Singapore to invest $700 million in food, medicine and digital tech research for long-term competitiveness

March 29, 2019, 8:15 am

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By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 28 Mar 2019

The future of food, medicine and digital technology will form the backbone of long-term research plans to keep Singapore competitive, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.

But these goals will not be at the expense of basic research, which takes longer to bear fruit, he said as he gave an update on Singapore's research progress and future plans.

Mr Heng, who chairs the National Research Foundation, announced that over $700 million will go into the three areas.

He was speaking to reporters after the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) Council meeting, together with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who chairs the council, and fellow council members Chan Chun Sing and Lawrence Wong.

Digital capabilities will get a large chunk: Over $500 million will be set aside to build up artificial intelligence systems and meet national cyber-security needs. The sum will also boost Singapore's supercomputing capabilities and fund the deployment of robots and automation.

Another $80 million will go towards ramping up cell manufacturing capabilities for cell therapy - hailed as the future of medicine.

And $144 million will be invested in food research, including urban farming and lab-grown meat.

The funds are part of $19 billion that was budgeted in 2016, under the RIE2020 plan for Singapore's science and technology research over the next five years. Food, healthcare and the digital economy were earmarked as research targets following a mid-term review of the plan.

PM Lee said success will depend on three factors: Singapore must continue to emphasise science and technology in society, develop a strong core of talent, and build partnerships with foreign countries and institutions to pool expertise and take on more ambitious projects.

"We cannot afford to have people fearful and distrustful of science and held captive by totally groundless anti-scientific beliefs," he said.

Speaking on manufacturing's changed nature, Mr Chan, the Trade and Industry Minister, said: "Our ability to position ourselves carefully in various niche areas across the entire global value chain will be critical to our competitiveness."

Mr Wong, Minister for National Development, said Singapore can develop urban solutions and be, for companies, "a living laboratory to pilot, test-bed and eventually scale up their solutions".

11th Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC)

PM Lee Hsien Loong: Singapore remains committed to basic research
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 28 Mar 2019

Singapore remains committed to basic research even as it places more attention on innovation and enterprise, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

"You must keep a balance between basic research, which has long-term yields... and the innovation and enterprise parts, which are more focused on economic returns," he said.

Mr Lee, who was speaking to reporters at a press conference after the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) Council meeting yesterday, added: "The spending on basic research has remained steady."

Summing up Singapore's research efforts to date, he said that it is timely to review what has been done and see if adjustments have to be made.

"It could be a shift between different sectors of research. It could be a shift of emphasis within a sector of research - which activities to put more resources on, which activities need to be scaled back," he said.

The RIE Council was set up in 2006 to chart the direction for Singapore's research and development. It includes Cabinet ministers as well as local and foreign members of the business, science and technology communities. In 2016, $19 billion was set aside under the RIE 2020 plan for Singapore's science and technology research over the next five years.

Yesterday, PM Lee also spoke on the importance of striking the right tone for research partnerships between the public and private sectors. The Government does not want to take an approach where it sets out detailed specifications and guidelines for what it wants companies to achieve, he said.

"You are to prove this and develop this... and then you put in a bid. The question is fixed beforehand and the answer comes later on. When it comes to research and development, which is a more open-ended and uncertain exercise, probably this is not the best way to do it," he added.

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, who chairs the National Research Foundation, said the private sector's expenditure on research and development has grown as a percentage of the country's gross domestic product. But he hopes more companies will step up their research and innovation efforts.

"In Budget 2019, we talked about how we can help companies to grow capabilities so that they can compete better. An important aspect of growing capability is the ability to leverage technology," he said.

PM Lee said the country had to continue to ignite passion among its young to pursue careers in science and technology, and inculcate in them a mindset that embraces scientific, objective, evidence-based decision-making. This rational ethos must be shared by schools, companies, public agencies and the population at large, he said, adding that such a conducive social environment is key for good scientific work that Singaporeans benefit from.

"We cannot afford to have people who are fearful and distrustful of science, or who are held captive by totally groundless anti-scientific beliefs," he said, citing how elsewhere, anti-vaxxers refuse to allow their children to be vaccinated against life-threatening diseases.

He noted that Singapore had more than 35,000 research scientists and engineers in 2017, seven in 10 of whom were either citizens or permanent residents. And as far as such scientific talent is concerned, "our doors are wide open", he said.

"We are talking about maybe hundreds of people, maybe a couple of thousand people," he added. "If we give the impression that we are not open and we don't welcome talent, and that we are closing in, I think it will be a lot of harm."

$540 million kitty to spur medical advances using AI, robotics
Research fund top-up will deepen nation's expertise in digital tech and automation
By Irene Tham, Senior Tech Correspondent, The Straits Times, 28 Mar 2019

A national research fund will set aside an additional $540 million for the creation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to identify patients predisposed to chronic diseases like diabetes, as well as to build robots to perform menial tasks and develop wearable sensors to provide early intervention for heart failure.

The financial boost will also lead to the development of other projects that will deepen the nation's expertise in digital technologies and automation through the fund called the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 Plan.

The five-year fund, which was first announced in 2016, is managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

With the $540 million top-up, the $19 billion fund will now see a total of $900 million allocated to research and development in fields like AI, robotics and supercomputers.

The funding boost was announced at the 11th Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council meeting yesterday, with council members taking stock of the progress on the fund's aim to support R&D in Singapore.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who chaired the meeting, said the council affirmed Singapore is on the right path.

"But we are sharpening our focus and making adjustments to the plans," he said.

"We must and will continue to invest in science, technology and innovation... to keep Singapore competitive and relevant globally."

With Singapore's elderly population rising and its workforce growth slowing - from 4 per cent per year to 1 per cent per year by 2020 - robots and AI are expected to become increasingly valuable in industries such as food preparation, cleaning and precision engineering.

For example, robots can work without tiring and be programmed to complete tasks with precision and consistency - qualities that are highly valued in those industries.

The NRF is supporting a number of projects, including Speedcargo, an AI software that takes digital images of cargo packages and plans how the packages should be packed to optimise space.

Speedcargo is currently being used at Changi Airfreight Terminal to make air cargo management smarter.

The system was created by Singapore-based research organisation TUMCreate. Founded in 2010, it is staffed by researchers from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Besides NRF-supported projects, the AI push has seen researchers collaborating on a number of initiatives, including one that involves a handheld acoustic sensor which looks like a stethoscope.

When it is placed on a patient's chest and paired with a smartphone app, the device can detect excess fluid in the lungs - a cause of breathlessness.

Within 10 seconds, an AI algorithm determines whether the patient's lungs are clear or whether fluid is accumulating inside them.

The prototype has been developed over a decade by a team from NTU and Tan Tock Seng Hospital and has achieved an accuracy rate of more than 92 per cent, according to Associate Professor Ser Wee of NTU's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

This was based on a study of 86 patients from the hospital from 2012 to 2015.

The team has filed a patent for the device, which is being developed for the mass market.

$80 million boost to turn manufacture of cells into a big money-spinner
By Chang Ai-Lien, Science Editor, The Straits Times, 28 Mar 2019

Cell therapy, where living cells are harnessed to treat or prevent disease, is hailed as the future of medicine. But the bottleneck is in producing good-quality cells cost-effectively and in large quantities.

Singapore, leveraging on its strong biopharmaceutical manufacturing base and its early lead in stem cell research, has earmarked cell manufacturing as its next big money-spinner.

Dr Benjamin Seet, executive director of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*Star) Biomedical Research Council, said: "Around the world, there are relatively limited concerted efforts in scaling up cell production and ensuring quality of the final product. We have the opportunity to invest aggressively in this space, with the end-goal of growing our biopharmaceutical manufacturing pie."

Biopharmaceutical manufacturing, which is the production of small molecule drugs and biologics such as proteins, is an important sector for Singapore, contributing about 4 per cent of gross domestic product and employing more than 7,700 highly skilled workers. Last year, it generated $15.7 billion in manufacturing output and $9.4 billion value-add.

To replicate the success in cell manufacturing would call for advanced technologies and techniques, said A*Star.

So $80 million is going into programmes to scale up, deepen understanding of cell attributes relating to safety and efficacy, and developing technology to assess product quality during manufacturing.

Dr Seet said: "These are living cells, not chemical compounds. We have to ensure we keep them alive and functional."

In cell therapy, intact living cells are injected, grafted or implanted into a patient to restore tissue or organ function, or fight diseases such as cancer, for instance.

The handful of local companies doing such research will get a boost from the effort.

Biotech firm CellResearch Corporation, which is worth $700 million and has 44 patents, is among the home-grown firms that are pioneers in cell therapy. It has developed a stem cell treatment that can potentially heal wounds such as diabetic ulcers quickly, doing away with the need for skin grafts. It has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration to test its treatment on patients, with clinical trials starting this year.

A CellResearch spokesman said: "We want to take advantage of Singapore's efforts and tap the facilities it is building as a potential source of stem cells." This will contribute to the firm's long-term aim of building a plant here to produce medical grade stem cells, he added.

Beefing up efforts to grow meat in labs
Firms are working on culturing stem cells from chickens, cows and fish to make meat
By Shabana Begum, The Straits Times, 28 Mar 2019

It is clean, has a low carbon footprint and does not involve any killing. Lab-grown meat is a key protein alternative of the future and could be making its way to dinner plates here, as Singapore ramps up production of home-grown food.

The effort is getting a boost from the Government's Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 plan, under which $144 million is going into food-related research, including sustainable urban food production, future foods and food safety science and innovation.

To make meat, stem cells extracted from chickens, cows, fish and pigs will be grown and multiplied in bioreactors, and eventually undergo tissue engineering to make whole meat cuts, say researchers.

Leveraging its existing technology in bioproduction and stem cell bioengineering, A*Star's (the Agency for Science, Technology and Research) Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) has started trials on culturing meat, which will be grown on a large scale in bioreactors. Eventually, the cells will comprise at most half of the meat, with the rest made up of bulking agents such as starch and other ingredients to improve taste and texture.

But its nutritional value will be similar to that of traditional meat, said Dr Kelvin Ng, head of strategic innovation at BTI.

At the end of the year, he hopes to start making chicken meat in a lab by reaching out to local farms to extract cells from live chickens.

Other biotech firms here are also culturing cells for food. Local start-up Shiok Meats, for instance, is working on growing seafood in labs.

To reduce its reliance on imports and cushion itself against overseas supply disruptions, Singapore has the ambitious target of producing 30 per cent of the food needed here by 2030. By that time, Dr Ng predicts, lab-grown mince could already be on the market.

"Cultured meat products like minced meat or meat fillings are also easier to develop than a slice of beef steak or chicken fillet, which would require additional technology to create the texture, mouth-feel and taste that consumers are looking for," he said.

One of BTI's key goals is to make alternative meats affordable. Cultured meat is expensive now because the culture media used to feed the cells are costly.

But as technology improves, prices have been dropping. In 2013, 1kg of cultured meat cost US$2.4 million to produce. Four years later, the price dropped to US$5,000 and, more recently, it has fallen to about US$11 (S$14.90) for a meat patty, said Dr Ng.

"One approach is to develop food-grade equivalents of culture media, which would reduce costs substantially," he said.

"Another approach is to explore alternative raw materials, such as plant and microbial extracts, or adopt more efficient manufacturing approaches like continuous bioprocessing or recycling culture media."

A*Star also employs other ways to create alternative proteins in the lab.

Its Biotransformation Innovation Platform (BioTrans) feeds microorganisms such as yeast into large-scale bioreactors to convert the sugar into proteins that can be formulated into various food products, such as milk and egg whites.

The proteins can also be used as speciality feed for fish and livestock.

Biotrans also used microbes to produce more than 20 natural-based flavours, fragrances and ingredients such as lavender, citrus and peach.

Nanotubes transform vegetable genes for more resilient crops
By Shabana Begum, The Straits Times, 28 Mar 2019

In a quiet corner of the National University of Singapore (NUS), scientists are creating the next generation of supercrops that can survive drought and withstand high temperatures.They will also be disease-resistant and grow well in low light intensity.

To develop these traits in crops, their genes must be enhanced.

Scientists in Singapore have invented a novel nanotube carrier that can be absorbed by the leaf to transform the genes in a cell component at a faster rate. Depending on the DNA inserted into the carrier, it can improve the crop's traits and resistance to disease.

Since the carrier targets only the leaf's chloroplast - the component that enables photosynthesis - and not the nucleus, the crop's natural hereditary genetics are not altered.

Currently, scientists use gene guns to shoot DNA into leaves. This damages the leaves and may not target the correct gene.

With the carrier's accuracy in targeting the chloroplast, gene transformation is faster, allowing crops to develop the desired traits quickly.

The nanotube carrier was developed by scientists at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (Smart) at the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise in NUS.

Professor Michael Strano, lead principal investigator of the Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision research body at Smart, said: "This new tool should reduce the work and time needed to engineer plants for human use. Scientists and farmers alike will benefit from a carrier that can access the chloroplast and do so across many different plant species."

The nanotubes can successfully reach chloroplasts in species such as spinach, watercress and arugula.

Smart will work with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) to decide on the specific genes that should be transformed for each crop.

Smart and TLL's research complements the early high-tech farming here to make Singapore self-sufficient in producing high-quality vegetables. TLL also created the hardy, locally grown, climate resistant Temasek Rice that hit stores in 2016.

Since 2017, a research team in TLL has been carrying out a vegetable breeding programme in its quest to produce crops that grow optimally in indoor farming conditions, such as low light intensity.

For instance, as stacks of LED lights in vertical farms are costly, farmers tend not to maximise the brightness to save on utility bills. Under lower light intensity, choy sum plants have smaller leaves and longer stems to reach the light source.

Through gene editing, TLL researchers are transforming a particular DNA in the vegetables so that they will produce bigger leaves and grow well in less light.

This programme will take a few years to produce high-performing crops, as cross-breeding generations of crops takes time. It takes three to four months for a choy sum plant to flower and produce seeds. 

Superfish being bred to ramp up locally produced protein
By Shabana Begum, The Straits Times, 28 Mar 2019

Scientists here are breeding tough, fast-growing superfish that have extra amounts of healthy fat in efforts to produce more local, high-quality protein.

The "premium tilapia" are also disease-resistant and rich in Omega-3, and are being bred in Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL).

The tilapia will join the ranks of locally produced fish stock - TLL-bred sea bass and barramundi, developed by Barramundi Asia.

Scientists say a small country vulnerable to food disruption needs high-tech and high-intensity fish farming to help it be self-sufficient in producing its own food.

Last year, only 9 per cent of all the fish eaten in Singapore were produced locally.

To develop the superfish, the lab has been collaborating with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority on improving the yield and quality of tilapia through selective breeding.

Researchers from the lab identify and mate the best fish, also known as the brood stock, to produce schools of tilapia that inherit the superior traits.

Since Asian consumers prefer red tilapia, selective breeding also transfers the desired appearance to the offspring. The lab has a mix of red and grey-coloured fish.

Currently, the team is working on improving the resilience of the fish so that they can thrive in crowded fish farms and adapt to seawater.

"Tilapia is a traditional brackish-water or freshwater fish. In Singapore, we don't have much freshwater sources.

"But we have a lot of coastal lines, so we are working on adapting our tilapia to grow in seawater," said Dr Liew Woei Chang, research investigator at TLL.



TLL is also currently using a sex-reversal method to produce all-male tilapia as the male fish grow twice as fast as the female ones. The lab said more male fish will also prevent unwanted breeding.

Some of the "premium tilapia" have been sent to local fish farms to assess their performance and ability to withstand stress.

"In the wild, the fishes have a lot of space to swim. So, growing in a high density environment can be stressful for them.

"High stress conditions will make them more susceptible to diseases," added Dr Liew.

The tilapia breeding programme started in 2011, and TLL is hoping to commercialise the fish in the coming years.

It took 15 years for sea bass developed at the Marine Aquaculture Centre on St John's Island to reach farms for mass production last year.

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Singapore submits UNESCO bid to recognise hawker culture

March 29, 2019, 9:33 am

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Hawker Culture In Singapore Submitted For Inscription On UNESCO’s Representative List Of The Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity
By Melody Zaccheus, Heritage and Community Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

The Republic's nomination to inscribe hawker culture in Singapore on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was submitted on Wednesday.

The nomination includes letters, photographs and videos demonstrating community support for the bid, the organisations behind the attempt said in a joint statement yesterday.

The photographs feature an Indian Muslim hawker preparing briyani, a Chinese hawker demonstrating a chicken rice recipe, and a father and his children enjoying the chendol dessert, among other snapshots.

A 10-minute video was also produced to give a 12-member UNESCO evaluation body - including six experts qualified in various fields of intangible cultural heritage - a better understanding of hawker culture in Singapore.

The nomination documents, to be available for public viewing from July, were submitted jointly by the three organisations driving the bid. They are the National Heritage Board, the National Environment Agency and The Federation of Merchants' Associations, Singapore (FMAS).

Using the evaluation body's assessment and recommendation as a guide, a 24-member intergovernmental committee will then decide on the suitability of inscribing Singapore's hawker culture.

The results will be announced at the end of next year.



Mr Low Hock Kee, 50, a second-generation hawker and co-chairman of the hawker sub-committee of FMAS, believes that if the inscription is successful, the profile of the country's rich cultural heritage will be boosted. "The nomination also helps elevate the status of hawkers and affirms our role in Singapore."

If successful, hawker culture will join 429 cultures of other countries which have been inscribed since the list was established in 2008. These include Belgium's beer culture, Indonesia's bamboo musical instrument angklung, China's shadow puppetry, and kimjang, or the making and sharing of kimchi in South Korea.

Unlike the evaluation of world heritage sites, assessments of intangible cultural heritage do not require evaluators to make site visits.

Countries whose bids are not successful can reapply in subsequent UNESCO evaluation cycles.

Singapore's first such submission in the category of intangible cultural heritage comes after the Botanic Gardens was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

Singapore's hawker culture bid has drawn some criticism from across the border. Some Malaysians have claimed their country is a street-food paradise, and that Singapore's hawker version is not that special.



However, the list is not intended to define the origins and ownership of cultural practices. For instance, both Arabic coffee and Turkish coffee were inscribed in the UNESCO list.

Instead, Singapore's attempt will be assessed based on the criteria of meeting UNESCO's definition of intangible cultural heritage; how the potential inscription will increase awareness of Singapore's intangible cultural heritage; how the existing and future safeguarding measures promote the continued practice of the culture; whether the nomination involved the community; and whether it is part of the country's intangible cultural heritage inventory.

The country's inventory, comprising 70 elements so far, includes pilgrimages to Kusu Island and Malay weddings, and was established last April.

In a joint statement, the organisations driving the bid said the attempt has received overwhelming support from Singaporeans since it was announced last August.

They noted that apart from hawker associations, more than 850,000 pledges of support and over 31,000 messages were registered across various platforms.

Their social media movement, they added, generated 810,000 likes and comments in support of hawker culture.



The statement said: "A successful nomination will demonstrate to the world how proud we are of hawker culture in Singapore, encourage greater appreciation for our hawkers, and show our commitment as a nation to safeguard hawker culture for generations to come."

They added that the submission of the nomination documents is a milestone in Singapore's UNESCO inscription journey to better recognise and protect the island's intangible cultural heritage.

The nomination documents took into account input from a nomination committee, comprising representatives and stakeholders from various sectors, including hawker representatives, academics, community partners, non-governmental organisations and government agencies.



Key characteristics of Singapore's hawker culture include hawker centres serving as community dining spaces for all, and how it is a reflection of Singapore's multicultural society. Other features are Singapore hawkers' mastery of culinary skills and how hawker culture thrives in a highly urban environment.

There are more than 100 hawker centres in Singapore and some 6,000 hawkers who each serve about 150 to 200 affordable meals daily. More than 80 per cent of the population visit hawker centres at least once a week.

Messages written by Singaporeans in support of the bid note that hawker centres serve as spaces where "a variety of multicultural cuisines" can be found under one roof, and where "people of all races gather to eat together".

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Hawker Culture In Singapore Submitted For Inscription On UNESCO’s Representative List Of The Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity -28 Mar 2019

Heng Swee Keat at NTU Students' Union Ministerial Forum 2019

March 30, 2019, 7:53 am

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Singaporeans must remain open to foreigners, says Heng Swee Keat
We don't want a world where people build walls; This will give them confidence to interact with people of all cultures from around the world
By Adrian Lim, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

Singaporeans need to be open and understanding of foreigners - whether immigrants or workers and students from other countries - so that they have the confidence to interact with people of all races, languages and cultures from around the world, said Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.

It will be very negative for Singaporeans to draw an exclusive circle for themselves as Singapore would then have no place in the world, Mr Heng told about 700 students attending a ministerial dialogue at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) yesterday.

"We don't want a world where people build walls around themselves," he said to laughter.

"Our pledge - regardless of race, language or religion - is not to be taken lightly… but really as a way of life for Singapore.

"Beyond that, we ought to deepen our understanding of other people... whether they are new immigrants, our immediate neighbours, students from NTU, National University of Singapore or other universities," he said.

Mr Heng also encouraged students on exchange programmes to interact and learn from others.

The need for Singaporeans to have an open mindset and a multicultural outlook was one of his key messages at the two-hour forum, during which he was questioned on a raft of issues, including population growth, technological disruption and meritocracy.

On the projected population of 6.9 million by 2030, set out in the Government's 2013 Population White Paper, Mr Heng said the number goes beyond how densely populated Singapore would be. The social space is as important.

Singapore's population density is not excessive, he said, noting that other cities are a lot more crowded in terms of liveable space.

He cited former chief planner Liu Thai Ker, who said in 2014 that Singapore should plan for 10 million people for it to remain sustainable in the long term.

Giving an account of a constituent who was not comfortable with having foreigners working in his company, Mr Heng said there lies a "difficult trade-off" of integration Singaporeans have to make.

"On the one level, many Singaporeans understand, rationally, we should have more people join us because our workforce is declining.

"But at the same time, emotionally, we don't feel comfortable that there are people who appear a little different from us and I would like to keep this to my circle. This almost tribal feeling is a very deep one," Mr Heng added.

Quoting the saying "Teochew nang kaki nang" - which translates to "Teochew people, we are the same people" - Mr Heng said it makes sense to retain some form of identity and culture in multicultural Singapore, but Singapore must not propagate the notion that only people exactly like us are our people.

On the economic front, Singapore needs to be open as well. Noting that Singapore should not be too narrow in its development of deeper skills and innovation, he said: "Asia and the world are our hinterland, and how we can add value and create value - not just for Singapore - but for the entire hinterland, will define our market.

"And with e-commerce, the market is no longer selling door to door. If you have a great product that can be on a great e-commerce site, you sell around the world."

Mr Heng also encouraged the students to interact with those from other countries, as this will create more opportunities for themselves in the future.

"In your university days, it is the time when it is best for you to really meet your future partner," he quipped, saying it was where he met his wife.

Asked about technological disruption and artificial intelligence, he said some routine tasks can and should be automated but more complex ones will require human empathy and creativity.

He cited educational technology, saying that while machines can replace repetitive tasks that teachers do, education is not just about head knowledge, like numeracy and literacy.

"Education is about building the person, the social and emotional development of the child. It's about the development of character, of values, and in particular, also the development of social skills - how you work with other people," said the former education minister.



Mr Heng said being able to work together effectively is key, but combining the strengths of people is not straightforward.

"People will always quarrel and have disagreements. How do you make a team productive requires leadership and social skills. Increasingly, I see so many companies - as well as our own public service - assessing our officers not on paper qualifications and IQ, but on how well they work with people.

"I don't believe machines will make us redundant, but I also caution that our willingness to change, to develop new skills so that machines make us even more productive, is going to be a critical task."

To do that, companies must think hard about redesigning jobs and reskilling workers. Students must think of how they can learn any time, anywhere, and from anyone in the years ahead, he said.

He related a story about a candidate in an interview at the Monetary Authority of Singapore - where he was the managing director - who said he wanted the job to learn as much as possible and one day take Mr Heng's position.

"There was no notion of how to want to contribute to the organisation. If you think in that narrow, self-centred way, you will not make progress," said Mr Heng.

Singapore will have ethnic minority PM at right time, says Heng Swee Keat
By Adrian Lim, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

At the right time, and when enough Singaporeans are open to the idea, the country will have a prime minister from an ethnic minority, and this is something the Government hopes for, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.

At a dialogue at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Mr Heng said it is a positive sign that young people are comfortable with having a minority-race PM because the Singapore way of "regardless of race, language or religion" has been an emphasis in the system for so long.

But based on his interactions with people during the past two general elections in 2011 and 2015, and the by-elections in Hougang in 2012 and Punggol East in 2013 - a wide spectrum of residents from different languages, races and income groups - such views are not as common as they are among the younger generation, he added.

Mr Heng was responding to a question from Assistant Professor Walid Jumblatt of NTU's Public Policy and Global Affairs programme about whether it was Singapore or the ruling People's Action Party that was unprepared for a PM from a minority community.



Late last year, Mr Heng was selected by his peers among the fourth-generation political office-holders to be their leader, and is tipped to be the next PM.

Following up on the question, Mr Heng asked the audience for a show of hands on whether they would be happy to have a non-Chinese PM.

Many raised their hands.

Mr Heng said: "I will say that it is a very positive sign that the young people will be quite comfortable, precisely because our policy of regardless of race, language, religion has been an emphasis in our system for so long. So that is why our young people grow up in a very different way and therefore you are quite ready. I do think that at the right time, when enough people think that way, we would have, we may have, a minority who becomes the leader of the country."

Citing his interactions with different groups of people during the elections, he added: "But if you ask me, that whether across the voting population, would that be the outcome, I personally don't think so."

Turning to the issue of the 2017 presidential election being reserved for a candidate from the Malay community, Mr Heng said: "It is precisely because we need to place this emphasis institutionally, that we recognise that we have not arrived and it is important for us to ensure that we have the safeguard."

Egg on your face: Calculated act rightly treated as a crime in many societies

March 30, 2019, 10:31 pm

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By Margaret Chan, Published The Straits Times, 30 Mar 2019

Social media moves faster than anything else out there, writes online marketing guru Neil Patel, on the destructiveness of the Internet. A moment of dumbness can go viral and turn into a nightmare of mob justice out of control.

This explains why comments on social media have to be taken seriously. Take the recent case of a young man, Mr Edmund Zhong, who posted on the Channel NewsAsia Facebook page that he wanted to throw an egg at Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam. This was after an egg-throwing incident in Australia whena teenager egged a senator for insensitive remarks in response to the Christchurch massacre.

Very quickly, another person responded to Mr Zhong with information on the minister's upcoming Meet-the-People Session. Now the two men are being investigated for the offence of inciting violence under Section 267C of the Penal Code. In a subsequent interview with the media, Mr Zhong came across as bemused, if not irritated, that the police had come to his home.

Did the police overreact? On that comment, Mr Shanmugam himself said he laughed it off.

The way I see it, the police did Mr Zhong a favour by visiting him, and nipping a potential problem in the bud.

Fact: Egging someone is not funny but criminal. Several jurisdictions have ruled it criminal to attack anyone with either an egg, pie, tomato, flour or a glitter bomb.

On March 3, a Brexiter threw an egg at British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and was jailed for 28 days. The chief magistrate, on passing sentence, noted: "An attack like this is an attack on our democratic process. This is a public servant and attacks on MPs must stop. The message must go out - this must stop."

In May 2016, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson beat up the protester who had pied him. The culprit was charged with felony assault and misdemeanour battery.

In 2010, an American woman smashed a pie into the face of Canada's then Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, and was banned from entering Canada for two years. The act was discussed in the Canadian press as an act of terrorism; a physical attack on a minister in order to get a government to change its policy.

So, if someone had indeed smashed an egg on Mr Shanmugam's head, would we laugh? I think not.

Journalist T.A. Frank, reporting in The New Republic on the 2011 pie attack on media mogul Rupert Murdoch, studied several films of such attacks, including the 2004 strike on Conservative columnist Ann Coulter at the University of Arizona, and the 1998 offence against Mr Bill Gates in Brussels.



Mr Frank concluded: "One thing they have in common is that they're not funny. And I don't just mean that I don't find them funny. Watch a few of them… Does any of them make you laugh? Does anybody in any of the videos laugh? Invariably, the response of the gathered crowd is alarm followed by disgust. A whiff of chaos, of a broken social compact, is in the air. Everyone is shaken."

Serbian activist Srdja Popovic, who co-founded the non-profit Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies that teaches protesters how to make their point without getting into trouble, said the use of humour, or "laughtivism", is particularly useful.

For example, in Finland, militaristic white nationalists conducted anti-immigrant neighbourhood patrols. Activists dressed like clowns followed the patrols around, making the intimidation look ridiculous.

But Mr Popovic makes clear that "laughtivism" is not a joke. It is an intentional act of aggression against an opponent. "If they react, they will look stupid. If they don't react, they will look weak." And Mr Popovic warns against throwing eggs or pies at anyone. The act may seem like slapstick, but it can be offensive and insulting, and backfire.

University of Colorado professor Peter McGraw explains his benign violation theory - that there can never be humour when the audience feels that the situation is unsafe.

The defence that a pie or an egg does not cause physical hurt will fall when people witness the annoyance and humiliation that is visited upon the victim. Singer Anita Bryant broke down and cried when she was pied in 1977. In 1976, Pat Moynihan was campaigning for a seat in the US Senate when he was ambushed. Moynihan, a child of Hell's Kitchen and no softie, told The New York Times that it was "a violent act" that "scared the hell out of me". After all, in the moment of the attack, who was to tell it was not an assassination attempt?

Mr Frank, investigating for The New Republic, notes that to think that it is funny to inflict such existential fear, no matter how fleetingly, upon another, is to say that mock executions are hilarious.

No wonder victims have struck back. In the recent Australian case, Queensland Senator Fraser Anning, egged earlier this month, slapped his young attacker. In 2001, Mr John Prescott, then Britain's Deputy Prime Minister, grabbed the protester who threw an egg at him by the scruff of the neck and punched him.



Nor does the buffoonery serve serious political purpose. Journalist Bryan Farrell noted with frustration that thousands of people may take to the streets risking their lives to protest, but it is such "second-class news" that grabs media attention.

An egg attack on our Minister for Home Affairs could star on the world stage because Singapore has been consistently voted as one of the safest cities in the world.

Already, even before a single egg has been thrown, we have unfortunate memes: eggs labelled as weapons, piles of eggs tagged as stockpiles of Malaysian ammunition, and Mr Shanmugam pictured in a ridiculous army helmet.

Call me old-fashioned, but this Pioneer Generation citizen doesn't think it is a joke if idiocy causes people to laugh at Singapore.

Margaret Chan is a cultural anthropologist who recently retired as associate professor at the Singapore Management University where she taught heritage studies, religion, theatre and the arts.








 

Institute of Policy Studies report on Religion in Singapore

March 31, 2019, 8:25 am

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Keep religion out of politics, Singaporeans say
One in four open to extremists sharing views online or at events, finds IPS report
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

Most Singaporeans are religious, but still frown on religious behaviour that could influence politics or disrupt social harmony, a new report by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) has found.

They also feel that having different religious views is no barrier to getting along when living in close proximity.

But the researchers noted that a sizeable proportion of people have no qualms about letting religious extremists publish their views online, or hold public meetings to talk about them.

When surveyed, one in four people said putting such views online is acceptable as long as they do not instigate harm against others, and younger respondents were even more likely to think so - possibly because of more liberal attitudes towards free speech among the young, the researchers said.

But the overwhelming consensus across all age groups is that it is unacceptable for religious leaders to incite hatred or violence against other religions.

The working paper's authors, however, noted there is a fine line between espousing extremist views that consider other faiths as enemies and making hate speech.

"How the Government navigates the desire by this significant segment of the population for freedom of speech pertaining to extremist views in future will be of interest,'' they added.

The findings on people's attitudes towards religion were part of an international study involving multiple countries. It was written by IPS senior research fellow Mathew Mathews, research associate Leonard Lim and research assistant Shanthini Selvarajan.

"Religion is an influential and powerful force, and seeps into multiple domains of public and private life," the authors said.

"Tracking the expansive reach and influence of religion is thus crucial in maintaining inter-religious harmony and surveying public sentiment in public policy."

A total of 1,800 Singapore residents aged 18 and older were surveyed for the local component of the international study.

Face-to-face interviews were carried out between August and December last year by market research company ML Research Consultants.

Participants were asked about their religious beliefs and how these influence their views on issues such as public policy, religious harmony and infidelity.

Although 80 per cent have religious beliefs, only 40 per cent said they would consider themselves to be a "spiritual person". Buddhists, Taoists and Hindus were more likely to have religious beliefs but not identify as spiritual.

Most also had at least some level of belief in life after death, heaven, hell and religious miracles.

On religious harmony, seven in 10 people said they feel people from different religious backgrounds can get along when living close together.

Even so, around 15 per cent of them said they found Muslims at least somewhat threatening. This was higher than for any other religious group.

When asked about religion and politics, most agreed religious leaders should not try to influence voting at elections or make remarks about politicians' characters.

Three-quarters also agreed the country's laws should not be based on a particular religion.

Religion was also found to influence people's views on moral issues such as infidelity, abortion and homosexual sex.

The younger and better educated respondents, as well as those with no religion, tend to have more liberal attitudes.

Eight in 10 say it's not acceptable for faith leaders to sway voters
But report finds they are divided on whether such leaders should have close ties with politicians
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

When it comes to religion and politics, Singaporeans mostly agree that religious leaders should not influence voting at elections.

But they are divided on other issues such as whether religious leaders should have close ties with politicians, and what individuals should do in the hypothetical situation of a new law contradicting their religious teachings.

These were among the key findings in a new report by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on religious beliefs and the role of religion in the private and public spheres.

The findings were based on a survey of 1,800 Singapore residents, and are part of a larger study of religion involving multiple countries.

The IPS paper said 81.9 per cent of people agreed that religious leaders should not influence voting behaviour, with 86.9 per cent saying it is not acceptable for such leaders to remark on politicians' characters.

It was more difficult for them to come to a consensus on other issues.

When asked if it was acceptable for religious leaders to have close ties to government officials, 55 per cent disagreed, while 44.9 per cent felt that this was fine.

If a new law contradicted their religious teachings, about 48 per cent said that they would definitely follow it, or would at least be likely to do so. Meanwhile, just over a third said they would most likely adhere to their religious teachings.

Three groups - Christians, Muslims and Catholics - had a larger proportion of people who said that they would follow their religious principles instead of the law.

Six in 10 agreed that the Government should not interfere with attempts by a religion to spread its faith, although those with no religion tended to oppose this view.

When asked about moral issues like abortion, infidelity and homosexual sex, researchers also found that a person's religious views tended to shape their answers.

Better educated and younger respondents, as well as those with no religion, tended to have more liberal attitudes towards these issues.

A total of 82.4 per cent believed that infidelity was always wrong, but only 67.9 per cent felt the same way about homosexual sex.

Just 38.3 per cent said that abortion was always wrong, even if the family has a very low income.

Muslims tended to have the most conservative attitudes towards homosexual sex, with nearly 85 per cent believing that it was always wrong. Nearly 80 per cent of Hindus and Christians, however, held the same view.

In comparison, only half the respondents with no religion said that homosexual sex was always wrong.

But researchers noted that even among Christians and Muslims, younger members of these groups were less likely to see homosexual sex as always wrong.

Similar trends were seen for abortion, although the researchers noted that education made a significant difference.

When it came to abortion, about 66 per cent of Muslims and nearly 60 per cent of Christians with no more than a secondary school level of education felt it was always wrong.

But among those with at least a bachelor's degree, these figures dropped to around 40 per cent for both Muslims and Christians.

KEY FINDINGS
The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

3 in 4 Singaporeans say they follow a religion.

72.7% feel that people of different religious backgrounds can get along when living close together.

97.2% per cent feel that it is not acceptable for religious leaders to incite hatred or violence against other faiths. But 26.8% are open to religious extremists publishing their views on the Internet or social media. Younger people are more open, with 46% per cent of those aged 18 to 25 saying they would allow publication.

76.1% agree that a country's laws should not be based on religion. But about 48% would follow a law that contradicts their religious principles.

15% of respondents find Muslims threatening: IPS report
By Rahimah Rashith, The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

More than 70 per cent of Singaporeans feel that people of different faiths can get along when living close together, but some 15 per cent find Muslims threatening, a report on religion in Singapore has found.

Researchers found that those who dwell in private housing were more likely to think that Muslims are threats, compared with those who dwell in Housing Board flats.

Muslims were viewed most positively by Buddhists and Hindus, but about one in five Catholics, Christians and those with no religion said that Muslims were either very or somewhat threatening.

"There is little question that global terror and how it has often been associated with Muslims has fed into the minds of a small group of Singaporeans, who thus feel that Muslims are threatening," Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) senior research fellow Mathew Mathews told The Straits Times. "The lack of exposure to and opportunities for learning about Muslims might have left some of their fears unchallenged."

The findings from the survey, part of a global study, were captured in a report published yesterday by IPS, part of the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. It was written by Dr Mathews, research associate Leonard Lim and research assistant Shanthini Selvarajan.



A random sample of 1,800 residents were asked a range of questions, including whether they considered those from six groups - Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, as well as atheists and non-believers - threatening or not.

Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and atheists and non-believers were viewed as the least threatening.

Christians were found threatening by 6.5 per cent of respondents. Around 10 per cent of those with no religion and 8.9 per cent of Buddhists thought so, compared with 5.4 per cent of Catholics and 3.4 per cent of Muslims.

The report said: "The majority of respondents from each religious group viewed those from other communities positively and not as a threat. However, our results suggest there may be possible tensions between some people from specific communities."

It added that while there is a base of religious harmony, there are challenges and threats emerging.

Nominated MP Mohamed Irshad, who founded inter-religious group Roses of Peace, felt the 15 per cent minority who found Muslims threatening "is still a significant number".

"It is big enough to rile up anti-Muslim sentiments. We need to figure out how we can improve social mixing," he said.

Dr Mathews noted that Islamophobia can lead to varying levels of hatred, which can be explosive.

Islamophobic material online radicalised a 28-year-old Australian, who this month carried out a terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch that killed 50 people and injured 42.

Mr Mohamed Irshad said schools and workplaces can create spaces for meaningful dialogue on religion. "Actively preventing violent extremism is as important as countering it. Getting to know each other's faith beyond the surface can be a first step."

Madam Riza Yacob of local group Creative Malay Arts and Culture was sad to learn that some still see Muslims as threatening. "The 15 per cent should be a motivating factor for Muslims and non-Muslims to reach out and promote an inclusive mindset," she said.

An instance of such inclusivity was seen when New Zealanders here visited mosques following the Christchurch attack in a show of solidarity. Many other faith groups also condemned the attack and reached out to Muslim leaders here.

Madam Riza's group will hold a three-day event at Geylang Serai from today for people to pen condolence messages to New Zealand and, among other things, remind Singaporeans of the need to stand united against all forms of extremism.

The four types of Singaporeans
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Mar 2019

SACRED SECULARS

People in this group are religious and morally conservative, but they also desire greater separation between religion and politics.

They have complete confidence in state institutions and are open to people of other faiths.

This group has the highest proportion of Hindus, and also a significant proportion of Buddhists and Taoists. In terms of socio-economic status, its members are middle class.

Researchers said the group aligns well with Singapore's narrative of maintaining religiosity without compromising on secularism and inter-religious harmony.

SCEPTIC SCRAPPERS

These people are less religious and morally liberal. They desire some separation between religion and politics, and are ambivalent towards those of other faiths. They also tend to have great confidence in state institutions.

About half the cluster consists of people with no religion. Sceptic scrappers are also the youngest, most educated and most well-to-do.

Researchers suggest the cluster, which represents the "perennial segment of less religious people in society", may encourage contestations over issues pertinent to religion and the law.

TEPID TRADITIONALS

They are somewhat religious, morally conservative, and desire some separation between religion and politics.

They have some confidence in state institutions and are ambivalent towards those of other faiths.

This group has a high proportion of elderly people. Its members also tend to be the least educated and least well-off.

Researchers said the group's lack of positive perceptions of people of other religions may require greater community intervention.

FRIENDLY FAITHFULS

People in this group are more religious and want less separation between the state and religion.

They are morally conservative but warm towards those of other faiths, and tend to be very confident of state institutions.

This group has the highest proportion of religious respondents, and also the highest proportion of Muslims and Christians. They are middle class.

Researchers say some may worry the group will increasingly demand the integration of religion in the political space. They, however, noted that the group will not want to undermine social cohesion.

New Zealand attacks show Singapore cannot take harmony for granted: Grace Fu
Radicalisation can be present in any race or religion, says minister
By Yuen Sin, The Sunday Times, 31 Mar 2019

As Singaporeans held a vigil yesterday for the 50 victims shot and killed in the March 15 attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said the attacks were a stark reminder of how Singapore's social harmony should never be taken for granted.

It is a shared responsibility, especially with the rise of identity politics and online threats, she said in a keynote speech at a youth forum organised by interfaith group Roses of Peace, where she also expressed concern about the results of a recent survey that found young Singaporeans to be comfortable with extremist views being posted online.

The vigil, held afterwards at The Red Box in Somerset Road, drew more than 50 attendees including Ms Jo Tyndall, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Singapore.

The fact that the perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks was influenced by far-right white supremacist beliefs demonstrates how radicalisation can be present in any race or religion, Ms Fu said at the forum, at the OnePeople.sg office in Toa Payoh.

As more people identify themselves along narrow ethnic, cultural and religious lines, there is a risk that groups will try to maximise their space and influence at the expense of others, she noted.

This has led to conflict and discord in other territories, and must not be the path for Singapore, she cautioned, where the Government wishes for every Singaporean the right and freedom to practise his or her belief of choice.

"Every person or group has to be accommodating. It may mean giving up a bit of one's own space and comfort for others, but in return other groups do the same for the practice of our own beliefs."

She said the findings of a recent Institute of Policy Studies survey, which showed that nearly one in two young Singaporeans would allow religious extremists to publish their views online, are "worrying".

This is because extreme online sentiments can affect real-world relationships and perceptions.

"Frequent posting of extreme views, if left unchecked, will normalise such views and, over time, make them mainstream. Singaporeans must hence be discerning about messages that propagate prejudice relating to race and religion and take a stand against such hatred and prejudices," said Ms Fu, as she urged young people to think about how to leverage online space to strengthen Singapore's social cohesion.



Citing the example of a video of New Zealand students performing a haka, a ceremonial Maori dance, in tribute to the Christchurch victims, Ms Fu said the Internet and social media can instead be used to build relationships and foster respectful exchanges of viewpoints.

In a digital age, the impact of terrorism is also amplified, said Ms Fu, pointing to how the Christchurch attacker had published his views online before the killings and even live-streamed the attacks.

"Online disinformation and falsehoods are insidious to our multiracial, multi-religious society. When we see or hear news on disputes relating to religious and racial prejudice... we should actively check the accuracy of the sources, and seek clarification from religious or community leaders," she said.

Mr Divian Nair, who heads the We Are Majulah team, said the vigil was organised as the group wanted a space where the Muslim community and everybody in Singapore could come together to reflect.

"The funny thing about pain is that it has a large propensity to turn into fear, into anger, and it can cause divisive lines in societies that we live in. At the end of the day, what we believe... is that pain also can be converted into empathy."

Yesterday, President Halimah Yacob also announced that the first international conference in Singapore on social cohesion and interfaith harmony will take place from June 19 to 21 at the Raffles City Convention Centre.

The International Conference on Cohesive Societies will bring together local and international thought leaders across academia, government, religious groups and the civic sector to share their experiences and ideas, as well as collaborate and encourage people to rally their own communities to develop social cohesion, she said.

"(The conference aims to) ensure that we strengthen trust among the communities and this is important because we saw what happened in Christchurch, therefore we cannot overemphasise the importance of cohesion and harmony," said Madam Halimah, speaking on the sidelines of her visit to the Chinese Development Assistance Council at Tampines.

Related
IPS Working Paper No. 33 - Religion in Singapore: The Private and Public Spheres -28 Mar 2019

New Zealand terror attack: Societies must acknowledge rising Islamophobia, tackle right-wing hate ideology, says Shanmugam

Singapore to introduce new law to prevent spread of fake news: PM Lee Hsien Loong

March 31, 2019, 9:20 am

≫ Next: Hate speech: Singapore is prepared to err on the side of caution to preserve racial harmony, says Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam

≪ Previous: Institute of Policy Studies report on Religion in Singapore

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Online news sites must publish corrections on fake news, take down false articles under proposed law
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 30 Mar 2019

Singapore is to introduce a law that will require online news sites to publish corrections or warnings on fake news, or even remove such articles in extreme cases, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

These new measures to tackle the spread of fake news are part of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament on Monday.

The move, a key recommendation of a Select Committee, will put Singapore among the first countries to take steps to legislate this increasingly serious problem faced by many countries.

PM Lee said the Bill will empower the Government to hold online news sources and platforms accountable if they allow deliberate falsehoods to proliferate.

"This includes requiring them to show corrections or display warnings about online falsehoods so that readers or viewers can see all sides and make up their own minds about the matter.

"In extreme and urgent cases, the legislation will also require online news sources to take down fake news before irreparable damage is done," he added in a speech on the changing media landscape at the 20th anniversary celebrations of news provider Channel NewsAsia, which will now be called CNA.



Also at the event at St Regis hotel, attended by about 300 people, were Mrs Lee, Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran and his Senior Ministers of State Janil Puthucheary and Sim Ann.

On Monday, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam is scheduled to deliver a ministerial statement on restricting hate speech to maintain racial and religious harmony in Singapore.

An Institute of Policy Studies research paper released on Thursday showed that one in four Singaporeans has no qualms about allowing extremist religious leaders to share their views online, as long as they do not instigate harm against others.

Fake news plagues many nations, and PM Lee said governments are studying it closely and deciding what measures to take. The French have passed a law allowing their judges to order the immediate removal of fake news from the Internet during election campaigns.

But legislation alone is not enough, PM Lee said. Such laws must be supplemented by citizens who are alert to the problem of fake news, well-informed of what is going on in the world, and provided with the means to make sound assessments of what they read and hear, he added.

Students are taught information literacy and cyber wellness in schools, and the National Library Board provides tips on such issues for the general population. The Government's Factually website also publishes the facts on government policies or issues of public interest.

"But spotting fake news is easier said than done. In general, people are overconfident about their ability to do so," PM Lee said, adding that even the most intelligent and well-trained people can fall victim to such falsehoods.

CNA, therefore, plays an important role in Singapore's society, he said, urging it to invest in its people, build capabilities, and take advantage of Singapore's status as a media and technology hub. "The Government... will work hand in hand with you," he said. "We share an interest in fostering an informed society through quality journalism."

Mediacorp chairman Niam Chiang Meng noted: "Accuracy is no longer as valued as in the past. It is no wonder that public indifference and cynicism have grown."

CNA, he said, intends to be an impartial provider of accurate information and insights.

No shortage of coordinated campaigns to misinform and mislead, says PM Lee
By Adrian Lim, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 30 Mar 2019

Nowadays, there is no shortage of people and groups conducting coordinated campaigns to produce fake news to misinform and mislead, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

They may do it for financial gain, to sow discord or even to radicalise people, he added.

Such fake news is propagated with factual stories on social media platforms, which are either unwilling or unable to take action to block the misinformation. This has become a serious problem for many countries, PM Lee said as he announced that a draft law is to be introduced to tackle online falsehoods.

Speaking ahead of the tabling of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill in Parliament on Monday, PM Lee said many governments are studying the problem closely and deciding what measures to take.

They are looking into how to prevent fake news from undermining trust and confidence in institutions, and spreading hate and disharmony in society, while maintaining a balance of freedom of expression, he said.



Giving examples, PM Lee said the United States held hearings to investigate how social media platforms like Facebook were used to influence its 2016 presidential election.

Last July, the British Parliament convened an inquiry into fake news.

In Singapore, a Select Committee was convened in January last year to better understand and deal with the threat of online falsehoods.

Singapore is "particularly vulnerable", PM Lee told an audience of about 300, who had gathered at St Regis hotel to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Channel NewsAsia, now called CNA.

"We are open and English-speaking, our mobile and Internet penetration rate is high, and being a multi-racial and multi-ethnic society, we have enduring fault lines that can be easily exploited," he said.

"If we don't protect ourselves, hostile parties will find it a simple matter to turn different groups against one another and cause disorder in our society."

PM Lee said the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods, convened in January last year, made several practical recommendations for the Government, companies, individuals and society to work together to fortify Singapore's defences against fake news.

"The Government has accepted the Select Committee's proposals, including to pass legislation to tackle this problem," he said.

Other measures proposed in its report released last September include having a national framework to guide public education on falsehoods.

As part of its work, the Select Committee held public hearings over eight days in March last year to listen to oral representations from 65 individuals and organisations. The 10-member committee was chaired by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Charles Chong.



Observers such as Professor Ang Peng Hwa said Singapore, in moving to pass legislation, is taking a proactive approach and learning from countries such as France and Germany, where falsehoods have created harm and prompted laws to tackle them.

But Prof Ang, who is from Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, added that the Bill needs a close look, such as on who will determine what is a falsehood. Also, it should offer some "limited immunity", allowing websites and platforms to remove falsehoods posted by netizens in a reasonable amount of time before action is taken, he said.

MP Darryl David, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information, said the Bill is "very timely".

In the digital age, when news can spread like wildfire, "the potential impact of a falsehood is significant and can lead to social unrest or violence in Singapore, or threaten national security," Mr David added.

MP Cedric Foo, the GPC's chairman, said there must be education to ensure people cultivate the habit of fact-checking information.

Mr Foo also said individuals from civil society, who like to opine on issues - and do so without malice - should not have to worry.

"If you truly believe in what you say, and you have to attach a correction to it, that is still free speech.

"But if there are serious grounds for concern, the Government needs to move fast before more serious things happen, like riots breaking out. In such a situation, a take-down action is crucial," he added.

Related
Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods - Causes, Consequences and Countermeasures

Report of the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehood -20 Sep 2018

Select Committee public hearings:
- 14 - 16 March 2018
- 22 - 23 March 2018
- 27 - 29 March 2018

Select Committee on fake news: 22 recommendations unveiled to combat online falsehoods in Singapore -20 Sep 2018

Facebook: No policy against fake news; Facebook allows itself to spread lies by not removing States Times Review post

Institute of Policy Studies report on Religion in Singapore -28 Mar 2019

Hate speech: Singapore is prepared to err on the side of caution to preserve racial harmony, says Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam

April 3, 2019, 8:52 am

≫ Next: Doxxing set to be outlawed under changes to harassment laws to deter online vigilantism

≪ Previous: Singapore to introduce new law to prevent spread of fake news: PM Lee Hsien Loong

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Minister outlines Republic's approach to preserving racial harmony and tackling hate speech
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Singapore is prepared to err on the side of caution to preserve racial harmony, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, stressing that good relations among different communities in Singapore "didn't fall ready-made from the sky".

"There is nothing natural about it. We engineered this over many decades," he told Parliament yesterday in a 90-minute ministerial statement on Singapore's approach to tackling hate speech.

"If anything, we are prepared to err on the side of caution and risk overreacting to preserve harmony, rather than take chances and risk explosions."



He traced the smooth ties among Singaporeans to the country's founding leaders, recounting how they were determined for Singapore to be a multiracial, multi-religious society organised horizontally - in which all races and religions are treated equally and on the same level.

"Our uniqueness in this respect should not be underestimated. Equality of races and religions is not the natural order of things; it has to be defended," he said.

Mr Shanmugam quoted founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who had said: "This will not be a Chinese nation, not a Malay nation, not an Indian nation."

The late Mr Lee, reflecting in a New York Times interview, said in 2010: "I believe (our younger generation) has come to believe that this is a natural state of affairs... They think you can put it on auto-pilot. I know that this is never so."

He urged Singaporeans to heed Mr Lee's warning, saying: "What we have in Singapore is precious, hard fought."

In his speech, the minister also dwelt on Singapore's approach to secularism and set out his decision to cancel black metal band Watain's local concert.



Setting out the effects of hate speech, Mr Shanmugam said it "disengages" morality and dehumanises its victims.

Once normalised, such mindsets are hard to reverse and result in deep social divides.

Although offensive speech may not veer into the territory of hate speech, it can have the same impact in the long run. In fact, it can be even more insidious as people are "drip-fed" such harmful notions.

He highlighted how some comedians use racist caricatures in their skits, and recounted a woman making disparaging comments about Malay weddings at void decks. "If we normalise offensive speech, after a while, the tone and texture of public discourse will change."

Turning to the Singapore brand of secularism, he said the Government does not take a hands-off approach on matters of race and religion. It actively works to foster good relations among different communities from a practical, nuanced and neutral position.

This sets it apart from countries like France, where secularism means the state will not interfere in religious matters and people can publish material that vilifies any religion, Mr Shanmugam said.

"Why should that right to publish override the right of a religious group not to have its texts, beliefs, practices ridiculed?" he asked. "What about obligations of citizens to preserve harmony and unity?"

When deciding on such issues, the Government assesses the reaction of the majority in the affected community, the security implications of that opinion, and where the weight of mainstream opinion lies.



On the Watain ban, Mr Shanmugam quoted an interview with the band's frontman Erik Danielsson, who had said: "I totally encourage any kind of terrorist acts committed in the name of Watain... That is the way rock and roll works."

Critics of the Watain ban had hit out at the Government's "self-righteous" behaviour, with some saying people can listen to the band without being influenced by its beliefs, and churches can urge their members not to attend such concerts.

Seen in isolation, these are valid points, Mr Shanmugam said, adding that Singaporeans should look at the bigger picture.

If the Watain concert got the go-ahead, the Government would have to permit future shows with similar themes.

Over time, this could deepen racial and religious faultlines and normalise hate speech, he said.

He also dismissed online comments suggesting a "Christian conspiracy" influenced the Government's decision, and that Christians are over-represented in institutions of power.

"They tried to turn it into a 'Christian versus others' debate. These people are nasty, opportunistic and dangerous," he said. "No one, Christian or otherwise, influenced me. I am not a Christian. I also decided to ban two Christian preachers in 2017. So, what does one make of that?"

He added in his closing speech that one of the risks of a weak political leadership is it seeks favours from specific religious groups, warning that this approach "will lead to disaster".

"So, many governments, both in this region and outside, have gone down that route. It is one of the easiest ways to get votes," he said. "You really need a strong political leadership which is fair between the different religions."



Mr Shanmugam also said hate speech has travelled faster and farther because of social media, and Singapore needs to do more to deal with it as social media platforms are unable or unwilling to do so.

The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill is one step, but further steps must be taken, he added.

In all, 16 MPs spoke after his speech, with some such as Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) and Nominated MP Walter Theseira asking about the grey areas where offensive speech is concerned.

"It is inevitable that one man's belief or culture, when put into the public sphere, may give offence to another," Dr Theseira said, citing how the consumption of specified food may be normal for one religious group but offensive to others.

Ms Phua added: "Where is the line between public discourse and platforms like private WhatsApp group chats?"



Yesterday, the House observed a minute of silence to remember the victims of the attacks on two New Zealand mosques last month.

Parliament: Singapore has come up with its own approach to deal with offensive speech, says Shanmugam
It is generally not allowed in public discourse to preserve racial, religious harmony and to prevent unrest, violence
By Melody Zaccheus, Heritage and Community Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Singapore has carved out its own approach as a secular state in dealing with speech that is offensive to race and religion, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.

The country takes the view that offensive speech should generally not be allowed in public discourse in the context of preserving racial, religious harmony and preventing unrest and violence.

When deciding whether to allow or ban something, the authorities assess the reactions of the majority in the targeted community; where the weight of mainstream opinion lies; and whether such content could deepen fault lines or have security implications.

This approach, which has been relatively successful, is guided by common sense and is pragmatic in nature, he said in a ministerial statement on restricting hate speech for racial and religious harmony.

It also tends to function on a case-by-case basis - Singapore does not ban everything that is deemed insulting or offensive by anyone. Neither does it allow everything that is insulting or offensive. For instance, Salman Rushdie's novel Satanic Verses was banned in 1989 - as a result of Singapore's mainstream Muslim community taking offence - but the Government has allowed other books and films even when religious communities were unhappy.

But Singapore has a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry, said Mr Shanmugam, citing cases of foreign and local preachers who were banned and admonished for making racially and religiously offensive remarks.

In 2017, two foreign Christian preachers had their applications to speak in Singapore banned by the Ministry of Manpower, in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs. One of them had said Islam is "not a religion of peace".

Similarly, Singapore banned Zimbabwean Mufti Menk, who views it a sin for Muslims to wish non-Muslims Merry Christmas, and Indian-born preacher Zakir Naik, who urged Muslims to vote for a Muslim candidate instead of a non-Muslim during political elections.

Mr Shanmugam said letting in such foreign preachers, whose teachings are available online, allows them to build a following in Singapore. "Eventually, that can become seriously divisive - like not shaking hands, not greeting each other and not voting for candidates of another race or religion."

He cautioned against allowing divisive rhetoric in religious sermons of the different faiths."These things have a momentum… What do you think the atmosphere will be like in our common meeting places?"

Mr Shanmugam said French absolutist secularity - a hands-off approach in which people can publish material that is offensive to any religion - is unsuitable for Singapore.

He noted that French magazine Charlie Hebdo has run cartoons on the Christian trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit having anal sex and a van running over two people captioned "Islam, religion of peace… eternal", among others.

He said the Singapore authorities are convinced the European way will not work here. Instead, the secularity Singapore adopts strives in every way possible to achieve racial, religious harmony.

At the heart of it, he said the State's fundamental assurance to the people of Singapore is that they are free to believe in any religion - including not to believe - and that members of faith groups will be protected from hate speech and unacceptable offensive speech.

"We have to decide what works for us. Singapore is only 54 years old this year. Racial, religious tolerance is slowly being rejected in older societies than ours which claim to be liberal. It is prudent for us not to take Singapore's values, unique and new in history, for granted."

Mr Shanmugam also commended New Zealand's rejection of the shooter's message of hate after the Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 that killed 50 people.

Offensive speech can become hate speech if normalised and not dealt with, says Shanmugam
Why offensive speech needs to be curbed
By Tan Tam Mei, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Offensive speech overlaps with hate speech and, if normalised, can change the nature of public discourse, said Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.

Explaining why offensive speech, while not hate speech, needed to be restricted, he said normalising the former could in the long run result in the same outcomes as hate speech, creating an environment conducive for discrimination and violence.

"How can we be one united people when every day it is accepted that one race or another, one religion or another, can be publicly insulted, ridiculed, attacked?"

Singapore's position to offensive speech has been practical and nuanced, Mr Shanmugam said in a ministerial statement on hate speech.

"We take the view that offensive speech should generally not be allowed in public discourse," he said, adding that various sections of the Penal Code, Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and Sedition Act tackle offensive speech. Singapore bases its assessment on factors like how offensive the words are and their likely impact on the feelings of the targeted groups.



In regulating offensive speech, assessments are made on whether the words are derogatory, offensive or insulting to a particular race or religion, said the minister. He cited the derogatory remarks made by teenage blogger Amos Yee against various religious communities here. In 2015 and 2016, Mr Yee was convicted of hate speech against Christians and Muslims.

Another factor to consider was the likely impact of the offensive speech. This could include the prominence of the speaker or his platform. For example, if it happened at the pulpit or at an election rally, or if it was said by religious or political leaders. "The impact will be different, depending on who says it and the context," said Mr Shanmugam, adding that the nature of the event and its reach are also considered.

Another consideration to note was that followers of different religions react differently, he added.

In measuring impact, the Government also considers the immediate or longer-term security implications of reactions from the ground that could deepen fault lines and create more tension, said Mr Shanmugam.

"The Government is neutral. We proactively accommodate the different groups, recognising their different histories and traditions and we make practical adjustments," he said. "On that basis, we take a practical approach to assess the impact on reaction of the different communities."

Mr Shanmugam also noted that the Government has to assess the impact and reaction of the majority in the specific communities, to gauge where mainstream opinion lies. "We cannot be directed by the viewpoint of a person or persons who is (or) are extremely sensitive. Our approach is guided by common sense."

He added that the "absolute" and "objective" approach to either ban or to allow everything would be undesirable.

"That brings us back to the pragmatic approach the Government takes as the only tenable one for our society," he said. "It can be a bit messy, but it has worked so far with relative success and with a bit of give and take."

Hate speech must be dealt with firmly, says Shanmugam
By Tan Tam Mei, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Singapore adopts a strict approach and takes quick action against hate speech, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament yesterday.

The approach has been criticised and Singapore has been told to learn from the United States and the United Kingdom as the "gold standard for free speech", he noted.

"But their experiences suggest that serious consequences can follow when you are lax about hate speech," he said during his ministerial statement on hate speech.

Singapore recognises race and religion are fault lines and involve "gut issues" which can be emotive, he said, adding that the potential for violence increases when people feel their race or religion is under attack.

It is only when a country is clear and has firm laws prohibiting hate speech and deals fairly with all the communities, that it can start building a multiracial, multi-religious, and harmonious society, he added.

Mr Shanmugam cited the ways other countries have dealt with hate speech and its consequences.

The US, where hate speech is prohibited only if it is likely to lead to imminent lawless action, has a "high threshold", he said.

This has allowed inflammatory speeches that are anti-Semitic and denigrate certain groups and religions to be protected. He gave the example of Congressman Steve King, who had praised the Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, who called the Prophet Muhammad a terrorist, among other things.

Over in Europe, some countries have broader prohibitions, but the restrictions vary. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the conviction of an Austrian woman for calling the Prophet Muhammad a paedophile did not violate her freedom of expression.

In Germany, laws prohibit the incitement of hatred against or insult of a racial or religious group. The glorification of Nazi rule is also criminalised. In Britain, it is a crime to incite hatred on the grounds of religion. However, it is permissible to ridicule, insult or abuse any religion, belief or practice and its followers.

Last year, it was reported that more than 25 per cent of Britons - over 12 million people - had witnessed hate speech. Most cases happened on social media and involved anti-immigrant or anti-refugee language, racist abuse or anti-Muslim comments. "The UK now finds itself fighting on two fronts: against right-wing extremists and Islamic extremists," said Mr Shanmugam.

In Singapore, the Internal Security Department will act, depending on the severity and possible consequences.

Mr Shanmugam said the country's approach against hate speech was crystallised by founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who said "no amount of troops would be able to stop the trouble if there was real hatred between the different communities".

Mr Shanmugam said he hoped the House would agree that hate speech in any form is unacceptable. "And that we should continue to prohibit hate speech and deal with it firmly, in the way we have done so far."

Lessons for social harmony from Christchurch and a cancelled concert
By Zakir Hussain, News Editor, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

The terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch last month may seem distant, but several members yesterday spoke of how it resonated closer to home during the debate on restricting hate speech to maintain racial and religious harmony in Singapore.

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) recounted visiting Merdeka Generation resident Zawiah Mohd Tahir, 69, who lost her eldest grandson Tariq Rashid in the attack, and had just returned from New Zealand.

What was heartening for Mr Saktiandi was that some members of the business community, who were not Muslim, and volunteers in the constituency banded together to help her cover the cost of her emergency flight so she could be with her family in a time of grief.

"I am reassured that our community is aware of the deadly effects of hate speech on one of our own and has offered help," he said. But he also hoped his resident's story raises awareness about how hate speech can have adverse consequences for anyone when they least expect it.

Such speech, he said, should never be normalised in Singapore.

For Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), a surprise WhatsApp message from a mosque chairman in his constituency the day after the attack highlighted what this Republic has to preserve.

Haji Azman Kassim shared how New Zealander Kim Forrester turned up at the mosque that day, in tears, as she felt the need to say sorry for the senseless massacre of innocent people in her country.

He acknowledged her sincerity, but said she did not need to apologise, and invited her to visit again and join the community for a break fast meal during Ramadan.

Why did she walk into a mosque here the day after the act? For Mr de Souza, it was clear: "We have something special in Singapore. She felt safe."

But as he and others noted, would Singapore have this environment of trust were organisations like the Home Team not constantly on the ground to prevent fractious disharmony in society?

Could decades of effort to not just build social trust, but restrict hate speech and keep a close watch on offensive speech, so that racial and religious harmony are not dented, come undone in a matter of months if not weeks? The answer is clear for Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam and many who spoke yesterday.

In a wide-ranging ministerial statement outlining the Government's approach to hate speech and offensive speech, Mr Shanmugam noted how Christchurch showed what hate speech could lead to. He also sought to explain in detail why the state had to act to cancel what was, to some, a hate-music concert that the authorities initially permitted under strict conditions.

In the case of the New Zealand attack, the Australian gunman was motivated by white supremacist ideology, which has proliferated online, often unchallenged.

Drawing on research to underline the danger of such vitriol, he said: "Hate speech desensitises individuals. It normalises behaviour we would otherwise consider unacceptable. It stokes anger and fear... It engages the amygdala, the brain centre for perception of threat. Once that is done, it is harder for people to control their emotions and think before they act."

Worse, individuals believe others are "not quite human". Distrust and contempt are built up. It becomes socially acceptable to discriminate and oppress the other group.

"Once it is normalised, the dehumanisation of the out-group is very difficult to reverse," he added.

There is no shortage of real-world examples that highlight the consequences of hate speech that has been left unchecked: the Holocaust, the Rwandan and Rohingya genocides, attacks on migrants in Europe.

Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC) teared up as she recounted curfews growing up in Malaysia in the 1960s as a result of racial conflicts fuelled by hate speech.

Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC) noted how tribal instincts have created mistrust, hostility and, in Christchurch, death and dissolution.

Given its emotive nature, music, in some cases, has been a powerful tool to spread hatred.

Across the Causeway, a music festival of right-wing Malay power bands - some of whom adopt Nazi slogans and gestures - slated to be held this month has been cancelled.

One question Mr Shanmugam posed to members cut to the chase: Does one have to wait until a Holocaust-type of nightmare against a particular group occurs before acting against hate speech?

While Singapore has made strides in racial and religious harmony, faultlines remain and run deep, he said. Recent surveys show that two-thirds feel discussions on race are disconcerting as they can be offensive and lead to tension.

It is with this backdrop in mind that the Government decided to ultimately cancel Swedish black metal group Watain's concert, after considering the deep concern and offence many mainstream Christian leaders and others felt.

The move sparked controversy over what some saw as a crimp on free expression. But as Mr Shanmugam noted: Singapore's current harmony is not natural, but engineered over many decades.

"We brooked no agitation on race and religion," he said.

This is not a settled state.



Mr Shanmugam closed the debate by citing from the moving eulogy of the imam of one of the targeted Christchurch mosques.

"We need to step forward on hate speech, we need to deal decisively with offensive speech so that someone will not have to make this eulogy in Singapore," he said. "But if it happens, I hope we will be able to respond in the same way that the New Zealanders have done."

Much work lies ahead to maintain Singapore's social harmony.

But MPs also noted that just as music has been weaponised to spread hate, it can be used to counter hate speech, and to strengthen the wider community - by reminding people of their duty on this front, and of time-tested principles to uphold harmony.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Sun Xueling cited American folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan: "A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom."

And Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Faishal Ibrahim quoted local rock icon Ramli Sarip: "Don't you listen to a false poem/because it ruins your soul/Listen to poems of old/that have been brought down today."

Two out of three Singaporeans back Government's move to cancel Watain concert
That was the finding from govt poll of 680 Singaporeans; 86% of Christians supported ban
By Eddino Abdul Hadi, Music Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

The Government decided to cancel the permit for Watain's concert last month when it received reports that mainstream Christians were very concerned and offended by the band, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday.

And a survey of Singaporeans by government feedback unit Reach found that two in three supported the move, he noted. Among Christians, 86 per cent were supportive of the move to disallow the concert, the Reach poll found.

"The initial assessment was that if they do not perform offensively in Singapore, it should be okay," he noted. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officers found otherwise.

"My officers and I take in account both the reaction of the Christian community and the consequent security issues in the medium and longer term," he said. "When we concluded that was the mainstream, widespread Christian view, and assessed the consequent security issues, we decided that the concert had to be cancelled," he added.



Reach polled 680 Singapore citizens aged 15 and above from March 11 to 15, a few days after the concert was cancelled hours before it was to take place on March 7.

Speaking in Parliament on restricting hate speech to maintain racial and religious harmony, Mr Shanmugam said the Info-comm Media Development Authority (IMDA) received an application for the concert at the end of December.

MHA was informed of the application and objected to the concert.

IMDA then requested a reconsideration of MHA's position and proposed detailed requirements for the concert. These included an R18 rating, no religious symbols used during the concert, no references to religion in the band's on-stage dialogue, no content that denigrated any faith or promoted any cult practices, and no ritualistic or satanic acts.

MHA told IMDA that while it was still concerned, it would leave it to IMDA to decide on issuing a restricted licence. IMDA did so on March 5. On March 7, two days before the concert, MHA asked IMDA to consider cancelling the concert. IMDA did so.



Mr Shanmugam said MHA had received reports that mainstream Christians were very concerned and offended by the band. MHA officers met Christian leaders and leaders of other religions, and MPs - both Christian and non-Christian - gave feedback. Mr Shanmugam made the judgment call to cancel.

He pointed to Watain's song lyrics that denigrate Christianity and controversial statements by Watain singer Erik Danielsson. The singer once told an interviewer that he "totally encourages any kind of terrorist acts committed in the name of Watain, absolutely, that's the way rock 'n' roll works".

Mr Shanmugam said: "He knows that his music attracts fanatics with extreme ideas. He is aware of the lawlessness, violence, crime, madness that can follow."

He also noted that Mr Danielsson had said he had "always been encouraging music to take a physical form". The singer had also cited church burnings in Norway in the early 1990s and said: "To me, it's the very natural consequences of rock 'n' roll, in the end, being the Devil's music."

MPs back cancellation of Watain concert, but question last-minute reversal
By Eddino Abdul Hadi, Music Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Several MPs backed the move to ban Watain's performance, but hoped there will not be a repeat of the last-minute cancellation.

Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) said revoking the concert licence was a valid move. "The track record of Watain and its nonchalance towards acts of terrorism, and going beyond its onstage satanic rituals into the realm of lawlessness and criminal activity are, to say the least, very disturbing."

But while singer Erik Danielsson's blatant anti-Christian views and his encouragement of church burning are highly alarming and offensive, it was unfortunate the decision came just before the event.

"For that, an apology is due... But for the Government to go ahead with the concert just because it was initially approved, after knowing what it now knows, would have been a wrong decision," she said.

Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) said it was ironic the cancellation brought far more attention to the band. He noted local black metal bands had been around for years and foreign black metal bands had been allowed to perform. "How will the IMDA assess applications for black metal groups in future?" he asked.

"Instead of a hard policy such as bans, a graduated approach (with) a range of conditions like that done by IMDA in its original assessment of the Watain concert would better reflect the compromises required to create and sustain as accommodating and robust a common public space as possible," he said.

Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam replied that the population is dynamic. "Reactions change over periods of time. And we have to assess it with the facts we have." He added there was no change in how agencies approached these issues.

Nominated MP Terence Ho suggested the agencies responsible for licensing coordinate better to prevent last-minute decision changes.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is concerned with the maintenance of racial and religious harmony as it can impact public order.

"In the ban on Watain, there is no value judgment on black metal music," she said. "MHA was principally concerned about the words and the message... put out by the band, and the feelings, in this case, from the mainstream Christian community. It was not a value judgment on the genre of music."

Watain Singapore concert ban: Look at broader consequences, says Shanmugam
By Eddino Abdul Hadi, Music Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam recognises that some Singaporeans disagree with the move to ban Watain's concert, but asks that they consider whether they would be willing to accept the broader consequences of their position.

"The larger picture is not about whether the Government should tell you what music you can or cannot listen to. You can listen to Watain through Spotify, for example, at least for now," he said.

"The issue here is about whether the Government should give Watain a licence to perform publicly in Singapore. The Government has a responsibility not just to the individuals who like the music, but also the majority of Singaporeans who would be offended."

If Watain was allowed to perform, there would not be grounds to ban others with similar messages. "You will then still have a lot of hate speech in the mainstream, through entertainment," he added.



He asked if those unhappy with the ban would be willing to agree that hate speech and hate music can cause deep divisions, and that over time, the fault lines of race and religion could become greater.

"Would they be willing to say: I accept that... similar concerts and entertainment attacking Islam, Buddhism and other religions should also be allowed?"

Mr Shanmugam also asked if they would allow "Malay power" music, which calls for an end of immigration to Malaysia and for non-Malays to be expelled, and draws inspiration from Nazi Germany.

Should "Chinese power" music, which does not exist now, be allowed? Why not go further, he said, citing the Danish cartoons that denigrated Prophet Muhammad and saw violent global protests.

Those who are willing to accept the consequences will be in the small minority, Mr Shanmugam said. "I don't think many Singaporeans will support that position."

He also noted that the Government "can't and won't ban everything" but will be "fair, even-handed, and it has to be practical".

But he reiterated that where hate speech and offensive speech that vast numbers in any community find deeply wounding are concerned, the Government will not hesitate to take action. "I hope we would always have a Government that insists on doing the right thing to protect any community in Singapore, no matter how small, no matter what the majority might feel."

Practise 'give and take', says Grace Fu
By Melody Zaccheus, Heritage and Community Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Every Singaporean has to be accommodating and practise "give and take", Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu has said.

"This means giving up a bit of one's own space and comfort for others, but in return, we can expect others to do the same for us," Ms Fu told Parliament during the debate on restricting hate speech to maintain racial and religious harmony.

She said Singapore cannot just depend on law enforcement to forge a united people. "A strong cohesive society starts from tolerance, and over time, moves to accommodation. From accommodation, we progress to an appreciation of commonalities and differences," she said yesterday.

"Finally, friendships built on goodwill, trust and confidence in one another will form, and must form. It... requires continued effort."

The strong community relations Singapore enjoys today are neither by accident nor by the laws of nature, Ms Fu pointed out.

Singapore chose to build a nation based on everyone having an equal place in society. She noted the ethnic enclaves established naturally by Singapore's immigrant forefathers when they first arrived in the 1820s, and the years leading up to independence in 1965 where riots and other events threatened to tear society apart.

"We strove to enable every community to have its own space to practise its culture and customs. At the same time, we sought to maximise our common space so that Singaporeans can live, work and play side by side in mutual respect, sharing common experiences and growing a sense of shared identity," she said.

She highlighted activities supported by or under her ministry that can contribute to a cohesive society. Among them is the Ask Me Anything community-led series of conversations where religious leaders take turns to clarify common misconceptions about their beliefs and practices, and discuss sensitive issues.

The arts, as well as museums and heritage institutions, also serve as platforms to grow appreciation of universal commonalities while recognising differences, she added.

And sports activities like those at Outward Bound Singapore help build strong bonds across all walks of life.

Referencing Singapore's ongoing Unesco bid to list hawker culture as an intangible cultural heritage, she noted that life could be worse off if Singapore's hawker centres all sold food from one single race, or if Singaporeans could not sit together with friends of other races to eat.

"Fortunately, we can have food from all races, all at one hawker centre, catering to different dietary requirements and together with our friends and neighbours of different races and religions," she said.

No ban on things just because some people find them offensive: Shanmugam
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 3 Apr 2019

People may find many things offensive, but that does not mean the Government will ban all of them, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday.

He was responding to a Facebook post by Workers' Party MP Chen Show Mao which had given some people the impression that certain songs with offensive lyrics would be banned.

"People who did not listen to the speech may misunderstand that the list contains songs which have been banned or are going to be banned. All of that is untrue," said Mr Shanmugam, who on Monday gave a ministerial statement in Parliament on restricting hate speech to maintain racial and religious harmony in Singapore.



Mr Chen had posted a picture of a list of four songs with offensive lyrics handed out in Parliament on Monday, with the caption: "Lesson of the day. Ministerial handouts."

The songs included pop hits like Ariana Grande's God Is A Woman and Lady Gaga's Judas. Heresy by rock band Nine Inch Nails and Take Me To Church by Irish musician Hozier were on the list too.

Mr Shanmugam said the list was to illustrate what people might find offensive. "Doesn't mean that it can all get banned just because some people find it offensive," he said.

Yesterday evening, Mr Chen, an MP for Aljunied GRC, responded to say the illustration of the offensive lyrics raises several questions.

"Should we allow unrestricted offensive speech in general mainstream discourse, in religion, politics, media and entertainment, even if it is not hate speech?" he wrote. "If we agree that there have to be restrictions on offensive speech even when it is not strictly speaking hate speech, what should be the extent of the restrictions?"



Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Mathew Mathews noted that there are different degrees of offensiveness.

"A fair number of Christians have come to accept that some artistic expressions may ridicule some aspects of their faith," he said. "They probably are not happy with that but have come to expect and accept that. But there will certainly be art forms which are deeply offensive."

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said that what the Government "is signalling is that there should instead be a focus on responsible speech, given our social make-up".

In his parliamentary speech, Mr Shanmugam said that when assessing potentially offensive speech, the authorities also consider who is speaking, where it is being delivered and the reach. He added: "We have to assess where the weight of mainstream opinion lies."

Related
Ministerial Statement on Restricting Hate Speech to Maintain Racial and Religious Harmony in Singapore, Speech by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law -1 Apr 2019

Wrap-up Speech by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, on the Ministerial Statement on Restricting Hate Speech to Maintain Racial and Religious Harmony -1 Apr 2019

Restricting Hate Speech to Maintain Racial and Religous Harmony, Speech by Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development -1 Apr 2019

New Bill to Protect Society from Online Falsehoods and Malicious Actors -1 Apr 2019

Singapore to introduce new law to prevent spread of fake news; the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill introduced in Parliament on 1 Apr 2019

Doxxing set to be outlawed under changes to harassment laws to deter online vigilantism

April 8, 2019, 7:21 am

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Practice of doxxing set to be outlawed but observers see challenges ahead
Online vigilantes' practice of publishing personal info of individuals online set to be outlawed, but observers see challenges ahead
By Cara Wong, The Sunday Times, 7 Apr 2019

Many have been shamed publicly, some received death threats, others lost their jobs, and a number have even fled the country - all because they have been "doxxed".

Online vigilantes have "doxxed" these individuals by publishing their personal information online - in the pursuit of justice or malicious fun - after viewing them as perpetrators in incidents usually involving public spats, ungracious behaviour or offending online posts.

In making public information such as the individuals' names, contact numbers, addresses or employment details on online forums or social media, the aim is to cause and facilitate harassment, violence or fear of violence towards such victims.

This practice of "doxxing" is now set to be outlawed with the amendments to the Protection from Harassment Act introduced last Monday to plug an existing gap in the legislation that only forbids using abusive and insulting language and behaviour to harass a victim.

But observers say the new law may face challenges in implementation, citing several grey areas that have to be clarified, such as how to define "doxxing" and how to determine culpability.

Professor David Tan of National University of Singapore's (NUS) law faculty said a big challenge is to define what constitutes permissible online shaming and what would be harassment.

For example, simply identifying a person who parked in a disabled parking space should be allowed.

But a post that includes a call to action - such as urging others to share contact details of such an inconsiderate person to make prank calls or food deliveries - would be "doxxing" and is forbidden, said Prof Tan, who teaches courses in privacy and data protection law.

However, complications arise in determining whether an act is "doxxing" or not, as it depends on the context in which the comments are made, said lawyers and experts.



One potential loophole could be when a netizen does not make a call to action to harass the victim but merely posts identifiable details about a person along with an angry comment, said lawyer Lionel Tan.

Mr Tan said the netizen behind such a post could argue that the information was meant to shame the person into changing his behaviour.

As there is no real threat of violence or harassment, the defence could argue the predominant intent was not to harass the person, said Mr Tan, who specialises in social media at law firm Rajah and Tann.

However, even if the original publisher argues he did not intend to harass the victim by publishing details such as his name and a video of him driving dangerously, other netizens may interpret his original post differently and take action, he added.

The prosecution could still make a case if it establishes that it is clear, from the circumstances, that the publisher knew or ought to know that his acts would have resulted in harassment, said Mr Tan.

Criminal lawyer Joel Ng said that in certain scenarios, the prosecution may have to rely heavily on the type of information revealed to demonstrate the person's intent.

It would be obvious when netizens post information, like phone numbers or addresses, that provides avenues for the person to be contacted and harassed, he added.

"These are the certain kinds of information which would be very difficult for one to say that they can't reasonably expect harassment to occur as a result of it," said Mr Ng.

The offence should still stand if the identifiable information is already available online, like through the person's public Facebook page or workplace address, he added.

"Just because certain information can be found publicly doesn't mean that you should still post them to the world at large," he said.

DEFINING CULPABILITY

Others still worry that the new law would ensnare third-party sites on which online vigilantes operate.

The site moderators of Facebook page SMRT Feedback by The Vigilanteh, which is home to such self-styled vigilantes since it started in 2014, said they have tried to prevent readers from "doxxing" people in the videos they post.

In a recent incident where a woman accused her Gojek driver of kidnapping her following a dispute over the travel route, netizens "doxxed" the woman and published her full name and employment details, despite warnings from the site moderators.

"As it is, we all have our own day jobs and we don't have moderators who are able to monitor comments 24/7," said an administrator, declining to be named, who helps run the site that began "vigilante work" to expedite the course of justice by sharing videos and articles as well as posting about everyday issues.

"If an incriminating comment is posted and we don't discover it, we are concerned that the courts will still consider us liable."

Lawyer Lionel Tan said it is possible that such sites may be liable if they republish the original publisher's harassment-inducing content. It depends if it can be shown that these sites intended to cause harassment by doing so, he added.

According to Dr Carol Soon, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, people engage in "doxxing" because it is an easy and risk-free way for them to right a wrong behaviour or situation.

"Technology has given people a too-easy way out to call out unacceptable behaviour - they take pictures and videos of the perpetrator and post them online for the general public who then serve as jury and judge," said Dr Soon, who is a member of the Media Literacy Council.

Prominent "doxxing" cases she cited include Briton Anton Casey, the man who was "doxxed" in 2014, after he made disparaging comments on social media about poor people on public transport.

Netizens found his employment details, supervisor's contact and residential address within hours of his posts, and Mr Casey ended up losing his job and fleeing Singapore after receiving death threats.

Last year, netizens also dug up information on the BMW driver who refused to pay for an unwanted fuel top-up, and they published his full name, work address and phone number online.

He was reported to have received many nuisance calls, SMSes and WhatsApp messages, and he later filed a police report as he was worried for the safety of his family.

The new law could deter such online vigilantism that causes distress and fear of harm, said Dr Soon.

CHALLENGES

However, some also worry that, like all cybercrimes, it would be difficult to nab perpetrators who can hide in the shadows of the Internet by using technology such as virtual private networks.

Said NUS' law dean Simon Chesterman: "If an individual is motivated and technically competent, it is possible to publish truly threatening information without it being traceable."

Where a person's personal information is published to cause harassment, alarm or distress, perpetrators will face a maximum sentence of a $5,000 fine and a six-month jail term. In instances where the information is published to cause fear of violence or facilitate violence, or where the perpetrator has reasonable cause to believe that would be so, they can be fined $5,000 or jailed for up to 12 months

Criminal lawyer Rajan Supramaniam said the police need to be given resources and training to identify "doxxing", which is already difficult to establish as it involves proving ill intentions.

But Professor Chesterman also said there needs to be a clear line drawn between what is the "normal cut and thrust of Internet discourse and online vigilantism".

Citing how the legislation calls for proof in intention to cause harassment, alarm and distress, he said: "That threshold will need to be set high if it is to avoid unnecessarily chilling any post with 'identity information' - which is defined as including a person's name or photograph."

Additional reporting by Euodia Chi

The debate over doxxing: People never let me forget, says Amy Cheong
By Cara Wong, The Sunday Times, 7 Apr 2019

It has been seven years since her racially insensitive online post about weddings held at HDB void decks, but Ms Amy Cheong still constantly gets reminded of what she did.

The reminders come from strangers who send her messages that are "not very nice" though no longer threatening, compared to those she received back in 2012.

Also, her name continues to be brought up as an example of offensive speech that Singapore needs to guard against, like it did again on Monday when Parliament held a debate over hate speech.

At the same sitting, a "doxxing" offence was also tabled as part of changes to the Protection from Harassment Act that would criminalise the publication of one's personally identifiable information in a bid to deter online vigilantism, which also triggered references to what Ms Cheong experienced from netizens.

Speaking to The Sunday Times over the phone, Ms Cheong said she has been punished over and over again for hurting others with her words, and now hopes to move on - and away from the spotlight.

"Whatever goes online will always be there; a Google search is all they need. It's a perpetual sentence in a virtual prison for me," said Ms Cheong, who hears from friends and family whenever her name appears as an example in the media.

Ms Cheong shot to infamy here in October 2012 for her expletive-filled private Facebook post complaining about a lengthy Malay wedding at a void deck, and she was deemed to have mocked the divorce rate among Malays.

The post was circulated online by one of her friends then, where it quickly gained traction with netizens who branded her a racist and dug out details on her employment and family background.

Immediately after the posts, people called for the then 37-year-old to be sacked from her job as an assistant director at the National Trades Union Congress, and hurled threats at her both online and offline.

She was soon dismissed from the labour movement.



Till this day, that single moment of indiscretion - made in a moment of frustration - has relentlessly haunted not just her, but the people around her, Ms Cheong told The Sunday Times.

Even after she left Singapore shortly after, people tracked her down and harassed her at her home and online, said Ms Cheong, who was a permanent resident here.

Ms Cheong said she regrets making the post and added that she never meant it in a racist way.

"My statement, although stemming from frustration and posted on my private Facebook page, was no doubt inappropriate and it is the only thing I have ever regretted doing in my life.

"I have come to recognise first-hand how much damage it can cause - when you put something insensitive online, you lose control of where it goes, how it mutates, or how it is interpreted thereafter," she said.

Adding that it has been a painful and humbling journey with no end in sight, Ms Cheong has learnt to take precautions to protect herself and those around her.

She declined to give details on her current whereabouts, family background and employment, fearing that others might find and harass her.

"I have gone from being a heart-and-soul career woman to someone still trying to accept the fact that a traditional corporate path is now beyond my reach," said Ms Cheong, speaking for the first time to Singapore media since 2013.

Till today, she said she feels a deep sense of shame for herself and those around her, and she lives in fear that she will have to face criticisms and judgments any time this subject comes up again.

"It is horrifying to go from being an extremely private person to being so publicly exposed. Even till today, the weight of people's judgment can be so crushing, but that is the price to be paid and I accept that," said Ms Cheong.

In her darkest moments, she sought solace in her Christian faith, and said it is her faith that has helped her to accept her past and move forward every day.

There have also been many instances where she has received support and help when it seemed there is no light at the end of the tunnel, she said. "The capacity to care and to be kind is certainly still out there," she added.

Ms Cheong said she wants to have some form of closure on this matter.

"It is heart-wrenching to see my name crop up again and again as an example for anything related to this topic, whether indirectly or directly in Singapore," she said. "There are really no second chances to be had and no way to turn back."

Having experienced first-hand the aftermath of online vigilantism, she hopes the new "doxxing" offence would bring "the fair powers of justice back into the rightful hands of the system".

Ms Cheong also hopes that others will "think 10 times" before they post something online, as "a sentence or a paragraph can never describe your mindset, intentions or actions in a watertight manner".

Also, online vigilantism can bring about a punishment that knows no boundaries, she added.

"Ultimately, no law can prevent unkindness or inhumanity. Only when society practises the will to be kind to each other, only then will things change," said Ms Cheong.

"I am speaking out today because if my story can stop just one person from saying or doing something that will bring about the same pain, then that is what I will do."

Parliament: 'Doxxing' set to be outlawed under changes to harassment laws to deter online vigilantism
Online vigilantes who publish others' details could face jail
By Cara Wong, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

When public spats go viral on social media, some online vigilantes will dig up information about their victims and post it on public forums.

Such actions - known as doxxing - could soon lead to fines or jail with the proposed introduction of a new offence which criminalises the act of publishing identifiable information about a person to harass, cause violence or fear of violence to the person.

It is part of a slew of proposed changes to the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) introduced in Parliament yesterday by Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong.

The Act provides criminal and civil remedies against harassment, and was enacted in 2014.

"In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of an individual's personal information being consolidated and published online with a view to harassing the said individual," the Law Ministry said in a statement.

"The amendments will prohibit the publication of such personal information where it is done with an intention to harass the victim," it added.

Personal information includes names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, passwords, photographs or even information about the individual's family, employment or education.

Examples of "doxxing", as outlined by the Law Ministry, include: Falsely declaring that a person is a "prostitute" on social media and including the person's photos and contact details to incite others to harass her, or posting a video of a person containing his contact information and calling for others to threaten or attack the person.

In situations where personal information is published to cause harassment, alarm or distress, the maximum sentence is a $5,000 fine and six-month jail term.

Where the information is published to cause fear of violence or facilitate violence, or where the perpetrator has reasonable cause to believe that would be so, perpetrators can be fined $5,000 or jailed up to 12 months.

Only individuals can be victims of "doxxing", the Law Ministry said, and not entities such as companies or organisations.

While lawyers and experts welcomed the introduction of the new offence, some also raised concerns over administrative matters such as how the police would be able to recognise and nab the "doxxers".

"Because of the flexible and dynamic nature of cyber crimes, without the proper awareness and training, it can be a challenge for the authorities to enforce the law," said lawyer Rajan Supramaniam.

Mr Gregory Vijayendran, president of the Law Society, also noted that it would not be easy for the prosecution to prove that someone is guilty of "doxxing", as there are several elements that they have to prove, including the person's animus towards the victim.

"There is a concern from the prosecutors' point of view, how do you prove these elements, when they are all matters relating to the person's state of mind?" said Mr Vijayendran.

However, the new offence could hopefully help to stimulate the right kind of Internet etiquette as it functions as an "out of bounds" marker, he added. "That way it does encourage some kind of responsible behaviour online," he said.

Associate Professor of Law Goh Yihan noted that netizens have little to worry about if they practise good Internet etiquette and post responsibly with empathy.

Prof Goh said: "The aim of these amendments is not to chill public discourse, but rather, to improve the quality of public discourse by ensuring that, among others, the wide reach of social media is not wrongly used to cause harassment or alarm to anyone in particular."




EXAMPLES OF DOXXING PROVIDED BY LAW MINISTRY

Doxxing is:

• When you publish a social media post abusing and insulting another person on his or her alleged sexual promiscuity, and include the person's photos and contact details to facilitate identification or contact.

• When you post identifiable information of a person on social media and encourage others to "teach him a lesson".

• When you post identifiable information of a person on a website or comment thread, where others have been calling for that person to be identified so he can be threatened or attacked.

• When you post a video of a publicly known person, including his contact information, and call for others to threaten or attack the person.


Doxxing is not:

• Posting a video of a person driving recklessly on an online forum, with the intent to warn people to drive safely.

• Posting a video of a public dispute on a video-sharing platform, along with a factual account of what you observed.

• Sharing a person's information with emergency services or other public authorities for necessary action to be taken.

• Posting a video of a publicly known person in an interview, where he is being asked questions about publicly known facts.

More court protection for victims of online falsehoods
By Cara Wong, The Straits Times, 2 Apr 2019

Individuals and companies which cannot get their harassers to take down false statements about them online can turn to the courts for corrections to be posted, under a proposed law introduced in Parliament yesterday.

When the falsehood is deemed or likely to have caused serious harm to the applicant's reputation, the courts can also order third parties - such as a media outlet - to publish the correction and draw people's attention to it.

Another change, spelt out in the Protection from Harassment (Amendment) Bill, will allow the courts to make interim orders to stop the spread of false statements. The courts will aim to hear this within 24 hours of the victim's application.

"As false statements can go viral extremely quickly, the courts will be empowered to make relevant interim orders to provide victims with urgent relief," the Law Ministry said in a statement on the Bill.

It will also clarify that the courts can order Internet intermediaries like Facebook which have been used to spread falsehoods to issue corrections to viewers.

Besides posting the correction to those who accessed the false statement, the Internet intermediaries could also be ordered by the courts to distribute the correction to past viewers of it.

These will be in addition to the courts' existing powers to order the original publisher of the false statements and Internet intermediaries to intervene.

While the courts can order the original publisher to post a correction and stop publishing falsehoods, Internet intermediaries like Facebook can also be ordered to disable access to the false statements.

As of December last year, 11 applications have been filed under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) to take down or correct false statements of fact, said the Law Ministry. The Act was enacted in 2014 and offers civil remedies for false statements of fact.

In 2017, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Government cannot invoke the anti-harassment law that allows persons to stop the publication of false statements against them in a case that hinged on the narrow legal question of whether the Government could be considered a "person" under POHA.

The amendments clarify that both individuals and entities - which include companies and organisations, but not government bodies - have access to remedies under POHA, said the Law Ministry.

Government bodies will have to turn to a draft law, which was also introduced in Parliament yesterday, to exercise measures similar to those in the amended POHA.

The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill is aimed at tackling the spread of fake news.

"In an infinite online landscape, entities are just as vulnerable as individuals where falsehoods are concerned," said the Law Ministry's statement on the Protection from Harassment (Amendment) Bill.

"A corporate entity's reputation can be ruined in days if falsehoods about the entity are allowed to go unchecked. The Bill provides recourse to entities when they are the victims of falsehoods."

Related
Are online vigilantes going too far?: The lure of the shame game

Hate speech: Singapore is prepared to err on the side of caution to preserve racial harmony, says Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam

Singapore to introduce new law to prevent spread of fake news; the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill introduced in Parliament on 1 Apr 2019

Enhancements to the Protection from Harassment Act (“POHA”) -1 Apr 2019

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The moral peril in the meritocratic race

April 10, 2019, 6:45 am

≫ Next: 15 percent of Singaporeans find Muslims threatening

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By David Brooks, Published The Straits Times, 9 Apr 2019

Many of the people I admire lead lives that have a two-mountain shape. They got out of school, began their career, started a family and identified the mountain they thought they were meant to climb - I'm going to be an entrepreneur, a doctor, a cop. They did the things society encourages us to do, like make a mark, become successful, buy a home, raise a family, pursue happiness.

People on the first mountain spend a lot of time on reputation management. They ask: What do people think of me? Where do I rank? They're trying to win the victories the ego enjoys.

These hustling years are also powerfully shaped by our individualistic and meritocratic culture. People operate under this assumption: I can make myself happy. If I achieve excellence, lose more weight, follow this self-improvement technique, fulfilment will follow.

But in the lives of the people I'm talking about - the ones I really admire - something happened that interrupted the linear existence they had imagined for themselves. Something happened that exposed the problem with living according to individualistic, meritocratic values.

Some of them achieved success and found it unsatisfying. They figured there must be more to life, some higher purpose. Others failed. They lost their job or endured some scandal. Suddenly they were falling, not climbing, and their whole identity was in peril.

Yet another group of people got hit sideways by something that wasn't part of the original plan. They had a cancer scare or suffered the loss of a child. These tragedies made the first-mountain victories seem, well, not so important.

Life had thrown them into the valley, as it throws most of us into the valley at one point or another. They were suffering and adrift.

Some people are broken by this kind of pain and grief. They seem to get smaller and more afraid, and never recover. They get angry, resentful and tribal.

But other people are broken open.

Theologian Paul Tillich wrote that suffering upends the normal patterns of life and reminds you that you are not who you thought you were. The basement of your soul is much deeper than you knew. Some people look into the hidden depths of themselves and they realise that success won't fill those spaces. Only a spiritual life and unconditional love from family and friends will do. They realise how lucky they are. They are down in the valley, but their health is okay; they're not financially destroyed; they're about to be dragged on an adventure that will leave them transformed.

They realise that while our educational system generally prepares us for climbing this or that mountain, your life is actually defined by how you make use of your moment of greatest adversity.

So how does moral renewal happen? How do you move from a life based on bad values to a life based on better ones?

First, there has to be a period of solitude, in the wilderness, where self-reflection can occur.

"What happens when a 'gifted child' finds himself in a wilderness where he's stripped away of any way of proving his worth?" Belden Lane asks in Backpacking With The Saints.

What happens where there is no audience, nothing he can achieve? He crumbles. The ego dissolves. "Only then is he able to be loved."

That's the key point here. The self-centred voice of the ego has to be quieted before a person is capable of freely giving and receiving love.

Then there is contact with the heart and soul - through prayer, meditation, writing, whatever it is that puts you in contact with your deepest desires.

"In the deeps are the violence and terror of which psychology has warned us," Annie Dillard writes in Teaching A Stone To Talk. "But if you ride these monsters deeper down, if you drop with them farther over the world's rim, you find what our sciences cannot locate or name, the substrate, the ocean or matrix or ether which buoys the rest, which gives goodness its power for good, and evil its power for evil, the unified field: our complex and inexplicable caring for each other."

In the wilderness the desire for esteem is stripped away and bigger desires are made visible: The desires of the heart (to live in loving connection with others) and the desires of the soul (the yearning to serve some transcendent ideal and to be sanctified by that service).

When people are broken open in this way, they are more sensitive to the pains and joys of the world. They realise: Oh, that first mountain wasn't my mountain. I am ready for a larger journey.

Some people radically change their lives at this point. They quit corporate jobs and teach elementary school. They dedicate themselves to some social or political cause. I know a woman whose son committed suicide. She says that the scared, self-conscious woman she used to be died with him. She found her voice and helps families in crisis. I recently met a guy who used to be a banker. That failed to satisfy, and now he helps men coming out of prison. I once corresponded with a man from Australia who lost his wife, a tragedy that occasioned a period of reflection. He wrote: "I feel almost guilty about how significant my own growth has been as a result of my wife's death."

Perhaps most of the people who have emerged from a setback stay in their same jobs, with their same lives, but they are different. It's not about self anymore; it's about relation, it's about the giving yourself away. Their joy is in seeing others shine.

In their book Practical Wisdom, Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe tell the story of a hospital janitor named Luke. In Luke's hospital, there was a young man who'd got into a fight and was now in a permanent coma. The young man's father sat with him every day in silent vigil and every day, Luke cleaned the room. But one day, the father was out for a smoke when Luke cleaned it.

Later that afternoon, the father found Luke and snapped at him for not cleaning the room. The first-mountain response is to see your job as cleaning rooms. Luke could have snapped back: I did clean the room. You were out smoking.

The second-mountain response is to see your job as serving patients and their families. In that case you'd go back in the room and clean it again, so that the father could have the comfort of seeing you do it. And that's what Luke did.

If the first mountain is about building up the ego and defining the self, the second is about shedding the ego and dissolving the self. If the first mountain is about acquisition, the second mountain is about contribution.

On the first mountain, personal freedom is celebrated - keeping your options open, absence of restraint. But the perfectly free life is the unattached and unremembered life. Freedom is not an ocean you want to swim in; it is a river you want to cross so that you can plant yourself on the other side.

So the person on the second mountain is making commitments. People who have made a commitment to a town, a person, an institution or a cause have cast their lot and burned the bridges behind them. They have made a promise without expecting a return. They are all in.

I can now usually recognise first-and second-mountain people. The former have an ultimate allegiance to self; the latter have an ultimate allegiance to some commitment. I can recognise first-and second-mountain organisations, too. In some organisations, people are there to serve their individual self-interests - draw a salary. But other organisations demand that you surrender to a shared cause and so change your very identity. You become a Marine, a Morehouse Man.

I've been describing moral renewal in personal terms but of course, whole societies and cultures can swop bad values for better ones.

I think we all realise that the hatred, fragmentation and disconnection in our society are not just a political problem. They stem from some moral and spiritual crisis.

We don't treat one another well. And the truth is that 60 years of a hyper-individualistic first-mountain culture have weakened the bonds between people. They've dissolved the shared moral cultures that used to restrain capitalism and the meritocracy.

Over the past few decades, the individual, the self, has been at the centre. The second-mountain people are leading us towards a culture that puts relationships at the centre. They ask us to measure our lives by the quality of our attachments, to see that life is a qualitative endeavour, not a quantitative one. They ask us to see others at their full depths, and not just as a stereotype, and to have the courage to lead with vulnerability.

These second-mountain people are leading us into a new culture. Culture change happens when a small group of people find a better way to live and the rest of us copy them. These second-mountain people have found it.

Their moral revolution points us towards a different goal. On the first mountain, we shoot for happiness, but on the second mountain, we are rewarded with joy.

What's the difference? Happiness involves a victory for the self. It happens as we move towards our goals. You get a promotion. You have a delicious meal.

Joy involves the transcendence of self. When you're on the second mountain, you realise we aim too low. We compete to get near a little sunlamp, but if we lived differently, we could feel the glow of real sunshine. On the second mountain, you see that happiness is good, but joy is better.

NYTIMES

15 percent of Singaporeans find Muslims threatening

April 10, 2019, 7:22 am

≫ Next: 9th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat on 9 April 2019

≪ Previous: The moral peril in the meritocratic race

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Probe ripples under surface calm of 'racial harmony'
Issues like Islamophobia in Singapore require us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and have honest dialogues
By Tee Zhuo, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

Racial and religious harmony is an ideal deeply ingrained in our national consciousness. When an issue disrupts our self-image of a socially harmonious society, you can expect Singaporeans to react strongly.

So when a recent survey showed that15 per cent of Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) find Muslims threatening, it drew an overwhelmingly negative response online.

Many commenters labelled that finding “fake news” and said it stirred up issues where there were none. Some even asked for a Straits Times article on it to be taken down.

The finding was from a recent Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) study on religion based on face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative random sample of 1,800 residents late last year. One question was: “Do you consider those belonging to the following groups as threatening or non-threatening?”

Buddhists were seen as the least threatening; 2.8 per cent of respondents found them very or somewhat threatening, followed by Hindus (4.2 per cent ), atheists (5.1 per cent), Jews (5.3 per cent), Christians (6.5 per cent), and Muslims (15.6 per cent).

An ST article on the finding shared on Facebook attracted hundreds of “angry” reactions and now has over 1,600 irate comments.

A typical comment was: “Who even allowed this to be published? Irresponsible journalism. In this climate, such an article is totally uncalled for. Please take it down!”

Several said publishing the finding was “dangerous”, “divisive” and “insensitive”.

Such reactions, to my mind, point to a certain desire to be protective of racial and religious harmony, and a perception that the finding is inimical to it. To be sure, the intensity of the sentiment is not a bad thing in itself. We are, understandably, fiercely protective of an ideal that has guided diverse Singaporeans to co-exist peacefully for years.

But beneath the desire to protect “harmony”, I wonder if the angry response to the finding is also the result of Singapore having been “too” successful in maintaining social peace, so much so that any negative fact or feeling around race and religion proves highly discomfiting.

When the surface of a lake is too calm, any ripple can cause unease. Indeed, two-thirds (66 per cent) of those surveyed in a different 2016 Channel NewsAsia-IPS study felt that talking about racial issues causes “unnecessary tension”.

ISLAMOPHOBIA IN SINGAPORE

The value of the IPS survey is that it confronts Singaporeans with an unpalatable truth: That Islamophobia is a fact of life in Singapore.

Seeing Muslims as threats is a classic example of Islamophobia, or prejudice based on an irrational fear of Islam and Muslims.

It was not just that 15 per cent here found Muslims threatening. This figure was more than double the number of people who found Christians threatening, and about thrice the respective numbers for Hindus, atheists and Jews.

IPS senior research fellow Mathew Mathews said last month that the frequent association of global terror with Muslims may have fed into some minds here.

Media coverage after an attack is a factor, IPS research associate Leonard Lim told ST last week.

“Extremists and terrorists, as the Christchurch attack showed, can come from any race or religion,” said Mr Lim, who co-authored the recent IPS study with Dr Mathews and research assistant Shanthini Selvarajan. “But media portrayals since 9/11 have cast Muslims in a negative light, often unfairly singling them out,” he added.

Indeed, an Economist article last month said that attacks by neo-Nazis and white supremacists actually outnumbered those committed by Islamists in the United States from 2010 to 2017.



Singapore is not exempt from the growing global climate of Islamophobia– despite our self-perception as a multicultural, religiously harmonious haven.

Last month, the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs said it was seeing more anti-Muslim sentiment on local social media. It also found more instances of micro-aggression and discrimination against the community.

In January, a man was arrested for scrawling racial slurs about Malays and Muslims at a sheltered walkway near Aljunied MRT station.

In a similar 2017 incident, the word “terrorist” was written over the picture of a woman wearing a tudung outside the upcoming Marine Parade MRT.

After the Christchurch terror attacks, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said that societies have to “face squarely the reality that Islamophobia is rising” and deal with the ideology behind it.

“For that you got to start by acknowledging that it is there. When you do not acknowledge it, the problem just grows,” he said.

Mr Lim agreed that being upfront about something like the 15 per cent finding was the right decision.

“I think it is better to admit there are pockets of society that still have prejudices or see those from certain backgrounds negatively so that we can work on it, rather than skirting the issue and pretending we live in a utopia where everything is hunky-dory,” said Mr Lim.



IS SINGAPORE READY?

Some may ask if Singapore society is mature enough to discuss uncomfortable truths about race and religion. After all, the official narrative is that we only had five decades to build a cohesive nation out of a group of communities with no common language or religion.

Writer Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh disagrees with the belief that Singapore’s multiculturalism is a fragile balance maintained only by overbearing policies. He points out that Singapore’s tradition of harmonious inter-ethnic relations goes back at least 200 years.

“The brief racial riots in the 1960s... are remarkable only because they are the exception,” he notes in his blog post.

Whether one believes that social harmony today is an ideal imposed from above by law and policies or is already the lived reality of most Singaporeans, our concept of social harmony has to evolve.

Striving for “harmony” may have seemed satisfactory in the past when co-existence and tolerance were the priority. But it has been less effective in dealing with “sensitive” truths and emerging tension.

Instances of casual racism, for example, may be ignored instead of being called out for fear of disturbing the peace. But if we ignore stereotyping remarks or racist jokes, we are adding to an atmosphere that breeds unhappiness among those so targeted.

Race and religion are complex and difficult issues to discuss publicly. They need sensitive handling. But the worst thing Singapore can do at this juncture in its development is to permit a bit of discomfort to lead to wilful ignorance of serious societal issues and injustices.



MOVING BEYOND HARMONY

Singaporeans need courage to move beyond a focus on “harmony” to confront hard truths about our own prejudices. How does one do this? The first step is to at least be open to the fact that things may not be as well as they seem.

Instead of being fixated on harmony, be honest about bias, prejudice, discrimination, shortcomings.

If a survey shows that 15 per cent of us consider Muslims threatening, then acknowledge that fact; do not pretend there is no ripple across the surface calm. Acknowledging that a problem exists is the first step to solving it.

Next, be empathetic in trying to understand those shortcomings.

A person’s “reality” is often limited by what he or she knows. On the 15 per cent finding, Dr Mathews said that the lack of exposure to and opportunities for learning about Muslims might have left some Singaporeans’ fears unchallenged.

If so, the solution is to reach out and understand more.

Lack of empathy towards what it means to be a Muslim in Singapore may desensitise the majority too.

There is an 85 per cent chance that those of you reading this are not a Muslim. How can we know? The most recent census data (2010) states that about 15 per cent of the population aged 15 years and over are Muslims.

But imagine you are one, and step into the shoes of that 15 per cent for a moment. You are a Muslim.

Given that the recent IPS study is representative, this means that for every 100 members of your community, there are 15, in a country you call home, who fear you. One in six people you meet today find your beliefs threatening.

How does that make you feel?

With that empathy as a starting point, we can then begin an honest conversation to seek better mutual understanding.

Mr Vadaketh wrote that different communities in a multicultural city will have “varying levels of confidence in expressing themselves”, due to issues like income or access.

He suggested the need for safe spaces for groups such as the Muslim community to share their thoughts without fear that their beliefs will be attacked.

We should be clear – it is not the duty of those maligned to create spaces and do the labour of, say, explaining why they should not be seen as threatening to others.

Social harmony is an ideal. But the point of an ideal is that it can never be fully achieved; its meaning lies in the ceaseless engagement and pursuit of it. It is always a work in progress.

The same national pledge that emphasises the need for unity regardless of race or religion also stresses that these ideals are in service of “progress for our nation”. It also notes the importance of justice and equality.

We cannot be so afraid of disturbing harmony that we would ignore the prejudice that will eat away at these foundations. Nor should we abuse the spirit of what harmony truly entails, by using it to justify inaction in the face of injustice.

Instead, upholding social harmony for Singapore means probing beneath the surface calm to confront our collective irrational fears and personal biases. We do this to reach greater understanding and trust. For that, it is surely worth suffering some discomfort.

Related
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9th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat on 9 April 2019

April 11, 2019, 8:20 am

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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mahathir affirm commitment to cooperative and forward-looking bilateral relationship
Singapore and KL to begin maritime boundary talks within a month
By Royston Sim, Deputy News Editor (Politics) In Putrajaya, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

Singapore and Malaysia will begin negotiations to delimit their maritime boundaries in a month, as both countries have taken steps to de-escalate tensions at sea.

This measure was one of several that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad welcomed at their Leaders' Retreat yesterday, the first under the Pakatan Harapan government.

Speaking at a joint news conference, PM Lee said he and Tun Dr Mahathir affirmed their commitment to a cooperative and forward-looking bilateral relationship.

"The relationship between our two countries is rooted in our long history, and strong family and business ties," he said. "This remains unchanged even with the new Malaysian government."

The leaders also discussed current bilateral issues, including airspace and maritime boundaries.

Dr Mahathir said: "We agreed that the fundamental principle is to resolve issues of concern in a friendly and constructive manner."

Both PMs welcomed the progress made in implementing recommendations to resolve the maritime dispute. Dr Mahathir said: "As the saying goes, good fences make good neighbours. We will now proceed to maritime boundary delimitation in the area."

Ultimately, Malaysia believes it is important to delimit all outstanding maritime boundaries between Malaysia and Singapore, he added.



Malaysia and Singapore had mutually suspended the extension of their overlapping port limits on Monday, reverting to what was in place before Oct 25 and Dec 6 last year, respectively.

Earlier yesterday, a Singapore Foreign Ministry spokesman said there were no Malaysian government vessels anchored in the area previously covered by overlapping port limits as of midnight. "We will continue to exercise sovereignty and take appropriate enforcement actions in the area," he said.

Dr Mahathir also said at the news conference that Malaysia wants to take back control, in stages, of its airspace over southern Johor that has been delegated to Singapore.

PM Lee said Singapore is willing to discuss this matter with Malaysia, and stressed the key considerations include the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations.

On water, Dr Mahathir said resolving the issue of the price of water sold to Singapore under the 1962 Water Agreement is a priority.

Singapore, on its part, is concerned about pollution of the Johor River as well as its long-term yield, PM Lee said.



Beyond these bilateral issues, the broader Singapore-Malaysia relationship continues to grow, PM Lee said. For instance, the Joint Ministerial Committee on Iskandar Malaysia is working to further cooperation on multiple fronts.

PM Lee also invited Dr Mahathir and his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali to this year's Bicentennial National Day Parade at the Padang on Aug 9. Dr Mahathir said he was glad to accept the invitation.

Then Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Razak and his wife had attended the National Day celebrations in 1969, on the 150th anniversary of modern Singapore's founding.

Asked if the recent maritime and airspace disputes will have lasting damage to bilateral ties, PM Lee said: "If it is managed well, then it can be productive for both countries and the overall relationship can prosper. If it is not managed well, it can cause a lot of trouble and poison the overall relationship."

PM Lee said he wrote a letter to Dr Mahathir in December as he was worried that things were not going in the right direction. He asked Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat to deliver it in person and explain his concerns to Dr Mahathir.

PM Lee said he is very happy that Dr Mahathir took in what they said and took action, which enabled ministers from both sides to meet and turn things around gradually.



In a Facebook post last night, PM Lee said issues will crop up from time to time between close neighbours bound by history and kinship.

"When this happens, we need to keep channels of communication open, build trust, and tackle the issues pragmatically and with an eye to both sides' concerns. Then we can move beyond solving problems to cooperating for mutual benefit," he said.

Singapore raises concerns over supply of water from Johor River
Pollution of river and its long-term sustainable yield among worries
By Royston Sim,  Deputy News Editor (Politics) In Putrajaya, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

Singapore has raised its concerns to Malaysia over pollution of the Johor River as well as its long-term yield, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

It is in both countries' interests to work together to ensure a sustainable water supply, he added.

PM Lee was speaking at a news conference with his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad at Perdana Putra after they met and discussed various matters, including water, at the Leaders' Retreat.



He noted that national water agency PUB's waterworks at Kota Tinggi, Johor, had to shut down last week because of high ammonia levels. A reservoir at a bio-composite centre next to a palm oil refinery in Sedenak had burst, causing ammonia-contaminated water to flow into the Sayong River - one of the creeks that supply raw water to the Johor River.

Singapore's water supply was not affected, but the incident disrupted water supply to about 17,000 households in Kulai.

Last month, the illegal dumping of chemical substances into Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang gave rise to toxic fumes that affected thousands of residents.

"If the Johor River suffers an incident like that which happened at Sungai Kim Kim recently, I think it will be disastrous for both countries," said PM Lee.



The other concern Singapore has is the long-term sustainable yield of the Johor River, he said, noting that Johor has built water plants on the river, upstream of PUB's waterworks at Kota Tinggi.

The combined amount these plants draw may well exceed the river's sustainable yield, he said, highlighting the need to study how to meet both Johor's and Singapore's water requirements for the remainder of the 1962 Water Agreement.

Under the agreement, Singapore can draw up to 250 million gallons a day (mgd) of raw water from Johor at a price of three sen per 1,000 gallons. It is obliged to supply 5 mgd of treated water to Johor, but has been supplying more at Johor's request.

In an interview with Singapore media to wrap up his visit yesterday, PM Lee reiterated that both countries have to work together to ensure the Johor River can provide sufficient water for both sides.

"It is a serious problem. It is an issue that we have to work at together because if there is not enough water in the Johor River, it is not only a practical problem for both sides, it is also a political problem for both sides," he said.

"The Malaysians understand this, and they have recognised that this is something which they need to act on together with us, and we look forward to working with them on that."

He noted that some steps have been taken which have made a big difference, citing the Linggiu Dam which was built to increase the yield of the Johor River so Singapore can reliably get its full entitlement of 250 mgd daily. The agreement to build the dam was signed in 1990, during Tun Dr Mahathir's first term as prime minister.

PM Lee added that Malaysia had agreed to build a barrage at Kota Tinggi a few years ago to prevent seawater from intruding upstream and affecting Singapore's waterworks.

"That has helped, but it is not enough because Johor continues to develop, their population grows, their economy grows. They want more water, and we can see the difficulties coming in future and therefore we have to work at it again, which we will," he said.

During the news conference, Dr Mahathir said resolving the longstanding issue of water price review is a priority for Malaysia. Since returning to power last May, he has regularly called for the water price to be raised.

Dr Mahathir said both leaders have agreed to find amicable solutions on this issue, including the possibility of dispute resolution through arbitration on a mutually agreed basis.

PM Lee said both leaders agreed that their respective attorneys-general should continue their dialogue and understand each other's perspectives and concerns. The foreign ministers from both countries will oversee this issue.

1962 Water Agreement sacrosanct, changing it a very high hurdle: PM Lee Hsien Loong
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

The 1962 Water Agreement is a "fundamental founding document" for Singapore and Malaysia, and both countries have to abide by it, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

"It is a basic term on which the two countries decided to manage our relationships," he said at a joint news conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"If you look at it from that point of view, to be able to change that is a very high hurdle."



PM Lee was responding to a question from a Malaysian journalist on whether Singapore believes that Malaysia's desire to review the price of water under the 1962 Water Agreement is reasonable, and what he thought was a reasonable price.

PM Lee said he told Tun Dr Mahathir that he can understand his perspective on the political necessity for Malaysia to press hard for a revision of the price of water.

He also explained the Republic's point of view. The 1962 Agreement was guaranteed by both governments in the 1965 Separation Agreement, PM Lee noted.

"I can understand Dr Mahathir's perspective," he said. "I hope that he will be able to see Singapore's perspective, why this is such a sacrosanct item. Therefore, let us try to find a way forward which enables us to talk constructively about this issue, and hopefully be able to make some progress."

PM Lee added that one of the issues to be discussed by both sides is the security of Singapore's water supply from Johor, given the concerns over pollution in the Johor River and its long-term yield, to make sure Singapore is able to get the 250 million gallons a day (mgd) specified under the 1962 Water Agreement.

"So on that basis, the ministers will talk. I think to ask me what is a reasonable water price now is to prejudge the question," he said.



Under the agreement, Singapore is entitled to draw 250 mgd of raw water from Johor at three sen per 1,000 gallons. However, Johor is also entitled to buy 5 mgd of treated water from Singapore at 50 sen per 1,000 gallons, a sum the Republic says is heavily subsidised and a fraction of the true cost of treatment. In practice, Singapore has been supplying 16 mgd of treated water at Johor's request at this price.

Malaysia's position is that a review can take place any time after 25 years since the agreement began, while Singapore has been clear and consistent in its position that Malaysia had lost the right to review the water price when it opted not to do so in 1987.

In a joint statement issued after the news conference, both prime ministers noted their countries' interest "to identify appropriate and timely measures, including schemes, to increase the yield of the Johor River, and to safeguard its environmental conditions and water quality", to the extent required by the 1962 Agreement.

The leaders also noted the differing positions of both sides on the right to review the price of water under the 1962 Agreement, and have agreed for their attorneys-general to discuss these differing positions.

"Both sides will seek amicable solutions, including the possibility of dispute resolution through arbitration on a mutually agreed basis," they said.

Malaysia wants to take back control of its airspace in stages
PM Lee says Singapore ready to discuss matter; the key considerations are safety and efficiency
By Royston Sim, Deputy News Editor (Politics) In Putrajaya, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

Malaysia wants to take back in stages control of its airspace over southern Johor that has been delegated to Singapore, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.

It aims to do so beginning from the end of this year to 2023, he added.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after their Leaders' Retreat at his office complex, Tun Dr Mahathir noted that the high-level committee formed to review the airspace arrangement between both countries has begun discussions.

Referring to the letter of agreement inked by both countries in 1974 on this arrangement, Dr Mahathir said it was signed at a time when the Kuala Lumpur Flight Information Region (FIR) was in its infancy and air navigation facilities in Malaysia were not adequate.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had at the time recommended that air traffic services in the area concerned be delegated to Singapore, he noted.



"We have made significant investments in preparation to take back the said delegated airspace and hope that this can be done expeditiously," Dr Mahathir said.

Singapore is ready to discuss this matter with Malaysia, PM Lee said at the news conference.

"The key considerations are the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations, and the needs and interests of both countries," he added.

"I told Dr Mahathir this is a complex matter that will involve consulting many stakeholders, including airlines and ICAO, and cannot be rushed," PM Lee said.

He noted that civil aviation is growing rapidly for both countries, and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Changi Airport are now major regional airports. KLIA has greater capacity to grow than Changi, he said. "Because Changi is building a third runway and I think that is the limit, whereas KLIA already has three runways and has space to build five."

It is therefore in both countries' interests that this growth be facilitated and take place safely, PM Lee said.



In an interview with Singapore media yesterday afternoon to wrap up his visit to Malaysia for the Leaders' Retreat, PM Lee said there is opportunity for both countries to cooperate, pointing to how the expansion of civil aviation and passenger traffic in Asean has been of tremendous benefit to the whole region.

"So, you need to work together in order to realise that and unless we can provide a system which is safe, efficient and which will meet the needs of the commercial operators, I think all sides will be losers."

Asked what implications the review would have for Singapore, PM Lee noted that Malaysia's airspace over southern Johor was delegated to Singapore in 1974 after an ICAO meeting the year before.

Singapore will talk to Malaysia and see what adjustments are possible, PM Lee said.

"I think it is not reasonable for us to say we will not talk or we will not listen to your concerns. We have to do that," he said.

"Ministers on both sides understand the parameters, and it has to be done with a view to safety and efficiency of civil aviation - that is a key objective," he added, noting that the talks "will take some time".

Both governments had also taken steps to resolve the dispute over landing procedures at Seletar Airport ahead of the retreat.



On Monday, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that the civil aviation authorities of both countries are developing Global Positioning System (GPS)-based instrument approach procedures for Seletar. The new procedures will replace the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedure that Singapore has withdrawn.

PM Lee noted: "We have unwound the impasse. But the desire to have an instrument system for Seletar is a reasonable one, and if not by the ILS, you can use the GPS system, which also enables you to land with instrument and not only in good weather using our eyeballs."

Malaysia, meanwhile, has indefinitely suspended its permanent restricted area over Pasir Gudang.

The agreement paves the way for Malaysian carrier Firefly to begin flying into Seletar on April 21, more than four months after its flights to Singapore were suspended.



In a Facebook post last night, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said he is glad that Firefly will now be able to fly to Seletar, and that Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke has said he will be on the first flight.

"There are still many complex airspace issues that the transport authorities will have to discuss in the months and years ahead," Dr Balakrishnan added.

Malaysia looking at affordable alternatives to RTS Link Project
By Trinna Leong, Malaysia Correspondent in Putrajaya, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

Malaysia has proposed, and Singapore has agreed to consider, suspending the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project for six months from April 1 this year, in a manner similar to that for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have also instructed their officials to further deliberate on the matter and to finalise the terms of the suspension, both leaders announced in a joint statement after their retreat yesterday.

Tun Dr Mahathir said at a news conference alongside PM Lee that Malaysia will be looking at "affordable and sustainable alternatives to the RTS Link Project".



A bilateral agreement to build the 4km cross-border link - which would connect Woodlands North station on Singapore's Thomson-East Coast MRT Line to Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru - was signed in January last year, with trains to start running by Dec 31, 2024.

However, the new Malaysian administration which took power last May has sought more time to study the project's cost, among others. "Singapore is willing to consider suspension of the project," Dr Mahathir said.

PM Lee said Singapore understands Malaysia's position. "We have tasked our attorneys-general to work out the supplemental agreement quickly to give effect to the suspension, similar to what we did for the HSR suspension last year."

Malaysia had previously requested for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR Project to be deferred due to cost constraints. Last September, both neighbours agreed to the deferment until May 2020, and Malaysia has reimbursed Singapore $15 million for abortive costs incurred by the delay.

Both leaders yesterday noted that Malaysia is exploring a possible way forward with the aim of cost reduction.

Malaysia's Pakatan Harapan government has been looking to cut its expenditure down by either delaying or cancelling mega projects brokered by the previous Barisan Nasional government, citing national debt having surpassed RM1 trillion (S$330.6 billion). Both leaders also stressed their commitment to address traffic woes at their land checkpoints.

Dr Mahathir noted that traffic congestion on the Causeway and Second Link remains a major problem for commuters. "Currently, about 250,000 to 300,000 people are crossing the Causeway on a daily basis," Dr Mahathir said.

"Resolving congestion is a priority for Malaysia. Both sides are committed to addressing this issue, and we will continue to explore new initiatives to tackle this problem," he added. "This may include improvements in physical infrastructure, review of inter-boundary policies and regulations and improvements in the quality of cross-border services, the CIQ," he said, referring to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine facilities.

PM Lee said: "Dr Mahathir pointed out that the RTS Link will not solve the problem of motorcyclists who come into Singapore. I said, yes we have to expand the capacity of the CIQs on both sides to process the people who are crossing because the numbers will grow.

"Singapore has plans to expand our CIQ further and these are things which will take some time, but they will eventually make a significant dent in the problem."

Vast potential for Malaysia, Singapore to move ahead together: PM Lee
Both have much in common and can do more in a cooperative, mutually beneficial way, he says.
By Royston Sim, Deputy News Editor (Politics) In Putrajaya, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

They may be close neighbours, but Singapore and Malaysia have evolved in different directions over the years, especially after 1965.

Yet they still have much in common, when seen within the Asean or global context, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday at a news conference with his host, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"Singapore and Malaysia are very similar countries in terms of heritage, in terms of our rule of law, in terms of the connections we have with one another, and the comfort we have with one another," said PM Lee.

"We even argue who invented some of our foods first. So, there is an enormous overlap."

There is therefore tremendous potential for both countries to move ahead in a cooperative and mutually beneficial way, he added.

"Provided we work at the relationship and understand where you get the best satay, whether it is the Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay or whether you can get it at Satay Majid or Satay Kajang," he said, referring to popular satay haunts in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The one-day Leaders' Retreat, an annual affair, was the first under the Pakatan Harapan government.

But it followed more than 50 ministerial-level visits and exchanges between both countries since the coalition led by Tun Dr Mahathir won the May 9 general election last year - and the familiarity was visible when ministers from both sides met yesterday. PM Lee was among the first leaders to visit Dr Mahathir last May, and Dr Mahathir visited Singapore in November ahead of the Asean Summit.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir accepted PM Lee's invitation to him and his wife to visit the Republic for its Bicentennial National Day Parade on Aug 9.



Responding to a question on how he saw ties with Singapore developing further, Dr Mahathir said ties "have always been good, at least we are always on talking terms".

He added: "If we have problems, we air our problems, sometimes publicly, sometimes privately. What we have not done is that we have not confronted each other, or even suggested that we should resolve our problem through violent action like going to war with Singapore."

This is not a minor achievement, he said, pointing to how throughout the world, most countries that have problems with their neighbours try to solve the problems through violence and through wars. "In the end, both sides will lose."

He said: "That is our relation with Singapore. It is a relation between, I think, two civilised people who do not believe in violence."

Both leaders had a four-eyes meeting yesterday morning, followed by a second meeting with their respective delegations.

Dr Mahathir and his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali then hosted a luncheon for the Singapore delegation at Seri Perdana, the Prime Minister's official residence.

In a joint statement issued after their retreat, both PMs said the historical and cultural links are the foundation for stronger relations.

They also looked forward to Singapore hosting the 10th Leaders' Retreat next year.

Bill on online falsehoods a significant step to tackle serious issue: PM Lee
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 10 Apr 2019

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has described the proposed law to fight online falsehoods as a significant step to tackle a serious problem that confronts many countries.

He also said that Singapore will continue to take an approach that works for it, in reply to a question from a Malaysiakini reporter at a joint news conference at the Leaders' Retreat in Putrajaya.

On Monday, global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders had criticised the proposed Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), calling the Government's approach to fake news "completely inappropriate".



Asked about concerns over the draft law, PM Lee said: "I am not surprised that Reporters Without Borders criticised it. They criticise many things about Singapore's media management, but what we have done has worked for Singapore, and it is our objective to continue to do things which will work for Singapore. POFMA will be a significant step forward in this regard."

PM Lee pointed out that Singapore is not the only country looking at legislation on the issue. "The problem of fake news, of deliberate false statements being proliferated online, is a serious problem which confronts many countries," he said, noting that France and Germany have passed laws to combat it, and Britain is considering doing so.

"Singapore has had to do it, and we have had a long process of the Select Committee publishing a report. We have deliberated on this for almost two years now," he added.

"Finally, we have got this Bill. It is going to be debated in the House and I hope eventually, it will become legislation."



Malaysia was among the first few countries to introduce an anti-fake news law under the previous Barisan Nasional coalition. But the new Pakatan Harapan government, led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has pledged to repeal the law, though this has been blocked by the opposition.

"This is what the people want, and we respect the people who actually voted us into power. On the other hand, we know that social media can be abused quite seriously," Tun Dr Mahathir told the news conference. "But when we have a law that prevents people from airing their views, then we are afraid that the government itself may abuse the law, like what has happened in the last government."

"We do not want any government - this one and succeeding ones - to make use of the law in order to tell fake news, (for) the government to create fake news in order to sustain themselves," added Dr Mahathir. "It will be difficult to handle. But we believe that we can accept the challenges and we can handle them."

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Beware 'class warfare' approach to taxes

April 13, 2019, 4:08 am

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Imposing more taxes on the rich ends up hurting the middle class
By Dan Mitchell and Donovan Choy, Published The Straits Times, 11 Apr 2019

Singapore is one of the world's most impressive economic success stories. Decades of strong growth produced economic convergence with rich nations in North America and Western Europe. Given how few nations have made that jump, this is a remarkable achievement.

What's even more noteworthy is that Singapore's economy then continued to expand at a healthy pace. Based on measures such as per-capita economic output, residents of Singapore are now significantly better off than their counterparts in almost every nation in the so-called rich man's club of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

For all intents and purposes, Singapore has shown that conventional theories about economic growth need to be updated to reflect that growth doesn't necessarily need to weaken once a nation becomes prosperous. Singaporeans should be thankful for the sensible governance that has made the nation a role model.

Unfortunately, some people are willing to threaten the country's prosperity by urging higher tax burdens on the wealthy. They risk national competitiveness by advocating additional layers of tax on income that is saved and invested.

This "class warfare" approach is deeply misguided, especially in a globalised economy. Singapore's policymakers should remember these six observations as they contemplate fiscal policy issues.

1. GOOD ECONOMIC POLICY PRODUCES GOOD RESULTS

Singapore's prosperity is not an accident. The country routinely ranks near the top of all indices of economic freedom and competitiveness. Small government, open markets and rule of law are a great recipe for national prosperity and Singapore is a powerful example of how a nation can become very prosperous with the right approach.

2. SINGAPORE AVOIDED THE TRAP OF "WAGNER'S LAW"

What makes Singapore special is that it avoided the mistakes other nations made when they became rich. Countries in North America and Western Europe created costly welfare states once they became relatively prosperous. This is known to academics as Wagner's Law, and it has serious consequences since larger public sectors reduce competitiveness and lead to less growth.

While poverty is a serious issue to be addressed carefully, it is noteworthy that most academics agree that there is no incidence of absolute poverty in Singapore.

Even the poorest in Singapore are comparatively far better off than the poor in other developed countries because it has largely avoided this mistake.

3. BY IMPOSING BAD POLICY, RICH NATIONS CAN BECOME POOR NATIONS

In some cases, rich nations completely reverse the policies that are associated with prosperity.

After World War II, Argentina was one of the world's 10 richest countries. But it then fell victim to populism under Juan Peron.

Politicians not only expanded the fiscal burden of government, but they also imposed protectionism, subsidies and other forms of intervention. The Argentine economy has continuously lost ground ever since.

4. GOOD POLICY IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR DEALING WITH DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES

An ageing population is the greatest challenge in almost every prosperous nation. It is good that people are living longer, of course, but when you combine increased longevity with falling birth rates, this puts a lot of pressure on welfare states.

Indeed, this is one of the reasons for Greece's recent collapse (and Italy's looming collapse). Singapore, by contrast, is in a relatively strong position to deal with demographic changes, thanks to a self-funded welfare system that has traditionally promoted self-reliance and self-responsibility, as well as a tax code that does not penalise saving and investment.

5. PENALISING SAVING AND INVESTMENT IS THE WORST WAY TO COLLECT REVENUE

Proponents assert that dividend and capital gains taxes are needed so that upper-income people pay tax. But this line of thinking is misguided. Such income is already subject to 17 per cent corporate income taxation in Singapore.

Imposing dividend and capital gains taxes would mean such income is subject to increasing layers of discriminatory taxation. The result is to discourage capital formation (savings and investment) - the very essence of entrepreneurship.

And that approach is economically foolish, since all economic theories - even Marxism and socialism - agree that saving and investment are key to long-run growth and rising living standards.

6. NEW TAXES ON THE "RICH" EVENTUALLY BECOME BURDENS ON THE MIDDLE CLASS

Capital gains and inheritance tax proposals are political crowd-pleasers because many believe they are targeted only at wealthier taxpayers. But this overlooks the fact that higher tax rates don't raise as much money as initially expected because taxpayers have less incentive to earn (and report) income.

So politicians then start extending the reach of the tax, which is how middle-class taxpayers eventually start paying the price.

But it's just as important to recognise that slower economic growth is an inevitable consequence of higher fiscal burdens and that also will negatively impact ordinary people.

The world is an economic laboratory. Some nations serve as negative examples. They teach policymakers about the policies to avoid. Greece, Venezuela, Italy and North Korea are examples of the wrong (in some cases, spectacularly wrong) approach.

Other jurisdictions are positive role models. Hong Kong, Switzerland and New Zealand generally are cited for their economic vitality (the United States used to be, but has endured too much statist policy in the 21st century). Singapore also belongs in this special group. Indeed, it arguably may be the world's strongest economy.

But today's success is no guarantee of tomorrow's prosperity. Singapore should not risk its economy with class-warfare policies that have never produced good results anywhere in the world.

Dan Mitchell, a specialist in international tax competition, is co-founder and chairman of the US-based non-profit Centre for Freedom and Prosperity that promotes free market ideas. Donovan Choy is a policy analyst with the Adam Smith Centre Singapore, a think-tank promoting pro-market principles.

Jewel Changi Airport to open on 17 April 2019

April 13, 2019, 5:29 am

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$1.7 billion Jewel opens doors to give Changi Airport added sparkle in public preview from April 11 to 16
Complex an investment in airport's future; 500,000 to get a preview over six days
By Karamjit Kaur, Senior Aviation Correspondent, The Straits Times, 12 Apr 2019

Jewel Changi Airport, the $1.7 billion investment to help secure Singapore's premier air-hub position, welcomed its first public visitors yesterday.

After the project was first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally speech in 2013, it took four years to transform an open-air carpark into a 10-storey complex with shops, leisure attractions and facilities for travellers and visitors.

Over six days, from 1pm yesterday to 10pm on April 16, about 500,000 people who had signed up for free preview tickets are expected to visit.

When the 135,700 sq m Jewel, with more than 280 shops and restaurants, opens its doors to all from April 17, travellers will be able to access an early check-in lounge serving passengers of 26 airlines, including Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot. This covers 60 per cent of all departing flights.



Located next to Terminal 1, Jewel is connected to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 via air-conditioned travelators, and there will also be facilities for all travellers to store their luggage round the clock.

Mr Shukor Yusof, aviation analyst at Endau Analytics, said: "Jewel is an extension of Changi's constant move to stay relevant and profitable. It is a new landmark for the best airport in the world."

About a third of Changi's 65.6 million passengers last year were on transit flights, and Jewel will offer them new opportunities to dine, shop and entertain themselves, apart from attracting local visitors.

With the demand for air travel in Asia expected to grow strongly in the coming decades and competition increasing among airports, Jewel is a key part of Changi's strategy to improve the airport experience and grow traffic, said Changi Airport Group's (CAG) managing director for airport operations management, Mr Jayson Goh. He told The Straits Times: "If you are flying through Asia and looking to make a stopover, you can choose from several airports. We want to make sure Changi Airport continues to provide the capacity, attractions and amenities to cater for this growth."

Hong Kong International Airport, for example, is developing a 25ha Skycity mega integrated development, set to be completed in the coming decade.



Jewel's highlights include a 40m-tall indoor waterfall and a five-storey garden with more than 2,000 trees and palms, and over 100,000 shrubs. Shops and outlets include famous New York burger chain Shake Shack and American fast-food chain A&W.

Jewel - a joint venture between CAG and CapitaLand - will also offer play attractions from June 10, including a 50m-long suspended bridge with a glass flooring that will allow visitors to look down at the greenery below, a 250m-long bouncing net, mazes and slides.

It will also host the first Pokemon Centre outside of Japan.

Those flying through Singapore will have to exit the transit area to visit Jewel and clear immigration again before their next flight.



Jewel will also house the first Yotelair in Asia, with 130 cabins that can be booked for short daytime layovers or overnight stays.

Mr Lee Chee Koon, president and group chief executive officer of CapitaLand, said: "The combined catchment of residents and Changi Airport's growing passenger traffic makes Jewel a compelling proposition to draw international brands to Singapore and empower home-grown retailers to connect with a global audience."

Jewel was designed by a consortium led by Safdie Architects, helmed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, who also came up with Marina Bay Sands.

F&B outlets, waterfall a big draw for visitors at Jewel Changi Airport
Around 60,000 people become the first to experience Jewel's many offerings
By Lim Min Zhang, The Straits Times, 12 Apr 2019

At 40m, Jewel Changi Airport's indoor waterfall is the world's tallest. And it proved the popular choice for snaps and selfies as around 60,000 people became the first members of the public to experience the $1.7 billion, 10-storey complex.

About half a million people have signed up for free preview tickets to visit the 135,700 sq m complex, up to 10pm next Tuesday, before Jewel fully opens its doors next Wednesday, its official opening day.

Located next to Terminal 1, it is connected to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 via air-conditioned travelators.



Actor J. Jaikishan, 26, was among those who visited yesterday.

"Jewel is a giant teaser for what Singapore has to offer to the world," he said. "An indoor garden, nightlife, food and water features can all be found here, right where many visitors to Singapore will be."

While Jewel boasts more than 280 shops and food and beverage outlets from Basement 2 to Level 5, for many, the main draw was the waterfall that occasionally emitted mist.

"Even looking at the waterfall can be soothing," said Mr S.P. Yong, 72, a retired Chinese language tutor who was at the fifth-storey garden with his wife.



McDonald's service crew member Doreen Yong, 56, and her daughter Vivien Neui, 22, were among the first group of visitors to the Pokemon Centre - the first one outside Japan.

"We were excited to visit it as both of us are Pokemon fans who play Pokemon Go," said Ms Neui, a Republic Polytechnic student who walked away with a Singapore-exclusive Pikachu plushie.

Food was also big on the visitors' list of things to do.

American chain A&W, the first fast-food outlet to open in Singapore in 1966 before it pulled out in 2003, attracted long queues on its return to the country. At 6pm, there were over 50 people in the queue at the 24-hour, 80-seat outlet at Basement 2. A staff member informed customers that the queueing time was about an hour, with about another hour's wait for food to be served.

Restaurant manager Melanie Aquino, 32, gave up as she felt the queue was too long. "It is a pity as the last time I ate at an A&W in Singapore was more than 10 years ago," said Ms Aquino, who had taken half a day's leave to be there with five relatives.



Fans of Shake Shack have to wait longer, however, as it will open to the public only next Wednesday.

The New York burger chain, which will offer exclusive local items such as vanilla frozen custard ice cream blended with pandan and coconut and topped with gula melaka crumble, was open only to the media yesterday.

Three teams from a lion dance troupe were seen performing outside different shops to usher in good luck and prosperity.

Play attractions on the fifth storey were not open, but visitors could stroll through the garden.

Hobbyist photographer Goe Meng Hui, 25, was there to capture a good shot of the indoor waterfall. "This reminds me of the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay but yet is unique in its own way," said the undergraduate.

More than 2,000 trees and palms, plus 100,000 shrubs at Jewel Changi Airport
By Karamjit Kaur, Senior Aviation Correspondent, The Straits Times, 12 Apr 2019

It took almost three years getting more than 2,000 trees and palms, and over 100,000 shrubs, into Jewel Changi Airport.

The plants span about 120 species and come from countries including Australia, China, Malaysia, Spain, Thailand and the United States.

Mr Jeremy Yeo, head of user experience at Jewel Changi Airport, said: "When we were choosing the plants... we had to consider different criteria, including aesthetics and their ability to thrive within the complex given its light levels, temperature and humidity conditions.

"Before they were transported to Singapore, many of the trees had to be pruned to fit into containers for sea freight."

Once they arrived in Singapore, the plants were nursed back to health at an off-site nursery and acclimatised to Singapore's tropical weather.



Mr Yeo said: "The procurement of the trees took approximately nine months, and another two years were given for the trees to be nursed locally. This process was critical in ensuring that the plants flourish in the climate within Jewel's indoor environment."

From the beginning, the aim was to mirror Singapore's reputation as a City in a Garden, he said.

"As such, the gardens in Jewel are key features in positioning the development as a strong tourism product and a one-of-its-kind, multi-dimensional destination that will enhance Changi Airport's reputation."

Those entering the complex from the main drop-off point and the linkages from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 will be greeted with themed gateway gardens.

A five-storey forest valley will allow visitors to shop and dine amid an indoor forest.

There are two cobblestone walking trails, each about 160m long, with cascading waterfalls and mist clouds along the way.

One of the two main gardens in the complex is Canopy Park. Located at Jewel's top-most level, the park features themed gardens, such as topiary and petal gardens, and dining outlets.

Jewel a timely investment in future of Singapore air hub
It will help Changi keep its edge as dogfight for premier status intensifies and air traffic grows
By Karamjit Kaur, Senior Aviation Correspondent, The Straits Times, 12 Apr 2019

About one in three travellers who flies to Changi Airport is just passing through.

That is more than 20 million travellers a year, going by last year's total traffic, which hit 65.6 million.

Currently, those transit passengers with more than eight hours to kill before their next flight may decide to leave the airport and explore the city, confident that they can make it back in good time.

Travellers with about two or three hours in hand are likely to just hang around the terminal.

For everyone else in between, it can be quite painful waiting for five, six or seven hours to pass.



This is a key target group for Jewel Changi Airport, which welcomed its first public visitors yesterday and will open to all travellers next Wednesday.

Located where an open-air carpark used to be, it is directly connected to Terminal 1, and linked to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 via air-conditioned travelators.

When it opens, travellers with long layovers can head to the 10-storey complex, which has more than 280 shops and restaurants, as well as an indoor waterfall and a five-storey garden with more than 2,000 trees and palms, and over 100,000 shrubs.

Jewel will also offer play attractions from June 10, such as a 50m-long suspended bridge with glass flooring, mazes and slides.

Travellers can opt for early check-in and wander around freely.

A total of 26 airlines including Singapore Airlines - representing 60 per cent of departing flights at Changi - will offer early check-in at Jewel. More airlines are expected to come on board in the coming weeks and months.

For travellers whose airlines do not offer early check-in, they can still drop their bags off at a designated area in Jewel.

Once they are done shopping, eating and relaxing, they can collect their bags and proceed to check in for their next flight.

Jewel, of course, hopes to entice not just transit passengers but all travellers flying from Changi - hoping that they will arrive a few hours before their flights to spend time and money there. The other big group is local residents.



At $1.7 billion, Changi's Jewel is not a cheap buy. It is, however, a necessary investment in the future of the Singapore air hub, and could well reap huge benefits for Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaLand.

With travellers becoming more discerning and demanding, and the dogfight for premier air hub status intensifying, an airport has to be more than just a place for planes to land and take off.

The best airports in the world today are those that also provide great shopping, dining, and other facilities and services.

Hong Kong International Airport, for example, is developing the 25ha SkyCity mega integrated development, set to be completed in phases in the coming decade.

Beyond that, an airport is the first view of a country that visitors get, and is critical to a nation's brand.

The Singapore authorities have always been aware of this and, while others try to copy the formula, they seek to stay one step ahead of the competition.

CAG chief executive Lee Seow Hiang made the point when he said yesterday: "Located on the doorstep of the award-winning Changi Airport, Jewel will be a place where Singapore and the world meet."



The airport's investment in Jewel is timely, coming at a time when the demand for air travel, especially in the Asia-Pacific, is expected to grow strongly in the coming decades.

It is, however, not the only thing that Changi is doing.

Even as Jewel was being constructed, T1 received a makeover to improve its look and introduce improvements.

Check-in counters have been replaced, more self-service check-in kiosks have been installed and the baggage collection area has been expanded.

T2 is next, with upgrading works slated to start later this year.

When all the works are completed, Changi's total handling capacity will hit about 90 million travellers a year.

Beyond that, works have started at Changi East, which includes the construction of T5, a passenger terminal that will eventually be bigger than T1, T2 and T3 combined. T5 is expected to open around 2030.

If the proportion of transit travellers remains the same, then the number of those passing through Changi with time on their hands will grow exponentially. To this large group, Jewel beckons.

Smart water meters to be rolled out to 300,000 properties here to help save water

April 14, 2019, 5:48 am

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Firms, homes to get smart meters to track water usage
Users can keep tabs on how much water is being used via an app; eventual goal is to install them islandwide
By Cheryl Teh, The Straits Times, 13 Apr 2019

The water meters you see outside your home may be on their way out. Their better and brighter cousins, smart water meters, will soon be coming to town to update you on just how much water you are consuming.

For a start, 300,000 smart meters will be installed on residential and commercial premises here.

Singapore's national water agency PUB announced yesterday that the installation process will be completed by 2023, with the eventual goal of having such devices installed islandwide.

There are currently some 1.6 million water meters on premises across the island. These are read manually once every two months.

Customers are billed every month, with their water consumption estimated every alternate month.

PUB also expects that smart meters will help people and companies keep tabs on their water usage via a smartphone app.

This is because the smart water meter will allow for water consumption to be read automatically several times a day, and transmitted accurately and remotely back to PUB on a daily basis.

Through a mobile application or online portal, customers will have ready access to their daily water usage data. They will also receive high-usage notifications and leak alerts promptly.

Pilot trials in Punggol and Yuhua earlier had shown promising results. A total of 800 households reported an average of 5 per cent in water savings, said PUB.

Ms Eleanor Goh, 45, a resident of Punggol and an administrative assistant in a local business, said that she found the smart meters easy to read and beneficial for tracking water consumption, and was looking forward to them being pushed out islandwide.

"These meters are good for me because I can monitor my water supply properly. It makes me conscious of whether or not I am wasting water, and how much I am using daily," Ms Goh said.

Additionally, customers will not have to pay for the smart water meter and its installation.

These smart meters will also allow PUB to optimise resources as well as detect anomalies such as leaks early.

"Our challenge in PUB is to give our customers the water equivalent of the speedometer and fuel gauge, and so empower them to become smarter users of water," said PUB chief executive Ng Joo Hee.

The digital smart water meter would be just the thing do this, he added.

"Enabled by information on tap, something previously unavailable to end-consumers, we are convinced that they will be able to meaningfully adjust behaviour and become more efficient consumers, saving water and money in the process," Mr Ng said.

The agency said this will improve resource efficiency and augment PUB's capabilities in early leak detection within the water supply network and on customers' premises.

In another step along this path, PUB yesterday called a tender to appoint an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) specialist to evaluate and advise on meter devices and technology, communications protocol, and provide insights for enhancing operational efficiency and water savings.

PUB told The Straits Times that it will consider several factors in appointing the AMI specialist, including technical capabilities in communications technology, automated meter performance and meter function, a proven track record and experience in similar large-scale AMI implementation.

PUB will thereafter call the tender for the installation of around 300,000 smart water meters early next year, and the first smart water meters will be installed by early 2021.

Smarter way to track daily water usage

With smart water meters, water consumption will be automatically read several times a day. The readings will be transmitted accurately and remotely to national water agency PUB daily.

Through a mobile application or online portal, consumers can find out how much water they are using daily. This makes it easier for households and businesses to track their water usage and take action to save water.

With the app, users no longer have to wait until their bill arrives to monitor their consumption.

Related
PUB Takes First Steps Towards Installing Smart Water Meters -12 Apr 2019

U.S. Engagement in Asia: A Conversation with Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat at The Brookings Institution on 15 April 2019

April 19, 2019, 2:57 am

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United States must continue to take lead in setting global rules, says Heng Swee Keat
By Charissa Yong, US Correspondent In Washington, The Straits Times, 17 Apr 2019

The United States should continue to take the lead in setting global rules and maintaining the rules-based multilateral international order, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said in Washington on Monday.

South-east Asia also wants to see the US and China manage their relationship and not let their competition get out of hand, he said in a speech to the American foreign policy community at the Brookings Institution think-tank.

"The US-China relationship is a key determinant of global peace and prosperity, and the most important bilateral relationship in the world," said Mr Heng, who arrived in Washington last week for the International Monetary Fund and G-20 meetings of global finance chiefs which addressed the heightened trade tensions between the US and China.

Any dispute between the US and China should be resolved in accordance with international norms and through existing multilateral frameworks instead, he said.

"No country wants to choose sides," he added.



To keep their competition healthy and constructive, both sides need a better understanding of each other - no small task as they have "very different DNA" and very different, complex systems, he said later during a question-and-answer session.

Illustrating his point, he said that even Singapore spends a lot of time trying to understand the complexities of China despite the fact that many of Singapore's leaders speak the same Mandarin language as the Chinese government.

Mr Heng, a former principal private secretary of the late prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, recalled how the Suzhou Industrial Park faced competition from a local rival, which Chinese local officials had promoted despite Suzhou's backing from Singapore and the Chinese central government.

The explanation Singapore's officials received was that China had many layers of government, said Mr Heng, adding: "The official term used in those days was that the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, so don't assume that edicts by the emperor will be implemented on the ground."

The US and China can also come together to resolve global problems such as climate change, which threatens them both, he said.

In his speech, he made the case that America's presence in Asia remains vital to the region's peace and prosperity, as he encouraged the US to continue investing and engaging in Asia.

Continued American engagement in the Asia-Pacific has been a mainstay of recent messages from Singapore leaders to the US, amid concerns that Washington may become less engaged in the region as its preoccupations with domestic concerns such as protectionism and immigration grow.



The rise of Asia will bring new needs such as infrastructure, which the US can help fulfil, he said, citing the Asian Development Bank's estimate that Asia will need to spend US$1.7 trillion (S$2.3 trillion) a year until 2030 on infrastructure.

It will also create opportunities for American companies in areas they are strong in, such as the digital economy and technologies driven by artificial intelligence, he added.

Mr Heng will lead a business delegation to Silicon Valley over the next few days to learn more about how the digital technology is reshaping businesses there.

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Why the retirement age is irrelevant for Singapore

April 19, 2019, 4:05 am

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To retire or not to retire - employer flexibility is the answer.
By Sumit Agarwal, Published The Straits Times, 18 Apr 2019

I am turning 50 next year. This means I have only 12 more years to work, given that Singapore's minimum retirement age is 62. In my middle age, I start questioning why retirement is even necessary. I love what I do and going to work gives me a greater sense of purpose every day.

While the Tripartite Workgroup on Older Workers is contemplating raising the statutory retirement age, I believe the policy should be scrapped altogether because of Singapore's ageing population.

THE CASE AGAINST A MINIMUM RETIREMENT AGE

There are four main reasons why we should not have a retirement age.

Historically, a retirement age helps an economy manage and align its workforce with population growth. In a country where there are more young people than an elderly population, not having a retirement age means the young working-age population may not be able to get jobs and as a result, unemployment will rise.

Furthermore, higher unemployment can make or break an election and as a result, is a major point of contention in a democracy. Take India, for example, where 30 to 40 per cent of the population is under 25 years of age. There, a statutory retirement age would make sense. Without it, many of these young working-age adults would be unemployed. However, in ageing economies with low population growth such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore, one questions how a retirement age is still relevant since older workers are not a threat to unemployment.

Second, life expectancy today is longer. Traditionally, retirement is viewed as a rite of passage where employees stop working in order to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Back then, life expectancy was shorter. However, today, the average life expectancy is relatively higher due to advancements in technology, healthcare and lifestyle.

In Singapore, for example, the health-adjusted life expectancy is projected to be 76.7 by 2030. As people live longer, their retirement savings in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) need to sustain them until death. Therefore, they need to continue working.

Research also suggests that retirees are more likely to die sooner than expected due to idleness. The research by the National Bureau of Economic Research in the United States found a robust 2 per cent increase in male mortality after the age of 62, which is when Americans can claim their social security payments. The increase in male mortality is related to being retired from the labour force and associated changes in lifestyle.

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

While Singaporeans can work beyond the retirement age of 62, some employers are using the minimum retirement age as a mechanism to push out older workers. The common perception is that older workers cost more to retain and are less productive. Many employers would rather bring in younger staff who cost less and can be trained. As a result, older workers who do find re-employment are working in sub-optimal jobs.

In the US, where there is no retirement age, the economy has very low unemployment, high wages and high productivity. It is a process of natural selection among older workers, where some choose to continue working, some opt to retire, while others are laid off because they are not as productive.

To avoid a missed opportunity, employers should develop and adopt new strategies on how to use older and more experienced staff to increase productivity, enhance organisational culture and bring additional value to the organisation at the salary paid to them.

In addition, keeping the older and more experienced workers in the workforce would also not jeopardise opportunities for younger workers, given Singapore's low population growth. Eliminating retirement age would also likely result in Singapore importing fewer foreign talent.

EMPLOYER FLEXIBILITY

Employers also need to be empowered. They should have the flexibility to retain high performers and let go of underperformers. To address the high costs of retaining experienced staff, employers can adapt by offering part-time options, agreeing with the staff member to maintain current salary levels, or even re-scoping his job description to that of a consultant, adviser or strategic planner. They need to identify and play on the more experienced staff member's strengths.

For example, in an academic context, a university may offer a faculty member who is passionate about teaching the option to teach more and do less research. The institution may offer a reduced workload at a corresponding salary. The faculty member stays active as a contributor, while the students get to learn from a great scholar.

With this flexibility, employers are more likely to keep senior employees and not let go of talent.

CHANGING THE SOCIETAL MINDSET

An official retirement age is no longer a policy relevant to present-day Singapore. Such a policy might be necessary when a country is experiencing rapid population growth. However, in Singapore, we have transitioned from having a large migrant population to one that is more residential and ageing.

We need to recognise that many senior workers bring a wealth of experience and that this experience simply does not just disappear once they turn 62.

Singapore needs to adopt a new mindset and view age as positively correlated with valuable experience and proven talent, rather than ineptitude.

Only when this happens will we see the benefits - increased productivity, better skills continuity through mentorship and training, and less pressure on our CPF system as more older workers will continue to work and contribute to, rather than draw down on, CPF balances. This can be a win-win for both employers and employees, as well as the Singapore economy.

Sumit Agarwal is the Low Tuck Kwong Distinguished Professor of Finance, Economics and Real Estate at the National University of Singapore Business School.

The two competing ideologies on ageing
Ageing workers bring more experience, but potentially more health problems as well. Managing this tension in the workforce is critical.
By Jeff Hwang Yi-Fu, Published The Straits Times, 18 Apr 2019

Modern culture holds two competing ideologies on ageing.

One sees ageing as a decline into decrepitude and irrelevance. The other considers ageing as entering a richer phase of personhood and identity, which brings with it greater liberty to pursue fulfilment.

Mr Thomas Cole, director of the McGovern Centre for Humanities and Ethics at Cornell University in the United States, was quoted as saying: "The culture's problem is that we split ageing into good and bad. We're unable to sustain images of growing older that handle the tension between spiritual growth, the good, and physical decline, the bad."

The same tension runs in the workplace safety and health (WSH) arena. The new wave of older workers wants to remain engaged and productive beyond the traditional retirement age, but they are also the ones among whom we see a higher prevalence of chronic diseases than previous generations.

This tension can be overcome by cultivating a culture where people pursue high levels of well-being from their youth to their older years, and providing the environment for that to happen.

Singapore's new generation of older workers comprises the baby boomers, those born between 1947 and 1964, who are now aged between 55 and 72. By 2030, all our baby boomers will be over the age of 65. One in six Singapore residents will be above 65 years old; in 2005, it was one in 12.

This generation of older Singaporeans lives longer, is better educated and richer than previous ones. They expect to continue living independently and view old age as an opportunity to spend more time with family and pursue activities of interest.

Their top reasons for wishing to remain employed include receiving an income, staying mentally and physically active, and engaging in something meaningful. They do not associate ageing with checking out of living life, but see it as a phase in life that is full of potential for development and self-actualisation.

This is good news for Singapore and businesses. Singapore's resident workforce is ageing and shrinking. Close to one in four, or 23.8 per cent, of our workforce last year was aged 55 or older, a significant increase from 14.6 per cent in 2008.

In 2013, the Government projected that by 2030, every person exiting the working age of 65 years old would be replaced by only 0.7 person entering working age, or 20 years old. Our old-age support ratio is projected to fall to 2.1 by 2030, which means a ratio of two working-age persons for every person aged 65 years and over; it was 4.8 last year.

An ageing workforce can slow economic growth and national productivity. Singapore's workforce is a key factor in attracting foreign companies to continue doing business here. Enabling older workers to remain in the workforce for as long as they desire is necessary to counter the potential adverse economic impact of an ageing society.

At the same time, older workers are reservoirs of accumulated skills, experience and tacit knowledge, which are invaluable assets to productivity and performance.

The more an organisation can transmit these assets to younger workers as part of its knowledge retention, the more edge it will gain over its competitors. Organisations with a multi-generational employee profile can benefit from mentorship to attract young talent. Inter-generational cross-pollination of ideas and perspectives can yield a dynamic and rich environment for innovative thinking. A company's ability to tap into the potential of workers advancing in age will prove to be a competitive advantage.

In Singapore, half of the top 10 causes of loss in healthy years due to disability are chronic illnesses - cancers, diabetes and diseases of the heart, lung and kidney. To help older workers enjoy more productive years, early detection and good management of chronic diseases are important.

While personal health is an individual responsibility, poor employee health compromises safety, productivity and bottom lines. Therefore, both employers and employees must play their part in managing health.

Companies like SBS Transit and Keppel Offshore & Marine have tapped the Total Workplace Safety and Health (Total WSH) initiative to proactively cultivate a culture of safety, health and well-being among their employees.

Both SBS and Keppel provide free health screenings and follow-up support for its staff. SBS also supports bus captains with chronic conditions like diabetes through modified work schedules. For example, assigning them to shorter feeder services allows them to have timely intake of their medication and food to better manage their sugar levels.

High levels of employee well-being translate to greater employee engagement and productivity. Providing employees with safe and healthy work environments, while supporting their pursuit of well-being, makes good business sense.

A trans-generational perspective has served Singapore well in its planning and policymaking. In the Ministry of Manpower's latest WSH 2028 strategy, the same perspective is demonstrated in its commitment to prepare for the future of work and promote technology-enabled WSH.

We should approach the issue of an ageing workforce in the same way. We must not only look at the current wave of ageing workers, but also begin considering future generations of older workers, starting from those aged 15 to 30.

The convergence of various trends - an ageing population, intensified digitisation, rise of the gig economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution innovations - is altering the face of work.

The current 15-30 age group will be the first batch to experience this convergence in full swing. The Government and employers need to begin empowering young Singaporeans to navigate future work, health and safety issues.

A focus on cultivating this age group to value well-being as much as wealth, and developing their individual health literacy, will yield great dividends. By focusing on helping this group pursue well-being early, even as they build wealth, we will push back the onset of chronic diseases in the nation.

As they, in turn, impart to their children the value of well-being and health literacy, our society will truly be well positioned for the future.

Dr Jeff Hwang Yi-Fu is a lecturer at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health of the National University of Singapore, and an occupational health consultant with the university's Office of Safety, Health and Environment.

Going up in flames: Are Singapore's oldest buildings fire safe?

April 21, 2019, 2:01 am

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Authorities say all buildings have to undergo regular checks, comply with safety code
By Melody Zaccheus, Heritage and Community Correspondent, The Straits Times, 20 Apr 2019

The Arts House, built between 1826 and 1827 as a residence but used as a chamber and courthouse, is likely the oldest standing building in the country.

Singapore's old monoliths, many of which are national monuments, also include temples and churches where incense and tea light candles are burned almost daily.

A few buildings date back to the 1830s, including the Armenian Church, Thian Hock Keng temple and Masjid Jamae.

What measures are in place to prevent an inferno in these historic buildings in the wake of the Notre-Dame fire in Paris that destroyed the roof of the historic cathedral and caused its spire to collapse?

Just like a new building, Singapore's oldest structures have to meet the same stringent requirements issued and regulated by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the BCA said Singapore buildings are required to undergo structural inspections at regular intervals.

Building owners must appoint a professional engineer to inspect residential blocks once every 10 years, and for other types of buildings, once every five years.

The engineers are to carry out a visual inspection of the condition, loading and any addition or alteration to the structure of the building.

Said the BCA spokesman: "This is to ensure that structural defects can be detected and rectified early, so that buildings continue to be structurally sound for occupation."

Under the Fire Code, which was introduced in 1974, all new buildings and existing ones undergoing addition and alteration works must comply with SCDF requirements.

Specific requirements are imposed on owners or occupiers of buildings designated for conservation and those who wish to preserve the use of timber flooring during addition and alteration works.

For example, the SCDF requires the installation of fire-rated floor boards to prevent the spread of fire between floors, and automatic fire alarms if the building exceeds three storeys.

The SCDF has said it will amend the Fire Safety Act later this year. It will require owners of selected older buildings to carry out certain fire safety upgrades.

The SCDF said it recognises that older buildings which have not implemented newer fire safety measures may face higher safety risks.

It will prioritise high-risk industrial buildings, public buildings and hospitals, working closely with building owners.

The National Heritage Board (NHB) said there have been no fire incidents at Singapore's 72 national monuments or NHB's six-storey Heritage Conservation Centre, which houses more than 150,000 artefacts from the National Collection.

Among them are portraits of Singapore's pioneers, archaeological finds as well as rare textiles, jewellery and ceramics.

The purpose-built NHB facility was constructed with fire-rated brick walls and is elevated to protect against flooding.

In addition, the centre is equipped with fire monitoring and suppression systems.

These are maintained by specialist contractors who run regular checks and tests.

The centre also conducts disaster and emergency management system exercises and fire drills annually to ensure its staff are prepared to respond to emergencies.

In recent years, a spate of fires has rocked heritage institutions around the world.

Last September, a conflagration gutted Brazil's 200-year-old National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, destroying most of its collection of more than 20 million items, ranging from archaeological finds to historical memorabilia.

In Indonesia, at least three fires have taken place in the past few years.

In 2015, a blaze ripped through Jakarta's oldest Chinese temple - the Vihara Dharma Bhakti, which has roots dating back to 1650.

In February this year, the Samudra Bhakti temple in Bandung caught fire, allegedly caused by lit prayer candles inside the temple that had been blown by strong winds.

Last month, the Tay Kak Sie temple, built in 1746 in Semarang, caught fire. One person died.

In Singapore, a fire broke out on Feb 9 at the 80-year-old Poh Ann Keng Taoist temple in Tampines, damaging its front hall, prayer altar and 30 statuettes, which are purportedly as old as the temple itself.

Architectural historian and conservator Yeo Kang Shua said all unnecessary flammable objects should be removed and electrical cables should be up to standard and never overloaded.

"Open flames such as candle and oil lamps must be attended to at all times," he added.

Dr Yeo, an associate professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, said timber is more flammable than other construction materials, but it does not mean the material should be avoided in building projects.

He said that Singapore's 72 national monuments were primarily built with bricks, plaster and timber.

"We just have to reduce the risk to life," he said, adding that one major preventive measure - to save lives and buildings - is to conduct regular maintenance and inspections.



ISSUES THAT LIE AHEAD FOR NOTRE-DAME

In the case of the Notre-Dame, international architectural experts note that Gothic buildings can typically withstand infernos because stone vaults were added as firestops to prevent the spread of any blaze from a building's roof to its interior.

Restoring an old building requires great technical and technological skill to reconnect the structure to its past.

Experts believe the Notre-Dame's reconstruction, which could take decades, might be one of the longest in modern times.

Dr Yeo said: "The materials and craftsmanship will never be the same, although they can try very hard to source products as close as possible to the original materials."

Although the main structure and stone walls of the famed cathedral are still standing, it is likely to have suffered from the effects of the sudden heat and rapid cooling when the fire was put out. This could result in the stone crumbling.

Investigators have already identified weaknesses in the building's vault and gable of the structure's northern transept.

Dr Yeo said the French now face complex questions on what would be an "authentic" restoration for the global icon.

He said: "Should the Notre-Dame be restored to what it was like prior to the fire? Do we restore it based on the status quo or do we allow room for some stylistic interpretations?"

There are two schools of thought, he added.

One is that of stylistic restoration, led by architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who restored the Notre-Dame in the 19th century.

He believed in re-establishing a building to a finished state which might have never existed.

The other is status-quo conservation, which avoids interpreting a building beyond its existing state because the issue of what is original, in the absence of a structure's original architect, is always questionable.

Notre-Dame officials misjudged building's fire safety risks
The Sunday Times, 21 Apr 2019

PARIS • The architect who oversaw the design of the fire safety system at Notre-Dame acknowledged that officials had misjudged how quickly a flame would ignite and spread through the cathedral, resulting in a much more devastating blaze than expected.

The system was based on the assumption that if the cathedral ever caught fire, the ancient oak timbers in the attic would burn slowly, leaving ample time to fight the flames, said architect Benjamin Mouton.

Unlike at sensitive sites in the United States, the fire alarms in Notre-Dame did not notify fire dispatchers right away.

Instead, a guard at the cathedral first had to climb a steep set of stairs to the attic, a trip Mr Mouton said would take a "fit" person six minutes.

Only after a blaze was discovered could the fire department be notified.



Even a flawless response had a built-in delay of about 20 minutes from the moment the alarm sounded until firefighters could arrive and climb to the attic with heavy equipment to begin battling a fire.

Those delays turned out to be catastrophic.

"I was stunned by the speed with which the oak in Notre-Dame burned," Mr Mouton said. "Oak that old can't burn like a match. It's absolutely incomprehensible."

Experts said two of the top officials on the project, Mr Mouton and former firefighter Regis Prunet, appeared to have miscalculated what was needed to protect such an unusual building.

Scientists consulted by The New York Times said fire dynamics indicated that, while the dense timbers may take time to burn completely, a fire would naturally race across the original timbers at Notre-Dame. It was a mistake to assume otherwise, they said.

Mr Mouton was the architect in charge of Notre-Dame between 2000 and 2013, during which he oversaw a revamp of fire safety.

The designers were determined not to alter the attic with features like sprinklers or firewalls.

Lieutenant-Colonel Prunet said sprinklers were not added as they would "drown the whole structure". They said the team had banked on prevention and detection instead.

Two guards monitored the roof structure, day and night. The cathedral was covered in smoke and heat sensors. Three times a day, someone went up to check that the system was working.

But that approach appears to have been flawed, beginning with the response to the first alarm at 6.20pm on Monday (12.20am on Tuesday Singapore time).

The guard, seeing no fire, gave the all-clear and came down.

By the time the second alarm sounded at 6.43pm and a guard climbed the stairs again, the fire was already a conflagration.

The call finally went to the fire brigade at 6.51pm.

"We could have avoided all this with a modern detection system," said Mr Guillaume Poitrinal, president of Fondation du Patrimoine, an organisation that promotes French architectural heritage.

NYTIMES

Jack Ma is wrong: 12-hour days are no 'blessing'

April 23, 2019, 7:00 am

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By Bryce Covert, Published The Straits Times, 23 Apr 2019

Mr Jack Ma, the richest man in China and founder of e-commerce company Alibaba, is a big fan of extreme overwork.

He recently praised China's "996" practice, which refers to those who put in 12-hour days - 9am to 9pm - six days a week. This is not a problem, he said in a recent blog post, but a blessing.

The response from others in China was swift.

"If all enterprises enforce a 996 schedule, no one will have children," one person argued on the same platform. "Did you ever think about the elderly at home who need care, the children who need company?"

It even prompted a response from Chinese state media, which reminded everyone: "The mandatory enforcement of 996 overtime culture not only reflects the arrogance of business managers, but is also unfair and impractical."



Managers who think like Mr Ma can be found the world over.

In the United States, Mr Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla, has argued that "nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week".

Uber reportedly used the internal mantra, "Work smarter, harder and longer". (It's now just "smarter" and "harder".) It has also rebranded second jobs as clever "side hustles".

WeWork decorates its co-working spaces with phrases like "Don't stop when you're tired, stop when you are done". Other tech and business gurus try to sell us on "toil glamour".

The truth is that they're all wrong.

Workers certainly suffer when forced to put in extreme hours. But business fares just as poorly. No one benefits from people pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion.

One of the reasons Mr Ma said he supports 996 culture is that people who work longer get the "rewards of hard work".

But they are apparently not in store for monetary rewards. A group of academics just released research finding that working longer hours than someone else in the same job doesn't earn you more money; instead, it leads to a 1 per cent decrease in wages. Another analysis similarly found that after 40 hours a week, there is no clear financial return for clocking more hours.

Excessive work effort has even been linked, perversely, to worse career outcomes.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that putting in extra hours is associated with poorer health, including weight gain, higher alcohol and tobacco use, and increased injury, illness and even mortality. Health researchers have found that overwork is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.



Mr Ma went so far in his post as to say that those who aren't willing to put in such long hours need not apply to work at Alibaba. He is only shooting himself in the foot.

There's a ceiling on how much more someone can get done by simply spending more time at work. After about 48 hours a week, a worker's output drops sharply, according to a Stanford economist. Other research has appeared to support this finding.

While there might be an initial burst of activity from overworking, people who work more than 55 hours a week perform worse than those who go home at a normal hour and get some rest.

There are other costs to employers. An eldercare facility in Sweden that tried a six-hour work day reportedly found that nurses took fewer sick days and were more productive. Fatigued workers cost employers US$100 billion (S$135.7 billion) in lost productivity.

This all became obvious to the US business community long ago. As unions pushed for a 40-hour work week in the 1800s, business leaders who acquiesced found that their companies became much more profitable and productive.

In 1914, Henry Ford took the lessons of these experiments to heart and cut shifts in his plants to eight hours without reducing pay, leading to an output boom. By 1938, that 40-hour work week was enshrined into law by the Fair Labour Standards Act, which requires time-and-a-half pay beyond that.

The strength of the law has been whittled away over recent decades, however, to the point that millions fewer Americans are guaranteed extra pay for extra work than in 1979. That allows employers to push more employees to put in more hours essentially free.

Then US President Barack Obama proposed an update in 2016 that would have offered new or strengthened overtime protection to more than 13 million workers; it was struck down by the courts. President Donald Trump's version, proposed last month, will help 8.2 million fewer workers, thanks to a lower salary threshold and a failure to index it to inflation.

Business leaders seem to have forgotten the lessons they learned in the past: Humane schedules benefit employee and employer alike, writes @brycecoverthttps://t.co/ZDwHLcQ7I3

— New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) April 22, 2019

Business leaders seem to have forgotten the lessons they learnt in the past: Humane schedules benefit employee and employer alike.

China might have its 996 culture, but the US doesn't fare much better. Nearly a third of Americans put in 45 hours or more each week; nearly 10 million clock 60 or more. The average European puts in 7 per cent to 19 per cent less time on the job.

Policies like a strong overtime rule can help people return to a world where everyone does better by working less. Business leaders like Mr Ma have to get with the programme. Glorifying those who sacrifice nearly all their waking hours at the altar of work harms everyone, from the chief executive to the custodian.

NYTIMES

Heng Swee Keat will be Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister from 1 May 2019

April 24, 2019, 7:18 am

≫ Next: What can the US health system learn from Singapore?

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Cabinet reshuffle April 2019: Heng Swee Keat to be appointed Deputy Prime Minister; DPMs Teo Chee Hean and Tharman to become Senior Ministers
Finance Minister's standing as Singapore's next PM cemented in Cabinet reshuffle
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Apr 2019

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister from May 1, in a move that cements his standing as Singapore's next prime minister.

Meanwhile, both existing Deputy Prime Ministers will relinquish their appointments, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced yesterday.

As part of the ongoing process of leadership transition, Mr Teo Chee Hean, 64, and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 62, will become Senior Ministers and remain in Cabinet.

All three will continue to carry out many of their current responsibilities. Mr Heng, 57, will stay on as Finance Minister and continue chairing the Future Economy Council and National Research Foundation. He will also be appointed Acting Prime Minister in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's absence.

Mr Teo will continue to be Coordinating Minister for National Security, while Mr Tharman - who is now Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies - will be redesignated as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies. He will still advise the Prime Minister on economic policies, said the PMO.

Yesterday, sovereign wealth fund GIC also announced that Mr Tharman, who is now a GIC director, will be appointed deputy chairman from next Wednesday. He will assist PM Lee, who is GIC chairman, to lead the board in overseeing GIC's long-term asset allocation and portfolio performance, it said. Mr Tharman is also chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

PM Lee, 67, said the changes are part of the ongoing process of leadership renewal.

"The next-generation leadership is taking shape, and progressively taking over from me and my older colleagues. The team is working closely together, building up public trust and confidence in their leadership," he said in a Facebook post.

"I ask all Singaporeans to support them, and work together to secure a bright future for Singapore." In a separate post, Mr Heng said that he was honoured by PM Lee's trust, and grateful for the older ministers staying on "to share their wisdom". Mr Heng was set to be appointed Deputy PM in this year's Cabinet reshuffle, after he was picked by his peers to be their leader late last year, and appointed first assistant secretary-general of the ruling People's Action Party last November.

Yesterday's changes come a year after a major reshuffle last April, which saw younger ministers taking on heavier responsibilities as 10 out of 16 ministries were helmed by fourth-generation (4G) ministers.

At that time, four backbenchers became office-holders to bolster the front bench, as three veteran ministers retired from Cabinet: Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Mr Lim Swee Say and Dr Yaacob Ibrahim.

Yesterday, Mr Teo said of the reshuffle: "This is the Singapore way of ensuring smooth leadership transition, continuity and stability. Senior leaders make way in good time for the next generation, share their experience and help the next generation of leaders to succeed."

Mr Tharman said: "Swee Keat is the best person to move up to become DPM and take over as PM during the next term of government. He has exceptional ability, mettle and the confidence of the 4G team."

Both DPMs said they hoped to continue serving their residents after the next general election.



Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, who Mr Heng had picked last November as his deputy, said: "As one team, we will continue to work closely together to take Singapore forward and to serve all Singaporeans."

The Cabinet has traditionally had two deputy PMs since the 1980s, with the exception of a short period in the 1990s when PM Lee was the only DPM on board.

Observers said the latest move sends a clearer signal - at home and abroad - about the next PM.

"The way I read it, the focus of this reshuffle is on the DPM," said political analyst and former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin. "He will definitely be the person who's going to take over from the PM... It's very clear who the man in charge is."

Cabinet reshuffle: Heng Swee Keat looks forward to strengthening partnerships
He vows to do his best to fulfil duties, together with colleagues
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Apr 2019

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's packed schedule is set to get busier, once he becomes Deputy Prime Minister next Wednesday.

This month, he was in Chiang Rai, Thailand, for the Asean Finance Ministers' Meeting on April 4 and 5, and in Putrajaya for the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders' Retreat on April 9. From April 10 to 20, he was in Washington for the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting and the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and in the San Francisco Bay Area for two tech forums, among other events.

In between, he had community engagements lined up.

For Mr Heng, these meetings are about strengthening partnerships - which he indicated will remain a key focus in his new post.

Shortly after his promotion was announced yesterday, he reiterated the importance of such cooperation in a Facebook post.

Mr Heng said he was honoured by the trust Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong placed in him, and vowed to do his best, together with his colleagues, to fulfil their responsibility to Singapore and Singaporeans.

"We look forward to partnering with all Singaporeans for Singapore, and to strengthening our relations with our partners in Asean and around the world," he said.

Partnership - including engaging with views from the public - has been a key theme for him since he helmed a national conversation as education minister from 2011, before moving to the Finance Ministry in 2015. He will remain Finance Minister.

"We have a strong and united team in place - not only in the Cabinet but as a whole Singapore society," Mr Heng said on Facebook.

"In my time in public service, I have gained and learnt much from partners from all parts of industry and society. I am also constantly inspired and encouraged by my residents in Tampines and, of course, by Singaporeans here and abroad."

He added that he was glad both Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam will stay on as Senior Ministers to share their wisdom.



Mr Heng had been tipped as the next deputy prime minister since he was picked by his peers as the first assistant secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP) last November. Both PM Lee and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong were deputy PMs before they held the top post.

Mr Heng won a Singapore Police Force scholarship in 1980 to study economics at England's Cambridge University. He was a police officer on his return, before moving to the Administrative Service in 1995.

Between 1997 and 2000, he was principal private secretary to then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who called him "the best principal private secretary I ever had".

Mr Heng joined politics in 2011, contesting in Tampines GRC during an election which the PAP won with its lowest vote share since independence. Shortly after, he was made education minister, where he worked to downplay the focus on grades and emphasise intangibles like character building.

In 2015, he succeeded Mr Tharman as Finance Minister. In May 2016, Mr Heng suffered a stroke at a Cabinet meeting, but his doctors later gave him a clean bill of health. Last year, he told reporters he would not have assumed leadership of the PAP's fourth-generation team if he was not confident of his health.



Singapore Business Federation chief executive Ho Meng Kit said Singapore is well known abroad, and Mr Heng has to be more prominent as its next face. "Mr Heng, as the incoming PM, will need to make an impact internationally," he said. He noted Mr Heng has met many business leaders in China and the US.

Political analyst Mustafa Izzuddin said of Mr Heng: "He can show the style of leadership we can expect when he becomes prime minister, and he'll carve his own imprint in time to come," he said.

Additional reporting by Rachel Au-Yong

Latest Cabinet reshuffle sends a clear signal, and reflects the Singapore way
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor, The Straits Times, 24 Apr 2019

Yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle saw few changes, but it was a significant milestone in Singapore's leadership renewal.

There was only one promotion - Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will become Deputy Prime Minister from May 1, while retaining his finance portfolio and other key appointments like chairing the National Research Foundation.

Current DPMs Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be appointed Senior Ministers, and stay in Cabinet.

Mr Heng had been set to become DPM in the latest reshuffle after he was picked as first assistant secretary-general of the ruling People's Action Party and leader of its fourth-generation team last November.

Appointing Mr Heng as the sole deputy to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is another step in that direction and a clear signal he will become the country's next leader.

Singapore used to have only one DPM till 1980, when Mr Goh Keng Swee was founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's deputy.

Mr S. Rajaratnam was appointed second deputy prime minister in June that year, alongside Mr Goh.

Since then, there have been two DPMs in Cabinet apart from a two-year stretch from September 1993, when former DPM Ong Teng Cheong became president.

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam returned to Cabinet in August 1995 and was appointed DPM alongside then DPM Lee Hsien Loong.

Reverting to one DPM removes any ambiguity about Mr Heng's leadership position in Cabinet.

The announcement that Mr Heng will also be Acting Prime Minister when the Prime Minister is away reinforces his standing as PM Lee's No. 2.

Mr Teo described the changes as "the Singapore way of ensuring smooth leadership transition", with senior leaders making way for the next generation and sharing their experience to help the younger leaders succeed.

As Mr Tharman said, the PAP's no-surprise style of renewing its leadership "may be unexciting and predictable, but it works for Singapore".

Mr Teo will continue as Coordinating Minister for National Security, while Mr Tharman will be redesignated Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, and has been appointed deputy chairman of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC.

Retaining the two men in Cabinet shows that both still have key roles to play in supporting and guiding the 4G leaders as they take over from the third-generation team.



It also continues the tradition of having senior ministers to ensure continuity and allow the younger ministers to tap their experience.

There have been four senior ministers to date - former prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, and former deputy prime ministers S. Rajaratnam and S. Jayakumar.

Professor Jayakumar and Mr Goh retired from the Cabinet in 2011, with Mr Goh given the honorary title of Emeritus Senior Minister.

Both Mr Teo and Mr Tharman are poised to continue contributing for some time yet.

Mr Teo has signalled that he will contest the next general election, saying he hopes he will continue to have the support of Pasir Ris-Punggol residents to continue as their MP. Mr Tharman hinted likewise, saying he looks forward to serving his constituents in Jurong "in the years to come".

Yesterday's reshuffle comes about one year after the previous one, which saw extensive changes involving all ministries but one.

One possible reason there were no other changes to Cabinet is that various office-holders, like Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, have been in their ministries only for a relatively short duration. It would thus be too soon for them to take on new portfolios.



No changes were expected in the Foreign and Transport ministries, as Ministers Vivian Balakrishnan and Khaw Boon Wan are handling ongoing and delicate discussions with their Malaysian counterparts over maritime boundaries and airspace respectively.

There was speculation that some senior ministers of state may be promoted to full ministers. That none has moved up suggests that PM Lee wants to test them further in their current roles. Keeping the Cabinet changes to a minimum also keeps the focus squarely on Mr Heng's promotion to DPM.

With the latest Cabinet reshuffle probably the last one in the Government's current term, this should be the Cabinet line-up that will enter the next election, which must be held by April 2021.

Thereafter, Mr Heng could well start playing a role in picking the next Cabinet.

Support in Cabinet for new leaders, says Teo Chee Hean
Senior leaders will help next generation of leaders to succeed, says outgoing DPM
By Adrian Lim, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Apr 2019

Relinquishing his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) while continuing in Cabinet to support the new generation of leaders is the "Singapore way of ensuring smooth leadership transition, continuity and stability", DPM Teo Chee Hean said yesterday.

"Senior leaders make way in good time for the next generation, share their experience and help the next generation of leaders to succeed," added Mr Teo, 64, in a statement on the upcoming Cabinet changes.

He also said Mr Heng Swee Keat's promotion to DPM is "another important step in our leadership renewal".

From May 1, Mr Heng will be DPM while remaining as Finance Minister. He will continue to chair the Future Economy Council and National Research Foundation.



DPM Teo and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam will relinquish their appointments as DPMs and become Senior Ministers.

DPM Teo will continue as Coordinating Minister for National Security, an appointment he has held since May 2011. In his statement, DPM Teo said he will continue in Cabinet to support PM Lee Hsien Loong and DPM Heng in whatever way he can as well as work with Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing and other young leaders for the security, safety and success of Singapore.

He congratulated and wished Mr Heng the very best and thanked PM Lee and his colleagues for their support in the 10 years he said he had the privilege of serving as DPM. He was appointed DPM on April 1, 2009.

DPM Teo will continue to oversee the Prime Minister's Office Strategy Group, including the National Population and Talent Division and the National Climate Change Secretariat.

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Teo Ser Luck , 50, who was part of the Singapore delegation led by DPM Teo to China in 2012 and 2014, recalls DPM Teo as a good mentor who made himself available to everyone, and shared his opinions and perspectives.

DPM Teo has built up a rapport with the Chinese leaders over the years, said Mr Teo Ser Luck. "He comes across as a respectable statesman in the way he delivers his message to them."

DPM Teo also has a good sense of humour and puts people at ease with his friendly demeanour, he added.

Mr Zainal Sapari, an MP in the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said: "In my interactions with DPM Teo, he has shown to be very experienced and has institutional knowledge."



A former Chief of Navy, DPM Teo became an MP in 1992 after a by-election in Marine Parade GRC. He has been re-elected five times in the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

He has also held a range of portfolios, including Home Affairs, Defence and Education, as well as being the Minister in charge of the Civil Service until 2018.

In his statement yesterday, DPM Teo said he will run in the next general election, saying he hopes to continue to have the support of the Pasir Ris-Punggol residents to continue as their MP.

He helms the six-MP GRC and Mr Zainal said: "Over the years, he has developed a warm rapport with the residents. They are very comfortable with him, despite him being DPM."

Heng Swee Keat is best man to be next PM, says Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Outgoing DPM says Heng Swee Keat has exceptional ability and support of his peers
By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Apr 2019

With his exceptional ability and the support of his peers, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat is the best person to assume the post of Deputy Prime Minister and take over as Prime Minister in the next term of government, said Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday.

In a Facebook post shortly after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the latest Cabinet reshuffle, the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister described the changes as a major step in leadership succession and a plus for Singapore's future. A sudden change was avoided while ensuring there was renewal along with the changing times, he added.

Mr Tharman and Mr Teo Chee Hean will relinquish their posts as DPMs and assume the mantle of Senior Ministers.

Mr Tharman, who has been Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies since 2015, will be redesignated as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.

He will continue to advise the Prime Minister on economic policies. He has also been appointed deputy chairman of Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, where he is currently a board member.

Mr Teo will remain as Coordinating Minister for National Security.



Commenting on the changes, Mr Tharman said: "It may be unexciting and predictable, but it works for Singapore. We will have a strong crew in Cabinet, with PM Lee at the helm, Teo Chee Hean and myself staying engaged as Senior Ministers and, together with our other senior colleagues, providing support to the 4G team as it takes over.

"We each have our strengths and individual characters, but none of us is perfect. Our system of political renewal in Government only succeeds if we complement each other and play as a team, work with Singaporeans and never let success get to our heads or assume that all that worked in the past will work in the future. It is how the Singapore story keeps going."

Mr Tharman also had advice for the next generation of leaders.

With Singaporeans' views and aspirations changing, things will be quite different 10 years from now, and the 4G leadership will have to "carve their own way as leaders, individually and as a team, and progressively leave their own imprint", he said, pledging to help them in every way he can in Government.

"Our 4G leadership will have to keep their ears close to the ground, stay open to new ideas and initiatives, and keep evolving our strategies to keep our society inclusive and vibrant. So that they retain the trust of Singaporeans and lead the country with confidence," he said.

Mr Tharman, who helms Jurong GRC and was first elected in 2001, also said he looked forward to "continuing to serve my constituents in Jurong in the years to come".



Social and Family Development Minister and fellow Jurong GRC MP Desmond Lee said Mr Tharman's focus in Jurong has been on caring for people and working to improve their lives, adding: "We look forward to his continued mentorship."

Singapore Business Federation chief executive Ho Meng Kit said it was good to have Mr Tharman remain as an adviser and looking after Singapore's reserves at GIC.

"Economic policy in Singapore is very strong and social policies here need to be carefully crafted, particularly in this situation where inequality is a growing concern," he said, adding that Mr Tharman's presence was reassuring.

Cabinet reshuffle: Strong message on who will be in charge next, say observers
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 24 Apr 2019

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has sent a clear message that Mr Heng Swee Keat is the next leader of Singapore by appointing him as the sole Deputy Prime Minister in the latest Cabinet reshuffle yesterday, observers said.

"It's a strong signal to the international community that Mr Heng is next in charge," said Mr Ho Meng Kit, chief executive of the Singapore Business Federation, adding that the move would make for a stable handover later.

Similarly, East Asian Institute senior research fellow Lam Peng Er said the fact that Mr Heng will be Acting PM when PM Lee is not in town is significant in expelling any remaining doubts about the next leader of Singapore. "It's very unambiguous. Mr Heng is the man."

Since Singapore's independence, there have been only three periods when the country had only one second-in-command.

They were from June 1959 to August 1968, when the DPM was Dr Toh Chin Chye; between March 1973 and June 1980, when the No. 2 was Dr Goh Keng Swee; and from September 1993 to August 1995, when Mr Lee Hsien Loong was the DPM.

As a result, some had expected Mr Heng, the Finance Minister, to be appointed the first DPM, and Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, the second DPM.

This would have replicated their respective roles as first assistant secretary-general and second assistant secretary-general of the People's Action Party.



Others had expected a major reshuffle, with other fourth-generation (4G) leaders being moved to other organs of government or promoted. Instead, the only changes were the promotion of Mr Heng, and DPMs Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam being appointed Senior Ministers.

But NUS research fellow Mustafa Izzuddin pointed out two other advantages in having a relatively simple reshuffle and one DPM.

One, it puts the spotlight on Mr Heng, who will work closely with PM Lee in directing the next general election, which must be held by April 2021. "That's another reason this reshuffle was so simple - it's supposed to be non-disruptive, to make it clear who the next PM is and to do that, you first need that person to be DPM," he said.

Two, with just Mr Heng as DPM, he can choose his own deputy and by extension, the rest of his team when he eventually takes the top post.

"This way, Mr Heng is given sufficient space to make the decisions he thinks are best for Singapore, and to make his own mark about his leadership style in time," Dr Mustafa added.

Some challenges lie ahead for Mr Heng.

While he has shown his technocratic abilities, he will need to develop more rapport with the people as the PM-designate, said Dr Lam.

"People want to know what makes him tick. The next GE will be more difficult than 2015's, so he really needs to demonstrate his leadership and who he is," he added.

Mr Heng, with his team, also has to prove that Singapore will not be in weaker hands when leadership change takes place, said fellow Tampines GRC MP and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng.

"The hard work in the GRC will have to continue, even intensify," he said. "I don't think people will think of Tampines as a safe ward. In fact, the opposition may want to put the next PM on his toes.''



In the meantime, the 4G leaders will benefit with Mr Teo and Mr Tharman staying on as Senior Ministers, he said.

"This good practice of having senior ministers has been in place since Mr S. Rajaratnam was first appointed. This is a good way to ensure we can continue to tap Mr Teo and Mr Tharman's experience and strengths," Mr Baey added.

Looking ahead, SIM Global Education associate lecturer Felix Tan said there could be a few more changes later.

He had expected, in yesterday's announcement, that some senior ministers of state would take over as ministers of their portfolios.

"That would clearly demonstrate that the 4G are taking heavier responsibilities, but perhaps they are a little bit cautious this round," he said.

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By Aaron E. Carroll, Published The Straits Times, 25 Apr 2019

Singapore's healthcare system is sometimes held up as an example of excellence and as a possible model for what could come next in the United States.

When we published the results of an Upshot tournament on which country had the world's best health system, Singapore was eliminated in the first round, largely because most of the experts had a hard time believing much of what the nation seems to achieve. It does achieve a lot.

Americans have spent the last decade arguing loudly about whether and how to provide insurance to a relatively small percentage of people who don't have it. Singapore is way past that. It's perfecting how to deliver care to people, focusing on quality, efficiency and cost.

Americans may be able to learn a thing or two from Singaporeans, as I discovered in a recent visit to study the health system, although there are also reasons that comparisons between the nations aren't apt.

A POPULATION THAT IS HEALTHIER

Singapore is an island city-state of around 5.8 million strong. At 723 square kilometres, it's smaller than Indianapolis, the city where I live, and is without rural or remote areas. Everyone lives close to doctors and hospitals.

Another big difference between Singapore and the US lies in social determinants of health. Citizens of Singapore have much less poverty than one might see in other developed countries. The tax system is progressive. The bottom 20 per cent of Singaporeans in income pay less than 10 per cent of all taxes and receive more than a quarter of all benefits.

The richest 20 per cent pay more than half of all taxes and receive only 12 per cent of the benefits.

Everyone attends comparable school systems and the Government heavily subsidises housing. Rates of smoking, alcoholism and drug abuse are relatively low. So are rates of obesity. All of this predisposes the country to better health and accompanying lower health spending.



Achieving comparable goals in the US would probably require large investments in social programmes and there doesn't appear to be much of an appetite for that.

There's also a big caveat to Singapore's success. It has a significant and officially recognised guest worker programme of non-citizens.

About 1.4 million foreigners work in Singapore, most in low-skilled, low-paying jobs. Such jobs come with some protections and are often better than what might be available in workers' home countries, but these workers are also vulnerable to abuse. Guest workers are not eligible for the same benefits (including access to the public health system beyond emergency services) that citizens or permanent residents are, and they aren't counted in any metrics of success or health. Clearly this saves money and also clouds the ability to use data to evaluate outcomes.

THINGS TO LIKE, FOR THE LEFT AND RIGHT

The Government's healthcare philosophy is laid out clearly in five objectives. In the US, conservatives may be pleased that one objective stresses personal responsibility and cautions against reliance on either welfare or medical insurance. Another notes the importance of the private market and competition to improve services and increase efficiency.

Liberal-leaning Americans might be impressed that one objective is universal basic care and that another goal is cost containment by the Government, especially when the market fails to keep costs low enough.

Singapore appreciates the relative strengths and limits of the public and private sectors in health.

Often in the US, we think that one or the other can do it all. That's not necessarily the case.

Dr Jeremy Lim, a partner in Oliver Wyman's Asia healthcare consulting practice based in Singapore and the author of one of the seminal books on its healthcare system, said: "Singaporeans recognise that resources are finite and that not every medicine or device can be funded out of the public purse."

He added that a high trust in the Government "enables acceptance that the Government has worked the sums and determined that some medicines and devices are not cost-effective and hence not available to citizens at subsidised prices".

In the end, the Government holds the cards. It decides where and when the private sector can operate. In the US, the opposite often seems true. The private sector is the default system and the public sector comes into play only when the private sector doesn't want to.

In Singapore, the Government strictly regulates what technology is available in the country and where. It makes decisions as to what drugs and devices are covered in public facilities. It sets the prices and determines what subsidies are available.

"There is careful scrutiny of the 'latest and greatest' technologies and a healthy scepticism of manufacturer claims," Dr Lim said. "It may be at the forefront of medical science in many areas, but the diffusion of the advancements to the entire population may take a while."

Government control also applies to public health initiatives. Officials began to worry about diabetes, so they acted. School lunches have been improved. Regulations have been passed to make meals on government properties and at government events healthier.

In the US, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association recently called on policymakers to impose taxes and advertising limits on the soda industry. But that's merely guidance. There's no power behind it.

In Singapore, campaigns have encouraged drinking water, and healthier food choice labels have been mandated. The country, with control over its food importation, even got beverage manufacturers to agree to reduce sugar content in drinks to a maximum of 12 per cent by 2020. Should beverage companies fail to comply, officials might not just tax the drinks - they could ban them.

WHAT'S REALLY SPECIAL IS THE DELIVERY

Singapore gets a lot of attention because of the way it pays for its healthcare system. What's less noticed is its delivery system. Primary care, which is mostly at low cost, is provided mostly by the private sector. About 80 per cent of Singaporeans get such care from about 1,700 general practitioners.

The rest use a system of 18 polyclinics run by the Government. As care becomes more complicated - and therefore more expensive - more people turn to the polyclinics. About 45 per cent of those who have chronic conditions use polyclinics, for example.

The polyclinics are a marvel of efficiency. They have been designed to process as many patients as quickly as possible. The government encourages citizens to use their online app to schedule appointments, see wait times and pay their bills.

Even so, a major complaint is the wait time. Doctors carry a heavy workload, seeing upward of 60 patients a day. There's also a lack of continuity. Patients at polyclinics don't get to choose their physicians. They see whoever is working that day.

Care is cheap, however. A visit for a citizen costs S$8 for the clinic fees, a little under US$6. Seeing a private physician can cost three times as much (still cheap in American terms).

For hospitalisations, the public v private share is flipped. Only about 20 per cent of people choose a private hospital for care. The other 80 per cent choose to use public hospitals, which are - again - heavily subsidised.

People can choose levels of service there (from A to C), and most choose a "B" level.

About half of all care provided in private hospitals is to non-citizens of Singapore. Even for citizens who choose private hospitals, as care gets more expensive, they move to the public system when they can.

So Singapore isn't really a more "private" system. It's just privately funded. In effect, it's the opposite of what we have in the US. We have a largely publicly-financed private delivery system. Singapore has a largely privately-financed public delivery system.

There's also more granular control of the delivery system. In 1997, there were about 60,000 ambulance calls, but about half of those were not for actual emergencies. What did Singapore do?

It declared that while ambulance services for emergencies would remain free, those who called for non-emergencies would be charged the equivalent of US$185.

Of course, this might cause the public to be afraid to call for real emergencies. But the policy was introduced with intensive public education and messaging.

And Singaporeans have identifier numbers that are consistent across health centres and types of care. "The electronic health records are all connected and data are shared between them," said Dr Marcus Ong, the emergency medical services director. "When patients are attended to for an emergency, records can be quickly accessed, and many non-emergencies can be then cleared with accurate information.

"By 2010, there were more than 120,000 calls for emergency services, and very few were for non-emergencies."

THE GOOD TIMES MAY NOT LAST

Singapore made big early health leaps, relatively inexpensively, in infant mortality and increased life expectancy. It did so in part through "better vaccinations, better sanitation, good public schools, public campaigns against tobacco" and good prenatal care, said Dr Wong Tien Hua, the immediate past president of the Singapore Medical Association.

But in recent years, as in the US, costs have started to rise much more quickly with greater use of modern technological medicine. The population is also ageing rapidly.

It's unlikely that the country's spending on healthcare will approach that of the United States (18 per cent of gross domestic product), but the days of spending significantly less than the global average of 10 per cent are probably numbered.

Medical officials are also worried that the problems of the rest of the world are catching up to them. They're worried that diabetes is on the rise. They're worried that fee-for-service payments are unsustainable. They're worried hospitals are learning how to game the system to make more money.

But they're also aware of the possible endgame. One told me: "Nobody wants to go down the US route."

Perhaps most important, the healthcare system in Singapore seems more geared towards raising up all its citizens than on achieving excellence in a few high-profile areas.

Without major commitments to spending, we in the US aren't likely to see major changes to social determinants of health or housing.

We also aren't going to shrink the size of our system or get everyone to move to big cities. It turns out that Singapore's system really is quite remarkable. It also turns out that it's most likely not reproducible. That may be our loss.

NYTIMES

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