Motor insurer AIG has announced that it will not provide insurance coverage for McLaren sports cars when driven across the Causeway into Malaysia. This decision follows a recent crash involving three McLarens in Johor on Oct 29, 2023, prompting AIG to cite an increase in severe accidents involving McLaren models in Malaysia.
According to The Straits Times and reported by The Star, starting April 1, 2024, AIG stated that it will not be liable for losses arising from accidents outside of Singapore. The decision has left McLaren owners shocked and puzzled, with some expressing confusion over why McLaren vehicles are being singled out.
Marcus Luah, one of the drivers involved in the Johor crash, expressed bewilderment at the decision and mentioned that AIG quoted him a premium that was significantly higher than his current one, prompting him to seek alternatives.
While rare, such decisions are not unheard of for high-end cars, according to insurance broker Eazy CEO Douglas Chia. However, AIG’s move has raised concerns among McLaren owners, leading dealerships like Eurokars to explore alternative insurance partners to mitigate the impact on existing customers.
The General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) refrained from commenting on individual members’ practices, stating that insurers determine their risk acceptance criteria. Meanwhile, legal experts have pointed out that insurers generally have the right to decline coverage for certain risks upon policy renewal, but unilateral changes mid-stream may not be permissible without policy provisions.
The decision by AIG comes amidst incidents involving McLaren vehicles, including a crash on Keppel Road in Singapore in May 2023. Despite such occurrences, McLaren remains a popular choice in Singapore, with approximately 200 McLarens registered in the country, according to Land Transport Authority statistics.
Singapore’s Transport Minister, Chee Hong Tat, emphasised that foreign drivers and foreign-registered vehicles must possess a valid license before engaging in cross-border services. This requirement aims to safeguard passengers, as licensed drivers must maintain valid insurance coverage for passengers, as reported by FMT.
Chee praised Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) for intercepting four drivers attempting illegal cross-border operations and urged the LTA to maintain a strong stance against such activities, including conducting undercover operations to apprehend violators. He cautioned potential offenders, highlighting the risk of encountering undercover LTA officers during illegal operations.
The LTA reiterated its commitment to addressing such offences, emphasising the risks involved in using unauthorised services. In addition to their illegality, vehicles utilised in these services may lack adequate insurance coverage for passengers, posing significant risks in case of accidents.
Insiden di Checkpoint Woodlands menunjukkan seriusnya melanggar peraturan di lintas sempadan dan potensi konsekuensi undang-undang. Peraturan tiga suku tangki, yang memerlukan kenderaan mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya tiga suku minyak ketika meninggalkan Singapura melalui checkpoint darat, adalah prosedur standard untuk memastikan kenderaan mempunyai minyak yang mencukupi untuk perjalanan mereka.
Menurut The Straits Times, penolakan pemandu untuk mematuhi arahan pegawai ICA dan pemecutan seterusnya, menyeret pegawai tersebut, mengakibatkan kecederaan dan penangkapan pemandu. Tuduhan menyebabkan kecederaan akibat tindakan ceroboh menegaskan seriusnya tindakan seperti itu, menekankan perlunya pemandu berkerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa checkpoint.
When travelling to foreign countries, the most common mode of transportation is often e-hailing or taxi services. Car rental is another option, but it comes with its own set of considerations. Unfortunately, taxi drivers sometimes exploit tourists, hiking up fares significantly, especially when the passengers are foreigners.
As reported by Mothership, a group of foreigners recently fell victim to such a scam in Singapore, where they were charged a staggering $100 SGD for a mere 3-kilometre journey, which took approximately seven to ten minutes. The incident was captured on video, and the conversation with the taxi driver was later uploaded to YouTube.
Filmed on September 18 and 19, 2023, at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, the footage was produced for the Carl Runefelt Vlogs channel and showcased the Token 2049 cryptocurrency conference. The vehicle that transported the passengers was parked in the designated taxi area and displayed a “Taxi” sign above it.
The group, consisting of five individuals, including a videographer, had been trying to secure a private rental car or hail a cab. The video highlighted their interaction with the taxi driver, which escalated to an astonishing fare quote when the video reached the nine-minute mark, the time they were supposed to reach Park Royal Collection Pickering.
The taxi driver, with a censored face, cited the congestion in the area and declared the ride would cost a hefty S$100.
In order to develop and run the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project through public-private collaboration, MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd (MyHSR Corp) is planning to send a request for information (RFI) to private sector partners.
According to MyHSR Corp, the RFI will be made available for local and foreign partnerships to submit their proposals.
This would enable the government to examine issues like technical requirements, project costs, commercial and business models, consortium and governance framework, and interest and capacity of the industry to completely fund the project.
BPIN Investment, a division of Thailand’s smart-energy giant Banpu Next, has provided further money to Singapore-based smart-battery swapping startup Oyika, according to regulatory filings.
According to Oyika’s papers with Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), Banpu Next, a division of energy juggernaut Banpu, which is listed on the stock exchange in Bangkok, is investing $8.75 million (RM38 million) in the startup as part of its Series B investment.
According to reports, a 12-year-old boy entered a private bus operated by A&S Transport and went on a joyride. This occurred for around five hours in the morning on Wednesday (April 12), in Singapore.
It was reported that the routes taken by this joyride went through Tampines, Bedok, Pasir Ris, and Punggol.
For most people travelling to or from Singapore, the 100-year old Causeway across the Straits of Johor and the Second Link are the usually places for the crossing. As traffic volumes have increased and immigration procedures have also become more stringent, long queues have been a common sight at both sides.
There have been various proposals to add connections across the Straits including, at one time, a wider 6-lane ‘crooked bridge’ envisioned by former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. However, up till today, there are still only two crossings for vehicles.
Less well known is an alternative way to cross using the ferry services from Tanjung Belungkor and Desaru in Johor to Tanah Merah in Singapore. These ferry services, which commenced in the middle of last year, are not for cars though but provide an easier way for people to get across (about 35 minutes) instead of going through the jam at the Causeway and Second Link.
Passengers will be able to get from Johor Bahru’s Bukit Chagar station to the Woodlands North station and vice versa in about five minutes, once the 4km RTS Link is completed.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the link is on track to be completed by the end of 2026.
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective – an elite team of engineers, designers and craftspeople based at the Home of Rolls-Royce in England – provides Rolls-Royce customers with the ultimate in personalisation of their cars. Almost every Rolls-Royce sold nowadays has some involvement from the Bespoke Collective – after all, when you pay over a million ringgit, why not spend a bit more to make your car truly unique.
Most of the cars created by the Bespoke Collective are not publicised as their owners may prefer not to do so but some allow Rolls-Royce to show them to the world. The latest one is for a customer in Singapore, and appropriately, this customer wanted the orchid as the theme. The beautiful flower is especially close to the hearts of Singaporean as it is their country’s national flower.
Pioneering Bespoke work
Designers, craftspeople and artisans collaborated with artist Helen Murray over a period of 2 years to create this ‘one of one’ Rolls-Royce known as the Phantom Orchid. Helen and her team have undertaken pioneering bespoke work with Phantom’s Gallery – a wholly contemporary and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s fascia and instrument panel area.
She was inspired by several kinds of orchids, including the Singapore Orchid, spending over 200 hours relentlessly refining her design and artwork with her team. “I started by focusing on the actual orchids, which promptly led me to realise that colour was key to capturing the essence of the species. I have created artworks featuring orchids in the past, but my idea for the Gallery was to create something in realistic full colour, which pushed us to refine our digital printing skills,” explained the UK-based artist and textile designer.
Murray started by illustrating the design by hand before creating a digital version that she could print directly onto the silk crepe satin. The final part of the process involved a meticulous hand-sculpting of the flowers, releasing layers of fabric to create a 3D effect.
Orchid Sanctuary
Within the interior, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer Yohan Benchetrit applied his talent to the Bespoke orchid-inspired Picnic Table inlays in the rear of the suite which, when opened, gracefully reveal a beautiful layer of orchids set into Piano Black veneer. He added Bespoke treadplates emanating a similar theme sans text to welcome the owner and passengers into the motor car. The interior suite meanwhile was furnished with elegant, natural colours which provide a soothing ambience akin to an Orchid Sanctuary.
To complete this special Phantom, a unique paint was specially created using the latest paint technology. Arctic White was chosen as the base colour, while a tint of violet was added, inspired by orchids. Combined with fine glass particles through a special process, the result is a stunning pearlescent appearance. Under bright light, the paint technology creates a shimmering effect like no other, changing as an observer views the motor car from different angles. An eye-catching single coachline on either side of Phantom incorporates a Bespoke motif, inspired by an orchid, completing the theme.
Parallels with the Garden City
“It draws parallels with the Singapore I know; a thoroughly modern garden city merging nature and technology effortlessly in its make-up,” said Michael Bryden, Lead Designer, Rolls-Royce Bespoke, who has not only spent time in Singapore but designed the now famous, ‘one of one’ ‘SG50 Bespoke Ghost’, created to celebrate the country’s 50th Anniversary.
“It was the first time we had produced a motorcar to celebrate such an occasion, so I am again delighted to have participated with Yohan and the Bespoke Collective to create another masterpiece for Singapore,” he said.
He explained that the concept envisaged a balanced yet progressive design which echoes the values of the Singapore region. “The orchid is seen in many facets of Asian life, a reminder that the resilient adapt and thrive regardless of the evolving environment. Phantom is the only motorcar in the world to feature the Gallery, a space that enables one to exhibit art, sculptures, or objects of self-expression in the sanctuary of Phantom’s interior,” said Bryden.
