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The charm – and drawbacks – of living in a time warp in Singapore

The charm – and drawbacks – of living in a time warp in Singapore

Straits Times5 days ago
As spanking new estates spring up on an island criss-crossed by MRT lines, a little corner of Queenstown brings you back to the 1960s.
In Commonwealth estate's neighbourhood square, you can still find shops set up like they were 50 years ago.
To be honest, I don't know why I feel so much nostalgia about living in Queenstown. I wasn't born in this estate, nor did I grow up here. Though I visited the area regularly through the late 1970s and early 1980s, when my family went shopping at the Tah Chung Emporium in Commonwealth Avenue or dropped by the old hawker centre in Commonwealth Crescent for cheng tng, Queenstown was not a big part of my childhood.
And yet I feel a great sense of sentimentality living here. Whenever I am asked where I live, I proudly reply: 'In one of the oldest HDB estates.'
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Every Saturday, his wife and neighbours watch the sky, looking for one jet
Every Saturday, his wife and neighbours watch the sky, looking for one jet

AsiaOne

time10 hours ago

  • AsiaOne

Every Saturday, his wife and neighbours watch the sky, looking for one jet

Every Saturday evening, Stephanie and her neighbours gather outside their HDB block, eyes on the sky. There's no WhatsApp reminder, no loudhailer. They just know the flypast rehearsal is happening again. Somewhere in that thunder of jet engines is Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Muhammad Iskandar, Stephanie's husband — and the man leading the F-15SGs at this year's National Day Parade (NDP). "I didn't tell my neighbours about it, but they somehow know based on my uniform that I'm probably involved," says LTC Iskandar, amused. "So when my wife goes out to catch the flypast, all my neighbours are also standing outside watching the flypast unintentionally. Now, it's become like a community event every Saturday!" From his POV in the sky, NDP rehearsals offer something RSAF pilots don't often get: a bird's-eye view of the Lion City they've grown up in. "Flying over the heartlands is something special, especially at sunset. I always take a couple of seconds just to look out and admire and appreciate that sight," says LTC Iskandar. This is the 37-year-old's third time flying in NDP. His first was in 2015 (to celebrate SG50), then again in 2021, when the country was navigating a pandemic. But this year is different. "Unlike the previous years when I flew as a wingman, this year, I'm actually the Flight Lead of the formation," he says. And while the pressure is higher, the privilege is deeper. "It's an added responsibility of not just performing the show, but also developing and mentoring the next generation of aircrew and leaders." The leader in the sky is also one on the ground Beginning at the Singapore Youth Flying Club in 2008, LTC Iskandar has gone on to become a fighter pilot with nearly two decades in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Commanding Officer of 142 Squadron (SQN), recently named Best Fighter Squadron for the second year in a row at the Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition. He's quick to deflect credit. "Every fighter squadron is doing excellent work, and is made up of excellent, hardworking people… I think what differentiates us is the culture," he says. "142 SQN has a culture where we ensure that we take care of each other… Even though there's a rank structure, we are very open to feedback, both top-down and bottom-up. That includes myself." It mirrors how formations function in the air — not with hierarchy, but through trust. "The formation can only function when there's mutual trust among everybody," he says. "We are all there to train and improve." That commitment to training others, and being open to being trained himself, has become part of how he defines success, both as a leader and a Singaporean. "That's always been the spirit in Singapore - making sure we develop the next generation, whether it's in the military, public service, or anywhere else." The flypast is a spectacle, but it's never just for show This year's NDP will feature a total of 26 RSAF aircraft — fighter jets, helicopters and transport aircraft among them. These include the CH-47F Heavy Lift helicopter aka Chinook and the mighty C-130 Hercules. Three aerial displays will feature the F-15SG, with LTC Iskandar taking the lead. First, the "Enhanced Salute to the Nation" will see six F-15SGs in delta formation burst upwards with afterburners, followed by four F-16s in a diamond, symbolising our Diamond Jubilee. Then there's the "SG60 Tribute", with six F-15SGs sweeping over the Padang before the outer wingmen turn outwards, break away and climb, representing peace and prosperity for the nation. The remaining four will continue their flight in diamond formation. And finally, the "Multi Axis Flypast", a historic first, with six jets flying in from opposite directions, crossing each other dramatically before breaking into full climbs. For LTC Iskandar, each flight isn't just about choreography. It's about reflection. "NDP is special because we get to see and reflect on the progress we've made as a country," he says. "The first time I flew in NDP was SG50. Now it's 10 years later. We've matured, both individually and as a nation." Quiet moments help this cat dad decompress With all the high-stakes action in his day job, you'd expect Iskandar to crave thrills during downtime. But when he has a free moment, you'll likely find him in a library or hiking through MacRitchie or Bukit Timah with his wife. "I like walking outside and immersing myself in nature… it's a change from the hectic and loud environment that I'm in every day." That said, old habits die hard. "When I hear a slight sound of an aircraft, I will always look up and try and guess what aircraft it is based on the sound. I think it's one of those job hazards!" Home life includes Stephanie and a 20-year-old American Shorthair named Mister Kitty (incidentally, it's International Cat Day tomorrow, Aug 8 — meow!). No children — just this quietly content cat dad, who commands Singapore's top fighter squadron by day and makes time for quiet at night. Small country, big responsibility Ask LTC Iskandar how being an RSAF pilot has shaped him, and he doesn't talk about skill or speed. He talks about awareness. "We get a true sense of how small Singapore is geographically. With that lack of geographical depth, we understand how vulnerable we are in any military conflict or tension," he says, adding that this perspective fuels his work. "It reinforces the importance of the role we play… It's been quite an incredible journey for Singapore the past 60 years — to achieve [the position we are in]. To ensure peace and security of the country — it's something we should not take for granted." Beyond geography, LTC Iskandar's time in the RSAF — including overseas deployments and multinational exercises — has shaped the way he sees leadership, teamwork, and responsibility. "At the root of it, every aircrew that flies the F-15 is just an average Singaporean," he says. "The skills we have — team spirit, the pursuit of excellence, the ability to prioritise multiple demands — those are transferable outside the military." At 60, he hopes to still be learning Singapore at 60. Himself at 60. The two are connected. "Singapore today is very diverse, inclusive, modern — always trying to reinvent, adapt to the ever-changing circumstance of geopolitics," says LTC Iskandar. "So, if I take that as an example, when I'm 60, I hope I have that same desire to continuously adapt, to continuously learn and grow. And not be static." He doesn't imagine changing the world. Just contributing where he can — in small but meaningful ways. "Hopefully I can do the same when I'm 60… helping not the world, but hopefully the people around me in whatever way I can." For now, he'll keep leading by example, on the ground and in the cockpit, soaring across a city that's still looking up at him every Saturday, waiting for the sound of one familiar jet. [[nid:720783]] This article was first published in

Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates
Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates

Straits Times

time14 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Water gel guns among newer tools NParks uses to manage monkeys in estates

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox An NParks contractor using water gel blasters to drive the monkeys out of a HDB estate in Punggol on Aug 2. SINGAPORE – Water guns expelling gel beads are one of the newer tools that the National Parks Board (NParks) has been using to drive monkeys away from residential areas. This surfaced in recent videos showing contractors shooting long-tailed macaques in an HDB estate in the Punggol hot spot with what looks like toy guns, much to netizens' amusement. Monkey guarding – the herding of monkeys away from urban areas – is carried out by the authorities and animal welfare organisations to prevent human-macaque conflict. Water guns, adopted in 2023, are used only by NParks and have been deployed in Punggol since mid-2024. 'The loud noise generated by the device and scattering of the water gel beads also allow the range of guarding to be extended,' said Mr How Choon Beng, NParks' group director for wildlife management. NParks has been using water gel beads as an additional measure to 'guide' the monkeys away from residential areas and towards forested areas, 'as some macaques have grown accustomed to existing monkey-guarding measures', he said. Sterilising macaques is among other newer measures the authorities have taken to manage the monkey problem in residential estates. In existing monkey-guarding measures, the authorities and organisations raise their voices and tap hiking sticks on the ground to drive them away from residential areas as a form of negative reinforcement but without taunting the primates. But monkey guarding is not just about deterring macaques, said Ms Sabrina Jabbar, who heads the Monkey Guards Programme at Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) (JGIS). 'It's meant to teach macaques no-go human areas and people the correct ways to act in the presence of macaques,' she said. The newer estates of northern Punggol close to Coney Island have been a macaque hot spot for a few years, with monkeys even entering homes and damaging cars. Between late 2024 and early 2025, NParks received around 200 reports relating to macaques in Punggol. Since 2023, a number of macaques were sterilised to control their population, and a few were culled as they were deemed aggressive. NPark's Mr How said the beads are not aimed at the macaques, but should there be any 'inadvertent contact', the beads will burst upon impact without significant force. NParks contractors using water gel blasters to drive the monkeys out of an HDB estate in Punggol on Aug 2. PHOTO: COCONOTEEE/TIKTOK However, organisations such as JGIS and the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) have some reservations because of animal welfare concerns and fears that members of the public will buy similar water guns to chase away monkeys in their estates. Primatologist Andie Ang, president of JGIS, stressed that only the authorities can use the water guns, and the general public should not take matters into their own hands. Acres' chief executive Kalaivanan Balakrishnan said: 'We do not want a situation where the public starts imitating the method and buy their own devices to shoot at the monkeys or use something else without knowing the method behind it.' Ms Jabbar further cautioned: 'The risk of macaques acting back in defence is higher should the gel be aimed at younger macaques, females and geriatric individual s.' She was also concerned about monkeys and other animals like birds, cats and dogs swallowing the gel beads. Mr How said personnel who handle wildlife are offered wildlife management training courses to ensure public safety, personnel safety and animal welfare in the course of such activities. Since long-tailed macaques are intelligent and adaptable creatures, there is also the possibility that they will eventually outsmart the water guns, as with existing monkey-guarding measures. Ms Jabbar said: 'We know how smart the macaques are, so tools and methods need to be reviewed every now and then. 'Monkey guarding for example is not meant to completely make the macaques disappear. It is meant to teach the community how to live alongside them as peacefully as possible while macaques are being taught certain boundaries they should not cross.' Both the organisations and NParks said a suite of measures are needed to avoid human-macaque conflict, and people have to also do their part by not feeding the monkeys and ensuring that bins and rubbish disposal systems in estates are latched shut and monkey-proof. 'If guarding is working, but people continue to not play their part, then the whole process will still fail,' said Ms Jabbar. Mr How said: 'NParks will also continue working with relevant authorities and community leaders on a multipronged approach to minimise human sources of food, and expanding outreach and engagements to the residents at Punggol on what to do when encountering macaques. Enforcement efforts are also undertaken to deter illegal wildlife feeding activities.' He added that macaques are dynamic and can move between habitat patches in search of available resources, making them less dependent on a particular site for survival. 'We will continue to study their population long-term to understand their movement patterns and habitat use, the findings of which will inform ongoing population-control measures,' he said.

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