Latest news with #Seng
Online Citizen
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Man charged with damaging PAP posters and harassing volunteers on GE2025 polling day
SINGAPORE: A 57-year-old man was charged in court on 4 July 2025 for damaging election materials belonging to the People's Action Party (PAP) and harassing volunteers during polling night of the 2025 General Election. Seng Guan Heng faces five charges, including mischief, intentional harassment, causing annoyance while drunk, and two counts of using criminal force. According to charge sheets, the alleged incident took place at about 11.20pm on 3 May at an open-air carpark near Block 328, Hougang Avenue 5. Seng is accused of breaking the poles of two PAP flags and damaging five party posters, valued at around S$205. He allegedly directed Hokkien vulgarities at a group of PAP volunteers, pointed his middle finger at them, and pushed two men on their chests during the altercation. Seng also reportedly shouted loudly while intoxicated, causing annoyance to those present at the scene. According to state media CNA, he appeared in court alone on Friday and informed the judge, via a Mandarin interpreter, that he intended to plead guilty. He stated that he needed to travel frequently for work, with scheduled trips to Vietnam and Indonesia. The judge responded that once a person is charged in court, they cannot travel freely without court permission. Such requests require applications and may involve higher bail amounts. The case has been adjourned to August for a further mention. The alleged offences took place in Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC), where PAP candidate Marshall Lim contested against Workers' Party candidate Dennis Tan. Tan, a lawyer, retained his seat in Parliament by winning more than 60 per cent of the vote. Lim secured 37.85 per cent of the vote share. On the night of the election, Lim was delayed in arriving at Bedok Stadium, where PAP supporters were gathered to await results. He cited incidents of vandalism at the PAP's Hougang branch as the reason for his delay. Lim told CNA that he remained at the branch to ensure the safety and well-being of his volunteers. No injuries were reported. 'As the matter is now before the courts, we should let the legal process take its course,' Lim stated. He added, 'Politics can and should involve passionate debate and advocacy, but there is no place for violence in our discourse.' 'Regardless of our political views, we are all fellow Singaporeans. Our differences should inspire meaningful dialogue and a search for common ground.' If convicted of mischief, Seng could face up to two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. For intentional harassment, the penalty could be up to six months' jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both. Each count of criminal force carries a maximum penalty of three months' jail, a fine of up to S$1,500, or both. Causing annoyance while drunk can result in up to six months' jail, a fine of up to S$1,000, or both, for first-time offenders.
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Multiple charges for man accused of damaging PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox On July 4, Seng Guan Heng, 57, was also charged with two counts of using criminal force on another person. SINGAPORE – A man who allegedly damaged campaign materials belonging to PAP in Hougang Avenue 5 on Polling Day on May 3 has been charged with one count each of harassment, mischief and causing annoyance while drunk. On July 4, Seng Guan Heng, 57, was also charged with two counts of using criminal force on another person. According to court documents, the Singaporean was at an open space carpark near Block 328 at about 11.20pm on May 3 when he allegedly caused annoyance to another person by shouting while drunk. He also allegedly damaged the poles of two of PAP's flags and five of its posters worth around $200 in total. Minutes later, Seng allegedly used his hands to push two men, both party volunteers, in the chest. He was also said to have made an obscene gesture and hurled vulgarities at a group of PAP volunteers. In court, Seng, who was unrepresented, said that he intends to plead guilty. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Seller's stamp duty rates for private homes raised; holding period increased from 3 years to 4 Asia Japan urges evacuation of small island as 1,000 quakes hit region World Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending Bill wins congressional approval World Trump eyes simple tariff rates over complex talks, says letters will start going out on July 4 Sport A true fans' player – Liverpool supporters in Singapore pay tribute to late Diogo Jota Singapore Jail for man who recruited 2 Japanese women for prostitution at MBS Business More Singapore residents met CPF Required Retirement Sum when they turned 55 in 2024 He added that he plans to travel to Indonesia and Vietnam for work, but did not disclose details about his occupation. District Judge Wong Li Tein told him that he has to make an online application for approval to travel. Seng then told the court that he intends to seek legal advice and his case has been adjourned to Aug 1. The area where the incident allegedly took place falls under Hougang SMC, where lawyer Marshall Lim represented the ruling party against the WP candidate Dennis Tan, who is also a lawyer. Mr Tan secured a second consecutive term in Parliament after winning more than 60 per cent of the vote during the general election. Mr Lim arrived late at Bedok Stadium on the night of May 3, where PAP supporters had gathered to await the election results. He said then that he had been held back by some acts of 'vandalism' at the PAP's branch in Hougang. He stayed behind to make sure that his volunteers were well taken care of. No injuries were reported at the time.
The Star
12-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Foster dad helps Orang Asli kids find better future
Found family: Seng with his foster children, some of whom are proudly holding up Fathers Day cards. — THOMAS YONG/The Star JOHOR BARU: Paul Sia Yong Sin was a school dropout for about two years, before his foster father took him in and he was given a chance to continue his studies. After completing his SPM, the 21-year-old Orang Asli pursued a diploma in solar technology. He became the first higher education graduate in his village, Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Salam, in Ulu Tiram. Not only was he able to complete his formal education and work in Johor Baru, his three sisters also followed in his footsteps. 'My parents, both fishermen, could not afford to pay for my studies so I dropped out after Year Six and worked at a fish farm in my village for two years to support my family. 'Things changed when my foster father Jonathan Seng Chin Heng decided to take me and my siblings in as his own. He provided us with shelter, education and even sent us to and from school daily,' Sia said in an interview. Sia, who now works as a fast food chain trainer in Johor Baru, said he was motivated by Seng. The youth added that he put in extra effort to catch up with his studies after dropping out and was glad that he managed to finish his SPM before pursuing his diploma studies. He attributed his achievements to Seng, who helped to source funds from churches and donors. Sia, the eldest in his family, and his sisters aged 18, 15 and 11, said they decided to pay tribute to Seng in conjunction with Fathers Day by ordering a cake for him. Besides Sia and his sisters, Seng and his family have also fostered a total of 22 Orang Asli children in the past seven years, with the youngest being a year old. Five years ago, Seng also fostered Rosali Azlan, 12, and his four siblings, after their biological father deserted them. 'Although my real father is not by my side, I feel that I never lacked the love of a father. 'We mix well with his family and I can feel that they love us as their own,' he said. Seng, who is a pastor at a church in Skudai, said most of the children came from underprivileged or neglected backgrounds – some too poor to stay in school and others from broken homes. Seng, 63, said he started fostering after a non-governmental organisation that he partnered with suddenly vanished with the collected funds, just three months into a rural outreach programme, leaving the children abandoned. 'Since then, my wife and I decided to step in to help the children even without formal backing. Many told me to just send the kids back to their villages but I knew in my heart that I could not just walk away,' he said. Although the kids see him as a father figure, he insisted they call him 'pastor', saying: 'This is a reminder for them not to forget their biological father.' Seng said that all he wishes for is for the younger generation to rise up and take charge of their lives.
AsiaOne
02-06-2025
- AsiaOne
Brain injury, fractures: Cyclists recount the dangers of riding along Tanah Merah Coast Road, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - Life has not been the same for Kathleen Seng and her family since she suffered a traumatic brain injury and partial memory loss from a cycling accident along Tanah Merah Coast Road. In February 2022, the retiree - a seasoned cyclist of 25 years who used to frequently join overseas expeditions - was cycling at the back of a group of four when her friend hit a large rock on the road and fell. Seng swerved to avoid running over her friend and fell off her bike. She was unconscious for two weeks, and woke up unable to move or talk coherently for a month. Three years on, the right side of the 54-year-old's body remains significantly weaker, even with the help of physiotherapy. Tanah Merah Coast Road has a straight 10km-long stretch with a dedicated on-road cycling lane stretching from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Changi Ferry Terminal, which allows cyclists to travel uninterrupted at high speeds. The dangers of cycling along Tanah Merah Coast Road were brought to the fore by a Straits Times Forum letter writer, who wrote on May 19 that increased construction activity along the stretch has raised the risk of cycling accidents there. The writer, Michael Price, 66, pointed to a large number of heavy vehicles stopping illegally along the cycling lane to wait their turn to enter construction sites, and how they scatter construction debris on the road. The Singaporean, who is originally from the UK, fractured his hip socket - part of the pelvis - when he was flung off his bicycle after he hit a rock the size of a fist along the road in May 2024. He said the increased construction activity comes amid the expansion of Changi Airport, with Terminal 5 (T5) in the works. Price added that the heavy vehicles often push the speed limit. Tanah Merah Coast Road has a speed limit of 70kmh. Development works for T5 resumed in 2022 after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. The mega terminal, which broke ground on May 14, is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s. Works related to T5 that have been completed so far include a new runway, an underpass for vehicular traffic, and tunnels for baggage and automated people-mover systems similar to the Skytrain. Also along Tanah Merah Coast Road is a worksite for the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) Changi East Depot for the Cross Island Line and some workers' dormitories. The accident took the retired business owner off cycling for almost a year, and he said he had to rely on painkillers extensively and use walking aids in the first four months after the accident. Price noted that it is challenging to weave through traffic on Tanah Merah Coast Road, as many heavy vehicles stop in the cycling lane. He added that drivers of these trucks often wash or clean debris off their vehicles at the side of the road. Meanwhile, Seng still needs to be accompanied by her husband, Ng Bur Kiat, 60, whenever she leaves home as she cannot run errands independently. Ng, a technical sales manager, makes it a point to rush home after work every day to bathe Seng, who retired about 10 years before the accident. Seng told ST that her memory was "gone" after the accident, and that she could not remember anything that happened. Ng added: "Right after she got discharged, she thought our son was still in secondary school, when he was actually in his last year of university... She still thinks our sons are younger." He likened taking care of Seng when she first got discharged to caring for a baby, as he had to teach her everything from scratch, such as how to put on a shirt or get out of bed. Ng said the police had investigated the accident and concluded that no party was liable. His family made insurance claims totalling about $1 million under Seng's personal insurance policy. Describing his wife's recovery as a "miracle", Ng said the family has chosen not to blame anybody. Seng is hoping for a full recovery for her right arm, which now hangs limply by the side of her body when she walks. She is undergoing electrotherapy, which uses electrical energy as a form of medical treatment. She added: "Everything that is over, is over. I am just looking forward, for good things to come." In January 2025, another cyclist sustained a collarbone fracture after the front tyre of his bicycle ran into a sharp metallic object along the same road, causing him to fall off. Lee, 43, who did not want to give his full name, had to wear an arm sling for three weeks and was on hospitalisation leave for 60 days. He has not returned to cycling - something he used to do three or four times a week. Back in April 2023, Jonathan Lau, an oil and gas consultant in his 40s, fractured his left wrist when he hit a rock along Tanah Merah Coast Road. He said he felt incapacitated when he had to stay in a cast for three months, and had "a bit of post-traumatic stress disorder" when he returned to cycling about six months after the accident. He has not gone back to cycling along Tanah Merah Coast Road, although he lives nearby in East Coast, and has no plans to do so. Several cycling-related accidents have happened along this stretch over the years. These include one where a teenage cyclist collided with a stationary car in 2018 and another involving a cyclist who ran into a stationary truck parked in the cycling lane in 2021. Responding to ST's queries, LTA said on May 30 that it has been carrying out enforcement operations against illegal parking along Tanah Merah Coast Road. It added that it will step up enforcement against motorists who do not comply with traffic regulations. "Motorists are reminded to park responsibly in designated parking locations to prevent obstructing or endangering other road users," it added. Regarding speeding heavy vehicles, the Traffic Police said it deploys speed cameras and conducts speed enforcement operations to detect speeding violations involving all vehicles, including heavy vehicles, in Tanah Merah Coast Road. The National Environment Agency said its cleaning service provider cleans Tanah Merah Coast Road daily, with manual cleaning carried out in the afternoon, and a mechanical road sweeper being deployed at night. Mark Cheng, associate director of law firm PKWA Law Practice, said victims can potentially pursue claims if they can clearly prove that a party failed to keep the debris off the road. To justify these claims, evidence such as photos of the debris, dashcam footage from other cyclists or vehicles, and witness statements should be gathered and preserved. Cheong added that personal injury lawyers can request site inspection or maintenance records from contractors to identify potential lapses in safety or clean-up measures. None of the cyclists ST interviewed have pursued legal action. Cycling-related injuries Common injuries caused by cycling accidents include musculoskeletal injuries such as superficial abrasions and fractures, said Dr Ang Shiang-Hu, head of the department of emergency medicine at Changi General Hospital. He added that cyclists who break their falls using their arms may suffer wrist fractures, elbow injuries or collarbone fractures, while higher-speed accidents may result in lower limb fractures. Some cyclists may also suffer from fractures that displace the cervical spine - which is the vertebrae in the neck - which could cause paralysis, as well as injuries that could lead to impairments of nerve, spinal cord or brain function, and major trauma, he said. [[nid:713589]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
New Paper
02-06-2025
- New Paper
Brain injury, fractures: Cyclists recount dangers of riding along Tanah Merah Coast Road
Life has not been the same for Ms Kathleen Seng and her family since she suffered a traumatic brain injury and partial memory loss from a cycling accident along Tanah Merah Coast Road. In February 2022, the retiree - a seasoned cyclist of 25 years who used to frequently join overseas expeditions - was cycling at the back of a group of four when her friend hit a large rock on the road and fell. Ms Seng swerved to avoid running over her friend and fell off her bike. She was unconscious for two weeks, and woke up unable to move or talk coherently for a month. Three years on, the right side of the 54-year-old's body remains significantly weaker, even with the help of physiotherapy. Tanah Merah Coast Road has a straight 10km-long stretch with a dedicated on-road cycling lane stretching from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Changi Ferry Terminal, which allows cyclists to travel uninterrupted at high speeds. The dangers of cycling along Tanah Merah Coast Road were brought to the fore by a Straits Times Forum letter writer, who wrote on May 19 that increased construction activity along the stretch has raised the risk of cycling accidents there. The writer, Mr Michael Price, 66, pointed to a large number of heavy vehicles stopping illegally along the cycling lane to wait their turn to enter construction sites, and how they scatter construction debris on the road. The Singaporean, who is originally from the UK, fractured his hip socket - part of the pelvis - when he was flung off his bicycle after he hit a rock the size of a fist along the road in May 2024. He said the increased construction activity comes amid the expansion of Changi Airport, with Terminal 5 (T5) in the works. Mr Price added that the heavy vehicles often push the speed limit. Tanah Merah Coast Road has a speed limit of 70kmh. Development works for T5 resumed in 2022 after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. The mega terminal, which broke ground on May 14, is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s. Works related to T5 that have been completed so far include a new runway, an underpass for vehicular traffic, and tunnels for baggage and automated people-mover systems similar to the Skytrain. Also along Tanah Merah Coast Road is a worksite for the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) Changi East Depot for the Cross Island Line and some workers' dormitories. The accident took the retired business owner off cycling for almost a year, and he said he had to rely on painkillers extensively and use walking aids in the first four months after the accident. Mr Michael Price fractured his hip socket after he was flung off his bicycle when he hit a rock along Tanah Merah Coast Road in May 2024. PHOTOS: MICHAEL PRICE Mr Price noted that it is challenging to weave through traffic on Tanah Merah Coast Road, as many heavy vehicles stop in the cycling lane. He added that drivers of these trucks often wash or clean debris off their vehicles at the side of the road. Meanwhile, Ms Seng still needs to be accompanied by her husband, Mr Ng Bur Kiat, 60, whenever she leaves home as she cannot run errands independently. Mr Ng, a technical sales manager, makes it a point to rush home after work every day to bathe Ms Seng, who retired about 10 years before the accident. Ms Seng told ST that her memory was "gone" after the accident, and that she could not remember anything that happened. Mr Ng added: "Right after she got discharged, she thought our son was still in secondary school, when he was actually in his last year of university... She still thinks our sons are younger." He likened taking care of Ms Seng when she first got discharged to caring for a baby, as he had to teach her everything from scratch, such as how to put on a shirt or get out of bed. Three years on, the right side of Ms Kathleen Seng's body remains significantly weaker, even with the help of physiotherapy. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF NG BUR KIAT Mr Ng said the police had investigated the accident and concluded that no party was liable. His family made insurance claims totalling about $1 million under Ms Seng's personal insurance policy. Describing his wife's recovery as a "miracle", Mr Ng said the family has chosen not to blame anybody. Ms Seng is hoping for a full recovery for her right arm, which now hangs limply by the side of her body when she walks. She is undergoing electrotherapy, which uses electrical energy as a form of medical treatment. She added: "Everything that is over, is over. I am just looking forward, for good things to come." In January 2025, another cyclist sustained a collarbone fracture after the front tyre of his bicycle ran into a sharp metallic object along the same road, causing him to fall off. Mr Lee sustained a collarbone fracture after the front tyre of his bicycle ran into a sharp metallic object along the same road, causing him to fall off. PHOTOS: MR LEE Mr Lee, 43, who did not want to give his full name, had to wear an arm sling for three weeks and was on hospitalisation leave for 60 days. He has not returned to cycling - something he used to do three or four times a week. Back in April 2023, Mr Jonathan Lau, an oil and gas consultant in his 40s, fractured his left wrist when he hit a rock along Tanah Merah Coast Road. He said he felt incapacitated when he had to stay in a cast for three months, and had "a bit of post-traumatic stress disorder" when he returned to cycling about six months after the accident. He has not gone back to cycling along Tanah Merah Coast Road, although he lives nearby in East Coast, and has no plans to do so. Several cycling-related accidents have happened along this stretch over the years. These include one where a teenage cyclist collided with a stationary car in 2018 and another involving a cyclist who ran into a stationary truck parked in the cycling lane in 2021. Responding to ST's queries, LTA said on May 30 that it has been carrying out enforcement operations against illegal parking along Tanah Merah Coast Road. It added that it will step up enforcement against motorists who do not comply with traffic regulations. "Motorists are reminded to park responsibly in designated parking locations to prevent obstructing or endangering other road users," it added. Cyclists manoeuvring traffic with heavy vehicles parked in the cycling lane, along Tanah Merah Coast Road, on the morning of May 30. PHOTOS: ANDREW POH Regarding speeding heavy vehicles, the Traffic Police said it deploys speed cameras and conducts speed enforcement operations to detect speeding violations involving all vehicles, including heavy vehicles, in Tanah Merah Coast Road. The National Environment Agency said its cleaning service provider cleans Tanah Merah Coast Road daily, with manual cleaning carried out in the afternoon, and a mechanical road sweeper being deployed at night. Mr Mark Cheng, associate director of law firm PKWA Law Practice, said victims can potentially pursue claims if they can clearly prove that a party failed to keep the debris off the road. To justify these claims, evidence such as photos of the debris, dashcam footage from other cyclists or vehicles, and witness statements should be gathered and preserved. Mr Cheong added that personal injury lawyers can request site inspection or maintenance records from contractors to identify potential lapses in safety or clean-up measures. None of the cyclists ST interviewed have pursued legal action. Cycling-related injuries Common injuries caused by cycling accidents include musculoskeletal injuries such as superficial abrasions and fractures, said Dr Ang Shiang-Hu, head of the department of emergency medicine at Changi General Hospital. He added that cyclists who break their falls using their arms may suffer wrist fractures, elbow injuries or collarbone fractures, while higher-speed accidents may result in lower limb fractures. Some cyclists may also suffer from fractures that displace the cervical spine - which is the vertebrae in the neck - which could cause paralysis, as well as injuries that could lead to impairments of nerve, spinal cord or brain function, and major trauma, he said.
