Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.

[Confuseous]

Now, we need to bring down the "R"
Wah lau, so scientific

 

[jw5]

Now, we need to bring down the "R"
Wah lau, so scientific

Bring down the R and raise up the V.

 

[Confuseous]

Sinkies told to stay home, work. No social gatherings, in or out of office.
CECA provided bus rides to go Little India, socialise, catch up with villagers from Big India home.
Germans flown in to socialise.
Wow.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence answers some questions.

Lawrence Wong​

41 mins ·
My co-chairs and I gave updates on the Covid-19 situation at a MTF press conference today. Many of you have posted questions too on social media. I'll address some of these here.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Daily COVID cases to hit 1,000 'very soon' as Singapore rolls out booster shots programme​

SINGAPORE — Singapore will soon reach more than 1,000 daily COVID-19 cases, even as it prepares to roll out its vaccine booster programme next Tuesday (14 September).

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a media release on Friday (10 September) that the number of daily cases has been rising over the past fortnight, from an average of 76 cases per day a fortnight ago, to 288 cases per day in the past week.

It added that, at the current trajectory, it is likely that Singapore will soon reach more than 1,000 daily cases, detected early through intensified testing.

Speaking at a multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) media conference on Friday, Minister of Finance and MTF co-chairman Lawrence Wong said, "We knew all along, and we have said so before, that once we reopen and resume activities, we will experience a new wave of infection. All countries that open up have had to deal with such ways.

"For us, it is happening faster than we had expected. It's also the first time since our opening that we are facing such a new exponential wave of infection in our community.

"Very soon we will reach 1,000 new cases a day. And in a few weeks' time we will probably get to 2,000 new cases a day."

MOH said that the number of serious cases remains low for now. As of Thursday, there are 26 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and seven in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).

"There continues to be strong evidence that vaccination is protective against severe illness. Among fully vaccinated cases in the past 28 days, 99.2 per cent were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. Among unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals, 95.1 per cent were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms," the ministry said.

"Nevertheless, we are still early in this new wave of transmission and we need to continue to monitor the situation and remain vigilant."

Vaccination booster programme for immunocompromised, seniors aged 60 and above​

Singapore's vaccine booster programme will begin from next Tuesday, targeting those who are immunocompromised, as well as to seniors aged 60 years and above.

MOH said that it will progressively invite seniors and residents of aged-care facilities who have completed their two-dose vaccination regimen at least six months ago to receive their booster dose of a Pandemic Special Access Route mRNA vaccine.

An SMS with a personalised booking link will be sent to their mobile number for them to book a new appointment.

Those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and have completed their two doses of the mRNA vaccines are encouraged to receive a third dose of any mRNA vaccine two months after their second dose. However, they should consult their treating specialist prior to receiving their third dose.

Eligible individuals may thereafter receive the vaccination in a hospital or specialist outpatient clinic of their treating specialist, if they are offering vaccinations. Alternatively, they may obtain a referral form by their treating specialist, and walk into any vaccination centre for their third dose.

"We will be rolling out the vaccine booster programme...to maintain the high level of vaccine protection. These are necessary steps to take as we continue our journey to re-open our society and community." MOH said in its media release.

"We seek Singaporeans’ understanding and support during this period so that we can ensure as safe a re-opening as possible."

Expanding home recovery pilot scheme​

From next Wednesday, MOH will also expand its home recovery pilot scheme, which allows fully-vaccinated individuals who were infected with COVID-19 to recover from home, provided that they can be isolated from the rest of their household.

The scheme will be extended progressively to individuals up to 50 years old who have no significant co-morbidities or underlying illnesses. This is because these individuals are generally well with no or mild symptoms and are able to self-care at home.

Parents will also be allowed and encouraged to bring their infected children home, if they are at least five years old and do not have co-morbidities or underlying illnesses. For these children, they will first be assessed by the hospital to be clinically fit for home recovery, before sending them back home for their recovery journey.

MOH said that, since the home recovery scheme began on 30 August, 21 individuals were enrolled into the scheme, with nine of them discharged as of Thursday, and the rest of them recovering well.

The ministry has also shortened the isolation period for fully-vaccinated COVID-19 cases to as early as seven days into their illness, if they have undetectable or very low viral loads. Unvaccinated persons, however, will continue to be discharged from 14 days into their illness.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

S'pore rolls out measures to slow down spread of Covid-19 community cases​

SINGAPORE - Singapore will expand its testing regime more aggressively to keep the Covid-19 situation under control, as the number of new infections last week doubled to more than 1,200 - up from around 600 cases the week before.

Announcing a range of measures on Monday (Sept 6) to slow the spread, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said workers in more sectors will now have to undergo mandatory fast and easy rostered routine testing, with the frequency of tests increased from every 14 days to once a week.

To ring-fence cases more quickly, the Government will also issue health risk warnings (HRW) to individuals identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases or who have been near a patient for an extended period of time.

Individuals who receive a health risk warning will be required by law to get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result for their first test. They will also be required to do an antigen rapid test (ART) thereafter, and a PCR test on the 14th day.

Meanwhile, those whose SafeEntry records overlap with that of Covid-19 cases will get health risk alerts (HRA). They are not required to get tested, but are strongly encouraged to go for a PCR test as soon as possible, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

HRW and HRA are not quarantine orders, MOH said, but individuals who get them should reduce their social interactions for 14 days.

Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force handling Covid-19, said a rise in cases was expected as restrictions were eased and activities resumed.

"What is of concern to us is not just the absolute number of cases, but the rate at which the virus is spreading," he said, noting that the experience of other countries has shown that many more people will need intensive care or die when cases rise so sharply.

"It's not just the unvaccinated seniors, because even for vaccinated persons, there will be a small proportion of them falling severely ill."

MOH said Singapore's rate of severe illnesses and deaths among vaccinated individuals is low, thanks to the country's high vaccination coverage.

But unvaccinated individuals remain susceptible - over the past 28 days, 6.7 per cent of unvaccinated cases fell severely ill or died, it noted.

Meanwhile, the number of new infection cases in the community has almost doubled to more than 1,200 cases in the week ending Sept 5, up from around 600 cases in the week before.

"If the infection continues at this trajectory, we will see a doubling of cases every week. This means that we can expect to see more individuals suffer serious consequences," said MOH.

"Thus, we need to take quick action now to dampen the increasing likelihood of an exponential increase in cases. This will also buy us time to get more people, in particular seniors, vaccinated as soon as possible, and also to roll out our booster programme to those aged 60 and above."

To detect cases early, mandatory rostered testing will be extended to retail mall workers, supermarket staff, last-mile delivery personnel - including parcel and food delivery workers - as well as public and private transport workers such as taxi drivers, private-hire car drivers and all public transport front-line staff.

Previously, only workers in higher-risk settings such as food and beverage outlets, personal care services, and gym and fitness studios needed to undergo such tests.

These tests will continue to be administered primarily through the Employer Supervised Self-Swab scheme. The Government will pay for the cost of all tests under this enhanced surveillance regime, for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, until the end of this year, MOH said.

More details on the enhanced surveillance regime will be released at a later date, MOH said.

The Government will also distribute ART kits to companies in sectors which are not subject to mandatory testing. Each firm will get eight ART kits per employee to facilitate weekly testing of their staff over a two-month period.

"With these kits, we expect all companies to initiate weekly testing for their onsite staff," said MOH.

While these tests can be administered by individuals at home or at the work premises, MOH said employers should put in place a process to ensure that the tests are done properly, and report the results to respective government agencies.

More details on this will also be made available at a later date.

"With all these measures, we hope that we can help to slow down transmission without having to go back to (a state of) heightened alert, or a circuit breaker," Mr Wong told reporters in an interview at The Treasury.

"These are last-resort measures and we will try our best to refrain from using them. But we should not rule them out entirely," he added, urging people to get tested regularly and scale back their non-essential social activities during this period.

 

[JohnTan]

The Government will also distribute ART kits to companies in sectors which are not subject to mandatory testing. Each firm will get eight ART kits per employee to facilitate weekly testing of their staff over a two-month period.

Thanks to the fast action by the PAP, NTUC and PA, my serfs will stand a much higher chance of living. Majulah PAP!

 

[jw5]

Thanks to the fast action by the PAP, NTUC and PA, my serfs will stand a much higher chance of living. Majulah PAP!

It will be worrying if the PAP were not around to act fast.

 

[JohnTan]

It will be worrying if the PAP were not around to act fast.

If PAP wasn't in charge, lots of sinkies would have died from covid already. Just look at our neighbouring countries.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Daily Covid-19 cases likely to soon exceed 1,000, next 2-4 weeks crucial for Singapore​

SINGAPORE - The sharp rate of increase in local Covid-19 cases is worrying and the next two to four weeks will be crucial in terms of whether higher infection numbers will lead to more serious cases and deaths, said Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong on Friday (Sept 10).

The average daily number of Covid-19 cases has risen from 76 two weeks ago to 288 in the past week. The Health Ministry (MOH) expects this figure to exceed 1,000 soon, with more cases picked up through intensified testing.

Addressing reporters at a press conference, Mr Gan noted that many people have asked if the Government is going back on its plans to reopen the economy despite Singapore's high vaccination rates. About 81 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

These concerns arose after Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday urged Singaporeans to reduce non-essential social activities for the next two weeks as Covid-19 cases spiked.

"While we understand that many prefer a straighter road to Covid-19 resilience, we have said before that we must expect some twists and turns along the way," Mr Gan said. "Given the unpredictability of the virus, we need to be prepared to adjust our plans as we go along."

He added that Singapore will continue to push for higher vaccine coverage, even as it speeds up the roll-out of booster shots and steps up nationwide testing.

In response to the surge in cases, the country will change the way it tracks down and manages Covid-19 patients.

It will focus its contact tracing and quarantine efforts on large clusters and vulnerable settings such as hospitals, as growing infection numbers make it difficult for contact tracers to keep up with every case.

The quarantine period from 14 days to 10 days from next week, as the Delta variant – the most dominant strain in Singapore – has a shorter incubation period than the original “wild-type” virus.

Vaccinated patients will also be discharged as early as seven days into their illness – down from if they have very low or undetectable viral loads, meaning that they are no longer infectious.

And a pilot scheme for fully vaccinated patients to recover at home, which was set up on Aug 30 and originally intended to run a month, will be expanded from Sept 15.

During the press conference by the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic in Singapore, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the experience of other countries has demonstrated that transmission waves typically take four to eight weeks to peak before numbers start to decline, he said.

As Singapore is now 18 days - about 2½ weeks - into the current wave, it is likely to see cases increase exponentially, potentially hitting a peak of around 3,000 before it begins to stabilise. But how this actually unfolds will depend on what Singaporeans do collectively - including whether it tests extensively, Mr Ong said.

The higher numbers mean Singapore must be cautious, said Mr Wong, who co-chairs the task force with Mr Gan and Mr Ong.

While there is no need to return to stricter measures, it is also not prudent for the country to press ahead with further reopening measures, he added.

"During this period, especially when we are in the midst of an exponential rise in infection cases, that would be a reckless thing to do."

He acknowledged that some segments of the population were disappointed at being told to cut back on social activities, but added that others had expressed concern over the rising number of cases and called on the Government to further tighten restrictions.

“We hear all these views, we are monitoring the situation very carefully and we will continue to consult our experts on the best way forward,” he said.

On Friday, Singapore's director of medical services Kenneth Mak also gave details of how vaccination can help protect against the worst effects of Covid-19.

For instance, a study by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases showed that vaccinated individuals saw their risk of infection reduced by nearly two times.

And while 0.1 per cent of vaccinated individuals typically need intensive care, that risk is 10 times higher for the non-vaccinated, Associate Professor Mak said.

In Britain, a spike in cases following the removal of restrictions did not translate into increased numbers of people requiring oxygen support or intensive care, he added.

"We hope that our local experience will be similar," Prof Mak said. "Nonetheless, it will be prudent for us to exercise caution. Now is not the time to celebrate our own version of a Freedom Day - and particularly if you're vulnerable to severe infections or bad outcomes."

 

[jw5]

Lawrence is concerned about kids under 12.

Lawrence Wong​

22 mins ·
I know we are concerned about our kids under 12 who are currently ineligible for the Covid-19 vaccination, especially in light of recent cases involving students.
We will continue to look out for the health and safety of our children, and my colleague Chan Chun Sing has set out the approach on his social media.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Covid-19 pandemic opens doors for firms to shape fairer, greener, more inclusive future: Finance Minister Lawrence Wong​

SINGAPORE - Two years ago, like many people around the world, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong had not heard of video-conferencing app Zoom.

He preferred to meet people for discussions and scoffed at the idea of having virtual meetings, he said.

Yet today, nearly all his work meetings are conducted online.

"I've found them to be equally effective in getting things done. I'm sure many of you share a similar experience," he told a group of corporate leaders on Wednesday (Sept 8).

Speaking on the theme of Asia's Renaissance: The New Era Of Recovery And Reopening at the Singapore Institute of Directors Conference, Mr Wong added that traditional barriers to digital adoption are falling, especially in industries that were slow to adapt before.

This will likely speed up digital transformation in sectors such as energy, construction and other domestic services, where there are still many opportunities for digital solutions to generate new value and productivity gains, he said.

He added that Covid-19 is likely to become yet another endemic disease that people will have to learn to live with, such as chicken pox and influenza.

"So we can't talk about post-Covid-19 anymore because Covid-19 will continue to be with us.

"But at some point, the pandemic will end, and we must start preparing now for this new post-pandemic world."

Mr Wong said Covid-19 has accelerated other trends, including the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in business.

Governments everywhere today recognise that globalisation and free market competition create efficiencies but also vulnerabilities, he added.

"We know that left to market forces, the fruits of growth will not be so evenly distributed. We also know that corporates will always tend to optimise from their own perspectives, and may not maximise the common good.

"So there is a greater role for the government to step in, and work with the private sector, to address our collective concerns, be it for more resilient supply chains or to tackle the threat of climate change."

He pointed out that all this is a positive catalyst for ESG, which was once seen as a niche but is now increasingly mainstream.

Investors worldwide, he noted, are starting to use ESG matrices in measuring the sustainability of their investments.

"Compared with Europe and America, Asia has been somewhat of a laggard in ESG investing. But post-pandemic, I have no doubt that we will see Asia catching up."

Singapore has and will continue to capitalise on these trends, he said, by investing heavily in digital infrastructure, including expanding 5G coverage to the entire island by 2025, and helping businesses harness new technologies.

It is also making supply chains more resilient and has launched the Singapore Green Plan with ambitious targets over the next decade.

The country is capitalising on new growth opportunities in sustainability, including in areas such as agritech and green finance.

Urging businesses to adjust to the post-pandemic world, Mr Wong noted that while some local firms are keeping pace with the best in the world, others continue to lag behind.

Some have told him that they are struggling to survive and deal with basic issues like manpower shortages and the cost of doing business, and so do not have the bandwidth to worry about other matters.

"But if we do not start thinking ahead and acting now, the gap between leaders and laggards will continue to widen, and the need to restructure and transform will likely increase in the future," said Mr Wong.

"So firms have to continually innovate. They have to look at ways to optimise their operations, reconfigure processes to be more efficient, and to bring productivity up a notch."

Some firms can look to expand overseas while others may need to pivot to adjacent emerging sectors. Others, he added, may have to consolidate and merge to become stronger.

"All this is part of the creative destruction we see in any dynamic economy - where firms with new ideas and innovation will render existing models obsolete, and thus replace existing jobs and activities. This ensures the continued renewal and rejuvenation of our businesses," he said.

Stressing the Government's readiness to partner businesses in their transformation journey, he said that the pandemic may have closed some doors but is opening many others.

"It has created the possibility for change and reform. It is up to us to seize this opportunity and to shape a fairer, greener and more inclusive future together.

"We cannot sit back and just hope for the best. We must be the ones to make things happen and usher in a new renaissance for Asia and for Singapore."

The two-day conference is being held in a hybrid format on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

[jw5]

from yahoo.com:

Singapore warns restrictive policies to send economy into tailspin​

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's finance minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday companies would move their business to other places if the financial hub's policies turned overly restrictive, which would send its small and open economy into a tailspin.

"If we are not careful, decades of hard work to build up our business hub will be wasted, our economy will contract and go down in a tailspin," Wong said in parliament. "We will end up with far worse problems and it is not the foreigners but Singaporeans who will ultimately pay the price."

Foreign labour has long been a hot button issue in Singapore, but uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic have increased employment worries among locals as the city state recovers from last year's record recession.


The government has been tightening foreign worker policies for several years while taking steps to promote local hiring, including by raising the salary threshold for issuing work permits.

Wong said the government will continue to ensure qualifying salaries for foreigners keep pace with local wages and is studying how to improve the framework.

Just under 30% of Singapore's 5.7 million people are non-residents, up from around 10% in 1990, according to government statistics. But fewer foreigners pushed the overall population down 0.3% last year due to travel curbs and pandemic-related job losses.

A large chunk of the foreigners are low-paid domestic helpers or manual labourers, but it is the numbers of those in higher-paid professional jobs that have been questioned by opposition parties.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence is concerned about jobs and livelihoods.

Lawrence Wong​

12 hrs ·
Jobs and livelihoods are topics close to all of us.
Our jobs are our livelihood. They help us to look after our families, stretch and grow, and pursue our aspirations.
Yesterday my Parliament colleagues and I had a robust discussion on this. I’m glad many weighed in with their views. These discussions remind us what is at stake and why we do what we do.
As a small island state with no natural resources or hinterland, we must remain open and connected. At the same time, we must deal with the downsides of globalisation and trade, and help all Singaporeans adjust and keep pace with the changes, so we can progress together as one people.
I know some of us are concerned about being displaced and fair employment practices in the workplace. We hear your concerns and will do our utmost to address them
This is our promise: We will walk with you on your career journey, and invest in your capabilities and skills. We continue to nurture and grow our Singaporean core.
Let’s rally as a team to build a fairer, more equal and inclusive society in a post-pandemic world, and ensure every Singaporean has a share in our progress - and no one is left behind.
You can read my opening and closing speeches in Parliament here:
https://go.gov.sg/parlopening14sep
https://go.gov.sg/parlclosing14sep

 

[jw5]

from yahoo.com:

Singapore has to be careful about labour data release: Lawrence Wong​

SINGAPORE — Singapore has to be careful about the extent to which it is releasing labour data publicly, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday night (15 September).

Speaking in Parliament, Wong referred to a call by the Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh for the government to communicate much more about foreign employment than it is doing now, in order to repair the local and foreign divide in Singapore.

Wong and the Leader of the Opposition were speaking during the lengthy debate on the motion tabled by Wong on securing Singaporeans’ jobs and livelihood, and a separate motion by Progress Singapore Party's Non-Constituency Members of Parliament Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa on foreign talent policy.

The minister noted that people have asked for more labour data breakdown based on nationality and said that where possible, the government has released such data.

“But is it such a good thing to let the whole world know our dependence on foreign workers and from which particular country? Really, do we want to let everyone know that?” Wong asked.

He also referred to a comment by a WP member who said that hostile actors may exploit Singapore’s social faultlines to disrupt its society.

“Indeed, we live in a dangerous world. So, should we not be careful about external parties that may hold us ransom by threatening to disrupt or terminate our labour flows, especially in certain key industries?" Wong added.

As such, there are broader considerations governing data release and information policy, according to Wong.

He acknowledged that while the government's communication is not perfect, it will always work to improve its communication strategy. There is already considerable data that is publicly available including information on labour markets, he said.

Data and transparency are a means to better governance but data is not always an “unmitigated good”, Wong said.

Referring to the Freedom of Information Act in the US as an example, Wong pointed out surveys have shown that the levels of trust in the superpower are low and nowhere near that in Singapore today.

He added, "And this is America, but you can look at many other countries which have similar Freedom of Information provisions, and that has not helped to improve public trust, or public confidence in policies."

 

[laksaboy]

He added, "And this is America, but you can look at many other countries which have similar Freedom of Information provisions, and that has not helped to improve public trust, or public confidence in policies."

Spoken like a true dictatorship doggie.

The Freedom of Information Act is all about transparency, it has nothing to do with enhancing public trust or public confidence in policies. The people will decide whether you and your policies can be trusted.

Quite frankly, no one should ever trust the government... any government. That's why people are allowed to own guns in America... if the ballot box fails its purpose, if freedom of speech is removed, the guns are an insurance policy.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence spoke about mental wellness issues.

Lawrence Wong​

11 hrs ·
Mental health has traditionally been a sensitive topic, but it's a very important one.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on all of us, and everyone has faced increased stresses.
At the Samaritans of Singapore Symposium last week, I spoke about mental wellness issues, and what we are doing to address them.
We are taking steps to improve mental wellness in our community, including developing ways to provide early support to everyone at various points of our lives.
Non-profit organisations play a key role in raising mental health awareness too, and we are thankful to our NGOs and advocates for your efforts.
Let’s continue to look out for one another, and support our family, friends and neighbours!

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Open economy has created more good jobs for S'poreans, PSP's views on foreigners 'fatally flawed': Lawrence Wong​

SINGAPORE - Singapore could lose good investments and jobs if it imposes tighter restrictions on global companies' ability to employ the talent they need, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Sept 14).

He called out the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) for its "fatally flawed" thinking that reducing the number of foreigners here will allow Singaporeans to automatically fill those jobs, and said locals will ultimately pay the price if overly restrictive policies lead to companies relocating elsewhere.

The data and evidence are clear, he said - that Singapore's economic policies have helped to raise living standards across the board and create many more good jobs for Singaporeans.

Mr Wong had tabled a motion in response to a separate motion filed by PSP Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai, to categorically set out the Government's position on jobs, why Singapore has to remain open and connected to the world, and how it is managing foreign worker numbers.

"If we were to take a politically craven approach and impose many stringent conditions on their ability to operate here, we will lose out on many good investments," he told Parliament.

"We would have fewer foreigners for sure. But many Singaporeans will also be deprived of good jobs and career opportunities. It's like cutting off one's nose to spite one's face."

In a strongly worded speech, the minister censured the PSP for the way in which it has framed its criticism of the Government's foreign talent policy.

The opposition party has repeatedly highlighted the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India (Ceca) as an example of how Singaporeans have lost out to foreigners, although that debate has been marred by an undercurrent of racism and xenophobia.

"Let me be clear: We are bringing in investments and growing the economy, not as an end in itself, but as a means to an end," Mr Wong said. "Our aim is to create good jobs and improve the lives of all Singaporeans."

International companies will hire many Singaporeans but there are not enough Singaporeans to fill all the jobs available, he said.

Most firms also want to have a diverse workforce, bringing together the best team to oversee regional and global operations.

Mr Wong noted that from 2010 to 2019, median income in real terms grew by 3.2 per cent yearly for Singapore residents.

Between 2010 and last year, local PMET employment grew by about 300,000. In contrast, the number of Employment Pass and S-Pass holders went up by around 110,000 in that time period.

But the PSP wants to sweep these achievements aside, Mr Wong said.

He also made the point that Singapore already has more than 25,000 vacancies for PMETs.

"With so many companies having difficulties filling these vacancies, how would we find people with the relevant skill sets to take on the additional 'tens of thousands' of jobs that Mr Leong thinks can be created by getting rid of the foreigners?" he asked.

At present, foreign PMETs account for about 20 per cent of the PMET workforce.

Those who wish to see fewer foreign work pass holders may be holding to "a sense of nostalgia" about how things were in the past, when Singapore was less developed as a hub economy, Mr Wong added.

In the 1990s, for instance, foreign PMETs accounted for around 10 per cent of the PMET workforce - although living standards were also lower.

Singapore's per capita gross domestic product is now more than $80,000, compared with around $35,000 in 1995. Median salaries of residents were less than $2,000 then, but now stand at around $4,500.

"Is that what we want? Stagnate in the 1990s, while the rest of the world progresses around us?" Mr Wong asked, making reference to a speech made by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, one month after Singapore gained independence in 1965.

At the time, Mr Lee had told his audience: "Ten years from now, this will be a metropolis. Never fear."

"What do Mr Leong and the PSP promise?" Mr Wong said. "Don't worry, 10 years from now, we will go back 30 years?"

No business hub can avoid global competition, he added. But by combining and complementing local and foreign professionals, the country can attract more investments and grow the pie for Singaporeans.

An open economy has its downsides, the minister acknowledged. But rather than impeding progress by protecting every job - including those that have become obsolete - Singapore has to shift its focus to protecting every worker.

This means making sure foreign work pass holders are of the "right calibre", enforcing fair employment practices at the workplace and helping local workers who have been displaced.

He urged the PSP to stop making "misleading and false" claims and cease its anti-foreigner stance, which has raised concerns among the business community as well as ordinary Singaporeans.

"If you are truly concerned about the well-being of our fellow Singaporeans and the future of this country, please have a care about how you go about dealing with these issues," he said.

"Please reflect on how your rhetoric can deepen fault lines - not just between locals and foreigners, but even between Singaporeans of different races."

Mr Wong quoted an e-mail sent to the Government by an Indian Singaporean, who was concerned that potential employers would think he was a foreigner from India, and thus pass over his job applications.

"I decided to indicate on the header of my resume on each page 'Singapore Citizen' but does this help? I don't think so," the man wrote.

"I seek your assistance that our Government put a stop to the PSP campaign, which is truly racist and is hurting Singapore Indians and we are splitting Singaporeans along racial lines."

Mr Wong wrapped up his speech by reiterating that the People's Action Party Government will continue to place Singaporeans' best interests at the heart of its work.

It will continue to deliberate difficult issues carefully, and be upfront with Singaporeans about the challenges and trade-offs, he said.

"The challenges before us are complex. There are no silver bullets or instant solutions," he added.

"It would have been easy for us to make cosmetic changes, for symbolic effect or political gestures. But that's not the way we operate."

This is how the country has overcome crises in the past, Mr Wong said.

"During bad times, we do not quarrel and fight over a shrinking pie. Instead, we rally as a team to solve our problems, and grow the pie for all to benefit."

 

[Confuseous]

Fatal because of restrictions to reduce foreign workers?
They always claimed that we attract tons of foreign investments because of our excellent govt,
infrastructure, racial harmony etc. Now, reducing foreign workers can kill us?
A new Pinnochio in the making?

 

[jw5]

Lawrence is concerned about the rapid rise in cases.

Lawrence Wong​

32 mins ·
We are all concerned about the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, and are continuing to monitor the infection situation closely. That was why we had decided to take a pause in our reopening plans - to ensure that our ICU cases remain acceptable and stable, and our hospital system is not overwhelmed.
I had updated earlier that regular testing will help to slow down transmission and should also become part of our new norm. We are in the midst of distributing Antigen Rapid Test (ART) test kits to every household and setting up more Quick Test Centres around the island. Now we are also deploying 100 vending machines for ART kits across Singapore, from 18 September.
If you have been issued a Health Risk Warning or Health Risk Alert by MOH, you can collect an ART kit from one of these vending machines to test yourself - at any time of the day.
What should you do if you test positive using the ART kit and have no symptoms? The main thing is to self-isolate at home for 72 hours. See this advice from Director of Medical Services, in this ST article (https://www.straitstimes.com/.../how-the-new-self...)
Let’s all continue to do our part - exercise social responsibility, test ourselves regularly, and get through this current wave together.