Current Affairs
Dorms to be cleared by 7 Aug? Here are lists of 560 dorms that are yet to be cleared of COVID-19
The Government revealed earlier that the migrant workers’ dormitories will be cleared of COVID-19 by in the first week of August, however, tomorrow (7 August) will be the due.
The spotlight of this issue was on the number of workers and lists of dormitories that had been cleared, and not on the ones that are yet to be cleared.
As updated on 4 August by the Ministry of Manpower, below are several lists of dormitories that are yet to be cleared. Despite announcing that the clearance will be done by 7 August, the information provided on the MOM website listed dormitories to be declared COVID-cleared “in the coming weeks”.
A total of four conditions were required to be met in order to be considered as “cleared of COVID-19”.
- #1: Dorm declared COVID-cleared.
- #2a: Actions by dorm operators – Implemented Safe Living Measures.
- #2b: Actions by dorm operators – Arranged with the employer for staggered pick-up/drop-off times.
- #3: Actions by employers (e.g. employers confirmed/updated the addresses in OFWAS).
- #4: Actions by workers (e.g. all workers downloaded TraceTogether and SGWorkPass, and reported health status on FWMOMCare).
It was reported that Blue Stars Dormitory Blk 11, Kian Teck Dormitory Blk 20, Blk 22 and Blk 24, as well as PPT Lodge 1B Blk 4A, completed #1, #2a, #2b and #3, but failed to complete #4 – which was a step that required all workers to download TraceTogether and SGWorkPass, and then report their health status to FWMOMCare.
On the other hand, SCM Tuas Lodge Blk 90, Blk 94, Blk 98 and Woodlands Dormitory Blk 25-16 completed #1, #2a and #2b, but did not complete #3 – which requires employers to confirm and update the addresses in OFWAS, and also #4.
The MOM revealed that 117 Tuas View Walk 1 SINGAPORE 637735 had completed conditions #1, #2a, #2b and #3, but did not complete #4.
214 Tagore Lane Singapore 787597, 36 Loyang Crescent Loyang Industrial Estate Singapore 508994, as well as 9 Gul Street 1 Singapore 629321 only managed to complete #1, and failed to complete #2a, #2b, #3 and #4.
The Ministry reported that 1 Jalan Remaja Singapore 668662, MK11-03339N PT, MK11-03340A PT Project1 Part A: Building Works at Choa Chu Kang Neighbourhood 1 Contract 15 (Total: 126 Dwelling Units); and Part B: Contingency Work – Contract No.: D/099/16, MK31-04822T, MK31-00020W @ Flora Drive, as well as TS21-01590P at Martin Place Martin Modern, are currently pending to be cleared.
These CTQs have completed conditions #1, #2a and #2b, but did not meet #3 and #4.
As for Temporary Living Quarters (TLQ), according to MOM’s website, a total of 376 TLQs were yet to be declared “COVID-cleared”, and there was no available additional information.
The Ministry described that TLQs are workplaces such as factories or office spaces used to house foreign workers (including workers affected by dormitory de-densification efforts due to COVID-19 or by Malaysia’s Movement Control Order), for durations no longer than six months.
Here are three lists of dormitories that are yet to be declared “COVID-cleared”.
Current Affairs
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.
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.
Current Affairs
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.
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:
- Who purchased the property, and is the buyer a Singaporean citizen?
- Who owns Jasmine Villa Settlement?
- Were former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and current Prime Minister Lawrence Wong informed of the transaction, and what were their responses?
- How was it ensured that the funds were not linked to money laundering?
- 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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