Daily Archives: February 13, 2015 (30 Articles Found)
Singtel next to offer wider 4G+ coverage
Local telcos are gearing up for the next wave of speedier mobile handsets by readying their high-speed networks for extensive coverage across the nation. Telco Singtel confirmed yesterday that it will offer nationwide coverage of the next-generation 4G…
Nightly buzz at Jurong for the catch of the day
It is just past midnight and as the rest of Singapore winds down, the lights and motors in a little corner of Jurong are just getting started and revved. Tucked away in Singapore’s west end, the Jurong Fishery…
Eastern Singapore stench likely caused by industry or rubbish burning, scientist says
A strong burning smell detected in eastern Singapore on Thurs evening was likely caused by unusual industrial activity or the burning of rubbish, a research scientist told ST on Fri. Residents of Pasir Ris, Tampines and Bedok had…
Telcos achieve nationwide outdoor 4G coverage ahead of schedule
All three telcos here have achieved significant nationwide outdoor 4G coverage, said a survey conducted by IDA the results of which will help set the standards in the Quality of Service framework for 4G services. The islandwide survey…
Managing agent’s staff not privy to tender process: Pritam Singh
The couple who own FMSS Solutions and Services (FMSS), the company appointed as AHPETC’s managing agent, may hold top appointments in the town council, but they are not involved in its tender decision-making processes, Aljunied GRC MP Pritam…
More than half of all schools share their sports facilities: Hawazi Daipi
More than half of all schools in Singapore have arranged to share their sports facilities with the wider community, allowing access to about 150 school fields, and 75 indoor sports halls. These figures were revealed by Senior Parliamentary…
87,900 households have rented out their flats or rooms
As at Jan 31, 87,900 households have rented out their flat, or one or more rooms. Ninety-two per cent of these are Singaporean households, while the remaining 8 per cent are owned by PRs. Since Jan 2013, HDB…
About 10,000 balance flats with HDB
HDB has about 10,000 balance flats currently, with about 3,000 units in mature estates. About 4,000 units are three-room and smaller flats. These flats are planned to be released in two batches of about 5,000 units each, to…
Town council should use centralised computer system: Png Eng Huat
To safeguard public interests, a centralised computer system should be made available for the town council’s use, Hougang MP Png Eng Huat suggested in Parliament on Fri. Mr Png said setting up a centralised computer system would safeguard…
Surviving declining home values and increasing interest rates: SRX
We discuss how to defend against declining HDB Prices and Increasing Mortgage Interest Rates, and interview experts at SRX Property and DBS Bank. A strengthening dollar usually means higher interest rates here in Singapore. This, in turn, means…
Property players should be patient
The lobbying namely by consultants, developers and real estate agencies for the Government to moderate property market cooling measures by doing away with ABSD has been growing louder (“Cut second-home ABSD for citizens as market slides”; Feb 3).…
Hotels have means, obligation to check guest reliability
In her response (“Short-term leasing has its benefits”; last Sat) to my letter (“Potential ill effects of short-term leasing”, Feb 4), Ms Bianca Sandra Overree said hotels and hostels merely want to see the page of one’s passport…
Look at big picture, work towards mitigating risk
There are some objectives that the Government should consider before deciding on the policy regarding short-term rentals (“URA to seek feedback on short-term home rentals”; Dec 17, 2014). The first is that allowing short-term rentals will open up…
Relook condos’ management council system
I share Madam Chan Lai Chan’s sentiments that for community harmony, the unhealthy practices of condominiums’ MCs should go (“Councils shouldn’t be ‘exclusive country clubs'”; Jan 30). I have observed flaws in the AGM election process where neither…
Bring in predators to solve bird problem
In “The silence of the birds” (Jan 4), wildlife scientist Umesh Srinivasan said that logged forests being converted into oil palm plantations have next to zero value for tropical biodiversity. In land-scarce Singapore, what little that is left…
Want a pet? Be a responsible owner
SPCA agrees with Mr Frankie Mao that keeping a pet involves a long-term and serious commitment (“Irresponsible dog owners a bane”; Mon). Responsible pet ownership is something every owner should practise. Owners should always clean up after their…
Neighbours help keep elderly residents from hospitalisation
With a little help from their neighbours, elderly residents in the east of Singapore in a commnity programme have had to be hospitalised less often. And even when they were admitted to hospital, their length of stay has…
Gov’t to amend rules on underground space
The government plans to revise the State Lands Act and the Land Acquisition Act in order to facilitate its long-term plans for the usage and development subterranean space in Singapore, where land is scarce. In particular, it wants…
7 recently completed residential projects
There were 6,304 private housing units completed in the fourth quarter of 2014, increasing the number of homes that are ready-to-occupy in the year to 19,444 units, revealed a Savills report. The report stated that the total number…
The changing face of medical suites in Singapore
The image of the cosy Singapore private clinic where the private general practitioner cares for his/her patients until his/her retirement has gradually faded. Medical clinics or medical suites have evolved from what was predominantly owner-occupation to an investment…
Town council management should be depoliticised: Low Thia Khiang
The Government should look into the “depoliticising and professionalising of town management” so incoming town councils whether run by the PAP or the Opposition can work towards good management and safeguard residents’ interests. Rising to speak in support…
Town Councils Act to be amended to enforce tougher standards
Saying the Government can no longer take the light touch on town councils, MND Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday announced that the Town Councils Act will be amended to enforce greater standards of accountability and governance, as well…
Town council’s lapses ‘affect residents’ interests, safety’
Lacking in transparency, appointing a related party as its managing agent and failing to promptly deal with problems such was the pattern of behaviour on the part of AHPETC, and this has implications on residents’ interests and safety,…
Under-used car parks at sports facilities may be redeveloped: Wong
Car parks at sports facilities around the island that are under-utilised will be reviewed for possible redevelopment to build more amenities for public use, MCCY Minister Lawrence Wong told Parliament yesterday. He was replying to questions by Mounbatten…
Woodlands site attracts lowest EC land bid since 2011
A plot of land for EC development drew the lowest bid in three-and-a-half years at the close of its sale tender yesterday in a sign of persistent softness in the market for the hybrid public-private housing type. The…
Bring back ‘keep clean’ campaign
With a growing population, it is inevitable that Singapore is not as clean as it used to be. It is, perhaps, time to bring back the “keep clean” campaign as a reminder to Singaporeans and to educate foreigners…
Singapore luxury residential home prices down 6% in 2014, records biggest drop in Asia Pacific
Prices of luxury homes in Singapore recorded the biggest drop in Asia Pacific in 2014, after declining 6% for the full year. According to JLL, the decline was brought about by a myriad of policies aimed at a…
RCR homes take the centre stage as housing allowances shrink
Homes in RCR are in the limelight as expats’ housing allowances continue shrink. A report by Savills showed that RCR homes has been resilient to island-wide rent declines in the fourth quarter, while condo rents in CCR fell…
Developers shying away from once-popular EC sites on back of looming flat glut
Developers’ robust appetite for EC sites has been dampened by low sales take-up and a looming oversupply in the EC market. Cautious developers entered distinctly low bids for the past two EC site tenders. A Woodlands Ave 12…
Mapping SREITs’ investments across Asia from 2012-2014
SREITSs have struggles with the size of the country’s real estate market, prompting companies to expand investments across Asia. According to PwC’ 2015 APAC Real Estate outlook report the logical path for SREITs has been to look elsewhere…
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