Singapore Morning News For May 23

Malaysia to review high-speed rail link to Singapore, other mega projects
Malaysia will review the implementation of mega projects such as the high-speed rail line to Singapore, and a US$14 billion rail project connecting the country’s east and west coasts, state news agency Bernama reported on Tuesday (May 22), citing the economic affairs minister.
— Channel NewsAsia

MAS to simplify rules for market operators and speed up launch of new products
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) intends to simplify rules to encourage more exchanges and also to make it easier to launch new derivatives products.
— The Business Times

Over $40 million of fuel stolen from Shell refinery, Singapore court docs show
Singapore authorities have levied new charges against a group of fuel thieves operating at Royal Dutch Shell’s oil refinery in the city-state, raising the value of the stolen fuel to over $40 million from around $10 million in earlier charges, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday.
— Reuters

Singapore rolls out Open Innovation Platform to support innovative solutions
The Open Innovation Platform is a virtual crowd-sourcing platform that aims to facilitate innovation and narrow the gap between research and commercialisation.
— Open Gov Asia

Trump says Singapore summit with Kim Jong Un could be delayed
US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday (May 22) his landmark summit with Kim Jong Un may be delayed, but insisted the North Korean leader is “serious” about denuclearisation.
— Channel NewsAsia

Once Singapore’s star company, Hyflux seeks court protection
Iconic water treatment business Hyflux has applied for Singaporean court protection to begin a debt and business restructuring designed to cope with the firm’s cash constraints, the company said Tuesday night.
— Nikkei Asian Review (metered paywall)

PM Lee expects next PM to emerge before next General Election in 2021
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke at length about a number of issues during the debate on the President’s Address in Parliament last week.
— Mothership

Food, data focus of $60m Singapore collaboration
Data and the future of food as we know it are the focus of a major collaboration with Singaporean scientists that’s been given a near-$60m boost by the Government.
— NZ Herald

Pope appoints papal representative to Singapore, Vietnam
Pope Francis on Monday appointed Polish Archbishop Marek Zalewski as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore who will also be the non-resident Pontifical Representative to Vietnam.
— Vatican News

Singapore final first quarter GDP growth seen in line with initial estimates
Singapore’s economy is expected to have expanded modestly in the first quarter, a Reuters poll found on Tuesday, in line with initial estimates, although slowing growth in factory activity and dwindling electronic exports could cloud the outlook.
— The Edge Market

Singapore government withdraws funding from troubled Asian TV Awards
The Singaporean government has withdrawn its sponsorship of the Asian Television Awards.
— Mumbrella Asia

New rules making it easier for young couples to get flats kick in
Young couples who are full-time students or national servicemen (NSFs) can apply for a new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat under the May Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, which opened on Tuesday (May 22).
— Today Online

Smart technology key to zero waste economy
Smart technology will be the key to achieving Singapore’s goal of becoming a “zero waste” society by 2030, and create new jobs in the process, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, said yesterday.
— The New Paper

IMDA launches GoSecure to boost cybersecurity capabilities of local ICT companies
GoSecure is designed for Singapore and Singapore-based digital solution companies to benefit from Security-by-Design Consultation and Vulnerability Assessment Testing.
— Open Gov Asia

LTA issues stricter rules on inward-facing cameras to protect commuters’ privacy
Taxis, private hire cars, and buses will have to seek the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) approval before installing inward-facing video cameras in their vehicles.
— Today Online

Netizens completely disagree with Law Minister; insist that family background greatly affects success in Singapore
On Sunday, 20 May, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said that it is possible for a child to succeed in Singapore regardless of his family background.
— The Independent Singapore

Sit in Starbucks without buying a drink? Maybe not in Singapore
While Starbucks in the United States has formally implemented a policy to treat everyone who walks into their cafes as a customer, whether or not they buy a drink, the revised policy does not apply to its outlets in Singapore.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia’s Chinese businesses urged to step up collaboration with Singapore
Chinese businesses in Malaysia and Singapore should step up collaboration, especially in exploring opportunities in the growing landscape of infrastructure and related construction within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region, said the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI).
— The Edge Market

Inward-facing cameras in taxis must not record audio
Taxis and private-hire cars can be equipped with inward-facing video cameras from June 22, when new rules governing their use kick in.
— The New Paper

2 Indonesian men arrested for trying to enter Singapore by boat
Two men who tried to sail on a wooden craft into Singapore on Monday night (May 21) were arrested for unlawful entry into Singapore, the police and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
— The Straits Times

Feature photo Michael Coghlan

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 May 23 added by Leakhena Khat on May 23, 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.