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Singapore retail sales drop
<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffee Shop Talk - Singapore retail sales drop</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">SDPpolorules <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">12:12 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 3) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>864.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Singapore retail sales drop on fewer purchases of cars, jewelry
Friday, 15 August 2008
Shamim Adam
Bloomberg
Singapore's retail sales fell for the first time in four months as vehicles sales slumped and consumers bought fewer luxury goods, mobile phones and computers.
The retail sales index fell 3.2 percent from a year earlier, after climbing 4.8 percent in May, the Statistics Department said today. That was worse than the median forecast for a 0.2 percent decline in a Bloomberg News survey of 10 economists. Excluding vehicles, sales dropped 0.8 percent.
Singapore's tourism arrivals have eased as the island's dollar appreciated, and the number of visitors in June dropped the most since the SARS outbreak five years ago. The government last week lowered its 2008 growth forecast as the highest inflation rate in 26 years leaves consumers with less to spend.
"Car sales have been weakening around the world as oil prices rose, and it's not surprising to see the same in Singapore as well,'' said David Cohen, director of Asian Forecasting at Action Economics in Singapore. "Retail sales are not expected to pick up very much in the second half.''
Adjusted for seasonal factors, retail sales in June were unchanged from May. Excluding cars, the index fell 2.2 percent from June, the government said.
Vehicle sales in June declined 8 percent from the same month in 2007. From May, auto sales rose 6.8 percent, without adjusting for seasonal factors.
Sales at gas stations in Singapore jumped 27 percent in June from a year earlier, and dropped 4.1 percent from the month before, today's report showed. The government doesn't subsidize fuel, prompting oil companies to pass on rising costs to motorists.
Purchases at supermarkets grew 8.4 percent from a year earlier, and slipped 5.4 percent from the previous month. The Southeast Asian city state of 4.6 million people imports about 90 percent of its food.
Department-store sales gained 5 percent in June from the same month in 2007, and dropped 4.5 percent from May.
Purchases of furniture and household equipment slid 10 percent from a year earlier. Apparel and footwear sales rose 2.8 percent and those of watches and jewelry declined 21.8 percent.
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<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Friday, 15 August 2008
Shamim Adam
Bloomberg
Singapore's retail sales fell for the first time in four months as vehicles sales slumped and consumers bought fewer luxury goods, mobile phones and computers.
The retail sales index fell 3.2 percent from a year earlier, after climbing 4.8 percent in May, the Statistics Department said today. That was worse than the median forecast for a 0.2 percent decline in a Bloomberg News survey of 10 economists. Excluding vehicles, sales dropped 0.8 percent.
Singapore's tourism arrivals have eased as the island's dollar appreciated, and the number of visitors in June dropped the most since the SARS outbreak five years ago. The government last week lowered its 2008 growth forecast as the highest inflation rate in 26 years leaves consumers with less to spend.
"Car sales have been weakening around the world as oil prices rose, and it's not surprising to see the same in Singapore as well,'' said David Cohen, director of Asian Forecasting at Action Economics in Singapore. "Retail sales are not expected to pick up very much in the second half.''
Adjusted for seasonal factors, retail sales in June were unchanged from May. Excluding cars, the index fell 2.2 percent from June, the government said.
Vehicle sales in June declined 8 percent from the same month in 2007. From May, auto sales rose 6.8 percent, without adjusting for seasonal factors.
Sales at gas stations in Singapore jumped 27 percent in June from a year earlier, and dropped 4.1 percent from the month before, today's report showed. The government doesn't subsidize fuel, prompting oil companies to pass on rising costs to motorists.
Purchases at supermarkets grew 8.4 percent from a year earlier, and slipped 5.4 percent from the previous month. The Southeast Asian city state of 4.6 million people imports about 90 percent of its food.
Department-store sales gained 5 percent in June from the same month in 2007, and dropped 4.5 percent from May.
Purchases of furniture and household equipment slid 10 percent from a year earlier. Apparel and footwear sales rose 2.8 percent and those of watches and jewelry declined 21.8 percent.
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Flats Painted PINK to Please Who?
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Too garish? <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Some residents find the proposed colour schemes for estate's art deco flats too garish or cartoonish </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Hong Xinyi
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom>
Brighter colours such as pink, purple and blue are among the options to replace the buildings' current images of the colour schemes for pre-war flats. Fifth picture onwards are the choices for post-war flats. Residents must send in their votes by tomorrow. -- PHOTO: TANJONG PAGAR TOWN COUNCIL
</TD></TR><TR><TD>
View more photos
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
Pink, purple and blue are colours that have made some people see red instead.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>'A place that evokes memories of the past doesn't need such loud colours.'
ACCOUNTANT EDWIN LEOW, 38, who moved into the neighbourhood last year
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>A proposed paint job for Tiong Bahru estate's iconic art deco flats has upset some residents, some of whom feel the area will look too loud or cartoonish.
On Aug 8, the Tanjong Pagar Town Council had sent out survey forms to residents of the 57 pre-war and post-war apartment blocks. It sought their vote for an upcoming repainting job.
Among the options: brighter colours like pink, purple and blue in place of the current cream and beige shades of the past decade.
Residents have to send in their votes by tomorrow and the council expects work to begin next month.
Mr Andrew Loh of LG Architects & Associates was hired by the council to come up with several colour schemes. Members of the residents committee then narrowed these down to eight schemes: four for the pre-war and four for the post-war buildings.
All was well, until the survey forms were sent out.
One resident, advertising executive Eugene Yip, 37, who moved there four years ago, said the proposed colours will make the area look 'very cartoonish and kiddy, like a Disneyland'.
'It's good to give the buildings fresh paint, but these colours won't enhance the ambience of Tiong Bahru,' he said. 'I prefer softer colours.'
He and other residents have written to the town council asking for better options. Several spoke of the buildings' legacy.
Accountant Edwin Leow, 38, who moved into the neighbourhood last year, said: 'A place that evokes memories of the past doesn't need such loud colours.'
Fellow resident Terence Yeung, 36, an installation artist, agreed. 'The colours proposed show a poor understanding of conservation. We will lose the authenticity of this area's charm and art deco architectural heritage.'
Built by the then Singapore Improvement Trust in the 1930s, the pre-war buildings formed the first public housing estate in Singapore.
The area, bounded by Seng Poh Road, Outram Road and Tiong Poh Road, was given conservation status in 2003.
An Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) spokesman told The Sunday Times that owners of conserved buildings do not need to consult the URA when repainting is carried out as part of regular maintenance work.
'The exceptions are certain landmarks and categories of buildings where a specific colour scheme is part of the conservation building's architectural value.'
Examples include black and white bungalows and buildings of stone, brick tile and Shanghai Plaster finish, which are all required to keep their original appearance.
Said the spokesman: 'URA has generally given the owners of conservation buildings greater flexibility in the choice of colour because it does not affect the building structure and is easily reversible. However, we do encourage owners to use colours that would enhance the architectural qualities of their heritage buildings.'
Over the past five years, these conserved Tiong Bahru flats have attracted growing numbers of young professionals, including many from the creative industries.
Property agent Alvin Yeo, 37, who lives in one of these flats, estimates that these buyers make up about 20 per cent of the thousand or so households in his neighbourhood.
He felt going ahead with the colour schemes will affect property prices there.
A 1,000 sq ft apartment here currently costs about $550,000 to $600,000, said Mr Yeo, who estimated that garishly coloured facades may dent these prices by around 10 per cent.
'The kinds of people interested in living in these buildings in recent years resist HDB blocks because they find them boring and they want something different,' he said.
'The potential buyers from this niche group will probably just shift their interest to areas like Balestier or Joo Chiat, which still retain their character.'
But not all residents objected to the proposed colours.
Housewife Patricia Yong, 36, who has been living in the estate for 10 years, liked the pale purple option. 'It's more feminine, and it's good to give the place a bit more colour.'
Retiree Michael Tan, 57, who has been living there since 1951, also liked the suggested colours. 'It will make the place look brighter.'
Mr Loy Sai Sai, 56, the senior property manager for Tanjong Pagar Town Council, has been in charge of this estate since 1991.
He said that Mr Loh was briefed on the architectural significance of the estate.
'Colours are very subjective. We just wanted to let the residents have a chance to participate in this process of giving the whole estate a better living environment.
'We are open to suggestions. We will look at the feedback, and if a majority of residents are not in favour of the proposed colours, we will make changes.'
[email protected]
<HR width="50%" SIZE=1>
Should the flats in Tiong Bahru get a bright makeover? Send your comments to [email protected] Are the colours of HDB flats too gaudy these days? Log on to straitstimes.com to have your say
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Too garish? <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Some residents find the proposed colour schemes for estate's art deco flats too garish or cartoonish </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Hong Xinyi
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Brighter colours such as pink, purple and blue are among the options to replace the buildings' current images of the colour schemes for pre-war flats. Fifth picture onwards are the choices for post-war flats. Residents must send in their votes by tomorrow. -- PHOTO: TANJONG PAGAR TOWN COUNCIL
</TD></TR><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
Pink, purple and blue are colours that have made some people see red instead.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>'A place that evokes memories of the past doesn't need such loud colours.'
ACCOUNTANT EDWIN LEOW, 38, who moved into the neighbourhood last year
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>A proposed paint job for Tiong Bahru estate's iconic art deco flats has upset some residents, some of whom feel the area will look too loud or cartoonish.
On Aug 8, the Tanjong Pagar Town Council had sent out survey forms to residents of the 57 pre-war and post-war apartment blocks. It sought their vote for an upcoming repainting job.
Among the options: brighter colours like pink, purple and blue in place of the current cream and beige shades of the past decade.
Residents have to send in their votes by tomorrow and the council expects work to begin next month.
Mr Andrew Loh of LG Architects & Associates was hired by the council to come up with several colour schemes. Members of the residents committee then narrowed these down to eight schemes: four for the pre-war and four for the post-war buildings.
All was well, until the survey forms were sent out.
One resident, advertising executive Eugene Yip, 37, who moved there four years ago, said the proposed colours will make the area look 'very cartoonish and kiddy, like a Disneyland'.
'It's good to give the buildings fresh paint, but these colours won't enhance the ambience of Tiong Bahru,' he said. 'I prefer softer colours.'
He and other residents have written to the town council asking for better options. Several spoke of the buildings' legacy.
Accountant Edwin Leow, 38, who moved into the neighbourhood last year, said: 'A place that evokes memories of the past doesn't need such loud colours.'
Fellow resident Terence Yeung, 36, an installation artist, agreed. 'The colours proposed show a poor understanding of conservation. We will lose the authenticity of this area's charm and art deco architectural heritage.'
Built by the then Singapore Improvement Trust in the 1930s, the pre-war buildings formed the first public housing estate in Singapore.
The area, bounded by Seng Poh Road, Outram Road and Tiong Poh Road, was given conservation status in 2003.
An Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) spokesman told The Sunday Times that owners of conserved buildings do not need to consult the URA when repainting is carried out as part of regular maintenance work.
'The exceptions are certain landmarks and categories of buildings where a specific colour scheme is part of the conservation building's architectural value.'
Examples include black and white bungalows and buildings of stone, brick tile and Shanghai Plaster finish, which are all required to keep their original appearance.
Said the spokesman: 'URA has generally given the owners of conservation buildings greater flexibility in the choice of colour because it does not affect the building structure and is easily reversible. However, we do encourage owners to use colours that would enhance the architectural qualities of their heritage buildings.'
Over the past five years, these conserved Tiong Bahru flats have attracted growing numbers of young professionals, including many from the creative industries.
Property agent Alvin Yeo, 37, who lives in one of these flats, estimates that these buyers make up about 20 per cent of the thousand or so households in his neighbourhood.
He felt going ahead with the colour schemes will affect property prices there.
A 1,000 sq ft apartment here currently costs about $550,000 to $600,000, said Mr Yeo, who estimated that garishly coloured facades may dent these prices by around 10 per cent.
'The kinds of people interested in living in these buildings in recent years resist HDB blocks because they find them boring and they want something different,' he said.
'The potential buyers from this niche group will probably just shift their interest to areas like Balestier or Joo Chiat, which still retain their character.'
But not all residents objected to the proposed colours.
Housewife Patricia Yong, 36, who has been living in the estate for 10 years, liked the pale purple option. 'It's more feminine, and it's good to give the place a bit more colour.'
Retiree Michael Tan, 57, who has been living there since 1951, also liked the suggested colours. 'It will make the place look brighter.'
Mr Loy Sai Sai, 56, the senior property manager for Tanjong Pagar Town Council, has been in charge of this estate since 1991.
He said that Mr Loh was briefed on the architectural significance of the estate.
'Colours are very subjective. We just wanted to let the residents have a chance to participate in this process of giving the whole estate a better living environment.
'We are open to suggestions. We will look at the feedback, and if a majority of residents are not in favour of the proposed colours, we will make changes.'
[email protected]
<HR width="50%" SIZE=1>
Should the flats in Tiong Bahru get a bright makeover? Send your comments to [email protected] Are the colours of HDB flats too gaudy these days? Log on to straitstimes.com to have your say
Re: Indian FTrash Tell Kids to Treat MRT As Playground!
no lah, preparing early for ns, they are doing 'area cleaning'.
no lah, preparing early for ns, they are doing 'area cleaning'.
Indon FTrash Exploiting Cabbies With CNG!
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Cabbies bemoan CNG woes <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Smart to give drivers of its Kia Carens taxis cash handouts over six months to help offset rising CNG prices and falling earnings </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Alvin Lim
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom>
Can't afford it
'We have no choice. We need to earn a living. I can't afford to drive my CNG taxi any more.'
CABBY ANG SONG KHOON (centre, with moustache), who was among 15 representatives who went to Smart's headquarters in Tampines to meet managing director Johnny Harjantho yesterday. -- SAMUEL HE/THE STRAITS TIMES
</TD></TR><TR><TD>
View more photos
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->Going green's fine, but show us the money. Our compressed natural gas (CNG) taxis are eating into our daily earnings.
That angry refrain came from a group of cabbies who are on a four-year contract to drive Smart Group's Kia Carens taxis which can run on CNG.
Their woes: In the past few months, not only were they in a fix having to drive all the way to just two CNG filling stations, but they were also hit by rising CNG prices.
The lure when they signed up was the promise of a $14,000 sum upon completion of their contracts.
But breaking the contract carried a penalty equivalent to 90 days of rental, or nearly $9,000. It would be waived only if the driver found a replacement to take over the lease.
Yesterday morning, 15 representatives of a group of more than 25 unhappy drivers went to Smart's headquarters in Tampines to meet managing director Johnny Harjantho.
The group wanted the company to allow them to return their CNG vehicles without any penalty, and to get back to driving diesel-powered taxis.
Among the reasons they gave were the hike in CNG prices, the lack of refuelling stations and long queues at the pumps.
There are only two CNG stations open to the taxi drivers: one in the west, in Jalan Buroh; and the other in the north, in Mandai.
The cabbies claimed that the Kia Carens' 2-litre engine does an average of only 180km on a full tank of CNG. While the vehicles are 'bi-fuel' and can run on petrol like most CNG cars here, the cabbies said it made no sense to switch to the more expensive petrol mode.
They had to rush back to Smart's refuelling station at Mandai up to four times daily when they ran low on CNG.
One cabby, Mr Willy Neo, 60, bemoaned the long queues in Mandai. He said he sometimes queued up for as long as an hour.
'Spending so much time at the CNG stations just isn't productive,' he said.
But the last straw was the continued earnings dip. Mr Thomas Tay, 32, who has been driving for three months, said that driving his CNG taxi for 16 hours a day gets him only $100 in net earnings.
He used to earn $150 for the same amount of time spent driving a diesel taxi.
'I should be earning more, not less, since CNG is supposed to be cheaper,' he said.
Contacted by The Sunday Times, Mr Harjantho said the company was also in a predicament.
But he had some good news: The company would give cash handouts of $100 monthly over the next six months to drivers of the Kia taxis.
He said Smart did not expect the rapid increase in CNG prices and overwhelming demand for its gas at the Mandai station when it began operations in February.
Smart's CNG drivers get a 12 per cent discount at the Mandai station.
Showing documents and records, he said the cost of buying CNG from the wholesaler had increased by 49 per cent. He added: 'There is a price to pay for going green...We are all doing our part to save the environment.'
It is understood the taxi drivers were unswayed.
'Everybody went green in order to save costs. It doesn't make sense now,' said one.
Another deadpanned: 'I can't afford to save the environment when I'm barely earning anything.'
Smart has a total of 800 taxis, of which 600 run on diesel and 200 on CNG. About 50 are Kia Carens CNG taxis.
Mr Harjantho said Smart had engaged its CNG kit installers to look into mechanical tweaks to improve the fuel consumption of the Kias.
He added that there were no complaints from drivers of other makes of CNG vehicles which Smart operates.
Mr Harjantho also said that Smart is working to improve the refuelling situation at its Mandai station. Two more pump operators have been added on weekends, and Smart plans to double the number of pumps from eight to 16 in the next two months.
A second station in Serangoon is expected to be completed in February next year.
Mr Harjantho said: 'We've come a long way with CNG. It's a shame to undo all the hard work that we've all put in.' [email protected]
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Cabbies bemoan CNG woes <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Smart to give drivers of its Kia Carens taxis cash handouts over six months to help offset rising CNG prices and falling earnings </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Alvin Lim
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Can't afford it
'We have no choice. We need to earn a living. I can't afford to drive my CNG taxi any more.'
CABBY ANG SONG KHOON (centre, with moustache), who was among 15 representatives who went to Smart's headquarters in Tampines to meet managing director Johnny Harjantho yesterday. -- SAMUEL HE/THE STRAITS TIMES
</TD></TR><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->Going green's fine, but show us the money. Our compressed natural gas (CNG) taxis are eating into our daily earnings.
That angry refrain came from a group of cabbies who are on a four-year contract to drive Smart Group's Kia Carens taxis which can run on CNG.
Their woes: In the past few months, not only were they in a fix having to drive all the way to just two CNG filling stations, but they were also hit by rising CNG prices.
The lure when they signed up was the promise of a $14,000 sum upon completion of their contracts.
But breaking the contract carried a penalty equivalent to 90 days of rental, or nearly $9,000. It would be waived only if the driver found a replacement to take over the lease.
Yesterday morning, 15 representatives of a group of more than 25 unhappy drivers went to Smart's headquarters in Tampines to meet managing director Johnny Harjantho.
The group wanted the company to allow them to return their CNG vehicles without any penalty, and to get back to driving diesel-powered taxis.
Among the reasons they gave were the hike in CNG prices, the lack of refuelling stations and long queues at the pumps.
There are only two CNG stations open to the taxi drivers: one in the west, in Jalan Buroh; and the other in the north, in Mandai.
The cabbies claimed that the Kia Carens' 2-litre engine does an average of only 180km on a full tank of CNG. While the vehicles are 'bi-fuel' and can run on petrol like most CNG cars here, the cabbies said it made no sense to switch to the more expensive petrol mode.
They had to rush back to Smart's refuelling station at Mandai up to four times daily when they ran low on CNG.
One cabby, Mr Willy Neo, 60, bemoaned the long queues in Mandai. He said he sometimes queued up for as long as an hour.
'Spending so much time at the CNG stations just isn't productive,' he said.
But the last straw was the continued earnings dip. Mr Thomas Tay, 32, who has been driving for three months, said that driving his CNG taxi for 16 hours a day gets him only $100 in net earnings.
He used to earn $150 for the same amount of time spent driving a diesel taxi.
'I should be earning more, not less, since CNG is supposed to be cheaper,' he said.
Contacted by The Sunday Times, Mr Harjantho said the company was also in a predicament.
But he had some good news: The company would give cash handouts of $100 monthly over the next six months to drivers of the Kia taxis.
He said Smart did not expect the rapid increase in CNG prices and overwhelming demand for its gas at the Mandai station when it began operations in February.
Smart's CNG drivers get a 12 per cent discount at the Mandai station.
Showing documents and records, he said the cost of buying CNG from the wholesaler had increased by 49 per cent. He added: 'There is a price to pay for going green...We are all doing our part to save the environment.'
It is understood the taxi drivers were unswayed.
'Everybody went green in order to save costs. It doesn't make sense now,' said one.
Another deadpanned: 'I can't afford to save the environment when I'm barely earning anything.'
Smart has a total of 800 taxis, of which 600 run on diesel and 200 on CNG. About 50 are Kia Carens CNG taxis.
Mr Harjantho said Smart had engaged its CNG kit installers to look into mechanical tweaks to improve the fuel consumption of the Kias.
He added that there were no complaints from drivers of other makes of CNG vehicles which Smart operates.
Mr Harjantho also said that Smart is working to improve the refuelling situation at its Mandai station. Two more pump operators have been added on weekends, and Smart plans to double the number of pumps from eight to 16 in the next two months.
A second station in Serangoon is expected to be completed in February next year.
Mr Harjantho said: 'We've come a long way with CNG. It's a shame to undo all the hard work that we've all put in.' [email protected]
Re: Indon FTrash Exploiting Cabbies With CNG!
>>>
Showing documents and records, he said the cost of buying CNG from the wholesaler had increased by 49 per cent. He added: 'There is a price to pay for going green...We are all doing our part to save the environment.' <<<
Wholesaler = Familee?
>>>
Showing documents and records, he said the cost of buying CNG from the wholesaler had increased by 49 per cent. He added: 'There is a price to pay for going green...We are all doing our part to save the environment.' <<<
Wholesaler = Familee?
Best Paid Govt: Sporns To Accept Lower Std of Living!
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Frugal living <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom>
Tan Hsueh Yun -- DESMOND FOO/ THE STRAITS TIMES
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
THE economy is slowing down and everyone wants to save money.
But it is not easy to change lifestyle habits.
Food writer Tan Hsueh Yun finds out if she can do it, with minimal pain.
For a week, she has to forgo driving her car and go easy on airconditioning usage at home. Read her account of how she fared in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Frugal living <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Tan Hsueh Yun -- DESMOND FOO/ THE STRAITS TIMES
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
THE economy is slowing down and everyone wants to save money.
But it is not easy to change lifestyle habits.
Food writer Tan Hsueh Yun finds out if she can do it, with minimal pain.
For a week, she has to forgo driving her car and go easy on airconditioning usage at home. Read her account of how she fared in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.
UncleYap witnessed Ravi's mistrial today
<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffee Shop Talk - UncleYap witnessed Ravi's mistrial today</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">firedingo <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">11:26 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>883.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Saturday, August 16, 2008
I witnessed Ravi's mistrial today in court
As simple as any layman will understand, it is a mistrial today at court for M Ravi's hearing regarding AGC's re-application to commit him to remand in Institute of Mental Health.
Mr. Ravi discharged his council Mr. Chia Ti Lik at the very beginning of the trial in open court at court 9, the trail went on for the entire morning with Mr. Ravi only representing himself without any other council. Under the law's very basic providence, any person on trial have the rights to council, however, the deputy public prosecutor went on the hearing asking the court to commit Mr. Ravi to IMH, as the accused Ravi who is supposedly of unsound-mind DID NOT HAVE ANY COUNCIL. And the presiding judge still let this application and argument went on for entire morning session.
Any layman of law will be able to simply understand that an accused person should not be defending in person without any council, against an application to commit himself to remand in mental hospital for having UNSOUND MIND. How can a person of UNSOUND MIND be able to represent himself? How can a court accept to hear an application in such a seriously unfair and prejudiced condition? How can this be right under any kind of law or legal system?
This is a very basic principal regardless of the background of accused person.
A surgeon is not supposed to operate on himself as his own patient.
A judge is not supposed to preside on his own case when he is accused person involved within the case.
A person being alleged to be of unsound mind shouldn't be unrepresented by a competent council for the hearing which might result to his own committal to a mental hospitalization.
If the public prosecutor by his own practice let such an accused person represented himself for such a hearing, he had already indeed compromised his own position to argue that this accused person is mentally incompetent or unfit, since the accused person can only be either of unsound mind meaning unfit to defend himself on his own, or being mentally fit and competent to defending himself in such a hearing. This has to be EITHER and can not be BOTH.
This hearing proceeding in such obviously unfair and unjust condition is scheduled to continue in the same manner tomorrow, can any one in the right mind imagine? In the absent of a lawyer representing Mr. Ravi, the court should had adjourned or appoint some qualified & competent lawyer before proceeding. Although Mr. Ravi is himself a very profound and senior lawyer, and he presented a logical and professional defense for himself in court today, as I witnessed, he still suffered serious prejudice.
If another person who is not trained in law like myself were in Ravi's shoes, facing such kind of insane trial can you imagine how much injustice and prejudice can be done in a famiLEE LEEgime court this way?
It is sad that DPP today did not realized his self-contradictory position in court. Mr. Ravi had been seriously prejudiced, and the judge let this not only go on for entire morning until court break for lunch and continued again in the afternoon session in the exactly same way, in Court 10, until after 5pm. Mr. Ravi suffered a mistrial and the famiLEE LEEgime's court made a miscarriage of justice, I witnessed the entire morning session until lunch.
I returned for the trial in the late afternoon, however as I arrived, it was already over on my arrival I met Mr. Ravi who was on his way walking out of the court.
Actually Mr Gopalan Nair was also on trial at Court 6 today, when Ravi's hearing was not in session at Court 9, I sat in Court 6 to listen to Mr. Nair's trial. Mr. Nair defended himself without any lawyer, and it was the 2nd mata witness for his cross examination today. Mr. Nair put this mata on the stand for 4 days of cross examination. The judge and DPP seems to be much more patience than those I had encountered in my own cases. :-)
Before dinner, I took Mr. Gopalan Nair to Mr. Ravi's office and we had a coffee together.
It was a very happy gathering, and we are all very pleased. I am very satisfied because the two of them Mr. Ravi & Mr. Gopalan Nair had for long donkey years suffered misunderstandings among themselves and they were not in good terms. Most people who know both of them will not expect this happy visit to take place.
However to our surprise, famiLEE LEEgime's charges against both of them (both lawyers, both Indians) had turned their hostilities back into friendship! I am so happy that I shared this happy moments with my 2 friends this evening. :-) Oh yes famiLEE LEEgime can do magic turning rival oppositions into friends! Thanks very much LEEgime! Charge us more! You are welcomed!
http://uncleyap-news.blogspot.com/
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<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
I witnessed Ravi's mistrial today in court
As simple as any layman will understand, it is a mistrial today at court for M Ravi's hearing regarding AGC's re-application to commit him to remand in Institute of Mental Health.
Mr. Ravi discharged his council Mr. Chia Ti Lik at the very beginning of the trial in open court at court 9, the trail went on for the entire morning with Mr. Ravi only representing himself without any other council. Under the law's very basic providence, any person on trial have the rights to council, however, the deputy public prosecutor went on the hearing asking the court to commit Mr. Ravi to IMH, as the accused Ravi who is supposedly of unsound-mind DID NOT HAVE ANY COUNCIL. And the presiding judge still let this application and argument went on for entire morning session.
Any layman of law will be able to simply understand that an accused person should not be defending in person without any council, against an application to commit himself to remand in mental hospital for having UNSOUND MIND. How can a person of UNSOUND MIND be able to represent himself? How can a court accept to hear an application in such a seriously unfair and prejudiced condition? How can this be right under any kind of law or legal system?
This is a very basic principal regardless of the background of accused person.
A surgeon is not supposed to operate on himself as his own patient.
A judge is not supposed to preside on his own case when he is accused person involved within the case.
A person being alleged to be of unsound mind shouldn't be unrepresented by a competent council for the hearing which might result to his own committal to a mental hospitalization.
If the public prosecutor by his own practice let such an accused person represented himself for such a hearing, he had already indeed compromised his own position to argue that this accused person is mentally incompetent or unfit, since the accused person can only be either of unsound mind meaning unfit to defend himself on his own, or being mentally fit and competent to defending himself in such a hearing. This has to be EITHER and can not be BOTH.
This hearing proceeding in such obviously unfair and unjust condition is scheduled to continue in the same manner tomorrow, can any one in the right mind imagine? In the absent of a lawyer representing Mr. Ravi, the court should had adjourned or appoint some qualified & competent lawyer before proceeding. Although Mr. Ravi is himself a very profound and senior lawyer, and he presented a logical and professional defense for himself in court today, as I witnessed, he still suffered serious prejudice.
If another person who is not trained in law like myself were in Ravi's shoes, facing such kind of insane trial can you imagine how much injustice and prejudice can be done in a famiLEE LEEgime court this way?
It is sad that DPP today did not realized his self-contradictory position in court. Mr. Ravi had been seriously prejudiced, and the judge let this not only go on for entire morning until court break for lunch and continued again in the afternoon session in the exactly same way, in Court 10, until after 5pm. Mr. Ravi suffered a mistrial and the famiLEE LEEgime's court made a miscarriage of justice, I witnessed the entire morning session until lunch.
I returned for the trial in the late afternoon, however as I arrived, it was already over on my arrival I met Mr. Ravi who was on his way walking out of the court.
Actually Mr Gopalan Nair was also on trial at Court 6 today, when Ravi's hearing was not in session at Court 9, I sat in Court 6 to listen to Mr. Nair's trial. Mr. Nair defended himself without any lawyer, and it was the 2nd mata witness for his cross examination today. Mr. Nair put this mata on the stand for 4 days of cross examination. The judge and DPP seems to be much more patience than those I had encountered in my own cases. :-)
Before dinner, I took Mr. Gopalan Nair to Mr. Ravi's office and we had a coffee together.
It was a very happy gathering, and we are all very pleased. I am very satisfied because the two of them Mr. Ravi & Mr. Gopalan Nair had for long donkey years suffered misunderstandings among themselves and they were not in good terms. Most people who know both of them will not expect this happy visit to take place.
However to our surprise, famiLEE LEEgime's charges against both of them (both lawyers, both Indians) had turned their hostilities back into friendship! I am so happy that I shared this happy moments with my 2 friends this evening. :-) Oh yes famiLEE LEEgime can do magic turning rival oppositions into friends! Thanks very much LEEgime! Charge us more! You are welcomed!
http://uncleyap-news.blogspot.com/
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Re: More than 2 month to build a BUS STOP
Did not AssLoon delay "unimportant" public infrastructure projects to ensure that "more important" ones like casinos dun overrun their budgets?
Did not AssLoon delay "unimportant" public infrastructure projects to ensure that "more important" ones like casinos dun overrun their budgets?
Re: AssLoon Gives Way to PRC $luts!
Ken: Just at my eyes! U think I am LYING? *hee*hee*
Can you believe this shit!!!!
Mr. Ho Weng Hee, Ken
Adjunct Lecturer
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addy9697 = 'kenhowh' + '@'; addy9697 = addy9697 + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; var addy_text9697 = 'kenhowh' + '@' + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; document.write( '<a ' + path + '\'' + prefix + ':' + addy9697 + '\'>' ); document.write( addy_text9697 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //-->\n </SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- document.write( '' ); //--> </SCRIPT>
Ken: Just at my eyes! U think I am LYING? *hee*hee*
2 charges & No Food for Ravi at Mata-Chu
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Coffee Shop Talk - 2 charges & No Food for Ravi at Mata-Chu</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">firedingo <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">11:34 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>886.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Tuesday, August 12, 2008
<!-- Begin .post -->Arrested M Ravi had no food at police station and charged before investigation completed
Yesterday in Court 26, after he was charged with the 2 aboves, Mr. M Ravi told the judge that he had no food since the night before, and was not given any food nor drink at Cantonment Police Complex where he was arrested and detained, he had been hungry all the way until he was in court. The lock-up's mata gave him a tea after that.
Mr. Ravi told the judge that the famiLEE LEEgime mata first took only a short statement (which have a special police formal document type number) and then soon he was charged and made to sign the charge sheet already, before the long statement (which have a very different police formal document type number) was taken. That is to say that he was charged so quickly before any formal investigation process was completed. That is a wrong matter in law.
It thus very obvious that the charges are being INSTRUCTED UPON the Investigation Officers, who were just rushing to complete their task to bring Mr. Ravi to court before the court's day's end. Court 26 was already in the night court mode when I left. This is the sign that the charges are not the result of a normal police investigation process, and the result had been determined before the very short process was rushed to meet the court's hours.
Why so? Because they wanted Mr. Ravi in IMH before dark and not want him in Cantonment Police Complex.
Mr. Ravi spoke very well in court yesterday, and rebuked the prosecutor's KIND OFFER to have him checked and examined in Institute of Mental Health which prosecutor said was MEANT FOR HIS (Ravi's) OWN GOOD. Mr Ravi said he has his own doctor who is very professionally qualified who treated him in 2006 at Adams Road Hospital, and he does not need the KIND OFFER of prosecutor.
Mr. Ravi spoke very clearly as he personally addressed the court for about 20 minutes, with profound knowledge of law & police procedures. The judge was convinced that it is not necessary to commit M Ravi to any mental remand.
http://uncleyap-news.blogspot.com/
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<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
<!-- Begin .post -->Arrested M Ravi had no food at police station and charged before investigation completed
Yesterday in Court 26, after he was charged with the 2 aboves, Mr. M Ravi told the judge that he had no food since the night before, and was not given any food nor drink at Cantonment Police Complex where he was arrested and detained, he had been hungry all the way until he was in court. The lock-up's mata gave him a tea after that.
Mr. Ravi told the judge that the famiLEE LEEgime mata first took only a short statement (which have a special police formal document type number) and then soon he was charged and made to sign the charge sheet already, before the long statement (which have a very different police formal document type number) was taken. That is to say that he was charged so quickly before any formal investigation process was completed. That is a wrong matter in law.
It thus very obvious that the charges are being INSTRUCTED UPON the Investigation Officers, who were just rushing to complete their task to bring Mr. Ravi to court before the court's day's end. Court 26 was already in the night court mode when I left. This is the sign that the charges are not the result of a normal police investigation process, and the result had been determined before the very short process was rushed to meet the court's hours.
Why so? Because they wanted Mr. Ravi in IMH before dark and not want him in Cantonment Police Complex.
Mr. Ravi spoke very well in court yesterday, and rebuked the prosecutor's KIND OFFER to have him checked and examined in Institute of Mental Health which prosecutor said was MEANT FOR HIS (Ravi's) OWN GOOD. Mr Ravi said he has his own doctor who is very professionally qualified who treated him in 2006 at Adams Road Hospital, and he does not need the KIND OFFER of prosecutor.
Mr. Ravi spoke very clearly as he personally addressed the court for about 20 minutes, with profound knowledge of law & police procedures. The judge was convinced that it is not necessary to commit M Ravi to any mental remand.
http://uncleyap-news.blogspot.com/
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
One Nation Under Lee screened in Mudland
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Coffee Shop Talk - One Nation Under Lee screened in Mudland</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">SDPpolorules <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">12:00 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 6) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>860.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>One Nation Under Lee to be screened in Malaysian cities
Friday, 15 August 2008
Singapore Democrats
Artist-activist Seelan Palay will make several trips to Malaysia in September to discuss the documentary One Nation Under Lee that will be screened in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang as well as Sarawak. The screening is part of the Freedom Film Festival that is organised annually in Malaysia.
The film was screened in Singapore in May this year in a private function. Government officials barged in, however, and demanded that the video be handed over despite protests that the screening was a completely private matter (see here).
The 45-minute film documents how Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his PAP have ruled Singapore by dismantling the free media, detaining dissidents and suing opposition leaders. The crushing of democracy has left Singaporeans at the mercy of the authorities with no means of standing up for their interests and rights.
One Nation is one of the first films that has openly and directly hit out at the PAP and pulls no punches in its criticism of the Government.
Film: One Nation Under Lee
Dir: Seelan Palay
Date: Saturday 6 Sept 2008
Time: 4.30 pm
Venue: Central Market Annexe, Kuala Lumpur
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<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Friday, 15 August 2008
Singapore Democrats
Artist-activist Seelan Palay will make several trips to Malaysia in September to discuss the documentary One Nation Under Lee that will be screened in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang as well as Sarawak. The screening is part of the Freedom Film Festival that is organised annually in Malaysia.
The film was screened in Singapore in May this year in a private function. Government officials barged in, however, and demanded that the video be handed over despite protests that the screening was a completely private matter (see here).
The 45-minute film documents how Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his PAP have ruled Singapore by dismantling the free media, detaining dissidents and suing opposition leaders. The crushing of democracy has left Singaporeans at the mercy of the authorities with no means of standing up for their interests and rights.
One Nation is one of the first films that has openly and directly hit out at the PAP and pulls no punches in its criticism of the Government.
Film: One Nation Under Lee
Dir: Seelan Palay
Date: Saturday 6 Sept 2008
Time: 4.30 pm
Venue: Central Market Annexe, Kuala Lumpur
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Re: Best Paid Govt: Sporns To Accept Lower Std of Living!
damn chiobu.. frugal some more.
Frugal living
damn chiobu.. frugal some more.
Re: Best Paid Govt: Sporns To Accept Lower Std of Living!
if she's living frugally, how on earth did she end up looking like porky pig???
if she's living frugally, how on earth did she end up looking like porky pig???
Re: Best Paid Govt: Sporns To Accept Lower Std of Living!
Merging makapaaa's news together?
Not necessary...
Merging makapaaa's news together?
Not necessary...
if she's living frugally, how on earth did she end up looking like porky pig???
Re: Indon FTrash Exploiting Cabbies With CNG!
Are cabbies represented by any union? What's the trade union doing in looking after the interests of transport workers?
Are cabbies represented by any union? What's the trade union doing in looking after the interests of transport workers?
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