East Coast Plan unveiled

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Over 98,000 S'pore employers to get $940m in wage credits by end-March

SINGAPORE - By end-March, $940 million in Wage Credit Scheme (WCS) payouts will be disbursed to more than 98,000 employers here, bringing the total amount in wage credits paid out during the pandemic to over $2 billion.

In a Facebook post on Thursday (March 18), Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat wrote that uplifting workers remains "at the very centre of all that we do", as the Government makes every effort to cope with the pandemic and transform the economy and businesses.

"The WCS is one of the ways to uplift our workers, by supporting businesses to provide wage increases to Singaporean workers," he said.

The WCS co-funds wage increases. It was introduced in 2013 as a three-year scheme and then extended to 2020 to support businesses in their transformation efforts and encourage sharing of productivity gains with workers.

In Budget 2021, it was extended by another year at a co-funding level of 15 per cent, to further support wage increments to help companies build up their local workforce and emerge stronger from Covid-19.

This followed earlier enhancements to the scheme in 2020's first Unity Budget, when government co-funding of qualifying wage increases in 2019 and 2020 was raised by five percentage points to 20 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

The gross monthly wage ceiling for employees was also raised from $4,000 to $5,000 for both years, enabling more to qualify for the wage credit.

Over $1 billion in wage credits was disbursed to more than 95,000 employers in 2020, for wage increases in 2019.

An additional payout was made in June 2020, on top of the yearly payout made in March 2020.

In a joint release on Thursday, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) said that through the upcoming payout in March, the Government will co-fund 15 per cent of qualifying wage increases given from 2017 to 2020, to more than 800,000 local employees earning a gross monthly wage of up to $5,000.

This will support wage increases and benefit more than 98,000 employers, they said.

Mr Heng noted that it is heartening that many employers, despite having to cope with the stresses and strains posed by the pandemic, are continuing to do their part to uplift their workers.

"These are uncertain times for many workers and businesses. I encourage employers to continue to make use of this and other schemes to redesign jobs and upskill their workers," he wrote.

"By continuing to put the well-being of our workers at the heart of what we do, businesses will build stronger bonds with their workers, and emerge stronger together in a post-pandemic world."

Employers do not need to apply to receive the payouts. Eligible employers will receive letters from Iras by March 31 informing them of their payout amount.

These will be credited directly to employers' registered bank accounts through PayNow Corporate or Giro.

Any appeals regarding WCS payouts must be submitted to Iras by June 30 and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

More information can be found at the Iras website.

Iras can also be contacted directly at 1800-352-4727 or by e-mail at [email protected].

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Will air travel bubbles take off or burst? Don't pack your bags yet, experts say
FILE PHOTO: Travellers at Heathrow Airport, London, Britain, February 13, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File PhotoBookmark
SINGAPORE: Talk of air travel bubbles have lifted Singapore residents' hopes that they would be to travel abroad later this year, as COVID-19 vaccinations gather speed in some countries.
Reports in the past week have said that Singapore is in discussions with Australia and Taiwan separately about air travel bubbles without the need for quarantine.
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also said on Thursday (Mar 18) that Singapore and New Zealand are discussing the mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates, which would enable international travel.
Industry observers and public health experts told CNA there are still many uncertainties and issues to resolve before air travel bubbles can be successfully launched.
READ: Singapore discussing COVID-19 vaccine certification with other countries, says PM Lee
READ: Singapore, New Zealand discuss possible mutual recognition of digital health, COVID-19 vaccination certificates
Aviation analyst Brendan Sobie said that the air travel bubble with Australia has been under consideration for several months, along with several other proposed travel bubbles.
“Unfortunately the Singapore-Australia air travel bubble has until now not been possible due to issues on the Australia side,” he said.
In particular, Australia has been unable to keep internal borders open due to the “extremely conservative COVID-19 elimination strategies” of most of Australia's states, he said.
Commentary: Singapore-Australia air travel bubble is sensible but politically challenging

“Singapore has a COVID-19 containment strategy, while the eradication strategies in Australia and New Zealand mean if there's a single community case they do not permit domestic travel and often implement snap lockdowns,” he said.
VACCINES A GAME CHANGER?
Last year, an air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong burst at the last minute, after a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Chinese city.
The first flight for the Hong Kong-Singapore bubble was slated to be on Nov 22, but it has been postponed indefinitely until COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong can be contained.
READ: Hong Kong-Singapore air travel bubble can be launched 'when conditions are right': Ong Ye Kung
Singapore also has green lane travel arrangements with a number of countries, but these are generally for essential business and official travel. Some of these arrangements have been suspended as cases in those countries surged again.
Singapore also allows travellers from five places - Australia, Brunei, mainland China, New Zealand and Taiwan - to enter without quarantine. These travellers on Air Travel Passes still need to take a COVID-19 test on arrival and keep to other safety measures.
The difference with this year, compared to last year, is vaccination, said Ms Lina Ang, managing director of APAC at travel digital marketing platform Sojern.
Ms Ang said that while there are reciprocal green lanes in place, there has not been a spike in travellers so far. However, there seems to be growing interest for travel between Singapore and Australia.
Flight and hotel search as well as booking data indicate that “travel intent” from Singapore to Australia has grown 23 per cent in March from January, and has risen 27 per cent for travel from Australia to Singapore.
“The current vaccination will be the game-changer and it’ll be essential for countries that have formed a travel bubble to regularly update the public on the progress of their vaccination roll-out,” said Ms Ang.
READ: Singapore may reopen borders by year-end, says PM Lee in BBC interview

HOW VACCINE PASSPORTS COULD WORK
Other factors to consider for future travel bubbles include how well the current vaccines work, whether vaccinated people can transmit the virus, and how trustworthy vaccine passports are once they are rolled out.
Previous air travel bubbles fundamentally relied on each jurisdiction having maintained a period of few or even zero community transmissions, and required “a tenuous hold on the community situation”, said Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore.
“We have seen how the arrangement between Hong Kong and Singapore, or between Australia and New Zealand, have to be put on hold because of a resurgence in community infections in some of these countries,” he said.
“With the vaccine passport, travel will be less restricted between countries in the bubble for people who have been vaccinated.”
READ: IATA plans digital travel pass to steer airlines towards recovery

A vaccine passport is not a new concept and has been used in several countries for different kinds of infectious disease, said Associate Professor Sulfikar Amir from Nanyang Technological University’s School of Social Sciences.
“We have experiences in using this as an instrument for disease control in international travel. The challenge lies in making sure that the passport is valid and the vaccine being used is effective,” said the associate professor of Science, Technology, and Society.
“Fake vaccine certification is a highly potential malpractice.”
He said that the process could be implemented gradually, starting with bilateral agreements between two countries that have mutual trust on the validity of vaccine passports. The travel bubble between these two countries can then be expanded to include other countries whose vaccine passport systems have been approved.
READ: Singapore develops new standard for cross-border verification of COVID-19 test results
Singapore has said that it is looking into digital certificates based on blockchain technology to facilitate cross-border verification of health documents.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also developed a digital travel pass that can show COVID-19 testing and vaccination information using a mobile app.
Some countries, such as China, have also launched digital health certificates for domestic use. But it is not yet clear how an international accreditation system will take shape.
"For the system to function in multiple jurisdictions, the security to ensure authenticity is actually one of the key features of the vaccine passport system," said Prof Teo.
UNKNOWNS ABOUT VACCINATION
A key assumption about the successful use of vaccine passports is that people who have been given an approved COVID-19 vaccine is much less likely to be infected or to infect others, he said.
While vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been shown to effectively prevent disease - particularly severe disease - in vaccinated people, it is unclear if they stop that person from infecting others. Studies on this are ongoing.
Other concerns include how long the protection lasts, and the emergence of virus variants that could affect the efficacy of the vaccines.
READ: More data needed before border measures can be eased for vaccinated travellers: Ong Ye Kung
“The main concern is that governments will rush into the use of such vaccine passports even before global vaccinations are at a level that is ready for this arrangement,” said Prof Teo.
“If countries start to roll out such vaccine passport arrangements before the science is ready, or before the vaccine uptake is at a sufficiently high level, this may end up worsening the problem of vaccine nationalism, or even lead to resurgence that invariably increases the risk of new resistant strains of the virus emerging.”
He cautioned that while there is optimism about the role of vaccination in enabling travel to resume, it would be “prudent” to wait for a better understanding of the science of vaccination, and for a bigger uptake of the vaccine globally.
"HIGHLY UNCERTAIN"
There are still question marks over when air travel bubbles will materialise, if any. This puts Singapore tourism businesses in a bind.
Dr Kevin Cheong, chairman of the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA), said that for the industry, the year remains “highly uncertain”.
It will be “a year of reckoning” for most tourism businesses in Singapore, with reduced direct government financial support and as inbound tourism traffic continues to flat line, he said.
“The attractiveness and novelty of domestic tourism and staycations will start to wear in the second half of 2021,” said Dr Cheong.
Even though borders may reopen in the second half of the year, it will be a “drip and trickle”, he added.
“Therefore I would advise tourism businesses to be cautiously optimistic, with an appropriate dose of paranoia and realism," he said.

 

[jw5]

Will air travel bubbles take off or burst? Don't pack your bags yet, experts say

HSK's East Coast Plan is to have an air travel bubble with every country in the world.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

US and China must manage tensions, cooperate on common challenges despite competition: DPM Heng


SINGAPORE - Even as the United States and China compete strategically, the two major powers must find a way to manage tensions and develop a framework for cooperation, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Speaking at the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference on the topic "Will Asia emerge stronger in a post-Covid-19 world?" on Monday (March 22), Mr Heng said a stable US-China relationship is important to the global commons.

While the Biden administration will bring a more predictable approach to the world's most critical bilateral relationship, the US and China will continue to be strategic competitors, he said.


"I am glad that both sides have acknowledged that there are areas that they could work together on, despite the competitive tenor of their relationship."

He called the first high-level, face-to-face meeting between both countries under the Biden presidency last week "a step in the right direction".

At the start of what Washington called "tough and direct" talks in Alaska last Thursday and Friday, top Chinese and US diplomats publicly rebuked each other's policies. China's official Xinhua news agency later said that both sides will set up a joint working group on climate change.


Mr Heng said it is in the interest of both sides to cooperate on common challenges such as Covid-19 and climate change. "The meeting showed a recognition from both sides on the need for dialogue. It is important that they persevere - maintain open channels of communication, find a way forward to deal with their differences, and manage the tensions and frictions."

While tensions could intensify for some time, he hoped that a framework for cooperation will be developed even as both sides continue to compete. "Fair, healthy competition can be positive, if it spurs innovation to achieve better solutions for the many complex challenges that the world faces," he said.

He also said it is critical that both countries remain constructively engaged with the region. The US' presence has provided much needed stability since World War II, and its investments have been instrumental to the region's rapid growth.

Welcoming the Biden administration's commitment to continue to engage and strengthen its partnership with the region, Mr Heng said Asean is an important partner for the US, not just in terms of tackling existing and emerging global challenges, but also in putting regional engagement efforts into concrete action.


At the same time, China's economic success has been a boon for growth in the region, he said, noting that the Asean-China Dialogue Partnership, which commemorates its 30th anniversary this year, is one of Asean's most substantive external partnerships.

"The constructive involvement of both the US and China in the region will be key to Asia's continued peace, stability and growth."

Mr Heng added that South-east Asia must continue to work with all parties, not just the US and China.

Describing the principle of Asean centrality, he said the region must work as one Asean to advance its collective interest. This is not a question of choosing sides, but of retaining the ability to make choices for itself.

"Should US-China tensions escalate, our region must firmly remain anchored on Asean's own interest, and to keep ourselves open and relevant through practical steps," he said. "This will enable us to emerge stronger from this crisis."

He noted that other than the US and China, the leaders of the Quad - US, Japan, India and Australia - also recently reaffirmed their strong support for Asean centrality. The Quad - short for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue - is an informal strategic dialogue between the four countries. In a joint statement released earlier this month, the group stressed its "strong support for Asean's unity and centrality".

Mr Heng said that while Asia faces promising prospects due to its young population and fast-growing middle class, its growth is "not fore-ordained".


Its demographic dividend could turn into a lost generation if countries are not able to equip their young with the right skills and create enough good jobs to ride the structural shifts, he said.

Countries such as Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore are also ageing rapidly, which will affect economic growth and increase social needs.

"Without adequate and sustained investments, the region's economy will not achieve its full potential, and could remain susceptible to future pandemics and catastrophes."

He said it is important for the region to not only navigate the shifting geopolitical tides, but also ride the next wave of economic opportunities together.

This means deepening regional integration and cooperation by speeding up the ratification of trade pacts such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and growing the cross-border digital economy, stepping up economic transformation, and remaining open to investments from around the world.

"The economies of South-east Asia must seek to draw in more investments, as companies reconfigure their production bases and supply chains for greater resilience," he said.

"Given the huge need for investment capital in the region and the expertise investors bring, it is neither possible nor prudent to rely only on one source of investment. We must therefore continue to welcome countries and companies from around the world to grow their presence here."

Singapore, he added, can be a partner in the region by serving as a gateway for investments, a launchpad for innovation, and a green node for sustainability.

The Republic has a strong rule of law, international connectivity and a workforce which understands regional culture and norms, he said.

As a trusted global financial centre with prudent and progressive regulation, Singapore can play a useful role in bringing in global investments.

The venture capital sector is also growing, with many global companies setting up research and development facilities here.


"To expand our capacity for innovation, we are investing US$19 billion (S$25.5 billion) over the next five years in research, innovation and enterprise, across key domains such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, urban solutions and the digital economy," he said.

Singapore can also be a marketplace for high-quality carbon credits and promote sustainability through green finance, said Mr Heng.

He pointed that today, the Republic accounts for over one-third of the sustainability-linked loan market in the Asia Pacific. The Government will take the lead by issuing green bonds on select public infrastructure projects. In his Budget statement on Feb 16, Mr Heng said $19 billion of public sector green projects have been identified as a start.

He stressed that as the pandemic accelerates disruptions, it is important that countries plan ahead, invest in new capabilities and innovate so as to emerge stronger.

"There are many opportunities in Asia, especially South-east Asia. To continue to thrive, we must remain an open and inclusive destination for investments around the world."

The five-day conference, held virtually, features prominent speakers and audience members from political, economic, financial and academic circles in the Asia Pacific. It ends on Friday.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Singapore weighs in on US-China talks, urges Asean to focus on own interests if tensions escalate

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday said the first face-to-face talks between the United States and China under the Biden administration were a "step in the right direction", though he warned that the global order was transiting through "choppier seas" and that Asean had to remain united as it navigated the shifting political tides.

"Despite the tough rhetoric, it is a step in the right direction. The meeting showed a recognition from both sides on the need for dialogue and cooperation," said Heng, who was delivering a keynote address at a conference organised by Credit Suisse.

"It is important that they persevere - maintain open channels of communication, find a way forward to deal with their differences, and manage the tensions and frictions."

His remarks come after last week's two-day meeting between senior officials from Beijing and Washington in Alaska, which got off to a combative start as they sparred over issues such as the situations in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The summit was the first face-to-face talks between the two sides since US President Joe Biden took office in January. The American delegation was led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, while China's was headed by foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Heng, who is also Singapore's finance minister, noted that the strategic competition between the world's two largest economies was not a new phenomenon, though it had been accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic. There was no proper global coordination early on in the crisis, he said, which saw a rise in friction and distrust between the two governments.

He added that while the Biden administration would bring a "more predictable" approach to bilateral ties, the US and China would continue to be strategic competitors, and reiterated that it was in the interest of both sides to cooperate on common challenges such as the pandemic and climate change.

"I am glad that both sides have acknowledged that there are areas that they could work together on, despite the competitive tenor of their relationship," Heng said. "While tensions could intensify for some time, I hope that eventually a framework for cooperation will be developed, even as both sides continue to compete, as major powers do."

It was critical, he said, that both the US and China remained "constructively engaged" in the region, citing how Washington had provided stability since World War II, and how China's economic success had been a boon for growth in Southeast Asia.

Heng also said the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) had to work together to advance the bloc's collective interests.

"It is not a question of choosing sides, but of retaining our ability to make choices for ourselves. This is what Asean centrality is about," he said. "Should US-China tensions escalate, our region must firmly remain anchored on Asean's own interest, and to keep ourselves open and relevant through practical steps."

The deputy prime minister briefly spoke about how other developments, such as the political crisis in Myanmar, could also have serious consequences on the region.

He once more emphasised that Singapore was "appalled" by the violent crackdowns against civilians. At least 249 people have died in Myanmar since the February 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group. Heng said it was critical that all stakeholders in Myanmar came together to find a peaceful solution and a return to democratic transition.

Separately, Singapore's foreign affairs ministry said foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan would be visiting Brunei on Monday, after which he would go to Malaysia and Indonesia.

While the statement did not specify the agenda beyond saying that the visit reaffirmed the close ties between Singapore and Brunei and that Balakrishnan was set to meet Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan Yusof, political watchers believe Myanmar will be high on the agenda.

Balakrishnan's trips come after Indonesia's President Joko Widodo last week called for an end to bloodshed in military-ruled Myanmar and for Southeast Asian leaders to hold a high-level meeting to try to find a way out of the country's escalating crisis. The bloc's foreign ministers earlier this month had a special informal meeting that was also attended by a representative from the Myanmar junta.

Malaysia's foreign ministry said Balakrishnan would arrive on Tuesday for a two-day visit, where he was expected to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues with counterpart Hishammuddin Hussein as well as meet Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Singaporean diplomat will then head to Indonesia. Foreign minister Retno Marsudi last week tweeted that she had discussed the Myanmar situation with Balakrishnan and Brunei's Erywan.

 

[jw5]

Heng Swee Keat getting his jab.

 

[jw5]

Deities. Chinks pray to deities when they want good fortune, of course must show sincerity no?

Sincerity is the hallmark of kindness.

 

[jw5]

Singaporeans can save on travel. PAP bring the world to SG. Just open your door is China. Travel to work is India. Go makan is Malaysia. Go hospital is flipping.

It will be worrying if the PAP did not bring the world to SG.

 

[jw5]

from yahoo.com:

With Covid-19 and digital revolution, Asia’s economic growth 'not foreordained': DPM Heng

DPM Heng called on regional leaders to work together to harmonise standards and facilitate cross-border transactions.

While Asia’s economic prospects are promising, its growth is not foreordained. The young and middle-class demographic in many Asian countries must pick up the right skills to ride the digital revolution, says Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Speaking at the 24th Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference, DPM Heng highlighted how the region is anchored by sound fundamentals and favourable demographics.

“In countries like India, Indonesia and Vietnam, more than half the population is under the age of 35. We also have one of the fastest-growing middle classes, which will boost consumption and drive demand for many sectors,” says DPM Heng, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister for Finance.

By 2030, two-thirds of the global middle class is expected to be in Asia, he adds.

Southeast Asia alone is home to 400 million internet users and a rapidly growing digital economy. However, Asia's growth is "not foreordained", warns DPM Heng. “The demographic could turn into a lost generation if we’re not able to equip our youth with the right skills and create enough good jobs to ride the structural shifts.”


Without adequate improvements and investments, the region’s economy will not achieve its full potential, he adds, and could remain susceptible to future pandemics and catastrophes.

DPM Heng called on regional leaders to work together to harmonise standards, allow trusted data flows and facilitate cross-border transactions.

One such collaboration will begin in the coming months. From the middle of this year, users in Singapore and Thailand can send money to each other through their mobile phone numbers, following a link-up of both countries’ national e-payments systems, says DPM Heng.

“Singapore is keen to build similar linkages with other partners in the region,” he adds.

A gateway for investment

DPM Heng also put forth Singapore as a launchpad for innovation in Asia. To expand Singapore’s capacity for innovation, the government is investing US$19 billion dollars in research, innovation and enterprise over the next five years.

Previously announced in December 2020, the five-year blueprint will focus on four areas: health, sustainability, the digital economy and manufacturing. One-third of the budget will go towards basic research.

One of the most recognisable names is Sea Group, awarded a digital full bank licence last December. Headquartered in Singapore but listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a current market capitalisation of US$109.43 billion, the Internet giant’s e-commerce platform is now the most popular name in Indonesia and Vietnam, says DPM Heng.

The venture capital sector here is also growing, notes DPM Heng. “In 2019, more than US$7 billion in venture capital deals were closed, a 30-fold increase in under a decade.”

“I encourage more companies to undertake your research and innovation work here, and to invest in our start-ups and build deep capabilities.”

Singapore also welcomes more institutional investors and family offices to grow their presence here. “Assets under management in Singapore doubled over the last decade, to around US$3 trillion in 2019. Close to 60% of this capital is from Asia, and about two-thirds is invested in Asia,” says DPM Heng.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

950,000 S'porean HDB households to get $135m in S&CC rebates from April

SINGAPORE - About 950,000 Singaporean HDB households will receive $135 million in service and conservancy charge (S&CC) rebates from next month to March next year.

This is part of the $900 million Household Support Package announced in this year's Budget, to provide additional support to families during this period of uncertainty, said the Ministry of Finance in a statement on Friday (March 26).

The Household Support Package helps families with household expenses, with lower- to middle-income families receiving more.

It includes vouchers that each household can use to defray expenses and support local businesses, as well as S&CC rebates and goods and services tax vouchers.

Eligible Singaporean households will receive between 1½ and 3½ months in S&CC rebates during this fiscal year, depending on their flat type.

They will be notified through letters by April 1, and receive their quarterly S&CC rebate automatically in April, July and October 2021, as well as January 2022.

The rebates will be credited directly into households' S&CC accounts managed by their respective town councils. Households do not need to take any action to benefit from the rebate.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat wrote that Covid-19 has affected many Singaporeans.

"At this year's Budget, I announced how we will continue to provide targeted support for families through the Household Support Package," he said.

"When I go on my regular walkabouts, residents share with me that the various measures in the Household Support Package will go some way to help them in these difficult times. By helping all families through this crisis, we can emerge stronger from Covid-19."

Residents can check their household's S&CC rebate eligibility online by logging in to the My HDBPage at this website with their Singpass. Those with queries on rebate eligibility can also submit them at this portal.

Those with specific queries on their household's S&CC payment or account status can contact their respective town councils.

 

[jw5]

from mustsharenews.com:

12 Heng Swee Keat Facts To Know Your Potential Prime Minister Better

1. Grew up in Redhill
Minister Heng spent his childhood years in a kampung near Redhill — a “rather rough neighbourhood” in the 60s.

He juggled multiple CCAs during his schooling years in Raffles Institution (RI), dabbling in the Interact Club, writing for the school magazine, and even playing volleyball.

His classmates bestowed the nickname “Sweat” upon him — clever wordplay on ‘Swee’ and ‘Keat’, while hinting at his sweet but hardworking nature.

 

[jw5]

from mustsharenews.com:

12 Heng Swee Keat Facts To Know Your Potential Prime Minister Better

2. Served with our boys in blue
Unlike other ministers who were forged in fire as generals in the Army, Mr Heng took a different route — he served in the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

In fact, Mr Heng was the proud recipient of a prestigious SPF Overseas Scholarship upon completing his A levels.

After returning from his studies, he rose quickly from the rank of a constable to Assistant Commissioner of the Police.

 

[jw5]

from mustsharenews.com:

12 Heng Swee Keat Facts To Know Your Potential Prime Minister Better

3. Schooled in Cambridge & Harvard

Minister Heng has pretty impressive educational credentials to back up his claim to the position too.

He’s collected qualifications from two of the most prestigious universities in the world.

In 1983, he completed his Economics degree from Cambridge University in the UK.

10 years later, he attained a Masters of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the US.

With academic qualifications from both Cambridge and Harvard, his resume looks rock solid.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Covid-19 shows importance of resilience in healthcare system: DPM Heng at SGH 200th anniversary celebrations

SINGAPORE - In just 50 days, the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) turned a carpark into a fully fledged Covid-19 isolation ward - an achievement that testifies to how resilient and innovative the country's healthcare system has been over the past year, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday (March 29).

The pandemic has shone the spotlight on the importance of resilience and robustness in the healthcare system, he added, noting that Singapore must learn from the current crisis and strengthen its capabilities to better prepare for future pandemics.

These could include the so-called Disease X, about which much may be unknown. "We must learn from Covid-19 to better prepare for Disease X," he said.

Speaking at SGH's 200th anniversary celebrations, which were streamed online, Mr Heng also commended staff members for their dedication and commitment, saying: "I am glad that you also faced the uncertainties with courage, and adapted and innovated as the situation evolved."

Set up in 1821 - two years after the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore - the hospital started out in a wooden shed. It served only Europeans, and would be relocated and rebuilt five times over the next 60 years.

It eventually moved to its permanent site in the Outram area in the 1880s, and was gradually expanded to include facilities for men, women and children of all races and social backgrounds.

During the Japanese Occupation, SGH was turned into the main surgical hospital for Japanese forces in South-east Asia. A newly independent Singapore later pumped resources into the hospital, redesigning the building and adding new medical specialities until the hospital became the world-class facility it is today.

But Singapore's healthcare transformation efforts are not yet complete, Mr Heng said.

He noted that the country is shifting its focus from providing healthcare to actively promoting a healthy lifestyle. It is also pushing for greater integration in healthcare, strengthening collaboration among all institutions - from polyclinics to hospitals.

Lastly, it continues to pursue healthcare innovation. "Much of the improvements to health outcomes and cost efficiency in past decades are due to our investments in science and technology," the minister said.

He also reiterated the Government's pledge that all Singaporeans will have access to "affordable, appropriate and quality healthcare" when it is needed.

This is a core tenet of the country's social compact, which must be upheld as the population ages, he said.

The minister called on Singaporeans to place a heavier emphasis on staying active and healthy, adding that everyone has a part to play in providing quality and affordable healthcare in a sustainable way.

"As a society, we must also take greater collective responsibility, whether it is through social risk pooling, such as MediShield Life and CareShield Life, or through the taxes that we each contribute, so that we can build a fairer and more equitable society for all," he said.

A total of 800 people tuned in to the online celebration, at which SGH chief executive Kenneth Kwek also spoke on the history of the hospital and its defining values.

"These (values) are: purpose, passion, courage and grit," Professor Kwek said, highlighting the contributions of hospital staff in taking the institution forward. "Our people have grit; the tenacity to hang on and keep going, even when the going is tough... Each time, we pick up the pieces and learn to be better."

(From left) DPM Heng Swee Keat, his wife Mrs Heng, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and SGH CEO Kenneth Kwek planting a longan tree as part of SGH’s bicentennial celebration, on March 29, 2021.


The hospital has some 240 staff with more than 40 years of experience each. One of these is principal enrolled nurse Zaiton Mohd Tahir, who has spent nearly 50 years helping expectant mothers usher babies into the world.

The 68-year-old, whose brother, niece and sister also trained as nurses, sees the hospital as a second home.

Under the SGH flag, she has gone on overseas medical missions to places such as Pakistan, and undertaken skills upgrading courses that have given her more autonomy to make decisions.

Her advice to rookie nurses is straightforward: "Be focused and be good in whatever you do. Keep abreast with the knowledge... Push yourselves to the next professional advancement."

 

[jw5]

from mustsharenews.com:

12 Heng Swee Keat Facts To Know Your Potential Prime Minister Better

4. Political trajectory mirrors DPM Tharman
Before venturing into politics, Mr Heng served as the Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from 2005 to 2011.

He was even crowned ‘APAC’s Central Bank Governor of the Year’ in Feb 2011 by the English magazine, The Banker.

Upon joining PAP as a candidate for Tampines GRC in GE 2011, ESM Goh Chok Tong tipped Mr Heng as a potential minister and core member of Singapore’s 4G leaders.

He then went on to serve in these ministerial positions:

• Minister for Education (2011-2015)
• Minister for Finance (2015-2018)

Given that his political career trajectory closely mirrors DPM Tharman, Singapore’s financial future could be in pretty safe hands if he becomes PM.

 

[jw5]

from mustsharenews.com:

12 Heng Swee Keat Facts To Know Your Potential Prime Minister Better

5. Making Tampines Great Again
Here’s a quick look at the home GRCs of our past and current Prime Ministers:

• Tanjong Pagar GRC – Mr Lee Kuan Yew
• Marine Parade GRC – Mr Goh Chok Tong
• Ang Mo Kio GRC – Mr Lee Hsien Loong

Having represented Tampines since 2011, Mr Heng could be Singapore’s first PM hailing from Tampines GRC.

Under his leadership, Tampines also experienced dramatic changes to its landscape. This includes the opening of Our Tampines Hub last year, Singapore’s first integrated community and lifestyle hub.

 

[jw5]

Deities. Chinks pray to deities when they want good fortune, of course must show sincerity no?

It is important to show sincerity in daily life.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Asean finance ministers agree to roll out Covid-19 vaccination widely: DPM Heng

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat (bottom row, centre) met his Asean counterparts and central bank governors through virtual meetings hosted by Brunei.PHOTO: HENG SWEE KEAT/FACEBOOK


SINGAPORE - Asean finance ministers have agreed to redouble efforts to roll out vaccination widely in order for their borders to reopen safely.

To grow their economies, the ministers agreed to strengthen their digital connectivity, especially for cross-border payments, said Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday (March 30).

He said this after the 7th Asean Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting.

"Many also highlighted how we can build back differently, with a greater emphasis on sustainability and resilience."

Mr Heng met his Asean counterparts and central bank governors through virtual meetings hosted by Brunei, the current Asean chair, on Tuesday.

The last time the ministers met physically was in Chiang Rai in 2019.

The ministers had a full day of discussions on how they can collectively recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, be better prepared for future crises and prosper together as a region, said Mr Heng, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, in a Facebook post.

"While we miss the face-to-face interactions of physical meetings, the virtual meetings were very engaging," he noted.

Also present at one of the meetings were the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, regional multilateral development banks like the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office.

Mr Heng said: "As the global order becomes more uncertain, Asean must remain united, work together and collectively chart our way forward.

"We will need to maintain Asean centrality, as we work with partners around the world. In this way, we can build a brighter, greener and more resilient future."

 

[jw5]

from mustsharenews.com:

12 Heng Swee Keat Facts To Know Your Potential Prime Minister Better

6. Unfazed by ‘unpopular’ decisions
Currently serving as our Finance Minister, Mr Heng isn’t one to be fazed by ‘unpopular’ decisions for the greater good of the country.

Earlier this year, Minister Heng announced the government’s plans to raise GST to 9%, between 2021 and 2025.

Despite knowing that most Singaporeans wouldn’t welcome the decision, Mr Heng justified the move as one that was necessary for the future.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

More than 900,000 people have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: DPM Heng Swee Keat

SINGAPORE - More than 900,000 people in Singapore have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Friday (April 2).

But Mr Heng also urged vigilance over the Easter weekend and called for people to continue adhering to safe management guidelines.

"Last year, Good Friday coincided with the start of the circuit breaker, and there was palpable fear and uncertainty. One year on, we can look ahead with a greater sense of hope and progress," Mr Heng wrote on Facebook.

The Covid-19 situation in Singapore is under control, vaccination is under way, and more activities are gradually being resumed, he said, noting that Christian worship services are able to have up to 250 attendees. Live performances are also allowed.

From next week, congregants will be able to sing during worship with masks on, he added.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth announced that congregants will be allowed to sing during worship services from April 5, but for only up to 30 minutes and without removing their masks.

Good ventilation must be maintained if worshippers are to sing and this can be done through opening of doors and windows, or using air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems to remove any accumulated lingering droplets.

The worship venue must be wiped down between services, and religious organisations are also encouraged to implement a safe distance of 2m between groups of up to eight worshippers if they are singing.

There should also be no sharing of prayer books and other common items, such as holy books, offertory baskets or prayer mats.

Instead, worshippers should bring their personal prayer items when required.

The number of people involved in conducting the worship service, such as performers and video crew, will remain capped at 30. Only five of them may remove their masks to sing, but from April 5, the rest may sing with their masks on.

Said Mr Heng: "I wish all Christians a blessed Good Friday and a happy Easter weekend ahead."

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also took to Facebook to commemorate the Easter holiday.

"Today is Good Friday, a day of prayer and reflection as Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. This time of solemn meditation continues till Easter Sunday when Christians rejoice in Jesus' resurrection," he wrote.

"Glad that we have been able to ease restrictions, and more can attend religious services in person."

The Ministry of Health's website said 943,307 people had received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as at Monday.

Some 375,605 people had been fully vaccinated and a total of 1,318,912 vaccine doses had been administered.