[The Last Call for SGT1 Edward H Go]

Earlier this morning at 8 a.m., SCDF officers paid tribute to the late SGT1 Edward H Go, our firefighter who lost his life in the firefighting operation at 91 Henderson Road on 8 December 2022.

For his steadfast dedication in duty and sacrifice in service to the nation, CPL Edward was posthumously promoted to the rank of SGT1.

Across all fire stations, HQ SCDF, SCDF Division HQs and the Civil Defence Academy, the fire call alarm was broadcast. This fire call alarm is sounded to activate fire station crews to respond to an emergency. This morning’s sounding symbolises The Last Call for the late SGT1 Edward.

A minute of silence was observed by SCDF officers in honour of SGT1 Edward’s memory, followed by a tribute delivered by COMR Eric Yap, Commissioner SCDF.

“His passing has hit everyone in the SCDF very hard. No words can adequately describe the profound sense of loss. We will remember SGT1 Edward’s selflessness, professionalism and commitment to duty. For those of us who knew him personally, they will remember how proud he was to be a firefighter. Let SGT1 Edward be an inspiration to all of us in SCDF.”

Blinkers and sirens of SCDF emergency vehicles were also turned on for 15 seconds after the message was delivered, as a mark of respect.

SGT1 Edward will be accorded ceremonial honours later today.

Facebook user Faith Tan shared about how her return flight to Singapore was cancelled and she was left stranded in New Zealand for 2 days.

She called out her tour group Chan Brothers for not having a sense of urgency, and said that they were telling her to wait instead of booking the next available flight using other airlines.

Chan Brothers have since reached out and issued a statement responding to the incident

Chan Brothers responds

Travellers on our tour group had their return flight on 11 December 2022 confirmed on Air New Zealand but it was cancelled by the airline due to operational requirements as cited in their official notice.

We were only informed of the flight cancellation by Air Zealand when checking in our group at Auckland airport, at the same time as our travellers in the group.

Our tour leader at the frontline and our team back in Singapore have been working tirelessly round the clock to connect with Air New Zealand on the matter requesting for a resolution for our travellers since then. It was not a deflection of responsibility on our part but a standard operating procedure to always check in with the airline who issued the tickets especially when they were the one who cancelled the flight.

Unfortunately, the airline did not respond as speedily as we and our travellers had expected. While the tour leader had factually conveyed to the travellers that the matter was still pending updates from Air New Zealand officially, our team in Singapore had already started to look for alternative flights (including those by other carriers) to fly our travellers back home as soon as possible.

Despite the domino effect on subsequent scheduled flights as a result of the cancelled flight and the scarcity of available seats during this peak travel season, we managed to secure seats to fly back the first group of travellers one day later and the rest one day after.We would like to add that our travellers are well taken of in New Zealand by our tour leader on ground while our Singapore team are working round the clock to fly them back to Singapore as soon as possible; this may not be the case if travellers have booked the flights themselves as they will have to first call through the flooded hotline and then liaise with the airlines directly while having to worry about accommodation and meals among other concerns in a foreign land amid the distress of the flight cancellation.

Regards,

Jeremiah Wong

Chan Brothers Travel

Digital banks have become increasingly popular in recent years. They provide a convenient way to manage your finances from the comfort of your own home. But are digital banks reliable?

The answer to this question depends largely on the bank in question. In general, digital banks are as reliable as traditional brick-and-mortar banks. The main difference is that digital banks rely on digital technologies rather than physical structures, which can make them easier to use and more secure.

Recent news of digital platform ‘Get’ unable to withdraw

According to The Business Times, a report was made yesterday stating that the platform knowns as ‘Get’ faced complaints after customers were unable to withdraw their money.

This so-called ‘digital bank’ does not even have a license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

How safe are digital banks?

Digital banks use strong encryption technology to protect customer data and financial information. They also employ fraud detection tools to identify and stop suspicious transactions. The banks also use multi-factor authentication to verify customers and ensure that only authorized users can access their accounts. As a result, digital banks are usually just as secure as traditional banks.

In addition, digital banks often offer additional features that make them more attractive than traditional banks. For example, they may provide secure online access, mobile banking, and money transfer services. They may also offer more competitive interest rates and other benefits, such as cash back rewards and signup bonuses.

Finally, digital banks are typically more user-friendly than traditional banks. Their websites and apps are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, so customers can easily manage their finances without having to call a customer service representative.

Overall, digital banks are reliable and secure. They offer a number of advantages over traditional banks, such as increased security, convenience, and competitive rates. However, it is important to research any digital bank you are considering to make sure it is reputable and secure.

63-year-old Loh Fu Wah was charged earlier today (12 December) for causing a hire at a HDB unit in Tampines by dropping a lit cigarette on a bedroom floor, according to CNA.

He was charged with negligently causing a fire at a 10th-floor unit at Block 941 Tampines Avenue 5 on 28 January at about 10.29pm.

There was kerosene on the floor at the time when he dropped his cigarette on the floor, and the resultant fire caused damage to the unit and the common corridor.

He will be pleading guilty and is set to return to court on 17 January 2023.

Recap on SCDF’s statement

[Fire @ Block 941 Tampines Ave 5]

At about 10.30pm yesterday (28 Jan), SCDF was alerted to a fire at the above-mentioned location.

Upon SCDF’s arrival, the fire was raging and had totally engulfed a two-storey unit on the 10th floor.

Firefighters from Tampines Fire Station and Changi Fire Station had to conduct forcible entry to gain access into the unit.

While conducting firefighting operations within the unit, firefighters also conducted forcible entry into a bedroom on the first storey, and found a man lying unconscious on the floor. The firefighters immediately rescued him out of the burning unit.

An SCDF ambulance crew assessed the rescued man and conveyed him to Changi General Hospital.

The fire, which involved contents of the entire unit, was extinguished with two water jets.

About 180 people from neighbouring units were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.