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Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Ways to lift S'pore SMEs in F&B, retail amid competition, tech disruption and inflation
The last three years since the pandemic tapered off in 2022 have been a perfect storm for the food and beverage industry, says SaladStop! Group CEO Adrien Desbaillets. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – When entrepreneur Adrien Desbaillets started his make-your-own salad bowl business 15 years ago, he could try out ideas to see what worked or did not. Today, with costs eating into margins and competitors lurking to eat his lunch, the room to experiment has shrunk. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Car review: Kia EV5 stands tall while being middle of the road
High 5: Standing above 1.7m, the EV5's stature is befitting that of an SUV. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – Chinese cars are bulldozing their way up the sales chart, leaving many an incumbent heaving and wheezing in their wake. From my armchair, it appears the only ones who can stand up to the Sino onslaught in the long run are the South Koreans. In terms of design, functionality and user experience, electric cars from Hyundai and sister brand Kia are a notch above most European brands. And they are a tad less fastidious than the Chinese, while offering nearly as good value for money. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Halfway home for former drug addicts expanding to house more residents
Breakthrough Missions currently homes 71 stay-in residents, staff and helpers at its three-hectare compound at Cosford Road in Changi. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Halfway home for former drug addicts expanding to house more residents SINGAPORE - A halfway home for former drug offenders, which also provides long-term residents with refuge and training, is looking to increase its capacity to accommodate up to 170 people. Breakthrough Missions, which was set up in 1983, currently homes 71 stay-in residents, staff and helpers at its three-hectare compound at Cosford Road in Changi, which it moved to only in July 2023. There are another 19 staff who do not stay at the premises. The halfway home is raising funds for the construction of two one-storey buildings within the compound. They will hold a 320sqm central kitchen and a multi-purpose facility for hosting events and workshops. The project, slated to be completed by July 2026, is expected to cost about $5 million. Residents of the halfway home go through an 18-month programme which includes vocational training and reintegration support. They also attend Bible study classes and receive counselling. Upon completing the programme, residents can choose to stay on and become helpers. Those who choose to remain and work at the home are appointed as full-time staff members after three years. Breakthrough Missions is raising funds for the construction of two one-storey buildings within the compound. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Said Pastor Simon Neo, the founder of the halfway home: 'There are residents in the home who have stayed on for 10, even 20 years to work together with me. 'The longest-staying resident has been here for more than 30 years.' Chef Peter Teo, who runs Breakthrough Mission's French cafe in Changi Village, was a former resident of the halfway home. After completing a six-month rehabilitation programme at Breakthough Missions, he went on to complete a diploma in culinary arts at Shatec, and became an executive sous chef at a French restaurant. Mr Oh Kim Poh, who has been living at Breakthrough Missions since 2015 and now works for the halfway home, said: 'The central kitchen will provide us with a platform to teach residents how to prepare and cook food according to industry standards, because ex-offenders need to be equipped with skills to apply for jobs when they rejoin society.' It will also be able to prepare three meals daily for up to 170 people. There are also plans to build a carpark for 50 to 70 vehicles, meant for residents' family members and visitors. Mr Oh, who is in charge of purchasing ingredients for the kitchen, is currently learning to prepare food for the residents. Mr Oh Kim Poh is currently learning to prepare food for the residents. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG The 55-year-old was jailed in 2014 for drug consumption and was convicted for other offences such as theft and involvement in illegal money lending. After completing his six-month stint at the halfway home in 2015, Mr Oh decided to stay on because he wanted to help others turn their lives around. 'I've learnt from my past mistakes, and I hope to encourage others to do the same. I haven't thought about returning to society yet, because I'm happy with where I am today,' he said. Mr Michael Yeo, 62, has been living at Breakthrough Missions since 2005. Mr Yeo was assigned to the halfway home to complete the last six months of his three-year sentence for drug possession and a positive urine test. That was his 11th time in prison, and he thought he had reached a dead end. By the age of 40, he had spent over 20 years in and out of jail. 'When I was younger, I always treated time in jail like a holiday, but things changed when I realised age was catching up with me.' 'I saw my friends who transformed their lives, they got married and started a family, and I felt left out. I told myself that I had to make a change,' said Mr Yeo, who started consuming dr ugs in 1973. (From left) Breakthrough Missions helper Mike Tan, Pastor Simon Neo, Mr Michael Yeo and Mr Oh Kim Poh. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Despite his resolve to get clean, Mr Yeo said he struggled with the routine at Breakthrough Missions at first. He said: 'I was working from 8am to 5pm, doing things like washing cars, or carpentry work. It was a struggle getting used to that kind of regiment. I was not used to taking instructions from others.' Besides his faith, another thing that kept him going was his skills with the guitar. 'Through the programme and activities, I found community and a sense of purpose, which is why I decided to stay on.' 'It's a new life, and a new direction that keeps me going. When I was out there, I had to live in fear . 'Now I don't have to look over my shoulder to check if there are police or Central Narcotics Bureau officers behind me ,' he added. To raise funds for the new facilities, Breakthrough Missions will be hosting a tee-off and gala dinner at Orchid Country Club on July 18. Minister of Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee will be attending the event as the guest-of-honour. Members of the public who wish to donate can visit Breakthrough Mission's website here. Claudia Tan is a journalist at The Straits Times covering the crime and court beat. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Car review: BMW 520i Touring a rare station wagon from a German carmaker
Big but beautiful: The BMW 520i Touring may be over 5m long, but the controls feel direct and light. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – The BMW 520i Touring is in a class of one in Singapore, being a large station wagon with a premium badge. Station wagons, or estates as they are called in some places, are regular four-door saloon cars with roofs that are stretched to create more room for cargo behind the rear seats. They are relatively rare in Singapore. In 2024, sport utility vehicles (SUV) outsold station wagons by nearly 100 to one. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Straits Times
‘I felt sad and happy': Dads in prison reconnect with children through surprise video and letters
Aziz (not his real name), an inmate in Selarang Park Complex, covers his face after getting emotional from reading Father's Day letters on June 12. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG 'I felt sad and happy': Dads in prison reconnect with children through surprise video and letters SINGAPORE - Watching his teenage daughter and wife recall fond memories of their time together on video brought tears to Aziz's (not his real name) eyes. 'I felt sad and really happy at the same time,' said the 36-year-old father who is serving his one-year sentence for drug consumption at Selarang Park Complex in Upper Changi. On June 12, Aziz and nine other incarcerated fathers were able to celebrate Father's Day because of a surprise planned by the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Centre for Fathering. In the lead up to the event, the inmates' 25 children recorded heartfelt video messages expressing their longing and support for their fathers. They also wrote Father's Day cards to accompany the video messages. During the session, a video compilation was shown to the inmates, many of whom were moved to tears upon seeing and hearing their children on screen. The inmates were then guided to reflect and share their emotions in the group before writing letters to their children. 'All these negative thoughts in me made me feel like a hopeless father. But they actually told me that I'm a great role model,' said Aziz, who has four children aged three to 16. His wife is a pre-school teacher. The event took place within Institution S1 at the Selerang Park Complex in Upper Changi, which houses about 500 male first- and second-time drug abusers. It aims to help incarcerated fathers rebuild and sustain family ties by reaffirming their vital role as fathers, despite being behind bars. 'What we wanted to do is (close) the gap caused by incarceration and create opportunities for messages of love, care and concern to flow between both parties,' said Superintendent Justin Paul Vikneswaran, who heads the Community Partnership and Family Policy Branch under the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Division of SPS. SPS has been working with non-profit organisation Centre for Fathering to offer family programmes for incarcerated families. Among these is the ICAN Fathering Workshop, a six-hour programme, focused on raising awareness about the vital role fathers play in their children's lives. The 10 fathers who attended the June 12 event were selected from those who joined the ICAN Fathering Workshop. The event was made possible with the support of 45-year-old Bramsha Osman , chairman of the Volunteer Prison Committee. Aziz (not his real name) opening his Father's Day cards. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Despite working full-time as an engineer at the national water agency PUB, Mr Bramsha took the initiative to visit inmates' families and encourage them to take part in the event. 'I'm a father of five, and all fathers go through the same struggle. So I understand from (the prisoners') point of view that they feel, being inside prison, there is no connection they can build (with their children). 'I don't mind taking leave (to help out at events) because I know that this will impact the inmates and make them a better father,' said Mr Bramsha, who had previously turned down a role as a counsellor in the prison because he wanted to maintain contact with the fathers after their release. 'I believe the first six months to year (after their release) is very crucial. This is the part where they see the real world, and they will definitely go through some struggles,' he said. 'They need someone to give them hope... and I want to be the comfortable person they can rely on during this phase.' Another father who was moved by the video messages from his children was Aarav (not his real name), who is serving an 18-month sentence for drug abuse. Aarav (not his real name) was moved by the video messages from his children. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG 'I felt very, very sad,' said the 45-year-old father of two. 'As a single father, it's not easy having that on your mind. I really miss my kids and their hugs.' 'Even though I'm in prison, as a father, I'm putting in a lot of effort, no matter what, to send them some letters and give them some advice and also give them some positive thoughts,' Aarav added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
