According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), National Environment Agency (NEA) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), they have confirmed that some samples of raw fish were tested and confirmed to have traces of the Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria.

In a report issued last week, A.S.S. had informed readers about health warnings from doctors, who warned consumers against eating raw fish dishes such as yusheng and sashimi for fear of consuming the GBS bacteria. It was said that some GBS patients had their joints swell up to the point where they required surgery after consuming GBS contaminated fish.

This confirmation comes after MOH launched an investigation into the link between GBS and raw fish after it saw an increase in GBS cases. Earlier, MOH had asked all hospitals to submit their case listings of patients with GBS infections for this year as part of its investigation. Doctors in the private sector were also asked to report new cases of GBS infection to MOH as well, to assist in its probe.

From Jan 1 to Jun 30, authorities received reports of 238 GBS cases from public hospitals. This is up from an average of 150 cases per year in the past four years. More than half the cases were over the age of 55, similar to previous years.

Authorities earlier said there is no proven link between eating raw fish and serious GBS disease in healthy humans, but interim analysis of MOH's investigation on a limited number of identified cases found an association between the consumption of raw fish and GBS infections. More cases will need to be studied for a more definite conclusion, authorities noted.

NEA has advised licensed food stall holders to temporarily stop the sales of raw fish dishes using Song fish, also known as Asian Bighead Carp, and Toman fish, also known as Snakehead fish, as a precautionary measure. Stall holders will also be reminded to adhere to high standards of personal hygiene and adopt proper food handling practices to prevent cross contamination and bacterial growth, the agencies stated.

While investigations are ongoing, vulnerable groups of people - especially young children, pregnant women or the elderly, or people with chronic illness such as diabetes - should exercise caution by avoiding raw ready-to-eat food, authorities said.

In a cryptic message on his Facebook, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew had some emotional words for his followers and grassroot leaders, which seem to hint at a possible departure for the troubled former scholar-general. Read his post here:

Regarding the boundary changes, we know that Mouleim is being divided up and it will join different GRCs. For me of course there is a sense of disappointment because I have been with the residents for so many years already and I’ve become very fond of them and I will miss them dearly.

I know that for the grassroots leaders, the volunteers, even the branch activists, this will come as a surprise and will also be a huge disappointment to them, but we have to understand why this is happening.

I know Prime Minister has given the guidelines to the boundaries committee to have smaller GRCs, and to create smaller GRCs, then naturally the boundaries will have to shift. In this case, Moulmein is one of the more affected constituencies.

So I hope that the residents and all the volunteers can see it in that light but most important of all, we must continue to serve those whom we have been serving all these years, and do our best for them, reach out to them as much as ever before. When they join the new advisers in the different constituencies in time to come, bond with the new team; like how we have been able to build a cohesive and responsive team over the last 10 years.

I’ve been really privileged, really blessed to serve alongside a very dedicated team. I’ve benefited much from their counsel, their hardwork, but most of all from their friendship. So I leave with a sense of sadness.
As for me, what is going to happen, well, I have some ideas of what the possible plans are but I’m sure you’d understand that this is not quite the right time for me to talk about it.

Lui Tuck Yew

I came across this note in my neighbourhood.. I think I know who the car belongs to. It belongs to 1 of my neighbour downstairs. That auntie and her family are always very friendly.. whenever my mum needs curry leaves to cook curry, we will go downstairs and ask if we could pluck some from her plant. She always say yes its OK. She is always friendly too..

I think that if her note is being spread online, the chances of finding the culprit would be bigger. I really do hope to help her. Please do help this lady.. thank you..

Anonymous A.S.S. reader

Full notice here:

Hi my neighbours & friends, passer-by and people who are reading this note.

My mum and I are now seeking help from everyone in the neighbourhood to come forward and tell us or report to police if you saw any suspicious activities near/on our car.

Our car had been scratched 3 times this month, at the multi-storey carpark BLK 462A, just opposite BLK 465, the one with mini-mart at the ground level. We had already repainted the car 2 times. Each time, the scratch gets more and deeper. Police had been called in and they had also deduce that those scratches are being made onto the car purposely and intentionally.This had not happened before for the past 5 years that we had been living here in BLK 465 AVE 4. And we really could not think of anyone who would possibly do this to our car.

If you had seen the culprit scratching our car, or any suspicious activities near our car, we would really appreciate your help in catching them/contacting us. Much thanks in advance! :)

Car's Details
Colour: Red
Type; Proton
Car Plate Number SJT9600K
Contact Number: +65 8159 2340

My wife bought two bags at IMM jurong at the sales station. She used her debit card to swipe for the bags. After swiping we went to have dinner nearby and on the way back she received messages that her card has been used. We have kept the receipt and we need an answer to this matter as she only swipe her card at hush puppies at IMM and nothing else.

My wife called the bank and retrieved some information saying it has been used for some online shopping which comes to a total of $1700. After my wife disputed the matter to the bank. She was asked to wait 21 working days in order to see if the money was returned to her.

Please warn your readers to be alert if your bank sends you messages about unauthorized use of their cards. You never know who might take advantage.

Mr Ooi
A.S.S. Contributor

1 in 5 voters in a new constituency

According to the news report “New electoral boundaries announced: 13 SMCs, 16 GRCs, one in five voters will see shift” (Jul 24) – “One in five voters, or 19 per cent of voters, will find themselves in a new constituency …

An earlier version of this story said one in six voters will be affected by the boundary changes. It should be one in five. The earlier calculation excluded voters in Moulmein-KallangGRC who will move to the renamed JalanBesarGRC”.

“Statistically” very hard to lose?

When you can “move” one in five voters at will – arguably, it may be almost “statistically” very hard to lose.

Change “playing field”, “rules”?

But if I may use an analogy – if you are playing football – you should be focusing on improving your play, skills and teamwork, instead of trying to change the “playing field” to “disadvantage” your opposing teams.

Or for that matter – the rules.

Because, the more you are “kiasu”– the more frustrated and infuriated the spectators may become!

Focus on improving lives?

By the same token, Governments should focus on improving the lives of their citizens.

Because, at the end of the day – its not about how many votes, who wins – but for the good of the people.

What you have been doing for the people may be the best “decision maker” for voters.

I shall not delve into the details of deleting constituencies where you may fear to lose, moving out “weak” Ministers who arguably are widely blamed for our daily miseries, etc, as a great deal has already been written by many, in this regard.

Have policies improved the lives of Singaporeans?

So, let’s try to focus on whether we have been improving the lives of Singaporeans by:-

… allowing an estimated 150,000 new citizens, PRs, Dependent Pass (DPs), foreign workers, foreign students, etc, on the average, annually

… accumulating more than $20 billion annually in Budget surpluses (using IMF fiscal reporting guidelines)

… giving only 15,699 families ComCare Short-to-Medium Term and Long-term Assistance (12,535 + 3,164), against about 107,490 employed households with per capita monthly income of only $494 (including employer CPF) - below the ComCare criteria of $650 household per capita income

… increasing the number of non-Singaporean workers to an estimated 47 per cent (not including new citizens) of the total workforce

… having hardly any real increase in the basic, gross and total wage (excluding employer CPF contribution) of all Singaporean workers (full-time and part-time), in the last 16 years or so

… increasing the non-Singaporean population to about 39 per cent (excluding new citizens) of the total population

… keeping an estimated at least 3 per cent of the annualised returns derived from our CPF funds historically, instead of returning it to CPF members, like all other national pension funds in the world

… having the most expensive public housing in the world

… not spending any money on healthcare from a cashflow perspective – as annual Medisave contributions and annual Medisave interest always exceed annual public healthcare spending and withdrawals from Medisave

… spending an estimated $400 million a year on non-Singaporean students at all educational levels – and increase the fees of Singaporeans practically every year in recent years?

The battle lines are drawn – what will be the battle cries?

Win battles lose war

A.S.S. Contributor

Singapore's labour chief, Chan Chun Sing, said at a leadership conference yesterday that young Singaporean professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) may have to go overseas to experience life in another country in order to compete effectively with foreigners in Singapore.

Mr Chan, who is secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said companies which set up headquarters in Singapore look to hire people who know the markets in South-east Asia and beyond.

"They don't care whether it's a Singaporean or non-Singaporean, that's the blunt truth. They care about whether their team has the global perspective."

To a crowd of about 700 PMEs at the conference, he said that locals need to compete for positions in top management here, and Singaporeans will need more than just the right attitude, skills and knowledge. He said that experience and exposure also plays a part so that Singaporeans will be a match to foreigners who come to Singapore with experience in their home country.

He added that NTUC is in talks with chief executives of large companies to work out opportunities and partnerships to help young PMEs get access to opportunities overseas.

With yesterday's release of the Election Boundaries Review Committee report, Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) have been lining up to express their "surprise" at the changes. They say that some of their plans have been affected, but they will take the changes in their stride.

MPs of Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), for instance, did not expect the carving out of Yew Tee ward to form a new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

“That was surprising,” said Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad, adding that he and his fellow MPs were still engaging in their usual chatter Thursday. Zaqy said that his team would now have to go back to the drawing board.

He added that while it was anticipated that “at least one” ward from the five-member GRC could be carved out as a single-seat ward, the team had expected that the change would affect the Nanyang area near Jurong West under MP Alvin Yeo.

Mr Alex Yam, who oversees the Yew Tee area, was equally surprised by the development, as the distance between parts of the two towns is a 20-minute drive away.

Jurong GRC MP David Ong, whose Bukit Batok constituency will now be an SMC, also said he did not expect the change. Adding that he will do his best if he was fielded in Bukit Batok, the first-time MP added: “We do expect the opposition to be more active” in a single-seat ward.

For Moulmein-Kallang GRC MP Denise Phua, her Kampong Glam constituency is now under Jalan Besar GRC, which was last seen in the 2006 elections before the formation of Moulmein-Kallang GRC and Whampoa SMC in 2011.

“The profile of residents in the new Jalan Besar GRC divisions appears to be more similar, and there should be more synergy when serving them,” she said.

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, who is the MP of the smallest single-member ward Potong Pasir, said he was glad the constituency was kept intact, even though there were expectations that it could be absorbed into a GRC given its size. Having wrested the seat from long-serving Opposition MP Chiam See Tong in the last GE in 2011, he hoped to contest in the constituency again.

According to the United States Treasury Department, the US government has blacklisted on Thursday a Singapore-based shipping company for allegedly supporting a North Korean firm accused of illicit weapon shipments.

Financial sanctions were imposed against Senat Shipping Company and Senat’s president, Leonard Lai, and on a vessel linked to the company, “Dawnlight". All U.S. persons would be prohibited from doing business with entities on the blacklist.

Treasury said Senat has ties to Ocean Maritime Management Company (OMMC) a North Korean firm that operated a ship, the Chong Chon Gang, seized by Panamanian authorities in 2013 for carrying undeclared military equipment from Cuba, hidden under a cargo of sugar. It said Senat arranged the purchase, repair, certification, and crewing of vessels for OMMC.

“Arms shipments transported by OMMC serve as a key resource for North Korea’s ongoing proliferation activities. Sales from these shipments contribute to North Korea’s other illicit programs,” Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam J. Szubin said in a statement.

“We are working to make it as challenging as possible for North Korea to continue its unlawful behavior by actively targeting anyone or any business that supports these illicit arms transfers,” he said.
Treasury also added to its sanctions list aliases of the North Korean firm, which it said has continued to operate through front companies and representative offices despite being sanctioned by both the United States and the United Nations in July 2014.

Some Opposition parties on Friday (Jul 24) expressed their disappointment with the changes to the boundaries of electoral constituencies, citing in particular the dissolution of Joo Chiat SMC and Moulmein-Kallang GRC, as well as the downsizing of East Coast GRC.

But The Workers’ Party (WP) was the most aggrieved, having put up a strong showing in Joo Chiat in the 2011 General Election. Its candidate, Mr Yee Jenn Jong, lost the contest by a narrow margin of 2.04 per cent to Mr Charles Chong from the People’s Action Party (PAP).

Mr Yee, who is currently a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), told TODAY he was “very disappointed” with the scrapping of Joo Chiat SMC. “Residents would (all) have known that I’ve been visiting their area over and over again, so now that it has disappeared, I’ll need time to digest the implications,” he said.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Mr Yee also wrote that with “the eraser and the pencil”, the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has made the Joo Chiat SMC “with such a rich and unique tradition disappear”.

In response to TODAY’s queries, the WP said it is studying the EBRC report before deciding on which constituencies to contest. “We will field the best candidates we can find to give Singaporeans a choice at the upcoming GE,” it added.

As to the dissolution of the Moulmein-Kallang GRC, Mr Goh Meng Seng, secretary-general of the newly-registered People’s Power Party, felt that it was a move to let Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, one of the MPs in the area, to “avoid a serious challenge”.

As Transport Minister, Mr Lui has had to grapple with the public backlash arising from a spate of train disruptions in recent months.

Separately, Democratic Progressive Party secretary-general Benjamin Pwee, said: “We call on him (Mr Lui), Minister of National Development (Mr Khaw Boon Wan), and Minister of Health (Mr Gan Kim Yong) to stand in a SMC, and test the level of voter support for them in the coming elections.”

Mr Pwee, however, said the changes to the electoral boundaries, announced yesterday, were “not as dramatic and extensive” as the party had expected.

While he felt that the absorption of Joo Chiat and Whampoa SMCs appeared to be due to the two constituencies being hotly contested in 2011, Mr Pwee also noted that “Potong Pasir that PAP won by a sliver remains untouched”.

On the downsizing of East Coast GRC from a five- to four-man constituency, Mr Goh noted that it seemed like the ruling party was “trying to cut (its) losses” following the close-fight in last election.

Mr Sebastian Teo, president of the National Solidarity Party (NSP), said he had expected such changes from the EBRC. “We are used to contest(ing) in a very unfair situation. We don’t expect (them) to come up with something that is very favourable for us to contest.”

Describing the downsizing of five- to four-man GRCs as not that significant, Mr Teo instead called for more drastic changes, such as introducing three-man GRCs so that Opposition parties will be able to contest in more constituencies.

While pointing out that it was “unfair” that the EBRC scrapped Joo Chiat SMC, chairman of the Singapore Democratic Alliance Desmond Lim added that to ensure fairer elections, it is best to abolish the GRC system and allow parties to contest in SMCs instead.

Writing on her Facebook page, Singapore People’s Party member Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss said she was happy that Mountbatten SMC retained its perimeters and reiterated her promise to participate in the upcoming polls.

Ms Chong-Aruldoss contested the single-seat ward while she was still with the NSP in the last GE, losing to PAP's Lim Biow Chuan.

Dear A.S.S.,

It has been an established fact that often Constituencies that is won by the Opposition Parties faces the brunt of anger from the ruling political party and until the next general elections the particular Ward will be neglected and its existence forgotten.

A LRT Station in the Punggol East Ward ceiling lights are plagued with cobwebs and despite repeated calls to the various agencies no cleaning of the cobwebs done. There were occasions when commuters or people patronising the kiosk had to look above their heads for fear of cobwebs landing on them.

To add insult to mockery NEL who manages the LRT Station put up SG50 Banners to elebrate our coming Golden Jubilee and it has become an eyesore and nothing to pride about. In penalising the Opposition ward the Ruling Party has failed to acknowledge that not all residents there voted for the Opposition Party so it is gross injustice to punish those whose votes for the Ruling Party.

Using votes as a blackmail will not work in regaining back the lost trust and confidence in the Ruling Party. To win back lost votes please don't use politics as their weapon as it will suerly backfire especially in this age and time.

Punggol East Resident

The Singapore general election is coming soon. Some rumours say that the next election will be held on 12 September 2015. It could be earlier, in August after National Day or before the year is out.

The PAP ruling party has gerrymandered and changed the Singapore electoral boundaries yet again.

The changes were announced today.

Here is a quick analysis on the changes in the electoral boundaries.

(1) For my Sembawang friends, Sembawang Central – where I live – was moved from Sembawang GRC in 2006 to Nee Soon GRC in 2011 and back to Sembawang GRC again in 2015.

(2) The PAP believes that it will lose the East Coast GRC to the Worker’s Party. It moved Serangoon Island from the East Coast GRC to Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. Looks like the PAP wants to develop Serangoon Island in the next 5 years and does not want any hindrance.

(3) The PAP also looks like it believes that it will lose Nee Soon GRC to the Worker’s Party. It moved Simpang and Seletar Island to Sembawang GRC, in the hope that it can develop the Woodlands-Sembawang corridor with free rein, which Lee Hsien Loong announced at last year’s National Day Rally.

(4) The PAP also deleted Joo Chiat SMC and Moulmein-Kallang GRC because it knows that it will lose them to the Worker’s Party – the Worker’s Party won more than 40% of the votes in both constituencies at the last election.

(5) For the three other key development areas that the PAP has planned for – Jurong, Tampines and West Coast GRCs – the PAP has consolidated these areas and largely left them intact, which means they will likely field who they consider to be their strong candidates in these areas. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam currently helms the Jurong GRC.

From this, you can see that how the PAP redraws the electoral boundaries is broadly dependent on three things:

- First, it is dependent on making sure that the constituencies which posed the biggest threat to the PAP at the previous election are deleted – which we already know.

- Second, the PAP already has development plans in mind and have redrawn the boundaries to allow it (it hopes) to hold on to certain constituencies so that it can fully develop these areas according to its wants. In that sense, the PAP has parcelled out Singapore into areas it considers important to keep for its growth-at-all-cost model, and those which it considers less important.

And if you understand what it means when the PAP wants to develop these areas, it means that the PAP wants to build more shopping malls, increase rents, increase prices, increase revenue for themselves and allow themselves to get rich. So, you want to let them?

- Third, you can see that the PAP believes that it will lose about 10% of the votes at the next election, as most of the constituencies with boundary changes are those which the opposition won more than 40% at the last election, and which the PAP believes it will lose.

And if you track the past three elections, for constituencies where their boundaries did not change, the PAP lost an average of 10% in these constituencies at each subsequent election, which means that at the next election, the PAP will indeed lose another 10% of the votes.

The PAP won 60% of the total votes at the last election. So going along these lines, based on the PAP’s prediction, it means that they would likely lose 10% of the votes and only win about 50% of the votes at the next election.

It would most likely be a 50-50 at the next election for the PAP and the opposition. This is a chance for us Singaporeans to set things right!

So, Singaporeans, you want to help the PAP lose and help Singaporeans win?

- So for my friends from the East Coast and Nee Soon GRCs, help to fulfil the PAP’s fears. Let them lost these 2 GRCs.

- And for my friends living in the Sembawang and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRCs, do you want to give the PAP free rein to develop your areas? Do you want to let Teo Chee Hean and Khaw Boon Wan win these areas again? If not, vote them out.

- And for my friends in the Joo Chiat SMC and Moulmein-Kallang GRC, these have been absorbed into the Bishan-Toa Poyah GRC, Jalan Besar GRC and Marine Parade GRC. So, help the opposition win these 3 GRCs as well. Vote Opposition.

In summary, these are the constituencies which you should vote Opposition:

(A) Constituencies which Opposition have already won:
- Aljunied GRC (5 seats)
- Hougang SMC (1 seat)
- Punggol East SMC (1 seat)

(B) Constituencies which Opposition won more than 40% of the votes at the last election:
- Mountbatten SMC (1 seat)
- Potong Pasir SMC (1 seat)
- Sengkang West SMC (1 seat)
- Tampines GRC (5 seats)

(C) Constituencies which Opposition won more than 40% of the votes at the last election, and which the PAP is also trying to “fix”:
- Bishan-Toa Poyah GRC (5 seats)
- East Coast GRC (4 seats)
- Marine Parade GRC (5 seats)
- Nee Soon GRC (5 seats)

(D) New constituencies carved out from constituencies which the Opposition won more than 40% of the votes at the last election, which the PAP carved out in a bid to protect themselves:
- Fengshan SMCs (1 seat)
- Jalan Besar GRC (4 seats)
- MacPherson SMCs (1 seat)

(E) Constituencies which the PAP wants to protect to continue to develop these areas for its own want:
- Sembawang GRC (5 seats)
- Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC (6 seats)

Total seats that Opposition should be able to win accordingly: 51 (57% of the seats)

(F) If you want the Opposition to win two-thirds of the seats so that the Opposition can implement policies to protect Singaporeans, then also vote these constituencies where the Opposition won more than 35% of the votes at the last election:
- Choa Chu Kang GRC (4 seats)
- Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (4 seats)
- Marsiling-Yee Tee GRC (4 seats)

(Additionally, if you want Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to take responsibility for the failings in Singapore, then vote PAP out of the Ang Mo Kio GRC, where there are 6 seats.)

This way, the Opposition will win 63 seats (70.1% of the seats) and be able to form a new coalition government which will then be able to implement new policies to finally protect Singaporeans.

- Do you want your wages to increase?
- Do you want the government to increase its health expenditure so that healthcare will become truly affordable to Singaporeans?
- Do you want education to be free to protect your children’s future (instead of the PAP giving $400 million every year to foreign students)
- Do you want the government to provide unemployment benefits for the many Singaporeans who have become unemployed today (because the PAP did not enact policies to protect the jobs of Singaporeans)
- Do you want the government to implement an old-age pension to protect your parents and your own retirement?
- Do you want the government to #ReturnOurCPF?
- Do you want the government to be transparent and accountable to Singaporeans, to let us know what they have been taking our money to use?
- Do you want to stop the PAP’s use of the law to persecute our children unfairly?
- Do you want to stop the PAP from abusing power further?

Then #VoteOpposition #VoteforYourFuture

Vote for a new government to protect your future, and your children’s future. Vote for a new government for Singapore’s future. For our country’s future. For our home.

Speaking to the mainstream media outside its HQ, The National Solidarity Party or NSP expressed its disappointment with the lack of transparency over the Election's Department's EBRC report.

Acting secretary-general Hazel Poa said that although the redrawing of electoral boundaries did affect the party's areas of interest much, it was still too early to determine candidates to stand for election.

NSP stated: “The absence of clear-cut and objective criteria for any change to electoral boundaries from one GE to the next bodes ill for building trust between Singaporeans and the Government.”

NSP also suggested that there was no reasonable explanation as to why Moulmein-Kallang GRC had to be carved up, nor was there any need for Joo Chiat SMC and Whampoa SMC to be lumped into other GRCs.

The party questioned if the EBRC had access to detailed voting results from the last GE whether such information had been "used in any way" in the EBRC's deliberations on electoral boundaries.

Dear All Singapore Stuff,

The EBRC report came out and all our Opposition parties have one way or another hoot the Govt for redrawing boundaries for their own benefit. The PAP should stop pulling such stunts and start showing some guts as an incumbent government.

The PAP is so big and powerful, what is the harm in losing some seats to the Opposition? Since the people want some alternative voice, the PAP should grant the people of Singapore their wish. They should make it a level playing field and let the Opposition have a very fair and possible chance to win.

If the PAP keep putting in 100% effort to win the elections, the Opposition party sure have a much lower chance of winning. Since PAP promised the people of Singapore they will change Singapore for the better and the people have spoken that we want a mature true democracy. By this logic, shouldn't the PAP give Singaporeans what we want and play nice?

This way, Singaporeans get their alternative voice and we will move one step closer to becoming a real democracy. PAP if you have any sincerity, this is your chance to show it. Prove to Singaporeans that you keep your promises to us and let in some Opposition voices. If PAP do this, Singaporeans will know that they listen to the people and that our Singapore conversation truly works and is not just wayang show.

Ah Lim
A.S.S. Contributor

The man whose company runs the largest collection of business awards in Singapore has spoken up to defend his business.

"We are a legitimate business, not a scam," said Mr Alex Yeo, chief executive of the Singapore Enrich Group, which has created 10 business awards such as the Singapore Excellence Award and the Singapore Trusted Quality Brand.

He made the remarks after a Sunday Times report identified him as the biggest player in the unregulated business of creating and handing out "industry" awards.

These awards are not handed out by industry associations or endorsed by government bodies, but are created by private firms. Companies typically pay $5,000 to $15,000 to have their businesses featured in a journal and to attend a dinner if they accept an award.

The 46-year-old said the report has hurt his business, with as many as 15 award winners cancelling their contracts within days after the report was published.

"My competitors showed the newspaper report to my clients and said I was running a scam," said Mr Yeo. He declined to name his competitors. "If I was running a scam, I would not have more than 500 companies supporting me since I started the business."

He acknowledged that the business of creating awards may be seen as controversial, but he noted that the award winners knew they were paying for publicity.

Mr Yeo said he had only four employees when he started his business and there are now about 40 people working for him. "I am running a serious business. My staff would not have stayed with me if I was not," he said.

Business registry records showed that the businessman registered the Singapore Enrich Group in 2012 with a paid-up capital of $100,000.

On having MPs hand out the awards at lavish dinners, Mr Yeo said the dinners were held for business networking purposes. In the past four years, at least seven MPs have attended dinners organised by his company.

He also defended the increase in the number of awards, saying this was to meet the demand of his customers. "They said that if they were to hang their awards on the wall, they would all be the same every year, so they asked me to create more awards ," he said.

The company contributes to the community, said Mr Yeo. He said he has donated $6,000 to $30,000 to charities such as the Jamiyah Children's Home, Lee Ah Moi Old Age Home and the Singapore Children's Society.

Other private companies that have created business awards not supported by the Government include the Singapore Resource Association, Promising SME 500, Singapore Business Incorporation and Asia Business Journal.

Statutory board Spring Singapore has advised firms to check before accepting any award.

A brave netizen has done what most of us have been secretly wanting to do, but did not find the courage to do so.

He has lodged a report with the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) over the "highly suspicious activities" at the People's Association (PA), National Parks (NParks) so that CPIB can commence investigations into staff at both of the stat boards to hold them accountable for all irregularities disclosed by the Auditor General's Office Report 2015.

According to the anonymous netizen, he noted that in the AGO report found that some transactions by the two stat boards were not carried out at arm's length and "effectively" became "hidden subsidies for related parties, as they were either charged below market rate or not charged at all".

As such, he formally requested for CPIB to look into the case of the PA's former CCC Chairman, Mr Tonic Oh, who had approved his own claims while he served as CCC Chairman for Admiralty, and the case of NParks awarding "over $20 million of contracts through a waiver of competition without compelling reasons".

These suspicious activities were reported widely by the mainstream media. However, these new outlets have downplayed the seriousness of the lapses and have usually emphasized that measures have already been put in place to prevent such lapses from taking place again.

The netizen is awaiting a reply from CPIB.

After a classmate accidentally knocked into a student on Tuesday (21st July), the aggrieved mother of the student decided to go hunting for the culprit to teach him a lesson.

The student is reportedly studying in a school at Bishan.

According to eye witnesses, when the mother of the student learnt about the accidental knocking, she flew into a rage and slapped a boy - whom she thought was responsible - in front of his classmates.

When that boy turned out to be the wrong person, she went hunting for the real culprit and slapped that other boy as well.

The enraged mother then told the boys: "This is how it feels like to be slapped."

Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao reported that the school had arranged for the parents of all 3 boys to meet on Friday and that the woman has apologized for her actions.

But the parents of the two boys who were slapped made a police report later that day as they felt the apology was insincere and that the woman's story did not match-up with other details of the incident.

Police confirmed that a police report had been made.

Secretary General of The Workers' Party Mr Low Thia Khiang addresses the media today, and indicated the party's interest in contesting in Marine Parade GRC, Macpherson SMC, as well as the areas WP has contested before.

"As a matter of principle, The Workers' Party will contest where we have contested before. In this case, Joo Chiat is being redrawn into Marine Parade. We don't want to disappoint voters in Joo Chiat. We want to offer them a choice again in this election."

In General Elections 2011, the WP contested in 4 GRCs and 4 SMCs - Aljunied GRC, East Coast GRC, Moulmein-Kallang GRC, Nee Soon GRC, Hougang SMC, Joo Chiat SMC, Punggol East SMC, Seng Kang West SMC.

Who told you that Japanese universities are boring places crammed with students busy cramming for exams?

In a intimate display of affection that is bound to give those worried for Japan's aging population a run for their money, a female college student and her boyfriend were seen "getting it on" in a classroom - with the door blatantly unlocked.

The incident took place at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Room 402 in the Ryoshinkan Hall.

A female hottie, who is reportedly a third-year English major, was caught in a state of undress and performing a sex act on her male peer. She then proceeded to have sex with the male student.

Aside from the glaringly poor choice of underwear, I think this female student has just secured a few more applications for the university, don't you think?

An accident that occurred in front of Republic Polytechnic yesterday resulted in brutal injuries for a motorcyclist, who crashed into an oncoming car at a traffic junction at high speeds.

According to a heroic passerby, Mohammed Waseem, "After the crash, the motorcyclist flew 2 to 3 meters away from his motorcycle. He couldn't get up. I ran to him and saw his left hand was broken and there were bones sticking out. His leg was also broken. The guy was brutally injured."

"He was lying face down so I pull his head up to let him breathe and called 999," He said. "I called at 10.11AM, the ambulance arrived at about 10.19AM."

It is understood that the rider is now recovering in hospital. The car driver escaped with no injuries.