Remember all these the next time you vote

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#1 Trace Together token - Vivian Balakrishnan, the 4G covid-19 task force, the Minister for Law, the Minister for Home Affairs, the judiciary, the Police and the civil service all overlooked the Criminal Procedure Code

Police's ability to use TraceTogether data raises questions on trust: Experts

A moviegoer using the TraceTogether app to scan a QR code to check in at a Cathay cinema on Oct 31, 2020.
PHOTO: ST FILE

Hariz Baharudin

JAN 5, 2021

SINGAPORE - The revelation that TraceTogether data can be used for police investigations has raised questions over trust in government, especially in relation to data privacy, said observers on Tuesday (Jan 5).

Associate Professor Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University said the news came across as the Government backtracking on its earlier assurance that TraceTogether would be used only for contact tracing.

"It clearly undermines their trust and credibility," said the former Nominated MP.

"This damage could undermine its future efforts, given its reiteration that Singapore has managed to keep Covid-19 under control due only to the people's trust in the Government's measures."

Former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng said in a Facebook post that the Government "should have been upfront that some privacy will be sacrificed for safety and security".

After Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan on Monday said police are empowered under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to obtain TraceTogether data for criminal investigations, netizens were quick to cite remarks by Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan during a June 8 press conference.


He had said then that TraceTogether data would be used "purely for contact tracing, period".
Addressing the House on Tuesday in an unscheduled statement on the issue, Dr Balakrishnan said: "Frankly, I had not thought of the CPC when I spoke earlier."

National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser noted that Singaporeans generally have a high degree of trust in the Government.

But he suggested that an additional layer of safeguards should be created to allay concerns about data privacy, and make sure such data is not misused.

This could come in the form of a committee comprising prominent public figures to which the police would be accountable to, should they plan to use the TraceTogether data, he said.

"I don't think there's an easy, straightforward response to this issue," he added. "The best safeguard, in my view, is the degree to which citizens trust the Government and Police that any data collected would only be used to protect citizens, rather than against them."

Ms Sheena Jacob, a partner at law firm CMS Holborn Asia, said that people's concerns about how their TraceTogether data could be used is a communications and public relations issue.

She called for better clarity around how this data will be used, to provide assurance to Singaporeans and encourage them to participate in the national contact tracing programme.

SMU's Prof Tan suggested that the Government exclude TraceTogether data from the CPC's ambit, given its original intended use for contact tracing as well as the need to convince as many people to get on it as possible.

He added: "A by-the-way or incidental use of TraceTogether should be resisted because it is far more important to have many people to use the programme."

But others noted that TraceTogether data is not the only piece of information the authorities can request, and that the law allows the police to ask for any document or data they deem necessary for investigations.

Mr Gilbert Leong, a senior partner at law firm Dentons Rodyk & Davidson, said it was not practical for the Government to review the law and declare to the public the effect of existing laws on new initiatives each time it launches something like TraceTogether.

He added that there was no backtracking of previous assurances from the Government. While the Government uses TraceTogether data only for contact tracing, it cannot ignore provisions in the law to use the data for law enforcement, he said.

Lawyers The Straits Times spoke to echoed a point that Dr Balakrishnan had made on how the CPC applies not only to TraceTogether, but to other kinds of sensitive data protected by privacy laws such as phone or banking records.

Mr Jonathan Kok, a technology lawyer at Withers KhattarWong, said the police have always been empowered under the CPC to issue a written order to require a person to produce any document or data they believe are necessary for their investigations.

"So if the police require a person to produce his TraceTogether device for their investigations, they are already empowered to do so under the CPC," he said.

 

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#2 Authoritarian government will deprive you of the vaccine if you chose to wait.
Just like the estate upgrading. Your constituency will be last to be upgraded if your constituency voted for the Opposition.

Covid-19 vaccine will not be reserved for Singaporeans who choose to wait and see: Lawrence Wong

Singapore's aim is to get everyone vaccinated as soon as it can.ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Linette Lai
Political Correspondent

22 JAN 2021

SINGAPORE - Supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine will not be reserved for people who choose to hold back when their turn to get the jab comes, said co-chair of the multi-ministerial task force tackling the pandemic Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Jan 19).

Instead, the vaccines will go to whoever is next in line.

This is because Singapore's aim is to get everyone vaccinated as soon as it can, said Mr Wong, who is Education Minister.

"For those who choose not to take (it) up, it's your choice. But we will roll out and push out the vaccines regardless," he added.

"If you want to wait, you must accept the consequence that perhaps if you wait... and you want to take it up later on, we may not have a ready supply."

Singapore's nationwide vaccination effort is now well under way, with priority going to healthcare staff, as well as those working in the aviation and maritime sectors.

It has received several shipments of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to date, and expects to get more vaccines from other manufacturers in the coming months.

If everything goes according to plan, the country will have enough vaccines for all citizens and long-term residents by the third quarter of this year.

Addressing reporters at a press conference to mark one year of Singapore's battle with Covid-19, Mr Wong noted that Singapore pushes out each batch of the vaccine as soon as it gets a fresh supply.

"We are not trying to hold back or ration the supply - it's not in Singapore's interest to do that," he said. "Our interest is to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible."

Added Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the task force's other co-chair: "We are not going to reserve some for you if you decide not to be vaccinated."

If the scientific evidence indicates that vaccines significantly reduce the risk of transmission, the Government could make changes to existing rules, Mr Wong said.

For example, the stay-home notice period for travellers might be reduced or eliminated, while workers who currently have to undergo routine testing could have this requirement reduced. In addition, Singapore might further relax its safe management measures.

At present, however, it is not yet known how much the vaccine can reduce the risk of viral transmission, so these tangible and concrete benefits of vaccination cannot be reaped while the information is still pending, said Mr Wong.

When asked how the Government would convince reluctant Singaporeans to take the vaccine, Mr Gan stressed the importance of public education.

For seniors, the authorities will probably go from house to house, explaining the benefits of getting vaccinated and helping people to make bookings, he said.
Full interview: Gan Kim Yong and Lawrence Wong on Singapore's handling of the pandemic

The minister urged Singaporeans to think hard about whether or not to hold back on getting vaccinated.

"Today, our number of cases is low. Some may have the misperception that it's quite safe, so it really doesn't matter," he said. "But we must remember that the rest of the world is still burning up; we still have new cases every day and new records being set almost every other day."

Vaccinations will also help speed up Singapore's progress towards a more substantial reopening, Mr Gan added.

Both ministers were also asked how they felt after getting vaccinated earlier this month.

Education Minister Lawrence Wong receiving the Covid-19 vaccine

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong receiving the Covid-19 vaccine

"I feel perfectly fine," Mr Gan replied. "That's why we are here."
"Kim Yong texted me: 'Is your arm sore?'" Mr Wong added. "I said: 'Yah, mine is quite sore. So we both had sore arms - that's all."

 

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#3
If:
- the prevalence rate is much higher now, and
- the pre-departure tests are not fool-proof,
it is common sense, it is prudent, and it would help to:
- close the borders and/or
- drastically reduce the number of inbound visitors
until the prevalence rate goes down.


Rise in imported cases not due to more travellers entering S’pore: Lawrence Wong
By DARYL CHOO
Published JANUARY 25, 2021

TODAY file photo
Singapore has not increased the number of travellers coming into the country, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said.

SINGAPORE — The surge in imported Covid-19 cases seen in Singapore in recent weeks is not the result of more travellers entering the country, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday (Jan 25).

Instead, the rise is due to the much higher infection rate of the virus that continues to rage overseas, he said at a dialogue organised by the Institute of Policy Studies centred around a post-pandemic Singapore.

Mr Wong, the co-chair of the Government’s Covid-19 task force, was responding to an audience question on how the city-state plans to sustain its trade and economy while balancing the risk of imported cases amid a surge in cases around the world.

Singapore on Monday reported 44 new cases of Covid-19, all of which were imported.On Sunday, it reported 48 new imported cases, equalling the country’s record for the highest number of daily imported cases set on March 23 last year.“We have not increased (the number of) travellers coming into Singapore,” Mr Wong said on Monday.

“Why have the numbers gone up? It’s simply because the prevalence rate, the incidence rate, of the disease is much higher now.

The virus is raging in countries everywhere.

”Mr Wong said that the largest sources of travellers remain construction and foreign domestic workers, and the number of these workers entering Singapore has also not risen “in recent times”.

These travellers are required to take a pre-departure test 72 hours before they arrive.“

But the nature of these sorts of tests is that they are not foolproof,”

Mr Wong said, adding that some people may initially test negative while the body is incubating the virus.

That is why, he said, these travellers have to serve stay-home notices of 14 days, or up to 21 days for certain countries, to quarantine them from the community.

“Those are precautions that we have been taking all along and we will continue to take… even as we have a continuous flow of people coming in, which is needed for Singapore’s economy and society to function,” he added.

“We do all that is necessary to take the necessary precautions and safeguards, and isolate these cases from seeping through our community.”
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...wkuFaZJzlrA4nmCM2iV3-SjKJZhj_N0DqkJpG1zJT2PZ0

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Workers’ Party prepared to support legislation allowing TraceTogether data to be used for criminal investigations in exceptional cases
"Singaporeans' right to privacy is better protected with this Bill than without it,” said Leader of the Opposition and party chief Pritam Singh
by kathleen
02/02/2021
in Parliament, Tech
Reading Time: 3min read
8



The Workers’ Party (WP) is “prepared to support” the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill to allow TraceTogether data to be used for police investigations in exceptional cases as outlined in the bill, said party chief Pritam Singh in Parliament on Tuesday (2 February).
Mr Singh, who is also Leader of the Opposition, said in a speech during the debate of the bill in the House that the main reason the party is prepared to support the bill is “because the exceptions constitute a significant reduction of the wide ambit of Section 20 of the [Criminal Procedure Code (CPC)]”.
“In other words, Singaporeans’ right to privacy is better protected with this Bill than without it,” said the Aljunied GRC MP.
Mr Singh stressed the WP’s view that the country’s first priority should be tackling the public health and economic effects of the pandemic, adding that anything which might compromise this priority “has to give way unless they are overwhelmingly good reasons”.
The opposition politician did, however, also note his personal preference that the TraceTogether data be used only for contact tracing purposes, as per the Government’s original assurances.
The MP explained, “This is because of some Singaporeans’ residual concerns over privacy and the established discomfort about sharing cell phone data”.
“I am of the view that such an approach would also engender greater confidence given that a public conversation on privacy has hitherto not been ventilated in a significant way in Singapore,” he added.
The introduction of the debated Bill by Minister-in-charge for Smart Nation Vivian Balakrishnan — which took place on Monday — followed his assurances and those of Minister of Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam earlier this month that data from TraceTogether will be used only in police investigations involving serious offences.
According to the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) in a statement on 8 January, the Bill aims to “formalise” the said assurances.
It is not, however, “in the public interest to completely deny the Police access to such data, when the safety of the public or the proper conduct of justice is at stake”, said the Office.

Thus, if a serious criminal offence has been committed, the police “must be able to use this data to bring the perpetrators to justice, seek redress for the victims, and protect society at large”, said SNDGO on why an exception is made for criminal investigation of serious offences.
Dr Balakrishnan earlier on Tuesday apologised for overlooking that Section 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code applies to TraceTogether data.
“I take full responsibility for this mistake, and I deeply regret the consternation and anxiety caused by my mistake,” he told the House.
Dr Balakrishnan, alongside Education Minister Lawrence Wong who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19, said at a press conference on 8 June last year that data from both the TraceTogether app and token will not be used for anything other than for contact tracing.
On 5 June, Dr Balakrishnan gave the same response to MP Murali Pillai in Parliament when the latter questioned the confidentiality of the data collected.
The Minister reiterated — following a written response — that TraceTogether data is “stored only on your own phone in the first instance, and accessed by MOH only if the individual tests positive for COVID-19”.
The data, said Dr Balakrishnan, “is only used for contact tracing”, adding that safeguards “including encryption” are present to protect the data “from malicious hackers”.
Should close contact data be required for contact tracing, he said, “only a small group of authorised officers in MOH will have access to it” and “all the public sector data protection rules will also apply”.
The proposed amendments are expected to come into force in the middle of this month should they be passed.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Govt error on TraceTogether data scope in police investigations raises questions on authorities’ perceived lack of empathy over public’s privacy concerns: Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh
by The Online Citizen
02/02/2021
in Government, Parliament, Tech
Reading Time: 3min read
9



The Government’s error on the extent to which data from TraceTogether can be used raises questions on the authorities’ perceived lack of empathy over the public’s privacy concerns, said Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh on Tuesday (2 February).
Mr Singh was speaking during the debate on the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill, which was introduced by Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday.
The Bill covers offences such as terrorism-related crimes, murder, drug trafficking offences that attract the death penalty, kidnapping; and sexual offences deemed to be serious or severe such as rape and sexual assault by penetration, among others.
According to the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) in a statement on 8 January, the Bill aims to “formalise” assurances made by Dr Balakrishnan and Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam that data in the digital contact tracing solutions “can only be used for the specific purpose of contact tracing”.
Mr Singh said in Parliament on Tuesday: “A few Singaporeans have told me that if the Government had stated upfront the TraceTogether data would be used for the seven categories of serious crimes, only they would have been prepared to prioritise the use of TraceTogether.”
Even individuals who “have had residual privacy concerns” regarding the contact tracing system, he added, “could have been assuaged” if the Government had fleshed out “the processes and accountability regime” for using TraceTogether data in investigations in a detailed manner.
“It comes down to a question of trust [and] the perceived lack of empathy over the public’s privacy concerns and discomfort with sharing mobile phone data with the authorities without sufficient assurances,” said Mr Singh.
He also referenced Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher De Souza’s Parliamentary question on 4 January, in which Mr De Souza raised the question of whether TraceTogether data will be used for criminal investigations and what legal provisions and safeguards are present in using such data.
Mr Singh asked if the question was submitted before or after Dr Balakrishnan had become aware of how Section 20 of the CPC would govern the use of contact tracing data.
“These questions are important for the House to understand at what point the Government determined that its original representations on the use of TraceTogether were misleading, and whether it could have corrected the position and update the public on its own initiative,” he stressed.

Dr Balakrishnan earlier on Tuesday apologised for overlooking that Section 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code applies to TraceTogether data.
“I take full responsibility for this mistake, and I deeply regret the consternation and anxiety caused by my mistake,” he told the House.
Dr Balakrishnan, alongside Education Minister Lawrence Wong who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19, said at a press conference on 8 June last year that data from both the TraceTogether app and token will not be used for anything other than for contact tracing.
On 5 June, Dr Balakrishnan gave the same response to MP Murali Pillai in Parliament when the latter questioned the confidentiality of the data collected.
The Minister reiterated — following a written response — that TraceTogether data is “stored only on your own phone in the first instance, and accessed by MOH only if the individual tests positive for COVID-19”.
The data, said Dr Balakrishnan, “is only used for contact tracing”, adding that safeguards “including encryption” are present to protect the data “from malicious hackers”.
Should close contact data be required for contact tracing, he said, “only a small group of authorised officers in MOH will have access to it” and “all the public sector data protection rules will also apply”.
The proposed amendments are expected to come into force in the middle of this month should they be passed.
More to come – please refresh this page for updates.

 

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#4
Chan Chun Seng got nothing better to do than to increase the maintenance costs of citizens who live in dwellings under strata titles.
The cost of estate management will go up.
The middle-income citizens who live in strata titles (condos) are the sandwiched class: progressive wages for cleaners and security guards have driven up the cost of monthly maintenance. Now the progressive wage is being applied to management agents WHICH IS NOT TYPICALLY SEEN AS A LOW WAGE PROFESSION.

Why is NTUC interfering with market rates for strata management when it believes in a market economy?

NTUC to push for progressive wage model in higher-paying sectors, specific vocations

It is also in "informal discussions" on a new approach to the model.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Joanna Seow and Charmaine Ng

FEB 18, 2021


SINGAPORE - Middle-income workers in certain industries could have structured wage progression set out if the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) succeeds in its push to expand the progressive wage model (PWM) to more sectors.

Labour chief Ng Chee Meng said on Thursday (Feb 18) that NTUC is in discussions with employers in strata management, solar technology - both of which employ workers not typically seen as low-wage - and pest management on how to implement the model, which typically sets out minimum pay and training requirements for lower-paid workers at different skill levels.

It is also in "informal discussions" on a new approach to the model - setting out salary and skill ladders for vocations, rather than industries, said Mr Ng during a virtual media briefing to lay out the labour movement's priorities for the year ahead.

The occupations that could be covered include clerks, general machine operators and electricians, which have a common nature across industries, he said.

He would not be drawn into providing further details but said that the informal discussions are with some tripartite partners and he hopes to make some progress within the next three to five years.

"There is of course still quite a lot of debate in society, even in Parliament about progressive wage and minimum wage. While these debates can continue, NTUC will focus on action and focus on implementing PWM across more sectors, in two different ways - faster implementation and wider implementation," he said.

This comes two days after Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said in the Budget speech on Tuesday that the Government's aspiration is for every sector of the economy to have some form of progressive wages.

The PWM, first set out by NTUC in 2012, is mandatory in the cleaning, landscaping and security sectors, covering some 80,000 workers. It will become mandatory for the lift and escalator maintenance sector in 2022.

The Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers, which is chaired by Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad and involves representatives from employers, unions and the Government, is studying how the PWM can be extended to more sectors. It aims to provide a progress update by the middle of this year, and give its recommendations by early next year.

Mr Ng, who is NTUC secretary-general, said the labour movement hopes that recommendations for PWMs in food services and retail trade will be released by this year, and implemented within two to three years. This could benefit about 70,000 workers.

NTUC has been pushing for a PWM in food services since 2018, but there have been challenges getting buy-in due to the wide range of types of establishments in the industry, from hawker centres to Michelin-starred restaurants.

A PWM for the waste management sector, which could benefit up to 3,000 workers, is also in the works after being mooted by NTUC last year.

As for the three potential industries of strata management, solar technology and pest management, Mr Ng said the idea is to implement the philosophy of the PWM to even middle-wage workers.
A PWM in strata management, for example, could help more than 5,000 workers, the majority of whom are not low-wage but whose wages stagnate due to the tendency for service buyers like management corporations to choose the cheapest service provider whenever contracts are up for renewal.

In solar technology, meanwhile, the aim is to provide a career development and wage progression plan for people entering the sunrise industry.

Mr Ng also said that as the desire for social justice has grown stronger in recent years, and the labour shortage in Singapore becomes more apparent, it is becoming easier to reach consensus with employers on the need to use more technology and upskill workers accordingly. This raises productivity and leads to better business outcomes.

"When you have better business, what we ask for is fair treatment of our workers to give them better wages and put them into a PWM where there's more certainty that this structure of movement forward will be consistent over time," he said.

Mr Muhammad Furqan Shamsudin, founder of local solar technology company 10 Degree Solar, said he is supportive of NTUC's goal to implement the PWM in his industry.

"The PWM scheme will certainly boost the entry of local workers in the solar industry which will help shift our reliance on the supply of foreign manpower that is volatile and inconsistent," he said.

"Although cost of projects may go up, the industry as a whole must work together not based on 'the lowest-cost approach' which is usually the case in Singapore. Long-term survival in the solar industry especially in these challenging times is crucial."

 

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#5

Cleared Kranji woodland: All agencies reviewing land clearance projects to 'avoid repeat of mistakes'

The incident has prompted a review of how agencies work, both internally and with each other.
ST PHOTO
Audrey Tan and Ang Qing

21 FEB 2021

SINGAPORE - Development works on a Kranji woodland plot that was cleared by mistake remain stalled, as the authorities get to the bottom of what went wrong.

The incident - where 4.5 ha of greenery was cleared before a biodiversity study was completed - has also prompted a review of how agencies work, both internally and with each other, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Monday (Feb 22).

"The public service will learn from this and improve," he said, adding that he had instructed all agencies involved in land clearance projects to immediately check and make sure that their processes were in order, "so as to avoid any repeat of the mistakes made".

Originally scrubland with scattered non-native trees, the site of the former KTM railway line where the clearing took place did not require an Environmental Impact Assessment, although other studies were required.

Mr Chan spoke during a virtual press conference also attended by National Development Minister Desmond Lee as well as JTC chief executive Tan Boon Khai and Dr Leong Chee Chiew, commissioner of parks and recreation at the National Parks Board (NParks).

Calling the situation "regrettable and deeply concerning", Mr Lee stressed that a thorough investigation would be done, with the findings made public.


Mr Joseph Leong, permanent secretary for defence development and second permanent secretary for communications and information, will lead the review of processes, which will take about three months.

Said Mr Chan: "We take a very serious view of this incident. It is clear to us that there were gaps in the way that the project was managed and supervised. And that we must do better."

Chain of events

On Feb 14, aerial footage circulating on social media showed that swathes of the vegetation flanking the Rail Corridor in Sungei Kadut had been cleared.

On Feb 14, aerial footage circulating on social media showed that swathes of the vegetation flanking the Rail Corridor in Sungei Kadut had been cleared.
PHOTO: BRICE LI/FACEBOOK

JTC said two days later on Feb 16 that the area had been cleared erroneously by its contractor before a biodiversity survey was completed, and that the green patches had been cleared at the end of December.

However, satellite footage showed that the land clearance in the area started earlier, since March 2020.

Kranji Woodlands in aerial pictures taken in May 2019 (left) and February 2021.
PHOTOS: BRICE LI/FACEBOOK

On Monday, site developer JTC clarified that land clearance for the 25ha Agri-Food Innovation Park - which will be part of the larger Sungei Kadut Eco-District - had started in March 2020. Most of this clearance had been approved.

But the work was supposed to be done in phases. The land cleared in December had been outside of plots approved for clearance, JTC said.

So far, about 11ha of land in the 25ha plot has been cleared. Of this, 4.5ha was cleared mistakenly.

The Rail Corridor, as well as an additional green buffer of between 15m and 20m on either side of it, will be retained, totalling 6ha.

The 25ha Agri-Food Innovation Park will be part of the larger Sungei Kadut Eco-District.
PHOTO: JTC

JTC said it accepted supervisory responsibilities and that it will look into whether its own officers and the private contractors involved had followed due process, and how JTC can better supervise the various agencies and qualified personnel as they implement the project.

All parties have agreed to provide full cooperation, JTC said.

Meanwhile, NParks, which is the custodian of native biodiversity here, will also be conducting an investigation to determine if there were breaches to the Parks and Trees Act and Wildlife Act.

NParks' Dr Leong said the Board's role is to assess requests for tree felling, provide approvals where appropriate, and also look into potential impacts on wildlife.

"So, our investigation will be thorough in looking at whether there were breaches to the Parks and Trees Act, and the Wildlife Act," Dr Leong said.

"What JTC has uncovered in its chronological order will be referenced when we carry out our investigation. So, at this point in time, I need to clarify that as far as NParks goes, we do not make any assumptions on who did what and when and so on and so forth. Because our investigation needs to be thorough," he added.

Under the Parks and Trees Act, those found guilty of felling a tree larger than 1m in girth without the approval of the commissioner could face a fine of up to $50,000.
Those who breach the Wildlife Act can also face a penalty of up to $50,000, with the possibility of a six-month imprisonment, Dr Leong said.

"This is serious, and I will not make any assumptions at this point in time," he said.

Mr Tan, the JTC chief executive, said that as the project and site developer, JTC acknowledged that it has overall responsibility of the site.

He added: "We do not run away from this responsibility. We will not and nor do we intend to."

The need for a biodiversity study

The affected site was occupied by the former railway line operated by the Malaysian company Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), but was returned to Singapore on July 1, 2011.

With the rail line no longer in use, and the site left unmanaged, pending redevelopment works, vegetation had sprouted up over the past few years.

JTC said Albizia trees - a non-native tree species that is fast-growing - now dominate the site.

With the rail line no longer in use, and the site left unmanaged pending redevelopment works, vegetation had sprouted up over the past few years.
PHOTO: JTC

As the site was also not located close to any sensitive nature areas, an environmental impact assessment was not deemed necessary, JTC added.

Last March, land clearance work started, following NParks' approval of tree felling in some areas.

However, in August, the consultants engaged to carry out planning and design works for the area resubmitted a new building plan that showed a new proposed drain.

This drain would discharge into the Pang Sua River - and could eventually end up in the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is slated to open as a nature park in 2022.

The Pang Sua River in the Sungei Kadut area.
ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

An earlier study had pointed to the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, located about 3km east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, as being the main "seeding source" for mangrove propagules for many other mangrove areas.

At that point, the Wildlife Act had come into effect.

This Act empowers NParks' director-general of wildlife management to issue directions to developers to carry out wildlife-related measures to safeguard wildlife, public health or safety, or the health of the ecosystem.

So in response to the resubmission, NParks had required a fauna baseline study - essentially a checklist of the types of animals found in the area - and an environmental monitoring and management plan to be done.

This study, as well as the environmental monitoring and management programme, will likely be completed in April.

JTC said it will engage stakeholders on the findings of the studies, and that the results of the baseline study and consultation will be publicly shared.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Account of what happened and action taken to rectify damage on cleared woodland needed

22 FEB 2021


I refer to the clearing of the Kranji woodland (Over 8ha of Kranji woodland cleared since March last year, Feb 19).

JTC Corporation disclosed that it had discovered the mistake on Jan 13 only on Feb 16, after evidence of the deforestation was posted on social media.

Under the Parks and Trees Act, it is illegal to fell a tree with a girth exceeding 1m growing on any vacant land.

From what I know, when any tree, even in a private garden, is to be removed, the property owner has to seek written approval from the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation.

The application must state the reasons for felling the tree and be accompanied by a report from a professional arborist.

It is therefore difficult to accept that an experienced contractor would commence clearing swathes of forested land before an environmental assessment had been completed and written permission had been received from JTC.

It is also difficult to accept that JTC simply ordered all clearing works to stop and issued a stern warning to the contractor.

I look forward to reading a full account of precisely what happened, and what action is being taken to rectify the damage that has been done.

Richard Howe

 

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#6

 

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#7
Does it makes you wonder how many more times has the government not been forthcoming or upfront?

Govt made mistake by not being upfront about TraceTogether data use; people accept explanation: PM Lee

The TraceTogether programme had come under the spotlight when it was revealed that its data could be used for criminal investigations.
PHOTO: ST FILE

Hariz Baharudin

MAR 14, 2021

SINGAPORE - The Government made a mistake by not being upfront about how TraceTogether data can be used for criminal investigations, but it has since passed a law to restrict its use to serious crimes, and will delete the information after the pandemic is over, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

And people have accepted this, Mr Lee added in an interview with the BBC aired on Sunday (March 14).

He noted that today, there are all kinds of apps that track one's whereabouts, and such data is resold - reflecting how privacy is not the same as it once was.

The TraceTogether programme, which identifies people in close contact with a Covid-19 patient via Bluetooth, came under the spotlight earlier this year when it was revealed that its data could be used for criminal investigations, despite earlier assurances that it would be used solely for contact tracing.

The public backlash prompted the Government to enact legislation to restrict the use of contact tracing data, including that obtained under SafeEntry, to investigations of seven categories of serious crimes such as murder, terrorism, rape and armed robbery.

Said Mr Lee of the episode: "I think we made a mistake. This app was designed for contact tracing and for pandemic purposes. But under the law, the police have powers to ask for information for criminal investigations and police investigations, and it covered this app.

"We should have said so upfront. We did not, and we came out and said so."

In the interview, Mr Lee acknowledged that there was anxiety and a strong reaction from the disclosures on TraceTogether.

Reiterating assurances given by other ministers, he said that after the pandemic is over, the TraceTogether data that had been collected will be deleted.

"I think people have accepted that, and we will be able to live with this," he added.

Other countries are also looking at surveillance or contact tracing programmes, and Mr Lee was asked if Covid-19 is a gateway to a global situation where surveillance is more acceptable to people and useful for governments.

He replied that it was not just the pandemic, but also the modern world.

Even without surveillance apps, there are all kinds of apps which track where people are and what they do, and Mr Lee pointed out that the owners of these apps collect the information and often resell them.

He added that compared with the days before the Internet, Wi-Fi and Google image search, privacy is not the same anymore, anywhere in the world.

This is something that people are getting used to, and something societies have to find ways to deal with in order to protect the legitimate concerns which people have, that this is going to be used against them, he noted.

Said Mr Lee: "There is a certain tension between individual rights and privacies, and our need to work together as a society and a community and to trust one another."

 

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#8

No action has been taken by the government, the Minister for Transport, and LTA all these years on errant cyclists.

 

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#9

The Singapore government and MCCY dare not Stand Up For Singapore; dare not pursue copyright infringement against its CECA treaty partner India.

 

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#10
Ong Ye Kun: "Let's be very clear, cutting corners on maintenance to save cost is not being productive..."

3-line MRT breakdown in October caused by cut in power cable insulation, rusted component

A power fault disrupted train services and caused a blackout at some MRT stations (left). Near Jurong East station (right), SMRT personnel had to help commuters down onto the tracks.
PHOTOS: ST FILE

Kok Yufeng

MAR 18, 2021

SINGAPORE - A cut in the insulation layer of a power cable along a rail extension and a rusted component in a circuit breaker led to the massive three-line rail breakdown last year, which affected about 123,000 commuters.

This was the conclusion of a months-long forensic investigation into the equipment faults on the Tuas West Extension (TWE) that led to disruptions on the North-South, East-West and Circle lines, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Wednesday (March 17), as he warned against cutting corners when it comes to rail line maintenance.

Mr Ong was speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of a new integrated train testing centre (ITTC), which will put new trains and rail systems through their paces without the risk of disrupting service on operational lines.

He said investigations by main contractor Alstom and the Land Transport Authority found that a cut in the insulation layer of a cable, which was likely due to a manufacturing defect or mishandling during installation, had led to a short circuit.

The trip coils in the circuit breaker that should have contained the initial fault failed because a plunger, which moves to enable the circuit breaker to kick in, had rusted.
The rust, which likely formed due to an inadequate protective coating in the batch of trip coils used on the TWE, had obstructed the plunger, causing the circuit breaker to malfunction. This resulted in a disruption lasting more than three hours, leaving more than 6,700 commuters stranded on trains.

"What I described is a very typical story of any major train disruption," Mr Ong said.

"When you dig deep enough, you will trace the cause to a few tiny glitches happening at the same time... But this is enough to paralyse a large segment of our train lines."

He added that a lot of work and money have gone into rectifying the defects identified after the Oct 14 disruption.

Alstom replaced all 113 trip coils - a circuit breaker component - along the TWE last year and is currently replacing all 150km of power cables along the 7.5km extension with higher-specification ones. It is bearing the costs of these works.

These works have led to early closures and late openings on the East-West MRT Line, and full Sunday closures at some stations over the next two months.

Mr Ong said there are plans to replace the trip coils along the TWE again with ones made of stainless steel by the third quarter of next year.

The current trip coils are made of carbon steel with nickel coating.

The LTA has adjusted the settings on the space heaters to reduce the humidity level within circuit breakers to lower the chances of rust forming. Pending the replacement of the trip coils, operator SMRT has also stepped up the frequency of maintenance to once every three months.

It had stepped up maintenance of the trip coils to once every six months in the wake of the disruption from once a year.

Police officers speaking to commuters at Jurong East station, during the train breakdown on Oct 14, 2020. PHOTO: ST FILE

Crowds waiting at the bus stop outside Queenstown MRT station after a power fault disrupted train services, on Oct 14, 2020. PHOTO: ST FILE

While hard work and spending more on maintenance have resulted in the MRT network clocking over one million mean kilometres between failures today, Mr Ong said that the occasional train disruption is inevitable.

He said: "When that happens, we will need to get to the bottom of the matter, identify the causes, rectify and learn from the experience."

He added: "Let's be very clear, cutting corners on maintenance to save cost is not being productive. It is not contributing toward financial sustainability. It is in fact very unproductive, as the remedial action is always disruptive and expensive, and will cost us many times over in social, economic and financial costs."

While maintenance expenditure per place km has doubled over the last decade and has reached a "healthy and reasonable level", Mr Ong said there is no need to "gold plate" maintenance.

"Gold plate means you do a lot of things, spend a lot of money, but don't deliver the outcomes. (It is) just for show. And that is not wise.

"Instead, we need to understand how small, simultaneous glitches tend to be the causes of big disruptions... So let's spend where we need to spend, and where it matters, to ensure safety and reliability. Train our workers well, equip them with the skills to spot and rectify problems, to feel safe to whistle blow where necessary, to proactively improve how maintenance work is done."

He also noted the importance of maintaining the profile of today's rail maintenance regime, where about seven in 10 work hours are spent preventively, and maintaining a culture of professionalism, pride and teamwork.

"If something goes wrong... we must know we always bear collective responsibility, and it is only by working together, addressing each other's blind spots and shortcomings that we deliver a better system."

The ITTC, the first of its kind in South-east Asia, is a further step in strengthening the rail system here, Mr Ong said.

The centre, which allows for concurrent testing of trains and systems from different MRT lines, is located on a 50ha site at the former Raffles Country Club in Tuas, which had been acquired for the abandoned Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project.

First announced in 2019, a $639.5 million tender was awarded last year to GS Engineering, a South Korean construction company, to design and build the flagship centre.

The ITTC allows for concurrent testing of trains and systems from different MRT lines. GRAPHIC: LTA

The ITTC is expected to be completed in two phases.

The first includes a high-speed test track and is expected to be done by late-2022, in time to receive new Circle Line Stage 6 trains that will come in early 2023.
The centre will be fully operational by end-2024.

Said Mr Ong: "In time to come, it will be a physical infrastructure and institution that upholds our maintenance regime."

 

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Must send strong signal. Toot! Toot!

Commentary
Stronger signal needed to prevent recurring MRT faults

Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent

Crowds waiting to board bridging buses at Queenstown MRT station, after a disruption on the train lines, on Oct 14, 2020. PHOTO: ST FILE

MAR 17, 2021

SINGAPORE - Rail systems are fairly robust. They are built to withstand harsh environments brought about by high frequency runs of trains each weighing between 50 and 100 tonnes when full.

In Singapore, rail systems and components must also be specified, designed and built to take into account local conditions, such as humidity, moisture in tunnels, and exposure to the heat and rain.

Procurement processes must be stringent enough so that suppliers with proven track records are prioritised, and those with lapses are blacklisted.

For the latter, we have acted sternly in the past. In the mid-1990s, German group Siemens was among five firms barred from tendering for government contracts for five years.

The ban followed the conviction of former Public Utilities Board deputy chief executive Choy Hon Tim in a corruption case in which the five companies were linked. The others were Tomen Corp, Marubeni Corp, BICC Cables and Pirelli Cables.

And following the Nicoll Highway collapse in 2004, Circle Line main contractor Nishimatsu Construction was fined heavily as well as banned from tendering for government civil contracts for five years.


On Wednesday (March 17), Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung revealed that the massive breakdown last October, which left more than 6,700 passengers stranded on trains across three MRT lines for up to three hours and affected about 123,000 commuters directly, was caused by two things.

First, there was either an "inherent manufacturing defect" in the power cables supplied by French company Alstom, or there was "mishandling during installation". Either way, it led to a cut in cable insulation, which resulted in a short circuit.

Second, circuit breakers which would have isolated the cable fault failed because components had rusted. The rust obstructed movement of parts, and prevented the circuit breakers from tripping.

Alstom will pay for the replacement of trip coils (components within a circuit breaker) as well as the power cables along the Tuas West Extension of the East-West MRT Line.

Although the disruption had affected services between Queenstown and Gul Circle on that line as well as between Woodlands and Jurong East on the North-South Line and between Serangoon and HarbourFront on the Circle Line, the impact was felt across practically the whole MRT network.

This was not the first - nor the last - time relatively new MRT components failed. Just weeks after the October disruption, the Downtown Line broke down because of a broken track circuit cable fastener. This affected the signalling system.

As a result, fasteners for the entire line will be replaced.

In 2015, a newly replaced circuit breaker caught fire on the Bukit Panjang LRT, causing the line to shut down for more than 24 hours.

In 2012, when the Circle Line was just around three years old, 120km of its power cables - also laid by Alstom - were replaced with more water-resistant cables at a cost of $15 million. This is because spans of the cables are often submerged in tunnel water.

In 2006, another power fault caused a seven-hour breakdown of the North East Line. It was traced again to faulty insulation. Investigators narrowed the cause to the quality of a ceramic insulator supplied by France's Ceralep.

There were other incidents involving power supply, including one which caused a tunnel fire near Newton station in 2013. But that involved older assets.

The fact that all the other incidents cited here - averaging one every 2.8 years - which caused massive disruptions were all linked to relatively new power assets is most worrying. That most had to do with below par product quality, improper specification or mishandling is even more worrying.

Taxpayers pay billions to build our rail network, which are among the costliest in the world. To have a string of newish parts failing - and resulting in massive inconvenience to commuters each time - is unacceptable.

Minister Ong said on Wednesday that "no matter how hard we work and try, the occasional disruption will unfortunately be inevitable". While that is true to an extent, there must still be harsher consequences for those who are responsible for faults which could be prevented with better quality control.

Having suppliers or contractors replace faulty parts is of little consequence. These firms are likely to have insurance to cover such costs.

SMRT staff directing commuters after train services were disrupted on Oct 14, 2020. PHOTO: ST FILE

For the October cable failure, commuters will continue to pay for months because of full-day Sunday closures to facilitate replacement work along stretches of the affected line. This not only impacts commuters, but it also impacts SMRT the operator, which as we are often reminded, is facing operational losses.

In this instance, we need to drill down further to ascertain if the power fault - which manifested itself several times for months before October - had to do with manufacturing defect or improper installation.

Either way, the responsible party should not get away with merely replacing the faulty parts.

Singapore must send a stronger signal to errant builders and contractors if they are found to be solely responsible for failures. Otherwise, these highly preventable lapses will keep recurring.

 

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#11
Another "honest mistake"?

$370 million in wage support wrongly paid out to companies; Government to recover monies

The mistakes occurred in applications submitted by companies in the construction, marine and process sectors.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Tham Yuen-C
Senior Political Correspondent

APR 8, 2021

SINGAPORE - An excess of $370 million in wage support was erroneously paid out last year after the Government used the wrong dates to determine the amount that 5,400 companies should get.

The same error also resulted in an excess of $1.2 million being paid out in foreign worker levy waivers and rebates to 360 companies.

Announcing the erroneous Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) and levy waiver and rebate payments on Thursday (April 8), the ministries of trade and industry, finance, and manpower said the mistake was discovered in November last year when the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) found anomalies in its regular processing checks on the JSS.

At the same time, Iras had also received calls from several businesses which had received extra JSS payouts.

This sparked an investigation, which eventually traced the overpayments to an error in the compilation and processing of the reopening dates used to calculate how much JSS payouts a company should get.

The JSS, first introduced in February, provides subsidies for wage costs based on which sector a company is in.

During the circuit breaker period from April to June, all companies were given the highest tier of subsidies.

How long they were paid this enhanced subsidy depended on how long they had to remain shut.

The mistakes occurred in applications submitted by companies in the construction, marine and process sectors. These companies had to get permission to restart projects, and would include its subcontractors, clients and other partners in its applications.

Due to the compilation error, the dates for the restarting of the projects were taken as the reopening dates for all the companies linked to the applications.

As a result, some companies were deemed to have been closed longer than they actually were, and received higher wage subsidies.

In explaining this, the ministries said in a statement: "Government agencies received and reviewed more than 1.8 million applications from businesses to resume their operations. These were then consolidated by MTI.

"As the processes for the resumption of business activities had to be implemented at short notice MTI used existing systems and manual processes to grant approvals for businesses to reopen. Unfortunately, in so doing, mistakes were made with the reopening dates and concomitantly the JSS payouts and foreign worker levy waiver and rebates payable."

The ministries added that they expect to recover all the overpaid monies within the year.

About $140 million of the JSS overpayment will be offset against future payments, and another $200 million will be returned by companies that have promised to do so after being contacted by MTI.

The remaining $30 million is spread out over 1,000 companies, and the Government will work with the companies on repayment, said the ministries.

Meanwhile, the foreign worker levy waiver will be automatically offset from the future levy bill of businesses.

The mistake had also resulted in some companies being underpaid for JSS and foreign worker levy waivers, the ministries said.

Some 1,000 businesses were found to be eligible for additional JSS payouts, amounting to $5.5 million, and the sums due will be credited by the end of April.

About 1,200 businesses are also entitled to additional foreign worker levy waivers, totalling $6 million, which will be credited to the businesses directly.

To prevent future mistakes, MTI has worked with MOF, MOM and IRAS to fix the processes and put in additional checks to detect possible errors, the ministries said.

An external auditor has also been hired to conduct a thorough check on the reopening dates used in the computation of JSS payouts, they added.

The ministries said affected companies were not required to take any action for now, and will be notified via letters and e-mails. They will also be contacted by MTI and MOM of any actions required by May.

Companies can log in here using their CorpPass to check if they are affected from Saturday onwards.

 

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#12

Forum: Government needs to set example in hiring older adults

APR 17, 2021

My husband, who was greatly affected by the circuit breaker and the ongoing pandemic, requested a transfer between government agencies.

He was told during an interview with a deputy director that although he had 30 years of experience and was well qualified, he would not be considered due to his age of 57.

The deputy director told my husband that since my husband would have to retire in five years' time, the agencies would rather recruit a younger person who has a far longer career runway.

The Government will be raising the retirement age to 63 and re-employment age to 68. The plan is to raise the retirement age to 65 and re-employment age to 70 by the end of this decade.

My husband would have a good 10 more years of working life. Is that too short of a runway (Don't assume that older adults have shorter career runways, April 12)?
Recently, my relative shared with me his experience with a government agency.


His company has a contract with a government agency, and the scope of that contract involves presenting to the agency people the company plans to recruit for key positions. The company presented an applicant above the age of 55 with a good number of years of experience, but was told there were "concerns" over the applicant's age.

Age is still a concern for many companies and government agencies. This mindset when it comes to recruiting older adults must be changed immediately.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been encouraging all companies to recruit older adults, but government agencies themselves are not practising this.
Older adults have a wealth of experience that companies and government agencies can draw from.

If the civil service cannot enforce the policies and directives that they have set, how are they able to ensure or expect private companies to follow these guidelines?
I do hope MOM ensures that government agencies take the first step in recruiting older adults.

Iris Lim

 

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#13

NParks investigating after swathes of Kranji Woodland along rail corridor were cleared by mistake

Kranji Woodlands in an aerial picture taken in May 2019 (left), and a picture taken in February 2021.PHOTOS: BRICE LI/FACEBOOK

Ang Qing

16 FEB 2021


SINGAPORE - Large swathes of Kranji Woodland along the rail corridor were mistakenly cleared while the authorities were in the midst of biodiversity impact assessments there.

Aerial photos of the site showing the destruction of the woodland, a 70ha green patch that is home to around 40 species of birds, emerged on social media on Sunday (Feb 14). One picture showed a narrow strip of trees surrounding the rail corridor, with much of the rest cleared.

In response to these posts, a JTC Corporation spokesman said on Tuesday that the land was "erroneously" cleared by its contractor before the completion of environmental assessments.

The National Parks Board told The Straits Times that it is investigating the unauthorised clearance at the site.

"We take a serious view of unauthorised greenery clearance and will not hesitate to take the appropriate enforcement action," it added.

Development projects in Singapore near sensitive nature areas are subject to greater scrutiny and developers may be required to carry out more detailed environmental studies.

The green patches cleared were on a site slated for the Agri-Food Innovation Park, which is part of the Sungei Kadut Eco-District (Sked). The master plan for the latter, which seeks to support new growth sectors such as agri-tech and environmental technology, was announced in February last year.

Upon discovering the mistake during a site inspection on Jan 13, JTC instructed the contractor Huationg to stop all clearing works immediately.

The green patches cleared were on a site slated for the Agri-Food Innovation Park.
PHOTO: BRICE LI/FACEBOOK

No further clearing has taken place at the site since then and the contractor has been issued a stern warning, JTC said.

According to the statutory board, it had engaged an environmental specialist to conduct a biodiversity baseline study last December to create an environmental monitoring and management plan (EMMP) for specified plots of land within the area. These were expected to be completed around April before plans to engage stakeholders.

"JTC will continue with the baseline study and EMMP and will work closely with all relevant stakeholders... to ensure that the Sked redevelopment plans are carried out with due consultation and in an environmentally responsible and sensitive manner," the spokesman said.

One picture showed a narrow strip of trees surrounding the rail corridor, with much of the rest cleared.
PHOTO: BRICE LI/FACEBOOK

"The findings of the studies will be publicly available when ready."

In a statement, Huationg apologised and said it was working with JTC on ongoing investigations "to determine the cause of this lapse, and to prevent future occurrences".

"We are also reviewing internally and working with JTC to strengthen our project management processes," the contractor added.

 

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#14
4G govt is slower than HK, UK and other govts in banning visitors from India
The 4G ministers are supposed to be the creme-de-la-creme, the brightest Sinkies, and they have to be paid millions in order to attract them into public service.
Why then are the 4G ministers slower than HK and UK in banning travellers from Hong Kong?
Even ordinary Sinkies can see that India is the biggest source of imported covid-19 cases, and have been calling for a reduction or ban.
But the 4G ministers, in their groupthink and in their ivory tower, think they are smarter than the ordinary Sinkies and refuse to consider this action.
Until now.

S'pore to bar long-term pass holders, visitors travelling from India as Covid-19 cases there surge

The move takes effect from 11.59pm on April 23, 2021.PHOTO: ST FILE

Linette Lai
Political Correspondent

Apr 22, 2021

SINGAPORE - All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have travelled to India within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore, as the country goes on "heightened alert" against Covid-19.

This move takes effect from 11.59pm on Friday, and includes people who have prior approval to enter Singapore, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (April 22).

In addition, people who have recently travelled to India and have not completed their 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) by 11.59pm on Thursday night will have to complete their additional seven-day SHN at a dedicated facility rather than their places of residence.

This group will undergo three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the virus: when they arrive, on the 14th day of their SHN and before the end of their SHN.
Explaining why Singapore has tightened its border measures, Mr Wong said the situation in India has worsened since the start of the week.

He added that the SHN period is not "100 per cent foolproof", noting that any leaks among newly arrived Indian workers could possibly introduce new strains into dormitories and result in new clusters.

India reported 314,835 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, the world's biggest single-day surge. The country has recorded 16 million cases and 184,657 deaths so far. A new "double-mutant" variant has also emerged in India, and is thought to be fuelling the country's second wave.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who with Mr Wong co-chairs the multi-ministerial task force handling the pandemic, said Singapore is on heightened alert against the coronavirus, given rising case numbers and emerging virus variants around the world.

The situation may escalate quickly, necessitating the tightening of measures in Singapore, he added at a virtual press conference.

Viral variants - including those first detected in South Africa and Brazil - have been found in 342 imported cases, said the Health Ministry's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak. All the cases were isolated on arrival and no community spread has been detected.

He warned that this number may increase over time as more Covid-19 cases are detected and more testing done.

Mr Gan urged Singaporeans to continue to be socially responsible and adhere to safe management measures.

This applies to those who have already been vaccinated as well, he said. "The recent spate of cases has reminded us that we cannot let our guard down."

"We are facing an invisible and very formidable enemy," Mr Wong said, adding that the spate of new strains detected in other countries is a worrying development.

"Even after this round of vaccination, we might have to continue with further rounds of vaccination... The fight against Covid is not over, but working together, we can emerge stronger and defeat virus."

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#15

 

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#15

S'pore's ban on visitors from India not aimed at any nationality: Ong Ye Kung

The move by Singapore to ban travellers with recent travel history to India is not targeted at any nationality.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

Toh Ting Wei


APR 26, 2021


SINGAPORE - The move by Singapore to ban travellers with recent travel history to India is not targeted at any nationality, but is aimed at addressing the risk posed by a place with a high incidence of Covid-19 infections, said Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung on Monday (April 26).
A traveller who has left India but stayed in another country before flying to Singapore would not have the same level of risk as someone who came directly from India, he said during a press briefing announcing the Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble.
Mr Ong, who becomes Health Minister from May 15, was responding to a question about Indian nationals flying in from other countries to bypass a travel ban on long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have travelled to India within the last 14 days.
Reports of such incidents have sparked concern among some members of the public.
Mr Ong explained that anyone staying in one place long enough would assume the risk profile of that place, regardless of nationality.
He said: "If your policy is to target risk, then for someone from a high-risk country to move to a lower-risk country, stay there for some time, and after that remain non-Covid positive... and then come to Singapore, actually, you have lowered the risk tremendously in that process."

In response to another query about whether it would be possible for a traveller to bypass restrictions by leaving India for another country, before almost immediately flying to Singapore, Mr Ong said this would not be possible as Singapore requires the traveller to spend 14 days outside of India.
The move to bar all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have travelled to India within the last 14 days from entering or transiting through Singapore took effect from 11.59pm on April 23. It came as Singapore went into "heightened alert" against Covid-19.
Providing the rationale for the decision last week, Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who is co-chair of the task force tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, said the situation in India had worsened since the start of the week.
He said that the stay-home notice (SHN) period was not "100 per cent foolproof", noting that any leaks among newly arrived Indian workers could possibly introduce new strains into dormitories and result in new clusters.
He said the temporary ban on arrivals from India would give Singapore time to monitor the situation and understand the risks.
On Monday, India set a global record for the rise in daily Covid-19 cases for a fifth straight day with 352,991 cases. The number of Covid-19 deaths jumped to a record high of 2,812 over the last 24 hours.
The Ministry of Manpower, in response to queries about the issue of workers from India attempting to bypass border restrictions to enter Singapore, said it adjusts entry approvals dynamically, depending on the global Covid-19 situation and risk levels of countries and regions that work pass holders come from.
"Approvals are staggered to manage the importation risk of Covid-19 cases," said MOM.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust our measures as necessary to balance public health interest and economic objectives."