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Poor living conditions for animals in pet shops and farms: ACRES investigation

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ACRES Jalan Lekar signBy Howard Lee

An undercover investigation conducted by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) from March to May this year found that pet shops and farms in Singapore, including those licensed by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) might not be practising good standards in terms of housing their pets.

ACRES highlighted a need for AVA’s licensing system, which grades pet shops for compliance standards, might need to be reviewed, as some of the pet shops found to have contravened the licensing scheme’s basic criteria for housing animals have received an A grading.

The study, conducted by AVA volunteers as a visual check on pet shops and farms, showed that 31 out of the 42 pet shops and farms surveyed flouted at least one of the 10 criteria ACRES identified from the licensing regime as basic requirements, which include housing animals in an appropriately sized cage and providing the animals clean drinking water at all times.

The 10 criteria selected by ACRES are from a total of 26 requirements under AVA’s published Pet Shop Licence Conditions. The regime also does not apply to pet farms.

However, the criteria was selected based on their ability to provide a purely visual evaluation, which would allow members of the public to monitor pet shops and farms in Singapore – something that ACRES hopes to encourage the public to do to help prevent animal abuse, said Ms Noelle Seet, Head of Campaigns at ACRES.

“There is an urgent need for pet shops and farms to comply with the existing licence conditions,” said Ms Seet. “We will continue to work closely with AVA by complementing their efforts.”

Image -ACRES

Image -ACRES

“However, as the breaches are obvious upon a purely visual examination, members of the public are equally capable of monitoring pet shops and farms in Singapore. We encourage the public to be the check and balance of the pet industry as consumer demand wields much influence over industry practices.”

She proposed that, on its part, AVA can do better by being stricter in its enforcement activities of pet shops, such as increasing the frequency of spot checks.

Ms Seet also noted that pet farms are licensed separately with AVA, for which the standards are not made known to the public.

However, many of these farms also double as pet shops putting up animals for sale, and hence should be regulated like pet shops.

On how AVA can promote greater consumer awareness of deplorable housing conditions at pet shops, Ms Anbarasi Boopal, group director at ACRES, suggested that AVA can consider adding animal housing conditions into its current awareness campaign for responsible pet ownership.

When asked if ACRES plans to launch a separate evaluation standard or pet shops, Ms Anbarasi said that there were no such plans, but ACRES will continue to work to AVA to improve the evaluation criteria in licensing framework. ACRES has also sent the investigation report to AVA.

Meanwhile, consumers who witness such animal housing conditions can report them to AVA (Animal Response Centre: 1800 476 1600) or request for help from ACRES (+65 6892 9821, [email protected]).


The 10 criteria used for visual checks, extracted from AVA’s pet shop licensing regime:

  1. That the length of cage/ enclosure was at least 2 times the length of the animal from nose to base of tail.
  2. That the width/ depth of cage /enclosure were at least 1½ times the length of the animal from nose to base of tail.
  3. That the height of cage/ enclosure allowed the animal to comfortably stand upright on its hind legs.
  4. That the cage/ enclosure structure was in good condition, and kept clean and dry. That it was safe and comfortable for the animals.
  5. That the flooring provided firm and comfortable support for the animals. If the floor was made of thin wire or if the wire mesh had gaps larger than 1 cm by 1 cm, that mats covered at least half the floor area.
  6. That no pregnant or nursing animals were on display.
  7. That clean drinking water was provided at all times, and the drinking containers kept clean.
  8. That animals for grooming were not kept together with animals for sale.
  9. That only breeds approved by AVA were displayed for sale. (Banned breeds are the Pit Bull, Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel, Perro de Presa Canario, and cross breeds of any of these)
  10. That shops with a grade displayed their latest Grade decal prominently.

Key findings of the investigation:

  • 21 out of 29 pet shops breached one or more of the 10 criteria identified by ACRES that relate to animal welfare conditions for housing and displaying pets.
  • 11 out of 29 pet shops (38%) breached one or more of the most basic animal welfare conditions.
  • 10 of the 12 farms (83%) breached two or more of the most basic animal welfare conditions.
  • Of the 11, seven received an A grade under AVA’s Pet Shop Grading Scheme, dated 26 February 2015.
  • 10 out of 29 pet shops (34%) failed to display their Grades.
  • Only 8 out of 29 pet shops (28%) complied with all 10 criteria.

Key recommendations from ACRES:

  • AVA to educate the public on animal welfare conditions for pet shops and farms
  • No disparity between the animal welfare conditions that pet shops and farms’ retail spaces are required to adhere to
  • Breeding facilities to be made accessible to the public, for consumers to make informed choices
  • Pet farms to be graded
  • Stricter enforcement of the Pet Shop Licence Conditions, and more frequent spot checks by AVA,to ensure currency of the grades conferred
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Hotel Properties Limited suspends trading ahead of Ong Beng Seng’s court hearing

Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), co-founded by Mr Ong Beng Seng, has halted trading ahead of his court appearance today (4 October). The announcement was made by HPL’s company secretary at about 7.45am, citing a pending release of an announcement. Mr Ong faces one charge of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts and another charge of obstruction of justice. He is due in court at 2.30pm.

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SINGAPORE: Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), the property and hotel developer co-founded by Mr Ong Beng Seng, has requested a trading halt ahead of the Singapore tycoon’s scheduled court appearance today (4 October) afternoon.

This announcement was made by HPL’s company secretary at approximately 7.45am, stating that the halt was due to a pending release of an announcement.

Mr Ong, who serves as HPL’s managing director and controlling shareholder, faces one charge under Section 165, accused of abetting a public servant in obtaining gifts, as well as one charge of obstruction of justice.

He is set to appear in court at 2.30pm on 4 October.

Ong’s charges stem from his involvement in a high-profile corruption case linked to former Singaporean transport minister S Iswaran.

The 80-year-old businessman was named in Iswaran’s initial graft charges earlier this year.

These charges alleged that Iswaran had corruptly received valuable gifts from Ong, including tickets to the 2022 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, flights, and a hotel stay in Doha.

These gifts were allegedly provided to advance Ong’s business interests, particularly in securing contracts with the Singapore Tourism Board for the Singapore GP and the ABBA Voyage virtual concert.

Although Iswaran no longer faces the original corruption charges, the prosecution amended them to lesser charges under Section 165.

Iswaran pleaded guilty on 24 September, 2024, to four counts under this section, which covered over S$400,000 worth of gifts, including flight tickets, sports event access, and luxury items like whisky and wines.

Additionally, he faced one count of obstructing justice for repaying Ong for a Doha-Singapore flight shortly before the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) became involved.

On 3 October, Iswaran was sentenced to one year in jail by presiding judge Justice Vincent Hoong.

The prosecution had sought a sentence of six to seven months for all charges, while the defence had asked for a significantly reduced sentence of no more than eight weeks.

Ong, a Malaysian national based in Singapore, was arrested by CPIB in July 2023 and released on bail shortly thereafter. Although no charges were initially filed against him, Ong’s involvement in the case intensified following Iswaran’s guilty plea.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had earlier indicated that it would soon make a decision regarding Ong’s legal standing, which has now led to the current charges.

According to the statement of facts read during Iswaran’s conviction, Ong’s case came to light as part of a broader investigation into his associates, which revealed Iswaran’s use of Ong’s private jet for a flight from Singapore to Doha in December 2022.

CPIB investigators uncovered the flight manifest and seized the document.

Upon learning that the flight records had been obtained, Ong contacted Iswaran, advising him to arrange for Singapore GP to bill him for the flight.

Iswaran subsequently paid Singapore GP S$5,700 for the Doha-Singapore business class flight in May 2023, forming the basis of his obstruction of justice charge.

Mr Ong is recognised as the figure who brought Formula One to Singapore in 2008, marking the first night race in the sport’s history.

He holds the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix. Iswaran was the chairman of the F1 steering committee and acted as the chief negotiator with Singapore GP on business matters concerning the race.

 

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Chee Soon Juan questions Shanmugam’s $88 million property sale amid silence from Mainstream Media

Dr Chee Soon Juan of the SDP raised concerns about the S$88 million sale of Mr K Shanmugam’s Good Class Bungalow at Astrid Hill, questioning transparency and the lack of mainstream media coverage. He called for clarity on the buyer, valuation, and potential conflicts of interest.

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On Sunday (22 Sep), Dr Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), issued a public statement on Facebook, expressing concerns regarding the sale of Minister for Home Affairs and Law, Mr K Shanmugam’s Good Class Bungalow (GCB) at Astrid Hill.

Dr Chee questioned the transparency of the S$88 million transaction and the absence of mainstream media coverage despite widespread discussion online.

According to multiple reports cited by Dr Chee, Mr Shanmugam’s property was transferred in August 2023 to UBS Trustees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, which holds the property in trust under the Jasmine Villa Settlement.

Dr Chee’s statement focused on two primary concerns: the lack of response from Mr Shanmugam regarding the transaction and the silence of major media outlets, including Singapore Press Holdings and Mediacorp.

He argued that, given the ongoing public discourse and the relevance of property prices in Singapore, the sale of a high-value asset by a public official warranted further scrutiny.

In his Facebook post, Dr Chee posed several questions directed at Mr Shanmugam and the government:

  1. Who purchased the property, and is the buyer a Singaporean citizen?
  2. Who owns Jasmine Villa Settlement?
  3. Were former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and current Prime Minister Lawrence Wong informed of the transaction, and what were their responses?
  4. How was it ensured that the funds were not linked to money laundering?
  5. How was the property’s valuation determined, and by whom?

The Astrid Hill property, originally purchased by Mr Shanmugam in 2003 for S$7.95 million, saw a significant increase in value, aligning with the high-end status of District 10, where it is located. The 3,170.7 square-meter property was sold for S$88 million in August 2023.

Dr Chee highlighted that, despite Mr Shanmugam’s detailed responses regarding the Ridout Road property, no such transparency had been offered in relation to the Astrid Hill sale.

He argued that the lack of mainstream media coverage was particularly concerning, as public interest in the sale is high. Dr Chee emphasized that property prices and housing affordability are critical issues in Singapore, and transparency from public officials is essential to maintain trust.

Dr Chee emphasized that the Ministerial Code of Conduct unambiguously states: “A Minister must scrupulously avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest between his office and his private financial interests.”

He concluded his statement by reiterating the need for Mr Shanmugam to address the questions raised, as the matter involves not only the Minister himself but also the integrity of the government and its responsibility to the public.

The supposed sale of Mr Shamugam’s Astrid Hill property took place just a month after Mr Shanmugam spoke in Parliament over his rental of a state-owned bungalow at Ridout Road via a ministerial statement addressing potential conflicts of interest.

At that time, Mr Shanmugam explained that his decision to sell his home was due to concerns about over-investment in a single asset, noting that his financial planning prompted him to sell the property and move into rental accommodation.

The Ridout Road saga last year centred on concerns about Mr Shanmugam’s rental of a sprawling black-and-white colonial bungalow, occupying a massive plot of land, managed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), which he oversees in his capacity as Minister for Law. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, also rented a similarly expansive property nearby.

Mr Shanmugam is said to have recused himself from the decision-making process, and a subsequent investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) found no wrongdoing while Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean confirmed in Parliament that Mr Shanmugam had removed himself from any decisions involving the property.

As of now, Mr Shanmugam has not commented publicly on the sale of his Astrid Hill property.

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