Singapore morning news for June 6

Singapore vulnerable to foreign election influence: Expert
Singapore has several ingredients a foreign power can exploit to influence election results or even policies, French political analyst Fabrice Pothier said.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore could go into recession in 2020
Singapore could go into a recession in 2020 as the signs are there and if external conditions continue to deteriorate.
— Mothership

Diplomatic rift mounting between Cambodia and SG over PM Lee’s remark on FB
It has been reported that the Cambodia’s Defence Minister General Tea Banh and Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) legislator Hun Many have both openly rebutted PM Lee Hsien Loong for his remarks regarding the “invasion” of Cambodia by the Vietnamese military in its bid to oust the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979.
— The Online Citizen

Mikhy Brochez found guilty of trying to extort Singapore government in HIV registry leak trial
A Kentucky court on Tuesday (Jun 4) convicted the American at the centre of Singapore’s HIV registry leak of trying to extort the Singapore government by threatening to release stolen registry data more widely.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Hong Leong Finance doubles down on core SME segment
LOCAL companies will likely face a profit slowdown this year on the back of the US-China trade war, which shows no signs of easing, as well as property cooling measures that kicked in last July, said Ang Tang Chor, president of Hong Leong Finance.
— The Business Times

Strict rules on use of medical cannabis: S’pore
The use of pharmaceutical cannabinoid products in Singapore comes under strict frameworks and regulations and does not diminish the country’s zero-tolerance position against drugs, the Home Affairs and Health ministries have said. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singer appeals for help for kin ‘trapped’ in Lebanon
Home-grown singer Taufik Batisah’s cousin and her daughter are trapped in Lebanon and unable to return to Singapore, the artist said in a Facebook post and video on Monday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

US firm says its high-tech farming methods could benefit Singapore
American company Corteva Agriscience is the latest big agriculture business to list in New York as it aims to create modified crops and technologies to help farmers worldwide, including in Asia.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Rare Kanyao durian in Thailand sells for S$65,000
A single Kanyao durian has sold for 1.5 million baht (S$65,221). It was auctioned off at the King of Durian festival in Nonthaburi, central Thailand on June 1, 2019.
— Mothership

Monk’s Hill Ventures invests in cyber security startup Horangi
THE cyber security challenge for South-east Asia’s vast sea of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a deep-seated lack of both resources and know-how in the field, says Monk’s Hill Ventures’ co-founder and managing partner Lim Kuo-Yi.
— The Business Times

New HDB flats to come with condo-like fittings
New Housing Board flats will now come with condominium-like finishings at a fraction of the cost.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Officers find rooms full of branded goods
When officers of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) confiscated the luxury goods Linda Lee bought with her ill-gotten gains, they had to transport them in two trucks.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Several primary schools switch to mixed-ability classes
While many primary schools are sticking with the traditional approach of grouping pupils by academic achievement, some are moving away from sorting pupils by how well they do in exams.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Food caterer downgraded after 18 fall ill at Xmas party
Another caterer has had its food hygiene rating downgraded after a food poisoning incident last December, according to a notice on the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) website.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Move over Google, here’s Boogle: Two Singaporeans have founded a tech start-up with the ambition to be the next Google
Two Singaporeans have founded a tech start-up with the ambition to be the next Google and more.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Desperate debt collector kneels, begs and sings aloud outside debtor’s office
A video of a desperate debt collector kneeling outside an office, before begging and singing aloud in an attempt to get the debtor to repay his loan, is circulating on social media.
— The Independent

Political analyst accuses PM Lee of being “disrespectful to Khmer Rouge victims”
Cambodian political analyst Leap Chanthavy has accused Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of being disrespectful to the victims of the Khmer Rouge, in an op-ed published yesterday (3 June).
— The Independent

1 Key Reason Behind This REIT’s Total Returns of 185% Since its IPO
Here’s one key reason why this Singapore REIT produced total unitholder returns of nearly 200% in less than 10 years.
— The Motley Fool

Developers bank on improving Aussie property market
SINGAPORE developers are looking to a turnaround in the Australian property market, with an easing of credit controls and lower interest rates.
— The Business Times

Heritage tours going the extra mile to reinvent themselves
Heritage tours have long been a part of the tourism mix but they are captivating an entire new audience with a more hands-on, behind-the-scenes approach.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

CPIB gives peek into solving major cases
In a graft case last year, a forklift operator collected bribes of between 10 cents and $1 from truck drivers to let them jump ahead of others to pick up or drop off containers.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Bus driver in Jurong crash with cyclist arrested
A bus driver has been arrested after a female cyclist was injured in an accident in Jurong on Tuesday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

President launches $20 commemorative note to mark bicentenary
A new $20 note that features Singapore’s pioneers such as philanthropist Tan Kah Kee and scholar and writer Munshi Abdullah was launched by President Halimah Yacob at the Istana’s Hari Raya Puasa open house yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

DPM Heng, Vivian attend Hari Raya open house hosted by Johor Sultan
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan attended the Hari Raya open house hosted by the Sultan of Johor yesterday at the Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Baru.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Condo-like fittings welcomed, but MP stresses need to ensure durability
Interior designers, would-be home owners and MPs have welcomed the Housing Board’s move to include better finishings in new flats, saying the move raises the bar for what public housing around the world should look like.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

She traded secret documents for cash, luxury hotel stays
She traded confidential US Navy documents in exchange for cash and luxurious hotel stays but remained tight-lipped about her crimes.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Commission clears international school’s random drug test policy
A test case decided by the Personal Data Protection Commission has clarified how random drug tests for international school students stand with data protection laws here.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Vietnam joins in to condemn PM Lee’s online remark
The VN Express reported today (5 Jun) that Ms Le Thi Thu Hang, spokeswoman for Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Vietnam “regrets” that PM Lee’s recent online statement did not reflect history objectively, causing negative public opinions. Ms Hang said her ministry …
— The Online Citizen

Taufik Batisah seeks help for his niece stranded in Lebanon
You may have heard of Taufik Batisah who won the first season of Singapore Idol. He is once again making rounds on social media for his appeal for donations and assistance to bring his two-year-old niece and cousin currently trapped in Lebanon and unable to return home. Taufik went to …
— The Independent

Robocops in action at Changi Airport as traffic wardens
Automation may just be the way of the future as robots are now being used to help traffic flow at Changi Airport. At the departure and arrival pick-up points at the airport, traffic flow is a constant problem because of cars parking, idling for lengthy periods of time and stopping where they are …
— The Independent

Film-maker Martyn See questions IMDA for not taking action against Mothership for releasing a political film when it’s forbidden by the law
Renowned local film-maker Martyn See took to his Facebook on Tuesday (4 June) to question the possibility for Mothership to release a political video on its site. Mr See was referring to a video published by the online site on its Facebook page where it had a free-and-easy interview with Senior …
— The Online Citizen

Muslims urged to keep building strong ties with others
The Muslim community should continue to build relationships with people of different races, languages and religions, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, as Muslims everywhere celebrated the end of the holy month of fasting.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Girl, 6, dies after falling from 11th-storey flat in Ang Mo Kio
One person heard a six-year-old girl crying alone. Another saw her peering out of the bedroom window.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Victim in sex scam probed over false kidnap report
After falling victim to a credit-for-sex scam, a man tried to cover up his loss by allegedly making a false police report.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

WP Secretary General Pritam Singh commends father who built ‘mini-mart’ out of cardboard for daughter
It doesn’t take the latest technology and expensive materials for parents to promote creativity and family-bonding time with their children. One parent in Singapore built a ‘mini-mart’ for his daughter in their Eunos home using a big cardboard box and some toilet rolls and food …
— The Independent

Time is precious, and faster business transactions are the cornerstone of a Smart Nation
MyInfo aims to provide a secure and convenient way to share personal information, thus avoiding unnecessary data entry When it comes to dealing with customers and partners, many small businesses are still relying on paperwork in their daily operations today. Even for companies that have gone …
— e27

Feature photo MoveHappy

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo acknowledges World Bicycle Day, June 3.

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 June 6 added by John Le Fevre on June 6, 2019
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.