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Straits Times
19-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: Train service resumes after power fault affects 13-station line
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Commuters being guided off four stalled trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT line on July 19. SINGAPORE – Train service on the Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) line resumed on July 19, almost two hours after a power fault affected the entire 13-station line. Transport operator SMRT said on Facebook at 2.58pm that four trains had stopped between stations after the power fault at about 2.45pm. SMRT staff safely guided the passengers from these trains to the nearest stations, it added. Also, announcements were made in trains and stations to keep commuters updated on the situation. 'Our engineers are on-site to investigate and resolve the issue. We are sorry for affecting your afternoon commute,' said SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai. In an earlier Facebook post at 2.45pm, SMRT said trains were moving slower towards Choa Chu Kang LRT station on Service A, and that it was investigating the fault. In an update about five minutes later, the transport operator said that train services were not available as the power fault spanned all 13 stations. It added that free regular or bridging buses are available outside the stations. In an update at 4.22pm, about two hours after the fault surfaced, SMRT said train services have resumed normal operations. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died Singapore Who decides when you can't? A guide on planning for end-of-life care Singapore Why hiring more teachers makes sense, even with falling student numbers About 10 minutes after that, the operator said the free regular and free bridging bus services were no longer available. Ms Fay Goh was heading from Fajar to Teck Whye station at around 2.45pm when the LRT train she was in stopped between the Fajar and Bangkit stations for eight to 10 minutes. Ms Goh said she was worried as she was rushing to her workplace at 3pm, and felt that her body temperature was rising as the train was under the sun. 'It was so hot inside and the other commuters looked blur as to what to do. Fortunately, one of the young men in the train helped to call the (intercom) and lent me a fan to cool down. Even now, my cheek is still feeling hot,' she said. Several engineers later arrived at the stationary train and helped the commuters out of the train. They then walked on the tracks to Fajar station. Another commuter, Mr Libin Sim, was travelling from Bukit Panjang to Choa Chu Kang station when the LRT train stopped just before South View station. The 46-year-old director of a trade association said that the train was stuck for about 10 minutes before two engineers helped them off the train. They walked on the tracks to South View station. Commuters were guided off four stalled trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT line on July 19. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LIBIN SIM 'Everyone was very composed. There was no panic. There were about 20 of us, including elderly, kids and parents. The tracks were quite wide... In fact, everyone was very amused with the experience,' he said. This is the second LRT train disruption to occur in July . Train service on the line resumed at about 11.40am on July 3, about three hours after a power fault led to disruption at all stations.
Online Citizen
13-07-2025
- Business
- Online Citizen
Jollibean workers claim unpaid wages as multiple outlets close across Singapore
SINGAPORE: Once a ubiquitous name with over 30 outlets islandwide, soy milk retailer Jollibean has seen a drastic downsizing in the past year. Only five physical outlets remain open, and several former and current employees claim they are owed months of unpaid salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions. Staff members told state media CNA that they were not informed in advance about outlet closures, only discovering them upon reporting for work. 'At first, we worked so hard and did not get paid, so we were very emotional. Now I think, just forget it. I will just treat it as charity,' said one worker, who has yet to receive her final month's wages. Eight current and former employees who spoke to media declined to be named for fear of jeopardising any future payment. Some said they continued working in hopes of recovering the amounts owed. Of the eight Singapore outlets still listed on Jollibean's website, three — located at Lavender MRT Station, Raffles Place MRT Station, and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital — were found to be shuttered as of Tuesday (8 July). The Lavender MRT outlet had a notice from SMRT Trains stating that the premises had been repossessed since 30 June. Workers Left in the Lurch A former worker from the Pioneer MRT outlet, which closed on 27 December last year, described how SMRT Trains repossessed the premises without prior notice. 'The moment I stepped through the door, my leader said, 'Today you don't need to work, you need to close shop,'' recalled a 68-year-old part-time employee who had worked there for over five years. She said she was still owed more than S$1,000 in salary and three months of unpaid CPF. The affected staff visited Jollibean's headquarters in Pasir Panjang earlier this year over the unpaid wages and were told that the money would be credited the following month, along with a letter of guarantee — but as of July, there has been no update. 'I don't have experience with this kind of thing,' she said, adding that she was reluctant to lodge a formal report. 'I will just treat it as charity.' Another part-timer, a 74-year-old woman who had worked at the same outlet for over a decade, eventually approached the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) with her son. 'We went to the authorities in April, but now it is July and we have not received a cent,' she said. 'The authorities have intervened, but the company is still dragging its feet. It's hopeless. And it's money earned from hard work, not just money you get from sitting around.' CPF Contributions Also Alleged Withheld Workers also highlighted irregular CPF contributions. A 49-year-old counter staff member said she had yet to receive her May and June salaries. 'Without getting my pay, I have no mood to work,' said the Chinese national, adding that her rent was due in two days. At another central Singapore outlet, a worker identified only as Mars, 40, said her wages were still being paid, though often delayed by over a month. However, her colleague revealed that CPF contributions had stopped since last November, with one exception in March this year. When asked, their supervisor reportedly replied that there was no clear timeline for funds to be made available. Despite the irregularities, some staff expressed cautious optimism, saying they were told a new 'boss' would take over operations in July. Yet, none of the workers — including one outlet manager — knew who the supposed new owner was. Company Response and Claims of New Ownership Jollibean director Shahrul Nazrin Mohd Dahlan told CNA that the closures were part of a downsizing move. He said he is stepping down as director and that a new owner will be taking over, although he declined to reveal the identity of the party. 'We are resolving it with MOM [Ministry of Manpower]; we are settling it by the end of this week,' he said. 'There's a new capital injection with a new shareholder, so everything will be resolved financially.' According to Shahrul, paperwork is being finalised and payments are expected to be completed by the end of the month. He added that the new owners are experienced in the food and beverage industry and plan to expand Jollibean's operations after the takeover. Public records show that the sole shareholder of Jollibean Foods is Joybean Inc, which also lists Shahrul as director. Union Advisory The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), stated that Jollibean is a non-unionised company. A spokesperson advised affected workers to approach TADM for help with employment disputes. Outside Singapore, Jollibean currently operates six outlets in Hong Kong and continues to market itself as a Singapore soymilk brand. Customers Flag Silent Closures On 2 July, a member of the Complaint Singapore Facebook group raised an alert about the silent closures of Jollibean outlets across Singapore. The user noted that Jollibean, once present in locations such as Raffles Place MRT and Bugis Junction, had been shutting down its outlets one by one without any prior notice or explanation at the stores. Attempts to contact the company's customer service reportedly went unanswered, and a Google search showed many outlets marked as 'temporarily closed'. Other Facebook users also chimed in, speculating that the closures may be linked to unpaid staff wages. The user claimed they had heard that even employees themselves were not informed in advance about the shutdowns. Calls for Help from the Public Career coach Ken Tan commented on the issue in a Facebook post on 12 July, expressing concern for the affected workers — particularly older staff who may be unfamiliar with their options for seeking help. He questioned whether the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) could find ways to support the employees, even though Jollibean is not a unionised company. He also called on pro bono lawyers to offer guidance on recovering unpaid wages and urged Members of Parliament to step in and assist those affected.
Straits Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Over 5,000 pre-schoolers work on SG60 mural made of reused plastic toys
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - Over 147kg of old plastic toys have been assembled on a giant mural at Promenade MRT station depicting iconic figures in Singapore's 60-year journey, including its founder Sir Stamford Raffles, samsui women, and the once-ubiquitous kacang puteh man. Modern icons like the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Marina Bay Sands, as well as beloved zoo animals Inuka the polar bear and Ah Meng the orang utan, are also featured. The SG60 art project, titled Building Our Nation Over Generations, was unveiled on July 2. Measuring 13.5m wide and 2.1m high, it is said to be the largest mural in Singapore made from reused plastics, created in support of Go Green SG. Ms Goh Han Yan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, placed the final piece on the mural at its unveiling ceremony. Over 10,000 participants were involved in the making of the mural, including more than 5,000 pre-schoolers from Kinderland International Education and their educators and family members. The pre-school group also partnered with SMRT Trains, YTL PowerSeraya and Lions Befrienders for the project. Ms Fadhlin A.G., 35, who designed the artwork, said Kinderland approached her to create the mural to share the message of sustainability. Ms Fadhlin A.G. (in black top), head of art at Crestar Learning Centre, and pre-schoolers looking at Singapore's largest mural made from recycled plastic toys on July 2. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO 'I feel very happy and very proud of the kids,' said Ms Fadhlin, head of art at Crestar Learning Centre. She added that the kids 'did most of the work', dismantling the toys to glue them onto the mural board. Ms Doris Tey, 53, centre leader of Kinderland, facilitated the project across the group 's 51 centres in Singapore. She said that after the centres received toy donations, the plastic ones were identified, weighed and sorted by size. If a toy was too big, it would be dismantled. The task of dismantling toys was handled by adult volunteers from YTL Power Seraya and educators from the centres. Seniors from Lions Befrienders helped with painting and sorting the toys. Reagan Wong, one of the 5,000 pre-schoolers who worked on the mural, said choosing the toys was his favourite part of the project. 'I have fun making this picture with my friends,' said the six-year-old boy. (From left) President of SMRT Trains Lam Sheau Kai; General Manager of Kinderland Seet Lee Kiang; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Sustainability & the Environment Goh Han Yan; CEO of YTL PowerSeraya John Ng; and Executive Director of Lions Befrienders Service Association Singapore Karen Wee in front of Singapore's largest mural made from recycled plastic toy waste. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Ayesha Adawiyah Md Fadli, six, said it was good to use old toys for the mural. Recycling 'helps the earth and the earth will be clean', she said. Ms Tey said the mural is a meaningful 'inter-generational effort to celebrate Singapore's 60th anniversary and promote sustainability'. SMRT, which provided the platform for the artwork, said: 'The mural stands as a powerful symbol of how even the youngest among us can contribute to a greener future.' Mr Seet Lee Kiang, general manager and director of Kinderland Singapore, said: 'This SG60 mural is more than an artwork. It is a symbol of hope, collaboration and a greener future.'
New Paper
06-05-2025
- New Paper
SMRT Trains fined $240,000 over accident that killed technical officer
Rail operator SMRT Trains was fined $240,000 on May 5 over an accident at Bishan Depot in March 2020 that killed one of its technical officers. The company was convicted of an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, as it had failed to take reasonable measures to ensure its employees' safety at the depot in Bishan Road. On March 23, 2020, Mr Muhammad Afiq Senawi, 30, and a colleague were using a hydraulic press machine (HPM) to replace some train-related components. Mr Afiq had placed a component into the machine, and activated the piston to carry out the task. However, he had failed to remove a similar older component. Due to a pressure build-up, a spacer rod that weighed nearly 3kg flew out of the machine, broke through the fencing gate near the machine, and struck his face. Mr Afiq was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he died of face and chest injuries at 10.15am that day. Coroner Christopher Goh later ruled his death to be an unfortunate misadventure. Among other things, an investigation later revealed that SMRT Trains had failed to install a pressure gauge for the HPM after dismantling it for repairs. On May 5, Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Kimberly Boo told the court that the spacer rod had not been secured to any other component, adding: "There was thus a hazard of the spacer rod displacing from its position and shooting out during operations." She also said that a maintenance work record dated June 11, 2018, stated that the hydraulic pressure gauge was damaged. As a result, there was no indication of the pressure of the HPM available when it was in operation. The damage was reported to an engineering maintenance manager, who instructed for the gauge to be dismantled. However, he later overlooked its reinstallation. Another work record dated Dec 16 that year stated that the pressure gauge was sent for calibration. Court documents stated that the most recent maintenance of the HPM prior to the tragedy was carried out on Jan 2, 2020. The gauge was still not installed then. Ms Boo said: "(SMRT Trains) had failed to ensure that a pressure gauge, which was a safety measure identified in the HPM operation manual, was installed for the HPM. Once the activating lever was pulled by the operator, the piston would continually move downwards to generate a downward push motion. "Even though HPM operators were not required to monitor the exact pressure involved in the operation, the presence of a pressure gauge would provide an indication to operators on whether the force applied in any installation or removal had increased disproportionately." SMRT Trains had also failed to limit the pressure setting of the HPM, which would reduce operators' exposure to a force far beyond what was necessary for its intended use, thus lowering the risks of harm the operators are exposed to. SMRT Trains was charged in court in 2023.
AsiaOne
06-05-2025
- AsiaOne
SMRT Trains fined $240,000 over accident that killed technical officer, Singapore News
SINGAPORE – Rail operator SMRT Trains was fined $240,000 on May 5 over an accident at Bishan Depot in March 2020 that killed one of its technical officers. The company was convicted of an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, as it had failed to take reasonable measures to ensure its employees' safety at the depot in Bishan Road. On March 23, 2020, Mr Muhammad Afiq Senawi, 30, and a colleague were using a hydraulic press machine (HPM) to replace some train-related components. Mr Afiq had placed a component into the machine, and activated the piston to carry out the task. However, he had failed to remove a similar older component. Due to a pressure build-up, a spacer rod that weighed nearly 3kg flew out of the machine, broke through the fencing gate near the machine, and struck his face. Mr Afiq was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he died of face and chest injuries at 10.15am that day. Coroner Christopher Goh later ruled his death to be an unfortunate misadventure. Among other things, an investigation later revealed that SMRT Trains had failed to install a pressure gauge for the HPM after dismantling it for repairs. On May 5, Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Kimberly Boo told the court that the spacer rod had not been secured to any other component, adding: 'There was thus a hazard of the spacer rod displacing from its position and shooting out during operations.' She also said that a maintenance work record dated June 11, 2018, stated that the hydraulic pressure gauge was damaged. As a result, there was no indication of the pressure of the HPM available when it was in operation. The damage was reported to an engineering maintenance manager, who instructed for the gauge to be dismantled. However, he later overlooked its reinstallation. Another work record dated Dec 16 that year stated that the pressure gauge was sent for calibration. Court documents stated that the most recent maintenance of the HPM prior to the tragedy was carried out on Jan 2, 2020. The gauge was still not installed then. Ms Boo said: '(SMRT Trains) had failed to ensure that a pressure gauge, which was a safety measure identified in the HPM operation manual, was installed for the HPM. Once the activating lever was pulled by the operator, the piston would continually move downwards to generate a downward push motion. 'Even though HPM operators were not required to monitor the exact pressure involved in the operation, the presence of a pressure gauge would provide an indication to operators on whether the force applied in any installation or removal had increased disproportionately.' SMRT Trains had also failed to limit the pressure setting of the HPM, which would reduce operators' exposure to a force far beyond what was necessary for its intended use, thus lowering the risks of harm the operators are exposed to. SMRT Trains was charged in court in 2023. [[nid:481768]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
