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Singapore approves over 4,000 crew change cases for seafarers during COVID-19 period

June 12, 2020, 11:18 pm
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87 ship crew members fly home to India from Singapore on chartered plane after being stranded at sea
By Aw Cheng Wei, The Straits Times, 13 Jun 2020

Chief engineer Awadhesh Prasad was looking forward to going home to India after his four-month contract with shipping company Executive Ship Management ended.

But the COVID-19 outbreak scuppered his plans as borders were closed, and he and the crew of Crimson Monarch could not disembark from the bulk carrier.

This meant that Mr Prasad, 54, could not return home to Ranchi, capital of the eastern state of Jharkhand, in February as planned.

He ended up continuing on the ship's journey to Canada, Brazil and Australia, among other countries, for about four more months, before his employer found him a way back on a chartered flight.

The bulk carrier has not docked at any port since May 9, when it left Brazil.

"Finally, today, I can go home," he told The Straits Times at Changi Airport Terminal 1's departure hall yesterday.

Mr Prasad was one of 87 ship crew members who boarded a chartered flight to Mumbai yesterday after he disembarked from the Crimson Monarch to a smaller vessel, which took him to Marina South Pier.

The chartered plane had flown 54 crew members from Mumbai to Singapore to replace the departing crew on six ships for their onward journey from the Port of Singapore.



The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said yesterday that it has approved more than 4,000 cases of crew sign-on and sign-off for over 300 companies and 500 ships since March 27.

Signing-on and signing-off refer to the ship's handover process, when one crew replaces another.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan raised the issue of seafarers being stranded due to COVID-19 restrictions worldwide on his Facebook page on Tuesday, in response to a Financial Times article.

"Many crew have worked several months beyond their contracts due to recent travel restrictions which bar crew from disembarking to return home," said Mr Khaw.

"This has led to the international shipping industry threatening to cease sailing unless replacement crew can be brought in."

He said this issue could potentially disrupt or clog the global supply chain, given that commercial vessels carry 80 per cent of world trade.

Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health Lam Pin Min said in a Facebook post yesterday that Singapore has been facilitating crew change with a new protocol outlined in the Singapore Crew Change Guidebook.


The guide was developed by the Singapore Shipping Association and the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union, with MPA's support.

MPA chief executive Quah Ley Hoon said: "We have seen a sharp increase in the daily crew change applications since our last Port Marine Circular (on May 22).

"Singapore has a responsibility to facilitate crew change in a safe manner for both the country and the ships, given the ongoing pandemic.

"The (guidebook) sets out a 'safe corridor' which companies can now use consistently and reliably for crew changes."

Getting a flight into India, which has banned air travel, was not easy, said Executive Ship Management managing director S.P. Singh.

"International flights are banned in India... In order to charter a plane, we had to go through a long process to get the relevant permission. The Singapore authorities had been very cooperative."

The back-up plan was to wait for governments to reinstate international flights, which Mr Singh felt was not a viable option.

"The seafarers were having a tough time, not seeing their families," Mr Singh said, adding that the crew's family members in India had been asking the company when their loved ones could come home.



Mr Prasad said he called his wife and daughter, who is in university, every few days to check in.

"They are very understanding of the situation because it is all reported in the news. They kept asking me to take care," he said.

The crew could use high-speed Internet connection to call home, but it was the uncertainty of securing a way home before the pandemic ended that frustrated him.

"It was very difficult, not knowing when I could go home... I was worried for my family," he said.














 















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F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2020 cancelled over COVID-19 restrictions

June 13, 2020, 1:18 am
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By Jonathan Wong, Assistant Sports Editor, The Straits Times, 13 Jun 2020

In the biggest blow to the country's sports calendar, this year's Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix has been cancelled, Formula One and race promoters Singapore GP said yesterday.

The announcement on the Sept 20 night race had been widely expected given the severe disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic both locally and internationally.

Singapore GP said it was unable to proceed due to the prohibitions imposed on access and construction of the 5.063km Marina Bay Street Circuit. Works, which normally start in May, have not begun and will not be completed in time for the race in three months.

Other challenges include ongoing restrictions on mass gatherings - last year's race drew a three-day total of 268,000 spectators - and travel due to COVID-19. After all, 40 per cent of the Singapore race attendees are from overseas, while the event also boasts top international music acts that form part of the unique night race experience.

Singapore GP deputy chairman Colin Syn called the decision to cancel the event "difficult" and said the last few months were "extremely challenging on all fronts", but added that the health and safety of all involved are the main priorities.



The Ministry of Trade and Industry and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) fund 60 per cent of the $135 million race costs each year, with Singapore GP footing the rest.

The race weekend contributes about $130 million annually in tourism receipts.

The race cancellation follows the axing of other sporting events here like golf's HSBC Women's World Championship, the Singapore Badminton Open and football's International Champions Cup.

The Republic is still in its first phase of reopening after the circuit breaker. Sports facilities remain closed but are expected to reopen in the second phase, which could start before the end of this month.

The HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens, which drew 57,000 fans last year, was moved from April to October. It is the next big sports event in doubt, given that it takes place three weeks after the Singapore race.



SIA, which has backed the Singapore race since 2014 and last year extended its title sponsorship until next year, told The Straits Times it supported the decision but did not comment on the implications of the cancellation on its contract.

The airline's partnership for the first two years was worth between $10 million and $15 million annually, and reportedly $10 million a year for the next two years. The value of the 2018-2019 term and the present one is not known.

Besides the Singapore race, F1 said it will pull the plug for races in Japan and Azerbaijan, bringing the number of races called off this year to seven after Australia, Monaco, France and the Netherlands were dropped earlier.

The season was originally scheduled to flag off in Melbourne on March 15 but is set to make a belated start with closed-door races in Austria on July 5 and 12. Such "ghost races" - without fans - will be the norm for the eight races that have been pencilled in so far.

But Singapore GP had said last month that it is "not feasible to conduct the race behind closed doors". Experts such as Associate Professor Prem Shamdasani of the National University of Singapore Business School's marketing department also noted that without the off-track highlights and international fans, the multiplier benefits to the economy and global publicity will not materialise for Singapore.



ST understands F1 will not impose any financial penalties for the cancellation of the Singapore race.

On how the cancellation will affect the current contract - it ends after next year's race - and if it will be carried over into 2022, STB's director of sports Ong Ling Lee said it is open to exploring options and will work with various stakeholders "to prepare for different eventualities".













Scrapping of Formula One race disappoints fans and those in related sectors
Disappointment at cancellation of Singapore GP but many also understand 'safety first' rationale
By David Lee, The Straits Times, 13 Jun 2020

The local racing community, as well as related sectors, reacted with disappointment but also understanding, after news of the coronavirus-enforced cancellation of this year's Singapore Grand Prix broke yesterday.

Professional racer Yuey Tan, 38, who competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup at the 2014 and 2015 Singapore Grands Prix, was disappointed but said "racing is nothing more than entertainment".

He added: "I have two children and I love them very much. If this decision is going to keep people safer, I am really good with that and I can't wait for next year's race."

The first 12 editions between 2008 and 2019 welcomed more than 550,000 unique international visitors, with the race generating over $1.5 billion in incremental tourism receipts.



Hotels that line the Marina Bay Street Circuit are usually fully booked during F1 weekends while restaurants, clubs and pubs have also benefited.

Ms Cinn Tan, chief sales and marketing officer, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, said it was "disappointed" with the cancellation but she called it "a prudent and sensible decision". She added: "The COVID-19 situation is still uncertain, rendering the ability for international travels ambiguous."

The group had occupancy in the "high 90s" during the F1 period as the hotels were also busy with corporate and convention events as well as enjoying brisk business in food and beverage.

She added that across its eight-strong portfolio, which includes the trackside Pan Pacific Singapore, the group "will see a loss of close to 3,000 room nights during the F1 week" but insisted that it "remains nimble and astute with a comprehensive recovery plan".

Singapore Nightlife Business Association president Joseph Ong, 48, said the night race typically helps to bump up revenues for night businesses by about 20 per cent, with outlets at tourist hot spots Clarke Quay and 1-Altitude seeing a spike of around 35 per cent.

He added: "It is a bit too early to say if it would have a big impact on our industry as we have not gone into phase two post-circuit breaker."

However, Mr Ong said that even if the race had been given the green light to proceed, health and safety protocols designed to stem the spread of COVID-19 would make social distancing hard to implement.

There was some hope of the race proceeding after it was reported that Singapore Tourism Board (STB) had between February and April put up at least four tenders for the set-up of viewing facilities and ancillary activities.

But these were similar to practices of the past years and STB's director of sports Ong Ling Lee said yesterday: "There were only two race-related tenders awarded this year. No compensation is required for the two tenderers; therefore, there are no additional costs incurred by the Government."

For fans who had already bought tickets, race promoters Singapore GP will give automatic refunds within 30 business days, or a rollover option to next year's event. It said that those who bought tickets through authorised ticketing partners should contact them for refunds.

This will be scant consolation for F1 supporters, who said they will miss the buzz from watching the drama unfold up close with a crowd, as well as the supporting events and activities that have made the Singapore Grand Prix a marquee event in world sport.

Red Bull fan Zaki Azmi, 25, who has been to six Singapore races, added: "The event has one of the most vibrant atmospheres in the world, but the fans' health is more important than the race itself, so I feel this is the right decision."

Mr Thomas Wong, 35, is one fan who relishes the event's heady mix of racing and star-studded concerts.

Said the Ferrari fan: "I'm not a regular racegoer, but the Singapore race usually brings in top international performers like Bon Jovi and Red Hot Chili Peppers, acts we don't get to watch live otherwise. I hope the extravaganza will come back with a bang next year."

Mr Tan is not worried that the cancellation will adversely affect the Republic's standing in the motorsports community.

He said: "The Singapore race is quite different from the other Asian and European circuits. There is a different type of culture and format here. It is a street circuit and night race, which sets it apart from the rest."

Additional reporting by Arvinash Ravindran









Absence of Singapore Grand Prix this year a double whammy to economy, say analysts
By David Lee, The Straits Times, 13 Jun 2020

The cancellation of this year's Singapore Grand Prix will be a double whammy to the local economy that is already hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, analysts told The Straits Times yesterday.

Citing the decline in inbound tourists from a monthly average of more than a million to fewer than a thousand in April, and the resulting dip in hotel occupancy rates, CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun predicted that the country's economy will contract by 5 per cent year on year in the third quarter, after also taking into account the absence of the Sept 20 Singapore race.

He said: "September tends to bring in the lowest number of tourists, and that is also why we have the F1 race in that month.

"Ideally, with the COVID-19 situation, these relevant sectors would have liked the night race to continue as scheduled because of the boost it typically brings, and anything more than the current state would already be a bonus."

However, he and Singapore Management University associate professor of marketing Hannah Chang both agreed it was not just a matter of money. She said: "Even if the race still took place and attracted a large number of international tourists (assuming that there is no travel restriction), there is substantial risk and associated cost involved with a possible resurgence of COVID-19."



The Government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Singapore Tourism Board, funds 60 per cent of the annual $135 million it costs to organise the street race, with race promoters Singapore GP footing the rest.

The first 12 editions between 2008 and 2019 saw more than 550,000 unique foreign visitors, contributing over $1.5 billion in tourism receipts. Last year's race drew a three-day total of 268,000 spectators - the second-highest after the 300,000 total in 2008.

Singapore also gains because the live broadcast of the two-hour race beams iconic images of the city skyline to over 930 million viewers.

Mr James Walton, head of Deloitte South-east Asia's sports business group, said the businesses which will suffer due to the race cancellation "tend to be areas around ticketing, security, catering, where for some of them, this is one of the largest events of the year".

The luxury sector will also be affected because "the tourists coming in for the F1 tend to be high spenders, and we do see a boost in terms of luxury goods shopping... The high-end restaurants will also be hit hard."

Other notable victims will be the trackside hotels that enjoy very high occupancy at that time.

As the event "also provides a lot of seasonal employment opportunities", those who act as waiters, circuit hosts and the like will also lose out on the chance to earn income, he said.





With 7 races called off, F1 faces reduced calendar
The Straits Times, 13 Jun 2020

LONDON • Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan have joined the list of Formula One grands prix cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but organisers are confident they can pull off a reduced calendar of 15 to 18 races this season.

This was supposed to have been a landmark year for the motor sport as it had planned a record 22 races before its schedule was shredded by the pandemic.

Seven races have now been axed - four, including the showcase Monaco Grand Prix, had been called off earlier - so F1 is likely to expand its initial eight-race European calendar to incorporate more races around the continent.

It would be an ideal workaround amid the strict travel restrictions imposed by countries worldwide to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, as minimal flying will be required.

A second race in Italy - the Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for Sept 6 - has been mooted for Mugello or Imola, once home of the San Marino Grand Prix.



Autosport yesterday reported that governing body FIA has renewed Imola's Grade 1 licence, which officially confirms the track is ready to host a grand prix.

"With the renewal of the licence, we are in the condition to host an F1 Grand Prix, having all the standards requested by the FIA," said circuit boss Uberto Selvatico Estense. "We hope such a dream comes true with the teamwork of the institutions and the region."

According to Autosport, Sept 13 has been put forth as the ideal date for a possible Imola race, as it forms the last leg of a triple-header following the Belgian and Italian grands prix.

Russia on Thursday indicated it was prepared to host two races at Sochi, which is already due to host the Russian Grand Prix on Sept 27.

A statement by race promoters Rosgonki read: "Sochi's infrastructure and the experience of the promoter company allow us to consider the possibility of holding an F1 double-header."

Germany's Hockenheim, which had been in talks with F1 as a replacement for Silverstone before the British circuit confirmed its availability, and Portugal's Algarve are other possibilities.

On the avenues it can explore, an F1 statement read: "We have made significant progress with existing and new promoters on the revised calendar, and have been particularly encouraged by the interest that has been shown by new venues."

F1 added that it expected to publish a final calendar before travelling to Austria for the season opener on July 5.

REUTERS


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CDC Vouchers Scheme: 400,000 lower-income households to each receive $50 worth of vouchers to support local businesses hard hit by COVID-19

June 13, 2020, 1:57 am
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$20 million in vouchers to be distributed to 400,000 Singaporean households
Eligible households will receive notification letters in batches between 15 June and end-July 2020
By Goh Yan Han, The Straits Times, 13 Jun 2020

Up to 400,000 lower-income Singaporean households will be able to collect $50 worth of vouchers in the coming months to be spent at local businesses.

The Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme was launched yesterday to help Singaporean households with daily expenses while supporting local merchants and hawkers.

The households, identified through various government help schemes, can use the vouchers at participating shops and stalls such as hawker stalls and mom-and-pop shops.

About 2,500 merchants and hawkers have signed up so far.

More are expected to come on board as awareness of the scheme increases and the economy reopens, said Ms Low Yen Ling, chairman of the Mayors' Committee and Mayor of South West District.

She added that the five mayors and grassroots advisers have been working with merchant and hawker associations to recruit heartland businesses virtually during the past two months, after Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keatannounced a $20 million grant for CDCs to support families and their needs during the first Budget in February.



Eligible households will receive notification letters in batches between June 15 and end-July. They will have to present the letter and one NRIC per household during the voucher collection.

Each letter will state the starting date of voucher collection at designated community centres for each household. The earliest date is June 25, though the vouchers can be collected any time until Dec 1.

This is to ensure safe distancing and to minimise overcrowding at the collection points.

The vouchers, which come in $2 denominations, must be used by Dec 31.

Staff from the various constituency offices or representatives from the associations will visit the merchants weekly to collect the vouchers and reimburse them with cash, said Ms Low.



The scheme was launched yesterday in a closed-door Zoom meeting attended by DPM Heng, the five mayors - Ms Low, Dr Maliki Osman, Dr Teo Ho Pin, Ms Denise Phua and Mr Desmond Choo - and the president of the Federation of Merchants' Associations, Mr Yeo Hiang Meng, who was representing the participating merchants.

Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, said that the CDC Vouchers Scheme and other local efforts are part of a larger suite of support measures to help Singaporeans.

"I am confident that with agencies such as the CDCs working closely with the community and helping the vulnerable groups, we can weather this storm together.

"Let us continue to stay resilient and united," said Mr Heng.

Ms Low said the scheme is an example of the five CDCs working together during challenging times to support lower-income families and boost local heartland businesses.

"As our residents patronise their neighbourhood shops and hawkers, we hope it will also build a fresh sense of solidarity and mutual support among Singaporeans," she added.

"We are all in this crisis together, from residents to shopkeepers, from families to businesses, individuals and organisations.

"But by joining hearts and hands, we can gain... fresh confidence to overcome the odds and emerge even stronger."





























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Misunderstanding Singapore

June 14, 2020, 3:15 am
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What the world gets wrong about the small, economic powerhouse and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic
By Adam Garfinkle, Published The Straits Times, 13 Jun 2020

Having lived in Singapore for the past 10 months, on this my third trip here, I sometimes think the so-called Red Dot must be the most misunderstood country on earth.

Its plight is owed to the outsized improbability of the place, hence its stubborn refusal to fit neatly into categories others have designed for the purpose of taming perceived "otherness". Indeed, Singapore is variably misunderstood, the nature and degree of misunderstanding varying according to who is trying to cram it into which pigeonholes and why.

WHAT THE CHINESE GET WRONG ABOUT SINGAPORE

Mainland Chinese misunderstand Singapore because they assume that since nearly three-quarters of the country's roughly 3.5 million citizens are ethnic Chinese, Singapore is a "Chinese country". In some ways it is. In most ways that count it isn't.

Singapore is the only majority-ethnic-Chinese country not geographically part of historical China. That is improbable.

Like Hong Kong, too, its roughly 150-year history as a British colony and mercantile hub makes it different, institutionally and attitudinally, from China. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a small but significant minority of Chinese in Singapore sought actively to modernise by adopting many British institutions and manners, including English and sometimes Christianity.

Meanwhile, in China, efforts to modernise traversed the 1911 Revolution on a roughly similar trajectory, but soon detoured into chaos and then Marxism. The path dependency deviation between the groups matters.

Singapore was also thrust into sovereignty suddenly and against its will, yet another mark of improbability as history goes. Malaysia kicked it out of the newly formed federation in 1965, possibly the most fraught year in recent South-east Asian history for a tiny, still mostly poor and virtually defenceless country to survive. Singapore survived anyway, its near-death experience profoundly shaping its sense of self in ways sharply divergent from the experience of mainland Chinese.

Most ethnic Chinese in Singapore, too, as in other South-east Asian countries, are descendants of minority dialect communities - mainly Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew, Cantonese, Hainanese and the special category of Peranakan (a Chinese-Malay mixed group with a unique cultural style whose origins go back to 15th century Malacca).

All this differentiates ethnic Chinese in Singapore from majority Han, Mandarin-speaking Chinese in China.

But since 3.5 million people is less than the standard margin of error in the Chinese census, it is easy for mainland Chinese to misunderstand a thing so small that it seems almost negligible. When Singaporean diplomats and politicians insist to Chinese officials that Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional society, as liberal an aspiration as a state is liable to adopt nowadays, Chinese officials typically smile and check their Rolexes. They are patient, and lately a little more insistent.

Singaporeans, meanwhile, understand China better than Chinese do Singapore, because they need to.



WHAT THE U.S. GETS WRONG ABOUT SINGAPORE

How do Americans misunderstand Singapore? Let us count a few of the ways.

Singapore is an authoritarian state, right? Well, Singapore is a one-party state, but not much less so than Japan has been since it re-emerged as a sovereign state in 1951. No one claims that Japan isn't a democracy, so why Singapore? There are regular elections... which the People's Action Party happens always to win.

Singapore is a "managed" democracy, and let's be frank about what that means: The opposition is not going to win political power short of pigs flying and the moon audibly whistling "Majulah Singapura".

The system is subtly but effectively rigged - I mean protected - against that. So Singapore is not a liberal democracy by law or constitutional guarantee. There are limits on due process, for example, that Americans would not tolerate.

But despite that, Singapore produces mainly liberal outcomes. Aside from its both principled and pragmatic quest for ever more multi-ethnic and multi-confessional harmony, people here are free to leave the country and return at will, to read anything they like, and to write and say anything they like so long as it doesn't cross the line into potentially incendiary bigotry or intolerance. The line can move this way and that if the authorities think it needs to, so most critics self-police.

Once you've been here a while, you understand the reasons for this. Given its location and multi-ethnic composition, Singapore lacks the buffers of external security and social stability that America has typically - but obviously not always - enjoyed. Americans tolerate more individuated noise and ambient disorder than most people; Singaporeans, like most East Asians, place a higher premium on conformity and risk-avoidance.

SINGAPORE AND COVID-19

Ah, but efficient, technocratic, shiny, chip-on-shoulder Singapore has screwed up the COVID-19 crisis big time, hasn't it?

Recent US press reports on Singapore's handling of the pandemic have been misleading.

Let's summarise the record. Singapore felt the foul winds from Wuhan very early in what became the pandemic.

From mid-January through mid-March, Singapore kept its infection curve fairly flat, as effectively as - if not more so than - Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong, by using similar methods: temperature monitoring, testing, tracking, selective isolation and a judicious use of masks.

But schools and businesses remained open, and the economy hummed as usual.

By mid-March, the pandemic had spread to Europe, the Middle East and North America. So, like many countries, Singapore imposed international travel restrictions.

A large number of Singaporean students abroad, their semesters kyboshed by the virus, sought to return home.

The Government was not about to refuse them entry, but despite careful precautions, some imported cases made it through, and a small but frightening number of community-to-community cases inside the country eluded tracking.

As a result, the Government rolled out its pre-planned "circuit breaker" intervention on April 7.

The Government has tried to ride the crest of the wave, keeping the infection curve flat without flattening the economy. The tracking and monitoring methodology has produced actionable near-real-time data.

The one glitch so far has concerned the foreign migrant worker dormitories, where some 300,000 Bangladeshis, Tamils from India and a smattering of mainland Chinese live. And this is the glitch that the US media has mischaracterised.

These are dormitories for temporary contract workers, so it's close-quartered housing.

Once the virus made it into the dorms, it spread fast and wide, accounting for the sharp spike in the raw number of cases. The Government made haste to limit the contagion once its extent became known, and the number of new dormitory-related cases has come down.

The key piece of information here that the US media failed to report is that the foreign temporary workers live and work mainly separate from the rest of the population, and they have not functioned as infection vectors into it. Because they are overwhelmingly healthy young men, their cases have been asymptomatic or mild. The number of new cases per day in the general population has actually fallen since the workers' dormitory problem erupted. The number of ICU cases as a whole has remained steady or has fallen.

Total deaths from COVID-19 in Singapore went from two on March 21, to 23 as of May 28 - out of a total of about 5.7 million people on the island. (Editor's note: It is now 25.) The result is that Singapore's record, measured by deaths per million to date, stands at 4. The number for the United States at present is 306.

SEEING SINGAPORE FOR WHAT IT IS

We all know how people like to describe their closest friends - informally, endearingly - as "crazy".

We know what that really means: that we know someone well enough to see and appreciate their unique idiosyncrasies. That's part of the wonderment of real friendship.

Something roughly similar, if less intimate, happens with countries.

You can't really appreciate them, for better and not, until you know them well enough to see their unique characteristics. Once you do, the boxes that people back home say they fit into begin to look shabby and all but silly.

This year, I've experienced Singapore both in normal times and now in the throes of Covidaggedon. And from this perch one degree north of the equator I can look, virtually at least, upon my own country and city - Washington, DC - and what I see fills me with dismay.

I don't fear the planned trip home in about seven weeks' time. I fear what kind of semi-stunned society I'll find once I get there. The virus is almost incidental.

Adam Garfinkle is the founding editor of The American Interest. He is spending the current academic year as a distinguished visiting fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological University. He wrote an article recently in thebulwark.com, a political analysis website, where he laid out what other countries got wrong about Singapore and its pandemic response. Below are excerpts from the article.

The article can be read in full here: https://thebulwark.com/misunderstanding-singapore/









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Ministerial Committee set up to guide digital adoption, create jobs in digital economy

June 14, 2020, 4:45 am
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Ministerial Committee for Digital Transformation will work with companies, labour movement to place Singaporeans in new jobs
By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Sunday Times, 14 Jun 2020

A high-level committee has been set up to create jobs for Singaporeans in the digital economy, help small businesses go online and ensure no citizen is left behind by technology.

The Ministerial Committee for Digital Transformation will guide efforts to accelerate Singapore's adoption of digital technology, which has taken on greater urgency as COVID-19 forces huge changes in how people work and live and how businesses operate.

Its key focus is to work with companies and the labour movement to create jobs in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and to place Singaporeans in these jobs, Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran said in an interview.

And with small and medium-sized enterprises employing some 65 per cent of the workforce here, one of the committee's prime aims is to help them survive and thrive through the use of technology.

The badly hit retail and food and beverage sectorswill get special attention, for a start.

Another area of focus is to ensure all segments of the population benefit from the digitalisation push, starting with hawkers and seniors.

Setting out these priorities, Mr Iswaran, who chairs the committee with Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, said the current situation has presented an opportunity for Singapore to double down on its push towards a digital future.

The committee will oversee the execution of policies and coordinate the work of the many agencies and groups involved.

"We have very clear plans and targets in place, but execution is going to be key - how we get this done," said Mr Iswaran, adding that the committee has begun its work.

Singapore's economy could suffer its worst contraction since independence, with the economy forecast to shrink by as much as 7 per cent this year. The ICT sector has been a bright spot, expanding by 3.5 per cent from January to March and creating 1,100 jobs, though companies are more cautious about hiring.

Mr Iswaran pledged that the Government will not "spare any effort" and will work closely with employers and unions to create new openings, and provide the training that mid-career professionals and fresh graduates need to take on those roles. "It is going to be a challenging task because of the environment that we are in, and I think we have to be realistic about it."

The Government has set a goal of creating 5,500 ICT jobs over the next two to three years through its TechSkills Accelerator programmes, which train workers and match them to ICT jobs. Not all of the jobs will require deep technical skills such as coding or data analytics, and there will also be "tech lite" roles, said Mr Iswaran.

"Every sector will need a digital dimension brought into it... that trend was already happening even before COVID-19," he said.

To encourage high-growth deep-tech companies - such as those in cyber security, artificial intelligence and big data - to set up shop here, the Government has allowed them to hire skilled foreigners to take on roles that Singaporeans cannot fill.

They will continue to be allowed to have a "judicious component of foreign talent" to complement the local talent base, while Singaporeans are being trained to bridge the skills gap, said Mr Iswaran.

"If we can do that, then it is beneficial for all of us overall, because it enables a company to pursue more opportunities, and that in turn is going to aggregate more opportunities for all of us," he added.

The Government's focus is to create jobs for Singaporeans, he said.

"Where we can, we will do our utmost to place Singaporeans in these jobs. That has to be the priority, that is the priority, and that will be the priority going forward."

Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Carol Soon said COVID-19 has highlighted gaps in people's competencies in harnessing technology fully, and suggested that the committee develop a framework to address different levels of needs among different segments.

Nominated MP Lim Sun Sun, a media professor, said: "Efforts that could otherwise run independently of each other can potentially be more well integrated."













Concerns of hawkers, seniors to be addressed in digital push: S. Iswaran
By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Sunday Times, 14 Jun 2020

Going cashless means hawkers would not have to count their earnings, or make trips to the bank to deposit cash. But efforts to encourage the switch have not taken off.

Many said they were apprehensive that, without money changing hands, they could not be sure they had been paid.

To address these worries, the Government worked with e-payments provider Nets to come up with a way for them to be alerted when they have received payment.

Now, hawkers using the Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR) to collect payment will get a vocal signal in English or Mandarin or a sound signal when the transaction has gone through.

Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran cited this example in a media interview to show the importance of addressing people's concerns to get them onto the digital bandwagon.

It is one of the key priorities of the new Ministerial Committee for Digital Transformation he jointly chairs with Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing.



Digital inclusion - making sure everyone in society is able to adopt and use digital tools and technology - has gained traction in recent years as theincreased speed of digitalisationworldwide exposes the digital divide.

The gap between those who are comfortable with technology and have access to it, and those who do not, has widened further with many forced to work and learn from homeas offices and schools were closed to curb COVID-19.

Mr Iswaran said the Government will focus its efforts on addressing the concerns of hawkers and seniors - two groups some consider most challenging to get on board the digital bandwagon.

He said: "This is an important thrust for us. And it is going to have valuable outcomes both in the near term and also in the long term for our community and our society."

In this regard, he announced on May 31 a new SG Digital Office to coordinate outreach efforts to these segments of the population. Since then, the office has deployed 200 digital ambassadors to encourage stallholders in hawker centres and wet markets to adopt the SGQR payment solution. The aim is to get all 18,000 stallholders to do so by the middle of next year.

Mr Iswaran said the ambassadors have covered half the hawker centres in Singapore and are set to complete their first sweep of all 112 centres in the next week or two.



With dining out banned during the circuit breaker period and hawker centres emptied of patrons, many stallholders have already found ways to sell online through websites such as Dabao.com, he added.

"I do believe that even after all restrictions are lifted at some point, once our SMEs or entrepreneurs have had a sense or taste of what this can achieve, what sort of new possibilities it has opened up for them, I don't think they are going to make a full reversion back to where they were before," he said.

To nudge them to take the next step, the ambassadors will be a "point of assurance" - on the ground to answer their queries, and help solve any problems that may arise.

To help defray the costs of adoption, eligible hawkers who sign up for SGQR under the Hawkers Go Digital initiative can also get a bonus of up to $1,500 if they fulfil a minimum number of cashless transactions.

Even then, a small group may still need a bit more persuasion, and getting them to take the first step is what will make a difference, acknowledged Mr Iswaran. "I think we will need to do more work, understand their concerns, address their fears and see how we can then get them to cross the Rubicon," he said.

He added that, with hawker food such a big part of Singapore's culture, getting hawkers on board "will have not just an impact at the transaction level but at a systemic level - it sends a clear signal about what we are doing and how we are adapting to a new environment".

For the hawkers themselves, it is also the first step on the digitalisation journey that could open up much more possibilities, he said.

"Digitalisation is a journey; it is not a destination. Today, there is SGQR code; tomorrow, it could be how you can take more online orders for delivery... There are always new possibilities coming on," he added. "We need to get onto that platform so this whole world of new opportunities is open to us; then we can let innovation and entrepreneurial energy take its course."

The other group that will be getting more help is seniors.

Mr Iswaran said while they may be seen as least inclined to adopt technology, people should not underestimate their ability to make the transition. "Age is not the barrier here... It is attitude that counts."

"There are many examples of seniors who have adapted and they have aspirations and some of them are so adept that they are doing a lot more than I have envisaged myself doing with tech," he quipped.

The Seniors Go Digital programme will support the adoption of digital tech among seniors, and help them gain the skills to do so, through small group learning sessions at libraries and community centres as well as financial assistance for those who cannot afford devices and data plans.

With language a concern for some, Mr Iswaran said the Government is working with various parties to provide digital applications in multiple languages.



Some also fear that the digitalisation push could make seniors who are less comfortable with technology feel alienated from society.

But Mr Iswaran said the digital initiatives are meant to boost - and not replace - existing options. For instance, hawkers and shops will continue to accept cash even as they provide e-payment options. "Digitalisation is not an end in itself; it is the means to an end and the end is to improve our lives," he said.

"These digital initiatives are to give our seniors more options - in the way they get information, in the way they communicate with the family and in the way they may transact or make payments."

Work on reaching out to seniors will start in earnest when restrictions on movements and gatherings are eased, but with plans to recruit 1,000 digital ambassadors by the end of this month, seniors definitely have help along the way, said Mr Iswaran.

"They do not have to walk this journey alone," he added. "We are going to establish nodes in every division in Singapore so that the people are there for them to consult, to have a way to interact, to get guidance and to be able to then feel that they are journeying together with people."



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Singaporeans: Essential workers deserve higher pay

June 15, 2020, 12:01 am
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8 in 10 Singaporeans willing to pay more for essential services but few want to do the jobs themselves: Survey
Survey shows they are ready to pay up to 10% or 20% more if extra money goes to workers
By Janice Tai, Social Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times, 14 Jun 2020

Around eight in 10 Singaporeans are willing to pay more for essential services such as cleaning or security if the extra amount goes to the workers themselves.

They would pay up to 10 per cent or 20 per cent more for such services. This could include service and conservancy charges (S&CC) for Housing Board flat dwellers or maintenance fees for private property owners.

S&CC typically range from $20 to $90 a month for Singaporeans, so a 20 per cent hike could work out to as much as $18 more a month.

The findings, from a survey commissioned by The Sunday Times, come as the coronavirus pandemic has turned the spotlight on the important role of essential workers, and the discrepancy between their value to society and what they earn.

The online survey of some 1,000 respondents aged 16 and above was carried out by Milieu Insight, a Singapore-based consumer research firm. It was done from June 5 to 8 with a nationally representative sampling across age, gender and income groups to capture how people's perceptions of essential workers have changed, if at all, against the backdrop of COVID-19, and whether they would be willing to pay these workers more.

The strong support for higher wages is likely to have been influenced by the outbreak, with 73 per cent of respondents saying they "respect essential workers more now" when asked to what extent the pandemic has affected their views.

Asked who they considered to be essential workers, respondents listed doctors, cleaners, garbage collectors, hawkers and deliverymen.

"Unfortunately, in many societies, the more useful the work is, the less they pay you," labour MP Zainal Sapari, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, noted in Parliament earlier this month.

The cleaning workforce is around 62,000-strong and the security workforce, some 48,000. These are some of the lowest paid occupations among a range of essential work.

Moves have been made in recent years to increase salaries for workers in these jobs. Under the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), which mandates a wage floor for workers in some industries, wages increased from last year for security officers and from 2017 for cleaners. The monthly basic wage of a security officer is now $1,250 and that of a general cleaner is at least $1,200.

But basic wages for these essential workers still hover in the bottom fifth percentile based on gross monthly wages of resident workers, said Mr Sapari. For instance, the median monthly basic wage of a general office clerk in 2018 was $2,225.



WHAT COMPANIES SHOULD DO

Respondents were also asked what they think companies and the Government should do to increase the wages of essential workers.

Companies should pay workers according to the number of tasks completed instead of by headcount, said 60 per cent of respondents. The more they complete, the more they can be paid.

This was followed by those who suggested hiring more Singaporeans instead of foreigners (47 per cent), and training workers to do more work within the same period to justify a higher pay (46 per cent). About 5 per cent thought companies need not do anything. Respondents could select multiple options.

Indeed, there has been a push in the last few years to move from headcount-based cleaning contracts to outcome-based contracts, said Mr Tony Chooi, president of the Environmental Management Association of Singapore (EMAS).

Singapore National Employers Federation executive director Sim Gim Guan said this would incentivise service providers to improve manpower efficiency and the productivity gained could be shared with the workers.

But sociologist Chua Beng Huat said the assumption that a simple wage rise should be accompanied by higher productivity misses the point of paying a fair wage to the lowest-paid workers.

Said the Yale-NUS College academic: "It assumes that the workers are not already working to their capacity and suggests a greater rate of exploitation of labour."

Nominated MP Walter Theseira, who in Parliament recently urged society torethink and better value essential, manual work, agreed that tying wages to productivity is a "false equivalence".

He cited examples of how prices for professional services, such as fees for doctors, lawyers and teachers, have risen over time although their productivity has not risen proportionately. This is because people are willing to pay for other aspects of the service, such as quality, rather than the raw output per man-hour, he said.

"We must be prepared to value labour, even if productivity improvements are limited in the traditional sense by the nature of the job," he added.



MAKE HIGHER WAGES MANDATORY

In that vein, respondents said there should be higher Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payouts for these workers - their top choice (59 per cent) when asked what the Government should do.

This was followed by collecting less in foreign worker levies and mandating companies to pass the savings to workers (56 per cent), and penalising companies that award contracts based solely on price so as to push them to consider performance and quality instead (50 per cent).

Mr Sapari said giving a higher WIS payout for essential service workers may narrow the income gap in the short term and send a signal to encourage more workers to join these industries, but it may not be sustainable in the long run.

The best approach to improve the wages of essential workers, he said, is through the PWM, where compliance is mandatory.

"Without regulations or licensing to ensure across-the-board adherence, progressive employers will find little incentive to pay better wages and benefits as they will be priced out by their competitors who may (lower) tender prices to win contracts," said Mr Sapari, acknowledging that further changes to the PWM for essential services would require the support of unions, employers and the Government.

INCREASING CONDOMINIUM MAINTENANCE FEES A 'NO GO'

At the individual level, Singaporeans such as Ms Juliana Chia, 47, said they are happy to pay more.

Ms Chia, a personal assistant, is willing to give 10 per cent more on top of her condominium's current monthly maintenance fee of $400 if the money goes to the cleaners and security guards.

"I sympathise with the cleaners because there is so much more garbage to clear now that all of us are cooking more and working from home," she said.

But she asked how residents can ensure the extra money really goes to them.

Mr Chan Kok Hong, managing director of Savills Property Management, which helps to oversee the maintenance of various condominiums, said that "increasing the contract price is not the solution".

"The management councils of the condominiums face pressure every year at their annual general meeting. Any suggestion of increases in the maintenance contributions gets thrashed," he said.

Instead, he suggests setting up collection boxes so that residents can give supermarket or food vouchers to the workers.

Another way out, said Mr Chooi of Emas, is for those who wish to pay more to contribute to a fund. "The money could go into to a government-managed fund and the amount could be distributed to all essential workers periodically."









Essential workers important but only 17% polled want to do the job
By Janice Tai, Social Affairs Correspondent, The Sunday Times, 14 Jun 2020

Doctor, nurse, cleaner, garbage collector, hawker - these are the jobs that Singaporeans consider most essential in today's society.

Yet, many shun most such work themselves, with 57 per cent of respondents in a survey saying they do not want to be garbage collectors, and 42 per cent rejecting cleaning jobs.

Conversely, occupations such as business consultant and human resource manager were ranked among the five most "non-essential" jobs, but were also among the top jobs people want to do.

"A big factor in the calculus (of how people choose jobs)... is the 'social prestige' attached to the job - essential or otherwise," said National University of Singapore sociologist Vincent Chua.

Mr Willie Cheng, who sits on several commercial and non-profit boards, said the findings reflect Singapore's increasingly class-conscious society.

"Ordinary manual labour is generally frowned upon in our knowledge society. It also does not help in shaping perceptions that many of these jobs are being performed by migrant workers whose availability has helped depress wages further," said Mr Cheng, a former managing partner at Accenture, a multinational company that provides management consulting services.

But perceptions have improved, according to the survey of 1,000 people commissioned by The Sunday Times and conducted by consumer research firm Milieu Insight.

Two in three respondents agreed that their perceptions of essential workers in Singapore have changed since the COVID-19 outbreak started, with almost all saying their impressions have either "improved a lot" or "improved a little".

However, only 17 per cent of those polled said they are more interested in working as essential workers now. Similarly, only 17 per cent of them are more open to having their children take up jobs as essential workers now.



Even if salaries were tripled, half would still say no to working as a construction worker, cleaner or security guard.

Said Mr Cheng: "The survey results show that the desirability of a job is not always correlated to the monetary compensation. One's salary can create dissatisfaction if not sufficient, but by itself is not motivating. Motivators are matters like achievement, recognition, the nature of the work and growth."

Nonetheless, respondents said that salary is very important, which suggested that for many, salary and the nature of a job go hand in hand.

About 22 per cent of respondents picked salary as the most important attribute of a job, behind only "job that matches my interest", the top attribute for 37 per cent of respondents.

Economist Walter Theseira said it may be hard to separate interest from salary, as some people are convinced they are interested in a job when what has actually interested them could be the high salary potential or the lifestyle associated with the job.

"As an interviewer for student admissions, I never cease to be amazed by the number of students who sincerely tell me they have always found, say, accounting interesting.

"I assume that if garbage collection paid as well and had great career prospects, and admission to a training programme was selective, I would have prospective trainees tell me the same thing," said the Singapore University of Social Sciences academic.

Dispelling misconceptions is key, said Security Association Singapore president Raj Joshua Thomas.

"We need to move away from the idea that security officers are general workers that can be called upon to help with errands. They are now often seen as arms and legs for general assistance to the managing agent or facilities manager."

Instead, security officers are specialised personnel who spend a significant amount of time in training, he said.

The survey also found that age plays a part in determining how some jobs are viewed.

The younger generation - those aged 16 to 24, for instance - are more likely than the older generation aged 55 and above to view corporate lawyer, human resource manager and public relations specialist jobs as being more essential.

Younger people are also less likely than older people aged 45 and above to consider cleaning and garbage collection jobs as essential.

Mr Delane Lim, 34, who does human resource consulting as the managing partner of Polygon Asia Consulting Enterprise, puts this down to different life experiences.

He thinks that younger Singaporeans may not think manual work is essential partly because they do not interact with or notice the "invisible workers" doing those jobs.

"The older Merdeka or Pioneer generations, however, have contributed greatly to Singapore during a time of struggle, hardship and sacrifice and therefore are more aware of the value of certain manual jobs."

Young people's perceptions could change if they, like Mr Ezio Ng, 18, who dropped out of polytechnic, were to find themselves on a different path.

Four months ago, Mr Ng chose to take up a cleaning job in an environmental hygiene company instead of a logistics role at a bookstore.

"People may look down on cleaners, but I wanted to try something different and experience what their daily life is like," said Mr Ng, whose job entails spraying disinfectant solution at various locations. He earns about $1,900 a month.

Also, any job can be a stepping stone, he said. "I do worry about whether the pay is enough for me to support a family, but I believe that in every job, there are skills I can learn that will be useful for future career progression."













Essential workers: You do it only if you have no other choice, says veteran cleaner
By Tan Tam Mei, The Sunday Times, 14 Jun 2020

If he had more options, Mr Tan Cheng Piew would not do the job he has had for almost a decade.

"It's tiring and can be dirty. And for those with families, it usually does not pay enough to support a household with children," said the 64-year-old cleaner, who, thankfully, does not need to support his three sons in their 30s and 40s.

Mr Tan, who left school after Primary 6, cleans offices in Jalan Buroh.

"Most Singaporeans do not want to work a cleaner's job, you do it only if you have no other choice," he said.

But it is not the worst job for him, he pointed out. "People sometimes ask me why I didn't consider becoming a driver or doing other kinds of jobs, but this is all right for me. In fact, it's less tiring than working in construction," said Mr Tan, who used to be a contractor but stopped when business slowed down.

The COVID-19 outbreak in recent months has highlighted the plight of essential workers, many of whom continue to go to work often for a low salary, while the rest of Singapore is encouraged to stay at home to work.

Mr Tan says he now makes more money than when he started out 10 years ago. He earns about $1,500 a month, $300 more than the basic pay he began with.

It is also higher than the minimum salary of $1,200 mandated by the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for general cleaners like him.

His current salary works out to a real wage increase of about 6.2 per cent over 10 years, taking inflation into account.

This is an annual real wage increase of 0.6 per cent a year, just barely beating inflation, said Maybank Kim Eng senior economist Chua Hak Bin.

The implementation of the PWM has seen salaries of those in the cleaning industry rise, since it was implemented in 2018.

Minimum salaries are expected to increase further next month to $1,236 for the lowest rung of general and indoor cleaners and at least $1,854 for supervisory roles.

The PWM has been applied to the cleaning, security and landscaping sectors.

But Mr Tan does not grumble about his pay. He says it is enough for him and his wife, who does not work, to get by.

Like Mr Tan, Mr Pang Tay, 76, says most Singaporeans would not choose to clean toilets and offices for a living, and the only ones would be seniors like himself.

"If you have studied and got a certificate, you wouldn't want to do such a job. You would want to work in an office," said Mr Pang, who retired as a lorry driver.

He earns a little over $1,300, up from $1,200 when he first started five years ago.

Both men said they had no feelings about the recent outpouring of gratitude to workers like themselves.

Mr Tan said he understood why people might be grateful someone was doing a job like his.

"That's not weird," said Mr Tan with a laugh, adding that he does not dwell too much on people's perceptions of his job.

"I'll do it as long as I'm able to, as it suits an old person like me."









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National Broadcast: Chan Chun Sing on Making a living in a COVID-19 world

June 15, 2020, 1:47 am
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Singapore businesses and workers still have opportunities even in a less connected world: Chan Chun Sing
Nation will seek to stay connected, but will find opportunities even if world fragments
By Poon Chian Hui, Deputy Business Editor, The Straits Times, 15 Jun 2020

Countries are retreating from globalisation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Singapore's workers and businesses can tap opportunities even in a less connected world, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing yesterday.

This is because the Republic has its own intangible strengths which are not easily replicated elsewhere, including its connectivity as a trade hub and the trust that it has earned.

And while the pandemic has led to more protectionist barriers being erected between countries, Singapore must resist these pressures, said Mr Chan.

"A less connected world means a poorer world and fewer opportunities for all. A less connected Singapore means fewer and poorer quality jobs for us," he said in the fourth of six national broadcasts by ministers on Singapore's post-COVID-19 future.

Nevertheless, Singapore has developed resilience, such as by building networks, and diversifying supply sources and markets.

"Even in a more protectionist, less connected world, we can still make a living and more," he added.

Speaking at PSA Singapore's Pasir Panjang Terminal Building 3, Mr Chan also said that Singapore will press on to build connectivity infrastructure to reinforce the country's position as a hub for business, finance, trade and data flows.

"We will work to stay connected with the world, even as the world threatens to fragment and regress towards protectionism. Despite our size, we can show the way, if we have good ideas," he said.

The immediate focus is on jobs, given that the pandemic-induced downturn has led to falling incomes and job losses among workers, with layoffs expected to rise in the coming months.



A key initiative is the creation of 100,000 jobs and training opportunities in the coming year across various sectors, including healthcare and early childhood education. "We may well need to create more jobs, if the situation worsens," he added.

Mr Chan noted that even after Singapore reopens its economy, some companies will need to change their business models. Support will be given to help them, he said, such as in hiring and training graduates and mid-career workers.

But Singapore must look beyond the immediate challenges and invest in its intangible strengths.

Mr Chan noted that investors have chosen to site and expand their businesses here over the years because Singapore is open and connected to the world, is a trusted brand, is a united and stable society, and has a skilled workforce.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Singapore has built trust by choosing not to impose export restrictions or nationalise foreign investments. Production lines were kept open for global supply chains, including critical materials for surgical masks.

"In uncertain times, our trusted brand counts for even more. Businesses have noticed," said Mr Chan. "When they make their next investments to diversify their global production bases, we will be in the running."

Partnerships with other countries in the form of trade agreements will also open up opportunities for businesses and "signal to the world our confidence and determination to press on with regional economic integration", he added.



Infrastructure projects, including Changi Airport Terminal 5 and the Tuas Mega Port, will also offer opportunities for the future.

Meanwhile, digitalisation and internationalisation will help transform a generation of businesses and people to thrive in the digital world. Businesses can access new markets and form industry partnerships beyond local shores.

People can learn new skills and even gain the confidence to launch a business, such as in the case of Carousell's co-founders, who spent a year in Silicon Valley in the United States before they launched the e-commerce platform.

More will be done to boost industry partnerships and intensify the overseas exposure of Singaporeans, said Mr Chan.

He also noted that the Economic Development Board has captured $13 billion of investment commitments in the first four months of this year. This is despite the uncertain outlook in the next few years.

"As you can see, there are still many opportunities for us, but we must be on our toes," said Mr Chan.

"Survival favours not the strong, but the agile."















Singapore's intangible strengths like trust cannot be easily replicated: Chan Chun Sing
Republic maintained its openness during crisis, showing the world it can be trusted
By Aw Cheng Wei, The Straits Times, 15 Jun 2020

Many investors have set up and expanded their businesses here over the years because they see Singapore's intangible strengths, which cannot be easily replicated elsewhere, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said yesterday.

These strengths include Singapore's openness and ability to be trusted, he added, citing how the country did not impose export restrictions or nationalise foreign investments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Chan said: "We kept our production lines open for global supply chains, including critical materials for surgical masks."

Singapore has also worked with companies to increase their production so that global needs could be met. It also facilitated the continued flow of essential goods and people through its ports and airports.

"Throughout this crisis, we have also continued to show the world they can trust Singapore," Mr Chan said, adding that businesses have noticed.



In the fourth of six national broadcasts by ministers on Singapore's post-coronavirus future, Mr Chan noted: "Just as how we did not restrict exports during the 1970s oil crises, that enhanced our credibility later to establish Jurong Island as a global petrochemical hub.

"When (companies) make their next investments to diversify their global production bases, we will be in the running."

Mr Chan added that Singapore must resist the pressures to retreat from globalisation and erect more protectionist trade barriers, as many countries had done in this crisis.

"A less connected Singapore means fewer and poorer quality jobs for us. Even in a more protectionist, less connected world, we can still make a living and more."

For example, capabilities can be built for Singapore to play a critical role in global supply chains for valuable and high-quality products and services.

"We make four out of the world's top 10 drugs, we are the world's seventh largest exporter of chemicals," Mr Chan said.

He also outlined how Singapore has made headway as an advocate of free trade. An initial partnership with Brunei, Chile and New Zealand grew to become the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership that was signed in 2018.

A joint ministerial statement with New Zealand to resist export restrictions and to uphold global supply chains during COVID-19 has drawn 11 countries, and counting, Mr Chan said.

Singapore is also growing its network of digital economy partnerships for companies here to grow their overseas markets.

Talks have concluded with Australia, Chile and New Zealand, with more agreements in the pipeline, Mr Chan said.

Also in the making is the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership this year, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

It will lower the cost of imports and exports for consumers and producers here, he added. The free trade agreement (FTA) signatories include the 10 Asean member states, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

Mr Chan said: "These agreements and other FTAs open up new opportunities for our businesses, and will make us a more attractive base for investments to serve the region.

"This will signal to the world our confidence and determination to press on with regional economic integration."



Resilience is another one of Singapore's intangible strengths, Mr Chan said, adding that the quality is a result of networks and the diversification of source markets for supplies: "We will never be able to have everything we would possibly need, for the next crisis."

He noted how the public and private sectors opened new supply lines to bring to Singapore essential goods such as masks, personal protective equipment and test reagents amid the various lockdowns around the world three months ago.

"Many of our supply chains were disrupted, if not broken," Mr Chan said. He cited companies involved in bringing in supplies - PSA, Singapore Airlines, Sats, ST Logistics, NTUC FairPrice, Sheng Siong and many more - and added: "Without all these unsung heroes, we would not have been able to live our lives as normally as we did in the last few months."

"We will work to stay connected with the world, even as the world threatens to fragment and regress towards protectionism. Despite our size, we can show the way, if we have good ideas."










Opportunities will be available for Singaporeans at every stage of their career: Chan Chun Sing
By Lim Min Zhang, The Straits Times, 15 Jun 2020

Singaporeans will have opportunities to improve their lives at every stage of their careers, no matter how old they are, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said yesterday, pledging that the Government would always help Singaporean workers.

"We will never be done upskilling our people. This is especially so for workers who have left school many years ago and did not benefit from the more recent improvements in our education and training system," he said.

"So long as you are able and willing, we will support you. Every Singaporean, regardless of background, can have the chance to take on the new jobs being created."

In thefourth of six national broadcasts on Singapore's post-coronavirus future, Mr Chan added: "In the 1980s, we uplifted a generation through computerisation and automation. In the 2020s, we will transform another generation through digitalisation and data."

Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many to embrace digitalisation, he said the Government will ensure that Singaporeans of all ages can go digital and thrive.

This effort includes having a thousand-strong digital ambassador corps to help companies apply digitalisation and help senior citizens use technology.

He also cited examples of businesses and government agencies already going digital. He said the Singapore Tourism Board is helping hospitality companies and event organisers overcome the collapse in travel demand by using digital tools. He pointed to event organiser Web In Travel, which is holding a virtual travel summit later this month.



Mr Chan also said businesses need to build partnerships in the real world to access new markets. He noted that property giant CapitaLand takes along Singapore companies in its overseas development projects, helping them to penetrate new markets, he said.

"The retail and hospitality sector may be going through a challenging time, but CapitaLand will press on and do more to support our local SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)."

To nurture a new generation of regional and global businesses, the Government will facilitate more industry partnerships and better organise overseas Singapore business chapters and missions to guide newcomers venturing overseas.

But Mr Chan also stressed that local business leaders need to have a global outlook.

"Our business leaders and workers will be key to these efforts. We must have the aptitude and attitude to serve global markets," he said. "We cannot be content with doing well just within Singapore."

To that end, he said that more will be done to help businesses access new markets.



The Scale-Up SG programme was introduced to groom promising local companies into global champions, said Mr Chan. "So long as our companies have the ambition, we will find the resources to support them."

Overseas exposure will be intensified through initiatives like the Global Ready Talent programme, so that Singaporeans can gain fresh perspectives and networks.

The programme, launched last year, provides support for young people keen to work abroad and for companies to train their staff through stints overseas.

He cited the example of Carousell founders Quek Siu Rui, Marcus Tan and Lucas Ngoo, who all spent a year in Silicon Valley as part of the National University of Singapore Overseas Colleges programme. The online marketplace today has grown beyond Singapore to eight markets across South-east Asia.

Mr Chan also noted that earlier this year, the Ministry of Education announced a "70-70 target" for more local students from institutes of higher learning (IHLs) to have some form of overseas exposure.

The aim is for 70 per cent of graduates from universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education to get some international experience, whether through an internship, exchange programme, or service learning or study trip.

This is up from half of all IHL students currently. Another 70 per cent of this proportion of IHL students will have exposure to Asean, China or India.

"We will press on with this once the COVID-19 situation allows," said Mr Chan.










Long-term plans remain sound; projects like Changi T5, Greater Southern Waterfront will be completed even if timelines shift: Chan Chun Sing
By Tee Zhuo, The Straits Times, 15 Jun 2020

While timelines may shift, there should be no doubt that Singapore's major infrastructure projects will be completed, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing yesterday.

In a televised speech, the fourth in a series of national broadcasts by ministers laying out Singapore's post-COVID-19 plans, Mr Chan stressed that the pandemic has not changed the Government's commitment to its infrastructure plans.

"Our long-term plans remain sound... We will pace the timelines for these projects according to demand. But do not doubt this: We will get them all done," he said.

He added that the Government still sees the projects as critical investment for future generations.

"While others have to tighten their belts, our past prudence gives us the means to continue investing in our future. This way we will gift the next generation a higher starting base, just as how our predecessors did for us," he said.

The connectivity projects, he said, will reinforce Singapore's position as a choice hub for business, finance, trade and data flows.

He listed key projects such as Changi Airport Terminal 5, Tuas Mega Port and submarine cable hubs. He also cited regional developments like Punggol Digital District, Jurong Lake District, Sungei Kadut Eco-District, and the Greater Southern Waterfront (GSW).

Several of these are high-profile projects which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has highlighted in past National Day Rally speeches.

For example, at the latest rally in August last year,PM Lee gave more details on the GSW, a 30km stretch of coastal prime land about six times the size of Marina Bay.

It is slated for transformation into an area for leisure, office spaces and residential use once Tanjong Pagar Terminal - now being used as a COVID-19 facility - moves fully to Tuas from 2027.

The more than $20 billion mega port at Tuas is being constructed in phases and will be about twice the size of Ang Mo Kio. It was slated for completion in 2040 and will be the world's largest fully automated terminal.

PM Lee made Jurong Lake District a key highlight of his 2014 rally. The 360ha area will be the largest mixed-use business district outside the city centre when completed.

For Singapore to thrive as a hub, Mr Chan said efforts will be intensified to attract the best ideas and talent. "We will make ourselves a more attractive safe harbour for talent, ideas and intellectual property, to grow more businesses and create better jobs... Talented people, including our own, can go anywhere," he said.

Acknowledging concerns about foreign competition, he stressed that closing up was not the answer. Instead, support will be provided to help Singaporeans compete, he said.

"We cannot escape competing with the world, and proving our mettle," he said. "We will give our workers the training and support to excel, and we will ensure that the competition is fair. This is the best way to improve the well-being of our people."





Making a living in a COVID-19 world
The Straits Times, 15 Jun 2020

This is the transcript of a national broadcast by Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on how to keep Singapore's economy competitive so that businesses can prosper and good jobs can be created. The broadcast is the fourth in a series of six by ministers. The next broadcast is on Wednesday by Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam.




Fellow Singaporeans, COVID-19 has impacted our lives, livelihoods and lifelines, and it has aggravated already difficult global challenges.

Trade and investments have come down. People and businesses in many countries have lost confidence in globalisation and technology. They have been disrupted, and their governments have been unable to help them adjust. Bigger countries have been fighting over the tax revenues of global companies, and that has affected international competition for investments and jobs.

Countries are all doing their best to keep people safe and healthy, secure essential items, such as food and medicine, save jobs and businesses in the face of severe decline in demand and investments.

Singapore is not immune. Many Singaporeans have already lost their jobs. More job losses are expected in the coming months. Others have seen their incomes fall. It will be a tough job market in the coming years. Some businesses have closed. Many more are struggling. Most wonder how to survive, never mind thrive.

We cannot save every job and every business, but we will take care of every Singaporean. We will not let widespread unemployment erode the confidence and dignity of our people. We will grow new businesses and create good jobs for all Singaporeans.

This Government has committed almost $100 billion to care for every Singaporean, help save businesses and jobs. But it is not just about spending money.

What is even more important is our ability to plan, adapt and execute.

This is how we will do it.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

Our immediate focus is jobs. We will create 100,000 jobs and training opportunities in the coming year. The range of jobs will include healthcare, early childhood education, transport, ICT (information and communications technology) and financial services. One hundred thousand jobs - that is three times our usual annual number. This is how many we will need, to help those coming out from schools, as well as those retrenched. We may well need to create more jobs, if the situation worsens.

We will also increase the capacity of our training institutions to equip more workers, especially mid-career ones, with new skills required for the new economy. This help will come to where you are. We will set up job centres in every town to match displaced workers to new jobs. We will work hard to make sure everyone who wants a job can get a job.

Many say the best way to save jobs is to resume our economic activities more quickly.

I understand. But opening up hastily and closing businesses again if infections spike once more, will be more disruptive to businesses and workers. Hence, let us resume safely, progressively and sustainably.

Even after reopening, we should not expect "business as usual". Some businesses will need to change their business models. We will help you to redesign your operations and serve new markets. Many F&B businesses like SaladStop! and Beauty In The Pot have launched delivery-friendly menus to serve new customers. Others still have viable business models. We will help you to rebound when demand picks up. We will support you to hire and train graduates and mid-career workers in advance. Logistics and professional services are examples of sectors where we are starting to do this.



LONGER-TERM GOALS

As we tackle the immediate challenges, we must also prepare for the future. The Future Economy Council, chaired by DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Heng (Swee Keat), has been driving this for the last few years.

We will invest to develop our intangible strengths - what distinguishes us; our infrastructure - for they are key enablers; and above all, our people and businesses.

Intangible strengths

First, our intangible strengths. Over the years, many investors have chosen to site and expand their businesses here, in Singapore. They did not make this decision for the short term, nor did they choose Singapore because we have abundant natural resources, or because we are cheaper.

They chose us because of our strengths, which are not easy to replicate elsewhere. We are open, and connected with the world, we are trusted, we are united and stable as a society, and we have a skilled workforce.

For many countries, COVID-19 has accelerated the retreat from globalisation, and the erection of more protectionist barriers. We must resist these pressures. A less connected world means a poorer world and fewer opportunities for all. A less connected Singapore means fewer and poorer-quality jobs for us.

Even in a more protectionist, less connected world, we can still make a living and more.

We can build capabilities to play critical roles in global supply chains to produce high-quality products and services that others value. For example, we make four out of the world's top 10 drugs, we are the world's seventh-largest exporter of chemicals.

Our resilience comes from building networks, and diversifying our supply sources and markets. We will never be able to have everything we would possibly need, for the next crisis. Indeed, when lockdowns started across the world three months ago, many of our supply chains were disrupted, if not broken. Credit goes to the ingenuity and tenacity of our people for keeping us going. Our public and private sectors swung into action, reached out to their networks, opened new supply lines to bring back essentials like masks, PPE (personal protective equipment) and test reagents from across the world.

Individuals from PSA, SIA (Singapore Airlines), Sats, ST Logistics, NTUC, Sheng Siong and many more. Without all these unsung heroes, we would not have been able to live our lives as normally as we did in the last few months. Thank you all!

Another intangible strength is trust. Singapore is trusted globally. Throughout this crisis, we have also continued to show the world they can trust Singapore. We did not impose export restrictions or nationalise foreign investments. We kept our production lines open for global supply chains, including critical materials for surgical masks. We worked with companies to increase their production, so that we could meet Singapore's and the world's needs, and we facilitated the continued flow of essential goods and people through our ports and airports.

In uncertain times, our trusted brand counts for even more. Businesses have noticed.

When they make their next investments to diversify their global production bases, we will be in the running. Just as how we did not restrict exports during the 1970s oil crises - that enhanced our credibility later to establish Jurong Island as a global petrochemical hub.

Our investors have stood by us through this difficult period. We know the challenges investors face, with manpower flows and family reunions. We will work closely with you to overcome the challenges together. We will keep faith with you, as you have with us.

We will work to stay connected with the world, even as the world threatens to fragment and regress towards protectionism. Despite our size, we can show the way, if we have good ideas.

When promoting free trade, our initial partnerships with Brunei, Chile, and New Zealand eventually grew to become today's CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership). Together with New Zealand, we issued a joint ministerial statement to resist export restrictions and uphold global supply chains. From a party of two, we now have 11 subscriber countries, and counting.

We are building a network of digital economy partnerships. The partnerships will define the rules for competing and cooperating in the new economy. They will create opportunities for our companies to grow their overseas markets. We have concluded such agreements with Australia, Chile and New Zealand. More are on the way.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, we look forward to signing the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) agreement this year. This will cover all 10 Asean member states, plus Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. It will lower the cost of imports for our consumers, and exports for our producers.

These agreements and other FTAs (free trade agreements) open up new opportunities for our businesses, and will make us a more attractive base for investments to serve the region. This will signal to the world our confidence and determination to press on with regional economic integration.

Together with our trade association partners, we will translate these trade agreements into tangible advantages for our companies, through platforms like GlobalConnect@SBF.



Infrastructure

Second, as we develop our intangible strengths, we will invest in the next generation of infrastructure for Singapore. While others have to tighten their belts, our past prudence gives us the means to continue investing in our future. This way we will gift the next generation a higher starting base, just as how our predecessors did for us.

We will press on to build our connectivity infrastructure to reinforce our position as a choice hub for business, finance, trade and data flows. This is why I am here today at our port, which is the heart of our trade connections to the world.

Our long-term plans remain sound. They include projects like Changi T5, Tuas Mega Port, and submarine cable hubs. Likewise, regional developments like Punggol Digital District, Jurong Lake District, Sungei Kadut Eco-District, Greater Southern Waterfront.

We will pace the timelines for these projects according to demand. But do not doubt this: We will get them all done. Together, they will create a vibrant and innovative Singapore for our children - full of opportunities, full of life.

We will also intensify the efforts to attract the best ideas and talent to compete on our side, and complement our strengths. Initiatives like the Global Innovation Alliance connect us with talent hubs across the world. We will make ourselves a more attractive safe harbour for talent, ideas and intellectual property, to grow more businesses and create better jobs. Competition is intense. Talented people, including our own, can go anywhere.

I know many Singaporeans are concerned with foreign competition, but closing ourselves up is not the answer. We cannot escape competing with the world, and proving our mettle. We will give our workers the training and support to excel, and we will ensure that the competition is fair. This is the best way to improve the well-being of our people.

Our businesses and people

Finally, beyond investments in intangibles and infrastructure, this Government will ensure that every member of Team Singapore shares the benefits of growth. Let me highlight two efforts: digitalisation and internationalisation.

COVID-19 has pushed many businesses and consumers to embrace the digital world. The digital trajectory will only accelerate, and not reverse. We must enable every Singaporean, young and old; every business, big and small, to go digital and thrive.

Companies will embrace digital tools to create new business models and transcend our local market constraints. For example, STB (Singapore Tourism Board) is helping our hospitality companies and event organisers to overcome the collapse in travel demand by using digital tools. One event organiser - WiT or Web In Travel - is engaging global audiences though a virtual travel summit later this month, across different countries.

In the 1980s, we uplifted a generation through computerisation and automation. In the 2020s, we will transform another generation through digitalisation and data, and not just the young in high-tech companies. We are building a thousand-strong Digital Ambassador Corps to help small and micro enterprises apply digitalisation, and help senior citizens to learn to use the technology.

But helping businesses access new markets must go beyond the digital online to establish real partnerships in the real world. Many Singapore businesses have established regional and global presence in the past years, often in partnerships. The more established and larger companies help newcomers and smaller businesses. For example, CapitaLand brings along Singapore companies in its overseas development projects, thus helping them to penetrate new markets. The retail and hospitality sector may be going through a challenging time, but CapitaLand will press on and do more to support our local SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).

We will step up such efforts to nurture a new generation of regional and global businesses. We will facilitate more industry partnerships, including in the digital space, like how Singapore E-Biz and Alliance 21 are helping local food manufacturers drive international business. Likewise, we will better organise our overseas Singapore business chapters and missions to guide newcomers venturing overseas.

Our business leaders and workers will be key to these efforts. We must have the aptitude and attitude to serve global markets. Our people must have the entrepreneurial spirit to venture abroad to compete, and seize the opportunities of a fast-growing Asia. We cannot be content with doing well just within Singapore. We introduced Scale-up SG to groom promising local companies into global champions. So long as our companies have the ambition, we will find the resources to support them.

We will intensify the overseas exposure of our people, through initiatives like the Global Ready Talent Programme, so that they gain fresh perspectives and networks.

That is what we did for many students, including Carousell co-founders (Quek) Siu Rui, Marcus (Tan), and Lucas (Ngoo). They spent a year in Silicon Valley, as part of the NUS (National University of Singapore) Overseas Colleges programme. This laid the foundation and gave them the confidence to later launch Carousell, which their team has grown beyond Singapore to eight markets across South-east Asia today. We will scale up such opportunities for our people.

Earlier this year, MOE (Ministry of Education) announced our "70-70" target to enable more students from institutes of higher learning (IHL) to gain overseas exposure - 70 per cent of IHL students to have an overseas exposure, 70 per cent to focus on China, India and Asean. We will press on with this once the COVID-19 situation allows.

We will never be done upskilling our people. This is especially so for workers who have left school many years ago and did not benefit from the more recent improvements in our education and training system. Our promise is this: We will create opportunities for all Singaporeans, no matter how old you are, to improve your lives at every stage of your careers. So long as you are able and willing, we will support you. Every Singaporean, regardless of background, can have the chance to take on the new jobs being created.



CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE

We can be confident that our investments in our strengths, our infrastructure, and our people are all coming together. This is why in the first four months of this year, EDB (Economic Development Board) has already captured $13 billion of investment commitments, from companies like ExxonMobil, Micron, and ST Microelectronics, and some companies continue to hire and grow their businesses, like Innosparks, Secretlab, and Shopee.

Even though the outlook for the next few years is uncertain, investors maintain their confidence in Singapore to base their new and exciting projects here.

For example, Hyundai will be setting up their Mobility Global Innovation Centre in Jurong. It will be a next-generation innovation and manufacturing platform incorporating artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and robotics to produce electric vehicles of the future. When ready in 2022, it will create many new and exciting opportunities for our workers.

Our local companies are confident too. In my regular visits to our local companies, I have seen many big and small companies in different sectors actively transforming their businesses, such as Prima, Hai Sia Seafood, and Markono Print Media. What cheered me most is that they have upskilled their workforce in the process. They didn't leave the workers behind.

As you can see, there are still many opportunities for us, but we must be on our toes. Survival favours not the strong, but the agile.

CONCLUSION

Our Pioneer and Merdeka Generations built our economy from scratch. They laid our strong foundations, brick by brick - Changi Airport, HDB (Housing Board) flats, MRT lines, SIA, DBS, PSA and many more. In fact, they moved us from Third World to First in one generation, and saved enough to set aside reserves for future generations.

They showed us what it means to be Singaporean. That while we are not of common ancestry, race, language or religion, we are defined by our determination to chart our own destiny, guided by the values of openness, inclusiveness, self-determination, meritocracy and incorruptibility for us to defy the odds of history, and not only survive but thrive with the world as our hinterland and our markets.

Fifty-five years on, we are better positioned to keep Singapore going, growing and glowing.

We will build a better Singapore together, where our future generations have the pride, the means, and the gumption to be called Singaporeans.




Related
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: Overcoming the Crisis of a Generation

Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong: Living with COVID-19

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean: Resilience in a Changing External Environment

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing: Making a Living in a COVID-19 World
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Singapore's total employment figures see biggest quarterly drop: Labour Market Report First Quarter 2020

June 15, 2020, 10:33 pm
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Numbers down by 25,600 in Q1; fall largely due to cutbacks in foreign worker numbers
By Sue-Ann Tan, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

The first three months of the year saw the steepest fall ever recorded in the number of people employed here, compared with the previous quarter, and there is worse to come.

The total number of people working, excluding maids, fell by 25,600 in the three months to March 31 - the biggest quarterly contraction on record.

Much of the decline was due to significant cutbacks in the number of foreign workers. But local employment also dropped slightly due to a sharper-than-expected fall in headcount in the trade and tourism-related industries, said the Ministry of Manpower in its labour market report for the first quarter.

The contraction in the number of those employed was worse than the estimated drop of 19,900 outlined in preliminary data.

Retrenchments also increased over the quarter, while the seasonally adjusted number of job vacancies fell to the lowest level since September 2010.

But the employment situation has yet to hit rock bottom as the circuit breaker measures kicked in only during the second quarter.

Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said: "In January, there was still a lot of new year festivities... In February, tourism was already quite badly hit, but the further travel restrictions that we see today had not yet started.

"In other words, the full effects of Covid-19 certainly have not been felt in the first quarter."

The unemployment rate for citizens rose to 3.5 per cent in March from 3.3 per cent last December, after accounting for seasonal variations. Total unemployment stood at 2.4 per cent, still well under the previous high of 4.8 per cent in September 2003 following the severe acute respiratory syndrome or Sars crisis.

Economists are bracing themselves for bleaker numbers ahead.

CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun said: "We had not expected the pandemic and its severe impact. Businesses were caught very much out of the blue, especially those in the direct line of impact like travel and leisure. Some food and beverage firms have already shuttered, with others announcing that they are closing, so this is where the impact on the labour market will be felt."

Around 3,220 workers were laid off in the first quarter compared with the 2,670 in the last quarter of 2019.

There were 1,537 local employees affected by their companies shutting down from January to March, compared with 628 in the fourth quarter of last year.

Mrs Teo noted that measures like the Jobs Support Scheme have prevented the unemployment rate or retrenchments from spiking sharply.

"Instead of retrenchments, we saw a fivefold increase in the number of employees who were placed on shorter work weeks or temporary lay-offs... (which) suggests measures that are supported by tripartite partners (are working). Although they involve some sacrifices on the part of the workers, they are also helping to preserve jobs," she said.

Some 4,190 employees were placed on new arrangements that involved working shorter weeks or being temporarily laid off in the first quarter, compared with 840 in the last quarter of 2019.



There was also a fall in the average weekly total paid hours worked per employee, from 44.7 hours last December to 44.4 hours in March this year, with an average of 2.4 hours of paid overtime a week.

Mrs Teo said: "We do not know exactly how the second quarter will turn out but it is best for us to get ready and be prepared for more job losses, and we have to try our very best to open up more pathways for job seekers."

Such pathways include traineeships for fresh graduates and mid-career professionals, to help them boost their resumes even when companies might not be ready to hire them full-time due to the uncertain economic outlook, she added.




















Many low-wage workers continue to work and get paid during the circuit breaker period: Manpower Minister Josephine Teo
By Sue-Ann Tan, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

Many lower-paid workers continued to be employed during the circuit breaker period as they were engaged in essential services, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.

Her remarks came in response to questions during a briefing ahead of the labour market report released yesterday about how low-wage staff members were coping, given that total employment fell by the sharpest margin ever in the first quarter.

Retrenchments also rose, while increasing numbers of workers are affected by cost-cutting measures such as having shorter working weeks or being temporarily laid off.

Concerns have been raised about the plight of low-wage workers whose financial difficulties would increase tremendously if they are retrenched or placed on no-pay leave.

But Mrs Teo noted that while non-essential businesses had to cease operations during the circuit breaker period, low-wage employees tend to be working in vital roles.

She said: "It would appear that there are quite a lot of (low-wage) workers in essential services so they could continue to work during the circuit breaker period...

"Our intention, not just in the short term but in the medium to long term, is to uplift low-wage workers."



She added that Workfare payouts are available for low-wage Singaporeans who continue working and training, and a special payment of $3,000 was announced in the Budget to provide additional support for such workers aged 35 and above as of last year.

The Manpower Ministry has worked with tripartite partners to issue advisories to companies that employ low-wage workers as well as the service buyers that outsource the work to ensure that these workers are properly taken care of in terms of salary and welfare, said Mrs Teo.

She said that some workers have seen their workload increase because more cleaning needs to be done or they have to carry out more deliveries.

"In these instances, we have reached out to companies to say they should pay the workers what they paid before and, in fact, recognise extra work and make the appropriate adjustments to the payouts."

























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COVID-19: Singapore to start Phase 2 reopening on 19 June 2020; F&B dine-in, social gatherings of up to 5 people allowed

June 16, 2020, 3:20 am
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Phase Two starts after 18 June 2359hrs: Shops can reopen, dining in allowed
Ministers say safe distancing, personal responsibility critical as most activities are allowed to resume
By Yuen Sin, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

Singapore will embark on phase two of reopening its economy on Friday, having managed to keep infections in check in the two weeks since the end of the circuit breaker period.

A range of restrictions will be eased to allow more business and social activities to resume. People can also get together socially in groups of up to five, and households can receive up to five visitors at any one time.

But individuals will still have to keep a safe distance of at least 1m from others, where feasible.

"In phase one, the default setting was that many things remained closed and we only selectively allowed certain (sectors) to resume activities in order to manage the risk... (For) phase two, the default will be that most activities will resume and open," National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling COVID-19, said at a virtual media conference.

His co-chair, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, said the decision to resume activities was taken as the number of community cases in Singapore was stable and cases in migrant worker dormitories remained under control.

Singapore reported 214 new cases yesterday, 15 June, the lowest daily count in about two months, none of whom are Singaporeans or permanent residents.



But a "delicate balance" must be struck in order to keep the COVID-19 situation under control, cautioned Mr Gan. Further reopening must be done safely and responsibly, with capacity limits in place.

From Friday, dining in, personal wellness services such as massages and spas, as well as home-based services like private tuition can resume, except for singing or voice training classes.

Retail shops, parks, beaches, and sports and other public facilities, including stadiums, swimming pools, playgrounds and fitness studios, can also reopen, as can similar facilities in condominiums.

All healthcare services, including community eldercare services, will resume, and visits to nursing homes will be allowed again.



But masks will remain a must when people leave their homes.

Singapore will also ease some travel restrictions.

Singapore residents and long-term pass holders entering Singapore from selected countries, including Australia, mainland China and South Korea, may serve their stay-home notices at home, instead of at dedicated facilities, from Thursday. But they will be subject to a compulsory COVID-19 test towards the end of their stay-home notice, for which they must pay.

Higher-risk activities, including religious services and congregations, conferences and concerts, will not yet be allowed, as overseas and local examples have shown that such settings can spawn large clusters of infections, said Mr Wong.

"These are your super spreader events, if you will," he said.



Karaoke outlets, bars, cinemas as well as libraries, museums and other large cultural and entertainment venues will also not be allowed to reopen yet.

The authorities will continue to engage these establishments on safety measures needed, said Mr Wong. "We will be able to allow these to resume (activity) progressively over time, but not at the start of phase two," he added.

Precautions still have to be taken.

Seniors, a vulnerable group, should continue to stay home as much as they can.

Venues with high human traffic such as malls and large retail outlets will be subject to capacity limits, and operators must prevent crowds or long queues from building up, said the Ministry of Health.

There will still be "very tight enforcement" on the ground, said Mr Wong, with officers fanning out to new settings like restaurants.

Employees should not mix socially, and working from home should remain the default option.

From June 29, schools will also reopen fully, with students returning to school daily.



But Singaporeans must remain vigilant even as the country removes more restrictions, said Mr Gan. Community cases may rise as activities resume and testing efforts are stepped up.

"To keep the number of new cases under control and prevent large clusters, it is critical that we continue to remain vigilant... This way, our efforts over the last two months will not be wasted and we can safely move towards phase three."




















Safe distancing measures will still be enforced
Cooperating with rules will help Singapore reach phase three sooner, says Lawrence Wong
By Toh Wen Li, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

When Singapore's economy enters its second phase of reopening on Friday, 19 June, the authorities will continue to ensure that safe distancing measures are observed, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said yesterday.

Safe distancing ambassadors and enforcement officers will still be deployed, and will make their rounds in places such as public sports facilities and food and beverage outlets' dine-in areas, which can reopen at the end of the week.

Tables for restaurant diners, for example, must be at least a metre apart, and social gatherings - while permitted - should have no more than five people.

"I hate to sound like a broken record," Mr Wong said at a virtual media conference, urging people to comply for the sake of themselves and their loved ones.

"All of us need to really look at the spirit of the requirements and do our part to allow the reopening to take place in a safe and sustainable manner," he added.



Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who was also at the media conference, said the wide scope of phase two has made it "very difficult and challenging" to try to prescribe rules and regulations for every possible scenario and setting.

He noted that some people would try to find ways to get round the rules, and cited the Chinese saying shang you zheng ce, xia you dui ce (the higher-ups have their policies, but those below have ways of getting around them).

This would backfire, he warned: "You can fool the rules, but you cannot fool the virus. If you violate the rules, the virus will get to you."

Mr Gan added that cooperating with the rules would help the country to reach phase three sooner.



Mall operators will also be asked to regulate the flow of people on their premises, Mr Wong said.

Capacity limits would be based on the size of the mall's gross floor area, and steps should also be taken to ensure the queues outside the malls are properly managed - avoiding having crowds of people in close contact with one another.

"If the mall operator is unable to manage crowds, the queues or put in place proper safe management practices, then we will ask the mall to close. It is better that they close and then reopen only when they are ready to deal with the crowds," he said.

He also urged firms to take safe management practices seriously - for instance, by having staff work from home wherever possible, and having split-team arrangements.

This would be in the company's best interests, he added, as an infection at the workplace could result in many staff members being quarantined - and "the entire workplace may have to be shut down".

"But if workplaces are responsible, and do what is required of them, but also do what is in their own self-interest... then even if there were to be an infection in the workplace setting, the business might not need to close and many of the staff may not be impacted.

"Because they will have been separated, many will be working from home, so there will be business continuity," added Mr Wong.



Groups such as the Restaurant Association of Singapore and Singapore Tenants United for Fairness (SGTUFF) welcomed the news that dine-in business and various other operations can resume.

An SGTUFF spokesman said front-line businesses remain "cautiously optimistic" about the future.

"Most of us expect business to be 20 per cent to 30 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The costs of running our businesses will therefore exceed the revenues we will get in the months ahead. The rental rebates mandated by the Government would have been used to cover for our rental costs from March to June," the spokesman said.

"We continue to urge landlords to work with us as symbiotic partners to figure out win-win solutions to the high rental costs for the months ahead... Now is the time for unity and working as one cohesive community to start figuring out how to revive what was an already struggling bricks-and-mortar sector. There is no more time to waste."


















Further easing of curbs not signal to let guard down: Lawrence Wong
By Audrey Tan, Science and Environment Correspondent, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

Most activities in Singapore can resume on Friday, but the expansion should not be a signal for people to let their guard down, the multi-ministry task force tackling COVID-19 warned yesterday.

Sounding a cautionary note at yesterday's virtual press conference, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said: "Do not treat phase two as a signal that we can all relax, we can all let our guard down and we can now go out and do all our favourite activities."

Having such a mindset could cause a surge in the number of COVID-19 infections during this phase, and raise the possibility of the country having to reintroduce restrictions, he added.

"I don't think any one of us would like to see (that)," he said.



Under phase two of the reopening, more business and social activities can resume, but individuals must keep a safe distance of at least 1m from others. Where this is not feasible, groups of no more than five persons should be at least 1m apart, with no mixing between groups.

"By all means go out, but limit the number of contacts that we have to a small group and take all the necessary measures," said Mr Wong.

Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, the Health Ministry's director of medical services, said the circuit breaker and the first phase of reopening, during which schools reopened and more workers returned to work, allowed Singapore to improve and fine-tune its contact tracing abilities and the speed of its response.

"(This ensures) that if cases arise or clusters emerge, we would be ready to step in decisively, quickly do contact tracing and quickly throw a ring around to isolate these cases and close contacts to prevent further spread," he said, noting that Singapore had also improved its healthcare capacity to prepare for the possibility of new community clusters emerging as the economy reopens.

"It is therefore important for me to emphasise the need for all of us to continue to be vigilant and to play our part," he said.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said it was a delicate balance to strike between allowing economic and community activities to resume, and keeping infection rates under control.

"To succeed, we need the collective effort of every Singaporean to be socially responsible and adhere strictly to safe distancing measures. Minimising prolonged close contact with others, mask wearing and good hygiene practices remain key strategies in the next phase."















Working from home will continue to be default in phase 2 to reduce COVID-19 transmission: Lawrence Wong
Call for bosses to let staff keep working from home
This may protect firms and workers, ensuring business continuity if infection occurs
By Audrey Tan, Science and Environment Correspondent, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

Employers are urged to let their workers continue to work from home when Singapore reopens the economy from Friday.

The arrangement could protect both workers and businesses, as it ensures continuity even if a worker comes down with COVID-19, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said yesterday, when he announced details of phase two of the country's reopening.

Singapore is now in its third week of phase one, after the circuit breaker ended on June 1. But most activities are still not allowed in this period.

In phase two, most economic and social activities can start again, including dining in at food and beverage outlets.



Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling COVID-19, said at a virtual press conference that it is in the interest of businesses to let their employees continue to work from home.

This will help them avoid having to quarantine many in their workforce should an employee be infected by the coronavirus. "The entire workplace may have to be shut down," he added.

But when companies adopt split-team arrangements, with one group working from home, they may not have to close since not everyone would have been exposed to the infected person.

"It's in the interest of all businesses (to allow telecommuting)," Mr Wong said.

"They should take the safe management practices very seriously and continue to have employees work from home to the maximum extent."

This, in turn, will help reduce the number of commuters travelling to work by public transport, especially during peak periods, he added.

Mr Wong said the Government recognises that maintaining a safe distance from another person on public transport is not easy.

Hence, other measures have been implemented to continue safeguarding commuters.

These include the mandatory wearing of masks, and urging commuters not to talk to one another or on the phone during the journey.

Public transport operators have also been asked to step up their cleaning regimes, he added.



Health Minister Gan Kim Yong added that precautionary measures should be viewed as a package instead of being evaluated individually.

"We have to bear in mind that even as we open up in phase two, we need to further strengthen individual responsibility and discipline, so that each of us can help keep the number of cases low (and that) despite the increase in interactions between individuals, the transmissions can still be managed because we are disciplined," the minister said at the press conference.

For example, it may not be possible to wear a mask in a restaurant or hawker centre during meals with friends.

"But it doesn't mean that we, therefore, don't have to wear masks everywhere else.

"All the more we need to strengthen the preventive measures elsewhere so that, overall, we keep the number of cases low," Mr Gan added.

























Months before Phase 3 can begin: Lawrence Wong
By Toh Wen Li, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

It could be months before Singapore reaches the third and final stage of its phased reopening, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong yesterday.

He noted that some restrictions - like the limit of five people for social gatherings - could be further eased during phase two. However, he also cautioned that "along the way, we might have to slow down or even tighten some restrictions" if necessary.

Phase two of the country's reopening begins on Friday, nearly three weeks after the two-month circuit breaker ended on June 1.



In this phase, dining in will be allowed at restaurants, and sports facilities such as swimming complexes will open their doors again. Social gatherings of up to five people will be allowed, but people should still stay at least 1m apart from one another where possible.

Mr Wong said some of these rules could be relaxed later on in phase two - for example, having larger social gatherings, and re-opening venues such as libraries, museums and attractions.

"This could happen in a few weeks' time - they could start to reopen... but with strict limits in terms of the capacity of the number of people who can enter that venue," he said.

"Over time, we will increase the capacity limits as we continue to monitor and see the situation remaining stable."

"So we expect this process of review, monitoring, easing - hopefully it's easing because you never know along the way we might have to slow down or even tighten some restrictions - but we expect this process to continue for months before we reach phase three."

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force handling the pandemic with Mr Wong, made similar points.

"Maybe in two weeks, (or) in one month's time, if the number of cases remains stable, we may increase (the maximum size of a social gathering) to 10 persons, or a different number depending on the situation," he said.



On restrictions that remain on activities such as large gatherings and religious congregations, Mr Gan said the authorities are in discussions with these groups.

"When they are ready, when they are able to put in place safe-distancing measures, we will progressively allow them to start their operations," he added.

"We may allow (a) smaller scale, to start with, and over time we increase the scale for them to allow more people to join the events.

"This will progress as we go along, and eventually when we reach phase three, basically phase three is a steady state.

"By that time, we are probably going to hold that position in phase three for quite a long time until a vaccine is available."














All travellers entering Singapore from 17 June 2020, 2359 hours, must take compulsory COVID-19 test and pay for it
Non-Singaporeans, non-PRs must also foot bill if serving stay-home notice at dedicated facility
By Olivia Ho, Arts Correspondent, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

All travellers entering Singapore from Thursday, 18 June, will have to take a COVID-19 test, and pay for it.

Those who are not Singaporeans or permanent residents will also have to foot the bill if they are required to serve their 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) at a dedicated facility like a hotel.

All travellers entering Singapore from 11.59pm on Wednesday, 17 June, will be subject to a compulsory COVID-19 test a few days before the end of their SHN, which they must pay for, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong yesterday during a virtual press conference.

A COVID-19 test can cost up to $200, while a 14-day stay at a dedicated SHN facility will cost $2,000.

Travellers may serve their 14-day SHN at home, instead of a dedicated facility, if they are coming from Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, mainland China, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan or Vietnam, and have been in that country or territory for the last consecutive 14 days before entering Singapore.

Singapore citizens and permanent residents in this group may serve their SHN at their place of residence, while long-term pass holders may serve theirs at a place of residence that they or their family members own or are sole tenants of, or accommodations like hotels.

All other travellers entering Singapore will continue to serve their SHN at dedicated facilities.

"Up to now, the cost of tests and SHN facilities have been borne by the Government," said Mr Wong. "But looking ahead, as we reopen for more travel, we will want to move to a more sustainable position."



All travellers entering Singapore from 11.59pm on Wednesday will have to take a COVID-19 test before the end of their SHN at a designated community testing facility.

They will receive information on the scheduled appointment slot and venue via an SMS notification, said the Ministry of Health in a statement yesterday.

They will have to travel from their place of residence to the testing facility and return immediately after the test, using their own private vehicle or designated transport. They should avoid public transport.

More details will be made available soon.

A test is not mandatory for outbound travellers, but should their destination country require them to take a test, they will have to bear the costs themselves.

The Government will also look at how it can facilitate business travel with the necessary safeguards, in particular for Singapore-based professionals who need to travel frequently as part of their work.

For now, short-term visitors are still not allowed, except those coming in under the green or fast-lane arrangements, or with special prior approval.



Earlier this month, Singapore agreed to resume essential business and official travel with China in a fast-lane agreement which will enable travellers from both sides to fly into each other's countries without serving quarantine periods of up to 14 days.

Instead, travellers must take a COVID-19 swab test 48 hours before departure and after they land.

They must also submit detailed itineraries, and the business organisations or government entities sponsoring them must file applications on their behalf.

Approved travellers coming into Singapore must download the TraceTogether app and cannot travel by public transport.

Similar rules will apply to Singapore travellers going to China.

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said in a Facebook post yesterday that his ministry is prepared to consider appeals on a case-by-case basis for swab test arrangements in place of SHN for returning fast-lane users.

Appeals can be directed to COVID_STPOappeals@mti.gov.sg



Asked about the resumption of travel between Singapore and Malaysia, Mr Wong said green-lane arrangements for air travel are under discussion.

"With regards to the land crossing, that's more complicated because of the large volume of people that commuted every day between Singapore and Malaysia in the past," he added.

If travel across the Causeway or other land crossings were to resume, a combination of precautions including testing, as well as quarantine arrangements, would be required, he noted.

"We want... movement to resume but we also want this to be done in a safe and sustainable manner. So the exact protocols, the exact safeguards, the numbers of travellers that we can expect, all of these are details that are being discussed amongst the officials at this time."

Singaporeans and residents are still advised to defer all travel abroad.














Rise in cases with low viral load due to testing strategy
By Timothy Goh, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

The increasing number of detected COVID-19 cases with low viral load is not due to the coronavirus mutating but, rather, a result of Singapore's unique testing strategy, said the Ministry of Health's (MOH) director of medical services Kenneth Mak yesterday.

Last Wednesday, the ministry announced that six students and staff who had tested positive for the disease earlier in the month had displayed mild symptoms and had low viral loads.

Speaking at a virtual press conference yesterday, Associate Professor Mak pointed out that Singapore has been expanding its testing strategies, leading to a larger pool of asymptomatic people being tested.

"As we test more, it is inevitable that we will find more people who have had infections in the past and who remain asymptomatic. And it is not surprising that their onset of illness could have been some time ago. That partially accounts for why their viral loads are low at the time when they actually are diagnosed," he said.

"It doesn't necessarily reflect that the virus has changed in any way."



Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who was also at the press conference, said that the Republic's "aggressive" method of testing means that its data cannot be compared with that of other countries, which may have a different basis for testing people.

He added that because cases with low viral load are usually asymptomatic, they tend to feel that there is nothing wrong with them and do not seek medical attention.

As a result, they would not have been detected under "normal circumstances".

Prof Mak also clarified that mutations are a common occurrence in all viruses, not just the one which causes COVID-19.

"We see mutations in the virus causing COVID-19 infection, but that doesn't necessarily imply that mutation variants or strains are more infectious or cause more harm," he said.



He added that the authorities are not aware of any evidence suggesting that the recent mutations of the coronavirus have made it deadlier.

Nevertheless, they will continue to review all available evidence and research, and monitor the situation carefully.

"We look towards our scientific experts to provide us with guidance and advice as to what we should do if we're dealing with virus strains that in fact lead to a change in behaviour of the virus. But so far there's no evidence to suggest (this)," said Prof Mak.




















Ban on live music, TV screenings at eateries among restrictions
By Timothy Goh, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

When Singapore enters phase two of the post-circuit breaker measures on Friday, most outlets will reopen - but there will still be restrictions in place, such as a ban on TV screenings or live music at eateries. Some places, such as museums and libraries, will also remain shut for now.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the multi-ministry task force tackling the spread of the coronavirus, said such exceptions are needed.

This is because the nature of certain activities or locations increases the risk of people being infected.

For instance, although food and beverage outlets will be able to allow dining in once more, live music as well as television and video screenings will be banned at such places.



This is because the noise caused by such activities may cause people to speak more loudly, resulting in droplets - which may carry the coronavirus - being spread further. Patrons may also end up lingering longer than necessary at the outlets, said Mr Wong.

And while tuition and private enrichment classes can resume, singing and voice-training classes will remain shut as they are considered a higher-risk activity.

Activities that involve large numbers of people who are likely to come into close contact often, in enclosed spaces or for prolonged periods, will also have to wait.

"Our experience in Singapore and also overseas has shown that such settings are of higher risk and they could result in large clusters forming. So these are your super spreader events," said Mr Wong.



These include religious congregations, libraries, museums and large-scale events and venues such as conferences, exhibitions, concerts and trade fairs. Entertainment venues like bars, nightclubs, karaoke outlets, cinemas, theatres as well as indoor and outdoor attractions will also have to remain shut.

"The government agencies are continuing to engage the relevant businesses and organisations on the safe management measures that would be needed for these specific activities and settings, and subject to these safe management precautions and requirements being put in place at a later date, we will be able to allow these to resume progressively over time," said Mr Wong.

He added that some of these locations may be able to open in a few weeks' time, but with strict limits on the number of visitors.

Restrictions have also been eased slightly for certain other higher-risk activities and locations.



Wedding solemnisations at home, at the Registry of Marriages or at the Registry of Muslim Marriages may take place with up to 10 people excluding the solemniser.

This limit is raised to 20 people at other venues, subject to other safe management principles. Up to 20 people can also be present at one time at wakes and funerals.

Some of these restrictions may be eased further during phase two if the situation improves.




















Sports community and enthusiasts cheer news of reopening of facilities
By Nicole Chia and Kimberly Kwek, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

For the past two months, Ms Catherine Kwek has been on long walks every weekend to fill the void left by the closure of golf courses.

The 45-year-old, who works in logistics, will soon be able to return to her passion, after sports facilities were yesterday given the green light to reopen on Friday.

These include stadiums, swimming complexes, sports halls, hard courts, gyms, fitness studios and bowling centres. This guidance also applies to similar facilities in private settings such as condominiums and golf and country clubs.

Ms Kwek, who used to play golf thrice a week, told The Straits Times: "Over the weekends, it was definitely a must to golf, so not playing golf during the weekend over the last two months felt like something was missing, and I was getting withdrawal symptoms.

"I am excited and looking forward to playing golf again."

Sports facilities here have been closed since April 7, when the circuit breaker measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus kicked in. These facilities remained shut during the Republic's first phase of reopening, which started on June 2.



The reopening of facilities is subject to individuals maintaining safe distancing of at least 1m at all times.

Where this is not feasible or practical, such as in group training for team sports such as football, this 1m requirement can instead be enforced between groups, with each group made up of not more than five persons and with no mixing between groups.

Members of the sports community were pleased to hear the news, with some stressing that individuals must still act responsibly despite the easing of restrictions.

Mr Rajesh Mulani, co-owner of The Cage, an indoor football facility, told The Straits Times: "For a contact sport like football, it is going to be challenging to get a game going, so it will likely be that academies can start with some technical work."

He said he and his partner plan to offer football fitness training for adults "just to give football addicts a little bit of relief before we get to the stage where contact is allowed".

"The key is to do it sensibly - to be able to manage crowds, have dedicated entrances and exits, temperature screening and cleaning between groups," he stressed.

Mr Clement Teo, coach of Singapore Premier League club Hougang United, said the club would probably divide its players into groups of five when they resume training.

"We are breaking them into defenders, midfielders and strikers, and the strikers will be with the goalkeepers," he added. "It is very important for us to be socially responsible - it has been a long time, but we can't let our hair down just like this, we still need to be careful."

Some, like Singapore Hockey Federation (SHF) president Mathavan Devadas, are waiting for further guidance from Sport Singapore (SportSG). SportSG, which runs most public sports facilities and governs sports and exercise policy in the Republic, is expected to issue an advisory on its guidelines for the safe return to sporting action soon.

The SHF is preparing a document on how to return to hockey safely, which will include hygiene measures and drills that can be done when training resumes.

"We still need guidance from (SportSG) before we finalise the document and send it to affiliates, as the venues belong to SportSG," said Mr Mathavan.

Mr Sean Tan, chairman of the board and director of True Group, which owns and operates the 10 True Fitness and TFX gyms in Singapore, is "raring to go".

Mr Tan said: "We are all ready, it is a matter of what the specific details for the controls for gyms and fitness studios are. We have different contingency plans in place. The devil is in the details. It is good that we are opening up."

Ms Carol Cabal, co-founder of boutique gym Tribody Fitness, welcomed the announcement, but was also apprehensive at the same time.

She said: "We understand that some of our clients are not comfortable with returning, while others are excited. They have to be comfortable again to do the usual thing they did so we will be patient, and we are here to cater to their needs."






Limit of five for groups makes political walkabouts possible
By Toh Wen Li, The Straits Times, 16 Jun 2020

Social gatherings of up to five people will be allowed during phase two of the economy's reopening, indicating that political parties will be able to conduct walkabouts in small groups in the run-up to the upcoming general election.

The Ministry of Health yesterday announced that when phase two begins on Friday, a wider range of activities like dining in at restaurants can resume. Households can also receive up to five visitors at any one time.

However, people still have to stay at least 1m apart, and where this is not possible, small groups should stay at least 1m from one another.



Asked about guidelines for walkabouts should the general election be held in phase two, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said: "In terms of activities, we have highlighted if you are out and about, then the rule of five would apply. So, you can go out with your friends to exercise, to go on a walk - up to five people, but not more than that, and all must wear masks."

The Elections Department (ELD) has not yet released campaigning guidelines, saying such rules are not ready as these have to take into account the existing rules on safe distancing and management closer to the actual date of the polls.

During the virtual media conference yesterday, the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19 was also asked about phase two of reopening and the election time-frame, as well as how it could impact campaigning.

Responding, Mr Wong said that guidelines related to elections are "put together separately by the Elections Department".

"So, this can happen in phase two, it may happen in phase three, no one will know the exact timing at this stage, but should the election be called, the Elections Department will certainly explain what the precautions, safeguards and campaign guidelines entail. So, that is not for this task force to answer," added the minister, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force handling the pandemic.



The Health Ministry's director of medical services Kenneth Mak noted that the ELD consults his ministry on matters concerning public health. "Whenever an election is called, the prevailing public health requirements will have to be adhered to at that point in time," he said.

The ELD recently unveiled a set of safety measures for voters ahead of the general election. The number of polling stations will be increased from 880 to 1,100, for example, to reduce the number of voters going to each station from 3,000 to 2,400.

Voters will also be given recommended time slots, and can check the queue situation at their polling station online before turning up.












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Changi Airport Terminal 5 construction pushed back by two years: Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan

June 17, 2020, 7:24 am
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Scale and design of planned terminal will be reviewed and study done on sector's prospects
By Toh Ting Wei, The Straits Times, 17 Jun 2020

With a cloud hanging over the future of aviation, Singapore has halted construction of the upcoming mega Changi Airport Terminal 5 for at least two years, and will review its scale and design.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday that the project will not resume until the Republic has undertaken a study on prospects for the sector which has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Big questions remain, and we don't think we will get the answers very quickly within the next few months," said Mr Khaw.

"It may take us a couple of years, and that is why we have decided to take a pause in the T5 project... So at the minimum, I think we will push it back by two years."



The Changi Airport T5 project was scheduled to be completed in the 2030s. It was earmarked to provide future capacity for the airport to ride on the projected growth in air travel.

From 85 million passengers a year currently, Changi Airport planned to have the capacity to handle 140 million a year - with T5 alone being able to handle up to 50 million passengers per year in its initial phase.

It held the key to Singapore retaining its status as an aviation hub, analysts said.

But now, instead of calling for major civil engineering tenders that the initial timelines would have demanded, the Government will review the additional safety features that will need to be built into T5, Mr Khaw told scholarship holders under the Transport Ministry's agencies in an online engagement session.

"In the case of the virus, what are the additional safety features we need to adopt?" he said. "All major airports are testing and experimenting... We are already experimenting with some of these safety rules."

Mr Khaw said the continuous stream of cargo traffic going through the airport despite reduced passenger traffic will be considered in the review of T5's design.

The Changi air hub contributes more than 5 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product and employs 192,000 people.

While all air hubs globally have been hit hard by the pandemic, International Air Transport Association chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said the worst part of the collapse in air traffic is likely over, provided there is not a second and more damaging wave of COVID-19 infections.

In April, Changi Airport handled just 25,200 passenger movements, a 99.5 per cent drop from the same time last year.

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the airport has shut down T2 for 18 months, in part to facilitate upgrading works. It has alsotemporarily closed T4.

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said in a national address on Sunday that all of Singapore's major infrastructure projects, including T5, will be completed, although timelines may shift based on demand.

Experts said the move to delay T5 was sensible.

Mr Shukor Yusof of Endau Analytics said: "It is tough to visualise what 2030 and beyond holds, since the virus has changed the world as we know it. The design will have to take into account the reality that Changi may not see such volumes as had been forecast earlier."

But Mr Subhas Menon, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said major aviation infrastructure projects in the region, such as T5, will still be needed when air travel picks up again.

"If (the passenger volume) gets back to what it was last year, it is already a good volume. Many places were already feeling infrastructure constraints.

"So I think in the long term, all these projects will come in handy."



































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Singapore retains top spot as world's most competitive economy: IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2020

June 17, 2020, 8:05 am
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Its economic performance, tech infrastructure, education system help it stay No. 1 for second year
By Ovais Subhani, The Straits Times, 17 Jun 2020

Singapore has retained its top spot as the world's most competitive economy, in the latest edition of the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2020.

It held on to the No. 1 position for a second straight year in the annual list of 63 economies that analyses their ability to generate prosperity.

Making up the top five after Singapore were Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Hong Kong.

As a group, they illustrate the strength of many small economies amid the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Lausanne, Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development (IMD) said in a statement yesterday.

However, Hong Kong dropped three spots on the list to settle at No. 5 this year. IMD attributed the city's slide to a relatively deficient performance of its economy, employment and societal framework. The underlying strengths of the autonomous region's economy, however, remain in place, it said.

In fact, besides Singapore and Taiwan - which rose to 11th place from 16th - rankings for all other Asian economies dropped from their year-ago positions.



The world's two largest economies fell in the rankings as well.

The trade war between the United States and China damaged both economies, reversing their positive growth trajectories, IMD said. The US fell seven spots to 10th place, while China slipped to 20th from 14th place last year. The US was toppled from its No. 1 spot last year by Singapore.

Professor Arturo Bris, director of the IMD World Competitiveness Centre, said: "The benefit of small economies in the current crisis comes from their ability to fight a pandemic and from their economic competitiveness. In part, these may be fed by the fact it is easy to find social consensus."



The rankings are based on responses in the first quarter of this year from business executives on questions about how they perceive their country's economy and hard data from last year.

IMD noted that the factors behind Singapore's success include its strong economic performance, which stems from robust international trade and investment, employment and labour market measures.

"Singapore is a small economy with similarities to Denmark and the Netherlands. Its rise to the No. 1 spot was largely driven by the relative ease of setting up business, the availability of skilled labour and its cutting-edge technological infrastructure," IMD said.



Stable performances in both Singapore's education system and technological infrastructure - telecommunications, Internet bandwidth speed and high-tech exports - also played key roles, it said.

Elsewhere in the Americas, Canada moved up to eighth from 13th, while in Europe, the United Kingdom climbed from 23rd to 19th, and France lost its foothold on 31st, having to settle this year for 32nd.

Economies showing noteworthy year-on-year consistency include Germany (17th), Australia (18th) and India (43rd). An eye-catching rebound came for Greece, up to 49th from 58th with government efficiency to thank, IMD said.

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, speaking at an Enterprise Singapore event yesterday, said it was good to see that Singapore has managed to maintain its top position in overall global competitiveness.

However, he said, the report also shows the challenges the Republic is facing.

"There are significant changes in the relative rankings in many countries. And this just goes to show that we are living in a very volatile environment," he said.

"We cannot be complacent during the COVID-19 situation," he added.












 



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Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation Seniors to Receive $255 million in MediSave Top-Ups in July 2020

June 17, 2020, 9:53 pm
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Eligible seniors will receive top-ups ranging from $200 to $800 next month
By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors will receive a total of $255 million in Medisave top-ups next month.

The top-up can be used for payment of insurance premiums for MediShield Life and other Medisave-approved insurance plans, as well as to pay for medical expenses such as for hospitalisation, day surgery and outpatient treatments.

The sum will be credited into their Medisave accounts next month. Seniors will be given more details of the top-up in a letter by the end of this month.

The top-ups are part of the benefits under the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation packages.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said it is to "thank our Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors for their contributions to Singapore".

"Altogether, we had set aside more than $14 billion for these packages, to cover about one million seniors for life."



He added that the Pioneer and Merdeka Generations had weathered difficult storms in the early years of Singapore, and contributed to Singapore's growth.

"We owe them a debt of gratitude for their hard work and dedication. Let us continue to support them to stay active and healthy," he said.

In a joint statement, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health said the top-up for Pioneer members totals $160 million, while the top-up for Merdeka seniors is $95 million.

Eligible Pioneer members will receive between $200 and $800, depending on their age this year. Those who were born earlier will receive higher top-ups as they typically have less accumulated savings. Eligible Merdeka Generation seniors will receive $200 in Medisave top-ups annually until 2023. They started receiving the sum from last year.

Around 450,000 Pioneer and 500,000 Merdeka Generation seniors have been receiving Medisave top-ups as part of the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation packages since they were launched in 2014 and last year, respectively.

For the Pioneer Generation Package, $8 billion was set aside in 2014 to be given out to those born in 1949 or earlier.

This helps to cover outpatient subsidies, Medisave top-ups, MediShield Life premium subsidies, and payouts for long-term care.

As for the Merdeka Generation Package, $6.1 billion was set aside last year to provide seniors with greater assurance of their healthcare costs, and to help them stay active and healthy through their silver years. The top-ups help ease the burden of healthcare costs for Singaporeans who were born between Jan 1, 1950 and Dec 31, 1959.

From last year, Merdeka Generation seniors received additional benefits such as higher subsidies under the Community Health Assist Scheme and an extra 25 per cent discount on their bills at polyclinics and specialist outpatient clinics, in addition to the yearly $200 Medisave top-ups.

The Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Medisave top-ups are in addition to the annual Medisave top-ups under the GST (goods and services tax) Voucher scheme for Singaporeans who are aged 65 and above.

The Medisave top-ups under the GST Voucher scheme will be made in August, and the amount that seniors can receive will depend on their age, the annual value of their place of residence, and the number of properties that they own.


















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National Broadcast: SM Tharman Shanmugaratnam on A Stronger and More Cohesive Society

June 17, 2020, 11:48 pm
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Singapore to strengthen social compact to keep society united
Tharman spells out steps to stave off social polarisation and despair in the face of crisis
By Grace Ho, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

Singapore cannot defy the global economic downturn. But it must "absolutely defy" the loss of social cohesion, the polarisation and the despair that are taking hold in many other countries, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages economies, he said Singapore must strengthen its social compact by helping those who have lost jobs to find work, by keeping social mobility alive and by assuring Singaporeans that help is at hand when they meet difficulties.

Mr Tharman, who is Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, also said mature workers would get special help in finding jobs so that no employer rejects them on account of their age.

Speaking yesterday from the Devan Nair Institute of Employment and Employability, in the fifth of six national broadcasts by ministers on Singapore's post coronavirus future, he said job losses and disrupted schooling have widened social divisions around the world.

He cautioned against thinking that Singapore is immune to these trends: "No society remains cohesive simply because it used to be."

The Government's first priority is to save jobs and help those laid off to return to work. This, he said, cannot be left to market forces.



Mr Tharman, who helms the new National Jobs Council that oversees efforts to help Singaporeans stay employable, said this is why the Government is working with companies, sector by sector, to take on Singaporeans through temporary assignments, attachments and traineeships.

"No amount of unemployment allowances can compensate for the demoralisation of being out of work for long," he said.

Special attention will be paid to workers in their 50s and 60s, and the Mid-Career Pathways programme will be scaled up so that they can prepare for more permanent jobs, he added. But this is a national effort that requires employers to change their thinking.

Mr Tharman said: "No Singaporean who is willing to learn should be 'too old' to hire. And no one who is willing to adapt should be viewed as 'overqualified'.

"Our workers will be able to build on their skills and experience, and we will have a more capable and motivated workforce, with a strong Singaporean core, that every employer can rely on."

He added that good schools are critical to social mobility, and Singapore must never become a society where social pedigree and connections count for more than ability and effort. "There is nothing natural or preordained about social mobility," he said, noting that successful countries have found this harder to sustain with time. "It therefore requires relentless government effort, quality interventions in schools and dedicated networks of community support to keep social mobility alive."

Hence, the Government is equalising opportunities when children are young, such as by expanding the Kidstart programme to help lower-income families. Plans are also afoot to equip all secondary school students with a personal laptop or tablet by next year, seven years ahead of the original target.



A strong spirit of solidarity is also important. Key to this, he said, is strengthening support for lower income Singaporeans at work.

He pointed out that cleaners, security officers and landscape workers have seen their wages increase by 30 per cent in real terms over the last five years under the Progressive Wage Model. The eventual goal is for every sector to have progressive wages, with a clear ladder of skills, better jobs and better wages for those with lower pay.

Those in short-term contract work should also have more stable jobs, better protection and the chance to progress in their careers, he said. "It may lead to a small rise in the cost of services that we all pay for. But it is a small price for us to pay for better jobs and income security for those who need it most, and a fair society."

He noted that the social compact is also about the "self-effort and selflessness" that must be strengthened in the country's culture.

"It is about the networks and initiatives that we saw spring up in this COVID-19 crisis... And it is about how we draw closer to each other, regardless of race, religion or social background. It is how we journey together. A forward-looking, spirited and more cohesive society."














National effort to help older workers find jobs: Tharman
Employers should rethink views on older workers, step up to give them opportunities
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

Employers who hire middle-aged and older Singaporeans will receive extra support from the Government, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said yesterday.

A programme to open new pathways for mid-career job seekers will also be scaled up in the coming months. This will give them opportunities to work at companies and public sector agencies, and prepare for more permanent jobs, he added.

In a national broadcast on building a more cohesive society, Mr Tharman, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, urged employers to rethink their views on hiring middle-aged and mature workers - and step up to give them opportunities.



Everyone benefits if it becomes the norm to hire from this group, he added, noting the labour force is much older today than it was in the late 1960s when the British announced their troop pullout, and in the mid-1980s when Singapore suffered a recession.

Less than 30 per cent of the labour force then was 40 years or older. Today, the proportion has doubled to 60 per cent, and many workers are 50 years or older.

This is the reason for theconcerted effort now to help middle-aged and mature Singaporean workers, he added.

"This is, and must be, a national effort. And it needs new thinking among employers, to give middle-aged and mature Singaporean workers a fair chance to prove themselves," he said.

"Employers need to reorient their management philosophies, and their human resources and talent management practices."

Mr Tharman, who chairs the new National Jobs Council set up to help Singaporeans stay employable in a challenging economy, added: "No Singaporean who is willing to learn should be 'too old' to hire. And no one who is willing to adapt should be viewed as 'overqualified'. We will work closely with the business associations to bring all employers into this national effort."

The Manpower Ministry will also watch companies' hiring practices to ensure they comply with the Fair Consideration Framework, he added.

In the fifth of six national broadcasts on Singapore's post-coronavirus future, he said the Government's first priority is to save jobs and prevent people from being out of work for too long.

The country has faced conditions of high unemployment before, but today, it is in a much stronger position to address this challenge, he added.

Singapore's unemployment rate exceeded 6 per cent on two occasions - when the British began withdrawing their troops in the late 1960s and again, during the severe recession of the mid-1980s.

Today, its economy is more diversified, its people are far more skilled and investors have greater confidence in the country.



But its labour force is also much older now, Mr Tharman noted. And the older workers have had fewer educational opportunities than the younger generations, he said.

"But they are a hard-working and vigorous generation, who have accumulated valuable skills and experience over the years, and still have many good years ahead of them.

"We will spare no effort to help them carry on with their careers in the most productive jobs they can do, so that they can continue to provide for their families and contribute to Singapore."

Everyone is better off if it becomes the norm to hire middle-aged and older workers, he said.

"Our workers will be able to build on their skills and experience and we will have a more capable and motivated workforce, with a strong Singaporean core, that every employer can rely on."





SM THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM ON...


TACKLING UNEMPLOYMENT

The reality of the matter is that we face strong headwinds. As long as grave uncertainty hangs over the global economy, and trade and travel are down, new job openings in Singapore will very likely be fewer than job losses.

So, if we leave things to market forces, unemployment will rise significantly over the next year, or even beyond that, if COVID-19 remains a threat. We are therefore working with companies, sector by sector, to take on Singaporeans through temporary assignments, attachments and traineeships during this down period so they get real work opportunities and get paid, and pick up skills while waiting for permanent jobs to open up.



MIDDLE-AGED, MATURE WORKERS

No Singaporean who is willing to learn should be 'too old' to hire. And no one who is willing to adapt should be viewed as 'overqualified'. We will work closely with the business associations to bring all employers into this national effort.

If it becomes the norm to hire mid-career Singaporeans and train them for new jobs, everyone is better off. Our workers will be able to build on their skills and experience, and we will have a more capable and motivated workforce, with a strong Singaporean core, that every employer can rely on.



 



SOCIAL MOBILITY

We must never become a society where social pedigree and connections count for more than ability and effort.

However, there is nothing natural or pre-ordained about social mobility. Every successful country has, in fact, found that it gets more difficult to sustain this with time. Parents who themselves had higher education or who have become better off are investing more in their children, and moving them further ahead of the rest.

It therefore requires relentless government effort, quality interventions in schools and dedicated networks of community support to keep social mobility alive.


BUILDING A CULTURE OF SOLIDARITY

We must remain a society where self-effort is rewarded, and each one of us takes pride in achieving something in life. But we also need, more than we did in the earlier years, a strong spirit of selflessness and solidarity, looking out for the vulnerable and supporting each other. Not because we are obliged to do so, but because it makes us a better society together.

We have seen this solidarity in action in the COVID-19 crisis. Singaporeans from all walks of life have come forward to support those who were most affected by the crisis, including by serving on the front lines.










National Jobs Council moving 'full speed ahead'
Attachments and traineeships being secured to help Singaporeans get hired, as jobs cannot be left to market forces: Tharman
By Linette Lai, The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

Unemployment will rise significantly over the next year and even beyond if the issue of jobs is left to market forces.

That is why the Government is working with the private sector to get Singaporeans hired through temporary assignments, attachments and traineeships now, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

This way, people can get real work opportunities and get paid. They can also pick up skills while waiting for permanent jobs to open up.

The reality, Mr Tharman said, is that Singapore now faces strong headwinds. As long as grave uncertainty hangs over the global economy and trade and travel remain disrupted, job losses here are likely to outweigh job openings.

"So, if we leave things to market forces, unemployment will rise significantly over the next year, or even beyond that if COVID-19 remains a threat," he added.

Singapore has been preparing for this but the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for changes, Mr Tharman said. "When we talk of the jobs of the future, therefore, it is not some far-off or hypothetical possibility. The future begins now."

That is why the Government is investing heavily in reskilling and upskilling the majority of Singaporeans who still have jobs, and it has also expanded training opportunities through the Next Bound of SkillsFuture.

Mr Tharman, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and chairman of the National Jobs Council, said: "The Government is heavily subsidising these opportunities. It gives people far greater benefit when the Government provides support this way.

"No amount of unemployment allowances can compensate for the demoralisation of being out of work for long," he added.

For a start, the public sector will bring forward hiring for future jobs in areas such as healthcare, early childhood development, education and social services. It will also step up recruitment in sectors that had earlier faced issues in getting enough Singaporeans to sign up.

Mr Tharman said the National Jobs Council is moving "full speed ahead", and will secure the 100,000 jobs and training places targeted by the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.



In his TV broadcast yesterday - the fifth of six speeches on Singapore's post-coronavirus future- Mr Tharman said the Government's first priority is to save jobs, and that this is not just an economic issue, but a social one.

He said: "We will do all we can to prevent people from being out of work for long, so they can stand on their own feet and retain their sense of dignity. Good jobs are also at the heart of our whole approach to building a cohesive society and tempering inequalities."

Technological advances and the digital revolution, Mr Tharman said, have transformed many jobs.

He urged Singaporeans to take on the challenge of learning new skills. "Everyone should have the courage to re-gear to stay on track, and make the effort to acquire new skills at regular points in your careers, possibly even learning whole new disciplines."





Better jobs for lower-wage workers may mean small rise in cost of services for Singaporeans: Tharman
By Yuen Sin, The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

In time, every sector in Singapore will have a progressive wage structure with a clear ladder of skills that will result in better jobs and improved wages for lower-paid workers, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday.

Lower-income Singaporeans in short-term contract work will also be provided with opportunities to get more stable jobs, better protection and the chance to progress in their careers, he added.

While such changes may lead to a small rise in the cost of services for Singaporeans, they can bring about meaningful and continuing improvements in pay and conditions for lower-income workers, he said.

"It is a small price for us to pay for better jobs and income security for those who need it most, and a fair society."



In the fifth of six national broadcasts on Singapore's post-coronavirus future, Mr Tharman, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, pledged to provide greater support for lower-and middle-income Singaporeans, strengthen policy support for them, and build a fair and just society.

The social support schemes introduced recently to help Singaporeans hit by the coronavirus crisis are part of a "broader re-orientation" in Singapore's social policies that began well before the pandemic and will outlast it, he said.

These efforts have also been complemented by a spirit of solidarity that Singaporeans have demonstrated in the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and which has to be sustained and strengthened even after the pandemic, he added.

"We must remain a society where self-effort is rewarded, and each one of us takes pride in achieving something in life.

"But we also need, more than we did in the earlier years, a strong spirit of selflessness and solidarity, looking out for the vulnerable, and supporting each other. Not because we are obliged to do so, but because it makes us a better society together."

Mr Tharman noted that over the years, the Government has increased subsidies for lower-and middle-income families in education, housing and healthcare, which includes the Community Health Assist Scheme that provides healthcare subsidies.

The Silver Support scheme, which gives quarterly payouts to eligible Singaporeans aged 65 and older, is also getting a boost to help poorer retirees.

Support for lower-income Singaporeans is also being strengthened, he said.

Through Workfare, which gives payouts to lower-paid workers, and the Special Employment Credit, which provide wage offsets, the Government pays older, lower-income workers as much as 40 per cent on top of the wages they get from their employers.



Progress in raising the income of Singapore's lowest-paid workers has also been made, and the country will continue to build on it, the minister said.

Through the adoption of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) - a wage ladder that specifies higher pay for workers as they upgrade their skills - cleaners, security officers and landscape workers have seen their real wages go up by 30 per cent in the last five years.

He said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo is also working actively with tripartite partners to bring in more industry associations and work out progressive wage schemes for various industries, as Singapore strives to extend a progressive wage structure to every sector.

"No one can tell what world will emerge when COVID-19 is over, or whether it has entered a long period of economic stagnation as many fear," said Mr Tharman.

"But we will do all we can to make ours a more cohesive society, and do it in ways that can be sustained into the next generation. And we must all do our utmost to avoid the rifts and fractures that we see developing in many other societies."










All secondary school students to get personal laptop or tablet for learning by 2021: Tharman
By Yuen Sin, The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

All secondary school students will receive a personal laptop or tablet for learning by next year - seven years ahead of the original target.

The recent move by Education Minister Ong Ye Kung to bring forward the plan is one of the ways the Government, schools and the community are working together to keep social mobility alive, and ensure every individual is afforded the opportunity to do well, regardless of his starting point, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said yesterday.

Mr Tharman, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, said social mobility is an integral part of Singapore's identity, and is the reason Singapore has been able to transform its society since the 1960s.

"Generations of children from humble backgrounds have moved up in life, through education, and by working hard in their jobs and businesses.

"Even today, Singaporeans who grow up in lower-income families have a better chance of moving up the income ladder than those in most other advanced countries," he noted, as he spoke on social mobility during the fifth ministerial broadcast in a series of six.

Mr Tharman, however, cautioned that there is "nothing natural or pre-ordained about social mobility".

Every successful country has found that it gets more difficult to sustain this with time, and the gap widens when parents with higher education or who have become better off invest more in their children, moving them further ahead of the rest, he noted. "We must never become a society where social pedigree and connections count for more than ability and effort."

Mr Tharman said the Government and its partners have been working to equalise opportunities for Singaporeans.



In early childhood, it is expanding the KidStart programme to help lower-income families and their children in the earliest years, which are critical to their development.

Introduced in 2016, KidStart provides advice and support to families on various aspects of bringing up children, such as nutrition and parent-child interaction.

The pre-school profession has also been upgraded, and the National Institute of Early Childhood Development has been set up to raise standards in the industry. "So, whichever pre-school your child goes to, he or she will have a good start," said Mr Tharman.

During the circuit breaker period, schools also made great effort to help students from poorer homes and those at risk to ensure they did not fall behind.


The work does not stop there, he said. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has been allocating extra resources to schools for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

They will be given even more support in the coming years, with the hiring of more teachers, allied educators, student welfare officers and teacher-counsellors, he added.

This will boost the efforts of those in schools that are supporting pupils who are doing less well in primary schools, as well as the efforts in the ministry's UPLIFT (Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce) programme.

In UPLIFT, schools and the community collaborate to support students from disadvantaged families.

The additional resources will also help students to go as far as they can through the full subject-based banding system in secondary schools, which allows students to take subjects at varying levels of difficulty based on their strengths.

"When you add up all we are doing, starting from the earliest years of childhood onward, we are making a determined effort to keep Singapore a place where every individual can do well, regardless of their starting points," said Mr Tharman.






Strengthening a compact of 'self-effort and selflessness'
The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

This is the transcript of Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam's ministerial broadcast yesterday on 'a stronger and more cohesive society'. It is the fifth ministerial broadcast on life after COVID-19. The final broadcast is on Saturday by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.




My fellow Singaporeans,

In this fifth ministerial broadcast, I will talk about the challenges we face as a society, and how we must work together to strengthen our social compact in the years to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the stakes. The fall in incomes around the world is expected to be the most severe in the last 100 years. But this is not just an economic recession. It has the makings of a profound social crisis, in one country after another.

We are already seeing this happen elsewhere. It did not begin with the pandemic. Social divisions were already growing in these countries. But they are now getting even wider. Job and income losses have hit some groups much harder than others. Children without well-off parents are falling behind, with their schooling disrupted and little done to help them. All this is sharpening feelings of helplessness, and the sense that the system is stacked against those who are already disadvantaged. And it is bringing longstanding perceptions of racial injustice to a boiling point.

Singapore cannot defy the global economic downturn. But we must absolutely defy the loss of social cohesion, the polarisation, and the despair that is taking hold in many other countries. Never think these trends cannot take hold in Singapore. There are many societies which used to be cohesive, but are now fragmenting, both in the West and in Asia. No society remains cohesive simply because it used to be.

The economic dangers we now face compel us to fortify our society and reinforce the strengths that we have developed over many years.

STRENGTHENING OUR SOCIAL COMPACT

We will redouble efforts to strengthen our social compact. First, we will ensure everyone has full opportunity to do well for themselves, through education, skills and good jobs. Second, we will boost support for those who start life at a disadvantage, so that we keep social mobility alive in Singapore, and lessen inequalities over time.

And third, we must all play a role to strengthen our culture of solidarity, so we know we have each other to depend on, in good times and bad. Every individual must put in the effort to achieve his fullest potential. But we must also take responsibility collectively, to help people bounce back from life's inevitable setbacks, and make sure no Singaporean is left behind. We are doing this through government policies to help those with less, at every stage of life, as well as through citizen-led initiatives and communities of care that are growing in every neighbourhood. As PM (Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong) said in his opening broadcast, in Singapore, no one will be left to walk his journey alone.



TACKLING UNEMPLOYMENT

Our first priority today is to save jobs, and to help Singaporeans who do lose their jobs to bounce back into work. This is not just an economic issue, but a social priority. We will do all we can to prevent people from being out of work for long, so they can stand on their own feet and retain their sense of dignity. Good jobs are also at the heart of our whole approach to building a cohesive society and tempering inequalities.

The National Jobs Council is moving full speed ahead. We will secure the 100,000 jobs and training places targeted by the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package that DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Heng Swee Keat introduced.

The reality of the matter is that we face strong headwinds. As long as grave uncertainty hangs over the global economy, and trade and travel are down, new job openings in Singapore will very likely be fewer than job losses. So if we leave things to market forces, unemployment will rise significantly over the next year, or even beyond that, if COVID-19 remains a threat.

We are, therefore, working with companies, sector by sector, to take on Singaporeans through temporary assignments, attachments and traineeships during this down period, so they get real work opportunities and get paid, and pick up skills while waiting for permanent jobs to open up. The Government is heavily subsidising these opportunities. It gives people far greater benefit when the Government provides support this way. No amount of unemployment allowances can compensate for the demoralisation of being out of work for long.

The public sector will also bring forward hiring for future jobs, in areas such as healthcare, early childhood development, education and social services. It will step up recruitment, especially in sectors which earlier had difficulty finding enough Singaporeans to fill up the positions.

We have faced conditions of high unemployment before, but we are in a much stronger position to address the challenge today. Twice before, unemployment rose well beyond 6 per cent - in the late 60s, when the British began pulling out their forces, and in the mid-80s, when we suffered a major recession. Our economy is much better diversified today. Our people are far more skilled. And the trust and confidence that investors have in Singapore is much stronger, as (Trade and Industry) Minister Chan Chun Sing explained in the last ministerial broadcast.

HELPING OUR MIDDLE-AGED AND MATURE WORKERS

However, our labour force is much older today than in the late 60s, when the British began pulling out, and in the mid-80s recession. In those times, less than 30 per cent of our labour force was 40 years or older. Today, the proportion is 60 per cent, double what it was before. And many of today's workers are, in fact, 50 years or older.

This is why we are making a concerted effort to help our middle-aged and mature Singaporean workers. Most of those in their 50s and 60s did not go beyond secondary school. They had much fewer educational opportunities than today's younger generation. But they are a hard-working and vigorous generation, who have accumulated valuable skills and experience over the years, and still have many good years ahead of them. We will spare no effort to help them carry on with their careers in the most productive jobs they can do, so that they can continue to provide for their families and contribute to Singapore.

The Government will give employers extra support when they hire middle-aged and older Singaporeans. We will also scale up the new Mid-Career Pathways programme in the months to come, so they get opportunities to work at companies and public sector agencies, and can prepare for more permanent jobs in future.

This is, and must be, a national effort. And it needs new thinking among employers, to give middle-aged and mature Singaporean workers a fair chance to prove themselves. Employers need to reorient their management philosophies, and their HR (human resources) and talent management practices.

No Singaporean who is willing to learn should be "too old" to hire. And no one who is willing to adapt should be viewed as "overqualified". We will work closely with the business associations to bring all employers into this national effort. MOM (Ministry of Manpower) will also watch companies' hiring practices to ensure they comply with the Fair Consideration Framework.

If it becomes the norm to hire mid-career Singaporeans and train them for new jobs, everyone is better off. Our workers will be able to build on their skills and experience, and we will have a more capable and motivated workforce, with a strong Singaporean core, that every employer can rely on.



THE FUTURE OF JOBS BEGINS NOW

We are also investing heavily in reskilling and upskilling the majority of Singaporeans who still have jobs. Many occupations are being transformed by the digital revolution and other technological advances. We have been preparing for this for several years.

But COVID-19 is fast-forwarding the changes. When we talk of the jobs of the future, therefore, it is not some far-off or hypothetical possibility. The future begins now.

That is why we have expanded training opportunities in every sector and every job, through the Next Bound of SkillsFuture, like here at e2i (Employment and Employability Institute).

Everyone should have the courage to re-gear to stay on track, and make the effort to acquire new skills at regular points in your careers, possibly even learning whole new disciplines. Please take on the challenge.

KEEPING SOCIAL MOBILITY ALIVE

These efforts will not only give Singaporeans good jobs, but also help with social mobility. When everyone keeps learning throughout life, they can advance through the skills and mastery they acquire, rather than grades earned long ago in school. We are progressively developing this meritocracy of life.

But good schools are critical to social mobility too.

Social mobility is what Singapore has been about, and how we have transformed our society since the 1960s. Generations of children from humble backgrounds have moved up in life, through education and by working hard in their jobs and businesses. Even today, Singaporeans who grow up in lower-income families have a better chance of moving up the income ladder than those in most other advanced countries.

We must never become a society where social pedigree and connections count for more than ability and effort.

However, there is nothing natural or pre-ordained about social mobility. Every successful country has, in fact, found that it gets more difficult to sustain this with time. Parents who themselves had higher education or who have become better off are investing more in their children, and moving them further ahead of the rest.

It therefore requires relentless government effort, quality interventions in schools, and dedicated networks of community support to keep social mobility alive.

We are investing a lot more into equalising opportunities when children are young. We are expanding KidStart, to help lower-income families and their children in the earliest years, which are critical to their development. And we have upgraded the pre-school profession, and set up the National Institute of Early Childhood Development to raise standards. So whichever pre-school your child goes to, he or she will have a good start.

We are also investing more in our schools, to make sure that every student who needs extra support will get it. During the recent circuit breaker, our teachers made great effort to help students from poorer homes and those at risk, to ensure they did not fall behind.

But it is also an ongoing, broader effort. MOE (Ministry of Education) has been allocating extra resources to schools for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We will give them even more support in the coming years, by hiring more teachers, allied educators, student welfare officers and teacher-counsellors. They will strengthen the school teams that support students who are doing less well in primary schools, and our Uplift efforts to help those at risk. And they will help students to go as far as they can through the full subject-based banding system in secondary schools.

(Education) Minister Ong Ye Kung is also accelerating plans to equip all secondary school students with a personal laptop or tablet for learning. They will each have their own device by next year, seven years ahead of the original target.

When you add up all we are doing, starting from the earliest years of childhood, we are making a determined effort to keep Singapore a place where every individual can do well, regardless of their starting points.



BUILDING A STRONGER CULTURE OF SOLIDARITY

Finally, we must strengthen our culture of solidarity, and provide Singaporeans with greater assurance of assistance when they meet with difficulties in life.

We must remain a society where self-effort is rewarded, and each one of us takes pride in achieving something in life. But we also need, more than we did in the earlier years, a strong spirit of selflessness and solidarity, looking out for the vulnerable and supporting each other. Not because we are obliged to do so, but because it makes us a better society together.

We have seen this solidarity in action in the COVID-19 crisis. Singaporeans from all walks of life have come forward to support those who were most affected by the crisis, including by serving on the front lines.

These community efforts have complemented the Government's social support schemes to help Singaporeans through the crisis. They are schemes responding to today's crisis, but they are also part of a broader reorientation in our social policies, that began well before COVID-19 and will outlast it. We are working systematically to provide greater support for lower-and middle-income Singaporeans, and to build a fair and just society.

We will strengthen these policies in the coming years. No one can tell what world will emerge when COVID-19 is over, or whether it has entered a long period of economic stagnation as many fear. But we will do all we can to make ours a more cohesive society, and do it in ways that can be sustained into the next generation. And we must all do our utmost to avoid the rifts and fractures that we see developing in many other societies.

The Government has increased subsidies for lower-and middle-income families in education, housing and healthcare, including Chas (Community Health Assist Scheme). We are also boosting Silver Support, to help our poorer retirees.

But very importantly, we continue to strengthen support for our lower-income Singaporeans at work. Through Workfare and the Special Employment Credit, the Government pays as much as 40 per cent on top of the wages that employers pay older lower-income workers.

We are also making progress in uplifting our lowest-paid workers, and will go further. Through the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), our cleaners, security officers and landscape workers have seen their wages increase by 30 per cent in real terms over the last five years. That is not the end of it. Progressive wages are not a one-off, but a ladder for continuing improvement.

In time, we want every sector to have progressive wages, with this clear ladder of skills, better jobs, and better wages for those with lower pay. (Manpower) Minister Josephine Teo at MOM is working actively with the tripartite partners on this. They will bring in the industry associations to work out schemes that can be practically adopted in the different industries.

Likewise, we want to provide lower-income Singaporeans in short-term contract work with opportunities to get more stable jobs, better protection and the chance to progress in their careers.

These measures will bring meaningful and continuing improvements in pay and conditions for our lower-income workers. It may lead to a small rise in the cost of services that we all pay for. But it is a small price for us to pay for better jobs and income security for those who need it most, and a fair society.

OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE

Ultimately, the greatest confidence we get in our future as Singaporeans comes from our social compact. Our social strategies are aimed at strengthening this compact that holds us together. But the compact is about all of us, and goes much deeper than government policies.

It is about the compact of self-effort and selflessness that we must strengthen in our culture. It is about the networks and initiatives that we saw spring up in this COVID-19 crisis. About the interest we take in each other, at workplaces and in the community, because we all make up the fabric of Singapore. About respecting every individual regardless of their job, and respecting their effort to overcome setbacks and make the best they can of life. And it is about how we draw closer to each other, regardless of race, religion or social background.

It is how we journey together. A forward-looking, spirited and more cohesive society.




Related
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: Overcoming the Crisis of a Generation

Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong: Living with COVID-19

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean: Resilience in a Changing External Environment

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing: Making a Living in a COVID-19 World

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam: A Stronger and More Cohesive Society
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COVID-19: Lives v livelihoods debate - the economist's take

June 18, 2020, 11:04 pm
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With Singapore gradually reopening its economy while controlling COVID-19 transmission, it is important to strike a balance between the cost of saving lives and the cost to the economy of a prolonged shutdown.
By Euston Quah and Eik Swee, Published The Straits Times, 18 Jun 2020

At one of his daily briefings last month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke about his plans for reopening the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying: "The fundamental question which we are not articulating is, how much is a human life worth? […]To me, I say the cost of a human, a human life, is priceless. Period."

As a moral statement, few would disagree with Mr Cuomo. However, notwithstanding the significant value of human life, one cannot possibly ascribe infinite value to it. Indeed, human lives are finitely priced all the time by civil courts, regulatory agencies and businesses.



The thought of ascribing a monetary value to human life often provokes ethical outrage, but this process is necessary for good public policy. No government can spend a limitless amount of money to protect citizen life or health. Hence, to formulate effective policies, they need to know how many lives would be affected, and how much those lives are worth.

LOST LIVES VERSUS LOST INCOME

Measures to combat the pandemic, such as social distancing and lockdowns, can help minimise widespread infection, ensure that hospitals are not overwhelmed, and save thousands of lives. However, doing so will also mean that schools, businesses and factories will be immobilised, and the economy will suffer. Therefore, we must inevitably face the trade-offs: lost lives versus lost livelihoods.

To work out the trade-offs, we must first put a dollar value on human life.

One approach, commonly used by economists who conduct cost-benefit analyses, is the value of statistical life (VOSL). It measures the loss or gain that arises from changes in the incidence of death, by eliciting people's willingness to pay for small reductions in the probability of death, or their willingness to accept compensation in exchange for tolerating a small increase in the chance of death.

For example, if an employee is willing to accept a higher wage remuneration, for example, $1,000, for an increase in risk of death of 1 per cent, then it can be inferred that his VOSL is 100 times that, or $100,000.

Similarly, if an employee is willing to pay $100 to install safety equipment that will lower the risk of death by 1 per cent, then his VOSL is 100 times that, or $10,000. In Singapore, the first local study on VOSL applied to transport projects (done in 2007) reported a VOSL estimate then of about $2 million for an average commuter's life.

Taking the example of a complete lockdown, we can estimate the potential number of lives saved - based on infection and fatality rates and applying them to epidemiological models - and multiply that by VOSL to compute the dollar value of saved lives. If this number exceeds the costs of a faltering economy under a complete lockdown, then we know that the hardline policy is desirable.

ASSESSING POLICY OPTIONS

Nonetheless, a systematic assessment of the trade-offs need not imply that we must choose between complete lockdown or zero restriction.

Indeed, assessments that weigh the benefits of a policy against its costs can be made for any given form of restriction - such as social distancing, work-from-home rules and limits on inter-household interaction - or degree of lockdown, including stay-at-home or quarantine orders and travel bans. As such, one can compare between several different policy options that range between complete lockdown and zero restriction, to pinpoint the best possible course of action.

Looking around the world, we have already seen numerous forms of restrictions being imposed to varying degrees. In the Asia-Pacific, countries such as India, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines implemented nationwide lockdowns, severely restricting the movements of residents outside their homes. Others such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan only encouraged social distancing, while relying on other policy options, such as mass contact tracing, to contain the coronavirus.

Countries that have opted for severe restrictions would have placed an uncompromising emphasis on saving lives, while those that have chosen weaker measures would appear to have weighed the benefits of saved lives against the cost of a faltering economy more methodically.

THREE RECOMMENDATIONS

Here in Singapore, residents were put under a circuit breaker - effectively a lockdown with severe mobility restrictions, with some exceptions - from April 7 to June 1. While some essential services have been allowed to open, the broader economy has basically come to a halt. The elephant in the room is: Could it be any different?

Here are three recommendations to consider when weighing trade-offs between livelihoods and protecting lives.

First, the VOSL approach should be used to inform policymaking in the current outbreak. Moreover, since we now know that COVID-19 predominantly affects the mortality of the elderly, an age-adjusted VOSL or quality-adjusted VOSL, both of which reduce VOSL by taking into account remaining life expectancy and health status respectively, ought to be used.

Second, activities which are valuable but unpriced ought to be included in the calculation of costs and benefits. Currently, most societies are fixated on potential fatalities versus losses to their economies in terms of lost gross domestic product and rising unemployment.

Instead, assessments should include not only those activities with existing market prices, but also those which are unpriced and yet valuable. For instance, they should include the value of recreation and leisure, of household production, and of potential marital and family conflict.

Third, a wider range of policy options should be considered for comparison. For example, given that elderly residents make up the high-risk group, mobility restrictions could be targeted at them, while allowing other segments of the economy to reopen.

Innovative solutions such as wearable contact tracing devices and cohort-specific social bubbles could also complement mobility restrictions to minimise cross-cohort interactions. No option should be left off the table.

With Singapore's gradual reopening moving into its second phase this week, it is vital that we get the right balance.

After all, despite an injection of nearly $100 billion - 20 per cent of our GDP - through four successive Budgets, total employment (excluding foreign domestic workers) has already fallen by 25,600 in the first quarter of 2020, with tougher times to be expected ahead.

To this end, economists have much to contribute to the ongoing debate on saving lives or saving livelihoods.

No matter which side of the debate one stands, agreeing with Mayor Cuomo or not, the economist's toolbox can help locate a policy optimal point. And the choices need not be one or the other.

Euston Quah is Albert Winsemius chair professor of economics and director of the Economic Growth Centre at Nanyang Technological University. He is also president of the Economic Society of Singapore.

Eik Swee is a senior lecturer in economics at the University of Melbourne.


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Phase 2 of Singapore's reopening will be test of public hygiene habits: Masagos Zulkifli

June 20, 2020, 12:27 am
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By Audrey Tan, Environment Correspondent, The Straits Times, 20 Jun 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of personal hygiene, but the test of whether it has changed people's habits will be in phase two of Singapore's reopening, when people are allowed to dine in at food and beverage outlets again.

Diners will be reminded by safe distancing ambassadors to pick up after themselves at hawker centres and coffee shops.

But the Government may consider rolling out regulations to make this mandatory, said Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

"We may even resort to regulations... We have to see how things evolve," he said in an interview with The Straits Times and Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao that was broadcast yesterday.

"Most importantly, I hope that we embrace this, understand how it affects our public health, as well as how it affects people around us," said Mr Masagos.

Compassion and care for the environment and those around us should be what spurs people to be more hygienic when eating out, he said, and not regulations.

Mr Masagos heads the SG Clean Taskforce, which was set up in March to raise hygiene standards across the country and to change social norms so that they become Singapore's first line of defence against current and future outbreaks of infections.

While the question of how clean Singapore is has been a perennial one, it has come into stark relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.



In March, a check by The Straits Times at five hawker centres islandwide found that many diners still left their dirty dishes, leftovers and used tissues on the table for workers to clean up after them.

This occurred even though a number of customers were observed wiping the tables with hand sanitisers and disposable wipes before sitting down for their meals.

Used tissue paper or wet wipes - which Mr Masagos described in earlier interviews as being "little biohazards" - can be contaminated, as they are often used to cover a person's nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, or to wipe respiratory discharge and sputum.

Contact with such contaminated droplets is considered the primary way that the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, is transmitted from person to person.

Mr Masagos said: "We (want) to remind the population that (public hygiene) is not just for COVID-19. We have to adjust our basic habits so that whether it's COVID-19 or other viruses, we are not spreading them."

This includes practices such as not sharing utensils and not leaving used tissue paper behind.

"In phase two, we will come back with full force and raise the cleaning standards both by the industry as well as to instil good habits in our population," Mr Masagos added.



Earlier this week, the National Environment Agency, which Mr Masagos oversees, said it will introduce a toilet improvement programme for coffee shops and hawker centres that have ageing infrastructure.

These premises will get co-funding to refresh the designs of older toilets and to speed up the adoption of new technologies and productivity measures to make the toilets easier to clean and maintain, the agency said.

The programme will also factor in downstream operations and maintenance issues. More details will be given later this year.

But Mr Masagos said people must also ensure that they flush properly when they use public restrooms, citing recent scientific findings on how COVID-19 patients' stool may contain traces of the virus.

There have not been reports of patients getting the disease through such a transmission route so far, but the findings raised the possibility of a faecal-oral route.

"There have been many studies, although not verified fully, on issues around the hygiene of public toilets in terms of whether they can pose a risk to other users if one of them has COVID-19," said Mr Masagos.

"But it is better to take precautions - in terms of how we clean, how frequently we clean, as well as advising users on the right way of using them."

























Local production, diversification, and no hoarding of food are ways to safeguard food security: Masagos
By Audrey Tan, Science and Environment Correspondent, The Straits Times, 20 Jun 2020

Growing more food locally and increasing the number of import sources are ways that Singapore safeguards its food security in the face of shocks like COVID-19.

"But if people stockpile (food) at home and inadvertently waste it later, it is a waste of effort to bring the food in in the first place," Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, told The Straits Times and Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao in an interview that was broadcast yesterday.

Ensuring food and water resilience requires striking a balance between supply and demand, said Mr Masagos, who oversees both the Singapore Food Agency and national water agency PUB.

For example, PUB ensures that water flows from taps in Singapore regardless of weather conditions or other threats, he said.

But he added: "If all of us don't turn off our taps, then no amount of effort on the supply side will be able to fulfil the demand that we need in terms of water. Food is the same."



His comments come after Lianhe Zaobao reported last week that an oversupply of eggs and reduced demand from food and beverage businesses had caused egg prices to plummet by at least two cents each.

Singapore imports food from over 170 countries and regions.

"But this pandemic has created situations which we, I would think, have never in our lifetime thought would happen," said Mr Masagos.

For example, agricultural countries restricted food exports over concerns for their own food security, and this caused the prices of some important food items such as rice and flour to rise, he noted.

"(There have been) price fluctuations, supply disruptions, and we therefore have been thinking about what we have to do to tackle this," said Mr Masagos.

One solution, he said, is to boost local production.

The Government has set a "30 by 30" goal for the country to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. Only about 10 per cent of food demand is now produced locally.

Said Mr Masagos: "We now call it 30 by 30 Express... to launch it fast, and hope we see the results within six to 24 months."



Technology will be a great enabler in helping Singapore to achieve this in the short term, he said. There are also plans to make Lim Chu Kang an innovation hub for food production.

"It will not just be a place where you produce food locally. It will also be a place for innovations, to put in research and development ideas, a place where we can also implement zero-waste concepts, where the waste from one part of the industry can be used by another part of the industry," said Mr Masagos.

Singapore is sowing the seeds of innovation, he said. "These are all exciting developments that I hope our children will benefit from."





Singapore must take practical approach to tackling climate change: Masagos
By Audrey Tan, Science and Environment Correspondent, The Straits Times, 20 Jun 2020

Tackling climate change requires a practical approach, and Singapore must recognise that part of the petrochemical sector will remain even as the country continues to push the boundaries on cutting emissions, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli.

Pointing to how fossil fuels are still required for transport and in the manufacture of items such as mobile phones, he said: "So for everyone who complains so much about the petrochemical industry, don't use your handphone, don't go around transported with all these fuels that you complain about."

Mr Masagos, speaking in an interview with The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao that was broadcast yesterday, was commenting on some climate activists' concerns about the presence of representatives from carbon-intensive industries on a task force that aims to chart the way forward for the country in the post-pandemic era.

The 17-member Emerging Stronger task force has representatives from the technology, banking, property, agri-business, aviation and petrochemical sectors.

Said Mr Masagos: "So my point is, we have to be pragmatic, but we also have to be concerned and keep pushing the boundary so that we use less of (fossil fuels) and find better alternatives for the long term."



To this end, Singapore is investing in new technology to help it meet its climate goals.

This includes doing research into green hydrogen - a low-carbon energy source - as well as carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies, which can help to suck carbon out of the air.

Moreover, there are already encouraging signs, Mr Masagos said, citing the Budget debates earlier this year, during which various ministries outlined their plans going forward. "I was really happy that almost all ministries, when they presented their vision, their view, of what they're going to do for that year, climate change mitigation, adaptation was part of what they do," he said.

The Ministry of Defence, for instance, highlighted plans to install solar panels on buildings in its military camps and to replace 400 administrative vehicles with cleaner options. The Ministry of Transport declared that it aimed to phase out internal combustion engines by 2040.

"Sustainability became core to what they want to implement - even MINDEF. So I was quite elated (because) in the past, only (my ministry) talked about it, but this time around, everyone was in it. So all these things are already there," Mr Masagos said.

"Whatever the new task force will implement will take reference from what we have planned, because they know that this is something that may be out of our radar for the moment (due to COVID-19) but is something we have to take very seriously, going forward."















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National Broadcast: DPM Heng Swee Keat on Emerging Stronger Together from COVID-19

June 20, 2020, 11:01 pm
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DPM Heng spells out plans for Singapore to emerge stronger after COVID-19 crisis
Robust response to crisis with past reserves tapped; present generation must 'build back better' for future
By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 2020

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday made a rallying call to Singaporeans, saying that this generation will respond to the COVID-19 crisis, emerge from it stronger, and "build back better" for the future.

Underpinning this is the partnership between the Government and the people, which has become more critical than ever in the face of the twin threats of a pandemic and recession, he said in a televised address from The Treasury building.

Capping the series of six national broadcasts by ministers on the country's post-coronavirus future, he unveiled plans for Singaporeans and the Government to shape the future together.

A sum of $20 billion will be set aside to support basic and applied research, along with a series of innovation challenges to rally people to pioneer solutions for some of the world's major challenges.

Industry-led alliances have been formed to prototype ideas that can become new avenues of growth, while ideas from Singaporeans will be turned into solutions through new networks that bring together partners from different sectors.

Already, the Government has marshalled almost $100 billion in support measures to mount a robust response to what Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has described as "the crisis of a generation".

Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, said: "I never expected to put up four Budgets, one after another, within just 100 days. Never before in our history have we done so... Had we not done so, we would have lost years of progress and an entire generation."



More than half of the war chest had come from the country's past reserves, painstakingly built up by the previous generations.

"So let us remember - once we have recovered from this crisis, our generation must build back better," he added.

Amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, Singapore will face its worst economic contraction to date and Mr Heng acknowledged people's anxiety over their livelihoods.

He said saving jobs is the Government's top priority, and it will do so by helping viable companies survive so they can keep their workers, and also by transforming the economy so more and better jobs can be created.

In the earlier broadcasts, PM Lee and the other ministers had laid out the Government's plans, explaining how it would deal with the virus, help Singapore navigate a more fractious world, transform its economy and create opportunities, as well as deepen the social compact and care for the vulnerable.

In his address to the nation, Mr Heng sketched out how all this would be jointly realised as "Singapore Together", inviting all Singaporeans to join in these efforts.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who had overseen several national engagement sessions and launched the citizens engagement movement named Singapore Together last year, said the Government has started a new series of Emerging Stronger Conversations to hear from people about how the pandemic has affected them and how to overcome the challenges.



Mr Heng also set out the work that the fourth generation ministers have been focusing on, and promised that the Government is committed to safeguarding everything that Singaporeans hold dear.

He said the Government has the will and the way to lead the country out of the crisis and added that the actions in the next five to 10 years will chart Singapore's course for decades to come.

"We will fight COVID-19 as Singapore Together. Everyone counts, and can be counted on... We will overcome this crisis of our generation. We will be a generation that emerges stronger. Together, we will be the generation that sets our children and their children onto a path to an even brighter future."















Securing jobs top priority, most urgent task: DPM Heng Swee Keat
Govt focused on helping to safeguard workers, creating better jobs by investing in the future
By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 2020

Safeguarding jobs, and creating better ones, is the Government's top priority.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday made this plain when he said that the Government is doing its best to help viable businesses to stay afloat, so they can hold on to their workers for as long as possible.

Speaking in the last of the series of six national broadcasts by ministers on Singapore's future after COVID-19, DPM Heng said: "Our most urgent task now is jobs. Your job is our top priority.

"Because jobs are the most direct way for every Singaporean to improve our lives and support our loved ones."

Those workers hardest hit by the pandemic, including people who are self-employed and low-wage workers, will also be given support, and employers and unions will also be roped in to boost these efforts.

Even then, warned Mr Heng, job losses cannot be avoided, and some, and perhaps even many, will still lose their rice bowls.

The other prong, therefore, lies in pushing ahead with the economic transformation that had begun before the crisis, to create new and better jobs, he said.

The National Jobs Council has started work to oversee the creation of 100,000 jobs and training opportunities in a big push to create as many jobs as possible, said DPM Heng. "We are determined not to lose a generation of workers and youth," he added.

He pledged that the Government will go even further, to strengthen the economy through building connections to new global nodes to boost job prospects.

"This is what distinguishes us from other countries. All countries, including us, are providing immediate support, to provide a cushion. But we are going further, investing to give everyone a springboard, to bounce back from this even stronger. In Singapore, we never stop thinking of tomorrow," said DPM Heng.

To succeed at this task, he added, Singapore will need to master the major trends reshaping the global economy - the coronavirus has driven home the importance of resilience and reliability, accelerated the shift to digitalisation, and also transformed the way people live and work.

He outlined three ways that the Government will help businesses and workers thrive in this post-COVID-19 world.

First is to remain committed to the free flow of goods, services, capital, data, ideas and talent, even as other countries close up.

"Do not doubt this: Singapore must always remain an open, trading nation. We are finished if we close up," said DPM Heng.

Second is to continue to invest in infrastructure even if it means delaying some projects.

It is important because "such projects keep us connected to the world, makes travelling within Singapore faster and more pleasant, and gives us all beautiful homes", he said.

Third is to invest in research and innovation to sharpen Singapore's competitiveness.

Towards this end, he announced that as Singapore finalises its research and development plan for the next five years, over $20 billion will be set aside to support basic and applied research in high-impact areas, such as health and biomedical sciences, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Along with this, a series of Innovation Challenges will be launched to encourage people to pioneer solutions for some of the world's major challenges.



At the same time, the Emerging Stronger Taskforce, set up last month to make the most of the new opportunities in the post-COVID-19 world, will also set up the Singapore Together Alliances for Action.

The target is for these industry-led alliances to quickly come up with new ideas and projects within the coming months - in areas such as robotics, e-commerce and environmental sustainability, among others - which can become new shoots of growth and generate new jobs.

"The task force is consulting widely, and involving people from a wide spectrum of society, while putting ideas into action quickly," he said.

Making these announcements yesterday, DPM Heng said Singapore has a head start as the country had begun transforming its economy five years ago to prepare for the future.

He stressed that the effort to grow the economy is not just to create jobs but to create better jobs for Singaporeans, and the Government will provide training to prepare people for these jobs, as well as strengthen the education system.

"This is how we will keep the promise of progress alive for all," he said.















Singapore Together Alliances for Action: New industry-led alliances created to pursue growth, generate new jobs in seven key areas
By Fabian Koh, The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 2020

Industry-led coalitions have been formed in seven key growth areas, including robotics and environmental sustainability, to devise ideas for projects and generate new jobs, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday.

These Singapore Together Alliances for Action - partnerships between industry players and the Government - will aim to rapidly prototype new ideas in a bid to grow the Republic's economy.

They were set up by the Emerging Stronger Taskforce, which the Government convened in May to help Singapore seize new opportunities in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing the nation in the sixth and final ministerial broadcast on Singapore's post-COVID-19 future, Mr Heng said the industry-led alliances will explore and execute new ideas in the coming months in seven areas.

These are robotics, e-commerce, environmental sustainability, digitalisation of supply chains and the built environment, education technology as well as enabling safe travel and tourism.

"The key is speed and agility. Successful projects will become new shoots of growth, and generate new jobs," he said.

The alliances will generate ideas in a three-month period, and share preliminary results and next steps later this year. The task force will then determine which ideas and focus areas can be scaled up.



Elaborating on the seven growth areas, the task force said digitalisation has been a key thrust of industry transformation blueprints under the Future Economy Council's Built Environment (BE) cluster.

It noted that the COVID-19 crisis has increased collaboration across all parts of the BE value chain.

There is thus an opportunity to raise productivity by speeding up digitalisation in areas from concept and design to construction and site management.

The second alliance will look at education technology.

The adoption of such technology has been accelerated by the pandemic, in areas from home-based learning to online professional education and training.

"This is an opportunity for Singapore to take our education and human capital brand global," said the task force.

A third alliance will focus on enabling safe and innovative visitor experiences, given how COVID-19 has fundamentally changed travel and tourism.

Singapore must find new ways to enable safe transit, business and leisure travel and tourism as the world returns to a new normal, to ensure it remains a global-Asia node and a leading hub for business and enterprise in the Asia-Pacific, said the task force.

The fourth alliance is focused on creating a smart commerce ecosystem that blends digital and physical retail, and allows local stores to tap the global consumer market.

"Such a system would require the complete reimagination of the online and offline shopping experience," said the task force.

COVID-19 has accelerated e-commerce adoption among consumers and retailers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it said.

It added that physical retail is likely to remain, owing to the convenience of neighbourhood stores and retail hubs situated next to transport nodes such as MRT stations and bus interchanges.

The fifth alliance will look at robotics, as Singapore pursues higher productivity and navigates manpower challenges.

"At the centre of this is the use of technology and robotics solutions to improve productivity, transform existing jobs and create new ones, generate spin-offs for SMEs, and drive economic growth," said the task force.

Singapore also has to adopt innovative solutions to minimise social contact and maintain high health standards during the pandemic, in areas that range from cleaning and construction robots to autonomous healthcare and public land transport systems, it said.

The sixth alliance will focus on the digitalisation of supply chains.

"Digitalisation of global supply chains has been uneven and hampered by low adoption, lack of data sharing, and a preponderance of different platforms," said the task force.

With growing concerns over supply chain resilience and a likely shift towards regionalised supply chains after the pandemic, there will be an increased demand for end-to-end adoption of such technology, it said.

This provides an opportunity to advance the use of digitalisation technology among local logistics, regulatory and financial players as well as cargo owners.

Finally, the task force said the focus on sustainability and environmental, social and governance standards is likely to increase post-COVID-19. Singapore could become a centre for such solutions and services, serving both local and global demand, it added.

The services can leverage Singapore's strengths in policy frameworks, technology, and financial and legal ecosystems, said the task force.















New Emerging Stronger Conversations will allow Government to hear from Singaporeans on COVID-19 lessons: Heng
By Yuen Sin, The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 2020

To provide a platform for Singaporeans to reflect on their experiences during the pandemic, and hear from them on potential action to improve society, the Government will start a series of dialogue sessions, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday.

"We want to hear how the crisis has impacted you, and how we can work together on your ideas to take Singapore forward...True to the spirit of Singapore Together, these conversations will lead to action," said Mr Heng, who was speaking in a national televised broadcast - the final one in a series of six by Cabinet ministers on the country's post-COVID-19 future.



The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said in a statement yesterday that the dialogues, called Emerging Stronger Conversations, will be convened from this month to September.

New networks will be formed as well, to bring together community partners and the Government to devise solutions to key issues that surface from these dialogues.

These Singapore Together Action Networks will draw on ideas from partners across different sectors, and turn them into new solutions to help take Singapore forward, Mr Heng said.

"We will form new partnerships around issues that you care about, and to make a difference through action," he added.

Some of these networks have already been formed, he said. They include those that help disadvantaged students, support vulnerable families and address mental well-being among young people.

More will be created when key issues emerge from the Emerging Stronger Conversations.

These issues will determine the number and composition of these networks. The networks will bring together diverse people from the Government, community and businesses to collaborate and deliver ideas and solutions together, said the MCCY spokesman.

The Emerging Stronger Conversations - which will be part of the broader Singapore Together consultation exercise - will allow participants to reflect on their experiences during the COVID-19 crisis, and explore how Singapore can become a more caring, cohesive and resilient society.

The sessions will first be run online, until face-to-face gatherings can take place safely.

MCCY said the Government is "committed to engaging widely across different stakeholders".

Its spokesman noted that the shared experience of COVID-19 will shape the attitudes and worldview of an entire generation, and has also brought to the fore issues such as work practices, digital inclusion and mental wellness.

Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, had first mooted the Singapore Together movement - a key plank of his collaborative approach to governance - in June last year.

Back then, he said he and other ministers would work with Singaporeans to design and implement solutions across a range of issues and policy areas.

These include environmental sustainability, housing, youth and social mobility.

During his speech yesterday, he recounted a question by a participant at the first Emerging Stronger Conversation held a few days ago, on what Singapore and Singaporeans will be known for in the world.

The answer to this, he said, can be seen all around - school children sending messages to encourage front-line workers; social agencies, charities, and volunteers supporting the vulnerable; religious groups adapting to new forms of worship; and businesses returning funding for the Jobs Support Scheme as they are doing well.

He urged Singaporeans to build on this spirit of solidarity.

In the worst of times, Singapore has also seen the best in its people, Mr Heng added, noting that the country commemorated its bicentennial last year.

"Across 200 years of sweeping change, we grew from Singapore to Singaporeans. Today, less than 200 days into what will be a long-drawn fight, we are again showing the world who we are.

"We care for one another, we are generous and resilient, and we will not hesitate to make sacrifices for the greater good. These shared experiences will be etched in our collective memories."



Reiterating a point made by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in his national broadcast on Wednesday, Mr Heng said Singapore must continue to strengthen its culture of solidarity.

The COVID-19 crisis has revealed vulnerabilities in society, like seniors who have found it hard to use digital tools and services, he said.

There are also those who are unable to cope with the emotional and psychological stresses that arose from the pandemic. In response, new schemes were launched to address these issues.

Said Mr Heng: "The Government will continue to support you fully and mobilise Singaporeans to support one another... Be assured that, in Singapore, no one will be left to walk alone.

"You will be cared for if you fall on hard times. You will be part of our society's progress, no matter your starting point or circumstances."










Singapore must remain open, reliable and resilient in a changing world
By Fabian Koh, The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic will reshape the world, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, adding that the global economy and geopolitics will change faster than ever.

For Singapore to succeed, it has to master the major trends reshaping the global economy and speed up the transformation of its own economy, he said yesterday.

In the sixth and final national televised broadcast on Singapore's post-COVID-19 future, he noted that resilience and reliability will be more valued, and Asia is likely to remain a bright spot.

"The shift to digital will accelerate. The way we live and work will be transformed. We must support our businesses and workers to ride on these trends, and reimagine our economy for a post-COVID future," he said.

Singapore, he said, is a major trading nation and key aviation and maritime hub.

The country is committed to the free flow of goods, services, capital, data, ideas and talent, he added.

"In a more fractious post-COVID world, whatever the rest of the world does, we will persist to find new links to enable these flows, especially in connecting critical supply lines around the world," he said.

"Do not doubt this: Singapore must always remain an open, trading nation. We are finished if we close up," he cautioned.



Mr Heng said Singapore will also continue to strengthen its resilience, such as through the "30 by 30" food production plan.

The ambitious project to produce 30 per cent of the country's nutritional needs locally by 2030 is being overseen by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli.

Referencing a point that Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean had made in his earlier broadcast on how foreign policy begins at home, Mr Heng said: "The stronger we are at home - as an economy, as a society, as one people - the more secure our place in the world."

"Our strengths at home will enable us to be a valuable member in the community of nations," added Mr Heng.

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will continue to keep Singapore's flag flying high, he said, adding that the Republic can play a useful role globally and regionally in trade, innovation, rule of law, action on climate change as well as pandemic management.

"A trusted and reliable Singapore, relevant to the world, will in turn attract investments into Singapore," he said. "And give Singaporeans an edge in seeking opportunities at home or abroad. This Singapore premium is precious."





Emerging stronger together
The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 2020

This is the transcript of Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's ministerial broadcast yesterday on emerging stronger together. It is the sixth and final ministerial broadcast on life after COVID-19.




These last few months have been difficult for everyone. We could not celebrate Easter, Vesak Day, Hari Raya Puasa and Mother's Day like we usually do. I know many of you are happy that we can have small gatherings for Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day!

It was not an easy decision to impose the circuit breaker, but we had to do it to protect lives. We all had to make sacrifices. Let me express our heartfelt appreciation to our brave healthcare and front-line workers for working tirelessly to keep us safe. Our thanks also to the many others who worked behind the scenes to keep our essential services going.

Because of your sacrifices and hard work, COVID-19 is under control, and we are now able to resume a large part of our daily lives.

Thank you.

Let us continue to stay vigilant. The pandemic is still raging around the world, with more than eight million infected so far. The reopening of countries has surfaced new waves of infections. And the global economy is headed for its deepest downturn since the Great Depression. Our way of life, our livelihoods and our future are at stake.

When will the crisis end? Nobody can be sure. There is profound uncertainty - about how the pandemic will evolve, and how our livelihoods will be disrupted. I understand your anxiety.

Some ask: Will I lose my job? And if I lose my job, can I find a new job?

Will our children still have a bright future? Will my business survive?

FACING THE CRISIS OF OUR GENERATION

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called this "the crisis of a generation". Indeed, this is our worst economic contraction in decades. We experienced record decline in the number of people employed in the first quarter of this year. I never expected to put up four Budgets, one after another, within just 100 days. Never before in our history have we done so. We have committed almost $100 billion, with more than half from our past reserves.

We are mounting a robust response. Had we not done so, we would have lost years of progress and an entire generation. We are very grateful to our past generations, whose blood, sweat and tears left us with these deep financial reserves.

So let us remember - once we have recovered from this crisis, our generation must build back better.

Over the past two weeks, you have heard PM and my colleagues lay out what we stand for, and our plans - how to deal with the virus, navigate a more fractious world, build our economic strength, create opportunities for all, deepen our social compact, and care for the vulnerable.

This is our promise: We shall not only overcome this crisis. We will emerge from it stronger - as an economy, as a society, and as a people.



EMERGING STRONGER FROM CRISIS

COVID-19 will reshape the world. Ministers Gan Kim Yong and Lawrence Wong are leading our national efforts to battle this pandemic. We must learn to live with this virus for some time. The global economy and geopolitics will change, faster than ever.

To emerge stronger, we must draw on the wits and will of our people. When we launched the Singapore Together movement a year ago, I promised that we would partner Singaporeans to shape our future together.

Now, in this crisis, partnership is more critical than ever. Together, we will take decisive action to support every Singaporean to emerge stronger from this crisis. Our economy will emerge stronger, creating better jobs and business opportunities for all Singaporeans. And our society will emerge stronger, leaving no one to walk this journey alone. We will emerge stronger as one people, our sense of identity and values renewed.

SUPPORTING EVERY SINGAPOREAN

Our most urgent task now is jobs. Your job is our top priority. Because jobs are the most direct way for every Singaporean to improve our lives and support our loved ones. As our labour movement puts it: "A job is the best welfare for our people." We are doing our best to keep viable businesses afloat, helping them hold on to their workers for as long as possible, so that you can preserve your livelihoods.

The pandemic has hit some harder than others. So we are providing more support to cushion the impact for those hardest hit. For example, for our workers who have lost their jobs or a large part of their income, the COVID-19 Support Grant helps with their immediate needs.

This is the first time that we are extending direct cash support to self-employed workers on a large scale. We are paying special attention to our lower-wage workers. Workfare recipients will soon get an additional special payment to tide them through the crisis. Beyond that, we will work with employers and unions to enhance their career prospects.

But despite our utmost efforts, some - perhaps even many - will lose their jobs. We are therefore making a big push to create as many new jobs as possible. The National Jobs Council has started work, to oversee the creation of 100,000 jobs and training opportunities under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. We will work with companies, and invest in our people.

We are determined not to lose a generation of workers and youth. We will need a stronger economy - dynamic and inclusive, resilient and innovative, connected to new global nodes in Asia and the world - so that we can create more jobs offering better prospects for workers, and our workers can climb higher up the skills ladder.

This is what distinguishes us from other countries. All countries, including us, are providing immediate support, to provide a cushion. But we are going further, investing to give everyone a springboard, to bounce back from this even stronger.

In Singapore, we never stop thinking of tomorrow. To succeed, we need to master the major trends reshaping the global economy, and speed up the structural transformation of our economy. With COVID-19, resilience and reliability will be more valued, Asia is likely to remain a bright spot.

The shift to digital will accelerate. The way we live and work will be transformed. We must support our businesses and workers to ride on these trends, and reimagine our economy for a post-COVID future.

And we will do so in three ways.

(1) We are a major trading nation, and a key aviation and maritime hub, committed to the free flow of goods, services, capital, data, ideas and talent. In a more fractious post-COVID world, whatever the rest of the world does, we will persist to find new links to enable these flows, especially in connecting critical supply lines around the world.

Do not doubt this: Singapore must always remain an open, trading nation. We are finished if we close up.

(2) We will continue investing in our infrastructure, even if we need to delay some projects. Such projects keep us connected to the world, make travelling within Singapore faster and more pleasant, and give us all beautiful homes.

We will strengthen our resilience, such as through our "30 by 30" food production plan, which Minister Masagos Zulkifli is overseeing. We will also rejuvenate our island into a cleaner and greener Singapore, and a city in nature for our people to enjoy.

(3) Our investments in research and innovation will sharpen our competitiveness.

We are finalising our R&D plan for the next five years. We will set aside over $20 billion to support basic and applied research in high impact areas, such as health and biomedical sciences, climate change and artificial intelligence. We will launch a series of Innovation Challenges to rally our people to pioneer solutions for some of the world's major challenges.

Singapore continues to be one of the most competitive economies in the world.

Thankfully, we started transforming for the future economy five years ago. Our businesses and unions partnered the Government to develop and implement Industry Transformation Maps for each industry. Minister Chan Chun Sing outlined how our transformation is progressing well, and how we will press on.

To make the most of new opportunities in the post-COVID world, we set up the Emerging Stronger Taskforce in May. The task force is consulting widely, and involving people from a wide spectrum of society, while putting ideas into action quickly.

For a start, we will set up Singapore Together Alliances for Action. These alliances will be led by industry, with each prototyping new ideas within the coming months, in areas such as robotics, e-commerce, environmental sustainability, digitalisation of supply chains and the built environment.

The key is speed and agility. Successful projects will become new shoots of growth, and generate new jobs. This effort to grow our economy is not just to create jobs, but to create better jobs for Singaporeans. Ministers Josephine Teo, Ng Chee Meng and Ong Ye Kung are working hard to make this happen. We will better prepare you to take on these jobs through the SkillsFuture movement.

We will also continue to strengthen our education system, to keep "every school a good school", and to create multiple pathways to success. This is how we will keep the promise of progress alive for all.



EMERGING STRONGER AS A SOCIETY

As we build a stronger economy, we must also strengthen our society. To ensure that no Singaporean is left behind, we must strengthen our culture of solidarity, as Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam says. The circuit breaker has revealed vulnerabilities in our midst.

Some of our seniors found it hard to use digital tools and services. So Minister S. Iswaran launched the Seniors Go Digital programme, working with community partners, to help our seniors bridge the digital divide.

We must also reach out to those who cannot quite cope with new stresses. To provide emotional and psychological support, we launched the National Care Hotline, with help from many volunteers. The Government will continue to support you fully, and mobilise Singaporeans to support one another. Ministers Grace Fu, Indranee Rajah and Desmond Lee will oversee these efforts. Be assured that, in Singapore, no one will be left to walk alone.

You will be cared for if you fall on hard times. You will be part of our society's progress, no matter your starting point or circumstances.

COVID-19 has sharpened our sense of purpose, and brought us closer together as a society. We want to hear how the crisis has impacted you, and how we can work together on your ideas to take Singapore forward. So we have started a series of Emerging Stronger Conversations. True to the spirit of Singapore Together, these conversations will lead to action. We will set up Singapore Together Action Networks to bring together partners across different sectors, and turn ideas into new solutions.

We have already begun forming these networks, such as the Youth Mental Well-being Network, UPLIFT and the SG Cares Community Care Network. We will form new partnerships around issues that you care about, and to make a difference through action.



EMERGING STRONGER AS ONE PEOPLE

At the first Emerging Stronger Conversation a few days back, someone asked: "What will Singapore and Singaporeans be known for in the world?" We can see the answer around us.

Our schoolchildren sending messages to encourage our healthcare and front-line workers. Our social agencies, charities, youth and volunteers supporting our vulnerable - lonely seniors, persons with special needs, and migrant workers. Our religious groups praying in new ways, to keep everyone safe, and supporting people with needs. Our businesses returning funding for the Jobs Support Scheme because they are doing well, and are rewarding their workers, and making contributions to social causes. We see Singaporeans from all walks of life, trusting in and caring for one another.

Let us build on this. Let us collect the stories of kindness and courage, the stories of everyday heroes, and tell and retell them. Let our children reflect and deepen our "values in action", so that they grow up united and resilient, and go forward in solidarity and with fortitude.

In the worst of times, we see the best in our people. We commemorated our Bicentennial last year. Across 200 years of sweeping change, we grew from Singapore to Singaporeans. Today, less than 200 days into what will be a long-drawn fight, we are again showing the world who we are. We care for one another, we are generous and resilient, and we will not hesitate to make sacrifices for the greater good. These shared experiences will be etched in our collective memories.

Above all, as Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean reminded us, the stronger we are at home - as an economy, as a society, as one people - the more secure our place in the world. Our strengths at home will enable us to be a valuable member in the community of nations.

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his team will continue to keep the Singapore flag flying high. We can play a useful role in the regional and global community - in trade, innovation, rule of law, action on climate change, or pandemic management. A trusted and reliable Singapore, relevant to the world, will in turn attract investments into Singapore. And give Singaporeans an edge in seeking opportunities at home or abroad. This Singapore premium is precious.

A democracy of deeds, a society in action, one people working in unison, confident of our place in the world - this is Singapore Together. I invite all Singaporeans and friends of Singapore to join us in this effort.

Through this series of broadcasts, you have heard PM and my colleagues lay out our plans. We are committed to growing our economy and protecting jobs, strengthening our society, and safeguarding everything we hold dear.

Our journey ahead is long, and our actions in the next five to 10 years will chart the course of our nation for decades to come. Where there are winds of change, we must find new waves of opportunity. Each of us must adapt and learn fast in this changed world, turn anxiety into action, turn challenges into opportunities. As we move forward, we will deepen our trust and support for one another.

I have every confidence that we will succeed. This Government has the will and the way to lead us out of this crisis. We will face the challenges ahead together with you, all the way. We will fight COVID-19 as Singapore Together. Everyone counts, and can be counted on. We will do what it takes to protect our lives and our livelihoods, to secure our future.

We will overcome this crisis of our generation. We will be a generation that emerges stronger. Together, we will be the generation that sets our children and their children onto a path to an even brighter future!

Thank you.





What Singapore needs post-COVID-19
By Zakir Hussain, News Editor, The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 2020

Over the past two weeks, six Cabinet ministers have outlined how the Government plans to see Singapore through the current crisis and emerge stronger.

Capping the series of national broadcasts last night, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat made this promise: Singapore will emerge stronger as an economy, as a society, and as a united people.

It is a bold promise, coming at a time of great uncertainty and anxiety about the future. But Singapore, like many countries hit by COVID-19, faces unprecedented challenges: a looming recession, likely the worst since independence; the prospect of significant unemployment; the need to protect and save jobs and businesses and help Singaporeans.

Mr Heng has had to present four Budgets in the space of 100 days, requiring a commitment of almost $100 billion, half of it drawing on past reserves.

Amid this uncertainty, he and Cabinet colleagues have maintained a confidence that Singapore will not only ride through and overcome the crisis, but emerge in a far better position to make its way in a post-COVID new global order.

One key thread running through the broadcasts was that Singapore has built up strengths over the years that are hard to replicate. Another is that the people have played their part in adjusting and responding to challenges over the years.

What was not explicitly said is that the Government has had the support of Singaporeans to overcome past crises and, having laid down a blueprint for how to navigate through the current crisis and move ahead, it hopes they will provide that support once more at the upcoming general election.

Here is a recap of the broadcasts:



On June 7, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that the measures being taken cannot shield Singapore from the tectonic shifts taking place in the global economy and geopolitics. "Despite these immense challenges, I say to you: Do not fear. Do not lose heart. Singapore will not falter in its onward march," he said.

He cited Singapore's economic strengths and trusted international reputation, the head start it has had, as well as the plans and programmes it has in place. He added that a key ingredient is the unity and resilience of the people.

"Many Singaporeans have stepped up during this crisis. They have become more, not less, than themselves," he added. "These acts of solidarity and human kindness exemplify the best in us. They show how we can emerge stronger from this crisis, with a sharper consciousness of being Singaporean."



On June 9, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong elaborated on how Singaporeans will have to change the way they live and work.

He also spoke of how COVID-19 has brought out the best in Singaporeans, with many going the extra mile to look out for the vulnerable. "It is our grit and resilience, our compassion and kindness, our cohesion and strength that will see us through this crisis of our generation," he added.



On June 11, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean spoke of how COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of having deep reserves of finances, people and capabilities.

"Singapore can hold its own in the world, only if we are strong, successful and united at home," he said. "We can face the world outside with confidence only if we are strong inside."

This unity has come in handy during the circuit breaker, he noted: "We have avoided the fissures that have divided some other countries, fissures that have hindered their ability to respond properly, and cost them lives and livelihoods."



In the fourth broadcast last Sunday, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing outlined how Singapore can still make a living and seize opportunities in these difficult times. This includes building on intangible strengths such as its trusted brand, and a united and stable society.

He also underlined how "this Government will ensure that every member of Team Singapore shares the benefits of growth... Many Singaporeans are concerned with foreign competition, but closing ourselves up is not the answer. We cannot escape competing with the world, and proving our mettle".

"We will give our workers the training and support to excel, and we will ensure that the competition is fair. This is the best way to improve the well-being of our people."



In the fifth broadcast last Wednesday, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that while Singapore cannot defy the downturn, it must "absolutely defy" the loss of social cohesion, polarisation and despair that have taken hold in many other countries.

"No society remains cohesive simply because it used to be," he said as he outlined plans to build a stronger, more cohesive society. Hence the extensive efforts by the National Jobs Council to work with companies, sector by sector, to take on Singaporeans through temporary attachments and traineeships.

There is also a need to keep social mobility alive, strengthen the culture of solidarity, and systematically provide greater support for lower-and middle-income Singaporeans in order to build a fair and just society, he added.

Summing up these messages last night, Mr Heng sketched out how they will be developed and refined together with Singaporeans, and pledged that the Government will listen to what they have to say.

He invited Singaporeans to join in these efforts, saying: "To emerge stronger, we must draw on the wits and will of our people."

His speech comes just over a year after he launched the Singapore Together movement last June, which involves a significantly more participatory and collaborative approach to governance and policymaking.

The three new initiatives he announced last night take this a step further: The Emerging Stronger Taskforce is convening industry-led coalitions - Singapore Together Alliances for Action - to act on growth opportunities. A series of Emerging Stronger Conversations is being organised to discuss ideas with a broad spectrum of Singaporeans. Singapore Together Action Networks are being formed on key issues as they emerge.

Singapore is headed for a general election soon. These speeches have been seen by some as a platform for the Government to articulate its plans and programmes to lead Singapore out of the crisis, and beyond.

But even if this were not an election year, the articulation of its plans would still have been needed to reassure people, and lay out what the Government plans to do.



Mr Heng made clear what he and his colleagues hope for - that people step up, participate and take action to improve things and shape their society.

"This Government has the will and the way to lead us out of this crisis. We will face the challenges ahead together with you, all the way... We will fight COVID-19 as Singapore Together. Everyone counts, and can be counted on."

Expect this theme of unity, and emerging stronger together, to be a key plank of the People's Action Party's pitch to voters at the election: This is a government with plans to secure jobs, safeguard a generation and, crucially, work together with Singaporeans to remain united in a troubled world.




Related
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: Overcoming the Crisis of a Generation

Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong: Living with COVID-19

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean: Resilience in a Changing External Environment

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing: Making a Living in a COVID-19 World

Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam: A Stronger and More Cohesive Society

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat: Emerging Stronger Together
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GE2020: Singaporeans to vote on 10 July 2020

June 24, 2020, 3:41 am
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Singapore General Election 2020: Parliament dissolved, Polling Day set for July 10
PM Lee Hsien Loong sets out why he is calling general election now amid COVID-19 pandemic
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor, The Straits Times, 24 Jun 2020

Singaporeans will go to the polls on July 10, in a general election that will take place in a time of crisis as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

The widely anticipated announcement of the election date came yesterday, when President Halimah Yacob dissolved Singapore's 13th Parliament and issued the Writ of Election.

Nomination Day will be next Tuesday, with the minimum nine days of campaigning before Cooling-Off Day on July 9.

Polling Day will be on July 10 - a Friday and a public holiday.

In a televised address to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he has decided to call the general election now, while the COVID-19 situation is relatively stable, to "clear the decks" and give the new government a fresh, full five-year mandate.

After the election, the new government can focus on the national agenda - which includes handling the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and jobs - and the difficult decisions it will have to make and to carry, he said.



The alternative is to wait out the pandemic, he said, noting however that there is no assurance the outbreak will be over before the Government's term ends next April, with the virus expected to linger for at least a year - most probably longer - until a vaccine is available.

The election, Singapore's 13th since independence, is likely to see the People's Action Party (PAP) challenged for all seats - as the ruling party was in 2015.

A total of 93 elected seats are at stake - in 17 group representation constituencies and 14 single-member constituencies.



GE2020 will be waged on a drastically different battleground due to the pandemic.

Safe distancing rules that restrict the size of public gatherings to five people mean traditional campaign staples like mass rallies cannot be held. Political parties will also have to scale back on the scope of their walkabouts in constituencies.

They have geared up to turn to cyberspace and social media instead, to get their messages across to the electorate. Each candidate will also get airtime on national television, as part of the new, one-off constituency political broadcasts.

Following the announcement yesterday, political parties sprang into action and ramped up their planning and preparations.

Due to safe distancing restrictions, they ironed out campaign strategies via WhatsApp messages and Zoom calls, instead of traditional meetings in larger groups.



The PAP will launch official introductions of its new candidates and release its party manifesto over the course of this week.

Opposition parties said they were ready for the election, as the possibility of one has been on the cards for some time.

Observers reckon issues that will feature prominently at the hustings include the state of the economy and jobs, the Government's handling of the coronavirus situation, political succession and the setting of the direction of Singapore's future after COVID-19.

The PAP's leaders have, in a series of six national broadcasts over the past two weeks, set out the key issues at stake, including protecting jobs, overcoming the current crisis and securing Singapore's future.

Meanwhile, opposition parties are expected to question the Government's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, and call for greater accountability as well as more checks and balances to keep the ruling party on its toes.



The pandemic has brought economies to a near standstill, as countries lock down to curb the spread of the virus. Singapore's economy is projected to shrink by up to 7 per cent this year, which would make it the worst recession since independence in 1965.

In response, the Government has rolled out nearly $93 billion to fund four COVID-19 support packages, requiring a draw of up to $52 billion from past reserves.

This coming election will see Mr Lee lead the PAP into battle for the fourth, and what looks set to be the final, time as prime minister.

He had earlier declared his intention to hand over the reins to his successor by the time he turns 70, which will be in 2022.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who leads the PAP's fourth-generation team, is poised to take over.



The 2006 General Election, the first led by Mr Lee, saw the PAP get 66.6 per cent of the popular vote.

The ruling party saw its vote share fall to 60.1 per cent in the 2011 election, but rebounded to secure 69.9 per cent of the vote in 2015.

There will be 2,653,942 voters heading to the polls next month.

There will also be a minimum of 12 opposition MPs in Parliament - including Non-Constituency MPs - up from nine currently. This stems from changes to the Constitution that were passed to guarantee that number, should there be fewer than 12 elected opposition MPs.

The Returning Officer for this election is Mr Tan Meng Dui, replacing Mr Ng Wai Choong, who was the Returning Officer for the 2015 General Election.


In a Facebook post yesterday, Madam Halimah said: "It is important that every care and effort be taken to ensure that our voters' safety is not compromised.

"I would also like to urge Singaporeans to have open, civil and respectful conversations with one another during this period.

"For us to continue prospering as a nation, we must stay united and build upon our strengths."






















Election will be ‘like no other’ not just because of COVID-19, but important issues at stake, says PM Lee
Critical decisions ahead to secure lives, jobs, future
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor, The Straits Times, 24 Jun 2020

The upcoming general election will be like no other that Singapore has experienced - not just because of the special arrangements to deal with COVID-19, but also due to the gravity of the situation and the issues at stake, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

Addressing the nation, he said: "The government that you elect will have critical decisions to make. These decisions will impact your lives and livelihoods, and shape Singapore for many years to come, far beyond the five-year term of the next government."

Nomination Day will be on June 30, and Polling Day on July 10, after the President dissolved Parliament yesterday and issued the Writ of Election.

Mr Lee noted that under the Constitution, the general election must be held by next April at the latest, but there was no certainty the outbreak would end before then.



Instead, GE2020 will take place in phase two of Singapore's reopening after a two-month circuit breaker.

He said he had to be certain of two things before calling the elections - that voters can vote safely, and political parties can campaign effectively.

"After studying the issues, I am satisfied that both of these can be done," he added.

Additional precautions will be in place on Polling Day, he noted, including more polling stations to reduce crowding, specific time slots for voting and safe distancing measures.

Candidates can still go on walkabouts, live-stream e-rallies and get more opportunities to speak directly to the electorate on TV in lieu of physical rallies.

"With our arrangements and precautions in place, I am confident we can hold a proper and safe election," Mr Lee said.

He gave the assurance that during the election period, governance will continue, the public service will function normally and essential work will go on uninterrupted.



He emphasised that the ministerial task force will still lead the country's response to COVID-19, while the new National Jobs Council will create jobs and training places, and there will be help for businesses and families.

"Soon, you will have the chance to decide whom to entrust with the responsibility of working with you to take our country forward," Mr Lee said.

"I have every confidence that you will think carefully, and vote wisely, to secure our lives, our jobs and our future."























Singapore yet to face full economic fallout from COVID-19: PM Lee
Unemployment set to go up but Govt is determined to save as many jobs as it can and create new ones, he says
By Grace Ho, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Jun 2020

Singapore has not yet felt the full economic fallout from COVID-19, and there will be more business closures and retrenchments in the coming months, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Addressing the nation in a televised broadcast yesterday, he said the virus has taken a heavy toll on livelihoods. Around the world, lockdowns and public health measures have caused a deep economic crisis.

Singapore, he said, has mitigated this with "massive fiscal action", pointing to how Parliament has passed four Budgets totalling almost $100 billion in COVID-19 support measures.

"We are drawing from our reserves to support workers, businesses and households. These decisive emergency actions have kept retrenchments and company closures low. They have helped Singaporeans take care of their families and see through the immediate crisis," he said.

This is the second time the Government has drawn on past reserves. Totalling $52 billion this year and the largest amount to date, this sum eclipses the $4.9 billion that then President S R Nathan approved during the 2009 global financial crisis.

Key support measures include the Jobs Support Scheme and its extensions, which cover up to 75 per cent of the first $4,600 of gross monthly wages of each local employee to help firms retain workers.

But Singaporeans must still brace themselves for a very tough period ahead, PM Lee cautioned.

Despite all the measures taken, unemployment will go up.

"But we are determined to save as many jobs as we can, and create new jobs too. And we will do our utmost to help businesses and industries survive and restructure themselves," he pledged. "That is how we can keep our capabilities and livelihoods intact through the storm, and pick up again when the sun shines once more."

Singapore's economy is expected to shrink by 4 per cent to 7 per cent this year, making this the worst recession since independence in 1965.

According to the Manpower Ministry's labour market report earlier this month, total employment here registered its sharpest-ever quarterly decline in the first quarter of this year.

The overall unemployment rate rose slightly from 2.3 per cent in the previous quarter to 2.4 per cent. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo had cautioned that the full effects of COVID-19 were not yet felt in the first quarter.

In his address, PM Lee added that governance will continue during the election period, with the new National Jobs Council creating jobs and training places, and businesses, workers and families receiving help.

Chaired by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the high-level council has 17 members, including eight ministers and representatives from the labour movement and business associations.

It will oversee the design and implementation of the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Fortitude Budget speech last month.

The package aims to support close to 100,000 job seekers over the next 12 months by creating new vacancies, traineeships and skills training places.

PM Lee also set out why he has decided to call a general election now, and said he had to be certain of two things before deciding to proceed with the polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first is that voters can vote safely, and second, that political parties can campaign effectively.

"With our arrangements and precautions in place, I am confident we can hold a proper and safe election," he said.

He made the point that Singapore is not the first to hold an election during the pandemic, citing South Korea, Taiwan and several European countries that have done so.



In a Facebook post yesterday, DPM Heng said the decision to hold an election in the middle of a pandemic is not an easy one to make.

"But given the profound uncertainty ahead, and the challenges that we must tackle as a nation, it is important that we do so now, when the situation is relatively stable," he said. This is to give the new government a fresh, five-year mandate to bring Singaporeans together to overcome the coronavirus crisis.

More than ever, Singapore will need a government with a strong mandate and a long runway to lead the country out of crisis, he added.

Said Mr Heng: "We will face the challenges ahead together, working in partnership with you. We can and we will overcome this crisis of our generation, and emerge stronger as an economy, as a society and as one people.

"There is a lot at stake. I trust that fellow Singaporeans will consider very carefully who you choose to form the next government and take Singapore forward."






















External environment poses challenges, even surprises
By Grace Ho, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Jun 2020

Singapore needs a capable government, with the strong backing of the people, to do all that needs to be done to see the country through these tumultuous times, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

In a national broadcast yesterday, Mr Lee said the country faces external uncertainties, besides its domestic concerns over COVID-19, the economy and jobs.

He outlined four major regional and global developments that can affect Singapore: US-China tensions over many issues, now including Hong Kong; the US presidential election in November; border clashes between China and India; and political developments in South-east Asia.

Relations between Beijing and Washington have soured in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as their governments feud over the origins and handling of the virus.

The two have also clashed over Beijing pushing a national security law for Hong Kong, with Washington threatening to delist Chinese companies from US exchanges.

Meanwhile, Chinese and Indian soldiers have clashed in a border dispute at the Galwan Valley, and there are ongoing disputes in Asean on territorial claims and maritime rights over the South China Sea.

"We do not know what surprises may be in store for us within the next year. But as dangers materialise, we must navigate safely through them and protect Singapore's security and national interests," said Mr Lee.

He added that this will require diplomatic skills and a deft touch.

To overcome these challenges, Singaporeans must also stand completely united as one people, he said.

"Singaporeans and the Government must work closely together, with full trust and confidence in each other," he added.

"The Government must be able to respond promptly and decisively to the COVID-19 outbreak and the economic situation, and to external developments."
















Long struggle ahead to defeat COVID-19
By Grace Ho, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Jun 2020

While the circuit breaker has been lifted, Singaporeans should be under no illusions that the country has defeated COVID-19.

In a televised national address yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this is just the end of the beginning phase, and a long struggle lies ahead.

This is because the coronavirus will be around for at least a year and probably longer, until a vaccine is developed and becomes available.

"It is a very difficult and tricky disease to deal with. So, we have to continue keeping a close watch on the situation," he said, adding that Singaporeans must be psychologically prepared for more ups and downs in this fight.



He noted that many other countries successfully brought their cases down, only to experience fresh outbreaks after opening up again. Examples he cited included South Korea, where a second wave began in Seoul nightspots, and China, where new cases emerged from a wholesale food market in Beijing.

Around the world, the number of infections has crossed the nine million mark, and nearly half a million people have died.

Singapore detected its first cases, most of which were imported, in January. "But soon we observed a growing number of local cases, with no links to infected visitors," he said.

The numbers grew in March, especially when the virus started to spread among migrant workers in dormitories. "We responded decisively. We imposed a circuit breaker for two months. We made strenuous efforts to care for our migrant workers," said PM Lee.

"In the migrant worker dormitories, we are making steady progress, though it will take a few more months to resolve the problem. At the same time, new community cases have come down sharply. Most importantly, we have kept the number of fatalities low."

There is currently only one patient in an intensive care unit. To date, 26 have died from complications owing to COVID-19.

As of yesterday, the number of new cases in the community has decreased, from an average of seven cases per day in the week before, to an average of four per day in the past week.

The Health Ministry confirmed 119 new coronavirus cases as of noon yesterday, 23 June, taking Singapore's total to 42,432. They include three community cases - a Singapore permanent resident, a work pass holder and a work permit holder.









Singapore GE2020: Every general election holds prospect of surprises
Difficult times could see voters plump for incumbent, or be swayed during campaign
By Zakir Hussain, News Editor, The Straits Times, 24 Jun 2020

Singapore is set for an unprecedented general election on July 10.

COVID-19 has caused tremendous upheaval to the global economy, from bringing air travel to a grinding halt to disrupting supply chains.

The Singapore economy has been hard hit, with more than 100,000 jobs at stake, a looming recession and a contraction that is set to be the worst since independence.

So, it's hardly the rosiest scenario against which to call an election.

Explaining why he decided to do so in a broadcast yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore has yet to feel the full economic fallout from COVID-19. The external environment is also uncertain, and surprises may be in store.

His key message: These are challenges which call for a government that is able to respond swiftly and decisively. And Singapore needs a capable government - one with the strong backing of the people - to do what needs to be done and see it through the tumult.

At a time when there has been a flight to leadership globally, observers expect the People's Action Party (PAP) to get the mandate it needs to govern effectively and - in its leaders' words - not just ride through the outbreak, but emerge stronger.

Some - even in opposition circles - appear to have all but conceded that the PAP will romp home to power with resounding support next month.

PAP activists appear quietly confident, and they know the ground they have walked extensively especially since the pandemic began. Old-timers among them say the day an election ends is the day they start to prepare for the next one.



But GE2020's trajectory is far from certain. Elections can be unpredictable events - and issues that crop up in the heat of the campaign have the potential to swing votes either way and cause upsets to the most entrenched of incumbents.

This is why the PAP has never taken elections for granted, even though recent history suggests that polls held in times of crisis, as in November 2001, see a flight to safety. That election saw the PAP returned to power on Nomination Day, and get 75.3 per cent of the votes in contested seats on Polling Day.

Since then, the past three elections - in 2006, 2011 and 2015 - have been robustly contested, and the party that has been governing Singapore for 61 years was returned to power with 66.6 per cent, 60.1 per cent and 69.9 per cent of the votes in the respective years.

Many consider the 2015 result an anomaly, attributing it to events such as the passing of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and the feel-good effect from SG50 celebrations marking the golden jubilee of Singapore's independence.

To its credit, the PAP had also been responsive to discontent over housing and immigration policy, and demonstrated a resolve to address the decline in vote share from the previous election.

Many of its fourth-generation leaders who have helped the party rebuild its support since then are today leading the charge on the campaign trail.

The resounding GE2015 result has not made one of the longest-ruling governing parties content to rest on that record.

In the past five years, issues such as the cost of living and healthcare have been addressed considerably through the Merdeka Generation Package and other schemes.

But other concerns - such as the impact that disruptive technology has had on professional, managerial, executive and technician jobs, and uneasiness over an openness to global talent - have soured the mood in some quarters, especially those who feel they get a raw deal.



With 16 days to Polling Day, a number of factors could play a role in the outcome of GE2020.

One is the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. While Singapore has seen over 42,000 cases to date - much of it the result of aggressive testing especially in foreign worker dorms - the number of fatalities is low, new community cases have fallen sharply, and a two-month circuit breaker has helped stem the spread of the virus. Significant fiscal injections - totalling almost $100 billion - to save jobs have also kept layoffs low for now.

But opposition politicians have called into question the Government's handling of the pandemic, and look set to do so in the campaign, including criticising the move to call an election as one that puts Singaporeans' health at risk.

PM Lee said yesterday that in deciding to proceed, he was satisfied that voters can vote safely and that political parties can campaign effectively. Door-to-door campaigning is still allowed and while physical rallies cannot be held, there are more opportunities for candidates to speak to voters on television and online.

A second factor is voters' assessment of the contesting parties and their candidates.

The circuit breaker has been a leveller of sorts - the PAP and opposition parties have had to halt walkabouts, including for new candidates keen to introduce themselves.

But many of the parties have been active, going online to make themselves known to voters.

While the Workers' Party and Progress Singapore Party have scaled down the number of seats they plan to contest, it is still likely that all voters will get a chance to cast their ballot on Polling Day, as they did for the first time in 2015.

And some of the candidates - set to be unveiled at a rapid pace on both sides in the days ahead - may gain wider reach in an Internet-reliant campaign.

The third and perhaps most critical factor will be how much voters value the competing calls for support from all sides.

For its part, the PAP is seeking to build partnerships with Singaporeans to help shape and take ownership of policies through the Singapore Together effort.

Its argument is that Singapore has been in a unique position because its people have consistently backed the PAP resoundingly, giving it a supermajority in Parliament that enables it to act decisively.

On their part, the opposition parties seek to tap into the desire among some voters for greater checks and balances - or co-drivers, as opposition veteran Low Thia Khiang once put it - in the system, arguing that only an elected opposition can do so effectively.

Some have called on voters to deny the PAP a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the threshold required to amend the Constitution. Expect the PAP to underline that issues like integrity and capability - and not just numbers - are key when it comes to electing MPs.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, the next Parliament is guaranteed to see a minimum of 12 opposition MPs through the Non-Constituency MP scheme, this time with full voting rights. The gradual increase in the number of such seats over the years has helped address concerns that alternative voices are not represented adequately.

The impact of the crisis brought on by COVID-19 is expected to drag on for some years. GE2020 - how this unprecedented election campaign shapes up as well as its outcome - will also make a critical difference in how Singapore responds to this crisis, and beyond.





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Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to retire from politics after 44 years as MP

June 27, 2020, 3:09 am
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Singapore GE2020: Singapore's second Prime Minister tried to foster a kinder, gentler nation and enhanced regional links
By Grace Ho, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 26 Jun 2020

The man who served as Singapore's second prime minister from 1990 to 2004 is retiring from politics as the country gears up for an election campaign in which leadership transition is a key issue.

Specifically, it involves a planned handover to the PAP's fourth generation of leaders since Singapore's independence in 1965.

Mr Goh Chok Tong, 79, has been a Member of Parliament for 44 years. He stepped down from Cabinet in 2011 and has been known as Emeritus Senior Minister since then.

Even as he departs the political stage, he has signalled his continued preoccupation with Singapore's future, asking in a cryptic Facebook post on Tuesday, the day the election was called: "Parliament dissolved. Quo vadis, Singapore? Quo vadis, me?"

"Quo vadis" is a Latin phrase commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, more poetically, "Whither goest thou?"

Mr Goh announced his decision to retirein a letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongyesterday.

PM Lee accepted his decision and thanked Mr Goh for a lifetime of distinguished service.



Born into a working class family in 1941, the man who stood out from childhood - not just because he was the tallest among his peers - began his working life as a civil servant who went on to lead Neptune Orient Lines before being inducted into politics in 1976, at the age of 35.

He rose swiftly to helm several ministries, including Trade and Industry, Health and Defence, before being appointed deputy prime minister in 1985. Five years later, he succeeded Mr Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister.

GROWTH AND RENEWAL

When he was sworn in as prime minister on Nov 28, 1990, he pledged to make sure "Singapore thrives and grows after Mr Lee Kuan Yew".

During his 14 years at the helm, Singapore's per capita gross domestic product grew from $21,950 in 1990 to more than $38,000 in 2004. A web of free trade agreements (FTAs), including with major economies like the United States and Japan, expanded the island nation's political and economic space overseas.

Mr Goh played a key role in regional integration, working to narrow the development gap between the original Asean five and the newer member states of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. This was done through the Initiative for Asean Integration (IAI) launched in 2000.

He sparked an "India fever" in Singapore in the 1990s, making multiple trips to the country, urging it to forge closer ties with the region and pushing for the conclusion of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).



He also led Singapore's efforts to grow links between world regions, through the Asia-Europe Meeting, the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation and Asia-Middle East Dialogue. These cemented Singapore's cultural, economic and political relevance to the world.

As prime minister, it also fell to him to secure a team to succeed himself and his peers in Cabinet.

During his tenure as minister for defence, Mr Goh talent-spotted a young Lee Hsien Loong, then a Singapore Armed Forces leader, and persuaded him to enter politics and stand for election in 1984.

PM Lee himself spoke of Mr Goh's ability to get capable people to join his team and work for him, when he launched the latter's biography Tall Order in 2018.

PM Lee said of his predecessor: "He nurtures and holds the team together. He considers and takes in their views, and gets the best out of the team."

It was Mr Goh who brought in key third-generation leaders, including Mr George Yeo, Senior Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, as well as Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Professor Yaacob Ibrahim and Mr Lim Swee Say. In his speech, PM Lee observed that Mr Goh had assembled "some of the strongest Cabinets Singapore has had" at a time when the task of governing Singapore had become more complex.



KINDER AND GENTLER

At home, the Goh years were about renewing the bond between people and government on terms that the second-generation PAP leaders believed in - a kinder, gentler nation, a government that listened, and paid attention not just to material well-being but also matters of the heart, or "heartware".

Mr Goh set up the Feedback Unit for Singaporeans to share their views on policies. He launched two national engagement efforts to tap the views and ideas of thousands of Singaporeans - the first in 1997 called Singapore 21, the second in 2001 called Remaking Singapore.

He used budget surpluses to set up endowment funds that to this day provide financial support to less well-off Singaporeans. These range from the Edusave scheme that awards grants and scholarships to students, Medifund which helps poorer Singaporeans foot their healthcare bills, the Lifelong Learning Endowment Fund to enhance workers' employability, and Eldercare for those needing nursing homes and other long-term care services.

It was also during Mr Goh's tenure that the Government first started redistributing budget surpluses to citizens in the form of Central Provident Fund top-ups.



At the grassroots level, Mr Goh set up community development councils, inter-racial confidence circles and harmony circles to promote social bonding and cohesion among different racial and religious communities.

He oversaw political innovations such as government parliamentary committees which give backbencher MPs a platform to scrutinise policies, as well as the Nominated MP scheme, which remains a key channel for independent, non-partisan individuals to contribute their views in Singapore's Parliament.

Despite his friendly mien and famously dry wit, and his stated goal of nurturing a kinder, gentler Singapore, Mr Goh could be tough in political contests and towards his critics. In 1994, he censured writer Catherine Lim for her article on an "affective divide" between the Government and Singaporeans due to its top-down approach to governing. Dr Lim had gone "beyond the pale", Mr Goh said, adding that those who wished to comment regularly on politics should enter the political arena.

When it came to electoral battles, Mr Goh fought hard to win, leading the ruling party to victory in three general elections in 1991, 1997 and 2001. The last campaign saw the PAP win 75 per cent of the votes in the midst of an economic crisis due to the fallout of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Throughout those years, he stood firm in the face of criticism against the government policy of placing opposition wards last in the queue for HDB estate upgrading.



NO GUARANTEES

Having dedicated his life to serving Singapore, Mr Goh naturally worries about the sustainability of its success.

In recent years, he has voiced concern about the lack of diversity among ministers and the resulting "groupthink" that might affect the quality of leadership. His concern stems from the growing share of PAP ministers drawn from the ranks of the public service, including the armed forces. At the same time, he has noted that it is increasingly difficult for the PAP to attract talented people from the private sector into politics.

Another concern is the sustainability of PAP rule - unbroken since 1959.

In 2017, at a dinner to mark his 40 years as MP for Marine Parade, Mr Goh reminded PAP activists not to take voters' support for granted.

The PAP won 56.6 per cent of the votes in Marine Parade GRC in GE2011, on the back of a national slide in the party's vote share, and improved this result with a 64.1 per cent showing in GE2015. But Mr Goh's appeal meant it consistently got a higher percentage of votes in his Marine Parade ward.

"Going forward, we must not assume that we will always poll more than 70 per cent in our Marine Parade ward. We should not even assume that we will always win," said Mr Goh.

Younger voters have a "less instinctive, and more transactional" bond with the party, he added, compared with the pioneer gene-ration who lived through Singapore's early struggles. As for the opposition, he said he hoped to see one that was "intelligent, constructive, critical".



While no longer an MP, Mr Goh has set himself one more political task, and that is to complete the second volume of his biography, entitled Tall Order: The Goh Chok Tong Story.

That at least provides part of the answer to one of the two questions he posed this week. As for the other, "Quo vadis, Singapore?" the answer is a work in progress, though the outcome of the upcoming campaign may provide some clues.












Singapore GE2020: Day of renewal, as ESM Goh Chok Tong, Low Thia Khiang exit politics
Singapore's second PM steps down after 44 years in public service
WP veteran Low Thia Khiang surprises by not contesting GE
PAP unveils 11 more new faces, including likely office-holders
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor and Joyce Lim, Senior Correspondent, The Straits Times, 26 Jun 2020

An era ended as stalwarts from both the ruling and opposition parties retired from politics yesterday, but the process of renewal continued with several new faces being introduced ahead of the upcoming general election.

Among those who will not contest the July 10 polls is the country's second prime minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, who informed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of his decision on Wednesday.

Mr Goh, 79, was an MP for 44 straight years and served as prime minister from 1990 to 2004.

On the other side of the political divide, former Workers' Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang bowed out of politics yesterday after 29 years in Parliament, the longest by any opposition MP in Singapore.

WP secretary-general Pritam Singh announced that Mr Low, 63, and two-term MPs Chen Show Mao, 59, and Png Eng Huat, 58, would not be standing in the polls.

The departures come as Singapore gears up for a general election in which leadership transition is a key issue, with the People's Action Party (PAP) fourth-generation leadership set to take the helm.

PM Lee lauded Mr Goh for his calm and steady leadership during crises like the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003.

PM Lee said Mr Goh left his biggest imprint in Marine Parade, where he was first elected in 1976 and re-elected in nine general elections and one by-election.

He added in a Facebook post: "I am forever personally indebted to Chok Tong, who brought me into politics. Ours was a fruitful comradeship that spanned the entirety of my years in politics and most of his - a close friendship between two prime ministers that would be the envy of many countries."

In his letter, Mr Goh said many of his activists have urged him to stand for another term. "But I should not. I would not have the same energy when I cross into my 80s," he wrote, adding that smooth and systematic leadership succession is key to Singapore's political stability.

And just as he decided to hand over the reins to PM Lee in 2004, Mr Goh said he prefers to retire now while he is healthy and able, to ease his successor's transition into his Marine Parade ward.

He assured residents that Marine Parade will be in "very capable hands" under Dr Tan See Leng, 55, the former group chief executive and managing director of IHH Healthcare.

Dr Tan was one of 11 new PAP candidates unveiled yesterday, along with former Infocomm Media Development Authority chief executive Tan Kiat How, 43. Both men are said to be potential office-holders.



Meanwhile, the WP introduced four candidates, while the Progress Singapore Party unveiled another five candidates, including two retired Singapore Armed Forces officers.

Mr Low, himself, told the media he was stepping down with no regrets as he felt his work was done. "I have always maintained that a party cannot depend on just an individual or a few individuals," he said.



In a Facebook post yesterday, President Halimah Yacob said that although Mr Goh and Mr Low serve on opposite ends of the political spectrum, their mutual respect for each other is well known.

It is thus an "uncanny coincidence" that they announced their respective decisions to retire from politics on the same day, she wrote.



She added that Mr Goh - who persuaded her to enter politics 20 years ago - has made tremendous contributions to Singapore, while Mr Low has been a voice of reason among the opposition.

"To many Singaporeans, today's announcements mark the end of an era," she said.













Retirement letter from Mr Goh Chok Tong
The Straits Times, 26 Jun 2020

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong exchanged letters this week. On Wednesday, Mr Goh informed PM Lee of his decision to retire from politics at the general election, and yesterday, PM Lee wrote a valedictory letter to Mr Goh accepting his decision and thanking him for his contributions. We reproduce both letters.


24 June 2020

Mr Lee Hsien Loong Prime Minister, Republic of Singapore Secretary-General, People's Action Party

Dear Prime Minister,

As Parliament has now been dissolved, I write to inform you that I have decided not to stand in the coming general election. Having served as a Member of Parliament for Marine Parade for over four decades, I make this decision after much thought and with a heavy heart.

Marine Parade is my second home. I love the people. The PAP branch activists and the grassroots leaders are my steadfast comrades and firm friends. Many have urged me to stand for another term. But I should not. I would not have the same energy when I cross into my 80s.

Smooth and systematic leadership succession is the key to Singapore's political stability. I decided to step down as PM in 2004 after the economy had recovered from SARS and when you were in place to take over as my successor. Similarly, I prefer to retire as Member of Parliament now whilst I am healthy and able to ease my successor's transition into Marine Parade.

Dr Tan See Leng has been understudying me for nearly two years now. He helps me with my Meet-the-People Sessions, and with several social projects that I initiated in the constituency. He is now operationalising our Caregiver Support Network, an important new initiative for a mature estate like Marine Parade. He has also played an active role in EduGrow, our youth mentorship programme for students from lower-income families. See Leng connects well with residents, branch members and grassroots leaders alike. He has held dialogues with residents and gone on house visits until COVID-19 put a stop to them. I recommend him to take over from me.

Competent and trusted leaders with the heart for public service are critical to protect and advance Singaporeans' interests. We need more lion-hearted people to secure Singapore's place in an increasingly turbulent world.

I strongly support your planned leadership succession at the national level. The 4G team led by Heng Swee Keat has been tested and strengthened in the crucible of COVID-19. We must look for more good men and women to join the team.

Likewise, we should start building up the core of the 5G team.

I hope you will accept my decision to step down as Member of Parliament.

It has been my greatest honour and privilege to have served the party, residents of Marine Parade, Singapore and Singaporeans for the past 44 years.

I will continue to contribute to Singapore in other ways.

Best wishes for a successful general election ahead.

Yours fraternally, Goh Chok Tong Member of Parliament Marine Parade/GRC (1976 - 2020)




PM LEE'S VALEDICTORY LETTER TO ESM GOH

25 June 2020

Mr Goh Chok Tong Emeritus Senior Minister Prime Minister's Office Singapore

Thank you for your letter of 24 June 2020. With sadness, I accept your decision to retire from politics at the forthcoming general election.

Singapore is going through a difficult time because of COVID-19. But we have experienced crises before, including when you were prime minister, such as the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, the September 2001 terrorist attacks, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003. On those occasions, your calm and steady leadership gave Singaporeans comfort and courage. Those crises were painful experiences that left their mark on us, but they strengthened us too. This gives us confidence that this time with COVID-19, we will again emerge stronger.

Your contributions continued after you stepped down as PM. In Parliament, you weighed in during key debates, including on integrated resorts and ministerial salaries. You guided the younger MPs, providing them with historical perspective, and inculcating in them the values and ethic of public service. You also served as chairman and remain senior adviser of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, guiding MAS to enhance the resilience of the banking system, strengthen links with international partners, promote innovation, and protect retail consumers.

Internationally, you built bridges for our people, opened doors for our businesses, and flew our flag high. When Myanmar opened up in 2011, your personal relationship with their leaders gave our companies an entry to seize the economic opportunities there. You initiated the Tianjin Eco-City and Guangzhou Knowledge City, creating new platforms for Singapore to collaborate with China.

In India, without the trust and goodwill you built up over many years, I could not have signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in 2005.

It is in Marine Parade that you have left the most personal imprint on the lives of individual Singaporeans. You were returned as the MP for Marine Parade 11 times, in 10 general elections and one by-election over almost 45 years. When you were first elected in 1976, Marine Parade was newly reclaimed land - a large but blank canvas on which our hopes and dreams could be projected. Today, those dreams have become reality. Marine Parade has become a vibrant waterfront town filled with warmth, which people of all ages are proud to call home. The story of Marine Parade is the story of Singapore - out of nothing, we created something special. You made that happen.

In the process, you built lifelong friendships with your grassroots leaders, and an unbreakable bond with your residents. They know that you always have their welfare at heart. In the early days you proposed setting up residents' committees (RCs) in Marine Parade to build communities in our neighbourhoods and precincts. The project succeeded, and today we have replicated that structure islandwide with more than 800 RCs and neighbourhood committees.

After leaving the Cabinet, you devoted even more time and energy to your constituency. Residents from other parts of the GRC would often meet you at Meet-the-People Sessions, as you joined your fellow MPs to help residents in their branches. You raised funds to start numerous social programmes, including the Marine Parade Leadership Foundation to train future community leaders, WeCare@MarineParade to help vulnerable residents, and EduGrow for kindergarten and primary school students from disadvantaged family backgrounds. These projects inspired national programmes like the Youth Corps Singapore, the SG Cares Community Network, and the Uplift programme which MOE is now rolling out across Singapore. You also founded the Mediacorp Enable Fund to help persons with disabilities fulfil their aspirations.

Grassroots leaders and residents in Marine Parade will miss you. But like me, they understand and respect your decision to retire, because they have seen you advocate and uphold the principle of leadership renewal all your life. As PAP secretary-general, you were tireless in bringing in fresh blood to the party. In 2004 when you relinquished the prime ministership, and in 2011 when you left the Cabinet, you still had much more to give. But you decided that it was in the party's interest, and especially in the national interest, to let someone younger take over.

I will always be personally indebted to you. You brought me into politics and have guided and mentored me all these years. It was my privilege to be your deputy throughout your premiership. After you retired from Cabinet, we continued with our regular lunches. I always looked forward to these opportunities to share my thoughts and concerns candidly with someone who fully understood what was at stake, and to hear your reactions and perspectives. Your advice, based on a lifetime of experience, helped me clarify my thoughts and avoid many unnecessary errors. Ours was a fruitful comradeship that spanned the entirety of my years in politics and most of yours - a close relationship between two prime ministers that would be the envy of many countries.

In the PAP Marine Parade branch, I am glad the succession is well in hand, and Dr Tan See Leng will be taking over as branch chairman. I am also glad that you will maintain your links with Marine Parade, as chairman emeritus of the Marine Parade branch and adviser emeritus to Marine Parade GROs (grassroots organisations). At the national level you have agreed to be appointed senior adviser to the People's Association on a pro bono basis. I am happy that you will continue to chair the governing board of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. This will enable you to continue to contribute the insights and experience you have accumulated all these years.

On behalf of all Singaporeans, I thank you for a lifetime of distinguished service. You have given your all and more in the service of your country and people. I wish you and Mrs Goh a long, healthy and happy retirement.

Yours sincerely

Lee Hsien Loong














Marine Parade residents, MPs recount ESM Goh Chok Tong's contributions
By Joyce Lim, Senior Correspondent, The Straits Times, 26 Jun 2020

Minimart owner Madam Chua was shocked when told yesterday that Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong is retiring.

The 82-year-old, who has been living in Marine Parade for 39 years, said she was hoping he would contest the coming general election. "He is very caring and takes good care of the elderly," she said. "His stepping down will sadden many residents."

She recalled vividly how Mr Goh had come to her rescue in 1981 when she felt so helpless after she failed to get a permit to hire a maid.

Madam Chua had just moved to Marine Parade to start a provision shop business and needed a helper to take care of her two children.

Mr Goh helped to write a letter to the authorities to support her case and she got the permit, she said.

Like Madam Chua, many Marine Parade residents were expecting Mr Goh to stand again.

"Marine Parade has always been a stronghold for PAP because of Goh Chok Tong," said Mr Marican A.J., 75, a resident of more than 30 years who saw the area develop into a mature estate.

"Mr Goh is a sentimental person. Instead of demolishing the old flats, he upgraded them. There are also more clinics to take care of the elderly living here," he added.



Mr Ronnie Foo, 57, who runs a fruit stall, added: "He has done so much for us. He is a very down-to-earth MP and he understands the issues we face.

"When hawkers like me get summonses, we go to see him. He would help us write appeal letters because he knows it's not easy for us to do our business," he said. "It would be hard for you to find someone who says Mr Goh is not a nice person."

Mr Goh has been grooming Dr Tan See Leng, 55, who was introduced as a new candidate yesterday, to take over as chairman of the People's Action Party (PAP) branch in Marine Parade.

Mr Goh will remain chairman emeritus of the branch, and has also agreed to be appointed senior adviser to the People's Association on a pro bono basis.

In a valedictory letter to Mr Goh, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that he oversaw the transformation of Marine Parade estate on newly reclaimed land to a vibrant waterfront town filled with warmth. "The story of Marine Parade is the story of Singapore - out of nothing, we created something special. You made that happen," he said.

In a Facebook post, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat recalled Mr Goh giving him valuable advice during the 2008 global financial crisis when he was deliberating on getting approval from then-President S R Nathan for a $150 billion guarantee on all bank deposits here, to be backed by reserves.



Mr Heng was managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Mr Goh, its chairman.

Mr Heng said he was glad to have Mr Goh's counsel. "He taught us that we must face difficult decisions head-on. Having thought through the options, we must have the courage to do what is right," he wrote. "It was a lesson that stayed with me and continues to guide much of my work."

Other MPs paid tribute to Mr Goh as a mentor who would make time to have lunch with younger MPs to discuss their challenges and issues.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, who is in the Marine Parade GRC team, posted a photo montage of Mr Goh with the message: "He is a gentleman, a mentor, a leader, and an inspiration to all with his lifelong service to Singapore. Above all, he has a caring heart, especially for the elderly and people with special needs and disabilities."










Former Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang stepping down from electoral politics
I felt my work was done, says former Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang who will not stand in GE2020
By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 26 Jun 2020

After almost 40 years in politics, 29 of them as an MP, former Workers' Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang, 63, says he is stepping down from electoral politics with no regrets.

The man who helmed the WP for 17 years told The Straits Times yesterday that he decided not to stand in the coming general election as he felt his work was done.

As party chief, he had achieved the twin goals he had set for himself after taking over from the party's firebrand leader J.B. Jeyaretnam in 2001.

The first was to secure a group representation constituency for the WP, which he did in 2011.

That year, he famously left his long-time Hougang constituency to lead a team to victory in Aljunied GRC, the first and only time an opposition party had won in a GRC.



The second was to renew the ranks of the WP, and hand over to a new generation of younger leaders. Over the years, he has made a concerted effort to attract and field younger members in their 30s and 40s. In 2018, Mr Low stepped down as secretary-general, making way for Mr Pritam Singh, 43.

In his first interview since his retirement from electoral politics was announced, Mr Low told ST and other media: "I hope that the Workers' Party itself has that spirit. The whole organisation's formation and process is important, and not just an individual... I have always maintained that a party cannot depend on just an individual or a few individuals."

It was also the first time that he was speaking to the media after a bad fall at his Upper Thomson home in April left him with traumatic brain injury.



His condition has since improved after being discharged from hospital on May 21, and he appears none the worse for wear.

But the fall he suffered when on the way to the bathroom has left a lasting injury to his olfactory nerve centre, robbing him of his sense of smell and the enjoyment he used to get from a steaming bowl of laksa.

"Laksa has many layers to it, now I can only taste that it is spicy and salty," he said, chuckling.

He was quick to add that it was a small price to pay. "Such a bad fall could have been very, very serious, but now I am mostly OK. If I have lost my sense of smell, it is a small thing, so be it," added Mr Low, who has been given medical leave until July 15.

Throughout his political career, the Teochew-speaking businessman can be said to have tasted, in Chinese parlance, "sourness, sweetness, bitterness and heat".



His experiences as a student at Nanyang University, which was made to merge with the University of Singapore, and later as a teacher who saw students from poorer backgrounds struggling, left him sour and disillusioned.

It pushed him onto the path of politics, which he felt was the only way to change people's lives.

The WP that he joined in 1982 was more focused on issues like human rights and took a more adversarial approach towards the Government, under Mr Jeyaretnam. The party then was plagued by the same problems that other opposition parties faced, with infighting and an inability to attract good candidates.



But under Mr Low, who was elected party chief in 2001, it has taken a different direction, focusing on issues of the day and creating a brand of constructive politics that strives to provide a check in Parliament.

In 2011, Mr Low described the WP as a co-driver that would slap the driver, the PAP, if the ruling party were to go off course in governing the country.

His more pragmatic and moderate line has won credibility with the middle ground, gaining the party a broader base of supporters and also a new generation of members, with not a few lawyers, bankers and academics.

On this front, he feels that the party has evolved even more with its new, younger leadership.

"Probably they are a different generation in terms of political debates. I would think that I'm more aggressive, but the younger generation like Pritam and Leon, maybe they want a different approach, which I think is not a bad thing," he said referring to Mr Singh and Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera.

"If I compare myself with my predecessor Jeyaretnam, I think I am probably mild, right? So probably this political progress, where you become less aggressive and you can sit down and talk about things rather than just political brickbats, is a good thing."



Asked about how he would rate Mr Singh's leadership so far, Mr Low said: "So far, I think Pritam has been good in that from my observation (he has) done well in exchanges with the ministers."

He added that this was true of the party's other MPs as well, as "they respond appropriately and they make a point although they don't go for some attack here and there like me".

The sweet taste of victory in Aljunied GRC in 2011, did not last long, and after that general election, the WP's Aljunied-Hougang Town Council got embroiled in a saga over its accounts.

Observers say this contributed to some extent to the WP's more dismal showing in Aljunied GRC in 2015, when the team scraped by with 50.96 per cent of the votes.

The town council, through an independent panel, had successfully sued the party's MPs, including Mr Low, over more than $33 million in improper payments. Mr Low and party chairman Sylvia Lim were found by the High Court to have breached their fiduciary duties.

In his ruling, the High Court judge said the two Aljunied GRC MPs had acted dishonestly when they awarded a managing agent contract to a company set up by their supporters without calling a tender. He added that in doing so, they had put their own political interests above the interests of their residents.

Mr Low, along with the other MPs and town councillors, have appealed against the ruling.

Having been an opposition Parliament member for so long, Mr Low has taken some heat from the ruling party. But he is also one of few opposition politicians who have drawn admiration from both sides of the aisle.

Yesterday, asked if the party would lose some of its shine without him contesting, Mr Low, who is Singapore's most successful opposition politician to date, quipped: "I do not know how many voters vote solely because of me."



He sought to dismiss the notion that the WP is the "Low Thia Khiang party", adding that it has evolved since he was first elected into Parliament and became the party's only representative in the House.

In the past term of Parliament, the WP had a team of six MPs and three NCMPs, and people would judge the party based on their performance and their interactions with voters too, he added.

Asked how he would like his political career to be remembered, Mr Low said: "I do not have this hope that others will (remember me in any particular way). I have done what I should do, I have no regrets. Of course everyone will have different views. And as a public figure you have to accept them. That's all. I would not be surprised if someone is scolding me; I accept it.

"I will remember the people, the voters. I think these are important life assets, friends in Hougang. I will remember them."

Additional reporting by Tee Zhuo













Political opponents pay tribute to retiring stalwarts
By Goh Yan Han, The Straits Times, 27 Jun 2020

One-time political opponents paid tribute to top People's Action Party (PAP) and Workers' Party (WP) stalwarts for their decades of service, a day after news broke that the veteran politicians were stepping down.



Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing yesterday paid tribute to former WP chief Low Thia Khiang, whose party on Thursday said he is stepping down from electoral politics.

Mr Low's successor Pritam Singh also thanked Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday. Mr Goh had said he would be retiring as an MP on Thursday after 44 years.

Mr Singh, in a Facebook post, wrote about a Parliament session in May 2018, when he went to take his newly allocated seat opposite the Government's front bench - the same seat Mr Low sat in when he was party chief.

When Mr Goh walked in, Mr Singh said he got up from his seat to shake the former prime minister's hand. He said Mr Goh's first words to him were: "Congratulations on your demotion! Previously you were sitting higher up, now you have come down!"

In his post, Mr Singh said: "I appreciated his good humour and it went some way that day to put things into perspective for me."

Mr Singh added that in the Parliament member's lounge, on more than one occasion, Mr Goh shared his thoughts with him on, among other things, issues such as the Government's position on the country's reserves, and how race was employed "cynically" in past elections by some.

Said Mr Singh: "I have my own views about many of these matters shared by ESM Goh. But I thought it said something of the man - the second prime minister of Singapore - to engage not just me, but my Workers' Party colleagues outside the Parliament chamber."

More recently, Mr Goh would always ask about how Mr Low was doing after his fall whenever he saw Mr Singh in Parliament.

Mr Singh said: "From all of us at the Workers' Party, thank you for your service to Singapore, ESM Goh."

Mr Goh, in his own Facebook post yesterday afternoon, said that he had retired as an MP but not from politics. He said: "My key focus ahead is to support and strengthen the 4G leadership team, and ensure a smooth transition.

"Keeping Singapore going is like pushing a boulder up a hill. You have to keep on pushing or the boulder will roll back down. The 4G leaders are taking over the pushing of the boulder. Singaporeans must avoid the fate of Sisyphus," said Mr Goh, referencing the figure from Greek mythology who was forced to roll a boulder up a hill only for it to roll down whenever it neared the top.

Mr Chan, during a press conference to unveil new PAP candidates yesterday, was asked how Mr Low's decision to step down would affect the tone of the general election and the PAP's deployments.

He said: "We thank Mr Low for his many years of service to the Workers' Party, and also to Singapore. And we hope that all of us will work together as a system to take Singapore forward."

Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin also thanked Mr Low for his service, as well as friendship, in a Facebook post yesterday. "We may be from different political sides and hold opposing views about issues, but I do know that we actually share many things in common. For one, I know that your heart is with Singapore and Singaporeans," said Mr Tan.



He added that he deeply appreciated the various conversations and discussions the pair have had on different issues.

He said: "I hope we stay in touch. Most importantly, I wish you good health and happiness."














Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan retires after 19 years in politics
PM Lee thanks him for tackling the nation's healthcare, housing, transport challenges
By Danson Cheong, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 27 Jun 2020

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, 67, will retire from politics and not contest the general election, ending a political career spanning nearly two decades.

Mr Khaw, who is also Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, entered politics in 2001 and is known for having tackled thorny issues across various ministries.



In a valedictory letter to the veteran politician yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that Mr Khaw has helped Singapore overcome challenges spanning healthcare, housing and transport.

"In your quiet, unassuming way, you have made a huge and lasting contribution, and strengthened Singaporeans' faith that this Government can and will solve their problems and improve their lives," wrote PM Lee.

As Senior Minister of State for Health during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, Mr Khaw was on the front line, checking on arrangements and encouraging hospital staff, he said.

He also instituted new processes that were applied when COVID-19 struck this year, said PM Lee.

In 2010, Mr Khaw had a heart bypass when he was Health Minister. He paid $8 out-of-pocket for the surgery, thanks to MediShield, Medisave and his private insurance, and used the incident to highlight the importance of health insurance and how government policies kept healthcare costs low for Singaporeans.

After the 2011 General Election, he helmed the National Development Ministry. Housing affordability was a hot-button issue that year. Mr Khaw "ramped up the HDB building programme", cutting waiting times and enabling young Singaporeans to own their first homes earlier through various policies, said PM Lee.



One of the biggest challenges Mr Khaw took on was to improve the MRT system, added PM Lee.

In 2015, when he was appointed Transport Minister, Singapore's MRT trains travelled an average of 133,000km between delays of more than five minutes - known as mean km between failure (MKBF).

Mr Khaw set a target of one million MKBF and many thought it was "unrealistic", but this target has since been surpassed, said PM Lee. In the first quarter of this year, the MRT system hit 1.4 million MKBF.

"This dramatic achievement is the product of a huge amount of hard work, your encouragement for the regulator and rail operators to work together as one team, your strengthening of rail engineering capabilities, and your emphasis on the crucial but often unnoticed work of continuous system maintenance and timely asset renewal," said PM Lee.

The Prime Minister called Mr Khaw, who has been in his Cabinet since he became PM in 2004, "one of my most reliable lieutenants" and thanked him for his personal advice and friendship".

He pointed out that Mr Khaw had also made crucial contributions to the People's Action Party. After the party saw its vote share fall to 60.1 per cent in the 2011 election, Mr Khaw led introspective efforts to identify where it had fallen short and "set the party on a fresh course". It contributed to the party's decisive win in the next general election, he said.

"For the younger ministers, you have been a role model and a source of sage advice. They look to you to learn not only how to solve difficult problems, but also your seemingly effortless way of explaining nettlesome issues to Singaporeans."



Mr Khaw's political juniors took to Facebook to pay tribute to him.

"He has been my teacher, my mentor, and helped shaped my career. He has been such a great influence, I would describe him as a Titan Minister," wrote Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, who will succeed Mr Khaw as the PAP team's anchor in Sembawang GRC.



In a Facebook post yesterday, Mr Khaw thanked his constituents, civil servants, colleagues in Parliament and the Cabinet. "After 42 years of public service. It is a week of high emotion for me. Gratitude fills me to the brim!" he wrote.

The former Colombo Plan scholar had been in public service since he graduated, and at one point served as principal private secretary to Mr Goh Chok Tong when he was prime minister. Mr Khaw also worked as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry before entering politics in 2001.

"Throughout this journey, my wife stands with me, as my strongest anchor. Our children and grandchildren remind me of the joys of family life, and the larger purpose of nation-building: It is to secure future generations of Singaporeans an even better life," he wrote.



Ms Poh Li San, Changi Airport Group's vice-president for Terminal 5 Planning, is expected to replace Mr Khaw on the PAP slate for Sembawang GRC. She was officially introduced by the party on Thursday.

PM Lee thanked Mr Khaw for his service and said he was glad he would continue to advise newer ministers after retirement. In a Facebook post, he said: "On behalf of all Singaporeans, and especially residents in his Sembawang constituency, I thank Boon Wan for all that he has done, and wish him a happy, healthy and well-deserved rest."














Khaw Boon Wan: Fix-it minister who took on tough assignments and got the job done
By Yuen Sin, The Straits Times, 27 Jun 2020

One measure of a minister is the toughness of the tasks handed to him by the prime minister, and on that score, few can match Mr Khaw Boon Wan.

The Transport Minister is retiring from politics after 19 years, in an election season that has also seen two other veterans announce their departures - former opposition leader Low Thia Khiang of the Workers' Party, and former prime minister Goh Chok Tong.

It was Mr Goh who persuaded Mr Khaw, his former principal private secretary, to stand as a People's Action Party (PAP) candidate back in 2001. Since then, Mr Khaw, 67, has earned a reputation as Mr Fix-it, due to his knack for solving hot-button issues that others struggled to come to grips with.

In 2011, he not only took on but also volunteered for the high-stress job of fixing the nation's housing woes, one of a handful of issues which caused the PAP to lose vote share in that year's polls.

He moved to head the Ministry of National Development in May 2011 with "trepidation", he wrote in a Facebook post, as it was then "red hot with widespread unhappiness".

He did so just one year after undergoing open-heart surgery, yet he pledged to "work triply hard to shorten the learning curve".

His resolve bore fruit. During his four years as national development minister, he cracked the twin problems of housing availability and affordability by ramping up the HDB's building programme, boldly delinking the prices of new flats from those on the resale market, and raising subsidies and income ceilings so more young people could buy their first homes.

By the time he handed over the portfolio to Mr Lawrence Wong in 2015, the housing shortage was largely solved.



FIXING TRAIN ISSUES

That year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong handed Mr Khaw another tough assignment - to fix transport at a time when train breakdowns were a major problem and the reliability of the entire rail network was in doubt.

Once again, Mr Khaw stepped up and got the job done.

He put in place the "early closure, late opening" of the rail network so as to give rail engineers and technicians more time to safely complete repairs, maintenance and renewal work on MRT lines. To raise morale on the ground, he visited depots, interchanges and tunnels to understand workers' challenges and celebrate milestones. The engineers, technicians and maintenance crews who toiled day and night were the ministry's "most precious" assets, more so than the billion-dollar rail networks, he wrote in his Moving News blog in 2015.

By setting high and clear targets for senior management at SMRT and SBS Transit, he also fostered a more unified approach between regulator and operators in undertaking tasks.

SARS COMBAT CHIEF

Besides housing and transport, Mr Khaw's other major contributions were in health.

While a civil servant in the Health Ministry in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he helped formulate Medisave, which every Singaporean now uses if he needs to pay for hospitalisation. He also spent seven years restructuring government hospitals, during which time he was consecutively chief executive officer of the National University, Kandang Kerbau and Singapore General hospitals.

In 2003, he was tapped to help Singapore battle SARS and served as SARS combat chief. In 2004, he was appointed health minister and, learning from the painful lessons of SARS, he instituted new processes and extensive preparations to ready Singapore for the next novel disease outbreak. These have "served us well when COVID-19 came upon us", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote in his thank you letter to Mr Khaw.



Over the next seven years, Mr Khaw proceeded to reform Medisave and health insurance plan MediShield, launch long-term care insurance scheme ElderShield - all changes to ensure healthcare costs remained affordable.

To expand Singapore's healthcare capacity, he laid the groundwork for three new hospitals - Khoo Teck Puat, Sengkang General and Ng Teng Fong.

"In your quiet, unassuming way, you have made huge and lasting contributions, and strengthened Singaporeans' faith that this Government can and will solve their problems and improve their lives," PM Lee said in his letter.

Mr Khaw has been one of his "most reliable lieutenants", and a role model and source of sage advice to the younger ministers, PM Lee wrote, adding he is happy that even post-retirement, Mr Khaw will be available to advise his successors and share his experience and wisdom.














With support from many, we managed to deliver, says Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan
By Yuen Sin, The Straits Times, 27 Jun 2020

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who has anchored Sembawang GRC for more than a decade, began thinking about passing on the baton after undergoing heart bypass surgery in 2010.

Before the election in 2015, he had set his sights on having Education Minister Ong Ye Kung succeed him as anchor minister in the group representation constituency.



Speaking to reporters at Canberra MRT station yesterday after his retirement from politics was announced, Mr Khaw, 67, said he has known Mr Ong since his civil service days at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and described him as a "very outstanding officer".

"I was being selfish when I lobbied Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to get Mr Ong to come to Sembawang, so that I can hand over to him with confidence," he said. "I'm quite sure that with Mr Ong, we made the right call."



Yesterday, Mr Ong posted a tribute to his mentor on Facebook. He thanked Mr Khaw for including him in the Sembawang team and for the opportunity to lead negotiations on the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement signed in 2003 when he was a civil servant at MTI, describing it as a turning point in his career.

Yesterday, Mr Khaw teared up as he recounted Mr Ong's tribute. "(It was) very kind of him to acknowledge the small role I played in his career. But that is the way we ought to behave as supervisors, or bosses, or managers - your job is to nurture the young."



Mr Khaw tackled hot-button issues that emerged as flashpoints in past elections, from public transport to housing. On housing and transport, he said: "Both were important, critical political problems. One was during GE2011, one was in GE2015. And if I could not deliver... I think the damage is to the party. So there was great pressure on our shoulders."

His team, he said, "dared not rest" and continued to push on.

"Fortunately, with the support of many people... (we managed to) deliver," said Mr Khaw, who added he is glad rail reliability has not emerged as an issue in this election.

As for his approach to solving complex issues, he said teamwork is key. "(If you) gather good people with the right ethos, you can make changes... this is, on a small scale, the story of Singapore."

Chuckling as he related this anecdote, he said when he told his granddaughter, who is in Primary 2, about his retirement, her immediate thought was: "Huh, there's nobody working in this family. So she says, oh, she has a solution - grandma must go and work. Then her next thought was, 'Grandpa, you must go and do marketing now. Do you know how to buy or not?'"

Reflecting on his more than 40 years in public service, he said: "It has been very satisfying - so now it's time for me to rest."









PM Lee's valedictory letter to Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan
The Straits Times, 26 Jun 2020

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, 67, is retiring from politics after 19 years.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Mr Khaw, who is also Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, for his lifetime of public service to Singapore in a valedictory letter released to the media on Friday (June 26).

Here is his letter in full:

26 June 2020

Mr Khaw Boon Wan

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport

Dear Boon Wan,

As you retire from politics, I write to thank you for your lifetime of public service to Singapore.

You entered politics in 2001, after a distinguished public service career. By chance, the years of both your joining and leaving politics have been marked by global crises - then the aftermath of September 11, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. They bookend a remarkable political career, during which you have taken on the most challenging jobs in the Cabinet. In your quiet, unassuming way, you have made a huge and lasting contribution, and strengthened Singaporeans' faith that this Government can and will solve their problems and improve their lives.

One of your first appointments after being elected was to the Ministry of Health (MOH). Healthcare was not new to you, having run several hospitals as a civil servant. When the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) outbreak happened, you were Senior Minister of State. You were on the front line, going into the hospitals to check on the arrangements and encourage the medical staff. Subsequently, you took over as Minister for Health from Mr Lim Hng Kiang. Learning the painful lessons of Sars, you instituted new processes and extensive preparations, to get us ready for the next novel disease outbreak. These served us well when COVID-19 came upon us.

At MOH, you also reformed MediShield and MediSave, and introduced ElderShield. These fundamental reforms reassured many Singaporeans that healthcare costs would remain affordable. You expanded our healthcare capacity significantly, laying the groundwork for Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Sengkang General Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, and establishing the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School as Singapore's second medical school.

After the 2011 General Election, you took on the National Development portfolio. Your immediate task was to assuage public concerns about HDB waiting times and affordability. You ramped up the HDB building programme, reduced Built-to-Order (BTO) waiting times and introduced policies to enable newlyweds to own their first flat earlier and live near their parents. These measures gave young Singaporeans the confidence that an affordable home would always be within their reach.

At the same time, you advanced plans to remake Singapore into a liveable and sustainable city. In the URA Master Plan 2014, you set out our vision to expand the city centre to the Greater Southern Waterfront, and to extend our Park Connector Network throughout Singapore and make us a City in a Garden. Future generations will build on these lasting legacies.



Having helmed Health and National Development, no one would have begrudged you lighter responsibilities in the subsequent term. Yet after the 2015 General Election, you volunteered to take on the politically spiky transport portfolio, and later to serve as Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure. Our immediate priority was to improve the reliability of our MRT system. To achieve this, you set a target of one million mean kilometres between failures (MKBF), which at the time many thought unrealistic. But in the first quarter of this year, our MRT system not only achieved your target but surpassed it, hitting 1.4 million MKBF. This dramatic achievement is the product of a huge amount of hard work, your encouragement for the regulator and rail operators to work together as one team, your strengthening of rail engineering capabilities, and your emphasis on the crucial but often unnoticed work of continuous system maintenance and timely asset renewal.

Externally, you strengthened Singapore's air hub and sea hub status. On your watch, Singapore was successfully re-elected to the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council and International Maritime Organisation Council. You pushed for the construction of Changi Runway 3, Changi Airport Terminal 5 and the Tuas Megaport. These projects have been affected by the current uncertainties, and the schedules have to be adjusted and plans reviewed, especially for Terminal 5. But we are determined that Singapore should remain an air and sea hub, and these long term investments will help consolidate Singapore's position in the post-COVID-19 world.

With Malaysia, we concluded complicated negotiations on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link and the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail. Due to changes of government in Malaysia and the pandemic, both projects have been delayed, but discussions continue with our Malaysian counterparts to reach a win-win outcome. With Indonesia too, airspace remains a complex and sensitive bilateral issue under discussion. In both cases, your personal rapport with foreign counterparts has proved invaluable.

Besides your Ministerial duties, you also made significant contributions to the People's Action Party. After the disappointing results of the 2011 General Election, you led the post-mortem to identify where the Party had fallen short. You presented your conclusions and recommendations at the 2011 Party Conference, where they were actively debated. That was a watershed moment for the PAP. The honest introspection and self-critique set the Party on a fresh course. Following that Conference, you became Party Chairman taking over from Lim Boon Heng, and played your part to drive change from within. This contributed much to our decisive win in the 2015 General Election.

As an MP, you are well known for being dedicated and responsive to residents. You were active in bringing the community together, and infusing the kampung spirit in your residents. You took special pride in keeping Sembawang clean and green, and residents often encountered you when you took walks in Sembawang Park to relax. Sayang Sembawang, your community tagline, encapsulated your efforts to make Sembawang an endearing home.

You were in my Cabinet since day one, and have been one of my most reliable lieutenants. Beyond your own portfolios, your comments on matters put before Cabinet always went to the heart of the matter, and focussed our minds on the key considerations and trade-offs. Beyond your ministerial and political contributions, I have deeply appreciated our personal friendship, and greatly benefitted from your advice. You were the one who in 2012 suggested that I venture into social media, which I had until then considered a foreign land, to engage an audience not likely to follow my speeches and statements in detail. Having now done it for eight years, I have found it a fascinating and worthwhile journey.

For the younger Ministers, you have been a role model and a source of sage advice. They look to you to learn not only how to solve difficult problems, but also your seemingly effortless way of explaining nettlesome issues to Singaporeans. I am thus happy that even after you retire, you have agreed to continue to be available to advise your successors on the issues that you have handled as a Minister, and to share with them your experience and wisdom.

On behalf of all Singaporeans, and especially your residents in Sembawang, I thank you for all that you have done for Singapore, and wish you a happy, healthy and well-deserved retirement.

Yours sincerely,

Lee Hsien Loong



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Mobile Access for Seniors: Low-income seniors to get mobile data plans that cost as little as $5 a month from July 2020

June 30, 2020, 7:10 am
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One-year plans to be offered by four telcos from July under national scheme; no charges for excess data used
By Lester Wong, The Straits Times, 30 Jun 2020

From next month, low-income seniors will be able to sign up for more affordable one-year mobile data plans that cost as little as $5 a month for 5GB, as part of a national initiative to get them connected online.

Basic smartphones starting at $20 will be bundled with the mobile plans under the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme, which was announced yesterday by the Infocomm Media Development Authority.

There will also be no excess data charges, though surfing speeds will be limited should seniors inadvertently exceed their data limits.

The plans will be offered by Singtel, StarHub, M1 and TPG Telecom. Seniors have to be aged 60 and above, and be receiving ComCare assistance or living in HDB Public Rental Scheme housing, to qualify for the new scheme.

"Seniors worry about the knowledge part (when going digital) - 'Who can help me'? Another major concern they have is about cost, and I think this subsidised plan addresses that concern," said Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran yesterday when unveiling the mobile data plans.

He added that the absence of excess data charges is an "important source of reassurance" for seniors - that they are not going to be "shocked by a bill" that exceeds what they are committed to.

Eligible seniors can register their interest in the mobile plans with Seniors Go Digital digital ambassadors after they have attended digital literacy programmes and acquired at least one basic digital skill, such as using messaging apps like WhatsApp, or scanning QR codes.

Separately, the four telcos, along with virtual telco Circles.Life, are also launching low-cost mobile plans available to all seniors.

For example, StarHub's four plans include SIM-only plans with 5GB or 30GB of monthly mobile data for $8 or $20, respectively.

The other two plans, which come with a bundled smartphone, are priced at $40 or $60 a month for 15GB or 40GB of mobile data, respectively, over two years. Customers can sign up for these plans now at all StarHub outlets.



Meanwhile, M1 is offering a 25 per cent discount on its regular device and SIM-only plans for seniors, along with three-month complimentary access to streaming services Viu Premium and TVBAnywhere+.

This means, for instance, that its $25 SIM-only plan with 30GB monthly mobile data will cost $18.75 for seniors. The plans will be available for sign-up from July 24.

Singtel said it will launch its plans next month. These will come with data-free messaging on WhatsApp, among other perks.

The telco will also hold Seniors Go Digital workshops at eight outlets across the island every Wednesday to give seniors personalised assistance. These will be held from 9am to 11am, two hours before the outlets open.

The new Mobile Access for Seniors scheme augments broad-ranging outreach efforts under the Singapore Digital Office(SDO) formed last month, including the Seniors Go Digital movement that aims to reach 100,000 seniors by the end of this year.

The SDO will recruit 1,000 digital ambassadors by the end of this month to help seniors as well as stallholders at hawker centres and wet markets to learn how to use digital tools.

These ambassadors have reached all 112 of Singapore's hawker centres this month, and around 500 coffee shops, Mr Iswaran noted.

"What we have now is a truly national digital movement, in terms of its reach, and the inclusiveness, involvement and participation in the effort," he said.

"There aren't many countries in the world that are doing this kind of effort, where we are actually going to almost the very extremes of our society in order to make digital adoption pervasive."
















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GE2020 Nomination Day: All 93 seats contested as Singapore heads for 'crisis election' on July 10

July 1, 2020, 4:54 am
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PM Lee says outcome of polls will impact Republic's response to crisis and its future
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

Singapore will see all seats contested for the second general election in a row, in a contest that takes place amid a global pandemic and a time of crisis.

Nomination Day saw a total of 192 candidates file papers to contest all 93 seats in 17 group representation constituencies and 14 single-member constituencies.

The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) is the only party fighting for every seat, while the leading opposition Workers' Party (WP) is fielding 21 candidates this time around, fewer than the 28 in 2015.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has the largest contingent among the opposition, with 24 candidates in its maiden outing.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday described the July 10 polls as a "crisis election" - one that can change the course of history.

"As our manifesto puts it, what's at stake is our lives, our jobs, our future. Everything depends on which government you choose and the mandate that you give it," he said.



While there can be a "flight to safety" by the electorate, he acknowledged that this "is not the happiest of times", with people hard hit by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that every constituency is being contested this time, he said: "So this is not a by-election, it's a general election for the most important issues concerning the country at a moment of crisis, and I think everybody needs to understand that."

While the PAP has called on voters to give it a strong mandate, WP chief Pritam Singh said his party will face an uphill battle, especially in the light of restrictions on campaigning due to COVID-19.

In a clear drawing of battle lines, Mr Singh again warned of the possibility of a clean sweep by the ruling party, while PSP leaders called on voters to bring an end to the PAP's "super majority" in Parliament.



In response to suggestions that the election might see the PAP wiping out the opposition, PM Lee pointed out that the Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) scheme guarantees there will be a "significant opposition presence" in Parliament.

The scheme - amended in 2016 - provides for at least 12 opposition MPs with full voting rights in the House, up from nine, even in the event that the PAP wins all seats. There were six elected opposition MPs and three NCMPs in the 13th session of Parliament.

The ruling party kept some cards close to its chest till yesterday, springing last-minute surprises by deploying key fourth-generation ministers in constituencies that are expected to be hotly contested.



Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat moved from his Tampines stronghold to anchor the PAP team in East Coast GRC. His team will go up against the WP, which won 45.2 per cent of the vote in the 2011 General Election and 39.3 per cent in 2015.

Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee left Jurong GRC to join the PAP team in West Coast GRC, helmed by Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran. They will go head to head against the PSP's "A team" led by former PAP stalwart Tan Cheng Bock, whose former Ayer Rajah seat is now part of West Coast GRC.

On deploying two ministers in West Coast, PM Lee said the party tries to spread them out, "but sometimes we have two in one place".



Analysts also expect to see keen battles between the PAP and WP teams in Aljunied GRC and the new Sengkang GRC.

Among the SMC contests, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) sprang a surprise of its own by fielding party chairman Paul Tambyah in Bukit Panjang against three-term PAP MP Liang Eng Hwa.

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC will see a three-cornered fight between the PAP, Peoples Voice and Singapore Democratic Alliance - the first multi-cornered fight in a GRC since the 1992 by-election in Marine Parade GRC. There will be a three-way battle in Pioneer SMC as well.

There are 2.65 million voters registered to vote in the election.

Parties began campaigning in earnest yesterday, doing walkabouts and holding online sessions. The SDP held its first e-rally last night on Facebook.



With no physical rallies allowed in this election, parties will hold webinars and e-rallies during the campaign to try to win the hearts and minds of voters.


















Singapore GE2020: Tactical surprises signal keen contests as parties vie for votes
Parties make plain they will be fighting to win every vote in all the seats they are contesting
By Zakir Hussain, News Editor, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

One would have thought an election campaign held in the midst of COVID-19 would be calmer. The run-up to GE2020 so far has been anything but that.

The major parties had kept their cards close to their chest, leaving candidate introductions till after Parliament was dissolved and the Writ of Election issued.



Restrictions on mass campaigns have made social media a key battleground in what some see as an Internet election. One of its first casualties was People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Ivan Lim, who withdrew his candidacy last Saturday, following a concerted online campaign against him over his alleged past behaviour.

Since then, several other candidates, from both the PAP and the opposition, have come under criticism for their past comments and actions.

In a departure from the past few general elections, the PAP did not publicly confirm its line-ups in constituencies where it expects a tough fight - till it was time to file nomination papers yesterday.

Many voters take national issues into account at the ballot box, and this time round, the pandemic as well as concerns over jobs and the handling of the economy will remain on top of voters' minds.

But representing neighbourhoods matters as well - explaining why the PAP strengthened certain line-ups and kept its cards close to its chest to prevent any late switchovers from its opponents.



It kept its key masterstrokes till the very end: In East Coast GRC, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat helms the PAP team against a team from the Workers' Party (WP) which has - as a party - been targeting the GRC since GE2006.

In West Coast GRC, Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran is joined by Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee as they face a challenge from former PAP stalwart Tan Cheng Bock, who was MP for Ayer Rajah from 1980 to 2006 and is adept at electoral campaigning.

As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted in a post-nomination press conference at PAP headquarters: "These are tactical deployments which we do have to keep to ourselves until we judge the moment is right."

The PAP was not the only party to do so.

The WP, traditionally the largest opposition player, did the same with the 21 candidates it fielded in four GRCs and two single-member constituencies (SMCs), announcing only its Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC line-ups before yesterday.

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), which fielded 11 candidates in two GRCs and three SMCs, similarly kept its late switches a secret - moving chairman Paul Tambyah to Bukit Panjang single-seat, as well as more recognisable members Benjamin Pwee and Tan Jee Say to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC respectively.

Dr Tan's Progress Singapore Party (PSP) was registered last year but is the opposition party that is fielding the largest number of candidates this election - 24 - in four GRCs and five SMCs.

It also announced where it is contesting in advance, although questions were raised over whether Mr Lee Hsien Yang would eventually be fielded. He wasn't.

The stakes are high - for both the ruling party and the opposition parties.

Yes, during a crisis there can be a flight to safety, PM Lee noted.

But the PAP is aware that this is not the happiest of times, he added.

"People are feeling the pain and the uncertainty because of the crisis, some acutely. The opposition is making the most of that," he said.

"They're well organised and prepared and will not roll over or go away. The PAP will have to fight for every vote and win every heart."

WP chief Pritam Singh made a similar point to reporters in the party's Hougang stronghold yesterday, saying: "The WP is always up against an opponent which is much more well resourced, and which always fights hard in every election. Obviously I want our candidates to do well, and to fight equally hard."

Several other opposition leaders have said the crisis could see votes swing in favour of the PAP.

Mr Singh had, in launching his party's manifesto on Sunday, also spoke of the risk of a "wipeout" of an elected opposition presence in Parliament.



Others have therefore sought to argue on the need for checks and balances, and one call making the rounds - on social media - is "32 seats to save Singapore", referring to the number of opposition MPs needed to deny the government a two-thirds majority, which is required to amend the Constitution. It is also a figure that could alarm voters in the middle.

For its part, the PAP is keen to drive home the point that there will be a guaranteed minimum of 12 opposition MPs through the Non-Constituency MP scheme - with full voting rights, including on motions of confidence.

PM Lee stressed yesterday: "Whatever happens… there's no possibility of the opposition being shut out from Parliament."

Expect this to be an argument reiterated - as well as countered - over the coming days, with the possibility of further tactical surprises.

On the one hand, a strong government has enabled Singapore to respond swiftly to COVID-19 and marshal close to $100 billion over four Budgets to manage the healthcare response and save jobs.

On the other, more alternative voices and checks will help strengthen Singapore's resilience and response to future crises like the present.

This will be the first election without physical rallies. But expect the messages to be driven home with vigour - whether on nightly TV programmes starting with party political broadcasts tomorrow and constituency political broadcasts over five days starting from Friday, or over online rallies by parties making their pitch to voters.






















Last-minute surprises set stage for several key GRC fights
PAP beefs up teams in hotly contested constituencies in the east and the west
By Low Lin Fhoong, Assistant Sports Editor, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

There were no horns, party umbrellas or whistles on Nomination Day owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the battle for Singapore's 17 group representation constituencies (GRCs) served up some twists and last-minute surprises yesterday as candidates from the 11 political parties in the fray headed to the nine nomination centres around the island.

While the line-ups went largely to plan, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) chose to beef up its teams with two big moves in hotly contested constituencies in the east and the west.

All 17 GRCs will be contested this time, with all but one seeing straight fights. Many have retained their anchor ministers from the PAP, but three of the battlegrounds will see new ministers at the helm.


DPM HENG MOVES TO EAST COAST

The biggest surprise came in East Coast GRC, as Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, 59, who has been a Tampines GRC MP since 2011, moved there to lead the team in what has been tipped to be the toughest fight in this election.

The PAP team comprising Dr Maliki Osman, 54, Ms Cheryl Chan, 43, and Ms Jessica Tan, 54, and new face Tan Kiat How, 43, had arrived earlier at the St Anthony's Canossian Primary School nomination centre without a fifth member, as former minister Lim Swee Say, 65, has retired from politics.

Mr Heng was spotted at the centre only around 11.30am, half an hour before nominations closed, before his candidature was confirmed.

In his speech to voters, he said: "COVID-19 has plunged the world into a period of profound uncertainty with a major crisis on many fronts - healthcare, economic, social and geopolitical. The People's Action Party has a plan to enable us to overcome this crisis, has a plan to emerge stronger from this."

Mr Heng added in a Facebook post: "We cannot afford a gap in East Coast in these uncertain times. We need a full team that can take care of the residents and position them to come out of this crisis stronger than before."

The PAP will face the Workers' Party (WP) team of Mr Kenneth Foo, 43, Mr Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim, 54, Mr Terence Tan, 49, Mr Dylan Ng, 45, and Ms Nicole Seah, 33.

The WP has contested in East Coast GRC in the last three elections and party chief Pritam Singh, who is standing in Aljunied GRC, said Mr Heng's move was "an important signal that they (PAP) take our challenge in East Coast very seriously". "I would say we take their challenge equally seriously and that's why we've put together a strong slate of candidates in the East Coast team," he added.


JOURNEY TO THE WEST

Another minister who made a big move was Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee, 43, who moved from Jurong GRC. He joined the West Coast GRC team led by Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran, 58, and comprising Ms Foo Mee Har, 54, Mr Ang Wei Neng, 53 - who also moved from Jurong GRC - and new face Rachel Ong, 47.

The hotly contested battle will see the two ministers and their colleagues going up against the Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) "A team" headed by its chief Tan Cheng Bock, 80. The team includes PSP assistant secretary-general Leong Mun Wai, 60, and vice-chairman Hazel Poa, 50, a former secretary-general of the National Solidarity Party.

The other members are Mr Jeffrey Khoo, 51, Asia-Pacific chief marketing officer of global insurance and reinsurance broker Ed; and Mr Nadarajah Loganathan, 57, a retired senior Singapore Armed Forces officer and co-founder of a skills training firm.

Former parliamentary colleagues Mr Iswaran and Dr Tan face off in a constituency the former has served in since 1997. The latter is back on familiar stomping ground as he was the PAP's MP for Ayer Rajah from 1980 to 2006 before it was absorbed into West Coast GRC.

Mr Iswaran said: "We, as the team, have worked through the years to look after your needs, and care for you. Vote for us, your PAP team, so that we can continue to work together to protect our lives, our jobs and our future."

Dr Tan said he would not question why the PAP had moved Mr Lee to West Coast, adding: "In politics, it's that way... But if they say I must be somebody quite good, quite strong, so they are trying to (get) all their heavyweights (to) come to West Coast, well, that's good."


NO 'SUICIDE SQUAD' IN ALJUNIED

The site of a historic opposition victory by the WP in 2011, Aljunied GRC is set to be the scene of another fierce battle as the WP has fielded its strongest slate - Mr Singh, 43, party chairman Sylvia Lim, 55, Mr Faisal Manap, 45, all incumbent MPs, as well as Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera, 49, and former NCMP Gerald Giam, 42. They will face PAP candidates Victor Lye, 58, Chua Eng Leong, 49, Shamsul Kamar, 48, Alex Yeo, 41, and Chan Hui Yuh, 44.

After a near-loss in 2015 when the WP captured 50.95 per cent of the votes, the party is missing stalwart Low Thia Khiang and Chen Show Mao as both are stepping down.

It remains to be seen if the WP's popularity will be hit by its legal troubles, as the High Court last October found that Mr Singh, Ms Lim and Mr Low breached their duties to Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, which was said to have made millions of dollars in improper payments under their watch. The trio have appealed against the ruling.

Mr Singh said: "It's going to be a difficult election. There have been some commentaries in the media about the real risk of a wipeout.

"It took us 16 years (after independence) before one seat fell to opposition in 1981, and it took 23 years after the enactment of the GRC system for an opposition to break through in one GRC.

"It's an uphill battle and it's going to be a difficult fight. But we have to put people who are committed who can do the whole stretch."

While some commentators have called the PAP team a "suicide squad", Mr Lim Boon Heng, a former MP who is now an adviser for the GRC, disagreed. He said: "If it was a suicide squad, how did (the PAP team) pull off a marginal loss (in 2015)? It is about whether you have the heart to serve people."

NEW GROUND, NEW BATTLE

Newly formed Sengkang GRC is the scene of a fight between a PAP team led by labour chief Ng Chee Meng and the WP's He Tingru, 37. The constituency combines Sengkang Central ward from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC with the former Punggol East SMC and part of the former Sengkang West SMC.

The PAP team consists of former Pasir Ris-Punggol MP Mr Ng, 51, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health Lam Pin Min, 50, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and Health Amrin Amin, 41, and new face Raymond Lye, 54, a lawyer. They are up against Ms He, economist Jamus Lim, 44, equity research analyst Louis Chua, 33, and social activist Raeesah Khan, 26. Aside from Ms He, the other three are contesting their first election.

Mr Ng said: "We humbly ask for your support so that we, the PAP, can lead the country out of this crisis. Not just for ourselves, but for our children, our grandchildren. We want to ensure that every Singaporean has a good job, and can look forward to better jobs for the future."

He added that his team wanted to build Sengkang town into "the most liveable place for all of us". Mr Amrin said "this time of crisis is not a time for experiment(ing)" and pointed to the PAP's track record.

Dr Lim, an associate professor of economics, said the WP would share its plans to build a thriving and inclusive society in Sengkang. "We have listened as you shared with us your stories, your fears and concerns, and your dreams and hopes. This in turn has informed our ideas, plans and policies," he added.

The WP won Punggol East SMC in a 2013 by-election but lost it in 2015 to the PAP's Mr Charles Chong, 67, who won 51.76 per cent of votes against the WP's Ms Lee Li Lian, 41.

TANJONG PAGAR GRC

There was a small disagreement when the PAP team led by Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah found a small error in the forms of its opponents from the PSP.

The PSP slate, led by its organising secretary Michael Chua, did not fill out the name of the constituency in one of its forms. Amendments could not be made as the deadline for making changes had passed, but officials accepted the papers as the PAP team decided not to raise any objections.

The PAP slate comprises Mr Chan, 50; Ms Indranee, 57; Ms Joan Pereira, 52; and two first-timers - Mr Alvin Tan, 40, LinkedIn's Asia-Pacific head of public policy and economics; and former public servant Eric Chua, 41.

On the PSP's team are Mr Chua, 55; lawyer Wendy Low, 43; technologist Harish Pillay, 60; senior trainer Abas Kasmani, 67; and new face Terence Soon, 29, a Singapore Airlines pilot.

Ms Indranee said the PAP team decided to waive its right to object as it did not want to be returned to power because of a technicality.

"If we are returned, we want to be returned because our voters have said they've given us the right and the privilege to return."

Asked about the mistake, PSP's Mr Chua said his team could have also found fault with the PAP's forms, which listed its candidate Mr Eric Chua's occupation as "retired SCDF officer".

"That is not an occupation," said Mr Michael Chua. "So I think in that spirit of competition, we really want to give Singapore a choice of two very good teams, and for them to cast a vote for the future. It's not about paperwork, and these very minor technicalities."

On this, a spokesman for the PAP team said "no such issue was raised at the nomination centre, as should be done under the rules if there was indeed an issue".

"The PAP team remains focused on the contest so the voters can decide who will represent them."


























Marymount and Bukit Panjang among single seats to watch
By David Lee, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

The 14 single-member constituencies in the coming general election will see a mix of fresh faces and experienced hands fighting for votes.

At Marymount SMC, which was carved out from Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, People's Action Party (PAP) new face Gan Siow Huang is a surprise choice as the earlier talk was that incumbent Bishan-Toa Payoh MP Chong Kee Hiong might stand there.

But Ms Gan, 45, Singapore's first female brigadier-general, submitted papers instead and will face off against Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) Dr Ang Yong Guan, a retired army colonel.



Dr Ang, a 65-year-old psychiatrist, contested as a member of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2011 election. Three years later, he became a founding member and chairman of the Singaporeans First party, and was a candidate at the 2015 election.

In April, he made an appearance in a video released on the PSP Facebook page.

In a speech after nominations closed, Ms Gan, who is deputy chief executive of the National Trades Union Congress' Employment and Employability Institute, noted that Marymount may be a new SMC, but many residents have lived there for a long time.

"We have built one of the best and most beautiful towns in Singapore. We have forged strong community bonds through the years. Vote for PAP, so that we can continue to serve you," she said.

In his address, Dr Ang called on residents to vote for the PSP and to deny the PAP a two-thirds majority.

"Send 32 of us, PSP plus alternative parties... into Parliament. For country, for people - you deserve better," he said.


When new electoral boundaries were announced earlier this year, Singapore saw an increase from 13 to 14 SMCs.

Four of them are new ones: Kebun Baru, Marymount, Punggol West and Yio Chu Kang.

At Yio Chu Kang SMC, which was part of the Ang Mo Kio GRC, PAP's Mr Yip Hon Weng said he is looking forward to a "good fight" against PSP's Ms Kayla Low, a fellow 43-year-old newcomer.

Addressing the constituency after nominations closed, Mr Yip, the former group chief of the Silver Generation Office at the Agency for Integrated Care, said: "I will listen to your cares, needs and concerns... I will work with you to build Yio Chu Kang into a place we can be proud of, into a home (where) we can happily raise our families."

Ms Low, a chartered accountant, said she was committed to serving Singapore and Yio Chu Kang residents if elected, with the guidance of PSP founder and secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock.

All in, the PSP will be contesting five single seats, the SDP three, and the Workers' Party two, with four other parties contesting one each.

The SDP slate includes its chairman Paul Tambyah who, in a late tactical switch, is being fielded in the Bukit Panjang single seat.

The professor of medicine at the National University of Singapore will face the PAP's Mr Liang Eng Hwa, who was from Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and replaces the departing Dr Teo Ho Pin.

Professor Tambyah, 55, had been widely expected to contest as part of the SDP's team in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC again.

After nominations closed, he revealed that he had considered the move for "at least a few weeks", and was ultimately convinced by the positive response he received on the ground during his walkabouts.

At the 2015 General Election, Mr Liang, a 56-year-old managing director at DBS Bank, was part of the PAP team that defeated Prof Tambyah's SDP side with a vote share of 66.6 per cent.

SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, 57, is also gunning for a single seat, taking on the PAP's incumbent Murali Pillai in Bukit Batok in what looks set to be a fiery rematch of the 2016 by-election.

The two had contested in the constituency after the departure of the PAP's Mr David Ong over allegations of an extramarital affair.

Mr Murali, a 52-year-old lawyer, won the seat with a share of 61.2 per cent.

Another SMC to watch is Punggol West, where Workers' Party fresh face Tan Chen Chen, 38, will face off against the PAP's Ms Sun Xueling, the incumbent in the seat hived off from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

The 40-year-old Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development will be looking to win her second term.

Earlier, Peoples Voice leader Lim Tean had indicated the party's interest in Punggol West, but it did not field a candidate ultimately.

While three-cornered fights failed to materialise in Punggol West and Bukit Panjang, where perennial independent candidate Ooi Boon Ewe was spotted on Nomination Day, there will still be one multiway SMC contest - in Pioneer.

The PAP's Mr Patrick Tay, 48, and the PSP's Mr Lim Cher Hong, 42, already had their hats in the ring, while 65-year-old retired financial accountant Victor Ronnie Lai emerged as a possible independent candidate.

But Mr Lai belatedly decided not to contest, and it was left to business consultant Cheang Peng Wah to become the sole independent candidate in this general election.

Mr Cheang, who declined to give his age, told reporters: "You see the fourth-generation ministers - I don't think they are up to the mark yet. Why? Maybe because the opposition is not strong enough yet.

"They are not surrounded by wolves, lions or tigers. So with our help, we can help them get more steel within them to make Singapore better."






























A crisis election that will shape Singapore's future, says PM Lee
Amid COVID-19, people's lives, jobs and future hinge on choice of govt, strength of mandate
By Lim Yan Liang, Assistant Political Editor, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

This is a crisis election, and the path Singapore takes from here will depend on the government the people choose and the mandate it is given, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

While some expect a flight to safety and familiarity in times of crisis, PM Lee said he did not agree with this view. The People's Action Party (PAP), he said, does not take for granted that voters will naturally keep voting for the ruling party.

Like Singapore's first general election in 1959, or the polls in 2001 that took place after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, this year, it is an "election during a crisis", he added.

Said PM Lee: "These are elections that focus everyone's minds, and they can also change the course of history."

Speaking at a virtual press conference after nomination proceedings, he said: "As our manifesto puts it, what's at stake is our lives, our jobs and our future.

"Everything depends on which government you choose, and the mandate you give it."



The PAP expects a tough fight this time because the pandemic has caused great economic pain for many people, PM Lee added.

"This is not the happiest of times; people are feeling the pain and the uncertainty because of the crisis, some acutely," he said. "The opposition is making the most of that."

With all 93 seats at stake in this election, there is also no by-election effect, where the Government is guaranteed to be returned to power come Polling Day, said PM Lee.

"This is not a by-election - it's a general election for the most important issues concerning the country at a moment of crisis," he told reporters at Deyi Secondary School nomination centre earlier in the day.

"Everybody needs to understand that; everybody must have that in mind when they assess their votes."

The PAP will give its all for this contest and "fight for every vote and win every heart", he added.

Asked what he would deem a strong mandate for the PAP, PM Lee said a good outcome hinges not just on the vote share come July 10, but also on whether Singaporeans are happy with the outcome of the election.

Such an outcome would enable the country to come together after election night, to support the Government and its plans in the face of an ongoing crisis, he added.



A strong mandate would therefore be "measured qualitatively, and not just by numbers", said PM Lee, who last week called for the strong backing of the people to put in place a capable government that can see Singapore through today's tumultuous times.

"You want to have a good vote, of course, but how you interpret it also depends on the mood during the campaign and the vibes, whether people feel that this is a good outcome and they are happy with it," he said.

The alternative, he added, would be if voters see the outcome and think they should have voted differently.

PM Lee said: "If you have an election at the end of which you have, let's say, even a very overwhelming majority, but the minority who voted against you are extremely, intensely unhappy with the outcome, the country is divided, there is a lack of trust, mutual lack of respect - which is what's happened in many Western countries, like in the US - I think that's a bad outcome."

He added that the PAP secured a good mandate in 2015, and he hoped Singaporeans will again make a "resounding, clear choice".



In a televised nationwide broadcast on Tuesday last week, PM Lee explained why the election had to be called now. He said holding hustings at a time when things are relatively stable would "clear the decks", and give the new government a fresh, full five-year mandate.

PM Lee said that if the election outcome is where, at the end, everybody feels "this is good... this is our team, we voted for him collectively (though) I may or may not have voted for him, but I will support him because that is the outcome", then "I think that is a good outcome for Singapore".















4G leaders stepped up, and did very well in COVID-19 crisis, says PM Lee
By Danson Cheong, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

The PAP's fourth-generation leaders have acquitted themselves well in leading the fight against COVID-19, and shown Singaporeans what they can do, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

PM Lee, the PAP's secretary-general, asked Singaporeans to support the party in the upcoming general election, so that the 4G team would have a "good start to establish themselves and take Singapore the next step forward".

Asked for his assessment of the 4G leadership's handling of the pandemic at a virtual press conference after the nomination of candidates for the coming election, PM Lee said it was a "serious fight", and the 4G leaders had stepped up and kept Singapore safe.

"I would say that in handling COVID-19, the 4G leaders have done very well," said PM Lee.

"They've been on the front line. They've been chairing the ministerial task force. They've been directing the whole-of-government response, the public communications, the presentation, the explanations, the mobilisation of our people to understand, to accept the very many intrusive and inconvenient measures which we have to take to keep ourselves safe from COVID-19."



The pandemic was a baptism of fire for the 4G leadership who helmed the country's response. Some observers have noted that the opposition could find fault with their handling of the crisis and turn it into an election issue.

The Government's multi-ministry task force directing Singapore's response against the disease is co-chaired by National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, and advised by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Various other 4G leaders, including Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, have taken charge of other aspects of the nation's response.

PM Lee said the coming GE will be an "important step" in the PAP's renewal process.

He added that a good result for the PAP would be an endorsement for the 4G team, the party's strategies, and its renewal process.

PM Lee has stated his intention for his successor to take over in the next term of government, before he turns 70 in 2022.

This is the ninth election that PM Lee will be contesting since he was elected in 1984.

But when asked if the disruption caused by COVID-19 would cause a change in that timeline, he replied: "I very much hope that COVID-19 will not disturb my plans, but COVID-19 is a very wily and dangerous virus, and we will have to see how things develop on that front."


















Move to East Coast GRC to avoid succession gap, says Heng Swee Keat
He is very attached to Tampines but wants to do his part in East Coast to ensure a full team
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's decision to leave his Tampines stronghold to lead the People's Action Party's five-member team in East Coast GRC was made to avoid a "succession gap" in uncertain times.

He said the move was decided on after discussions with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Mr Heng, in a Facebook post, set out the reasons for springing one of the biggest surprises on the morning of Nomination Day yesterday.

He said: "The question was: Should I move to East Coast? I thought long and hard about it. After serving for almost a decade, I am very attached to Tampines and the people there."

Mr Heng, the PAP's first assistant secretary-general, said: "If I move, I can do my part in East Coast. We cannot afford a gap in East Coast in these uncertain times. We need a full team that can take care of the residents and position them to come out of this crisis stronger than before."

He added that Tampines GRC, where Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli will replace him as anchor minister, has a "very good team".

Mr Heng said he and Mr Masagos have been working very closely on many projects and each time, Mr Masagos has delivered.

"In fact, we were in the midst of making many plans. I'm glad that many of the plans we did it together, so I'm confident that Masagos and his team will be able to deliver if our Tampines residents continue to give their support to our team," he added.

Mr Heng's replacement in his Tampines Central ward is Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon, who has moved to Tampines from Ang Mo Kio GRC.

At a PAP press conference yesterday, after the candidate slates were finalised, PM Lee was asked if he had dispatched Mr Heng to a constituency with fiercer competition to give him a chance to prove himself as a leader.



PM Lee said: "I don't think this is a manhood thing. He doesn't have to go there and prove that he is in the fiercest battle. It helps to have won a good fight, but he goes where it makes the most contribution to the overall campaign."

He was also asked if fielding Mr Heng in East Coast was a risky move. PM Lee said: "I think in an election, you fight to win, but you are never absolutely certain that you will win. We send somebody where we think he has a good chance of winning, and I'm quite sure that Swee Keat will put his all to make sure that he gets a good outcome in East Coast."

Mr Masagos said the Tampines team had its own "mini crisis" in 2016, when Mr Heng had a stroke and other members of the team had to help out. The team also took on some of Mr Heng's responsibilities after his recovery, when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and his workload increased.

Mr Masagos said: "I'm very honoured that he has entrusted us to run Tampines, and we will build on the good work he has left behind."

Mr Heng said he is leaving Tampines with "mixed feelings".

However, he said he is pleased that he and his team were able to deliver on many of the things promised to residents over the last two election cycles.

He said: "I feel comfortable that it is a team that can continue to serve Tampines residents very well.



In his Facebook post, Mr Heng said his new East Coast team is looking forward to working with residents to build on the residents' spirit of mutual care and support, and to emerge stronger from the crisis. "There is so much to learn, and I will work hard to learn it."

In East Coast GRC, Mr Heng will replace former manpower minister Lim Swee Say, who is retiring from politics.

In his post, Mr Heng paid tribute to Mr Lim for his contributions to Singapore and his work in his old constituency.

Mr Lim was best known for championing workers during his time as labour chief and manpower minister, and brought a "very balanced tripartite perspective to any discussion", he wrote.

Mr Heng recounted a dinner with Mr Lim 18 months ago, where the former minister, "in his usual way... spoke at length about everything he was passionate about".

This included Mr Lim's concerns and hopes for East Coast residents. The discussion, Mr Heng said, helped him to better understand the people in the constituency.



He said: "I look forward to meeting the residents of East Coast that our team speaks so fondly of. I hope to learn about your worries as well as your hopes. I hope to earn your confidence. If you entrust us with your vote, my team and I will do our best for you and for Singapore, to work with everyone to navigate Singapore out of this unprecedented crisis."

In a Facebook video message, Mr Lim, who first contested in East Coast in 2011, urged voters there to give his successor and his team their full support. He said he was hoping he would be succeeded by someone who was "young, smart and caring". When he learnt Mr Heng was coming to East Coast, he was "overjoyed".

Said Mr Lim: "All these years, I've always been impressed by his ability to see far, to think deep, to come up with bold and innovative policies. He not only knows a lot, but he cares a lot."





'Significant opposition presence' in Parliament guaranteed
By Grace Ho, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

A "significant opposition presence" is guaranteed in Parliament, regardless of what happens in the general election, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

In a virtual press conference yesterday, he noted that the expanded Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) scheme now guarantees there will be 12 opposition members in Parliament - up from nine - even in the event that the People's Action Party (PAP) wins all the seats.

"NCMPs do have full voting rights, exactly the same as elected MPs. They can vote on Budgets, they can vote on constitutional amendments, they can even vote on motions of confidence," he said. "So whatever happens, a significant opposition presence is guaranteed. There is no possibility of the opposition being shut out from Parliament."

Given this, said PM Lee, Singaporeans should not vote for "compromise candidates" that would weaken the national team.

They should scrutinise the candidates and parties carefully, vote for the candidate or GRC team whom they think can do the best job for them in their constituency, and whose party will serve Singapore best if elected, he added.



Asked if he agreed with parties that have stressed the importance of sending elected opposition members to Parliament, he acknowledged that opposition parties would want to try "very hard" to win elected seats and not just have "high, good, losing results" in all the constituencies.

"But as far as the Constitution is concerned, as far as Parliament's operations are concerned, there is no difference between NCMPs and elected MPs in terms of their rights and privileges," he said. "They are the same, and we expect the (NCMPs) to participate as actively as elected MPs," he said, adding that the Workers' Party NCMPs have been especially active in Parliament, even at the risk of overshadowing the elected MPs at times.

This is a point that other PAP ministers have raised during this election season.

On Monday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah said it is not necessary for opposition candidates to be elected to have a say in Parliament, as the NCMP scheme guarantees there will be at least 12 opposition MPs in the House.

Commenting on opposition party deployments after the close of nomination proceedings, PM Lee said these did not come as a surprise.

"(The opposition parties) have been active for the last few months, and we have seen which constituencies they have been interested in, where they have been campaigning harder. And what they have done is generally in line with what the tea leaves have shown," PM Lee said.

He added: "The opposition are well organised and prepared, and will not roll over... The PAP will have to fight for every vote and win every heart."





Uphill battle but WP candidates are no pushovers, says Pritam Singh
WP chief expects them to fight hard even as COVID-19 makes election more challenging
By Audrey Tan, Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

The election will be an uphill battle for the Workers' Party (WP) but its candidates will prove that they are no pushovers, said party secretary-general Pritam Singh yesterday, after the party completed the nomination process for its 21 candidates.

Asked about his expectations for the general election, he said the party expects it to be difficult - with COVID-19 making campaigning even more challenging - and again raised the possibility of a clean sweep by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).



"The WP is always up against an opponent which is much more well resourced, and which always fights hard in every election," he said.

"So, obviously I want our candidates to do well and to fight equally hard."

The WP is fielding 21 candidates in six constituencies for this general election.

It sprang no surprises on Nomination Day, having earlier announced the number of candidates and constituencies it was contesting.

It is contesting Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, where it is the incumbent, as well as East Coast, Marine Parade and Sengkang GRCs and Punggol West SMC.

The list of WP candidates includes several who are taking part in the election for the first time.

In Sengkang GRC, for example, three of its four candidates are new faces. Only lawyer He Tingru, 37, has stood for election previously, as part of the WP team contesting in Marine Parade GRC in 2015.

The other members of its Sengkang team are economist Jamus Lim, 44; equity research analyst Louis Chua, 33; and social activist Raeesah Khan, 26.

But Mr Singh, 43, said the party has full confidence in the younger candidates.

"I think they will do well for the Workers' Party and I think they will prove to voters that they're no pushovers," he said.

"They will be prepared to fight for the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans, not just in Parliament, but in the constituency and in their town councils as well."

During the interview in Hougang - which Mr Singh said was chosen as the venue because it was where the "new spirit of the Workers' Party bloomed" - the WP chief said that restrictions on campaigning due to the coronavirus crisis will make this general election more difficult for opposition parties.

"It's always an uphill battle but now, I think, in the situation of COVID-19, it will probably be more challenging for us," he told reporters.

"We have to devote resources not just on the ground, which is still the main thrust of our campaign, but also... on social media."

His comments came after the WP rolled out a number of slickly produced campaign videos on social media that introduced party members and highlighted its achievements in some of the constituencies where it is contesting the upcoming polls.

On the PAP's move to field Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in East Coast GRC, Mr Singh said it is "an important signal that (they) are sending, that they take our challenge in East Coast very seriously".

He added: "I would say we take their challenge equally seriously, and that's why we've put together a strong slate of candidates in the East Coast team."

Meanwhile, Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) Dennis Tan, 49, the party's candidate for Hougang SMC, addressed the argument that the opposition did not need to fear a wipeout as the enhanced NCMP scheme guarantees at least 12 opposition MPs in Parliament.

The PAP's Ms Indranee Rajah made this point on Monday during an interview, saying that NCMPs had the same voting rights as MPs.

While Mr Tan acknowledged that NCMPs have the same speaking rights as elected MPs, he said the NCMP scheme is not a solution for having a vibrant opposition.

"It will create a problem for all opposition party members. It will prevent us from sinking roots into the constituency, because... we are not allowed to hold events, for example."

If people keep thinking that the NCMP scheme is a solution, he said, there is a strong chance that opposition parties will never be in sync with the constituencies.

Mr Tan added: "So one day, whether in the near or further future, if the PAP were to fail, if the PAP were to do very badly, how is another party going to take over as government?"

Last night, in a message to voters uploaded on its website, the opposition party said it was pro-Singapore - and was rational, responsible and respectable.

Signed by Mr Singh, it also stressed the value of having an opposition in Parliament. For example, it cited how the victory of the WP in the 2011 General Election forced PAP MPs and ministers to walk the ground more frequently.

Mr Singh added: "An elected opposition is necessary to keep the ruling party on its toes and to challenge the PAP for the betterment of Singapore."










Not new for West Coast to have two ministers, says Iswaran
PAP seeks a strong team, he says, suggesting move is not a response to challenge from PSP
By Lim Min Zhang and Fabian Koh, The Straits Times, 1 Jul 2020

West Coast GRC has had two ministers since 2011, and the People's Action Party's (PAP) objective, as always, has been to put forward a strong team to best serve residents, Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran said yesterday.

Speaking during a virtual press conference after the West Coast GRC slate was confirmed, he suggested, when asked, that it was not the case that fielding two ministers there was a reaction to the challenge posed by the opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP).

There has always been two office-holders at the minimum, said Mr Iswaran.

"That was the situation even when we moved from a five-man to a four-person GRC, and now we have enlarged it again to a five-person GRC," he said.

"So, I think one should look at it for what it is, which is basically that we are putting forward a strong team, a team that can deliver on the ground, and a team that can work with the Government to take care of the needs of our residents."

Mr Iswaran, along with Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee, will helm the PAP's West Coast team.

Two-term MP Foo Mee Har, 54; Mr Ang Wei Neng, 53, who, like Mr Lee, moved over from Jurong GRC; and new face Rachel Ong, 47, make up the rest of the team. They face a PSP team led by former PAP stalwart Tan Cheng Bock, 80.

When asked if he felt that the PAP moved Mr Lee because of the threat posed by his PSP, Dr Tan said: "In politics, it is that way... I am not going to question why they do that.

"But if they say I must be somebody quite good, quite strong, so they are trying to put all their heavyweights (in) West Coast... Well, that is good."

He said he has a "very strong team for West Coast", with experience in their fields. For ex-ample, he noted that his team has knowledge in environment and climate change, finance and skills development.

His second-in-command Leong Mun Wai, 60, said that all members of the team have strong track records in their respective fields, and they are coming in with ideas and policies to chart "a new direction" for Singapore.

When asked during the press conference, Mr Iswaran declined to assess the contesting PSP team.

"We are making the case that collectively, with the backing of our party, we are the best team for (voters), and for their children and future, and we want to persuade them that they should put their trust in us. Then I think we have to let the voters decide. It is not for us to rate one another or to rate ourselves," he said.

Responding to a question on what he can bring to the GRC, Mr Lee, who is expected to take over Mr Patrick Tay's Boon Lay ward if elected, said there was no real boundary between his former ward in Jurong Spring and Boon Lay, adding that the demographic profiles of both estates are similar.

He said the programmes he helped to develop in Jurong Spring, from strengthening social safety nets to infrastructure development, were those he hoped to bring to West Coast GRC.

Another question posed to the PAP candidates was how they would address voters' concerns about losing an MP with whom they had built up trust over the years, as the PAP moves or renews its teams.

Mr Lee said that rapport takes time to build, and new candidates have "an important responsibility to build that trust and rapport".

Mr Iswaran said that the party also has a very strong team of activists that help it stay connected to the people.

"So, when we come in as new elected members or new candidates, we are always building on what has already been done by our predecessors, working in partnership with our activists who have been nurturing those relationships on the ground, and benefiting from the backing of the party."


















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