- B E R I T A _ H A R I _ I N I _ 2 0 0 8 -

fatz

       
Thief attempts to steal, but detained by couple and security officer
Posted: 30 January 2008 0044 hrs

SINGAPORE: British expatriate Laurence John Howell and his wife, Sheri, spotted a man loitering at a multi-storey car park in Clark Quay Monday night.

The couple was heading to their car when they saw the man meddling with door handles of several parked cars.

The couple then drove to the security counter and alerted Mr Sathis Kumar, the security officer on duty.

The three then detained the suspect, a 28-year-old Indonesian man, and informed the police.

The suspect will be charged in court on Wednesday with "loitering with intent to commit theft from vehicle".

If found guilty, he may be jailed up to three months, fined up to S$2,000, or both. - CNA/ac

fatz

Bad start to school's first swimming programme

Drowning happened despite adherence to safety guidelines such exempting the unwell
By Carolyn Quek and Tessa Wong


Above is the pool at Clementi Swimming Complex where 13-year-old Danial Syawal Jailani drowned. It was a terrible start to New Town Secondary School's first swimming programme, which had students taking lessons during physical education classes. -- ST PHOTO: LIM CHIN PING

FOR New Town Secondary, the drowning of Danial Syawal Jailani, 12, was a terrible start to its swimming programme.

It was the first year the school decided that its Secondary One students should have swimming lessons during physical education classes.

And it was Danial's third lesson in Clementi Swimming Complex.

It is unclear how he drowned.

His parents said he was a strong swimmer, whom they often took to public pools and to the beach.

Classmates agree that he was no novice.

Janice Sie, 12, said: 'Danial was in the group which knew how to swim, but didn't know how to do proper strokes.'

During Monday's lesson, the Danial's group was practicing the butterfly and learning the backstroke.

But Danial, who developed a reputation as the class clown, would sometimes horse around, even doing somersaults in the water, she added.

School principal Neo Lay Wah would only say that the students numbered 58 in all were accompanied by four PE teachers and Singapore Sports Council-registered swimming instructors.

fatz

Pillion rider dies after scooter hits tree

A 28-year-old woman died on the spot after the scooter she was riding on crashed into a tree near a junction in Abingdon Road at midnight on Monday.

The scooter was travelling along Upper Changi Road towards the Pan-Island Expressway when the rider, a 30-year-old man, lost control of his vehicle. It collided with a tree trunk beside the road.

The woman, his pillion rider, was pronounced dead at 12.25am.

The rider was semi-conscious when taken to Changi General Hospital. He complained of chest pains and suffered abrasions on his hand.

Motorcylist suffered serious head injuries
In another accident on Monday, a 66-year-old motorcyclist suffered serious head injuries after he skidded at a junction in Kallang Bahru at 2.15pm.

He was travelling towards Upper Boon Keng Road when he lost control of his motorcycle.

The rider was taken semi-conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

fatz

More ERP gantries, higher ERP rates to ease congestion
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 January 2008 1448 hrs


an ERP gantry

SINGAPORE : More electronic road pricing (or ERP) gantries will be put up and some ERP rates will be raised as part of the government's wide ranging move to ease traffic congestion.

In addition, the rate of annual vehicle growth will be moderated but road taxes will be cut.

In the last of three major announcements on changes to the land transport system, Transport Minister Raymond Lim says even as public transport is being improved, firm steps must be taken to curb excessive car travel demand.

So the incremental ERP charge will be raised from 50 cents to S$1 progressively from July.

At the same time, the ERP base charge, which is the starting charge for a new ERP gantry point, will be increased from S$1 to S$2.

From May 2009, the rate of annual vehicle growth will be halved - from 3 percent to 1.5 percent.

But road taxes will be reduced by 15 percent from July this year as part of the general move towards taxing based on usage, rather than ownership.

To lower the upfront cost of car ownership, the Additional Registration Fee (or ARF) will be lowered from 110 percent of the Open Market Value (or OMV) to 100 percent from March.

On the new gantries, 16 will come up in phases during the year.

On April 7, the gantries at Upper Bukit Timah Road, Toa Payoh Lorong 6, Upper Boon Keng Road, Geylang Bahru Road and Kallang Bahru Road will be switched on.

On July 7, five new gantries will run along the Singapore River line - from Clemenceau Avenue to Fullerton Road - at Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road and Fullerton Road.

Then on November 3, six new gantries will come up - at Commonwealth Avenue, Jalan Bukit Merah, Alexandra Road, AYE (westbound) and PIE (westbound) near Eunos and Serangoon Road.

Mr Lim explained that the ERP system has largely remained unchanged since it was introduced 10 years ago so it has to be enhanced to address current and future traffic conditions.

He made the announcements during a visit to the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway on Wednesday morning. - CNA/ch

fatz

Telecom lines cut off during excavation works at Bedok North
By Valerie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 January 2008 2006 hrs

SINGAPORE: Phone lines and internet connections were cut off in Bedok North on Wednesday afternoon.

A MediaCorp News hotline caller said the problems started at about 3pm.

SingTel said it could not confirm how many blocks of flats were affected but mentioned that the incident was caused by contractors doing road works in the area.

Workers had accidentally cut off underground telecommunications cables during excavation works.

Major restoration works took place soon after the incident.

SingTel assured the affected units that telecommunication lines will be restored late Wednesday night. - CNA/vm

fatz

2 teens die in accident along Old Upper Thomson Road
By Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 January 2008 1724 hrs

SINGAPORE: Two teenagers died in an accident along Old Upper Thomson Road on Tuesday.

Police said they were both rear passengers of a car which was carrying a total of four people.

The accident happened about 11:45pm.

The car had apparently been travelling towards Seletar Expressway (SLE) and was negotiating a bend when it fell into a ditch.

Before it landed, the vehicle also hit a tree near lamp post 64.

The four were trapped in the car and had to be helped by Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers.

The two who died are Chinese males in their late teens.

One suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.30am.

The other was brought to Tan Tock Seng Hospital unconscious and died in hospital about an hour later.

The driver and his front passenger were also injured and were sent to the Singapore General Hospital. -CNA/vm

fatz

Singapura : 31 Januari 2008         
         
HASRAT BELAJAR DI TIMUR TENGAH TIDAK KESAMPAIAN

TERKURUNG DAN DIARAH KELUAR SYRIA

Oleh
Tukiman Warji



NIAT seorang pelajar madrasah untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di sebuah kolej di Syria terbantut apabila beliau menghadapi pelbagai hambatan sebelum akhirnya disuruh pulang ke Singapura bulan lalu.

Ini semuanya gara-gara salah faham dan tiada persediaan sewajarnya, kata lulusan Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, Luqman Hakim Hassan, 17 tahun, yang mahu mendalami ilmu ukhrawi di Kolej Takhassus Fatah Al Islami di Damsyik, ibu kota Syria.

Menurut Luqman, sesampai beliau di lapangan terbang Syria bersama lapan pelajar Singapura yang lain pada 21 Disember lalu, beliau menulis alamat penginapannya di hostel Universiti Abu Nour pada borang imigresen.

Namun, seorang pegawai imigresen menasihatkannya supaya mendapatkan surat pengesahan daripada universiti itu sebelum menyuruhnya tunggu di sebuah bilik.

Luqman berkata, beliau segera menghubungi pengurus perjalanannya ke Syria, yang dikenali hanya sebagai Encik Kamsari, dan sebaliknya beliau diarah supaya mengubungi seorang pelajar Singapura di sana.

'Perbualan menerusi telefon dengan pelajar itu tiba-tiba terputus. Saya terkurung selama tujuh jam sebelum dibenarkan keluar,' kata Luqman.

Kemudian, kerana ingin segera mengambil bagasinya beliau tidak menyedari pasportnya tidak dicop.

Akibatnya, beliau terpaksa berpatah balik ke pejabat imigresen sebelum boleh keluar untuk mencari para pelajar Singapura yang dikatakan akan membantunya di dewan ketibaan lapangan terbang.

Beliau tidak menemui mereka dan kemudian pergi ke sebuah asrama universiti kirakira 40 kilometer dari lapangan terbang.

'Setiba di sana, saya diberitahu semua pelajar Singapura telah ke lapangan terbang. Disebabkan asrama itu dah penuh saya dinasihatkan supaya pergi ke asrama di Universiti Khunsa tidak jauh dari situ,' kata Luqman.

Menurutnya lagi, dua pelajar Singapura kemudian tiba bersama pegawai imigresen dan beliau dibawa semula ke lapangan terbang lalu ditempatkan di sebuah bilik bersama sekitar 10 warga negara asing lain.

Oleh sebab diarah meninggalkan Syria, beliau berlepas ke Abu Dhabi pada Krismas lalu untuk pulang ke Singapura.

'Sekarang saya mahu lupakan apa yang terjadi tetapi tetap bertekad untuk melanjutkan pelajaran sehingga mendapat ijazah. Namun buat masa ini saya merancang untuk belajar di negeri sendiri,' katanya.

fatz

berita sepenuhnya...

Singapura : 31 Januari 2008         
         
DUA PELAJAR POLITEKNIK TERBUNUH DALAM NAHAS

DUA pelajar Politeknik Nanyang (NYP) terkorban apabila kereta yang mereka naiki bersama dua lagi rakan sekolah terjunam ke dalam parit di Old Upper Thomson Road lewat malam kelmarin.

Pemandu kereta, seorang pelajar Politeknik Republic (RP), dan seorang lagi penumpang dapat diselamatkan.

Dua korban nahas itu, David Li, 18 tahun, dan Mervin Teo, 19 tahun, berada di tempat duduk belakang apabila nahas terjadi sekitar 11.45 malam.

Menurut polis, kereta berkenaan sedang membelok ke kanan menuju ke Ekspreswe Seletar (SLE) apabila ia terbabas dan menjunam ke parit.

Pintu penumpang kiri kereta tersebut dipercayai telah melanggar sebatang pokok.

Akibatnya, keempat-empat pelajar itu terperangkap dalam bangkai kereta yang ranap selama setengah jam sebelum dikeluarkan oleh para penyelamat Pasukan Pertahanan Awam Singapura (SCDF).

Tidak segera diketahui sama ada para penumpang belakang memakai tali keledar ketika itu.

Li, pelajar tahun kedua kejuruteraan informatik, cedera parah di kepala dan disahkan meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian.

Teo, daripada jurusan yang sama, dikejarkan ke Hospital Tan Tock Seng (TTSH) dalam keadaan tidak sedarkan diri dan meninggal dunia pada 1.25 pagi.

Menurut seorang jurucakap SCDF, pemandu dan penumpang hadapan hanya cedera ringan dan dihantar ke Hospital Besar Singapura (SGH) untuk dirawat.

Seorang jurucakap NYP menyatakan pihaknya menyediakan khidmat kaunseling kepada dua pelajarnya yang cedera memandangkan musim peperiksaan bakal menjelang.

Sesiapa yang mempunyai maklumat mengenai kemalangan itu diminta menghubungi Polis Trafik di talian 1800-547-1818.

fatz

HASRAT BELAJAR DI TIMUR TENGAH TIDAK KESAMPAIAN

MUIS: MOHON MENERUSI SALURAN SAHIH

PELAJAR setempat yang mahu melanjutkan pelajaran ke pusat pengajian tinggi di Timur Tengah dinasihatkan supaya berbuat demikian menerusi saluran-saluran sahih.

Ini termasuk membuat permohonan secara peribadi ke universiti berkenaan dan mempunyai dokumen peribadi dan akademik yang telah disahkan Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) dan Kedutaan Singapura di negara berkenaan.

Mereka perlu juga mendapatkan 'Surat Tiada Halangan' daripada Muis kerana ia diperlukan di kebanyakan institusi dan negara di rantau Teluk.

Surat itu boleh didapati menerusi Sekretariat Sumber dan Pembangunan Pelajar, Muis (SRDS)

Muis mengeluarkan nasihat ini sebagai menjawab pertanyaan Berita Harian mengenai kes seorang pelajar madrasah setempat dihantar pulang kerana gagal menunjukkan bukti rancangannya untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di sebuah institusi di Syria, baru-baru ini.

Lulusan Madrasah AlJunied Al-Islamiah itu, Luqman Hakim Hassan, 17 tahun, mendakwa diusir dari Syria Disember lalu.

Beliau sepatutnya melanjutkan pelajaran di Kolej Takhassus Fatah Al-Islami di Damsyik.

Beliau mendakwa hasratnya tidak kesampaian kerana berlaku salah faham yang membawa kepada pengusirannya.

'Tidak ada prosedur tetap bagi pelajar-pelajar setempat yang ingin melanjutkan pelajaran ke universiti-universiti di negara Arab kerana setiap negara dan institusi mempunyai prosedur berlainan.

'Namun secara umum, para pelajar perlu membuat permohonan secara peribadi ke universiti tersebut apabila permohonan dibuka antara Julai dengan Ogos setiap tahun,' kata Muis.

Menurut Muis, pihaknya tidak terlibat secara langsung dalam pendaftaran dan hanya membantu dari segi memberi maklumat kemasukan, kandungan dan sistem pengajian, butiran institusi dan negara terbabit.

Muis juga menghubungkan pelajar dengan persatuan pelajar Singapura di sana, yang dapat membantu jika ada masalah.

Mereka juga boleh menghubungi Kementerian Ehwal Luar secara langsung atau SRDS, tambah Muis.

fatz

Singapura : 31 Januari 2008         
         
ERP BAKAL NAIK, GANTRI BERTAMBAH

Pengurangan cukai jalan dalam semakan sistem pengangkutan darat

Oleh
Soraya Salim

BAYARAN Elektronik Jalan Raya (ERP) akan dinaikkan dan 16 gantri lagi akan didirikan bagi terus mengawal kesesakan di beberapa jalan raya dan ekspreswe.

Harga permulaan ERP akan dinaikkan daripada $1 kepada $2, dan setiap kenaikan selepas itu adalah sebanyak $1, berbanding 50 sen sekarang.

Namun, kenaikan itu akan diimbangi dengan pengurangan cukai jalan raya sebanyak 15 peratus bagi semua jenis kenderaan mulai 1 Julai.

Langkah-langkah lain untuk mengawal kesesakan termasuk membina beberapa ekspreswe baru, meluaskan Ekspreswe Central (CTE) dan Tampines (TPE) serta mengurangkan kadar pertumbuhan kenderaan daripada 3 peratus kepada 1.5 peratus setahun.

Ekspreswe baru itu termasuk Ekspreswe Utara-Selatan (NSE), yang akan menghubungkan Woodlands ke East Coast Parkway (ECP) dan Ekspreswe Marina Coastal, ekspreswe bawah tanah yang menghubungkan Ekspreswe Kallang-Paya Lebar (KPE) ke Ekspreswe Ayer Rajah (AYE).

Mengumumkan demikian ketika menyampaikan bahagian ketiga dan terakhir semakan sistem pengangkutan darat semalam, Menteri Pengangkutan, Encik Raymond Lim, berkata pendekatan menyeluruh diperlukan bagi menangani masalah kesesakan.

Beliau berkata masalah kesesakan tidak akan berakhir dengan membina jalan raya baru semata-mata kerana ini akan hanya menarik lebih banyak kenderaan menggunakannya.

Struktur dan kadar baru ERP itu akan lebih berkesan dalam mempengaruhi keputusan pemandu untuk memandu atau tidak.

Bagaimanapun, Encik Lim, yang melawat KPE, menegaskan: 'ERP bukan bagi pemerintah menambah pungutan hasil tetapi bertujuan mengawal kesesakan.'

Beliau menarik perhatian bahawa jumlah kereta telah bertambah kepada 515,000 hari ini - 40 peratus lebih banyak daripada jumlah pada 1997.

Para pemandu juga lebih intensif menggunakan kereta mereka - purata 21,000 kilometer setahun.

Menurut Encik Lim, sedang jumlah kereta bertambah 10 peratus antara 1997 dengan 2004, jumlah perjalanan kereta meningkat 23 peratus.

'Ini menyebabkan jalan raya semakin sibuk dan kesesakan kerap dialami sekarang,' kata beliau sambil berkata keadaan sebegini tidak boleh berterusan.

Oleh itu, warga Singapura perlu menerima hakikat bahawa tidak semua orang boleh memandu kereta ke tempat kerja setiap hari.

Lantas, pemerintah sekarang sedang menggiatkan usaha menjadikan pengangkutan awam lebih menarik, seperti meningkatkan kekerapan khidmat bas yang terjejas oleh peluasan ERP kepada satu setiap 12 minit menjelang Jun, berbanding satu setiap 15 minit kini.

[ Last edited by  fatz at 31-1-2008 12:22 PM ]

fatz

Police looking for man to help in probe into molest cases
By Gamar Abdul Aziz, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 31 January 2008 0232 hrs


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpalRs8c.jpg

SINGAPORE : Police are looking for a man in his late 20s to help with investigations into several molest cases involving young victims.

The man is believed to be Chinese, about 1.65m tall and sporting spiky hair.

Police say he was last seen wearing a round-neck T-shirt with stripes and bermudas. He would sometimes wear a pink T-shirt.

Anyone with information can call the Police at 1800-255-0000.

fatz

Jan 31, 2008         

10 illegal immigrants nabbed in two overnight raids
Also seized were 611 packets of contraband cigrates.



Customs, police and immigration officers carried out two raids to flush out illegal immigrants peddling contraband cigarettes at Yew Tee and Petir Road on Wednesday night. The two-hour operation resulted in 10 arrests. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS
SINGAPORE Customs, police and immigration carried out two raids to flush out illegal immigrants peddling contraband cigarettes in the vicinity of the Yew Tee Industrial estate and along Petir Road on Wednesday night.

The two-hour joint operation from 10 pm to 12 midnight led to the arrest of 10 immigration offenders, as well as seizures of 611 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The duty and GST payable on the contraband cigarettes amounted to $4,893.92.

A joint statement issued by the Singapore Customs, Police Force and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on Thursday said four illegal immigrants were caught in the Yew Tee raid.

Also seized were 368 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

In the Petir Road raid, another six men - three illegal immigrants and three overstayers - were nabbed, along with 199 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized.

One of the overstayers was also found to have 44 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Singapore Customs warns that buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with contraband cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs and GST Acts, which carry stiff penalties.

On conviction by the court, offenders can be jailed as well as fined.

The vehicles used in the commission of the offence are also liable to forfeiture.

The public are also advised against buying duty-unpaid cigarettes.

For a packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, buyers stand to face a minimum fine of $500 or prosecution in court.

Members of the public with information on smuggling activities may contact the Singapore Customs Intelligence Hotline on 1800-2330000 or email to [email protected]

fatz

Jan 31, 2008         
Man jailed for using ex-wife's account to cheat bank
By Chong Chee Kin

HE helped his ex-wife set up her Internet bank account, but when he ran into financial difficulties after they divorced, he started dipping into her account to pay off his debts.

On Thursday, Benedict Seet Siew Keat, 28, was jailed six months under the Computer Misuse Act for using another person?s account to cheat the bank.

A district court heard how Seet, a recruitment consultant, turned to crime in 2006, two years after he divorced his wife.

It turned out that Seet had helped her set up an Internet account and password after they got married in 2001.

The woman did not change the password after they divorced in 2004.

In June 2006, Seet got into trouble because he was unable to pay off his credit card bills. He was chased out of his house by his parents and ended up sleeping in his company office.

His mobile phone subscription was terminated as he was unable pay for it. Desperate, he borrowed a colleague's phone and offered to pay for the subscription.

However, when he could not keep up with the payments, he accessed his ex-wife's banking account and paid the $325 bill from it.

Seet, who had borrowed $70 from another colleague, offered to repay the debt by paying for the colleague?s $150 phone bill in the same manner.

In return, the colleague would give him the balance of $80 in cash.

In all, Seet took $475 from his ex-wife, who reported him to the police when she found out that her savings account was depleted.

Seet could have been jailed up to 10 years.

fatz

Jan 31, 2008         

Handbag snatched from woman in void deck

A WOMAN in her mid-40s had her handbag snatched by a man while she was talking on her handphone at the void deck of Block 341 Choa Chu Kang Loop on Tuesday evening.

The man had come from behind her as she sat on a stone chair, and grabbed the handbag from her arm. He fled towards Choa Chu Kang Central.

The handbag, valued at $100, contained about $100 in cash, a brown wallet worth about $60 and some personal documents.

The suspect was dark-complexioned and is believed to be in his 20s is about 1.7m tall. He had short, spiky hair and was wearing a green and white striped t-shirt and dark coloured pants.

In another theft, a teenager had her handphone snatched at the void deck of Block 93 Henderson Road on Tuesday evening.

At about 10.30pm, the thief approached the victim and her friend claiming that he wanted help with a Chinese word in a newspaper he was carrying.

He then tried to snatch the handphone from the teenager who was using it, and a scuffle ensued.

The handphone, valued at $200, fell to the ground and the man picked it up and fled.

Anyone with information can call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000.

fatz

S'pore athletes receive cash awards for SEA Games success
By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 31 January 2008 2321 hrs


Team Singapore athletes march through a stadium during the closing ceremony of the 24th SEA Games in Thailand.

SINGAPORE: Singapore athletes were awarded at a ceremony on Thursday for their success at the 2007 SEA Games in Korat which saw Singapore clinching a total of 43 gold medals.

18 per cent of the athletes were below 18 and many of the young ones brought home gold.

Officials said this augurs well for Singapore as it prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

And for that achievement, the sporting stars received cash rewards as part of a multi-million dollar programme, funded by the Singapore Totalisator Board.

The event, held at St James Power Station, saw athletes from 11 sports getting a total of S$520,000.

Organisers said the amount may be adjusted in future.

The biggest winner for the night was swimmer Tao Li who received S$20,000 for her three gold medals.

She said: 揕ike Asian games, I will give back some money to my school which has really helped me for my sports and I will treat my family.

miezarra_27

BERI MAKAN MONYET: DENDA LEBIH TINGGI

MULAI hari ini, orang ramai yang ditangkap kerana memberi makan monyet di dalam taman dan hutan simpan akan didenda seganda lebih tinggi.

Lembaga Taman Negara (NParks) dalam kenyataannya semalam berkata denda itu akan dinaikkan daripada $250 kepada $500. Kenaikan itu sebahagian daripada usaha NParks untuk mengatasi masalah monyet yang mengganggu di kawasan bandar.

'Memberi makan monyet membahayakan manusia dan monyet itu sendiri. Ia boleh mengubah tabiat semula jadi monyet dengan bergantung pada manusia untuk mencari makan,' ujar NParks.

NParks juga berkata pihaknya tidak percaya penguatkuasaan adalah satu-satunya cara menyelesaikan masalah memberi makan kepada monyet.

Pihaknya juga akan melancarkan program pendidikan - dengan meletakkan papan tanda, menyebarkan risalah bagi menjelaskan kesan memberi monyet makan dan kenapa ia menjadi kesalahan.

Sistem televisyen litar tutup (CCTV) turut dipasang di beberapa kawasan hutan simpan.

Tong sampah kalis monyet juga disediakan di kawasan perumahan berdekatan hutan simpan.

fatz

Singapura : 2 Februari 2008         
         
[fly]LALUAN UDARA KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPURA DIBUKA[/fly]

[fly]TERBANG CIPTA SEJARAH[/fly]

Oleh
Suryani Omar

PERANCANG kewangan Lakshmi Chandra Maha Lakshwi begitu ghairah untuk ke Kuala Lumpur pagi semalam, bukan saja kerana ia kali pertama anaknya berusia dua bulan, Dayal Nitai, menaiki kapal terbang tetapi lebih kerana mereka menjadi antara penumpang penerbangan pertama Tiger Airways dari Singapura ke ibu kota Malaysia itu.

'Kami dapat sama-sama mencipta sejarah, dan menjimat hampir separuh tambang berbanding jika kami menaiki Singapore Airlines (SIA) atau Malaysian Airlines (MAS),' kata beliau dengan ghairah ketika ditemui di Terminal Bajet, Changi semalam.

Beliau pergi bukan berdua bahkan bersama 20 anggota keluarganya. Mereka membayar $150 setiap seorang, berbanding $440 jika mereka menaiki SIA atau MAS.

Laluan udara antara Singapura dan Kuala Lumpur dibuka secara terhad mulai semalam, membenarkan empat penerbangan ulang-alik, dan mencatatkan sejarah bagi perusahaan penerbangan Singapura-KL.

Malaysia dan Singapura telah bersetuju untuk membuka laluan itu sepenuhnya mulai Disember ini.

Pesawat A320 Tiger Airways itu berlepas ke Kuala Lumpur pada 10.50 pagi.

Lima minit kemudian, pesawat AirAsia, yang membawa 180 penumpang, termasuk Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO), Datuk Tony Fernandes, tiba di Terminal Satu, Lapangan Terbang Changi.

Dengan pembukaan laluan itu, jumlah penerbangan antara Singapura dan KL bertambah daripada 198 kepada 254 seminggu, kata Penguasa Penerbangan Awam Singapura (CAAS).

Tahun lalu, 1.7 juta penumpang terbang antara Singapura dan Kuala Lumpur, dan ini akan terus berkembang, kata Pengarah Pengurusan Lapangan Terbang, CAAS, Encik Foo Sek Min.

Datuk Fernandes menyifatkan semalam sebagai 'Hari Kebebasan'.

'Penguasaan kedua-duanya (SIA dan MAS) di laluan itu sudah berakhir. Kini semua pihak boleh terbang ke Singapura pada harga semurah harga roti canai,' katanya, pelopor utama bagi penerbangan itu selepas enam tahun merayu agar syarikat penerbangannya dibenarkan menyediakan khidmat KL-Singapura.

CEO Jetstar Asia, Cik Chong Phit Lian, gembira dengan sambutan yang diterima walaupun tempoh penjualan tiket agak pendek.

Seorang usahawan Malaysia, Encik Syed Faizal Syed Ibrahim, yang ke Singapura setiap tiga minggu, turut gembira semalam kerana dapat mengurangkan masa perjalanannya sebanyak tiga jam.

Tiger Airways dan AirAsia beroperasi dari Terminal Syarikat Penerbangan Tambang Rendah (LCC) di KL.

Bas dari LCC ke KLIA mengambil masa 15 minit.

fatz

Feb 2, 2008         
3,000 counterfeit shirts and bags worth $120k seized
Couple arrested after police swoop on atrium bazaar in Far East Plaza
By Teh Joo Lin


ANTI-PIRACY RAID: Police officers confiscating the counterfeit shirts and bags at the temporary booth in the Far East Plaza atrium. The more than 3,000 items filled some 50 cartons. -- ST PHOTO:AZIZ HUSSIN

CLOSING time came early for a bazaar in the atrium of a downtown shopping mall yesterday, as plainclothes police swooped in and confiscated more than 3,000 pirated shirts and bags.

The total street value of the counterfeit Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirts, polo T-shirts and business shirts was about $120,000.

There were also some bags on offer at the so-called 'factory outlet sale' inside Far East Plaza in Scotts Road.

Altogether, the goods filled some 50 cartons.

The police told The Straits Times they have arrested a couple, both aged 36, in connection with yesterday's raid.

The bust, led by the Criminal Investigation Department's Intellectual Property Rights Branch, took place at about 10.30am.

The clothes were openly displayed on movable racks on the second floor of the mall.

There was also a cash register, with a sign that said 'cash only'.

The raid went by so quietly, even the surrounding tenants did not notice anything amiss.

'It was very quiet, I didn't even know there was a raid,' said a tenant who did not give his name.

'Then I saw people covering the racks and packing the clothes into boxes.'

Shop tenants said the bazaar was set up on Thursday.

A man who knew the sellers claimed they bought the clothes from someone here not knowing they were counterfeit.

Abercrombie & Fitch, a popular United States label, does not operate any outlets here.

Based on a check on its website, a genuine T-shirt retails for US$29.50 (S$42), excluding the US$40 shipping and handling costs.

At the bazaar, the different types of apparel, which also included sweaters and pullovers, were sold at prices ranging from $29.90 to $49.90.

Police spokesman Lim Tung Li said the police took a serious view of intellectual property rights violations.

They would continue to 'clamp down hard on profiteers looking to sell such counterfeit products during the festive season', Assistant Superintendent Lim said.

[email protected]

fatz

Demand for second-hand cars likely to rise due to cut in COEs
By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 February 2008 2109 hrs


SINGAPORE : Observers say second-hand car dealers can cash in on the cut in the number of Certificate of Entitlements (COEs).

The government announced on Wednesday that it will curb vehicle population growth, from 3 percent to 1.5 percent from next May.

The move is likely to raise the price of new cars and boost demand for new cars as well.

Jack Goh, Managing Director of M9 Automobile, is a seasoned second hand dealer.

He sells about 30 used cars a month but he thinks business would improve since there will be fewer COEs issued from next May.

He says: "If the new car price started to get more expensive, I would say, then people will come back to the used car market and then they will start to buy the used car more than the new car."

The recent transport review pointed out that there are just too many cars on Singapore's roads.

Data from the Land Transport Authority shows that in 1990, 16,000 vehicles were put onto the roads each year.

Today, 25,000 vehicles are added each year.

So now the number of cars on the roads is deemed too many, and the vehicle population growth is being cut.

Mr Goh says there could be a return to the past.

That would be a time when COEs hovered between S$20,000 and S$30,000 for a small car.

The current COE for such cars are now only about S$12,000.

He adds: "During 2002 and 2003 when the COE was very high, the transactions were more than 100. And when it hit 2005, when the price started to get lower, you get to see the transactions reduced from more than 100 to less than 100 and then slow down to 60 to 70 units."

That's at least a 30 percent drop in the number of new cars being sold.

So if fewer people are buying new cars, dealers are convinced that more are set to buy used cars at least when it comes to non-luxury vehicles. - CNA/ch

fatz

SIA plane returns to Changi Airport after loss of cabin pressure
By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 February 2008 2008 hrs
         
SINGAPORE : A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200 plane flying to Beijing had to return to Changi Airport some 90 minutes after takeoff due to loss of cabin pressure on Saturday afternoon.

Officials say Flight SQ 802, carrying 232 passengers and 13 crew, suffered loss of cabin pressure at an altitude of 36,000 feet.

So the pilot sent the plane first to 32,000 feet and then to 10,000 feet.

Because of the rapid 6-minute descent, oxygen masks were deployed.

However these were safely removed once the plane reached 10,000 feet, and was stable.

SIA says the captain, in accordance with safety procedures, immediately initiated a return to Singapore - the nearest suitable airport.

The plane landed safely and without incident at 1.48pm local time.

Passengers were transferred to a different aircraft to continue their journey to Beijing.

SIA says a detailed investigation is underway and apologises to passengers inconvenienced by the delay. - CNA/ch