Mas Selamat arrested in Malaysia

Its a great news for Singapore!

Finally, the game is over! Mas Selamat was arrested in Malaysia over a month ago. There will be a press conference by Mr Wong Kan Seng later today (8 May 2009.

Title	:	Singapore's JI leader Mas Selamat arrested in Malaysia
By	:
Date	:	08 May 2009 0143 hrs (SST)
URL	:	http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/427691/1/.html

SINGAPORE: Mas Selamat Kastari, Singapore's Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader who escaped from Whitley Road Detention Centre on February 27 last year, has been arrested.

The terrorist, who once plotted to hijack a plane and crash it into Changi Airport, was arrested in Malaysia in a joint intelligence operation involving the internal security agencies of the two countries.

It is understood that Mas Selamat was actually arrested over a month ago but had been under interrogation in Malaysia.

It is believed that the fugitive will soon be brought back to Singapore.

Last December, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had said: "He is one up on us, but the game is not over. One day we will catch him."

Most security experts had expected the fugitive to head for Indonesia, where other JI members are believed to be based. So, it came as a surprise to some that he was arrested in Malaysia.

Mas Selamat gave his guards the slip while he was being taken to the toilet at the detention centre.

The escape sparked the largest manhunt in Singapore's history. Thousands of police and military personnel were roped in to comb the island for the fugitive. Checks at the borders were stepped up, road blocks were set up, officers went house to house, and forested areas were swept.

There were also offers of a million dollar reward by two businessmen for his capture.

Mas Selamat, however, remained elusive although dozens of illegal immigrants were flushed out. Posters bearing his face and description were put up everywhere and every mobile phone here was sent either a text description or a picture of him.

Mas Selamat's escape also resulted in the dismissal of the detention centre's superintendent over security lapses. The superintendent's deputy was demoted.

The two were the most senior officers in charge of the ground management of the detention centre, and were among six Internal Security Department (ISD) officers charged over the escape.

Mas Selamat fled Singapore in December 2001 following an Internal Security Department operation against the terrorist organisation.

The militant leader had been on the run after Singapore authorities discovered plans to crash seven trucks filled with bombs at various locations around the island.

Investigations also revealed that he was the mastermind behind a plan to hijack an airplane and crash it into Changi airport.

Mas Selamat was arrested by the Indonesian police on Bintan island in January 2006. He was detained for using a fake identity card.

When he was arrested, officers found literature on bomb-making on him. Based on investigations then, Indonesia's elite anti-terror police then discovered he was the leader of the Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah network.

They then deported him to Singapore, where he was detained at Whitley Road Detention Centre under the Internal Security Act.

The 48-year-old father of four was said to be involved in JI's plans to mount attacks against foreign and local establishments in Singapore.

These included the US Embassy and American Club, the Defence Ministry headquarters at Bukit Gombak and the Education Ministry building at North Buona Vista Drive. - CNA/TODAY/de

NETS verus EZ-LINK Cards

Come September 2009, Nets will be launching its new generation card that can be used for paying Transport fares (Buses and MRTs).

Below are some of the differences between Nets and Ez-link Card.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/BgSty_361933_1.html

The Straits Times
April 10, 2009
Nets v ez-link cards
Where cards can be used

Nets: 3,000 merchants - and growing.

ez-link: McDonald's and 7-Eleven outlets, and all 3,000 SMRT taxis.
Both cards can also be used for ERP and carpark payments, as well as train, bus and taxi fares.

Payment mechanism


Nets: Card is linked to bank accounts and can be topped up at terminals in shops. Customers can apply to their banks for automatic top-ups at ERP gantries and carparks, and on buses, trains and taxis.

ez-link: Cards can be topped up at all current top-up points, including MRT stations.
Value of cards


Nets: The cost of the card has yet to be fixed by the banks. Customers can choose from several top-up value options.

ez-link: It costs $15. The card itself costs $5 and comes with $10 in stored value. Maximum stored value: $500.

Public Transport Operator fined again

It seem that the operators did not put in effort to improve the situation of overcrowded buses.

Is it money not enough again?

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_360053.html

The Straits Times

Bus operators fined

April 6, 2009 By Yeo Ghim Lay

PUBLIC bus operators SBS Transit and SMRT have been fined again by the Public Transport Council (PTC) for not meeting service standards.

SBS Transit, which runs the majority of bus services here, was fined $4,500. Some of its services were overcrowded, while the waiting times of others were too long.

SMRT was fined $100 for one instance in which one of its services was found to be overcrowded.

The fines, which came from a review period from June 1 to Nov 30 last year, were announced by the PTC on Monday.

It is the third time that both operators have been fined by the PTC since the council was authorised by the Government in 2006 to hand down financial penalties to public transport operators.

This time round, however, both companies have improved in their performance, said the PTC.

Last October, the two operators received heavier fines - $9,300 and $1,000 for SBS Transit and SMRT respectively.

The PTC regularly reviews the performance of basic bus services and announces the results in April and October every year.

Said PTC chairman Gerard Ee: 'The PTC recognises that there were initial resource challenges faced by SBS Transit to comply with the new feeder bus headway standard which took effect in August 2008. The PTC is heartened that SBS Transit has since overcome these challenges and has managed to comply with the standard since January 2009.

'On the whole, both operators have demonstrated their commitment to meet commuters' expectations and the standards set by the PTC. This year, they are adding more buses to their fleets and recruiting more bus captains and service leaders.'

Over 40? Don’t send us your resume

scary news to me ...

Todayonline - 26 March 2009
‘Over 40? Don’t send us your resume’

With weaker job prospects, older job hunters turn to entrepreneurship seminars

Thursday March 26, 2009

ESTHER Ng

estherng@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN in good times, discrimination against older job seekers exists. So what more now that it is an employers’ market?

Some recruitment firms told Today the trend has picked up. Some employers do not want resumes from anyone above 40, said Ms Wendy Kwek, managing director of Career Express. Her firm has seen a slight increase in the number of such employers.

Two other employment firms, JobPlus and MDK Personnel Resources, confirmed that their clients prefer younger applicants.

Some don’t even want to see resumes from those who are 35, said Mr Kor Lai Hock, MDK’s managing director. The company’s clients include those in manufacturing, engineering, and food and beverage.

The practice however is nothing new, said JobPlus’ director Alex Thong.

On the other hand, firms such as Adecco, Manpower, JobStreet and JobsDb said they have never received such requests from their clients who include multinational and blue chip companies.

Rather, would-be employers are now more demanding in terms of applicants having the relevant skills, said Adecco’s strategic accounts director Yue Yin Mun.

With job prospects for older workers bleak, it is no surprise then that entrepreneurship seminars are doing a brisk business.

On Tuesday, there were three such events with turnouts of 120 and 100 for the two that were held by Executive Directions at International Plaza. The third was organised by Harriet International Network.

Those who were late even if they had registered earlier had to be turned away. It was standing room only.

Compared to last year, I would say there’s a 20- to 30-per-cent increase in the number of people attending, said Ms Kwek of Career Express and a managing director of Executive Directions.

For two to three hours, the participants listened to various speakers extol the benefits of being their own boss. However, many baulked at the cost of the courses which ranged from $5,000 to more than $7,000. More than half then left.

Mr James Chua, chief executive of Harriet’s, said he was not surprised.

Most people over 40 want something more stable. Asking them to suddenly become an entrepreneur may be too risky. They should start a small business, something that would give them $3,000 a month and which they will be happy with.

One participant, Mr Sen who only wanted to be known by his surname was working in a bank before being laid off last year. He spent the past few months sending out resumes to no avail, so he decided to try the entrepreneurial route.

What else is there for a 55-year-old to do? said the father of a 16-year-old. It’s depressing being at home.

Train and bus fares made history

First time in Singapore history that both train and bus fares goes downward!!!.

The good news was reported in The Straits Times, "Lower bus, train fares" dated 19 Feb 2009.

The fare changes are due to two reasons:

• The public transport operators' decision to pass on their savings from this year's Budget to commuters,
  
• and the second phase of the move towards distance-based fares.

Here are quotes obtain from the article.

Mr Gerard Ee, Chairman of the PTC said:

'In the recent past, both operators have chosen not to apply for fare increases when economic conditions were poor. This had happened in 2003 and 2004. This year, not only are they not applying for a fare increase, they have decided to give a fare rebate to commuters.

'The PTC is pleased that the operators are mindful of prevailing economic conditions. They are passing on the Budget savings and more. Due credit must be given to the operators for this significant gesture.

'This $80 million fare reduction package will certainly go a long way to help commuters lower their transport expenditure during this difficult period.'

Mr Gan Juay Kiat, Chief Operating Officer of SBS Transit, said:

'These are difficult times and we believe in doing our bit to help our commuters. We hope that by reducing fares during these tough times, commuters will be able to get some relief from cost pressures.'

Mdm Saw Phaik Hwa, President of SMRT Corp, said:

'SMRT has decided to reduce fares to benefit commuters given the severe economic crisis. As commuters are increasingly relying on public transport for their travel needs, we believe these measures will bring some relief to them, and in part, help lower their cost of living.'