News Today

Sheikh turns to Arsenal
ARSENAL could be a &pound450 million (S$1.35 billion) target for Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al-Maktoum. The world's fifth-richest man, with a personal fortune of &pound7 billion, is reportedly eying the Gunners. He had been snubbed by Liverpool last week in favour of... [Read more]

Blowing hot and cold
WASHINGTON - UNITED States President George W. Bush and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have sparred - albeit separately on American television - as both sought to defuse speculation about an impending military confrontation between the two countries. Mr Bush dismissed talk... [Read more]

Serving up a hot, steamy cup of coffee in foreign lands
IN UKRAINE, sex sells coffee. That's what Singapore company Food Empire discovered. One of the most popular television commercials for the company's MacCoffee product features a beautiful, long-haired woman in red hot pants driving up to a bar in the middle... [Read more]

Putin throws down gauntlet to West
THE annual security conference in the southern German city of Munich is traditionally a venue where defence leaders showcase their plans for making the world a more stable place. Not the one held last weekend, however. For in a speech which... [Read more]

Leadership courses for social workers
SOCIAL workers will soon be able to take paid leave to attend leadership training courses. It is part of a $1 million Social Work Professionalisation package, aimed at helping social workers develop and grow their professional skills. Minister for Community Development,... [Read more]

Thigh strain rules Vieira out of Valencia match
MILAN - INTER Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira will not play in today's Champions League first-leg match against Valencia after aggravating a thigh strain in training.The French international, who missed Inter's 1-0 win over Cagliari at the weekend because of the injury,... [Read more]

Tighter laws on handling bomb-making chemicals
TERRORISTS are increasingly using certain industrial chemicals such as ammonium nitrate to make explosives. In view of the security risk, Parliament passed a new law yesterday that requires businesses or individuals dealing in and handling such chemicals to get a licence... [Read more]

SCCCI looks at club to cultivate bicultural Chinese S'poreans
IT MAY be 100 years old, but the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) is open to ideas as to how it can continue to remain relevant. And top government leaders have provided some suggestions in a book, entitled... [Read more]

Shorter lead time for GST hike may cost more for firms
THE bad news: Singapore firms may have to pay more to implement the latest hike in the goods and services tax (GST) given the shorter deadline than for the last rise. The good news: Many firms have already started gearing up... [Read more]

Fate of sand importers hangs in the balance
BARGES carrying thousands of tonnes of sand are unloaded every day at landing terminals in Pasir Ris and Tuas. But in just over a week, this could grind to a halt as Indonesia's ban on land sand exports kicks in after... [Read more]

Thai-language media cries foul, reflects bitterness over loss
BANGKOK - THAI-LANGUAGE media yesterday cried foul over the country's loss to Singapore in Wednesday's Asean Football Championship match. Singapore beat Thailand 2-1 in the first-leg of the final, a match marred by a 15-minute walkout by the Thais, who were... [Read more]

Frequent flyer programme Krisflyer has a long way to go

I would like to relate my experiences with Singapore Airline's frequent flyer programme, Krisflyer, and British Airway's equivalent, Executive Club.

Having lived in London for a few years and travelling to Singapore at least once a year to visit family and friends, I was naturally biased towards flying with Singapore Airlines and becoming a Krisflyer member.

My experience over the years with Krisflyer has been disappointing. Being a Krisflyer member, I try to stick to flying with Star Alliance members whenever I am unable to fly with Singapore Airlines. Without fail, I will need to submit a 'Retroactive Mileage Claim' every time I have flown with a partner airline, despite the fact that my Krisflyer membership number is included in the booking.

When I have accumulated sufficient miles to qualify for an upgrade, trying to do so has also proven to be a nightmare. Despite calling up six months in advance, I am invariably told that the flight I want to upgrade to is fully booked.

I can understand that for popular flights, the airline wants to keep as many seats as possible for fare-paying passengers, but there seems to be a certain amount of rigidity in the way Krisflyer handles upgrade requests.

On one occasion, I booked a Business Class Virgin Atlantic ticket from London to Singapore. This is a code share deal with Singapore Airlines and I flew on a Singapore Airlines plane. Again, my Krisflyer membership number was clearly stated in the booking.

However, when I completed my flights, not only were my miles not automatically credited, but I was also told via the website that my ticket did not qualify for miles. I had to call Krisflyer several times and, on each occasion, I was given different answers with regards to the accrual of miles.

One told me that I should get the miles and she wasn't sure why I haven't. Another told me that it was under investigation. Even checking my account online regularly showed different comments against my claim.

In the end, I had my miles credited to my account, but it took a long while and a lot of intervention on my part. This proved to be the final straw and I switched to British Airways afterwards.

I have been an Executive Club member for about six months and the experience cannot be more different.

While the miles for my British Airways flights were credited within 24 hours of my flight, miles for my Cathay Pacific flights were also credited within a week - and I didn't have to submit a claim.

What was more impressive was my submission for miles that were missing after a stay at a hotel. The whole process was very simple and my miles were credited to my account 48 hours after I had sent the required invoice off to British Airways.

While I agree that the British Airways product is not as good as the Singapore Airline product, but the two things that work in their favour are a frequent flyer programme that works seamlessly and a Business Class seat that reclines to a fully flat bed that allows a good night's sleep.

While I am encouraged to see Singapore Airlines upgrade its Business Class product on its Boeing 777-300 fleet, I hope that when the Airbus 380 is rolled out, it will take a leaf out of British Airway's book and provide a fully flat bed in Business Class.

More importantly, Krisflyer needs to be a lot more efficient and not have passengers spend more energy chasing for missing miles than is normal.

Alvin Sim Khim Woon

London, United Kingdom

Geylang start with 1-0 victory

AFTER three seasons of under-achievement, Geylang United might just be on the brink of a new dawn.

Last season's second-last side got off to a winning start at the Jurong West Stadium yesterday.

They beat Gombak United 1-0 in front of 2,669 fans.

Under coach Lim Tong Hai, who is beginning his first full season in charge, the Eagles look a different proposition from the side that conceded 62 goals last season.

They were tight and well-organised at the back. Up front, they took their chances well despite missing the injured Briton Kim Grant and Dutchman Abdelaziz Dnibi.

Former national defender Lim said: 'The players worked hard and rose to the occasion. We coped with the pressure and worked well as a team.

'It was a deserved win and it's always nice to keep a clean sheet.'

Their backline of national skipper Aide Iskandar (who moved from Tampines Rovers), Razaleigh Khalik, Noh Rahman and Jonathan Xu repelled everything Gombak could muster.

In fact, the hosts, who finished eighth last season, failed to register a single shot on target the entire game.

All Gombak had to show in the first half was a Ruhaizad Ismail shot which flashed just wide.

And it was only in stoppage time that Gombak's Thai midfielder Theerawesin Seehawong managed his side's first shot on target, which Geylang goalkeeper Fajar Sarib saved easily.

Striker Agu Casmir, who received the go-ahead to play only on Wednesday after missing the registration deadline, also failed to make any headway against the Geylang defence.

The Eagles also took some time to warm up at the attacking end.

But, when they did, they looked the more potent side.

Geylang took the lead on 35 minutes through midfielder Syed Fadhil with a 30-metre thunderbolt past Gombak goalkeeper Adi Salleh into the top- right corner.

Despite two floodlight failures which stopped the game for some 12 minutes, Geylang's raucous bunch of about 50 supporters made the most noise.

If this first match is anything to go by, they should have more reason to cheer this year.

Meanwhile, Singapore's under-21 side crashed out of the Asean Youth Championship in Brunei yesterday.

They lost 0-2 to Malaysia in their final group game.

Air Asia did not allow me to carry my cabin-sized bag onto plane

In recent times, budget airlines have made vacationing more affordable for Singaporeans. During the Chinese New Year rush, it was almost impossible to book a flight to popular vacationing spots with conventional airlines. So, budget airlines took the opportunity to raise fares.

Left without a choice, I paid a premium fare of close to $700 for two to fly Air Asia to Bangkok when Singapore Airlines was charging about the same price on a 4-to-go basis. But paying full fare does not mean you get service that is up to par. After all, I was still flying on a budget airline.

Air Asia confirmed my greatest fear of lost baggage. On the flight returning from Bangkok, the ground staff stopped me from bringing my small cabin bag on board. When asked for the reason, she claimed that my bag was not of cabin size. I pointed out other passengers with larger bags and she came up with another excuse that the flight was full and there was no room.

I agreed to check my small bag in but asked for a 'Fragile' label due to the breakable contents in my bag. Without hesitation, she said there were no such labels.

Getting irritated by the customer-unfriendly attitude, I insisted that I will not check in my bag unless they marked it as 'Fragile'. With much resentment, she then produced a luggage label and asked me to sign. I did so. As she was attaching the label to my bag, I saw her mark 'Late Check-in'.

Upon arrival in Singapore, my bag could not be found but my travelling partner could find hers. She, too, checked in at the gate along with my bag.

Is there a new policy to forbid carry-ons on Air Asia flights?

I fly on business frequently and am fully aware of what cabin-sized carry-on bags should be and have ensured that I observe the rule for carry-ons.

Lynn Lam Wai Ling (Ms)

Insiders scoop up bargain buys during bourse's plunge

AS SHELL-SHOCKED investors were rushing to bail out of the plunging market, canny executives here were snapping up bargain-priced shares in their own firms.

'Insiders' from at least 28 listed firms have bought shares on the open market since the local bourse went into a freefall last week, according to Singapore Exchange filings.

Buyers include bank tycoon and UOL Group's non-executive chairman, Mr Wee Cho Yaw; Kim Eng Holdings executive director Ong Seng Gee; Mr Robert Chandran, chairman of recently listed Chemoil; and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) non-executive director Lee Ek Tieng.

And cash-rich firms such as OCBC Bank and rice-cracker maker Want Want Holdings have been nibbling at their own shares on the open market, armed with mandates from shareholders for stock buy-backs.

CIMB-GK research head Song Seng Wun said yesterday that purchases by insiders when markets nosedive are often a reflection that a firm's valuation might be out of line with what investors may be willing to pay.

'Buying when everyone is panicky sends a strong signal to other investors that I have faith in my company, and I am now putting my money where my mouth is,' he said. This is especially true of the many small listed firms, which are at risk of a bigger whiplash during a market meltdown compared to blue chips.

The pattern of buying during this bourse bloodbath differed from company to company.

OCBC was buying throughout the index tailspin, according to online financial portal Shareinvestor.com.

The bank bought a total of 882,000 shares at between $8.20 and $8.90, as its stock price tumbled by as much as 6.7 per cent over the six-day losing streak.

But most firms made the bulk of their purchases during the panic two days ago, triggered by fears that global investors who had borrowed heavily in yen to fund asset purchases might have to dump their investments in light of the rising value of the Japanese currency.

Want Want bought 240,000 shares at US$1.41 to US$1.42 as its stock fell 2.76 per cent on Monday. It closed 3.6 per cent up at US$1.46 yesterday.

Broker Kim Eng bought back 100,000 of its own shares at $1.47 apiece on Monday. A private firm linked to Mr Ong bought 200,000 Kim Eng shares at $1.50 apiece on Monday and another 200,000 shares at $1.4806 each yesterday.

He also bought 70,000 shares at $1.50 each, under a DBS Nominees account on Monday. The shares closed 0.7 per cent higher at $1.48 yesterday, after falling 2.65 per cent on Monday.

Mr Wee was also in the thick of the action, buying more shares in property giant UOL. Last Wednesday, the day the Straits Times Index plunged by as much as 192 points at one stage, his investment vehicle, CY Wee & Co, bought 4.78 million UOL shares in 'a series of purchases'. No price was given.

The following day, it followed up with a purchase of 2.22 million shares at $5.032 apiece. The two transactions raised Mr Wee's deemed interest in UOL to 27.78 per cent.

Some insiders also accumulated shares in China ship-repair play Cosco.

These included Ms Mina Chan, wife of independent director Wang Kai Yuen. She picked up 200,000 shares at $2.39 apiece on Monday as the counter plunged 10 per cent.

Mr Lee Fook Choy, a director of Cosco's marine engineering unit, bought 300,000 Cosco shares at $2.656 last Friday. Cosco rose 4.2 per cent to $2.50 yesterday, making it one of the top gainers in percentage terms among STI stocks.

Mr Chandran bought 500,000 Chemoil shares at 51 cents each on Monday, while United Fiber System's chief executive, Mr Jaka Prasetya, snapped up one million of his firm's shares at 25 cents apiece on Friday.

Mr Lee Ek Tieng bought 50,000 SPH shares at $4.20 apiece on Monday.

engyeow@sph.com.sg

Skater gets ban for criticising coach

BEIJING - CHINA'S Olympic gold-medal speedskater Wang Meng has been punished for criticising her coach at the Asian Winter Games in January.

She has been banned from the two world championships this month for criticising new team coach Li Yan.

Wang, who won Olympic gold in the 500-metre short-track event at the 2006 Turin Olympics, will miss the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships and the World Team Championships.

'Wang Meng's improper comments about the team's head coach had a negative effect on the whole team,' said a statement from the Winter Sports Administrative Centre yesterday.

'The centre has asked her to reflect deeply on her mistakes and make a written apology.'

Wang, one of only four Chinese winter athletes to have won an Olympic gold, is something of a maverick and China's sports officials are notoriously unforgiving of public criticism.

'It was irresponsible to make such remarks,' the 21-year-old athlete said in her apology.

'My mistakes tarnished the image of the team.

'I'm so sorry. I accept the punishment.'

Li, who once coached the US team, said she would try out younger skaters at this month's world championships in Italy and the team championships in Hungary.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS

News Today

Doc to testify on effects of alcohol on accused
A DOCTOR has been found to testify on the effects of alcohol on the man dubbed the 'One-eyed Dragon' on the day nightclub boss Lim Hock Soon was fatally shot.As a result, the trial of accused gunman Tan Chor Jin, expected... [Read more]

Serving up a hot, steamy cup of coffee in foreign lands
IN UKRAINE, sex sells coffee. That's what Singapore company Food Empire discovered. One of the most popular television commercials for the company's MacCoffee product features a beautiful, long-haired woman in red hot pants driving up to a bar in the middle... [Read more]

Bush's last stand
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Leo Burnett eyes growth with fresh hires, new media
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British teens urged to learn Mandarin, Urdu
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Social workers ought to get higher pay with extra funding
I REFER to the letter, 'Pay increase for social workers lauded' (ST, Jan 25), by Mr Edmund Lim Wee Kiat. We agree with Mr Lim that social workers play an important role in maintaining and improving the well-being of our society.In... [Read more]

Anti-spam Bill aims to get marketers to label messages
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Singapore, Uzbekistan sign deals to boost ties
SINGAPORE and Uzbekistan yesterday signed a series of agreements to bolster ties between the two countries. Among the key deals is an agreement to work towards economic and humanitarian cooperation. It was signed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Uzbekistan... [Read more]

Sinda's new CEO to focus on education
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Rumbles in outer space
IT TOOK almost two weeks for China to admit that it fired a missile which destroyed an orbiting satellite. And when the admission finally came, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao did his best to minimise its importance.Beijing, he promised, had... [Read more]

Restructuring deadline for Shin Corp poses dilemmas
A LOOMING deadline for Shin Corp to restructure its shareholding organisation is set to pose separate dilemmas for Thailand's military-installed government and a Temasek Holdings-led consortium that controls the conglomerate.Here's why.Shin Corp, the publicly listed telecommunications group previously controlled by the... [Read more]