SINGAPORE: Two suspected drug offenders were arrested and bags of heroin and Ice were seized on Wednesday (Apr 8) during an operation carried out by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
Both suspects are Singaporeans – a 44-year-old man and a 41-year-old man.
A total of 2.29kg of heroin and 120g of Ice was seized in the operation, said CNB in a press release on Thursday.
Late on Wednesday, CNB officers saw the 44-year-old suspect get into a car driven by the 41-year-old man near Pipit Road.
After a short while, the older man got out of the car and the 41-year-old drove off, tailed by CNB officers.
The driver was subsequently arrested at a multi-storey car park near Sembawang Crescent. About 40g of heroin was found in the car.
Meanwhile, another group of CNB officers raided the “hideout” of the 44-year-old man near Pipit Road.
Officers forced their way into his unit and arrested him. They also found S$459.45 worth of cash in the unit.
The man was then taken to his rental car which was parked nearby.
About 2.25kg of heroin was found in various parts of the vehicle, as well as S$3,350 worth of cash.
A bundle of heroin found in the boot of a car. (Photo: Central Narcotics Bureau)
A plastic bag containing heroin found in the boot of a car. (Photo: Central Narcotics Bureau)
The 44-year-old was then taken to his home near Yishun Street 61, where a further 120g of Ice was found.
The total amount of heroin seized in the operation can feed the addiction of about 1,090 abusers for a week, according to CNB.
“CNB will keep up our enforcement efforts and pressure on drug offenders even in the current COVID-19 situation, in order to keep the streets of Singapore safe from drugs,” it said.
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will contribute more to the country’s fight against COVID-19 “if there is a need to do more”, said Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen on Thursday (Apr 9).
He noted that 70 SAF medical personnel had been deployed to a few migrant worker dormitories, as part of the SAF’s “first tranche” of efforts.
Dr Ng said this was “quite a significant resource” that had been given to the nationwide efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus, noting the SAF’s own medical needs.
“We are ensuring that we have enough medical resources for our own SAF troops, because we understand that our critical units are also still functioning. They also have medical needs,” he said.
“But if there is a need to do more, we will see what else we can contribute.”
Minister Ng Eng Hen being briefed by AMS personnel deployed at S11 Dormitory @ Punggol during his visit on Thursday, Apr 9 2020. (Photo: MINDEF)
On Sunday (Apr 5), the dormitory was designated an “isolation area”, with all 13,000 workers living there quarantined in their rooms for a two-week period.
Earlier this week, photos and videos on social media appeared to show crowded and unsanitary conditions at the S11 Dormitory.
Dr Ng noted that morale was high among the medical staff – made up of both full-time National Servicemen as well as SAF regulars – and that they understood what they were doing was a “crucial task”.
SAF Medical personnel attending to a foreign worker at S11 Dormitory @ Punggol on Thursday Apr 9, 2020. (Photo: MINDEF)
“I also reminded them to take care of themselves – make sure that they pay extra attention when they are wearing protective personal equipment, when they are taking it off and when they are conducting procedures to make sure that they themselves are protected from this viral disease,” he said.
Dr Ng said he also managed to speak to some foreign workers who were on their way to isolation facilities.
“They are very calm, and they understand what is going on so I think good systems are in place, and it gives me a lot of confidence,” he said.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen visiting a medical facility at S11 Dormitory @ Punggol on Apr 9, 2020. (Photo: MINDEF)
COVID-19 infections have spiked in migrant worker dormitories recently, with cases linked to nine such dormitories across the island.
The Manpower Ministry announced on Tuesday said that an inter-agency task force had been formed to help migrant workers staying at these dormitories, who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
SINGAPORE: Additional safe distancing measures will be implemented on public transport networks as Singapore steps up efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
This comes after the elevated safe distancing measures set by the multi-ministry task force were implemented on Tuesday (Apr 7), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a news release on Thursday.
Safe distancing stickers will be progressively rolled out on all trains, train stations, buses, bus stops and bus interchanges to mark out spaces and seats that should be avoided by commuters.
LTA is also working with Public Transport Operators to progressively deploy Transport Ambassadors, who will support the implementation of safe distancing measures in public transport networks.
These ambassadors will work with LTA enforcement officers and bus captains to ensure that commuters comply with the measures, such as limiting the number of commuters who can enter train stations and buses.
Safe distancing stickers will be used to help commuters space out on trains and buses. (Photo: Land Transport Authority)
Thermal scanners will be deployed at selected MRT stations to screen commuters before they enter the stations.
“Commuters who have been picked up by the scanners as having a fever will not be allowed to enter the station and be asked to seek medical attention at the nearest clinic(s) immediately,” said LTA.
“For a start, these thermal scanners have been deployed at Serangoon and Tiong Bahru MRT stations.”
The authority has also reminded the public to be socially responsible during the circuit breaker period and to avoid unnecessary commutes.
“Those who need to travel for essential purposes should put on a reusable face mask when travelling in the public transport network, and refrain from crowding,” LTA added.
“They should also follow the instructions given by Transport Ambassadors and LTA’s enforcement officers so that we can preserve the elevated measures during this challenging period.”
The circuit breaker period started on Tuesday and is set to last until May 4. During this period, members of the public have been advised to stay home and avoid going out except for essential trips.
During this period, schools and workplaces have been ordered to shut down, except those deemed to be providing essential services.
SINGAPORE: Leonard Wang manoeuvres deftly through the small gaps between some stalls at Chong Pang Market with the ease of a seasoned professional.
On a normal day, the 33-year-old would be in the skies but on this particular Wednesday (Apr 8), he is grounded. Not that he seems to mind.
Used to facing rows of passenger seats on a flight, Wang sees rows of patrons at the market. Where he would serve food and drinks, he now dishes out leaflets aimed at educating the public on safe distancing requirements.
As the Jetstar crew turned SG Clean Ambassador makes his rounds, he is greeted by a variety of reactions.
Some stallholders instinctively shout at customers: “One metre, one metre”. A few patrons cast a wary eye at Mr Wang, shuffling their feet quickly when they realise they have not kept to the mandatory safe distance.
Others apologise profusely, while there are rare occasions where he is met with blank looks and brush-offs.
This is all in a day’s work for Mr Wang, who has been in this new role for all of a week.
“At the beginning, people were still trying to get used to it and trying to adapt,” he told CNA. “But now, people are getting used to it. They know that this is an important message that they must comply to.”
Last week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the strengthening of Singapore’s measures against COVID-19 amid concerns about escalating infections.
These measures included the closing all workplaces for a month between Apr 7 to May 4, except for those offering essential services, including the sale of health and food items.
Convenience stores, supermarkets, grocery and fruit stores, as well as wet and wholesale markets, are allowed to remain open.
Mr Leonard Wang hands out leaflets, and reminds patrons to observe safe distancing as they queue at Chong Pang Market. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
And to ensure the observance of safe distancing in the heartlands for the duration of these elevated measures, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) and other relevant agencies have been deploying more than 2000 enforcement officers and ambassadors such as Mr Wang.
Unlike the NEA enforcement officers, these ambassadors do not have the power of enforcement. The SG Clean Ambassador network compromises a mixture of volunteers and partners as well as recruited ambassadors.
Their role is to remind patrons in public places such as wet markets and hawker centres to comply with the elevated safe distancing measures and distributing fliers to educate the public.
At Chong Pang market, a limited number of patrons are allowed on the premises at a given point of time, explained Mr Wang. There is one main point of entry and all other exit points have been barricaded off.
To ensure, safe distancing is being adhered to, Mr Wang makes repeated rounds. NEA enforcement officers are also present.
Pilot Darren Wong said that he had no qualms taking up the role as a SG Clean Ambassador. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
“Because we wear the uniform (SG Clean Ambassador T-shirt) and have the lanyard, sometimes people wonder if we’re here to enforce things,” said Mr Wang. “We are not here to fine them, we are here to educate them and get the message (of safe distancing) across.”
While his new role seems a vastly different one from his full-time job, there are many transferable skills, explained Mr Wang.
“As cabin crew, you must not be afraid of people. You’ve got to be friendly to them, and know how to approach them,” he explained. “We’re always looking out for our passengers when on board, in terms of well-being, their needs, serving them. This applies here as well, because we need to let the public know about the rules and regulations.”
Mr Wang was not the only Jetstar employee out and about on Wednesday. At a hawker centre in Toa Payoh, pilot Darren Wong, 32, made his rounds in the afternoon.
Things were much quieter here given the time of day. While there were one or two members of the public who loitered at the hawker centre, Mr Wong was quick to approach them to remind them that no eating in is allowed.
“Most of the public are pretty much receptive to the message, some are not aware, some are indifferent. However, that is what our role here is, to educate and inform them of what the measures are and try to reach out to the masses,” he said.
SG Clean Ambassador Darren Wong reminds a patron that no dining in at hawker centres are allowed. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
“The skills required of us as a pilot are … being able to give clear and concise communication between passengers, crew and air traffic control,” said Mr Wong, who has been a pilot with Jetstar for four years.
“From that, I am able to use the communication skillset to bring the message of what NEA (National Environment Agency) wants to give to the public – basically to tell them what safe distancing is.”
Close to half of Jetstar Asia’s crew and corporate team members have taken up roles with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), NEA and Raffles Medical Group. These contracts are for a period of one to six months.
“This allows our crew the opportunity to work and support themselves, contribute to the community and also be ready to return to their full-time positions when we are ready to resume flying,” said the airline’s CEO Bara Pasupathi in a media statement.
Currently, Jetstar Asia’s managers, including pilots such as Mr Wong, are on unpaid leave, while its cabin crew are on paid leave.
“As a pilot, I definitely want to go back to flying but the fact of the matter is that you can see the situation that is developing and how it is like. We can only just pray to see how everything develops and hopefully it dies off soon,” he said.
When offered the opportunity to become an SG Clean Ambassador, Mr Wong said that he had no qualms coming on board.
“This definitely helps with tiding me over during that period,” he said of the role, which is a salaried one. “However, I believe that since this is such a global issue that I have to do my small part in trying to spread the message of safe distancing, trying to prevent any transmission of the virus.”
SINGAPORE: At one level, the unprecedented three-in-one Unity, Resilience, and Solidarity Budgets demonstrate the resolve of Singapore to ensure businesses and households are helped amid the public health concerns and the economic fallout of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
But fiscal resolve alone is not enough. Everyone must play his part. If it’s every person for himself, then we will all be worse off for it.
Unfortunately we have already seen some examples of this self-seeking behaviour. Besides being socially undesirable, such behaviour also undermines policies and measures that are targeted at a macro-level but intended to trickle down to all levels of society.
LANDLORDS “CAPTURING RENT”
For instance, in the Unity Budget unveiled on Feb 18, a S$4 billion Stabilisation and Support Package was created for businesses and workers affected by the evolving COVID-19 situation.
Measures include a 15 per cent property tax rebate for commercial properties, and a half-month rent waiver for tenants under government agencies. Flexible rental payments for tenants and lessees under the JTC Corporation, Housing and Development Board, Singapore Land Authority, Singapore Tourism Board, and Sentosa Development Corporation were also announced.
Landlords were expected to pass on these property tax rebates to tenants in the form of rental reductions to help them tide over this challenging business environment. However, some landlords opportunistically sought to “profit” from the incentives and did not pass on the savings.
The Resilience Budget on Mar 26 provided an enhancement of the property tax rebate through a larger tax rebate and by covering more properties so some qualifying commercial properties will pay no property tax this year, while others will see a rebate of as much as 30 per cent.
In Parliament on Thursday (Mar 26), Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat lays out the Resilience Budget to help Singapore tide over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The socially responsible landlords duly and promptly passed on the tax rebates to their tenants with no strings attached. Some even went on to reduce rentals by an amount that is greater than the rebates given.
For example, retail, food & beverage and service outlets at Changi Airport received a 50 per cent rental rebate for six months effective from Feb 1. The 50 per cent rebate for stores is on top of automatic rental offset tied to passenger movements at the airport, which all stores will receive as part of their tenancy agreements.
TRICKLE DOWN OUTCOMES DID NOT MATERIALISE
But a good number of landlords dragged their feet even as tenants suffered.
The Government sought to nudge landlords to do the right thing. For example, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing in early March gently urged landlords and tenants to work together.
He said, “… both sides must see each other as long-term partners. Both sides cannot take a short-term perspective in this. The spirit must be that in good times we share the benefits, in tough times, we share the pain. If both the landlord and tenant can work together then we are much nearer to a solution”.
Since no two tenancy agreements are alike even within a commercial property, the government initially thought that a non-prescriptive approach was best: Leave it to the parties to work out a fair deal.
Unfortunately, that proved to be idealistic. Initially, Singapore’s economic agencies such as Enterprise Singapore tried to bring the tenants and the landlords together and work out how they could share the rebates, especially if 100 per cent is passed on to them.
The intent was to arrive at a long-term solution. This move did not go very far.
As a result, the Government has on April 7 urgently passed new legislation, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill, to require landlords to pass on, in full, to their tenants the property tax rebates.
To deal with foot-dragging by some landlords who had promised to pass on tax rebates, the new law provides a prescribed timeline for the transfer of the benefit.
The Government has now proposed new legislation to require landlords to pass on, in full, to their tenants the property tax rebates. (Photo: Cindy Co).
It will also prohibit landlords from imposing conditions on their tenants when passing on the property tax rebates. Property owners who fail to fully pass on property tax rebates unconditionally to their tenants “without reasonable excuse” will be guilty of an offence.
A Valuation Review Panel will be set up to adjudicate disputes pertaining to the property tax rebates between property owners and tenants.
EMPLOYERS RELUCTANT TO PLAY THEIR PART
Another example of individualistic behaviour we have seen is of some companies not playing their part in reducing the risk of COVID-19 infections as they remained reluctant to implement safe distancing measures at work and have their staff telecommute.
Some employers argue that it was unproductive to have their employees working from homes. Some were nonchalant about their workplaces being potential sites of infection transmission.
At the start of this month, of the more than 850 workplaces inspected by the Ministry of Manpower, 129 stop-work orders as well as 260 remedial orders were served on companies in a bid to enforce safe distancing at workplaces. More than half of the orders served involved companies having to improve work-from-home arrangements.
Despite various reminders by the Government, it had to enact legislation.
The Infectious Diseases (Workplace Measures to Prevent Spread of COVID-19) Regulations 2020 was enacted on Apr 1 to compel employers to implement telecommuting.
This was followed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announcing a series of more stringent “circuit breaker” measures to the nation on Apr 3, which included requiring all employers engaged in non-essential services to have their staff work from home for a month.
Movement control measures are also in place, including refusing employees entry to the workplaces.
Given the very serious public health threat posed by the COVID-19 disease, it is worrying that the use of the legislative compulsion is deemed necessary to compel employers to implement safe distancing and telecommuting at work.
LAWS HAVE THEIR LIMITATIONS TOO
From both of these examples, it is not always the case that well-intended policies and measures trickle down to its intended recipients or objectives. As such, legislation and rules have to be introduced to help ensure that these policies reach achieve their aims.
Legislation can however be a blunt tool as the law sets only the minimum standard of behaviour expected.
As legislative fiats are not completely effective in inculcating desired norms and behaviour and preventing opportunistic behaviour, the challenge going forward is to better engender cooperation among stakeholders in such challenging times.
Even when the pandemic is over, economic recovery will take a longer time. We will get over the hump faster and better if there is deeper and better cooperation.
The laws mentioned above seek to set out what constitutes appropriate behaviour. It will elicit outward compliance to the extent that the landlord or employer does not want to be penalised under the law.
However, meaningful compliance requires relevant parties to imbibe internal compliance. In other words, besides using the law as a carrot-and-stick device, stakeholders should internalise the desired norms and an appreciation of the wider societal outcomes that the budgetary measures seek to uphold and promote.
INTERNALISING NORMS IS IMPORTANT
Given the practical limits to policing and prosecution, such an internally driven mode of compliance could be far more effective.
Despite various reminders by the Government, it had to enact legislation on Apr 1 to compel employers to implement telecommuting. (Photo: Pexels)
For instance, drink-driving attracts severe penalties but yet in 2018 we still saw more than 2000 drink-driving related cases in Singapore.
Emphasising the moral callousness and culpability and the negative repercussions of such drink driving can help complement compliance since there are limits to enforcement. Here, moral suasion provides an additional layer of deterrence and informal sanctions on violators.
The use of laws to make certain conduct mandatory also imposes additional costs.
While the property tax rebates were meant to help both landlords and tenants and have them work together to see out a difficult period by cooperating, there will now be compliance and enforcement costs, mostly borne by the government.
Even as we speak of chains of infection in this COVID-19 outbreak, all the more must we build bonds of cooperation and solidarity.
For instance, tenants must endeavour to use the rental reductions and other financial assistance provided in the various Budgets to retain as many of their staff as possible. Protecting jobs and livelihoods is one of the key objectives of the three massive assistance packages unveiled in rapid succession.
We will need shared norms for how business is to operate and their social responsibilities – in good times and in bad times. Otherwise, businesses may face the prospects of more legislation curtailing how business operates.
When the pandemic is over, can we look back on this extraordinary time and remember it as one where we all worked together in the larger interest? Can we think of others first and act with a sense of responsibility and decency?
Unless, we as a society want to send a damning signal that we cannot be trusted upon to do the right thing – to think of wider benefit – and that only laws and rules can influence us to effect positive but unsustainable behavioural outcomes.
Eugene K B Tan is associate professor of law and Lee Kong Chian Fellow at the Singapore Management University where he teaches and researches on business ethics and corporate social responsibility.
SINGAPORE: The conditions at three dormitories gazetted as isolation areas amid the COVID-19 outbreak have “continued to improve”, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Wednesday (Apr 8).
S11 Dormitory @ Punggol, Westlite Toh Guan Dormitory and Toh Guan Dormitory are among the worst hit by the virus.
With 118 cases so far, S11 Dormitory is the largest cluster in Singapore.
Westlite Toh Guan Dormitory has a total of 38 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, while 23 cases have been linked to Toh Guan Dormitory.
There are thousands of foreign workers living at the dormitories. Their declaration as isolation areas under the Infectious Diseases Act means all workers at the three dormitories have been placed under quarantine. They will have to stay in their rooms for 14 days.
MOM had announced on Tuesday that teams from an inter-agency task force have been deployed to the three dormitories to support operators in implementing safe distancing measures, the distribution of meals and the maintenance of cleanliness.
The bin area at S11 Dormitory @ Punggol. (Photo: MOM)
This was after photos and videos circulated online, appearing to show crowded and unsanitary conditions at S11 Dormitory.
On Wednesday, MOM said the task force has “further streamlined mealtime routines and stepped up on the upkeep of cleanliness”.
A resident use his mobile phone at Westlite Toh Guan dormitory. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
Multiple caterers have been engaged to ensure timeliness and the quality of meals distributed,” said MOM, adding that almost 233,000 portions of meals and snacks have been distributed to residents so far.
“Meal distribution routines have improved significantly over the past three days. On average, every meal distribution exercise is now completed within two hours, across all three dormitories,” MOM said.
Portions were also increased based on feedback from residents, and the ministry said the foreign workers have given feedback that there was “better variety of food” compared with previous days.
Residents receiving fruit for dinner at Toh Guan Dormitory. (Photo: MOM)
A meal that was distributed at Toh Guan Dormitory. (Photo: MOM)
Waste management and hygiene conditions have also improved, said the ministry.
“To cope with the increased usage of washroom facilities and higher volumes of trash generated, dormitory operators continued to step up on waste management and sanitation regimes,” said MOM.
“The enhanced measures at S11 and Westlite are also being implemented at Toh Guan Dormitory progressively.”
The disinfection and cleaning of the common areas and washroom facilities are being carried out three times per day, MOM added.
“MOM officers on the ground will continue to ensure that the highest standards are upheld. Our officers will also act on feedback provided by dormitory residents on possible areas of improvement.”
The rubbish chute area at S11 Dormitory @ Punggol. (Photo: MOM)
Safe distancing is practised at Toh Guan Dormitory on Monday, Apr 6, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS AT WESTLITE, SAYS ONE RESIDENT
One of the dorms, Westlite, said on Wednesday it is “actively managing” the COVID-19 situation at its premises, and has “firmly established procedures” to handle the situation.
Since the venue was gazetted as an isolation area on Apr 5, Westlite said it has mobilised additional manpower to ensure its residents are looked after and to step up hygiene and sanitation.
It added that residents have been encouraged to clean their rooms more thoroughly and more frequently. According to the operator, the rooms at Westlite Toh Guan are en-suite apartments with their own toilet, shower, kitchen and dining areas. Residents only share the amenities with those staying in the same apartment.
A foreign worker stands along the corridor of Westlite Toh Guan dormitory in Singapore on Apr 6, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)
It added the dormitory also has enough supplies of personal protective equipment like face masks, as well as on-site medical stations to treat any resident feeling unwell.
If they are suspected to have the novel coronavirus, they will be sent to designated medical facilities off-site for testing, Westlite said.
The CEO of Centurion Corporation, the company Westlite is under, said that this period has been “challenging” for everyone, but that the dormitory has “made every effort” to ensure residents are well taken care of.
“We have done our utmost to deliver on all fronts on isolation, hygiene and communication procedures from the outset of this COVID-19 outbreak,” Mr Kong Chee Min said.
“We are grateful that our residents have been calm, cooperative and understanding of our initiatives amid these difficult times.”
SINGAPORE: Crowd management measures will be expanded to cover around half of all markets in Singapore by Friday (Apr 10) to control the spread of COVID-19, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a news release on Wednesday.
Fifteen markets have put in crowd management measures like controlled entry and exit points as of Wednesday. This is part of the elevated set of safe distancing measures in Singapore from Apr 7 to May 4 during the “circuit breaker” period.
These measures will now be rolled out to include 25 other markets which are “relatively popular and would attract crowds especially on weekends”, NEA said.
The agency explained that the number of people who can enter a market at any time is determined by the market’s size and available space. If a queue forms when the market’s capacity is reached, NEA advised that people should also keep a 1m distance from each other when waiting to enter the market.
“With more persons telecommuting during this period, and in view of the coming long weekend, members of the public should adjust their marketing hours,” NEA said.
It suggested visiting markets once a week, or during weekdays when markets are less crowded. If patrons must visit on weekends, they are encouraged to avoid the peak period between 7.30am and 10am.
NEA also said vulnerable groups like the elderly should avoid visiting markets altogether and seek help from family or neighbours.
Enforcement actions were also taken at some markets and the cooked food sections of hawker centres against those not adhering to safe distancing rules.
Over the morning and lunch hour on Wednesday, 307 written advisories were issued to patrons at markets to keep a safe distance between one another when making purchases at stalls.
Written advisory being issued to a patron at a market in Jurong West. (Photo: NEA)
Another 611 written advisories were handed out at the cooked food sections as well to people who sat on seats in the dining areas or did not maintain a 1m separation from others when queueing. With the circuit breaker measures in place, patrons are no longer allowed to dine in at hawker centres.
Three people were given written warnings for not complying even after receiving written advisories.
“NEA officers will be conducting compliance inspections and strict actions will be taken against any member of the public found in breach of safe distancing measures,” NEA said.
“This is to ensure proper safe distancing at cooked food sections during the duration of the elevated safe distancing measures, and continue to help safeguard the safety of all hawkers and patrons.
“NEA continues to urge members of the public to exercise safe distancing when making purchases at both market and cooked food stalls.”
SINGAPORE: Reusable face masks will be given out to about 350,000 migrant workers who live in dormitories, said the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) on Wednesday (Apr 8).
The first batch of 120,000 reusable masks has been distributed, said MWC, which is working with the Dormitory Association of Singapore Limited and the Ministry of Manpower on this.
“We will expedite the distribution to the remaining migrant workers as soon as possible,” it said in a Facebook post.
“With support of Temasek Foundation, MWC will also be distributing hand sanitisers to all migrant workers in the dormitories soon.”
More than 20,000 workers are currently quarantined in three dormitories after clusters of COVID-19 infections were found. S11 @ Punggol, Westlite Toh Guan and Toh Guan Dormitory have been marked isolation areas and workers are to stay in their rooms for 14 days.
S11 @ Punggol forms the largest such cluster with 98 cases as of Tuesday.
COVID-19 cases have also been found at other dormitories including Singapore’s largest migrant worker dormitory Sungei Tengah Lodge (18 cases), Tampines Dormitory (17 cases) and Kranji Lodge (three cases).
There have been concerns about the virus spreading at the tight living quarters of the dormitories where 10 or more workers can share the same room.
While reports of unsanitary and crowded living conditions at the isolated dorms had surfaced this week, MWC said on Tuesday that conditions had “stabilised”.
MWC also urged the public who wish to help to give cash instead of making donations-in-kind like masks and other necessities.
This will allow the agency the flexibility to respond to needs on the ground more effectively, it said.
“During this period, we have received many offers from the public and charitable organisations wanting to help our migrant brothers affected by the COVID-19 situation. It is really heartwarming to see the community coming together to help one another and extending their care to even our migrant community,” it said.
The donations will go towards providing financial assistance to workers who are displaced at work, providing basic necessities or items required by workers in dormitories, as well as providing housing or meals to workers in need.
Members of the public can contribute online at giving.sg/mwaf/migrantswecare.
SINGAPORE: There has been a spike in the number of scam cases involving fake cash giveaways on social media, said the police on Wednesday (Apr 8), adding that there had been at least 13 reports lodged since December last year.
Scammers would use social media platforms like Facebook to advertise the giveaways, instructing victims to share their Internet banking information and one-time passwords so they could make unauthorised and fraudulent transactions using the victims’ bank accounts.
The authorities also said that such fake advertisements have now evolved to include references to COVID-19-related payouts by the Government.
In an advertisement shared by police, the scammer claimed there were “S$15,000 giveaways from the government”, with 30 slots for S$500 each. The Facebook post included hashtags like #FightForCOVID19 and #StayAtHome.
A screengrab of a Facebook Messenger exchange showed a sender requesting the victim’s Internet banking user ID, PIN number and account number.
“In five minutes you will receive S$500,” the sender claimed after telling the recipient their PIN number could be changed after the money was transferred to them.
Scammers will try and trick people into giving them their bank details. (Image: SPF)
The police advised the public to take caution when receiving unsolicited messages and information during this “uncertain period”.
“Beware of unusual requests or offers from strangers and even your social media contacts as they may be spoofed,” the police said.
They also urged people to verify the authenticity of such messages through official sources or through trusted contacts, and to never give out personal or bank account details to anyone.
SINGAPORE: There is a joke circulating on social media that given the rise in children’s home-based learning in the wake of COVID-19, desperate parents will soon beat scientists to finding a cure for the dreaded disease.
This hilarious meme effectively captures the challenges of transforming your home into a virtual learning environment for children more accustomed to the structures and routines of school.
While the pandemic has compelled systematic adoption of online learning, it has also laid bare many of the issues that must be addressed before students can fully benefit from the digitalisation of education.
This home-based learning experiment will also provide a valuable glimpse into the myriad obstacles families may face when our education system shifts towards a model of personal digital device ownership as announced during this year’s Budget debate.
NO WALK IN THE PARK
Stripped to its essence, home-based learning sounds like a walk in the park.
Children can avoid the morning rush hour and remain at home to attend their classes online. They can meet their teachers and classmates in virtual classrooms to attend lessons, answer questions, exchange views, collaborate on projects and seek guidance. Simple, right?
Not quite. When teachers and students are dispersed across individual living spaces, each with its own characteristics and quirks, the learning environment is fraught with variability the teacher can never fully grasp, much less tackle.
Ethnographic research on technology domestication offers helpful insights into how particular factors vary across diverse home environments to facilitate or impede home-based learning.
While these factors relate to seemingly mundane, prosaic aspects of the home, they nevertheless weigh heavily on the students’ learning experience. They are namely – space, devices, access and skills.
A child using an app to learn.
SPACE
In the first instance, when home-based learning commences, parents may be in for a rude shock. Your cosy and comfortable home may suddenly morph into an unfamiliar and altogether defective space that feels ill-suited for learning.
Whereas your children will usually head to their respective schools, they are now crammed into shared bedrooms or living rooms, with multiple classes going on simultaneously.
Your children will start to hush one another when they are unable to hear their respective teachers clearly, even with headphones on. Throw in a working parent’s conference call with her boss and you will have a very frazzled household.
Finding enough room for every child to settle comfortably with their devices and hard-copy reference materials, and to complete assignments while listening to online instructions will be another logistical feat requiring fortitude and resourcefulness.
Some rearrangement of the home living environment to optimise sharing space during this period will be inconvenient, but necessary.
DEVICES
Besides shared space is the matter of shared devices. In households where multiple family members share a laptop or desktop computer, and certain online learning platforms are best accessed via such hardware rather than mobile phones and tablets, home-based learning may put pressure on scarce resources.
Parents who use their laptops for work-related tasks will find themselves having to cede access to their children and work around their classroom schedules, even as they scramble to meet their own deadlines.
Despite various reminders by the Government, it had to enact legislation on Apr 1 to compel employers to implement telecommuting. (Photo: Pexels)
Siblings who share devices will need to work out an equitable way for everyone to access the learning platforms with the appropriate hardware and software.
Doubtless, some deft coordination is necessary and parents will find themselves having to strategise device-sharing so that everyone can be online, on time and on task.
ACCESS
With so many people online due to COVID-19 lockdowns, Internet speeds have slowed worldwide, let alone within individual homes.
Wi-Fi speeds that used to support the entire family without glitches may suddenly crawl when everyone is at home and online at the same time, accessing video and audio, while engaging in synchronous live chats.
Families that can afford superior broadband plans and signal boosting routers will clearly find the home-based learning experience a breeze, while those with more modest provisions may struggle.
Annoyances such as repeatedly disconnecting Wi-Fi signals and getting “kicked out of classrooms” can be distressing for students. Such problems will also demand that parents are nearby and nimble with their technical support.
SKILLS
Indeed, while we may not face a sharp digital access divide in Singapore with our high Internet penetration rates, a digital skills divide persists. Depending on educational levels and occupational exposure to technology use, some parents will clearly be more technologically adept than others.
Tech-savvy parents will be more confident about negotiating the vast array of digital learning platforms and their processes, from basic chores such as registration and password entry, to more complex functions like navigating the interface and performing learning tasks.
Completing a quiz, attaching a document or uploading a video may be second nature to some parents, but not to others. Accordingly, parents will also vary in their ability to reinforce the content that is taught.
When children encounter difficulties with home-based learning therefore, the availability and ability of parents to provide support can diverge significantly across households and teachers must be sensitive to these variances.
WHAT TEACHERS AND PARENTS CAN DO TO EASE INTO HOME-BASED LEARNING
Despite these trials, there are tremendous benefits to home-based learning that we can derive. First, parents may actually gain a deeper appreciation of their children’s learning experiences.
Second, parents and children may find it easier to connect over what happens “in school” and this can foster communication and mutual understanding.
Third, home-based learning can encourage parents and children to teach each other how to use technology, thereby creating opportunities for shared media use and familial bonding.
Photo illustration of a child using a laptop (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Teachers can support students and parents by easing everyone into this learning journey. Start out with simpler activities and less technically onerous assignments as everyone gradually adapts to this new set-up.
Be mindful there are some very stressed children and parents on the other side of the screen who need time and assistance to figure things out. As you herd the cats in this extended classroom of yours, your patience may be in short supply, but never in greater demand.
Remember also that more technology is not always better. To mix things up, giving students some off-screen activities before regrouping for some online interactions.
On their part, parents can support teachers by helping ensure their children adhere to the school routine as far as possible. However, they would also do well to not be too involved in their children’s online lessons.
Resist the urge to take over the task from the child but allow them to independently complete online learning activities, intervening only when absolutely necessary. By all means, be on standby to provide technical support but “leave” the classroom when your help is not needed.
Parents should also be understanding of teachers who are themselves grappling with this novel classroom setting and not take this as an opportunity to assess the teachers’ competencies and find fault.
Well-resourced parents should refrain from demanding more complex or cognitively stimulating online assignments but bear in mind that the classroom has children of different abilities.
As we collectively embark on home-based learning during this ongoing health crisis, let us make the most of this time at home, living, learning and getting through this together.
When it all gets too overwhelming, there is always one period to look forward to – recess.
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Lim Sun Sun is professor of communication and technology and head of humanities, arts and social sciences at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. She is also a Nominated Member of Parliament. Her latest book is Transcendent Parenting: Raising Children in the Digital Age.
