Singapore morning news for February 13

Buses prove just the ticket as SBS Transit profit soars 70% to $80m
Transport operator SBS Transit posted a 70 per cent surge in earnings to $80.1 million as new government bus contracts bolstered its bottomline.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

SINGAPORE VOWS TO PURSUE AMERICAN MAN MIKHY FARRERA BROCHEZ OVER HIV DATA LEAK AS PUBLIC DISQUIET BREWS
Singapore on Tuesday vowed to go after an American man accused of publishing data on thousands of people with HIV, even as the government denied covering up the leak despite knowing about it for almost three years.
— SCMP

S$0 fee for 3 ERP gantries along Upper Bukit Timah Road and Marina Coastal Expressway
Implemented on Monday, February 18, 2019, three Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries will allow motorists to pass for free during peak hours.
— The Independent

Dedicated body to level up corporate governance standards
IN A first for Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) – the country’s apex financial regulator – has established a permanent, industry-led body responsible for “levelling up corporate governance standards and practices” here.
— The Business Times

All cigarettes will now look the same w/ plain packaging bill: Will this finally sink tobacco industry in Singapore?
With the untimely deaths of over 2,000 Singaporeans annually from diseases linked to smoking, amendments to the Tobacco Bill were passed containing new restrictions on cigarette packaging and introduced to Singapore beginning 11 February.
— The Independent

Parliament Briefs: 900 families given third HDB loan
The Housing Board granted 900 families a third housing loan last year – a fifth of the 4,500 appeals it received.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Middle managers may be overconfident in their ability to adapt to industry changes: EIU
Middle managers are aware of the changes coming to their industries, but they may be overconfident in their ability to adapt, according to a report by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
— The Edge Singapore

Gan Kim Yong explains why HIV Registry leak was not disclosed earlier, apologises once more
The Minister of Health also clarified why the leak was not made public earlier.
— Mothership

APAC Realty kept at ‘buy’ with 72 cents target by RHB as it deepens regional foothold
APAC Realty, the real estate agency, is deepening its South-East Asian presence with the acquisition of the ERA master franchise operations for Indonesia and Thailand.
— The Edge Singapore

A Singapore Airlines captain has been grounded after a flight attendant sat in cockpit to take a photo
A Singapore Airlines captain has been grounded since Feb 1 after he allowed a flight attendant to sit on the first officer’s chair and took a photo for her.
— Airlive

Singapore forms advocacy body to level up corporate governance standards
SINGAPORE has its first permanent, industry-led body, responsible for advocating good corporate governance (CG) practices in the city state.
— The Business Times

Singapore’s Zilingo raises US$226m to expand fashion site
Zilingo Pte, a Singapore-based online fashion marketplace, raised $226 million to fund an expansion into the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia.
— The Star Online

Singapore retail sales slide 6% in December for full-year 0.7% drop
WHITHER the festive spirit? Retail sales in Singapore fell in December 2018, although eateries did better, according to the latest data from the Department of Statistics (SingStat) on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

HDB launches 3,739 flats in first sales exercise of the year
The first Housing Board sales exercise this year includes two projects in Kallang/Whampoa, which experts expect to be popular despite having prices that are just shy of those of resale flats in the area.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

WP’s Pritam Singh to MINDEF: No organisation ‘can realistically promise zero fatalities or training incidents’
The head of The Worker’s Party (WP), Pritam Singh, said in Parliament on Monday, February 11, that the aim of the country’s Defence Ministry’s (MINDEF) to achieve no training deaths during National Service, is both ‘unrealistic’ and ‘wishful’.
— The Independent

Government to consider legislation against foreign interference: Edwin Tong
To ensure that Singapore does not fall prey to foreign interference and information campaigns, the Government will consider updating the legal framework to respond swiftly to such threats, said Senior Minister of State for Law and Health Edwin Tong in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

AirAsia snobs MAHB call to remove alleged ‘misleading’ claims about the airport from its website
Considering the mediation regarding the passenger service charge controversy did not push through, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) is currently urging AirAsia to delete from its website allegedly derogatory articles about the airports firm.
— The Independent

Interfaith champion Siti Noor Mastura named The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2018
A young champion for interfaith work has received The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award for 2018.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Oil up nearly 2 percent on Saudi and OPEC cuts
Oil prices edged up on Tuesday amid OPEC-led supply cuts and U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela, although surging U.S. production and concerns over economic growth kept markets in check.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

New Singapore Food Agency to make sure S’poreans won’t go hungry
The SFA will assume responsibilities for food safety from AVA, NEA and HSA.
— Mothership

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen seeks to reassure parents of sons’ safety during NS training
In Parliament on Monday, February 11, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen spoke reassuring words to parents worrying about the safety of their sons, telling them at each soldier has the right to put unsafe training to a stop, as he sees fit.
— The Independent

SIA to add third daily service to Osaka in April
SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) on Tuesday said it will add a third daily service to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport in April, in a bid to meet growing demand for travel between Singapore and Japan.
— The Business Times

JTC food factory goes on sale with $18m guide price
A JTC detached food factory next to the future Enterprise MRT Station on the Jurong Region Line has been put on sale by private treaty at a guide price of $18 million.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

HPH Trust declares 24% lower 2H DPU of 8.48 HK cents as 4Q sinks into the red on impairment losses
Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPHT) reversed into losses attributable to unitholders of HK$12.1 billion ($2.1 billion), or HK138.97 cents, in 4Q18 compared to earnings of HK$0.24 billion in 4Q17.
— The Edge Singapore

Many welcome move to decriminalise attempted suicide but say more needs to be done for those at risk
Many have welcomed the move to decriminalise attempted suicide although they still saw it as only the first step in the right direction.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

SBS Transit posts 70% higher FY18 earnings of $80 mil on revenue surge
SBS Transit announced earnings of $80.1 million for FY18, up 70% y-o-y from its FY17 earnings of $47.1 million due to higher revenue.
— The Edge Singapore

NParks to become lead agency for animal and wildlife management
From Apr 1, all matters to do with wildlife, as well as non-food plants and animals, will be under the purview of the National Parks Board (NParks).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SMU to help students design their purpose-driven education
University students are usually asked to declare their majors at the end of the first year. But Singapore Management University (SMU) is looking at getting its students to declare their life missions.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

V-shaped recovery needed by Venture to regain investor confidence: CGS-CIMB
Venture Corp will need to deliver on its guidance of a V-shaped recovery in 4Q18 to regain investors’ confidence given the unexpected earnings miss in 3Q18, says CIMB-CGS Securities.
— The Edge Singapore

These 2 Singapore REITS Have Delivered Strong Performances Recently
These two REITs delivered good performances in their latest quarterly results.
— The Motley Fool

SMU to help students design their own purpose-driven education
University students are usually asked to declare their majors at the end of the first year. But Singapore Management University is looking at getting its students to declare their life missions.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Calls for Li Shengwu to return and fight for Singapore resound as Lee Hsien Yang shares an old picture of baby Shengwu with LKY
Several Singaporeans are calling on founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s grandson Li Shengwu to return to Singapore and fight for the nation. These calls come as his father, Lee Hsien Yang, shared a old photograph on the occasion of Shengwu’s birthday, last Monday.
— The Independent

Parking.sg app developed by Li Hongyi’s team used 1.1 million times a month
Use of parking coupons has dropped to less than a third since the app launched.
— Mothership

HDB launches 3,162 BTO flats in first sales exercise of the year
The launch comprises BTO flats in the non-mature towns of Jurong West and Sengkang, as well as the mature estate of Kallang Whampoa.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

3,739 flats released in first HDB launch of 2019
The Build-To-Order flats will be in Jurong West, Sengkang and Kallang Whampoa.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

800 Super posts 25% drop in 2Q earnings to $1.9 mil on higher expenses
Waste disposal company 800 Super Holdings saw its earnings fall 24.8% to $1.9 million for the 2Q19 ended December, compared to earnings of $2.5 million a year ago.
— The Edge Singapore

New business premiums for life insurance sector rose 3% to $4.2b in 2018
The life insurance industry posted a 3 per cent growth in weighted new business premiums to $4.2 billion for the whole of 2018, compared with 2017.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

DBS partners SMU to launch sustainability programme
DBS and Singapore Management University (SMU) have partnered on a first-of-its-kind comprehensive initiative in Southeast Asia that focuses on promoting and growing sustainability.
— The Edge Singapore

Oxley posts 33% drop in 2Q earnings to $45.2 mil
Oxley Holdings has reported a 33% decline in earnings to $45.2 million for the 2Q19 ended December, from $68.0 million a year ago.
— The Edge Singapore

iX Biopharma 2Q losses widen 11% to $3.6 mil
Specialty pharmaceutical and nutraceutical firm iX Biopharma has reported a net loss of $3.6 million in 2Q19, an increase of 11% compared to a net loss of $3.2 million in 2Q18.
— The Edge Singapore

Feature photo USAID Asia

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Women and Girls in Science February, 11.

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 13 added by Piseth Pov on February 13, 2019
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Piseth Pov

Piseth Pov graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics Science from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh in 2017, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Communications from Western University, Phnom Penh, the same year.