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Thai cave rescue Interview with Moon Jae-in Summit city, Singapore

MCI(P) 096/08/2017 FebruaryAugust – September- MCI(P)March 096/08/2017 2018 2018 INDEPENDENT • INSIDER • INSIGHTS ON ASIA

Thai cave rescue Interview with Moon Jae-in Summit city, Singapore

MCI(P) 096/08/2017 FebruaryAugust – September- MCI(P)March 096/08/2017 2018 2018 INDEPENDENT • INSIDER • INSIGHTS ON ASIA Contents

Smart Cities: Building for Tomorrow A global push to build smart cities is on with policy makers and shapers scouting for the best technology solutions to allow people to enjoy their living and working spaces. 2 Getting smarter for the future 5 Rise of Asian Smart Cities Asia Report August – September 2018 CHINA: Yinchuan leads the way in using tech to improve daily life JAPAN: Small but smart cities woo business and young talent Warren Fernandez Editor-in-Chief, The Straits Times & SPH’s English, Malay and 8 Smart City Mayors: Mayor, West Java governor... Indonesia’s Tamil Media (EMTM) Group president in 2024? Sumiko Tan 11 A network of smart cities Managing Editor, EMTM & Executive Editor, The Straits Times 13 Cooling Singapore project comes up with new ways Tan Ooi Boon to beat the heat Senior Vice-President (Business Development), EMTM 15 Cheers! A special beer to mark a special anniversary Paul Jacob Associate Editor, The Straits Times 16 Thailand cave rescue: Humanity at its unified best, Eugene Leow with no walls or borders Head, Digital Strategy, EMTM Irene Ngoo 20 Time for Kim to prove his sincerity & Vice-President Cash does not always need to be king (Editorial Projects Unit) EMTM Singapore can continue to help in bid Zakir Hussain 21 Foreign Editor to denuclearise Korea: Moon Shefali Rekhi Suspension of joint military exercises is to build trust and Asia News Network Editor, keep dialogue going: Moon The Straits Times & Editor, ST Asia Report 24 Bridging fortunes across the Yalu River

Design 27 Asean unicorns sharpening their horns Peter Williams Singapore, summit city: Head, Visual, EMTM & 30 Art Editor, The Straits Times Your guide to everything about why the nation rocks Chng Choon Hiong Cover photo illustration Anil Kumar Graphic Artist

Circulation Eric Ng Head, Circulation Marketing Tommy Ong Senior Manager (Circulation) We welcome your feedback and views Reach out to us: Letters can be sent to For advertising enquiries: [email protected] Sharon Lim Ling Senior Manager Published by (Business Development) The Straits Times, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) [email protected] Circulation & subscription: Printed by Times Printers Private Limited Delia Gan Executive All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or [email protected] in part without written permission from the publisher.

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Shefali Rekhi Asia News Network Editor Getting smarter for the future

An artist’s impression of the 9,450ha New Clark City being built in the Philippines. PHOTO: SURBANA JURONG

Cities are tapping has tie-ups with the Japan Overseas We want the Infrastructure Investment Corporation technology to for Transport and Urban Development New Clark transform people’s (Join) and Singapore’s infrastructure City to be a consultancy Surbana Jurong for New showcase lives but have a Clark City and hopes it can attract many long way to go more investors. city. “The Philippines lagged behind its neighbours in terms of infrastructure in new, futuristic, Putra- the previous administration but now we jaya-like city is being built want to acquire the knowledge. We want Nena Radoc, in the Philippines, about to catch up,” Ms Radoc said. SVP-Chief Financial Officer, BCDA. 120km from Metro Manila Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s com- ’’ The 9,450ha New mercial capital, embarked on a three- AClark City will be the largest new, year journey to become a Smart City, allow electric cars to be charged. It is “smart, green and disaster-resilient” last year. It will invest heavily in smart expected to open in 2022. city to be built by President Rodrigo information technology to cope with Singapore’s own virtual map based Duterte’s administration. the challenge of its growing population on real-time dynamic data is expected It could eventually be bigger than of 10 million and rapid city expansion. to be ready by the end of the year and Manhattan when it is completed in three The key highlights of its plans include will enable better city planning. or four decades, contributing 1.57 tril- initiatives to build Intelligent Control These cities are part of a growing lion pesos (S$41 billion) a year to the Centres in the city and developing an global push to build smart cities that rely country’s economy. open data ecosystem for the city that heavily on information technology and Its strategic location will allow will allow city officials to govern better. data analysis for predictive solutions that businesses to access key markets easily “Ho Chi Minh faces many problems will allow for better governance, make and could possibly decongest the capital such as flooding, traffic jams, pollution,” cities more resilient and enable effective city as well. Companies located in the said Dr Duong Anh Duc, Director long-term planning. The ultimate aim is new city can also expect to be safe from General, Department of Information to build liveable and sustainable cities. typhoons, flooding and earthquakes. and Communications, Ho Chi Minh City. The need to do so has never been Driverless cars, robots and drones “We want to improve our efficiency in more urgent. will be easily found in the high-tech city governance. We want our citizens to get The United Nations has cautioned that that is preparing to be ready to host next in touch easily and we want to give more close to two thirds of the world’s popu- year’s Southeast Asian Games. information to be able to share and dis- lation could be living in urban areas by “We want this to be a showcase cuss what we can do,” he told The Straits 2050, with at least 40 mega cities having city,” said Ms Nena Radoc, SVP-Chief Times, on the sidelines of the World Cities a population of 10 million or more. Financial Officer, Bases Conversion and Summit (WCS), held in Singapore. Africa and Asia will witness the Development Authority (BCDA), which Elsewhere, Jinan in China is building fastest growth, with more and more is anchoring the project. The BCDA a solar-powered super highway that will people moving to cities.

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Smart solutions for Smart Cities

Here’s a look at 1 Green buildings 2 Building management ongoing efforts to Rooftop gardens or vegetation Automation and optimisation of build sustainable on the side of buildings to help services such as heating, energy urban landscapes: insulation, absorb CO2 and usage, lighting and ventilation produce oxygen

3 Perimeter access control Controlling access and monitoring of restricted areas with CCTV, intruder detection and alarms

4 Rooftop wind turbines Wind turbines built on top of high- rise buildings or integrated into the building design itself

ST PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: CHNG CHOON HIONG

Air pollution control Vertical-axis wind turbines use, including Wi-Fi on the 5 10 Controlling CO2 emissions of Helical twisted wind turbine Tube/Metro factories and monitoring car towers across the city for Smart lighting 16 pollution efficient use of space Intelligent and weather-adaptive Building-integrated Waste management streetlights 6 11 photovoltaics Monitoring rubbish levels in Disaster prevention 17 Solar panels integrated into containers to optimise refuse Monitoring soil moisture, the building fabric to replace collection routes vibrations and earth density conventional materials Smart parking 12 Fast lanes Smart Grid Monitoring availability of 18 7 Intelligent, adaptive fast and slow Energy consumption monitoring parking spaces across the city lanes for walking and cycling and management 13 Earthquake early detection Electric transport Chemical leakage 19 Monitoring specific places Electric vehicles and public 8 detection susceptible to tremors transport, with charging stations Detecting leakages and waste of Potable water monitoring across the city factories in rivers 14 Monitoring the quality of tap Fire safety Real-time updates 20 9 water across the city Fire detection and intelligent Instant traffic updates sent to Wi-Fi extinguishing tailored to each smartphones to help route 15 Citywide free Wi-Fi for public room planning and avoid congestion Source: Raconteur, Visual Capitalist

Consulting firm Frost & Sullivan country with a population in excess of the cities will be facing more traffic predicts that more than half of Asia’s 1.3 billion. congestion and accidents, higher smart cities will be in China. But while urbanisation could be stress and may not be able to deliver India, which announced its smart the pathway to reducing poverty effectively, if policy makers do not resort city initiative three years ago to cover and ensuring greater prosperity, the to quick action and effective measures 100 cities, has outlined a plan to invest phenomenon also means congestion, to remedy the situation. close to US$30 billion (S$41 billion) in uncontrolled city expansion and health Juniper Research, which ranked coming years. The project could impact hazards. Singapore as the world’s smartest the lives of 125 million people, in a This implies people in many of metropolitan area last year, says in

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Smart City Index 2017

Rank Global city Country

1 Singapore Singapore 2 London Britain 3 New York United States 4 San Francisco United States 5 Chicago United States 6 Seoul South Korea 7 Berlin Germany 8 Tokyo Japan 9 Barcelona Spain 10 Melbourne Australia NOTE: The Intel-sponsored study conducted by Juniper Research ranked the top 20 global smart cities across four key areas: mobility, A Thai Royal Navy boat is seen during a search operation for missing passengers of a capsized healthcare, public safety and productivity. The goal is to evaluate how they might deliver tourist boat at a pier in Phuket, Thailand, in July. PHOTO: REUTERS positive citizen outcomes in terms of time and quality of life. its report that smart cities have the We want fewer Source: JUNIPER RESEARCH potential to “give back” as much as 125 STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS hours to every resident every year, in the accidents form of time saved through efficiency. and less that change will be beneficial. McKinsey Global Institute and the criminal Phuket, which recently witnessed Centre for Liveable Cities in Singapore, in a tragic boat accident in which 47 a joint report, said smart solutions could activity. people died after the driver of the improve the quality of urban life by 10 to We want vessel Phoenix ignored a bad weather 30 per cent for those in South-east Asia. warning, has been working hard to For example, intelligent traffic lights premium improve tourist safety. and emergency response applications tourists in Phuket. Plans are afoot to ensure free Wi-Fi could save around 5,000 lives lost each and deploy thousands of CCTV cameras year due to traffic accidents, fires and in busy spots but officials are realising murders. Residents could collectively that getting support from people will save up to US$16 billion annually be crucial. Passakon Prathombutr through smart home solutions that lower Dr Passakon Prathombutr, Senior Senior Executive Vice-President, Digital Executive Vice-President with the energy bills, the report said. Economy Promotion Agency, Bangkok All this is spurring many to speed Metropolitan Area, Thailand. Thai government’s Digital Economy ’’ Promotion Agency, said: “We want fewer up on efforts to build smart ciites and the mad dash is encouraging business- accidents and less criminal activity. We es and investors alike, as opportunities Similar conferences held elsewhere want premium tourists in Phuket. become clearer. attract much attention too. “The challenge is how to make it Still, there’s a long way to go. Smart Smart cities are expected to create sustainable. People need to understand city observers say that much of what business opportunities with a market what we are doing. The government has is happening is not exactly strategic value of over US$2 trillion by 2025, says to play the role of a facilitator. We are and systematic and institutions aren’t Frost & Sullivan. In China alone, the new providing the infrastructure for them to investing enough in building safeguards, smart city projects will generate US$320 do business and that it will lead to jobs. which could expose them to security billion for the Chinese economy, by “Some of them will be new jobs. For risks such as cyber attacks. 2025, it notes. that, we need to upskill people.” Not surprisingly then, more than The technologies that will be the Phuket attracts more than 11 million 24,000 people from over 110 countries cornerstones of this phenomenon will tourists every year. visited Singapore in July for three be artificial intelligence, personalised Ms Radoc said the challenge for summits – the World Cities Summit, healthcare, robotics and advanced driver projects like the New Clark City is that Singapore International Water Week assistance systems, among others, the they are starting from scratch. And the (SIWW) and the CleanEnviro Summit. report says. And the Asia-Pacific region absence of past successes plays on the Among the delegates were 130 will be the fastest-growing region in the minds of those who could take it forward. mayors and city leaders from 128 cities. smart energy space by 2025, it adds. “It is so hard to convince investors As many as 67 cities were first-time Still, this is just the beginning and that we are serious,” she told The Straits participants while representatives from challenges remain significant. These Times at the World Cities Summit. “That 61 cities were returning participants. range from layers of bureaucracy, to is why we are here – to gain knowledge The SIWW conference alone ended legislation, funding and language issues, of how other cities do it.” on a high note with S$23 billion worth among many others. An important of announcements on projects awarded, factor is getting people on board for [email protected] tenders, investments and MOUs. their initiatives and convincing them The writer is Editor, ST Asia Report.  4 Cover story Rise of Asian smart cities

With more than 60 per cent of the world’s population expected to be urban residents by 2050, according to the United Nations, the challenge to build more “smart cities” has become urgent. With the advent of digital technology and big data, changes are afoot, be it in public transportation, citizen services or the way businesses are run. Here’s a look at two Asian cities that have, in their individual ways, applied smart city solutions to enhance the quality of life.

A key part of Yinchuan’s smart city plan is a one-stop government hub for residents consisting of a Citizens’ Hall, an operations command centre and a call centre, all surrounding a park. ST PHOTO: LIM YAN LIANG

CHINA Yinchuan leads the way in using tech to improve daily life

was when I knew I had to move out of my information, may already be familiar old apartment, which didn’t have a lift.” to those living in more wired countries. Lim Yan But Madam You, who bought a 92 But more cutting-edge technologies sq m apartment that year in a new in daily use here speak to Yinchuan’s Liang condominium called Future City, ambition to be the blueprint in China’s China Correspondent discovered that its name was not an goal to become a country of smart cities. empty boast: It provided one vision of Facial recognition software at the how life can be improved by technology condo autonomously determines if an hen retiree You Yulan and sensors. electronic gate should swing open (for began her search Future City is one of 20 smart residents), or if security should be alerted for a new home in communities in Yinchuan, the capital (for flagged individuals, such as criminals). 2015, her main re- of Ningxia Hui autonomous region in In the condo, a bank of passcode- quirement was that central China and a city of two million enabled lockers sits beside refrigerated Wit had to be served by a lift. people close to Inner Mongolia. lockers for perishables, a boon for “My (ailing) mother had to be bun- Some facilities at the condo, such busy executives who do most of their dled in a blanket and carried down the as free Wi-Fi in public spaces and shopping online. stairs as the stretcher could not fit her noticeboards that give to-the-minute Around the neighbourhood, solar- doorway,” the 65-year-old recalled. “That weather, traffic and bus arrival powered dustbins flap open when

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they sense someone nearing, self- compact rubbish when they fill up, Yinchuan’s smart features and automatically alert the disposal HOME • Facial-recognition security at the gate company when they reach capacity. means keyless entry to your condominium. For Madam You, one feature that has

made a big difference is the proliferation • Refrigerated and conventional parcel lockers mean nobody has to be home to receive your of community medical examination parcels and groceries ordered online. clinics around Yinchuan, one of which

is within her condo. • Dustbins are hands-free because of motion detectors, and they can contact the disposal For 200 yuan (S$40) a year and a company when they are nearing capacity. refundable deposit of 980 yuan, she RUSSIA gets a smartphone-size device that can • Water purication system in the neighbourhood provides drinkable water from take 22 different health measurements, MONGOLIA Beijing the tap that exceeds US and European ranging from body temperature and standards. heart beat, to blood sugar level and CHINA • Solar panels outside each apartment provide bone density. electricity to heat water for each household. The device communicates with an Yinchuan app on her smartphone, and results • Smart noticeboards provide residents with INDIA real-time weather, air pollution and trafc are sent to the cloud, where healthcare MYANMAR information. professionals monitor the data. “This way, residents take charge of their own health, and the app lets PUBLIC SERVICES them know if, say, their blood pressure

is higher than the normal range for their • A one-stop Citizens’ Hall opened in 2015 means Yinchuan residents need to go to only one location for all age group,” said Ms Ma Ting, a clinician government-related business. at the centre.

Less tech-savvy or more squeamish • Electronic databases and information-sharing between departments cut the number of forms required. For those who residents – some tests require taking want to start a business, for instance, they now have 56 fewer one’s own blood sample – can visit the forms to ll. clinic to get help. • Processes and approvals for matters like pension withdrawal “I’m afraid of needles but I need to have also been streamlined and made much quicker. track my blood sugar level, so I come • A single hotline number – 12345 – initiated last December down to the clinic (to have my blood replaced 55 different government and emergency hotlines, and taken) three times a week,” said Madam has increased efciency while cutting manpower needs. You. “I no longer have to travel almost an hour to the hospital just for this test.” Even as building smarter communities STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS is a key plank of Yinchuan’s smart city plans – it aims to outfit another 480 process to get a new business approved effect in April and issues fines and neighbourhoods (about one-quarter of has been cut from five departments and demerit points for drivers caught on the city) with such features by the end of 25 days to one business day – the fastest road cameras speaking on their phone this year – that is only half of the story. in China. or not belting up. The other half stands at a 105ha zone A short walk away is the municipal “The new cameras are no joke as they in the north of the city that has become government’s command centre, which are much more effective than the traffic a one-stop centre for residents who need serves as the brain making sense of the police of the past,” said taxi driver Ma to access any kind of government service. vast array of sensors installed around Hui, 40. At the five-storey Citizens’ Hall, an the city, including over 30,000 security All these innovations were recognised average of 14,000 people pass through cameras. And it is co-located with a call by the central government in March, when its doors daily to renew their passport centre that has, since December last Yinchuan was named the best managed or driving licence, start a business or get year, combined 55 separate government of provincial-level smart cities in China. documents notarised, among other things. hotlines into a single number. So how did Yinchuan, a small, third- A display case shows how far This building is where the vast amount tier city – and just one among some 300 Yinchuan has come: It contains 69 of data collected every minute – and in China with smart city projects – rise government stamps from 26 separate processed at a data centre in another part to the top of the heap? departments that have since been of the city – is analysed and interpreted Mr Guo said two important ingre- replaced by a single approval seal. by human operators, who can decide dients were finding a suitable partner The centre, officially opened in how to, for instance, direct emergency with the technology expertise, and 2015, has integrated under one roof the personnel and commandeer traffic lights then creating a healthy business model functions of 30 different offices from when a major accident happens. suitable for a long-term project such around the city that were responsible The thousands of sensors and as this. for some 400 administrative approvals cameras, coupled with updated laws, Yinchuan teamed up with Chinese and public services. have changed civic behaviour for the tech giant ZTE, which has experience “The idea behind the centre is to better. This reporter noticed that taxi managing smart cities and similar projects streamline all kinds of government and private-hire drivers here better in 40 countries – and the partnership has functions and approvals to better serve enforce seat-belt use, something lacking proved to be a successful one. our residents,” said Yinchuan vice- even in first-tier cities such as Beijing. mayor Guo Baichun, noting that the It is the swift result of a law that took [email protected] 

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JAPAN Small but smart cities woo business and young talent

Walter Sim Japan Correspondent

s Japan faces the grim prospect of a population that is shrinking as fast as it is growing old, a nationwide movement has Abegun to revitalise rural areas and woo people from the megapolises of Tokyo and Osaka. This is above and beyond the central government’s vision for a Society 5.0 The Startup Cafe, run by the Fukuoka City government, provides consultation services to – with elements similar to Singapore’s budding entrepreneurs keen to launch businesses in the city. PHOTO: CITY OF FUKUOKA Smart Nation drive – that centres on using artificial intelligence and the NEW LEASE OF LIFE million yen (S$61,000) to qualify for a Internet of Things to better the lives of The fresh ideas and permanent business visa. Japan’s residents and ignite its economy. To ease the process, the city of Fuku- Several cities and towns have innovation brought by oka has launched a Startup Cafe that has embarked on local initiatives to ease start-up companies can lawyers, consultants and interpreters on regulations and come up with urban break Japan out of its sense standby to impart advice on everything solutions to attract new businesses, and, of stagnation, and overcome from tax to human-resource issues in as in turn, more working-age residents. the pessimistic future many as 11 languages. There is no standard definition for projections for Japan caused The mountainous town of Kamiyama a smart city, which French newspaper in the central Japan prefecture of Le Monde defines as one that strives by its falling birthrate and Tokushima has also seen an influx of to improve services and the quality ageing population. technopreneurs, who are relocating from of life, reduce costs and protect the Tokyo to set up remote satellite offices environment through civic engagement outside the capital city. and technology. One huge asset for the laid-back town Fukuoka, in western Japan has, for of about 5,400 residents – down from a one, built up a strong reputation as a FUKUOKA MAYOR SOICHIRO peak of 21,000 in 1955 and with senior smart city in its journey to becoming TAKASHIMA, citizens aged 65 and above comprising the nation’s eminent start-up hub. on the promising future of the city as a 46 per cent of the population: a fibre- model for the rest of Japan. ’’ optic high-speed broadband network The coastal city of 1.58 million people as at July 2018 is the fastest- that can rival the speeds in Tokyo. growing major city outside Tokyo and Major transport arteries such as the Chief to this effort is Mr Shinya Omi- Osaka, having added more than 110,000 city’s airport, sea port and central train nami, who leads non-profit organisation people since 2010. station are all within a 2.5km radius. Green Valley and who has been cham- A 2015 national census also showed And the city also benefits from its pioning “creative depopulation”. that 22.05 per cent of its residents are location – the two hours it takes to fly The alumnus of the Stanford School aged between 13 and 29, the highest from Fukuoka to Tokyo can also get one of Engineering in the United States proportion nationwide. to Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei, and the city has said he wanted to create a model Its mayor, Mr Soichiro Takashima, is thus being branded as a gateway to Asia. such that young talent will continue who was the youngest to win the post To ease the language barrier, public to be drawn to the town even as the in the city’s history when he was elected signs in the city have long been in population ages and shrinks. at 36 in 2010, brings with him a global English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. Fukuoka and Kamiyama join Toyama outlook to his governance. His efforts led the city, with lower City, which has won global accolades as a pioneer in Japan in implementing He was inspired by the vibrant business costs and cheaper rents than smart-city solutions. entrepreneurial scene of Seattle that Tokyo, to be designated a National Stra- The city of 420,000 people, located led to such global names as Amazon tegic Zone for Start-Ups in 2014, under about two hours by shinkansen from and Starbucks. which entrepreneurs can benefit from Tokyo, rolled out its plan in 2007, He told The Straits Times: “To this end, lower taxes and government subsidies. integrating a local tram network, a light I felt that the urban environment, includ- Foreigners also get more relaxed rail transit system and bicycle-sharing ing rich nature and culture, high transport visa regulations for their start-ups, methods to create a dense city centre convenience and the presence of excellent and have six months to rent an office and reduce carbon footprint. and open universities, can greatly influ- space, as well as hire at least two full- ence the birth of creative ideas.” time employees or have a capital of five [email protected] 

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Zakir Hussain Foreign Editor Smart City Mayors: Mayor, West Java governor... Indonesia’s president in 2024?

Bandung successes led to Ridwan Kamil’s win in gubernatorial race, and him being seen as a potential president

hen architect Ridwan Kamil ran for mayor of Bandung, Indo- nesia’s third largest city, in 2013, his key Wcampaign pledges were to fix its noto- rious traffic and infrastructure woes, clean up city hall and make the city of 2.5 million more liveable. The strides his administration has Mr Ridwan (centre) cycling in Bandung in 2014 during the launch of a campaign to promote made since then gave him the confidence commuting by bicycle. PHOTO: BANDUNG MAYOR’S OFFICE to make a bid to lead West Java, the country’s most populous province with While this process has been marred If the government is not on the same 48 million residents. by cases of political corruption and weak frequency, never mind, we do it our- He won the four-way gubernatorial governance, it has also generated a new selves,” he told this reporter in a 2012 contest last month with over 32 per cent breed of political leaders – successful interview in Bandung. “A community of the vote – ahead of his closest rival’s entrepreneurs or professionals who opted effort is more powerful and sustainable.” 29 per cent. to enter the political fray to fix what they Fast forward six years and Mr Ridwan Under the Indonesian system, saw as shortcomings in the system. believes community involvement and regional leaders need to secure 30 per The most prominent example is ownership is critical for local projects to cent of votes to be elected – with the President Joko Widodo, a forestry succeed, from keeping the streets clean exception of Jakarta, where 50 per cent graduate and furniture entrepreneur, to manning public parks. is needed. who first ran for mayor of Solo, in He says half of his plans for West But Mr Ridwan, 46, is already set on central Java, in 2005. His success in Java involve applying what he calls winning over those who did not elect sprucing up the city led to him winning the “Bandung model” to the province: him once he is inaugurated on Sept 17. office as the governor of Jakarta in 2012, overhauling public services and insisting “I’m very optimistic I can win the before the presidency in 2014. on good, clean governance; engaging hearts of the majority who didn’t vote Mr Ridwan, a career architect, is residents and giving them a say in for me,” he tells The Sunday Times in another example of the new breed of shaping public spaces; using data and an interview at the Amara Hotel in politicians. The second of five children technology to respond to problems and Singapore recently. of an international law professor and a making sure officials are contactable – He was in town to attend the World pharmacy lecturer, he lived and worked especially on social media. Cities Summit, and had separate in the United States for five years The other half involves working with meetings with Foreign Minister Vivian and Hong Kong for two years before companies to create jobs in rural areas, Balakrishnan and Trade and Industry returning home in 2003. building industrial parks to generate Minister Chan Chun Sing. Not long thereafter, he initiated employment, and enabling easier access Indonesia’s democratisation following several ground-up initiatives for to capital for low-income residents to the fall of strongman Suharto in 1998, Bandung: book collection for street bring down the unemployment rate 20 years ago, set in motion a process of children, a bike-sharing scheme and which stands at around 8 per cent. decentralisation that enabled residents a forum for creative types to organise Mr Ridwan also has plans to develop in a city, district or province to elect cultural activities regularly. infrastructure to spur tourism. their own leaders. “We want to make things happen. He feels West Java’s offerings are no

8 Cover story less than what Bali has, “but it has been him as a public servant, he says. It trains he said, referring to his network of managed with no concept”. He believes him to think comprehensively and of volunteers who posted about his track this can be turned around with better various dimensions to an issue before record as Bandung mayor and his plans roads and transport facilities, including making decisions: “You want the fastest for West Java. “Common sense wins.” the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail, solution, but also the cheapest.” It is not just his independence that which is targeted for completion by 2022. But the most significant aspect of Mr stands out. He says the exciting part The high-speed rail will shave travel time Ridwan’s electoral success is that he is about being a leader today is the between the two cities by half – from an independent politician who is not a opportunity to create one’s own theory over two hours to under an hour. of what an ideal society should be. “The high-speed rail is not just In his case, he initiated happiness about linking Jakarta and Bandung, projects in Bandung – short- to medi- but can justify creating new towns in um-term efforts by residents to spruce between,” he says. “Some designed by up the city or strengthen the local com- Surbana,” he quips. He was referring to munity, such as free movie screenings the Surbana Jurong Group, one of the and better-designed parks. largest Asia-based urban, industrial and Now, he wants to extend this concept infrastructure consulting firms. to all 48 million people in West Java. Singapore enterprises, he says, are “West Java is a miniature of Indonesia welcome in West Java. “We want to copy – urban and rural areas, beaches and the success of Kendal,” he says, refer- PHOTO: FACEBOOK mountains, low-tech sectors and high- ring to the joint Singapore-Indonesia tech industries,” he says. industrial park in Central Java. member of any political party, but whose “It’s like running a small country. Mr Ridwan is no stranger to Singa- candidacy was backed by several of them. 48 million is the population of Spain, pore, having lived here for eight months. Mr Ridwan, who is married with a or Malaysia and Australia combined. The architecture graduate from son in university and a daughter in high So the responsibility I have of making the renowned Bandung Institute of school, says Indonesia is blessed because people happy and prosperous is like Technology (ITB) was on a student its vibrant democracy gives space to that of running a country. And I will exchange at the National University people like him, who are outside the use my imagination and my networks of Singapore in 1994 on a Singapore political ecosystem, to be part of the to create a new model of society for the International Foundation fellowship, political leadership. Indonesian people.” and stayed at Kent Ridge Hall. “That is a model for professionals like Mr Ridwan’s success has seen him It was here that he first took in Singa- me to enter politics,” he says. cited as a potential candidate in the pore’s approach to planning and public His personal appeal helps – he has 2024 presidential election. spaces, and making optimal use of limit- 8.3 million followers on Instagram, 3.3 Does he see himself running in that ed space to build facilities for residents. million on Facebook and 3.1 million race? He is leaving his options open, “There is a remnant of Singapore in on Twitter in a city that is one of Asia’s judging by his response. me, and I have a lot to thank Singapore most connected. “When I campaigned, people would for,” he says. He is also heartened by the fact say, Mr Ridwan, please make my city Mr Ridwan, who also holds a master’s that the June 27 elections were mostly like Bandung.” in urban design from the University peaceful, with hardly any overt appeals “I’ve made 2.5 million people happy, of California, Berkeley, worked on to ethnic or religious sentiment. now I will make 48 million people Singapore’s Marina Bay waterfront There was a minority among happy,” he says with a laugh. masterplan as well as Beijing’s CBD his opposition which actively used “And, in 2024, maybe I can make masterplan, before starting his own firm WhatsApp to cast smears that he was not 250 million happy.” in Bandung in 2004. a true Muslim, among other allegations. This background in design has helped “I fought back with my digital army,” [email protected] 

Seoul Mayor keeps ears open to public’s views

hen Seoul’s Mayor, opened in May last year. Mr Park Won-soon, Elected to a third consecutive term proposed turning a last month, Mr Park is Seoul’s longest- Charissa disused highway into serving mayor and has helmed the Yong a pedestrian-only transformation of South Korea’s highly Regional Wwalkway in 2014, he was fiercely op- urbanised capital, which won the Lee Correspondent posed by residents concerned about traf- Kuan Yew World City Prize this year. fic congestion and shopkeepers worried Mr Park, who received the prize that their businesses would suffer. at the World Cities Summit, told The City officials hosted hundreds of Straits Times in an interview that his town-hall meetings, and Mr Park spent background as a civic activist influenced days at the site listening to suggestions his philosophy of giving citizens a say before the people finally came on board. in how their city is run. The sky park – named Seoullo 7017, The former human rights lawyer meaning Seoul Road – has attracted founded the non-profit watchdog more than 10 million visitors since it People’s Solidarity for Participatory

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Democracy in 1994, and would collect people’s views on issues and convey them to the government. As mayor, he helmed the 2030 Seoul Master Plan, which city officials came up with over three years by listening to the opinions of thousands of citizens and experts. “The top-down approach to decision- making almost always leads to failure or a lot of trial and error. The bottom-up way is much more effective because it listens to opinions of residents to reduce the number of trials and errors,” he said. “We are truly a listening city government. The citizens can tell us whatever they think, whatever opinions they have, because we guarantee Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and his wife, Ms Kang Nan-he, celebrating with his supporters after he was re-elected for a third term as mayor of the city on June 13. Mr Park has helmed the them channels of communication and transformation of South Korea’s highly urbanised capital, which won the Lee Kuan Yew World interaction.” City Prize this year. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Mr Park also receives feedback from his 2.5 million followers on Facebook, sometimes addicted, to cars, and when who changed their lives for the better.” Twitter and Instagram, and will reply we decided to reduce car lanes... at He also hopes for more exchanges to them himself. first there was a lot of complaints and between Pyongyang and Seoul during “At times, the comments and replies opposition.” the rest of his four-year term. He are very critical and I sometimes feel But attitudes are changing and many suggested that both cities could host hurt. But as mayor... I should be able to young people now use the city’s 20,000 sports matches or have a joint orchestra. know what is happening and understand public bicycles frequently, and have said Public servants could later build on their thoughts,” he said. they are very satisfied, he added. these exchanges and expand into the Mr Park also spearheads a drive to Mr Park, who was first elected as areas of urban infrastructure, public make Seoul more pedestrian-friendly an independent in 2011 but joined the housing, waterworks and sewerage and to discourage people from owning Democratic Party headed by President systems, he added. and using cars. Moon Jae-in in 2012, will not seek re- “If we can build up these exchanges “We want to pursue a ‘Road Diet’,” election as mayors can hold office for I believe that the relationship between he said, adding that the city is reducing only three terms. Pyongyang and Seoul can be a win-win the width of roads to reduce the speed Asked about the legacy he wants to relationship.” of cars while making bus rides smoother leave behind, he said: “I want to change and faster. the lives of citizens for the better. I hope “Citizens are very much accustomed, they can remember me as the mayor [email protected] 

Arts and culture vital to liveable cites, says Adelaide Lord Mayor

strong arts and creative Times editor, the Lord Mayor noted that culture is the bedrock of it is not infrastructure but culture that what makes a city liveable. holds a community together, and that a Mr Martin Haese, deep-seated multiculturalism is central Lord Mayor of Adelaide, to a city’s liveability. AAustralia, said this in his keynote address “What makes a city tick, what drives at a forum on Shaping Cities Through a city forward, what holds a community Innovation And Collaboration In Culture, together? It is the culture – not the organised by the Ministry of Culture, buildings, not the roads, not even the Community and Youth in partnership data networks – but the people.” with the World Cities Summit. Adelaide was the first British “free The summit, held at Marina Bay colony” established after the Great Sands in July, featured experts in dis- Reform Act was passed in the British cussions to explore how cities can be Parliament in 1834. It hosts the Adelaide more liveable. Some 24,000 participants Fringe Festival, the second largest from 110 countries attended the event. annual arts event in the world after the Speaking with forum moderator Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Warren Fernandez, Singapore Press Mr Martin Haese, Lord Mayor, Adelaide, Holdings’ English/Malay/Tamil Media Australia. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO Group editor-in-chief and The Straits Olivia Ho  10 Cover story A network of smart cities The Asean Smart Cities Network (ASCN), proposed by Singapore, is set to be a platform for member states to collaborate towards the common goal of smart and sustainable urban development, with technology being the enabler to improve citizens’ lives. Here are five things about the 10-country network:

Pilot cities CHINA MYANMAR INDIA Mandalay Ha Noi Nay Pyi Taw Luang Prabang Vientiane South China Philippine Sea Yangon LAOS Sea THAILAND Manila Da Nang Bangkok Siem Reap Bay of Bengal Battambang Chonburi CAMBODIA PHILIPPINES Phnom Penh Ho Chi Minh City Cebu City

Phuket BRUNEI VIETNAM Davao City Kota Kinabalu MALAYSIA Bandar Seri Kuala Lumpur Johor Bahru Begawan Celebes Sea SINGAPORE Kuching

INDONESIA Makassar PAPUA Indian Ocean DKI Jakarta Java Sea NEW GUINEA Banyuwangi

Source: ASEAN.ORG STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS

1 Twenty-six pilot cities will share issues, plans to use smart 4 The ASCN is expected to take ideas and best practices around datasets on wetland biodi- participating cities to a new level how “smart” technologies versity, water quality and of development enabling them such as sensors, data analytics tourism issues to restore to attract more investments and and artificial intelligence can the areas. improve lives for their people. address challenges of rapid • Phuket wants to create a ASCN aspires to facilitate coop- urbanisation. safe city for its people and eration on smart cities develop- tourists using data captured ment, catalyse bankable projects Up to three cities from each 2 by Internet of Things (IOT) with the private sector and se- Asean country will initially join sensors in the city. cure funding and support from in to work towards smart and • Ho Chi Minh City wants Asean’s external partners. sustainable urban development. to develop an integrated Here’s a look at what some emergency response centre. 5 By November, member states plan cities are doing: to formally adopt the Smart Cit- • Luang Prabang, in Laos, Asean’s growth has been and ies Framework at the 33rd Asean which has 183 ancient 3 will continue to be driven by Summit and the upcoming Asean wetlands affected by ur- urban centres, with 90 million chairs, Thailand and Vietnam, are ban development, pollu- more people expected to likely to continue pursuing the tion and pest infestation urbanise by 2030. ASCN during their chairmanship.

11 Cover story

Smart fixes can boost Asean urban life: Report

Economic, human Seven South-east Asian cities are Hence, while MGI believes that it driving the rate of urbanisation: Jakarta, is vital for governments to outline a development Manila, Yangon, Ho Chi Minh City, vision for the future, the rapid pace of achievable if growth Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. technological change means that cities is managed well, But Mr Jonathan Woetzel, senior need to consider how to pair smart partner and leader of McKinsey’s Special technologies with complementary says research group Cities Initiative, said: “Urbanisation can policies and investment. propel South-east Asia to the level of But neither the public nor the private economic and human development, but sector can build smart cities alone, the Luke Tan only if growth is managed well.” report said. The report noted that “rapid growth City governments will have to has led to growing pains” and the quality continue providing many critical of life for its residents has taken a hit. services for the people, but they do not ith South-east Residents, for instance, can spend have to fund and operate every type of Asian cities ex- hours stuck in traffic or be stuffed into service and infrastructure system. panding rapidly, overcrowded trains and buses each Mr Mukund Sridhar, partner and smart solutions day, or even struggle to find affordable leader of McKinsey’s infrastructure could improve the housing – causing millions to make do practice in South-east Asia, said: “Cities Wquality of urban life by 10 per cent to with slum dwellings. facing tough budgetary choices will 30 per cent, said a report. Mr Woetzel added that cities need have to prioritise the practical over the For example, intelligent traffic lights to act quickly to address growing envi- flashiest new technologies. and emergency response applications ronmental stresses and combat climate “Installing digital systems behind could save around 5,000 lives lost each change. the scenes to manage traffic, coordinate year because of traffic accidents, fires Building on previous research, MGI networks of hospitals, or cut down on and murders. said that smart solutions, such as using bureaucratic paperwork may yield more Smart cities could also allow residents greener building materials, could remove impact than highly visible touch screens to save up to US$16 billion (S$21.8 up to 270,000 kilotons of greenhouse on the street.” billion) annually. For instance, sensors gas emissions a year. It said there is The report was produced as a that track electricity usage can lead to already a wave of innovation across discussion paper for the World Cities savings, as energy can be stored more the region from contributions made by Summit 2018, held in Singapore at efficiently. private-sector companies. Marina Bay Sands in July. The report, Smart Cities In South- Still, the report cautions that firms east Asia, is a collaboration between aspiring to be urban solution providers the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) need an intimate understanding of a city and the Centre for Liveable Cities in to meet the needs of its residents. They Singapore. may also need to work with governments. [email protected] 

Better living Smart cities in South-east Asia can make improvements to the quality of urban life. An analysis by McKinsey Global Institute estimates the following improvements: 260,000 to 1.2 million to 6 million to 270,000 1.5 million 8 million kilotons of new jobs man-years greenhouse gas can be created can be saved emissions avoidable in commuting time

US$9b (S$12b) to US$16b can be cut from cost of living

12 Cover story

Audrey Tan Environment Correspondent Cooling Singapore project comes up with new ways to beat the heat

Researchers suggest Far from the caricature of a giant air- On the importance of contextualis- conditioned dome covering Singapore, ation, Cooling Singapore lead principal the use of design and the measures aim to make the Republic investigator Gerhard Schmitt said each innovative materials cooler in other ways, such as through site had features that could influence design and the use of innovative ambient temperature. In the Central to help cool the materials. For example, varying building Business District, for example, a street island heights could improve wind flow, could be surrounded by glass-covered while using light-coloured or reflective building facades, resulting in lower am- surfaces on pavements and building bient temperatures, compared with a eople in Singapore have facades could lower absorption of heat street in Punggol surrounded by con- been feeling the heat since energy from the sun. crete structures. long before climate change Such measures are already in place in “This is why the Cooling Singapore dominated discussions on some areas of Singapore. For example, project also involves modelling and field rising temperatures around the Marina Bay Financial Centre has measurements at specific sites,” said Pthe world. structures of varying heights to capture Professor Schmitt, who is from research The reason? The urban heat island wind, said Assistant Professor Winston institute Singapore-ETH Centre. It was effect – a phenomenon where buildings, Chow of the National University of set up by the Swiss Federal Institute roads and vehicles release heat into the Singapore’s geography department, of Technology in Zurich in partnership environment, especially at night. Studies who is a principal investigator of the with the National Research Foundation show this has caused temperature differ- project. But he cautioned that the under its Create programme. ences of up to 7 deg C between urban measures are not one-size-fits-all, and Moreover, such studies are needed and less built-up areas of Singapore. had to be contextualised to specific sites to find out whether these measures, if And with global warming expected to and conditions. taken together, can magnify the cooling nudge temperatures up by between 1.4 effect or cancel each other out. and 4.6 deg C by the end of the century, FIGHTING A WAR ON The Cooling Singapore project, led making the outdoor environment cooler TWO FRONTS by the Singapore-ETH Centre and should be a national priority, a team of comprising academics from NUS, scientists and policymakers said. The urban heat island Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research “The urban heat island effect will and Technology and Tumcreate was compound the warming force of climate effect will compound launched last year. There is also a change... All cities, not just Singapore, the warming force Cooling Singapore Taskforce comprising will face the twin effects of global 14 other government agencies and warming and the urban heat island of climate change... research institutes, including the URA. effect,” said Urban Redevelopment All cities, not just Scientists say the next step would be Authority (URA) chairman Peter Ho. the creation of a road map of measures He was speaking at the Cooling Singapore, will face each government agency can take to Singapore symposium held during the the twin effects of lower outdoor temperatures. World Cities Summit conference at the Prof Chow said: “The urban heat Marina Bay Sands, in July. global warming and island effect has been undervalued At the event, researchers from a the urban heat island previously, and this project aims to Cooling Singapore project – a research bring it to the forefront. There are initiative first launched last year – also effect. many benefits to managing it properly, referred to a “menu” of 86 possible whether it be in the form of cost savings measures across seven key areas they from using less energy or indirect have come up with to help make benefits of having more greenery in Singapore’s outdoor environment the city.” cooler. The seven are greenery, urban PETER HO geometry, water features, material and CHAIRMAN surfaces, shading, transport and energy. ’’URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY [email protected]  13 Cover story

Making it cooler A team involving academics and policymakers are studying how to make Singapore’s outdoor environment cooler. The Straits Times looks at some of the areas they have identi ed to achieve this.

MATERIAL AND SURFACES Using light-coloured surfaces or reective materials on roads, roofs and building facades could reduce the effect of sunlight heating up urban areas.

ENERGY Energy consumption contributes to the urban heat island effect. Lowering this through the use of energy-ef cient equipment, such as air-conditioners and refrigerators, could help.

WATER BODIES AND FEATURES Ponds on roofs or on ground oors could help prevent the overheating of urban surfaces.

SHADING It is not just trees that can provide shade. Researchers have suggested that shading devices, such as canopies, blinds or shutters, can be installed outside or inside, on or around the TRANSPORT VEGETATION URBAN GEOMETRY building envelope. Singapore’s transport Green roofs and This essentially refers to sector is one of the biggest vertical greenery the way buildings and producers of heat on the are some ways of urban structures are island. Boosting public using plants to arranged. Varying building transport use, or promoting prevent sunlight heights and building forms active mobility like walking from heating up can, for example, improve or cycling, could help. buildings. wind capture.

SOURCE AND ILLUSTRATIONS: COOLING SINGAPORE PHOTOS: ST FILE STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS

14 Cover story

Cheers! A special beer to mark a special anniversary Smart cities: Building for tomorrow microsite

ST ILLUSTRATION: CHNG CHOON HIONG

mart Cities: Building For Tomorrow is a dedicated SWeb page about the ongoing digital transformation of cities to build liveable and sustainable habitats for people. Mr Warren Fernandez, editor- Members of the press were invited to taste three unlabelled glasses of beer – normal beer, in-chief of Singapore Press Newbrew and Pure Water Brew, a beer from the US made using recycled water. Newbrew was Holdings’ English/Malay/Tamil brewed from Newater, Singapore’s very own brand of recycled water. The beer was specially prepared by national water agency PUB and home-grown restaurant and brewery Brewerkz Media group and ST editor, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), a announced the microsite at a global water conference that was held in July. PHOTO: ST FILE forum at the World Cities Summit. Noting the growing interest he three glasses of amber Said Mr Tan: “We are happy to in forging smart cities all around liquid on the table looked partner Brewerkz to develop a special, the world, he said: “Smart cities – and tasted – about the one-off brew that we can all safely toast. is a key initiative of Singapore’s same. But one of them was We look forward to another decade of chairmanship of Asean this year. not the usual type of beer. excellence at SIWW.” “The critical question in many TIt was brewed from Newater, Research fellow Ezequiel Santillan, people’s minds is how do we go Singapore’s very own brand of recycled 33, a fan of craft beer, said the launch from where we are today, with water. of Newbrew was a good public outreach some cities that are not very smart, The special beer, Newbrew, was exercise. “Singaporeans love beer, so to where we want to get to.” specially prepared by national water changing perceptions about Newater Of the microsite, he added: agency PUB and home-grown restaurant through beer is a good initiative.” “We aim for this to be a and brewery Brewerkz to commemorate Newater is used mainly by industries repository of news reports, the 10th anniversary of the Singapore requiring ultra-clean water, such as thought leadership and ideas International Water Week (SIWW), a the wafer fabrication and electronics to continue discussion on this global water conference that took place industries, and is also used to top up important challenge.” in July. Singapore’s reservoirs. The challenges faced in Members of the press were invited to Brewerkz managing director and developing smart cities range from taste three unlabelled glasses of beer – head brewer Sean McLin said the how to harness technology and normal beer, Newbrew and Pure Water restaurant was honoured to be the first innovation to deal with problems Brew, a beer from the United States brewery to design a brew made with caused by rapid urbanisation, to made using recycled water. Newater. designing transport and energy To this reporter’s untrained palate, “The quality of Newater is as good as systems to make cities more all three beers tasted rather similar, it gets, and this is doubly special as the sustainable. differing only in the extent of their brew is crafted in celebration of SIWW’s Many cities are also striving bitterness. decade of innovation and excellence in to foster their cultural and arts While there are no immediate plans water – a key ingredient in the art of sectors to add vibrancy and buzz to commercialise the Newater brew, beer making.” to draw creative talents. SIWW managing director Bernard Tan A spokesman for Pure Water Brew, From the microsite, readers said PUB will monitor feedback from which has been available in parts of the can get updates, commentaries, the events. US since 2014, said the brewing of beer infographics and other He added that the launch of Newbrew using recycled water also highlighted the information on the growing efforts was a public outreach opportunity to scarcity of water resources. She said: in Singapore, the region and highlight how Singapore’s ultra-clean, “Water is too precious to be used just elsewhere to build smart cities. ultra-high-quality recycled water is well once.” It can be found at within international standards of safe str.sg/smart-cities-2018 drinking water. Audrey Tan 

15 Special Feature

Rohit Brijnath Assistant Sports Editor Thailand cave rescue: Humanity at its unified best, with no walls or borders

Rescue workers removing equipment after 12 football players and their coach were rescued in the Tham Luang cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, on July 10, 2018. PHOTO: REUTERS

The world saw Heroes aren’t always young and Like so much of the world, I was familiar, they’re also middle-aged divers tied to the drama in Thailand. On my calm and ingenuity, with names like Richard Stanton and TV I watched, on my phone I scrolled. resilience and faith, John Volanthen, an army medic called So many terrible things happen in the as everyday guys Dr Pak Loharnshoon and Thai navy world, floods in Japan, ferry disasters Seals whose names we might never off Phuket, yet we were drawn to this became heroes know. Just everyday guys you’d never story because it was first about the lost glance at twice, who quietly go deep and then about the trapped and always eroes don’t always into the earth to find, and save, life. In about hope. own chiselled jaws and Thailand, they succeeded. Age was the essential part of the plucked eyebrows, hurdle When they return they do not pose terror: My God, they were only boys, tall buildings in a single for photos, or search for the spotlight locked away in the watery insides bound and have names in a landscape teeming with media. In of the mountain. I thought of my Hlike The Rock. Heroes also come with a self-promoting, show-off planet, they granddaughter; maybe you, of your receding hairlines, creases on their be- were happy to be Clark Kent and it was child. Atheists thought it was all right spectacled faces and swim in the mud- as extraordinary as it was refreshing. to pray. It was that kind of story. dy water of caves. Somehow they get In a rescue full of lessons, this was a From our living rooms we can peer through the rock. lovely one. into a cave in Thailand for this is the

16 Special Feature

A “restricted” sign seen near the area where the search and rescue operation was conducted. PHOTO: REUTERS The 12-member “Wild Boars” soccer team and their coach, who were rescued from a flooded cave, are seen here in the Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, posing with a drawing of Mr Saman Gunan, a former Thai navy diver who died while involved in the mission to rescue them. PHOTO: REUTERS Thailand plans extra security modern, connected world where real We demonise on Twitter and are cruel life is more dramatic than anything without compunction. The worst of measures at cave fiction can muster. And yet even here humankind plays out on our front pages ANGKOK – Thailand plans only so much could be seen and the and TV screens and yet here we saw to take extra precautions to rest had to be imagined and it was glimpses of a better planet. Bsafeguard tourists who want dreadful: the boys waiting, the dark, Here we saw calm and ingenuity, to visit a cave where 12 boys and the claustrophobia. resilience and faith. The young coach their soccer coach were trapped for As we watched the World Cup, these gave away his food and families did more than two weeks. child footballers slept on a small island not berate him for putting their boys in A new visitor route will be of rock. In a way they resembled little danger. No one cried foul or mentioned worked out to the cave and other ships that had slipped their moorings payment. More was at stake than our destinations in the province, and drifted away from everything real everyday pettiness. One might say it which shares borders with and normal to them. took a bunch of lost kids for us to briefly Myanmar and Laos. It must have been disorienting for find ourselves. The Tourism Authority of them and bewildering and yet we learnt, Thai volunteers cooked and divers Thailand is prepared to work again, that we cannot appreciate the came from diverse places, divided by with local officials and the majesty of the human heart – even the passports but united by purpose. They private sector to promote the young heart – till it confronts enormous joined the Thais and as they exchanged 10-kilometre limestone cave in adversity. We cannot tell the limits of expertise and found calm, together Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park. courage till it is tested. they offered an interesting idea: Prime Minister Prayut And so somehow these boys put on Perhaps, at our best, we are a species Chan-o-cha has called for safety unfamiliar masks, breathed foreign air, of collaboration not conflict. measures to be put in place inside found themselves tied to a stranger, At the end, as we watched on TV, and outside the cave, before the navigated through the muck, felt the people cheered the passing ambulances public are allowed in. touch of walls, kept their panic in and a friend tweeted “Yay” and yet it “In future, we have to monitor check. Later, in a BBC video, a diver was impossible to forget that when the the entrance and exit to the cave. named Ivan Karadzic said: “I cannot rescue was being planned, a former Thai This cave has become world understand how cool these small kids navy Seal, Mr Saman Gunan, died when famous… we have to install more are.” Neither can we. he ran out of oxygen. lights inside the cave and put up Soon enough the pipes will be pulled Later his father, Mr Wichai Gunan, signs,” he said. out of the cave and the oxygen canisters told the BBC: “I am very proud, but I “It’s a dangerous cave,” said Mr loaded on trucks, but something am very sad too.” Then he added, as if Prayut, adding that the cave would should be left behind from this rescue. speaking to his son: “Rest well. Daddy be closed to the public for a while until “everything is in order”. Something to remember. Like the loves you.” So many kids had been Visitors are advised not to evidence of humans at their productive, saved and yet how could this be a fairy enter the cave during the rainy unified best. tale? Someone, after all, had lost his boy. season because it is known to be The wider world seems consumed prone to flooding. by walls and borders, cages and fences, separation and segregation. [email protected] 

17 Special Feature

BY THE NUMBERS Cave rescue heroes Estimated number of Number of DAYS people involved in the pumps rescue, including experts used to 100 from the US, Australia, 19 suck water On June 23, 12 schoolboys and their football coach vanished into a winding, dangerous cave near the Thai-Myanmar border. They would not 1,000 The number emerge until 17 days later, saved by a tenacious team of international divers, soldiers, medics and volunteers as the world watched, Britain, Japan, China, out of the Myanmar and Laos cave of oxygen trans xed. Here’s a recap of the extraordinary saga. tanks 17 delivered to THE HEROES Foreign divers the cave They came from all walks of life, volunteering their services in the hope Expert cave divers flew in from around How long the that the trapped Thai youth soccer team would be rescued alive. Here’s the globe, including Britain, the United 12 boys and 8 hours a look at some of the heroes that made the miraculous rescue possible. States and Australia, and foreign experts their coach 15% Average time taken for based in Thailand chipped in. were trapped divers to lead the boys out The level of oxygen in the space They include: over three trips where the boys were trapped Thai navy Seals • British divers Richard Stanton (below • They never gave centre) and John Volanthen (below right) up searching. A who found the boys. team of four Seals, The volunteers Dry Thousands of volunteers facilitated Cross section of the cave* including a medic, • How far inside Refuge areas stayed with the everything from rides up to the cave site to meals for divers. Thai villagers also set the cave the boys and assistant group was stuck up coffee stalls and massage stations 4km *Drawing not to scale Flooded areas Entry of the cave coach until they 4km were all evacuated. while international experts set up rescue communications and pumping systems to drain the flooded cave. TIMELINE June 23 June 25 June 27 July 1 July 3 July 6 July 9 Twelve boys aged Thai navy US military personnel, Operating Rescuers Retired navy Seal diver Saman Gunan Four more boys • Mr Ben Reymenants, 11 to 17 and their Seal divers para-rescuemen and survival base set explore dies after passing out during a rescued The fallen hero The medics a Belgian who runs a coach, 25, are enter cave specialists, as well as British up inside options to resupply mission, becoming the sole • Saman Gunan • They not only dive shop in Phuket reported missing diving experts, arrive cave get them out casualty of the operation was the only attended to and is thought to fatality. He died the boys and have been part of when he ran out coach in the the group that first of oxygen while cave, but also found the boys. JUNE JULY returning from the looked after the The farmers chamber where the divers and the many • More than a dozen high-powered pumps June 24 June 26 June 28 July 2 July 4 July 8 July 10 volunteers involved in the rescue. • Mr Ivan Karadzic, a boys were trapped. He had been tasked Dane based on the flooded local farms but farmers said they Relatives start Divers reach Underwater British cave divers Boys taught how to Divers lead Last four boys with delivering oxygen tanks to the • Dr Richard Harris assessed the didn’t mind. It was all for a good cause. vigil outside Tham dangerous search find all 12 boys and swim and dive, as first four boys and their health of the boys and their coach, Thai island of Koh caveRISKY and passed ROUTE out while returning Tao, where he Mr Lek Lapdaungpoin said he was proud Luang cave, where T-junction in halted after their coach alive rescue teams pump out of cave coach are led rescuers’ used air tanks to the rescue determining who needed to get out of his small contribution. “With the farming, the group is cave but are downpour more than 4km water out of cave out of cave of the cave quickest and who could co-runs a diving base camp set up inside the cave. centre. we can make money again. But 13 lives are believed to have forced back by inside cave round the clock wait longer. not something we can create,” he said. vanished floodwaters

RISKY ROUTE Diving mask covers Oxygen tank How the 12 boys and their the entire face Thirteen medical teams were coach, who had no diving CHOKE POINTS stationed outside the cave – each Depth from surface Headlamp Boys had to navigate with its own helicopter and experience, were guided 800m to 1,000m Other divers were through submerged ambulance – one for each of the through a labyrinth of To the entrance positioned across passageways They also had to 12 boys and their coach. submerged passages, steep the dangerous first sometimes no more climb up slopes slopes and choke points by First diver kilometre stretch. than 0.6m wide. at up to teams of international divers. Two divers escorted Boy attached carries boy’s 45-degree each boy throughout to rescue diver oxygen tank angles. the escape. Tham via a rope and “Pattaya N Chiang Luang LAOS harness Cave Beach” MYANMAR Steep Rai cave slopes ends Sam Yaek Where boys Lamps junction THAILAND Rescued Location of and coach Oxygen Dry and muddy area Narrow July 8 9 10 Bangkok were trapped tanks passageways 12 stranded Guide rope boys and by flood water Rescue teams managed to drain Chamber 2 Chamber CAMBODIA Underwater dive their coach Distance from where the boys were trapped NOTE: The terrain shown is schematic the water level in the cave 3 Gulf of and does not reflect actual terrain and considerably, even in the face of Thailand to entrance of cave: About 4km MAE SAI distance. Diagrams are not to scale. intermittent monsoon rain. Entrance

LUCKY 13 The Wild Boars soccer team were saved by an international effort. The boys, aged 11 to 17, and their 25-year-old assistant coach Ekkapol Adul Sam-on, Chanin Duganpet Ekarat Mongkol Booneiam, Nattawut Panumas Peerapat Pipat Pho, Pornchai Prajak Somepong emerged from their Chantawong, a 14 Vibulrungruang, 11 Promtep, 13 Wongsukchan, 14 12 or 13 Takamrong, 14 Sangdee, 13 Sompiangjai, 17 15 Kamluang, 16 Sutham, 15 Jaiwong, 13 ordeal in remarkably coach of the Wild good health. Boars soccer team. Sources: REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, EL MUNDO PHOTOS: ROYAL THAI NAVY, THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, 9NEWS, REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, EPA-EFE, ACET OFFSHORE, FACEBOOK STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS

18 Special Feature

19 Perspective Time for Kim to prove his sincerity

fter comments from US United States. After the public relations around that position has started to President Donald Trump victories scored by Mr Kim this year fray; China and Russia, keen to keep and his ambassador to with his outreach to the South, North the North onside, are suggesting that Seoul, Admiral Harry Korea’s participation in the Winter some relaxation is called for. Not to Harris, the Pentagon, Olympic Games hosted by the South, be outdone, South Korean Foreign Adespite its misgivings, has confirmed it and his own dramatic summits with Minister Kang Kyung-wha has added is preparing to hew to their command- South Korean President Moon Jae-in, to the dilution by saying that sanctions er-in-chief’s desire to suspend major war and subsequently, with Mr Trump, a could begin to be lifted once the North games with South Korea. This serves to loosening of sanctions was always on takes “meaningful, substantive” steps assuage a major concern of North Korea, the cards. towards denuclearisation. If Mr Kim’s which has long viewed these exercises diplomacy was aimed at busting the as a preparation for invasion. In order to The stout observance of these consensus over sanctions, victory may not look like too much of a climbdown, sanctions by China, which be in sight for him. there is talk that not all joint training will accounted for about 90 per Ms Kang also has raised the be suspended. Nevertheless, the thrust cent of North Korea’s trade, possibility of a formal peace treaty of US diplomacy towards the isolated probably contributed the to replace the armistice of 1953 that nation is clear: Pyongyang now must most to Chairman Kim Jong ended the Korean War. She describes stay on the path of denuclearisation and Un’s decision to attempt a this as an “entrance” to a process to the positive moves it has made with the rapid normalisation of ties establish a peace regime on the Korean destruction of its nuclear testing site. with his southern neighbour, peninsula. China, which had pressed its This then raises the question of and, more importantly, the “suspension for suspension” formula – the future of the crippling United United States. the North stopping nuclear and missile Nations-imposed sanctions. The stout tests if the US ended war games on the observance of these sanctions by China, The question is, how soon could the peninsula – has reason to be pleased which accounted for about 90 per sanctions be eased? The maximalist even as it is probably a little disconcerted cent of North Korea’s trade, probably US position, reiterated in Singapore that Mr Trump and Mr Kim have opened contributed the most to Chairman Kim by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a direct line to each other. Dramatic Jong Un’s decision to attempt a rapid is that full sanctions will stay until turns on the world stage aside, Mr Kim normalisation of ties with his southern there is complete denuclearisation should not be in any doubt that he will neighbour and, more importantly, the of the North. But the consensus be judged purely on his actions.  Cash does not always need to be king

ingapore’s digital journey over the years shows that Singaporeans the digital route. But as bank branches started in 1984 with the were better prepared for change than dotting Singapore testify, companies Giro, a low-cost collection generally thought, and that it was here have been diffident about pushing system for organisations that system providers who were, perhaps, the envelope as they cater to a segment exists to this day. Cashless slow to move. that still loves bricks-and-mortar Stransactions began with the introduction China’s rapid advance in e-payments facilities. by Nets two years later of Eftpos, short has rattled entrenched payments But moving towards cashlessness for electronic funds transfer at point of companies like MasterCard, Visa and should not be daunting, as some may sale. Then came electronic road pric- PayPal. Countries like the United think. Regardless of adoption rates ing and drivers got used to seeing val- Arab Emirates are steaming ahead and the tangible efficiency of digital ue extracted electronically from their solutions, there will be some who prefer CashCards. The ez-link card for public Moving towards cashlessness to use cash. Besides, the thrill of crisp transport was launched in 2001. A game should not be daunting, as notes in a hongbao at Chinese New changer for direct person-to-person some may think. Regardless Year, or a green packet at Hari Raya, transfers was the introduction in 2014 of adoption rates and the can never be matched by an electronic of Fast, or Fast and Secure Transfers sys- tangible efficiency of digital transfer of such funds. Sweden is already tem, available in real time every day of solutions, there will be some the most cashless society in the world. the week and at any time of the day. who prefer to use cash. But there are concerns about how this All these payment systems have now impacts the elderly and vulnerable become ubiquitous. on adopting technologies such as groups. The goal here must not be to The Government now wants driverless vehicles and electric cars. go to extremes and have a completely Singapore to be a cheque-free society Banks in India, including DBS Group, cash- or cheque-free society. The aim by 2025. That may well be a too-easy are acquiring customers and selling should be to make cashless payments target. The swing to cashless options them a variety of services by going the preferred mode of operations. 

20 Interview

Chang May Choon South Korea Correspondent Singapore can continue to help in bid to denuclearise Korea: Moon

South Korean President seeks close cooperation to maintain dialogue momentum for peace in Korean peninsula

ingapore can continue to play a constructive role after hosting the historic United States-North Korea summit, and has strengths that “will Sbe of great help in materialising” the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said. In a written interview with The Straits Times in July, ahead of his first state visit to Singapore, Mr Moon stressed the importance of building trust on all sides, and sought close cooperation with Singapore and other countries in South Korean President Moon Jae-in inspecting the Guard of Honour with Singapore President the global community to maintain the Halimah Yacob at the Istana on July 12, 2018. PHOTO: REUTERS dialogue momentum and implement the agreements made among the leaders. which runs counter to the spirit of the agreements made among the leaders. Noting that Singapore has also been Singapore summit”. Mr Moon acknowledged that the constantly communicating with both Mr Pompeo dismissed the accusations controversial decision to suspend joint Koreas and the US, and is Asean chair and insisted the talks were productive. military drills between South Korea and this year, he said: “Such strengths of He was backed by Mr Trump, who tweet- the US was a move to build trust and Singapore will be of great help in mate- ed he had “confidence that Kim Jong Un keep the dialogue going. rialising the complete denuclearisation will honour the contract we signed and, But he gave the assurance that the of the Korean peninsula and the settle- even more importantly, our handshake”. US forces stationed in the South are ment of permanent peace. I am looking Mr Moon, in his interview with ST, “an entirely different issue” and “not forward to Singapore’s constructive role stressed that the tensions between the a subject for discussion” in negotiations going forward.” US and North Korea have persisted for denuclearisation. His visit comes as the US and North for nearly 70 years, since the 1950-53 Mr Moon said talks are under way Korea struggle to iron out details of the Korean War, and “cannot be resolved to discuss the timing and format of a broad agreement inked by their leaders in just one stroke”. declaration to end the Korean War this in Singapore to work towards complete He said the Korean peninsula is now year. “I believe that if the two Koreas denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. “witnessing a great historic transition”, can restore a sense of community among North Korea’s Foreign Ministry adding: “The course of history has now the Korean people while coexisting issued a statement after a visit by US turned away from war and towards and mutually prospering on a peaceful Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in early peace.” But while both Koreas and the peninsula, the door to unification will July, expressing regret and blasting the US have taken a joint first step, what open naturally.” US for its “unilateral and gangster- matters most, he added, is devising like demand for denuclearisation... concrete plans to put into practice the [email protected] 

21 Interview

Suspension of joint military exercises is to build trust and keep dialogue going: Moon

ere are excerpts from ST’s Mr Moon: Korea and Asean are optimal written interview with partners on the path towards a future South Korean President of peace and common prosperity. HMoon Jae-in: In practical terms, Korea has been actively supporting Asean member Q1: Mr President, what is your primary states’ endeavours to create an Asean interest in regard to your first visit to community. It is also firmly committed Singapore? What goal would you like to elevating ties with Asean to the level to achieve through the visit? of those with the four major powers whose interests converge on the Korean Mr Moon: It has been 15 years since a Peninsula. Korean President made a state visit to The New Southern Policy has sprung Singapore. I am very pleased to have from this very point. Now, at a time this meaningful opportunity. More than when both Asean and Korea are about anything else, I hope my visit this time to take a new leap forward and make will serve as a chance to build a strong yet more progress, the centrepiece of friendship with Prime Minister Lee the Policy lies in the establishment Hsien Loong, President Halimah Yacob of a future partnership for people, and other key leaders of Singapore. mutual prosperity and peace Solid trust between the leaders of our by taking the level of bilateral two countries should provide impetus cooperation to new heights. for further promoting forward-looking bilateral cooperation. Q3: The North Korea-US summit was Singapore is an important partner held in June in Singapore following the whose cooperation is necessary for inter-Korean summit at Panmunjom implementing one of the Korean in April. How will you maintain Government’s top priorities: the New such dialogue momentum, and what Southern Policy. Our two countries have developments do you foresee on the already laid groundwork for further Korean Peninsula? advancing future-oriented substantive collaboration. We have similar Mr Moon: We are now witnessing a

experiences in achieving economic great historic transition on the Korean ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO growth despite such disadvantages as Peninsula. The course of history has insufficient natural resources and a now turned away from war and towards challenging security environment. We peace. Consecutive successes in the inter- about 70 years and so cannot be resolved also share a future vision for peace and Korean summit and the North Korea-US in just one stroke. common prosperity. summit are particularly important in that What matters most is implementing both Koreas and the United States have the agreements made among the Q2: Mr President, you unveiled the New taken a joint first step. However, it has to leaders. In order to realise the goal of Southern Policy during the Asean-related be noted that the military tensions and bringing permanent peace to the Korean summits last November. Would you hostile relations between North Korea please tell us more about this initiative? and the United States have persisted for

ST ILLUSTRATION: MIEL

22 Interview

Peninsula through the North’s complete Both South Korea and the United denuclearisation, as the leaders of the States have a firm stance on the role and South, the North and the United States importance of US forces in South Korea have agreed, we have to formulate in regard to peace and prosperity on the concrete implementation plans and put Korean Peninsula and in North-east Asia. them into practice. For its part, the North needs to flesh Q5: What is going on with the plan to out its implementation plans for denu- declare an end to the Korean War? Do clearisation while South Korea and the you predict that unification will happen United States have to swiftly carry out in the near future? corresponding comprehensive measures. PHOTO: SingPost Mr Moon: Declaring an end to the War To this end, trust is of paramount im- is a political proclamation to express a portance. common resolve to end hostile relations SingPost and and move forward towards peaceful co- Q4: Joint military exercises between The Straits Times existence, and thus it is meaningful. It South Korea and the United States have will be a milestone leading the process launch stamp been suspended as part of the efforts to of establishing permanent peace, includ- induce North Korea’s denuclearisation. commemorating ing through the denuclearisation of the What are the underlying reasons? Are Korean Peninsula and the signing of a Trump-Kim there concerns over the withdrawal of peace treaty. US forces in South Korea? summit The Korean Government’s goal Mr Moon: The suspension is to build is to declare an end to the Korean INGAPORE – Singapore trust in a bid to keep dialogue going. War on the 65th anniversary of the Post and The Straits North Korea expressed its intent to Armistice this year as agreed in the STimes have collaborated denuclearise completely during the Panmunjom Declaration. North Korea to launch a new stamp inter-Korean summits and the North and the United States will have close commemorating the historic Korea-US summit, and it is taking consultations with each other over the meeting between North practical measures, including the timing and format, and now there are Korean leader Kim Jong Un destruction of its nuclear test site. additional talks underway between the and United States President South Korea and the United States two Koreas and between North Korea Donald Trump. have assessed the recent change in and the United States. The June 12 summit, held North Korea’s attitude positively. Given This year, there have been a lot of at the Capella Singapore on the above, we reached a consensus that once unimaginable achievements, but, Sentosa, was the first meeting North Korea’s interests also needed to on the other hand, it has only been six between the leaders of both be addressed, and it was agreed that months since inter-Korean relations countries. the joint military exercises were to be were put back on track. There is a need The collector’s sheet was suspended while the talks continued. to concentrate on the denuclearisation launched on July 20 and The US forces in South Korea are of the Korean Peninsula, the settlement measures 113mm by 80mm. an entirely different issue. It is a matter of peace and an improvement in inter- It features a photo of the the related to the Korea-US alliance and is not Korean relations while making the most handshake between Mr Kim a subject for discussion in the process of of the opportunity given to us. and Mr Trump taken by The negotiations for denuclearisation between Straits Times photojournalist North Korea and the United States. Chang May Choon  Kevin Lim. The stamp itself has a denomination of $10 and measures 45mm by 45mm. It features a close-up of the handshake against the Singapore skyline and the words “DPRK-USA Singapore Summit”. DPRK is an abbreviation of the North’s official name, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Collector’s sheets are priced at $10.70 each and sold at all post offices, the Philatelic Store and the Singapore Philatelic Museum. They can also be bought online at shop.singpost.com

23 Regional Watch

Chong Koh Ping China Correspondent in Dandong (Liaoning) Bridging fortunes across the Yalu River

The New Yalu River Bridge was designed to connect China’s Dandong in Liaoning province with North Korea’s Sinuiju. But it has been idle since it was built more than three years ago. There are no connecting roads on the North Korean side of the 3km bridge. PHOTO: REUTERS

Chinese border roads on the North Korean side of the 3km New Yalu River Bridge. What was city of Dandong meant to be a symbol of new Sino- well placed to reap North Korean relations became a benefits when North reminder of broken promises when it was completed in 2014, marking a low Korea opens up in bilateral ties. But things appear to be looking up for Dandong, China’s biggest border city he six-lane suspension bridge spanning the Yalu with its Cold War era ally. River that forms the border “Our local economy goes up and between China and North down depending on North Korea,” Korea has been idle since said bus company manager Yu Feng, Tit was built more than three years ago. 42. He runs a cross-border bus service Next to it stands a 25-storey Customs that ferries North Koreans who cross the building, put up in anticipation of a Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, 13km A huge Mao Zedong statue greets travellers at the square in front of Dandong railway station boom that never materialised. upstream from the new bridge, to work in China, a short walk from the Sino-Korean The reason? There are no connecting in Dandong’s restaurants and factories. Friendship Bridge. ST PHOTO: CHONG KOH PING

24 Regional Watch

North Korea as seen from the Chinese border city of Dandong, separated by the Yalu River. Dandong residents are hopeful the city’s fortunes, which are very much tied to North Korea, could rise again. Border trade has been hit hard by United Nations sanctions. ST PHOTO: CHONG KOH PING

He said business has dropped by hopes Pyongyang will finally make real Investors, businessmen and residents 30 per cent since China stepped up moves to open up its economy – like in Dandong who spoke to this reporter enforcement of United Nations sanctions China did 40 years ago. are hopeful that the city’s fortunes, on North Korea last year. “There are still The dramatic thawing of tensions in which are very much tied to North people coming back and forth every day, the region culminated in the historic Korea, could rise again. but it’s at least half of the numbers we June 12 meeting between Mr Kim and used to see,” he said, adding that many United States President Donald Trump MAIN GATEWAY TO North Koreans have returned home for in Singapore. good after their work visas expired. Mr Kim also has secured promises NORTH KOREA With North Korean leader Kim from Chinese President Xi Jinping on Dandong, with a population of nearly Jong Un pledging to shift focus to his three visits to China this year that 900,000, is the conduit for almost 80 per economic growth and committing to Beijing will back Pyongyang’s shift to cent of China’s trade with North Korea. denuclearisation talks, it has rekindled focus on the economy. With China accounting for 90 per cent of its neighbour’s total trade, Dandong is practically the world’s gateway to North Korea. CHINA It is also home to a pipeline that supplies 90 per cent of North Korea’s Dandong oil, a lifeline China has resisted cutting off even at the height of international Sino-Korea pressure. Friendship NORTH On the opposite bank of the river Bridge KOREA – where Chinese troops helped the North fight the Americans in the Korean Yalu River War – is Sinuiju city, one of North Dandong Sinuiju Korea’s earliest special administrative New District zones. It was set up in 2002 as part New Yalu of Pyongyang’s experiment with the River Bridge market economy. RUSSIA Professor Li Jiacheng from Liaoning University told The Straits Times: “The Heilongjiang North Koreans have long designated MONGOLIA Sinuiju as a special economic zone so Jilin it’s very likely that it will spearhead the Liaoning Yellow Pyongyang economic opening up of the country, NORTH Sea like Shenzhen (did for China).” Beijing KOREA Prof Li noted that previously stalled projects such as the joint development of SOUTH CHINA KOREA the Hwanggumpyong special economic zone could restart one day. This was one East of the deals Mr Kim’s father Kim Jong China JAPAN Sea STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS Il signed on a trip to Beijing in 2010.

25 Regional Watch

Built in 1911, this railway bridge was the first bridge across the Yalu River, and was damaged in the Korean War. Today, it stands as a memorial and a tourist attraction. ST PHOTO: CHONG KOH PING

the Customs checkpoint that sells tape and other packaging materials to traders sending their wares across the bridge. The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, built by Japanese colonial forces in 1937, has a one-way Business has plunged by about 70 road and a railway track. It is the only link between China’s Dandong and North Korea. ST PHOTO: CHONG KOH PING per cent since the sanctions kicked in, he said, adding that he now relies on customers who are not involved in border trade. FUTURE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Mr Teng said while he looks forward to the day when trade with North Korea is fully resumed, he doubts small businesses like his will get to benefit should North Korea open up. A shop selling packaging materials for A truck from North Korea turning into a “North Korea used to concentrate traders. Its operator has seen a sharp drop of yard in Dandong, where vehicles laden with their resources on making weapons. 70 per cent in business since sanctions goods wait before crossing the Sino-Korean on North Korea kicked in. Friendship Bridge to North Korea. Their factories don’t produce household ST PHOTO: CHONG KOH PING PHOTO: REUTERS goods like pots and pans because they are producing weapons,” he said. “If they Even as US Secretary of State Mike Mr Yu observed, referring to the Sino- decide to abandon this path, then they Pompeo stresses that sanctions will Korean Friendship Bridge, the only link can produce all these things, and there’s remain while North Korea maintains between Dandong and North Korea. no need for such cross-border trade.” nuclear weapons, China has suggested Built by Japanese colonial forces in Still, local businessmen Feng Zhongbo, these could be eased. 1937, the 940m bridge, which locals 53, and Zhou Jiabin, 66, are ready to seize “Sanctions relief is still largely depend- say is old and rickety, has a one-way the opportunities. ent on the US, but, in the near future, we road and a railway track – used by Mr Mr Feng is setting up a new company could start to see some changes. But this Kim – and his father and grandfather to trade with North Korea. “I’m will be a gradual process, for a start,” before him – to travel to China in an optimistic that North Korea’s opening said Prof Li. armoured train. up will boost bilateral trade and the Analysts said the current rapproche- Trucks entering Dandong are now local economy in Dandong,” said Mr ment and possible opening up of the North empty as China has stopped importing Feng, who runs a tourist resort and a lending firm, among other businesses. Korean economy will give Liaoning and coal and seafood from its neighbour He plans to export home appliances the other two rust belt provinces of Jilin in line with the UN sanctions, while and building materials to the North and Heilongjiang a much-needed boost. the ones leaving the city are loaded and bring in North Korean seafood HIT BY SANCTIONS with daily necessities and food items. and honey once the sanctions are lifted. Dragonfruit, bananas and oranges are Mr Zhou, who owns a cement compa- For now, the once-roaring border among the items from southern China. ny, is waiting for the lifting of sanctions trade has slowed drastically compared Products bearing traces of metals to proceed with a deal clinched several with 2016. Up to 80 per cent of the trad- are not allowed past Customs checks in years ago for a development project in ing companies based in Dandong have case the metals are extracted for use in North Korea. Brimming with optimism, gone out of business, local residents said. making nuclear and missile components. Mr Zhou thinks “the best of times” is “There used to be 300 to 500 trucks “They include jackets with metal but- yet to come. crossing the bridge each day. But it’s now tons and even sewing needles,” said Mr down to about 10 per cent (of that),” Teng Bo, 50, who runs a small shop near [email protected] 

26 Regional Watch Kelly Ommundsen Asean unicorns sharpening their horns

With a young, literate and digitally savvy population and the world’s fastest growing Internet region, the regional bloc is fertile ground for such start-ups to grow but they also need committed support from public- and private-sector leaders ST ILLUSTRATION

f you listen close enough you can An inclusive and integrated digital hear a rumbling through the In- economy provides fertile ground for donesian rice paddies or off the start-ups to grow, scale and develop shores of Singapore. This is not into unicorns. the sound of the region’s motor Asean is currently home to seven Ivehicles revving up their engines or unicorns, and many of the region’s seismic activity in the tectonic plates leaders are bullish about the future. below, but rather the galloping hooves Indonesia’s Minister of Communication of Asean’s unicorns, one of the US$1 and Information Technology Rudiantara, Asean also boasts a young, literate billion (S$1.37 billion) start-ups, charg- who serves as a member of the Board and digitally savvy population. By 2020, ing ahead and transforming the region’s of Advisers for the Digital Asean project 64 per cent of South-east Asia’s popula- digital landscape. and a Steward of the Future of the tion will be under the age of 40. These With a population of more than 640 Digital Economy and Society System digital natives will be well positioned to million people, the region is poised to Initiative, said in a recent interview that help drive and disrupt the region’s digital be a global powerhouse with the third Indonesia alone is likely to have more economy. We are already seeing this in largest labour force in the world, after than five unicorns by 2019. the region’s unicorns with Traveloka, a China and India, and one of the fastest So what are the magic ingredients that leading travel booking site whose CEO growing consumer markets. will enable Asean’s unicorn horns to grow? Ferry Unardi is 30 year old; Go-Jek, a Across the 10 Asean member coun- ride-hailing app which is quickly ex- tries, the size and level of development STRONG ECONOMIC panding its service offerings and reach vary significantly – but there is an enor- throughout Asia, whose CEO Nadiem mous potential for growth within each FOUNDATIONS Makarim is 33; Tokopedia, an e-com- economy, and for the region as a whole. Citizens and economists alike are merce platform which has exploded onto With 125,000 new users coming optimistic about Asean’s economic the scene, whose CEO William Tanuwi- onto the Internet every day, Asean’s future – and with good reason. jaya is 36; and Bukalapak, a leading on- digital economy is projected to grow If Asean were a single country, it line market place, whose CEO Achmad significantly, adding an estimated US$1 would be the fifth largest economy Zaky is 31 years old. trillion to Asean’s GDP over the next 10 globally, with a combined GDP of over years, if the right conditions are in place. US$2.73 trillion. The region is predicted DIVERSITY AS A The Digital Asean project, an initiative to grow by 5 per cent this year and, by coordinated by the Forum and led by 2050, Asean is projected to surpass Japan STRENGTH regional businesses and governments to and the EU to become the 4th largest There is incredible diversity in the help shape a regional digital economy, economy in the world. For individuals, economics, language, religion and was launched in Singapore recently with Asean’s per capita GDP has risen by culture within and across the 10 Asean the aim of supporting Asean nations more than three times since the inception nations. As the region becomes more unlock the full benefits of the Fourth of Asean as a bloc in 1967, propelling integrated, it is not a one-size-fits-all Industrial Revolution. millions of people into the middle class. market, where per capita GDP of the

27 Regional Watch

Asean in 2025: Possible future

Asean’s digital economy has the potential to add an incremental US$1 trillion in GDP by 2025. The uplift will be driven by an increase in broadband penetration, higher worker productivity and new digital industries such as e-commerce and mobile nancial services. $0.8t - $1.2t in incremental GDP over the next 10 years

$300-400b $100-200b $5,000-5,600b $400-600b $1,550-1,750b

$2,597b $198 Vietnam $305 Philippines $317 Singapore $347 Malaysia $387 Thailand

$930 Indonesia

1 2015 GDP estimate As-is growth I Impact of II Impact III Increase in 2025 GDP broadband of new mobile worker estimate penetration industries productivity NOTE: Figures in US$ 1Based on current prices; uses 2015 as baseline to project future real GDP growth; as-is growth based on ve-year GDP forecasts Sources: GSMA, World Bank, Broadband Commission for Digital Development, IMF, ITU, Deloitte, Telenor, Jones Lang LaSalle, Warsaw Institute for Economic Studies; A.T. Kearney analysis

richest Asean nation is more than 45 the Web through their smartphones. Its well as multi-platform unicorns such times that of the poorest. connected citizens are highly engaged, as SEA, which offers e-commerce and This diverse economic structure pre- spending an average of 3.6 hours on payment services, in addition to its sents challenges but also a wide array of mobile Internet each day across the hugely popular Garena gaming platform. growth opportunities where you can find region, according to a recent report by Gaming alone represents a US$1 billion frontier markets which have lower op- Google and Temasek. Thailand is at the market in the region and is forecast to erating and labour costs with significant front of the pack, spending an average double in the next five years. untapped potential from foreign invest- of 4.2 hours on mobile Internet a day, The growth in Internet penetration ment, as well as more highly developed which is more than double the two has also given rise to an active social- globalised markets that are at the cutting hours American users are consuming media presence, with Indonesia topping edge of technology and innovation. The on a daily basis. the list. Its capital, Jakarta, was honoured region presents possibilities all along the This same report points out that Asean with the title of Twitter City in 2012 for value chain. Internet users also spend nearly double the most number of tweets originating While there is diversity in supply, we the amount of time online shopping from any city in the world and has are seeing an increasing convergence in compared with Americans (140 vs 80 become the most popular geo-tagged demand. As former Asean Secretary- minutes a month) making it a very ripe city on Instagram, according to an General Le Luong Minh framed it, market for unicorns to emerge. analysis by CB Insights. While we have “While the region is diverse and varied, seen many start-ups and tech companies the growing middle classes in Asean PLATFORM arising from the region to cater to the share similar demands and consumption local market, the social media platforms patterns. This should allow companies POTENTIAL that have dominated the Asean market to build broader regional platforms and The ubiquity of mobile phones have largely originated from the West take advantage of economies of scale.” throughout the region has also resulted or from China. This leaves the door in a boom in transportation platforms open for home-grown competitors to GROWTH IN such as Go-Jek and Grab, which can be emerge, such as VNG in Vietnam, which seen zipping around busy city streets. The owns Zalo, one of the nation’s leading INTERNET global market valuation for ride-hailing messaging app, that is set to be Vietnam’s AND MOBILE services in Asean more than doubled in first IPO abroad. just two years to US$5.1 billion in 2017, PENETRATION and Google projects that it will climb to INVESTMENT ON With more than half of the region more than $20 billion by 2025. online, Asean continues to add millions E-commerce has seen incredible THE RISE of new users each month. growth throughout the region, topping Confidence in the region from global Mobile is king, with 141 per cent US$10 billion in revenues last year, with investors continues to build, with Asean mobile penetration. Meanwhile, 90 per the rise of unicorns like Singapore-based pulling in increasing levels of venture cent of the region’s Internet users access Lazada and Indonesia’s Tokopedia, as funding year on year. According to CB

28 Regional Watch

to develop local tech talent that can build and run innovative start-ups and transform them into large, complex billion-dollar companies. It will also be critical for the 10 Asean member nations to work together to create cohesive and interoperable legislation around data sharing and other key areas of regulation that will enable the regional integration of the digital economy and take advantage of economies of scale, rather than a collection of 10 fragmented countries. Go-Jek’s founder Nadiem Makarim, 33, poses for a photograph in his company’s office in Jakarta. The Digital Asean initiative is an It is expected that by 2020, 64 per cent of South-east Asia’s population will be under 40 and important step in supporting that vision, these digital natives will help drive and disrupt the region’s digital economy. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG NEWS but for Asean to build a herd of unicorns – or a blessing of unicorns as it is often called – it will take committed support Insights, tech companies raised US$6.5 region hopes to develop new unicorns from leaders across the region in the billion in 2017, which is more than in the future, more money will need to public and private sectors to create the double the US$3.1 billion raised in 2016, be invested across the ecosystem to help fertile conditions for them to grow. and triple the US$1.7 billion in 2015. foster new areas of growth. The World Economic Forum on Asean While this is good news for the 2018 will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, region’s current unicorns, who received MORE THAN MAGIC on Sept 11-13 and bring together the an overwhelming 75 per cent of the As the world’s fastest growing In- region’s leading start-ups and entrepre- venture capital that was invested over ternet region, the future for Asean’s neurs. With all of the energy and dyna- the past several years, this can be a digital economy looks bright – though mism that is brewing across Asean, you challenge for those start-ups which not without its fair share of challenges. don’t have to believe in magic, to see the hope to grow their horns in the future, as If Asean hopes to capitalise on its budding horns on the horizon. this leaves little in leftovers for smaller, enormous digital potential, it will early-stage ventures, who rarely make need to focus on getting the other half The writer is Lead, Digital Economy it past Series A funding, if at all. If the of its population online. It will need and Society, World Economic Forum. 

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John Lui Film Correspondent

Singapore’s glittering skyline offers photo opportunities to sightseers. PHOTO: ST FILE Singapore, summit city: Your guide to everything about why the nation rocks

Singapore’s high ters of the public spectacle: One used to “nanny state”. host a reality show and another sends Try not to quote the taxi driver level of security was messages in envelopes sized so that the taking you from the airport to your a reason the meeting people sitting in the cheap seats can see. hotel – there are nearly six million This little red dot suddenly getting on people here and I’m sure you can find between United the world stage has unexpected benefits. an interview with someone outside the States President Being gossiped about, for example. tourism services industry. Donald Trump and Dive into the hashtags #Singapore- And there is more to nightlife here Summit and #TrumpKimSummit and than the bars at Boat Quay and Clarke North Korean leader you will see what people outside say Quay. But if you happen to be there, Kim Jong Un was about Singapore and Singaporeans. there’s no shame eating there because held here. But there Let’s check them out, shall we? a few of them serve quite good food, In the swarm of about 3,000 journal- though it might hurt your wallet. is more to the city ists parachuted in, one tweeted that Sen- We are not asking for unfiltered tosa, where the talks are taking place, praise and flattery. But why not shed he suspense, the drama, the used to be called “Rear Death Island”. the stereotypes, keep an open mind and final reveal of the location. From this, we know that a) he can explore what the country has to offer? It was on, then it was off, use Google and b) he is using a very As an article mentioned on Twitter then it was back on. This literal and unfortunate translation of points out, the Capella is a five-star is the Korean drama we Pulau Blakang Mati, the island’s pre- hotel and Sentosa is home to some very Tcouldn’t stop talking about. 1972 name. rich people and their yachts, but that It was all nerve-racking and – we have Do better, foreign journalists, and also new cliche – “Singapore is expensive to admit – rather exciting. But then we resist the urge to lean on easy cliches and only for the rich”, borne in part are dealing with two men who are mas- such as “pressure cooker society” and from the global success of the Crazy

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Rich Asians novels by Singapore-born, in rather nice public housing apartments. place with the great laksa; the store with US-based author Kevin Kwan – is really Yes, they are uniform blocks that the nice people who sold us our first only a recent meme. seem to go on forever, but to the people bicycle; and the street on which we Take a train. Venture five or six stops who live here, each is unique and every learnt to ride it. from HarbourFront station, in almost neighbourhood is a little bit different. In this Singapore summit guide, you any direction. You will find that the vast You may see uniformity, but we see will find ideas on where to eat, shop majority of us are middle-class and live the playground we used to play on; the and have fun. 

WhatWhat Singapore Singapore is famous is famous for for The Merlion... Being tiny ...which, on a windy day, doubles as a giant water mister.

Refreshing!

SPF 50

Even then, different parts of the island can experience different weather at the same time.

Being hot Speaking of the weather, it’s summer all year round. ...and have ample space in their luggage for good deals! So visitors to Singapore can travel light...

Changi airport Cheap and good hawker food With gardens, a swimming pool, movie theatres, (As long as you don’t mind the wait.) food stalls, children’s play areas, sleeping areas and massage chairs, announcements such as this... 30 packets, please. NASI LEMAK $2 Sorry, your ight has been delayed. Food delivery service

...can be a joyous thing.

Greenery everywhere DURIANS

Its vibrant nightlife

Take me to the place Of course. Here we are. I meant The Night Safari! that is well known for GEYLANG its after-dark action.

ST ILLUSTRATION: CHEE CHEW

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Treasure trove for shoppers The Orchard Road shopping belt in Singapore is world famous, but there are many other Yip Wai Yee options out there. Here are places to check out, Entertainment depending on the type of shopper you are: Correspondent

The Vintage Lover t Hock Siong & Co (153 Kampong Ampat), which describes itself as A“Singapore’s favourite karung guni store”, or rag and bone store in Malay, customers can buy used furniture and cutlery that are mostly acquired from luxury hotels. Follow the store’s Facebook page for updates on the latest items, whether it is a chic teak side table or a leather tufted armchair. A more obscure vintage store is Junkie’s Corner (2 Turf Club Road), which is manned by a guy known as “Uncle Charlie”. The 20,000 sq ft warehouse tucked away amid lush greenery is packed to the brim with weird and wonderful used goods, from small decorative items to big-ticket furniture items. We spotted a retro jukebox here once. Some items may look like they are in pretty bad shape, but if you are good with your hands, it could be your next craft project. At Hock Siong & Co (153 Kampong Ampat, above), which describes itself as “Singapore’s Be sure to bargain with Uncle Charlie favourite karung guni store”, or rag and bone store in Malay, customers can buy used furniture for the best price. and cutlery that are mostly acquired from luxury hotels. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

There are a number of upmarket malls in Orchard Road to spend Stop by the old neighbourhood of Toa Payoh (above) and walk away big bucks at, such as Paragon (290 Orchard Road, above) and Ion with affordable and practical ware for the home, whether it is a Orchard (2 Orchard Turn), both of which house major international plastic bucket or old-school bars of soap. PHOTO: ST FILE fashion labels. PHOTO: ST FILE The Authenticity Seeker The Big Spender n Singapore, areas outside of Orchard Road and the Central here are a number of upmarket malls in Orchard Road Business District are generalised as “the heartland”. to spend big bucks at, such as Paragon (290 Orchard I These are neighbourhoods further away from the glitzy TRoad) and Ion Orchard (2 Orchard Turn), both of downtown and are seen as less manufactured as they are which house major international fashion labels. home to the average Singaporean. Another all-in-one luxury shopping spot is The Shoppes At Stop by the old neighbourhood of Toa Payoh and walk Marina Bay Sands (10 Bayfront Avenue), which has luxury away with affordable and practical ware for the home, whether label boutiques lining a picturesque canal. The place is huge it is a plastic bucket or old-school bars of soap. You can get though, so wear flat shoes to shop in comfort. a quick haircut there too – for as little as $3.80.

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The Hipster Fashionista very hipster in Singapore knows to go to Haji Lane in the Kampong Glam area for some of the best indie Emulti-label fashion and accessories boutiques. SSFW (75 Haji Lane), a home-grown Singapore jewellery brand, hawks lovely handcrafted jewellery pieces made with gemstones. Personalisation is available for some items, which make them great gifts. Down the road is Salad Shop (25/27 Haji Lane), which does not sell vegetable bowls as its name suggests, but elegant clothes and home accessories. The spacious store also stocks swimwear by Singapore Having trouble sleeping? Why not head out for some retail therapy in the middle of the night? And, no, we do not mean buying a soda brand Pinksalt, which offers a range of more modest yet and snack from a convenience store. PHOTO: ZAOBAO modern one-pieces and bikini tops. When you need replenishment, head to Windowsill Pies (17 Haji Lane), which offers freshly baked S’mores and The Night Owl pumpkin pies, or Good Luck Beerhouse (9 Haji Lane) for aving trouble sleeping? Why not head out for some craft beer and dim sum. Happily, for the hipster, both are retail therapy in the middle of the night? And, no, very Instagrammable spots. Hwe do not mean buying a soda and snack from a convenience store. Singapore has a number of big stores that are open 24 hours. Visiting them in the wee hours of the morning means they will be less crowded, so you will have all the space and time you need to shop. The most famous is Mustafa Centre (145 Syed Alwi Road), an iconic multi-storey shopping centre in Farrer Park that is known for selling everything that one could ever need. Whether it is Indian muruku snacks, copper mugs, construction hard hats, foldable keyboards or glittering 24K gold bracelets, you will be able to find them here. The catch is that it may take you a while to locate what you need in the sprawling, and sometimes messy, space. Then again, that is part of the fun. Another good spot for some nighttime shopping is Don Don Donki (Basement 1 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road), a Japanese megastore that is also open 24 hours. Here, you will find a huge array of grocery items as well as lifestyle products – all packaged in kawaii (cute) Japanese fashion. Be sure to plug in your earphones and listen to your own music on full blast while you shop here – the Don Don Donki Every hipster in Singapore knows to go to Haji Lane in the Kampong theme song that plays on an endless loop in the background Glam area for some of the best indie multi-label fashion and will drive you nuts otherwise. accessories boutiques. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID

The Cultured One ingapore is a unique multiracial society, so it makes sense to hit up some of the cultural hot spots around town to soak it all in. S The obvious choice for all things Chinese is Chinatown, but skip the myriad stores outside the MRT station selling tourist kitsch and bag some pretty homeware one street away in Temple Street. Bao Yuan Trading (15 Temple Street) sells everything from porcelain tea pots to vases. If anyone in the family is getting married, consider buying some traditional Chinese wedding items at the covered market on the ground floor of Chinatown Complex (335 Smith Street), just a short walk away. Several stores there sell red charms and good-luck items to ensure a blissful marriage. For bright, glittery and colourful saris and lehengas, head to the second floor of Tekka Market (665 Buffalo Road) in Little India. The best time to soak in Malay culture is when the annual Ramadan bazaars are in full swing (May–June this year). The biggest and most popular one is the Geylang Serai bazaar, which has stalls running along The biggest and most popular Ramadan bazaar is the Geylang Serai one (above), which has stalls running along The Malay The Malay Village and outside Tanjong Katong Complex. Enjoy street Village and outside Tanjong Katong Complex. PHOTO: ST FILE snacks and pick up household items such as carpets and ceiling lamps.

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Eight books about the country One way to get to know a country is to crack open a book about it. Here are titles to get you Olivia Ho started on the world of Singapore literature.

The Singapore Story: Memoirs Of Lee Kuan Yew 1 by Lee Kuan Yew Marshall Cavendish, 1998, reissued 2012, $49.90, major bookstores Singapore’s late founding premier authored numerous best-selling books. In the first volume of his PHOTO: EPIGRAM BOOKS memoirs, he charts his life from early childhood under British colonial Sugarbread rule, through his near-death in World 5 by Balli Kaur War II, to how he came to helm Jaswal the political party that would lead Epigram Books, Singapore. It is followed by a sequel, 2016, $26.64, From Third World To First, which major bookstores covers the years from Singapore’s Ten-year-old Pin is told independence in 1965 to 2000. she must not become like her mother, but never

PHOTO: MARSHALL CAVENDISH. why. Jaswal portrays prejudice and racism candidly in this family drama set in Singapore’s A Luxury We Cannot Afford, edited by Christine Punjabi-Sikh community. Chia and Joshua Ip 2 Math Paper Press, 2014, $20.33, Books Kinokuniya and BooksActually It is with some irony that this anthology adopts, as its title, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s 1969 declaration that “poetry is a luxury we cannot afford”. It comprises 65 poems by 56 poets, both acclaimed and emerging across generations – Edwin Thumboo, Norashiqin Toh and more – as they reflect on Mr Lee and respond to the dismissal of local literature. It was followed by a sequel, A Luxury We Must Afford, last year. PHOTO: MATH PAPER PRESS

The Art Of Fistful Of Charlie Chan Colours PHOTO: PICADOR 3 Hock Chye by 4 by Suchen Sonny Liew Christine Lim Ponti by Epigram Books, Straits Times 6 Sharlene Teo 2015, $37.34, Press, 1992, Picador, 2018, major bookstores reissued 2017, $29.79, major bookstores $18.73, major Teo’s debut novel Ponti A landmark local bookstores graphic novel, Liew has three narrators – Szu, depicts Singapore’s Lim’s seminal 16, trapped on the “hot, PHOTO: TIMES BOOKS PHOTO: EPIGRAM political history novel, which won horrible earth” that is BOOKS INTERNATIONAL through the life of the first Singapore hazy 2003 Singapore; fictional cartoonist Charlie Chan and Literature Prize in 1992, paints a Circe, her wealthier his comic creations, from a giant robot rich landscape of Singapore’s history best friend with an that understands only Hokkien to the through the eyes of Suwen, a young acerbic streak; and Szu’s superhero Roachman. The book made teacher who, with her fellow artists, unbearably beautiful history of its own when it won three Will struggles with family bonds and mother Amisa, a washed- Eisner Comic Industry Awards last year. society’s expectations. up B-horror movie star. 34 Special Report

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Notes From An Even Kwan Smaller Island by Neil 7 Doubleday, 2013, $16.05, major 8 Humphreys bookstores Times Books International, 2001, $19.90, Books Kinokuniya Chinese-American Rachel Chu travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young, The Briton and former journalist only to discover that he is the scion of makes tongue-in-cheek yet loving a ridiculously monied clan, who will do observations of the quirks and anything to displace her. The Hollywood foibles of the country he has film adaptation hits cinemas in August. come to call home. PHOTO: DOUBLEDAY PHOTO: TIMES BOOKS INTERNATIONAL

Toast of the town Singapore is home to some of the best bars in the world and new ones regularly pop up all around town. Whether it is a world-class Anjali cocktail bar, a craft beer spot or a natural Raguraman wine bar, the Republic will have you spoilt for choice. Here are some to check out

Sentosa eat the heat at swanky bar-grill Panamericana at Sentosa Golf BClub (Sentosa Golf Club, 27 Bukit Manis Road), which has “explosion serves” ($66++) of mojitos, sangrias and even a Pimm’s long island iced tea (right) that are good for groups of four to six. Tanjong Beach Club is a beachfront Tanjong Beach Club (120 playground with pools, champagne and Tanjong Beach Walk) is plentiful partying. a beachfront playground with pools, champagne and Day-bed packages start at $375 for plentiful partying. two bottles of champagne or a bottle of PHOTO: TANJONG BEACH CLUB premium spirit, along with 10 bottles of beer or two pitchers of classic cocktails (margarita, Tanjong Spritz or Summer Panamericana at Sentosa Golf Sangria). Club, which serves Pimm’s long island iced tea. PHOTO: PANAMERICANA

Tanglin t The Shangri-La is Origin (Lobby level, Tower Wing, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road), a new entry to the bar scene. It has a menu built Aaround five districts in Singapore – Orchard Road, Chinatown, Little India, Boat Quay and Marina Bay. For a fruit-forward tipple, try the Safari Tea ($22++) from the Chinatown menu. It is made of jackfruit marmalade, bamboo and osmanthus fortified wine, and blended malt whisky. Or ask for the off-menu Crystal Russian, a clear version of a White Russian ($24++), a cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur and cream served with ice. Astor bar (Lobby, The St Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road) is known as much for its bloody mary programme as its extensive whisky collection. Check out the hotel chain’s Singapore exclusive, the Chilli Padi Mary ($24++), where potent chilli padi, ginger and lemon grass replace the Worcestershire and tabasco sauces used in typical bloody marys. If navigating through security checks is too troublesome, head across the road from the St Regis to Manhattan (Level 2 Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Road). Named the Best Bar in Asia by Asia’s 50 Best Bars last year and this year, it serves a must-try New York Sour ($25++, left). There is also a library of more than 150 rare American labels.

Manhattan’s must-try New York Sour for $25++. PHOTO: MANHATTAN AT REGENT SINGAPORE 35 Special Report SIGN UP FOR ST Asia Report newsletter

The Shangri-La’s Origin Bar (Lobby level, Tower Wing, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road) is a new entry to the bar scene. PHOTO: SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SINGAPORE

New bars anjong Pagar Road might have become a hot destination for TKorean fried chicken and soju joints, but it is also home to 10-seater bar Junior (43 Tanjong Pagar Road), which is by the same team behind speakeasy bar 28 HongKong Street. The pocket bar, which rotates its theme and drinks menu twice a year, is currently exploring drinks centred on New Orleans, the birthplace of iconic, classic cocktails such as the Ramos Gin Fizz. Sip on its version of a boozy, truffled sazerac ($25++, right), made Junior’s boozy, truffled sazerac for $25++. The Guild has a selection of beers from Stay informed and get regular updates with Pierre Ferrand chestnut barrel PHOTO: JUNIOR Hong Kong-based Young Master Brewery. brandy, Michter’s Rye and black PHOTO: THE GUILD truffle bitters. on happenings in the region. Natural wine bar Le Bon Funk (below right, 29 Club Street) wants to challenge the notion of a stuffy The Straits Times’ weekly newsletter on Asia gives readers highlights of its wine bar, which it does so with an correspondents’ reportage from across the region. The ST Asia Report newsletter ever-evolving list of white, red, rose is part of the newspaper’s efforts to ramp up its coverage of developments and orange wines. For a craft beer option, newly across Asia and globally. opened The Guild (01-01, 55 Keong Saik Road) has a selection of beers from Hong Kong-based Young Master Brewery. To sign up, please visit It cold-chains its beers to Singapore, by keeping the beers cold for as long as possible in the supply readsph.com/free chain, to maintain freshness. Natural wine bar Le Bon Funk at 29 Club Street. PHOTO: LE BON FUNK

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