SINGAPORE, 12 August 2005 – Media group Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) today donated $160,000 to 16 charities caring for the needy elderly, as part of its celebrations to mark The Straits Times' 160th anniversary.

SPH Chairman Lim Chin Beng presented donation cheques of $10,000 to each representative of the 16 voluntary welfare organisations at a ceremony held at the SPH News Centre in Toa Payoh North. The event was also attended by Mr Edmund Tie, Vice-Chairman of Community Chest Committee, and about 80 senior citizens whose needs are served by the 16 charities.

Said Mr Lim: "This is a milestone year for SPH as it celebrates the 160th anniversary of its flagship English daily, The Straits Times. As a leading media group and a good corporate citizen, this donation is our way of thanking the community for its support which has contributed to the growth and success of The Straits Times and SPH over the years.

"Today's group giving represents our on-going efforts to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate in our society, and to make a difference to the lives of the elderly. We also want to show our appreciation for their contribution to Singapore, which celebrates its 40th independence this year.

"The 16 charitable welfare programmes, through the services they provide, have given much support to the needy, the aged-sick and the terminally-ill senior citizens. Our contribution serves to help sustain their much-needed work."

The 16 beneficiaries were selected following close consultations with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). With one in five Singaporeans over 65 years old in 20 years time, the NCSS, which coordinates the efforts of voluntary welfare organisations, supports services that promote the integration of the elderly into society.

Commenting on the SPH's group giving, Mr Gerard Ee, President of the NCSS, said: "An aging population means the demands for eldercare services and support will grow in the coming years. NCSS is grateful to SPH for its donation, which will support our efforts in developing community-based programmes that help to dignify the lives of our senior citizens."

Representatives of the 16 charities thanked SPH for the donation.

Venerable Kuan Yan, Chief Executive Officer from Bright Vision Hospital in Hougang, said: "On behalf of our patients, management and staff at Bright Vision Hospital, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to SPH for its contribution, which will help ease the burden for the needy infirm elderly.”

Added Ms Yang Geok Foong, Director, AWWA Elderly Services: "This is a wonderful present from SPH, for which we are very thankful. This act of generosity and kindness will help sustain the services we provide to our aging citizens."

The 16 beneficiaries are:

(1) AWWA Readycare Centre
(2) Bright Vision Hospital
(3) Fei Yue Family Service Centre (Bukit Batok)
(4) Hospice Day Care Centre
(5) Hospice Home Care Service
(6) Jamiyah Home for the Aged (Darul Takrim)
(7) MacPherson Moral Family Service Centre
(8) Moral Case Management Service
(9) Moral Community Rehabilitation Programme
(10) PPIS - Jurong Family Service Centre
(11) SAGE Gero-counselling
(12) Singapore Cheshire Home Residential Care
(13) Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick
(14) Sunlove Dementia Day Care
(15) SWAMI Case Management Service
(16) TOUCH Caregivers Centre

Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Co. Regn. No: 198402868E

For more information, please contact:

Ms Irene Ngoo
Vice President
Corporate Relations
Singapore Press Holdings
Tel: 6319 1216
Fax: 6319 8150
E-mail: ingoo@sph.com.sg

About SPH
Main board listed Singapore Press Holdings Limited is the leading media company in Singapore, in the print, Internet and broadcasting platforms. It publishes 13 newspapers in the four official languages and more than 70 magazine titles. Everyday, 2.78 million individuals, or 90 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of the SPH publications. Its Internet Business Unit manages the online editions of SPH's major newspapers and magazines, which together enjoy over 250 million pageviews a month. SPH also owns a 20% stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8, U and TV Mobile, and a 40% stake in MediaCorp Press Pte Ltd, which publishes free newspaper Today. It also operates two entertainment radio channels, UFM 100.3 FM in Chinese and WKRZ 91.3 FM in English, under a joint venture company UnionWorks with NTUC Media.