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Former SG Lions players and jiu-jitsu athlete Fiona Toh team up to raise $132,000 for the underprivileged

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SINGAPORE: Former Singapore national footballers, including Aide Iskandar, Nazri Nasir, Malek Awab, Aleksandar Duric, and Team Singapore jiu-jitsu athlete Fiona Toh, joined members from the financial community over the weekend, as they raised nearly $132,000 in the SGX Cares Bull Charge Charity Futsal event held at Kick Off! in Kovan.

Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Social and Family Development, were present at the event as the guest of honour. A total of 34 teams participated in the charity futsal event, including an all-women team and youth players who battled it out on the pitches for a good cause. 

Other former Lions participating in the charity futsal event were Isa Halim, Lionel Lewis, and Razali Saad. They were joined by a team of celebrities consisting of Charlie Goh from Ah Boys to Men and CNA news anchor Steve Lai.

“SGX once again had invited the former Singapore players to compete and also to conduct a football clinic for the charitable organisation. We as former players felt privileged and encouraged to give back to the community and this was one way we could do it. Thanks to SGX for an amazing event and it was a great experience for us,” said former Singapore national captain Aide to The Independent Singapore.

Photo credit: SGX Cares Bull Charge

The funds raised at the Charity Futsal tournament will support underprivileged children and families, persons with disabilities and the elderly. In partnership with the Community Chest, all fundraising proceeds will be channelled to the adopted beneficiaries for 2023: AWWA Ltd., Autism Association (Singapore), Fei Yue Community Services, HCSA Community Services and Shared Services for Charities.

“We are grateful for such a strong turnout year after year. It is a great opportunity for our corporate sponsors, partners and beneficiaries to bond together over sports. This is especially meaningful as we mark 20 years of fundraising which has evolved over the years. Besides our flagship corporate events, we have a number of ground-up SGX Cares initiatives including colleagues shaving their heads for charity and introducing artificial intelligence (AI) to seniors and children through art,” shared Pol de Win, SGX Cares Bull Charge Organising Chairperson and Head of Global Sales & Origination, SGX Group.

To round off the 20th year of fundraising, the Bull Charge Charity Run will be held in person on 27 Oct 2023 at Marina Barrage. The Festival Village, suspended for the past three years due to COVID-19, will return this year.

Photo credit: SGX Cares Bull Charge

For Asian Games-bound jiu-jitsu Team Singapore, athlete Toh is pleased to contribute to this meaningful charity event and recounts her first-ever experience playing futsal.

“It was very meaningful to get together and participate for a good cause.  It felt good to win, mainly thanks to my teammates. They were great players and I had fun playing with them. It was actually my first time playing futsal, so I was trying my best not to be in the way. I’m thankful that my teammates were very encouraging as well given how green I am to the sport,” expressed Toh, who is leaving for Hangzhou, China, on Tuesday.

Toh explained to The Independent Singapore that she regularly donated to World Vision monthly via their child sponsorship program, whereby they select a particular child to sponsor. 

“This helps empower vulnerable children and allow them to enjoy their rights. Being a female myself, I found it extra meaningful to support young vulnerable girls and empower them through this.”

Toh, who was a volleyball player during her school days, made the switch to jiu-jitsu and represented Singapore at the 2019 SEA Games, added, “I feel proud to represent Singapore once again, and look forward to participating in the upcoming Asian Games.”

SFA recalls Msian Mee Suar, food allergen gluten detected

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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) announced on Sept 28 a recall of the noodle product Taste Original’s Organic Mee Suar (300g) from Malaysia after detecting gluten, an allergen, in it.

Gluten was not declared on the noodle’s packaging label, SFA said. “As gluten is an allergen, SFA has directed the importer, Taste Original Pte Ltd, to recall the implicated product. The recall is ongoing. Allergen in food could result in allergic reaction in individuals who are sensitive to it,” the agency added.

The common symptoms of a gluten allergy are the following: hives or skin rashes, nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting or diarrhoea, a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, headaches, and asthma.

A less common but more dangerous gluten allergy symptom is anaphylaxis, defined as “a potentially life-threatening reaction that can impair breathing and send the body into shock”.

Ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity must be declared on food packaging labels under Singapore’s Food Regulations. This protects consumers who have food allergies.

Additionally, every ingredient in packaged foods must be listed on product labels in descending order of the proportions by weight in which they are present.

However, the SFA clarified that gluten, a protein naturally found in wheat and other grains, does not pose a food safety issue to consumers at large, except for those who are intolerant of or allergic to gluten.”

It warned consumers who bought Taste Original’s Organic Mee Suar not to consume it if they are intolerant or allergic to gluten.

Also, people with this type of intolerance or allergy should seek advice from medical professionals for any health concerns.

“Consumers may contact their point of purchase for enquiries,” SFA added.

The agency, whose mandate is to ensure and secure a safe food supply for Singapore, also recently recalled Fragrance and Joymom’s mooncakes.

On Sept 27, the agency found aflatoxins in Fragrance’s Single Yolk Lotus Paste Baked Mooncake and a bacterium in Joymom’s Musang King Snowskin Mooncake.

“Aflatoxins are known to be genotoxic and carcinogenic, and exposure through food should be kept as low as possible,” the SFA said.

As for Joymom’s mooncake, SFA detected the bacterium staphylococcus aureus, which is commonly found in the skin or in the noses of people and the environment in general.

But staphylococcus aureus also commonly causes food poisoning, which may lead individuals to experience nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea.

SG mooncake recall: 2 Msian brands, over bacterial & toxin concerns

TikTok “Tube Girl” trend reaches Singapore!

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SINGAPORE: Singapore, like many places around the world, has caught on to the viral sensation known as the “Tube Girl” trend. This phenomenon, originating in Britain, has been making waves on social media platforms. But what exactly is the “Tube Girl” trend?

The “Tube Girl” trend is the latest craze on TikTok, where users film themselves dancing on trains and in other public places, grooving effortlessly to their favourite songs nonchalantly.

Singapore hops on the ‘Tube Girl’ trend

Among those who’ve enthusiastically embraced this trend is 23-year-old content creator Siti Nurhidayah Sajuna from Singapore. After a day of practice, she confidently displayed her dance moves on public transport.

@hidayahsajuna

my anxiety 📈 but it was SO FUN!! ib @Sabrina Bahsoon

♬ greedy tate mcrae unreleased – babytatie1

She took her chance on a not-so-crowded train section and filmed herself dancing. It was a merely 13-second video, but she quickly garnered around 450,000 views!

Sabrina Bahsoon, the ‘Tube Girl’ trendsetter

The “Tube Girl” trend started over a month ago in Britain when Sabrina Bahsoon, a Malaysian who moved to the United Kingdom to study law at Durham University, posted a video on social media. In the video, Sabrina playfully mimed the lyrics of David Guetta’s “Where Them Girls At” while dancing on a moving London Underground train.

@sabrinabahsoon

Gotta match the vibes when i arrive #londontiktok #nickiminaj

♬ where dem girls at – fee✩

Sabrina Bahsoon mentioned that she would frequently dance and groove to music during her daily commutes on the London Underground. Her decision to record and share one such moment led to a viral sensation.

Sabrina’s video gained immense popularity on social media platforms, reaching over 567,000 followers and receiving over 20.1 million likes.

Sabrina told the BBC, “When I see people imitating it [the trend] I’m like ‘finally like people are getting it. They’re enjoying their commute a little bit better. And I love to see people having fun so it’s honestly such a heartwarming thing for me.”

As “Tube Girl” dances its way across the globe, Singapore joins the rhythm of this viral sensation. From Siti Nurhidayah Sajuna’s spirited moves to Sabrina Bahsoon’s playful groove, this trend reminds us that even amid daily routines, there’s always room for a little joy and a whole lot of fun.

Migrant workers use illegal truck service in Kranji for lack of public transport

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SINGAPORE: Migrant workers have been using an illegal transport service provided by truck drivers to return to their dormitories in Kranji Way from Kranji MRT station at night on Sundays and public holidays, reports the Straits Times. They have no other option. There is no public transport to serve them.

Although SMRT Bus services 925 and 925M ply in the area, service 925 does not operate on Sundays, and 925M ends its service at 7.40 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Workers returning to their dorms on Sunday after 7.40 pm say they must pay truck drivers $2 each to take them back from Kranji MRT station.

Taxis are too expensive, and they don’t want to walk 4km or more in the dark to get back to their accommodation from the MRT station.

Kranj map
Kranji map

Westlite Kranji Way

Workers’ housing in the area includes the Westlite Kranji Way dorm.

Kranji Way
Kranji Way

Westlite Kranji Way is a 1,300-bed Quick-Build Dormitory developed by Jurong Town Corporation to new specifications addressing COVID-19 requirements. It began operations in the second half of 2020. Located beside the Kranji Dam and within a stone’s throw from the Sungei Kadut Planning Area, Westlite Kranji Way provides convenience and accessibility for companies within the Kranji industrial estate.

The Westlite website says the dormitory includes en suite bathrooms, individual lockers, single beds, a barber shop, outdoor sports courts, a food court, multipurpose halls, a shared kitchen with cooking facilities, weekly pest control and fogging, and transportation arrangements.

But workers have to find their own way back on holiday nights.

Why no other transport

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) says service 925M, which does not operate after 7.40 pm on Sundays and public holidays, mainly caters to people visiting Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserves.

“When planning bus services, LTA balances serving as many commuters as possible with factors such as ridership and financial prudency,”  a spokesman told the Straits Times.

Transport operator Singapore Maxicab director Mohamed Ali told the Straits Times they offer transportation service, including pick-ups on workers’ days off. “[But] Most of the employers said, ‘Never mind, just pick them up only on work days.’”

Danger of travelling on the back of lorries

It is illegal to transport workers on the back of a lorry unless the owner or hirer of the vehicle employs them. The only other exception is in the case of medical emergencies. A first-time offender can fined up to S$1,000, jailed up to three months, or both jailed and fined.

The dangerous transport of migrant workers on the back of lorries has been debated for over a decade.

Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng asked the Government in August to consider forming a workgroup to discuss the need for a timeline towards an eventual ban on ferrying workers by lorry.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor said the Government recognises it is “not ideal” for workers to be transported on lorries and “understands the genuine concerns from employers”. 

But she added, “The employers stated that if the Government imposes a ban, many companies — especially small and medium enterprises — will not be able to continue operating their businesses,” said Dr Khor.

Nevertheless, Dr Khor added that the Government would continue to roll out measures that will address “a multitude of factors behind accidents”, such as driving behaviour and vehicle speed.

She told the House that the average number of fatalities from road traffic accidents involving persons on board lorries had halved from around six per year from 2013 to 2017 to around three per year from 2018 to 2022. The average number of injured persons on board lorries had also been reduced by about a third.

Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh said business groups wanting to continue the practice “are resorting to scare tactics to support their cause”, reported Today in August. “We should not be misled by their campaign,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Employer: Maid initially 1 hour late from day off, now 3 hours late

SINGAPORE: An employer took to social media asking what the acceptable practice was when it came to a helper’s day off. In an anonymous post to a support group on social media for domestic helpers and employers alike, the employer wrote that she had a new maid of 6 weeks. She explained that she gave her maid a weekly day off, as well as one Sunday a month.

The woman also wrote that she paid her maid’s salary in advance because the helper had no money. “However she never keeps to our deal. Always late. Last time was 3 hours late. Now 1 hour. It is getting on my nerves”, the employer wrote. She asked netizens in the comments section for advice on the matter.

In the comments section, other employers and helpers who commented urged that she speak to her helper once again. One netizen and admin of the group said: “As per MOM, off day is minimum 8 hours. Communication is important. Have a good talk with your helper. Tell her about your unhappiness, lay your house rules. If she keeps pushing the boundaries and doesn’t respect your house rules, then show her the door. Employers hire helper to make their life easier, not to have someone to ‘babysit'”.

Another helper commented: “Ma’am, with all due respect, Rest day for helper is supposed to be 24 hours, because you are not going to pay her that day. Our rest day is not together with our salary, that’s why we should not have a curfew hours. Helper’s should not work on their off day because employers not going to pay the helper on her off day. But it doesn’t mean that helper will come home very very late, 9pm is enough time for the whole day. But still need to work when reach home but never complain at all. As for me, I only go out once a month but my employer ask me to work before go out and after I come back home at 8pm. Even though I am tired but I never complain at all”.

A few employers asked if the helper would check in with the employer if she was going to be late.

Earlier this year, an employer was unhappy that her helper would only return after 10 pm on her days off, but other maids felt that this was unreasonable and said, “Remember it’s not time off, It’s day off”.

In an anonymous post to a Facebook group for domestic helpers and employers alike, the woman wrote: “In general, does a helper normally went out on their rest days (Sunday) and return late 10pm onwards or more later”. She added that her maid would not even inform her that she would be back late. “we’ve a baby we’re already worrying and this helper adds up to that”, the employer wrote.

Most helpers who commented on the post felt that returning at 10 pm was fair. They also said that if the helper had to work in the morning before going out, she should even get to come back later.

Maid only returns after 10pm on her days off, employer with baby is unhappy but other helpers say “Remember it’s not time off, It’s day off”

SG mooncake recall: 2 Msian brands, over bacterial & toxin concerns

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Authority has taken action to recall mooncakes from two Malaysian brands, Joymom’s and Fragrance, due to the presence of harmful bacteria and toxins exceeding regulatory limits.

The affected mooncakes originating from Malaysia include:

Joymom’s Musang King Snowskin Mooncake

  • Expiry date: 05/03/2024
  • Country of origin: Malaysia
  • Importer: Taste Right Pte Ltd
Joymom's mooncake
Photo: SFA

Fragrance’s Single Yolk Lotus Paste Baked Mooncake

  • Expiry date:20/10/2023
  • Country of origin: Malaysia
  • Importer: Fragrance Foodstuff Pte Ltd
Fragrance's mooncake
Photo: SFA

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) revealed that testing had identified Staphylococcus aureus in Joymom’s mooncake and a significant quantity of aflatoxins in the Fragrance mooncake. These contaminants exceeded the maximum limits stipulated by Singapore’s Food Regulations.

In a recent media release, the SFA stated, “As a precautionary measure, SFA has directed the respective importers, Taste Right Pte Ltd and Fragrance Foodstuff Pte Ltd, to recall the implicated products. The recall is ongoing.”

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria commonly found in the environment and the skin and or nose of a person. This bacteria is a common cause of food poisoning, providing symptoms like nausea, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea.

According to SFA, “Foodborne pathogens like S. aureus can be introduced during the production process when cross-contamination occurs, particularly when good hand hygiene is not practised.”

Aflatoxins can be present in foods because of fungal contamination. Aflatoxins are common in foods like cereals, oilseeds, nuts, and other agricultural crops such as corn, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, “Climate change is expected to have an impact on the presence of aflatoxins in food.”

Aflatoxins are also known to be genotoxic, meaning they harm a person’s DNA or genes. It is also carcinogenic, so exposure to this toxin should be kept low.

The SFA advises consumers who have purchased the affected mooncake products to refrain from consuming them. If consumers have already consumed these products and are concerned about their health, they are urged to seek medical advice and contact the sellers for further inquiries.

For more information on the safety of mooncakes, you can check the SFA website.

US Coast Guard presumes S’porean who fell off ship deck is dead after 3-month search

SINGAPORE: After three months of searching for a Singaporean man who fell off a cargo ship in USA waters, the U.S. Coast Guard has formally presumed the 25-year-old dead.

The missing man, Muhammad Furqan Mohamed Rashid, held a Diploma in Nautical Sciences from the Singapore Polytechnic. During his military service, he was a naval firefighter with the Singapore Civil Defense Force. He then joined his current company, Apex Ship Management, as a deck officer and was a deck officer II before the incident.

The young man was attending a junior deck officer course in the United States and was working on board a cargo ship when the incident occurred. He was reportedly on deck getting ready to exercise when he fell off the ship and into the ocean as the merchant’s vessel travelled about 22 kilometres from the Californian coast.

His family was told that the warden of the merchant ship immediately called for help and lowered the life buoy in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue him. The ship then turned around to look for him and notified the U.S. Coast Guard. The authority quickly deployed its team to conduct a 15-hour search and rescue operation involving sea and air routes. The team dispatched helicopters; the search and rescue range exceeded 200 nautical miles.

Unfortunately, the team only found life buoys and suspended the search after the arduous 15 hours it had spent covering 370 kilometres to find the young Singaporean.

The man’s sister, Nur Afifah Mohamed Rashid, revealed on Facebook on Friday (29 Sept) that the U.S. Coast Guard concluded that her brother was dead as they had not found him three months since the tragic incident.

She also said the family hopes to receive a formal report from the U.S. Coast Guard as soon as possible to get long-awaited answers and better understand what may have happened.

CSA urges public to make use of anti-virus apps as cyber scams rise

SINGAPORE: With the alarming increase in cyber scams across Singapore, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has launched an educational campaign urging the public to take proactive measures by downloading anti-virus applications on their mobile phones to protect themselves from potential threats.

To spread awareness and educate citizens on cyber threats, CSA organized a two-day roadshow at Suntec City. The event featured various games and activities to equip attendees with the knowledge to identify and prevent scams, including installing anti-virus apps.

Minister of Communications and Information Josephine Teo took part in the roadshow and emphasized the importance of regularly updating anti-virus applications to stay ahead of new malware strains. She noted that cyber threats constantly evolve, and new malware can only be detected by updating anti-virus applications.

The roadshow incorporated innovative augmented reality technology, allowing visitors to experience virtual simulations demonstrating how to thwart online fraudsters effectively. This interactive approach aimed to make cybersecurity education more engaging and practical.

Despite the emphasis on anti-virus apps, the authorities acknowledged that these tools cannot provide complete immunity against scams and stressed the importance of continued vigilance among the public.

While anti-virus apps are a valuable tool in the fight against cyber scams, staying alert and informed remains essential in safeguarding against evolving threats in the digital age.

Download these antivirus apps, says Cyber Security Agency

Rate of SG single women in their 40s decreased

SINGAPORE: Recent statistics released by the Singapore Department of Statistics have unveiled a significant shift in women’s relationship status in their forties in 2022 compared to the previous year. According to the data, there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of single women in their forties, with several intriguing trends emerging.

In 2021, the Department reported that approximately 22 percent of Singaporean women aged 40 to 44 and 19 percent of women aged 45 to 49 were single. However, these percentages have declined in 2022, with the figures dropping to 19 percent and 17 percent, respectively, for the same age groups. This decrease suggests that many women in their forties are entering into relationships.

Matchmaking agencies in Singapore have also reported interesting findings and noted that over 70 percent of women participating in blind dates are in their forties. Furthermore, these women seem to exhibit a more positive attitude towards finding a potential partner through blind dates when compared to their male counterparts.

Another intriguing statistic is that 20 to 30 percent more women are signing up for blind dates than men, indicating a proactive approach towards seeking companionship among Singaporean women. In a large blind date event held earlier this month, 75 percent of the female participants were between 35 and 49.

Additionally, one dating site reported a consistent uptrend, revealing that 20 percent more older women have signed up for matchmaking services each year, starting from 2021. This suggests a growing desire among mature women to explore potential relationships through online matchmaking platforms.

Beyond relationship status, the data also highlights an interesting trend in education. The rate of single women with higher education in Singapore has shown a notable increase of 3.5 percent compared to a decade ago. This implies that educated women may be choosing to focus on their careers and personal development before entering into serious relationships.

S’porean says “eating at SG restaurant is sad” when compared to other countries

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SINGAPORE: Dining in Singapore has recently sparked discussions, with a Redditor sharing his observations on social media, describing “eating at a restaurant in Singapore is sad”.

Sharing his thoughts on social media, he shared, “You get ticket from the machine and when it gets called the server brings you to your table. You scan a QR code to order & pay. The waiter brings your food to you and that’s the only interaction that you have with the waiter. They clean up your table after you leave and thats it. Its actually crazy how this ‘service’ can be charged for 10% of the total bill.”

Dining in Korea and Japan

Comparing the Singaporean experience with dining in Korea and Japan, he notes the significant differences: “In Korea & Japan when you sit down the waiter immediately brings you a jug of ice water and cups, some restaurants also provide wet wipes for you FOC. Same in some European countries.”

Sharing the norms in Korea and Japan, where small side dishes are brought to the table at no extra cost, he added, “In Korea after you order the waiter brings along small side dishes FOC and refillable as much as you want. In Japan they have it on the table itself in some places.”

European dining etiquette

Pointing out how food is served in Europe, he continued, “Usually in Europe food will always be served together so that nobody has to sit and awkwardly wait while they food gets cold for the others to arrive.” He added, “In some European restaurants they bring out a bread basket.”

Post-meal perks

In some countries, like Korea and parts of Europe, post-meal perks are given to diners. He pointed out, saying, “Some places in Korea something called service where the owner just gives you stuff for free to make the dining experience more enjoyable, same with Europe or they might give digestif FOC too.”

He adds that a proper restaurant in Singapore is “frankly not even comparable” to Japan or Korea’s roadside stall services.

Further explaining, he says, “I just don’t understand how its acceptable for restaurants to not give you even a cup of tap water or unlimited napkins for use / charging you for wet wipes which frankly is a disgusting practice especially after Covid where people are more hygiene conscious. Also a small gripe but its also annoying when I’m alone and I can’t order side dishes since its too much but I feel like eating something else as well.”

Call for improvement

While not advocating for a tipping culture, he suggested that some restaurant staff in Singapore could benefit from a wake-up call, saying, “They put in absolutely 0 effort into the service and sometimes are rude / unpleasant. At this point I’m literally doing 50% of all the work that the staff was doing previously by taking queue numbers & ordering + paying by myself, I don’t see how that justifies me paying 10% of my bill towards such service.”

One Redditor commented, agreeing, “what irks me a lot is the practice of charging for tap water, it’s just penny pinching. I would like the option to wash my meal down with water and not some ridiculously priced sugar drink or alcohol.” Where the comment garnered 1200 upvotes in agreement.

Redditor Varantain added, “I like the law in some countries where if the restaurant has a beer/liquor licence, they must serve tap water for free.”

Reflecting on these stark differences and evolving expectations in Singapore’s dining customs, how will Singapore’s restaurant industry respond to ensure a more satisfying experience for all? How about you, what are your thoughts about dining in Singapore?