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Straits Times: Mon, Jul 30 WE THANK Dr Ho Hua Chew for his commentary ('Preserving Singapore's green heartland'; July 14) and subsequent writers on the issue ('City of gardens doesn't make a garden city' by Dr Isaac Seow En' and 'Preserve the natural connection' by Mrs Katrina Dub'e', July 19; and 'Wildlife affected by excessive development' by Mr Steven Chong, Forum Online, last Monday). Greenery has always had an important place in the planning for Singapore. Despite being land-scarce, we have set aside close to 10 per cent of Singapore's total land area for parks and nature reserves. In addition to the nature reserves, another 18 nature areas have been retained in the current Master Plan 2008. Where possible, nature areas with rich bio-diversity are integrated into parks and other recreational spaces, so that they are accessible and available for public enjoyment. We will be increasing our pa

Straits Times: Mon, Jul 30 Your eyes stray to the object slung around tycoon Sam Goi's neck when you meet him at his office in Senoko Road. The executive chairman of Tee Yih Jia - a producer of popiah, or spring roll, skins - shakes your hand warmly, as you take in his tanned well-proportioned face, average height, solid build, and the navy jacket with gold-coloured buttons and olive green trousers he is wearing. Then you see it. Hanging from his nape is a forest green lanyard that ends mid-chest in an employee pass with his mugshot. The accessory seems incongrous for Mr Goi (say 'Gwee'). He is, after all, one of five Singaporeans on Forbes World's Billionaires list this year. The 63-year-old Popiah King owns a multi-million-dollar food manufacturing business and has doors opened for him. But the head honcho says there is no reason he should be exempt from wearing it. 'Everyone should be the same,' he says in Mandarin.