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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Former Middleton Hospital earmarked for lifestyle hub use
The former Communicable Disease Centre as viewed from 23 Akyab Road on Oct 10, 2024. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Former Communicable Disease Centre in Moulmein Road put up for use as lifestyle hub SINGAPORE – Once a place for the treatment of patients with infectious diseases such as smallpox, tuberculosis and Aids, the former Middleton Hospital and Communicable Disease Centre could soon house pickleball courts, cafes and art galleries. A tender for the 91,541.27 sq m site in Moulmein Road to be used as a lifestyle hub on a short-term tenancy was launched on May 28 by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). Approved uses for the site include office spaces, serviced apartments, spa and wellness facilities and urban farming plots, among others. It is currently zoned for residential use. Of the site's 44 buildings, 23 have been safeguarded for potential conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), and will be subject to addition and alteration guidelines from the authority. This is to ensure the retention of their character and key architectural elements and features. The other 21 buildings cannot be demolished, but will not be subjected to the addition and alteration guidelines. SLA said that the site 'served as a pivotal institution in Singapore's healthcare history for over a century'. It was established in 1913 as an infectious diseases hospital and named the Middleton Hospital in 1920 after Dr William Robert Colvin Middleton, a public health advocate. Of the 12,978.88 sq m of gross floor area across the site's buildings, a maximum of 3,893.66 sq m – or about 30 per cent – can be used for retail or food and beverage purposes, or both. F&B uses, including outdoor refreshment areas, can form no more than half of the allotted 3,893.66 sq m. The SLA said in a press release that it envisions 2 Moulmein Road to be 'a dynamic lifestyle hub with offerings that will cater to families and multi-generation communities'. The successful tenderer will be awarded a tenancy of five years , with the option of a four-year extension, subject to the Government's approval. Based on the URA's Master Plan 2019 – a statutory document that guides developments for the next 10 to 15 years – the site is currently zoned for residential use, subject to detailed planning. When vacant state properties are not earmarked for immediate development, SLA, as the custodian of state land, can put them up for rent in the interim period. Other state properties that have been converted for lifestyle use recently include the former Nan Chiau High School in River Valley, now New Bahru ; and the former St Andrew's Mission Hospital near Maxwell Road, now Kada . Block 807, the former hospital's mortuary, is one of 23 buildings being considered for conservation. PHOTO: ST FILE The former Bukit Timah Fire Station is also being turned into a lifestyle hub. Dr Yeo Kang Shua, vice-president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Singapore, welcomed the announcement that 23 buildings have been earmarked for potential conservation, as future works will likely be guided by the relevant authorities to avoid adverse impact on the buildings' heritage value. 'This gives the tender more transparency and helps to moderate the expectations of potential bidders,' he said. 'Realistically, some works will be needed to make the site suitable for new programmes and functions, and the question is how intervention much is too much and how little is too little – a right balance needs to be found,' Dr Yeo added. He said the hospital's lush and spacious layout is notable, as it gave patients fresh air and daylight – elements associated with health and hygiene, even today. Block 804, the administration block of the former Middleton Hospital, is among those being considered for conservation. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The concept of such a cultural landscape should be retained on the site, said Dr Yeo. Ms Tricia Song, head of research for Singapore and South-east Asia at CBRE, said that the addition and alteration guidelines by URA for the 23 buildings are unlikely to affect demand for the site, as the short tenure does not justify heavy capital expenditure and redevelopment. However, Dr Chua Yang Liang, JLL's head of research and consultancy for South-east Asia, said the conservation-related requirements are a dual-edged sword for developers – they add complexity, costs and constraints to development plans, but also offer unique character and heritage value that can become distinctive selling points. Ms Song said that the site is relatively well-located – within reasonable walking distance from Novena MRT station and flanked by Novena Health City and Balestier Road, which provide a business and residential catchment. If the future hub is well-planned with ample and cheap or free parking, the location is attractive for fitness, spa and wellness and sports facilities such as pickleball courts, which she said are lacking in the area. The former hospital was home to some of Singapore's last Nightingale wards, which featured no subdivisions and were designed to be airy. PHOTO: ST FILE Ms Catherine He, head of research at Colliers Singapore, similarly said that recreational uses would be suitable for the site, as these have relatively lower fit-out costs and are in line with the site's medical legacy. 'The area is already well-served by a number of hotels, retail and offices and hence these uses are unlikely to be duplicated,' she said. Dr Chua added that pre- or postnatal care centres and spa and wellness facilities could generate strong demand by complementing the existing healthcare ecosystem in the area. He said that a critical consideration for potential bidders will be the traffic implications, as the Novena area 'already experiences considerable traffic congestion, which could pose a significant operational challenge for certain uses'. Century-long healthcare association In its 2020 book Uncommon Ground, SLA said that Middleton Hospital had its roots in a smallpox hospital and quarantine facility that began in the 1870s, and was set up at Balestier Plain. Plans to replace this facility were drawn up by the British Municipal Commission in 1905, with the infectious diseases hospital eventually opening at the 2 Moulmein Road site in June 1913. The former Middleton Hospital's iconic gatehouse, which was demolished in 1982 for road widening works. PHOTO: ST FILE In 1985, the hospital came under Tan Tock Seng Hospital as its Department of Communicable Diseases, later renamed Communicable Disease Centre. It played a role in the fight against various infectious diseases – such as the Sars outbreak in 2003 – until December 2018, when it was decommissioned and replaced by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, located at Jalan Tan Tock Seng. SLA said that the site supported Covid-19 operations until it was returned to the state in 2023. Heritage author and blogger Jerome Lim, who edited SLA's book, said he hopes that besides the 23 buildings in the former hospital that have been earmarked for potential conservation, lesser-known aspects like its drainage system will also be retained. He said the drains were 'built by the municipality with beautiful brickwork and used to be lined with ceramic', a feature that is rare in Singapore. The former Middleton Hospital, pictured in 2009, was from 1992 to 2018 the Communicable Disease Centre. PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO Mr Lim added that there is also evidence that a double-drain system was originally installed at the hospital, which separated contaminated discharge from the wards from the public drainage system, thus preventing the spread of diseases. He said that the site also has some portions of the hospital's original fence, which have sharp tips that were meant to prevent quarantined patients from escaping. Retaining such features would allow future visitors to better appreciate how the hospital was designed, he said. SLA's tender closes on Aug 6, and is slated to be awarded on Nov 30. Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Too many bots, too few instructors: Why there's a long wait for driving lessons in Singapore
Beyond the bot issue, the driving schools also face a shortage of instructors, which they said has contributed to the long wait for lessons. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Too many bots, too few instructors: Why there's a long wait for driving lessons in Singapore SINGAPORE - Ms Joylene Chen enrolled at the ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC) in November 2024 , thinking that she could get her licence to drive an automatic car within six months. Seven months later, the 25-year-old is still far from her goal, but not for the lack of trying. The finance executive has managed to book only three practical lessons so far – after paying $30 to secure them using a Telegram bot, which is programmed to track available slots in CDC's booking system. She is not alone. Many other students have also had to resort to using automated bots, or paying someone on Carousell, a local online marketplace, to snag the lessons. A private driving instructor who declined to be named said his students sometimes pay the Carousellers $30 to $50 per slot out of desperation. 'This is a very unhealthy practice,' he told The Straits Times. The three driving schools here have long acknowledged the issue, and have suspended accounts found to have used bots and scripts for up to three months. CDC said it suspended 214 errant accounts in 2024 . The Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC) said it did the same but declined to reveal more data. Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC) suspended 6,000 accounts last year , and another 6,500 between 2022 and 202 3. But despite their efforts, the bots are still here, there and everywhere. A 20-year-old student told ST that he had hired an overseas programmer to build a bot not just to book his own slots, but also to offer it to others at a price. 'I charge between $50 and $70 , depending on how specific my customers' requests are,' he said, adding that he does not plan to stop this 'service', which allows him to make a four-figure sum a month. According to lawyers ST spoke to , there are currently no legal penalties for bot builders and users. Hence, the best bet for driving centres is to deter them with advanced security features. For instance, CDC said it continues to explore potential measures, including multi-factor authentication and SingPass log-in. Tighter bot analysis criteria, such as longer IP address blocking durations, will also be implemented to reduce bot activity. The spokesperson added that the centre plans to use advanced machine learning algorithms to detect suspicious activity and increase its frequency of system audits. 'These algorithms will help identify patterns indicative of system abuse, enabling proactive measures to mitigate potential impact.' Mr Aaron Ang, chief information security officer of Singapore-based IT services company Wissen International, said the schools can pair Captcha with other methods, such as limiting the number of requests a computer can make within a short time or collect information about a user's web browser. They can also use commercial services like TrustDecision and DataDome that help detect bots, he added. Instructor shortage Beyond the bot issue, the driving schools also face a shortage of instructors, which they said has contributed to the long wait for lessons. A BBDC spokesperson said the school struggled to hire instructors after the Covid-19 pandemic. Many potential applicants may have preferred to be private-hire drivers or food delivery riders as these roles offer more flexible work arrangements, he said. It is also hard to attract talent as the starting salary for driving instructors is also 'below expectations', said an SSDC instructor who declined to be named. 'Even a bus driver earns more than a driving instructor,' he said. Checks by ST on job portals showed that a driving instructor who works for the three schools is paid between $2,070 and $4,500 a month . A local SBS Transit bus captain also earns up to $4,500 a month , but can expect a sign-on bonus with training incentive of up to $25,000. The schools said they have stepped up recruitment efforts, with CDC upping its number of instructors by 10 per cent between 2023 and 2024 . In the same period, it also beefed up its other training resources by adding four additional car simulators and 20 cars to its fleet . Comfort Driving Centre added four additional car simulators and 20 cars to its fleet to beef up training resources. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO 'These enhancements have allowed us to offer over 700 additional weekly learning sessions,' its spokesperson said, adding that it plans to further expand its fleet this year. CDC declined to comment on the number of lessons they were able to offer before the enhancements. Besides school instructors, the number of private instructors has also been dwindling. The Traffic Police (TP) have stopped issuing new private driving instructor licences since 1987 as part of the country's vision to professionalise driver education. As of March 14 , there are 268 licensed private driving instructors in Singapore and the number is set to decrease as they retire or cease their services. Possible solutions Transport specialist Terence Fan from the Singapore Management University suggested the authorities consider reinstating the issuing of private driving instructor licences to new instructors. 'This is so that students can be provided with more choices to engage a private instructor if they find it difficult to book their practical lessons at the driving schools,' said Assistant Professor Fan, who added that driving remains a necessity in countries that do not prioritise public transportation. However, instead of reinstating the issuing of private driving instructor licences, the Traffic Police told ST that they now allow driving schools to employ foreign driving instructors for all licence classes as long as they have the necessary qualifications to cope with the instructor shortage. They include owning a driving licence of the same licence class they intend to teach, undergoing a driving instructor course, and passing their theory and practical instructor tests. As of May, the three driving schools have yet to employ foreigners as those who applied did not meet the minimum requirements. The Traffic Police also aim to improve the schools' processes. For example, they worked with CDC to implement an advanced training system that uses cameras and sensors to analyse learners' driving performance in order to enhance the quality of driving instruction and improve their chances of passing a driving test. They have also worked with the driving schools to extend the working hours of driving instructors, taking into consideration each school's operational needs and instructors' preferences. Test delays Besides the months-long wait for practical lessons, driving students also have to be prepared to wait another one to two months before taking their Class 3 driving tests. According to the Traffic Police website, students who enrol in the schools have to wait for a month on average, while private candidates can expect a close to two-month wait . To address the long waiting time for practical tests, the Traffic Police said they have increased the number of Class 3 practical test slots. According to TP's website, marginal improvements could be seen in the waiting times for school and private learners between December 2024 and February this year. TP said they are also working closely with driving schools to increase test slots by optimising their utilisation of the circuit and the availability of testers. Into the future Earlier in May, the police announced plans to build a new multi-storey driving school in Choa Chu Kang to replace the existing BBDC, which is expected to make way for new housing projects. BBDC currently sits on a 30,000 sq m plot. If the plans for the site are approved, this will be Singapore's second multi-storey driving school, after SSDC opened the first in Woodlands in 2010. While details about the new centre are not yet released, demand for driving lessons remains high, even if the motivation to do so differs from person to person. For Ms Chen, she hopes to be able to run errands and chauffeur her dogs around for their activities when she eventually receives her licence. 'I can't be a passenger princess forever,' she added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Straits Times
More than $650,000 lost in Singapore to fake friend scams since April
At least 187 cases of this nature have been reported since April, the police said in a press statement dated May 26. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI More than $650,000 lost in Singapore to fake friend scams since April SINGAPORE – Since April, victims have lost at least $653,000 to fake friends scams in Singapore. At least 187 cases of this nature have been reported in that time, the police said in a press statement on May 26, marking a resurgence of this scam type. In these cases, victims would receive unsolicited WhatsApp messages or phone calls from local mobile lines, from scammers claiming to be their friend. The scammer would ask the victim to guess their identity, before assuming the name of the said friend, and asking the victim to update their contact details. Subsequently, scammers would contact the victims, asking them for loans, or to help them perform a banking transaction. Victims would then be provided with a local bank account, PayNow number or QR code to transfer money to. They would discover that they had been scammed after contacting their actual friends or acquaintances whom the scammers had impersonated, or when their loan was not returned. The police advises members of the public to be wary of anyone who contacts them via an unknown number to ask for urgent loans, and not to accede to their request unless their identity has been adequately verified. To learn more about scams, members of the public can visit or call the 24/7 ScamShield hotline at 1799. Those with more information about such scams can also call the police at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Balestier Khalsa bid farewell to coach with 3-2 victory over Albirex Niigata
Balestier Khalsa FC players celebrate by pouring a container of ice over their departing coach Peter de Roo after their Singapore Premier League match against Albirex Niigata. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE – When Balestier Khalsa coach Peter de Roo took over a Tigers side who were second-last in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) in September 2022, he introduced a style of football that combined possession with aggressive pressing during transitions. In his final match at Bishan Stadium on May 25, his charges did well to showcase his football philosophy, giving the Dutchman the perfect parting gift with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Albirex Niigata — a team Balestier have not beaten since 2015. Substitute Reycredo Bukit, who scored his first goal for the club and the winner in the 95th minute, said: 'I (dedicate) my performance today to coach Peter de Roo. Thank you for giving me the experience of playing in my debut professional season. 'It's so amazing… A very good start for me, and I keep going.' Victory against Albirex, who in 2024 transitioned from a team comprising mainly Japanese players to a local outfit, on the final day of the SPL saw Balestier finishing fourth in the league in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1997 and 1998. De Roo, who was inundated with requests for photos and autographs by fans after the final whistle, said: 'I am proud the guys gave it their all to the end. We wanted to go out with a bang. We worked extremely hard. 'We wanted to repay the supporters for their faith in the last two and a half years. We did not do that with the best football, but as always, the boys played their socks off and worked so hard.' Members of Balestier Khalsa FC (in red) and Albirex Niigata FC (in white) compete for the ball during the final round of 2024-25 SPL season at Bishan Stadium on May 25. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The 55-year-old's swansong was all the more satisfying as he had finally broken the hoodoo against Albirex after eight losses in as many league meetings, including his first game in charge, a 3-5 home defeat. The Tigers began the game with just a third of the possession, but patiently waited for opportunities on the transition. They opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Jared Gallagher whipped in a deep cross that was met by Anton Fase, who rose highest at the back post to power a header into the top corner. Just before the interval, Balestier top scorer Kodai Tanaka combined with former Albirex teammate Masahiro Sugita for their second goal. Tanaka produced a neat flick into Sugita's path and the winger shimmied past a flailing Hassan Sunny before sweeping the ball home. After a brief VAR check, the players wheeled away in celebration, heading straight to the bench to share the moment with their departing coach. The White Swans threatened to spoil the party as they pulled one back soon after the restart. A cross floated in by Arshad Shamim was nodded in by defender Koki Kawachi for his first goal of the season. An unmarked run by Kawachi during a corner resulted in another bullet header past Balestier keeper Hafiz Ahmad to level the game. Throwing bodies forward in search of a winner, the hosts' persistence paid off when Reycredo spotted Hassan off his line and sent a shot into the back of the net. While disappointed with the stoppage-time loss, Albirex coach Keiji Shigetomi said: 'We wanted to finish the season with a win. We really wanted to give our fans a result they could celebrate… But I believe my boys didn't give up, and they showed our fighting spirit.' Over at the Jurong East Stadium, Tanjong Pagar United stunned third-placed Geylang International as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. Earlier on May 24, Brunei DPMM brought their SPL chapter to a close with a sixth straight win, edging Hougang United 3-2 in a hard-fought encounter, courtesy of a brace from top scorer Davis Ikaunieks (12 goals). They are set to rejoin the Malaysia Super League in the 2025/26 season. Tampines Rovers and Lion City Sailors eked out a 0-0 stalemate on the same day after the latter rotated their outfield players for the match, retaining only substitute goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad from the first leg of the Singapore Cup semi-final against DPMM as they gear up for the second leg on May 27. Analysis Balestier showcased some attractive passages of counter-attacking play, but were nearly undone by some pedestrian defending. A late offensive onslaught paid dividends as they notched the late win for their departing coach. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
SGH to lead $5.8m research project to combat deadly autoimmune disease
Systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, afflicts around eight per 100,000 people in Asian populations. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE - A team of researchers led by the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is embarking on a five-year-long $5.77 million research project to better diagnose and treat systemic sclerosis – a life-threatening autoimmune disease which has largely unknown underlying causes. To do so, researchers aim to develop a predictive algorithm that can better detect those at risk of worse outcomes, and validate an imaging technique that can sift out earlier those whose condition are set to deteriorate. Systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, afflicts around eight per 100,000 people in Asian populations. In Singapore, it is estimated that around 500 to 600 patients are living with the condition at any one point in time. Some 10 to 15 patients are newly diagnosed every year. The exact cause of the disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. For example, a viral infection can trigger individuals with a genetic disposition to develop the rare disease. The condition causes the body's immune system to mistakenly target and attack its healthy tissues and cells. This can result in thickening and hardening of the skin, lungs and other internal organs. The research project, funded by an A* Star grant, was announced at SGH in a media briefing on May 22. Known as the Singapore Systemic Sclerosis Precision Medicine Project or Sysmic, the project brings together clinician scientists, laboratory and big data scientists, and imaging specialists to analyse data derived from patients' genes and immune system. The goal is to gain better insights into the disease progresses in different patients. About 300 patients will be recruited for the study. Participating institutes include the SingHealth Duke-NUS Translational Immunology Institute, National Neuroscience Institute, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National University Hospital, and Sengkang General Hospital. Sysmic lead Associate Professor Andrea Low said: 'Scleroderma is particularly challenging as it affects each patient differently in both severity and progression. With Asian patients showing poorer survival rates and known genetic differences in scleroderma risk, the goal is to develop more personalised treatments and better ways to predict how the disease will progress.' Research has shown that just 52 per cent of Asians are still alive nine years after their diagnosis, compared to 76 cent of Caucasians. In Singapore, patients with mild or localised symptoms often maintain a normal life expectancy. However, among those whose lung, heart and kidneys are affected, half succumb to the disease within two to three years of its onset. Prof Low, who is also a senior consultant at SGH's department of rheumatology and immunology, said the disease is very complex because it can cause three interconnected processes: inflammation, vascular damage and excessive fibrosis. Oftentimes , it is not clear which process is taking place in a patient, which then makes it hard to administer the right treatment to slow down the progression of the disease. To better target the right underlying process, researchers on the project will study in detail how scleroderma patients' immune systems behave. With the data, they hope to develop a preliminary predictive algorithm that can give better insights into a patient's prognosis. 'It could tell us which one of the three processes is happening, so we can use the appropriate drugs to treat these patients,' said Prof Low. Lung fibrosis, where the scarring in the organ makes it hard for patients to breathe, is one of the major causes of death in scleroderma. Asians that develop the disease tend to have worse lung fibrosis, said Prof Low. The research project will aim to validate a new imaging technique that can better detect if lung cells are actively producing fibrous tissue. Explaining the technique, Prof Low said that radiotracers are injected into a patient, and will light up on a scan when cells are actively producing tissue. 'The problem now is that we cannot quite use (this technique) because we don't know what's the threshold (before we take action). Do we say even if I see one tiny spot, we should treat, or maybe we treat when it's 10 per cent lit up,' said Prof Low, adding that the research will help to deterimine the threshold. Prof Low also hopes the research project will be able to help current patients like Ms Haslina Wanoor, 45. She was diagnosed with the condition in 2008 when she was 28. Three years later, her condition worsened when her lung fibrosis deteriorated, leaving her breathless. In 2013, she underwent a stem cell transplant which bought her about five years of stability. Today, she is on palliative care and needs supplemental oxygen supply from an oxygen concentrator 24 hours a day. Prof Low said that while Ms Haslina's lung fibrosis is in the advanced stages, doctors are trying to stabilise the disease with medication. With a more precise lung imaging method, doctors will be better able to more confidently detect what is happening and escalate treatment if needed. For patients in general, this will help cut suffering and prolong lifespan when timely treatment is given. For Ms Haslina, her priority now is her 20-year-old daughter. 'I hope I'll still be able to fulfil my duties as a mother, and see her go through more milestones of her life, like graduation or even marriage.' 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