LTA will also be gazetting speed limits on roads.

The functions above were identified as in line with LTA's role to manage road usage, said Mr Colin Lin, LTA's acting group director for vehicle and transit licensing.

The Commander of Traffic Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cheang Keng Keong, said the transfer of duties will allow them to better focus on their core functions such as enforcement against unsafe driving behaviour.

Upon taking over the enforcement of illegal parking, LTA will deploy traffic wardens, auxiliary police officers and its own uniformed enforcement officers to carry out the function.

LTA's enforcement procedures will be similar to those of the TP.

There will be no change to the penalties for illegal parking offences.

Members of the public can call LTA's hotline 1800-CALL LTA (2255 582) on illegal parking matters from Nov 1.

TP will continue their enforcement action against speeding offences.

Issuing permits for carrying of loads on vehicles

LTA will take over the issuing of permits for oversized vehicles to travel on the roads.

Vehicle owners or drivers can make use of LTA's on-line portal, LTA.PROMPT, to submit their applications.

The details of the application process will be made available to the relevant stakeholders closer to the date of takeover.

More details on any changes in procedures affecting members of the public will be available on www.onemotoring.com.sg and https://prompt.lta.gov.sg nearer to 1 November 2010.

Members of the public may also call the LTA hotline at 1800-CALL LTA (2255 582) for more information.

The group is awaiting official data from observatories across the world to confirm the exact time, sizes and orbits of the two objects, said Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near Earth Program, which tracks potentially hazardous asteroids and comets within 28 million miles of Earth.

Wednesday's double encounter was unusual in the sense that NASA spotted the objects three days in advance and successfully plotted their orbits, he said, demonstrating the need for closer monitoring of near space for Earth-threatening encounters.

"It just confirms that the process we have in place — whereby we observe and find them and then we quickly predict when they'll pass Earth and get that info out — that process works pretty well," Yeomans said. "The search for the next one goes on."

The objects did not threaten Earth, and could only be seen as tiny specks of light using moderately sized amateur telescopes. Stony objects of the two asteroids' size would not be expected to make it through the Earth's atmosphere, but would put on "a great light show," Yeomans said.

Roughly 50 million objects pass through near-Earth space each day, Yeomans said. The more information NASA has on those objects in advance, the more it can do to prevent potential threats to Earth, he said.

"Things like this happen every day that we simply don't know about because we don't have the telescopes large enough to find them or surveys that are looking full-time," he said Tuesday.

Technology exists to adjust an object's path by directing an explosive device at it or running into it, just as the Deep Impact Spacecraft ran into the Comet Temple on July 4, 2005, he said.

"If you have several years warning, you can do it just by nudging it several millimters to change its path just enough to miss the earth," he said.

The Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona, discovered both objects Sunday morning during a routine monitoring of the skies, NASA said. The Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, first received the observations Sunday morning, determined preliminary orbits and concluded both objects would pass within the distance of the moon about three days later.

Yeomans described the discovery as a warning shot in a field of study of low-probability events with global, high-impact consequences.

"We have only recently appreciated how many of these objects are in near Earth's space," he said. "I think this is Mother Nature's way of firing a shot over the bow and warning Earth-based astronomers that we have a lot of work to do."

Singapore's vehicle population has grown to about one million. With limited land, vehicle growth rate has been set at 1.5% for the next two years.

But, is this sustainable?

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, chairman of Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said: "We should maintain our current fleet of vehicles, not to increase further. Perhaps, given a chance, Ministry of Transport should consider a reduction in vehicle number rather than (an) increase.

"We are looking at a reduction in growth, but what I will like to see is to reach the zero (growth) faster. In Parliament, we have been pushing for some sort of a zero growth, if not, even a negative growth to counteract the excess over the last few years.

"They should release (fewer) COEs compared to the number of vehicles taken off the roads so that there is actually a reduction in the number of vehicles in Singapore."

The reduction in COEs will mean higher car prices. Is this likely to get more people on public transport?

"I will still strive to get a car, even if the price is high," said a member of the public.

"I still want to own a car," said another.

"If you are holding a certain position, you may need it (car) for the image," said a third.

"I will give up my car, if the transport in Singapore is able to achieve the coverage.....(such that) we can go anywhere conveniently," said a fourth.

Such reasons are why many say aggressive measures are needed to convince people to take public transport.

One suggestion has been for public transport operators to offer fare discounts for travel during off-peak hours, as this is likely to tackle the problem of overcrowding in trains.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak said that with discounts, more people would consider spreading out their travel. "So there would be spaces for everyone," he said.

Buses must also become a more reliable alternative, said Associate Professor Lee Der Horng from the Department of Civil Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

He said: "We must take some very aggressive approach. What we have to do is, other than the MRT, we have to pay more attention to the buses.

"Can we provide more full-day bus lanes? Can we give higher priority to public transportation vehicle like the bus? Can we improve the level of bus service, have cleaner buses, newer buses, faster buses, safer and more comfortable (bus travel)?"

Meanwhile, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it will conduct a review in 2012 to determine an allowable vehicular growth rate. It also said that even if the growth rate is reduced to zero, there will still be a need for usage measures to effectively manage demand for roads.

The investigation, announced yesterday by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), is to establish that Singaporeans are not being encouraged to go to the IRs' casinos.

It comes amid protests from MPs like Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), who told The Straits Times earlier that the free rides encourage Singaporeans in the heartlands to gamble at the casinos. He will raise the issue in Parliament.

When contacted about Mr Liang's concerns, the ministry said in an e-mail reply: 'We are investigating the provision of free transport by the IR operators.

'The IR operators will not be allowed to target the local market or provide incentives in any form for Singaporeans to patronise the casinos.'

Its move is in line with legislation introduced in 2006 to regulate casinos. The law, among other things, forbids casino advertisements in the mass media.

The National Council on Problem Gambling also views the free shuttle services with 'great concern'. Its statement said it 'disapproves of any marketing and promotion effort targeting Singaporeans and permanent residents to visit the casinos.

'We will work closely with MCYS to address any possible social impact arising from casino gambling.'

Both IRs offer free shuttle services. The Marina Bay Sands shuttle goes between the resort and Changi Airport, as well as hotels in the Marina Bay area. The RWS buses are available at two spots in the Central Business District - International Plaza and Lau Pa Sat - as well as at 12 HDB town centres, including Ang Mo Kio, Jurong East, Tampines and Bedok.

Most of its bus services run from 10am to 10pm on weekdays. On weekends, the last bus leaves for RWS at 2.20am.

Yesterday, The Straits Times went on 17 trips between 10am and 9pm, taking buses between RWS and HDB town centres in Choa Chu Kang, Tiong Bahru, Bedok and Bukit Merah. Most buses were 50-seaters.

On the day trips, one in seven commuters walked straight into the casino upon getting off the bus. At night, after the Universal Studios theme park closed at 7pm, two out of five headed for the casino, which Singaporeans have to pay $100 to enter.

Most of the 30 commuters interviewed said they came to know of the free shuttle after receiving RWS mailers in their letter boxes.

Among them was a 60-year-old retiree who took the 10am bus from Choa Chu Kang. He was bringing his family of six, including two grandchildren, to the Universal Studios theme park.

'We're going because it's my grandson's birthday. I've never been inside the casino. The $100 fee is too expensive,' he said.

Teenagers and families with children formed the majority on the buses during the day, and were usually headed for Universal Studios or the food outlets. On the night services, the buses were half-full, mainly with workers.

Clerk Jeanette Chan, 45, who visits the RWS casino six times a month, said: 'The buses make it really convenient as it stops at an indoor bus bay not far from the casino.'

Previously, she had to cross a road to get public transport home. 'And when it rained, I got wet,' she added.

RWS, however, said a survey it did of 2,500 users of its free shuttle shows more than 60 per cent did not go to the casino. It also said that 'we do not provide special casino incentives to Singaporeans'.

Six MPs interviewed whose wards are served by the free shuttle say the concerns over gambling are valid. However, they feel people should keep an open mind as the free bus services benefit those who want to visit the other attractions on Sentosa.

Said Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tanjong Pagar GRC): 'I don't think it's a big deal... if people want to go, they can easily make their way to the casinos.'

Like some of the other MPs interviewed, Mr Baey said none of his constituents had approached him about problem gamblers in their families.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Community Development, Youth and Sports, said the shuttle to Sentosa should stop at 7pm when Universal Studios closes.

He added: 'If the aim of RWS is to draw more to patronise the casino, then that is wrong.'

He made the point at a dialogue with 200 grassroots leaders at the Marine Parade Community Club, held to gather feedback on the issues Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong covered in his National Day Rally speech a week ago. Beyond transport, he also discussed the hot issues of housing, education and immigration, making the point that these are complex subjects and that every solution has its consequences.

To illustrate, he cited the new signalling system for easing MRT congestion by cutting waiting times for trains. 'You may have to spend about $1 billion just to change the system. What is unsaid is: Who is going to pay for this? 'If we tell you that fares are going to go up, there will be a huge howl of protest...But sooner or later, the cost must be defrayed,' he said. Reiterating the message he made over the weekend, he said these challenges were the result of Singapore's success and ought to be viewed in perspective.

Mr Goh, flanked by MPs Ong Seh Hong and Lim Biow Chuan, then asked the grassroots leaders from their three respective wards - Marine Parade, Kampung Ubi-Kembangan and Mountbatten - to suggest solutions that the Government could consider. It prompted a former national serviceman to urge the Government to consider giving those who have completed their service some form of recognition.

This is because they do not benefit from the latest NS Recognition Award, which gives NSmen up to $9,000 and commanders up to $10,500, which they can use to help pay for HDB homes. Mr Goh assured him that the sacrifices made by the older generation were no different, but noted they would have benefited in other ways, like having bought their HDB flats at a 'cheaper' price.

Still, the Government will take note of the suggestion that something could be done for former NSmen, he added. Mr Lim, however, said he was uncomfortable with the award as many people feel loyalty has no price - a remark that drew loud applause.

On housing, Mr Goh acknowledged that the surge of immigrants in 2007 and 2008 caught the Government by surprise. But the Government had not stopped them from coming because the booming economy needed workers.

Mr Goh also acknowledged the National Development Ministry 'did not provide for the sudden surge' in its housing plans. He then asked the audience for a show of hands on how they would rank, in order of importance, these issues: the economy, education and immigration. A dozen hands shot up for immigration, two dozen for education, and around 100 for the economy.

'That's the right order,' said Mr Goh.

He hinted at a possible change of policy on permanent residents (PRs): 'Moving forward, we are going to approach some to take up citizenship. If they don't, then their PR will not be renewed. That's a better way.'

With about 500,000 PRs, Mr Goh hopes that 'maybe 50,000 can be selected to be citizens and the rest can be PRs, contributing to Singapore's economy.'

For Esther Soh, however, virginity means honouring a promise to God as well as a gift only her husband will receive.

Teh and Soh, both 22 and fresh graduates, are among 50 urban youths aged between 18 and 30 who were interviewed on whether virginity is an issue among young Malaysians today. About 70 per cent responded that it should not be one.

Henry (not his real name) respects people who believe in virginity but claims it will not be a criteria in his seeing someone. He confesses that in his circle of friends, being a virgin is something "despised".

The 30-year-old businessman feels virginity has lost its relevance as it is no longer a criteria in getting into a relationship or a marriage.

Lee Xin Ying, 22, an intern at a government hospital in KL, concurs, saying people today should not expect their partners to be virgins.

But she is strongly against double standards in a relationship where "some guy may have sex with multiple partners but expects his future wife to be a virgin".

Lynn, 25, argues that virginity is still relevant because Malaysian youths are still not well-informed on sex and thus not ready for the responsibilities that come with it.

She, however, does not agree with the perception that a non-virgin, especially a female, is "bad" or "damaged goods".

"Whether a person is forced into sex, made a wrong decision or is ready to take the relationship a step further, there is no reason to stigmatise someone," she says, adding that religion is another main reason why virginity remains a relevant issue.

Mandy, 22, thinks premarital sex is avoidable although she admits it is not easy holding on to values which go against the popular trend.

"It always comes back to what these values mean to me," she says.

Mandy, 22, thinks premarital sex is avoidable although she admits it is not easy holding on to values which go against the popular trend.

"It always comes back to what these values mean to me," she says.

Consultant psychologist Valerie Jacques notes that the importance of virginity is declining due to poor family values.

"Children's basic needs are not being met by money-minded parents. As such, they are drawn to people who use words such as 'I love you' or 'If you love me, then you will give yourself to me' tactics.

"This is a sign of poor self-esteem and confidence, poor self-image and identity. A person with positive esteem, confidence, image and identity will make good choices that bring benefit to themselves and not cause harm. The issue of virginity is then considered in terms of what will bring benefit to the individual who can lose it."

Focus on the Family (FOF) director Ho Kien Keong concurs.

"Most youngsters nowadays think love means sex. Love is a choice," he asserts.

He is concerned that many youngsters see sex as a physical act; one that is as common as eating.

"The physical act stops half an hour later, but consequences last forever," he warns.

In FOF's "No Apologies" pro-abstinence workshops, he adds, teenagers are made aware of the consequences of their actions.

Out of 13,588 secondary school students who attended the "No Apologies" workshops and participated in the FOF survey between 2003 and 2009, 35 per cent found sex before marriage acceptable, citing curiosity and experience as main reasons for the answer.

After attending the workshop, 92 per cent believed sex after marriage is the best choice and signed pledges of abstinence. The respondents are from both rural and urban schools.