Affordable healthcare! Many testify to it. 🙂

Affordable healthcare! Many testify to it. 🙂

Reclaiming our status as an Aviation Hub

Singaporeans take too many things for granted.

The world is not going to pick up from where they stopped when this COVID-19 is over.

Singapore is no different. We will have to rebuild again and this includes reviving the aviation sector and re-establishing our position as a aviation hub. It is not a given.

Our seaport and airport are like "vital organs to the Singapore economic body, almost like our lungs … taking oxygen … oxygenate and vitalise various parts of the body".

"And that is the role of our seaport and airport. It adds vitality and competitiveness to all sectors,” said Mr Ong.

The formal appointment of a Leader of the Opposition is to give expression to Singaporeans' desire for a greater diversity of ideas in politics

The formal appointment of a Leader of the Opposition is to give expression to Singaporeans' desire for a greater diversity of ideas in politics.

Make no mistake about this. No serious opposition party contests in an election without the desire to form the next government.

With the Opposition institutionalized, no longer is the role of WP merely to raise criticisms and ask questions of the government.

Their duty to Singaporeans is to put forward serious policy alternatives to be scrutinised and debated.

This way, Singaporeans will better understand the issues, choices and trade-offs.

And when we go to the polls at the next election, we can better decide for ourselves whether we want a PAP government or a WP government.

Because, to quote Calvin Cheng, 'Nowhere else in the world does a voter go to the polls and say I want Party A to govern, but I am going to vote Party B.'

Overall, the formal appointment of a Leader of the Opposition is a positive development for politics in Singapore.

The electorate must also grow in maturity to set the same standard for both the government and the opposition.

When the government and opposition are both held to the same high standard, it can only be good for Singapore.

Affordable healthcare: Bill of a premature baby

Thank you, Kenneth Tiang, for sharing your experience and your baby's bill with us. It adds another piece of valuable proof to the heap of stories that have been shared with this page on affordable healthcare.

A premature baby spent 5 months in the neonatal intensive care unit and incurred a bill of $326,152 !!

Government grant: a whopping $249,531
Medishield Life accounted for $72,372

Medisave paid for $4249

Out-of-pocket payment? $ZERO

If that is not a great system, what is?

We have a very good healthcare system with the 3Ms, so let's not mindlessly attack the system for other agenda because you don't like the government.

And yes, for all their imperfections, we do have a great government too.

POLITICAL OPTICS from Workers' Party

POLITICAL OPTICS

𝐏𝐀𝐏 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐌𝐏𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐂𝐅 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬.

For years, WP chooses to hold their MPS in void decks for political optics even though they could have rented the spaces from HDB at 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 to build a simple room for MPS.

𝐀𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐀𝐏 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐏. For example, some PAP MPs are known to donate all of their MP allowance to their constituencies (Edwin Tong and Tin Pei Ling are 2 examples). But they do it on the quiet.

This makes us wonder if that is good. Good works should not be hidden under the bushel and the PAP MPs should publicly announce all their deeds.

#overheard
When it comes to playing politics, if WP claims they are no. 2, no one dare they claim they no. 1. Everything WP do is just optics to score points.

I won my bet. The moment I hear LO will get more pay, I bet he will donate and score point. I am proven right.

PAP is a lousy at playing politics.

“A POLITICIAN VERSUS A POLITICAL LEADER"

To explain (the changes to the elected presidency) Mr Chan related a story about a conversation with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, which he said taught him the difference between a politician and a political leader.

“We asked ourselves - PM, do we need to do this now? Because we had anticipated it would be a hard journey to convince people and we would pay the political price, at least in the short term,” said Mr Chan.

“PM Lee’s answer will forever be etched in my mind, and that distinguished a politician from a political leader.

“He said 'Yes, we are likely to pay a political price. Yes, we may not have a problem here and now, but what if we have a problem 20 or 30 years from now? Will the fourth, fifth or sixth generation of leaders have the liberty, and the luxury of time and space for them to put in place a system?'” said Mr Chan.

Mr Lee, he added, had taken it upon himself to put in place a system to pre-empt potential issues from arising in the future. “Not for himself, not for his political capital, but always thinking about what this country needs,” he said. “We are prepared to pay the political price, because we think the future of our country is much more important than any political capital that we may have.”

𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐤 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?

By Mdm Ho Ching:

Thanks, everyone, for the feedback on the #MaskSafe DET30 masks.

The Temasek Foundation team has been most encouraged by the positive reception, and are looking into suggestions like kid size masks.

Everyone involved is very happy to have the chance to complement the government’s generous efforts to provide Singaporeans and Singapore residents with masks.

This is part of our national effort to fight covid, with different people and organisations pitching in to help in various ways.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞.

I also take this opportunity to thank the generations of Temasek staff. They have helped to grow the Temasek portfolio from its S$354 million heritage, to over S$300 billion by March this year.

This is what enabled Temasek to do its part confidently in this covid crisis.

* 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 **

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞.

What does this mean?

This means that Temasek is a taxpayer like any other taxpayer, corporate or individual. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨.

𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐏𝐅 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲.

𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐤 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?

** 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 **

Excluding any new capital from government, and including the dividends paid to government, Temasek has grown its portfolio at an average annual rate of 14% since 1974.

A 14% annually compounded growth means a doubling of our money every 5-6 years.

While Temasek had been contributing to various community and philanthropy projects since its founding, 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.

This is why we have been able to accumulate funding which we could redirect for the fight against Covid, both in Singapore and abroad. These were community funds accumulated over the years.

This is why i thank the generations of management and staff in Temasek as well as the Temasek portfolio companies. It is their hard work and enterprise which has given us steady and sustainable results, and which has helped to fund our community donations.

** #𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝟑𝟎 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 **

Will there be 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝟑𝟎 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬?

Yes, the Temasek Foundation folks are working on that, and will keep everyone posted closer to the distribution date in September.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬?

Well, when we embark on the #BYOBClean to distribute non alcohol hand sanitisers to everyone to help prevent the spread of covid virus via our hands, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

Hence, we encouraged every household which wanted a kid friendly hand sanitizer, to bring their own bottles to collect 500ml of hand sanitizer.

In the same vein, we wanted to have a reusable solution for keeping our saliva to ourselves, instead of adding to the plastic waste.

Do you know that all the disposable surgical or single use N95 masks are made from plastic?

On top of an𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 reusable mask, we were also looking for antimicrobial or antibacterial property esp on the outer layer.

Why?

Have you noticed how we use our masks?

Most of us would adjust our masks, perhaps scratching our nose through the mask, etc.

We are not medical staff working in hot zones with the discipline of not touching our masks, or with the discipline of removing our masks gingerly by holding only the head or ear loops.

So 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

And for those of us with hidden infection, we are already infected, so it is not likely to matter as much.

But for the rest of us who are not infected, a mask with 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Nonetheless, it is good to get into the habit of sanitising our hands every time we handle our masks, ideally both before and after handling our masks.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤?

All is not lost!

We just need to take extra precaution, to sanitise our hands every time after handling our masks.

And if we want to be doubly sure, we can add a face shield as well. This will protect our eyes, and keep our masks less likely to be contaminated.

So keep safe, folks, and stay masked.

And if for whatever reason we want to see each other’s faces, then put on a face shield, rather than go maskless.

And for added protection, wear a face shield on top of our masks.

Keep well, and be kind!

The fight against Covid is not over, and will last beyond 2020.

So stay cool, and be patient, be kind.

Edwin Tong does not spend his MP allowance on himself

Edwin Tong became an MP in 2011. Back in 2012, he was asked by the ST what he spent his MP allowance on.

Edwin does not spend his MP allowance on himself.

He told ST that when he became MP, he opened a separate bank account for his monthly MP allowance, which he only uses for MP-related purposes.

These include dinners with grassroots activists and charitable donations.

He does not see the allowance as income for himself, and having a separate bank account makes it more transparent, he said at that time.

He is the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law.

Ng Chee Meng: Retrenchment must be fair and dignified

Sometimes a company has no choice but to let workers go but retrenchment has to be done in a fair and dignified way.

Eagle Services Asia had not followed due process for retrenchment when it told some employees last week to go before finalising the list with the unions.

This is in spite of ongoing negotiations with the Air Transport Executive Staff Union, SIA Engineering Company Engineers and Executives Union, and Singapore Airlines Staff Union since early July.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, labour chief Ng Chee Meng said the parties had been in tense negotiations "to fight for a fair and dignified retrenchment".

"While NTUC respects management's needed measures to keep the business viable, we will stand up for our workers' dignity, interests and fair play," he said.

Following talks, the management of Eagle Services Asia conceded that the retrenchment process could have been better managed and made adjustments.

"I am glad that calm and good sense prevailed ultimately," said Mr Ng, who is NTUC's secretary-general. "We have since been able to reach an amicable agreement with the company on the retrenchment."

COVID-19: Lowest death rate in the world

Singapore has the lowest COVID-19 death rate in the world.

The aim of all restrictions and containment measures is to save lives. Despite having more than 50,000 confirmed cases, Singapore has managed to keep the number of deaths low.

This was achieved through a monumental, whole-of-government, and whole-of-nation effort.

Keep up the good work, Singapore! 🇸🇬🇸🇬

Stay safe. Stay vigilant! 😷😷🧍___🧍

When you praise Pritam Singh, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬.

When you praise Pritam Singh, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬.

𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

Together with 100% of his salary hike for 5 years in 2007, and 100% of the proceeds from the sale of 38 Oxley Road he inherited which was estimated by estate agents to be worth at least $24 millions, the Prime Minister has donated almost $30 million to charities based on publicly available information.

The Prime Minister does not always make known his donations to charities.

He only made them known when there is a point he wanted to convey.

In 2007, to emphasize that the purpose of a salary hike was not to benefit himself, he gave all his salary hikes away.

In the case of 38 Oxley Road, it is the conviction that his family must not make monetary benefits from the historical significance of 38 Oxley Road.

My aim is to see through this crisis and hand over Singapore intact and in working order into good hands who can take the country further forward: PM Lee

I have spent my entire adult life in public service. I will continue to devote myself to my country and people, drawing strength and purpose from the support of Singaporeans, young and old.

My aim is to see through this crisis and hand over Singapore intact and in working order into good hands who can take the country further forward.

I ask Singaporeans to extend to the younger ministers the same support you have given me all these years.

- Quote from PM Lee's speech at the swearing in of his new Cabinet.

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION: With position comes privileges, allowances, and responsibilities

With position comes privileges, allowances, and responsibilities.

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

HIS DUTIES

1. To lead the opposition in presenting alternative views in parliamentary debates on policies, bills and motions

2. To lead and organise the scrutiny of the Government’s positions and actions in Parliament

3. To be consulted on the appointment of opposition members to parliamentary select committees, including standing select committees such as the public accounts committee

4. To be called upon, on occasion, to take on other duties such as attending official state functions and taking part in visits and meetings alongside members of the Government and the public service.

HIS PRIVILEGES AND RESOURCES

1. Parliamentary privileges: He will be given the right of first response among Members of Parliament (MPs) and to ask the lead question to the ministers on policies, bills and motions, subject to existing speaking conventions. He will also have more time for his speeches, equivalent to that given to political office-holders.

2. He will receive confidential briefings by the Government on select matters of national security and external relations, and in the event of a national crisis or emergency.

3. Allowance: He will receive an allowance that is double that of an elected MP, or $385,000 a year.

4. Manpower support: He will be provided an office and the use of a meeting room in Parliament House. He will also receive allowances to hire up to three additional legislative assistants. This is in addition to the allowances all MPs receive for one legislative assistant and one secretarial assistant. He will also be provided with a secretary to support him administratively with parliamentary business.

Affordable Healthcare: you get subsidies in B2 Class also

The amount of subsidies you can get from a C Class ward is substantial, as much as 80% of the total charges.

If you choose a B2 Class ward, you will still receive subsidies though less than C Class ward.

In this bill for example, government subsidies pay for about 40% of the total charges. The rest of the charges were taken care of by Medishield Life, Insurance, and Medisave.

The total bill was $38,500.
The amount payable by Medisave after subsidies and insurance was $6974.

The patient was responsible for about 18% of the total bill.

Out-of-pocket payment was $0.

We have a good healthcare system. 👍👍

Affordable healthcare is not a myth

Affordable healthcare is not a myth. More people have shared their experiences with the Singapore healthcare system and it is indeed affordable.

It is high time to debunk the lie constantly spread by some that healthcare is expensive. They do this for a political reason. They tell people that in Singapore, one can die but cannot afford to fall sick.

Unfortunately some gullible poor people who urgently need medical treatment bought into the lie. As a result, they did not seek medical treatment at the earliest. They waited until their condition had worsened before doing so, thus reducing their chances of a better outcome of treatment.

Stop the lie. Save lives.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 (𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂): 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 (𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂): 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Recently, an online petition was put up to urge the goverment to allocate CIPC funds fairly, in particular, to Town Councils managed by the opposition party. Much have been said especially in Parliament on this issue but allow me to give some perspectives, especially from the ground, on the matter by separating facts from fiction.

𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

Any objective glance of the HDB areas in the constituencies managed by the opposition party shows that the government-funded improvements to the HDB towns as well as infrastructural needs have been amply provided. We see this in the network of new sheltered link ways connecting several new MRT stations, park connectors, traffic safety improvements, waterway environment enhancements and others that were implemented at very high costs. These, coupled with new MRT stations and other town amenities such as polyclinics and community hospitals have been announced in wards managed by the opposition.

The main government-funded upgrading programmes are the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and the Remaking Our Heartlands (ROH). Whilst the HIP is directly managed and implemented by HDB, the NRP and ROH on the other hand are implemented by the Town Councils on behalf of the HDB. The HIP aims to improve the internal features of the HDB flats whilst the NRP enhances the HDB’s common areas and the ROH rejuvenates the HDB’s commercial precincts.

𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝟐: 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞; 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝-𝐮𝐩 & 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

The CIPC is a smaller scale ground-up, community-led enhancement programme for HDB estates. Government appointed grassroots volunteers get feedback from residents to improve the living environment of the HDB estate and the key objective is to bond residents. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐃𝐁 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐏, 𝐍𝐑𝐏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐎𝐇.

Note that these significant infrastructure and town improvement projects takes up huge budgets. The CIPC pales in comparison and rightly so, as the CIPC is a minor community ground-up programme. As such, any efforts to insinuate that opposition held wards are treated poorly is highly misleading and politically-loaded. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫.

CIPC therefore, remaining true to its original intent, is an opportunity for residents to come up with ideas to improve their own dwelling estates, not the towns because the latter would be managed by the Town Council through various other upgrading programmes mentioned above.

𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝟑: 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

As a ground-up community improvement programme, the Government sets aside a small budget for residents to tap on by proposing those improvements through the grassroots leaders in their estate.

To prevent it from overlapping with major town improvements projects, the projects proposed by the residents are submitted by the grassroots upon their review and selection to the Ministry of National Development. 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬.

The grassroot advisers therefore do not have a direct role in selecting, submitting nor shortlisting CIPC projects. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬.

Additionally, the grassroots make their selection of the proposed ideas by the residents based on their ability to raise the funds required for the project equivalent to 10% of the projected cost. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞. Essentially, the aim of getting these improvement projects to be co-funded is so that the residents have a sense of ownership of these projects which they can be proud of and motivated to raise the funds.

This is true for 𝐀𝐋𝐋 CIPC projects in 𝐀𝐋𝐋 constituencies.

𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝟒: 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝; 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 $𝟒𝟓𝐦 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟖𝟗 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 $𝟓𝟎𝟎𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲

As compared to other major improvement or upgrading programmes, CIPC budget set aside each year is limited and small given that it is a ground-up initiative. As mentioned earlier, it is not meant to replace major improvement works which is to be undertaken by the Town Councils. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.

CIPC funds are never meant to offset any operating loss for the Town Council. We need to be clear on that. 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐬.

Therefore, the disparity in the allocation of funds is not because the government is out to fix the alternate party but because the constituencies that received higher allocation either had the ability to raise the necessary funds or that they have higher density of HDB flats which necessitates more funds for the improvements.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Having established the facts above, it would be unfair to claim that the government does not allocate estate and infrastructural funding fairly to wards managed by the opposition party. As for the CIPC in particular, the funds are limited and are meant as a catalyst for residents to propose and have a sense of ownership towards these improvement projects. They are required to raise funds for the co-payment. 𝐈𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬.

I trust we can use our own judgement to be fair and objective on this matter.

By Adam HA

Singapore is still "one of the safest places" to be in during this pandemic: Dale Fisher

Experts are optimistic that Singapore can avoid a second wave of Covid-19 cases 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬.

This is a conditional optimism, condition upon our responsible behaviour.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐨 𝐘𝐢𝐤 𝐘𝐢𝐧𝐠, dean of the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said Singapore has a "very good chance" of keeping the number of community cases to 10 or 20 a day if everyone stick to the rules.

He also said that Singapore will likely be able to figure out the source of the resurgence and implement a "sectorial shutdown rather than another comprehensive lockdown like a circuit breaker".

Citing cases in Japan and South Korea that were linked to nightlife entertainment spots like clubs, he said Singapore could shut down places or activities that pose a higher risk.

As an example, he said the authorities could potentially order cinemas to shut again if clusters linked to cinema-goers emerge.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐨𝐢 𝐄𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐨𝐧𝐠, deputy director of Duke-NUS Medical School's emerging infectious diseases programme, said every measure, including Singapore's circuit breaker measures or the decision to shut down travel, has trade-offs.

"Sometimes, the medicine can be more painful than the disease. So we just have to calibrate that, and I think we can go out now but just don't overdo it."

Prof Ooi said it is important for people to appreciate that the situation is fluid and changes quickly, requiring control measures to keep apace.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫, a senior infectious diseases expert at the National University Hospital (NUH), said it is not just about the numbers.

He noted that in Melbourne, capital of the Australian state of Victoria, the number of cases declined because of lockdowns, but soon after they were lifted, many nursing homes, meat-packing plants and other places reported new cases.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝐞𝐬, 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝.

"It's very important just to keep people on track. When you start changing the community behaviours by loosening restrictions, that's when you take the risk," he said, adding that Singapore is still "one of the safest places" to be in during this pandemic.

Singapore’s financial industry regulation is “one of the best in the world”

IMF's report on Singapore’s Financial Sector Assessment Plan (FSAP) that was released on July 16, 2019 described Singapore’s financial industry regulation is “one of the best in the world”.

Its financial system can withstand the impact of huge financial market volatility

FSAP is an assessment project jointly launched by the IMF and the World Bank in May 1999, mainly to assess the soundness or vulnerability of the financial systems of various countries.

Due to the very large financial sector and the high degree of interconnection with the rest of the world, Singapore is one of the 29 countries assessed by FSAP.

The IMF pointed out that 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, and it is capable of dealing with serious adverse shocks.

The stress test conducted by the organization shows that even in the event of a large-scale global financial crisis, Singapore’s financial system can remain robust.

The IMF also praised the Monetary Authority of Singapore for achieving a good balance between promoting financial innovation and strengthening supervision.

#Thankful for good and competent Government.

*A citizen’s reflections on the General Election* : GE2020

*A citizen’s reflections on the General Election*
Liu Li

In the sixties, I stayed near to the Ministry of Education and witnessed students staging strikes in front of the Ministry. They boycotted classes and examinations, and sang songs relating to the students’ movement.

I studied in a Chinese-medium school. These happenings have imperceptibly shaped how I viewed the Government - I have never liked the Government.

After I graduated from school, I joined the Housing & Development Board and looked after the well-being of residents, ensuring that they had a good living environment.

This has always been the goal that I had wanted to achieve in communal living - to serve the people. I have devoted my entire life serving the nation.

I understand how the Government is committed to looking after the needs of HDB residents. But it is also challenging to manage the estates and provide service within the same outfit.

I am no longer unhappy with the Government. Instead, I have learnt to be more understanding and supportive of the Government.

Once we understand from the Government’s viewpoint, we tend to be less cynical when incidents like the MRT breakdown happens.

With a change in attitude, I could better empathise with fellow colleagues in other government divisions when they made blunders and would rather they resolve the issue as soon as possible. We are a nation, and essentially a family. We should treat one other like our family members.

If we were to have a bad government and there was no way to make a living, Singaporeans would naturally want to change the Government.

I am nearing 70 years old. All my life, I have worked hard and saved as I worked. As a result, I did not have to worry when I retired since I have never thought of becoming rich. I am happy leading my life if the country is stable and peaceful.

But everyone has different circumstances. A few of my friends, same age as me, did not do well because of some of the Government’s policies. Hence, they do not understand why I support the Government.

Some people have asked for the Group Representation Constituency System (GRC) to be scrapped and allow for candidates from both the ruling party and the opposition party to face off and show their capabilities.

I am of the view that the GRC system that ensures ethnic minority representation in Parliament should stay because we are a pluralistic society.

In my opinion, the PAP Government is doing its best to serve our people and to govern the country. Our Prime Minister (PM) and several ministers have worked hard.

They have aged considerably and looked visibly thinner. A few of them had choked with emotion when they recounted incidents that tugged at their heartstrings.

Singaporeans are indeed blessed. We have a government that looks after its people, and an opposition that fights for the interest of people. Everyone is working towards the good of Singapore.

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Dormitories' infections: the last stretch

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎, with the 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 of 17 standalone blocks in eight Purpose Built Dormitories (PBDs), which serve as quarantine facilities.

This means that all the migrant workers in the dormitories would be cleared by then, except for 28,000 workers still serving out their isolation period in the various quarantine facilities.

This last batch of workers come from dormitories with a relatively high prevalence of COVID-19, and will be subject to a final test before they complete their isolation periods.

Therefore, expect the daily case counts to be high for the coming two weeks, before tapering down thereafter.

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧.

𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

Prof Dale Fisher describes the taskforce's approach to the COVID-19 infections in the dormitories as 'novel'.

The focus was on preventing deaths, rather than transmission. Such a strategy in taking care of the migrant workers was "very novel", he said.

By isolating those most at risk - including the older ones and those with conditions - it helped keep deaths low, despite the high living density in the dormitories.

This was despite there being no capacity to isolate all the migrant workers as was done for the community cases, said Professor Fisher, a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University Hospital.

"Part of this is why we've seen over 48,000 cases now and 27 deaths. The (low mortality) is absolutely staggering. The rest of the world is going, 'How did you do that?'"

Why can't an opposition MP be appointed as grassroots advisor?

Why can't an opposition MP be appointed as grassroots advisor?

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 are appointed by the 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 of the day to be their 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.

𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

They explain government policies and positions on national issues to citizens.

They also obtain feedback from the ground on government policies. The feedback helps the government to fine tune their policies to better serve Singaporeans.

In this way they help the government to be more effective and to govern better.

Grassroots advisers are also responsible for overseeing the grassroots activities that aim to 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

Opposition MPs are not aligned with the Government. If they were, they would not be in opposition.

It is against their very own principle if opposition MPs are forced to relay or explain the government’s position or policies to the people.

It would be unfair to put opposition MPs in that position of having to be a spokesperson for the government when in reality, their ideological principles differ from that of the government.

For example, can you expect an opposition MP to explain to their residents why a GST hike is necessary in the future? Or why water tariff had to go up? Or why it is important to remain very prudent in the use of reserves?

Fundamentally that is the reason why opposition MPs are not appointed by the government.

𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐏𝐬.

Tharman on unemployment benefits or unemployment insurance

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐏’𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭.

𝐈𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡.

The best form of welfare is employment.

Mr Tharman said at a virtual dialogue organized by the LKYSPP that the Singapore Government has managed to keep 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 than elsewhere because it has been able to quickly coordinate a range of programmes that involve 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲.

𝙐𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

“We don't need it in Singapore yet because our unemployment rates are very low and we've been able to get people back into jobs relatively quickly,” he said in response to a question from a viewer on his thoughts on unemployment insurance.

Given the weak demand by employers for permanent job roles, Singapore is devising schemes where the Government will subsidise attachments and traineeships in firms so that people are “doing real work”, which would hopefully lead to a permanent job position, Mr Tharman said.

“If you do that 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 well, we won't need to invent an unemployment insurance scheme. If we fail and, over time, we find we have high structural unemployment, you'll need some form of unemployment benefit scheme,” he said.

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𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Structural unemployment is long-lasting unemployment that comes about because though jobs are available, there’s a serious mismatch between what companies need and what available workers offer.

Structural unemployment can last for decades and usually requires a radical change to reverse.