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new low here ... Son and mother charged with faking death to obtain CPF, insurance claims SINGAPORE: A man and his mother were charged on Friday (Apr 12) with faking her death to obtain Central Provident Fund (CPF) and insurance claims, the police said. Abraham Rock, 35, and his mother Talat Farman, 53, are accused of making more than S$3.7 million in false claims. Insurance firm AXA lodged a police report on Nov 13, 2018, after it found several irregularities in the documents relating to Farman’s purported death in Pakistan. By then, S$49,000 had already been paid out from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) under the Dependants' Protection Scheme while S$80,331.23 was paid out from her CPF account. Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department arrested Rock on Nov 21, 2018. Farman was also subsequently arrested. Rock faces a total of 11 charges, including charges of engaging in a conspiracy to commit cheating, giving false information, making a false statutory declaration and providing false evidence. His mother faces five charges of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat. If found guilty of cheating, the pair faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine for each charge. For making a false statutory declaration or providing false evidence, they face up to seven years in jail and a fine for each charge. If found guilty of giving false information, they face up to one year in jail and a fine of up to S$5,000 for each charge. Both are out on bail of S$15,000 each and will return to court on May 10. The police said that they worked closely with the insurers during the investigation. “In our continuous effort to combat fraud, it is vital for all insurers to be proactive in detecting and reporting suspicious cases to the authorities,” the police said.

Luke Perry, a talented actor and a generation-crossing heartthrob, died Monday. And as these things usually go, there is a great outpouring of grief across the media -- especially social media. Here, the reaction to his death is tinged with a particular kind of discomfort. Perry was just 52, not much older than those fans who watched his '90s breakout show, "Beverly Hills, 90210," in their teens and early 20s. Despite his bad boy persona, Perry didn't die from driving too fast or overdosing on drugs or living too hard. He just -- died, as so many humans do, from a seemingly indiscriminate failure of the body. A massive stroke, his publicist said. For Perry's older fans, his death is a reminder of a youth that is receding in the rearview mirror, even as mortality is approaching way too fast. Those same girls (and a few boys) who stormed malls in the early '90s (some even getting injured in the rush), are now nearing 50 themselves. Given that the average American woman lives to be 81 and the average man 76, Perry's death comes, culturally and statistically, far too soon -- and closer to the current ages of his then-teenage fans than to the national average. Perhaps that's part of what is so jarring. If only the good die young, and many of the young die from the wildness of youth, we at least want to believe that those who die in the in-between of middle age did something to speed it all along. When someone vibrant, prosperous and beautiful dies simply because of a corporeal malfunction, it becomes painfully clear that while we can and should take care of ourselves, much of how we exit this life is beyond our control. It is also a reminder that many of us are tipping into the middle of -- or second half of -- life's ledger. Luke Perry was a flesh-and-blood human whose passing forces us to face that we are now at an age where our teen idols' bodies give out -- which is, inconveniently, also an age where our bodies could do the same. There is no positive spin on death, nothing that is made better by the passing of a talented, charismatic, and by all accounts thoroughly decent man. And these middle-aged celebrity deaths, arms-length as they are, may shock and sadden us, but they do not utterly level us or fundamentally change our lives like the deaths of close loved ones. They do offer unique moments for sincere reflection on our own choices, and our own paths. We may not end up walking as far as we would like. Are we happy with the trail we have left behind us? (abbreviated from CNN) https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/04/opinions/luke-perry-death-filipovic/index.html

CB motorcyclist... The Cambodian authorities are seeking the owner of a Singapore-registered motorcycle allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident that killed an elderly man. The incident happened on Feb 7 in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh, in the Khan Por Senchey area along the National Highway 4. According to local media reports, the victim was an 81-year-old man from the Por Senchey district who was crossing the road on his bicycle at about 12.50pm Cambodian time (1.50pm Singapore time). Cambodian news site Cambodia News English (CNE) reported on Feb 7 that the victim had his hands up in the air while crossing, signalling for traffic to slow down. A "high-powered motorcycle" then slammed into him at high speed, killing him instantly. There have been conflicting reports about whether the motorcycle, which was later identified as a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, had toppled or slowed down after the crash. SINGAPORE Biker linked to hit-and-run was in Cambodia for charity Feb 21, 2019 Related Stories Overall crime rate up in Singapore Carousell launching new review system and tech to tackle fraudsters Two arrested for trying to enter Singapore illegally on sampan But it was consistently reported that it had sped away and that the rider, who eyewitnesses said was dressed in yellow, did not stop to render assistance. However, a piece of debris from the motorcycle with the BMW logo was found at the scene. Photos of the aftermath showed the piece of debris next to the body of the victim covered by a cloth on the ground and distraught family members crying. The bicycle he was on also lay twisted on the ground with its front wheel missing. FOUNDIn an update yesterday, CNE reported that the motorcycle was found parked outside a boutique hotel near the Phnom Penh Central Market area. The motorbike was also missing a piece from its front, and it is believed that the piece of debris found at the scene was from the same motorbike. Pictures of the motorbike showed that it bore stickers with the flags of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. The BMW motorcycle model has a capacity of 1,170cc, with a maximum speed of over 200kmh. It has a weight of about 260kg and a 30-litre aluminium fuel tank and is described on the BMW website as a motorbike able to "overcome every type of terrain". It costs more than $50,000 here inclusive of the certificate of entitlement. CNE told The New Paper yesterday that it received a tip-off from an anonymous source on Facebook that the owner of the motorcycle had allegedly returned to Singapore to seek treatment for an injured wrist, leaving the motorbike behind. The news has riled both Singaporean and Cambodian netizens, many of whom have demanded she return to Cambodia to assist in investigations. Netizens have also identified a woman who lives in Singapore as the alleged owner. Checks by TNP on her Facebook page showed the mother of two in several photos with the same motorbike found outside the hotel in Phnom Penh. She was also affiliated with local rider groups and appeared to frequently travel by motorbike to Malaysia and Thailand. Attempts by TNP to contact her have been unsuccessful, and her Facebook page was deactivated yesterday evening. A close friend of the woman who did not want to be identified told TNP he was surprised to hear of the allegations. "This is news to me... she is a close friend," he said. "I've never known her to run away from responsibilities." The man added that she has also not responded to any of his messages since. Another acquaintance of the woman told TNP he was unsure if she was Singaporean but confirmed that she lives in Singapore. Singapore does not currently have an extradition treaty with Cambodia. TNP understands that while the Cambodian authorities are still looking for the woman, they have yet to contact their counterparts in Singapore.

Fashion icon and Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld dies aged 85 https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/trending/chanel-designer-karl-lagerfeld-dies-aged-85-reports-11259042 Legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died at the age of 85, his fashion label Chanel confirmed on Tuesday (Feb 19). The announcement came just weeks after the icon of the global fashion industry failed to turn up at shows during Paris Haute Couture week for Chanel, which he has led since 1983. He had reportedly been in ill health. "An extraordinary creative individual, Karl Lagerfeld reinvented the brand’s codes created by Gabrielle Chanel: The Chanel jacket and suit, the little black dress, the precious tweeds, the two-tone shoes, the quilted handbags, the pearls and costume jewellery," said Chanel in a statement after the announcement of his death. The CEO of Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, added that Lagerfeld was "ahead of his time". “Thanks to his creative genius, generosity and exceptional intuition, Karl Lagerfeld was ahead of his time, which widely contributed to the House Of Chanel’s success throughout the world," he said. "Today, not only have I lost a friend, but we have all lost an extraordinary creative mind to whom I gave carte blanche in the early 1980s to reinvent the brand.” The House Of Chanel offered his family, relatives and friends its deepest condolences. Friends have always said that the prolific creator would die with a pencil in his hand, and just last week his own fashion line Karl Lagerfeld was still announcing new design collaborations. The veteran German designer died on Tuesday morning after being rushed to a hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine just outside Paris the night before, reported French celebrity online magazine Purepeople. Lagerfeld, who simultaneously churned out collections for Fendi and his eponymous label – an unheard of feat in fashion – was almost a brand in his own right. Sporting dark suits, white, pony-tailed hair and tinted sunglasses in his later years that made him instantly recognisable, an irreverent wit was also part of a carefully crafted persona. "I am like a caricature of myself, and I like that," runs one legendary quote attributed to him, and often recycled to convey the person he liked to play. "It is like a mask. And for me the Carnival of Venice lasts all year long." 'KAISER KARL' Dubbed "Kaiser Karl" and "Fashion Meister" among a whole host of media monikers – Lagerfeld was born in 1933 in Hamburg to a German mother and a Swedish father who imported condensed milk. He spent early childhood tucked away from war in the 1,200-acre family estate in Bavaria and had a French tutor. The big breakthrough came shortly after a move to Paris when, in 1954, he drew a wool coat that won a prize and landed him an apprenticeship with designer Pierre Balmain. Lagerfeld first found real success in the mid-1960s with Chloe, the fashion label now owned by Switzerland's Richemont. But it was Chanel that propelled him to rock-star status, as he sexed up the brand and lifted its profile with grandiose runway shows. In the past year these have featured a full-scale beach and an enormous replica ship. LAGERFELD WAS A 'CREATIVE GENIUS': BERNARD ARNAULT Bernard Arnault, owner of the luxury giant LVMH - the most powerful man in fashion - said he was "infinitely saddened" by the loss of a "very dear friend" and a "creative genius". "Fashion and culture have lost a major inspiration. He contributed to making Paris the fashion capital of the world and Fendi one of the most innovative of Italian brands," the billionaire said. News of his death led to an outpouring of emotion in the industry, and tributes began flowing in from politicians and fans. "It's a privilege to be able to say that you've worked with him, that you've listened to him speak, that you've talked with him, that you've been dressed by him," said the French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis on Instagram. "Karl Lagerfeld is an immense personality, someone out of the ordinary," French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told RTL radio. Virginie Viard, deputy artistic director of Chanel, will become chief designer of the fashion house following the death of haute couture icon Karl Lagerfeld, a source at Chanel said on Tuesday.

Terrible start to the Lunar new year for the family. Just had newborn/young child also. https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/popiah-king-son-passed-away-5986263.html

KATHMANDU - Twenty Nepali climbers are setting off to Mount Everest this week to try and remove decades-old garbage from the mountain in the world's highest ever clean-up campaign, organizers said on Monday. Many foreign and Nepali climbers have cleaned Mount Everest in the past but Namgyal Sherpa, leader of the Extreme Everest Expedition 2010, said no one had dared to clean above 8,000 meters , an area known as the "death zone" for the lack of oxygen and treacherous terrain. Sherpa and his team of seasoned climbers, carrying empty rucksacks and special bags, will risk the zone's thin air and freezing temperatures to pick empty oxygen bottles, gas canisters, torn tents, ropes, and utensils lying between the South Col and the 8,850 meter summit. "This is the first time we are cleaning at that height, the death zone. It is very difficult and dangerous," said Sherpa, who has climbed Everest, the world's tallest peak, seven times. "The garbage was buried under snow in the past. But now it has come out on the surface because of the melting of snow due to global warming," the 30-year-old said. "The rubbish is creating problems for climbers ... Some items of garbage are from Hillary's time." The mountain has become known as being the world's highest garbage dump. Many climbers leave their gear and trash behind as they descend due to exhaustion and lack of oxygen. New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepal's Tenzing Norgay Sherpa were the first to ascend to Mount Everest's summit in 1953. That feat opened Nepal as a popular tourist destination. More than 4,000 climbers have since scaled the mountain and tourism, including climbing, is a key source of income for Nepal, among the world's poorest countries. Sherpa's team hopes to bring down at least 2,000 kg of garbage and the corpse of a climber killed two years ago. "I have seen three corpses lying there for years," Sherpa said. "We'll bring down the body of a Swiss climber who died in the mountain in 2008 and cremate it below the base camp for which we have got the family's consent."

by the way the quantity also not alot

Was searching for a suitable thread to post this but found threads about cyclist accidents on specific roads or in the complaints section about cyclist. So here goes...timing is quite tragic. http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/woman-killed-cement-mixer-while-cycling-yishun?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1463443842 Three women were cycling across a pedestrian crossing in Yishun when tragedy struck. A cement mixer turned into their path and collided with the woman in the middle. It then ran over the same woman, Madam Lin Shui Yu, 59, killing her on the spot. Madam Lin was on her way home with her two friends when the accident happened at the T-junction of Yishun Avenue 9 and Yishun Central, her family members told the media. The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted to the accident at 11.25am, and pronounced her dead at the scene. DISTRAUGHT Madam Lin's family members who were at the scene were distraught. They said she was taking care of her grandchildren and had celebrated her birthday last weekend with her grandson. A female relative knelt at the spot where Madam Lin was hit and wailed: "Why did you have to go?" She had to be supported and moved away by other family members when the pedestrian light turned red and vehicles started turning into the junction. Madam Lin's daughter, who declined to be named, said she wanted justice to be served. "I just want to know why the driver did not stop. He should have been able to see my mother," she said. The driver of the cement mixer, a 50-year-old male, was arrested by the police. A reader who wanted to be known only as Ms Ho, 34, called The New Paper hotline when she saw the blue tent along the road. Police are investigating.

Scatter ashes ftw NEA to introduce inland ash scattering services at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and Mandai Crematorium http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/nea-to-introduce-inland-ash-scattering-services-at-choa-chu-kang-10459204

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/...idemic-20130530 A 20-year-old man died on Wednesday from dengue fever, becoming the first person in Singapore to die from the disease during this current epidemic. Mr Ang Yong Han, who recently graduated from the Institute of Technical Education, fell ill on May 22. What started out as a fever later worsened to high fever, and he also felt weak and uncomfortable, said his aunt Madam Yeh, 56, housewife who spoke to Chinese evening papers, Shin Min. He went to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) emergency department last Thursday and was diagnosed with viral fever. After being given a drip, he was sent home. When his condition did not improve, he went back to the hospital's emergency department again in the wee hours of Friday. But after waiting for five hours, he left to go to a general practitioner near his home, said his mother Madam Yap Geok Kuan, 45. He was eventually admitted to TTSH on Saturday night. By Monday he was transferred to the hospital's intensive care unit, where he died three days later. Mr Ang, an only child, was to have enlisted in National Service on Thursday. He had received blood transfusions in the hospital also had a breathing tube inserted into his chest. His father, Mr Ang, 56, a vegetable wholesaler, said in Mandarin to Shin Min: "He is very filial and often helps me with delivering vegetables. I did not think his fever would be so serious, and he would end up dead. I am heartbroken." I am heartbroken he left after a 5h wait. Was he ever seen by doctor?

From one of my favourite rock band, legendary rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young passed away.  Thanks for all the memorable AC.DC Riff.   http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/malcolm-young-dead-acdc-brother-angus-george-dies-death-cause-age-64-tributes-latest-a8062521.html         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sUXMzkh-jI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f2g4RMfhS0

A student studying at the National University of Singapore (NUS) fell eight stories to her death after trying to get into her residential hall room from a window. According to a report in The New Paper (TNP), the 18-year-old South Korean had locked herself out of her room on the seventh storey of Block C of Sheares Hall on Saturday (28 Oct). The Singapore Police Force (SPF) told Yahoo News Singapore it was alerted to a case of fall from height at 20 Heng Mui Keng Terrace at 11:38am on 28 October. “An 18-year-old woman was unconscious when conveyed to the National University Hospital where she subsequently succumbed to her injuries,” said SPF. Police are investigating the unnatural death. The residents were informed by email of the tragic event on Saturday afternoon. One resident told TNP that a wake was held for the student on Monday evening. https://sg.yahoo.com/news/nus-student-falls-death-locking-room-011752131.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/police-investigating-unnatural-death-of-14-year-old-boy?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#xtor=CS1-10 Poor thing this kid. Even if he was guilty of the alleged crime, death is too great a "punishment" for him and his parents. RIP. Wonder why police must go to the school and get him during classes. Probably too embarrassing for him.

SEONGAM (AFP) - Sixteen people were killed and nine others seriously injured when a ventilation grate gave way while they were watching an outdoor pop concert in Seongam south of Seoul on Friday, rescuers said. “They were standing on the ventilation grate to get a better view when it collapsed under their weight,” a spokesman for the local fire services told AFP. Rescuers said 16 were confirmed dead, but added the death toll might rise with some of the injured understood to be in critical condition. Television reports said the 25 people fell more than 10 metres into an underground parking area when the grate collapsed. Amateur video footage obtained by the YTN news channel showed shocked spectators surrounding the collapsed grate as the popular all-girl K-pop band 4Minute, apparently oblivious to the accident, continued performing on the stage. More than 700 people were believed to be attending the outdoor concert. “There was a sudden, loud screaming, and when I turned it looked as if people were being sucked down into a hole,” one witness told YTN. A woman standing nearby said a great “cloud of dust” billowed up from the ventilation shaft after the grate collapsed. Most of the dead and injured were believed to be students, YTN said, adding that the concert organisers had repeatedly urged the spectators to move off the grate before it collapsed. South Korea has suffered a recent series of catastrophic accidents involving young victims, including the sinking of the Sewol ferry in April that left more than 300 dead, most of them high school students. In February, the roof caved in on a student-packed auditorium near the southern city of Gyeongju, killing 10 people and injuring more than 100. An investigation uncovered evidence of structural flaws and lax management controls. The Sewol disaster prompted government promises of a national review of safety standards, as it became clear that poor regulatory oversight was a major contributor to the scale of the tragedy. - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/music/story/14-feared-dead-collapse-s-korea-pop-concert-20141017#sthash.e5syEOdg.dpuf Bad year for SK.... RIP

i think the school students been to this zoo will have nightmare after the visit [:(] more like a torturing field, they probably have a higher chance to survive in the wild :angry:

3 killed, 2 injured in Penang expressway shooting: Datuk's bodyguard arrested Posted on 02 December 2016 | 5,144 views | 0 comments Three people, including a Datuk, Ong Teik Kwong, 32, were shot dead on Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Georgetown, Penang at 7.30pm on Thursday (Dec 1). According to The Star, the three people were in their cars when they were shot and there was four others injured in the shooting. George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirmed the shooting, adding that they were still investigating at the scene. A fourth victim, said to be a woman, was seriously injured after she was shot. She was then sent to Penang Hospital for treatment. RTM cameraman Muhamad Amirul Amin Amir was also hit by a stray bullet in the shoulder when he passed by the area in his motorcycle. He was said to be heading towards the Pesta Pulau Pinang with his friend Mohamad Iskandar Osman when the shooting happened. Traffic was almost at a standstill heading towards Penang Bridge. The suspect who fired the shots has been arrested. Penang CID chief Senior Asst Comm Zainol Samah said the shooter was the personal bodyguard of the Datuk and was travelling with him in his car. He told a press conference on Thursday night, "Another passenger in the car tried to escape on foot, but the suspect continued firing shots at him." SAC Zainol said police are still investigating the motive for the shooting. GreatDaily 新聞 家庭 生活 奇趣 興趣 其他 註冊 登錄 首頁 » 新聞 » 大馬 © GreatDaily 原創文章，版權所有！ 再次勁爆！檳州總警長親口證實，被神經保鏢槍殺的拿督王德光，曾經是一名惡名昭彰的EO扣留犯！ GreatDaily 再次勁爆！檳州總警長親口證實，被神經保鏢槍殺的拿督王德光，曾經是一名惡名昭彰的EO扣留犯！ 檳州總警長拿督阿都嘉化證實王德光是一名黑道老大，曾經多次涉及私會黨歐鬥仇殺，被警方援引緊急法令（Emergency Ordinance，簡稱EO）扣押在柔佛新邦令金扣留營！ GreatDaily 拿督阿都嘉化說，王德光生前是一名慣犯，曾經多次遭警方逮捕，但每次他都有辦法脫罪，警方總是沒辦法掌握十足證據將他定罪。最後在沒辦法之下，警方唯有援引緊急法令將他直接扣留，送到柔佛新邦令金扣留營關押。 他說，直到2011年緊急法令被廢除之後，王德光才恢復自由身。 5年前王德光也曾涉及一宗謀殺案而潛逃，雖然後來被警方成功逮捕，卻同樣由於證據不足而獲得釋放。 GreatDaily 另一方面，拿督阿都嘉化表示，警方將繼續申請延長扣留保鏢兇手和另一名嫌犯協助調查王德光謀殺案；警方將會在調查工作完畢之後，援引刑事法典302條文將保鏢嫌犯控上法庭；一旦罪名成立，唯一的判決就是死刑。 GreatDaily 不過，由於保鏢兇手行兇時是在精神不正常的情況下開槍殺人，因此一旦醫藥檢查報告證實保鏢確實患有精神病，警方提控他的《有意圖謀殺》理由便不能成立；在這種情況之下，他將會被無罪釋放，或改為押送至精神病院囚禁。 簡單的說，殺人的保鏢很可能逃過死刑，不需要為被他奪走的3條人命償命。 GreatDaily Slain Datuk was EO detainee GEORGE TOWN: Businessman Datuk Ong Teik Kwong, who was shot dead by his bodyguard at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, was detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) before. Penang police chief Comm Datuk Abdul Ghafar Rajab said Ong was arrested several times by the police before and was one of the EO detainees in Simpang Renggam. GreatDaily 「Although he was detained by the police before, he was never charged with any crime. 「He was released after the EO was repealed in 2011,」 Comm Abdul Ghafar told a press conference after attending a Retired Senior Police Officers Association gathering at the Penang Officers Mess here. He said that those detained under the EO were usually connected with cases involving violence, but they were not charged in court as police did not have enough evidence. Ong, 32, and two other men were killed by Ong’s bodyguard, who is believed to be mentally unstable on Dec 1. Five other people were also injured in the incident, which took place at 7.30pm that day at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. Comm Abdul Ghafar said that the remand period of the bodyguard and another suspect, who was Ong’s business partner, will end tomorrow. He said police will be seeking an extension of the remand for both men for another week. He added the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. He added the gunman was the bodyguard to a 「Tan Sri」 in Kuala Lumpur before he started working with Ong. Comm Abdul Ghafar said the police have so far recovered 11 bullet shells at the scene, and they will return to the crime scene today to complete investigations. When asked if the police will carry out vetting on armed security guards and bodyguards, Comm Abdul Ghafar said the police would usually do a background check for any drug abuse or criminal activities, but not for their mental heatlh. Apparently.. this is a huge saga ongoing in penang.. where the 32 yr old datuk was supposed wanted for suspicion of murder at age 27... recently got his datuk status... rumour is the police actually wanted to take him out.. (but no legal avenues hence....) thats why no shots was actually fired on the killer... There is a video even.. of the guy who intro the killer to the datuk.. kenna whack on this tattooed back... dont know if any other bros here have seen it? Reading these news.. machiam like gangsters in the 50s~60s singapore... now our gangsters go out fight use penknife... other people still bring parang..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFVHW2B1ee0 Boy Gets Tangled in Huge Kite and Falls to Death - Vietnam A five-year-old boy was accidentally picked up by a huge kite and then fell down from a height of 20 meters, dying on Sunday in Ho Chi Minh City. The victim was Van Minh Dat, whose parents sell beverages to kite fliers and watchers in the Dong Dieu area in Hoc Mon District. This is an area where people often fly kites of various colors and sizes in the afternoon, attracting a lot of spectators, especially children brought by their parents. At about 4:00 pm yesterday, Dat was standing next to a huge red kite that was about to be flown on a pilot basis by the Saigon Kite Club in preparation for a kite festival to be held in Vung Tau, a seaside city about 100km from Ho Chi Minh City, soon. While a group of people were trying to fly the kite, whose wingspan is 18 meters wide, Dat managed to get under the kite’s wing without anyone noticing, according to Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper. When the kite picked up enough air it flew up, taking Dat along with it, as the boy’s legs had accidentally become tied around strings on the kite’s wing, Nguoi Lao Dong said. At that time, some witnesses dashed to pull the kite back down but they failed, the newspaper said. When the kite reached a height of about 20 meters, the strings unwound from his legs, causing him to fall to the ground. Witnesses took the boy to the Hoc Mon General Hospital for emergency aid but he died soon after. Meanwhile, the kite was pulled down to the ground. Local police have detained a number of people involved in the case for investigation. Dat’s family lives in Hoc Mon’s Xuan Thoi Dong Commune.

The family of a dead national serviceman is suing the Singapore Armed Forces for allegedly failing to provide a safe training environment. http://str.sg/JFE Private Dominique Sarron Lee, 21, died in April 2012 after an allergic reaction to smoke grenades during an exercise. Pte Lee's platoon commander and the exercise's chief safety officer are also being sued for negligence.

I bought a Toyota Wish from Borneo Motors a couple of months ago. The salesman offered me the standard AIG Auto Protector policy (supposedly "comprehensive"), which I took as using some other insurance would incur a penalty. This seems to be fairly standard practice among many dealers, including ADs. I saw this letter published in the newspaper a few days ago (I think it was on 2nd June): In case it isn't clear, the writer (Tan Siak Khian) is claiming that there are clauses in this standard policy that exclude coverage for unnamed passengers falling outside the age range 16-65 (meaning the young and the elderly) and also passengers who are intoxicated (meaning that if you are the designated driver ferrying a drunk passenger around, that passenger will not be covered in the even of an accident). I checked my own policy yesterday, when I was relatively free. I've attached a photo of the offending section. It appears the letter writer was spot-on in his observation (look at parts d. and e.). I'm now worried about the implications of this contract on coverage for my 12-year old child and my elderly parents. Does this mean I can't safely carry them in my car anymore? I've never heard of "named passengers", but does AIG expect me to nominate them personally to ensure coverage? My sales guy at Borneo was of little help - I asked him to clarify this a few days ago, but he has yet to respond. BTW, my father's Nissan Note from Tan Chong was also insured under this AIG scheme, and that also has weirdness - he tells me the policy only applies if he (the driver) is under 65, but he did declare his age correctly at the time of application (and they approved it!). I don't think any of our other policies (with other insurers) have these issues. I'm making this post to advise others to read through their policy terms very carefully, and if possible, share what they find. I'm also asking for advice about my options. I believe I can cancel my AIG policy and get the remaining premium, but there's always a penalty for early cancellation. Do you think that I should be able to make a case for waiver of this penalty given the (in my view) unjust clauses embedded in this contract? Also, I wonder if this legal language falls afoul of the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act (CHAPTER 189)? Quoting, Interestingly, the Act talks about the liability of the user, but does not directly address the liability of the insurer? Or is that implied since the Act is about insurance anyway?

During a match between Bethlehem Vengthlang and Chanmari West on 14th October, player Peter Biaksangzuala celebrated his goal with few somersaults, after which his team-mates initially wanting to share his joy but quickly realised something was wrong. He had landed badly and suffered a serious spinal injury. Biaksangzuala was rushed to hospital, but unfortunately died from his injuries last night (Sunday 19th October). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrYUfMF8Dmg

@soya, eat your heart out! Told you that I come from another dimension...kekekekek http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/german-scientists-prove-there-is-life-after-death/ GERMAN SCIENTISTS PROVE THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH 9397019882080 Berlin| A team of psychologists and medical doctors associated with the Technische Universität of Berlin, have announced this morning that they had proven by clinical experimentation, the existence of some form of life after death. This astonishing announcement is based on the conclusions of a study using a new type of medically supervised near-death experiences, that allow patients to be clinically dead for almost 20 minutes before being brought back to life. This controversial process that was repeated on 944 volunteers over that last four years, necessitates a complex mixture of drugs including epinephrine and dimethyltryptamine, destined to allow the body to survive the state of clinical death and the reanimation process without damage. The body of the subject was then put into a temporary comatic state induced by a mixture of other drugs which had to be filtered by ozone from his blood during the reanimation process 18 minutes later. The extremely long duration of the experience was only recently made possible by the development of a new cardiopulmonary recitation (CPR) machine called the AutoPulse. This type of equipment has already been used over the last few years, to reanimate people who had been dead for somewhere between 40 minutes to an hour. Near-death experiences have been hypothesized in various medical journals in the past, as having the characteristics of hallucinations, but Dr Ackermann and his team, on the contrary, consider them as evidence for the existence of the afterlife and of a form of dualism between mind and body. The team of scientists led by Dr Berthold Ackermann, has monitored the operations and have compiled the testimonies of the subjects. Although there are some slight variations from one individual to another, all of the subjects have some memories of their period of clinical death. and a vast majority of them described some very similar sensations. Most common memories include a feeling of detachment from the body, feelings of levitation, total serenity, security, warmth, the experience of absolute dissolution, and the presence of an overwhelming light. The scientists say that they are well aware the many of their conclusions could shock a lot of people, like the fact that the religious beliefs of the various subjects seems to have held no incidence at all, on the sensations and experiences that they described at the end of the experiment. Indeed, the volunteers counted in their ranks some members are a variety of Christian churches, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and atheists. “I know our results could disturb the beliefs of many people” says Mr Ackermann. “But in a way, we have just answered one of the greatest questions in the history of mankind, so I hope these people will be able to forgive us. Yes, there is life after death and it looks like this applies to everyone.” - See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/german-scientists-prove-there-is-life-after-death/#sthash.MjfCtf2V.dpuf

The sad incident happened last year and the report on the ST report on the state coroner's findings was published two weeks ago. MCFers who are staying in old high-rise apartment do take serious note that some of the railing gaps may be wide enough for toddlers to squeeze through. In addition there might be stupid railing or parapet designs with horizontal bars/gaps which allows toddlers or children to climb over. From Straits Times: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/...s-life-20130321 Toddler fell to death two months after maid saved his life Published on Mar 21, 2013 10:07 AM Twenty-one-month-old Eric fell to his death after squeezing through the bars of a balcony on the fourth floor of a condominium unit. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG By Khushwant Singh LAST April, a toddler was saved as he was about to fall from a fourth-floor balcony. Two months later, he was not so lucky. Eric Wong Yu Hao, a year and nine months old, fell to his death after squeezing through the bars of the balcony at a Hillview Green condominium in Upper Bukit Timah. State Coroner Imran Abdul Hamid, while saying he found that the death was accidental yesterday, urged those who look after young children to check possible dangers in their homes and put in safety measures. He pointed out that there are online groups offering solutions to make homes safe. "While I don't think anyone can guarantee that the suggested solutions will be 100 per cent effective, at the very least caregivers can have the peace of mind that what could possibly be done to make the home safe for young children, has been done," he said.

Singapore is a first-world country with third-world death care services: Funeral director 938LIVE reports: It is time to stop rejecting death-related establishments in housing estates, says the CEO of Ang Chin Moh Funeral Services. Mr Ang Ziqian goes "On the Record" with 938LIVE's Bharati Jagdish. By Bharati Jagdish, 938LIVE POSTED: 19 Nov 2015 15:26 F Funeral services company CEO Ang Ziqian goes "On the Record" about the challenges of the industry. SINGAPORE: CEO of Ang Chin Moh Funeral Services and founder of Ang Chin Moh foundation, Mr Ang Ziqian, has been involved in his family’s business since he was 13, from helping out in the office to working his way up to CEO. A few years ago, along with the Lien Foundation, he embarked on a campaign to encourage people to talk about issues like end-of-life care, planning their will, and their funerals. The campaign included dialogue sessions, and even included discussions at getai performances in order to de-stigmatise death. One of his aims was to encourage people to join the funeral services industry as professionals, amid a severe manpower shortage stemming from this stigma. However, infrastructural issues continue to fuel negative perceptions of the industry. As Chief Executive of the Mount Vernon Sanctuary, Mr Ang is now also dealing with the eventual demolition of the premises to make way for a housing development. Most other funeral facilities, including Ang Chin Moh, are in industrial parks. 938LIVE's Bharati Jagdish spoke to Mr Ang “On the Record” to find out why he thinks people must stop rejecting the presence of funeral facilities and death-related establishments within housing estates, and how integrating death within communities can help us. TAKING OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS Mr Ang: The key to joining the funeral profession was to help my father. He devoted all his time, his family time, to helping grieving families. My thought then was to help him, and by doing so, I could help relieve him from this 24/7 job. I find that serving grieving families is very noble, and it is very meaningful as well. I think I have always been instilled with values to help the community. Funeral services help the community. We deal with the living, but take care of the dead with care, compassion, and dignity. Through funerals, we help the families overcome grief and manage their life, to cope and continue their life. And we help the departed transcend to the next world. Bharati: You mentioned compassion earlier. Some might say the funeral business can be rather cut and dry. There’s a list of things to do and you just do them. How does compassion come into play on your part? Mr Ang: Every funeral is unique to the family. So we do not use a one-size-fits-all solution to help every single family. We listen to them. The important thing in executing a funeral service is to listen to the hearts and the needs of the grieving families. We listen to the family on their needs and we learn about the life that the departed had. For instance, if a grandma has passed on, I will always ask questions like, "If you think about your grandmother, what do you remember?" They might say, "Oh, my grandma is a good cook, and she always liked to cook curry chicken." And this, we will note and we will make sure that one of the dishes catered in the next few days will be curry chicken. This will help to invoke memories. Beautiful memories between the next generation and the departed. Bharati: Some might ask, why make such a big show out of death? Ang Ziqian: The funeral ceremony is a ritual. It is no different from other rituals. For instance, we have baby shower, graduation ceremony, and also marriage ceremony. Rituals help us to move, from one transition of life to another. It’s not about how fancy or how simple. Funerals are unique to the family. So some families choose to remember their loved ones and funerals are reflective of a person's life journey. And if that means it needs to more elaborate than the rest, then, I think we have to do that, because that means that it's a meaningful funeral for the family. Bharati: You’ve talked about this as a noble profession. But let’s face it. It’s also about making money, isn’t it? How does it feel to be making money out of someone else’s loss? Mr Ang: You could make the same argument when it comes to hospitals – is it right for hospitals to charge the sick? Funeral service is an essential service to the community. and for this service to continue, you need to constantly invest in facilities, training and also the infrastructure in order for the company to be able to manage and sustain its costs in order to maintain this essential service. In fact, the funeral business is not as lucrative as what many may think. It is because in most businesses, we are able to project supply and demand. Are we able to project deaths this month, as compared to last year, in November? We're not able to. But nevertheless, the operational cost is very high, because, it's a 24/7 service. You have to have full-time staff rostered day after day whether or not someone passes on. So operational costs are very high. Bharati: You’ve often talked about the stigma associated with working in this business, so much so that you have a manpower shortage in the industry. As you were growing up, what did your friends say about the kind job your dad was doing, about the business your family was in? Mr Ang: When I was young, I felt that many classmates stayed away from me, because they knew what my dad was doing, and I was often ostracised. I had no friends, no one dared to shake my hand because they were worried that I would transfer the bad luck to them and their family. So since young, I've felt that nobody actually understands the funeral profession. And when you talk about funeral profession, no parent will allow their children to choose this non-mainstream profession. When I had my first girlfriend, her parents’ jaws dropped when they found out what business my family was in. I was always told to bathe with floral water, to wash my hands, feet and face, before entering the house. So this was the ritual when I met my ex-girlfriends' parents and when I went to their house, or even friends' houses. I attribute this to the taboo that we have in the cultures and traditions that we have. But I think that taboo is all about ignorance. If you have knowledge and information about a subject, it no longer is a taboo. Bharati: Considering this, did you ever feel a sense of resentment that you were born into a family that did this for a living? Mr Ang: I was not upset that I was born into this family, but there were certainly a lot of challenges growing up, because many people use their own lenses to judge you. Are you actually normal? Do you transmit bad luck? This is something that upsets me, but I think, maybe because we are born in a funeral director family, we are naturally attuned to serve community, therefore we are not so worried about how people perceive us. How our actions touch people's lives is more important. I've always told myself since young, since I've been ostracised all my life, I need to do something to change mindsets, to give information, to give knowledge to the members of public, so that everyone knows that funeral service was actually an essential service to the community. And this is important for our mental well-being as well. When someone passes on, we are the first ones to help the family overcome grief, and help the departed to transcend to the next world. A meaningful ceremony really can help the family emotionally, and that is crucial to any funeral planning. Bharati: You’ve been doing quite a bit in the last few years to remove the stigma in collaboration with other organisations – encouraging dialogue about death and dying – which of course includes end-of-life care, writing a will, planning one’s funeral – through even things like getai performances. Where are you seeing the most resistance when it comes to talking about such issues? Mr Ang: Most people have the misconception that the elderly don't want to talk about death, because this may be too harsh for them. Actually, on the contrary, it is the children who, out of love and respect, don't have the courage to bring this subject up to the elderly. And we have a lot of elderly saying, “I want to tell this to my children, but I do not know how to, how to hint to them. Whenever I want to bring this topic up, they say no, choy, choy, choy in Cantonese, and they say we shouldn't talk about this subject.” Death is the ultimate end point of life, but before that, we need to look at many aspects, like end-of-life care. And this is equally important as well. Bharati: So, the elderly say they want to talk about such things, but their kids are the ones preventing them from doing so. Have you been able to observe whether or not that conversation among family members has opened up in the last few years? Ang Ziqian: It is always easier for the elderly to bring up this subject as opposed to the younger generation. This campaign has helped both generations to talk about death. Usually, you do not talk only about death. You talk beyond death. You talk about what you like in life, what you dislike in life, what really represents you, and what are the hardships that you've gone through so far. Death actually gives us an urgency to spark family conversations. And through such conversations about death, the family actually comes together. They tend to treasure one another and tend to put those nitty-gritty fights aside, and to really learn about a family member. So death is not the end. It's the start of conversations that bring families together. Bharati: I understand that one of the reasons you decided to get involved in de-stigmatising death was to address the manpower shortages companies like yours were facing because people don’t want to be associated with such a business, but why else would you say it’s important to do this? Mr Ang: I have served more than 3,000 families over the last two decades. What really pains me is when they come to my funeral home, they often have quarrels. They fight about who the caregiver is, the caregiver stress, where the inheritance should go. There's a lot of emotional baggage. This really pains me. It makes me think about what we can do to bring this a step forward, to prevent this rather than to wait for it to happen. I think that through education, if the matriarch or patriarch has actually expressed his intention or her intention of how he wants or she wants the funeral to be, and how the assets should be divided, and what should be done, and the values that should continue to bind the family, this will solve all problems. DYING POOL OF MANPOWER Bharati: We mentioned manpower issues several times. How bad is the shortage? Mr Ang: This is a serious problem. Since the first day I joined the industry, we've been facing challenges, because of the upbringing that we have. Most parents will tell us to be doctors, lawyers, accountants, bankers. None of the parents will tell their children to choose non-mainstream options, like a funeral director. When in 2004, when I took on the role of a management staff, maybe in a year, we only had less than 10 applicants. And out of 10 applicants, maybe only one is hired. And that one will not stay more than three months. Because, some of them, when they go back home and share with their family, the family members say, “Can you not join this profession? Can you resign? Or else we will no longer be mother and son.” And there's also peer pressure. The rest of their friends are professionals like accountants, bankers, lawyers, and they are funeral directors. If Singaporeans choose not to work in this industry, and with the current situation that we are having, which is an increasingly grey population, we're going to face a problem in the future whereby when a funeral is needed, we may not have enough professionals to conduct this funeral. So if nothing is being done to attract new blood, Singaporeans to join this industry, the Ministry of Manpower will have to re-look at its policies, to how we can use foreign help to manage this. Bharati: Since your campaign started three years ago, have you seen an increase in people willing to join the industry? Mr Ang: Yeah. Now I receive on average, at least five resumes per month. And a lot of them are doing a mid-life career change. Some of them come from the nursing sector, some of them come from the engineering industry, some of them come from customer service. And I'm glad, because of the campaigns, more people have more knowledge of the industry and therefore they want to do something meaningful. Bharati: But there is still a shortage? Mr Ang: Generally, in the industry, there is a huge shortage because the average age in this industry is late fifties. So if we do not have help at this moment, in 10 years’ time when our senior generation retires, there's going to be a huge gap between the workforce and the increasing number of deaths in the country. Bharati: So, what do you hope to do in order to fix this situation going forward? Mr Ang: I mean, I can share our experience. We've changed the environment, we provide good benefits, we provide training to our staff, which I think is critical. The key thing here is to make everyone realise that it's a meaningful career. I think funeral service is a career that helps the community to overcome grief. And also as a professional serving the families, you tend to re-look at your own life and how you can impact lives around you. You tend to evaluate, and you tend to be a better person that way. Bharati: In what way do you think you have become a better person as a result of working in this industry? Mr Ang: I’ve developed a lot of empathy, a lot of care for people, and it is always people first before myself. Bharati: I understand there are no formal courses in Singapore for people who want to learn to be professionals in the funeral services industry. Mr Ang: You're absolutely right. There is no formal training in Singapore that offers courses that helps to groom you. What companies have in Singapore is we have in-house training. We engage providers from overseas who are experts in this field to train our people. In the US, funeral service is a respected profession. You need to have at least a bachelor's degree in order to enter a mortuary science college. And it is a profession that has been supported by the association, and policy-makers, and also by the members of public. The problem lies in Singapore. The funeral profession is a very neglected industry in Singapore. But is this service necessary? Yes, it is. This conversation has to come between the policy makers, academics and the funeral professionals. We need to work together to groom the next generation of funeral directors, if we want our Singaporeans to die with dignity. Bharati: You mentioned policy-makers. What do you want government to do in order to help? Mr Ang: To start a national conversation. Do we want our people to die with dignity? And if we want to, how do we address the infrastructure? How do we address manpower problems? How do we make mindsets change? Bharati: But you're already doing this on your own. Why should the government get involved? Mr Ang: There is only so much that individual philanthropic organisations can do. I would say that policy-makers have the resources, and when they set a direction and everyone can steer to that direction, it will be more rapid. The speed will be there, the support will be there. It is difficult to dance solo. DEATH AND THE COMMUNITY Bharati: I understand that infrastructure is an issue as well. For instance, you are also chief executive of the Mount Vernon Sanctuary. You’ve spent money sprucing this place up and intend to continue doing this. You’ve been given a lease extension of two years, but eventually, it will be demolished to make way for a housing estate. I understand the government has plans for a new funeral parlour to be built at the current site, but there are no details yet. As it is, funeral parlours can be located only on specifically approved sites or as ancillary services to columbarium developments. And you have an issue with this. Mr Ang: Funeral homes right now are located in industrial parks, and I'm always very ashamed to share this with foreign funeral directors. I'm always very ashamed to say that we are located in industrial parks. You need to pass the wood industry, metal industry, wrecked cars, before reaching the funeral home. This brings no dignity. It's sad that in a first-world country, we have third-world funeral services. Because of the taboo and because there is no one to engage the community to correct and eradicate taboos, therefore, the Nimby Syndrome, or "not in my backyard" syndrome develops. Bharati: We have seen a number of controversies over this, including one recently over a columbarium in a housing estate. People who were living in that area, or were about to buy flats in that area were upset that there were plans to build a columbarium nearby. Mr Ang: I think that funeral facilities should be seen as part of the infrastructure within a community. It is no different from a police station, fire station, daycare centre, preschool centres. It is infrastructure that is needed within the community. But we also have to look at this in a different light. Funeral facilities like funeral parlours, cemeteries, columbaria, are actually necessary. Because it reminds you of the reality of life. It brings more empathy in us. It humanises us. It teach us that death is the end point of life, so how can we, by recognising that, live our lives more meaningfully? Bharati: But considering that the "not-in-my-backyard" syndrome emerges when it comes to such facilities, do you blame the authorities for leaving it the way it is, where most of you are located in industrial parks? Mr Ang: First of all, I think it takes time to make a change. It takes a lot of courage to make change happen. But we all have to recognise that change is constant. If we do not make any changes at this moment, our descendants are the ones who will suffer. I think that courage needs to be mustered from all stakeholders, to make these tough conversations, these necessary conversations more palatable, to create understanding among people, and why there is a need for infrastructure, like funeral facilities, in the community. I think we need to educate. With education, eradicate taboos. When we eradicate taboos, we eradicate the NIMBY syndrome. The NIMBY syndrome is always associated with profits. For instance, if we have hospices in residential areas, some people may think that it will drive our property prices down. But is it really true? I think that in Singapore we should have funeral facilities, just like hospitals, in the North, South, East, West and Central. In the Design for Death competition, done by two foundations - Ang Chin Moh Foundation and Lien Foundation, we presented solutions that show the scarce space in Singapore can be shared between the living and the dead, not isolate it in a very far place, because one day, our descendants, or we ourselves, have to go to a very far corner of Singapore to pay our respects, and is that what we really want - isolation? I think isolation will only make the problem larger, and worse. I think we need to integrate them together. The dead and the living can cohabit within a common space. Bharati: So how do you think this can be done in Singapore, when people will protest every time someone suggests a better integration of such facilities within communities? Should policy-makers allow such infrastructure within communities in spite of protests and hope that over time, it will become normalised and hopefully the taboo surrounding death will diminish too? Mr Ang: I think we need to start a national conversation with policy-makers sharing their viewpoints and their challenges. And we, as funeral professionals, also share our viewpoints and challenges with the members of the public as well. This will create an understanding where funeral facilities can be considered as infrastructure essential to the community. It takes time for change to happen. It takes courage to make change happen. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive. So in this society, we’re a first-world country, do we want to chase the next dollar or do we want to chase how to live a meaningful life. If we do not take active steps to give dignity to ourselves, no one will. If we do not have empathy, we’re no different from robots. Bharati: How do you feel about Mount Vernon Sanctuary having to go in two years? Mr Ang: To me it's very sad, after having invested so much, because these facilities not only help the grieving families, but it also helps the mid- and small-sized funeral business owners that don't have a funeral parlour. These things will happen, but it is also a true fact that Singapore needs funeral facilities. For us, in Mount Vernon Sanctuary, we really pray every day that there will be new parcel of land out for tender to allow funeral companies that have local culture, to actually bid for it, and also to continue to serve the community. Because I think embracing the local culture and having the essence as a local company really matters a lot to the culture and traditions of Singaporeans. Bharati: I understand that lease tenures are also an issue within the industry. Mr Ang: Funeral companies, over the past many decades, have suffered from this vicious cycle. All leases are up to a maximum of three years. Naturally, funeral directors are hesitant to invest in facilities, to spruce them up, to give the dignity to the families. And when that happens, it adds to the poor perception that the members of the public have towards the funeral industry. The three-year limit was imposed by the landlords, and it offers the landlords flexibility, if they wish to terminate the lease. But this also means that there is no confidence instilled within the funeral companies, whether their lease will be renewed. There's a lot of uncertainty. Bharati: But all business owners have a limited lease, so why should funeral services firms be treated differently? Mr Ang: I think funeral service cannot be compared with other commercial companies. Funeral service is an essential service to the community. There are lot of intangibles in doing that, because now, what’s always on our minds is, "Will I get a renewal? Should I even invest?" Bharati: How long do you think the lease tenure should be? Mr Ang: I would think a minimum of 15 to 30 years. 30 years will be appropriate, but three years is actually too short. Do you realise that funeral facilities are the last place, the last opportunity for us to say our goodbyes, to show appreciation to our departed? If the funeral facilities have not been spruced up, because of the three-year short lease, this is going to be a terrible, emotional experience for the families. Bharati: In spite of this, you made an effort to spruce up your place though, in order to attract the best staff, in order to give your clients the best experience as well. You invested a lot in the Mount Vernon Sanctuary as well and you open up the parlours for other funeral companies to use as well. Mr Ang: I have done many firsts in this industry because I believe that my objective is to reach out to all bereaved families in Singapore. Bharati: Have you thought about what your own funeral would be like? Mr Ang: I have thought about what my funeral is going to be like, and this is why I am so pro-active in advocating, in changing mindsets. Actually, I hope that, when I pass on, my funeral will not be in the HDB void deck. It'll be in a place where dignity will be able to take place. There are so few funeral parlours that meet the mark and standards for wakes. That’s why everyone goes to the HDB void decks. Bharati: Why not? You said that the death-related facilities should be integrated into the community – HDB void decks are as integrated as it gets. Mr Ang: HDB void decks also pose their own challenges, because it is a common space. The noise generated also creates inconvenience, but actually with funeral facilities, dedicated funeral facilities in the neighbourhood, this will address the sound issue, this will address the dignity issue. Funerals in void decks are what we call “makeshifts” . If you are in a place, in a makeshift tent under the void deck, it is not conducive to hold a funeral. If you use this as comparison to Mount Vernon Sanctuary - it's located within a park, and the park is conducive enough for you to walk around the park to address your grief, so we need to look beyond the infrastructure. The environment is equally important, because this helps us emotionally. Bharati: So as you mentioned earlier, more funeral parlours and facilities within housing estates would certainly help. Have you thought about how people are able to stomach funerals at void decks, but not funeral services companies or parlours next to their HDB block? Mr Ang: I think they actually can’t accept both, but they don’t have a choice. The solution is clear - to allocate more land for funeral facilities - but are we ready for that? Are we prepared? Do we have the courage to do that? ON BEING AROUND DEATH ALL THE TIME Bharati: We were talking about what you’d like your own funeral to be like. Aside from the location, have you thought of any other details? Mr Ang: My family always finds that I'm so fickle-minded, because I'm constantly changing the funeral arrangements I want for myself. Before, I wanted myself to be buried, but now I've a different thought. I want one-third of my ashes to be stored in columbarium. And one-third of my ashes I want to place in a bio-degradable urn, and then let it sail through the seas. And one-third of the ashes, I want to like to make into memorial diamonds, so that I can pass to the people who love me and whom I've loved. Bharati: Why is this so important to you? Some may say why bother? You won’t be here anymore. Mr Ang: Ashes are not about myself. Ashes are something that we leave behind, so that our families will hold on to it, and they'll remember you, not only yourself, but also your memories, the legacy that you leave behind, and the value system. There's something for families to hold onto, but I think what is more important when I pass away is to pass down the values system that I have, the spirit that I have that I hope the next generation will be able to pick up. Bharati: Emotionally, have you been touched by any particular funeral you had to handle? Mr Ang: I've been touched by many, many funerals. The common denominator for all is the love between people. I can see the affection and the values being shared by the senior generation with the younger generations, and how they remember their loved ones. And this is something that brings the families together. We may leave behind our human shell, but we leave behind values. And that is something I think is very meaningful, and also very touching as well. Bharati: Tell me about maybe one funeral that was the most challenging to handle. Mr Ang: I would say deaths involving an infectious disease that is scheduled under our Infectious Diseases Act, are often challenging because firstly, we need to protect our employees, and we need to protect the diseased person, and also maintain confidentiality. Usually in such situations, only one family member that knows about the situation and keeping it from other family members, is something very challenging. Bharati: What does it feel like to be around death all the time? Mr Ang: Funeral directors are humans. We get emotional, but we cannot express it, because we have to maintain our professionalism in helping the family. Bharati: Does this job ever depress you? Mr Ang: No. Death is actually a part of life, and only when you recognise death is the end point of life, you tend to live your life more meaningfully. It makes you realise that life is so short. Death is not only meant for the sick and the elderly. Everyone has an entitlement, including the young. So with death surrounding me every day, it gives me urgency to do things. For instance, I started this foundation at a very young age, in my early 30s, because I do not know how long I will live. I want to change the industry, to change people, to make lives better for everyone. So we need not wait until the retirement age of 65 before we start to do community work. We can start at this moment. So death is actually a constant reminder to me that, "Ziqian, you need to move things faster, better, while you are young, while you have energy to do that, you need to inspire and empower people to join funeral industry.” So this has been my adrenaline every day when I wake up from my bed This has always been my peeve and I feel it is definitely timely to relook this area as the need is definitely there and the current service providers are aging and there is really going to be a gap

two lives for one saw another news in Singapore that a husband and wife also abuse the maid till she lost 20kg

His parents want you to watch this video. 24 Sep 2015 - Michigan Man Jailed Over Traffic Fine Suffers 17 Days of Untreated Drug Withdrawal, Dies Naked on Cell Floor