SINGAPORE — Allianz has withdrawn its offer to acquire at least 51 per cent of Singapore's Income Insurance for about US$1.63 billion (S$2.2 billion), the German company said in a statement on Monday (Dec 16). Reuters reported on Dec 13 that the German insurer has scrapped the proposed acquisition. Allianz said in Monday's statement that the decision came in light of the Singapore government's announcement during a parliament sitting on Oct 14 and subsequent changes to the country's Insurance Act. The acquisition would have lifted Allianz to fourth largest composite insurer in Asia, from ninth, but sparked criticism in Singapore because of concerns that it would detract from a mission to provide affordable insurance for lower-income workers. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in October that the city-state would block Allianz's bid, but remained open to a new deal if its concerns could be addressed, which Allianz said at the time it would attempt to do. The government subsequently amended the insurance law giving it more power to scrutinise buyouts of cooperative-linked insurers.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam and Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng will issue letters of demand to Bloomberg over a recent libellous article regarding their property transactions. In social media posts on Monday (Dec 16), the two ministers said that they have taken legal advice and will be issuing letters of demand to the media company. «We will be taking similar action against others who have also published libellous statements about those transactions,» they added. «We take a serious view of the allegations.» On Dec 12, Bloomberg published an article titled «Singapore mansion deals are increasingly shrouded in secrecy» and mentioned the transactions of good class bungalows related to the two ministers.

On Sept 28, 66-year-old private-hire driver Seng Kim Wang saw a Facebook ad that took him to a listing for a used car by Kartiam Singapore on Motorist Singapore. Dealer Jordy Yong told Seng to pay a $5,000 deposit for the $65,800 Toyota Sienta Hybrid. Seng signed the sales agreement for the five-year-old car at CarVault-AML's showroom and was told that he would receive the car on Oct 10. Yong delivered the vehicle to a carpark in Tengah but told Seng that the transfer of ownership could not be completed as it was after office hours and demanded the remaining $60,800. Although Seng insisted on paying only after the transfer of ownership, Yong said full payment had to be made and Seng reluctantly complied. «Car rental is expensive. By paying in full, I can work without having to worry about the car expenses,» Seng, who has been working as a private-hire driver for six years after 10 years as a cabby, told TNP. The transfer of ownership remained incomplete despite Seng's numerous requests, which were met with either excuses or silence. Yong repeatedly claimed he was waiting for Motorist Singapore to process the transfer.

The police arrested a 24-year-old man for driving whilst under disqualification following a multi-vehicle accident in Yishun on Friday (Dec 13).  The accident involving four cars and one lorry occurred along Yishun Avenue 2 towards Canberra Link at about 6.35pm that day. Two car drivers and two car passengers, aged between 24 and 65, were conveyed conscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told AsiaOne. SCDF also assessed another person for minor injuries but the person declined to be taken to the hospital.  https://www.facebook.com/talkcocksingapo/videos/862591795781392/ A video of the accident scene posted on Facebook shows the severely damaged front of a red car, which was in contact with the rear of a black car that also suffered heavy damage to its front. Further up the road were two other stationary vehicles — a white car with a damaged bonnet as well as a lorry. Debris from the crash can also be seen scattered across the road.  Police investigations are ongoing.

SINGAPORE — Five years ago, Hazwady Nazran, now 38, was hospitalised with mysterious and terrifying symptoms such as violent episodes, paranoid delusions, confusion, memory loss and seizures. If his wife, Dr Miria Hastuti Soedarsono, 34, had not insisted that he be given a spinal tap, the music teacher and songwriter could have ended up in a mental hospital. «Hazwady had three months of weird behaviour. He would say he could not see properly, and he would go without sleeping for three days at a stretch. He loves our son and would never scold the boy, yet he was shouting at Almizan,» recalled Dr Soedarsono. Hazwady said: «This disease was a silent thief. It sneaked in quietly, causing anxiety, confusion and memory loss, compounded by wild emotional outbursts, hallucinations and the inability to comprehend the thoughts in my mind.» The disease struck him in late 2018 when the family was leading «a happy, calm and pleasant life».

A motorcyclist was taken to hospital following an accident involving a car and his motorcycle at the junction of Raffles Avenue and Stamford Road on Dec 15. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the accident at around 11.20am. The man, 37, was taken conscious to Singapore General Hospital. The police said a 37-year-old male car driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing hurt. The accident was captured in a video posted on SG Road Vigilante's Facebook page. In the footage, the motorcyclist is seen approaching a traffic junction slowly, moving across the intersection as another stationary car does the same. He is suddenly hit by a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) from his left. The impact of the crash sends the motorcyclist flying into the air and landing hard in front of the MPV. Parts of the motorcycle are seen scattered across the junction, while the MPV's bonnet appears to have been crumpled from the force of the collision. Police investigations are ongoing.

He called himself an accident victim. A man was injured after tripping over the base of a safety pole at a Queenstown carpark exit on Nov 30 afternoon. Stomp contributor Darren was walking to the Margaret Drive Hawker Centre when it happened some time after 3pm. «I fell very hard on the rough road and sustained multiple injuries,» recounted the Stomp contributor, who shared photos of the wounds on his hand and legs. PHOTO: Stomp «I had to go to the A&E for treatment immediately. It was a painful ordeal.» He ranted: «The pole stump should never have remained bare! It was a potential hazard! »This was a clear case of negligence.« But on whose part? A photo he shared shows the »pole stump" on the road as part of the barrier at the carpark exit. The area is not meant for pedestrians.

Bala Trichy Iyer, 56, gives back to his community by offering basic coding classes at Changi Simei Community Club (CC). The entrepreneur, who founded technology start-up The Walnut, has held three Python lessons so far. To his surprise, residents in their 70s with no tech background showed up and kept coming back. «Most of them say: 'I have no idea. Looks like I have missed the boat.' But we say: 'No... we'll teach you today. And not only will you do it effortlessly, you'll be enjoying it also,'» he said. Such community spirit is important as Singapore embarks on a new phase of nation-building in a troubled time, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Dec 14. «You can see it around the world when you read the news. The world is becoming more troubled. There are wars in Europe, in the Middle East,» he said at a community event in Bedok. «Society is becoming more divided, trust being eroded.» But Singapore can be a «beacon of light» and come together to face challenges, he said. «We can be stable, secure, reliable and trusted.»

One woman died after a family of three from Singapore got into a car accident in Miaoli, Taiwan on Saturday (Dec 14) afternoon.  A Singaporean man, 36, and his three-year-old daughter sustained minor injuries from the crash, reported Taiwan news publication TVBS. His wife, a 33-year-old Chinese national, died from her injuries, SETNews reported. The man had driven a rental car, taking his family to pick strawberries in a farm that day. While en route to their next destination, he lost control of the vehicle. Instead of making a right turn like other motorists, the white car was veering towards the left and ended up crashing into a power pole, CCTV footage of the area showed. The power pole collapsed onto the road, blocking traffic across three lanes. While the man and his daughter were able to exit the vehicle, his wife was trapped back seat, local police said. She showed no signs of life after first responders extricated her from the wreckage. The woman was taken to hospital where she was subsequently pronounced dead.

MRT services along the Circle Line were disrupted for about an hour after a train stalled at Tai Seng station on Saturday (Dec 14), causing delays in commuters' journeys. The disruption began at around 6.20pm, with some commuters reporting a «blackout» on the train, which came to a standstill at Tai Seng station. Commuters can be seen standing by the open train doors, waiting for services to resume. On social media, public transport operator SMRT alerted commuters that they would face an additional 30 minutes of travel time between Promenade and Serangoon stations due to a train fault. Free regular bus service between the two stations - 10 stops apart - was also provided.

It was an unexpected 'windfall' which one rojak hawker quickly realised wasn't rightfully his. Instead of $10, he discovered that a customer had erroneously transferred $100 to him instead. According to Facebook user Victor Goh, he immediately took steps to rectify the situation. The owner of Crispy Rojak at Chinatown Complex shared a post on the Hawkers United - Dabao 2020 Facebook page on Thursday (Dec 12), describing the incident which had occurred the day before. He also let the customer know that a refund was on its way. «To the unknown customer who paid me $100 via NETS QR for his $10 Crispy Rojak, Chinatown Complex #02-195 on 10 Dec 24, please know that your refund $90 is on the way, no need to come down personally,» wrote Goh. He also urged his customers to «exercise more care» when using QR payments, adding, tongue-in-cheek: «Don't give me Christmas ang bao ah. Thank you!»

SINGAPORE - The Lions had their reserves to thank on Dec 14, when they maintained their perfect start to their 2024 ASEAN Championship campaign as they overcame minnows Timor-Leste 3-0 at the Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam. Japan-born playmaker Kyoga Nakamura scored his first goal in his fourth appearance for his adopted country when he kept his nerve to slot in a 76th-minute penalty to his left and send Junildo Pereira the wrong way. The spot kick was confirmed following a video assistant referee check, after Olagar Xavier was adjudged to have pushed substitute Shawal Anuar in the box. Shawal then kept up his rich vein of form with a late brace to take his tally to 16 goals in 39 international appearances. Again it was the bench players who made the difference, as he tucked away Safuwan Baharudin's cross in the 83rd minute, before he tapped in seven minutes later after fellow substitutes Jordan Emaviwe and Farhan Zulkifli combined to create the opening.

Allianz SE has scrapped a proposed $1.5 billion euro (S$2.2 billion) acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in Singaporean firm Income Insurance Ltd because of public opposition to the deal, a source familiar with the matter said. The move would have lifted Allianz to fourth largest composite insurer in Asia, from ninth, but sparked critique in Singapore because of concerns that it would detract from a mission to provide affordable insurance for lower-income workers. The decision will likely be announced publicly in the coming week, the source said, declining to be named. Allianz declined to comment. Bloomberg reported earlier on Friday (Dec 13) that the German insurer was close to scrapping the deal. Income Insurance Ltd, which has around 1.7 million customers and offers life, health, and property insurance, was founded in the 1970s to offer insurance to poorer parts of the population.

New advisory guidelines on the use of National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers will be issued by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), following the government's change in stance that such numbers should no longer be viewed as private and confidential. The PDPC also confirmed that companies are still barred from collecting, using or disclosing NRIC numbers and making copies of the identity card, unless they are required by law to do so. However, any changes to the guidelines will be introduced only after industry and public consultation, the PDPC said on Saturday night (Dec 14). The commission did not say when the consultation is expected to be completed. Like any personal identifier, PDPC said that the NRIC number is still subject to the data protection obligations in the PDPA. Therefore, organisations collecting NRIC data must still obtain valid consent and comply with reasonable use and ensure protection. PDPC noted that it has previously taken action against organisations which have used NRIC numbers for authentication and breached their data protection obligations.

SINGAPORE — The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) has temporarily disabled the function allowing people to access the IC numbers of individuals on its new portal. This is after members of the public surfaced concerns that they were able to access NRIC numbers through a search, without paying, via the Bizfile portal launched on Dec 9. The authorities clarified, however, that the NRIC number is a unique identifier assigned by the Singapore Government as a means to identify individuals, and should be used as such. Said a Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) spokesperson in a statement early on Dec 14: «As a unique identifier, the NRIC number is assumed to be known, just as our real names are known. »There should therefore not be any sensitivity in having one's full NRIC number made public, in the same way that we routinely share and reveal our full names to others." In a separate statement, Acra said that its new Bizfile portal provides the full NRIC, in line with a broader government effort to move away from using masked NRIC numbers.

SINGAPORE — Dao Thi Hong, the woman killed in a knife attack in Hougang, will be going home, with her sister making arrangements to have her body repatriated to Vietnam on Dec 14. Friends of the victim said last rites will be held where the family lives in Thanh Hoa, a city in central Vietnam about 150km south of Hanoi. Nguyen Trong Vinh, who shared a Housing Board flat with Hong and two other roommates, said more than 100 friends and relatives are waiting in Hong's home town for her return. The 34-year-old mother of three was stabbed repeatedly on Dec 10 where she worked at the Quan Long Nippon Paint hardware shop in Block 210 Hougang Street 21. The flat she lived in is in the same block. A 26-year-old man — another worker at the store — tried to stop the attack and was wounded. The attacker, who was injured in the incident, has since been charged with murder. The victim's older sister arrived in Singapore from Vietnam on Dec 11 to settle her sister's affairs. She paid her respects at a makeshift altar set up for Hong at the back of the hardware store.

A motorcyclist reportedly trapped under a lorry for 30 minutes was among the three people taken to hospital following a multi-vehicle collision on the PIE on Thursday (Dec 12). The accident involving three cars, a mini-bus, a motorcycle and a lorry, occurred on the PIE towards Tuas near the Jalan Bahar exit at about 2.05pm, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told AsiaOne. A man surnamed Zhang told Shin Min Daily News that the motorcyclist was unable to move from under the lorry. A picture provided by him shows the mangled motorcycle in front of a white lorry with a dislodged bumper and cracked windscreen. A pool of what appeared to be blood is seen on the road. Another photo of the accident shows a blue car sandwiched between vehicles.

SINGAPORE — Gigantic durians, towering cendol cups, colossal noodles and enormous grilled satay skewers will be on display around Singapore's neighbourhoods from December. The first-of-its-kind, community-driven arts initiative will see seven neighbourhoods showcasing upsized food-themed installations in December, with each work of art reflecting the distinct character and heritage of the area. Another seven neighbourhoods will join in a month later. In all, the 14 Giant Delight installations will involve 19 artists and an estimated 1,400 residents. The residents are led by their respective Community Arts & Culture Clubs (CACCs), which comprise volunteers who champion and implement arts and culture programmes in their community. Besides those who regularly participate in CACC activities, the other participating residents were recruited through social media and word of mouth. Some of these installations will be featured at the PAssionArts Street in Chingay 2025 on Feb 7 and 8.

Text messages directing recipients to a fake PayNow website is the latest phishing scam variant to emerge, said the police on Friday (Dec 13). Victims would receive a text message stating their PayNow «certificate» is expiring soon, and that it must be renewed via the linked website to maintain usage of the services. The fake website would require the victim to key in their credit card details and other personal details such as billing address, name and date of birth. In their statement, the police said that PayNow does not have a website which allows one to key in personal and credit card details. Users should only provide details to PayNow through the banks' official sites or applications. «PayNow does not issue any digital certificates to members of public,» added the police. «If in doubt, PayNow users can contact your respective banks through their official hotlines for assistance.» Members of the public can report such scams to the police at 1800-255-0000 or submit an online report at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.

The Lor Mee 178 stall at Tiong Bahru Market is known for its crispy shark meat nuggets – which even birds cannot seem to resist. Stomp contributor Mantou spotted a mynah helping itself to the fried fish at the Seng Poh Road stall on the morning of Dec 7. He shared a video showing the bird standing on and pecking at the nuggets, which were placed in trays and left uncovered at the stall. Mantou said: «We found the bird munching on the fried shark nuggets. When informed, the lady boss just shrugged it off.» However, the stall refuted this. They told Stomp that they had promptly chased the birds away and disposed of the affected trays of food. In response to a Stomp query, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said it is investigating. «Food safety is a joint responsibility,» the agency added. «While SFA puts in place and enforces the regulatory measures, food operators must play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices. Food operators should also ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained.»

SINGAPORE — On the day that contractors started hacking at the roof of Tan's Housing Board block in Jalan Tenaga in October, a roughly 2m-long crack appeared on the ceiling of his top-floor unit. The crack opened right above the spot in his bedroom where the retired policeman would lay his head when he went to sleep each night. Tan, who declined to give his full name, told The Straits Times in Mandarin: «I worry that if the crack gets worse, the ceiling could suddenly drop on me when I'm in bed.» The hacking is part of reroofing works that are being done at the 17 blocks in the Jalan Tenaga estate in Bedok. Tan is one of at least four households living on the top floor of this estate near Bedok Reservoir that have noticed cracks in their flats after the works started two to three months ago. The 75-year-old, who lives in the flat with his wife, reported the crack in his bedroom to the town council in October, prompting it to send a representative to his four-room executive apartment to take photos of the damaged area.

Online netizens raised privacy concerns over the search function on online portal Bizfile, which allows users to search for the National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers of some citizens — who are likely to be shareholders or directors of private Singapore-registered companies. The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) manages the portal, which is used for business registrations and filings. The concerns were raised after veteran journalist Bertha Henson highlighted the issue on Facebook on Thursday (Dec 12) evening. She noted in a post that she could search for the NRIC numbers of current politicians, as well as those of deceased persons. The ability to search for these details raises privacy concerns. The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) was enacted in 2012 to restrict the collection and disclosure of such personal information. The Business Times has reached out to Acra for comment on the issue. Acra's data policy indicates that the types of personal data publicly available include names, identification numbers, as well as residential addresses — if no contact address is given.

The body of a 73-year-old woman was discovered in her Bedok home on Wednesday (Dec 11), after a neighbour noticed numerous cockroaches and a foul stench emanating from the unit. Singapore Civil Defence Force personnel had to assist the police in gaining entry to the blocked door of the cluttered flat at Blk 23 Chai Chee Road, reported Shin Min Daily News. A Shin Min reporter who visited the scene at about 2pm on Wednesday observed that the wooden door of the flat had been entirely removed and placed aside, and the metal gate appeared to have been pried open. Residents told the Chinese evening daily that the woman lived alone and often brought sundries home. After a resident informed the town council about the pungent smell and cockroaches, some workers reportedly visited the woman's home, but she did not answer the door. One female neighbour, who declined to be named, said the deceased had minimal interactions with them and hardly goes out. «Occasionally, her relatives, friends and volunteers will visit her, but I haven't seen her for at least two weeks,» she said.

Hours before her flight back home, a disgruntled woman returned to her ex-workplace and allegedly smashed the glass shopfront. The incident occurred at a massage parlour along Race Course Road in Little India at about 10am on Monday (Dec 9). A Shin Min Daily News reporter who visited the scene following a reader tip-off noted glass shards scattered all over the parlour's premises as well as the pavement. A door frame was reportedly twisted, and the ceiling light fixtures were broken too. The massage parlour owner, surnamed Lin, told the Chinese evening daily that they had opened for business just several months ago. He reportedly invested $90,000 in this business.  He explained that his former employee had a conflict with her colleagues which affected business operations. That woman, and several others, were terminated from their positions. Her last day of work was on Dec 4.  «I didn't expect this to happen... I don't know why somebody would destroy the store,» said Lin, who added that the massage parlour was not open at the time of the incident.

This year, three Singaporeans have been named in Forbes Magazine's 100 most powerful women list which was released on Wednesday (Dec 11). Among them is OCBC chief Helen Wong, who came in at number 59. Wong, who became Group CEO in 2021 and a director of the bank's board in 2023, is drawing upon four decades of banking experience to lead OCBC, which recorded $13.5 billion in total income for the fiscal year of 2023, Forbes said. She is also a council member of the Association of Banks and the Institute of Banking and Finance in Singapore. Also on the list is Ho Ching, chairman of Temasek Trust, which is responsible for Temasek Holdings’ philanthropic endowments. This year, she ranked number 32, one spot up from her previous ranking in 2023.