Chan Chun Sing: we don't fall in love with our plans

It's been a very challenging year, a year that challenges our survival, both in terms of health, and in terms of economy. But everyone at the Ministry of Trade and Industry has been working very hard to secure Singapore's future.

"Since its founding, EDB has been a key driver of Singapore’s economic growth and development.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜, 𝐄𝐃𝐁 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐒$𝟏𝟑 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎.

EDB’s and Singapore’s success have been premised on three sets of ethos:

First, a cleared-eye assessment of the wider global trends impacting us;

Second, the ability to make hard-nosed decisions on what is necessary, and to adapt to evolving situations, and

Third, a dogged determination to pursue our objectives once we have decided on our direction."

- Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing

Gratitude and determination from DPM Heng Swee Keat!

"My gratitude is for everyone who made it possible to bring us safely through the year — our courageous healthcare workers who kept us safe, our essential workers who kept us going, and volunteers in every field who continued to look out for those in need. I am also thankful to my colleagues in the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on COVID-19, the Emerging Stronger Taskforce and my team at the Ministry of Finance (Singapore).

Most of all, I am grateful for Singaporeans’ unity, resilience, solidarity and fortitude this year — for having so much heart and spirit, and for adapting to the crisis and adhering to safe management measures, and for inspiring, encouraging and supporting one another through this period. You have kept me going, and you have been my reason to keep working hard.

My determination for 2021 is to ensure that we emerge from the year stronger as we gradually resume a greater degree of normalcy and rebuild our economy. There are many unknowns and uncertainties ahead, but as long as we stay united and grow our adaptive capacities for change, we are in a good position to deal with the challenges ahead."

- DPM Heng Swee Keat

Healthcare Minister Gan Kim Yong has heartfelt thanks for healthcare workers for the colossal effort they put in to keep Singapore safe.

Healthcare Minister Gan Kim Yong has heartfelt thanks for healthcare workers for the colossal effort they put in to keep Singapore safe.

It's timely to reflect on what we have gone through even as we enter Phase 3.

Mr Gan said the experience of 2020 will be etched deeply in our collective memory long after this pandemic is over.

Gan Kim Yong: giving up was never an option.

 

At the peak, Singapore saw a staggering record of more than 1400 new cases a day in April.

From the initial days of anxiety and uncertainty, we quickly improvised and adapted our structures and processes to find novel ways of caring for every patient, COVID-19 or otherwise.

We deployed medical teams to community care facilities and dormitories, augmented our healthcare workforce with the SG Healthcare Corps, and work closely with partners across the public and private sectors to screen, test and care for patients.

Giving up was never an option. As a nation, we pressed on and through a colossal effort, with every Singaporean playing their part, we eventually managed to bring our local transmissions down to its low levels today, with zero cases on some days.

- Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in his letter to colleagues in healthcare

Healthcare in Singapore IS AFFORDABLE.

 

Many testify to it. Here's the bill for a patient who had heart implants after recovering from stroke and a heart attack.

Total Charges: $17,232.68
Government Grant: $11,209.06
GST: Absorbed by government

Net amount payable after grant: $6,023.62
MediSave took care of $602,36
MediShield and IncomeShield, and MediSave took care of the rest.

Out-of-pocket payment : $0

It's a system that works. It's a system that makes healthcare affordable

Listen to Prudence

 

When times are good, we save money - because it is in good times that we have the ability to save money.

When we fall on hard times, we rely on the savings stored up in good times.

So don't listen to the populist politician who says to you in good times: Come on, we can spend more from our savings. We have so much.

Listen to Prudence. Prudence is never shortsighted. Prudence thinks and plans for the future. Prudence is never populist.

Without natural resources to sell for revenue, Singapore has only our reserves to fall back on.

A well-managed country has enabled Singapore to make decisive decisions with boldness and confidence. Thanks to Good Government.

Checks and enforcements will be stepped up, co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce Lawrence Wong said.

 

"The checks are not going to be perfect. Even if we fail to catch some people who may have committed such breaches, at the end of the day, the people who are doing so are taking risk upon themselves," he said.

"They are risking the health of themselves and their family members because I am sure the virus is still circulating around in our midst, in a hidden way, in a very low level of transmission - cryptic transmission, if you call it - but it is happening."

Five food and beverage (F&B) outlets have already been ordered to close, while 16 other outlets and 36 individuals will be fined for breaching safe management measures, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment on Tuesday.

The breaches were uncovered during stepped-up enforcement checks over the past weekend.

The Multi-ministry Taskforce co-chairs by Gan Kim Yong and Lawrence Wong has done well.

Work was carried out quietly behind the scene and the announcement only made when everything was certain.

Kudos to all.

A netizen expressed shock at Brad's irresponsible statements on mask and vaccines.

A netizen expressed shock at Brad's irresponsible statements on mask and vaccines. 

Singapore has the most efficient healthcare system in the COVID era according to Bloomberg's health efficiency ranking.

Singapore has the most efficient healthcare system in the COVID era according to Bloomberg's health efficiency ranking.

A public health crisis puts a healthcare system to the test. And the leadership and healthcare workers have risen to the occasion.

Every COVID-19 patient receives the best of care. The system was not overwhelmed because the leadership took quick action to build capacities and facilities to provide tiered care according to a patient's severity of infection.

Years of investment in R&D also paid off. Singapore was able to quickly develop test kits, and even a vaccine.

Everything adds up.

Another promise kept!

The National Jobs Council was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in his fourth Budget on May 26 in response to the impact of the pandemic.

The National Job Council is headed by SM Tharman and went full speed.

It aimed to create close to 100,000 opportunities comprising jobs, 25,000 traineeships and 30,000 skills training placements.

The ambition of the council is "on a scale well beyond any past experience," SM Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in June.

The Council has already exceeded its target.

Do you know that vaccines will support our recovery in more ways than one, besides protecting our bodies from the virus?

Do you know that vaccines will support our recovery in more ways than one, besides protecting our bodies from the virus?

This is all the result of a very good government we enjoy and it is not an empty praise or blind adoration.

"As a global aviation hub, we play a crucial role transporting vaccines around the world.

Vaccines require cold chain management.

An ordinary refrigerator is not good enough: the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius, colder than the Arctic in winter!

This requires infrastructure, high standards, skilled personnel, and good connectivity to many different countries all along the supply chain.

Fortunately, Singapore has a strong ecosystem for cargo handling.

Leading global logistics companies like DHL, UPS and FedEx are based here. SIA, and Changi Airport’s ground handling partners are certified by IATA (International Air Transport Association) to handle and transport pharmaceutical supplies.

We are now gearing ourselves up to handle large volumes of vaccine shipments into and through Singapore, to help win the global fight against COVID-19.

We did not get here overnight. We have always planned ahead, systematically creating opportunities for ourselves. It took us years of investment and planning, building a business-friendly climate and expanding our air links around the world. These long-term investments are now paying dividends."

- PM Lee

Let this sink in.

Phase 3 on 28 December 2020

COVID-19 vaccination: It's voluntary and it's free.

It's voluntary and it's free.

The Government has been working quietly to secure our supply before making this announcement.

Do get vaccinated and let's protect each other!

Our strategy is one of RISK MANAGEMENT, and NOT RISK ELIMINATION, says Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Our strategy is one of RISK MANAGEMENT, and NOT RISK ELIMINATION, says Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Risk management involves taking risk and managing that risk when it happens. Risk elimination means doing nothing, no resumption of activities.

Obviously, risk elimination is out of the question. We've been told more than once that as we move towards Phase 3 and resume more activities, we should also expect more COVID0-19 cases. This is something we must be mentally prepared so that whenever a case emerges, we do not have a knee jerk reaction or swing to an extreme and call for a cessation of activities.

Why risk management? Mr Chan explained earlier in a speech on Nov 25 at TravelRevive that Singapore's reliance on external connections and visitors necessitates us to adopt a “risk management” instead of a “risk elimination” approach.

The World Economic Forum's decision to move next year Annual Special Meeting to Singapore is a reflection of the trust and confidence that the international community has in Singapore

𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

At the height of the COVID crisis in Singapore, the taskforce soldiered on with a steadfast spirit and a clear focus, drawing up their long-term plans, never once letting the brickbats deter them from their task.

The World Economic Forum's decision to move next year Annual Special Meeting to Singapore is a reflection of the trust and confidence that the international community has in Singapore's ability not only to control the virus, but to keep participants safe.

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said:

Covid-19 has affected many countries in the world, bringing global travel and events to a standstill. Singapore has not been spared and has been harder hit than many countries due to our lack of a domestic market.

However, we did not allow the challenges to hold us back. Over the last two months, we successfully organised the Singapore International Energy Week 2020 and TravelRevive 2020, adopting innovative and safe travel and event protocols.

As we get ready to host the WEF Special Annual Meeting next year, we will ensure that the health and safety of our people and participants remain our top priority.

𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

It's interesting how TISG sought to give the impression that WP Pritam Singh was in discussion with Google about jobs opportunities for Singaporeans.

It is also interesting to note that in Pritam Singh's post, he omitted to mention that Skills Ignition SG was an initiative launched by government agencies in conjunction with Google.

The initiative was launched on July 20.

Read the papers, will ya, so you don't need to learn a few months later about this initiative.

Great that WP agrees that this is a great initiative that creates good jobs for Singaporeans.

Well done, EDB, IMDA, SkillsFuture SG and PAP. Thank you for 3000 good job opportunities.

Which first world country does not have homeless people?

 

Which first world country does not have homeless people? Making public places very comfy for homeless people will not solve the problem of homelessness.

The Singapore Government has a holistic approach to help homeless people. It is an approach that cuts across agencies and ministries. This is because the circumstances leading to homelessness are often complex and complicated. And the solution is not an easy solution.

You simply can't show that you care for homeless people by counting how many homeless people are out there.

There are people from PEER Network, working in partnership with MSF, walking at night to seek out the homeless and to befriend them as a first step to helping them.

Join them if you care.