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Anwar alleges mass resignations of Umno MPs are used to create a gap between him and Dr. Mahathir

Anna Maria Romero
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Anwar alleges mass resignations of Umno MPs are used to create a gap between him and Dr. Mahathir

Datu Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday, December 16, that the resignations en masse of Members of Parliament (MP) from the UMNO party are being used to cause separation between him and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

UMNO, the political coalition that had been in power in Malaysia for decades, since its independence, until this year, when the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition took power in the elections in May.

Of late, many UMNO members have left the party, which had once been the biggest one in Malaysia. Many of those who have left are hoping to align themselves with the party headed by Dr, Mahathir, Parti Pribumi Malaysia Bersatu (PPBM), after a short time of being independent legislators.

Many of the former leaders of UMNO say that party leader Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, currently charged with 46 criminal offenses, is to blame for the current condition of UMNO.

The defections of UMNO MPs has also been troubling to ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan’s PPBM’s partners, particularly the DAP. They say they do not welcome members who have left UMNO.

Anwar, who is the president of PHR, has said that due to the mass resignations of the UMNO MPs, many assumptions have been going around.

He issued a statement on the matter, expressing concerns that these assumptions would negatively affect his relationship with the Malaysian Prime Minister.

“I take note that there have been assumptions and claims that have been made by many parties in relation to Umno MPs who have left their own party.

These parties intend to create doubt and to create friction between Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and to sully our good relationship.”
He unequivocally stated his support for Dr. Mahathir, as well as his commitment to work hand in hand with the Prime Minister.

“I will continue to support the efforts and leadership of Tun Dr. Mahathir, and will continue working with him to realize the reform agenda which has been agreed upon.”

Read related: Mahathir showed up in Port Dickson to support Anwar Ibrahim at campaign rally

https://theindependent.sg.sg/mahathir-showed-up-in-port-dickson-to-support-anwar-ibrahim-at-campaign-rally/

UPDATE: After IMDA geoblock, Singapore Herald, formerly STR, moves content to Patreon

Anna Maria Romero
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UPDATE: After IMDA geoblock, Singapore Herald, formerly STR, moves content to Patreon

Despite a geoblock from Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Saturday, December 15, the contentious Singapore Herald, formerly the States Times Review, continues to publish articles on Patreon, a crowdfunding website.

The Singapore Herald is connected with Alex Tan, the man behind The States Times Review (STR). The STR was shut down last month, but was reborn as The Singapore Herald. Read more here.

The IMDA geoblocked the Singapore Herald after it refused to remove eight articles between December 6 and 12 concerning the current tensions between Singapore and Malaysia due to the territorial dispute over airspace and maritime borders.

Channel NewsAsia reported that according to the IMDA, these articles “blatantly misrepresent” the country’s stand concerning the disputes with Malaysia. “Such false statements, especially the use of emotionally charged phrases like ‘threaten’ and ‘provoke’, might stoke feelings of ill will against Singapore, and undermine both sides’ efforts to resolve the situation peacefully.”

When the Singapore Herald, which was given the deadline of taking down the offensive articles by 4:00 pm last Friday, December 14, failed to take down the offending articles, Internet service providers were told by the IMDA to restrict access to the site.

A post on the Singapore Herald’s Facebook page, which is still labeled States Times Review, said that “in response to Singapore’s censorship,” content from its website would be moved over to Patreon. And while the site is a crowdfunding one, the Singapore Herald/States Times.

The post dated Sunday, December 16, read,

Following the Singapore government’s censorship, the website’s advertisement revenue has been seriously affected as our target audience are Singaporeans.

Singapore Herald does not comply with Singapore’s censorship laws, including the media blackout regulation on Election Day and any order from the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
Moving forward, all news content will be published on our Patreon page.

Please consider a payment to Singapore Herald if you appreciate independent news content.

https://www.patreon.com/SingaporeHerald

The Singapore Herald is, obviously, raising funds, and as such, is ape offering an S$5 tier for would-be supporters.

The site describes itself as a “Toronto-based news website covering independent news on Singapore”.

The Singapore Herald alleged in an article that the publisher of The Independent Singapore has been charged with criminal defamation, an allegation that is blatantly untrue.

 

Read related IMDA geo-blocks new website linked to STR’s Alex Tan over 8 contentious articles

https://theindependent.sg.sg/imda-geo-blocks-new-website-linked-to-strs-alex-tan-over-8-contentious-articles/

 

 

 

 

New fashion in a cashless society, with cash falling out of fashion

The Independent
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New fashion in a cashless society, with cash falling out of fashion

Singapore – Fashion is an ever-changing industry, directly affected by technological advancements, trends, and consumer behaviour. What is in today may be outdated by tomorrow.

Let’s take a look at the future of cash. The rise of contactless credit cards, smartphone wallets like Android, Samsung and Apple Pay, E-Z Link cards, Nets CAshCard or FlashPay, QR codes, GrapPay, and PayNow, provides users so many options to pay for a transaction without rummaging through a wallet or coin purse.

These alternatives are a better option compared to opening a wallet, finding out the cash on hand is not enough and having to go to the nearest ATM to withdraw some cash. Transportation fees, groceries, dining out, online purchases, shopping and so much more can be done with just a tap or a click of a button.

Photo: YouTube screengrab

Fashion is taking note of these changes and are meeting demands by micro-sizing things like coin purses and wallets or completely eliminating them by adding pockets to jackets or mobile phone cases.

Women especially are in for a big transformation. Gone are the days when someone can find or lose anything in the black hole that is a woman’s purse. This was confirmed by big brands such as Fendi, Topshop, and Zara when they revealed 2018’s biggest trend: the micro-bag. It is a bag that is large enough to carry a phone, some keys, a card case plus a bit more like a go-to lip gloss. With the world shifting into a cashless society, a micro-bag is enough to hold a woman’s everyday necessities.

Photo: YouTube screengrab

With all of this “cashlessness” and convenience, cash is going out of fashion.

It might take a while for a greater majority of the population to adopt these innovations, mainly because of the preconceived notions that cash might disappear online or that “the cloud” is not safe and secure, although there are specific companies that were created to reassure the consumer otherwise.

Introducing Grab’s hybrid cars with “black box” recorders supplied by Toyota

The Independent
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Introducing Grab’s hybrid cars with “black box” recorders supplied by Toyota

Singapore – Toyota and Grab, the newly-appointed Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing company (after if acquired Uber), are set on a path that will boost each other’s businesses.

In other Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, Toyota is offering cheap financing deals, exclusive perks and special discount on batteries, aircon cleaning and car detailing for existing and future Grab operators.

In Singapore, Toyota will be sending around 1,500 hybrid Prius cars that run on petrol and electricity, all being equipped with a “black box” recorder that is an initiative by the car manufacturer to better understand how its vehicles are being used. Another 5,500 recorders will be installed in the rest of Grab’s fleet already operating in Singapore. More details will be finalized and announced next week.

All of these different proposals are part of the US$1 billion (S$1.34 billion) investment that Grab is receiving from Toyota after it absorbed Uber’s operations in Southeast Asia in March.

Photo: YouTube screengrab

The recorders will serve as a means used by Toyota to better understand the physical driving behaviour of its cars, something that is not immediately feasible when it comes to its private consumers. The information acquired by the black boxes will be used in improving the manufacturing practices of the car making giant.

This initiative will also benefit Grab operators because Toyota service centres can closely monitor a vehicle and avoid breakdowns by conducting more accurate preventative servicing. In addition to this, Grab cars can now enjoy an “express service” much like an express lane for quicker maintenance check-ups and procedures. This would result in lesser time spent in a service centre and more time accommodating a client.

The long-term goal of this partnership between Toyota and Grab is not limited to manufacturing of vehicles and using said vehicles as a ride-hailing business. Just as Grab is expanding its services to food delivery, loans, courier services, and payments, Toyota aims to offer more mobile services such as self-driving shuttles and mobile restaurants in the future.

Brawl breakout including shattered beer bottles at Lorong 21 Geylang

The Independent
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0
Brawl breakout including shattered beer bottles at Lorong 21 Geylang

Singapore – On Saturday, December 15, 2018, Facebook user Eric Liow posted on his profile a video that went viral. Only 24 hours have passed and the video has more than 88 thousand views with 2,354 shares and 194 comments.

The trending video shows a couple of men engaged in a fight in a popular Chinese restaurant named “笑哈哈” or “Happy Restaurant” which is located at Geylang Lorong 21.

The main character in the brawl seems to be the intoxicated man in a gray shirt who is hellbent in doing some damage to the other man in a striped black and red shirt. They have a few teammates either backing them up or trying to break the fight. Restaurant personnel was also seen separating the group from each other while bystanders went for cover from the shattered glass shards.

Beer bottles went flying through the air while some were used as weapons and landed on each other’s heads.

The woman capturing the live event could be heard shouting in shock and confusion at what was happening in front of her eyes. When she mentions that the cops and the owner of the restaurant have arrived, the fighting ceases.

Facebook user Kennie Bee commented on the post while tagging the Singapore Police Force in hopes that the latter will be urged to implement laws that apprehend fights like the one that had just occurred.

While the safety and overall health of the affected parties were at stake, netizens found something that was more worthy of their time: the quality of the video. Many were inquiring on the model and brand of the device that could take a video with such high quality.

Others, such as Shahlan S Shahlan, commented that regardless of the day and age, one trusty weapon for impromptu fights like these remains a classic, that being beer bottles.

Lastly, netizens Muhd Amir Bin Tuah and Aravind Parthiban, engaged in a friendly discussion regarding the effects of drinking alcohol.

TISG has reached out to Mr. Eric Liow for more details on the said event.

Massive jams at Tuas and Woodlands, holding traffic up to 8 hours

The Independent
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0
Massive jams at Tuas and Woodlands, holding traffic up to 8 hours

Singapore – On December 14 at 6:20pm, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) posted via their Facebook page that heavy arrival and departure traffic are currently being experienced by Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints and that delays are to be expected. They also added that travellers who are planning to take the affected routes are advised to check One Motoring first before beginning their trip.

One Motoring is a site initiated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that offers services related to vehicles and motors such as licence applications, information on car ownership as well as an interactive map that gives real-time road conditions in the island.

The traffic experienced in both mentioned checkpoints has accumulated numerous online comments and opinions. Netizens shared just how long they were stuck in traffic, while some gave suggestions that could help alleviate the problem of vehicle build-up. Those headed for Tuas experienced up to 6 hours being stuck in traffic while those going to Woodlands checkpoint endured a standstill on the road for 5 hours. Some have even mentioned being stuck for 8 hours.

Facebook users Nas Ebrahim, Dee Chang Guan, and Lim Bee Tee collectively were stuck in Tuas for 3-4 hours on Saturday afternoon (December 15).

Meanwhile, netizen Veronica Leoni gave a sound suggestion addressed to ICA to install cameras at key areas in the checkpoint to catch on tape and apprehend any queue cutters that dare try to skip the long lines.

Max Teh shared his aggravation towards queue cutters and was looking for police officers to regulate the traffic and stop the “cheaters”

Another netizen under the username Dee Chang Guan shared his sentiments towards the limited course of actions motorists have such as checking the One Motoring website because even if they check the status, the traffic will not magically disappear. He suggested, however, for an increase in enforcers that might help in alleviating the problem, especially during the Christmas season.

Leong Sze Hian fell victim for a false report by STR: Sarawak Report

The Independent
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0
Leong Sze Hian fell victim for a false report by STR: Sarawak Report

Singapore – On November 7, Singaporean Leong Sze Hian shared an article on his profile unaware that the content was inaccurate and libelous.

The article that Mr. Leong shared was about the prime minister of the country being the next target for investigation under the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. Apparently, an anonymous blogger who is said to be based in Australia claimed that the editor of Sarawak Report had told journalists of this recent news regarding the prime minister’s connection to 1MDB. However, once SR got hold of such news, the publication immediately revoked such claims and published an update explaining that the article is erroneous and misleading. No such interview or exchange in information regarding the subject matter was ever made.

Besides a firm renunciation made by Sarawak Report, Mr. Leong also received an email from the Media Development Agency of Singapore warning him that his post is a defamatory act towards the country’s leader.

Sarawak Report interviewed Mr. Leong a few days ago and the latter was quick to apologize for his actions and deleted the post from his profile. But the damage has been done. Multiple third parties had already read, believed and shared the erroneous information.

Catching Mr. Leong unaware was a private civil suit for libel being filed against him by the legal team of the prime minister himself.

The extent for such actions by the government seems unnecessary given the fact that the victim has already publicly apologized as well as endured the admonishments of the public. Furthermore, the process of accusing someone of defamation is not as simple as posting misguided information. There are grounds which both parties must prove to be true or otherwise defend to be false before officially violating the law.

The responses of the citizens show support for Mr. Leong’s case and suspicion towards the decisions of the Prime Minister’s administration. Daniel Ong wrote quite a detailed analysis of the situation below.

 

Netizen Richard Woo was another who agrees with SR’s observation about a double blow being made towards Mr. Leong.

Others are wondering why the victim is the only one being reprimanded when there are multiple others who have done similar if not worse things.

Hari Kumar makes an important point regarding the use of fear to instigate control in a country.

Meanwhile, Cindy Soh remembers to remind everyone to “think before you click”.

Continue

Have a merry zero-waste Christmas this 2018

The Independent
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Have a merry zero-waste Christmas this 2018

Singapore – More and more individuals, families and communities are embracing a zero-waste lifestyle. It’s not about the 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) anymore. This has expanded to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot; what a feasible zero-waste lifestyle is all about.

Now that it’s Christmas time, there is an increase in spending. Whether it’s through decorations, meals or gifts, there would be some non-biodegradable waste that is bound to get mixed up in the trash pile.  Luckily, there are ways to avoid a guilty conscience and reduce our carbon footprint. The following are simple tips and tricks to having a zero waste Christmas this year that will leave everyone on the planet merry.

 

Reusable trees

Does it really need to be a real fir tree? Today, there are many Christmas tree options that are reusable and not disposable. Just decorate them well and they turn out as beautiful as the real ones minus the waste. After all, the spirit of Christmas is not dependent on the tree.

 

Think out of the box

Instead of a gift in a box, how about the gift of memories. Singapore’s biggest carnival, Prudential Marina Bay Carnival which will open from Dec 22 until Mar 24, 2019, is a great way to spend time with loved ones this Christmas. Other events such as Hansel & Gretel’s Winter Adventure for those who love the cold, Singapore Dog Festival: A Canine Christmas for dog-lovers, and A $ingapore Carol for those who are into musicals are options to choose from. Surely there are activities to suit everyone’s interests during this season.

 

Shameless plug gifts

For those who want to share their zero-waste lifestyle with others, it can be done through gifts. Whether it’s through reusable cups, bamboo straws, eco-friendly skincare and beauty products, or sustainable jewellery, these gifts can serve as a smooth way to introduce and convince others about the 5Rs.

 

Go DIY

This option is for the artsy and the bakers. Even if you aren’t one, the ideas are endless and the steps are so simple to follow that anyone can do it.

If your friends have a sweet tooth, how about buying some nuts and chocolates (those that don’t have individual plastic packaging), putting them in mason jars and decorating it with a festive theme. Upakt is a great place to start when looking for gift ideas.

Succulents are also a popular gift nowadays. This is an example of a present that will last and something that is very easy to maintain. Candy Floriculture offers a wide variety of plants. Their succies are priced at S$3.50 a piece or 3 for S$10.

Photo: YouTube screengrab

Sustainable parties

There are times when we want to host a party but don’t have enough partyware for everyone. Instead of purchasing plastic plates, cups and utensils, why not go for elegant, recycled and sustainable partyware. Eco U is an example of a shop that offers these kinds of products.

 

Christmas meals

For a zero-waste Christmas feast at home without actually cooking, there is the option to order in through catering companies such as Grain Catering. Basically, they’re a very eco-conscious online restaurant that you can contact for a meal to be delivered at your home or someone else’s.

Another option would be doing your grocery shopping in places like Organic Grocer so that you can be sure the products you are purchasing and using for your feasts will make mother nature smile along with your guests. Do remember to bring your own shopping bag to avoid single-use plastic bags.

 

Gift wrapping

“It’s time to open the presents.” During Christmas parties, this phrase usually means a lot of wrapping paper that will be torn and thrown away. But that could be avoided. Introducing the Japanese tradition of cloth wrapping called Furoshiki. Instead of paper, fabrics will be used to wrap gifts. They are not only pleasing to the eye but also completely reusable. It is a gift in itself.

Photo: YouTube screengrab

Hopefully, the tips presented above are simple and easy enough to be consciously adapted in the choices we make during this Christmas season.

For those who are intrigued by a zero-waste lifestyle and would love to find out more, there is a guide for Singaporeans called ZeroWasteSG.

Captive brown bears found living in their own filth in small cage at bus depot get rescued

The Independent
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Two brown bears have been rescued by tireless animal welfare workers after they were discovered a year ago at an Armenian bus depot, living in their own filth in a small cage.

The bears, lovingly called Max and Minnie by their rescuers, were found distressed and highly neglected in exceedingly poor conditions. The female bear had given birth to a cub in the squalid cage that barely left her any room, being mostly filled by the hefty 500kg male Siberian brown bear.

The squalid living conditions of the bears

The rescuers initial attempts to free the bears were met with resistance from the captive animals’ owner. Months passed and activists remained unflagging in their efforts to rescue the bears and finally succeeded in saving the creatures three weeks ago.

In what was the rescue team’s most challenging mission so far, the group sedated the animals and began preparations to transport the bears to a rescue facility. Max, being the biggest bear the rescue team has rescued so far, had to be transported in a horse trailer since he would not fit in a transport crate.

International Animal Rescue CEO Alan Knight said: “This has been an extremely emotional day for everyone. The two bears were being kept in shocking conditions and we were all desperate to set them free.

“We knew the rescue would be a particularly challenging one because of the size of the male bear. He is by far the biggest bear we have rescued to date. So there was great euphoria among the team when the bears were safely installed in their new quarters.”

The rescue group will give the creatures constant care and attention as they adjust to their new surroundings and begin a new life.

The rescue of Max and Minnie is part of the Great Bear Rescue campaign that was launched by the International Animal Rescue and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the beginning of this year. The groups have rescued 21 bears so far.

84-year-old army veteran dies after nursing home staff failed to wash him, leading to gangrene infection that caused his private parts to rot off

The Independent
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An 84-year-old US army veteran who was receiving care from a nursing home in Florida has passed away after nursing home staff failed to wash him, leading to a gangrene infection that caused his private parts to rot off.

The veteran, Mr York Spratling, became a resident at the Consulate Health Care nursing home after his health worsened and as he began struggling to walk, feed and look after himself. His family told the local press that they had noticed issues with his care at the nursing home and had flagged these issues to the staff before.

At the nursing home, the veteran contracted gangrene due to poor hygiene. The elderly man was rushed to the hospital last February, where he died despite the doctors’ efforts to remove the dead tissue from his genitals.

The relatives of the deceased have since lashed out at the nursing home for rendering poor care to the elderly man. One nephew, Mr Derwin Spratling, who was with his uncle as he was rushed to the hospital, told the local press that the doctor “said he had never seen anything like that before, especially in this day and age. It didn’t just happen overnight, but it was quicker than you could imagine.”

Nursing home staff later admitted to state investigators that they could smell the veteran’s infection coming from the door to his room. Despite this, the staff did not check his wounds or infection and took an unbelievable five days to inform a doctor.

The staff further argued that the late veteran refused to take showers when his family blasted them for not providing adequate care.

A year before the veteran passed, state regulators actually noted that the home does not have enough manpower to care for its residents. The death review report by the Florida Department of Children and Families that investigated the veteran’s passing also concluded that the veteran’s death was due to inadequate supervision and medical neglect.

Despite this, state regulator – Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration – has not taken any action against the facility.

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