Latest news with #LeonardTan
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Climate
- AsiaOne
'Just do your best': Families of Red Lions show support at Bishan NDP @ Heartlands celebration despite gloomy weather, Singapore News
Despite the rainy weather this afternoon, everyone's spirits were uplifted just by basking in the atmosphere at the heartland celebration at Bishan today (Aug 10). AsiaOne was at the Bishan NDP @ Heartlands celebration at about 3.15pm, where more than 200 people were standing in the queue, waiting to enter the event at the open field opposite Bishan Circle Line. Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing was also spotted engaging residents at Bishan before the event started. He shook hands and took selfies with them. Due to heavy winds, the Singapore parachute team Red Lions, who was initially expected to arrive at 4pm, were delayed, but the audiences stayed enthusiastic. At 4.15pm, the C-130 flight carrying the Red Lions hovered in the cloudy skies above Bishan for more than 10 minutes before the seven members, including Master Warrant Officer Leonard Tan, attempted the jump about 15 minutes later. The moment they were out of the plane and in the skies, hundreds of spectators raised their phones above their head to capture the moment while others waved the Singapore flag at them. The men hovered in the skies for about five minutes before the first man landed on the field to roaring cheers. The septet gathered before waving to the crowds. Some of them further engaged the audiences by handing out iron-on patches to them. Among the spectators is a wife of one of the Red Lions, who was there to show her support together with their two children and extended family. Speaking to AsiaOne at the event, the 40-year-old said: "We are excited to be here! We were also watching the weather, because it's really cloudy, so [we are expecting that] he may or may not jump. We are glad to see that he was able to attempt the jump." She also added that her husband had been involved in parachuting for about a decade and she had always been worried about him getting injured. At the same time though, she proclaimed that she is proud of his "experience and courage." When asked how she supported him, she shared that she will just tell him to "just do your best, be safe - the kids are well taken care of." The man's sister-in-law added that their whole family was there to support him and it was "really nice to be able to see him [parachuting] at close proximity." The 43-year-old added: "We were super excited and super proud of him." At about 6pm, mobile columns including the Leopard 2SG Tank, Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle and Light Strike Vehicle arrived at the road beside the field at Bishan. In the evening, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister of National Development of Singapore Chee Hong Tat and member of Parliament Gan Siow Huang were also spotted greeting residents at the event. [[nid:721158]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
New Paper
7 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Each NDP 2025 leap 'feels like 5km run': Veteran Red Lion
After executing a perfect landing on a large open field in Bishan, Red Lion Leonard Tan was drenched from head to toe. When asked if he was soaked because he went through clouds while free-falling through the sky, Master Warrant Officer Tan said: "Most of it is sweat. The stress and fatigue level of one jump is equivalent to a 5km run. Mentally and physically, I feel like I just ran 5km." MWO Tan was speaking exclusively to The Straits Times on July 30 after a practice jump in Bishan. He is one of seven Red Lions taking part in the 2025 National Day heartland celebrations, and will jump from about 1,830m and land at the open field beside Junction 8 in Bishan at 4pm on Aug 10. Despite being the most experienced Red Lion this year, with the highest number of jumps - 3,020 jumps over a 25-year career - MWO Tan, 48, said he reminds himself to never be complacent and to always keep focused on the jump ahead. "The jump itself is around six minutes, but we have to prepare ourselves for around six hours. A lot goes behind the scenes," he said. Training is key, and preparation for the Aug 10 jump began as early as April. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY For instance, to prepare for the 9.15am jump on July 30, MWO Tan woke up at 3am. "I had a small bite, attended several safety briefs and returned to our base camp to prepare our equipment. Then we headed to the airbase to coordinate with the pilots on how our jumps will be," he said. "In the aircraft, I would visualise how I would exit the plane and execute the canopy moves, all the way until I landed. "So by the time I land, I would always feel a lot of relief because of the humongous amount of stress there was before jumping out of the aircraft," he added. Before each jump, everything from wind speed to the amount of clouds in the sky are monitored to ensure the safety of the Red Lions. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Before each jump, everything from wind speed to the amount of clouds in the sky are monitored to ensure the safety of the Red Lions. For instance, for display jumps, surface winds cannot exceed 13 knots (24kmh), which is classified as a moderate breeze on the Beaufort scale. Visibility is another factor. MWO Tan said: "When we are on board the plane and can't see the show arena or the landing spot due to clouds, the plane will make another round... If we still can't see the arena, we will call off the jump." Training is also key, and preparation for the Aug 10 jump began as early as April. "Due to limited airspace in Singapore, the Red Lions pivot to high-intensity training in Thailand for about three weeks to rehearse the display routines. It takes at least 30 jumps to prepare for an event like this," said MWO Tan. A childhood dream All preparations now, no matter how tough, feel worthwhile to MWO Tan, who has dreamt about being a Red Lion since he was a boy. "It's been a childhood aspiration of mine. When I was young, I lived in Bedok, and from my HDB flat, I could see the horizon above Bedok Reservoir. At times, I would see an aircraft flying over the horizon and it looked like it was (pooping), but it was actually a parachutist jumping from the rear of the aircraft," he said, with a laugh. "I was very curious (about) what that was, and my parents told me that those were army parachutists doing their training. That really struck me, and inspired me to want to be a parachutist," added MWO Tan. Eventually, he made the cut in 2000. But his first training jump did not go according to plan. Smiling sheepishly as he recalled his first jump, MWO Tan said: "It was not a very positive jump because I didn't pull my parachute. So I was actually tumbling all the way from the aircraft. "Luckily, there was (an) automatic activation device that activated my parachute. When I landed, I got a warning letter, and I was nearly out." It taught him a valuable lesson "to be more consistent and not to be complacent, especially since parachuting is not for the faint-hearted". "It is a bit of a risky sport if you do not know what to do, so we need to be very sure of our drills and prepare ourselves well." Since then, MWO Tan has made more than 3,000 jumps, with National Day 2025 marking his 10th display jump to celebrate the nation's birthday. One of his most memorable jumps was in 2006, when he landed at the former National Stadium in Kallang. "It was iconic to me because the old National Stadium was shaped like a bowl. So in the air, it acts like a speaker and amplifies the crowd cheering. Even at 3,000 feet (914m) high, I could hear Gurmit Singh speaking as the emcee. I thought, wow, I'm so high but I can still hear the crowd, and that struck me - to do an even better show for the nation," MWO Tan said. The jump on Aug 10 will be MWO Tan's first at a heartland event. The jump on Aug 10 will be MWO Leonard Tan's first jump at a heartland event. PHOTO: NDP 2025 EXCO "In the heartland, you get closer to the audience, which is something I look forward to," he said. Despite being so experienced, each jump for MWO Tan is still as exciting as the first. "I enjoy every single jump, from the first to the last. I anticipate myself to be making another 1,000 jumps," he said. When asked what Singapore looks like from above the clouds, MWO Tan said: "You can see the whole of Singapore from 10,000 feet (3,048m). It is a priceless feeling and, at times, even tearful because when I jump out, it brings back memories of where my roots are. I feel very appreciative of the people who brought me up to where I am today. "So to me, whenever I jump out, the feeling is always the same. It is like jumping back home."
AsiaOne
03-08-2025
- Sport
- AsiaOne
'Whenever I jump out, it's like jumping back home': Veteran Red Lion to land in Bishan instead of the Padang for NDP 2025, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — After executing a perfect landing on a large open field in Bishan, Red Lion Leonard Tan was drenched from head to toe. When asked if he was soaked because he went through clouds while free-falling through the sky, Master Warrant Officer Tan said: 'Most of it is sweat. The stress and fatigue level of one jump is equivalent to a 5km run. Mentally and physically, I feel like I just ran 5km.' MWO Tan was speaking exclusively to The Straits Times on July 30 after a practice jump in Bishan. He is one of seven Red Lions taking part in the 2025 National Day heartland celebrations, and will jump from about 1,830m and land at the open field beside Junction 8 in Bishan at 4pm on Aug 10. Despite being the most experienced Red Lion this year, with the highest number of jumps — 3,020 jumps over a 25-year career — MWO Tan, 48, said he reminds himself to never be complacent and to always keep focused on the jump ahead. 'The jump itself is around six minutes, but we have to prepare ourselves for around six hours. A lot goes behind the scenes,' he said. For instance, to prepare for the 9.15am jump on July 30, MWO Tan woke up at 3am. 'I had a small bite, attended several safety briefs and returned to our base camp to prepare our equipment. Then we headed to the airbase to coordinate with the pilots on how our jumps will be,' he said. 'In the aircraft, I would visualise how I would exit the plane and execute the canopy moves, all the way until I landed. 'So by the time I land, I would always feel a lot of relief because of the humongous amount of stress there was before jumping out of the aircraft,' he added. Before each jump, everything from wind speed to the amount of clouds in the sky are monitored to ensure the safety of the Red Lions. For instance, for display jumps, surface winds cannot exceed 13 knots (24kmh), which is classified as a moderate breeze on the Beaufort scale. Visibility is another factor. MWO Tan said: 'When we are on board the plane and can't see the show arena or the landing spot due to clouds, the plane will make another round... If we still can't see the arena, we will call off the jump.' Training is also key, and preparation for the Aug 10 jump began as early as April. 'Due to limited airspace in Singapore, the Red Lions pivot to high-intensity training in Thailand for about three weeks to rehearse the display routines. It takes at least 30 jumps to prepare for an event like this,' said MWO Tan. A childhood dream All preparations now, no matter how tough, feel worthwhile to MWO Tan, who has dreamt about being a Red Lion since he was a boy. 'It's been a childhood aspiration of mine. When I was young, I lived in Bedok, and from my HDB flat, I could see the horizon above Bedok Reservoir. At times, I would see an aircraft flying over the horizon and it looked like it was [pooping], but it was actually a parachutist jumping from the rear of the aircraft,' he said, with a laugh. 'I was very curious [about] what that was, and my parents told me that those were army parachutists doing their training. That really struck me, and inspired me to want to be a parachutist,' added MWO Tan. Eventually, he made the cut in 2000. But his first jump as a Red Lion did not go according to plan. Smiling sheepishly as he recalled his first jump, MWO Tan said: 'It was not a very positive jump because I didn't pull my parachute. So I was actually tumbling all the way from the aircraft. 'Luckily, there was [an] automatic activation device that activated my parachute. When I landed, I got a warning letter, and I was nearly out.' It taught him a valuable lesson 'to be more consistent and not to be complacent, especially since parachuting is not for the faint-hearted'. 'It is a bit of a risky sport if you do not know what to do, so we need to be very sure of our drills and prepare ourselves well.' Since then, MWO Tan has made more than 3,000 jumps, with National Day 2025 marking his 10th display jump to celebrate the nation's birthday. One of his most memorable jumps was in 2006, when he landed at the former National Stadium in Kallang. 'It was iconic to me because the old National Stadium was shaped like a bowl. So in the air, it acts like a speaker and amplifies the crowd cheering. Even at 3,000 feet (914m) high, I could hear Gurmit Singh speaking as the emcee. I thought, wow, I'm so high but I can still hear the crowd, and that struck me — to do an even better show for the nation,' MWO Tan said. The jump on Aug 10 will be MWO Tan's first at a heartland event. 'In the heartland, you get closer to the audience, which is something I look forward to,' he said. Despite being so experienced, each jump for MWO Tan is still as exciting as the first. 'I enjoy every single jump, from the first to the last. I anticipate myself to be making another 1,000 jumps,' he said. When asked what Singapore looks like from above the clouds, MWO Tan said: 'You can see the whole of Singapore from 10,000 feet (3,048m). It is a priceless feeling and, at times, even tearful because when I jump out, it brings back memories of where my roots are. I feel very appreciative of the people who brought me up to where I am today. 'So to me, whenever I jump out, the feeling is always the same. It is like jumping back home.' ALSO READ: NDP 2025: Red Lions and naval divers to jump at two separate locations in celebration of SG60 This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Business Times
06-06-2025
- General
- Business Times
Art by dyslexic children brighten i Light Singapore 2025
[SINGAPORE] Cavenagh Bridge stretching across the Singapore River will be lit up until Jul 20 – not with lights, but with neon ink on large bamboo sticks that have been drawn on by children across the country. They worked with ultraviolet markers with glow-in-the-dark ink. A thousand bamboo sticks – which each span more than 1 m in length – were then strung together to light up the Bridge of 1,000 Dreams. On May 10, hundreds of children gathered at South Beach for this initiative. The bridge is one of the displays at i Light Singapore 2025, a light art festival that is sponsored by UOB. About 60 of the children were beneficiaries from the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS), a long-time community partner of UOB. The bank organised the art workshop. One such beneficiary was 11-year-old Primary 6 student Selina Grace Goh, who previously faced criticisms from her peers for being a slow learner. After attending DAS classes in Primary 4, her learning began to improve significantly, and she has become more confident. On her bamboo stick, Goh drew a paintbrush and palette to show her passion for art. She has always liked art because it is a creative outlet that allows her to express herself, and it keeps her calm. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Selina Grace Goh (left) with Leonard Tan, head of group corporate social responsibility at UOB; she has drawn on her bamboo stick a paintbrush and palette to show her passion for art. PHOTO: UOB The 1,000 bamboo sticks each have different drawings and symbolise Singapore's shared growth, noted UOB. This is in conjunction with UOB's 90th anniversary and SG60. The bamboo sticks are decorated using ultraviolet markers with glow-in-the-dark ink. PHOTO: UOB Leonard Tan, head of group corporate social responsibility at UOB, said: 'In this activity, the children get to share their dreams and aspirations for Singapore – and for themselves as well. The interesting and fun thing for them is that they can be proud of their artwork being displayed at Cavenagh Bridge at i Light, and they can bring their family and friends to come and enjoy this piece of public art.' After i Light is over, they will be able to take the bamboo sticks home to keep as mementos. The festival features 17 light installations in total, with Bridge of 1,000 Dreams as one of its new exhibits. UOB's giving-back efforts are focused on children, art and education. 'Being future-oriented, children are a key focus group. And with that, we want to enhance their lives – especially those from underserved communities – and level them up through programmes and experiences in education and art,' Tan added. Earlier in May, UOB launched its first Learning Playzone at The Artground to teach financial literacy skills to kids through role-playing activities and art. The bank also currently supports Fresh, a programme run by charity Children's Wishing Well, in which UOB volunteers bring groups of children to the supermarket to learn about budgeting and nutrition twice a month. Each child is paired with a volunteer and given S$50 for the shopping experience. i Light Singapore 2025 runs nightly till Jun 21 while Bridge of 1,000 Dreams will extend until Jul 20.
The Star
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Avoid losing your home
PETALING JAYA: Going by market reports, Malaysia's property transactions last year hit its highest levels over the past decade. According to the National Property Information Centre's Property Market Report 2024, the number of property transactions rose by 5.4% to 420,545 last year. That leads to the question: Are Malaysian home buyers getting financial protection for their mortgage? It is not mandatory for house buyers to purchase mortgage insurance, but getting one could protect them and their families from ending up homeless, said insurance professionals. 'This is to avoid adverse unforeseen circumstances that can land homeowners and their families in financial hardship,' said senior insurance consultant Leonard Tan. He explained that when a housing loan is left unpaid, the financial institution will initiate recovery actions, including foreclosure and auctioning off the property to recoup the outstanding loan. ALSO READ: Widow in a rut over unpaid housing loans Tan gave examples of mortgage insurance such as Mortgage Level Term Assurance (MLTA) or Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance (MRTA). 'These policies will provide the necessary funds and ensure that homeowners or their families have a roof over their head in the event of incapacitation or death of the borrower,' he said when contacted. Tan acknowledged that these policies have its pros and cons, so Malaysians taking up housing loans should evaluate which is suited for them. He said the MRTA is a life insurance policy that covers the outstanding balance of a mortgage and in tandem with the declining loan amount. 'It is straightforward and covers only the outstanding sum needed to settle the mortgage. 'The premium is a lump sum often paid upfront or included in the principal loan amount taken for a house and paid directly to the financial institution that provided the loan facility. (Click To Enlarge) 'There are no other additional benefits and if one settles the loan earlier, they may only receive a minute sum of the premium in refunds,' he said. As for MLTA, Tan said it is quite similar to a regular life insurance policy with the coverage sum remaining fixed throughout the loan tenure. 'If the coverage is RM300,000, the payout will be the same sum in the event of death or incapacitation even if the outstanding loan amount is RM50,000. 'The MLTA enables the beneficiary to have additional funds in hand when the outstanding loan amount is lower than the coverage,' he said. Although the policy is under the name of the homeowner, he said this sum is transferable and may be used to cover other loans they may take after the main mortgage is paid up. Since the MLTA has a bigger cash or surrender value compared to the MRTA, he said it would be far more expensive. Wealth manager Evan Teo said it is not compulsory for house buyers to purchase mortgage insurance, but some banks may decide to make it mandatory by bundling it with their mortgage loans. 'Some mortgage bankers also cross-sell it alongside the loan by offering a lower interest rate if the buyer takes up the MRTA or MLTA. 'I believe this is because bank assurance products such as MRTA and MLTA are now part of the mortgage banks or bankers' KPI,' he said, referring to the key performance index. But putting aside the bank's or banker's KPI, Teo said purchasing a mortgage insurance ultimately benefits house buyers. 'The majority of house buyers tend to be reluctant to purchase additional insurance unless it's required. 'Even though many insurance advisers are doing their best to educate the public, uptake is still relatively low unless it is packaged (into the loan),' he said. As such, Teo was of the view that the practice by some banks to bundle MRTA or MLTA with mortgage loans is a good move. He said in the past, the family members of loan takers would have to 'inherit' the housing loans when the borrower was not able to continue paying the monthly payment as they did not have insurance protection. However, Teo also advised house buyers to pay attention to the terms and conditions included in their housing loan with banks before purchasing an mortgage insurance. 'For example, the coverage period may be shorter than the actual loan tenure or the policy might only cover death or total permanent disability. 'What happens if the buyer is diagnosed with a critical illness after the insurance term ends and this affects their ability to earn an income and continue loan repayments?' 'So, it's better to analyse your own needs in relation to the mortgage before deciding based on your financial capability,' he said.
