices published in the last 30 days and share it via , SMS or social media. Classifieds. Time 9:34:56 PM Date 09/08/2018 Sons: Daughters-in-law: Michael Yoong Sin Yen Vivien Chua Bee Bee Peter Yoong Hin Yian Ong Lay Hwa Daughters: Sons-in-law: Alice Yoong Ivan Ho Joyce Yoong Shirley Yoong John Kheng Grandsons: Granddaughter-in-law: Nicholas Yoong Hong Jun Sebastian Yoong Jun Hao Kenny Ho Chia Hui Ling Marcus Kheng Granddaughters: Grandsons-in-law: Grace Yoong Hwee Ting Lam Foon Yee Zann Yoong Hwee Min Mohd Zulfadhli Jessamine Ho Alvin Loo Great Gandddaughters: Helper: Rachel Ho Siti Maryam Renee Ho And all relatives and friends. ~Thomas Campbell~ Age: 31 ST10-BUS-006- Wong Peng Chong YONG YENG

40 C10 6 MONTHS CHINA S TENNIS PLAYER PENG SHUAI WILL BE BANNED FOR C7 CITY REMAIN A CLASS APART With Guardiola, there should be no major decline even as a stronger Liverpool loom Richard Jolly The only way has been down. Six, one, nine, 11 and four. Twenty-seven, seven, 37, 37 and 23. Those numbers may have a pertinence to Manchester City. The first set is how many places lower in the league table the last five champions finished. The second is how many fewer points they took after winning the league. Next summer will mark a decade since anyone Manchester United in this case retained the title. The only way will be down. City will not get 100 points again. Impossible, Pep Guardiola has said and, as no one got as many before, he is almost certainly right. It is probably as safe an assumption that they will not get 32 victories, or 18 in a row, or 106 goals again. And yet, if the trend is for the previous winners to relapse and someone else to advance, only one half of history may repeat itself. City s record 19-point gap at the top last season was sufficiently big that they can afford to drop back a little without losing their dominance. Sometimes the transfer market can be a leveller. Certainly it is a reason for the fortunes of fallen champions. They have either signed too few players in the case of United in 2013 or bought badly. From Roberto Mancini to David Moyes, from Jose Mourinho to Antonio Conte, managers can tell tales of major targets who eluded them. This summer, Guardiola has missed out on Jorginho and recruited only Riyad Mahrez. Yet City look sufficiently superior that it may not matter. The Community Shield showed they remain a class above a Chelsea team in transition. United were their closest challengers last year, but Mourinho has endured his own summer of transfer market frustration, bringing in a solitary first-team signing, in Fred. Tottenham have bought no one. With a shortened window in a World Cup year, superstar signings have been conspicuous by their absence. Only Liverpool and Arsenal of City s five main rivals look much stronger and the Gunners are starting from such a low base that it is unrealistic to expect them to overhaul City. It may leave Jurgen Klopp s Reds as their only real rivals. The Ger- -23 Number of points Chelsea dropped during their title defence last season, compared to their winning season. man has proved he can win the battle against Guardiola, boasting a winning record against the Spaniard, but not the wars: Klopp s sides have never finished ahead of Guardiola s. So are City the side likeliest to topple themselves? Their last two title defences were anticlimactic affairs. Yet the circumstances were different under Guardiola s predecessors. Mancini was too confrontational, falling out with powerbrokers and players alike. Manuel Pellegrini was too passive, failing to supply the required drive. Meanwhile, after success in his initial seasons, Guardiola retained the LaLiga crown twice with Barcelona and the Bundesliga twice more with Bayern Munich. He has demonstrated an ability to retain his motivation and a capacity to continue improving players with his coaching. And, without major reinforce- ments, that could be key. City might suffer more from injuries this season. As Vincent Kompany and David Silva will turn 33 during the campaign and Fernandinho 34, they may decline. Yet there is scope for others to offer more. Aymeric Laporte approaches his first full season and Benjamin Mendy a first when he may be fit for the majority. Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling are 21, 22 and 23 respectively, and are on an upward curve in their careers. The thought of City getting better should scare rivals and make Mourinho s mood even worse. The reality, though, is that City do not need to advance to fly in the face of recent history. They merely have to ensure they do not get significantly worse. It is the way to be champions again. stsports@sph.com.sg ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY Man United v Leicester Ch102 & Ch227, tomorrow, 3am TOMORROW Newcastle v Tottenham Ch102 & Ch227, 7.30pm Huddersfield v Chelsea Ch102 & Ch227, 10pm Fulham v Crystal Palace Ch103 & Ch228, 10pm Bournemouth v Cardiff Ch104 & Ch229, 10pm Watford v Brighton Ch105 & Ch230, 10pm Wolves v Everton Ch102 & Ch227, Sunday, 12.30am SUNDAY Liverpool v West Ham Ch102 & Ch227, 8.30pm Southampton v Burnley Ch103 & Ch228, 8.20pm Arsenal v Man City Ch102 & Ch227, 11pm All on Singtel TV & StarHub Forward Riyad Mahrez is Manchester City s only major signing this summer but, with a top-notch squad to mount an English title defence, he may seem like a luxury buy. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE MOAN-RINHO AT IT AGAIN In football, you need time to work and players on the pitch to work, and we didn t have that until now... Pre-season is difficult when you don t have your players to work with, as simple as that. JOSE MOURINHO, Manchester United manager, explaining that an ill-prepared pre-season is likely to affect his side s start to the campaign. Mourinho takes another swipe at detractors LONDON Manchester United have to defy their own manager Jose Mourinho s fears for a season of doom and gloom when they kick off the Premier League campaign against Leicester City today. The Portuguese has selection problems due to the quick turnaround between the World Cup and the start of the new season. Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Diogo Dalot are ruled out because of injuries while Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini are not considered fully fit after being given extra time off to recover from the Cup. The worst fears of United fans were realised yesterday when the club failed to reinforce their squad on transfer deadline day. Mourinho, who has cut a disgruntled figure due to the club s underwhelming transfer activity, took another swipe at the media yesterday, pointing out that his United side were closest to runaway leaders Manchester City last season, even if they finished 19 points adrift. My view is that, first of all, it is difficult for me to believe we finished second, he said. When I listen, when I read, not much but sometimes I do, it is difficult to believe that we finished second, because you are capable of making people that finish second look like they were relegated, and people who win nothing, finish below us, you Published and printed by Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Co. Regn. No E. make them look like serial winners. It is difficult for me to understand, to feel, to believe we finish second. I won eight championships and three Premier Leagues, but I keep feeling the second last season was one of my biggest achievements in the game. United s close-season transfer business has been restricted to the arrivals of Fred for 52 million (S$93.5 million), the injured Dalot and Lee Grant, signed from Stoke City as a third-choice goalkeeper. I m not confident, Mourinho said, when asked if there would be signings on deadline day. The market closes today so it is time, at least for me, to stop thinking about the market so I will have to focus on the players I have. The 55-year-old had identified a new centre-back as the top priority but he failed to get any of his targets Leicester s Harry Maguire, Bayern Munich s Jerome Boateng and Tottenham s Toby Alderweireld. Atletico Madrid captain Diego Godin emerged as a shock target yesterday, with British media reports indicating an approach had been made, only for the LaLiga club to rebuff the possibility of a move. Leicester manager Claude Puel also poked fun at the speculation surrounding Maguire, saying: I m confident he s going to United, but only for a couple of hours with us. Mourinho bemoaned the lack of preparation time, saying: The tar- get is the Leicester match and the tactics to be changed, in Championship Manager, you can just press a button, he said. In football, you need time to work and players on the pitch to work, and we didn t have that until now. I was told that during pre-season, it looked like I was saying something absolutely out of order, something crazy, I repeat and maybe tomorrow the reaction is the same: Pre-season is difficult when you don t have your players to work with, as simple as that. REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN MAN UNITED V LEICESTER Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 3am A member of Audit Bureau of Circulations Singapore. Customer Service (Circulation): , circs@sph.com.sg, Fax

41 SPORT FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES C9 KEY TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY DEALS CHELSEA Mateo Kovacic, 24, midfielder (season loan from Real Madrid) CARDIFF CITY Víctor Camarasa, 24, midfielder (season loan from Real Betis) EVERTON Bernard, 25, midfielder (free agent) Yerry Mina, 23, defender ( 28.5m from Barcelona) Andre Gomes, 25, midfielder (season loan from Barcelona) FULH Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, 22, midfielder ( 30m from Marseille) LEICESTER CITY Filip Benkovic, 21, defender ( 13m from Dinamo Zagreb) WEST H Lucas Perez, 29, striker ( 4m from Arsenal) Carlos Sanchez, 32, midfielder ( 4m from Fiorentina) WOLVERHPTON Leander Dendoncker, 23, midfielder (season loan from Anderlecht) Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois throwing balls to spectators during his presentation as a Real Madrid player at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. He had refused to turn up for training at Chelsea earlier this week in a bid to force through a transfer. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE COURTOIS REAL INVITE TO HAZARD Goalie wants Bernabeu reunion with Chelsea star; Everton the most active on deadline day MADRID Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could not resist a parting shot at Chelsea after completing his acrimonious 35 million (S$61.4 million) move to Real Madrid yesterday calling on former team-mate Eden Hazard to join him at the Santiago Bernabeu in the future. Courtois had been forced to take down his farewell post on Instagram after being bombarded by comments from Chelsea fans, who were angered by the way he engineered his Stamford Bridge exit with his refusal to return to training earlier this week. But he showed no signs he had been affected, calling Real the best club in the world at his unveiling. I m so proud to be coming to the best club in the world, I m very excited by this challenge, he said. I m coming into a club that has just won three Champions Leagues in a row and it s important to keep winning all the trophies we can. I want to continue to add success to this club s history. Our challenge this season is to win every title available to us. We ve got a great squad and I hope I can help to keep winning things. While he sought to draw a line under the manner in which he left London, saying that his two kids here (in Madrid) had a significant role to play in his decision, the 26-yearold stoked the fires by suggesting it would be brilliant if fellow Belgian Hazard could link up with him. He s a wonderful player. I d love Fifa plans to implement fairer transfer deadlines LONDON World football governing body Fifa is hoping to introduce a standardised global transfer window that would reduce the disadvantage felt this summer by many Premier League clubs, whose opportunity to buy players ended prematurely yesterday compared with their European rivals. Under proposals presented to Fifa president Gianni Infantino by an internal task force, the transfer window would close the day before the start of the domestic season in each member country. Fifa s proposals stop short of introducing a uniform window, as domestic league start dates vary globally, but would reduce the disparities between countries. Premier League clubs voted last summer to bring forward the closure of the domestic window to yesterday instead of the end of the month. But, with football in England resuming earlier than elsewhere, Premier League sides would still be at a disadvantage to their European rivals if Fifa s proposals are introduced which could be for next season but it would be reduced. Several Premier League teams, including Manchester United, expressed their concern over the shortened transfer window, but they are expected to wait to see if Fifa makes the changes before pursuing any attempt to put the Premier League deadline back to Aug 31. The Times learnt that there is most disquiet among the biggest clubs, as they are the ones most likely to have players targeted by foreign clubs and less time to sign players from their domestic rivals. THE TIMES, LONDON to play alongside him again. If he ends up here one day, that would be brilliant, said the winner of the World Cup Golden Glove award, before revealing that Hazard had congratulated him on his dream move. He also attempted to endear himself to the home faithful by kissing the club badge and apologised for singing anti-real songs during his three-season loan spell at crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid from He said: I got carried away in the moment when celebrating with Atletico (then). I d like to apologise for that, it was a youthful indiscretion. I will give it my all for the Real badge. The 1.99m stopper will be only the second Belgian to play for the 13-time European champions after Fernand Goyvaerts, who was at Real from Courtois replacement at Chelsea, the 23-year-old Kepa Arrizabalaga who was also unveiled to the media yesterday, was equally upbeat about his world-record transfer for a goalkeeper. I m incredibly happy to be here, it s a great step forward in my career and very brave of the club to take me in, said the Spaniard, who moved from Athletic Bilbao for 80 million (S$126 million) and signed a seven-year deal. Chelsea also confirmed the season-long loan capture of Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Real and he was quick to express his delight. I am really happy and excited to be here at Chelsea. It is an amazing feeling. I will try to do my best for this club. It is a new league for me, the beginning is always tough but... I am looking forward to a great season, the 24-year-old said on the club website. Elsewhere, manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was happy with his squad despite Tottenham being the only Premier League team not to make a signing this close season. It s difficult to understand for people that Tottenham didn t sign a player, but sometimes in football, you need to behave differently and we re happy with our squad, he said. It s not about adding because it s fashionable. I have no doubt we are going to be competitive, with or without signings. On deadline day, Fulham made the biggest deal, 30 million, to sign Marseille midfielder AndreFrank Zambo Anguissa, while Everton were the most active club. They signed Brazil winger Bernard from Shakhtar Donetsk on a free transfer as well as Barcelona duo, centre-back Yerry Mina for an initial 28.5 million and midfielder Andre Gomes on loan. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

42 C8 SPORT Interior designer Irene Lee, 48, who is battling ovarian cancer, is training for her first-ever run, the Great Eastern Women s Run on Oct 14. ST PHOTO: SYIL SAPARI CANCER FIGHT IS HER MARATHON OF LIFE Lee accepts colleague s GE run invitation even if running is not her favourite activity Lester Wong The Great Eastern Women s Run (GEWR) on Oct 14 may be her first running event of any kind, but Irene Lee already knows what it takes to complete a marathon. The 48-year-old has endured a 21/ 2-year ongoing battle with Stage 3 ovarian cancer, seemingly beating the disease twice only for it to return. Doctors first discovered a cyst in February 2016, but the bad news arrived seven months later after she had surgery to remove it. A PET scan revealed that not only was the cyst cancerous, but the cancer had also spread up to her lymph nodes. With the diagnosis of Stage 3C cancer, chemotherapy was her only option. While aware of its side effects in theory, dealing with the reality was a different matter her hair began to fall out during the second of six cycles. Although you are prepared, when you see your hair fall out, you are like, Oh, my God, recalled the interior designer. I went to wash my hair and, when I flipped my hair up, there was a whole area where the hair was all gone. So I decided to shave everything off. The caregiving duties largely fell on her mother Chan Chee, 70, and daughter Pamela, 25. The family rejoiced when the cancer went into remission but, to their horror, it recurred barely five months later in August last year. I felt really lost at the time because I wasn t sure how long I would live, said Lee. My mum and daughter were very upset too but, for my sake, they kept their emotions in and just quietly took care of me. She tried immunotherapy on her doctor s recommendation, but early signs of progress were quickly reversed as more tumours were discovered with the largest wrapping around her spine and causing persistent backaches. She had no choice but to start chemotherapy in February this year. Tributes flow for Aussie golfer Lyle from Golfers around the world paid tribute to Jarrod Lyle yesterday after his family announced the 36-year-old s death following a long battle with cancer. Lyle, who had two wins on the feeder Web.com Tour in 2008 and played 121 PGA Tour tournaments, was diagnosed with leukaemia as a teenager and suffered a relapse in MELBOURNE He had a bone marrow transplant last year, but the illness returned and the Australian chose to halt all treatment last week. It breaks my heart to tell everyone that Jarrod is no longer with us, his wife, Briony, said in a statement yesterday. He passed away peacefully last night having spent his final week Around 70 per cent of ovarian cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage. Those diagnosed at Stage 3, like Lee, have a 70 to 90 per cent recurrence rate, according to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance. A full recovery is also unlikely but the latest signs have been encouraging. Said Lee, a single mother: I am taking Gemzar (a chemotherapy drug) now and this time the side effects are lesser and I feel great. I have two more chemo sessions to go on Aug 13 and 20 and, from there, we will see. Running has never been her favourite activity but being diagnosed with cancer has given her a new perspective. When I used to go running with friends, after a little while I would just take out my EZ-Link card, hop Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle has died at the age of 36 after a long battle with leukaemia. PHOTO: EPA-EFE among his family and close friends. She added that Lyle had managed to pass on a final message to those who had supported him throughout his career and through his work as an ambassador with the Challenge Foundation, which helps support children with cancer. Thanks for your support, it meant the world. My time was short but, if I ve helped people think and act on behalf of those families who suffer through cancer, hopefully it wasn t wasted, Lyle said in a statement. His decision to end treatment last week prompted an outpouring of support from his golfing counterparts. World No. 2 Justin Thomas dedicated his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tournament victory last week to him, and fellow American Bryson DeChambeau, who won the long drive competition in the build-up to this week s PGA Championship, donated the US$25,000 (S$34,000) prize to Lyle s family. The European Tour was among many to honour his memory. Full of joy and determination, on and off the course. This is how we ll remember Jarrod, it said in a statement. World No. 3 Justin Rose of England tweeted: Such a sad day, we will all miss you so much Jarrod. Thinking of his family at this time. British Open champion Francesco Molinari of Italy said it was tough times for everyone on Tour, losing someone so special. Four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tweeted: The courage shown through his battle is an inspiration to all of us. He made the world a better place. RIP mate. South Africa s Ernie Els said the world has lost a good man while fellow Australian golfers Greg Chalmers and Jason Day also expressed their devastation at his untimely death. Day said that Lyle would forever be an inspiration. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS Lee in January 2017, after deciding to shave her head because chemotherapy led to her going bald in some parts. PHOTO COURTESY OF IRENE LEE on the bus and tell them I would meet them at the next stop, she said with a smile. But if I don t do it now, then when? So when my colleague Lynn approached me to join the 5km run as a pair, I said, Ok, let s try. While still unable to run, she has already began brisk walking and taking part in workouts organised under the GEWR Run To Live Great programme. The workout was tough and I said I needed to rest after the second round of exercises. she said. But joining the run is not just about my own health but also to inspire others to watch out for theirs. lesterw@sph.com.sg Registration for the run is open until Sept 3. More information at gelife.co/gewr2018reg SportsWorld Celtic draw in qualifier for Champions League GLASGOW Scottish champions Celtic were held 1-1 at home by 10-man AEK Athens in the first leg of Wednesday s Champions League third-round qualifying tie. They will meet again next Tuesday, with the winners progressing to face either Swedish champions Malmo or Hungary s Vidi in the play-off round. Another Greek side PAOK came from two goals down to take a 3-2 edge over Russia s Spartak Moscow. Red Bull Salzburg, last season s Europa League semi-finalists, also edged towards the group stage for the first time with a 3-0 win over Macedonian champions Shkendija. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Three Europeans golds each for Peaty, Sjostrom GLASGOW Britain s Adam Peaty and Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden again demonstrated why they are the outstanding swimmers at the European Championships as they won their third golds of the week on Wednesday. On the penultimate day of competition, Peaty, already a world-record breaker in the 100m breaststroke, dominated the 50m breast field in a championship record of 26.09sec. Sjostrom added the 100m freestyle title to the 50m free and 100m butterfly double that she pulled off last Saturday. REUTERS New team hope to sign Tour winner Thomas LONDON A new Polish cycling team are hoping to pull off a coup after offering Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas a contract yesterday. The 32-year-old Welshman, who dethroned team-mate Chris Froome last month, has yet to sign a new one with Team Sky, who are preparing a 3.5 million (S$6.1 million) offer, reported The Telegraph. Piotr Wadecki, the sports director of the Poland-based CCC WorldTour team, told British media they were waiting for a reply from Thomas, who has been with Sky since he was 17. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

43 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES C7 CHINA S PENG BANNED AND FINED China s Peng Shuai, the top-ranked doubles player in February 2014, has two singles and 21 doubles titles. PHOTO: Former Grand Slam doubles champion guilty of corruption, coercing partner to withdraw LONDON The 2013 Wimbledon doubles champion Peng Shuai s season was all but over on Wednesday after she was handed a six-month ban and a US$10,000 (S$13,600) for breaching the sport s anti-corruption code by attempting to change her doubles partner after the sign-in deadline. The 32-year-old Chinese was found to have used coercion and offered the possibility of financial reward in return for her main draw partner, believed to be Alison van Uytvanck of Belgium, agreeing to withdraw from the women s doubles event at Wimbledon last year. Although the offer was refused and Peng did not compete in the doubles at the All England Club last July, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) said in a statement that her actions breached Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) rules. They state that no covered person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any event. The suspension applies with immediate effect and means that the player cannot compete in or attend any event organised, sanctioned or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport, said the statement. REUTERS Half of her ban is suspended on the condition that no further breaches are committed. Peng s former French coach, Bertrand Perret, was suspended from obtaining tournament credentials for three months for the same offence. According to The Beijing News, the controversy came about after India s Sania Mirza, who was returning from injury, had asked to partner Peng at Wimbledon last year, but the Chinese had already linked up with Russian Daria Kasatkina. But Kasatkina later got injured and, when Peng asked Mirza again, the Indian said she had found a new partner in Kirsten Flipkens. Perret then recommended van Uytvanck to her. Two days later, Mirza called to say Flipkens was injured and agreed to withdraw if she found a better choice. Peng went through her coach to ask van Uytvanck, but she was not willing because she had changed her schedule and incurred extra expenses such as renting a house. Peng admitted Perret texted van Uytvanck to tell her that they were willing to give her the first-round prize money as compensation, but never wanted her to withdraw using the excuse of injury. Peng told The Beijing News: At the time, I really hoped to pair with Mirza. Then we did mention we were willing to give her the prize money from the first round, but it was used to compensate van Uytvanck for her extra schedule and accommodation. Peng, ranked 20th in doubles and 80th in singles, will be ruled out from the WTA Tour till Nov 8. She has two singles and 21 doubles titles, including a triumph at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open a year later. She was the top-ranked doubles player in February 2014 and achieved a career-best singles ranking of 14th in August REUTERS Germany s Angelique Kerber suffers on the hard court in her first match since her Wimbledon triumph, losing 6-4, 6-1 to France s Alize Cornet in the second round of the Rogers Cup. PHOTO: REUTERS Rusty Kerber exits, Sharapova through MONTREAL German Angelique face the Australia Ashleigh Barty in the third round It was my first match after three weeks now, said Kerber. It s not always so easy to change the surface. I need a little bit more time to get used to hard courts again. There was no such problem for Maria Sharapova, who fired 25 winners past fellow Russian Daria Kasatkina, 21, in a 6-0, 6-2 victory. The former world No. 1 needed just 66 minutes to see off the 12th seed, who managed only three winners, in an impressive and timely display of big-hitting ahead of the fi- nal major of the year, the US Open, that starts in under three weeks time. I came on court having a lot of respect for my opponent because she s up-and-coming but has already established herself, said the f ive-time m ajor winner. I knew I had a tough match ahead of me. I was focused from the beginning and finished it that way. She will face sixth seed Caroline Garcia for a place in the quarter-finals, having lost for the first time to the Frenchwoman on clay in Stutt- gart in April after winning the previous four. Defending champion Elina Svitolina also went through to the third round after in-form Romanian opponent Mihaela Buzarnescu was forced to retire with an ankle injury. Svitolina, the fifth seed from Ukraine, was leading 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 4-3 when Buzarnescu, fresh off winning her first WTA singles title at San Jose last weekend, turned her ankle and was inconsolable as she left the court in a wheelchair. TODAY tomorrow, 2am). CRICKET 2nd Test Day 2: England v India (Singtel TV Ch123 & StarHub Ch236, 6pm). (Singtel TV Ch123 & StarHub Ch236, 6pm). SAILING World Championships Day 2 (Singtel TV Ch116 & StarHub Ch210, 8pm). GOLF PGA Championship Day 3 (Singtel TV Ch114 & StarHub Ch208, Sunday, 2am). Kerber s first match since becoming Wimbledon champion ended in a sobering 6-4, 6-1 defeat by Alize Cornet of France at the rain-hit Rogers Cup on Wednesday. The world No. 4, who was playing for the first time after beating Serena Williams in last month s Grand Slam final, committed 32 unforced errors and looked rusty in her 85-minute second-round exit. It was her second straight loss after the setback on the Beijing hard court last year against the 34th-ranked Cornet, who will next AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Next 48 Hours FOOTBALL English Premier League Man United v Leicester (Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 3am). TENNIS ATP Rogers Cup Q-finals (StarHub Ch201, tomorrow, 12.30am). TOMORROW GOLF PGA Championship Day 2 (Singtel TV Ch114 & StarHub Ch208, CRICKET 2nd Test Day 3: England v India FOOTBALL English Premier League Newcastle v Tottenham (7.30pm), Huddersfield v Chelsea (10pm), Wolves v Everton (Sunday, 12.30am) Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227. Fulham v Crystal Palace (Ch103 & Ch228), Bournemouth v Cardiff (Ch104 & Ch229), Watford v Brighton (Ch105 & Ch230) 10pm. Date: Sept 23, 2018 Time: From 4am Venue: Singapore Sports Hub Register at Sign up before Aug 19, 2018 and stand to win a MOBOT Freedom Lite Scooters worth $1,499 sponsored by MOBOT SAILING World Championships Day 3 (Singtel TV Ch116 & StarHub Ch210, 8pm). 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44 THE STRAITS TIMES FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 D CRAZY ABOUT ASIA Crazy Rich Asians stars take to red carpet in local designer wear D3 LIVE IN THE MOMENT It has been a huge transition for Joseph Schooling, since finishing his collegiate stint and turning professional, but the swimmer says he is enjoying every minute of it Wong Kim Hoh Joseph Schooling lets out a sheepish laugh when asked what it is like to be fronting so many campaigns. I hope you re not too sick of my face, says the Singaporean swimmer, who shocked the world by snatching the 100m butterfly gold from American Michael Phelps the world s most decorated Olympian at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Since finishing his collegiate stint with the University of Texas and turning professional earlier this year, Schooling has signed on as ambassador for, among other things, local bank DBS, men s fashion label Hugo Boss, probiotic drink Yakult and imaging and optical products manufacturer Canon. It s been a huge transition, but an exciting one. It s been busy and hectic, but I m enjoying this. It s also rejuvenating my career, the 23-year-old says. Swimming, he adds reassuringly, remains his priority. This just adds to my feeling of wanting to do better in the pool so that all the boxes are checked: I m happy, my parents are happy, the country s happy. Ensconced comfortably in a sofa at the TAG Heuer boutique in Wisma Atria, he is speaking to The Straits Times as the luxury Swiss watchmaker s newest brand partner. He is no stranger to the brand. My parents started collecting TAGs for me when I was a kid. I ve got some of their diving and Formula One models. I haven t seen all the watches they have collected for me they re in a safe somewhere, says the swimmer, who is now the face of the Aquaracer collection. Since one of TAG s most enduring taglines is Don t Crack Under Pressure, the conversation naturally turns to the weight of expectations. The most unpleasant pressure, he says, comes from people playing coach and setting standards for sportsmen when they are unfamiliar with athletic training. If you don t understand what you re talking about, you should..., he says, breaking off in midsentence to mime pulling a zip across his mouth. An example? Joseph shouldn t be in all these ads; he should be training, he volunteers. They don t see that I m in the pool from six to 10 in the morning and then going for another 21/2 hours in the afternoon, says the world s reigning 100m butterfly champion, who recently launched his swimming academy, Swim Schooling, for children. Funnily, these armchair critics do not tell him these things to his face. I wish they did, but it s funny how they don t. The only reason I know is I hear my parents talking about it or my coaches defending me. Although annoying, he says it does not affect his performance negatively. In fact, it does the opposite. It just pi**es me off and that goads me to want to do better... I want to be the best and I want to be consistent. And I don t need other people saying this and that. He shakes his head when asked if he is feeling any pressure about the 18th Asian Games, which takes place later this month in Jakarta, Indonesia. Before coming back from the United States, I would say yes, but after coming back and seeing the guys train and seeing how far we ve come, I m not worried at all. In fact, he is confident about the Games in Jakarta. I m swimming at least five events, but I m not going to say how many gold medals I m going to get, says Schooling who, at the moment, is down for the 50m and 100m fly, the 50m freestyle and at least two relays. All I m going to say is I m excited about the relays. It s the first time in history that we can medal in every relay, adds Schooling, who will be joined by Besides being an ambassador for local bank DBS and men s fashion label Hugo Boss, among others, swimmer Joseph Schooling (left) is also the newest brand partner of luxury Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer. PHOTO: TAG HEUER US-based swimmer Quah Zheng Wen, who has won multiple SEA Games medals and also qualified for two semi-finals in Rio. The idea of that happening is very exciting. If we do that, it will be a huge stepping stone for the Olympics. How cool is that if we qualify for the relay in the Olympics? We ll be among the top 16 in the world. Knowing that he will be under a lot of scrutiny then, he is priming himself for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But I m not completely focused on it now. The Olympics is a stepping stone, it s a four-year process and you don t go from 2017 to 2020, thinking: I m going to do this and this tomorrow for Tokyo. Because if you did, you d be missing out on two SEA Games, two World Championships, one Commonwealth Games and one Asian Games. All these build up to As long as you see positive progression and a positive trend towards 2020, that s the best way you can set yourself up. A swimmer, he says, cannot be in peak performance all the time. Look at Michael Phelps. He got seven golds in Athens in 2004, but was whooped by Ian Crocker in the 100m butterfly at the World Cham- pionships the next year. He wasn t on any radar in 2006, but he came back and set himself up in And everybody knows what happened in 2008, he says, referring to Phelps historic eight-gold haul at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Everyone has dips in form, but it s all about performing in that precise moment. The Olympics happens once every four years. What are the chances that you hit your peak, hold it all together, from the prelims to the semis to the finals, and perform? Time is everything. He pauses when asked how he would like to be remembered, since time and legacy are intertwined. If people talk about me, I d like them to say: Joseph was a caring person, always polite, well mannered and, as my dad would say, an officer and a gentleman. That is how I ve been brought up and that s why I don t believe in the prima donna mindset or taking things for granted. People don t owe you a living. He breaks into a mischievous grin before delivering his parting shot: I d like people to remember me as a great athlete, a level-headed nice guy. Not a di**. kimhoh@sph.com.sg Joseph Schooling s collaborations Commercial tie-ups inked by Joseph Schooling since turning professional: DBS Bank: Valued at a seven-figure sum over three years Yakult Singapore: A six-figure sum till 2020 TAG Heuer: An undisclosed sum for at least a year, with talks underway for a long-term collaboration Hugo Boss: Six figures, length of deal not reported Canon: An undisclosed sum over three years Speedo: No details on the contract period or amount Borneo Motors: He will drive three Toyota cars for an undisclosed sum over three years One Championship: No details of contract period or amount Milo: Before he turned professional, he was appointed brand ambassador in 2017 as part of a partnership among Milo, the Singapore National Olympic Council and the SEA Games

45 D2 life style Jewellery gets new shine Big jewellery chains like Poh Heng, Lee Hwa and Soo Kee are looking to draw in younger customers with contemporary collections Melissa Heng Minutes&Seconds Whimsical charm bracelets, trendy asymmetrical earrings and jewellery featuring ultra-black coating are pieces that may not immediately come to mind when thinking of home-grown jewellery stores here. But Singapore s three biggest jewellery chains are looking to shed their old-school image and woo younger customers with new collections and tweaks to their mainstays. For example, family-owned brand Poh Heng, which turns 70 this year, says the label has been actively creating collections targeted at the millennial market. In 2016, it launched the Carousel Charms collection, which features a range of quirky charms that can be collected and added on to a base bracelet, much like the popular charm collections from Danish company Pandora and American label Tiffany & Co. In the Poh Heng line, a letter charm from the range costs $180, while a gift box charms costs $880. The idea for this collection came from manager for marketing and communications at Poh Heng, Ms Pamela Seow, 36, who is the daughter of acting managing director Chng Hwee Siang, 70. When Ms Seow was growing up, her mother would give her little gold trinkets or pendants each year, to teach her about jewellery and to mark special occasions. As an adult, Ms Seow found these pendants too childish to wear on their own, so she took them to a craftsmen and asked for them to be made into a charm bracelet. I thought it was a more stylish way to wear these childhood pieces that had sentimental value for me. Madam Chng adds that the collection allows people to build their own story into their jewellery. She says: As people collect each charm maybe they receive them as gifts or buy them themselves for special occasions they have something tangible to connect their memories to. This experiential element is important to today s customer, says Mr Kean Ng, 47, senior director of corporate marketing and business development at Aspial Corporation which owns the Lee Hwa, Goldheart and Citigems brands. For younger customers today, it s no longer about mass production and wearing the same thing your friend is wearing. Everyone wants something special, something that speaks of his own identity. To cater to this, Lee Hwa has started offering customisation services. The label s Ion Orchard store has a Designer Suite, a private enclave where customers sit down with designers to create their own bespoke (Clockwise from left) Lee Hwa s Charmes Les Gemmes collection; charms from Poh Heng s Carousel Charms range and Soo Kee s Uno Black Collection Stackable Rings. PHOTOS: LEE HWA, SOO KEE JEWELLERY, POH HENG ST PHOTO: SYIL SAPARI As people collect each charm, they have something tangible to connect their memories to. MAD CHNG HWEE SIANG, Poh Heng s acting managing director, on its Carousel Charms collection, which was thought up of by Ms Pamela Seow, her daughter (both above) Sales ticking along better for Swiss watchmaker Swatch pieces with prices starting at $500. Other collections that Lee Hwa carries also have elements of customisation. The Charmes Les Gemmes collection features solitaire rings with mini charm attachments. Customers can select from five different ring designs, five charm attachments and various coloured gemstones. They can also decide if they want the ring in white or rose gold or a mixture of both and personalise the piece by engraving a special message on the ring shank. Prices for each ring start at $508 and costs vary depending on the customisations required. Besides customisation, the brands have been tapping the latest fashion trends to inspire their latest collections. The SK Jewellery Group, which owns Soo Kee Jewellery, SK Jewellery and Love & Co, launched the Uno Black collection in September last year. It features pieces with the unusual combination of 18K white gold, rose gold and an ultra-black physical vapour deposition (PVD) matt coating. The pieces, which include stackable rings and tri-coloured hoop earrings, have a minimalist yet bold vibe. Meanwhile Lee Hwa s latest summer collection is inspired by the latest asymmetrical trend seen on the fall 2018 runways of fashion labels such as Chanel and Dior. The range includes geometric mismatched rose gold earrings and drop earrings where each side features different coloured gemstones. Prices start at $258. Meanwhile Poh Heng, which has been synonymous with classic yellow gold bridal jewellery, has been adding a more contemporary collection to this mainstay. Its Oro22 collection has less chunky pieces in a lighter shade of gold described as a moonlight glow. Pieces include necklaces and earrings with clean, modular lines and elegant curves. Prices start at $470 for a simple pendant. But targeting the younger crowd does not mean neglecting older customers. We do see a variety of customers because we have various labels and collection styles. We need to cater to both the younger buyers who might be new to the jewellery market and also to the long-time buyers, says Mr Ng. He notes that wooing the younger crowd has to be a conscious effort because consumers today are different from consumers of the past. In the past, there was less competition for everyone s dollar. There s budget travel now and online shopping. Priorities have changed and people want experiences over material goods. Founder and chairman of SK Jewellery Group Peter Lim, 58, adds that high rental costs and a shortage of manpower have been tough going. The Singapore market is also small and saturated. But so far, its attempts to reach out to the younger market are working. Both Poh Heng and Aspial expect this year s sales to increase by about 5 to 9 per cent from last year. SK Jewellery Group saw overall revenue increase by 31.2 per cent from 2016 to 2017, hitting about $232 million. Numbers are positive and we expect good growth this year as well, says Mr Lim, adding that the group s overseas expansion plans have played a part in its growth. SK Jewellery Group has 17 stores in Malaysia and expanded into Thailand and China this year. Mr Ng says that though the tough retail market has affected business at Aspial, he is optimistic about growth. Looking ahead, I feel the market has consolidated to a stage where we can again embark on a growth path. I think we have a better feel today of what consumers need. Senior manager in the travel industry, Cheryl Long, 38, says she chanced upon Poh Heng s collections one day and now has about 20 pieces from the brand. At first, I thought it had only bridal stuff and gold chains for babies. But when I walked into the store, I was surprised by the modern collections, she said. ZURICH Higher sales clocked in to keep fuelling sales growth this year after first-half net profit bounced back from weak year-ago levels. The company, which took fewer cost-cutting measures to protect margins than peer Richemont, was hit harder during the lean years, and is now poised for a stronger recovery. The month of July continues the very positive trend. The second half of the year offers excellent opportunities for continued strong growth and further expansion of market share, said the world s biggest watchmaker whose products range from the expensive Breguet to more affordable Longines and plastic Swatch timepieces. Sales rose 12.6 per cent to billion Swiss francs (S$5.83 billion), driven by very high growth rates in Asia and a double-digit sales increase in North America, while expansion in Europe was more variable. But analysts pointed to more challenging conditions in the second half, such as trade tensions that could raise tariffs, and said they ex- pected growth to clock in at a lower pace. Stirring the next generation s interest in mechanical watches that work without a battery is key to the future of the Swiss watch industry as omnipresent mobile phones tell the time more accurately than any mechanical watch. Consumers want real values not only materially but also emotionally, said the Swatch Group, as its flamboyant chief executive Nick Hayek sought to explain why Swiss watches would keep their appeal in a world where everything is interchangeable and quickly loses its value. The company also highlighted the increasing interest in preowned products, a recent trend in the industry, but did not say whether it would actively enter the category as some peers have done. Richemont in May reported disappointing annual results, notably due to inventory buybacks of unsold watches, but also mentioned the recovery in Hong Kong, the biggest export market for Swiss watches. the first half of the year could have prompted Omega maker Swatch to shock the watch industry recently when it called time on its participation in Baselworld. The Swatch Group is pulling out of the annual watch and jewellery trade fair, an event that has been celebrated in the luxury industry calendar for a century. Swatch, the most important exhibitor at Baselworld, joins other brands such as Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin that are ticking off the fair held every year in March from their marketing calendar, citing high costs and insufficient returns. Only 650 exhibitors showed up at Baselworld 2018, a 50 per cent decline from the year before. A decade ago, there were 2,087 exhibitors. The pressure on marketing has also been reduced as Swiss watchmakers have seen sales and margins recover this year after a prolonged downturn caused by a meltdown in Chinese demand. Swatch Group said it expected strong demand in Asia and America melheng@sph.com.sg REUTERS

46 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES Rich Asian style style life D3 Crazy Rich Asians movie premieres in Los Angeles with Singaporean and international stars taking to the red carpet Yip Wai Yee Entertainment Correspondent Upcoming Hollywood movie Crazy Rich Asians, based on the bestselling book by Singapore-born, United States-based author Kevin Kwan, is centred on the lives of the ultra-rich and famous in Singapore. So it is only fitting that the film s world premiere, held in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, reflected some of that fabulous glitz and glamour. Here are what some of the cast members wore (yes, diamonds and sequins were absolutely necessary). yipwy@sph.com.sg Crazy Rich Asians opens in Singapore on Aug 22. CONSTANCE WU American-Chinese actress Constance Wu (right), who plays leading lady Rachel in the film, showed up in a strapless white sequinned dress with tasselled sleeves. The dress was so glamorous, it was only sensible that she kept her hair simple and slicked back. FIONA XIE MICHELLE YEOH Singaporean actress Fiona Xie (above), who plays status-seeking actress Kitty Pong in the movie, went with a puffy strapless black gown with an asymmetrical hem. It is too bad that the dress overwhelms and takes away the focus from her glittery necklace. Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh (above), who plays Nick Young s disapproving mother Eleanor, wore a tiered Armani gown. The dress looks great on her, but we are not so sure about her hair in an updo with swirly bangs. TAN KHENG HUA JANICE KOH Home-grown actress Tan Kheng Hua (above), who plays protagonist Rachel s mother in the film, showed up in a black dress by Singaporean fashion designer Thomas Wee. For a bit of colour contrast, she accessorised with a pair of bright blue and red dangly earrings. Singaporean actress Janice Koh (above), who plays Nick s aunt Felicity, flew the Singapore flag high on the red carpet in an entirely Singapore-designed get-up: Her black dress is by fashion designer Ong Shunmugam, ring by jeweller Choo Yilin and a clutch by Singapore s Ling Wu. HENRY GOLDING Leading man Henry Golding (above), who plays Singapore s most eligible bachelor Nick Young in the film, showed up in a pale blue jacket. And while most men would look like they were heading to a high-school prom in that colour, Golding is hunky enough to pull it off. PHOTOS: EPA-EFE Wrist Taker Who: Boo Junfeng, 34, film-maker and creative director of this year s National Day Parade The watch: Montblanc Heritage Spirit Moonphase How much I paid for it: I have it on long-term loan from Montblanc. I m a friend of the brand. (Retail price: $6,200) What I love about this watch: I ve always wanted a mechanical watch, but it s been challenging looking for one that suits me because of my thin wrist. The boutique manager recommended it based on my personality. I ve been wearing it for more than eight months now. I love that it is simple and elegant. I can wear it at work while on a shoot, on my travels and even on the red carpet. It s very nice to have something so intricately made pulsing on your wrist. Wong Kim Hoh PHOTOS: COURTESY OF BOO JUNFENG

47 D4 GIGS Boyzone Live In celebration of their 25th anniversary, popular Irish boyband Boyzone return to Singapore for a one-night concert. Formed in 1993, Boyzone became one of the most successful boybands in the world. The group split at the end of 1999, but made a comeback in 2007 and have sold two million records since. WHERE: Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk MRT: Stadium WHEN: Aug 21, 8pm ADMISSION: $98 $188, tickets from Singapore Indoor Stadium Box Office & all SingPost outlets TEL: INFO: Unforgettable Country Greats With Matthew & The Mandarins Singapore country band Matthew & The Mandarins return for a special edition of the Esplanade s concert series, Coffee Morning & Afternoon Tea. The group will perform classic country hits by legends such as Merle Haggard, John Denver, Conway Twitty and Johnny Cash. Coffee and tea will be provided at the Concert Hall Foyer before the performance. WHERE: Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive MRT: Esplanade/ City Hall WHEN: Sept 3, 3pm ADMISSION: $15 TEL: (for group booking of more than 20 tickets) INFO: Egoist Live In Singapore Japanese vocal supergroup Egoist return to perform their hits from popular anime such as Psycho-Pass, Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress and Fate/Apocrypha, among others. WHERE: Zepp@BigBox, 1 Venture Avenue MRT: Jurong East WHEN: Sept 8, 7pm ADMISSION/INFO: $98 - $128, tickets from apactix.com CHARITY Dover Park Hospice Sunflower Gala Ball four-hour dialysis sessions. WHERE: OCBC Singapore Sports Hub, 1 Stadium Drive MRT: Stadium WHEN: Sept 15, 2-8pm ADMISSION: Individuals: $10 - $15; groups of four: $50 INFO: Register at nkfs.org/event/sit-a-thon_2018 TALKS NKF Sit-A-Thon The event will see participants being confined to a chair for four hours to drive home the experiences of kidney patients during their thrice-weekly, Library talks by seasoned journalists CO-ORGANISED BY THE STRAITS TIMES AND NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD you ask, we answer, come listen News gathering, reporting and story telling in the digital age Central Public Library 100 Victoria Street #B1-01 Programme Zone Friday, August 31, pm to 8.30pm (Registration starts at 6pm) Sign up at For more information, go to Marc Lim News Editor Eddino Abdul Hadi Music Correspondent recommends Supporting You In Your IVF Journey Fertility specialists at this forum will cover topics such as the role of surgery in fertility treatment; understanding male fertility and sexual health; getting ready for your IVF journey; and getting good maternal nutrition right from the start. WHERE: KKH Auditorium (Training Centre), Level 1 Women s Tower, 100 Bukit Timah Road MRT: Little India WHEN: Aug 18, 1-5pm ADMISSION: $11 a person, $15 a couple TEL: (weekdays: 9.30am - 4pm) INFO: CLASSES ST English MasterClass (The Executive Edition) The seven-hour course covers writing simply and effectively; avoiding common language errors; composing messages to get things done; and how to get your message through to your reader. It is conducted by The Straits Times journalist Angelina Choy, who has more than 30 years of experience in editing, writing, visual journalism and training. WHERE: SPH News Centre, 1000 Toa Payoh North MRT: Braddell WHEN: Aug 16 & 29, Sept 11, 19 & 26 (10am - 6pm) ADMISSION: $499 a person (lunch, tea breaks included); sign up at stskills.sg at least 10 working days in advance TEL: INFO: stmasterclass@ sph.com.sg Engaging With The Child In You Dover Park Hospice s annual signature ball is the concluding event for its 25th-anniversary celebrations and it hopes to raise $1.1 million through the event. The guest of honour is President Halimah Yacob. Besides a four-course dinner crafted by Shangri-La Hotel s resident chefs, there will also be performances. WHERE: Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road MRT: Stevens/ Orchard WHEN: Sun, 7-10pm ADMISSION: $600 - $3,600 a person or $6,000 - $36,000 a table; further donations via tinyurl.com/dphgala; dress code: Garden Party Formal TEL: INFO: GalaBall@doverpark.sg GigsPicks life happenings Engaging with children as a parent calls for creativity, passion and skills all of which begins with rediscovering the child within. This interactive workshop for parents of children younger than eight years old explores topics such as learning to connect with the child in you, having fun being a child again, learning a few great art techniques and being a step ahead in helping your child realise his/her true potential. WHERE: Lubritrade Building, 408 North Bridge Road MRT: Bugis/ City Hall WHEN: Aug 17 or 18, 9am - 1pm ADMISSION/INFO: $75, tickets from goo.gl/mfgcnz AT HOME WITH SUNGHA JUNG South Korean fingerstyle guitarist Sungha Jung (above) found fame through YouTube and his videos have collectively clocked more than 1.5 billion views. The 21-year-old returns to Singapore for a show that is part of his global tour to promote his newest album, Andante. WHERE: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard MRT: Tanjong Pagar WHEN: Today, 8pm ADMISSION: $76 and $96 from Sistic (go to or call ) Pie-Making Clinic In this hands-on pie-making clinic with Asian Pies cookbook co-author, participants will learn to make and assemble pork and pineapple curry pot pie and sambal petai and prawn handpies. They will also make yogurt shortcrust pastry from scratch and learn about handpies and pastry ingredients, as well as how to roll out dough, pleat pies and store them. WHERE: 67 Spottiswoode Park Road MRT: Outram Park WHEN: Aug 26, pm ADMISSION: $130 nett a person (includes personal pie to take home) TEL: (Evonne) CLEAN BANDIT LIVE IN SINGAPORE British classical/electronic pop trio Clean Bandit are back to play a make-up show after they cancelled their performance here in January due to drummer Luke Patterson (above left) contracting chickenpox. The band, also comprising Grace Chatto and Jack Patterson (both above), are known for No. 1 hits like Rather Be, which won Best Dance Recording at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Their collaboration with pop singer Demi Lovato, Solo, is in the pop charts. WHERE: The Star Theatre, 1 Vista Exchange Green MRT: Buona Vista WHEN: Wednesday, 8pm ADMISSION: $68 to $188 from Sistic SPORTS PHOTOS: AUREUS PRODUCTIONS, BRIAN ZIFF, RADWIMPS OFFICIAL/ FACEBOOK, UKULELE MOVEMENT Singapore American Football League Programme WALK THE MOON AT BIGBOX SINGAPORE The league is inviting students aged seven to 18 years to register for its upcoming season from this month to October. Football fees are $875 a person for World Conference (14-18 years old) and National Conference (10-14 years old) and $250 for Flag Football (seven - 10 years old). Cheerleading fees are $850 (World Conference) and $350 (National Conference and Flag Football). No experience is required and participants will be placed in teams based on age. Teams will be balanced to ensure fairness of play and participation for everyone. WHERE: Singapore American School, 40 Woodlands Street 41 MRT: Marsiling WHEN: Till Oct 31, games on Fri & Sat, practices on weekday afternoons; register by Sept 1 ADMISSION: $250 - $875, coaching & uniforms included INFO: info@safl.sg or go to American alternative rock band Walk The Moon, known for hits such as Shut Up And Dance, Anna Sun and One Foot, will play their sophomore show in Singapore. They released their third and most recent album, What If Nothing, last year. They first played here at Fort Canning Park in WHERE: Bigbox Singapore, 1 Venture Avenue MRT: Jurong East WHEN: Thursday, 8pm ADMISSION: From $65 for single tickets, $59 each for two or more tickets; from Apactix ( M1 Asian Netball Championships The M1 Asian Netball Championships 2018, the region s most prestigious netball championship, promises to be the most competitive yet as, for the first time, 12 Asian nations will be competing. WHERE: OCBC Arena Hall 2, Singapore Sports Hub, 5 Stadium Drive MRT: Stadium WHEN: Sept 1-9, various times ADMISSION: Season: $65 for adults, $18 for children (five 12 years old), $35 for students & seniors; daily tickets: $6 - $20 for adults, $2 - $6 for children (five - 12 years old), $4 - $12 for students & seniors; tickets from bit.ly/m1anc2018tickets INFO: RADWIMPS ASIA LIVE TOUR Japanese rockers Radwimps are returning to Singapore with a show that is part of the Japan Music Festival series of gigs. The band have been making their name in recent years for works such as their soundtrack for acclaimed 2016 animated film Your Name, as well as Human Bloom, their latest album released in the same year. WHERE: Bigbox Singapore, 1 Venture Avenue MRT: Jurong East WHEN: Monday, 8pm ADMISSION: $98 to $128 from Apactix

48 FoodPicks FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES happenings life D5 Tan Hsueh Yun Food Editor recommends DELICIOUS AND VEGETARIAN Have you got friends who go meatless on Mondays? I do and, for many years, I would wonder why? Now I kind of, sort of, get it. As I get older and want to be kinder to my body, it makes sense to, as American author Michael Pollan writes in his 2008 book, In Defence Of Food: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. I m not ready to give up meat, but a vegetarian meal once a week is not difficult, especially when I can go to La Bussola in Portsdown Road for vegetarian and vegan Italian food. The restaurant opened about three months ago and the people behind it are the owners of Pietrasanta, just across the courtyard. Chef Loris Massimini, 45, of Pietrasanta, was inspired to open La Bussola because he saw the good healthy eating can do. La Bussola s chef, Carlo Alberto Castellini, 36, went vegan six months ago and his blood pressure went down. Massimini s brother, Giuseppe, 51, cut out red meat, started eating more vegetables and seafood, and saw his blood pressure levels improve too. A meal at the restaurant does not have to be austere. Ravioli di Burrata ($22, right above) comes with six plump pasta dumplings filled with creamy buffalo milk cheese and a fresh-tasting and light tomato sauce. The pasta is a little too thick, but I love the contrast between rich filling and zesty sauce. Even better is Funghi Alla Cacciatora ($23), a crock of fresh monkey head mushrooms stewed with tomatoes, celery, carrot, olives and perfumed with rosemary. The mushrooms are thick and have a meaty texture and the dish is so hearty, I do not miss the meat. Rosemary is far from my favourite FLAVOURFUL SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS herb, but it works very well here. For dessert, Pistocchi Classica ($15) is rich enough to be sinful. But the dark chocolate cake, really more of a ganache, comes in a small enough serving that I don t feel guilty polishing off the whole thing. I share it with a friend, but really want to have it all. Budino di Riso ($14), a rice pudding, comes in a crisp tart shell. And here is the only time I miss richness in the meal. The pastry should really be made with butter and the rice pudding needs a bit more sugar so that it is identifiable as a dessert. Perhaps next time, I ll opt for the cheese platter ($24), panna cotta ($14) or chestnut cake ($17). WHERE: La Bussola by Pietrasanta, 01-04, 5B Portsdown Road MRT: one-north TEL: OPEN: 11.45am to 2.30pm, 5.45 to 10.30pm (Wednesdays to Mondays), closed on Tuesdays INFO: www. ristorante-pietrasanta.com ST PHOTOS: TAN HSUEH YUN The good thing about hawker centre dining is that if the dish you set out to eat is disappointing, there are plenty of other choices. And that is how I discover Xiang Jiang Soya Sauce Chicken at Alexandra Village Food Centre. The noodle dish I d gone there to eat was unimpressive. I join the queue in front of Xiang Jiang because I walk past a couple, see giant shrimp dumplings winking at me from their bowl and ask where they are from. There, she says, pointing at the stall. The wait is interminable, even on a quiet Sunday, but the big, beautiful dumplings (80 cents each, above left) are worth queuing for. I love that the filling is not too tightly packed, despite the fact that there is a lot in there minced pork, prawns and strips of black fungus. DEEP-FRIED TREATS PRESSURE-PERFECT Ngoh hiang guan chiang, that hawker dish of deep-fried meat rolls, fish cake, sliced pork sausage and prawn crackers, is never on my food radar. But a friend tells me about her favourite stall in Sembawang Hills Food Centre with such a gleam in her eye that I have to check it out. Sin Sin Ngor Hiang Prawn Cracker has been in business for over 40 years and a line quickly forms once the signboard lights up even though the 1.30pm opening time is usually past the lunch-time peak. But, oh, the offerings are terrific and miraculously grease-free despite the double deep-frying. Zoom in first on the prawn cracker ($1.20), palm-sized, with a tiny prawn embedded in the middle. The filigree batter is phenomenally crisp. Another must-have is the guan chiang or pork sausage ($3), which comes in shades of pink not normally found in nature. Sin Sin s is lean, but manages to be soft and pliant.the classic meat roll ($1.20) or ngoh hiang has a decent amount of meat and good spicing, but I ll save my calories for the prawn cracker. As dipping sauces go, this one is good but not mind-blowing. It has the requisite tartness, but needs a little sweetness and heat for balance. My friend lets slip that the stall s fried beehoon ($1) is also good. I get it to go and it is; simple and unadorned. WHERE: Sin Sin Ngor Hiang Prawn Cracker, Sembawang Hills Food Centre, 590 Upper Thomson Road MRT: Yio Chu Kang OPEN: 1.30 to 9.30pm (Fridays to Tuesdays), closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays There are many places to go for a good meal in Little India, but I ll bet not many are as quiet, cool and serene as Urban Roti in Syed Alwi Road on a weekday afternoon. Its owners must love hexagons the shape pops up in the floor tiles and wall hangings. But I am there for one dish, Cooker Me Kukkad ($16, right). It is such a good idea, I wonder why all the main dishes on the menu are not cooked this way. Chicken with an aromatic but not too hot gravy is cooked in a mini pressure cooker, and the server appears at the table with the pot, releases the steam with a bit of dramatic flair, and then diners tuck in. Pressure and multi-cookers are all the rage among home cooks these days and I wish I could get the mini one the restaurant uses. I dream of whipping up stews and flavourful soups in no time at all. They might taste half as good as Cooker Me Kukkad. Pressure allows the spices to permeate the meat and, at the same time, makes the chicken tender. Not that chicken needs that much help. I d like to put that cooker to work on mutton. You can order naan, of course, to mop up the gravy, but I decide to try something different. Appetisingly brown Taftaan ($6) and slightly puffy, mint-studded Laccha Paratha ($5) are flatbreads that do the job superbly. WHERE: Urban Roti Indian Grill And Bar, 101 Syed Alwi Road MRT: Farrer Park TEL: OPEN: 11.30am to 11.30pm daily INFO: urbanroti.com.sg FOOD Morton s 40th-Anniversary Menu PROMOTIONS For its 40th birthday, Morton s of Chicago is offering a three-course promotion this month at $88++. Diners can choose a starter, a main course and a side, and dessert. Starters include Caesar salad and prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella. For mains, choose the 170g filet mignon or non-steak options such as honey-balsamic glazed Ora King salmon, chicken bianco or shrimp scampi capellini. Lyonnaise potatoes, mashed potatoes and creamed spinach are available as sides, while key lime pie, chocolate mousse or mixed berries with whipped cream are the dessert choices. WHERE: Level 4 Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue MRT: Promenade WHEN: Till Aug 31, pm (Mon - Sat), noon - 9pm (Sun) PRICE: $88++ TEL: INFO: mortons.com/singapore Pasta Frenzy At Blue Potato This month, pasta lovers can enjoy the Italian staple prepared in various styles at Blue Potato. Start your meal with the Artichoke Shell Pasta Salad ($24++), which comprises artichoke, shell pasta, red onion, capsicum, cherry tomatoes and goma dressing. Other choices include Spicy Penne Shrimp Puttanesca ($28++); Fettuccine Alla Sorrentina ($24++); Linguine Al Limone Spinach ($24++); and Farfalle Pancetta with Mushroom ($26++), bow tie pasta with bacon, button mushrooms, cream sauce and parmesan cheese. WHERE: Level 2 Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore, 20 Merchant Road MRT: Clarke Quay WHEN: Till Aug 26, noon - 3pm, pm PRICE: $ $28++ TEL: /1848 INFO: dining.merchantcourt@ swissotel.com Ce La Vi Sky High Brunch Ce La Vi s Sky High Brunch makes a comeback at the Restaurant and SkyBar. The Raw Bar offers seafood, including Atlantic oysters, tiger prawns and New Zealand mussels. The Grill section has dishes such as Chiang Mai sausage, mini sliders with kimchi and assam sauce and smoked pork ribs with Korean BBQ glaze. At the Dessert Bar are classics, including mango cheesecake. The spread is complemented by a four-hour flow of Veuve Clicquot Yellow and contemporary cocktails such as Bacardi Limon Mojito, Belvedere Spritz, Jose Cuervo Margarita and the Ce La Vi Caipirinha. WHERE: Tower 3 Marina Bay Sands, 1 Bayfront Avenue MRT: Bayfront WHEN: Aug 18, noon - 4pm PRICE: $178 - $188, tickets from clvskyhighbrunch.peatix.com TEL: INFO: reservation-sg@celavi.com PastaMania Launches Otak-Otak And Thai-Style Pastas PastaMania s two new dishes will be available for a few months. The Spicy Creamy Otak-Otak pasta is tossed in cream sauce, with a burst of smoky-fish flavour, coconut milk and the spicy, garlicky flavour of belacan. The Thai-style Aglio Seafood is inspired by the classic pad thai recipe and captures the vibrant flavours of Thailand with fish sauce, tamarind paste and basil leaves. WHERE: PastaMania outlets islandwide (go to pastamania.com.sg/ locations) WHEN: Till Sept 30 PRICE: $13.90 nett INFO: pastamania.com.sg Okinawa Summer Fair At Sun With Moon Enjoy favourites from Okinawa on the special seasonal menu at Sun With Moon Japanese Dining & Cafe, with the restaurant s signature kamameshi getting an Okinawan interpretation. In Rafute Kamameshi ($ ), Okinawan-style braised Mini snowskin mooncakes from Hua Ting. PHOTO: ORCHARD HOTEL pork is marinated in Awamori liqueur, brown sugar and served with marinated egg, steamed in a metal pot with seasoned steamed Japanese rice. Other highlights include Mebachi Maguro, where the freshly caught bigeye tuna is served sashimi-style in a seafood salad or in chirashi don ($ $ ); and Beni Imo Croquette ($8.80++), made from the famous purple sweet potato from Okinawa. WHERE: Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road MRT: Orchard WHEN: Till Sept 12, 11am pm, pm, pm PRICE: From $5.80 TEL: INFO: info@sfbi.com.sg Four Hands Kitchen At Gattopardo Ristorante Di Mare Chef Lino Sauro from Gattopardo will host Sydney-based guest chef Federico Zanellato from two-hatted restaurant LuMI Bar & Dining for a six-course menu that combines the culinary prowess of both chefs. It also showcases chef Zanellato s creativity in bringing Japanese influences to Italian cuisine. WHERE: 36 Tras Street MRT: Tanjong Pagar WHEN: Aug 28 - Sept 1, noon 2.30pm (dinner is sold out) PRICE: $80.04 ($64.03 for Citi card members) TEL: / INFO: 4handskitchen.com.sg Beyond Singaporean Fare At Tiffany Cafe Enjoy local gems with a twist, such as oyster omelette, Indian rojak, Singapore laksa and stewed claypot crab with dried chilli. International cuisine includes crab bisque or seafood and shell pasta soup, mixed seafood in spicy coconut broth, and spaghetti and capsicum with black pepper sauce. WHERE: Furama City Centre Singapore, 60 Eu Tong Sen Street MRT: Chinatown WHEN: Till Aug 31, noon pm, pm PRICE: Lunch: $ an adult/ $ a child; dinner: $ / $ TEL: INFO: tiffany.citycentre@ furama.com MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL Bluetooth Speaker Gift Box From Hua Ting The Millennium Mooncakes by Orchard Hotel s Hua Ting Restaurant feature handcrafted snowskin offerings ($69+, box of eight pieces), such as the Mini Fruity Noon Tea with a green apple filling and a white chocolate core infused with Hua Ting s premium tea; and the Mini Salted Egg Custard, which has a velvety custard paste and a salted egg. The traditional baked mooncakes include low-sugar classics such as white lotus paste ($69+, box of four pieces), white lotus paste with single/double yolks and macadamia nuts ($73+/$75+, box of four pieces), as well as the signature Seeds of Harmony ($73+, box of four pieces). The Treasures Gift Box (deluxe: $73+, premium: $98+, box of four pieces) has a version that features LED lights and a Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a lamp. WHERE: Lobby Kiosk, Orchard Hotel, 442 Orchard Road MRT: Orchard WHEN: Thu - Sept 24, noon - 8pm PRICE: Snowskin: $69+ (box of eight pieces), traditional: $69+ - $98+ (box of four pieces) TEL: INFO: mooncake.ohs@ millenniumhotels.com or go to bit.ly/millenniummooncakes2018 Tea-Infused Gems From Man Fu Yuan InterContinental Singapore s Man Fu Yuan has introduced the Tea Collection ($74 nett), comprising four new tea-infused snowskin mooncakes. They include black sesame with ambrosial osmanthus, matcha with white chocolate, white lotus with mandarin peel and Earl Grey with strawberry chocolate. Those who like classics can go for the six baked mooncakes with assorted nuts ($68), white or red lotus paste with a choice of single or double yolks ($66 - $74), or macadamia nuts and low-sugar white lotus paste ($70). The mooncakes come in a latticed chest with motifs of birds and flowers. WHERE: Man Fu Yuan Shoppe, InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road MRT: Bugis WHEN: Online at InterContinentalShoppe.sg till Sept 21; Man Fu Yuan Shoppe till Sept 24 PRICE: $68 - $74 nett (box of four pieces); 25 per cent discount for As with all things delicious, fat is the key. There is enough of it in the filling to make every bite swoonworthy. Better yet is the Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle (from $4, above right). A sign on the stall suggests you order mee pok, but I prefer mee kia, and pay an extra $1 for a chicken drumstick. The flavourful braising sauce and meat that is just a little blush pink near the bone make this one of the best versions of soya sauce chicken I have tasted. My mother and I tuck in. Silky chicken flavoured with cinnamon and star anise. Noodles with bounce. Our heads bob up in happy surprise. Wow, we say in unison. Why didn t I order half a chicken? Or a whole one? WHERE: Xiang Jiang Soya Sauce Chicken, Alexandra Village Food Centre, 120 Bukit Timah Lane 1 MRT: Queenstown OPEN: 7.30am to 2.30pm (Wednesdays to Mondays), closed on Tuesdays orders by Aug 31, extra 5 per cent off online TEL: /1132 INFO: sinhb-festive@ihg.com WINE EVENTS Acqua E Farina Signatures And The Wines Of Frescobaldi Taste the distinctive culinary styles from various regions of Italy with a four-course menu featuring the signatures of Acqua E Farina, such as Italian burratina from Puglia served with summer truffle and grissini, and oven-baked lamb rack, slow-cooked and served with zucchini, potatoes and rosemary sauce. The dishes will be paired with wines from Frescobaldi, such as Pomino Benefizio Bianco Riserva DOC 2016, Nipozzano Mormoreto Toscana IGT 2013 and Pomino Vin Santo DOC WHERE: Acqua E Farina, The Rail Mall, 400 Upper Bukit Timah Road MRT: Hillview WHEN: Aug 21, 7pm PRICE: $108 a person ($ for HSBC cardholders) TEL: INFO: gustoitaliano@ sph.com.sg Californian Wine Dinner at Adrift Adrift by David Myers will be hosting the first wine dinner of its Chef s Table Series, which pays homage to chef Myers home town in California. Diners can journey through different Californian vineyards and enjoy an eight-course dinner tasting menu with wine-pairing. The menu includes crab blini, salted wagyu, oyster and melon, sea urchin toast and Japanese blue mackerel with smoked buttermilk nasturtium grilled over apple wood. Wines include the 2013 Chateau Montelena from Napa Valley and 2014 Flowers Pinot Noir from Sonoma County. WHERE: Hotel Lobby Tower 2, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue MRT: Bayfront WHEN: Aug 23, 6pm PRICE: $125++ a person (add $73++ for wine-pairing) TEL: INFO: adrift.reservations@ marinabaysands.com

49 life happenings ARTS BOOKS Singapore Literature Book Club: Rawa By Isa Kamari The book club will discuss the English translation of Rawa, which throws a rare spotlight on the Orang Seletar community. These sea-faring nomads are believed to be Singapore s earliest inhabitants, yet few Singaporeans know much about them or their fate as the country developed into a modern city. Author Isa Kamari will be present. WHERE: Visitors Briefing Room, Level 1 National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street MRT: City Hall/ Bugis WHEN: Thu, pm ADMISSION: Free, register at nlb.gov.sg/golibrary INFO: enquiry@nlb.gov.sg ArtsPicks D6 ST Book Club: Meet Ho Kwon Ping, Author Of Asking Why In this sixth instalment of The Straits Times Book Club, ST journalist Ravi Velloor engages with Ho Kwon Ping (left), founding chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, who will give his take on various issues to which he asks why frequently. There will be a book signing and question-and-answer session. WHERE: Programme Zone, Central Public Library, National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street MRT: City Hall/Bugis WHEN: Aug 29, pm ADMISSION/INFO: Free, register at str.sg/oaxe Akshita Nanda Arts Correspondent recommends CONCERTS Music Oasis: Hear The Lion Roar Celebrate the National Day weekend over a picnic while watching the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). Led by resident conductor Quek Ling Kiong, the orchestra will perform works by Singaporean composers, including Phang Kok Jun s Symphonic Floras, Eric Watson s Dialogue For Solo Tabla And Chinese Orchestra and National Day favourite Home, rearranged by Law Wai Lun, SCO s composer- in-residence. WHERE: Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road MRT: Botanic Gardens WHEN: Tomorrow, 6pm ADMISSION: Free INFO: sco@sco.com.sg IMAGINARIUM: INTO THE SPACE OF TIME This family-friendly exhibition at S at 8Q features interactive installations to interest kids, such as the squeaky yarn toys of The GedAze Project s Passage. Young and old can seek familiar landmarks in the giant, detailed cartoon mural In Our Time (above) by illustrator Lee Xin Li. Today, the museum canopy also hosts S Late Nights, a block party which lasts till 11pm and has live music by home-grown band Ocean s Children. WHERE: S at 8Q, 8 Queen Street MRT: Bras Basah WHEN: Until Aug 26, TRADITIONAL FLUTE FESTIVAL This celebration of wind instruments from across Asia features more than 100 exponents from China, Japan and Asean countries. It is organised by the Singapore Dizi Society, under the artistic direction of three Singaporean musicians: dizi maestro Zhan Yong Ming, award-winning bansuri player Ghanavenothan Retnam and flautist Tan Qing Lun. There are free concerts in the Civic District and heartland, alongside ticketed events such as Twilight Tunes tomorrow, in which Japanese musician Yasukazu Kano (above) and Thailand s Surasak Kingsai play jazz using the traditional shinobue and khlui flutes. The festival closes on Sunday with Wings Of Resonance, in which an international ensemble plays a variety of wind instruments, including a nose flute from the Philippines. Wave Of Harmony Indian Classical Concert The Lahari Arts Society is organising a concert by the Trichur Brothers their first in Singapore featuring Srikrishna Mohan and Ram Kumar T.S. (vocals), Mohan Trichur R. (mridangam), Bombay V. Anand (violin) and Mahesh Parameswaran (ghatam). WHERE: Singapore Polytechnic Auditorium, 500 Dover Road MRT: Dover WHEN: Tomorrow, 6pm ADMISSION: $25 - $40 TEL: INFO: sumanabv@gmail.com Sota Music Faculty Concert Catch music teachers from the School of the Arts in action in the annual faculty concert. WHERE: Sota Concert Hall, 1 Zubir Said Drive MRT: Bencoolen/Dhoby Ghaut WHEN: Aug 24, pm ADMISSION: $25 ($10 for students, $15 for seniors & full-time national servicemen) INFO: sota.edu.sg DANCE NUS Arts Festival: Titian Naluri Under the direction of its resident choreographer and artistic director Osman Abdul Hamid, National University of Singapore (NUS) Ilsa Tari continues its investigation into the role of traditional Malay dance in strengthening identity and social cohesion in Titian Naluri, an evening of dazzling reinterpretations of Singapore Malay folk dance Tari Perbendaharaan Singapur. Dancers from NUS Ilsa Tari share the stage with Beztari (Nanyang Technological University), Indra Nila Kirana (Nanyang Polytechnic) and Itra Tari (Ngee Ann Polytechnic). WHERE: University Cultural Centre Theatre, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent MRT: Kent Ridge WHEN: Sept 7, 8pm; Sept 8, 7.30pm ADMISSION: $25 ($15 for full-time students) INFO: EXHIBITIONS (GALLERIES) Dossier By Sota This exhibition of works by School of the Arts Year 5 visual arts cohort acts as a major checkpoint of the 10am to 7pm (Saturdays to Thursdays) and 10am to 9pm (Fridays) ADMISSION: Free for Singapore citizens, permanent residents and children under age three. For others, $6 (adults) and $3 (students and senior citizens). Free admission on Fridays from 6 to 9pm and on Open House days THE CAT IN THE HAT Singapore Repertory Theatre s The Little Company stages Dr Seuss popular book as a play in Mandarin. Hang Qian Chou (right) is the titular Cat In The Hat who has come to shake up the day of two children, played by (from far left) Sugie Phua and Ann Lek. Recommended for families with children aged two and up. students artistic journey, after which they will continue to expand their repertoire of skills. WHERE: Sota Gallery, 1 Zubir Said Drive MRT: Bencoolen/Dhoby Ghaut WHEN: Till Thu, noon - 8pm ADMISSION: Free INFO: sota.edu.sg Colour Me Well: Tomoni Shintaku Solo Exhibition Using food as the main object of his paintings in his exhibition with One East Asia gallery, Tomoni Shintaku explores issues that people face in modern life. WHERE: Thong Teck Building, 15 Scotts Road MRT: Orchard WHEN: Till Aug 21; noon - 7pm (weekdays) & noon - 4pm (Sat), closed on Sun; artist s talk: Aug 18, 2-3pm ADMISSION: Free TEL: INFO: info@oneeastasia.org In Vain In Vanity: Lim Charlotte s First Solo Exhibition Singapore-born artist Lim Charlotte s first solo exhibition showcases strife in physical and mental intimacy and seeks to articulate and demonstrate what happens when the self defies sexual affirmation. WHERE: 107 Rowell Road MRT: Jalan Besar WHEN: Today, 7pm (opening reception) - Sept 17, 11am - 7pm ADMISSION: Free TEL: WHERE: KC Arts Centre Home of SRT, 20 Merbau Road MRT: Fort Canning WHEN: Till Sept 7, 10am (weekdays) and 11am (Saturdays and public holidays); additional 2pm show tomorrow ADMISSION: From $26 from Sistic (call or go to INFO: catinthehat PHOTOS: HOUSE OF MUSIC, LEE JIA WEN, SINGAPORE REPERTORY THEATRE INFO: limcharlotte.com & ultrasupernew.com THEATRE Lim Cheng Hoe: Painting Singapore Late-Night Texting This survey showcases Lim Cheng Hoe s inspiring journey towards becoming Singapore s leading plein-air (the practice of painting outdoors) watercolour artist as he captured the country s evolving landscapes and people across four decades. WHERE: Level 4 Gallery, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew s Road MRT: City Hall WHEN: Till June 9 next year; 10am 7pm (Sat - Thu), 10am - 9pm (Fri) ADMISSION: Free INFO: goo.gl/f2etck EXHIBITIONS (SHOWS) Natas Holidays Travel specialists, tour operators and national tourism organisations will present popular and special travel destinations from around the world. WHERE: Halls 3 & 4 Singapore Expo, 1 Expo Drive MRT: Expo WHEN: Aug 17-19, 10am pm ADMISSION: Free TEL: INFO: events@natas.travel or go to natastravelfair.travel/ natas-holidays-2018 For the third year running, Centre 42 throws open its doors for two nights of text-based experiences, with more than 30 short plays by theatre collectives Ground Z-0, Dark Matter Theatrics, Main Tulis Group and The Second Breakfast Company. There will also be a pop-up store and programming by BooksActually. WHERE: 42 Waterloo Street MRT: Bencoolen/Bras Basah WHEN: Aug 24 & 25, 7-11pm ADMISSION: Free; first-come, firstserved INFO: centre42.sg/lnt2018 The Fall By James Fritz Singapore Repertory Theatre s The Young Company will perform James Fritz s The Fall for its graduation show. Directed by Daniel Jenkins, the production is a candid and moving look at young people s relationship with ageing and intergenerational differences. WHERE: KC Arts Centre Home of SRT, 20 Merbau Road MRT: Fort Canning WHEN: Aug 24 & 25, 8pm ADMISSION: $30 ($20 for students, full-time national servicemen & seniors) TEL: INFO: Twilight Tunes WHERE: Ngee Ann Auditorium, Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place MRT: Raffles Place WHEN: Tomorrow, 7.30pm ADMISSION: $25 from Sistic INFO: dizisocietysg.wixsite.com/tff2018 Wings Of Resonance WHERE: Victoria Theatre, 9 Empress Place MRT: Raffles Place WHEN: Sunday, 4.30 and 8pm ADMISSION: $18 to $68 from Sistic INFO: dizisocietysg.wixsite.com/tff2018 Date: Sept 23, 2018 Time: From 4am Venue: Singapore Sports Hub Register at Sign up before Aug 19, 2018 and stand to win a MOBOT Freedom Lite Scooters worth $1,499 sponsored by MOBOT For enquiries, please call (Mon Fri, 10.30am 5.30pm, except public holidays) or info@straitstimesrun.com

50 FilmPicks FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES happenings life D7 Yip Wai Yee Entertainment Correspondent recommends VIDDSEE JUREE AWARDS SINGAPORE Following similar events in other parts of South-east Asia, this short film competition organised by the Viddsee video streaming site comes to Singapore for the first time. Ten films, from independent film-makers and schools in Singapore, have been shortlisted for the finals. The event will also feature talks and workshops, which are open to the public, and will close with the awards ceremony on Aug 19 at The Projector cinema. Among the short films is The Drum by Ler Jiyuan, a 25-minute work about a man named Kang (played by Wang Yuqing, above), who finds solace in a pair of Indian drums after being forced into early retirement. INFO: juree/singapore2018 THE OLD TRILOGY National Day celebrations continue through the weekend with this selection of documentaries about Singapore, all showing at The Projector. The Old Trilogy Old Places (2010), Old Romances (2012, above) and Old Friends (2015) are loving tributes to the Lion City, looking at our favourite locations, relationships and hawker haunts. The films are co-directed by a number of film-makers, including Royston Tan and Eva Tang. WHERE: The Projector, Level 5 Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Until Tuesday, various times ADMISSION: $13.50 from theprojector.sg FILMS NATURE CONTEST Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, NC16) Peregrinations In The City Following London s Falcons Men s Health Cover Guy Contest In 19th-century Qing Dynasty China, a warrior (Chow Yun Fat) gives his sword, Green Destiny, to his lover (Michelle Yeoh) for safekeeping, but it is stolen and the chase is on to find it. This epic period film is directed by Lee Ang. WHERE: Redrum, The Projector, Level 5 Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Tomorrow, 7.40pm; Sun 7.50pm ADMISSION: $13.50 (standard), $11.50 (concession) INFO: theprojector.sg Evan Landy undertook bird surveys for London s Royal Parks for more than five years, volunteered with the London Peregrine Partnership and worked on various biodiversity action plans for organisations in the British capital. In this talk, he will tell stories of urban peregrine falcons and common kestrels in his home city of London. WHERE: Nature Society (Singapore) Office, The Sunflower, 510 Geylang Road MRT: Aljunied WHEN: Today, pm ADMISSION/INFO: Free, register at tinyurl.com/talk-nss4 Kids Flix At GV Cinemas: Marvel Studios Black Panther (2018, PG) In Black Panther, T Challa, king of Wakanda, returns to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation after the death of his father to succeed the throne. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, his mettle as king and superhero Black Panther is tested in a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. WHERE: GV Bishan, City Square, Jurong Point, Paya Lebar, Bedok, Plaza, Suntec, Tampines, Tiong Bahru (11am); Katong, Yishun, Grand, Great World City (11.30am) MRT: Various WHEN: Tomorrow, various times ADMISSION: $6 (free for kids below 90cm), includes gift, while stocks last INFO: gv.com.sg Burning (2018, M18) Adapted from Haruki Murakami s short story Barn Burning, South Korean director Lee Chang-dong s simmering thriller ticks all the surrealist Murakami checkboxes: phantom cats, precarious love triangles and dangerous, pyromanic hobbies. The movie (with English and Chinese subtitles) was a Palme d Or nominee for the Cannes Film Festival this year. WHERE: The Projector, Level 5 Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Tomorrow, 8pm (Redrum); Sun, 4.50pm (Green Room) ADMISSION: $13.50 (standard), $11.50 (concession) INFO: theprojector.sg Orchid Garden Tour Explore the beauty and diversity of orchids at the National Orchid Garden with Singapore Botanic Gardens volunteer guides in this one-hour tour. Registration is required 15 minutes before each tour on a first-come, first-served basis. WHERE: Register at Visitor Services, Nassim Entrance, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road MRT: Botanic Gardens WHEN: Aug 18, 9, 10 & 11am (English) & 4pm (English/ Mandarin) ADMISSION: (National Orchid Garden) $5 for adults, $1 for students & seniors, free for children below 12 years old INFO: nparks_sbg_visitor_services@ nparks.gov.sg PETS Basic Obedience Foundation Class For Dogs Conducted by Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), the class incorporates the Amichien Bonding principles, the foundation of an owner s relationship with his dog. Participants will also learn effective techniques of communication and basic obedience exercises. WHERE: Tiong Bahru Park, 1 Henderson Road MRT: Tiong Bahru WHEN: Tomorrow & Aug 18 (4.30-6pm) ADMISSION: $350 ($250 for ASD adopters) TEL: INFO: info@asdsingapore.com To mark its 15th anniversary, Men s Health Singapore is conducting its first search for the next Men s Health Cover Guy among its readers. Male Singapore residents of at least 18 years old can submit their entries on the contest website. The winner can win more than $6,000 worth of prizes. WHERE: menshealth.com.sg/ coverguy WHEN: Till Aug 31 ADMISSION: Free INFO: menshealth.com.sg 2018 Apec Photo Contest The contest calls for submissions that illustrate how communities across the Asia-Pacific region can benefit from greater interconnectivity and digital opportunities. Entries taken with DSLR/digital cameras or mobile phone cameras are welcome. Contestants can submit up to three photos relating to the theme of harnessing inclusive opportunities and embracing the digital future. Prizes range from $750 to $2,000. WHERE: Go to goo.gl/ht7yjj for contest details WHEN: Entries close on Sept 27, midnight ADMISSION: Free INFO: David Hendrickson at drh@apec.org or Michael Chapnick at mc@apec.org KIDS Christmas In Summer At Snow City Celebrate an early Christmas inside Singapore s largest indoor snow playground, which will be home to interactive Arctic exhibitions, life-sized snow sculptures and an adrenaline-packed 60m snow slope. WHERE: Snow City Singapore, 15 Science Centre Road MRT: Jurong East WHEN: Till Aug 31, 10am - 6pm ADMISSION: Singaporeans & permanent residents: $15 an adult/$12 a child (others: $18 a person) for one-hour snow play, $25/$18 for two hours snow play ($28/$23); National Day special for kids: $5.30 (Till Aug 31) INFO: snowcity.com.sg PHOTOS: BIRDMANDOG, GOLDEN VILLAGE, OBJECTIFS Tayo Station At Downtown East Downtown East will be home to Tayo Station, the first Tayo characterbased indoor playground in South-east Asia. The South Korean animated series follows Tayo the Little Bus and his bus friends who often discover new sights on exciting daily adventures in the big city. WHERE: Market Downtown East, E!Hub, 1 Pasir Ris Close MRT: Pasir Ris WHEN: From Aug 29, 11am - 8pm (weekdays), 10am - 9pm (weekends & public/school holidays) ADMISSION: Child (two - 12 years old) with one adult: $24 weekday (unlimited playtime)/$28 weekend (for two hours); extra adult: $6; extra playtime $5 for 30 minutes; bundled prices & membership packages available INFO: (from Aug 20) LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON (PG) 120 minutes Screened as part of a celebration of the works of acclaimed Japanese film-maker Hirokazu Kore-eda, this drama follows a man named Ryota (Masaharu Fukuyama, above left), who discovers that his biological son was switched at birth with the boy he is raising. The critically acclaimed film was nominated for the Palme d Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. WHERE: The Projector, Level 5 Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Until Sunday, various times ADMISSION: $13.50 from theprojector.sg Centre, 90 Goodman Road MRT: Mountbatten WHEN: Today, 8.30pm ADMISSION: $30, tickets from ayeshatheplay.peatix.com TEL: INFO: ayeshatheplay@gmail.com WHEN: Tomorrow, 7.30pm; Sun, 3 & 7.30pm ADMISSION: By donation; invitations at Temple of Fine Arts, Central Square, 20 Havelock Road or at tinyurl.com/tfariveroflove TEL: INFO: admin@tfasg.org Premanadi The River Of Love The listings on these Happenings Presented by Temple of Fine Arts, this dance-drama draws inspiration from the many facets of the river Ganges, as well as the millions who live along its shores. The story follows the Anurag family who journey to the Indian city of Varanasi and discover facets of the river and of themselves they never knew existed. WHERE: Drama Centre Theatre, National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street MRT: City Hall/Bugis pages are free. Write to Life Happenings, Life, The Straits Times, 1000 Toa Payoh North, Singapore or stlife@sph.com.sg at least two weeks ahead. Include the name of the event, organiser, venue, date and time, ticket prices and nearest MRT station, as well as your name, address and contact number. We reserve the right to edit or reject items. Go to (click on Lifestyle) for more listings OTHERS Farmers & Healers Market Open Farm Community, in collaboration with Spa Esprit, is transforming its garden and alfresco deck into a Farmers & Healers Market with gastronomic treats and energy-healing workshops. The market aims to inspire urbanites to deepen their connection with nature and restore the body s natural ability to heal itself through mindful eating, and natural energy-healing practices. WHERE: Open Farm Community, 130E Minden Road, Dempsey Hill MRT: Botanic Gardens WHEN: Aug 19, 10am - 6pm ADMISSION: Free (take along cash; credit cards accepted only at selected stalls) INFO: enquiries@ofcsingapore.com.sg or go to openfarmcommunity.com LAST CALL Ayesha Ayesha was created with a vision to raise questions about being a woman with brown skin. The protagonist in this theatre production represents the journey of women in South Asia, from adolescence to old age, and how they deal with suppression in the form of societal pressures. Minimal dialogue in Hindi/Urdu, the work is not suitable for children under 10. WHERE: Black Box, Goodman Arts Sudoku correction The sudoku puzzle published on Sunday, Aug 5, contained several errors. We apologise for the mistake and are working with the puzzle suppliers to make sure such errors are not repeated. Here is a corrected version of the puzzle. The answer will be published on Sunday.

51 D8 life GoAheadQuoteMe We were prepared to go even higher but (were) totally discouraged... they will outperform any bid with unlimited resources... How can I compete with a billion-dollar corporate entity? Shanghai heatwave forces people onto streets LANCE BASS, member of former boyband N Sync, whose bid to buy the Brady Bunch house in Los Angeles was topped by an offer from Hollywood Studio I always tell my theatrical manager, Any time it says they re looking for white girls, send me out. Let me get in the room. Maybe they ll change their minds. ACTRESS ZENDAYA on breaking racial conventions in Hollywood I was in a car, and by the time the call finished, I sat outside his house and they were like, He s not in the zone for it right now. We ll do it another time. TALK SHOW HOST JES CORDEN on the snub from Kanye West to do a Carpool Karaoke segment, even as Corden s car was turning the corner to the rapper s house Pedestrian street Nanjing East Road has turned into an open-air slumber party as residents sleep there to escape the heat at home. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE People in Shanghai take to sleeping in the streets to escape the heat in their homes SHANGHAI With the current heat- wave proving to be a nightmare in Shanghai, home is not the dream place to catch a good night s rest for some folk. As the mega city swelters under record-high temperatures, it sometimes looks as if people are dropping dead from the torrid climate on its best-known shopping avenue. Normally bustling Nanjing East Road has turned into an open-air slumber party on recent nights as local residents try to escape the heat of their cramped nearby homes by sleeping outside on benches or directly on the pavement. The city of more than 24 million people has endured an extended hot spell over recent weeks, with temperatures yesterday topping 35 deg C for the 16th day this summer. Many homes in some of Shang- Hed Chef hai s low-rise older neighbourhoods lack air-conditioning, while residents who do have it will often seek ways to keep their electricity bills from skyrocketing in summer. At about 4am yesterday, nearly 100 people including women and children, but mostly bare-chested men were seen sleeping out on sidewalks normally crowded with shoppers and tourists during the day. Dozing upon newspapers, blankets or nothing at all, they sought relief from a night breeze blowing off the Huangpu River, which flows through the city centre and includes the famed Bund financial district. Some bivouacked in nearby People s Square Shanghai s main park or snored while curled up outside clothing-store windows as mannequins stood guard inside. For a number of men, the night s Hedy Khoo whips up traditional meals in easy-to-follow recipes The best ingredients tnp.sg/lifestyle bed was no more than a flat stretch of pavement, shirt and shoes off, with a large bottle of water and a Chinese bun placed nearby for breakfast. Shanghai residents are known for flocking to subway stations, shopping malls, libraries and supermarkets to escape the heat. Outlets of Swedish retailer Ikea are particularly popular with overheated visitors, who come to nap on sofas and beds in its air-conditioned showroom. The al fresco sleeping phenomenon is not likely to go away soon. Shanghai is getting hotter, logging a new record high of 40.9 deg C in July of last year. Eight of the 12 highest temperatures reached over the past century were hit only in the last five years, according to the city weather bureau. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

52 FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 THE STRAITS TIMES OnTVToday Free to air CHANNEL First Look Asia (Simulcast From CNA) (CA) 9.00 The Dr Oz Show 9 (HD) (IE) Celebrity Name Game (HD) (V) Make You Laugh Out Loud 3 (HD) (V) Everyday Gourmet 3 (HD) (IE) Anjum s Spice Stories (HD) (IE) PM Worst Cooks In America 6 (HD) (PG) (IE) 1.00 Wheel Of Fortune 35 (HD) (CC) (V) 1.30 Tanglin (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 2.00 My Sassy Neighbour (SC) 2.30 On The Red Dot Chef Mission (HD) (CA) 3.00 The Dr Oz Show 9 (HD) (PG) (IE) 4.00 Maggi & Me 2 (SC) 4.30 Cash Struck! (HD) (V) 5.30 Just For Laughs Gags 17 (HD) (V) 5.45 British Summer Time Olly Murs (HD) (PG) (V) 6.30 America s Got Talent 13 (HD) (PG) (V) 8.30 Tanglin (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 9.00 News 5 (HD) 9.30 On The Red Dot Chef Mission (HD) (CC) (CA) Friday Night Movie: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (HD) (PG13) (M) Tanglin (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 1.10 Friday Late Night Movie: Event Horizon (HD) (PG13) (M) 3.00 Friday Late Night Movie: The Last Exorcism 2 (HD) (PG13) (M) 4.40 Celebrity Name Game (HD) (V) 5.10 The Dr Oz Show 9 (HD) (IE) CHANNEL Housewives Pte Ltd (V) 7.00 Quaint! (HD) (V) 7.30 Hello Singapore Highlights (HD) (CA) 8.00 Say Cheese (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 9.00 Morning Express (HD) (News) 9.30 Paris & Milan (V) Let s Go Dating (HD) (IE) GeTai Challenge 2018 Grand Finals (HD) (CC) (V) PM JML Home Shopping (Infomercial) 1.00 News 8 At One (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 2.00 Cookie Master (S) 2.30 Your Hand In Mine (HD) (CC) (D) 3.30 Golden Age Talentime (HD) (CC) (V) 4.30 A Place Called Home (PG) (D) 5.30 Mightiest Mother-In-Law (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 6.30 Hello Singapore (HD) (News) 7.30 Reach For The Skies (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 8.00 Body SOS 7 (PG) (CC) (V) 8.30 Frontline (CA) 9.00 Say Cheese (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) News Tonight (HD) Jason s Food Memories (HD) (CC) (IE) Nothing Gold Can Stay (HD) (PG) (D) The Return Of Royal Monk (D) 1.00 Mr OK (D) 2.00 The Other Woman (D) 4.00 A Place Called Home (PG) (D) CHANNEL U PM 3.00 Sound Of My Dream (V) 5.00 Returned And Revenged (PG) (CC) (D) 6.00 Doctors (PG) (CC) (D) 7.00 The Gentlemen Of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop (PG) (CC) (D) 9.00 Mysterious Tastes (IE) Oh My Venus (PG) (CC) (D) News Tonight Mysterious Tastes (IE) television life My Dear Kudumbam Returns Vasantham, 8pm Operation Mekong Celestial Movies (HD) (Singtel TV Channel 585), 9pm Thiruppu invites her friend over, while Muni tries to change things around the household. After discovering that the drugs seized on Chinese ships were planted by the henchman of a notorious drug cartel leader, the governments of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China send a band of elite narcotics officers to the Golden Triangle to catch him. Stars Zhang Hanyu (left) and Eddie Peng. Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them HBO (StarHub TV Channel 601), 6.50pm A magizoologist is branded a fugitive as he attempts to recover his missing magical beasts in New York. Stars Katherine Waterston and Eddie Redmayne. PHOTO: DISTRIBUTION WORKSHOP The Gentlemen Of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop (PG) (CC) (D) 2.30 Close CNA 6.00 News Now (HD) 6.30 Conversation With (HD) 7.00 First Look Asia (HD) 9.00 Asia Business First (HD) Wild City (HD) (CC) News Now (HD) PM 2.02 Wild City (HD) (CC) 3.00 News Now (HD) 6.02 Wild City (HD) (CC) 7.00 Primetime Asia (HD) 8.02 Wild City (HD) (CC) 9.00 Primetime World (HD) 9.30 Correspondents Diary (HD) Singapore Tonight (HD) Luxe Asia 5 (HD) (CC) In Pursuit Of Magic: Glamping Adventures (HD) (CC) News Now (HD) Correspondents Diary (HD) 1.00 Singapore Tonight (HD) 2.00 News Now (HD) 2.30 Conversation With (HD) (CC) 3.02 Wild City (HD) (CC) 4.00 News Now (HD) 4.30 World View (HD) 5.02 Super Octogenarians (HD) (CC) 5.30 Correspondents Diary (HD) Programmes may be pre-empted by breaking news VASANTH PM 3.00 Super Samayal 3 (HD) (IE) 3.30 Saj & Kumar 2 (IE) 4.00 Priyasakhi (D) 4.30 Mr & Mrs Ragalai (V) 5.30 Latchiyam (S) 6.00 Suryaputhri 2 (D) 7.00 Primary Six (CC) (S) 7.30 Kamini Cool (CC) (S) 8.00 My Dear Kudumbam Returns (HD) (CC) (S) (See On TV Today) 8.30 Tamil Seithi (News) 9.00 Indian Beat 9 (HD) (CC) (IE) 9.30 Tamil Talkies: Kizhakku Cheemayilae (PG) (CC) (M) Tamil Seithi (News) (R) 1.00 Close OKTO 9.00 Justin Time (HD) (S) 9.30 Hiccup & Sneeze (HD) (P) Toby s Travelling Circus (S) Sesame Street (HD) (P) Tickety Toc (HD) (P) Paw Patrol (HD) (P) PM Hiccup & Sneeze (HD) (P) Counting With Paula (HD) (P) 1.00 Ranger Rob (P) 1.30 Justin Time (HD) (S) 2.00 Toby s Travelling Circus (S) 2.30 Sesame Street (HD) (P) 3.00 Tickety Toc (HD) (P) 3.30 Paw Patrol (P) 4.00 Junior Bake Off (HD) (S) 4.30 Sherlock Yack Zoo Detective (S) 5.00 Pound Puppies (S) 5.30 Grizzy & The Lemmings (HD) (S) 6.00 Yokai Watch (HD) (S) 6.30 Me, Myself & Isaac! (D) 7.00 Pokemon The Series: XY & Z (HD) (CC) (S) 7.30 Zak Storm (HD) (CC) (S) 8.00 International Champions Cup 2018: Benfica Vs Juventus (HD) (Sports) (Delayed) ONE Championship: Kings Of Courage (Jakarta) (HD) (PG13) (Sports) (Encore) 1.20 ONE Championship Weekly (HD) (PG13) (Sports) 1.50 Close SURIA PM 4.00 Waris Kasih (HD) (D) 5.00 Duda Pujaan Dara (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 6.00 Misi Wira Bahasa (HD) (S) (Debut) 6.30 Cinta Kek (HD) (IE) 7.00 Sesal Separuh Nyawa (HD) (PG) (CC) (D) 8.00 Berita (HD) (News) 8.30 Gunting The Series (HD) (PG) (D) 9.00 Dan Aku Jatuh Cinta (HD) (PG) (Telemovie) Perintis Kita (HD) (CC) (IE) Berita (HD) (News) (R) Close C: Children; CA: Current Affairs; CC: Closed Captions; Cul: Culture; D: Drama; IE: Info-Ed; M: Movies; P: Preschool; PG: Parental Guidance; R: Repeat; S: Schoolkids; SC: Sitcom; V: Variety Programme schedules correct at time of printing. Telecast details from Mediacorp, StarHub and Singtel TV. For pay TV updates, go to or StarHub TV HISTORY (CHANNEL 401) 9.00 Counting Cars Storage Wars Storage Wars Things You Don t Know About Singapore Swamp People 9 PM The Pickers Alone Storage Wars: Texas Swamp People Things You Don t Know About Singapore 5.20 Forged In Fire The Pickers Pawn Stars Counting Cars Human Journey: How The World Made America 9.55 Mountain Men Ozzy And Jack s World Detour Storage Wars: Texas 4 LIFETIME (CHANNEL 514) 9.30 MasterChef Australia Top Chef Jr Junior MasterChef Australia 2 PM The Ellen DeGeneres Show MasterChef Australia The Stepchild 4.05 Live PD Presents: Women On Patrol 4.30 The Amazing Race Australia The Ellen DeGeneres Show MasterChef Australia Up! Pretty Who Runs The World With Mongchin MasterChef Australia 10 HBO (CHANNEL 601) 8.30 American Pastoral (NC16) Ocean s Twelve PM Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen 2.45 Succession (NC16) 3.45 Bridget Jones s Diary (NC16) 5.20 Robinson Crusoe 6.50 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (See On TV Today) 9.00 The Fate Of The Furious (NC16) Girls Trip (M18) CINEMAX (CHANNEL 611) 9.30 Firewall Tremors 3: Back To Perfection PM 1.00 The Untouchables 3.00 We re No Angels (1989) 4.45 Blast From The Past 6.35 Cellular TheStarsSay Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Your romantic energy is off the charts, so spend time with your sweetie or keep an eye out for a love interest. Embrace the crowds and they will return the love. Their adulation means a lot to them, so you might as well accept it. Travel is on your mind. If you can hit the road or just plan for an upcoming trip, you should feel great. Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) If you start to feel frustrated with how the day is going, remember that you are not the only one having problems. Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Something bad is brewing between you and someone close and it is not something you can resolve easily. Your first instinct is to resist change, but if you can adapt just a little, you should do fine. Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Your brainy energy is right for solving tough problems or sorting through big ideas. Go solo if you cannot find someone to work them out with. Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Your social energy is perfect for hanging out with friends. At least one of them needs a talking-to and you can do it with finesse. Comics Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) You need to work with someone you do not normally get along with. The good news is that he is open to compromise. Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20) Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Focus on your health today. Your energy is perfect for taking positive, healthy steps. A major challenge crosses your path, but you do not have to take it up if you do not feel like it. Provided by Astrology.com ( Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Play hard you have to impress someone who is watching. If it seems too extravagant, that means you are doing something right Deepwater Horizon (NC16) The Last Boyscout (NC16) Jumper (NC16) HUB E CITY (CHANNEL 825) 9.00 Hot Door Night 14 (HD) Dowry (HD) Twenty-Four Hours 3 (HD) PM 1.00 TVB Entertainment News 2.00 My First Time (HD) 3.10 Sound Of My Dream (HD) 5.00 Dowry (HD) 6.00 TVB Entertainment News 7.00 Hot Door Night 14 (HD) 8.00 Phantacity 2018 (HD) Mr Player 6 (HD) HUB SPORTS 1 (CHANNEL 201) Cycling: incycle Mountain Bike: Enduro World Series 2018: Montagnes Du Caroux France Highlights Tennis: WTA Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic 2018 Finals PM 1.30 Tennis: ATP 1000 Rogers Cup Presented By National Bank 2018 Day 4 Last Tennis: ATP 1000 Rogers Cup Presented By National Bank 2018 Day 5 Quarter-finals Multi Sport: Action Sports World Motorsports: 2018 Cardiff FIM Speedway Grand Prix (Round 5) Highlights HUB SPORTS ARENA (CHANNEL 205) 7.00 Magazine: Hub Sports Basketball: 2018 Summer Super 8 Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka Vs Blackwater Elite 9.00 Basketball: 2018 Summer Super 8 Formosa Dreamers Vs ET Land Elephants Badminton: HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500 Singapore Open Quarter-finals PM 6.30 Magazine: Action Sports World Tennis: WTA All Access Magazine: Hub Sports World Boxing Super Series 2017/18 Cruiserweight Semi-finals Oleksandr Usyk Vs Mairis Briedis Magazine: Fight Stars Major League Soccer 2018 Highlights Wrestling: WWE Vintage (PG) Magazine: Hub Sports Magazine: The Burning Issue Singtel TV KISS Maddy, Jason & Arnold In The Morning Carol Smith PM 1.00 Charmaine Yee 4.00 Shan Wee 8.00 Josh s Goodnight Kiss ONE FM ONE FM s #1 Breakfast Show With Glenn And The Flying Dutchman Cheryl Miles PM 4.00 Weekdays With ONE FM MONEY FM The Breakfast Huddle With Elliott Danker, Yasmin Jonkers & Ryan Huang Midday With Howie Lim GARFIELD 8.35 The Last O.G The Mentalist 9.50 Horrible Bosses The Last O.G. CARTOON NETWORK (CHANNEL 226) 6.00 Oggy & The Cockroaches 7.00 Teen Titans Go! 9.00 The Powerpuff Girls We Bare Bears Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League Attack Of The Legion Of Doom! PM 1.00 Steven Universe 3.00 Unikitty 4.00 Adventure Time 5.00 The Powerpuff Girls 6.30 Teen Titans Go! 7.30 Unikitty 9.00 The Powerpuff Girls We Bare Bears AXN (HD) (CHANNEL 304) 6.00 The Blacklist Killjoys Blue Bloods Battlebots American Ninja Warrior Blue Bloods America s Got Talent 13 PM 1.20 Battlebots The Blacklist Blue Bloods American Ninja Warrior Killjoys Caught On Camera With Nick Cannon Rude(Ish) Tube 8.10 Don t Blink 8.40 Britain s Got Talent Quantico America s Got Talent 13 WARNER TV (HD) (CHANNEL 306) 6.00 izombie Arrow Person Of Interest DC s Legends Of Tomorrow Almost Genius izombie The Mentalist Focus PM 1.30 The Big Bang Theory izombie The Mentalist 4.00 Almost Genius 4.50 DC s Legends Of Tomorrow Arrow Almost Genius 7.20 The Big Bang Theory Almost Genius Radio Aries (March 21 - April 19) BABY BLUES D9 COMEDY CENTRAL ASIA (HD) (CHANNEL 324) 6.00 Just For Laughs Gags The Daily Show Howie Mandel All-Star Comedy Gala 8.20 Mr Bean 8.40 Most Ridiculous Mr Bean The Goldbergs Hot In Cleveland Mulaney A.P. Bio The Daily Show 23 PM Real Husbands Of Hollywood Comedy Central Stand-up, Asia! A Michael Jackson Celebration 2.15 Jeff Goldblum: Basic Bro 3.05 Above Average Funny Videos 3.10 The Goldbergs Hot In Cleveland 4.05 Just For Laughs Gags Mulaney 5.25 A.P. Bio 5.50 The Daily Show Above Average Funny Videos 6.30 Lip Sync Battle Almost Royals Above Average Funny Videos 7.30 Mr Bean 7.49 Above Average Funny Videos 7.55 Your Face Or Mine 8.20 Above Average Funny Videos 8.25 Your Face Or Mine 8.55 The Goldbergs Hot In Cleveland 9.45 Howie Mandel All-Star Comedy Gala The Comedy Get Down The Daily Show 23 JIA LE (HD) (CHANNEL 502) 6.00 Love Me, If You Dare 7.00 Love Won t Wait 8.00 Only Side By Side With You 9.00 The Way We Were In The Family PM Love Won t Wait 1.00 Peony In Bloom 2.00 In The Family 4.10 Only Side By Side With You 5.00 Love Won t Wait 6.00 Peony In Bloom 7.00 In The Family 9.00 Sing! China The Way We Were Tides PM 2.00 Prime Time With Claressa Monteiro 4.00 The Curve With Michelle Martin & Bernard Lim UFM UFM100.3 Mornings With Wenhong, Limei & Xiaozhu Lively Life With Kemin PM 1.00 Tea With Yuling 4.00 Sing-a-long With Xinying & Weilong 8.00 Feel The Night With Chengyao 96.3 HAO FM 6.00 Morning Drive Time With Jing Yun, De Ming And Jie Qi Lunch Break With Anna PM 1.00 Automation 4.00 Evening Drive Time With Li Yi And Guo Xian 8.00 Night Time With Wei Wen SUN RISE/SET TIME: 7.06am/7.15pm MOON RISE/SET TIME: 5.41am/6.15pm TIDES TODAY: Singapore: 3.43am (0.1m), 10.56am (2.6m), 4.09pm (1.2m), 10pm (2.9m). Desaru: 3am (0.4m), 10.35am (2.5m), 4pm (1.6m), 8.45pm (2.3m). Port Dickson: 5.40am (2.5m), 12.18pm (0.3m), 6.08pm (2.8m). Mersing: 1.13am (0.3m), 9.27am (3.1m), 4.11pm (1.6m), 7.23pm (1.8m). TIDES TOMORROW: Singapore: 4.35am (0m), 11.39am (2.7m), 5pm (1.1m), 10.48pm (3.1m). Desaru: 3.56am (0.3m), 11.22am (2.6m), 4.46pm (1.5m), 9.52pm (2.4m). Port Dickson: 1.08am (0.7m), 6.34am (2.7m), 1.19pm (0.2m), 6.53pm (2.9m). Mersing: 2.08am (0.2m), 10.15am (3.2m), 4.49pm (1.5m), 8.28pm (1.9m). For updates and more details, call Meteorological Service Singapore, NEA, on or go to

53 D10 life buzz Blockbuster category in Oscars draws flak This Oscar is feeling grouchy, alarmed by plunging television ratings. On Wednesday, the organisation behind the Academy Awards said it would add a category for blockbuster films and shorten the telecast, in a bid to turn things around. But the move to honour box-office winners was immediately assailed by some film critics. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called the change stupid, insulting and pathetically desperate. Other pundits noted that a category for outstanding achievement in popular film could backfire. What if a movie many see as a legitimate Best Picture contender the worldwide smash Black Panther (2018), for instance receives a nomination for the populist Oscar but not for best overall movie? Does that mean Black Panther and films like it are second-class citizens? The category will make its debut at the next Oscars ceremony on Feb 24. The academy s board also voted to keep the telecast to three hours. This year s show, in March, stretched nearly four hours. A third change will not take effect until 2020, the academy said. The telecast will be held earlier in the year in an attempt to speed up Hollywood s awards season, which in recent years has stretched to four solid months of ceremonies. By the time the Oscars roll around, there is little suspense about who will win what. The academy was forced to revise its Oscar script after a record low of 26.5 million people watched this year s telecast, a nearly 20 per cent drop from a year earlier. As recently as four years ago, the Oscars had an audience of 43.7 million viewers. Money is also on the line, for the Oscar telecast generates 83 per cent of the academy s US$148 million (S$202 million) in annual revenue. NYTIMES Cyndi Lauper still wants to have fun Before she made it big in the 1980s, Cyndi Lauper was in a cover band whose repertoire included a number of Rod Stewart hits. That s me trying so desperately to make that raspy sound like he makes, she said. Now, the Girls Just Want To Have Fun singer, 65, is having a blast, as the opening act for the veteran British rocker, 73, on his American tour. On Tuesday, the duo (left) brought the house down at New York s Madison Square Garden. LOS ANGELES PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Teacher pays Keith Urban s bill NEW YORK Teacher Ruth Reed was not impressed when the man said he was Keith Urban. I said that he did look like the (country star)... he said he was. I didn t believe him, I asked where Nicole (Kidman, his wife) was and who was the lady (with him). He told me it was his sister. My snippy words were, Yes, I m sure she wouldn t lie to an old lady. I was so sure he was just yanking my chain. He finally said that I could ask his bodyguard. It was then I realised what an idiot I was. CBS News reported that the incident occurred at a convenience store in Medford in New Jersey last Friday. Ms Reed said: This man was short of a few dollars, he asked a lady with him if she had money. I jumped in and said I would pay... He thanked me and asked my Published and printed by Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Co. Regn. No E. name. I asked him his and he told me it was Keith. It was not the first time she had provided assistance, adding that she had helped others settle their bills at the store called Wawa. I have made a resolution to once a week treat someone at Wawa. Occasionally, it happens more than once a week, she wrote on her Facebook account, which was later shared on Twitter by her former student. Ms Reed is still buzzing over her encounter with an Urban legend. This was out of the blue, she said. Being at the right place at the right time and too stupid to recognise Keith Urban when you see him. But we always tend to notice what people do wrong and we don t notice the good, northjersey.com quoted her as saying. Women try to look filthy to avoid harassment by S. Korean director The women on acclaimed South Korean director Kim Ki-duk s production team learnt to turn up at work looking like a filthy bum if they wanted to avoid any sexual harassment from him. This revelation was made by a make-up artist on MBC s investigative news show PD s Notepad. After airing claims of sexual harassment and assault against Kim and actor Cho Jae-hyun in March, the show followed up with another expose, reported The Korea Herald. Tuesday s edition noted that the women who came forward with allegations are now suffering from the stress of having their identities revealed, the pressure of lawsuits and the fear of revenge. In June, Kim sued the actresses who had accused him of sexual abuse and the show for defamation and false accusations. Tuesday s show featured additional women who also claimed to be victims of sexual abuse by Kim and Cho. Members of film staff, who had worked with Kim, said they were sexually harassed. One said she was asked to sleep with Kim while another said he groped her. An actress sued by Cho said she had been taking too many pills after the incident and was worried that she would not be able to conceive. She did not say what kind of pills they were. Another woman, who is not working in the entertainment sector, said she was sexually harassed by Cho at a karaoke session. Kim had applied unsuccessfully for an injunction against airing the show two days before the Tuesday broadcast. He said through his lawyer that he hopes the truth is revealed through an official legal procedure, not through a court of public opinion. The lawyer said Kim had been labelled as a rapist without an investigation or a trial, calling on the accusers to file charges rather than use the media as their mouthpiece. SEOUL A member of Audit Bureau of Circulations Singapore. Customer Service (Circulation): , circs@sph.com.sg, Fax