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49 new coronavirus cases in Singapore; 3 cases form new cluster at SingPost Centre

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SINGAPORE – A new cluster involving three people working at the packet-processing facility at SingPost Centre in Eunos was identified on Friday, as the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced 49 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Singapore.

According to Singapore Post, the cases comprise one contract staff member and two full-time employees working on the same floor.

“The two full-time SingPost employees are not postmen and do not have contact with members of the public in their line of work,” it said.

SingPost added that it is suspending all packet-processing operations at SingPost Centre on March 26 and 27 for thorough cleaning and to facilitate contact tracing, and all employees working on the same floor have been instructed to stay home until further notice.

“As a result, members of the public should note that delivery of packages may be slightly delayed as cleaning and disinfection are underway,” it said, adding that it expects operations to resume on Monday (March 30). The delivery of letters is not affected.

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S’pore first in Asia to launch Huawei P40 series on April 4; local ride-hailing apps get onboard

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Huawei has just unveiled its next leap in camera photography that will be championed by their new P40 series. No less than three models were unveiled, but only the Huawei P40 and P40 Pro are hitting retail soon.

Local launch timeline

In fact, Huawei expects Singapore stores to have retail stock by April 4! That’s just next weekend. The phones will be available at all Huawei Concept Stores, major telco outlets, selected consumer electronic stores; Huawei official online stores in Lazada and Shopee.

Pre-order Promotions

Meanwhile, from now till 3rd April, Huawei’s has begun their pre-order promotions to enjoy a free premium bundle worth up to $562, while stocks last.

PHOTO: Huawei

P40 and P40 Pro pricing and configuration

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East Coast: Advantage PAP in redrawn GRC at the next General Election?

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SINGAPORE: With political parties likely to field high-profile candidates in East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) at the next General Election, observers expect a stiff contest for the vote, although they said the People’s Action Party (PAP) is likely to have an edge.

The GRC has re-absorbed neighbouring Fengshan Single Member Constituency (SMC) following the redrawing of electoral boundaries in a report released by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) on Mar 13. The committee also recommended that five members make up the GRC, up from the current four.

The reconstituted East Coast GRC has 120,238 registered voters, compared to 96,493 previously.

Political observers including Associate Professor Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University (SMU) said the changes could consolidate support for the PAP in the constituency.

In the previous election in 2015, PAP defeated the Workers’ Party (WP) in East Coast and Fengshan with 60.7 per cent and 57.5 per cent of the vote, respectively.

Voters would also want to keep the incumbent for stability amid uncertain times, they said, adding that the outcome could mirror results in 2011, when the PAP won East Coast GRC– which then included Fengshan – with 54.8 per cent of the vote.

But the analysts say both the PAP and WP are likely to field high-calibre candidates to refresh and reinforce their support in the constituency, meaning a tough contest is expected.

The PAP could field minister-level candidates with the majority of their current slate expected to retire, they said, while the WP could move some of their best candidates over.

READ: Unconstitutional to delay General Election and have president form caretaker government: Teo Chee Hean

READ: More electoral divisions, no 6-member GRCs in coming election: EBRC report

Meanwhile, Fengshan Member of Parliament (MP) and long-time grassroots volunteer Cheryl Chan told CNA she wishes to run in East Coast GRC, although she noted that the PAP hasn’t revealed its plans.

“The party hasn’t confirmed this with me, but certainly I’ve expressed my wish is to continue in Fengshan,” she said.

“For me, (Fengshan being in East Coast) doesn’t make any difference. Boundaries are just boundaries, right? But it really doesn’t change the way me and my team actually serve the ground. If they appreciate it, I will continue being in Fengshan.”

Cheryl Chan house visit

Ms Cheryl Chan speaking to a Fengshan resident during a house visit. (Photo: Facebook/Cheryl Chan)

Ms Chan said she “wouldn’t speculate” on how the redrawing of East Coast GRC might affect PAP’s chances in the next election which must be held by April 2021, especially as the party might unveil a largely new slate despite residents having gotten used to her.

“I’ve continued to tell the residents, especially now because of the COVID-19 situation, I think it’s more important we really focus on national issues first,” she said, adding that her concerns include the economy and jobs for her residents.

“But really, for me, it’s not so much about whether the election (is coming) or not. I personally always believed if the incumbent has been doing their work on the ground as an MP, then you know, the results will speak for themselves.”

ADVANTAGE PAP?

Still, political observers believe that moving Fengshan back to East Coast will play into the hands of the PAP.

Fengshan SMC signboard

Fengshan was hived off from East Coast following the 2011 election. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)

“When you put these two together, it could point to the PAP possibly having an easier time, assuming … people still vote for the same party as in 2015,” Assoc Prof Tan said.

National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser said it has always been harder for opposition parties to win GRCs because of their larger size, predicting that the outcome in 2015 “will be replicated in the coming election”.

“The opposition may do marginally well in one or two wards, but when these results are averaged across a GRC, they then fall below 50 per cent,” he explained. 

READ: ‘Two choices’ for General Election timing, says PM Lee

READ: Workers’ Party urges Government to ‘take caution’ and ‘exercise judiciousness’ when calling for election

Given that the PAP has never lost East Coast, SIM Global Education associate lecturer Felix Tan said “there’s no doubt” the party will attract “continued support” there.

“Moreover, in times like what we have now, there’s even a stronger potential that voters would want to keep the incumbent party to ensure some sense of stability and continuity,” he added.

SHAKING IT UP

Despite that, Dr Tan said PAP’s performance in East Coast would also depend on who replaces former Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say – who is expected to retire – to lead the team.

The current team comprises Mr Lim, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman, former senior minister of state Lee Yi Shyan and three-term backbencher Jessica Tan.

“We’ll probably see the shifting of some ministers around to helm East Coast,” Dr Tan said, adding that this person could be a “familiar” 4G leader with a strong backing.

East Coast GRCs MPs

East Coast GRC MPs (from left) Lee Yi Shyan, Maliki Osman, Jessica Tan and Lim Swee Say.

SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan said he also expects Mr Lee and Ms Tan to retire, paving the way for a candidate who is at the very least a senior minister of state.

“The PAP would want to show that it takes the GRC seriously, and deploy another office holder to beef up (the line-up),” he added.

“There would be probably one first-time candidate. But first-time candidates, because people don’t really know them, may not have that immediate appeal.”

FRESH BLOOD

At his Meet-the-People session in Bedok North on Monday (Mar 23), Mr Lee remained coy about the possibility of first-time candidates being fielded in East Coast or his Kampong Chai Chee ward.

“Have you seen any new faces?” he asked with a laugh. “I also haven’t. So your guess is as good as mine. But you never know.”

Mr Lee also said he was not surprised at the speculation that he could be among those who will retire before the next election.

“I’m not that old, I’m not that young,” he stated.

“It’s really up to the party, because the day will come sooner or later that we have to replace ourselves and the younger people will have to come in. But exactly who is in and out, I’m sure the party will make careful consideration.”

Lee Yi Shyan Kampong Chai Chee residents

Mr Lee Yi Shyan speaking to Kampong Chai Chee residents during a sharing session. (Photo: Facebook/Our Kampong Chai Chee)

Mr Lee called good succession planning a “hallmark of successful, strong organisations”, adding that he believes any potential replacement will do a good job in the constituency.

“We as a party are very careful about selecting the right type of people,” he said.

“You want to have a slate that represents the cross segment of society. From there, hopefully you have a slate big enough that you can select your Cabinet ministers. So, it’s not an easy task. It’s always a tremendous effort to go look for people like that.”

DEALING WITH CONCERNS

Mr Lee stated he is “cautiously optimistic” about PAP’s chances in East Coast at the next election, as he feels the team takes residents’ needs seriously and has “done a lot on the ground”.

East Coast GRC covid-19 mask

A woman wearing a mask crossing from Fengshan SMC to East Coast GRC. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)

In Kampong Chai Chee for instance, Mr Lee has introduced green spaces like community and rooftop gardens as well as sustainability features like e-waste recycling. They are also thinking of initiatives to help residents keep fit while staying home, given the current circumstances.

“But of course, there are still issues that people might be unhappy about,” he said, explaining that these vary according to age group.

Elderly residents, for example, are concerned about healthcare costs, while those in their 50s to 60s worry about their skills and whether they can keep their jobs. The 30s to 40s, or the “sandwiched class” as Mr Lee noted, grapple with raising children and caring for their parents. The younger ones are idealistic and “seized with subjects like sustainability”.

East Coast GRC-Aljunied GRC border

The busy junction that acts as the border between East Coast GRC and WP’s Aljunied GRC. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)

Current concerns, however, centre around the COVID-19 pandemic, with some residents even asking Mr Lee if they should liquidate their assets because they fear losing their jobs.

“I think people want different policy propositions and approaches to solving problems,” Mr Lee stated, adding that he feels the team has done its best. “And if the opposition can come up with it, I think it’s a fair competition. People have the right to choose.”

DON’T WRITE OFF WP

SIM’s Dr Tan said WP has a “certain amount” of support in both East Coast and Fengshan, pointing out that the merger might help the party “cement its influence or make further inroads into that constituency”.

“They have been competing in the constituency for a while and doing walkabouts, so it does seem like with the merger it might be able to consolidate its influence of power there,” he said.

Dennis Tan Fengshan visit

Mr Dennis Tan greeting Fengshan residents during Chinese New Year. (Photo: Facebook/Dennis Tan Lip Fong)

SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan argued that the merger would also make the WP slate stronger, as this would bring their three non-constituency MPs – Fengshan’s Dennis Tan as well as East Coast’s Leon Perera and Daniel Goh – together.

He suggested that WP could also move one of its heavyweight Aljunied MPs, Low Thia Khiang or Sylvia Lim, to East Coast.

Leon Perera and Sylvia Lim with resident

Mr Leon Perera and Ms Slyvia Lim posing for a photo with a resident. (Photo: Facebook/Leon Perera)

“My view is that the Aljunied slate needs to be refreshed partly to get voters interested, and secondly, in the way of an acknowledgement that they may have fallen short over the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council saga,” he said.

“If they were to move one of the Aljunied MPs, then it could make the WP slate in East Coast very appealing.”

READ: Workers’ Party questions EBRC decision to dissolve 3 SMCs

The WP did not respond to requests for comment, although Mr Dennis Tan took to Facebook to question the EBRC’s report a day after its release.

“I am sure Fengshan residents would like to know the real reasons why Fengshan was taken out of East Coast GRC in GE 2015 and then promptly re-absorbed back after one term,” he wrote. “Regardless, WP will continue their work on the ground.”

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Commentary: Singapore has a New Deal. We call it the Resilience Budget

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SINGAPORE: A grand supplementary government budget, barely a month after the regular annual budget, may be surreally something out of the blue.

But it is absolutely crucial for Singapore caught in a mighty storm amid rapidly deteriorating economic conditions wrought by a global coronavirus pandemic.

It was only back in February that Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat rolled out a “Unity Budget” that included expenditures and transfers totaling some S$106 billion for the entire country.

This had a S$6.4 billion Stabilisation and Support package for firms, workers and households to fight the effects of the emerging viral outbreak and hold onto jobs.

This blockbuster move was strongly welcome. 

Yet how fast the world has changed.

In just five weeks, Mr Heng is back in Parliament to unveil a supplementary Resilience Budget totalling some S$48.4 billion, almost half of the whole earlier national budget.

Notably, the landmark move will draw S$17 billion from Singapore’s past reserves and, together with the earlier packages, total 11 per cent of Singapore’s gross domestic product.

The new initiative is called a “budget”, not a “package”. This is unlike the response to the global financial crisis during Budget 2009 when the relief effort was labelled a “Resilience Package” and tabled during the regular Budget session.

It is more than the tag – the current parliamentary comeback suggests something even more fundamental.

READ: Commentary: The problem with reusing the 2009 global financial crisis playbook to deal with COVID-19

READ: Commentary: The brewing concern over jobs and salaries as COVID-19 persists

In fact, Singapore’s Resilience Budget is a big deal. It is almost analogous to American President Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal, which lasted from 1933 to 1939.

THE NEW DEAL

The New Deal was FDR’s response to the Great Depression, which started earlier with a monumental Wall Street crash in October 1929. The aftermath saw a spectacular nosedive of almost 90 per cent for the Dow Jones Industrial Index within a protracted period of almost three years.

Much as the American stock market crash was a bloodbath, it was a symptom and not the cause of the Great Depression.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is seen on a television displaying a wartime propaganda film a

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is seen on a television at the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum on Puget Sound’s Bainbridge Island, Washington, U.S. on Feb 12, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS/Chris Helgren)

A unique confluence at both the demand and supply sides seeded that disaster, including high consumer debt, low producer opportunities and poor financial regulations.

Even if there were debates on the real and root causes of the Great Depression, the effects were undisputable. There were massive job losses, loan defaults, business closures, bank failures and deflation – all the ills of a severe economic downturn.

Beyond the specific economic tribulations, the most drastic consequence of the Great Depression was something of a grander scale – there was a complete breakdown of confidence – social confidence. This sparked widespread tensions, including even racial conflict.

America had been a land of dreams for many immigrants. But with the advent of the Great Depression, many even returned to where they or their forefathers had come from.

President Roosevelt came into office on the heels of the depression. His famed “first 100 days” of his presidency saw a slew of the most radical reforms and reliefs that covered a full spectrum of initiatives ranging from fiscal to monetary policies, from banking to business support, and from city to rural programmes.

READ: Commentary: Imagine holding the US elections during a COVID-19 outbreak

READ: Commentary: What elections in a coronavirus outbreak could look like

Even where the New Deal drew controversy, particularly among political conservatives, the programme was widely recognised as a wild success that revitalised the US and got many engines of growth going again.

THE NEW DEAL, SINGAPORE EDITION

The Resilience Budget – Singapore’s “New Deal” – arrives in a different context from the American analogy but takes place amid a global downturn of possibly epic proportions with flailing business and consumer confidence.

While there might not have been sweeping legislative changes in the same way the New Deal put in place new regulatory building blocks and key federal programmes that underpin much of how the US economy works today, its underlying intent and significance are somewhat similar.

The American New Deal was intended to combat a mammoth economic catastrophe that had gotten out of control. It sought to address what historians put as the three Rs – relief for the people, recovery of the economy, and reform of the financial system.

Singapore’s Resilience Budget – Singapore’s “New Deal” – comes as a timely counteracting stabiliser to the coming upheaval by the global coronavirus pandemic. It has three thrusts: Saving jobs and supporting workers; Supporting enterprises; and Strengthening resilience across the economy and society.

Commuters on MRT wearing masks

Commuters wearing face masks on an MRT train in Singapore, Mar 18, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Catherine Lai)

Singapore’s Resilience Budget is purposefully comprehensive – it leaves no stone unturned. It is determined and decisive in terms of breadth and depth.

In breadth, the Budget seeks to save jobs and protect workers. It allocates S$15.1 billion to support more than 1.9 million local employees under the enhanced Jobs Support Scheme. It also provides S$16.2 billion of help to businesses with cash flow, credit and cost with provisions under the enhanced Jobs Support Scheme and Wage Credit Scheme.

While Singapore expects unemployment to grow, the Government has pledged to create 10,000 jobs via a SGUnited Jobs Initiative, with the public sector taking the lead.

Remarkably, there is a huge S$20 billion loan capital arrangement to support companies with strong capabilities.

For households, S$4.6 billion will be given to assist them under the enhanced Care and Support Package.

The expansion of the Government’s role to help families and the unemployed, with the COVID-19 Support fund, the Temporary Relief Fund and more flexibility over ComCare, have been most significant, as new forms of unemployment benefits in all but name.

READ: Commentary: COVID-19 – time for businesses and workers to have the guts to embrace the new normal

READ: Commentary: How prepared are parents for suspension of schools if that happens?

In depth, the most affected sectors, especially those in aviation, tourism and services, will get another round of aid. Specific allocations will be available to help these sectors survive during the crisis and rebound after.

Even the arts and culture sector is not left out. It will have S$5 million to save jobs, upskill and digitalise

Probably the worst-hit, the aviation sector will have S$350 million to fund measures such as rebates on charges and rental reliefs as well as S$400 million to retain workers.

But the most significant move to get Singapore’s aviation through this crisis was one not contained within the Budget, which Mr Heng alluded to: The new role Temasek will play in supporting an embattled Singapore Airlines.

READ: Commentary: COVID-19, the biggest crisis ever for Singapore’s aviation industry and Singapore Airlines

READ: Commentary: Hit hard by COVID-19, Singapore Airlines may need to pursue deeper capacity cuts

A NEXT NEW DEAL?

The Resilience Budget addresses more than the economic and financial concerns. It shores up the social and psychological aspects of society as well, and gives Singaporeans the confidence there is enough ballast to withstand the wild storm ahead.

People wearing protective face masks (4)

A man seen wearing a protective face mask at Chinatown, Singapore on Mar 11. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

Indeed, given the surrounding fear and uncertainty many Singaporeans feel facing the pandemic, ensuring Singapore society maintains total cohesion must be the overarching objective, where this also ensures the country can ride out this year-long pandemic.

Like Mr Heng said: “We will take care of our people. We will leave no one behind.”

Mr Heng’s wartime rhetoric is apt. Singapore’s Resilience Budget is more than just a booster shot – it has injected a whole new shock to a system on the cusp of a potentially unprecedented global recession.

Back to Roosevelt’s New Deal – with the magnitude and duration of the Great Depression, it had two major installments – the First New Deal from 1933 to 1934 and the Second New Deal from 1935 to 1936.

There is much uncertainty over how the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath will play out. If the calamity last longer, will Singapore need another shot – a second New Deal?

Mr Heng certainly doesn’t rule that out. “Should it become necessary, I am prepared to propose to the President further draws on Past Reserves to deal with the situation,” he said.

Lawrence Loh is director of Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations at NUS Business School where he is also associate professor of strategy and policy.

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NTUC FairPrice lowers paper product limit, adds cooking oil, canned food, frozen poultry to shopping cap list

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SINGAPORE – Shoppers at supermarket chain FairPrice will now be allowed to buy up to only two packs of paper products such as toilet paper and tissue paper, down from four.

They will also be able to buy up to only six cans of canned products, five litres of cooking oil and $30 of frozen poultry, where there were previously no limits.

Existing purchasing limits for instant noodles, rice, eggs, fresh poultry and vegetables remain unchanged.

These changes were announced by FairPrice on Friday (March 27) after it saw an increase in shoppers and the amount each bought in recent days.

“The new purchase limits continue to be set slightly higher than what a typical shopper purchases and is sufficient to meet the daily grocery needs of an average family in Singapore,” it said in a statement. “Daily essentials remain available, as there are sufficient stockpiles of food while supply lines remain largely intact.”

The purchase limits per customer at the more than 200 FairPrice outlets islandwide now are:

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New bus and MRT interchanges in Singapore to have more nursing rooms for breastfeeding mothers

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In a bid to increase the presence of more nursing rooms in Singapore, all new bus and MRT interchanges will have more breastfeeding-friendly spaces, according to Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

The announcement came as a written answer to parliamentary questions by Member of Parliament Louis Ng, who wanted to know how many MRT stations and bus interchanges in Singapore hosted facilities for mothers to breastfeed their babies.

He further wanted to know if there were any lactation rooms available for mothers to use, and if the Ministry of Transport could make it compulsory for at least one of the two to be made available at all transport hubs.

More nursing rooms in Singapore transport hubs, interchanges

In response, Minister Khaw noted today (March 26) that the Government will provide nursing rooms at all new bus interchanges and integrated transport hubs, as well as new MRT interchange stations.

“There are nursing rooms at 50 per cent of our bus interchanges,” said Mr Khaw. “We will provide nursing rooms at all new bus interchanges and integrated transport hubs,” he added.

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Singtel-backed streaming service HOOQ files for liquidation

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SINGAPORE – HOOQ Digital, a video streaming service majority owned by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, said it was filing for liquidation as it had not been able to grow sufficiently to provide sustainable returns nor cover escalating costs.

HOOQ was started as a joint venture in 2015 between Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros Entertainment. But it has failed to make major gains as larger rivals such as Netflix Inc expanded in the region.

The liquidation is not expected to have any material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of Singtel, the telecom operator said in a filing to the stock exchange. Singtel has an indirect 76.5 per cent effective stake in HOOQ.

HOOQ is part of Singtel’s group digital life segment, which includes newer businesses like digital marketing that the company has been trying to grow as part of its efforts to expand outside traditional telecom services.

 

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COVID-19 Budget measures ‘welcome’, but may not be enough to save F&B sector: Business owners

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SINGAPORE: Where there used to be crowds of office workers and tourists, lunch hour along Jalan Pisang was quiet on Friday (Mar 27), as fears over the spread of COVID-19 kept diners away. 

Food and beverage (F&B) businesses, like Lina’s Cafe, have been hit especially hard, with customer footfall dropping by up to 60 per cent, according to Ms Marlinah Ahmad, who runs the social enterprise.

“If you look at the Kampong Glam area, you usually see mainly tourists and office workers. The streets around this area are pretty quiet nowadays, and with no more daily prayers (at Masjid Sultan), we have lost another source of income,” said Ms Marlinah. 

F&B COVID-19 budget reax (1)

While lunchtime is usually crowded, the number of customers have dwindled over the past two weeks at Lina’s Cafe (Photo: Cindy Co).

Lina’s Cafe’s revenue has fallen over the past two weeks, as the Government announced stricter safe distancing measures for F&B and retail outlets. 

“We were already seeing a drop of about 40 per cent in revenue, but it got worse when the new measures came in. This week, it dropped even further,” said Ms Marlinah. 

On Thursday, the Government announced a slew of new measures to support businesses like Lina’s Cafe through the economic slowdown. The measures included co-funding 50 per cent of local workers’ wages for an additional two quarters and exempting qualifying commercial properties from having to pay property tax in 2020. 

READ: COVID-19 Resilience Budget: ‘Landmark’ S$48 billion package to tide Singapore through ‘unprecedented’ crisis

READ: What you need to know about the Resilience Budget measures

While the measures may help stem losses for the F&B sector, it may not be sufficient to prevent businesses from going under, several business owners told CNA.

Ms Marlinah said co-funding is “definitely great” as it would help to minimise expenses. “Any amount of expense we can minimise at this time is really, really helpful,” she said. 

Mr Vincent Tan, president of the Restaurant Association of Singapore, also said that the wage support was “very much welcome and appreciated” as it would help alleviate “one of the main cost components in an F&B business”. 

“Hopefully, F&B businesses will be able to retain more of their staff during this period and continue to upskill and prepare them for the economic upturn although some businesses may not immediately recognise this as a supportive measure as many of the F&B operators are understandably trying to survive and keep afloat amidst this crisis,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Matthias Phua, who owns the bakery Pantler, pointed out that many F&B businesses rely on foreign workers. 

“F&B is heavily reliant on foreign manpower … Probably they could have done more in that aspect, such as loosening their hold on the quota or something to help with the foreign worker levy,” he said.

GETTING LANDLORDS TO PASS ON RENTAL REBATES “FRUSTRATING”

But the biggest challenge for the F&B sector is negotiating rent with landlords, owners told CNA.

Managing director of The Soup Spoon Andrew Chan said negotiations with landlords had been “very unproductive”.

“From the Government’s point of view, when property tax is reduced, landlords will pass the rebates down. Some have, but some are dragging their feet and others use different tactics, like ‘I will give you this, but I have different conditions’. 

“Even if they do give, I think it’s not enough,” he said. 

“As a whole, it has been a frustrating experience,” Mr Chan told CNA, adding that not all The Soup Spoon outlets have been offered rental rebates. 

Mr Dylan Ong, who owns French restaurant The Masses, has not received any rental rebates from his landlord either, although he said they were “open” to negotiation.

F&B COVID-19 budget reax (3)

Lina’s Cafe has seen up to a 60 per cent drop in customer footfall (Photo: Cindy Co).

“I have been actively trying to get them to hear me … I’m glad my landlord is open to the idea. But they’re not sure if the 15 per cent tax rebate is applicable to everyone. They’re uncertain about the information they are receiving,” said Mr Ong, adding he thought it should be mandatory for landlords to pass on rebates to their tenants. 

“At the end of the day, the message is broadcast, but is anyone enforcing?” he said. 

The total reduction of property tax would translate to 1.2 months of rental savings annually, said Mr Tan, who hoped that landlords would pass the savings “in full” to tenants. 

READ: COVID-19 Budget: Unemployment benefits increase; higher cash payouts for adult Singaporeans

READ: COVID-19 Budget: Income tax payments for companies, self-employed people delayed for 3 months

“Hopefully, the increased rental waiver of two months for tenants of Government-owned properties will send a strong signal to all landlords to also waive rents.

“In total we hope to receive a total of 3.2 months in rental rebates over and above the half-month rental rebate we are currently receiving,” he added.

Mr Tan urged landlords to respond to the new measures “with urgency”, noting that the Restaurant Association of Singapore had to expend much effort to get CapitaLand to offer rental rebates. He said the association is still waiting for landlords such as Mercatus, SMRT and UOL to offer rental rebates.

“In order for this measure to be effective, the support from landlords in terms of reducing their rental during this period is critical,” he said.

MAY NOT QUALIFY AS F&B

Other places that serve food may not necessarily qualify as F&B and may not be eligible for the additional support.

Mr Andrew Li, chief executive officer of the Zouk Group, said that Zouk Singapore has also been “severely hit” by COVID-19 and the mandatory closure of all bars and nightclubs.

Zouk 360 photo

Zouk at Clarke Quay. (File photo: Winnie Goh)

“This Government support may provide some relief but due to our official business classification, Zouk may not qualify under the tourism or F&B sector,” he said. 

“Hence very tough business decisions may still have to be made.”

The Zouk Group runs several outlets, such as RedTail, which also serves food to customers.

“Overall, I would say that it is a very good Budget,” said Mr Chan. 

“But I think the niggling thing is that you can’t help a dead man. You can have all the medicine in the world, but you can’t help him. Rentals may kill businesses. 

“There are some businesses who will say that the help is too late, let’s just do some adjustment to the business in terms of closures. May as well cut your losses to a certain extent,” he added.

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COVID-19: Financial assistance schemes to help lower- to middle-income Singaporeans affected by outbreak

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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Friday (Mar 27) detailed two financial assistance schemes announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in the Resilience Budget that aim to help lower- to middle-income Singaporeans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The Temporary Relief Fund and COVID-19 Support Grant will provide help to such Singaporeans, who are also not on ComCare assistance. 

The former scheme provides an immediate one-off cash assistance of S$500 to lower- to middle-income Singaporeans and permanent residents who have lost their jobs or faced an income loss of at least 30 per cent due to the pandemic, and require urgent help with basic living expenses, said MSF. 

The COVID-19 Support Grant helps lower- to middle-income Singaporeans and permanent residents who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and “continue to face challenges securing employment”, said MSF. 

Eligible Singaporeans may receive S$800 a month for three months if they also commit to receiving employment and training support from the Workforce Singapore and Employment and Employability Institute. 

This is aimed at “helping them get back on their feet and achieve stability”, said MSF. 

COVID-19 Singapore budget job loss support grant infographic

The Temporary Relief Fund and the COVID-19 Support Grant are not available to those already assisted by ComCare, a government welfare programme that provides assistance to those who fall into financial hardship. 

“If ComCare clients require more assistance due to changes in financial circumstances, SSO will work with them to review their assistance package,” said MSF. 

Recipients of the COVID-19 Support Grant who continue to need support in the long term will be assessed for Comcare, added the ministry.

READ: COVID-19 Budget: Unemployment benefits increase; higher cash payouts for adult Singaporeans

READ: COVID-19 Budget: What you need to know about the Resilience Budget measures

EASIER COMCARE APPLICATIONS

The process of applying for ComCare will be made more flexible for those under quarantine or stay-home notices.

Affected persons do not have to apply for ComCare in person and can do so by submitting supporting documents through email or phone applications like WhatsApp. 

The SSOs will also coordinate with grassroots volunteers to help purchase and deliver groceries to those in quarantine or under stay-home notices with no one else to turn to. 

Households newly placed on ComCare will receive assistance for a longer duration of at least six months. This will be longer for most households, MSF said.

“The longer ComCare duration will provide greater peace of mind to families and individuals whose livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19, as they seek out job or retraining opportunities,” said MSF.

Additionally, Singapore citizens and companies have contributed more than S$5.6 million to a central donation platform dubbed the Courage Fund. 

It will provide a one-time lump sum of up to S$1,000 to help the dependents of those who succumb to the coronavirus; healthcare workers, frontline workers and community volunteers who contract the virus in the course of duty; and lower-income families experiencing financial difficulties as a result of their family member(s) contracting the virus or having to serve quarantine orders, stay-home notices or mandatory Leave of Absence.

Application details will be available on the National Council of Social Service website by the end of March. Eligible lower-income households can apply for the fund at the SSOs from Apr 6.

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MOE: Additional precautionary measures for preschool and primary schools amid rise in Covid-19 cases

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The Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Tuesday (24 March) has issued an advisory on two additional precautionary measures for preschool and primary school students in light of the recent spike in imported cases of Covid-19 in the republic.

Two additional precautionary measures

Students staying in the same household as a person who has returned to Singapore from any country from Wednesday, March 25, 2020, 11.59pm, will be placed on 14-day Leave of Absence (LOA).

Students staying in the same household as a person who had returned to Singapore from the UK, US or ASEAN countries on or after March 14, 2020, will be placed on LOA. The student’s LOA will start from the day the person in the household returned to Singapore.

These measures are in addition to the earlier announced 14-day LOA issued to students and staff of schools, preschools and student care centres if they returned from overseas on or after March 14.

Employers are encouraged to provide flexible work arrangements for their employees to accommodate such exceptional circumstances.

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