Latest news with #SGEM
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Embracing Singlish as part of our identity: Paiseh for what?, Lifestyle News
The Singaporean identity is a tricky one to define. Our country, which is reaching its 60th birthday this month, was made up of migrants and islanders with little to no shared experiences just three generations ago. But somewhere along the way, amid the rush of nation-building, something happened. An informal, colloquial form of English was created. Organically formed to suit the needs of different communities looking to understand each other, Singlish somehow manages to mirror some characteristics of the country itself — efficient, effective and reliable. Despite this, as a collective, we've been hesitant to fully embrace Singlish. But why? Speak good English, please The Speak Good English Movement (SGEM), launched in 2000 by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, might be a good place to start. The campaign's objective was simple enough: to "encourage Singaporeans to speak grammatically correct English". A Ministry of Education report in 1999 said that the widespread use of Singlish "will erode standards of English" among Singaporeans and SGEM was a response to those worries. It seems that Singlish and "standard English" were seen as incompatible and, through this campaign, the Singapore government made their preference clear. In a highly competitive global market, there were concerns that Singaporeans' pervasive use of Singlish would lead to barriers that would hinder the nation's competitiveness. Professor Lionel Wee, dean of the National University Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, told AsiaOne that the campaign was a method to discourage, and even eradicate, the use of Singlish at that time. "There was a lot of anxiety expressed, on the part of the government, that Singaporeans needed to learn good English, and they were in an environment where, according to the government, there's too much Singlish," he said. An example Prof Wee provided was Phua Chu Kang. A cultural TV icon to some, the unpretentious and relatable nature of the popular sitcom resonated with locals. Singlish catchphrases were part and parcel of the likeable characters' identities and as a young primary-school student back then, I laughed along to these quirky and fun mannerisms. Little did I realise that on a national level, it was at the centre of debate on the usage of Singlish. It was a time when the country was looking to raise its overall standard of English, but this coincided with the popularity of local TV sitcoms like Phua Chu Kang, which was known for its heavy use of Singlish. Phua Chu Kang's liberal use of it in the show was even brought up during the 1999 National Day Rally Speech. Then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had said: "Gurmit Singh can speak many languages. But Phua Chu Kang speaks only Singlish. If our children learn Singlish from Phua Chu Kang, they will not become as talented as Gurmit Singh." It was also suggested during the speech that Phua Chu Kang should attend Basic Education for Skills Training classes to improve his grasp of English. Goh noted in the speech that Singaporean students already face "quite a challenge" to master one form of English and adding Singlish to the mix may lead to them being "unable to speak any languages properly". The government has softened its stance on the matter since, and although it is not widely encouraged today, Singlish is "tolerated", according to Prof Wee. Then, the question now might be: Should Singlish be something we merely tolerate? Changing tides In recent years, signs point to a shift in attitudes, especially among younger Singaporeans. Let me take you back to late 2021 when a web-based word game Wordle was created. Players had six tries to guess a five-letter word. Simple but challenging, the game exploded in popularity soon after. Sha-Mayn Teh figured why not create a Singlish spin-off. She named it Word-leh! and sent it to her friends on Feb 1, 2022 before releasing it to the public a week later. Her version worked almost exactly like the original. The big difference was players had to guess Singlish terms and words like "shiok" or "bojio" would feature in Sha-Mayn's game. Since got so many people playing now, I'm relaunching as — Sha-Mayn Teh (@shamayn) February 9, 2022 Sha-Mayn mentioned to AsiaOne that the game began as nothing more than a mini-project for her friends. "It unexpectedly went viral in under two weeks. Media picked up on it, and a whole community sprung up on Twitter, either bragging about their scores or complaining about missed words," she said. Sha-Mayn noted that while 85 per cent of Word-leh players are based in Singapore, the game is also played in the US, Malaysia, Australia and the UK. For Sha-Mayn, the charm of Singlish is simply how fluid and adaptable it is. "Part of the beauty of Singlish is that it's an evolving language without one official dictionary," Sha-Mayn added. To the uninitiated, Singlish may seem like just sprinkling a "lah" or "lor" at the end of each sentence. But regular users would be able to sniff out a sentence that was put together by someone who isn't familiar with Singlish. That's because, just like any other language, Singlish has rules that only regular users would be able to instinctively understand. This complexity is what 25-year-old Daniel Goh is looking to honour with his creation Chimbridge. A project that began in 2024, this online database has roughly 2,500 Singlish terms. Apart from definitions, Chimbridge also provides users with etymologies of the terms. Taking a more academic approach to documenting Singlish was a deliberate action by Daniel as he wanted to challenge the idea of Singlish being understood as an "illegitimate language", CNA reported. Let's not be paiseh The fact of the matter is fears of being left behind on the world stage were very real and the government did what it believed was necessary at the time. But attempting to ignore an aspect of your culture in pursuit of better opportunities may have been a slight overcorrection. Formed out of shared lived experiences and everyday connections between Singaporeans, there is value to Singlish, and while it can be tempting to look back and be critical of past decisions, I'm aware that I come from a position of privilege (as I write this out in English, no less). Regardless, beyond policy decisions, the core of the matter here is identity. And with the existence of Word-leh! and Chimbridge, it may suggest that we're becoming more comfortable with our linguistic diversity. So let's not be paiseh about this language of ours, can? amierul@
South China Morning Post
03-08-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
What Singlish words and phrases going mainstream tell us about Singaporean identity
Ten years ago, the English-language world witnessed a small milestone in a larger jubilee. At Singapore's 50th National Day celebrations on August 9, 2015, the unthinkable came to pass. In the National Day parade section themed 'Identity – Uniquely Singapore', alongside floats of Singaporean food, there were props depicting words from Singapore English, also known as Singlish, such as the particles 'lah' and 'leh' and phrases including ' blur like sotong '. Lee Hsien Loong , Singapore's prime minister at the time, posted on his Facebook account a week after: 'I'm glad that at 50, we are less 'blur like sotong', and more confident and comfortable with everything that makes us Singaporean.' This was not trivial. Such official endorsement was particularly significant in light of Singapore's official language policy and planning, which includes the annual Speak Good English Movement (SGEM) that, since 2000, has explicitly discouraged the use of Singlish in favour of 'Good English'. Library personnel set up standees that promote the use of correct spoken English in a library in 2006 in Singapore. The Speak Good English Movement, launched in 2000, discouraged the use of Singlish in favour of 'Good English'. Photo: AP The following year saw another milestone, this time extending beyond the nation's shores.
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Business Standard
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
AEM brings rare-earth-free EV motors to India; partners with Sterling Gtake
In a push to make electric mobility more sustainable and geopolitically independent, UK-based Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) is entering the Indian electric vehicle (EV) space with its rare-earth- and copper-free electric motor technology. The company has partnered with Sterling Tools Limited's EV arm, Sterling Gtake Electro Mobility (SGEM), to localise production and assembly of its traction motors at SGEM's Faridabad facility. Announced earlier this year, the technology licensing agreement between AEM and SGEM will facilitate the manufacturing of AEM's proprietary High Density Reluctance Motors (HDRM), a new class of traction motors that match the performance of conventional permanent magnet motors but without relying on rare earth elements or copper—two critical materials that are becoming increasingly scarce, expensive, and environmentally problematic. The move comes at a time when about 85 per cent of EVs globally use rare earth magnets like neodymium and dysprosium in their motors, despite rising environmental and supply chain concerns. AEM's HDRM platform eliminates the need for these elements and instead uses aluminium windings—reducing conductor weight by 60 per cent, cutting material costs by up to 90 per cent, and simplifying recycling at end-of-life. The motors also demonstrate higher power-to-weight ratios and improved energy efficiency across drive cycles, potentially increasing EV range by 12–15 per cent in some cases. 'The reliance on rare earths and copper is neither financially nor environmentally sustainable,' said James Widmer, CEO of AEM. 'With HDRM, we are offering a direct, drop-in alternative to IPM motors that requires no compromise on efficiency or performance.' AEM's motors are already in commercial use across Europe and Asia, powering electric buses, trucks, and trains. The company has received validation from global Tier 1 suppliers like SAF-Holland and is now in talks with Indian OEMs across commercial and passenger vehicle segments. HDRM units are compatible with existing 3-phase inverters and have been successfully integrated with platforms from Semikron, Sevcon, and Nidec. Sterling Gtake, AEM's India partner, has already localised components for AEM's first motor platform and aims to expand localisation for additional platforms in the coming quarters. Except for diodes and resolvers, nearly all components can be manufactured domestically, ensuring high domestic value addition (DVA). SGEM's 11-acre campus houses a growing team of over 60 engineers and is equipped with nine dynamometers covering a voltage range of 48V to 1000V and up to 350kW in power. 'India's EV push must also consider long-term material security and environmental impact,' said Jaideep Wadhwa, Managing Director of Sterling Gtake. 'Through this partnership, we're not just assembling motors—we're co-developing a cleaner, more resilient ecosystem for electrification.' HDRM motors are designed to be cost-effective, scalable across vehicle types—from two- and three-wheelers to heavy-duty commercial vehicles—and ready for high-volume production. Future versions of the technology aim to remove copper entirely, replacing it with AEM's patented aluminium conductor coils that offer superior thermal management and recyclability. Backed by a $29 million Series A investment in late 2023 and a portfolio of 38 global patents, AEM is positioning itself as a next-generation powertrain player with a focus on sustainability, circular economy, and supply chain diversification. The company operates from the UK's automotive manufacturing hub and is a spinout from Newcastle University, with deep roots in academic and industrial motor innovation.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Sterling Tools partners with UK-based Advanced Electric Machines to produce magnet-free traction motors for EVs
Sterling Tools , through its subsidiary Sterling Gtake E-Mobility Ltd (SGEM), on Wednesday announced its entry into the manufacturing and marketing of rare earth magnet-free traction motors for electric vehicles . The Haryana-based company has signed a technology licensing agreement with UK-based Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) Ltd to produce these motors at its Faridabad plant, aiming to reduce reliance on China and bolster India's EV industrial supply chain. SGEM will serve all segments of the traction motors market, which is expected to grow to approximately ₹15,000 crore by 2030. The company plans to expand local manufacturing of EV solutions, strengthening India's industrial supply chain. Anil Aggarwal , Chairman of Sterling Tools, stated, "The diversification into rare earth magnet-free motors is in line with Sterling's ambition to develop Powertrain expertise to serve the Indian auto industry." The partnership aims to create high-quality powertrain solutions that cater to India's growing need to reduce its tailpipe emissions, while also supporting the country's self-reliance and sustainability goals. James Widmer, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Electric Machines, said, "India's automotive and zero-emission manufacturing market offers immense potential for growth and innovation. Through our partnership with Sterling Tools, we are bringing our proven expertise in magnet-free motors to Indian customers across a wide range of vehicle categories."
Business Standard
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Sterling Tools soars after inking technology pact with UK's Advanced Electric Machines
Sterling Tools jumped 6.30% to Rs 315.55 after the company announced the signing of a technology licensing agreement with UK-based Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) to manufacture magnet free motors in India. The company, through its subsidiary Sterling Gtake (SGEM), would develop, manufacture and market Magnet Free traction motors for electric vehicles. The production activities would be undertaken at the companys plant in Faridabad. By introducing a mature and commercially viable rare earth magnet-free technology, SGEM will offer its customers an alternative to the China dependent permanent magnet supply chain. Through this technology licensing agreement, SGEM will serve all segments of the traction motors market that is expected to grow to approx. Rs 15,000cr by 2030. The business plan also calls for the joint development of integrated motor and controller solutions. Anil Aggarwal, chairman, Sterling Tools, said, Sterlings foray into rare earth magnet-free motors demonstrates the Groups commitment to being a technology leader and an industry pioneer. We are expanding beyond MCUs to being a complete solution provider and meeting the EV Industrys growing demand for advanced technology. EV sub-systems are being increasingly consolidated into multifunction units and Sterling will also offer our customers integrated motor and controller solutions. The diversification into Rare Earth Magnet-Free motors is in line with Sterlings ambition to develop Powertrain expertise to serve the Indian Auto Industry. Sterling Tools has also announced its earnings for the quarter and the year ended on 31 March 2025. The company has reported 45.8% drop in consolidated net profit to Rs 8.8 crore as total income fell by 23.9% to Rs 205.7 crore in Q4 FY25 as compared with Q4 FY24. EBITDA declined by 23.1% year-over-year (YoY) to Rs 24.5 crore during the period under review. EBITDA margin, however, expanded by 10 basis points to 11.9% in Q4 FY25. Profit before tax in Q4 FY25 stood at Rs 11.9 crore, down by 44.2% from Rs 21.3 crore in Q4 FY24. Sterling Tools manufacture high tensile and premier cold forged hi-tensile fasteners catering to the passenger cars, two wheelers, commercial vehicles, agri-equipment and construction equipment segments. The companys client portfolio comprises leading OEMs in the domestic market and international markets.
