The PAP using the tried and trusted pork barrel politics again

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Dining discounts for East Coast GRC residents with new ‘green savers’ initiative​

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Maliki Osman (right) launched the East Coast Green Savers initiative at Bedok Food Centre on Dec 7.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Andrew Wong
Dec 07, 2024

SINGAPORE – Residents of East Coast GRC can now enjoy more discounts with about 70 merchants when dining, under the East Coast Green Savers initiative launched on Dec 7.

The new programme was launched at Bedok Food Centre by Dr Maliki Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, who said it is part of the East Coast Plan and had been in the pipeline for six months.

The initiative will see interested constituents receiving a package containing a lunch box or tingkat, a cutlery set and tumbler.

Residents can redeem discounts when they present these items to participating merchants, whom The Straits Times understands to be mostly food vendors.

This initiative will address both the issue of sustainability in terms of less food waste, and the rising cost of living for residents, Dr Maliki, who is also an MP for East Coast GRC, said at the launch.

Speaking to the media later, he said the idea was that the lunch box would remind residents not to waste food.

“When we are dining outside, the serving size can be quite large. Sometimes people realise that they won’t be able to finish it. With this new initiative, we are hoping that residents will be reminded that they can save the leftover food or put aside half the food before they start eating.”

This would help to tackle food wastage, which has become a more prominent issue, he added.

The programme will be rolled out in Siglap, targeting about 3,000 households, and extended to other neighbourhoods in the group representation constituency if successful, Dr Maliki said.

Participating outlets can be found at http://go.gov.sg/ecgreensavers

The discounts vary, with some vendors giving 10 cents to 50 cents off, and others taking 10 per cent off the entire bill.

It did not take long for the vendors to support the initiative, Dr Maliki told ST.

“The message is very simple – if they agree on sustainability, they can come on board. But we leave the discounts up to them. We are not prescribing a fixed amount, so it depends on the vendors’ level of comfort.”

He added: “When you see this tingkat, it reminds you that you have a role to play in sustainability, in reducing food waste, and in the overall message of caring for the environment. That is the purpose we want it to have.”

The initiative will see interested constituents receiving a package containing a lunch box or tingkat, a cutlery set and tumbler.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
One of the vendors participating in the initiative is Madam Hajjah Roziah Adon, who owns Nur Indah Kitchen at Bedok Food Centre.

The 64-year-old said she had noticed that food wastage was very common in the hawker centre, and she would often help to pack up customers’ leftover food to avoid wastage. “I know of stalls that would charge extra if a customer wants to take away their leftovers, but I decided not to do that. I don’t want to waste the food. So I will definitely support this initiative,” she said.

Residents who want to receive their lunch box set can approach the reception counter at Siglap Community Club.

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Higher wages for 37,000 public healthcare workers by mid-2025: Ong Ye Kung​

Mr Ong Ye Kung said the exercise was overdue, noting that similar adjustments have been made for other public healthcare professionals. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Zhaki Abdullah
Jan 29, 2025

SINGAPORE - Some 37,000 public healthcare workers can expect salary increases in 2025, as part of efforts to attract and retain staff in these three groups.

Announcing this on Jan 29, on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said allied health professionals (AHPs), pharmacists, and administrative, ancillary and support staff will see their monthly salaries increase from the middle of 2025.

Mr Ong said details on the salary increases are still being worked out, with the Ministry of Health (MOH) in discussions with other ministries and the unions.

“In a new year, people have all kinds of hopes. They hope for health and happiness. They, of course, also hope for salary increases and big bonuses,” he said.

MOH said demand for healthcare services and manpower will continue to increase as the population ages.

“We last increased the salaries of AHPs, pharmacists and administrative, ancillary and support staff in 2021.

“This salary increase will enable the public healthcare sector to better attract and retain such staff,” MOH added in a statement.

To keep pace with market trends, MOH said that there will also be upward adjustment to monthly base salaries for 26,000 public healthcare nurses.

These adjustments will be smaller, as they build on the Award for Nurses’ Grace, Excellence and Loyalty (Angel) scheme introduced in 2024.

The Angel scheme is a long-term retention initiative for those working in the public healthcare system.

Launched in September 2024, it saw about 29,000 nurses set to receive up to $100,000 in payouts over a 20-year period.

Mr Ong said the exercise was overdue, noting that similar adjustments have been made for other public healthcare professionals.

He said that the increases are aimed at making the public healthcare sector more competitive, adding that pharmacists, AHPs and administrative, ancillary and support staff have other options, such as going overseas or joining the private sector.

“People are joining, but I think they deserve something better, something more competitive, so that we also get good talent who want to join the sector,” said Mr Ong.

Healthcare Services Employees’ Union president K. Thanaletchimi, who is also president of the National Trades Union Congress, welcomed the adjustment, describing it as a timely move.

She noted that attention has also been given to the welfare of healthcare professionals.

Adjunct Associate Professor Tan Bee Yee said allied health professionals are a diverse group, comprising workers ranging from physiotherapists to medical social workers, as well as radiographers and lab technologists.

Prof Tan, who is chief allied health professional for SingHealth and SingHealth Community Hospitals, described the wage adjustments as recognition of the vital role such professionals play in the healthcare sector.

“It not only acknowledges our dedication and contributions, but it will also help to attract top talents and retain top talents, you know, in this work, so that we can better care for our patients,” added Prof Tan.

Beyond remuneration, MOH said it will continue to review manpower development initiatives and strengthen the healthcare workforce.

It added that it will continue to support mid-career entrants to the sector, improve job opportunities through job redesign and career development, and provide a conducive and safe work environment in the public healthcare sector through its zero-tolerance policy for abuse and harassment.

During Mr Ong Ye Kung’s visit, he spoke with patients and staff at SGH and OCH. He also distributed oranges to them.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Mr Ong was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the Singapore General Hospital and Outram Community Hospital.

During his visit, he spoke with patients and staff at SGH - Singapore’s largest acute tertiary hospital - and OCH. He also distributed oranges to them.

The minister later joined staff of the two hospitals at SingHealth Tower for a lohei session – the traditional tossing of yusheng during the Chinese New Year period.

Mr Ong Ye Kung joined staff of the two hospitals at SingHealth Tower for a lohei session – the traditional tossing of yusheng during the Chinese New Year period.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

 

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HDB handing over long-delayed bus interchange in Bidadari to LTA​

Located in the Bidadari housing estate, the bus interchange was originally slated to be ready by 2021.PHOTO: ST FILE
Isabelle Liew
Jan 30, 2025

SINGAPORE – The Housing Board is in the process of handing over the long-delayed Woodleigh bus interchange to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), after construction work for the underground terminal was completed in December 2024.

Located in the Bidadari housing estate, the bus interchange was originally slated to be ready by 2021.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, HDB said on Jan 27 that the construction had presented “significant engineering challenges”, which resulted in a longer project timeline than expected.

In its update, HDB said the bus interchange’s temporary occupation permit was obtained on Dec 31.

“At present, we are working with the LTA to hand over the bus interchange to them. LTA will share more details on the operational date of the interchange when ready,” it added.

The bus interchange is located in the Woodleigh Village integrated development that comprises 330 HDB flats and a hawker centre.

The Build-To-Order (BTO) project, which is linked to Woodleigh MRT station, was launched for sale in November 2016 and its final blocks were completed in November 2022.

HDB told ST in February 2024 that the Woodleigh bus interchange was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and engineering challenges.

Extensive work and coordination between different contractors were needed to skirt or divert existing underground services – such as water, gas and electricity pipes, sewers and fibre optic cables – and ensure that these were not interrupted during construction.

Those service pipes had to be diverted before HDB could resume building and excavation works for the bus interchange and other underground facilities such as the pedestrian underpass to the MRT station.

Housewife Mira Yunos, 34, who moved into her three-room flat in Woodleigh Village in April 2023, said the long-awaited bus interchange will offer greater convenience for her family of three.

“I’m grateful that the area is taking shape despite the hiccups and delays,” she added.

Ms Mira was also relieved that the roof garden and playground – which her unit overlooks – opened last week. She previously told ST that she had to put up with construction noise and dust since she moved in.

The hawker centre in Woodleigh Village, which was initially slated to open in the second half of 2023, started operating in September 2024.

The Woodleigh district, which consists of 2,685 flats across three BTO projects, including 312 rental units, is the first in Bidadari to have all its flats completed.

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