Whether you’re a fan of the ruling government or not, you can’t deny the relative success Singapore has had in combatting the effects of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
While other countries scramble to reduce infections and fatalities in a global pandemic that has taken over 7,000 lives, the steps that Singapore took in response to the outbreak has quietly but dramatically caused a drop in the country’s ranking by the number of cases recorded. The city-state is no longer in the top echelons of the list like it was just a mere month ago.
That would have a lot to do with all the things that the Singapore government has done (and done well) since the emergence of Covid-19 cases here. Adlin Zainal, a digital marketing manager currently creating content for a medical blog, has done the research — the results of which she shared on Twitter.
“We regret to inform that a member of our church has been confirmed to have COVID-19 infection and is currently warded in hospital,” said the church’s management team.
The patient, who attended an English service on Mar 15 at 9am in the Cathedral New Sanctuary, had no symptoms of illness and passed precautionary screening, said the church.
The cathedral will be closed from Mar 18 at 11.59pm to Apr 3 at 11.59pm.
The affected premises will be “professionally disinfected” during this period, said the church.
A notice posted on St Andrew’s Cathedral’s community page on Facebook.
Reverend William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore, said that they were “not helping the situation” if masses were resumed.
The Catholic Church in Singapore first suspended mass indefinitely from Feb 14. It also suspended large public events such as formation sessions, retreats and seminars.
As of Tuesday night, 266 people in Singapore have been infected with COVID-19, with 114 fully recovered and discharged from hospital.
Several of the cases have been linked to clusters at the Grace Assembly of God, The Life Church and Missions church and the Church of Singapore (Bukit Timah).
Speculation has been rife that the opposition Workers’ Party (WP) will contest the new Sengkang group representation constituency (GRC) in the next general election. But will we see some fresh faces step up to the plate?
WP deputy treasurer and former member of parliament (MP) Lee Li Lian took to Facebook on March 16 to share pictures of fellow members making their rounds at Sengkang Central, announcing that the party’s twice-weekly house visits would be ramped up to three times a week.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Lim is an associate professor of economics at ESSEC Business School and holds degrees from Harvard University, London School of Economics, University of South Queensland, as well as University of California, Santa Cruz.
SINGAPORE: Local food importers heaved a sigh of relief as their supplies from Malaysia arrived as planned, uninterrupted by the country’s movement control order which kicked in on Wednesday (Mar 18).
However, that is not the case for those in other sectors. From construction to manufacturing, some Singapore businesses are bracing for supply disruptions of key materials during the near two-week shutdown.
The new measures in Malaysia, aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19, bar its citizens from going overseas and foreigners from entering the country from Wednesday until the end of the month. All businesses will also be closed, except for those in essential services such as water, electricity, energy, telecommunications and transport.
This will not affect the flow of goods and cargo, including food supplies, between Singapore and Malaysia, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had said on Tuesday following a discussion with his Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin.
Owners of food businesses were relieved to see their supplies coming through on Wednesday morning, after spending most of Tuesday waiting for some clarity.
Mr Jerry Tan, vice president of the Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association, said: “Everything was very smooth. Farms are still operating (in Malaysia) as food is considered an essential service so supply is more than enough.”
With the situation seemingly back to normal, Mr Tan said he is cancelling some back-up plans, such as getting suppliers from other countries to be on standby.
Mr Lee Boon Cheow, managing director of High Tide Frozen Food, said some imports of fish and seafood did not arrive on Wednesday morning but that was due to a handful of suppliers in Malaysia being unsure about whether they were allowed to enter Singapore.
“Now they understand the situation, supplies of fish and seafood are all back to normal by now,” he told CNA in Mandarin, adding that supplies are “more than enough” to meet demand.
ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint unloading a truck of food supplies from Malaysia to conduct checks (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
The former president of the Singapore Fish Merchants’ General Association also said that Singapore imports less than 20 per cent of its fish from Malaysia. Indonesia and Thailand are the major markets, with the former accounting for about 40 per cent of the Singapore’s fish imports.
“Even with the lockdown, the impact wouldn’t be that big,” he said.
Chicken supplier Toh Thye San Farm told CNA that its farms in Malaysia – more than 10 of them and mainly located in the Simpang Renggam region – will “carry on as per normal”.
Its supply of live broilers from these farms to Singapore for six days a week will also continue uninterrupted, its head of projects Kenny Toh said.
Home-grown food manufacturer Tee Yih Jia (TYJ) has a factory in Johor Bahru and an office in Kuala Lumpur. A spokesperson said while some of its Malaysian employees have applied for leave to be at home with their families, that does not affect its operations there.
As it imports some raw materials from Malaysia into Singapore, the household brand told CNA that its supply chain team from Malaysia was “on the ground to determine the procedural requirements” on Wednesday given that it was the first day of the movement control order.
“TYJ Malaysia is operating to ensure our food products continue to be available in supermarkets and groceries stores,” said the company spokesperson.
A truck transporting pharmaceutical supplies into Singapore (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
Other goods such as pharmaceuticals and infant diapers, have also been allowed into Singapore, although there has been feedback from some companies that trucks containing non-food items have not been allowed through, he said in a Facebook post.
“I am glad to see that the supply of fresh food has not been fully disrupted,” he wrote. “We are monitoring the situation closely and are in touch with our Malaysian counterparts to ensure that food and other supplies will be able to come through to Singapore.”
Nevertheless some Singapore businesses in other sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, are bracing for challenges during the shutdown.
Straits Construction executive director Kenneth Loo said a majority of the precast concrete products used in Singapore are brought in from Malaysia, particularly Johor Bahru.
These products, which range from precast columns, beams to prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) modules, are “critical items” needed in building construction.
“We have some stocks but because these are very bulky components, what we have will last at most a week, depending on project,” said Mr Loo.
Noting that industry players like him were caught off guard by Malaysia’s announcement late on Monday, he said: “There was no clarity about whether supplies will be come until later part of (Tuesday) when we finally got confirmation that it won’t be coming. This is a big concern.”
Mr Loo reckoned that two out of the company’s six projects might have to operate at a slower pace.
“Many of these are bespoke products for individual projects so it’s not as simple to divert it to be done somewhere else,” he told CNA.
“The situation is still very fluid so we can only take it as it comes.”
Renovation works for individual home owners may also be impacted, said an interior designer who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak on behalf of his company.
He said the local market engages many carpenters who work out of workshops in Malaysia.
“Many workers like tilers and others who do up partitions, floors and ceilings are from Malaysia. Their bosses have made arrangements for them to stay in Singapore but carpenters are the bigger problem because their workshops and factories are in Malaysia. There’s no way to bring that over,” he told CNA.
“We will have to wait until the lockdown is over but for two weeks, we won’t be able to do anything in terms of carpentry work.”
His company has since informed around 15 home owners about the problem. Most have been understanding, he said.
But if the nationwide restriction of movements in Malaysia is extended, the company may have to activate contingency plans, such as engaging local carpenters, he added.
In the manufacturing sector, companies depend on Malaysia for a wide range of raw materials, such as cables, chemical, metal plates and wires. Many also have facilities in the country where production is carried out before shifting the products to Singapore for final assembly.
Mr Douglas Foo, president of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), said: “As our members are in a very wide range of industries and scale, the impact of the movement control order has been very different for our members.”
SMF said it is “assured” by how food items and medical supplies have been allowed through the borders of both countries so as not to affect businesses too significantly.
For the rest, most manufacturers will be using existing stocks to continue operations until the end of the month, said Mr Foo.
News of the restricted movement order came as a “nightmare” for one local confinement nanny agency that employs all of its confinement ladies –a woman hired to provide care and guidance for a new mother and her newborn – from Malaysia.
Since the announcement was made on Monday night, Confinement Angels began contacting affected customers and nannies. All 45 confinement ladies who are due to start work over the next two weeks are now in Singapore, with more than half being arranged to stay in hotels, hostels and homes of the agency’s employees.
Meanwhile, 18 of these nannies have moved in earlier with the families they are supposed to assist.
For those who are currently working in Singapore and will end their stints before end-March, arrangements are being made for them to be deployed to another family after a few days’ rest.
“It was a messy and stressful last-minute arrangement, but we managed to overcome it,” said Confinement Angels’ brand and business development in-charge Gilbert Tan.
A one-time payment of up to $300 will be given to about 108,000 workers who lose their jobs or suffer income losses due to the coronavirus outbreak… » READ MORE
SINGAPORE: Most imports of fresh food from Malaysia arrived as normal this morning, with other goods such as medicine and infant diapers also allowed through checkpoints, Minister for Trade and Industry Chun Chun Sing said on Wednesday (Mar 18).
“I am glad to see that the supply of fresh food has not been fully disrupted and most of our wholesalers and retailers managed to receive their goods as per normal since this morning.
“Other goods such as pharmaceuticals and infant diapers have also managed to come through to Singapore,” he said in a Facebook post.
An Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer conducting checks at Woodlands Checkpoint on the food supplies being transported into Singapore (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
Mr Chan’s comments came on the first day of Malaysia’s movement control order, which bars its citizens from going overseas and foreigners from entering the country until the end of March.
Mr Chan said that he also spoke to his Malaysian counterpart, Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali, on Monday afternoon.
“I thanked him for facilitating the flow of goods and supplies into Singapore during this period and told him that we will continue to work closely with Malaysia to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
“We both noted that it is in our mutual interest to ensure that supply chains remain robust and in working order, and agreed that we must maintain confidence in our people and businesses in order to successfully overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19,” he said.
Spoke to HE Chan Chun Sing, Singapore Minister for Trade & Industry this afternoon to discuss the path forward in jointly dealing with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/MrtlEaegb7
Mr Azmin said in a statement that he assured Mr Chan that Malaysia will do its “utmost best” to facilitate the flow of essential goods and supplies, such as fresh food and pharmaceuticals, strictly in accordance with health protocol.
“Thus, we will undertake strategic actions to ensure the health and welfare of workers for mutual benefit,” he said.
Some companies in Singapore have also activated alternative transport arrangements via sea and air freight to bring their goods in from Malaysia.
Mr Chan said Singapore’s economic agencies are working with the companies, in particular those dealing with essential products and services, to minimise disruption to their supply lines.
Mr Chan added that Singapore companies have also managed to secure the necessary accommodation for their Malaysian workers who will be staying in Singapore for the next two weeks to work.
“It must not be an easy decision for them to leave their homes and families to stay in Singapore during this period. We thank the Malaysian workers who decided to make this personal sacrifice to ensure that business operations and essential services can continue in Singapore.”
SINGAPORE – The popular and iconic Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar, which the People’s Association (PA) organises, will not be returning this year, in the light of the coronavirus situation and the need to practise social distancing in public venues.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, a PA spokesman said on Wednesday (March 18) that it is also cancelling the other Hari Raya festive bazaars it usually organises.
“For the well-being and safety of our residents, the PA will not be organising festive bazaars and trade fairs with effect from March 18, 2020. This includes the annual Hari Raya Bazaars organised at Wisma Geylang Serai as well as at Our Tampines Hub and in Woodlands,” said the spokesman.
“As the festive bazaars contribute to the festive mood, we understand that some residents may be disappointed. However, as our bazaars attract large crowds, we have taken the difficult decision not to proceed with these activities.”
The month-long festive bazaars held during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan across the island attract large crowds.
SINGAPORE – Unhappy that fingerprints were found on her kitchen windows, a housewife forced her domestic worker to hit her own teeth with a meat pounder about 50 times as she wanted the maid to lose her teeth.
Ms Yuni Dwi Lestari, 25, did as she was told on Feb 4 last year and could later feel that three teeth in her lower jaw had come loose.
But Singaporean Mun Sau Yeng was still not happy. So she took the mallet-like pounder and struck the maid’s teeth once, chipping a tooth.
This was just one of several acts of abuse that Mun, 40, subjected the maid to between June 2018 and February last year.
Just three days after the incident involving the meat pounder, Mun punched Ms Yuni’s mouth about 10 times. As a result, the maid’s teeth came loose and she started bleeding from her lips.
Mun tormented Ms Yuni yet again about four days later, punching the maid’s left cheek several times.
On Feb 15 last year, the Indonesian called the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE), which was set up in 2016 by the National Trades Union Congress to help distressed workers.
SINGAPORE – Three Facebook users, including opposition politician and lawyer Lim Tean, have been issued correction directions by the Government for alleging that the People’s Association (PA) and residents’ committees (RCs) were involved in the organisation of an event that has emerged as Singapore’s largest coronavirus cluster.
The Protection from Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) office said in a statement on Wednesday (March 18) that the deputy chairman of PA, Mr Chan Chun Sing, has initiated the latest correction order on posts about the Feb 15 Safra Jurong Chinese New Year function that has so far surfaced 45 cases of confirmed Covid-19 infections here.
All three – Mr Lim, “Henryace Ace” and Mr Sebastian Ying – posted or shared links saying the PA and RCs were responsible for the infections linked to the event.
Mr Lim, who is the People’s Voice party chief, did so on both his pages Lim Tean and Tean Lim.
According to the government fact-checking website Factually, the posts alleging PA or RC involvement in the organisation of the Feb 15 event are “entirely false”.
