Roar - SPC

A Quarterly SPC Newsletter
Issue 4 2008
p5
SPC acquires its first
onshore block
p8
Being a
good sport
p10
How green are you?
p14
FaRmily Fun

A Quarterly SPC Newsletter Issue 4 2008
Editorial
Forging closer ties with China
SPC’s success as a strong, integrated oil and gas company against the
backdrop of Singapore’s rapid economic development has attracted
attention from countries near and far, including China. This is evident
from two high-profile visits by Guangdong dignitaries recently.
On 15 September 2008, Guangdong GuangYe Assets Management
Co., Ltd. (Guangdong GuangYe) visited the SPC head office and toured
its storage and terminalling facilities at Pulau Sebarok. Guangdong
GuangYe manages the state-owned assets of the Guangdong
government. The delegation of senior management executives was led
by Mr Wu Liang, Chairman of Guangdong GuangYe. This was Mr Wu’s
second visit to SPC since 2007. The delegates were warmly received by
SPC CEO Mr Koh Ban Heng and his management team, who gave the
group an overview of SPC’s business activities.
(From left) Mr Lim Chee Onn, Chairman,
Keppel Corporation and SPC Chairman
Mr Choo Chiau Beng, gave a warm
welcome to Mdm Zhang Xiaokang,
China’s Ambassador to Singapore and
Mr Wang Yang, Guangdong Party Secretary.
The following day saw Mr Wang Yang, Guangdong Party Secretary
and Mdm Zhang Xiaokang, China’s Ambassador to Singapore, leading
20 top officials from the South China province to the Singapore
Refining Company (SRC). This was Mr Wang’s first visit to Singapore
since his appointment as Guangdong Party Secretary in 2007. Keppel
Corporation’s Chairman Mr Lim Chee Onn, SPC Chairman Mr Choo
Chiau Beng and Mr Koh met the group to show them around the
refinery. Besides the SRC, the delegation also visited the ChemGallery
on Jurong Island as part of their four-day visit to learn about Singapore’s
economic development.
With China fast becoming an economic powerhouse, SPC looks forward
to exploring growth opportunities with its Chinese counterparts.
Looking at the headlines these days, it is not easy to find a piece of
good news. With the doom and gloom reported everywhere, it seems
that things will get even gloomier this year of the Ox. So when I was
asked to do an editorial for this issue of ROAR, I wondered what I could
share that is cheerful and would lighten up the mood. It actually wasn’t
so difficult after all. By nature I am always inclined to look at the bright
side of things. That is not to say that I am oblivious to the “dark” side.
Feeling gloomy does little to help us overcome the bad situations that
we may find ourselves in. With that in mind, let me share some of the
cheers that we have in SPC.
The Company organises regular recreational events for us all to enjoy
time-out and build camaraderie with colleagues and family members.
Activities such as movie screenings, overseas holiday trips, bowling
tournaments, paintball games, annual family day for staff and dinner
and dance as well as long service award luncheon, have always
played to full house. We don’t just bring cheers to ourselves but also
endeavoured to share that with the less privileged in our community.
These included the annual Chinese New Year lunch for the elderly,
an outing for underprivileged children to the Singapore Flyer and our
participation in various charity and fund-raising events. So in the cheer
department, we do serve up a varied menu and more than a plateful.
Amidst the gloom last year, the SPC Group has also won many
awards. We won the SIAS corporate governance award for the sixth
consecutive year, the Energy Company of the Year (Gold award) for the
second time, a joint third position for the Best Managed Board, and
last but not least a first ever investor relations award. In the upstream
business, we have also much to cheer about as we continue to grow
our portfolio by winning 100% operatorship for the Mahakam Hilir
block and setting up our China branch office in Shekou.
2009 marks SPC’s 40 th anniversary. Having journeyed through the ups
and downs with the Company for so many years, I can assure you that
there is a lot to roar and cheer about in SPC. ROAR will be launching
a special edition this year to pay tribute to all of you who have served
the Company so loyally all these years. With the team that we have, I
am sure we have the resilience to look on the bright side and continue
to forge ahead and celebrate more successes.
Remember, when you smile the whole world smiles with you. So, let us
spread our smiles around, both in and out of the office and be of good
cheer and spirit in this year of the Ox.
Cheers!
Doris Tan
General Manager
Human Resource & Administration
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A Quarterly SPC Newsletter Issue 4 2008
FY2008 results
SPC reported its full year 2008 financial results on 20 January
2009 and delivered a credible performance amidst a turbulent
2008. Revenue increased 26.9% to a record $11.1 billion and PATMI
(Profit After Tax and Minority Interests) was $229.7 million, a 55.4%
decrease from a year ago, mainly on account of the weaker demand
for refined products seen in the second half year. Despite a difficult
year, the SPC Group achieved a return on equity of 13.1% in 2008.
Earnings per share decreased from 99.9 cents per share to 44.61
cents per share for the year 2008.
In view of this commendable performance and to continue rewarding
shareholders, the Board is recommending a final dividend of eight
cents per share. This, coupled with the Group’s interim ordinary
dividend that was paid in August 2008, would bring the total
dividends for the financial year 2008 to 28 cents per share or a
payout ratio of about 63% of PATMI.
Commenting on the results, SPC CEO Mr Koh Ban Heng said, “In
2000, SPC ventured into the exploration and production (E&P)
sector to diversify its earnings base for long-term sustainability.
Today, this strategy has achieved tangible results. Over the past few
years, SPC’s E&P business has grown from strength to strength.
The upstream business contributed about 40% of the Group’s 2008
after-tax earnings. We have exceeded our near term target to have
E&P contribute at least 30% of the Group’s bottom-line well ahead
of our initial schedule.”
While the global financial crisis had affected the Group’s
performance adversely in 2008, SPC will continue to review all its
capital investments and operating expenditures to ensure that these
make economic sense in the current difficult environment. With low
gearing and no long-term borrowings to be re-financed, the Group
is financially robust and will be able to remain resilient in the face
of the current economic downturn. Despite the difficult operating
environment, the Group will continue to invest prudently to benefit
from opportunities that may arise from the current downturn.
SPC acquires its first
onshore block
In November 2008, the Indonesian
government put up 29 oil and
gas exploration and production
(E&P) acreages worth US$891.8
million for bidding. SPC was one
of the successful bidders. The
Company entered into a Petroleum
Production Sharing Contract (PSC)
with BPMIGAS, an Indonesian
state-owned legal entity, to explore
the Mahakam Hilir Block.
The Block, covering approximately 344.14 square kilometres, is
located onshore in the Kutai Basin in East Kalimantan. Located in one
of Indonesia’s largest and most prolific oil and gas producing basins,
the Mahakam Hilir block is SPC’s third asset in Indonesia, in addition
to the Kakap and Sampang PSCs.
As the Block’s 100% operator, SPC is committed to conducting seismic
studies and exploration drilling to assess the potential of the acreage.
With this latest addition, the Company now has a total of nine PSCs and
one exploration permit, of which four are producing assets while the
rest are at the exploration stage.
A signing ceremony to mark the award to bidders was held in Jakarta,
Indonesia on 13 November 2008.
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Bandar Seri Begawan
Mahakam Hilir
The signing ceremony marking the
acquisition was held in Jakarta.
On the operatorship of its first onshore block, SPC CEO Mr Koh Ban
Heng said, “This investment is in line with SPC’s plan to grow its E&P
business, and participate in the entire oil and gas value chain.” He added,
“The integration of SPC’s businesses will strengthen our earnings in the
long-term and in many ways, validate our E&P growth.”
First upstream
office in China
With the rapid development of SPC’s
exploration and production (E&P)
activities in China, SPC has set up
its first upstream branch office in
Shenzhen, China. A good number
of Chinese government officials,
along with a representative from
International Enterprise Singapore
The inauguration dinner
provided excellent networking
opportunities to build
relationships.
(Guangzhou Centre) as well as SPC’s business partners and
associates, attended the grand opening of the office in Shenzhen
on 22 September 2008.
SPC E&P (China) Pte Ltd was established to operate and manage
SPC’s E&P assets in China, namely Block 26/18 in the Pearl River
Mouth Basin and Blocks 04/36 and 05/36 in Bohai Bay. With these
three Chinese blocks, SPC continues to strengthen its strategic
partnership with China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC),
a relationship established since SPC’s formative days when its
businesses were exclusively downstream in nature. Currently, the
Bohai blocks are SPC’s largest producing asset.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new office located
at Times Plaza. The event was officiated by SPC and CNOOC,
witnessed by about 20 distinguished guests. A dinner reception
followed at Kempinski Hotel, Shenzhen for more than 70 guests
who came to celebrate the happy occasion.
In Loving Memory of
The late Chris Keong Poh Guan
(24 April 1953 - 21 October 2008)
Former Senior Vice-President, Marketing
Jakarta
The opening of the upstream office marked SPC’s confidence
in China’s rapid development into a major oil and gas producing
country. SPC endeavours to work closely with CNOOC to ensure
the sustainable development of China’s oil resources.
Dearly remembered by SPC colleagues
The Mahakam Hilir acreage in Indonesia is SPC’s first onshore block.
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A Quarterly SPC Newsletter Issue 4 2008
SPC wins recognition
for investor relations
SPC CFO Mr Lee Chiang Huat
was proud to receive the award
from Mr Chris Kearns, Regional
Manager for Asia-Pacific, The
Bank of New York Mellon.
The roar from the iconic leaping lion of
SPC came across loud and clear when
it was announced at the IR Magazine
South East Asia Awards 2008 that the
Company clinched the ‘Most Progress
in Investor Relations - Small or Midcap’
title.
It marked a giant leap of confidence
and achievement for SPC, being the
top company in Southeast Asia for
this category, considering the current
trying economic situation. The annual
IR Magazine Awards event has been
widely recognised as the most accurate
and valid measure of excellence in
investor relations. The monthly UK-based magazine of 20 years is one
of the most respected publications in the market, covering all areas
in the field of investor relations. It is also a proud host of awards and
conferences in countries that includes Australia, Canada, continental
Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Nordic Region, the UK and the US. The
IR Magazine South East Asia Awards, now into its fourth year, has been
polling investors and analysts globally for the best in investor relations
in Southeast Asian companies.
The event also presented other general awards in several categories,
honouring leading companies across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand and the Philippines. The winners were determined based on
the results of a survey with over 5,000 investors and analysts from
more than 14 countries worldwide covering the Asian market.
SPC was nominated in the small or mid-cap category as having achieved
the most progress in investor relations, alongside heavyweights like
Banyan Tree Holdings and CapitaCommercial Trust Management. SPC
was announced the winner of this title at the award ceremony held over
a conference and luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore on 14
November 2008.
Undoubtedly the Company’s spirit in advocating transparency and
engaging investors and analysts actively has won it many votes.
“This award is a pleasant vindication of our IR team efforts. Together
with our Business Units, we will strive to achieve even more in the IR
space,” said Mr Lee Chiang Huat, SPC CFO who leads the IR team.
The lion will roar even louder.
Exploring global
opportunities
SPC CFO Mr Lee Chiang Huat
introducing the SPC exhibits to
Mr S Iswaran, Senior Minister of
State for Trade and Industry.
The exhibition served as a platform
for the E&P team to profile their work
to local and foreign visitors for possible
business opportunities.
Suntec Singapore became a hive of activity for the oil and gas fraternity
when OSEA, Asia’s biggest oil and gas exploration and production industry
exhibition and conference, came to town on 2 December 2008.
This was the 17 th time that the event was held and the largest in scale
since its inauguration in 1976. As the only integrated oil and gas
company in Singapore, SPC took the opportunity at OSEA to showcase
its business activities, especially its upstream portfolio, which has
grown rapidly across the Asia-Pacific region.
With more than 15,000 industry professionals and government
officials from over 60 countries attending the four-day event, OSEA
was a remarkable global networking platform for SPC to explore
new oil and gas business opportunities, as well as expand its market
presence worldwide.
A faithful friend
of the arts
(Left) Mr Kevin Siak, Manager,
Customer Relationship
Management receiving the
award from Dr Lee Boon
Yang, Minister for Information,
Communications and the Arts.
As an avid sponsor of arts activities, SPC was recognised as a ’Friend
of the Arts’ at the National Arts Council’s 2008 Patron of the Arts Award
Ceremony on 21 October 2008.
The evening event held at the Esplanade Theatre was graced by Dr Lee
Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.
An encouraging number of 291 sponsors comprising 262 organisations
and 29 individuals contributed close to $37 million in cash and kind
to the Singapore arts scene in 2007. This robust support from patrons
enabled arts groups across Singapore to bring creativity and a new
dimension of originality to the local arts scene through outreach events
such as arts education, exhibitions, musicals, arts infrastructure,
festivals and international arts showcases.
Since SPC’s early days, the Company has been a loyal supporter of the
Singapore Symphony Orchestra. In 2007, SPC sponsored the Singapore
Symphony Orchestra’s China Tour where local musicians performed
across five Chinese metropolis. The Singapore Chinese Orchestra
and the Majlis Pusat Cultural Night were also SPC’s sponsorship
beneficiaries. As a devoted supporter of the Singapore arts scene, SPC
has consistently been receiving recognition at the annual Patron of the
Arts Award Ceremony.
Energy star
Amid the unpredictable oil prices in 2008, SPC’s resilience was
acknowledged by the industry as it garnered its second award for
excellence in the energy business, competing with energy giants in Asia.
SPC collected the gold award for ‘Energy Company of the Year’ for the
second year running, retaining the accolade it won in 2007 at the Energy
Business Awards, Asia (EBAA) which was held in conjunction with the
Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC).
The EBAA was first introduced in 2007 to honour companies in the
region which have contributed significantly to the development of the
energy business.
The APPEC is a highly-acclaimed energy forum in Asia which has, since
1985, been bringing industry players together annually to shed light on
the prospects and challenges in the energy business.
The 24 th APPEC was held at Raffles City Convention Centre from 21 to
23 October 2008. At the opening ceremony of the forum, SPC received
its gold award from Mr Linus Koh, President & COO of Singapore
Mercantile Exchange.
Ms Foo Jang See, SPC Senior Vice-President of Crude and Products Trading receiving the
gold award from Mr Linus Koh, President & COO of Singapore Mercantile Exchange.
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A Quarterly SPC Newsletter Issue 4 2008
Being a good sport
Heavy rains loomed in Brunei Darussalam, but they certainly did not
dampen the high spirits of some 350 sports enthusiasts from the
ASEAN national oil companies at the 22 nd ASCOPE Games.
ASCOPE, which stands for “ASEAN Council on Petroleum”, was born in
1975 to forge closer cooperation among ASEAN countries on oil and
gas matters. From the initial five countries of which SPC represents
Singapore, ASCOPE has now expanded to 10 ASEAN member
countries assembling regularly through meetings and conferences to
promote collaboration and discuss developments in the petroleum
industry. SPC Chairman Mr Choo Chiau Beng and CEO Mr Koh Ban
Heng attended the last ASCOPE National Committees Meeting for
2008 in Malaysia on 20 August (see side story).
The ASCOPE Games is another initiative that fosters friendship and
strengthens the unity of the member countries. PetroleumBRUNEI
hosted the 22 nd ASCOPE Games from 22 to 26 October 2008.
Apart from the host, SPC, Pertamina, Petronas, PNOC and PTT also
participated in the Games. SPC sent in three teams to compete
in golf, badminton and bowling. Mr Choo and Mr Koh were at the
Games to cheer the teams on.
Though SPC did not win any medal, it was the Asean togetherness and
spirit that mattered.
The relief formula
A joint cooperative agreement among SPC, PETRONAS,
PERTAMINA, PTT and PNOC was signed at the 67 th ASEAN
Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) National Committees Meeting in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently.
Under this Resource Matrix Guiding Principle Document agreement,
participating countries would deploy the required emergency
resources to a member country when it has exhausted all its
local resources in the event of a crisis. Aimed at enhancing each
member’s crisis response capabilities, such collaborative effort is
intended to build up the collective strength of ASCOPE members.
The ASCOPE meeting held in Malaysia from 20 to 25 August was
the second National Committees meeting for 2008 after a first in
Bali, Indonesia in April. SPC is an active participant of ASCOPE,
with key representations across all its working committees.
Below:
Besides the National Committees Meeting, ASCOPE members also meet
at the Council Meeting annually to review past year’s activities and provide
recommendations. SPC Chairman and CEO led the Singapore delegation to attend
the 34 th ASCOPE Council Meeting in Malaysia on 30 November 2008.
Right:
After several days of intense competition at the games, participants finally loosened up
at the finale dinner and enjoyed themselves through the night.
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A Quarterly SPC Newsletter Issue 4 2008
EHSS Quiz 2008
1) Identify three hazards at your workplace.
a)
b)
c)
2) The United Nations Number for petrol is _____________ and
the Hazard Information Emergency Code is ______________.
3) When is “Bring Your Own Bag Day (BYOBD)”?
a) Every first Wednesday of the month
b) Every Wednesday of the week
c) Every last Wednesday of the month
4) Name three safety precautions to take when filling petrol at the
service stations.
a)
b)
c)
5) The Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) replaces the
Factories Act, with effect from ___________ (dd/mm/yyyy).
Its subsidiary legislation, Workplace Safety and Health
(Risk Management) regulation, came into operation on
___________ (dd/mm/yyyy).
6) Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
a) Water Vapour b) Methane c) Hydrogen
7) Which substance will cause Ozone depletion?
a) Chloro Fluoro Carbon (CFC) b) Carbon Dioxide c) Nitrogen
8) List three activities which can help conserve energy at your
workplace and briefly explain how you would implement them.
a)
b)
c)
9) Every hazardous product requires a SDS. What is SDS?
a) Safety Data Sheet
b) Safety Data Specifications
c) Safety Demonstration Specialists
10) In Singapore, the permissible sulphur content for automotive
diesel is ____________ ppm.
How green are you?
SPC continues its efforts in promoting environmental awareness to
its employees with the launch of a green quiz on 18 September 2008.
An initiative by the Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHSS)
Committee, the EHSS Quiz 2008 also welcomed entries from service
station staff and contractors.
Six winners emerged after a month-long battle. Congratulations and well
done to all our winners!
Position Name department
1 st Suresh P Sivanandam Manufacturing
2 nd Nah Wenbin Exploration & Production
3 rd Daing Alwee Pulau Sebarok Terminal
4 th Tan Yeen Voon Exploration & Production
5 th Teh Chee Hang Pulau Sebarok Terminal
6 th Garett Lim Choon Lam Lubricant Sales
Are you also ‘green’ enough to take on the quiz? Try the questions and see
if you can fare as well as the winners.
Answers are found at the end of this page.
Good luck!
Answers:
1) Hazard is defined as anything with the potential to cause harm.
Some examples: Electrical wires on the office floor; blind corners around cubicles
2) 1203; 3[Y]E
3[Y]E means:
First prize winner Mr Suresh
P Sivanandam from Manufacturing
(right) receiving his prize from
Mr Lim Swee Yong, EHSS Manager.
3 – Foam
[Y] – Violent Reaction Possible, BA required if product is on FIRE.
E – Consider Evacuation
(This sign is displayed on most of the petroleum road tankers in Singapore)
3) b) Every Wednesday of the week (Giant at Vivo City has such a signage at the checkout counter)
4) a) Switch off the engine (by law)
b) No naked flame (by law)
c) Do not smoke (by law)
d) Do not use mobile phone (industry self-regulation)
5) 01/03/2006; 01/09/2006
6) c) Hydrogen
7) a) Chloro Fluoro Carbon (CFC)
8) Some examples: Turn off electrical appliances when not in use; Use energy saving bulbs
9) a) Safety Data Sheet
10) 50
Mr Koh and Associate Professor
Nilanjan Sen, Associate Dean of
Nanyang Executive Education,
sealed a partnership for SPC
staff development.
The nine-module SPC Leadership Program for
senior executives and managers held its first
lesson in November 2008 at the Nanyang
Executive Centre.
Leaders in the making
Did you know that leadership is neither confined to position nor limited
by experience?
In line with its human capital strategy to cultivate potential leaders,
SPC has inked a leadership series with the Nanyang Business School of
Nanyang Technological University to develop and enhance the leadership
skills of its employees. The SPC Leadership Series consists of three
courses: SPC Management Programme, SPC Leadership Programme
and SPC Advanced Leadership Programme, that would serve executives,
middle and senior managers, respectively. The courses will be delivered
over the course of two years, until mid-2009.
On the initiation of the joint effort, SPC CEO Mr Koh Ban Heng
highlighted the Company’s strong partnerships with local universities
for talent development at the signing ceremony on 18 September
2008. SPC has been working closely with the National University of
Singapore to nurture a pool of homegrown oil and gas specialists.
SPC is now partnering the Nanyang Business School, selected
for its high academic standards in executive training, for
leadership development.
Showing compassion
Suppose you heard on the radio about
a fire that had just broken out at a
production plant. You have a family
member who works there. What would
you do? Call the company to confirm
the incident and find out if anyone
was hurt?
Now, imagine how the company’s
telephone lines would be flooded with
calls from the next-of-kin (NOK) and how
it would have to deal with the people
gathered at the site, seeking information
about the fire and their loved ones.
Dr Victor Tai dotted his
presentation with real case
examples to enhance the
participants’ understanding of
the topics.
During an emergency situation, NOK management is critical and integral
to crisis response. Anger, confusion and uncontrollable anxiety from the
families are some emotional outcomes that the company may have to
grapple with. Having the appropriate skills to render assistance to the
families will ease the pain caused by any tragedy.
SPC recognises the challenges of NOK management. To equip its
employees with the necessary skills to assist the family members, SPC
engaged a well-qualified and experienced psychologist, Dr Victor Tai, to
conduct a one-day NOK management course on 11 November 2008.
Dr Tai has been a Certified Senior Management Consultant at Psyscan
Consulting International for 25 years. He is also the Senior Consultant
Psychologist at Adam Road Hospital for 12 years. In his previous
employment of almost 10 years, Dr Tai was Chief Psychologist at the
Ministry of Defence. Dr Tai also held top positions as President of the
Singapore Psychological Society and Deputy Chairman of the Singapore
Professional Centre and was a founding member of the Singapore
Society for Executive Health and the Singapore Society of Counselling.
Using real life examples and an acute sense of humour, Dr Tai fuelled
the participants’ interest in topics which enabled them to identify
typical psychological reactions during a crisis, identify and manage grief
responses, and be armed with basic counseling skills. These skills and
knowledge can likewise be applied in their daily lives.
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A Quarterly SPC Newsletter Issue 4 2008
Forest in the city
Park volunteers accompanied the group to educate them on the plants that they
encountered along the way.
Participants were enthralled by the greenery that greeted them along the walk.
These six nominees were up for another round of voting to determine the top three
places.
(From left) The final winners were Ms Lim Lay Hoon (second prize), Ms Patsy Wong
(first prize) and Mr See Sing Mun (third prize).
A balmy Saturday morning on 15 November 2008 saw some 80 SPC
staff and their family members donning their walking gear for a
scenic walk through the Southern Ridges, a rustic forest rich in flora
and fauna nestled in southwest Singapore. This was the GreenSteps -
a green activity organised by SPC for its staff to promote
environmental consciousness and enjoy greenery despite living in a
proverbial concrete jungle.
Accompanied by experienced nature guides from the National Parks
Board, the participants commenced the nine-kilometre walk from
Henderson Waves – Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge that
connects the two hills of Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Park. As
they moved on, participants found themselves slowly entering into a
leafy world where one could hear birds sing and see flowers bloom.
Those with cameras were also busy taking shots of the refreshing
flora and fauna surrounding them.
Telok Blangah Hill offered a charm of its own. At the Forest Walk,
rare species of flora and fauna could be seen. And once the
participants crossed the Alexandra Arch – a leaf-like bridge with
curved deck and tilted arch that stretches over Alexandra Road - a
different vista unfolded. That was the HortPark, home to thematic
gardens and amazing open spaces.
At Southeast Asia’s first one-stop gardening hub, after a hearty
lunch, some of the participants continued to tour HortPark on their
own, while others proceeded to the Terrarium Workshop, where
they learned to grow a garden in a bottle.
There was a simple training session by the terrarium trainer for the
23 participants. Then, they were all set to make their own bottled
garden and vie for the title “SPC Green Fingers”.
One contestant quipped, “We learned that there would be prizes
to be won, so you can imagine the tension among us!” said Patsy
Wong, Senior Executive Secretary.
However, tension turned into a moment of surprise for Patsy when
s h e w a s a n n o u n c e d t h e t o p w i n n e r o f t h e g r e e n f i n g e r s a w a r d .
She added, “Being a plant lover, I am really happy with myself. I can
now proudly say that indeed, I have green fingers!”
The second and third places were won by family members of Rina
Lim, Senior Administrative Assistant of Special Products, and
See Sow Lai, Senior Secretary of Refining, Supply and Aviation,
respectively.
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A Quarterly SPC Newsletter Issue 4 2008
In the Moo-d for
Chinese New Year
During Chinese New Year, perhaps the most popular dish is the raw fish
salad, or yusheng, which is a symbol of abundance and prosperity.
At the annual SPC Chinese New Year Lunch on 28 January 2009, over 200
employees gathered at the Imperial Herbal Restaurant and tossed yusheng
as high as they could to bring good fortune and wealth in the Year of the Ox.
Auspicious wishes also went round each table as they tossed the yusheng
high up in the air. Besides receiving good luck, the lunch gathering was also
a great moment for the employees to catch up with one another.
The entertaining performances received enthusiastic response from the audience.
FARMily fun
It was a morning of fun at the farms for about 300 SPC staff and their
families on 7 December 2008. The SPC Family Day held in Lim Chu
Kang offered them educational tours and entertaining performances.
Getting up close to the goats and drinking fresh milk at the goat farm.
Children trying their hands at the Mini SPC Challenge.
Survivor of the fittest,
and youngest?
Young children jumping and running about, that’s a common sight.
But can they sit still if they want to – for three minutes, at a go?
Staff members might be in a festive mood, but they also did not forget
to share joy and cheers with the elderly from various old folks’ homes.
On 19 February 2009 at the Red Star Restaurant led by SPC Chairman
Mr Choo Chiau Beng, some 45 SPC volunteers brought warmth and gifts
to 190 residents from Indus Moral CARE, the Kreta Ayer Senior Activity
Centre (Chin Swee Branch), Moral Home for the Aged Sick, Tai Pei Old
Peoples’ Home as well as the Samsui Women and Elderly (Redhill). This
was the fourth year that SPC supported the Chinese New Year Lunch with
the Elderly, organised by the Singapore Women’s Association. Ms Ellen
Lee, MP for Sembawang GRC (Woodlands), was the guest-of-honour.
At the Hay Dairies Goat Farm, the families learnt about the health
benefits of drinking goat milk. Their kids also had a jolly good time
playing with the kids (baby goats). At the Kok Hua Vegetable Farm,
families were introduced to vegetable farming and some of them
even went home with bags of fresh vegetables and fruits bought from
the farm. Perhaps the greatest challenge was encountered at the
Crocodile Farm when they had to overcome their fear of the reptile
by learning how to cuddle a baby crocodile in their arms for the rare
photo opportunities.
By noon, the merry-makers were all ready to fill their stomachs with
yummy food while keeping their eyes glued on performances such as
magic show and balloon sculpting.
Fresh produce at the vegetable farm.
Children as young as two years old proved that they could at the Mini SPC
Challenge. With tiny hands placed firmly on palm-shaped decals on a toy car
for at least three minutes, many walked away with a prize.
The mini challenge was one of the activities that SPC organised in
conjunction with the Subaru Impreza Challenge held at Ngee Ann City Civic
Plaza from 8 to11 November 2008. The original version of the mini challenge
was however a lot more demanding, both physically and mentally.
Into its seventh year, the Subaru Impreza Challenge saw 40 participants
from Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand placing their palms
on Subaru Impreza cars in an endurance challenge. They were deprived of
sleep and given only five minutes break once every six hours to eat and use
the toilet.
SPC volunteers helping the elderly to get
off from the coach safely.
A SPC volunteer having a chat with the
elderly to learn about her life experience.
Who would have thought that a barnyard full of fun is possible in this
city of glass and concrete!
A test of bravery at the crocodile farm.
After enduring 81 hours 32 minutes, the winner finally emerged and went
home with a Subaru Impreza and $3,000 SPC vouchers. SPC also sponsored
vouchers worth $2,000 for the first runner-up and $1,000 for the second
runner-up.
SPC Chairman Mr Choo Chiau Beng giving out
special ang pows to some senior citizens who
are at least 90 years old.
Ms Ellen Lee, MP for Sembawang GRC
(Woodlands) (second on the left) also took time
out to spend some joyful moment with the elderly.
14
15

Editorial Committee
Lee Chiang Huat (Chief Editor)
Andarina K. Sumarnu
Elaine Ang
Gan Dong Lee
Herman Ng
Joey Ho
Kevin Siak
Soon Boon Hoe
Suresh Pitty Sivanandam
Tan Poh Lay
Tan Yeen Voon
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