Women's group appoints its first male CE0

The 64-year-old Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) has appointed its first male chief executive officer (CEO).

He is Mr Mohd Ali Mahmood, 49, and has been with PPIS for over 16 years. He was previously PPIS' senior director of social services, overseeing its family services and student care centres, its training and consultancy unit and the Family Therapy Institute, which addresses domestic issues.

The PPIS said his leadership will motivate more men to play their part in the fight for gender equality.

Mr Mohd Ali, who has been acting CEO since January, replaces Madam Maznah Masop, who has held the position since 2009.

Man jailed for ill-treating girlfriend's daughter

A former air-conditioning technician who threatened his girlfriend and ill-treated her seven-year-old daughter was sentenced to three months and two weeks in jail yesterday.

Aminnuddin Siregar Aminullah Siregar, 29, admitted saying to the 32-year-old part-time waitress: "You all tell the police and before the police arrive, all of you will die by my hand.'' He did so at their flat on Jan 13 last year.

He also admitted to pinching the child on her left thigh, slapping her and forcefully rubbing chilli on her mouth on Feb 10 the same year.

A district court heard that on Jan 12 last year, he punished the girl for being disrespectful by telling her to do half-squats while he placed a lit cigarette near her private parts for a few minutes. When his girlfriend's sister told him the next day that she intended to report him to the police, he threatened his girlfriend, now his fiancee.

Brunei air force chief on introductory visit

The commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force, Colonel Shahril Anwar Haji Ma'awiah, is in Singapore for an introductory visit until today.

Col Shahril has called on Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Chief of Defence Force Major-General Perry Lim and Chief of Air Force Brigadier-General Mervyn Tan. He will also visit the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) 123 Squadron.

The visit underscores the close and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and Brunei, said the Ministry of Defence.

The RSAF and the Brunei air force interact regularly through a wide range of activities including professional exchanges and bilateral exercises such as Exercise Air Guard, Mindef said.