Heightened welfare concerns of gig workers, in particular ride-hailing and food delivery riders, were spotlighted in the passing of the Platform Workers Bill last month (Sept 10). Senior Minister of State for Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon had expressed concerns for their increased exposure to traffic accidents given the long hours they spend on roads. He stressed a greater need for workplace injury insurance coverage, liken to what corporate staff have in place. In recognition of this landmark Bill, Grab Singapore's Managing Director, Yee Wee Tang noted: «We felt that it is the right time to upgrade our benefits to ensure that it continues to be relevant and meaningful and complements the legislation.»

Within 12 hours of his appointment as the person-in-charge of rail replacement works along the East-West Line (EWL), contractor Steve Hall and his team got straight to work on Friday (Sept 27) morning — the third day of the six-day-long train disruption. For the next few days, the 63-year-old construction manager at China Railway First Group slept an average of four hours, and didn't see his family for three days. The British national and Singapore permanent resident had to answer so many text messages and calls that he even brought his phone along with him to the shower. «The phone never stopped. It just kept going and going, even my power packs were [depleted] as well» he told reporters in an interview on Oct 4.  On Thursday afternoon, Hall had been tasked by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to oversee restoration works on a stretch of damaged track closer to Dover station. The biggest challenge, he said, was the hot weather exacerbated by the noise barriers installed along that stretch of track. «There's no breeze, you're stuck,» he said, adding that ongoing welding works also added to the heat.

SINGAPORE — Sixteen months have flown by since the local horse racing fraternity was rocked by news of the Singapore Turf Club's (STC) impending closure, and like a thief in the night, the dreaded date of Oct 5 has sneaked up on everyone at Kranji with the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup as its epilogue. One of the first things that sprang to the minds of trainers and owners when they heard the shocking news on June 5, 2023 was the fate of the 700 horses. When told that racing would continue till Oct 5, 2024 — the land will be returned to the Government by March 2027 — some were up in arms, while others were undecided on how to proceed. Some thought it was unrealistic for racing to continue within such a tight deadline and hoped for an extension by another two to three years. Others thought the place would implode before Oct 5 after an exodus of both humans and equines. Fielding runners in the next 68 meetings would be a logistical nightmare, they said.

As the youngest member of the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang Community Sport Network (CSN)'s Pickleball Interest Group, 11-year-old Nolan Ang is comfortable playing the sport with other adults.  But what if he has to pit himself against our prime minister?  Ang was given the opportunity to face off against Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who visited the Sports and Wellness Carnival at Block 685A Hougang St 61 N6 Marquee on Saturday (Oct 5). Inside the court, Ang taught PM Wong how to serve the ball and explained the rules of the game, as the latter gamely followed along, earning cheers from the residents watching.  The young boy then asked PM Wong to autograph his pickleball after their short match against each other ended.  «I was quite excited to be able to play with PM Wong, and the game was quite fun,» Ang told AsiaOne after the event.  At the event were also Members of Parliament from Ang Mo Kio GRC as well as Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang SMC — Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Darryl David, Nadia Ahmad Samdin, Gan Thiam Poh, Ng Ling Ling, Kwek Hian Chuan Henry and Yip Hon Weng. 

SINGAPORE — Refusing to accept a ticket over a parking offence, a man offered a $10 bribe to a parking warden as he wanted to be let off the hook. Vikneswaran Kumaran, who was working for Certis Cisco Protection Services at the time, rejected Guo Chuankui's offer and alerted the police. Guo, a 46-year-old Chinese national, pleaded guilty to a graft charge and was sentenced to three weeks' jail on Oct 4. Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Da Zhuan, who did not disclose details about the location, said Guo was working as a driver on April 4, 2023, when he illegally parked his company's vehicle on a road with double yellow lines near a construction site before walking away. Vikneswaran, who arrived at the scene on a motorcycle, saw the vehicle and printed out a parking ticket notice. Guo returned soon after and saw him trying to place the ticket on the vehicle. The DPP said: «When the two met, the accused pleaded with Viknes (Vikneswaran)... telling him not to give the ticket.»

A 24-year-old Malaysian man died on his way to work in Singapore, leaving his family devastated as they never had a chance to see him one last time. The accident occurred on Wednesday (Oct 2) at 8am at the junction of Admiralty Road and Woodlands Centre Road, reported 8world. The victim, Wang Fuhan (transliteration), was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital unconscious after his motorcycle collided with a lorry.  Wang's 46-year-old mother, Lin, who works in Singapore, rushed to the hospital but found that her son had died from his injuries. His death comes four days before his 25th birthday.  The victim's father and sister travelled to Singapore from Malaysia that afternoon and were left in shock over his death.  A Facebook post by Singapore Road Accident shows Wang's damaged motorcycle scattered on the left side of a blue lorry. Wang could be seen lying face up on the road unconscious with his pants torn. Wang's cousin, surnamed Chen, shared that the former had been working at a warehouse in Singapore for about three years and that he was heading there at the time of his accident, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

Public nuisance or public service? Someone had installed gym equipment on the 25th-floor staircase landing of Block 423A Northshore Crescent in Punggol. According to Stomp contributor Ben, the equipment was there «for a long time, about more than six months». He shared photos showing the equipment mounted on the wall and a notice put up by Pasir Ris - Punggol Town Council about the issue. The notice, dated Sept 2, appealed for residents to be gracious and keep the estate safe for everyone. It said that an inspection on Aug 27 found an «unauthorised item» installed on «common property» without a valid permit. The notice added: «We seek your cooperation to remove all the items at the staircase landing of Staircase 3A-1, by Monday, 16 September 2024, failing which, we will remove them without further notice.» However, Ben told Stomp on Sept 20 and 24 that the equipment was still there.

Engaging businesses such as car dealers to report suspicious activities and inter-agency data-sharing are some of the new measures the government has proposed on Friday (Oct 4) to tackle money laundering in Singapore. The tightened framework comes after an inter-ministerial committee was formed to review and make recommendations following the country's biggest money laundering case last August involving $3 billion in assets and property. In that case, nine men and one woman, originally from China, were sentenced to jail where over $940 million worth of their assets were forfeited to the state.  The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Anti-Money Laundering, led by Minister in Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, also recommends training 'gatekeepers' to detect and report suspicious activities. These 'gatekeepers' include lawyers, property agents and bank relationship managers.

Residents and motorists waded through ankle-deep waters after construction workers accidentally struck an underground water pipe on Friday (Oct 4). Workers whom AsiaOne spoke to said they were conducting shoring around Block 67 Marine Drive, when one of the beams accidentally struck a water pipe.  Convenience store owner Abdul Rawoof, 51, whose shop is located at Block 67, told AsiaOne that the flooding started at about 11.30am.  As a result, he had to switch off the electrical appliances in his shop, and move several items out of the unit.  «Some goods were damaged, especially carton boxes on ground,» he recounted, adding that business has been affected.

Public nuisance or public service? Someone had installed gym equipment on the 25th-floor staircase landing of Block 423A Northshore Crescent in Punggol. According to Stomp contributor Ben, the equipment was there «for a long time, about more than six months». He shared photos showing the equipment mounted on the wall and a notice put up by Pasir Ris - Punggol Town Council about the issue. The notice, dated Sept 2, appealed for residents to be gracious and keep the estate safe for everyone. It said that an inspection on Aug 27 found an «unauthorised item» installed on «common property» without a valid permit. The notice added: «We seek your cooperation to remove all the items at the staircase landing of Staircase 3A-1, by Monday, 16 September 2024, failing which, we will remove them without further notice.» However, Ben told Stomp on Sept 20 and 24 that the equipment was still there.

A young pianist in Bedok dedicated a performance to Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat despite his shock at being approached by him. In a Facebook post in celebration of Childrens' Day on Friday (Oct 4) DPM Heng expressed his well-wishes and hopes for children in Singapore. «This Children's Day, let us all encourage our young ones to embrace their curiosity - to explore, play, learn, create and try something new,» he wrote. «I'm always happy to see many children in East Coast doing just that and having fun. Whether they are playing sports or musical instruments, exploring nature at the beach or spending precious time with family and friends.» «Just like young Bedok resident, Jace, who is often at Bedok CC (Community Centre) to play the piano or enjoy a game of basketball with his friends. Enjoy this beautiful piece!» Included in the post was a video of DPM Heng's heartwarming interaction with Jace. In the clip, DPM Heng – who is also an MP for East Coast GRC – is seen asking the young pianist which level of primary school he was in, and whether he attended the nearby Bedok Green Primary.

Billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng has been charged with abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts, and obstruction of justice in court on Friday (Oct 4).  Ong did not indicate how he would plead to the charges. His defence lawyer is seeking six weeks' adjournment to take further instructions, reported CNA. His bail was also extended. Ong had arrived at the State Courts at about 2.20pm. The 78-year-old was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, and was accompanied by four others, including his lawyer Aaron Lee from Allen and Gledhill. Declining to answer any questions from the media, Ong told them: «Please don't make me fall.» Closer to the entrance, a minder asked the media to make space for the group.

A 42-year-old woman was charged in court on Thursday (Oct 3) for attempting to bribe an auxiliary officer at Woodlands Checkpoint, reported Lianhe Zaobao. Wang Xiping was stopped for illegally driving in the bus lane on July 17 earlier this year, according to the charge sheet. In hopes of avoiding the penalty charges, she allegedly offered an auxiliary officer RM50 (S$15) and S$50 to turn a blind eye. The officer did not accept Wang's bribe. Wang was charged with one count of violating Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. If convicted, she will be sentenced to a maximum fine of $100,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.  She intends to plead guilty when she returns to court on Nov 15, reported Zaobao.

Billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng is set to be charged in court on Friday (Oct 4), a day after former transport minister S Iswaran was sentenced to one year in jail yesterday.  Ong, who is the chairman of Formula One (F1) race promoter Singapore GP, faces one charge for abetment under Section 165 and another charge under Section 204A of the Penal Code.  Section 165 punishes obtaining gifts in public office when there are official business dealings between the parties involved, while Section 204A relates to the obstruction of justice.  The 78-year-old was previously arrested by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau on July 11, 2023, amid investigations involving the former transport minister.  Ong was later released on $800,000 bail, but no charges were filed against him then.  When Iswaran pleaded guilty on Sept 24, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said it would «take a decision in respect of [Ong]».  Two of the four counts under Section 165 for which Iswaran was convicted for are related to Ong.