Singapore incubator Fatfish Internet raises $3.2M, will list in Australia

By Terence Lee | Tech in Asia – 

Lately, we're seeing a wave of internet companies from Asia gunning for public offerings on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Fatfish Internet Group (ASX:FFG), a startup investment company from Singapore, has now joined the ranks. The firm will begin trading starting on July 22, after raising S$4 million (US$3.22 million) on a market capitalization of S$30 million (US$24.2 million). The Group aimed to raise the same amount in its prospectus, making it 100 percent subscribed.

Fatfish calls itself an "internet ventures accelerator". It acts as a strategic investor in companies by providing funding, network, and resources to increase the growth of their businesses. It has backed ventures like fashion ecommerce site Dressabelle, car insurance comparison service RajaPremi, and Novatap, which is the company behind visual website builder dockPHP.

Fatfish invests in early and growth stage startups in Southeast Asian markets like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Going forward, the Group will set up dual headquarters in Singapore and Melbourne, Australia. It plans to use its Australian presence to promote the businesses of its portfolio companies via online and social media marketing.

The prospectus mentions that the funds will go towards growing its portfolio companies and providing finance, legal, intellectual property, and administration support for them.

"The company will offer a model as an operator and financier, which will enable the company to fund, develop, and market new opportunities in ecommerce development through websites, brands and businesses in Australasia," the prospectus notes. The listing initiated through a reverse takeover by public company Atech Holdings, a process that is often less costly and lengthy than the traditional IPO route.

Tech companies in Asia are gravitating towards the ASX because they perceive investors to be knowledgeable about internet businesses and willing to invest in it.

Other firms working towards a float on the ASX include Singapore-based mobile social network Mig.me, Malaysian software development firm 8common, and Hong Kong mobile games developer and publisher Animoca.

Perhaps a trendsetter among internet companies in Southeast Asia for listing in the ASX is Catcha Group, a dot-com survivor. Founded by CEO, chairman, and majority shareholder Patrick Grove, it has floated three of its four public companies in the ASX. The latest involved ecommerce company iBuy Group. It was completed last year and raised US$33 million.

Here's the prospectus:

See: Singapore's Fatfish Internet drives into Indonesia with RajaPremi acquisition

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-incubator-fatfish-internet-raises-072324325.html

Monday #sgroundup: LTA to fine SMRT, SBS Transit S$1.65 million for disruptions

By Jeanette Tan | What's buzzing? – 

Here are the top trending stories for today in case you missed them:

LTA to fine SMRT, SBS Transit S$1.65 million for disruptions

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday it will slap S$1.6 million in fines on train operator SMRT for four train service disruptions that occurred between October last year and May this year.
 
In a statement, the LTA said it found that SMRT had failed to comply with established procedures and processes in the incidents, noting that they were all "fully preventable if the operators had exercised due diligence and vigilance when carrying out their duties".
 
It will also fine SBS Transit, which runs the North East Line (NEL), $50,000 for a disruption in March this year that was traced to a staff error during maintenance work at Potong Pasir station.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/lta-to-fine-smrt--sbs-transit-s-1-65-million-for-disruptions-103519804.html

Ukraine workers find more bodies at MH17 crash site

Ukrainian Emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …

Rescuers retrieved more bodies Monday in the sprawling fields of east Ukraine where Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed, killing all 298 people aboard.

The chaotic rescue effort, which was marred by an outage in the refrigerated train that was to transport many of the dead, continued ahead of an expected vote later by the U.N. Security Council on an Australia-proposed resolution demanding international access to the crash site and a cease-fire around the area.

The pressure has been growing on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who the U.S. and others say has backed and armed the rebels, to rein in the insurgents in Ukraine and allow a full-scale investigation. The rebels have been blamed around the world for Thursday's downing of the Boeing 777.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ukraine-workers-more-bodies-crash-084432101.html

UN calls for immediate truce as Gaza death toll tops 500

Medics evacuate the body of a man from Gaza's eastern Shejaiya district on July 20, 2014

The UN Security Council called for an "immediate ceasefire" as Israel pressed on with a blistering assault on Gaza on Monday taking the Palestinian death toll above 500.

US President Barack Obama echoed the call in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early Monday, as Secretary of State John Kerry headed to the region to join truce efforts.

A fresh air strike on Monday morning killed a family of nine, including seven children, after a weekend of incessant shelling by land, sea and air sent thousands of terrified civilians fleeing their homes.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/medics-another-16-palestinians-found-dead-toll-passes-045111171.html

'Singapore and Malaysia' YouTube spoof by American brothers goes viral

Los Angeles based YouTubers Fung Brothers have come up with a tongue-in-cheek "Guide to Singapore and Malaysia" music video that is quickly going viral, with over 200,000 hits in six days.

The two-part video, filmed in collaboration with local foodstuff company Ayam Brand, features classic (albeit mangled) Singlish phrases like "Wah Lau" and "Kiasu" and instructs learners on the art of using "lah" to end their sentences.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/-singapore-and-malaysia--youtube-spoof-by-american-brothers-goes-viral-084125304.html

Philippine sect opens 'world's largest indoor arena'

The $175-million Philippine Arena, which can seat 55,000 people, was hailed as a showcase that will serve as a …

Philippine President Benigno Aquino presided over the opening on Monday of what is billed as the world's largest indoor stadium, erected by a politically-influential religious sect.

The $175-million Philippine Arena, which can seat 55,000 people, was hailed as a showcase that will serve as a major venue for concerts and sports events as well as gatherings for its owners, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) sect.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/philippine-sect-opens-worlds-largest-indoor-arena-083917197.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/monday--sgroundup--lta-to-fine-smrt--sbs-transit-s-1-65-million-for-disruptions-103957717.html

*Singapore and Malaysia* Youtube spoof by American brothers goes viral

By Elizabeth Soh | What's buzzing? – 

"Char Kway Tew, anyone?"

Los Angeles based Youtubers Fung Brothers have come up with a tongue-in-cheek "Guide to Singapore and Malaysia" music video that is quickly going viral, with over 200,000 hits in six days.

The two-part video, filmed in collaboration with local foodstuff company Ayam Brand, features classic (albeit mangled) Singlish phrases like "Wah Lau" and "Kiasu" and instructs learners on the art of using "lah" to end their sentences.

The first focuses on talking about Singapore's "fine" culture and ban on chewing gum, while the second is filmed in a kitchen and centers on the brothers' love for chicken curry (made from Ayam Brand products, of course).

Throw in a few sexy "actresses" dancing K-pop style, a catchy pop tune, droolworthy bowls of rendang and curry as well as a particularly prickly durian, and the Fung Brothers appear to have created a mix that has gotten viewers laughing and tuning in.

"Been Around the World / Don't speak the language / It's either Singlish or Manglish / All I need to understand is / When you / Cook Curry for me" is an example of the lyrics in the video, set to the tune of Jason DeRulo's hit pop song "Talk Dirty".

Responses to the video were mainly positive.

Youtube user Umeandhara was full of praise for the video - "Whao (sic) an awesome song about Singapore and Malaysia but not done by either a Singaporean or Malaysian! Haha saying hello all the way from Singapore."

User Eyeswideshutzxc was also tickled - "Walao! So kiasu man! Hahaha that was awesome," she posted.

Of course, there were the usual territorial claims to the spread of food introduced in the show, with users from Indonesia insisting that the rendang featured was an invention of their home country.

Others picked on the Fung Brothers' mispronounciation of fried noodle dish Char Kway Teow.

"Char Kway Teow. Tee-Oww. Not tew. Teow," posted User Inscid.

The Fung Brothers have over 300,000 subscribers on Youtube and have gained a large following for their hilarious takes on Asian culture all over the world - from Korean BBQ habits to how to properly consume Indonesian instant noodles and the cringeworthy things Asian parents say.

What do you think? Funny, or not?

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/-singapore-and-malaysia--youtube-spoof-by-american-brothers-goes-viral-084125304.html

COMMENT: It’s time for Singapore to relook its war on drugs

By Kirsten Han | SingaporeScene – 

Kirsten Han is a Singaporean blogger, journalist and filmmaker. She is also involved in the We Believe in Second Chances campaign for the abolishment of the death penalty. A social media junkie, she tweets at @kixes. The views expressed are her own.

48-year-old Foong Chee Peng and 36-year-old Tang Hai Liang were both hanged at dawn on Friday morning. They are the first two to have been executed in Changi Prison since an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty began in July 2011.

Both men were Singaporeans, convicted on drug trafficking offences. As far as we know, most of the inmates sitting on death row are there because of Singapore's never-ending war on drugs.

The resumption of executions sends a chilling message to the inmates as well as to anti-death penalty campaigners. With two already hanged and cremated, will there be more executions next Friday, and all the Fridays to come? Is the three-year reprieve now over?

There are many problems with the death penalty and its application. In Singapore, we have highlighted issues with the mandatory nature of the death penalty, and how it continues to restrict the discretion of the judges even after the amendments have been made. We have pointed out that the current system greatly disadvantages drug mules, while kingpins avoid the noose. We have expressed our concern with the process of issuing Certificates of Cooperation, an opaque and confusing system that appears to grant a huge amount of power to the prosecution.

Beyond that, there is an even wider concern that our current war on drugs is failing. Even with our best efforts, the drug trade in Southeast Asia has not decreased, but has instead increased. Continual arrests, death sentences and even extrajudicial killings over the years – carried out not just by Singapore by other ASEAN countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand – have done little to alter this fact.

It is understandable that we would want to live in a safe society where drug crime is low. But it doesn't make sense for us to cling on to old methods that appear to have a limited impact on the regional drug trade, in the hopes that it will suddenly work much better and keep drugs off the streets.

We will need new solutions and new innovations to deal with this problem, and we won't be the first. Other countries and states have already started looking at alternatives to what has been an expensive and bloody war on drugs throughout the world, reforming their drug laws and shifting mindsets to allow for more rehabilitative and restorative methods of dealing with drug crime and drug addicts.

Portugal was one of the first to decriminalise drugs and treat drug users as patients rather than criminals. Some analysts say that decriminalisation has actually not led to an increase in drug consumption, while other reports actually suggest that drug crime has actually gone down.

Singapore might be small and worried about our vulnerability, but we cannot keep our heads stuck in the sand. We cannot keep sacrificing lives in the hope that it will one day pay off. It is high time we gather up the courage to explore new ideas and new solutions.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/time-singapore-relook-war-drugs-055248688.html

REACH poll suggests substantial support among Singaporeans for NLB move

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

Whether they are aware of the National Library Board saga over children's books with gay themes or not, one in two Singaporeans believe that titles "not in line with traditional family values" should not be on children's shelves in the library, a government telephone poll found.
 
Of all 843 respondents who were surveyed by state outreach portal REACH between 14 and 17 July, 52 per cent agreed with the statement that books promoting values not in line with traditional family values should not be made available in the children's section of public libraries.
 
Those who disagreed made up 21 per cent, while the neutral ones comprised 23 per cent.
 
Also, four out of every 10 Singaporeans surveyed said they knew nothing of the saga in the first place. The controversy itself began when news surfaced that the NLB had decided to pull out two children's books –
"And Tango Makes Three" and "The White Swan Express: A Story About Adoption" – from library shelves after receiving a complaint that they were not "pro-family".
 
The NLB drew flak from several quarters for the move, as well as for a subsequent decision to destroy the books through "pulping". However, it also received support from people supporting the idea that a family should consist of one father, one mother and children.
 
Among the 513 respondents who were aware of it, though, more than 43 per cent supported the National Library Board (NLB)'s controversial move.
 
Another 28 per cent disagreed and 23 per cent were neutral regarding it. The remainder said that they were not sure.
 
However, when the group aware of the issue was asked what the NLB should have done with the three removed titles, only 22 per cent said they wanted the library to destroy them, while more than half called for other things to be done — moving them to the adults' section (21 per cent), putting them in a restricted borrowing section (13 per cent) and donating them to people or organisations who want the books (13 per cent), for instance.
 
Responding to the findings, REACH chairman Amy Khor, who is also senior minister of state for health and manpower, noted that this issue is a decidedly "divisive" one that "can fracture us as a country".
 
"In the interest of all Singaporeans and future generations, let us discuss this rationally and find a common ground that we can agree on," she added.
 
Earlier on Friday, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim put a stop to the planned pulping of the more recently-banned two titles, "And Tango Makes Three" as well as "The White Swan Express: A Story About Adoption", instructing them to place the books in the adult section.
 
A third title, "Who's In My Family: All About Our Families" had already earlier been removed and destroyed, however.
 
Responding in a statement on Friday afternoon, the U.S. Embassy here said it welcomed the government's decision to avoid pulping the books, which were written by American authors.
 
"The U.S. is strongly committed to upholding universal values of human rights and fundamental freedoms. These include freedom of access to knowledge, which lies at the heart of a successful democracy, and is key in creating an informed and dynamic citizenry," it added.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/reach-poll-suggests-substantial-support-among-singaporeans-for-nlb-move-111352758.html

Singapore Airlines Facebook post draws flak, confusion online

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

A post on Singapore's national airline's Facebook page has drawn a mix of confusion and flak on the social network, with several accusing it of "poor taste" and of "misleading" its customers.
 
The single-sentence status, which said "Customers may wish to note that Singapore Airlines flights are not using Ukraine airspace", was posted at 3:13am on Friday, hours after news broke of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash as it was crossing Eastern Ukraine air space.
 
While the world's governments race to determine who was responsible for what they believe to be a ground-to-air missile that decimated the Boeing 777 jetliner carrying 298 passengers and crew, the first statement from Singapore Airlines ignited a flurry of comments and shares. By Saturday afternoon, the post received more than 9,000 likes, more than 700 comments and more than 1,100 shares.
 
"Please Singapore Airlines, have some class but most importantly heart," wrote user Natasha Smith in response to its status. "A lot of people have sadly died today for no reason… this is in really poor taste."
 
"SIA, please explain why SQ351 (was) 25km away from MH17? You said you are not using Ukraine airspace?!" wrote Irene Lim-Tan. "I think a lot of us want your explanations." Her comment came after data from FlightRadar24.com revealed that the Singapore Airlines flight alongside an Air India plane was positioned nearby MH17 in a screen grab on Twitter on Thursday night.
 
A report by German magazine Spiegel Online on Saturday also said that Singapore Airlines jets flew over the same eastern Ukraine air space 75 times in the last week, as compared to MAS, which flew the path 48 times in the same period.
 
"Shame on a five-star airline to act selfish(ly) at a time of disaster," added Salman Faris. "Do you still want to capitalise on a situation of this nature?"
 
Other users responded to people who protested their statement, however, voicing their opinion that it is fair, and that the carrier was merely acting to inform passengers who might have been about to board Singapore Airlines flights that could cross the area.
 
"I don't think their comment was to advertise or boast their flight routes as much as it was to ease the tension of the hundreds of passengers that are scheduled to fly out to other countries over the next few days," said Karishma Sharma. "There is now a fear of the repercussions and SQ just used FB as a medium to spread a message to their passengers that they ought not to worry about flights in the next few hours or days."
 
"People should remember that there are thousands of aircraft in the sky at any one time. There will be people that will be at boarding gates or about to leave shortly both in Singapore and from European destinations; those passengers quite rightly would be worried about where flight will be going given the news that the aircraft was shot down," added user Matthew Bramhall.
 
The airline later posted a second status update just over an hour after, saying, "Our thoughts are with the passengers and crew of MH17, and their families."
 
Local media quoted an SIA spokesperson as saying that the airline "is no longer using Ukrainian airspace", even though it does have a number of pre-existing flight paths for its flights to and from the various destinations it operates to.
 
"At this point, we are no longer using the Ukrainian airspace and have re-routed all our flights to alternative flight paths that are away from the region," the airline's statement reportedly said. "In line with aviation safety and security protocols, we will however not provide specific information on the flight path of any particular flight prior to flight departure."
 
Yahoo Singapore has contacted Singapore Airlines for more information about its status update.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-airlines-facebook-post-draws-flak--confusion-online-084324774.html

Friday #sgroundup: Malaysia Airlines denies flying #MH17 over Ukraine air space to save on fuel

By Jeanette Tan | What's buzzing? – 

Here are the top trending stories of the day in case you might have missed them:

#MH17: Malaysia Airlines denies flying over Ukraine air space to save on fuel

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai (L) speaks during a news conference at a hotel near Kuala Lumpur International …

Malaysian transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said on Friday at his first MH17 press conference that the flight path used by the Malaysia Airlines plane was used by many other airlines, followed an approved route and was not taken to save on fuel costs.

He also revealed an updated list of the nationalities of all but 20 passengers, whom have not been confirmed because their passports were not submitted to Amsterdam airport as they were in transit.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/-mh17--malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-crash---live-report-161739674.html

Ministry of Transport expresses 'concern' over planned Malaysia levy on Singapore vehicles

New cars are seen at a manufacturer's open air car park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Malaysia's …

Singapore's Ministry of Transport has expressed concern over Malaysia's decision to levy an entry fee on Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor, which came about two weeks after Singapore's own announcement to hike its vehicle entry permit fees for foreign cars.

Earlier this month, Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced it would be hiking vehicle entry fees for foreign-registered cars from $20 to $35 per day, and quadrupling goods vehicle fees from $10 to $40 per month come August, in order to balance the costs that locally-registered vehicle owners bear for vehicles in Singapore.

On Thursday, Malaysia's government okayed the implementation of its own vehicle entry permit system for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor by the end of this year, with deputy transport minister Aziz Kaprawi saying it was due to the "high volume of Singapore-registered cars commuting to and from Malaysia".

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/foreign-registered-vehicles-will-have-to-pay-more-to-enter-singapore-032558889.html

Place banned children's books in adult section, don't pulp: Yaacob

Earlier yesterday, Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information, Yaacob Ibrahim, announced that the …

Singapore's Minister of Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim said on Friday that he instructed the National Library Board (NLB) to place two children's books it earlier banned in the adult section instead of pulping them as initially planned.

In a Facebook post on Friday morning, in which he shared his responses to queries from the Straits Times, he reiterated, "We stand by NLB's decision to remove the three books from the children's section. As I said earlier, NLB has to decide what books should be made readily available to children, who are usually unsupervised, in the children's section of our public libraries. NLB will continue to ensure that books in the children's section are age-appropriate. We have a much wider range of books in the adult section of public libraries."

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/online-petitions-started--call-for-singapore-nlb-to-reinstate-removed-children-s-books-095911437.html

Israel deepens Gaza push to destroy Hamas tunnels

This image made from video shot through a night vision scope released by the Israeli military on Friday, July 18, …

Israeli troops pushed deeper into Gaza on Friday to destroy rocket launching sites and tunnels, firing volleys of tank shells and clashing with Palestinian fighters in a high-stakes ground offensive meant to weaken the enclave's Hamas rulers.

Israel launched the operation late Thursday, following a 10-day campaign of more than 2,000 air strikes against Gaza that had failed to halt relentless Hamas rocket fire on Israeli cities.

Israel's first major ground offensive in Gaza in just over five years came as Egyptian cease-fire efforts stalled. Earlier this week, Israel accepted Cairo's offer to halt hostilities, but Hamas refused, demanding that Israel and Egypt first give guarantees to ease the blockade on Gaza.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/israel-deepens-gaza-push-destroy-hamas-tunnels-081349885.html

Body found in Singapore river

SAF regular found dead at Nee Soon Camp

The body of a man was retrieved from the Singapore River on Friday morning.
 
Police received a call requesting for assistance at 7:46 am and subsequently found a body floating in the river near Eu Tong Sen Street.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/body-found-in-singapore-river-041943501.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/friday--sgroundup--malaysia-airlines-denies-flying--mh17-over-ukraine-air-space-to-save-on-fuel-095549007.html