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Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.

Lawrence Wong

23 mins ·
Dining-in has resumed with the new 2-person rule. We are taking small but steady steps towards reopening Singapore safely, and I’m appreciative that everyone is doing their part by complying with the measures.
The Government will do its part too. Over 140,000 employers will receive their JSS payouts from 30 June to support over 2 million local employees. With this tranche of payout, we would have disbursed more than $26.7 billion in JSS support since its introduction in Feb last year.
I would also like to give a shoutout to our Safe Distancing Ambassadors and Enforcement Officers – they have been working tirelessly on the ground to remind the public of our latest measures, and they play a huge role in reducing the risk of outbreaks. Let’s cooperate with them, and continue to reopen safely!

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from msn.com:

Singapore preparing to live with endemic Covid-19 as residents grow ‘battle weary’ of pandemic, ministers say​


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Singapore is drawing up a blueprint for Covid-19 becoming endemic in a plan that may include "multi-year" vaccine booster shots such as those given for the flu virus, a shift away from monitoring daily cases and a return of mass gatherings like the country's annual National Day Parade, officials said on Thursday.


In an op-ed for the The Straits Times, the three ministers who co-head the government's coronavirus task force said they were sketching out the plan as residents increasingly became "battle weary" after 18 months of weathering the pandemic.

Their comments follow recent intimations by other governments, including neighbouring Malaysia, that a different approach to deal with the pandemic may be required as it becomes increasingly apparent that there is no credible route to eliminating Covid-19 from the world.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

a group of people sitting at a table: Customers sit at socially distanced tables outside a restaurant in Singapore. Photo: Bloomberg
© Provided by South China Morning Post Customers sit at socially distanced tables outside a restaurant in Singapore. Photo: Bloomberg
Singapore, which is in the midst of scaling back restrictions on public gatherings put in place in May following a surge in cases, has one of the world's lowest death tolls from the pandemic.

The government last week said more than half the population had received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

"All are asking: when and how will the pandemic end?" ministers Gan Kim Yong, Ong Ye Kung and Lawrence Wong wrote in their opinion piece.

"The bad news is that Covid-19 may never go away. The good news is that it is possible to live normally with it in our midst. This means Covid-19 will very likely become endemic."

Like influenza, Covid-19 will continue to mutate and survive in the community, though a majority of those who contract it will recover without needing to be hospitalised and with little or no medication, the ministers said.


"We can work towards a similar outcome for Covid-19. We can't eradicate it, but we can turn the pandemic into something much less threatening, like influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease, or chickenpox, and get on with our lives," they said.

The ministers said vaccinations would be a key part of this new approach, citing Israel's experience that showed the infection rate among vaccinated people was 30 times lower than among the unvaccinated. The hospitalisation rate among vaccinated people was also 10 times lower.

In Singapore, of the "120 plus" fully vaccinated people who had still caught Covid-19 - and were not nursing homes residents or hospital inpatients - all either had no or mild symptoms, the ministers said. About eight per cent of unvaccinated people developed serious symptoms by contrast, they said.

"To sustain a high level of protection, and to defend against new mutant strains resistant to current vaccines, booster shots may be needed in the future," the three ministers said in the op-ed. "We may have to sustain a comprehensive, multi-year vaccination programme."

The ministers said Singapore was "on track" to get two-thirds of the population vaccinated by early July.

They said the next milestone was to have at least two-thirds of people fully vaccinated with two doses "around" the country's 56th birthday on August 9, "supply permitting".

Other parts of the Singapore government's "broad plan" to deal with endemic Covid-19 would include easier testing, such as the use of self-tests and breathalysers that turn around results quickly, the ministers said.

In time, the country's airports, seaports, office buildings, shopping centres, hospitals and educational institutions could use the faster test kits that take about one to two minutes to produce results.

The new norm may also see infected people allowed to "recover at home, because with vaccination the symptoms will be mostly mild", the ministers said, adding that there would be less worry about the health care system being overwhelmed because the risk of transmission was low among those who had been inoculated.

Authorities may also do away with massive contact tracing and quarantining each time an infection is detected, given the prevalence of fast and easy tests that allow people to confirm whether they were infected on their own.

On monitoring cases, the ministers said the focus would shift to outcomes: "how many fall very sick, how many (are) in the intensive care unit, how many need to be intubated for oxygen, and so on".

With the changes, travel could resume, "at least to countries that have also controlled the virus and turned it into an endemic norm," the ministers said. Travellers could get tested upon departure and be exempted from quarantine when they test negative upon returning home.
 
Lawrence Wong wants two thirds of the population to be vaccinated by National Day.

Lawrence Wong

7 hrs ·
I had earlier shared that we aimed to get at least half of our population fully vaccinated by August. Since then we have been working hard to bring forward the delivery of vaccines and speed up the process. So we are now able to set a more ambitious target: to have at least two-thirds of our population fully vaccinated by National Day.
Vaccination is a key part of the broader roadmap towards a new normal where we learn to live with Covid-19. The co-chairs of the Taskforce have written a commentary in the newspapers today on the other things you can expect in the near future.
Do check it out: https://www.straitstimes.com/.../living-normally-with....
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/views/story20210624-1160128
(
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: ST - Gavin Foo)

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from msn.com:

COVID guidelines for larger settings such as dine-in on track: Lawrence Wong​


SINGAPORE — The COVID-19 guidelines will be revised to allow for larger gatherings among vaccinated people while dine-in at five per group in food and beverage places is expected to proceed as planned next month, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (24 June).

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Speaking at a multi-ministry COVID-19 taskforce conference, the MTF co-chair said, “First, is the next stage of our reopening, specifically to move from two persons to five persons for higher risk settings like F&B dining-in. We had said earlier that we plan to do this sometime around mid-July. With the vaccine on track, with the regular testing of workers in these higher-risk settings proceeding, we should be able to get there.”


On the guidelines for vaccinated persons in social settings, Wong said that “we could allow gatherings involving just vaccinated persons to have larger group sizes, and also relax the social-distancing rules in such settings because only vaccinated persons are involved.”

The different settings would include religious services, concerts, sporting events, and others, he added.

Similarly, the authorities are working on new guidelines for vaccinated individuals in Singapore to be able to travel abroad.

“And then when you come back, you either can serve a shorter quarantine time and the stay-home-notice will be shorter or may be waived entirely, and replaced with some tests, and this will depend on the country that you visit,” Wong said.

His comments come as the MTF announced that Singapore is aiming to fully vaccinate two-thirds of the population against COVID-19 by National Day and will accelerate its vaccination plan from this Saturday.
 
Lawrence showing concern for the elderly.

Lawrence Wong

14 hrs ·
Even as we continue to speed up our vaccination programme, we are paying close attention to the take-up rate amongst seniors. They are the most vulnerable group and more likely to end up with severe illness should they be infected with the virus.
Today about 75% of those above 60 years are fully vaccinated. But we want this to be higher. Otherwise if a cluster were to break amongst an elderly population who are not vaccinated, the consequences would be dire.
So to all the seniors out there, please get yourself jabbed as soon as possible. We’ve made the process easier for you - there’s no need to register, just walk in to any vaccination centre (VC). To all with elderly parents who have not been vaccinated, please speak to them and encourage them to do so. Better yet, bring them to a nearby VC for the jab. The sooner they are vaccinated, the more protected they will be against the worst effects of Covid.

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from msn.com:

Harder to be a minority than a majority in multi-racial society: Lawrence Wong​


SINGAPORE — It is important for the majority community in Singapore to do its part and be sensitive to the needs of minorities, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday (25 June).

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Delivering a speech on “multiracialism and faultlines”, Wong said in any multi-racial society everywhere in the world, it is harder to be a minority than a majority.


Wong cited some challenges faced by certain racial groups in Singapore such as job discrimination, landlords specifying exclusion of potential tenants based on race, and comments about racial stereotypes.

“And when they do happen, they cause real hurt, which is not erased by lightly dismissing them as casual remarks or jokes,” said Wong, who was speaking at a forum on race and racism in Singapore jointly organised by the Institute of Policy Studies and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Wong noted there have been several “worrying” incidents recently including a Chinese man who kicked an Indian woman while uttering racial slurs, a Chinese man who confronted an inter-racial couple, a Chinese woman who hit a gong to disrupt an Indian neighbour from carrying out a prayer ritual, and a Malay woman who was jailed for hurling racist insults at an Indian bus commuter.

“These racist acts are unacceptable. I feel the hurt caused. Like all of you, I wish these incidents had not happened.”

Wong said he believed people who are from the majority community in Singapore understand the issues faced by the minority community, and urged them to do more to make their minority friends, neighbours, co-workers feel comfortable. At the same time, minorities have recognised that the majority community has legitimate needs and concerns, he added.

Singapore must continue with its approach of mutual accommodation, trust and compromise, Wong said.

Singaporeans should be upfront about the “racialised experiences” that various groups feel, and be prepared to have “uncomfortable” and “civilised” discussions.

“But we should not insist on maximum entitlements and rights for our respective groups; construe every compromise as an injustice that needs to be condemned; or put the worst interpretation on every perceived slight or insensitivity,” Wong said.

If one group were to jostle “aggressively” to assert its identity and rights over others, other groups might also start to jostle back, he added.

As such, Wong expressed hope that all groups calling for change will be conscious about their approach, and called for expansion of space for agreement and deepening of cross-cultural understanding.

On its part, the government will continue to update its policies on race, and other policies that help to strengthen racial harmony in Singapore.

“To conclude, this government will never waver in our commitment to promote harmony among all races, and ensure that all Singaporeans enjoy full and equal opportunities in life,” Wong said.
 
from yahoo.com:

Nobody 'more pleased’ than PAP if GRC system is no longer needed: Lawrence Wong​


SINGAPORE — The People's Action Party (PAP) government acknowledged that some believe the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system is not necessary and that Singaporeans can be trusted to vote for the best candidates regardless of race, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday (25 June).

“Believe me, nobody would be more pleased than the PAP leadership – past and present, from Lee Kuan Yew and S Rajaratnam onwards – if one day we no longer needed the GRC system to ensure sufficient minority representation in Singapore,” said Wong, who was delivering a speech on “multiracialism and faultlines”.

Wong made a reference to the US – a polyglot society like Singapore – where the courts have intervened to ensure electoral districts with built-in majorities of African-Americans and Hispanics. He was speaking at a forum on race and racism in Singapore jointly organised by the Institute of Policy Studies and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Singapore no longer has constituencies with built-in majorities of Indians and Malays as it wanted racially integrated rather than segregated housing, said Wong. Instead, the GRC system is in place to ensure at least a minimum number of minority legislators in Parliament.

“But we are not yet totally immune to the siren calls of exclusive racial and cultural identities. Neither have we reached a ‘post-racial’ state,” said Wong, who also spoke about several recent racist incidents in Singapore.

The country’s founding fathers had strived to ensure that they implemented policies to protect the minorities and prevent abuse by the majority, said Wong. Among such policies are the use of English as a neutral language for all races, electoral rules to guarantee minority representation in Parliament, and constitutional amendments to create a Presidential Council on Minority Rights, he added.
 
Lawrence addressing racism on his FB.

Lawrence Wong

11 hrs ·
Spoke at the IPS-RSIS Forum on Race and Racism in Singapore. Recent racist incidents have led many to consider the state of our racial harmony. These racist acts are unacceptable. We are better than this and must hold ourselves to higher standards.
We have made tremendous progress over the decades in promoting harmony among all races. But we are not perfect and there’s still much work to be done. Our forefathers laid the important groundwork in building a “Singaporean Singapore”. Let’s continue to strengthen it and build an ever more perfect multiracial society. Then step by step, we can approach ever more closely to our ideal: one united people, regardless of race, language or religion.
Check the full speech at:
 
Lawrence addressing racism on his FB.

Lawrence Wong

11 hrs ·
Spoke at the IPS-RSIS Forum on Race and Racism in Singapore. Recent racist incidents have led many to consider the state of our racial harmony. These racist acts are unacceptable. We are better than this and must hold ourselves to higher standards.
We have made tremendous progress over the decades in promoting harmony among all races. But we are not perfect and there’s still much work to be done. Our forefathers laid the important groundwork in building a “Singaporean Singapore”. Let’s continue to strengthen it and build an ever more perfect multiracial society. Then step by step, we can approach ever more closely to our ideal: one united people, regardless of race, language or religion.
Check the full speech at:

You owe me an apology.
Seriously.

Be a reasonable person and apologize.
 
Lawrence Wong speaking at make-believe youth parliament.

Lawrence Wong

21 hrs ·
Glad to speak at REACHSingapore's Singapore Model Parliament. Over the course of the week, the youth participants took a closer look at how policies are debated and how laws are passed in Parliament.
We had a wide-ranging discussion on issues close to our hearts, including mental well-being and our social compact.
The Government will continue to do its best to address these issues. All of us can and should do our part too. I encourage everyone to think about how you can shape the Singapore you want to see for the future. You can share your views and suggestions through various engagement platforms. Better yet, get involved in initiatives to support the more vulnerable and less advantaged amongst us. You can start small - in your school, neighbourhood or community. Ultimately these actions will help us build and strengthen our democracy of deeds.

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from straitstimes.com:

Lawrence Wong's speech on racism sends right signals but policies like GRC worth second look: Pritam Singh​


SINGAPORE - Finance Minister Lawrence Wong's recent speech on race and racism in Singapore sends the right signals, and the minister's call for people to educate and help each other understand differences is an important one that transcends politics, said Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh.

But certain policies, such as the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), which sets racial quotas on flat ownership within Housing Board (HDB) estates, as well as the group representation constituency (GRC) system, are worth a second look, the Workers' Party (WP) chief said.

Mr Singh was responding to Mr Wong's speech and the responses he gave to questions during a forum on race organised by the Institute of Policy Studies and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies on Friday.

In a Facebook post on Saturday (June 26), Mr Singh noted that a significant part of Mr Wong's speech looked back at long-standing People's Action Party (PAP) policies, and that the minister's acknowledgement that not all agree with these policies was "particularly noteworthy".

"The Ethnic Integration Policy for public housing has bothered my colleagues and I in the Workers' Party for specific reasons," said Mr Singh.

"Over the years, we have heard our fair share of feedback from minorities of all races having to lower the price of their flats to effect a sale. Minorities bear a direct and real financial burden in the name of the EIP."

He said Mr Wong's tone and his acknowledgement of the problems that stem from the EIP go "much further than any parliamentary pronouncement on the matter by the Government" in his recent memory.

Mr Singh also highlighted related issues such as the tendency for "bunching" of minorities to occur on the lower floors of HDB blocks in spite of the EIP, as well as the role race plays in policies on national schools and institutions like national service.

He added that the EIP is just one out of a number of available policy options to mitigate the problem.

"As it is, the inequity the EIP engenders for some minority Singaporeans is real, distorts the market and has serious economic consequences."

Mr Singh also took aim at the GRC system, which Mr Wong defended in his speech. The opposition leader said the PAP's argument that GRCs ensure a minimum number of minority representatives in Parliament is "elegant in theory, but unconvincing in practice".

The scheme began with three-member GRCs but expanded to allow up to six members, before the maximum size was cut back to five members in last year's general election, Mr Singh noted. He also cited instances where the redrawing of constituency boundaries was seen as having benefited the PAP.

"See how Fengshan became an SMC (single-member constituency) and was absorbed back into East Coast GRC within one election cycle? And who can forget Joo Chiat SMC of 2011? Why? One cannot help but to conclude that in the case of GRCs, minority representation is a Trojan horse for the PAP's political objectives."

Mr Singh said the WP has made proposals that are aimed at addressing these issues, such as moving the Electoral Boundary Review Committee out of the purview of the Prime Minister's Office.

He also said it is worth questioning whether the majority of Singaporeans today will inevitably vote along racial lines.
 
from straitstimes.com:

S'pore should work hard to change attitudes of race bias for PM: Lawrence Wong​


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Moderator Shashi Jayakumar (right) asks Finance Minister Lawrence Wong at a forum why an individual from a minority race can't be the prime minister.PHOTO: INSTITUTE OF POLICY STUDIES

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean of a minority race who wants to be prime minister should be aware of attitudes and realities on the ground - that a significant proportion of Singaporeans are more comfortable with a prime minister of their own race, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

He added that such attitudes - reflected in surveys and which cut across Singaporeans across different ethnic groups - should not be accepted.

"We should instead work very hard to change them," he said at a forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

Mr Wong's remarks come on the heels of a spate of racial and religious incidents in the last month, which have continued to generate conversations on Singapore's multicultural identity.

During Friday's dialogue, moderator Dr Shashi Jayakumar of RSIS asked the minister: "Why can't an individual from a minority race be the PM? Doesn't this run against the grain of meritocracy, as we understand it?"

Mr Wong replied: "Anyone in Singapore who wants to be prime minister will have to connect with voters and mobilise Singaporeans and obviously lead the party to win elections. This applies to anyone regardless of race.

"The IPS surveys do show that a significant proportion of Singaporeans are more comfortable with a prime minister of their own race. This cuts across Singaporeans across different ethnic groups. This is what the survey indicates; I wish it were not so, but the survey results are as they are."

In the 2016 study, 98 per cent of Chinese respondents said they preferred a Chinese prime minister. Just over half would accept a Malay prime minister, while six in 10 would be fine with an Indian one.

Malay and Indian respondents were also less accepting of a prime minister of another race than of one from their own.

"A minority who wants to be prime minister should be aware of these attitudes," said Mr Wong. "It doesn't mean that he, or for that matter she, can't be a prime minister. But these are the realities on the ground."

He added: "I certainly would look forward to the day when Singapore has a minority prime minister. I would welcome that."

Mr Wong also said the value of race-based policies such as the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Other (CMIO) classification model, as well as the Housing Board's Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), should be recognised.

But he noted these were not set in stone, and that the Government would continue to review them.

The former national development minister was asked if the EIP - which sets quotas for flats in a block or precinct that can be owned by each racial group - disadvantaged minorities by restricting who they can sell to or buy from.

Mr Wong said it was not just about the numbers, and pointed out the EIP has led to social mixing and interaction across different races over the years. "That helps to build that sense of attachment, belonging and identity as Singaporeans," he said.

Without the EIP, ethnic enclaves seen in cities around the world would form; with minorities squeezed out of areas with higher prices.

He acknowledged the difficulties faced by minority owners bumping into EIP limits while trying to sell their flats, and said appeals would be managed on a case-by-case basis, with "a whole range of flexibilities" to help accommodate requests - including waiving EIP limits in exceptional circumstances.

On the CMIO model, he noted criticisms that it reinforces racial consciousness and detracts from Singapore's "multiracial ideal".

"Consider this: If we were to discard CMIO, does it mean that people will start forgetting about their ethnic identities or paying less attention to their ethnic identities?" Mr Wong said. "If we were to ignore racial differences, does that mean that the differences do not exist? It's not so clear to me."

Citing how double-barreled race classifications were introduced in 2010, he said the Government would keep re-examining these policies over time.

Fine-tuning policies is one part of the joint effort needed to "double down" in addressing racism and arresting any risk of Singapore regressing as a multiracial society, said Mr Wong.

"All of us want to dive deeper, to do more to understand better the reasons behind racism in Singapore," he added. "It requires us to look at things carefully based on our context, our circumstances, our realities... and then see what areas can be improved.

"It could be policy, it could be behaviours, it could be institutions," he said. "But whatever they are, look at constantly improving and getting better. I think that must be the imperative."
 

Lawrence Wong

2 hrs ·
Had a good meeting last Friday at the APEC - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Informal Finance Ministers’ Meeting with the APEC Business Advisory Council.
We discussed economic developments in the Asia-Pacific region and how governments and businesses can collaborate for a better and greener recovery from the pandemic.
This includes ensuring equitable and faster access to Covid-19 vaccines, and establishing timely and interoperable public health rules to resume international travel safely.
I hope that it will not be too long before we can again meet in-person and renew our friendships.

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from straitstimes.com:

S'pore's multiracial model does not require any community to give up its heritage, traditions: Lawrence Wong​


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SINGAPORE - To achieve racial harmony, Singapore did not ask any of its communities to give up parts of their culture, and instead embraced the diversity they offered, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

Speaking at a forum on race and racism organised by the Institute of Policy Studies and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies on Friday (June 25), Mr Wong held up Singapore's model of multiculturalism, which he said is distinctive and different from that of other nations.

"We did not set out to achieve racial harmony by creating a monolithic society. Our multiracialism does not require any community to give up its heritage or traditions," he said at the forum live-streamed from the University Cultural Centre Theatre at the National University of Singapore in Kent Ridge.

He stressed that Singapore does not devalue diversity, but instead accepts and celebrates it.

Multiracialism does not mean forgetting the separate identities that people have, and does not require the erasure of culture differences and histories in favour of a "bland and homogenised broth", he added.

"Instead, it enjoins us to embrace our inheritances, respect those of others, and go beyond them to encompass a national identity and shared purpose," said the minister.

Singapore's way differs from the French way, which insists on assimilation into one master language and culture. People there have to speak French, accept French ways and assimilate into French society, he pointed out.

On its part, Singapore has decided to encourage each community to take pride in its own cultures and traditions, while also seeking common ground and strengthening a shared sense of belonging and identity.

Mr Wong recounted how the late theatre doyen Kuo Pao Kun had likened culture to trees. "This is what we are constantly striving to do. Go deeper to strengthen our cultural roots; and at the same time, reach higher to cross-pollinate with other cultures, and thus develop a stronger shared Singaporean identity," he said.

The country's bilingualism policy is an important part of its approach to multiracialism as it allows children here to access traditions that the vernacular languages carry, said Mr Wong. This is so they would know who they are, instead of becoming "pale imitations of Europeans or Americans".

There is much effort to preserve these languages, and Mr Wong noted that this involves steps such as insisting schoolchildren study their mother tongues, devoting resources to maintaining vernacular language standards, and helping to sustain vernacular media here.

Parliament provides simultaneous translations in all four of Singapore's official languages as well, even though all MPs can understand and speak English well.

"It is an important practice which we continue to uphold - not least to let the world and our own citizens know that we are not to be confused with the West and Westerners, though English is our language of business and we are connected to the world," said Mr Wong.

He quoted what Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the opening of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre in 2017, that "being Singaporean has never been a matter of subtraction, but of addition; not of becoming less, but more; not of limitation and contraction, but of openness and expansion".

The reason for SAP schools​

In his speech, the minister acknowledged criticism from some quarters that the Government's policies to preserve and develop cultures could make Singapore more race-conscious and detract from multiracialism.

The Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools are sometimes cited to make this point, he said, adding that he understands the concerns surrounding them.

He gave the assurance that the Government wants young people to interact with those in other communities, and make friends among all races. It will continue to see how multiracialism can be strengthened across all schools, he pledged.

But the minister asked critics of SAP schools to consider if society here would be better off if standards of spoken and written vernacular languages were to fall, and Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures were to wither and dissipate.

"For that is the primary reason for the SAP schools. They were pure Chinese-medium schools before. We retained some of them in this new form so we can still have a sufficient number of bilingual and bicultural students, equally strong in English as well as Chinese," said Mr Wong.

He noted that similar to SAP schools, Singapore has programmes in a few schools to enable students to deepen their proficiency in Malay and Tamil, and to nurture their bicultural interests.

These include madrasahs, or religious Islamic schools, strong vernacular media, as well as a variety of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultural organisations.

Such organisations and efforts should not be done away with on the grounds of perpetuating racial consciousness and not being inclusive of others.

"For that is not what we mean when we pledge ourselves to become 'one people, regardless of race, language or religion'. The Singaporean is not only the English-educated cosmopolitan, up to date with the latest trends in London, Paris or New York," said Mr Wong.

"The Singaporean is also our fellow citizens who are more comfortable in Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, or other languages, and who have different cultural perspectives and views."
 
from channelnewsasia.com:

People vaccinated against COVID-19 will be given 'some concession' when overseas travel resumes: Gan Kim Yong​


SINGAPORE: People vaccinated against COVID-19 will be given "some concession" when travelling or returning to Singapore, co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force Gan Kim Yong said on Thursday (Jun 24).

This could mean a shortened stay-home notice when vaccinated travellers come into Singapore, said co-chair of the task force Lawrence Wong. It could also mean that the stay-home notice is "waived entirely" and replaced with COVID-19 tests, he added.


The guidelines will depend on the country visited, and will take into account their "risk profiles" and infection rates, said Mr Wong.

"These are the potentially revised guidelines that will apply to vaccinated persons. We are still working through them, and we will announce them when we are ready," he added.

He said these revised guidelines for vaccinated travellers "may encourage more people to be vaccinated".

Overseas travel can resume when Singapore reaches "higher rates of vaccination", said Mr Gan.

“Come August, we expect about two-thirds would have been vaccinated and protected from serious illness, but two-thirds will still not be enough.

“We need to continue to press on with vaccination to achieve an even higher rate of coverage. Then we will be able to resume the higher-risk activities, which we have suspended over the last one and half years, maybe with some capacity limits imposed,” said Mr Gan, who is also the Minister for Trade and Industry.


Mr Gan added that the vaccination rates of other countries will also matter when deciding on travel arrangements.

"If they have a very high vaccination rate, it gives us greater confidence to open up travel channels with them. If their cases are low and they are able to control the infection well, it will also give us greater confidence to open up with them," said Mr Gan.

"But if their vaccination coverage is low and their cases are still rising very rapidly, even if we have a very high vaccination rate, we need to continue to be careful in allowing travellers from that particular destination."

When asked if a vaccination "target” needed to be reached before air travel can resume, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the milestone is for two-thirds of the population to be vaccinated, but it is "actually not enough".

“So as to what kind of milestone will be tagged to what kind of opening, and ... shift in practices, I think, it will be part of the roadmap that we are preparing and working out," he said.

"But I would caution this, that there is still a lot of unknowns. This enemy is full of curveballs, always thrown at us. So we are really crossing the river, one stone at a time."

VACCINATION PASSPORTS

When asked about the recognition of Malaysia's contact tracing app MySejahtera as a "vaccination passport", Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, said Singapore is continuing "conversations with all countries".

Mr Ong added that it is important for the Government to work with "as many partners" as possible on mutually recognising digital certificates, with the view of eventually allowing air travel arrangements.

MORE WORKERS ALLOWED INTO SINGAPORE

More migrant workers and foreign domestic workers will also be allowed into Singapore, said Mr Gan.

“This will ease the immense pressures our companies have been under since the start of the pandemic and allow stalled projects to restart, family members to reunite and their migrant domestic workers to join them,” he said.

Mr Gan noted that many construction projects have not been able to proceed because of the lack of skilled workers, many of whom are from overseas. He added that export-oriented industries also have orders to fulfil.

"Many of these sectors are also under stress, because they limited access to manpower and this is an area that we will need to look at how we can help them to resume their activities," he said.

He also noted the need for foreign domestic workers to enter Singapore to "help our families".

The Government is working to continue strengthening its precautionary measures for migrant workers upon entry into Singapore and during the stay-home notice period, said Mr Gan. It will also enhance safety measures at dormitories and workplaces.

He added that the Government is working with the "source countries" to introduce measures to prevent imported COVID-19 cases.

"As other countries, source countries' vaccination also goes up, if they are able to continue to control and manage their infection in these countries, I think we will also be able to increase the number of migrant workers that are allowed to come in," he said.

“It has been a challenging one and half years for everyone, but the progress we are making on our vaccination programme is the light at the end of the tunnel. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we’ll be able to open up quickly and decisively once we have achieved a high level of vaccination," he added.
 
Lawrence Wong talking to the APEC Business Advisory Council.

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Lawrence chats with SBF................................................................... (Singapore Business Federation)

Lawrence Wong

15 hrs ·
How can companies emerge stronger from the pandemic? This was the key theme of my dialogue with more than 300 business leaders at the Singapore Business Federation .
It has been a challenging year and a half for Singapore businesses. Disruptions have become a way of life. But I thank our businesses for adapting to the Covid-19 measures as part of your business continuity plans, training your workers, and exploring new growth areas.
Singapore is in a transition to the new normal. This means that:
1️⃣
Some restrictions will remain, though we will progressively ease them
as our vaccination rates go up;
2️⃣
We will have differentiated public health guidelines for vaccinated persons; and
3️⃣
We will progressively open our borders to allow for more travel.
As we reach a sufficiently high vaccination rate, we will also be able to reopen safely. So let's position ourselves to be ready to seize the new opportunities that lie ahead.
I also urge our businesses to continue giving input on policies, and partner the Government to create solutions. Together, we can emerge stronger.

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Lawrence Wong chats with VITAL officers.

Lawrence Wong

4 hrs ·
Back-office work like payroll, finance and HR do not always get a lot of limelight. But they are of crucial importance in the effective running of any organisation.
For the public sector, these functions in the past used to be done agency by agency, with each having its own processes and systems. Over the years, we have centralised these shared services for economies of scale, and also enhanced efficiency through automation and digitalisation. They are now overseen by VITAL, the MOF agency in charge of corporate services for the entire public sector.
Earlier this week, I visited VITAL and had a good chat with the officers. Glad that VITAL also practices inclusive hiring and provides opportunities for people with disabilities. I spoke with two of the officers, Vanessa and Jian Xiong, and saw firsthand their commitment and dedication to their work.
The work of our VITAL officers might not be the most visible to the public. But they help ensure operations are smooth, so our agencies can focus on serving Singaporeans and Singapore. Happy 15th Birthday, VITAL!

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Lawrence Wong celebrates SAF day.

Lawrence Wong

8 mins ·
On this SAF Day, a big shout out to all our SAF servicemen for keeping Singapore safe and contributing to our national Covid-19 response throughout this pandemic.
Very glad that the SAF has achieved more than 90% vaccination rate for its personnel. This means that the SAF has achieved herd protection, and can now begin to ease restrictions to allow its units to operate at maximum effectiveness. The SAF is moving ahead of the national curve and showing the way on what it means to live normally with Covid.
*Pic taken at SAF Day event in July 2019

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from straitstimes.com:

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong to deliver ministerial statement on Covid-19 support measures on July 5'​


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SINGAPORE - Finance Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver a ministerial statement in Parliament next Monday (July 5) on the Government's support measures for businesses and workers affected by tightened Covid-19 restrictions.

This comes ahead of a Supplementary Supply Bill to effect the reallocation of funds for the measures earlier announced on May 28, June 10 and June 18, in view of phases two and three (heightened alert).

Mr Wong will also set out the funding approach for these measures at 3pm that day, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.

An $800 million support package was rolled out in May. It included enhanced wage subsidies under the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) and rental relief to help businesses and workers cope with the impact of tightened Covid-19 restrictions.

The various support measures for those affected by the phase two (heightened alert) restrictions from May 16 to June 13 did not require an additional draw on past reserves.

Instead, they will be funded through a reallocation of spending, as some development expenditure can be capitalised under the recently passed Significant Infrastructure Government Loan Act (Singa) Bill, the Finance Ministry had said.

With tightened safe management measures continuing until the middle of July, the Government subsequently extended the JSS enhancements for affected sectors by three weeks, before tapering it down to 10 per cent for another two weeks.

To provide targeted support to hawkers who are self-employed, it extended subsidies for fees for table cleaning and centralised dishwashing services.

It will also provide rental waivers till mid-July for stallholders in centres managed by the National Environment Agency or NEA-appointed operators.

The Covid-19 Recovery Grant (Temporary) was also extended till July 31 for other workers who remain affected by the tightened measures.

Private-hire car and taxi drivers will receive cash support for three more months from July, as the Government has set aside an additional $40 million to support them amid the low ridership during the current heightened alert period.

Drivers will receive $300 a month per vehicle from July over two months, and $150 a month per vehicle in the third month.

In October last year, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was then Finance Minister, also delivered a ministerial statement ahead of a Supplementary Supply Bill on additional Covid-19 support.

He had outlined the progress Singapore made in combating Covid-19, and its strategies to emerge stronger from the crisis. The statement followed his announcement last August that a further $8 billion would be spent to save jobs, create new ones and seize new growth opportunities.

The full statement by Mr Wong will be published on the Singapore Budget website after delivery.
 
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