Latest news with #DineshVasuDash
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Grant extended for firms to install stability devices on lorry cranes
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The stability control system is a proven safety feature that can be built into lorry cranes, and helps prevent tip-overs by calculating and restricting crane movements within a safe-lifting zone. SINGAPORE – In a continued effort to reduce worksite injuries and fatalities, a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) grant which subsidises the installation of lorry crane stabiliser systems has received an additional $1.8 million funding and been extended by two years, to March 2027, but with a reduced subsidy of 50 per cent. Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash announced the fresh funding and extension at the annual Environment, Health, and Safety Campaign event on July 11 hosted by Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL) at the BCA Academy. Initially introduced in July 2024, the $4 million grant had previously funded 70 per cent of the installation fee, with a March 2025 deadline. It costs about $10,000 to install the system on one crane, and each company can receive up to $20,000 of funding. The latest announcement comes as part of a slew of measures, including using new artificial intelligence (AI) technology, to boost workplace safety, particularly in high-risk industries such as construction. Lorry cranes are truck-mounted cranes used for lifting and transporting heavy loads. They are fitted with stabilising legs or 'outriggers' on each wheel, to keep them from toppling over when loading or off-loading. Typically, these cranes operate in public areas or tight spaces where full extension of outriggers are limited, compromising the stability of the crane. To prevent such instances, the stability control system (SCS) is a proven safety feature that can be built into lorry cranes, and helps prevent tip-overs by calculating and restricting crane movements within a safe-lifting zone. If a crane attempts to operate in unstable conditions, the system issues an alarm, automatically cutting off further movement. Installation of the SCS became mandatory for all newly registered cranes from Jan 1, 2025 . According to MOM statistics, 60 per cent of lorry crane-related incidents from the past decade could have been prevented if the SCS had been installed. Of the roughly 2,900 registered cranes in Singapore, about half have the system. The grant extension hopes to encourage more existing cranes to be equipped with the system, Mr Dinesh said. MOM's most recent statistic reported that, between 2020 and 2024, there were 14 dangerous occurrences involving lorry cranes, which resulted in two fatalities. The ministry also reported that in 2024, workplace deaths rose to 43, up from 36 the year before. Of the deaths, the collapse or breakdown of structures and equipment were a leading cause. Overall, the fatal injury rate in construction has decreased by more than 30 per cent in the last decade, from 5.4 per 100,000 workers in 2015, to 3.7 in 2024. MOM aims to reduce the number to below 1.0 by 2028. Minister of State for Manpower, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash at SCAL's annual Environment, Health and Safety Campaign on July 11. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Mr Solaiyan Gopalakrishnan, a lorry crane operator at landscape planting, care and maintenance company Treetop Landscaping, told The Straits Times at a July 9 showcasing of the SCS that he used to have to manually judge whether a load was safe to lift. With the new system, he said he feels much safer. 'If anything goes wrong, there is an auto-sensor,' he said. A Treetop Landscaping spokesperson said they currently have a total of three lorry cranes, all newly installed with SCS courtesy of the 2024 grant. As at June 30, 2025, MOM said it has provided funding for about 500 companies and over 600 cranes to install the SCS. With major building projects scheduled, such as Changi Airport Terminal 5 and a new tower at integrated resort Marina Bay Sands, Mr Dinesh said Singapore's increasing construction demand 'must never come at the cost of workers' lives and limbs'. He emphasised MOM's push to use technology to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents. At the event, he introduced two new AI projects aimed at improving worksite supervision. The first, SafeSite VA, is a surveillance system that helps detect hazards across multiple worksites simultaneously to send quicker safety alerts. The second, AISpot, is a generative AI tool developed in partnership with A*Star, which is being designed to more accurately flag hazards in photo or video footage. It hopes, Mr Dinesh said, to match the accuracy of a human inspector, although this is still a 'stretch goal.' At the July 11 event, nine individuals and companies were also given awards for their contributions to workplace safety. One winner, Mr Manevali Venkadesan Maran, a supervisor at local construction company Straits Construction, was recognised for introducing simple but effective safety improvements on-site, like colour-coded access points and stronger safety barriers. He was also praised for hosting regular meetings with workers to encourage open communication. Said Mr Dinesh: 'Sometimes our workers will know the issues, but they tend to keep quiet. Could be language barriers. Could be the fact that our supervisors and leadership are not listening. 'I think when you create a culture of open dialogue, that's when safety outcomes tremendously increase.'
Malay Mail
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Mapletree and Singaporean photographer Melisa Teo present Two Rivers exhibition (Part II) at VivoCity
(From left) His Excellency Mr Stephen Marchisio, Ambassador of France to Singapore; photographer Melisa Teo; Guest-of-Honour Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Manpower; and Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Two Rivers (Part II) photography exhibition at VivoCity's waterfront Promenade. SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 June 2025 - Mapletree Investments ("Mapletree" or "the Group") is pleased to host the second instalment of Two Rivers, a photography exhibition by Paris-based Singaporean photographer Melisa Teo, at Singapore's largest shopping mall Rivers (Part II) is supported by Mapletree and celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and France. It is held at VivoCity's waterfront Promenade and South-West Boulevard (Level 1, near Wine Connection) from 4 June to 4 July official launch of Two Rivers (Part II) was officiated by Guest-of-Honour Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Manpower; Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree; His Excellency Mr Stephen Marchisio, Ambassador of France to Singapore; and photographer Melisa Rivers is a captivating exploration of life, memory and dreams, featuring images from the Singapore River and the Seine River in Paris, France. The exhibition at VivoCity will showcase eight new photographs in addition to the original 60 photos presented at Anderson Bridge from 23 April to 31 May Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree said: "We are delighted to bring Two Rivers to VivoCity, one of the Group's flagship properties. This engaging exhibition features an impressive collection of photographs from two rivers in Singapore and France by Singaporean photographer Melisa Teo, providing a memorable experience for a wider audience to enjoy. From funding diverse initiatives to sponsoring photography exhibitions such as Two Rivers, we are committed to bringing the arts closer to the community. Mapletree looks forward to deepening its support in the arts scene, strengthening community bonds and celebrating the limitless creativity of our artists."Photographer Melisa Teo added: "Diplomatically, Mapletree's support for this initiative has contributed to strengthening the ties between France and Singapore through art and culture, and achieving a significant milestone in the cultural landscape of Singapore. Professionally, this opportunity has allowed me to pursue my work with greater purpose, enriching my artistic life in meaningful ways. Personally, it has helped me learn to appreciate the diverse perspectives and rich cultural heritage that both France and Singapore offer, deepening my own understanding of the transformative power of art in connecting communities."Exhibition highlights included an Artist Talk by Melisa Teo, which took place at library@harbourfront (VivoCity, Level 3) from 4pm to 5pm on 4 June 2025. The complimentary talk engaged a wide range of attendees, including photography enthusiasts and individuals interested in how art influences perspectives. Melisa Teo shared her journey as an artist, inspiring others to embrace their passions and pursue their creatives are also invited to participate in the My Two Rivers: Young Artist Competition at South-West Boulevard. Centred on the theme My Two Rivers, which explores the vital role rivers play in shaping human civilisations, the competition invites participants from two age categories: Junior (seven to 12 years old), who will complete a colouring template based on selected photographs from Two Rivers, and Youth (13 to 16 years old), who will submit original artworks inspired by the theme. Submissions will be accepted at the exhibition from 4 to 24 June 2025. Participants stand a chance to win up to S$200 in VivoCity eVouchers and have their artworks showcased in Paris, support for Two Rivers underscores its belief in the power of arts to inspire and connect people. Since 2010, Mapletree has proudly disbursed more than S$7 million to exclusively fund a diverse range of arts-focused Corporate Social Responsibility Rivers is a joint initiative supported by the Singapore and French governments. The exhibition is presented by the French Embassy as part of the vOilah! France Singapore Festival, and supported by Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, National Arts Council, National Parks Board and Land Transport period: 4 June to 4 July 2025 Venue: VivoCity (Promenade and South-West Boulevard), 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585My Two Rivers: Young Artist Competition: 4 to 24 June 2025Hashtag: #TwoRiversbyMelisaTeo #TwoRiversExhibition #MelisaTeo The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Melisa Teo Melisa Teo is a Singaporean photographer who regards her camera as a "third eye" which is guided by intuition to perceive a reality that eludes the naked eye. For her, the camera is a transmitter and translator of light's messages and photography, a doorway bordering visible and invisible worlds. Since 2008, she has explored spiritual realms in search of the sacred, and this has been documented in books like Light From Within and The Light Beyond, as well as exhibitions such as Dark Light and Eden. In recent years, her fascination with the relationship between man and nature is highlighted in The Trees of Paris (2020). Her latest book Two Rivers (2025), features images of the Singapore and Seine Rivers and explores her connection to both her birthplace and her adoptive city. Melisa majored in English Language and Literature at the National University of Singapore and French Language and Literature at Sorbonne University in Paris. Website: | Instagram: @melisa_teo MAPLETREE Headquartered in Singapore, Mapletree is a global real estate development, investment, capital and property management company committed to sustainability. Its strategic focus is to invest in markets and real estate sectors with good growth potential. By combining its key strengths, the Group has established a track record of award-winning projects, and delivers consistently attractive returns across real estate asset classes. The Group manages three Singapore-listed real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and nine private equity real estate funds, which hold a diverse portfolio of assets in Asia Pacific, Europe, the United Kingdom ("UK") and the United States ("US"). As at 31 March 2025, Mapletree owns and manages S$80.3 billion of logistics, office, data centre, student housing and other properties. The Group's assets are located across 13 markets globally, namely Singapore, Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, the UK, the US and Vietnam. To support its global operations, Mapletree has established an extensive network of offices in these markets. For more information, please visit
CNA
15-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
Deep Dive Podcast - PAP's Dinesh Vasu Dash on how a pivotal career moment led him to politics
He took a significant pay cut and declined a private sector job to join the Health Ministry to fight the pandemic. Now former CEO of the Agency for Integrated Care, Dinesh Vasu Dash, is running on the PAP ticket as the new face contesting in East Coast GRC. He describes his career as a journey with "too many twists and turns". He tells Otelli Edwards on this special series of the Deep Dive podcast what he has learnt from working with seniors and lessons on raising resilient children.
New Paper
08-05-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
'I'm not a paper General'
Member of Parliament Dinesh Vasu Dash, a former brigadier-general in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), has found himself at the heart of an old national conversation: should former military men enter politics? The People's Action Party has long tapped into the ranks of the military for political talent. But in recent years, there has been growing criticism that these ex-officers - sometimes branded "paper Generals" - lack the lived experience and grassroots touch needed in civilian life. Mr Dinesh, 50, who won a seat in East Coast GRC in the May 3 general election, disagrees. And he's not shying away from the scrutiny. "I'm not a paper General," he boldly told Tabla during an interview at an East Coast food centre on May 6. "I had 18 rockets fired at me by the Taliban. I've seen what real conflict looks like. That's not something you fake in a boardroom." Mr Dinesh's credentials go beyond theory. In 2009, he spent eight months in Afghanistan, embedded with Dutch NATO forces in Uruzgan province, one of the more volatile regions bordering Pakistan. During the deployment, his camp endured frequent attacks, indirect fire and suicide bomb threats. One rocket missed his bunk by a few metres. Said Mr Dinesh: "The rockets were fired over many nights. The one that landed the closest flew over me, so we could hear it, but it landed just outside my bunk. "You'd hear the explosion and then five minutes later, it would rain gravel and debris. It teaches you what stress really is. I came back with PTS (post-traumatic stress) - enough to wake up in the middle of the night, thinking you're under attack. "My wife would tell me that I would regularly spring up in the middle of the night, triggered by alarm. It was quite normal, and went on for the first six months after I got back." This, he says, fundamentally shaped his resilience and deepened his sense of service - traits he believes are equally valuable in politics. Asked about the common critique that generals are too rigid, too removed or too institutionalised for the messiness of politics, Mr Dinesh is quick to call out a double standard. "Why is there no criticism when senior counsels enter politics? There's no training school for politicians - we're all new when we start. So examine the person, not the past profession," he said. He argued that military leaders - especially those who have served in high-pressure, operational environments - often possess skills that are directly transferable to governance: strategic thinking, calmness under pressure and a deep appreciation for national interest over individual gain. "It's not about command-and-control. It's about clarity, cohesion and commitment," he said. "Leading 25,000 troops in a division - as I did in the SAF - is not unlike managing a constituency of 30,000 people. You learn to listen, empathise and act." Far from being insulated, Mr Dinesh insisted that his military career connected him to people on the ground - literally. During the election campaign, several former national servicemen recognised him. "They would stop me and say, 'Sir, remember me, I was a soldier in your battalion'. That kind of bond is forged in the field not in air-conditioned offices," he said. Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash (right), then an SAF Brigadier-General, with the Indian Army's Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Manoj Pande at Visakhapatnam, India, in November 2018. With them are Defence Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Ng Eng Hen. PHOTO: MINDEF Mr Dinesh acknowledged, though, that the transition from military to politics does come with cultural adjustments. "If you enter politics straight from the SAF, the civilian pace and tone may take some getting used to," he admitted. "I had five years in between - with the Ministry of Health and as CEO of the Agency for Integrated Care after I left the army in 2020 - so I've been thoroughly civilianised. Most people are shocked to find out I was in the army at all." Singapore, Mr Dinesh argued, is too small and too complex for labels to determine someone's suitability for leadership. "There's a kind of 'wokeness' to the criticism of generals. It assumes that we're somehow less capable of connecting with people or understanding their needs. That's not fair," he said. "I've worked through Covid with four hours of sleep for two years - managing health crises, elderly care and frontline coordination. That's real-world, high-stakes leadership." And his connection to the ground isn't just rhetorical. "If anything, I've been one of the most outspoken civil servants," he said. "I've never been one to sugarcoat issues. I've criticised policies from within, not just nodded along." Far from the stoic stereotype of a commander, Mr Dinesh's personality defies easy categorisation. He loves heavy metal music "the hardcore anti-establishment type," he pointed out - and has little patience for political niceties. "I'm not the type who will shy away from difficult situations," he said. "I will take them head on." Mr Dinesh's military resume is dotted with high-stakes roles. Beyond Afghanistan, he was the ground commander during the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore in 2018. He sat alongside the police commissioner, coordinating bomb squads and security for two of the world's most unpredictable leaders. In 2015, he had the sombre honour of serving as the lead coffin bearer, the only Indian, in the state funeral of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. "It was a moment of deep significance for me," he said. "To honour the man who built the country I now serve in a different capacity." Mr Dinesh also spent a formative year (2006-2007) in India attending the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, where he listened to an "illuminating" talk by then-President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and gained insights into India's evolving defence and geopolitical landscape. It was also the time when India's first field marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was the chief of the army staff during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, was receiving treatment at the military hospital in Wellington, before he died at the age of 94 a year later. "It was a cultural and strategic immersion," said Mr Dinesh, even as he got up several times from our table during the interview to receive congratulations and chat with the residents of East Coast. "It gave me a unique understanding of the India-Pakistan-China dynamics which, given current global tensions, is invaluable." His travels took him to Kashmir, Ladakh and the Line of Control - frontline exposure that gave him a broader perspective on national security and diplomacy. Now, as a first-time MP, Mr Dinesh hopes to bring that same sense of strategic clarity and moral courage to policy. "I'm not here to warm a seat. I've been in firefights - real ones. I've coordinated public health responses. I've carried a nation's founding father. If you think I'm not ready to walk the ground and serve my residents, then you haven't been paying attention." He's keen on issues related to elder care, youth empowerment and community mental health - areas he dealt with at AIC. "There's dignity in every life stage," he said. "As a society, we must learn to support both the young and the old, not just economically, but emotionally." Mr Dinesh offered a challenge: "Judge me not by my rank, but by my record. I didn't come into this for prestige. I came in because I care."
Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Meet 3 new PAP candidates in ST's noon podcast livestream
Join your host - ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah - in ST's podcast at a new time slot. Follow our live coverage here. The 2025 Singapore General Election is in full swing. Political parties confirmed their line-ups across the island on April 23 during Nomination Day, with Polling Day next up on May 3. The Usual Place - a podcast by The Straits Times - now moves from a weekly show to a half-hour daily livestream at noon from April 24 till May 1, a day before Cooling-off Day. Host and ST correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah will share a wrap of what happened the night before, as well as what's to come in the next few days. There will be analysts featured, and even some ST reporters who have been covering the ground so far. But first up, on the living room couch with her in today's (April 24) livestream are three candidates from PAP: Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, 50, part of the party's East Coast GRC team, Mr Daniel Liu, 40, part of its Aljunied GRC team, and Ms Valerie Lee, 39, part of its team contesting the newly created Pasir Ris-Changi GRC. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
