SINGAPORE: The People’s Action Party (PAP) takes governance and governing Singapore very seriously, and has worked hard to improve the lives of Singaporeans, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Saturday (Jul 27).

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a ministerial community walkabout in Bedok, Mr Heng said PAP leaders “fundamentally disagree” with Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s assertion that there has been an “erosion” of transparency and accountability within the Government.

“We fundamentally disagree with Dr Tan. But of course he is entitled to his opinions just as all Singaporeans are entitled to opinions,” said Mr Heng, who is the PAP’s first assistant secretary-general. 

Dr Tan, leader of the new Progress Singapore Party, said on Friday that “the processes of good governance have gone astray”.

At a press conference to officially introduce his party, the former PAP Member of Parliament had also raised the issue of how Parliament was not the right place to debate the fate of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s house at 38 Oxley Road.

READ: Tan Cheng Bock says new party will be ‘unifying alternative’ for Singapore

“In some ways, Dr Tan contradicted himself. He said that there’s no transparency but at the same time he attacked the fact that the issue of Oxley Road was raised in Parliament,” Mr Heng said on Saturday.

“Now that is transparency, the fact that the Prime Minister was prepared to have this issue debated in Parliament, clarified in Parliament, is a very important aspect of our governance.”

The PAP has proven that it has worked hard for Singaporeans, Mr Heng said, including tackling the challenges that the country faces in a rapidly changing global environment, creating jobs as the economy restructures, as well as taking care of an ageing population.

Mr Heng said many residents he spoke to during the community visit had expressed support for government policies and how they have improved their lives.

READ: 4G leaders must forge ‘renewed bond of trust’ with voters: DPM Heng

“At the end of the day, the test is which party, which group of candidates have better ideas and better ability to deliver results for Singaporeans,” he added.

Mr Heng said Singaporeans are fair-minded, and will look at the quality of ideas and the ability to deliver results when they decide which political party or candidate can best serve them and take Singapore forward.

He noted that Dr Tan has yet to articulate any policies for Singapore.

Echoing Mr Heng’s comments, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said that the PAP is not distracted by other political parties as its focus is to work hard to meet Singaporeans’ needs and to ensure that the country stands out among its competitors. 

“We are not here to worry about politics and what not. That can take care of itself. But if Singapore and Singaporeans are well taken care of, I’m sure Singaporeans will know who to place their trust in,” said Mr Chan, who is PAP’s second assistant secretary-general.

“So let’s start with focusing on the substantive issues that really matter to fellow Singaporeans, and at this point in time, I think, on the minds of most Singaporeans will be the direction of economy and the jobs. Whether, is it election or non-election time, we must make sure that fellow Singaporeans are well taken care of.”

NEW ANCHOR MINISTER AT EAST COAST GRC?

Mr Heng and Mr Chan’s walkabout in Bedok, together with East Coast GRC MP Lim Swee Say, is part of the PAP’s ministerial community visits. So far, party leaders have made 40 of such visits.

Mr Heng said it is not the first time both he and Mr Chan have done a joint walkabout, adding that they have done so twice previously in other GRCs, and will do more if their schedules allow.

East Coast GRC was hotly contested in previous elections.

In the 2015 polls, the PAP won nearly 61 per cent of votes in the GRC, while the Workers’ Party (WP) secured 39 per cent of the votes. In the 2011 General Election, the PAP won 54.8 per cent of the votes, with WP clinching 45 per cent.

With Mr Lim retiring from Cabinet last May, the PAP does not have an anchor minister in East Coast GRC.

When asked if another minister would be deployed to East Coast, Mr Heng declined to share details, saying only that the party will make a decision in time to come.

SINGAPORE: Whenever her 10-year-old son Daniel has his monthly haircut, mum Sara Khafi is always standing by to ensure that an important rule is followed: That his sideburns are not cut — just trimmed a little.

Orthodox Jewish males are not allowed to shave their sideburns. “And very orthodox Jews don’t cut the sideburns at all,” explained Sara, who belongs to Singapore’s Jewish community.

Until the age of three, boys cannot have their hair cut either. This is instructed in the Torah, the Jewish holy writings.

When it is time for National Service, however, Daniel will have to do as his elder brother David did.

“The only time (David) shaved off his sideburns was when he enlisted … He had to shave all his hair off,” their mother recalled with a smile.

There are roughly 2,500 Jewish residents here, from lifelong citizens to those who have made Singapore their home more recently, for example Sara.

The 50-year-old was born in Germany and has been living in Singapore for 30 years, giving birth to five children here.

“People still think we’re tourists because we don’t look Asian. And they don’t want to believe us at first — that we’re from Singapore,” she said. “This is home.”

It has been home to Jews for 200 years, since the first Jewish settlers — originally from Baghdad, Iraq — came via India as traders.

And they continue to integrate while preserving their own cultural identity, as the series Singapore Mosaic illustrates with a peek into the lives of four communities: The Jews, the Parsis, the Arabs and the Armenians. (Watch this episode here.)

HOW THEY EAT

One aspect of the Jewish identity is food, kosher food to be precise. For many Jews, that means following strict dietary laws.

“We don’t eat pork, fish without fins and scales, and our beef and chicken has to be slaughtered differently … We don’t eat the blood of the animal; we let the blood come out,” explained Sara.

“Even if it’s vegetarian (food), do they put any ingredients or preservatives inside that might be from an animal? So all these make it not kosher.”

She buys her products from “all over Singapore”. But for major kosher products like meat, which are difficult to obtain in supermarkets, she goes to the kosher shop in the Jewish community centre at Waterloo Street.

Poultry is slaughtered locally for the community and provided at a “decent and affordable price”, said Chief Rabbi of Singapore Mordechai Abergel. Even finding something like kosher chocolate spread would be a challenge if not for the shop.

Eating kosher, however, goes beyond shopping for the right ingredients; how food is handled is equally important.

“We don’t cook meat and dairy together,” explained Sara, whose kosher kitchen has one sink for meat and another for dairy, as well as two ovens, two fridges and separate utensils for the two kinds of food.

In the multicultural home of Yoni Garbourg, kosher laws are not kept so strictly. The 42-year-old was born in Israel, while his wife Connie was born in China.

“There’s no dinner here without some Asian flavour,” he said at one of their meals, pointing to some kang kong (water spinach) and bok choy (a Chinese cabbage).

Even a traditional Jewish bread like challah can be given a Singaporean twist: Kaya filling, which their children love. “The food in both cultures (Jewish and Asian) is great. So it’s a tasty relationship,” he added with a smile.

KEEPING THE SABBATH

While the Garbourgs are not strictly observant Jews, they “make a better effort” to keep Shabbat, or the Sabbath — from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.

It starts with the lighting of candles, which is traditionally done by the women of the family, and prayers being said. “We try to arrive home earlier on Shabbat, making sure our dinner preparations are finished,” said Yoni.

And while they have more of an Asian diet throughout the week, their Shabbat dinner at home is mostly Jewish, with dishes like matzo ball soup and a stew prepared to his grandmother’s recipe.

Preparations must start early because there should be no cooking on Shabbat itself.

“One of the things observant Jews have in their kosher kitchen is a hotplate … that we turn on before Shabbat,” said Sara. “We cook everything before Shabbat comes and … we’d just warm it up.”

Her adherence to the Jewish day of rest means she also switches off her phone.

“Being a real estate agent in Singapore, I do face challenges, especially when I have a client who’s impatient. I have to make sure my colleague can cover (for me),” she admitted.

“So far, I’ve been lucky. Sometimes my colleagues would say, ‘you’re crazy’, because I might not successfully close a deal, right? But no, I’m Jewish. So I have to do it.”

Her family also does not use electricity on Shabbat, which means “no television with the kids”.

“We get more quality time,” she said. “So it became a habit not to use a digital device. It’s not the end of the world to keep, (for) one day, away from the digital world.”

Even getting to the synagogue is different on Shabbat, as observant Jews do not drive on that day. Fortunately for her family, they are within walking distance of Singapore’s two synagogues.

She is also thankful to her helpers, who help her to “get everything done” on Shabbat. “Many Jews who are even more observant … won’t let the maid do anything for them,” she said.

WHAT THEY SPEAK

As a Jewish mother, Sara feels she also has a responsibility to ensure that her grandchildren will be Jewish. This means her children must first “understand who they are (and) where they came from”, she said.

One way for that to happen is through the Hebrew language. Daniel, for example, attends weekly classes with other Jewish children at the synagogue, where he gets to sing in Hebrew too.

“That gets them more connected to the roots of their Jewish identity,” said his mother. “He’ll then be able to continue his Jewish belief.”

Yoni, too, is making sure his children — three girls and a boy — “feel comfortable” with the language. “They go to my community’s Sunday school, where they get a couple of hours of Hebrew,” he said.

To him, Hebrew is important for “at least saying certain prayers and being able to participate in some of the services”.

His children also go to local schools, where they study Mandarin. “It’s important … because it’s my wife’s culture. And of course, we live in Singapore and in Asia, and it’s important to have Mandarin skills,” he said.

As with food, the family incorporates both parents’ cultures, and it is one of their traditions to sing Happy Birthday in English, Mandarin and Hebrew.

“It’s not either-or. We feel very comfortable bringing them up in both the Chinese and the Jewish way,” said Connie, 40.

“Especially in Singapore, when it’s such a diverse and inclusive culture — different ethnicities, different religions — they blend together. So for us, it’s very easy to be Chinese and Jewish at the same time.”

That includes visiting a Buddhist temple during the Qing Ming festival, and celebrating Chinese New Year. “We have a reunion dinner with friends or family,” said Yoni.

“After our babies were born, we’ve had the 30-day, (full) moon celebrations with our friends. It’s a very Chinese tradition.”

JEWISH ROOTS, SINGAPORE SOIL

Yoni, who runs a technology start-up, has been part of Singapore’s Jewish community for 10 years now. Three of his children were born here.

And even as their life in Singapore embraces a cultural melting pot, part of his Jewish identity was also “created here”.

“It’s funny to hear myself say it, but it’s true,” said the president of the United Hebrew Congregation (Singapore), which comes under the umbrella of progressive Judaism.

“In Israel, one doesn’t need to be too Jewish. You’re surrounded by Jews, it’s just part of life, and you don’t need to make a conscious decision to participate.

“When I first got here, I wasn’t looking for synagogues (nor) Jewish landmarks. It wasn’t the first thought in my mind. In fact, I was happily surprised that there was Jewish infrastructure here.”

He called the Chesed-El Synagogue, in Oxley Rise, a “beautiful edifice” and an “awesome national monument”. They would also go to the Maghain Aboth Synagogue at Waterloo Street on Friday nights.

And in the Central Business District, where he and his wife worked, one of the roads was Synagogue Street, he pointed out. In the east, Meyer Road was named after one of Southeast Asia’s wealthiest merchants, Jewish philanthropist Manasseh Meyer.

“It feels as if I’m surrounded by Jewish street names and Jewish monuments. It took me coming to Singapore to really find my Jewish roots and my Jewish soul,” said Yoni.

Every year, there is also a Jewish community celebration at Sentosa, and he finds it “marvellous” how they are “free to congregate in a big way and … celebrate freely”.

It is something that strikes Sara too. For example, in Europe, she would not allow Daniel to wear the kippah, the cap that Jewish males wear, so publicly.

“Whereas here, it’s fine,” she said. “We don’t feel any threat or any anti-Semitism that we feel in other countries.”

The Jewish community here has never been big, but their cultural heritage continues to be part of the Singapore mosaic.

For Yoni and Connie, who have “moved around a lot”, this is the longest they have lived in one place. “And we’ve made it our home now,” he said.

As has Sara’s family. Recalling the day her son David finished NS, she said: “We were proud to be part of Singapore. It was a special moment. I think that made him feel he belongs here.”

Younger brother Daniel is already finding that “growing up here is special”, even if being Jewish is “very hard because we have to keep many laws”.

“(What) I love best in Singapore is that there are so many cultures,” he said. “So we can tell them, ‘Oh, we’re Jewish. Oh, I’m Indian. Oh, I’m Muslim.’ And it just all goes together.”

Watch this episode of Singapore Mosaic here. The second part of the series airs on Sunday, July 28, at 9pm.

SINGAPORE: The commentary “As time runs out on the climate crisis, Singapore prepares to address the cost of adapting” adopts the kind of urgent language appropriate to the climate crisis we are facing now. 

It emphasises the importance of adaptation measures, which lower the risks posed by the consequences of climatic changes. One such example is recent measure to build Changi Airport Terminal 5 5.5 metres above mean sea level to deal with rising sea levels.

It is highly disappointing, however, that it downplays the pressing need to adopt more substantial mitigating measures that address root causes, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

The commentary notes that the question of mitigation in Singapore has been far simpler and less politically fraught than in other countries, and that Singaporeans have already worked towards more climate-friendly consumption patterns. 

This obscures a few important facts about mitigation, unlike what the commentary posits, as the cost of climate change mitigation is very much “inextricably linked to political to political questions of cost, economic restructuring, decline and job losses”.

LOOK AT INDUSTRY’S ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Firstly, the source of much of Singapore’s emissions is not consumers, but industry. 

As Singapore’s Energy Statistics indicate, of 2016’s total final energy consumption of 14,714.6 kilotonne of oil equivalent (ktoe), over 65 per cent (9,670.3 ktoe) was consumed by industry, far dwarfing the 5 per cent (739.2 ktoe) from household consumption and less than 18 per cent (2,587.1 ktoe) from transport.

Furthermore, Singapore’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution states that a reduction of 36 per cent in Emissions Intensity (EI) from 2005 levels is intended by 2030.

As EI is measured by greenhouse gas emissions per dollar of GDP, this means that Singapore’s emissions could continue to rise during this period, as long as our GDP continues to grow. 

This contradicts the recommendations of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report on 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, a consensus of the best available scientific evidence, which makes it crystal clear that mitigation is necessary. 

According to the report, global emissions need to be cut in half by 2030 and reach net-zero in 2050 in order to stay below 1.5 degrees of warming and avoid the worst consequences of global warming to human life.

READ: The ocean is changing – it’s getting more acidic, a commentary

Singapore, on the other hand, rather than mitigating total absolute emissions, is actively growing them. 

For a commentary that calls for us to be clear-eyed in our assessment, it is a shame that its argument is ultimately detached from these realities.

TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT DIRTY INDUSTRIES

Secondly, if we are to be serious about the climate crisis, we should not overlook the need to engage in much more substantial mitigation measures that address the root causes of carbon emissions. 

This includes focusing on the emissions of the dirtier industries, such as the oil and gas industry where Singapore plays host to one of the world’s largest petrochemical complexes that also contributes to the majority of emissions from industry as at 2014, according to the Government’s most recent published statistics in the Biennial Update Report to the UN Framework on Climate Change Convention.

This is not to say that adaptation, which is the focus of the Government’s existing efforts, is not important. 

In fact, mitigation and adaptation need to come hand-in-hand. 

As philosopher Dale Jamieson has pointed out, adaptation without mitigation is futile. This is because the less mitigation is done, the worse warming will be, and the more adaptation will be required. 

Reducing emissions to remain within 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming gives adaptation measures higher chances of success. Indeed, failure to mitigate might bring climate beyond tipping points, from which it might not even be possible for us to adapt.

SINGAPORE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM

Thirdly, while it is true that Singapore only represents a small proportion of global emissions, we should not pretend that we are not part of the problem. 

A study by the Carnegie Institution for Science’s Steven Davis and Ken Caldeira published in 2010 showed that Singapore ranked in the top three countries for net imported emissions per capita and consumption emissions per capita. 

In addition, being a small nation has not kept Singapore from tackling ambitious challenges such as social housing and smart city planning, with our successful outcomes modelled as positive policy examples by the global community. 

READ: Climate change needs better storytelling to address severe threats, a commentary

Reducing emissions at the scale and speed required could also bolster our expertise offering to other developing cities in the region and be a new opportunity to demonstrate to the world a Singaporean model of true sustainability. 

In order to bring about the collective understanding and meaningful action the commentary calls for, these are the facts we must first be clear-eyed about.

The authors are volunteers with 350 Singapore, a grassroots group that aims to inspire the public, policymakers, and industry to get Singapore on track to a world within 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, through a just transition to a net-zero carbon future by 2050.

SINGAPORE: The number of reported fires involving power-assisted bicycles (PAB) and personal mobility devices (PMDs) has more than doubled in the first half of 2019, compared to the same period last year.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post on Friday (Jul 26) that there were a total of 54 reported fires involving such mobility devices from January to June this year.

That is more than double compared to the same period last year, when there were 24 such reported fires.

“The number of such fires in residential premises in the first half of 2019 increased to 36, with 31 people injured, from 23 fires in the same period in 2018 where 11 people were injured,” SCDF added.

READ: LTA to review deadline for PMD safety certificate after spate of fire incidents

READ: Preventing PMD fires: Tips on charging your device safely

SCDF said the majority of PAB and PMD-related fires involved lithium-ion batteries, and occurred while the batteries were being charged or shortly after they had been fully charged.

“Fires can result from faulty electrical circuitry in batteries that causes short circuiting or overheating, and the risk of this increases with over-charging. Users of PABs or PMDs should be vigilant when charging their devices, as improper charging methods or use of unapproved equipment can endanger lives and damage property,” the force said.

READ: Dozens evacuated after PMD sparks fire in Ang Mo Kio flat

READ: Fire breaks out in Tampines flat as PMD battery was being charged: SCDF

SCDF added that the overall fire situation in Singapore remains safe and the number of fire incidents remains stable.

“PAB and PMD fires continue to form a small percentage of the total number of fire incidents, with 2,231 fire incidents in the first half of this year,” the force said.

SINGAPORE: Pathlight School, an autism-focused institution, will open its second permanent campus in 2023, announced Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah on Friday (Jul 26).

The new campus at Tampines Street 91 will be able to take in 500 primary level students, helping the Ministry of Education (MOE) meet demand for places in special education schools.

Pathlight, which started operations in 2004 with just 41 students, now has about 1,400 primary, secondary and vocational-track students.

The school currently has one permanent campus at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 that caters to Primary 1 and 2 students, and an interim campus at Ang Mo Kio Stree 44 that caters to Primary 3 to 6 students.

The interim campus will remain open even after the new permanent facility begins operations in January 2023.

Ms Indranee said that the location of the new campus – which used to house East View Primary School – was chosen based on the geographical distribution of Pathlight’s current demand and the site’s proximity to mainstream schools such as Junyuan Primary and St Hilda’s Primary.

“In deciding where to site special education schools and campuses, one very important consideration that we take into account is whether the location will facilitate interaction with mainstream schools,” said Ms Indranee.

“This is important because such interaction and integration will give our youth a better understanding of special needs and equip them to interact with each other,” she added.

The new campus will also feature an indoor sports hall, computer labs and specialised facilities to cater to the students’ needs, including a daily living skills room and therapy rooms. 

Speaking at the launch of Professor Brawn Cafe, Pathlight’s first inclusive worksite, Ms Indranee cited research conducted by the National Council of Social Service, noting that persons with disabilities who are employed have a better quality of life.

READ: New guide launched to help firms integrate workers with special needs

“That is true for anyone, but more so for a person with an invisible disability like autism, as they can be frequently misunderstood or excluded,” said Ms Indranee.

“A person with a special need or a disability is no different from any other person in terms of having hopes, aspirations and feelings,” she added.

The cafe, located at Pathlight’s Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 campus, will be open to the public from Saturday.

President of the Autism Resource Centre and MP Denise Phua said: “As a school, we know the importance of literacy, numeracy and vocational skills. Equally important, is a set of transferable skills that are useful for all jobs and across industries.”

Highlighting skills such as managing work expectations, customer needs, stamina, pace and quality standards, and hygiene and emotional management, Ms Phua added: “Once these work habits are cultivated from young, the chances of landing a job and keeping it are then much higher.” 

READ: A social network for Singapore’s special needs community? There may soon be an app for that

Pathlight principal Linda Koh said that the cafe seeks to provide an authentic work experience for the students.

“The fact that the cafe’s workforce comprises staff on the autism spectrum is testament to our belief that with training and support, many people on the autism spectrum and other special needs can work.”

The cafe will provide training for up to 50 students each year. On-site job training is incorporated into the school curriculum for students in the final year of the vocational track. 

There are also plans to extend this to Secondary 3 and 4 students preparing to take O-Levels at Pathlight. 

Similar inclusive worksites and open community spaces will also be a feature at the new campus.

Mdm Violet Poh, parent of a Pathlight alumnus, said her son has benefited greatly from Pathlight’s support. 

Her son Chester, now 19, recently graduated with a diploma in visual communications from Singapore Polytechnic and will be enlisting for National Service in October. 

READ: Helping disabled and disadvantaged cooks find the opportunity to showcase their skills

Chester’s artworks have been turned into products that are now on sale at the Arts Faculty shop next to Professor Brawn Cafe. 

“My son loves to draw, and at Pathlight, they always look out for what they have, their talents. So it was developed and it was encouraged, and now I see his drawings selling as products.

“When he got his first cheque, he was really very happy. It’s not about the money. He’s able to work and gain income for himself, which is what Professor Brawn is about. It’s not just a cafe that serves food. It’s actually hope for all parents like me.”

SINGAPORE: More than 700 students from four special education schools will learn how to make e-payments, use emails and online chats by next year, as basic digital skills are incorporated into their academic curriculum.

The students with mild intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder are from the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) Delta Senior School, APSN Tanglin School, Grace Orchard School and Metta School. 

The initiative follows positive feedback from a pilot conducted earlier this year involving 70 students, said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Friday (Jul 26). 

Principal of Grace Orchard School Lisa Goh said the skills have enabled students to be more independent. “They will be able to access government websites – where they can book amenities. They can also buy their groceries online and actually access the community more than they are able to do now,” she added.

“If they don’t catch up with this, if they are not taught … I think as a nation moving to Smart Nation, they will be even more left out.”

A virtual reality game will also be introduced, to help students learn about setting strong passwords, identifying fake news and managing cyberbullies. 

It will be offered at APSN Tanglin School for a start, and other interested schools can apply to IMDA to have the programme included.

These were among the initiatives announced by Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran on Friday at the launch of a three-day festival on digital inclusion at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar.

Mr Iswaran said technology has allowed people to do a lot more, and access to technology is a key determinant of the quality of life. 

“It falls upon us all therefore to make sure that every Singaporean is able to enjoy the benefits brought by technology, and to help everyone to be digitally ready, especially our seniors and persons with disabilities,” he said.

“Building a digitally ready society is not just about ensuring that technology is accessible to all. It is also about equipping people with the skills to use the technology in ways that will enrich their lives.”

At Friday’s event, 40 seniors also received certificates for their completion of a digital course by TOUCH Cyber Wellness, Facebook and IMDA, where they picked up skills such as scanning QR codes and making e-payments. 

Participant Chew Poh Ngee, 71, said learning to master applications like WhatsApp has made it easier for him to stay in touch with friends and family. “WhatsApp is much easier than talking, can send pictures and videos,” he said.

Other initiatives announced at the event include a collaboration between IMDA and CreativesAtWork, called STOREYS. The project calls on independent content creators to submit videos on the community, elderly, the environment, family, youth or the underprivileged. With the theme “Framing a Better Home”, the aim is to use digital platforms to drive meaningful conversations on these issues.

The three-day IMDA Digital Inclusion Festival 2019 is expected to draw 15,000 Singaporeans.