| National Affairs
Singaporeans vote overwhelmingly to return PAP to power FT 14th Sep 2015
Singaporeans have voted overwhelmingly to extend the People’s Action party’s five-decade reign over the Asian city state, dealing a blow to opposition hopes of expanding their meagre parliamentary foothold. The victory for Lee Hsien Loong, prime minister, staunches voters’ drift away from the ruling party seen in the 2011 general election, when the PAP garnered its lowest-ever poll share of 60 per cent. Friday’s resounding win — in which the PAP boosted its total share of the vote to 69.9 per cent and took 83 of the 89 seats on offer — also appears to vindicate the party’s handling of Singaporeans’ concerns that had dogged the government for years, including house prices, pension issues, an influx of immigrants and the slowing economy. “We are very humbled by the result, by the trust that you have put on us, by the responsibility which we have taken on to serve you, to represent you, and to look after your interests,” said Mr Lee, who was later carried around on the shoulders of supporters at a victory rally. Not all were impressed by the poll results. Kenneth Jeyaretnam, secretary-general of the minor opposition Reform party, said the outcome was “a mandate for authoritarianism. Singaporeans get the government they deserve.”
Singapore’s Innovative Waste-Disposal System WSJ 13th Sep 2015
For squeaky-clean Singapore, even the local dump is an eco-park with lush green walking trails and migratory birds. That is because Singapore buries only a fraction of its trash. This nimble, wealthy city-state crammed on an island 3½ times the size of Washington, D.C., sends only 2% of its solid waste to landfill, burns 38% of it to generate electricity and recycles the remaining 60%. It’s a model that other cities would do well to emulate. Cities world-wide generate about 1.3 billion tons of solid waste a year—an amount that is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons by 2025, driven mainly by lower-income countries, according to the World Bank.
Singapore's incumbent power wins a striking mandate The Economist 12th Sep 2015
General elections in Singapore are not supposed to spring surprises. But the size of the victory handed on September 11th to the People's Action Party (PAP), which has won every national poll since the 1950s, caught many on the hop. Having fallen to an historic low of 60.1% at the previous polls in 2011, its share of the vote bounced back to nearly 70%. It snapped up 83 of 89 seats in parliament, thumping an opposition which was widely thought to be on the rise. The PAP’s clear mandate brings to a close several years of soul-searching that followed the big losses it suffered at the ballot box four years ago. Under pressure, the PAP found a populist streak: it dug out more cash for Singapore's oldest citizens; sponsored a construction spree designed to temper house prices; and promised to slow immigration, which had lately rocketed. Action on those contentious issues, and on others, appears to have satisfied many of the voters who had set out to punish the party four years ago.
Singapore's industrialisation over 50 years CNA 10th Sep 2015
Skyscrapers and distinctive buildings dot Singapore's downtown financial hub. But 50 years ago, it was a different story. Singapore’s independence in 1965 signalled the end of the dream of a Malayan common market and the beginning of a host of economic challenges. "Our primary challenge was high unemployment rate – it was 14.5 per cent. With the British pulling out, there were 40,000 jobs at stake,” said Mr Yeoh Keat Chuan, managing director of the Economic Development Board (EDB). Singapore was on its own to seek its own market and livelihood. With no industries and poor infrastructure, the only way to get the wheels of its economy moving was to attract foreign capital. "(The foreign capital) already have clients, international clients. So that helped us - instead of starting from day one again, they've already brought along a market for us,” explained Associate Professor Toh Mun Heng from the Department of Strategy and Policy at the National University of Singapore Business School.
Singapore Vote Marks Key Test for Ruling Party WSJ 9th Sep 2015
The political party that led this multiethnic former British colony with an iron fist for 50 years faces its biggest electoral test yet on Friday. Almost no one thinks the People’s Action Party, led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, risks losing the parliamentary election. But many agree that its hold on power is softening as economic growth slows and opposition parties gain clout, paving the way for Singapore’s most hotly contested vote. “We need an opposing voice,” said Andrew Yeo, managing director of an advertising agency and an opposition supporter. “The opposition in Singapore has actually matured.…These are voices that have helped shape and make Singapore slightly better over the last four years” by campaigning for issues such as better benefits for single mothers.
Former policewoman, lawyer is face of Singapore's energized opposition in general elections U.S. News 8th Sep 2015
As the day turns into night, they gather in the green field in the eastern corner of this island nation just above the equator. Some have come with foldable stools, some with picnic mats while others settle down on bare grass waving blue flags and yellow inflatable hammers. Soon the crowd swells to about 30,000, waiting to hear the star of the night's show -- opposition leader Sylvia Lim. A policewoman-turned law teacher-turned-politician, Lim is the face of Singapore's resurgent opposition that just three elections ago in 2001 had hit a political nadir. Its leader, the late J.B. Jeyaretnam who attained folklore stature in the country's politics, had been bankrupted after contesting a series of lawsuits unleashed by the ruling People's Action Party. The Workers' Party and another opposition group had only one seat each in the 84-member Parliament. As Singapore heads into another general election on Friday, the PAP is set to extend its 50-year hold on power by another five years. Only, this time the inheritors of Jeyaretnam's mantle — Lim and her colleagues in the Workers' Party — are presenting the stiffest challenge ever faced by the PAP, and will likely emerge as a potent force in what has been a virtual one-party state.
On the ground with Singapore's Workers' Party The Economist 7th Sep 2015
On the evening of September 6th, thousands of people packed a scrubby field next to a housing estate in Simei, eastern Singapore, for a rally held by the Workers' Party (WP)—the largest of the nine opposition parties standing in the country's general election on September 11th. This was just one of many rallies in a week of frenzied campaigning leading up to elections. Elsewhere such voters might chant, wave flags and flog petitions in the hope that their party will govern their country. Attendees at Sunday's WP rally—and indeed the candidates they came to cheer—expressed a far more modest hope. For good reason: the People’s Action Party (PAP) has ruled Singapore since its independence, in 1965. Discontent over immigration and worries over income inequality and the rising cost of living led PAP to suffer its worst showing ever in the last general election: still a tidy 60% of the vote. That gave the party 93% of parliamentary seats, or 81 of a total of 87; the WP won five of the remaining six. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, which draws constituency boundaries before each election, is convened by the prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, and headed by his secretary. Setting aside the PAP's strong record during their time in office, the electoral map makes it all but impossible for them to lose.
Customs
Singapore Appointed ASEAN’s First International Patent Authority Asian Scientist 14th Sep 2015
From 1 September 2015, local and global businesses and inventors may fast track their applications for patent protection in multiple markets via Singapore, as the nation begins operations as ASEAN’s first International Patent Search and Examination Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Administered by the World Intellectual Property Organiszation (WIPO), the treaty enables innovators and businesses to seek patent protection in 148 countries through a single international patent application. Singapore is the fifth in Asia (after China, India, Japan and Korea) and joins a select group of 19 IP offices worldwide that have been appointed as International Authorities for the PCT. Patent applicants to Vietnam, Mexico, Brunei, Japan and Laos will be the first to gain access to Singapore’s new service offerings as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) in the coming months.
Singapore Customs’ new strategic goods control rules take off November PortCalls Asia 12th Sep 2015
Singapore’s Customs announced it will implement from early November changes to its policies on strategic goods control that will impact on the state’s strategic goods control list, brokering order, and transshipment and transit controls. In a circular on its website, the agency said the new Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2015 (SGCO 2015) will come into effect from November 2, 2015 after being gazetted September 4, 2015. The SGCO 2015 brings Singapore’s strategic goods control list up to date with the 2014 Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List and the 2014 European Union’s List of Dual-Use Items (EUDL), said the notice. The EUDL contains dual-use items—products and technologies normally used for civilian purposes but which may have military applications—controlled by the four multilateral export control regimes: the Wassenaar Arrangement, Missile Control Technology Regime, Australia Group, and Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Singapore counterfeit goods transshipment Lexology 26th Aug 2015
IPWeek@SG closed today. IP Komodo espoused in the last talk one final message that Singapore address the issue of transshipment of counterfeit goods through the island state. Singapore is the largest transshipment port in the world, which unfortunately means it is transshipping a vast quantity of counterfeit goods - probably unknown to it. Singapore earns a lot of money from this, charging shipping lines and storage charges for containers. Meanwhile with no customs recordal and limited ex officio action, it is up to brand owners to try and divine what counterfeit goods are passing through Singapore and report it to Customs. And then engage in pricey civil litigation to detain and destroy goods. Clearly a civil court seizure system is inappropriate for what is essentially a volume problem - vast quantities of counterfeit goods passing through Singapore en route to other ports worldwide.
Changes to the Strategic Goods Control List, Brokering Order, and Transhipment and &Transit Controls Singapore Customs 4th Sep 2015
Further to our Notice No. 12/2015 dated 19 August 2015, we wish to inform you that the new Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2015 (“SGCO 2015”) has been gazetted on 4 September 2015, and will come into effect from 2 November 2015. You may access the SGCO 2015 via our website at www.customs.gov.sg. 2 The SGCO 2015 brings Singapore’s strategic goods control list up to date with the 2014 Wassenaar Arrangement Munitions List, and the 2014 European Union’s List of Dual-Use Items (“EUDL”). The EUDL contains dual-use items controlled by the four multilateral export control regimes (the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Missile Control Technology Regime, the Australia Group, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group). 3 The SGCO 2015 will incorporate revisions such as new entries, deletions, re-categorisation, as well as editorial changes for consistency and clarity of controls. The highlights of key changes to the strategic goods control list can be found via our website.
Defense & Security
ST Kinetics unveils next-generation Terrex 2 amphibious armoured vehicle IHS Jane's 360 9th Sep 2015
Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics, the land systems arm of government-linked defence prime ST Engineering, has taken the wraps off its latest indigenous 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle development in an exclusive briefing with IHS Jane's . Designated the Terrex 2, the new vehicle leverages the company's experience with the Terrex infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) - which has found domestic success with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) - as well as the ongoing US Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle Phase 1 Increment 1 (ACV 1.1) programme that the company is pursuing in partnership with the Virginia-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). ST Kinetics chief marketing officer Winston Toh told IHS Jane's that the Terrex 2 represents the company's intent to increase its international presence, incorporating a larger, newly designed hull that focuses on troop survivability, increased payload capacity, as well as a high level of amphibious swimming capability.
Australia to strengthen and enhance bilateral defence ties with Singapore Asian Military Review 27th Aug 2015
The visit by AM Davis underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Australia. The Republic of Singapore Air Force and the RAAF interact regularly through bilateral and multilateral training exercises such as Exercise Pitch Black, professional exchanges, and the cross-attendance of professional courses. These extensive interactions have enhanced the interoperability between the two air forces, as well as the professional rapport and ties between their personnel. In line with the spirit of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed by both Prime Ministers on 29 June 2015, both air forces will be working closely to strengthen and enhance bilateral defence ties and explore new initiatives for military training and cooperation.
Singapore & Indonesia host multilateral naval exercise Asian Military Review 26th Aug 2015
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) are co-hosting the 6th Western Pacific Mine Countermeasure Exercise (WP MCMEX) from 25 to 31 August 2015. The Singapore’s Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral (RADM) Lai Chung Han, officiated at the opening ceremony of the exercise at the Changi Command and Control Centre this morning. More than 800 personnel, 13 ships and five underwater vehicle teams from 16 countries are participating in this year’s exercise. The exercise includes professional exchanges, and will culminate in a five-day mine-hunting and mine-sweeping sea phase in the Singapore Strait and the waters off the Indonesian island of Pulau Bintan.
Energy
Hyflux-Mitsubishi JV bags $750m waste-to-energy contract DealStreetAsia 16th Sep 2015
Hyflux Ltd and consortium partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) have secured a contract worth S$750 million ($534.8 million) to operate a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant by Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA). According to BioEnergy Consult, waste-to-energy (WTE) is the use of modern combustion and biochemical technologies to recover energy, usually in the form of electricity and steam, from urban wastes. These new technologies can reduce the volume of the original waste by 90 per cent, depending upon their composition and use of outputs. The main categories of WTE technologies are physical, thermal and biological. The joint venture partners will develop the WTE plant in Tuas under a Design-Build-Own-Operate scheme and provide waste treatment services exclusively to NEA for 25 years. The city-state’s sixth plant, it will have the capacity to handle 3600 tonnes of waste daily and generate 120 MW of clean and renewable electricity. Additionally, it will have one of the best land utilisation factors, in terms of incineration capacity per unit floor area. It is also intended to be amongst the most efficient facilities, in terms of energy recovery per unit waste incinerated, in the world.
'Smart' humps; Clean energy Eco-Business 15th Sep 2015
For most drivers, traffic lights, speed bumps, and car park gantries are a daily crimp on their journey. But for one company, these are viewed as a golden business opportunity - a smart city solution that generates clean energy and helps make urban traffic smoother. Meet Transkinect, a Singapore-headquartered company, which was set up in 2014. The company has spent the past year and a half developing its key product – a ‘smart’ hump called Movnetic, which is an innovative take on the traditional speed breaker that captures energy from decelerating or braking vehicles and converts it into electricity. This technology is the brainchild of Egyptian civil engineer Ihab Abdelkarim Seidy, who invented it more than a decade ago. The hump can be installed anywhere that cars are likely to slow down, such as entrances to carparks or private buildings, in place of speed breakers on the road, and at traffic lights.
Singapore-listed Ramba Energy to farm out 25% interest in Lemang contract worth $128m DealStreetAsia 7th Sep 2015
Singapore-listed Ramba Energy Limited has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a strategic investor, termed their “Farm-in Partner”, to farm-out a 25 per cent working interest in the Lemang production sharing contract from the Company’s majority-owned Indonesian subsidiary, PT Hexindo Gemilang Jaya. In the oil & gas industry, a farm-in is where a company joins another company or joint venture participating in a block or field and is granted a working interest in the field or block in return for cash and/or a carry through an exploration programme. In a farm-out, an agreement is entered into by the owner of one or more mineral leases (i.e. the “farmer”) and another company wishing to obtain a percentage of ownership of the lease(s). These agreement are focused around trading leases for services such as drilling several oil and gas wells. The primary consideration behind such agreements in the oil & gas industry is the rendering of services, rather than exchanging cash. Ramba Energy owns an 80.4 per cent stake in the PT Hexindo Gemilang Jaya. According to a filing, Ramba Energy cannot disclose the partner due to confidentiality obligations imposed by the strategic investor. Ramba has stated that the identity of the investor will be announced upon its execution of a agreement.
Singapore, US institute seek to improve project management Business Times 27th Aug 2015
THE new industry-led productivity council for the process, construction and maintenance (PCM) sector - key to the support of the large energy and chemicals industry in Singapore - has started a three-year partnership with the Austin, Texas-based Construction Industry Institute (CII) to study and implement best practices for project management. The partnership, which will be co-funded by the industry and the government, will also implement a certification system on productivity, said Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang on Thursday.
Financial Services
SGX to tackle listings woes Brunei Times 16th Sep 2015
Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX), which is facing a dearth of initial public offerings (IPOs), is setting up three independent listings committees in an attempt to address investor concerns about its independence. The formation of the committees, which will comprise senior bankers, lawyers and chief executives of companies, is the most significant strategic announcement made by SGX since veteran banker Loh Boon Chye became its CEO in July. “SGX’s long-term success depends on our having and maintaining a solid record as a market regulator and operator,” chief regulatory officer Tan Boon Gin told a briefing on Tuesday. Unlike other major financial markets, Singapore does not have a dedicated securities watchdog. Instead SGX is the front-line regulator and is in turn regulated by the central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). SGX also so far did not have an independent committee looking at listings.
Citibank names new head of retail banking for Singapore The Straits Times 3rd Sep 2015
Citibank Singapore has named Charles Wong its new retail banking head for the Republic, effective immediately. Mr Wong, who was previously the regional head of Citibanking, Citi@ Work and global banking, will now be responsible for Citibank's retail banking business in Singapore and will have oversight of wealth management, bancassurance, sales and network distribution. Mr Wong, a Singaporean, has close to two decades of banking experience and a thorough understanding of the business, having held a range of roles in retail banking, bancassurance, credit payment products and marketing across Asia Pacific, Citi said in a statement yesterday.
Singapore Savings Bond rolled out Brunei Times 2nd Sep 2015
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) rolled out the first issue of Singapore Savings Bond (SSBs) yesterday, promising a 2.63 per cent average annual return if they are held for 10 years. The interest rate – or rate of return – of the first issue SSBs will start at 0.96 per cent for the first year, data released by the MAS showed. The rate will then go up to 1.09 per cent for those holding the bonds into the second year, which translates to an average annual return of 1.02 per cent. For the third year, the rate of return will be 1.93 per cent, which means an average annual return of 1.32 per cent. Thereafter, the rate will go up to 3.7 per cent for the 10th year, when the average annual return hits 2.63 per cent.
Singapore bank lending rises on housing loans in July Customs Today 31st Aug 2015
Singapore’s total bank lending in July rose on stronger demand for property loans and from the general commerce sector, central bank data showed on Monday. Loans and advances by domestic banks in the city-state amounted to S$610.4 billion ($433.1 billion) last month, according to data from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. That compared with S$606.8 billion in June. July bank lending grew 2.2 percent from S$597.4 billion a year earlier. Housing and bridging loans in July increased to S$181.6 billion from S$180.3 billion in June. These loans totalled S$172.6 billion in July 2014.
Health & Life Sciences
Haze subsidy scheme for medical treatment to be revived tomorrow Today 15th Sep 2015
From September 16, the Haze Subsidy Scheme will be revived to help reduce medical costs for haze-related conditions for the elderly, the young (aged 18 and below) and lower-income Singaporeans, the authorities announced at a press briefing September 15. First introduced in 2013 when the haze hit record levels, under the scheme, pioneers pay no more than S$5 and others eligible pay no more than S$10 when they see participating healthcare providers for conditions such as asthma, conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Those on public assistance will be fully subsidised.
SingHealth Duke-NUS gala dinner raises $30.5m The Straits Times 31st Aug 2015
Some $30.5 million was raised for medical research and education initiatives at the inaugural SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre gala dinner. The Academic Medical Centre uses education and research to advance the frontiers of medicine which may fall outside the bounds of typical grant support mechanisms, says Duke-NUS dean, Professor Thomas Coffman.
Singapore softens ban on HIV-positive visitors Yahoo News 31st Aug 2015
Singapore said August 31 it has lifted a two-decade ban on HIV-infected people from entering the country, but will limit their stay to a maximum of three months. The three-month restriction is apparently aimed at preventing long-term residence by foreigners, such as those looking to work in the island-nation or looking to accompany a child studying here.
Global sales and marketing firm ZS opens Singapore office PR Newswire 31st Aug 2015
In a move to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, global sales and marketing firm ZS recently opened an office in Singapore. The new office is ZS's fifth location in Asia and 22nd worldwide. Dedicated to helping companies around the world and across multiple industries address a wide range of sales and marketing issues, the firm increases its investment in Singapore as the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries continue to boom in the region.
Raffles Medical to buy chain of clinics in China, Indochina for $24.5m Deal Street Asia 31st Aug 2015
Singapore-listed Raffles Medical Group said it had reached a deal to buy 10 clinics in China, Vietnam and Cambodia for $24.5 million in cash.
E-cigarettes remain illegal AsiaOne 29th Aug 2015
The United Kingdom's public health authority recently issued a report that said e-cigarettes are not only 95 per cent less harmful than regular cigarettes, but also have the potential to help smokers quit. But Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) is sticking by its view that e-cigarettes are dangerous and will remain illegal, pointing out that the vapour from e-cigarettes still contains cancer-causing agents, which pose a real risk to both users and bystanders.
MOH helps doctors pick up geriatric, family medicine skills The Straits Times 28th Aug 2015
In an effort to expand the pool of doctors specialising in intermediate and long-term care (ILTC), MOH announced on August 27 that the Community Care - GP Partnership Training Award will now cover geriatric and family medicine as well.
$3b plan to help seniors live more fulfilling lives The Straits Times 27th Aug 2015
In a push to brighten the golden years, a $3 billion five-year plan will give Singapore's seniors opportunities to learn, volunteer and live independently, well after retirement. The new Action Plan for Successful Ageing will open senior centres for social activities as well as daycare in at least 10 upcoming HDB projects, and launch a free PAssion Silver card with perks for those aged 60 and over. Up to $200 million could also be set aside for ageing-related research. The plan will also launch a National Seniors' Health Programme to address ageing-related health concerns that aims to reach out to at least 400,000 seniors aged 50 or above by 2030.
Singapore cements status as MedTech hub as Isreali & Chinese incubators set up base Deal Street Asia 27th Aug 2015
The entry of two new medical technology (medtech) incubators into Singapore is set to position the city state as a major Asia Pacific (APAC) medtech node. Israel-based Trendlines has set up a Singapore arm, while Incubator in China, which is among the newest and largest medtech and pharmaceutical incubators currently in the startup space, has established a presence in the city-state via Venturecraft to develop healthcare products for commercialisation in bigger markets, such as China and the US.
Singapore medtech startup ConneXion Asia launches in Hong Kong e27 27th Aug 2015
ConneXion Asia (CXA), a Singapore-based health platform started by Rosaline Koo, has launched in Hong Kong. The launch comes after CXA raised US$8 million in Series A funding in early February 2014, with annual revenues for the startup hitting US$6 million within the first year. It allows employees to select benefits based on their needs, whether on preventative measures such as gym and wellness services or other company approved flexible benefits. Employees get an instant assessment of key health and lifestyle risks, and employers do not see the data. The company receives a referral fee from its merchant partners. By year-end, it aims to have over 100,000 members and a presence in countries including China, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.
ICT
No dash for mobile banking apps in Singapore The Straits Times 26th Aug 2015
Mobile banking use in Singapore is surprisingly lower than in less-developed markets like Indonesia and India. A study by financial research firm RFi Group found that only 24 per cent of bank account holders in Singapore carry out transactions on their mobile devices at least once a week, compared with 42 per cent in Indonesia and 34 per cent in India. A plethora of banking options via laptops and at the many ATMs littered conveniently across the island have put Singapore behind its South-east Asian neighbours in mobile banking use, said analysts and experts. Some consumers wary of security issues are also holding back, questioning the safety of transacting on their mobile devices. Low mobile banking usage may seem unusual for Singapore, which has one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world - at about 150 per cent, meaning everyone has at least one mobile phone. Mr Gerald Ferguson, RFi Group's Asia general manager, explained that this is because Singapore is one of the "more developed markets in the region where there are more options for online banking, such as desktops and laptops". Like Singapore, mobile banking usage in Hong Kong is also low, with only 19 per cent using it every week, according to the study.
Infrastructure
Locating SIT in Punggol 'a sensible move' Straits Times 26th Aug 2015
The move to site the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) in Punggol was a natural one, as the estate is one of the few left in Singapore with enough space to accommodate it, experts said. They added that infrastructural developments in the pipeline will also be more than adequate to cater to the influx of students commuting in and out of the area when the campus is completed.
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