Latest news with #Tengah
CNA
19-05-2025
- CNA
Foreign worker crushed at Tengah worksite did not follow colleague's instructions: Coroner
SINGAPORE: A foreign worker who died after his chest was crushed at a worksite in Tengah did not follow his colleague's instructions, a coroner's inquiry found on Friday (May 16). Mr Ponraman Eazhumalai, 23, was crushed by machinery on a truck operated by the same colleague, who did not notice him before the accident happened. The Indian national suffered the fatal injury on Dec 2, 2023, at a worksite for the upcoming Tengah integrated rail and bus depot in Jurong Road. Coroner Brenda Chua found there was no evidence of foul play in his death, attributing it to a work-related accident. Mr Eazhumalai was an assistant pump operator at TMC Concrete Pumping Services and his colleague was a concrete pump truck operator. The two had completed their concrete casting work at about 10.50pm that night, and were preparing to retract the machinery on the truck when the accident happened. Mr Eazhumalai's colleague retracted the hydraulic jack of the right outrigger, or stabilising leg, at the back of the truck, and instructed him not to remove the metal plates that were placed on the ground below the hydraulic jacks, coroner Brenda Chua found. His colleague proceeded to close the rear right outrigger while retracting the hydraulic jack for the outrigger at the truck's front right. Since he was looking at the front right hydraulic jack, he did not realise that Mr Eazhumalai had collected the metal plate at the back of the truck, contrary to his instructions. The 23-year-old Indian national was placing the plate onto the truck after collecting it, and was eventually caught between the machinery and the truck. Mr Eazhumalai shouted, and his colleague turned around and saw that he was stuck. The colleague immediately opened the outrigger to release Mr Eazhumalai, who walked and collapsed forward, sustaining abrasions to his forehead and nasal bridge, Judge Chua found. The colleague who was operating the truck and another worker who was nearby rendered assistance to him. While he was conscious, responsive and did not seem to have any severe visible injuries, he had difficulty breathing. He was sent to Farrer Park Hospital with a severe chest crush injury, with bleeding in both lungs. He died in the hospital about 18 hours later. The company's operations manager said during the inquiry that Mr Eazhumalai was supposed to collect the plates only after all the outriggers were retracted. According to the company's safe work processes, the operator of the truck must also be responsible for safety in the working area when the machine is in use. For example, the operator must look at the outrigger while closing it to ensure no one is standing between the machinery and the truck. Mr Vellaisamy had not looked at the machinery or noticed Mr Eazhumalai, though the latter was within his visual field and wearing a bright yellow reflective vest, the court heard. At the time of the inquiry, the Ministry of Manpower was considering taking enforcement actions against the parties involved. Court documents did not state which parties these were. Mr Eazhumalai's family members had initial concerns about why he was not sent to a hospital nearer to the worksite. In response, Judge Chua noted that he was brought to the hospital in a conscious and responsive state. The 23-year-old survived for several hours, going through imaging and other procedures before he passed away, she added. 'As such, it did not appear that the time difference taken to travel to a further hospital within Singapore … would have significantly contributed to his death.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PAP to set up new branches in at least 6 locations, including Punggol, Tampines and Tengah
SINGAPORE – The PAP is setting up new branches in several parts of Singapore as it moves to strengthen its ground presence following the 2025 General Election. At least six new branches are being established in places such as Tengah, Punggol and Tampines, based on social media announcements and online updates seen by The Straits Times. The expansion of PAP's ground infrastructure comes after adjustments to Singapore's electoral map due to population growth, with four new seats added to bring the total number of elected seats in Parliament from 93 to 97. The PAP won 87 out of the 97 seats at the general election. In the new Punggol GRC, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong started Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) at Block 402 Northshore Drive. ST understands that a new PAP branch will be set up there. Over in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, MP Sharael Taha said a new branch is being set up in the constituency. He added that he and first-time MP Valerie Lee had already held their first joint MPS for residents in Changi and Pasir Ris East at Block 216 in Pasir Ris. Newly elected MP David Neo said on May 8 that his team was working to finalise arrangements for a new fifth division in Tampines GRC. He added that it would take some time to set up the necessary infrastructure and systems. In the meantime, residents can continue to visit any of the four existing MPS locations in Tampines. In Sembawang GRC, a new division called Naval Base has been carved out of the former Canberra division to support the area's expected growth and development, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in a May 10 Facebook post. First-time MP Ng Shi Xuan will head the new Naval Base branch located at Block 319 Sembawang Close. Another PAP branch is also being set up in Tengah, which is part of Chua Chu Kang GRC. It will be helmed by new MP Choo Pei Ling, who will begin holding her MPS from May 13 at Block 236B Tengah Garden Walk. While the increase in seats has led to new branches being set up, some existing branches have been renamed or merged as the areas they previously covered did not always align neatly with the revised electoral map. In some cases, branches have had to make adjustments as the areas they used to serve have been split across two constituencies. In Ang Mo Kio GRC, new MP Jasmin Lau said the area under her charge has been renamed from Jalan Kayu to Seletar-Serangoon. Details of the exact area under her branch will be announced soon, she added. ST has contacted the PAP for comment about the party's new branches. Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan noted that the setting up of new PAP branches typically reflects the need to align the party's ground network with the latest electoral map. 'As electoral boundaries change, new SMCs (single-member constituencies) and wards in GRCs (group representation constituencies) will have to be created to align the PAP branches network with that of the extant electoral boundaries. So these new branches are significant in this alignment process,' he said. He added that the move is also part of the party's early preparations for the next general election. Dr Tan Ern Ser, adjunct principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies' Social Lab, noted that the creation of these new branches comes after the PAP had said that it would take in feedback from voters and the GE results, and address them. Dr Tan said setting up new branches in Punggol and Tampines, for instance, was consistent with the party's aim to strengthen its reach 'in places where they underperform'. In the newly formed Punggol GRC, the PAP team led by DPM Gan secured 55.17 per cent of the vote, defeating a team of first-time candidates from the WP. Over in Tampines GRC, which saw a four-cornered fight, the PAP received 52.02 per cent of the vote in one of the most hotly contested GRCs in the election. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
