Singapore Morning News For February 26

238 Singapore A-level Chemistry examination scripts stolen in UK
A parcel containing A-level Chemistry answer scripts from 238 Singapore students was stolen from a courier van transporting the papers to an examiner in Britain last November.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

S’pore must ensure adequate supply of water to meet growing needs ‘by the 2050s’
The Republic must make sure it has an adequate supply of water to meet the growing needs of households and industries by the 2050s, before the expiry of the second water agreement with Malaysia, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing said on Saturday (Feb 24).
— Today Online

Singapore’s surprise budget surplus: Unexpected currency moves among contributing factors
“Strongly positive” currency translation effects led to the surge in contribution from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to the Government’s coffers over the past financial year, while higher gains from the sale of assets also boosted JTC Corporation’s input.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore’s migrant workers struggle to get paid
It’s a bustle of activity in the drop-in center. Men line up to sign their names in a book and claim tokens for a free meal, redeemable at cheap restaurants in Singapore’s Little India district.
— CNN

Singapore: Marine and offshore engineering sector urged to diversify
Singapore can stay a major player in the global marine and offshore engineering industry despite the recent downturn in the sector.
— Hellenic Shipping News

As Singapore’s population ages, can the Lion City continue to roar?
Singapore seems to be following this notion, at least in regards to its government coffers. The country’s Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat made it clear during the annual budget that he has no intention of allowing funds to run out any time soon.
— South China Morning Post

Singtel acts against third-party content providers
Singtel has asked several third-party mobile content providers to temporarily halt their activities after it received complaints from dozens of customers about SMS messages and alleged false charges from subscription mobile game services.
— The New Paper

Commentary: Singapore sounds an optimistic note but eyes tough year ahead as ASEAN chair
The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently met in Singapore from Feb 4 to 6.
— Channel NewAsia

Singapore’s ageing car population drives up workshop business
Singapore’s car population has aged noticeably in the last decade, a trend that has ramped up business for vehicle workshops. According to Land Transport Authority (LTA) statistics, the number of cars nine years or older stood at 163,323 as at end-2017, making up 26.7 per cent of the car population.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

A quiet but seismic shift in Singapore’s approach to borrowing
THE Singapore government’s conservative approach to spending is well known – it has not borrowed to finance its expenditures since the 1980s.
— The Business Times

Commentary: Make social impact a qualifying condition for Govt grants
There has been a lot of responses and commentaries regarding the latest budget speech delivered by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in Parliament on Feb 19.
— Channel NewsAsia

Fast Asia Open: Singapore industrial output, Macau visitor arrivals
Four months after a historic Chinese Communist party congress was expected to answer most questions about Xi Jinping’s second five-year term in office, China’s president has demonstrated that he can still “shock and awe” his political rivals.
— The Financial Times

GST: Don’t tax the poor
Ah, you may be asking the wrong question. Or are we? “We are not raising the GST now but we are giving you notice that we will be raising it by two percentage points from 7 to 9 between 2021 and 2025 – with the final decision depending on the prevailing economic conditions”.
— The Independent Singapore

RPT-Bangladesh’s Summit Group plans Singapore listing for power unit by April – Chairman
Electricity producer Summit Power International plans to list on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) by April, what is likely the first company from Bangladesh to offer shares in the city-state, as it seeks to raise funds to invest in assets across Asia.
— Reuters

Huawei, NYP to open Huawei ICT Academy in Singapore
Huawei and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) have agreed to set up the first ICT Academy in Singapore as part of Huawei’s global initiative to support ICT skills development.
— Telecompaper

Malaysia, Singapore authorities bust regional drug syndicate, arrest 14
Singapore and Malaysian authorities busted a regional drug trafficking syndicate in a joint investigation that resulted in 14 people – including six Singaporeans – arrested in four raids in Johor Bahru on Friday (Feb 23).
— Channel NewsAsia

Chan Chun Sing says severe implications if Singapore does not have sufficient reserves. But just how much is enough?
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing has said that there will be “severe implications” if the country does not have sufficient reserves as buffer.
— The Online Citizen

Ban on painkilling TCM herb to be lifted from Jun 1
A 23-year ban on Corydalis yanhusuo is set to be lifted this year, after which it can be imported and sold in Singapore.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Feature photo Jakub Michankow

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Singapore morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Singapore news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Singapore Morning News For February 26 added by Leakhena Khat on February 26, 2018
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.