Latest news with #HomeImprovementProgramme
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
‘Traumatised': 65-year-old man injured by falling concrete in toilet of Yishun HDB home
The incident left Mr Mohamad Hashim Arshad with more than 10 stitches on his head and injuries to his shoulder and knee. PHOTOS: SITI NURHASHIKIN SINGAPORE - A 65-year-old man was injured after getting hit by concrete that fell from his Housing Board flat's toilet ceiling on June 19. The incident left Mr Mohamad Hashim Arshad, a retiree, with more than 10 stitches on his head and injuries to his shoulder and knee. He was discharged from hospital on the evening of June 20, his daughter Siti Nurhashikin told The Straits Times, adding that he was 'really, really traumatised'. The spalling concrete in the master bedroom toilet of the three-room flat gave way at about 4.30am when Mr Hashim was preparing for morning prayers, she said. 'While he was sitting on the toilet bowl, the ceiling suddenly collapsed without any warning, and the concrete fell on him,' said Ms Siti, a 34-year-old housewife. Her father has multiple health issues and is also on blood-thinning medication. In a Facebook post on June 20, Nee Soon GRC MP K. Shanmugam said that he has spoken with Mr Hashim's wife, and told her that assistance would be rendered to the family, including the payment for repair works. Mr Shanmugam added that his volunteers are coordinating with HDB and the Town Council on this matter. Ms Siti told ST that her father's ground-floor unit and his neighbour's unit directly above him had not undergone any renovations recently. They had also not noticed any signs of wear and tear in the toilet, nor were there any prior incidents. In response to ST's queries, HDB said Mr Hashim's unit in Yishun Street 11 was built 41 years ago and was upgraded under the Housing Board's Home Improvement Programme in 2018. It will be assisting the flat's owners under the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme and is coordinating with grassroots leaders on the cost of repair works. HDB said it sent officers to investigate after the incident and i nspections showed slight bulging of concrete in the kitchen bathroom. While there is no imminent spalling of concrete at the kitchen bathroom's ceiling, it has arranged for contractors to remove the bulging concrete 'for the residents' peace of mind and safety' , it said. Spalling concrete occurs through carbonation, a natural deterioration process that causes steel reinforcement bars in the ceiling to corrode and the concrete to crack, particularly in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and kitchens, said HDB. 'To help prevent such incidents, when any visible signs of cracks or holes start appearing, residents should seal them promptly, and also paint their ceilings regularly to prevent moisture and carbon dioxide from entering the concrete,' it said. 'As a humid environment will speed up carbonation, residents are also encouraged to provide for the proper ventilation of any moisture-prone areas by opening the windows, vents or doors to reduce when these areas are not in use. Such regular care and maintenance by residents will help to keep the flats in good condition.' ST has contacted Nee Soon Town Council and the Singapore Contractors Association for more information. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Toilet ceiling concrete falls on elderly man's head in Yishun, leaving him with over 10 stitches
A 65-year-old man was getting ready in his bathroom when chunks of concrete from the toilet ceiling fell on him without warning. Toilet ceiling concrete falls on elderly man's head in Yishun, leaving him with over 10 stitches A 65-year-old man was getting ready in his bathroom when chunks of concrete from the toilet ceiling fell on him without warning. His daughter Siti, a 34-year-old housewife, told Lianhe Zaobao that her father, stepmother and stepbrother live in a three-room HDB flat at Block 127 Yishun Street 11. The accident happened at around 4.30am on June 19, while the retiree was preparing for morning prayers. Suddenly, large pieces of concrete from the bathroom ceiling fell and struck him as he was sitting on the toilet. "My stepmother heard the noise and then heard my father calling for help, so she went to check," Siti said. "The toilet door was blocked by the debris, so she forcefully pushed the door open and found my father bleeding profusely." Immediately, Siti's stepmother notified her aunt, who lived close by. "She was terrified, my aunt helped to call the police," Siti recalled. "My father was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for treatment. His health is not great in the first place, and this has made him worry even more." According to a Facebook post by Siti, her father suffered head, shoulder, and knee injuries. "His head needed over 10 stitches," it reads. "He is now in the hospital for observation, as he is also on blood-thinning medication. "The flat went through the Home Improvement Programme in 2018, and no recent renovations have been done by him or the neighbors above." The family later reported the incident to the Housing Board and to the police. "I'm sharing this so that other families with elderly parents living in older flats will be aware," Siti wrote. "Please check on their housing conditions. We never thought something like this could happen." According to the Housing Board, spalling concrete is a common issue for older buildings, especially in home areas with damp conditions, such as kitchens and toilets. It is the responsibility of owners to prevent and repair spalling concrete in their flats. Stomp has contacted the authorities for more info. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Independent Singapore
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Paul Tambyah: Perhaps the People's Association may actually see the light & respect the will of the voters
SINGAPORE: At the Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) rally at Sembawang on Wednesday (April 30), party chair Paul Tambyah touched on the $1 meals made available to Bukit Panjang residents for a whole year from March 2024. Dr Tambyah said a resident brought up the issue recently. 'These meals are very popular. In fact, just this afternoon, a resident of Bukit Panjang told us that he voted for us in GE 2020. But he said that the current MP organised these $1 meals more than a year ago, and he showed me a very colourful brochure where he checked off every month as he got his $1 meals. 'He also mentioned the HDB's Home Improvement Programme, and I told him the money for these programmes came from him and all Singaporeans, as taxpayers. The work of the HDB and the People's Association will continue regardless of who he voted for on Saturday.' The SDP chair, standing against the incumbent from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) for the second time, said the resident seemed to doubt the answer Dr Tambyah gave him. 'At the end of the visit, he said, 'You know, I like you, but those $1 meals did make a difference to me and my fellow citizens,' he continued, saying that he took note of the resident's point. Dr Tambyah added that he did some research into the matter and said the funding for these meals was provided by the People's Association, headed by the Prime Minister. Although opposition parties do not have access to these funds, Dr Tambyah said the SDP is confident it can find other ways to finance these projects. For example, a resident suggested funding could come from merchants' associations. 'Or perhaps the PA may actually see the light, respect the will of the voters, and appoint the elected MP as grassroots advisor regardless of who is elected as MP this Saturday,' Dr Tambyah added. Meanwhile, SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan addressed claims by the PAP's Ong Ye Kung, who heads the party's slate at Sembawang GRC. On Monday (April 28), Mr Ong dismissed the SDP's proposals for housing and healthcare, calling them 'mere populist calls', adding that they do not have 'a snowball's chance' of helping Singaporeans thrive. Dr Chee said he had four words for Mr Ong: 'Criticise first, copy later.' Explaining that this is straight from the PAP's 'favourite playbook', he went on to enumerate some policy proposals that the PAP later adopted, including an unemployment insurance scheme. Dr Chee is standing for election in the newly formed Sembawang West SMC this year, facing the PAP's Poh Li San. The SDP is also fielding a team at Sembawang GRC comprising party vice chair Bryan Lim Boon Heng, James Gomez, Surayah Akbar, Damanhuri Abas, and Alfred Tan. The National Solidarity Party is also contesting at Sembawang GRC, making it a three-cornered fight. 'We can expand social safety nets, provide universal healthcare, reform education to nurture critical thinkers, reduce inequality, and open up policies to be more transparent and responsive. That is the SDP's vision. That is the path to a truly thriving Singapore, one where our people are secure and happy,' he added. /TISG Read also: James Gomez: The academic, activist, and opposition voice contesting Sembawang GRC in GE2025
CNA
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh says negative politics in PAP's 'DNA', in rebuttal to PM Wong
SINGAPORE: Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh rebutted Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during a rally speech on Tuesday (Apr 29), citing the People's Action Party's (PAP) "crippling" of opposition town councils over the years as an example of how it was the ruling party that had negative politics in its "DNA". Speaking in East Coast GRC at the WP's fourth rally leading up to the May 3 polls, Mr Singh cited examples such as how opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) are denied access to community centres in their wards, and not invited to attend citizenship ceremonies which are instead presided over by losing PAP candidates. Earlier in the day, during a walkabout in Punggol, Mr Wong said it was ' rather disappointing ' that the WP had launched 'negative attacks' on Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and the PAP team in Punggol GRC. This was after a WP rally on Monday that featured several speakers singling out Mr Gan for criticism. Mr Wong said: 'Let's reject this kind of negative politics. You should be better than this.' Countering that in his rally speech on Tuesday night, Mr Singh raised the issue of how Housing Board upgrading plans in opposition-held wards used to be de-prioritised by the government. He noted that this has changed, with upgrading plans in PAP and opposition wards now being carried out 'at the same time'. In some cases upgrading projects, such as the Home Improvement Programme, are carried out in opposition wards 'earlier', said Mr Singh. 'As far as I can see, priority is based on objective criteria across all town councils, which should have been the case all along." Mr Singh said the PAP had 'changed its strategy because their bullying sticks and disrespectful carrots did not work', adding that the policy had cost the ruling party votes and 'backlash' in other constituencies in Singapore. 'PAP only listens when it loses vote share and parliamentary seats to the Workers' Party,' he continued, adding that a previous Prime Minister had 'said that he would have to spend his time fixing the opposition if it gains five,10 or 20 seats'. Mr Singh added: 'He said this when the opposition only had two seats in parliament. This is the PAP DNA. I wonder what Prime Minister Lawrence Wong would say about this. Is this negative politics?' The opposition leader went on to say that the PAP 'tried other policies designed to cripple town councils and elected town councillors in opposition wards', citing CIPC or Community Improvement Projects Committee funds. It used to be that CIPC funds had to be sought through constituencies' Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCC), which come under the People's Association. Applications are then endorsed by grassroots advisers - typically the MPs in PAP wards but the defeated PAP candidates in opposition wards. As early as in 1992, former WP chief Low Thia Khiang had questioned the need for an MP to go through the CCC to apply for funding. In April 2021, the Ministry of National Development then introduced a key change, allowing town councils to apply for funding directly from CIPC without approval from the CCCs. Mr Singh said this only came about after 'continuous advocacy by opposition MPs and by Singaporeans as a result of the last General Election'. 'I am sure you can see the pattern now. No political pressure in parliament against the PAP, no results on the ground; no fairness, no justice on the ground." OPPOSITION MPS NOT GIVEN INFORMATION Mr Singh then noted how the PA would pass on information about residents to losing PAP candidates who are appointed as grassroots advisers in opposition-held wards, instead of the elected opposition MPs. 'During COVID, the PA gave PA grassroots advisers, including all the unelected ones, information as specific as which resident was recovering from a COVID infection. These advisers were then in a position to deliver care packs to the residents,' said Mr Singh, noting that the WP MPs did not have access to this information. 'We would have loved access to that information, to reach out to Singaporeans as well, and we would love to shake hands of our new citizens at citizenship ceremonies presided over by losing PAP candidates,' he said. 'Democratically elected opposition MPs are kept away when new Singaporeans are welcomed to our community. So let me ask Lawrence Wong again, isn't this a textbook example of negative politics?' Mr Singh also said that WP MPs have not been given access to the community clubs since 1981, but that PA programmes continued to run, with the PA continuing to be 'generously funded' by taxpayer dollars in Aljunied, Hougang and Sengkang - constituencies where the WP is incumbent. He was referring to the year Singapore had its first post-independence opposition MP – JB Jeyaretnam from the WP, who won a by-election for the Anson seat. Mr Singh then invited PAP's candidates for East Coast GRC to clarify which programmes they would stop, should the PAP lose the election in the constituency. 'Be upfront with our people so voters can decide if the PAP really cares about East Coast,' said Mr Singh. He called on the PAP to clarify if WP MPs would be allowed access to community clubs, for the likes of food donation or distribution drives for low-income households. 'Please say yes or no before polling day. Let me know so I can go and debate with PM Lawrence Wong in parliament what is the real meaning of negative politics. 'But if you say 'no, cannot, you cannot come into the CCs, let's keep things the way they are' - it's okay. The spirit of Hougang lives in our people and the Workers' Party will find a way to help those people in need.' Ten candidates, including Mr Singh, spoke at the rally held at Bedok Stadium, which started later than scheduled due to the heavy downpour. Among those who spoke were WP candidates for East Coast GRC: Former Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong, GE2020 candidate Nathaniel Koh and fresh faces Jasper Kuan, Sufyan Mikhail Putra and Paris V Parameswari. As the team's anchor, Mr Yee spoke about its commitment to residents of East Coast GRC. Introducing each candidate in turn, Mr Yee pointed to Mr Sufyan and Ms Paris, who had both quit their jobs to run in the General Election with WP. Mr Sufyan, for instance, was an associate director in a law firm before he resigned due to his company's non-partisan policy. "He wanted to be your voice," Mr Yee said. "They say that heroes are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. I think that they have extraordinary commitment," Mr Yee said of his team members.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pritam Singh found guilty of lying to Committee of Privileges; Home Improvement Programme: Over $407m allocated for latest batch of 29,000 homes: Singapore live news
Hello to all our readers, Yahoo Singapore will be bringing you live news updates today. Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh, 48, has been found guilty of two charges of wilfully making two false answers to the Committee of Privileges on 10 and 15 Dec, 2021. The verdict was delivered by Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan on Monday (17 Feb) morning. The prosecution is seeking a maximum fine of $7,000 for each charge. For more on the verdict, read on. More than 29,000 homes have been selected for upgrading under the latest round of the Home Improvement Programme (HIP). These flats are located islandwide, including in Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Jurong West, and more than $407 million have been allocated to the upgrading works. For more information, read on. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. VIDEO: Dalmatian flies business class on Singapore Airlines South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron found dead, aged 24 Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh, 48, has been found guilty of two charges of wilfully making two false answers to the Committee of Privileges on 10 and 15 Dec, 2021. The verdict was delivered by Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan on Monday (17 Feb) morning. According to Judge Tan, the main issue is whether Singh's answers were false during the Committee of Privileges' (COP) inquiry into Raeesah Khan. The first charge was about whether "at conclusion of 8 Aug meeting, [Singh] wanted Ms Khan to clarify at some point in parliament that the anecdote was untrue". He said that he accepted Khan's account of the 8 Aug meeting, and Singh's actions thereafter were "strongly indicative that the accused did not want Ms Khan to clarify the untruth at some point". He also contrasted Singh's inaction for two months after the 8 Aug meeting with the anxiety displayed when Khan made the lie in Parliament, and said, "This could only be because the accused had mentioned this was 'probably something we should take to the grave'." Judge Tan also rejected defence lawyer Andre Jumabhoy's attempt to discredit Khan and paint her as a habitual liar. They argued that if she could lie in Parliament, she could lie about the leaders agreeing to take the matter to the grave. The judge said there was no evidence of this. Additionally, he reviewed all of Khan's three different accounts of what Singh said to her during the 8 Aug meeting and found that there was "no real discrepancy". The second charge stated that Singh falsely testified to the COP that for the meeting on 3 Oct, 2021, he wanted to tell her to come clarify that her story about accompanying a rape victim was a lie should the issue come up in Parliament the next day. Judge Tan accepted Khan's version of events. "The accused never wanted Ms Khan to tell the truth if the issue came up in Parliament the next day," he said, adding that there was no preparation done for her to disclose the lie in Parliament on 4 Oct, 2021. He said, "Ms Khan's account was corroborated by the testimonies of former WP cadres Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan." In Judge Tan's view, Singh only wanted Khan to come clean after the parliament sitting on 4 Oct, 2021. "In my view, this is due to subsequent events that transpired, including the Oct 7 email from the police to Ms Khan, and perhaps more importantly after advice from Mr Low," he explained. The prosecution is seeking a maximum fine of $7,000 for each charge. Under the current law, a person will be disqualified from being a Member of Parliament (MP) for five years if they have been jailed for at least one year orfined at least S$10,000. South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her home on Sunday (16 Feb). The 24-year-old was discovered by a friend who then called the police. The cause of death is still being investigated, but authorities have do no suspect foul play as there are no signs of a break-in. Kim debuted as a child star in 2009 and starred in The Man from Nowhere (2010) and The Neighbour (2012). She was last seen in the Korean drama series Bloodhounds, released on Netflix in 2023. However, her role reduced following backlash from a drink driving incident in May 2022. For more on Kim's life, read here. More than 29,000 homes have been selected for upgrading under the latest round of the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), shared the Housing Development Board on 16 Feb. These flats are located islandwide, including in Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Jurong West, and more than $407 million have been allocated to the upgrading works. HIP helps flat owners address common maintenance issues such as spalling concrete and ceiling leakage that arise due to wear and tear in older flats, and provide improvements to enhance living conditions of older flats. There are two types of works under the HIP – essential improvements and optional improvements. Essential improvements ensure that basic safety needs of residents staying in older flats are met. It's fully funded for by the Government for Singapore Citizen households. Essential improvement works include the repair of spalling concrete, replacement of waste or soil discharge stacks, replacement of pipe sockets with new clothes drying rack, and upgrading of electrical load. Optional improvements are heavily subsidised by the Government, with Singapore Citizen households paying as low as five percent of the cost, depending on the flat type. Flat owners have the flexibility to choose the Optional Improvement items they would like to include during the upgrading process. Optional improvement works include the upgrading of existing bathroom(s), installing a new entrance door and grille gate, and replacing the refuse chute hopper. Households selected for HIP can also opt for a range of senior-friendly fittings, such as foldable shower seats, rocker switches, handrails at flat entrances with steps, grab bars, and slip-resistant treatment to bathroom floor tiles. These senior-friendly fittings are offered under the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme. Residents who need such upgrades but whose blocks do not qualify for the HIP can still apply for the improvements under the EASE (Direct Application) programme at the HDB website. A site survey will be conducted before the installation of the items. It was implemented in 2007, and the Government has spent about $4 billion on the programme as of 31 March 2024. For more information on the latest selection of HIP, read here. Who let the dog out onto business class? A Dalmatian by the name of Spotty was seen flying on Singapore Airlines' (SIA) business class to Japan. The video of Spotty's trip was shared on Instagram last week, and featured brief scenes of the doggo in what seems to be the airport lounge, and onboard the plane in its own business class seat. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spotty🇨🇭🇸🇬 (@spottytheswissdalmatian) The dog appears to be well-behaved in the video, mostly wagging her tail and perking up from her resting position whenever the camera approaches it. In the comments, netizens were surprised that SIA allowed a dog onboard and questioned how Spotty's owner managed to do so. In response, her owner said, "Spotty is a registered service dog for those people who are asking." According to the SIA website, the airline allows travelling with assistance dogs. An assistance dog is one that is trained to carry out a task directly related to a person's disability or medical condition. Emotional support dogs, comfort dogs, companionship dogs, and assistance dogs-in-training are not assistance dogs, the website clarified. Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh, 48, has been found guilty of two charges of wilfully making two false answers to the Committee of Privileges on 10 and 15 Dec, 2021. The verdict was delivered by Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan on Monday (17 Feb) morning. According to Judge Tan, the main issue is whether Singh's answers were false during the Committee of Privileges' (COP) inquiry into Raeesah Khan. The first charge was about whether "at conclusion of 8 Aug meeting, [Singh] wanted Ms Khan to clarify at some point in parliament that the anecdote was untrue". He said that he accepted Khan's account of the 8 Aug meeting, and Singh's actions thereafter were "strongly indicative that the accused did not want Ms Khan to clarify the untruth at some point". He also contrasted Singh's inaction for two months after the 8 Aug meeting with the anxiety displayed when Khan made the lie in Parliament, and said, "This could only be because the accused had mentioned this was 'probably something we should take to the grave'." Judge Tan also rejected defence lawyer Andre Jumabhoy's attempt to discredit Khan and paint her as a habitual liar. They argued that if she could lie in Parliament, she could lie about the leaders agreeing to take the matter to the grave. The judge said there was no evidence of this. Additionally, he reviewed all of Khan's three different accounts of what Singh said to her during the 8 Aug meeting and found that there was "no real discrepancy". The second charge stated that Singh falsely testified to the COP that for the meeting on 3 Oct, 2021, he wanted to tell her to come clarify that her story about accompanying a rape victim was a lie should the issue come up in Parliament the next day. Judge Tan accepted Khan's version of events. "The accused never wanted Ms Khan to tell the truth if the issue came up in Parliament the next day," he said, adding that there was no preparation done for her to disclose the lie in Parliament on 4 Oct, 2021. He said, "Ms Khan's account was corroborated by the testimonies of former WP cadres Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan." In Judge Tan's view, Singh only wanted Khan to come clean after the parliament sitting on 4 Oct, 2021. "In my view, this is due to subsequent events that transpired, including the Oct 7 email from the police to Ms Khan, and perhaps more importantly after advice from Mr Low," he explained. The prosecution is seeking a maximum fine of $7,000 for each charge. Under the current law, a person will be disqualified from being a Member of Parliament (MP) for five years if they have been jailed for at least one year orfined at least S$10,000. South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her home on Sunday (16 Feb). The 24-year-old was discovered by a friend who then called the police. The cause of death is still being investigated, but authorities have do no suspect foul play as there are no signs of a break-in. Kim debuted as a child star in 2009 and starred in The Man from Nowhere (2010) and The Neighbour (2012). She was last seen in the Korean drama series Bloodhounds, released on Netflix in 2023. However, her role reduced following backlash from a drink driving incident in May 2022. For more on Kim's life, read here. More than 29,000 homes have been selected for upgrading under the latest round of the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), shared the Housing Development Board on 16 Feb. These flats are located islandwide, including in Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Jurong West, and more than $407 million have been allocated to the upgrading works. HIP helps flat owners address common maintenance issues such as spalling concrete and ceiling leakage that arise due to wear and tear in older flats, and provide improvements to enhance living conditions of older flats. There are two types of works under the HIP – essential improvements and optional improvements. Essential improvements ensure that basic safety needs of residents staying in older flats are met. It's fully funded for by the Government for Singapore Citizen households. Essential improvement works include the repair of spalling concrete, replacement of waste or soil discharge stacks, replacement of pipe sockets with new clothes drying rack, and upgrading of electrical load. Optional improvements are heavily subsidised by the Government, with Singapore Citizen households paying as low as five percent of the cost, depending on the flat type. Flat owners have the flexibility to choose the Optional Improvement items they would like to include during the upgrading process. Optional improvement works include the upgrading of existing bathroom(s), installing a new entrance door and grille gate, and replacing the refuse chute hopper. Households selected for HIP can also opt for a range of senior-friendly fittings, such as foldable shower seats, rocker switches, handrails at flat entrances with steps, grab bars, and slip-resistant treatment to bathroom floor tiles. These senior-friendly fittings are offered under the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme. Residents who need such upgrades but whose blocks do not qualify for the HIP can still apply for the improvements under the EASE (Direct Application) programme at the HDB website. A site survey will be conducted before the installation of the items. It was implemented in 2007, and the Government has spent about $4 billion on the programme as of 31 March 2024. For more information on the latest selection of HIP, read here. Who let the dog out onto business class? A Dalmatian by the name of Spotty was seen flying on Singapore Airlines' (SIA) business class to Japan. The video of Spotty's trip was shared on Instagram last week, and featured brief scenes of the doggo in what seems to be the airport lounge, and onboard the plane in its own business class seat. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spotty🇨🇭🇸🇬 (@spottytheswissdalmatian) The dog appears to be well-behaved in the video, mostly wagging her tail and perking up from her resting position whenever the camera approaches it. In the comments, netizens were surprised that SIA allowed a dog onboard and questioned how Spotty's owner managed to do so. In response, her owner said, "Spotty is a registered service dog for those people who are asking." According to the SIA website, the airline allows travelling with assistance dogs. An assistance dog is one that is trained to carry out a task directly related to a person's disability or medical condition. Emotional support dogs, comfort dogs, companionship dogs, and assistance dogs-in-training are not assistance dogs, the website clarified.
