A coffee shop along Queenstreet has come under scrutiny for allegedly stopping a diner from drinking water from her own bottle despite the woman having bought food from their establishment and finishing the food, according to Shin Min Daily News.

The incident occurred when a 62-year-old woman, Ms. Chen, visited the coffee shop to have a meal and wanted to take her medicine with water. This unexpected encounter has left her feeling confused and frustrated.

An Unpleasant Surprise

Ms. Chen had just finished her meal and needed to swallow her medicine. Like many people her age, she often needs to take medication when she goes out.

She had brought her own bottle of water to the coffee shop and intended to drink from it to aid in swallowing the medicine. However, as she was about to take a sip, a staff member allegedly stopped her from doing so.

Understandably perplexed, Ms. Chen questioned why she couldn’t drink still water from her own bottle. She expressed her confusion, stating that she had visited this coffee shop several times before and had never encountered such a situation.

As an elderly individual, she relies on carrying her own bottle of water wherever she goes.

It was later revealed that the coffee shop has been enforcing a policy against outside food and drinks for a considerable period. Signs reminding patrons not to bring their own food and beverages were prominently displayed within the premises.

The drinks stall owner clarified that staff members have consistently reminded diners not to place their water bottles on the table.

The owner of the coffee shop explained the rationale behind their strict policy. Unlike a hawker center, the coffee shop is privately owned, and expenses such as rent and employees’ salaries need to be accounted for.

To maintain control over costs, the establishment prohibits diners from bringing in outside food and beverages, including plain water.

The owner acknowledged that some elderly customers might require plain water when they are taking their medicine and in such cases, the coffee shop readily provides plain water free of charge upon request.

Singapore Transport Minister S Iswaran will remain in Singapore during his leave of absence in light of an ongoing investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released a statement via Channel NewsAsia on Thursday, July 13, providing details regarding the minister’s situation.

No access to govt buildings or official resources

As part of the ongoing investigation, Minister S Iswaran has been instructed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to take a leave of absence until the investigation is completed

During his leave of absence, Minister S Iswaran will have no access to any official resources and government buildings.

During S Iswaran’s leave of absence, Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will assume the role of Acting Minister for Transport.

S’pore tycoon Ong Beng Seng issued notice of arrest

Hotelier Ong Beng Seng, the founder and managing director of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), which own the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Singapore, has been issued a notice of arrest by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), according to The Straits Times.

He has been asked to provide information to the CPIB about his interactions with Transport Minister S.Iswaran for their investigations.

Case uncovered by CPIB

Transport Minister S Iswaran is currently assisting with investigations with the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), who have reportedly uncovered a case that has prompted the need for a thorough inquiry involving Minister Iswaran and several others. The details of the case are yet to be disclosed to the public.

On July 5, the director of the CPIB personally briefed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong regarding the case and was given concurrence by the PM for the formal investigations.

Among the individuals who would be interviewed during the investigation, Transport Minister S Iswaran was prominently mentioned. The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement confirming this development and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong granted his concurrence for the CPIB to proceed with a formal investigation.

The investigations were then commenced on 11 July.

Recap

In a recent enforcement operation conducted by officers from the Traffic Police (TP) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), a total of 26 cyclists were fined for breaching the rule on cycling group size. The operation took place from June 24 to July 8, as stated by TP and LTA in a joint statement released on Friday.

Understanding the Cycling Group Size Rule

Cyclists who ride in groups are required to adhere to the rule on group size to ensure the safety of all cyclists and road users.

According to the rule, cyclists riding in two rows are limited to a group of 10, while those riding in a single file are limited to a group of 5. Failure to comply with this rule can result in a fine of $150.

Increased Fine Amount and Other Offenses

The fine amount for cyclists who violate the rule on group size was increased to $150 starting from January 1, 2022. This amount is double the previous fine of $75.

Apart from breaching the group size rule, cyclists can also receive the same fine for other offenses, including beating the red light, riding on expressways, or riding abreast of another cyclist along single-lane roads and bus lanes during the bus lane operational hours.

Education Outreach and Safety Measures

In addition to issuing fines, the TP and LTA officers also conducted education outreach programs to raise awareness about cycling rules and guidelines.

These efforts are aimed at ensuring that cyclists understand and abide by the rules to promote their own safety and the safety of other road users.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Daniel Tan, the commander of TP, emphasized the importance of these enforcement operations, stating, “Cycling rules are put in place to ensure the safety of all cyclists and road users.” The TP has made it clear that they will continue to carry out enforcement operations against errant cyclists.

Guidelines for Cyclists

To promote safe cycling practices, TP and LTA have provided the following guidelines for cyclists:

1. Obey all traffic signals and travel in the same direction as the flow of traffic.
2. Wear a helmet when cycling on roads to protect yourself in case of accidents.
3. Ride close to the far left edge of the road and allow traffic to overtake you safely.
4. Cycle in a single file on single-lane roads and on bus lanes during operational hours.
5. When riding in the dark, switch on a front-white light and a rear red light to enhance visibility.
6. Utilize designated bicycle lanes when available instead of using other parts of the roadway.
7. Avoid using mobile devices while cycling to maintain focus and minimize distractions.
8. Refrain from cycling on expressways, road tunnels, or selected viaducts such as the Tuas viaduct.

Last night, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) swiftly responded to a fire incident on a vessel anchored off the southeast coast of Singapore, near the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

Upon receiving the alert at approximately 9:35 p.m., four SCDF marine firefighting and rescue vessels, accompanied by around 40 marine firefighting specialists from Brani and West Coast Marine Fire Stations, were immediately deployed to the scene.

Equipped with water jets, they focused their efforts on the two accommodation decks where the fire had been confined.

Prior to SCDF’s arrival, the crew of the vessel had taken proactive measures by setting up three water jets to cool the exterior of the ship.

This technique, known as boundary cooling, aims to reduce the temperature of the vessel’s metal structure and prevent the fire from spreading further.

Additionally, two water jets were used to control the fire until the SCDF’s marine firefighting team took over the operation.

The firefighting operation proved successful as the flames were fully extinguished. However, the damping down process, which involves applying water to wet the burnt surfaces immediately after extinguishing the fire, continued until approximately 5:00 a.m. today.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries during the incident, and all crew members of the affected vessel have been accounted for. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities, who will determine the factors that led to the incident.

SCDF’s statement on Facebook

[Marine Firefighting Operation @ Southeast of Singapore]

Last night (11 July) at about 9:35 p.m., SCDF was alerted to a fire on a vessel anchored off the southeast of Singapore, near Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

A total of four SCDF marine firefighting and rescue vessels and about 40 marine firefighting specialists from Brani and West Coast Marine Fire Stations were deployed to the incident.

Arriving alongside the anchored vessel, the marine firefighting specialists boarded the vessel and using a water jet, they extinguished the fire which was confined to two accommodation decks.

Before SCDF’s arrival, the vessel’s crew had set up three water jets to cool the exterior of the vessel and two water jets to control the fire. Cooling of the vessel’s exterior is known as boundary cooling, this helps to reduce the temperature of the vessel’s metal structure.

After the fire was extinguished, the damping down* operation continued until about 5:00 a.m. today.

There were no reported injuries and all crew members of the affected vessel were accounted for.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

*Damping down refers to the application of water to wet burnt surfaces immediately after a fire is put out. It is to prevent the potential rekindling of the fire.

A serious traffic accident took place in Johor Bahru on 7 July and left a motorcyclist brain dead, and sadly, the rider passed away just two days after the accident.

The victim, Yang Yongyong, was a 40-year-old bus driver from Singapore, and his untimely demise has left many in shock and mourning.

The Fatal Accident

According to reports from Shin Min Daily News, the 40-year-old bus driver was riding his motorcycle along a road in Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru.

Unfortunately, he was involved in an accident at a T-junction. The severity of the collision resulted in numerous serious injuries, according to 8world News.

Following the accident, Yang was conveyed to the hospital. Medical professionals assessed his condition and unfortunately declared him brain dead.

Despite two days of intensive medical treatment, Yang Yongyong succumbed to his injuries on July 9 and passed away, leaving behind a devastated family.

Allegations of Hit-and-Run

Amidst the tragic turn of events, a woman took to Facebook to share her account of the incident. According to her post, the victim had allegedly been hit by a grey car at the T-junction, according to China Press.

Shockingly, the driver of the car allegedly did not stop to provide assistance or check on the injured motorcyclist but instead fled the scene of the accident.

The woman’s Facebook post served as an appeal for witnesses to come forward with any information or dashcam footage related to the hit-and-run accident.

Additionally, she urged the responsible driver to take responsibility for their actions. However, it is worth noting that the woman has since deleted her original post.

Ongoing Police Investigation

Shin Min Daily News reports that the police are currently examining the available evidence. Based on their preliminary findings, it appears that the victim may have lost control of his motorcycle, leading to the collision.

The police are urging anyone with relevant information or who witnessed the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation.