2010-12-25 22:24:03
如果有一对新婚夫妇，他们的家庭收入为$9000, 显然已经不符合购买新政府组屋的条件。可是，以目前私人共管公寓的行情，这对积蓄不多的夫妇能力上又达不到。这种情形下，他们还有另外一个选择–执行共管公寓(EC)执行共管公寓的英文为 Executive Condo ,简称EC。它的设施，居住环境都可以和私人共管公寓相媲美，在价钱上却比私人公寓便宜。打个比方说，一间靠近地铁站的五房式组屋价钱为50万，那么临近相同大小的私人公寓很可能会达到100万，而EC的价格大概会介于中间，70万左右。
现在，市场上的二手转让EC单位的价钱大概会比私人公寓便宜15%。请注意，是二手转让的价钱，申请新的EC的价钱会更低。与私人共管公寓相比，同样的地理位置，同样面积和同样的舒适程度，为什么价钱会便宜呢？其实这是由供给与需求决定的。建屋局的规定是，新的EC只能是符合条件的新加坡公民才能购买，住满5 年以上才可以转售出去；而屋龄在5-10年的EC则扩大到永久居民也可以购买；10年后，这个公寓就彻底放开成为私人公寓一样，届时就连外国人(非公民，非PR)也可以购买了。也就是说，在EC建成后的10年之内，政府强制性的限制了购房者的源流(需求)。不难想象，在10年后，当需求的源流打开后，产业升值的空间会比较大。
新加坡政府当初推出执行共管公寓(EC)主要的考量，是为了减轻那些家庭收入在$8000-$10000的人士们的负担。因为这些中产阶级的收入已经超过了建屋局购买新组屋的条件，但是他们又远未达到富有人士的能力，是所谓的“夹心层”。因为在1996年，新加坡的房地产正值历史性的高峰期，房价也破了历史纪录，为了给火热的市场降温，才推出了EC这类全新的住宅项目。
EC也不是在任何时候都受到人们的追捧。在淡市中，EC往往是没有销路的。例如在2003年房市跌倒谷底时，政府推出的EC单位就乏人问津。这是因为当时的私人产业跌的非常的深重，市场上有太多便宜的私人共管公寓可以选择，使得EC不受欢迎。
过去5年，本地都没有新的EC项目上市。最后一个是2005年推出的佳乐园(La Casa)。
由于私宅价格自去年6月起强力反弹了至少24.3％，私人共管公寓和组屋的价差再次拉大，政府为了抑制房价增长过快，先后推出了两个EC项目。一个是位于盛港（Compassvale Bow）的地段，已由星狮地产和林增建筑（Lum Chang）组成的财团，以1亿9328万元，即每平方英尺315元买下。另外一个是位于义顺11道的，中国冶金科工集团买下，标价为1亿2780万元，即每平方英尺281元。市场人士估计，这意味着，这两个EC日后可能会以每平方英尺580元至700元推出。
购买新的执行共管公寓(EC)的条件：
一、申请人必须是：
两名新加坡公民；或者一名新加坡公民和一名新加坡永久居民。
二、年龄必须达到21岁。
三、两名申请人之间的关系必须为直系亲属，如其中一名申请人可以是对方的：
配偶或配偶加上孩子。父母或父母加上兄弟姐妹。如果是已离婚的人士想要和自己的孩子联名，那他/她必须是那个孩子的法律抚养人。未婚妻和未婚夫关系(待组屋过户时，必须出示结婚证书)。如果申请人为孤儿，他/她可以和未结婚的兄弟姐妹联名申请。
四、收入限制：
家庭收入不可以超过$10,000.
五、私人产业：
如果拥有私人房产，就没有资格从发展商那里直接申请新的EC。如果有人想要卖掉私人房产而购买EC，他/她必须要先卖掉私人房产之后30个月以上，才可以购买新的EC。
六、购买程序：
申请人要直接从发展商那里购买新的EC, 先要支付5%的定金，签署 OPT。经过核查后，如果不符合申请条件，定金将会全部退回。如果符合购买条件，就必需在9个星期内把首付款付清并签署Option of Purchase。如果你需要申请公积金房屋补贴，则必须要在申请EC时将公积金房屋补贴的申请表格交给在发展商。否则，一旦发展商开始处理你的申请，就不能够要求公积金补贴了。
转自：http://www.sgwritings.com/1228/viewspace_38038.html
Friday, June 17, 2011
2011年新加坡买房必读：政府组屋与私人公寓
在一个自由经济体系内，影响商品市场价格的最重要因素—是供需关系。房产，作为一个商品，也不例外。
新加坡经济在2009和2010年如同“过山车”，由高空落下后又直线抬起。政府先是在2009年初宣布进入有史以来最严重衰退；继而又在2010年创记录的达到经济15%的增长。超典型的V字形复苏，也反映在房屋市场上。
2008年的美国次贷危机给火热的新加坡房市浇了一盆冷水。本来在上半年私宅市场有3.9%的涨幅，受到下半年的拖累，全年的私宅价格下跌了4.3%。随着雷曼兄弟的垮台，全球金融风暴的爆发，使得新加坡房市进入了寒冬。在2009年初至7月间，许多转售组屋都是以低于估价的价钱成交的。私人公寓方面，许多发展商担心新推出的单位卖不出去，使用了各种促销手段降价求售。现在回想起来，在那短短几个月买屋的人士，捡到了便宜。
这个寒冬确实很短，随后人们开始意识到这次的金融危机并没有想象中这么可怕，信心重新恢复，使得市场在2008-2009年期间的回调结束，房屋价格重新进入上升通道。
房产价格的快速上升引起了政府的忧虑，尽管国家发展部长马宝山喊话提醒人们不要贸然进场，但房市仍然热火朝天。在2009年7月，仅新私宅项目就卖出2767个单位，比6月份足足多出52%。在转售组屋市场方面，溢价也不断的推高。在随后的2010年，无论是转售组屋还是私人房产的价格都继续节节上升。
为了给市场降温，政府打出了一套组合拳。先是不断增加土地供应，以满足私宅市场上强劲需求。在2010年3月规定非津贴组屋屋主必须住满三年才能卖房并将房屋贷款的顶限从90%调低到80%。 随后，恢复兴建执行共管公寓项目(EC)。在2010年国庆前夕宣布将新兴建的组屋增加到1万6千个单位，并保证在2011年再推出1万6千个新组屋单位。
我们看政府的调控手段无非是从供需关系下手，必要时增加供应量，目的是使供需达到平衡。但是当所有的手段都显得无力时，政府开始在需求方面下手了。
2010年8月30日，政府下重拳给市场降温。措施包括：
1、规定私人产业拥有者，如想要买组屋，必须在6个月内卖掉私宅。
2、规定第二套房贷贷款额不可超过70%。
3、规定非津贴组屋屋主，必须住满5年才能卖组屋或买私宅。
4、规定在海外拥有房产的新加坡公民和永久居民，要购买组屋就必须要在6个月内卖掉海外产业。
从需求的源头着手，如同给市场打了一剂退烧针。房市终于平静了下来，私宅市场价格增长放缓，组屋的溢价在2010年10月从3万元降到2万5千。
回顾了2009-2010年的房市，那2011年新加坡的房市是怎样的走向呢？
对新加坡房产未来预测有两种观点：一种是认为新加坡房价还有很大的上涨空间，依据为相比较北京的房价，新加坡的房屋价钱涨的不多；另外一种认为新加坡未来发展有限，房屋价钱现在已属偏高，未来还会下降。
新加坡房产咨询网的观点是，对新加坡的房产市场，应将政府组屋和私人住宅分开来看。
首先，独特的组屋制度决定了新加坡房产市场和其他市场的根本不同。虽然新加坡大多数人（80%）都住在组屋里，但是在组屋市场内投机的机会非常小。政府的种种限制和随时灵活调整的政策，使组屋的价格基本保持在稳定上涨的趋势。
有人说现在的组屋与前几年相比已经很贵了，还能够上涨吗？
其实，2010年的新加坡房产价格才刚刚超过14 年前即1997年的高峰期。在1997年亚洲金融危机后，2001年911事件，2003年的SARS,给了新加坡经济一连串的重击。另外，随着中国的迅速发展，新加坡的经济不得不面临转型，使得新加坡从1997年至2003年一直处在经济低迷期。还记得在那个时期新加坡新兴建的组屋无人问津，位于裕廊西，盛港和榜鹅的组屋没有人要，到了晚上黑漆漆的一片。那时候五房式的组屋只卖20万左右。
但是你认为那样的事情还会有吗？根本不可能。因为建屋局的政策已不同以往。现在买新屋都是Build-to-order, 政府先拿订单才去建屋，不会再出现“剩余”的组屋了。
推动组屋价格稳定上扬的另外一个因素是持续不断的需求来源—新移民。政府650万的人口目标不是说着玩的，而是在有计划的实施。十年前的三房式转售组屋很长时间内都在15万左右，现在都要30万以上。再提醒你一个数字，十年前新加坡的常住人口为400万，2010年已达到了500万。什么时候达到600万呢？政府的计划为未来15-20年。
供需关系一目了然，需求还有100多万，而新加坡的土地供应还有多少？
如果说组屋是刚性需求，那么私人房产多少都带有点投机味道了。在新加坡居住的人赚钱之后投资什么呢？创业太难了，市场狭小，没有保证。政府提供了两个市场，股市和私宅。华人对房产有特殊偏好的，加上政府对私宅的投机活动也远没有对组屋市场那么敏感，造成了私宅价格波动较大的局面。
私人公寓的价格比组屋高是很自然的，因为它不受政府的限制，买多少个单位都可以，外国人购买也可以。但是要说私人公寓会向北京上海那样价格几倍的增长，则不太可能。因为那边的房产市场是一个整体，买家炒家全都在一个市场。新加坡则分为受保护的组屋市场和带有投机性质的私宅市场两部分。
在新加坡购买私宅的有两种人：一种是占总人口20%的不符合购买组屋的富裕人士；另一种则是已拥有组屋人士，又拥有私人公寓（用来出租）的。后一种人有多少，数据无从得知，但是感觉身边这样的人不在少数。
总结来说，组屋的价格今后还是会稳步上扬的，2011年如果没有另外一个金融海啸，价格还是会保持稳定。另外，政府也不会让它短期内大涨大跌。
私人公寓既然有投机色彩，还是选择一个低入场点比较保险。借用马宝山部长的一句话，“私宅土地供应足够，投资者不应贸然进场。”
转自：http://www.sgwritings.com/1228/viewspace_38041.html
新加坡经济在2009和2010年如同“过山车”，由高空落下后又直线抬起。政府先是在2009年初宣布进入有史以来最严重衰退；继而又在2010年创记录的达到经济15%的增长。超典型的V字形复苏，也反映在房屋市场上。
2008年的美国次贷危机给火热的新加坡房市浇了一盆冷水。本来在上半年私宅市场有3.9%的涨幅，受到下半年的拖累，全年的私宅价格下跌了4.3%。随着雷曼兄弟的垮台，全球金融风暴的爆发，使得新加坡房市进入了寒冬。在2009年初至7月间，许多转售组屋都是以低于估价的价钱成交的。私人公寓方面，许多发展商担心新推出的单位卖不出去，使用了各种促销手段降价求售。现在回想起来，在那短短几个月买屋的人士，捡到了便宜。
这个寒冬确实很短，随后人们开始意识到这次的金融危机并没有想象中这么可怕，信心重新恢复，使得市场在2008-2009年期间的回调结束，房屋价格重新进入上升通道。
房产价格的快速上升引起了政府的忧虑，尽管国家发展部长马宝山喊话提醒人们不要贸然进场，但房市仍然热火朝天。在2009年7月，仅新私宅项目就卖出2767个单位，比6月份足足多出52%。在转售组屋市场方面，溢价也不断的推高。在随后的2010年，无论是转售组屋还是私人房产的价格都继续节节上升。
为了给市场降温，政府打出了一套组合拳。先是不断增加土地供应，以满足私宅市场上强劲需求。在2010年3月规定非津贴组屋屋主必须住满三年才能卖房并将房屋贷款的顶限从90%调低到80%。 随后，恢复兴建执行共管公寓项目(EC)。在2010年国庆前夕宣布将新兴建的组屋增加到1万6千个单位，并保证在2011年再推出1万6千个新组屋单位。
我们看政府的调控手段无非是从供需关系下手，必要时增加供应量，目的是使供需达到平衡。但是当所有的手段都显得无力时，政府开始在需求方面下手了。
2010年8月30日，政府下重拳给市场降温。措施包括：
1、规定私人产业拥有者，如想要买组屋，必须在6个月内卖掉私宅。
2、规定第二套房贷贷款额不可超过70%。
3、规定非津贴组屋屋主，必须住满5年才能卖组屋或买私宅。
4、规定在海外拥有房产的新加坡公民和永久居民，要购买组屋就必须要在6个月内卖掉海外产业。
从需求的源头着手，如同给市场打了一剂退烧针。房市终于平静了下来，私宅市场价格增长放缓，组屋的溢价在2010年10月从3万元降到2万5千。
回顾了2009-2010年的房市，那2011年新加坡的房市是怎样的走向呢？
对新加坡房产未来预测有两种观点：一种是认为新加坡房价还有很大的上涨空间，依据为相比较北京的房价，新加坡的房屋价钱涨的不多；另外一种认为新加坡未来发展有限，房屋价钱现在已属偏高，未来还会下降。
新加坡房产咨询网的观点是，对新加坡的房产市场，应将政府组屋和私人住宅分开来看。
首先，独特的组屋制度决定了新加坡房产市场和其他市场的根本不同。虽然新加坡大多数人（80%）都住在组屋里，但是在组屋市场内投机的机会非常小。政府的种种限制和随时灵活调整的政策，使组屋的价格基本保持在稳定上涨的趋势。
有人说现在的组屋与前几年相比已经很贵了，还能够上涨吗？
其实，2010年的新加坡房产价格才刚刚超过14 年前即1997年的高峰期。在1997年亚洲金融危机后，2001年911事件，2003年的SARS,给了新加坡经济一连串的重击。另外，随着中国的迅速发展，新加坡的经济不得不面临转型，使得新加坡从1997年至2003年一直处在经济低迷期。还记得在那个时期新加坡新兴建的组屋无人问津，位于裕廊西，盛港和榜鹅的组屋没有人要，到了晚上黑漆漆的一片。那时候五房式的组屋只卖20万左右。
但是你认为那样的事情还会有吗？根本不可能。因为建屋局的政策已不同以往。现在买新屋都是Build-to-order, 政府先拿订单才去建屋，不会再出现“剩余”的组屋了。
推动组屋价格稳定上扬的另外一个因素是持续不断的需求来源—新移民。政府650万的人口目标不是说着玩的，而是在有计划的实施。十年前的三房式转售组屋很长时间内都在15万左右，现在都要30万以上。再提醒你一个数字，十年前新加坡的常住人口为400万，2010年已达到了500万。什么时候达到600万呢？政府的计划为未来15-20年。
供需关系一目了然，需求还有100多万，而新加坡的土地供应还有多少？
如果说组屋是刚性需求，那么私人房产多少都带有点投机味道了。在新加坡居住的人赚钱之后投资什么呢？创业太难了，市场狭小，没有保证。政府提供了两个市场，股市和私宅。华人对房产有特殊偏好的，加上政府对私宅的投机活动也远没有对组屋市场那么敏感，造成了私宅价格波动较大的局面。
私人公寓的价格比组屋高是很自然的，因为它不受政府的限制，买多少个单位都可以，外国人购买也可以。但是要说私人公寓会向北京上海那样价格几倍的增长，则不太可能。因为那边的房产市场是一个整体，买家炒家全都在一个市场。新加坡则分为受保护的组屋市场和带有投机性质的私宅市场两部分。
在新加坡购买私宅的有两种人：一种是占总人口20%的不符合购买组屋的富裕人士；另一种则是已拥有组屋人士，又拥有私人公寓（用来出租）的。后一种人有多少，数据无从得知，但是感觉身边这样的人不在少数。
总结来说，组屋的价格今后还是会稳步上扬的，2011年如果没有另外一个金融海啸，价格还是会保持稳定。另外，政府也不会让它短期内大涨大跌。
私人公寓既然有投机色彩，还是选择一个低入场点比较保险。借用马宝山部长的一句话，“私宅土地供应足够，投资者不应贸然进场。”
转自：http://www.sgwritings.com/1228/viewspace_38041.html
Thursday, June 16, 2011
[Singapore] LTA unveils sites for Thomson Line terminal station
By Wayne Chan | Posted: 16 June 2011 1602 hrs
SINGAPORE : Residents living in Woodlands could see greater interest in their properties.
This is because the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will build a station there that will integrate the upcoming Thomson Line (TSL) with the proposed Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Singapore and Johor Bahru.
An area near Republic Polytechnic is where the northernmost terminal station of the Thomson Line would be located.
There will also be an interchange at the existing North-South line's Woodlands station for commuters to transfer onto the Thomson Line which is slated for completion by 2018.
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
The Thomson Line will run fully underground from Woodlands through the Central Business District to Marina Bay. It will pass through the Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming and Thomson areas before it reaches the city.
Director at Dennis Wee Group, Chris Koh, said he expects property prices near the station to rise, especially once the RTS Link is completed.
"I won't be surprised if prices go up by 5 to 10 per cent easily. I know of people today who stay in JB and travel to Singapore, and I know of people in Singapore going all the way to JB every weekend. As long as you have a car you will frequent up and down."
Also unveiled is the location of the Thomson Line Depot - which will be at Mandai.
The 32-hectare train depot will be Singapore's largest, housing up to 90 trains.
Construction begins end-next year.
The government will acquire a 40-hectare piece of land - equivalent to 60 soccer fields - for the depot.
The land is now occupied by Orchidville, Singapore's largest orchid farm.
Orchidville
"The feeling is very hard on me, whether the government will compensate us fairly so that we can relocate. And if they can find another piece of land for us to move in, then we will appreciate very much," said Joseph Phua, MD of Orchidville.
Mr Phua has about one and a half years before he has to move out.
He will also have to downsize operations to about 20 per cent of what it is now, because it will be difficult to find land close to the size of his current farm.
More than half of the 1.5 million plants at Orchidville may have to be disposed. And among them is a rare and expensive moth or butterfly orchid plant which costs about $600.
The farm which employs about 100 workers will also have to retrench some of them.
Mr Phua is hoping the government will extend the deadline and help defray the costs of relocating.
"There are so many plants for us to move and to develop a piece of land is not a matter of one month or two months. Application already takes more than six months, sometimes more than that, for a piece of land," said Phua.
Mr Phua said he is meeting the authorities in July to discuss compensation, and hopes an alternative site in Mandai can be found.
The farm, which also has a restaurant for corporate functions and sees about 7 to 8 tour groups per day, will remain open till end-2012.
The farm will receive statutory compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, and will have till end-2012 to vacate the premises.
The Thomson Line, targeted for completion by 2018, is currently undergoing a detailed engineering study.
The LTA said it would release more details on the line at a later date after the study is completed.
Via: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1135483/1/.html
SINGAPORE : Residents living in Woodlands could see greater interest in their properties.
This is because the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will build a station there that will integrate the upcoming Thomson Line (TSL) with the proposed Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Singapore and Johor Bahru.
An area near Republic Polytechnic is where the northernmost terminal station of the Thomson Line would be located.
There will also be an interchange at the existing North-South line's Woodlands station for commuters to transfer onto the Thomson Line which is slated for completion by 2018.
Woodlands Train CheckpointThe Thomson Line will run fully underground from Woodlands through the Central Business District to Marina Bay. It will pass through the Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming and Thomson areas before it reaches the city.
Director at Dennis Wee Group, Chris Koh, said he expects property prices near the station to rise, especially once the RTS Link is completed.
"I won't be surprised if prices go up by 5 to 10 per cent easily. I know of people today who stay in JB and travel to Singapore, and I know of people in Singapore going all the way to JB every weekend. As long as you have a car you will frequent up and down."
Also unveiled is the location of the Thomson Line Depot - which will be at Mandai.
The 32-hectare train depot will be Singapore's largest, housing up to 90 trains.
Construction begins end-next year.
The government will acquire a 40-hectare piece of land - equivalent to 60 soccer fields - for the depot.
The land is now occupied by Orchidville, Singapore's largest orchid farm.
Orchidville"The feeling is very hard on me, whether the government will compensate us fairly so that we can relocate. And if they can find another piece of land for us to move in, then we will appreciate very much," said Joseph Phua, MD of Orchidville.
Mr Phua has about one and a half years before he has to move out.
He will also have to downsize operations to about 20 per cent of what it is now, because it will be difficult to find land close to the size of his current farm.
More than half of the 1.5 million plants at Orchidville may have to be disposed. And among them is a rare and expensive moth or butterfly orchid plant which costs about $600.
The farm which employs about 100 workers will also have to retrench some of them.
Mr Phua is hoping the government will extend the deadline and help defray the costs of relocating.
"There are so many plants for us to move and to develop a piece of land is not a matter of one month or two months. Application already takes more than six months, sometimes more than that, for a piece of land," said Phua.
Mr Phua said he is meeting the authorities in July to discuss compensation, and hopes an alternative site in Mandai can be found.
The farm, which also has a restaurant for corporate functions and sees about 7 to 8 tour groups per day, will remain open till end-2012.
The farm will receive statutory compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, and will have till end-2012 to vacate the premises.
The Thomson Line, targeted for completion by 2018, is currently undergoing a detailed engineering study.
The LTA said it would release more details on the line at a later date after the study is completed.
LTA unveils sites for Thomson Line terminal station - 16Jun2011
Via: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1135483/1/.html
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
300 This Is Sprata (Funny hokkien)
无论面对多大工作压力、多心烦的人看了都绝对会大笑，压力全消的视频（截自英文电影“300”）。^^
注：粗口很多，观众须自行斟酌。
注：粗口很多，观众须自行斟酌。
300 Sparta (Funny hokkien)
[国内] 揭政府花逾三万买警犬！行动党抨浪费人民血汗钱
作者／本刊记者 Jun 15, 2011 11:08:17 am
【本刊记者撰述】正当政府在国会下议院提呈《2011年附加供应法案》超支追加超过马币131亿元以及物价不断高涨的当儿，行动党揭露，内政部购买每只狗竟以马币3万2000至3万4000元的天价向私人公司购买警犬！
太平区国会议员倪可敏（左图）披露，正当政府因入不敷出频频取消人民津贴的当儿，根据内政部长希山慕丁给予木威区国会议员倪可汉的书面答覆，内政部动用了3万2000至3万4000元的价格来购买维持治安的犬只，价格之昂贵令人咋舌。
木威区国会议员倪可汉是在国会询问部长政府到底用多少钱购买维持治安的犬只及过程有否公开召标。
倪可敏指出：“政府口口声声喊穷，另一方面却花钱如流水，如此施政令人摇头叹息。”
他表示，普通的名犬市价至多不超过马币2000元，政府却用逾3万价格购买，价格相差愈1500%，无怪呼我国国债今年突破4000亿元，联邦政府更连继14年赤字。
倪可敏指出，政府的财政管理不但差强人意，挥霍浪费的情况更令人震惊万分。他表示，“人人免费的面子书旅游部竟遭揭发耗费180万天价来设立、青体部主办青年大集会原本只预算150万，最终却用了2700万，超支2550万，现在还花3万天价买一只狗，凡此种种皆令纳税人无名火起。”
倪可敏指出，政府昨天在国会下议院提呈《2011年附加供应法案》来追回巳花掉的超支拨款事实上完全不尊重国会，因为先斩后奏的结果是崇高的国会沦为例行公事却毫无意义的“橡皮章”，政府的做法羞辱了全体民选代议士。
惠及朋党政策
另外，霹雳州社青团团长黄家和也质问，国阵政府浪费公帑，不知民间疾苦。
他说，国家的RON97汽油在过去的一年调涨1元，至今创下2元90分新高、白糖津贴削减、国能电费涨价、柴油津贴取消导致渔民罢捕，人民的负担日益加重、生活苦不堪言。
“政府在削减津贴的同时却不断在其他方面乱花人民的血汗钱，这是不能接受的做法。”
黄家和表示，许多实际上免费的网上服务，国阵政府却选择以付费的方式去进行，包括两个月前宣布的“一个马来西亚电邮”，每封电邮耗费政府50分，如果国阵狡辩这些不是为了惠及朋党的政策，人民也真的不能联想到其他更合适的理由。
黄家和说，相比起国阵54年来的朋党政策，在2008年成立的民联以透明、廉洁的施政为人民带来更多益处，当中包括霹雳州民联议决将只向独中征收每公顷10元象征式的以地养校地价、槟州政府每年分发100元予年老一族等，这都是摒弃朋党政策而能够节省下来公款、用来达至以民为本的政策。
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
[国内] 大手笔耗180万设面子书专页，朝野议员齐轰旅游部浪费公帑
作者：李伟伦 日期：2011年6月14日 时间：下午 2点49分
旅游部再有争议性举动，大手笔耗资180万令吉架设面子书专页，朝野国会议员今日难得站在同一阵线，在国会追问此事。结果旅游部副部长詹姆斯直认不违，但辩称这笔拨款是交给一家公司设计页面、程序及维护专页的费用。
行动党亚沙国会议员陆兆福（左图）最先在问答环节中，追问旅游部此事。不过，旅游部长黄燕燕并没在国会，而副部长詹姆斯虽然喉咙痛及声音沙哑，但仍得抱病上阵，代黄燕燕回答问题。
陆兆福质疑，面子书是一项免费使用的社交网站，何须耗费巨资聘请专人公司管理面子书专页？
每项程式耗29万令吉
詹姆斯则表示，政府共花费175万8432令吉，聘用Impact Creations私人有限公司，负责在2011年至2013年为旅游部的架设和管理“Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia”计划的面子书专页。
“这涉及了创造、概念、构想、设计、flash程序设计、调试、上载内容、维护主机、发展资料库、活动管理与监管、网上广告与招揽面子书粉丝。”
他说，旅游部架设有关面子书专页，是要推介六大旅游节目，即：（一）Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia；（二）Citrawarna 1Malaysia；（三）一个大马购物嘉年华与年终购物嘉年华；（四）一个大马艺术庆典；（五）一个干净大马及一个美丽大马活动；及（六）一个大马超美味食物活动。
詹姆斯说，为了推广这六大节目，旅游部面子书专页共使用六个应用程式（applications），包括游戏及比赛等，以吸引更多Y世代的年轻人加入成为粉丝，进而推广我国旅游业。
他表示，这意味着，每个节目的应用程式耗资29万3072令吉。
他预计，在今年12月前，该面子书专页将可获得12万人成为粉丝。
5岁小孩也会用面子书
不过陆兆福却反驳说，面子书是免费网站，只要是5岁小孩就懂得上载讯息至面子书，旅游部根本没理由聘用专人管理面子书专页。
他说，许多朝野议员都善用面子书等社交网站，如果旅游部不懂，就算不要询问在野党议员，也可请教国阵议员如林茂国会议员凯里及哥打毛律国会议员阿都拉曼。
“面子书是免费的，而且所有页面都是同样设计，不需要请人设计。”
他表示，旅游部花费近180万令吉架设的“Cuti-cuti Malaysia”面子书专页，只有2万308名粉丝，但槟城州政府2年前不费分文架设的“游访槟城”面子书专页，却已有11万3379名粉丝。
他说，就算旅游部聘用的公司，为“Citrawarna 1Malaysia”设计一套网络游戏，单是这套游戏程序也不需要耗资29万3072令吉。
“行动党总部的职员就可以设计这种flash游戏，而且完全免费。”
凯里批网页设计一般
较后，凯里在提出附加提问时，也与在野党站在同一阵线，直批旅游部浪费公帑。
“这看起来有点浪费。我相当同意陆兆福的看法，既然政府投资那么多，就应该获得更多，但这个面子书专页的设计也不过一般而已。”
“我们不需要与槟城州政府的旅游专页比较，只要看看这里一些国会议员的面子书专页，便可知道他们的专页粉丝比起旅游部的更多。”
行动党恫言投报反贪会
陆兆福在国会走廊召开记者会时则促请黄燕燕，马上到国会回答最新的争议。
“我不知道这名‘旅游的部长’到哪里去了，但如果她没在国会交待此事，我们将向反贪污委员会投报。”
转自：http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/166882
旅游部再有争议性举动，大手笔耗资180万令吉架设面子书专页，朝野国会议员今日难得站在同一阵线，在国会追问此事。结果旅游部副部长詹姆斯直认不违，但辩称这笔拨款是交给一家公司设计页面、程序及维护专页的费用。
行动党亚沙国会议员陆兆福（左图）最先在问答环节中，追问旅游部此事。不过，旅游部长黄燕燕并没在国会，而副部长詹姆斯虽然喉咙痛及声音沙哑，但仍得抱病上阵，代黄燕燕回答问题。陆兆福质疑，面子书是一项免费使用的社交网站，何须耗费巨资聘请专人公司管理面子书专页？
每项程式耗29万令吉
詹姆斯则表示，政府共花费175万8432令吉，聘用Impact Creations私人有限公司，负责在2011年至2013年为旅游部的架设和管理“Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia”计划的面子书专页。
“这涉及了创造、概念、构想、设计、flash程序设计、调试、上载内容、维护主机、发展资料库、活动管理与监管、网上广告与招揽面子书粉丝。”
他说，旅游部架设有关面子书专页，是要推介六大旅游节目，即：（一）Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia；（二）Citrawarna 1Malaysia；（三）一个大马购物嘉年华与年终购物嘉年华；（四）一个大马艺术庆典；（五）一个干净大马及一个美丽大马活动；及（六）一个大马超美味食物活动。
詹姆斯说，为了推广这六大节目，旅游部面子书专页共使用六个应用程式（applications），包括游戏及比赛等，以吸引更多Y世代的年轻人加入成为粉丝，进而推广我国旅游业。
他表示，这意味着，每个节目的应用程式耗资29万3072令吉。
他预计，在今年12月前，该面子书专页将可获得12万人成为粉丝。
5岁小孩也会用面子书
不过陆兆福却反驳说，面子书是免费网站，只要是5岁小孩就懂得上载讯息至面子书，旅游部根本没理由聘用专人管理面子书专页。
他说，许多朝野议员都善用面子书等社交网站，如果旅游部不懂，就算不要询问在野党议员，也可请教国阵议员如林茂国会议员凯里及哥打毛律国会议员阿都拉曼。
“面子书是免费的，而且所有页面都是同样设计，不需要请人设计。”
他表示，旅游部花费近180万令吉架设的“Cuti-cuti Malaysia”面子书专页，只有2万308名粉丝，但槟城州政府2年前不费分文架设的“游访槟城”面子书专页，却已有11万3379名粉丝。
他说，就算旅游部聘用的公司，为“Citrawarna 1Malaysia”设计一套网络游戏，单是这套游戏程序也不需要耗资29万3072令吉。
“行动党总部的职员就可以设计这种flash游戏，而且完全免费。”
凯里批网页设计一般
较后，凯里在提出附加提问时，也与在野党站在同一阵线，直批旅游部浪费公帑。
“这看起来有点浪费。我相当同意陆兆福的看法，既然政府投资那么多，就应该获得更多，但这个面子书专页的设计也不过一般而已。”
“我们不需要与槟城州政府的旅游专页比较，只要看看这里一些国会议员的面子书专页，便可知道他们的专页粉丝比起旅游部的更多。”
行动党恫言投报反贪会
陆兆福在国会走廊召开记者会时则促请黄燕燕，马上到国会回答最新的争议。
“我不知道这名‘旅游的部长’到哪里去了，但如果她没在国会交待此事，我们将向反贪污委员会投报。”
（当今大马）
转自：http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/166882
[国内] 设计游戏程式花费30万，旅游部面子书耗180万元
作者／本刊翁慧琪 Jun 14, 2011 01:31:20 pm
【本刊翁慧琪撰述】民主行动党森美兰州拉沙区国会议员陆兆福抨击旅游部浪费公款，耗费近180万元创造一个面子书页面，要求旅游部部长黄燕燕出面解释。
陆兆福（左图）指责，旅游部为何需要花费近180万元委任Impact Creations私人有限公司，仅仅设计一面子书页面，况且全部人都知道设立面子书页面不需要缴付一分一毫。
他表示，槟城州旅游局不花分毫就能够设计面子书页面，并在两年内获得12万名粉丝支持，但是旅游部花费180万元，却只有两万人支持。
“我们要问，这些东西都是免费的。她讲要花到180万元来设计、来上载这些内容。我们觉得旅游部里面任何一个人都能够做的。这些东西非常简单，一个小学生或中学生都能够做的，为何要花百多万元？”
他指，旅游部在一个月前推展有关面子书页面，乃由旅游部部长黄燕燕亲自推介。
参加游戏可赢取iPad2
陆兆福接着抨击有关页面中的一个应用程式，就需要耗费近30万元，但实际上只是一个游戏。
他向媒体出示有关面子书页面的游戏，指粉丝只要参加游戏就有机会赢取iPad2。
“任何行动党职员都能够制造这种游戏。他们在砂拉越州选都做到了，创造了乌巴游戏（Ubah game），都不需要花钱。如果旅游部没有专才或职员能够设计出这种游戏，行动党总部能够提供援助。”
他指，政府常常告诉人民当局要减少费用、减少津贴等，但是政府本身却没有好榜样，浪费180万元做不需花钱的东西。
他希望，旅游部长黄燕燕不要逃避这些问题，理应出席国会会议向他们解释，而若没有合理解释，他们将选择向反贪污委员会投报。
“她以往的作风也是没有来，让副部长来回答这些问题。所以我们希望黄燕燕，必须要解释为什么旅游部要花到180万元作一些根本不用钱的。”
花费涵盖动画程序等
陆兆福今天在国会下议院的口头问答环节中，向旅游部提问为何需要耗费180万元在“社交媒体品牌”（social media branding），并要求他们详细点出开销和获颁计划的公司。
旅游部副部长兼曼旺（Mambong）区国会议员詹姆斯（James Dawos Mamit）指，推展“Tourism Malaysia ~ cuti-cuti 1Malaysia”的面子书页面是马来西亚旅游局的策略之一，而在推广社交媒体中，策略性行动包括促销旅游产品和旅游活动。
随着在今年5月21日至6月14日推广Citrawarna 1Malaysia应用程式，该面子书页面成功吸引2万292名粉丝，而旅游局预计可以在年杪前获得12万名粉丝支持。
旅游部为了设立上述网站耗费高达马币175万8432元，其中涵盖创意工作、概念、设计、动画程序编制和识别、测试与程序调整、上载及推行应用程式、系统服务器调动和维修、发展比赛所需的数据库、活动管理和监督，以及在面子书和谷歌刊登网上广告与征募粉丝。
此外，该部门为六项活动和计划，完成六个应用程式，分别有：Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia、Citrawarna 1Malaysia、Karnival Jualan Mega 1Malaysia dan Karnival Jualan Akhir Tahun、Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1Malaysia、Kempen 1Malaysia Bersih dan 1Malaysia Indah，以及Fabulous Food 1Malaysia。
由于广告趋向推展一个马来西亚旅游和旅游部和马来西亚旅游局的活动，上述面子书页面是委任给2011年至2013年期间负责国内广告的Impact Creations私人有限公司。
转自：http://www.merdekareview.com/news/n/18680.html
【本刊翁慧琪撰述】民主行动党森美兰州拉沙区国会议员陆兆福抨击旅游部浪费公款，耗费近180万元创造一个面子书页面，要求旅游部部长黄燕燕出面解释。
陆兆福（左图）指责，旅游部为何需要花费近180万元委任Impact Creations私人有限公司，仅仅设计一面子书页面，况且全部人都知道设立面子书页面不需要缴付一分一毫。他表示，槟城州旅游局不花分毫就能够设计面子书页面，并在两年内获得12万名粉丝支持，但是旅游部花费180万元，却只有两万人支持。
“我们要问，这些东西都是免费的。她讲要花到180万元来设计、来上载这些内容。我们觉得旅游部里面任何一个人都能够做的。这些东西非常简单，一个小学生或中学生都能够做的，为何要花百多万元？”
他指，旅游部在一个月前推展有关面子书页面，乃由旅游部部长黄燕燕亲自推介。
参加游戏可赢取iPad2
陆兆福接着抨击有关页面中的一个应用程式，就需要耗费近30万元，但实际上只是一个游戏。
他向媒体出示有关面子书页面的游戏，指粉丝只要参加游戏就有机会赢取iPad2。
“任何行动党职员都能够制造这种游戏。他们在砂拉越州选都做到了，创造了乌巴游戏（Ubah game），都不需要花钱。如果旅游部没有专才或职员能够设计出这种游戏，行动党总部能够提供援助。”
他指，政府常常告诉人民当局要减少费用、减少津贴等，但是政府本身却没有好榜样，浪费180万元做不需花钱的东西。
他希望，旅游部长黄燕燕不要逃避这些问题，理应出席国会会议向他们解释，而若没有合理解释，他们将选择向反贪污委员会投报。
“她以往的作风也是没有来，让副部长来回答这些问题。所以我们希望黄燕燕，必须要解释为什么旅游部要花到180万元作一些根本不用钱的。”
花费涵盖动画程序等
陆兆福今天在国会下议院的口头问答环节中，向旅游部提问为何需要耗费180万元在“社交媒体品牌”（social media branding），并要求他们详细点出开销和获颁计划的公司。
旅游部副部长兼曼旺（Mambong）区国会议员詹姆斯（James Dawos Mamit）指，推展“Tourism Malaysia ~ cuti-cuti 1Malaysia”的面子书页面是马来西亚旅游局的策略之一，而在推广社交媒体中，策略性行动包括促销旅游产品和旅游活动。随着在今年5月21日至6月14日推广Citrawarna 1Malaysia应用程式，该面子书页面成功吸引2万292名粉丝，而旅游局预计可以在年杪前获得12万名粉丝支持。
旅游部为了设立上述网站耗费高达马币175万8432元，其中涵盖创意工作、概念、设计、动画程序编制和识别、测试与程序调整、上载及推行应用程式、系统服务器调动和维修、发展比赛所需的数据库、活动管理和监督，以及在面子书和谷歌刊登网上广告与征募粉丝。
此外，该部门为六项活动和计划，完成六个应用程式，分别有：Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia、Citrawarna 1Malaysia、Karnival Jualan Mega 1Malaysia dan Karnival Jualan Akhir Tahun、Festival Pelancongan Seni Kontemporari 1Malaysia、Kempen 1Malaysia Bersih dan 1Malaysia Indah，以及Fabulous Food 1Malaysia。
由于广告趋向推展一个马来西亚旅游和旅游部和马来西亚旅游局的活动，上述面子书页面是委任给2011年至2013年期间负责国内广告的Impact Creations私人有限公司。
（独立新闻在线）
转自：http://www.merdekareview.com/news/n/18680.html
Monday, June 13, 2011
[新加坡] 未蓋章被指非法入境，2女郎投訴遭羞辱
國際 2011-06-13 18:17
詹婷婷說，她的手被蚊子叮得很癢。
詹婷婷詹婷婷投訴腳也被蚊子叮。投訴腳也被蚊子叮。
詹婷婷出示大馬移民局發給她的警告信。
（新加坡13日訊）兩名新加坡女子聲稱，上星期四（9日）凌晨駕車去新山吃夜宵，過關時沒有取得馬來西亞移民局入境蓋章，被指“非法入境”。
她們聲稱被關進拘留所24小時，還被令脫光衣服，雙手拉耳朵起立蹲下。
她們向《聯合早報》講述了她們的待遇。
林麗麗（非本名）上星期三（8日）晚上11時45分到樟宜機場，迎接接從香港回來的好友詹婷婷（非本名，39歲，保險經理），接著開車到新山吃夜宵。
移民局柜台裡沒人
林麗麗說，她們抵達新山關卡已是9日凌晨1時30分，由於路上遇雨，視線很模糊。她將車駛入亮著綠燈的“2”號檢查道，卻發現移民局柜台裡沒有人。
詹小姐下車到售賣“一觸即通”（Touch n Go）卡的柜台購買現金儲值卡。
她表示，她嘗試透過柜台通話器詢問，但雜音很大聽不到回覆。由於不熟悉馬來西亞新實施指紋掃描系統，她等了5分鐘，便用儲值卡通過閘門，進入新山。
當發現情況不對，兩人趕緊找路U轉回新山關卡，想找官員補發蓋章。回到關卡，大約是凌晨2時，幾個官員磋商後告訴她們，她們涉嫌非法入境，並在3時左右，將她們帶入關卡內部的執法單位進行問話。
詹婷婷說，錄口供時，兩人向官員解釋事情經過，並要求官員向新加坡移民與關卡局查證她們的出境時間，同時追查相關的閉路電視錄像，以證明她們在第一時間便回頭尋求補發蓋章，但官員強調將控告兩人，刑罰是可罰款高達馬幣1萬令吉，坐牢可長達5年。
接著她們被關在錄口供的會議室內直到下午5時，期間她們獲准撥電話回國求助。詹婷婷說，她們撥電給哥哥及朋友，但沒有撥電給律師聽取法律意見。
關押笨珍拘留所24小時
詹婷婷說：“後來出現一名更高級的男官員，口操馬來語，要讓另一人翻譯，問我們是否願接受一人繳付3千令吉銷案罰款。當時我們很疲累，聽到可以罰款了事都很欣慰，於是簽下一張以馬來文手擬的同意書。”
下午3時，官員領著兩人去找提款機準備現金償還罰款，卻突然改口稱必須將兩人送到笨珍拘留所，延長扣押最多14天。
她們隨後被扣上手銬，送入拘留所。林麗麗聲稱，一抵達關押女犯人的笨珍拘留所，一名女獄官下令她們脫光衣服，然後雙手拉耳朵做10次起立蹲下，才准她們換囚服。關押24小時後，官員又把她們領出拘留所，並於下午6時左右押抵新山關卡。
接警告信後獲釋
接著她們又在關卡苦等，最終在上星期六凌晨零時，一名官員遞給她們各一張警告信說，當局經調查後決定予以警告，兩人無須面控、罰款或坐牢。
離境時，關卡人員在她們護照蓋章後，於蓋章下面寫下案件序號。
詹婷婷說：“我們承認有錯，但只是警告程度的事件，為何要把我們關入拘留所？”
處處蚊子蟑螂 一牢房關押50人
林麗麗和詹婷婷也投訴，關押他們的牢房只有三分之二個籃球場那樣大，沒有床，四面木牆，關押了大約50個人，而且到處是蚊子、蟑螂。
她們投訴被蚊蟲叮咬，詹婷婷後手腳都是小紅斑。
林麗麗的頸部背部被蚊蟲叮咬，皮膚又紅又癢。
內政部：未接投報 “很多疑問要厘清”
內政部秘書長丹斯里馬末阿當說，內政部仍未接獲有關兩名新加坡女子投訴遭大馬移民局羞辱的投報。
他受詢時對星洲日報說，他拒絕對此事發表評論，因為目前報章所報導的只是單方面的談話，他要求提供確實的投報。
他說，這起投訴裡有很多詳情要厘清，這兩名女子是在哪個柜台、哪個通道入境，當時的情況又是如何，這些都要有一個清楚的交待，好讓內政部可以做出調查。
“媒體應該要對大馬政府公平。”
他保證，一旦接獲正式的投報，該部將對此投訴展開調查。
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208240?tid=2
詹婷婷說，她的手被蚊子叮得很癢。
詹婷婷詹婷婷投訴腳也被蚊子叮。投訴腳也被蚊子叮。
詹婷婷出示大馬移民局發給她的警告信。（新加坡13日訊）兩名新加坡女子聲稱，上星期四（9日）凌晨駕車去新山吃夜宵，過關時沒有取得馬來西亞移民局入境蓋章，被指“非法入境”。
她們聲稱被關進拘留所24小時，還被令脫光衣服，雙手拉耳朵起立蹲下。
她們向《聯合早報》講述了她們的待遇。
林麗麗（非本名）上星期三（8日）晚上11時45分到樟宜機場，迎接接從香港回來的好友詹婷婷（非本名，39歲，保險經理），接著開車到新山吃夜宵。
移民局柜台裡沒人
林麗麗說，她們抵達新山關卡已是9日凌晨1時30分，由於路上遇雨，視線很模糊。她將車駛入亮著綠燈的“2”號檢查道，卻發現移民局柜台裡沒有人。
詹小姐下車到售賣“一觸即通”（Touch n Go）卡的柜台購買現金儲值卡。
她表示，她嘗試透過柜台通話器詢問，但雜音很大聽不到回覆。由於不熟悉馬來西亞新實施指紋掃描系統，她等了5分鐘，便用儲值卡通過閘門，進入新山。
當發現情況不對，兩人趕緊找路U轉回新山關卡，想找官員補發蓋章。回到關卡，大約是凌晨2時，幾個官員磋商後告訴她們，她們涉嫌非法入境，並在3時左右，將她們帶入關卡內部的執法單位進行問話。
詹婷婷說，錄口供時，兩人向官員解釋事情經過，並要求官員向新加坡移民與關卡局查證她們的出境時間，同時追查相關的閉路電視錄像，以證明她們在第一時間便回頭尋求補發蓋章，但官員強調將控告兩人，刑罰是可罰款高達馬幣1萬令吉，坐牢可長達5年。
接著她們被關在錄口供的會議室內直到下午5時，期間她們獲准撥電話回國求助。詹婷婷說，她們撥電給哥哥及朋友，但沒有撥電給律師聽取法律意見。
關押笨珍拘留所24小時
詹婷婷說：“後來出現一名更高級的男官員，口操馬來語，要讓另一人翻譯，問我們是否願接受一人繳付3千令吉銷案罰款。當時我們很疲累，聽到可以罰款了事都很欣慰，於是簽下一張以馬來文手擬的同意書。”
下午3時，官員領著兩人去找提款機準備現金償還罰款，卻突然改口稱必須將兩人送到笨珍拘留所，延長扣押最多14天。
她們隨後被扣上手銬，送入拘留所。林麗麗聲稱，一抵達關押女犯人的笨珍拘留所，一名女獄官下令她們脫光衣服，然後雙手拉耳朵做10次起立蹲下，才准她們換囚服。關押24小時後，官員又把她們領出拘留所，並於下午6時左右押抵新山關卡。
接警告信後獲釋
接著她們又在關卡苦等，最終在上星期六凌晨零時，一名官員遞給她們各一張警告信說，當局經調查後決定予以警告，兩人無須面控、罰款或坐牢。
離境時，關卡人員在她們護照蓋章後，於蓋章下面寫下案件序號。
詹婷婷說：“我們承認有錯，但只是警告程度的事件，為何要把我們關入拘留所？”
處處蚊子蟑螂 一牢房關押50人
林麗麗和詹婷婷也投訴，關押他們的牢房只有三分之二個籃球場那樣大，沒有床，四面木牆，關押了大約50個人，而且到處是蚊子、蟑螂。
她們投訴被蚊蟲叮咬，詹婷婷後手腳都是小紅斑。
林麗麗的頸部背部被蚊蟲叮咬，皮膚又紅又癢。
內政部：未接投報 “很多疑問要厘清”
內政部秘書長丹斯里馬末阿當說，內政部仍未接獲有關兩名新加坡女子投訴遭大馬移民局羞辱的投報。
他受詢時對星洲日報說，他拒絕對此事發表評論，因為目前報章所報導的只是單方面的談話，他要求提供確實的投報。
他說，這起投訴裡有很多詳情要厘清，這兩名女子是在哪個柜台、哪個通道入境，當時的情況又是如何，這些都要有一個清楚的交待，好讓內政部可以做出調查。
“媒體應該要對大馬政府公平。”
他保證，一旦接獲正式的投報，該部將對此投訴展開調查。
（星洲日報／國際）
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208240?tid=2
Sunday, June 12, 2011
[美國] 更新《致癌物質報告》，甲醛、苯乙烯可致癌
國際 2011-06-12 17:02
（美國 華盛頓12日訊）美國衛生部上週五發佈《致癌物質報告》，將8種化學物列入致癌或可能致癌名單，其中，常見於建築材料及家具的甲醛（formaldedyde）證實致癌，塑膠製品及香煙均含有的苯乙烯（Styrene），則可能導致淋巴癌。
這份報告由衛生部美國國家毒物學計劃（NTP）負責編寫，在“已知致癌”類別新增甲醛和馬兜鈴酸（aristolochic acids）2種物質，在“合理預期致癌”類別新增苯乙烯等6種物質，2大類別總共列入240種致癌物質。
報告稱，無色、易燃、氣味強烈的甲醛，會增加罹患某些罕見癌症的風險，包括咽喉癌和脊髓白血病。
甲醛的用途非常廣泛，主要用於塑膠、合成纖維、皮革、醫藥和染料等，一些建材和家用產品如木材合板，乃至直髮造型品、廉價的衣服或玩具，都可能用到甲醛。新屋的氣味也是由甲醛發出，令人防不勝防。
馬兜鈴酸則是一種有機合成物質，許多植物含有馬兜鈴酸，例如中藥藥材“廣防己”和“青木香”等。馬兜鈴酸可能促使腎病和肝病患者罹患膀胱癌及尿道癌。
苯乙烯的用途也很廣泛，包括橡膠、塑膠、絕緣材料、玻璃纖維、管線、汽車零件、食品容器和地毯等均可發現它的存在。
大量接觸苯乙烯出現白血病
研究發現，接觸大量苯乙烯的工人出現白血病、淋巴瘤及破壞白血球基因的風險較高，亦增加患胰臟癌及食道癌風險。
報告特別指出，一般人最容易接觸到苯乙烯是透過吸菸。
不過，報告說，在影響某人是否會罹癌的許多因素中，暴露的總量和時間長短，以及對某種物質的過敏性，也是其中原因。
美國化學企業施壓
致癌物報告遲數年公開
美國化學企業竭力阻止政府公佈結果，令這份《致癌物質報告》遲了數年才公開。
美國化學委員會（ACC）便強烈抨擊這份報告，表示科學進程可能已遭政治挾持。
ACC的會長兼執行長杜利發表聲明說：“衛生福利部發佈的報告，對甲醛和苯乙烯做出莫須有的歸類，將讓消費者產生不必要的驚慌。”
美國環保團體全國資源保護委員會，則讚揚政府為民眾健康著想，無視壓力公佈報告。
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208103?tid=2
（美國 華盛頓12日訊）美國衛生部上週五發佈《致癌物質報告》，將8種化學物列入致癌或可能致癌名單，其中，常見於建築材料及家具的甲醛（formaldedyde）證實致癌，塑膠製品及香煙均含有的苯乙烯（Styrene），則可能導致淋巴癌。
這份報告由衛生部美國國家毒物學計劃（NTP）負責編寫，在“已知致癌”類別新增甲醛和馬兜鈴酸（aristolochic acids）2種物質，在“合理預期致癌”類別新增苯乙烯等6種物質，2大類別總共列入240種致癌物質。
報告稱，無色、易燃、氣味強烈的甲醛，會增加罹患某些罕見癌症的風險，包括咽喉癌和脊髓白血病。
甲醛的用途非常廣泛，主要用於塑膠、合成纖維、皮革、醫藥和染料等，一些建材和家用產品如木材合板，乃至直髮造型品、廉價的衣服或玩具，都可能用到甲醛。新屋的氣味也是由甲醛發出，令人防不勝防。
馬兜鈴酸則是一種有機合成物質，許多植物含有馬兜鈴酸，例如中藥藥材“廣防己”和“青木香”等。馬兜鈴酸可能促使腎病和肝病患者罹患膀胱癌及尿道癌。
苯乙烯的用途也很廣泛，包括橡膠、塑膠、絕緣材料、玻璃纖維、管線、汽車零件、食品容器和地毯等均可發現它的存在。
大量接觸苯乙烯出現白血病
研究發現，接觸大量苯乙烯的工人出現白血病、淋巴瘤及破壞白血球基因的風險較高，亦增加患胰臟癌及食道癌風險。
報告特別指出，一般人最容易接觸到苯乙烯是透過吸菸。
不過，報告說，在影響某人是否會罹癌的許多因素中，暴露的總量和時間長短，以及對某種物質的過敏性，也是其中原因。
美國化學企業施壓
致癌物報告遲數年公開
美國化學企業竭力阻止政府公佈結果，令這份《致癌物質報告》遲了數年才公開。
美國化學委員會（ACC）便強烈抨擊這份報告，表示科學進程可能已遭政治挾持。
ACC的會長兼執行長杜利發表聲明說：“衛生福利部發佈的報告，對甲醛和苯乙烯做出莫須有的歸類，將讓消費者產生不必要的驚慌。”
美國環保團體全國資源保護委員會，則讚揚政府為民眾健康著想，無視壓力公佈報告。
（星洲日報／國際）
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208103?tid=2
[台灣] 塑膠容器裝食物，常溫油食釋更多塑化劑
國際 2011-06-12 15:27
（台灣 台北12日訊）一般人以為，塑膠容器不加熱、不裝熱食，就不會溶出塑化劑，但學者研究發現，這是錯誤觀念！
事實上，即便在常溫下，只要裝盛到油脂食物，塑膠食品容器所溶出的塑化劑劑量，仍比裝盛熱湯、熱食高出更多。
其中尤以PVC材質的保鮮膜最嚴重，其所含生殖毒性的塑化劑DEHP，在油脂中溶出的平均檢測值，是第二名PP塑膠容器的12倍，已超過台灣衛生署管制標準30%，最高檢測值則超標近4倍。
陽明大學環境與職業衛生研究所教授陳美蓮公佈的一項研究顯示，經檢測100多件市售各類塑膠食品容器後，發現以PVC保鮮膜的DEHP溶出量最高，11件樣本平均測得1.98ppm，最高測到7.27ppm的高濃度，已達管制標準的5倍。
陳美蓮指出，假設DEHP從PVC保鮮膜溶出到食物的最糟情況，以60公斤成人一天吃3公斤食物來計算，平均會吃下5.94毫克的PVC，超過歐盟每日最大容忍量3毫克的近1倍。
【熱點新聞：台灣塑化劑風波】
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208083?tid=2
（台灣 台北12日訊）一般人以為，塑膠容器不加熱、不裝熱食，就不會溶出塑化劑，但學者研究發現，這是錯誤觀念！
事實上，即便在常溫下，只要裝盛到油脂食物，塑膠食品容器所溶出的塑化劑劑量，仍比裝盛熱湯、熱食高出更多。
其中尤以PVC材質的保鮮膜最嚴重，其所含生殖毒性的塑化劑DEHP，在油脂中溶出的平均檢測值，是第二名PP塑膠容器的12倍，已超過台灣衛生署管制標準30%，最高檢測值則超標近4倍。
陽明大學環境與職業衛生研究所教授陳美蓮公佈的一項研究顯示，經檢測100多件市售各類塑膠食品容器後，發現以PVC保鮮膜的DEHP溶出量最高，11件樣本平均測得1.98ppm，最高測到7.27ppm的高濃度，已達管制標準的5倍。
陳美蓮指出，假設DEHP從PVC保鮮膜溶出到食物的最糟情況，以60公斤成人一天吃3公斤食物來計算，平均會吃下5.94毫克的PVC，超過歐盟每日最大容忍量3毫克的近1倍。
【熱點新聞：台灣塑化劑風波】
（星洲日報／國際）
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208083?tid=2
[新加坡] 博士：妻有愛會比妓女做得更好，設“千依百順”分部
國際 2011-06-12 16:00
獅城文學博士達蘭再尼（70歲），聯同另兩人將成為獅城“听話妻子俱樂部”的代表。
（新加坡12日訊）新加坡將出現“千依百順妻子俱樂部”分部！獅城一名博士計劃在新加坡設立分行，以解決諸如離婚、家暴和賣淫等社會問題。
據報導，新加坡一名文學博士達蘭再尼（70歲），聯同另外兩人哈密達與阿茲曼，將會是新加坡“千依百順妻子俱樂部”的代表。
達蘭再尼表示，他相信妻子聽話，將能夠使丈夫明白自己對於家庭的的責任，並且不會出軌。
“有人同意、也有人不同意，但最重要的是，我們相信聽話妻，可避免許多破壞家庭的社會問題，其中包括妓女賣淫、離婚、賭博以及家庭暴力等。”
針對妻子床上功夫的看法，哈密達則認為，俱樂部的觀點是，倘若妓女可以為了錢滿足男性，那麼身為妻子出於愛意，則可以做得更好。
另一名代表阿茲曼（45歲）則表示，目前他們已經找到約10戶家庭，將可能成為會員。
“如果有需要，我們將在新加坡注冊，正式成立俱樂部。
受訪人妻多反對
針對俱樂部的成立，《新明日報》訪問新加坡20名人妻，紛紛表示排斥，認為俱樂部羞辱，而且非常極端。
劉女士（38歲，執行人員）表示，丈夫本身其實才是關鍵，太太乖不乖，其實是因素，不是要素。
吳女士（31歲，文員）則認為，在大馬家庭中，許多主婦身份卑微，俱樂部才有人支持，在新加坡，男女平等的情況更加顯著，因此該妻子俱樂部是行不通的。
一名前婚姻注冊官帕甦尼（67歲，宗教教師）表示，妻子聽話並不能確保婚姻美滿。
“俱樂部是否有任何調查根據？我擔心的是，如果有這樣的說法，將會讓丈夫自大起來，更有理由去欺負女性。”
帕甦尼表示，伴侶在結婚之前，並且清楚知道各自的目標，婚姻才會美滿。
“千依百順妻子俱樂部”設立目的：
1.解決離婚問題
2.解決家暴問題
3.解決賣淫問題
4.解決賭博問題
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208124?tid=2
獅城文學博士達蘭再尼（70歲），聯同另兩人將成為獅城“听話妻子俱樂部”的代表。（新加坡12日訊）新加坡將出現“千依百順妻子俱樂部”分部！獅城一名博士計劃在新加坡設立分行，以解決諸如離婚、家暴和賣淫等社會問題。
據報導，新加坡一名文學博士達蘭再尼（70歲），聯同另外兩人哈密達與阿茲曼，將會是新加坡“千依百順妻子俱樂部”的代表。
達蘭再尼表示，他相信妻子聽話，將能夠使丈夫明白自己對於家庭的的責任，並且不會出軌。
“有人同意、也有人不同意，但最重要的是，我們相信聽話妻，可避免許多破壞家庭的社會問題，其中包括妓女賣淫、離婚、賭博以及家庭暴力等。”
針對妻子床上功夫的看法，哈密達則認為，俱樂部的觀點是，倘若妓女可以為了錢滿足男性，那麼身為妻子出於愛意，則可以做得更好。
另一名代表阿茲曼（45歲）則表示，目前他們已經找到約10戶家庭，將可能成為會員。
“如果有需要，我們將在新加坡注冊，正式成立俱樂部。
受訪人妻多反對
針對俱樂部的成立，《新明日報》訪問新加坡20名人妻，紛紛表示排斥，認為俱樂部羞辱，而且非常極端。
劉女士（38歲，執行人員）表示，丈夫本身其實才是關鍵，太太乖不乖，其實是因素，不是要素。
吳女士（31歲，文員）則認為，在大馬家庭中，許多主婦身份卑微，俱樂部才有人支持，在新加坡，男女平等的情況更加顯著，因此該妻子俱樂部是行不通的。
一名前婚姻注冊官帕甦尼（67歲，宗教教師）表示，妻子聽話並不能確保婚姻美滿。
“俱樂部是否有任何調查根據？我擔心的是，如果有這樣的說法，將會讓丈夫自大起來，更有理由去欺負女性。”
帕甦尼表示，伴侶在結婚之前，並且清楚知道各自的目標，婚姻才會美滿。
“千依百順妻子俱樂部”設立目的：
1.解決離婚問題
2.解決家暴問題
3.解決賣淫問題
4.解決賭博問題
（星洲日報／國際）
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/208124?tid=2
[America] Cockroach culprit seen in urban kids' asthma
updated 10/06/2011 1:51:16 PM ET
A cockroach is trapped on a sticky card after escaping from the race tracks during the Great Cockroach Derby in Singapore August 10, 2006. REUTERS/Kimitsu Yogachi
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Researchers have identified cockroaches as a potential explanation for dramatic variations between neighborhoods in asthma rates among New York City children.
In some New York City neighborhoods, 19 percent -- nearly 1 in 5 -- children have asthma; in others, the rate is as low as 3 percent.
Heavy traffic, industrial incinerators, and other outdoor air pollution sources have been blamed in the past as potential contributors to asthma differences across the city.
Now, researchers at Columbia University have found that children living in neighborhoods with high rates of asthma were twice as likely to carry antibodies against a cockroach protein in their blood, a sign the kids had been exposed to the insects and were likely allergic to them.
In addition, homes in the neighborhoods with high rates of asthma contained more of the allergen produced by cockroaches in household dust.
This study provides "further evidence that cockroach exposure is part of the story," study author Dr. Matthew Perzanowski told Reuters Health. "Cockroach allergen really could be contributing to disparities in asthma prevalence, even in an urban environment like New York City."
These findings also suggest that controlling cockroaches may help eliminate some of those disparities, Perzanowski noted. But parents don't want to spray tons of harmful chemicals, which could "have other detrimental effects," he added.
Instead, people can take simple steps such as sealing up any cracks, and removing food and water sources. (The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene offers advice for combatting roaches at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ehs/ehscroach.shtml)
To investigate why some city neighborhoods have more asthma cases than others, Perzanowski and his team visited the homes of 239 seven- and eight-year-olds, half of whom lived in areas with high asthma rates.
Previous research has linked poverty to an increased risk of asthma in childhood. To eliminate the influence of income on the results, the authors only included families with the same middle-income health insurance plan, to ensure they had the same income and access to health care.
More than half of the children already had asthma.
During home visits, the researchers collected dust from the children's beds, then took blood samples to look for antibodies against various allergens associated with asthma -- including cat, dog, mouse, dust mite and cockroach proteins.
Nearly 1 in 4 kids living in neighborhoods with high asthma rates appeared to be allergic to cockroaches, compared to 1 in 10 kids living in areas where asthma is less common.
Homes in high-asthma communities also had higher concentrations of the cockroach allergen, as well as allergens associated with mice and cats, the authors report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
In addition, kids who were allergic to cockroaches and mice were more likely to have asthma, noted Dr. Joanne Sordillo at the Channing Laboratory, affiliated both with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who reviewed the findings for Reuters Health.
"Mouse or cockroach allergen exposure may increase the risk of allergic sensitization (allergies), which is in turn related to the development of asthma in children," she said in an email.
Although cockroach protein sensitization was more common in kids in high-asthma neighborhoods, overall, children who were allergic to dust and cats were also more likely to have asthma.
Perzanowski explained that cockroaches leave behind proteins that people inhale and can become allergic to, which in turn increases the chance they will develop asthma.
But when it comes to cat ownership, the picture gets a bit murkier, he explained. Some previous research has found that kids in homes with cats were more likely to be allergic, but in this study, having a cat did not predispose kids to asthma.
"It's complicated," the researcher said. "Avoidance of cats doesn't seem to reduce your risk of developing asthma."
Via: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43357331/ns/today-today_health/t/cockroach-culprit-seen-urban-kids-asthma/
A cockroach is trapped on a sticky card after escaping from the race tracks during the Great Cockroach Derby in Singapore August 10, 2006. REUTERS/Kimitsu YogachiNEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Researchers have identified cockroaches as a potential explanation for dramatic variations between neighborhoods in asthma rates among New York City children.
In some New York City neighborhoods, 19 percent -- nearly 1 in 5 -- children have asthma; in others, the rate is as low as 3 percent.
Heavy traffic, industrial incinerators, and other outdoor air pollution sources have been blamed in the past as potential contributors to asthma differences across the city.
Now, researchers at Columbia University have found that children living in neighborhoods with high rates of asthma were twice as likely to carry antibodies against a cockroach protein in their blood, a sign the kids had been exposed to the insects and were likely allergic to them.
In addition, homes in the neighborhoods with high rates of asthma contained more of the allergen produced by cockroaches in household dust.
This study provides "further evidence that cockroach exposure is part of the story," study author Dr. Matthew Perzanowski told Reuters Health. "Cockroach allergen really could be contributing to disparities in asthma prevalence, even in an urban environment like New York City."
These findings also suggest that controlling cockroaches may help eliminate some of those disparities, Perzanowski noted. But parents don't want to spray tons of harmful chemicals, which could "have other detrimental effects," he added.
Instead, people can take simple steps such as sealing up any cracks, and removing food and water sources. (The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene offers advice for combatting roaches at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ehs/ehscroach.shtml)
To investigate why some city neighborhoods have more asthma cases than others, Perzanowski and his team visited the homes of 239 seven- and eight-year-olds, half of whom lived in areas with high asthma rates.
Previous research has linked poverty to an increased risk of asthma in childhood. To eliminate the influence of income on the results, the authors only included families with the same middle-income health insurance plan, to ensure they had the same income and access to health care.
More than half of the children already had asthma.
During home visits, the researchers collected dust from the children's beds, then took blood samples to look for antibodies against various allergens associated with asthma -- including cat, dog, mouse, dust mite and cockroach proteins.
Nearly 1 in 4 kids living in neighborhoods with high asthma rates appeared to be allergic to cockroaches, compared to 1 in 10 kids living in areas where asthma is less common.
Homes in high-asthma communities also had higher concentrations of the cockroach allergen, as well as allergens associated with mice and cats, the authors report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
In addition, kids who were allergic to cockroaches and mice were more likely to have asthma, noted Dr. Joanne Sordillo at the Channing Laboratory, affiliated both with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who reviewed the findings for Reuters Health.
"Mouse or cockroach allergen exposure may increase the risk of allergic sensitization (allergies), which is in turn related to the development of asthma in children," she said in an email.
Although cockroach protein sensitization was more common in kids in high-asthma neighborhoods, overall, children who were allergic to dust and cats were also more likely to have asthma.
Perzanowski explained that cockroaches leave behind proteins that people inhale and can become allergic to, which in turn increases the chance they will develop asthma.
But when it comes to cat ownership, the picture gets a bit murkier, he explained. Some previous research has found that kids in homes with cats were more likely to be allergic, but in this study, having a cat did not predispose kids to asthma.
"It's complicated," the researcher said. "Avoidance of cats doesn't seem to reduce your risk of developing asthma."
Via: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43357331/ns/today-today_health/t/cockroach-culprit-seen-urban-kids-asthma/
Saturday, June 11, 2011
[香港] 塑化即食麵
塑化即食麵塑化劑事件越鬧越大，塑化即食麵本港首次驗出四款內地生產即食麪的調味粉和醬料含有塑化劑，塑化即食麵當中御品皇牛肉味生麵的醬料，含毒性極強的鄰苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)並超標 53倍，塑化即食麵成年人每日進食 4、 5包後可致睾丸縮小、孕婦誕下畸胎等。日清的大將炒麵、農心的辛拉麵的醬料含苯二甲酸二酯(DEHP)，塑化即食麵其中大將炒麵含量更超標。有飲食業界擔心內地黑心醬油殺入本港，原材料牽連的食品甚廣，相信日後食品需出示安全證明才有市場。
塑化即食麵有線電線委託化驗所檢測本港市面出售的十款即食麪，全部是中國製造。塑化即食麵檢測結果顯示，四款即食麪的醬料調味包都含塑化劑，惠康獨家代理的御品皇香濃牛肉味生麵含百萬分之 16.1(ppm)的 DBP，塑化即食麵超出標準容許的 0.3ppm53倍，也是本港首次驗出有食物含 DBP超標。
塑化即食麵 農心牌辛拉麵特辣香菇味（醬料）
塑化即食麵 日清大將炒麵日式燒汁味（醬料）
塑化即食麵 金粉牌牛腩河粉（醬料）塑化即食麵日清生產的大將炒麵日式燒汁味醬料同樣驗出塑化劑超標，塑化即食麵其 DEHP含量達 2.3ppm，超出世衞標準的 1.5ppm，按本港法例應即時下架回收。塑化即食麵韓國農心出產在上海製造的辛拉麵特辣香菇味則驗出 DEHP含量達 1.3ppm，貼近標準上限；另一款金粉牌河粉王原汁牛腩味則同被驗出含塑化劑 DEHP，但含量少於 1ppm。
塑化即食麵獨家代理御品皇牛肉味生麵的惠康昨已全線將所有御品皇生麵碗麵及包裝麵下架，塑化即食麵發言人稱就會再就上述產品進行塑化劑測試，已購買該產品的客戶可帶同產品到任何一間惠康辦理退款。
塑化即食麵城市大學生物及化學系副教授林漢華解釋， 塑化即食麵DBP毒性較 DEHP更強，塑化即食麵成年人每日進食 4、 5包該款受污染的即食麪便會出事，包括男性會睾丸縮小、孕婦會懷畸胎、嬰兒也會透過乳汁哺育將塑化劑帶給幼兒，骨頭發育不正常等。
塑化即食麵部份未有回收行動
塑化即食麵日清發言人表示，現時仍研究今次事件，暫時未有回收行動。塑化即食麵農心表示，由於日前食安中心同樣檢測旗下的同款產品未有發現含塑化劑，故暫不會考慮回收產品。塑化即食麵金粉牌河粉王代理商則未有回應。
塑化即食麵就有線電視的化驗結果，食物中心指早前已有在市面抽查內地生產的即食麪，塑化即食麵中心會繼續派員到市面零售點抽取樣本並作出跟進，暫時未指令回收。另外，塑化即食麵該中心昨公佈壽桃牌非油炸即食麵及生麵皇(瑤柱海鮮湯味)脫水菜包都含 DBP，分別達 0.25ppm及 0.28ppm，塑化即食麵未有超出標準，一款名為 Green Apple Conc. Juice青蘋果蜜則驗出含 DEHP達 1.3ppm，同樣未超標。
塑化即食麵另外，該中心由今日中午起全面禁止輸入及在港供應由台灣生產商「金饌生化科技有限公司」塑化即食麵製造的所有批次及口味的濃糖果漿，塑化即食麵檢測結果顯示 DEHP含量由 6ppm至 230ppm不等，包括水蜜桃味、藍莓味、紅心芭樂味、荔枝味、青蘋果味、百香果味及紅葡萄柚味，後者的 DEHP含量為 230(ppm)，一般市民每日飲用 190毫升已超出安全水平，產品全部由「金饌生化科技有限公司」製造。
塑化即食麵飲食業界憂牽連廣
塑化即食麵就內地製造黑心即食麪流入本港，餐飲聯業協會會長黃家和稱，塑化即食麵沒想到調味料也被驗出含有塑化劑，業界甚為擔心，「牽連層面比較大，醬料有成幾百種，數量實在太多，逐一去查，令人頭赤。」
塑化即食麵他更透露，近期有會員由內地運食品來港，被海關扣留化驗，塑化即食麵相信與塑化劑污染有關，料日後供應商需出示安全證明，才會有入口商肯購買。
塑化即食麵部份新發現含塑化劑食品及藥物：
塑化即食麵產品：惠康御品皇香濃牛肉味生麵（醬料）
含塑化劑類別： DBP
含量： 16.1 ppm
產品：日清大將炒麵日式燒汁味（醬料）
含塑化劑類別： DEHP
含量： 2.3 ppm
產品：農心牌辛拉麵，特辣香菇味（醬料）
含塑化劑類別： DEHP
含量： 1.3 ppm＊
產品：金粉牌牛腩河粉（醬料）
含塑化劑類別： DEHP
含量： 0.48 ppm＊
產品：壽桃牌非油炸即食麵（葱香雞肉味）調味油包
含塑化劑類別： DBP
含量： 0.25 ppm＊
產品：壽桃牌生麵皇（瑤柱海鮮湯味）脫水菜包
含塑化劑類別： DBP
含量： 0.28 ppm＊
產品：葛蘭素史克抗生素 Augmentin藥水用粉劑 156mg/5ml
含塑化劑類別： DIDP
含量： 18 ppm
註： DBP上限為 0.3 ppm， DEHP上限為 1.5 ppm，有＊者代表未超標。
資料來源：首四項為有線電視，其餘為衞生署及食安中心。
即食麪醬料含塑化劑 怕未？
转自：http://www.e-zone.com.hk/discuz/viewthread.php?tid=42788
Friday, June 10, 2011
[Singapore] Elderly woman mistreated at nursing home
By Fann Sim | SingaporeScene – Fri, Jun 10, 2011
Two staff are seen carrying the old woman and throwing her onto her bed. (YouTube)
A nursing home along Braddell Road has been suspended from admitting new patients with effect from 12 April after a patient was reported to have been mistreated.
The incident at Nightingale Nursing Home came to light after a video of a patient being mistreated was sent to local broadcaster Mediacorp.
The footage was shot by a hidden camera on a patient's bedside. In the video, an elderly woman patient is seen sitting stark naked beside a bed with the room ceiling fans on.
She is then picked up by two hospital staff and thrown onto a bed, before a staff is shown slapping her on her mouth when she wailed in pain.
Watch what happened here.
Reports say the patient has been a resident there for four years and is suffering from stroke.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said it has suspended the nursing home from admitting new patients from 12 April until further notice.
The nursing home has also disciplined the staff involved and put in place additional measures such as ward rounds by senior staff, regular meetings with patients and their family members, and management check on staff conduct and patients
In a statement to Yahoo! Singapore, a MOH spokesperson said, investigations into the video recording show "significant lapses in the care standards" to the patient in question.
"This should not have happened. There should have been tighter supervision of staff rendering care to vulnerable patients. Patient's dignity and respect must be upheld at all times," she said.
MOH will closely monitor the nursing home to ensure all additional measures required of it are properly implemented and if the suspension on the home should be reviewed or further sanctions imposed.
The elderly woman's son was upset with the incident. He said, "We sent her there for the nurses to take care of her; we're disappointed with what happened."
The elderly woman has been moved to another nursing home.
Netizens were unhappy with the mistreatment of the elderly woman.
nivek001 said, "How can anyone be so heartless. It just breaks my heart to see the video. I really hope that there will be justice. What goes around, comes around. Will some people in the right places do something about it?"
Others were concerned if other patients at the home were treated the same way.
"It really leaves a lot of room for us to wonder what kind of treatment/abuse the other elderly patients in the home have been subjected to as well," said Amber^^ on hardwarezone's forum.
Via: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/elderly-woman-mistreated-nursing-home-174803277.html
Two staff are seen carrying the old woman and throwing her onto her bed. (YouTube)A nursing home along Braddell Road has been suspended from admitting new patients with effect from 12 April after a patient was reported to have been mistreated.
The incident at Nightingale Nursing Home came to light after a video of a patient being mistreated was sent to local broadcaster Mediacorp.
The footage was shot by a hidden camera on a patient's bedside. In the video, an elderly woman patient is seen sitting stark naked beside a bed with the room ceiling fans on.
She is then picked up by two hospital staff and thrown onto a bed, before a staff is shown slapping her on her mouth when she wailed in pain.
Watch what happened here.
Reports say the patient has been a resident there for four years and is suffering from stroke.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said it has suspended the nursing home from admitting new patients from 12 April until further notice.
The nursing home has also disciplined the staff involved and put in place additional measures such as ward rounds by senior staff, regular meetings with patients and their family members, and management check on staff conduct and patients
In a statement to Yahoo! Singapore, a MOH spokesperson said, investigations into the video recording show "significant lapses in the care standards" to the patient in question.
"This should not have happened. There should have been tighter supervision of staff rendering care to vulnerable patients. Patient's dignity and respect must be upheld at all times," she said.
MOH will closely monitor the nursing home to ensure all additional measures required of it are properly implemented and if the suspension on the home should be reviewed or further sanctions imposed.
The elderly woman's son was upset with the incident. He said, "We sent her there for the nurses to take care of her; we're disappointed with what happened."
The elderly woman has been moved to another nursing home.
Netizens were unhappy with the mistreatment of the elderly woman.
nivek001 said, "How can anyone be so heartless. It just breaks my heart to see the video. I really hope that there will be justice. What goes around, comes around. Will some people in the right places do something about it?"
Others were concerned if other patients at the home were treated the same way.
"It really leaves a lot of room for us to wonder what kind of treatment/abuse the other elderly patients in the home have been subjected to as well," said Amber^^ on hardwarezone's forum.
Via: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/elderly-woman-mistreated-nursing-home-174803277.html
[香港] 驗出DBP更毒，韓國辛拉麵也中塑
國際 2011-06-10 17:29
香港清查當地市售的大陸製泡麵，發現「農心辛拉麵特辣香菇味」醬料，DEHP含量1.3ppm，雖然未超標，但近逼上限。(圖／取自香港東方日報)
（香港10日訊）包括“辛”拉麵在內的多款香港暢銷快熟麵，捲入塑化劑“鄰苯二甲酸二酯”（DEHP）風暴，更驗出比DEHP更毒的塑化劑“鄰苯二甲酸二丁酯”（DBP）。
專家警告，成年人長期每天進食4包後可致睾丸縮小、減少精蟲數目，孕婦會產下畸形兒，亦會透過母乳傳給嬰兒，影響骨骼成長。
中4款泡麵醬料含塑
香港政府清查市售的中國製泡麵，發現4款泡麵中的醬料也含塑毒，當中有香港、中國及外國品牌，但所有都寫上中國製造。
4款泡麵中的醬料被驗出塑化劑超標。（圖／互連網）
農心牌辛拉麵特辣香菇味（醬料）被驗出塑化劑超標。（圖／互連網）
日清大將炒麵日式燒汁味（醬料）被驗出塑化劑超標。（圖／互連網）
其中，韓國農心出產、上海製造的辛拉麵特辣香菇口味，驗出DEHP含量達1.3ppm，近逼標準上限；日清生產的大將炒麵日式燒汁味醬料，塑化劑DEHP含量達2.3ppm，超出世界衛生組織標準的1.5ppm。
此外，御品皇牛肉味生麵的醬料，DBP為16.1ppm，超出標準容許的0.3ppm 53倍，代理商已自行將全線6款口味的碗麵及包裝麵下架。
壽桃牌兩款產品中亦驗到有DBP，其中，瑤柱海鮮湯味“生麵皇”的脫水菜包含百萬分之0.28，蔥香雞肉味“非油炸即食麵”的調味包有百萬分之0.25，但都低於法例規定，毋須停售。
乳癌病患者年輕化
快熟麵驗出含塑化劑，相信是來自盛載醬料的膠袋、生產過程的塑膠容器及環境污染物，均有機會將塑化劑轉移到食物或醬料內。
家庭醫生關嘉美亦察覺到近十年女性早熟情況愈來愈普遍，乳癌病患者更有年輕化趨勢，相信該現象與塑化劑污染擴大有密切關係。
台嚴懲黑心食品業者
台灣的塑化劑事件滿城風雨，立法院週五三讀修正通過業者違法添加食品添加物，從現行最高處30萬元（新台幣，下同，約3千令吉）以下罰鍰，增加到罰600萬元以下罰鍰，並可連續處罰。
若業者惡意違規添加食品添加物，導致危害人體健康者，處7年以下有期徒刑、拘役或科或併科1000萬元以下罰金；若因過失犯罪，處1年以下有期徒刑、拘役或科600萬元以下罰金。
馬監督黑心食品銷毀
另一方面，彰化地檢署會同縣府衛生局本週六將公開銷毀被查獲的黑心食品，總統馬英九將親自前往監督，希望挽回全民消費信心。
【熱點新聞：台灣塑化劑風波】
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/207811?tid=2
香港清查當地市售的大陸製泡麵，發現「農心辛拉麵特辣香菇味」醬料，DEHP含量1.3ppm，雖然未超標，但近逼上限。(圖／取自香港東方日報)（香港10日訊）包括“辛”拉麵在內的多款香港暢銷快熟麵，捲入塑化劑“鄰苯二甲酸二酯”（DEHP）風暴，更驗出比DEHP更毒的塑化劑“鄰苯二甲酸二丁酯”（DBP）。
專家警告，成年人長期每天進食4包後可致睾丸縮小、減少精蟲數目，孕婦會產下畸形兒，亦會透過母乳傳給嬰兒，影響骨骼成長。
中4款泡麵醬料含塑
香港政府清查市售的中國製泡麵，發現4款泡麵中的醬料也含塑毒，當中有香港、中國及外國品牌，但所有都寫上中國製造。
4款泡麵中的醬料被驗出塑化劑超標。（圖／互連網）
農心牌辛拉麵特辣香菇味（醬料）被驗出塑化劑超標。（圖／互連網）
日清大將炒麵日式燒汁味（醬料）被驗出塑化劑超標。（圖／互連網）其中，韓國農心出產、上海製造的辛拉麵特辣香菇口味，驗出DEHP含量達1.3ppm，近逼標準上限；日清生產的大將炒麵日式燒汁味醬料，塑化劑DEHP含量達2.3ppm，超出世界衛生組織標準的1.5ppm。
此外，御品皇牛肉味生麵的醬料，DBP為16.1ppm，超出標準容許的0.3ppm 53倍，代理商已自行將全線6款口味的碗麵及包裝麵下架。
壽桃牌兩款產品中亦驗到有DBP，其中，瑤柱海鮮湯味“生麵皇”的脫水菜包含百萬分之0.28，蔥香雞肉味“非油炸即食麵”的調味包有百萬分之0.25，但都低於法例規定，毋須停售。
乳癌病患者年輕化
快熟麵驗出含塑化劑，相信是來自盛載醬料的膠袋、生產過程的塑膠容器及環境污染物，均有機會將塑化劑轉移到食物或醬料內。
家庭醫生關嘉美亦察覺到近十年女性早熟情況愈來愈普遍，乳癌病患者更有年輕化趨勢，相信該現象與塑化劑污染擴大有密切關係。
台嚴懲黑心食品業者
台灣的塑化劑事件滿城風雨，立法院週五三讀修正通過業者違法添加食品添加物，從現行最高處30萬元（新台幣，下同，約3千令吉）以下罰鍰，增加到罰600萬元以下罰鍰，並可連續處罰。
若業者惡意違規添加食品添加物，導致危害人體健康者，處7年以下有期徒刑、拘役或科或併科1000萬元以下罰金；若因過失犯罪，處1年以下有期徒刑、拘役或科600萬元以下罰金。
馬監督黑心食品銷毀
另一方面，彰化地檢署會同縣府衛生局本週六將公開銷毀被查獲的黑心食品，總統馬英九將親自前往監督，希望挽回全民消費信心。
【熱點新聞：台灣塑化劑風波】
（星洲日報／國際）
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/207811?tid=2
[香港] 香港6種快熟麵下架，辛拉麵驗出塑毒
劉愛鳳 2011-06-10
大馬各式快熟麵是否含毒而需及時下架？官方仍無頭緒，霸級市場與進口商唯有靜觀其變，繼續發售。
（吉隆坡10日訊）塑化劑污染食品風暴延燒到大馬！香港驗出快熟麵含超標塑化劑，暢銷大馬的辛拉麵也遭殃，但我國衛生部與商家全無所聞，以致無法及時攔截禍源。
香港媒體廣為報導6種快熟麵疑受塑化劑污染後，大馬衛生部依然脫節，甚至在本報記者通知下方知情，聲言會展開調查。
由於衛生部需時間「消化」資訊而無法及時發出撤架指示，許多商家無適所從，任由這些或受污染的快熟麵流通市面。
《東方日報》向衛生部、大馬乾糧進出口商、霸級市場和大馬辛拉麵進口商KMT貿易有限公司查詢發現，各方皆懵然不知。
據販商透露，辛拉麵在我國屬暢銷貨，如今苦無指示，唯有繼續出售。
以官方通知為準
一名要求匿名的衛生部高官受訪時坦言，即使台灣與香港媒體廣泛報導，但必須以官方通知為準，而且還要衛生部調查證實後，才能進一步行動。
官員表示，當局專注在與台灣官方聯繫，同時會關注新聞報導，並歡迎媒體將台灣和香港的新聞報導翻譯成巫英文，助他們進一步調查。
詢及是否出現語言障礙，以致誤發最新消息時，該官員拒絕回應。
由於衛生部對最新動脈「仍有時差」，本地商家更是全無所聞，唯有按兵不動。
韓國辛拉麵沒事
負責進口韓國快熟麵「辛拉麵」的進口商KMT貿易有限公司發言人向本報證實，該公司是接獲消費者通知後得悉此事，而其消費者則是通過網絡新聞掌握此消息。
該公司接獲通知後立刻聯繫中國上海和韓國的製造廠，並澄清這些都是未經證實的消息。
發言人透露，他們未獲官方正式資料，不過辛拉麵韓國製造廠已證實其產品不含塑化劑，預料會在週一發出證明書。
「至於上海方面，其產品目前仍在香港進行化驗，預料下週會有結果。」
同時，巨人霸級市場一名高層受訪時，坦承辛拉麵是暢銷食品，如今該公司正待衛生部的正式通知，才決定下一步行動。
大馬乾糧進出口總商會總會長拿督蔡寶鏹受訪時也透露，未接獲任何指快熟麵受塑化劑污染的消息。
生產地影響成分
他指出，香港所檢驗出的6種品牌，只有辛拉麵在本地市場屬普遍，而這些快熟麵都是國外直接進口，並沒有在本地製造。
蔡寶鏹指出，雖然香港發佈上述消息，商家依然會以大馬衛生部的消息為準，並會在官方要求下架後，才採取行動。
「這是因為每個國家的進口食品不同，其製造成分也不同，因此，即使香港檢驗出有問題，那些進口來馬來西亞的食品成分未必和香港一樣。」
转自：http://www2.orientaldaily.com.my/read/A1/2XB60t2Y11Le19co0SEq6tZ81uw715uW
大馬各式快熟麵是否含毒而需及時下架？官方仍無頭緒，霸級市場與進口商唯有靜觀其變，繼續發售。（吉隆坡10日訊）塑化劑污染食品風暴延燒到大馬！香港驗出快熟麵含超標塑化劑，暢銷大馬的辛拉麵也遭殃，但我國衛生部與商家全無所聞，以致無法及時攔截禍源。
香港媒體廣為報導6種快熟麵疑受塑化劑污染後，大馬衛生部依然脫節，甚至在本報記者通知下方知情，聲言會展開調查。
由於衛生部需時間「消化」資訊而無法及時發出撤架指示，許多商家無適所從，任由這些或受污染的快熟麵流通市面。
《東方日報》向衛生部、大馬乾糧進出口商、霸級市場和大馬辛拉麵進口商KMT貿易有限公司查詢發現，各方皆懵然不知。
據販商透露，辛拉麵在我國屬暢銷貨，如今苦無指示，唯有繼續出售。
以官方通知為準
一名要求匿名的衛生部高官受訪時坦言，即使台灣與香港媒體廣泛報導，但必須以官方通知為準，而且還要衛生部調查證實後，才能進一步行動。
官員表示，當局專注在與台灣官方聯繫，同時會關注新聞報導，並歡迎媒體將台灣和香港的新聞報導翻譯成巫英文，助他們進一步調查。
詢及是否出現語言障礙，以致誤發最新消息時，該官員拒絕回應。
由於衛生部對最新動脈「仍有時差」，本地商家更是全無所聞，唯有按兵不動。
韓國辛拉麵沒事
負責進口韓國快熟麵「辛拉麵」的進口商KMT貿易有限公司發言人向本報證實，該公司是接獲消費者通知後得悉此事，而其消費者則是通過網絡新聞掌握此消息。
該公司接獲通知後立刻聯繫中國上海和韓國的製造廠，並澄清這些都是未經證實的消息。
發言人透露，他們未獲官方正式資料，不過辛拉麵韓國製造廠已證實其產品不含塑化劑，預料會在週一發出證明書。
「至於上海方面，其產品目前仍在香港進行化驗，預料下週會有結果。」
同時，巨人霸級市場一名高層受訪時，坦承辛拉麵是暢銷食品，如今該公司正待衛生部的正式通知，才決定下一步行動。
大馬乾糧進出口總商會總會長拿督蔡寶鏹受訪時也透露，未接獲任何指快熟麵受塑化劑污染的消息。
生產地影響成分
他指出，香港所檢驗出的6種品牌，只有辛拉麵在本地市場屬普遍，而這些快熟麵都是國外直接進口，並沒有在本地製造。
蔡寶鏹指出，雖然香港發佈上述消息，商家依然會以大馬衛生部的消息為準，並會在官方要求下架後，才採取行動。
「這是因為每個國家的進口食品不同，其製造成分也不同，因此，即使香港檢驗出有問題，那些進口來馬來西亞的食品成分未必和香港一樣。」
（東方新聞網）
转自：http://www2.orientaldaily.com.my/read/A1/2XB60t2Y11Le19co0SEq6tZ81uw715uW
[Singapore] Why Khaw is worried...
by Ong Dai Lin
04:47 AM Jun 10, 2011
Sharp property price increases cannot go on forever, he says
HDB flats in Yishun. TODAY FILE PHOTO
SINGAPORE - Since he began his housing blog, he has announced policy changes and reviews, updated public housing supply numbers and asked for ideas. In his eighth post, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan hit the alert button.
Yesterday, as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced a strong supply under the Government Land Sales Programme for the second half of this year, Mr Khaw shared his worries that "things can go very wrong suddenly", possibly over the next two years.
This, even as the authorities now tackle the issue of housing affordability. But Mr Khaw not only noted that "sharp property price increases cannot go on forever", he cautioned that mishaps could befall those seeking to invest or upgrade in the months ahead.
And the factors that could cause this were laid bare in his blog.
Mr Khaw first cited how 35,000 private homes have been sold these few years, and are now under construction, while another 45,000 units are waiting to be built and sold. Coupled with the supply announced yesterday by the URA, 53,000 homes "will be looking for buyers over the next couple of years or so". "This isn't a trivial number," he said.
The external situation is "not exactly bullish" either. He said Europe's sovereign debt woes will take a long time to clear, and the Middle East crisis "can still go ugly", which may lead to a spike in oil prices and affect economic recovery in Asia and Singapore.
Disclosing that foreigners comprised 16 per cent of private property buyers between January and March, Mr Khaw had this message for Singaporeans who buy properties in the hope of renting to those coming here: "In the event of any external shock, both foreign demand and rental demand can fall quite quickly. The impact can be serious if (it) happens at a time when there's a substantial increase in supply."
His final caution was that interest rates will not remain low forever.
"It is my duty to sound an alert," said Mr Khaw.
"We've always recognised that unsustainable, rapid price increase brings with it enormous risks and that got us to act earlier on. While sharp rises are painful, sharp declines are just as disastrous. Those who borrow to go into properties thinking that prices will continue to rise, will be thrown into financial hardship should prices drop and banks start calling."
Analysts told MediaCorp the message of prudence to potential buyers was not new and would have minimal impact on the market. Of greater importance, they said, are the prices that developers will pay for land during the land sales.
ERA Asia Pacific associate director Eugene Lim said different parcels of land will get varied responses from developers, and some will attract high interest. "Because of the high land price and high construction costs, there's no choice that units will be sold at high prices," he said.
Chesterton Suntec International research and consultancy director Colin Tan said the liquidity in the market gives people "no choice but to put their money in property".
"We must somehow reflect the true cost of buying property. Low interest rates won't be forever. We must get interest rates to reflect the true cost over the loan period," he said.
Meanwhile, Dennis Wee Group director Chris Koh noted: "What Mr Khaw is doing is to ask everybody to exercise financial prudence ... He's trying to assure the public that he's not only looking at public housing but also private housing."
Via: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110610-0000038/Why-Khaw-is-worried-,,,
04:47 AM Jun 10, 2011
Sharp property price increases cannot go on forever, he says
HDB flats in Yishun. TODAY FILE PHOTOSINGAPORE - Since he began his housing blog, he has announced policy changes and reviews, updated public housing supply numbers and asked for ideas. In his eighth post, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan hit the alert button.
Yesterday, as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced a strong supply under the Government Land Sales Programme for the second half of this year, Mr Khaw shared his worries that "things can go very wrong suddenly", possibly over the next two years.
This, even as the authorities now tackle the issue of housing affordability. But Mr Khaw not only noted that "sharp property price increases cannot go on forever", he cautioned that mishaps could befall those seeking to invest or upgrade in the months ahead.
And the factors that could cause this were laid bare in his blog.
Mr Khaw first cited how 35,000 private homes have been sold these few years, and are now under construction, while another 45,000 units are waiting to be built and sold. Coupled with the supply announced yesterday by the URA, 53,000 homes "will be looking for buyers over the next couple of years or so". "This isn't a trivial number," he said.
The external situation is "not exactly bullish" either. He said Europe's sovereign debt woes will take a long time to clear, and the Middle East crisis "can still go ugly", which may lead to a spike in oil prices and affect economic recovery in Asia and Singapore.
Disclosing that foreigners comprised 16 per cent of private property buyers between January and March, Mr Khaw had this message for Singaporeans who buy properties in the hope of renting to those coming here: "In the event of any external shock, both foreign demand and rental demand can fall quite quickly. The impact can be serious if (it) happens at a time when there's a substantial increase in supply."
His final caution was that interest rates will not remain low forever.
"It is my duty to sound an alert," said Mr Khaw.
"We've always recognised that unsustainable, rapid price increase brings with it enormous risks and that got us to act earlier on. While sharp rises are painful, sharp declines are just as disastrous. Those who borrow to go into properties thinking that prices will continue to rise, will be thrown into financial hardship should prices drop and banks start calling."
Analysts told MediaCorp the message of prudence to potential buyers was not new and would have minimal impact on the market. Of greater importance, they said, are the prices that developers will pay for land during the land sales.
ERA Asia Pacific associate director Eugene Lim said different parcels of land will get varied responses from developers, and some will attract high interest. "Because of the high land price and high construction costs, there's no choice that units will be sold at high prices," he said.
Chesterton Suntec International research and consultancy director Colin Tan said the liquidity in the market gives people "no choice but to put their money in property".
"We must somehow reflect the true cost of buying property. Low interest rates won't be forever. We must get interest rates to reflect the true cost over the loan period," he said.
Meanwhile, Dennis Wee Group director Chris Koh noted: "What Mr Khaw is doing is to ask everybody to exercise financial prudence ... He's trying to assure the public that he's not only looking at public housing but also private housing."
Via: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110610-0000038/Why-Khaw-is-worried-,,,
Thursday, June 9, 2011
[国内] 剛葬3天，動機可疑，挖女屍剝光
要聞 地方 2011-06-08 19:00
死者的遺體被挖出後，曝露在棺材外。（圖：光明日報）
死者家屬在發現死者遺體被不明人士挖出後，趕緊安排為死者重新下葬。（圖：光明日報）
棺材破了一個洞，歹徒疑是從這個洞口把遺體拉出來。（圖：光明日報）
死者家人臨時搭棚，避免死者遺體曝露在陽光下。（圖：光明日報）（砂拉越 斯里阿曼8日訊）一名剛逝世不久的少女的墳墓日前被發現遭人破壞，其遺體被不明人士挖出後棄置在墓穴，屍體裸露在外。死者遺體相信是從墓穴被拉出外，幹案者把遺體衣物脫掉後搜尋貴重物品，然後把遺體放在棺材上，之後又再用泥土把其掩蓋重新埋葬，動機不明。
這名15歲女死者是於上週六，下葬在斯里阿曼省附近的英吉利里華人義山的一座墳墓。依照華人習俗，下葬3日後家人會到死者墳墓“巡墳”。死者家人在“巡墳”時驚見死者遺體被挖出，赤裸裸的袒露在棺材外。
死者家人幫死者整理衣物後，已重新下葬。據瞭解，英吉利里小鎮是第一次發生類似事件，居民對幹案者動機議論紛紛。
英吉利里鎮發現掘墓裸屍案週二發生至今，引起小鎮居民議論紛紛。大家對幹案者目的及動機感到不解。小鎮也傳言四起，警方目前正在介入調查此案。
英吉利里社區領袖甲必丹黃仁俊在受詢時，對該事件非常震驚和憤怒，表示幹案者喪盡天良，做這些傷天害理的事。
他認為，幹案者可能另有企圖或目的。所以，他促請警方一定要徹查該案，絕不讓幹案者逍遙法外。
幹案者動機不明
“這件案件前所未有，很多居民都感到好奇，從現場來看，整件事看起來很有計劃，不是一個人可以辦得到。尤其是在幹案後，還會用泥土把屍体重新埋好。”
因此，他希望警方一定要徹查幹案者，對家屬及死者有一個交待，並給幹案者一個教訓。
在英吉利里鎮長大的黃益賢在受訪時也說，這次乘學校假期回來度假，沒想到卻遇上這件事。
“印象中的英吉利里是和平小鎮，怎會有如此事件。我猜測不是要盜墓，沒有東西不見。而且盜墓也沒有必要把屍體衣服脫光。”
因此，他除了感到不可思議之外，也對幹案者的行為感到不恥。
在這宗案件發生後，傳出關於女死者的多項說法。不過由於家屬不願接受採訪，所以，這些說法有待警方查證。
【盜墓案例】
國內極少發生人神共憤的盜墓事件，根據記錄，砂拉越美里一座墳場曾於2006年兩度發生大規模盜墓案，而上個月詩巫也發生7座墳墓被盜。在西馬，雪州加影今年也發生首宗盜墓案。
2011年5月22日
砂拉越州詩巫衛理公會墳場上月已發生盜墓事件，7座伊班人墳墓在一夜之間遭盜墓賊破壞盜竊。據瞭解，這些受影響的墳墓都是女性墳墓，均是在近幾年過世，並沒有貴重陪葬品。
4月19日
雪蘭莪加影一名64歲乩童在病逝前兩天在醫院接受洗禮，改信基督教，遺體安葬在基督墓園9天後，其墓穴遭挖掘露出棺木，而且陪葬品如逾百令吉現款、手機不翼而飛，相信被盜墓。
2006年7月
美里廉律的天主教墳場約二十餘座墳墓遭破壞，許多墳墓被盜墓賊大肆破壞。同年12月22日，盜墓賊再度犯案，鑿破30座墳墓破壞棺木，偷走墓內值錢陪葬金飾。盜墓賊破壞棺材和搜索財物，往生者骨骸曝露在外。
（光明日報）
转自：http://www.guangming.com.my/node/105387
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
[中國] 20噸劇毒化學品流入江，杭州恐慌爆搶水潮
國際 2011-06-07 15:21
（中國 杭州7日訊）中國浙江省杭州市日前發生車禍，導致20噸劇毒化學品“苯酚”流入新安江，並沿江湧往下游的杭州市後，杭州全市爆發恐慌性搶水潮，民眾湧往超市瘋狂搶購飲用水。
事發於上週六晚上11時左右，一輛載有31噸“苯酚”的槽罐車，在浙江省新安江高速公路出口發生車禍，估計有約20噸化學品泄漏，並隨雨水流入附近的新安江。
當局低估污染嚴重性
然而，當局疑低估污染嚴重性，延至週一才公佈污染物已流到下游的富春江，並將逐步到達錢塘江。
杭州市環保局副局長勞新祥坦承，由於新安江為杭州市重要飲用水源地上游，事故對下游居民正常生產、生活用水造成重大影響。
為此，杭州市政府要求下游5個水廠停止取水，逾55萬居民隨時面臨制水；同時，新安江大壩也加大泄洪，稀釋受污染的江水並加快下泄，通過新安江、富春江、錢塘江最終流入東海。
當局還緊急呼吁沿江民眾不要到新安江取飲用水、勿食用江中的死魚，還要求民眾“搶抓時機，利用各種容器盡可能多儲水”。
水廠水源又遭污染
禍不單行的是，杭州市余杭區自來水廠水源同時遭到工業園區排放的有機物污染，導致當地部份地區停止供水，余杭瓶窯鎮和良渚鎮的學校部份停課。由於擔心食水安全，再加上有傳言指杭州將停水3天，引發杭州、富陽及其他縣市週一出現恐慌性搶水，市內多家超市和便利商店的瓶裝水和桶裝水在短短數小時內被民眾搶購一空，水賣完就搶購汽水和其他飲料。
至當天傍晚，很多超市的飲用水貨架已空空如也。
面對大規模搶購潮，杭州市長邵占維表示，杭州完全有能力保障飲用水安全，請市民放心，不必搶水。
信息混亂民眾儲水應急
杭州環保部門當晚也宣佈，污染水部份已被稀釋並流入入海口，除事發地微量超標外，杭州引用水源取水口水質達標，“杭州不大可能停水了！不過，有民眾表示，政府一面呼吁市民儲水，一面又稱食水安全，信息混亂，他們寧可多儲水應急。
盲搶潮不斷
“上次搶鹽、搶洗髮水、洗衣粉，這次搶瓶裝水，下次會搶甚麼！？”杭州市全民大搶水，已是今年第三次大規模搶購潮，網民紛紛批評民眾盲目搶購不理性。
在今年3月11日日本大地震，引發海嘯、核輻射泄漏事故後，同月17日中國傳出輻射污染海水，食鹽價格將會急升，以及食鹽內含有碘，食後可抵抗輻射的消息，引發中國、香港、澳門大規模搶鹽，淪為國際笑話。有關謠言迅速破滅後，上海、廣東隨即出現退鹽潮。
一星期後的3月26日，中國再次傳出多間日用家化企業將會漲價5至15%，引發各地的民眾再次湧到超市，搶購洗衣粉、肥皂、洗髮水、牙膏、洗潔精等，超市的存貨幾近被搶購一空。事件引發當局關切，聯合利華超市因“捏造、散佈漲價訊息，擾亂市場價格秩序”，被罰款200萬元人民幣。
你知道嗎？
苯酚具腐蝕性
納粹德軍行刑毒藥
苯酚（Phenol）是德國化學家龍格（Runge F）於1834年在煤焦油中發現的，又稱為石炭酸（Carbolic acid）。它是很多化工產品的原料，可以用來生產殺菌劑、麻醉劑、防腐劑、消毒劑，同時在農藥、香料、染料、藥物（如阿斯匹靈）中都可找到。
不過，苯酚有劇毒、具腐蝕性，二大時納粹德軍曾用作注射死刑的劑藥。苯酚對皮膚有強烈刺激，亦會抑制中樞神經、損害肝、腎功能，人體吸收過量可能致命。若不慎將苯酚沾到皮膚，要即用酒精清洗，並到醫院求醫。
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/207438?tid=2
杭州市多家超市的飲用水週一在短短數小時內被市民搶購一空，工作人員緊急補貨，以應付這一波搶水潮。（圖：新華社）
（中國 杭州7日訊）中國浙江省杭州市日前發生車禍，導致20噸劇毒化學品“苯酚”流入新安江，並沿江湧往下游的杭州市後，杭州全市爆發恐慌性搶水潮，民眾湧往超市瘋狂搶購飲用水。
事發於上週六晚上11時左右，一輛載有31噸“苯酚”的槽罐車，在浙江省新安江高速公路出口發生車禍，估計有約20噸化學品泄漏，並隨雨水流入附近的新安江。
當局低估污染嚴重性
然而，當局疑低估污染嚴重性，延至週一才公佈污染物已流到下游的富春江，並將逐步到達錢塘江。
杭州市環保局副局長勞新祥坦承，由於新安江為杭州市重要飲用水源地上游，事故對下游居民正常生產、生活用水造成重大影響。
為此，杭州市政府要求下游5個水廠停止取水，逾55萬居民隨時面臨制水；同時，新安江大壩也加大泄洪，稀釋受污染的江水並加快下泄，通過新安江、富春江、錢塘江最終流入東海。
當局還緊急呼吁沿江民眾不要到新安江取飲用水、勿食用江中的死魚，還要求民眾“搶抓時機，利用各種容器盡可能多儲水”。
水廠水源又遭污染
禍不單行的是，杭州市余杭區自來水廠水源同時遭到工業園區排放的有機物污染，導致當地部份地區停止供水，余杭瓶窯鎮和良渚鎮的學校部份停課。由於擔心食水安全，再加上有傳言指杭州將停水3天，引發杭州、富陽及其他縣市週一出現恐慌性搶水，市內多家超市和便利商店的瓶裝水和桶裝水在短短數小時內被民眾搶購一空，水賣完就搶購汽水和其他飲料。
至當天傍晚，很多超市的飲用水貨架已空空如也。
面對大規模搶購潮，杭州市長邵占維表示，杭州完全有能力保障飲用水安全，請市民放心，不必搶水。
信息混亂民眾儲水應急
杭州環保部門當晚也宣佈，污染水部份已被稀釋並流入入海口，除事發地微量超標外，杭州引用水源取水口水質達標，“杭州不大可能停水了！不過，有民眾表示，政府一面呼吁市民儲水，一面又稱食水安全，信息混亂，他們寧可多儲水應急。
盲搶潮不斷
“上次搶鹽、搶洗髮水、洗衣粉，這次搶瓶裝水，下次會搶甚麼！？”杭州市全民大搶水，已是今年第三次大規模搶購潮，網民紛紛批評民眾盲目搶購不理性。
在今年3月11日日本大地震，引發海嘯、核輻射泄漏事故後，同月17日中國傳出輻射污染海水，食鹽價格將會急升，以及食鹽內含有碘，食後可抵抗輻射的消息，引發中國、香港、澳門大規模搶鹽，淪為國際笑話。有關謠言迅速破滅後，上海、廣東隨即出現退鹽潮。
一星期後的3月26日，中國再次傳出多間日用家化企業將會漲價5至15%，引發各地的民眾再次湧到超市，搶購洗衣粉、肥皂、洗髮水、牙膏、洗潔精等，超市的存貨幾近被搶購一空。事件引發當局關切，聯合利華超市因“捏造、散佈漲價訊息，擾亂市場價格秩序”，被罰款200萬元人民幣。
你知道嗎？
苯酚具腐蝕性
納粹德軍行刑毒藥
苯酚（Phenol）是德國化學家龍格（Runge F）於1834年在煤焦油中發現的，又稱為石炭酸（Carbolic acid）。它是很多化工產品的原料，可以用來生產殺菌劑、麻醉劑、防腐劑、消毒劑，同時在農藥、香料、染料、藥物（如阿斯匹靈）中都可找到。
不過，苯酚有劇毒、具腐蝕性，二大時納粹德軍曾用作注射死刑的劑藥。苯酚對皮膚有強烈刺激，亦會抑制中樞神經、損害肝、腎功能，人體吸收過量可能致命。若不慎將苯酚沾到皮膚，要即用酒精清洗，並到醫院求醫。
（星洲日報／國際）
转自：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/207438?tid=2
Monday, June 6, 2011
[Singapore] Flood waters shut Tanglin Mall
by Esther Ng
04:47 AM Jun 06, 2011
Environmental and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the basement car park of Tanglin Mall after it was flooded by the heavy morning downpour. Photo by OOI BOON KEONG
Tanglin Mall was also hit by flooding and certain sections had to be closed off. PHOTO COURTESY OF EVA VAN DEN BERG
Photo by OOI BOON KEONG
Workers cleaning up Tanglin Mall as the floods forced shops to close. Photo by OOI BOON KEONG
The ceiling of The Market Place was badly damaged during the flooding. Photo by OOI BOON KEONG
Basement of Tanglin Mall flooded (courtesy of @onglette)
Eng Neo Avenue flooded (courtesy of @Nadya_HutaGalng)
Tanglin Mall flooding (courtesy of @onglette)
SINGAPORE - It looked like a scene straight from the movies. Water cascading down escalators, filling every nook and cranny, then pouring onto the floor below like a waterfall. By 10.30am yesterday, the basement and car parks of Tanglin Mall were in knee-deep water.
At The Market Place, a supermarket in the basement, water seeped into the ceiling and caused a portion of the false ceiling above the checkout counters to collapse.
"It was quite scary - we didn't know where the water came from, it just came so fast," said cafe assistant Annie Tan.
While the shops in the basement bore the brunt of the deluge, the shops on the first level of the mall were not spared either.
Homemaker Linda Tauvel, 39, was having coffee at Starbucks when she noticed an employee mopping some water that was seeping in from under the door.
"There was no panic or drama. Everybody was calm. What I thought was amazing is that the escalators kept going and people kept on using them casually even with all the water flowing on them," she said.
The flood caught the authorities by surprise.
The national water agency Public Utilities Board (PUB) said the extent of the flood was something it had not seen at least in the last 25 years.
The PUB explained that the flash floods were caused by two bouts of heavy rainfall - the first started slightly past 6am.
The second downpour which was more intense at about 10.30am saw about 65 mm of rainfall recorded within 30 minutes.
This downpour was worse than the one on June 16 last year, which recorded about 100 mm of rainfall within two hours.
When MediaCorp arrived at Tanglin Mall at 1pm, the first floor was strewn with muddy sediment and staff in various shops were seen busy mopping their floors.
"The water on this floor was going down to the basement. It was rising rather fast and soon reached our ankles. My colleague and I got scared - we shifted some merchandise to a higher display, then grabbed our bags and left," said Ocean Paradise sales assistant Emily Chow, 22.
Mr Han Lee, who owns Kidz Story, told MediaCorp that he estimates he lost some S$6,000 worth of merchandise and about S$5,000 in fixtures.
Minister for Water Resources and the Environment Vivian Balakrishnan arrived shortly after and toured the mall which had been closed while the clean-up was in full swing.
"Safety was important - we had to cut the electric supply first to assess the situation and then put in place recovery plans and have asked on the tenants to notify their insurers," said the mall's centre director Jenny Ng.
She added that a 3-inch concrete kerb at the switchroom prevented water from entering and knocking out the mall's four transformers.
A staff from the adjoining Traders Hotel told MediaCorp that Grange Road was knee-high in water at around 10am and reckoned that traffic had pushed the water into Tanglin Mall and into the lower deck of the hotel's Cafebiz.
At 4pm yesterday, hotel staff were seen blow-drying the carpet and sweeping the debris.
Down Cuscaden Road, the basement carparks of St Regis Residences were flooded. Water had also entered House number 9, the only bungalow on the street and left a metre-high watermark. The owner's silver BMW 6 series had to be towed away earlier.
While Tanglin Mall was closed, Forum Galleria was buzzing with shoppers. The mall hardly looked like it had been flooded some hours earlier.
Still, takings for the day were affected.
Subway Niche's cashier Madam Sim estimated that the cafe lost around S$600 in those few hours, while Watson's manager totalled some S$2,000 in losses.
Yesterday's downpour caused flash floods in Bukit Timah and MacPherson as well.
At Marina Barrage, up to five gates were operated during the early part of the morning when sea tide was lower, the PUB said. Seven pumps were operated at the later part of the morning to lower the water level at Marina Reservoir, it added.
Forwarded from: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110606-0000064/Flood-waters-shut-Tanglin-Mall
04:47 AM Jun 06, 2011
Environmental and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the basement car park of Tanglin Mall after it was flooded by the heavy morning downpour. Photo by OOI BOON KEONG
Tanglin Mall was also hit by flooding and certain sections had to be closed off. PHOTO COURTESY OF EVA VAN DEN BERG
Photo by OOI BOON KEONG
Workers cleaning up Tanglin Mall as the floods forced shops to close. Photo by OOI BOON KEONG
The ceiling of The Market Place was badly damaged during the flooding. Photo by OOI BOON KEONGOther photos & videos:
Basement of Tanglin Mall flooded (courtesy of @onglette)
Eng Neo Avenue flooded (courtesy of @Nadya_HutaGalng)
Tanglin Mall flooding (courtesy of @onglette)
At The Market Place, a supermarket in the basement, water seeped into the ceiling and caused a portion of the false ceiling above the checkout counters to collapse.
"It was quite scary - we didn't know where the water came from, it just came so fast," said cafe assistant Annie Tan.
While the shops in the basement bore the brunt of the deluge, the shops on the first level of the mall were not spared either.
Homemaker Linda Tauvel, 39, was having coffee at Starbucks when she noticed an employee mopping some water that was seeping in from under the door.
"There was no panic or drama. Everybody was calm. What I thought was amazing is that the escalators kept going and people kept on using them casually even with all the water flowing on them," she said.
The flood caught the authorities by surprise.
The national water agency Public Utilities Board (PUB) said the extent of the flood was something it had not seen at least in the last 25 years.
The PUB explained that the flash floods were caused by two bouts of heavy rainfall - the first started slightly past 6am.
The second downpour which was more intense at about 10.30am saw about 65 mm of rainfall recorded within 30 minutes.
This downpour was worse than the one on June 16 last year, which recorded about 100 mm of rainfall within two hours.
When MediaCorp arrived at Tanglin Mall at 1pm, the first floor was strewn with muddy sediment and staff in various shops were seen busy mopping their floors.
"The water on this floor was going down to the basement. It was rising rather fast and soon reached our ankles. My colleague and I got scared - we shifted some merchandise to a higher display, then grabbed our bags and left," said Ocean Paradise sales assistant Emily Chow, 22.
Mr Han Lee, who owns Kidz Story, told MediaCorp that he estimates he lost some S$6,000 worth of merchandise and about S$5,000 in fixtures.
Minister for Water Resources and the Environment Vivian Balakrishnan arrived shortly after and toured the mall which had been closed while the clean-up was in full swing.
"Safety was important - we had to cut the electric supply first to assess the situation and then put in place recovery plans and have asked on the tenants to notify their insurers," said the mall's centre director Jenny Ng.
She added that a 3-inch concrete kerb at the switchroom prevented water from entering and knocking out the mall's four transformers.
A staff from the adjoining Traders Hotel told MediaCorp that Grange Road was knee-high in water at around 10am and reckoned that traffic had pushed the water into Tanglin Mall and into the lower deck of the hotel's Cafebiz.
At 4pm yesterday, hotel staff were seen blow-drying the carpet and sweeping the debris.
Down Cuscaden Road, the basement carparks of St Regis Residences were flooded. Water had also entered House number 9, the only bungalow on the street and left a metre-high watermark. The owner's silver BMW 6 series had to be towed away earlier.
While Tanglin Mall was closed, Forum Galleria was buzzing with shoppers. The mall hardly looked like it had been flooded some hours earlier.
Still, takings for the day were affected.
Subway Niche's cashier Madam Sim estimated that the cafe lost around S$600 in those few hours, while Watson's manager totalled some S$2,000 in losses.
Yesterday's downpour caused flash floods in Bukit Timah and MacPherson as well.
At Marina Barrage, up to five gates were operated during the early part of the morning when sea tide was lower, the PUB said. Seven pumps were operated at the later part of the morning to lower the water level at Marina Reservoir, it added.
Forwarded from: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110606-0000064/Flood-waters-shut-Tanglin-Mall
[Singapore] A jolly green giant
by Paul Gilfeather
Updated 11:59 AM Jun 05, 2011
From a crumbling villa's gardens in Rome to local trees threatened by development, Singapore's curator of nature scours the earth to salvage flora for Singapore's botanical ark
WHEN the S$1-billion Gardens by the Bay project finally comes into bloom next year, it will also mark the culmination of a journey which began almost 30 years ago for Singapore parks supremo Dr Tan Kiat Wee.
Remote imaging photos of Singapore's green cover has shown an estimated increase of 10 per cent over the past 20 years, despite the population growing by some 70 per cent. Image Source: CRISP
If the seeds for Singapore's Garden City concept were sown by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, his curator of nature has undoubtedly been Dr Tan, who this week received the President's Award for the Environment, the nation's highest "green" accolade.
Most Singaporeans have probably never heard of him. But his innovations have impacted on the lives of almost every resident: From the world-class Botanic Gardens, to the cross-country park connectors which now stretch to almost 300km, to the super garden on reclaimed land at Marina Bay, he has left his indelible mark on the island.
Indeed, you cannot tell the story of the Gardens by the Bay without dragging a rake over the 67-year-old botanist's monumental contribution.
Dr Tan's fundamental belief is that by providing natural, green and serene spaces, prejudices, differences and cultural divides can be overcome; it belies an empathy with the ordinary, hard-working people of Singapore.
"We are not only dealing with infrastructure but with social structure - as well as a unifying venue for our different races and cultures," he explains.
"The people come to these places and they mingle and mix without their cultural baggage because we provide neutral ground for connecting with nature. And this is so important for a place like Singapore."
Referring to the Gardens' location in the heart of the new downtown by the Marina Bay Financial District, he says: "This is the most precious land we have in Singapore for development. Singaporeans in the heartlands say 'why are you always spending so much money developing land for tourists?'
"But this shows we are investing our resources in the people ... We are designing a state-of-the-art garden as a national park, so people who are maybe not wealthy enough to travel, can still see the kind of botanical offerings in this garden."
These include flora native to the Mediterranean, South America and Africa.
AN EXPECTANT FATHER
Dr Tan, the city's first native-born director of the Botanic Gardens, shelved plans for retirement after getting the go-ahead for his waterfront project in 2005.
He has worked tirelessly for the past six years. He has had to overcome rocketing steel and sand prices, compete with the organisers of the Beijing Olympics for rare plants and watch as the financial crisis of 2007-09 decimated his budget.
In April, some 12 months from completion, he gave Today an exclusive tour of the site and its two giant domes which will house the rare plants and trees which Dr Tan and his team have scoured the planet for. These are living, breathing pieces of an environmental masterpiece.
I was seeing the unfinished project even before Dr Tan's biggest supporter, Mr Lee, whose VIP tour was postponed so more progress could be made.
As we began the tour, he said, only half-joking: "I will drag you though the mud, but I won't do it to him."
Telling the story of the project for the first time, Dr Tan reveals how important the former Prime Minister's support has been. "It is obvious," he says. "If I didn't have that kind of support we could have never got as far as we did. So I'm glad he had the longevity, presence of mind and determination throughout, right up to this project."
As his eyes flash around the site, he examines the dozens of different jobs being done by the 300-strong construction team
He paces around the soggy soil like an expectant father, awaiting the arrival of a new son. And, in a way, that is what's happening here.
Dr Tan possesses many of the qualities you often find in first-rate politicians. It is not clear whether he was born with these attributes or if he developed them as he was plunged into the battle for Singapore's green spaces.
Physically he is short, but his charisma and stocky build contribute to his strong presence. His enthusiasm and agile mind impress; it is hard not be infected by his seemingly permanently sunny disposition. Inside his head, a computer-like brain whizzes at a million miles-per-hour as he talks in quick-fire but softly-spoken sentences.
A BARGAIN AT S$1 BILLION
The bulk of the project is centred on what is known as Bay South. The site will host a giant, horticulturally-themed garden, two giant domes and space-age super trees.
The Flower Dome is designed to give visitors a feel for the four seasons and will feature a host of unusual plants from the Mediterranean and subtropical regions.
Gardens by the Bay view from SkyParks. Photo by WEE TECK HIAN
The other conservatory will be called the Cloud Forest. This will house exotic plants from the Tropical Montane region, typically found thousands of metres above sea level.
There will be scenic walkways taking visitors 30m above ground and around the man-made Cloud Mountain, which features the world's first indoor waterfall.
A tree-top walk will take people around the 12 super trees, which range from 25m to 50m in height. The super trees will come to life at night with state-of-the-art lighting and projected media, while being covered in exotic ferns, vines and orchids.
The super trees also act as environmental engines for the Gardens. Some are chimneys for air intake, cooling and exhaust and others boast solar panels on their canopies. Dr Tan says considering the technology being used to create the Gardens, including a ground-breaking underground air-cooling system, the project is a bargain at S$1 billion.
I ask him if the thought of what the land might have been used for without his intervention keeps him awake at night. He says: "I know what it was going to be used for ... office blocks and condos." You get the feeling that as well as the bureaucrats, it has been the property and office block developers he has been fighting since returning from the United States in 1983.
Since then he has acted like Singapore's green-fingered King Midas, with everything he touches turning from concrete grey to green. "I got myself into a long distance relay-race. I became a green steward for Singapore," says the Gardens' chief executive.
HOW IT SHOULD BE
"If you look at the whole of Singapore, by the late 1800s, 85 per cent of the city had been scalped for timber and so forth. We had little natural habitat. What has been regenerated came from the pockets of primary forest still remaining and what we went out to get.
"As the city developed we are creating our own environment. You cannot plant forests in the cityscape so very early, we took to heart what Lee Kuan Yew was saying: 'I am going around the world and seeing trees that are beautiful. Why can't we bring them to Singapore?' So, we have been trying to recreate that mantle of nature, the natural heritage that had been ripped.
"We said, 'let's turn Singapore into a botanical ark and later an ecological ark'," said Dr Tan.
The five-year process of building the Gardens by the Bay has seen him travel the world collecting trees and plants from four continents. He would, for instance, hear of an old villa on the outskirts of Rome crumbling and up for development, and race to the site in the hope of salvaging some of the gardens.
On my tour, we take a mini-bus to Bay East to inspect some of these trees still in quarantine beneath a massive road bridge, which acts as a protective canopy. Attached to each tree is a story of adventure to how it was recovered.
Included in the collection are 1,000-year-old olive trees from Spain, which make for a spectacular sight sitting alongside others saved from parts of Singapore.
With a grin from ear to ear, Dr Tan says: "When the Formula 1 racing came, we salvaged all the roadside trees. Throughout Singapore, wherever there were developments we would go in and you will see the big trees that we were able to dig up. We can actually identify the trees and say to each other, 'remember that one was at Upper Cross Street' ...
"But that was not sufficient. My challenge to our staff was 60 per cent must be plants that we don't normally see in our parks and gardens."
There's no doubt Singapore's curator of nature does the job out of love. I ask him if a shortage of public funds ever left him in the position where he paid for trees with his credit card. He smirks and simply says: "Sometimes that is how it has to be."
HISTORY TOLD IN GREENS
Like the Botanic Gardens, the new park will be mainly free, except a still yet-to-be-decided charge for entry to the domed areas. That will pay for the state-of-the-art cool air system that is piped underground to the entire site. It will be open 24 hours a day and include a 30,000-seater outdoor stadium for concerts, as well as restaurants and food courts.
But Dr Tan is determined that the new Gardens also tells the nation's story. "We are explaining the history of Singapore through the plant perspective" he says.
"We began as indigenous races, a bunch of pirates from this region. Then, as it grew as a colony, the colonial plantations tried out different crops like coconut, coffee and nutmeg before they came to rubber. They took in the workers from the surrounding regions, the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians, and that is the immigrant nation that became Singapore.
"So, we have included a colonial garden, then a Chinese garden, a Malay garden and an Indian garden."
Dr Tan's had parents wanted him to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer, an idea he rebelled against. When he was just 16, he was nominated Singapore's sole delegate to the World Youth Forum. He made good use of his short time in the US and secured scholarships which eventually led to a Masters degree and a doctorate from the University of Miami.
He spent nine years learning how to develop botanic gardens before being appointed director of the Orlando Botanic Gardens in Florida. On returning to Singapore, he became the first Singaporean chief of the city's Botanic Gardens.
"I was asked to head this big thing that became the National Parks Board and I really didn't want to because all I was interested in doing at that time was restoring the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which at the time was little more than a park. But in the process of forming the first National Parks Board, saving the natural heritage of Singapore became a priority in my mind as well.
"To me, the epitome of the parks was the nature reserves. To me that was where the battle lines were drawn ... The nature reserves were without question under threat in the 70s, 80s and 90s. But we turned the corner and today, we have actually added to the nature reserves and there is a greater area under the protection of nature reserves than when I first came back in 1983."
It has been, in his own words, quite an amazing journey. He adds, almost poetically: "We were always reaching for the stars when a planet will do. But the planet we have created is truly something."
Via: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110605-0000004/A-jolly-green-giant
Updated 11:59 AM Jun 05, 2011
From a crumbling villa's gardens in Rome to local trees threatened by development, Singapore's curator of nature scours the earth to salvage flora for Singapore's botanical ark
WHEN the S$1-billion Gardens by the Bay project finally comes into bloom next year, it will also mark the culmination of a journey which began almost 30 years ago for Singapore parks supremo Dr Tan Kiat Wee.
Remote imaging photos of Singapore's green cover has shown an estimated increase of 10 per cent over the past 20 years, despite the population growing by some 70 per cent. Image Source: CRISP
If the seeds for Singapore's Garden City concept were sown by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, his curator of nature has undoubtedly been Dr Tan, who this week received the President's Award for the Environment, the nation's highest "green" accolade.
Most Singaporeans have probably never heard of him. But his innovations have impacted on the lives of almost every resident: From the world-class Botanic Gardens, to the cross-country park connectors which now stretch to almost 300km, to the super garden on reclaimed land at Marina Bay, he has left his indelible mark on the island.
Indeed, you cannot tell the story of the Gardens by the Bay without dragging a rake over the 67-year-old botanist's monumental contribution.
Dr Tan's fundamental belief is that by providing natural, green and serene spaces, prejudices, differences and cultural divides can be overcome; it belies an empathy with the ordinary, hard-working people of Singapore.
"We are not only dealing with infrastructure but with social structure - as well as a unifying venue for our different races and cultures," he explains.
"The people come to these places and they mingle and mix without their cultural baggage because we provide neutral ground for connecting with nature. And this is so important for a place like Singapore."
Referring to the Gardens' location in the heart of the new downtown by the Marina Bay Financial District, he says: "This is the most precious land we have in Singapore for development. Singaporeans in the heartlands say 'why are you always spending so much money developing land for tourists?'
"But this shows we are investing our resources in the people ... We are designing a state-of-the-art garden as a national park, so people who are maybe not wealthy enough to travel, can still see the kind of botanical offerings in this garden."
These include flora native to the Mediterranean, South America and Africa.
AN EXPECTANT FATHER
Dr Tan, the city's first native-born director of the Botanic Gardens, shelved plans for retirement after getting the go-ahead for his waterfront project in 2005.
He has worked tirelessly for the past six years. He has had to overcome rocketing steel and sand prices, compete with the organisers of the Beijing Olympics for rare plants and watch as the financial crisis of 2007-09 decimated his budget.
In April, some 12 months from completion, he gave Today an exclusive tour of the site and its two giant domes which will house the rare plants and trees which Dr Tan and his team have scoured the planet for. These are living, breathing pieces of an environmental masterpiece.
I was seeing the unfinished project even before Dr Tan's biggest supporter, Mr Lee, whose VIP tour was postponed so more progress could be made.
As we began the tour, he said, only half-joking: "I will drag you though the mud, but I won't do it to him."
Telling the story of the project for the first time, Dr Tan reveals how important the former Prime Minister's support has been. "It is obvious," he says. "If I didn't have that kind of support we could have never got as far as we did. So I'm glad he had the longevity, presence of mind and determination throughout, right up to this project."
As his eyes flash around the site, he examines the dozens of different jobs being done by the 300-strong construction team
He paces around the soggy soil like an expectant father, awaiting the arrival of a new son. And, in a way, that is what's happening here.
Dr Tan possesses many of the qualities you often find in first-rate politicians. It is not clear whether he was born with these attributes or if he developed them as he was plunged into the battle for Singapore's green spaces.
Physically he is short, but his charisma and stocky build contribute to his strong presence. His enthusiasm and agile mind impress; it is hard not be infected by his seemingly permanently sunny disposition. Inside his head, a computer-like brain whizzes at a million miles-per-hour as he talks in quick-fire but softly-spoken sentences.
A BARGAIN AT S$1 BILLION
The bulk of the project is centred on what is known as Bay South. The site will host a giant, horticulturally-themed garden, two giant domes and space-age super trees.
The Flower Dome is designed to give visitors a feel for the four seasons and will feature a host of unusual plants from the Mediterranean and subtropical regions.
Gardens by the Bay view from SkyParks. Photo by WEE TECK HIAN
The other conservatory will be called the Cloud Forest. This will house exotic plants from the Tropical Montane region, typically found thousands of metres above sea level.
There will be scenic walkways taking visitors 30m above ground and around the man-made Cloud Mountain, which features the world's first indoor waterfall.
A tree-top walk will take people around the 12 super trees, which range from 25m to 50m in height. The super trees will come to life at night with state-of-the-art lighting and projected media, while being covered in exotic ferns, vines and orchids.
The super trees also act as environmental engines for the Gardens. Some are chimneys for air intake, cooling and exhaust and others boast solar panels on their canopies. Dr Tan says considering the technology being used to create the Gardens, including a ground-breaking underground air-cooling system, the project is a bargain at S$1 billion.
I ask him if the thought of what the land might have been used for without his intervention keeps him awake at night. He says: "I know what it was going to be used for ... office blocks and condos." You get the feeling that as well as the bureaucrats, it has been the property and office block developers he has been fighting since returning from the United States in 1983.
Since then he has acted like Singapore's green-fingered King Midas, with everything he touches turning from concrete grey to green. "I got myself into a long distance relay-race. I became a green steward for Singapore," says the Gardens' chief executive.
HOW IT SHOULD BE
"If you look at the whole of Singapore, by the late 1800s, 85 per cent of the city had been scalped for timber and so forth. We had little natural habitat. What has been regenerated came from the pockets of primary forest still remaining and what we went out to get.
"As the city developed we are creating our own environment. You cannot plant forests in the cityscape so very early, we took to heart what Lee Kuan Yew was saying: 'I am going around the world and seeing trees that are beautiful. Why can't we bring them to Singapore?' So, we have been trying to recreate that mantle of nature, the natural heritage that had been ripped.
"We said, 'let's turn Singapore into a botanical ark and later an ecological ark'," said Dr Tan.
The five-year process of building the Gardens by the Bay has seen him travel the world collecting trees and plants from four continents. He would, for instance, hear of an old villa on the outskirts of Rome crumbling and up for development, and race to the site in the hope of salvaging some of the gardens.
On my tour, we take a mini-bus to Bay East to inspect some of these trees still in quarantine beneath a massive road bridge, which acts as a protective canopy. Attached to each tree is a story of adventure to how it was recovered.
Included in the collection are 1,000-year-old olive trees from Spain, which make for a spectacular sight sitting alongside others saved from parts of Singapore.
With a grin from ear to ear, Dr Tan says: "When the Formula 1 racing came, we salvaged all the roadside trees. Throughout Singapore, wherever there were developments we would go in and you will see the big trees that we were able to dig up. We can actually identify the trees and say to each other, 'remember that one was at Upper Cross Street' ...
"But that was not sufficient. My challenge to our staff was 60 per cent must be plants that we don't normally see in our parks and gardens."
There's no doubt Singapore's curator of nature does the job out of love. I ask him if a shortage of public funds ever left him in the position where he paid for trees with his credit card. He smirks and simply says: "Sometimes that is how it has to be."
HISTORY TOLD IN GREENS
Like the Botanic Gardens, the new park will be mainly free, except a still yet-to-be-decided charge for entry to the domed areas. That will pay for the state-of-the-art cool air system that is piped underground to the entire site. It will be open 24 hours a day and include a 30,000-seater outdoor stadium for concerts, as well as restaurants and food courts.
But Dr Tan is determined that the new Gardens also tells the nation's story. "We are explaining the history of Singapore through the plant perspective" he says.
"We began as indigenous races, a bunch of pirates from this region. Then, as it grew as a colony, the colonial plantations tried out different crops like coconut, coffee and nutmeg before they came to rubber. They took in the workers from the surrounding regions, the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians, and that is the immigrant nation that became Singapore.
"So, we have included a colonial garden, then a Chinese garden, a Malay garden and an Indian garden."
Dr Tan's had parents wanted him to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer, an idea he rebelled against. When he was just 16, he was nominated Singapore's sole delegate to the World Youth Forum. He made good use of his short time in the US and secured scholarships which eventually led to a Masters degree and a doctorate from the University of Miami.
He spent nine years learning how to develop botanic gardens before being appointed director of the Orlando Botanic Gardens in Florida. On returning to Singapore, he became the first Singaporean chief of the city's Botanic Gardens.
"I was asked to head this big thing that became the National Parks Board and I really didn't want to because all I was interested in doing at that time was restoring the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which at the time was little more than a park. But in the process of forming the first National Parks Board, saving the natural heritage of Singapore became a priority in my mind as well.
"To me, the epitome of the parks was the nature reserves. To me that was where the battle lines were drawn ... The nature reserves were without question under threat in the 70s, 80s and 90s. But we turned the corner and today, we have actually added to the nature reserves and there is a greater area under the protection of nature reserves than when I first came back in 1983."
It has been, in his own words, quite an amazing journey. He adds, almost poetically: "We were always reaching for the stars when a planet will do. But the planet we have created is truly something."
Via: http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110605-0000004/A-jolly-green-giant
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