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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
T.H.E Dance Company's cont·act festival returns with new collaborative works
Sloth Canon, featuring dancers from Singapore and Vancouver, is one of four new pieces for cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2025. PHOTO: CRISPIAN CHAN SINGAPORE – Expect a dynamic new dance work in Sloth Canon, which is built around dancers' personalities and their decision-making in real time, according to co-creator Anthea Seah. She created the piece with Canadian choreographer Josh Martin, co-artistic director of Vancouver-based dance group Company 605. Sloth Canon features three dancers – Billy Keohavong, Haruka Chan and Chang En – from Singapore, and two dancers – Brandon Lee Alley and Rebecca Margolick – from Vancouver. The work is one of four new pieces in the line-up for cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2025. Organised by The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company, the annual celebration of new and rising dance talents is on from June 13 to 29. Kuik Swee Boon, 52, founder and artistic director of T.H.E Dance Company, says 2025 is a milestone. The company is marking the 15th anniversary of the festival, so the programme is both a celebration of the past and a look forward at its aspirations. cont·act is one of Singapore's longest-running festivals dedicated to contemporary dance, and Kuik admits there are challenges to organising such an event. He says: 'At present, our most pressing challenge lies in the rising costs of production, which have not been matched by an equivalent increase in revenue or grants.' He adds that slow ticket sales are also 'cause for considerable concern' and attributes this to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Our experiences during local and international tours over the past few years have shown us that this is a global issue. These are fundamental issues faced by the arts community.' Nonetheless, T.H.E. is committed to the festival as a platform for younger choreographers. Hence, Seah, 35, who has been with the company since 2015 and was appointed resident choreographer in April, is working on Sloth Canon. The work will debut in Canada on June 5 before coming to Singapore. It is travelling to Jakarta from June 28 to 29. Seah says discussions on the partnership began in 2022 and has now become a full-fledged co-production between the two dance companies. 'It was an experience watching how Company 605's and our methodologies mesh to make a world. Having dancers from Vancouver as well as Singapore has also been crucial to the collaborative process.' Other smaller collaborative works at the festival include Singaporean Pat Toh and Australian Jenni Large's Mothership and a duet by Singaporean Adele Goh and South Korean Kwon Hyuk under the Open Stage programme. Seah says: 'I hope more Singaporean audiences can come and experience what contemporary dance is. Sloth Canon is based on the human need to make and create something preposterous. I hope people can come and see that reflected, or even just come in to laugh or cry and feel befuddled with life.' Book it/ Sloth Canon Where: Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive When: June 20 and 21, 7.30pm, June 21 and 22, 3pm Admission: $30 Info: Go to Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New chairman, deputy chairman take the helm at Singapore Children's Society
New chairman, deputy chairman take the helm at Singapore Children's Society SINGAPORE – The Singapore Children's Society has elected a new chairman and deputy chairman, with effect from May 1. Mr Seah Chin Siong succeeded Mr Koh Choon Hui as chairman, while Ms Tan Khiaw Ngoh took over Professor Ho Lai Yun's role as deputy chairman, the charity said in a statement on May 2 . Mr Seah, who chairs the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre and iShine Cloud, a software charity, was previously co-opted as a board member of the society. He held leadership roles in the public, private and social sectors – including as president and chief executive officer of the Singapore Institute of Management, CEO of Singapore Pools and founding CEO of IDA International. He also held senior positions at Accenture in the Asia-Pacific region. In the statement, Mr Seah thanked Mr Koh and Prof Ho for their contributions to the charity that serves children, youth and families. 'Children's Society is where it is today because of Mr Koh's visionary leadership. I've had the privilege of witnessing the extraordinary impact Mr Koh has made, together with Prof Ho, in shaping the society into the trusted and impactful organisation it is today,' he said. Mr Seah added that the charity will continue with Mr Koh's legacy and uphold the values that he championed. Mr Koh began volunteering with the Singapore Children's Society in 1975 and became its chairman in 1978. Under his leadership, the charity grew from three to 11 service centres, established a research and advocacy department in 2003, and launched key initiatives such as the Tinkle Friend Helpline, KidzLive, and community-based youth drop-in centres. Mr Koh also lobbied for the renaming of the Beyond Parental Control programme, as the name implied that the youth were the problem. In 2020, it was changed to a more inclusive title of Family Guidance Order. In the area of sustainable philanthropy, Mr Koh drove community engagement and pioneered fund-raising efforts. These included the 1,000 Enterprises for Children-in-Need and 1,000 Philanthropists programmes, which have raised a total of more than $72 million since their inception 16 years ago. He received many national awards for his contributions, including the Distinguished Service Order in 2020 and the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award in 2017. Ms Tan Khiaw Ngoh took over Professor Ho Lai Yun's role as deputy chairman. PHOTOS: SINGAPORE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY Ms Tan , who took over as deputy chairman, is a long-serving board member and has contributed extensively to the charity since 1999. She chairs both the social work service standing committee and the audit and risk committee. Ms Tan was an audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers for more than 35 years, and she now serves as an independent director of three publicly listed companies. The charity said her deep understanding of governance, finance and social service strategy will strengthen its leadership team. Her predecessor, Prof Ho, became the deputy chairman in 2002. A neonatologist, he joined the charity in 1988 and led the research and advocacy standing committee for 21 years. Under his stewardship, the charity said it pioneered local research studies on child abuse and neglect, and physical discipline. It also became a key advocate for a bully-free school environment and body safety education for pre-schoolers. In addition, Prof Ho represented the charity at global forums and helped strengthen its voice on the international stage, including the United Nations and World Health Organisation, according to the statement. Prof Ho received national awards such as the Public Service Medal in 2006, the Public Service Star in 2010 and the Public Service Star (Bar) in 2021. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Borneo Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
IPO proceeds to boost Hartanah Kenyalang's assets, orderbook
Seah (centre) speaks during the press conference after the prospectus launch today. KUCHING (April 30): Hartanah Kenyalang Bhd (Hartanah Kenyalang) will utilise proceeds from its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia to expand its assets, in addition to expanding its design and build services. Hartanah Kenyalang is principally an investment holding company, while its subsidiary, Hartanah Construction Sdn Bhd, is involved in building construction services, with a focus on institutional buildings such as schools and other public buildings, and other non-residential buildings; as well as infrastructure construction services, with a focus on bridges and roads. Against the backdrop of growth prospect in Sarawak's construction sector, its managing director Seah Boon Tiat said Hartanah Kenyalang plans to utilise part of the proceeds from IPO exercise to purchase six new excavators to replace some of its older excavators in order to increase our capacity and productivity. 'In addition, we also plan to expand into offering design and build services for our building construction services segments and infrastructure construction services segments by investing in Building Information Modelling system (BIM),' he said during a press conference after its prospectus launch earlier today. BIM is a technology that can digitise various aspects of a construction project, enabling seamless collaboration among project owners, architects, consultants, engineers and contractors by using a 3-dimensional model. As at 30 April 2025, Seah said Hartanah Kenyalang has tendered for various building and infrastructure construction projects with an aggregate contract value of RM451 million, of which RM311 million is in respect of a design and build construction project. its current orderbook stands at some RM150 million, he said. 'By expanding our design and build services, we are confident that this strategic move will enable us to climb up the construction industry's value chain and to increase our overall competitiveness in the marketplace,' he added. To note, the group has 11 years of operating history in the construction industry in Sarawak since commencing business operations in 2010. Among the ongoing construction projects currently undertaken by the group include the construction of the State Archive building in Kuching; construction of school buildings and related facilities for Yayasan International School in Sibu and Kuching; construction of two dilapidated school buildings and related facilities, namely SK Tambay in Kota Samarahan and SK Kujang Mawang in Serian; as well as the construction of the Sebauh Bridge in Bintulu as a rescue contractor. The group has also undertaken a construction project in the neighbouring state of Sabah where the Group is involved in the construction of the Sg Padas Bridge in Tenom. Among the construction projects completed by the group in the past include the construction of six dilapidated schools at various locations in Sarawak; construction of commercial shophouses for Samariang Square in Petrajaya, Kuching; infrastructure works for the Pan Borneo Highway from Serian to Pantu Junction in Sarawak; construction of commercial shophouses at Jalan Matang, Kuching; and provision of piling works for the Kuching International Airport Hanger in Kuching. assets Hartanah Kenyalang Bhd IPO lead orderbook
CNA
23-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: PAP clinches Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC in first walkover since 2011
Singapore Some Workers' Party (WP) representatives were spotted at the nomination centre but they did not submit their nomination papers. 23 Apr 2025 03:05PM (Updated: 23 Apr 2025 03:11PM) SINGAPORE: The People's Action Party (PAP) has clinched the electoral contest at Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC after a walkover on Wednesday (April 23). The only candidates to submit their nomination papers at Kong Hwa School for the newly formed GRC were the ruling party's slate of Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, former MacPherson SMC MP Tin Pei Ling, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Faishal Ibrahim as well as new faces Goh Pei Ming and Diana Pang. This is the first walkover at a General Election since 2011. In a surprise move, PAP's Manpower Minister Tan See Leng did not turn up at the nomination centre, and was fielded at Chua Chu Kang GRC instead. The party had on Sunday announced its five-member team for the constituency, with Dr Tan slated to anchor the quartet of Mr Faishal, Mr Seah, Ms Tin and Ms Pang. A few Workers' Party (WP) new faces including Jeraldine Phneah and Linda Low were spotted at the nomination centre on Wednesday, but they did not submit their nomination papers. Mr Seah said the lack of a contest came as a surprise. 'Were we surprised? I would say yes, because it's been some time since this place ever had a walkover,' said Mr Seah. 'But walkover or not, our heart and our mission and our goals remain unchanged, which is to do our best to serve and make lives better for our residents.' He added that the team will miss Dr Tan. "For all of us, we are here to serve. Where the party needs us, wherever, whichever constituency, we will be there," he added. "Dr Tan is a good doctor but he is also a good soldier and a good leader, and he goes where he is asked." Members of PAP's team for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC at nomination centre at Kong Hwa School on Apr 23, 2025, ahead of Singapore's General Election. (Photo: CNA/Nuria Ling) In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, WP said it was a "very difficult decision" not to contest the redrawn Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, adding that it must focus its best efforts on a smaller number of constituencies. "As a small opposition party, we are constantly faced with difficult choices about where and how best to deploy our limited resources, particularly after electoral boundaries are redrawn," WP chief Pritam Singh said. "After much reflection and careful consideration, we have determined that in order to continue fighting for the principles and changes we all believe in, and to give our candidates the best chance of electoral success, the party must focus its best efforts this GE on a smaller number of constituencies than we would have hoped to contest." Thanking voters, Mr Singh said he hopes for continuing support for the Workers' Party in this election. "The Workers' Party aims to restart our outreach in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC after GE2025," he added. Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC has seen some boundary changes, giving up some areas in Chai Chee and Siglap to East Coast GRC while taking in MacPherson SMC and a small number of polling districts from Potong Pasir and Mountbatten. The former Marine Parade GRC had been touted as a key battleground before this, with the PAP team edging out the Workers' Party (WP) with 57.74 per cent of the vote at the last General Election in 2020, lower than the 64.07 per cent it garnered in 2015. Speaking to reporters, Ms Tin said that the PAP team at Marine Parade-Braddell Heights are 'doubly committed' after the walkover. 'Precisely because it's a walkover, we are now doubly committed, because we know that this is not something to be taken for granted,' she said. 'So all the more we have to work hard to earn the trust and support of our residents in the next five years. So this is our commitment to all our residents in the GRC.' In 2020, the five-member PAP team comprised Dr Tan, Mr Seah, Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, and Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman, the mayor of South East District and former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin. Mr Tan stepped down in July 2023 after an extramarital affair with fellow party member Cheng Li Hui. Mr Tong's ward was carved out of Marine Parade GRC and absorbed into East Coast GRC.
