Category Archives: Singapore

KTPH Staff Appreciation Day 2

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital staff appreciation day 2 where all come to enjoy the cupcake with icing done by the senior management.

Facility Management is one of the critical backbone support for the hospital to drive their seamless operations. We are at the forefront running a critical facility equipped with CD shelter. There are so many interesting things to learn and innovate everyday. It is critical to gain valuable knowledge as we can be replace any time due to cost cutting measures unlike healthcare workers.

SCDF NSF drowns in ragging incident; Police arrest 2 regulars

It was a celebration for his ORD that had turn into a mishap. The SCDF regulars had went over the limit and we will know the truth when the investigation had concluded.

Everyone whom had gone through service in Singapore either in Army, Police or SCDF Will knows well on how regulars behave.

Although SCDF had make great efforts to convey the information through different communications protocol that certain activities are not allowed but there are still people whom will not adhere to it.

Source: SCDF NSF drowns in ragging incident; Police arrest 2 regulars

Kimberley Germaine Lim Cancer Battle Blog

Read on how this brave girl, Kimberley Germaine Lim battle her Colorectal Cancer. She has documented down her pains and endurance. This bought back my memories on my father battle against Lung Cancer many years back.

It is a financial strain and we will not be able to afford the expensive dosage meant for the well off people only. The government does not subsidized it and MediShield Life will not help due to the cap limit.

Read her blog to find out the real reality of contracting cancer in Singapore.

Hello My Name’s Kimberley and I’ve Cancer

Durian Season Again

The durian season is starting again as more shops sprout up across the neighbourhood. People who loved durian regardless of race or religion will want to get a taste of the king of fruits.

Below website had an updated list of where to get your hands on the durian. Alternatively, you can also get it from your local stores.

Where to buy durians: Check out this list of more than 20 durian sellers in Singapore (updated with price from 21 Mar 2018)

Cancer Patient Thoughts

My wife colleague contracted 3rd stage Ovarian Cancer. She has drag for over a year before seeing a doctor as she though the blood discharge was normal.

Her immediate thoughts was not the cancer but for her children. She still want to continue to work to ensure that her children can complete their university education in 2 years time. This is the strength of Mother Love even at the most difficult part of her life.

The road to recovery is pain staking especially in Singapore. The medical system may not give us much options due to the high cost of the treatment and medicine.

I hope her colleagues and immediate family can bring her through the most critical part of her life. As a single parent, she had endured the hardship to bring up her children. She may not enjoy her last stage of life but hope the strength of everyone will give her more years of life with her family.

All the best to her fight against the illness.

Admiralty Hawker Centre E-Payment

The most appropriate e-payment solution to use is the FoodFare Plus or DBS Pay Lah. It is convenient as you only need to scan the QR Code with the app camera.

The only down side is the hawker depend on seeing the transaction on your phone. Sometimes they want to see your history as this is the only way they can check payment is made to their store. They do not have a terminal to verify your payment.

Please do not use the Plus Card or the Plus Visa Card. The terminal takes a long time to response as the router signal is quite weak and it is made worst during the peak hours. I saw a customer still waiting for terminal response when the food is already ready.

The hawker still had to pay $150 of rental fees for the equipment. I believe this should be taken up by NTUC FoodFare instead of the hawker itself. This add additional cost to the hawker and may be passed to the customers. We should not be doing the e-payment solutions to show the general public, VIP or MP at the expenses of the hawkers.

Changi Wifi Rental Promotion

To enjoy the promotion, you need to go, goo.gl/RJfdoW and insert promo code <FOC2WIFI> on the SECOND page of the reservation form.

You need to have a minimum of 4 days rental to enjoy the 2 free days.

Forget about data roaming, save money with the Changi Wifi and share data with friends or family members during your holidays.

4,000 pledge to save water at Singapore World Water Day launch, Singapore News & Top Stories – The Straits Times

Singapore News -SINGAPORE – More than 4,000 participants from 30 organisations and educational institutions pledged on Saturday (March 3) to do their part at home to save water and fight climate change.. Read more at Straits Times.

Source: 4,000 pledge to save water at Singapore World Water Day launch, Singapore News & Top Stories – The Straits Times

农历新年杂菜饭摊收2元附加费 公众质疑收费率是否合理 – 8频道新闻及时事节目

This news extract is in Chinese and everyone is discussing the legality of price increase during Chinese New Year. $0.20 to $0.50 of increase is acceptable to the public.

But the vegetable rice stall is charging $2 surcharge for every plate or packet. You cannot determine whether it is used solely to pay the manpower over time or the bosses extra bonus. It had been a trend that this is the only public holiday where all the business will try to put in the surcharge. I will let you decide whether it is fair and you can comment on it.

为了在农历新年期间继续营业,许多餐饮业者向顾客征收附加费,但有顾客申诉,后港港脚坊(Kang Kar Mall)食阁的一家杂菜饭摊位每包饭征收2元的附加费,引起公众质疑该收费率是否合理。

Source: 农历新年杂菜饭摊收2元附加费 公众质疑收费率是否合理 – 8频道新闻及时事节目

Singapore Budget 2018

An short update on the Singapore Budget 2018. Do not be lure by the Ang Bao as it is seen as a carrot prior to the general public election. We should be concern on the GST rise and the introduction of carbon tax. It is going to affect the daily life of ordinary Singaporeans excluding the well off peoples.

1. *Angbao*

All Singaporean will receive $100 to $300 depending on their income.

2. *Tobacco excise duty*

Increase by 10% from today

3. *GST on overseas import services*

We might have to pay GST for Netflicks, Spotify, app store and even shopping online.

4. *Buyer stamp duty*

Increase to 4% for private ppty worth more than $1mil.

5. *GST hikes*

Increase from 7% to 9% starting from 2021 to 2025.

6. *Tax reduction for donations*

250% tax deduction for donations to charities that are Institutions of a Public Character will be extended for three more years, until 2021.

7. *Foreign domestic helper levy*

Increase from $265 to $300 for first worker. $450 for second. Take effect April 2019.

8. *Extension of S&CC rebates*

Extend for one more year

9. *Enhance housing grant*

Promixity increase from 2km to 4km for living near parents. Grant increase from $20k to $30k.

10. *New Enterprise Development Grant*

Combine IE Singapore and SPRING’s existing grants, with up to 70 per cent co-funding

11. *Corporate income tax*

Rebate raise to 40%, cap at $15k for Yr2018.

20%, cap at $10k for Yr 2019.

Meanwhile, to help the marine shipyard and process sectors cope with ongoing weakness, the foreign worker levy increases will be deferred for another year.

Malaysia Custom on Chinese New Year 2018 Day 3

I have chosen to return on Day 2 of Chinese New Year to beat the mad traffic jam on the North South Highway. I am driving more than 500km from iPoh to Singapore. It was quite a smooth journey on the roadway.

You should top up full tank in your home town before hitting the roads. Petrol station at the R&R before KL are usually very packed. The R&R after KL is more relax as most travellers are going into KL or the outskirt towns.

Buying Fuel at Petrol Stations
Foreign cars need to pay upfront before they can start the pump. You will pay RM$100 and you only buy premium fuel like 97. If purchase by credit card, then you start the pump after the verification process.

Malaysia Custom
Everything was smooth till we got the Malaysia custom at 2am. Motor cars coming from different sides had to merge into one lane. There are only 12 counters to serve the influx due to the Chinese New Year. You will see how normal good people change character as they try to get to the counters. Outside the custom, you can differentiate drivers who cut queue. But once inside, it is difficult as some are force by the police to do it. The drivers in front will not see the picture and thought you cut queue.

It may be nightmare on the 19 and 20 morning (12am to 6am) as everyone return back to Singapore. I do hope that they will not be like us merging into one lane.

Singapore Custom Crossing
It was smooth at Singapore Custom crossing. There are sufficient staffs to meet the Chinese Lunar New Year influxes.

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year.

Singapore is cold at 23 degrees

Tropical Singapore seldom had ambient temperature of 23 degrees or below. We have been enjoying the nice cool weather over the past few days.

This really a nice weather to sleep on your bed. You can feel the coldness on your bed sheet. Now is the time where your warmer blanket come into use without the aircon.

This cool weather may be around for another few more days before the return of the tropical weather.

Starhub Porting over land line

Starhub porting over of land line is not as seamless as mention on their website. Timing is quite important to ensure your downtime is as minimum as possible.

Time Line

It takes 7 working days to unlock your land line and enable the incoming Telco to process the application. The incoming Telco take 5 working days to complete the transfer. Therefore you are looking at a few days if downtime if it is time correctly. The whole process will take 12 business working days to complete.

Acceptance

Sending in the transfer app by email is not seamless. You need to ensure the agent receive your form else it is not counted. Sitting in the email is not good enough as their sales executive share the same email.

Therefore it is better to submit through the customer service centre to ensure acceptance of instruction to act.

Please leave a comment if your porting over of land line is delay in anywhere.

S8 Plus Moisture Error

The moisture sensor on S8/S8+ is a totally new error. I panic when I got it the first time. This was not evident in the earlier Glaxay S series model.

You will not be able to charge your phone when you got the above error. The only way you can charge is by using the wireless charging station if u have one.

Else get ready to do the following. Clean your data cable and S8 charging port. You can use a cotton bud or any soft material that can wipe on the port. This will help to remove the moisture present on the port of charging cable.

If the above does not work, then you will need to visit the local Samsung Store.

Kampung Admiralty Open Raining Plaza

It seems like the open plaza mechanical system is still not functioning. The heavy raining this morning made the open plaza totally wet.

Lum Chang had not complete the rectification works. It should ideally be automatic. Opening up during sunny days to bring in the natural light and close it up on wet days.

We shall see what happen on the next few days before we write in to the Woodlands team. Let’s see whether the UEMS facility team is proactive on the above outstanding issue.

Embracing Starhub

After 4 years with Singtel, I am moving back to Starhub Home Hubber Package. Starhub is offering 6 months off the subscription fees excluding the set top box which you must still pay monthly.

It is a hassle to switch between service providers but if for cost savings, then I shall give a try. I am taking a leap of faith as I also know Starhub had poor customer service since my last encounter with them.

I am giving them another chance to check whether they had improve on their customer delivery experience.

Shifting Telco Preparation

I am preparing my migration of broadband, TV and home line to Starhub. Singtel is no extending any special promotion to loyal customer like me.

Subscribing a package is easy but transferring your home line number is a more complicated process.

I have to inform Singtel to untie my number. In addition, they still must assign a dummy number as my broadband is still active and not cancel yet.

The process takes about 3 to 5 working days to untie the home line number. This will enable you to port the number without applying a new number.

It is entirely up to you whether you want to retain the existing line or get a new line. There will be a few days of downtime for your home line during the transfer due to the paper works.

You can plan early as the other service providers will also take time to activate the 2nd port of your fibre.

It is critical that you must not terminate your line or subscription or you will face downtime for your service. It is inevitable that you will be paying two services for a few days.

Something is brewing

I have feedback on the open plaza where the top is not cover with any glass or mechanical protection. It is perfect fine on sunny days. But when the rain comes, the open plaza will be wet and pose a safety hazard to the senior citizens.

A big vertical lifter is now below the top opening. Something might be happening soon.
I shall update once they have completed the works.
The works for the rain screen had been completed and will work during events only.
Kampung Admiralty Open Plaza Update #07