Marshmallow urban decay

KOTA KINABALU: The Pensiangan district in Sabah’s interior division will soon have improved Internet connectivity with 40 new telecommunication towers and upgrades of the existing 44 towers. He said this after presenting early school assistance and supplies to pupils of SK Mansiat in Keningau. “This telco development is scheduled to be completed by 2022. “Rural folk there are expected to enjoy better Internet facilities provided by the government from now on, ” he said. Arthur said the government’s move to include remote areas for such a massive connectivity project showed that rural areas were not being left behind for development. “Projects like these will reduce the technology gap between urban and rural areas, and in a bigger context, the gap between Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula, ” he added. ... » Learn More about More Internet connectivity for Pensiangan

THE Mahsuri flats in Bayan Baru, Penang, will be getting a lift upgrade under the state’s Housing Maintenance Maximum 80% Fund (TPM80PP), said Jagdeep Singh Deo. The Penang local government, housing, town and country planning committee chairman said the state would pay RM936,695, or 80% of the total cost of RM1.17mil, for the repair of six lifts. He said the remaining 20% or RM234,173 would be borne by the residents, including the RM5,000 from Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin. “The Mahsuri flats were among those that received the highest allocation for maintenance since the introduction of TPM80PP. “Under the TPM80PP, the state has allocated RM42.38mil for 268 applications so far. “Since 2008, the state has spent RM271.2mil to maintain housing schemes under the local authorities and the eligible private housing schemes, ” he said during a press conference at the flats on Tuesday. The housing scheme, which was completed in 1991, comprises 180 units with some 700 residents. Sim, ... » Learn More about Elevating residents’ living condition

SINGAPORE - Built during Singapore's post-independence years in the 1970s and 1980s, they are an important and often striking feature of its cityscape. Yet time has taken its toll on many large modernist buildings, which are in need of major retrofitting and upgrading. Now, these simple structures will be the subject of a study called by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to guide its policies on how to maintain and rehabilitate them. It will examine buildings constructed in the modern architectural style that are about 30 to 50 years old, and have a gross floor area of at least 8,000 sq m or are at least eight storeys tall. "The findings could also facilitate the conservation efforts of some large modern buildings which represent our initial phases of urban renewal," a URA spokesman told The Straits Times on Friday (April 16). He added that instead of redevelopment, URA would like to encourage building owners to explore rehabilitation. This involves keeping a ... » Learn More about URA to study how to give Singapore’s ageing modernist buildings a new lease of life

SINGAPORE - The iconic Golden Mile Complex building, with its terraced facade facing Nicoll Highway, is being proposed for conservation because of its historical and architectural significance, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said on Friday (Oct 9). The decision, taken after a two-year study, starts the process to have it gazetted as a conserved building. But to help ensure that the move will not inhibit a future collective sale, the URA, in an unusual move, is offering developers additional planning incentives, including a one-third increase in floor area with a waiver of part of its development charge (DC) and the option to adjust the boundary of the 1.3ha site. In turn, developers have to abide by the conservation guidelines. Most importantly, they have to retain the development's landmark main building that is famed for its signature stepped terraces atop the podium facing Nicoll Highway. Other key features that have to be kept include the stepped building ... » Learn More about Golden Mile Complex to be conserved, with incentives to attract developers in future en bloc sale: URA

There have been recent media announcements about the Pasig River Expressway, also known as Parex — a proposed 19.37- kilometer six-lane elevated expressway running the length of the Pasig River, with an estimated cost of P81.5 billion. According to the media reports, the toll way project of San Miguel Corp. was approved in August 2020 by the Tollways Regulatory Board. Is this what we need at this time? And have we considered what we would be sacrificing in the process? For decades, the popular response to traffic has been more roads or wider roads. This approach has failed. The painful lesson is that roads designed mainly for the use of cars actually diminish mobility for all — they end up attracting greater motor vehicle use leading to more road congestion (a phenomenon known as “induced demand”). The proponents of the Parex project claim that it can move up to 120,000 cars a day; it is described as the “ultimate solution to traffic.” But we have heard this “promise” many times ... » Learn More about Do we really need a Pasig River expressway?

Fresh off a successful entry into Hong Kong in October, Singapore-based urban farming start-up Sustenir Agriculture also has bold plans to expand its home base . The firm became known here for growing non-native temperate crops such as kale, arugula and even strawberries locally. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply. ... » Learn More about Sustenir: Growing non-native crops – and home base

A plot of land equivalent to 33 football fields in size will serve as Singapore's farming hothouse, as the country seeks to develop and export know-how in the emerging agricultural technology sector. The 18ha set aside for the Agri-Food Innovation Park at Sungei Kadut seeks to bring together a range of high-tech farming and research and development (R&D) activities, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon told Parliament yesterday. The park will have indoor plant factories, insect farms and animal feed production facilities, and agencies are working with local and overseas industry leaders to develop its first phase, which should be ready from the second quarter of 2021. "Our vision is for Singapore to be a leading urban agriculture and aquaculture technology hub with a food production model that can be exported to the region," Dr Koh said during the debate on the Trade and Industry Ministry's budget. Singapore has also been looking at ways to improve ... » Learn More about Singapore to grow high-tech farming with 18ha facility at Sg Kadut

JAMMU: Fronted by a 20-year-old in pigtails, the dancing flash mob swings into action, campaigning to save a threatened wildlife reserve — part of a growing, youth-led environmental movement rattling Indian authorities. The battle between the state and environmental activists is not new in India, where impoverished tribal communities have long complained of being displaced in the pursuit of economic growth. But it has rarely been fought by young women like Neola Pereira, who turns up at protests dressed in skinny jeans, fluent in internet-speak, and ready to dance. “People think only environmentalists need to fight for the environment, but that’s not true,” the business student told AFP. Pereira has campaigned for months to stop a government plan to expand train tracks, widen a highway and build an electricity transmission line that will slice through the iconic Mollem National Park — home to endangered tigers and other big cats. The existing railway line transports ... » Learn More about Lady guards roam India’s iconic forest

While the term “asset progression” is used loosely these days, one thing should be clear: there’s a huge difference between planning to sell and upgrade (e.g., moving from a flat to a condo), versus actually wanting to own multiple properties. Wanting to own a second home is a bigger aspiration, that will require deeper pockets and more in-depth planning. In light of that, here are the key considerations to have even when buying your first home: What should you consider if you want to own a second home later? Apart from your personal finances (more on this below), the following are important details: Starting with a flat, versus an EC or condo Joint tenancy versus tenancy-in-common Deciding on the primary residence Financing issues 1. Starting with a flat, versus an EC or condo One key concern is that you cannot “decouple” if you own an HDB flat, barring special circumstances like divorce. This means you cannot transfer your ownership to your co-owner, freeing you ... » Learn More about 4 key issues to consider if you are planning for a second property