Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Singapore remains fully open to trade and investments, says Lawrence Wong​

SINGAPORE - Singapore remains fully open to trade and investments as it reopens after the Covid-19 pandemic and charts a new way forward, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong after a 10-day work trip to the United States.

"We are a small and open country," he wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday (April 26).

"That's why we take a deep interest in the world - not only what the risks and opportunities represent to ourselves, but also to the global system as a whole."

Mr Wong also said he was glad to fly Singapore's flag overseas, reaffirm relations with international counterparts and discuss new areas of cooperation, ranging from the economy to sustainability and innovation.

"All of these will help strengthen our ties with the world, and attract more opportunities for our people - especially as we reopen post-pandemic, and as we chart our new way forward," he added.

Mr Wong had been in Washington DC and New York from April 16 until April 25, in his first overseas trip since he was chosen as the leader of the People's Action Party's fourth-generation team, putting him in line to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

During his visit to the US, Mr Wong attended the World Bank-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings and the second Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting under the 2022 Group of 20 (G-20) Indonesian presidency.

He met World Bank Group president David Malpass and his senior management team, International Finance Corporation managing director Makhtar Diop, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development secretary-general Mathias Cormann and World Bank Group managing director and chief financial officer Anshula Kant.

Mr Wong also met his counterparts from the Asia-Pacific and beyond, including Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who chaired the G-20 meeting, Malaysian Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, and Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

He also met Luxembourg's Finance Minister Yuriko Backes, Turkey's new Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati, Brazil's Minister of the Economy Paulo Guedes, Italy's Finance Minister Daniele Franco, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

Mr Wong also discussed America's engagement and economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific with top US officials, including Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

He also attended the ministerial meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, and met FATF president Marcus Pleyer. Mr Pleyer will hand over the presidency to Mr T. Raja Kumar, senior adviser for international matters at the Ministry of Home Affairs and current head of Singapore's delegation to FATF, who will assume the post for a two-year term.

On his visit, Mr Wong also spoke at the Peterson Institute for International Economics on the need for governments to repurpose fiscal policy to drive inclusive and sustainable growth in a post-pandemic world, and called for strengthening multilateral cooperation on global public goods.

He also met Singaporeans living in New York at a gathering organised by the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations, its first such physical event since the pandemic hit.

He wrote: "I was also glad to see Singaporeans flying our flag high overseas, in many different roles. Let's keep the Singapore spirit strong!"

 

[jw5]

Lawrence announces that the first batch of Novavax’s Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Singapore.

Lawrence Wong​

3 hrs ·
The first batch of Novavax’s Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Singapore. It will be rolled out at our first Joint Testing and Vaccination Centre and at 20 Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) by the end of May — for individuals aged 18 years and above, for both primary series and booster vaccination.
Boosters and vaccinations remain a critical part in protecting ourselves and our loved ones from infection and severe illness. I urge all who are eligible to receive them as soon as possible.
(

: The Straits Times)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence toured the Pasir Panjang Export Inspection Station.

Lawrence Wong​

1 hr ·
Did you know that Singapore Customs, which is part our Ministry of Finance (Singapore) family, is older than Singapore? They turned 112 this year.
Touring the Pasir Panjang Export Inspection Station today, I had the chance to see how officers inspect cargo, and use AI to improve operations.
Also had a good chat with our Customs officers. They played an important role to help bring in essential supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic. I’m happy to announce the introduction of the Singapore Customs Medals to recognise all your contributions.
Thanks for doing your part to protect revenue and keep trade fair and secure over the years!

 

[jw5]

Lawrence looks intently at the computer.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence poses with customs officers.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence celebrates the good work of Care Corner.

Lawrence Wong​

6 hrs ·
My experience growing up in Singapore was very different from my parents'. They went through the struggles of independence and race riots, and did not get the chance to pursue their education beyond secondary school.
I grew up in a stabler and more prosperous Singapore, and enjoyed many more opportunities to develop and grow.
I’m sure many in my generation feel the same way. But this doesn't mean that things are perfect. We still have much more to do - so our children can look forward to a brighter future, and we can keep building a home where everyone has a place and feels valued and respected.
As a government, we are trying our best to make this happen. There is a lot that our community organisations like Care Corner SG can do too, to partner us and support our elderly vulnerable and young kids, and anyone who is going through a rough patch in life.
That's why to me, it's important to celebrate the good work of organisations like Care Corner, and to build a stronger social compact together.
(

: Care Corner SG)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence shows support and care.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence shows concern for oldman.

 

[jw5]

A toast to the next PM Lawrence.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence thanks his mum and all mothers.

Lawrence Wong​

9 hrs · Instagram ·
Thank you Mum for always holding my hand and being there for me throughout my life. Happy Mother’s Day to all our incredible and wonderful mothers - thank you for all that you’ve done for us and for being such an important part of our lives!

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

2 years of Covid-19​

'Inspiring to see grit, commitment and resolve': Lawrence Wong on S'pore's Covid-19 battle​

SINGAPORE - Lawrence Wong, 49, is Singapore's Finance Minister. He was appointed co-chair of the multi-ministry task force (MTF) on Covid-19 at the start of the pandemic in 2020; and to the finance portfolio last year.

In April this year, he was announced as the leader of the ruling People's Action Party's fourth-generation or 4G team, putting him in line to be Singapore's next prime minister.

---

I know many have experienced personal losses in the past two years.

For me, I lost my dog in July 2020. My father was already in the advanced stages of dementia, and his condition subsequently deteriorated, and he passed away in August last year. I had to come to terms with these over the past two years, while dealing with the pandemic.

At the same time, we have all gained something. For me, it was a season of learning and growing, and pushing beyond my own perceived limits. Despite the best of plans, problems and setbacks still occurred. What was more important was the ability to stay nimble and adjust to any new developments. In the end we did not get every call right. But we did our best to continually adapt and learn, based on the updated data and evidence.

All this meant coping with more work demands, a lot more stressful moments, and many sleepless nights - especially during the difficult times when we had to make several unpopular but necessary decisions to keep everyone safe.

In 2020, the toughest call was to go for the Circuit Breaker.

In 2021, the most difficult decision was when we had to go back to Phase 2HA (Heightened Alert) several times: for example in July, after the outbreak had spread to our wet markets and hawker centres - which meant that many unvaccinated seniors were at risk - and again in September, when our hospitals were at risk of becoming overwhelmed due to the rapid surge in infections.

Such decisions were not easy. The tightening impacted the livelihoods of many people. But we also had a responsibility to protect lives. We worked hard to get this balance right. Looking back, I believe our actions have helped to keep Covid-19 deaths at one of the lowest rates in the world, while enabling employment and incomes to recover quickly to pre-Covid levels.

Throughout the past two years, I've also met many frontline and healthcare workers, civil servants and unsung heroes - all working round the clock and going the extra mile to fight the virus in their own ways. It was inspiring to see their grit, commitment and resolve. It helped to keep me going, especially through the darkest hours of the pandemic.

Like many other Singaporeans, the pandemic has also made me better appreciate what's important in life - the relationships we have with one another, especially our family and loved ones. That for me was a major source of comfort and strength.

Ultimately, we have pulled through so far, because we kept faith with one another. If we can maintain that sense of solidarity and trust, we will be able to overcome all challenges together.

For now, I'm looking forward to this period of respite to resume activities with residents in my constituency, and to catch up with family and friends in larger groups during my free time. Of course, do remember that the pandemic is not over, and let's continue to exercise personal responsibility and be mentally prepared for any future outbreaks - that's what I remind everyone at MTF press conferences!

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

PAP 4G team to launch exercise on road map for S'pore, refresh social compact: Lawrence Wong​

SINGAPORE - The ruling party's next generation of leaders will soon draw up a road map for Singapore for the next decade and beyond, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, the team's chosen leader, on Sunday (May 1).

The team will engage stakeholders from different fields - unions and the people and private sector - to hear thoughts on the economy, healthcare, housing, education and other areas, said Mr Wong.

He was speaking to unionists at the May Day Rally held at Downtown East. There were about 900 in the audience and another 1,000 attending online.

"The 4G team and I will lead an exercise to refresh our social compact... We will consider what we need to do differently, but also affirm what is being done well, and how we can do it even better," he said.

Mr Wong was announced as the leader of the People's Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation (4G) team on April 14, paving the way for him to be Singapore's next prime minister.

On Sunday, he said that the exercise would not be just about what the Government can do for the people, but also, as Singapore has learnt during the pandemic, what everyone can do for one another.

"And how we can all, collectively, contribute towards building a better society that embodies the values we stand for," said Mr Wong.

"In short, we aim to develop a 'Forward Singapore' agenda, which will set out the road map for the next decade and beyond," he added.

This road map will be a major undertaking of the 4G team and will be formally launched soon, he noted.

Mr Wong said he announced these plans on Sunday to seek the labour movement's full participation and support for the exercise, noting that the movement and tripartism have been the bedrock of Singapore's success over the decades.
He noted that there is no ready blueprint for Singapore's future, but he would like to see a fairer, greener and more inclusive Singapore - also the key themes of his maiden Budget that he delivered in February.

Mr Wong said: "A home where everyone is accepted and valued, and treated equally and with respect, no matter their background or station in life. A home where everyone can live with dignity, and flourish in their own way and at their own pace, regardless of their starting points.

"Now going from this ideal to reality will require more than my personal hopes; it's about what we can and must do as a people together."

During his speech, he also noted the importance of tripartism and Singapore's distinctive model of it - where unions partner the Government and employers, and the tripartite partners became co-drivers of the country's development.

He said: "We may have differing interests from time to time, but we do not clash and grind against each other in a zero-sum game.

"Instead, we learn to accommodate, to give and take, and find common ground. And in the process, we build closer relationships with one another, we strengthen trust and we move forward together."

Mr Wong said that though many did not live through the founding years of tripartism, they are all direct beneficiaries of it.

"My own life story illustrates this," he said, adding that he grew up in an ordinary heartland family in Marine Parade, and that the slogan "every school is a good school" was not just a slogan for him, but also a real-life experience.

Mr Wong attended a PAP Community Foundation kindergarten, Haig Boys' Primary School, Tanjong Katong Secondary School and Victoria Junior College - all schools near his home.

"Our pioneers have enabled my generation and I to do better than our parents. Likewise, for me and my 4G team, we want to ensure the same for the next generation," he said.

While there are challenges and volatility ahead both globally and domestically, the experience of the last two years gives him confidence, said Mr Wong.

Despite lacking the resources of larger countries, Singapore has been able to adapt and adjust quickly amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added that he had recently attended a dialogue with young people looking towards SG100.

"By 2040, I will be close to 70 years old. Now as I said before, I don't know if the PAP will win the next GE, let alone if I will still be in office in 2040," he said.

Noting that he had committed all 25 years of his working life to the public service, he said: "I give you my word: Whatever lies ahead, I will give every ounce of my strength to this movement, together with my comrades in the 4G team."

Earlier on in the rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had asked the unionists to give Mr Wong and his team their fullest support.

PM Lee said: "I told him (he) will be in the hot seat. He is taking on a very heavy responsibility. He will have to lead Singapore in a very different and uncertain world.

"He will need the full support of his Cabinet colleagues and also must be able to rely on all our brothers and sisters to work with him and his team, and to continue partnering them, to take Singapore forward."

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Govt schemes alone not enough to meet complex social needs: Lawrence Wong​

SINGAPORE - Singapore has made major moves to support those who need help, and will continue to do more - but state initiatives alone are not enough, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

As social needs get more complex, partnership with community organisations is essential, he added.

"More government does not mean all the problems will disappear. Sometimes, more government can mean problems get worse too," the minister said on Friday (May 6) at a gala dinner organised by non-profit group Care Corner.

“Government schemes will never be able to replace the warmth and the personal touch of community groups and volunteers.”

The charity event, held at Orchard Hotel, was organised to celebrate Care Corner's 40th anniversary. It was attended by nearly 400 guests and raised an estimated $850,000.

Care Corner was set up in 1981, and originally provided counselling services to low-income workers over the phone. It has since expanded its scope and now runs programmes for a variety of groups, including at-risk youth and vulnerable seniors.

Next week, it will be given the Asean Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Leadership award - an accolade for non-governmental organisations from the region that have played a key role in eradicating poverty and enriching communities.

Like Care Corner, Singapore has made significant progress over the years, Mr Wong said.

But new social challenges have emerged, including the higher care needs of an ageing population and the increasingly difficult task of ensuring social mobility.

"The more well-to-do parents will understandably spend more resources to prepare their children at an early age," the minister said.

"But those who are less well-off will then feel the pressure to keep up, and will be concerned that their children will be left behind."

As Singapore renews its social compact for a post-pandemic world, it will work to strengthen social safety nets and keep paths open for upward mobility, added Mr Wong, who is Care Corner's patron.

"But we cannot solve our problems solely through state initiatives and more government alone... In fact, our most effective social programmes and interventions in Singapore are achieved through partnerships."

The strength of these partnerships will increasingly determine Singapore's ability to achieve successful outcomes in its social interventions and programmes, he added.

One example is Care Corner's Circle of Care programme, which was started in 2013 as a partnership with the Lien Foundation.

The scheme, which helps disadvantaged children manage the transition from pre-school to primary school, has since grown to involve other partners. Experts in different fields - including social workers and educational therapists - work together to make it a success.

Care Corner chairman Yong Lum Sung highlighted three lessons learnt over the past four decades. These are the importance of remaining humble and grounded, having the courage to innovate, and constantly collaborating with like-minded partners.

"We cannot hope to do everything on our own. We also do not want to duplicate work others can do better than us," he said.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Govt has started review of first phase of Covid-19 response: Lawrence Wong​

SINGAPORE - A review of the first phase of Singapore's response to the Covid-19 pandemic - from the start of the outbreak till August last year - is under way, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (May 9).

The after-action review (AAR) is intended as a broad-ranging exercise to put Singapore in better stead for the next pandemic, he told the House, adding that it will be overseen by former civil service head Peter Ho.

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean had announced plans to review the Government's Covid-19 response in July last year, in response to questions from Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC).

On Monday, Mr Singh, the Workers’ Party chief, asked about the format of the review and whether the Government plans to share findings with the public.

Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force handling Covid-19, noted that Mr Teo had said the review would be conducted when the situation has stabilised and when Singapore is out of the woods.

Singapore's pandemic response so far can be characterised by two broad phases, he said.

"In the first phase, which was from the start of the outbreak to August last year, we focused on containing the spread of the virus. Thereafter, when we had vaccinated a high proportion of people in Singapore, we shifted our approach to learn to live with the virus.

"For now, the pandemic is still not over, but the situation has improved. Therefore, the Government has started work on the AAR focusing on the first phase of our experience," he added.

The review aims to thoroughly analyse Singapore's experiences and look at the lessons learnt, and the Government will share these findings upon its completion, said Mr Wong.

Mr Singh pointed out that the public had limited or no knowledge of Singapore's shortcomings during Covid-19 and the lessons to be learnt, including how the country can be better prepared both physically and psychologically when another pathogen or emergency arrives.

He asked how many participants the AAR would have and whether the exercise would include reviewing scenarios in emergency preparedness as well as building up domestic manufacturing capability in critical areas.

Responding, Mr Wong said the AAR was a whole-of-Government endeavour. He reiterated that the aim was to learn "rigorously" from the Covid-19 experience to prepare for a next pandemic "which will surely come".

He pointed out that Singapore had taken a similar approach in reviewing its handling of the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003, which led to the creation of the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition framework and the National Centre for Infectious Diseases being set up.

"The lessons that we hope to derive from this AAR will be wide-ranging and will include how we can be more resilient as a nation - how we can improve our supply chains, how we can improve our national resiliency in a broad range of areas," Mr Wong added.

Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai asked if the review would include a detailed assessment of the $100 billion committed to fighting Covid-19 over the past two years.

The review's focus was really on "issues of strategic and national importance", the minister replied.

"The question that Mr Leong asked really is more pertaining to accountability with regard to money spent, which is an important issue but I think a slightly different one," said Mr Wong, who added that the Finance Ministry would be happy to take this up.

"We do that with regard to all areas of spending and where relevant, we will put out information on how the monies are spent. But let the AAR focus on the most strategic and important issues that will enable us to be better prepared for the next pandemic."

 

[red amoeba]

I noticed Lawrence always hold his hands together when standing or posing for photos. Sense of insecurity and uncertainty ? Don’t bode well for a future leader.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence wants everyone to stay vigilant.

Lawrence Wong​

20 hrs ·
Many of our residents are into gardening. While we enjoy our gardening activities, do remember to empty flowerpot plates and overturning pails to remove stagnant water as this could be potential mosquito breeding habitats.
Dengue cases are on the rise all over Singapore. Last week, our grassroots leaders conducted house visits to spread the awareness of dengue prevention at home. Dengue can lead to severe health issues, so I urge everyone to cooperate and do your part.
Let’s stay vigilant and work together to stop dengue now!

 

[jw5]

Lawrence congratulates silat exponent Iqbal Abdul Rahman.

Lawrence Wong​

8 hrs · Instagram ·
Congratulations to silat exponent Iqbal Abdul Rahman for clinching our first gold

medal at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi! The gold medal has eluded him for five SEA games, and it’s great to see his hard work and efforts paying off this time.
Besides Iqbal, some of our athletes have also claimed silver and bronze medals in springboard and synchronised platform. Well done and keep it up Team Singapore!!

(

: The Straits Times)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence visited Tampines West.

Lawrence Wong​

2 hrs ·
Visited our heartland merchants and hawkers today at Tampines West! Happy to see that many are on board the Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme.
Many of us are concerned about the impact of rising prices on daily expenses. We are not alone - prices are increasing worldwide due to the Ukraine war, and the impact of the pandemic.
That is why we are taking immediate action to help Singaporeans cope – today, every Singaporean household will receive another $100 worth of CDC vouchers. We are also disbursing S&CC and U-Save rebates in July and October, and January next year. And we will issue more CDC Vouchers in the next two years too.
We will continue to monitor the global situation, and will not hesitate to take further action to help households and businesses if the situation worsens.
(

: final photo - People's Association)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence claims his vouchers.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence takes a photo with his subordinates.