Given the similar coronavirus prevalence rates in Singapore and Hong Kong and their proven capacities for testing and contact tracing, there are “no better two geographies” that can start a travel bubble in a bid to revive their stalled economies.
This was the reaction of health care expert Dr Jeremy Lim to Thursday’s official announcements that Singapore and Hong Kong have agreed to a travel bubble that will allow leisure travel for almost all their residents without the need for quarantines or a controlled itinerary.
Lim, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said the risk of either economy importing the virus could occur through such a bubble, but that the possibility must be balanced with the economic benefits of restarting travel and connectivity.
Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases expert at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, described the travel bubble as a “calculated gamble”, but added that the current environment was ripe for such a plan and that its success was a matter of putting the right virus-detection procedures in place.
SINGAPORE: To gauge the temperature of a body of water, dip your toes in or run your fingers over the surface before you take the plunge.
Just like you would usually look before you leap, it is generally ill-advised to reveal more personal details about one’s life before you get to know someone better.
Such details, unfortunately, include the condition of one’s mental health.
It’s important to normalise talk about mental health, but discussing yours so early in the dating process seems akin to throwing the other party overboard into the sea without warning – then expecting them to swim.
Not only might you face a range of unwanted reactions, from pity to uneasiness, ironically you might even end up having to comfort the person you’re disclosing yourself to.
WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY
But if the last half a year of unprecedented uncertainty revealed anything, it’s the urgent need to start talking about our mental health, from daily anxieties to more severe diagnoses.
In Singapore, national helplines were set up for anyone needing assistance with mental wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing economic recession, so they could speak to trained personnel.
In addition, Beyond the Label’s mental health awareness month from Sep 19 to Oct 30 has ignited an increase in social media conversations. Some public figures discussed their own mental health, while others participated in the 25-day #pushupchallenge to raise awareness about mental illness.
On Oct 10, we celebrated World Mental Health Day – a day that felt extra significant amidst unparalleled anxiety about our future.
But our discourse around mental health progresses when we can move beyond discussing it at a policy level, and begin talking about it casually and candidly in our everyday interactions and relationships.
One in seven people in Singapore will be experiencing a mental health condition in their lifetimes. (File photo: TODAY/Nuria Ling)
In the dating scene, however, this can feel particularly nerve wracking.
MIND GAMES WORSEN MENTAL HEALTH
Those of us who’ve had the fortune, or misfortune, of using a dating app understand the dating industry is propped up by a cycle of approval and rejection, only fuelling our insecurities and, in some cases, affecting our mental health.
Figuring out when to touch on vulnerable issues, like a complicated family background or a previous abusive relationship, remains one of the most crucial milestones in any relationship.
But faced with potential commitment to a shared future that requires intimate conversations, some might choose to bail.
That is the reason a new local dating app that’s launching later in the year, Lovenn, aims to foster an “honest” dating culture through a premise that encourages users to “share their criteria, deal-breakers and imperfections right at the start before matching”.
I have my doubts, but as many say, a cynic is just a disappointed romantic.
(Photo: rawpixel / Unsplash)
Speaking with founder and CEO Vernice Yap, she shares that the app allows users to “appreciate mutual fundamental compatibility beyond just physical attraction” and normalises sharing imperfections, resulting in “an environment that’s safer for everyone’s mental health”.
This might seem ideal to weed out the ones who would take issue with the state of your mental health eventually. But being more vulnerable than usual before you even know the other person requires radical courage and faith.
It’s like diving into the deep end not knowing if you’d sink or swim.
BUILDING TRUST
The average person probably doesn’t discuss mental health upfront because they don’t want to be pitied, patronised, dismissed or discriminated against, thanks to the stigma attached even to more “common” conditions like depression.
Yet, if we foresee a future with the other party, we must risk diving deep before it’s catastrophically too late.
The trick is having the tools to navigate the choppy seas, lest it doesn’t pay off.
Basic trust is the most essential tool, but it requires time and shared experiences.
The danger of discussing vulnerable topics from the start is that some might use these issues as a way to create that trust, inadvertently conflating emotional intimacy with emotional intensity. The latter forces a connection that is “too fast, too soon”, potentially making others feel extra uncomfortable.
Violet Lim, co-founder of Lunch Actually, likens building trust to filling an emotional bank account.
“When we first meet someone, the emotional bank account is at zero. As you share positive things, you build up the account. When the account is full enough, you can start drawing from it,” she explains.
“You don’t want to empty it at the start. You need to build a strong foundation – let someone know your other personality traits. Eventually, when you start sharing about your mental health, there’s a higher chance they’d say, ‘It’s okay, I already know you.’”
(Photo: Unsplash/Priscilla du Preez)
In this case, mutual trust is necessary to ensure you’re seen as a multidimensional human being, who won’t be reduced to your mental health condition if you decide to open up.
TESTING THE WATERS
Once basic trust is established, and you sense that you and your partner might be ready to get more serious, the first step is to test the waters.
“The bottom five per cent of our lives are things you’d reveal only to those closest to you. Share the bottom 20 per cent, see how they react, then go deeper if their reaction is okay,” says Lim.
Alternatively, try disclosing mental conditions by sharing how specific symptoms manifest, such as having a depressed mood makes it hard to feel enthusiastic about activities sometimes, rather than using the label or diagnosis to begin the conversation.
This can be even more important if your symptoms might not present themselves explicitly.
“For example, people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) might find it less helpful to use the label because people tend to have a certain negative impression of BPD,” says Andrea Chong, a senior clinical psychologist from the Institute of Mental Health.
Instead, reveal your condition by sharing the things that you might struggle with in relationships, such as fear of abandonment or heightened insecurity in certain situations, she suggests.
If all else fails, my personal favourite is opting for self-deprecating humour.
A viral tweet goes: “I love when guys on dating apps ask, ‘How is a gorgeous girl like you single?’ I’m mentally ill, Brandon.” I, for one, have saved a screenshot for future purposes.
GO SLOW, BE PATIENT
Once you’ve laid your cards on the table, however, the other party might call it quits. While rejection might sting, it’s a better outcome than keeping significant information under wraps, especially if your condition tends to reveal itself over time.
(Photo: Unsplash/Nathan Walker)
For example, explains Chong, someone with social anxiety would have difficulty in social settings and someone on long-term medication might show visible side effects.
If the other party doesn’t know how to respond initially, it shouldn’t be an indication of how much they value you.
“Many people aren’t equipped to handle these situations. Just because they can’t offer the emotional support we want at first, doesn’t mean they don’t love us,” says Lim.
If they appear to be overwhelmed, Chong recommends checking in with them, asking if it’s too much information, letting them know you’re ready to answer any questions or that you can revisit the issue at a later date.
It’s also helpful to let them know they’re not expected to ‘fix’ you or be their pseudo-therapist.
The most important thing isn’t that they offer unconditional acceptance and understanding from the start, but that they’re willing to try getting there.
This effort doesn’t just indicate support, but reflects open-mindedness – a trait that’s crucial in building a long-term relationship regardless of mental health.
Even though the deep end might be occasionally frightening, having someone tread water with you keeps you from drowning. One day, you might even learn to swim.
SINGAPORE: Following the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year, cities around the world moved swiftly to mandate working from home.
In Singapore, the Government strongly encouraged employers to let employees stay at home to work when the country raised its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to orange in February to minimise interactions and the transmission of the virus.
It later made it mandatory to do so as a default where possible, when the circuit breaker measures were introduced in April.
The rationale for working from home (WFH) is clear. Offices tend to be densely populated with people in close proximity. Prior to COVID-19, it wasn’t a habit in most countries, including Singapore, to wear a mask if one had the sniffles, and employees might go to work despite feeling unwell.
A 2013 study by The University of Arizona showed germs can spread from a person’s hands to the surfaces of an office in four hours. These include common high touch spots like table tops, lift buttons, coffee machines and refrigerator handles.
Another study from the Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health published this year revealed employees working in open-plan workspaces face a 12 per cent higher risk of sick leave than those with their own offices.
While there are differing scientific views around the transmission of COVID-19 through the air, various cases suggest it can spread through smaller droplets carried in the form of aerosols. This has led to increased consideration of fresh air flow since most modern offices use central air-conditioning systems.
Office workers at Raffles Place in Singapore. (File photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
Given that many of us spend around eight hours a day at work and interact frequently with colleagues, it was clear that emptying workplaces could help slow the spread of the virus. This was particularly critical in the early weeks when cases spiked.
However, avoiding the office is not seen as a sustainable long-term solution. Instead, what is key is to keep the office safe and healthy to minimise transmission.
The jury is still out on the full impact of prolonged WFH, but it’s clearly having adverse effects on businesses such as restaurants and services that cater to the office crowd.
Moreover, for some industries, the need to access on-site workstations containing sensitive information rules out WFH.
Others may find in-person collaboration much more productive. Even tech firms such as Netflix, which boasts a flexible work culture, has seen its CEO, Reed Hastings, recently point out that “not being able to get together in person … is a pure negative”.
As much as WFH may improve work-life-balance for some, many surveys including one by National University Health System’s (NUHS) Mind Science Centre, have shown that over a prolonged period, the toll on mental health can be significant, with increased anxiety and stress due to the blurring of personal and professional boundaries.
As part of Phase 2 of Singapore’s reopening, the Multi-Ministry Task Force has encouraged firms to have workers return to workplaces since end-September but with safeguards in place. We have not yet defeated the COVID-19 threat so firms that do so must focus on providing the safest office achievable with necessary measures.
Much will rely on offices maintaining a clean environment, beyond adhering to minimal standards set by government guidelines.
(Photo: Unsplash/Melissa Jeanty)
Encouraging employees to practice good hygiene and exercise social responsibility can make the biggest difference. The same research by The University of Arizona reveals the spread of germs in the office can be mitigated through regular cleaning of high touch surfaces, frequent washing of hands, and the use of sanitisers and cleaning wipes.
Implementing these changes can reduce the risk of infection to less than 10 per cent compared to a 40 to 90 per cent risk without them.
Small nudges can shift behaviour. At JLL’s Asia Pacific quarters in Singapore, for instance, safe distancing notices are placed at work stations and in common areas like the pantry and meeting rooms. Cleaning kits are placed in meeting rooms for employees to disinfect areas.
Capacity has also been reduced by temporarily removing 50 per cent of seating and adopting split-team arrangements, as are mandated under the Safe Management Measures issued by the Manpower Ministry, NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation.
Safety management officers have also been appointed to conduct regular inspections and ensure health and safety measures are strictly adhered to.
Landlords and owner-occupiers must assess their buildings and technical systems for compliance with safe distancing enforcement and regular surface cleaning. But it’s the small, specific touches that minimise contact along the journey from the front door to the office.
We have worked with clients and their buildings to recalibrate lift control to increase travel speed for a shorter travelling time and increased capacity, since social distancing limits the number of passengers in the lift.
Technology can also enable us to gather data to monitor the environment and enable quick response when a case of COVID-19 has been detected.
(Photo: Unsplash/Arisa Chattasa)
In Shanghai’s Baoland Plaza, a grade A office complex in the city, the owner installed equipment to obtain real-time data and employed wireless IoT sensors to monitor air quality, temperature, humidity and energy consumption.
PAY ATTENTION TO VENTILATION AND COMMON SURFACES
Offices must also be well-ventilated, with high efficiency filters, ultra-violet light technologies that kill micro-organisms, or simply have the ability to open windows, to send out airborne particles as frequently as possible and pipe in fresh outdoor air.
The pandemic has led Singapore’s Building Construction Authority to review its policies on air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation. Newer buildings may already have such air quality controls in place, for example, the upcoming Guoco Midland is equipped with an advanced air filtration system to filter up to 95 per cent of air pollutants and eradicate pathogens through UV germicidal irradiation.
Ultraviolet light systems can also be used on escalator handrails as a continuous disinfection process. Singapore-based Capitaland has installed an automated UV handrail disinfection device at Capital Tower and Galaxis.
Similarly, there is a growing move towards contactless access in buildings through the use of smart phone applications and destination control elevator systems.
The hospitality industry is leading the way in this respect through digital check-ins and mobile keys. More office buildings and companies are beginning to adopt workplace apps to do the same.
Business leaders and corporate real estate professionals are increasingly aware that buildings can help serve as the first line of defence against illnesses, as Dr Joe Allen, Healthy Buildings Director, Harvard University School of Public Health puts it.
There is a greater interest in and desire for certifications such as the WELL Building Standard, the industry’s leading health-focused global benchmark for buildings globally, which offers an actionable framework and strategies to guide corporate occupiers and building owners alike to achieve healthy environments.
In fact, the National University of Singapore’s School of Design and Environment is leading the way, as the first building in Singapore and first university in the world to achieve WELL Certified Gold last year, for meeting all 10 targets such as air, light, thermal comfort that support human health.
The real estate industry has been moving towards healthier and more sustainable offices for some time. What must now happen is an acceleration of that movement, so that companies can continue to focus on the health and safety of their people – their greatest asset.
The CNA Leadership Summit 2020: Navigating the Post-Pandemic World will discuss through a series of TV programmes and webinars how businesses and organisations have reacted to the pandemic and applied innovative practices.
SINGAPORE: The Government is prepared to ask President Halimah Yacob for approval to draw further on the country’s past reserves if necessary, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said in Parliament on Thursday (Oct 15).
Rounding up a two-day debate on the Government’s strategy to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis, Mr Heng said there is “profound uncertainty” on the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact.
“We must act early and decisively to support our workers and businesses when needed, so I am prepared to propose to the President a further draw on our past reserves should it be necessary for us to do so,” said Mr Heng in response to a question by Bukit Panjang MP Liang Eng Hwa.
The Government has drawn an unprecedented S$52 billion from the reserves as part of the almost S$100 billion it has committed to COVID-19 support measures this year.
In the medium to longer term, Singapore’s approach is to “adapt and find new ways to generate growth”, said Mr Heng, who is also the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies.
“We must work hard to get ourselves back in a position where our economy is growing and we can build up reserves for the future again,” he said, describing this as the “sustainable and prudent” way forward.
Even as the Government works to support residents through this difficult period, Mr Heng said it needs to be more circumspect when it comes to using more reserves due to the greater uncertainties ahead.
“First, the global economy and financial system will be more volatile. The build-up of debt globally introduces instability in the financial system, which can lead to or exacerbate crises,” he said.
Mr Heng also pointed to the increasing risk of geopolitical conflicts and deglobalisation, as well as the risk of another possible serious international epidemic.
“I am sure we all want Singapore to be here for the long haul. As long as Singapore continues to exist, the question is not whether there will be an externally induced crisis, but when,” he said.
“If we spend more or even all the returns from our reserves annually, future generations will likely have a smaller buffer in a world of greater uncertainty,” he added.
“We must therefore ensure that we continue to spend within our means and hand over to our children more than what we inherited from our previous generations.”
STRENGTHENING SINGAPORE’S FISCAL TOOLKIT
Mr Heng noted that the latest support package is being funded entirely by budget reallocation, with the Government doing an “extensive scan” of each ministry’s budget to identify possible deferments or reductions in expenditure.
Some expenditure – such as those for MRT lines or upgrading of Housing Board estates – were deferred because of delays due to “circuit breaker” measures and the need to ensure that the construction sector reopens safely. Other expenditures were lower than projected due to COVID-19 and safe distancing measures, he said.
However, most of this is merely delayed spending, which will still be incurred in the future, the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that Singapore will push ahead with critical projects.
“These projects are needed to raise Singaporeans’ standard of living and our economic development. We will push ahead when the conditions allow,” he said.
Singapore’s fiscal situation will get tighter, with revenues likely to be subdued and uncertain in the medium term, Mr Heng warned.
He pointed to a global economic growth that is likely to remain weakened in the coming years, as well as an intensified global competition for tax revenue.
“Many advanced economies have accumulated more debt to fund their COVID-19 responses, which they will need to repay,” he said.
“There is added impetus globally to push for ‘re-allocation’ of taxing rights under the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project, or BEPS in short,” he said, referring to the initiative by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the G20 to revamp international corporate taxation.
“Even as we contend with these revenue challenges, we cannot lose sight of our goal to secure the long-term needs of Singapore,” he said, pointing to the expected increased spending on healthcare and pre-school education in the future.
Singapore is studying how to strengthen its “fiscal toolkit” to ensure its financial security, he said.
“Even before COVID-19 struck, we have explained that we are looking into borrowing for major long-term infrastructure. This will help to spread out the hefty upfront costs equitably across current and future generations who will benefit from such investments,” he said, describing Singapore’s approach as “principled and prudent”.
The country will only borrow for infrastructure that will benefit multiple generations, and ensure that its debt level and future repayments are sustainable, he explained.
“We will not borrow just to make up for revenue shortfalls or be opportunistic in timing the market,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat speaking in Parliament on Oct 15, 2020.
GST INCREASE CANNOT BE INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
For recurrent spending like healthcare and education that benefits the current generations, “the responsible way is to pay for them using what we earn”, through recurrent revenues like taxes, said Mr Heng.
“This discipline ensures that every generation earns and pays its share,” he added.
Noting that several MPs had asked about the planned increase in the GST rate to 9 per cent, Mr Heng said he had announced earlier this year that the GST will remain at 7 per cent in 2021.
The increase, however, cannot be deferred indefinitely, he said, pointing to the need to support future needs in healthcare and pre-school education.
“We will continue to study the timing of increasing the GST rate carefully, taking into account the pace of our economic recovery, our revenue outlook and how much spending we can defer to later years, without jeopardising our long-term needs,” he said.
GST collections this year are projected to be down by 14 per cent from initial estimations before the start of the year, he said, adding this is due to travel disruptions and the impact of the circuit breaker period.
“We expect collections to continue to be lower than usual until international travel recovers fully, which we expect to be at least a couple of years away.”
The Government remains committed to helping people manage the impact of the GST rate increase, Mr Heng said, pointing to the S$6 billion Assurance Package aimed at cushioning the impact of the increase.
Responding to Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai’s suggestion to shelve the increase indefinitely, Mr Heng noted that more than 60 per cent of the net GST comes from foreigners living here, tourists and the top 20 per cent of resident households.
Any indefinite shelving of the GST increase would mean losing additional revenue from these groups that could be used to improve the lives of Singaporeans, Mr Heng said.
He also responded to Sengkang GRC MP Louis Chua, who had asked how the draw on reserves would impact the Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC).
“Yes, there will be some impact to NIRC but the design of the NIR (Net Investment Returns) framework is to provide a stable, sustainable source of income to our budget, smoothed out over market cycles,” he said, in response to the Workers’ Party (WP) MP.
“This means that when the projected returns and value of the net asset base goes down, we do not see an immediate proportionate decrease in NIRC,” said Mr Heng.
In the same way, in periods of sharp spikes in the market and asset values go up, we do not see an immediate increase and overspend.”
In cases where a firm’s potential failure due to the COVID-19 crisis would significantly impact Singapore’s competitiveness or national security, Mr Heng said he could not rule out the possibility of the Government taking action to ensure such “strategic capabilities” are preserved.
“The exact form of support will depend on the circumstances. But the bar for any Government action will be high. The Government will also exercise prudence and ensure public funds are well used,” he said.
Responding to a question from WP’s Aljunied GRC MP Gerald Giam on whether the Government plans to return the money drawn from the reserves, Mr Heng noted there is no legal obligation for the Government to do so under the Constitution.
“Rather, it is about having the moral obligation and sense of duty to current and future generations, and the recognition that we are stewards of our reserves which have not come by easily,” he said.
“It is not possible for me to be definitive on how long it will take for us to build up sufficient surpluses to make up the S$52 billion,” he added.
“I would like to remind everyone that the COVID-19 crisis is not over. The scars it will leave on our economy and the global economy are still unknown. But I can say that it will not be two years, and I certainly hope it will not take us 50 years.
“How long it will take also depends on the choices we make as a country and Government – whether we continue to manage our resources prudently. We remain committed to running a broadly balanced budget over each term of Government, and we will assess the viability of returning the amount drawn, depending on our fiscal position.”
SINGAPORE: The morning of his 38th birthday found Mr Lim Zi Yuan barefoot and with a newly purchased red bucket by his side.
“We did Lazarus Island and Kusu (Island) on Tuesday, we went to Coney Island yesterday … so it’s really end-to-end of Singapore,” said Mr Lim, when I asked him why he and his wife had decided to drive down to Sembawang Hot Spring Park from his home in Farrer Park.
“We thought we would come at this odd hour, when it was warmer but we were caught by surprise by the number of people.”
Mr Lim Zi Yuan and Ms Ng Pei Yin pose for a photograph. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
He wasn’t the only one who was surprised.
Our penultimate day of walking around the island had seen us reach the hot springs at about 10am. And what would be more rewarding than soaking our battered, blistered and bruised feet in the steaming water of the hot spring?
Well, we had to get in line first. It might have been the middle of the morning on a weekday, but the chatter of conversation that emanated from within the park as we entered was a clear sign that we wouldn’t be alone.
Having reopened earlier this year, the 1.1-hectare park is clearly a hit, with the cascading pool the most popular spot in the park. Water cools naturally as it flows down a four-tiered pool, starting at 70 degrees Celsius at the top and reaching the bottom at 40 degrees Celsius.
The cascading pool at Sembawang hot springs park. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
I had to bide my time though, before being able to slide into a spot on the perimeter of the pool.
Bliss. Well, first some pain as I nearly scalded my feet – but soon after, that – bliss.
The park is another example of a (somewhat) hidden gem lurking in Singapore, which perhaps many people have yet to experience. If you want to try something different, it’s well worth it.
THE NEVER ENDING ROAD
First came the pleasure, but next was the pain. We had a stretch of about 15km that awaited us between the hot springs and our next major pitstop – Sungei Buloh wetlands reserve.
We’d mentally geared ourselves up for this one. There would be little to see, but much to walk. As we ticked off MRT stations on the North-South line, things seemed to be going well.
But as the sun blazed and our muscles ached, the walk became a trudge. We started to see a change in the landscape as HDB blocks slowly disappearing into the distance, and in their place sprung up construction sites.
A stretch of road near Kranji Reservoir Park. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)
We passed dormitories and factories, excavators and lorries – a side of Singapore seldom seen and usually forgotten.
And yet, even as the heat and monotony threatened to take their toll, my mind started to wander. All these factories and industrial facilities have a tale to tell, and I couldn’t help thinking of what they show about Singapore’s history.
For instance, there were construction companies which looked like they had been around for decades, and which must have played a part in Singapore’s development since independence. So too the workers toiling in the sun, their efforts often overlooked.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting the area, but I quite enjoyed seeing a part of Singapore very far removed from the sparkling modern metropolis of the CBD or some of the nature spots we had experienced earlier in the walk.
Dragging ourselves past the tranquil Kranji Reservoir Park, in the distance we caught sight of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
Some respite finally beckoned.
Along Sungei Buloh wetland reserve’s coastal trail. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
MANGROVES AND MUDFLATS
My last visit to the reserve had been when it was still known as Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve – it was renamed in 2002. It had been some time.
So I was pleasantly surprised as we strolled through the park, there were new trails, new boardwalks and new rest-stops.
We embarked on the park’s coastal trail, taking a route which skirted its edge, bringing us face to face with an impressive network of mangroves. The call of migratory birds and the buzz of cicadas punctuated the silence as we eyed every log-like object, hoping to chance upon one of the park’s resident crocodiles.
With time tight – we still had to walk to our accommodation for the night in Lim Chu Kang – we decided to give our croc hunt one last go, and follow the park’s mangrove boardwalk.
A hornbill at Sungei Buloh wetland reserve. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Still no dice. But just as we were about to leave, we came across probably our best sighting of the day – a pair of hornbills peering inquisitively down from the foliage at us.
As we had so often learnt during our trek around the island, sometimes the best surprises come when one least expects it.
SINGAPORE: Seven people were arrested for allegedly stealing Budget 2020 grocery vouchers from letterboxes in residential blocks, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursday (Oct 15).
Four men and three women, aged between 23 and 54, were arrested for their suspected involvement in separate cases of theft at different locations in Singapore.
A 37-year-old woman was arrested on Oct 11 for allegedly stealing the grocery vouchers at a residential block along Toa Payoh Lorong 7. Investigations are ongoing, said the police.
In a separate case, a 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were suspected of stealing vouchers at a residential block along Tampines Street 86. Both were arrested by officers from the Bedok Police Division on Wednesday.
According to the police, the man had also allegedly stolen the vouchers at the same location on a separate occasion. He will be charged with an additional count of theft.
A 37-year-old woman has been arrested after Budget 2020 grocery vouchers were stolen from letterboxes at a residential block in Toa Payoh. (Photo: Facebook/SPF)
Police officers from the Woodlands Police Division also arrested a 41-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman on Wednesday for alleged theft of grocery vouchers at a residential block along Marsiling Road. Investigations are ongoing.
A 54-year-old man was also apprehended by officers from the Clementi Police Division on the same day. The police accused him of stealing the vouchers from letterboxes at a residential block along Telok Blangah Rise.
In a separate case, another 54-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stealing grocery vouchers at a residential block along Holland Close.
“Investigations against these two men are ongoing,” said the police.
Preliminary investigations showed that these grocery voucher thefts are likely unrelated and opportunistic in nature, they added.
If convicted, they could each face a jail term of up to three years, fined, or both.
A prying tool allegedly used by the suspects was seized. (Photo: Singapore Police Force)
“The police have also received similar reports in other residential estates and we are intensifying our efforts with a view to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” said SPF.
The police added that people should call them immediately if they spot someone suspicious loitering near the letterboxes.
Members of the public who are eligible for the Budget 2020 grocery vouchers are advised to collect their vouchers from their letterboxes as soon as possible. They should also ensure their letterboxes are secured at all times, said the police.
They added that members of the public who suspect their vouchers have been stolen, should make a police report immediately and contact the Grocery Voucher hotline at 1800-2222-888 to request for the vouchers to be voided and replaced.
The stars and planets aligned just for this devastating burn — an inferno, really — that came out of nowhere. We can only pray that SMRT makes a rapid recovery from this shade and the concerning breakdowns that severely crippled train services islandwide yesterday (Oct 14).
Last night saw train services disrupted in parts of the North-South Line, East-West Line and the Circle Line in one of the worst power-related disruptions to hit the MRT network in years. It was a rough time for those caught in evening rush hour. The disruption affected commuters across 36 MRT stations, and the power cut forced stranded passengers to detrain and walk on the tracks.
We doubt that the social media team of Singapore Airlines (SIA) had a premonition about the SMRT train service disruption, so it was coincidental that the airline did a shoutout to Bangkok’s Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) system earlier the same day.
SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party’s (WP) proposal for a minimum wage could leave businesses and workers worse off and also become a politicised issue, said National Trades Union Congress’ deputy secretary-general Koh Poh Koon in Parliament on Thursday (Oct 15).
The issue of a minimum wage has been in the spotlight since the General Election in July.
On Monday, WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh called for a universal minimum wage with S$1,300 as a base for Singaporean workers, saying in a Facebook post that this is not just a “moral imperative” but “an act of national solidarity”.
During Thursday’s debate on Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat’s ministerial statement on the Government’s strategies to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis, Dr Koh said initiatives such as the Progressive Wage Model have already helped to lift the wages of lower-income workers.
Dr Koh’s speech drew a response from Mr Singh and other WP MPs, with People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs rising to speak as well.
MINIMUM WAGE CAN BECOME “POLITICAL AUCTION”: DR KOH
Dr Koh, a Tampines GRC MP, made three arguments in his speech – that a minimum wage could leave the lowest-skilled and most vulnerable workers at a disadvantage as it is difficult to find the right value; that it could become a political tool; and that it calls into question whether it should apply to the migrant worker population who make up more than 1.3 million people in the workforce.
An amount that is too low “defeats the purpose of having a minimum wage”, he said of the difficulties in setting the right minimum wage. Too high, and some businesses will not be able to afford it, causing them to either close down, shed workers or pass on the cost to consumers.
“This is a particularly pertinent consideration at this time when we are in a deep COVID-19 crisis. Many companies, especially your SMEs (small and medium enterprises), such as those in the construction sector, are suffering and not quite out of the woods,” he added.
Dr Koh also questioned Mr Singh’s comments on having a universal minimum wage as a “moral imperative”.
“Today, let’s say we can all agree to S$1,300 minimum wage proposed by the WP, a ‘moral imperative’ as Mr Singh puts it in his recent Facebook post. But what next? What happens next? How will this number change from this year to the next, and on what basis?” said Dr Koh, who is also a Senior Minister of State for Health.
“In a political contest, a political party will surely come along and say, well, S$1,500 will reflect a higher ‘moral imperative’. Yet another will come along and say, S$1,300 is good, S$1,500 is better, but S$1,700 must surely be more divine ‘moral imperative’. It can become a political auction.”
EFFORTS TO RAISE WAGES
Instead, Dr Koh emphasised the benefits of Singapore’s model of helping low-wage workers – a mix of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme and training programmes – saying that it helps to improve low-wage workers’ incomes without putting their jobs at risk or raise consumer prices significantly.
The PWM, for instance, enables workers to raise their productivity, opening a pathway to promotion and higher wages, he said, noting that it will eventually be extended to all sectors.
“Workfare is another significant intervention. It acts like a form of negative income tax – the Government tops up the income of workers earning less than S$2,300 per month,” he added.
Dr Koh said that there are about 850,000 workers in occupations traditionally deemed low-income, such as service staff, cleaners and clerks. The “vast majority” of them earn above S$1,300 a month.
A cleaner clear dishes as people dine at a hawker center in Singapore as the city state reopens the economy amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, June 19, 2020. REUTERS/Edgar Su
About 100,000 earn below S$1,300, including a quarter who are self-employed and would not benefit from a minimum wage, he said.
With Workfare disbursements and Central Provident Fund contributions by employers, 56,000 earn less than S$1,300.
Out of the 56,000 workers, 32,000 – or 1.7 per cent of the local workforce – work full-time.
“So what the WP wants to achieve with the proposed minimum wage of S$1,300 a month, we have already achieved through PWM and many other policy measures.”
HELPING THE 32,000 WORKERS
Mr Singh first responded to Dr Koh’s arguments by stressing that his concern is not with the PWM, but why it is taking the Government this long to cover these low-wage workers.
“Can we not consider how we can cover them now immediately because it’s not a small number,” he asked.
“If you think of 60,000 rental units available from HDB, and you compare that with this number … it’s quite a lot of Singaporeans who need some help.”
“I don’t think it is acceptable that anyone, any Singaporean, is earning below this number. It is simply not acceptable,” he said.
As for curbing any sort of politicisation of a minimum wage, Mr Singh said that the sum could be left up to a panel of experts or the National Wages Council to decide, based on statistics like the average household expenditure on basic necessities.
He added that his party’s minimum wage proposal does not include foreign manpower as they are governed by other regulations.
Mr Singh also said he is worried that some sectors will profit off the backs of the PWM, by pricing in the wage increases even before it has been implemented in their industry. He gave the example of renewing lift contracts in his constituency, where some companies have increased their bid cost by between 5 and 47 per cent.
“If all this increase is going to the Singaporean worker, then I’m prepared to take on that burden to persuade our town council residents that we need to raise S&CC (Service and Conservancy Charges),” he said. “But my question is, is that a realistic hike in costs?”
In response, Dr Koh said the Government already convenes its tripartite partners – government officials, union representatives and employers – to study data.
“Reams and research are good, but in practice, it’s always harder to do, because there are practical considerations, there are pushbacks,” he said.
“That’s why when we work on a negotiated outcome, there is always that balance that can be struck – where the businesses are prepared to absorb the cost. If not, they have a way to rationalise how to pass the cost on to the consumers,” Dr Koh added.
To “buck the norm” and implement a minimum wage that excludes foreign labour – when in most developed countries the policy applies to them – there must be “real strong justification” for doing so, he said.
In response to Mr Singh’s concern about companies taking advantage of the PWM, Dr Koh said since the scheme is pegged to a skills ladder, any cost increase can be checked against their skills level. Town councils should also have a proper process of evaluating tenders.
As for how long it will take to help the 32,000 workers, Dr Koh said: “I think the process will be something that we will want to do now, talk about it, discuss it, work out some schematics, but when can we implement? Obviously we have to look at the economic situation as well, because this will probably be the wrong time to push for increased wage cost onto our SMEs, who are already suffering.”
A ‘CENTRAL BANK’ FOR MINIMUM WAGE?
Other WP MPs also joined the debate. Associate Professor Jamus Lim said that studies that the minimum wage does not lead to an “appreciable increase” in unemployment were carefully conducted and not just beliefs.
The Sengkang MP added that the issue of politicisation can be resolved by convening an independent wage board to fix the minimum wage – just like how central banks that set interest rates are independent of the government.
When Dr Koh mentioned that people with disabilities make up part of the 1.7 per cent and therefore should be helped by other means instead of putting the burden on their employer, Assoc Prof Lim called it a “straw man” argument.
WP’s Aljunied GRC MP Leon Perera questioned why the minimum wage would be politicised and not the PWM – to which Dr Koh replied that it is decided by a tripartite group and not by one party.
Mr Perera also asked why helping to lift the wages of 32,000 people would hurt small businesses if this is a fraction of workers, especially when news reports have shown that many business owners are open to a minimum wage.
Towards the end of the debate, PAP MP for Holland-Bukit Timah Edward Chia, who is the managing director for F&B company Timbre Group, jumped in to say that businesses need to stay competitive, and to do so, it has to be coupled with an increase in productivity.
Mr Singh then asked: “I would like to ask the member in return, is he agreeable to pay the … 32,000 workers S$1,300 as a business employer. Is he prepared to do that? I hope he is.”
Mr Chia replied that a business owner is not responsible to a specific group of employees but the entire company. Improving the productivity of workers – which is part of the PWM’s strategy – is key.
“(An) arbitrary minimum wage may actually be more negative for a business. We need to look at it as a holistic approach, helping businesses up-skill their employees,” he said.
Dr Koh reinforced the productivity aspect of the PWM in his last response in the debate, saying that a worker’s wage increase has to be justified by an improvement in their skills.
“The problem is a minimum wage, is that it is not connected to any skills ladder. It is a number,” he said.
In his speech, Dr Koh acknowledged that there is much work to be done to help more lower-wage workers.
“Achieving social equality and enabling lower-income families to improve their lives is never a simple task. There is no silver bullet,” he said.
“It is also continuous work. NTUC and the tripartite partners will focus on the real hard work of uplifting wages of lower-wage workers and seek public support for our workers while hoping to avoid all possible downsides.”
SINGAPORE: The Government will offer a one-off COVID-19 test to more than 45,000 people working at 110 hawker centres and markets and more than 1,120 coffee shops, as well as food delivery personnel operating in the locality of these eating places.
The testing exercise started on Thursday (Oct 15) in Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency, Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituencies, involving more than 2,200 people in and around 11 hawker centres and markets, and 82 coffeeshops.
This will be “progressively rolled out to different regions of Singapore”, the National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) said.
Details of the exercise were announced by the agencies in a joint media release on Thursday.
In August, the Ministry of Health (MOH) had said it planned to offer COVID-19 testing to community groups such as taxi drivers, food delivery workers, as well as stallholders at hawker centres, markets and coffee shops, as part of efforts to expand the COVID-19 testing regime.
“These tests will be offered to these groups to provide a better picture of population prevalence and facilitate the early containment of any cryptic cases in the community,” the ministry had earlier said.
On Thursday, NEA, SFA and ESG said testing has been extended to more workers as well as food delivery personnel “due to their higher frequency of interactions with members of the public”.
PILOT RUN IN MARINE PARADE
The agencies said that the wider roll-out followed a “successful pilot run” of the COVID-19 testing exercise held in Marine Parade.
From Sep 19 to 20, voluntary COVID-19 swab tests were conducted for people working at three hawker centres and markets and seven coffee shops in Marine Parade, as well as food delivery personnel operating in the area, the agencies said.
“Over 750 stallholders, stall assistants, cleaners and food delivery personnel took the test. There was no positive COVID-19 case detected,” the agencies added.
The wider roll-out of testing to more areas would be conducted from Thursday to Friday at the following 11 screening centres near these hawker centres and markets:
“Beyond Ang Mo Kio town, NEA is in discussions with town councils, as well as the hawkers’ and merchants’ associations of hawker centres and markets in other parts of Singapore, to identify suitable sites, dates and timings for testing operations to be carried out,” the agencies said.
They added: “The plan is to cover the remaining hawker centres and markets, as well as the more than 1,120 coffee shops, before the end of the year.”
The agencies said feedback from the community groups tested in the Marine Parade pilot run had been taken into consideration in the expanded testing exercise.
This included scheduling the tests on weekdays rather than weekends, which were generally busier, as well as setting up the screening centres close to the hawker centres and markets to make them accessible.
Crowd control, safe distancing and hygiene measures will also be implemented at the screening centres.
“Stallholders, stall assistants, cleaners and food delivery personnel will be notified in advance by NEA, SFA and ESG, and the respective hawkers’ and merchants’ associations, as well as food delivery companies on when and where they can be tested,” said the agencies.
They added: “While participation in the test is voluntary, members of the identified community groups are strongly encouraged to come forward for testing, so as to better protect themselves and their loved ones.”
A couple in Jurong West had only meant to make preserved pork but unwittingly raised a stink on the internet after a neighbour called them out for the slabs of raw pork they’d hung outside their window.
The neighbour’s rant, posted on Facebook page Complaint Singapore on Sunday (Oct 11), quickly went viral, prompting a surge of netizens lambasting the pair for being unhygienic and inconsiderate.
Speaking with 8world today (Oct 15), the wife, 38, admitted that she hadn’t known it wasn’t allowed and vowed not to do it again.
“The pork was already dry, and there was a windowsill beneath that would prevent any drips, but we live in an HDB and can understand why others wouldn’t want their clothes to be dirtied,” the woman, who remains unnamed, said.
The wife told the Chinese daily that she had been making Chinese preserved pork belly for her husband.
