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Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
A toast to the movers and shakers behind 60 years of economic prosperity in Singapore
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (From left) SPH Media CEO Chan Yeng Kit; MBS COO Paul Town; Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu; SPH Media chairman Khaw Boon Wan; MBS senior VP for communications and corporate affairs Nicholas Ionides; and BT editor Chen Huifen at the Singapore Stories gala dinner. SINGAPORE - Singapore's remarkable transformation from a fishing village to a First World financial hub owes much to the country's ecosystem of home-grown corporates and multinationals that have proudly called it home. The Business Times celebrated this success story in style on Aug 12, when more than 400 people – including current and former political office-holders, industry heavyweights, business leaders and diplomats – gathered at Marina Bay Sands for the Singapore Stories gala dinner. The evening served as a tribute to the nation's vibrant business community, recognising its hard-won achievements and commitment to creating jobs, expanding industry capabilities and fostering innovation. The event was supported by Temasek. In her keynote address, Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu noted that BT has played a crucial and enduring role in telling Singapore's economic story. 'Since its founding in 1976, BT has been more than a financial daily. It has been a fact-checker, a storyteller, a convenor, and a catalyst – shaping discourse, celebrating excellence, and strengthening market function through information access,' she said. 'Beyond timely and accurate reporting on global developments – such as the US tariffs and the Covid-19 pandemic, BT has continued to provide thoughtful, in-depth features that clarify the roles of key companies in our economy and help spread broader messages like supply chain resilience and energy transition,' continued the minister. Ms Fu brought up two recent features on companies that were also present at the event. One story put the spotlight on Zuellig Pharma, one of Asia's largest integrated healthcare solutions providers, and its use of digital tools to build trust and enhance supply chain visibility. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Luxury items seized in $3b money laundering case handed over to Deloitte for liquidation Singapore Power switchboard failure led to disruption in NEL, Sengkang-Punggol LRT services: SBS Transit Singapore NEL and Sengkang-Punggol LRT resume service after hours-long power fault Business Ninja Van cuts 12% of Singapore workforce after 2 rounds of layoffs in 2024 Singapore Hyflux investigator 'took advantage' of Olivia Lum's inability to recall events: Davinder Singh Singapore Man who stabbed son-in-law to death in Boon Tat Street in 2017 dies of heart attack, says daughter Singapore Scoot to launch flights to Chiang Rai, Okinawa, Tokyo-Haneda, and boost frequency to other places Singapore Man who stalked woman blasted by judge on appeal for asking scandalous questions in court She also named BT's piece on petroleum giant ExxonMobil and its collaboration with the Singapore government, as part of a consortium with Shell, to evaluate and develop the nation's first cross-border carbon capture and storage project. Highlighting BT's consistent efforts in celebrating excellence through its awards, Ms Fu added that the publication has innovated to remain relevant. This is exemplified by BT's Sustainability Impact Awards, which recognise individuals and corporates in Singapore that demonstrate leadership in sustainability; as well as the Design AI and Tech Awards that aim to spur innovators from startups and companies to harness design and technology to tackle real-life business challenges. Ms Fu also listed four other annual awards organised by BT, namely the Singapore Business Awards, Singapore Corporate Awards, Enterprise 50, and the Emerging Enterprise Awards. 'These awards do more than reward excellence – they inspire action. They signal what the business community values, and what progress we aspire to achieve,' she said. Beyond its reporting and awards, BT also expanded its platforms, fostering financial literacy among the youth with Thrive and continuing to engage regional tech and startup communities with its Tech in Asia partnership, she added. 'For all these efforts, BT deserves our appreciation – not only for chronicling Singapore's economic journey, but for shaping the values, relationships, and aspirations of our business community,' concluded the minister. A night to remember Ms Fu was presented with a hardcover copy of a book titled SG60 Singapore Stories, featuring content from a special 72-page supplement earlier released by BT on Aug 6 that outlined the evolution of various companies and government agencies. Those at the dinner returned home with individual copies too. SPH Media chairman Khaw Boon Wan (left) presented Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu with a copy of The Business Times' SG60 Singapore Stories book. PHOTO: THE BUSINESS TIMES Said BT editor Chen Huifen in her welcome address: 'A dynamic enterprise ecosystem isn't just about multinationals or capital providers. It's also about our small and medium-sized enterprises, the backbone of our economy. 'It's about encouraging entrepreneurship, providing platforms for growth, and building the infrastructure to innovate and scale. Every part of this ecosystem contributes to our collective success.' Guests were treated to performances by international award-winning young violinist Travis Wong; local singer-songwriter and ChildAid alumna Amni Musfirah; as well as home-grown musician Jessie Meng. Ms Meng is the youngest musician to be named a Young Steinway Artist, having been selected in January 2024 by renowned American piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons. She performed on a Steinway Grand Piano, hailed by some as the gold standard of musical instruments. Paper artist Dawn Koh created an installation specially for the gala dinner, in partnership with Ms Rachel Chua from The Weekend Florist. Titled Where Grace Takes Root, the piece is a poetic interpretation of Singapore as a living, evolving garden that thrives amid a rocky terrain. As the Republic marks 60 years of economic transformation, the global operating environment has shifted in fundamental ways and Singapore must adapt to that, said Fu in her speech. 'In an era when major decisions are announced through social media, sometimes in less than 30 words; when the cadence of decision-making requires speed in information; when competition for attention demands information to be eye-catching, the role of a credible fact-checker, objective analyst, and neutral convenor remains critical,' said the minister. 'As a trusted voice in our business community, BT helps us surface ideas, connect changemakers, and shine a light on what matters. The stories it tells, the values it celebrates, and the platforms it provides will help galvanise the business community in support of our refreshed economic strategies.'
Straits Times
7 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
13 students receive Lim Kim San Memorial Scholarship
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Charlotte Seah (centre), a 2023 recipient of the Lim Kim San Memorial Scholarship Awards with this year's recipients Janella Ching Si Hui (left) and Raulinder Singh. SINGAPORE - When Mr Raulinder Singh was 17, his father died of a sudden heart attack. It was about 1½ months before his second attempt at the O-level examinations. His father's death motivated the student, who was then more engrossed in video games than his schoolwork, to work harder and to also try to fill the void left by his father, 'the glue of the family'. Mr Singh, now 28, said this drive spurred him through his polytechnic studies, and ultimately led him to be awarded the Lim Kim San Memorial Scholarship on Aug 7 at a ceremony held at SPH Media. The final-year history student at Nanyang Technological University was among 13 recipients, out of 60 applicants. The scholarship, funded by SPH Foundation, provides financial aid to exemplary students from modest family backgrounds. Now in its 20th year, the bond-free annual award has supported over 190 recipients since its inception. Recipients have their tuition fees fully covered and are given a $ 3,000 allowance per year. They may also take up internship opportunities at SPH Media if they are keen. The scholarship will relieve Mr Singh's worries about funding his university tuition fees. He was unable to secure a bank loan as he could not find a suitable guarantor, and had to rely on his sister's Central Provident Fund monies. To support himself and his 68-year-old mother, Mr Singh worked throughout university, though it was at times difficult to juggle his school work with his two part-time jobs. Thankfully, his lecturers were understanding and provided extensions on his assignments when needed, he said. Apart from the financial help, Mr Singh is also excited about the opportunities the scholarship brings. 'Although I am still deciding on what to do in the future, I am glad that the scholarship allows me to explore an internship with SPH, and potentially open up new doors that I did not even know existed,' he said. Raulinder Singh was among 13 recipients, out of 60 applicants. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN NTU final-year student Charlotte Seah, 24, who received the scholarship in 2023, was at the award ceremony working as an internal communications intern with SPH Media. The linguistics and multilingual studies undergraduate completes her 13-week internship in early -August. She said the role has allowed her to try many different things, which included writing an internal series of articles featuring employees who had won awards or achieved outstanding results. 'This particular project made me feel like I was doing a journalism side quest,' she added. One criterion for the scholarship is a monthly household income of $5,000 or less. Recipients must have stellar academic performances and pursue either language, linguistics, or humanities in their university education. The scholarship was established in 2006 in honour of the late Mr Lim Kim San, a former Cabinet minister and former chairman of then-Singapore Press Holdings. It aims to continue Mr Lim's legacy of fostering education and leadership among young people. To reflect his belief in contributing back to society, scholars are encouraged to engage in community service. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Patrick Daniel, chair of the scholarship selection committee and also board director of SPH Foundation, said: 'This scholarship is grounded in one, and only one, belief – that those who've been uplifted will, in turn, uplift others. 'Like Mr Lim Kim San, who gave so much without fanfare, we hope our new cohort will use your talents and serve others, especially those in need.' Another awardee this year was NTU linguistics and multilingual studies undergraduate Janella Ching Si Hui, 21, who is passionate about language and hopes to do an internship with SPH as a journalist. She hopes to effect positive changes through her work, and to inform people about things that matter. Janella Ching Si Hui is passionate about language and hopes to do an internship with SPH as a journalist. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Ms Ching is also a regular volunteer with Boon Lay Youth Network's KidsREAD programme, where she helps children from lower-income families improve their literacy through storytelling and crafts. She said she enjoys the volunteer work as it takes place in her neighbourhood, Boon Lay. 'Knowing that these kids are growing up in the same place as me, and being able to teach them how to read and instil good habits in them, makes me feel that I am making a difference in their lives,' she said.
Straits Times
06-08-2025
- General
- Straits Times
A National Day treat: Get $180 in Sheng Siong vouchers when you subscribe to The Straits Times
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox New ST subscribers will also get complimentary access to SPH Media titles Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian and Tamil Murasu for one month. SINGAPORE - A special treat awaits new subscribers to The Straits Times during this National Day period. Those who sign up for a new two-year contract will get $180 worth of Sheng Siong vouchers. They will also get complimentary access to SPH Media titles Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian and Tamil Murasu for one month. This offer comes as Singapore commemorates its 60th birthday on Aug 9, and SPH Media celebrates the role of its home-grown titles in telling and shaping the nation's story. 'We're heartened by the strong response to our recent subscriber campaigns and are excited to welcome Sheng Siong as our newest partner,' said Mr Alvin Foo, head of consumer division at SPH Media. 'At The Straits Times, we believe in continually rewarding our readers for their support, and this collaboration allows us to extend even more value to our subscribers through everyday essentials,' he added. Said ST managing editor Murali Subramaniam: 'We hope our many casual readers will look at this as an opportunity to be part of the family and get The Straits Times on a daily basis.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better' Singapore ST Explains: What is a track point fault and why does it cause lengthy train disruptions? Singapore Three people taken to hospital after fire in Punggol executive condominium Singapore Elderly man found dead in SingPost Centre stairwell could have been in confused state: Coroner Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration Singapore S'pore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities: Chan Chun Sing Singapore Two workers died after being hit by flying gas cylinders in separate incidents in 2025 Sport Young Lions and distance runner Soh Rui Yong left out of SEA Games contingent Readers can elevate their news reading experience with ST's all-digital subscription at $29.90 a month. This gives them access to all premium articles plus 14-day access to the e-paper archive, and they can access ST on four devices concurrently. The improved myST+ feature also allows readers to customise their newsfeed, and follow up to 30 writers and topics. This richer digital experience is available via ST's new website and app, launched to mark ST's 180th anniversary on July 15. Subscribers who would like to receive a daily print copy of the newspaper can also opt to do so, with an additional $3 to $5 delivery fee a month, based on their type of residence. To subscribe, readers can visit or contact SPH Media's customer service officers on 6388-3838. Readers can also visit an upcoming SPH Media roadshow at these locations: West Mall from Aug 11 to 17, where they can take part in a sure-win lucky spin. APAC Food & Beverage Expo '25 at Singapore Expo from Aug 15-17. A roadshow exclusive for all sign-ups is a 20-inch cabin bag. Career Fair at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre from Aug 30 to 31. Health & Wellness Bazaar 2025 at Suntec City from Sept 6 to 7.
Straits Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
SPH Media awards three journalism scholarships to budding newsroom talent
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - As a 17-year-old Raffles Institution student, Stacey Ngiam used to sit on her school field and look at the SPH Media building across the highway. As an avid listener to UFM100.3, a Chinese language SPH Radio station, Ms Ngiam was inspired by the station's ability to connect with their listeners and hoped to make the same impact with her future career. 'At that time, many of my friends were going into law and medicine. I wanted to pursue something different such as media and journalism. I am also passionate about sharing people's stories, and SPH is a very good space to kickstart that journey,' she said. In 2025, Ms Ngiam, now 20, joined SPH as a radio programming intern at UFM100.3 after finishing her A levels. After a few months, she made the leap to journalism at The Straits Times, drawn by her interest in speaking to people and hearing their life stories. She was assigned to the courts and crime cluster but was given leeway to explore her own interests in her two months in the newsroom. 'I am very thankful my supervisors Andre and Amelia pushed me to write a story about private candidates sitting for A Levels,' said Ms Ngiam, who was one of the two recipients of the SPH Media journalism scholarship in 2025 at a ceremony at the SPH News Centre on Aug 1. She will pursue an undergraduate degree in Communications Studies at the Nanyang Technological University in August. SPH Media's journalism scholarships provide full tuition, a monthly allowance and practical experience through internship opportunities. The bond period depends on the university that the scholars have enrolled in, their course of study and the duration of study. 'As a private candidate myself, I struggled to find media coverage about the unconventional journey that we take,' she said. 'I received a lot of support from social media and Telegram channels when I was sitting for my A levels, so I wanted to give back. I also wanted to let future generations of private candidates know that they are not alone.' SPH Media chief executive Chan Yeng Kit said at the ceremony that the company hopes to 'provide news and content that are trusted, credible, and essential' in a time where truth competes with misinformation. The latest Reuters Digital News Report shows that ST is Singapore's most trusted news brand , he said, and independent surveys indicate that SPH's products reach more than eight in 10 residents in Singapore. 'All these results are only possible because of the people who have chosen to dedicate themselves to tell the stories, shape the conversations and earn the trust,' said Mr Chan. 'They are the journalists, editors, producers, photographers, creators and support staff. They believe in the power of storytelling and its ability to shape a better and more connected world.' 'That is why talent development is so important to us, and why we continue to invest heavily in grooming journalistic talent — from young interns to newsroom leaders,' he added. Another journalism scholarship recipient is Vishruta Nandakumar, 19, who will pursue her studies in life sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in August. Ms Nandakumar was a science student throughout school but her time in the Tamil Murasu newsroom helped her realise her love for journalism. An interview with an elderly woman who managed to hike a mountain a year after heart surgery gave her courage to apply for the scholarship. '(She) mentioned that if life is always certain, there is no need for hope or trust,' said Ms Nandakumar, who hopes that she can fill the gap between science and journalism in the future by exploring scientific journalism. Another recipient, Ms Megan Wee, 21, received the SPH Media-Temasek Foundation scholarship. This scholarship is open to students from NUS department of communications and new media or those pursuing data science and economics, and political science. Those studying Public Policy and Global Affairs at NTU or are in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at the university also qualify. Awardees will be given internship opportunities, including a one-year paid traineeship upon graduation. During her three months at ST's business desk, Ms Wee's most memorable story was an article about the struggles that fresh graduates faced today. She said she received a lot of support from her editors, who encouraged her to be more ambitious and confident in writing better stories. 'One of the best pieces of advice that I've gotten from one of my editors was that I should not regard myself as an intern. I should think of myself as a reporter, since I get a full byline on the paper,' said Ms Wee, who is starting her third year at NTU's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information in August.
Business Times
25-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
BT's new Sustainability Impact Dialogue seeks to spark change for good
[SINGAPORE] As sustainability grows more urgent, so does the need for deeper, action-oriented conversations. The inaugural Sustainability Impact Dialogue aims to help fill that gap. Held at SPH Media's Studio+65, the four-part series is a new extension of the Sustainability Impact Awards (SI Awards), now in its third edition and jointly organised by The Business Times and UOB. The first session, themed 'Navigating Sustainability Forward', will take place on Jul 22 and will feature Dr Amy Khor, former senior minister of state for sustainability and the environment, and Eric Lim, UOB's chief sustainability officer. Moderated by BT editor Chen Huifen, the dialogue will explore how businesses are moving beyond compliance and positioning sustainability as a driver of innovation, resilience, and brand value. While the first session is a closed-door event with a small audience, which includes C-suite leaders from corporates, a post-event coverage will be published in BT for those interested in the key insights and discussions. The goal of the dialogue, said Lim, is to 'turn conversations into changes for a better future' by spotlighting emerging trends, encouraging the exchange of best practices, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 PM ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up We have other newsletters you might enjoy. Take a look. 'Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and progress happens when we work together with our partners with purpose,' he said. Both BT and UOB hope to catalyse real action by convening sustainability experts, business leaders, policymakers and community advocates. The dialogue series complements the SI Awards, which was launched in 2023 to recognise individuals and businesses in Singapore that have made significant contributions to the country's environmental and social sustainability. The Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the NUS Business School is knowledge partner of the awards. Dr Khor, known for spearheading policies such as the Zero Waste Masterplan, the charge on single-use bags, and improvements to hawker centres, will chair this year's judging panel. Awards will be presented at the SI Awards 2025 Dinner in late September across three main categories: large enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, and individuals. Following the first session in July, the dialogue will continue with a second event on Aug 21, with the final two scheduled for September and November. Further details will be announced in due course. Those who are interested in attending future sessions of the dialogue may register their interest by sending an e-mail to smlin@ More information on the SI Awards is available at
