When her face broke out in rashes and her eyes became red on Saturday, Ms Wat thought the cause was the haze.

But on Sunday morning, more rashes started appearing on the administrative assistant's arms.

Ms Wat, 61, who declined to use her full name, said she recalled a report about the Zika virus she had read the day before and remembered that rashes are one of the symptoms.

She immediately went to Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) accident and emergency department.

She tested positive for the Zika virus, was admitted to the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) at TTSH on Sunday night, and was discharged the following night.

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

"I didn't feel unwell at all, I didn't have muscle aches and my fever was mild, just 37.4 deg C.

"I only had dry eyes and the rashes were itchy, on and off," she said.

Ms Wat is one of the confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in Singapore.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed that as of noon yesterday, there were another 26 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infections, bringing the total number of cases to 82.

Ms Wat lives at Block 104, Aljunied Crescent, just across from the Sims Urban Oasis condominium construction site where 39 workers have tested positive for Zika so far.

Ms Wat, who lives with her husband and her adult daughter, said she had to take a blood test at TTSH on Sunday.

She waited for about eight hours in an isolated room along with 15 others who were also suspected Zika cases.

When the results came back, she and four others tested positive and were admitted to the CDC around 11pm that night.

She said: "There is no treatment for the virus so all they could do was separate us into individual rooms (at the CDC), ask us to drink lots of fluids and monitor our vitals.

"Our family members could visit, but we were confined to the room."

On Monday, Ms Wat's blood test results came back clear of the Zika virus and she was allowed to return home that night.

She was back at work yesterday.

Although her body is clear of the virus, it will take a week before her rashes and red eyes clear up, she said.

Doctors also told her to monitor her condition and return to the hospital immediately if she experiences any side effects such as bleeding.

Although she had tested positive for Zika, her husband and daughter did not visit the doctor for a check-up as they did not feel unwell or display any of the symptoms associated with Zika.

"After I was discharged, I went out to buy enough mosquito repellent, sprays and patches to last my family for a few days," said Ms Wat.

"From now on, we're going to be extra careful."

tammei@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 31, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

The school bus driver thought the 11-year-old boy had fallen asleep in his seat.

But when he tried to wake the boy upon reaching Maris Stella Primary School yesterday morning, the Primary 5 pupil did not respond.

He was later pronounced dead at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

The New Paper understands the boy was on his way to school when he became unresponsive.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call at about 6.55am yesterday and sent an ambulance to the school.

Police received a call around the same time yesterday asking for help "at 80, Bartley Road".

UNCONSCIOUS

They found an 11-year-old boy unconscious when they arrived and he was taken to KKH, "where he was subsequently pronounced dead at about 8.46am," their spokesman said.

The family told media that the parents were in Singapore at the time of the incident.

An SMS that was circulated around Maris Stella Primary yesterday informed all of the incident and asked them to pray for the boy and his family.

One parent, who declined to be named, said the boy had a fever on Mondayand was sent home early.

He said: "The school principal spoke to his class and told them about the news. We heard he was an only child and his parents are currently out of the country."

Mrs Woo Soo Min, principal of Maris Stella Primary, said in an e-mail to TNP that the school was "saddened by the passing of one of our students".

"We are in touch with the family and are providing assistance and support to them during this difficult time. We are also providing emotional support to affected staff and students. As the police is investigating this case, we are unable to comment further," she said.

Police are investigating the unnatural death.

Correction note: An earlier version of this story said TNP understood that the boy's parents were overseas at the time of the incident. Family members have told media that the parents were in Singapore. The story has been corrected.

This article was first published on Aug 31, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

A tiny but potentially lethal insect has come between Singaporeans and their love of food, turning what used to be bustling food centres into almost "ghost towns".

The fear of contracting Zika, which, like dengue fever, is spread by the Aedes mosquito, is keeping the lunch crowd away from the Sims Drive and Aljunied Crescent area.

This is where most of the cases of Zika infection have been concentrated, with 26 more cases confirmed as of noon yesterday.

The tally now stands at 82 cases, and the spread of infection has widened to the Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way area, with at least five cases there. (See report at right.)

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

No wonder Mr Ong Boon Seng, 46, gets nervous just thinking about it. In just two days, he has seen his business slump badly.

In his 14 years of running a provision shop at the Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, he has not seen such a drastic plunge in business.

"People are scared and don't want to come here any more. My business has been badly affected," he told The New Paper yesterday. "It makes me sweat just thinking about it."

Pointing at the mosquito repellent patch on his shirt, he said that those working in the area were afraid, too.

"We are worried about business but also afraid of the mosquitoes," he said. "I hope they don't make us close shop because of this."

Mr Joe Tan, 62, a fruit seller at the centre, said the lunch crowd is now half of what it was less than a week ago.

"It is usually packed, with queues at the stalls on a normal day," he said.

"The stalls here sell food that is cheap and good, and they make very little profit. They depend on selling a lot to make enough money, but with half the crowd gone, it is going to be an uphill task."

NO CALL, NO QUEUE

A woman, who has been selling porridge and noodles for a decade at the centre, said she usually gets calls around lunchtime to place orders.

But in the past two days, she has not received a single call, and there has been no queue at her stall.

The woman, who declined to be named, added: "I don't know what exactly Zika is. I only know it is affecting my business badly."

A pregnant woman who was buying food at one of the stalls was not aware of the Zika infections in the area.

Declining to be identified, she said: "I am not sure about Zika, so I am not too worried about it."

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

Another customer, Mr Arumugam Palani, 46, a deliveryman from a warehouse nearby, said he had never seen the food centre so empty. "I always come here for breakfast and lunch, and this is the first time I see the hawkers being able to sit down to drink coffee," he added. There were similar scenes at almost every eatery in the Sims Drive area yesterday.

Even at the Geylang East Centre Market and Food Centre, which is located just outside the boundaries of the Zika cluster, stallholders bemoan that their business have dropped by 20 per cent.

Mr Alan Leow, 60, who runs Guan Kee Wanton Noodle, pointed at the many empty tables when asked if his business had been affected.

"It is definitely quieter than usual, but I am still making ends meet," he said.

Like many others, he is worried that the situation could get worse. "But what can we do?" he added.

At the coffee shop at Block 45, Sims Drive, a woman from the drinks stall said business was poor.

A beer promoter working there had been the first case of locally transmitted Zika infection.

The Straits Times reported yesterday that the sale of mosquito repellents and patches in five Guardian outlets in Aljunied had tripled from last week.

But Madam Catherine Ng, 51, who owns a sundry store at the Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, told TNP that she stopped selling repellent patches after her last batch expired earlier this year due to a lack of demand.

"I would have maybe three people coming to me every year asking for insect repellent," she said.

Then yesterday, she had to turn away five people trying to buy repellent from her.

While the stallholders are worried about their businesses and health, they are quietly hopeful that the preventive measures being taken by the authorities will be successful and will return confidence to the area.

Mr Leow said: "Just because this has happened, we cannot stop our business and stay at home. Life goes on."

Read also: Singapore goes to war against Zika

This article was first published on August 31, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

He barely knew the boy.

But that did not stop Kamarul Zaman Othman, 48, from going to the boy's flat at about 10.30pm on May 12 last year for sex.

Even when the boy's blind grandfather was in an adjoining room, Kamarul was least bothered as he kissed the boy in the living room.

The pair later went to a toilet in the flat, where they continued kissing before the boy performed oral sex on Kamarul.

Yesterday, Kamarul, a security guard, was sentenced to 10 months' jail for having sex with the secondary school student, who cannot be named to protect his identity.

Another two charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

The court heard that Kamarul got to know the boy through a mobile chat application on the day the offences were committed.

CONTACT NUMBERS

They exchanged contact numbers and agreed to meet for sex on the same day at the boy's home.

When Kamarul met him that night, he noticed the boy looked young and estimated that he was 15 years old.

Yet, Kamarul did not verify the boy's age.

Defence lawyer Ranadhir Gupta told the court yesterday it was the victim who had invited Kamarul, a first-time offender, to the flat even though his grandfather was at home.

Mr Gupta said his client was remorseful and cooperative during police investigations.

He added: "The victim, despite falling short of a few months of reaching the age of 16, knew exactly what he was doing. He was able to plan and execute his moves carefully."

Deputy Public Prosecutor Winston Man disagreed, saying Kamarul realised very quickly the victim was very young.

Kamarul's offence was discovered when the boy, prompted by his mother, made a police report on May 20, 2015.

He told police he had had sexual encounters with several men.

Kamarul is out on bail and is expected to surrender himself in mid-September to start serving his jail sentence.

Increase in number of child sex abuse cases a worrying trend in S'pore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Video screengrabs, AFP, The New Paper, The Straits Times

zaihan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 31, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

He was looking forward to having dinner with his colleague at Leisure Park Kallang last Saturday.

But as Mr Teong Hien Sing turned and drove his Toyota Altis into the open-space carpark near Stadium Road, a shock awaited him.

A speeding Nissan GT-R slammed into the front right side of his car, shattering a headlight and causing the vehicle to spin nearly 180 degrees.

A video of the crash has since gone viral on the Internet. At road safety community site Beh Chia Lor, the video has garnered more than 379,000 views as of yesterday evening. The video was also a hit on citizen website Stomp.

CRASH: A video of the accident has gone viral. It shows the Toyota Altis (on left) being rammed by a speeding Nissan GT-R in the carpark near Leisure Park Kallang. PHOTOS: INTERNET/ BEH CHIA LOR

The crash left Mr Teong, a contractor, with injuries to his ribs. His passenger, Mr Islam Rafiq, 30, escaped serious injuries.

A shaken Mr Teong, 65, told The New Paper (TNP) at the accident site that evening: "If it had been a second later, he would have hit me in the driver's seat.

"It could have been much worse."

The crash, however, left both vehicles seriously damaged.

Other than a shattered headlight, the front of Mr Teong's Toyota was badly dented, while the front bumper of the GT-R got dislodged and its bonnet was left in a crumpled mess.

Mr Teong says the whole incident happened so fast and he did not have time to react as his car spun out of control from the impact.

"The GT-R was going very fast and I was so shocked. By the time I realised what happened my car had been hit and had stopped spinning," said Mr Teong.

On Saturday, when TNP first spoke to the alleged driver of the GT-R, Mr Herman Shi Ximu, 18, a full-time national serviceman, he denied being behind the wheel.

But when contacted on the phone yesterday, he said he was "fully responsible".

He added that the accident was due to his unfamiliarity with the car, which he says he owns.

"The car I was driving accidentally switched to manual. My unfamiliarity with the powerful manual setting caused me to speed," said Mr Herman.

The GT-R is equipped with both automatic and manual transmissions. The top speed for the car is around 307kmh and it is able to go from zero to around 96kmh in 2.9 seconds.

PRICEY CAR

On sgCarMart, the car retails for $448,800.

Mr Herman, who told TNP that he got his driving licence four months ago, said that he is used to driving the car on automatic transmission.

"I'm a good driver. My theory test and practical driving tests, I passed them all in one shot," he added.

When TNP asked Mr Herman if he was racing in the carpark that evening, he repeatedly denied doing so. He explained he was ferrying photographers from one side of the carpark to another. TNP understands that the photographers were there to shoot a gathering of sports cars.

It is not known if Mr Herman's car was part of this event.

On Monday, the police posted a statement on Facebook saying an 18-year-old man had been arrested on Monday for his suspected involvement in a case of dangerous driving and taking part in an unauthorised speed trial.

His driving licence was suspended with immediate effect.

TNP understands that the man in question is Mr Herman.

Motorists found guilty of taking part in an unauthorised speed trial can be jailed up to six months, and fined between $1,000 and $2,000 for the first offence.

On subsequent convictions, they can be jailed up to a year, and fined between $2,000 and $3,000. Vehicles involved may be forfeited.

For the offence of dangerous driving, convicted motorists are liable to a fine of up to $3,000, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both. A fine of up to $5,000 and/or jail for up to two years applies for repeat offenders.

"The Traffic Police takes a stern view on such dangerous road behaviour as it puts the lives of the drivers and other road users at risk," the police said.

Correction note: An earlier version of this storystated that an 18-year-old man had been arrested on Saturday. This is incorrect. He was arrested on Monday.

This article was first published on Aug 31, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

He was a generous boy who loved to help others in need.

Zenneth Hue Yee Hon, 11, was also mature for his age and liked mingling with the elderly.

The Primary 5 pupil at Maris Stella High School died suddenly on Tuesday after he was found unconscious in the school bus.

He had been unwell over the weekend and did not attend school on Monday, but the cause of death is still unknown.

Yesterday, his mother Jennifer Lim recalled that about a week ago, Zenneth had repeatedly reminded her to be a good daughter to her mother.

She told The New Paper: "After I had a minor disagreement with my mother, he told me, 'Please be more filial to grandma, don't argue with her, take good care of her'."

GRIEVING: Madam Jennifer Lim (in black) and Zenneth's grandmother, Madam Swee (in stripes), burst into tears when they saw Zenneth's casket. TNP PHOTO: CHOO CHWEE HUA

While the boy had often shown empathy for the elderly, Madam Lim still found his words odd.
"He had never said such things before," she said.

Heaving a sigh, a teary-eyed Madam Lim, who is in her 40s, then added: "I think I know why he kept reminding me to be more filial to my mother. Maybe he knew he would be leaving us soon."

Madam Lim, who works in the health industry, said Zenneth, an only child, started feeling unwell in school on Friday morning.

The school called her and Madam Lim told Zenneth to phone her brother, who then picked up his nephew and took him back to his Woodleigh condominium home.

Later that day, Madam Lim took her son to a clinic and found that he had a high fever. His body temperature was 41 deg C.

He was given medication and spent Saturday resting at home.

As he was still feverish on Sunday, his father decided to take him to another doctor at a different clinic.

Zenneth felt much better after taking the medicine given by the second doctor, and his body temperature returned to normal.

He did not go to school on Monday, and was in the school bus on the way to school the next morning when he lost consciousness.

Maris Stella pupil, 11, dies in school bus

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, The Straits Times

TRIED TO WAKE UP

The bus driver thought the boy was asleep and tried to wake him up. When Zenneth did not respond, the Singapore Civil Defence Force was notified at around 6.55am.

An ambulance took him to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), where he was pronounced dead about two hours later.

Correcting TNP's report yesterday that said she and her husband were overseas at the time, Madam Lim said she was at home getting ready for work when she received a phone call about Zenneth.

"I immediately rushed down to the hospital. I was shocked. Zenneth was healthy and had no pre-existing health problems," she said.

Her mother, who wanted to be known only as Madam Swee, 64, told TNP she was at work at a Serangoon Gardens coffee shop when Zenneth's godfather rushed in to tell her that the boy was in KKH.

Madam Swee, who also has a 10-year-old granddaughter, took a taxi there only to find out that Zenneth had died.

With tears welling in her eyes, she said in Mandarin: "My daughter was so consumed by grief that she could barely stand up.

"Nurses shook their heads sadly when they saw me, and said the medical team had tried their best, but failed to save my grandson."

When TNP visted Zenneth's wake at the void deck of Block 411, Serangoon Central, yesterday afternoon, his loved ones had gathered to await the arrival of his body.

When the body arrived at around 3pm, they burst into tears while standing near his casket.

GRIEVING: Zenneth’s father, Mr Hue, comforting his wife. TNP PHOTO: CHOO CHWEE HUA

Madam Swee said she will always remember Zenneth as a loving boy who enjoyed eating chee cheong fun and xiao long bao (steamed pork dumplings).

"Whenever he saw old people selling tissue paper, he would insist on buying some just to help them," she said.

"And every Mother's Day, he would give cards and gifts to both his mother and me."

Zenneth's maternal uncle, who lives with Zenneth's family, said he will miss his nephew.

The driver in his 40s, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, said: "Similarly, on Father's Day, he would make cards for both his father and me. He was a very generous boy."

Zenneth will be cremated today.

Police are investigating the unnatural death.

This article was first published on Sep 01, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Should new drivers have similar restrictions like new motorcycle riders?

That question was raised by radio DJ The Flying Dutchman, whose real name is Mark van Cuylenburg. He was discussing the accident between a Nissan GT-R and a Toyota Altis at Leisure Park Kallang carpark F with co-host Glenn Ong during their morning show yesterday.

A clip of the accident on Saturday showed the speeding GT-R, driven by an 18-year-old who got his licence four months ago, crossing a stop line and slamming into the Toyota.

The hosts of ONE FM's #1 Breakfast Show argued passionately, with The Flying Dutchman pushing for restrictions on the kind of cars that new drivers should be allowed to handle.

He said: "If I'm 18, and you allow me to buy a $500,000 supercar, I'll buy it. Four wheels can cause more damage than two wheels. That's the problem."

On Monday, the police posted a statement on Facebook stating that they had arrested an 18-year-old on Saturday for his "suspected involvement in a case of dangerous driving and taking part in an unauthorised speed trial".

Said The Flying Dutchman: "These cars become weapons in the hands of people who don't know how to drive them."

Ong, however, felt that an experienced driver is not necessarily a safer driver.

He said: "I feel that what's in place is already sufficient. You screw up, you pay.

"You can't say that once something happens, you then have a blanket ban or restriction on one group of people."

The New Paper asked motoring experts whether the tiered licensing system for motorcyclists, where they must pass three tests before being allowed to handle bigger, more powerful machines, should be introduced for drivers as well.

Agreeing, Professor Lee Der-Horng, a transport researcher at the National University of Singapore, said regulations based on the horsepower of the cars should be used.

"We should have this rule (tiered system for motorcyclists) for drivers of high-performance sports cars, like the GT-Rs... Vehicle technology is so advanced these days, we should impose these rules."

By his own admission, the GT-R driver, Mr Herman Shi Ximu, said he has had only four months of driving experience.

Notwithstanding his lack of experience, Mr Gerard Pereira, operations manager of Singapore Safety Driving Centre, said Mr Shi, a full-time national serviceman, should not have been speeding at the carpark as "it's not a racing track".

He said it is advisable for drivers to gain five to six years of experience before handling a high-performance vehicle.

Mr Ong Kim Hua, president of the Motorcycle Safety and Sports Club, said the ruling should be kept simple and be based on horsepower and engine capacity.

"Simply put, as the driver gains more experience, his horsepower allotment should be allowed to increase progressively," he said.

Some, like Torque magazine editor David Ting, felt that age should not be a factor in determining a person's ability to handle a powerful car.

He said: "Age per se is not so much a factor as experience, ability, and situational awareness."

After all, some race drivers are so young that they do not qualify for a driver's licence on the road.

Mr Ting added: "Of course, it might not be the ideal situation if you jump straight away into a powerful twin turbo car like the GT-R. But there's no law against a newbie driving a fast car."

TNP understands that some dealers of supercars self-regulate by employing best practices, such as giving tutorials when inexperienced drivers buy or rent their cars.

And at least one marque, Pagani Zonda, will sell its cars only to customers who have proven they can handle supercars.

Have new licence tier for drivers of fast cars

I just can't figure this one out.

In the video, the Nissan GT-R was not going that fast at the open-air carpark at Leisure Park Kallang.

Yet the 18-year-old driver ploughed into the side of a Toyota Altis on Saturday after overshooting a stop line.

Based on the video, the GT-R was travelling at about 70kmh before it hit the Toyota.

Thankfully, nobody was killed or seriously hurt - just bits of broken carbon fibre and a bruised ego in the case of the GT-R driver.

But what is shocking is how a driver with a four-month-old licence can get behind the wheel of a car that is capable of going from zero to 100kmh in about 3sec.

Though the police arrested him on suspicion of dangerous driving and taking part in an unauthorised time trial, he has not broken any law in driving the GT-R.

Unlike motorcyclists, anyone with a valid Class 3 licence, regardless of age, skill level or experience, can drive any car, even a supercar with a 6,000cc engine that produces 950 brake horsepower (bhp).

Imagine a beginner handling such a car on our roads.

In a perfect world, the driver must first attain the required skills and experience before handling such a monster.

But we live in a imperfect world, as evidenced by the carpark incident.

The GT-R driver clearly lacked the skills and experience to be in full control of the up-to-560bhp sports coupe.

He also was not able to recognise that a carpark is the last place to be driving at 70kmh.

Housing Board carparks, for instance, have a speed limit of 20kmh.

So why not impose the tiered motorcycle licensing system for cars, too?

It is a progressive way to build a rider's experience and confidence on the road.

Under the law, a rider must pass two phases of yearly testing - Class 2B (motorbikes not exceeding 200cc), then Class 2A (201cc to 400cc) - before being allowed to sit for the Class 2 test (above 400cc).

Without such tiered motorcycle testing, I suspect there would be more motorcycle fatalities and injuries.

Giving a new rider the key to a modern 1,000cc sports bike capable of the century sprint in 3sec (just like the GT-R) is akin to giving him a loaded gun.

Likewise, it would be reckless to let inexperienced drivers handle cars that can turn into raging beasts at the click of a button.

Those who want such cars must attend advanced driving courses to get acquainted with how these cars perform in various scenarios and conditions.

But I fear that most will not bother to do so unless compelled by law.

As the experts say, there is no need to complicate things.

Adding one more tier to the current Class 3 licence, with the bhp to be decided by the licensing body, should be sufficient.

Everyone should be able to drive the car of their dreams, but they must first prove themselves worthy.

This article was first published on September 1, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Zika may have caught many off-guard in Singapore, but not this university in the outbreak's epicentre.

James Cook University at 149, Sims Drive is just a block away from the Block 45 coffee shop, the workplace of the 47-year-old Malaysian woman who was the first locally-transmitted case.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

Dr Dale Anderson, deputy vice-chancellor and head of the university's Singapore campus, said: "A few months ago, after we heard news of the first Zika case in Singapore, we began putting together an action plan in case Zika or other mosquito-related diseases broke out here."

Forty bottles of insect repellents and 2,000 patches were acquired by the university.

Dr Anderson said: "On Sunday morning, I received a phone call from the Council for Private Education, alerting me to the outbreak of Zika cases in our area.

"Immediately, our facility management team was activated to inspect the entire campus for potential mosquito-breeding grounds."

The university had already started fortnightly fogging the night before.

On Monday morning, staff and students were briefed on the precautions to take.

Those who are pregnant or have pregnant family members were advised to work or study from home.

Dr Anderson said students who do not feel safe going to school can request to study from home.

"While education is definitely important, safety comes first," he explained.

The university gave out repellents and patches as well as flier from National Environment Agency (NEA) with information on Zika.

Some pregnant lecturers have chosen to continue teaching.

Dr Anderson said: "We have two lecturers who have opted to continue coming to school despite our advice. But they go home once their lectures are done."

MINIMISE DISRUPTION

Lecturers also try to minimise disruption by uploading content online, including lessons recorded by lecturers who have chosen to stay at home, and preparing make-up lessons scheduled for next week - if the situation does not worsen.

One of the more drastic measures that the university has taken is to fell banana trees on the campus, as advised by its pest control manager.

Water can collect on banana leaves and stems, becoming potential mosquito-breeding sites.

While Dr Anderson expressed regret for having cut down the trees, he said: "We are not taking any risks when it comes to the safety of our staff and students.

"I take this matter very, very seriously because the risks posed by Zika are very real."

Students told The New Paper yesterday that they felt secure on campus because of the swift actions taken by the university.

Mr Aakash Goyal, a 21-year-old from India, said: "I am worried only when I travel back from campus to my home in Kembangan."

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

Other students are taking their own precautionary measures.

Local student Harsh Ahuja, 21, was clad in arm sleeves and trousers.

"I really like wearing bermudas but now I have to cover myself to minimise exposure to mosquitoes," he said.

Other schools in the cluster area are also working to ensure the safety of their staff and students.

Geylang Methodist School, both primary and secondary, is working with NEA on vector control efforts.

Mr Wee Tat Chuan, principal of Geylang Methodist School (Secondary), said: "Both schools fumigated their compounds last Saturday to prevent mosquito-breeding in the school grounds."

This article was first published on Sep 01, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

This bachelor's unusual method of saving money not only netted him $6,000, but also three marriage proposals.

Mr Muhammad Helmy Kamid, 26,saved more than 6,000 $1 coins in two years.

But what caught most people's attention, after his story appeared in Malay daily Berita Harian, was him saying that though he has no girlfriend, he plans to use the money as part of his future wedding expenses.

When he first posted the article on his Facebook page, it got more than 1,000 likes and shares, more than 200 comments - and three marriage proposals.

Mr Helmy, an engineering associate, told The New Paper: "Two to three people from Malaysia messaged me, asking to marry them after seeing my post online.

"When I first read the messages, I thought people would really do anything for money."

But he does not take the messages seriously and has politely rejected the women.

Mr Helmy started saving $1 coins in mid 2014, after he was inspired by his uncle, Mr Anuar Ahmad.

Mr Anuar, 45, began collecting $1 coins around 10 years ago, but amassed only about $1,000 after about a year of saving.

He told TNP: "It helped me when I wanted to get married, so I thought it would help him, too.

"I am glad he took my words seriously and that he is even more diligent than I was."

Mr Anuar, a senior technician,stopped saving $1 coins after he got married 10 years ago, but he was glad to see his nephew determined to continue.

He said: "He has always been like that - when he sets his mind on doing something, he is determined to go all the way."

Mr Helmy said it is a smart way to save.

"You don't feel the pinch when you save small change," he added.

"When you have to put aside $10 or $20 every day or a few hundred dollars every month, you'll naturally feel the pinch."

Mr Helmy started by keeping all his change and would exchange 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins with stall vendors for $1 coins.

He found that when he inserted the change into vending machines, he would get $1 coins when he pressed the return change button.

"In the beginning, my mother told me this plan was nonsense," he said.

"She would not touch my coins and even laughed at me."

But she was the one who ended up helping him instead.

Mr Helmy recounted how his mother would hand him $1 coins in exchange for notes.

"She would keep her loose change for me," he said.

When he counted his savings last month, Mr Helmy could not believe how much he had saved.

"I started counting. From $1,000, it went to $2,000. When it reached $6,000, I though that I could use this money to get married," he said.

SURPRISED

He surprised even his brother, Mr Suffian Sarmadi Kamid, who began his own $1 coin collection six months back.

Mr Suffian, a 29-year-old security supervisor, said: "It's quite funny how my brother could save up $6,000 in his little, green piggybank."

Although Mr Helmy does not have a girlfriend, he is planning ahead for his big day.

He said: "With this sum of money, I am prepared to pay dowry and settle marriage costs.

"It tells my prospective mother-in-law that I'm prepared and I've got what it takes to marry her daughter."

"It's quite funny how my brother could save up $6,000 in his little, green piggybank."

- Mr Suffian Sarmadi Kamid

This article was first published on September 1, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Hong Kong TVB actress Selena Li couldn't help but laugh out loud at last year's viral hit Unbelievable, by her Spouse For House 2 co-star, local actor Chen Tianwen.

The song and its accompanying retro music video, featuring Chen in character as Ah Beng Eric Kwek, became a hit after it was used as promotional material for the Channel 5 comedy series, in which Li and local actor Alaric Tay play the lead couple.

The song even spawned a big screen spin-off - musical comedy Mr Unbelievable, which starred Chen. It opened here last December.

Toronto-raised Li, 35, told The New Paper in fluent English: "I'm really happy for director Ong Kuo Sin (Spouse For House, the Unbelievable MV and Mr Unbelievable)...

"The song is very catchy, corny and funny. I think people just want a good laugh these days and sometimes we just want to watch something silly.

"When I watched the Unbelievable MV, I was laughing the whole time and thinking, 'How did anyone think of something like this? It's so corny!'"

Li was in town on Tuesday to promote her new TVB crime drama Presumed Accidents and StarHub's TVB Awards, which will be held here next month.

NEW ROLE: TVB actress Selena Li in a scene from new crime drama Presumed Accidents with Hong Kong actor Lawrence Ng (above). PHOTO: TVB

She has not had the chance to watch Mr Unbelievable, but said she will try and get a copy of it from Ong, whom she still keeps in touch with even though filming for Spouse For House 2 ended early last year.

Selena Li 'can share everything' with boyfriend

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Lollipop

Li did not get to interact much with Chen during filming, but she hopes to work with him in the near future.

She said: "I think he is a really good actor... I heard he was nominated for (Best Supporting Actor) at the Golden Horse Awards (in 2013).

She added that the cast and crew of Spouse For House 2 were happy with Chen's return to the second season of the series as he has good chemistry with Ong.

LOVES S'PORE

Li, who is single, said she would "definitely be very interested" in doing another season of Spouse For House or any other local TV show.

She said: "Staying here is a big bonus for me and besides, the working hours here are good.

"Even when I'm not filming here, I would still come to Singapore for leisure."

Li is nominated for My Favourite TVB Female TV Character and My Favourite TVB Supporting Actress for Presumed Accidents at the StarHub TVB Awards.

The series, which also stars Lawrence Ng and Sisley Choi, is about insurance investigation and fraud, with a side plot about past life regression. It premieres on Sept 5 at 8pm on VV Drama (StarHub TV Ch 855).

Even though Li plays three characters from three different eras, her role in Presumed Accidents was not as challenging as her twin roles in the 2014 TVB period drama Ghost Dragon Of Cold Mountain.

She said: "I had to (portray) two different characters (in one scene) - a village girl and a courtesan.

"They had many dramatic and emotional scenes together, they fight and cry, it was mentally challenging to do those scenes (with myself).

"This is unlike Presumed Accidents, where the scenes for my three characters are all separate.

"I always joke with people and say that last time, I did two roles in one drama and this time, I did three roles, so next time I can do a drama all by myself."

This article was first published on Sep 01, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

A nine-month-old boy was scalded after his buttocks was rinsed with hot water at a childcare centre.

The New Paper understands that the infant sustained second-degree burns on his buttocks and thigh, and may require plastic surgery.

The incident occurred at Learning Vision @ Vista Point in Woodlands on Aug 19 while a carer was changing the baby's diaper.

Mr Ronald Kwong, director of operations of Busy Bees Asia, the operator of Learning Vision, confirmed the incident.

"We want to express our heartfelt apologies to the parents of the infant who was scalded at the Learning Vision childcare centre," he said.

"We take full responsibility for the incident."

Mr Kwong said that only two of the 22 Learning Vision centres were fitted with a water tank heater system, with Vista Point being one of them.

The heater system should not have been fitted and this has since been rectified, he added.

According to Mr Kwong, the carer had scalded the infant after rinsing his buttocks with hot water dispensed from the tank.

He said there was one carer to every four infants at the time of the accident.

But he did not address TNP's queries whether the carer was certified and trained in the proper standard operating procedures.

He mentioned that the carer was receiving additional help from another carer who has worked in other childcare centres.

"Having relief carers is not a common occurrence at Learning Vision centres. We have reviewed and tightened our standard operating procedures," Mr Kwong said.

See also: 

What childcare centres offer for $600 to over $2,000 a month

Opening of two mega childcare centres delayed

MEDICAL CARE

The centre has contacted the infant's parents to ensure the child receives medical care.

When TNP contacted the mother, she declined to comment because she has hired a lawyer to seek compensation for the incident.

An Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) spokesman said it was aware of the incident but was unable to comment as police investigations are ongoing.

The spokesman added: "ECDA is working with the centre to ensure the safety and well-being of the other children at the centre."

Madam Lee Ling Ling, a 33-year-old mother of a six-month-old girl, was shocked to hear of the incident.

The senior manager at a public relations company places her in the care of a childcare centre when she and her husband are at work.

She said: "Had it happened to my daughter, I would have been horrified. Infants are helpless, so we rely on the expertise of carers to make sure their needs are met."

Kindergarten manager Ng Yan Ming, a mother to a six-year-old girl, said: "Clearly, the helper should have tested the water first."

While Madam Ng, who is in her 40s, acknowledged that accidents do happen, she stressed that anyone minding a child must be accountable for the child's welfare.

Stressing that those working in the childcare and kindergarten business must be certified and trained in handling children, she said: "If I put my child in somebody's hands, someone has to be responsible."

This article was first published on September 02, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Unhappy with his former employer, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino, the croupier sought revenge by cheating it of more than $138,000.

First, he snuck casino chips worth $118,000 out over a month.

He also roped in two friends to play there, even paying them when they lost.

Jiang Kaiwen's crimes were exposed after the MBS surveillance team reviewed security footage during their routine audit checks.

Yesterday, Jiang, now 24, pleaded guilty to 20 charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating of play, with 70 other charges taken into consideration for sentencing.

Jiang is expected to be sentenced on Oct 3.

Court papers said Jiang began working for MBS as a Sic Bo, Baccarat and Blackjack dealer last September.

UNHAPPY

But Jiang allegedly grew unhappy at the management over two incidents that made him feel underappreciated and resentful.

His lawyer said in mitigation that Jiang had been verbally abused by customers on two occasions, only for the management to allegedly side the customers.

Jiang decided to exact revenge by misappropriating casino chips from the gaming tables.

On 47 occasions between April 7 and May 3 this year, he would sneak casino chips out of the premises by hiding them in bermudas he wore under his work pants, or in his shoes.

He would then pass the stolen chips to his friend, Li Zhifan, 24, a China national, who would then cash out the chips.

A second friend, Dong Hao, 22, also a China national, was also roped in.

Jiang would also overpay them when they won or were changing chips. He would even pay them when they lost their wagers.

The trio made off with $20,275 worth of casino chips and would meet at the MBS toilets to split the money.

Jiang was arrested at Changi Aiport upon his return from a holiday in Vietnam on May 9 this year - a day after an MBS casino security officer made a police report.

Officers escorted him back to his home, where he surrendered the $118,000 he had stolen.

He and his two accomplices - whose court cases are still pending - returned the remaining $20,275 to MBS.

Yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Thiam Jia Min called for Jiang to be jailed between 13 and 16 months.

Defence lawyer Ng Lip Chih said his client was remorseful and committed the offences out of naivety and in a momentary lapse of judgment.

This article was first published on September 02, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

With evident relief, local film-maker Royston Tan said he can now sleep peacefully after being officially revealed as the director of Eat Already?, a TV drama filmed mainly in Hokkien.

He first hinted at it in an interview with The New Paper in May, saying: "I have a big 'naughty' project coming up... It will be out in a few months' time and it is going to be historic."

In July, Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao reported on the filming of an attempted suicide scene involving local actor Elvin Ng's character on the set of Eat Already?

Both instances, Tan received "reminders" from the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), which had collaborated with Mediacorp for the drama, to keep it a secret.

News of the drama was embargoed until yesterday, and the 39-year-old looked flustered when asked about getting into trouble after it was almost leaked to the public.

At yesterday's press conference for the drama, Tan told TNP: "MCI was quite cool about (the leak), they said to wait for the filming of the drama to be completed before the minister (for MCI) can announce everything to the media."

After successfully working on last year's Pioneer Generation Package campaign video, which was filmed in Teochew, Hokkien and Cantonese, Tan and ad agency Tribal Worldwide Singapore were approached by MCI to direct Eat Already?

Royston Tan had to keep new dialect drama a secret

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, MCI

EDUCATE

Eat Already? will also star Li Yinzhu (middle) and Aileen Tan (left). Photo: MCI

With 10 half-hour episodes, the drama aims to educate senior citizens on government policies.

According to Tan, it was 90 per cent filmed in Hokkien and 10 per cent in Teochew.

Also starring Li Yinzhu, Wang Lei, Marcus Chin, Aileen Tan and Brandon Wong, Eat Already? is built around themes of healthy eating, active ageing and lifelong learning.

It will premiere on Sept 9 at 12pm on Channel 8 and will be broadcast weekly.

Tan, who feels "very honoured" at being given the opportunity, said: "I have always wanted to direct something in Hokkien.

"Being the first director to do a dialect TV drama after so many years of not seeing one on TV, it was definitely a breakthrough for me.

"There are a few things I really value, and one of them is the older generation. I always feel sad when I hear stories, such as a grandmother telling me that they cannot communicate with the younger generation because they do not understand each other.

"With this new dialect TV drama, I feel that it will open up a little door between the two generations."

Tan, who also feels that the drama would have been "beneficial and familiar" to his late grandmother, hopes that TV dramas in more dialects can be made.

"Singapore is multi-cultural and there are so many languages in our country - hopefully this can showcase different voices (on TV)," said Tan.

Eat Already? is his first attempt at directing a TV drama. He described the experience as "very tough".

He said: "For TV shows, the pace is very fast and actors have different schedules. They might have other shows to film as well.

"Whereas for films, I will have enough time to craft the entire thing and do workshops to develop the characters."

Elvin Ng worked hard on his Hokkien

Despite not being fluent in Hokkien, local TV actor Elvin Ng was keen to be a part of Eat Already? as he wanted to try something new.

The 35-year-old, who has mostly acted in Mandarin shows in his 11 year-long career, shared that his command of the dialect has improved since filming ended.

He told The New Paper in a separate interview: "I thought it would be an interesting experience to speak Hokkien and learn something from it as well.

"Initially, I felt a bit out of place (among the older actors) because everything was in Hokkien. But once momentum was gained, it was okay and very fun."

TRAINING

Script-reading and Hokkien "training sessions" with director Royston Tan helped prepare Ng for his role of Ah Bee, the eldest son of Li Yinzhu's character.

His character turns into a gambling addict after his father dies and he is unintentionally neglected by his mother.

Ng said: "Every day, Royston would ask me questions such as 'Have you eaten? What are you doing? Where do you stay? How is your house like?', and I would have to reply him in Hokkien."

The biggest challenge for Ng was having to speak Hokkien smoothly as his character is an "Ah Beng".

Even though Eat Already? is targeted at senior citizens, Ng feels that it is a "nice way" for him to attract a different target audience. "Uncles and aunties do approach me on the streets.

"Once, a girl, her mother and her grandmother attended my fan gathering," he said.

He joked: "I do appeal to the aunties because based on the TV roles I did, they think of me as a good boy type who is the ideal son-in-law for their daughters."

tracylow@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 2, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Iconic restaurant-bar Hard Rock Cafe Singapore at 50, Cuscaden Road, will reopen its doors today after closing for renovations in early May.

With refurbished premises also comes an updated collection of rock 'n' roll-themed memorabilia, including a handmade Viellette Citron 8-string bass guitar that was used by Carlos Alomar in the recording of David Bowie's 1975 hit Fame and a pyjama top from Elvis Presley.

Photo: The New Paper

While Ms Hala Khalaf, the US memorabilia designer for this project, wants the younger generation to be exposed to more oldies, she has also included items which she hopes will resonate with the millennials.

On display are the plaid jacket that lead singer Danny O'Donoghue of Irish pop-rock band The Script wore in the music video of their 2012 track Hall Of Fame and an electric guitar used by Jonathan Chua of local pop group The Sam Willows.

Ms Hala Khalaf (right), the US memorabilia designer for this project, wants the younger generation to be exposed to more oldies but has also included items which she hopes will resonate with the millennials. Photo: The New Paper

When asked how much these memorabilia were valued at, Ms Khalaf said they are "priceless".

"We hope that by having such pieces, it will represent the energy that one feels at the artist's live concert and take them back to the good old days."

This article was first published on September 2, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

He harboured a grudge against the family maid over an incident involving his grandniece.

On Dec 26 last year, at about 6am, Alagerisamy Mohanadhas returned home drunk after consuming six bottles of beer.

When he saw the maid asleep in the living room, his dislike of her consumed him with rage.

He grabbed a parang from his room, pinned Ms Phyu Sin Wai Aung, a 28-year-old Myanmar national, on the sofa and slashed her arm and face.

Still asleep, Ms Phyu was not aware of the attack and thought she was dreaming about someone hitting her.

The attack stopped only when Alagerisamy's niece, 31, woke up and hit him with some photo frames.

Yesterday, Alagerisamy, 60, was jailed for 4½ years for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons to Ms Phyu.

Court papers said she had been working for Alagerisamy's family for five years and lived in their HDB flat in Toa Payoh Lorong 7.

Although she was on good terms with the rest of the family, Alagerisamy did not like her.

After his arrest, he told the police that Ms Phyu had treated his grandniece in a rough manner and caused her to suffer an injury. But the other family members who were present during the incident said Ms Phyu was not responsible for the injury.

Court papers said that while Alagerisamy slashed at the sleeping Ms Phyu, he shouted: "I see the devil in you."

He later said that his reference to the devil was a figure of speech and that he did not believe "the maid was the devil in disguise or had been possessed by one".

His niece, Ms T. Saraswathy, who was asleep in her room, was woken up by the noise in the living room and went out to investigate.

When she saw her uncle slashing Ms Phyu, she felt she had to stop him and she quickly picked up some photo frames and hit him with them.

Alagerisamy stopped his attack and dropped the parang on the floor.

Ms Saraswathy's sister and mother, who had also woken up because of the commotion, came out of their rooms and grabbed the parang.

The family then shouted at the bleeding Ms Phyu to wake up. When she opened her eyes, she realised it was not a dream.

She was terrified and shook in fear when she saw blood on the sofa.

She was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where she was found to have suffered lacerations on her right arm, fractures on her right elbow, forearm and finger, as well as nerve injury to her right arm.

She also had wounds on her cheek and forehead.

She had surgery that day and was discharged four days later.

Her medical report said she still has a decreased sensation on her right hand, particularly her right little finger.

The injuries to her nerves were so serious that she may take years to recover.

INTOXICATION

Alagerisamy was jailed 4½ years for slashing his maid with a parang. Photo: Singapore Police Force

Alagerisamy was found to have an alcohol use disorder, and his impulsive behaviour during the attack could have been predisposed by his intoxication.

But he was of sound mind at the time of the offence and was fully aware of his actions and that what he had done was wrong.

Yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Teo Lu Jia urged the court to sentence Alagerisamy to five years in jail for an unprovoked attack on a sleeping, defenceless and completely helpless victim.

Alagerisamy, who was not represented by a lawyer, said in mitigation that he regretted what he had done and was remorseful.

He begged for a lenient sentence, citing his age and his diabetes ailment.

District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim backdated his sentence to Jan 15.

For causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, Alagerisamy could have been jailed for life, or up to 15 years, and fined. He cannot be caned because he is above 50 years old.

When The New Paper visited Alagerisamy's home yesterday, his younger brother said that Ms Phyu has recovered and returned home to Myanmar.

He said Ms Saraswathy had also left Singapore, but declined to comment on Alagerisamy or the incident.

This article was first published on September 03, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

His girlfriend's son was just a year-old baby who needed tender loving care.

But Franklie Tan Guang Wei treated the child as his punching bag.

On one occasion, Tan picked up the baby and threw him about 2m across a room.

He continued the abuse even after the baby's nanny reported the case to the police, and the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Child Protective Service had to step in.

The final straw came when he pushed the baby off a bed so forcefully that the boy landed 2m away and suffered a skull fracture after hitting his head.

The injury in March last year was so serious that the boy still needs neurosurgical follow-ups.

Franklie Tan Guang Wei will be sentenced on Sept 19. Photo: The Straits Times

Yesterday, Tan, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the baby and three charges of ill-treating him under the Children and Young Persons Act.

He is due to be sentenced on Sept 19.

His girlfriend, 25, who is the baby's biological mother, has been charged with wilfully neglecting his safety. Her case is pending.

The child, now three, and his mother cannot be named because of a gag order.

According to court papers, the woman gave birth to her son on June 30, 2013.

Just days after she got together with Tan in November 2014, he slapped the boy, leaving fingermarks on his left cheek and bruises near his left ear, just because the child's crying had woken him up.

The boy's nanny, Madam Pe Bee Lian, noticed the injuries a few days later and confronted the mother, who lied and said that he had fallen off the bed.

HOSPITAL

Madam Pe's daughter, who had also helped to care for the child, made a police report that month and the boy was referred to the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

But the abuse continued on March 8 last year when Tan was again angered by the crying child.

When he lifted up the boy in a rough manner, the mother, who was in the same room, shouted at him not to do so.

Tan got more angry and threw the child face-first about 2m across the room towards his mother, and the boy landed against her torso and lap.

He abused the boy again on March 25 when he pounded the child's buttocks.

A few hours later, the boy vomited on the bed repeatedly while Tan was trying to clean the mattress.

In frustration, Tan pushed the boy off the bed, which was 45cm high, and the child landed on his head.

At about 11am, Tan realised the child was in a daze and vomiting even more.

He contacted the boy's mother and they rushed the child to KKH, where he was found to have suffered a host of injuries, including fractures on his skull and wrist and bruises all over his body.

The child underwent emergency brain surgery and is still undergoing rehabilitative therapy at KKH. He has since been placed in foster care, court papers said.

Yesterday, Assistant Public Prosecutor Dillon Kok called for Tan to be jailed at least seven years and given six strokes of the cane.

He said the child was a vulnerable victim and his injuries were life-threatening, and it was entirely fortuitous that he survived.

"For a child that age, all he could do was signal his suffering with cries upon cries. Sadly, these served to irritate and infuriate the accused, leading to further abuses," Mr Kok said.

"The victim's wounds may have healed with time, but the harm caused by the accused's brutality must nonetheless be accorded with the strongest abhorrence."

Caregivers first noticed signs of abuse

After giving birth to her son in June 2013, she was left to raise him on her own when her boyfriend, the boy's biological father, walked out on them.

She was fortunate to get help from her secondary schoolmate, Ms Cadence Gee, 26, whose mother, Madam Pe Bee Lian, 51, agreed to care for the child full-time for $700 a month, court papers said.

The boy would live with them and his mother would take him home during her days off from work.

Ms Gee and Madam Pe doted on the boyand would take him on family holidays, even when the boy's mother could not pay for them.

In August 2014, the mother got together with Franklie Tan Guang Wei and would sometimes take her son to his flat.

But Tan abused the boy while she allegedly turned a blind eye.

Ms Gee and Madam Pe soon noticed that the child was fearful of men and had nightmares in his sleep. They also found bruises on him.

POLICE REPORT

In November 2014, the mother became pregnant with Tan's child and moved in with him and his mother.

That month, Tan abused the boy by slapping him, prompting Ms Gee to file a police report.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development's Child Protective Service (CPS) was alerted.

Tan and the mother were initially allowed partial contact with the boy. But when scratches were found on his thighs, they were barred from having any contact with him.

The CPS later placed the boy in the care of Tan's grandparents.

When they left the boy with his mother and Tan in March last year, he was abused again.

The grandparents later told the authorities they could no longer care for the boy, who was then placed in a nearby childcare centre.

Though Tan was not allowed any unsupervised contact with the boy, his mother left him alone with Tan on March 25 this year. Tan later shoved the boy off a bed, causing him to suffer a skull fracture.

Brother of man whose 2-year-old was abused by mum & boyfriend 'wants to clear his name'

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Manaf Al Ansari, The Straits Times

This article was first published on September 03, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Mandopop superstar Jay Chou has piled on the pounds - and he isn't afraid to admit it.

At the opening of his streetwear label Phantaci's first overseas boutique at Orchard Gateway yesterday afternoon, the 37-year-old Taiwanese singer and actor grinned when the emcee, radio DJ Zhong Kunhua, quizzed him about his fashion sense.

"Recently, I've grown fatter," said the father of one in Mandarin, to laughter from the crowd.

"So now, I prefer baggy clothes. I just want to feel comfortable wearing them."

In June, while promoting his latest album, Jay Chou's Bedtime Stories, he told Taiwan's Chung T'ien Television that he had put on 17kg in the last three years.

Chou has a year-old daughter, Hathaway, with his Australian-Taiwanese wife, Hannah Quinlivan.

Around 500 enthusiastic fans turned up yesterday to catch a glimpse of Chou at his first business venture in Singapore, a joint partnership with Taiwan-born Singapore-based TV host Lee Teng. (See report on facing page.)

Phantaci has four stores in Taiwan and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

Chou, who turned up with Taiwanese artists from his own record label JVR Music including singer-songwriter Gary Yang and vocal group Nanquan Mama's member Devon Song, told reporters that choosing Singapore as the location of Phantaci's first official store outside of Taiwan was a no-brainer.

"I travel to Singapore pretty often on my private visits," he said.

"When I'm here, I shop at Orchard Road.

"Of course, today, it feels very different 'shopping' publicly in front of so many people."

Chou recalled that in his early days as a showbiz rookie, he could still go incognito and "walk down the entire stretch of Orchard Road".

Jay Chou opens first overseas Phantaci boutique in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Sina Weibo

PHANTACI FOR KIDS

When Zhong asked Chou, who is a judge-mentor on Chinese reality TV competition Sing! China, if he has ever considered starting a children's attire line for Phantaci, the latter laughed and said: "You're thinking too far. Not at the moment."

But he said that at times, he "helps to pick out new clothes" for his daughter.

"Even for my own albums, I like being a fashion consultant," he added.

Tonight, Chou will take the stage at the National Stadium for his sold-out The Invincible Jay Chou Concert Tour.

When asked if local singer Nathan Hartono, a contestant on Sing! China and a member of Team Jay Chou, will be appearing as a special guest, Chou said: "I'd love to have him but, along with the others whom I'm mentoring, Nathan is busy preparing for the next round of Sing! China.

"I know Nathan's parents are keen to watch my concert and I've prepared tickets for them."

One of Chou's fans outside Phantaci told The New Paper that Chou had arrived in Singapore with his wife and baby.

"I was at the airport at noon and I saw him and Hannah," said 22-year-old administrator Verna Chung.

"She was wearing shades. And their baby was being carried by Brother Du (Chou's make-up artist and long-time friend)."

Ms Chung and another fan, 26-year-old civil servant Jacqueline Tan, had been at Orchard Gateway since 1pm, waiting for their idol.

Ms Tan gushed: "I think Jay is more charming and mature since he became a dad.

"I've bought clothes from Phantaci and they're very cool and artistic, true to Jay's style."

Ms Chung said: "I hope Jay will bring his other business ventures to Singapore.

"We've tried his restaurants in Taiwan. The food is very good."

Jay Chou shows off daughter in new music video

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Stomp, Internet screengrabs, Lollipop, Sina Weibo

This article was first published on September 03, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

For the upcoming local 1950s-era romantic movie My Love Sinema, audiences can expect an unscripted kissing scene between local actors Tosh Zhang and Cheryl Wee.

In it, the star-crossed lovers share a slow smooch on the lips after eloping in the middle of the night and finding shelter in a house in the forest after being drenched in the rain.

Opening here on Sept 8, it tells the story of a young man (Zhang) who moves from a kampung in Malaysia to Singapore to pursue his dream of becoming a film projectionist.

He meets and falls in love with a Chinese teacher (Wee) who is caught between her obligation as a dutiful daughter and her feelings for him.

Ah Boys To Men heart-throb Zhang told The New Paper in a joint interview with Wee yesterday at a press conference: "The director (Tan Ai Leng) didn't tell us we must kiss, she just wanted us to go with the feel and mood of the scene... but in the end, we did it."

Zhang, 27, and Wee, 29, did not rehearse how or when to kiss during the scene.

Wee said: "Even until the scene was set, we hadn't discussed whether we were going to kiss.

"(The way the kiss was done) was really suitable for the 1950s era (because of the uncertainty) of whether we were going to kiss."

TASTE OF CHICKEN

She recalled having eaten salted chicken before the scene, to which Zhang joked: "I got a bit of the taste (during the kissing scene)."

Wee added: "Yah, I ate the whole chicken just to give you the taste."

When asked to compare his two big-screen kisses so far - the first was with China actress Eva Cheng in 2014's The Lion Men - Zhang said: "I feel this one (with Wee) was definitely more intense and (I am not saying that) just because she is looking at me (now).

"This story is a lot deeper and at that point, we were not just kissing for the sake of it...

"It happened after we ran away and finally our characters had a moment together to absorb each other's presence."

The pair hemmed and hawed when asked to rate each other's kissing abilities and eventually came to the conclusion that they "looked like professionals".

Wee, who said she has been trolled by Zhang's female fans on Instagram since they started filming in Ipoh, said: "I am more scared of their reaction than of my boyfriend's."

My Love Sinema also marks Zhang's first lead role without his Ah Boys To Men co-stars, which is why he "definitely feels the stress" as he does not have the likes of Joshua Tan, Wang Weiliang or Maxi Lim "to share the pressure with".

Even though the movie showcases the cool rapper's tender side, Zhang, who is single after ending a long-term relationship a few years ago, said he is "not a romantic guy at all" in real life.

But that does not mean he is not capable of executing swoon-worthy gestures when the mood takes over.

He recalled: "The craziest thing I've ever done was for my ex-girlfriend.

"I bluffed her into thinking that I forgot about her birthday and told her that I was going overseas.

"I even went to the airport departure hall to take a photo with my friends and printed out fake air tickets and sent them to her.

"But actually, I was outside her house waiting for her with balloons, and together with my friends, we sang her a birthday song."

"The director (Tan Ai Leng) didn't tell us we must kiss, she just wanted us to go with the feel and mood of the scene... but in the end, we did it."

This article was first published on September 03, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Forty Chechen fighters attacked Moscow's Dubrovka Theatre on Oct 23, 2002, leaving about 130 dead after a botched rescue attempt.

On July 20, 2012, a man killed 12 people and injured 70 others in Colorado, US, during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises at a cinema.

Last November, 89 people were killed in a terror attack at the Bataclan theatre in France during a rock concert.

An attack can happen at any cinema or concert theatre here.

That was why, yesterday, the Esplanade - Theatres On The Bay was used by the authorities for a simulated attack to test their response during a terrorist attack.

A singer was doing a cover of Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon at the concourse when a man dragged a large bag into the unsuspecting crowd and left a minute later.

Security patrolling the area noticed the bag and realised it was an improvised explosive device.

As the song ended, the device exploded, sending shrapnel and bodies flying. Audience members trying to escape were mowed down by gunmen with assault rifles.

This was part of Exercise Heartbeat, the annual anti-terror exercise conducted yesterday morning.

It also featured the new SGSecure movement initiative that allows the public to notify the Singapore Police Force (SPF) of incidents via text message. (See report below.)

The Emergency Response Team took down the attackers and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) attended to the casualties.

BE PREPARED

Speaking to the media after the exercise, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Amrin Amin, said it is important for Singaporeans to be prepared.

"We saw the attack of the concert hall in Paris, so this is not child's play," he said.

"It's real and we have to prepare ourselves and know what to do in the event of an attack."

The exercise involved 167 SPF and SCDF personnel, Esplanade employees and Kampong Glam Waterloo Residents' Committee volunteers.

Superintendent Lynette Lim, commanding officer of Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre, said this is the eighth edition of Exercise Heartbeat.

"What's special about this year's exercise is the incorporation of SGSecure, a national movement to train the community to be prepared for terror attacks," she said.

"It is important that each and every member of the community understands these principles so they can react well in a terror attack - which Singapore is not immune to."

What is SGSecure?

SGSecure is a national movement to train and prepare the public for terrorist attacks. It is expected to be launched at the end of the month.

Training began this year and will continue with more members of the public.

SGSecure includes the Run, Hide, Tell advisory, and the Press, Tie and Tell method of improvised first aid skills.

Members of the public were also told of the new ways to contact the police in emergencies.

These include sending a text message to 71999 if it is not safe to talk, as well as providing information through i-Witness on the Police@SG mobile application, which allows the sending of text, photos and videos to the police.

This article was first published on September 03, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

The 11-year-old girl was asleep when her stepfather sat beside her mattress.

After switching on the television, he stroked her head, then slid his hand under her shirt and molested her.

The incident in April was not the first time he had molested her.

He had performed a similar lewd act on her last year as well.

The crimes came to light after the girl confided in her school counsellor, who alerted the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

Yesterday, the stepfather, 43, a cleaning supervisor, was jailed 15 months and ordered to be given three strokes of the cane.

We are not naming anyone due to a gag order.

Court papers said the girl's mother - who has four children, including the victim, from her previous marriage - had married the man in 2012.

The girl and her siblings would address their stepfather as "daddy", and they lived in an HDB flat near Jalan Besar.

The man also had two children with his wife.

He first molested his stepdaughter sometime last year by placing his hand over her shirt and touching her breast.

He preyed on her again on April 6 this year when the girl was sleeping on a mattress in the living room.

Between midnight and 6am, she woke up when she heard the television in the living room being switched on.

She opened her eyes briefly and saw her stepfather sitting on the floor, near her head.

He then used his right hand to caress her head before molesting her.

TERRIFIED

The girl pretended to sleep because she was terrified.

She broke down in school that day and was taken to the school counsellor where the truth emerged.

An MSF officer took the girl to the police station on the same day to lodge a report.

Yesterday, the stepfather, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded guilty to one count of outraging his stepdaughter's modesty, with another taken into consideration for sentencing.

District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim said in sentencing that he was supposed to be taking care of his stepdaughter, not taking advantage of her.

For committing molestation, he could have been jailed up to five years with caning and fine.

This article was first published on September 03, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.