60% of The Marq buyers are foreigners

60% of The Marq buyers are foreigners
SC Global will price penthouses at $5,000 per sq ft

(SINGAPORE) SC Global Development Ltd, which sold homes at its The Marq apartment project at a record price last month, said foreigners made up about 60 per cent of the buyers.
SG Global will price its penthouses, twice the size of its regular apartments at the development, at about $5,000 per square foot (psf), matching the record $5,100 achieved in other units, chief executive officer Simon Cheong said in an interview yesterday.

Singapore home prices are surging, driven by the longest economic expansion in a decade and the world’s fastest-growing population of millionaires. Investors paid between $11million and $31 million for the first 21 homes sold at The Marq, a five-minute walk to the main shopping district of Orchard Road. The units fetched an average price of $4,137 psf, the company said on June 28.

‘Singapore’s becoming more and more of a global city, and our buyers are well travelled and well heeled, and they compare our product against those in other gateway cities around the world, and they find the prices to be reasonable,’ Mr Cheong said.

SC Global shares were unchanged at $6.70 at the 5.05 pm close. SC Global’s stock almost tripled this year, compared with the 37per cent average gain for Singapore property index. — Bloomberg
The Business Times, 17 July 2007

Tan Tong Meng Tower hits en bloc trail

Tan Tong Meng Tower hits en bloc trail
Freehold site expected to fetch around $205m
By UMA SHANKARI

TAN Tong Meng Tower, a freehold residential site along Thomson Road, is seeking expressions of interest for a collective sale.
 
Tan Tong Meng Tower: About 118 apartments averaging 1,200 sq ft each can be built on the site 
CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), which is marketing the project, expects the site to fetch around $205 million - or $1,449 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr), including an estimated development charge of about $240,000.

The site has a land area of about 50,600 sq ft and a 2.8 plot ratio - giving it a maximum gross floor area of about 141,600 sq ft.

About 118 apartments averaging 1,200 sq ft each can be built on the site, said Charles Hoon, CBRE’s director for investment properties.

‘The collective sale market for prime sites located on the fringe of Orchard Road is very much in demand,’ said Mr Hoon. ‘The most recent successful collective sale nearby is Lincoln Lodge at Khiang Guan Road, which sold for $1,449 psf ppr in June.

‘Tan Tong Meng Tower is expected to achieve a similar land price, which works out to $205 million.’

CBRE also expects the nearby sold-out project Sky @ Eleven to give a fillip to the sale of the site.

At present, the site houses 35 apartment units of the same size. If it fetches $205 million, each owner will walk away with $5.9 million.

So far, more than 70 per cent of owners have agreed to a collective sale. For the sale to go through, some 80 per cent have to agree.

The expression of interest exercise will close on Aug 10 at 3 pm.
The Business Times, 17 July 2007

Napier, UE put 2 new projects on market

Napier, UE put 2 new projects on market

By KALPANA RASHIWALA

TWO new projects have been put on the market - 8napier on the former Eng Lok Mansion site near Botanic Gardens, and The Rochester in the one-north precinct.
 
Top notch: 8napier (above) will come loaded with top-of-the-line fittings while The Rochester is part of a mixed development which has a mall and hotel 
Prices at the 46-unit 8napier range from $4,000 to $4,500 per sq ft for apartments, and for now, the plan is to limit sales to just 10 to 12 apartments in the freehold development.

‘We may sell another dozen or so apartments when our showflat is ready on site in a few months’ time. But we plan to keep the rest of the project, including the six penthouses, for sale after the project is completed, which will probably be around end-2009,’ Mark Wee, director of Napier Properties, said when contacted by BT yesterday.

The company, controlled by Mr Wee and former Parkway boss Tony Tan, is currently previewing the project at its office on the 21st floor of Ngee Ann City Tower A.

The 10-storey 8napier has 40 apartments (either three- or four-bedder units) and six penthouses.

All the penthouses are duplex units, ranging in size from more than 4,000 sq ft to nearly 6,000 sq ft. They are expected to be sold by auction.

The smallest three-bedder apartment in the project is just over 2,000 sq ft and is priced at about $8 million. ‘All the units come fully loaded with top-notch lighting, sound system and kitchen equipment, bathroom fittings and the like, so that our buyers do not have to do any renovations as we are fitting the units to the highest standard currently available in the Singapore market. This should minimise the hassle of moving in,’ Mr Wee said.

He declined to say how many units have been sold so far but buyers are understood to be a mix of foreigners and Singaporeans.

Over at one-north, United Engineers is believed to have priced The Rochester apartments in the $1,000 to $1,200 per sq ft range. UE could not provide the average price yesterday when contacted by BT. The 99-year leasehold project is opposite One North Residences, which was sold earlier this year at an average price of around $900-950 per sq ft, market watchers said.

The Rochester has a total of 368 residential units, including eight penthouses, in a 36-storey block. The project is part of a mixed development that also includes a 100,000 sq ft mall and hotel.

The entire project is slated for completion around 2009-10. The residential component comprises one, two, and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Some of the one-bedders are duplexes. UE began selling the units yesterday, according to its spokesman.
 
The Business Times, 17 July 2007

Multiple unit buys should be tracked

Multiple unit buys should be tracked
This would indicate level of speculative activity, says Colliers International
By KALPANA RASHIWALA
COLLIERS International has suggested that the authorities track multiple-unit purchases of private residential properties, which could be used to show the level of speculative activity.
 
Individuals who own several properties may dump them if the market softens and this exercise could potentially accelerate any property downfall, the property consultancy argued.

Colliers’ director for research and consultancy Tay Huey Ying, said: ‘So far, the government has been giving details on the number of subsale deals - which refer to secondary market transactions for projects that have yet to receive Certificate of Statutory Completion and are often seen as a proxy for speculative activity. That’s useful information.

‘But in addition to that, perhaps the government may also want to monitor and see the extent to which people are buying several units or even floors, particularly at new residential property launches, as that may also reflect an intent to speculate, that is, buying units with the aim of flipping them within a short period of time.’

When contacted, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of National Development said: ‘The Urban Redevelopment Authority does not monitor multiple purchases by individuals. However, the government is monitoring the property market closely, to ensure that it remains healthy and sustainable.’
‘If the market drops, and these buyers want to let go of their units … and that will further accelerate any price downfall.’
 
- Colliers’ Ms Tay 
 
 
 
Ms Tay said that in addition to tracking multiple-unit buyers as a lead indicator for future speculative activity, there could also be other potential implications of such buying activity. ‘If the market drops, and these buyers want to let go of their units, we could see many units on the market, and that will further accelerate any price downfall,’ she said.

Ms Tay said she was more concerned with individuals who buy multiple units rather than than institutional investors like funds which make such purchases, since corporate buyers typically have greater financial muscle and are looking at holding their assets for rental income over a longer timeframe. ‘Individuals are more likely to lack the financial muscle to hold on to their purchases if the market softens,’ she said.

In addition to tracking those who buy multiple units or floors in the same development, Ms Tay also observed there were many individual investors who have been buying units across Singapore. ‘That also deserves monitoring,’ Ms Tay added.
 
The Business Times, 17 July 2007

Rents at two upcoming Orchard malls could hit $60 psf

Rents at two upcoming Orchard malls could hit $60 psf
Developers say competition for retailers or shoppers will be minimal
By UMA SHANKARI

RETAILERS who take up space in Orchard Road’s two new malls - slated to open in 2008 - can expect to pay as much as $60 per sq ft per month (psf pm).
Ion Orchard: The $2 billion project will feature duplex flagship stores of six carefully selected luxury brands
Yesterday, both CapitaLand’s Ion Orchard and Far East Organization’s Orchard Central unveiled their retail concepts.

Ion Orchard - the newly named retail component of a $2 billion retail and luxury-residential project developed by Singapore’s CapitaLand and Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai Properties - will feature duplex flagship stores of six carefully-selected luxury brands.

These stores will be among some 400 retail, F&B and entertainment stores occupying some 660,000 sq ft of net lettable area on eight levels.

Rentals at Ion Orchard will range from ‘$20 to over $60 psf pm’, said CapitaLand Retail chief executive Pua Seck Guan. ‘We have already received offers from many retailers, but we are not in a position to disclose anything,’ he said. ‘We are confident that we will have close to 100 per cent occupancy by the time we open.’

A soft opening is expected by end-2008, with the grand opening scheduled for first-half 2009.

Over at the other end of Orchard Road, Far East Organization yesterday began officially marketing Orchard Central - almost one year after it first announced the mall’s name.

About 500 retailers turned up at the marketing launch. Orchard Central is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2008.

Danny Yeo, executive director of property consultancy Knight Frank, expects rents at the mall to be $18-$60 psf pm.

The mall will boast a unique ‘cluster’ concept, with shops grouped into eight different clusters - such as Youth, Highlife and Food Haven - occupying a total net lettable area of 250,000 sq ft. There will be no anchor tenants like large departmental stores, supermarkets or cinemas.

And in a first for Singapore, all shops at Orchard Central will be open until 11pm everyday. ‘We told the retailers, if you sign up with us it will be from 11am to 11pm’ said Vivienne Tan, president of Far East Retail Consultancy.

Both malls expect foot-falls of 80,000 to 100,000 on weekdays and around 20-50 per cent more shoppers on Saturdays and Sundays. Although both malls will open around the same time, the developers maintain there will be no competition for retailers or shoppers.

‘Orchard Central has a very different positioning (from Ion Orchard),’ said Far East’s Mrs Tan. ‘And we are at the other end of Orchard Road.’

Ion Orchard is located right on top of Orchard MRT station, while Orchard Central is close to Somerset MRT station. Retailers, said Mrs Tan, can have a store in each of the malls.

Similarly, CapitaLand’s Mr Pua said that with no major shopping centre having come up in Orchard Road for more than a decade, there will be a lot of pent-up demand for the new malls. ‘In terms of location, we have a better location.’ He added that CapitaLand could eventually sell its 50 per cent stake in Ion Orchard to its listed real estate investment trust (Reit) CapitaMall Trust (CMT).

‘CapitaLand’s strategy is very clear - we have an asset light strategy,’ he said. ‘At the end of the day, we would like to monetise CapitaLand’s stake.’
The Business Times, 17 July 2007

70% of HDB resale deals in Q2 go above valuation

70% of HDB resale deals in Q2 go above valuation
Central region takes top spot with average cash over valuation of $20,900
By KALPANA RASHIWALA
(SINGAPORE) The Housing & Development Board (HDB) yesterday released data showing that 70 per cent of resale deals in Q2 were above valuation with the average cash-over-valuation (COV) amount being about $10,100.

The biggest COV premium was recorded in the central region, with an average figure of $20,900. Within this region - which includes the hot Bukit Merah and Marine Parade areas which recently saw record prices being achieved - five-room flats posted the biggest premium - an average of $33,600.

Executive flats in the central region on average posted a premium of $28,900, followed by four-room flats ($24,200) and three-room flats ($13,900) in the same region.

Islandwide, the east region (including Bedok, Pasir Ris and Tampines) posted the second-highest average premium of $10,900, followed by the north-east region, which includes Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Serangoon ($9,100).

The HDB said yesterday’s market data were released to ‘assist both flat buyers and sellers in making informed decisions, taking into account the prevailing trends in the HDB resale market’.
‘Given the long-term financial commitment of buying a property, buyers are urged to exercise prudence in making their housing purchase decision.’

- HDB

The board said: ‘Potential buyers are advised to take into account the overall market trends, instead of relying on reports of high selling prices for isolated resale transactions, when considering flat purchases. Given the long-term financial commitment of buying a property, buyers are urged to exercise prudence in making their housing purchase decision.’

Estate agents generally welcomed the release of COV premiums recorded for resale flats but suggested that providing a breakdown of average COV premiums by individual estate would be even better than figures for five regions.

PropNex CEO Mohamed Ismail said: ‘Providing data at the regional level does not help consumers much. HDB should list the data by all 27 HDB estates.’

ERA assistant vice-president Eugene Lim welcomed yesterday’s release ‘as HDB resale market has gone berserk recently’.

He suggested that the board could provide a split of COV premiums each quarter by individual estates. ‘On top of that, it should also include the median COV premium instead of just the average (mean), as that will be a more accurate picture of what most buyers are willing to pay for each location,’ he said.

‘Right now, serious buyers are being priced out of the market or pushed beyond their limit because of a few publicised benchmark transactions which have led other owners asking for fantastic premiums above valuation - sometimes as high as $200,000 or 40 per cent above current valuation.

‘The typical HDB buyer depends on financing, as he does not have much cash. So the current trend of owners asking prices way above valuation pushes the serious buyers out of the market. Those in urgent need of housing will think of ways and means to come up with the cash. Such a climate could lead to ‘creative’ forms of financing and illegal practices, which can’t be healthy for the market.’

News of record prices like the $720,000 achieved last month for a five-room resale flat at Kim Tian Place in the Tiong Bahru area - similar units in the area were earlier selling for around $550,000 - have led to HDB flat owners across the island seeking substantial premiums above valuations.

The benchmark prices have so far been set by those who have sold their homes in private estates and urgently looking for replacement homes, agents say.

Mr Lim said he had heard of a 20-year-old five-room flat in the Bukit Batok area being sold for around $600,000, significantly higher than the $300,000 or so it could have fetched earlier this year.

Mr Ismail reckons that about a year ago, less than 40 per cent of resale flat deals were at prices above valuation.

The HDB figures for Q2 show that about 70 per cent of sales were above valuation. Mr Ismail reckons the average islandwide COV premium a year ago might have been below $2,000 at best, with some homes even selling for below the official valuation.

In its release yesterday, HDB also sought to assure the market that there is sufficient supply of flats. In the resale market, there are some 760,000 flats eligible for transaction, providing ‘a wide variety of housing options across location and flat type for flat buyers to choose from, taking into account their budgets and housing aspirations’, the HDB said.

The board also gave an update on the supply of new HDB flats for sale, saying it will ‘adjust its building plans in line with market demand’.

The HDB is planning to offer about 3,000 new flats under Build-to-Order (BTO) exercises in the second half of this year, double the 1,400 units in H1. The new BTO supply will complement HDB’s sales programme for completed units, the board said.
The Business Times, 17 July 2007

Singapore Property - Buy , Sell , Rent , Invest
Mindy Yong
(+65)91002985
mindy@mindyyong.com

Home-buyers get reality check with new URA data

Home-buyers get reality check with new URA data
It will go beyond headline numbers to reflect prices on ground
By ARTHUR SIM
THE Urban Redevlopment Authority (URA)has released previously unavailable data from property developers to give home-buyers a keener sense of prevailing prices.
It has also said that it will continue to provide such data every month - till further notice. The statistics will include the lowest, highest and median prices of units sold during the month for uncompleted private residential projects.

The data aims to give home-buyers an accurate idea of the way property price winds are blowing, so that they are not dazzled merely by the prices of the most expensive units sold in selected projects.

The data released yesterday showed that the average prices in certain developments have continued to rise, with new benchmarks being set. In others, units were sold within a wide price band.

The Orchard Residences was launched earlier this year and the record benchmark price of $4,000 psf was widely reported. But according to data released by URA yesterday, the development has now set a new benchmark of $5,000 psf. The average price of $3,213 psf, reported in April, has also increased to $3,392 psf.
‘More transparency is better for consumers. Those tempted to rush in can now ask for the latest data.’
 
- Savills Singapore’s director 
 
 
The data, which will now be available on URA’s website, also revealed that in the month of June, five of the ten Orchard Residences units sold were in the $3,000-$3,500 psf range while three units were sold in the $3,500-$4,000 range. Only one unit was sold at $5,000 psf.

CapitaLand, which is co-developing Orchard Residences with Sun Hung Kai Properties has come out in support of the new reporting measures.

CapitaLand Retail CEO Pua Sek Guan also said that benchmark prices did not reflect overall prices and that the latest $5,000 psf benchmark was for a very unique penthouse unit.

And said a spokesperson for the Real Estate Developers Association Singapore (Redas): ‘Redas will urge its members to co-operate with URA’s request, as any additional market information will help potential buyers make informed decisions.’

The monthly data clearly benefits buyer.

For instance, the 493-unit Botannia in the West Coast was launched in May and so far, 255 units have been sold. Of the 150 units launched in June, 104 have been sold at an average price of $745 psf with prices ranging from $671 psf to $865 psf - enough information for buyers to make an informed decision.

Savills Singapore’s director for marketing and business development said: ‘More transparency is better for consumers. Those who are tempted to rush in to buy can now ask for the latest data or get it themselves.’

However, given the speed at which the market is moving, it is possible that even monthly data may not be an accurate reflection of property prices.

Figures from Savills Singapore reveal that the volume of transactions in the first half of the year has hit 16,246, 53 per cent higher than a year ago. It also noted a significant rise in the number of transactions above $2,000 psf - from 0.7 per cent in H1 2006 to 3.1 per cent in H1 2007.

Chesterton International head of research and consultancy Colin Tan believes that URA’s monthly data does show that property prices, not just benchmark prices, are increasing.

But would such data help to calm the market? ‘Transparency in this instance could work both ways,’ said Mr Tan.

Propnex CEO Mohamed Ismail pointed out that while the data is for the preceding month, many new launches get sold out within weeks.

‘The market is so hot now, and much of the activity is in the resale market. This new info will not help in this case,’ he said, adding, ‘It is only useful if there are units left in the development to sell.’

Developers will be taking some time to get used to the new monthly reporting protocol as the onus is now on them to ensure that the figures tally.
The Business Times, 17 July 2007

HDB data shows resale prices not that high

HDB data shows resale prices not that high 
Figures may help cool market but industry players want details
By Tan Hui Yee, Housing Correspondent 
HOME buyers feeling the heat from fast-rising resale prices for Housing Board (HDB) flats may be about to get some respite.
The HDB taken the unprecedented step of disclosing figures designed to give an overview of resale prices region by region - along with the average sum paid above valuation.

Property agents expect the HDB’s move to throw a bucket of cold water over some of the more absurd asking prices of late - some more than $100,000 above valuation.

These overly optimistic asking prices have resulted from one-off record high prices in the central area that have captured wide attention in recent weeks.

The new HDB figures put those numbers in perspective by showing that average resale deals islandwide are not nearly as high as the eye-catching sales.

Although the HDB has long issued quarterly figures on resale flats, these new figures give more detail such as how much buyers pay above valuation.

Still, some market players have misgivings about the figures. Their gripe: They are grouped according to five clusters of towns, such as ‘West’ for Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Clementi, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East and Jurong West.

They say this makes it difficult for buyers or sellers to get a clear picture of how flats similar to theirs are faring.

For example, five-room flats in Clementi, with an average value of $377,200 from January to March, are lumped together with those in Jurong West, which had an average value of $268,800 in the same period. The average second-quarter resale price for the ‘West’ cluster was $295,000.

This grouping system has also raised eyebrows as the HDB’s regular quarterly resale statistics give average valuation of flats according to each of the 26 HDB towns.

The chief executive of property agency Propnex, Mr Mohamed Ismail, said: ‘The true picture of the market is being muffled.’

Sellers with flats in more popular towns in a cluster may find it harder to sell now, if their unit is worth more than the cluster average, he added.

The assistant vice-president of ERA Singapore, Mr Eugene Lim, said: ‘We hope more figures will come out. The average figures are not reflective of the whole market.’

The executive director of Roof Real Estate Group, Mr Dave Lau, predicts the move will slow resale transactions for the next two to three weeks as buyers lower their offers but sellers hold out for more.

Still, the agents concede the new figures will help ease worries among buyers.

Having more detailed figures released on a regular basis would help make the market more transparent, they said. However, it is not clear if these figures will become a regular feature.

Preliminary figures show resale prices of HDB flats overall grew by 2.85 per cent in April to June, up from 1.25 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

The HDB said yesterday that it will adjust building plans in line with market demand. It will offer about 3,000 new flats under its build-to-order scheme from this month till December, up from the 1,400 new flats it put up for sale in the first half of this year.

The Board also urged homebuyers to watch their wallets.

‘There is also a large pool of resale flats in the open market,’ it said. ‘Potential buyers are advised to take into account the overall market trends, instead of relying on reports of high selling prices for isolated resale transactions, when considering flat purchases.’
The Straits Times, 17 July 2007

Govt made ‘goodwill proposal’ to Jakarta

Govt made ‘goodwill proposal’ to Jakarta 
Offer a ’significant and sincere bid to resolve matter’, but no answer has been received yet
By Peh Shing Huei 
SINGAPORE proposed to Indonesia two months ago a way out of the stalled Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), but it has not heard from Jakarta.
Two ministers yesterday informed Parliament of the move made on May 22.

While he did not disclose details of the proposal, Foreign Minister George Yeo said that Singapore had tried its best to be helpful to the Indonesian government without re-opening settled agreements.

Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said that the proposal ‘marked a significant and a sincere attempt to resolve this matter finally and conclusively’.

He added that the Government welcomed assurances from Indonesia that it did not wish to change what was agreed, and remained patient and hopeful that there would be a resolution.

The ministers spent time setting out Singapore’s position on the defence pact, the extradition treaty and four implementing arrangements (IAs), all of which were negotiated and settled as a ‘carefully balanced package’.

Both sides showed goodwill and made compromises in the nearly two years of talks before reaching agreement on April 23, noted Mr Yeo.

This was then followed by a formal signing in Bali on April 27. Three IAs were to be signed later on May 7 - ‘purely for administrative and logistical reasons’, as not all three Indonesian service chiefs could be at the Bali signing.

But May 7 came and went without any signing. The ensuing delay was marked by criticisms from Indonesian politicians that the DCA undermined their country’s national sovereignty. There were also calls to ratify the extradition treaty and not the DCA.

Mr Yeo, in response to Ms Irene Ng (Tampines GRC), reiterated Singapore’s stand yesterday: the sanctity of the agreements must be upheld.

‘Insisting on substantive changes or introducing new elements afterwards means that there was no agreement in the first place,’ he said.

That would effectively unravel the entire package and make future negotiations difficult, if not impossible.

Another major issue in the stalled pact now is the use of the Area Bravo training zone in the South China Sea.

A fortnight ago, Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono accused Singapore of being difficult for rejecting Indonesia’s request to jointly draw up the implementation details for use of Area Bravo. He also objected to Singapore’s plan to hold military exercises there 15 days a month, a period seen as too frequent.

But Mr Teo told the House yesterday that during the negotiations leading up to April 23, the focus of talks was not on the type of training, but the area for it to take place.

If there was a need to impose new conditions on naval training or have a separate pact on it, Indonesia had ample time to raise these issues before concluding negotiations, he said.

‘Singapore’s view, therefore, is that the package of agreements that was concluded on April 23 is complete, and that what is already contained in the DCA and its four associated IAs is sufficient to implement the DCA.’

Despite the difficulties, Mr Yeo and Mr Teo remained hopeful and counselled patience. Asked by Ms Ng if there was political will to resolve the issue, Mr Yeo replied that there was no lack of will from both Singapore and Dr Yudhoyono.

But he added: ‘We recognise at the same time that the politics of Indonesia are complicated and that sometimes, we may need a certain passage of time before some of these things can be done. But we remain hopeful and we’re patient.’

Similarly, in response to a characteristically blunt Ms Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who wanted a deadline to stop Jakarta ‘dragging their feet’, Mr Teo called for goodwill and patience.

He said: ‘We try our best to understand the internal processes that are going on in the Indonesia of today, and to accommodate them as much as possible.’

Mr Yeo also told the House that the package was not all there was to bilateral ties. If Indonesia needed more time, ‘it is in the interest of both countries to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation in other areas. We are, after all, close neighbours with a high degree of inter-dependence’. 
 
The Straits Times, 17 July 2007

Power failure shuts down many govt websites

Power failure shuts down many govt websites 
By Oo Gin Lee 
AT LEAST nine ministry websites here were forced offline for several hours yesterday as a power outage sparked the most extensive shutdown ever of government sites and e-mail systems in Singapore.
The outage occurred at 11.40am at a data centre, a high-security, high-tech location where computers hosting websites and e-mail systems are placed and managed.

Although power supply was restored by around 1pm, the sites started coming back online only at 4pm.

The e-mail systems of affected ministries and government agencies took longer, recovering only just before 7pm.

During the disruption, the government offices hit by the e-mail system shutdown had to depend on other means of communication.

‘We relied on phone calls, faxes and printing out of hard copies, but we did a whole lot more of walking around the office,’ said a Ministry of Finance spokesman.

The public was affected, too, being unable to access, for example, the Government’s main information portal for businesses at www.business.gov.sg

Other websites - such as those of the Public Service Commission, the Auditor-General’s Office, Cabinet and The Istana - were also hit.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore confirmed that the problem was caused by a power outage at service provider 1-Net’s premises, where the Government’s data centre is housed.

It could not provide details on how many and which websites were affected as it is still investigating the matter.

The Straits Times found, however, that at least nine of the 15 ministry websites here - including those of Finance and Community Development, Youth and Sports - were down.

However, the ministries of Law and Manpower and statutory boards like the Central Provident Fund and HDB, among others, were not affected.

The main government website, www.gov.sg, as well as the main citizen e-services site, www.ecitizen.gov.sg, were also functioning.

IT security consultant Aloysius Cheang, 32, told The Straits Times that the power failure highlights the need for large organisations to have a proper business continuity plan in place.

‘For critical services, it is common to have an alternative data centre site which the organisation can immediately switch over to if the primary data centre is down.’

1-Net did not respond to queries despite repeated attempts to reach it.
 
The Straits Times, 17 July 2007