The_King

4 minutes ago, LaughingKor said:

I thought both also kirin 710? 

Idk man now qoo10 got sales, 288 for either honor 8x or nova 3i..... ending tonight 

with 1 yr offical warranty ? or non offical type

8 minutes ago, aaur4man said:

Both are similar, but 3i has newer chipset

U got buy?

waiting for promo

 

Xiaomi A2

 

SINGAPORE — An employee of a pest company contracted by the National Environmental Agency (NEA) to conduct mosquito breeding inspections was on Friday (Jan 18) charged with taking or attempting to take bribes from two construction companies.

Tung Chee Keong, a 48-year-old Singaporean who worked as a vector control worker with Killem Pest, allegedly received S$1,000 in bribes from Muthukaruppan Periyasamy — a 51-year-old site manager of Ramo Industries — between May and August last year in return for advance notice of four inspections.

Tung was also said to have solicited S$1,000 from Mr Kok Chew Leong, a workplace safety and health officer of China Jingye Engineering Corporation, in return for advance notice of the inspections at the construction site of a condominium called The Alps Residence in July last year. If Mr Kok paid the bribe, Tung also apparently agreed to turn a blind eye to mosquito breeding violations at the site.

TODAY understands that Mr Kok did not give the bribe.

In total, Tung faces six corruption charges. 

Muthukaruppan, an Indian national, was hauled to court on Friday as well, along with Tung’s alleged accomplice Chandran Jeganathan, a 30-year-old Indian national who worked as a technician with Killem Pest. Chandran allegedly received S$600 from Muthukaruppan.

They both face five corruption charges each.

In a press release on Friday, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said that giving or taking bribes is already a serious offence, and corrupt acts which compromise mosquito breeding controls “can pose a serious danger to public health safety”.

For each corruption charge, the men may be jailed up to five years or fined up to S$100,000.

The trio were granted bail at S$5,000 each. Muthukaruppan will return to court on Jan 29, while Tung and Chandran are scheduled to return to court on Feb 19.

 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/employees-nea-contractor-killem-pest-advance-notice-mosquito-breeding-checks-for-bribes

 

 

Long before Americans discovered FOMO — the fear of missing out —Singaporeans were fixated with its more excessive forebear, kiasu.

Taken from the Chinese dialect Hokkien, kiasu translates to a fear of losing out, but encompasses any sort of competitive, stingy or selfish behavior commonly witnessed in this highflying city-state.

If you stand in line for hours just because there’s a gift at the end, then you’re kiasu.

If you claim a spot at a table at a busy food court with a packet of tissues while you wander off in search of grub, you’re kiasu.

If you’re a parent who volunteers hours of your free time at a school just so your offspring has a better chance of enrolling there one day, then you’re most definitely kiasu.

It’s a survival instinct born out of Singapore’s dominant Chinese culture and deep-rooted insecurity as a blip on the map, one that’s only slightly bigger than the San Fernando Valley.

Letting opportunity pass is tantamount to failure, the thinking goes. And if you do, you have no one to blame but yourself.

“The national narrative is that we are a small country in a very large world,” said Shiao-yin Kuik, a former nominated member of Parliament, an honorary position. “We have very limited resources. If we don’t fight for our own future, no one else will.”

Kiasu (pronounced kee-ah-sue) embodies a sort of unofficial national character, not unlike Japan’s harmonious wa or Britian’s stoic stiff upper lip. It’s an inescapable aspect of life in this country of 5.6 million that drives people to try and outdo one another.

“It was inculcated in me since I was young,” said Rachel Yeo, 24, a senior studying journalism at the National University of Singapore. “Nothing short of the best was expected of me.”

Yeo’s neighborhood growing up boasted one of the top primary schools in Singapore, Rosyth School. To ensure a place there, Yeo’s mother had to compile hours of volunteer work. At least twice a week, she read to students at the school before heading to work. Doing anything less risked losing her daughter’s place to someone else.

“She’s a tiger mom,” said Yeo, who was also enrolled in rigorous after-school tutoring programs, a private industry that has grown into a $1-billion business here because of the parental arms race.

The volunteer system in schools breeds another layer of competition. Parents complain about other parents who have exceeded their quota for hours, but continue to hog opportunities to volunteer.

“People feel like others have to lose in order to win,” said Donald Low, a closely-followed economist and former public official.

Foreign policy in Singapore isn’t immune to kiasu either. The feeling of vulnerability it engenders helps explain Singapore’s outsize spending on defense, which at over $10 billion, is more than that of any other country in Southeast Asia.

The dread of having someone steal your lunch could also be driving Singapore’s hardening stance against Malaysia in a territorial dispute over a sliver of airspace and sea between the two countries.

“Politicians were openly calling for people to stand up and defend the nation over what seems to be technical differences,” said Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore.

“That the state and Singaporeans were ready to treat the issue as existential suggested a deep sense of fear,” he added.

For an earlier generation, that fear propelled Singapore’s improbable success after it broke away from Malaysia in 1965 to later become one of the richest countries in the world on a per capita basis.

But a fear of losing can also trigger paralysis when it comes to risk-taking.

Kuik, the former member of parliament, said Singaporeans today need to be inspired and not cowered.

“There’s a stronger desire to move beyond” Singapore’s origin story, she said, “and really try to explore a larger story, not driven by fear, but ambition.”

There are modest signs of a kiasu backlash, including last year when a small group of parents formed “Life Beyond Grades,” an organization that seeks to relieve academic pressure on children to focus on their wider well-being.

It’s an uphill struggle. Singaporeans are exceptionally self-aware of their reputation — even without reminding from their traditional Malaysian rivals, who are prone to calling the country Kiasuland.

A survey released last year by the Institute of Policy Studies, a local think tank, found that Singaporeans perceived their society to be kiasu more than any other trait.

One of the country’s most famous comic strips was centered on a bespectacled character named Mr. Kiasu. The 1990s series featured titles such as “Everything Also Must Grab” and “Everything Also Number One.”

Giant, a local supermarket chain, ran a contest in 2017 to determine which neighborhood was the most kiasu. The winner, an eastern town called Tampines, impressed with a high percentages of residents admitting to excessively pressing the crosswalk button.

They also fessed up in large numbers to reserving tables at busy coffee shops with a tissue packet or umbrella rather than more considerately ordering their food first and then finding a place to sit — a widespread practice known in Singlish as chope (You can also chope a parking space by having someone stand in it).

Giant reportedly rewarded Tampines residents with free drinks, ice cream and more tissue packets for choping.

There’s “an ambivalence about being kiasu,” said Chong, the political scientist. “On one hand, there are Singaporeans who wear it like a mark of national character, even pride. Others laugh at it, and still others see being kiasu as being a bit of an embarrassment due to the over-the-top behavior it can encourage.”

Nowhere is that more obvious than in Singapore’s queuing culture. The fear of losing out has created a herd mentality when it comes to lines, especially at the city’s famous open-air food courts, known as hawker centers.

“When you see a queue snaking, it means the food must be good, that it’s something you should try,” said Yeo, the journalism student. “I just returned from visiting Taiwan and saw long lines for food. Half the people were Singaporean.”

Some lines are still talked about today, like the time when thousands of Singaporeans thronged outside McDonald’s restaurants in a kiasu-crazed bid to score free Hello Kitty toys.

The pull to line up has even inspired a business, iQueue. The service, which is similar to errand apps such as TaskRabbit, gets up to 50 requests a month to stand in line for things such as boba tea or concert tickets to see the band BTS.

Justin Zheng, a manager at the company, said he queued in line for 12 hours outside a prestigious art class last month for parents who wanted to register their elementary-school-aged child.

Zheng arrived at 7 p.m. the night before the doors opened and still found someone ahead of him in line. By midnight, there were 100 in line. By the next morning, he estimates there were twice as many people.

The parents next to him weren’t even taken aback that Zheng didn’t have any kids and was hired to be there. Instead, they took down his number. Anything to gain an edge, they told him.

“It’s in our blood,” said Zheng, who was paid $110 to line up for half a day. “You realize you have to work harder to be earlier than the next guy.”

 

https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-singapore-kiasu-fomo-20190118-story.html

 

About this Giveaway

Play the game for 5 minutes to activate it and keep it forever on your GameSessions account. You will see an activation message when you have done so.

Online Contract mode no longer available on any service as central server has been shut down. Other elements of gameplay are not affected by this.

 

https://www.gamesessions.com/en/Game/HitmanAbsolution

 

These little nuggets of shortcrust pastry are infused with earl grey tea, imbuing them with a floral fragrance. Within each holds a generous filling of pineapple jam kissed with the citrusy tang of lemongrass. Each 600g bottle for S$38. Available from Jan 21 at SPRMKT outlets.

sprmrkt.com.sg

LUNAR NEW YEAR YUZU PANDAN CHIFFON CAKE FROM ANDAZ SINGAPORE

 

 

Beneath its festive, red glaze sits a fluffy pandan chiffon cake sandwiching a softly tangy yuzu mousse and orange drizzle. It’s a lovely reinterpretation of a classic confection that we all know and love. Small for S$5.50, medium for S$18, and S$38 for large. 

andazshop.oddle.me

GOLDEN YAM MOCHI FROM THYE MOH CHAN

 

 

This festive addition to Thye Moh Chan’s collection of traditional Teochew pastries boasts a luscious yam filling that harbours a heart of chewy, black sugar mochi. All that is enrobed in a friable, buttery pastry that crumbles deliciously with each bite. Each piece for S$3. Available at Thye Moh Chan stores.

thyemohchan.com/products_cny_2019.html#cny

NASI LEMAK COOKIES FROM OLD CHANG KEE

 

 

The bright, vermillion hue that glazes the surfaces of Old Chang Kee’s Nasi Lemak Cookies brings to mind the layer of chilli oil that’s the hallmark of a good nasi lemak sambal. Each bite of this crunchy cookies is imbued with the quintessential flavour of one of our favourite national dishes – think dried chillies, assam, belacan and ikan bilis. Each jar for S$16.80. Available at Old Chang Kee outlets.

oldchangkee.com

PEACE AND HARMONY GIFT BOX FROM SI CHUAN DOU HUA RESTAURANT

 

 

This elegant gift box holds a quartet of CNY treats – namely, a luscious carrot cake, orange nian gao, a jade-hued chestnut cake and a golden osmanthus cake. Serve with a pot of Chinese tea for a lovely afternoon delight. Each box for S$32.

sichuandouhua.com/promotion/chinese-new-year

DRUM OF FORTUNE FROM GOODWOOD PARK HOTEL

 

 

Every year, the pastry chefs at Goodwood Park Hotel create a lavish confection for the CNY season. Resplendent in red and gold, this year’s offering sees a drum-shaped chocolate marble cake cloaked in fondant, and bedecked with eight auspicious mandarin oranges made of dark chocolate and mini chocolate ingots. Each 1.3kg cake for S$108. Available from Jan 18 with a five-day advance order. Call 6730 1786.

goodwoodparkhotel.com

RAINBOW KUEH LAPIS FROM HAI TIEN LO

 

 

There is all manner of CNY goodies to have from Hai Tien Lo, but we were particularly taken by the Rainbow Kueh Lapis. It has all the classic flavours of the buttery Indonesian cake, but dressed in delicately coloured layers. Each 1kg cake for S$58. Available for order from Jan 21.

pacificmarketplace.sg

KUMQUAT AND YOGHURT SUGEE CAKE FROM THE COFFEE BELT

 

 

Sugee cake gets a citrus twist and lush tang with the addition of Greek yoghurt, oranges, lemon and kumquat. The result is a rich, moist cake glazed with yoghurt and cream cheese frosting, and finished with a sprinkle of smoked salt to really round out the flavours. Each 800g cake for S$16.80.

parkhotelgroup.com/en/alexandra/the-coffee-belt

YAM CAKE FROM VIOLET OON SINGAPORE

 

 

Sometimes, what you need at the table is a steadfastly traditional favourite made well. That’s exactly what Violet Oon Singapore delivers with its wu tao gao or yam cake, flavoured with five spice and generously studded with dried prawns, Chinese sausages, dried mushrooms, and minced pork. One kilogram for S$42 and 1.5kg for S$52. Available from Jan 22 with a two-day advance order. Call 9834 9935.

violetoon.com

PIGGY PINEAPPLE PASTRIES FROM PARADISE GROUP

 

 

These are some of the most adorable pineapple tarts shaped like piglets, and complete with auspicious red ears. Encased in their meltingly tender pastry shells is a lovely pineapple filling that has just the right balance of sweetness. Each bottle of 18 pieces for S$29.80. Available for takeaway at Paradise Group restaurants.

paradisegp.com

 

Still bemused by the huge porcine lantern installations currently adorning Chinatown that got roasted by folks for its “dirty” skin? Welp, there’s apparently a reason for their brown, patchy looks and dusky demeanor.

Responding to a query from STOMP, the head of Marketing Publicity of the Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebration 2019 Organising Committee (what a mouthful) stated that the designs were crucial to their theme this year.

“This year, our design was also created to portray real pigs, hence the pigs are not entirely baby pink in color,” said Philemon Loh, adding that the brown shading was necessary for contouring effects. If the entire pig is covered in baby pink, it would look pale and be closer to white in color when lighted up.

 

 

 

 

In response to suggestions to have the pig lanterns look cutesy and Disney-like, Loh asserted that the committee “prides (itself)” in sticking to Chinese traditions instead of “conforming to commercialization”.

Still, that’s not stopping folks from continuing to roast the porcine effigies.

If you do like them, however, the official opening ceremony and street light-up of Chinatown’s Chinese New Year celebrations will be kicking off this Sunday night.

 

https://coconuts.co/singapore/news/theres-explanation-dirty-pig-lantern-installations-chinatown/

SINGAPORE — Singapore's exports recorded their worst decline in more than two years in December as shipments of electronics and pharmaceuticals plunged, official data showed on Thursday (Jan 17).

The unexpected decline comes despite ongoing trade talks between the United States and China to defuse trade tensions. Many economists expect the dispute to hurt trade-dependent Singapore in months to come.

Non-oil domestic exports in December fell 8.5 per cent from a year earlier, data from the trade agency Enterprise Singapore showed, slowing further from a revised 2.8 per cent decline the month before.

The outcome was well below a 1.5 per cent increase predicted by economists in a Reuters poll and the worst performance since October 2016, when exports declined 14 per cent year-on-year.

"This could show that US-China trade talks have become a ruse, falling in line with disappointing China trade data," Ms Selena Ling, head of treasury research and strategy at OCBC, told Reuters. "There is a likelihood that (export fall) will continue into the first quarter."

Earlier this week, China announced that its December exports unexpectedly fell 4.4 per cent from a year earlier, the biggest monthly drop in two years, pointing to further weakening in the world's second-largest economy.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, the Republic's exports contracted 5.7 per cent in December after declining a revised 4.3 per cent in November. The poll forecast a 2.1 per cent expansion from the month before.

Electronic exports in December fell 11.2 per cent from a year earlier, after a brief recovery in November when it rose 4.3 per cent.

Pharmaceutical exports plunged 26.8 per cent in December year-on-year after rising 7.3 per cent the month before.

Earlier this month, Singapore announced that its economy grew more slowly than forecast in the fourth quarter after the manufacturing sector shrank, adding to jitters that the Sino-US trade dispute will drag on growth in 2019.

Dutch bank ING said in a report it was difficult to pin the export decline on any single geopolitical factor such as the trade war as exports to both China and the United States had held up. But shipments across Asia were noticeably in the red and the trade data almost certainly means a downward revision to GDP, it said.

December exports to China and the United States grew 15.4 per cent and 31.1 per cent year-on-year, respectively. REUTERS

 

 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/spores-december-exports-unexpectedly-fall-85

 

 

 

SINGAPORE - Two travellers were caught trying to smuggle bak kwa into Singapore in packets of durian-flavoured biscuits last Saturday (Jan 12).

On Thursday, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said its officers detected two separate cases of Singaporeans attempting to sneak in the barbecued meat treat at the arrival bus hall at Woodlands checkpoint.

Officers noticed packets of layered stacks resembling bak kwa in scanned images of bags carried by a 39-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man.

The pair were found to have hidden the bak kwa in seven packets of durian-flavoured biscuits.

The cases were referred to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further investigation.

Food products brought into Singapore must meet AVA's guidelines and must be from approved sources.

In the case of meat products such as bak kwa, each person is allowed a maximum of 5kg of meat products bought directly from approved sources.

 

 

Currently, only 21 countries are listed as approved sources on AVA's website, but Malaysia is not one of them. This means it is illegal to bring in bak kwa from Malaysia.

Anyone found guilty of importing meat products from unapproved sources can be fined up to $50,000, jailed for up to two years, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to three years, or both.

A similar incident occurred around the Chinese New Year period in February last year, when two motorists attempted to smuggle bak kwa into Singapore through Woodlands checkpoint.

In last year's case, the bak kwa was hidden in pastry or cookie packaging.

 

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/two-caught-smuggling-bak-kwa-in-packets-of-durian-flavoured-biscuits-at

ABOUT THIS GAME

Braveland is a turn-based game inspired by old-school strategies with hexagonal battlefield. You will start as a humble warrior's son whose village was cruelly raided and will end as talented commander of your army. 


The story will take place in a hand-drawn world and cover many interesting places and characters. Various warriors will join your army - archers, scouts, healers, footmen, arbalesters and more.
 

Turn-based battles in old-school style.

Command your troops and defeat enemies in hand to hand battles.

26 various warriors and creatures from archers to golems.

Three story chapters each in unique corner of the world.

Evolve your hero, find awesome artifacts and learn battle magic.

Intense boss fights at the end of each story chapter.

Hours of gameplay with 50 battles.

High definition awesome illustrated cartoon art.

 

 

 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/285800/Braveland/

 

 

everything cost money here, so i am not going to work for free

SINGAPORE - The public should be roped in to help when trains break down, says the National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) in one of its recommendations for the next land transport masterplan.

The union said on Wednesday (Jan 16) that Singapore should "build a community of commuter volunteers - who can be trained as first responders to assist our front-line workers during service disruptions or emergencies".

That was one of about a dozen suggestions the union had for the Land Transport Master Plan 2040 advisory panel, which is currently gathering feedback to shape Singapore's land transport landscape in the coming decades.

The panel will consider feedback gathered and formulate recommendations to be submitted to the Government by mid-February.

Other recommendations from the NTWU include implementing more full-day bus lanes, rolling out dedicated lanes for cyclists, and restricting roadworks to off-peak hours. All these steps will allow buses to run more smoothly, the union said.

Reiterating a call from other quarters, the NTWU said transport infrastructure should be designed with ease of maintenance in mind.

It added that companies must ensure that workers get sufficient rest when devising new performance targets.

 

 

Companies should also emphasise training in the face of rapid technological changes.

The NTWU also said bus interchanges should have more parking spaces to cater to the expanded public bus fleet.

"A first-class transport system needs a first-class transport workforce," said NTWU executive secretary Melvin Yong, who is also an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

He said the union's recommendations focus on "enhancing the work environment of our public transport workers, ensuring the safety and health of our workers, preparing them for transformation, as well as building greater commuter support so that we can all promote a better travelling environment for all road users".

 

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/national-transport-workers-union-calls-on-public-to-help-when-trains-break-down

Fried rice with herbal soup (Homemade)

 

Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles

 

 

To his merit, the Grab driver remained calm throughout the ride, even after arriving at the destination. It was the passenger who suddenly became hysterical when Aza tried to call the Grab hotline (presumably to lodge a complaint) — the husband started yelling that he wants to call the cops. The clip doesn’t capture what’s happening inside the car, but Aza repeatedly tells his passenger not to touch him. The husband then takes the squabble to a whole new level when he opens the car door and loudly accused the driver of hitting his wife.

“I never hit you, don’t lie!” Aza can be heard saying to the wife, who joined in the dispute. The driver eventually drives out of the carpark, while the passenger recorded footage of his car. It should be noted that Aza barely goes over 40km/h in the ride that he was accused of driving dangerously.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/md.aza.37/videos/10217793324046294/

 

In a statement to Coconuts Singapore regarding the incident, Grab affirmed that the company takes the safety of its customers, drivers, and passengers seriously.

“Grab does not tolerate such behavior and have temporarily suspended the passenger’s account while we do thorough investigations,” a Grab spokesperson assured, adding that the company is in touch with Aza to provide support.

Netizens are on Aza’s side as well, but unfortunately, xenophobia leaked out into the comments section, condemning the assumed nationality of the passenger.

 

 

 

SINGAPORE - A Housing Board flat owner who converted the doorstep of his property into a fish tank for his koi carp has been asked to remove the unusual structure.

The Tampines Street 41 resident had installed glass panels to the walls around the four steps to his ground-floor flat to house around a dozen pet fish, but was not aware that he needed permission to make the alteration.

Belatedly, the man - who has not been identified - asked Tampines Town Council for a permit and last August, Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng told The Straits Times that the "creative" tank was likely to be allowed, as long as it was found to be structurally sound and safe.

However, the HDB said on Tuesday (Jan 15) that the tank would have to be removed as its position - along a common corridor - poses safety concerns that "could potentially lead to injuries or fatalities".

A spokesman said: "The flat owner has fundamentally altered the entrance steps into a koi tank, which poses several safety issues.

"For instance, the koi tank is made of glass and can shatter on impact. As it is also not enclosed at the top, unsupervised children may climb or fall into the tank."

Electrical sockets and cables connected to the tank are exposed to weather elements, posing further safety concerns, the HDB said.

 

 

 

 

It added that its guiding principle for town councils in managing the use of public spaces is that safety must not be compromised.

The flat's fish-loving residents also own the adjacent unit, through which they enter the house with the blocked doorstep.

At the time, the owner, a Chinese man who appeared to be in his 50s, said of his tank: "Outside nicer for everyone to see. The neighbours can appreciate it and enjoy it also."

 

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/no-tanks-hdb-flat-owner-asked-to-remove-glass-fish-tank-installed-on-his-doorstep

 

 

 

 

SINGAPORE - A family discovered what looked like a worm in a piece of chilled salmon fillet bought from a supermarket last Saturday (Jan 12).

Mr Lin, 56, who declined to provide his full name, told Lianhe Wanbao that his daughter had bought the salmon for the family's dinner on Jan 12 from the NTUC FairPrice outlet at Bedok Mall.

When she was frying the salmon fillet, she found what seemed to be a live worm crawling out of the piece of fish. It appeared off-white in colour.

She said she felt disgusted by it and binned it immediately, and Mr Lin's wife found out only later when she questioned why the fish had been thrown away.

Mr Lin, an engineer, then took the packet with the fish fillet back to the FairPrice outlet, where he got a full refund for the product, which cost $12.80.

As part of FairPrice's investigations, it engaged an entomologist who found that the insect was the larva of a moth or butterfly, which feeds on fruits and vegetables.

A FairPrice spokesman said: "We are unable to conclusively ascertain how this insect was found on the salmon as claimed by the customer. Fruits and vegetables are also sold at a separate section at the supermarket in question."

She added that the company had offered an apology to the customer for the unpleasant experience.

"This appears to be an isolated incident as checks on existing stocks did not reveal any anomalies and we have not received any similar feedback recently concerning the product in question," said the spokesman.

"NTUC FairPrice is committed to upholding a high level of food safety standards and the farmed salmon products we offer comply with internationally recognised food regulations and standards."

Customers who find the quality of its fresh produce unsàtisfactory can return the product to the same store with their receipt for a full refund or exchange, she said.

 

 

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/larva-found-in-salmon-fillet-from-ntuc-fairprice-outlet-at-bedok-mall

 

SINGAPORE - Parliament passed a law on Monday (Jan 14) that puts more payment services, such as digital payment tokens and merchant acquisition, under the ambit of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Called the Payment Services Act, it will also impose limits on how much e-money can be held in personal mobile wallets, such as GrabPay and Singtel Dash, and how much can be transferred to accounts other than the user's designated bank accounts in a year, among other things.

The new law aims to right-size "regulations depending on the risks posed by the payment service provider", said Mr Ong Ye Kung, an MAS board member.

It tailors Singapore's regulations to the licencees' activities, such as account opening, issuing electronic money and transferring money in the Republic and across its borders, added Mr Ong, who is also the Minister for Education.

Risks that the new Act wants to address include terrorism financing, money laundering and cyber risks.

Currently, the MAS regulates payment services under the Payment Systems (Oversight) Act, or PS(O)A and the Money-changing and Remittance Businesses Act (MCRBA), governing stored value facilities such as ez-link, Nets CashCard and remittances.

The new Act streamlines regulation of payment services in a single activity-based legislation, and both the PS(O)A and MCRBA will be repealed when the legislation takes effect by the end of this year.

 

Mobile wallets such as GrabPay and Singtel Dash also cannot hold more than $5,000 at any point in time, and their users cannot transfer more than $30,000 in a year to accounts other than the user's designated bank accounts.

During the debate, three MPs, one Non-Constituency MP and four Nominated MPs spoke in support of the Bill, while raising questions ranging from new account limits to inclusion of migrant workers in digital remittances.

NMP Lim Sun Sun, NCMP Leon Perera and MP Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) asked whether more could be done to raise financial literacy and consumer protection levels.

Prof Lim proposed that "public education efforts be stepped up to better communicate to consumers the various options, protections and incentives they enjoy with the different emerging e-payment methods".

Replying, Mr Ong said "the MAS and other agencies have been reaching out to people... through Moneysense, the national financial education programme".

NMP Anthea Ong highlighted the difficulties migrant workers may face in accessing e-payment solutions and bank accounts.

Mr Ong said he expects more migrant workers to use fintech to remit money overseas and the Bill will "strengthen safeguards for these payment services".

NMP Walter Theseira and Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) asked how the Bill compares withother countries' regulations on e-payment services.

Mr Ong said the "MAS has consciously balanced mitigating risks with promoting innovation".

"The best way to do this is to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and adopt a risk-based approach (so) that the regulatory requirements... are commensurate with the risk of the business activities."

 

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-mas-to-regulate-more-types-of-payment-services-such-as-mobile-wallets-under-new