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TODAY Wine investors see red by Cheow Xin Yi 04:46 AM Jun 17, 2011 SINGAPORE - A week after news of a police probe into an alleged investment scam involving Premium Liquid Assets' (PLA) Hong Kong office hit the headlines in the territory, Singapore investors of the locally-incorporated wine investment company are also searching for answers about their investments. According to an automated reply sent to investors who emailed the company, the Singapore branch of PLA is "currently in the midst of handling a legal issue pertaining to our business partner in Hong Kong". The email added its Hong Kong office chief executive and director is "suspected of fraud", and the firm's Singapore and Malaysia branches have reported the matter to "relevant authorities and are cooperating with the police and related departments" to resolve the issue. "With sincere apologies, we are unable to officiate any liquidation or new investment at the moment ... We seek your kind understanding if your liquidation payment has been delayed," said the email. The email did not name the director in question, who is reportedly missing as Hong Kong authorities investigate a case which could involve more than 400 investors and alleged losses of HK$50 million. The wine investment circles here refer to the man as "Christopher Koo". When contacted, a Singapore police spokesman said: "It is inappropriate to comment on police investigations, if any." Investors MediaCorp spoke to have expressed frustration at the uncertainty. One of them, who only wanted to be identified as Francois, said his only point of contact is his PLA broker, who told him to "wait" pending internal and external investigations. The French national said he has invested about S$29,000 in wine portfolios through PLA since 2009. Although the lights were switched on when MediaCorp visited PLA's Ngee Ann City office on Monday, no one answered the door when this reporter rang the doorbell. Some investors have turned to legal experts for help. Lawyer Sean La'Brooy, from Wee, Tay & Lim LLP, was approached by about 20 PLA investors on Monday and he is now "exploring legal options" with them. Other investors have held preliminary talks with provisional liquidators and asset recovery firms. It is believed there are between 100 and 400 PLA investors in Singapore, with investment amounts ranging from between S$7,000 and S$160,000. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) has received one complaint since March regarding PLA, but the consumer body's executive director Seah Seng Choon said the consumer body does not oversee investment-related matters. Wine investments are also not regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, noted Mr Seah. A check with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) showed PLA as a S$300,000 paid-up limited exempt private company which was incorporated in 2005. The records list a Mr Woo Kuan Yong as a director. When MediaCorp visited his flat on Wednesday, Mr Woo told MediaCorp that he was asked by his step-son, Mr Eldric Ko, to "register the company" but he has never been to the firm's office. Mr Woo's wife said she last spoke to Mr Ko, who had called from Bangkok in April. She added that subsequent attempts to contact him on his Singapore mobile phone have been unsuccessful thus far. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this is good news for some of the young people. from personal experience i have seen some of the younger people from the last downturn come to do quite well after a few years. --- S'pore grads in recession catch up eventually Teh Shi Ning | The Business Times | Wed Nov 23 2011 SINGAPORE - Graduates entering the job market here in a recession start off with lower pay, but their salaries catch up with the wages of those who start in economic booms after about three years on the job. This compares with an 18-year disadvantage faced by graduates joining the United States workforce in a recession, says a study published in the latest issue of the Economic Survey of Singapore, released yesterday. Click here to find out more! Economists from the Ministry of Trade and Industry's (MTI) Economic Division found that a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate at the time a university graduate starts work reduces his starting pay by about 6-8 per cent. The results of their statistical regressions are similar to those of a US study of graduates which finds an initial wage loss of 6-7 per cent for a one-point increase in the US unemployment rate. But this negative impact diminishes over time and disappears after a graduate has gained three years of work experience. "Singapore's labour market would thus appear to be efficient enough to prevent the perpetuation of downward wage persistence for 'unlucky' cohorts of graduates," the study's authors said. The US study found that it takes almost 18 years before a graduate's initial wage disadvantage is mitigated. Singapore's recovery period could be shorter due to higher job mobility of university graduates here, or greater variable and performance-linked components in the wage structures here, which could make it easier for "unlucky" graduates to catch up with the skills acquired, the MTI economists said. Their results do come with caveats though. The data available, from 2000 to 2007, covers just one recession and the short time frame may exclude long- term negative effects. Also, without information on individual ability and job switches, they were unable to assess how different segments of university graduates are affected - key because wage persistence can differ for people of varying abilities. The economists said that this exploration of whether joining the labour force in recession-time has a negative impact on wages is an area "of growing importance", given the "rising economic volatility in Singapore". There have been three recessions in the last 15 years, and only one before 1996. Job creation was stronger in Q3, with 32,300 jobs added in the quarter compared to 24,800 in Q2. But with economic slowdown now underway, economists like OCBC Bank's Selena Ling expect the labour market to "soften this quarter and next year". Pointing to recent official business expectations surveys, she notes that employers have already turned cautious about hiring. This article was first published in The Business Times.

An insider from a workshop that specialises in car accident repair: Cars that crashed till insurance declare total write off are usually sent for scrap. But there’re workshops that buy them at paper value, which can be more than $30K or even $50K off market value. They cut/saw off the accident part, e.g. entire front and buy from scrap yard and weld it to the car. Then slowly repair the car and finally sell it back into the market, usually with a new registration number plate. Even previous owner cannot recognise. Really wonder how the car handles with a body that was welded using 2 car bodies. And all the OEM / compatible parts being used in the engine bay. If accident, I guess this car will crumple quite differently from the original build of the car. And the profit is quite good for the workshop when they eventually sell it at market value. They usually do this for cars with high margin e.g Lexus, Merc etc. Imagine the new owner who buys this type of cars, sure full of problems down the road. Buyers beware when a deal looks good, it could be one of such cars. And if everything in the engine bay looks brand new for an old car, you know something is amiss. Anyone suspect he/she has driven or bought such a car before?

.... at last after many years of 'kuai lan' driving, car tio scratched liao... CB fcuker dont let me catch red handed knn... something like this... heard of many scratch removers in the market... any good recommendations?... not the old 'rough' paste polish type, but heard of scientists which have developed a polyurethane coating that repairs scratches...

Based on the election candidate's handbook...there is line stating personal comment using internet is allowed. So it looks like TPL may be off the hook afterall..anybody read it differently from what I read? GE candidates handbook 5. COOLING-OFF DAY The eve of polling day is designated as Cooling-off Day. It is a day when campaigning is banned and election advertising must not be published. This 24-hour campaign silence period is to let voters reflect rationally on various issues raised at an election before going to the polls. 5.1. Prohibited Activities on Cooling-off Day The following acts are not allowed on Cooling-off Day:  Publication and display of election advertising not already lawfully displayed or published;  Canvassing, door-to-door visits, visiting homes and workplaces of voters in connection with the election;  Wearing badges, carrying or displaying political propaganda (only the candidate is allowed to wear the party badge); and  Holding of election meetings. Candidates should therefore refrain from visiting their constituents or attending public events within their constituencies on cooling-off day. However, attending religious ceremonies or worship services, or attending functions in the course of work or employment would still be permissible. There are some exceptions to the prohibition of campaign activities on Cooling-off Day:  Party political broadcasts on television;  Reports in the newspapers, on radio and television relating to election matters;  Approved posters and banners that were already up, and lawful Internet advertising that was already in place before the start of Cooling-off Day;  Books previously scheduled for publication;  The transmission of personal political views by individuals to other individuals, on a non-commercial basis, using the Internet, telephone or electronic means; and  Candidates may continue to wear party logos/badges indicating his affiliation with a political party or a replica of the symbol allotted to him or to the group of candidates to which he belongs under.

As I have said, EVERYBODY WANTS OPPOSITION but not in their own ward. Make all of you believe Aljunied will be fallen to Oppo, you guys will vote for money.