For Rent - Pantech 21 - factory - 16.05.08

For Rent - Pantech 21 - factory - 16.05.08

Note : Subject to availability and revision of rental rate without notice
BUILDING / UNIT NO — 02-02 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 7,363
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $3.60
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.25
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3.85
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $28,362.28
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 39,541
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 08-Dec
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $3.60
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.25
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3.85
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $19,610.53
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-03 FRR
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $5,221.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $3.60
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.25
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 4
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $20,111.29
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-04 FRR
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $5,091.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $3.60
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.25
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 4
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $19,610.53
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 05-03 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $5,221.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $3.60
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.25
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3.85
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $20,111.29
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 05-Apr
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 5,091
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $3.60
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.25
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3.85
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $19,610.53
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now
Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest, in Singapore

Mindy Yong

(+65)91002985

mindy@mindyyong.com

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For Rent - New Tech Park - factory - 16.05.08

For Rent - New Tech Park - factory - 16.05.08

Note : Subject to availability and revision of rental rate without notice

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 02-07/09*
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 23,296
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $5.20
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.36
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $5.56
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $129,618.94
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-06 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 08-Jun
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $5.20
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.36
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $5.56
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $72,014.85
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-07B
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $2,232.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $5.40
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.38
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 6
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $12,896.50
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Tenanted
AVAILIBILITY — 01.07.2008

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-07C
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $3,423.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $5.40
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.38
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 6
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $19,778.09
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest, in Singapore

Mindy Yong

(+65)91002985

mindy@mindyyong.com

http://www.hotvictory.com

no comments yet.

For Rent - City Industrial Building - factory - 16.05.08

For Rent - City Industrial Building - factory - 16.05.08

Note : Subject to availability and revision of rental rate without notice

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 03-07 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 2,803
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $5,698.50
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-01 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 19-May
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,996.88
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-Feb
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $1,604.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 2
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,260.93
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-Mar
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $1,604.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 2
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,260.93
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-Jun
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $1,658.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,370.71
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 04-Jul
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 2,803
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $5,698.50
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 06-07 ***
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 2,803
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $5,698.50
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 07-Jan
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 1,966
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,996.88
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 07-02* 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 1,604
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,260.93
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 09-Jan
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 1,966
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,996.88
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 09-02 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 1,604
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,260.93
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

 
Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest, in Singapore

Mindy Yong

(+65)91002985

mindy@mindyyong.com

http://www.hotvictory.com

no comments yet.

For Rent - Cititech Industrial  Building - factory - 16.05.08

For Rent - Cititech Industrial  Building - factory - 16.05.08

Note : Subject to availability and revision of rental rate without notice

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 05-05 
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 2,325
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $2.00
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.14
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.14
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $4,975.50
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now
BUILDING / UNIT NO — 39,604
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 31-Oct
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $2.00
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.14
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.14
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $4,560.34
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 05-Aug
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $1,324.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $2.10
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.15
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 2
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2,975.03
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 06-Apr
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $2,034.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $2.00
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.14
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 2
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $4,352.76
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 06-May
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $2,325.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $2.00
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.14
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.14
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $4,975.50
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Tenanted
AVAILIBILITY — 15.05.2008
 

Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest, in Singapore

Mindy Yong

(+65)91002985

mindy@mindyyong.com

no comments yet.

For Rent - Cideco Industrial Complex - Warehouse, factory - 16.05.08

For Rent - Cideco Industrial Complex - Warehouse, factory - 16.05.08

Note : Subject to availability and revision of rental rate without notice

Warehouse

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 03-05-06
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 6,738
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.80
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $1.93
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $12,977.39
IncludesUtility Chg —  
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

Factory

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 06-02
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 3,681
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.80
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $1.93
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $7,089.61
IncludesUtility Chg —
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 39,574
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — 04-Nov
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.80
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $1.93
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $7,628.89
IncludesUtility Chg —
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 07-May
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $2,099.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.80
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 2
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $4,042.67
IncludesUtility Chg —
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now
BUILDING / UNIT NO — 07-Jun
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $4,575.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.80
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — 2
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $8,811.45
IncludesUtility Chg —
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

BUILDING / UNIT NO — 08-Feb
LETTABLE AREA ( SQ FT) — $1,841.00
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (BEFORE GST) — $1.90
GST ON GROSS RENT PER SQ FT PER MONTH — $0.13
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER SQ FT PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $2.03
GROSS RENT (SGD) PER MONTH (AFTER GST) — $3,742.75
IncludesUtility Chg —
STATUS — Vacant
AVAILIBILITY — Now

Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest, in Singapore

Mindy Yong

(+65)91002985

mindy@mindyyong.com
http://www.hotvictory.com

no comments yet.

Sales in Singapore private residential market dip in April

Sales in Singapore private residential market dip in April

By Ng Baoying,
SINGAPORE: Sales in the private residential market have dipped in April after a mild recovery in March.

According to the numbers of private home sales released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), only 274 units were sold last month – down from 301 units in March.

Developers were also holding back new launches, with only 271 units launched in April – the lowest number of units since market weakness surfaced in September last year.

Analysts said they expect the market to continue moving gingerly.

Homebuyers in the mass market are keeping the numbers moving along as nine out of every 10 units sold in April were in the suburban areas. This belies the overall cautious stance that homebuyers are taking.

Chua Chor Hoon, Senior Director of Research, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, said: “Speculation is almost nil. Most buyers we see in the market are probably those buying for owner occupation, with needs for accommodation.”

With buying and selling almost at a standstill, analysts said the ball is now in the developers’ court.

Colin Tan, Director of Research & Consultancy, Chesterton International, said: “Looking forward, you can see that in order to raise their sales, developers will need to price their units more realistically. As you can see from the April figures, those that have done so are being rewarded with higher sales.”

However, the URA figures also showed that prices remain firm for high-end units and developers for those units are choosing to wait out.

“Developers are still holding back launches, especially for bigger projects and those at higher end range. What we see are mostly launches in suburban areas, with units priced below S$1,000 psf,” Mr Chua said.

While the latest data may seem to provide more evidence of a weak housing market, analysts said numbers are very thin and have cautioned against reading too deeply into them as they could be potentially misleading.
- CNA/so

 
Source : Channel NewsAsia  - 16 May 2008

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US sub-prime crisis hurting Asian property: Singapore GIC

US sub-prime crisis hurting Asian property: Singapore GIC 

By Fiona Chan 
 
THE sub-prime crisis in the United States is starting to weaken Asian property markets, said the real estate arm of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) yesterday.
GIC Real Estate president Seek Ngee Huat told a regional property conference that the impact of the crisis could hasten downtrends in the Asian property markets, according to a report by news agency Reuters.

‘The contagion effects of the sub-prime crisis can potentially accelerate the downward spin of the property cycle,’ he said in a keynote speech at the Financial Times Asia Property Summit.

‘Some market weakening is being sensed in Asia, particularly in Japan and in Australia.’

In Australia, house prices are growing more slowly and demand for mortgages fell 6.1 per cent in March from February, according to the Reuters report.

It added that in Japan, the stock of unsold apartments is rising, while housing starts fell 15.6 per cent in March from a year ago.

Housing starts - the number of new private homes under construction - are used as an indicator of the state of an economy.

On the bright side, the sub-prime carnage presents opportunities for well-positioned players, Dr Seek said.

But he added that any interested party would face competition from other institutional investors.

‘As always, weak markets favour those with the capacity to take strategic positions, and so the sub-prime meltdown presents threats as well as opportunities,’ he was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Morgan Stanley has estimated that GIC manages more than US$330 billion (S$456.8 billion) of assets. This makes it the world’s third-largest sovereign wealth fund, behind the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Norway’s Government Pension Fund.

GIC Real Estate is also one of the top 10 property investors in the world, with more than 200 investments across more than 30 countries.

Its multibillion-dollar portfolio includes the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney and the Westin Paris in France, among other buildings.

In his speech, Dr Seek said that GIC began by investing in developed markets. It only started to focus on emerging markets in Asia in the mid-1990s.
 

Source : Straits Times - 16 May 2008

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Design awards for Singapore HDB estates

Design awards for Singapore HDB estates 

Sengkang, Ghim Moh estates score well for innovative design, user-friendly features

By Ong Bi Hui 
 
HOUSING Board estates are not known for their innovative designs, but two cutting-edge ones are starting to change all that.
They have just become the first HDB estates to win design awards for both their good looks and user-friendly features.

The Coris, a precinct in Sengkang New Town, and the upgraded Ghim Moh Gardens estate, which is 32 years old, both won bronze awards at the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Universal Design Awards.

‘Universal Design’ generally refers to design that allows users to get around easily, with easy-to-use facilities.

The BCA Awards were launched in September last year, and this year saw 34 entries, with most being refurbished buildings.

Both estates stood out due to their accessibility to residents, with seamless connectivity throughout.

The Coris at Sengkang, which has 14 residential blocks, had a comprehensive signage system so visitors can find their way around easily. There are also various recreational and communal facilities, including an area for the elderly to exercise, jogging tracks and pavilions.

Ghim Moh Gardens features wheelchair-friendly lifts that stop at every floor, safer clothes-drying racks and elderly-friendly toilets. Getting around is easy, with markets and bird- viewing spots all linked by sheltered walkways.

This year, three silver and six bronze awards were given in six categories of buildings: commercial, institutional, residential, open spaces, refurbished and open.

Other winners include Terminal 3 at Changi Airport and the National Museum of Singapore.

At last year’s awards, Ikea Tampines clinched the top prize, the gold award, but a prize in this category was not handed out this year.

Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, chairman of the award assessment panel, attributes this to it having ‘raised the bar’ this year.

He said: ‘Buildings need to be a holistic package. They must be comprehensive, integrative and have that special touch, while taking into account the owner’s corporate philosophy.’

Winners will receive their awards from Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan next Thursday. Those interested in applying for next year’s awards can visit www.bca.gov.sg.

Source : Straits Times - 16 May 2008

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Singapore MM’s wife in serious condition after stroke

Singapore MM’s wife in serious condition after stroke
 
She can speak and recognise family members but remains in hospital after Monday’s stroke

By Li Xueying & Kor Kian Beng 
MORE ALERT NOW: Mrs Lee’s daughter said her intelligence is not affected but physical movements may be frustrating. — ST FILE PHOTO
 
MRS Lee Kuan Yew, wife of the Minister Mentor, is in hospital after suffering a stroke on Monday.
However, her haemorrhage has since stabilised and, while she remains in ‘a serious condition’, she is able to recognise immediate family members, said a statement from the Minister Mentor’s office yesterday.

Mrs Lee, 87, experienced sudden weakness in the left side of her body and slurring of speech at 12.20pm on Monday.

She was taken to the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) for an urgent brain scan, which revealed bleeding in the right side of the brain, and was subsequently admitted to the Neurointensive Care Unit in Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

‘The haemorrhage stabilised after two days of close monitoring and treatment, before she was transferred to the general ward on Wednesday,’ said the statement.

‘Currently, she remains in a serious condition although she is able to recognise immediate family members.’

The Lees’ daughter, Associate Professor Lee Wei Ling, who is director of the NNI, told The Straits Times that Mrs Lee was ‘more alert’ yesterday compared to earlier in the week.

‘Her intelligence is not affected, but physical movements may be frustrating,’ she said, adding that Mrs Lee’s left arm is not moving well.

‘But what we said, she understood. She can also speak. She is in good spirits given the circumstances.’

Mrs Lee suffered a stroke in 2003 when she and Mr Lee were in London on a European tour. The bleeding was also in the right side of the brain then.

She recovered soon after and was well enough to continue accompanying Mr Lee on official trips.

Their last official trip was in March when they visited Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Bahrain in the Middle East.

Source : Straits Times - 16 May 2008

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What is a stroke?

What is a stroke? 
 
ACCORDING to Dr Alvin Hong, consultant neurosurgeon at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre and Gleneagles Medical Centre, there are two types of stroke.
‘One is caused by blockage in a blood vessel, so that blood cannot flow to the part of the brain that the vessel supplies.

The other is when a blood vessel within the brain bursts, causing blood to leak inside the brain. Mrs Lee suffered this type of stroke.”
What causes it?
Most haemorrhagic strokes are spontaneous, meaning there are no underlying causes, such as tumours or blood abnormalities. It often happens in older people due to degenerative changes in blood vessels.

In people in their 40s to 60s, the most common cause is high blood pressure.
Effects of stroke
Effects can vary. If the bleeding is in the brain stem, the damage can be serious.

If the stroke is in the left side of the brain, the person could be paralysed on the right of the body and also have problems communicating with others as speech is controlled in the left brain. This can be very disabling.

If the stroke is in the right side of the brain, language ability most probably won’t be affected.

Another factor is the size of the blood clot. A big blood clot will do more harm.

Swelling around the blood clot usually gets worse in the first 24 to 48 hours. Blood clots can threaten life by exerting so much pressure that the rest of the brain is also affected.
How to treat the condition
Sometimes, to save a life, doctors operate to remove the blood clot.

If the clot is not so big and the rest of the brain is less affected, doctors use medication to bring down the swelling in the brain.

If one waits long enough, all blood clots disappear. The problem is that one could die before a clot disappears.

Typically it takes five to seven days before a clot subsides significantly.

If a patient is quite stable after three to five days, he will probably remain so because swelling and bleeding are worst in the first two days.

In Mrs Lee’s case, the fact that she can recognise family members means the rest of the brain is working. The reason why it’s considered a serious condition is because it’s only the fourth day.
Recovery prospects
Doctors will have to first treat the complications of the stroke, of which a chest infection is the most common. Such patients often lie in bed and do not cough or breathe deeply enough. Secretions from the lungs are not cleared and they get a chest infection.

As the blood clot disappears and the pressure on the surrounding brain drops, the brain will begin to recover.

‘Once the danger period has passed, the patient will require intensive rehabilitation. It takes time, and patience,’ said Dr Hong.

Source : Straits Times - 16 May 2008

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Singapore Retail sales index up 5.6% in March

Singapore Retail sales index up 5.6% in March

By OH BOON PING

Excluding motor vehicles, overall sales volume rose by 6.1 per cent.

The strong growth was partly attributed to higher prices, but at constant prices the volume of retail sales actually declined marginally from a year ago, says the DOS.

Total retail sales value in March was estimated at $2.89 billion, compared with February’s $2.59 billion, with almost all retail sectors reporting higher turnover year on year.

 
 
For example, sales of supermarket goods, furniture & household equipment, department store items, optical goods & books, watches & jewellery and telecommunications apparatuses & computers in March this year continued to grow at 13.6 per cent to 16.7 per cent.

However, the motor-vehicle segment reported a decline of 8.1 per cent, continuing its downward trend since October 2007.

As for restaurants, receipts fell 1.8 per cent from the previous year, even though sales of fast-food outlets and food caterers rose during the period.

For example, turnover at fast-food restaurants rose by 1.6 per cent while revenue of food caterers and other eating places increased by 8.9 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

The DOS said the increase was partly due to higher food prices. ‘After removing the price effect, the volume of catering trade declined by 3.1 per cent.’

In a report, HSBC economist Prakriti Sofat noted the contraction in motor-vehicle sales, but added that as certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums fall ‘to the lowest level in around a year, motor-vehicle sales will probably see a bounce in the months ahead’.

Looking ahead, the economist believes that retail spending here should remain firm.

‘Singaporeans got their first ‘growth dividend’ at the end of April (with the second in October) which, together with tax rebates, healthy job gains and historically low interest rates, suggests that households should let loose the purse strings,’ Ms Sofat said.

 
Source : Business Times - 16 May 2008

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Singapore CDL reveals what it does for society and environment

Singapore CDL reveals what it does for society and environment

By CONRAD TAN
CITY Developments Ltd (CDL) yesterday launched its first annual report focusing on the property developer’s impact on the environment, such as energy usage and carbon emissions.
The 54-page voluntary report, one of the first of its kind for a Singapore public-listed company, also details CDL’s activities and performance on various social and environmental issues, including efforts to improve the efficiency of energy and water use at its property projects and to reduce the amount of waste it generates.

But profits still come first, managing director Kwek Leng Joo said at a media conference to launch the report yesterday.

‘Businesses are for profit. Companies are out there not primarily to do charity work, think about how they should protect the environment or how they should repay kindness to society,’ he said. ‘The primary obligations are to the shareholders and investors.’

A company needs to be profitable first ‘before it can even put itself in a position to talk about CSR (corporate social responsibility) or anything else’, Mr Kwek said.

Just a day earlier, CDL reported a 31 per cent jump in net profit to $165 million in the first quarter from a year earlier. And last year saw record revenue and profit for the second-largest developer here amid the boom in property prices.

 
 
But a public-listed company must also be sure that ‘whatever kind of business it is in is sustainable’, which is where CSR issues are relevant, Mr Kwek said.

As a major property developer, paying attention to environmental conservation and protection issues is necessary to ensure that its core business of developing and managing new projects is sustainable in the long term, he added.

According to the report, CDL invests 2-5 per cent of the construction cost of a project in environmentally friendly ‘green’ design and features.

The company said it aims to track and measure its social and environmental efforts and performance against international benchmarks, and is setting up a formal CSR committee comprising senior management that will report directly to Mr Kwek.

Zoe Knight, head of socially responsible investment research at Merrill Lynch, said the report is a ‘breakthrough’ for Singapore.

Other Singapore-listed companies that have published separate environmental impact reports include Singapore Airlines and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Source : Business Times - 16 May 2008

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Leng Beng says Singapore real estate market sustainable

Leng Beng says Singapore real estate market sustainable

CityDev boss sees further investment opportunities ahead
By EMILYN YAP

HOTEL and property tycoon Kwek Leng Beng believes Singapore’s real estate market is sustainable and further investment opportunities lie ahead.
‘I am also waiting for the opportunity … to go in and buy at the right time,’ he said at a property conference yesterday.

The executive chairman of City Developments said growth in Macau’s gaming industry had driven up residential property prices there sharply. And with two integrated resorts and big events such as the Youth Olympics in the next few years, Mr Kwek reckons the future is bright for Singapore real estate.

According to country head of Jones Lang LaSalle Singapore Christopher Fossick, the current slowdown in property demand is largely sentiment-driven, and many investors are probably waiting to purchase at better prices.

In terms of office space, Mr Kwek said: ‘There has been a lot of talk that by 2010 and 2011 there will be a lot of oversupply. I do not believe so because in the first place, construction is a problem here.’

He cited rising construction costs as a reason for this view.

 
 
While office rents have been rising, Mr Fossick does not see this as a major business concern. Sharing feedback from multinational companies, he said wages are a much larger component of the cost of doing business, compared with rents.

Mr Kwek is also positive on the outlook for the hospitality real estate market. He believes the shortage of hotel rooms in Singapore and the rise in intra-regional travel will keep room rates on an uptrend.

Although Mr Kwek is generally upbeat on prospects for local real estate, he did express one concern. While investments from institutional funds have helped steady the market, ‘funds have a duration of life and will get out’, he said.

On the other hand, ‘for the retail buyers, when they get out, they don’t get out all at the same time’.

Mr Kwek asked in a panel discussion why the recent boom in Singapore’s property market did not attract many individual investors from the West, while funds showed huge interest. The director of property at Henderson Global Investors Asia, Chris Reilly, said this could be due to the lack of familiarity with Asian real estate among retail buyers in the West.

 
Source : Business Times - 16 May 2008

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Interest in Asian property seen growing - Singapore

Interest in Asian property seen growing - Singapore

GIC Real Estate says weaker market favours those taking strategic position
By EMILYN YAP

(SINGAPORE) The sub-prime crisis may have affected Asian property markets, but interest in the sector is likely to grow. The Government of Singapore Investment Corp’s (GIC) real estate arm is also confident about investment opportunities going forward.
‘There is plenty to go around - we will all have fun competing,’ said president of GIC Real Estate Seek Ngee Huat at a property conference yesterday.

Going by the pace at which real estate projects are emerging in Asian cities, Dr Seek believed that there would be a continuous supply to meet different risk-return appetites.

Dr Seek recognised that the sub-prime crisis has weakened Asian markets, particularly Japan and Australia. ‘The contagion effects of the sub-prime crisis . . . can potentially accelerate the downward spin of the current cycle,’ he said.

Nevertheless, the outlook for the property market was not entirely bleak. ‘Weak markets favour those who have capacity to take a strategic position,’ Dr Seek said. ‘The sub-prime meltdown presents threats but there are also opportunities.’

And many around the world are likely to see investment opportunities in Asian property markets as well. ‘Massive build-up of investment funds in the world, coupled with the attraction of Asia as a growth region of the future, will ensure continuous global interest in Asian real estate,’ said Dr Seek. He pointed out that this will inevitably lead to greater competition.

 
 
Dr Seek said that GIC Real Estate had focused mainly on developed markets in its first 10 years, and only started investing in Asia in the 1990s. Even then, it was ‘way ahead’ of other institutional investors.

GIC Real Estate ranks among the world’s top 10 real estate investment firms, according to its website. The unit has over 200 investments across more than 30 countries, culminating in a multi-billion US dollar portfolio.

GIC Real Estate had in March, through its affiliate Reco Hotels JV Private Ltd, entered into a joint venture with Host Hotels & Resorts Inc to explore investment opportunities in Asia and Australia. The real estate unit also bought the Westin Tokyo hotel for about 80 billion yen (S$1.05 billion) in February.

Source : Business Times - 16 May 2008

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Singapore Temasek Foundation silences the cynics

Singapore Temasek Foundation silences the cynics

Its projects in Asia make a difference that goes beyond any PR exercise
By CHUANG PECK MING

JUST a week shy of Temasek Foundation’s first anniversary, Temasek Holdings, which started the $500 million foundation to help people in Asia, was again in the news. Last Friday, an Indonesian court threw out the Singapore investment company’s appeal against a ruling that it had breached the country’s anti-monopoly law in a case involving the two largest Indonesian telecom operators.
Unlike a similar dispute in Thailand about a year ago, the proceedings this time were more civilised. The Thai episode saw public protests against Temasek’s investments in a telecommunication company - Shin Corporation - owned by then Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family. The protests culminated in the Thaksin government’s ouster. It was soon after this that Temasek Foundation was formally set up.

The new Thai government subsequently declared that Temasek’s stake in Shin was ‘just business’, backing away from earlier claims that Singapore could use Shin’s assets to spy on the military.

But Temasek’s deep pockets and aggressive overseas investments in recent years have been a constant source of concern for nationalists in a number of countries - a concern magnified by Temasek’s link to the Singapore government.

Launching Temasek Foundation was thought to be a move that would ’soften’ Temasek’s image, win the hearts and minds of the people in countries where Temasek has sunk money, and make its investments more acceptable.

 
 
Temasek has denied this from the start. Its chairman S Dhanabalan said at the launch of the foundation on May 16, 2007: ‘Just as we have both benefited from and contributed to Singapore’s success through our investments since the 1970s, we hope to similarly benefit from and contribute to Asia’s growth and development as a prosperous and stable region, through our role as a long-term investor in Asia and through our contributions as a corporate citizen.’

Still, a year after the foundation was rolled out, after dispensing some $16 million in 14 educational, health and research projects in the region, the question is still asked - was Temasek Foundation started to take the sting out of Temasek’s investment activity, and is the foundation’s work a public relations exercise for Temasek?

Temasek Foundation’s chief executive officer, Benedict Cheong, points out that Temasek had the foundation in mind five years ago, long before its troubles with Shin Corp in Thailand. But a cynic may yet counter that the foundation was just an idea earlier - and Temasek was only nudged to act after its nasty experience with Shin, which prompted it to do something about its image.

But actions speak louder than words. The foundation’s deeds in the past year - and its plans to do more in the coming year, spending up to $22 million - should go a long way to silence the cynics.

While dishing out only a fraction of what it could have given out - up to $50 million yearly - Mr Cheong, formerly CEO of the National Council of Social Service, and his lean team of seven staffers have worked with partners to get the most out of the money spent in the past year.

Whether it is training educators in Manila, grooming nurses and teachers in Hainan, or bringing students in the region together in exchange programmes, Temasek Foundation never lost sight of its mission - to develop people, build bridges between them, build institutions of excellence through good governance and ethics, and rebuild lives and livelihoods hit by natural disasters.

These are projects that are more than PR exercise - they will make a difference to the lives of people, especially those in the less developed part of Asia.

‘If we only want publicity, we get more of it if we focus on children and old folks,’ Mr Cheong says.

Too much PR, in fact, will come in the way of the foundation’s efforts to contribute to development in the region, he says.

The foundation’s guiding philosophy is essentially capacity-building - that is, ‘teaching people to fish rather than giving them fish’ - and ensuring that the lessons cascade down far and wide. Thus its emphasis on funding training health and education trainers.

Mr Cheong stresses that the foundation’s approach is to listen to the people it helps - and then work with them as partners. To be prescriptive would be to turn them off and lose their cooperation.

The foundation itself does not take directions from Temasek, even though the money comes from the returns on its investments. Temasek Foundation has an independent board; none of its members are from Temasek.

Indeed, most of the foundation’s work in the past year was in countries where Temasek has few investments - the first country it went into was the Philippines. Mr Cheong says Temasek Foundation has some projects coming up in Indonesia, but this will happen long after the fate of Temasek’s appeal is decided by the courts there.

Source : Business Times - 16 May 2008

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