SINGAPORE : Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) is aiming to become the number one telco provider of Infocomm Technology (ICT) in the region within five years.

This will move the telco player away from just being a supplier of pure carriage services, such as internet and mobile services.

SingTel is a key player in the regional telecoms arena. But over the last two years it has been ringing to a different tune, growing its ICT capabilities to keep up with customer needs and competition.

It is seeking to become a regional service provider of ICT solutions, such as online education and conferencing on the move.

Bill Chang, Executive Vice President (Business), SingTel, said: “We announced plans about two years ago to build up our network, and these are really our next generation Internet Protocol (IP) networks that carry multiple services. We have also announced plans to build up our next generation data centres.

“So with the build up of next generation data centres and IP networks, this forms the foundation of what we are building in the next few years to carry all this traffic…the needs of enterprises and SMEs.”

SingTel’s Track and Trace solution is just one example of the player’s push into ICT. The program provides real-time location and status tracking of assets and vehicles by using mobile and satellite technology.

As recent as two years ago, ICT made no contributions to the topline, but SingTel said this is set to change.

Mr Chang said: “We see huge opportunities, and customers are increasingly looking for that one-stop ICT provider, solutions provider. Two years ago, we saw minimal revenues from what SingTel has in its managed ICT services, and we are looking - within five years - to create a business that is maybe 50 per cent of our business revenue for SingTel, and also to be Asia’s ICT player.”

SingTel currently takes care of the communication needs of more than 100,000 companies internationally. - CNA/ms

Channel News Asia

SINGAPORE: Some will be asked to leave their workstations early; others could be given a day off, while a few lucky ones may even bump into Lewis Hamilton in the pantry.

While business will go on as usual during the inaugural SingTel Singapore Grand Prix later this month, some employers in the Suntec City and Marina Centre area have made special provisions for staff, as extensive roads closures hit the area for the second time in three years.

More than 600 staff at a business based at Marina Square, for instance, will be allowed to leave early on September 26, just before 100,000 race fans descend on the area for the official practice runs of the first F1 night race.

A medium-sized law firm at Suntec City is even considering allowing staff have that Friday off. And with congestion expected that entire week - with most roads in the area to be closed off from September 23, except for a morning four-hour window - M & A Law Corporation’s managing partner Intekhab Khan said he would be “closing one eye” if staff report late for work.

Over at Daimler South East Asia, not only could the 250 staff get a half-day off on Friday, they may also have a Team McLaren Mercedes driver popping by their Centennial Tower office to say “hi”.

Public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, meanwhile, will enact its business continuity plan - moving some consultants away from their Suntec City’s office to facilitate any urgent needs.

“Coming in or leaving the office will not be an issue because roads are going to be open during rush hour,” said managing director Allison Lim. “But meetings will be an issue for some clients,” she added.

Chemoil International’s (Singapore) managing director Karan Chabria said video conferencing is also an option.

“In the case of clients for marketing and trading, transactions are usually done by phone,” he said.

Citi Singapore, which has 4,000 staff working in the area, said its existing flexible work arrangements would - subject to approval and business requirements - apply during the road closure period.

In 2006, road closures had affected a smaller area, with roads such as a stretch of Nicoll Highway, Raffles Boulevard and Temasek Boulevard being closed for 10 days.

This time round, despite landlords having disseminated information and conducted briefings for offices, some are still confused by the various configurations of road closures over more than a week.

M & A’s Mr Intekhab said he remains unsure despite a briefing conducted by his landlord late last month. “Maps were given but they were not very clear.”

Help could be on the way: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) intends to print at least 500,000 brochures on the road closures. More details are expected soon.

But office workers who depend on taxis to get to work may have a problem: Taxi drivers have apparently told some they would avoid the area when road closures hit.

Landlords have engaged the LTA to offer more help. For example, the landlord of Millenia Tower and Centennial Tower is in discussions with the authority to provide bridging buses that will stop at the two buildings.

The LTA had earlier announced that buses ferrying workers from City Hall and Bugis MRT stations will stop only at Suntec City.

TODAY also understands extra overhead bridges will be put in place around the area, easing the way for office workers to walk to their offices from the MRT stations. -

Channel News Asia

Suhakam commissioner Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng says Malaysians prefer to use punitive action on errant juveniles rather than rehabilitation

KUALA LUMPUR: Something is wrong when a juvenile is in Kajang Prison for stealing a chicken and “out-of-control” children are sent to orphanages.

Suhakam commissioner Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng said these examples revealed the inadequacies of the judicial system where juveniles were not given the consideration they deserved because of their age.

“The child in prison is a classic example of an incompetent judge (at work). Even prison authorities are shocked by this case. He should not have been sent to prison at all.

“As far as the children being sent to orphanages is concerned, orphanages are clearly not meant for juvenile offenders.”

Chiam said the judicial system needed to recognise the fact that “juveniles have rights, whether or not they are in conflict with the law”.
It is this that necessitated trials involving juveniles being placed on the “fast track” with juvenile witnesses given protection and medical treatment, such as psychological counselling.

In the case of rape cases where the victims were juveniles, they should not come into contact with the perpetrator, she said. In such cases, the juveniles should give their evidence via video conferencing and enter the court through a separate entrance.

“(Unfortunately), Malaysians are more inclined towards using punitive action on errant juveniles than rehabilitation,’ she told a news conference held by Suhakam to announce Malaysian Human Rights Day on Tuesday.

This year’s theme will be “Human Rights and the Administration of Juvenile Justice”.

Under the law, anyone under 18 is considered a juvenile.

She said juveniles committed crimes out of ignorance, rebellion or even for a dare. As such, rehabilitation was the best alternative for juveniles as it would teach them how to deal with bad influences.

According to her, research had proved that punitive punishment encouraged juvenile delinquency while rehabilitation allowed reintegration into society.

“Children are sometimes the victims of the input they receive from adults who do not have proper parenting skills or the school system which tends to glorify academic performance.”

She said Suhakam would hold a conference on Human Rights Day to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the protection mechanism and support system for reintegration of children in conflict with the law.

Another goal of the conference was to examine mechanisms governing juvenile justice in Malaysia to note whether they complied with international human rights standards.

She said that although Malaysia had ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995, it was lacking in adherence to the convention.

Chiam said the final goal of the conference was to improve laws and procedures applicable to juvenile offenders and child victims.

New Straits Times