Cheers!
05/08/2017
04/08/2017
Beg-packing: Is travel a privilege or a right?
'Beg-packing' phenomenon provokes backlash
The growing number of westerners begging for cash to travel raises ethical questions.
It's a question the phenomenon of "beg-packing" - a newly coined term for setting up camp on a pavement to raise funds for travel - has been raising worldwide.
Begpackers are becoming an increasingly common sight on the streets of South East Asia, The Observers at France 24 reported. While some busk or sell their holiday snaps for cash, others simply hold up signs asking passersby to support their travels.
read more
Travellers 'Beg-Packing' In SE Asia Prompt Social Media Backlash
Wan Chai, Hong Kong. "I am traveling around Asia without money, please support my trip." (Photo: Rama Kulkarni via gal-dem.com)
Prepare yourself for the most annoying phenomenon of the week... A contraction of backpacking and begging, the concept of 'beg-packing' refers to western travellers on low budgets deciding to set up camp on pavements around the world and begging locals to fund their plane tickets.
Strumming a guitar or selling a few knick knacks, the careless tourists probably mean no harm (they probably also see themselves as delightfully bohemian) but this kind of behaviour is not necessarily viewed in the same way across the world.
As France 24 reports, people all around Southeast Asia, from Malaysia to Hong Kong, Thailand to Singapore, are taking to social media to criticise the entitled travellers, usually seen armed with signs saying things like "Support our trip around the world".
read more
Westerners have come under fire for "begpacking"
The increasingly familiar sight of white tourists begging for money on the streets of Thailand to support their travels is drawing some serious criticism – but should we be so quick to judge?
The trend of western backpackers busking or begging to fund their travels, dubbed “begpacking”, has been getting a lot of attention – and not in a good way. Seen mainly in South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, the practice has come under scrutiny of late, with detractors branding it “lazy” and “disgusting” on social media.
Pictures have circulated online of white travellers selling postcards and playing the guitar with signs saying: “I am travelling around Asia without money. Please support my trip,” and locals and commentators alike have shared their anger at the increase in western people begging.
read more
‘Beg-packers’ are begging on the streets to fund round-the-world travels
One appeal, which states ‘support our trip around the world’, is propped up by a pricey DSLR camera
There are a few reasons in life why people may genuinely need to beg on the streets. Whether that be that they’re ill, poor or even just needing funds for survival.
However some people are appealing to the public for an entirely different reason – one that many are calling ‘disrespectful’.
Yes, travellers around southeast Asia are actually now begging for money to finance their lifestyle choices alongside some of the region’s poorest citizens. The Western backpackers – who have been branded ‘beg-packers’ on social media – have been singing in the streets and even selling postcards in a bid to fund their trips.
read more
Woman asks people to fund her '$10k spiritual journey around the world'
A woman has apparently launched a crowd-funding effort in the hopes of raising $10,000 (£8,000) to fund her “spiritual journey around the world.”
Becca Gronski, a self-proclaimed “spiritual teacher, life coach, reiki and crystal healer” from the US, set up the GoFundMe page in February to realise her dream of helping people achieve their potential.
Ms Gronski said the money would be used to fund her travels, write a book about her journey and give back to communities by sharing her unique skills for free.
read more
Famous Beggar Benjamin Holst Arrested In Surabaya
World renowned beggar Benjamin Holst is a folk hero with an abnormally large leg. He has been able to travel the world and party with cash made by panhandling, but recently he was arrested in Surabaya.
Infamous German con man Benjamin Holst — also known as ‘the party beggar with the big foot’ — was apprehended by local law enforcement in Surabaya on Sunday, September 11.
Holst is a well-known scam artist in Europe. Before showing up in the City of Heroes, he was spotted at a traffic light in Tabanan, Bali on Sunday, September 4. Someone took a video of Holst, which ended up going viral on social media.
read more
Foreign backpackers hit the streets of KL for money
What do you do when you run low on money while travelling? A new wave of foreign tourists is hitting the streets of Kuala Lumpur to make a quick buck.
The Star Online toured Bukit Bintang on a humid Tuesday night and counted seven tourists asking passers-by to help support their travels.
Among them, two were selling caricature drawings, one was peddling aerosol spray paintings, two were busking, and one was seen panhandling.
read more
WHY ASKING ASIAN PEOPLE TO FUND YOUR TRAVELS ABROAD IS WRONG
For some context, we live in Hong Kong — I’m South Asian and have lived here since I was eight, and my partner is native to this city. Upon seeing this, we were both completely grossed out, but not at all surprised. Unfortunately, Hong Kong has a pretty solid population of entitled white tourists and obnoxious white residents.
Outside of the specific context of Hong Kong, I want to note that white people demanding money from people of colour to support their whimsical journeys of self discovery (though they will completely lack any reflection on their whiteness and the privileges that come with it) is appalling no matter where it takes place. But in this article, I want to go into why the notion of “travelling around Asia” and asking for funds for it in Hong Kong, specifically, is fucked up. And it has a great deal to do with colonialism.
Hong Kong’s own fairly recent history with Colonialism is very painful. The British occupation of this area, which went on from 1841 to 1997 (though Hong Kong was also briefly occupied by Japan during WW2), involved wars, segregation, and the exploitation of local people in various forms, including a forced market of opium addiction. The west, colonialism, and white supremacy have already taken from this place. For a white person, whether or not they be British, to be asking for FREE MONEY here is insensitive and deplorable.
read more
Beg-packing: Brit’s GoFundMe panned for asking netizens to fund Southeast Asia travels
On Tuesday, Brit backpacker Jacob Stroner created a GoFundMe campaign asking readers to cough up cash to fund his travels through Southeast Asia.
The long entry, titled “Travelling disaster,” tells of Stroner’s numerous passport, visa, and flight mishaps due to a damaged passport that led to him being held in detention cells in both Suvarnabhumi Airport and a Vietnamese airport and blowing through his savings on flight tickets he could not use since his passport was not valid for travel.
He’s now back at home in Overton, England, but hopes to get back to Asia with a new passport in hand as soon as possible. And he’d like you to pay for it.
related: Some young Caucasians have been panhandling at Tampines to fund their trip around the world
read more
Notorious begpacker barred from entering S’pore, goes around the world begging
Begpacking, a play on backpacking, is a newly coined term which refers to a fresh breed of backpackers who go around the world begging for money to fund their travels.
For reference, here’s a pair of tourists busking illegally and selling postcards at Tampines bus interchange on April 4.
They caught the attention of one Twitter user, who was irritated that they would put themselves in the same position as real beggars who actually need the money for survival.
read more
'Gap yah' backpackers begging for money should be ashamed of themselves
Take a walk down Khao San Road in Bangkok and you’ll see people lining the streets asking for money. Only they’re not homeless locals struggling to feed their families; they’re gap yah backpackers who spent their week’s budget on too many drinks in the hostel bar #fail #YOLO.
There has been a recent rise in ‘begpackers’ - that’s backpackers who are begging - across some of the poorest countries in the world. Their attempts to fund their trips via begging, busking and occasionally selling their holiday photos have been snapped and shared on social media by more socially aware travellers - and disgusted locals.
Most of the begpackers have been spotted in South East Asia, along the well-trodden traveller’s trail of Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam and across into Malaysia. One woman from Singapore, Maisarah Abu Samah, was shocked to see two white couples selling postcards and playing music for money.
read more
You might need to produce 20,000THB in cash the next time you visit Thailand
The next time you visit Bangkok, Phuket or anywhere else in Thailand on a tourist visa, you might need to produce 20,000THB (S$814.60) in cash.
According to a report by news portal Thaivisa, foreigners have been refused entry for not having this cash when entering Thailand. This increased scrutiny is to crack down on foreigners who officials suspect are not genuine tourists and who may be working in Thailand illegally.
In general, Singaporeans are entitled to a 30-days visa exemption when visiting Thailand. As for tourist visas, they may be granted to short term visitors who intend to stay in Thailand for 60 days per trip or less. The Single-Entry Tourist Visa is valid for entering Thailand once within 3 months from the date of application.
read more
The growing number of westerners begging for cash to travel raises ethical questions.
It's a question the phenomenon of "beg-packing" - a newly coined term for setting up camp on a pavement to raise funds for travel - has been raising worldwide.
Begpackers are becoming an increasingly common sight on the streets of South East Asia, The Observers at France 24 reported. While some busk or sell their holiday snaps for cash, others simply hold up signs asking passersby to support their travels.
read more
Travellers 'Beg-Packing' In SE Asia Prompt Social Media Backlash
Prepare yourself for the most annoying phenomenon of the week... A contraction of backpacking and begging, the concept of 'beg-packing' refers to western travellers on low budgets deciding to set up camp on pavements around the world and begging locals to fund their plane tickets.
Strumming a guitar or selling a few knick knacks, the careless tourists probably mean no harm (they probably also see themselves as delightfully bohemian) but this kind of behaviour is not necessarily viewed in the same way across the world.
As France 24 reports, people all around Southeast Asia, from Malaysia to Hong Kong, Thailand to Singapore, are taking to social media to criticise the entitled travellers, usually seen armed with signs saying things like "Support our trip around the world".
read more
Westerners have come under fire for "begpacking"
The increasingly familiar sight of white tourists begging for money on the streets of Thailand to support their travels is drawing some serious criticism – but should we be so quick to judge?
The trend of western backpackers busking or begging to fund their travels, dubbed “begpacking”, has been getting a lot of attention – and not in a good way. Seen mainly in South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, the practice has come under scrutiny of late, with detractors branding it “lazy” and “disgusting” on social media.
Pictures have circulated online of white travellers selling postcards and playing the guitar with signs saying: “I am travelling around Asia without money. Please support my trip,” and locals and commentators alike have shared their anger at the increase in western people begging.
read more
‘Beg-packers’ are begging on the streets to fund round-the-world travels
There are a few reasons in life why people may genuinely need to beg on the streets. Whether that be that they’re ill, poor or even just needing funds for survival.
However some people are appealing to the public for an entirely different reason – one that many are calling ‘disrespectful’.
Yes, travellers around southeast Asia are actually now begging for money to finance their lifestyle choices alongside some of the region’s poorest citizens. The Western backpackers – who have been branded ‘beg-packers’ on social media – have been singing in the streets and even selling postcards in a bid to fund their trips.
read more
Woman asks people to fund her '$10k spiritual journey around the world'
Becca Gronski is aiming to raise $10,000 to travel the world Facebook
A woman has apparently launched a crowd-funding effort in the hopes of raising $10,000 (£8,000) to fund her “spiritual journey around the world.”
Becca Gronski, a self-proclaimed “spiritual teacher, life coach, reiki and crystal healer” from the US, set up the GoFundMe page in February to realise her dream of helping people achieve their potential.
Ms Gronski said the money would be used to fund her travels, write a book about her journey and give back to communities by sharing her unique skills for free.
read more
Famous Beggar Benjamin Holst Arrested In Surabaya
World renowned beggar Benjamin Holst is a folk hero with an abnormally large leg. He has been able to travel the world and party with cash made by panhandling, but recently he was arrested in Surabaya.
Infamous German con man Benjamin Holst — also known as ‘the party beggar with the big foot’ — was apprehended by local law enforcement in Surabaya on Sunday, September 11.
Holst is a well-known scam artist in Europe. Before showing up in the City of Heroes, he was spotted at a traffic light in Tabanan, Bali on Sunday, September 4. Someone took a video of Holst, which ended up going viral on social media.
read more
Foreign backpackers hit the streets of KL for money
What do you do when you run low on money while travelling? A new wave of foreign tourists is hitting the streets of Kuala Lumpur to make a quick buck.
The Star Online toured Bukit Bintang on a humid Tuesday night and counted seven tourists asking passers-by to help support their travels.
Among them, two were selling caricature drawings, one was peddling aerosol spray paintings, two were busking, and one was seen panhandling.
read more
WHY ASKING ASIAN PEOPLE TO FUND YOUR TRAVELS ABROAD IS WRONG
For some context, we live in Hong Kong — I’m South Asian and have lived here since I was eight, and my partner is native to this city. Upon seeing this, we were both completely grossed out, but not at all surprised. Unfortunately, Hong Kong has a pretty solid population of entitled white tourists and obnoxious white residents.
Outside of the specific context of Hong Kong, I want to note that white people demanding money from people of colour to support their whimsical journeys of self discovery (though they will completely lack any reflection on their whiteness and the privileges that come with it) is appalling no matter where it takes place. But in this article, I want to go into why the notion of “travelling around Asia” and asking for funds for it in Hong Kong, specifically, is fucked up. And it has a great deal to do with colonialism.
Hong Kong’s own fairly recent history with Colonialism is very painful. The British occupation of this area, which went on from 1841 to 1997 (though Hong Kong was also briefly occupied by Japan during WW2), involved wars, segregation, and the exploitation of local people in various forms, including a forced market of opium addiction. The west, colonialism, and white supremacy have already taken from this place. For a white person, whether or not they be British, to be asking for FREE MONEY here is insensitive and deplorable.
read more
Beg-packing: Brit’s GoFundMe panned for asking netizens to fund Southeast Asia travels
On Tuesday, Brit backpacker Jacob Stroner created a GoFundMe campaign asking readers to cough up cash to fund his travels through Southeast Asia.
The long entry, titled “Travelling disaster,” tells of Stroner’s numerous passport, visa, and flight mishaps due to a damaged passport that led to him being held in detention cells in both Suvarnabhumi Airport and a Vietnamese airport and blowing through his savings on flight tickets he could not use since his passport was not valid for travel.
He’s now back at home in Overton, England, but hopes to get back to Asia with a new passport in hand as soon as possible. And he’d like you to pay for it.
related: Some young Caucasians have been panhandling at Tampines to fund their trip around the world
read more
Notorious begpacker barred from entering S’pore, goes around the world begging
Begpacking, a play on backpacking, is a newly coined term which refers to a fresh breed of backpackers who go around the world begging for money to fund their travels.
For reference, here’s a pair of tourists busking illegally and selling postcards at Tampines bus interchange on April 4.
They caught the attention of one Twitter user, who was irritated that they would put themselves in the same position as real beggars who actually need the money for survival.
read more
'Gap yah' backpackers begging for money should be ashamed of themselves
There has been a recent rise in ‘begpackers’ - that’s backpackers who are begging - across some of the poorest countries in the world. Their attempts to fund their trips via begging, busking and occasionally selling their holiday photos have been snapped and shared on social media by more socially aware travellers - and disgusted locals.
Most of the begpackers have been spotted in South East Asia, along the well-trodden traveller’s trail of Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam and across into Malaysia. One woman from Singapore, Maisarah Abu Samah, was shocked to see two white couples selling postcards and playing music for money.
read more
You might need to produce 20,000THB in cash the next time you visit Thailand
The next time you visit Bangkok, Phuket or anywhere else in Thailand on a tourist visa, you might need to produce 20,000THB (S$814.60) in cash.
According to a report by news portal Thaivisa, foreigners have been refused entry for not having this cash when entering Thailand. This increased scrutiny is to crack down on foreigners who officials suspect are not genuine tourists and who may be working in Thailand illegally.
In general, Singaporeans are entitled to a 30-days visa exemption when visiting Thailand. As for tourist visas, they may be granted to short term visitors who intend to stay in Thailand for 60 days per trip or less. The Single-Entry Tourist Visa is valid for entering Thailand once within 3 months from the date of application.
read more
03/08/2017
3 ways to make an extra $1,500 a month when you retire
When it comes to financial planning, small and specific goals are best. Aspiring to make $15,000 or $25,000 a month without working is all well and good, but don’t forget to take concrete steps to secure a realistic amount. With some discipline and prudence, it’s not unrealistic to aim for an extra $1,500 a month (on top of CPF payouts) after retirement. Here are three ways:
First of all, why an extra $1,500 a month?
An extra $1,500 a month may not seem dramatic but its effects on retirement can be life changing.
Consider that the average Singaporean, who retires with the minimum sum of $161,000 in CPF, will only get around $943 to $1,017 per month (estimated payout via CPF Basic). That comes to about $33.90 per day.
If that seems enough to you, you’re forgetting to account for the effect of inflation.
Let’s assume an inflation rate of three per cent per annum, and look ahead 25 years. At that rate, something that costs a dollar today will, by rough estimate, cost around $2.09 by the year 2042. This means your purchasing power decreases by around 52.2 per cent.
Now the effect is easier to visualise if you work backwards, so let’s do that.
At a loss of 52.2 percent of purchasing power, your CPF payout of $1,017 per month would effectively be around $530.90 today. If you were retired right now, with that kind of purchasing power, how pleasant would life be?
You would be living on around $17.70 a day. That’s survivable, but it’s far from luxurious. Beyond three square meals and the occasional indulgence, there’s not much to look forward to for the rest of your years.
That’s why finding a way to make an extra $1,500 a month at retirement is important. $1,500 is effectively an extra $783 a month if you take away the 52.2 percent reduction in purchasing power. That’s enough to maybe go on vacation twice a year, replace your television when it’s broken, take up those music lessons you always wanted, and so forth.
The best part is, $1,500 is a small enough sum to be realistic and achievable.
There are three ways you can get it:
- Invest in reliable, dividend-paying stocks
- Constantly reallocate funds to your CPF SA
- Don’t downsize to anything less than a three-room
read more
02/08/2017
Singapore to JB MRT by 2024
The Ministry of Transport has indicated the government intends to proceed with the four-km Rapid Transit System (RTS) that connects Johor Bharu and Woodlands in Singapore.
But Malaysia may not be able to sign a joint venture (JV) agreement with Singapore before June 30 this year as the government requires more time to study the project details, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said at a press conference after his visit to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) today. "Due to the consistent heavy traffic, the government has on principle agreed to proceed with the project at a cost of RM4 billion, and we will try to expedite the progress while reducing the cost.
"The project will be undertaken by a JV between Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and SMRT Corp Ltd, and the JV agreement was supposed to be signed by June 30 this year, but we think we might need another month to evaluate the details of this project before we sign the JV agreement," he said.
read more
Malaysia to continue with JB-S'pore RTS link but looking at ways to reduce costs: Transport Minister
Artist's impression of the Woodlands North Station along the Rapid Transit System link. FOTO: LTA
Malaysia will go ahead with plans to build a cross-border MRT line between Johor Baru & Singapore, but wants to look at ways to lower costs, said newly minted Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
The government has agreed to continue with the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link, a 4km line that will connect Bukit Chagar station in Johor Baru to Woodlands North, he told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (May 30).
"Of course, we will review the agreements. We want to review the terms and conditions, & the Finance Ministry will look into how to reduce the cost of the project," said Mr Loke. "But we are committed to continue with the project."
read more
S$1.34 billion Johor-Singapore RTS link to go ahead as planned: Malaysian Transport Minister
The Malaysian government will not scrap the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link) project for now, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Friday (June 1).
But Mr Loke said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration will postpone signing the joint venture until the project’s feasibility study is presented to the Cabinet for approval.
The rail link project, to be undertaken by both governments through a joint venture between Malaysia’s Prasarana Bhd & Singapore’s SMRT Corp, is estimated to cost RM4 billion (S$1.34 billion).
read more
Malaysia still committed to JB-Singapore RTS link, cancellation of HSR subject to negotiations
Malaysia is still committed to the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) despite its decision to cancel the KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project, said new Transport Minister Anthony Loke on Wed (May 30).
In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, Loke said the RTS project will proceed, although the government will look at lowering the cost of the project given the country's debt.
"The RTS will proceed. Of course we have to restudy the project in terms of cost & so on. But as a principled decision, the RTS is still on the table.
read more
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOHOR BAHRU-SINGAPORE RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM LINK BILATERAL AGREEMENT
Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) welcome today's signing of the Bilateral Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of Malaysia on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) by H.E. Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and by H.E. Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport. The signing ceremony, which was witnessed by Malaysia’s Prime Minister The Honourable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Singapore’s Prime Minister The Honourable Lee Hsien Loong, signifies Malaysia and Singapore’s firm commitment to this important project that will benefit both countries.
The Bilateral Agreement is the outcome of extensive discussions led by officials from the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) of Malaysia and Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority of Singapore. It captures the key points of agreement on the RTS Link project, including the technical, safety and security requirements, commercial, financing, procurement and regulatory frameworks, as well as customs, immigration and quarantine arrangements.
The RTS Link will have the capacity to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, which translates to additional capacity of 60,000 users crossing the Causeway during peak hours. To facilitate passenger flow, it will have co-located Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities in both Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North. Passengers travelling in either direction will clear both Malaysia and Singapore authorities at the point of departure, and need not go through immigration clearance again at the point of arrival. The RTS Link’s capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) is much higher than the average 300 (pphpd) that the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Tebrau Shuttle is ferrying today. The KTMB Tebrau Shuttle services to Singapore will cease six months after the RTS Link passenger service begins, targeted by December 2024.
read more
PM Najib unveils concept designs for KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail stations
The concept design for Bandar Malaysia station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Foto: MyHSR)
The concept design for Malacca station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Foto: MyHSR)
The concept design for Muar station along the KL-Singapore HSR. (Foto: MyHSR)
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday (Oct 17) unveiled the concept designs for the 7 new stations along the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) in Malaysia.
He said the designs are a strong reflection of Malaysia's identity & heritage, while remaining modern & futuristic.
For instance, the design of the Bandar Malaysia terminus in Kuala Lumpur is a re-interpretation of the confluence of Klang & Gombak rivers.
read more
SMRT, Prasarana sign MOU to form joint venture company for JB-Singapore RTS Link
Singapore public transport operator SMRT & Malaysia rail operator Prasarana on Monday (Sep 25) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a joint venture company for the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.
In a media release, SMRT said the firm, which will be the RTS Link's operating company, will be expected to design, build, finance & operate RTS Link operating assets such as trains, tracks and systems. It will also be responsible for maintaining and renewing the assets.
The MOU was signed by SMRT president & group chief executive officer Desmond Kuek, as well as Prasarana president and group CEO Azmi Abdul Aziz at Prasarana's corporate headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
read more
Singapore - Johor Baru MRT to run in 2024
A cross-border rail link that will connect Singapore & Johor Baru in Malaysia is slated to begin passenger services by the end of 2024, ministers from the 2 countries announced on Monday (Jul 31).
Singapore rail company SMRT & Malaysia’s metro operator Prasarana Malaysia will be exploring a joint venture to be the operating company to help design, build, finance & operate the trains, tracks and systems for the Johor Bahru - Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.
The details were disclosed on Monday during the 13th meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM), held in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Baru. The committee was set up in 2007 as a collaboration between the 2 countries.
read more
Singapore - JB MRT to start by end-2024
Passengers will be able to hop on an MRT train in Woodlands to cross the border to Johor Baru by Dec 31, 2024.
The Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link can carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction between Johor's Bukit Chagar terminus station & the Singapore terminus in Woodlands North, where it will join the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line.
It is slated to improve connectivity & reduce congestion at border crossings between the two countries when completed.
read more
Singapore to Johor Baru MRT service to start by end-2024
Passengers will be able to hop on an MRT train in Woodlands to cross the border to Johor Baru by Dec 31, 2024.
The Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link can carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction between Johor's Bukit Chagar terminus station & the Singapore terminus in Woodlands North, where it will join the upcoming Thomson- East Coast Line (TEL).
It is slated to improve connectivity & reduce congestion at border crossings between Singapore & Malaysia when completed.
read more
Singapore - JB Rapid Transit System to make impact on Johor real estate: Analysts
Investor interest in Johor Baru properties will likely pickup with recent news that Singapore & Malaysia are expected to ink a bilateral agreement for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) next year, analysts told Channel NewsAsia.
The system promises an easier time crossing borders, & will link up with the Thomson-East Coast rail network in Singapore. Analysts, however, said it is important for investors to do their homework, before buying a stake in Johor's developments.
Mr Peter Ezekiel travels across the causeway daily for work. The 46-yr-old lawyer decided to rent a house in Johor Bahru while waiting for his new flat in Singapore to be ready as the former option is cheaper.
read more
Update 20 Sep 2017: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hopes for Singapore support in high-speed railway: Xinhua
China hopes that Singapore will support Chinese enterprises that wish to participate in the Singapore-Malaysia high-speed railway project, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday (Sep 19), according to state news agency Xinhua.
"China has cutting-edge, safe & reliable, cost-effective high-speed railway technology," Premier Li said during his talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Xinhua reported. PM Lee is on an official visit to China from Sep 19 to 21.
Singapore & Malaysia are building the 350km high-speed rail linking Singapore & Kuala Lumpur. Targeted to be operational by end-2026, the railway line will cut travel time between the 2 cities to 90 minutes.
related: China's rail ambitions run at full speed
read more
Premier Li hopes for Singapore support in high-speed railway
China hopes Singapore will support Chinese enterprises who wish to participate in the Singapore-Malaysia high-speed railway project, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.
"China has cutting-edge, safe and reliable, cost-effective high-speed railway technology," Li said in his talks with visiting Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to build a 360-km high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which is expected to start operation by December 2026 and cut travel time to about 90 minutes. Singapore welcomes Chinese businesses to the project, Lee said.
read more
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hopes for Singapore support in high-speed railway: Xinhua
During his meeting with Mr Li, Mr Lee said that Singapore welcomes Chinese businesses to the project. In an interview with Xinhuanet, Xinhua’s official website, last Saturday, Mr Lee said: “We hope to receive China’s proposals.”
“I think China’s bid will be a high quality one,” he added, noting that the joint railway project is “very significant” for Singapore and Malaysia. He said China has advanced technology and rich experience in high speed railway construction and operation, boasting a domestic network of tens of thousands kilometers in length.
The Singaporean prime minister praised China’s high speed railway service for providing passengers with convenience and comfort. “Very convenient, smooth and comfortable,” Mr Lee recalled his previous experiences of taking high speed trains in China.
read more
related:
JB-S'pore RTS rail project
S'pore-KL High Speed Rail Deferred
S'pore-KL High Speed Rail Haggle
S'pore-KL High Speed Rail Agreement
Singapore to JB MRT by 2024
S'pore-KL HSR swallows another golf course
HSR S'pore-KL in just 90 minutes
Iskandar Malaysia: Why are the Chinese here?
Malaysia's "gain" and Singapore's "loss"
Malaysia's ECRL touted as a game changer
Embracing, Leaning & Tilting towards China
Mega reclamation project off Johor
Malaysia files for revision of ICJ’s Pulau Batu Puteh decision
01/08/2017
What is it like to be a Singaporean?
Update 1 Oct 2019: Singapore: A 1st World country with 3rd World citizens
Veteran diplomat Tommy Koh laments that Singapore is a First World country with Third World people. Many Singaporeans lack the civic-mindedness that citizens of an advanced country should have, he said on Tuesday (Oct 1).
"I am more critical of Singaporeans than of the Government. Many of our people don't give a damn for the environment when they should. Many of our people are selfish and unkind. Just look at the way they drive," Prof Koh said, drawing laughter from his audience.
He was speaking at the Singapore Bicentennial Conference, organised by the Institute of Policy Studies. It was held at Raffles City Convention Centre and ended on Tuesday.
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Here’s a quick and easy guide:
- You are born.
- You study.
- You serve NS and are put under a 10 years reservist and IPPT cycle that can stretch into your 40s while you have to juggle family and work commitments at the same time.
- After NS you come out to work and fall in love,married and start up a family.
- A wedding cost a lot so most Singaporeans married in their late 20s,mid 30s or even later.
- Now we come to the house. Upon successfully balloting for the house one need to wait at least 3 years for it or you can buy from open market or private developers where price will be even much higher.
- Once you get your keys your entire CPF OA will be depleted totally and the rest of the mortgage balance will be paid by your monthly CPF every month for a maximum of up to over a decade or 25 years max.
- During this time every month of your CPF will not be able to save and accumulate CPF interests because you need to use it to settle house loan.
- So 25 years finally finish and your house is fully paid up but by then you will be 55 or into your 60s already.
- You want to rest and retire but you can’t because your CPF OA account is empty and CPF minimum sum of 161k is set in place to prevent you from cashing out your CPF in full to use to finance your retirement.
- So in your 50s or 60s you still need to work until you die or at least for another 10 to 20 years in order to build up your CPF OA account.
- By the time you can really rest you will be in your 70s or 80s already. Most will have meet their maker by that age already. Lol How to look forward to retirement bliss?
- Also the health could be failing or no one is willing to employ the elderly Singaporeans and what are they going to survive on?
- In the end their CPF Medisave accounts got wipe out and they either rent their flats out to sustain themselves or sell back their flats and lease to downgrade in order to survive in their dying years.
- If anyone can still say Singaporeans are living a blessed life then I clap for you.
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Poor in the Land of Crazy Rich Asians
Park Royal Hotel along Pickering Street in Singapore is nothing short of spectacular. Lush greenery lines the undulating planes of its facade, mimicking the vibrant green of paddy fields that are common sights in the country’s Southeast Asian neighbours. The building has won numerous architectural and design accolades, and been featured as a location in the Hollywood film Hitman: Agent 47.
But walk a few paces past this impressive glass facade, deeper into the heart of Chinatown, and the surroundings start looking a little different.
Pieces of paper are strewn carelessly on the ground; there’s a seemingly impenetrable layer of grime. Here, the buildings are older, tinted yellow from long exposure to the elements. Come nightfall, men and women, carrying their possessions in backpacks or plastic bags, will discreetly unfurl blankets and newspapers on street corners or stone benches to get some rest for the night.
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