Sengkang GRC said in a statement on Facebook that the Sengkang Town Council will transit completely to direct management in 2023 after receiving no bids in a managing agent tender.

The three-week tender exercise was held from 8 April to 29 April.

Here is what Sengkang GRC said

SENGKANG TOWN COUNCIL RECEIVES NO BIDS IN MANAGING AGENT TENDER, WILL TRANSIT COMPLETELY TO DIRECT MANAGEMENT IN 2023

After receiving no bids in a tender exercise for a Managing Agent (MA) in April, Sengkang Town Council (SKTC) will directly manage all divisions within Sengkang Town when the current management period of the remaining incumbent MA comes to an end in 2023.

As is publicly known, Sengkang GRC is a GRC formed shortly before General Election 2020. It comprises the Buangkok, Compassvale and Rivervale divisions, formerly part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Punggol East SMC (previously managed by EM Services under Pasir Ris-Punggol TC); and the Anchorvale division, formerly Sengkang West SMC (previously managed by CPG Facilities Management under Ang Mo Kio TC).

SKTC was established on 30 July 2020 and inherited the two MA contracts from the predecessor TCs. As announced earlier, Anchorvale division has been directly managed by SKTC since 31 October 2021, with day-to-day operations handled by staff hired directly by SKTC.

The other divisions of Sengkang GRC are being managed by EM Services, whose MA contract is due to expire on 31 January 2023. As a matter of prudence, SKTC called a tender for MA services for Buangkok, Compassvale and Rivervale divisions in April, well in advance of the expiry date. At the close of the MA tender on 29 April 2022, no bids were received.

Given the circumstances, Sengkang Town Councillors deliberated on this matter and voted to transit into direct management of SKTC, after the management period of EM Services comes to an end. Till the expiry of its contract, EM Services will continue to provide its services to SKTC. SKTC would like to convey its appreciation to EM Services for its years of service to Sengkang residents.

SKTC and in particular, the MPs for Sengkang GRC, would like to assure all Sengkang residents that continuity of services is an utmost priority. With the experience gained from directly managing Anchorvale division, and more than eight months to the handover of the Buangkok, Compassvale and Rivervale divisions from EM Services, SKTC is confident of a smooth transition, and its ability to deliver the standards of service that Sengkang residents have come to expect.

Sengkang Town Council

17 May 2022

The Singapore Police and the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) would like to warn the public about a ransomware version known as “Magniber,” which is delivered via false Windows OS updates and results in the encryption of data on the victims’ devices (s).

Ransomware is a form of virus that encrypts files on a system and demands a ransom payment to recover the files. In recent weeks, the Police and CSA have received reports of victims’ data being encrypted with the “Magniber” ransomware after they downloaded and executed malware disguised as Windows OS updates. If the victims sought to recover access to their data, a ransom letter would be presented demanding payment in the form of cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin.

Early reports of the “Magniber” ransomware version revealed that the ransomware was spreading via Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. It began to spread over other Internet browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Chrome in late 2021 to early 2022. According to sources, the ransomware might be disseminated through websites that sell pirated or cracked software, i.e. warez and cracked sites. Inadvertently downloading and installing such software may expose victims to the following risks:

1. Encryption of users’ data and demand for ransom to decrypt the data;
   
2. Theft and subsequent misuse of personal data such as details of their bank accounts / credit cards, social media accounts, photos and videos stored in devices. Attackers can also use such data to access the victims’ financial and social media accounts to steal money and/or impersonate victims to commit credit card frauds, scams and extortion using information such as the photos and videos obtained;
   
3. Allowing attackers to gain remote control of their devices, resulting in the loss of data and/or control over devices; and
   
4. Slowdown of the devices’ performance due to possible unauthorised processes invoked by the malware infection (e.g. crypto-jacking).

How it looks like

Between 4 May 2022 and 10 May 2022, the Police, in collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board (“STB”), Enterprise Singapore (“Enterprise SG”), and the Singapore Land Authority (“SLA”), conducted island-wide enforcement checks on 139 public entertainment outlets as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safe resumption of nightlife businesses in Singapore.

During these operations, three licensed and unlicensed public entertainment establishments were discovered to have violated the Public Entertainments Act of 1958 and the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act of 2015. The operators of these establishments are being investigated.

Serangoon Road

An establishment on Serangoon Road was discovered to be operating with recorded music and supplying booze across two distinct premises. The operator, however, only had a legal public entertainment licence for one of these units and a legitimate liquor licence for the other.

The operator of the establishment is being investigated for offering public entertainment without a legal license under the Public Entertainments Act of 1958, as well as distributing liquor without a valid license under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act of 2015.

Circuit Road

Another establishment on Circular Road was discovered to be playing recorded music loudly from a pair of speakers positioned on the roof of its outside sitting area.

The outlet’s public entertainment licence does not allow recorded music to be disseminated outside of its indoor facilities, the operator is being investigated for violating public entertainment license terms under the Public Entertainments Act 1958.

Penalties:

The offences of providing public entertainment without a valid licence and supplying liquor without a valid licence each carry a fine of up to $20,000, while the offence of contravening public entertainment licensing conditions carries a fine not exceeding $10,000.

For non-compliance with safe distancing measures under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Reopening – Control Order) Regulations 2022, individuals found guilty may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.